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Teyana Taylor Is The First Black Woman To Be Named ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’ By ‘Maxim’

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Teyana Taylor may be retired from music, but she’s still hard at work. She’s since pivoted to acting, appearing in Coming 2 America and confirming a reality TV series. Now, her success has earned her another title. Taylor has officially been named Maxim Magazine‘s “Sexiest Woman Alive” for their latest issue.

Taylor graces Maxim‘s annual Hot 100 cover, making her the first Black woman to earn the magazine’s “Sexiest Woman Alive” title. “Somebody pinch me!!!!,” Taylor wrote alongside her cover shoot photos. The musician went on to explain that she showed up to the shoot bare-faced in sweatpants thinking a team would give her a makeover. Instead, the photographer wanted her to be her most authentic self:

“This particular day was dope because it made me see another side of myself. I had just dropped JUNIE off at school before heading straight to the shoot; sweatpants a beanie and an army jacket. My hair wasn’t done for a ‘shoot’ because I planned on throwing on a wig & I didn’t have on any make up. But when I got there the legendary @Gilles_bensimon said and I quote…. ‘Let’s shoot! I want you to stay in this…’ I said ‘HUH?! Well let me at least start my make up.. ‘ as y’all can see I barely had any lashes left 😩 He says no ‘my dear this is pure.’ And in regular Teyana Taylor fashion I said ‘okay but look Ah b*tch doing her baby hairs’ LOL I was like SO LET ME UNDERSTAND THIS…I WILL BE THE SEXIEST Woman Alive IN SWEATS AND A SKULLY? Um I guess….’ as confused as I was my heart also melted… I say all of this to say in the true words of Audrey Hepburn… ‘The beauty of a woman is not in facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.’ Embrace and love yourselves for who & what you are because only the purest heart shines through.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP1PAHgB6N8/

MTV VMAs Plan A Live Audience Return To NYC’s Barclays Center In 2021

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It was looking hopeful last June when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the MTV VMAs the go-ahead to take place at the Barclays Center in 2020 with a “limited” audience. However, following an uptick in COVID cases, the VMAs instead opted to host the event at an outdoor space, invite only a virtual audience, and have just a handful of in-person performances. But now as large-scale events eye a late summer return, the VMAs are looking to host their 2021 event indoors.

The VMAs announced Tuesday that the awards show will make an in-person return this year. It’s slated to take place September 12 at the Barclays Center once again, and organizers say they plan to allow fans to attend. According to press materials, the event will “feature epic performances from the biggest names in music and bring fans together from across the globe to celebrate the return of live entertainment.”

Though organizers are feeling confident about gathering indoors, they are still making sure to take safety protocols seriously. “The health and safety of artists, fans, staff, and partners remain the number one priority, and MTV and Barclays Center are working closely with state and local officials to implement best practices in order to safely bring together music fans from around the globe,” organizers wrote in a statement.

The VMAs have yet to announce which artists are set to take the stage in September. Last year’s ceremony saw some showstopping performances by The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, BTS, and Lady Gaga, whose various eye-catching masks stole the show.

New Orleans’ Buku Festival Returns With A Special Fall 2021 Event, BUKU: Planet B

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Since the last year and a half put a damper on live events due to the pandemic, every festival is planning their comeback in a different way. Some, like Coachella, have simply rescheduled for 2022, while other events like Bonnaroo are charging full speed ahead for fall of 2021. New Orleans’ boutique event Buku Festival is splitting the difference, offering a smaller one-off version of their festival this fall while they plan to comeback in full force next spring. The event will take place this October 22 and October 23 in New Orleans, and offers a pretty stacked lineup for what’s considered a scaled back version.

Headlined by artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Machine Gun Kelly, Playboi Carti and Pooh Shiesty, the event shows its range with further inclusions like Kaytranada, Alison Wonderland and Jamie xx, along with Remi Wolf, Arlo Parks, Yung Baby Tate and Flo Milli. Pre-sale for the event begins on Thursday, June 10 with general tickets on sale starting Monday, June 14.

The festival’s co-creator, Dante DiPasquale, said the new take on the event is inspired by watching fans hold steady through uncertain times. “For the past year, we’ve watched our fans step outside of their comfort zones and persevere through weird times,” said Dante DiPasquale, BUKU’s co-creator. “Planet B is the result of us being inspired by them to do the same, and all of us at Team BUKU are excited to finally party with them again.”

Check out the festival’s full lineup below and over at their site.

