Liam Payne is gone, and fans around the world are stunned. The former One Direction singer was only 31 years old, and still in the midst of releasing new music. The circumstances surrounding Payne’s untimely death are still being sorted out. TMZ reported that the singer fell from the third floor of his hotel room in Argentina. The outlet also alleges that he was acting erratically in the lobby, and had to be carried to his room shortly before his fatal fall. Regardless of the circumstances, the music world has been mourning Liam Payne’s death.
Juicy J, who collaborated with Liam Payne on the 2016 single “You,” tweeted his condolences. “R.I.P. Liam Payne,” he wrote. “Wow I can’t believe it prayers up for the family.” A similarly heartbroken thought was shared by Flavor Flav, who was shocked to learn the singer had died at such a young age. “R.I.P. to Liam Payne,” the Public Enemy rapper tweeted. “Much too young.” Payne was the One Direction singer who leaned into R&B and hip hop the most throughout his solo career. His debut solo single, “Strip That Down,” featured a snappy instrumental and a guest verse from Quavo.
Ty Dolla Sign Spoke To Liam Payne Days Before His Death
R.I.P. Liam Payne wow I can’t believe it prayers up for the family
Liam Payne also worked with artists like A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, J Balvin and Zedd throughout his solo career. One artist he did not get a chance to collab with, however, was Ty Dolla Sign. Despite this missed opportunity, Ty revealed that he had spoken to Payne a few days before his death. “Just talked to you 2 days ago my guy,” the R&B singer wrote. “Ima miss u frfr.” Ty Dolla Sign also posted a video of Payne on his Instagram Stories. Zedd, who appeared on Liam Payne’s only solo album, LP1, celebrated the singer for his musical legacy. “R.I.P. Liam,” he wrote. “I can’t believe this is real. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
Liam Payne admitted hesitation to break away from the pop-rock of One Direction in his own music. He told Entertainment Weekly that he loved hip hop music, though, and cited Migos and Lil Uzi Vert as some of his favorite artists. “I listen to a lot of rap music,” he asserted. “It’s important to do something that you want to do, but you can’t forget your fan base, you can’t forget your roots.” Payne’s aforementioned song with Quavo was a top 10 Billboard smash in 2017, so fans didn’t seem to mind.
On this date in 1991, legendary Hip Hop collective Public Enemy dropped their fourth full-length album entitled Apocalypse ’91…The Enemy Strikes Back on the Def Jam/Columbia imprint.
Drawn from the fictional movies Apocalypse Now and Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back, the Bomb Squad produced project was a rush job according to Hank Shocklee, having to re-create the production after the discs from the past five years with album contents were stolen. “Once you lose all your data, it’s very difficult to get that data back…you may get some of it back, but you’ll never get the complete set. You won’t even know what the complete set is, because there’s data in there you didn’t really know you had,” Shocklee said of the missing project.
The certified platinum album offered up a couple of timeless singles including “Shut Em Down”, “Can’t Truss It” and “By The Time I Get To Arizona”, where in the video the depicted killing of Arizona Governor Evan Mecham was seen in response for not recognizing MLK Jr. Day as a national holiday.
Salute to the entire P.E. for this timeless 14 track piece of Hip Hop history!
After former President Donald Trump expressed his disdain for famed singer Taylor Swift on his Truth Social site after she publicly endorsed VP Kamala Harris, Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav quickly and passionately jumped to Swift’s defense.
Flav took to X and posted “I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT,!!” Flav in his response to Trump’s “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” COMMENT. One X user accused the 65-year-old rap legend of catering to Swift fans, saying, “Pandering to the swifties? Pretty pathetically hilarious,” Flav returned fire, replying, “You must be new here,,, allow me to reintroduce myself,,, they call me KING SWIFTIE.” He also retweeted actor Mark Hamil expressing his support for Swift as well.
Outside of politics, Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend to cheer on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
The 2024 MTV VMAs’ opening was Olympics-coded. Host Megan Thee Stallion delivered her opening monologue in a gymnastics-adjacent leotard because, as she said, she is “repping Team VMA.” Meg also clarified that “VMA” stands for the Voluptuous Megan Awards” and declared that she deserves “a gold medal for being a bad b*tch!” Megan Thee Stallion kicked it over to Flavor Flav and USA Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles to present the night’s first category, Best Collaboration.
But before announcing the winner, Flavor Flav had more important business to take care of. The iconic rapper, pop cultural icon, and newly minted Team USA mascot gifted Chiles a bedazzled pink clock necklace to replace her Olympic bronze medal that she was controversially (and wrongfully, but that’s a discussion for another day) stripped of.
“I know they tried to take your medal away from you,” Flav said, as captured by Deadline, and briefly paused to account for the audience booing. “I got you something that they can’t take away from you.”
