Earlier this week, Nicki Minaj took to X to put her former manager Deb Antney on blast. Her lengthy post arrived shortly after Antney revealed that she once reached out to Lil Kim, looking to squash her longwinded feud with the “FTCU” rapper. In response, Nicki explained that she confronted Antney for going behind her back at the time, as Lil Kim would likely believe that the message was actually coming from her.
“I didn’t ask you to do a THING! You told me AFTER THE FACT & I SCREAMED ON YOU & told you if you reach out to ppl now that you’re being seen around me, they will THINK it’s coming FROM ME so to NEVER do that again w/o discussing it with me FIRST,” Nicki wrote.
She went on to ask Antney “How dare you?” and to urge people to stop using her name for “clickbait.” Fortunately, however, the rant doesn’t appear to have had a major impact on Nicki and Antney’s bond. Recently, the femcee took to Instagram Live alongside Antney, looking completely unfazed by their recent spat. She even called Antney her “other mama,” indicating just how close they actually are. Clearly, neither of them took the brief drama to heart, as they both appeared to be in good spirits.
Nicki even took the opportunity to play an unreleased track for fans, which they both vibed to. While commenters are glad to see the duo back on good terms, they aren’t necessarily surprised, as Antney has always had her back through thick and thin. What do you think of Nicki Minaj seemingly making up with Deb Antney after calling her out this week? Are you surprised or not? What about her previewing an unreleased song? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
After deleting all the posts from his account, it seems like Diddy is starting fresh with his Instagram page amid his many accusations and lawsuits. Moreover, his first IG Story post after this wipe is a video of him boarding a private jet for Combs Air, and we have no idea where he’s flying from or where he’s flying to. Still, we have to imagine that Sean Combs is moving pretty carefully and deliberately these days, as he’s got a rocky public image to reckon with. Every sighting comes with its own angle, every statement comes with a lot of scrutiny, and every denial falls on more and more skeptical ears after the release of his Cassie assault video.
However, all the other allegations against Diddy remain just that: allegations that he and his legal team expressed confidence in being debunked by a court of law. Still, a new sex trafficking lawsuit against him from Adria English doesn’t make the narrative and the optics any easier to handle. Perhaps the Bad Boy mogul will continue to post on his Instagram account after his previous wipe, or this will be a rare one-and-done Story. Either way, folks will likely continue to find more ways to update themselves on his situation and his movement.
In addition, Diddy might face much larger issues in his path in the near future… at least, if new reports on a New York federal grand jury emerged with any shred of accuracy. Apparently, they opened a criminal investigation into him recently, a decision that authorities notified him and his legal team of. As such, we expect that camp to be partially aware of what’s going on, although they obviously don’t have all the details. Maybe a future statement or response of some kind will illuminate this situation with law enforcement.
Meanwhile, as Diddy tries to sell his $70 million mansion in Los Angeles, we begin to see what the future might hold for him. It will be a lot reallocation, a lot of divestment, and a huge overhaul of his assets, lifestyle, and place in pop culture. Whether or not he comes out on the other side of this in the clear, it’s hard to imagine how the world will react. Perhaps this Instagram return says more than we think…
Earlier this week, Kendrick Lamar unleashed his eagerly anticipated “Not Like Us” music video, and unsurprisingly, it’s been a major success. The video has already racked up more than 23 million views on YouTube, prompted countless reactions from fans, and more. Social media users have been hard at work dissecting the explosive visual, identifying any potential hints at what’s to come. A jacket Kendrick wore in the video, for example, has sparked rumors about his next album.
The jacket in question was believed to feature the date “8/8/2024,” which many thought could be the release date of an upcoming project. It was later confirmed, however, that the jacket actually says “S/S/2024.” Now, it’s speculated that this was yet another subtle jab at Drake.
The jacket, as well as a scarf Kendrick sported at other points in the video, is from Jamaican-British designer Martine Rose’s Spring/Summer collection. Fans think this could have been a reference to Kendrick’s digs at Drake’s accent and use of Toronto slang. This is unconfirmed, though it wouldn’t come as a shock considering all the subtle jabs Kendrick’s taken at Drizzy in recent months.