Megan Thee Stallion
ILLENIUM
Machine Gun Kelly
Playboi Carti
Kaytranada
Zeds Dead
Alison Wonderland
Jamie xx
Pooh Shiesty
Chris Lake
Still Woozy
EARTHGANG
Ghostemane
Ashnikko
Subtronics
SVDDEN DEATH: VOYD
Arlo Parks
Flo Milli
LSDREAM
Purple Disco Machine
Remi Wolf
slowthai
$NOT
Yung Baby Tate
Chee
Dua Saleh
Lucii
Mize
Moore Kismet
박혜진 Park Hye Jin
Pears
Pell presents: GLBL WRMNG
ssgkobe
TVBOO
VNSSA
504icygrl
ANTWIGADEE!
BluShakurX
Bouffant Bouffant
DJ Heelturn
Don Peyote B2B BuckTen
GØ PNIK
Lady Lavender
Lango
Legatron Prime
Lil Iceberg
Malik Ninety Five
Odd the Artist
Rob49
Stone Cold Jzzle
Treety
ZiggMonster

Drake Partners With Live Nation To Open A New Music Venue In Toronto

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Over the past year, more and more music venues have been forced to close by the ongoing pandemic. However, there will soon be a new one in Toronto, courtesy of hometown hero Drake and Live Nation. Billboard reports that the new venue, History, will open later this year with a capacity of just 2,500.

Drake said in a statement that his passion for playing intimate shows early in his career was the driving sentiment behind the smaller size. “Some of my most memorable shows were playing smaller rooms,” he recalled. “I wanted to take those memories and what I learned to create an incredible experience for both the artists and the fans.”

The club has been in development for three years, and once open, will host around 200 events a year. History is just one of many venues that were in planning or construction during the pandemic; while Live Nation has the 5,000-capacity Terminal opening this November in Houston, Billboard lists a number of venues set to open in the future, such as The Factory in St. Louis and the Harry Styles-backed Co-Op Live in Manchester. While many other venues — particularly independently-owned venues — across the nation have been forced to close, others are set to return in 2021. While this creates space for new ventures, it’ll still be some time until the live entertainment industry fully recovers.

Saweetie’s Love For The Finer Things Almost Landed Her In Jail For Stealing

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Over the past couple of years, Bay Area rapper Saweetie‘s defining characteristic has been her love for the finer things in life, as embodied by her “Icy Girl” philosophy. However, before becoming a nationally famous rapper and giving followers advice on demanding designer bags from the men in their lives, Saweetie’s expensive taste almost landed her in hot water with the law.

In a new cover story for Teen Vogue, the “Fast (Motion)” rapper details how she nearly went to jail as a teen. “Before I went to college, I almost went to jail because I got caught stealing,” she says. “At a young age, I just always liked the finer things — and I’m not even talking about name brands. I just like looking good. In that moment, I was like, I’m not really about this life. I get straight A’s, I’m a year-round athlete. I think the lesson was that [I had worked] too hard for everything to be thrown away.”

That hard work has paid off, leading to the sort of notoriety that keeps her on the Hot 100 and fans anticipating her debut album, Pretty B*tch Music, which is due this summer.

You can read the full cover here.

Kanye West Celebrated His Birthday By Releasing A Single Yeezy Gap Product In The Middle Of The Night

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It was around this time last year that Kanye West (who turns 44 years old today, June 8) and Gap officially announced their Yeezy Gap partnership. Now, nearly 12 months later, the line is starting to make its way out into the world, even if it feels like more of a soft launch than a full release. In the wee small hours of the morning today (at 3 a.m. ET, as Complex notes), the Yeezy Gap line launched with just one item: a puffy blue coat.

The listing for the item on the Gap website dubs it the “round jacket,” and it’s only available in a light blue color. The jacket is made of recycled nylon, is designed to have a unisex fit, and is priced at $200. The jacket is currently available for pre-order in the US only and is set to ship this upcoming fall. There is no indication of when more Yeezy Gap items are set for release. Complex also notes that West was photographed wearing the jacket while out in Los Angeles a few days ago.

Gap

To promote the jacket, Kanye went with an attention-grabbing stunt: An image of the jacket was projected on the sides of some buildings in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Also included on the projection are the Yeezy Gap logo and a QR code.

This follows rumors that Yeezy Gap was set to launch in June, so perhaps that means we’ll see more from Yeezy Gap soon.

Rap Fans Are Roasting Jay-Z And Meek Mill For Pitching In To Buy Billionaire New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft A Bentley For His Birthday

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If you follow sports news, you might remember billionaire CEO and Patriots owner Robert Kraft from such stories as soliciting prostitution in Florida, raising Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s hackles for his donations to Trump’s Inaugural Committee, and vigorously defending Tom Brady when he was suspended following Deflategate. Real track record on this guy, huh? At least he stays consistent with his values.

