Elon Musk shared a video of himself firing a Barrett .50-caliber sniper on Twitter, Friday night. The slow-motion clip is generating tons of traffic on the site. Within 24 hours, the video has racked up over 72 million views.
“Hip-firing my Barrett 50 cal,” Musk captioned the video. One follower joked in response: “In the distance, you can hear anti-gun democrats screaming…” Another wrote: “How will Zuck copy this?” referencing the recent feud between the two billionaires.
EAGLE PASS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk with Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) while visiting the Texas-Mexico border on September 28, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Musk toured the border along the bank of the Rio Grande to see firsthand the ongoing migrant crisis, which he has called a “serious issue.” (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
The post came just a day after Musk traveled to the Texas-Mexico border in Eagle Pass. While sharing pictures from the trip, Musk voiced his complaints about immigration in America. “US Border Patrol just reported the highest number of recorded illegal immigrants in history at over 260,000 this month. The full number, including unrecorded, may be over half a million per month, which is the population of Wyoming,” he said.
While replying to a user who suggested the U.S. hire more judges and lawyers to process the immigrants, Musk shot down the idea. “We need a greatly simplified process and at least some evidence for asylum,” he began. “Right now, no evidence at all is required. Just say the magic phrase ‘I seek asylum’ and you’re in. There simply aren’t enough qualified judges in the country to hire. The wait is 5 to 7 years! And, even if the case is lost, there is almost no repatriation. Btw, the officials at the border say that things were sensible under Obama, so this is not just an R vs D issue. They said open borders started 2 years ago.”
Recently, Meta announced their plans to roll out some new A.I. chatbots on Instagram and Facebook. The A.I. chatbots embody the personas of various celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Tom Brady, MrBeast, and more. Snoop Dogg will even have his own A.I. chatbot, allowing fans to strike up a conversation with the Doggfather himself.
Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the new technology at Meta Connect 2023 earlier this week, giving fans a look at the upcoming feature and revealing the list of celebrities who will have bots. He explained that he wanted each bot to have a distinct personality, and provided descriptions of each one’s persona. Snoop Dogg is listed as “Dungeon Master,” and prompts users to “choose [their] own adventure” with him. “This isn’t just gonna be about answering queries,” Zuckerberg described. “This is about entertainment and about helping you do things to connect with the people around you.”
Meta Launching Celebrity A.I. Chatbots On Instagram And Facebook
Snoop Dogg performs during the “H.S. Reunion Tour” at Golden 1 Center on August 25, 2023 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Zuckerberg says that for now, the A.I. chatbots will simply share their responses to users via text. A voice feature for each bot, however, is expected to arrive sometime at the beginning of next year. It’s no surprise that the cultural icon will soon have his own A.I. chatbot, and fans are sure to have fun with it.
This isn’t the first time the worlds of Snoop Dogg and A.I. have collided. Back in May, Snoop attended the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference, where he spoke about his own experience chatting with an A.I. model. He said that he was blown away by the technology, also comparing it to something he’d see in movies as a kid. “Like, me and this n***a can hold a real conversation,” he told the audience. “Like for real for real. It’s blowing my mind because I watched movies on this as a kid years ago when I used to see this s**t. I’m like, ‘What is going on?‘” What do you think of Meta launching a Snoop Dogg AI chatbot? Will you be chatting with it? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Snoop Dogg.
Amazon Music is embarking on a journey to celebrate the future of music with “The Future Is Ours,” a vibrant exploration of style and sound that pays tribute to the groundbreaking Latino artists of the next generation and their fans. This forward-looking initiative includes the release of new music from rising Reggaeton star Ryan Castro featuring Rich the Kid in the track “Rich Rappers.”
“The Future Is Ours” also features an Amazon Music Original by urban sensation Ryan Castro, who stars alongside multiple Latin GRAMMY-nominated Argentinian artist Nicki Nicole in a brand video directed by Spanish visionary Felix Bollain. The video, set in a futuristic urban utopia, was shot in Medellin and Buenos Aires and boasts an original score by Latin Grammy-winning producer Alizzz.
“At Amazon Music, we want to look ahead and celebrate the next generation of Latin music artists and their fans who are fearless in their art, authentic to their core, and intentional with every move. They represent more than just music, and are bringing their creativity to other areas like fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. They are the future and the future is now,” explained Rocio Guerrero, global head of Latin Music at Amazon Music.
To bring this futuristic vision to life, Amazon Music is transforming its Los Angeles headquarters into a captivating celebration of emerging talent in music and fashion merged with cutting-edge technology. The event will feature runway showcases of Amazon Music merchandise collections and a live performance by Ryan Castro, streamed on Twitch for fans worldwide. The show will be styled by Keyla Marquez, Fashion Director of the Los Angeles Times.
