It’s been over 26 years since The Notorious B.I.G. – born Christopher Wallace – tragically lost his life in a 1997 Los Angeles shooting. He left behind two children and countless fans who all do their part to ensure his legacy still lives on today. While not everyone remembers the lyricist fondly, his songs have been known to transcend generations, some of them even going viral on platforms like TikTok. One such title is obviously “Get Money” with Junior M.A.F.I.A., which we’re streaming in celebration of what would’ve been Biggie Smalls’ 51st birthday today (May 21).
The catchy track chiefly finds the Brooklyn native popping off on the first verse, reflecting on a romance gone awry after his girl flipped on him. “Guess you could say you’s the one I trusted / Who would ever think that you would spread like mustard?” he cleverly rhymes. “Shit got hot: you sent Feds to my spot / Took me to court, tried to take all I got.”
It’s obviously been decades since fans have heard new music from Biggie himself, though the powers of AI have brought his voice and image back to life in various capacities. Not only did a hologram of the late legend in his home state leave the internet divided in summer 2022, but we also heard a computer-generated version of his voice covering Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind” last month, which also left many social media users feeling some type of way about the ever-advancing features of modern technology.
Revisit “Get Money” featuring Junior M.A.F.I.A. on YouTube above, or add the song to your playlist on Spotify/Apple Music. Which of The Notorious B.I.G.’s throwback hits is your favourite? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Disrespect my clique, my shit’s imperial F*ck around and made her milk box material You feel me? Suckin’ d*ck, runnin’ your lips ‘Cause of you, I’m on some real “f*ck-a-bitch” shit, uh
Another tastemaker has been taken from the hip-hop community too soon. Artist and MakaSound A&R Young Lo was shot and killed during an incident at a Miami nightclub in the early hours of Monday (May 8), according to CBS. Around 4 AM, the 37-year-old was hit and rushed to nearby Jackson Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Reports reveal that two other women were also shot at Gala. Thankfully, they’re both expected to survive and make a full recovery from their wounds.
Sources have already told the outlet that Lo is believed to have been the target of the attack. Born Lowell Grissom, the multi-talent had become a popular face within the music industry. He was fortunate enough to collaborate with Chris Brown multiple times throughout his career. Titles like “Everybody,” “Stars,” and “In Love With the Bitches” previously dropped thanks to the talented duo. Upon hearing about the tragic news of his passing, Lo’s Instagram comments have been filled with comments from friends, fans, family, and fellow rappers.
Among those expressing condolences and sending well wishes are Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Drama, Lady London, Sean Kingston, Karrueche, and 600Breezy. Several of the replies to Lo’s post share fond memories of how kind-hearted he was, including one from Mally Mall. “This isn’t right… You always loved, protected, and stood up for anyone and everyone… I’m beyond heartbroken. This world is becoming overbearing,” he emotionally vented. As HipHopDX notes, Gala nightclub has also issued a statement following the shooting.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the isolated and targeted incident that occurred last night at our upscale establishment,” they wrote. Young Lo leaves behind a six-year-old son, as well as countless adoring fans. At this time, no arrests have been made in connection to the shooting, though local police continue to investigate in hopes of finding answers. Make sure to check back later for any updates on the tragic situation, as well as on your other favourite artists. RIP.
Earlier this week, sad news of Harry Belafonte’s passing took the entertainment industry by storm. Granted, the multi-talent did live to be 96, but seeing someone who contributed so much to music, film/television, and the civil rights movement pass away is never easy. Heartfelt tributes to the fallen star have been coming in all across social media since word broke on Tuesday (April 25), including a more recent one from Usher, who previously had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Belafonte.
The Texas-born R&B star shared a photo dump to his Instagram on Thursday (April 27), recalling some of the time he spent with the New York native. “A world-renowned entertainer. A barrier-breaking actor. A tireless activist. A one-of-a-kind friend. Inspired is the word that comes to mind when I think about you Harry,” Usher wrote in his caption. “A man of great strength, courage, and sense of purpose. All things that I view as admirable. When I spent time with you…I was in awe of how your presence was so powerful,” he added before praising Belafonte’s “amazing spirit and incomparable gifts.”
