Music

Jack Harlow’s DJ Has Been Indicted On Murder Charges In Relation To A Louisville Nightclub Shooting

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A little over a week ago, video emerged from a Lousiville nightclub that showed Jack Harlow standing just feet away from what would be a deadly shooting. The incident was captured on camera and shared by TMZ and in it, the rapper (who is from Louisville) could be seen moving toward safety. Now, TMZ reports that the rapper’s DJ Ronnie Luciano, born Ronnie Tyshon O’Bannon, was indicted on charges for his alleged link in the shooting. O’Bannon was specifically charged “with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the fatal shooting” and TMZ further reports that a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

The shooting occurred at Lousiville’s Ultra Lounge during the weekend of the Kentucky Derby. In the video, Harlow can be seen enjoying his time at the nightclub when an argument broke out in front of him. The vocal dispute quickly turned physical and a brief moment later, gunshots could be heard which sparked chaos in the nightclub as the attendees, including Harlow, ran to safety. The shooting resulted in the death of one woman and sent another man to the hospital with non-fatal injuries.

It was just a week before this incident that Lil Durk’s Smurkchella concert in Phoenix came to an early end due to a shooting. There, only one woman was injured after a bullet grazed her leg.

(Via TMZ)

Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Soulja Boy’s Ex-Girlfriend Has Sued Him While Lodging Sexual Battery And Domestic Violence Allegations Against Him

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Soulja Boy is facing some legal troubles. As the rapper enjoys the success of his latest single, “She Make It Clap,” an effort that went No. 1 on TikTok, he was reportedly hit with a lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend. According to TMZ, Soulja Boy was sued for alleged sexual battery and domestic abuse by his former partner, who chose to stay anonymous and be known as Jane Doe in the lawsuit that was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. She claims to have started dating Soulja Boy back in 2007 before entering a serious relationship with him from 2014 to 2019, but she says that she exited it because she could “no longer stand the abuse.”

The rapper’s ex-girlfriend also accuses him of attacking her in 2015, an incident she says resulted in a miscarriage and the removal of her uterine lining. She also claims (via TMZ) that Soulja Boy “began to physically attack and yell at her” while they were filming their reality TV show, and in 2019, she alleges that he physically removed her and her daughter from their shared home, and when she later refused to enter back into a relationship with him, he allegedly “gripped [Doe’s] neck and choked her while threatening her life.”

This is the rapper’s second lawsuit of the year after he was sued (in January) for alleged sexual battery, sexual assault, and false imprisonment by his former personal assistant, who also filed under Jane Doe.

(Via TMZ)

Lil Uzi Vert ‘Dumbed Down’ ‘Eternal Atake’ For Sales, But Really Wanted It To Be ‘Cultlike’

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It’s no accident that Lil Uzi Vert is one of the most popular figures within hip-hop. In fact, he admits some of the calculated choices he made to attain that status in a new interview in W Magazine. Commenting on the commercial success of his most recent album Eternal Atake, which debuted at No. 1 two weeks in a row thanks to its split release and is still charting a year later, he says that he considers the album “dumbed down” as a direct appeal to a broader audience.

“All of my music for Eternal Atake got leaked, so I had to redo it,” he recalls. “It didn’t reach its full potential—I just knew it wasn’t the sound I was going for. Let’s just say Eternal Atake, for another artist, would have been really good because it was super dumbed down to where everyone could enjoy it, but that’s not my artistry. I want my new music to be more intimate to my real fans. I wanted it to be almost cultlike.”

Uzi attributes his artistic compromises to playing the comparison game. “I was listening to all the industry guys and their formats—it was confusing me because these guys are getting No. 1’s,” he allows. But I realized the music ain’t even living; their No. 1’s are real quick. I had to realize this is their beginning; they’re younger than me, so they have room to do that. I don’t have room to do that. I used to always look at all the young guys and be like, ‘Oh, shout out this guy.’ I ain’t shouting out nobody no more.” With a new album on the way, he’ll have a chance to make up for his perceived missteps.

Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Village People’s Victor Willis Tells The Weeknd To ‘Lighten Up’ With His Grammys Criticism

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Ever since his No. 1 album After Hours was snubbed of a 2020 Grammy Award, The Weeknd has not been shy about his criticism of The Recording Academy, even promising to boycott the organization going forward. But The Weeknd isn’t the first singer to publicly call out The Recording Academy for their problematic practices. Village People’s Victor Willis (aka the cop) has a long history of outing the Grammys’ discriminatory practices — and he’s now telling The Weeknd to “lighten up.”

Back in 2017, Willis was outspoken about his disdain for the Grammys. He even reportedly send a letter to The Recording Academy’s president claiming there were “secret committees” that existed to “override the decision of Grammy voters in the event the select committee does not like who the Grammy voter has chosen” for the biggest awards. Willis also cited the controversy around Adele beating out Beyonce in every major category that year. “If certain people at the Grammys don’t like who the voters have chosen,” he wrote, “a Grammy committee will simply override the voters and subsequently select who they think should win. Like Adele, maybe?”

But now, Willis has turned his attention to The Weeknd’s recent comments about the Recording Academy. Penning an open letter to The Weeknd on Facebook, Willis claimed The Weeknd stayed silent when he was “benefiting from those secret committees” in the past. The Village People singer also applauded the work of The Recording Academy’s interm CEO Harvey Mason Jr.:

“Pssst, ‘The Weeknd,’ lighten up on the Grammys already why don’t cha!? I know a thing or two about attacking the Grammys, and their once secret committees. I must say you’re not handling this in the spirit of Black protest of this important issue. You see, while Black artists like me were making honest complaints about the secret committees, you were busy racking up one Grammy after another under those secret committees.

I don’t recall you complaining about the secret committees when you were benefiting from those secret committees. But on the one occasion the secret committees didn’t benefit you, the Grammys are suddenly corrupt, and it’s off with their heads? Under the circumstances, you’re much too talented to be pouting about the Grammys. And it seems you’re out for blood despite the secret committees being eliminated. Negative.

This important American institution known as the Grammys has an African American in there (Harvey Mason) that’s making real, meaningful and historic changes that will likely benefit the music business for decades to come. Cut the brotha some slack!”

Young Dolph & Key Glock’s ‘A Goat & A Dolphin’ Video Keeps Things Simple

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Young Dolph & Key Glock still aren’t stopping, even nearly two months after the release of their latest joint album Dum & Dummer 2. After putting out videos for “Aspen,” “Sleep With The Roaches,” “Penguins,” “Rain Rain,” and more, they keep the ball rolling today with the video for “A Goat & A Dolphin.”

The most prominent feature of this video is its female talent, this time in the form of a short-haired young woman in a bikini who twerks behind Key Glock as he raps. The scene switches for Dolph’s verses, adopting a red filter as the two rappers stand back-to-back in a smoky room, adding more women who catwalk through the scene, occasionally pausing to mug at the camera or briefly interact with the rappers.

In an era when most rappers drop a project and forget about it within a few weeks, Dolph and Glock’s commitment to bringing attention to their latest effort is commendable — and smart. They continue to run up the streaming numbers long after the album’s release, a rarity in an increasingly packed slate of big-name releases from major label artists who can afford to stretch their rollouts for months on end. With Dolph announcing his pending retirement last month, he’ll be leaving the game on an extremely high note and earning his time off.

Watch The video for “A Goat & A Dolphin” above.

Yung Nudy’s ‘2Face’ Video With G Herbo Announces The Release Date Of His New Album, ‘Dr Ev4l’

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Atlanta rapper Young Nudy returns this month with a new album, Dr Ev4l, and today, he released the video for its first single, “2Face” featuring G Herbo. The 13-song project will also include features from Nudy’s cousin, 21 Savage, and from Lil Uzi Vert. Nudy previously posted the horror-themed cover on his social media channels, as well as an invite to his haunted house-themed album release party in Atlanta. The album is due May 18 on Nudy’s own PDE Records and RCA.

The video for “2Face” sees the two stoic-faced rappers make a stop at the convenience store and throw a parking lot party attended by their respective crews and some scantily-clad, twerking ladies. Lyrically, Herbo and Nudy tread familiar territory, flexing their cash and shouting out their homeboys, denying they’ll ever let their boys down. A beat switch toward the end is accompanied by a transition to a nighttime shoot with Nudy and friends posturing on the block in ski masks as a red filter washes everything in a ghoulish crimson.

