Hip Hop Community News

Rap Memorabilia Featured in the ‘Hip Hop Legends’ Auction

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The Hip Hop Legends Auction, hosted by the auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll have announced that a collection of items owned or worn by 2pac are being sold to the highest bidder. The auction house is home to a rare collection of original artifacts such as posters, jewelry, clothing, and hats. 

Nearly 100 items from different Hip Hop artists from various generations and price points are on the market and ready to be sold. A small batch of items in the sale previously belonged to the “All Eyez on Me” rapper, including his infamous red bandana.

Additionally, amongst the items on sale are the M.O.B. pinky ring he wore in the “All About U” music video, a handwritten letter he wrote to his girlfriend while in prison, promotional posters, gold chains, a Versace bracelet, and his original mugshot. 

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Other artifacts being sold come from rappers that have transitioned such as signed items from The Notorious B.I.G., Aaliyah, Big Pun, Eazy E, DMX, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and a handwritten note from XXXTentacion. A high-ticket item that is expected to sell quickly is the Roc-A-Fella jacket worn and autographed by Jay-Z. The promotional piece has already earned a minimum bid of $5,000. It is estimated to reach or exceed a bid of $20,000. 

Some of the highest bids on items include the aforementioned gold ring worn by 2pac at $10,000. Wednesday morning, the highest bid stands at $26,000. The Eazy-E stage also used as a DJ stand in the “We Want Eazy” had a starting bid of $5,000 that has already been reached. 

Collectables from Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Lil Wayne, Wu-Tang Clan, Cypress Hill, The Fugees, Method Man, Drake, Public Enemy, and numerous others could soon have a new home as well. The action can be viewed on the Gotta Have Rock and Roll official website.

The post Rap Memorabilia Featured in the ‘Hip Hop Legends’ Auction appeared first on The Source.

Omarion Goes on Dr. Phil to Tell Fan that they are Not Engaged

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Omarion Goes on Dr. Phil to Tell Fan that they are Not Engaged

There’s catfishing….and then there’s celebrity catfishing. A woman named Rachel apparently wrote to Dr. Phil, begging her to intervene in a situation with her friend Simone, who apparently believed that she was engaged to hip-hop artist Omarion.

Rachel first provided Dr. Phil with some background information about the situation. She said that Simone believed that she was talking to Omarion and that he had stated that he wanted to marry her and was planning to come visit her. However, after talking for two years, he had not come to see Simone, nor had he flown her to see him. Simone, had, however, given someone that she believed to be Omarion upwards of $3,500. She also stated that Simone had never video chatted with the “Post to Be” singer.

Dr. Phil then interviewed Simone, who said that she was in contact with Omarion’s “manager,” who had asked her for money. However, Dr. Phil brought out Omarion’s real manager, Michelle Le Fleur, who stated that Omarion did not know Simone, had certainly never asked her for money, and was definitively not in a relationship with her.

Omarion then shared a video from Omarion who addressed the issue, saying that “it’s crazy how far these people will go to manipulate my fans to think that they are actually speaking with me- from sending fake drivers licenses and passports, even Facetiming them, but claiming there was a bad connection.”

He then spoke directly to Simone, saying “I’m sorry Simone, I haven’t been speaking with you online and we are not in a relationship. You have not sent me any money. I want everyone to be aware that if someone is online claiming to be me and asking for money, that you are not speaking with me, I would not do that. All of my pages are marked with a blue check.”

He encouraged his fans to be careful and mindful about who they are speaking to online.

Dr. Phil pointed out that celebrities being impersonated is very common, with many unwitting victims believing that they are in a relationship with a celebrity, sharing stories of other fans who had believed they were in relationships with celebrities such as Post Malone, Tyler Perry, and Vin Diesel.

The post Omarion Goes on Dr. Phil to Tell Fan that they are Not Engaged appeared first on The Source.

Dame Dash Reads Children’s Book At Va. Elementary School

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Dame Dash Launches his Streaming Service

Dame Dash’s new children’s book was well received by a group of elementary school kids in Virginia who were lucky enough to witness the former Roc-A-Fella read the book that was inspired by the couple’s son.

On Friday(February 24), Dash and fiancée Raquel M. Horn popped up at Carver Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia, where the couple read Dusko Goes To Space, released by Damon Dash Studios in May 2022.

Richmond CBS affiliate WTVR said that Dash and Horn spoke to the kindergarten, first and second graders, giving them more encouragement and confidence to read using topics that they’re already familiar with and enjoy.

“If a kid loves video games, when teaching use video games,” Dash explained. “For a kid who loves space, we will teach him in space. He loves music, he loves acting, whatever it is, you know, we’re gonna teach them in their language.”

Dusko Goes To Space follows a little boy as he turns a cardboard box into a spaceship and heads on an educational adventure with his French bulldog, Governor. The main character is named after Damon Dash and Raquel M. Horn’s two year old son.