Flavor Flav put the gigantic clock around Chiles’ neck, and Chiles thanked Flavor Flav while the crowd applauded.
Chiles won the women’s team gold medal alongside her teammates, and she had been awarded the bronze medal for individual floor, but days later, the Romanian team filed a petition to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The CAS ruled to reinstate the initial scoring, awarding the bronze to Romanian Ana Barbosu and ordering Chiles return hers. See the full timeline of the controversy here.
Oh, and Post Malone and Taylor Swift won Best Collaboration for “Fortnight.”
The 2024 Paris Olympics are officially over. Still, the worldwide celebration is far from done. But there’s one last minute decision that has dampened those Olympic parties—Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal stripping.
But thanks to Flavor Flav, Chiles has something special to add to her jewelry collection. Yesterday (August 12), the hip-hop legend made good on his promise to replace the medal she was stripped of with a bronze necklace in hopes to cheer her up. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Flavor Flav confirmed that Chiles’ iced out bronze clock necklace was now a permanent fixture for Chiles’ possession only.
“USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,” he wrote. “In the meantime between time, imma always a man of my word, Jordan Chiles.”
X (Twitter)
Users online quickly began to praise Flavor Flav over his swift actions. Others pointed out that this wasn’t the first time Flavor Flav stepped in to show his support for a Team USA Olympian.
Back on August 1, thrower Veronica Fraley expressed how her financial strain was impacting her mental health ahead of the games. After Flavor Flav caught wind of it, he offered and then paid for Fraley’s rent.
Flavor Flav will go down in hip-hop history as one of the greatest hype man ever. But is a cheerleader for many other causes.
While Snoop’s presence came as little surprise given his work with NBC during the Tokyo Olympics, doing a highlights show with Kevin Hart, and his upcoming stint as a judge on The Voice, the other hip-hop legend that took over the games was far more surprising. Flavor Flav was also a constant presence at the Olympics, but he was there primarily to support the USA women’s water polo team, who he has helped sponsor to fund the players and keep them from having to work multiple jobs while also playing for the national team. That story became a viral sensation, and Flav didn’t stop there. He helped pay a track and field athlete’s rent after she tweeted about struggling with her bills while competing in Paris, and was a fixture at Team USA events throughout the Olympics.
His latest venture to help out a USA Olympian is to provide some consolation for gymnast Jordan Chiles, after she got told to return her bronze medal from the individual floor exercise event. The gymnastics governing body decided the protest filed by her coach that upped her score and pushed her into third place came too late, and instead the bronze should go to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu. That caused considerable uproar stateside, and despite an appeal by USA Gymnastics, the ruling was upheld.
That is where Flavor Flav stepped in and offered on Twitter to make Chiles a custom bronze clock necklace to replace her gold medal, giving her something truly one-of-a-kind.
X/FlavorFlav
It has been cool seeing Flav become the patron saint of Team USA, providing help supporting the athletes however possible and in the most Flavor Flav way possible, from paying their rent to sending them a bronze clock.
All eyes have been on Paris as the 2024 Olympics have stolen the world’s attention—with Snoop Dogg at the center of it all. The greatest athletes globally have descended on France for a series of games that have fans glued to screens and wearing their best patriotic fits. Over the years, Snoop Dogg has made commentary regarding the Olympics and professional sports, and his love for the competition has landed him front row at some of the most coveted events. He did the same during the 2021 Tokyo Games, and Snoop has returned to cover the event for NBC as an official correspondent (reportedly making a pretty penny). Representing and supporting Team USA, Snoop was spotted checking out the judo matches and fencing bouts. He even helped open the Games by carrying the Olympic torch.
“It’s too hard to put in words, baby,” he told NBC of the special moment. “I mean, the D.O. Double was holding the torch, walking through the city, man. I felt like [boxer] Muhammad Ali. It was extraordinary. It was excellent. And I found out that when you hold the torch, you a peace messenger. So, I really felt good about that.” Of course, a Snoop Dogg extravaganza wouldn’t be complete without his billionaire bestie Martha Stewart, who celebrated her 83rd birthday on August 3. She also accompanied the Long Beach legend to the equestrian events, where they watched the best of the best go for the Gold.
Admittedly, Snoop confessed that he feared horses; however, Stewart was determined to get him to conquer his anxieties. Naturally, they had to do it in dressage. “I have to keep him away from the horses,” Stewart said. “No feeding, no sugar, nothing. But we’re gonna have so much fun.” Meanwhile, Snoop joked, “I am interested in the horses that dance and I want to give them some carrots and apples … make sure they’re fed before they do their thang.”
