The US Department of Justice is about to drop the hammer on Live Nation and Ticketmaster for their longstanding monopoly over concert promotion. According to The Wall Street Journal, the DOJ is preparing to bring an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation — which it could file as soon as next month — for using its leverage over live events ticketing through Ticketmaster to undermine competition in the space.
Live Nation acquired Ticketmaster in 2010, and since then, consumers have complained of increasing prices and fees, while at the same time, independently owned venues have gone out of business or been absorbed into Live Nation’s network. The issues came to a head with the return of live entertainment after the 2020 shutdown over COVID, with fans experiencing problems buying tickets for <Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s return tours.
Those problems spawned a href=”https://uproxx.com/pop/ticketmaster-hearing-senators-corny-taylor-swift-jokes/” target=”_blank” title=””>Congressional hearings about Ticketmaster’s business practices, prompted Ticketmaster to revise some of its policies, and even sparked a class action lawsuit from Ticketmaster customers who felt jilted by hidden fees, website breakdowns, and vastly inflated prices. Separately, but probably relatedly (we have eyes), several musicians’ tours across genre were canceled or shortened by low ticket sales in the past year, with social media users pointing out that prices have just gotten too high to afford for most people.
Meanwhile, Live Nation’s head of corporate affairs Dan Wall has argued that artists set prices, that those prices are subject to high demand and low supply, and that the majority of the fees charged go to venues (failing to mention, of course, who owns an outsized and growing proportion of those venues).
As noted by WSJ, the federal government did not try to block the merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster but did agree to a settlement in which Live Nation and Ticketmaster would incur steep fines if they were found to be retaliating against venue operators making use of competing ticketing services by doing things like blocking Live Nation artists from playing those venues. Of course, in 2019, Live Nation was found to be violating exactly those terms, forcing an extension of the settlement terms to 2025. It looks like it still wasn’t enough; now, Live Nation could find itself in an even more precarious position.
At long last, Drake finally came through with “Push Ups,” a diss track responding to all the hate that has come his way lately. He has many targets on the tune, but in one line in particular, he goes directly after Metro Boomin, saying, “Metro, shut your ho-ass up and make some drums, n****.”
Now, Drake is continuing to lean into the drums thing with some social media barbs.
He started with a clip from Nick Cannon’s classic 2002 movie Drumline, but with Metro’s face edited over Cannon’s.
Later, he upped the ante even more: Drake shared a video of an actual drumline performing outside of Atlanta’s Magic City strip club. The band was presumably hired by Drake, as he captioned the clip, “From me to you,” alongside a crossed fingers emoji. Notably, Future and Metro had some promotional activity happening outside the club just days earlier.
Drake trolling Metro Boomin again by hiring drummers to play at the Magic City in Atlanta
Meanwhile, Drake also went after Future on “Push Ups,” rapping, “I could never be nobody number-one fan / Your first number one, I had to put it in your hand.” That was a response to a Future “We Don’t Trust You” lyric: “You a n**** number one fan, dog / Sneak dissin’, I don’t understand, dog / Pillowtalkin’, actin’ like a fed, dog / I don’t need another fake friend, dog.”
Gunna recently detailed how he lost upwards of “30-40 pounds” following his release from prison back in 2022 and how he’s continuing to stay in shape. He spoke about his physique during a candid interview with XXL published on Monday.
“Less eating. Especially when I went to jail. I lost a lot of weight. Just like, cleansing. Detoxing. And when I got home, I started working out and just keeping it fit. And now, I’m on a year straight of all working out,” he said. As for if he’s still staying in shape, he added: “Yes. I got a trainer. I work out six days a week. I eat better. I eat clean. And that’s something I’m disciplining myself to do every day. It’s something that I’m liking, though. I feel better when I work out.”
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: Hip-hop artists Young Thug and Gunna attend a release party for Young Thug’s new album “PUNK” at Delilah on October 12, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Gunna also discussed taking a plea deal in the YSL Rico case and the snitching allegations he faced in the wake of that decision. He revealed that he’s not close with Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and Lil Baby anymore but they’ve spoken on the phone peacefully about the situation. “I definitely feel like everybody’s been misled,” he said. “And like, you know, when you’re being misled, you got a choice to follow or make your own decisions. And that’s what is being shown right now. You’re being a follower or you’re being neutral to be like, ‘I don’t know what their business is or what they really got goin’ on.’” As for his relationship with Young Thug, who is still on trial in the case, he added: “It’s the same. It’s love, always. Our relationship is our relationship.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Gunna revealed that his next album will be titled One of Wun and that he’s currently prepping the release. Be on the lookout for further updates on Gunna on HotNewHipHop.
