LeBron James is getting set for his 22nd season in the NBA, and has a big decision to make this summer as he can be a free agent if he so chooses. The expectation is that he remains in Los Angeles as a member of the Lakers, as they just hired his former podcast partner JJ Redick as head coach, but if L.A. doesn’t lay out a plan to invest in the roster to create a title contender, he could see what’s out there in free agency.
If he does that, plenty of teams will make their pitch to the best player of this generation (and arguably all-time), as he is both still a tremendous player and remains the NBA’s biggest draw, even after over two decades in the league. Similar to how there are few players that have ever had a claim to being as good or better than James on the basketball court, the list of players that have James’ level off the court appeal is just as short — basically, just him and Michael Jordan.
James pretty regularly stars in commercials, and his latest is with longtime partner Beats by Dr. Dre for the re-launch of the Beats Pill. In the spot, LeBron creates an existential dilemma for Lil Wayne by turning up his legendary track, ‘A Milli’, so loud in a penthouse party that Wayne can’t sleep in his condo underneath. When Wayne bursts in to turn it off, James reminds him that “wouldn’t Lil Wayne want us to play Lil Wayne too loud?”, which the New Orleans rapper can’t help but agree with.
BG has had a less-than-ideal career. The rapper broke through as a core member of Cash Money Millionaires in the 1990s, and even scored a solo hit with “Bling Bling.” Unfortunately, legal troubles followed. BG pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm and served prison time from 2012 to 2023. The rapper has been hyping up a Cash Money Millionaires reunion since he got out. But his legal complications may prove to be the thing that keeps the reunion from actually coming together.
BG, real name Christopher Dorsey, has had the lyrical content of his music restricted. Court documents reveal that BG was released on the condition that he submit lyrics to a probation officer before releasing any songs. This was ordered by Judge Susie Morgan, according to The Guardian. BG’s lawyers tried to contest this condition on the grounds that it violates First Amendment rights. Morgan claimed that the decision was made to keep BG from “promoting and glamorizing gun violence and murder” in his music. This is an issue for a prospective Cash Money reunion. The glamorization of gun violence and murder is a huge part of the group’s M.O.
Rappers Birdman (Bryan Christopher Williams), Juvenile (Terius Gray), Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.), B.G. (Christopher Noel Dorsey) and Mannie Fresh (Byron Otto Thomas) of Cash Money Millionaires poses for photos after rehearsals for their performance on ‘The Jenny Jones Show’ in Chicago, Illinois in August 2000. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
BG criticized Morgan’s decision, according to The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate. “I just feel like Christopher Dorsey and BG are two different people,” he explained to judge. “It’s basically like telling Robert De Niro he can’t make any mob movies. The rapper went on to reference the intentionally of his music. “I just did a hard 12 and a half years,” he noted. “In no way am I glorifying. I’m just being creative from coming up in a messed-up environment. I’m just rapping about what I know.” Judge Morgan has yet to make a ruling on BG’s appeal.
BG’s future with Cash Money Millionaires hangs in the balance. The rapper planned to reunite with the group at Essence Festival in July. If he’s legally prohibited from spitting his old lyrics, however, he will be forced to sit out the performance. BG would also be forced to change the subject matter of his upcoming album. The rapper reunited with Birdman and Juvenile in the studio in April, and told Instagram followers that he scored a collaboration with Lil Wayne. “Weezy sent me the verse back for the album,” he stated. “I told him I wanted the mixtape Weezy. He gave me the mixtape Weezy.” We hope BG is able to match “mixtape Weezy” without suffering legal consequences.
Last year, Lil Wayne faced a lawsuit from his former bodyguard, who accused the rapper of physical assault and brandishing a semi-automatic rifle. Now, the legal battle may be derailed due to a clerical error.
Radar Online reports that the bodyguard, Christian Carlos, is fighting to keep his lawsuit from being dismissed. Carlos filed the suit in December 2023, alleging an “assault and battery” incident at Lil Wayne’s Los Angeles home on December 1, 2021. He claimed that the rapper, whose legal name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., punched him in the head and threatened him with a semi-automatic rifle, causing physical injury, severe emotional distress, PTSD, and financial losses.
