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Beyoncé Reportedly Prepares Cease and Desist Towards Trump Campaign Over Use of ‘Freedom’

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Whelp, that was quick. Beyoncé is reportedly preparing to send a cease-and-desist letter to Donald Trump’s campaign following the unauthorized use of her song “Freedom.” 

ICYMI, on Tuesday, August 20, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung weirdly shared a 13-second video on social media showing Trump deplaning in Michigan. In the clip, Trump is seen walking the tarmac and giving a two-handed fist pump, with Beyoncé’s 2016 hit song “Freedom” from her “Lemonade” album playing in the background.

Like we said yesterday, weird. 

As we expected, a source close to Beyoncé informed “Rolling Stone” that Trump’s campaign did not seek or receive permission to use the track. 

Ya’ll probably know Vice President Kamala Harris recently adopted “Freedom” as her unofficial campaign anthem after stepping up as the Democratic party’s lead for the upcoming election. According to CNN, Beyoncé granted Harris permission. Trump doesn’t have that green light.

The Trump campaign’s use of the song has drawn criticism. One person tweeted, “Freedom is a song written about slavery and police brutality against POC. How disgusting and despicable for any of you to use it to support that convicted felon.”

Recently, the estate of the late singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Trump over the alleged unauthorized use of the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at Republican rallies and in campaign videos. Get this the estate’s lawyers claim Trump owes $150,000 for each unauthorized use of the song, which they allege has been used over 100 times. Insert chuckle, because that campaign is really making some weird decisions that might end up costing them a few bucks.

Trump is no stranger of swagger jacking without permission. He has a history of using popular music without the go ahead, dating back to his 2016 campaign, where he frequently played Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” at his rallies. Shortly afterward, the 16-time Grammy winner informed Trump that he did not have her permission to use the song at his events.

When is this guy going to learn?

The post Beyoncé Reportedly Prepares Cease and Desist Towards Trump Campaign Over Use of ‘Freedom’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Beyoncé Reportedly Prepares Cease and Desist Towards Trump Campaign Over Use of ‘Freedom’ appeared first on The Source.

Steve Harvey Not Here For Dr. Umar’s Claims Harris Campaign Paid For Support

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Steve Harvey is not the for BS when it comes to Dr. Umar slandering his name.

Dr. Umar Johnson recently sparked controversy by accusing Steve Harvey and other prominent Black celebrities of accepting payments to pressure the Black community into voting for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. 

Let’s just stop right here. Dr. Umar is an interesting character. His brand is undeniably a kin to stirring controversy, generally by challenging his so called influential peers’ albeit their blackness, intentions within the Black community or what he thinks Black people should do as a community. The real question we’d like to know is what ever happened to that school of his he was building? We’ll wait.

 Anyway, carrying the heck on …

Steve Harvey, however, stood on his ten toes and addressed these claims during his radio show, ”The Steve Harvey Morning Show.”

“Brother Umar, let me say this, man. I absolutely love some of the things you say. I really, really do. Some of the stuff, I don’t always agree with, but ain’t nobody got to agree with everything I say,” Harvey remarked. “But let me clear the air on something. You can’t hire Steve Harvey for $10,000. I don’t know where you got that number from, but you can’t offer Steve Harvey $10,000 to do nothing. You can go through the industry and ask about me.”

Harvey went on to say: “I don’t do nothing, nothing, for $10,000. Don’t even insult the brand equity that I built over these 30 years on television. I just don’t, man. I’m doing this absolutely free of charge because I want this country to be in her hands as opposed to Donald Trump’s hands. That’s who I do it for.”

Harvey also mentioned Rickey Smiley and D.L. Hughley, saying they shared his stance and declared they are “running the airwaves of Black radio.” He went on to insist he has not “received a single dollar from anybody to do what I do. I’m doing it gladly. And I’m going to freely have her on here again and again and again. I am going to freely ask soft a”” questions. I am going to freely lodge the basketball so she can slam dunk all these questions. I am going to freely sit here and agree.”

Harvey concluded with: “The Black vote is not for sale. But it is a very important block of votes that can control the outcome of this election. And if I have my way, and it’s within God’s will, she will be the next President of the United States. Because the alternative, it’s only two people running for President. If somebody offered you $10,000, you should’ve took it. Ain’t nobody offer me nothing. Please don’t insult me. It cost way more for me to turn this mic on.”

And that’s that.

