Victoria Monet has revealed that he’s dropping out of several festival appearances this summer due to health issues she’s been dealing with. In a statement on social media, she announced that she’ll no longer perform at Roots Picnic on June 1, Governors Ball on June 9, or the Blavity House Party Music Festival on June 15.
“I am gutted to share that I will no longer be able to perform at Governors Ball (NYC), Roots Picnic (Philadelphia) or Blavity (Nashville) this June,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “Candidly I have been dealing with some ongoing health issues that have to be addressed right now, but I will be back out there soon, that’s a promise! Please know it wasn’t an easy call but it’s definitely for the best. All other shows are still moving forward as planned.”
COACHELLA, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 19: Victoria Monét attends Heineken House at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 19, 2024 in Coachella, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Heineken)
Monet’s announcement comes following her Coachella performance back in April. Despite making it through okay at that festival, she revealed on social media afterward that she’s suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The chronic hormonal reproductive disorder has symptoms that can include weight gain, infertility, acne, thinning hair, enlarged ovaries, and irregular periods. She wrote on her Instagram Story at the time: “Welp.. I gained a lot of weight and it went a lot of places lol face, arms, tummy and most effectively… datassss… I usually am so critical and frustrated by it because PCOS has me really messed up, but optimistically at least now there’s two moons on the stage.” Check out her latest update for fans below.
Victoria Monet Updates Fans On Health Struggles
Image via Instagram @victoriamonet
Monet appears to still plan on performing at Broccoli City Festival in Washington, DC on July 27, Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 1, and Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco on August 9, according to Billboard. Be on the lookout for further updates on Victoria Monet on HotNewHipHop.
Metro Boomin is honoring his late mother’s legacy through donations totaling $100,000 to five women-centered nonprofit organizations in his home city of St. Louis, Missouri. “I’ve seen firsthand the work that goes into being a single mother,” he explained in a statement. “Mine was my inspiration and my hero. It’s very important to me to pay it forward, because I see the same resilience and dedication in the women these organizations work with.” Considering the recent drama that the producer experienced with Soulja Boydisrespecting his mother’s memory amid their beef, this is a heartening move that impacts her legacy in a much more positive, actionable, and tangible way.
Furthermore, Metro Boomin teamed up with Rung For Women to cut five $20,000 checks, each for five different organizations. These nonprofits are Almost Home, Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation, the Haven of Grace, the Little Bit Foundation, and Parents as Teachers. Specifically, these grants will assist women in debt reduction and expenses coverage for necessities like rent, utilities, and childcare. The “BBL Drizzy” beatsmith will likely impact many families and females with these donations, and hopefully he puts in work through advocacy and action that goes beyond money, as well.
Metro Boomin at Variety Hitmakers, Presented By Sony Audio held at Nya West on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by River Callaway/Billboard via Getty Images)
Speaking briefly about that beat, it seems like Metro Boomin might have roped Lil Wayne into the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef thanks to a curious post-concert interaction. Regardless, back to the important development here: he raised this donation money during the Leslie Joanne Soirée holiday gathering that Rung held back in December. Not only that, but this organization is Metro’s current fiduciary agent as he prepares to launch his own independent nonprofit foundation. Rung For Women’s mission is to help women climb the economic ladder through opportunities, inspiration, resource distribution, and more.
“We are excited to partner with Metro Boomin in his work to lift up single mothers in St. Louis,” Leslie Gill, the president of Rung For Women, shared. “Inspired by the remarkable love he has for his late mother, he is demonstrating a commitment to women and to our community.” Ahead of possible new collaborations, it’s a great thing that he seems to be nurturing this side of his career and life with equal care. Meanwhile, hopefully these initiatives and more in its wake continue to help those in need.
Given everything that has happened in the music world lately, it might feel like the 2024 Grammys were forever ago. In reality, they were only just in February, if you can believe that. Still, it’s already time to start looking forward to the 2025 Grammys.
As for who and what will be considered for next year’s awards, here’s what to know about when we’ll have that information.
When Will The 2025 Grammy Nominations Be Announced?
Today (May 21), the Recording Academy shared a list of key dates for the 2025 awards. One is the window during which products need to be released in order to be eligible for award consideration, and that runs from September 16, 2023 to August 30, 2024. Then the first round of voting stretches from October 4 to October 15. After that, the nominations will be announced on November 8.
Following that is the final round of voting (from December 12, 2024 to January 3, 2025) and the 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2, 2025. The show will be broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, via CBS and Paramount+.
#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
Meanwhile, the Grammys were recently on Dua Lipa’s mind: In May, she told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about how backlash to her winning Best New Artist motivated her, saying, “‘She’s got no stage presence. She can’t do this. She’s not well equipped. She won’t be here next year though.’ There was a lot of that and that fueled me in a way. I try not use criticism as this revenge thing, but it does push you in a way.”