Usher Remembers His Fallen Friend, Harry Belafonte
The father of four’s powerful message came to an end with, “Your passion awakened our souls. The impression you made on my heart is why I wear you on my skin.” In the accompanying photos, we see Usher and Belafonte sharing a laugh while sitting on a couch together, as well as a video of the elderly man cheering his friend on from the audience in his wheelchair. In the final slide, the “Banana Boat” singer examines a portrait of him inked on Usher’s bicep, which beautifully captures his younger image.
Others who have been reflecting on HB’s impact include Diddy, who dubbed him “a true king and revolutionary,” as well as Chuck D. The latter labelled the icon as “the father figure of our community,” proving just how undeniably powerful his legacy is, even decades after the peak of his career. Read more beautiful tributes to the late Harry Belafonte from both friends and fans here. Make sure to check back later for more pop culture news updates. RIP.
With her debut album Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number reaching platinum status just weeks after its release three decades ago, legendary artist Aaliyah showed the music world why she would soon earn the title “Princess of R&B.” However, the singer’s success would be cut short just weeks after the release of her third album in 2001. Tragedy struck, leading to Aaliyah’s death at just 22 years old. How did Aaliyah die, and what legacy has the singer left behind?
A few years after the release of her debut, the singer’s sophomore album, 1996’s One In A Million, found even greater success. It sold an impressive 8 million units worldwide. She once again dominated with her third studio album, 2001’s Aaliyah. This project found even greater success, sealing Aaliyah’s reputation as a legend in the industry.
Born Aaliyah Dana Houghton on January 16, 1979, Aaliyah was just 22 years old when she died in the tragic plane crash. The “Try Again” singer had wrapped up a music video shoot in the Bahamas when she and eight others boarded a plane heading to Florida. However, the aircraft crashed in the Abaco Islands just minutes after take-off, killing everyone on board.
An investigation following the deadly crash concluded that the aircraft attempted to take off from the Bahamas while heavily overloaded. These conditions lead to the plane’s failure to maintain flight just minutes after take off. The plane reportedly carried heavy camera equipment from the video shoot. It reportedly weighed approximately 700 pounds over the recommended weight on the vessel. Additionally, the airplane’s pilot did not hold the required credentials to fly the aircraft. Later reports also revealed that the aircraft’s pilot had traces of alcohol and cocaine in his system.
In the Fall of 2001, just a few months after Aaliyah’s tragic death, a coroner’s inquiry noted that the singer’s chances of surviving the flight were very low. Dr. Giovander Raju said the singer already suffered from a “generally weak heart.” This, the doctor notes, sent Aaliyah into “such a state of shock.”
Truly “One In A Million”: Aaliyah Leaves A Lasting Legacy
Fans of R&B singer/actress Aaliyah looks on at a record store mural of the late singer in what has become a shrine dedicated to her after her death in a plane crash in the Bahamas. (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage)
In her short time in the music industry, Aaliyah proved that she truly earned the title “Princess of R&B.” Her influence in the industry is present more than 20 years after her tragic death. The star even found her way onto the big screen starring in the 2000 film Romeo Must Die and the 2002 hit Queen of the Damned.
In August 2021, Aaliyah’s 1996 hit album One In A Million was finally added to streaming services. Soon, her catalog was made available to fans who had waited decades. With this move, some of the singer’s biggest hits found fans on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. At the same time, the star’s estate released a statement noting that “protecting Aaliyah’s legacy is, and will always be our focus.”
