Misa Hylton has addressed the recent footage CNN published of Diddy appearing to assault Cassie at a hotel in 2016 by sharing a statement on Instagram. She did so by captioning a pair of pictures of Diddy’s children. She brought up her “own trauma” and described seeing the clip as triggering.
“I am heartbroken that Cassie must relive the horror of her abuse, and my heart goes out to her,” she said. “I know exactly how she feels, and through my empathy, it has triggered my own trauma. These young people were raised by women that want the best for them – we put God and education first and have always been united in our mutual effort to support their dreams. Two of the youngest do not have their mother here and it has been our duty to support them. Their father needs help and I am praying that he truly does the personal work and receives it.”
Misa Hylton Poses With Justin Combs During MCM Rodeo Drive Store Grand Opening
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MARCH 14: (L-R) Justin Dior Combs, MCM Global Creative Partner Misa Hylton and Niko Brim attend the MCM Rodeo Drive Store Grand Opening Event at MCM Rodeo Drive on March 14, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for MCM)
Diddy has since apologized for the video, which shows him dragging Cassie to the floor and kicking her. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” he said. “I was f*cked up — I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.” From there, he explained that he began going to therapy in an attempt to better himself.
On May 17th, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie released Better Off Alone. His fifth album offers listeners a reflective look at the dualities of fame and the cost of artistic expression. Before it dropped, the anticipation for Better Off Alone was fueled by the release of the B4 BOA EP. Now, with his latest work, A Boogie invites listeners into a slightly more mature, contemplative space. For the rapper, his new project is all about personal redemption and a promising journey. It’s also been released just in time for the North American leg of his world tour.
The beats across the album are meticulously crafted, with producers like 254Bodi, ATL Jacob, and CashMoneyAP bringing their A-game. Specifically, the production choices on Better Off Alone reflect A Boogie’s New York roots. However, they also leave room for experimentation and embrace a more expansive, global sound. For example, “Dark King,” the album’s second song, stands out with its crisp percussion and haunting melodies. It also helps set the tone for the album’s introspective narrative.
Better Off Alone features a number of Hip Hop samples that elevate A Boogie’s album. The rapper’s clever use of these samples helps add layers of depth to the tracks. For instance, “Steppas” incorporates a sample that pays homage to Hip Hop’s past while infusing it with a modern twist that resonates with today’s audience. This interplay between old and new is a recurring theme throughout the album and works for the most part. However, the album’s overall sound can be critiqued as lacking cohesion. This mix of old and new elements sometimes clashes, resulting in a slightly disjointed listening experience.
About BOA
The album is a 57-minute, 21-track experience. From the title track, which also serves as the album’s opener, one can assume that A Boogie is opting for a more reflective sound. As the album’s emotional core, the rapper is unsettled by the solitude that comes with success. “Stained my mind like you stained my sheets… I think I’m better off alone, babe,” he raps.
The repeated motif of emotional vulnerability continues on other tracks, such as “Somebody.” On the Future-assisted track, A Boogie continues to explore the need for genuine connections to help with the burden of fame. “Somebody need somebody, need somebody, yeah,” he spits before pinching himself awake with the line, “I’m payin’ seven-figure taxes, ain’t got time for no relaxin’.”
Betrayal & Loss
On Better Off Alone, A Boogie doesn’t shy away from darker themes, such as betrayal and the loss of close ones. In tracks like “Tiffany and Ashley,” he pays homage to the late PnB Rock while addressing the harsh realities of street life. A Boogie also explores his past resilience in dealing with personal demons and navigating the music industry. The lyrics in nearly every track seem to reiterate A Boogie’s sense of determination to rise above challenges and emerge stronger.
Highlights & Lowlights
“Better Off Alone” is not just the album’s title track but also a statement piece from A Boogie. Its haunting hook and reflective lyrics set the stage for the album’s exploration of solitude. Meanwhile, “Tiffanys” and “Did Me Wrong” are just as effective, becoming emotional anchors that capture the essence of A Boogie’s lyrical prowess. “Her Birthday” and “Booby Trap” were initially released as part of the B4 BOA EP. They have since become fan favorites, further highlighting A Boogie’s ability to connect with his audience on a personal level.
