New Hip Hop News

The world is slowly returning back to normal as vaccine distribution continues to be effective in the United States. Music festivals have started to announce their performers for this summer and we’re all excited to be back out among friends in the coming months. While this pandemic may not fully be in the rearview mirror, Drake has been acting as though the virus is nonexistent, partying it up in the last week with numerous club appearances in Los Angeles.

We reported on his night out last week with Chris Brown, Tyga, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox, and others. Last night, Drake was back out on the town and he ended up partying with Rihanna, his ex-girlfriend, along with her current boyfriend A$AP Rocky at Delilah.

Photographer Group/MEGA/Getty Images

According to E! News, Drake, Rihanna, and A$AP Rocky were all at the popular hangout spot until the wee hours of the morning on Monday night. Rih and Flacko were reportedly invited personally by Drake, who was hosting some of his friends in the restaurant’s backroom. The publication notes that when they were leaving, A$AP Rocky had a visible red lipstick mark on his cheek. E! also states that Drake “approves” of Rocky as Rihanna’s lover despite their previous romantic history.

“Rihanna and A$AP arrived around midnight and stayed for several hours into the night,” said an insider source to the publication. “They were going back and forth between the main dining room and private room and were laughing with Drake and having drinks with him. There were bottles of 1942 everywhere and everyone was taking shots and having a great time.” Rocky reportedly left in the same car as Rihanna.

007/Photographer Group/MEGA/Getty Images — Rihanna is seen leaving Delilah on April 12, 2021

Drake is presently working on his upcoming studio album Certified Lover Boy, which is rumored for a release in the coming weeks. A$AP Rocky is featured heavily on BROCKHAMPTON’s new album, which came out last week. Rihanna is also rumored to be releasing new music soon, teasing that much via her social media channels.

What do you think of A$AP Rocky and Rihanna partying with Rih’s ex Drake?

007/Photographer Group/MEGA/Getty Images — A$AP Rocky is spotted leaving together at Delilah on April 12, 2021

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Social media has been overrun with tragedies in recent days. Fans of DMX have taken to the internet to share fond memories of the celebrated rapper following his passing, and later, news of protests out of Minnesota began to flood timelines. We previously reported on the police-involved shooting death of Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old young man who was killed during a routine traffic stop. While both of those events were being discussed online, reports were coming out of Knoxville, Tennessee that a high school was under lockdown after shots were fired.

The investigation into this event is ongoing, so certain identities have yet to be released. What has been shared on various outlets is that around 3:15 p.m., the Knoxville Police Department received a call that there was possibly an armed person at Austin-East Magnet High School. Unfortunately, this incident would leave one person dead and another injured.

According to WVLT 8 News out of Knoxville, responding officers located a student armed with a gun barricaded inside of one of the school’s restrooms. Officers reportedly ordered the student out but “he refused to comply.” As officers attempted to enter the restroom, the student reportedly opened fire, injuring an officer. Police returned fire, killing the student.

The assailant has not been publicly named, but Mayor Indya Kincannon made a statement about the event. “We all need to work together to stop the violence,” she told reporters. “It’s a big challenge and we’re going to need the whole city to work together.” Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Director David Rausch held a press conference and made sure to clarify how he believes this incident should be addressed. He stated that this is an “officer-involved shooting at a school,” not a “school shooting.”

The officer injured during the incident is said to be recovering, is conscious, and will “be OK.” Any information regarding what may have led to this student’s actions isn’t available at the time of publication. Classes have been cancelled for two days.

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With his second child‘s arrival on the horizon, G Herbo has become a different man. The rapper has spoken about the life’s events that have caused him to reevaluate how he approaches his personal and professional life, and during a recent sit-down with Million Ddollaz Worth of Game, Herbo shared a few thoughts about the dating scene.

It has been well-publicized that G Herbo and his fiancé Taina Williams are about to welcome their first child together, and while people attempt to smear the couple’s romance, the rapper remains dedicated to his lady. Herbo recently spoke about how social media has caused a shift in how people approach dating and revealed that even if he was single, the Instagram models wouldn’t be the first to catch his attention.

“We was just having a conversation in the studio like, nowadays, this sh*t really like set up for a person to really not, to not be in a relationship,” said Herbo. “Whether you a man, a woman, whatever it is. ‘Cause the way women carry theyself on the internet, that sh*t cool, it might be fun. Even if a n*gga f*ck you, I’m not gonna wanna be with you, you know what I’m saying?”