There’s very little funny about the Sean “Diddy” Combs situation lately, but thanks to the cluelessness of CNN’s interview booker, hip-hop fans are having a good chuckle anyway.
Cam’ron, who once gave the world the “You mad” meme after Bill O’Reilly foolishly tried to debate him, delivered another doozy of an interview with Abby Phillips. The result was (predictably) a hilarious mess.
The notoriously elusive Harlem rapper stubbornly refused to give many straight answers about Diddy (“The apology ain’t for me to decide, it’s Cassie… he ain’t do nothin’ to me”), chugged a pre-sex energy drink (“Sorry, I’m going to get some cheeks after this”), and pointed out that his podcast co-host Mase had more experience dealing with Diddy — whom Cam insisted on continuing to call “Puff,” despite Combs changing his nicknames three times since then.
The coup de grâce was Cam plugging the It Is What It Is podcast right before questioning “Who the talent agent for this joint? You think I be sitting around watching what Diddy do? … Who booked me for this joint?”
Even better, on today’s episode of It Is What It Is, Cam and Mase addressed the disastrous interview, with Cam complaining that the interview wasn’t about their podcast or philanthropy, but Diddy. “You call me on CNN for the bullsh*t, I’m a give you the bullsh*t,” he proclaimed, while crowing about the free promo.
And you know what? The man makes a pretty good point. The media ignores hip-hop when rappers do positive things, but loves to highlight crimes, shootings, and controversy. Cam’s interview is a good reminder that there are two sides to the coin.
Cam’ron has fans on social media divided after making an appearance on CNN to discuss the allegations regarding Diddy on Monday night. After clarifying that he was upset by the new footage of the Bad Boy mogul attacking Cassie in 2016, he became combative when pressed for further comments.
“First of all, everything in the video was egregious. I don’t support all the charges that’s alleged against him. I don’t support any of that — trafficking minors, domestic violence. I’m totally against it,” he began. “So when I saw the video, yeah, I was kinda upset with it. Being that I know him — he’s not necessarily a friend — but I was upset when I saw it.”
Big Joe, Cam’ron and Sean ” P. Diddy” Combs during Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2005 – Zac Posen After Party Hosted By Sean “P. Diddy” Combs at Glo in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
When the reporter asked if Cam’ron “recognized” the version of Diddy seen in the clip, a misunderstanding ensued and things went off the rails. “I don’t know him like that. What do you mean do I recognize him? What do you mean my experiences? I seen it and I thought it was disgusting. I didn’t zoom in to see if it was really him, but he admitted it was him.”
Fans React To Cam’ron’s CNN Appearance
Many fans have been sharing laughs on social media in response to the interview, while others have been debating whether Cam’s behavior was fair. “All jokes aside Cam’ron is way too old to still be carrying on like that,” one user wrote on Twitter. Another argued: “Cam’ron knows the code, never throw another man under the bus. CNN wanted him to talk dirty about Diddy & he just clowned them all, promoting his podcast & sex stimulant product.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Cam’ron on HotNewHipHop.
“You call me on CNN for the bullsh*t,” Cam’ron reacts to his CNN interview, and Mase reveals there is a documentary coming soon where he will share his take on the Diddy/Cassie situation.
Cam’ron knows the code, never throw another man under the bus. CNN wanted him to talk dirty about Diddy & he just clowned them all, promoting his podcast & sex stimulant product
— 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒕 𝑶𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 (@Shadaya_Knight) May 21, 2024
Cam’ron coming on CNN and being disrespectful to Abby Phillip while she’s asking him about Diddy’s misogyny pretty much sums up the state of Black women & sexism in hip-hop.
CNN and other TV news networks don’t invite guests on without telling them the purpose of the interview. If Cam’ron didn’t know he was going to be asked to talk about Diddy, why did he think he was on CNN? Did he think he was going to talk about politics? https://t.co/cotBMUl9s9
Diddy’s former bodyguard Roger Bonds recently spoke to media outlets like Piers Morgan about his old employer’s alleged abuse of Cassie and Kim Porter. As a result, it seems like a lot of people are questioning why he chose to speak out about all these allegations and accusations right now, instead of back during his tenure as he witnessed these alleged crimes. However, many folks pointed out in the comments section of the Instagram post below that Cassie said Bonds was the only one who helped her. In addition, he had a message on the social media platform for everyone who sent him threats and harassing messages over his involvement and current role in all this.
“Yo, to everybody who don’t understand what I’m doing, why I’m doing it,” Diddy’s former bodyguard began his video, which he captioned “F**k you.” “Y’all can send all the messages y’all want, y’all can send all the threats y’all want, y’all can call me old, y’all can call me whatever y’all wanna call me. It don’t bother me. As long as you don’t run up on me, as long as you don’t invade my space, we cool.
