On this day in 1999, the late great Ol’ Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan released his second LP Ni**a Please on the Elektra label. Before it’s release, ODB was quoted saying that the then-untitled album had two contenders for its name; God Made and Dirt Don’t Hurt and The Black Man Is God, White Man Is The Devil. Ni**a Please was decided on after the original two were considered too outrageous.
Known for his controversial nature, ODB’s idea of promoting this project was to get his name in the headlines as much as possible, whether it be positive or negative. In the time in between his debut and sophomore release ODB was all over entertainment news and tabloids. His antics included a bail money fundraiser, surviving a shootout with police, interrupting the 1998 Grammy Awards, and even popping up at the welfare office in Brooklyn in a limousine to pick up his food stamps.
Obviously, all press is good press because the album debut on the Billboard 200 at #10 and sold 93,000 copies in the first week. The album went on to be certified gold by the RIAA in the year of its release.
Today marks the 51st birthday of one of hip-hop’s most treasured lyricists, Nas.
By many, Nasir Jones is number one on their top, 10, 5, and 3 lists of the greatest emcees to ever touch the mic in Hip-Hop history. Marbled as the prodigal, deep, and lyrically intellectual spitter, Nas’ coming into Hip-Hop owned multidimensional potency. Not only was he a dexterous battle rapper, but the Queensbridge emcee was also gifted with a melodic touch for wax.
His 1991 debut on Main Source’s “Live At the BBQ” was an impressive display of the young Nas’ lyrical dexterity on a collective track with ridiculous blows.
“Verbal assassin, my architect pleases/When I was twelve, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus,” Nas easily launched the most compelling debut of a Hip-Hop emcee.
The mesmerizing drop eventually leads to a deal with Columbia Records, where he cements a legacy.
Over the course of two years, Nas huddled some of the culture’s best producers of the time, Large Professor, DJ Premier, Q-Tip, and Pete Rock to mold the echo of his debut album, Illmatic. The 1994 gem gained the likes of Hip-Hop purists and the young black youth. Drawing up the panoramic narrative as the young black boy from Queensbridge on the quest for survival, the 10-track piece is considered to be the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time.
The lyrical finesse of Escobar season continued to sizzle throughout Hip-Hop’s most prominent eras with profiled classics such as his certified sophomore debut, 1996’s It Was Written, followed by I Am…(1999), Nastradamus (1999), Stillmatic (2001), God’s Son (2002), up to 2018’s NASIR.
Nas has truly made his way into the prestigious lines of Hip-Hop heights. As of 2018, Nasty Nas is respectfully heralded as rap royalty. His influential reach stands beyond his lyrical supremacy, but his unmatched spirit which is true to the art form of rap.
Happy Birthday to one of the greatest lyricists in Hip-Hop history, Nas.
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, a Low-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, fired catcher Derek Bender for the unspeakable; Bender was tipping batters from the opposing team as to what pitches were coming from the mound, giving them a heads up. For the non-followers of baseball, it’s probably one of the most blatant forms of cheating.
The sixth round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina was playing in a doubleheader last Friday(September 6) against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, a fam team for the Detroit Tigers, when he was reportedly telling several batters what pitches were being thrown by Mussels’ starter Ross Dunn.
Lakeland brought in four runs in the second inning and took a 6-0 shut out to win the Florida State League West division and eliminate Fort Myers from playoff possibility after the Mussels held a six-game lead just three weeks earlier.
The Lakeland coaches informed Fort Myers’ coaches after the game of Bender’s antics and the Flying Tigers gave no indication either. Sources say that he told his teammates that he wanted the season to be over. Bender spent the final two games of the season in the team’s bullpen instead of in the dugout. Ironically, the Mussels won both games.
Bender played 19 games for Fort Myers, hitting .200/.273/.333 with two home runs and eight RBIs. In three seasons at Coastal Carolina, he hit .326/.408/.571 with 32 home runs and 153 RBIs in 144 games.
A catcher and first baseman selected with the 188th pick this year, Bender signed for $297,500, slightly below the $320,800 slot for that selection. He will keep the entirety of his bonus, sources said.
Both Bender and the Twins organization declined to comment.
Doechii recently unleashed her new project Alligator Bites Never Heal, which has earned her a great deal of praise from fans and peers alike. TDE’s Top Dawg was even quick to compare her to Kendrick Lamar, claiming that the mixtape evokes similar feelings in him that he did in his early days. “@doechii Alligator Bites Never Heal out now !! What are your thoughts & standouts so far ? I have the same feeling I had when KDOT dropped Section 80,” he wrote on Instagram. “She’s 1 of those ones 4sho !!!! #TDE20 #TimelessClassicMusic.”
