T-Pain has a message for the music fans deriding his and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg’s cover of Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz’s 2003 hit “Get Low“: “Touch grass.” The cover, which Zuck and Pain released as “Z-Pain” on DSPs earlier this week, has drawn criticism for — among other things — being a painfully corny acoustic rendition of a song from Zuck’s college years. It also features, well, a class of character that many Americans aren’t too enthused about considering Facebook’s role in the last nine utterly terrible years and the ongoing ensh*ttification of the internet as a whole.
It hardly matters that the song was meant as a sweet gift from Zuck to his wife of 12 years, Priscilla Chan; fans who want to see the rich end up on their dinner plates haven’t got anything nice to say about it. On Instagram, T-Pain defended the effort, saying, “It is impossible for some people to have fun. I’ve learned how to not worry about what y’all are talking about. Why y’all hate happiness so much? Y’all don’t like when people do wholesome things, y’all don’t like when people do stuff for their wives.”
In the caption, he advises fans to “go climb a tree” instead of wasting time hating, but I don’t Faheem… seems like Zuck could have used that advice when he suggested this idea. I’m all for serenading your lady love, but why inflict it on the rest of us? The fact it was added to DSPs, where it could potentially turn a profit, would seem to taint the sweet gesture it’s intended to be; that Zuck keeps trying to humanize himself in the face of all the horrible societal effects of his various companies sorta takes the wind out of my sails for this recording. Billionaires, by and large, suck, and the world would be better off with more musicians and fewer self-important businessmen trying to pass themselves off as anything but.
T-Pain addressed the backlash over Z-Pain on Thursday (Nov. 14) via social media. Z-Pain is the new collaboration with Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and the “Buy U A Drank” hitmaker. Strolling through his compound, T-Pain informed fans that it is impossible to affect his mental health with negative comments and false claims about the collaboration. He tells the camera, “Now, one thing that I have learned in this–this whole journey. One thing for show is that–that is impossible for some people to have fun.”
He continued: “I’m going to live my life, and I’m going to do what I want to do because I’ve learned how to not worry about what y’all talking about, and I get that now the thing that I do worry about is you wasting your time trying to get me.” T-Pain captioned the video, “Life is short, go have fun. Stop looking for permission to enjoy the little time we have.”
The Z-Pain collaboration celebrates Mark Zuckerberg’s anniversary with his wife, Priscilla, by reimagining T-Pain’s classic hit “Get Low.” In a heartfelt post, Mark explained the song’s significance in their relationship, stating, “It was playing when I first met Priscilla at a college party, so every year we listen to it on our dating anniversary.” Zuckerberg proudly announced that the newly reimagined song is now available on Spotify, following its viral success on social media.
Pain and Zuckerberg’s collaboration spawned a bail-out request from Lil Boosie. The controversial rap star reached out to Teddy P to persuade Zuckerberg to give him back his original social media account. On Z-Pain’s video, Boosie commented: “TPAIN U RIGHT ON SIDE @zuck CAN U LOOK OUT FA ME N TELL DUDE STOP TRYNA STOP MY MOTION,” and added a direct challenge, “R U GO BE QUIET N ACT LIKE U NEVER SEEN THIS TWEET?” T-Pain and Mark Zuckerberg have not replied to Boosie’s request yet. In 2020, Boosie offered Mark Zuckerberg $100,000 to restore his Instagram account. Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth is valued at 200.6 Billion.
Recently, Mark Zuckerberg shared a photo of himself in a recording studio with T-Pain, posting it on his Instagram Story and writing, “It’s happening guys” (as Billboard notes). Since then, people have been wondering what exactly the Facebook head is up to, and now we know: Yesterday (November 13), Zuckerberg released a cover of “Get Low,” the 2003 classic from Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins.
