News Exclusives

Today In Hip Hop History: Snoop Dogg Dropped ‘The Last Meal’ LP 22 Years Ago

by
tumblr 1146777f89eac4f98ed02e8a6d28959e c21d3fc8 1280

On this date in 2000, West Coast rap giant Snoop Dogg released his fifth full-length studio album entitled The Last Meal, which was released on Master P’s Dirty South, independent powerhouse, No Limit Records, as well as the first album on Snoop’s Doggystyle Records. This album was released during the “dog days” of Death Row, with Snoop and Dre parting ways with their former boss and label owner Suge Knight. The album was leaked on the internet on December 1, 2000, by Suge Knight who made all tracks downloadable in MP3 from the official site of his and Snoop Dogg’s former company Death Row Records, which featured links to tracks from both Tha Last Meal and Dead Man Walkin’ albums, asking visitors to “take The Snoop Dogg Challenge” and decide “song for song” which is the better album.

There was some heavy production on the album, with tracks primarily from Dr. Dre and Master P, adding Timbaland and Soopafly to the unique flavor of this project as well. The most recognizable track from the album was “Lay Low” a melodic track featuring Butch Cassidy, The Outsidaz with Nate Dogg singing the hook and Dr. Dre behind the boards, capturing that original G-funk sound of the 213.

Salute to Snoop, Master P, Dre and the entire No Limit/Death Row teams who helps mold this timeless classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Snoop Dogg Dropped ‘The Last Meal’ LP 22 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Target Progresses on Investing $2 Billion in Black-owned Businesses

by
merlin 184308030 64f220fc 58ed 45d1 a4b2 42c90dfc8473 superJumbo

In April of 2021, Target made a commitment to spend  $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025. The general merchandise retailer vowed to expand the number of Black-owned brands available in Target stores as well as spend more with Black-owned suppliers. Target plan is exemplifying their purpose through an end goal that creates more equitable experiences for Black guests, obtains new resources for Black entrepreneurs, and harnesses the full impact, scale, and size of their economic resources.

Today, Target is honoring their dedication to these goals and upholding transparency. They are launching a new media fund initiative through an in-house media company, Roundel. Since 2020, Target’s spending budget in conjunction with Black-owned companies and suppliers has increased by over 50 percent. Additionally, the number of Black-owned brands across their assortment has doubled to more than 100. Target’s clarity in their endeavors moving forward keeps power in the hands of their mission. The Roundel Media Fund, which serves to offset the cost of marketing programs at Target will award over  $25 million in media to Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) brands by 2025. 

In May, Target announced ‘Forward Founders’, the accelerator program for early-stage CPG companies looking to better understand retail. It’s designed to help historically under-resourced founders be the next wave of wealth-building companies. 

ABV Header REACH2

A closer look at some of Target’s progress since the start of this initiative includes over 30 Black entrepreneurs supported through Forward Founders, over 2,000 underrepresented entrepreneurs have been granted access to free resources through Target’s virtual Forward Founders program, over 100 Black-owned brands are now available at Target across every major category, a 65% increase in Black-owned beauty brands at Target over the past year, and over 200 books from Black authors added to this assortment over the last year. 

The post Target Progresses on Investing $2 Billion in Black-owned Businesses appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Deb Antney Says Gucci Mane Didn’t Like Nicki Minaj Because He Couldn’t Have Sex w/ Her, Called Him “Selfish”

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 17 at 4.54.42 PM

Management mogul Debra Antney appeared on the candid Hip Hop-centered podcast My Expert Opinion, which is led by battle rap mainstay Math Hoffa and opened up about the in-house tension between Gucci Mane and Nicki Minaj. Antney, who jumpstarted the careers of both artists, says simply that Nicki wanted it more than all of her artists.

Ms. Antney, nicknamed “pitbull in a skirt”, says that Gucci couldn’t stand Nicki, saying, “You know what hurt me? Gucci couldn’t stand her. He didn’t like Nicki.” Deb added that it was because Gucci couldn’t sleep with Nicki, and she went on to claim that Gucci is “very selfish.” 

She added that she didn’t know how Gucci could even sign artists to his 1017 imprint, because, in her expert opinion, his own selfish agenda, She said, “Because you got to understand. The artists ain’t never gonna let another artist become bigger than them.” 

