Yesterday (November 13) at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) came face to face at the final press conference before their historic bout.
All fighters on the main and preliminary cards participated in the press conference, including undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs), who will face off in the most-anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Additional fighters showcased included Mario Barrios, Abel Ramos, Neeraj Goyat, Whindersson Nunes, Shadasia Green, Melinda Watpool, Lucas Bahdi, Armando Casamonica, Shu Shu Carrington Jr., and Dana Coolwell.
Hosted by renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, the fighters had plenty to say at the press conference about their upcoming matchups.
Netflix and MVP’s fight week events conclude with the Paul vs. Tyson Public Weigh-In on Thursday, November 14, which will begin at 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT. The event will stream on MVP’s YouTube channel, Netflix’s YouTube channel, MVP’s Instagram, and Netflix’s Tudum.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 15 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The co-main event features undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) vs. unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history.
Paul vs. Tyson will be available to stream live globally on all Netflix plans, at no additional cost to subscribers. The broadcast will feature live commentary in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and German.
Today marks the 60th birthday of one of America’s favorite television dads as well as one of the most influential emcees ever! Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons of the legendary Run-D.M.C. is one of Hip Hop’s most recognizable figures, beginning his career as DJ Run “The Son of Kurtis Blow” before joining forces with Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and the late Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell and forming the Grammy Award winning trio. He is also the younger brother of Hip Hop’s first mogul and co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, Russel Simmons.
Run has appeared in three feature Hip Hop films as himself alongside D.M.C. and JMJ; 1985’s Krush Groove, 1988’s Tougher Than Leather and the 1993 Hip Hop comedy Who’s The Man? In 2004, Run was ordained as a Pentecostal minister by Hollis Queens’ Rev. E. Bernard Jordan and adopted the moniker “Reverend Run”. After his ery public life transformation, Run appeared on several reality shows with his family, starting with MTV’s Run’s House, which featured his family and their everyday life. The show was a fan favorite, living on MTV for four seasons. Simmons has also created three other cable series, two premiered in 2014; Rev Run’s Renovation which runs on both the DIY Network and HGTV, and Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers for Cooking Channel, the other Rev Runs Around the World premiered on the Travel Channel in 2016.
Run is also an esteemed member of the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame after being nominated and voted in unanimously in 2009.
Salute to Rev Run on his born day and may he be granted many more birthdays hereafter!
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Brooklyn’s own Jay-Z released he would-be retirement album The Black Album. Although there was virtually no pause between The Black Album and new Jay-Z music (collaboration albums with both R. Kelly and Linkin Park were released the following year), this album is easily the greatest retirement project of all time.
In its entirety, this album sounds more like a greatest hits album than the eighth project of an illustrious career. Starting with the first track, “December 4th”, this album takes the listener on a nostalgic journey. This opening tale of Hov’s origin sets the tone of the album and properly introduces Jay to an industry that he feels has taken him for granted. This album is an opus to Jay’s distaste with the rap game as a whole. On numerous tracks, specifically “Encore” and “What More Can I Say”, Hov can be heard stating his frustration with being the one punch man (a fictional superhero who can defeat any opponent with merely one punch causing him to become bored with superhero work) of Hip Hop.
Aside from staking his claim as the greatest, Hov spent this album perfectly juggling his unique brand of bragging with the dropping of street knowledge you couldn’t pay for. Singles “Change Clothes” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” are perfect examples of the particular swagger Jay-Z brought to rap. His mature yet flamboyant lyricism is on par with the life described by Robin Leach. As the album progresses, Jay begins more and more to put his would-be competition in its place with sheer willpower. From “Threats” to “Lucifer” it seems Jay is directly challenging the rest of the rap world to get on his level before they never again get the chance.
The album ends with two songs that could interchangeably be used as an outro. Both “Allure” and “My 1st Song” show Jay-Z coming to terms with the final chapter of his career coming to a close, even if he was planning a comeback.
Featuring production from Kanye West, Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Timbaland, 9th Wonder, Rick Rubin, DJ Quik, and even Eminem, it’s easy to see why this album is as amazing as it is. Aside from the prolific production team, Jay-Z put together one of his most successful albums without any features (aside from a hook sung by Pharrell). Commercially, the album peaked at #1 on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart and the Billboard 200 chart (where it appeared twice, each for a week). The album also went triple platinum in the United States and made appearances on music charts of eight different countries.
Nelly won’t have to face drug charges for his summer arrest at a casino in St. Louis. According to ABC News, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell shut down the case.
“We don’t belive the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges,” Bell said.
The attorney’s office did not provide additional details into the decision to not file charges, but Nelly’s attorney Scott Rosenblum confirmed “a fair and imaprtial review of the evidence.”
