Hip Hop News

Bad Boy Records in-house producer Chucky Thompson, a prominent member of Diddy’s Hitmen production team, has reportedly passed away. Young Guru took to social media on Aug. 9th where he confirmed the news of Thompson’s death. Guru penned a heartbreaking caption where he detailed Thompson’s influence on his career.

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“There is nothing I can write that will take away this pain. I have to say RIP to my mentor, my big brother, the man who changed my life forever. You were the kindest person the world has ever seen. You were the most gifted musician I have ever been around. You treated me like family from day one. You made a point to the labels that I had to fly to New York with you on every session. You put me in rooms with Biggie. I will forever be in your debt and I will forever be your little brother,” Guru wrote. “This one hurts so bad I can’t even explain it. RIP @chucklife365 there will never be another you!!!!”

Thompson played a pivotal role during Bad Boy’s heyday in the 90s. Having been a part of Diddy’s Hitmen in-house production team, Thompson’s production credits include Biggie’s “Big Poppa” & “Me & My Bitch” off of Ready To Die, Nas’ “One Mic, as well as Mary J. Blige’s My Lifewhich earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album in 1996.

Our hearts are with the family and friends of Chucky Thompson during these difficult times. 

Pop-punk is all the rage right now with Olivia Rodrigo and WILLOW both striving with their takes on the nostalgic music genre, and it looks like Machine Gun Kelly is officially ready to take on the sound once again with his next album.

After collaborating with Travis Barker for his latest studio album Tickets To My Downfall, the two have gotten back together for MGK’s next project, which was officially announced today. Much like with his last rollout, Machine Gun got the title of his next album tattooed to his skin for the announcement but this time, there was a twist. Travis Barker also got inked up for the reveal.

Emma McIntyre /AMA2020/Getty Images

The two tattoo aficionados revealed that MGK’s next album will be called Born With Horns, getting those words tattooed on their arms. While it may be a bit of a reach, the title could be referring to Kelly’s infamous “Rap Devil” diss track for Eminem, which began his supposed “downfall” a few years ago. Of course, the downfall was a stretch, since the album ended up being his most successful one to date.

Already, rappers YG and Tyla Yaweh have expressed their excitement for the new music, and Travis Barker is clearly happy to have another go-around with MGK. Check out the announcement below and stay tuned for the first single from the project, which will be released on Wednesday with a video directed by Cole Bennett.

Every single year, Jordan Brand comes through with a brand new Air Jordan silhouette. While these shoes are far off from the ones Jordan got to wear, there is no doubt that these are solid performance shoes that serve consumers well out on the court. For months now, we have been getting teasers for the Air Jordan 36, and now, the first colorway is finally on the verge of dropping.

This colorway is dubbed “Black/Hyper Violet/White/Bright Mango” which is certainly a unique look. Purple, black, and orange are found all over the shoe and it makes for a unique aesthetic that should come as a delight for Jordan Brand fans who have wanted something different. Jumpman doesn’t always take risks but when they do, they pay off more often than not.

If you are hoping to get your hands on a pair, you will be able to do so as of Thursday, August 19th for a price that has yet to be determined. More colorways should be on the horizon, so keep it locked to HNHH for all of the latest updates from around the sneaker world. In the meantime, let us know what you think, in the comments below.

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

The world has been returning back to its pre-pandemic form, largely due to the COVID-19 vaccination. There’s still concern about a Delta variant and other forms of COVID mutation spiking infection rates but for the most part, those who are vaccinated are enjoying some sense of normalcy. As the topic of vaccine passports arise, Joe Rogan found himself not only questioning the efficacy of the vaccine but suggesting that it could also play a role in creating mutated forms of the virus.

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Rogan cited an article from 2015 study to back up his argument that unvaccinated folks might not be to blame for the rising cases of the Delta variant. “Here’s one important quote,” Rogan said. “‘Vaccines that keep the host alive but still allow transmission can thus allow virulent strains to circulate in a population.’ So, vaccines that don’t kill the virus. … can possibly lead to more potent viruses.”

The lead scientist and author of the study is now speaking out against Rogan’s claim, saying the podcast host has misconstrued the information to push anti-vaxx theories. Andrew Read spoke to Forbes where he slammed Rogan for spreading misinformation and weaponizing the study. 

