Hip-hop sensation Ice Spice set the tone for New York City’s Fashion Week with an electrifying party at Harbor Nightclub. Organized by George Karavias’ Dream Hospitality Group, the event attracted a star-studded crowd, including rapper Cash Cobain, YG, and former NBA stars John Wall and Lance Stephenson.
The energy at the club reached new heights when Ice Spice climbed atop her VIP section and performed her hit track, “Think U The Shit (Fart).” The crowd went wild as DJ Nicky Rizz played her song “Deli” to hype up the atmosphere.
During Ice Spice’s performance, John Wall and Lance Stephenson were seen dancing and vibing, adding to the night’s excitement. The event marked a high-energy kickoff to Fashion Week, with Ice Spice proving again that she knows how to turn up and keep the crowd engaged.
This weekend, comedian, creator, and actor Druski hosted his first-ever sold-out comedy and music festival, “Coulda Fest,” at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The festival featured a star-studded lineup of live comedy sketches, music performances, and a heartfelt tribute honoring the late Rich Homie Quan.
Co-hosted by Druski and DC Young Fly, the event included surprise performances from GloRilla and Meek Mill and appearances from some of hip-hop’s biggest names. 21 Savage, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Kai Cenat, Soulja Boy, Young M.A., Yung Joc, Baby Drill, Roscoe Dash, Young Dro, Navv Greene, Yung L.A., Shop Boyz, Travis Porter, Rich Kidz, Baby Kia, DJ Unk, DJ Fresh, and Coulda Been House Season 1 winner Ugliest Rapper Alive were among the many who took the stage.
A comedic moment during the festival was when Druski got stuck in the air as he made an entrance.
The festival’s innovative format blended Druski’s signature comedic sketches with nostalgic musical performances, paying homage to various eras of Atlanta hip-hop. From surprise appearances to crowd-pleasing acts, “Coulda Fest” delivered an unforgettable experience, celebrating the vibrant culture of comedy and music while honoring Atlanta’s influential hip-hop legacy.
Funkmaster Flex is facing an FCC complaint. Stands With Survivors, an advocacy group, filed a complaint against comments made by Funkmaster Flex during a recent show featuring Afrika Bambaataa. The Hip-Hop pioneer, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since being accused of child molestation by former Zulu Nation members Roland Savage and Hassan Campbell in 2016, made a rare appearance on Flex’s show on August 17th.
Bambaataa, also known as Lance Taylor, performed a DJ set on the show. According to Hip-Hop Wired, Flex later referenced Savage’s alleged recanting of his allegations against Bambaataa, stating: “It seems there’s a discrepancy that has been cleared up with Afrika Bambaataa and the young man Bee Stinger. It seems that the pedophile word that was being used, Bee Stinger is now saying that Afrika Bambaataa is not a pedophile.”
Flex added, “I don’t care whether or not Afrika Bambaataa prefers men or women or both. Yes, we do care if the word pedophile is used but obviously, according to AllHipHop that spoke to Bee Stinger, he’s saying that’s not the case.”
Ronald “Bee-Stinger” Savage walked back accusations against Afrika Bambaataa, who he accused of sexual abuse when he was 15 years old.
AllHipHop notes the two were pictured together at an event for the Zulu Nation, which Savage provided context to the moment. “Never underestimate the power of God when he intervenes in an affair he sets everything straight,” Savage said.
Savage stated Bambaataa sexually abused him when he was a teen. The 2016 statement was part of a series of bombshell statements against Bambaataa. Speaking with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmurk, Savage stated he doesn’t see the legend as a pedophile.
“Bambaataa is not a pedophile and, in my eyes, he was doing something that was consensual with someone that he thought was of age,” he said. “I wish, back in 2016, I remembered about the fake ID. I wasn’t thinking about that I had forgot about that I was in deep depression and still dealing with the trauma as an adult. I want to apologize for the little kid that didn’t know anybody and just wanted to be down with this thing called Hip-Hop so I pretended to be older.
“This is something that took place 35 to over 40 years ago. This man has never been convicted of anything. Let it go. I needed to set the record straight [and get] my closure.”
You can hear the full interview below and read more here.