The key issue is whether Carlos filed the lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations for his allegations. According to Carlos’ legal team, the lawsuit was electronically filed just after noon on December 1, 2023, the last eligible day. However, due to a discrepancy, the filing was rejected and not officially entered until December 4, after resubmitting a corrected document.
Carlos’ attorney argues that the court should extend the statute of limitations, known as “tolling,” or correct the filing date to the original submission. The legal team contends that the court’s rejection of the electronically filed complaint should trigger a mandatory tolling of the statute of limitations or that the court clerk had a duty to file the complaint as of the date it was presented, despite the technical defect.
A hearing on this motion is scheduled for August 1 at a courthouse in Van Nuys. The outcome will determine whether Carlos’ lawsuit against Lil Wayne can proceed or if it will be dismissed due to the filing error.
LeBron James love to rap along to his favorite artists. It’s right up there with carrying books around. He loves rapping along to music so much, in fact, that he’ll do it even when he doesn’t know the words yet. James went viral at the beginning of June for posting a video of himself rapping a Gunna song, and fans noticed that he kept looking down at his phone and reading lyrics. Fortunately, James didn’t have to read the lyrics during his appearance in the new Beats commercial. He knew the lyrics that Beats threw at him by heart.
The commercial sees LeBron James show up to a party and gush over the brand new Pill +. He then hears Lil Wayne’s classic “A Milli” blasting out of the device. He raps along to the chorus before a hard cut to a release date for “The Predicament.” The titular collaboration between James and Beats is set for release on June 25. James and Wayne have known each other for over a decade, but the two icons have not always seen eye to eye. Lil Wayne told Rolling Stone that he had a falling out with James after James and Dwyane Wade failed to acknowledge his court side presence during a 2011 game.
“Them n**gas never speak to a n**ga,” Wayne told the the outlet. “They don’t chuck me the deuce or nothing. N**ga spent all that money on them f**king tickets … Come holla at me. We sit right by them little b**ch a*s n**gas. At least come ask me why I’m not rooting for you.” The athlete and the rapper settled their problems, however, and were back on good terms by 2012. Wayne has become such a James fan, in fact, that he compared himself to the legendary athlete during a 2023 appearance on Bleacher Report.
Wayne felt he brings the same strengths to the rap game that LeBron James does on the court. “I would say that I’m like a LeBron,” the rapper posited. “I dropped my first solo album when I was 14, and that’s the same album I’m talking about that went platinum. The phenom that came out and I stuck something that came out. And I’ve been doing this at this pace or higher ever since, just like him.” It’s hard to argue with Wayne’s longevity. And based on the fact that James is still rapping to his music in 2024, he’d likely agree.
New Orleans native Lil Wayne has his heart set on headlining the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show to show off his hometown pride. But there’s another city he holds near and dear: Las Vegas. Based on Fox 5‘s latest report, the feeling is mutual.
According to the outlet, the “A Milli” rapper is set to make history on Las Vegas’ strip has part of the first-ever “shared residency.”
Between hot spots, Zouk Nightclub and Drai’s Beach and Nightclub, Lil Wayne fans will reportedly have the opportunity to catch the musician live in concert throughout the summer.
Although the full schedule has not yet been shared, supposedly the first show is rumored to take place at Drai’s Beach and Nightclub on Saturday, June 29. Lil Wayne’s first show at Zouk Nightclub is listed on the establishment’s website as Friday, July 12.
In a statement provided to Fox 5, the president of Drai’s Management Group, Dustin Drai, shared his excitement for the upcoming shows. “We cannot wait to continue our longstanding relationship with Lil Wayne,” he said. “[To] have him return as a resident artist at Drai’s, we could not align with a more dynamic artist to welcome this debut residency partnership.”
As anticipation builds for Lil Wayne’s long teased project, Tha Carter VI, this residency could serve as a hint for when it will be officially released to the public.
