Hip Hop News

It surely seems like Kodak Black has been keeping busy since Trump pardoned him as one of his last acts as President. The creative juices have definitely been flowing for the Pompano Beach native, who revealed last week that he had recorded 167 songs since being granted clemency. While it is easy to overlook his more serious positions due to his social media antics and public persona, the rapper has long been an advocate for criminal justice reform. Embarking on a new venture to benefit this cause, Kodak is set to debut a new clothing line with part of the proceeds going towards backing judicial reform. 

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Kodak’s attorney Bradford Cohen shared the news with TMZ that the rapper would be launching a new clothing line named L.O.V.E., which is an acronym for “Loyalty Out Values Everything.” While the brand is only in its developing stages, Cohen says major retailers like Foot Locker, Footaction, City Gear, and Snipes have already pre-ordered shipments of apparel. 

So far, TMZ reports that L.O.V.E. has already nearly sold out all its first run of pre-orders with plans to introduce a sneaker line and possibly link up with other brands down the road. 

Most notably, Kodak plans to donate a portion of the profits to different charities and organizations locally and around the globe dedicated to empowering minorities and judicial reform. 

Since having his sentence commuted by Trump, Kodak has been pretty consistent in giving back. He recently set up a scholarship in the name of one of the Parkland victims and is continuing his charitable donations. 

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Baltimore is taking a new measure in approaching criminal justice reform. Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that the city will no longer be prosecuting low-level offenses including drug possession, prostitution, and trespassing. The announcement arrives after the success of a trial program of the Covid Criminal Justice policies that was created in order to “reimagine public safety” and the justice system at large.

Attorney Mosby explained that the Covid Criminal Justice policies have “resulted in a decrease in arrests, no adverse impact on the crime rate, and address the systemic inequity of mass incarceration,” per a press release. The success of the project that was launched has prompted officials to prioritize a permanent adoption of these policies. 

“Today, America’s war on drug users is over in the city of Baltimore. We leave behind the era of tough-on-crime prosecution and zero tolerance policing and no longer default to the status quo to criminalize mostly people of color for addiction. We will develop sustainable solutions and allow our public health partners to do their part to address mental health and substance use disorder,” State’s Attorney Mosby said in a statement. 

Covid Criminal Justice policies began as an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons. Through the advice of public health experts, the program has helped decrease the incarceration rate by 18% in Baltimore while data also shows that there’s been a 39% decrease in people entering the system. Meanwhile, Baltimore City has witnessed a 20% decline in violent crimes in comparison and a 36% decline in property crime between March 13th, 2020 and March 13th, 2021. 

Below is a list of low-level offenses that will no longer be prosecuted.

• CDS (drug) possession
• Attempted distribution CDS
• Paraphernalia possession
• Prostitution
• Trespassing  
• Minor traffic offenses
• Open container
• Rogue and vagabond
• Urinating/defecating in public

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The 52nd annual NAACP Image Awards took place last night (March 27th), airing on CBS, BET, and numerous other stations. Among the night’s big winners, Beyoncé notably (and unsurprisingly) won four awards, continuing her domination of this awards show season and earning the most awards than anyone else. Eddie Murphy was awarded the Hall of Fame award during the broadcast in recognition of his outstanding comedic and acting career. Other winners include Drake, who won outstanding male artist for the first time, and Jhené Aiko, who won the outstanding album category after receiving a Grammy nominee for Chilombo. 

For your convenience, check out the full list of all the winners of each category below, separated by art medium. 

Overall Awards

Hall of Fame Award
Eddie Murphy

Entertainer of the Year
D-Nice

Chairman’s Award
Rev. D. James Lawson

Presidents Award
LeBron James

Social Justice Impact
Stacey Abrams

Motion Pictures

Outstanding Motion Picture
Bad Boys For Life

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture
Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

Outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture
Phylicia Rashad – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture
Madalen Mills – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Outstanding breakthrough creative (motion picture)
Nadia Hallgren – Becoming

Outstanding independent motion picture
The Banker

Outstanding international motion picture
NIGHT OF THE KINGS

Outstanding writing in a motion picture
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version

Outstanding directing in a motion picture
Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Old Guard