Last year, Afrika Bambaataa and his role as the co-founder of the Universal Hip Hop Museum sparked some controversy, with an advocacy group demanding the defunding of the recently built museum because of the Hip Hop pioneer’s sexual abuse allegations.
This week, a group called Hip Hop Stands With Survivors released a letter calling NYC Mayor Eric Adams to halt all taxpayer funding funneled into the UHHM and fire the organization’s Executive Director, Rocky Bucano. The letter also calls for all companies, such as Microsoft, to end their financial relationship with the UHHM.
The letter says, “We expect his resignation or for the board to vote him out of the museum’s leadership and for the museum to sever all ties with Bucano, Bambaataa, and the Zulu Nation.”
In 2019, the State of New York donated a $3.5million grant to the museum. It’s scheduled to open sometime in 2023 or 2024 to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.
The protest has been taken to the streets, with an immediate response coming from Mayor Adams.
“The Universal Hip Hop Museum assured the administration that they cut ties with the Universal Zulu Nation and that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016,” Adams said in a statement.
Executive Director Bucano also released a statement, denying that Bambaataa was ever a board member of the museum and that he was never a member of the Zulu Nation.
His statement says, “The Universal Hip Hop Museum and Mr. Bucano condemn all acts of acts of violence and abuse. I would like to make it clear that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016. I and the Universal Hip Hop Museum are not party to any activities affiliated with the Universal Zulu Nation I affirm that the Universal Hip Hop Museum is committed to its mission to empower, educate, and uplift communities.” It goes on saying, “While it is true that Afrika Bambaataa was a founding member of the museum, he was removed from any involvement with the museum as soon as the allegations surfaced. He has never been a board member, advisory board member or volunteer. I have never been a member of the Universal Zulu Nation nor am I an agent of the organization or Afrika Bambaataa. The assertion that UHHM is a financial front for the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, or other Universal Zulu Nation members, is irresponsible, false, and misdirected.”
Bambaataa was hit with several sexual abuse allegations going back to the 1970s but has maintained his innocence.
His attorney, Vivian K. Tozaki, issued a statement in 2016 saying, “Recently, defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client’s reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from associating or dealing with him. The statements show a reckless disregard for the truth, were published with knowledge of their falsity, and are being made by a lesser-known person seeking publicity. Valuable cultural resources, such as Afrika Bambaataa’s good name and time, should never be used to assist a mediocre person’s asinine quest for social media popularity and superficial gain.”
To celebrate his special one-night-only concert in São Paulo, Brazil, The Weeknd has also launched a limited-edition XO merch collection, with 10% of net proceeds from all sales being donated to the BrazilFoundation’s Brazilian Soul Fund. These funds will support communities in Brazil affected by natural disasters and economic hardships, focusing on helping vulnerable families in southern Brazil rebuild after recent devastating floods.
The new XO São Paulo merch collection was teased earlier this week on XO’s Instagram, featuring previews from XO Records signee Chxrry22 and Brazilian model Nalu. The 17-piece collection was shot across São Paulo and features a range of XO-focused pieces that pay homage to the Brazilian flag, including ringer tees, women’s rally shorts, baby tees, traditional tees, cut-off tees, trucker hats, snapbacks, and a hoodie.
Available for a limited time, items from the exclusive drop can be purchased only at the São Paulo concert and online at YouTube + xo.store.. This unique collection celebrates The Weeknd’s memorable performance in São Paulo while contributing to a meaningful cause.
Tyrese has been making headlines over the past few weeks. And here’s another: he believes R. Kelly is the King of R&B, not Usher or Chris Brown.
Speaking with The Shade Room, Tyrese revealed it has to be R.Kelly. “Who else but him? We not talking about him being in jail or what he’s dealing with controversy-wise.”
But on the other two names, “They are KINGS. Chris Brown and Usher are 50x bigger than me. I’m not a King of no type of R&B. I’m a beast at what I do, but they have outsold me and have way more status, Grammys, arenas, and the level of arena shows they do is beyond the scope of anything I’ve ever done. And I, quite frnakly, don’t desire that level.”
Global rap icon Eminem is set to return to the MTV Video Music Awards, opening the 2024 show live from New York’s UBS Arena on Wednesday, September 11th at 8 PM ET/PT. The 15-time GRAMMY® winner will deliver the first TV performance of tracks from his newly released 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady.
