ASAP Rocky came out to support Tariq Nasheed at the premiere of his new documentary, Microphone Check: The Hidden History of Hip-Hop over Memorial Day weekend. Nasheed shared a picture with Rocky on the red carpet in a post on social media, Monday.
“Shout out to A$AP Rocky, Debbie D, and everyone who came out to support the special Memorial Day weekend screenings of our new film #MicrophoneCheck,” he captioned the pictures. “Every city where the screening premiered was lit. The screening were so successful we are going to have another weeklong screening in more cities next week. So be sure to get out and see this film in #theaters.”
The new documentary seeks to uncover the true history of hip-hop’s foundation. For the film, Nasheed spoke with Grandmaster Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Busy Bee, Sha-Rock, MC Debbie D, Coke La Rock, DJ Hollywood, and more. As noted by AllHipHop, it controversially disputes Latinos’ role in the genre’s creation. Of that criticism, he told the outlet: “In the last 15 years, there’s been this push by the corporate media to say that Hip-Hop was started by Blacks and Latinos. And they’ve been pushing that narrative real hard. And that’s just not true. Not taking anything away from the Latino brothers and sisters, but they came later. And they did phenomenal things. But in the early stages of Hip-Hop, all the pioneers have said this: ‘We was just out there by ourselves. We were doing it by ourselves.’ And the Latino cats were the first students.” Check out Nasheed’s post featuring ASAP Rocky below.
ASAP Rocky Attends “Microphone Check” Screening
Nasheed also says the film will have screenings in more cities next week. Be on the lookout for further updates on ASAP Rocky as well as Tariq Nasheed’s Microphone Check: The Hidden History of Hip-Hop on HotNewHipHop.
Out of all the people who are commenting on the Diddy scandal, especially after the Cassie footage, there is one name who hasn’t been as outspoken as some folks may have assumed: Mase. The former Bad Boy artist has voiced his fair share of disagreements, critiques, and outright animosity with the label’s boss in the past over business and personal matters. Of course, it’s not like he particularly held back when it comes to this recent wave of abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking claims against Sean Combs. But the It Is What It Is cohost hasn’t said much about that new hotel video, and explained why on Tuesday (May 21) on his show.
“I’m saving my takes for the documentary. If y’all wondering how I feel, it’s coming soon, pause,” Mase said on It Is What It Is. Previoulsy, he had reacted to a lot of the Diddy developments with about the same level of shock, intrigue, and side-eye as everyone else. However, the Jacksonville native might have more particular things to say about this new footage in question, or just recently signed onto a long-form project on the Puff case. Either way, it’s a curious choice.
Mase Refrains From Speaking On Diddy & Cassie Footage
Meanwhile, Cassie recently shared an appreciative yet heavy message following the response to the footage of her and Diddy. “Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet,” it started. “The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.
“Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously,” Cassie continued. “My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in. I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone. This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you. Love Always, Cassie.”
Jamie Foxx is a colossal figure in the entertainment world. He’s the rare performer who has managed to land a number one single as a singer and win an Academy Award as an actor. He even won an Academy Award for playing a singer, to further blur the lines. Foxx’s pedigree is unique as it is impressive, which is why he’s the perfect person to bring a film about Luther Vandross to fruition. Foxx is partnering with the companies CNN Films and OWN to release Never Too Much, a documentary exploring Luther Vandross’ impact on R&B music.
Never Too Much, which is directed by Dawn Porter, was picked up for distribution on May 15. She issued a statement once the deal was finalized, and restated how important Vandross is to generations of fans. “I’m thrilled to partner again with CNN Films and OWN to bring this film to audiences,” she said. “Luther’s music is timeless… and we can’t wait for all of his fans new and old to experience his brilliance.”
She also teased how much she learned about the singer during the making of the documentary. “I think people will be surprised at how much he accomplished in his tragically short life,” she added. “It is a joy to be able to share his true story.”