Young Thug’s ongoing YSL RICO trial reached its 61st day today, and it’s safe to say that everyone involved has had enough. The lengthy trial is already on track to becoming the longest in Georgia’s state history and doesn’t show any signs of reaching a conclusion any time soon. During his latest court appearance, Young Thug made his frustration clear, locking eyes with a courtroom camera with annoyance written all over his face.
Of course, the stakes are pretty high here, as Thugger could be looking at a hefty prison sentence if the trial doesn’t go as he hopes. Regardless, anyone is likely to become jaded as the extensive list of witnesses takes the stand. Countless social media users are weighing in on his courtroom eye-roll, noting how tired he looks and calling for his freedom.
Unfortunately, it’s possible that the trial could just be getting started. Last month, one of Yak Gotti’s attorneys filed a motion asking to shave down the prosecution’s list of over 400 witnesses. According to them, the list could push the trial all the way into mid-2027. The judge responded by removing several people from the witness list, Lil Wayne included.
This is far from the only courtroom clip of Young Thug to have made its rounds online as of late, however. Last week, a clip of him wearing earbuds and bobbing his head to some music went viral. Fans couldn’t help but share their guesses of what he was listening to. Most agreed that it was probably Future and Metro Boomin’s new album, We Still Don’t Trust You, though this hasn’t been confirmed. Hopefully, the trial will come to a close sooner rather than later, for the sake of the rapper and everyone else involved. What do you think of Young Thug looking visibly annoyed during his latest court appearance? Can you blame him? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
History doesn’t just repeat itself, but also repurposes itself for new contexts. Last decade, Future dropped his trap-centric self-titled album and the more R&B-inspired Hndrxx a week apart. With WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU achieving this pattern three weeks after its predecessor, that seven-year-old novelty now characterizes Metro Boomin. However, the elephant in the room back then was the divisive response, and inconsistent execution, of this sugary approach.
Sadly, while this album boasts hits across all metrics, the sheer tracklist length (and the still-fresh seventeen tracks before them) exposes the cracks in Future and Metro Boomin’s trajectory. If you loved Hndrxx, you’ll probably enjoy this. If you don’t like their R&B stuff at all, you’re just hating. But if you want balance and more fresh ideas than tried-and-true ones, then WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU might not earn your confidence.
All that said, Metro Boomin really showcases evolution here, tackling his work with artists like Don Toliver for almost a whole LP. Cuts like “Out Of My Hands” and “Came To The Party” could fit as a cool-down point on WE DON’T TRUST YOU, and we’ll get to Disc 2 later. Where the St. Louis beatsmith’s grandiose direction falters is in reiterating his multi-layered production with hollow structures and so-so Future efforts, dampening the ear candy’s impact. “Drink N Dance,” “Jealous,” and “Overload” lose their luster well before ending.
Yet these issues don’t affect production quality — everything sounds crisp. Entrancing instrumentals remain like “Nights Like This,” despite this example’s melodic similarity to last year’s “Calling.” Instead, the weaknesses concern how melodic leanings don’t lend themselves to less eventful beats. Sometimes, individual elements help, like the ’80s-style drums on “Luv Bad B***hes.” But when you’re trying to build out an epic beat often, whenever you do fall short, you really fall short, unless Future gifts the assist.
Future Is Ol’ Reliable On WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU
The Atlanta titan’s performance across the board is what we expected considering his dexterity on WE DON’T TRUST YOU. By comparison, he shows off his dynamism, expressive tone, quirky deliveries, and shifty, smoky flows even more here, such as strained choruses on “Always Be My Fault” and “Right 4 You.” Even though his rapping excelled more on WDTY, he tries his best on STILL to do right by sometimes slightly overproduced beats like the two examples above (although the first is a gold standard here).
Lyrically, it’s a well-worn, more emotional Hendrix you’re likely familiar with, although his pen isn’t always melancholically or toxically relationship-driven. Also, hilariously self-aggrandizing bars here like “You can f**k on him as long as you think about me” are staples in his catalog. But this is all true until it isn’t. For example, Future’s intro/title track performance is meager, and a bare cut that should’ve lasted half its actual runtime. Others like “Gracious” and “One Big Family” are average, but this is Pluto: you’re bound to take away bangers here, as few or numerous as they may be on any given project.
WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU works best by simply distilling what these artists have built over their careers, not by over-dramatizing established approaches. “This Sunday” has a calming, addictive synth line and Future is intoxicatingly ethereal. Speaking of this possible “Feel No Ways” reference track, a brief Drake mention: despite some subs, the beef feels less prominent here due to moodier energies. Moving on, “All To Myself” is a great duet with The Weeknd that contrasts their performances in empowering ways, and “Beat It” is one of the few exceptions that structurally and execution-wise live up to the larger-than-life presentation that Metro Boomin champions.
In addition, “Mile High Memories” throws it back to earlier Fewtch croons with spotlit vocal melodies and perfectly measured atmosphere, and the same goes for the “Amazing” interlude, but with rap flows. The features mixed the bag, though. Ty Dolla $ign and Chris Brown provide minimal but welcome background singing, and as for designated solo spots, Abel gives multiple standouts, but J. Cole can’t maximize his sleepy surprise appearance on the already languid “Red Leather.” That almost summarizes WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU. Future and Metro Boomin can no longer avoid a quantity-over-quality predicament. Most importantly, they try to evolve the former’s soulful approaches and the latter’s auditory theatricality while forgetting what makes their creativity special.
Here’s the album’s biggest holistic detriment. If Future and Metro Boomin fixed the bloat and backpedaling, WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU still would’ve felt redundant. Disc 2 is an OG-sounding mixtape for their styles that is more compelling and goes harder than Disc 1 on average, thanks to more engaging beats, fiery performances, and solid features. If they had cut the filler and diversified the tracklist flow more, then we’d be talking about a much more solid album… that would’ve achieved the exact same as WE DON’T TRUST YOU.
All things considered, this series is nonetheless a dub for Future and Metro Boomin. They fed the fans with their trademark styles and are still dominating charts, music discussion, and the aux. Unfortunately, this also ends the producer’s air-tight studio album run this decade, and the “Solo” MC doesn’t fully capitalize on the moment. Nevertheless, WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU contains peaks worthy of this legendary duo’s history, which they repurpose here to occasionally perfect effect. While we still trust them, they just surprisingly spend a little too much time repeating or forgetting that history here.
Future and Metro Boomin unveiled their new We Trust You Tour, just a few days after releasing the second of their two collaborative albums. This July, the two rappers will kick off their North American run in Kansas City, before heading to Boston, Philly, and more major city stops.
For those hoping to secure tickets to catch them along the way, here’s what to know.
How To Buy Tickets For Future And Metro Boomin’s We Trust You Tour
Tomorrow, April 17, a pre-sale for Future and Metro Boomin’s tour will open for all Cash App cardholders. This will open at 10 a.m. local time and run until Thursday, February 18 at 10 p.m. local. Those interested can enter the first nine digits of their card to participate and must pay using it also. Additionally, those who use their Cash App card to buy tour merch will receive a 20-percent discount.
Tickets will then be made available to the general public on Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. local, with both general passes and VIP package options to purchase.
Continue scrolling to view a complete list of Future and Metro Boomin’s tour dates. Additional information can be found here.
Future And Metro Boomin’s 2024 Tour Dates: We Trust You Tour
07/30 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
07/31 — Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
08/02 — Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
08/03 — Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/04 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
08/06 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
08/08 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
08/10 — Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
08/11 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
08/13 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
08/14 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
08/15 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
08/17 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
08/20 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
08/22 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
08/23 — San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center
08/24 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
08/25 — Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
08/27 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
08/28 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
08/30 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
08/31 — Inglewood, CA @ Intuit Dome
09/03 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
09/04 — Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
09/06 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
09/07 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
09/09 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
In the swirling pool of allegations and with the ongoing scandal involving Diddy, it’s a surprise to many that the mogul still has people on his side. In fact, a number of celebrities have voiced their support for him. As the world anticipates the conclusion of this important pop culture event, Diddy’s defenders are maintaining their position. These artists have stepped forward, lending their voices and using their platforms to wish him well in these times. It’s a very polarizing situation, but as the scandal is ongoing, let’s look at some artists who have openly supported and defended Diddy.
