Hip Hop News

If you are one of the tens of thousands of people aching to retreat to the deserts of California for a multiday festival, you are in for some good news. Coachella fans have been waiting on pins and needles for the coveted festival to make its triumphant return since 2019, and we recently reported that the event is all set up to begin once again next year. The big announcement was made back in June, however, Coachella organizers released their set of safety guidelines this week.

U.S. citizens have been clashing over the COVID-19 vaccine debate, and as each state implements its own regulations, mandates vary. We’ve watched as over the summer thousands of festivals goers—vaccinated and unvaccinated—enjoyed watching their favorite artists in massive, unmasked crowds. The rising cases involving the more aggressive Delta variant have caused Coachella executives to make some moves.

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The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will reportedly take place from April 15 to April 24, and all guests will now be required to show proof that they have been vaccinated. “We have come to the conclusion that, as a market leader, it was up to us to take a real stand on vaccination status,” Jay Marciano, the COO of AEG and chairman and CEO of AEG Presents, said according to The Los Angeles Times. “Just a few weeks ago, we were optimistic about where our business, and country, were heading. The Delta variant, combined with vaccine hesitancy, is pushing us in the wrong direction again.

“We realize that some people might look at this as a dramatic step, but it’s the right one,” Marciano added. “We also are aware that there might be some initial pushback, but I’m confident and hopeful that, at the end of the day, we will be on the right side of history and doing what’s best for artists, fans, and live event workers.”

According to the L.A. Times, California has seen a 58 percent increase in COVID cases within the last two weeks. AEG will also require guests at the Stagecoach Festival as well as all of their other venues and events to be vaccinated, as well.

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Drake is one of the most prolific artists in Hip Hop history and his career is far from over. We have heard several rappers on the rise compare themselves to the OVO mogul with the hopes of obtaining the reach, influences, and successes that Drake has acquired throughout his career. The latest to make such a declaration is Toosii, and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him comparing himself to Drizzy.

The New York-bred rapper recently sat down with This Is 50 where he spoke about his career and during the chat, he mentioned being laughed at when he tells people that he’s the next Drake.

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“I said like, I feel like I’m the Drake of the upcoming artists,” the 2021 XXL Freshman said. “People laugh, you feel me. I sat back and I took a back seat ’cause like, you know, I’m used to being laughed at. My whole life. That’s what I thrive off of. I thrive off of doubt. So, my whole life, people been doubting me. I told people I’m the Drake of upcoming artists and they laughed at me. When they laughed at me, I was just like, aight bet. Y’all gone see.”

Toosi added that “everyone has a lane” and detailed that artists will make “melodic stuff, the street stuff, or…it’s never a mix of two. It’s never really people doing both.” This isn’t the first time Toosii has compared himself to Drake; back in March, he made similar remarks and clashed with 2KBABY who vehemently disagreed.

Check out Toosii’s interview with This Is 50 below.

Rolling Loud Miami fans may have been excited to see Tory Lanez grace the stage with DaBaby, but prosecutors have alleged that he came a bit too close to Megan Thee Stallion. DaBaby’s homophobic comments have stolen attention ever since the rapper performed at the Florida festival, but that wasn’t the only portion of his appearance that ruffled feathers. Lanez was DaBaby‘s surprise guest, and because Megan was also there, prosecutors allege that the Toronto artist violated the protective order set in place.

Last month, we reported on the news that Miami police were notified about a possible violation of the order after Lanez allegedly arrived at the festival just an hour following Megan’s performance. A judge previously ordered for Lanez to reportedly stay 100 yards away—the equivalent to a football field—from the Houston rapper.

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On Friday (August 13), TMZ reported that prosecutors in the shooting case are going after Lanez. They are said to have “filed a motion to hold Lanez in contempt for violating the restraining order that was issued in his ongoing criminal case.” The outlet states that prosecutors are seeking for a judge to revoke his bail or “at the very least increase” it.

If his bail is revoked, Lanez could be arrested and held until his trial begins. TMZ reports that prosecutors claim Tory and DaBaby “attempted to rush the stage while Megan was performing,” however, the outlet’s “sources” say otherwise, stating that Lanez was nowhere near Megan at any point during Rolling Loud.

