Hip Hop News

Former No Limit artist Mac has been released from prison after serving 21 years for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Earlier this week, Mac, whose real name is McKinley Phipps Jr., was granted parole after receiving a unanimous vote from the board, and now he’s already home 5 days later.

Former No-Limit rapper Silkk The Shocker revealed the first post-prison picture of Mac when they linked up Friday in New Orleans. “Welcome home Mac,” Silkk’s caption read as the two posed for the camera on a couch.

Meanwhile, the boss man, Master P, also P congratulated his former artist, writing “Welcome home soldier!” @macphippsofficial Let God guide you on this next chapter.”

According to Mac’s parole terms, the rapper has a 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew and cannot enter establishments that serve alcohol. He also required to complete six hours of community service, every month, with at-risk youth.

“We feel blessed to have McKinley home after such a long fight for his freedom,” his wife, Angelique, said in a statement Wednesday. “We look forward to this new chapter of life.”

The rapper had nine years left on his 30-year sentence at the time of receiving the news. Welcome home Mac!

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If you missed it this week, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack company partnered up with Dior at Paris Fashion Week and launched an exclusive Dior collection, including a new shirt which payed homage to the late rapper Pop Smoke, who loved the brand Dior and rapped about often. The shirt featured Pop’s face on the front and lyrics from his popular song on the back (see below).

Well following the exclusive shirt release, Pop Smoke’s family is speaking out and thankful for the collab, believing it could be the first of more to come. Pop Smoke’s brother, Obasi Jackson, spoke with TMZ recently and said him and his mother were appreciative for the love he showed.

“Me personally, I definitely appreciate the love he’s trying to give and create around Pop with his new music coming out.” He later continued, “thank you so much for being a part of his legacy, continuing to support and love. We appreciate the sentiment that Travis Scott put out with his t-shirt and that he put his creative essence together to put a Pop Smoke shirt with Dior.” Watch the clip (below) and cop the shirt right here.

In other related news, Pop Smoke’s estate is gearing up to release another album from the late rapper on July 16th. The first posthumous album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon can be streamed right here. 

R.I.P. Pop Smoke.

Some people are just built for boxing. Gervonta Davis can’t be stopped. Tonight, he earned a TKO over previously unbeaten champion Mario Barrios making him the new WBA super-lightweight champion. Although Barrios was still standing when the ref called the bout, Davis had dropped him twice in the eighth round and once in the 11th round. The stoppage was smart, as Davis was methodically punishing Barrios.

The first knockdown in the eight almost looked as if Barrios was done for as it happened. However, he recovered before being knocked down again. In the 11th, Davis delivered a devastating body shot that sent Barrios to the ground again. 

Davis has also won the WBA world lightweight title and the IBF junior lightweight title. He went up two weight classes to fight Barrios, who was longer and bigger than Davis. However, Davis’ brutal hits and smart boxing earned him the victory. Davis’ record is now at 25-0. He was coming off an insane knockout of Leo Santa Cruz last October. Check out some of the Twitter reactions below. 

The Los Angeles Clippers tried to bounce back in Game 4, but it didn’t happen. After being smacked around for much of the first half, the Clippers came back against the Phoenix Suns in the second half. The final score was 84-80. Deandre Ayton came in clutch with yet another double double for the Suns, with 19 points and 22 rebounds. Devin Booker scored 25, while Chris Paul ended with 18 points and 7 rebounds. 

The Suns led by as many as 16, but the Clippers refused to go down with a fight. Paul Geroge ended the game with 23 points and 16 rebounds, but he missed clutched free throws in the fourth quarter. George also botched a pair of free throws in Game 2, leading to a loss. There was also a strange 3-minute stretch where neither team could score late in the game. The Clippers remained down by one point for the entire time, unable to take the lead as the Suns missed shot after shot. 

The Suns are now up 3-1 on the Clippers, who are sorely in need of Kawhi Leonard right now. It appears the Suns will head to the Finals and Chris Paul may get his first Finals appearance. Booker is in his first playoff appearance, and so are his younger cohorts. Who do you think the Suns will play in the Finals if they make it?