Today, Artists Writers and Artisans (AWA) launched a Kickstarter campaign for ILLuminati, an all-new supernatural thriller produced by Charlamagne Tha God. This 128-page graphic novel merges hip-hop culture with comics and introduces a new female hero, exploring the urban legend of a Black Illuminati. The campaign runs through October 22, and the project brings together some of the top Black creators in the comic industry.
ILLuminati is written by Bryan Edward Hill (Ultimate Black Panther), drawn by Denys Cowan (Static Shock), and inked by Bill Sienkiewicz (New Mutants). Cover art is provided by Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), and variant covers pay homage to five of the most influential hip-hop albums of the last 50 years, curated by Charlamagne.
“For me, The Black Illuminati is the most enduring urban legend of our day,” said Charlamagne. “I’m passionate about merging hip-hop and comics, and this story is told authentically, celebrating Black creators.”
The story follows Lily, the psychic twin sister of a rising hip-hop star who dies under mysterious circumstances. Lily journeys to Los Angeles, becoming entangled in a dark conspiracy that touches power, fame, and culture.
Backers of the Kickstarter campaign can access exclusive rewards, including special editions, merchandise bundles, and VIP experiences with Charlamagne and the creative team.
Latto says that her father has been stealing from her and believes she’s in the Illuminati. She reflected on her relationship with her dad in a brief post on her Instagram Story while sharing a report about a wholesome moment between a father and his pilot daughter.
“Awww my dad steals from me & tell everyone I’m in the Illuminati,” Latto captioned the story with laughing emojis on Wednesday. Fans on social media were confused by the post, considering the rapper’s prior defense of her father. “Since when? I thought she was always biggin up her Dad. I must’ve missed a season,” one user asked on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote: “The same dad that saved her from gettin beat by SupaPeach some years back at some music festival, that dad?!?” One fan brought up her song, “No Hook,” on which she raps: “I came home from school and seen bags, hella drugs / Lost the bond with my daddy for some money and a buzz / Swear the industry the devil, sh*t, it is what it was / Ain’t no stranger on the ‘net finna tell me ’bout my life, though.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 30: Latto performs onstage during the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Latto has come to the defense of her father on multiple occasions over the years. While she was beefing with Nicki Minaj in 2022, she fired back against rumors of a dramatic age gap in her parents’ relationship. “Loud & wrong again,” she wrote when Minaj brought up the report. “They was both teenagers in high school bookie they still married lmao.”
It’s no secret that Blueface’s mother Karlissa Saffold says some wild things online, and today was certainly no exception. Recently, the reality star took to her Instagram Story to reveal what she plans to do when she inevitably becomes rich, and it isn’t exactly what one would expect. Instead of dreaming of things like fancy cars and designer goods, Saffold says she wants to put her money toward a good cause.
“I’m about to get so rich that I buy back them souls from the Illuminati,” she wrote simply. Saffold didn’t provide her followers with many more details than that, so it remains unclear whose souls she plans to rescue, or what she would do with them. For obvious reasons, her claim has confused fans and left them with a few questions.
“How you do that?” one Instagram user asks in the Hollywood Unlocked comments section. Another says, “That’s very thoughtful of her.” While it looks like fans will just have to wait and see what Saffold means, she’s closer than ever to her riches, as she’s about to be part of an upcoming Zeus Network series. She’s expected to star in the show alongside Blac Chyna’s mother Tokyo Toni and Rick Ross’ ex Tia Kemp, which will surely make for some quality entertainment.
Last weekend, CEO of Zeus Lemuel Plummer teased the show with a playful Instagram clip. They’ve yet to confirm an official title or premiere date for the series, but viewers can’t wait to see what they have in store for them. What do you think of Blueface’s mom Karlissa Saffold announcing that when she gets rich, she’s going to “buy them souls back” from the Illuminati? Do you think this is a good plan or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
It’s no secret that Katt Williams and his viral Club Shay Shay appearance made a splash in recent months, and the ripple effect of the interview continues to be seen up to this day. Aside from dissing several of his celebrity peers, the comedian shared countless other controversial takes. According to Jaguar Wright, she learned a lot from Williams during their brief relationship over a decade ago. In fact, she says that she wouldn’t be who she is without him.
During a recent interview with RealLyfe Productions, Wright reflected on the transformative relationship, starting with how they first met. She recalls sitting at a club on her 30th birthday when the personality approached her and handed her roughly $20K in cash. “Consider it a down payment on your time,” she remembers him saying.
“He taught me so much in nine months,” she explained. “Walking away was hard, but it was when the Illuminati first started coming after him, and I left. You know, back in that moment, Katt was still wearing Kevlar to bed… To bed.” Obviously, Wright’s claims are unconfirmed, but they’ve certainly managed to gain the attention of social media users. While some are calling cap on her Illuminati allegations, others think she could be onto something, arguing that she hasn’t “told a lie yet.”
