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Coi Lerai Speaks On Nicki Minaj Riff, Says Labels Are Responsible For Female Rap Beef

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According to New Jersey rapper Coi Lerai, mainstream record labels are the culprit in female Hip Hop rap beef and her beef with Nicki Minaj is not what it appeared to be to the public.

This past weekend, the “Players” emcee took to X(also known as Twitter) to share her feelings about the cause and effect of female rappers having beef in and out of the recording booth.

“Idk if you ask me it seem like these labels are behind the female controversy,” she tweeted. “They see it helps push the music , I wouldn’t be surprised if they the ones behind the fan pages.” She continued, “Most of these female rappers not even from the same places !!!! Not from the same hoods….why are we beefing?”

An X user commented on her second tweet, referencing her past issue with Nicki Minaj, saying, “Most of them like you, do it to get Nicki minaj support and then when she turns on you.. you don’t have any support from any fan base.” Lerai’s response? “Yall so stupid. me and Nicki spoke behind the scenes, personally, and I never brought that to the public . Business ain’t work out, that’s okay. I still wish her nothing but the best and blick blick is one of the greatest videos that will be in history.”

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n 2022, Leray and Nicki joined forces on “Blick Blick,” but the journey to the song’s release was anything but smooth — in fact, it almost didn’t happen at all.

During a brief Q&A with her Twitter followers that year, the Queens native revealed that she pulled the plug on the collab after her peer’s father, rapper and Former Source Magazine EIC Benzino, ruined the surprise by announcing the song ahead of time.

“I did pull it,” Nicki replied to a fan asking her about her feature verse on the record. “But the label hit me going hard. But rlly I had a private convo w|coi & that’s what changed my mind. Not the label.” She added, “I just felt bad that she was robbed of telling the world in her own way @ her own time. But that’s water under the bridge now. Good vibes all 2022.”

The post Coi Lerai Speaks On Nicki Minaj Riff, Says Labels Are Responsible For Female Rap Beef first appeared on The Source.

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Trump Wants to Host Event at Madison Square Garden with Rappers and Athletes to Lure Black Voters

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Here’s What We Know About the Jurors Seated in Trump Historic Criminal Trial

Donald Trump is looking for your favorite rappers and ball players to support his presidential bid. According to The Boston Herald, Trump is looking to bring big stars in the Hip-Hop community to Madison Square Garden for a campaign rally.

Trump is also looking to appear in Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta. There currently isn’t a firm plan to engage the Black community, which is alarming for Trump’s campaign with just five months left until election day.

“To be quite honest, the Republican Party does not have a cohesive engagement plan for Black communities,” said Darrell Scott, a Black pastor and longtime Trump ally who co-founded the National Diversity Coalition for Trump in 2016. “What it has are conservatives in communities of color who have taken it upon themselves to head our own initiatives.”

Any sports or Hip-Hop luminaree will likely receive a negative reaction from Black leaders. One of them is Rev. Al Sharpton, who spoke against rappers who are standing in support of former President Donald Trump. During an appearance on MSNBC in Aug. 2023, Sharpton questioned how Black people, including rappers, could support Trump, recalling his history with the Central Park Five.

For a brief history lesson, in 1989, Trump, who was then a prominent New York City businessman, took out several full-page newspaper advertisements calling for New York City politicians to reinstate the death penalty following the brutal rape and attack of a female jogger in New York City. Five youth, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, and Kevin Richardson, were wrongfully imprisoned for 7-13 years until the attacker was caught. They had been coerced into giving false confessions and received substantial settlements. All are involved in criminal justice activism efforts now. Trump never formally apologized to the five, especially since he took out the ads before their trials began.

“Let’s go to the 1990s when five young Black and brown men were falsely accused of raping a white woman in Central Park,” Sharpton said. “It was Donald Trump that took out ads in the papers in New York saying they should get the death penalty.”

Sharpton later said, “Black men need to know they were all young Black men. One spent 13 years in jail. He was with us for the March on Washington on Saturday. Let them come and tell the rappers and other Black men being seduced by Trump what he did in his hometown to innocent to Black men.”

The post Trump Wants to Host Event at Madison Square Garden with Rappers and Athletes to Lure Black Voters first appeared on The Source.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Baseball HOF And The Players Alliance Provide Free Admission To East-West Classic To Celebrate Black Baseball

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On the day the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY will officially open The Souls of the Game exhibit, the Players Alliance will ensure museum visitors have the opportunity to experience the culmination of Black history and baseball.

