Multi-platinum artist and GRAMMY-nominated rapper Big Sean has released the highly anticipated music video for “It Is What It Is,” featuring Gunna. The track is from Sean’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album Better Me Than You (Def Jam Recordings).
Directed by Diego Cruz, the video features Big Sean and Gunna performing against various urban landscapes in Los Angeles, delivering bold lyrics like, “Face all on the front page, I don’t give a f—- about no backlash / I’ve been backstabbed and laughed at / We gon’ see who gets the f—-’ last laugh.”
“It Is What It Is” is the seventh track on Better Me Than You, an album that takes listeners on a 21-track journey through themes of self-exploration, responsibility, and personal growth. The project showcases Big Sean’s lyrical depth while embracing the complexity and joy of the human experience.
Better Me Than You has received critical acclaim for its raw honesty and introspective storytelling, and the new video adds a visual dimension to the album’s standout track, blending striking visuals with Sean and Gunna’s commanding performances.
The video is now available on all major platforms, adding another layer to the buzz surrounding Better Me Than You and its ongoing impact on fans and the music scene.
Shaquille O’Neal’s iconic Shaq’s All Star Comedy Jam is making its highly anticipated return for NBA All-Star Weekend 2025, with a groundbreaking partnership involving three Black-owned entertainment giants: The Black Promoters Collective, Shaq’s Jersey Legends Productions, and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat. This exciting collaboration will bring the beloved comedy event to life on Friday, February 14, 2025, at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA.
Hosted by the legendary Bill Bellamy, the comedy jam will feature an all-star lineup of heavyweights, including Gary Owen, DC Young Fly, Michael Blackson, Cocoa Brown, and Oakland’s own Lewis Belt. DJ Spinderella will provide the soundtrack for the evening, ensuring an electrifying atmosphere throughout the night.
Tickets for the event are available through Ticketmaster and blackpromoterscollective.com.
The collaboration between The Black Promoters Collective, Jersey Legends Productions, and Hartbeat marks a significant moment in showcasing Black excellence in entertainment. These companies are leaders in their fields and are committed to amplifying Black voices, making this event a landmark celebration of Black culture.
Shaquille O’Neal expressed his excitement for the return of the comedy jam, saying, “The Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam brand has become a must-attend event for both All-Star and Super Bowl weekends. I’m thrilled to have The Black Promoters Collective and Hartbeat Entertainment onboard to continue this tradition.”
BPC President Shelby Joyner added, “Our partnership aims to elevate the brand and create new opportunities to showcase Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam across more platforms.”
Launched in 2009, Shaq’s All Star Comedy Jam has been a cornerstone of the comedy scene, giving national exposure to up-and-coming comedians. Fans can expect a night of unfiltered laughter, high-energy performances, and unforgettable moments.
070 Shake is a truly singular artist. Nobody sounds like her, and nobody could sound like her if they tried. The rapper/vocalist has a unique style and is able to blend different styles in a way that defies genre. Her breakout turn on Kanye West’s “Ghost Town” remains her sonic calling card, but 070 Shake’s new song is proof that she has musical ideas for days. “Winter Baby/New Jersey Baby” is the first single from her upcoming debut album, Petrichor, and it takes listeners on a journey. Fusing two different melodies, the song manages to showcase 070 Shake at her most catchy and most experimental.
The first part of “Winter Baby/New Jersey Baby” is ripped straight out of the 1960s. The refrain of the titular phrase, and the crackling, retro production makes it sound like an unearthed torch song from the girl group era. It’s the sort of sound that most artists would sample, but 070 Shake is able to replicate it from scratch. “Winter Baby” is the catchiest portion of the song, but “New Jersey Baby” takes things in a fascinating and bold direction. It adopts an acoustic, campfire song structure right out of the 1970s folk scene. 070 Shake manages to pull from disparate eras while still making the song sound inherently her own. We can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.
Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
I’ll do this for now until I get my own thing Found a girl and she’s worth all of the pain I drank the booze and she smoked on the marijuana Five hour drive to spend the weekend in Sedona
The world is still waiting on Kendrick Lamar to drop new music. The Compton set the world on fire with “Not Like Us” and its accompanying video. Those who watched closely, though, know that Dot played a snippet of an unreleased song at the beginning of the video. The snippet was wildly catchy, and featured a sample of a classic 80s single. It’s been months without any update on the snippet, but that didn’t stop the Mercedes F1 team from using it to their advantage. The team weaved the snippet into a social media promo for their drivers.
The video, which was posted on Instagram, sees the Mercedes F1 team in action while Lamar raps. It’s a pretty slick melding of sight and sound. It may seem a bit random, combining racing with rap, but there’s actually a precedent with regards to Kendrick Lamar. Lewis Hamilton, the star driver on Mercedes, posed for a photoshoot in on October 14. The photoshoot saw the driver pose sitting down, front of a white and red flag. It was a striking pose on its own merits, but what really caught fans off guard is the tribute that was being paid to Kendrick Lamar.
Hamilton’s pose and color scheme was a direct reference to Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement video. The Compton rapper confirmed he was playing the 2025 Halftime Show by posing with a football and sitting in front of a white and red flag. The irony is that Lewis Hamilton was actually linked to Kendrick Lamar’s opponent, Drake, during the start of the beef.
Fat Joe served as the host of the 2024 BET Awards. The veteran rapper did his thing in a series of segments and presentations. The most surprising segment of the night, however, was pre-recorded. BET aired a two minute interview in which Kamala Harris talked about various policies and issues. Fat Joe and Too Short were among the people in attendance. Harris gave her two cents regarding the importance of voting, but nobody expected her to attack her opponent, Donald Trump, so bluntly.
Harris told Fat Joe and company that Trump’s “Project 2025” initiative would be detrimental to middle class families. She urged voters to Google the initiative and do their own research before casting a vote for the former President. “It would do things like eliminate overtime pay,” Kamala Harris noted. “It would get rid of the Department of Education, including Head Start. [It’d] do the work of trying to destroy our democracy and really work against middle-class folks.” She insisted that voters do what is best for the country, instead of what she alleges is best for Trump.
Flanked by US musician Fat Joe (L) and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (R), US Vice President Kamala Harris (C) speaks during a roundtable conversation about marijuana reform and criminal justice reform, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP) (Photo by KENT NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
“You should never let anyone silence you,” Kamala Harris added. “Because when you vote you have the ability to determine the future of our country.” The real dig came at the end of the interview, however. As Fat Joe sat to her right, the Vice President tore down Trump’s character. “This is a man who’ll posture like, ‘Hey, support me because I’m tough and strong,’” she asserted. “But he’s weak.” It was not what most BET Awards viewers were expecting, but it was definitely one of the show’s most notable bits.
Fat Joe made his political allegiance to Kamala Harris clear during the broadcast. The Terror Squad star brought in Las Vegas Congressman Steven Horsford to help him advocate for the importance of voting. Horsford told hip hop fans to celebrate and preserve the culture by casting their vote for Harris. Fat Joe also made a few political statements during the award show. “Look, y’all know we aren’t supposed to talk politics at the party but vote,” he told viewers. He threw shots of his own at Trump, as well. He praised Kamala Harris for working to forgive student debt, and then dissed Trump for “trying to bring back stop and frisk.”
The list of Diddy allegations got a little bit longer on Tuesday. A lawsuit was filed against the mogul for an incident that allegedly took place in 2018. The accuser, a woman named Ashley Parham, claims that she taunted Diddy about his alleged involvement in the death of Tupac Shakur. She then alleges that the Bad Boy mogul targeted her, and eventually assaulted her, using a TV remote. TMZ provided additional info on the harrowing accusation.
Parham alleged that her initial encounter with Diddy was over FaceTime. She accused him of playing a role in Tupac’s death, and Diddy allegedly responded by telling her she would “pay” for her comments. A month later, Parham claims that she was invited to a home in Orinda, California. She alleged that she was set up by the man who invited her. Diddy was allegedly waiting for her to arrive. Upon arriving, Parham alleges that Diddy held a knife to her face and threatened to give her a “Glasgow smile” for her Tupac remarks. A “Glasglow smile,” for reference, is a wound caused by cutting smile marks on a side of a person’s face.
