Hip Hop Community News Archives

Britney Spears Calls Out Halsey for “Lucky” Music Video, then Deletes Post

July 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

With over 17 million in album sales, most people would consider pop superstar Halsey one of the luckiest artists of her generation. However, another superstar (may) not be a fan after her most recent video.

On Friday, Halsey dropped her music video for her song “Lucky” in which she sampled Britney Spears 2001 hit song “Lucky.” In the video, Halsey appears to portray herself as a young girl idolizing spears while also portraying a loose interpretation of Spears herself, including a scene where she removes a long red wig to show a bald head, a move that Spears may have felt was a jab at her 2007 mental breakdown in which she shaved her head.

Spears made the following post on X (formerly Twitter) before quickly deleting it:

“For obvious reasons I’m very upset about the Halsey video. I feel harassed, violated, and bullied. I didn’t know an artist like her and someone I looked up to and admired would illustrate me in such an ignorant way by tailoring me as a superficial pop star with no heart or concern at all. I have my own health problems which is why I took down my IG account yesterday. I will definitely be putting it back up to show I CARE. I’m speaking with my lawyers today to see what can be done on this matter. It feels illegal and down right cruel.”

However, just under an hour later, Spears posted the following:

“Fake news !!! That was not me on my phone !!! I love Halsey and that’s why I deleted it !!!”

Whether or not Spears did or did not make the original post, fans of Halsey were quick to point out that her video shows Halsey’s fictional character going through some sort of medical treatment, which would make sense since she had publicly admitted to suffering from lupus and a rare type of T-cell disorder, both of which require medical treatments. (Spears has never publicly appeared to have any medical disorders of that type.)

Halsey has yet to respond to Spears publicly, but as of Friday night, her video was one of the top 25 trending music videos on YouTube.

The post Britney Spears Calls Out Halsey for “Lucky” Music Video, then Deletes Post first appeared on The Source.

The post Britney Spears Calls Out Halsey for “Lucky” Music Video, then Deletes Post appeared first on The Source.

Flavor Flav Hypes Up US Women’s Water Polo Hopes at Fourth Gold Medal

July 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Flavor Flav and Olympic women’s water polo – was not on our bingo card, but the notion is making waves at the Games. The 65-year-old rapper from Public Enemy fame, has taken on the role of official hype man for the U.S. water polo teams after three-time gold medalist Maggie Steffens reached out on social media seeking financial support, highlighting the fact that many Olympians self-fund their journeys.

The press conference moderator introduced Flav with, “Welcome to an Olympics first: A Flavor Flav press conference.” If you’re not laughing at that, then something’s wrong.

But more importantly, Steffens reflected on her decision to seek public support:

“I’ve been really empowered by other women in sports to use your voice, which can be a little scary at times,” she said. “I was calling for people to know my teammates and encouraging them to follow some of the more niche sports this Olympics, especially women’s sports. And if it’s not water polo, rugby or fencing, just to give those women, those teams, a chance.”

“Flavor Flav saw that and something about it sparked his interest,” Steffens went on to say. “He has really opened the door for people to learn about our team and different communities, different people who would have never heard of water polo. And that’s exactly what sports like us need. He’s been really great at shining any light back on us, and we look forward to having him here in Paris and just keeping that positive energy going.”

Get this intro, on Friday morning, Flav—born William Jonathan Drayton Jr.—introduced himself to reporters with his usual flair, saying, “This is an honor, and this is a pleasure and a perfect measure − and I’m gonna keep this memory as a perfect treasure.”

As you might think, Flav has no prior connection to water polo, but he expressed his athletic background: “Back in the day, growing up, I was one hell of an athlete,” he claimed, having played neighborhood baseball, basketball, and football. Fact-checking for this statement was unavailable. Okay, hmm, we will take his word for it.

“I recently got in the pool and got to learn how difficult that water polo is,” said Flav, who donned a Team USA jersey, water polo cap, and his signature clock necklace (in a waterproof version). “I was in the water for seven minutes, treading water for seven minutes, boy that was the hardest seven minutes of my life! But the girls said I did good.”

Listen, he even scored a goal on Ashleigh Johnson, widely regarded as the best water polo goalie in the world. I mean one, that’s crazy and you gotta love it.

Admitting he knew little about water polo before becoming a sponsor, Flav has since signed a five-year contract with U.S. water polo. Although details of the agreement remain undisclosed, he is fully committed. Flav is dedicated to promoting the team beyond the Olympics. “Right now I count three stars on my cap,” he said, referencing the U.S. women’s last three gold medals. “I want to see a fourth.”

