Kanye West is arguing that his decision to fire Benjamin Deshon Provo was justifiable after the former security guard sued him, earlier this year. Provo claims West let him go for refusing to shave his dreadlocks after the Yeezy mogul and his own manager, John Hicks, demanded he do so. He previously worked at Donda Academy and Sunday Service events as well as at a Yeezy warehouse in 2021.
“Defendants are informed and believe, and based on such information and belief allege that Defendants were justified in doing any and/or all of the acts alleged in the Complaint,” Ye’s lawyers argued in response to the claims, as caught by In Touch Weekly. In turn, they want a California judge to dismiss the case.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 21: Kanye West on March 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
As for Provo’s lawsuit, his attorney argued that “Hicks approached Plaintiff and stated, ‘Kanye said, ‘Tell the one with the dreads to shave his head or he is fired.’ Plaintiff refused to shave his head, and as a result thereof, his employment was terminated.” Provo is also accusing West of allegedly discriminating against Black employees and expressing “negative beliefs associated with prominent Black leaders.” For instance, he claims West banned books by Martin Luther King Jr. from the school. Provo and his team further claimed: “Kanye and members of his management team subjected Provo and other Black employees to less favorable treatment than their white counterparts. Specifically, Kanye frequently screamed at and berated Black employees, while in contrast, he never so much as raised his tone of voice toward white staff.”
Provo is just one of several of West’s former employees filing civil cases against him. Others have claimed Donda Academy wouldn’t allow students to go outside, use chairs, and much more. Be on the lookout for further updates on Kanye West on HotNewHipHop.
Just days after announcing his new album, Faith Of A Mustard Seed with an impassioned trailer, West Coast hitmaker Mustard has announced the album’s release date. The “Ballin’” producer revealed that his fourth studio album is dropping on July 26, five years after the release of his last album, Perfect Ten. It also arrives just weeks after the producer achieved his first-ever(!) No. 1 hit, “Not Like Us,” with Kendrick Lamar — making July the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot.
Despite only recently enjoying that achievement, Mustard’s last album, Perfect Ten, did bring him another kind of success, receiving a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 2020 Grammy Awards — the first time he was nominated as lead artist. It was also featured artist Roddy Ricch’s first nomination (he won for a different song that year, having appeared on the Nipsey Hussle song “Racks In The Middle”). “Ballin’” was one of three singles from Perfect Ten, along with “100 Bands” and “Pure Water.”
Since the release of Perfect Ten, Mustard has kept busy, producing beats for Coi Leray, Vince Staples, Roddy Ricch, and Blxst, among others. With Faith Of A Mustard Seed on the way, it looks like Mustard will once again take over the season he named his label after.
Faith Of A Mustard Seed is out on 7/26 via 10 Summers Records and Interscope.
Doja Cat has often had a very touchy relationship with her own fanbase. She’s stumbled a few times and made it look like she doesn’t actually have much appreciation for her most die-hard followers. The most notorious incident came last year when she took issue with her fanbase calling themselves “Kittenz.” The backlash against her comments was so strong that lost hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers. Some of the most prominent fan pages for the “Paint The Town Red” rapper even closed down or converted to other kinds of accounts.
She was once again upset with her fans over the weekend when she performed at Parklife Festival. This time around it seemed much more playful than genuinely upset, which the context probably informs. During a rainy performance at the Festival she tried to break into Hilary Duff’s classic rain anthem “Come Clean.” But when the audience doesn’t sing along with her, likely because they don’t know the words, Doja can’t believe it. “B*tch, you don’t know that sh*t? What the f*ck?” she says when the audience gives her an underwhelming response. Check out the full clip of the interaction below.
Doja Cat also found herself sparking conversation on Twitter over the weekend, as she’s often known to. That came from a series of tweets she made speculating on whether or not Chewbacca from Star Wars is gay. She seemingly couldn’t get the idea out of her head tweeting about it multiple times hours apart across the span of two days. She also may have recently taken shots at her own dad on Twitter, leading fans to pay extra close attention to whatever she posts.
What do you think of Doja Cat getting upset with her fans for not knowing the words to Hillary Duff’s “Come Clean” during a recent festival performance? Would you have been able to sing along with Doja? Let us know in the comment section below.
Eminem’s new era is fully underway. Earlier this year he popped up at the NFL Draft in Detroit alongside some legendary Lions players. That weekend he also announced his newest album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace). The album was originally announced for this summer and still doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet but it does have a lead single. “Houdini” dropped last week and just landed on the Hot 100 in a surprisingly impressive spot.