As for the actual release date for Kendrick’s next album, it’s still up in the air, though some suspect that it’ll arrive sooner rather than later. During a recent chat with TMZ, for instance, The Alchemist shared his prediction that the project will drop sometime this year. “I think he’s gonna drop an album this year,” he told the outlet, “I don’t think he has to… I think he will, just cuz he can.” What do you think of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video? What about rumors that his jacket featured the release date of his next album? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Rick Ross made a horrible mistake during his recent trip to Vancouver, B.C. Following a string of shots between himself and Drake, Ross decided to troll some more by playing “Not Like Us” at the end of his set, leading to some friction between himself and some other people backstage. Things got heated and it appeared that Ross got struck in the face before his crew got jumped.
We’ve all seen the footage by now. Rick Ross gets into it with another man who seemingly connects his fist to the rapper’s jaw with “Not Like Us” playing in the background. However, the Miami boss doesn’t see it that way. In a video shared to his Instagram Story, Ross was seemingly in denial about getting assaulted. “When the first dude stepped up to Rozay, the short fat one that looks like Bam Bam Bigelow from wrestling. When he stepped up, and then I squat down to his eyes and told him what I said. Basically, wherever I hit you, I’mma see whatever you ate for the last two days,” he said.
“His balls dropped out of his ass. He never said another word,” Rick Ross continued. “He never did nothing, he was a straight buster. Then the n***a behind him said, ‘I know MM-AYYYEEEEEEE!’ And then, I got hit with a drink. I’m still convinced no n***a punched me.” His theory is that someone actually threw a drink at him because “throwin’ a drink would’ve been way more disrespectful than screaming ‘‘I know MM-AYYYEEEEEEE!’”
Ross isn’t the first person to face backlash for performing this song in Canada. Cipha Sounds allegedly faced the wrath of OVO 40 for using the song for an Instagram post about his comedy set in Toronto. Then, there was the story of a DJ in Toronto who got removed from the club. Though “Not Like Us” currently sits at #10 on Billboard Canadian Hot 100, it became a faux-pas of sorts to play that song in public.
Ice Spice has an army behind her waiting for the release of her upcoming album Y2K, and she hasn’t let her foot off the gas when it comes to setting the stage. Moreover, she recently teased a new song amid Fourth of July fireworks presumably in Denmark, as she performed there on the U.S. holiday for a festival and hit the stage with the same outfit as the one she wears in this clip. The Bronx femcee talks about doing her cheating partners worse than they’re doing her, clutching her purse, and doing that reverse -– no Uno. She does so over a moody and woozy Jersey sample flip, which joins her drill flips as her bread and butter these days.
Speaking of those musical styles, Ice Spice recently praised her collaborator and upcoming tour mate Cash Cobain for being the sound of the moment right now. “Cash really has my attention right now,” she remarked to Bootleg Kev during a recent interview. “I’ve been listening to him a lot. It’s really his time, so he’s mostly who I’m a fan of right now.” It’s ironic because he thinks that his XXL freshman freestyle is “a**,” but he clearly has a big audience for his artistry.
One aspect of Y2K that people are curious to hear is whether or not Ice Spice will address any of her female rap peers. Of course, this is mostly due to how there’s a lot of alleged, pretty undeniable, and also outright examples of beef between them in 2024. As for Ice Spice, her supposed target (and vice versa) is Latto, and they seemed to shade each other at the BET Awards recently through their performances of their apparent diss tracks against each other. Will we see this boil over or will it stay as close to indirect as it can be without crossing the line?
Meanwhile, this new song preview about cheaters also raised fans’ eyebrows thanks to some recent dating rumors. Fans think Ice Spice and Central Cee are an item, even though there have been similar rumors about Spice’s producer RIOTUSA. We don’t know whether anything will ever come from this. But for so many different angles, everybody’s curious about what Y2K holds, and we can’t wait to hear it.
