Tech

Montana Becomes First State to Pass a Bill Banning TikTok

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Montana has become the first state in America to ban TikTok. In a Senate Bill signed on Wednesday, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte stated his aim is to protect the private information of the residents of his state.

READ MORE: TikTok’s Parent Company Aiming to Create AI Program to ‘Lower Music Creation Barrier’

According to NPR, Senate Bill 419 highlights the Chinese government as a reason for the ban, citing the nation as a potential threat.

“The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented,” Gov. Gianforte said.

READ MORE: Ohio Teen Dies After Attempting Benadryl TikTok Challenge

The owner of TikTok, tech giant ByteDance, denied sharing information. However, government officials highlight the records of consumers are available as the nation’s government allows for storing public records.

The ban will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, but it is currently unclear on how it will be enforced, and is also facing opposition that the bill is unconstitutional.

The post Montana Becomes First State to Pass a Bill Banning TikTok appeared first on The Source.

Cardi B Teams with Beats to Introduce Studio Buds+

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Cardi B Levels Up Beats Studio Buds + 0 31 screenshot

Cardi B is helping Beats usher in a new era for their popular studio buds line. In a new spot, using her banger “Up,” Cardi shows the capabilities of the upgraded product line, Studio Buds+. In the spot, Cardi shows off how a clearer call function allows for easier communication, a powerful sound exemplified by her music, and noise-canceling to box out all the hater and extra noise around you.

Beats Studio Buds +, an amazing upgrade to the Studio Buds series that offers balanced sound and improved capabilities for iOS and Android users, has just been announced by Beats. Studio Buds Plus, which is now available in a stunning transparent design, significantly improves Active Noise.

ANC, Transparency, call quality, and battery life all work together to provide a superb true wireless experience. For $169.99 (US), Beats Studio Buds Plus are now available for purchase in three gorgeous colors: Black / Gold, Ivory, and Transparent.

“As our fastest-selling product ever since its launch, Beats Studio Buds are beloved earphones for so many people around the world and we’re thrilled to be taking them to the next level,” said Oliver Schusser, Vice President of Beats and Apple Music. “With beautiful new colors to choose from and vast improvements to Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, call performance and battery life, Beats Studio Buds + deliver an unmatched combination of fashion and function for both iOS and Android consumers.”

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For a more comfortable all-day fit, three innovative acoustic vents enhance audio precision and gently release pressure. Additionally, Studio Buds + provide a secure fit for your earbuds while also forming a comfortable acoustic seal for the greatest listening experience with four ear tip options (XS, S, M, & L) to fit a wider range of ears.

Beats’ unique acoustic platform has an elegant, portable design and delivers strong, balanced sound. Each bud has a unique two-layer transducer that flexes to produce better bass and extremely low distortion. So wherever you go, Studio Buds + produce rich, immersive sound whether you’re taking calls or listening to music.

Users of Apple Music may experience genuine multidimensional sound and clarity by using Studio Buds Plus, which automatically plays spatial audio for available tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos.3 It feels like there are 64 speakers playing at once.

Beats Studio Buds + is available to order starting today for $169.99 (US) from apple.com in the US, Canada and China, with shipping beginning tomorrow

The post Cardi B Teams with Beats to Introduce Studio Buds+ appeared first on The Source.

Cardi B’s Thirsty Tweet About Janelle Monáe’s NSFW Video Causes Shadow Ban, She Asks Elon Musk For Help

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New York-born lyricist Cardi B has never been one to censor herself, which is precisely why fans love her. Unfortunately, it seems Twitter isn’t so fond of her often-salacious nature, as the mother of two’s account was hit with a shadow ban following her NSFW response to a video of Janelle Monáe. If you somehow didn’t hear, the Dirty Computer songstress practically broke the internet last week with a video of her bare breasts being flashed to her audience during a performance, among other antics.

When she came across the footage, Cardi took the opportunity to thirst after Monáe the way many fans have – shamelessly. As Uproxx reports, she used an image of the reality star and OnlyFans content creator Natalie Nunn hooking up with another woman to express her feelings, though the message was quickly taken down. In the days following, the rap diva seems to have noticed a substantial difference in her Twitter engagement, as she reached out to CEO Elon Musk with a public plea for help.

Read More: Cardi B Twerks In Bright Red Pants To Match Her Bold New Hair

Cardi B Turns to Elon Musk for Help

@iamcardib/Twitter

“I’m shadow banned ’cause I posted a picture of somebody getting their [t*tty] sicked,” she wrote on Tuesday (May 16). “@elonmusk please unshadow ban me. I won’t do it again,” Bardi further pleaded. That most, like the original one that got her in trouble, has since been deleted as well, though we nabbed a screenshot before the removal. Seeing as the South African engineer will only be head honcho of the social media platform for a short period, it remains unclear if he’ll still have the authority to help the Grammy Award winner following his demotion.

