French Montana Accused Of Selling Fraudulent Vinyls To Boost Album Sales

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Last week, French Montana released his new album Mac & Cheese 5. He was clearly hoping for the album to do big sales numbers as it got numerous different versions on streaming. The album was released with an acapella version, an instrumental version, a sped-up version, a slowed-down version, and a deluxe version that featured just one new track. All of the versions were also collected into one massive 126-song version of the project on streaming platforms. Montana himself had to defend the massive “Versions” album against criticism from fans.

Now, sales projections for the album are in and it initially seemed to pay off. The album is set to push 55k in first week sales, which Chart Data projects could land it as high as #3 on the Billboard 200. But surprisingly, most of that isn’t coming from the numerous versions of the album uploaded to streaming platforms. Only around 11k sales came from streaming while the rest were pure sales. 44k in pure sales is extremely impressive for a rap album and represents even more numbers than artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have done in recent years. But some users online are starting to suspect that the sales of the album aren’t what they seem. Some have even gone as far as to accuse French Montana of straight up fraud.

Read More: What Is French Montana’s Best-Selling Album?

French Montana Vinyl Orders Not Arriving

Last month, French Montana sold vinyl pre-orders of the new project on his website. The twist is that they were being sold for just $5, far less than most artists sell their vinyls, or even CDs for. But in the wake of his new sales numbers, fans aren’t receiving what they ordered. Twitter user @99Vinyl_ claims that their order was “delivered” to a random address multiple states away. They also claim to have proof of others with similar experiences.

Shortly after they made the claim while tagging French Montana publicly, he blocked the account. What do you think of the accusations that French Montana could be committing sales fraud? Do you think his new album is capable of pulling 44k in pure sales authentically? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: French Montana’s Jet Searched For Contraband In Colombia

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SOURCE SPORTS: Laurence Maroney’s LM39 Foundation Transforms Lives Beyond the Field With The Launch Of The LM39 NFL Flag Football League

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Former NFL powerhouse Laurence Maroney, renowned for his exceptional career with
the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, is taking his commitment to excellence
beyond the football field. Through his LM39 Foundation, Maroney is set to redefine
success by creating opportunities for youth that transcend geographical boundaries.

Hailing from St. Louis, Maroney is a living testament to the values of hard work,
ambition, discipline, and faith. Now, as the founder of the LM39 Foundation, he is on a
mission to be the mentor he wished he had while growing up. The foundation, under
Maroney’s visionary leadership, is dedicated to providing a support system that fosters
the growth, development, and leadership potential of young individuals.

At the heart of the LM39 Foundation’s transformative initiatives is the newly launched
LM39 NFL Flag Football League. More than just a sports league, LM39 is a movement
that aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of young athletes in communities.

Maroney’s league goes beyond the typical sports endeavor. It’s a platform focused on
empowering youth, addressing crucial issues such as mental health awareness,
financial literacy, and youth advocacy. The LM39 NFL Flag Football League is not just
about scoring touchdowns; it’s about actively contributing to the development of future
leaders.

Participants in the LM39 NFL Flag Football League, whether as players, coaches, or
referees, become integral contributors to a larger cause. It’s not merely about engaging
in a game; it’s about becoming a part of a community that values teamwork, dedication,
and overall personal development.

LM39 offers financial, educational, and athletic programs, coupled with essential athlete
mental health support. The foundation’s goal is to raise awareness of the unique mental
health challenges athletes face and provide them with the necessary resources and
support.
Ready to be a part of the game-changing world of LM39 NFL Flag Football? Join us at
LM39 NFL Flag Football League and become an active participant in this incredible
journey towards youth empowerment.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Laurence Maroney’s LM39 Foundation Transforms Lives Beyond the Field With The Launch Of The LM39 NFL Flag Football League first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Laurence Maroney’s LM39 Foundation Transforms Lives Beyond the Field With The Launch Of The LM39 NFL Flag Football League appeared first on The Source.

‘Bad Boys 4’ Set Photo Reveals Will Smith’s Character Mike Lowrey Is Possibly Getting Married?

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'BadBoysForLife'Projectedfor$MillionOpeningBoxOfficeWeekend

Here’s a movie to be excited about … Bad Boys 4 is currently in production, and someone leaked a set photo on the Twitterverse, now officially called “X.”

