Hip Hop Community News Archives - Page 4 of 66

Young Thug Reportedly Defaulted On Loan After Making $16M From Pub Deal

November 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s not all sunny for Young Thug post jail release. The recently freed rapper is facing serious legal trouble over an alleged breach of contract with entertainment giant AEG. The company claims that Williams unlawfully sold the rights to over 400 of his songs for $16 million, violating an agreement to use those music copyrights as collateral for an outstanding loan.

So what we know is the dispute dates back to 2017 when AEG extended a $5.25 million loan to Young Thug’s label, YSL (Young Stoner Life), in exchange for exclusive rights to promote his live shows. In return, YSL and Williams agreed to repay the loan with interest, along with sharing a portion of their concert profits with AEG.

What’s more, by 2019, AEG alleges that YSL and Williams defaulted on the loan, leaving a balance of $5 million still owed. AEG also claims that Williams misrepresented his financial situation during the repayment process, further complicating the matter.

ICYMI, back in 2021, while still grappling with legal issues, Young Thug began selling off portions of his music publishing rights—reportedly without informing AEG. Despite his ongoing legal battles, including charges unrelated to this case, Williams allegedly sold over $16 million worth of his song catalog. This sale made the ownership of the copyrights “particularly fluid,” according to court documents, raising doubts about who ultimately owns the rights to these songs.

Get this, AEG insists that these actions violated the terms of their agreement and were “false and misleading” to the buyers regarding the legal status of the works. The company is now seeking to recover both the original loan amount and all profits generated from the sale of the music rights.

When tracing the financial path of the sale, AEG has begun issuing subpoenas to those involved in the transaction and is investigating public records to follow the money trail. The company plans to determine within the next six months whether it will pursue further legal action or other avenues to reclaim the collateral tied to Young Thug’s music catalog.

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New “George Floyd Square” Plans Trigger Unrest Among Local Minneapolis Citizens

November 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After four and a half years of deliberation, Minneapolis has unveiled its vision for transforming the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue—known globally as George Floyd Square. The city’s recently released “vision report” outlines plans for reconstruction, aiming to revitalize the area while honoring its significance in the social justice movement.

The proposed redesign includes rebuilt streets, new green spaces, wider sidewalks, improved pedestrian ramps, street lighting, and narrower travel lanes accommodating bus rapid transit. Anthony Taylor, community development lead at the Cultural Wellness Center, described the plan as a “flexible design” intended to preserve existing monuments, create spaces for civic dialogue, and maintain essential transit services.

George Floyd Square remains a focal point of activism and a symbol of global calls for racial justice. However, it has also faced challenges as a “no-go” zone for many locals due to limited police presence, contributing to economic strain on area businesses. Having endured 4.5 years of reduced foot traffic and lost profits, some shop owners are urging the city to expedite the reconstruction.

In early November, five local business owners on Chicago Avenue filed a lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis. The lawsuit claims that businesses in the area suffered financial losses, a decline in property values, damage to their reputation, and reduced rental income for both commercial and residential properties due to the city’s response to the unrest following George Floyd’s death.

The debate over Chicago Avenue’s future, particularly whether to reopen it to through traffic at the site of Floyd’s death, remains contentious. Business owners prioritize accessibility and economic recovery, while others stress the need for the site to remain a sacred space for reflection and community gatherings.

City officials have emphasized the importance of engaging stakeholders, hosting two years of workshops and a nine-month community engagement process. Yet, tensions persist between those advocating for a swift transformation and those wanting to preserve the area’s historical and cultural integrity. The city’s challenge lies in balancing these competing priorities—meeting immediate needs for revitalization while respecting the profound significance of George Floyd Square.

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Politics and Pop Culture Collide at UFC 309 as Trump and speculated members of his cabinet join celebs at Madison Square Garden

November 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Madison Square Garden was packed on Saturday night for UFC 309 with as much attention on audience members as the fight itself. Most notably, President-elect Donald Trump showed up with Elon Musk by his side to watch Jon “Bones” Jones defend his undisputed UFC world heavyweight champion title by defeating Stipe Miocic as chants of “USA, USA” filled the arena as Trump made his highly-anticipated entrance after being walked into the arena by Dana White.

Trump and Musk were not alone. They were joined by Vivek Ramaswamy (who alongside Musk will head up a Department of Government Efficiency also known as DOGE), Tulsi Gabbard (who has been tapped by Trump as the director of national intelligence), House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Robert Kennedy Jr. (who Trump has nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services). Don Jr. and Eric Trump also sat with their father’s entourage along with Kid Rock. The group was seated next to Jelly Roll and his entourage. Other celebs in attendance included Deontay Wilder, Tom Aspinall, Anthony Kiedis, Karl Anthony Towns, and Triple H.