Following the scandal of Homeland Security’s raid on Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami homes in March, Tyrese stepped forward to support Diddy. In a now-deleted open letter on Instagram, Tyrese offered his sympathy and prayers. Alongside a black-and-white photo of Diddy, he also reminisced about “the fun,” “the inspiration,” and “the legendary parties.” In his caption, he wrote: “What I can’t do and what I won’t do is downplay the laughter, the fun, the energy, the inspiration, the awards shows, the studio sessions, the most legendary parties and events I’ve ever attended in my life… I love this brother he’s been nothing but kind and generous towards me and that’s the way I feel. Praying and praying for more of a better outcome of all of this is happening. God bless you Diddy if you ever need to call me and just need a listening ear, I’m right here bro.”
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the former Murder Inc. rapper publicly expressed support for Diddy amidst his scandal. He conveyed empathy for the purported victims while also offering words of encouragement to Diddy. Ja Rule stated: “It’s another Black man in this industry going through some unfortunate circumstances. I wish him luck with everything he’s going through, and if there’s victims in this. I can’t speak on things I don’t know about Piers… but I wish everybody love.”
Slim Thug has consistently voiced his support for Diddy amidst the scandal. Slim had previously spoken up for Diddy when the music mogul was facing sex trafficking claims. Recently, he took to Instagram to criticize both fans and Diddy’s peers for seemingly reveling in the downfall of Sean “Diddy” Combs. He wrote: “We can’t just really go off of he-say, she-say… It’s tough to see so many people want to see him crash out like this. I don’t want to see a Black man who came so far, almost to a billion dollars, fall down. That’s our inspiration. It ain’t too many of us. They took Kanye down. We losing another billionaire over allegations at this point. Still ain’t no criminal charges.”
Uncle Luke
Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, the former 2 Live Crew icon, has also recently stepped up in defense of Diddy, putting forth a conspiracy theory. He suggests a connection between Diddy’s current legal challenges and his past disputes with the liquor brand Diageo. Campbell aired his views during an Instagram Live stream, addressing the Diddy scandal. He also expressed shock that not more people are supporting the rapper.
“When you get your billions, and they put you on a pedestal, that’s because they put you up on a pedestal,” he said. “They made you the guy. They place you on every network. They sold you to all y’all on here. They put you up on a pedestal because they need you. It’s like some pimp shit.”
E. Ness
E. Ness, a former member of Bad Boy Entertainment, has vocally thrown his support behind Diddy amidst the scandal, asserting that his ex-CEO is the target of a malicious smear campaign. In a recent appearance on the Directed by CEO Nafees podcast, E. Ness reiterated his stance, expressing disbelief in Diddy’s guilt and suggesting a concerted effort to tarnish his reputation. He stated: “It’s a smear campaign. That’s what’s happening with Puff. It’s a smear campaign. And what they usually do is they go to your personal habits. They start attacking your personal habits, your girlfriends, and your exes. Then they try to find something to attack you through those vessels.”
Metro Boomin and Drake are at odds right now. Overall, their feud has been growing for months, although it has seemingly hit its peak. Once Kendrick Lamar dissed Drake and J Cole on “Like That,” it seemed as though all bets were off. Subsequently, Drake came through with his own diss track this weekend, simply called “Push Ups.” On the song, he takes aim at Metro with one perfectly placed line. It was a humorous line, and fans are already excited to see how this is all going to play out, moving forward.
Throughout the morning, Drake has continued to take aim at Metro. Ultimately, some fans feel as though it is a weak move, especially when you consider how Drizzy can rap back, while Metro cannot. That said, with Metro under the microscope, fans have been going on his Twitter account and looking for reasons to clown on him. As it turns out, they have found a plethora of tweets from over 10 years ago, in which Metro can be seen praising the megastar. Of course, these posts are aside from the one we reported on a few hours ago.
All of these tweets are exceptionally complimentary of Drake. They make it seem as though Metro was a huge Drake fan growing up. Of course, that is probably very well the case. These two have even made tons of hits together. Along the way, something went wrong, and now there seems to be some real hatred there. Hopefully, these two can talk it out and come to terms on some sort of solution.
Let us know what you think of the mess between Metro Boomin and Drake, in the comments section down below. Do you find all of this to be childish? What do you make of fans digging up old tweets from artists and celebrities? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
In the unforgiving entertainment world, fame often comes with a hefty price tag. This is especially true for child stars thrust into the limelight at a tender age. While the allure of stardom can be irresistible, the journey to the top is filled with challenges. The many stories of these child stars underscore the harsh realities of fame and the toll it can take on young talents. From battling mental health issues to grappling with substance abuse and legal troubles, their journeys serve as cautionary tales of the perils of celebrity culture. While most of them are doing well today, not everyone is lucky.