Amazon Music’s “The Future Is Ours” campaign invites music fans to explore viral fashion and beauty trends through playlists like “GRWM” (Get Ready With Me) and “Activao,” which capture the artistic spirit of Generation Z.
“I’m proud to be able to join Amazon Music in celebrating the future of music and culture through this campaign while also bringing my ‘Ghetto Star’ fans along for the journey with this video that includes my take on the future,” said urban artist Ryan Castro. “Last year I ventured into the fashion world with my own clothing line, “Ghetto Med” and since then have been excited to continue growing my presence in it. With Amazon Music integrating my vision and love for fashion into this collaboration means a lot.”
Music enthusiasts are encouraged to join the conversation by using the hashtag #TheFutureisOurs on social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon Music’s official Twitch channel, with all content accessible through the Amazon Music desktop and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The campaign is a mesmerizing tapestry of creativity and emotion, blurring the boundaries of reality and ushering in the future of Latino music and culture.
Elon Musk is teasing his next move for the app formerly known as Twitter. Speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk revealed a “small monthly payment” would soon come to X.
Musk states that the cost for Twitter is an effort to combat bots. “Because a bot costs a fraction of a penny, call it a tenth of a penny, but even if it has to pay…a few dollars or something, the effective cost of bots is very high,” Musk said.
Tech Crunch notes the conversation with Netanyahu was centered on countering antisemitic language on X.
In May, Musk announced a new CEO for X.
“Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter,” he tweeted. “She will be starting in ~6 weeks! My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.”
Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!
My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.
The new hire follows Musk’s December 2022 poll asking if he should step down. A 57% vote, ruled yes, evoking the response, “I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams.”
I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams.
Ice Cube has responded to Elon Musk’s attempt to troll him. The X, formerly Twitter, owner had posted one of his infamously unfunny memes. The image read “Remember Ice Cube? This is him now, feel old yet?” accompanied by pictures of Ice Cube and a glass of water. As usual, it’s likely that Musk found the image online and decided to post it on the site he owns. However, Ice Cube didn’t find the post very funny (and arguably, neither did anyone else).
Taking to his own account, Cube quote tweeted Elon’s meme with one of his own. “Remember Twitter? This it now, feel stupid yet?” read the meme, accompanied by images of by pictures of the old Twitter logo and a literal dumpster fire. Firstly, Cube’s meme is infinitely funnier than Elon’s. Secondly, you know it struck a nerve given the number of X Blue users in the comments trying to “own” Cube in return.
However, being owned by Ice Cube isn’t the only thing that has Elon in the public sphere of discussion recently. Earlier this week, Musk shared an image of Amber Heard dressed as Mercy from the popular video game Overwatch. The photo serves as confirmation of a claim that Musk made in his recently released biography. In the biography, Musk claimed that Heard worked to cosplay the character after he said she looked like her. “So she spent two months designing and commissioning a head-to-toe costume so she could role-play for him,” the excerpt in question reads. Musk and Heard dated on-and-off for about a year after her divorce from Johnny Depp.
“She did dress up as Mercy. It was awesome,” Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter, as people began to ask him if the rumor was true. That led Musk to also share a personal photo of Heard in the costume. Given the distinct lack of layers under the cosplay and the garter belts that can be seen in the image, it’s likely that this was something for the bedroom more than anything else. Heard’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests from several outlets for comments.
Apple unveiled the latest iPhone model on September 12. Although there are more of the same, there are also significant differences. This year, the products announced at the Apple Event are three-fold. The Apple Watch Series 9 was introduced, as well as the Apple Watch Series Ultra 2, and also the iPhone 15 series. The event, tagged “Wonderlust,” was held at Apple Park, and received extensive media coverage.
The annual unveiling event typically covers product announcements and information about upcoming software updates. The upgrades contained in the iPhone 15 series, however, are far beyond just software advancements. It is a significantly improved iteration of the iPhone 14, which has continued to reach new heights with each upgrade. The iPhone 15 also boasts some swanky new features that would appeal to most tech-savvy users. Nonetheless, even regular Joes will enjoy the new line of upcoming Apple products. The iPhone has now become a substitute for recording studios, movie cameras, and more. In this internet age where technology advances daily, the iPhone may arguably be heads and shoulders above every other smartphone out right now. It will also be available to pre-order on Apple’s website from Friday, September 15.
The iPhone 15 series consists of four variants of the model. These are: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They are the seventeenth-generation flagship iPhones and are preceded by the iPhone 14 series. Much like the 14, however, the latest gadget will share the same model system, with minor adjustments for better user experience.