The post [WATCH] Deb Antney Says Gucci Mane Didn’t Like Nicki Minaj Because He Couldn’t Have Sex w/ Her, Called Him “Selfish” appeared first on The Source.

Boosie Calls Gunna A “Rat” For Taking Alford Plea Deal In YSL RICO Case

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 16 at 9.06.43 AM

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Sergio “Gunna” Kitchens would be released from jail after taking an Alford plea to one count of racketeering, which left him with one year time served and the four remaining years being handed as a suspended sentence.

Boosie took to Twitter to condemn Gunna, and says that he’s a “rat”.

Screen Shot 2022 12 16 at 9.00.19 AM
Screen Shot 2022 12 16 at 9.00.33 AM

Gunna released a statement regarding taking the Alford plea, saying, “I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL.” Gunna added, “An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge.” 

Young Thug remains in jail without bond pending the YSL RICO trial, which is scheduled to get underway in January 2023.

The post Boosie Calls Gunna A “Rat” For Taking Alford Plea Deal In YSL RICO Case appeared first on The Source.

Alleged YSL Co-Founder Released from Jail Following Plea Deal In RICO Case

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 16 at 8.37.41 AM

News reports have confirmed that an alleged co-founder of the now-infamous Young Slime Life reached a plea agreement with Fulton County prosecutors before YSL’s RICO trial, securing his freedom and walked out of jail a free man.

Walter Murphy entered a guilty plea earlier this week and will receive a one year jail sentence, to which he will be given time served of his ten-year sentence, of which the remaining nine will be served on supervised probation.

Murphy’s indictment alleges he committed an aggravated assault in 2013 and an attempted murder in 2015, which allegedly had four victims. Murphys is also being named as one of the co-founders of YSL alongside co-defendant Trontavious Stephens. 

In an interview with Atlanta’s CBS affiliate WSB-TV Channel 2, Murphy was vehement about YSL not being a gang, saying, “I would rather say it’s more like a record label or a family,” Murphy said. “Once upon a time I was actually a road manager on that label.” 

The post Alleged YSL Co-Founder Released from Jail Following Plea Deal In RICO Case appeared first on The Source.

Yaya Mayweather Gets Six Years Probation In 2020 Stabbing Case

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 16 at 7.02.59 AM 1

Several reports have confirmed that Iyanna “Yaya” Mayweather, the daughter of living boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., received six years of deferred adjudication after pleading guilty to the 2020 stabbing of another woman in Cypress, a suburb outside of Houston, Texas.

Mayweather went in front of a judge last month and plead guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the incident in 2020, where she stabbed NBA YoungBoy’s BM several times in the arm following a physical altercation. The plea taken by Mayweather allows her to avoid jail time.

A deferred adjudication is a special form of judge-ordered probation that allows Iyanna to accept responsibility for a crime without an actual conviction placed on record. Under her sentence, Iyanna will need to abide by the following:

  • Cannot commit any offenses
  • Cannot use or possess any illegal drug or prescription drugs that are not currently prescribed by a medical professional
  • Report to supervising officer
  • Work a suitable employment and/or attend school full-time
  • Remain within Harris County or any counties directly touching Harris County, and cannot travel outside the location unless given permission

Earlier this year, Mayweather celebrated her birthday and posted a pic wearing a shirt bearing her mugshot.

Screen Shot 2022 12 16 at 6.57.01 AM

The post Yaya Mayweather Gets Six Years Probation In 2020 Stabbing Case appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Dr. Dre’s Debut Solo LP ‘The Chronic’ Turns 30 Years Old!

by
tumblr ce8fba46b8e329f34c5a58eed2872b01 1dc61595 1280

On this date in 1992, Dr. Dre released his debut solo album The Chronic on his own Death Row Records imprint, which was distributed by Priority Records. This album introduced the world to the Death Row experience, G-Funk infused Hip Hop and the one and only Snoop Doggy Dogg.

Recorded in Death Row Studios in L.A., The Chronic album was created under the influence of some of the most powerful marijuana in the United States during that time, hence, the title. It was also fueled by Dre’s relentless passion to show his former crewmates from N.W.A. that he could make it on his own as well as prove to the world that he could do more than just make dope beats.

