DJ Envy is certainly feeling the heat from the feds right now as they continue to investigate his involvement in a messy real estate fraud scheme. The media personality maintains his innocence there, but that hasn’t stopped his contemporaries from laying into him. Most notably, Funk Flex has had his foot on Envy’s neck non-stop as updates on the investigation continue to come out. As Akademiks pointed out in his coverage, the beef is reminiscent of previous spats between Hot 97 and Power 105.1 in the 2010s.
“Imma tell you the question of the day, of the week, of the month,” Flex told listeners earlier this week. “Mr. Real Estate RICO. Did you know that Ceasar was a crook? Or were you too d*mb to know that he was a crook?” Much to people’s amusement, the 55-year-old added bomb sound effects after virtually every statement for dramatic effect.
“Either way, you don’t win,” Flex put Envy on blast for his ignorance. “According to a lot of label people – let me tell you something New York – there’s three people involved. There’s Real Estate RICO, and there’s Lesser Charge Leonard, the pedophile,” he added, seemingly looping Charlamagne Tha God into the situation. “Then you got Ceaser, who was arrested last night by the feds,” Funk further antagonized his nemesis, who’s still waiting to find out what lays in store for his future.
Despite warnings from those around him, DJ Envy still failed to see the red flags in his recent real estate endeavours. As it turns out, Joe Budden once suggested to The Breakfast Club host that he could end up in jail for his actions – caution Envy clearly didn’t take seriously. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Doc Rivers has named the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics as his conference favorites for the upcoming NBA season. Rivers named the teams while speaking with reporters at an ESPN press conference, as Rivers will be joining the network as a broadcaster this season. “Denver has to be the favorite. Aaron Gordon was such a good pickup for them and its one that not enough people talk about,” Rivers said, “However, the West is wide open. They [Denver] will have old contenders, young contenders. Meanwhile, Boston lost Marcus Smart, they lost their best defensive players. And then they go and get probably the best defensive guard in the league. I think that makes them the favorite in the East.”
Rivers joins the broadcast booth after parting ways with the Sixers at the end of last season. However, it’s not Rivers’ first time behind the mic. After leaving the Magic in 2003, Rivers joined ABC to call the 2004 Finals. Rivers will join veteran broadcasters Mike Breen and Doris Burke on the broadcast team for the 2023/24. However, he also confirmed at the ESPN press conference that he had made no long-term agreement with the network.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 15: James Harden #1 (R) and head coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers interact during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center on February 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, things aren’t going well with Rivers’ former team. James Harden missed Sixers practice for the second day in a row on Thursday. After stating that no reason was given for the first absence, the organization has now said Harden is away from the team due to a personal matter. “I think the organization has made it clear what’s going on. They’re working on stuff, as we say, day by day. We had a really good practice today. Very energetic. The guys that were here, that’s what we’re focused on,” head coach Nick Nurse said when asked about the absence. Furthermore, Nurse said it was “unlikely” that Harden would play in the team’s preseason finale against Atlanta on Friday.
The missing of practice is something that experts have been surprised hasn’t happened sooner with Harden. The veteran has something of a reputation for being disruptive during offseason activities when he is trying to force a trade. However, it is believed that rumors of renewed discussions between the Sixers and Clippers compelled Harden to put in a few weeks of good behavior.
Hip-hop sensation 21 Savage is back with a long-awaited solo release, unveiling his latest single, “Call Me Revenge,” today. This marks his first solo venture since his 2020 collaboration with Summer Walker, “Secret.” In this exciting return, 21 Savage collaborates with emerging alt-R&B artist d4vd, hailing from Houston and gaining recognition in the indie music world with over 700 billion streams on his singles over the last two years, transitioning from the gaming realm.
Produced by TKTK, “Call Me Revenge” combines the distinct styles of 21 Savage and d4vd, creating a unique musical experience. This release further solidifies 21 Savage’s status as a hip-hop icon and introduces listeners to the talents of d4vd.
Additionally, 21 Savage is set to make a cameo in an upcoming “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” trailer, allowing players to access him as an operator in the game, with the ability to carry over their playable skin and progress from “Modern Warfare II” to the highly-anticipated “Modern Warfare III” launching on November 10. Pre-orders for “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” are available now at www.callofduty.com, providing gamers with an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in the latest installment of this iconic franchise.
Lola Brooke is back in the spotlight with a bang as she teams up with the 3x Grammy-nominated, Diamond-certified recording artist French Montana for her latest hit, “Pit Stop,” released today through Team Eighty Productions/Arista Records.
This bass-heavy release packs an unruly club-banging punch as Lola and French take center stage with energetic bars and charismatic rawness. The official music video, released alongside the new song, vividly captures the dynamic essence of “Pit Stop,” showcasing the vibrant spirit of New York’s boroughs with style and ferocity.
Lola Brooke’s collaboration with French Montana promises to be a blockbuster hit, drawing on the talents of these two exceptional artists. “Pit Stop” is set to make waves in the music scene and add another accolade to their already impressive careers. Fans can now experience the track and its accompanying music video, a testament to the power and diversity of the New York music scene.
