Hip Hop News

In almost every career field, the topic of mental health is buzzing. We’ve heard much about it in the sports world, especially among football players who suffer from CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This week, the subject of mental health took center stage once again after Naomi Osaka decided to pull out of the French Open altogether after receiving a fine for not appearing for the press junkets. She’s been praised by her competitors and fellow athletes around the globe, and Mike Tyson recently revealed to Reuters that he has an unconventional way of dealing with his mental health struggles.

The Brooklyn boxing icon spoke with the publication about using psilocybin mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, and how he’s used them to combat the issues that he’s dealt with. The change Tyson has gone through mentally and spiritually is partially thanks to his dosing, he said.

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“Everyone thought I was crazy, I bit this guy’s ear off,” the boxing legend said of his infamous 1997 match with Evander Holyfield. “I did all this stuff, and once I got introduced to the shrooms … my whole life changed.” Medical professionals have often spoken against people using such substances without a professional’s guidance because many users have experienced adverse effects that have permanently altered their reality or mental state.

Yet, Tyson sings shrooms praises. “To think where I was – almost suicidal – to this now. Isn’t life a trip, man? It’s amazing medicine, and people don’t look at it from that perspective.” Last year, Tyson appeared on the Impaulsive podcast and ate a few shrooms on camera. You can check that out below. Are you for or against the use of “magic mushrooms”?

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She knows how to steal the show, whether on stage or online. Anytime Rihanna appears on social media, fans across the world can’t help but take notice, and once again the Pop icon is attempting to break the internet. It’s not an unfamiliar sight to see RiRi wearing next-to-nothing while posing for flicks on Instagram. The Fenty mogul often pops up in lingerie from her brand, and she kicked off June with a sexy post where she shows off her curves while wearing a yellow thong.

Viewers got an intimate look at Rihanna’s shape as she put the two-piece on display, and she even gave a cheeky peek when she posted a photo of her bending over. Still, you know fans were still questioning the singer about her next project.

Frederick M. Brown / Stringer / Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, the likes, comments, and reshares came in by the tens of thousands. She received compliments from 50 Cent’s Girlfriend Jamira Haines, Dreezy, Theophilus London, Duckie Thot, Christina Milan, and many others.

“Been 3 mins of thinking of a caption… I ain’t got sh*t to say,” Ri penned in the caption. It’s clear that her lingerie look said it all. Meanwhile, fans as still awaiting news regarding Rihanna’s forthcoming anticipated album, and in recent months it has been rumored that she’s been locked in the studio with The Neptunes.

Check out Rihanna’s poses along with a few lovingly pesky music requests from her fans below.

A Hip Hop icon is grieving the loss of a loved one and the streets are being called on. J. Prince has been a legend in the Rap industry since founding Rap-A-Lot Records in the late 1980s, and whenever there is someone in need, especially in Texas, it’s well-known that people can call on J. Prince for help. He often flies under the radar and doesn’t get involved in the he-say-she-say that artists are often entangled in, but he came forward on Tuesday (June 1) to share tragic news about his nephew’s murder.

Prince took to Instagram to share both grief and ire. “Houston We Have A Problem To Solve!” he penned in the caption of a photo of himself with his nephew. “There are a few renegade young punks, who went into one of my boys’ garage and shot my unarmed nephew in his heart and killed him.”

“These clowns have no principles, with an ‘anybody can get it’ type of attitude,” he continued. “I wish I could go back to the western days and put a ‘WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE- MILLION DOLLAR REWARD’ on them but that’s illegal, so I won’t do that. To all the real ones in every hood in H-Town, let’s not wait on the police to solve every problem for us. We have legal rights that need to be exercised to protect.”

Prince added that he has “NO respect” for anyone “around the world” who has given themselves the title of “gangstas” but acts in this behavior. “Killing unarmed, innocent people at nightclubs, homes, schools, malls, restaurants, churches or wherever!” He did call on “real n*ggas around the world” to unify in order “to deal with these bad apples.”

“This is weak sh*t NOT gangsta!… Reap what you sow!” Read through his message in full below. We send our sincerest condolences to J. Prince and his loved ones during this difficult time.

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After enjoying a short taste of freedom, YFN Lucci was back behind bars. Earlier this year, the Georgia rapper was arrested in connection with a murder that occurred in Atlanta, and after posting bond under strict conditions, Lucci was re-arrested in mid-May. For the case, Lucci was named in a 105-count indictment involving alleged gang activity, felony murder, and racketeering. His attorney has denied all accusations of gang association.

