Ye is ready to put his beef with Drake behind him. On Monday, J Prince shared a video to social media in which Kanye reads a statement addressing his beef with Drake. Kanye Seeks To End Beef In the video, Kanye is seen in Rothco Chapel in Houston flanked by hip-hop legend and icon J. […]
Kanye West and A$AP Rocky both live at the intersection of fashion and hip-hop.
Back in the early 2010s, Ye and Rocky completely transformed how rappers dressed. As a handful of old heads clung to the baggy, oversized looks that marked the turn of the century, the “Jukebox Joints” collaborators brought high-fashion, designer labels to the forefront of the conversation. Wearing (among other brands) Raf Simons and Rick Owens before the rest of their rap counterparts, Ye and Rocky paved the way for how a lot of artists dress today.
While Rocky is not necessarily on the same level as Ye in terms of business success in fashion (Kanye’s YEEZY brand is a billion-dollar company), the pair has shared success in the space, and both are held to a higher standard when it comes to how they’re dressed.
Last night, the pair linked up for dinner in Malibu
Ye, wearing his newly-customary black, leather jacket and Balenciaga x Crocs boots, and Rocky, dressed to the nines in what is presumably a Prada suit, with a letterman jacket, AWGE trucker hat and red, winter gloves, are both riding high.
After releasing Donda back in August, Ye bought two new places (one in Malibu, one in Belgium) and in a recent episode of DJ EFN and N.O.R.E.’s Drink Champs, he broke the show’s viewership record, as his appearance is reportedly on pace to become the biggest hip-hop interview of all time.
And Rocky, who teased new music on a recent appearance on Desus & Mero, spent the weekend celebrating the re-release of his debut mixtape, Live.Love.A$AP on digital streaming platforms, and performed a throwback set at ComplexCon with his girlfriend, Rihanna, watching from the crowd.
Check out the photos of Ye and Rocky heading to dinner in Malibu here and let us know what you think in the comments.
As the dust continues to settle following the tragic events that took place Friday night at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas, the legal ramifications have begun to stack up.
After one concertgoer, who alleged that Scott encouraged violence during his performance on November 6 and that Live Nation and other Astroworld organizers profited “at the expense of concertgoers’ health and safety,” filed a lawsuit on Sunday, the flood gates completely opened.
As of Monday (November 8), Rolling Stone reported that at least 19 lawsuits had been filed through the Harris County District Clerk. Today, Complex has reported that the number has jumped to more than 30.
Multiple concertgoers have sued Scott, Live Nation, Drake and other defendants for millions of dollars, and have alleged that the eight deaths and hundreds of injuries resulting from stampeding and out-of-control crowds during Scott’s set on Friday night were caused both by poor planning and execution on the part of festival organizers, and by Scott’s reputation for encouraging unruly behavior at his concerts, and social media posts leading up to this year’s Astroworld Festival.
Among the lawsuits filed today was one on behalf of the father of E.B. (Ezra Blount), a nine-year-old who was “trampled and catastrophically injured at the Astroworld Festival,” according to a press release from Ben Crump Law.
In the lawsuit, nationally renowned personal injury attorney, Ben Crump, said that Blount is currently in a medically-induced coma and on life support as a result of brain, liver and kidney trauma he suffered at Astroworld. Alex Hilliard, another attorney listed on the lawsuit, said that he, Crump and Robert Hilliard plan to hold all parties involved with the Astroworld Festival tragedy accountable for their actions, or lack thereof.
“We plan to hold everyone who had a hand in this festival accountable for the horrifying and traumatic injuries that this helpless child sustained,” Hilliard said in the Crump press release. “Organizers have a duty and responsibility to protect their patrons and control the crowd when it gets out of control. It is outrageous that it took as long as it did to stop the show, as many of these deaths and injuries likely could have been prevented or mitigated.”
It is unclear just how many lawsuits will be filed against Scott and the rest of the defendants listed in the lawsuits that have already been filed, but it seems certain that this is just the tip of the iceberg. In just four days, there have already been 30+ lawsuits, and according to both Rolling Stone and Complex that number is already increasing at a rapid rate.
Stay updated on anything involving the Astroworld Festival here.
At the rate that Big Sean and Hit-Boy are dropping videos for their new EP, What You Expect, they’ll have one for every one of the project’s five tracks by this time next week. The dynamic duo kicked off the rollout for the EP with the eyebrow-raising video for “What A Life” in which Sean allowed himself to be covered in bees. Then, they dropped the “Loyal To A Fault” video featuring Bryson Tiller and Lil Durk, taking over a bowling alley for a private party.
Now, they have followed up with the short-and-simple video for “The One,” which finds the two collaborators working on tracks in a bedroom studio with a view of the hills through a floor-to-ceiling window — honestly, that’s way more inspiring than the usual, dungeon-like setup. Shot in black and white to highlight its simplicity, the video gets straight to the heart of what makes their connection work so well: A shared love for the process of making music, pushing themselves by doing what each does best.
