In the long history of hip hop, few acts can truly say they are as influential as Mobb Deep. The Queens, New York rap duo consists of members Havoc and Prodigy, and is often listed alongside the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and LL Cool J. Mobb Deep has sold over three million records, ranking them among the most successful rap duos of all time. Known for their gritty and unrelenting depictions of the streets, the group’s biggest hits include “Shook Ones (Part 2)” and “Survival of the Fittest.”
The instrumental track “Shook Ones (Part 2)” contains samples from Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. The iconic beat has been a popular freestyle track in street cyphers, radio shows, and rap battles for decades. The Mobb Deep track also holds prominent placements in films such as 8 Mile and video games such as Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and NBA 2K18. Further, the duo has released eight studio albums and appeared on several mixtapes. Though only one member remains, there have been rumors of a final Mobb Deep album as recently as 2023.
Prodigy
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 25: Prodigy of Mobb Deep visits Hip Hop Nation at SiriusXM Studios on February 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Prodigy tragically passed away in 2017 after a lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia. His death, which occurred while on tour in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Ghostface Killah, KRS-One, Ice-T, Onyx, and Havoc, prompted an outpouring of love and support from the hip hop community, including tearful social media posts and music shoutouts from the likes of Eminem, Lil Wayne, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Questlove, and many others. The Mobb Deep rapper was 42.
Before Prodigy’s untimely passing, he pioneered the modern rap sound as part of Mobb Deep. The Queens rapper also released six solo albums, as well as a number of mixtapes and collaborative projects. In his final years, Prodigy was also responsible for writing many literary works, including an autobiography titled My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy.
Other written works from the rapper include a pair of crime novels penned in collaboration with British author Steven Savile. Prodigy also co-wrote a cookbook in 2016 featuring several recipes that could be made or replicated under prison conditions.
Havoc
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 22: Rapper Havoc of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep performs onstage at the Art of Rap festival at Hollywood Palladium on July 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Despite Prodigy’s untimely passing, Havoc has vowed to complete Mobb Deep’s illustrious discography with a final studio album. As recently as August 2023, Havoc has confirmed recording sessions with legendary producer The Alchemist. The remaining member of the duo has also teased unreleased Prodigy verses for the latest installation.
Like his partner, Havoc ventured into solo releases, dropping four studio albums between 2007 and 2014. As a notable producer, Havoc touts production credits on numerous releases over the years. The multi-hyphenate artist has produced hits with Kanye West, Rihanna, G-Unit, The Lox, and many more. Most recently, Havoc appeared behind the boards on 2023 releases such as Russ’ Chomp 2.5, Jabee’s Enough, and the recent 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne collab albumWelcome 2 Collegrove.
For now, only time will tell if the final Mobb Deep album will ever materialize. Of course, the project would undoubtedly serve as a perfect send-off for the iconic rap duo.
Almost three decades after the murder of Tupac Shakur, it seems like the case was finally going to be solved following the arrest of Duane “Keefe D” Davis earlier this year. However, Davis’s lawyers have filed a motion for him to be released on bail before trial, stating that his claims of his involvement with Tupac’s murder were “entertainment” and not factual.
Appearing before Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny, Davis’s lawyers requested that he be transferred to house arrest or at least be given “reasonable” bail, which his legal representatives suggest is no more than $100,000. His legal team argues that the 60-year-old suspect’s health has suffered in jail and that he has not been provided adequate medical treatment following a bout with colon cancer that they said is in remission as well as ongoing heart problems.
The basis for their claim is that the court’s decision to deny Davis bail was based largely in an “astounding amount of hearsay and speculative testimony.” In a statement to KTNV, his lawyers stated that much of the judgement “relied on excerpts from a book titled Compton Street Legend, which was allegedly written by Duane Davis and Yusuf Jah. The State did not delineate which parts of the book, if any, were written by Duane.” They also pointed out that most of the claims in the book were not independently fact-checked or verified, stating that the book and subsequent interviews were done “for entertainment purposes” only.