The allegations get more harrowing from there. Ashley Parham alleges that Diddy then took his clothes off and covered her body in a liquid-like substance. She then claimed that Diddy took a TV remote and used it sexually assault her. Parham’s alleged encounter continued from there. She alleged that Diddy threatened to make her disappear, before raping and instructing two men to do the same afterwards. Ashley Parham alleged that the mogul told her he “hadn’t had any a*s that tight in a while,” and offered to pay her to say their encounter was consensual.
In the court documents obtained by TMZ, Parham claims that she turned down the offer and made a threat to go to the police. Diddy allegedly countered by threatening the safety of her family if she said anything. Parham alleges that she reported the incident to Walnut Creek Police and the Orinda Police Department. However, no investigation into the Bad Boy mogul was launched. Parham’s lawsuit is not tied to the 120 cases represented by lawyer Tony Buzbee. Instead, her legal case is being handled by lawyers Ariel Mitchell and Shawn Perez. Reps for Diddy have not commented on the suit.
Rap legends Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg have once again united their creative forces, this time venturing into the world of premium spirits with the launch of STILL G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop. Announced today, this ultra-premium gin marks the highly-anticipated second product release from their award-winning beverage brand, and the duo’s first entry into the pure premium spirit space. Following the global success of their first release, the Gin & Juice canned cocktail, STILL G.I.N. brings the same level of quality, craftsmanship, and innovation to the world of distilled spirits.
STILL G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop is a bold, modern gin that stands out for its clean, citrus-forward flavor and smooth, mixable quality. Bursting with notes of tangerine, jasmine, and coriander, the gin offers a vibrant and balanced profile that’s designed to elevate any cocktail experience. As the first pure bottled spirit with the official cosign of Dr. Dre and Snoop, STILL G.I.N. showcases the perfectionist approach that both artists are known for.
“This is not a liquor that we’re just putting our name on,” Dr. Dre explains. “It’s just like we did with Beats headphones. Everything is us from the ground up: the gin, the flavor, the packaging… Everything had to be perfect. Snoop said it best: we’re better together – it’s always magical. From the look to the taste, it’s all there.”
Snoop Dogg added, “Every day in the studio when Dre and I were trying to make the dopest music, we were drinking gin and just having fun. We’ve been a part of the evolution of this gin – from the creation of the flavor to the percentage of alcohol that’s in it – and it’s just so good! Dre’s a perfectionist: he wants to make sure it’s not just good, but great. Together, we ain’t gonna do nothing regular!”
STILL G.I.N. draws its inspiration from the pair’s classic hit “Still D.R.E.” off Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking album 2001, paying homage to the duo’s musical legacy while breaking new ground in the beverage industry. This follows the release of their highly successful Gin & Juice, a nod to Snoop Dogg’s iconic track of the same name.
Crafted through an artisanal process of vapor distillation in a copper pot, STILL G.I.N. is 85 proof (42.5% ABV) and features a refined botanical blend that balances vibrant citrus flavors with subtle floral and spice notes. The meticulous craftsmanship that went into this gin ensures it appeals to a wide variety of palates, from casual drinkers to seasoned gin connoisseurs.
The bottle design is equally striking, with its unique honeycomb 750ml packaging created by renowned designer Ini Archibong, who also conceived the branding for Gin & Juice. The result is an eye-catching and stylish bottle that reflects the premium quality of the spirit inside.
Priced at $34.99, STILL G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop is distilled and bottled in the U.S. and distributed nationwide through Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. The launch comes on the heels of a successful first year for the brand, which included international expansion and becoming the first-ever alcohol sponsor of an NCAA bowl game with the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl.
“We’ve always wanted to create a gin that matches the level of creativity and innovation we bring to everything we do,” says Andrew Gill, the brand’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Dre and Snoop were involved in every step – from the bottle design to getting the perfect harmony of botanical notes into each sip.”