Jamie Foxx Praised Vandross As “One Of Our G.O.A.T.s”
Jamie Foxx can’t wait to bring Vandross’ life to the screen. He issued a statement proclaiming the singer one of the greatest to ever touch a microphone. “Luther is one of our G.O.A.T.s,” he explained. “He’s one of the greatest singers in the history of music. It is an honor to be a part of the team to help bring this incredible story to the masses.” Foxxhole Productions, Raindog Films and Trilogy Films comprise the credits for the documentary. Foxxhole, as one might infer, is Foxx’s production company. Never Too Much will release in 2025.
A biopic on Vandross’ life is also in the works. Craig Seymour is currently adapting Vandross’ biography, Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross, for the big screen. Foxx will not be involved with the biopic, but he’s currently working on a biopic of his own. The actor will play Mike Tyson in an upcoming film, and he even has Mike Tyson’s blessing. Foxx will reportedly play the young and old versions of the boxer through the use of de-aging technology.
In February, Lifetime put some of Wendy Williams’ most vulnerable moments on display in their controversial documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams? Almost immediately, the doc sparked a debate among fans. Many accused producers of exploiting the personality, and the reveal of her dementia and aphasia diagnoses only compounded these concerns. Despite legal pushback from her guardian, however, the doc was still released.
One of Williams’ friends to appear in the doc was Angela White, formerly known as Blac Chyna. She had an emotional conversation with Williams about her current state, offering her some words of support. During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, White reflected on her appearance and addressed the backlash the doc received.
According to White, she’s yet to watch the full doc, but feels as though she’s seen what she needed to. “I’ve seen certain clips and things like that,” she told the outlet. “I’m the type of person if I see more than what I need to see, I’m gonna have to dig and get to the bottom of certain things. And I’m just like, ‘Whatever for me is supposed to be for me.’” White then went on to reveal that she can relate to Williams’ struggle with substance abuse. According to her, the doc has the potential to help others.
“I definitely think that for me, to be honest, I think it was definitely necessary to be made… I feel like… People actually do need to see it ’cause it is happening, and it can really, honestly happen to anybody… Maybe this is gonna help other people to see,” she explained. “To see Wendy, you know, struggling obviously with the alcohol and her substances over the years, you know, it hurts, and it’s like the alcohol part with me, so it’s like I can relate to that.” What do you think of Blac Chyna’s take on Where Is Wendy Williams? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Arguably Eminem’s biggest hater, Benzino, has been on his neck with full force in recent months. The two MCs have traded insults over diss tracks, even bringing the latter’s daughter, Coi Leray, into the beef. While the former head of The Source certainly has Em’s attention, at this time he’s more concerned with casting some of his biggest fans in a documentary he’s been working on at Shady Films. As Uproxx reports, on Wednesday (April 10), the Detroit native’s Twitter/X profile lit up with a casting call message urging fans to tell what Eminem means to them on a website for the film.
“ Looking for Stans for a documentary produced by Eminem & Shady Films. To share your story, please answer the questions here,” the tweet reads. The attached questionnaire asks interested people when and how they first heard about Slim Shady, whether they consider themselves to be a “stan,” any merchandise they might’ve collected over the years, fan fiction authors, or artists who’ve created works inspired by the “Mockingbird” hitmaker.
Though it’s common slang today, the word “stan” wasn’t used in popular culture until Em’s Marshall Mathers LP in 2000. On the song “Stan,” an overzealous fan writes letters to his favourite rapper, suggesting he’s forming a parasocial connection with the rising star. As Slim’s busy schedule keeps him from getting back to his supporters, Stan takes the distance as rejection and ultimately ends his own life, along with his girlfriend. By the time the 8 Mile actor does respond in the final verse, it’s too late.
