Super Bowl LVI and more specifically, its halftime show, was probably the most publicized and talked about sports finale show to date. The show featured Snoop, Dr .Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and many more however according to the Dogg, jay-Z almost closed the curtains on the entire show and Hip Hop’s partnership with the NFL.
Snoop affirmed that Hov gave the execs in the NFL a simple ultimatum, which obviously forced them to do what he wanted. “[Jay-Z and I] we love each other,” Snoop said in a Tidal interview. “It is what it is, so it’s like for him to go to bat for us and tell the NFL, ‘F**k that. They perform, or I quit,’ that was the most gangster s**t out of everything.”
He also added that when it came to him rocking his favorite true blue colors, it was insinuated that Snoop Dogg was wearing gang affiliated colors as the world watch the most watched television program of the entire year, but Jay told him to wear whatever he wanted.
“Then with attire and kneeling and all this … you can’t wear your gang bang sh*t? JAY-Z hit me like, ‘Wear what the f**k you want to wear. Peace to the Gods.’, Snoop added.
Is this the future of the Super Bowl and possibly other sports finals and All Star games? Will the shows and fanfare take precedence over the actual game? Only time will tell.
Kid Cudi is gearing up for his very first performance on the virtual app,“Encore,” he co-founded back in 2020 alongside CEO Jonathan Gray and President Ian Edelman. The “Want It Bad” artist took to Twitter back in February to make the announcement, which included an added incentive.
“Hey Cud Fam!! Got some tasty news for u! The person w the most claps at my show on March 7th on Encore will receive an all expenses paid trip to one of my tour dates this year for you and a friend,” he tweeted.
Hey Cud Fam!! Got some tasty news for u! The person w the most claps at my show on March 7th on Encore will recieve an all expenses paid trip to one of my tour dates this year for you and a friend, and we’ll also meet after the show!! Sign up now! https://t.co/EopAPk6cy6
Back on February 16, “Encore,” the interactive live performance app, officially launched to the general public after raising $9 million in seed funding from Battery Ventures and Launches Live.
“Music artists are the original creators and they have been forgotten by the creator economy and overrun by memes and algorithms on social media,” said CEO Jonathan Gray. “Our live AR technology empowers any artist to create personalized content and host experiences for their fans without a production budget or crew and make real cash with 100’s of engaged fans.”
Since its inception, the platform has hosted hundreds of artist performances in private beta including Too $hort, DC The Don, SSG Kobe, The Cool Kids and more.
Kid Cudi’s performance will be director by Lyrical Lemonade founder, Cole Bennett.
In collaboration with Live Nation Urban, Mary J. Blige and Pepsi proudly announce the inaugural “Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit.” Between May 6th and 8th, 2022, the festival will take place in the lively metropolis of Atlanta, GA, with three days dedicated to music, comedy, and community development. The presale begins at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, and the general on-sale begin at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, March 10th.
The festival is designed for and by women on Mother’s Day weekend in Atlanta, GA, a hub for creativity and culture. Mary J Blige has dedicated the majority of her career to magnify, empower, and give voice to BIPOC women via the art of music and truth-telling. She is a 9-time Grammy Award-Winning Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Producer, Philanthropist, and Global Superstar. The progression of her life’s mission and purpose is this multi-touchpoint event, which focuses on Music, Wellness, Technology, Beauty, and Financial Literacy.
“The idea for the festival came to us after early listening sessions of my latest album with my family and friends and women in the industry. Each time, the people in the room would share a story, oftentimes of heartbreak or pain, but they always ended with joy and love and how their girlfriends or mom or sister helped them find their voice and strength. We felt like after two years of being inside and having to endure so much, that this was the type of experience that people, especially women, deserved,” said Blige. “I’m so grateful to all of the performers, vendors, and participants for committing themselves to our inaugural event and I am so excited to do this in a city that has been rocking with me since the very beginning of my career. I am proud to create this with my sisters and I look forward to an undeniably beautiful and special experience.”
Blige and her colleagues Nicole Jackson, Vice President of MJB Inc., and Marketing Maven Ashaunna Ayars of The Ayars Agency created the festival. They’ve put together a team of women to run every aspect of the festival, from production to communications, in an attempt that reflects the festival’s mission and vision.
Ayars says, “This festival and summit were created for our friends, mothers,sisters, and the countless women who walk unapologetically in their truth and strength. Being able to bring an experience like this to fruition, especially with a dynamic team of Black women at the helm, is a dream come true. I’ve lived in Atlanta for several years and am thrilled that we’ll be able to give back to a city that has nurtured, supported, and amplified to the global stage so many Black artists and entrepreneurs. We are so grateful for Pepsi’s support in celebrating and honoring women, but also with their commitment via grants for the larger Atlanta creative & entrepreneurial community.”
