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Snoop Dogg And Dr. Dre Have Postponed Their Hollywood Bowl Shows ‘In Solidarity’ With The WGA Strike

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Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre fans might have to wait a little longer for their joint Hollywood Bowl shows that were supposed to take place this month. The two rappers are throwing their full support behind the Writers Guild Of America strike that is currently taking place — and have postponed the concerts until October.

For those unfamiliar, television and film writers are currently striking for better pay and other demands from the major studios, streaming platforms, and other large production companies.

“Due to the ongoing WGA strike and the DGA and SAG/AFTRA negotiations, we have decided to postpone the shows scheduled for June 27 and June 28 at the Hollywood Bowl. We stand in solidarity with the unions and are hopeful that the AMPTP will negotiate fair deals as soon as possible and everybody can get back to work,” Snoop Dogg announced in an Instagram post.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the duo also sent out food trucks to the striking writers who were at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

Before the announcement, Snoop had been a fierce advocate for the writers.

“[Artists] need to figure it out the same way the writers are figuring it out. The writers are striking because [of] streaming; they can’t get paid. Because when it’s on the platform, it’s not like in the box office,” Snoop said at a previous Variety conference.

“I don’t understand how the f*ck you get paid off of that sh*t,” he added. “Somebody explain to me how you can get a billion streams and not get a million dollars? … That’s the main gripe with a lot of us artists is that we do major numbers, … but it don’t add up to the money. Like, where the f*ck is the money?”

Check out Snoop Dogg’s postponement announcement here.

Chika’s Emotional ‘Requiem For A Dream’ Is An Honest Confession Of Her State Of Mind

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After a scary brush with some dark thoughts and a subsequent social media hiatus, Chika has returned with new music. Her new song is called “Requiem For A Dream,” and like the film from which it takes its name, the song finds Chika dwelling on her disturbed mental state. She discusses her feeling of alienation and insecurity, as well as her encounters with online fans whose comments and critiques set her off in the past.

While the former XXL Freshman was going through a rough patch, last year, she started to bounce back, securing a slot to perform at LA Pride alongside Anitta and Syd. Things are far from perfect, however; as recently as earlier this week, a cranky Chika complained about a minor inconvenience on Twitter and saw her mentions turn into a wall of censure from commenters who deplored her grousing and its unseemly metaphors.

With a new song out, now might be the time for Chika to turn the keys over to a professional account manager, because “Requiem For A Dream” sounds as sharp as she’s ever been, and with the proper application of her creativity, the sky’s the limit for the young rapper. She’s just got to learn which thoughts are worth sharing — and to make sure they always come with a beat.

Listen to “Requiem For A Dream” above.

Chika is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Ckay Professes An Undying Love In His Sweet ‘Nwayi’ Video Ahead Of His ‘Sad Romance’ Deluxe

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With Afro Nation set to take over Miami this weekend, rising Afrobeats star Ckay has released the video for his latest single “Nwayi” and announced the impending release of the deluxe edition of his Warner Music Africa debut, Sad Romance. Originally released in September 2022 to general acclaim, the Uproxx cover star‘s album featured appearances from Ayra Starr, Davido, Focalistic, Abidoza, Mayra Andrade, and Ronisia. Ckay executive produced himself.

In the video for “Nwayi,” Ckay expresses his infatuation for a beautiful woman, staging a carriage ride on a picturesque beach in Lagos. Their ride concludes in a secluded village, where a collective of artists creates works such as paintings and ceramic sculptures — although Ckay’s lady love proves to be less than adept at pottery. That’s okay, though; Ckay returns to comfort her despite her setback.

Prior to “Nwayi,” Ckay released the video for “Hallelujah,” a joyous single featuring Blaqbonez. With his appearance at Afrobeats and his upcoming deluxe album on the way later this month, Ckay’s star continues to rise.

Watch Ckay’s “Nwayi” video above.

Sad Romance (Deluxe) is due later this month via Warner Music Africa.

Ckay is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Cordae And Naomi Osaka’s Adorable Baby Shower Photos Reveal The Pair Has ‘A Little Princess’ On The Way

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Cordae has very few regrets in his professional and personal pursuits. His decision to remain tight-lipped about his partner, tennis star Naomi Osaka’s pregnancy, has left fans confused. However, they’ve remained excited to see what this next chapter of the “RNP” rapper’s life would bring.

Now, as Osaka shared adorable photos from their joint baby shower, the entertainer broke his silence with just a short response. In the gallery of images shared to social media, Burberry-rocking Cordae caresses Osaka’s baby bump. Thanks to the background of the flicks, fans now know that the couple is expecting ‘a little princess.’

The rapper re-posted the gallery to his Instagram Story, adding, “#GirlDad.”