Pharrell and Drake have always had a contentious relationship. Pharrell is best friends with Pusha T, the man who obliterated Drake’s public profile in 2018. The issues between Skateboard P and the 6 God was always unspoken, though. The two of them even collaborated on the remix to “Lemon” in 2017. Then the beef with Kendrick Lamar happened, and everything changed. K. Dot claimed to inherit the beef from P, and Drake taunted the Compton rapper by telling him to get Pharrell’s jewelry out of his house. It was all very messy. Many assumed Pharrell would keep quiet on the matter, but he might have just responded.
Pharrell dropped a new single on June 14 titled “Double Life.” The song is part of the Despicable Me 4 soundtrack, which is a franchise that helped the artist land the number one single “Happy.” It may sound wild, the notion of a rap diss being snuck into the soundtrack for a kid’s movie, but it seems like that is what P chose to do here. “Double Life” contains bars that appear to be specifically aimed at Drake and his, well, double life. “Lie detector time,” he raps. “Hey, what are you hiding?” Pharrell doubles down on this mysterious target with the lines: “Nothing wrong being private… Make sure it ain’t wrong.”
It’s worth noting that Pharrell is one of the most positive and optimistic voices in hip-hop. He’s always preaching kindness to fellow artists. He’s the guy who made “Happy,” like we said. The thing is, Drake has been sniping at him for a long time. The 6 God threw shots at Pharrell on the 2023 Travis Scott hit “Meltdown.” P is the only artist mentioned in “Family Matters” who didn’t directly diss Drake beforehand. It wouldn’t be absurd to assume Skateboard P decided to crack the seal on negativity for Drake’s sake. Most of the hip-hop did it in 2024 (and it’s June).
Pharrell is also the guy who rapped on and produced “Mr. Me Too” for Clipse. “Mr. Me Too” is diss for Drake’s mentor, Lil Wayne. P and Clipse felt like Weezy was copying their fashion sensibility, so they made a whole song mocking him. In this sense, Pharrell dissing Drake is a long time coming. We don’t have confirmation that Drizzy is the target of Pharrell’s Despicable Me 4 single, but it’s not hard to believe.
On this date in 1989, Juvenile along with his Cash Money brothers Mannie Fresh and a 17-year-old Lil Wayne, dropped the timeless classic “Back Dat Azz Up”(also known as “Back Dat Thang Up” in edited version). It was the second single from Juvenile’s debut LP 400 Degrees, with the premiere single being the electric “Ha”. Produced by Mannied Fresh and released on the Cash Money imprint, Back Dat Azz Up is one of the most recognized smash hits from not only the Cash Money camp, but from Hip Hop’s renowned “Bling Era”.
Commercially the song was a chart topper, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in 2021, it was listed at number 478 on Rolling Stone‘s “Top 500 Best Songs of All Time”.
This year, on the the 25th anniversary of the song’s release, the City of New Orleans officially named June 11th “Back Dat Azz Up” Day. Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed a proclamation making “Back Dat Azz Up” Day an official holiday.
Juvenile spoke about the recognition of one of his greatest hits, saying, “I really wasn’t keeping up with the dates until one of my guys educated me. It’s crazy. It’s great to have all of these accolades, but it’s better to enjoy it with your family and the guys who made it hapen. I really wasn’t expecting it.”
Drake is known for his chart-topping hits and distinctive musical style. The Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter has shown his ability to blend introspective lyrics with catchy melodies, making him a sought-after collaborator in the music industry. However, his talent transcends his own performances; Drake is also a prolific songwriter, and has song credits on several other artists’ work. Despite rumors and accusations that Drake hires ghostwriters, the rapper has proven himself by crafting songs for a variety of other artists. Most recently, his reference track for Lil Wayne’s 2010 track “I’m Single” surfaced online. Here are seven songs that Drake wrote for other artists.
Released in 2009, “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)” is one of Alicia Keys’ most soulful ballads. The song delves into themes of love and vulnerability, and Drake has credits on the song as one of its co-writers. Upon release, fans immediately believed the song was about Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s relationship. The track also became a hit, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning widespread acclaim.