Eminem, who is tied with Peter Gabriel for the most Moon Persons wins, last opened the VMAs in 2010 with a memorable rendition of “Not Afraid” and a powerful duet with Rihanna for “Love the Way You Lie.” This year, he leads with eight nominations, including “Video of the Year,” “Best Hip-Hop,” “Song of the Summer,” and “VMAs Most Iconic Performance” for his 2000 medley featuring over 100 look-alikes.
Securing even one win would cement Eminem’s legacy as the most celebrated male artist in VMA history. He already holds the record for the most wins by a rap artist and, with 67 nominations, is the second most-nominated artist, trailing only Madonna.
Other notable VMAs moments include Eminem’s 2022 performance with Snoop Dogg, inspired by the Otherside metaverse, and his surprise 2012 appearance during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s performance of “Forgot About Dre” and “Still D.R.E.” Eminem first made his mark at the 1999 VMAs with a performance of “Guilty Conscience” and “My Name Is,” winning “Best New Artist.”
Tyreek Hill, star wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, found himself in an unexpected situation during a traffic stop with Miami-Dade Police just hours before his team’s first game of the season. The incident led to Hill being detained briefly by the authorities. However, the altercation between Hill and the police quickly gained attention, especially after body-camera footage of the event was released, showing the aggressive nature of the officers at the scene. Both the Miami Dolphins organization and the local police have made public statements, though the body cam footage ultimately speaks volumes.
According to CNN, Miami-Dade Police pulled over Tyreek Hill as he drove to the stadium before the Dolphins’ game. Per police reports, the traffic stop was initiated due to Hill’s failure to wear a seatbelt and for allegedly speeding. Things escalated when Hill, visibly frustrated, expressed dissatisfaction with how the officer approached his car and knocked on the window.
In the body-camera footage released by the police department, Hill can be heard telling the officer, “Don’t knock on my window like that.” As the interaction continued, Hill grew more agitated, repeatedly asking for his ticket so he could leave. The officer then ordered Hill to lower his window fully, but when Hill hesitated, the situation quickly intensified. Within moments, Hill was pulled from his vehicle, restrained, and placed in handcuffs.
Body-Camera Footage Released
The MDPD released nearly two hours of body-worn camera footage of the incident just a day after it happened. Police Director Stephanie V. Daniels explained that although it is not common practice to release footage before the conclusion of an internal review, they chose to do so to ensure transparency with the public.
The footage shows Hill growing increasingly frustrated as the officers continued to instruct him to lower his window. After several verbal exchanges, Hill was physically removed from his vehicle, handcuffed, and briefly detained. Hill repeatedly expressed confusion and frustration, telling CNN, “I’m still kind of shell-shocked from it.”
Following the release of the body-camera footage, the Miami Dolphins organization publicly criticized the behavior of the officers involved. The team expressed disappointment in the “unnecessary force” directed towards Hill and his teammates, who later arrived at the scene. “It is both maddening and heartbreaking to watch the very people we trust to protect our community use such unnecessary force and hostility towards these players, yet it is also a reminder that not every situation like this ends in peace, as we are grateful this one did,” the team said in a statement. The Dolphins emphasized they have a positive relationship with the local police. Still, they believe this incident demonstrated an abuse of power by the officers involved.
Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also condemned the actions of the police, calling for the officers to be fired. Rosenhaus described the situation as “heartbreaking” and expressed disbelief at how things unfolded. He insisted that Hill was trying to get to work and should not have been treated with such hostility.
Calais Campbell’s Involvement
During the incident, Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell arrived at the scene and attempted to deescalate the situation. Campbell recounted the situation in an interview with ESPN. He explained how he approached the officers with his hands up, and hoped to speak with them about Hill’s detainment. However, his efforts were quickly shut down. Campbell was told to leave the scene, and when he refused, he was handcuffed as well. He expressed concern over how quickly things escalated. Campbell stated that the situation could have taken a much darker turn had they not been there to support one another.
Police Union Defends Officers
‘NOT IMMEDIATELY COOPERATIVE’: Here’s what Steadman Stahl, the head of Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, said about Tyreek Hill’s detainment just hours before he took the field with his Miami Dolphins teammates on Sunday. https://t.co/ZRo5fAQ3ej
In response to the backlash from Hill’s detention, the local police union defended the actions of the officers involved. According to Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, Hill was uncooperative from the moment the officers approached his vehicle, which led to them placing him in handcuffs for their own safety.