However, while the album does its best at attempting to explore these themes of solitude and the emotional toll of fame, some of its lyrics unfortunately fail to scratch the surface of these complex topics. As a result, the attempt at introspection sometimes feels forced. Other times, familiar tropes and braggadocio overshadow the album’s purported reflective nature. Moreover, the album’s length, with 21 tracks, is a handicap in itself. There is so much thematic repetition that it dilutes the impact of its more potent messages, as explored in tracks like “Dark King,” “Body,” and “I Already Know.”
Features & Collaborations
Better Off Alone, despite its title, is filled with collaborations. Young Thug’s unique cadence on “Let’s Go Away” complements A Boogie’s introspective verses, creating a standout track that’s both catchy and contemplative. Future’s contribution to “Somebody” adds a layer of gritty realism. Additionally, Lil Durk’s raw storytelling in “Spotlight” contrasts A Boogie’s melodic flow. The inclusion of rising talents like Fridayy and Mariah The Scientist on tracks such as “Need You Around” and “P&E” also shows A Boogie’s knack for spotlighting fresh voices, making for a full-circle moment. Altogether, the aforementioned features add depth and diversity to the project.
Conclusion
The introspective nature and A Boogie’s evolution on Better Off Alone are the album’s major strengths. With a successful, ongoing world tour and a strong presence on and off streaming platforms, Better Off Alone may succeed at helping A Boogie Wit da Hoodie gain some more ground as a pivotal figure in modern Hip Hop. However, despite chart success and potential hits, A Boogie’s evolution may be coming at a price. This album slightly falls short of the high standards set by his previous work. Nonetheless, while it’s too early to detect the impact of Better Off Alone on A Boogie’s career commercially, the album has evidently sparked a conversation about the direction of his sound.
Despite the Knicks’ valiant efforts in the semifinal NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, they were unable to secure a victory. In a high-stakes game seven at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks battled hard but were ultimately outplayed by the Pacers, losing by a significant 21 points. The team’s performance was hampered by a series of injuries, which further added to their challenges. However, even in the face of their elimination from the 2024 Playoffs, Fat Joe’s support for his beloved team remains unwavering.
Fat Joe said of the Knicks season on Instagram Live after the game, “I’m proud of my team. So proud of them. Unfortunately, you gotta lose to win.” He continued, “Like we saw with OKC and we saw with all these other young teams, for some reason, they gotta lose to get that experience — to get that final instinct so they could win.” Overall, Fat Joe is proud of his beloved team and is looking forward to an even better season next year. Sometimes, teams are unlucky, and the Knicks were super unlucky on the injury front. Fat Joe is confident they will respond big time next season.
He began by congratulating the Pacers on their victory and then explained why Knicks supporters were so fervent about this season. Fat Joe said, “When you lose 29 years — 29 years in a row! 29 years since the last game 7 — everyone wants to say the Knicks fans are exaggerated, we go too crazy. Nah, we been loyal fans. The arena been sold out for 29 years. A lot of y’all so-called real fans from other teams, y’all arenas be empty and you only come around when they winning at the end. Not Madison Square Garden! Sold out for 29 years.” The Knicks players’ many injuries during the series, which he believes finally put a stop to their season, were then described in detail.
He said, “We ain’t got nothing to be sad about, we got nothing to be upset about,” he concluded. “We overachievers. I wanna salute the coach, I wanna salute the players, I wanna salute the fans. Hell of a run this year. We’ll be back next year.” The Knicks will be back, and with a few smart decisions, they could be back better than ever. Jalen Brunson proved he is a superstar. They have depth and assets to flip. Overall, Fat Joe is right to be optimistic about the Knicks next season.
As far as ballads and love songs go, not many artists have a chokehold over the world quite like Anita Baker. A legend in the quiet storm subgenre, Baker’s music is classified by slow-burning songs that often hit a mind-blowing climax. With her piercing vocals, she arrested generations of R&B and Soul listeners including artists like Lil Wayne. What’s more impressive is that Anita Baker continues to perform her hits to this day.