The post Steve Harvey Not Here For Dr. Umar’s Claims Harris Campaign Paid For Support first appeared on The Source.

The post Steve Harvey Not Here For Dr. Umar’s Claims Harris Campaign Paid For Support appeared first on The Source.

Steve Harvey Not Here For Dr. Umar’s Claims Harris Campaign Paid For Support

by
image

Steve Harvey is not the for BS when it comes to Dr. Umar slandering his name.

Dr. Umar Johnson recently sparked controversy by accusing Steve Harvey and other prominent Black celebrities of accepting payments to pressure the Black community into voting for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. 

Let’s just stop right here. Dr. Umar is an interesting character. His brand is undeniably a kin to stirring controversy, generally by challenging his so called influential peers’ albeit their blackness, intentions within the Black community or what he thinks Black people should do as a community. The real question we’d like to know is what ever happened to that school of his he was building? We’ll wait.

 Anyway, carrying the heck on …

Steve Harvey, however, stood on his ten toes and addressed these claims during his radio show, ”The Steve Harvey Morning Show.”

“Brother Umar, let me say this, man. I absolutely love some of the things you say. I really, really do. Some of the stuff, I don’t always agree with, but ain’t nobody got to agree with everything I say,” Harvey remarked. “But let me clear the air on something. You can’t hire Steve Harvey for $10,000. I don’t know where you got that number from, but you can’t offer Steve Harvey $10,000 to do nothing. You can go through the industry and ask about me.”

Harvey went on to say: “I don’t do nothing, nothing, for $10,000. Don’t even insult the brand equity that I built over these 30 years on television. I just don’t, man. I’m doing this absolutely free of charge because I want this country to be in her hands as opposed to Donald Trump’s hands. That’s who I do it for.”

Harvey also mentioned Rickey Smiley and D.L. Hughley, saying they shared his stance and declared they are “running the airwaves of Black radio.” He went on to insist he has not “received a single dollar from anybody to do what I do. I’m doing it gladly. And I’m going to freely have her on here again and again and again. I am going to freely ask soft a”” questions. I am going to freely lodge the basketball so she can slam dunk all these questions. I am going to freely sit here and agree.”

Harvey concluded with: “The Black vote is not for sale. But it is a very important block of votes that can control the outcome of this election. And if I have my way, and it’s within God’s will, she will be the next President of the United States. Because the alternative, it’s only two people running for President. If somebody offered you $10,000, you should’ve took it. Ain’t nobody offer me nothing. Please don’t insult me. It cost way more for me to turn this mic on.”

And that’s that.

The post Steve Harvey Not Here For Dr. Umar’s Claims Harris Campaign Paid For Support first appeared on The Source.

The post Steve Harvey Not Here For Dr. Umar’s Claims Harris Campaign Paid For Support appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Fat Joe Receives Key To The City From NYC Mayor Adams

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Even though he hosted a star-studded concert on his home turf over the weekend, Bronx native and Hip Hop legend Fat Joe was also presented the key to the City of New York from Mayor Eric Adams. The lifetime award was not only given to Crack for his skills on the mic, but also his commitment to philanthropy and giving back to his community.

See the footage HERE of the ceremony in Orchard Beach

Joe’s advocacy is well known for promoting healthcare, Joe has shown his concern for average Americans being taken advantage of by large medical companies. Joe even attended a rally in the Nation’s capitol to push the bill that will eliminate hidden fees in healthcare and ha seven met with President Biden a few times to discuss the issue.

Back in May, Joe received an honorary doctorate degree from Lehman College in the Bronx, where he credited his Bronx upbringing for making him the man he is today.

Mayor Adams recently rescinded the same honor to Diddy, who was requested to return the Key to the City following the Cassie assault video.

The post [WATCH] Fat Joe Receives Key To The City From NYC Mayor Adams first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Fat Joe Receives Key To The City From NYC Mayor Adams appeared first on The Source.

Craig Mack’s Cause Of Death Revealed As HIV/AIDS-Related Complications

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Six years ago, premiere Bad Boy Records artist Craig Mack died from an unknown, acute illness that was first believed to be heart-related. A recent article from Rolling Stone has unveiled that Mack’s death certificate now reads that the “Flava In Ya Ear” rapper died from HIV/AIDS-related illness.

Published on Friday(August 18), the Rolling Stone article contained an interview with his first wife, Roxanne Alexis Hill-Johnson, his daughter Amanda Mack, and his younger brother Andrew Mack, who all opened up about the “Flava In Ya Ear” rapper’s life from his peak at Bad Boy Records to his final days on his deathbed.

