Nicki Minaj is gearing up for the release of NM5, which hopefully, will see a release date this year. In the interim, she’s blessed fans with a slew of new music including several features. She recently teamed up with Kim Petras on “Alone,” joined forces with Ice Spice on “Princess Diana (Remix),” and last week, surprised fans with a remix of Sexyy Red’s viral single, “Pound Town” – a record that earned her praise across the board. However, it seems like she’s taken a strong liking to Sexyy Redd, providing her with valuable advice in the midst of an explosive come-up.
The two appeared together on Instagram Live on Wednesday where the Queen provided some gems about navigating through the music industry. “This is only the f***ing beginning for her,” Nicki said. “This is what I told her: yo, people like you. People like what you have to say, they like your sound. So, make sure a whole bunch of people aren’t coming around trying to help you do this and help you do that. Because mothaf**kas really want to hear that raw sh*t, you know what I’m sayin’? And we missin’ it after a while in rap and we love discovering new people in rap and stuff like that.”
Nicki Minaj’s appearance on Sexyy Red’s viral single caught many people off-guard. However, it seems like Nicki is making a concerted effort to extend her appreciation for other artists. In the past, Nicki faced criticism for not openly embracing the younger generation of female talent, especially since she’s a source of inspiration for many of them who witnessed her rise as the First Lady of Young Money. At this rate, it seems like we’ll be hearing Nicki come through with more guest verses throughout the summer leading up to the release of her forthcoming album.
Besides her collaboration with Sexyy Red, Nicki Minaj will be reuniting with Ice Spice for their second collaboration in a matter of months. While Ice Spice reportedly inked a deal with Nicki’s Heavy On It imprint, the Bronx Baddie and the “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” rapper will join forces on “Barbie World” alongside Aqua for the official Barbie soundtrack. We’ll keep you posted on anymore developments surrounding NM5. Check out Nicki and Sexyy Red’s live above.
The Shelby County Sherrif’s Office has launched an investigation into Justin Johnson, also known as Straight Drop, after drugs and a cell phone were reportedly found in his jail cell. Johnson is currently in jail after being charged with the murder of rapper Young Dolph. Previously, Johnson had his phone privileges revoked after recording a song via the jail phone.
Johnson turned himself in in early January 2022 while proclaiming his innocence. He is one of three men who has been charged with Dolph’s murder. Dolph was shot and killed at a bakery in November 2021. Five days after the murder, Johnson dropped a video with Big Homiie G in which Johnson can be seen with a PRE pendant. Questions were raised as to how Johnson acquired the pendant, which represents the Paper Route Empire record label, as he does not have a deal with them. Dolph, on the other hand, was a member of PRE.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 18: A man places flowers at the memorial for Young Dolph outside of Makeda’s Cookies bakery on November 18, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. Rapper Young Dolph, born as Adolph Thorton Jr., was killed at the age of 36 in a shooting at Makeda’s Cookies bakery on November 17th in Memphis. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Sherrif’s Office did not disclose what sort of drugs Johnson was reportedly found with. Furthermore, the trial for the three men is yet to have a date fixed. Additionally, a fourth suspect was arrested last year in connection with the murder. A fifth suspect was also arrested in Indiana but subsequently released. Investigators believe that Johnson and another man were hired to murder Dolph. However, the investigation is ongoing. Last month, one of the defendants in the cash was given a $90k bond.
Meanwhile, Memphis continues to honor the late rapper. Alongside a mural commemorating him, November 17 has been designated Adolph “Young Dolph” Thornton Jr. Day in Tennessee and Georgia. However, the legal case remains complicated. In April, one of the suspects requested new representation of claims of bias and a conflict of interest. This is a developing story and you can find all the latest updates in the case here on HotNewHipHop.
It’s been an interesting few months for LSU women’s basketball player Flau’jae Johnson. First she won a National Championship in her freshman season. Then her fledgling music career got a massive boost thanks to collabs with Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled. However, it wasn’t all positive. She was forced to apologize after right-wing media outlets objected to a 9/11 reference in one of her recent songs.
Meanwhile, J. Cole has been making some sports history of his own. The North Carolina rapper was recently credited with helping Caleb Martin find a place on the Miami Heat. The Heat now find themselves in the NBA Finals, and Martin has explicitly thanked Cole for his help. Now, Johnson has named Cole as the artist she most wants to collab with.
Johnson X Cole?
DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 31: Flau’jae Johnson #4 of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts after the 79-72 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Speaking with TMZ earlier this week, Johnson laid out her dream collab. “J. Cole, that’s my dream!” Johnson told the outlet. “He ain’t reach out yet,” she added, “but it should be coming soon.” In the meantime, Johnson has recently released a teaser of an upcoming collaboration with 2Rare. She also spoke about balancing rap with basketball under strict head coach Kim Mulkey. “Coach don’t play,” Johnson said. “So I gotta stay tight.” For his part, Cole is coming off a hugely successful collab with Lil Durk. “All My Life” debuted at #2 and currently sits at #7 in the charts. Furthermore, it has been streamed over 53 million times.
Johnson is a crucial part of LSU’s plans to run it back as national champions during the 2023/24 season. Alongside returning stars like Johnson and Angel Reese, LSU has added a wealth of talent. They brought in Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow via the transfer portal. Furthermore, the team welcomes two top-10 freshmen to Baton Rogue in the fall. With many expecting LSU to return to the title game, maybe Johnson will be asked to create something of a team anthem in the coming months.
Overall, the Nike Dunk Low is one of the greatest sneakers ever made. It has received a ton of great colorways over the years, and that continues to be the case. Although it hasn’t always stood up to some of the trends, the sneaker has remained a huge part of sneaker culture as a whole. In fact, it has been experiencing a bit of a resurgence as of late, much to the delight of fans. Every week, a handful of new colorways are shown off and we try to report on all of them,
Throughout 2023, there has been a particular uptick in the Nike Dunk Low. Ultimately, it is easy to see why this is the case. Nike understands that its consumers have very unique tastes. They are always trying to find new offerings that match their personal aesthetic. However, that can sometimes prove difficult. Consequently, Nike is trying to make it a lot easier on people. Below, you can find the “Volt” Nike Dunk Low.
“Volt” Nike Dunk Low
Image via Nike
Based on a colorway name like this, you can easily extrapolate that these are going to be bright yellow. Of course, that is exactly what we get here. Firstly, the base and the overlays are all a bright shade of yellow that could be mistaken for green. Secondly, the tongue and laces are white, while the Nike swoosh is black. Furthermore, to tie it all together, we get a glow-in-the-dark outsole. Simply put, these were made so you could stand out in a crowd.
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It is being reported by Sneaker Bar Detroit that these shoes will be dropping on June 14th. Moreover, they will be released for a price of $110 USD. Overall, these are going to be very loud, however, there are plenty of people who are into that kind of thing. Let us know what you think of this sneaker, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world. We will be sure to bring you the biggest releases from the biggest brands.
Bill Cosby has been hit with another lawsuit, this time from former Playboy bunny Victoria Valentino. Valentino alleges that Cosby gave her and a friend drugs in 1969, resulting in a nonconsensual sexual experience. A representative of Cosby advised the media to “vet Victoria Valentino cautiously and carefully,” citing her previous allegations against the actor.
According to legal documents, Valentino claims to have met Cosby at a restaurant in 1969. She says he offered to treat her and a friend to spa treatments and later dinner. She also claims that after giving them pills that made her feel dizzy and sick, Cosby offered to drive them home. According to the documents, Valentino says that he instead drove them to his office, where the alleged sexual assault occurred. She described seeing Cosby staring at her friend with “predatory intensity.” Valentino then described the alleged assault, claiming that she was unable to give consent due to the drugs in her system at the time.
Representative Calls The Suit “Bigger Than Bill Cosby”
(Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
A representative of Cosby, Andrew Wyatt, shared a statement on the lawsuit with TMZ. The statement reads, “Media needs to vet Victoria Valentino cautiously and carefully,” claiming, “she has changed her alleged accounts of sexual abuse at the hands of Mr. Cosby over 10 to 15 times.” It goes on to call the lawsuit an attack against successful black men in America.
“It’s unfortunate that the statute of limitations were put in The Constitution to protect victims and those who are accused — and it seems that our political figures are caving to being click baiters and accumulating likes as opposed to vetting these allegations made by alleged accusers and moving swiftly to create these look back windows — which are only being created because they incorporate Bill Cosby’s name,” the statement reads. “This is bigger than Bill Cosby. This is a target against every black successful man in America like Lebron James, Will Smith and President Obama.”