Of course, this prompted supporters to demand a collab. During her recent appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, Doechii confirmed that she’s more than open to one. According to her, however, she’s not quite ready yet.
Doechii Says She Doesn’t Have The Right Record Yet
“I’ma say this. I don’t assume anything and I also don’t feel entitled to a Kendrick feature,” she said when asked whether or not she “expected” a verse from Kendrick. “But I would absolutely love that. That’s the goal. I’m sure that like, for my debut project, eventually I’m gonna ask Top if he could ask Kendrick, or ask Kendrick myself and see what comes from that.” Doechii continued, revealing that she doesn’t feel like she has the right record yet. She says she wants to approach the collab a certain way, which she’s not prepared for at this point.
“I’ma be real. I don’t think I have the record right now for that opportunity. I think I would have to come a certain way and I don’t think I’m ready for that,” she explained. Fortunately, it appears as though fans won’t have to wait too much longer to hear them on the same track. What do you think of Doechii claiming that she doesn’t have the record for a Kendrick Lamar feature at this point? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
GRAMMY Award-winning artist Bilal will unveil new single “Tell Me,” the latest from his forthcoming album Adjust Brightness, out September 27. Following the success of his June Black Music Month release, Live at Glasshaus featuring Questlove, Common, and Robert Glasper, Bilal is back with his first album of new music in eight years. The new work features 11 brand-new tracks that will take listeners on his most daring musical journey yet, marking a bold step forward in Bilal’s already innovative sound.
“Tell Me” is a standout piece from Adjust Brightness, offering a glimpse into the forward-thinking sonic journey Bilal has crafted. The mesmerizing layered vocals are both intimate and raw, creating an abstract yet captivating listening experience.
Bilal has long been revered for his genre-defying artistry, collaborating with icons like Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and Erykah Badu, while consistently pushing the boundaries of soul, jazz, and R&B. With Adjust Brightness, he delves even deeper into experimental territory, blending electronic elements with his signature organic sound. This new album marks a bold evolution in his career, showcasing his relentless creativity and continued influence on modern music.
ICYMI, at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Tyla celebrated her first VMA win for Best Afrobeats Video with her hit song “Water.” During her acceptance speech, the South African pop star asked Lil Nas X, who presented the award with Halle Bailey, to hold her trophy, sparking some confusion among viewers.
In response to the buzz on social media, Tyla addressed the situation on X (formerly Twitter), posting:
“Y’all make everything weird… I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls. STFU I WON A VMAAAA.”
During her speech, Tyla humorously explained, “I’m not strong enough, please hold it for me,” to which Lil Nas X obliged, and she followed up with, “Thank you, I’m sorry.” Halle Bailey later showed support by congratulating Tyla, saying, “Exactly love u babes congrats.”
The post’s engagement has 7.6M views, 5.3K Reposts, 932 Quotes, 96K Likes and 3.2K Bookmarks.
Yea, sometimes socials just acts weird. Anyway, congrats on your VMA Tyla!
Another one … As you might have seen from earlier reporting, former Danity Kane and Dirty Money artist Dawn Richard filed a sprawling lawsuit against none other than Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing him of verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.
Let’s be clear: Diddy and his legal team have denied these claims, and it seems they plan to fight them in court.
Anyway, the 55-page document, Richard also alleges that she witnessed Diddy abuse his then-girlfriend, Cassie, during their relationship.
We said that one already, but get this. She names celebrities Usher, Ne-Yo, and music executive Jimmy Iovine as witnesses who did nothing to stop the abuse.
Again, these are her allegations.
What’s more one notable incident detailed in the lawsuit took place at a star-studded dinner in Los Angeles before Diddy signed a deal with Jimmy Iovine’s Interscope Records. Richard alleges that during the dinner, Diddy threatened and punched Cassie in the stomach in front of the guests, causing her to double over in pain. Usher and Ne-Yo were reportedly present and saw the incident unfold.
The lawsuit claims details such as:
“In front of dinner guests, Mr. Combs hissed at Ms. Ventura in a screaming whisper and forcefully punched her in the stomach, causing her to double over in visible pain, crying.”
As we mentioned, the details were fast and furious. Diddy’s attorney, Erica Wolff, responded to the lawsuit, calling the claims “false” and suggesting that Richard is seeking money in conjunction with her album release. Wolff added, “If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have continued working with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money or returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020.”
Roger Goodell praises the selection of Kendrick Lamar as the Super Bowl halftime performer.
Speaking with TMZ Sports, Goodell revealed he is “feeling great” about taking the spot and he is a fan of the rapper.
