On this date in 1987 in Hip Hop history, Brooklyn rapper Dana Dane dropped his highly anticipated LP Dana Dane With Fame on the Profile imprint. Dana was an original member of the legendary Kangol Crew, which consisted of himself, Omega The Heartbreaker and MC Ricky D, better known to the rap world as Slick Rick. This is why many who don’t know criticized Dane for what they thought was biting Slick Rick’s English accent, but this was actually the M.O. of the Kangol Crew.
The nine-track album wasn’t short on official singles, with the storytelling saga of bad dreams on “Nightmares”, the action-packed story of three stick up girls on the infamous “Delancey Street” and the radio popular single “Cinderfella Dana Dane”, which charted Number 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.
Shout out to super producer Herby Luv Bug, Dana Dane, DJ Clark Kent and everyone else who was a part of making this a Hip Hop classic!
On this date in 1990, original Hit Squad member K-Solo dropped his debut album, Tell The World My Name, on Atlantic Records.
Produced primarily by PMD(Parrish Smith) of EPMD, Tell The World My Name was the launch of Solo’s hardcore delivery, which was his calling card on his introduction into the music biz on EPMD’s “Knick Knack Paddy Wack” off their Unfinished Business album. Solo’s signature spell-out style along with his uncanny storytelling abilities made his first album one of the tope drops of 1990.
Tracks that led the album’s momentum includes the alphabetic “Spellbound”, his prison to the booth saga on “Fugitive” and the timeless “Your Moms In My Business”, which was a catchphrase in teenage love situations of that era.
Salute to K-Solo, EPMD, DJ Scratch and even Al B.Sure for their contributions to this integral piece of Hip Hop history!
Four-time Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum Atlanta rap superstar Gunna returns to the top of multiple charts with his acclaimed fifth studio album One of Wun! It notably bows at #2 on the Billboard 200, becoming his fifth consecutive Top 5 debut on the respective chart. Additionally, it captures #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. Not to mention, it stands out as the #1 debut of the week and #1 biggest week for a Warner Music Group album in 2024 so far.
On DSPs, it notches a #1 Spotify Global and U.S. debut in addition to vaulting to #1 on Apple Music in 44 countries. Thus far, it has generated 170 million global streams.
Right now, Gunna is canvasing the country with sold out shows on ‘The Bittersweet Tour.’ It kicked off on May 4 in Columbus, OH at Schottenstein Center, with 16 stops across the U.S. in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Miami and more before wrapping up with a hometown performance in Atlanta at State Farm Arena on June 11.
The artwork for One of Wun was created by Calvin Clausell Jr., featuring creative direction by Spike Jordan of The Genius Club, as well as art direction and design by Tal Midyan.
On what was dubbed “Metro Boomin Night”(May 20) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, the home of the Cardinals, the producer from “The Lou” not only threw out the first pitch of the night, but also had the entire stadium singing along to his latest hit, BBL Drizzy”, the diss track aimed at Drake.
A video that has now gone viral posted by an X(formerly Twitter) user shows the game goers singing along, appearing to show what looks like the entire stadium knowing the words to BBL Drizzy, the nickname given to Drake by Rick Ross on his Drizzy diss track “Champagne Moments”.
Metro dropped “BBL Drizzy” to SoundCloud on May 5, sharing the news on X and said it was available for anyone to use for free.
Metro Boomin Night was a double win for the hometown hero, wit hthe reception of his performance of BBL Drizzy as well as the Cardinals’ win 6-3 over the Baltimore Orioles.
Jaylen Brown’s clutch performance pushed the Boston Celtics into overtime, where Jayson Tatum took over to secure a 133-128 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Tatum scored 10 of his game-high 36 points in the extra frame, while Jrue Holiday added 28 points and Brown contributed 26. This marked the first time in Celtics history that three players scored 25+ points in an ECF game.
Indiana had a chance to win in regulation, but Tyrese Haliburton’s 27-foot fadeaway missed the mark. Haliburton, who had already nailed a 35-footer at the half and a 28-foot banked three at the third-quarter buzzer, couldn’t replicate his earlier heroics. Despite the miss, he finished with 25 points and ten assists.
