JAY-Z was apparently uniquely “humble” when he met Michael Jackson for the first time. Rodney Jerkins, who produced much of the legendary singer’s 2001 album Invincible, recently detailed how he and JAY met for the first time during an interview with The Almanac of Rap. After the meeting, JAY eventually brought Jackson out at Summer Jam 2001 for an iconic performance.
“You remember when Michael was brought up onstage by JAY-Z?” Jerkins said, as caught by HipHopDX. “Who do you think introduced JAY-Z to Michael? So I get the call from my man Big Chuck, who’s from Brooklyn, and Big Jon [Platt], the publisher — he’s now the CEO of Sony/ATV. And they were like, ‘Yo, JAY really want[s] to meet Michael. Can you make that happen?’ I was like, ‘I got you.’ So I brought him up to the studio, took him to meet Michael. That was the most humble I ever seen JAY-Z in my life… I know JAY to be so cool, and you could tell it was a different thing when he got with Mike.”
LOS ANGELES, CA: Michael Jackson performs during the “Bad” Tour at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on January 1989 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
JAY bringing out Michael Jackson at Summer Jam recently resurfaced in the headlines after Nicki Minaj revealed it was the first concert she had ever been to during an interview with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, earlier this year. “Many, many years ago… and Michael Jackson came out. Yes,” she said at the time. “He was a surprise guest on JAY-Z’s set. He didn’t perform, he came out of this box and the people went crazy.”
Rodney Jerkins Recalls Working With JAY-Z
Memphis Bleek also reflected on the set during an appearance on Drink Champs, last year. Check out Jerkins’ latest comments on it below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Rodney Jerkins as well as JAY-Z on HotNewHipHop.
Rick Ross says that his next business move is to set up a fight between legendary boxers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. He shared the goal while speaking with his followers on social media in a video he filmed of himself in his front yard. Tyson is currently gearing up for a bout with Jake Paul in November, but afterward, Ross wants to organize the rematch.
“Once Tyson knocks out Jake Paul, I’ma get Tyson and Holyfield to fight in my front yard,” Ross said. “I’m going to put a ring right there. I want the judges to be Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart [and] DJ Akademiks. The ring is gonna be right there at the Promise Land. Thrilla in Manila’—the biggest.”
Mike Tyson Inducts Evander Holyfield Into The Boxing Hall Of Fame
LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 09: Former boxer Evander Holyfield (L) is inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame by former boxer Mike Tyson at the second annual induction gala at the New Tropicana Las Vegas on August 9, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Holyfield and Tyson fought twice during their careers, with the second match featuring the infamous biting incident. In the years after their rivalry, they became much more close. The two even sat down together with Oprah in 2008 to make amends. “This is a beautiful guy,” Tyson said of Holyfield at the time. “Me and this guy both come from basically the sewage, and we watched each other grow to become established and esteemed fighters, you know what I mean? And I just want you to know it’s been a pleasure passing through life being acquainted with you.” In more recent years, the two teamed up to launch a line of cannabis edibles.
Rick Ross Wants To Set Up Mike Tyson & Evander Holyfield Fight
Check out Ross’ post about Tyson and Holyfield below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Rick Ross on HotNewHipHop.
Rick Ross responds to 50 Cent’s recent comments about him on Million Dollaz Worth of Game and questions Fif’s loyalty to Dr. Dre. pic.twitter.com/WA5xIgmbcO
49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot during a robbery attempt in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon. San Francisco Mayor London Breed confirmed the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Pearsall’s teammate, Deebo Samuel, also noted on the platform that the 23-year-old is doing “good” at this point in time.
“This afternoon, there was an attempted robbery in Union Square involving San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and he was shot,” Breed wrote. “SFPD was on scene immediately and an arrest of the shooter was made. My thoughts are with Ricky and his family at this time. We will provide more updates, including on his condition, as I receive them. I’m currently at San Francisco General Hospital. We will be providing updates to the media shortly.” The 49ers also put out a statement sharing their thoughts and prayers for Pearsall and his family on social media.