While this seems like an odd combination (especially given that it’s an acoustic cover with Zuckerberg singing about sweat dripping down his unmentionables), the story behind it is actually kind of sweet: In an Instagram post announcing the cover, Zuckerberg explained the cover is about his relationship with wife Priscilla Chan. He wrote, “‘Get Low’ was playing when I first met Priscilla at a college party, so every year we listen to it on our dating anniversary. This year I worked with @tpain on our own version of this lyrical masterpiece. Sound on for the track and also available on Spotify. Love you P [heart emoji].”
Chan wrote in the comments of the post, “Can’t get quite as low anymore but more in love and grateful for that love than ever. Love you MZ.” T-Pain also wrote, “Happy anniversary! Thanks for letting me be a part of this [fire emoji].”
Mark Zuckerberg had himself a viral moment recently, when he shared a photo of himself in a recording studio with T-Pain, posting it on his Instagram Story with the caption, “It’s happening guys” (as Billboard notes). Jack Harlow has since weighed in with the perfect joke: On his Instagram Story, Harlow shared a photo of Zuckerberg and wrote, “New sh*t otw.”
Some context: While Zuckerberg has previously been described with words like “robotic,” in recent times, he has switched up his personal style, growing his curly hair out and wearing more casual outfits. (Slate went as far as to ask in October, “Is Mark Zuckerberg … Hot?“) Some have pointed out that with his new look, Zuckerberg looks like Harlow, especially after a faked image of Zuckerberg with facial hair went viral in April.
All that is to say that once Zuck crossed over into the music world, Harlow saw his opportunity and pounced.
In other Harlow news, last month, he announced a pair of performances in his home state of Kentucky, alongside the Louisville Orchestra, set for the end of November. Harlow also recently celebrated the release of his first-ever sneaker, the New Balance 1906R “Rose Runner,” which is out now.
Donald Trump didn’t wait for the “official” Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union address, taking aim at the President on Truth Social. ”That may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made. It was an Embarrassment to our Country! He wants our Country to be flooded with Migrants,” Trump ranted. Biden had taken shots at Trump over the January 6 insurrection. However, he also announced plans to bring aid to Gaza and promised to restore Roe v. Wade.
Furthermore, Trump took aim at Mark Zuckerberg. ”If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I don’t want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!” Trump claimed. The former President, who is currently the presumptive Republican nominee for November’s election, certainly made a choice by invoking electoral fraud. Trump is currently facing multiple legal cases surrounding his attempts to interfere with the 2020 election.
Donald Trump Disputes Claim He “Bullied” His Way Into Home Alone 2 Cameo
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Of course, Trump is never very far away from ranting about something. Last year, Trump disputed the claim that he “bullied” his way into a cameo in Home Alone 2. “I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The brief moment, in which Kevin McCallister runs into Trump and asks for directions, was filmed in the lobby of the then-Trump-owned Plaza Hotel. Trump then went on to claim that his brief cameo was the driving force of the film’s massive success.
The claims that Trump forced his way into a cameo stem from a 2020 interview with the film’s director, Chris Columbus. While speaking with Business Insider, Columbus claimed that Trump offered the lobby of the Plaza for free as long as he got a part in the film. Columbus said he had gone to Trump after finding it impractical to recreate the iconic lobby on a soundstage.
It’s no secret that Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg aren’t on the greatest of terms, especially after their highly anticipated fight failed to come to fruition last year. We may not ever see the Twitter/X head and the Meta boss square off in the ring, but Musk is still getting some shots in at his nemesis via social media. If you were online today, you might’ve noticed some outages occurring across Instagram and Facebook, leaving some users frustrated and unable to share content or communicate with loved ones.
Thankfully, things are back to normal at the time of publication, but they weren’t fixed before the Tesla CEO threw shade at Zuckerberg. “If you’re reading this post, it’s because our servers are working,” he tweeted mid-way through Tuesday (March 5) morning. Meanwhile, anyone trying to view the latest posts over on Meta-owned apps was rendered unable to refresh their feed or upload anything of their own.
