Hip Hop Community News

LeBron James and Drake surprise Toronto Family with $100,000

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LeBron James Drake

LeBron James and Drake are two of the most blessed celebrities in their respective industry- and recently they teamed up to share their blessings with one deserving family in a big way.

Drake shared a video on Instagram in which he invited a Toronto-area teen named Michael, who plays basketball for the Royal Crown Academic School in Toronto as well as his mom and his coach to dinner at Toronto’s Harbour 60 restaurant, the same place where his 2011 “Headlines” video was filmed.

He starts out by plugging Stake, James’ crypto gambling platform, as well as Lobos tequila. The clip shows a cutaway video of Drake winning big while playing roulette on Stake, then saying that he believes in transferring similar blessings to others.

Drake then tells Michael, his mom, and his coach how proud he is of their hard work before giving Michael and his mom $100,000 cash as well as giving both Michael and his coach new shoes.

In addition to the gift for Michael and his family, Drake also made a donation to James’ I Promise School.

The full video can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbdiqGxuDn2/.

James and the Lakers will face the Pelicans this Sunday, March 27.

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Tristan Thompson Teams Up with the Epilepsy Foundation To Raise Money and Support ‘Purple Day’

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ON THOMPSON

The Epilepsy Foundation and Chicago Bulls center/forward Tristan Thompson have established a partnership to promote awareness for “Purple Day®” and funding for those impacted by epilepsy. Purple Day was founded in 2008 by Cassidy Megan, a 9-year-old Canadian, to help educate people around the world about epilepsy. It is observed yearly on March 26.

Tristan Thompson will give the sneakers and jersey he will wear for his March 26 NBA clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers in honor of World Epilepsy Day. Thompson will sign his game-worn Chicago Bulls jersey and sneakers before they are auctioned off at www.epilepsy.com/slamdunk, with proceeds benefiting the Epilepsy Foundation and the 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the United States.

“My little brother has Epilepsy, so this has always been a cause that is close to my heart,” said Tristan Thompson, Chicago Bulls center/forward. “I’ve seen the hardships Amari goes through, and I want to make a difference and help in any way that  I can for all those living with epilepsy.”

“We are very thankful to have Tristan’s support and applaud his commitment to the epilepsy community by bringing awareness to our mission,” said Laura Thrall, president and chief executive officer, Epilepsy Foundation. “The money raised will continue to fuel our efforts to deliver on programs and services that make an impact for people living with the epilepsies.” 

On Tuesday, March 22nd, the public will be able to participate in the campaign, which will run through April 5, 2022. The Epilepsy Foundation’s Seizure Safe Schools campaign, seizure first aid training, and research focused on innovative medicines and treatments will all receive 100% of the proceeds. Visit epilepsy.com/slamdunk for additional information on how to win.

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Nicki Minaj Crosses out Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls, and Doja Cat from Op-Ed

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Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is without a doubt one of the best female hip-hop artists in the industry, but after a bizarre tweet in which she crossed out the names of other major female artists mentioned in an article praising her, fans are wondering if she might also be one of the most selfish.

The tweet stemmed from a lengthy feature op-ed written by Joshua Robinson at HotNewHipHop in which he described Minaj’s rise to success as well as detailed what about her sound sets her a step above most other female artists. However, Robinson also paid compliments to other current female hip-hop artists, writing: “Nicki Minaj’s presence — be it aural, digital, or visual — is absolutely enthralling, and when she’s on hiatus, you can tell. Despite the welcomed contributions of women like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls, and Doja Cat over the past few years, female rap still feels incomplete without Nicki Minaj’s presence and output, and that alone illustrates how important she is to Hip-Hop, as a genre, and as a culture.”

Minaj appeared to be pleased with the piece, but not with sharing the spotlight, sharing a screenshot of the article with the other artists’ names crossed out.

While her issues with Cardi B have been public for many years, she hasn’t appeared to have many issues with the other rappers. Naturally, social media had a lot to say about the commentary with some stating that Minaj was right in keeping the spotlight on herself while other say that she could have simply cut the screenshot off above the names of the other female artists.

None of the artists have made any public comment yet.

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Kanye West spotted courtside at Lakers game with new girlfriend Chaney Jones

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kanye West Chaney Jones

On Friday night, Kanye West took a break from promoting Donda 2, but he definitely didn’t take a break from fueling the gossip mill. Ye joined new (reported) girlfriend Chaney Jones to watch the Lakers take on the Washington Wizards at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles.

Kanye wore a black hoodie, black jeans and black Balenciaga galoshes while Chaney wore black jeans, a low-cut v-neck shirt, black wrap sunglasses, and black gloves.

West and the 24-year-old Chaney, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Kim Kardashian (the rapper’s estranged wife) have been reportedly dating for several weeks now, following the rapper’s breakup with Julia Fox last month.

Chaney has not explicitly addressed her relationship with West publicly although she did share a simple quote from the ‘Positive Minds’ on her Instagram story, which simply read: “Small circle. Private life. Happy heart. Clear mind. Peaceful life.”

