To combat the chatter about Black men being left out of the political discourse, Vice President Kamala Harris has introduced a new “Opportunity Agenda” focused on supporting Black men in a big way. Now this sweeping proposal offers one million forgivable loans of up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs.
As expected and smartly so, Harris aims to bolster Black male voters’ support as she faces a close race with former President Donald Trump. This is a big deal and we’re sure the naysayers will find ways to attack the positive points within the proposal.
Diving in, the plan includes partnerships between community-oriented banks, mission-driven lenders, and the Small Business Administration to fund the forgivable loans. In addition to the loan program, the agenda offers training and mentorship to help Black men find jobs in high-demand sectors.
Harris also aims to enhance the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to attract and retain Black male teachers, who currently make up less than 2% of public school educators in the U.S. The PSLF program forgives student loans after 10 years of work in certain nonprofit and government roles.
“This agenda is a further realization of Vice President Harris’ Opportunity Economy,” said Cedric Richmond, Harris’ campaign co-chair. “An economy where people don’t just get by, but get ahead. Where Black men are equipped with the tools to thrive: to buy a home, provide for our families, start a business, and build wealth.”
Oh but wait, there’s more. Harris also announced her support for federal marijuana legalization, surpassing the current Biden administration’s stance, which has focused on pardoning individuals for marijuana possession and reconsidering its classification. According to her campaign, Harris “will break down unjust legal barriers that hold Black men and other Americans back by legalizing marijuana nationally” and ensure Black men have access to jobs and wealth in the emerging cannabis industry, addressing the disproportionate policing of Black men for marijuana-related offenses.
It get’s better. Another key part of her agenda focuses on digital assets. Harris recognizes that over 20% of Black Americans have invested in cryptocurrency. Her campaign said she would work to establish a regulatory framework that protects Black men and other participants in the digital asset market, though specific details on the framework were not provided.
Get this, Harris’ proposals come as Trump makes inroads with Black voters. Polls show roughly 15% of Black voters plan to support Trump in the upcoming election, a 6% increase from Biden’s final margin with Black voters in 2020.
With her new agenda, Harris hopes to close that gap by addressing economic opportunities and social justice issues impacting Black men.
When it comes to contrast to Trump, Harris frequently links him to the Project 2025 agenda, a conservative plan that proposes cuts to education and social safety net programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself from it.
A new documentary, Tupac: Cover-Up, currently streaming on the XUMO PLAY service (with plans to be on all streamers by February 2025), punches a rather sizable hole in the current rash of news stories trying to implicate Sean “Diddy” Combs in the 1996 Murder of Rap Star Tupac Shakur.
The documentary “Tupac: Cover Up” dismantles the current charges against Duane “Keefe D” Davisfor the murder of Tupac, using Attorneys, Former Judges, former FBI Investigators, and industry insiders. This group of experts asserts that there is much more to the effort to convict Davis than meets the eye and what is at stake if a false narrative is sold.
“The consensus of our experts indicates that there was a narrative constructed by a group of self-interested individuals beginning five (5) minutes after the Shakur shooting and that Mr. Davis may have been coerced into creating the story he has often repeated in interviews and books,” says Director/Producer Richard “RJ” Bond, who also directed the “Tupac Assassination” series and authored the book “Tupac:187”.
“The Davis Narrative, as inconsistent and contradictory as it has been, seems to indicate that Davis participated in the killing motivated at least in part by some scheme involving a longstanding ‘bounty’ put out by Diddy. Not only has Davis recently disowned his previous statements, but there is now a real disconnect between the alleged ‘Diddy’ bounty and the ‘Revenge Narrative’ put out for almost 30 years to the Nevada Grand Jury- alleging Orlando Anderson and Davis participated in a shooting compelled as revenge for an altercation earlier that evening.”
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”Bond concludes. “And it’s critical that Clark County prosecutors taint the prospective jury pool with a phantom association between Diddy and Tupac so that when the jury pool hears the prosecution repeat Davis’s “Diddy fairy tale,” they will have already thought, ‘Oh yeah, that was in the news not long ago.’ But if Davis is lying and he’s the only eyewitness to the shooting besides Suge Knight still alive, then there’s nothing to tie Davis to Diddy.