Outstanding animated motion picture
Soul

Outstanding documentary (film)
John Lewis: Good Trouble

Outstanding short-film (live action
Black Boy Joy

Outstanding short-film (animated)
Canvas

Outstanding character voice-over performance – motion picture
Jamie Foxx – Soul

Music

Outstanding female artist
Beyoncé – “Black Parade”

Outstanding male artist
Drake – “Laugh Now, Cry Later”

Outstanding duo, group or collaboration (traditional)
Chloe x Halle – “Wonder What She Thinks Of Me”

Outstanding duo, group or collaboration (contemporary)
Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé – “Savage Remix”

Outstanding album
Chilombo — Jhené Aiko

Outstanding soul/R&B song
“Do It” – Chloe x Halle

Outstanding hip hop/rap song
“Savage Remix” – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé

Outstanding new artist
Doja Cat – “Say So”

Outstanding producer of the year
Hit-Boy

Outstanding music video/visual album
“Brown Skin Girl” – Beyonce’ feat WizKid, SAINt JHN, Blue Ivy Carter

Outstanding soundtrack/compilation album
Soul original motion picture soundtrack – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste and Tom MacDougall

Outstanding gospel/Christian song
“Touch From You” – Tamela Mann

Outstanding gospel/Christian album
The Return – The Clark Sisters

Outstanding jazz album – instrumental
Music from and Inspired by Soul – Jon Batiste

Outstanding jazz album – vocal
Holy Room – Live at Alte Oper – Somi

Outstanding international song
“Lockdown” – Original Koffee

Television

Outstanding drama series
Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding comedy series
Insecure

Outstanding talk series
Red Table Talk

Outstanding reality program/reality competition or game show
Celebrity Family Feud

Outstanding variety show (series or special)
VERZUZ

Outstanding news/information (series or special)
The New York Times Presents The Killing of Breonna Taylor

Outstanding children’s program
Family Reunion

Outstanding animated series
Doc McStuffins

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis – How To Get Away With Murder

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series
Clifford “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series
Mary J. Blige – Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure

Outstanding actor in a comedy series
Anthony Anderson – black-ish

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series
Deon Cole – black-ish

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series
Marsai Martin – black-ish

Outstanding performance by a youth (series, special, television movie or limited-series)
Marsai Martin – black-ish

Outstanding writing in a comedy series
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – Ep. 112 “Ego Death”

Outstanding writing in a drama series
Attica Locke – Little Fires Everywhere – Ep. 104 “The Spider Web”

Outstanding writing in a television movie or special
Geri Cole – The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special

Outstanding directing in a comedy series
Anya Adams – black-ish – Ep. 611 “Hair Day”

Outstanding directing in a drama series
Hanelle Culpepper – Star Trek: Picard – Ep. 101 “Remembrance”

Outstanding directing in a television movie or special
Eugene Ashe – Sylvie’s Love

Outstanding short form series – comedy or drama
#FreeRayshawn

Outstanding performance in a short form series
Laurence Fishburne – #FreeRayshawn

Outstanding short form series – reality/nonfiction
“Between The Scenes” – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Outstanding documentary (television – series or special)
The Last Dance

Outstanding character voice-over performance (television)
Laya DeLeon Hayes – Doc McStuffins

Outstanding television movie, limited-series or dramatic special
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Outstanding actor in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special
Blair Underwood – Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Outstanding actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special
Octavia Spencer – Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Outstanding host in a talk or news/information (series or special) – individual or ensemble
Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Outstanding host in a reality/reality competition, game show or variety (series or special) – individual or ensemble
Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud

Outstanding guest performance – comedy or drama series
Loretta Devine- P-Valley

Outstanding breakthrough creative (television)
Raynelle Swilling – Cherish the Day

Television or Motion Picture

Outstanding directing in a documentary (television or motion picture)
Keith McQuirter – By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem

Outstanding writing in a documentary (television or motion picture)
Melissa Haizlip – Mr. SOUL!

