We are officially in a new era for Doja Cat as she has released her new single and video, “Attention.”
In the single, Doja Cat has a lot to say. What will catch ears, especially those of the Barbz, is Doja addressing comparison to Nicki Minaj:
“Just let me flex, bruh, just let me pop shit? Why she think she Nicki M? She think she hot shit’ I never gave a F, go stir the pot, bitch I got your head all in the dirt just like a ostrich.”
Other topics include dealing with online critics, her transformation, and more.
The single comes with a new video, showing Doja cruising through the streets of pandemonium, but she never loses her cool. Artistically, Doja’s silhouette flashes in the bulbs of the cameras flashing as the mouths of the screaming fans become distorted.
You can hear the single and see the new video below.
Victoria Monét opts for a bit of 2000s flavor in delivering her new single “On My Mama.” The new release is the latest tease of Monét’s forthcoming sophomore album, Jaguar II.
The single brings in Chalie Boy’s “I Look Good” for a blend of baddie energy delivered through energetic horns, energetic bass and a thumpin 808s.
“On My Mama is the soundtrack to positive affirmations!” says Monét. “Singing the lyrics about yourself will change your frequency and elevate a positive mental state. The words speak not only to physical features but to a feeling too because I believe when you feel good, you look even better! Give yourself the words you need to hear because it’s true – you look good! There’s no one like you and that’s on ya mama. Enjoy being yourself witcha fine ass!”
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in 2022, the platform has become known as somewhat of a lawless place with the loosening or removal of many prior restrictions on content and speech. However, the law has seemingly caught up to the lawless platform.
On Wednesday, Universal, Sony, Warner, and 14 smaller publishers filed a lawsuit against Twitter for at least $250 million over the alleged infringement of approximately 1,700 works. The lawsuit alleges that Twitter had been sent hundreds of thousands of takedown notices, most all of which were ignored. Twitter has also ignored requests to obtain the proper licenses for music and other forms of copyrighted intellectual property.
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Tennessee, alleges that Twitter “consistently and knowingly hosts and streams infringing copies of music compositions” in an effort to “retain account holders and viewers” and “grow the body of engaging tweets” and ultimately, “fuel its business.”
Twitter is currently the only major social media platform that does not have some sort of music licensing agreement in place. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok all have entered into agreements with publishers that allow the platforms to legally host music, videos, and other copyrighted content. In return, the agreements specify that the platforms compensate the creators and/or publishers for use of their content. (Before Musk took over Twitter, several major publishers had been in talks with former CEO Jack Dorsey to set up a similar agreement in 2021).
According to Yahoo, in December 2021, the National Music Publishers’ Association, acting on behalf of the publishers, began sending formal infringement notices to Twitter on a weekly basis, according to the complaint. The company was notified of over 300,000 infringing tweets. The lawsuit alleges that most tweets were not removed and the accounts of repeat offenders were not penalized in any way. The lawsuit alleges that Twitter basically encouraged this type of activity by taking no action against offenders.
Previously, Elon Musk had tweeted that “current copyright law in general goes absurdly far beyond protecting the original creator,” suggesting that certain aspects of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA) may go too far in overstepping its boundaries on social media.
Most major hip-hop artists are used to getting unsolicited feedback from their fans, but rarely do they actively ask for it. On Wednesday, however, Meek Mill did just that, taking to Twitter to ask fans if they think he “fell off.”
The Philly-based artist posted: “Who think I fell off or don’t really think I got it with rapping anymore?….I’m fr I need answers and tell the truth I’m not taking it personal … I need to hear how people think before I do what I do! A social experiment! Answer if you a supporter of mines!”
Who think I fell off or don’t really think I got it with rapping anymore?…. I’m fr I need answers and tell the truth I’m not taking it personal … I need to hear how people think before I do what I do! A social experiment!
Responses to the tweet were mixed with some users saying that he needs to adapt his music to be more in line with current artistic styles while others said that he should stay true to his original style and perhaps go deeper on subject matter now that he is older. A few cracked jokes about other alternative income streams such as selling feet pics.
One thing that many were in agreement on was the fact that the only way the question can be answered is with the release of new music. Meek released his last studio album, Expensive Pain, in 2021. The album debuted and peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart.
So far, Meek hasn’t responded to any replies. Perhaps he’s busy in the studio?
YNW Melly’s legal team argued that a man named, Robert Cobert, admitted to the killings of YNW Juvy and YNW SakChaser on Instagram after their deaths during the first day of the rapper’s trial on Monday. Defense attorney David A. Howard said that Cobert’s only defense was that he sold the IG account for $20 and doesn’t remember to whom.