The judge granted the defense a January 2 hearing date to discuss terms of Davis’s bail and possible release. Davis is the only surviving suspect of those believed to be involved with Tupac’s murder. If found guilty, he could face up to life in prison, but prosecutors say that they will not seek the death penalty. Davis has entered an initial plea of not guilty. The trial is expected to begin this summer.
Earlier this week, Cardi B announced that she’s been “single for a minute” following rumors that she and Offset had gone their separate ways. She’s since taken to social media to throw plenty of shade his way, though they’ve yet to formally announce why they decided to split. Regardless, countless fans and peers have taken this as an opportunity to show their interest in the “Bongos” rapper. Of course, one man who was at the front of the line to express his admiration for her was Charleston White.
He took to Instagram Live to shoot his shot recently, offering to take her out on a date. “I f*ck with the Migos,” he began. “But I sure would like to go on a date with Cardi B… She’s fair game now.” White went on, asking the hitmaker directly if he could take her out sometime soon. “Why shouldn’t I go on a date with Cardi B? Cardi B can I take you out? Listen, we can do a Metaverse date. You go to a restaurant, I go to a restaurant…”
Clearly, White’s willing to do whatever it takes to hit it off with the NYC native. “I used to want twelve gold teeth for Christmas,” he described, “I don’t want twelve gold teeth no more. I want a three-hour conversation with Cardi B.” She’s yet to respond to the offer. It does look like the performer’s looking to start fresh amid the split, however, it’s unlikely to be with Charleston White.
“I want to start 2024 fresh, open. I’m curious for a new life, for a new beginning. I’m excited,” she told fans this week. What do you think of Charleston White attempting to shoot his shot? Do you think he has a chance? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
After an impressive run of guest verses in 2022, J. Cole continued his reign as one of hip hop’s feature kings throughout 2023. Despite not releasing an album, he had a prolific year, appearing on tracks with a range of artists. This year in particular, he branched out to work with a wide variety of names, many of which for the very first time. Cole has shown that he can outshine almost anybody on a song. His latest run of guest verses this year built even more anticipation for his upcoming seventh studio album, The Fall Off, which he alluded to in his bars throughout the year. Today, we are ranking each of J. Cole’s guest features in 2023 from worst to best. Take a look at the list below.
J. Cole has teamed up with some unlikely names before, but his feature on Gucci Mane’s “There I Go” was certainly unexpected. Over an instrumental produced by Mike Will Made-It, he sets the tone with a short verse, riding the beat with ease. The upbeat and non-serious nature of the track is not as lyrically competitive compared to J. Cole’s other guest verses. A fun highlight from Gucci Mane’s Breath of Fresh Air, “There I Go” ultimately ranks last in the scheme of J. Cole’s features from 2023.
9. Bas – “Passport Bros”
“Passport Bros” is the latest track from frequent J. Cole collaborator and Dreamville signee, Bas. The two have an exciting history of collaborations, including “My N***a Just Made Bail” and “Night Job.” Bas’s latest J. Cole-featuring track, “Passport Bros” sees the two rapping over an amapiano-laced instrumental. Bas melodically raps two short verses and the song’s chorus while Cole spits a longer verse. He flexes his vacation destinations, including Barcelona, London, and Miami. While declaring himself and Bas as the “passport bros,” Cole clarifies that they “ain’t shelling out cash for hoes.” J. Cole’s most light-hearted feature of the year makes for a pleasant team-up between him and Bas. In addition to “Passport Bros,” the Dreamville signee’s upcoming album includes two other J. Cole features. We Only Talk About Real Shit When We’re Fucked Up drops this Friday, so we will see how Cole’s other verses stack up.