Ricky Pearsall Practices During 49ers’ Training Camp
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 29: Ricky Pearsall #14 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp at SAP Performance Facility on July 29, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
According to ESPN, the San Francisco Police Department says Pearsall was involved in a physical altercation with the suspect and it resulted in both of them getting injured. They were transported to San Francisco General Hospital. “Thankfully, our hard-working officers made a swift arrest in this case and we will do everything within our power to ensure justice is served,” Police Chief William Scott said in a statement. Pearsall had been signing autographs at an event center nearby earlier in the day.
London Breed Speaks On Ricky Pearsall
The 49ers selected Pearsall with the 31st pick in the NFL Draft back in April. He played his college football for the University of Florida. Check out Breed’s latest posts about the receiver below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Ricky Pearsall on HotNewHipHop.
I’m currently at San Francisco General Hospital. We will be providing updates to the media shortly.
Wanya Morris, the legendary Boyz II Men crooner, has recently found himself under intense public scrutiny as fans speculate about his relationship with his four sons, who together form the R&B group WanMor. Once a vocal supporter of his sons’ musical endeavors, Morris’ recent social media activity—or lack thereof—has left fans questioning whether the well of support he once showcased has run dry.
Morris, 51, has four sons—19-year-old “Big Boy” Wanya II, 17-year-old “Chulo” Wanya III, 16-year-old “Tyvas” Wanya IV, and 12-year-old “Rocco” Wanya V—with his ex-wife, Traci Nash. The boys, who have formed the singing group WanMor, are signed to Mary J. Blige’s Beautiful Life Productions and have all reportedly been estranged from their father.
Fans first took notice of the strained relationship in 2023 when Morris didn’t appear in any viral videos with the group for several years. A deeper dive into Morris’ Instagram page revealed that, apart from a May 2023 post congratulating Wanya II on his high school graduation and daughter Anyá on completing her degree from Adelphi University, the last time his elder children appeared on his page was Christmas 2018.
In stark contrast, Morris frequently posts about his second wife, Amber Reyes, whom he reportedly married in 2019, and their daughter Anela. On Amber’s birthday, Morris posted a heartfelt message: “Happy Birthday to My Am~bition. This is just the beginning of growing old together. Daddy & Anela Loves You.” This expression of love sparked backlash from fans, who questioned his relationship with his children from his first marriage, especially in light of his new family.
One fan wrote, “You know what will never sit right with me? Wanya Morris having 6 kids with that lady, naming them all after him, then he leaving her to marry that white lady. It’s giving Brian McKnight.” The comparison to McKnight, who disowned his older children and called them “products of sin,” has only intensified the criticism against Morris.
Morris himself has addressed the situation on social media, expressing his deep pain over the strained relationships with his children and his desire for reconciliation. He has stated, “I can’t have a relationship with them,” a statement that has only fueled comparisons to McKnight. However, unlike McKnight, Morris has publicly professed his love for his children and has not disowned them. In December 2023, Morris reposted a fan’s video of his sons singing to his Instagram Stories, adding the caption: “I GET ASKED A QUESTION ALL THE TIME! YES. ALL MY KIDS CAN SING! EVEN ANELA ALREADY.”
Despite this attempt at acknowledging his children, some fans were unimpressed, accusing Morris of only seeking attention. “Hmm I’m surprised he’s even acknowledging them after leaving their mother and starting his new family with his Asian wife. He must need some attention. Him and Brian McKnight are the same to me,” one commenter wrote.
Morris’ estrangement from his sons was further highlighted when he posted a promotional picture of WanMor in January 2024, celebrating their success as the first artists signed to Mary J. Blige’s Beautiful Life Productions/300 Entertainment. “I am beyond proud of my children and all of their successes. They are destined for great things! I love them ALL,” he wrote. However, fans quickly noticed that Morris didn’t tag his sons in the post, leading to further speculation about their relationship. When asked why he didn’t tag WanMor, Morris revealed, “Because I can’t. I’m blocked.”
This revelation stirred mixed reactions from fans. Some sympathized with Morris’ ex-wife, praising her for raising the boys despite the challenges. “Let’s just acknowledge that through all the mess, she is doing an amazing job with the Boys!!! Their music is amazing too!” one fan wrote. Others criticized Morris, seeing his actions as a prime example of men abandoning their families for a “new happy place.”
