Hip Hop News

The world has been patiently awaiting SZA’s sophomore album ever since she concluded her CTRL era. Talking a long time away from music to focus on perfecting her next project to share with the world, she finally returned last summer with the lead single from her forthcoming project “Hit Different” with Ty Dolla Sign. 

She followed up with her smash hit “Good Days,” and is set to release the new album sometime this year. In the meantime, she’s set to fans to a virtual full-set performance in celebration of the fourth anniversary of her acclaimed debut project CTRL on June 17th. In a new interview with Complex, the songstress talked about how important manifestation is. She touched on speaking two major accomplishments into existence, namely a pledge from Travis Scott to join her for a long-awaited performance of “Love Galore” and a Tyler, the Creator collab.

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Speaking candidly about how she was able to manifest a “Love Galore” performance with Travis on Twitter, she explained, “I’m very surprised. I just think he’s so cool. I just never imagined that someone would be down to do stuff, randomly. I still can’t even believe that I got him on the song and that he loves my music. I really am a super fan, like a genuine fan. It’s funny. It makes me really happy.”

When asked about how important manifestations have been for her, she divulged, “Like, I was talking about this song that got leaked on the internet yesterday. Well, it didn’t get leaked yesterday, but I was talking about it yesterday. It was this Jodie Foster song and it was over an old Tyler, the Creator beat from like 2016.”

She continued, “I was talking about it and Tyler called me yesterday to send me new stuff. And I was like, “That’s so random.” From the sounds of it, it seems the two beloved artists are working together on ~something.~ As of right now, however, its no telling when we’ll be getting the collab. 

As for Tyler, he shared a new teaser to his social media yesterday, likely signaling the start of his album rollout. With both SZA and Tyler potentially dropping this year, it leaves plenty of room for a collaboration between the two. 

Are you looking forward to hearing SZA x Tyler one day? Let us know down in the comments. 

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Boosie Badazz is known to have quite a controversial presence on social media, which has resulted in the constant suspension of his main Instagram account over the years. He revealed in a video interview with VladTV that he asked Tallahassee R&B singer T-Pain for help, asking to speak directly with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself, in getting back access to his account.

After he was kicked off his main Instagram account in late March for posting a behind-the-scenes clip of a music video he was filming with Charlotte rapper DaBaby, Boosie took to Twitter with choice words for the Facebook CEO.

Prior to the March suspension, in which he openly called for someone who would be willing to take a punch to the face for money, he was last suspended from Instagram in August. The video of the smack earned the participant the agreed-upon amount for the blow, and he was tipped by DaBaby for partaking in it. The clip ended up being a stunt to promote Boosie and Dababy’s “Period” single, but Instagram found the video too alarming and violent to keep on its platform, promptly removing it and suspending his main account again.

In the video interview, Boosie talks about the music video incident and the ensuing consequences that affected his social media presence. He said he saw T-Pain go on Instagram Live with Zuckerberg following the viral moment that spurred when he shared a video of his unanswered DMs from over the years on the app. You can check out the video interview below. 

You can keep up with Boosie’s hijinks at his current secondary Instagram account, @hesbackagain2021.

Award shows have been forced into hosting socially distant or virtual events in the past year. The Grammys returned partially this year, along with other prestigious ceremonies in the entertainment industry. The BET Awards are set to take place later this month and they’ve finally announced who will be hosting the big event — Taraji P. Henson. The Empire star will be holding down hosting duties on Sunday, June 27th at the Microsoft Theatre in L.A.

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“For more than 20 years, the BET Awards have been a celebration of Black creativity, art and excellence,” said Taraji P. Henson in a statement. “Returning live, this year’s show will be unlike anything we have ever seen before, and I am honored to be sharing the stage with so many powerful and prolific women in music and entertainment. The BET Awards will once again be at the forefront of Black culture.”

The 2021 BET Awards will honor Queen Latifah with the Lifetime Achievement Award which aligns with the ceremony’s theme, “The Year Of Black Woman.” The ceremony will be celebrating the impact and contributions made by Black women in pushing the culture forward.

“Black women have been essential drivers of change throughout history, from the political sphere to the cultural zeitgeist,” Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, told ET. “The BET Awards is the ultimate celebration of Black culture, and we are looking forward to spotlighting and celebrating Black women during this year’s show, recognizing them for everything they’ve accomplished and applauding them for what’s to come.”