“I’ll never really make you what I got at home,” he added. “It don’t even mix.” One of the hosts asked if Herbo was saying he’d want to sleep with the woman, just not take her seriously. “Even if I was single right now, the sh*t you see every day on the internet, I wouldn’t be with that. I wouldn’t be with it. I wouldn’t want to build a family with none of that sh*t.”

“Even if we startin’ from scratch, I know it’s something to build. I can really build with my girl.” Do you agree with Herbo’s take on what is occurring in the dating scene, especially with how women present themselves on social media? Check out G Herbo’s clip below.

He may have passed away, but DMX’s legacy lives on. The 50-year-old rapper’s death has shocked not only a community of fans but an industry that he’s been a part of for decades. Longtime supporters of Earl Simmons-Dark Man X have witnessed the twists and turns of his life’s journey, but they’ve stood by his side throughout. After watching the joyful, and hopeful rapper appear on Verzuz with Snoop Dogg last year, fans were excited for what he had in store for the future. Now, we all celebrate his contributions to the culture.

As admirers share their favorite DMX stories, the loved ones of the rapper are leaning on one another for support during this difficult time of transition. They’ve understandably been tight-lipped about family matters, but his fiancée, Desiree Lindstrom, recently received her latest tattoo in honor of the man she loved.

Above the stylized “X” tattoo, Lindstrom also has the words “Dog Love.” The ink was reportedly completed by Black Ink Crew New York‘s Krystal Kills who shared a touching message about her work. “I feel honored to be able to do this memorial but also saddened,” wrote Krystal. “Your light was unmatchable. [praying hands emoji] @desi123love I pray you find your way through these dark times, and remember the love you had for each other will forever be untethered. I’m glad I got to witness it.”

“The world lost an icon but also a great father. Praying for your family,” Krystal added to her post. “REST IN POWER DMX. Thanks for inspiring us, and giving Yonkers a voice. You moved the world and left your mark.  The city misses you. #doglove #dmx #ripdmx#ruffryders.” Lindstrom and DMX share a four-year-old son. Check out the post below.

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Another tragedy has shaken up the U.S. Over the weekend, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was driving along with his girlfriend when he was pulled over for allegedly having expired license plate tags. When officers did a check on his name, they reportedly saw that he had an outstanding warrant (reasons have not been disclosed). It’s reported that Wright was asked to exit his vehicle and was shot and killed while trying to return to his car. Some reports state he was on the phone with his mother at the time.

Brooklyn Center police Chief Tim Gannon held a press conference on Monday (April 12) and shared it was his theory that the officer responsible for the shooting didn’t mean to fire her weapon. “It is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their Taser but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet,” Gannon said.

Stephen Maturen / Stringer / Getty Images

He added, “This appears to me, from what I’ve viewed and the officer’s reaction and distress immediately after, that this was an accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Wright.” Protests immediately erupted near the site of Wright’s death—a location in Minnesota that isn’t far from where Derek Chauvin is currently on trial for the slaying of George Floyd.

The officer involved has been identified as 26-year veteran officer Kim Porter. She has been placed on standard administrative leave and is said to have obtained a lawyer. How this case will move forward remains to be seen now that the medical examiner has ruled Daunte Wright’s death as a homicide. While that seems promising for those seeking justice, investigating officials may still judge Wright’s shooting as justifiable. Meanwhile, protests continue in Minneapolis and surrounding areas.

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There is a section of Los Angeles that has been dubbed the “Black Beverly Hills,” so it came as no surprise that BET found a handful of teens in the area for a reality television show. Baldwin Hills aired from the summer of 2007 to 2009, leaving its dedicated fans hoping for more. We saw young people embarking on careers, making decisions about their futures, and, of course, balancing those worries about who’s dating who.

A standout figure on the series was Ashley Taylor Gerren, professionally known as Gerren Taylor, a six-foot-tall, thin-framed beauty who was making waves as a fashion model. Since her time on Baldwin Hills, Gerren seems to have retreated from the reality television spotlight, and it’s being widely reported that the 30-year-old mother passed away in her sleep last week.

Tibrina Hobson / Contributor / Getty Images

A cause of death has not been shared with the public at this time, but Essence magazine suggests that Gerren’s death may be connected to her battle with lupus, the autoimmune disease. The outlet states that Gerren was undergoing dialysis at the time.

BET reportedly released a statement about Gerren’s passing. “The entire BET family mourns the passing of one of our own, Ms. Ashley Gerren Taylor, beloved star of Baldwin Hills. The untimely passing of such a young, bright light is difficult to process. BET’s thoughts and prayers go out to Ashley’s friends and family during this time.”

Gerren leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter. We offer our sincerest condolences to her loved ones.

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