“I’ve truly, honestly never seen a human being in that condition before,” Andrew Mack said. “He was catatonic.”

“I believe he was very much in denial, but that’s him living his truth to the end,” he continued. “I know that sounds really crazy, but you have to know him to understand that. As much as that bothers me, I understand why he did what he did. He lived his truth.”

His widow and brother contend that the New York native learned of his diagnosis before he left his hometown in 2007. mack moved to South Carolina, where he joined the Overcomer Ministry. By 2014, Mack had already shown signs of failing health after he lost au unmistakable amount of weight and was frequently sick. Mack originally told people he had congestive heart failure and was hospitalized, but he didn’t seek out any further medical treatment.

By 2018, Mack walked with a cane until he was unable to walk on his own. His family drove from Vermont to spend a few days with Mack in his final hours.

Mack’s family still has a lot of questions about his life and Hill-Johnson hopes to answer some of them in a documentary she’s developing with Alvin Toney, who recorded Mack’s final interview before his death.

The post Craig Mack’s Cause Of Death Revealed As HIV/AIDS-Related Complications first appeared on The Source.

The post Craig Mack’s Cause Of Death Revealed As HIV/AIDS-Related Complications appeared first on The Source.

Nelly And Ashanti Welcome Their First Child, Names Son Kareem Kenkaide Haynes

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Today, a rep for Ashanti confirmed the news that Ashanti and her fiance, Grammy Award winning rapper Nelly, welcomed their baby boy four weeks ago on July 18. It was also revealed that the couple have named their son Kareem Kenkaide Haynes.

Ashanti shared the life-changing news on Instagram, sharing with her follower that she  is “four weeks postpartum.”

See the full announcement post from the Grammy Award winning singer HERE

In the caption of the post she wrote, “Funny how life’s plans aren’t…always on time.. Lol.”

“I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time now but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings!” she added. “This is what postpartum looks like.”

“I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby,” she said, referencing the lyrics to her 2002 hit song, “Baby.”

Ashanti and Nelly first started dating in 2003 and were together for 10 years before splitting up. The couple released the song “Body On Me,” from Ashanti’s album “The Declaration,” with Akon in 2008.

Eight years later, Ashanti and Nelly rekindled their flame and the rest is Hip Hop history.

The post Nelly And Ashanti Welcome Their First Child, Names Son Kareem Kenkaide Haynes first appeared on The Source.

The post Nelly And Ashanti Welcome Their First Child, Names Son Kareem Kenkaide Haynes appeared first on The Source.

Metro Boomin’s Mother Killed By Her Husband In Murder-Suicide

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A very tragic story has been confirmed about the mother of super producer Metro Boomin, who was shot and killed by her husband on Friday night before turning the gun on himself and ending his own life.

Leslie Joanne Wayne, Metro’s mom, was killed in an apparent murder-suicide by her husband(not Metro’s father), which Metro did not learn about until his mother’s body was discovered by police outside of the Atlanta area, according to law enforcement sources.

Reps for the Metro confirmed Wayne’s death to TMZ and shared that the family is requesting privacy during this difficult time. An autopsy is currently underway to determine Ms. Wayne’s cause of death.

Ms. Wayne raised Boomin and his three siblings in St. Louis and encouraged him to pursue his passion through adolescence and early adulthood. She’d even drive him from STL to Atlanta so he could collaborate with artists he was connecting with, all in hopes of getting his career off the ground.

For those who don’t know Metro has produced hits for some of the biggest artists in Hip Hop including Future, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Migos, Travis Scott, Drake, Kanye West and 21 Savage.

The post Metro Boomin’s Mother Killed By Her Husband In Murder-Suicide first appeared on The Source.

The post Metro Boomin’s Mother Killed By Her Husband In Murder-Suicide appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] YSL RICO Trial: Young Thug Burts Into Laughter In Courtroom Following Comment From His Lawyer

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In the ongoing fiasco of the YSL RICO trial in Atlanta, another courtroom debacle occurred during Young Thug’s RICo trial yesterday, with the Young Slime Life head honcho laughing so hard at his lawyer’s comment, that his amusement almost couldn’t be contained.