Outstanding literary works

Fiction
The Awkward Black Man – Walter Mosley

Nonfiction
A Promised Land – Barack Obama

Debut author
We’re Better Than This – Elijah Cummings

Biography/autobiography
The Dead Are Arising – Les Payne, Tamara Payne

Instructional
Vegetable Kingdom – Bryant Terry

Poetry
The Age of Phillis – Honorée Jeffers

Children
She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm – Katheryn Russell-Brown, Eric Velasquez

Youth/teens
Before the Ever After – Jacqueline Woodson

Special Awards

Activist of the year
Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony

Youth activist of the year
Madison Potts

Spingarn medal
Misty Copeland

Founder’s
Toni Vaz

Sports award I
Stephen Curry

Sports award II
WNBA Player’s Association (Nneka Ogqumike accepting on behalf of WNBAPA)

Key of life
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett

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Lil Nas X is a master when it comes to trolling people. Because of who he is, people like to overanalyze every single frame of every single music video he makes. The artist is well aware of this and purposely uses provocative imagery to rile up the Twitter mob. With his most recent music video for “MONTERO,” that is exactly what Lil Nas X did as he could be seen giving the devil a lap dance. Twitter Christians damn near fainted over this, and now, he is giving them another reason to clutch their pearls.

MSCHF, the brand behind Drake’s Jesus shoes, are now teaming up with Nike for an Air Max 97 that was made with Lil Nas X in mind. These are called “Satan’s Shoes” and they even contain a drop of blood in the midsole. There is also some red ink on the inside, and for good measure, 666 pairs are being created, with each one going for $1,018 USD.

While the shoes themself are pretty fire, there were certainly those who do not approve. Many claimed that anyone who wears those shoes will be cursed by the devil himself, while others joked that an exorcism is in order for whomever actually puts those shoes on their feet. The overreactions have been pretty amazing, especially when you consider how some are being completely sincere with their outrage.

If you’re curious about what people have to say about the kicks, you can check out the tweets below. Also, let us know what you think, in the comments section.

It is with heavy hearts that we are reporting the passing of Deshayla Harris, known for her appearance on the 17th season of the Oxygen reality show Bad Girls Club. The 28-year-old lost her life after getting caught in the crossfire of one of several shootings that occurred in Virginia Beach on Friday night (March 26). As reported by TMZ, Virginia Beach PD identified Harris as one of the two fatalities that occurred that night from three separate shootings. 

The department reports all three shootings appear to be separate, but they did occur within a short time from one another. The other fatality is 25-year-old Donovan Lynch. Officers report Deshayla was a mere bystander for the second shooting when she was struck by a stray bullet. At this time, Virginia Beach PD are not calling the incident a mass shooting, but rather a situation where shots fired from a feuding party nearby leaked over to the beachfront area of town, where resorts are stationed. 

Harris is said to have passed away at the scene, and upwards of eight other people were injured from the shootings. Ahmon Adams, Nyquez Baker, and Devon Dorsey Jr. were arrested and charged with several different counts for the crimes. She was 28 at the time of her passing.

As mentioned briefly before, Harris is known for her appearance on Season 17 of the BGC series known as ‘East Meets West.’ Other Bad Girls Club alum include The Clermont Twins, The Victor Twins, and Natalie Nunn. 

This news comes as there’s been a recent spike in shootings in the United States as COVID-19 restrictions are slowly being lifted.  

Our prayers go out to Harris’ family and friends, and may her soul Rest in Power. 

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It’s never a dull moment with Boosie Badazz. Fresh off of the release of his latest single, “Period” ft. DaBaby, the rapper put out a casting call on social media in search of someone who is willing to get slapped on camera for exactly $554. It’s unclear why Boosie didn’t just round it down but either way, there was a soul out in North Carolina that was willing to take a hit from the rapper for a quick $500.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Yesterday, footage of Boosie slapping a man took over the timeline. A few people were offended, overlooking the fact that it was for a video shoot while others pointed out to his casting call. The clip starts off with DaBaby and Boosie at a corner store trying to get some Backwoods when a disoriented gentleman begins to incoherently yell at Boosie Badazz in a way that’s literally only seen in rap music videos. “You one of these punk ass rappers. You can’t rap. How you gonna tell me you’re a god damn rapper?” the man says while Boosie positions himself to get his $554 worth.

While the footage spread across the Internet, Boosie ultimately deleted his Instagram page but there was still footage of the aftermath of the incident. It was all smiles as Boosie upheld his end of the bargain, pulling out a wad of cash for the man while DaBaby urges him to offer a tip.