Fyre Festival Fraudster Billy McFarland Admits He Scammed Investors: Report

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The Fyre Festival has gone down in concert history, and it seems that for the first time, organizer Billy McFarland has openly admitted that he knew he was lying to investors. McFarland raked in millions for his non-existent Bahamas-based luxury festival that was said to feature dozens of mainstream, chart-topping artists. McFarland’s team hired several social media influencers and artists to promote the event, but when it came down to delivering the goods, attendees were left with barely edible food, unreliable amenities, and no entertainment as musical acts were never booked or confirmed.

McFarland reportedly sat down with Jordan Harbinger for an unsanctioned interview that has been talked about since last Fall, where he dished on all things related to his downfall. In 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison over the failed 2017 event and has been serving his time in Ohio. “I think the biggest mistake before I went awry was just setting an unrealistic time frame for the festival,” said McFarland.

“Had we given ourselves a year or two and had I obviously not made the terrible decision to lie to my backers, I think we could have been in a bit better place, but regardless of the mistakes that I made or what made things go wrong. So, that’s where things started and ended,” he added. “I knowingly lied to them to raise money for the festival. Yes. And that’s what the crime was. The crime was inexcusably lying about the status of the company to get the money I thought I needed for the festival.”

According to the incarcerated organizer, he truly believed that he would be able to pull off the festival at the last minute. “I legitimately thought the festival was going to be executed,” said McFarland. “[There’s] no excuse and I wish I could have just woken up one of those mornings in the beginning and I just had stopped.”

ABC is highlighting this interview and revisiting the Fyre Festival debacle for their true-crime series The Con. Check out a clip below.

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Pop Smoke Was “Amazing To Be Around” Recalls “Boogie” Director Eddie Huang

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Soon, we will all be able to enjoy Pop Smoke’s acting debut, but it’s a bittersweet moment as the rapper won’t be here to celebrate with his millions of fans and admirers. A little over a year ago, we received the devastating news that Pop Smoke had been viciously murdered during a Hollywood Hills home invasion. The rapper’s team and loved ones have continued to walk out his legacy, including his inclusion in Eddie Huang’s film, Boogie.

Just months prior to his murder, Pop filmed the coming-of-age story and now, Huang is reflecting on his time with the rising New York rapper. “At first I made this film and I was like, ‘Look, this is for my family and this is to represent for all of us overseas Chinese in America,’ but this is Pop’s film,” said Huang. “It’s absolutely dedicated to Pop. I really miss my brother. Once I met him, the film changed.”

“He [had] no fear, Pop [wasn’t] scared of anything,” Huang continued. “He also probably had the fastest computer processor in his head I’ve ever seen. I could tell Pop something, and he would immediately adapt and make that change. And he didn’t have an ego about it, and he wouldn’t get scared about it. And he wouldn’t have self-doubt about it. He just did it.”

Huang also reflected on grieving Pop Smoke’s loss. “But I will tell you this. Pop’s not a dude that would’ve wanted you to be sad. He really [was] a person who was celebrating life all of the time. So happy, very sensitive. Amazing to be around. And a lotta love. He got a lotta love.” Check out the trailer for Boogie below.

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Barack Obama’s Shower Playlist Features Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, The Roots, And More

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Barack Obama has never been one to keep his music interests a secret. The former president has shared numerous playlists over the years, and on Wednesday he delivered another one. After a recent episode of his and Bruce Springsteen’s Renegades: Born In The USA podcast, Barack dropped his shower playlist — all 44 tracks of it — after speaking about one of his favorite habits. “I sing in the shower, I sing outside of the shower. I am unembarrassed about singing,” he said during the episode. “My daughters and my wife sometimes roll their eyes.”

The playlist finds notable contributions from Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce (“Freedom”), The Roots (“You Got Me”), Stevie Wonder (“Living For The City”), Billie Holiday (“Strange Fruit”), and more. Bruce Springsteen himself makes nine appearances on it, including “My Hometown,” “American Skin (41 Shots),” and two versions of “Born In The U.S.A.”