Even People reported the leak on their official X account, but it’s out there, and Will Smith is apparently on set and in character with This is Us star Melanie Liburd in what appears to be a wedding scene. So check this: Liburd was announced as a part of the cast to play a new character named Christine. 

There’s no official word about who Christine is in the story, but it’s clear she’s some love interest if we’re to believe our eyes, but who knows? Some misdirection could be at play here, but that’s just speculation. But something has been going on since Smith’s Det. Mike Lowrey’s character and Liburd’s Christine are kissing during this scene. So maybe Smith’s character, who’s historically been a lady’s man, is possibly hopping over the broom, but we’ll have to wait and see. 

Bad Boys 4 is aiming for a June 14 release, so it’s safe to say production may be winding down and likely heading into post-production.

What’s cool is Bad Boys 4 is being directed by the creative team Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Also, in the report from People, the fourth installment will also star Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, and Alexander Ludwig. Let’s not forget Martin Lawrence will co-star alongside Smith, playing Det. Marcus Burnett. But Tasha Smith is replacing Theresa Randle as Marcus’ wife, Theresa. Interesting but that happens.

Wedding or not, we’re excited for Bad Boys 4, and it’s great to see Will Smith back starring in a big franchise again. 

The post ‘Bad Boys 4’ Set Photo Reveals Will Smith’s Character Mike Lowrey Is Possibly Getting Married? first appeared on The Source.

The post ‘Bad Boys 4’ Set Photo Reveals Will Smith’s Character Mike Lowrey Is Possibly Getting Married? appeared first on The Source.

When Do Gazebo Festival 2024 Tickets Go On Sale?

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jack harlow
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The latest rapper to start his own festival is Jack Harlow, who is bringing the Gazebo Festival to his hometown. Headlined by himself and SZA, the Gazebo Festival will come to Louisville’s Waterfront Park on May 25 and 26. The festival’s name takes inspiration from Jack’s first album and features performers Amaarae, BNYX, Channel Tres, Dahi, James Blake, James Savage, Jordan Ward, Karrahbooo, Majid Jordan, Malcolm Todd, Omar Apollo, PinkPantheress, Ravyn Lenae, Rich Homie Quan, Slum Village, Veeze, and Vince Staples.

When Do Gazebo Festival Tickets Go On Sale?

Tickets go on sale on March 8 at 10 a.m. ET, with general admission tickets starting at $255. A pre-sale starts March 6 at 10 a.m. You can find more information on the festival website, gazebofest.com.

Harlow joins a growing list of artists with their own festivals, which includes both established names like The Roots’ Roots Picnic and Pharrell’s Something In The Water, and younger artists like Post Malone’s Posty Fest and Tyler The Creator’s industry high watermark, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. Where Jack will land on that continuum remains to be seen but the lineup he’s put together is a strong start. You can check out the flyer below.

Gazebo Festival 2024 Lineup poster
Gazebo Festival

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

Fred Again.., Lil Yachty, And Overmono Want To Continue Past A Relationship’s Rough Patch On ‘Stayinit’

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Fred Again.. teamed up with Lil Yachty and Overmono to treat fans with the new single, “Stayinit.” This marks Fred Again..’s first new song of the year, building off the success he found in 2023 with tracks like “Leavemealone” with Baby Keem and “Adore U” with Obongjayar. It also continues his USB series, according to NME.

“I know you / Down with the pain, see the rain / Realize everybody won’t be perfect / But I do / Try hard to fix the mistakes that I made with you,” Lil Yachty points out in the emotional lyrics, seemingly inspiring the track’s title, as he takes the perspective of hoping the other person stays in the relationship — mistakes and all.

Instrumentally, it opens with a chill electronic production that transforms Yachty’s voice. It then builds in intensity on the “stay in it” chorus, when Yachty’s vocals cut out and are replaced with a techno dance beat that’s sure to excite a crowd.

Along with the song, the visualizer includes a behind-the-scenes moment of Fred Again..’s run from a few weeks ago, where he performed at Knockdown Center in NYC. It “captures the moment yachty hears this song on a proper system for the first time,” as Fred himself put it — complete with light displays and all.

Check out “Stayinit” above.