8. Burna Boy – “Thanks”
Appearing at the end of I Told Them…, Burna Boy and J. Cole express frustrations with criticisms that they receive as a result of fame. Burna asks, “Is this the motherfuckin’ thanks I get for makin’ my people proud every chance I get?” and reminds critics that he “gave you Afrofusion.” Cole expresses similar sentiments in his verse, rapping that he “fathered a couple styles” and that he is “forever cemented” in hip hop unlike many of his contemporaries. Lyrically, he both celebrates his success while separating himself from other rappers, likening himself and Burna Boy to “Shaq and Kobe.” Sitting at the top of their respective genres, Burna Boy and J. Cole share a mutual respect for one another on “Thanks.”
7. Summer Walker – “To Summer, From Cole” (Audio Hug)”
J. Cole opened Summer Walker’s Clear 2: Soft Life EP, writing a candid letter directly to the R&B songstress. He expresses his support and gratitude to Summer Walker, thanking her for wanting a verse from him and congratulating her on the birth of her twins. In his verse, Cole also admires her for how she balances motherhood, artistry, and fame. The laid-back delivery of the verse does not require intricate rhyme patterns or entendres but instead works as an act of kindness to an artist he respects. Extending his love to Walker’s peers like SZA and Ari Lennox, J. Cole feels that they “are holdin’ the crowns” for R&B and encourages them to reach out to him if necessary. Cole’s verse is a sweet act of reassurance, conveying that he is there for Summer Walker when she “needs some love.”
A highlight from Nicki Minaj’s latest album, Pink Friday 2, “Let Me Calm Down” is the very first time that she and J. Cole have worked together. They both rap about their respective struggles within relationships. J. Cole specifically channels these experiences into life lessons. He raps, “So if you love her, then you gotta learn to play your part,” speaking to the importance of being a loyal partner. Cole also alludes to his “Jada and that Will love” lyric from “No Role Modelz” to depict how couples can overcome their turbulent moments. While not punchline-oriented, “Let Me Calm Down” is one of J. Cole’s more personal feature verses of 2023.
This year, J. Cole joined Lil Durk on “All My Life,” an uplifting song with a children’s choir handling the hook. During his verse, which is noticeably longer than Durk’s, J. Cole effortlessly transitions between subjects. He raps about overcoming obstacles and making it out of the city with his “head on straight.” Cole also puts things in perspective, humbling people with the reminder that “this shit could be gone in an instant.” Additionally, he discusses the tragic deaths of rappers and considers thoughts of retirement as a result. In this excellent verse, he even makes time to flex his rap skills, rapping punchlines like “The shit I spit out is a cheat code like I’m facing a RICO / and how a n***a put a hit out.” A well-rounded guest feature, J. Cole showcases his lyrical ability while uplifting the next generation.
4. J-Hope – “On The Street”
J. Cole and J-Hope of BTS were an unexpected match when they teamed up for “On The Street.” A motivational hip hop track, both he and Cole rap about overcoming challenges and personal struggles. J. Cole specifically steals the show with his verse, rapping about his journey to success, his belief in a higher power, and his commitment to the game.
Much like his verse on “All My Life,” he ponders retirement, likening his relationship with rapping to a father’s role at his daughter’s wedding. “I’m deep in with this rappin’, it’s all a n***a know / I never did nothin’ better, it’s hard to let it go,” he raps. “But like a father watching his daughter/ Walk down the altar with tears in his eyes/ You gotta let her grow.” For now, J. Cole is not letting go of rapping any time soon. “I contemplate if I should wait to hand over the crown / And stick around for a bit longer, I got a strange type of hunger,” he declares. One of his many impressive verses this year, “On The Street” sees J. Cole speaking from a reflective frame of mind.
