Hip Hop News

DMX suffered an overdose on Friday night which ultimately led to a heart attack. According to TMZ, paramedics attempted to resuscitate him and while they were eventually successful, the lack of oxygen to his brain caused severe damage, leaving him in a vegetative state. Now, the rapper is in the ICU at a hospital in New York and he is trying his best to fight and stay alive. It is extremely sad news that has led to an outpouring of support amongst his fans and peers.

TMZ is now reporting that DMX’s fiancee and mother have shown up to the hospital and have even been able to see DMX in the ICU. With COVID, it’s become difficult for many to see their loved ones although DMX’s family was given an opportunity to visit. As was reported by the outlet, his children will also be making their way to the hospital.

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The family is keeping some optimism that he will be able to make it although doctors have said that he is in a grave condition right now. DMX’s manager Steve Rifkind has asked fans to send him prayers right now, especially considering the circumstances. It’s a sad story, and everyone is hoping that DMX pulls through.

We will continue to provide updates on DMX’s condition as this is a developing story.

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The Weeknd has proven time and time again to be quite the philanthropist. He’s previously lent a helping hand out to other humanitarian efforts like COVID-19 relief and racial justice causes like Black Lives Matter and Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights camp. He also donated $300,000 to Lebanon to aid those who had been affected by the Beirut explosion. Helping another nation in need, the After Hours artist is donating $1 million to hunger relief efforts in Ethiopia amid the country’s ongoing internal conflict. 

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The XO artist announced the news of the donation via his respective social media channels on Sunday (April 4), urging others to follow suit. “My heart breaks for my people of Ethiopia as innocent civilians ranging from small children to the elderly are being senselessly murdered and entire villages are being displaced out of fear and destruction,” The Weeknd wrote.

“I will be donating $1 million to provide 2 million meals through the United Nations World Food Programme and encourage those who can to please give as well,” he finished, adding that the donation link for those interested would be in his bio.

Both of the Toronto native’s parents immingrated to Canada from the East African nation. The conflict in the country, which has left many innocent civilians either displaced or dead, stems from tensions between the government in Addis Ababa and the Tigray region. 

Last month, in a U.S. internal government report obtained by The New York Times, Ethiopian officials were described as “leading a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing” in the Tigray region. 

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In November of last year, Chicago-bred rapper King Von was fatally shot while in Atlanta after a scuffle with Quando Rondo’s crew, sending shockwaves through the rap community. Since then, tensions have been hot between the rapper’s respective crews, consistently firing shots at each other online since the incident. Rondo’s affiliate Lul Tim was arrested and charged as the alleged gunman, but rumors began to circulate recently that he had been granted a $100,000 bond in the case.

There seems to be truth to the speculation, though, as Lul Tim took to Instagram himself to show he’s living life pretty unbothered these days. In his first live since being released on bond, the accused killer drove around in his vehicle while eating chips and interacting with viewers. 

His carefree mannerisms and overall comfort in being seen in public and so visibly on social media shocked social media users familiar with the aftermath of King Von’s death. Dear friends to the late Chicago rapper like Pooh Shiesty, Lil Durk, and 600Breezy have all previously sworn in one way or another to make sure justice is served accordingly, so seeing the accused assailant cruising so casually in his ride left some wondering if they really meant it.  

Lul Tim, whose real name is Timothy Leeks, was rumored to have been released from jail after posting the $100k bond at the end of March. “Ain’t no more free lul tim. Welcome cacc cuz,” wrote a member of Quando Rondo’s crew over a picture of Leeks at the time celebrating his return. 

We’ll keep you updated on further developments in the forthcoming trial.  

Kyle Kuzma and the Los Angeles Lakers had an incredible game last night as they were able to defeat the Sacramento Kings by a substantial amount. Without Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers have had to grind for every win, and last night was a good example of what this team can do when they put their best foot forward and play inspired basketball.

Kuzma was especially on it last night and came through with some plays that had some fans jumping up and down in excitement. One of those plays saw Kuzma completely fake out an opposing Kings player as he used his eyes to move to the other end of the court. After the clip hit social media, Kuzma offered some praise to LeBron James, noting that he learned the move from the King.

Having LeBron as a teammate certainly has its perks and as Kuzma noted, it’s helped make him a better overall player. Last season, Kuzma showed exactly what he could do and in the playoffs, there were times where Kuzma was a solid closer. With his teammates out, Kuzma has shouldered a lot of the burden and so far, he’s proving why the Lakers signed him to be a big contract.

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When Giannis Antetokounmpo re-signed long-term with the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason, it was with the promise that the Bucks would make some big moves to make the team title contenders. They immediately went out and traded for Jrue Holiday, all while signing other role players to the roster. So far, these moves have worked out perfectly for the Bucks who are starting to get hot at exactly the right time.

Holiday has proven to be a massive signing and his two-way abilities have made the Bucks that much better on the court. In fact, Holiday has been so good that today, the Bucks rewarded him with a massive four-year deal that is worth $160 million. The fourth year is a player option although no matter what Holiday decides, there is no denying he just got paid.

The Bucks have struggled in the playoffs over the last couple of years and they are hoping that Holiday is the player who can make a difference over the long haul. He is one of the best two-way players in the league, and this signing helps give the Bucks some long-term stability for their roster.

Let us know what you think of the signing, in the comments below.

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Lil Tjay treated listeners to his sophomore album Destined 2 Win on Friday (April 2) complete with guest appearances from Tyga, Saweetie, Toosii, Offset, Moneybagg Yo, and more. He’s been busy doing additional press for the project, appearing recently on The Breakfast Club where he dished on the Rubi Rose drama, music keeping him out of prison, and more. The era is already shaping up to be a huge success for the Bronx-bred teenager who already earned a hit single with the 6lack-featured cut “Calling My Phone.” Based on sales projections for the project, the rapper is on pace to continue the success. 

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According to predictions for next week’s Billboard Top 200 data, Destined 2 Win is on pace to push around 70k copies in its first week. This is a massive opening week for the “Resume” rapper who, comparatively, pushed around 45k units of his debut project True 2 Myself in 2019.

Right now, there’s no guarantee as to whether or not he’ll debut at #1. Demi Lovato’s project Dancing With The Devil seems to be the album’s potentially sole competitor in debuting at the chart’s summit. Her album is expected to push around 45k-55k in its first week. 

The chart’s last two number one albums were Justin Bieber’s Justice and Rod Wave’s SoulFly, which both moved around 150k copies in their first weeks. Either one of them could also retake the top position. 

What’s your take on Tjay’s opening week sales projections? Let us know down in the comments.