Big Pun’s Widow Abrutly Ends Interview After Being Questioned About Fat Joe

Big Pun’s widow, Liza Rios, stormed out of an interview on the Uppercut podcast, last week, after being asked several questions about Fat Joe. In doing so, she accused the interviewer of taking Joe’s “side” in their feud and complained about him having an “attitude.”

“Joe probably would’ve faded out because if another label would have signed Big Pun, Joe probably would have faded to the back,” she said, as caught by AllHipHop. “[…] Joe’s a smart business man. He’s stayed relevant all these years.” From there, the interviewer asked why she can’t bring herself to apologize to Joe. She responded: “Are you serious? Why would I give him an apology after what he put my family through? What he did legally.” As they began arguing, Rios concluded: “Can we stop this for a second? I’m leaving this interview. This is a whole Fat Joe situation now. Yeah, I’m good. I’m good off of this. I’m not comfortable and I’m leaving this interview.”

Read More: How Hip-Hop Culture “Revived” Itself & Declared War On Its Leaders In 2024

Big Pun & Fat Joe Attend The 1998 Lady Of Soul Awards

Fat Joe, Brandy, and Big Pun at the 1998 Lady of Soul Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

When The Art of Dialogue shared a clip of the moment on Instagram, fans expressed their support for Rios. “Being a journalist is a skill. Asking one sided questions to elicit a response is not a flex. She made a good decision by leaving,” one user wrote. Another added: “Dude was a HORRRRRIBLE interviewer, and I’m glad that she shook the spot!!”

Liza Rios Discusses Fat Joe

Rios and Joe have been at odds since Pun’s tragic death in 2000. Rios has accused Joe of failing to properly pay her family the royalties from Pun’s music and that Joe greedily profited off of the late rapper’s legacy. She even took legal action against him in 2014. Joe had denied the allegations over the years. Check out the moment Liza Rios stormed out of her interview with the Uppercut podcast below.

Read More: Ice Cube Opens Up About His New Album “Man Down,” Legacy, And The Future Of West Coast Hip-Hop

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Daylyt Recalls Advising J Cole To Follow His Instincts Before Deleting Kendrick Lamar Diss

Daylyt has spoken a lot about his alleged insider knowledge about the Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and – for a moment – J Cole beef, given his closeness to all the artists. During a recent appearance on The Apollo Podcast, he revealed that Cole actually expressed grievances to him about his K.Dot diss “7 Minute Drill,” which appeared on his surprise Might Delete Later project. As you know, that title became 2024’s most ironic statement, but before pulling the plug on it, the battle rapper apparently advised the Dreamville MC to follow his instincts and take a stand if he felt like there wasn’t any real beef there.

However, Daylyt also expressed that he did not know that J. Cole would take this to the stage and publicly apologize at Dreamville Fest before deleting “7 Minute Drill” from streaming platforms. At the end of the day, though, despite his battle rap side thinking that this was a wild move, he has a lot of respect for Cole’s decision and commends his humility. They apparently linked up in the studio recently, so they might have more collabs on the way.

Read More: Biggest Hip-Hop Moments Of 2024

Daylyt Advised J Cole To Follow His Intuition

Beyond J. Cole, though, Daylyt also has some other stories and allegations about the battle, such as a FaceTime call with Kendrick Lamar after a Drake diss had dropped. “It’s a FaceTime call, so I ignore the first one,” he told The Apollo Podcast. “He call again. I’m like, ‘Oh, it must be important.’ So, I’m thinking like it’s an emergency because Ab-Soul don’t really FaceTime me, especially not that early. I pick up, it was Dot bro. N***a was just looking at the camera and hung up. The smirk that the n***a had on his face. The last time I seen that was when I was doing shenanigans. It was evil. He about to go to no return with this s**t.”

As for J. Cole, Daylyt’s respect for him may not reflect every fan’s feelings on the apology, but many of them share that sentiment. He also closed 2024 out on a much higher note thanks to his tenth anniversary re-release of 2014 Forest Hills Drive with eight new bonus tracks.

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums That Grew On Us The Most In 2024

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New Look For Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Nitro”

Nigel Sylvester and Jordan Brand are collaborating on a new Air Jordan 1 Low OG. Now rumored to draw inspiration from his 2022 Air Jordan 1 High OG sample, the pair features a sleek black colorway. The upcoming “Nitro” design blends bold style with premium materials. A sail leather base creates a neutral foundation, while black leather overlays add a sharp contrast. Red accents, including a mini Swoosh near the toe and the Wings logo on the heel, bring vibrant pops of color. These details infuse the design with energy while maintaining versatility. The collaboration highlights Sylvester’s signature style and BMX roots, showcasing his dynamic approach to creativity.