Nellly was arrested on Aug. 7, 2024 in Maryland Heights, near St. Louis, according to a spokesperson for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The arrest reportedly went down around 4:45 a.m. so demon time as the kids say, just as Nelly was leaving the Hollywood Casino near St. Louis. Interesting. What do ya’ll think he plays if anything? Roulette? Blackjack or maybe Texas Hold’em … We gotta get the drop on that. Maybe he was just grabbing a bite to eat.
Get this, he was initially stopped by the Missouri Gaming Commission for an ID verification. A ha. So one of the most recognizable people in the entire state of Missouri was stopped to verify his ID? Huh?
During the stop, authorities miraculously discovered that Nelly had an outstanding warrant for failure to obtain car insurance, leading to his arrest. Wow. Seriously?
Here’s where it took a turn. Missouri State Highway officers conducted a search of Nelly’s vehicle and found ecstasy pills. If accurate, yikes.
So what’s the result? Nelly was also charged with drug possession. Then the “Country Grammar” rapper was taken to the Maryland Heights Police Department but was later released.
Talk about bad timing, ICYMI, Nelly is expecting a child with Ashanti. The fan favorite couple, been in an on-and-off relationship for years, but recently rekindled their romance and are preparing to welcome their first child together. Well hopefully they all figure this latest situation out.
Images have surfaced on social media that show that the mural. of the late Dayvon “King Von” Bennett has been removed from the walls of O’ Block in his hometown of Southside Chicago.
The picture below shows the detailed image of the “Crazy Story” rapper sitting backwards in a chair wearing an MLB fitted cap and his iced out O’ Block chain being painted over, leaving a blank, grey wall. With the wall being buffed in broad daylight, there obviously was no objection to its removal.
The question is, why was the mural removed and who called for its removal? Also, was the removal of the image of one of Chicago’s most celebrated as well as criticized rappers related to any current legal proceedings, including the arrest of Lil Durk?
There is much speculation around the reason for the removal of the mural, but the fact is that King Von’s legacy will live on regardless of the existence of any drawing or recording ever created.
Ice Cube has revealed that his Amerikkka’s Most Wanted LP, the first album that he dropped when he split from the groundbreaking N.W.A. collective, was not produced by Dr. Dre because of the late Eazy-E.
In an in depth interview with Idea Generation, the iconic rap pioneer, actor and film director says that he left Ruthless Records and N.W.A. for real reasons, but none of that impacted his personal relationship with Dre and still wanted his to produce his premiere solo effort. AMW was exclusively produced by New York-based production crew The Bomb Squad, who are primarily known for their production for Pub,lic Enemy.
In the interview, Cube admits, “I still tried to be friends with the guys who had nothing to do with the business. Me and Eazy was shaky, and I didn’t care about Jerry Heller at all, so it wasn’t no love lost there”. He added, “But I tried to keep it together with Dre. I even wanted Dre to produce my solo record, and we was talking about it, but Eazy and Jerry vetoed it.”
Dre and Cube eventually patched it up and worked together on the 1994 song “Natural Born Killaz”, which was intended to be a prelude to a collaboration album, but the idea was ultimately shelved.
Cube is set to drop the 11th album of his career, Man Down, which will be the first full length studio project that he’s released in the past eight years. Man Down is slated to be released within the week.
“Cause I’m playin ball or bobbin’ in the hall/ or just writin’ my name in graffiti on the wall..”
– Rakim “My Melody” circa 1986
Very few of today’s Hip Hop enthusiasts understand the history and impact of aerosol art or graffiti on the culture that we all know and love. As the eldest of Hip Hop’s original four pillars, its visual self expression is rooted in some of the roughest streets of New York and Philadelphia, depending on who you ask.
Then you have the youngest of the four pillars, emceeing, which is the verbal expression of the street culture and the euphemism “the handwriting on the wall” is told from the POV of the MC. In the 80s and 90s, there several of the era’s most prolific emcees began their “careers” in Hip Hop as graff artists. Some of them have continued to pursue their love to paint and some will give you a tag when you request an autograph.
The Source has decided to compose a list of five emcees that you may or may not know have hand styles for miles and Old Gold can control!
KRS -ONE
Brooklyn-born/Bronx-raised Hip Hop legend KRS-One was a graffiti writer before he was known as the “Blastmaster” of Boogie Down Productions, scribing his name all over the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx during his time at a men’s shelter where he met the late DJ Scott La Rock.
Fat Joe
The Bronx is widely known to have produced some of MYC’s greatest graffiti writers and Fat Joe aka Joey Crack aka CRACK TS is a part of that legacy. The Terror Squad was originally a street crew and with graffiti being apart of their outfit, you could find CRACK TS pieces and throw ups near Forest Projects as late as 1993 when Joe dropped his first single “Flow Joe”. Above, you can see a throwie that CRACK painted in Lil Wayne’s home.