“But now it’s getting out of hand, and it’s ended up in my backyard, so I need to speak to it.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is rocking on. This time, J. Balvin is the focus of a new docuseries titled A Great Day with J. Balvin, set to premiere on Peacock on October 17. The series offers fans an inside look at the life of the Colombian reggaeton star, taking viewers on adventures alongside Balvin and some well-known friends, while also sharing valuable life lessons he’s picked up along the way.
If familiar with Balvin, he’s referred to as the “Prince of Reggaeton,” and rose to global fame during the 2010s with hits like “Mi Gente,” “Ay Vamos,” and “Ginza.” As one of the top-selling Latin artists, Balvin has sold over 35 million records worldwide and earned numerous accolades, including 11 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 6 Latin Grammy Awards, and 5 MTV Video Music Awards.
Here’s the show’s description. It reveals that A Great Day With J. Balvin will follow the artist on a personal quest to “uncover the secrets of a truly fulfilling life.” He is joined by celebrity friends as they go on “unexpected and transformative adventures,” with the aim of discovering practices that help foster inner peace and resilience.
When it comes to a longer synopsis it adds, “Together, they embark on an adventure, exploring dynamic, unexpected, and transformative practices that serve as anchors in cultivating inner peace and resilience. Prepare to be entertained, moved, and enlightened by never-before-heard stories and insights that will leave you inspired and uplifted.”
What’s more, J. Balvin not only stars in the series but also serves as an executive producer. The six-episode docuseries features appearances from NBA player Jimmy Butler and fellow musicians Saweetie, Demi Lovato, and Anitta. Actor Xolo Maridueña and Brooklyn Peltz Beckham also make guest appearances in the show.
Produced by Exile Production and NBC News Studios, all six episodes of A Great Day With J. Balvin will be available for streaming on Peacock starting October 17.
Here’s what’s new in the world of Megan Thee Stallion. A new documentary about rapper Megan Thee Stallion is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video later this month. Titled Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, the film will be available for streaming starting October 31, as announced by Amazon on Monday.
Get this, the documentary promises to explore some of the “most vulnerable moments” of Megan’s career. It will chronicle her “journey on the road to stardom as she tenaciously navigates fame, grief, pressure, and success,” according to the film’s description. However, specific details about what aspects of her life will be covered have not been disclosed.
Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nneka Onuorah, known for her work on Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, the documentary features an executive production team that includes Lori York and Desiree Perez from Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s production company, as well as Loren Hammonds and Dave O’Connor from TIME Studios, and Alexa Conway and Ian Orefice.
If unfamiliar, Megan Thee Stallion, whose high-profile shooting case brought attention to issues of misogyny in the music industry, will reportedly share her life story, offering viewers an intimate look at her rise to fame and the challenges she has faced along the way.
Don Toliver kicked off his Psycho Tour over the weekend in Portland, Oregon, and as a result, we now have the setlist for all those looking forward to the Houston rapper bringing his new moto-themed album Hardstone Psycho to an arena near them. According to setlist.fm, the vast majority of the setlist does come from his latest album, with only one song from its immediate predecessor, Love Sick; the second most songs are from his 2020 debut, Heaven Or Hell. You can check out the full setlist below.
10/10 — Portland, OR @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/12 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
10/13 — Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
10/15 — San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
10/18 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
10/19 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
10/20 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
10/23 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
10/24 — Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
10/26 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
10/27 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/29 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
10/31 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
11/02 — Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
11/03 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
11/06 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Liacouras Center
11/08 — Fairfax, VA @ EagleBank Arena
11/10 — Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
11/11 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
11/13 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
11/14 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
11/15 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
11/17 — Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 Arena
11/19 — St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena
11/21 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
Kanye West has been dealing with Lauren Pisciotta (former YEEZY employee from 2021-2022) for a few months now. It seems like every other week we hear some new allegation as over this weekend that was the case. The sexual harassment/assault accuser recently alleged that she received some lewd text messages from Kanye West that he wanted to have sex with Bianca Censori’s mother. The alleged thread started with, “I wanna f*** your mum. Before she leaves,” to Bianca.
