Any jitters Nicki Minaj might’ve been experiencing before her Pink Friday 2 Tour are long gone by now as she continues to impress us with her powerhouse stage presence. On Thursday (March 28), the mother of one made a stop in Newark, New Jersey, where she had a few surprises in store for patrons of the show. As HipHopDX reports, East Coast drill icon Fivio Foreign markedly came out to spit his bars on their 2022 collab, “We Go Up,” which had the crowd going crazy.
Elsewhere, Minaj shared the stage with Jadakiss, someone who the Trinidadian credits with being an inspiration to her. Footage from the 48-year-old’s stint shows a relatively calm crowd watching him. As some social media users are pointing out, this could be because the “Anaconda” artist draws in a younger crowd of listeners than the oldheads who typically bump Jada and others of his time. Nevertheless, Minaj was grateful to the former Bad Boy artist for coming out to support her.
“The one and only @jadakiss graced #GagCity with his presence tonight,” the femcee wrote on her IG Story. “I couldn’t feel more honoured. One of my faves of ALL time. Y’all know that’s the truth. Kiss, thank you ,” Minaj added. On Friday (March 29), Papa Bear’s mom took over Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and tonight (March 30) she’s got a performance lined up at Madison Square Garden. In April, you can catch her in Washington DC, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Connecticut, and at J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival in North Carolina.
Nicki Minaj has been pouring all her time and energy into the Pink Friday 2 Tour this month, but somehow, the Queen of Rap has also had time to dabble in the beauty and fashion industries too. Her recently launched press-on nail line got all the love from Beyonce this week, and ahead of the weekend, Minaj confirmed she has her first-ever signature shoe dropping soon. Read all about that at the link below, and check back in with HNHH later for more music/pop culture news updates.
Uproxx attended Mary J. Blige’s inaugural Strength Of A Woman Festival in 2022. The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee explained how the event came to be, telling Uproxx, “It was something that just came to us — like, why don’t we do this? Because when we go to the Essence Festival, people are like, ‘I’m going to see Mary.’ So, we’re like, ‘Hmm, well, let me just get my own festival and have everyone come to that festival every year.’”
People will have another opportunity to see Blige at the 2024 Strength Of A Woman Festival And Summit presented by Queen of Hip-Hop Soul and Pepsi in partnership with Live Nation Urban.
“Good Morning NYC!” Blige captioned her Instagram announcement. “We’re proud to present the 2024 Strength Of A Woman Festival And Summit in partnership with @livenationurban. Our purpose is to empower, educate and elevate on May 10-12, Mother’s Day Weekend in New York, NY for the first time. I can’t wait to see you there!”
The 2024 musical lineup features 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Muni Long, Lola Brooke, and Funk Flex. As per the press release, the weekend will wrap “with a Gospel Brunch, hosted by Mary J. Blige, and Gospel Concert headlined by The Clark Sisters with Femme It Forward.” Pepsi will also bring food by local Black female restaurateurs to the fan experience through Pepsi Dig In—a platform designed to provide visibility, resources, and awareness to Black restaurateurs.
Pre-sale tickets are available now here, and the general sale is scheduled for Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m. ET.
“I’m so excited to bring our Strength Of A Woman Festival And Summit to my hometown, New York City, a place that has always been a huge source of inspiration for me,” Blige said in a statement. “Having the opportunity to continue to uplift, inspire, and build within my community is the reason I created this festival. I’m so grateful for all the support from our performers, attendees, and, of course, our partners, Live Nation Urban and Pepsi. Nobody does it like New York, so get ready.”
See the full day-by-day schedule below.
Strength Of A Woman Festival 2024 Lineup: Friday, May 10
Comedy show at The Apollo Theatre with performances by Tiffany Haddish, Don’t Call Me White Girl, and Paris Sashay; Jazz Concert at Blue Note Jazz Club with a performance by Robert Glasper
Strength Of A Woman Festival 2024 Lineup: Saturday, May 11
Strength Of A Woman Summit at The Glasshouse, hosted by Angie Martinez; Strength Of A Woman Concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with performances by Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Muni Long, Lola Brooke, and Funk Flex
Strength Of A Woman Festival 2024 Lineup: Sunday, May 12
Gospel Brunch at the Brooklyn Chophouse in Times Square, hosted by Mary J. Blige; Gospel Concert at Brooklyn Paramount with a performance by The Clark Sisters with Femme It Forward
Rock The Bells, the global platform dedicated to elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to the modern day, has announced the first wave of talent joining the second annual “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience”, sailing on November 13-17, 2024 from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas for another five days of non-stop Hip-Hop. The initial wave of artists includes Jadakiss, E-40, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Digable Planets, and AZ, along with a cast of DJsthat set the tone for the inaugural cruise, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kid Capri, Mannie Fresh, and Rock The Bells Radio’s own The Finisher Mister Cee, DJ Scratch, and DJ Epps. Roxanne Shante and Torae will return as hosts.
“Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” is in partnership with Sixthman, the industry leader in unforgettable music and lifestyle festivals at sea. Inspired by classic Hip-Hop for Hip-Hop heads, the experience is the first of its kind, offering an immersive five-day Hip-Hop experience aboard the Norwegian Gem. Hip-Hop will be taking over every corner of the ship with themed parties, meet & greet autograph sessions, rap karaoke, open mic nights, and much more.
“Keepin the heads ringing, Rock the Bells Cruise is back!,”said Sixthman CEO Jeff Cuellar,“Hip-Hop heads get ready for a bigger and more action-packed schedule that continues the tradition of celebrating the icons across all Hip-Hop culture while also looking ahead to the next 50 years.”
Rock The Bells proudly serves Hip-Hop’s legends and champions the culture by providing opportunities to spotlight its icons through content, commerce, and experiences. This partnership is the first time Sixthman has produced a classic Hip-Hop cruise.
The week-long cruise will sail from Miami and make two stops in the Bahamas at Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau. Pricing ranges from $1,180 to $7,191. Cabins are on sale to the public today, Tuesday, March 5th. More information can be found at rockthebellscruise.com. A full slate of performers, activities, and other details will be made available within the coming months.
On a recent episode of Wallo and Gillie’s A Million Dollaz Worth Of Game, D-Block front man Jadakiss was asked if he ever had any interaction with former Death Row CEO Suge Knight and his response was quite surprising. Al Qaeda Jada claimed that the incarcerated Compton record exec followed him around Los Angeles for a verse, but he contends that he wasn’t going to get extorted for one of his coveted sixteen bar verses.
Jada says that Knight had a “built-in” respect for him by default because of Ruff Ryders Ent. bosses Dee and Waah and added, “Suge knows about life. Real recognize real.” Jada went on to say, “there was a time where [Suge] was popping up everywhere,” which had the L.O.X. founding member wondering if Knight had someone following him while he was in the City of Angels.
Suge Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison term on a murder charge for the 2015 death of Terry Carter after Knight ran over Carter on the set of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton.
The L.O.X. has always shown an acute interest in managing their health, especially Styles P and Jadakiss. This was seen last week when Jadakiss showed off his gymnastic skills, balancing better than most on the gym rings.
Jada is known for pulling off unexpected physical feats, including doing pull-ups in Timbs on the NYC streets and doing almost perfect windmills showing off his breakdancing skills. Emphasizing the importance of health, he stated on an episode of his Facebook Watch show, “The Pull Up,” with guest Lil Cease, “I think healthy is gangsta. Everybody wanna be tough guys and this and that, and rich. If you not healthy, you can’t be alive to spend your money.”
The Lox may not have reached the universal acclaim or brand recognition of rap groups like NWA or the Wu-Tang Clan yet, but they serve as one of hip hop’s most iconic influences. The Yonkers, New York-based trio has been commonly referred to as your favorite rapper’s favorite rap group, making the lyrically focused iconoclasts some of the most revered performers in the genre. As recently as 2021, the rappers made history in their landmark Verzuz event against the Diplomats and landed a prominent placement on Kanye West’s Donda album.
The trio has continued to make music as a group to this day, though each of the members has gone on to a host of solo projects and extracurricular ventures. The group even received the keys to the city of Yonkers in 2021 after opening a series of public parks, workout stations, and other thriving local businesses. Here’s a look into what Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch have been up to in the last several years.
