New Hip Hop News

Half of American Adults Support Ban on TikTok, 46% Believe China Using it to Spy on United States

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

A recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos reveals a divided sentiment among U.S. adults regarding the potential ban of TikTok. How surprising. Sarcasm. ByteDance, a China-based tech company, owns the popular social media app. With an ambitious law on the horizon that could effectively ban TikTok nationwide by January 2025, about half of Americans express support for the drastic measure, citing concerns over data privacy and Chinese influence.

The legislation, known as the “Protecting Americans’ Data From Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024,” signed by President Biden after receiving bipartisan support in Congress, mandates ByteDance to divest its stake in TikTok within nine months to a non-“foreign adversary” entity. That’s a bold statement, but the lawmakers are serious about this. Failure to comply would result in the app’s distribution being prohibited in America. TikTok intends to challenge the law on First Amendment grounds, but the ban may become a reality if unsuccessful. ByteDance has no plans to sell its interest in the platform.

According to the poll, approximately 50% of Americans support a TikTok ban, 32% oppose it, and 18% are undecided. Concerns about Chinese government surveillance and influence loom large, with 55% believing ByteDance utilizes TikTok to sway public opinion and 46% suspecting espionage activities by the Chinese government.

Senator Maria Cantwell has raised alarms, suggesting that TikTok and ByteDance exploit data and artificial intelligence for surveillance purposes, even targeting journalists covering the company. Past incidents, such as ByteDance firing employees for unauthorized access to TikTok data, further fuel apprehensions.

Concerns about the repercussions of a TikTok ban exist. Ninety percent of respondents believe content creators would migrate to alternative platforms, while 45% worry about adverse effects on small businesses and performing artists. Additionally, 46% fear potential infringements on free speech rights.

The Ipsos/Reuters poll, conducted from April 29-30 with a sample size of 1,022 U.S. residents aged 18 or older, highlights the complexity of public opinion on the TikTok ban issue, with a margin of sampling error of +/- 3.2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Whatever happens, TikTok has become an influential staple in pop culture, but the connection to China has some people concerned, and possibly, rightfully so.

The post Half of American Adults Support Ban on TikTok, 46% Believe China Using it to Spy on United States first appeared on The Source.

The post Half of American Adults Support Ban on TikTok, 46% Believe China Using it to Spy on United States appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Jaz-O Dropped His Debut Album ‘Word To The Jaz’ 35 Years Ago

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

tumblr 9044a3d6d6ee5555424bf84bab472f87 b98ba00d 400

On this date in 1989, Brooklyn emcee Jaz-O released his debut LP Word To The Jaz on the EMI USA imprint. Recorded in Abbey Road Studio in the UK, this album didn’t receive much in terms of commercial fanfare, however, one very important facet of this album will forever impact the culture of Hip Hop; the introduction of Jay-Z.

The unbelievable metamorphosis of Hov from the days of “Hawaiian Sophie” to the multi-billionaire mogul that we see today is testament to the power of Hip Hop culture to move people, individuals and collectives, forward and upward. Even though Jaz represented the epitome of a Brooklyn hard rock rapper, the storyline of the song coupled with the appearance of a younger and more mild mannered protege couldn’t have been a more fitting introduction of arguably the best rapper of all time.

Fast forward to the 21st century and Jaz was signed to a posh deal on the Roc Nation imprint by his former partner and protege, Jay-Z. Salute to both of these living legends for giving us such an important piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Jaz-O Dropped His Debut Album ‘Word To The Jaz’ 35 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Jaz-O Dropped His Debut Album ‘Word To The Jaz’ 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Cardi B Accused Of Ordering Beatdown Of Akbar V, GloRilla Pokes Fun At Footage

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Cardi B has been accused of ordering a beatdown of ‘Love & Hip-Hop’ star Akbar V, and once footage of the event emerged, GloRilla couldn’t help but poke fun.