Timeless tracks where Dre shined on the lyrical side include “Let Me Ride”, “Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang” along with Snoop, and “The Day The Niggaz Took Over”, where Daz, Dre, and RBX went in about racial tensions during the 1992 L.A. riots.

Even with its conceptual perfection and trailblazing sound, which left an open market for artists like The Dogg Pound, 213, and Warren G., The Chronic is still Dre’s second best-selling album behind The Chronic: 2001, which went sextuple platinum.

Salute to everyone at Death Row Records who contributed to this gangsta rap classic! Cali love!!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Dr. Dre’s Debut Solo LP ‘The Chronic’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Gunna Steps Out Of Jail And Into Maybach, Details Of Plea Agreement Released

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 14 at 11.33.56 PM

In the latest news of the YSL RICO case, Gunna was released from the Fulton County Jail tonight(December 16) after pleading guilty to a racketeering charge. He walked out of jail today a free man, stepping into a MAybach flanked by his lawyer and security.

Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, entered an Alford plea while pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Act. Gunna was orignially sentenced to five years behind bars, but the year he served was commuted to time served while the remaining four years were handed down as suspended time.

As Gunna left the court building and stepped into the truck, he was asked by one of the reporters why he entered the Alford plea, but the question was quickly intercepted by his attorney.

Gunna is also required to complete 500 hours of community service and cannot carry a firearm. Failure to be compliant with the rules of his plea agreement could result in the DA revoking his suspended sentence, which means he would have to serve the remaining four years behind bars.

The post [WATCH] Gunna Steps Out Of Jail And Into Maybach, Details Of Plea Agreement Released appeared first on The Source.

Gunna And Goodr Treat 1,000 Atlanta Families To Christmas

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 14 at 11.10.44 PM

Walmart shoppers in College Park (6149 Old National Hwy, College Park, GA 30349) will have the chance to receive a $100 gift card and a special gift from multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated rapper, Gunna, during the 5th  Annual Gunna’s Great Giveaway event on Sunday, December 18th from 1-4 PM. Representatives of the artist will present the gift cards to 1,000 pre-registered families in Gunna’s hometown at an event powered by Goodr.
 
Goodr and Gunna have been frequent philanthropic partners for several years now. The two have provided the Atlanta community with several free Pop-up Grocery Markets, as well as coat giveaways, back-to-school donation events and a free shopping experience for the students and their families of Ronald E. McNair Middle School where the rapper once attended. Gunna’s Drip Closet & Goodr Grocery Store provides students of the Title 1 school with access to free food, clothing and hygiene items during the school
year.
 
“Much respect to Gunna who, no matter what, still finds a way to contribute to the community that raised him,” says Goodr Founder and CEO, Jasmine Crowe-Houston. “We know that people will struggle unlike any other year this holiday season and it is our honor to maintain Gunna’s legacy of giving back.”

What better welcome home AND X-Mas gift is this for Gunna, who was just released from Fulton County Jail today after accepting a Alford Plea in the YSL RICO case.

The post Gunna And Goodr Treat 1,000 Atlanta Families To Christmas appeared first on The Source.

Saweetie Kicks Off Her Icy Baby Foundation

by
Screen Shot 2022 12 14 at 1.25.28 PM

Hometown superstar, Saweetie and her Icy Baby Foundation were in Oakland this weekend giving back. She held a financial empowerment kickoff event for the Icy Baby Foundation’s upcoming six-week financial literacy course.  The course is set to begin in January and is open to ages seven 7-17. The Icy Baby Foundation is currently hosting kickoff events on the West Coast before the program launch. Youth in attendance are eligible to receive a funded debit card, educational resources, and information about saving, budgeting, and financial planning.

Saweetie created the foundation with her grandmother, Roxane Harper to specifically financially empower Black and Brown youth through financial literacy and education.  The foundation’s mission is to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets within underserved communities that enable people to make better life and career decisions despite setbacks or circumstances. 

Screen Shot 2022 12 14 at 1.27.59 PM

“I want to continue using my foundation and resources to financially empower young children and students, especially in Black and Brown communities. The long-term goal for the Icy Baby Foundation is to increase financial literacy amongst kids and propel them to brighter futures. My grandmother and I have worked on this for a few years so it’s exciting to implement this course and program for young people finally,” said Saweetie. 

The post Saweetie Kicks Off Her Icy Baby Foundation appeared first on The Source.