Things that were not on our Olympic bingo card: Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart watching a dressage horse named Gin & Juice. #ParisOlympicspic.twitter.com/wfvT4uLA2z
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2024
The Rap icon has also reportedly helped boost viewership for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with fans eager to see his hilarious hot takes. “This opportunity was nothing but a chance for me to show the world what it’s supposed to look like when you put the right person in the right environment,” Snoop told The Associated Press. “When the lights are on, that’s when I shine the best.” Mr. Broadus has certainly been glowing as a prime-time correspondent, and fans have taken notice. NBC has been applauded for adding Snoop to their list of anchors with his feel-good moments permeating through social media.
Aside from giving on-site updates to the events, Snoop has even danced with Simone Biles and taken a swim with Michael Phelps—two incredible Gold Medalists with long reputations for dominating at the Olympics. When gymnasts Biles and Jordan Chiles saw the rapper in the crowd dancing, they had to join in on the festivities.
Further, social media users have been tapped into NBC online as they share behind-the-scenes footage. Not only was the dancing moment caught by cameras, but Snoop’s casual dip with the famed Phelps was also captured. In a video, the “Gin and Juice” hitmaker joked, “Me and MP, we go back like the backstroke.” Then, he added more about his skills and physique. “You just described me. You said wingspan, lung power. I definitely have great lung power, and I do have a swimmer’s body. Look, our bodies are similar. Mike, we could be twins.”
Yet, Snoop seemed a bit winded when trying out some of Phelps’s best moves. “Mike, you make this look too easy, oh God. As you see, I’m in gold medal condition and he’s still in gold medal condition.” The rapper added, “As we speak, shout out to the Phelps family and to the team that’s going to give me some oxygen right now.”
Keeping up with all of the Games has proven to be difficult, but Snoop has mastered the art of…a lack of sleep? He told AP, “It’s more about relaxing rather than sleeping because I’m having so much fun.” The constant schedule of competitive sports has the Hip Hop icon running around the Olympic Village. “This ain’t the town to sleep in. This ain’t the time to sleep. This is time to be on it like you want it. It’s different events happening day and night. I want to be active with everything, because I love the American athletes and competition. This is what I’m here for.”
Moreover, there was concern from Snoop that NBC wanted him to water down his personality. Thankfully, he says he’s been able to be his authentic self, endearing fans to him even more. “That’s why it’s not hard for me,” he stated of his interviews. Snoop has been able to catch up with the likes of A’ja Wilson (women’s basketball), Noah Lyles (track and field), and more. “It’s not like an act. The bits that we do. They’re comfortable. They’re not stretched or forced. It’s me being me.”
PARIS, FRANCE July 28, 2024-Rapper Snoop Dogg cheers the USA team during qualifying for women’s team gymnastics at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France Sunday(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
While the Paris 2024 Olympics has athletes vying for medals, it’s Snoop Dogg’s commemorative pin that has people on edge. The limited edition pin features the rapper blowing out smoke into the Olympics rings logo. Notably, behind him stands the Eiffel Tower. People have taken to social media begging for an original, but even Snoop doesn’t know where the pins can be found. “I don’t have an answer for that. I’m going to be honest with you, I have zero answer for that,” he said. “I’ll have to get y’all a sidebar on that.”
Here are more photos and videos of Snoop Dogg and his Paris 2024 Olympics activities—from hilarious moments to those warm-hearted feels. Have you been tuned in to the Games? Which event is your favorite?
Snoop Dogg of United States of America during the Judo Women -78 kg kg Repechage contest also on Day 6 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Champ-de-Mars Arena on August 1, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Henk Jan Dijks/Marcel ter Bals/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 21: Snoop Dogg also attends the Team USA Welcome Experience ahead of Paris 2024 Summer Olympics on July 21, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 21: Maia Weintraub, Jacqueline Debruvich, Anne Cebula, Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, Snoop Dogg, Katherine Holmes and Lauren Scruggs attend the Team USA Welcome Experience ahead of Paris 2024 Summer Olympics on July 20, 2024 also in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)Snoop Dogg watching the Dressage Team Grand Prix Special at the Chateau de Versailles, also on the eighth day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France. Picture date: Saturday August 3, 2024. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 21: Snoop Dogg tries on clothes during Team USA Welcome Experience ahead of Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Polo Ralph Lauren on July 21, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 21: Jacqueline Debruvich, Snoop Dogg, Lauren Scruggs and also Maia Weintraub attend the Team USA Welcome Experience ahead of Paris 2024 Summer Olympics on July 20, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)
US rapper Snoop Dogg holds the torch as part of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Torch Relay, on the day of the opening ceremony, in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 31: Snoop Dogg attends the Women’s Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Team United States and Team France on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 21: Snoop Dogg and Lauren Scruggs attend the Team USA Welcome Experience ahead of Paris 2024 Summer Olympics on July 20, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)
Gone are the days when Flavor Flav was known only as a rapper. It’s actually ironic that he started out in Public Enemy, but he’s grown into one of the public’s most beloved celebrities. He’s a fervent Swiftie and Team USA’s biggest fan at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics. Flavor Flav already sponsors the US Olympic women’s water polo team, which he described as “bigger than me winning a Grammy,” but his commitment to supporting women’s sports didn’t end there.