The post Flavor Flav Hypes Up US Women’s Water Polo Hopes at Fourth Gold Medal first appeared on The Source.

The post Flavor Flav Hypes Up US Women’s Water Polo Hopes at Fourth Gold Medal appeared first on The Source.

Rapper Big Yavo and Mayor Woodfin Declare Ceasefire to Combat Birmingham Gun Violence

July 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Following a deadly night in Birmingham with five homicides in less than 24 hours, hip hop standout Big Yavo and Mayor Randall Woodfin have declared a ceasefire to combat gun violence. The grassroots campaign involves local events, rallies, and collaboration with activists and organizations to promote peace.

Both Mayor Woodfin and Big Yavo have personal ties to the issue, with Woodfin having lost two cousins and his brother to gun violence, and Big Yavo experiencing similar losses. They aim to break the cycle of violence and create a safer environment for Birmingham’s youth. The campaign seeks to unite the community and raise awareness to make a lasting impact.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Giant (@big_yavo)

The post Rapper Big Yavo and Mayor Woodfin Declare Ceasefire to Combat Birmingham Gun Violence first appeared on The Source.

The post Rapper Big Yavo and Mayor Woodfin Declare Ceasefire to Combat Birmingham Gun Violence appeared first on The Source.

Trump Had Wild Idea for Kanye West to Lead Church Service at White House

July 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s election season and rumors will swirl along with some tales that may have quite a bit of truth to them. In this case Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of “The View” and former Trump administration staffer, shared a surprising little story on Tuesday’s episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.” When asked by a guest, “What was the wildest thing that you still cannot believe came across your desk when you were special assistant to Trump in the White House?” Griffin responded:

“This is gonna be dark.”

In fairness anything that involves Trump and Kanye these days is pretty dark. Just sayin.

She replayed the experience:

“One day, [Trump] wanted to have Kanye West come and do a church service on the White House lawn to unify the country. And I can think of few things less unifying than that. We were like, ‘Not the time or place, sir.’”

Get this, Griffin didn’t specify the exact timing of this proposal, but it likely occurred after West founded his Sunday Service Choir in September 2019, when he and his gospel choir performed across the country. So basically he was poppin’ and Trump thought he could repurpose Kanye’s wave. Weird.

West and Trump’s relationship has been tumultuous, a bromance and outright crazy all rolled into one.

West initially supported Trump but distanced himself during his own presidential campaign. After the 2020 election, West returned to supporting Trump. However, their relationship soured again in 2022 when West made antisemitic remarks, actually disgusting bigoted remarks prompting Trump to call him “a seriously troubled man” – ain’t that rich coming from him – following a controversial dinner at Mar-a-Lago, which West attended with Holocaust-denier Nicholas Fuentes. West even claimed he asked Trump to be his vice president, which Trump declined.

Despite these ups and downs, ha, West and Trump appear to be on good terms once more. Isn’t that cute?

When asked in February if he was supporting Trump for president again, West replied, “Yeah, of course, it’s Trump all day.” Let’s be honest, they are obviously made for each other.

The post Trump Had Wild Idea for Kanye West to Lead Church Service at White House first appeared on The Source.

The post Trump Had Wild Idea for Kanye West to Lead Church Service at White House appeared first on The Source.

ScHoolboy Q Alludes On New ‘Blue Lips’ Album Ye Was “Canceled” Unfairly

July 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

ScHoolboy Q went in on his new album and recently had to clarify some lyrics on a song where the TDE rapper discussed a popular artist who in his opinion, he believes was unfairly “cancelled.”

Well, who could he possibly be talking about?

During a live performance, Schoolboy Q got right to it and revealed that the artist in question on his track “Blueslides” from the album “Blue Lips” is Kanye West.

Get this, a Reddit user, u/TheMisiak, who attended one of Q’s concerts during his Blue Lips Weekends tour, shared this revelation on the platform.

Now we know Reddit can be tricky to use but we got ya’ll covered. ScHoolboy Q did not censor West’s name during the live performance, unlike the edited version on the album.

“When Q performed ‘Blueslides,’ he didn’t censor himself like he did on the track itself,” the fan wrote on Reddit. “Just thought it was interesting that he waited until the tour to reveal who he was referencing.” Whelp, now we know.

