Chance the Rapper, the renowned artist known for his innovative approach to music and storytelling, has once again captured hearts with his latest release, “Together.” Produced by the legendary DJ Premier, this soul-stirring track both celebrates the home-front while also presenting a rallying cry to protect it. The self-directed visual centers on lyrics of reminiscence and pride, against a backdrop of vintage personal home video and archival footage from community-led political movements through history.
Nostalgic footage of Block club parties, barbecues, and Black Panther rallies contextualize the varying nature of Black communal spaces. While the first verse works to highlight the community built with the home, the second verse looks outwardly, toward the importance of organizing with those in your neighborhood. Housing Justice, displacement, and gentrification are alluded to throughout the record and Chance explicitly calls for a community benefits agreement from former President Barack Obama in the development of the new Presidential Library in the residential neighborhood of South Shore in Chicago, Il.
“‘Together’ is really a call to action for Housing Justice in Chicago and abroad. It’s one of the key themes of the Star Line project, and for this song I wanted to try to paint that point with nostalgia rather than trauma. Losing granny’s house is a fear and reality a lot of us deal with and instead of lingering on the negatives of that reality I wanted to highlight why those spaces are so important: they’re where we build memories, move family when they need somewhere to stay, raise our kids, do hospice. All of it,” states Chance the Rapper.
Several reports have confirmed that Atlanta rap mainstay Rich Homie Quan has been called to testify in the YSL RICO trial after being subpoenaed by the state.
X user ThuggerDaily, who previously claimed that Quan has previously given a police statement that will be read in court, reported that Quan, whose real name is Dequantes Lamar, will be taking the stand for the prosecution.
Rich Homie Quan has officially been subpoenaed by the State in the Young Thug case.
He is expected to take the stand in the upcoming few weeks. Just to be clear – this does NOT mean he cooperated or will cooperate. pic.twitter.com/Ug7VI1meOX
Lil Wayne may also be called to testify in the trial after prosecutors tried to play videos of Weezy speaking about Young Thug in court. Judge Ural Glanville refused to allow it unless Wayne testified in person.
The issue stems from the 2015 shooting of Wayne’s tour bus which the prosecution claim Thug was behind. The State claim he hired affiliate PeeWee Roscoe to carry it out. Roscoe was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation over the matter, but his conviction was overturned in 2018.
On this date in 1989, the Bronx-based Hip Hop group Nice And Smooth dropped their self titled debut LP on the now defunct Fresh/Sleeping Bag imprint.
Producing their own album alongside The Awesome Two(Chuck Chillout and Teddy Ted), this 15-track project leans on the duo’s comedic lyrics and quirky beats, which is the perfect recipe for melodic choruses and memorable hits. Songs such as “Funky For You” and “No Delayin’” will forever be timeless classics from Greg Nice and Smooth B, while tracks like the opulence-celebrating “Gold” and the Awesome Two-powered “O-o-h Child” serve as of the radar bangers to complete the album’s audible pleasure.
Nice Aad Smooth was included in The Source’s Top 100 Album Of All Time. Salute to Greg Nice, Smooth B and Teddy Ted fr this piece of Hip Hop history!
Ice Cube, a rap icon turned business mogul, views celebrity support for Donald Trump or Joe Biden as a deeply personal choice, irrespective of any influence from rappers or entertainers.
Speaking to FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo, he emphasized, “I think it’s a personal decision. I don’t know if they care if any rappers or entertainers get up there and say anything. It’s really a personal decision.”
Highlighting the electorate’s familiarity with Trump and Biden, Ice Cube stressed that voters will ultimately decide based on their assessments, regardless of external endorsements. Jeff Kwatinetz, the president of Ice Cube’s league, echoed this sentiment, noting, “I think that people have realized that neither party speaks for minorities, maybe for the Black audience, and it comes down to who they think will really help them on the issues that they care about.”