Despite the criticism, some fans have defended Morris, arguing that the comparisons to McKnight are unfair. “This is a break up not what Brian dusty azz did! People get to break up and move on even if it’s with a lighter skin woman,” one commenter insisted.
As the public discourse continues, it remains to be seen whether Morris and his sons will reconcile and rebuild their relationship. For now, the strained dynamics within the Morris family have become a topic of conversation that echoes beyond the music industry, highlighting the complexities of family, fame, and the public’s expectations of both.
Cardi B realized that many of her fan pages were run by users in Brazil after the country banned access to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday morning. “Wait a lot of my fan pages are Brazilian!!! Come back hold up!!” she remarked in the post. In response, fans shared plenty of jokes while mourning the loss of her fan pages.
“They really ran this app y’all! It won’t be the same!” one user wrote back. Another suggested: “Just ask them to access twitter using browser/web and use VPN. I believe the ban only covers the app.” Others joked about her long-awaited sophomore album. “You should announce the album for them before they leave,” one user remarked.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 01: Cardi B is seen wearing a Marc Jacobs sheer ruffled outfit, yellow leggings outside the Marc Jacobs show on July 01, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes made the decision to ban X as the company refused to name a legal representative in Brazil after a lengthy feud over misinformation on the platform. “Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” de Moraes wrote in his decision on Friday.
Cardi B Reacts To Brazil’s X Ban
X responded to the move in a statement on the site. “Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil – simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents,” the post said. “The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that.” Check out Cardi’s take on the matter below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Cardi B on HotNewHipHop.
50 Cent discussed his relationship with Power star Omari Hardwick and his controversial comments about working on the show during a recent interview with Gillie Da Kid. 50 began by explaining that Hardwick’s comments about feeling underpaid weren’t directed at him. He revealed that the actor hit him up in the DMs after the story broke, claiming that his quotes were misleading. He continued: “At the end of the day, Ghost was supposed to die when I died. I extended it… The problem with working with 50 Cent is, it’s 50 Cent’s show.”
When The Neighborhood Talk shared 50’s comments on Instagram, fans jumped in the comments section to share their opinions on the situation. “I hate how slow yall are. He not saying he didn’t wanna pay him clearly Starz didn’t & instead of killing him off when they initially wanted to, he extended until Season 5. Simple,” one user wrote. Another had a different take, writing: “But he was the FACEEEEEEEEEEEEEE of the show and network. That’s different than being some regular character. When you thought of the show you automatically pictured him!”
50 Cent & Omari Hardwick Attend “Power” Season 5 Premiere
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 28: Omari Hardwick (L) and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson attend the “Power” Season 5 Premiere at Radio City Music Hall on June 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/FilmMagic)
As for Hardwick’s criticism, he complained about the finale of Power while speaking at a panel during the TriBeca Film Festival. “I’m with y’all in this sense, I’m with you in the sense that the way the story was sold and told to me is not befitting of the way it ended, guys. So y’all have every right to be like, ‘It didn’t end right,’” he said. “And because we don’t honor our fans enough, and I know me, Matt, and Trey are different. We honor y’all, we honor our fans, man. We often forget that the fans are being sold and told a story that has a genesis, and that it has to end the way that it was sold.”
50 Cent Speaks On Omari Hardwick
50 previously addressed Hardwick’s complaints in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “This [ninja emoji] is a strange bird,” 50 said at the time. “The f*ck is he talking about? I never done nothing but look out for him. If he needed something I gave it to him. I understand now, that shit didn’t matter at all.” Check out his latest remarks below. Be on the lookout for further updates on 50 Cent and Omari Hardwick on HotNewHipHop.
Akbar V has responded to Lil Woody’s comments about her during the ongoing YSL RICO trial by sharing a screenshot of alleged DMs between the two of them. When Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, showed Woody a picture of Akbar while testifying, he described her as being “dirty as hell back in the day.” In the DMs, Woody admits that he was lying about her.
“Chile this y i want never argue with the internet cause if you know you know,” Akbar captioned the screenshot. In the messages, Woody seemingly wrote: “I love you ain’t mean no harm” and asked why she’s “feeding into” the false narrative.