He then allegedly screenshotted that and sent it to Lauren, asking, “Before she leaves… Should I [add] I meant I want you to watch me f*** your mom.” Allegedly, Bianca never had a reaction to any of these interactions. If you have been keeping up with this debacle, these are not the only messages, videos, and phone calls, that Lauren has allegedly received from Kanye. It also includes an allegation that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at a Diddy party.
Things Seem To Be Awkward Between Kanye & Bianca Censori’s Mother
US rapper Kanye West attends the WSJ Magazine 2019 Innovator Awards at MOMA on November 6, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
But as far as this latest allegation goes, there’s an important update surrounding it. According to HOLLYWOOD UNLOCKED and Daily Mail, Alexandra Censori, the mother of Bianca, has broken her silence since this was made public. Both say that Daily Mail Australia were the ones who ran into the matriarch, and they asked about the allegation and sexual advances. The outlets say that she doesn’t want to be “drawn into the latest claims about her son-in-law.” She also asked for privacy at this time.
What are your thoughts on Bianca Censori’s mother’s response to the allegation that Kanye West wanted to hookup? Do you she may have had something without saying much at all? How do you see this entire debacle playing out? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Kanye West and Bianca Censori. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the worlds of music and pop culture.
Jason Lee shared a fiery response to JAY-Z and Beyonce after alleging that the couple reached out to him in response to viral allegations about their friendship with Diddy. Speaking about the situation on his podcast, Lee claimed that he hasn’t even spoken on the matter and is thus confused as to why they’ve reached out to him.
“JAY-Z, I know you’re watching because you got people calling me,” he began. “Stop having people call me. You can call me yourself, you know how to get my number. You got people calling me. Call me yourself because this right here is gonna go viral,” Lee said, before reflecting on his past as a super fan of Beyonce. “I will tell you, to the audience, if I do come up missing, all the calls I’ve been getting have been about him…” He concluded by clarifying that he hasn’t actually received any threatening calls.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Jason Lee and Amber Rose attend the 65th. GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
If Lee has been receiving calls from JAY-Z and Beyonce’s team, he isn’t the only one in the media. Piers Morgan recently revealed that the legendary artists’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, contacted him about an interview he conducted with Jaguar Wright. Morgan then apologized for platforming her and admitted the allegations she made about the couple were baseless. “Editing interviews is not something we do lightly at a show called Uncensored but like the proverbial cries of fire in a crowded theater, there are legal limits on us, too. And we apologize to Jay-Z and Beyoncé,” he said on an episode of his show, Uncensored.
Jason Lee Speaks On JAY-Z & Beyonce
Check out Lee’s full comments on JAY-Z and Beyonce below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Jason Lee as well as JAY-Z, Beyonce, and Diddy on HotNewHipHop.
Jason Lee sends a message to Jay Z after he reveals that Jay & Beyonce’s people are reaching out to him after Diddy’s arrest and their allegations
“Jay-Z I know you’re watching because you got people calling me… you can call me yourself… to the audience if I do come up… pic.twitter.com/W6fYVaKys9
With a breakout hit as massive as “F.N.F.,” it would’ve been easy for GloRilla to just stick to that sound and appeal to get her bag as hip-hop’s most beloved new femcee of that year. To be fair, that’s kind of what she did in the following months, giving us single after single of some dirty Memphis bangers that she earned her fair share of hate for, along with every other woman rapper being just as hedonistic as the guys without that patriarchal benefit of the doubt. However, the Tennessee native clearly didn’t want to rush her studio debut, and now that GLORIOUS is here, we can easily see why.
