Nicki Minaj cuts an extended verse for Juice WRLD’s “All Girls Are The Same 2 (Insecure)” via Grade A Productions & Interscope Records.
Upon release the Louis Bell (Post Malone, Justin Bieber) produced record received a plehtora of plugs from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, XXL, ET, COMPLEX, THE SOURCE, UPROXX and many more outlets. Juice WRLD recently received praise. VARIETY called him a “rap prodigy,” while on the track HYPEBEAST said, “The emo-rap Juice introduced in the original has transformed into a rockstar-like impact.” “All Girls Are the Same 2 (Insecure)” will be included on Juice WRLD’s final posthumous album The Party Never Endsdue out soon.
Fans will also have the chance to celebrate Juice’s music in person with the fourth annual (and final) Juice WRLD Day at Chicago’s United Center on November 30, presented by Grade A Productions. The global celebration of life will include an exclusive listening experience, plus special guest performances and other surprises.
Global superstar and cultural trailblazer Travis Scott will once again descend upon the desert for weekends 1&2 of Coachella, headlining the main stage on Saturday night where he will debut an entirely new era of music to the world.
Scott, whose CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR has officially sold more tickets globally than any rap tour in history, has also announced a one-of-a-kind Cactus Jack desert takeover, set to occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, on both weekends, where the record-breaking artist will curate a fully immersive and experiential world within the desert—more details to be revealed in the coming months.
This past weekend, Artistic Director and Sunday night headliner Travis Scott and Cactus Jack also unveiled their most groundbreaking creative vision yet: CactusCon, which debuted at ComplexCon, showcasing more than 35 exclusive collaborations with today’s leading designers, brands and creatives. An undeniable and unprecedented cultural activation that redefined collaboration and creativity. A bold and immersive celebration of style, art, fashion, and music ever seen
Coachella will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, on April 11 – 13 and April 18 – 20, 2025. For more festival information and updates, please visit www.coachella.com.
The children of the late Kim Porter, Christian Combs, Quincy Brown, and twins Jessie and D’Lila Combs, are taking a firm stand against the unauthorized sale of what’s being marketed as her diary. Two months after publicly condemning the so-called Kim Porter Tell It All memoir, Christian and Quincy have formally issued a cease-and-desist notice to halt its distribution.
According to TMZ, the legal notice was directed at Courtney Burgess and his attorney, Ariel Mitchell, who are allegedly behind the book, sold under the pseudonym Jamal Millwood. Burgess has claimed that the book is an “original unedited” copy of Kim Porter’s private writings, obtained from a flash drive provided by individuals close to her.
Christian and Quincy strongly refute these claims, labeling the flash drive story as “patently false” and deceptive to the public. They argue that as Kim Porter’s rightful heirs following her untimely passing in November 2018, they own the intellectual property rights to any of her writings or possessions.
In their cease-and-desist letter, the brothers demand that Burgess immediately halt all book sales, cease interviews promoting its alleged origins, and surrender any of Kim’s personal belongings he claims to possess. They also request a full accounting of any profits generated from the book’s sales.
The Combs brothers have clarified that legal action could follow if their demands are unmet within five days. This bold move underscores their commitment to protecting their mother’s legacy and combating what they view as exploiting her memory.
Tina Davis, who managed Chris Brown for 12 years, addressed some of the controversies that surrounded the R&B superstar during his rise to fame. Davis shed light on the complex dynamics of fame, including how some parents went to great lengths to gain access to Brown, and offered insights into the infamous incident with Rihanna that shook the music world in 2009.
Parents Pushing for Stardom
Davis revealed startling details about the lengths some families would go to in pursuit of fame or financial security through their association with Brown.
“Parents used to drop their daughters off at hotels, hoping they’d get into a relationship with Chris so he’d marry them,” Davis shared during the interview with The Art of Dialogue.
She described these situations as a difficult and unsettling reality of managing a young artist with immense popularity. According to Davis, this behavior was part of the challenges of protecting a young star in the music industry, where boundaries were often blurred.
Davis also indirectly addressed long-standing rumors surrounding the infamous 2009 fight between Brown and Rihanna. For years, speculation circulated that a text message from Davis to Brown was the catalyst for the argument that led to the altercation.
Though Davis didn’t speak directly about the incident in this interview, her involvement at the time raised questions about the pressures and entanglements of managing a young superstar at the height of his fame.