Minutes later, Musk posted a meme from Dreamworks’ Madagascar, in which one leader penguin (X) gives orders to three others (IG, Facebook, and Threads). Beneath is a post from Andy Stone, who writes, “We’re aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now.” Though it’s unclear if the engineer also runs the official X account, they got in on the fun too, tweeting, “We know why you’re all here [right now]” first thing this morning.
Since his tumultuous takeover, Elon Musk has handed over many of his responsibilities at Twitter/X to other tech experts. Of course, that doesn’t mean he isn’t still one of the platform’s most popular users. Besides his shady message aimed at Zuckerberg today, we also saw the South African go viral for his response to Kanye West’s online comments about rockets. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly building a mysterious underground bunker on his compound in Hawaii, according to a new investigation by Wired. Citing “a source familiar with the development,” the outlet says that “a tunnel that branches off into a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter” will connect two main residences. The shelter boasts a concrete-filled metal door, an escape hatch, an 18-foot-tall water tank and pump system, as well as agriculture and ranching structures to produce food.
In addition to the bunker, the property will feature “a web of 11 disk-shaped treehouses” connected by rope bridges “allowing visitors to cross from one building to the next while staying among the treetops.” A 6-foot stone wall also protects the entire 1,400-acre property. Zuckerberg has reportedly already hosted two tech industry events there.
Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan At The NASA Ames Research Center
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg attend the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Red Carpet at NASA Ames Research Center on November 03, 2019 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Ian Tuttle/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize )
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan told PEOPLE in a statement: “Mark and Priscilla value the time their family spends at Ko’olau Ranch and in the local community” and are working to preserve the ranch’s “natural beauty.” “When they acquired the property, they rescinded an existing agreement that would have allowed for portions of the property to be divided into 80 luxury homes. Under their care, less than one percent of the overall land is developed with the vast majority dedicated to farming, ranching, conservation, open spaces and wildlife preservation. This includes a large cattle ranching program, organic ginger and turmeric farms, a nursery dedicated to native plant restoration, and partnering with Kauai’s foremost wildlife conservation experts to protect native birds and other endangered or threatened wildlife populations.”
Further details about the property are unclear. Zuckerberg prohibits workers from sharing any information about it publically. Security guards patrol the grounds and use 20 security cameras to help keep the family safe. Be on the lookout for further updates on Mark Zuckerberg and his Hawaii property on HotNewHipHop.
Mark Zuckerberg, the iconic co-founder and CEO of Meta Inc., has solidified his position as one of the wealthiest individuals globally. According to Forbes‘ estimations in 2023, Zuckerberg’s net worth stands at a staggering $120 billion. This spot helped secure his place among the top 10 wealthiest people in the world.
SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 21: Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the opening keynote address at the f8 Developer Conference April 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Zuckerberg kicked off the the one day conference for developers that features breakout sessions on the future of social technologies. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Zuckerberg’s journey to this substantial wealth began in his Harvard dorm room in 2004 when he co-founded Facebook, a social networking platform that revolutionized online connectivity. Moreover, his relentless focus on user experience and innovative features propelled Facebook’s meteoric rise, amassing a global user base that now surpasses billions. As the platform expanded, so did Zuckerberg’s fortune, driven primarily by his significant ownership stake in the company.
Wealth & Philanthropy
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg attend the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Red Carpet at NASA Ames Research Center on November 03, 2019 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Ian Tuttle/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize )
Despite criticisms and controversies surrounding Facebook’s privacy policies and its impact on society, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have been actively involved in philanthropic efforts. In 2015, the couple pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook shares—then valued at tens of billions—to philanthropic causes through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Furthermore, this initiative aims to tackle pressing global issues, including education, science, and healthcare, with a long-term vision of making the world a better place.
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 10: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Elysee Palace after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on May 10, 2019 in Paris, France. President Macron and Zuckerberg will talk about cracking down the spread of misinformation and hate speech. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
Through CZI, Zuckerberg and Chan have invested significantly in scientific research, funding projects aimed at eradicating diseases, improving education systems, and advancing technology for the greater good. Their commitment to initiatives such as personalized learning programs, disease prevention, and tackling social challenges has garnered both praise and scrutiny.