With STILL G.I.N., Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg continue to push boundaries, offering a premium spirit that’s as smooth and sophisticated as the music they’ve created over the years. Fans can now raise a glass to the dynamic duo’s latest success, as STILL G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop is officially available for purchase nationwide.
It seems as if each day, the Hip Hop community is more shaken by allegations, many coming from Jaguar Wright. While the accomplished singer hasn’t had much traction in her career in what seems like decades, she’s still managed to keep the industry captivated. Her tales of times working behind the scenes with some of the biggest names in music have become viral moments that blogs have picked up on. However, things were magnified when Piers Morgan invited her as a guest on his show, and she began spouting her accusations of alleged “evil” behavior from the likes of power moguls, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z.
For years, Wright has appeared on podcasts revealing what she says are the abusive ills of Hollywood’s elite. “For four years, I’ve been screaming not just Diddy, but Diddy and Jay-Z are monsters… And the victim-making machine kept going on,” Wright told Morgan during their chat. Her proclamations have gone unchecked by Combs’ camp—seemingly as they battle bigger issues related to his sex trafficking case. Yet, not everyone has let Wright’s declarations slide as she matter-of-factly makes allegations that accuse fan favorites of being abusers, drug addicts, traffickers, and guilty of sex crimes.
Due to her Hollywood tales’ sensationalized, frequently unbelievable elements, audiences are often split about the validity. Some take the singer at her word and quickly share clips of Wright’s discussions. Others aren’t buying it, waiting for more proof of Wright’s claims. Yet, several celebrities who have found their names wrapped up in Wright’s explosive conversations have clapped back, refusing to stand by as she makes allegations against them. Here are a handful of times when Wright’s peers have accused her of outright lying or bending the truth.
Following Wright’s eyebrow-raising interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, it appeared as though Ray J was upset with her. Initially, he called her out for choosing Morgan’s platform and not opting for an outlet that leaned toward the culture. He stated, “You wanna keep taking these other n*ggas money and not showing love to the community? That sh*t weak as f*ck.” Ray also suggested he would have been a better fit. “You’re hitting all these other motherf*ckers back that’s from all these other countries. Like, you safe over there. You safe with me. Stop acting scary, Jaguar.”
That tune changed not long after because soon, he was calling her an outright liar. In an interview last year with RealLyfe Productions, Wright accused Ray J of being the last person to see Whitney Houston. She alleged the reality star mogul, along with mega-music executive Clive Davis, were involved in Houston’s death. Ray caught wind of the accusations and put his foot down.
“First off, I want to say Whitney Houston was a very special person in my life,” he told The Reality Check. “She has a very special place in my heart. […] I’m not going to talk sh*t about you, Jaguar. But when you are creating these stories and pushing narratives with no real basis, it’s clear that you’re doing some kind of attention-chasing, or you’re doing this sh*t for clout. Or just for negative destruction, right? Is that about seeking the truth? You want to stir up the pot for your own gain?
He also went to bat for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, who are Wright’s regular targets. “Our culture needs more truth and integrity, not chaos and confusion,” said Ray. “People were listening. You got our attention. Is what you’re saying true? Because this sh*t is outrageous. But I came to the conclusion that once I seen a story about me, and what you had to say about me and situations in my past, that is where I started to understand that you are totally fabricating stories and you are a complete liar. So, that means that I have no respect for you and nothing you’re saying. So, now, I’ma go further. How dare you disrespect Jay-Z and Beyoncé? Jay-Z is an OG. Don’t ever disrespect Beyoncé.”
Probably two of the most significant entertainment figures who responded to Wright’s allegations were the Knowles-Carters. Once again, her appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensoreddid not go unnoticed by the uber-famous couple and their teams. “Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Robert Kelly, Sean Combs have one person in common, professionally and privately: Sean Carter [Jay-Z],” she alleged. “This has been a fist of tyranny punching through our culture for decades. It must stop.”