Eminem is no stranger to commercial success and sits near the top of nearly every sales metric among rappers. That’s why its no surprise that his new single got plenty of attention. “Houdini” just debuted at number two on the Hot 100. It’s the highest he’s appeared on the chart since 2013 when his collaboration with Rihanna “The Monster” landed at the top spot on the singles chart. This time around Em is only being kept off the top spot on the chart by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help.” The country crossover took the top spot from Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” a few weeks ago and hasn’t relinquished it. Check out the full top 10 of this week’s Hot 100 below.
Eminem’s new single has people talking for all kinds of different reasons. It features a shot at Megan Thee Stallion, although not one that seemed to bother the hitmaker all that much. It also features a jab at Em’s own children, calling them brats. But the kids seem to be in on the joke as they appeared in the music video alongside the line. The video attracted plenty of attention of its own for all the celebrity guests who found themselves included in it.
What do you think of Eminem’s song “Houdini” debuting at number two on the Hot 100? Do you think the song will remain a stable hit on the charts for the rest of the summer? Let us know in the comment section below.
After a long wait, Tems finally delivered in style with her debut album. The songstress initially gained recognition in 2019 when her song “Try Me” became a hit, and she became a ubiquitous force across the global music scene. The release of For Broken Ears in September 2020 and If Orange Was A Place in 2021 helped set the stage while her appearance on Wizkid’s “Essence” took her to new heights, earning her a Grammy nomination and a platinum plaque.
That undoubtedly jumpstarted a fruitful run, leading to her credited appearance on Future and Drake’s “Wait For U” and her first Grammy win. Then, her contributions to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack — a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” and co-writing Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” — earned Golden Globe Award and Oscar nominations for Best Original Song — Motion Picture. Despite these and many more achievements, some considered Tems’s success a fluke due to her collaboration with WizKid. On her debut album, Born In The Wild, she proved her critics and doubters wrong and sealed her status as a global superstar.
One thing to note in Tem’s debut album is that she did it on her terms. The 18-track album tells the story of personal growth and rise to stardom through impressive and emotionally driven songwriting. In the titular track, “Born In The Wild,” Tems sings, “I grew up in the wilderness/I didn’t know much about openness.” Then, on “Wickedest,” she reflects on her success in singing, “Yeah, I’m the one got the scene banging/And I go hard that’s why they keep talking/Three years and I’m only just getting started.“
Tems’ quest for true and long-lasting love is seen in the previously released “Me & U” and “Love Me Jeje.” Although she admits to longing for that kind of love, she draws a line regarding toxic relationships. We see this in “Boy O Boy,” a potential heartbreak anthem, where Tems calmly sings of her desire to hurt the man who broke her heart. Some of the lyrics include “Sometimes I want to strangle you,” “You are a pain in my brain,” and “I wonder how I love a thing like you.” Meanwhile, in “Unfortunate,” Tems belts out about detaching from a lover she can no longer trust. Born In The Wild is thus themed around mental and self-growth, love, and heartbreak. Through her vulnerability, her debut album resulted in a perfect victory in her career.
Features
Versatility was a theme throughout the 54-minute album. Tems surprised people with her collaboration with Asake on “Get It Right.” It wasn’t a collaboration many saw coming, but both artists showed they could handle any musical challenge. Tems’ vocals excelled in the Fuji-infused Amapiano sound, while Asake’s lyrics blended excellently with the song’s cool vibe.
Tems features J. Cole on “Free Fall.” The Fayetteville rapper has been maligned lately amid the Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef, but he showed he remains one of the best rappers alive with his superb wordplay on the track. Backed by Tems’ majestic vocals and a gentle beat, J. Cole belted out lyrics about the topsy-turvy nature of relationships. Born In The Wild has just two features, but they are so perfect that you could wish for more.
However, the depth of her musicality extends beyond her direct collaborators. Throughout the project, she samples classic songs; complementing the groundwork created by the artists before while innovating these sounds for a modern era. We already saw her majestic creativity when she sampled Seyi Sodimu’s “Love Me Jeje,” but there was more to come in Born In The Wild. The 28-year-old took the sampling game a notch higher on “Wickedest,” which began with Ivorian band Magic System’s “1er Gaou.” You won’t also miss Tems’ expert sampling of Diana King’s “L-L-Lies” in “Gangsta.”
