UnitedMasters’ ‘A Celebration of Independence’ GRAMMY Concert Sets the Stage Ablaze with Global Acts

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UnitedMasters, Steve Stoute’s renowned global music distribution platform, kicked off GRAMMY weekend with the exhilarating annual concert, “A Celebration of Independence,” at the Hollywood Palladium. The star-studded event featured electrifying performances by music’s hottest acts, including Davido, Uncle Waffles, Tokischa, Donavan’s Yard, and NLE Choppa.

Esteemed guests in attendance included Nas, will.i.am, Doug E. Fresh, Jessie Reyez, A.V. Rockwell, Kat Graham, Lauren Jauregui, Jozzy, RMR, ScarLip, Kenya Marche, and many more. The concert celebrated the power of independent music and showcased trailblazing artists shaping the cultural landscape. This marked the first time UnitedMasters featured international acts, solidifying its impact and representation within the global independent artist movement.

“To show up again during music’s biggest weekend with independent artists representing where music is headed globally was an unforgettable moment,” said Steve Stoute, founder and CEO of UnitedMasters. Our annual GRAMMY celebration culminates all that we stand for at UnitedMasters in creating spaces for independent artists to thrive and showing them their place in this industry is enormous.”

UnitedMasters, hosting the annual GRAMMY celebration for the second consecutive year, aims to maintain momentum in creating spaces celebrating global independence within the music industry. With Bulleit Frontier Whiskey as the official spirits partner, Diageo continued its support of the event, highlighting the Pioneer Project that backs the next generation of creators. VIP guests enjoyed exclusive access to Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

“For us at Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, this event is about celebrating all of the independent artists across the globe, but we wanted to especially shout out the 142 independent artists we’ve collaborated with through our partnership with UnitedMasters,” said Jesse Damashek, SVP Marketing, Whiskey and Liqueurs at Diageo. “Though the celebration lasted just one evening, we believe the industry executives, artists, and fans in attendance should carry on the Celebration of Independence beyond the festivities via our newly released playlist.” 

Delta Air Lines joined the celebration to champion independent music and artists’ future and current success. Honda collaborated with UnitedMasters, creating a lively pre-show atmosphere for fans, featuring the Honda All Electric Prologue vehicle on display and a unique Honda music experience.

Notable guests from the previous year included Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Nas, DJ Khaled, Wiz Khalifa, Future, Daniel Kaluuya, Damson Idris, and more. This year’s event followed the groundbreaking announcement of UnitedMasters’ expansion into Nigeria, underscoring the platform’s impact on emerging African artists on a global scale. With a rapidly growing platform that has collaborated with over 2 million independent artists, the “A Celebration of Independence” concert is a testament to UnitedMasters’ mission to provide artists worldwide with a stage to showcase and grow their talents.

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The post UnitedMasters’ ‘A Celebration of Independence’ GRAMMY Concert Sets the Stage Ablaze with Global Acts first appeared on The Source.

The post UnitedMasters’ ‘A Celebration of Independence’ GRAMMY Concert Sets the Stage Ablaze with Global Acts appeared first on The Source.

Kid Cudi & Denzel Curry Are Heroes On New Single “Black Ops”: Stream

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As one of music’s most multi-talented creatives, it’s no surprise that Kid Cudi eventually got around to co-writing his own comic series. Moreover, Moon Man launched with its first issue over the weekend with Kyle Higgins also at the helm, and in similarly expected fashion, he released some music meant to accompany the series. For this first installment, we have an exciting collab to kick things off: “Black Ops” with the one and only Denzel Curry. While this team-up surprised fans, it’s very interesting to see how the INSANO multi-hyphenate and the main brain behind TA13OO mesh together.

In fact, they switch up our expectations right off the bat, as Kid Cudi opens the song vocally with a pretty melodic rap flow and his typical lyrical matter of girls, drugs, and his hectic path to success. On the other hand, Denzel Curry reaches into his singing bag, crafting rapid lines and switch-ups in a similar way. There’s a lot of chemistry between their performances, and the instrumental is as woozy, trap-centered, and simple as that of Cudi’s aforementioned 2024 album. Even though some fans didn’t like it very much (us included), it’s heartening to hear him tap into more positive soundscapes and emotional pallets. When the fundamentals are as solid as they are here, this is a fitting loose for Moon Man as he continues to brush criticism off his shoulder.