Most notably, Jon Jones did the signature “Trump dance” after defeating Miocic in the third round and pointing to Trump who gave him a thumbs up. Jones then presented Trump the championship belt.

Joe Rogan, who met up with Trump after the event for which he provided commentary, stated during the broadcast: “If people at home could hear the sound in this room right now. It is so loud! It’s always loud when he comes in, but now that he’s won [the election], now that he’s the president again, oh my God!”

UFC fighter Jim Miller went a little bit political when he called for justice for Peanut the squirrel during his victory speech. He also said that he hopes DOGE can clean up the misuse of government resources.

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Carmelo Anthony Has Something to Say On Drake’s DeMar DeRozan Friction

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Former NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Rudy Gay have entered the chat when it comes to the drama between Drake a DeMar DeRozan. The two former NBA Stars turned podcasters offered their unique views on the ongoing kind of feud between the rapper and the basketball player.

Listen, as you probably know this all comes from Drake’s longstanding rivalry with Kendrick Lamar, which has had ripple effects in the sports world.

Carmelo Anthony gave his seven cents (get it because of his number, ha) on his show 7PM in Brooklyn, shared his thoughts on the situation, explaining that Drake’s feelings might be hurt due to the close bond he had with DeRozan during their time together in Toronto. “I think Drake was hurt a little bit because of the relationship he built with DeMar in Toronto,” Melo dished. “Representing the 6, Raptors—you know that was a lot of connection with those two. He’s a Raptor for life from a basketball standpoint. Yes, that jersey should be going up.” Anthony highlighted how deep the connection ran, with both men sharing a link to the Raptors and their city.

Now ICYMI, Rudy Gay, recently and reluctantly retired from the NBA and is now a recurring co-host on 7PM in Brooklyn, didn’t hold back in expressing his disapproval of Drake’s recent actions. “That’s wack, man. Drake is wack for that,” Gay stated, referring to Drake’s public comments about DeRozan. Gay’s sentiment was clear: if Drake had an issue with DeRozan, he should’ve addressed it directly instead of making things public. “You gotta pull up on DeMar if you feel that way before you go on camera,” Gay added.

What’s more, Melo echoed Gay’s thoughts, especially regarding Drake’s remarks about pulling down DeRozan’s potential Raptors banner. “Drake did a lot when he said I’ma go up there and take it down. That part is a lot,” Carmelo commented. However, he also acknowledged that DeRozan may have unintentionally become an antagonist to Drake when he appeared on stage with Kendrick Lamar during The Pop Out concert and starred in the music video for “Not Like Us.” Melo said, “Those are shots. You my man, we in the crib, we hanging, we building the 6 up. From that standpoint, that would f**k me up, too. I’m gonna feel a way no matter what, but yes, you do have a conversation. As a man, you have a conversation.”

Rudy Gay went on to agree with Anthony, emphasizing that if there was an issue, Drake should’ve addressed it with DeRozan privately. “If you got a problem, come at me,” Gay said. “To see your man’s out there dancing with the enemy, that’s kinda crazy.”

To recap, the drama escalated earlier this month when Drake was courtside at a Toronto Raptors game against the Sacramento Kings. During the broadcast, Drake was heard calling DeRozan a “goof” and jokingly threatening to take down his Raptors banner if it were ever put up. After the game, which the Raptors won, Drake was seen mouthing “Fk outta here, puy” as DeRozan walked off the court. When DeRozan was asked about the banner comments during a post-game press conference, he responded, “Well he gon’ have a long way to climb to take it down, so tell him good luck.”

This cross culture beef, spanning rap and ball, marks a sharp turn in their relationship, which was once much warmer. Just three years ago, DeRozan had publicly stated that Drake would “forever have a friend” in him, even after being traded from the Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being blindsided by the trade, DeRozan received support from Drake, who invited him over to his house and offered words of encouragement. Even after his appearance in Kendrick Lamar’s video, DeRozan maintained that he still had love for Drake. However, based on their recent interactions, that camaraderie seems to have faded.

All just exhausting.

