Hip Hop News

Singer/Songwriter Sofia Valdés On What Travel Means To Her

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A great adventure story? We’re sorry, but it just never begins on your couch. Yet, that’s where most of us have been stuck for more than a year, putting plans on hold and leaving us to dream about safe and smart travel when normal comes back around. Maybe that means reconnecting with family and friends or touching down in locales in the US and abroad that populate your personal bucket list and feed your sense of adventure.

For singer/songwriter Sofia Valdés, it’s those things and a chance to stoke creativity through the achingly missed act of meeting people as you explore their home cities and countries learning just a little bit about them in the process of being inspired. As Valdés says in the first episode of our new Creator Connections video series (made in partnership with Delta Air Lines), “There’s something magical about being able to find a home in people, so wherever you are, you feel at home.”

That’s the power of travel and exploration, essentially — a charge that comes from new experiences, new cultures, new destinations, new people, and a new perspective that promotes a larger, more informed view of the world. Even if you’re going somewhere familiar or just looking to relax, it’s going to change you for the better. Because it’s still a connection (to people, places, and things), and it’s what we’ve all been missing most.

Check out Sofia’s story (above) to learn more about how she finds a home and a community wherever she travels and how Delta is helping her reconnect with her career and musical life in this episode of Creator Connections.

The US Government Has Sold The Wu-Tang Clan Album Seized From Martin Shkreli

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The mythic Wu-Tang Clan album once purchased for an exorbitant sum by “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli has finally been sold after being seized by the US government. According to the Justice Department, the sole copy of Once Upon A Time In Shaolin was sold off to pay off the $7.4 million forfeiture judgment against Shkreli for his 2018 conviction on securities fraud. A confidentiality provision in the sale contract protects information about the buyer and price.

The album first made waves in 2014 when it was announced that only one copy of the album would be auctioned off, incensing group members like Method Man. The album was purchased by Shkreli in 2015 with the caveat that it couldn’t be commercially exploited for nearly 100 years. When Shkreli was convicted in 2018 for SEC violations, he played the album while talking about it and tried to sell it on eBay to avoid forfeiting it as part of his sentence. When he was sentenced to seven years in prison, the government appropriated the project for the purpose of auctioning it off to pay his debts.

Of course, just because only one copy of the album exists and can’t be monetized for 100 years, doesn’t mean RZA won’t try to make some money off it anyway. In August 2020, the Wu-Tang leader reportedly began production on a film about the album’s convoluted existence for Netflix.

Paris Hilton Pregnancy Rumors Shut Down By Sister Nicky

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Paris Hilton has kept her relationship with Carter Reum relatively low-key and out of the public eye. The two got engaged earlier this year on a private island and rumors indicated that they had more good news on the way. PageSix sources claimed the socialite and her fiancée Carter Reum are now expecting their first child together. In recent months, Paris Hilton expressed her desire to start a family and undergoing IVF treatments. Reps for Paris Hilton declined to comment on the reports. Reum’s reps did not respond to a request to comment.


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While the Internet ran with the rumor, it turns out that a more reputable source has addressed the rumors. Nicky Hilton, Paris Hilton’s sister, did a photo shoot with Vanity Fair where she declared that the reports are simply false. “It’s not true,” she told the publication. After reading the report, she added, “They have the story wrong.” 

Paris and Carter began dating for a year before their engagement earlier this year. She revealed in an interview with The Trend Reporter podcast that she’s been seeing Kim Kardashian’s doctor for IVF treatments “so I can pick twins if I like,” she said. 

“It was tough, but I knew it would be worth it. I did it a couple of times,” she continued. “Just doing it together and having a partner that is just so supportive and always makes me feel just like a princess all the time … that it wasn’t that bad.”

[Via]

Smoove’L Arrested After Woman Allegedly Snitched On Him: Report

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New York rapper Smoove’L was reportedly arrested over the weekend on gun charges. According to Say Cheese TV and Kollege Kidd, two hip-hop blogs on Instagram, a woman called the police and reported that the rapper had a weapon inside of his house, which led to his arrest. He is reportedly expected to appear in court today.

