Shaq is one of the all-time greatest athletes turned rappers, as the big man’s 1993 debut album, Shaq Diesel, went platinum. Shaq released four albums in total, and worked with some of the biggest producers and artists in hip-hop in the 90s.
However, there was one collaboration from a song he recorded with a West Coast legend while in Los Angeles with the Lakers that never saw the light of day. On a recent episode of The Big Podcast, Shaq had Ice Cube join him and they discussed a project Cube was executive producing for him while he was with the Lakers. Cube set it up for Shaq to get in the booth with Dr. Dre, and Shaq and Dre cooked up a song called “That’s Gangsta,” which Shaq thought “was nice.” Cube saw things a bit differently, and made the executive decision for Shaq to not let it ever see the light of day.
“Cube was executive producing one of my records,” Shaq said. “And he put me in the studio with Dr. Dre. I did a song called ‘That’s Gangsta’. Cube heard it and was like, ‘Nope. We’re not releasing this.’ … He was like, ‘Shaq, you’re a f*cking Laker, bro. I don’t want you talking about nothing gangsta. We not doing none of that sh*t.’ And it never came out.”
While Adam Lefkoe seemed to think it was because the song wasn’t good, Cube noted it had nothing to do with that. He was trying to protect Shaq’s image, noting the then-Lakers star didn’t need to present himself as being “gangsta” in L.A., as he had mass appeal already and didn’t need to try to put on that image.
“It was good. Shaq is a dope MC, but I just felt the record was off-brand for him,” Cube said. “Because, to me, he’s more than just gangsta. He’s loved by millions, loved by kids. He already established that. And why go backwards when you’re already forward?”
Shaq would go on to note he thanked Cube for making that decision for him, and it shows how much respect Ice Cube had for Shaq that he would think about Shaq’s overall career as a basketball player (and one of the NBA’s most marketable guys, ever) while executive producing an album. Players don’t always have someone willing to think of the bigger picture and tell them no, and in this case, Shaq had that in the form of a music legend in Cube.
Rick Ross appeared to have bailed on a performance in Montreal to instead take the stage in Nashville on Saturday night, after the Mural Festival announced last minute that “personal reasons” prevented Ross from showing up. Despite the explanation, Ross made an appearance at the Blavity House Party Music Festival in Nashville the same night.
“For personal reasons, Rick Ross has made the decision to cancel his performance at the Festival In the coming days, we will provide a full refund of the daily tickets you purchased or a partial refund of Weekend 2 Passes and Festival Passes if applicable,” the organization said in a statement translated by Google.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 15: Ross performs for day two of the Blavity House Party Music Festival at Municipal Auditorium on June 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for Blavity)
When MtlFlex TV shared the news on Instagram, fans posted various theories to explain why Ross decided to perform in Nashville instead. One user wrote: “DJ Akademiks said Rick Ross banned from Canada after dissing Drake.” Another remarked that he “canceled his show because of the law 101 he didn’t want to convert his name in French.” Ross has been feuding with Drake in recent months, even dropping the diss track, “Campagne Moments,” back in April. Drake threw some shots back on his tracks primarily addressed to Kendrick Lamar. Check out Mural Festival’s statement on Instagram below.
The apparent scheduling mishap isn’t the only negative drama Ross has dealt with in recent weeks. Many attendees at his annual car show in Georgia hit him with criticism and demanded refunds following the event. He laughed off the complaints on Instagram afterward. Be on the lookout for further updates on Rick Ross on HotNewHipHop.
Alicia Keys brought out JAY-Z for a performance of their iconic 2009 collaboration, “Empire State of Mind,” during the 2024 Tony Awards on Sunday night. The event was held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. “Are we in New York City tonight? Are we at the Tony Awards tonight? Had to do something crazy. It’s my hometown,” Keys said to introduce the performance.
From there, cameras cut to JAY-Z performing his verse outside of the venue. Soon afterward, Keys joined him to sing the chorus. As for the awards show itself, the musical Hell’s Kitchen, which was inspired by Keys’ discography, was nominated. It details Keys’ childhood in Manhattan during the 1990s.
Alicia Keys & JAY-Z Perform During The Tony Awards
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys perform during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Keys and JAY-Z teamed up for “Empire State of Mind” as a single for the latter’s 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3. It dominated the charts after release, staying at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. It also received nominations for three Grammy Awards, while winning both Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Check out Keys and JAY-Z’s performance of the song at the Tony Awards below.