Career Highlights
Some of Aaliyah’s most popular hits include her 2000 hit “Try Again,” which also is the biggest hit from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack. Other fan-favorites include “Rock the Boat”—she was filming the visual to that track just before her death. “Are You That Somebody” is another massive hit originally part of the Dr. Doolittle soundtrack. “One In A Million,” the title single off the successful album of the same name also lands among the singer’s most popular hits.
Aaliyah remains beloved forever in the hearts of music fans, leaving a legacy of unmatchable talent. Her tragic death marked the end of an era in the industry. She continues to be mourned by fans and supporters, and those who knew her often revisit fond memories. There isn’t any way of telling what would have come of Aaliyah, her life, and her career had she been given the opportunity. Babygirl’s legacy lives on.
We’re certainly sad to report the death of Harry Belafonte today, though proud to say that the multi-talent lived for 96 years, during which he accomplished insurmountable feats. TMZ shared the news on Tuesday (April 25). Ken Sunshine revealed to the outlet that the singer-turned-actor passed away in his Manhattan home today after battling congestive heart failure. Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, and four children – one of which is Sistas actress, Shari Belafonte.
Additionally, the fallen icon has two stepchildren and several grandkids mourning their loss. Belafonte rose to fame during the 1950s, helping to popularize the genre of calypso music in America at the time. He’s best known for “Day-O,” or “Banana Boat Song,” which appears in the film Beetlejuice and has even been sampled by Lil Wayne. He was born to Jamaican parents in New York in March 1927, and the music they introduced him to at a young age obviously influenced his own releases. Calypso, his breakthrough album, was the first to ever sell more than one million copies in a year.
RIP Harry Belafonte
(Photo by Henry Herrmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Apart from setting trends and breaking records sonically, Belafonte also had a noteworthy career as an actor. His credits include Island in the Sun, Carmen Jones, and Odds Against Tomorrow. One of the entertainer’s most frequent collaborators was Sidney Poitier. The two came together in the ’70s for both Uptown Saturday Night and Buck and the Preacher. Of course, his resume doesn’t stop there. Harry was a noted civil rights activist and spent plenty of time marching with Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the ’60s.
His last public event was in December 2022, when he was honoured with the National Order of the Legion of Honour from the French government – not a bad way to go out. The recording artist touched the hearts of many with his work and the way he lived his life, causing an outpouring of heartfelt tributes to surface on social media today. Scroll on to see some of the internet’s favourite memories of Harry Belafonte, and share any of yours in the comments. RIP.
Twitter Tributes & Fond Memories Pour In
When I was a child, #HarryBelafonte showed up for my family in very compassionate ways.
In fact, he paid for the babysitter for me and my siblings.
Here he is mourning with my mother at the funeral service for my father at Morehouse College.
May Harry Belafonte, the lionhearted civil rights hero, rest in peace. He inspired generations around the whole world in the struggle for non-violent resistance justice and change. We need his example now more than ever. pic.twitter.com/oBTBBvx3ra
The world has lost a true giant today. Harry Belafonte was a barrier breaker who helped reshape our world through his civil rights advocacy, his music, and his acting. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/rhWZ5GOc6R
Harry Belafonte was not only a great entertainer, but he was a courageous leader in the fight against racism and worker oppression. Jane and I were privileged to consider him a friend and will miss him very much. pic.twitter.com/TO2xrz0GJF
Mannnnn Rest in Power to Harry Belafonte. A life well lived, and significantly helped to push Jamaica into the mainstream. This has always been one of my favorite videos of him. Legends respecting a legend pic.twitter.com/KbwHDANAWU
Singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte passed away at 96. Belafone was the 1st African American to win an Emmy. RIP legend pic.twitter.com/s5J2TL0Ony
Sorry to hear of the death of great singer, actor & civil rights activist Harry Belafonte aged 96, here singing the beautiful calypso song Islands In The Sun…RIP Harry pic.twitter.com/1b0WokcrGT
“When I was born, I was colored. I soon became a Negro. Not long after that I was black. Most recently I was African-American. It seems we’re on a roll here. But I am still first and foremost in search of freedom.”