Meanwhile, Wright’s stories may travel fast through the internet, but Jay and Bey’s attorneys work faster. In the blink of an eye, Morgan was back on his program, issuing a public apology to the power couple. “Their lawyers contacted us to say that those claims were totally false, and have no basis in fact,” he said. Then, Morgan revealed that Wright’s comments would be clipped from the interview. “We apologize to Jay-Z and Beyonce.”
Some have theorized that Wright was never sued or threatened in the past because her stories must be true. However, it has been suggested that suing her wouldn’t do anyone any good because they couldn’t collect on a financial judgment (a la Taska K and Cardi B). Yet, Morgan and the networks he’s affiliated with could certainly be taken to court, which caused the swift apology clip.
Christopher Williams
The height of New Jack Swing icon Christopher William’s career was in the 1990s, but his legacy lives on. You can find him these days performing at festivals and even making a reality TV appearance or two, but his name was engrossed in controversy after Wright spoke about him in one of her many sit-downs. Wright alleged that many years ago, Williams had an oral sexual encounter with Diddy. Later, Williams clapped back, calling her a “crackhead” and said her assertions “ridiculous.”
He told Willie D Live, “Now she’s going on and on and on like she’s sure. But I’m like, ‘Bro, she’s hurting.’ I’m praying for her because we have to make a different stand and a different choice at this time. If I’m really solid, how can what she says affect me?” Moreover, this wasn’t the end of these two going back and forth; Wright would hop on RealLyfe Productions‘ couch again with a response. She vehemently denied taking any drugs and stood by her words.
Back in 2020, Wright was on Live once again and revealed shocking allegations about her former friend, Common. Wright was divulging alleged stories about the Chicago rapper and Philly icons The Roots, claiming that the emcee sexually assaulted her. According to the singer, the two were clothed when they were sharing a bed following a concert, and Common allegedly attempted to put his penis in her mouth. “You was with Serena [Williams], that didn’t work out. You was with whoever, you always got whoever’s hot dating you, but the sh*t don’t last long,” Wright said. “He ain’t been right since Lauryn Hill left him anyway.”
While speaking with Philadelphia’s Rise and Grind Morning Show, Common directly addressed the scathing rumors. “God bless, Jaguar. I really don’t have any negative thoughts towards her,” Common said. “I was for surely disappointed and hurt when she said what she said about me because it wasn’t true, I know people that have experienced sexual assault and that’s not anything to just say if it’s not true. But I also understand that she may be going through some things that I don’t understand.” He added, “In all truth, I went through different emotions. I’m like, oh man, why is she saying this? This is not true. How’s this gon’ affect me?”
DJ Vlad
He’s faced some harsh criticism from Hip Hop culture of his own, but that hasn’t stopped DJ Vlad from speaking up against Jaguar Wright. The VladTV creator also appeared on Piers Morgan’s show—the same episode as Wright. While the two didn’t speak on the program, Morgan did ask Vlad his thoughts on the singer’s outrageous allegations. Vlad made it clear he wasn’t a fan.
“Jaguar Wright is known to be a conspiracy theorist,” he told Morgan. “I don’t really co-sign anything that she says. I’ve never had her on my show, and I don’t have any plans to have her on my show.” Vlad added, “A lot of this stuff is just things she’s heard, things she’s making up. I can’t co-sign anything that Jaguar Wright is saying.” However, Wright later called his bluff, and in her following interview with RealLyfe Productions, she pulled up an email on her phone. She alleged that it came from DJ Vlad’s team, who requested an interview with her on VladTV.
When he caught wind of Wright’s latest update, Vlad was unmoved. He took to X to say, “Like I said in the Piers Morgan panel, Jaguar Wright has never been invited to do an interview, and she never will be. This is someone who seems to be suffering from mental illness. Anyone who interviews her is taking advantage of a mentally disabled person for views.” Famed music writer Touré has also echoed these sentiments about Wright’s mental stability.