Tems’ Born In The Wild is not an album where she introduces herself. Instead, she climbed to new heights and solidified her status as a global superstar who is here to stay. Tems won more people to her corner with her incredulous show of versatility. The GuiltyBeatz-produced “Burning” is a soothing song that has all the powers to brighten your day. “Turn Me Up” has the makings of a summer jam. Tems outdid herself on the up-tempo banger produced by London. She infused reggae adlibs that ensure you are vibed up from the beginning to the end.
The singer showed her greatness as an R&B artist but wasn’t scared to explore, as she ventured into dancehall, amapiano, afro-pop, and some reggae. She even tested her rap skills on “T-Unit,” where she nodded to 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop.” She stayed true to her sound and never left people questioning her intentions. The album’s production is top-notch. Most of the songs were produced by Tems and her longtime collaborator, GuiltyBeatz. Sarz produced “Get It Right,” P2J produced “Free Fall,” and London produced “Turn Me Up.” Other producers who contributed to the album include Nsikak David, DameDame, and Spax.
Tems’ Born In The Wild album is a project for those who strive to win. It is for those who go against all odds to find their true selves and enjoy the success that comes with victory. Like she sings in “Hold On,” just hold on, and that which you seek will find you. Tems has found herself and showed us what more she can do, but that is not where it stops — there is so much more to come.
Soulja Boy isn’t letting up on his jokes about Meek Mill and Diddy, after engaging in a feud with the rappers earlier this year. Streaming live on Instagram, over the weekend, he revealed that he and a friend were wearing the same hoodie. In turn, he joked that they were nothing like Meek Mill and Diddy.
“This n***a got the same hoodie, no Diddy, man. I ain’t on that Meek Mill-Diddy sh*t,” he said. “I ain’t on no Diddy sh*t, man. He just so happened to get the same hoodie I got. “I ain’t on that Diddy sh*t, bro. I ain’t f*cking with that Diddy sh*t. No Diddy, n***a. On my momma. Everybody say, ‘No Diddy.’”
Meek Mill & Diddy Attend Christian Combs’ Birthday Party
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 04: Rapper Meek Mill (L) and entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs attend Christian Casey Combs’ 16th birthday party at 1OAK on April 4, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images)
Soulja and Meek have traded shots on social media multiple times in recent weeks. In one since-deleted post, Meek wrote: “Soulja if you say you’re gonna smoke somebody and they see you and actually smoke you it’s self defence… y’all losing touch if reality for some likes and clout insane.” Soulja fired back simply: “Didn’t Diddy f*ck u in the ass?” Soulja was referencing rumors stemming from producer Lil Rod’s lawsuit against the Bad Boy mogul, in which he claims Diddy once bragged about having a relationship with a rapper from Philadelphia. It’s one of several lawsuits Diddy is facing with allegations of sexual misconduct. While he’s denied all of the claims, he did apologize for an incident involving Cassie featured in a video CNN published, last month.
Funk Flex is no stranger to letting his opinions be known. The long-time radio host’s newest rant is aimed at one of the biggest surprise hits of 2024 so far. That song is Tommy Richman’s “MILLION DOLLAR BABY.” It’s the Virginia rapper and singer’s biggest hit to date debuting at number two on the Hot 100 and racking up more than 360 million streams on Spotify. The song has hit radio stations of a variety of genre’s and styles in the past month, though it clearly isn’t sitting right with everyone.
A newly recorded snippet of Funk Flex talking on his radio show is making the rounds online. In the clip, he shows he isn’t too big a fan of Tommy Richman or his new hit. He starts the rant by claiming that anybody who actually likes the song is a clown. Then he claims that he doesn’t even know who Tommy Richman is, but that doesn’t stop him from going in on both the rapper and his now-signature song. he describes the early part of the beat sounding okay but once the thin percussion comes in, he has no more love for the song left. Check out the hilarious new rant he shared below.
Tommy Richman’s incredibly impressive run on the Hot 100 is very much ongoing. This week the song is still hovering at number 3 on the Hot 100 after Eminem’s new single “Houdini” debuted at #2. They’re both being kept off the top spot by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s crossover “I Had Some Help.” That country crossover cut took the top spot on the singles chart from Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss “Not Like Us.”
What do you think of Funk Flex’s newest rant aimed at Tommy Richman and his new hit “MILLION DOLLAR BABY?” What do you think of the surprise breakout hit song? Let us know in the comment section below.
