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Today in Hip-Hop History: Nas Dropped His Sophomore Album ‘It Was Written’ 26 Years Ago

July 2, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On July 2, 1996, Nas unleashed the follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, 1994’s Illmatic entitled It Was Written, the album featured production from DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, and Havoc.

This time around, the fresh-faced, 22-year-old Brooklyn-born emcee consciously pushed the album in a more mainstream direction, hoping to secure a wider fan base. It worked.

The album proved to be Nas’ most commercially successful release, debuting at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It’s viewed by music critics as one of Nas’ strongest records and remains his best-selling release, with over four million copies sold in the U.S. alone.

One of the album’s standout singles, “If I Ruled the World,” featured Lauryn Hill, who (at the time) was riding the wave of her recent success with The Fugees. Other guests included Foxy Brown, Dr. Dre, and Mobb Deep.

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ICYMI: Blac Chyna & Rob Kardashian Reach Settlement In Revenge Porn Case

June 26, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Blac Chyna’s “revenge porn” lawsuit against Rob Kardashian, 35, will no longer be going to trial. The former couple reached an agreement just before jury selection was set to begin Monday.

Potential jurors were sent home from the courthouse in Los Angeles after the parties informed the judge that they had agreed to a settlement.

The exact details of the settlement remain unclear. It comes just days after it was reported that the case would proceed because the couple was unable to come to an agreement.

A source confirmed to Rolling Stone the case now will not be going forward. Adding that the ex-couple wanted to resolve the issue for the sake of their 5-year-old daughter, Dream Kardashian.

In 2017, Blac Chyna, 34, filed a suit against Kardashian after he allegedly posted private nude photos of her on Instagram.

The Lashed Cosmetics founder claims Rob’s “revenge porn rant” was a form of domestic abuse and his actions damaged her brand.

Chyna obtained a restraining order against the Arthur George designer after he leaked explicit images of her on social media. Rob Kardashian has denied the claims.

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ICYMI: Bill Cosby Found Guilty, Civil Jury Awards $500K to Judith Huth

June 25, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Bill Cosby, Bobby Shmurda, Kodak Black All Received Thanksgiving Meals

A jury in California decided that comedian, Bill Cosby is guilty of sexually assaulting Judith Huth, a then-teenage girl at the Playboy Mansion back in 1975.

On Tuesday, the jury came back with a verdict in the civil case against Cosby which found him liable and awarded Huth with the sum of $500,000 in damages.

While no punitive compensation was awarded, 84-year-old Cosby, was served a major legal defeat.

“We have always maintained that Judy Huth, Gloria Allred and their cohorts fabricated these false accusations, in order to force Mr. Cosby to finance their racist mission against successful and accomplished Black Men in America,” Cosby’s spokesperson said in a statement following the verdict. “Mr. Cosby continues to maintain his innocence and will vigorously fight these false accusations, so that he can get back to bringing the pursuit of happiness, joy and laughter to the world.”

According to Variety, Huth, who is now 64 years-old accused Cosby of luring her and a friend to the Playboy Mansion a few days after meeting him in a park. She claimed that Cosby took her alone into a bedroom, pulled down his sweatpants and then grabbed her hand in order to masturbate himself, forcing her into a sexual act.

The is the first case to go to trial under the Child Victims Act, which protects adults who suffered abuse as children and come forward with their accounts years later.

Prosecutors say there won’t be criminal charges because the case is past the statute of limitations. Cosby maintains the allegations are false.

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Ari Lennox Reveals Fear of Flying, No Longer Doing Shows Overseas

June 25, 2022 by newhiphopnews

R&B singer Ari Lennox revealed she’s done booking shows that require her to take a flight. The Washington, D.C native shared on social media and apologized to her overseas fans but said her fear of flying in a plane has taken a big toll on her mental health.

The Dreamville singer posted:

“For my mental health and sanity, I will not be doing any shows that require me to fly. I can not keep torturing myself with this huge fear of mine. It is literally destroying my health. Enough is enough. I’m so sorry to all that are inconvenienced by this. Don’t know what this will mean for my career but I just can’t do it.”

Although it’s not the most convenient way to travel, Ari will still be able to make her way through the USA on a tour bus. The late Aretha Franklin, along with DJ Khaled, Whoopi Goldberg and Fat Joe have all opened up about their fear of flying. Legendary rapper KRS-One has even taken a boat to Australia to avoid the not so friendly skies.

Do you have a fear of flying? Share your comments with us on social media.

The post Ari Lennox Reveals Fear of Flying, No Longer Doing Shows Overseas appeared first on The Source.

Lil Baby Awarded Ascap Songwriter of The Year at 35th Ascap Rhythm & Soul Music Awards

June 25, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Lil baby is picking up the Ascap Songwriter of the year for the 2nd time in a row at the 35th annual Ascap Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.

The awards ceremony that celebrates songwriters and publishers is set to take place today, June21 through June 24 on @ASCAP and @ASCAPUrban’s social media channels.

Grammy Award-winning songwriter and artist, Lil Baby is behind several chart-topping hits including “Every Chance I Get,” “Girls Want Girls,” “On Me,” “Rags2Riches 2” and “Wants and Needs.” Lil Baby fans can be delighted to know his 3rd studio album and follow up to MyTurn is slated for a summer 2022 release.

Other expected highlights include “Deconstructed: Ashanti Breaks Down Her Hits,” a special ASCAP Experience conversation featuring multiplatinum singer and songwriter Ashanti.

Ashanti, 41, will speak with VIBE Editor-in-Chief, Datwon Thomas about the 20-year anniversary of her history-making debut album, Ashanti, and delve into the creation of some of her all-time greatest hits.

