Eric Bellinger Drops Off “Shine On The World”

Eric Bellinger hardly takes a break. The R&B singer has been crushing it over the past two years with new projects and singles that continue to showcase his songwriting talents and incredible vocal chops. This year, he already blessed fans with a new project produced entirely by Hitmaka titled, 1-800-HIT-EAZY. The album dropped back in February and in the past few months, he’s been relatively quiet leading up to the release of his latest single, “Shine On The World.” The singer’s latest effort has a bit of gospel influence to it but the bounce on the record will rattle the dancefloor.

Bellinger’s latest single arrives a few weeks after he teamed up with Symphani Soto on “Just A Moment.”

Peep Eric Bellinger’s new single, “Shine On The World” below.

Quotable Lyrics
Your beauty could paint a picture
With a smile on the low, yeah
Hey, soul sister
Cold like Chicago 

Taraji P. Henson Will Be Hosting The 2021 BET Awards

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.


 Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

“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’s Cameraman Holds On For Dear Life While She Twerks

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?

Kevin Hart Criticizes Cancel Culture

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.

Kevin Hart

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

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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Meek Mill Wants To Launch An East Coast Cannabis Brand

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. 


Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Diamond Ball

“I’m about to start east coast on my weed business,” tweeted Meek. He added, “but need a serious west coast plug … I’m talking ownership.. building my own company ground up! Get directly with me ASAP.”  
From the sounds of it, it seems the “Dreams & Nightmares” rapper has already made some moves to establish an East Coast-based marijuana brand. The Philadelphia-bred rapper does seem to have aspirations to spread his business over to the West Coast.  
If Meek does follow through with founding his own cannabis line, he would follow in the steps of his fellow REFORM alliance member Jay-Z, who made a similar business venture. Late last year, Hov introduced his brand Monogram. 
Recently, the rap mogul secured a partnership for the brand resulting in more than 900,000 pounds of weed being produced for the line. 
Clearly, the cannabis industry is where the money resides. 

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Photographed On Romantic Date

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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Dr. Dre Speaks Out Following His Brain Aneurysm: ‘I Never Saw That Coming’

Early this year, Dr. Dre was rushed the the hospital following a major health scare. It turned out that he had suffered a brain aneurysm and he remained in the ICU for several days. Thankfully, the producer made a full recovery and even hit the studio shortly after returning home. While Dre says the incident took him by surprise, he now has some sage advice to prevent the same issues from arising in others.

Dre recently sat down with the LA Times to discuss his new endeavor, an LA public high school aimed at preparing students to become entrepreneurs. The producer also spoke about his surprise brain aneurysm, giving an update on the current state of his health:

“It’s a really weird thing. I’ve never had high blood pressure. And I’ve always been a person that has always taken care of my health. But there’s something that happens for some reason with Black men and high blood pressure, and I never saw that coming. But I’m taking care of myself. And I think every Black man should just check that out and make sure things are okay with the blood pressure. And I’m going to move on and, hopefully, live a long and healthy life. I’m feeling fantastic.”

Anderson .Paak also recently gave an update about Dre’s health, saying he’s actually being doing great in quarantine. “Dre’s having a good-ass time,” he said. “That’s already his life — isolation, working all the time. I think he was probably used to it. But he’s having fun now because a lot of people have more time on their hands, so they can come visit him and make music with big Uncle Dre.”

Cardi B Gushes Over Her ‘Fast & Furious 9’ Character: ‘She’s Just That B*tch’

The latest movie in the Fast & Furious franchise, F9 (aka Fast & Furious 9), is set to his theaters in the US on June 25. Cardi B landed a role in the film, and ahead of its theatrical release, she talked about her character (Leysa) and how she came to be involved with the movie.

In a video, she said, “Vin Diesel reached out, and he was talking about a role. I’m like, ‘It’s freakin’ Fast & Furious. Get me there, put me on a plane!’ I like the fact that I’m representing such a powerful, strong woman. She’s just that bitch [laughs]. […] I remember when I saw Ludacris in Fast & The Furious, […] then to see Don Omar, it makes the hood have hope. Being around Vin, he’s just so nice, so dope. He makes you feel so comfortable. I’m just so excited.”

She also tweeted today about her excitement to see the movie, writing, “I can’t wait to watch Fast and furious 9 .I haven’t seen my scenes yet! That’s the best part about it thooo watching the movie then you see yourself coming in.I’m sooo proud of myself. GOD IS GOOD ! Can I get a ALL THE TIME ? !!!!”

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lil Skies Gives A Rebellious Performance Of ‘How You Feel’ On ‘UPROXX Sessions’

In this week’s episode of UPROXX Sessions, Lil Skies drops by to deliver an upbeat performance of his rebellious single, “How You Feel.” Coming from the Pennsylvania rapper’s deluxe version of the January 2021 album Unbothered, “How You Feel” finds the second generation rapper observing the highs and lows of rap stardom as he wonders, “I don’t got nobody in my corner, who do I trust?”

Skies, who rose to stardom after his SoundCloud favorite single “Red Roses” helped spur his debut major label mixtape Life of a Dark Rose to a No. 23 Billboard debut in its first week, released the deluxe version of Unbothered in May, adding seven new songs, with features from Drakeo The Ruler, Trippie Redd, and singer Zhavia Ward.

Watch Lil Skies’ performance of “How You Feel” above.

UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.

Lil Skies is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.