Speaking of performances though, Anita Baker seemed to have pissed off some aunties. The icon was scheduled to perform at a pre-Mother’s Day Concert at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 11. Unfortunately, about six minutes before she was supposed to come on, the show was canceled. As one can expect, the mothers weren’t having any of it. However, since Baker has yet to acknowledge the ordeal, fans have rallied around her, especially since we don’t know what’s wrong. After all, Anita Baker has blessed us with several hits over the course of her career, including the following seven.
While Rapture set Anita Baker on a pedestal, Giving You the Best That I Got made her untouchable. “Just Because” is a beautiful song that brilliantly shows off her impressive vocal ability. It also stamps her name into the books of the best vocalists of all time. It’s no surprise that “Just Because” has become a wedding staple for couples all around the world.
6. “You Bring Me Joy”
Interestingly, “You Bring Me Joy” was never released as a single. Nonetheless, in any discussion of Anita Baker’s hits, this honorable mention is always met with praise. Despite not charting, “You Bring Me Joy” has continued to melt hearts well into the 2020s. It’s the true definition of a timeless classic, especially as the material speaks for itself. Baker still performs this song religiously, and any attendee at her shows knows that this ballad is sure to bring the house down every single time. After all, who wouldn’t want to hear her sing, “You’re the finest thing I’ve seen in all my life”?
Building on Rapture’s success in 1986, Anita Baker released “Same Ole Love” in 1987. It’s one of the more uptempo songs in her discography, but the emotional components of her career are still present. “Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year)” is simply a confessional song, aimed at one’s lover. With the ever-changing world, Baker sings about retaining the wonderful from her partner no matter what. Better yet, she desires this love everyday of the year. What could be more romantic?
4. “No One In The World”
Another one of many hits on Anita Baker’s Rapture is “No One In The World.” The final single off the album is a percussion-assisted love song. It’s haunting, mesmerizing, and Baker’s yearning is felt in her voice. The track was previously released by Dionne Warwick, but Baker’s version was a fuller, more intimate one. It features what is arguably Baker’s most captivating climax, as she makes her claim known over and over again.
3. “Caught Up In The Rapture”
Easily one of Anita Baker’s hits, “Caught Up In The Rapture” is a timeless classic. Starting off with the haunting melody, the quiet storm is like a warm hug on a cold day. Baker’s voice is sultry and smooth, and you can hear every word she’s saying. The second single off her lauded album Rapture, this track is Baker at her finest. It may not have topped the charts, but it’s arguably her most recognizable song.
2. “Giving You The Best That I Got”
If it’s one thing Anita Baker’s hits do, it’s make you feel like the only person in the room. With a deep understanding of musicality, Baker’s voice and lyricism leave any listener feeling warm inside. “Giving You the Best That I Got” was released in 1988 to widespread acclaim. Like most of Anita Baker’s hits, this Grammy-winning song has stood the test of time. Notably, Michael Jordan used to taunt his opponents by singing this song. With assuring lyrics like “I bet everythingon my wedding ring,” you really felt as if Baker was deeply in love with you.
1. “Sweet Love”
Anita Baker’s first of many major hits was “Sweet Love.” Honestly, it doesn’t get better than this song for fans of the icon. Baker’s voice is perfection, and the climactic bridge is spellbinding. The track won the Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1987, and remains one of the most memorable songs of the 80s. It’s not an Anita Baker performance is “Sweet Love” isn’t performed, and you can bet the crowd is bopping along with her.
It is no secret that Drake’s name is getting dragged through the mud and then some as of late. Most people have crowned Kendrick Lamar the winner, especially after “The Heart Part 6” was widely panned. With the diss tracks seemingly at a permanent halt, people are making sure to remind The Boy that he took a massive L. Metro Boomin has been an instigator, applauding Lil Wayne for spinning “Not Like Us” at a recent show. He even played his diss beat at a St. Louis Cardinals game the other night. The entire state of California has clearly showed who they believe has taken the W. That point has been hammered home, especially after a supposed sighting of a “BBL Drizzy” mural popping up in Compton.