Eminem is among the group of rappers who’ve been holding off on sharing new music for several years now, meaning his fans are more hungry than ever. His Stan documentary is sure to provide them with entertainment, but still, there’s a lot that listeners are expecting from his rumoured 2024 album. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
50 Cent shared a poster for his upcoming docuseries about the allegations Diddy is facing on Instagram, Monday night. The teaser comes after police and Homeland Security officers raided the Bad Boy mogul’s properties in Los Angeles and Miami earlier in the day. “This is gonna break records when this drops. GLG GreenLightGang you know the vibes,” 50 captioned the image, which features three photos of Diddy.
Fans joked about 50’s level of disdain for Diddy in the comments section. “50 is the most committed hater I know, you have to respect that,” one fan remarked. Another joked that Katt Williams should narrate the project. “R. Kelly moving his things to the top bunk,” one said.
Homeland Security Arrives At Diddy’s Miami Property During Raid
Diddy’s attorney Aaron Dyer released a statement addressing the raids the following day. “Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated,” he said. He added: “This unprecedented ambush – paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence – leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Check out 50’s post about his upcoming Diddy documentary on Instagram above. Be on the lookout for further updates on 50 Cent and Diddy on HotNewHipHop.
Content Warning: This article contains details of child abuse & assault.
On March 17th and 18th, Investigation Discovery released the long-awaited documentary, Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which exposes the once-secret conducts of Dan Schneider, creator and producer at Nickelodeon. Schneider’s name is slapped across many ultra-successful kids TV shows, including Zoey 101, AllThat, and The Amanda Show. He is also responsible for bringing many child actors into the limelight, some of whom remain celebrities to this day. However, beneath the surface of laughter, Schneider was an alleged terror. He was also reportedly behind several heinous crimes, which have long since remained rumors. Now, with the documentary out to the world, here are some of the inappropriate, disgusting things that took place in Schneider’s studio as a result of his actions and inactions. While Schneider has denied the allegations, the people are not buying it one bit.
According to Quiet On Set, Dan Schneider went well out of his way to torture the women who worked with him, both young and old. Katrina Johnson, the original child actress from AllThat, worked with him from age 10 to 16. Soon after, all his attention and mentorship were suddenly directed toward the younger Amanda Bynes. Despite just reaching puberty and feeling very self-conscious, Johnson was repeatedly made to wear leotards on set. Worse yet, she was phased out of Nickelodeon once she hit puberty and gained weight. During her interview, she recalled a phone call to her parents where the producers allegedly told them, “She can’t be the fat one. We already have a fat one.”
Another round of allegations came from two female writers who worked with Dan Schneider on The Amanda Show. Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen shared one salary and subjected them to sexist remarks. They alleged he made comments like “women can’t be funny,” or referred to them as “the girls.” Stratton was asked to leave the show after an incident where Schneider ordered her to tell a childhood story while she mimed being sodomized, as the entire room watched. Meanwhile, Kilgen left after he asked her in a room full of her male writer colleagues if she had ever worked as a phone sex worker. Moreover, she worked a 16-week contract for a 27-week show. She worked without a salary for 11 weeks. Kilgen would later sue the company for discrimination, and settle out of court.
Racism
The producer was also remarkably racist with his show ideas. Former child actor Leon Frierson, who was on two seasons of All That recalled the time he was embarrassed by Schneider’s sudden request to take on the role of “Nose Boy,” a character that had Frierson, a Black actor, wearing an enlarged prosthetic nose. The costume also featured black “nose” shoulder pads. Frierson did not speak on how racist the costume was but he did touch on how inappropriately sexual it was. He also spoke about how the costume was immediately recognizable as a giant black penis and testicles. True to Frierson’s claims, “Nose Boy” was a character who liked to sneeze a clear white snot-like substance all over people.
A second racist caricature from Dan Schneider’s time is “Little Fetus,” “the youngest rapper of all time.” This role was given to a younger Bryan Christopher Hearne. Unsurprisingly, this character also required a costume: a flesh-colored skin suit and prosthetics for an extra large head. Hearne also mentioned that someone on the set commented how his skin suit ought to be “charcoal.” During an interview with GMA, Giovonnie Samuels and Bryan Hearne both explained how they felt subject to discrimination and racist jokes during their time working with Schneider.