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Biggest Rap Feuds of 2024 Outside of Drake vs. Kendrick

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s probably a good time to exhale as 2024 wraps up. Just an exhausting year. The last 11 or so months has been filled with drama on drama in hip-hop. And Drake vs. Kendrick wasn’t the only feud that captivated us. Beefs were all over the place. Seemed like everybody was somebody’s Opp. The angst ranged from personal grudges to straight up lyrical warfare. We have a breakdown of all the so called bad energy and our only call to action is that this is all resolved peacefully so we can get back to enjoying good music.

Drake vs. Everybody Else: Metro Boomin, Future (kinda), The Weeknd, Rick Ross, and Kanye West

Drake vs. Metro Boomin
The feud between Drake and Metro Boomin, which simmered in 2023, came to a head in 2024. The tension was ignited by Metro and Future’s joint album We Don’t Trust You, released in March, featuring a Kendrick Lamar diss on the track “Like That.” Drake responded to Metro’s subtle shots with his diss track “Push Ups,” telling Metro to “shut up and make some drums.” This led to Metro dropping a disstrumental titled “BBL Drizzy” in May, a reference to Rick Ross’ nickname for Drake and unproven rumors of Drake undergoing plastic surgery. Weird to even go there in our opinion. Metro even hosted a $10,000 contest for the best verse over the beat, which went viral on TikTok, and Drake later rapped over it on Sexyy Red’s song “U My Everything.”

Drake & Future
The not so heated rivalry between Drake and Future kind of escalated in 2024, primarily through their association with Metro. Fans speculated that their issues dated back years, with rumors of personal tensions and even love interests fueling the beef. Neither Drake nor Future has publicly confirmed the source of their animosity, but it remains a major talking point in the rap community. Good thing is seems like Future wants to peace things up after he liked a tweet from Young Thug before he was released from jail where Thugger politely asked that they all well, get back to business. Remains to be seen how Drizzy feels but with Thug out, and the 6 God rumored to have already connected with the Atlanta icon, that Future reconcile may be on the horizon.

Drake vs. The Weeknd
The Weeknd also took aim at Drake in April 2024 on the song “All to Myself” from Future and Metro’s We Still Don’t Trust You. Abel mocked Drake and his OVO signee Baka Not Nice for their heavy social media presence, singing:
“Could never diss my brothers, baby/When they got leaks in they operation/ I thank God that I never signed my life away.”
Drake quickly fired back in his own diss track “Push Ups,” accusing The Weeknd of acting for “n****s” instead of for women and claiming Abel didn’t come from the streets:
“Claim the 6 and boys ain’t even come from it.” Yikes.

Drake vs. Rick Ross
Drake and Rick Ross’ beef reignited in early 2024 after Ross took shots at Drake on We Don’t Trust You. Ross accused Drake of stealing Lil Wayne’s flow and suggested Drake had undergone plastic surgery. Ross coined the term “BBL Drizzy,” which Drake later addressed in his diss tracks “Push Ups” and “Family Matters.” Drake took shots at Ross, even mocking his weight-loss efforts with the Ozempic drug:
“Ozempic got a side effect of jealousy.”
Though the pair haven’t traded bars since, the feud remains unresolved, with Ross further trolling Drake by altering the cover art for his diss track to feature a caricature of Drizzy.

Drake vs. Kanye West
Kanye entered the fray in 2024, offering his opinion on Drake during his remix of the Metro Boomin-produced track “Like That” from Future and Kendrick’s collaboration. Kanye criticized Drake’s lyrics and his record deal with Universal Music, suggesting that Drake sold out for a “little bag”:
“Lifetime deal? I feel bad for you.”
This jab reignited the long-standing animosity between Kanye and Drake, stemming from their infamous beef that began in 2018 and escalated with Pusha T’s reveal of Drake’s son, Adonis. TBH Drake never really went back at Kanye. Maybe he doesn’t think it’s worth his attention. Probably wasn’t.

Megan Thee Stallion vs. Nicki Minaj

Background:
This on is interesting, although we’re not proponents of the ladies going at it. There’s too much of pitting women against each other in the culture and society that we certainly do not appreciate. The feud between Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj, which dates back to 2019, flared up in early 2024 after Megan released her diss track “Hiss” in January. On the track, she directly went after Nicki, rapping:
“Every chance you get, bet your weak as won’t address me/B**hes swear they G, but the G must stand for goofy.”
Nicki didn’t hold back, releasing the vicious “Big Foot” diss track on January 29, where she tore into Megan and continued her social media attack for days. Nicki’s lyrics included:
“For a free beat, you can hit Megan raw (Uh)/If you a ghostwriter, Pardi in Megan jaw.”
Megan has yet to respond, but fans expect this beef to continue, with Nicki’s relentless attacks showing no signs of slowing down.