Due to its reputation as a hotspot for young Black creatives and entrepreneurs, Blige and her collaborators chose Atlanta as the setting for this inaugural event. To ensure participants have the greatest experience possible, the festival has partnered with dozens of local, minority, and female-owned companies and vendors. The festival’s involvement in the local entrepreneurial community, as well as the performers and hosts for the numerous events during the weekend, demonstrate the festival’s affection for Atlanta.
You can see the full lineup for the festival below and learn about all of the events of the weekend here.
On this date in 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. was booed on stage before presenting the award for Best R&B Soul Single Female at the 1997 Soul Train Music Awards.
The audience in Los Angeles wasn’t too friendly towards Biggie, especially since his then rival Tupac Shakur was just shot and killed in Las Vegas six months earlier. Big gave a cynical “What’s up Cali?” as the boos and jeers grew louder and more intense.
Biggie was killed a little more than a day later in a drive-by shooting after leaving the Vibe Magazine Soul Train Awards after party. Biggie’s sudden murder proved that Tupac’s murder the year prior was more than a random shooting and that the East Coast vs. West Coast beef was more than just a rap beef between two former friends.
In Kanye West’s latest video for “Eazy,” a collaboration with The Game, an animated Ye buries alive an animated Pete Davidson. The video sparked outrage across the industry, reaching as far as comic book film director James Gunn.
The Suicide Squad director hit social media and let off his feelings in support of Davidson.
“For the record, Pete Davidson is one of the nicest, sweetest guys I know. A truly generous, tender & funny spirit, he treats everyone around him with respect,” Gunn wrote.
After the tweet went live, Kim Kardashian liked the statement.
For the record, Pete Davidson is one of the nicest, sweetest guys I know. A truly generous, tender & funny spirit, he treats everyone around him with respect.
Following the backlash on social media, Ye hit Instagram with an image of the burning home from the DONDA 2 Experience in Miami and all the other visuals he has released lately, and a statement:
Art is therapy just like this view
art is protected as freedom of speech
art inspires and simplifies the world
Art is not a proxy for any ill or harm.
Any suggestion otherwise about my art is false and mal intended
– Kanye West on Instagram
The Black and white visual, released last Wednesday, begins with the Compton rapper delivering his verse before Kanye kidnaps a claymation version of Davidson.
The disturbing video sees YE putting a bag over Davidson’s head, tying him to the back of an ATV, and dragging him. Eventually, YE buries Davidson alive and plants flowers on his head. At other points in the video, Kanye is carrying animated Pete’s decapitated head.
The video ends with a message on the screen: “Everyone lived happily ever after except you know who.” That is followed by “Skete,” a nod to Pete Davidson. Then the message of he is fine.
The Game’s appearance on Drink Champs had all of Hip-Hop going crazy over the weekend. Speaking with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, the Compton legend had a lot to get off his chest. One of those statements was directed toward Eminem, who he wants to see in a VERZUZ battle.
The Game honored Eminem as one of the great MC’s before he would take the chance to boost himself, “I used to think Eminem was better than me.” After N.O.R.E. as The Game to expound, he let off a confident statement: “He’s not.”
The Drink Champs host challenged the notion, leading to The Game confidently stating he could go head-to-head with Marshall Mathers. You can hear it from The Game below.
A new unscripted documentary series is being produced by BET and Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo titled, Murder Inc..
The five-part television event is set to narrate the untold tale of the rise, sudden fall, and redemption of, Murder Inc. Records; and the mastermind behind the Hip Hop powerhouse, Irv Gotti.
According to the statement announced today, each episode will take viewers through the label’s beginnings to the current day, featuring never-before-seen archival footage. Along with including a rich catalog of music chart-toppers and the power players that helped shape a musical era that would impact generations to come.
Launched in 1999, the New York based label Murder Inc. Records played a vital role in bringing forth the careers of some of the most influential voices in Hip Hop, and R&B. Murder Inc. helped launch and guide the careers of artist such as, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita, and others.
Murder Inc. is scheduled to premiere Summer 2022 on BET.
“My life and Murder Inc. has been filled with many highs and lows. I got to work with my brothers and a lot of great people; from Jay Z, DMX, Fat Joe, Mary J Blige, to name a few,” said Irv Gotti.
“Also, I got to start my record label, Murder Inc. Records, with Ja Rule by my side.” Gotti added, “My life was filled with great lows, but I’m not ashamed of those lows. It all helped make me the person I am today. So, with this documentary series, I plan to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me GOD.”