Ice Cube further elaborated on the nuanced perspectives within minority communities, challenging the notion of monolithic thinking. He stated, “I think it’s underestimated how much people care about the economy… They don’t realize that people have a lot of different opinions.”
Transitioning to the topic of the economy, Ice Cube underscored the vital role of small businesses in American society, using his own venture, the BIG3 league, as a testament to the resilience of such enterprises. “It’s a league that we kind of started from scratch in 2017… We had to go through COVID,” he remarked.
Advocating for government support for small businesses, Ice Cube emphasized, “A lot of small businesses need a little helping hand to get over the hump… the small businesses are really what makes up the American lifestyle.”
The anticipation builds as Lupita Nyong’o takes the reins in “A Quiet Place: Day One.” The latest trailer for the upcoming prequel jus dropped and now we learn that the film will premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June.
Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming, Cara Cusumano, expressed enthusiasm about hosting the premiere in New York City, stating, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring the premiere of A Quiet Place: Day One home to New York— and on the biggest screen in New York City.” She was energized at the significance of closing out the festival with a film that celebrates the communal excitement of the theatrical experience.
The new trailer spotlights Lupita Nyong’o and co-star Joseph Quinn navigating dangerous and albeit scary obstacles in their search for safety amidst the chaos. Joining them in this heart-pounding journey are Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff, promising a riveting ensemble cast.
Directed by Michael Sarnoski and from a script by Sarnoski in collaboration with original “A Quiet Place” star John Krasinski, “A Quiet Place: Day One” offers a glimpse into the world’s descent into silence. Produced by Krasinski alongside Michael Bay, Andrew Form, and Brad Fuller, the film is based on characters created by Bryan Woods and Scott Beck.
Get this, fans who are eager to go deeper into the suspenseful narrative, additional information about “A Quiet Place: Day One” is just a text away. By texting “BE QUIET” to 929-202-SHHH (7444), audiences can stay updated on the latest news and developments surrounding the film. As anticipation mounts, viewers prepare to immerse themselves in the eerie universe of “A Quiet Place: Day One” at the Tribeca Festival and beyond.
On this date in 1989, Brooklyn rapper Special Ed dropped his debut LP Youngest In Charge on Profile Records. The album title says it all, with Ed being only 17 years old at the time of the album’s production, but held its own as one of the best albums of the year next to Boogie Down Productions’ The Blueprint and Big Daddy Kane’s It’s A Big Daddy Thing.
Produced primarily by behind the boards giant “The Hitman” Howie Tee, who even helped Ed write some of the songs, Youngest In Charge was more of an introductory album for Special Ed, which was headed off by arguably one of the Top 10 Hip Hop songs ever created, “I Got It Made”. The unforgettable baseline from that track will forever be one of the greatest beats ever made in the game.
Also, “Think About It” was a hard hitting single that accompanied the album and helped Youngest In Charge receive commercial success and prepped fans for Special Ed’s highly anticipated sophomore effort, aptly titled Legal.
Salute to Ed, Howie Tee, DJ Akshun and everyone else involved with making this an important part of Hip Hop history!
Soulja Boy has apologized for disrespecting Metro Boomin’s deceased mother.
In case you missed it, Soulja Boy crashed out over an old Metro Boomin tweet. Way back in 2012, tweeted, “My phone rings to come to the studio with Jeezy. Yours rings to send Soulja Boy a pack of beats. Sit down.”
That did not sit well with Soulja Boy. Big Draco would then went on the attack.
“Fuck is you talking about, Metro Groomin?” Soulja said. “You was lit about going to the studio with Jeezy, bitch ass boy? Stop playing with me. I had a number one in 2007 when I was 17, fuck n—a. You was still in elementary school. You was in middle school, boy.”
He added, “Fuck is you hype about going to the studio with Jeezy for? Bitch ass n—a, I was making beats for Gucci! I don’t give a fuck about no Jeezy, n—a. I was in the studio with Guwop at 18.”