A cream midsole with a vintage vibe adds depth, while a black rubber outsole provides durability and traction. Together, these elements create a perfect balance of retro and modern aesthetics. Signature Air Jordan branding ties the sneaker to its iconic lineage. The “Nitro” colorway is sure to attract both sneaker fans and followers of BMX culture. This collaboration showcases Sylvester’s influence and Jordan Brand’s innovative vision. With refined details and striking contrasts, this release is set to be a standout in the Air Jordan 1 Low OG collection. Anticipation continues to build for its release.

Read More: A Bold Comeback For The Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue”

“Nitro” Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 Low OG

These sneakers have a red rubber sole paired with a crisp sail midsole. Also, the base is crafted from black leather, highlighted by black leather overlays. Further, a sail Nike Swoosh adorns the sides, along with white laces and a light tongue. The red and white Nike branding on the tongue matches the accenting details. The heels feature the classic Air Jordan Wings logo in white stitching, giving them a timeless feel.

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Nitro” is going to drop in the fall of 2025. Also, the retail price will be announced closer to when they are released.

Read More: Earlier Rumored Release Date For Nike Air Diamond Turf “Atlanta”

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Malena Belafonte’s Boudoir Transforms NYC’s Sony Hall With Captivating Night of Fashion, Performance and Artistry

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On Wednesday evening, Malena Belafonte’s Boudoir cast an enchanting spell over a sold-out crowd at Sony Hall, seamlessly blending high fashion, theater, and breathtaking performances into a one-night-only production that will long be remembered. Directed, produced, and choreographed by Malena Belafonte herself, the event was an ambitious spectacle that masterfully wove storytelling with runway and music to push creative boundaries.

The production was a deeply personal family affair, with David Belafonte serving as associate producer, Sarafina Belafonte as assistant choreographer, and Amadeus Belafonte delivering a stirring vocal performance. Sarafina, the youngest granddaughter of the iconic Harry Belafonte, also debuted her original single, Wandering Eye, a proud continuation of her family’s celebrated legacy in the arts.

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Co-choreographer Sarah Kaplan, a rising star at just 19, infused fresh energy into the show, while ballroom choreographer Krisi Dalipi added an air of grace and precision to the already stunning performances. A spectacular lineup of couture designs from Heike NY, Aforieke, Hermione Elma, and Style by Rahel, complemented by contributions from Warlock JP, The Confessional Showroom, John Ashford, Mieux Swimwear, and John Ash Alive Shoes, set the stage for a visual feast that captivated the audience.

Among the evening’s standout moments was the playful Mischief chapter, where a Femme Fatale character humorously used luxury handbags as props to tease her assistant. This spirited performance culminated with audience members being invited into the Boudoir for a lively, interactive finale.

Sarafina Belafonte’s live performance of her debut single, Wandering Eye, was a highlight of the evening, immediately followed by its release. Adding to the night’s emotional resonance, Malena Belafonte and Krisi Dalipi performed an intimate rumba to Adele’s Chasing Pavements, showcasing the undeniable chemistry of the Dancing with the Stars Europe alumni in four impeccably choreographed routines woven into the show.

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The production also paid a heartfelt tribute to the late designer Corey Woods, a longtime collaborator and dear friend of Malena, who passed away in June. The tribute opened with a voiceover from Woods, followed by a moving video montage of his work. His final Yeroc collection was unveiled in a poignant runway presentation accompanied by Amadeus Belafonte’s touching rendition of I Will Cover You (Reprise), as the cast united in solidarity with Woods’ family, who were present.

A mesmerizing burlesque performance by Pearls Daily added a touch of allure and intrigue to the evening. In a dazzling James Bond-themed routine, Daily, who is four months pregnant, delivered a show-stopping act that embodied elegance and daring.

The star-studded lineup of performers included Amadeus Belafonte, Sarafina Belafonte, Giada Mangino, Flor Massey, Ashley Carley, Carmen Catlin, Casidy Chan, Celia Costa, Sarah Kaplan, Malena Belafonte, Krisi Dalipi, Pearls Daily, and Hannah Akussa Richardson of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

The night concluded with an electrifying afterparty that kept energy high until the early hours of the morning, leaving attendees awestruck by Malena Belafonte’s bold vision and masterful execution of a night where fashion and performance truly became art.

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Happy Birthday To Miami Hip Hop Legend Uncle Luke!

Screenshot 2024 12 22 at 11.14.24 AM

Screenshot 2024 12 22 at 11.14.24 AM

On this date in 1960, record exec, rapper, producer, and pioneer Luther Campbell, aka Uncle Luke, was born in Miami, Florida. Luke has morphed into one of the trailblazers of today’s strip club-based Hip Hop that is seen from southern artists such as Future, Kodak Black and even Megan Thee Stallion.

