New Hip Hop News

Many in the rap community sent their immediate condolences to those close to Young Dolph the day of his murder. Among those, it seems Rick Ross was one of the most affected by Dolph’s passing.

Rozay posted a video Thursday (Nov. 18) to give his thoughts on the role Dolph played in his life. Being a rapper from the south, Ross explained that he caught a glimpse of Young Dolph before he reached peak fame. He also mentioned that Dolph gave him a PRE (Dolph’s label Paper Route Empire) chain to thank him for his support: “Him coming up in Memphis, I got to see him way before his huge days so I saw how genuine the homie was. In Atlanta last year, he gifted me with the PRE chain. It was priceless when he gave it to me, but now it’s more valuable than ever.”

In the same video, Ross sent his love and prayers to Dolph’s family and friends: “I want to send out nothing but love, my prayers and condolences to the family and the closest ones to Young Dolph. Young Dolph is another legend lost too soon. That shit hit Rozay right in the heart… May his memory and legacy live on forever. Nothing but love. Sending my heart out.”

Along with the minute-long tribute, Ross shared a rest in peace tweet to Dolph and posted a photo on Instagram of Dolph rocking a PRE chain.

Deaths in hip-hop never get easier, and Young Dolph’s definitely struck a nerve this week.

Check out what Rick Ross had to say about Dolph below.

Big news for those who found themselves wrapped up in the tumultuous scandal that was Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s marriage – Discovery+ has ordered a two-part documentary, called Johnny vs. Amber that will give insight into the couple’s demise from both sides.

Episode one will share the Edward Scissorhand star’s perspective, telling the story of a man who fell for, and married “a manipulative liar consumed with protecting her image at all costs.” The second part will hear Heard’s tale of “marrying her Hollywood dream man, only to see him become a violent drug user.”

Jason Merritt/TERM/Getty Images

Co-executive producer Nick Hornsby says, “through the tapes, home videos and text messages shown in court, these films give viewers a rare and important insight into a marriage that went tragically wrong, and to better understand the hugely important issue of domestic violence.” 

On top of an analysis of the couple’s personal communication and home life, Johnny vs. Amber will also feature interviews with lawyers and testimony from people who were close to the former couple, Variety reports. A release date has yet to be revealed, but we do know that it will premiere sometime this fall.

John Phillips/Getty Images

If you’re not familiar with the headline-making legal battle between Depp and Heard, let us fill you in. The Aquaman actress filed for divorce from her husband in May of 2016, just 15 months after they had married in February of 2015. She also filed for a domestic violence restraining order against the English star, bringing forward photographic evidence of the alleged abuse.

Three years later, Depp denied the allegations against him, putting forward some of his own, claiming that his wife had been guilty of domestic violence as well. In the time since, they’ve been stuck in a back-and-forth legal battle that’s had fans in a chokehold.

Read more about the couple’s messy relationship here.

[Via] [Via]

In 2021, Lil Baby has opted to do more collaborations than solo work. His feature verses on Drake songs like “Wants and Needs” and “Girls Want Girls” and Kanye’s “Hurricane” cemented his already prominent reputation for top notch guest appearances. 

Aside from his June collaborative project The Voice of the Heroes with Lil Durk, Baby has not released a solo song or album since 2020. He could be looking to change that soon, tweeting yesterday (Nov. 19) that he could release music on his birthday (Dec. 3): “I might drop some on b day or for the dec 12 atl show.”

This tweet came two days after he proclaimed he had fresh work coming on. Wednesday (Nov. 17): “New Everything Otw.”

Two weeks ago (Nov. 7), Baby shared a video of him rapping to an unreleased song of his, previewing 15 seconds of the track. In it, he raps about others trying to copy his style: “See Em Tryna Clone Me And All But It’s Only One Me.”

So, this could be the song that he ends up releasing in early December.

Aside from his music endeavors though, Lil Baby also wants to focus on being a better father to his two kids, Jason and Loyal. He tweeted this desire by saying it is a key piece to life success: “Only thing I GOT to do is be a better father to my children ! Everything else gone fall in place!!”

He has dealt with custody issues surrounding Jason in the past, so it makes sense that he would like to move forward with positivity for his children.

Whether it be his family life of his music, it appears the Lil Baby has the right mindset.

Travis McMichael, one of three defendants charged with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia last year, took to the stand to make their defense. 

McMichael is on trial, alongside his father, Gregory McMichael, and his neighbor, William “Roddy” Bryan, who are all charged with murder, and committing federal hate crimes as per the Justice Department.

The three testified on the claims of self-defense after pleading not guilty. 

McMichael recounted where he and his father chased Arbery in their pickup truck before fatally shooting him. The two said they heard of rising crime in their Satilla Shores neighborhood. Two weeks prior to the shooting of Arbery, McMichael claimed he had seen someone “creeping through the shadows” through their neighborhood. Travis McMichael assumed it was Arbery when his father saw him running past two weeks later.

McMichael later testified that his father had not seen Arbery breaking into a neighbor’s house.

McMichael said he grabbed his shotgun and got into the pickup with his father. When the two caught up with Arbery, McMichael said that he asked him to stop but that Arbery didn’t stop or speak to him.

“I’m trying to keep this as non-volatile as possible. I’m not screaming at the guy. I’m just trying to figure out what’s happening,” McMichael recounted. “At this point, he’s still running, but I notice he looks very angry.”

McMichael claimed he tried to speak to him a second time to alert Arbery that the police were on their way. 

Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images

McMichael testified that their neighbor Bryan joined the pursuit in his own vehicle after Arbery took off. McMichael said that when he had closed the distance as Arbery was approaching. McMichael claimed that Arbery made a grab for his shotgun, making him draw his weapon in what he claimed to be an act of self-defense. When asked if Arbery had brandished a weapon or threatened him in any way, McMichael testified that he had not. 

“If you pull a weapon on someone, from what I’ve learned in my training, usually that tells people to back off,” Mr. McMichael, who used to be in the U.S. Coast Guard, said, per the New York Times.

McMichael said that he had felt his life was being threatened.

“He had my gun. He struck me,” McMichael said through tears. “It was obvious that he was attacking me, that if he would’ve got the shotgun from me, then it was a life or death situation. And I’m gonna have to stop him from doing this, so I shot.”

McMichael claimed that he believed he had only shot Arbery twice, the second time because he was “still fighting,” but realized it was three when speaking to investigators. 

The defense will rest its case and the jury is released until Monday when closing arguments will begin.

[Via 1] [Via 2]