Prosecutors will reportedly learn of the judge’s ruling during a hearing on August 19.

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An alleged mistake made by Rihanna and her team has landed the mogul in court. Last October, Rihanna hosted yet another installment of her coveted Savage x Fenty runway show, and during the event, a song was played that offended many in the Muslim community. The track reportedly contained a hadith, and while the artist behind the song, reportedly Coucou Chloe, later publicly apologized for the inclusion of her song, it is reported by TMZ that she had filed a lawsuit against Fenty under the name “Jane Doe.”

According to Rihanna’s accuser, the company reportedly reached out to her to use one of her songs but instead, they aired a version of the track that “included a sample of sacred proverbs being chanted.” Doe states in her lawsuit that she immediately began receiving death threats over the scandal and clarified that she specifically told Rihanna’s Fenty team that there were two versions of the song. She adds that she “warned them not to use the Islamic proverbs.”

Doe alleges that she has been afraid for her safety as people have called for her murder and decapitation, causing her to go into hiding. Rihanna had previously issued a statement regarding the backlash.

“I’d like to thank the Muslim community for pointing out a huge oversight that was unintentionally offensive in our savage x fenty show. I would more importantly like to apologize to you for this honest, yet careless mistake. We understand that we have hurt many of our Muslim brothers and sisters, and i’m incredibly disheartened by this! I do not play with any kind of disrespect toward God or any religion and therefore the use of the song in our project was completely irresponsible! Moving forward we will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Thank you for your forgiveness and understanding.”

Jane Doe is seeking $10 million in damages, citing she now suffers from anxiety and depression.

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Celebrities are accustomed to being accosted by TMZ paparazzi cameras as someone asks them personal questions or wants to know their thoughts on controversial pop culture issues. Beloved comedian Leslie Jordan has been making his fans laugh for decades, and when he was out and about, he claims that TMZ attempted to get his thoughts on remarks T.I. made about the gay community. It is assumed that they were referring to T.I. defending DaBaby through the North Carolina rapper’s recent scandal.

Jordan uploaded a video to social media where he added that he didn’t have much to say because he had no idea who T.I. was, nor was he familiar with any homophobic comments. However, he did say that he disapproved of any remarks that would be disrespectful to the LGBTQIA+ community if they were said. The 66-year-old laughed through his story, but T.I. reposted it with a lengthy response.

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T.I. was confused as to how his comments were viewed as homophobic, so he politely invited Jordan for a chat. “I appreciate the way you expressed your point of view without being offensive or negative,” said the rapper. “I truly believe this is the way we evolve and progress as a society. While I’m clueless as to what I said that was offensive/homophobic I welcome the opportunity to speak with you on the matter.”

He added that he hoped that they would be able to get together the next time he visited Los Angeles. “I truly believe that moments of calamity & confusion are teachable moments…. as long as we’re willing to communicate respectfully having open ears,open minds, & open dialogue without attacking or condemning one another.”

“This could be the stroke of serendipity that raises awareness,enlightens the dim, & improves the way gays & straights communicate & co-exist in the future.” Jordan has yet to respond, but we can only imagine the discussion that will follow. Check out the post below.

As America celebrates being “back outside,” the pandemic is far from over. Each state seems to have its own rules regarding how it is regulating the spread of coronavirus, but it seems that the virus landed on DJ Khaled’s doorstep. Artists have been enjoying taking to festival stages and performing in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans each show. Yet, DJ Khaled shared that he has been under quarantine after his entire family reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Khaled thanked his loved ones for their prayers and well wishes, as well as the doctors who attended to his family during their recovery.

“Thank you grateful for all the love grateful for everyone checking in on my family and I! Please be safe out there! Please take care of yourself,” Khaled wrote on  Instagram. Thank you to DOCTORS ,thank you Dovi thank you to my Queen thank you Rosa thank you to my WE THE BEST team my management ROCNATION and My partners at EPIC RECORDS for holding me up while Me and my family focused on recovery.“

Khaled also uploaded a series of photos and videos of his brood enjoying their time locked in. It looked as if his adorable sons were having the time of their lives with mom and dad. We are glad to hear everyone in the Khaled crew is doing well. Check it out below.