May you Rest in Peace, Harry Belafonte, 1927-2023.
Reporting on the death of artists within the hip-hop community is never easy, especially when they’re this young. ABC 7 Chicago reports that a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot on the city’s South Side a few days ago. The incident occurred on Thursday (April 20) at 1 PM local time on the 2300 block of East 80th Street. Though the outlet was unaware of the teen’s identity, TruthTellerTV on YouTube has since claimed that ShortyMobb rapper Lil Ronald lost his life due to the senseless gun violence.
When he was shot, the Drill artist was allegedly sitting in a car. He was rushed to South Shore Hospital immediately after, though he was ultimately pronounced dead by doctors. There have been no arrests in connection with the murderous incident, however, local detectives continue to investigate and seek answers. Aside from the YouTube upload claiming Ronald is the crime’s victim, a Reddit post from last week also shows a screenshot from Lil Los’ Instagram Story, seemingly paying tribute to the rising star, taken too soon.
Teen Drill Artist Lil Ronald Reported Dead in Chicago
As HipHopDX notes, we have yet to receive official confirmation that Ronald is the one who was fatally shot in Chicago. If true, the slaying marks the second murder of a ShortyMobb member in recent months. According to a post from @raphousetv, another person in the crew, Cello, was killed on the East Side of Chicago earlier this year. While reports of the teenager’s alleged death continue to circulate online, hundreds of Twitter users are sharing their thoughts on the tragedy.
“This is why it’s drastically important for parents to be 100% active in their children’s lives,” one person wrote. “And actually show them you care and love them. Or they will find it elsewhere in a different form.” Others pointed out photos making rounds of Lil Ronald flexing a weapon for the camera. “I mean these images do say a lot,” they noted. “The obsession these young people got with guns is unhealthy, backed by a country that enforces these silly gun laws.” Someone else wrote back, “He’s 14, you can’t have a handgun at that age. Literally already illegal .” Check back later for any updates on the investigation. RIP.
Several months after he was tragically found dead in his bathtub in California, the autopsy results for Aaron Carter have been shared with the public. According to TMZ, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s findings show that the 34-year-old had taken Xanax pills and huffed compressed air shortly before drowning on November 5, 2022. The embattled recording artist took alprazolam (a generic brand of the popular drug), and breathed in concentrated amounts of difluoromethane.
It’s been declared that Carter was “incapacitated while in the bathtub due to the effects” of both substances. Ultimately he’s believed to have slipped under the water and drowned, and his death has been ruled accidental. The report also notes that “multiple cans of Surf Onn compressed air” were found in the bathroom where the father of one passed, as well as in a nearby bedroom. Upon searching his California home, authorities also uncovered several bottles of prescription drugs. Carter’s clothes were found on the floor by the tub, including his beanie, sweatshirt and pants. One of the can’s nozzle tips was eventually located in the front pocket of the sweater.
Aaron Carter’s Autopsy Results
Singer Aaron Carter attends Dave & Buster’s Hollywood & Highland Grand Opening on August 21, 2014, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Dave & Buster’s)
Melanie Martin, the Florida native’s former fiancée previously told TMZ she believed that drugs killed her co-parent. He didn’t hide his substance abuse problems over the years, occasionally taking drugs while thousands of fans watched during live streams. Carter’s ex also said he had a text exchange on his phone alleging that he owed someone $800. She’s since submitted this to the authorities for further investigation. Upon hearing today’s autopsy results, Martin admitted that she still doesn’t feel satisfied.
“The results of the autopsy are not closure for me. It claims death is by drowning but also adds he was wearing a t-shirt and necklace in the bathtub which doesn’t make sense, why would he be in a bathtub with clothes on? I am still in shock and still miss Aaron every day. I don’t understand the chain of events and this report only has us asking more questions,” her statement reads. Check back later for any updates on the late Aaron Carter. RIP.