Reddit being Reddit, the fan unpacked a bit more and mentioned an interview with Nadeska, where ScHoolboy Q avoided elaborating on the line or naming the person he was referring to:

”If there are still tickets available in your city for his show, I cannot recommend going enough. Best concert of my life,” the user added.

Responses to the Reddit post were mixed, as they can be where many commenters argued that Kanye West was not unfairly cancelled.

They pointed to his controversial actions and statements, which they believe warranted the backlash he received.

Let’s be real, when you praise Hitler, or attack any one cultural or religious group, you lose most (sane) crowds … everywhere. Despicable behavior TBH.

Back to the bars … On the second verse of “Blueslides,” the first single from “Blue Lips”, ScHoolboy Q raps, “You ni””as see what I see? / You ni””as really cancelled—, ni””a, I ain’t with it, nah / We was screamin’, ‘mental health,’ and now we wanna kill ’em all,” which sparked speculation about the identity of the “cancelled” figure.

What y’all think? Does Schoolboy Q have a point or is he trippin?

The post ScHoolboy Q Alludes On New ‘Blue Lips’ Album Ye Was “Canceled” Unfairly first appeared on The Source.

The post ScHoolboy Q Alludes On New ‘Blue Lips’ Album Ye Was “Canceled” Unfairly appeared first on The Source.

New Judge in Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Facing Slew of Trial Motions; Sets New Trial Rules

July 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Here we go … Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has now taken the reins of the highly publicized YSL trial, set to resume in Atlanta next week. Having introduced herself to the prosecutors and attorneys, she is preparing to meet Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and the other defendants as America’s most-watched legal drama continues. Must see TV, that’s for sure.

Gotta feel bad for that jury who are doing their civic duty. They’ve been on this case for months. They will return the week of August 5. Judge Whitaker has designated the entire week to address the motions filed before her assignment, along with new motions submitted over the past 24 hours by both the prosecution and the defense.

And about those trial motions. On July 23, Williams’ legal team filed a motion requesting bond for the acclaimed rapper. Additionally, attorneys representing YSL co-defendants Donavan Thomas, Quamarvious Nichols, and Deamonte Kendrick have filed for a mistrial.

Fulton County prosecutors have also submitted a motion seeking to restrict defense attorneys from making comments to the media.

Get this, Judge Whitaker has instituted new courtroom rules for the trial, which has been marked by numerous arrests, delays, late starts, and contentious interactions between the previous judge, defense attorneys, and prosecutors. She is not playing around.

During a status hearing on July 19, she emphasized maintaining decorum and professionalism, prohibiting food and ear buds in the courtroom, and setting hours from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The little bit I have seen in this case definitely appears there have been times that tempers have flared a whole lot and people have been less than professional,” Whitaker noted.

Just a friendly reminder that Williams was arrested on May 9, 2022, along with 27 other alleged gang members in Buckhead, as part of a 56-count indictment. The trial’s jury selection has been the longest in Georgia’s history, and the actual witness testimony is expected to surpass state records. These records were previously set by the 2014-15 Atlanta Public Schools teacher scandal trial.

The YSL trial commenced on November 27, 2023, and defense attorneys have expressed concerns that it could extend for years due to the number of witnesses the state plans to call. However, Judge Whitaker has made it clear that the trial will proceed expeditiously.

Full speed or not, this case is the longest in Georgia’s history and shows no signs of ending any time soon.

The post New Judge in Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Facing Slew of Trial Motions; Sets New Trial Rules first appeared on The Source.

The post New Judge in Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Facing Slew of Trial Motions; Sets New Trial Rules appeared first on The Source.

LISTEN: Kai Cenat Teases New Drake and Lil Yachty Song ‘Super Soak’ on Live Stream

July 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Streamers are breaking records now? Guess so and Kai Cenat is doing it again after recently teasing on the Twitch chat to debut an unreleased track by Drake and Lil Yachty. That’s kind of a big deal.

Get this, the song is rumored to be titled “Super Soak,” and although Cenat didn’t confirm the name, he did play the entire track, which runs for about four minutes.

The song features a sample from Mr. HotSpot’s “Goodness Gracious.” That original song is a vibe btw.

Drake leads the hook with the bars:

“I’m watching the moves, I’m playin’ it close / S.O.D., super soak / Rainy days, his and hers, matching coat / Jet is so big, it feel like a boat, staying afloat / I’m watching the moves, I’m playin’ it close.”

Following Drake’s hook, Lil Yachty, also known as Boat, takes over for the final two verses and does his Yachty thing which doesn’t disappoint.