Raven-Symoné
Best known for her role as Raven Baxter on That’s So Raven, Raven-Symoné faced the daunting task of balancing fame with her personal growth. Despite her success, she confronted body image issues and the pressure to conform to industry standards. In an interview with People, she opened up about being body-shamed and criticized for her weight while on set.
“I wish I was living now as a younger person,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t have so many mental issues. [They said] I was too big to be doing an hour-and-a-half concert. ‘I don’t know how she can dance being that big.’ And I was like, ‘I still did it!’ I was on tour forever because it’s not about your size, it’s about what you have to say.”
Gary Coleman
As the lovable Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes, Gary Coleman was one of the most famous child stars of his time. However, behind the laughter lay a troubled soul battling financial woes and legal disputes. Despite his iconic status, Coleman struggled to shake off the stereotypes associated with his on-screen persona, grappling with the harsh realities of fame. His relationship with his parents was also fraught. They were accused of mishandling his earnings and using him for their own financial interests.
After his seeming success in the ’70s and ’80s, Coleman’s career started to wane in the 1990s. As a result, he encountered difficulties securing more roles in Hollywood. Additionally, he grappled with legal troubles, including a lawsuit against his parents and an arrest for assault in 1999. Sadly, Coleman succumbed to complications from his congenital kidney condition in 2010 at the age of 42.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s name is known worldwide. When discussing child stars and the consequences of fame, there’s perhaps no better illustration. Michael began his career at the tender age of five and later became widely known as the “King of Pop.” He dazzled the world with his extraordinary talent, but behind it all lay a childhood marred by exploitation and intense scrutiny. Michael endured relentless media attention and struggled with his identity under the spotlight, facing immense pressure to maintain his image as the epitome of perfection.
Speaking with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, he confessed: “It hit me before I was a teenager. I wanted so badly to play in the park across the street because the kids were playing baseball and football but I had to record. I could see the park, right across the street. But I had to go in the other building and work until late at night making the albums. I sat there looking at the kids with tears running down my face and I would say, ‘I am trapped and I have to do this for the rest of my life. I am under contract.’”
Regina King
Some may not know Regina King as a child actress and may recognize her from her roles in Boyz n the Hood, A Cinderella Story, and If Beale Street Could Talk. However, the actress became quite popular when she starred as Brenda Jenkins in the TV series 227. She was 14 years old at the time and struggled quite a bit because of her rising popularity. She opened up with People Magazine about her mother’s decision to keep her in public school.
Thanking her mother, she said, “It was instrumental in me becoming a person who can find balance on shaky ground. It’s not an easy thing, living your life on display, and it’s particularly hard when you’re young. But participating in those social situations as a teen gave me an understanding of how different people can be, which has been very helpful when navigating Hollywood.”
Keke Palmer
Bursting onto the scene with her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee, Keke Palmer was one of the most adored child stars around. Yet, as she transitioned into adulthood, Palmer faced the pressure to shed her child-star image and prove herself in a competitive industry. Despite her resilience, she confronted moments of self-doubt and scrutiny from the media. She told The Root: “However, it caused me a lot of pain because I essentially had to abandon my childhood feelings and desires, becoming like a parentalized child, which is something some of you can probably relate to in your own way. This was something that I have had to continuously work through because I am grateful but often feel like I missed ‘IT.’”
Orlando Brown
Known for his role as Eddie Thomas on That’s So Raven, Orlando Brown’s journey from child star to adulthood was marked by personal turmoil and legal troubles. Despite his early success, Brown grappled with substance abuse and erratic behavior. This subsequently overshadowed his talent and threatened to derail his career. The former child star has since had several run-ins with the law for drug possession and burglary.
He appeared on The Dr. Phil Show and opened up about his battles with addiction, homelessness, and his mental health. “I was drinking a lot,” he said. “I just found myself in a dark place because I couldn’t really find everybody. It’s kinda like looking for your keys, when you stop looking, they’re right there type of deal. I started to realize what was in front of me.”
Jaleel White
Immortalized as the iconic Steve Urkel on Family Matters, Jaleel White experienced the highs and lows of child stars at a young age. Despite his success, White grappled with the burden of being typecast and struggled to break free from the shadow of his most famous character. He also faced racial discrimination. During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, he disclosed that certain prominent child stars from that era received preferential treatment compared to him.
