Multidisciplinary artist Donisha Prendergast presents “The Garden That Rita Grew,” an intimate art and photography exhibit celebrating the life and legacy of her grandmother, the legendary singer and humanitarian Rita Marley. This exclusive three-day event will open on November 18 in New York City and feature live performances by Rita Marley’s grandson, Zion Marley, and reggae artist Tuff Like Iron.
The exhibit showcases vibrant portraits, symbolic landscapes, and visual narratives that highlight Rita Marley’s influence as a reggae pioneer and advocate for social change. “This exhibit is an act of cultural preservation and a stride towards generational healing,” said Prendergast.
A silent auction will run throughout the exhibit, with proceeds benefitting the Rita Marley Girls Center in Jamaica, an initiative of the Rita Marley Foundation that empowers young women through education and mentorship.
About the Rita Marley Foundation: The foundation, established by Rita Marley, focuses on addressing poverty, inequality, and education across Jamaica and the Caribbean.
Let’s talk about weed and rap. We know Hip Hop and cannabis have been intertwined for decades, but over the last 10 years, the relationship between hip hop and weed has evolved into a full-fledged cultural movement.
No one would argue what started as casual references in lyrics has grown into a lifestyle, with artists helping to normalize and even glamorize cannabis use.
Today, the influence of rap culture on the perception of marijuana is undeniable, making it “cool” while also adding to the growth, pun intended, of a lucrative cannabis industry.
Rap and Weed’s Humble Beginnings
This weed/rap relationship isn’t new. In the 1990s, iconic groups like Cypress Hill and artists like Snoop Dogg made marijuana a core part of their image. Think about it. Way before cannabis was legal in Cali. They were embodying the culture like it wasn’t a big deal.
Method Man, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, was a key figure in shaping cannabis culture through his early music and persona. His 1994 smash hit “How High” with Redman is an iconic anthem that celebrates the joys of smoking weed, becoming a cornerstone of stoner culture. Beyond music, Method Man continued to normalize and celebrate cannabis through films like How High (2001), where he and Redman played weed-loving college students. His consistent advocacy and humorous, laid-back approach to cannabis have not only influenced generations of fans but also positioned him as a cultural icon within the weed-rap movement.
Fast forward to the 2010s and pretty much now, and the narrative around weed shifted from rebellion to lifestyle. That’s a fact. Then cannabis was no longer just about getting high—it became intertwined within the fabric of self-expression and creativity within the hip hop world.
Weed, Lyrics and Segue into Dollars
Make no mistake, one of the most influential figures in the weed-rap movement is Wiz Khalifa. This is a bonafide fact. His breakout 2010 mixtape Kush & Orange Juice is a love letter to marijuana, with songs like “The Statement” and “In the Cut” turning smoking weed into a ritual of coolness and chill vibes. Wiz didn’t stop there—he launched his own strain, Khalifa Kush, and partnered with cannabis companies, turning his brand into a multimillion-dollar business. He is a pioneer in the intersection between rap and cannabis. Period.
Now get this, similarly Curren$y has built an entire career on merging his laid-back sound with weed culture. Albums like Pilot Talk and songs like “Address” reference cannabis not just as a habit but as a lifestyle, inspiring fans to see marijuana as more than just a substance.
More recently, star artists like Travis Scott have seamlessly incorporated cannabis into their artistry. His chart-topping 2018 album Astroworld includes subtle nods to weed culture, presenting it as a part of the psychedelic, boundary-pushing world he creates through his music. More experimental in tone but still in the picture when it came to the trees. Of course Travis Scott is an entrepreneur so it was only right he launched his own cannabis brand, Cactus Farms which speaks to his “Cactus” merch theme.
Even icons like Jay-Z have gotten involved in the cannabis economy. In 2019, he joined California-based cannabis company Caliva as its Chief Brand Strategist, showing how hip hop’s influence extends beyond music into entrepreneurship.
Furthering Cannabis Within Hip Hop’s Economy
What’s really undeniable is the role hip hop played to help drive cannabis legalization efforts paving the way for artists to cash in on the booming weed economy.
Most prominently, brands like Cookies, founded by rapper Berner, are worth millions and have created a direct link between rap music and cannabis consumption.
Even Drake, known for his wide range of lyrical content rather than advocating cannabis use, has dabbled in the marijuana business. In 2019, he launched More Life Growth Co., proving that weed is no longer just a recreational plant but a serious business opportunity for hip hop’s elite to commercialize.