Elsewhere in the world of Katt Williams, the comedian is gearing up to drop even more alleged truths in a stand-up special on Netflix. The special, Woke Foke, is scheduled to come out on May 4. What do you think of Jaguar Wright reflecting on her relationship with Katt Williams? What about her claim that the Illuminati was “after him” so he slept in a bulletproof vest? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
As far back as the 90s up until as recently as the 2020s, Illuminati conspiracies in the music industry ran amok. Specifically, it was said that several prominent musicians were signed to a secret society. It was also believed by many around the world that this society greatly controlled the entertainment industry at large. Therefore, in order to achieve great levels of fame, one would have to strike a deal with the powers that be.
Today, much of that hype has died down. Although there are still rumors here and there, peak seasons for Illuminati conspiracies are long gone. Many artists have been alleged to be a part of the Illuminati, but nothing has ever been confirmed. Even some big names have come out to refute the claims that they signed away their lives. However, the majority of the artists accused of earning a membership hardly ever responded. Nonetheless, the rumors still lurk and surface now and then. These days though, it’s become more a joke than anything else.
HOV is no stranger to Illuminati conspiracy theories, and was one of the names most linked to the bizarre hype of the 2000s. While his raps were mostly braggadocious and filled with wordplay, his use of imagery in his music videos was the cause of the allegations. Not only that, he was hailed as one of the forerunners of the movement and the Roc hand symbol was subject to plenty of rumors of his association to the secret society. The music video for “On To The Next One” was laced with imagery that sparked a heap of controversy. Jay-Z has never been one to give into public criticism though, so he paid the absurd claims dust.
Kanye West
Long before his polarizing statements and actions, Ye was at the center of controversy for alleged ties to the Illuminati. Always known to speak his mind, in 2010 he went on Twitter to not only debunk the claims, but laugh at them. Moreover, when questioned by MTV News about claiming he sold his soul to the devil on “Runaway,” he clarified his stance. “There’s this line where I say, ‘I sold my soul to the devil, that’s a crappy deal,’ and all these people said, ‘What you mean you sold your soul to the devil?’ But when I say it, I’m saying, when I allow other people’s ideals to interfere with what I know is true to myself, that’s the devil,” he said.
Beyoncé remains one of the most prominent figures to be tied to the Illuminati. While she always brushed off these claims, she did address them once on the track, “Formation.” Moreover, and in true Bey style, she never brought it up again. The opening line of the song famously went: “y’all haters corny with that Illuminati mess.” As aforementioned, most people aren’t taking these claims seriously anymore, and Beyoncé continues to humorously poke fun at the haters who have famously refused to acknowledge her success as a result of dedication, commitment to her artistry, and a lot of hard work.
Ludcaris’ Illuminati allegations didn’t really receive much attention back in the day. However, following Katt Williams’ jaw-dropping session on Club Shay Shay, things took a bit of a turn. Williams claimed that he and Luda were invited to Illuminati events at some point in time. He alleged that Luda’s successful film career is a result of his allegiance to the secret society. Evidently, Ludacris didn’t take the allegations lightly.
In a freestyle video, the rapper made it known why he remains a rap legend despite his pivot into film. He rapped over a beat in a studio, and while he mentioned no names, it was pretty clear who he was referencing. “Never been Illuminati, only Ill-Luda-nati,” he rapped. “And I only left with b—–s when coming from any party / Now I’m married with kids, the evolution of life / Never been a clout chaser, never say s–t for likes / RIP John Singleton, you never have to flex when you earned every one of your Fast and Furious checks / Afro with the sideburns, yeah that’s my signature / Addiction’s on the rise, comedians check your temperature.”
Rihanna’s famously infamous Good Girl Gone Bad era brought in a slew of Illuminati allegations. Ditching her summery, girl-next-door aesthetic for a dark and edgy look brought a great amount of success for Rih. In the same vein, it also welcomed whispers about her membership into the secret society. Particularly, onlookers believed that the music video for her smash hit “Umbrella” served as an initiation. However, Rihanna’s never been bothered with these rumors, and is still living her best life to this day.
He may not be at the forefront of the music scene anymore, but Soulja Boy’s impact is still felt today. His relevancy continues to grow, which has led some to wonder why he’s still swimming in success. In April 2023, the rapper and mogul finally addressed the claims while on an Instagram Live session. Soulja Boy not only refuted the claims, but awarded all his success to God.
“When I first got in the rap game, a lot of people like, ‘Soulja Boy [is in the] Illuminati,” he began. “Soulja Boy joined the Illuminati, that’s how he got his money, that’s how he got famous, that’s how he got rich. But guess what? All I ever did was pray to God, and stayed in the studio and stayed down until I made it, until I got on.”