MF DOOM
One of the most revered and worshipped figures on the Hip Hop landscape is the late MF DOOM. Formerly known as Zev Love X from the conscious trio KMD, DOOM later established himself as a solo artist, but his assumed nom de plume DOOM became more of a staple of his identity. DOOM throwies could be found around lower Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and even other countries with his CM(Criminal Minded) crew inscribed in his piece. The DOOM throwie is still a seminal piece of the MF DOOM/Metalface brand and will be always be one of the most recognizable throws in the graff game.
DJ KAY SLAY
The illustrious “Drama King” DJ Kay Slay(R.I.P.) was an integral part of the graffiti culture long before he was known for terrorizing the mixtape scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. Known among writers as Dezzy Dez aka DEZ TFA, Slay appeared in the 1983 NYC graffiti introduction documentary Style Wars as a 16-year-old graff expert, even schooling a younger artist named TRAP to the tricks of the trade almost four decades ago. No, he isn’t an emcee, but we had to pay homage to a true pioneer of Hip Hop culture. Rest In Paint Kay Slay
TAME ONE
As one half of the lyrical Newark-based duo The Artifacts, TAME was just as active with a can, if not more, as he was on the mic. As a member of NJ graff crew BOOM SKWAD, TAME’s name could be seen as large as full productions and as small as marker tags all over Newark, East Orange and Irvington while he and El Da Sensei worked their two albums , 1994’s Between A Rock And A Hard Place and 1997’s That’s Them. TAME ONE aka Raheim Brown will forever be remembered as one of the best bombers to pick up a mic. R.I.P.
When it comes to adapting true stories into films and shows, it feels like there isn’t anything that is truly off limits. Michael Jackson’s story is getting treatment we’ve all been waiting for in ‘Michael.’ Wu-Tang Clan had a strong series on Hulu in Wu-Tang: An American Saga and there have been countless documentaries over the years.
We put together five true hip-hop stories from the last 10-20 years that could be adapted into compelling feature films, documentaries, or TV series. We have more to add to the list but we don’t want to overwhelm ya’ll, ha!
When it comes down to it, these stories and wish list projects cover a broad spectrum of hip-hop culture, from rivalries and legal battles to personal growth and industry-shifting moments. Each offers an opportunity to explore the highs, lows, and the deeper human experiences behind some of the biggest names and events in hip-hop over the last two decades. Let’s get to it.
1. Drake vs. Meek Mill
Type: Documentary Feature Film
Proposed Synopsis: The highly publicized rap battle between Drake and Meek Mill, created one of the biggest rap feuds of the decade before the great Drizzy, Kendrick battle of course. A documentary film would explore the rise of their rivalry, its effect on their careers, and their eventual reconciliation, collaborations and impact on the culture at large.
2. Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Legal Trouble and Snitching Scandal
Type: Feature Film Narrative
Proposed Synopsis: The rise and meteoric fall of Tekashi 6ix9ine, from his jarring and highly controversial social media persona to his legal troubles, and his not so shocking decision to cooperate with the government and ultimately testify against his former business partners, cohorts and gang members. This project would create a gripping narrative about fame, betrayal, and the consequences of playing a game he probably was never built for. There’s already a good Tekashi doc, so a feature film narrative that captures that moment may be the way to go.
3. Mac Miller
Type: Documentary or Feature Film Narrative
Story: The celebrated life and untimely tragic death of Mac Miller that explores his influence on hip-hop and pop culture. A documentary or biopic could examine his struggles with addiction, his evolution as an artist and the impact of his musical legacy and the timeline of his unfortunate passing. A feature film documentary may be fitting but a narrative snapshot would be something to see in our opinions.
4. Jay-Z and “Tidal”
Type: Documentary Feature Film
Story: Jay-Z’s acquisition of Tidal and his efforts to challenge Spotify and Apple Music in the streaming wars could be a compelling business and cultural story. The series could examine the rise of streaming platforms and Jay-Z’s vision to empower artists and reshape the music industry. This one may be important with how not how we consume content, specifically music but how one mogul took on the heavyweights and exited bigger and better than he arrived.
5. Cardi B’s Rise to Success
Type: Limited Scripted Series
Story: Cardi B’s journey from a polarizing reality TV and social media star to Grammy-winning rap sensation who redefined the landscape for female rappers. This should be a limited scripted series that tells a story of perseverance, hustle, and authenticity. The narrative should explore her rise from the Bronx, how she shaped her public persona, and the challenges she faced in breaking into the male-dominated hip-hop world all the way to “Bodak Yellow.” We’d probably stop it there tbh. Nice way to end of a super high note.