Both the Detroit Pistons and Monty Williams entered the offseason looking for a change. The Pistons needed a new head coach after Dwane Casey transitioned to a front-office role. Meanwhile, Williams found himself out of the job after being ousted by the Phoenix Suns leadership. Owner Mat Ishiba, who was well-known for not gelling with Williams, fired the coach after the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs.
The Pistons find themselves in an interesting position in this offseason. Years of mediocracy, and downright bad play, have the franchise firmly in a rebuilding period. However, a lot of luck in the NBA Draft lottery has set the team up with a strong young core anchored by Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duran. Furthermore, the Pistons hold the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft. Despite reports that Williams may take a year away from the league this season, that no longer appears to be the case.
Sources Report Record Deal For Williams
Monty Williams has agreed to a six-year, $78.5 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. It’s the largest coaching deal in NBA history.
Sources who spoke with ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski have claimed that Williams will become the next coach of the Detroit Pistons. Furthermore, his deal with the team is for six years and $78.5 million. That makes it the largest coaching deal in the history of the NBA. Additionally, further reporting by The Athletic revealed that a host of incentives could increase Williams’ payout to $100 million. Furthermore, it makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in all of American sports. Per Sportico, the only coaches paid more than Williams are Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, and Sean McVay.
The Pistons become the sixth NBA organization Williams has worked for since he began coaching in 2005. Williams earned his first head coaching role in New Orleans in 2010. While he is yet to win an NBA ring, he has previously coached Team USA to a gold medal at both the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics. He now takes over a Pistons team looking to turn the corner in regard to their rebuild. However, the Pistons last recorded a winning record in 2016. Their best result since then was a .500 season in 2019. What do you think about the hire? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.
Hip hop and awards shows have always had a tumultuous relationship. The Grammys didn’t even recognize the genre until 1989, which, in hindsight, is simply ridiculous. However, rappers have been treated with even less regard when it comes to other “prestigious” awards shows. The first rap track to even get nominated at the Academy Awards wasn’t until 2002. There hasn’t exactly been a deluge of nominations or wins since then.
Regardless of the hard-traveled roads these awards shows create for hip hop artists, there have been some big wins at both. While the Grammys have plenty of rap-centric categories, the limited space the Oscars present has always been a hurdle. However, some rappers have broken through at “Hollywood’s Biggest Night.” Some took home a statue in surprising categories. As of this writing, there have been a total of three rap artists who have won both a Grammy and an Oscar. AND THE WINNERS ARE:
Since 2000, Eminem has earned 15 Grammy Awards and twice as many nominations. In fact, Slim Shady has earned the fourth most wins overall, only bested by icons like Kendrick Lamar, Ye, and Jay-Z. The Detroit rapper’s victories have been spread out over several Grammy categories, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.
Despite having a litany of music industry accolades under his belt, Eminem’s most surprising win was earned in 2003. At the 75th Academy Awards, he took home the Best Original Song Oscar for “Lose Yourself” from the film 8 Mile. Directed by Curt Hanson (L.A. Confidential), the semi-autobiographical film garnered praise from critics and fans of Marshall Mathers alike. While Eminem didn’t receive a nomination for acting, he did make Academy Awards history by being the first rapper to win an Oscar.
Eminem’s Academy win didn’t exactly open the floodgates for hip hop artists, but it did set a precedent. Two years later, Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia would win in the same category for their track “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from the film Hustle & Flow. Other artists like Kendrick Lamar would go on to earn nominations years later. Sadly, the next rapper to win an Oscar for Best Original Song wouldn’t be until 2015.
The Chicago-based rapper Common underwent several artistic evolutions during his illustrious career. However, he has always been a conscious figure in rap music, proselytizing street-smart politics through smooth delivery and insightful bars. Despite being nominated twenty times, the rapper has only won three Grammy awards.
Common won his first for the Erykah Badu song “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)” in 2003. The song was a duet between Badu and Common, who were romantically involved at the time of its recording. The track was from the film Brown Sugar and helped propel the soundtrack to No. 16 on the Billboard 200 charts. In 2008, he won his second Grammy for “Southside” from his seventh album Finding Forever. Along with Kanye West, he took home the award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group award.
However, the biggest win for Common was the one-two punch of earning an Oscar and Grammy for the same song. At the 2015 Academy Awards, Common won the Oscar for Best Original Song for “Glory” from Selma. A year later, Common and co-writers John Legend and Rhymefest would also win the Best Song Written for Visual Media Grammy. In 2017, Common won an Emmy, leaving him just a Tony award away from the coveted “EGOT.”