The EP arrived in the midst of a career resurgence for both artists. While Big Sean is no longer on GOOD Music (a good thing, considering how Kanye supposedly feels about the signing) but dropping revitalized music (much of it produced by Hit-Boy), Hit-Boy is also recovering from his negative associations with Ye, once again becoming an in-demand producer for the likes of Nas, Benny The Butcher, and a resurgent Dom Kennedy.
Watch Big Sean and Hit-Boy’s “The One” video above.
What You Expect is out now via Def Jam. Listen to it here.
Although it has been a couple of months since Eminem’s casting as Detroit figure White Boy Rick in 50 Cent’s BMF series, fans were still excited to actually see him in the role. However, when they did get a glimpse, it was a week sooner than it was supposed to be thanks to a “glitch” at Starz that caused the episode to air a whole week early. While the episode was taken back down, 50 Cent was not happy about the situation, venting his frustration on Twitter.
“Starz is a sh*t show, they better sell it fast,” he raved. “They put the f*cking BMF show on, then took it down. What network does shit like that? They just ruined the anticipation of the episode I directed. I WORKED HARD ON THIS. I can’t work with these people anymore.”
Starz is a shit show, they better sell it fast. They put the fucking BMF show on, then took it down. what network does shit like that? They just ruined the anticipation of The episode i directed, I WORKED HARD ON THIS. I can’t work with these people anymore. pic.twitter.com/m8whw6ARBG
— 50cent (@50cent) November 7, 2021
The producer also shared a screenshot of the episode actually depicting Eminem as White Boy Rick, thanking his friend and mentor for appearing on the show while lamenting the mistakes Starz made. “Episode 7 of BMF is the best work I have done directing to date,” he wrote. “I’m disappointed that STARZ handled this so poorly. I used my personal relationships to make things happen they couldn’t have made happen. @eminem thank you for doing this for me. I love you bro.”
Episode 7 of BMF is the best work i have done directing to date.I’m disappointed that STARZ handled this so poorly. I used my personal relationships to make things happen they couldn’t have made happen. @eminem thank you for doing this for me. I love you bro. pic.twitter.com/rxgCALkGuz
— 50cent (@50cent) November 7, 2021
50 also explained how the episode got aired by mistake, saying that Starz wanted to hold the episode for a week so it could be connected to Power, his other drama on the network (presumably, the storylines, which are set in the ’80s, would have crossed over). “They called me saying they wanted to hold episode7 back a week so we can roll right into GHOST,” 50 elaborated. “I said cool. Then these sh*thead people put the f*cking episode out for 3 hrs & take it down. This is not ok. When I get uncomfortable I make everybody uncomfortable. Now who getting fired?”
They called me saying they wanted to hold episode7 back a week so we can roll right into GHOST.I said cool.Then these shithead people put the fucking episode out for 3hrs & take it down
This is not ok when I get uncomfortable i make everybody uncomfortable now who getting fired? pic.twitter.com/GmJlagpCtd
— 50cent (@50cent) November 7, 2021
Starz explained the misstep as “a technical glitch” that allowed Starz app users to access the episode at midnight. The episode will air normally this weekend on Sunday, November 14.
Teyana Taylor is about to retire from her music career. The singer is making sure she’s going out with a bang with one last show-stopping tour, The Last Rose Petal Farewell Tour, which kicked off this week and comes to a close at the end of November. Along with making sure fans have a special time seeing her perform one last time, she also wanted to ensure their safety. That’s why she stopped her show mid-set to check up on a fan in the crowd who wasn’t looking too hot.
Taylor was performing at LA’s The Novo theater when she paused the show. As seen in videos captured by the audience, Taylor walked over to a fan who was slumped against the crowd barrier. She asked if the fan was okay and instructed security guards to pull them out of the crowd and sit them down. “I’m about to retire, you ain’t finna sue me, baby,” she said into the mic.
Teyana Taylor was like y’all not finna Travis scott me! pic.twitter.com/BZC3cMIoJO
— KRI (@thekripeck) November 9, 2021
Fans captured the moment Teyana Taylor momentarily stopped her concert last night to check on a fan! (
: @valeriewango) pic.twitter.com/wayrfZXr8d
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) November 9, 2021
Taylor’s comment about a lawsuit might have been referencing what went down over the weekend at Astroworld festival. A crowd-control disaster led to a massive stampede of people, tragically causing eight deaths and several injuries. The event has also led to a number of lawsuits, with several Astroworld concertgoers suing Live Nation and Travis Scott for $1 million in damages.
Watch fan-captured footage of Taylor’s concert above.