This wall art was found by a user on X (formerly Twitter), and it is quite the “kick to the family jewels,” for lack of a better word. In the short clip below, it zooms in on a depiction of Drake all beaten up and bloody in a yellow tracksuit. Next to “BBL Drizzy” it says, “They not like us,” a clear reference to Lamar’s final diss. Then, the person behind the camera pans left, portraying Kendrick as one of his many aliases.
They decided to show him as Kung Fu Kenny essentially kicking the crap out of Drake. It is a real disrespectful way to literally paint him. To us, it conveys the utter hatred for the Canadian multi-hyphenate and it seems it is only growing. Even though the diss tracks are no more, this beef is far from over.
What are your thoughts on this “BBL Drizzy” mural popping up in Compton? Have you ever seen a rapper get this much hate thrown his/her way, why or why not? Who do you claim as the winner of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and their ongoing beef. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Everyone in the rap world is discussing the newly leaked Diddy and Cassie video, at least, almost everyone is. Over the weekend CNN shared a difficult to watch new clip of hotel security camera footage showing the rap mogul allegedly assaulting Cassie. The video mirrored allegations that Cassie made last year when she sued Diddy, which served as the first of multiple lawsuits that emerged against him in the months following. But not everyone is following the developments so closely.
Recently. TMZ caught up with Common where they asked him a few questions. He kicked the interaction off with an expert dodging of some proposal questions, instead promoting his upcoming album with Pete Rock which is coming this summer. For their next question, the interviewers just assume that he’s been following the developing situation surrounding Diddy. But the “GO!” rapper actually clarifies that he hasn’t seen the video yet. He reveals that he avoids things with negative vibes and instead chooses to focus on positivity. When asked if Diddy should get another chance in music, he pretty humbly suggests that it isn’t his place to judge and that he has no authority on the situation. Check out his full interview below.
Though Common isn’t engaging with the Diddy situation directly, plenty of others are. That’s included numerous incredibly strongly-worded refutations of his apology in particular. Aubrey O’Day has been one of the loudest critics of Diddy and she unsurprisingly had thoughts on his apology. She called is dishonest and pointed out his complete denial of the claims made by Cassie back when there was no video evidence. Charlamagne The God made similar claims about the authenticity of the feelings going into his apology.
What do you think of Common avoiding watching the Diddy and Cassie video that the rap world has been talking about altogether? Do you agree with his philosophy to only focus on things that are bringing a positive energy? Let us know in the comment section below.
Apple Music has been slowly rolling out its list of the 100 best albums over the past week, and it’s definitely reactions (which is, of course, the point). Not only are people debating the placements of the albums that have been revealed so far, but some conspicuous absences also have them predicting which albums are going to make it into the top 10, which has yet to be revealed.
Naturally, there’ve been plenty of classics, but more than a few controversial picks, with Travis Scott’s Astroworld and SZA’s SOS being called examples of recency bias on X (RIP, Twitter.com).
Among those artists whose albums haven’t been seen in the list so far are Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, and even Michael Jackson. As one commenter put it on X, “we’ve reached the top 10 portion of this apple music 100 best albums list and they’ve yet to include a kendrick album or a michael jackson album. also no college dropout or miseducation of lauryn hill yet. they fill up the remaining spots right??”
just realized there isn’t one ariana album on the apple music top 100 albums…………… yet. pic.twitter.com/Z8OCYDBEtS
— Jerome Trammel, M.B.A (@MrJeromeTrammel) May 21, 2024
we’ve reached the top 10 portion of this apple music 100 best albums list and they’ve yet to include a kendrick album or a michael jackson album. also no college dropout or miseducation of lauryn hill yet.
Country music is having a moment, and unsurprisingly, there are some new faces at the forefront of its breakthrough, — faces like Beyoncé’s, Shaboozey’s, and Tanner Adell’s. However, there’s one pioneer in the genre who doesn’t quite feel like he got the same love as they’re receiving now.