Furthermore, he lamented that he was never extended an invitation to the Emmys. He said: “It’s fair of me now to definitely say, you were made to feel African-American. Fred Savage was always invited to the Emmys; he was always treated like a darling during this time. I was never invited to the Emmys, even to present. I was pretty much told that I would be wasting my time to even submit myself for nomination.”
Lindsay Lohan
Rising to fame with her roles in Disney films like The Parent Trap, Mean Girls, and Freaky Friday, Lindsay Lohan was destined for stardom. Yet, her journey took a tumultuous turn as she grappled with substance abuse and legal troubles in her teenage years. The constant glare of the media magnified her struggles, casting a shadow over her promising career.
In 2019, she spoke with Variety, stating, “The first time I was in a tabloid, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I feel like Britney Spears!’ because she was in a tabloid and I felt cool. Little did I know what would happen from there. I know that I’m a damn good actress, and it’s been my passion since I was a child, and I know that when I care about something I put 100 percent and more into it. And I know that in my past I was young and irresponsible, but that’s what growing up is. You learn from your mistakes.”
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was one of the child stars on a meteoric rise. However, behind the scenes, Bynes battled with mental health issues exacerbated by the pressures of fame. Her public struggles played out in the media, underscoring the harsh realities faced by child stars thrust into the unforgiving spotlight. Bynes later took a break from acting due to her constant reliance on drugs. She confessed to Paper Magazine in 2018 that her drug usage changed her.
“My advice to anyone who is struggling with substance abuse would be to be really careful because drugs can really take a hold of your life. Everybody is different, obviously, but for me, the mixture of marijuana and whatever other drugs and sometimes drinking really messed up my brain. It really made me a completely different person.”
Rising to fame as a Disney Channel star, Demi Lovato charmed audiences with her powerhouse vocals and relatable persona. However, behind the facade of success lay a battle with addiction and mental health issues. These were exacerbated by the pressures of fame. Lovato’s journey to recovery played out in the public eye, shedding light on the challenges child stars face.
While promoting her docuseries Simply Complicated at the Cannes Lions, she stated: “I wouldn’t start that young if I could do it over again. It was a difficult transition from child star to transforming into a mainstream artist. It’s something that is very challenging. You have to find your identity. For so long you’ve been molded into something and then you’re expected to figure out who you are very fast in front of the entire world. It’s definitely been difficult, but it’s been a learning experience. I am still figuring out who I am every day.”
Macaulay Culkin
As the precocious Kevin McCallister in Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin became a household name overnight. Yet, his rapid rise to fame took a toll on his childhood, leading to strained relationships and personal struggles in adulthood. According to Entertainment Weekly, Culkin pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor drug possession charges in 2005. He also confessed to Esquire: “I played with some fire, I guess is the best way to put it. At the same time, I’ve never been to rehab or anything like that. I’ve never had to clean out that way. There were certain times when I had to catch myself, once or twice.”
Earlier today, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced this year’s 25 recordings to be added to the National Recording Registry. Among “the defining sounds of history” will now sit The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 debut album Ready To Die, Slick Rick’s 1999 The Art Of Storytelling cut with Doug E. Fresh, “La-Di-Da-Di,” and more. Songs and albums by ABBA, the Chicks, the Cars, Bill Withers, Jefferson Airplane, and Kronos Quartet have also been added.
While fans are certainly glad that some of hip hop’s most iconic releases have finally been recognized by Congress, many are shocked that it took this long. Others argue that it’s better late than never. After all, it even took this long for Gene Autry’s 1949 version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to be recognized. 2023 inductees included Mariah Carey’s iconic holiday track “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Queen Latifah’s debut studio album All Hail the Queen, and more.
Librarian Of Congress Announces 25 More “Defining Sounds Of History”
Special guest rappers Slick Rick (left) and Doug E. Fresh performs on the “Best of Both Worlds” tour, November 1, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
The news also follows today’s announcement that the 2024 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees will be announced onApril 21. Judge Lionel Richie, who’s a member of the Rock Hall himself, and Ryan Seacrest will announce the inductees during an episode of American Idol. Among this year’s nominees are Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Kool & The Gang, and more.
What do you think of the latest additions to the National Recording Registry? What about The Notorious B.I.G., Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, and more making the cut? Are you surprised it took this long? What else do you think should be added? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and also keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
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Looked straight into the camera like an episode of The Office 