Chris Brown’s Road to Redemption
Following the fallout from the 2009 incident, Brown faced significant backlash, with many radio stations pulling his music from rotation. Davis disclosed the strategic efforts her team employed to help rebuild Brown’s career and regain industry support.
“It wasn’t easy,” Davis admitted. “We had to find ways to get him back on the radio while navigating all the controversy. It was about showing the world his talent and that he was willing to grow from his mistakes.”
The efforts eventually paid off, with Brown returning to the charts and solidifying his status as one of R&B’s most consistent hitmakers. While Brown’s journey has been marked by both extraordinary success and intense scrutiny, Davis’s perspective offers a glimpse into the complexities of managing a star during turbulent times.
Chris Brown’s former manager of 12 years, Tina Davis, reveals parents used to drop off their daughters at hotels, hoping they would get into a relationship with Chris Brown so he would marry them, and shares the strategy they used to get him back on the radio after the Rihanna… pic.twitter.com/guBPlKtQzf
Over the last few weeks, Kodak Black has demonstrated concerning behavior in regard to his sobriety. Hitting Instagram Live, Black revealed he is “never sober.”
“For what? For what? Look at this money. Look at all this cash,” Kodak said. “Sober for what? I’m too young to die sober.”
Kodak Black raised concerns following his appearance on Kai Cenat’s livestream early this week.
Kodak joined the famed streamer’s 30-day “Mafiathon” livestream, and his behavior immediately caught the attention of all who witnessed his behavior, which many observers described as “tweaking”, a description given to those who are visibly intoxicated or high.
The “Super Gremlin” rapper was sweating profusely and rambling while talking for a large portion of his appearance. At one point, Black even successfully lands a seal shot, where he threw a pill (presumably a Percocet) in the air and caught it in his mouth, which stunned Cenat, who questioned Kodak about what he’s just popped in his mouth. Kodak replied, “It was a glitch for the Twitch.”
Earlier this year, Kodak admitted on IG Live that he had a serious problem with Percocets, saying, “I remember a point in my life when I was chewing a lot of Percs. I’m proud of myself. I’ve never been this happy in my life. I don’t know where this came from, what the fuck going on.”
He added, “Before I just went to jail — I can talk about this because it’s my testimony, ain’t no shame in my shit — I was taking at least 100 Percs. My average was 40 Percocets… to the point where I look at this shit and be like, ‘What the fuck was wrong with me, bruh?’”
With an acute relapse visibly on the horizon, it’s safe to say that Kodak needs to get help before he faces the same fate of so many addicts, both unknown and famous, have faced since the beginning of the opioid crisis in this country almost a decade ago.
Several reports have confirmed that free agent outfielder Juan Soto formally rejected the $21 million qualifying offer from the New York Yankees, becoming one of twelve free agents who declined a similar one-year offer. The Yanks will receive Draft compensation if Soto is picked up by another team, but the Bronx Bombers are working hard to keep that from happening, calling in managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone to their meeting yesterday with Soto.
According to MLB.com, the left-hander has already fielded meetings with the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets. Other teams such as the 2024 World Series Champion L.A. Dodgers, the Giants, Phillies and Rays have expressed interest in the 26-year-old outfielder.
Juan Soto wrapped up an exceptional season in 2024, earning $31 million while posting some of the best numbers of his young career. Across 157 regular-season games, Soto slashed .288/.419/.569, tallying 128 runs, 31 doubles, 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 129 walks. His performance set career highs in several key categories, including runs scored (128), hits (166), home runs (41), total bases (328), and extra-base hits (76).
“It was a remarkable season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said last week. “As I’ve said all year, what Juan did for us between the lines was pretty special. But equally, I was just impressed with the person. Really getting to know him and managing him was a pleasure.”
Soto’s stellar contributions have sparked significant interest across the league, and his future remains a hot topic of discussion. Boone didn’t hide his desire to keep Soto in pinstripes but acknowledged the fierce competition to secure the star outfielder.
“I certainly would love to have him back, obviously,” Boone added. “I want him in pinstripes moving forward. But you also know there’s going to be a lot of people competing for that, and who knows where it ends up?”
As teams line up for the chance to acquire one of baseball’s brightest talents, Soto’s impact in 2024 is a testament to his consistency and superstar potential.
The highly anticipated showdown between boxing legend Mike Tyson and social media star Jake Paul was billed as the boxing event of 2024. With both men doing their part to fuel the hype, fans were eager to see the clash of generations in the ring. However, fight night left many viewers disappointed—not just by the fighters’ cautious performances in the later rounds, but also by widespread technical issues with Netflix’s live stream.