A year after its release, Nicki Minaj dropped the bomb that the song was written about her. About two weeks later, Drake also confirmed it. Speaking to BET, he confessed that he had written it based on a conversation he had with Nicki. He stated: “It is [about Minaj], I’m not gonna lie. The concept came from a conversation that we had, or conversations we have. I wrote it based off two things: number one, based off that, and then two, based on Alicia and Swizz and their situation and it just seemed fitting. It was like the perfect concept.”
6. “I Been That Girl” – Melanie Fiona (2012)
Long before the fame and fortune, Drake was still killing it in the songwriting game. While he was still in Toronto, he was a part of a group called The Renaissance. After the group disbanded, Drake co-wrote “I Been That Girl” for his former Renaissance bandmate, Melanie Fiona. While the song was never released as a single, it was included on Fiona’s second album The MF Life, which also featured collaborations with T-Pain, John Legend, Nas, and J. Cole.
5. “Fall For Your Type” – Jamie Foxx Ft. Drake (2010)
“Fall For Your Type” is a heartfelt R&B track performed by Jamie Foxx, released in 2010. While the track was originally intended for Drake’s debut album Thank Me Later, it did not make it on the album. Upon hearing the song for the first time, Jamie Foxx reportedly fell in love with it and subsequently decided to re-record it. Moreover, he ultimately included it on his fourth studio album, Best Night Of My Life. Beyond song credits, Drake also appears as a featured artist. “Fall For Your Type” became quite popular, even reaching number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.
Rita Ora’s “R.I.P.,” from her 2012 album Ora was a hit, and Drake shares song credits on the track. “R.I.P.”’s success helped Rita Ora establish herself as a rising star in the music industry, peaking at number one on the UK Singles Chart. Furthermore, the song blends elements from Drake’s “I’m Ready For You,” and the Chase & Status remix of Nneka’s “Heartbreak.” Drake had originally written “I’m Ready For You” for Rihanna, but the singer passed on it.
3. “I’m Single” – Lil Wayne (2009)
Drake has a long-standing collaborative relationship with Lil Wayne, and “I’m Single” is evidently a prime example of their synergy. Co-written by Drake, the track was featured on Lil Wayne’s 2009 mixtape No Ceilings. Although the remix featuring Drake was set to be on Wayne’s album I Am Not a Human Being, it was later re-released. Several years later, on June 6, 2024, a reference track for “I’m Single” was released.
2. “Mine” – Beyoncé Ft. Drake (2013)
“Mine,” a track from Beyoncé’s acclaimed self-titled 2013 album, showcases a fusion of R&B and Hip Hop. Both Drake and Beyoncé share song credits, and the former is also a featured artist. “Mine” was a standout track on the album, addressing themes of motherhood and marriage with poignant clarity. The song also featured Drake’s distinct lyrical style, blending it with Beyoncé’s powerful voice.
Despite their rocky relationship, Drake and Ye are longtime collaborators, and have song credits on multiple joints together. Evidently, their musical chemistry is undeniably strong. Drake co-wrote two songs “30 Hours” and “Facts” on Ye’s seventh album Life of Pablo. “30 Hours” features samples from Arthur Russell’s 1986 track “Answers Me,” and the drumbeat from Isaac Hayes’ 1973 single “Joy,” both of which are also credited on the track.
50 Cent’s breakout hit “In Da Club” isn’t the only song to get the AI remix treatment today. Remakes of faves from Eminem, Tupac, UGK, and more were remade in the style of 1950s doo-wop and rock hits, and are going viral on social media as fans are delighted by the juxtaposition of modern lyrics and songwriting philosophies with sounds that evoke a more wholesome time — at least, in comparison.
After all, rock and roll stars like Chuck Berry and Little Richard were plenty controversial in their day, much the same way Eminem drew fire for his deliberately provocative lyrics. Singers like Sam Cooke tackled divisive sociopolitical topics the same way Tupac did, and it’s important to remember that even Elvis — the original Eminem — were largely considered sex symbols whose work was too racy for the relatively conservative climate of the midcentury, even if they’re considered pretty tame by today’s standards. Check out some of the remakes below.