Howard claims that the Instagram account in question posted the message, “Lol we killed two of your (friends).” He then argued that it took seven months before authorities questioned Cobert because they already had their minds made up on Melly.
As for the defense’s opening statement, Howard admitted that determining a motive isn’t necessary to convict Melly based on Florida law. However, he suggested the jury consider it when assessing whether his client would kill two men he considered “best friends.”
“Do you know what does require motive?” Howard said in court. “A young man to wake up one day and decide that he’s going to kill two of his best friends – best friends that he grew up with; best friends that he hangs out with; best friends who he lives with; best friends whose careers he was trying to launch alongside his own. They have no reason for why he would do this because there is no reason. And if there’s no reason, it doesn’t make sense.”
YNW Melly’s Defense In Court
UPDATE: Robert Cobert created an IG account from which a post was sent out taunting YNW Melly’s friends deaths, “Lol we killed two of your (friends)”. When Robert was interviewed, he claims he didn’t write that but he indeed sold the account for $20, and doesn’t recall who he… pic.twitter.com/YA4Cbgn4uU
He further mocked the police and prosecutors by saying, “And, if after four years of investigation, the state comes and says, ‘Hey, he killed two of his best friends.’ And you’re wondering why, and their answer is, ‘Uh, I dunno.’ That’s the first indication that they’re just guessing and don’t know what they’re talking about. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is, by itself, reasonable doubt.” Be on the lookout for more updates regarding YNW Melly’s double murder trial as the week continues.
Last week Wendy Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr., gave his first interview ever and said his mother’s mental and physical health has been in jeopardy since being placed under guardianship last year. He admitted he had no contact with his estranged mom and accused her new inner circle of using her and claims he fears for her life.
Now Kevin claims he was threatened with arrest if he didn’t return his mother to New York after she was placed under guardianship.
The Sun reports:
Wendy Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr, was threatened with arrest if he didn’t send his ailing mother back to New York City from Florida, he exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun.
Wendy’s only child, 22, claimed that Judge Lisa Sokoloff- who is overseeing the troubled host’s guardianship case- said she would charge him with kidnapping if he didn’t assist in getting the star back to New York while he was helping take care of her in 2022.
Kevin told The U.S. Sun exclusively: “The judge threatened me with arrest and said I’d be held in contempt if I didn’t bring her back to New York.”
Kevin said he was also threatened with arrest if he tried to bring her back to Florida after she was returned to New York.
“I’m so scared that I haven’t really been up there to see her since the courts,” Kevin said, referring to the May 2022 decision by Judge Sokoloff to appoint Sabrina Morrissey as permanent guardian to oversee Wendy’s affairs.
“When they hear I’m coming to visit, they try to change things up, like they have to prepare for me,” Wendy’s son said, regarding the legal entities who manage his 58-year-old mother.
Kevin said he wished there was more he could do to intervene to get his mother the care she needs, and to help her prioritize her health over the work commitments she’s been engaged in over the past year.
But legally, his hands have been tied by the guardianship case.
“If there was a way that I could help that wouldn’t end up [with me] being arrested, I would be doing that,” he added.
The U.S. Sun reached out to a representative of Judge Sokoloff and the New York Courts for comment, who responded: “As this is a pending matter it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Lil Uzi Vert is taking extra precautions to prevent leaks of his upcoming album, The Pink Tape. During an Instagram Live session on June 8, Uzi treated fans to unreleased music and shared the album’s release timeframe. To protect the album from hackers, they showcased a unique chain featuring a flash drive instead of a pendant. The flash drive contains the highly sought-after files for their third album. Uzi expressed the significance of the chain, stating that it is more valuable than any of their other chains, and they wear it every day.
Sporting their signature vintage purple dreads, the Generation Now rapper reaffirmed that The Pink Tape will be released at the end of June, emphasizing that they cannot wait any longer. The rapper even said that if necessary, they would release the album themself. “The album is coming at the end of this month,” they revealed. “I can’t hold off no more. Like, you know me, I’m crazy. Even if I have to drop it myself, it’s coming out at the end of the month.” A keen-eyed fan in the comments section pointed out that June 23 is National Pink Day, which would align nicely with the release of Uzi’s new project.
