Pop Culture

Public Enemy’s Chuck D Says Popularizing Rap In The UK Was “Our British Invasion”

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Chuck D recently opened up in a sit-down about his career to date and got on the topic of performing in the United Kingdom. In 1987, the “Don’t Believe The Hype” rappers famously rocked the stage at London’s Hammersmith Apollo and were met with a large group of fans.

The Public Enemy rapper then revealed that bringing rap and hip-hop to the UK was “our British invasion,” comparing it with the popularity of bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones in America during the 1960s.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK–SEPTEMBER 19: Rap group Public Enemy (Flavor Flav (aka William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) and Terminator X ( aka Norman Rogers) and the S1W’s) appears on the “Public Enemy Week” segment of “Yo! MTV Raps” on September 19, 1991 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)

In an interview with The Guardian this past week, the New York native said about performing overseas, “The UK was somewhere we relished because we knew words would be written about us, what we thought and where we had come from.”

READ MORE: Chuck D Sells Chunk Of Public Enemy’s Publishing Rights

On helping to bring fresh hip-hop sounds to another part of the world, the 62-year-old continued, “When we came to the UK, we paid our dues, but it was a two-way street. We wanted to stake the UK because we knew it was different from the US as far as freedom went. The English language had taken over the world, so we thought: why not plug hip-hop into it? The British had beaten the English language into so many cultures; bringing rap music back to the UK was our British invasion.”

Public Enemy quickly became pioneers in early rap history after forming in the early 1980s. Along with members Flavor Flav and Hank Shocklee, Chuck D climbed the charts with hits like “Fight The Power” and “Harder Than You Think.”

They tackled important topics like police brutality, racism, and politics throughout their music, earning them a dedicated following and several Grammy nominations.

Chuck D also told the Guardian his views on why newer artists don’t often cover similar topics, saying, “We had the blessing of right age, right place, right time. I was the right person with the right thing going on: Black music in New York. But it’s one thing to have coincidence and happenstance; you’ve also got to make it work.”

What is your favorite Public Enemy song? Let us know by sounding off below in the comments.

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Stan Lee Documentary To Stream On Disney+ In 2023

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Four years after Stan Lee passed away at 95, Disney+ has announced a new documentary coming in 2023 to commemorate the Marvel Comics pioneer.

Sharing the news on what would have been Lee’s 100th birthday, the streaming giant also penned on Twitter this past Wednesday, “100 years of dreaming. 100 years of creating. 100 years of Stan Lee.”

The famed comic book writer died in 2018 after being rushed to Los Angele’s Cedars-Sinai Hospital. His wife, Joan Boocock Lee, passed away a year earlier in 2017.

Becoming a leader in the comic book industry, Lee helped bring some of our favorite superheroes to life, including Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Black Panther, and the X-Men. In the early 1970s, he was named publisher of Marvel Comics and later went on to revolutionize the way superheroes were portrayed on television and in film.

READ MORE: Quentin Tarantino Slams Marvel, Says He Won’t Join MCU

Prior to his death, fans would often look forward to catching his brief cameos throughout different Marvel films.

According to NBC News, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke about Lee’s legacy in a statement shortly after his death. “Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created,” he stated, also adding, “A super hero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain, and to connect. The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart.”

NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 23: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS) Comic book legend Stan Lee poses at the opening reception for ”Stan Lee: A Retrospective” presented by the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art on February 23, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images)

In a 2013 sit-down with the San Diego Tribune, Lee offered a description of his daily schedule at the time, saying, “I get up in the morning and argue with my wife.”

Referring to the president of POW! Entertainment, he added, “Then I get to the office and argue with Gill. Actually, it’s fun. I come to the office and there are always a million things to do.”

Lee left behind his daughter Joan Celia Lee.

Fans can stream Lee’s new documentary in the new year, though there’s no word on an exact release date.

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TDE Drops Music Video Teaser For SZA’s ‘Kill Bill’

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Following the long-awaited release of SZA’s second studio album S.O.S. earlier this month, her label is now teasing a music video for one of her hottest new songs.

Sharing visuals for “Kill Bill,” Top Dawg Entertainment gave fans a glimpse of what’s “coming soon.” Directed by Christian Breslauer, who worked on Nas-X” class=”text-word” target=”_blank” >Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby,” the music video contains elements from the popular Quentin Tarantino film.

SZA flaunts her sword and motorcycle skills in the teaser, staying true to the song’s theme and lyrics. The song contains the infamous lines: “I might kill my ex, not the best idea / His new girlfriend’s next, how’d I get here? / I might kill my ex, I still love him though / Rather be in jail than alone.”

S.O.S. debuted on December 9 and featured a tracklist of 23 songs. The project contained features from Travis Scott, Phoebe Bridgers, Don Toliver, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who passed away in 2004.