3. Drake – “First Person Shooter”
“First Person Shooter” was an instant favorite from Drake’s For All the Dogs. The fiery track is Drake and Cole’s first collaboration since “Jodeci Freestyle” and did not disappoint in the slightest. The two declare that they are as “big as the Super Bowl” and J. Cole raises the lyrical bar high. He weaves between flows, flexing his rapping skills while shouting out NBA YoungBoy and Kendrick Lamar. J. Cole declares himself as “the GOAT with the golden pen, the top toucher.” He also likens his relationship with Drake to the famous Spider-Man meme as they reach stadium status for their upcoming tour. “I’m namin’ the album The Fall Off, it’s pretty ironic ’cause it ain’t no fall off for me,” he raps, hinting at his next album while continuing his impeccable run of guest features in 2023.
2. Drake – “Evil Ways”
J. Cole also features on “Evil Ways,” one of his best verses of 2023 and an instant standout from Drake’s latest batch of bars. A mellow track compared to “First Person Shooter,” the two trade lyrics in spirited competition. While not a singular guest verse like his other 2023 features, J. Cole floats over the soulful instrumental, rapping some of his toughest bars of the year. He spits some of his best punchlines, including lines like, “My paper folded like when teachers don’t want classmates to see your grade.”
Cole also brilliantly alludes to his and Drake’s upcoming tour with this clever bar: “Coke got they nose bleedin’ like the seats where you can’t see the stage / High up in arenas where they see their faves / AKA me and Drizzy Drake, we the wave.” J. Cole and Drake make a great team as they bring the best out of each other. However, it is Cole who specifically leads the charge on this track.
J. Cole and Lil Yachty were an out-of-the-box duo this year on “The Secret Recipe,” a standalone track dedicated to showcasing their lyrical skills. Yachty puts his best foot forward in his verse, favoring a more traditional rap style compared to his usual auto-tuned melodies. His verse sets up J. Cole to spit a masterclass of a verse and easily his best feature of 2023. Beyond his skillful punchlines and entendres, what is most impressive about Cole’s performance is that he maintains a multi-syllabic rhyme scheme throughout the 2-minute verse.
Hungry for bars, he boasts his impressive feature run that boosts streams of other artists while simultaneously outshining them. J. Cole likens his impact to Drake’s, rapping “I’m on your song, your streams goin’ up, not quite the Drake effect / But don’t complain, bitch, take what you get and cut the label check / My table set, I dine on your favorite, one verse’ll take his breath.” He also calls out performative social media activists, rappers who lie, and those who make empty threats. J. Cole’s in rare form on “The Secret Recipe.” He silences the competition while also uplifting younger artists like Lil Yachty. Cole closes his best jaw-dropping feature of 2023: “Signed, the greatest yet.”
In a year filled with untimely artist deaths, one major hip-hop star is very much alive and well, despite a massive rumor that went around online over the weekend. Contrary to the unfounded misinformation, Eminem is not dead.
The bizarre rumor began late Saturday night and early into Sunday morning with the hashtag #RipEminem trending on social media. Apparently, a hacker had changed the artist’s Wikipedia page to state that Eminem had died in the early morning hours of December 10, 2023, in Madison, Wisconsin. Several small blogs picked up on the change and other pages and social media accounts began repeating the story, which spread like wildfire over night. His representatives quickly issued a statement assuring his fans that he was indeed alive and well. (His Wikipedia page has been corrected.)
This is actually not Em’s first brush with fake death. An earlier rumor caused a small frenzy in August of this year and in 2020, a Twitter user wrote: “I killed Eminem,” sending the internet into a tailspin until it was confirmed that once again, the multiplatinum artist was alive and well. A more bizarre theory began circulating the internet in the early days of social media. Back in 2006, a conspiracy theory began circulating that claimed Em had actually died in a car crash and had been replaced by a robot. Bearing in mind that this rumor took place before the release of the first iPhone, it was quickly debunked due to the impossible technology that would have been required for such a feat. (However, he did embrace some technology at his virtual Fortnite concert last weekend, proving that technology can be amazing, but will never replace the Real Slim Shady.)
Once users realized that Mr. Mathers was not dead, many began making jokes about his non-death. Check out this Newsweek article for some of the best social media comments about Em being alive and well.