Dr Ev4l is Nudy’s first full-length release since 2020’s Anyways and his breakout 2019 Pi’erre Bourne-produced joint mixtape Sli’merre. He also featured on Dreamville’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III, further increasing anticipation for his latest release.

Watch the “2Face” video above.

Dr Ev4l is out 5/28 via RCA. Pre-save it here.

The Hollywood Bowl’s 2021 Summer Lineup Includes Two Nights Of Christina Aguilera

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It’s been a tough year for some of the nation’s most beloved venues. The onset of the pandemic and subsequent quarantine meant staying away from massive gatherings like crowds at The Forum or the Staples Center was the safe choice, with plenty of canceled tours in the wake, and seeing those musical monuments sit empty has been hard on everyone. Now, there’s light on the horizon, as one of LA’s biggest and best arenas is ready to re-open its doors.

That’s right, the Hollywood Bowl has officially announced their 2021 lineup, and it includes some surprising and unexpected names. For instance, I highly doubt most Stripped diehards had not one but two nights of Christina Aguilera headlining the bowl on their 2021 bingo card, but that’s what we’ve got coming up in July. There’s also big appearances from Kamasi Washington, Earl Sweatshirt, H.E.R., Brittany Howard, Jamila Woods, Herbie Hancock, and a whole lot more.

The entire summer calendar announcement is included below, even the LA Phil dates, so please check out the venue’s website for more information on those bookings. Normally we don’t cover a lot of the classical music performances, but after a year of no concerts, I have a feeling those nights will be more populated than ever.

Check out the full listing below:

05/15 —Dudamel and the LA Phil
05/17 — Pink: All I Know So Far screening
05/22 — Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev with Dudamel (LA Phil)
06/12 — Thundercat + Flying Lotus
06/26 — La Santa Cecilia
07/03 — July 4th Fireworks Spectacular + Kool & The Gang
07/04 — July 4th Fireworks Spectacular + Kool & The Gang
07/15 — Peter And The Wolf with Viola Davis & Dudamel (LA Phil)
07/16 — Christina Aguilera (LA Phil)
07/17 — Christina Aguilera (LA Phil)
07/18 — KCRW’s World Festival: Kamasi Washington + Earl Sweatshirt
07/20 — Tianyi Lu Conducts Pictures At An Exhibition (LA Phil)
07/22 — Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky (LA Phil)
07/24 — Ledisi Sings Nina Simone (LA Phil)
07/27 — Mozart and Mendelssohn with Ruth Reinhardt (LA Phil)
07/30 — Cynthia Erivo (LA Phil)
07/31 — The Princess Bride in Concert (LA Phil)
08/01 — KCRW’s World Festival: Reggae Night XIX, Ziggy Marley, Wailing Souls
08/05 — Schumann & Schumann (LA Phil)
08/06 — Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks (LA Phil, USC Trojan Marching Band)
08/07 — Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks (LA Phil, USC Trojan Marching Band)
08/08 — Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns Tower of Power
08/10 — Dudamel Conducts Gershwin (LA Phil)
08/12 — Dudamel Conducts the “New World” (LA Phil)
08/13 — H.E.R. With The LA Phil
08/14 — H.E.R. With The LA Phil
08/15 — Blame It On Rio! with Sergio Mendes and carnival dancers
08/17 — Dudamel Leads Elgar and Grieg (LA Phil)
08/19 — Dudamel Conducts Beethoven & Falla (LA Phil)
08/21 — Sing-A-Long Sound Of Music
08/24 — Dudamel Leads Márquez and Tchaikovsky (LA Phil)
08/26 — Piazzolla & Tchaikovsky with Dudamel (LA Phil)
08/27 — Carlos Vives (LA Phil)
08/28 — Carlos Vives (LA Phil)
08/31 — Ray Chen Plays Mendelssohn
09/02 — Gershwin and Bonds (LA Phil)
09/03 — Maestro of the Movies: John Williams + David Newman conduct the LA Phil)
09/04 — Maestro of the Movies: John Williams + David Newman conduct the LA Phil)
09/05 — Maestro of the Movies: John Williams + David Newman conduct the LA Phil)
09/09 — Beethoven & Schumann (LA Phil)
09/10 — Black Panther in Concert (LA Phil)
09/11 — Black Panther in Concert (LA Phil)
09/12 — Black Panther in Concert (LA Phil)
09/14 — Yo-Yo Ma | The Bach Project
09/17 — Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince In Concert
09/18 — KCRW’s World Festival: Brittany Howard, Jamila Woods, Georgia Anne Muldrow
09/25 — James Blake (Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)
09/26 — Herbie Hancock
09/28 — Mozart Under The Stars With Dudamel (LA Phil)