The recording artist, whose real name is Lefty Sanders, is best known for his songs “Apollo” and “Just A Dream.” He was recently arrested in April of this year after running a red light when cops found a loaded gun in his car. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, as well as a license plate and traffic violation. 

We have reached out to Smoove’L’s team to confirm the report and issue a statement. We will update this article when we hear back.

Smoove’L is one of the present stars of Brooklyn, making his name in the last few years as one of the most skilled rappers in the city. Last year, he released a couple of new projects, Boy From Brooklyn and Ice Cups and Shootouts. This year, he’s come through with a few singles, including “Grime,” “Billie Green,” and more.

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Hip-Hop’s In-Demand Jewelers Share Stories of Their Rap Clients

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Hip-hop’s most in-demand jewelers tell the stories behind working with rap stars to create icy works of art that are completely unmatched. Continue reading…

Atlanta-Area Spa Shooter Pleads Guilty To Four Murders; Sentenced To Life

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On Tuesday, Robert Aaron Long, the man accused of fatally shooting eight people across three metro Atlanta spas in March, pleaded guilty to four of the murders in Cherokee County, Georgia.

It was Judge Ellen McElyea who formalized the agreement just over four months after Long’s fatal rampage on March 16. The murders that he has pleaded guilty to are those that took place inside Youngs Asian Massage when he opened fire and claimed the lives of Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44.


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The same day, he killed four others at two additional spas in Atlanta’s Fulton County. While the deal mentioned above will spare him from the death sentence concerning the shooting spree at Youngs Asian, Long will still have to contend with the possibility in Fulton County where District Attorney Fani Willis has already said that she intends to seek the death penalty.

In total, Long faced a total of 23 charges in Cherokee County that included felony murder, malicious murder, and aggravated assault. he pleaded guilty to every charge, but the state says that several charges will either merge together or be vacated by law.

“The defendant was merciless in his actions but the surviving victims and the families of the murdered victims chose to request mercy,” said Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace at a press conference, “preferring that this defendant spend every remaining day of his life in prison faced with the memories of his own monstrosity.” 

Wacotron Knew Steph Curry Was A Star Before The Rest Of Us

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Waco, Texas rapper Wacotron has been rising quickly, earning a co-sign from producer Southside and working with G Herbo, Marshmello, and plenty of others. Earlier this year, he released his debut project SMOKIN TEXAS with twelve records that introduced him to the masses. As he continues to pick up the pace, Wacotron stopped by to let the world know even more about himself, coming through for the latest episode of Top 5s.

The name of the game is simple– we gave Wacotron a few starting points and he let us know his five favorite things in that category. This time around, we asked him for the best things to do in Waco, Texas, his favorite weed strains, and much more.

As it pertains to Wacotron’s favorite movies, he has an affinity for the 1993 Western Tombstone. Surprisingly, he also had a pretty underrated pick for his top sneakers, going with the Air Jordan 14s. We also asked the rapper for his top athletes, which is when he revealed that he knew Steph Curry was a superstar before the rest of us.

Ranking him at the second spot behind Kobe Bryant, Wacotron said that he used to always play as the Warriors on NBA 2K, back when Curry was teaming with Monta Ellis, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut. “We used to play the 2K at my partner’s house. Everybody used to play with the good team, like the Miami Heat, I used to get the Warriors,” he said. “I really used to get them because of Monta Ellis but that n***a Steph, I was already going off with him. He wasn’t doing this then though. This was way before. When he started going off with Klay, I was like, ‘Damn, that’s crazy, I used to play with this n***a.’ So that’s why I like that n***a, shit, I already fucked with him for no reason.”

Watch the full episode of Top 5s with Wacotron above.

Wu-Tang Clan 1-Of-1 Album Forfeited By Martin Shkreli Sold By U.S. Government

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Wu-Tang Clan made history with the release of Once Upon A Time In Shaolin — a one-of-one album that’s considered the most expensive album ever sold. It ultimately landed in the lands of pharmabro Martin Shkreli who ended up trading barbs with Ghostface Killah on social media over the acquisition. However, once Shkreli got bagged by the feds on fraud charges, the album was seized by the U.S. government.