The couple’s appearance came on the same day that Kim Kardashian appeared to make her relationship with Pete Davidson official, sharing a series of romantic pictures of the two of them together.

The Lakers beat the Wizards 122 to 109.

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[LISTEN] Bank of America’s 911 Call About Ryan Coogler Released

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After the uproar and criticism over Black Panther director Ryan Coogler being detained in Bank of America after requesting a discreet $12K withdrawal, the audio of the 911 call placed by the BOA teller in Atlanta has now been released.

The BOA called 911 because they assumed Coogler was trying to rob the bank after he handed her a note that said, “I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I’d like to be discreet.” Even though Coogler gave the teller his California I.D. which matched his bank debit car, the manager told her to call 911. 

Coogler addressed the situation, telling TMZ, “This situation should never have happened. However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.” 

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Kanye West’s ‘Donda 2’ Ruled Ineligible for Billboard Charts

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Kanye West

Despite the hype surrounding his latest album release, Billboard magazine has announced that Kanye West‘s Donda 2 will be ineligible for placement on the Billboard charts.

The controversy stems from the Ye’s decision to exclusively release Donda 2 on his own proprietary Stem Player device. The bundling of the player and the album is in violation of Billboard charts’ merchandise bundle policy, which disqualifies albums that come bundled with physical merchandise.

Billboard announced the bundling rule back in 2020, stating that selling merchandise along with a physical album or digital album download (often a free download) as a way to boost album sales numbers would skew sales numbers. The practice had been a point of controversy for the chart-ranking publication for many years. Critics of bundling had suggested that bundling put newer (and less wealthy) artists at a disadvantage because they could only offer an album, not merchandise.

West’s Stem player has been a successful venture for the artist. The player, which comes pre-loaded with a variety of West’s albums (depending on what year the player was purchased), has reportedly sold 39,500 units for a total of about $8.6 million.

As of March 7, all Stem player owners can reportedly download Donda 2 to their devices.

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Ex-Detective Not Guilty Of Charges Connected To Breonna Taylor’s Deadly Raid

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breonna taylor deadly raid

The only LMPD officer charged in connection to the deadly raid on Breonna Taylor’s apartment is not guilty of wanton endangerment.

The jury found former Detective Brett Hankison not guilty and acquitted him on all three charges yesterday.

Hankison was charged with endangering neighbors by firing the shots into Taylor’s apartment. The jury deliberated for about three hours before coming up with the verdict.

READ MORE: Jury selection begins in case surrounding Breonna Taylor’s death.

Hankison and LMPD officers Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly fired 32 shots into Taylor’s apartment.

Hankison fired 10 of the shots into Taylor’s apartment. Errant bullets penetrated a wall of the residence and entered a neighboring apartment that was occupied by a child, a man, and a pregnant woman, according to ABC News.

Brett Hankison testified he opened fire because he thought two other cops were being executed. Those two have already been cleared from the deadly 2020 botched no-knock warrant raid on Breonna Taylor’s home. 

Following the acquittal demonstrators packed Jefferson Square Park and marched through the downtown area last night with one protester saying “there’s no such thing as a peaceful protest,” adding “they won’t be controlled, this time.” More protests are expected today in Louisville.

There were no drugs were found, and the no-knock warrant was later deemed to be flawed and faulty.

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XBOX and Dwight Howard Surprises Boys & Girls Club with State-of-the-Art Gaming Dream Spaces

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Xbox expanded its sponsorship with the Los Angeles Lakers to inspire generations of athletes to reach for the stars while turning dreams into reality both on and off the court. To commemorate the occasion, Xbox has teamed up with the Los Angeles Lakers and philanthropist and NBA All-Star Dwight Howard to renovate a portion of the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley, giving club members the opportunity to dream big through the program’s new Dream Space.

The new Xbox Dream Space will allow kids to experience the joy of gaming while exploring their own passions, transforming a multi-purpose room into a state-of-the-art 20-student gaming lab – complete with all the bells and whistles, including new artwork, custom purple and gold Xbox Series S consoles, gaming PCs, screens, and more.

Dwight Howard, a long-time supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs around the country, also surprised the youngsters with a special meet-and-greet and their very own chance to team up and go toe-to-toe with the NBA champion and eight-time All-Star himself, on the court and in their favorite Xbox Game Pass titles. Howard was honored to join Xbox and the Lakers in spreading the fun of gaming to more fans in the greater Los Angeles area, inspired by the club’s common aim to promote a life of purpose and community.

Visit https://www.bgcsfv.org/ to discover more about the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley and how you can become involved.

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Preserving Legacy: Nonprofit Organization Grants More Than $650,000 To Five HBCUs

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hbcu nonprofit organization

A nonprofit organization is granting more than 650-thousand dollars to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

According to the Miami Herald, The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the grants will be funded through its HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded the grants to “preserve, and leverage their historic campuses.”

