Snoop Dogg is hyped for the Superbowl Halftime show, featuring a star-studded lineup including Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. But with social justice still on the minds of many fans, will putting on “the greatest hip-hop show ever” be enough to meet the moment? Snoop Dogg Hypes Up 2022 NFL Halftime […]
Snoop Dogg is hyped for the Superbowl Halftime show, featuring a star-studded lineup including Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. But with social justice still on the minds of many fans, will putting on “the greatest hip-hop show ever” be enough to meet the moment? Snoop Dogg Hypes Up 2022 NFL Halftime […]
Snoop Dogg’s got extra diamond-encrusted Death Row chains lying around. The rap icon virtually presented New York Giants legend Eli Manning with an official icy link during the latest installment of the ManningCast Monday Night Football broadcast on ESPN2. Snoop Dogg gifted Eli Manning a Death Row Records chain for his 41st birthday. Eli’s reaction […]
Since last year’s deal between Aaliyah’s original label, Blackground Records, and EMPIRE was inked, fans are finally getting their long-awaited wish of her music on streaming services. Blackground is owned by her uncle Barry Hankerson, who also happens to own the rights to all of the late R&B singer’s back catalog masters.
Through this partnership, the track “Poison” featuring The Weeknd was released last month and is slated to be on Aaliyah’s posthumous album, Unstoppable. At press time, the track has already clocked over 5 million Spotify spins and Hankerson is clearly pleased with this. “One of the songs that’s out now is doing incredibly well. And that’s the song that she did with Weeknd [“Poison,”] he said in an interview on The Geno Jones Show. He then further elaborated that the new album is coming this month and that it’ll feature some very big names. “Because of that success, we think it’ll only get better with people such as Ne-Yo and Snoop Dogg, Future, and Drake — one of her biggest fans. Those are the features that’ll be on the record and that’ll be out in January.”
Barry Hankerson confirms Aaliyah’s new “album” will be dropping this month. pic.twitter.com/n7AQpfvESr
— AALIYAH LEGION (@AaliyahLegion) January 4, 2022
Aaliyah’s music coming to streaming services hasn’t come without controversy. Aaliyah’s estate, which is not affiliated with Hankerson, has noted that several of the artists involved with her back catalog will not see profits under the deal between Blackground and EMPIRE. It raises an issue for fans who are surely happy to have Aaliyah’s music at their fingertips but then have to ask themselves, whether this is the way they wanted it to happen. Regardless, Unstoppable is officially set to drop later this month.
It’s been a tough year for the hip-hop community when it comes to sudden losses, as a legend like Young Dolph was suddenly taken around Thanksgiving, and the impact of tragic deaths at Astroworld is still lingering. But for Los Angeles, the loss of rising rapper Drakeo The Ruler is one of the hardest to swallow. After being stabbed backstage at the Snoop Dogg-helmed Once Upon A Time In LA festival, Drakeo — real name Darrell Caldwell — later succumbed to his injuries and died.
Considering he was killed backstage at a festival where he was slated to perform, his mother, Darrylene Corniel, has already made it known that she plans to sue the event. “You had more people come in than you were supposed to. And you allowed them to jump my son. You didn’t protect my son,” she said in an interview with Rolling Stone. Drakeo’s brother, Devonte Caldwell, aka Ralfy The Plug, was with his brother when he was attacked and is equally devastated by the loss.
He shared a post of tribute to his brother on Instagram, naming his brother as a self-made boss and his idol. “Name gone forever live on,” the caption began. “Literally was a king that got it out the mud and I watched it all from the start from recording all yo lil freestyle and post ‘‘em on YouTube watching smoking on the porch waking everybody up to spit this hard ass shit you be coming up with in 10 minutes effortlessly to going to camp back to back every time I get out you go back every time you get out I went back to beating indictments starting yo own label and even getting a song with drake biggest artist in game and you did it by yo self you was a self made boss and a leader you was my idol and big brother and I learned a lot from you and I’m definitely gone make sure they still know the truth.”
Rest in peace to a west coast legend.
A festival in Los Angeles was marred by tragedy this weekend when rising rapper Drakeo The Ruler was stabbed. After being transported to the hospital in critical condition that night, he later died from his injuries. Born Darrell Caldwell, the rapper was slated to perform at the festival, which also included headliners 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg. Instead, the event ended earlier after the fight broke out backstage and Caldwell was stabbed.
The music world, particularly in Caldwell’s native LA, is devastated by the loss of a young talent. His family and loved ones are also reeling at the sudden loss. His mother, Darrylene Corniel, spoke to Rolling Stone about the murder. “He was hit in his neck,” she began. “I saw him when I went to the hospital. They said it’s a homicide, so I wasn’t able to hug him or kiss him or anything like that. I had to look at him through a window. I need this to be out there. I need people to know. And I do want justice for my son. And I do believe that justice will be served. I will not rest until justice is served.”
She added that lax security backstage seemed to be part of what led to the incident. “They said there were, like, 40 to 60 people,” she said, citing information from her other son, Devonte Caldwell, aka Ralfy The Plug, who was trying to protect his brother. “He was trying to fight, but when he turned around, he could see his brother with blood gushing out of him. He was like, ‘Did they stab you?’ It was like, there were so many of them.”