The playlist arrives after Barack and Bruce launched their podcast at the end of last month. So far, the duo has shared three full-length episodes, where they’ve discussed their respective lives, the U.S., and, of course, their love for music.

Two months ago, Barack showed off his wide-ranging music taste with his favorite songs of 2020 playlist. Megan The Stallion, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa, Lil Baby, and J. Cole were among the many names that appeared on it.

You can access Barack’s playlist on Spotify here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Barack Obama’s Shower Playlist Features Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, The Roots, And More

by
Getty Image

Barack Obama has never been one to keep his music interests a secret. The former president has shared numerous playlists over the years, and on Wednesday he delivered another one. After a recent episode of his and Bruce Springsteen’s Renegades: Born In The USA podcast, Barack dropped his shower playlist — all 44 tracks of it — after speaking about one of his favorite habits. “I sing in the shower, I sing outside of the shower. I am unembarrassed about singing,” he said during the episode. “My daughters and my wife sometimes roll their eyes.”

The playlist finds notable contributions from Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce (“Freedom”), The Roots (“You Got Me”), Stevie Wonder (“Living For The City”), Billie Holiday (“Strange Fruit”), and more. Bruce Springsteen himself makes nine appearances on it, including “My Hometown,” “American Skin (41 Shots),” and two versions of “Born In The U.S.A.”

The playlist arrives after Barack and Bruce launched their podcast at the end of last month. So far, the duo has shared three full-length episodes, where they’ve discussed their respective lives, the U.S., and, of course, their love for music.

Two months ago, Barack showed off his wide-ranging music taste with his favorite songs of 2020 playlist. Megan The Stallion, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa, Lil Baby, and J. Cole were among the many names that appeared on it.

You can access Barack’s playlist on Spotify here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Damian Lillard Faced Multiple Losses & Deaths In 18 Months: “People Have No Idea”

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It’s safe to say that 2020 was rough on just about everyone, but some faced greater tragedies than others. Damian Lillard worked on music and his basketball skills under quarantine, but his professional career wasn’t the only thing on his mind. During a recent interview with The Athletic, the NBA star revealed that he suffered a string of losses in an 18-month period, causing his mental health to be affected.

Damian Lillard, The Athletic, Death, RIP, Mental Health
Ezra Shaw / Staff / Getty Images

“It’s been a hard year and a half for my family, man. People have no idea,” said Lillard. The Athletic detailed a few events that Lillard experienced, and it’s a heavy burden for just one person. The outlet claims that last year, Lillard discovered “the dead body of his cousin and personal chef,” and later, his aunt passed away following a battle with cancer. Then, a friend of his family lost their life to COVID-19 and earlier this year, one of his cousins was killed in Oakland, California.

Before his game against the Los Angeles Lakers last week, Lillard also reportedly learned that two people “in his inner circle” were shot to death—one being a cousin he was reportedly close to and the other a best friend of one of his cousins. As players have adapted to the new rules of the league, many have taken the time to highlight the importance of mental health, especially during this global, unprecedented time. We send our sincerest condolences to Lillard for all of the losses he’s endured.

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Damian Lillard Faced Multiple Losses & Deaths In 18 Months: “People Have No Idea”

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It’s safe to say that 2020 was rough on just about everyone, but some faced greater tragedies than others. Damian Lillard worked on music and his basketball skills under quarantine, but his professional career wasn’t the only thing on his mind. During a recent interview with The Athletic, the NBA star revealed that he suffered a string of losses in an 18-month period, causing his mental health to be affected.

Damian Lillard, The Athletic, Death, RIP, Mental Health
Ezra Shaw / Staff / Getty Images

“It’s been a hard year and a half for my family, man. People have no idea,” said Lillard. The Athletic detailed a few events that Lillard experienced, and it’s a heavy burden for just one person. The outlet claims that last year, Lillard discovered “the dead body of his cousin and personal chef,” and later, his aunt passed away following a battle with cancer. Then, a friend of his family lost their life to COVID-19 and earlier this year, one of his cousins was killed in Oakland, California.