In celebration of Black baseball, the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, the opening of The Souls of the Game exhibit and Museum admission will be free on Saturday, May 25, courtesy of The Players Alliance. The opening of the exhibit will be the same day as the Hall of Fame East-West Classic is played at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown.

“The story of Black baseball, told through the voices of those who lived and live it, is a vital part of the American narrative and one from which everyone can learn,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are so grateful to The Players Alliance for making it possible for everyone to enter the Museum on Saturday, May 25, as we open The Souls of the Game exhibit. This partnership will allow visitors to experience the stories of Black baseball as never before possible.”

As part of the fan experience at the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, The Players Alliance will bring their Level Up Lab to the concourse outside the front gates of Doubleday Field. The Level Up Lab is a retail-style pop-up experience offering one on one tips from current and former pro players ensuring access and engagement of urban and rural players. Players learn proper sizing for bats, gloves and more.

“The Players Alliance is thrilled to support our many leaders playing in the East-West Classic by helping fans enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Margarette Purvis, interim executive director of The Players Alliance. “Through this partnership with the Hall of Fame, we will give access to Black history to thousands of fans who will visit the Museum on May 25. By experiencing Black baseball history, guests will see the path to build a stronger and more inclusive game going forward.”

Located on the Museum’s second floor in the Yawkey Gallery, The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball will cover stories of early Black baseball, the Negro Leagues era, the complexities of reintegration, Jackie Robinson, post-reintegration progress and retrogress, and calls for change in today’s game while celebrating the newest superstars of the era. Meaningful stories from Black baseball are also being added to other exhibits throughout the Museum.

The exhibit is part of the Hall of Fame’s Black Baseball Initiative that includes additional outreach programs, educational materials and virtual programming and is made possible by the Yawkey Foundation with additional support from Bill Janetschek in honor of his siblings Robert and Ann, the Anthony A. Yoseloff Foundation and the Bisignano Family. The initiative will also enhance Black Baseball stories found throughout the Museum.

The Souls of the Game, a title that pays tribute to W.E.B. Du Bois’s seminal 1903 book “The Souls of Black Folk”, will explore the Black baseball experience of those men, women and children who were and are an integral part of our National Pastime.

Subtitled “Voices of Black Baseball”, the exhibit will highlight first-person accounts by the many individuals whose experiences shaped them, their community, baseball and America at large. Featuring historically significant artifacts, documents and photographs, and utilizing audio, video, and interactive elements, the exhibit will tell a more inclusive story of baseball, shine a light on and correct misconceptions about Black baseball.

For more information about the Museum’s Black Baseball Initiative, please visit baseballhall.org/BBI.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Baseball HOF And The Players Alliance Provide Free Admission To East-West Classic To Celebrate Black Baseball first appeared on The Source.

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Diddy Responds to Aubrey O’Day Claiming He Tried to Buy Her Silence

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Aubrey O’Day Claims Diddy Wanted to Buy Silence in Exchange for Publishing Rights 

Diddy is firing back at Aubrey O’Day’s claims against him. Over the weekend, O’Day stated Diddy attempted to buy her silence using her publishing.

O’Day also appeared in The Downfall of Diddy, a film from TMZ.

In response, Diddy told TMZ: “Aubrey O’Day got her big break because Diddy and Bad Boy cast her in their show with her group, Danity Kane. Last year, when he reassigned his portion of the publishing to Bad Boy artists, an unprecedented move within the industry and which he did not have to do, not all artists signed an NDA, contrary to what she claims.”

TMZ reported that last year when the mogul formerly known as Puff Daddy reassigned publishing rights back to Bad Boy artists, it was considered an unprecedented move within an industry known for unfairly withholding pub rights and revenue, and quite frankly, he didn’t need to do, artists were asked to sign NDAs. But O’Day says not all signed the silencing document and did not want parts of Diddy’s NDA to get back her publishing rights, which she contends wasn’t worth much. 

O’Day was signed to Bad Boy Records in the 2000s, so she had a front-row seat to who Diddy was during that time. TMZ spoke to her for their new documentary The Downfall of Diddy, premiering on Tubi, which unpacks the Bad Boy CEO’s allegations and ensuing investigation after those major raids that hit his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. 