Irv Gotti, Ja Rule BTS Murder Inc. Documentary (Photo: Sam Hicks)
Tiffany Lea Williams, Executive Vice President of BET Unscripted Programming shared, “Music is in our DNA. We thank our long-standing partner Irv Gotti, and the many talented artists at the iconic label for trusting our brand to tell their personal and inspiring stories. We look forward to bringing viewers a compelling music documentary series that reveals how this label consequently changed the music industry forever.”
The Murder Inc. documentary is executive produced by Irv Gotti (“Tales”), Ja Rule, Darcell Lawrence, and Chris Costine for Visionary Ideas and Tiffany Lea Williams for BET. Michael J. Payton to serve as Director.
The fatal shooting of Jam Master Jay in 2002 sent shockwaves through the entire Hip Hop community. Especially learning two people who were close to the late deejay were arrested and charged for his murder.
20 years later we’re still waiting for justice as JMJ’s case had been unsolved for over 18 years.
According to All Hip Hop, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall rejected 38-year-old, Karl Jordan Jr’s request to be released on a one-million-dollar bond. His legal team cited the shooting suspect being high risk of catching COVID-19 while incarcerated because he only has one kidney.
Karl Jordan, Jr. and Ronald Washington allegedly conspired to kill Jay, born Jason Mizell because Washington was cut out of a large drug deal that Mizell acquired.
Washington and Jordan were charged for their alleged roles in the beloved DJ’s death in 2020. Jordan faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted of murder. His trial is scheduled for February 2023.
Prosecutors believe that Jordan fired the shot that killed Jam Master Jay at his recording studio in Queens on October 30, 2002. Jordan and Washington were also indicted on murder, firearms and drug charges.
The Kentucky native sure put some sauce on the speculation last week when he posts eda picture of he and SZA on Instagram. The picture remained on his page for a short period of time before the 23-year-old rapper deleted it. In an era where screenshots run rapid, at least a handful of people were going to catch the image of the TDE songstress and the Generation Now rapper
Since his breakout year in 2020, Jack Harlow has released a number of singles including his most recent with Yung Miami entitled, “Nail Tech.” The song received a co-sign from Ye, leading to Harlow’s cameo on DONDA 2 on a song entitled, “Louis Bags.”
On the other hand, fans are expecting SZA’s highly anticipated sophomore release this year after her critically acclaimed 2017 debut, CTRL.
Was Jack supposed to reveal this alleged link up? Based on his reaction, one can assume he was not. No matter the result of the image, both artists have projects in the works with the possibility of a 2022 release date.
Comment your thoughts on how a Jack Harlow and SZA collab would sound.
Houston’s legendary lyricist Paul Wall is no stranger to the car community. Now his longtime friend and collaborator, Termanology, joins him riding shotgun as they both spit hard-hitting raps in the new video “Recognize My Car” produced by Pete Rock.
The D Will directed visual used some VHS style footage to capture the H-Town slab culture while both emcees rhyme their verses. Slab is Houston slang for a souped up car, with a special set of rims, called “swangas.”
This isn’t the first time these two artists have teamed up. Last month, the duo released “No Tolerance” featuring Fly Anakin and Nems.
Along with releasing the video for “Recognize My Car,” Paul and Term also announced a joint album is arriving. Paul Wall and Termanology are set to drop Start 2 Finish on April 8.
Start 2 Finish will be a 10-track project executive produced by Statik Selektah and with features from Bun B, Fly Anakin, C Sharp, Millyz, and Nems among others.
Both artists are thrilled to be working with each other on this project. In an exclusive statement to The Source, the “Sittin’ Sideways” rapper said, “I had a lot of fun working with Term on this project! And every time I work with Statik Selektah it brings out the absolute best in me. This album brought out some of the best rap bars I’ve ever spit.”
Termanology shared the same reaction with The Source. “I had so much fun making this album. The production is top quality and Paul Wall went crazy on every verse, which made me get even more creative with my pen game. I think people are going to like this project a lot.”
Enjoy the video for “Recognize My Car” from Paul Wall and Termanology below.
Check out the tracklist for Start 2 Finish, available on all DSP’s April 8.
No Asterix
Ask Permission
Recognize My Car
Thailand (feat. Bun B)
No Favors (feat. C Sharp)
Clubber Lang (feat. Wais P & Kxng Crooked)
How You Been (feat. Mia Jae)
No Tolerance (feat. Fly Anakin & Nems)
Money On My Phone
Step Outside (feat. Millyz & Jared Evan)
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