Lil Jon Believes Busta Rhymes Could “Smoke” Jay-Z In A “Verzuz”

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Since the inception of Verzuz, people have been advocating for Jay-Z to make an appearance. Each time Verzuz announces a new set of performers, Hip Hop fans from around the globe jump on the social media platform of their choice and debate who would battle the likes of Lil Wayne, Eminem, Kanye West, Drake, or Jay-Z, and while there have been several noteworthy opponents named, Jigga believes he stands alone.

Not long ago, we reported on Jay joining Alicia Keys’s Twitter Spaces chat where he dropped off a few gems, including answering those open-ended back and forths about if he would go toe-to-toe with one of his peers on Verzuz.

“No one can stand on that stage with me,” he stated. “It’s not a chance in hell that anyone can stand on that stage with me.” Without hesitation, fans swept through social media once again with commentary on Hov’s remarks, and a few famous figures also weighed in with their takes, including Lil Jon.

“BUSTA WILL SMOKE [smoke emoji] JAY Z [popcorn emoji],” he wrote. Busta Rhymes’s potential Verzuz appearance has been one that the masses are waiting to see, however, there’s word that finding a formidable opponent for the Rap veteran has proven difficult. It’s said that many rappers don’t want to go up again Bussa Buss because they’re intimidated. 

Do you think Lil Jon has this one correct? If so, what would be the track-for-track line-up?

Bow Wow Knows 12 People Who Have COVID & Warns Against Going Outside

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People laughed at the thought of there being a potential quarantine in 2022, but Omicron is not playing around. The latest and reportedly most intense strain of COVID-19 has been running rampant and new cases are appearing across the world by the tens of thousands. There was a time when the public believed that we were on the tail end of COVID, but it looks as if a new wave has entered the arena.

We’ve reported on sports leagues being hit hard as dozens of players enter COVID protocols as well as stories of entertainers canceling shows and tours because of the virus. Bow Wow isn’t taking any chances and offered a bit of advice on how to move in the pandemic streets.

Bow Wow
Todd Williamson / Stringer / Getty Images

“It’s back. It’s back. It’s sweepin’ n*ggas, too,” said Bow. “Listen, wear ya mask protect yourself. I know it feels like everything’s back to normal because we were able to go back and eat, listen, it’s still not normal. I know at least like, twelve people that got COVID right now and is going through it.”

“So, words of advice, wear your mask when you go outside and look, ain’t nothin’ outside anyway. It’s the same sh*t. Same people you go to the club with every week. The only thing change is maybe the weather. You’re not missin’ nothin’. Stay your ass at home.” He also added that he would only be touring via bus, if that, because he isn’t trying to come down with COVID, nor is he trying to get his daughter sick.

Watch Bow Wow explain himself below.

Mary J. Blige And DJ Khaled Want You To Turn Wayyyyy Up With Them On The ‘Amazing’ Video

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Earlier this month, Mary J. Blige announced that her 15th studio album, Good Morning Gorgeous will be out next year. The follow-up to 2017’s Strength Of A Woman, Blige is ready to leave a new mark on her storied career and said as much in a recent interview on the Tamron Hall Show:

“Wait till you hear it, it’s gonna blow everybody’s mind. And it’s because it’s something I had to do, and something I had to say when I was in my darkest, darkest moments in that life, to build myself up to this person that I can see and accept my nose, accept my eyes, accept my cheeks, accept all the things that I used to hate. When I wake up with no hair and makeup, I’m accepting that chick that goes to the bathroom and I like her. I hang out with myself a lot. I’m my own best friend.”

That statement could mean a lot of things, and it could certainly be concerning to some fans that perhaps the R&B star has been going through some serious things. But judging by the new video for “Amazing,” she’s clearly focused on living her best life as a means to avoid depressive spirals and we support this turn up wholeheartedly. Blige takes a turn towards rap instead of R&B on the track, getting braggadocious on lines like “My crib is so big I tell the guests to use a map,” and tipping a cap to her Italian wine brand saying “Where the drink, where the drink? Sun Goddess All Day!” The clip is pure opulence. Styled out in all diamond everything and DJ Khaled as her ultimate hype man, Blige delivers the goods in front of a gorgeous poolside estate.