On this new album, GloRilla amps up the regionality of her artistry with no need for excessive bells and whistles, makes the most out of her various flows and deliveries, and adds compelling flashes of topical focus that put the rest of her discography under a different context. Of course, it’s not all a hit, and there’s still some room for her to grow as an artist, lyricist, and performer. But Big Glo doesn’t just acknowledge this humbly on GLORIOUS. She also adds other sonic influences to emphasize and diversify her perspective in more explicit and consistent ways than many rap stars today tend to champion. Glo’s still the same person she’s always been, but pulling the veil back in this way results in more relatable and captivating affirmations on love, independence, faith, and conscientious identity that still go absurdly hard.
Starting with the beats, the most obvious auditory arsenal within GLORIOUS is two-fold: some orchestral and gospel-inspired instrumentals on one hand, and hard-hitting Memphis trap rhythms on the other. Mash them together and you have GloRilla’s catchy and to-the-point debut, at least holistically. The “INTRO” outlines this quite well with faint organs, warm bass, homages to T.I., and sharp snares. Overall, the drama and gravitas behind both of these styles inform and reinforce each other, so even string hits on singles like “HOLLON” come off as grand musical performances despite them landing on a club-ready track. GloRilla doesn’t consistently pick the most original beats, but even mild instrumentals on records like “STEP” with BossMan Dlow contain some interesting embellishments. In this case, it’s a slinky bassline and some stankface-inducing stomps.
The most consistently impressive production element here, though, is the brass. You already knew that thanks to GloRilla’s explosive lead single, “TGIF,” but there are plenty of examples of simple but effective uses of these timbres throughout GLORIOUS. One standout song is “LET HER COOK” and its contrast with light pianos, and “I AIN’T GOING” mixes those horns with an abundance of atmosphere and a more simple trap beat to create an almost rage-like feel. Still, almost everything on this album is distinctly Memphis despite its other employed styles. A lot of that is thanks to the 25-year-old’s delivery and lingo, but the percussion also carries heavily even in more poppy cuts like “I LUV HER” with T-Pain. Some choruses don’t ring as intoxicatingly as others, but with beats as impactful and larger-than-life as these, pretty much any refrain can become an anthem.
As for GloRilla herself on GLORIOUS, she remains as charismatic and confident as ever throughout almost every verse here. But the most interesting elements are when she deviates from that bravado, at least in part. Throughout this album, there are two main thematic focuses: the Memphis artist’s newfound fame and massive success in the hip-hop industry and her issues with toxic relationships with other men. “STOP PLAYING” switches things up with a soft drill tune, but more importantly, it assures her self-confidence regarding her journey to success and her self-respect regarding relationships. On “DON’T DESERVE,” Glo and Muni Long explicitly speak on wanting to see a friend leave an abusive relationship, an angle that you won’t find as directly in today’s rap landscape. But songs like “GLO’S PRAYER” show more vulnerability by admitting that she can’t bring herself to fall out of love with a problematic partner.
As such, many songs on here might share similar subject matter. Yet GloRilla is almost always diving into a particular aspect between these themes in a way that makes GLORIOUS feel more cohesive, carefully structured, and thematically progressive. By the time we reach more triumphant fare, such as the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted anti-drama anthem “HOW I LOOK” or the closer “QUEEN OF MEMPHIS” with Fridayy, we have a better understanding of her desires and what the next step in this journey is for her. What’s more, is that Glo relays this through a relatively small but, nonetheless, well-delivered set of flows. She sometimes sounds menacing, often fiery, occasionally conflicted, but always sharp and focused. Even though the album can feel like she’s spinning her pen’s wheels in place sometimes, these retreads don’t take away from the overall album experience.
Furthermore, you will still laugh at lines like “I’m half celibate, you can’t f**k, but you can eat this p***y” and be moved by confessions like “Got me feeling like a dummy when I know I’m smarter / The only man that showed me love correctly was my father.” GloRilla balances these moods out with grace, and if you need proof of that, listen to how passionately the album’s centerpiece, “RAIN DOWN ON ME,” with Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard, and Chandler Moore turned out. Speaking of guests, Latto and Sexyy Red both bring boisterous chemistry to “PROCEDURE” and “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME,” respectively. However, the featured artists never overshadow or outshine Glo’s vision on GLORIOUS, and she’s the one that links all its disparate elements together for a thematically well-realized experience.