Staten Island’s own Hanz On returns triumphantly to the hip-hop scene with his scorching new single, “All Fire.” The track features none other than Wu-Tang legend Method Man and hometown talent Iron Mic, with production by Glaze. Recorded in the iconic MethLab studio in Staten Island, where the last three collaborative albums between Hanz On and Method Man (Methlab 1-3) were born, “All Fire” sets the stage for Hanz On’s highly anticipated album, Carthage.
The album boasts an impressive lineup of star-studded features, including Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and Cappadonna. “All Fire” serves as a gritty and energetic anthem with a vibrant hook, “H.O.M.E” (Hanz On Music Entertainment), performed by Iron Mic. Hanz On’s impassioned delivery immerses listeners into the track, while Method Man’s distinctive presence and signature style provide a dynamic contrast, making the song a true musical gem.
This single is the first taste of Hanz On’s upcoming album, Carthage, completing the trilogy of his solo albums, following “Method Man Presents: Hannibal the Great” (2013) and “Barca” (2017). With Staten Island as the backdrop and New York legends gracing the project, Carthage promises to be a classic hip-hop album. Hanz On’s masterpiece is set to debut on October 20, 2023, and Carthage is scheduled for an early 2024 release. Stay tuned for more singles, music videos, and collaborations from Hanz On and his legendary friends.
Daniel Caesar sold out Madison Square Garden for his Superpowers Tour. That sentence itself may be hard for some to believe as, according to social media, the Toronto native has been in some sort of struggle to return to relevancy in his post-”Get You” career.
The 2016 single with Kali Uchis launched Caesar into the national spotlight, giving him the perfect opportunity to shine with his 2017 debut album Freudian, which he did. Both the song and the album are held in high regard as one the best R&B releases of the 2010s, and even through the 2020s.
However, in 2019, controversy struck Caesar following an Instagram livestream defense of his friend Yes Julz, who was embroiled in a racial controversy of her own. Though he later issued multiple apologies, the damage was done.
However, his night at Madison Square Garden was proof that he’d recovered from the scandal — and then some.
One of the best tools in Daniel Caesar’s arsenal for his night at Madison Square Garden was a new album that, just like Freudian, is one of the best releases in the year it was released. His third album Never Enough served as the foundation for the night, beginning with “Ochos Rios” as the opening song and album standout “Always” as the closer.
The former made for a captivating entrance backed by the song’s searing guitar replicated by Caesar’s live band and the joyful vocal contributions from the crowd. What followed was renditions of “Let Me Go,” “Disillusioned,” and “Toronto 2014” with special guest singer, Mustafa, and still, the audience used their collective voices in collaboration with Caesar’s own to show their love and support for the singer.
Throughout Caesar’s 75-minute performance at MSG, one thing was clear: the music spoke for itself, and it spoke volumes. During the performances of “Ocho Rios,” “Let Me Go,” “Disillusioned,” and “Toronto 2014,” Caesar sang beautifully behind a thin white curtain that hung from the sky that sought to recreate the visual of Caesar walking through fog, as depicted the screen behind him.
Though the curtain eventually dropped as “Cyanide” rang from the speakers, there were other moments that Caesar performed under dim lighting. It was clear that he wanted the music, the production of it, and the show to be the main focus with no distractions. In the Never Enough era, the music did all the talking and then some for Caesar and it worked wonders to create a stellar project.
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If Caesar had his intentional moments under the dim lights, he had his fair share of them under the bright ones. Halfway into his set, Caesar welcomed HER for an elegant acoustic performance of their multi-platinum collaboration “Best Part.” It was an excellent addition to what was already a beautiful night as HER took over the stage with her pristine sound.
The same feeling was delivered by Caesar himself later in the night with performances of “Get You” and “Always.” Couples throughout the arena swayed in each others’ arms, living proof of why their love for Caesar has remained intact over the years. It was evidence of the Toronto native’s knack for making songs so deeply rooted in love that an audience is moved to find their version of it in order to feel the same feeling that pushed Caesar to make these songs.
The best thing about Daniel Caesar’s Madison Square Garden was the sold-out arena was filled with seemingly longtime fans who were genuinely happy to see Caesar for what was the first time in nearly five years. Early cuts from his discography like “Violet” and “Japanese Denim” were sung by the audience with as much enthusiasm as recent records like “Shot My Baby” and “Please Do Not Lean.”
The excitement for this 75-minute moment was maintained from start to finish and it’s because Caesar made his performance at MSG as intimate as an arena show could be. Just enough was done to make use of the large space, but not too much to take away from the tender and delicate qualities of his music.
Daniel Caesar, who is more than comfortable with his position in today’s music industry, didn’t set out to prove anything at Madison Square Garden. Yet, fans left the arena with more appreciation for his artistry and the understanding that he’s doing much better than some claim. In short, Daniel Caesar’s superpowers come from focusing on the art and making it as good as possible.