J. Cole Shoots Down Rumors That He’s Contemplating Retirement After ‘The Fall Off’

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Ever since J. Cole closed his 2018 album KOD with a song title “1985 (Intro To The Fall Off),” fans have looked forward to the album of that title with both anticipation and apprehension. For one thing, lyrics, interviews, and social media posts he’s made since then have all seemed to imply plans to retire from rap once the album drops. However, in a new cover story in Slam magazine, of all places, Cole denies that he has any such plans, explaining that while he’s at peace with never making another album, he has too much love for the game to simply declare he’s done.

“I’m super comfortable with the potential of being done with this sh*t,” he tells Slam. “But I’m never going to say, ‘Oh, this is my last album.’… Because I never know how I’m going to feel two years, three years, four years down the line, 10 years down the line, but please believe, I’m doing all this work for a reason. I’m doing all this work to be at peace with, ‘If I never did another album, I’m cool.’”

If it seems a little out-of-place for a rapper to be doing cover stories for a basketball magazine, Cole made sure to legitimize that as well; yesterday, it was announced that he’d signed a contract to play in the newly created Basketball Africa League as part of Rwanda’s Patriots team ahead of the release of his next album, The Off-Season, which is decidedly not the same as The Fall Off.

Cordae Starts His Own Record Label, Hi-Level Productions

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Cordae may only be a few years into his rap career proper, but he’s already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments and is clearly focused on making the right moves. His next step is ownership and advocacy for fellow rising artists, as he has launched his own label, Hi-Level Productions. Although he’s revealed little about the venture — how it affects his current deal with Atlantic or whose music it’ll be releasing first — it’s clear its aim is to function differently than a corporately controlled major, with its Instagram touting it as “a family, way of life, and Record Label, 100% owned by @cordae.”

The announcement comes just weeks after Cordae released the four-song EP, Just Until, his first compilation of new material since his 2019 debut The Lost Boy. The project included features from Q-Tip and Young Thug, and so far, Cordae’s released videos for two tracks, “More Life” and “Dream In Color.” The project was also his first since his name change from YBN Cordae signified a split from the YBN crew. The creation of his own label continues to highlight the level of creative control he wants to maintain over his work — and possibly, an intention to start signing and developing his own artists.

Check out the logo for Hi-Level above and more info here.

Cordae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nicki Minaj’s Comeback Instagram Made Google Searches For ‘Pink Crocs’ Skyrocket

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The makers of Crocs may want to send Nicki Minaj a gift basket after her most recent Instagram post sent interest in their products skyrocketing per worldwide Google trends. The formerly ridiculed footwear brand has seen its cool quotient increase over the past year as fans post their customized pairs on social media, but Nicki Minaj’s post saw searches for “pink Crocs” shoot up over 100 percent after she posted a nearly nude photo of herself sitting on a desk wearing the comfy foam clogs.

According to MarketWatch, the rise in Crocs’ popularity was likely prompted by both the equivalent rise in comfort styling due to the pandemic and resulting quarantine and the brand’s recent collaborations with pop stars such as Post Malone, who gave free pairs of his collab to students at his old high school and healthcare workers, Bad Bunny, whose collaborative pair glows in the dark, and Justin Bieber, whose Drew House design apparently jump-started the brand’s stock by 11 percent.

It’s safe to say that celebrity endorsements like Nicki’s have brought the brand back from the dead after it nearly declared bankruptcy just a few years ago. Meanwhile, whatever Nicki’s got planned for “F R I D A Y,” you can be sure it’ll stir up its fair share of attention, too.