Watch the video for “Amazing” above and catch Mary J. Blige performing at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on February 9th.

Good Morning Gorgeous comes out 02/11/2022 via Mary Jane Productions/300 Entertainment

Westside Gunn Concerns Fans After Posting He’s On His Way To The Hospital

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Fans are sending well wishes and prayers to Westside Gunn after the rapper gave a concerning update about his health. It is unclear what has been plaguing the New York rapper, but he shared a troubling photo to his Instagram Story showing several ETMs responding to his location and it looks as if he was on his way to being hospitalized. 

“Pray for me,” he wrote. “They had to call for emergency I couldn’t breath, it’s under control now but OTW to hospital.” He added that it was the second time this month.

In April 2020, we reported on Gunn coming down with COVID-19, and a month later, he revealed the severity of his symptoms.

“It was so bad I had to be rushed to the hospital,” Gunn, who has asthma, told HipHopDX. “I thought I was out of here and had already made calls to have everything in order, just in case… I thought I was going to die.” It is unclear if he is currently suffering from an asthma-related illness or if he, like hundreds of thousands of others that recovered from COVID, has lasting effects that include additional respiratory issues.

Check out Westside Gunn’s Instagram Story post below. We’ll keep you updated on his health and wish him nothing but the best during his recovery.

Westside gunn

Instagram

Jay-Z Speaks On “Verzuz”: “No One Can Stand On That Stage With Me”

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When Jay-Z emerges with commentary on his career and the sphere of music, the world listens. Alicia Keys has been steadily promoting the release of her eighth studio album Keys, and to help bolster the hype, the singer hosted a Twitter Spaces chat. The setup is much like that of Clubhouse except on the micro-blogging app, and during Key’s feature, she invited a few friends to join her, including Shawn Carter.

There were many takeaways from the conversation, but Jay-Z’s quotes quickly circulated thanks to Tidal’s Twitter account giving a play-by-play of the Rap mogul’s takeaways.

He spoke about Frank Ocean saying, “He’s playing by his own set of rules. He’s not playing by any set of industry rules.” Jay also called Jadakiss’s Verzuz display “one of the best performances of the year” and answered those who keep debating whether or not he would ever take to the Verzuz stage.

“No one can stand on that stage with me,” he stated. “It’s not a chance in hell that anyone can stand on that stage with me.” Of course, the Roc Nation icon also had to take a moment to brag on his equally as famous wife. “@Beyonce is gonna be one of the best singers we ever heard because she is such a student.”

Check out a few highlights from the discussion below. No word if he addressed Future’s recent comments.

Jay-Z
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Jay-Z
Twitter

French Montana Celebrates His Wins And Looks To Gain Some More In His Video For ‘Business’

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After nearly two years away, French Montana returned with his fourth album They Got Amensia, featuring a heavy cast of guest acts including Doja Cat, Saweetie, John Legend, Rick Ross, Kodak Black, Pop Smoke, Lil Durk, Fivio Foreign, Ty Dolla Sign, Latto, and more. After sharing a collection of videos for its songs, French keeps the streak alive with one for “Business.”

It finds French Montana sitting around a gambling table with a group of friends as they play for a big prize. The camera then pans around the room and returns to the table to show French making the game-winning move. He celebrates with those around him, but things take a dramatic turn as it transitions to him waking up in a hospital bed.

“Business” is the latest track from They Got Amnesia to receive the video treatment, joining “How You King?,” “Handstand,” “Bag Season,” and “Panicking.” French recently caused a bit of controversy by saying that it’s harder to be successful in rap than it is in the NBA.

You can watch the video for “Business” above.

They Got Amnesia is out now via Epic Records. Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jay-Z Says He Won’t Do A Verzuz Battle Because ‘No One Can Stand On That Stage With Me’

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Last week, Alicia Keys dropped her album Keys. Her eighth studio album debuted at #41 on the Billboard 200 chart, which may not have met the expectations surrounding this much hyped release. But Keys has been on the promo path all week to spread the word about a mammoth double album that was accompanied by a short film and which features Pusha T, Brandi Carlile, Khalid and others. But what happened today may get her some more attention.