Prior to the performance, Keys seemingly teased having another collaboration with the legendary rapper on the way. In a post on social media, she wrote: “1 Dream, 1 Song, 1 Billion streams [prayer hands emojis]. Thank you! We love you. What’s next…. [eyes emoji] [shushing emoji].” Be on the lookout for further updates on Alicia Keys and JAY-Z as well as the Tony Awards on HotNewHipHop.
Drake seeming threw shade at Kendrick Lamar with his Father’s Day post on Sunday. While sharing pictures of himself, his son, Adonis, and his father, Dennis, Drake wrote: “Three generations. Happy Father’s Day to the ones guiding their daughters and sons.” Lamar infamously attempted to call out Drake for having a daughter on his diss track, “Meet The Grahams,” although the Toronto rapper denied the accusation. Lamar didn’t provide any proof for the claim either.
“Dear, baby girl, I’m sorry that your father not active inside your world / He don’t commit to much but his music, yeah, that’s for sure / He a narcissist, misogynist, livin’ inside his songs / Try destroy families rather than takin’ care of his own,” Lamar raps on the track. Two days later, Drake fired back with the polarizing, “The Heart Part 6.” On that song, he claimed to have fed Lamar false information to bait him.
Drake & Adonis Attend Philadelphia 76ers-Toronto Raptors NBA Game
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 7: Drake sits with his son Adonis before the Toronto Raptors play the Philadelphia 76ers in their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on April 7, 2022, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Lamar was the first one to kick off the feud while appearing on Future and Metro Boomin’s song, “Like That,” earlier this year. From there, the two each dropped numerous diss tracks over the span of several weeks. Eventually, Lamar went back-to-back with his releases of “Meet The Grahams” and “Not Like Us,” prompting many fans to give him the edge in the battle. Drake then fired back with “The Heart Part 6” to mixed responses.
Check out the Father’s Day post above. In it, the three generations of the Graham family pose together on a farm. Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake and Kendrick Lamar on HotNewHipHop.
Kash Doll announced that she gave birth to her daughter, Klarity Doll Richardson, on June 12 with a heartfelt Father’s Day tribute to her boyfriend Tracy T. Sharing a video of her, Tracy, and the kids on Instagram, Sunday, she thanked Tracy for being the father of her kids and confirmed that her family is complete.
“Happy Father’s Day!!!!” she wrote. “Even though u get on my last and first nerves this video wouldn’t b created without u! Thank you for making me a mother of 2 now gone head and get on birth control cause klarity was the last piece to this puzzle… my lil family complete.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 25: Kash Doll arrives at the 2023 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Fans shared supportive messages in the comments section. One user wrote: “Awwwwwww Kash Ima cry! #HappyTears sooo HAPPY for you babe! Yall are so beautiful! Hold your family close, take care of your husband, it’s important! It’s all sum of us ever wanted! #Family Kongratulations!” Another added: “This is soooo cute KASHTON the big brother…Congratulations Sis! As I always say to you, you’ll forever be Blessed and Favored YAY, Klarity is HERE.”
Kash already welcomed her son, Kashton, back in January 2022. When announcing his birth, she wrote on Instagram at the time: “Ok world here’s my pride and joy. My snookems, my luv bug, my lil responsibility, the little boy that have me wrapped around his fingers…Kashton… Y’all He smile at me with his eyes, I can’t image life without my snook! These 9months been the best roller coaster I’ve experienced… this here a different kinda love so watch y’all mouth about my baby..” He’s featured in the video Kash posted on Sunday. Outside of her family life, Kash recently made headlines when Kendrick Lamarreferenced her on the track, “6:16 In LA.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Kash Doll on HotNewHipHop.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Nas is helping to develop a musical adaptation of Beat Street for Broadway. During the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, a 40th anniversary screening was held to revisit, Beat Street, the 1984 dramatic deep dive into hip-hop’s origins.
But that event was just the beginning. Nas reportedly delivered a speech about its importance and why he signed onto the adaption. “Beat Street wasn’t just a film,” he said. “It spread the revolution of hip-hop culture throughout the country and the world. It left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of young artists and creating new hip-hop fans alike. It’s a thrill for me to join the creative team of Beat Street, bringing the raw energy of hip-hop into the fabric of Broadway. It’s an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”
As far as Nas’ role with the forthcoming production, the emcee will reportedly “expand and create new material from the film’s soundtrack for the musical” in addition to his responsibilities as producer alongside Arthur Baker. Baker originally served as a composer and music producer for the original film.