On Thursday, August 1, US Olympic discus thrower Veronica Fraley posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent. My school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything [laugh-cry emoji) enough to buy new cars and houses [three thumbs-down emojis].”
Flavor Flav replied to the Vanderbilt University athlete, “I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW,,, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!” He added, “Man of my word,!!! This is what I been saying and promoting with water polo,,, I can’t fix everything on my own,,, but right now I am.”
Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and Serena Williams’ husband, also chipped in $7,760.
After her post blew up, Fraley posted a clarification: “Thanks for the supporting messages but I want to clarify my irritation isn’t with the school itself, mainly the rules that bar me from making the amount I’m WORTH as a collegiate athlete such as NIL which favors popularity over performance. that’s all I’m sayin. Wish me luck tm!”
Elsewhere in Paris, Flavor Flav has been spotted encouraging US men’s gymnastics bronze medalist Frederick Richard and still made time to reference Taylor Swift’s “August” on the first day of the month by writing on X, “It’s August here in Paris,,, and these Olympians be livin for the hope of it all.”
See all of the posts below.
I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW,,, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!
Man of my word,!!! This is what I been saying and promoting with water polo,,, I can’t fix everything on my own,,, but right now I am https://t.co/T8zZ3usMbu
Perris Benegas, who won silver in BMX freestyle, and Evy Leibfarth, who won bronze in canoe slalom, join TODAY live in Paris to talk about their medal wins!@FlavorFlav also joins to talk about how he became the “official hype man” of the U.S. women’s water polo team. #Paris2024pic.twitter.com/k45Tbfxluv
Chuck D recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Flavor of the Week hosted by Flavor Flav.
During the interview, Chuck D revealed his favorite Public Enemy records and teased what’s next for Public Enemy in 2025. He also shared the reason he is upset with Flavor Flav’s mother.
When asked about his favorite PE joints, Chuck replied, “I like them all ’cause they just like, you know, like kids. You don’t rate your kids, so I mean, it’s like, to me personally, I like, “Welcome to Terrordome.” You know, Keith came in and put the spanking on that. I like “Harder Than You Think” ’cause it’s easy to do and it was done so quick and that’s Gary G-Whiz. Of course, “Rebel Without a Pause.” “Shut Em Down” is always a favorite. “Public Enemy No. 1″ is because it was our first, you know, and I wanted to make a record that made people look at it ugly and made them run away. I didn’t want to, you know, I’m always that difficult dude, so I don’t want you to say you like my shit. Matter of fact, I want you to say you hate my so I could beat your ass with it. How about that? That’s what I like.”
WHenever someone’s mother is mentioned, everyone is all ears, but Chcuk was very candid about why he was upset with his hypeman’s mom.
When you crave seafood, nothing hits the spot like Flavor Flav’s favorites from Red Lobster®. During Crabfest, Flavor Flav announced to the world that Red Lobster is here to stay, and now they’re teaming up again to offer an epic meal collaboration. Starting today, for a limited time, guests can indulge in Flavor Flav’s signature meal – Flavor Flav’s Faves*.
This new off-menu meal features a variety of Red Lobster favorites hand-selected by Flavor Flav himself, including Maine Lobster Tail, Snow Crab Legs, Garlic Shrimp Scampi, and Bacon Mac & Cheese, plus a choice of one side. To order, guests should ask their server for Flavor Flav’s Faves during their next visit to Red Lobster.
Flavor Flavs Faves Meal Image
In addition to Flavor Flav’s Faves, guests can enjoy an array of craveable crab creations starting at just $20** during Crabfest. New dishes include Creamy Crab Carbonara, Crab & Lobster Duo, and Snow Crab & Crab-Topped Steak, ensuring something claw-some for every crab lover. For those looking to go all-in, Crab Your Way offers a full pound of wild-caught Snow or Bairdi Crab***, with flavor options like NEW Cajun Butter, Roasted Garlic Butter, or Simply Steamed.
Don’t miss this exclusive collaboration and the delicious crab creations this summer. Visit Red Lobster’s website to view the complete menu or find a restaurant location.
Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy protection in May, but don’t worry, Flavor Flav is here to save the day. Flav pulled up to a Red Lobster with his family and ordered every menu item.
“Ya boy said he wuz gonna do everything to help Red Lobster and save the Cheddar Bay Biscuits,,, ordered the whole menu,” Flav wrote on Instagram.
Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy protection in May and closed numerous locations nationwide. According to The AP, despite these challenges, the company remains committed to keeping its 600 restaurants operational as it seeks a buyer.
Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Snoop Dogg were. 
Michael Phelps gives Snoop Dogg a swimming lesson. 
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