In a May 19 interview with BBC, Lil Nas X said that he was “happy” for the country music successes of artists like Beyoncé and Shaboozey, but that he feels a little left out. “I wish this would have happened for me,” he said. “I wasn’t even able to experience this.”
Nas appears to be referring to the reception of his breakout hit “Old Town Road,” which despite breaking records on the Billboard Hot 100 as the longest-running No. 1 ever, was never truly embraced by the country music establishment. The song was actually pulled from the country music chart initially for not sounding “country” enough, and received a chilly reception from country radio programmers. It did go on to win a CMA Award, but not without controversy.
And while Beyoncé may have had a rough road onto those country trails, it took far less fussing and fighting for her single “Texas Hold ‘Em” to enter country airplay after her label reviewed its metadata, and her album Cowboy Carter was widely well-received, landing at No. 1 in its first week despite the big change in sound for Beyoncé.
Megan Thee Stallion is juggling quite a bit right now. The rapper is currently on a much-talked-about new tour. Fans online were locked in fierce debate over whether or not she was the caliber of artist who could go on a stadium tour. She seemingly answered that question when she sold out more than a dozen stadiums before the tour even began. But that hasn’t stopped some of her haters, many inspired by her beef with Nicki Minaj earlier this year, from trying to come after her new shows.
She’s also about to launch a brand new product. Rapper’s collaborating on their own alcohol brands has a long history in the genre and Megan is about to join some of her predecessors. The “HISS” rapper took to Instagram to reveal to fans that she has a tequila brand dropping soon. Fans at her recent show in Chicago got the chance to try the brand early. The post was accompanied by a video of the rapper with the bottle, giving fans their first taste of what it looks like. Check out the preview of her upcoming beverage below.
Megan Thee Stallion has already shared three new singles from her upcoming snake-themed new album. It began last year with the hard-hitting “COBRA” which even got a special rock version with metal band Spiritbox. Earlier this year, she dropped the even more evocative “HISS,” which got her embroiled in one of the first big rap beefs of the year. One particularly hilarious lyric referencing Megan’s Law was a veiled shot at Nicki Minaj. In particular, she took aim at Minaj’s husband and his criminal history. That led to Nicki to respond with a diss track called “Big Foot” which was bashed by critics and fans alike.
What do you think of Megan Thee Stallion sharing a preview of her upcoming new tequila? Do you think you’ll try the “WAP” rapper’s sponsored beverage whenever its made publicly available? Let us know in the comment section below.
The 2024 Grammys were only three months ago, but already, the Recording Academy is looking forward to the year ahead. The Academy posted a list of important dates for the 2025 Grammys, including the cutoff date for consideration (August 30), when the nominations will be announced (November 8), and when the voting for those nominations will conclude (January 3, 2025). The only question that leaves is: when will the 67th Annual Grammy Awards be held?
Fortunately, that date was part of the larger announcement. The 2025 Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 2, 2025, and will be broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena via CBS (or Paramount Plus).
#GRAMMYs Key Dates: Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024: Product Eligibility Period Oct.4, 2024 – Oct.15, 2024: 1st Round Voting Nov. 8, 2024: GRAMMY Nominations Dec.12, 2024 – Jan.3, 2025: Final Round Voting Feb. 2, 2025: 67th GRAMMY Awards
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) May 21, 2024
The past year’s awards included some surprises, with Uproxx’s Derrick Rossignol listing the biggest winners and losers including Taylor Swift and boygenius winning several awards, Swift announcing her album The Tortured Poets Department, and Miley Cyrus’ performance among the winners. The eventful ceremony also saw Killer Mike led out in handcuffs after sweeping every category for which he was nominated earlier in the evening.
Next year’s awards already have stiff competition just for nominations, with the aforementioned Tortured Poets and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter dropping earlier this year. The latter is also sure to be the center point of some categorical controversy come November, and that’s without even knowing what else is dropping before the cutoff.
(@aboogievsartist)
Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024: Product Eligibility Period
Oct.4, 2024 – Oct.15, 2024: 1st Round Voting
Nov. 8, 2024: GRAMMY Nominations
Feb. 2, 2025: 67th GRAMMY Awards