No matter who the woman in Kanye West’s life is, you can bet your bottom dollar she’s always going to be wearing something that pushes boundaries. We witnessed the Graduation artist transform Kim Kardashian’s style throughout their relationship, and brief flings with socialites like Julia Fox and Chaney Jones brought forth unforgettable style moments too. Perhaps the boldest fashion choices we’ve seen from the rapper have been during his marriage to Australian architect Bianca Censori. Ye has obviously switched up his style considerably, but he also had an in-house team designing very revealing looks for his wife to wear around Europe all through the summer.
After causing a stir in Italy and other countries, the controversial couple jetted off to Dubai, where West has been busy working on his album with Ty Dolla Sign. Between studio sessions, he spends some of his free time at the mall with Censori. She was recently out wearing some eyebrow-raising Balenciaga pumps; the $1,200+ shoe is from the brand’s Spring 24 collection and is made of faux fur.
As you may recall, the foreign fashion house faced plenty of backlash not so long ago for endangering children in their bondage bear advertising campaign. Much to the internet’s surprise, they were able to redeem themselves (at least in the eyes of celebrities), hosting a star-studded runway presentation this weekend with plenty of bold new looks. Ye and Censori weren’t in attendance, though Kardashian and Kendall Jenner were there.
Kanye West hasn’t completely cleaned up his reputation after spending much of 2022 berating the Jewish community, but he certainly doesn’t have as many enemies as he once did. As the father of four continues to spend time in the Middle East, we’ve seen him reconnecting with old friends like Lil Durk and signing autographs for eager fans. Read what Timbaland recently had to say about the fellow production legend at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Nelly and Ashanti are expecting their first child together. According to US Weekly, the pregnancy confirmation comes after teasing a baby during an appearance in St. Louis. “Nelly and Ashanti are welcoming their first baby together,” an insider revealed.
The baby will be the first for Ashanti and the third for Nelly. The two were spotted laughing and holding Ashanti’s belly at Nelly’s Black and White Ball.
The couple, who got back together earlier this fall after breaking up about eight years ago, were joined by Monica, Bow Wow, and other celebrities.
One of the performances of the evening included Ashanti and Nelly performing Ashanti and Ja Rule’s 2022 “Mesmerize,” with Nelly lip-synching Ja Rule’s adlibs on the track.
The event, which took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis, returned after a seven-year hiatus. The event’s proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and scholarships for Harris Stowe State University. At the ball, they granted two wishes to local families.
“Make-A-Wish is the best,” Nelly told local news outlet KSDK. “I mean listen we all have our personal foundations but when you think about Make A Wish in theory, what could be better and they’ve done such phenomenal work for who knows how many years.”
Last month, Ashanti spoiled Nelly, copping him a new custom Impala for his 49th birthday.
TMZ spoke with celebrity car dealer Ronnie Garber who stated DJ Envy connected him with Ashanti to gift the 1962 Impala convertible. The blue ride has a Corvette motor and a new sound system with Nelly’s logo.
Before the car was presented to the STL legend, fireworks went off. Nelly was emotional when he got the car, stating it was his dream ride.
You can see all the moments below.
Ashanti bought Nelly his childhood dream car as a present for his 49th Birthday pic.twitter.com/8WMB7NPLmG
In October, Nelly had Ashanti speechless as he presented her birthday gifts, showing an iced-out watch and flooding her neck. While opening the gifts, Ashanti is held speechless, in awe. She puts on all the pieces and celebrates with her man, continuously hugging him and showing appreciation.
Nelly had Ashanti literally lost for words after he iced out her wrist and lit up her neck for her birthday!
While celebrity breakups and divorces seem to be dominating the news in recent weeks, one high-profile couple is still going strong. Nelly and Ashanti showed that their rekindled romance is still stronger than ever over the weekend as the two made an appearance at Nelly’s 11th Black and White Ball.