So what ya’ll think about the first five stories? They cover a broad spectrum of hip-hop culture, from rivalries and legal battles to personal growth and industry-shifting moments. Each offers an opportunity to explore the highs, lows, and the deeper human experiences behind some of the biggest names and events in hip-hop over the last two decades. Now all we have to do is see who wants to produce them. Maybe we should look into that … Hmm.
Pharrell Williams has entered the beef chat, kinda. The Piece by Piece lego producer apparently shown no signs of being rattled by Drake’s recent reference to him and his jewelry in the track “MELTDOWN” from Travis Scott’s UTOPIA. Gotta play that one.
The bar in question appears to be a pointed jab, possibly connected to the ongoing tensions with Pharrell’s longtime collaborator Pusha T. Drake’s verse includes the provocative lines: “Man, f* all that spinnin’ the narrative s* / I melt down the chains that I bought from yo’ boss / Give a f* about all of that heritage s*.” A ha. Makes sense now.
However, when asked about the diss during a recent interview, Pharrell’s response was notably calm. “It didn’t [strike me],” he said with a shrug. When the interviewer pressed further, he simply reiterated, “No.” His unbothered reaction highlighted his lack of concern regarding the lyric and any implied tension.
A non response is usually a response. FTR.
Pharrell was also asked about Drake’s purchase of over a million dollars’ worth of his jewelry, including chains and pendants with N.E.R.D. and BBC logos, which had been part of his 2022 sale through JOOPITER. These pieces later appeared in Drake’s “Jumbotron S**t Poppin” music video in January 2023. Despite Drake’s lyrics seemingly referencing melting down these pieces, Pharrell remained unfazed, offering a broader perspective on the situation. “I think beyond all of the on-goings,” Pharrell explained, “At the heart of it, he’s a fan of music. He’s a fan of the history of what it is, and I happen to be a part of that, and those artifacts are a part of it.”
That’s a respectful neutral tone. Gotta love it.
In Pharrell’s view, the situation was less about the personal drama and more about the legacy of the music and the cultural history represented by the jewelry. His response underscored his focus on the bigger picture, choosing not to engage in the back-and-forth or let the drama distract him.
Yes, legacy matters. More people in the industry should understand that and FTR we believe Drizzy does.
That said, despite the tension implied by Drake’s lyrics, Pharrell’s composed reaction makes it clear that he’s not losing sleep over the situation. Instead, he remains centered on his work and the influence he’s had on music history.
Well, there you have it. Music referenced melting down some gold and Pharrell didn’t have a meltdown over the music. Boom
Just when things could not have gone darker for the aftermath of PnB Rock’s murder, new revelations suggest that the killing could have been an inside job involving people who were already in close proximity to the victim. That’s just messed up on so many levels.
Okay the theory came about after Ana Garcia, an analyst from True Crime News, recently appeared on CBS Philadelphia to share new insights into the tragic incident.
Get this, Garcia presented footage from inside the Los Angeles location of Roscoe’s Chicken ‘N Waffles, where PnB Rock was fatally shot, highlighting key details that pointed to a potential inside setup.
Here’s what she said …
“There’s someone that spots him and does a fist bump,” Garcia explained, referencing a key moment captured on video. “We see this on video. That person then contacted someone else — a father and son team.” According to Garcia, the timing of PnB Rock’s meal arrival was suspicious, with his food being delayed for about 40 minutes, a move that seemingly allowed the killers to arrive and carry out the attack.
Garcia further clarified that the rapper’s girlfriend, who had been widely blamed for his death due to a photo she posted on social media, was not responsible. Thankfully.
“She didn’t get to post that photo until much later,” Garcia said. “It was those two (in the restaurant) that were responsible for the death of PnB. The setup was just to steal his jewelry.” Garcia emphasized that the blame directed at his girlfriend was unwarranted. “Social media and other celebrities jumped all over to blame her,” she said. “But it wasn’t her fault.” Now let’s leave his surviving GF out of this, once and for all.
What’s more, while it remains to be seen whether the alleged informant who signaled the killers will face any legal consequences, justice has already been served for PnB Rock. In September, Freddie Trone was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison after being convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts of second-degree robbery. Prosecutors argued that Trone had instructed his son, who was just 17 at the time, to shoot and kill the Philadelphia artist.
Initially, Trone denied any involvement in the crime, claiming he was not present at the scene. However, surveillance footage contradicted his story, showing him in the parking lot of Roscoe’s 30 minutes before the shooting occurred. Trone later claimed he was simply handling business related to his nearby beauty shop.