Read More: Lupe Fiasco & Kid Cudi Beef: Unpacking Their Feud

Kid Cudi’s “Black Ops” With Denzel Curry: Stream

Meanwhile, you can unfortunately only find “Black Ops” on SoundCloud at press time. Despite some fans wanting another direction, the Florida MC’s recent defense of Joey Bada$$’s new style shows that they would much rather innovate and try new things. With that in mind, the All Is Yellow collaborators crafted a straightforward but welcome banger here that pushed their current lanes further. If you haven’t heard this song yet, find it on SoundCloud and check out some standout bars below. For more on Denzel Curry and Kid Cudi, plus more great music releases around the clock, stay posted on HNHH.

Quotable Lyrics
At the booby trap, my b***h say, “Don’t get used to that,”
Redbone smoochin’ in the back, where Boosie at?
Never lied about my past because a few would cap,
I used to love this rappin’ s**t when I was new to that

Read More: Vince Staples And Denzel Curry Hype Up Billie Eilish In Game Of UNO

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The post Kid Cudi & Denzel Curry Are Heroes On New Single “Black Ops”: Stream appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Keefe D’s Nephew Bragged About Murdering 2Pac, Retired Cop Alleges

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Last year, an arrest was finally made in connection to 2Pac’s murder, and Keefe D was put behind bars. The alleged gang member is accused of having been the “shot-caller” of the infamous 1996 Vegas drive-by. The man long believed to have pulled the trigger, his nephew Orlando Anderson, was never charged in connection to the crime and later died in 1998.

During a recent interview with a former member of the Compton PD Gang Unit, Robert Ladd, he recalled the days after the shooting. According to him, informants gave authorities both Keefe D and Anderson’s names in no time. Allegedly, Anderson had also returned to Compton after the shooting to boast about the crime. “Within the next few days, we start getting calls from informants. Our first ones were saying, ‘Hey, it’s Keefe D. Orlando [Anderson] was a shooter.’ They’re telling us that Bubble Up and Big Dre were in the car. This is days after informants telling us, and it’s not just us. Other people had informants too,” he recalls.

Read More: Keefe D Hires New Lawyer Ahead Of 2Pac Murder Trial

Robert Ladd Recalls Days After 2Pac’s Shooting

Ladd also explains that in the days after the shooting, there was a lack of communication between the Compton PD and the Las Vegas PD, out of fear of information leaking. As a result, Compton PD wasn’t notified that they should have been looking out for a white Cadillac, and the car returning to Compton was missed.

“Days have gone by now, and all we’re saying is, ‘Come on man, we know the white Cadillac is coming back to the hood. If we knew there was a white Cadillac we would’ve been looking for it,” he also adds. “I mean, in that type of aspect, maybe we could have caught him or even, uh, you know, found the Cadillac.” What do you think of retired cop Robert Ladd alleging that Orlando Anderson boasted about killing 2Pac? Are you surprised? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Keefe D’s Bail Set At $750k In Tupac Murder Case

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Femme It Forward Hosts Inaugural Grammy Weekend High Tea Party Celebrating Coco Jones, Summer Walker, and Halle Bailey

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Live Nation Partner Heather Lowery orchestrated the inaugural Femme It Forward Grammy Weekend High Tea Party in West Hollywood. The event brought together award-winning artists and female executives in music to honor Grammy Nominees Coco Jones, Summer Walker, and Halle Bailey.

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As performers and cultural leaders, these women were celebrated for their contributions to the culture of Black women in music and entertainment. My Black is Beautiful, the brand partner, played a pivotal role in bringing this exclusive event to life, reflecting Femme It Forward’s commitment to recognizing and providing visibility for women.

“Success never comes easy, and for most of us in the room—certainly myself—we have to work at least twice as hard as everyone else,” Lowery said in her toast. “A part of me always feels like I am at square one, no matter how long I have been doing this. I am expressing this because I am not alone and know that many people in this room know exactly what I am talking about.”

The star-studded gathering featured entertainment by acclaimed DJs Amapiano DJ, Uncle Waffles, and DJ Rosegold, with a show-stopping performance by UCLA’s Gluck String Quartet dedicated to the honorees. Synchronized swimmers from The Black Swans added a unique visual element, choreographing routines to the tunes of Halle Bailey’s “Angel,” Coco Jones’ “ICU,” and Summer Walker’s “To Summer From Cole.”

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Celebrity attendees included AMBRE, Rapsody, Baby Tate, Tierra Whack, Kyla Pratt, Maeta, Lady London, and more. The event offered a multi-sensory culinary and cocktail experience, featuring an upscale tea bar and immersive activations. An art experience curated by Mashonda Tifrere’s ArtLeadHer, in collaboration with Auttrianna Projects and UNREPD, showcased the work of Maya Seas, Megan Lewis, Chantel Walkes, Leah King, and Cortney Herron, empowered by Live Nation Women. Guests also enjoyed luxurious cocktails featuring CÎROC Limonata, a new refreshing flavor from CÎROC’s expanding library of tastes. The Femme It Forward event exemplified the collective celebration and empowerment of women in the music industry.