It’s worth noting that her post’s impressions are noticeably lower than in the past, prior to her expressing interest in Monáe. Do you think Elon Musk should help Cardi B out with her shadow ban situation? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Cardi B Seizes $640 More From Tasha K Via YouTube Checks

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Majorie Taylor Greene Accused Of Funding Kanye West’s Website

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Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Green has become one of the most visible, and controversial, figures in American politics. First elected in 2020 to represent Georgia’s 14th district, Representative Greene wasted no time in making herself known to the general public. This has rarely been for positive reasons, with Greene’s behavior and statements being a source of constant mockery. Greene was censured for comments threatening other members of Congress and supporting the January 6 insurrection. Furthermore, she has gone viral for a number of statements, including one where she made reference to “Jewish space lasers”.

However, Greene is also an incredibly influential right-wing politician. She is seen as the face of the most right-wing members of the Republican Congressional Caucus. This made her a pivotal lynchpin during the prolong Speaker of the house elections in early 2023. However, the vocal Trump support is now facing a new scandal

Greene Staffer Bought Kanye West Presidential Website Domain

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 28: Milo Yiannopoulos (R) trails Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) after she spoke at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol April 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. Greene discussed Elon Musk’s recent purchase of Twitter during the press conference. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In June 2022, Representative Greene hired Milo Yiannopoulos as a Congressional intern. Yiannopoulos was once one of the biggest voices in the right-wing movement but fell from grace after being successfully de-platformed from much of the mainstream internet. However, right-wing operative Laura Loomer has revealed that while interning for Greene, Yiannopoulos purchased the domain “Ye24.com” on the website hosting site, GoDaddy. Ye24.com is now the official website of Kanye West’s presidential campaign. Yiannopoulos was then reportedly reimbursed for this purchase, which totaled a little over $7000. Yiannopoulos was concurrently serving as the campaign manager for Kanye West’s 2024 election campaign at the time.

If this is true, it could be a serious breach of campaign finance law. While campaigns can donate to one another, that amount is limited to $2000 per year. If Yiannopoulos did buy the domain while registered on Greene’s staff, that would be a violation of more than three times the federal limit. Greene has denied any involvement in the incident. “Congresswoman Greene knew nothing about the gross negligence made by a vendor and is being unfairly attacked as a result,” a representative for Greene said. However, it is also worth noting that this is not coming from across the aisle. Laura Loomer is often described as “far-right” and even as a “white nationalist”. While this story is developing, it could hurt Greene both in terms of federal punishment and her standing with her pro-Trump base.

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Elon Musk Announces New CEO for Twitter, Will Transition Into Exec Chair Role

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Elon Musk’s run as CEO of Twitter has come to a close. Hitting the app, Musk announced a new CEO will take over, and she will start in about six weeks.

“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.”

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.”

The post Elon Musk Announces New CEO for Twitter, Will Transition Into Exec Chair Role appeared first on The Source.

Elon Musk Has Hired A New Twitter CEO

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The Elon Musk Twitter saga may finally be reaching its end. After becoming the new CEO of Twitter in 2022, Musk modified the platform’s verification system. As a result, users now have the option to pay for verification. This has drawn criticism from some users who believe that this goes against the platform’s goals. The change in the verification system has also caused the blue checkmarks to be removed from the profiles of many public figures. Many of them have also voiced their opposition to Musk’s decision to change the verification feature. This includes artists such as Doja Cat and Lil Nas X, who have expressed their frustration at having their verification status taken away without justification.

Musk also recently responded to a tweet proposing the addition of a dating feature on Twitter. The tweet was posted by content creator Steven Mark Ryan from the Youtube channel Solving The Money Problem. Musk replied swiftly, calling the idea “interesting” and suggesting that it could even create job opportunities. Ryan’s tweet highlighted the feature’s potential, stating that it “might actually save humanity from extinction.” The YouTuber also referred to the idea as “very low hanging fruit” and expressed his belief that “Twinder would be HUGE.” Whether or not the whole thing is a joke remains to be seen.

6 More Weeks Of Musk

Those who have been dissatisfied with the way that Elon Musk has handled his Twitter acquisition will find his latest tweet very satisfying. The billionaire has revealed that he has chosen a new CEO to take his place at Twitter. The announcement was made earlier today, five months after Musk confirmed that he would be stepping down as the company’s CEO. Although the new CEO was not named, Musk stated that she will start her new role next month, Meanwhile, he will take on the position of executive chair and chief technology officer.