Lil Wayne: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1799284198005706961/video/1
Tupac: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1799548625107718366/video/1
Eminem: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1799656245974225099/video/1
Ugk: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1799670328399974413/video/1
Young Thug: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1799865845876703405/video/1
50 Cent: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1799895616765694195/video/1
Sisqo: https://twitter.com/AllHHSessions/status/1800049570568913201/video/1
AI in music has been considered a bit of a hot topic recently, with AI-generated songs drawing both derision and acclaim as the works become more popular. However, there are still plenty of fans and music industry professionals who see a need for legislation to control how and when AI can be used, before it’s too late.
Ice Spice has announced plans to release her debut album Y2K this July, with a world tour set to follow soon after. The album will be Ice Spice’s first full-length body of work, serving as a make-or-break moment for the up-and-coming artist. She has previously built considerable buzz with just a few singles, features, and prominent movie soundtrack placements, accumulating a monthly Spotify listenership of over 45 million Spotify users at certain points in her career. While Ice Spice has shown she can carry a song by herself, fans are already hyped to learn what featured artists may be present on Y2K. Let’s list a few fan-favorite choices as we continue to patiently sit back and hear the final product.
5. Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne reveals why he doesn’t perform his Kendrick Lamar collab “Mona Lisa.”pic.twitter.com/BJ5Yjf2rFm
Ice Spice has already collaborated with Nicki Minaj to major success. It only makes sense that she would travel up the ranks of the former Young Money signees and link with other big-name artists such as Lil Wayne or even Drake. Ice Spice’s aggressive flow, powerful stage presence, and propensity for leaning on shallow wordplay make her an ideal candidate for a Wayne feature, as the pair would blend styles quite harmoniously.
While a JID feature may seem a bit out of left field, the Atlanta native has a real habit of bringing some of the best feature verses in the game right now. If JID were to appear on Ice Spice’s Y2K, his vocal melodies and densely packed rhymes would provide the perfect contrast for Ice’s drill-inspired New York flows. Ice Spice’s greatest weakness seems to be a heavy reliance on her iconic flow, which could hinder her ability to keep listeners entertained for an entire project. Adding a versatile and respected young rapper like JID into the mix could only improve the sonic diversity of her debut album.
As mentioned, Ice Spice leans heavily on the New York drill sound, which will undoubtedly be present all over Y2K. Who better to assist her chopped vocal melodies and thumping, bass-heavy production than the founder of the Chicago drill wave, Chief Keef? Keef has also been getting into his melodic singing bag quite a bit lately, with features such as “Hit & Run” by Tobi Lou, “Ghetto Princess” with Sexyy Red, and Lyrical Lemonade’s “Say Ya Grace.” As a result, his vibe and presence could bring a lot to an Ice Spice track.
It is highly unlikely that Megan Thee Stallion will appear on Ice Spice’s Y2K album, though it would be a pleasant surprise. Meg has seemingly entered her prime lately, with a string of singles and freestyles that have fans itching to hear more of her brash Houston sound. Earlier this year, Ice Spice became a de facto opponent of Thee Stallion due to her relationship with Nicki Minaj, even leading to something of a proxy beef breaking out between Ice Spice and Latto. If Meg and Ice could work together and bury the hatchet, it would be a big step in laying to rest the pervasive rumor that women in hip hop can’t get along. We won’t hold our breaths for this one, but the team-up would be legendary if it ever played out.
1. Taylor Swift
Ice Spice tells The Guardian that she and Taylor Swift “talk all the time”:
“She’s so sweet – I was so obsessed with how humble she was and willing to work. She gives me so much advice – we talk all the time and she’s so funny. But I can’t say what she be telling me.” pic.twitter.com/VDzG4WCzGo
The No. 1 spot on this list could only go to the queen of the modern music landscape herself, Taylor Swift. Not only would a Taylor Swift inclusion bring massive numbers to Ice Spice’s Y2K, it would also make perfect sense as the two popular vocalists are already friends outside of music. Ice Spice and Taylor previously linked up for a remixed version of Swift’s song “Karma,” though they have yet to craft an original hit together. Seeing the chemistry of Ice Spice and Taylor Swift come together on a pop single would absolutely propel Y2K to massive heights and deliver a major streaming win for the rising star.