It’s all fun and games until you hear your name wrapped up in a wild story, and Joe Budden wasn’t having any of it. The media personality took to his podcast to address Wright’s Piers Morgan interview and shut down rumors that the singer perpetuated. His response made it clear that he didn’t believe much of anything Jaguar Wright said about her knowledge of industry dealings and abuse. Budden also found himself on the receiving end of Wright’s accusations after she reportedly claimed the former rapper had a sexual encounter with Bad Boy producer Stevie J.
“No, she is grabbing the salacious and very obvious headlines and expounding on them with sh*t,” Joe Budden began. “And again, I’m only saying this ’cause I heard her say out of her mouth, that she saw a video of Stevie J and Joe Budden f*cking. So, I know, I know, I can say with 100 percent certainty—oh, that this lady just be saying sh*t to add to the luster of whatever the f*ck she’s saying.” To imprint his point, Budden continued, “I’ve never been in any compromising situation. I’ve never been in any situation where someone tried to overtake – that’s never happened to me.”
Travis Scott and award shows do not seem to mix. Scott may be one of the biggest rap stars of the last decade, but he has repeatedly been snubbed when it comes to get award recognition. It’s reaching Amy Adams at the Oscars levels of snubbery. Scott was, however, given flowers on October 15. The rapper was given the I Am Hip Hop statue at the 2024 BET Awards. It’s an award meant to highlight an artist’s influence, as well as their overall career. Travis Scott used the win as an opportunity to address those who doubted him.
Travis Scott told those in the audience that he experienced pushback early in his career. “I came from this generation where they considered us nowhere near hip-hop,” he asserted. “And everyday I try to push the sound as a producer. Nobody knew what the f*ck I was trying to do [in the beginning].” His efforts obviously paid off. “I always had this idea and vision,” Scott added. “To this day. Just to take the sound to the next level.”
Travis Scott has been forthright about the fact that he wants accolades. He went on HBO’s The Shop and admitted that he wants to win Grammy Awards for the work he puts into each of his albums. “A lot of my peers, everyone’s like, ‘Ah, f*ck that award.’ I f*ck with it,” he explained. “You play football to win the Super Bowl, you play basketball to win championships.” Travis Scott also admitted that it gets “rough at times” to see other rappers take home awards he feels he deserves. The most recent example of this, of course, was at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Killer Mike took home the award for Best Rap Album, which led to widespread debate online. Some felt Killer Mike was undeserving, while others disliked the way Travis Scott fans reacted. The tangential feud was reignited in August, when Mike threw subliminal shots at Scott on the song “Still Talk’n That Sh*t.” Travis Scott’s manager fired back on Twitter, suggesting that Killer Mike is nowhere near as influential or popular as his client. Scott, meanwhile, is hard at work on his next album.
Last year, GloRilla solidified herself at the BET Hip-Hop Awards as rap’s breakout rookie. With several viral tracks under her belt, she opted to perform both fan favorites “FNF (Let’s Go)” and “Tomorrow.”
Today (October 15), GloRilla returned to the annual ceremony with an even more impressive discography, including her debut studio album, Glorious. This time GloRilla returned to support her fellow Collective Music Group (CMG) label mate, Big Boogie.
The entertainers treated the packed crowd to a swagger-filled performance of their viral collaboration, “Bop!” With each rapper proud to call Memphis home, the pair used the city’s infectious song on the track, but dance moves on stage. Initially, the track gained traction on TikTok thanks in part to user created choreography. While GloRilla and Big Boogie proudly performed the choreography, the two had to hit the Memphis jook.
In addition to her high-energy performance, GloRilla already secured numerous nominations, including one for Best Collaboration (“Wanna Be” with Megan Thee Stallion), Best Live Performer, Song Of The year (“Yeah Glo!”), Hip-Hop Album Of The Year (Ehhthang Ehhthang), Hip-Hop Artist Of The Year, Hustler Of The Year, and Impact Track (“Yeah Glo!”).
Watch Big Boogie and GloRilla’s full performance of “BOP!” above.
Glorious is out 10/11 via CMG/Interscope. Find more information here.
