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Today in Hip-Hop History: The Ultramagnetic MCs Released ‘Critical Beatdown’ LP 35 Years Ago

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Kool Keith and the gang offer up a five-mic classic as their debut LP 35 years ago.

Now, this is what you call that real NYC “Golden Era” Hip Hop. BX natives Ced Gee, Moe Love, TR Love, and the infamous Doctor Octagon aka Kool Keith can celebrate alongside The Source in debuting a classic project three decades ago. On this date in 1988, the UltraMagnetic MCs dropped Critical Beatdown on the Next Plateau label.

With the majority of the production done in-house courtesy of Ced Gee and the rest by the late Paul C, the 15 track CB gave us Hip Hop theme songs like “Give The Drummer Some,” “Watch Me Now,” and the unforgettable “Ego Trippin’.”

Salute to Keith, Ced, Moe, and TR for this five-mic classic!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Ultramagnetic MCs Released ‘Critical Beatdown’ LP 35 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Ultramagnetic MCs Released ‘Critical Beatdown’ LP 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Sexyy Red Says Stimulus Checks Led to Her Supporting Donald Trump

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Sexyy Red revealed that she wants former President Donald Trump reelected to office. Why? He gave stimulus checks and freed rappers. In conversation with podcaster Theo Von, Sexyy Red revealed that she likes Trump.

“At first I don’t think people was f**king with him,” Sexxy Red said. “They thought he was racist, saying little sh*t against women. But once he started getting Black people out of jail and giving people that free money. Aw baby, we love Trump. We need him back in office.”

The free money Sexxy Red refers to are stimulus checks during the pandemic, which Trump was known to have stamped his signature on.

You can hear it from Sexxy Red below and read more about Trump’s struggle here.

Sexyy Red proves she’s as real as it gets in her latest hit, “Shake Yo Dreads.” The track not only showcases her unapologetic style but also celebrates her roots as she proudly declares, “I’m from the North Side, I still be in the streets.”

Despite her rising fame and success, Sexyy Red stays true to her Northside roots, making it clear that she’s far from the industry image some may perceive. This authenticity and her fierce attitude have garnered her a dedicated following.

“Shake Yo Dreads” is just one of Sexyy Red’s recent releases, following her Lil Durk collaboration, “Hellcats SRTs 2.” She’s also made history by placing four songs on the new TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, including the chart’s first-ever #1 hit with “SkeeYee.” Her rapid ascent in music highlights her staying power and distinct approach to hip-hop.

The post Sexyy Red Says Stimulus Checks Led to Her Supporting Donald Trump first appeared on The Source.

The post Sexyy Red Says Stimulus Checks Led to Her Supporting Donald Trump appeared first on The Source.

Michael Jordan Is Now Worth $3 Billion

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Who still wants to be like Mike?

Retired NBA legend Michael Jordan just became the first athlete ranked among America’s wealthiest people on the Forbes 400 list. Jordan, who has been a billionaire since 2014, catapulted onto the Forbes 400 list this year following the sale of the Charlotte Hornets in August for $3 billion. The former pro basketballer had been the team’s majority owner since 2010, when he bought the franchise for $275 million. Jordan built his fame through his 15 seasons with the NBA, but Forbes notes that his fortune largely stemmed from his off-court ventures.

For instance, Jordan earned $94 million during his time with the NBA, but he has scored an estimated $2.4 billion in pre-tax earnings from branding deals with McDonald’s, Gatorade and Nike — with the latter representing a sizable portion of his wealth. His most recent annual royalty check from Nike was for $260 million, Forbes notes.

Forbes reports:

Since Michael Jordan stepped onto an NBA court for the first time in 1984, earning an outsized payday has been a layup. Across his 15 NBA seasons, he hauled in $94 million and was the league’s highest-paid player in 1997 and 1998. But it was off the court where Jordan put serious air between himself and every other athlete on the planet, earning an estimated $2.4 billion (pre-tax) over his career with brands such as McDonald’s, Gatorade, Hanes and, of course, Nike, where his most recent yearly royalty check was for some $260 million.

Jordan had his biggest score in August, though, when he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets at an eye-watering $3 billion valuation. Even if he had sold at Forbes’ most recent valuation, an estimated $1.7 billion in 2022, it would have been a coup for the 60-year-old Hall of Famer. Instead, the 27th most valuable franchise in the NBA traded hands for the second-highest sale price in league history and nearly 17 times its value when Jordan became principal owner in 2010.

That places him in rare air. With an estimated net worth of $3 billion, Jordan has arrived on The Forbes 400, marking the first time a professional athlete has ranked among America’s wealthiest individuals.

The post Michael Jordan Is Now Worth $3 Billion first appeared on The Source.

The post Michael Jordan Is Now Worth $3 Billion appeared first on The Source.

