New Hip Hop News

Akbar V has certainly been stirring things up on Twitter this week, as the Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star has been dropping names left and right. Earlier this year, she took her best shot at Drake to no avail, now turning her attention to Chris Brown on Thursday. She wrote, “At this point if i can’t get@Drake i might as well get me another light skin N****@chrisbrown what’s up babe i been rocking with you since#runit#excusemems#yomanaintme#goodbye can i get a date I’m single blink once if i got a shot babe.” 

Following this thirsty tweet, Akbar V also called out Diddy for not sending her any Ciroc PR packages, saying she’s good friends with his son. She also asked “music genius” Kanye West to produce a song or two for her. So it’s safe to say, she was having a bit of a social media celebrity-call-out field day.

Akbar V took to her Instagram story on Thursday night, however, to let fans know that she was just joking about wanting to date Chris Brown. She wrote, “Understand i play a lot i don’t want @chrisbrownofficial Fr i just be playing with my crazy tail self.” 

Akbar V/Instagram

Many found the whole exchange to be pretty cringe-y, and accused Akbar V of only trying to go on the defense because Chris Brown didn’t respond. Commenters said things like, “Just said they refused and go,” “He must of not responded,” and “girl pls STOP.”

Was Akbar V actually trying to shoot her shot at Chris, or was it a big joke? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Zion Williamson has proven himself to be one of the best young players in the NBA although, at times, he has struggled due to just how much he gets hacked in the paint. Due to his size and athleticism, opposing defenses are always looking for an unfair edge, and hard fouls are usually the way to get a leg up. It’s what players used to do to Shaq back in the day, and it’s a tactic that is still popular, to this day.

During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Zion was asked about the fouls he has endured over the last couple of years, and whether or not the officiating has bothered him. Zion is rarely the beneficiary of good calls, and the show was curious if he’s started to get upset. Williamson was quite reserved with his answer, noting that he will never argue with the refs and that he just wants his game to do the talking.

“My stepfather taught me old-school,” Zion said. “I’m never going to be one of those dudes to say something to the refs. I just won’t. You know, hopefully, things will change. Until then, I’ll just keep playing.”

In just his second year in the league, Williamson is heading to the All-Star game and it’s certainly well-deserved. He has a bright future ahead, and as he matures, those calls will begin to go his way.

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Joe Budden may have lost his blue check on Twitter, but he hasn’t lost his swagger. After suddenly losing his verification on the platform, the rapper-turned-podcaster reacted with the perfect remark, asserting himself and claiming that he’s been the real deal since long before he was recognized as a top-tier contributor to the platform.

“What happened to the blue check?” asked a fan to Joe Budden after realizing that his verified status was no longer showing up on his profile. “Doesn’t matter lol… i was verified long before Twitter,” he said, recalling his presence in the rap game and before. 

While it doesn’t make much sense for somebody with as big a platform as Joe Budden to be unverified on social media — there are already dozens of imposters running around with similar account names, pretending to be the media personality — the reason behind his shake-up on Twitter is currently still a mystery. Some people have suggested that the retired rapper may have tried to change his account to a private one, which apparently would have removed his verified check.

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Thankfully, Budden isn’t too shaken up about this. Recently, he has shifted over to Patreon to host his podcast, moving onto bigger and better things and allowing for a more seamless transaction of content. This way, Budden is more in control of his destiny, getting to see every person who subscribes to his channel and having a more intimate connection with his fans.

Why do you think Joe Budden had his blue check taken away?

When Kobe Bryant passed away last year, the NBA found numerous ways to honor him. Various players also made sure to deliver their Kobe tributes, and it made for a year full of remembrance for one of the league’s greatest stars. A year later, there are still various ways in which the players are trying to pay homage, and Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving believes he has the perfect way to honor Kobe’s legacy.

Just a day ago, Irving noted that Bryant should become the NBA logo and that “Black Kings built the league.” When asked about his stance last night, Irving doubled down as he noted that Bryant needs to become the NBA logo now and that he will never deviate from this position.

“My thing is paying homage to the example that’s been set by that man,” Irving said. “Kobe Bryant. Logo. Yes. Needs to happen. I don’t care what anyone says. Black kings built the league. That’s exactly what I meant, it’s exactly where I stand.”

The NBA has not announced any plans to change the logo, which is currently a silhouette of Jerry West. West has never cared for being the logo, and we’re sure he wouldn’t mind the change. For now, however, it seems like things will be staying as is.

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If it wasn’t already clear, Bobby Shmurda’s release from prison has once again set all eyes on the New York rapper. And while there is definitely an interest in seeing how he bounces back in the studio, for the most part, his loyal fans are simply happy to see him living life as a free man once again. So much so that when he joined Rowdy Rebel for his first official Instagram Live session since returning home, a substantial number of people tuned in to see how Shmurda was doing.

Paras Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

At its peak, Shmurda’s IG Live session drew in some impressive viewership numbers, peaking at one-hundred-and-fifty-five-thousand as per a report from DJ Akademiks. Considering it has been six-years since Shmurda went away, with little in the way of new music to sustain his buzz in the interim, it’s certainly an impressive tally.

Though the pair were initially thwarted by the technological advances that transpired during their respective prison stays, the troubleshooting session was all the more endearing. Despite his relatively brief appearance, many fans were quick to notice that Shmurda appeared happy and notably at ease, enjoying his freedom by taking a drive with some friends. Alas, the pair did not discuss any plans of a musical nature, but don’t be surprised to hear Shmurda return to the studio in the coming weeks, especially as he retains such momentum. 

In case you missed it, check out a video clip of Bobby Shmurda’s first IG live appearance since his release from prison embedded below.