Which is why a lot of fans of Jay-Z and Meek Mill are a little puzzled over their involvement in an extravagant birthday gift delivered to Kraft for his 80th birthday today (of course he’s a Gemini). In a video that’s circulating on social media, Kraft can be seen walking outside to encounter his bright blue Bentley, while Philadelphia 76ers partner Michael Rubin mentions that the car is something Kraft would “never buy for himself” (Follow up question: Why not, you’re a billionaire??) and that it was a joint effort gift from many people, including Meek Mill and Jay.

Both rappers are well-documented sports fans, and we all know how much Jay-Z loves billionaires. Meek’s strange alliance with Kraft has been documented before, so it’s not that surprising that he’d want to show out for a landmark event. And USA Today reports that Kraft has been involved with criminal justice reform alongside Rubin, Meek and Jay. But after a year of economic crisis due to a pandemic, this video might not be having quite the impact on fans that was anticipated, especially with some remembering how stingy Meek was with neighborhood kids trying to hustle selling water last year.

Migos’ ‘Culture III’ Cover Illustrates Their Connection Pretty Literally

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Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff of Migos have always shared a deeper connection than most rap groups (thanks to shared familial bonds), but on the cover of their upcoming album, Culture III, the three rappers’ connection is made more literal. Featuring a trio of overlapping portraits along with their signature doves flying through the background (maybe they’re really big John Woo fans), the cover for the third installment of their signature album series splits the difference between the first two, borrowing the collage-style art from the first and the portrait aesthetic from the second.

The album is the group’s first as a trio in over three years after they took most of 2018 off to release their respective solo records. Quavo released his Quavo Huncho first, then Takeoff followed up with The Last Rocket, and lastly, Offset dropped the more personal Father Of 4 after a delay owing to his ongoing marital issues with Cardi B.

The group initially planned to release Culture III in 2020, but of course, due to the global pandemic, were forced to shelve those plans — although, the delay turned out to be a mixed blessing as it gave the boys more time to record fresh material in sessions that allowed them to share the studio, according to Offset. The group revealed the new release date with a Michael Jordan reference; Culture III is due this Friday, June 11, and Migos will headline a three-day festival to promote the album later this year.

Check out the cover art above.

Coachella 2022 Sold Out Instantly, But You Can Join A Waitlist For Passes

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After a series of rescheduled dates due to the pandemic, Coachella 2022 is officially on the books for next year. The storied festival is not only confirmed for its normal April slot, but has apparently already sold out completely. Fans might be a little hesitant still this year to attend a large scale event, but by next year it seems like that hesitation will be completely gone.

As Variety reports, the passes went on sale at 10 AM PST last Friday, June 11, and were sold out by 2:16 PM. Even for the most anticipated festival of the year, a four-hour sales window is pretty significant. Still, the upcoming event, which is now scheduled for slated for April 15-17 and 22-24, is honoring the 2020 passes that were held onto by fans who were confident the rescheduled festival would be worth the wait.

“Passes no longer available. 315 days till we meet again,” read the caption on an Instagram post the brand made over the weekend. But for those who did hold onto passes and might not be able to make it to the 2022 dates after all, Golden Voice has set up waiting lists on their site for weekend one and weekend two that fans can join in case tickets become available.

Get more info on Coachella’s website. Lineups won’t be reported until next year though, so at least that element is still very much up in the air.

EST Gee Calls Out Internet Gangsters In His ‘Bigger Than Life Or Death’ Video

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Louisville, Kentucky upstart EST Gee has been primed to blow ever since featuring on Lil Baby’s “Real As It Gets” last year. Since then, his buzz has only gotten louder after appearing on “Route 66” from fellow Louisvillian Jack Harlow’s debut album and signing with Yo Gotti’s record label CMG earlier this year. As he prepares to make his festival debut next month at Rolling Loud Miami, he shares the video to his latest solo single, “Bigger Than Life Or Death.”

In the Diesel Films-directed video, EST Gee shows off his jewelry, throws dollar bills, and takes over the mic in a club. Adding a quirky twist to his performance, he wears a shark-themed ski mask for the bulk of the video, highlighting his killer instinct and kill-or-be-killed mentality.

In addition to his high-profile co-signs, EST Gee released two mixtapes in 2020: Ion Feel Nun in March, which featured rising Michigan stars Icewear Vezzo, Payroll Giovanni, and Sada Baby, and December’s I Still Don’t Feel Nun, on which he scooped up two more Detroit-based sparkplugs, 42 Dugg and Babyface Ray, as well as adding his CMG compatriots Moneybagg Yo and Yo Gotti. Kevin Gates, YFN Lucci, and Harlow also appeared on the tape, helping him to stretch his appeal from the Midwest to the South and keep his audience growing. The hustle is paying off; don’t be surprised to see him join this year’s list of XXL Freshmen.

Watch the “Bigger Than Life or Death” video above.