GRAMMY-nominated recording artist GloRilla releases the visuals to her newest single, “Hollon,” from her debut album GLORIOUS. Directed by Troy Roscoe, Big Glo is a carefree bus driver who lets anything go during her crazy commute. From passengers having a steamy makeout session to an energized dance sequence amongst those in attendance, Glo’s bus service proves to be the bus service for anybody looking for a ride.
Last month, Big Glo announced her debut album, GLORIOUS. Slated for an October 11th release, the studio album comes after Big Glo trailblazed her way through the music industry with infectious hit records and high-profile collaborations that have won fans around the globe. Fans pre-ordering the album will get two instant gratification tracks, “Hollon” and her summer smash “TGIF.”
GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, actor, author, father, and R&B icon Anthony Hamilton celebrates the immense impact of Black women on his life with his new single “QUEEN.” This single arrives at a significant moment as the nation gears up for a historic election and the possibility of electing the first Black female president.
“QUEEN” is a soulful anthem dedicated to celebrating Black women’s strength, beauty, and resilience. Written and performed by the legendary Anthony Hamilton and produced by Jermaine Dupri, this song is an homage to the QUEENS who have shaped history, nurtured generations, and continue to lead with grace and power. With heartfelt lyrics and a powerful melody, “QUEEN” aims to become a global anthem that resonates with people of all backgrounds, uplifting and honoring the essence of Black womanhood.
About the song, Hamilton comments, “I’m surrounded by QUEENS. I was raised by QUEENS, some who never knew their value or the influence they had on me. It’s not only my duty as a Black King, but my right to celebrate, support and respect them. I was birthed by a QUEEN.”
In celebration of the “QUEEN” release, Anthony Hamilton has also announced the “QUEEN” Remix Contest and is calling on all remixers, producers, and DJ’s worldwide to submit their take on the song “QUEEN” for a chance to have their remix released officially. Additionally, the single will be supported by various “QUEEN” campaigns to include prizes and giveaways throughout the country.
On this day in 1992, Chicago Hip-Hop legend Common, who was known as “Common Sense,” released his debut LP Can I Borrow A Dollar? Common delivered a debut that can be set apart from any other album he’s released. As one of Chicago’s first mainstream Hip Hop albums, this album exhibits an unorthodox approach to conscious rap. With very little connection to the boom-bap scene thriving in New York, Common was able to forge his unique style and stand out among a sea of Afrocentric, for-the-cause MCs, subsequently putting Chi-Town on the map.
It was Common’s isolation and hunger that drove this project to be as prolific as it is. After winning the title of ‘Unsigned Hype’ from The Source Magazine, Common quickly rose to the ranks of new artists. His unique status brought him a record deal and the ability to take his out-of-pocket flow and poetic wordplay to the mainstream. The simple production from his four-headed beat machine of No ID, Twilite Tone, and The Beatnuts was the perfect alley-oop for Common to showcase his lyrical prowess. In no way could the instrumental outshine anything Common was saying, creating a full album. Along with the lack of any “big name” features, that proved that this album was the beginning of a bright and illustrious career.
Commercially and critically, the project was slept on. Only peaking at#70 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop charts and selling well under platinum standards, this album was underappreciated until Common had officially proved himself as one of the greats. The album’s singles “Take it EZ,” “Breaker 1/9”, and “Sound by the Pound” were all top 10 hits on the Rap charts but had very little crossover success. However, this album is retrospectively loved, appreciated, and recognized as a Golden Era classic. Can I Borrow A Dollar? was a peek into the future. Common’s immense success in household name stems from his ability to go against the tide without ruffling any feathers. He stands out while simultaneously fitting in, and today we celebrate his debut.
Last night, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum recording artist and New York Times best-selling author Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins hosted the highly anticipated 4th Annual Sno Ball Gala, an unforgettable evening that combined elegance, entertainment, and philanthropy. This exclusive, invite-only event gathered a star-studded lineup of celebrities and influential leaders, all coming together to support Jeezy‘s Street Dreamz Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth.
In a heartwarming moment, Jeezy made his first red carpet appearance alongside his oldest daughter, Amra, marking their debut together at the event and adding a special, personal touch to the evening’s celebrations. Among the evening’s high-profile attendees were Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, comedian Mike Epps, rapper T.I., and many more.
The event, held at a private venue, featured an array of luxurious experiences —from gourmet dining to a thrilling live auction. Guests had the chance to bid on exclusive, high-end items, with all proceeds going directly to Street Dreamz Foundation’s initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, and community development for at-risk youth. Comedian Mike Epps had the crowd roaring with laughter as the gala’s master of ceremonies, while DJ Cassidy kept the energy high with a mix of crowd-pleasing hits that had attendees dancing into the early hours.
The night’s real success came from the funds raised, which will further the foundation’s mission to uplift the next generation of leaders. Reflecting on the event, Jeezy stated, “The Sno Ball Gala is about more than just a great night—it’s about creating real change. I’m grateful to everyone who came out, contributed, and helped make this event impactful. Together, we’re giving our youth the tools to succeed and thrive.”
As the 2024 Sno Ball Gala wraps, it solidifies Jeezy’s legacy—not just as a music icon and author, but as a philanthropist devoted to making lasting, positive change in his community.
Today we celebrate the 67th birthday of Hip Hop pioneer Russell Simmons!
Since the founding of Def Jam Recordings in 1983, Russell Simmons has been an instrumental part in the advancement of Hip Hop culture. Over his illustrious career Russell has launched the careers of multi-platinum artists (LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy to name a few), co-founded top-selling clothing lines Baby Phat and Phat Farm, created financial institutions with the Rush Card, and award-winning television shows Def Poetry Jam and Run’s House. It is nearly impossible to say what the state of rap music and Hip Hop culture would be today with the Russell Simmons influence.