The Design
Keeping the trend of the last few generations of iPhones, the design changes on the iPhone 15 are not particularly new. Specifically, the model shares a striking similarity with models from the previous generations, especially the iPhone 14. However, the subtle changes in the design of the iPhone 15 series may make all the difference to some, owing entirely to their distinction, especially with the Pro models.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus look quite similar to the iPhone 14, but have been designed to be more comfortable to hold. A slight curve on the back edges of the 15 and 15 Plus models should ensure more comfort with handling the phones. The iPhone 15 also weighs slightly less than the iPhone 14, at an outstanding 6.03 oz (171.0g). Similarities between the base 14 and 15 models also include the volume controls and lock/unlock button, which appear in the same locations. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are available in the following colors; black, blue, green, yellow, and pink.
With the Pro models, however, the design of the iPhone 15 is more dramatically upgraded. Most notably, the materials the Pro models are made of are vastly different. For example, the frames of the iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are reportedly made of aerospace-grade titanium. This is as opposed to the stainless steel frames of the iPhone 14 series. Additionally, the mute switch has been replaced by a new customizable action button. Furthermore, the iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have four new color options. They are listed on the Apple website as black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium.
The sizes of the standard and pro models of the iPhone 15 have stayed the same as the iPhone 14 series. However, the resolution of the 15 series is notably higher than the 14, as well as older models. Furthermore, the lightning connector has finally been ditched for the USB-C, making the iPhone 15 series the first generation of iPhones with this feature. The inclusion of this feature leads to the next interesting addition to the latest iPhones — reverse charging. Apple Watches and 2nd-gen AirPods Pros can now be charged by plugging into an iPhone 15. AirPods Pros will similarly include a USB-C port for charging.
Another noteworthy new feature is the installment of the A17 Pro chip on the phones. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro models have the Apple GPU 6-core installed. They also each have a RAM of 8GB, more phone memory than any of the older iterations of the iPhone. Finally, as expected, the cameras on these iPhones are much cooler and more dynamic than their predecessors. According to the iPhone 15 trailer, the iPhone 15 Pro has “a camera that can literally shoot a blockbuster film.”
Prices and Release
The prices of the iPhone 15 series depend on the model and specifications of the smartphone. Below is a breakdown of the price of each iPhone in the series.
(Standard) iPhone 15
128GB: $799
256GB: $899
512GB: $1,099
iPhone 15 Plus
128GB: $899
256GB: $999
512GB: $1,199
(Advanced) iPhone 15 Pro
128GB: $999
256GB: $1,099
512GB: $1,299
1TB: $1,499
iPhone 15 Pro Max
256GB: $1,199
512GB: $1,399
1TB: $1,599
The iPhone 15 series will be available for pre-order on the Apple website on September 15. It will appear in stores a week after on September 22, 2023.
Drake has long made it known that he’s not exactly a fan of the Grammy Awards. He didn’t speak out on social media after the organization’s latest decision. Still, we wouldn’t be surprised if the 36-year-old had an averse reaction to finding out that an AI-generated song by him and fellow Canadian The Weeknd was deemed eligible to be nominated at the annual event. Many music lovers made it clear that they weren’t on board with this update. Late on Thursday (September 7), Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. shared a video providing some clarity to the community.
“Let me be extra clear. Even though it was written by a human creator, the vocals were not legally obtained. The vocals were not cleared by the label or the artist, and the song is not commercially available,” his message noted. “And because of that, it’s not eligible,” the industry executive added afterward. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the times we live in, Mason Jr. did state that things could shift in the future regarding AI-eligibility.
“I take this stuff very seriously. It’s all complicated and it’s moving really quickly. I’m sure things are going to continue to have to evolve and change. But please, do not be confused. The Academy is here to support and advocate and protect and represent human artists and human creators. Period,” the CEO assured his followers, who have been reacting positively to the news so far.
Now that we finally have a release date for Drake’s For All The Dogs album, the father of one has begun hinting at who we’ll hear featured on the project. A reunion with Nicki Minaj has already been officially confirmed, and according to his latest Instagram post, we may hear from Central Cee too. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
With the Grammy eligibility window wrapping up soon there’s been a lot of discussion of the potential favorites and dark horse candidates for all the major awards. But snuck into the mix was a news story that surprised many fans and began dividing people online. “heart on my sleeve” is a song made by an artist called ghostwriter earlier this year. The track became controversial for using AI-generated versions of Drake and The Weeknd’s voices on the song. Surprisingly, the song was submitted for consideration for next year’s Grammy Awards. And perhaps even more surprisingly, it was deemed eligible.