New Photos Show Fetty Wap Has Found a Crew in Prison

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Fetty Wap's 4-Year-Old Daughter's Cause of Death Reportedly Revealed

Fetty Wap is getting all the pictures off in prison, following up on some previously dropped images from August. In the new set, Fetty is shown to have found some friends, posing with a crew of guys while wearing a crew neck and skully.

Fetty Wap is currently serving six years in prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking ring.

The New York Daily News reports Fetty Wap, born William Junior Maxwell II, was charged with conspiring of distributing over 100 kilos of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine from the West Coast for sale in New Jersey and Long Island.

In 2022, Fetty Wap pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine. After the plea, Fetty’s lawyers attempted to secure the five-year minimum as a sentence, citing his role in the trafficking was a result of financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the coming of the worldwide pandemic, things began to change for Mr. Maxwell. There were no opportunities to perform, thus his income was severely limited. He was sued personally, was going through a divorce, and was involved with a tour manager who was stealing from him. While the bills kept coming in, the money to pay them was running out,” his lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio, wrote.

In opposition, prosecutors were pushing for a nine-year sentence and even used his hit single “Trap Queen,” citing it as a history of a pattern. “Trap Queen” was used as a tribute song to an ex-girlfriend who helped distribute it in Patterson, NJ.

Law enforcement busted the drug ring, collecting $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilos of cocaine, two more of heroin, and several fentanyl pills. Additionally, two 9-mm handguns, a rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition were recovered.

The post New Photos Show Fetty Wap Has Found a Crew in Prison first appeared on The Source.

The post New Photos Show Fetty Wap Has Found a Crew in Prison appeared first on The Source.

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Tour Sets Records in Multiple Categories with $579M Earned

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Beyoncé Opens 'Renaissance' World Tour in Stockholm Sweden

All hail Queen Beyoncé. The Renaissance tour is now over, and according to Live Nation, it is one of the most successful tours of all time.

The Renaissance set of dates earned $579 million worldwide, with 2.7 million fans attending across 56 dates. The show hit 39 cities. One of the feats of the tour was a five-night stay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the longest run of shows for any artist in history, bringing in 238,00 fans each night.

The final total for Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour doubles her previous record held by the Formation World Tour. Renaissance is now the highest-grossing tour by a female artist, Black artist, and solo artist in American history.

The post Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Tour Sets Records in Multiple Categories with $579M Earned first appeared on The Source.

The post Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Tour Sets Records in Multiple Categories with $579M Earned appeared first on The Source.

SZA Says Her Past Romance with Drake Was ‘Childish’

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SZA Among Nomination Leaders for 2023 MTV Video Music Awards

SZA reflected on her romance with “Slime U Out” collaborator Drake, calling it “youth vibes.” Speaking with Rolling Stone, SZA said their romance occured when they both were “really young.”

“It wasn’t hot and heavy or anything,” SZA said. “It was like youth vibes. It was so childish.”

Now, SZA has a new idea of love: “I want to stunt like me when I meet the person I envision me being with. I envision them falling in love with me the way I am. But I guess it’s like I have to release that idea. Maybe it’s because I don’t know if I’ll like the way I am later?”

You can read the full feature from Rolling Stone below.

Drake‘s new single, “Slime You Out,” featuring SZA, has made a No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Proving Charlamagne Tha God was wrong about his assessment of the song.

The song is the 12th No. 1 single for Drake, bringing him into a tie for fifth most all time. It is the second for SZA, who also is in the Top 3 with the acoustic version of her hit “Snooze” with Justin Bieber.

According to Luminate, “Slime You Out” tallied an impressive 32.6 million streams, garnered 5.2 million radio airplay audience impressions, and achieved 2,000 downloads in the week ending Sept. 21.

READ MORE: Halle Berry Is Not a Fan of Drake Using Her Slime Photo as Single Art: ‘I Thought Better of Him!’

Drake now only trails Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, and The Beatles. Once he tops the last one, his line on “Going Bad”: “I have more slaps than The Beatles” will officially ring true.

Drake’s most recent No. 1 was “Jimmy Cooks” from the Honestly, Nevermind album.

The post SZA Says Her Past Romance with Drake Was ‘Childish’ first appeared on The Source.

The post SZA Says Her Past Romance with Drake Was ‘Childish’ appeared first on The Source.

First Day Presales for Beyoncé’s Film to Top $6 Million

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Beyoncé's "Break My Soul" Takes Hot 100 Top Spot

Early figures for Beyoncé’s forthcoming film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, have brought back a large first-day number. According to Deadline, The presale estimate for the first 24 hours is between $6-$7 million. The film will come after Thanksgiving and currently has a selling price of at least $22. A total presale opening for Beyoncé is projected for $20 million.