Corniel said she felt a lack of security was part of the larger issue, and that she plans to take legal action. “We plan to sue. This happened backstage at an event. Someone has to be held accountable. They let all these people in, and you’re not supposed to have all these people backstage. And your security is supposed to be in place. The whole program should have been orchestrated a lot better than what it was. And there should have been more protection. Even if you have metal detectors, even if you pat them down, you let those people come in there. You had more people come in than you were supposed to. And you allowed them to jump my son. You didn’t protect my son.”
Read her full interview with Rolling Stone here.
On Sunday morning, the music world awoke to sad news: West Coast rapper Drakeo The Ruler passed away at just 28 years old. He was fatally stabbed at Los Angeles’ Once Upon A Time Festival, where he served as a performer. A fight broke out backstage during the show on Saturday night, and according to the Los Angeles Times, a group of people attacked Drakeo, which led to the stabbing. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but unfortunately, he died hours later, as originally reported by Rolling Stone.
Hours after Drakeo’s death was confirmed, Snoop Dogg, who was listed as one of the festival’s organizers along with Live Nation and Bobby Dee, issued a statement about the matter. “I’m saddened by the events that took place last night at the Once Upon a Time in LA festival,” Snoop wrote. “My condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Drakeo the Ruler. I’m not with anything negative and as one of the many performers, I was there to spread positive vibes only to my city of LA.”
He continued, “Last night I was in my dressing room when I was informed about the incident and chose to immediately leave the festival grounds. My prayers go out to everyone affected by tragedy. Please take care, love one another and stay safe ya’ll. IM PRAYING FOR PEACE IN HIP HOP.”
Snoop joins names like Drake, Saweetie, Kenny Beats, Sango, and more as those from the music world who posted about Drakeo’s death on social media.
Back in June, the lineup for a new hip-hop focused festival in Los Angeles dropped, and fans were thrilled it included so many local legends. Once Upon A Time In LA counted Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent as headliners, and appearances from a whole host of R&B and hip-hop talent, including legendary performers like Al Green, Warren G and DJ Quik, and embattled LA rapper Drakeo The Ruler, who was finally freed once more after a very convoluted court case.
But in a potentially horrific turn of events at Banc of California stadium tonight, reports began to surface on social media that someone was attacked during the festival. Claims that Drakeo The Ruler was stabbed in the neck began circulating due to an original post that came from power 106 DJ Letty. Letty has since deleted the tweet that included the information about Drakeo’s injury, but here’s a screenshot:
People reporter Tomás Mier was told that the festival would still go on, just without Snoop Dogg, who left the event right after the stabbing. Mier also confirmed that Drakeo The Ruler was the stabbing victim, citing Lt. Ellerson at USC DPS as the source, who stated the rapper has been transported to the hospital in critical condition. No one is in custody for the attack as of yet.
UPDATE: @SnoopDogg will no longer perform at Once Upon a Time in LA tonight, but 50 Cent is still scheduled to hit the stage despite the stabbing of @IamMRMOSELY, according to police.
Lt. Ellerson at USC DPS said Drakeo was transported to a local hospital. No one is in custody.
— Tomás Mier (@Tomas_Mier) December 19, 2021
There’s an area behind the stage at MLK Blvd and Hoover St (where the stabbing occurred) that is cordoned off for the police investigation.
It appears that the festival is set to go on, just without Snoop, who was a headliner/organizer. He left right after the stabbing.
— Tomás Mier (@Tomas_Mier) December 19, 2021
At 8:39 pm, authorities received a call that Drakeo the Rapper had been stabbed at the festival. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, according to LAFD.
— Tomás Mier (@Tomas_Mier) December 19, 2021
CBS LA previously reported that via their Twitter “one person was stabbed” during the festival and that according to LA City Fire Department, the victim had been transported to the hospital. They also reported that the city has officially shut down the festival, which the festival later confirmed on Twitter.
#Sky9 was over Banc of California Stadium where one person was stabbed at the Once Upon A Time In LA music festival. The victim was transported to the hospital, according to LA City Fire Department. pic.twitter.com/3On5Q6JnIm
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) December 19, 2021
#UPDATE: The city has officially shutdown the Once Upon A Time in LA music festival after a stabbing occurred at the event, according to LAPD officials https://t.co/T5FKRaHSje
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) December 19, 2021
— onceuponatimeinlafest (@onceinla) December 19, 2021
This is an emerging story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Last week, Alicia Keys released her eighth album Keys complete with 26 songs for listeners to enjoy. The project also flaunted guest appearances from Pusha T, Lil Wayne, Swae Lee, Lucky Daye, Brandi Carlile, and Khalid. Now that people have been able to spend time with the project, Alicia Keys returns with a new short film to accompany the album. Clocking in just shy of 13 minutes, the film follows her career as a musician from her young days as a child to today as an undeniable star. Snoop Dogg, Swae Lee, Lucky Daye, and her husband and producer Swizz Beatz also make appearances in the film.
Keys arrives a little over a year after Alicia dropped her seventh album Alicia. Her eighth album is divided into two parts — side A, which features stripped-down music produced entirely by Keys herself, and side B, which leans towards a hip-hop-friendly sound thanks to production from Mike Will Made-It. It’s a solid follow-up to 2020’s Alicia, which featured appearances from Jill Scott, Khalid, Miguel, Sampha, Snoh Aalegra, and Tierra Whack. Keys also serves as somewhat of a sequel to Alicia with both bodies of work do a good job of showing the full range of the singer’s artistry.
You can watch the short film for Keys in the video above.
Tierra Whack is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