The streaming giant, which hosted the event, faced backlash as countless viewers reported buffering, glitches, and even an inability to access the fight altogether. These frustrations have now culminated in a lawsuit filed by Ronald “Blue” Denton, a Florida resident, who claims Netflix breached its contract to deliver a high-quality stream. Denton’s legal filing cites “no access, streaming glitches, and buffering issues” as evidence of Netflix’s failure and is seeking unspecified damages.
Social media was flooded with complaints from angry viewers, many of whom shared stories of being unable to follow the action in real time. The backlash prompted Netflix Chief Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone to address the streaming mishap in an email to employees. While acknowledging the technical problems, Stone highlighted the event’s record-breaking viewership. “We don’t want to dismiss the poor experience of some members,” she wrote. “Know we have room for improvement, but still consider this event a huge success.”
Neither Mike Tyson nor Jake Paul has commented on the streaming debacle, but other public figures have weighed in. Radio personality Howard Stern criticized Netflix for the issues and urged the company to fix its streaming technology ahead of its planned Christmas Day football broadcast. “You mess with people’s football, there is hell to pay,” Stern warned on his Sirius XM show. “I don’t know how this stuff works, but you’ve got to make sure it works.”
While the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight generated significant buzz and drew massive viewership, the technical setbacks and subsequent lawsuit have cast a shadow over Netflix’s foray into live sports streaming. The pressure is now on the platform to ensure smoother experiences for future live events.
As we celebrate the unparalleled career of the legendary Robert “DJ Screw” Davis Jr. during the week of his passing almost a quarter century ago, we decided to explore some of Houston’s most revered artists and how their career was founded and expanded due to their connection to DJ Screw. As the known originator of the famous “chopped and screwed” sound and the leader of H-Town’s Screwed Up Click, Screw released more than 350 mixtapes before his untimely passing in 2000. With chopped and screwed as his signature sound, he made tapes which he sold out his Screwed Up Records and Tapes store in Houston, solidifying himself as a businessman and a music innovator.
Here are just some of H-Town’s most respected artists that admittedly wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for the foundation laid by the late DJ Screw.
Trae Tha Truth
Houston-born emcee and activist Trae Tha Truth, along with longtime collaborator Z-Ro in their group ABN, made their ascension in the game as members of the legendary Screwed Up Click, with the 44-year-old dropping 11 solo albums, over 25 mixtapes and now serves as VP of T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records. Trae is also well known for his philanthropy as the founder of both Angel by Nature, a charity aimed at helping the impoverished youth of Texas.
Lil Flip
Named Houston’s “freestyle king” by Screw himself, Lil Flip got his break in the game when Screw heard his debut album The Leprechaun on H-Town based label Sucka Free Records and put him down with the Screwed Up Click. Four years later, Flip signed a deal with Sony Urban Music and dropped his third album and first double-disc CD U Gotta Feel Me, which contained the popular single “Game Over(Flip”, earning him his first platinm plaque of his career.
Paul Wall
Even though Pau lWall repped North Houston and was under Michael “5000” Watts’ Swishahouse Records, his most popular singles, 2005’s “Sittin Sidewayz”, which samples a line from Big Pokey’s verse on DJ Screw’s “June 27th” and Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin” remix featuring Screwed Up Click’s Lil Keke and Big Pokey, set the tone for the duration of Wall’s career. Today, Wall is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the famous chopped and screwed style, which was invented by DJ Screw.
Big Moe
Originating from Houston, Texas, and as one of the founding members of the “Original Screwed Up Click,” Big Moe started out in music by freestyling on DJ Screw mixtapes like many of his Houston peers. Big Moe’s debut album, City of Syrup, dropped in 2000). The title was a nod to Houston’s reputation for drinking codeine-laced syrup called “lean” or “sizzurp”, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album’s cover.
DJ Mike “5000” Watts
In the mid-1990s, chopped and screwed music started to move to the north side of Houston by way of Swishahouse Records founder DJ Michael “5000” Watts. A rivalry between North and South Houston over the true originators of chopped and screwed began to arise, but Michael “5000” Watts always gave credit to DJ Screw as the originator of chopped and screwed music, although Watts has been a proponent of the slogan “screwed and chopped” instead of “chopped and screwed”.