What’s Next for Weed in Hip Hop?
Cannabis legalization efforts are continuing to spread across the U.S. and beyond, and hip hop’s mainstay in shaping the perception of marijuana can’t be overstated.
What was once considered taboo has now become a cultural norm, thanks in part to the influence of rap artists and how some portray the plant in everyday lifestyles.
Including weed within chart-topping hits to promoting it as a core business venture, hip hop has made cannabis not just acceptable but aspirational. And that’s key as there needs to be more people who look like most rap artists leading the charge in the cannabis industry.
Thanks to artists like Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Redman and others, they have not only shifted the narrative around cannabis but have also positioned themselves to impact an agricultural industry that’s projected to reach $100 billion globally by 2030.
$100 billion. That part.
When it comes to the average hip hop fan, this isn’t just about blazing up—it’s about understanding how rap culture has played an instrumental role in shaping a worldwide phenomenon.
Weed isn’t just cool or accepted because it’s weed. Cannabis is cool because hip hop culture made it that way.
Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us” was undoubtedly one of the hottest songs of the summer….or was it? While the diss track towards Drake topped charts around the world, Drake believes that the song isn’t as big of a hit as the numbers make it out to be, accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of conspiracy to artificially inflate the popularity of the song (and thus influence its position on the charts).
Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC filed a motion on Monday, November 25, in Manhattan court, accuding UMG of partaking in a series of illegal activities involving bots, payola and other methods to boost “Not Like Us.” The motion also accuses UMG of paying radio stations to play and promote the song.
The motion alleges deceptive business practices and false advertising under New York state law as well as violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the act targeting organized crime by prosecuting activities involving patterns of criminal enterprise. The motion is not yet a lawsuit, but rather a “pre-action” petition, which is the procedure by with information is gathered to determine if a lawsuit is warranted.
Drake’s motion also points out that this would not be the first time UMG has engaged in such practices. In 2006, UMG was forced to pay over $12 million to settle a payola case stemming from bribes made to radio stations to play their artists’ songs more than others.
Neither UMG nor Spotify have publicly commented as of Monday afternoon.
Grammy-winning artist and cultural innovator Chance the Rapper is the cover star of Ocean Drive magazine’s highly anticipated Annual Art Issue. The feature dives into Chance’s trailblazing career, his interdisciplinary approach to art and music, and his plans for this year’s Miami Art Week, including his immersive Writings On The Wall: A Star Line Listening Experience.
The Annual Art Issue is available now, ahead of Chance’sWritings On The Wall activations at Wynwood Studios during Miami Art Week, running December 3-6.
As part of his Miami Art Week lineup, Chance the Rapper will host Writings On The Wall: A Star Line Listening Experience, an immersive multi-sensory activation previewing his forthcoming project, Star Line. The event combines music, art, and technology, creating a transformative experience for fans. Sessions include surround sound listening, projected visuals, and exclusive cinematography, with attendees encouraged to fully engage with the art and music through note-taking and reflection.
Sessions
Tuesday, December 3: 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM ET
Wednesday, December 4: 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM ET
Thursday, December 5: 1 PM ET
Friday, December 6: 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM ET
Chance’s Ocean Drive cover marks a celebration of his ongoing efforts to push boundaries in art and music. His Writings On The Wall sessions expand on his history of innovation, from becoming the first artist to rise through SoundCloud to his game-changing, forthcoming project Star Line. At Miami Art Week, he continues his mission to blend music, art, and storytelling with technology to reimagine fan engagement.
The First Annual Level Up Philly Honors brought together the heart of Philadelphia on Thursday, November 14, at P4 Hub for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, celebration, and connection. With over 200 attendees, including Pepsi executives, City Council members, and representatives from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the event honored leaders, media trailblazers, and cultural icons for their contributions to uplifting the city and its youth.
Mayor Cherelle Parker delivered a keynote that stirred the audience with her powerful words about the critical role of investing time and resources into Philadelphia’s at-risk youth. Her impactful speech set the tone for an evening filled with joy, reflection, and unity as she received the Visionary Award for her relentless dedication to the city’s future.
Paul Anthony, legendary singer, songwriter, producer, and philanthropist from the iconic music group Full Force, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Anthony captivated the audience with his live performance of the Lisa Lisa classic “All Cried Out,” reminding everyone of the timeless power of music.
Philadelphia’s beloved Patty Jackson, legendary radio personality, was celebrated with the Voice of Truth Award for her decades-long commitment to storytelling and representing the voice of the community.