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Today, the feds announced that that the album had finally been purchased, though confidentially agreements prohibit the identity of the buyer from being revealed. Additionally, the price paid for the album hasn’t been made public, either.

“Through the diligent and persistent efforts of this Office and its law enforcement partners, Shkreli has been held accountable and paid the price for lying and stealing from investors to enrich himself,” Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis said in a press release Tuesday. “With today’s sale of this one-of-a-kind album, his payment of the forfeiture is now complete.”

The album was among the assets seized after Shkreli was convicted of securities fraud. The money made from the sale of the album will go towards a multi-million dollar judgment ordered against Shkreli.

So far, we haven’t heard from any member of the Wu-Tang Clan about the sale of Once Upon A Time In Shaolin but we’ll keep you posted on any updates.

Lil Nas X’s Dad Slams DaBaby’s Homophobic Rolling Loud Comments: ‘Bruh Sit Down’

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As more fans, supporters, and peers of DaBaby weigh in on the homophobic comments he made during his Rolling Loud set, a new voice has joined the conversation to admonish the North Carolina rapper for his words: that of Lil Nas X‘s father Robert Stafford, who posted his response on Instagram. As Lil Nas X is one of the more prominent queer artists in entertainment today, it seems Mr. Stafford won’t remain silent on an issue that so closely pertains to his son.

Posting a photo of DaBaby posing with Lil Nas X at an awards show, he captioned the photo, “Bruh sit down you had your time.” Indeed, DaBaby has been one of the most popular and bestselling rappers of the last two and a half years, so his platform is massive — and that’s why the way he chose to use it was so irresponsible.

While DaBaby later defended himself on Instagram, saying, “What me and my fans do at the live show don’t concern you n****s on the internet,” the problem is that you can’t just say, “What I do for the live show is for the audience at the live show.” For one thing, the show was live-streamed across the internet for the world to see, and for another, DaBaby clearly doesn’t seem to be considering the effect that his words can have, whether intended and unintended.

When he says “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot,” that’s anti-gay rhetoric that has been used to justify committing horrible acts of violence against queer people. When he says “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases, that’ll make you die in two to three weeks,” that further stigmatizes people who are living with STDs while also spreading misinformation that can put people at risk.

And when he tries to defend himself by saying “the fans at the show were okay with it,” he betrays a critical lack of understanding of cause and effect, makes unwarranted assumptions about who is in the crowd and how they feel about what he said, and discounts the feelings of anyone who tuned into the live-stream only to hear themselves denigrated by his attempt to hype the crowd.

Maybe someone close to him can pull him aside and explain all this, but from what we’ve seen that won’t happen. That’s a shame because it shouldn’t be on “n****s on the internet” with famous gay sons to teach a grown man how to behave with some basic human decency.

Biz Markie Pops Up On Multiple ‘Billboard’ Charts As Fans Revisit His Music After His Death

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About ten days ago, rapper Biz Markie passed away at 57 years old. Although he hadn’t released a new album since 2003’s Weekend Warrior, Markie remained a beloved pop culture figure over the past few decades. After his passing, as tends to happen with deceased musicians, fans started revisiting his music, which led to some new Billboard chart appearances for Markie.

The rapper made his debut on the Comedy Albums chart this week with his 1994 compilation album Biz’s Baddest Beats, which is No. 2 on the chart dated July 31, behind Bo Burnham’s Inside (The Songs). Additionally, his iconic single “Just A Friend” (which appears on Biz’s Baddest Beats but was originally included on the 1989 album The Biz Never Sleeps) has re-entered this week’s Digital Song Sales chart at No. 18. That’s thanks to 5,000 song downloads, which is an increase of 2,991 percent from the previous week.

Markie representative Jenni Izumi previously confirmed his passing, saying, “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, hip hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away. We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time. Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years. He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter. We respectfully request privacy for his family as they mourn their loved one.”

Watch Markie’s video for “Just A Friend” below.