Get this: O’Day claims she had wind of what may have been coming for Diddy as far back as September 2023. See, that’s around the time Diddy made that big announcement that he was giving his former artists (the one’s who are still alive) the rights to their music catalogs.

On the surface, however, left field felt like a generous move. However, according to Aubrey, there were strings attached behind the scenes. Aubrey O’Day claimed Diddy included as part of the deal that artists needed to sign NDAs. This maneuver was designed to silence them from speaking out on their experiences while at Bad Boy, and most certainly in the presence of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Aubrey shut that right on down. She feels her ability to talk about her time during her Bad Boy days is more valuable than what was being offered.

Not to mention, her talking now has been consistent with her energy for years. O’Day has been talking about Diddy’s behavior for a long time, and she has been sounding the alarm. No one was listening until the relatively recent accusations and civil suit brought on by singer Cassy and several others, which Diddy categorically denies even though he settled with Cassy less than 24 hours after the suit became public. And if you think that big to do about the publishing was about real money, think again. At least for O’Day, she contends the amount of cash connected to her publishing rights was disrespectfully low. If true, we’re talking about pennies. And TBH, she’s making real money on other platforms, such as her OnlyFans, so it’s no wonder she rejected the offer.

The post Diddy Responds to Aubrey O’Day Claiming He Tried to Buy Her Silence first appeared on The Source.

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Investigation Underway Following Shooting of Guard of Cash XO, The Weeknd’s Business Partner

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Investigation Underway Following Shooting of Guard of Cash XO, The Weeknd's Business Partner

Authorities in Los Angeles are probing a shooting incident that occurred outside the lavish Encino residence of music producer Cash XO, known offstage as Amir Esmailian, co-founder of XO Records with Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd.

According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, reporting gunfire near the 101 Freeway and White Oak Avenue. One caller, identified as the victim, alleged being shot near the guard shack by three armed individuals wearing medical masks and hoodies, who fled after the altercation.

The wounded security guard was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where he underwent surgery. Authorities later provided an update stating that he is expected to survive.

Investigators revealed that at least four individuals were inside the residence during the incident, suggesting Esmailian employed the injured guard. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.

The shooting has sparked concerns in the community, raising questions about safety and security in affluent neighborhoods like Encino. As authorities continue their inquiries, residents await further updates on the case, hoping for swift justice and increased vigilance.

The post Investigation Underway Following Shooting of Guard of Cash XO, The Weeknd’s Business Partner first appeared on The Source.

The post Investigation Underway Following Shooting of Guard of Cash XO, The Weeknd’s Business Partner appeared first on The Source.

Outkast Release Personal Statements on the Passing of Rico Wade: ‘Without Rico Wade… There Would Be No Outkast’

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Andre 3000 and Big Boi Share Family Recipes for Atlanta's Meals on Wheels

Outkast has released a statement in memory of Rico Wade. The statement includes personal messages from Andre 3000 and Big Boi.

“The first time we met Rico [Wade] of Organized Noize, we had the ‘Scenario’ instrumental on and we just rapped damn near the whole song, non-stop,” Andre 3000 wrote.

“That day, after we rhymed, Rico saw something in us. At that time we’d both shaven off all our hair. We’d dyed our hair blonde one time: We were young and in high school, we were outcasts, you know?” André wrote. “Rico saw that, and he said, ‘These guys can really rhyme. They don’t really rhyme like people from the South.’ So he told us to come over to his house, and that’s where the dungeon is, in the basement.”

Big Boi added, “From the beginning, Organized Noize signed us. They were our big brothers, and they did a production deal with LaFace Records. They were the sones that gave us our first shot and we been doing music with them since the beginning. Without Rico Wade… there would be no OutKast.”

Previously on Instagram, Big Boi revealed he is experiencing “a different type of hurt.”

This is a different type of hurt …. 💔 Slick Ricky Wade .. I know you’re with us STILL … in a bigger role now… Big Angel Energy… the Highest of Vibrations … Praise Yah .#RicoWade #DungeonFamily #WeDF

The Dungeon Family and Organized Noize also issued a statement mourning the late Rico Wade. The message comes via the Organized Noize Instagram:

“We are devastated by the news of the passing of our dear brother Rico Wade. The world has lost one of the most innovative architects in music, and we have lost an invaluable friend. Rico was the cornerstone of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, and we will forever treasure his memory and the moments we shared, creating music as a united team. Our hearts weigh heavy with sorrow, and we kindly request privacy and empathy during this challenging period. Rico’s presence will always have a special spot in our hearts, and in the music we presented to the world.” – Organized Noize and The Dungeon Family

Rico Wade passed away at the age of 52, as announced by Atlanta rapper Killer Mike via Instagram.