Diddy’s Former Bodyguard Isn’t Scared Of His Defenders’ Threats
Diddy’s former bodyguard, Roger Bonds, addresses all the people online who are sending him threats and calling him names for choosing to speak out against Diddy now but not back in 2012 when he worked for Diddy. pic.twitter.com/Vz2Q43xxkT
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 20, 2024
“I don’t give a f**k what y’all say, I don’t know y’all,” Diddy’s former bodyguard Roger Bonds continued. “Half of y’all -– most of y’all, Puff don’t know. Y’all just d**kriding and standing up for a n***a that could beat up your mother, beat up your sister, beat up your daughter, beat up everything. Yeah, it’s a lot of reasons why I’m doing this, you know what I’m saying? But don’t say that I didn’t speak up and don’t say that I didn’t come between them.
“Read the lawsuit before you come at me and say, ‘Yo, you did this, you did that, you didn’t do this, do that,’” Diddy’s former bodyguard concluded. “All you washed-up n***as, y’all can save it, man, this is for the women, period. This ain’t even for you n***as that’s saying slick s**t to me. Because none of y’all n***as would say slick s**t to me straight up and down. And if y’all n***as is willing to meet your demise over a motherf***er you don’t even know… then you know how to handle it.”
Compton, California rapper YG has kept fairly quiet in terms of his solo material over the last two years or so. However, him and fellow West coaster Tyga did come through with their collaborative “playlist,” Hit Me When U Leave The Klub. It featured a solid hit in “Brand New” thanks to the incredible Lil Wayne verse. But back to the My Krazy Life MC; the last time that he dropped a new solo single was back in early December of 2022 with “Miss My Dawgs” featuring Weezy. He would end the drought late last month with “KNOCKA,” which apparently is the second promo track for the upcoming YG tape Just Re’d Up 3.
The April 26 release was certainly “a knocker a bopper a knocker like choppers” in our eyes. Unfortunately, Bricc Baby did not share the same opinion. He called out YG, essentially telling him to step up his game, as he feels that the young bucks are dropping better material. Well, good thing the G-funk hitmaker announced Just Re’d Up 3. This is a great chance to shut up Bricc Baby, and any other possible hater out there.
YG fans will know that he started this mixtape series back in 2011 and put out the sequel in 2013. Now, just over a decade later, the 34-year-old, is completing the trilogy. According to HipHopNMore, he revealed the release date (July 3), as well as the possibly unfinished album cover on X. That is the big surprise here; apparently this will be classified as a studio album, not a mixtape like the previous entries.
What are your thoughts on YG announcing Just Re’d Up 3 as an album instead of a mixtape? Do you think this the best entry in the series, why or why not? Could this be his best release as of late? Who do you want to see on the project and why? Is “KNOCKA” still in your rotation? 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 YG. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
A clip of Pharrell praising a young Kendrick Lamar in the studio is resurfacing on social media amid the two rapper’s beef with Drake. Fans believe Pharrell was unhappy with Drake dissing him on the track, “Meltdown,” which prompted Lamar to call out Drake for doing so on his song, “Euphoria.” In the old video, Pharrell shares some advice for Lamar.
“All that jazz sh*t that you have in your music, that’s the sh*t man. Do not lose the producers,” Pharrell advises Lamar. “It’s interesting to me that you guys did harder music but with like the chords.” When Akademiks shared the clip on Instagram, fans had mixed responses. “Idc who you are, beefing with Pharrell is top tier cornball sh*t,” one user wrote. Another added: “Pharrell don’t give a f*ck about those chains lmfao. Drake acts like he stole it off his neck lmfao goofy.”
Kendrick Lamar & Pharrell Meet Up At Grammy Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Pharrell Williams, Dave Free, and Kendrick Lamar seen during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Following the release of Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Pharrell labeled him one of the greatest songwriters of his generation during an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1. “Kendrick is one of the greatest writers of our times, and he is a great writer because he knows how to be very disciplined with a subject matter,” Pharrell explained. “He knows that stickiness is important, and he knows that it has to feel great. So when we were making Mr. Morale, I watched the rhythms hit him and I watched it just bubble to the surface, whatever the song was making him feel, and I watched him commit to that, and I watched him stay disciplined. He’s different.”
Kendrick Lamar & Pharrell’s Studio Clip Resurfaces
Check out the clip of Lamar in the studio with Pharrell above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s beef on HotNewHipHop.
Last week, a hotel security video from 2016 surfaced, and it showed Diddy physically assaulting Cassie. Days later, Diddy shared an apology video, but curiously, he didn’t actually mention Cassie by name in it. That rubbed some the wrong way, but it turns out Diddy may not have even been allowed to say her name.