The timeline for the project hasn’t been shared. But this professional endeavors marks a trend in musicians’ domination on Broadway. Both Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen and the Sufjan Stevens-inspired Illinoise, snagged several 2024 Tony Award nominations.
According to TMZ, with the support of the Key to the City of New York committee, Mayor Adams reportedly ordered Diddy to return his honor.
The outlet claims to have obtained a copy of the two letters sent to Diddy’s bi-coastal (New York and Los Angeles) offices with Mayor Adams’ demands, which were supposedly sent out on June 4. By June 10, the Key was allegedly returned.
Read the full letter below.
Like many people, I was deeply disturbed by recent video footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs assaulting his then partner.
I strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Our city has worked tirelessly to make sure survivors are heard and seen by our administration. The Key to the City of New York is presented to individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievements, and who act as a model for fellow and future New Yorkers.
After internal deliberations, the Key to the City of New York committee recommended nullifying and rescinding Mr. Combs’ key. I have accepted their recommendation, and am requesting that Mr. Combs immediately return his Key to the City to New York City Hall, Office of the Mayor.
Diddy has not addressed the matter. However, he has shared a statement regarding the clip (view here).
Two years ago, Roderick Coffman II launched the YouTube channel Bridging The Gap with his dad, Roderick Coffman Sr., with a simple goal: Turn my dad into a hip-hop fan. More than 200 videos later, that goal has certainly been achieved. Furthermore, from the seed that is Bridging The Gap, which grew a father-son relationship that most die-hard hip-hop fans would dream of having their child or parents. Video after video, viewers watch Rod II play an album from start to finish in hopes of making his dad love one more hip-hop album than he did the day before. Together, the duo has reacted to classics like Eminem’s The Eminem Show (their most popular video to date), Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid M.A.A.D. City, and 50 Cent’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, and more recent releases like Future & Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You, JID’s The Forever Story, and Mac Miller’s Swimming.
Bridging The Gap began as a way for Rod Sr. and Rod II to spend more time together. However, after two reactions video for Jay-Z’s The Black Album and 50 Cent’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, they quickly knew they had something special together. “When we dropped the 50 Cent [Get Rich Or Die Tryin’] video, that one took off quick,” Rod II tells Uproxx over a Zoom call. “The comments were just really, really passionate. That’s really what stuck out to me. It wasn’t even the views, people were like, ‘Yo, I wish I could do something like this with my dad.’”
So, for Father’s Day, Uproxx caught up with Rod Sr. and Rod II to talk about Bridging The Gap, their favorite moments from it, and how the channel changed their opinions on hip-hop while also improving their relationship.
In your first video, a review for Jay-Z’s The Black Album, Rod II, you said that you wanted to hang out with your dad more. What was your relationship like before you began the podcast?
Rod II: Growing up my dad’s always been in my life — both my parents — and just like any relationship, we’ve had our ups and downs. Going into adulthood, I feel like we didn’t see each other as much as we could. So yeah, I just saw this as an opportunity to spend more time and build a closer relationship as we grow older. I saw this opportunity, I thought it’d be cool to do. I didn’t know it was gonna turn into this.
What were both of your experiences and opinions of hip-hop before Bridging The Gap?
Rod Sr.: When he was younger, I wouldn’t allow him to play it in the house. Coming up in my era, I grew up on music where they had actual bands and the concerts were a lot more entertaining, a lot of dancing and light shows, and different things. For an example, take a group like Earth, Wind & Fire. All the band members were interacting in the concerts and instruments and all the things that were going on. When rap came along, from my perspective, I just saw a lot of guys running around grabbing their crouch going, “Yo! Yo! Yo!” So I was just like, “Man, this is not music,” and that was early rap. So from that point on, I just turned it off. I just didn’t even want to be a part of it. So he was kind of like, “Ah pop, you should listen to this, you should listen to that,” and I was like, ehh… okay, because I love music.
Rod II: I’ve always known my dad to be super, super into music. We listen to music the same way, like in a deeper, deeper way. We love the little sound in the background that nobody even notices, just the small things that make the music so special to us. So growing up, that was my experience, my dad alway played his oldies and I’ve always had an appreciation for that. Then, just growing up with rap, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, I just always had a deep connection with hip hop. Going into the channel, I knew that if I could get my dad to have an open mind about it, he would start to see the things that our music pulls from his generation of music. I knew that as soon as he got that connection and really peeped the artistry of the sampling, poetry, and rhymes, the spark would be there.
What brought you both to moment where you decide to start Bridging The Gap. Was it supposed to be a full-fledged podcast or just a few episodes on some albums at first?