“Joe Rogan is getting this completely wrong,” Read told Forbes. “He’s taking very careful work about evolutionary scenarios of the future, and from that, erroneously concluding that people should not be vaccinated now.” Read added that the details on study “matter a lot.”

“At the moment, the vast majority of the replication is happening in unvaccinated people,” Read added. “You can tell that because the majority of cases in the hospital are unvaccinated individuals.” Read also pointed out that the vast majority of current cases are among those who are not vaccinated, as is the majority of transmission.”

Andrew Read concluded, “Rogan is completely wrong trying to deduce anything else.”

[Via]

Ever since retiring from the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal has become the ultimate businessman. He has endorsement deals in almost every single field and as a result, he has become a very rich man. Back in 2013, Shaq used that wealth to become a minority stakeholder in the Sacramento Kings, who have grown in terms of valuation over the past decade. When Shaq invested $500 million into the team eight years ago, no one knew his stake would explode in value to about $1.8 billion.

The issue here is that Shaq is now being forced to sell his stake in the Kings, due to his latest endorsement deal with WynnBet. The league has very staunch rules against owners and players having a stake in gambling websites, which means Shaq can no longer be a part-owner of the franchise.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Shaq will be a brand ambassador for WynnBet and in this role, he will give them strategic advice while also promoting the gambling website’s services. The former NBA superstar understands just how big the space is getting, and it only makes sense for him to get into the business now. Not to mention, the amount of money he will make from the Kings is going to be nothing short of impressive.

It remains to be seen when the stake in the Kings will be sold off, although Shaq is certainly excited to see his investment pay off. As for WynnBet, this partnership could be massive for the company as they look to compete with other giants of the space.

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Ludacris is a man of many talents. A hip-hop master of ceremonies, an explorer of uncharted waters, a pilot, an actor, and perhaps most importantly, a man of the people. Case in point, it has been reported that Luda will be stepping up to participate in the upcoming AIDS Walk Atlanta and Music Fest, which is set to go down on Saturday, September 25th.

The event, which begins at 10:00 AM Eastern, kicks off with a five-kilometer run and walk before wrapping up with a live concert experience. This year, the headliner is none other than Ludacris, one of the greatest Atlanta emcees of all time. He’ll be joined by Sevyn Streeter, who is also slated to perform during the concert event.

 Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

A report from Businesswire states that the AIDS Walk Atlanta and Music Fest is looking to raise one million dollars, which is to be distributed to ten non-profit organizations: AID Atlanta, A Vision for Hope. Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Jerusalem House, National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities, Open Hand, Positive Impact Health Centers, Someone Cares and Thrive SS.

The same report also highlights a statement from Dawn Averill, the regional director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “This annual event offers a time to create a greater awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the local Atlanta community, as well as an opportunity to bring together thousands of individuals from across the region to raise critical funds for these 10 worthy organizations,” says Averill. “AHF is proud to present this event as one of the many ways that we educate and empower the local community to join the fight against HIV and AIDS.”

It’s refreshing to see Ludacris stepping up for a good cause, showing support to those living with AIDS and HIV; with many stigmas currently surrounding the disease, seeing a respected rap legend raising awareness should go a long way in spreading information and compassion. A statistic included in the Businesswire report states that seventy percent of people living with HIV reside in Atlanta. 

For those interested in attending the walk and concert, the event will be taking place at the Piedmont Park on Saturday, September 25th. 

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Yesterday, reports surfaced online that a Colorado Rockies fan shouted the N-Word at Miami Marlins player Lewis Brinson. The entire incident was caught on tape and many on social media felt like they had heard the N-word come from the fan’s mouth. This led to some outrage on Twitter as commenters tried to doxx the man and find out his personal information. 

The Rockies immediately released a statement condemning the alleged actions of the fan, and they even launched an investigation into the whole ordeal. After consulting the TV broadcast clips and the fan themselves, they quickly realized that this whole thing was just one huge misunderstanding. 

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

According to reporter Steve Staeger, the fan in question was shouting “Dinger” which is the name of the Rockies mascot. The fan wanted a photo-op with Dinger for him and his family, although, on the tape, the word got confused with a racial slur. It’s a truly unfortunate circumstance for all sides, and as it stands, the fan is mortified with all of the backlash that he has received.

Even Brinson himself says he never heard any derogatory slurs, which goes to show just how much of a mix-up this is. At this point, the internet owes the man an apology, although we’re sure that will never come, as no one on Twitter ever seems to admit when they’re wrong.