Back in November, Diddy and Cassie reached a settlement over Cassie’s lawsuit alleging abuse. As TMZ reports, according to “sources familiar with the agreement,” the settlement “includes a very strict NDA, which prevents both of them from speaking about each other in public.”
The publication also relays that Diddy’s attorneys “very closely reviewed his video apology before it was posted,” to make sure it was in compliance with the NDA and didn’t mention Cassie by name, even though Diddy reportedly wanted to address her directly.
Futhermore, Diddy is still facing other lawsuits, so his legal team is reportedly “on edge about him making any public statement.”
So, Cassie may not be able to directly respond to Diddy’s video, but her lawyer did, saying in a statement, “Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
On June 30, celebrities and fans will gather for the 2024 BET Awards. In the category of Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, several phenomenal women have been nominated. All the artists up for the award released some of their best music in the past year, which means it could go one of eight ways. Between the first-time nominee Victoria Monét and the Queen of the BET Awards, Beyoncé, there’s no telling who will emerge victorious. Nonetheless, it’s been a wonderful time for R&B and Pop music, and these women are at the forefront of the genre right now.
With ten wins out of 18 nominations, Beyoncé is both the most awarded and the most nominated in the category. SZA won the award last year and is also up for the trophy again. New faces include Muni Long, who achieved viral success once again with “Made For You,” and the Amapiano Princess, Tyla. All women deserve their flowers for delivering exceptional music and performances over the past year. Here are the eight women nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist at the 2024 BET Awards.
Beyoncé
She needs no introduction. Beyoncé has picked up ten wins in this category and is looking to extend her number of wins to 11. Her first win came in 2004, and 20 years later, she is up against a new crop of artists. This testament to her longevity and legacy is evident in her constant reinvention of her artistry. Following her acclaimed Renaissance World Tour and its accompanying film, it’s no surprise why Queen Bey has emerged as the third most nominated act at the upcoming 2024 BET Awards.
Tyla
Tyla is a first-time nominee in this category and boasts four nods at the 2024 BET Awards. The South African starlet achieved worldwide success in 2023 with her viral hit “Water.” Since then, it’s been up for Tyla. The smash hit made waves across the globe, stamping her name into people’s consciousness. She’s currently raising the bar with her sound and pushing the gospel of Amapiano music to the rest of the world. She’s arguably the underdog of not just the category but the entire ceremony.
Victoria Monét
Once upon a time, Victoria Monét was known more for her songwriting prowess. Today, she’s one of the biggest names in music. After the massive success of her debut album, Jaguar II, the world now knows her as an artist and performer in her own right. At the upcoming 2024 BET Awards, Monét is nominated for four awards and will also perform on the main stage.
Coco Jones
After a steady ascent to mainstream stardom, Coco Jones is now here to stay. She earned her first nomination in this category last year and can now boast of back-to-back nods. Early last year, she released the deluxe edition of her acclaimed EP, What I Didn’t Tell You. Since then, she has been all over, boosting her popularity through Christmas music and multiple live performances.
In 2023, Doja Cat made the confident leap back to her rap roots. Evidently, the gamble she took on herself paid off. Scarlet, her fourth album, was a definitive body of work. While she’s stirred up some controversy in the past year, Doja’s talents have never been up for question. With a perfect blend of Hip Hop, R&B, and trap, Scarlet proved Doja’s ability to rap alongside the best of them. She has been hard at work the last few months, completing the North American leg of The Scarlet Tour.
H.E.R.
She may have just one studio album to her name, but H.E.R. is R&B royalty. Since 2018, she has been nominated in this category and has gained yet another nod at the 2024 BET Awards. Altogether, she has seven nods, making her the third most nominated woman in the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist category. Since her 2023 nomination, H.E.R. sang on The Color Purple soundtrack, joined Coldplay on tour, and performed with Usher at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Muni Long
Muni Long might have just scored her first award in this category, but she has been hard at work in the industry for years. She’s penned songs for several notable names, from Rihanna to Ariana Grande. After achieving mainstream success with “Hrs and Hrs” in 2022, she continued her run with the viral hit “Made for Me.” As one of three first-time nominees, Muni Long is definitely one of the underdogs of the night. She will also be performing on the main stage at the awards ceremony.
With five nominations at the 2024 BET Awards, SZA is the third most nominated artist of the night. She’s aiming for a second win, following her success in the category at last year’s ceremony. It comes as no surprise why she’s one of the favorites to win. SZA’s impressive run with SOS continued deep into 2023. In fact, she’s still reaping the rewards of her talents almost two years later. She is currently on the 2024 run of her SOS Tour, with shows scattered across the United States, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and South America.
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
It is What It is/YouTube) 