During the trial, as seen on livestream, Thug’s attorney Brian Steel used a metaphor to describe him not being allowed to see the prosecution’s evidence, saying, “This is all to me like I have a bag over my head and getting smashed with a baseball bat and I have no idea where to hit. I don’t have anything. I have asked for reports.”

Halfway through Steel’s commentary, Young Thug exploded into laughter and had to cover his mouth to quiet his unexpected outburst.

See the outburst HERE

Obviously, the changing of the guard from Judge Ural Glanville to Judge Paige Reese Whitaker still didn’t cease the shenanigans in the courtroom and the colorful testimony of Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, who admitted to lying under oath to the prosecution, is proof.

“Like I told you before y’all called me to trial, I have lied,” he testified. “I made things up. I told you this before y’all brought me in this courtroom, and I’m telling you now. You asked me about 2015. I had got my life together. Y’all are trying to put this on my conscience, y’all are trying to put people’s lives in my hands.”

He added, “I don’t wanna be here. Y’all have pressured me, I’m tired of y’all, cause y’all know y’all wrong, and y’all Black people doing this to us.”

The post [WATCH] YSL RICO Trial: Young Thug Burts Into Laughter In Courtroom Following Comment From His Lawyer first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] YSL RICO Trial: Young Thug Burts Into Laughter In Courtroom Following Comment From His Lawyer appeared first on The Source.

The LOX x Paper Planes Drop Capsule Collection

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n celebration of the 30th anniversary of The LOX’s legendary debut album “Money, Power & Respect,” Roc Nation’s iconic streetwear brand, Paper Planes, is proud to announce an exclusive collaboration with the renowned hip hop group. This limited-edition collection honors The LOX’s enduring impact on hip hop culture and their ongoing legacy as New York legends.

The LOX, comprised of Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch, have been on an impressive press run leading up to their 30th anniversary milestone, including a standout performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. As they continue their anniversary tour, fans now have the perfect way to represent the group with a special edition Paper Planes crown, graphic tee, and hoodie designed in collaboration with The LOX.

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The collection was crafted by Queens native, Tmark, who has seamlessly blended Paper Planes‘ signature streetwear aesthetic with The LOX’s gritty, authentic New York style. These pieces are not just apparel—they’re a testament to the group’s influence over the last three decades. Whether you’re planning to rock these items on your block or at one of The LOX’s anniversary concerts, this collection is a must-have for fans and followers of both hip hop and streetwear.

The Paper Planes x The LOX collaboration will be available online at Paper Planes’ official site. Don’t miss out on this limited drop to commemorate a monumental occasion in hip hop history.

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The post The LOX x Paper Planes Drop Capsule Collection first appeared on The Source.

The post The LOX x Paper Planes Drop Capsule Collection appeared first on The Source.

The Weeknd LIVE From São Paulo: Exclusive Concert Experience On YouTube

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The Weeknd – the global superstar who first captivated audiences on YouTube more than a decade ago and boasts more than 35 million subscribers to his channel to date – will make a triumphant return to the platform on September 7th for a one-night-only livestream concert experience from the sold-out Estádio MorumBIS in São Paulo, Brazil. 

The visually stunning teaser – directed by YZA Voku – offers a compelling preview of a new song and features a series of AI-generated images by Google: Veo, Midjourney, Runway: Gen-3 and Luma: Dream Machine. 

A Rare Musical Experience

After a sold-out global tour spanning the past two years, The Weeknd has become renowned for his visually stunning performances and boundary-pushing artistry. With groundbreaking production, his upcoming São Paulo show promises to be one of his most electrifying concerts yet. Announced just weeks ago, this highly anticipated performance is expected to feature chart-topping hits and potentially offer a glimpse into what’s next for the artist.

Alongside the monumental show, The Weeknd will also donate 10% of net proceeds from all merchandise sales at the event and online to the Brazilian Soul Fund of BrazilFoundation. These funds will directly support communities in Brazil affected by natural disasters and economic hardships, with a focus on helping the most vulnerable families in southern Brazil recover and rebuild their lives after the devastating floods.

Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye shared, “I’m so excited to announce that we’ll be live streaming my show from São Paulo, Brazil, so everyone around the world can be a part of this special night. I wish I could come to every city and town on earth, but moments like this give us the chance to connect in real time at least and share that energy together, no matter where you are.” 

The post The Weeknd LIVE From São Paulo: Exclusive Concert Experience On YouTube first appeared on The Source.

The post The Weeknd LIVE From São Paulo: Exclusive Concert Experience On YouTube appeared first on The Source.