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[WATCH] Exonerated ‘Central Park 5’ Victim To Run For Harlem City Council

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One of the “Central Park Five” is running for City Council.

Yusef Salaam is one of the “Exonerated Five,” as they are now known, the teenagers who were wrongly convicted of raping a woman in Central Park in 1989. After fighting for his freedom, the Harlem native is ready to fight for his hometown.

Their convictions were overturned in 2002 and in December saw their name etched in stone on a gate to the park.

Salaam, who spent seven years behind bars, is running in Council District 9, representing the heart of Harlem, where he grew up.

“We are here now to chart a new path forward,” he said during a speech at the old Harlem YMCA on 135th Street.

Decades before he became president, Donald Trump took out a full-page ad calling for the Central Park Five to face the death penalty, which Salaam referenced in his announcement.

“In a country that’s supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, they saw the color of our skin and said ‘Guilty, guilty, guilty,’” he said. “It would have been OK if Donald Trump had taken out a full-page ad when we were found to be innocent.”

In 2002, a judge vacated the convictions of Salaam and the four other members of the Central Park Five after the Manhattan district attorney’s office filed a motion with a new theory of the case — and a different suspect. Prosecutors said that after conducting a new investigation, they no longer believed that Salaam and the others had committed the crime.

Since then, Salaam has written a memoir, become a motivational speaker and has advocated for criminal justice reform. His case has also been documented in books, a documentary and a Netflix miniseries.

Salaam is challenging Harlem Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan for her seat. The incumbent councilmember did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But after Salaam first shared that he was considering a run last fall, Richardson Jordan said in a statement to the news site Patch: “I think we have enough millionaires in office already. That is part of the problem.”

The post [WATCH] Exonerated ‘Central Park 5’ Victim To Run For Harlem City Council appeared first on The Source.

Rumors Swirl Surrounding Tyga and Avril Lavigne Relationship

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Tyga reportedly dating Avril Lavigne

Hip-hop artist Tyga has a long history of being romantically linked to high-profile female celebrities, but his newest rumored romantic interest, pop star Avril Lavigne, has caught many people by surprise.

Rumors started swirling when the two were spotted dining at Nobu together with friends and hugging outside the restaurant on Saturday night before leaving together. (TMZ caught pictures, which can be seen here.)

While one source told People, “Avril and Tyga are genuinely friends and nothing more,” other sources claim that the two are dating.

The news might come as a shock to many, including Lavigne’s (reportedly ex) fiance, singer-songwriter Mod Sun. While some sources say that the two called off their engagement earlier this month, others say that Mod Sun was unaware that the pair were over.

Both parties have their own celebrity-filled dating rosters. Tyga shares a child with ex Blac Chyna and also dated Kylie Jenner for four years. He has also been linked to Iggy Azealia, Kiely Williams, and several models and “influencers.” Lavigne actually dated Brody Jenner, who is the stepbrother of Kylie Jenner, Tyga’s ex. In 2013, Lavigne married Chad Kroeger of Nickelback before divorcing two years later and moving on to Phillip Sarofim, the son of Texan billionaire Fayez Sarofim before dating Pete Jonas in 2020 and then finally, Mod Sun.

Neither has publicly commented on the rumors with Tyga promoting his upcoming Las Vegas residency and Lavigne promoting her new music on Instagram.

The post Rumors Swirl Surrounding Tyga and Avril Lavigne Relationship appeared first on The Source.

Ice-T says he “eats haters for food” as he receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star

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Ice T Accepts Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

As Ice-T accepted his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Friday, he addressed one aspect of being a star that does not seem to bother him: critics.

The 65-year-old hip-hop artist and actor, who accepted the star alongside his wife Coco and seven-year-old daughter Chanel, discussed cancel culture, addressing how people have been trying to cancel him since the beginning of his career, over four decades ago.

In an interview with Fox News, Ice-T said that people had “been trying to cancel me for 40 years… I’m difficult to cancel,” before continuing to explain that “I’ve already let everybody know all my flaws, all my vices and people rock with it.”

He also addressed online trolls and critics, saying that he turns the negative energy from critics into motivation, sharing his personal philosophy of “when someone tells me you can’t do it, that means I got to do it.” He referred to criticism as fuel, stating that “I eat haters for food.”

In December, the Grammy-winning artist shared an inspirational quote that read: “Everyone is going to hate you anyway…so you might as well give them a reason” with a post that said “Christmas is over.. My advice is you go into 2023 with THIS attitude if you want to WIN.”

Ice-T was joined by several celebrities, including Law and Order: SVU costar Mariska Hargitay, as he accepted his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

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D-Nice And The Apollo Theater Announce The 3rd Club Quarantine Live

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Still breaking boundaries after almost 40-years in Hip-hop, rapper/producer/DJ/Entrepreneur—-D-Nice has established himself as a household brand.