READ MORE: SZA Earns First #1 Album With “S.O.S”

Several songs quickly caught fans’ attention, including “Kill Bill,” “Blind,” and “Ghost in the Machine.” 

After the album’s release, the St. Louis native announced her North American tour, which quickly sold out online. Stops on the 2023 tour will include New York City, Dallas, Inglewood, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA – APRIL 27: SZA performs onstage at SOMETHING IN THE WATER – Day 2 on April 27, 2019 in Virginia Beach City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Something in the Water)

Speaking with Rolling Stone earlier this month, the Ctrl singer shared that her upcoming performances will be an ode to her patient fans. 

“I’m really just excited to give people whatever they want. Because I feel I’ve been gone for so long and people have been kind enough to watch me perform the same set for fucking five years, and that is really annoying, and I get that, and the patience and the love that they’ve shown me the whole way,” SZA said, adding, “I just wanna give them the craziest experience they could ever have and play whatever they want.”

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YFN Lucci’s Attorney Denies Rumors That He’ll Testify in YSL RICO Case

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YFN Lucci is at the centre of the latest developments in YSL’s RICO case. Lucci and Thugger have a history of involving themselves in a back-and-forth beef over the years.

Lucci’s mother was reportedly shot at some time during their beef. Prosecutors reportedly believe that the So Much Fun rapper subsequently bragged about being responsible in his lyrics.

Young Thug and Gunna attend Onyx Monday Nights hosted by Young Thug at Onyx Nightclub on May 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

The song in question is his 2021 collab with the late Juice WRLD, “Bad Boy.” “I shot at his mommy, now he no longer mention me,” Thug raps in the track.

On Thursday (December 29), rumors that Lucci is on the witness list within YSL’s case began to circulate on social media. This stems from a video taken in court. Somebody asks if YFN Lucci is in the indictment, to which someone else responds, “he’s a witness. Isn’t he on the witness list also?” Another person replies, “right.”

However, the “Everyday We Lit” rapper’s attorney, Drew Findling is speaking out against these claims.

“Rayshawn Bennett [Lucci], has never been interviewed or subpoenaed by law-enforcement, the Fulton County District Attorney‘s office or any of the party’s regarding the YSL case. Any party can announce for example that Abraham Lincoln is on their witness list, but those words alone are meaningless. So, to be 100% clear, Rayshawn Bennett [Lucci] will not be a witness in the YSL case. His focus, as it should be, is on his pending Fulton County case,” Findling says in a statement to XXL.

Earlier last year, the world was witness to Lucci surrendering himself to authorities on murder and gang charges. Furthermore, the Atlanta native claims he was the victim of a stabbing while behind bars in March. Despite requests to see a release, he remains in prison. As does Young Thug, who awaits his trial after several fellow YSL members have taken plea deals. Jury selection will reportedly begin on January 5, 2023.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Comment down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned in to HNHH for the latest updates in the trial and all other pop culture news.

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‘GMA’ Anchor T.J. Holmes Files To Divorce Wife Amid Amy Robach Scandal

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Weeks after photos surfaced of Good Morning America co-hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes online, the former BET personality has officially filed to divorce his wife, Marilee Fiebig.

According to TMZ, Holmes filed for divorce in New York City this past Wednesday (Dec. 28). A source previously shared he and his estranged wife were in the process of separating, with Robach’s divorce from “Melrose Place” also reportedly being finalized.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 25: Journalist TJ Holmes (r) and wife Marilee Fiebig-Holmes attend the 2013 Black Girls Rock! Shot Caller Dinner at B & Co on October 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Holmes and Fiebig have been married since 2010 and share one daughter.

Intimate photos of the 45-year-old and his co-host were shared online in early December, leading many to speculate that the pair were caught cheating. Some reports claimed that the pair began dating this past June.

Shortly after the news began to make headlines, Holmes appeared to sarcastically joke on an episode of GMA. The host shared that he wanted the week to keep “going and going and going.” Disagreeing, Robach made it clear that her co-host wasn’t speaking for her.

READ MORE: Howard Stern Says He Doesn’t See A Problem With Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes’ Relationship

Though it initially seemed that the morning talk show hosts’ jobs wouldn’t be affected by the scandal, ABC eventually pulled them off of the air. As HNHH previously reported, ABC News president Kim Goodwin discussed the move in an internal call, saying, “After a lot of thought, I am taking Amy and T.J. off the air.”

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 02: T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are seen on June 02, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

“And so, I want to say that while that relationship is not a violation of company policy, I have really taken the last few days to think about and work through what I think is best for the ABC News organization,” Goodwin continued. “This is something I’m not going to talk, we’re not going to talk about on this call until there is more to be said. I’m asking that we stop the whispering in the hallways. You know, we can’t operate with gossip, and speculation and rumors. We need to stay focused on the work.”