Akbar V Performs During For The People Concert In Atlanta
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 04: Rapper Akbar V performs onstage during 2018 For The People Concert and Block Party at Murphy Park on November 4, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Before posting the DMs, Akbar had gone on a rant about the situation on X (formerly Twitter). “Woody you one lying ass n***a,” she wrote in one post with a number of laughing emojis. “You know damn well i never was around u me and u never even like each other you just sitting on that damn stand lying on me .. when was me and u ever around each other ? As i recall when me and thug fell out u never was nowhere around me and the messed up part is you know this when i just heard the call so she said my name you didn’t tell her my name until she said it to you … you wanted to say anybody name…. why not the person who was beefing with thug …. you one sick individual ….”
Akbar V Speaks Out
In a follow-up, she added: “You saying i was dirty n***a no u was dirty u and ur people as i recall how was i dirty when i was outside in gucci in 2015 let’s run pics back.” Woody has been making headline after headline in recent days for his testimony in the trial. Be on the lookout for further updates on Akbar V as well as Lil Woody and the YSL RICO trial on HotNewHipHop.
James Harden shared Lil Baby’s mugshot from his recent arrest in Las Vegas on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Thursday night. In the caption, he added, “CBFW,” seemingly standing for “can’t be f*cked with.” In the picture, Baby rocks a black tank top while having red eyes.
Fans shared plenty of jokes about their friendship in the replies. One user wrote: “Lmao if you ain’t go to Vegas and get a mugshot then you ain’t do it right! [laughing and shrug emojis]. It’s actually not funny tho cuz bro a felon I pray they don’t cook him.” Another remarked: “Man I love me sum lil baby but whatever he did, he did that sh*t, look at this demons eyes.”
James Harden Attends Lil Baby’s Ice Ball In Atlanta
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: James Harden and Lil Baby attend Lil Baby’s Ice Ball on December 3, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Baby was arrested in Las Vegas on Monday for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Shortly afterward, his legal team released a statement explaining he does have a permit in Georgia and that they’d be looking into the matter. “Dominique Jones has a valid Georgia Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permit,” Baby’s attorney, Drew Findling, told Billboard in a statement. “On his behalf we are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding his arrest in Las Vegas.”
James Harden Speaks On Lil Baby
Baby has faced legal trouble in previous years as well. In 2014, he found himself behind bars after police arrested him for possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Speaking with Rolling Stone in 2017, he explained how he got into selling drugs. “Needed the money, more than anything,” he said at the time. “I knew all the drug dealers around my neighborhood. When I was like 10, 11, I was hanging out with a dude who was like 17. He was getting money to buy a car, having his own little spot. So he was a lot of my motivation, too.” Be on the lookout for further updates on James Harden and Lil Baby on HotNewHipHop.
Duke Dennis labeled the photo Drake posted of him on Instagram as the “worst picture of all time” while discussing the post on social media. The Toronto rapper originally uploaded a photo of the AMP member with the caption: “I’m not aware of my picture or mirror face. It’s a curse from birth and I’m influenced by what I see.” At first, Dennis hopped into the comments section to have a back-and-forth with Drake.
“Fendi head wrap having someone else take the pic in the mirror is wild, you a wild boy Duke,” Drake wrote, to which Dennis replied” “You got a few pictures that give off the same vibe.” Drake then added: “I accept my contributions to the mirror face members… We are akin to one another.” Dennis also addressed the photo while livestreaming. He explained that his phone was blowing up afterward. “I hate that picture so much… I go look at it, he used the worst picture of all time,” he joked.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Elsewhere in his post, Drake shared a picture of Joe Budden that has also served as an inspiration. The post comes after the Toronto rapper recently made headlines on social media for teasing a “Game 2,” which fans interpreted as referring to his battle with Kendrick Lamar. Budden had reacted to that post during a recent episode of his podcast. “I don’t think this has sat well with him. I think he’s doing a decent job now in post-battle recovery,” he claimed. “If you’re going to do it, I don’t want to hear, ‘We’re going to win game two.’ I don’t want to hear you promote s**t to [DJ Akademiks]. I just want you [to go] in your cave with your team and do it.”
Duke Dennis Addresses Drake’s Instagram Post
He eventually deleted the “Game 2” post. Check out Dennis and Drake’s interaction on Instagram below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake on HotNewHipHop.
(@nojumper)