The Pacers mounted an impressive rally, erasing a 13-point deficit with 3:23 left in the third quarter. Haliburton’s banked three capped a 14-2 run, giving Indy momentum as they took the lead early in the fourth and held a five-point advantage late. Pascal Siakam added 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. In comparison, Myles Turner had 23 points and ten rebounds, making it only the third time in the Pacers’ playoff history that three players recorded double-doubles.
After a Game 7 win in New York, Indiana sought consecutive road victories. Haliburton joined Trae Young and Jrue Holiday as the only players with 25+ points and 10+ assists in their conference finals debut since 2021.
Game 2 is set for Thursday, with the Celtics aiming to build on their momentum.
The Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun season opener, featuring Caitlin Clark’s highly anticipated WNBA debut, has shattered viewership records on ESPN platforms. The game drew an impressive 2.1 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+, making it the most-watched WNBA game ever on these platforms, whether in the regular season or playoffs. This remarkable milestone surpasses the previous record set by the Phoenix Mercury at the Connecticut Sun game on May 22, 2004.
Viewership peaked at 2.3 million between 7:45 p.m. and 7:59 p.m., highlighting the widespread excitement surrounding Clark’s entrance into the league. The buzz didn’t stop there; the second game of the night, featuring the Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces, averaged 464,000 viewers, marking a five percent increase compared to last year. Collectively, the two games averaged 1.28 million viewers, a staggering 192 percent rise from last season’s average on ESPN platforms.
The pre-game show, WNBA Countdown, which was presented by Google, also saw a significant uptick in viewership. The show averaged 680,000 viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+, reflecting a 126 percent increase compared to last year’s pre-game averages on ABC and ESPN.
The surge in interest wasn’t confined to TV screens. WNBA content on ESPN.com and the ESPN App experienced a 409 percent increase in unique visitors year-over-year. Social media engagement with WNBA content on ESPN’s accounts also saw a 125 percent boost.
These record-breaking numbers underscore the growing popularity and excitement surrounding the WNBA and the immense draw of rising star Caitlin Clark.
Caitlin Clark made an impressive WNBA debut, scoring a team-high 20 points and hitting four 3-pointers. However, her performance wasn’t enough to secure a win, as the Connecticut Sun defeated her team 92-71.
Alyssa Thomas led the Sun with a triple-double, recording 13 points, 13 assists, and ten rebounds. This marked her 12th career triple-double in the WNBA, extending her league record, including regular season and playoff games.
Despite Clark’s strong showing, the Sun’s balanced attack and Thomas’ brilliance proved too much. The rookie phenom showcased her scoring prowess and provided a glimpse of her potential impact in the league.
In the age of streaming platforms vying for content, Netflix has emerged triumphant in securing a highly anticipated docuseries delving into the tumultuous allegations surrounding rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Months of speculation and social media buzz have finally resulted in the revelation that Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s production company, G-Unit Film & Television, will spearhead this riveting exposé, set to unravel the intricate web of accusations against Combs. The genesis of this project traces back to December when Jackson first hinted at the possibility of shedding light on the dark shadows clouding Combs’ legacy.
Fueling the anticipation, faux posters teasing a documentary began circulating on social media, igniting fervent discussions among netizens. Amidst the buzz, Jackson confirmed in a tweet that Netflix had emerged victorious in the heated “bidding war,” securing the rights to the series. However, with a poignant caveat, Jackson acknowledged that should more victims come forward, the narrative might necessitate additional episodes—a testament to the gravity of the allegations at hand. Central to the documentary’s focus are the distressing accounts of sexual abuse, rape, and sex trafficking leveled against Combs by multiple women over the past six months.
Combs, vehemently denying these claims, finds himself ensnared in a storm of accusations, with the latest lawsuit surfacing on the very day of Netflix’s announcement. The documentary promises an unflinching examination of these allegations, juxtaposed against Combs’ staunch denials. Testimonies of individuals once entrenched within Combs’ inner circle, including former rapper Mark Curry, who divulged unsettling anecdotes from their time under Combs’ tutelage. Notably, lyrics from a Rick Ross song, eerily echoing themes of drugging and sexual assault, underscore the chilling allegations permeating the documentary’s discourse.