Zuckerberg’s approach to philanthropy has been characterized by blending traditional charitable giving with strategic investments that aim to address systemic issues at their roots. This unique approach reflects his belief in using technology and innovation as catalysts for positive change.
Conclusion
Despite fluctuations in Facebook’s performance and ongoing regulatory scrutiny, Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth remains remarkably substantial in 2023. His journey from a college dorm room to becoming a tech titan and one of the world’s richest individuals is a testament to his entrepreneurial vision and unwavering commitment to innovation.
Zuckerberg’s wealth, coupled with his dedication to philanthropy through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, solidifies his influence not only in the tech industry but also in the realm of impactful societal change. Zuckerberg’s trajectory from a Harvard undergraduate to a global tech mogul epitomizes the potential for immense success, both financially and in making a significant difference in the world.
Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that he suffered a torn ACL while training for a competitive MMA fight set for early next year. He provided the update on Instagram, earlier this week, confirming that he still intends to go through with the fight after a delay.
“Tore my ACL sparring and just got out of surgery to replace it. Grateful for the doctors and team taking care of me. I was training for a competitive MMA fight early next year, but now that’s delayed a bit. Still looking forward to doing it after I recover. Thanks to everyone for the love and support,” the 39-year-old wrote on Instagram.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 01: Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook/Meta, poses with UFC president Dana White during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 01, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The Meta CEO has been posting updates on his MMA training on social media for years at this point. He and Elon Musk made headlines, earlier this year, by teasing a fight and sending shots at each other on social media on several occasions. Eventually, the fight fell through, which Zuckerberg blamed on Musk.
“I think we can all agree Elon isn’t serious and it’s time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won’t confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I’m going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously,” Zuckerberg wrote on his site, Threads. Check out his latest injury update above.
Elon Musk has claimed that Mark Zuckerberg is the reason their hypothetical MMA fight didn’t happen. “Italy actually was willing to let us use the Coliseum. I was like, well, can’t turn that down. Then I was like, well, if it’s going to be in the Coliseum, I like UFC and everything, but we don’t have tons of ads in UFC branding on the Coliseum ’cause it’s a place of great history. You don’t want to have it be all like NASCAR. And then Zuck pulled out,” Musk told Joe Rogan.
Whether there’s any truth to that remains to be seen. Back in August, Zuckerberg pulled out with a very different series of events. “I think we can all agree Elon isn’t serious and it’s time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won’t confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I’m going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously,” Zuckerberg wrote on Threads. Furthermore, the Meta founder is yet to respond to Musk’s latest claims.
Meanwhile, Musk has pitching more ways to save X, formerly Twitter. On an all-hands call last week, employees were informed that the company was worth $19B, which is less than half of the $44B that Musk paid a year ago. Much of that value has been tanked by Musk’s managerial incompetence. However, Musk is confident that he is about to launch the app’s saving grace. On the same call, According to a source who attended, an all-hands meeting at X, Musk wants a full-integrated dating app to the site next year. However, according to Insider, details on how the feature would work are fuzzy. Despite this, Musk is very keen on the idea and has his usual notions that it’s the thing that will save the site.
Meanwhile, Musk also promised to provide Gaza with access to his Starlink satellites. Starlink is the satellite internet provider that Musk owns. It operates all over the world and was used in Ukraine, until the Russia-supporting Musk pulled access to the service. However, Israel has publicly objected the support. Israel will use all means at its disposal to fight this. HAMAS will use it for terrorist activities. There is no doubt about it, we know it, and musk knows it. HAMAS is ISIS. Perhaps Musk would be willing to condition it with the release of our abducted babies, sons, daughters, elderly people. All of them! By then, my office will cut any ties with starlink,” Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Kahri wrote on X.