Still, there are a few notes for improvement here and there, such as some generic instrumentals, non-rhymes, similar tempos and song structures, and some deja vu here and there. Fortunately, all that becomes moot by the time you finish GLORIOUS, as you have a hefty collection of grimy, bombastic, and raw trunk-knockers that don’t overstay their welcome, plus plenty of direct and fearless food for thought. With all this in mind, it’s not hard to see why GloRilla wanted to take her time with her debut album, both to mull over her own romantic struggles and to respond to the behavioral and industry-set expectations that her fame pinned onto her. It doesn’t feel forced, desperate, haphazard, or like it could’ve come from anyone else other than her. The Queen of Memphis now has her throne, and we hope that her next effort doubles down on her ideas here.
Brooklyn rapper Kaseem Ryan, known professionally as Ka, has died at the age of 52, according to a post on his Instagram profile. The statement reads:
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Kaseem Ryan (1972-2024), the rapper and producer known as Ka, who died unexpectedly in New York City on October 12, at the age of 52. Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Ka lived a life of service—to his city, to his community, and to his music. As a 20-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, he put his life on the line to protect his fellow citizens. Ka rose to the rank of FDNY captain and was a first responder on September 11, 2001 during the attacks on the World Trade Center. He leaves an extraordinary legacy as a recording artist, including eleven remarkable self-released solo albums. Ka is survived by his wife, mother and sister. We kindly ask that the privacy of Ka’s family and loved ones be respected as they grieve this incalculable loss.
Ka was a staple of the underground, indie-rap scene, self-releasing nine solo albums since 2008 on his Iron Works label. Ka was not only known for his wordy flow and heady approach to lyricism, but also for being a down-to-earth example of the rap everyman who created music as much for the love of rap as for money. It was famously revealed in 2016 that he was a member of the New York City Fire Department; one of several underground rappers who openly admitted to keeping a “day job,” he was an example for those who didn’t necessarily want to make rap their “main” career but still loved rapping enough to make a career out of it.
Ka’s most recent output, with albums like A Martyr’s Reward, Languish Arts, and his sole 2024 release The Thief Next to Jesus, were critically acclaimed if not commercially well-known; his fans have been some of the most vociferously supportive, despite a relative lack of notoriety. His impact on rap is outsized, and as more fans come to discover his work in the coming weeks, months, and years, the loss to hip-hop will become more apparent every day.
Ashanti seemed to be having a blast in videos of her 44th birthday celebration over the weekend. In videos on social media from her night out over the weekend, she rocks a pink dress with Nelly by her side. The two appeared to go out for dinner and drinks.
When Live Bitez shared the video on Instagram, fans in the comments section showed plenty of love to the couple. “She’s just always a big ball of happy energy. Always smiling and always youthful,” one fan wrote. Another added: “Nelly don’t know what to do when the camera going around them! Ashanti understood the assignment.”
Ashanti & Nelly Pose Together During Usher’s “Coming Home” Album Release Event
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 14: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image created using a star filter) Nelly and Ashanti attend Usher’s “Coming Home” Album Release Event on February 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
Ashanti and Nelly married last December and recently welcomed their first child together. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, she reflected on the experience of childbirth. “He actually came a little early,” Ashanti said. “[His] dad had to fly in last minute which was awesome. Just all of these emotions happening at one time, just knowing that this is your person, this is your purpose, this is what it’s supposed to be. And the three of us together, we were all able to hold each other. It was incredible to watch just how confident and gentle and how soothing he is with his son. It was just an amazing, incredible feeling. It’s just an immense feeling.”
Ashanti Celebrates Her 44th Birthday
Check out the video of Ashanti’s birthday celebration on Instagram below. Nelly and Ashanti originally dated from 2003 to 2014 but split up for nearly a decade before reconciling. Be on the lookout for further updates on Ashanti and Nelly on HotNewHipHop.
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