New Hip Hop News

Former President Obama sat down with CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday night to discuss everything from the current state of American politics to the volatile social reckonings happening in young communities. Of the many issues dividing Americans today that were brought up in the interview, one of specific interest is cancel culture, which has been a hot button issue from celebrities who blast it as “boring” to politicians who vow to “cancel cancel culture.” On the topic, which socially and professionally ostracizes those who have a history of offensive behavior or making offensive statements, the former President finds that it surely has its uses in some contexts, but often extends too far in expecting every member of society to act perfectly. 

Scott Olson/Getty Images

“I think that a lot of the dangers of cancel culture and we’re just going to be condemning people all the time,” the 44th President said. Though he thinks that it is applicable in some circumstances where discrimination must be condemned, he finds that more exaggerated examples of cancel culture serve to undermine true activism.

Still, he is optimistic sees hope for the future in the experiences of his daughters Sasha and Malik: “at least among my daughters they will acknowledge sometimes among their peer group or in college campuses you’ll see folks going overboard.” The damages of going “overboard” though are small compared to the real change and dialogue happening between young people. This is pulling the country in a more equitable direction, Obama believes. 

In 2019, the former President spoke similarly about “woke culture” which he found as a poor substitute for activism. 

Do you think cancel culture can go too far? Let us know. Watch the interview clip via TMZ below.

[via]

Amid fans imploring for Foxy Brown and Lil Kim to share a space on Verzuz someday, it seems that we’re going to receive an intimate look at the life of the Ill Na Na. There have been many rappers who have sat down to pen their life stories including 50 Cent, Common, DMX, Eminem, Gucci Mane, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Prodigy, RZA, Rakim, DJ Khaled, and more. On her Instagram Story, Foxy shared that fans can expect to receive her book sometime in December of this year.

“Book coming soon,” she wrote in a post where she tagged former Editor-In-Chief of The Source Magazine, Kim Osorio, adding that Osorio was partnering with her in the release.

Frank Micelotta / Staff / Getty Images

“20 YEARS later and still the most controversial book to come out in Hip Hop,” Osorio wrote in the caption of a screenshot of Foxy’s announcement. “Still written by ME. i only write the best stories. #younotready #ireallywrite #foxybrown #foxboogiebrown #foxboogie #hiphop #everybodyaintmeanttohaveabook.”

In the comments, Foxy added, “[white heart emoji]u Kimmy!!!!!” We haven’t received new music from Foxy in decades, but she has quite a few stories to tell with a history that includes hit albums and songs, being a part of The Firm, her conflict with Lil Kim, her legal troubles, and all the twists and turns of her personal and professional life that helped her become an icon in the industry.

Speaking of Lil Kim, it’s reported that the Queen Bee will also be releasing her memoir this year sometime in November. Will you read Foxy and Kim’s autobiographies when they drop?

Migos are well on their way to release their forthcoming project Culture III but the rollout has been rather tame compared to their previous projects. “Straightenin” has been making the rounds but there’s been little music to gauge what Migos might be delivering this Friday. While Migos have promised to debut new music during their Kimmel performance on Wednesday, Quavo seems to also be capitalizing off of Kendrick Perkins’ recent comments.

Brett Deering/Getty Images

Yesterday, the NBA vet fired shots at Quavo, describing the rapper as having “trash a$$ bars.” Perkins admittedly still feels some type of way about Quavo namedropping him on “Fuck 12.” Perkins explained that he didn’t appreciate the mention before Jose Guapo attempted to squash the beef. Quavo, however, had different plans. The rapper shared a selfie of Perkins with a fist emoji placed right under his chin. “Culture 3 Friday!” Quavo captioned the post.

Perkins responded to Quavo’s post earlier today where he continued to diss the Migos’ rappers solo career. “Thank God you’re back with the Migos because this photoshop uppercut is as close as you’ll ever get to a hit as a solo artist! Carry on,” Perkins tweeted in response to Quavo’s post.