Summer vibe for sure.

Preview it here and let us know what you think:

The post LISTEN: Kai Cenat Teases New Drake and Lil Yachty Song ‘Super Soak’ on Live Stream first appeared on The Source.

The post LISTEN: Kai Cenat Teases New Drake and Lil Yachty Song ‘Super Soak’ on Live Stream appeared first on The Source.

Will Smith Signs New Independent Music Deal With SLANG

July 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Bad Boy: Ride or Die star Will Smith is really taking his resurgence to music seriously. The Philly born rapper just signed a new independent record deal with SLANG.

This went down after a memorable performance at the BET Awards, Smith joined the roster of the independent label spearheaded by music executive Rene McLean. McLean, a founding advisor and partner at Influence Media Partners, announced the deal through The Hollywood Reporter.

Get this, Smith is now part of a lineup that includes Grammy-winning producer Camper, top-charting producer 30 Roc, emerging rap talent Leaf, hip hop duo The Underachievers, and underground sensation RY XP. All indie artists who all have established fan bases. McLean emphasized the label’s dedication to its artists, stating:

“In a rapidly changing music industry, SLANG artists will be supported by a team of strategists dedicated to advancing their careers and achieving their goals. Our commitment to culture comes first, and we consider our SLANG roster family.”

ICYMI: Will performed at the BET Awards on June 30, with the Sunday Service Choir and R&B singer Friday giving audiences a taste of his inspirational song “You Can Make It.” They were accompanied by gospel music from Kirk Franklin in a performance highlighted by a dramatic rainstorm.

Smith blessed the world with words of encouragement, Smith stated, “Nobody gets an easy ride. We all have a cross to bear, but there’s wisdom in the fire, and every moment is an opportunity. Embrace the journey.”

Back in the day, before Smith was one of the world’s biggest movies stars, he came on the scene with a music career in 1987 with DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, producing hits like “Summertime” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” the latter winning the first-ever rap Grammy in 1989. His solo career brought further success with chart-toppers such as “Wild Wild West” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” which earned him another Grammy.

It’s been almost twenty years since his last album dropped, “Lost and Found,” released in 2005. Even still, more recently, Smith has featured on tracks by Marc Anthony, Nicky Jam, Joyner Lucas, Bomba Estéreo, and his son, Jaden Smith. He also collaborated with Sean Paul on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” That film was the biggest movie of summer 2024 and seems like Will Smith is continuing his string of success with the new deal with SLANG.

The post Will Smith Signs New Independent Music Deal With SLANG first appeared on The Source.

The post Will Smith Signs New Independent Music Deal With SLANG appeared first on The Source.

Natasha Cloud and Partners Launch Initiative to Support Phoenix Youth with Basketball Equipment and Financial Aid

July 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Natasha Cloud, star guard for the Phoenix Mercury, has launched a significant initiative to empower underserved communities in Phoenix. Partnering with 2K Foundations, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), and OneTeam Partners, Cloud’s project focuses on donating essential basketball equipment and providing financial support to four Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) branches.

The kickoff event occurred on July 20 at the Jerry Colangelo Branch in the Maryvale neighborhood during the WNBA All-Star Weekend. Over 150 children and their families enjoyed a day filled with music, food, and basketball activities. Natasha Cloud appeared surprisedly, engaging with the kids and presenting the new equipment.

“Kids have the power to change the world, and it’s crucial that we give them the resources, opportunities, and guidance they need to harness their power, intelligence, and voice,” said Natasha Cloud. “Providing access to basketball is essential because it teaches them teamwork, discipline, and resilience. But this initiative goes beyond the game; it’s about investing in these kids’ futures and showing them that they matter. I’m incredibly proud that the WNBPA and I have partnered with 2K Foundations to bring these resources to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.”

The initiative benefits the Jerry Colangelo Branch and three other BGCAZ locations: the Thunderbirds Branch in Guadalupe, which serves Native American and Hispanic communities; the I.G. Homes Branch in downtown Phoenix; and the UMOM Branch, which supports families in transitional housing and emphasizes music, arts, and sports.

Cloud’s dedication to activism and community support, particularly regarding racial inequality and LGBTQ+ rights, is reflected in this effort. This project aims to uplift the youth and foster positive development in Phoenix by addressing the lack of recreational facilities and providing crucial resources.

2K Foundations, BGCAZ, and OneTeam Partners collectively strive to enrich local communities through sports clinics, development programs, and facility improvements, impacting youth engagement and well-being.