Following the death of DJ Screw, his musical influence spread all over the southern United States. Later in 2000, the Memphis-based group Three 6 Mafia came out with their song “Sippin’ on Some Syrup”. The song debuted as a minor hit but later became one of Three 6 Mafia’s most popular songs.
The 2007 documentary film Screwed in Houston details the history of the Houston rap scene and the influence of the chopped and screwed subculture on Houston hip hop. In 2011, University of Houston Libraries acquired over 1,000 albums owned by DJ Screw. Some of the albums were part of an exhibit in early 2012 and, along with the rest, went available for research in 2013. Today, the chopped and screwed music genre has been added to all forms of streaming services including iTunes, Spotify and has crossed over to receive mass mainstream appeal.
On this day in 1970, the second lyrical half of A Tribe Called Quest, Phife Dawg was born. Born Malik Isaac Taylor in Queens, New York, Phife was one-fourth of one of the most influential groups in Hip-Hop culture; A Tribe Called Quest. It’s been almost nine years since Phife lost his battle with diabetes, however, his music will live on for eternity.
On many of ATCQ’s tracks, fans have always rightfully celebrated Q-Tip’s lyricism, but rarely gave Phife Dawg his proper due. In the posthumous honor of his birthday, we have put together a list of five of his hottest verses to shine a light on the unsung lyrical phenom that is Phife Dawg.
5. “Electric Relaxation” On this standout track from the album Midnight Marauders, Phife and The Abstract went toe to toe, trading off verse without a hook until the song ended, with standout bars like, “Let me hit it from the back, girl I won’t catch a hernia/Bust off on your couch, now you got Seaman’s Furniture..”and let’s not forget, “I like ‘em brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian/Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation..”
4. “La Schmoove” This was a featured verse from Phife Dawg on a track by Brooklyn rap tongue twisters Fu Schnickens. On this track, Phife had the third verse, yet opened it like it was his own song saying,
“Now here I go, once again with the ill flow/Other MC’s that rap, their style is so-so..”
3. “Scenario” Being one of the most popular songs on A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory album, Phife Dawg’s opening verse is one that rings in the ears of many rap fans.
“Ayo, Bo knows this, and Bo knows that/ But bo don’t know jack cause Bo can’t rap//Well what do you know, the Di-Dawg, is first up to bat/No batteries included and no strings attached..”
2. “Award Tour” Another cut from Midnight Marauders, Award Tour was a huge success for A Tribe Called Quest. It also houses some of Phife Dawg’s strongest metaphors. “I have a quest to have a mic in my hand/without that, it’s like Kryptonite and Superman/So Shaheed come in with the sugar cuts//Phife Dawg’s my name, but on stage, call me Dynomut..”
“So, next time that you think you want something here/Make something dope or take that garbage to St.Elsewhere..”
1. “Buggin Out” Coming from their most popular album, this is regarded as Phife’s illest bars. Phife Dawg spits two of the hardest verses on the album on this one record. “Yo microphone check one, two, what is this?/The five foot assassin with the roughneck business/I float like gravity, never had a cavity/Got more rhymes than the Winans got family..”
“You soar off to another world, deep in your mind/But people seem to take that, as being unkind/’Oh yo he’s acting stank,’ really on the regal?/a man of the fame not a man of the people/believe that if you want but I tell you this much/riding on the train with no dough, sucks..”
On this date in 1996, the “infamous” crew from Mobb Deep dropped album number three entitled Hell On Earth. The Mobb-produced project was released under the epic Loud/RCA imprint introduced many of the extended QB/Mobb family including raspy-voiced Twin Gambino, Big Noyd, and a few others. Hav and P enlisted some of the game’s top dogs of the time for this album including their QB brethren Nas, Wu’s Raekwon the Chef, and Method Man.
This certified gold classic was unquestionably a part of the East Coast arsenal against the West Coast during the height of the rivalry, with tracks such as the title track, “Still Shinin’”, and of course, “Drop A Gem On ‘Em”, sending overt threats at Tupac Shakur and his cohorts. Other standout joints include “G.O.D. Pt.III”, where Prodigy drops some street knowledge, “Blood Sport”, and “Give It Up Fast” featuring Noyd and Nas. This album was also the project that confirmed Havoc’s skills as a producer, which led to several other projects outside of the Mobb.
Salute to P, Hav, Noyd, Gotti, Twin, Ty Nitty, Nas, Rae, Meth, Steve Rifkind, and everyone else involved with this classic album!