Will Smith
Will Smith has been a facet of pop culture for nearly four decades. From being in the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince to starring in summer blockbusters, Smith has dominated every artist field he’s entered. His cultural presence has practically been unmatched by his peers. In 1989, Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff won the inaugural Grammy award for Best Rap Performance for the song “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” The track would go on to be a playful anthem for kids everywhere.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince would also earn their second Grammy in 1993 for the song “Summertime.” The duo would eventually call it quits a year later as Smith was looking to pursue his acting career full-time. However, in the late ‘90s, Smith would return to music as a solo artist. His return to music earned him two more Grammys for the songs “Men in Black” and “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It.”
While Smith’s music career has seemingly been put to rest, his acting has only gained more momentum. Smith was nominated for his first Oscar in 2002 for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali in the biopic Ali. Five years later, he would earn his second Academy Award nod for the film The Pursuit of Happyness. But apparently, the third time was a charm when Will Smith finally took home the statue in 2022. Smith played Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams, in the film King Richard. The film not only earned Smith the Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar but also a Best Picture nomination.
Dave East remains a beast on the mic. Although the past few years of his career has shown him expanding well-beyond music, his efforts in fashion and television haven’t derailed his career in any capacity. He’s still dishing bars and feeding heat to the masses. However, it feels like he’s been returing to the core of his come-up in recent times. Following a slew of freestyles, including his take on Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock,” he returned this week with a new single titled, “Clarity Part 2.”
The new record serves as a spiritual successor to his collaboration with the late Nipsey Hussle and Bino Rideaux. The record marked one of their first joint efforts together and continued to rank high in their respective discographies. In the sequel, Dave East comes through with even more gems, flexing his sharp flow and even sharper wordplay. It’s another excellent addition to East’s catalog but hopefully, he has a new project on the way soon.
Over the past few months, Dave East’s provided fans with an influx of music to dive into. However, it seems like one of the next projects on his itinerary is a health-inspired effort alongside Fabolous, Maino and Jim Jones. The four artists, who are frequently spotted in the gym together on social media, joined forces for “Fit Lit” last year. Their upcoming effort appears to expand their chemistry further.
In terms of a solo album, Dave East seems to be hard at work cooking up new music. In 2021, he revealed that he worked with J. Cole on new music when the Fayetteville native told him to play with his tones. In a recent interview, he said that he’s applied the critique to his upcoming project. “For him to be who he is at the level he’s at and give me that game like that, give me that little bit of advice just to help my own shit out.” He added: “I definitely apply it to what I got going on. My new album, you definitely going to hear some of that in there. But yeah, big shout out to J. Cole.”
Quotable Lyrics Stress be addin’ on like weight Steak and lobster on my plate I ain’t tryin’ to tussle, I’m eatin’ mussels, belt big letter H Hermes, my youngest Hot Boy, I feel like Birdman Couldn’t pronounce Balenciaga, she don’t know what my shirt sayin’
Last month, it was revealed that Miami Heat playoff hero Caleb Martin would not be on the team if it wasn’t for rapper J. Cole. Martin is from North Carolina, and after being cut by the Hornets in 2021, he returned home to try and find another gig on an NBA roster. One of the places he trained was a gym owned by Cole. After seeing Martin play, Cole reached out to his friend, Miami Heat Assistant Coach Caron Butler. “He had reached out to me and told me he had a very, very talented guy that was just wrecking shop up here in North Carolina and he had just got released from the Hornets…He reached out to me and I just invited him to an open scrimmage in the summer and from that point on he really earned his way on.”
Against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, Martin shot 60.2% from the floor. Furthermore, he averaged 19.2 points and 6.4 rebounds across the seven-game series. Additionally, he shot 48.9% from three. It’s unlikely that the Heat would have been unable to overcome the Celtics if Martin was not on the roster. And Martin was sure to shout out the man who got him there following the final game of the season.
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) May 31, 2023
Speaking on the Dan Le Batard Show, Martin wasted no time in shouting out Cole. “Cole called me right after the game. Everybody knows the story about Cole pretty much now but Cole called me right after the game and he was just so hyped jumping up and down.” Furthermore, Martin acknowledged that he would not be in this position without Cole’s help. “Honestly, the chances of me being here without [J. Cole] making a phone call and getting in touch with Caron, it would be pretty slime-to-none. I definitely feel I wouldn’t be here for sure.”