In other news, Migos just shared the tracklist to Culture III which includes features from Drake, Polo G, Cardi B, and Future, among others.

Peep Perkins tweet below. 

Plenty of entertainers are active in the communities that helped shape and mold them into the successful artists they are today, and they often give back to marginalized and disenfranchised areas. Many host food drives, give away new clothing, sponsor food delivery services for the elderly, host camps for children, or even pay tuition or bills for students and families in need. Pharrell Williams has been intimately involved in various community service efforts in his home state of Virginia, and it’s reported that his nonprofit organization Yellow has plans to launch several private schools for low-income families.

The Virginia Pilot reports that the first school will open in Norfolk, specifically in the historic neighborhood of Ghent. “If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” Williams said in a press release.

Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images

“We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight,” he continued. The schools will reportedly be named Yellowhab: “Yellow” after Pharrell’s non-profit and “hab” in tribute to The Martian film.

Tuition will reportedly “be covered by philanthropic support” and there aren’t any plans to make them public school in the future. The institutions will accept 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

Applicants will be chosen by lottery and the requirements are as follows:

1. Child must be a resident of Norfolk, VA (with proof of residency)
2. Child is a rising 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader
3. Child qualifies for the Federal Free and Reduced-price Lunch program, or meets family income requirements (proof required)

“Residents (are) being displaced from their homes with potentially limited housing options available which limits options for the children,” Stephanie Walters, Yellow’s director of engagement, told The Virginia Pilot. “We have a great relationship with the City of Norfolk and want to be a part of the solution in supporting the community with resources and support.”

[via][via]

Billionaire Kim Kardashian, in the midst of her high-profile divorce from Kanye West, now has more problems after a crazed fan sent her an extremely unsettling parcel. The package, intercepted by the Kardashian’s security on June 3rd, contained a real diamond engagement ring alongside an unopened container of Plan B contraceptive. The package never reached Kim herself, though her and her security have reason to believe they know who sent it.

Her team believes the package was sent by a frequent stalker of Kim’s who has shown up at her house numerous times in past months. He apparently visited the house for the first time in February where he asked numerous times to see her, but was turned away. He made his second appearance a few weeks ago where he showed up outside of her gate asserting that he was there to pick her up for dinner. 

Though his social media accounts have been removed, he has a history of harassing her online as well. Some of his obsessive posts include a marriage certificate he made himself and another post that read:”Queen Kimberly… sitting up in thy big castle alone waiting for her Knight in Shining Armor.” 

However, this package seems to be the last straw, and Kim and her team have begun the steps of filing a restraining order. Just a few weeks ago, the famed Kardashian successfully filed a restraining order for a different stalker who was posting videos of himself trying to figure out a way inside of her property.  

Needless to say, Kim’s security team has a lot of work to do in deterring the increasing number if stalkers.

[via]

NBA Youngboy is still keeping the streets hot with new music, even if he is locked up. The rapper found himself in a few legal cases since his claim to fame but his March arrest has left him behind bars until trial. As fans and peers continue to show their support for the incarcerated rapper, his lawyer has revealed a potential status offense during the rapper’s arrest.

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

According to documents obtained by TheShadeRoom, NBA Youngboy’s attorneys filed a motion for his pre-trial release. The grounds for their motion comes after they claimed they were “blindsided” by the arrest. The rapper’s legal team stated that they never received any sort of warning about the arrest that would’ve allowed for voluntary surrender. The biggest revelation in the motion is the claims that the arrest was simply done to bring down NBA Youngboy’s brand. The reason being the title of the operation which played off of the rapper’s name.

“The only evidence of their motivation behind this decision is the title of the operation, “NEVER FREE AGAIN,” a clear attack on to defendant’s brand “Never Broke Again” and related legal entities,” the motion reads. His attorneys argue that the operation title is a status offense. 

The rapper is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm. We’ll keep you posted on more information surrounding YB’s case.