XXXTENTACION Wilds Out In Unseen Footage Of 2016 Police Interrogation

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

XXXTENTACION can be seen acting erratically in newly leaked footage stemming from a 2016 police interrogation after he was arrested for domestic abuse.

Russell Simmons Accused Of Forgery In Alleged Sexual Assault Case

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Russell Simmons has been accused of sexual assault by 20 women and received multiple lawsuits on the matter since 2017, one of which just took an interesting turn. Moreover, according to an exclusive AllHipHop report, a lawsuit from a Jane Doe claims that he forged her signature on a document settling their dispute over her accusations that he sexually assaulted her. Doe is reportedly a former Def Jam employee, and court documents allege that she felt appalled with the label’s co-founder’s response to her allegations, which she believes insufficiently address the weight of his alleged actions. He only gave a vague apology after November of 2023, when he learned of potential legal action through the Adult Survivors Act, court docs maintain.

Furthermore, during this legal process, a document from three decades ago emerged that supposedly settled their lawsuit in writing. However, due to factors like handwriting and the company letterhead, Jane Doe claimed that this document is fake and that Russell Simmons forged her signature on it. “The document is an Adobe pdf file titled ‘Agreement – Jane Doe v. Russell Simmons,’ although the words ‘[Doe] – Executed Document.pdf’ also appear in the body of the file at the top of each page,” court docs read. “The metadata for the file states ‘Created: March 24, 2024.’ The document is dated ‘January 9, 1997’ at the top of each page, but states ‘[Jane Doe] 1-6-97′ at the bottom of each page.”

Russell Simmons At A 2023 MusiCares Event

Russell Simmons Sexual Assault Forgery Hip Hop News — LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 03: Russell Simmons attends MusiCares Persons of the Year Honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

As such, Jane Doe denies signing the document and alleged that it’s a falsehood. Also, she argued that even if this is a real document, it only covers her Def Jam exit and small financial considerations, not the actual accusation of sexual assault against Russell Simmons. With this in mind, plus his post-“settlement” behavior which allegedly includes various instances of confrontation, puts the document’s authenticity into question. While Doe’s legal team continues to argue against the document’s validity, it wouldn’t completely close the door if it’s legitimate paperwork.

Meanwhile, Jane Doe requests “general, punitive and economic damages for loss of employment, loss of business opportunities, [and] loss of wages” in this case. In addition, she wants Russell Simmons to compensate her “for injuries suffered as a result of the unlawful conduct alleged herein.” We’ll see what this means for the development of this and other cases as a whole. As for Simmons, he’s completely denied any and all accusations, standing behind his nine lie detector tests as proof of his innocence.

[via]

The post Russell Simmons Accused Of Forgery In Alleged Sexual Assault Case appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kendrick Lamar Accused Of Deleting Pro-Palestine Comments On IG, OVO 40 Weighs In

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar has been in the midst of a feud with Drake. Overall, fans have him up right now thanks to his song “Euphoria.” However, it is now up to Drake to come through with a response that is worthy of taking the lead back. As is stands, Drizzy is working on something. Although, no one knows when he’s going to drop it. It could be today, and it could be in a month from now. That is the beauty of rap beef. It is unpredictable, and oftentimes, filled with questions that are sometimes left unanswered.

With Kendrick in the spotlight, he is facing scrutiny for even the smallest of infractions. That said, recently, fans realized that pro-Palestine sentiment posted on Lamar’s IG was allegedly being deleted. This information made its way to Twitter, and subsequently, people started flooding Lamar’s IG page to post Palestinian flags and other messages such as “Free Palestine.” In fact, Drake’s producer 40 got in on all of this and simply posted one Palestinian flag. It was a subtle shot, but an impactful one.

Kendrick Lamar IG Flooded

It is unclear whether or not the comments were really being deleted or not. Moreover, there is a chance that it wasn’t Kendrick doing it, but someone on his social media team. Whatever the case may be, with all of the pro-Palestine protests going on, this whole controversy doesn’t look good for K. Dot. As it stands, he has yet to comment on all of this. Given his social media history, it is unlikely that he ever will.

Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that Kendrick was really deleting the comments himself, or was it someone who runs his socials? Does this make you lose any respect for the artist? 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.

The post Kendrick Lamar Accused Of Deleting Pro-Palestine Comments On IG, OVO 40 Weighs In appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

TikTok & Universal Music Group Strike Agreement In Royalty Dispute: What We Know

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After months of negotiations, Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok have announced a breakthrough licensing agreement. As music technology continues to progress, this marks a significant moment in the music industry. This multi-dimensional agreement promises to benefit UMG’s extensive roster of artists, songwriters, and labels. Moreover, this also reinstates their music catalog on TikTok’s expansive platform.

Strategic Collaboration For Mutual Benefit

UMG’s music is coming back to TikTok.

Surprise, surprise.

– Better payment for UMG artists
– Buy-in on ethical AI practices
– More artist-centric tooling

Or, at least that’s what the press release says.

UMG may need TikTok more than TikTok needs UMG, but they’re better… pic.twitter.com/gtBWm1gjc3

— Rob Abelow (@AbelowRob) May 2, 2024

The strategic collaboration aims to enhance the creative and commercial prospects of UMG’s roster. Both parties have expressed a shared commitment to leveraging TikTok’s advanced technology. Through the platform, UMG plans to enhance its marketing prowess to deliver improved remuneration for creators. As a result, they plan to enhance engagement opportunities for their music.

Fans on TikTok can anticipate the return of UMG’s extensive recorded music and publishing catalogs soon. The platform now offers them access to diverse musical content from renowned artists and songwriters. Additionally, fans can explore music from promising emerging talent. This development intends to reignite creativity among TikTok users, enabling them to create videos set to the backdrop of their favorite tracks.

Exploring New Monetization Opportunities + Online Safety Protection

umg tiktok — In this photo illustration, Universal Music Group (UMG) logo is seen on a smartphone and pc screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

As part of the agreement, UMG and TikTok will collaborate to explore new avenues for monetization. As issues regarding royalties became prominent, UMG and TikTok’s partnership leverages the social media platform’s e-commerce capabilities. Additionally, joint campaigns supporting UMG’s artists across various genres and territories are on the agenda. This indicates a concerted effort to maximize the commercial potential of UMG’s music catalog on the platform.

TikTok has committed to investing significant resources in developing artist-centric tools aimed at empowering UMG’s artists to thrive on the platform. These tools include features like “Add to Music App,” enhanced data analytics, and integrated ticketing capabilities, all designed to enhance artists’ financial prospects and expand their global fan base. Moreover, this new deal prioritizes stringent online safety protections for artists and their fans, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for all users.

An essential aspect of the agreement involves collaboration on responsible AI development within the music industry. Both UMG and TikTok have pledged to ensure that AI tools are developed ethically, safeguarding human creativity and the economic interests of artists and songwriters. They promised to implement measures to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform, while also improving artist and songwriter attribution to uphold their rights and recognition.

Expeditious Implementation

UMG and TikTok are working swiftly to implement the terms of the agreement, with plans to reintroduce music by UMG’s artists and songwriters to TikTok in the near future. This proactive approach reflects the commitment of both parties to restoring normalcy and fostering a mutually beneficial partnership.

In conclusion, the resolution of the royalty dispute between UMG and TikTok heralds a new era of collaboration in the music industry, characterized by mutual respect, innovation, and commercial opportunity. As we witness the digital landscape’s evolution, partnerships like this are vital in ensuring the continued success and sustainability of the music ecosystem.