As the one-time leader of the legendary 2 Live Crew, Campbell launched Luke Skyywalker Records, becoming the first Hip Hop mogul in the Dirty South to boast a gold album(The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are). After five group albums and eight solo albums, Campbell ventured into adult films, starred in his own reality show and even made a run for Mayor of Miami in 2011.

Happy birthday to the Liberty City native who became a family man and a definitive part of Hip Hop history!

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Today In Hip Hop History: DMX Released His Second LP ‘Flesh Of My Flesh Blood Of My Blood’ 26 Years Ago

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tumblr 7be09421f72c0274418758c5a3458636 37fe0250 640

On this date in 1998, Earl “DMX” Simmons dropped his sophomore release, Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood on the Def Jam/Ruff Ryders imprint. Less than a year following his debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, X put out one of his most celebrated releases that shipped gold in its first week and were posted at the top of the charts for almost an entire month following its release.

The project, which was produced by Irv Gotti, Dame Grease and Swizz, debuted at number 1 on Billboard Top 200 just like X’s premier album. This feat was only accomplished once before by Tupac with All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

The singles that led the album’s success were the dark, autobiographical “Slippin’” and the Swizz Beatz produced “No Love 4 Me” featuring then Ruff Ryders newcomer Drag-On. The album enjoyed additional success being that this was the project in heavy rotation during DMX’s silver screen debut alongside Nas in Belly.

Thanks to the entire Ruff Ryder team including the Dark Man Unknown himself for this timeless Hip Hop classic!

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Andre 3000 Thanks Drake For Leaking Kanye West’s “Life Of The Party”

Andre 3000 says that fans have Drake to thank for ever hearing his verse on Kanye West’s “Life of the Party.” He explained how the collaboration came together as well as his reaction to Drake leaking the track during his feud with the controversial rapper while speaking with The New York Times’ Popcast.

“I knew he was working on this album called, ‘Donda,’ and I knew he lost his mom just like I lost my mom so I knew that subject matter better than anyone. And it’s hard to explain to anyone, until you lose a parent, you can’t even explain it to anyone. So, when he said, ‘Hey, I wanna play this album for you.’ He played me the whole ‘Donda’ album. He actually sent it to me and said, ‘Give me your opinions on these songs, give me your comments.’ And I actually listened to the whole album and gave notes on what I felt about the songs. He took them in how he would and he said, ‘Yeah man, I’d like you to contribute to this album. Do you hear anything you’d like to be on?’” Eventually, Andre landed on “Life of the Party.”

Read More: How Hip-Hop Culture “Revived” Itself & Declared War On Its Leaders In 2024

Andre 3000 Poses With Kanye West During The BET Awards

HOLLYWOOD – JUNE 28: Musicians Kanye West and Andre 3000 visit the Distinctive Asset Gift & Lounge during the 2004 BET Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre on June 28, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

From there, Andre discussed Drake leaking the song on his radio show, revealing that he and Kanye were in a disagreement about whether to drop it at that point. Ye wanted the legendary Outkast rapper to rewrite his verse without explicit words, while Andre said he preferred to just be cut from the song instead. “Finally, Drake puts it out. So, kinda have to thank Drake for letting that song see the light of day. And, I wanna clear something up too. I think a lot of people think that Kanye did the song and put the diss part out without me knowing about it. I’d heard the diss part and me and Kanye had a conversation about it. I had my feelings about it. I was like, ‘Man, do you really wanna do this on this type of song? It’s kinda like going and shooting up your mom’s funeral.’ He felt the way he felt at the time. He put the diss verse on it.”

Andre 3000 Reflects On “Life Of The Party”

While West left the song off of the tracklist for Donda, it eventually dropped as part of the deluxe version of the album several months later. Check out Andre 300’s full comments on “Life of the Party” below.

Read More: Ice Cube Opens Up About His New Album “Man Down,” Legacy, And The Future Of West Coast Hip-Hop

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DJ Akademiks Reveals Why He Thinks Drake’s Career Is At Risk Amid UMG Legal Battle

Last month, Drake decided to go after Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. In a pre-action petition, he accuses the companies of artificially boosting Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” using bots and payola. UMG was quick to deny these allegations, and last week, Spotify finally issued its response.

“UMG and Spotify have never had any arrangement in which UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 percent lower than its usual licensing rates for ‘Not Like Us’ in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommending [‘Not Like Us]’, including ‘to users who are searching for other songs and artists,’” the filing says in part. “Spotify has no economic incentive for users to stream ‘Not Like Us” over any of Drake’s tracks.”

Read More: Biggest Hip-Hop Moments Of 2024

DJ Akademiks Claims Drake Will Get “Washed” If He Goes Through With UMG Lawsuit

Drake’s team wasted no time firing back, confirming that the response had not deterred them. “It is not surprising that Spotify is trying to distance themselves from UMG’s allegedly manipulative practices to artificially inflate streaming numbers on behalf of one of its other artists,” they wrote. “If Spotify and UMG have nothing to hide then they should be perfectly fine complying with this basic discovery request.”