“There are 105 HBCUs across the country, and their infrastructure needs are increasingly urgent,” the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in announcing the grants.

Calling the commitment “a roadmap for preserving and celebrating the historic and hallowed places important to their institutional legacy.”

This year’s recipients are Florida A&M University, Rust College, Johnson C. Smith University, Shaw University and Voorhees College.

Continue the conversation on social media.

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Remy Ma Makes History With Successful Launch of Female Battle Rap League, Chrome 23

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40 Barrs QB

Yesterday (Feb. 27), history was made in the battle rap world. Remy Ma officially launched her all-female battle rap league, Chrome 23, with the inaugural “Queens Get The Money” inaugurated in New York City. In collaboration with Hot 97, the event was live-streamed on the veteran platform’s website and YouTube and hosted a voting system for each battle. It is the first time in battle rap history where the mysterious world of battle rap and mainstream hip-hop media join forces, ultimately toting battle rap culture to new heights.

Remy Ma Queens Get The Money
Remy Ma Queens Get The Money

The “Queens Get The Money” battle card match-ups included Yoshi G versus Pristavia, Casey Jay versus O’fficial, 40 B.A.R.R.S. versus QB Black Diamond, and Ms. Hustle versus Couture. Each battle was curated by Remy Ma, with careful consideration of her well-acquainted stance on modern battle rap culture.

Yoshi G, a California native, while she has been active in battle rap for the least of the last five years, she is new to the ranks of popular female battle rappers who sparred with Pristavia, a Brooklyn representative who is fresh to the performance of battle rap; reaching popularity after just a year of impressive battles. Pristavia won against Yoshi G at 72% according to the voting system and Yoshi at 28%.

Remy Ma tested the waters of curiosity as the match-up between Casey Jay and O’fficial was deemed tricky, as the two battle rappers are members of the same crew, The Bardashians, where they share a sisterhood with fellow battle rapper, Jaz the Rapper. Also, both are springing from a losing streak, despite Casey Jay standing as a present face for female battle rap. Many battle rap enthusiasts predicted the two close friends would not tackle the battle with their signature vigor. However, such was proven wrong. While facing an injury, Casey Jay still took to the stage, even though their performance ability was limited, which is a signature for Jay. O’fficial showcased several moments of nostalgia to her most prime moments. The New Orleans native ultimately won against her Bardashian sister at a mighty 83% and Texas belle Casey Jay at 17%.

QB Black Diamond, a Connecticut native a veteran in the world of battle rap, made their return to the scene after a two-year hiatus to take on female battle rap icon, 40 B.A.R.R.S. of Boston. Arguably one of the most anticipated battles of the card, the two have an extensive history that was bombarded with turmoil. It was evident in their face-off, where the two took verbal and mental blows to one another, ultimately taking on the role for the tensest match-up out of the entire card. 40 B.A.R.R.S. delivered a signature performance with elite haymakers and metaphors, validating her prediction on QB’s adapted angles. As battle rapper, Ms. Fit, who commentated alongside fellow battle rap veteran E-Hart and battle rap analyst Reda, expressed, QB came and showcased what she does best, top bars of disrespect. 40 B.A.R.R.S. won the battle at a whopping 88%, and QB at 12%.

Ms. Hustle, a Harlem native who is respectively a legend in battle rap as the first female to battle on the stage of the Ultimate Rap League and breed popularity to pioneering female battle rap league Queen of the Ring, took on one of the culture’s most treasured acts, Couture. A Rhode Island representative by way of Liberia, Couture’s presence on the Queens Get The Money card is a reappearance back to the main stage after a two-year hiatus (aside from catching an easy body against Vic Wallace last summer on Takeova Battle League). Both Ms. Hustle and Couture are regarded as top-tier battle rappers, with Hustle’s pertinent showmanship and Couture’s clever wordplay, which were two factors of judgment for last night’s performance. Overall, Couture came out as the victor of the battle at a reasonable 65%, while Ms. Hustle came in at 35%, which some battle rap enthusiasts might say is debatable. However, it is essential to note there is a difference in perception between the voters who watched the live stream and those present in the building.

The event also featured voting categories such as “Battle of the Night,” awarded to Ms. Hustle versus Couture; “Body of the Night,” awarded to 40 B.A.R.R.S; and “Best 3 Rounds of The Night,” also awarded to 40 B.A.R.R.S.
Several hip-hop stars embraced the event, including Fat Joe, Maino, Dave East, and Lil Mama. According to the commentators, hip-hop legend Rah Digga was reportedly in attendance, alongside Lady Luck, whose classic 2004 rap battle set the precedence for contemporary female battle rap. Fellow battle rappers Shooney Da Rapper, Murda Mook, Chayna Ashley, Loaded Lux, Tsu Surf, Tori Doe, Chess, Bill Collector, and URL personality Nunu Nellz were also in attendance, apace with fellow league owners Babs Bunny and Debo of Queen of the Ring.

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