Hearne’s mother, Tracey Brown was also invited to corroborate the claim that Schneider had signed off on racist sketches and stories. Brown continued that she complained so much she began to feel like the odd one out. On a certain occasion, she had to raise an alarm about a scene involving a “young lady” massaging a producer in a scene. There was also a sketch featuring a Black child selling cookies by the side of the road that suggested the apparent innuendo of a Black person peddling drugs.
A Caucus Of Predators
An insane fact about Nickelodeon is that the network employed several convicted child sex offenders. Quiet On Set focused primarily on the victims of the abuses committed by Dan Schneider, as well as Jason Handy and Brian Peck. Handy was found out after he emailed a picture of himself masturbating to a child actor. Furthermore, when he was arrested in 2003, Handy was found in possession of several forms of child pornography: images, videos, and CDs. He also had journal entries where he confessed to being a “pedophile, full-blown.” Disappointingly, Handy was sentenced to only six years in prison after pleading no-contest to his charges.
Brian Peck was embroiled in more shocking confessions from the interviewees. It was revealed that he was a huge-time fan of serial killer clown, John Wayne Gacy, who preyed on men. Peck had a painting, as well as a stash of fan letters and correspondence with the imprisoned Gacy, which he proudly showed off to the children. In 2003, Peck was subsequently arrested on 11 charges of child sexual abuse. He had also victimized a child actor whose identity was concealed as John Doe.
Near the tail end of the documentary, Joe Doe is revealed to be Drake Bell. Peck used his position as Bell’s acting and dialogue coach to detain him at his home and repeatedly assaulted him. He also managed to get Bell to fire his manager and father, Joe Bell. This was so he could have unsupervised access to the actor. Even more disappointingly, however, Peck was sentenced to only 16 months in prison on 2 of the 11 charges. After serving time for his repeated assault of Drake Bell, Brian Peck would go on to work at Disney Channel on The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody.
All of the allegations against Dan Schneider in the Quiet On Set documentary have been very serious. This has led to many wondering how he managed to escape punishment for so long. However, these allegations have been bubbling up for a while. For example, it is important to recall that Schneider only left Nickelodeon in 2018, after he was accused of repeated verbal abuse, which was also underscored by rumors of child abuse and sexploitation. Also, in 2022 former child star Jeanette McCurdy all but confirmed that the rumors were true. In her acclaimed memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, she recalled her dealings with “The Creator.” It didn’t take too long to figure out that the persona was, in fact, Dan Schneider.
In the days after the documentary was aired, Schneider released a 19-minute-long apology video. In it, he claimed all allegations were false. However, he offered little explanation as to how they were untrue. Needless to say, nobody bought it.
A whole generation will be uncomfortable eyeing their phones and DMs today after Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told dropped on Hulu. The documentary about Freaknik 94, arguably the most infamous year of the iconic Atlanta festival has been met with a wave of people scouring the archival footage for moms and aunts who could have feasbily attended. Furthermore, the documentary has been met with a decent critical reception, a stark contrast to several other documents over the last year. Bama Rush from HBO for example was met with massive hype. However, it quickly fell to lamentations of wasted potential.
“My momma went to a HBCU in the 90’s in Atlanta,GA where I was born. I know sis on that freaknik documentary, lemme look real close,” one X user wrote. Plenty of ther posts shared similar sentiments. Many people offered their sympathies to millenials who were about to learn about their parents’ wild college years. Have you seen the Freaknik documentary? Let us know what you thought in the comments.