Peep the list of nominees here.  

Megan Thee Stallion is back. After announcing a two-month-long hiatus from social media and music, the Houston-based rapper returned with a bumping new single called “Thot Shit,” empowering women and taking over words like “thot” and “whore.” She explained that she wants to claim ownership of the words, which have taken on offensive meanings in our everyday vernacular. The music video for the track is eye-catching, provocative, and in-your-face; in order to get all of the fast-moving action on their cameras, the crew went to serious means to pick up every movement, which you can see in a behind-the-scenes video that has been going viral.

There’s currently a clip of a cameraman holding on for his dear life as he connects his gear to Megan’s body, which gyrates back and forth, up and down as she twerks to the floor. Because of the way the camera was stabilized, the camera operator needed to be ready to do a little dancing of his own, feeling the kickback every time Megan completed one shake of her booty. If you’re a fan of the Houston Hottie, you’ve got to see how they filmed some of the most intimate shots from the “Thot Shit” video.

Take a look at the video below. Do you think he knew he was in for this when he accepted the job?

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Comedian Kevin Hart has been no stranger to controversy over the years. From cheating scandals to offensive old tweets, the comedian understands the consequences of cancel culture better than most. Hart spoke on this during a recent interview with The Sunday Times, where he blasted what he sees as the often overdramatized and nonsensical cycle of small mistakes leading to large-scale consequences. 

“When did we get to a point where life was supposed to be perfect?” he ponders, in the Times profile. “Where people were supposed to operate perfectly all the time? I don’t expect perfection from my kids. I don’t expect it from my wife, friends, employees. Because, last I checked, the only way you grow up is from f**king up.” Clearly, Hart finds that the practice of cancel culture casts too broad a net and stops people from engaging in a learning process.

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Hart himself lost his role as the host of the Oscars in 2019 because of homophobic tweets he had made years before, but states that it did not bother him: “I’ve been canceled, what, three or four times? Never bothered. If you allow it to have an effect on you, it will.”

Still, despite his criticism of the practice and seemingly unbothered attitude towards his own controversy, Hart admits that cancel culture consequences are appropriate for some: “If somebody has done something truly damaging then, absolutely, a consequence should be attached.” He goes on to say that this shouldn’t include those who simply hold opposing views to the mainstream. 

Hart is now joining a handful of celebrities and important figures who are speaking out against the potential damages of cancel culture. Do you think that the practice is going too far? Does it do more good than bad? 

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According to forecasts, the worldwide cannabis market is projected to reach upwards of $90.4 billion in revenue by 2026. As reported by Forbes, $41 billion of that total is estimated to come from the U.S. marijuana market alone. That being said, and with possible national decriminalization on the horizon, now more than ever is the best time to get into the industry. 

Numerous rappers have already jumped on the wagon, notably Jay-Z with his Monogram brand, Snoop Dogg’s Leafs by Snoop line, Ice Cube with his Fryday Kush brand, and many, many, more. It seems like Meek Mill is the latest to show interest in getting into the ganja game, taking to Twitter on Monday (June 14) to reach out to prospective business partners. 

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Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez and actor Ben Affleck are as smitten as ever since they reunited in April. The couple was photographed together on Monday at dinner, kissing each other between bites of food at a Malibu restaurant.

Though fans and gossips alike hadn’t been able to completely confirm that the former fiancés were back together, these photographs sure seem to seal the deal. The photographs are said to have been taken at Nobu in Malibu for Lopez’s sister’s birthday. 

Ben & J-Lo in 2003. Chris Weeks/WireImage/Getty Images

Affleck and Lopez began the first leg of their star-studded relationship in 2002. The couple dated for two years before Affleck proposed, though the engagement was cut off months after their set wedding date and the pair split up. People magazine reported that Lopez’s mother was said to have been very close with Affleck, stating that she “loved Ben. She was sad when they couldn’t work things out years ago.” The couple cited invasive media attention as one of the main reasons they split years ago. 

Lopez only recently broke up with baseball legend fiancé Alex Rodriguez in April, and weeks later rumors began that she was back with Affleck. These new pictures mark the first time the couple was seen doing something explicitly romantic since these rumors started circulating. 

Are you happy that the couple is back together? Do you have hope they’ll make it last this time? Check out the pictures below:

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