Hip Hop News

Kevin Durant and Michael Rapaport were the subjects of Twitter scrutiny this past week after the latter leaked a DM conversation between the two. As you can tell, the two were going at each other pretty hard and Durant was using some extremely fiery language that might be considered offensive to some people. While most were upset with Rapaport leaking the information in the first place, others were disappointed that KD had to resort to such infantile name-calling.

Since the exchange was leaked, the NBA has been looking into the ordeal and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, KD has officially been fined $50,000. This is a very small amount considering Durant’s salary although it is still significant enough to make him think a bit more before using that language. Although, Durant had apologized earlier in the week.

“I’m sorry that people seen that language I used,” Durant said. “That’s not really what I want people to see and hear from me, but hopefully I can move past it and get back out on the floor.”

These DMs have been a horrendous look for KD and Michael Rapaport and at this point, we imagine both men would rather just forget it. So far, no one has been a winner.

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Nearly a full 25 years after his untimely death, Tupac Shakur, a.k.a. 2Pac, is still one of the most beloved Hip-Hop artists to ever grace a microphone. This past week, his estate celebrated the 20-year anniversary of his third posthumous album Until the End of Time, showing just how much fans still revered the multitalented artist several years after his tragic death. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Until the End of Time isn’t the only Tupac release that has been getting a lot of love lately. 

In its latest roundup of gold and platinum certifications, the RIAA has announced that a nice chunk of platinum plaques will be making their way to Tupac’s estate. According to the certification company, the former Death Row artist has posthumously earned a slew of platinum certifications for select singles released between 1993 and 1995.

As of Thursday, March 31, 2Pac’s 1993 singles “Keep Ya Head Up” and “I Get Around” have finally reached platinum status, with each song reaching this new milestone nearly 28 years after being certified gold. “Dear Mama,” the standout track from his 1995 album Me Against the World, also got an RIAA update yesterday, and it is now a certified triple-platinum single following its platinum certification on July 13, 1995.

Congratulations to the legendary Tupac Shakur as well as his estate on this new achievement!  

Donovan Mitchell’s Utah Jazz teammates faced a scare on their way to Memphis this past week as their plane hit birds which led to an emergency landing. These instances are always incredibly scary, especially in light of some of the stories that took place over the last year. Eventually, the Jazz were able to get to their destination safely, although Mitchell is still freaked out about what happened while he was away from the squad.

While speaking to ESPN, Mitchell admitted to being scared of flying and that realistically, he would prefer to drive to each destination. In the end, Mitchell knows he can’t do that but his fear of flying remains.

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“I just needed to take that time, because it wasn’t feeling (and) sitting right for me to go on the trip,” Donovan Mitchell said. “My teammates and my coaches respected that, and I appreciate the support. But I understand that I have a job to do. I can’t pull a John Madden and drive everywhere. As much as I would love to, I can’t. I understand I’ve got to (fly). I’ve calmed down, and I’ll be good – should be good, at least, I think – for the rest of the season.”

Flying is definitely an anxiety-inducing trip as you are subjected to some massive heights and very little safety should anything go wrong on the plane. However, it’s how NBA teams have had to deal with the travel and it’s going to remain this way until the end of time. Regardless, it’s good to see Mitchell opening up about such a real concern.

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The United States Capitol building has–rightfully so, been under increased protection since the violent attempted siege that left five dead occurred on January 6th. The risk of further attacks has since loomed over federal buildings throughout the nation’s capital since then. One US Capitol Police officer has died and another one is injured after a suspect rammed his vehicle into a police barrier outside the building on Friday (April 2) in another heinous act of violence. 

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Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman told reporters that the suspect was killed during the attack after being shot by nearby officers, allegedly exiting his vehicle wielding a knife in hand. Pittman also notes that the suspect had not been on the radar of the U.S. Capitol police before the attack and denied the existence of an ongoing threat in connection to the incident. 

A senior congressional aide and a US Capitol Police source also told CNN that after the suspect rammed his vehicle into the police barricade on Constitution Avenue before then exiting the car brandishing a knife. The Capitol police responded by shooting the suspect and taking him into custody. One officer passed away from injuries he sustained after being struck by the vehicle, while another remains in critical condition.  

Law enforcement officials also told CNN that at least one officer was stabbed during the incident. “(US Capitol Police) is responding to the North Barricade vehicle access point along (Constitution) Avenue for reports someone rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers. A suspect is in custody. Both officers are injured. All three have been transported to the hospital,” USCP said in a tweet Friday.

The building currently remains on lockdown as the investigation behind the violent attack continues. The officer has been identified as Officer William “Billy” Evans. 

We’ll keep you updated on any subsequent developments. 

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The ongoing Hip-Hop debate about which rapper deserves the title of being the GOAT, a.k.a. the greatest of all time, is a never-ending and ever-evolving discussion. Some artists see the rap game as a sport, with current acts like DaBaby and Drakeo The Ruler publicly vying for the title of Best Rapper Alive, but according to his new interview with Complex, Detroit rapper 42 Dugg could care less about any of those untangible distinctions.

Coinciding with the release of 42 Dugg’s highly anticipated collab with Roddy Ricch, Complex has shared an extensive profile on the 4PF and CMG artist. Throughout the interview, the whistling rapper touched on a myriad of topics, from meeting Lil Baby to how to correctly pronounce his name. One of the most quotable parts of his interview, however, came from when he started discussing whether he cared about ever potentially being considered the greatest of all time.

“I want to get paid like the GOAT. I ain’t got to be the GOAT,” Dugg proclaims in the interview, basically embodying Jay-Z’s classic, “Would you rather be underpaid or overrated?” line from the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy standout cut “So Appalled.”

Elsewhere in the interview, 42 Dugg elaborates on his aversion to fame and recognition, chalking it up as a side-effect of being from his hometown.

“Detroit keeps you grounded,” he tells Complex. “Detroit, they don’t bombard you. They don’t think you’re too holy. It is what it is.”

What are your thoughts on 42 Dugg’s recent comments? Would you rather be the GOAT or get paid like the GOAT?

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Though the era of G.O.O.D Music’s dominant, dynasty-defining run is long gone, hip-hop fans will forever cherish the seemingly endless supply of music that Kanye West’s label provided. And seeing as today marks Good Friday, which in turn marks a long weekend for many, it feels appropriate to highlight one of our longstanding favorite playlists. Behold G.O.O.D Music For A Good Friday, a twenty-nine song playlist featuring an abundance of G.O.O.D Music classics from Kanye West, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Common, and more.

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Though you won’t find much in the way of spirituality here — alas, this playlist was crafted long before the release of Jesus Is King — albums like Late Registration, I Decided, Man On The Moon: The End OF Day, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, The College Dropout, Dark Sky Paradise, Be, My Name Is My Name, Cruel Summer, and more are well represented. For those who look back on any of those particular projects fondly, consider adding our own homage to simpler times to your favorites and soundtrack the rest of the weekend accordingly.

Also, consider chiming in with your suggestions for songs that might ultimately benefit this one. After all, G.O.O.D Music’s peak run was certainly a fruitful one, and that’s not even factoring in some of the classics that didn’t make the jump to streaming platforms. Check out the playlist below, and enjoy the weekend!