The couple, who got back together earlier this fall after breaking up about eight years ago, were joined by Monica, Bow Wow, and other celebrities.
One of the performances of the evening included Ashanti and Nelly performing Ashanti and Ja Rule’s 2022 “Mesmerize” with Nelly lip-synching Ja Rule’s adlibs on the track.
The event, which took placed at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis, returned after a seven year hiatus. The event’s proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and scholarships for Harris Stowe State University. At the ball, they granted two wishes to local families.
“Make-A-Wish is the best,” Nelly told local news outlet KSDK. “I mean listen we all have our personal foundations but when you think about Make A Wish in theory, what could be better and they’ve done such phenomenal work for who knows how many years.”
A friend of Tiffany Haddish is concerned after the comedian and actress was arrested for a second DUI. Speaking with Page Six, the friend stated, “As soon as I heard it, I said ‘goddamn, I’m glad she’s okay.’”
The friend added, “You would think that someone would have a driver in that situation. This is tough because there’s nothing anybody’s gonna say to take away that this is her second offense.
“The way people look at drinking and driving. Hopefully there’s a lesson to be learned. If people want to be critical, I say fuck that — you don’t know what a person is going through. You don’t know what’s troubling a person.”
While performing a stand-up comedy set at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach, CA Tiffany Haddish addressed her alleged DUI incident the best way she knows how – with a joke or two.
Just hours after being taken into custody, Haddish performed at the famed comedy house and dished on her early morning arrest in Beverly Hills. Get this, allegedly, she was discovered asleep at the wheel, as the car was still running. Yikes.
During the stand-up set, audio obtained by TMZ features a member of the audience inquiring about the alleged bad look for the Haunted Mansion actress. The audio excerpt includes Haddish asking, “What happened last night?” to the audience member. “Ah, damn. You tell me. I don’t know” Haddish said.
Later, she even threw God into her routine, “I prayed to God to send me a man with a job, preferably in a uniform.” “God answered my prayers,” Haddish said. “Because God believes in me.” Back in 2022 Haddish threw out a similar. While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after her similarly embarrassing DUI arrest in Georgia, she said to Fallon, “I can say this, Jimmy… I’ve been praying to God to send me a new man. A good man. And God went ahead and sent me four… in uniform,” Haddish said. “And now I got a really great lawyer, and we’re going to work it out. I’ve got to get my asking of things to God a little better!”
Earlier this week, Bill Nye took to social media to unveil his list of top songs of the year from his Spotify Wrapped. Among the engineer’s favorite tracks of 2023 were SZA’s “Kill Bill” and Taylor Swift’s “Karma.” Stealing the No. 1 spot, however, was the theme song to his own show, Bill Nye The Science Guy.
It’s no secret that Nye is a SZA fan, as the two of them were previously spotted in a photo together, which made its rounds online a couple of years back. It even ended up sparking some faux dating rumors, though he’s happily married. Regardless, he’s obviously jammed to “Kill Bill” quite a lot this year based on his Spotify Wrapped.
While it may come as a surprise to some, it seems that nearly nobody can resist the catchy SOS track. He’s not the only one shocking fans with his taste in music, however. SZA recently came through with a few of her own unexpected musical favorites as well. She chatted with Variety earlier this week, revealing that she’s a huge fan of Creed and Nickelback. According to her, they definitely don’t deserve all the hate they receive.
“I like Creed so much — ‘Higher’? Why are you hating on it? Have you ever felt more inspired and uplifted in your life?” she wondered. “I’m in the car and I’m blasting ‘Higher,’ I feel like it’s a gospel song, the vocals are going cr*zy and it’s also somehow slightly romantic, it just feels so fun. Because even if it’s cliche, he’s so f*cking dead a**! I will be a Creed fan forever. Like, it started just on a whim in the shower, ‘Oh, let’s play this,’ and then it became a week of Creed and Nickelback.” What do you think of Bill Nye’s top songs of the year? Are you surprised that SZA made the list? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
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