“He’s not a gang member,” said attorney Drew Findling at the time. “What he is is an internationally recognized musical artist that is a triple platinum winner, that has performed all over the United States and all over the world.”

Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images

Hours ago, WSBTV reported that YFN Lucci has been denied bond by a Fulton County judge. “My client is, your honor, an incredibly successful artist that is very well known nationally and even internationally,” Finding reportedly said in court on Tuesday (June 1). The judge stated, “The defendant will remain in a no-bond status at this time. Additionally, this court revokes any bonds previously issued in this case.”

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reportedly revealed that a YouTube music video that the rapper appears in will be used as evidence in the case against him. It’s said that 11 others have also been named. 

Cassidy Sparrow / Stringer / Getty Images

“We think it sends of very strong message to the public that no matter who you are, you have to follow the law and the rules, and you will be evaluated the same,” Willis said. “We’re working this case so hard because, as you know, I have taken a very strong stance against gangs. It’s causing a great deal of violence in our community.”

Prosecutors claim that Lucci drove his Maybach SUV along with two associates who are allegedly gang members into rival gang territory. A “gun battle” reportedly occurred and a James Adams was shot and killed. Authorities stated that Adams’s body was “dumped from the Maybach” not far from the scene.

“There are individuals outside gathered at the back of a car playing chess, holding a baby,” Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Cara Convery said. Check out a clip from Lucci’s hearing below.

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Just two days before Christmas, Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’Oir welcomed their baby boy, Ice Davis, into the world. This is the first child for the happy couple and they’ve taken to social media to share adorable images of their little boy. However, this isn’t Gucci’s only child, as the proud father also has a 14-year-old son. The rapper recently chatted with Billboard about parenthood and detailed why Baby Ice feels as if he’s a first-time dad.

Gucci explained that he found out about his eldest son when the boy was just one year old. “Me and the mother were kind of like strangers,” he said. “I never knew how much attention you got to pay to a baby. It’s not easy.”

“It’s a great thing and I love it, but it’s definitely challenging to be a parent.” Gucci’s artistry will also reflect the changes in his life, especially as a father. “I always want my music to talk about what was going on in my life, and the most important thing in my life now is my son.”

Keyshia added, “For maybe the first four weeks, [Gucci] put him to sleep every night on his chest by himself. He’s a great dad.” Check out a few adorable shots of Baby Ice Davis below.

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Just when he thought his church scandal had subsided, Carl Lentz is back in the headlines. The disgraced pastor was once the leader of the famed global celebrity-favorite megachurch Hillsong New York, but after it was revealed that he’d been carrying on a monthslong affair, Lentz was fired from his position. The woman would later come forward to detail her romance with Lentz, including that they loved one another, but in the end, Lentz publicly apologized to his wife and children for his behavior and is back to rebuilding his relationship.

A woman named Leona Kimes claims she worked as a nanny for the Lentz family for seven years after moving from Australia to help build Hillsong NYC. In an article the now-Hillson Boston pastor shared on Monday (May 31), she wrote, “During the years I spent serving them, I was subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse. Having told almost no one before this, I am just now able to share what I experienced in their home as the result of intense therapy.”

Kimes accused the Lentz’s of overworking both her and her husband, little by little increasing both their hours and their workloads. “They made fun of me constantly, even calling me Cinderella, which they said was their way of loving me,” wrote Kimes. “My husband was frequently criticized as a group sport. Gossip was constant. If I didn’t join in or if I disagreed, I was the odd one out. Classic bullying.”

“The sexual abuse started small, too,” she continued. “My pastor would look at me and say, ‘Gurl, you’re looking good. You’ve been in the gym?’ There was a lot of flirty teasing like this. I had been around long enough to know that’s just how he was with women. But after a while, the comments started to escalate. I remember being told, ‘after you have kids, we’ll buy you a boob job.’ Looking back, I know I felt embarrassed, but I didn’t know it was wrong then.”

She claims Lentz took photos of her without consent, even cropping out his wife in one of the images. He allegedly would continue with flirtatious behavior, ask her to rub his feet when he got home, ask to accompany her on errands alone, and make physical advances toward her. Kimes also claims that before she was fired, Lentz admitted that his behavior was inappropriate. Lentz’s wife, Laura, issued a statement to PEOPLE saying that they “vehemently deny the allegations and, in addition to that, have irrefutable proof the events did not happen as they are being described.”

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