Rod II: I had previously done a couple of different podcasts and projects, so I already had a bunch of equipment at the house. I saw another channel similar to what we do and the idea just sparked from there. The fact that my dad had not listened to any of this music was integral [and] super important, and I figured that maybe he would be open to it. That was just the conversation, I sent him the example of the other channel and I said, “Hey dad, would you would you be down to try this out?” He saw it, he was like, “Yeah, sure, why not?”
Rod Sr.: I just wanted to hang out! [laughs]
Rod II: We sat down, we listened to that Jay-Z album, and honestly, from that first upload immediately got traction in the first week or two. I remember like texting my dad, “Hey dad, there’s like 1,000 plays on this thing and they really liked the video. People leaving all these comments and stuff. We got to keep doing this.” So we just locked in, and the rest is history.
We’re two years in now. Did you think that Bridging The Gap was going to last this long when you first started?
Rod Sr.: I didn’t. Like I said, I’m just hanging out. He was like, look at this, this, and this, and this has hit this, and all these plateaus we were reaching. I was like okay! It kept getting bigger and bigger and so I’m like well, maybe we have something here.
Rod II: I hadn’t really been a person that watches a lot of reaction videos. I didn’t even know that it was such a big thing until we started getting into it, and I started seeing other channels. So yeah, to be where we’re at now, I’d like to say that I figured we could be successful with it, but I don’t know man, I didn’t know we’d get to this point and I still think that we got a long way and a high ceiling we can still reach so it’s a blessing.
In what ways has your opinions of hip-hop and even music overall changed as a result of Bridging The Gap?
Rod Sr.: There’s a lot of talented young people out there and there’s some really, really good music out there, but also [with] hip-hop, there’s a lot of pain, there’s a lot of suffering. There’s a lot of things that are expressed through their music. It’s happy in the sense that these young people are gaining great success doing what they do, but it seems like they have some deep-seeded pains that they’re trying to get out and they’re putting it down in their music. That’s the sad part of it. It’s like “Joy And Pain” [by] Frankie Beverly and Maze. That’s the way I look at hip-hop as a whole.
Rod II: I’ve always been super passionate about it. I just have a different perspective when I’m trying to choose the albums. Now, when I listen to music, I’m always like, “I wonder what my dad would think about this…” So that kind of changes the way I listen to stuff, but it’s still something super important to me and it’s such a pleasure to sit down, get his opinion, and hear what he has to say. Oh my gosh, when I pick an album and first press play, I’m just waiting like, he gonna vibe with this or what?
In what ways has this podcast improved the relationship between you two?
Rod Sr.: It’s improved tremendously, but now I’m noticing, it’s funny [laughs], just a couple of days ago, we were doing some work, putting some work in and he goes off and I’m still hanging out, right? He goes, “Pops I gotta go, I gotta go. I’ve got to take a sh*t.” I’m like oh, I’m hanging out too much now [laughs]. He getting comfortable, I said ah, he putting me out real polite.
Rod II: Yeah, it’s great man. We hang out and we’ve had the opportunity to do some really, really cool stuff together. Our Teskey Brothers video recently went insanely vital. We got to go out to the concert and meet them, experiences like that. A couple months ago, we visited my grandmother in Indiana and made a reaction video with her. We went to a Drake concert, Travis Scott, we just be doing stuff man. We get these opportunities, people reach out and yeah, we just hang out. It’s just cool to experience these things with my dad and even in those moments, I’m just looking like, “Is he feeling this?” [laughs]. It’s a blessing man.
What is your favorite memory of each other’s from a video from the channel. Whether it be a comment, a certain reaction, etc.
Rod II: My favorite memory of my dad is, in general, when he tells his little side stories. One in particular is so funny to me. He tells a story of his buddy Joe Head from back in the day and it tickles me to the core. The fans love it, they bring it occasionally, and yeah, that’s my personal favorite.
Rod Sr.: I think it’s two for me. There was a rapper talking about somebody stole his bike… The Game! The Game was talking about somebody stole his bike and I’m telling my son about this situation with a good friend of mine, Terry. I started getting kind of upset because I’m still mad about my bike. And then, of course, the reaction when I first saw the Teskey Brothers. I said, “Oh sh*t!.” and then I read the comments [and] they said that’s the “Oh sh*t!.” that went around the world. I thought that was kind of funny.
Big question for you both: What is your favorite hip-hop album of all time?