Fred Again.. is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jack Harlow Is Launching Gazebo Festival, His Own Fest With An Inaugural Lineup Led By SZA And Himself

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Jack Harlow 2024
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Some artist-led festivals have made big names for themselves, like Pharrell’s Something In The Water, The Roots’ Roots Picnic, and most notably, Lollapalooza, originally launched by Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction. Now, Jack Harlow is getting into the festival game, too: Today (February 28), he announced Gazebo Festival, a two-day event that runs from May 25 to 26 at Louisville, Kentucky’s Waterfront Park.

This first edition of the fest, which shares its name with Harlow’s 2017 mixtape Gazebo and will feature two stages, will be headlined by SZA and Harlow himself. Beyond them, the full lineup features James Blake (doing a DJ set), Omar Apollo, PinkPantheress, Vince Staples, Amaarae, Channel Tres, Majid Jordan, Slum Village, Veeze, Dahi, Jordan Ward, Ravyn Lenae, Rich Homie Quan, BNYX, James Savage, Karrahbooo, and Malcolm Todd.

Tickets go on sale on March 8 at 10 a.m. ET, with general admission tickets starting at $255. There’s also a pre-sale starting March 6 at 10 a.m. ET. More information about tickets can be found on the festival website. A portion of proceeds from every ticket will benefit the Jack Harlow Foundation.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg says of the event, “Jack Harlow is an extraordinary Louisvillian who continues to give back to his hometown. This is yet another way Jack is showing up for our city and I can’t wait to see the excitement this festival creates. I am so grateful for his commitment to making first class things happen for Louisville and our people.”

Gazebo Festival 2024 Lineup Poster

Gazebo Festival 2024 Lineup poster
Gazebo Festival

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

Emo Jimmy Butler Returned In Fall Out Boy’s Latest Music Video

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For the second straight year, Jimmy Butler decided to use preseason media day as a chance to have some fun. A year after showing up with extremely long extensions for his official photoshoot, Butler arrived to Miami’s media day with his hair straightened in an emo cut — perhaps offering a glimpse into his mood after the Heat failed to land Damian Lillard in a trade.

A visit to any of the various stats websites that use the official headshots from each season will provide a reminder of Butler’s emo look from before the season, as it really is a great bit from him. However, it appears there was more to this season’s look than just having some fun with what he’ll look like in lineup cards and on stats websites.

On Wednesday, Fall Out Boy released a new music video for their song “So Much (For) Stardust” that features Jimmy Butler (in his emo cut) wearing a bedazzled purple suit and cowboy hat, dancing in snakeskin boots alongside Pete Wentz (dressed in the same thing, but silver). That’s literally the entire 4-minute video, just a couple guys being dudes in jazzy cowboy outfits singing and dancing along to the song. It’s good timing to put out a music video featuring Butler, as he and the Heat are riding a hot streak currently, winning five straight and seven of their last eight to climb into a tie for the 5-seed in the East with Philadelphia.

Why Was Usher Mentioned In A New Diddy Lawsuit?

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Early this week, NBC News reported that Diddy had been named in a new sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Rodney “Lil Rod Madeit” Jones, a producer on Diddy’s album The Love Album: Off The Grid. The suit also named Diddy’s son, Justin Combs; chief of staff Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge; and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam as defendants for either aiding Diddy or failing to address complaints about his behavior.

However, as news of the suit spread, some other names mentioned in the suit piqued music fans’ interest. One of those names was Usher’s. So,

Why Was Usher Mentioned In The New Lawsuit Against Diddy?

Usher is not named as a defendant in the suit; however, a redacted excerpt caught the attention of gossip blogger DJ Akademiks, who used the provided footnotes to extrapolate the identities of the redacted names. “Mr. Combs informed Mr. Jones that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with rapper[5] (REDACTED), R&B singer[6] (REDACTED), and Stevie J,” it read. The footnotes provided background info for anyone involved who might need context for the redacted names. 5 was described as “a Philadelphia Rapper who dated Nicki Minaj,” which could only be Meek Mill, while 6 “performed at the Super Bowl and had a successful Vegas residency.”

That sure sounds like Usher, right?

Now, it’s important to remember that unless these assertions are corroborated, they should probably be taken with a massive grain of salt — actually, just throw the whole salt shaker in there. Celebrity lawsuits are often filled with lurid details to bait headlines that plaintiffs’ lawyers hope will prompt quick settlements to avoid lengthy trials and more embarrassing headlines. In Diddy’s case, although he did quickly settle his ex Cassie’s sexual assault lawsuit last year, he’s since maintained that the wave of suits that followed it was just a series of money grabs.