Fans online had a variety of reactions to the news, but many from within the music industry are taking issue with the song’s award status. One of those is Young Guru who has warned fans about the future of AI music more than anybody. He first made a declaration about the dangers of the technology back in February when an AI-generated Kendrick Lamar track emerged. He described the song as “groundbreaking but dangerous moment” before many others were even talking about the potential future implications of AI.
Guru was also vocal about his stance when Timbaland claimed he was interested in the future cross-sections of AI and music. Guru warned him that the move was corny and that it has the potential to age very poorly. His most recent statement on AI came back in June where he gave a specific example. “When you take Big’s voice and you have him saying things that he would have never said, or it’s your interpretation or some other writer’s interpretation of what you think Big would have said, this kind of violates him and his legacy,” he said.
With the breaking news of an AI song potentially being able to win a Grammy, Guru took to his story. “Hate to say I told y’all but I told y’all. Now this could be up for a Grammy. SMH,” he said over a screenshot of the news. What do you think of Young Guru’s claiming he warned everyone about AI music? Let us know in the comment section below.
Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce are both seasoned pros when it comes to the art of performing. They reminded us of just that during the latter’s birthday concert in Los Angeles on Monday (September 4) night. Throughout the weekend, Queen B took over the stage at SoFi Stadium with a seriously impressive roster of guest openers. Among them were Doechii, Lil Wayne, and 2 Chainz. For her final show in California, the mother of three brought Compton native Kendrick Lamar out to body their “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM (Remix),” though they were unfortunately met with some technical difficulties.
As XXL Mag reports, when it was the DAMN. hitmaker’s turn to rap his verse, his microphone appeared to cut out. Issues like this have been happening frequently for artists. Most recently we’ve been reporting on 50 Cent’s ongoing mic-throwing lawsuit. The synchronicity is likely due to the ongoing Mercury Retrograde, which is known to cause issues with communication. It’s unclear if Lamar wasn’t aware that his sound wasn’t coming through, or if he continued performing anyway to avoid ruining the moment. Still, the video below shows him hitting every word while Bey dances beside him.
If the birthday girl took note of Lamar’s audio issues (which were resolved by the latter half of his verse), then she certainly did her part to keep us entertained. In her iconic bee costume, the “Halo” singer dropped it low and even slipped in some Vogueing moves. Overall it appears as though she had a memorable time celebrating her special day with friends and fans. The Grammy Award winner will be taking a few days to rest before she heads up north to Canada to take over BC Place on September 11.
Elsewhere in the world of Kung-Fu Kenny, he sat down with Tems for InterviewMagazine to discuss some burning topics ahead of her album’s arrival. While the Nigerian starlet dished on some of her earliest musical inspirations, Kendrick Lamar got candid about some of the best wisdom he’s picked up from 50 Cent. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Usually, when there’s discourse to unravel about someone altering the colour of their skin, it’s due to a white person attempting to take on a more Black persona. Alabama Barker is one person who’s often faced with accusations like this, though the teen continues to let them roll off her back as she moves forward in her hip-hop career. On the other end of the spectrum is PinkyDoll, who caused some serious commotion with her appearance at the 2023 Streamy Awards.
Viewers weren’t expecting to see the NPC content creator take the stage at the annual event, but she happily presented Kai Cenat with his well-deserved trophy. As per usual, PinkyDoll was dressed in her best, though many have noticed that her skin looks significantly darker in the video and photos captured at the Steamys than it does in her other social media posts. Many have confessed that they’ve always thought the Canadian is a “yellow bone,” when in reality, she’s a brown-skinned girl.
Some of those chiming in are of the opinion that altering her appearance is intentional on PinkyDoll’s part, perhaps in hopes of attracting a wider audience. “PinkyDoll using colourism to get the bag was an elite game plan,” one Twitter user reflected on Monday (August 28) evening. “Yes yes yes, brown skin so good,” they further joked.
“People been benefitting off blackfishing so I’m not even mad at PinkyDoll for doing the reverse,” someone else wrote in defense of the OnlyFans model. “Stop being colourist then.” Still, there are some who think it’s wrong of the 27-year-old to trick her audience like this.
Keep scrolling to see what Twitter users are saying about PinkyDoll’s first major public appearance at the 2023 Streamy Awards. Do you think the content creator is wrong for seemingly lightening the colour of her skin on camera with filters, or is the controversy not as deep as some are making it out to be? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news.
Pinky Doll has multiple pics on her social media showing her real skin. This is not the huge revelation y’all think it is . Let’s wrap this colorism crusader talk up by 11:59 pls.
You have people calling Pinkydoll smart for allegedly subscribing to and ultimately benefitting from colourism. The mental gymnastics are truly impressive at this point. https://t.co/CUz6NRkYDn
(@Fiyasohollywood)