In April, DJ Drama confirmed that Lil Uzi Vert is very close to finishingThe Pink Tape. During an appearance on the Justin Credible Podcast, Drama mentioned that the album was in its “final stages.” Uzi’s producer, Lyle, also informed fans on Instagram last month that they are taking their time with the project. According to the producer, they all want to ensure it becomes a “classic” rather than a collection of random songs. While that may be difficult to hear for those who are tired of waiting, it will benefit Uzi and their fans in the long run.
Lyle further revealed that Uzi has been recording about five songs per day. Reportedly, the quality of the tracks keeps improving as time goes on. Clearly, this extremely extensive recording process has contributed to the album’s delay. The producer noted that it is challenging to narrow down a selection from over 1,500 songs to create a cohesive album. However, it would appear that they have almost done just that. Are you excited for Lil Uzi’s new album? Sound off in the comments to let us know!
The Boy is back. Drake drops off a new feature on the new single “Who Told You,” by British rapper J Hus. The new single shows that gangstas can also hit a two-step as Hus delivers “Who told you band man don’t dance, Who told you gangstas don’t dance,” on the hook. Drizzy doubles down in the trouble in his verse, all of which you can hear below.
There are three names that sit atop the list of basketball’s greatest players. Of course, you have six-time champion and five-time MVP Michael Jordan (1984-2003). Then there’s career Laker and five-time champion Kobe Bryant (1996-2016). Finally, you have LeBron James (2003-Present), the four-time champion and four-time MVP. Each player has their pros and cons in the GOAT debate but few, if any, players even come close to being comparable to them.
Meanwhile, alongside his prolific rap career, Lil Wayne is a massive basketball fan. Originally from New Orleans, Wayne is a proud and diehard Lakers fan. Elsewhere, he almost made his presence known during the Women’s NCAA Tournament this year. Wayne found time to link up with both Miami’s Cavinder Twins and LSU’s National Championship-winning squad. But who does Wayne believe is the true basketball GOAT?
“Bron, I don’t know Bron personally so my answer for Bron would be from afar,” he began. “My answer for Bron is on the court. Bron, you gotta remember, I know for a fact I loved Jordan for the way he always won. As a kid, you don’t know too much about the ins and outs of the game. I got old enough to know how hard it is to fucking do it back-to-back-to-back. So that’s where he got his respect with me to and started getting his respect with me to where he’s the greatest. It’s very hard to do, and that n-gga Bron did that shit with three different teams That’s right there, that’s when regardless he ain’t got six, but he done it with three different teams. That right there is what tipped him over the Jordan scale for me.”
Wayne’s ranking on the All The Smoke podcast comes in stark contrast to where his mind at in 2012. “He’s inspired not only songs, but he’s inspired me in life in general just the way he attacks things, the way he never backs down, the way he fights through injury. I believe he’s the greatest player to touch a basketball.” Furthermore, Wayne was such a fan of Bryant that he named a 2009 track in honor of the career Laker. Kobe now drops from #1 to #3. However, what do you think? Is Wayne on the right track? Or is this an airball? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.
Pop artist Dua Lipa and her team secured a significant victory in the copyright case against her filed by a little-known reggae band from Florida that had accused her of copying some of their work for her hit song “Levitating.”
In March, Artikal Sound System, an indie reggae band from Florida, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Dua Lipa and Warner Records in which they claimed copyright infringement from their 2017 song titled “Live Your Life,” claiming that it is “substantially similar” to “Levitating.”
The band claimed that Dua Lipa and her associates had plenty of access to the song. In official court documentation, they wrote that “‘Live Your Life’ was commercially released on CD Baby in 2017 and appeared on a variety of streaming services including Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon and Sound Cloud. The recording was and continues to be commercially available.” They also claimed that the song had been played at concerts and the band had sold hundreds of CDs with the song on it.
The band also claimed that one of Lipa’s co-writer had previously worked with a woman who was allegedly taught guitar by the brother-in-law of one band member. (No concrete proof was provided to verify this claim.)
However, U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes, the judge in the case, said that availability did not equal “access,” which is a key element in any copyright case.
In her ruling, Sykes wrote: “These attenuated links, which bear little connection to either of the two musical compositions at issue here, also do not suggest a reasonable likelihood that defendants actually encountered plaintiffs’ song.”
The judge further expounded on the idea of access, stating that there was no evidence that Lipa or anyone close to her had attended one of the band’s concerts or that they had penetrated the larger global music market enough to the point where the artist or members of her creative team would have been exposed to the song.
The judge gave Artikal Sound System until June 16 to refile their case.
“Levitating” was released in 2020 on Lipa’s second studio album Future Nostalgia, eventually peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and becoming the longest-running top 10 song ever by a female artist on the chart.