I don’t have the words to express my deep and profound sense of loss. I am Praying for your wife and Children. I am praying for the Wade family. I am praying for us all.
I deeply appreciate your acceptance into The Dungeon Family, mentorship, Friendship and Brotherhood. Idk where I would be without ya’ll.
This is a part of the journey. You told me “It ain’t been hard throughout the journey, it’s been a Journey” . The journey ain’t gonna be the Same Journey without U. Like U say tho Umma “Stay Down on it”……we all are.
Love and Respect
Michael

Born and raised in Georgia, Wade co-founded Organized Noize in the early ’90s alongside Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown, catalyzing a musical movement that would shape the landscape of Atlanta hip-hop. The trio’s innovative sound, rooted in funk and soul, became synonymous with the city’s burgeoning music scene.

Wade’s influence extended beyond production. He played a pivotal role in nurturing talent within the Dungeon Family, including iconic acts like OutKast and Goodie Mob. His contributions to OutKast’s albums, including Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens, and Aquemini, solidified his legacy as a visionary producer.

Organized Noize’s impact reverberated across the music industry, with hits for TLC, Goodie Mob, and others. Their collaboration with OutKast on tracks like “So Fresh, So Clean” from “Stankonia” further cemented their status as pioneers of the genre.

As one of the founding members of the Dungeon Family, Wade’s legacy extends beyond his contributions to music, having helped launch the careers of artists like Killer Mike, Janelle Monáe, and his cousin Future.

Details surrounding Wade’s death remain undisclosed at this time.

The post Outkast Release Personal Statements on the Passing of Rico Wade: ‘Without Rico Wade… There Would Be No Outkast’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Outkast Release Personal Statements on the Passing of Rico Wade: ‘Without Rico Wade… There Would Be No Outkast’ appeared first on The Source.

The Weeknd To Help Provide 18 Million Loaves Of Bread To Families In Gaza

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United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Goodwill Ambassador and multi-platinum global recording artist Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is allocating another $2 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund toward WFP’s humanitarian response efforts in Gaza. This support will provide over 1,500 metric tons of fortified wheat flour, which can make over 18 million loaves of bread that can help feed more than 157,000 Palestinians for one month.

This funding builds on the original $2.5 million, equivalent to four million emergency meals, that Tesfaye directed to WFP’s Gaza response in December 2023. It provided 820 metric tons of food parcels to feed more than 173,000 Palestinians for two weeks. Additionally, Tesfaye is making an urgent appeal to fans, calling on them to give what they can by donating towards WFP’s efforts in Gaza. More than 1 million Palestinians face catastrophic levels of hunger across Gaza and need urgent support.

“With famine looming in Gaza, Abel’s generous support will provide vital relief for thousands of Palestinian families who battle the grip of hunger every day. We are tremendously grateful for his contribution, compassion and for his unwavering advocacy for WFP and the people of Palestine,” said WFP’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer.

WFP is providing desperately needed food to over a million people across Gaza each month and is working to re-activate collapsed food systems. Most food is distributed in central and southern Gaza, with food deliveries to the north increasing since March. Around 2,100 metric tons of food parcels and wheat flour have been brought into northern Gaza via land routes and an additional 45 metric tons have been airdropped. 

WFP distributes food in U.N. shelters, communities and make-shift camps, including ready-to-eat food, wheat flour and specialized nutritional products for children, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. It also supports over 100 community kitchens and aims to provide 500,000 hot meals daily. WFP is helping bakeries become operational again, supplying four bakeries in the north and 12 bakeries in central and southern Gaza with wheat flour, fuel, yeast, salt and sugar.

The post The Weeknd To Help Provide 18 Million Loaves Of Bread To Families In Gaza first appeared on The Source.

The post The Weeknd To Help Provide 18 Million Loaves Of Bread To Families In Gaza appeared first on The Source.