Despite the growing attention on their relationship, Robach and Holmes have been spotted out and about in the past few weeks. Check back in later with HNHH for new updates on the couple.

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YSL RICO Update: Slug Takes Plea Deal, Two Others Decline

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As Young Thug remains behind bars, updates on the future of other YSL members are revealing themselves.

Reports on Thursday (December 29) indicate that three more members were offered plea deals. However, only one of them is reportedly deciding to take it.

Gunna and Young Thug attend 2021 Revolt Summit at 787 Windsor on November 13, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/FilmMagic)

“Trontavious Stephens aka Tick aka Slug takes plea deal in #YoungThug case. He faced 5-20 yrs on the racketeering count. (only count charged),” reports Cathy Russon, the Executive Producer at Law&Crime Network.

“He received 10 years, with 2 yrs time served & remaining 8 yrs on probation. He will be released,” she continues afterward. Stephens becomes the eighth YSL member to take a plea deal.

Stephens also agrees to testify truthfully at the trial. Additionally, he is unable to assert the fifth amendment.

Furthermore, he admits that he does indeed go by Tick as one of his nicknames. In Thugger’s song “You,” the 31-year-old raps, “She gettin’ robbed my Tick.” He acknowledges this as a fact as well.

Although Stephens is taking the plea deal, there are two other YSL members who declined to do so earlier today.

DJ Akademiks has consistently been reporting on the case through his social media accounts and took to his Instagram to provide the update.

“At least thug can say 2 of his members denied getting out of jail instantly and is taking it to trial wit him. The judge warned the defendants that taking the plea would make them free immediately but taking it to trial he would sentence them to the max if they lost the case. Tenquarius is facing 50 years in prison if convicted at trial,” the streamer says in the caption along with the news.

Ever since Gunna became the first person to accept a plea deal in the case, there has been speculation online about whether or not there is snitching involved when taking the deal. Although, Gunna’s attorney, Steve Sadow has consistently stated that there is no truth behind these claims.

“Gunna did not snitch to get out of jail. He has said nothing and is not cooperating. His plea statement cannot be used in court against any other defendant. So please stop spreading lies!!!” he writes in a statement.

Regardless, there continues to be discourse online about what these pleas will mean for Young Thug.

What are your thoughts on the YSL members taking plea deals in order to get released? Comment your thoughts down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on the trial.

Fashion Icon Vivienne Westwood Passes Away At 81

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The internet is overwhelmed by tributes this evening as people pay respect to Dame Vivienne Westwood. The fashion icon has been rocking runways for decades and is a favorite among the elite. She is also widely considered a power player in the Punk Rock fashion movement, and today, it was reported that Westwood passed away.

According to PEOPLE, the 81-year-old designer and activist was “surrounded by friends and family” when she died. A specific cause of death was not shared, but a statement was given.

Vivienne Westwood
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 12: Vivenne Westwood backstage ahead of her show during the London Fashion Week Men’s June 2017 collections on June 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Read More: 2022 MTV VMAs Red Carpet Hottest Looks

“Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better,” the statement read. “She led an amazing life.”

“I will continue with Vivienne in my heart,” said Westwood’s husband, designer Andreas Kronthaler. “We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with. Thank you darling.”

Vivienne Westwood
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 27: Dame Vivienne Westwood attends the ‘Country & Town House: Great British Brands’ party at Annabel’s on January 27, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Read More: 10 Fashion-Conscious Rappers

In the 1970s, Westwood thrived as she pioneered fashion in London’s Punk Rock movement. She pushed the envelope with street styles and took over runways in fashion capitals around the globe.

Next year, her sons and granddaughter will launch The Vivienne Foundation, a non-profit, in her honor. The organization will also support causes that involve ending war, standing for human rights, protesting capitalism, and raising awareness for climate change.

Vivienne Westwood
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Vivienne Westwood (C) and her ‘Fash Mob’ prior to the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week SS16 at Ambika P3 on September 20, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

We offer our sincerest condolences to the loved ones of Vivienne Westwood.

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Kim Kardashian Is Open To Marriage & More Kids After Kanye Divorce

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Her divorce from Kanye West was only recently finalized but Kim Kardashian is still answering questions about remarrying one day. The fashion mogul endured an arduous split from the Donda hitmaker as he moved from one attorney to the next. When Kardashian began dating Pete Davidson, it seemed that she was again in love, but that romance fell apart before the year’s end.

Kardashian sat down with friend Gwyneth Paltrow for the actress’s Goop podcast, and during the chat, relationships were a hot topic. The reality star suggested that the “fourth time’s a charm” for her marriage goals.