21 savage wanna know what happens in 24 hours if metroboomin don’t delete the tweet that Soulja boy says he better delete pic.twitter.com/k57NiCOhXk
He then demanded the tweet be taken down, which prompted an “Or what” response from 21 Savage. Soulja berated Savage, calling him a british rapper and stating he would slap both of them.
21 Savage wants to know what will happen if Metro Boomin doesn’t delete the tweet that Soulja Boy says he has to delete within 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/ZXZCPTnk2d
All the streams, sales, money, and fame not gone bring your mom back @MetroBoomin was it worth it? I can say fuck this money and fame shit and still be a boss can you?
A day later, Soulja hit Twitter and issued an apology:
“I apologize to @MetroBoomin for over reacting over an old tweet,” Soulja wrote. “Condolences to his mom. I’m going to seek therapy and anger management. I’m done responding to hate, new or old.”
I apologize to @MetroBoomin for over reacting over an old tweet. Condolences to his mom. I’m going to seek therapy and anger management. I’m done responding to hate, new or old.
On this day in Hip Hop history, 34 years ago, Ice Cube released his debut solo album Amerikkka’s Most Wanted. Following the tragic breakup of N.W.A., this album’s unexpected commercial and critical success set the tone for Ice Cube’s solo career and was also a launching pad toward success.
Being able to peak at #19 on the Billboard 200 and be certified platinum in the year if it’s released, all while staying true to the hardcore gangsta sound that is prevalent in all of his other work shows, since the beginning, Ice Cube has been a force to be reckoned with. His lyrical style and choice of subject matter force the commercial music world to be comfortable with a narrative uncommon to most of those who would consider themselves fans of the work. With this album, Ice Cube can paint a vivid and accurate picture of his particular experiences as an artist in making it out of Compton yet still thriving as a product of the said environment.
Unlike his previous NWA cuts, Ice Cube can get a little more theatrical with the delivery of his message while remaining just as straightforward. From the project’s title to the outro, it is prominent that Ice Cube had no intention of sugar-coating what he had to say. The violently righteous theme of this album shook the rap world showing a more militant side to the consciousness movement going on in the early 1990s. Cube even worked with Public Enemy’s production team, The Bomb Squad, to harness the high-energy sound paired perfectly with his flow.
Critically, this album is held on a pedestal with some of the best-selling and most respected projects in Hip Hop. It has been ranked on a plethora of “Best of All Time” and “Best of the 1990s” lists by publications in the US, Canada, and Europe. The album has been awarded 5 out of 5 ratings from The Source, Rolling Stone, Allmusic, and The Austin Chronicle.
Following this album, Ice Cube grew to be the mega-star he is today. He released eight solo studio albums and has no plans on stopping anytime soon. He also took his talent to the screen as an actor, writer, and director.
DJ Akademiks is the subject of a lawsuit alleging he committed rape and defamation against a woman named Fauziya Abashe. He states he will take the industry down with him.
“Let me tell you this about everyone in the industry: if Ak ever goes down, y’all going down with me. ‘Cause I hold no secrets for nobody,” Akademiks said. “Could it be that the exact next day I get hit up by a private investigator that works for Diddy alleging that maybe the same thing has happened in five other instances?”
In the sprawling story from Rolling Stone, Akademiks, born Livingston Allen, is accused of allowing Abashe to be raped by two men that were at his New Jersey home on July 16, 2022.
According to the report, Abashe did not know two women would be present. Those men are said to have drugged her and forced her with alcohol before assaulting and raping her on the pool deck.
Abashe states she lost consciousness during the incident, only to wake up at 4 a.m. on July 16, as Akademiks was raping her. Abashe states Akademiks was “pulling her hair, prying open her legs, and brutally raping her.” She also states she was penetrated anally and vaginally, while pleading for the entire ordeal to stop. She also states she was unable to “move physically.”