During a recent stream, DJ Akademiks shared his take on all of this, appearing somewhat shocked by how Drake’s team responded to Spotify. “Drake’s legal team is following up as if they’re really that serious,” he began. “I really, to my core and my heart, I don’t believe that Drake is serious with this lawsuit. I haven’t talked to him about it, he hasn’t said nothing to me about it. The reason why I’m saying it is because as much as I like Drake’s music, I think if Drake goes to war with UMG, he’s getting washed. I’m sorry, Drake is not bigger than the program.” Akademiks went on, explaining how he doesn’t think Drake will actually go through with the lawsuit. If he does, however, he thinks his career could take a serious hit.

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums That Grew On Us The Most In 2024

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Hot Boys Rock The Crowd At Houston Reunion Show And Fans Loved Every Second

The Hot Boys made their grand return during the Lil Weezyana Fest in New Orleans last month, and they are not slowing down in celebrating this moment. Moreover, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., and Turk recently hosted another reunion show in Houston, and from what the clips below indicate, it seems like the crowd had an amazing time witnessing their hits in real time. Also, it’s great to see the Louisiana MCs share their chemistry onstage, hyping each other up and standing firmly beside one another throughout it all. Considering how contentious things were before this, it’s a heartening development to witness.

“When I walked in, it was a warm welcome and [Mannie] Fresh and them was getting the DJs and getting the list together,” Turk told B High ATL of the previous Hot Boys reunion and how things started off tense due to not performing together in so long. “We’d had the list prior to it but of course it changed up a little bit. But everything went smooth because we so professional. It’s like, man, we been here before.

Read More: Biggest Hip-Hop Moments Of 2024

Hot Boys Are Back In Houston

“Then when Wayne came in the room, we got straight to it,” Turk continued concerning this Hot Boys reencounter. “Came in, dapped everybody, hugs, and it just was straight to the business. We sung the songs and it was tense. It was tense. I got to give y’all the real rundown – and not on no stuck up s**t, but it was just a ‘Man, we ain’t do this s**t in a long time’ type tense. Everybody just being extra careful, being respectful to each other and s**t because like I said, we haven’t all been in the room with each other. But by the time it got to ‘Back That Azz Up,’ it was the nostalgia and we felt what the fans felt! And it was just, we back.”

Meanwhile, amid a relatively divisive year for Lil Wayne, this Hot Boys reunion is definitely the highlight. Hopefully the group keeps this amicable and celebratory tone up, whether that manifests into new music or into more performances and public displays of camaraderie. Either way, we’re here for it.

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums That Grew On Us The Most In 2024

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DJ Akademiks Doesn’t Understand Why SZA “Dissed” Him On New Kendrick Lamar Collab

SZA’s new album SOS Deluxe: LANA closed out 2024 with a big musical bang, unless there’s somehow even more on the way before the year is out. Fans waited so long to get it, and it seems to have been worth the wait, as it garnered a lot of praise online and also caused a lot of discussion. One particular standout on this new record, though, is obviously the Kendrick Lamar collab “30 For 30,” which adds to his ridiculously dominant run in 2024. However, many fans listened to that track and came to some pretty strong “sneak diss” conclusions, which left their alleged target DJ Akademiks quite befuddled.

Moreover, he recently reacted to this speculation about SZA sneak-dissing him on his livestream, making it clear that he’s not a fan of her music and acknowledging their past beef. Still, despite all the criticism that DJ Akademiks threw her way, he doesn’t really think that she or Kendrick Lamar dissed him on that record, as he took a look at the lyrics and couldn’t really make heads or tails of anything.

Read More: Biggest Hip-Hop Moments Of 2024

DJ Akademiks Speaks On SZA

That being said, one theory that DJ Akademiks seems to support is that Kendrick Lamar dissed Drake on this SZA collab. “You f***ing with n***as that’s thinking they cuter than you / Say you on your cycle, but he on his period too,” he raps on the cut, which some fans saw as a pointed attack at the 6ix God. Regardless of whether or not Drizzy will interpret it as such, it’s also a very easy theory to dismiss given the generally romantic and easy-going vibe of the track as a whole. We already know what it looks like when these artists actually go at each other, so why rush things?

Meanwhile, with even more SZA music seemingly on the way, we wonder whether she will respond to this DJ Akademiks take in any way. We doubt it, but then again, this year held many more surprises than we thought, and 2025 could certainly follow suit. In any case, fans are happy to have one last big collab and battle-adjacent debate in 2024.

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums That Grew On Us The Most In 2024

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