Rapper Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known by his moniker Coolio, sadly passed away last year. Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Coolio grew up in Compton, California. This is where he would attend community college, got a headstart in Hip-Hop in the ’80s, and broke into the mainstream in the ’90s. The rapper held hefty titles, namely producer, musician, and actor. His first taste of fame was with the group WC and the Maad Circle, which comprised Coolio, Big Gee DJ Crazy Toones, and WC. The Hip-Hop collective devised by WC released phenomenal albums Ain’t a Damn Thang Changed in 1991. Later, Curb Servin’ arrived in 1995.
Coolio’s music career began in 1987 when he released “Whatcha Gonna Do.” He later released another banger in 1988, “What Makes You Dance (Force Groove),” featuring Nu-Skool. In 1994 shortly after WC left their rap group, Coolio signed to the independent label Tommy Boy Records. But soon, Coolio was discarded because of unpropitious sales of his third album. He turned to newer paths and formed a name for himself on TV. Later in his career, he became a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 6, where he won 3rd place. Coolio kept up his reality tv star title until 2019.
Additionally, philanthropy became another suited endeavor he pursued. Coolio and a fellow artist friend, Jazz saxophonist Jarez, were spokespersons for Environmental Justice and Climate Change to teach students at HBCUs about global warming. Lamentably, the rapper died in September 2022 after being found unconscious on a bathroom floor. But what actually caused his untimely death? It’s been seven months, and the answers have been shared.
A Timeline Of Coolio’s Death
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 10: Rapper Coolio poses for a portrait at the SiriusXM Studios on September 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
On Wednesday afternoon in September 2022, Coolio was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor. The captain of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Erik Scott, told CNN about the rescue call. He confirmed that his paramedics and firefighters received a call at 4:00 pm. They immediately performed emergency resuscitation for about 45 minutes. Moreover, Captain Scott confirmed Coolio died just before 5:00 pm that evening.
In addition, an autopsy report was conducted on the following day. Unfortunately, at the time, there was no apparent cause for the rapper’s death. Later, Coolio’s talent manager Sheila Finegan said, “We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client.” She continued, “He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly.” Also, “Thank you to everyone worldwide who has listened to his music and to everyone who has been reaching out regarding his passing.”
Heartfelt Messages From Coolio’s Peers
More of his Hollywood peers, such as actor Lou Diamond Phillips, gave their condolences on his Twitter. “I am absolutely stunned,” he started. “Coolio was a friend and one of the warmest, funniest people I’ve ever met… We spent an amazing time together making Red Water in Capetown. And we loved going head to head in the kitchen. He was one of a kind.” He ended the tweet, “Epic, Legendary and I’ll miss him.”
Further, NBA player Matt Bonner shared his memories of Coolio on a Twitter post. “Huge hoops fan… we hosted him at a game a few years back… biggest crowd of all-time at a Spurs Overtime concert.” Additionally, close insiders reportedly disclosed that the rapper planned to dedicate a documentary to his children. The source mentioned that Coolio intended to honor them in future films.
Coolio developed a heart disease and asthma problem. They were induced by his long use of cigarettes, according to the family spokesperson, Jarez Posey. According to CBS News, the rapper also previous experimented with other illegal substances. According to reports by Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, Coolio’s death was induced by fentanyl and other drugs. The case detail pointed out the effects of heroin and methamphetamine as Cause A. Further, other vital conditions include cardiomyopathy, asthma, and recent phencyclidine use. In relation to cardiomyopathy, it is “a disease of the heart muscle.” It “makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.”
Regardless of the findings, Coolio is celebrated and sincerely missed. His legacy lives on through his family, friends, fans, and controbutions to the industry. He gave us classics that helped define an era in music, toured the world entertaining fans, and preached positivity. Rest In Power to a legend.
(@HistoryMuppet) 
(@Johnnypapa64) 
.” Check back later for any updates on the investigation. RIP.