The lawsuit details Abashe asked Akademiks about details, in which he showed her a trash can with two condom wrappers, alluding to the woman being taken to another room of the home where the rape continued. Akademiks also allegedly showed video camera footage of the pool deck, where Abashe states she was “lying there lifeless, which did not sit right with her.”
On July 17, Akademiks told Abashe to “get tested,” which led her to believe their encounter was unprotected. Abashe contacted the police and received a rape kit, revealing traces of Akademiks’ sperm. Also collected were images of bruises on her arm, back, legs, and buttocks.
Aiding in the investigation, Abashe participated in a recorded call with Akademiks where he recalled the two having sex and describing the vagina. Law enforcement received a warrant to investigate Akademiks’ home. Abase believes Ak disposed of any evidence.
Abashe did not press charges but decided to sue after allegations were brought forth at the end of 2023. In a social media stream, Akademiks stated, “She was getting trained by my two mens on my pool deck.” Akademiks also stated she voluntarily engaged in an orgy but he never participated.
Akademiks did not reply to Rolling Stone with a comment.
Akademiks had his first stream of 2024 on Jan. 2. During the stream, Ak spoke about allegations levied against him by Abashae and revealed he was in full cooperation with the police.
“This situation went to the cops over a year and a half ago,” Ak said. “Me and my lawyer were openly cooperative because, serious allegations. I don’t care who’s involved, I don’t want weird shit happening around me.
“We helped the police. ‘Whatever you need! You want a phone? You want passcodes? Let’s decrypt our DVR.’ There is nothing they did not see.”
He added, “It was officially ruled by the D.A. and the police that there was nothing there. There ain’t no charges, there won’t be no charges and there’s documentation.”
You can hear it all from Akademiks below.
DJ Akademiks trended on social media to close in 2023 after Abashae stated in an Instagram Live Ak and two of his friends allegedly committed the crime.
“For you to pretend you didn’t do anything? That I just went to your house, and I’m some thot, like we didn’t know each other for two years,” Abashae said. “You tried to save yourself after your friends assaulted me. Whether or not you got drunk or not, I know that when you woke up, you were on top of me too. You raped me too.”
Additional claims online feature a woman stating that Akademiks engaged in communication with her until she was 18 before he attempted to have sex with her and a video surfacing with a woman screaming in the background.
Allegedly akademiks is linking & flying out underage girls & keeping in contact with girls to turn 18 to have sex with. This is a new story & their are multiple girls coming out about him making them drink to the point their unconscious & unresponsive so he can assault them pic.twitter.com/anE2QiChln
After a narrow miss in the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Mavericks bounced back decisively in Game 5, taking control early and never relinquishing the lead to secure a 104-92 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The victory puts Dallas in a commanding position as they head into Game 6.
Luka Doncic was the standout performer, delivering a stellar 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, marking his third 30-point triple-double in playoff history. This achievement ties him with LeBron James for the second-most such games by a player aged 25 or younger, with only Oscar Robertson (seven) having more. In addition to his impressive stats, Doncic made a crucial block on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute, sealing the win for Dallas. Derrick Jones Jr. also shone, scoring a playoff career-high 19 points, thanks in part to five assists from Doncic, including two three-pointers, two alley-oops, and a dunk.
The Mavericks’ defensive prowess was on full display as they held the Thunder to below 100 points for the first time in this series. Dallas limited OKC to 42.5% shooting (25% from three) and restricted them to just 10 free throw attempts. The Mavs are now 13-0 this season, including 4-0 in the playoffs, when holding opponents under 100 points.
Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s valiant effort, posting his fourth consecutive 30+ point game with 30 points, eight assists, and two steals, he was the only Thunder player to score more than 13 points. SGA joins Russell Westbrook as the only players in OKC playoff history with at least four straight 30+ point games in a single postseason.
The series resumes on Saturday (8 PM ET, ESPN) in Dallas for Game 6, where the Mavericks will aim to close out the series at home. The young Thunder face their first elimination game, hoping to extend their playoff run.