Kim Kardashian
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 16: Kim Kardashian West (L) and Kanye West attend the 69th NBA All-Star Game at United Center on February 16, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Read More: Kim Kardashian Breaks Into Tears Discussing Kanye West

Kim was married to Damon Thomas from 2000 to 2004, then to Kris Humphries from 2011 to 2013. Although she was technically with Humphries for two years, Kardashian filed for divorce after only 72 days. She and West wed in 2014 and share four young children.

“I don’t know,” Kardashian told Paltrow about her future in romance. “I have this fantasy in my head, like fourth’s time’s a charm, it’s gonna — it’s gonna work out.”

Kim Kardashian
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 05: Kim Kardashian arrives at the 11th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
Read More: Kim Kardashian Looks Back At It In New Thirst Traps As Pete Davidson Spends Time With Female Friend

“I feel, like honestly, my last marriage was my first real [one] — the first one, I just don’t know what was happening,” said Kardashian. “The second one, I felt like I wanted to be married so badly because all my friends were at that place and that’s where I should have been, and I didn’t accept that that just wasn’t where I was and realized that that was okay.”

“And now, I feel like I would definitely take my time — and I would be okay for a forever partnership as well,” she continued. “I would want a marriage, but I’m so happy to take my time.”

Kardashian said “never say never” as far as having more children is concerned. However, she admitted she wants to spend a few years as a single woman.

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Greta Thunberg Claps Back At Andrew Tate On Twitter

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It’s probably very unlikely that you had Andrew Tate and Greta Thunberg beefing on your 2022 bingo card. Nonetheless, here we are.

The teenage climate activist recently received an arrogant and boastful public message from the notorious media personality on Twitter.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg attends a ‘Fridays for Future’ movement protest at the Mynttorget square next to the Swedish Parliament Riksdagen in Stockholm, on November 11, 2022 (Photo by PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)

It all began when Tate decided to send a shot at Thunberg on Tuesday (December 27). This was seemingly unprovoked. “Hello @GretaThunberg I have 33 cars. My Bugatti has a w16 8.0L quad turbo. My TWO Ferrari 812 competizione have 6.5L v12s. This is just the start. Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions,” he writes in the tweet.

After being made aware of the tweet, Thunberg decided to respond soon after. “yes, please do enlighten me. email me at [email protected],” she explicitly claps back.

It’s still unclear at this time as to why Tate decided to take aim at the teenager in the first place. However, she is a well-known environmental activist who regularly challenges world leaders to take action against climate change. With this in mind, the controversial figure’s comment was obviously an attempt to harass her.

Of course, the world was witness to Tate’s Twitter account, along with his other social media accounts, being banned earlier this year. This stemmed from his numerous comments rooted in misogynistic and sexist beliefs.

After the world was witness to Elon Musk officially purchasing Twitter in October, the media personality was subsequently let back onto the platform.

The exchange is certainly generating some entertaining responses on social media. Check out a few of them below.

What are your thoughts on Thunberg’s response? Comment down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates.

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Math Hoffa Lists His Top Rap Groups Of All Time

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The argument surrounding who’s the greatest rap group of all time is certainly a complicated one. There’s a rather long list of legendary groups within hip-hop who are worthy of a mention.

On Tuesday (December 27), battle rapper Math Hoffa took to his Instagram account to share his own personal list. His top five consists of Wu-Tang Clan, The LOX, G-Unit, A Tribe Called Quest and Outkast in that order.

Numbers six to ten in his mind are the Fugees, Run-D.M.C., Onyx, Three 6 Mafia and Goodie Mob. He subsequently ranks Camp Lo eleventh, Dipset at twelfth and gives the thirteenth spot to Das EFX. Obviously, there are a couple of notable exclusions.

“These list[s] get tricky huh? Lol no bias… if you feel we left anyone out, place in the comments below,” the New York native writes in the post’s caption.

Later in the day, he shared a revised list, tweaking it slightly. These are seemingly based on some comments he was receiving. His top two remain the same, but he replaces G-Unit with Mobb Deep in the third spot and slots G-Unit down at seven. Run-D.M.C. moves down to eighth, followed by N.W.A. at ninth and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at number 10. Although he adds in four more spots, going up to 17, he still has Dipset last.

Of course, Hoffa’s initial list has stirred up some healthy debates on social media. “Math Hoffa GOAT list for hip hop groups is SEWER WATER[!] Outkast 5?? No NWA??? No Public Enemy??!! Give this man Donkey of The Day @cthagod,” writes one Twitter user.

“Math Hoffa’s “greatest groups” ever is laughable. It’s why people have to start saying “FAVORITE”…saying “greatest” opens it up to critique and we’re gonna laugh out the building. that list is ass,” another user writes in response.

Evidently, it seems as though any list will spark debates, considering everyone has their own biases.

Who are your top three hip-hop groups of all time? Comment them down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates and news.