The Apollo and D-Nice just announced the special Harlem Renaissance themed third anniversary Club Quarantine, celebrating community, connection, and culture. On Saturday, March 18 at 8:00p.m this once-in-a-lifetime evening will head at The Apollo’s historic stage. Special guests will be announced.Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, February 21. General public sale begins at 2:00p.m.

For more information visit, apollotheater.org/event/cq3   As a revolutionary virtual club that safely brought millions together to experience community amidst isolation, since March 2020 D-Nice’s Club Quarantine has been a global rhythmic respite. A multigenerational and multi-genre experience, Club Quarantine is a global celebration of music, life, and love. Since its inception, CQ has been a cultural linchpin, serving as a catalyst for innovation in music and social media to create a wholly unique event. Now, Club Quarantine will come offline again for CQ3. 

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Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand Celebrate His Birthday with $2.3M in New Black Community Commitment Grants

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Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand announce $2.3 million in Community Grant awards to 48 grassroots organizations across the United States to assist create more equal futures for Black people in honor of Michael Jordan’s 60th birthday.

The 2023 round of community grantees comprises 43 new groups as well as a reinvestment in five previously funded organizations.The groups include 1Hood Media, Mortar Cincinnati, Love Now Media, Revolution Workshop, and Good Call NYC.

Jordan Community Awards, a part of the Black Community Commitment (a 10-year, $100 million joint commitment between Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand), were first awarded in 2021 and award one-year funding to organizations leading sustainable solutions in their cities.

“We believe that these community organizations aren’t just local changemakers, but that they are dreamers, makers of generational bonds, and neighborhood leaders with an authentic understanding of how together they can create transformative change,” says Craig Williams, Jordan Brand President.

You can learn about each of the organizations here.

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Kanye West Files Police Report Over Interaction with Paparazzi

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Kanye West has had enough of the paparazzi. Instead of being engaged in altercations that could cause an issue for him, Ye is going to the police.

TMZ spotted Ye headed into the L.A. County Sherriff’s West Hollywood Station on Tuesday, letting the officers know that he got into an altercation with members of the paparazzi.

Ye reportedly asked members of the paparazzi to stop filming him and his family on Tuesday, with the interaction nearly becoming physical. Instead, Ye went to the police. Now, an investigation is underway into the incident.

In January, Kanye West got in trouble with the law after a video surfaced of him grabbing a woman’s cellphone. The Ventura County Sheriff’s office confirmed that Ye is under investigation for alleged battery after a video surfaced of the artist taking the woman’s phone as she photographed him from inside her car and then throwing it into the street.

According to the Ventura County Star, Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an alleged battery incident involving celebrity Kanye West near the Sports Academy on Rancho Conejo Boulevard in Newbury Park late Friday afternoon, officials said. The incident was reported around 4:37 p.m. after a reported altercation between West and a woman, said sheriff’s Capt. William Hutton. Hutton said that no arrests have yet been made, but it is an ongoing active investigation.

In the video, Kanye can be heard saying something to the effect of “Y’all ain’t gonna run up on me like that. If I say stop”…”stop with your cameras.”

The woman says she was not running and responds by saying, “Kanye, you’re a celebrity.”

Ye then took the phone from her hands and threw it into the street before returning to his SUV and driving off before law enforcement arrived on the scene.

No arrests have been formally made as of Sunday afternoon.

The post Kanye West Files Police Report Over Interaction with Paparazzi appeared first on The Source.

Casanova Gifts His GF New Benz and More for Valentine’s Day: ‘New Car, New Business’

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Casanova may not be home at the moment, but he is making sure his bae was straight on Valentine’s Day. On Instagram, Cas revealed that he gifted a new Benz, flowers, chocolate, and more to Jazzy.

“Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect, it means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections,” Casanova got off on Instagram. “I hope that dont go over your head!…. New car, New Business @mint_mobile_auto_spa. Happy Valentine’s Day baby @swaggy.jazzy_2x.”

Is Casanova headed home? Cas has been sitting behind bars on federal racketeering charges for some time, but perhaps that time is coming to a close. Speaking on The Joe Budden Podcast, Officially Ice gave an update.

I saw Casanova this week, shout out to him,” Ice said. “He sends everybody his love. He said he’s looking to get sentenced soon, and he thinks he’ll be out.”

Ice added, “He’s in Essex. I got somebody over there, and when I went to go see them, he just happened to walk out at the same time.”

In Nov. 2022, the Brooklyn-born rapper sponsored a Thanksgiving event at Children of Promise in Brooklyn, New York. Children of Promise’s mission is “to partner with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”

The event, which had fellow rapper Jay Critch in attendance, included activities and giveaways for the children of the program. Casanova sent in a video message for the attendees. “Children of Promise we giving back. We don’t stop giving back behind bars. You know what it is.”

In May 2022,  Casanova pleaded guilty to numerous crimes in his Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case.

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