Lil Nas X is one of the newer crop of artists that have been tied to the Illuminati by the public. However, the happy-go-lucky artist has poked fun at the claims on numerous occasions. With satanic symbolism, targeted jokes about the religious, and claiming he would quit the Illuminati if he didn’t win a Grammy, it seems he doesn’t mind igniting a few flames. Nonetheless, his musical breakthrough came at a time when Illuminati claims were met with mostly shrugs from the general public. Therefore, his imagery and commentary are more often than not, linked to his personality.
As one of the biggest celebrities in the world, it’s no surprise that Drake is not exempt from Illuminati conspiracy theories. Sure, he hasn’t engaged in the “Satanic” fashion choices or lyrical allusion that many tinfoil hat proponents point to with other stars to prove their sold soul. But the Toronto rapper knows very well how these accusations can start in a flash, and is taking measures to clear the air early. Moreover, he found an “illuminating” body wash in his hotel room and, in an Instagram video on his Story, warned his assistant that this is how these rumors fly.
“To my assistant, right? This is how rumors get started, bro,” Drake told his IG followers while holding up the bottle of soap, including a GIF of the Illuminati pyramid. “This is how rumors get started. Somebody in the hotel cleaning up is going to see this like, ‘Oh, oh, he’s using that ‘illuminating’ body wash, huh? That boy needs that ‘illuminating’ body wash, interesting. Interesting fact, you know, about Drake. ‘Illuminating’…” We wonder if this hygiene product (and secret society) is what’s been fueling Drizzy and J. Cole’s current Big As The What? tour across the U.S.
Jokes aside, folks know Drake these days for his sense of humor online, although it’s not like he ever went offline. Furthermore, the other day, he was fooling around with a Playboi Carti filter on IG while seemingly at a club. But the 37-year-old complained that the filter is “racist” after it worked for him, but not for his friend. It was a pretty funny moment and a notable one thanks to the two’s collaborative history, although they haven’t released anything together in quite some time.
Meanwhile, The Boy is also prone to provoking some controversy and hot debate with his Internet activity. For example, he recently liked a post about Kelsey Nicole’s first interview since the Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion shooting. Considering what the OVO boss already said about the debacle, folks thought he wanted the smoke again. For more news and the latest updates on Drake, come back to HNHH.
Orlando Brown is no stranger to making wild claims about the entertainment industry, and even recently claimed to be the driving force behind it. During an interview with Cam Capone News this week, the embattled performer said that he “created” the Illuminati. According to him, that’s why he takes offense to people “devaluing” it.
“It angers me cuz I created it,” he says in a clip from the interview. When asked to clarify his statement, Brown doubled down. “If I’m Jesus I would think I did [create it], yeah,” he explained. The interviewer proceeded to press him for more details, which Brown was initially hesitant to share. “Not my place to. You guys know,” he stated. He went on to mention Diddy, however, making some disturbing claims about the Bad Boy Records founder’s sexual assault allegations.
“You know Diddy, one of my best friends?” he began. “So when you want to be a Kappa and you get hazed, didn’t you want to be a Kappa? […] We’re gonna haze you and haze you and haze you until you are a f*cking Kappa. That’s what happened. People sold their souls to Diddy, and then they’re mad now because the hazing process was a little bit rougher than they thought.” These are far from the first bizarre statements Brown has made, however.
Back in October, the LA native said that Tupac and his accused killer, Keefe D, are actually the same person. “He is Tupac,” he declared blankly. “Can’t arrest him if he’s the man that died!” What do you think of Orlando Brown’s recent interview? What about his disturbing comments on Diddy’s sexual assault allegations? Do you think he really “created” the Illuminati? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Despite the internet being my primary source of income, I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that the whole endeavor was a mistake and we should shut it all down for a while. The latest straw on the camel’s extremely stressed back is the fact that we are once again discussing the Illuminati, the supposed secret society allegedly running the world from behind the scenes. That this is thanks to comedian Katt Wiliams, whose last truly notable stand-up special was in 2008 (yeah, I said it) makes the whole thing doubly maddening.
Yet, here we are, with Ludacris rapping his response to Katt Williams’ recent viral interview claims. During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast (which, should we just start calling them “talk shows” again?), Williams leveled accusations at entertainment industry peers ranging from plausible (that Cedric The Entertainer stole his jokes) to outright laughable. One of the latter claims was that Katt and Ludacris were both up for roles in the 2001 Fast & Furious sequel — the one with the “ejecto seato, cuz” — but that Luda got the role because he was “in the Illuminati” and cut his then-signature sideburns. Here’s the clip:
Katt Williams tells Shannon Sharpe that he turned down an offer from the Illuminati, but rapper and actor Ludacris accepted it.