Eminem vs. Benzino

Background:
The bitter rivalry between Eminem and Benzino, which has been ongoing for years, flared up again in 2024. Eminem reignited the feud with his diss track “Doomsday Pt. 2” on January 26, mocking Benzino’s physical appearance, financial struggles, and even targeting his daughter, Coi Leray. Benzino quickly fired back with two diss tracks, “Vulturius” and “Rap Elvis” in late January. Despite the back-and-forth, Em did not respond to Benzino’s tracks, leading Benzino to declare himself the winner. In April, Benzino even challenged Em to a rap battle in an interview with TMZ, but Em has yet to acknowledge it publicly.

Quavo vs. Chris Brown

Background:
We didn’t see this one coming. Nobody did TBH. Quavo and Chris Brown’s out of the blue feud, might date back to 2017 over Breezy’s ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran, reached new heights in 2024. Chris Brown took aim at Quavo on his track “Freak” from his 11:11 deluxe edition on April 11, name-dropping Quavo to express his disdain for him. Quavo responded quickly with the track “Tender,” bringing up the Karrueche situation. Chris retaliated with “Weakest Link,” where he made a deeply personal attack, saying Quavo should have been the one to die instead of his late Migos member, Takeoff, who was tragically murdered in 2022. Quavo’s response, “Over Hes and B**hes,” was so poorly received that Chris mocked it on Instagram, saying, “Takeoff rap better.”

Desiigner vs. 50 Cent

Background:
This lesser-known beef began when 50 Cent appeared on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast in 2024 and explained why he didn’t sign Desiigner to G-Unit. 50 claimed Desiigner didn’t have enough music at the time, which Desiigner took personally. In retaliation, Desiigner dropped a freestyle on Instagram, taking shots at 50 with lines like:
“Nggas talkin’ that 50 Cent, I be talking fifty mill’/Nggas talkin’ that Timmy Turner, glad the ngga got killed.”
The diss also took aim at 50’s lack of support for him, with Desiigner claiming that 50 “was never worth a deal” compared to Kanye West, with whom Desiigner signed a deal.

2024 has been a year of intense rap feuds, with high-profile artists exchanging disses and airing out grievances from years past. These rivalries not only fuel the hip-hop drama but also keep fans engaged as the artists involved continue to shape the direction of the genre. Whether it’s personal beefs, industry criticisms, or old wounds reopening, the state of hip-hop in 2024 is one of fierce competition and constant tension.

Like we said, it’s all exhausting but we had to break it down. Hopefully 2025 will see less beefing and more collaborating. It’s better for the culture in our opinion.

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T-Pain Collabs In Studio With … Mark Zuckerberg?

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Here’s one we never would have had on our bingo cards. Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly joining forces with T-Pain in the studio, sparking speculation about a possible music collaboration.

We’ve seen it all in 2024. This can’t be real life.

The Meta CEO shared a video on his Instagram Story of himself and the Grammy-winning artist in the studio, captioning it, “It’s happening guys.” T-Pain later reposted the same image with his own caption, “It is time…” while playfully referring to Zuckerberg as “Z.”

“Z.” There you have it.

What’s interesting, we guess is the two have developed an unexpected friendship over time. Earlier this year, in July, T-Pain gifted Zuckerberg a custom “Nappy Boy Meta” chain. Zuckerberg proudly showcased the chain in a video, calling it a “vibe” and adding, “Thanks @tpain for the epic new chain. Perfect opportunity to show how the new Segment Anything AI research model we’re releasing today can track different objects in the same video. Lots of fun video effects will be possible with this.” In the comments, T-Pain expressed his admiration for Zuckerberg, writing, “Looks great on you buddy. Thanks for being a great friend.” Zuckerberg responded warmly, “It’s a great chain! Looking forward to more adventures ahead.”

Naturally, the details of their studio session remain a mystery, the presence of Zuckerberg’s AI tools—demonstrated with his new chain in the video—suggests that artificial intelligence might play a significant role in their collaboration.

AI. The future of how we tie our shoes to eat our Frosted Flakes. it’s coming for us all.

Anyways, the duo first bonded in 2021 when Zuckerberg joined T-Pain’s livestream. During their conversation, T-Pain jokingly urged Zuckerberg to improve Instagram’s direct messaging features, admitting he had no idea about the platform’s request folder and listing several celebrities who had tried, and failed, to reach him. This playful exchange marked the beginning of their unlikely friendship.