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Fans of the couple chimed in on social media to wish them well. One user wrote, “She looks amazing. Speaking health and blessings over her and her family.”

However, Cordae’s attire is what garnered the most attention after the images were posted to social media. Following in the unspoken Black tradition of the father-to-be sporting a Burberry button-down to commemorate the joyous occasion, Cordae was sure not to let the tradition die out.

“They got them meatballs? And with the Burberry shirt! A baby is definitely coming [crying laughing emoji],” wrote one user.

Another tweeted, “Lol Cordae with the Burberry on. The culture is undefeated [raised fist emoji] [crying laughing emoji.].”

“And, of course, he has the go-to shirt all guys wear to baby showers now, Burberry… gotta love it,” remarked another.

Cordae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

LSU Extended An Open Invitation To Cardi B After Her Shout-Out On Latto’s New Song

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If Cardi B ever decides to try basketball in addition to wedding planning, sushi cheffing, and football training, it looks like she’s already got a roster spot thanks to her verse on Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” remix. The Louisana State University Women’s Basketball Twitter account responded to Cardi’s lyrical shout-out in the song (“I been ballin’ so damn hard, could’ve went to LSU”), writing, “ok @iamcardib we’re ready for you,” and including a photo of Cardi in a Tigers jersey. It’s incredible:

The appreciation certainly appeared to go both ways. LSU’s star forward Angel Reese makes a cameo appearance in the video for “Put It On Da Floor Again,” thanks to her impressive performance in the NCAA National Championship — both on and off the court — on the way to LSU becoming the NCAA Champions. Reese became a star after drawing criticism and acclaim for performing the Tony Yayo/John Cena “You can’t see me” gesture at rival Caitlin Clark, mimicking Clark doing it herself just a few games before. The instantly viral moment sparked a slew of discussions from the inane (“sportsmanship!”) to the vital (“Why is the media only lavishing attention on the white girl amidst this historic run by LSU?”)

The only way any of this gets any cooler is if Latto and Cardi do another remix, this time with Reese’s LSU teammate Flau’jae Johnson, who has already been invited to rap with Lil Wayne. Cardi, Latto, if you see this: Make it happen. For me. Please.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Sprite Pays Homage To Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary With Nas, Rakim, GloRilla, Latto, And ‘Rapper’s Delight’

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Back in the day, Sprite was among the first nationwide brands to really embrace hip-hop. I’m not talking about a “rap” jingle, as so many other brands tried (we’re still trying to get rid of that corny “My name is ____ and I’m here to say…” rhyme to this day). Instead, Sprite really recruited pivotal figures from the hip-hop community like Nas and AZ, Pete Rock, and Five Deadly Venoms to make awesome commercials like the Voltron spots with Common, Fat Joe, and Westside Connection (my good buddy Dan Charnas writes about it in his book, The Big Payback).

Those ads kicked off a legacy of connection with hip-hop for the brand that continues today, as hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary. As part of the ongoing Hip-Hop 50 celebrations, Sprite paid homage to its own history with the culture by creating a new TV spot with Nas and Rakim and updating the premise with contemporary stars GloRilla and Latto. The commercial has all four rappers quoting “Rapper’s Delight,” the first official rap hit, while performing snippets of their own signature hits. Check it out:

The ad is a nice, throwback nod to the original Sprite rapper commercials of the early ’90s, which featured rappers like Kriss Kross, Kid N’ Play, KRS-One, Missy Elliott, and more, often performing original songs or their own hits to showcase the promotional power of hip-hop. This one’s still the best, though:

Janelle Monáe Won So Many High School Talent Shows, Someone Threw A Brick At Her

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In the past few years, Janelle Monáe’s talent has become evident, if it wasn’t already, thanks to her triple threat status, impressive performance in Glass Onion, and the anticipation for her upcoming album The Age Of Pleasure sparked by the singles “Float” and “Lipstick Lover.” She didn’t always receive praise for being so good at so many things, though.

In a new list of outtakes from their recent Rolling Stone profile, Monáe recounted an incident in which they found themselves dodging bricks after a high school talent competition. They recalled their mom “driving me in her 1988 Dodge Plymouth, to and from talent shows, while people would throw bricks at our car because we won the talent show three, four times in a row.” They do, however, clarify that this only happened once.

The reactions to Monáe have certainly turned around recently. These days, folks tend to be more excited to see the singer/rapper/actor popping up to promote her music, especially as this album cycle, she’s taken to occasionally popping her top and flashing fans at her private listening parties. While she’ll probably have to tone it down when she goes on tour later this year, she explained this tendency in Rolling Stone, saying, “I’m much happier when my titties are out and I can run around free.”

Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kanye West Is Now Facing An Assault Lawsuit Over An Alleged Phone-Throwing Incident With A Photographer

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Earlier this year, a video surfaced in which Kanye West told a person to stop filming him. They refused, so West took their phone and threw it. There was a police investigation over the incident, which ended with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office saying that West wouldn’t face any charges. The story didn’t end there, though, as West is now being sued.

As Billboard reports, photographer Nichol Lechmanik has filed a lawsuit against West, accusing the rapper of assault, battery, negligence, and interference with the exercise of her civil rights. The complaint was filed in California Superior Court in Ventura County on May 31. In the suit, Lechmanik claims the incident caused her “great mental and emotional pain and suffering” and that she “anticipates incurring medical and related expenses.”

The suit says that Lechmanik was driving her car and filming Kim Kardashian as she exited Sports Academy in Newbury Park, California. At the time, she noticed West was “angrily confronting” a photographer on the street. The complaint noted, “Given Defendant Ye’s reputation for violence against photographers, his history of physically harming them, and based on his threatening body language, Plaintiff became fearful for the photographer’s safety.”

Then, West apparently approached Lechmanik’s car and “aggressively” said, “You all ain’t gonna run up on me like that.” When Lechmanik denied she was, West allegedly became “enraged,” “ripped her phone out of her hands,” and threw it “onto the street towards oncoming traffic.”

Lechmanik is requesting general and special damages, punitive and exemplary damages, civil penalties, and costs of the suit. She also wants an order enjoining West and “all persons acting in concert with him or acting on his behalf, from touching, striking, annoying, contacting, molesting, attacking, threatening, or otherwise interfering with […] the Plaintiff, and all persons similarly situated, to pursue the occupation of photographer.”

Gunna Doesn’t Hold Back In His ‘Bread & Butter’ Video, A Direct Response To Those Taking Jabs At Him Over The YSL RICO Case

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Gunna has done some light flexing on social media since his release from jail. The musician has even dropped his first track since the YSL RICO trial, titled “Brodies” with German rapper Ufo361. However, in his new solo single, the entertainer has finally responded to his peers that have taken jabs at him post his YSL Rico case.

On “Bread & Butter” (co-produced by Turbo, Omar Grand & Cam Griffin), Gunna leaves no snide comment unaddressed. In the song’s first verse, he touches on how his former rap crew YSL has turned their back on him. Gunna also seemingly takes aim at his former collaborator Lil Baby over his lack of support despite his mentor Pierre “P” Thomas having allegations of cooperating with law enforcement on his name as well.

“Peepin’ sh*t, I’m seein’ n****s fall back / You b*tch-ass n****s got me as the topic of the chat / You switched on me when you know you in business with a rat /And the boy that’s like your brother, and nobody speak on that,” raps Gunna.

Before the track closes out, in the second verse, Gunna speaks on his anger with how his plea arrangement was worked out as he raps: “F*ck I pay the lawyers all those mills for? / Just so I won’t have to say a word to dodge a railroad / N****s find it hard to understand, though / Dog can’t put me down, I been locked down, I don’t know which way to go / Never gave no statement or agreed to take no stand on ’em / On whatever you n****s on, then trust me, I’ma stand on it / Lawyers, and the DA did some sneaky sh*t, I fell for it.”

The official video directed by Leff is entirely in grayscale, metaphorically referring to the space Gunna is finding himself in. According to the rapper, things aren’t as clear-cut as it may seem.

Watch the full video above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Weeknd Really Wants To ‘Create A Classic Madonna Album’ Alongside The Pop Icon

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Madonna is one of the most important figures in pop music history, while The Weeknd is one of the biggest modern pop stars. Now, the pair and Playboi Carti have teamed up on “Popular,” a new single from the soundtrack of The Idol. If The Weeknd has his way, this will be the first of many collaborations between the two.

In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, The Weeknd spoke about how he’d like to make a full album with Madonna, saying:

“The thing is, I’ve always wanted to work with her. I’ve always wanted to write and produce a Madonna album… well, co-produce with her, of course […] because she’s a visionary and she has such a singular vision, and I just want to come into her world and create a classic Madonna album. That was always my dream. So this can be… hopefully this is the appetizer for that.”

He also said of “Popular,” “I’m proud of it. I’m definitely proud of it. Me and Carti had this… I mean, we’ve jammed out before. We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I’ve kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time. It was time. And it felt right and it felt cohesive with this album that I’m working on right now. Or that I just actually finished. The Idol soundtrack, yeah. And so I’ve been producing the song for a while. And then Madonna, Madge. She’s the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show. And you’ll hear more of her in the show as well, too. She is the ultimate pop star.”

Madonna is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.