Additional honorees included Philly media standouts Frances Wang, Cherri Gregg, and Nate File, each recognized for their exceptional contributions to amplifying the stories that matter most to Philadelphia.
The event showcased the innovation and talent of Level Up Philly kids, with e-sports stations, agricultural displays, and robot dogs programmed by the students using C++. The Level Up kids also shone in the entertainment spotlight, joining legendary hip-hop icon Slick Rick on stage for a special performance of his classics. DJ BreakBeat Lou, a hip-hop pioneer, curated the evening’s music, adding to the electrifying atmosphere.
Pastor Aaron Campbell, Founder and Executive Director of Level Up Philly, served as the evening’s charismatic MC, guiding the audience through moments of honor, reflection, and celebration.
The event exemplified the spirit of Level Up Philly, uniting community leaders, local media, and families for one night dedicated to championing the transformative power of education, technology, and mentorship for Philadelphia’s youth.
Level Up Philly Honors is the start of an annual tradition that celebrates the city’s leaders and the next generation of changemakers, showcasing the impact of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering support for at-risk youth.
As more celebs continue to get tied to Diddy’s infamous parties, one celebrity is stating that not only did he never attend said parties, but he was never even invited to them.
On a recent episode of his YouTube cooking show, Bitch I Got My Pots, Trick Daddy spent over an hour demonstrating his cooking skills, making homemade burgers and fries from scratch alongside his guest star, Ms. Pat, while also providing a colorful commentary that had nothing to do with food.
At one point Ms. Pat asked him if he’d been to any Diddy parties to which he responded: “they don’t invite no n***as like me to Diddy parties. My homeboys would rob them bitches” before giving a joking demonstration of robbing people before summarizing “I’m not that kind of dude.”
He followed up with the caveat that he feels sorry for Diddy and others who may be associated with him because the public judges before knowing all the facts. The two also debated the reality of a thousand bottles of baby oil.
Throughout the show he also provided relationship adrice, talked about politics, reminisced on turning 50 recently, and providing valuable culinary tips on how to make burgers as well as explaining why he didn’t like using sea salt on his fries (saying no one likes salt water), so he prefers to use regular salt.
He also took the opportunity to speak about the current state of hip-hop culture, speaking about how proud he is that the South continues to play a vital role in hip-hop music and culture. He did, however, call out fans, claiming that many of today’s hip-hop fans have no loyalty, citing Rich Homie Quan as an example of what happens when fans turn on an artist.
Jay-Z’s social justice arm, Team Roc, has taken legal action against the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) and the city’s government, accusing them of obstructing efforts to investigate claims of wrongful convictions and police misconduct.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday (November 19), alleges that the KCKPD has failed to comply with a public records request made under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) in November 2023. According to Team Roc, despite paying $2,200 in fees, the department has withheld crucial documents related to allegations of officer abuse and misconduct. The 225 documents provided, the group claims, were mostly irrelevant, consisting of personnel and training records instead of the requested information.
“Kansas City residents have suffered enormously as a result of KCKPD abuses,” the lawsuit states. “Some have been framed for crimes they did not commit; some have been coerced into providing false testimony; some have been sexually assaulted; some have endured brutal beatings; and some have even been killed. Rather than promoting a culture of transparency and accountability, the KCKPD has a long history of turning a blind eye to, at best, and even covering up, if not worse, abusive and/or corrupt conduct by its officers.”
Team Roc has been actively seeking transparency from KCKPD since 2021, previously filing lawsuits to obtain records detailing complaints against officers, as well as documents on the training and oversight of the department’s investigative division. The current lawsuit highlights a systemic pattern of alleged misconduct within the department, including framing individuals, coercing false testimony, sexual violence, excessive force, and even fatal incidents.
“When good faith efforts are met with bad faith tactics, the fight for transparency continues in court. Truth deserves no less. The people of Kansas City, Kansas, deserve no less,” Team Roc wrote in an Instagram post announcing the lawsuit.
Attorney Alex Spiro, representing Team Roc, emphasized that the organization has a right under KORA to access the requested records, which could shed light on the alleged abuses. However, the government’s resistance has made legal action necessary.
“The government has attempted to block our access to those files, and so we’re suing to see what they don’t want us to see,” Spiro explained.
Team Roc’s lawsuit seeks to compel the release of the withheld documents and to hold the department accountable for its alleged failures in transparency and accountability. This latest legal move underscores their commitment to uncovering the truth and advocating for justice in Kansas City.