The event will be broadcast from ASCAP’s YouTube channel. More information is available at www.ascapexperience.com

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Lil TJay Shooting Suspect Arrested, Rapper Remains Hospitalized Following Surgery

June 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

According to a recent report from TMZ, the alleged shooter who pulled the trigger shooting Bronx rapper Lil TJay several times, which landed him in the hospital to undergo emergency surgery, has now been apprehended and charged with attempted first degree murder.

Mohamed Konate has been charged with three counts of first degree attempted murder for his alleged involvement in the shooting that stemmed from an attempted armed robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey. TJay, whose given name is Tione Merritt, was shot multiple times and one of his acquaintances was shot once.

Both of TJay’s acquaintances were also arrested and charged with second degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

As originally reported, Lil TJay was shot several times Wednesday night in New Jersey and remains hospitalized following an emergency surgery to save the rapper’s life. The surgery was reportedly a success, as TJay appears to be doing better, however, the extent of his injuries are still unknown.

TheSource.com will update this story as details are still developing.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ Turns 30 Years Old!

June 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The Microphone Fiend and his silent cohort drop their fourth and final album together on this date.

On this hot summer day in 1992, Rakim, who is widely recognized by some as the greatest MC of all time, released his fourth studio LP with William “Eric B.” Barrier entitled Don’t Sweat The Technique. This was the long-awaited follow-up to Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em, which was a critically acclaimed album, but that was not reflective in record sales.

This album was also the last LP that Eric B. & Rakim recorded together as a duo. Produced by Eric B. with some production assistance from an up-and-coming producer by the name of Large Professor, Don’t Sweat The Technique solidified Rakim as THE best lyricist in Hip Hop.

Tracks such as “What’s On Your Mind”, which appeared on the House Party II soundtrack, “Know The Ledge”(theme from Juice), and the title track are eternal lyrical masterpieces that are unparalleled to this day. Even songs like “Casualties Of War” depicting the mentality of a conscious Black male during the era of Operation Desert Storm and the war in Iraq were instructive as well as entertaining, while virtually predicting the 9/11 tragedy almost a decade before it happened.

Salute to Rakim Allah and Eric B. for this classic album!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

OneOf In Partnership With The Christopher Wallace Estate Reveal ‘Sky’s The Limit: The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection’

June 22, 2022 by newhiphopnews

OneOf has announced Sky’s the Limit: The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection, a first-of-its-kind NFT in partnership with The Christopher Wallace Estate. Bringing music to Web3 in a way that only OneOf can, the platform will host a generative profile picture (PFP) NFT collection that honors and celebrates The Notorious B.I.G. as one of the most influential rappers and cultural figures of all time.

The Sky’s the Limit: The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection features unique 3D NFT characters inspired by his life, style and lyrics, and crucially gives each NFT holder the right to collectively license the audio of Biggie Smalls’ most famous freestyle, filmed on a street corner in Brooklyn when he was just 17. Despite its legendary status, the freestyle has never been officially released or made available for other musicians to sample and use in their own songs. Until now.

All NFT holders automatically become part of a revolutionary new Sky’s The Limit collective, with Web3 putting fans in the driver’s seat of this piece of hip hop history. With the approval and oversight of the collective (and estate), musicians can license and include Smalls’ iconic freestyle in their own recording. The song can be released on music streaming services with a “featuring The Notorious B.I.G.” credit in the song title.

The Sky’s the Limit: The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection will be available at: http://oneof.com/biggie

Today on OneOf, fans are able to sign up for the allow list. The collection will be available to purchase on July 26. NFT holders will also have first access to The Brook, a lifestyle, fashion, culture, music, entertainment metaverse experience launching soon with BIGGIE’s hyper realistic avatar as a character.

“We named this collection ‘Sky’s The Limit’ because we believe this is a watershed moment in NFTs where seminal artists like Biggie and their truest fans can drive culture and drive value together,” said Joshua James, OneOf Co-Founder & COO. “We’re thrilled to work with The Christopher Wallace Estate to honor Biggie’s enduring legacy, in web3 and beyond, and we have some amazing surprises for NFT holders along the way.”

“Biggie’s music is a very important part of hiphop culture and it’s global impact,” said Wayne Barrow, Manager of Voletta Wallace/BIGGIE’s estate. “Our business partner, Elliot Osagie of Willingie Inc, came up with the concept of coming together with OneOf to share the infamous freestyle that showcased to the world the icon that Biggie would soon become through an NFT, and sharing it with his fans in this way we are certain would make him proud.”

The post OneOf In Partnership With The Christopher Wallace Estate Reveal ‘Sky’s The Limit: The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection’ appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] J.Lo Introduces Her Daughter Using Gender Neutral Pronouns

June 22, 2022 by newhiphopnews

In a recent performance Jennifer Lopez introduces her 14-year-old daughter Emme using the pronouns them/they.

On Thursday, Jennifer Lopez performed at Dodger Stadium for the sixth annual Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s Blue Diamond Gala. She was joined by her daughter, Emme, one of her twin children whom she’s performed with on stage before.

jlo — Jennifer Lopez with twins Emme and Maximilian

Before the performance began, she introduced Emme and used gender-neutral pronouns “they/them” multiple times.

“(The last time) we performed together was in big stadium like this, and I ask them to sing with me all the time but they won’t,” Jennifer Lopez said. “So this is a very special occasion, because they’re very, very busy and booked and pricey. They cost me when they come out, but they’re worth every single penny because they’re my favorite duet partner of all time. So if you would indulge me.”

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