Jadakiss
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 25: Jadakiss attends the Starter x MLB Bronx Bubble Jacket Unveiling at the MLB Flagship Store on July 25, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/WireImage)
Arguably the most recognizable member of The Lox, Jadakiss’ scratchy vocals and harsh delivery can be heard in a host of feature verses with prominent rappers such as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Westside Gunn, and ScHoolboy Q. The rapper has released 6 albums and 6 mixtapes as a solo artist since 2001. Jadakiss released his most recent solo venture, the album Ignatius, in 2020.
After performing alongside his Lox brothers in the 2021 Verzuz match against The Diplomats, Jadakiss and his bandmates scored massive streaming increases. Some sources claim The Lox’s streaming numbers rose by over 215 percent after the live event, with many fans referring to the outing as the best Verzuz battle committed to the stage thus far. In 2022, Jadakiss presented Sheek Louch and Styles P with their own personalized Lox championship rings while the trio shared the stage at LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells festival.
As a revered member of his community, Jadakiss has founded a number of local businesses. One such venture includes the Kiss Cafe, which the rapper launched in late 2022. The cafe serves as a multi-generational family business and is run in collaboration with Jadakiss’ father, Bob Phillips, and the rapper’s son Jaewon.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 02: Styles P speaks onstage during the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 02, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Like his associates, Styles P serves as a founder and co-owner of D-Block Records. D-Block has served as the home of The Lox’s music since the brand’s release from the Diddy-owned Bad Boy Records in 1999. Styles P serves as the busiest member of the group musically, releasing a staggering 15 solo albums, as well as a wide array of collaborative projects and mixtapes since 2002.
In his personal life, Styles P is a vegan and has partnered with Jadakiss to run the Bronx-based juice bar Juices For Life. The first location opened in 2011 and has since expanded into 6 stores across New York. Styles also started a local health food store called Farmacy for Life in collaboration with his wife in 2018.
Despite his many career successes, Styles has been eyeing the laid-back retirement lifestyle in recent years. Reports indicated that the rapper plans to step down from his position at Juices For Life in October 2022. Likewise, Styles P has made plans to conclude his prolific solo career with two final albums, before shifting his focus to running Farmacy For Life full-time. Though Styles has announced the end of his solo career, he has assured fans that he’s still on board for all future shows, albums, and features alongside The Lox.
Sheek Louch
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Sheek Louch attends the DJ KaySlay Album Listening Party at Quad Studios on June 22, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage,)
Sheek Louch seems to be the least outgoing member of the group, with very little information on his personal life available to the public. Like many rappers, the Lox artist has a somewhat shady past, including an appearance on the reality television series World’s Wildest Police Videos. Sheek Louch has released 6 solo records since 2003, along with a wide array of mixtapes. The artist has also prominently worked alongside Wu-Tang Clan members such as Ghostface Killah.
As one-third of The Lox, Louch has created some of the hottest hip-hop music known to man, with plenty of legendary rappers citing the influence and scope of the group as nothing short of revolutionary. Sheek has continued to perform with The Lox, including a recent Hip Hop 50 celebration with special guest Mary J. Blige on December 16, 2023.
Get ready for a night of pure hip-hop magic as iconic rapper Styles P takes the stage to celebrate his 49th birthday at Irving Plaza on November 27, 2023, hosted by none other than the legendary Jadakiss. This highly anticipated event promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of the legendary rapper, and it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop music, adding an extra layer of significance to the celebration.
The concert will feature opening sets by Smoke Dza and Steel Sessions, featuring the incredible talents of Oswin Benjamin, Iman Nunez, and Katt Rockell. Adding to the excitement, Willie J Peso and Messiah will serve as support acts, ensuring the crowd stays hyped all night long.
Styles P, known for his remarkable contributions to the world of hip-hop, has a surprise in store for his fans. He will perform with a live band with special guest Brady Watt of Bass Bars. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to witness the fusion of live instrumentation and Styles P’s iconic rhymes.What sets this celebration apart is the exclusive collaboration announcements by Styles P. The first collaboration, “The Ghost,” is with Doja Pak, Mechanics Farm, and Strain Gang, promising a unique blend of artistry and style. A complete line of flowers, hashholes, and rosin will be available at select retailers, providing fans with a tangible piece of this momentous occasion.
“I wanted to make my 49th birthday unforgettable for my fans, so we’ve got some special surprises in store. It’s going to be a night of hip-hop, celebration, and great music,” Styles P shared.