For someone who “got famous off a sex tape,” Kim Kardashian is doing pretty well for herself. Earlier today, the 41-year-old launched her latest product collaboration – a dual effort between her shape wear company, SKIMS, and Italian luxury house, Fendi.
Products made available include monogram printed tights, panties, bralettes, bodysuits, and more. According to TMZ, nearly everything is already sold out, and the SKIMS x Fendi collection is on pace to become the most successful launch that the socialite’s company has had since its inception in 2019.
Price points for garments ranged from $100 to $4,200 for the same brown leather dress that KKW wore to accept her Brand Innovator Award from WSJ Magazine in New York not long ago. Kim Jones, the current creative director at Fendi, was also present at the event, and he quickly swooped in to save the mother of four from a major fashion faux pas when her dress started to unzip before she took the stage.
Apparently, upwards of 300,000 people signed up to be a part of the collection’s waitlist ahead of its launch. A source with direct knowledge informed the gossip site that sales skyrocketed to $1,000,000 just one minute after pieces were made available online this morning.
While she’s certainly celebrating her W, the mother of four has also taken the time to acknowledge the tragedy that happened at Astroworld, founded by the father of her niece. “Just like all of you, our family is still in shock by the tragedy, we are keeping all of the victims, families and loved ones impacted in our prayers for healing – as well as Travis who we know cares so much about his fans and is truly devastated,” she wrote on her Instagram story yesterday.
Did you manage to snag anything from this SKIMS x Fendi drop? Let us know in the comments.
[Via]
Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty celebrated his twenty-second birthday this week from behind bars and while he wasn’t able to turn up as hard as he may have wished, he was surprised with a visit from his mother and girlfriend, who pulled up to his window in jail.
A video is circulating online, showing Shiesty’s mother and his girlfriend shouting at the rapper from outside of his window. “Big Prrdd,” yells one of them. “He call me Big Prrdd,” she added, quoting his song with Coi Leray.
While it’s presently unconfirmed, a man stands and watches on from the window, and some people believe it’s Shiesty. However, the camera is so far that’s it’s impossible to tell.
At the end of last month, Shiesty changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. He’s presently facing life in prison for a shooting and robbery case. The rapper’s team recently instructed his fans on how they could put money on his books. Gucci Mane, the man who signed Shiesty to the New 1017, also wished him a happy birthday, sending off a tweet and repping the #FreeShiesty movement.
Watch the video of his mother and girlfriend pulling up to jail below. We will continue to keep you updated as Pooh Shiesty’s case develops.
It truly feels like a rare occurrence these days to get a quality posse cut. Songs that round up some of the best rappers in the game as they push each other to showcase the competitive spirit of rap in a healthy manner. This week, RJ Payne came through with a new track to fill that void titled, “Hells Fury” featuring a line-up of revered lyricists including Royce Da 5’9″, Papoose, Rah Digga, and Cory Gunz with DJ Kay Slay holding it down as the host of the 7-minute track. Each rapper steps up to the plate and showcases their lyrical prowess back-to-back as they try to outshine each other.
The latest from RJ Payne comes just a few short months after he released Leatherface 3, his second project of the year following Beautiful Payne 3.
Quotable Lyrics
Talk about the new Scarface, I go Brad Jordan on ’em, before corona
I put a hole in your son, that boy gon’ need an organ donor
Smokin’ on your disrespect, dead packs, stank weed
Catch me doin’ the Drink Champs, make all you n***as drink pee
To withstand the fentanyl, the bricks tan, the pink keys
I did it all with quicksand, may change you n***as sink fees
There’s a memorable turn in Tyler The Creator’s Call Me When You Get Lost, when the album flips to the nearly ten minute “Sweet / I Thought You Wanted To Dance.” It’s clear how much fun Tyler is having fun on the record and it’s symbolic of the creative peak he’s been riding for the past three years. Brent Fayiaz spits a verse, but there’s this angelic singer stitched through the track giving it the sweetest R&B lean of any moment on the record. It’s Fana Hues (pronounced “fawn-ah”) and hers is the last voice we hear, singing, “So don’t forget about me, I’ll save a dance just for you…”
It’s a lovely moment for the Pasadena native, who’s been building on her own in the meantime, with last year’s excellent project Hues and now with the first taste of what’s to come in the new video for the magnificent “Pieces.” The dimly lit visual establishes her as a benevolent diva of sorts and a flat out magnetic singer. Directed by Phillip Youmans, the clip takes us through a showcase of the bizarre, but nothing lingers more than Hues and her tears of gold at the end.
Signed to indie label Bright Antenna, Hues is a unique emerging force. “Pieces” is a masterful showcase of the wavy R&B that she creates. It’s intriguing music and an approach that she reflected upon in a statement: “I want to capture all the different shades of one idea.”
Watch the video for “Pieces” above.