JAY-Z is the rap businessman. Other artists have been successful, but nobody else has made the business side of things such an explicit part of their persona. He backs up in real life, too. The Brooklyn icon has invested in the luxury watch marketplace Wristcheck. He bought a $5 million in the company, which was founded by Austen Chu in 2020. The rapper joins a prestigious list of Wrist Check investors, including Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, K3 Venture and Gobi Partners GBA.
Austen Chu announced the deal on July 3. He issued a statement praising JAY-Z and his exposure he’s given to luxury watches in his lyrics. He also cited the rapper as an inspiration on his business mindset. “As an entrepreneur, JAY-Z has always been an inspiration to me,” he wrote. “I remember growing up to his music. His lyrics not only introduced me to watch brands like Audemars Piguet, but also fueled my love for watches even further… He bridged the gap between watches and pop culture.”
The praise didn’t stop there. Chu also cited JAY-Z’s enormous influence as something that will boost the Wristcheck profile moving forward. “[He’s] the most influential celebrity watch collector of the 21st century and a certified G.O.A.T.,” Chu explained. “His support carries immense weight both personally and professionally. It’s a testament to the trust and community we’ve built. And marks a major milestone in cementing Wristcheck as the go-to platform for watch enthusiasts worldwide.”
Chu is not wrong in overstating JAY-Z’s association with watches. The rapper has spent decades putting fans onto brands and names they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. The association even applies to other rappers. N.O.R.E. claimed that he always consults Jay before he buys a new watch. “I won’t buy a watch unless I speak to certain people,” he told the Wrist Check podcast. “JAY-Z’s top of the list. He does not answer me all the time. But I think that’s respect. I think that if he doesn’t like the watch, he won’t say, ‘N.O.R.E., don’t do that.’”
Playboi Carti fans are nothing if not patient. The rollout for his last album, Whole Lotta Red, was one of the longest and most protracted in recent memory. The rollout for his next album has been more of the same. That being said, a release date might be in site. Playboi Carti performed at Splash! Festival on July 5th, and he surprised everyone by addressing the album delay. Not only that, but he made a promise to fans they will get to hear it soon.
Carti is known for his aggressive stage presence. It made sense, then, that he dropped his bombshell news while screaming at the top of his lungs. “I promise you,” he told the fans. “The album is coming.” The rapper didn’t stop there. “So it’s only right,” he explained. “That I come here tonight and give you a world premiere.” He then decided to treat fans to the first full performance of the song “All Red,” which is expected to be on the untitled album. Playboi Carti has given fans lots of reason to be hopeful for a new album soon, with all the teasers and snippets. That being said, this is the most encouraging piece of info shared yet.
Cardo, who has collaborated with Playboi Carti for years, talked about the album’s lengthy making during a recent interview. The producer claimed he was traveling to Atlanta to put the finishing touches on the album. He also revealed that he’s been working on the album for four years, which is even before Carti announced it. Playboi Carti is obviously not a rush. In November, the rapper told Numéro Berlin that he spent three months in a cave. He claimed he wanted to see what the acoustics of a cave would sound like on record.
“I really try to stay out my head,” Playboi Carti told the outlet. “I try to stay out my phone and I just try to lock in. I’m in my surroundings. I’ve been recording in Paris. I love Paris. I was recording in a cave for like three months and all the music that came out of that is just chaotic and crazy.” It’s safe to assume sonic experiments like this are what has led to the album’s delay. That being said, the aforementioned leaks suggest that the wait will be worth it.
DJ Akademiks has been riding for Drake for years. He’s the rapper’s biggest fan in terms of notable media personalities. That being said, Ak has faced up to some harsh truths over the last few weeks. He fears that the Kendrick Lamar battle may have permanently impacted Drake’s career. Not only in terms of reputation, which has certainly been the case, but in sales as well. The 6 God spent a decade and a half with the Midas touch, but DJ Akademiks think the era of the “Drake Stimulus Package” is over.