[Via]

The post TikTok & Universal Music Group Strike Agreement In Royalty Dispute: What We Know appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kim Kardashian And Odell Beckham Jr Call it Quits

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kim Kardashian and Odell Beckham Jr. have decided to part ways, believing they are better off as friends than as romantic partners. The reality star, SKIMS founder, and NFL WR are no longer seeing each other, although the exact timing of their breakup remains unclear. Fortunately, there is no animosity between them. Sources reveal that Kim and OBJ have chosen to prioritize their friendship, maintaining a high level of respect for each other even after their romantic relationship has ended.

Kim appears to be content with her single status at the moment, putting her energies on her family and business. Fans and the media frequently see her out in public doing her thing. Whether she’s out with her children or engaged in one of her numerous endeavors, she is focused on the important things. In 2024, Kim is a busy woman, so, likely, their relationship wasn’t committed enough to make them stop dating. The months-long romance between Kim and Odell comes to an end with this announcement. They put a cap on a relationship that was more rumors and whispers than concrete evidence that the two were indeed dating. They never really made the relationship official.

Kim Kardashian And Odell Beckham Jr Are Still Friends

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 16: Kim Kardashian and Saint West attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian and Odell Beckham Jr. first started “dating” in September 2023. At the time, they were adamant that they were not dating seriously. They would have similar incidents over the course of several months, but they would maintain some distance as if to leave everyone wondering about the specifics of their connection. When they entered the same Las Vegas elevator in February, the rumors started getting more serious. During Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Oscars after-party, Kim was spotted squeezing Odell’s face in an uncommon public show of love. That was the closest it ever came out in the open, but they were never really seen kissing or anything.

Odell Beckham Jr. is looking for a new NFL team after being released by the Baltimore Ravens. Kim is maintaining her business empire and doing things that are generally Kardashian. The two were never really a serious couple, and they knew that better than anyone on the outside. Overall, the fling ends amicably as both are still cool with each other. We wonder who will be dating Kim K next.

[via]

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50 Cent Laughs At Woman Doing Lil Kim’s Signature Dance To Dodge Drive-By Shooting

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

50 Cent and Lil Kim aren’t exactly on the best of terms, but even the former couldn’t deny that this was quite the bizarre but fortunate story to witness. Moreover, he shared a news clip on Instagram on Wednesday (May 1) of an Alabama woman named Shariah Taylor who recounted her almost deadly experience with a drive-by shooting. “I hear about 7 rounds,” she told the WTVY news network of the incident, which reportedly occurred outside of her apartment complex. “So I’m dodging, I’m ducking, I’m dodging, I’m ducking, I’m dodging, doing my Lil Kim. I’m trying to get my baby in the car, then I threw my baby in the backseat and we just sped off.”

Fortunately, Taylor and her baby were able to flee the scene unscathed, although it must still be a very frightening thing to look back on. Maybe that’s what made 50 Cent refrain from commenting on Lil Kim’s signature moves this time around, but he still found the overall explanation comical. “IM DOING THE LITTLE KIM !!! [laughing face emoji] LOL,” he captioned his repost of the news report. For the younger kids out there, Kim’s bob-and-weave moves, which you can see GIFs of in the comments under the IG post below, reportedly originated in the “Quiet Storm (remix)” music video.

50 Cent Reacts To Woman Using Lil Kim’s Dance Moves During Shooting

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

Furthermore, 50 Cent’s trolling of Lil Kim’s moves occurred as recently as 2021, when he compared her to the titular villain from the 1993 horror flick The Leprechaun. “Ur so Obsessed wit me this is getting creepy,” she replied to his jabs, calling him “lame” and “corny” to boot. Even the Junior M.A.F.I.A. member’s ex, Mr. Papers, got roped into the Fif beef for a brief moment. Things almost got deep there…

Meanwhile, Lil Kim’s probably got bigger things to worry about right now than a potential G-Unit attack, such as controversy around her much younger boyfriend. Those gossip points always end up causing a lot of contention, so we’ll see how or if she responds to it at all. As for 50 Cent, trolling is just what he does. Will he ever surprise us again? Only time will tell.

[via]

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