Lately, Uncle Rush has even begun taking large strides outside of the entertainment and financial industries, becoming Hip Hop’s new-age spiritual guru. Since 2010, Simmons has released self-help books sharing his views on religion, spirituality, and even health. Through his Hindu and vegan lifestyles, Uncle Rush has assumed the role of mentor to a vast majority of today’s top recording artists.
Over the years, Hip Hop empires have risen to power and fallen from the mountaintop. Russell Simmons, however, has always been able to brave the tide and stand strong as one of the most impregnable forces of marketing and branding expertise. Since his first project, Run D.M.C., it has been obvious that no one truly understands Hip Hop the way that Russell Simmons does. His Midas touch continues to transform the culture into something new (and more profitable) with every idea he brings to fruition. He is truly a rap genius.
Today(October 3), a notice in the court docket in Diddy’s federal criminal sex trafficking indicated the case was reassigned to Judge Arun Subramanian, who was first nominated by President Joe Biden in 2022 and took the bench in 2023.
Subramanian spent most of his career as a civil litigator of complex disputes at the law firm Susman Godfrey. Before joining Godfrey, he worked as a law clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Judge Andrew Carter, who denied Diddy bail in his last hearing, will no longer be on the bench during the incarcerated mogul’s criminal case.
There has been no reason confirmed as to why Carter excused himself from the case, but legal analyst Meghann Cuniff said that Judge Carter hinted at finding his replacement in Diddy’s case at his September 18th bail hearing.
“If I can’t try it, I’ll find a colleague who can if you want to set a trial date,” the judge told Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo.
Diddy was arrested for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution in September. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Bad Boy mogul, whose real name is Sean Combs, could spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.
“For decades, Sean Combs … abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” his indictment explained. “To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled—creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
JT remains at the top of her game, as her Billboard Hot 100 single “OKAY” is now RIAA-certified gold. Following her headlining City Cinderella Tour, JT (Quality Control Music/Motown) received a gold plaque for “OKAY” in Los Angeles from Quality Control’s Pierre “P” Thomas and Kevin “Coach K” Lee. JT’s unrelenting work ethic has paid off this year, as many publications lauded the Miami superstar for her project City Cinderella.
Essence glorified the project in their review, saying: “The City Cinderella soundscape is contemporary and nostalgic, blending classic Miami influences with modern forces,” while Billboard noted City Cinderella is an impressive manifesto for the next stage of JT’s career. Chart-wise, City Cinderella enjoyed a splashy debut, entering at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums and debuting at No. 5 on the Top R&B / Hip-Hop charts.
Wookie releases single and discusses lessons learned from Future and Casino
Explosive local Atl star Lil Wookie has been cementing his place in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene. The popular Freebandz affiliate was tapped to lead the next generation of Future’s globally successful label by his brother and CEO, Casino. He’s been on the motivated Wookie to go harder for his dreams and his family. Wookie is back with a catchy new single and visual, “2 Real” which samples Plies and is produced by SquashBangers.
Discovered by Casino, Wookie has been immersed in Atlanta’s hip-hop culture since his early childhood. When he was little, Wookie would overhear his uncle Lil Bo (of the legendary Atlanta rap group The Eastside Boyz) and Lil Jon preparing their rhymes. These moments inspired Wookie to rap. Wookie’s dad soon discovered his son’s ability to rap and encouraged him to write his own raps.
Rapping became Wookie’s life path, and he would even sneak out of the house on school nights to perform at nightclubs, all in pursuit of his dreams. When Freebandz Casino realized how Wookie was serious about rap, he immediately embraced him professionally. Casino has been his mentor to this day.
Wookie’s music has a raw sound with a gritty cadence. He possesses a unique skill set among today’s rappers, as he is capable of writing lyrics, freestyling, and using the “punch-in” method.
Due to his distinctive abilities, Wookie’s wordplay is frequently quoted on Genius.com. His lyrics range from fun, upbeat vibes to serious street tales, showcasing his versatility. In an era of payola and bots, Wookie has amassed over 5 million organic streams before releasing an EP, LP, or album.
Tennessee State Police have confirmed that James Lee Baker aka “BlocBoy JB”JB has been arrested on gun and drug charges after officers found him asleep behind the wheel.
According to local news reports, the Tennessee Highway Patrol found the Memphis rapper early Tuesday morning (October 1) unconscious in his car with his foot on the brake and a gun in his lap. When the rapper’s Mazda was stopped, he allegedly was found with marijuana after officers searched the car.
The Memphis native was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana and several other charges such as driving with a revoked license and obstructing a highway.
Baker was booked into Shelby County Jail on a $7,500 bond and has had his driver’s license revoked.
Reports have confirmed that basketball legend Michael Jordan is suing NASCAR and it’s CEO Jim France, calling them “monopolistic bullies.”
Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a lawsuit in a federal court in North Carolina yesterday(October 2) after the two teams say they refused to sign updated pacts with NASCAR over “unfair terms.”
Both teams demanded more when it came to extending their charter agreements beyond 2024, but neither MASCAR or France was willing to negotiate their share of the revenue. Both teams claim the org. pressured them into agreeing to a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer that if they did not agree to, they could risk losing their charters in the future.
Both teams filed a suit and an injunction that would allow them to compete in the 2025 season without releasing their antitrust claims by putting pen to France’s paper.
Both teams said that they wanted to stifle France’s and NASCAR’s “unlawful monopoly power.”
“I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans,” Jordan said of the lawsuit in a statement, “but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.”
Jordan’s 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin said, “When I look around, I see that the best and most competitive sports in the world understand that when teams thrive, fans benefit, and that everyone who invests in making the sport a success should share fairly in that success. With the right changes, we can certainly make that a reality in racing.”