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“Heather Lowery’s Femme It Forward High Tea Grammy Party” Photos courtesy of Robin Marshall

The post Femme It Forward Hosts Inaugural Grammy Weekend High Tea Party Celebrating Coco Jones, Summer Walker, and Halle Bailey first appeared on The Source.

The post Femme It Forward Hosts Inaugural Grammy Weekend High Tea Party Celebrating Coco Jones, Summer Walker, and Halle Bailey appeared first on The Source.

“Baddies East” River Fight Leaves Bloody-Eyed Mariahlynn Heated

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Baddies East doesn’t just show viewers fights in houses, clubs, and resorts, but also out in the wild. Moreover, the cast members recently went on a river trip, presumably still during their trip to Jamaica, and things got heated quick. We already knew that there was a lot of beef brewing between Mariahlynn and the tag team of Sukihana and Sapphire, who still had some bumps on the road. In the newest episode preview for this week’s installment airing tonight (Sunday, February 4 at 8PM EST on the Zeus Network), we saw how these three had a fight at the river, leaving Mariah with a bloody eye.

Furthermore, we also see the immediate fallout of the incident, with both sides taunting and blasting each other. Mariahlynn believes that they wrongfully duped her by making Sukihana distract her while Sapphire snuck up and struck her. Even though fans are always down to see these feuds play out, nothing can last forever, and these ladies might see a replacement down the line. In fact, Natalie Nunn recently expressed desires to get Rose Blanchard on Baddies and denied any tension between them.

Read More: Yung Miami Is Fed Up With Fans Asking Her To Host “Baddies” Reunion

New Baddies East Episode Preview: Watch

Elswehere, though, the Baddies East team and that of its sibling shows receives plenty of drama for reasons unrelated to episode storylines. For example, Stunna Girl recently accused the Zeus Network CEO Lemuel Plummer of sleeping with cast members, claims that he quickly clapped back against. With so much of these series focusing on drama, conflict, and scandalous content, it’s no surprise that it leaks into the behind-the-scenes discussions. Hopefully folks dive into the rumor mill regardless to determine what’s going on and whether there’s any damaging wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, this new episode’s antics might not compare in many’s eyes to that of arguably the franchise’s most notable former star. Chrisean Rock is as dominant in the headlines as ever for her volatile relationships and family life. Perhaps future episodes will feature a comeback, as unlikely as it is right now. Nevertheless, stay logged into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Baddies East.

Read More: “Baddies East”: Chrisean Rock’s Sister Tesehki Wants To Battle Smiley For Seizure

The post “Baddies East” River Fight Leaves Bloody-Eyed Mariahlynn Heated appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Waka Flocka Flames Yasiin Bey For Wearing Dress After Dissing Drake

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During an interview with The Cutting Room Floor last month, Yasiin Bey FKA Mos Def shared his take on whether or not Drake makes hip-hop music. “Why are you doing this to me?” he jokingly responded, seemingly attempting to steer clear of any controversy. “Drake is pop to me. In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston, and I heard a Drake song. It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with… shopping. Or, as you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.”

For obvious reasons, Drake and his fans were less than thrilled with his comments, and fired back with full force. Drizzy even went on to call Bey a “Bohemian Bucket,” or “crackhead,” after finding out about his short-lived marriage to a woman from Toronto.

Read More: Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, Thinks Drake Makes Pop Music, Not Hip-Hop

Waka Flocka Weighs In On Yasiin Bey’s Fit

Social media users have been a bit more critical of Bey since he seemingly dissed Drake too, recently flaming him for a bold outfit he debuted on Instagram. The outfit in question consisted of a silver jacket, a plaid skirt, and a pair of shiny platform boots. For the most part, commenters weren’t really feeling the look, including Waka Flocka Flame. He recently reacted to the flashy fit in a clip on Instagram, making it clear that he’s not a fan.

“That Mos Def buddy is tripping,” he begins. “You go from goddamn telling Drake he not hip hop to putting on a goddamn ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper dress like a wrestler… So that’s what hip hop is?” While some commenters agree with Waka Flocka’s take on the situation, others argue that fashion doesn’t necessarily correlate with the kind of music someone makes. What do you think of Waka Flocka calling out Yasiin Bey for dissing Drake and then wearing a dress? Do you agree with him, or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Why Yasiin Bey Is Considered A Hip Hop Legend

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