Museum of Graffiti, the leading contemporary art museum in Miami’s Art District of Wynwood, is celebrating a milestone anniversary of 5 years on December 4 – 6, 2024 with a hand-selected group of partners guaranteed to serve up an experience in culture that Miami has never seen.
Highlights include panel discussions, live performances, limited edition releases, and culinary experiences curated by CookUnity. Don’t miss the private collectors’ preview, a public opening featuring Rahzel, and a thought-provoking panel on “Global Hip Hop Culture Born in Miami.” Additional activities include live tattooing, single-line portraits, rap battles, and exclusive listening parties.
In line with its mission to share the power of expression, spark wonder, and inspire creativity for and about the graffiti art movement, Museum of Graffiti has tapped Rolling Loud for an official partnership guaranteed to pair audio with the visual art that spans 3 different exhibitions in separate buildings that are all connected via an interactive patio that will be home to the Spotify Artists’ Lounge. The three solo exhibitions are CEY ADAMS’ Departure: 40 Years of Art & Design, TRISTAN EATON: Women of Marvel, and SLICK: MIA.
This milestone event showcases the evolution of graffiti art while celebrating the Museum’s mission to inspire creativity and highlight graffiti’s cultural significance.
Some say he was 50 Cent before 50 Cent. Some called him “the Robin Hood of The Ghetto”, while the establishment dubbed him “the crack city terminator.” In the hood, his solution is considered the only possible answer to a continuous epidemic of police brutality. Some of your favorite rappers from French Montana to Lloyd Banks to Jay-Z have name-dropped him on their tracks and BET felt he was so important to American culture that their American Gangster series had to open with him, but only an educated few know why the name Larry Davis continues to ring bells almost four decades after that fateful night in November of ’86.
On this date in 1986, a 19-year-old Bronx man by the name of Larry Davis was engaged in a shootout with over 25 NYPD officers who came after him in what appeared to be a murderous hit. For those that don’t know what makes this such a unique story is that Davis not only survived but escaped unharmed long enough to tell his story to the FBI. Larry Davis was acquitted of the police shootings(six officers were critically injured), which was the only time anyone was acquitted for shooting an officer of the law in U.S. history.
Check out the first-hand account from someone who was with Davis on that cold night in the Bronx at Larry’s sister’s apartment on Webster Avenue.
Words: Shams DaBaron
November 19, 1986 is a night that forever changed the course of my life. It was the height of the crack epidemic on this cold winter night when I was meeting with my partner and best friend Larry Davis. We were discussing the trip we were taking the next day to California to avoid the heat he was experiencing from some corrupt cops he sold drugs for. For weeks he had been laying low knowing they had a bounty on his head. At the time no one could be trusted. The police were rolling up on anyone associated with Larry to find out where he was.
On this night, I sat with him in his sister’s apartment discussing our plans for the trip we were taking and making final arrangements with one of my associates to restructure some of the business dealings in the street. Larry was in the process of extricating himself from out of that lifestyle of dealing drugs and we were going to refocus our energies totally toward dealing in music. The decision was made months ago, but became complicated once Larry made his plans known to others and the corrupt cops caught wind of his decision to step off with their money. They then put a bounty on his head.
As he was explaining what was going on in the streets to my associate, the associate became very scared and verbalized his fears to us, while asking Larry if he himself was in fear for his life. Larry’s reply, “Well, no I’m not scared. The only person I fear is God… Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wanna die, but if it’s my time to die, then so be it…” At this point I’m ready to tune him out and dismiss his words as Larry just talking mess… But then he continued, “One thing, though, I will say is… if they come and kill me, I guarantee you that before I go, I’m a take one of those pigs down with me.”
Hearing him use the term “pigs” is what really caught my attention. It showed that even in the most negative of situations – having been a drug dealer for a group of corrupt NYC cops – Larry was still in some way affected by the pro-Black organizations that gave birth to our generation. The seeds of their struggles were planted in us whether we knew it or not. And to me, it seems, that on that fateful night of November 19, 1986, the spirit of those freedom fighters, and the spirit of that movement, guided his thoughts and actions and helped him overcome the overwhelming force that came to assassinate him.
What is even more significant and what we must keep in mind while Remembering Larry Davis is that on that night of November 19, 1986, Larry became what famed lawyer William Kunstler called “A symbol of resistance to police violence.”
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.