Kendrick Lamar will take center stage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL made the announcement, sparking excitement for the globally anticipated performance.
Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, founder of Roc Nation, praised Lamar’s influence: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision… His impact will be felt for years to come.”
Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar… Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop.”
Apple Music’s Oliver Schusser emphasized the excitement: “Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry-leading Spatial Audio quality.”
Lamar, a Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and co-founder of pgLang, continues to redefine hip-hop, earning accolades like a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN. and his chart-topping collaborations earlier this year.
Lamar’s Super Bowl performance will be creatively directed by pgLang and produced by DPS, with Roc Nation’s Jesse Collins as executive producer and Hamish Hamilton as director.
Apple Music’s ongoing partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation has already produced record-breaking halftime shows, and with Kendrick Lamar at the helm, this year’s performance is set to be another groundbreaking moment in Super Bowl history.
The Neptunes are still a fractured unit. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Pharrell revealed that he and Chad Hugo are not on speaking terms, following a lawsuit earlier in the year.
“I always wish him the absolute best,” Pharrell said to The Hollywood Reporter. He added they are not on speaking terms, “”But I love him, and I always wish him the absolute best, and I’m very grateful for our time together.”
The conflict stems from Hugo’s accusations against Pharrell of attempting to gain complete control of their duo’s trademarks despite an alleged agreement to share everything equally.
According to a report by Billboard, Hugo’s legal team has raised concerns over Pharrell’s company, PW IP Holdings LLC, filing three applications to register “The Neptunes” as a trademark. Hugo’s lawyer, Kenneth D. Freundlich, highlighted in a legal filing that, throughout their 30-year history, both Hugo and Williams had agreed to divide all assets equally. Freundlich further alleged that Pharrell’s actions in excluding Hugo from the trademark applications amounted to fraud and bad faith.
Pharrell’s team, however, has refuted these claims, stating that they had reached out multiple times to involve Hugo in the ownership and administration of the trademark. Pharrell’s representative expressed surprise at the accusations and reiterated their willingness to ensure that both Pharrell and Hugo share ownership and administration of the trademark.
While attorneys for Pharrell acknowledged that Hugo co-owns The Neptunes name, Hugo’s lawyers argued that Pharrell’s company had attempted to impose burdensome business terms on Hugo regarding the trademarks. The specifics of these terms were not disclosed in Hugo’s filing.
It was revealed that Pharrell’s company had previously trademarked The Neptunes for musical sound recordings, with an application pending for clothing and merchandise. Hugo’s legal team hinted at possibly taking further legal action to void these trademarks.
The Neptunes, known for producing hits for artists spanning various genres, have left an indelible mark on the music industry. Their contributions have been widely celebrated, from working with the likes of Clipse and Snoop Dogg to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Pharrell and Hugo were honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
As the legal battle ensues, the future ownership and administration of the Neptunes trademark remain uncertain.
Lil Wayne has made his first statement after not being selected to headline the Super Bowl. Appearing in a video, Weezy F Baby thanked his fans for supporting him.
“First of all, I wanna say forgive me for the delay,” Wayne said. “I wanna say, first of all, I had to get strength. I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking. I wanna say thank you. I wanna say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and the support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back. That hurt. Hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about. It hurt a whole lot.
“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for just automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position. So I blame myself for that.”
With widespread support that Lil Wayne should have the Super Bowl stage in NOLA, Drake posted images online. It is worth noting that Drake’s current foe, Kendrick Lamar, has the Super Bowl spot.
Kendrick Lamar’s selection as the Super Bowl halftime performer has rubbed members of the Hip-Hop community the wrong way. Many, including Wayne’s engineer, Marasciullo, believe it should have been Lil Wayne.
“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all, inspired,” Marasciullo wrote. “Will never again be in a position or have the in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
Kendrick Lamar will take center stage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL made the announcement today, sparking excitement for the globally anticipated performance.
Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, founder of Roc Nation, praised Lamar’s influence: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision… His impact will be felt for years to come.”
Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar… Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop.”
Apple Music’s Oliver Schusser emphasized the excitement: “Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry-leading Spatial Audio quality.”
Lamar, a Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and co-founder of pgLang, continues to redefine hip-hop, earning accolades like a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN. and his chart-topping collaborations earlier this year.
PgLang will creatively direct Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, which will be produced by DPS. Roc Nation’s Jesse Collins will serve as executive producer, and Hamish Hamilton will serve as director.
Apple Music’s ongoing partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation has already produced record-breaking halftime shows. With Kendrick Lamar at the helm, this year’s performance is set to be another groundbreaking moment in Super Bowl history.
in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”