Ak did a live stream reaction to the music video for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” He admitted the video was highly memorable, but it was the song’s continued chart success that led to a more serious discussion. “Not Like Us” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and it’s still at number three. Conversely, Drake’s last few releases have underperformed, and DJ Akademiks has noticed. “Drake’s wings, slightly, feel clipped,” he noted. “The Drake Stimulus Package right now, doesn’t exist. Drake going on Camila Cabello’s track didn’t do nothing.”
DJ Akademiks is not wrong. Drake and Camila Cabello hyped up their duet “Hot Uptown” for months. It was positively received by fans and critics, but it also tanked on the charts. It debuted at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is unheard of for a high-profile Drake collab. “U My Everything,” the Drake and Sexyy Red song, didn’t fare much better. The song, which sampled “BBL Drizzy,” peaked at number 44. Drake and Red’s previous collab, “Rich Baby Daddy,” peaked at number 11 by comparison. That’s an enormous downshift.
DJ Akademiks also gave Kendrick Lamar his flowers after watching the “Not Like Us” video. “He did give everybody a look,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Pretty good video ngl.” Ak also recognized how big the video and the song are for hip-hop culture. “First music video people have cared about in a while.. good job Kendrick Lamar.” The internet personality even conceded that Lamar’s decision to have his fiancee, Whitney Alford, in the video, stepped on Drake’s “Family Matters” claims. “Whitney dancing and clowning Drake is hilarious lol,” he tweeted.
SZA is extremely open about her creative process. She lets fans in on how she comes up with song ideas, and what inspires her. She’s even honest about which of her songs she loves more than others. “Kill Bill” is a favorite, but it’s not immune to criticism, according to SZA. The singer recently went on Chicken Shop Date, and she admitted that some of the lyrics in the song go a bit far. She even talked about which lyric she would walk back if she could.
SZA told Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg that she surprised herself when the wrote “Kill Bill.” Particularly the chorus, in which fantasizes about killing her ex-boyfriend. “Oh my God,” she stated. “After I said that, I was like, ‘That was so crazy and harsh.’ I was just randomly slightly enraged.” She also singled out the line “rather be in jail than alone” as something that is categorically untrue. “Cause I sung that, it has to be true?,” she sarcastically asked Dimoldenberg. This is not the first time SZA has talked about “Kill Bill” publicly. She told People Magazine that she actually considered not releasing the song before her producer Rob Bisel convinced her to do so.
“I hated it,” the singer claimed. Well, I didn’t hate it. But I was like, ‘Can I say this? Is it silly?’ Rob was like, ‘You have to say it!’” Bisel told the outlet that the song came together in an incredibly fast period of time, and praised SZA’s musicality. “She sang, ‘I just killed my ex…’ and the whole hook from that point on,” he recalled. “Her lyric and melody was written from top to bottom in no more than an hour, right there on the spot… It just kind of fell out of the sky.”
SZA and Rob Bisel were smart to release it. “Kill Bill” spent eight weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The remix, featuring Doja Cat, gave the song the push it needed to jump to number one. “Kill Bill” is currently tied for the song the second-longest time at number two before reaching number one. The song was also SZA’s first number one as a solo artist. “Kill Bill” earned three nominations at the Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Performance, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. In other words, SZA’s “crazy and harsh” lyrics connected worldwide.
SZA is one of the most riveting voices in contemporary R&B today as the music industry is filled with temporal fads and transient sounds. Solána Imani Rowe, hailing from Maplewood, New Jersey, but known as SZA, has transformed this genre through her unprocessed rawness. A manifesto, Ctrl (2017), her first album, was not an introduction but a personal awakening to modern womanhood. It addressed the issues of love, insecurity, and self-determination with the painful truth that spoke eloquently to a generation seeking the real.
Further, SZA’s music is an auditory weaving of R&B, hip-hop, and neo-soul using ethereal singing and pointed lyrics. She has received critical acclaim thanks to her ability to transform personal stories into anthems for all people while gaining devoted fans. Every song takes you on a trip inside her mind where she exhibits her deepest emotions without fear or censorship through poetic lines. Here, we go through five essential songs representing SZA’s evolution as an artist. This is in terms of the genre she represents and how well she speaks to the audience deeply.