Musk expressed his excitement over the appointment and tweeted, “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.” What do you think of the latest update in the Elon Musk saga? Do you think the platform will change for the better when he is no longer CEO? Let us know in the comments!

Frank Ocean A.I. Tracks Net Scammer Thousands In Sales

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When your favorite artist won’t drop a new album, your desperation to find leaks or unreleased tracks might lead you to a scam or two. Moreover, Vice recently reported that a scammer made thousands of dollars selling fake Frank Ocean tracks that were A.I.-generated. According to this report, such songs were sold on music communities in the underground, such as Discord groups, music forums, and similar platforms. This information also comes with testimonies from people in those circles, as well as direct interviews with the scammer and the scammed. “We determined just about everything he has is fake,” the owner of a Frank leak-centered Discord server wrote to the community’s members.

Of course, this is another point against the prevalence of artificial intelligence in music, and a clear example of its potentially nefarious uses. Despite that reality, it’s one example in a sea of different uses of this type of technology. While this individual got thousands for fooling starving fans, other Frank Ocean die-hards make that distinction clear and just offer fans a cool hypothetical. Also, there’s the more cheeky and unserious interpretations of this tech, such as Biggie dissing himself in an A.I. cover of “Hit ‘Em Up.”

Read More: Frank Ocean Fan Hit With Cease-&-Desist Over Unofficial Coachella Concert Film

Scammer Sells Fake Frank Ocean A.I. Songs, Makes Thousands

However, public favor surrounding Frank Ocean isn’t exactly at an all-time high right now. His mixed reception to his appearance as a headliner at Coachella this year left many fans with a sour taste in their mouths. It also prompted figures like Joe Budden to label him as a “scammer” as well, using his history of scattered releases, teases, and expensive merch as context. Still, there’s a lot we don’t know about the situation, and a lot more nuance to these situations than audiences may expect. We’ll see how the elusive superstar’s next move diverts from that narrative, or contributes to it.

Meanwhile, many might wonder why you would even purchase leaks like these, and how a scam like this would come about in the first place. In communities like Discord servers, individuals purchase these tracks for private use or crowdsource the necessary funds for the files. Many in the community fear that A.I. threw a massive wrench into their focus. Time will tell how the industry at large weaponizes, or more importantly regulates, tech like this to minimize its potentially harmful effects. Regardless, stick around on HNHH for more news on A.I. music and the latest updates (however scant) on Frank Ocean.

Read More: Frank Ocean’s Complicated Relationship With His Fanbase

Kendrick Lamar’s Beats By Dre Commercial Song, “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” Leaks Online

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We haven’t heard anything new from Kendrick Lamar since last year’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, granted it was one of the biggest albums of 2022, and he did follow it with an iconic world tour. Seeing as there were seven years between that and his previous project, DAMN., it remains unclear when the Californian plans to grace us with more of his renowned penmanship. Regardless, fans will be happy to know that a previously unreleased track from a decade ago has leaked online this week.

You may have heard part of the song, dubbed “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” during Lamar’s appearance in a Beats by Dre commercial in 2013. As HipHopNMore notes, the spot told a story about the father of two working in the studio with Dr. Dre. While they’re certainly both legends in their own right, they couldn’t seem to make music magic the way they were craving. Of course, the NWA alum’s high-quality headphones and Beats Pill speaker were able to save the day, putting them on the track toward a No. 1 hit.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Speaks On Working With Dr. Dre, Says They Have 30 Tracks Together

Unreleased “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” Song Boasts Production from Dr. Dre

Fans had a positive reaction upon first hearing the song in the commercial, and many were disappointed to see its failure to arrive on streamers in the years since. There’s a pair of verses layered over the Dre-produced beat, which Lamar and his collaborator likely never expected the public to hear. The “HUMBLE” hitmaker’s fanbase appears to be loving his throwaways from 2013 specifically, as other recent leaks came in the form of “Crooked” and “Burn.”

In other exciting K. Dot news, the 35-year-old was confirmed as one of the headlining artists at this year’s Austin City Limits music festival. Other noteworthy hip-hop and R&B artists on the lineup include Kali Uchis, Lil Yachty, Coi Leray, and GloRilla. As for other headliners, names include Hozier, The 1975, Shania Twain, The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons.

Read More: J. Cole Recalls Encouraging Dr. Dre To Sign Kendrick Lamar When He Was Still Up-And-Coming

Revisit More of the West Coast Duo’s Collaborative Efforts

While the Beats commercial effort was never officially released, we have heard the two lyricists come together on more than one occasion over the years. Popular titles to come from them (and other collaborators) include “The Recipe,” “Genocide,” and “Compton,” among others. Check out the mysteriously leaked version of “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” on Twitter above. Afterward, tell us which Kendrick Lamar x Dr. Dre joint track is your favourite in the comments.