Dawn Staley Celebrates South Carolina’s Championship Win at Disney World

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Dawn Staley Celebrates Historic Women’s College Basketball Nat

After leading the South Carolina women’s basketball team to victory in the national championship earlier this month, head coach Dawn Staley fulfilled her promise to visit “The Most Magical Place on Earth” by arriving at Disney World on Saturday. The celebration kicked off with a day filled with signature Disney attractions and a festive parade at Magic Kingdom.

Dawn Staley Celebrates Historic Women’s College Basketball Nat

Staley’s Disney adventure began with a thrilling ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. By midday, she found herself at Magic Kingdom, where she rode atop a parade float alongside her fellow South Carolina basketball assistant coaches. As the center of attention during a celebratory cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A., Staley was surrounded by streamers, fireworks, Disney characters, and cheering guests. She even had the chance to chill with Minnie Mouse, who joined in the festivities dressed in her own basketball uniform.

Dawn Staley Celebrates Historic Women’s College Basketball Nat

A six-time WNBA All-Star as a player, Staley’s coaching expertise led the South Carolina team to its third women’s basketball national title on April 6th, marking the end of an undefeated season. With this win, Staley’s coaching record reached an impressive 109-3 over the last three years, solidifying her status as one of the most accomplished coaches in women’s college basketball history with three national crowns to her name.

Dawn Staley Celebrates Historic Women’s College Basketball Nat

Staley’s announcement of her Disney visit during a live post-game interview on national TV added her to the prestigious list of sports champions who have celebrated their victories at a Disney park. This tradition, which began with the New York Giants following their Super Bowl win in 1987, has since welcomed the biggest names in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and the Olympics.

As Dawn Staley continues to inspire both on and off the court, her visit to Disney World serves as a magical celebration of her team’s remarkable achievement and her remarkable coaching career.

The post Dawn Staley Celebrates South Carolina’s Championship Win at Disney World first appeared on The Source.

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[WATCH] Tubi Premieres ‘TMZ Presents: Downfall Of Diddy’ Documentary

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In what some may call “jumping the gun” regarding his guilt or innocence, television streaming app Tubi premiered the TMZ Presents: Downfall Of Diddy last night(April 28), a documentary that details the allegations of sexual abuse against the Bad Boy music mogul, the March raid and even his beef with incarcerated nemesis and former Death Row CEO Suge Knight.

See the entire documentary HERE

Diddy is on the ropes after a series of lawsuits, mainly involving sexual misconduct and even a federal sex trafficking lawsuit. TMZ has the inside story on what was really going down in the rap mogul’s world before and during his legal woes that have seemingly taken the troubled mogul from thriving billionaire to a potentially crumbed empire.

Diddy’s legal troubles began in November of last year when singer and former girlfriend Cassie filed a $30 million lawsuit against Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, accusing him of sexual assault, sex trafficking and coercion, detailing a decade-long pattern of abuse. Just one day after Cassie filed the lawsuit, she settled with Diddy out of court.

As the dust cleared, multiple accusers stepped forward, detailing their own sexual-assault allegations against Diddy in the months following Cassie’s explosive lawsuit. Federal agents got involved on March 25, with Homeland Security Investigations raiding Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami properties in connection to an alleged sex-trafficking case involving him.

The post [WATCH] Tubi Premieres ‘TMZ Presents: Downfall Of Diddy’ Documentary first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Tubi Premieres ‘TMZ Presents: Downfall Of Diddy’ Documentary appeared first on The Source.

Suge Knight: I’m Not Going To Celebrate Diddy’s Downfall

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Despite their decades long feud which, according to rumor and reports may have costed several men their lives, former Death Row Records CEo Marion “Suge” Knight said that he would not kick Diddy while he’s down and surprisingly, he actually felt sympathy for the Bad Boy mogul in the new doc TMZ Presents: The Downfall of Diddy.

Suge says his thoughts went to Diddy’s kids and the negative impact the allegations have on hip-hop culture. He also says he’s not the type to revel in people’s downfalls, adding he’d rather end the beef with Diddy through conversation instead of rooting for the world to tear him down.

No one will ever forget when the beef between the two CEOs and their respective camps reached their height at the 1995 Source Awards when Knight said that if you want to be a star and don’t want your executive producer dancing in the videos, “Come to Death Row!”

The post Suge Knight: I’m Not Going To Celebrate Diddy’s Downfall first appeared on The Source.

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