1. “The Weekend” (2017)
When her 2017 groundbreaking debut album Ctrl dropped, SZA released “The Weekend.” This track presented SZA’s ability to handle intricate emotional territories with subtlety and bravery with its unashamedly honest examination of modern relationships. The song’s ethereal vocals, coupled with the smooth, sultry production of producer ThankGod4Cody, create an intoxicating and reflective environment.
Moreover, its impact was immediate and profound. It rose to No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought SZA critical acclaim. This includes a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance. For this reason, this track is vital because it captures SZA’s unique combination of weakness and strength. It allows her to talk about the problems with love in a way that feels personal yet universal. She also has an uncanny ability to make music feel intimate while still resonating widely with audiences.
SZA’s debut album, Ctrl, had the standout single “Love Galore,” which showcases her ability to combine vulnerability and unabashed confidence. It is a collaboration with Travis Scott and was released in 2017, immediately hitting the right notes with its themes of longing. SZA’s silky voice is well matched by the atmospheric, hypnotic beat augmented with lush instrumentation. Travis Scott brought about a dynamic element by making them alternate their styles.
The song also enjoyed considerable success, peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching multi-platinum certification. This song became one of those anthems that define an artist, marking SZA as one of those R&B giants forever. Her writing was again on point, this time addressing issues concerning the complexities relationships go through when people try living independently. The importance lies in how it fuses raw emotions with refined beats, as exhibited by this track, displaying SZA’s flexibility.
3. “Good Days” (2020)
Released as a single in 2020, “Good Days” is a turning point for SZA’s artistry. The song embodies hope and deep thought at a time of uncertainty. Its gentle melody and floating production allow one to escape the hectic world. Over the production, SZA’s voice reflects on growth, healing, and inner peace, touching on issues that are so deeply personal they are universal.
Almost instantly, it hit home with fans, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning immense praise globally. This indicates SZA’s capacity to rise above R&B conventions through music that combines lonely words with an uplifting message. This track is significant in terms of vocal delivery and thematic exploration because it reveals SZA’s artistic growth.
4. “Broken Clocks” (2017)
One of the songs that stood out from SZA’s critically acclaimed debut album Ctrl is “Broken Clocks.” It deeply explores the themes of time and the constant quest for one’s goals amidst personal challenges. Unveiled in 2017, this track illustrates SZA’s ability as a narrator. It explains her journey and the sacrifices she made. The production is simple but impactful, with a mellow beat allowing for SZA’s resonant voice and serious contemplation.
Its appeal also comes from how much people can relate to it emotionally. In fact, “Broken Clocks” has been a favorite among fans who have seen it being performed live by SZA while others find solace in identifying themselves with her lyrics. This song did extremely well on the charts and with its fan base, showing how deeply SZA could communicate with listeners through her music. For its honest depiction of struggle and grind hustle this song remains vital in displaying SZA’s blend of emotional rawness and lyrical genius. “Broken Clocks” shows she can create very personal yet universally understood music, further asserting her place in the RnB genre.
5. “Drew Barrymore” (2017)
Ctrl was introduced with the lead single “Drew Barrymore,” which illustrates her knack for personal storytelling entwined with universally relatable themes. The title is derived from the name of a popular actress known for her roles in teen movies. In this song, SZA explores her deepest fears such as questioning her self-worth and acceptance.
The song “Drew Barrymore” spoke to people on different levels, prompting many reviews from critics who appreciated its candid words. It touches on so much more than just a breakup song as it helps establish SZA’s unique style—a fusion of introspective lyrics and eclectic musical arrangements, making her an R&B outlier. This track is very important because it best showcases SZA’s talent for transforming adversities into triumphant anthems that define her sound. Also, this track not only exemplifies how deep she can be in lyricism but also sums up his ability to relate with people at a deeper level, thus making it a fundamental piece about his discography and an epoch-making event in his career.
Rick Ross speaks on the altercation in Vancouver 