More power to em.

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Ye Staring Down Default Judgement in Donda Civil Action

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Hey Kanye, you may want to take this one seriously. The Yeezy honcho’s legal troubles surrounding Donda Academy are creeping up the escalator as he faces multiple lawsuits from former employees. Yikes.

ICYMI, one of the most pressing cases involves a lawsuit filed by Isaiah Meadows, the Academy’s former assistant principal, who has moved to seek a default judgment against West. According to reports from AllHipHop, this default judgment is becoming increasingly likely as Kanye has struggled to maintain stable legal representation.

Strugging to secure a lawyer, and you’re Kanye West? This world is not a real place.

Get this, during a recent court hearing, Judge Christopher Lui stressed the urgency of resolving the matter, saying, “This can’t continue forever. If a substitute counsel is going to come in, it has to be done quickly.” Kanye’s current lawyer, Manoj Shah, acknowledged the difficulty they have faced in securing new legal counsel. “We are trying in vain to retain counsel. We are interviewing several firms. For one reason or another, it has failed to work out. Our goal is to have counsel and participate in the defense,” Shah explained.

Now what’s interesting is reports suggest that Kanye’s tendency to dismiss or fail to pay his legal teams has contributed to repeated delays in his case. Judge Lui made it clear that if Kanye fails to secure a lawyer soon, he may face a default judgment in the lawsuit.

In a tactful reply, Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing Meadows and other former employees of Donda Academy, voiced skepticism about Kanye’s legal strategy. “It’s an odd situation. This is the first time we’ve heard there’s an attorney representing [West’s] interests,” Zambrano told Courthouse News. He went on to point out a major issue: “Whoever the next attorney is, there’s a long history of people not getting paid by Kanye West, which is part of the problem.”

Then the personal jabs came flying in when Zambrano took a dig at Kanye’s unpredictable behavior, stating, “I just think that sometimes he has the attention span of a goldfish,” a remark that seemed to reflect the challenges in navigating Kanye’s erratic legal moves. While no strict deadline has been set for securing new counsel, it is clear that the patience of the court is beginning to wear thin.

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Nelly Won’t Face Charges for August Drug Arrest in St. Louis

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Nelly won’t have to face drug charges for his summer arrest at a casino in St. Louis. According to ABC News, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell shut down the case.

“We don’t belive the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges,” Bell said.

The attorney’s office did not provide additional details into the decision to not file charges, but Nelly’s attorney Scott Rosenblum confirmed “a fair and imaprtial review of the evidence.”

Nellly was arrested on Aug. 7, 2024 in Maryland Heights, near St. Louis, according to a spokesperson for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The arrest reportedly went down around 4:45 a.m. so demon time as the kids say, just as Nelly was leaving the Hollywood Casino near St. Louis. Interesting. What do ya’ll think he plays if anything? Roulette? Blackjack or maybe Texas Hold’em … We gotta get the drop on that. Maybe he was just grabbing a bite to eat.

Get this, he was initially stopped by the Missouri Gaming Commission for an ID verification. A ha. So one of the most recognizable people in the entire state of Missouri was stopped to verify his ID? Huh?

During the stop, authorities miraculously discovered that Nelly had an outstanding warrant for failure to obtain car insurance, leading to his arrest. Wow. Seriously?

Here’s where it took a turn. Missouri State Highway officers conducted a search of Nelly’s vehicle and found ecstasy pills. If accurate, yikes.

So what’s the result? Nelly was also charged with drug possession. Then the “Country Grammar” rapper was taken to the Maryland Heights Police Department but was later released.

Talk about bad timing, ICYMI, Nelly is expecting a child with Ashanti. The fan favorite couple, been in an on-and-off relationship for years, but recently rekindled their romance and are preparing to welcome their first child together. Well hopefully they all figure this latest situation out.

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Shawn Carter Foundation and Toyota Launch Financial Education Program for HBCU Students

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

JAY-Z Becomes First Black Male Artist to Have 10 Albums Go Double-Platinum

The Shawn Carter Foundation, with support from Toyota Motor North America, has introduced Champions for Financial Legacy (CFFL), a financial education initiative aimed at empowering students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their surrounding communities.

CFFL, developed in collaboration with the Coalition for Equity and Opportunity at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, builds on a curriculum originally designed by Wharton professor Keith Weigelt and his Bridges to Wealth program. This program has been part of the Shawn Carter Foundation’s educational efforts for its scholars and their families since 2017.