However, Martin and the Heat now turn their attention to a different beast. June 1 marks the start of the NBA Finals, pitting the Miami Heat against the Denver Nuggets. For Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets, it’s the first time they have ever made the NBA Finals. Furthermore, they enter as heavy favorites. Meanwhile, the Heat are looking to win their first NBA title since 2013. However, just one player, Udonis Haslem, remains from those glory days. Maybe J. Cole can inspire more heroics from the Heat.
This year marks 23 years since the release of Eminem’s iconic album, The Marshall Mathers LP. The album was Eminem’s third studio album and was released on May 23, 2000, via Aftermath and Interscope. Dr. Dre executive produced the project, producing most of the album’s tracklist alongside Mel-Man, F.B.T., and Eminem himself. The Detroit icon is undoubtedly one of the most impactful hip hop artists ever. The Marshall Mathers LP featured artists including Dido, RBX, Sticky Fingaz, D12, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, and Nate Dogg. Eminem is held in high regard, widely considered among the greatest rappers ever. The Marshall Mathers LP is considered by many to be Eminem’s best album. It is one of hip hop’s most influential and definitive classics. We look back on the impact of The Marshall Mathers LP for its 23rd anniversary.
One Of Hip Hop’s Most Polarizing Albums
The Marshall Mathers LP brought listeners further into Eminem’s world that he created with The Slim Shady LP in 1999. The album builds on the lyrical content of The Slim Shady LP.He addresses relationships with his mother and ex-wife, drug use, and his place in hip hop, among other topics. Eminem provided a unique perspective that hip hop had not seen before, resulting in one of the genre’s most polarizing albums. The Marshall Mathers LP completely leaned into the controversial figure that Eminem had based the Slim Shady character around.
The album’s lyrics were quite controversial, appalling listeners with violence, misogyny, and homophobia. The album led to further discourse over hip hop’s relationship with censorship and the effect of explicit lyrics on children. Songs like “Kill You,” “Who Knew,” “Criminal,” and “The Way I Am” were very contentious yet still very successful. Though the language was quite harsh and offended many, Eminem stunned listeners with his technical ability as a rapper, displaying some of the most impressive flows and complex rhyme schemes. The emotion and humor of the album were also highly compelling. He even stirred up controversy when dissing other white pop stars on the album, like Britney Spears and *NSYNC.
The Marshall Mathers LP was critically acclaimed upon its release and has garnered even more praise in the years that followed. The album completely eclipsed The Slim Shady LP regarding quality, acclaim, and success. Despite its success, it was still widely condemned by religious and political organizations.
Eminem As A Cultural Icon
The shock value and the quality of the music on The Marshall Mathers LP cemented Eminem’s status as a rap superstar. He became one of the most prominent and recognizable artists at the time. The album won over both hip hop purists and casual fans outside of different age groups and demographics. The album’s broad reach sold over a million copies in its first week. The Marshall Mathers LP went No. 1 and spent multiple weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. It still remains one of the fastest-selling albums and best-selling albums of all time. The album took home the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2001. Eminem became a superstar and cultural phenomenon as a direct result of the success of The Marshall Mathers LP.
The Impact Of The Marshall Mathers LP
Twenty-three years later, Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP is still one of the most recognizable hip hop albums ever and contains some of hip hop’s most iconic songs. One of these legendary tracks is the captivating “Stan.” The single is about a troubled and obsessed fan who writes to him in an attempt to connect, which takes a surprising turn. “Stan” was its very own experience within the album and is one of Eminem’s most classic songs. It was impactful to the point where “Stan” is now a term in the dictionary. Moments like this song speak to the album’s legacy. The Marshall Mathers LP influenced many of hip hop’s future greats, inspiring the likes of Odd Future, Logic, Kendrick Lamar, and many more.
In 2013, Eminem released his 8th studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2, 13 years after the original. The album included a sequel to “Stan,” titled “Bad Guy.” Though it had multiple hit singles, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 was nowhere near its predecessor’s acclaim level. The Marshall Mathers LP remains Eminem’s biggest and highest-rated album. It is widely considered his best album, though one can argue that The Eminem Show and Recovery are better. The Marshall Mathers LP defined an era for hip hop and Eminem’s career—making him one of the biggest rappers ever. This album cemented Eminem’s GOAT status, and he has “always been chasing it” in terms of success and creativity.