Before his game against the Los Angeles Lakers last week, Lillard also reportedly learned that two people “in his inner circle” were shot to death—one being a cousin he was reportedly close to and the other a best friend of one of his cousins. As players have adapted to the new rules of the league, many have taken the time to highlight the importance of mental health, especially during this global, unprecedented time. We send our sincerest condolences to Lillard for all of the losses he’s endured.

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Erica Mena Has Had Enough Of Everyone’s Marriage Advice

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Vixen Erica Mena doesn’t need social media therapists. The “Love & Hip Hop” star went online to air out those trying to give her relationship advice regarding her current situation with New York rapper and husband Safaree Samuels, who she’s been married to since October 2019. Erica Mena Has Had Enough Online Advice Erica Mena […]

The post Erica Mena Has Had Enough Of Everyone’s Marriage Advice appeared first on SOHH.com.

Erica Mena Has Had Enough Of Everyone’s Marriage Advice

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Vixen Erica Mena doesn’t need social media therapists. The “Love & Hip Hop” star went online to air out those trying to give her relationship advice regarding her current situation with New York rapper and husband Safaree Samuels, who she’s been married to since October 2019. Erica Mena Has Had Enough Online Advice Erica Mena […]

The post Erica Mena Has Had Enough Of Everyone’s Marriage Advice appeared first on SOHH.com.

Director Eddie Huang Reveals Pop Smoke’s ‘Special’ Quality As An Actor

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In just a few days, people will be able to see Pop Smoke in his posthumous acting debut in Boogie, a basketball film directed by Eddie Huang. The movie is a coming-of-age story about a Chinese high school basketball player, portrayed by actor Taylor Takahashi, which finds Pop playing his rival, Alfred “Boogie” Chin. During a recent interview with High Snobiety, Huang spoke about the upcoming film and working with Pop.

“We just became fast friends,” Huang said. “And when it came time for the audition, Pop knew his line, but I could tell he got nervous for one second. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen him nervous, he kept holding his phone real tight. He kept looking down at it and putting it in his pocket and taking it out again. And I said to him ‘Yo, just put it in your pocket, bro. Don’t worry about it. You know these lines.’ And he was like, ‘Are you sure?’ I was like, ‘You know these lines, bro. Just be the character. It’s not about the work. It’s about being the person.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, I got you.’”

Huang also shared what he believed was Pop’s “special” quality as an actor:

We had a lot of first-time actors, but Pop just had it. And what is special about him that’s different from a lot of actors, is that Pop has no fear. He’s been through a lot in his life. Zero fear. You never get the same take with Pop, but you get something spicier and something different. On days that he was there, I would tell everybody, ‘Just get ready. It’s showtime. Catch this lightning in a bottle. I don’t care if he’s not on his mark. I don’t care if we’ve got to throw three cameras at it. But he’s going to do stuff.

You can revisit the trailer for Boogie here.

Charlamagne Tha God Declares Rapsody “The Best Rapper Out”

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Rap icon Sister Souljah has spent much of her recent years out of the booth, but her literary efforts have been worthy of praise. Early on in her music career, Souljah collaborated with Public Enemy before adding her name to their permanent roster of members following Professor Griff’s exit. She only released one album, 360 Degrees of Power, but she’s hailed as a legend who deserves the same respect as any artist with an extensive catalog.

Sister Souljah recently visited The Breakfast Club where she spoke about her long-awaited sequel to Coldest Winter Ever titled Life After Death, and she mentioned her nieces having women in Rap that they can look up to, including artists like Young M.A. Charlamagne Tha God stressed that Souljah needed to tap into the stylings of Rapsody. The Eve artist may have been snubbed by the Grammys for her powerful, women-centered album, but Rapsody’s talents cannot be ignored, even if they are by The Recording Academy.

“I think you would really like Rapsody Sister Souljah,” said Charlamagne, adding that Rapsody has read Sister Souljah’s book. “She’s from North Carolina. I think you would really dig it. She’s a huge fan of the Coldest Winter Ever. True lyricist. I think she’s the best rapper out. Period.” Watch Sister Souljah’s interview with The Breakfast Club below and let us know if you agree with Charlamange’s take on Rapsody’s skills.