Keys jumped on a Twitter Spaces conversation with Rob Markman of Genius to promote the album. “…another MAJOR special guest texted me that they are jumpin’ in with us,” Keys tweeted just hours before the chat began. “Please don’t say we didn’t warn y’all,” Markman tweeted. And then moments before it began, Keys went out on a limb to tweet “This twitter spaces is about to be one of the most legendary conversations of the century.”

https://mobile.twitter.com/aliciakeys/status/1473441811309817862

For those who heeded Keys and Markman’s alarm calls, they would have heard the illustrious Jay-Z hopping on the call for a solid hour and a half. That’s a feat in and of itself, considering Hov follows exactly 0 accounts on Twitter and gave up on Instagram quick. But there he was, chopping it up with Keys and even having the conversation pointed back at him. When Keys asked him if he’d ever do a Verzuz Battle, he basically said no.

“Ain’t nobody that can stand on that stage with me. I ain’t gonna lie, no disrespect. Everyone’s amazing, they’ve done what they’ve done. No one can stand on that stage with me. Theres not a shot. Theres not a chance in hell that anyone can stand on that stage for I don’t know how long it is? 2 hours? 2 hours….That’s ain’t gonna never happen. Let’s move on from Verzuz and move on to this Keys album.

Jay-Z even said all he would have to do is drop his elusive Hot 97 Grammy Freestyle on the Verzuz stage and it would be over right then and there. We won’t disagree. Regardless, Keys pulled the ultimate ace up her sleeve to promote her new album, and her husband Swizz Beats even got a little promo for that little Verzuz project of his. You can listen to a portion of the conversation below.

Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, And More Are Shortlisted For Best Original Song At The 2022 Academy Awards

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The 2022 Academy Awards are less than three months away. Shortlists for ten of the show’s categories were recently revealed, including the one for Best Original Song. Members of the music branch voted to reduce the initial group of 84 songs to the 15 that appear on the shortlist. Among those who made the cut are Jay-Z and Beyonce, the former for “Guns Go Bang,” his collaboration with Kid Cudi, the latter for her single “Be Alive.”

Beyonce’s “Be Alive” appears in King Richard, which features Will Smith as the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. Jay-Z’s “Guns Go Bang,” on the other hand, appears in The Harder They Fall, which he helped to executive produce. The song also marks Cudi’s second appearance on the shortlist, as “Just Look Up” from Don’t Look Up, his collaboration with Ariana Grande, is on the list, too. If he’s nominated, he would be the first songwriter in 36 years to be nominated multiple times with songs from two different films.

Also on shortlist are Billie Eilish and Finneas’ “No Time To Die,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Dos Oruguitas,” HER’s “Bruised Woman,” Diane Warren’s “Somehow You Do,” Jennifer Hudson’s “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home),” U2’s “Your Song Saved My Life,” and more.

You can view the full 2022 Oscars shortlist here.

MTV “Are You The One?” Star Connor Smith Accused Of Raping 16-Year-Old: Report

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An MTV reality star is facing serious charges after being accused of rape. The network has been running its hit series Are You the One? for eight seasons, and one of its cast members has reportedly recently been arrested in connection to an alleged attack on a 16-year-old girl. Connor Smith appeared on the show back in 2015 as he and dozens of others attempted to find love in a remote location while under the eye of television cameras. He left the show in pursuit of a relationship with castmate Chelsey Perkins, but they later decided to split.

Smith is back in the news today for less entertaining reasons as it is being reported he has been charged with “four felonies including sexual battery and rape,” states PEOPLE.

The outlet shared details of legal documents that detail what allegedly occurred between the 31-year-old and the teen. The pair reportedly met online and while in a vehicle together, the alleged victim claims Smith forced her “to perform a sexual act on him.” She also alleges that he then took her to a hotel room where he raped her.

Smith is reportedly currently still incarcerated as he is being held without bond. He, nor his legal representation, have issued a statement regarding the accusations. Twitter users have stated that Are You The One? Season 3 has been pulled from the platform. Some were watching the season when the deletion occurred.

[via]