Rod Sr.: I’m rocking [with] Kendrick [Lamar] and J. Cole, anything. Anything. J. Cole and Kendrick, I’m rocking with them. It is hard though, I’m sure I could add more to that list, but they’d be old school. Tupac, I love Outkast, and then Eminem.
Rod II: Probably My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
What are you both most proud of with Bridging The Gap?
Rod II: I’m most proud of just creating these moments with my dad, being able to share them with the world, and the joy and and even like healing energy that these videos provide to other people. We get all these emails, messages, and comments, it be giving me chills bro. These videos are really important to some people and to be able to just sit in my room and listen to music with my dad and create these moments we’ll be able to look back [on], and you know this stuff is going to live on after we’re gone, that’s what I’m most proud of.
Rod Sr.: For me, it’s almost similar. These times we spent together, creating these reactions, have also created joyful times between he and I. I had no idea because I didn’t know about this whole reaction thing because I’m just thinking I’m sitting here in a room. I didn’t know that we were reaching out to around the world and I was reading the comments, from people in Italy, South Africa, [and] Australia and people… it just touches their lives in such a way. It really freaked me out when some guy was like, “Oh, dude I couldn’t wait until got out from work so I can jump in my car and turn on Bridging The Gap,” and I’m just like what? It means so much to so many other people and that’s what touched my heart. It almost brings a tear to your eye when you read some of the comments of how Bridging The Gap is affecting people’s lives, that’s the positive thing. A lot of people say they really appreciate it because it’s wholesome and is genuine. I’m glad we come across like that because that’s what it is. That’s what I appreciated about Bridging The Gap.
Bridging The Gap videos are out now on Youtube. You can find their social media pages here.
Few, if any, people do a better job parlaying being famous into doing fun stuff than Snoop Dogg. While you don’t always know where he’s going to pop up, it’s usually not a shock when Snoop shows up at a thing — it can be a game, it can be a random television show, whatever else — and is clearly having the time of his life.
The latest example of this came on Saturday night, when the Milwaukee Brewers played host to the Cincinnati Reds in an NL Central matchup. Snoop had a show at a casino in Milwaukee a little later in the evening, but before that, he threw out the first pitch — he got it across the plate, which means relatively speaking, that’s a very good first pitch — then made his way into the broadcast booth during the second inning. He proceeded to spend two full innings up there, and unsurprisingly, he took over the booth and injected some life into a mid-June baseball game.
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 15, 2024
Just listen to how much fun he had watching Christian Yelich hit an infield single, then follow it up by stealing second base. I am pretty sure everyone will agree with this, but we should 100 percent let Snoop pop into the booth during baseball games whenever he wants.
As for the game itself, the Brewers picked up a 3-1 win.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, who deserve to relax with our new R&B Season playlist update and the best of the best music releases this week from the rhythm and blues world. For this, Normani came in clutch with her long-awaited and finally manifested debut album, DOPAMINE. While there are plenty of highlights throughout, one that particularly caught our ear is the fast-flowing and woozy “All Yours.” It keeps a pretty consistently ethereal trap vibe instrumentally, but thanks to subtle vocal harmonies and catchy melodies, it becomes a much more lush experience throughout. It’s a must-listen LP from this week that will probably get stuck in your head quick.
Speaking of must-listen projects, R&B Season‘s next inclusion is another highly anticipated release: Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge suiting up as NxWorries once more for their new album, Why Lawd? Moreover, we already spoke on this briefly on our Fire Emoji playlist update if you caught it; if you didn’t check it out with the link at the end of this article. But we’d be remiss not to shout out this versatile record for its multiple achievements and moods. “KeepHer” featuring Thundercat is absolutely sultry, achieving a sense of chemistry and warmth that always hits hard when these artists enter a studio.
Another hot R&B-adjacent cut on our playlist update comes from new sensation Tommy Richman, who followed up the smash hit “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” with another 2000s-flavored banger, “DEVIL IS A LIE.” However, there’s a moody, laidback, and genre-fusing approach to this new single that makes the track still keep its modern sheen. Once again, Richman’s vocal chops are a main event here, but the bouncy and slightly West Coast-inspired beat, complete with fuzzy synth chords and even some string embellishments, does a lot to engage. It’s a shame it’s short, but it’s also what makes it such an earworm.
Meanwhile, Khalid gave us another single this week with the slow-burning and atmospheric “Adore U.” Finally, we wanted to highlight “Greedy” by Marsha Ambrosius for its soulful combination of sharp snares, orchestral movements, and spotlit vocal arrangements. Let us know what your favorite R&B Season inclusion was, as well as what else we missed this week, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
(@mtlflextv)