“We are excited to see our partnership with the Shawn Carter Foundation evolve to include this innovative initiative,” said Monica Womack, general manager, D+I and community engagement, Toyota. “One that not only provides resources to HBCU students but also reaches the heart of the community, through advocacy for financial literacy.”

CFFL represents the latest joint project between the Shawn Carter Foundation and Toyota, which has previously supported the foundation’s HBCU Bus Tour, an annual event that connects students with opportunities at historically Black institutions. Toyota’s backing enables the expansion of this financial literacy initiative to HBCU students and their communities, with the ultimate goal of reducing the wealth gap by equipping participants with essential financial knowledge.

“Every day at the Shawn Carter Foundation, we dedicate ourselves to uplifting students and communities that are underserved,” said Dr. Gloria Carter, Shawn Carter Foundation CEO and Co-Founder. “To launch a financial education program that will reach more students and communities, along with dedicated partners like Toyota and the Wharton School of Business, is a vision we are finally seeing come to fruition. We are so excited to see the incredible impact of CFFL unfold and look forward to its growth.”

“One way to strengthen the resiliency of middle-class households is to increase their ability to generate wealth,” said Dr. Keith Weigelt, Marks-Darivoff Family Professor of Strategy at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and Founder of Bridges to Wealth. “I thank both the Shawn Carter Foundation and Toyota for their foresight in addressing a long-neglected social disparity.”

The CFFL curriculum covers crucial topics such as budgeting, market risk, credit scores, mutual funds, and stock market basics. Designed to foster financial independence, the program also incorporates real-world applications and service-learning components, allowing students to directly apply their learning within their communities and contribute to local economic development.

“The Wharton Coalition for Equity and Opportunity (CEO) is pleased to partner with the Shawn Carter Foundation and Toyota in launching the financial legacy program with several HBCUs. This partnership will help us remain committed to closing the wealth gap through an evidence-based approach,” said Dr. Fareeda Griffith, CEO managing director.

The initiative will launch in Spring 2025 at Lincoln University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, with plans to expand to additional HBCUs. Faculty members at participating institutions will receive free professional development training, and selected student ambassadors will help promote the program and its benefits on campus.

For more information, visit the Champions for Financial Legacy initiative.

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Young Thug Back in the Booth Hits Studio With Future, Lil Baby, Travis Scott and More

November 13, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Fans should be happy to hear that Young Thug is back in the studio. Finally. On Monday night (Nov. 11), a photo surfaced on socials showing the “Digits” hitmaker with three of his most frequent collaborators: Future, Travis Scott, and Lil Baby. The image, though slightly blurry, quickly ignited excitement among fans on social media.

“They [are] about to make a damn banger! I understand it now,” one fan commented on the post, while another added, “They snapped. I’m already knowing.” However, not everyone was as thrilled. Some fans expressed concern about hearing more of the same from the group, considering their extensive history of collaborations over the years. “It’s like, on [the] one hand, this is cool, but I kinda don’t want to hear the same old songs from these guys,” one user noted.

Despite being locked all the way up for much of the past year, Young Thug has remained active in music. In 2023, he released BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, an album that featured a star-studded lineup of guests, including Lil Uzi Vert, Drake, Travis Scott, Yak Gotti, 21 Savage, and Future. The album’s 15 tracks showed that even while incarcerated, Thug’s influence in the industry remains strong.

Meanwhile, Travis Scott has been busy with his own projects, wrapping up his UTOPIA: CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR in October 2023. The tour followed the release of his highly anticipated album UTOPIA, which dropped earlier that year. Both Future and Young Thug were featured on the album, continuing their long-running collaborations with the Houston rapper.

Future, too, has had a prolific 2024. He dropped three projects this year, starting with WE DON’T TRUST YOU in March, which included tracks like “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar and “Type S**t” with Playboi Carti and Travis Scott. The album, nominated for a Grammy, spanned 17 tracks. He followed up with WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU in April and MIXTAPE PLUTO in November, the latter containing 18 tracks.

So, basically they been busy. Now Thugger is in the mix so that part.

As you can imagine the studio session marks Young Thug’s first public appearance since his release from prison, and it has fans eager for what’s to come. In a brief but memorable statement, Thug declared, “I’m back, Jack. No cap in my rap. The right way.” His longtime collaborator T.I. shared a video of the moment, noting that Thug had even inspired him to come out of “retirement.”

Their latest collaboration is sure to generate significant anticipation. Given their track record, it’s clear that whatever they’re working on, it’s bound to be another hit, project, whatever – all that good stuff.

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