“Upon being stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs,” Stahl told CNN. “Mr. Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground. Once the situation was sorted out within a few minutes, Mr. Hill was issued two traffic citations and was free to leave. In this case, while we will wait for the investigation to run its course, based on what we know, we stand with the actions of our officers but look forward to further open communication moving forward.”
Investigation & Officer Reassignment
One officer involved in the incident has been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the internal review. The officer, identified as Danny Torres, is a veteran with 27 years of service. While the investigation is ongoing, Torres’ attorneys have spoken out in defense of their client. They stated that they support the review but believe the officer should be reinstated.
Director Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department emphasized her commitment to transparency and accountability in all matters involving her officers. However, she stopped short of making any specific predictions about the outcome of the investigation.
Hill’s Reflection On The Incident
In an interview with CNN, Tyreek Hill reflected on the altercation, expressing a mix of confusion and embarrassment. “I was following rules. I wasn’t moving fast because you know I got injuries, I got things that I go through, I play a physical sport, I’ve been doing this for a moment now man so I’m dealing with some stuff, so I guess the officers, they felt like I wasn’t doing it on their timing.” Hill also speculated on how differently the situation could have unfolded if he weren’t a high-profile athlete, suggesting that it could have ended much worse.
Hill admitted that he was trying to avoid causing a scene by keeping his window up, as he didn’t want to attract attention from passersby. “I’m not trying to cause a scene because … if I let my window down, people walking by, driving by, they’re going to notice that it’s me and they’re going to start taking pictures. I didn’t want to create a scene at all, I just really wanted to get the ticket and then just go out about my way and have a great Sunday.”
Diddy has become a headline machine in 2024. The disgraced Bad Boy mogul seems to be in the news every other week, due to an accusation or an ongoing case. The latter proved to be true on September 10. Tyrone Blackburn, the lawyer representing Lil Rod in his case against Diddy, criticized the mogul and claimed that he was using deceptive tactics while in court. Blackburn went as far as to outline the ways in which he feels Diddy has tried to exploit the legal system to clear the name of his son, Justin Combs.
AllHipHop obtained the court documents detailing Blackburn’s issues. The lawyer claimed that various efforts have been made to sandbag the Lil Rod case. Additional time has been requested on the part of Diddy’s attorney Erica Wolff, according to the documents. Blackburn granted the request, but claims he was then hit with a motion to dismiss that excluded Justin Combs’ name. The lawyer perceived this as a tactic get the younger Combs off through underhanded tactics. He said as much his filing. He believes that Diddy wants to run out the clock. His presumed reasoning? If 120 days passes and Justin Combs is not served with Lil Rod’s lawsuit, then the court would dismiss the action against him without prejudice.
Lil Rod’s Lawyer Claims Diddy Is ‘Running Out The Clock’
386790 03: Hip hop mogul Sean “Puffy” Combs arrives at State Supreme Court in New York March 16, 2001 after lunch for continuing jury deliberations in his gun possession and bribery trial. Combs could face as much as 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges stemming from a December 1999 nightclub shooting. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Newsmakers)
“This is a clear game that [Sean] Combs and his ever-evolving legal team have implemented,” Blackburn stated. “Ann effort to have Justin Combs dismissed from this case due to lack of service of process.” The lawyer didn’t stop there. He proceeded to bolster his claim by citing another instance in which he felt the mogul did the same thing. “This is the same game,” he opined. “That Jonathan Davis and Sean Combs’s former counsel, Shawn [Holley], recently implemented in California.” The lawsuit Blackburn is referring to involved Diddy and his other son, Christian Combs.
Tyrone Blackburn has no intention to play into what he perceives as Diddy’s plan. The lawyer wants his client, Lil Rod, to get a fair shake. AllHipHop noted that Blackburn lawyer will file a 60 day extension in order to properly serve Justin Combs. Lil Rod’s suit levels numerous accusations at the Combs family. Sexual assault, trafficking and racketeering are some of the heinous crimes that Lil Rob claims to have witnessed or experienced firsthand.