Doja Cat’s sense of humor isn’t for everybody. She has thrown fans off a few times with her off-beat (okay, unhinged) humor, from nearly getting into beef with another artist over a quirky impression to a spoof interview with her alter ego, “Scarlet,” who she asked to “sh*t on my face.”
During her recent Parklife Festival set, her jokey attempt to show appreciation for one of her inspirations was met with confusion by the crowd — a reaction that disgusted Doja Cat. Trying to lead a singalong to Hilary Duff’s “Come Clean,” Doja was frustrated by the silence that followed. “B*tch, you don’t know that sh*t?” she asked incredulously. “What the f*ck?”
Of course, “Come Clean” came out well over 20 years ago, when Doja herself was only eight years old (arguably in the song’s target audience). There’s a possibility that much of the Parklife crowd was either (a) not born yet, or (b) not big fans of the then-Disney Channel star. Still, she does have some call for her surprise at the crowd’s disinterest; “Come Clean” was Duff’s first top 40 single, peaking at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA, despite receiving only mixed reviews from critics.
DaBaby often pops out with some pretty interesting social media content, including a recent recreation of a now-iconic Boosie Badazz fishing pic. However, one particular fan went viral for suggesting that he does a lot for his friends and for himself online, but not his children. “DaBaby will post his homies birthdays but not his kids [crying emojis],” they tweeted. “My kids don’t have Instagram, w***e [crying-laughing emoji],” the North Carolina MC responded along with a confused GIF. “F**k do ppl be talking about? [crying-laughing emoji],” he added. In addition, Baby replied to a fan who pointed out that he probably just didn’t share a personal moment online, which is totally fine, with this message for the original hater: “Damn fool [facepalm emoji].”
Furthermore, this is far from DaBaby’s only notable dispute online this year. He recently claimed that a well-known rapper tried to start fake beef with him, which had a lot of fans then accusing Joyner Lucas of being the culprit because fans thought he lined up with his description. Joyner denied this outright, and so the mystery of what this fabricated battle could’ve looked like will probably remain for years to come. Unless they actually get to barring up, which would be pretty interesting.
In fact, we know that DaBaby is, at the very least, comfortable with the pace and aesthetics of rap beef, which is currently dominated by the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle. He spit a wild freestyle over Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” recently, which has his fans holding on to his strong deliveries and emphatic energy. Maybe this is the same energy that the “BOP” spitter should have for online trolls, but that would probably cause more problems than solutions down the road. Whether or not a hypothetical beef is fake or not, there’s a good chance that he would absolutely impress in the ring.
Elsewhere, though, DaBaby is trying to postpone his alleged assault trial due to his lawyer’s health complications. We haven’t really gotten many updates on this case since this late April development, so we’ll see if there’s an answer soon. Regardless, he’s probably got some more big plans in store for 2024, so we’ll wait patiently to see what he chooses to release on wax or post online. If your moral and family criteria includes birthday tributes on the ‘Gram, you’re in for a rude awakening one of these days.
50 Cent shared an A.I. remake of his iconic single, “In Da Club,” which changes the track to a country theme on Instagram, Sunday. In doing so, he playfully teased Beyonce in the caption, joking: “My country album on the way Beyoncé ain’t got sh*t on me. LOL.” The song is credited to “Conway Fitty,” a play on both his name as well as Conway Twitty.
Fans joined 50 in having plenty of laughs in the comments section. “‘Beyonce ain’t got sh*t on me.’ is friggin hilarious!” one user wrote. Another remarked: “They should have never given 50 AI.” The caption comes after Beyonce ventured into country music with her latest album, Cowboy Carter, earlier this year.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Beyoncé and Jay-Z attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Despite the playful nature of 50’s recent post, there has been animosity between him and Beyonce in the past. Back in 2022, he discussed their relationship during an appearance on The Breakfast Club, claiming that she was prepared to fight him over his feud with her husband, JAY-Z. “She came like she was ready!” he recalled of a run-in with the couple in the 2000s. “Like something was gonna happen! And I’m like, ‘Woah, woah, woah.’ She throwing me off now ’cause I don’t know exactly how to respond to this. You are still Beyoncé. She brought all of the sexy over with that energy jumping off. I look at Jay and he go [laughs]. Nah, he’ll tell you … I said, ‘Yo, alright. Whatever.’ ‘Cause really I’m just saying what’s up. But she’s feeling my energy come over because we do say things about each other — it’s a competitive nature, that’s it!”