However, several people worked hard to try and ensure that the documentary didn’t make it to air. Last year, a group of five prominent Black women, including a politician, three “high-level business professionals”, and a judge, sued Hulu to block the release of the documentary. The plaintiffs argued that the release of the documentary would be damaging to their image. They alleged that they appeared in archival footage used in the documentary. Additionally, one of the plaintiffs claimed it would show her in an “unflattering light”. Furthermore, she claimed she had already had to take steps to shield her children from other archival footage. At the time of the suit, none of the plaintiffs were publicly named.
However, per an AP article from this week, the documentary makers allege that no such lawsuit was filed. While they acknowledged that they had received complaints and threats, no formal legal filing was ever given to them. Executive director Uncle Luke had harsh words for the film’s attendees-turned-detractors. “They’ll get a little taste of their own medicine. It’s easy to point fingers at people’s kids, and saying they’re living a life that in all actuality they lived as parents. I wanted to show that perspective. But then there’s this big myth about Freaknik. A lot of people from the West Coast heard about it. Some people heard the stories. It was this story that was never really told. We wanted to tell this story from where it really came from,” Luke said.
Celebrity talk show host Wendy Williams recently became a trending topic after the release of her Lifetime documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams? The emotional documentary was designed to be a sequel to two other projects: Wendy Williams: What A Mess, about her public image and divorce, and Wendy Williams: The Movie film about her career journey. However, this new project seems to be much different. In fact, it has garnered much more public interest about what exactly is going on with the media veteran, as many shocking details have been revealed. Moreover, fans believe the documentary should never have aired in the first place.
Averaging 1.04 million same-day viewers, the 4.5-hour documentary was split across two consecutive nights, airing on February 24th and 25th. Where is Wendy Williams? has been described as shocking, unsettling, and even exploitative. Fellow talk show host Charlamagne Tha God of The Breakfast Club has publicly commented that the show was “hard to watch.” Wendy Williams is evidently not doing so well, but the revelations in the documentary have been quite alarming.
“I Can Only Feel… 2 Percent Of My Feet”
In the documentary, Wendy Williams meets with Nadeem Waheed of Daniel’s Leathers to pick out a coat. She shows Waheed her bound feet, saying, “Do you know lymphedema? I should be in a wheelchair but I refuse. I’ve had that for seven years.” During a photoshoot, there’s also a moment where Williams requires assistance to stand up. She asks for a chair, stating, “I can’t continue to do this. I need to sit down again.”
Lymphedema is a chronic condition which occurs when lymph fluid builds up in various parts of the body due to a problem with the lymphatic system, which normally drains the fluid. Wendy Williams has secondary or acquired lymphedema. This is a type of lymphedema that develops over the course of a person’s life, often due to cancer or surgery. For some people, it is easy to overlook, as the swelling may go away at night. However, over time, it usually becomes more severe. This seems to be the case with Wendy. Although incurable, the pain from lymphedema can be alleviated with physical training. Nonetheless, despite her trainer’s suggested exercises in the documentary, she says she is too afraid to fall, choosing to walk with her bodyguard’s help instead.
“I Will Liquor When I Liquor”
Wendy Williams’s alcoholism is a ghost that hangs around every waking moment in the documentary. This is especially concerning because it seems to be responsible for a lot of changes that now affect the star’s current condition. Will Selby, Williams’s manager, spoke about his efforts to get her to stay sober. “Everyday I come here, I look for alcohol. Just in case,” he said.
However, this seems to be an occasionally fruitless effort. In one scene, he happens upon an empty bottle of vodka during one of his visits. The reason why is, I really feel she knows how to control herself.” Outside of work, Williams also confirmed that her drinking was negatively affecting her relationship with her son, Kevin, and sister, Wanda. Not long after this, however, she vehemently defends her actions. “I will smoke when I smoke, and I will liquor when I liquor,” she says. Williams also seems to have a problem with smoking; specifically with a vaping problem. She was shown delaying a trip for a specific brand of vape that she loved.
“What’s Oscars?”