On Sunday, Beyoncé released a trailer for her upcoming movie, chronicling her groundbreaking Renaissance World Tour. The trailer is a visual feast, showcasing Beyoncé’s incredible artistry, stage presence, and creative vision.

The trailer opens with a montage of stunning shots from the tour, including Beyoncé performing on stage, interacting with her fans, and behind-the-scenes footage of her rehearsals and creative process. We also get a glimpse of the exclusive visuals from Beyoncé’s Renaissance album that will be featured in the movie.

The trailer also includes a brief interview with Beyoncé, in which she talks about the importance of the tour to her and her fans. “This tour was a celebration of our resilience and our ability to overcome any obstacle,” she says. “I wanted to create a show that would inspire and uplift people, and I think we achieved that.“

The trailer ends with the message: “Coming to theaters December 1, 2023.

The post First Day Presales for Beyoncé’s Film to Top $6 Million first appeared on The Source.

The post First Day Presales for Beyoncé’s Film to Top $6 Million appeared first on The Source.

A$AP Rocky Says His ‘DON’T BE DUMB’ Album Will Be His Best

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A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky is loading the release of his next album, DON’T BE DUMB, and fans are wondering what’s on the way. If you ask the man himself, Rocky said he thinks it’s his best work.

“I’ve been really experimenting as usual and what I like about this is it feels like my best work yet,” said Rocky to DAZED magazine. “I want to leave expectations wide and open. I don’t want to tell you what to expect. I just want people to experience it how they do naturally.”

In July, A$AP Rocky treated fans to an electrifying new video for his latest track, “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n).” The song, released on July 21st, is a sneak peek into his highly anticipated upcoming album under A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records. Notably, the track boasts production credits from the multi-talented Pharrell Williams, adding to its allure.

Alongside the song release, Rocky collaborated with Beats to launch a campaign for the all-new Beats Studio Pro. In a short film titled “Iconic Sound,” directed and starring Rocky himself, the Beats Studio Pro takes center stage, showcasing the perfect blend of music and technology.

The excitement doesn’t end there; during his Rolling Loud performance, Rocky surprised fans with a sneak preview of three unreleased songs, including “STOLE YA FLOW,” further building anticipation for his forthcoming album.

The post A$AP Rocky Says His ‘DON’T BE DUMB’ Album Will Be His Best first appeared on The Source.

The post A$AP Rocky Says His ‘DON’T BE DUMB’ Album Will Be His Best appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Damian Lillard Calls New TeammateGiannis Antentokounmpo ‘Best Player in the League’

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Lillard Calls Antentokounmpo 'Best Player in the League'

Damian Lillard made his first appearance as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks during Media Day on Monday (Oct. 2). Sitting in front of the media, Lillard stated that he will be playing “alongside the best player in the league,” speaking of Giannis Antentokounmpo.

“My whole career has been off-the-dribble 3s, pick-and-roll pull-up 3s, contested. Double-teamed. Trapped,” Lillard said. “I’m curious to see how that can be possible with a player as dominant as he is. I’m excited for an opportunity to play with him. I’m excited for the opportunity to be freed up and the opportunity to have more space and opportunity to play. It’s going to be fun.”

The Damian Lillard era of the Portland Trailblazers ended last week. Lillard has been dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal.

According to ESPN, the other teams in the deal are the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. The Blazers will receive Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s 2029 unprotected 1st-round draft pick, and unprotected Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030. Holiday has already been traded to Boston.

The Suns will get Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Damian Lillard Calls New TeammateGiannis Antentokounmpo ‘Best Player in the League’ first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Damian Lillard Calls New TeammateGiannis Antentokounmpo ‘Best Player in the League’ appeared first on The Source.

Sexyy Red Embraces Spooky Season with Spider-Woman Costume

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It’s spooky season and Sexyy Red already has her Halloween costume picked out. Introducing: Sexyy Spider-Woman.

Sexyy Red proves she’s as real as it gets in her latest hit, “Shake Yo Dreads.” The track not only showcases her unapologetic style but also celebrates her roots as she proudly declares, “I’m from the North Side, I still be in the streets.”

Despite her rising fame and success, Sexyy Red stays true to her Northside roots, making it clear that she’s far from the industry image some may perceive. This authenticity and her fierce attitude have garnered her a dedicated following.

“Shake Yo Dreads” is just one of Sexyy Red’s recent releases, following her Lil Durk collaboration, “Hellcats SRTs 2.” She’s also made history by placing four songs on the new TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, including the chart’s first-ever #1 hit with “SkeeYee.” Her rapid ascent in music highlights her staying power and distinct approach to hip-hop.

The post Sexyy Red Embraces Spooky Season with Spider-Woman Costume first appeared on The Source.

The post Sexyy Red Embraces Spooky Season with Spider-Woman Costume appeared first on The Source.