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Halle Bailey’s “The Little Mermaid” Receives Positive Initial Reviews, Even With “Some CGI Issues”

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When it was first announced that Disney had cast a Black woman, Halle Bailey, as the lead in their live-action The Little Mermaid remake, all hell broke loose. Of course, her community was happy to see the 23-year-old thriving. Unfortunately, racists couldn’t help but run their mouths on social media regarding the push for diversity. Yara Shadidi was met with a similar response when she earned the role of Tinkerbell in Peter Pan & Wendy. Nevertheless, both young actresses have since been shutting down critics with their work.

After months of waiting, Bailey’s first-ever film made its world premiere in Hollywood on Monday (May 8). It won’t be available to the general public until later this month, though a select group of celebrity friends such as Offset, Chlöe Bailey, and Kelly Rowland were all invited to the early screening. Other industry figures were in attendance as well, many of whom have already been sharing their thoughts regarding The Little Mermaid on Twitter.

Read More: DDG Debuts “In Love With A Mermaid,” Seemingly Referencing Girlfriend Halle Bailey

Halle Bailey Stuns at The Little Mermaid Premiere

Halle Bailey attends the world premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” on May 08, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)

“#TheLittleMermaid makes it pretty close to being the best live-action Disney movie,” one lucky earlier viewer shared with social media followers. “However, it still struggles in the villain department,” they admitted. “Halle Bailey IS Ariel and I had literal chills throughout her performance. This is a little mermaid retelling like you’ve never seen before.”

Elsewhere, Kelly Rowland also sang her young friend’s praises, writing, “‘The Little Mermaid’ is truly AN EPIC WATCH!!! The music in this movie!! FREAKINGGGGGGGWOWWWWW!! You laugh, you cry, you sing along!!” along with photos of her colourful outfit from the premiere. “I know I’m gonna be singing these songs for weeks to come!!!!!!” the Destiny’s Child alum declared.

Read More: Halle Bailey’s “The Little Mermaid” Doll Leaves Actress Emotional

Twitter Reacts to Disney’s Latest Live-Action Movie

Following the event, Halle Bailey shared beautiful photos of her designer dress, as well as some thoughts about her experience preparing for the premiere. “You guys, I’m so overwhelmed and overjoyed that this movie is almost here for you all to see,” she wrote on Monday afternoon. “This was the first premiere of the press run and I have been in tears and feeling oh so grateful,” the rising starlet further gushed. Keep scrolling to see more Twitter reactions, and let us know if you’ll be at the theatres on May 26th to catch the public debut of The Little Mermaid in the comments.

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Spotify Wipes Thousands Of AI Songs From Its Platform

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Spotify has reportedly taken down tens of thousands of tracks from the AI company, Boomy. Universal Music previously reported the company for suspicious streaming activity to Spotify. The platform pays out to artists on the basis of streaming numbers and thus takes artificially boosted numbers quite seriously.

“Artificial streaming is a longstanding, industry-wide issue that Spotify is working to stamp out across our service,” Spotify said in a statement to Insider. “When we identify or are alerted to potential cases of stream manipulation, we mitigate their impact by taking action that may include the removal of streaming numbers and the withholding of royalties. This allows us to protect royalty payouts for honest, hardworking artists.”

Read More: Is AI A Threat To Hip-Hop?

Spotify Cracks Down On A.I. Music

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 06: In this photo illustration, the logo of the Swedish music streaming service Spotify is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on January 06, 2017 in Paris, France. Spotify announced, via a tweet published Thursday, that it now has 70 million paid subscribers. As a comparison, in September, Apple Music claimed 30 million subscribers and Deezer had fewer than 10 million subscribers. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

The recent takedown encompasses 7% of Boomy’s total tracks. A.I. technology and its impact on the music industry has been a prominent talking point in recent weeks. Songs recreating vocals from Drake, The Weeknd, JAY-Z, and many more artists have all gone viral on social media. Many artists have condemned the use of their vocal likeness in the songs, while others, such as Grimes, have embraced it.

During Spotify’s quarterly financial call in April, CEO Daniel Ek described A.I. technology as both “really cool and scary.” He explained: “These are very, very complex issues that don’t have a single straight answer…But we’re in constant discussion with our partners and creators and artists and want to strike a balance between allowing innovation and, of course, protecting artists.” He added: I think the whole industry is trying to figure that out and trying to figure out [AI] training…I would definitely put that on the risk account because there’s a lot of uncertainty, I think, for the entire ecosystem.”

Read More: Jay-Z A.I. Verse Scares Hip-Hop World

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