Perhaps the most unsettling part of the documentary is watching Wendy Williams’ cognitive decline on camera. Her memory deterioration has evidently reached such a critical stage. When asked if she was interested in attending the Oscars, she had no idea what the ceremony was. In another scene, she expressed a belief that NBC Universal would simply offer her another talk show after The Wendy WilliamsShow was canceled in 2022.
“I think she’s losing memory. Have you guys noticed that,” asked Williams’s driver. He described it as her “going blank,” saying she did not recognize him sometimes. Williams’s condition was described by her son as alcohol-induced dementia. However, less than 72 hours before the documentary aired, a press release purportedly from Williams and her care team disclosed her diagnosis in 2023 as primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
The Commission
In May 2020, DJ Boof, who worked with Wendy Williams on her show, found her unresponsive at home. She was rushed to the hospital and needed several blood transfusions. Another friend confirmed that Williams had been drinking more since her divorce from Kevin Hunter Sr. The situation reached a breaking point in April 2023 when Selby found Williams hiding in the bathroom with a bottle in her bed. The next day, Selby says he worked with the legal guardian to get her admitted to a facility where she remains. Her family confirmed this to be the only good thing to come out of Williams’ guardianship. Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, told interviewers that they were notified that Williams is also being treated for her cognitive issues at the facility. However, Williams’ family claims they were not told about the diagnosis revealed during filming.
“I Have No Money”
The documentary concluded during Wendy Williams’s ongoing treatment for cognitive challenges. The final portion also focused primarily on interviews with Williams’s relatives, addressing the topic of guardianship. Her niece Alex Finnie broke down when she discovered no food in Wendy’s fridge in New York. In 2022, instead of a family member, the courts designated a third party as Williams’s guardian. This decision came after a petition filed by Wells Fargo.
Her son, who had power of attorney, could not be a candidate. He had access to her American Express cards and probably triggered Wells Fargo’s petition by charging them over $100,000 for Uber Eats. He denied that the expenses were ever his to begin with but his mother’s. Her sister Wanda was also considered. She claimed she took classes to become Wendy’s guardian before “the wall came down.” Suddenly, she was disqualified from being Williams’ guardian.
After taking quite a long break, Australian multi-talent The Kid LAROI has been constantly feeding his starving fan base. 2023 was perhaps his biggest and most important year of his still young career. Especially after all of the hype around him in 2021, there was a crowd out there starting to move on from the Juice WRLD protege. Last year he put out his debut album, THE FIRST TIME, and had a big-time placement on the Barbie soundtrack with “Forever & Again.”
Now in 2024, The Kid LAROI is stepping into the world of film with his documentary. It is currently available on Prime Video as of February 29, essentially giving us a behind the scenes look at how the Aussie became such a megastar. According to the press release, Justin Bieber is also featured in the biopic, as LAROI sits down with another one of his idols to talk about their relationship and hit song “STAY.” To help bring more hype around this project, the 20-year-old is back to deliver the previously teased “Still Yours.”
Listen To “Still Yours (From The Doc)” By The Kid LAROI
This marks LAROI’s second single of the year as he dropped “HEAVEN,” which will land on the deluxe of THE FIRST TIME. “Still Yours” was in the trailer for KIDS ARE GROWING UP: A STORY ABOUT A KID NAMED LAROI, and it displays themes of another rough break-up. Produced by Omer Fedi, a star in his own right and frequent collaborator, brings a familiar acoustic guitar instrumental to the table. Be sure to check it out above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “Still Yours,” by The Kid LAROI? Is this one of his better tracks as of late, why or why not? What is your favorite element of the song and why? Were you able to watch his documentary, KIDS ARE GROWING UP: A STORY ABOUT A KID NAMED LAROI? If so, what are your thoughts on it? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding The Kid LAROI. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
A million times I said sorry But lookin’ back, it’s not all me I tried to act like I wasn’t hurt Just see in my eyes, I can’t hide it And I try to leave it on pleasant terms Every time your name comеs up, there’s dirt