Mary J. Blige significantly impacts education by establishing a groundbreaking scholarship for women at Hampton University. Named “Strength Of A Woman,” this scholarship is exclusively for college sophomores and aims to empower women to pursue higher education. In a partnership with PepsiCo, the scholarship program has already gathered a remarkable $200,000 in donations, with Hampton […]
September 11th (9/11) changed United States history forever. The memory of the many lives that were lost is cemented. From the World Trade Center employees to the first responders, the country pauses each year in its memory. Take a look at five tracks that memorialize September 11.
Jay-Z “Empire State of Mind”
Jay-Z’s strong connection to 9/11 remains forever. He released his classic album, The Blueprint, on the same day as the attack. 8 years later, he teamed up with Alicia Keys to give a legendary ode to their beloved home of New York City.
Long Live The World Trade
The memory of the World Trade continues to live on to Brooklyn’s finest.
Jay-Z 9/11 Freestyle
Live from DJ Clue’s Stadium series
Jadakiss “Why”
Jadakiss’ track took a more conscious approach than many of his previous records. In the Anthony Hamilton assisted song, the Yonkers natives question several issues or daily occurrences he has experienced firsthand or witnessed from afar.
One of those witnesses was September 11th. Kiss questioned,
Why did Bush knock down the Towers?
In 2001, former President George Bush was 9 months into his first presidential term.
50 Cent & Eminem “Patiently Waiting”
The track comes from 50’s legendary debut album that was certified 9x platinum. Both Fif and Em mention 9/11.
50 Cent’s 9/11 lyrics
I’m innocent in my head Like a baby born dead Destination heaven Sit and politic with passengers from 9/11
Eminem 9/11 lyrics
Them cowards f**k with the wrong building they mean to hit ours
Talib Kweli- “Around My Way”
The conscious Kweli delivers on this record with the help of EGOT winner John Legend. The country’s pride was at stake at the hands of 9/11.
It really gets me mad The way we saluting the flags Wrapping them around our heads When ni**as ain’t become American ’till after 9/11
As Talib Kweli’s words echoed for many, the country banded together as one to keep spirits high in such a trying time.
Two decades, we continue to send our hearts and prayers to the family and friends of the 9/11 victims. Long live the World Trade Center.
Meek Mill recently took the time to give one of his favorite artists, Jadakiss. On Sunday (August 27), Meek shared his appreciation of The Lox rapper via his Instagram Story. Using a picture of an old mugshot — alongside Rudy Giuliani’s recent one — he plays The Lox’s 2000 track, “Blood Pressure.” It appeared on the trio’s We Are the Streets album. “This why Kiss was my favorite rapper,” he wrote in the post. “I felt like he was guiding me as a lost kid!”In recent years, Meek and Jadakiss have collaborated on several tracks, including “Heaven Or Hell,” “Every Time,” and “Real Shot.”
The Philly rapper has often talked about his harsh upbringing in the city of “brotherly love.” In a 2019 interview withBillboard, the rapper spoke about how his fighter mentality led to his interest in boxing. That year, he served as executive producer DAZN and Roc Nation-produced 40 Days: Joshua-Ruiz. The docu-series follows Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. The rapper credits Mike Tyson for making him “fall in love” with boxing.
Meek Mill Has Been Working On New Music With Rick Ross
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 30: Meek mill and Jadakiss attend the All Black D’usse Affair at Compound on October 30, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
“I probably fell in love with boxing when I used to watch Mike Tyson,” he said. “I remember watching his one-round fights and him knocking people out all the time.” In other related news, it’s been reported that Meek and Rick Ross have been in the studio. The pair shared clips of the session on their perspective social media pages. Not only is the rapper a chart-topping hitmaker, but he’s also an active supporter of social justice causes.
Recently, he helped pass a criminal justice reform act with the governor of Illinois. The act aimed to prevent parolees from being sent back to jail for non-criminal violations. “That’s a milestone in my life. When I started making music, I was just trying to get out of the ghetto and my environment. But to be a part of something that changes bills and laws that actually affect me and my people, it’s my legacy.”
,” Minaj added. On Friday (March 29), Papa Bear’s mom took over Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and tonight (March 30) she’s got a performance lined up at Madison Square Garden. In April, you can catch her in Washington DC, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Connecticut, and at J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival in North Carolina.
at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 02, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