A pivotal moment occurred with the release of surveillance footage depicting Combs’ altercation with his former girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra Ventura—a visual testament to the dynamics overshadowing their relationship. Combs’ subsequent apology video signifies a recognition of past transgressions, yet leaves lingering questions regarding accountability. Netflix’s decision to greenlight this docuseries reflects a commitment to amplifying voices long silenced by power dynamics within the industry.
The NBA is looking to move into new deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon this week. With massive amounts on the table, Warner Bros. Discovery may take legal action. Without a resolution, the famed Inside the NBA may end after the 2024-25 season.
According to the Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s new deal will be worth $2.8 billion, delivering the NBA Finals, a conference final, weekly primetime games, and the WNBA and international writes. NBC will provide $2.6 billion, including a “Basketball Night in America” telecast on Sunday night after the NFL season, two more weekly primetime windows, conference semifinals, and a conference final. Amazon will pay between $1.8 billion and $2 billion to host the Emirates In-Season Tournament, the SoFi Play-In Tournament, first-round playoff games, the WNBA, and international rights.
Warner Bros.’s last-ditch effort would require a $2.6 billion match for the NBC deal, but it lacks the infrastructure to meet the requirements. The brand is also considered to be $40 billion in debt. Warner’s last year in NBA broadcasting would be the 2024-25 NBA season.
Diddy is the subject of yet another lawsuit from a woman. According to TMZ, model Crystal McKinney met Diddy at Men’s Fashion Week in 2003 when she was 22.
According to McKinney, Diddy invited her to the studio, where she engaged in drinking and smoking weed, which she believes was laced with narcotics, leading to her being disorientated.
That moment was followed by being forced into a bathroom, where she was then forced to perform oral sex, eventually losing consciousness and waking up in a taxi.
McKinney stated she was subjected to a modeling industry blackball and attempted suicide in 2004.
McKinney says her suit was inspired by Cassie’s and the feeling of having “a moral obligation to speak up.”
Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill— known for his candidness on social media, recently took to the X platform to share his thoughts on a range of topics from spirituality to mental health in the Black community. The 37-year-old recording artist, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, opened up about his personal beliefs and the societal issues he observes, sparking discussions among his followers.
In a tweet on Tuesday, May 21, Meek Mill delved into his views on religion, revealing his reasons for distancing himself from organized faith. “I don’t have a religion due to the simple facts of racism and [judgment] and now war,” he wrote. Reflecting on his formative years, he continued, “I made my mind up at the age of 15 living in treacherous conditions. I strongly believed in god. He answered every prayer… I don’t believe in hell and I don’t need [to] because my heart [is] gold.”
I don’t have a religion due to the simple facts of racism and judgement and now war…. I made my mind up at the age of 15 living in treacherous conditions I strongly believed in god…. He answered every prayer… I don’t believe in hell and I don’t need too because my heart gold.
Meek’s comments highlight a journey of personal faith that rejects traditional religious structures, instead emphasizing a direct, personal connection with God. His mention of “treacherous conditions” alludes to his challenging upbringing in Philadelphia, where he faced numerous hardships that shaped his worldview.
Beyond his spiritual reflections, Meek Mill also addressed accusations of being a puppet for white billionaires, specifically Michael Rubin, a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist. Dismissing the claims, Meek defended his independence and the genuine nature of his partnerships.
Additionally, the rapper voiced concerns about the impact of social media on mental health, particularly within the Black community. In a tweet from May 16, he stressed the importance of therapy over the constant chatter of social media. “The Black community needs therapy over social media point blank… The points we be trying to make don’t lead to anything,” he asserted. Highlighting the nature of online interactions, he added, “Just a bunch of people pointing fingers all day… I talk because I see a generation run by computers… Computers don’t suffer but people do!”
The black community needs therapy over social media point blank … the points we be trying to make don’t lead to anything … just a bunch of people pointing fingers all day …I talk because I see a generation run by computers … computers don’t suffer but people do!
Meek Mill’s advocacy for mental health awareness is in line with his role as Co-Chair of the Reform Alliance, an organization dedicated to criminal justice reform. His call for therapy reflects a broader concern about the well-being of the community, urging individuals to seek meaningful support rather than superficial online engagement.