He also speaks on Kevin Hart wearing a dress as a humiliation ritual.
Both Ludacris and Kevin Hart have been featured in multiple films making them… pic.twitter.com/3vU2ntBCK4
Completely aside from the fact that this flies in the face of established history — Luda didn’t cut his hair until 2006, five years AFTER 2 Fast 2 Furious hit the box office — you’d think if Katt wanted to disassociate himself from the supposed Illuminati member, he wouldn’t have appeared on Luda’s 2004 album The Red Light District You can fool the Zoomers, Katt. I was there. I remember. Also, not for nothing, the Fast franchise basically died after that, with only a surprise Vin Diesel cameo in Tokyo Drift saving future installments from the bargain DVD bin, and even then, Luda didn’t come back until the fifth installment, a decade later. I don’t know, just seems like “the Illuminati” could manage a better turnaround. (P.S. Luda’s got an afro again.)
Anyway, Ludacris himself decided to address the nonsense (sigh) with a freestyle. While he doesn’t mention Katt by name, it’s pretty obvious who he’s talking about when he says, “Addiction’s on the rise, comedians check your temperature.” Yikes. I guess we’ll pray for you, Katt.
Kid Cudi is going to be dropping a new album called INSANO this year. Overall, fans have been waiting on the album for a while. However, despite a planned release date of September 15th, it ultimately got pushed back. Now, the album is set to contain upwards of 40 songs. Furthermore, there are going to be features from the biggest artists in hip-hop. Needless to say, this is going to be a project that serves the fans who have stuck by Cudi for years.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few Cudi haters out there. For instance, one person took to Twitter to reference his iconic SNL performance where he wore a dress. This was meant as a tribute to Kurt Cobain. However, the person below claimed it was some sort of “Illuminati humiliation ritual.” Cudi saw this comment and decided to clap back. Overall, it was an eloquent response that showcases just how deeply Cudi thinks about the ways in which he expresses himself.
Dear Issac u silly stupid lil person and all people under this post. Its the start of a new year and I got time for muthafuckas like u today. This post is mad fuckin lame of u and sad. A black man cant express himself and be confident AND successful with out it being some… https://t.co/dOPPP8Zbqn
“Dear Issac u silly stupid lil person and all people under this post. Its the start of a new year and I got time for muthafuckas like u today. This post is mad fuckin lame of u and sad,” Cudi wrote. “A black man cant express himself and be confident AND successful with out it being some conspiracy. My success was givin to me by God with the help of my many angels. All u people in the commenfs that have been tweetin me all day about this shit can gargle on my mayo. This moment was a proud moment for me, a shinin moment for all people who express themselves in their art. I felt free and alive, it inspired people and nothing u stupid simple asses say can take that away from me. Happy New Year u fuckin simps.”
Overall, this may just encourage people to think twice before making dumb comments. However, this is the internet, so you really never know. Although Cudi did a good job of making his case, some people simply won’t listen. Let us know what you think of Cudi’s response, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the music world.
During a recent Instagram live, Sexyy Red said some things that had fans seriously curious. “Y’all, they said, ‘Did I sell my soul?’ Should I just tell them the truth?” she asked in the live. That unsurprisingly left fans asking for more and Red delivered. “It’s time for me to just keep it 100 with y’all. Like, yes, they got me in this sh*t. I don’t know, I can’t get out of it. I’m getting too much money, I don’t want to get out of it,” she expanded. The comments went viral quickly as fans online speculated what she was talking about.
One of the most prevalent theories is that she was discussing some kind of secret society like the Illuminati. Since it mostly came up in jokes, Nick Cannon took the opportunity to joke about it himself on a recent episode of his podcast. “Yo, she can’t even spell Illuminati,” Cannon claimed joking at perceptions of Red as not being particularly smart. But he also had jokes about the supposed secret society itself. “Let’s keep it a stack though. Nobody Black would ever be in the Illuminati. We talk too much. It’s supposed to be a secret society. We can’t keep no g*dd*mn secrets.” Check out the full podcast clip below.
Sexyy Red has had a lot of rap fans talking about this year as she’s been one of the genre’s definitive breakout artists. Her debut album Hood Hottest Princess dropped earlier this year and recently received a deluxe version. Among the new songs are multiple high-profile features including Chief Keef, Summer Walker, 42 Dugg, G Herbo, and Sukihana.
Throughout her breakout success, Red has been controversial for numerous reasons including her raunchy subject matter and uncompromising personality. What do you think of Nick Cannon’s jokes about Sexyy Red not being able to spell Illuminati, much less be included in it? Let us know in the comment section below.
