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K-Pop supergroup NJZ, formerly known as NewJeans, announced during a show at ComplexCon Hong Kong on Sunday (March 23) night that “this might be our last performance for a little while.”
It was the first time NJZ appeared together since Friday (March 21), when a Seoul Court granted the band’s former management company Ador — whom they’ve been in a dispute with since mid-2024 — a preliminary injunction prohibiting the girl group from “organizing their own appearances and [conducting] any independent activities — from making music to signing advertising deals,” according to BBC.
After debuting a new song, “Pit Stop,” the five members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein), visibly nervous, gathered onstage, stopped the music and took turns reading from a letter, addressing “their bunnies” in English and Korean.
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“This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here,” Hanni and Dani read. “It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.
The speech (read in full below) came at the end of an hour-long headlining set in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 11,000 fans at the AsiaWorld Expo Arena, Hong Kong’s largest live music venue.
The performance that preceded the remarks focused on “solo stages” from the five group members as they covered R&B songs. It left many in the audience — who showed up to hear new music from their favorite artists — scratching their heads, as it was a departure from NJZ’s high-energy productions, polished choreography and vibrant stage presence. The covers ranged from TLC’s “No Scrubs” from Danielle; UPSAHL’s “Smile For The Camera” from Minji; “Dontcha” from Haerin; SWV’s “Use Your Heart” from Hyein; and Ghost Town DJ’s “My Boo” from Hanni.
In February, NewJeans announced they were changing their name to NJZ as they were added to the ComplexCon bill. BBC reports that the dispute over the group arises from Hybe, the parent company of Ador, allegedly forcing out NewJeans’ mentor, Min Hee-Jin. At a press conference in November, NewJeans announced their departure, saying Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists. NJZ says they will challenge Friday’s decision.
This is the second year of ComplexCon, the global streetwear and pop culture festival, in China. In 2024, the event attracted more than 30,000 international attendees. The U.S. edition moved to Las Vegas in 2024 after eight years in Los Angeles. In 2025, over three days, the festival hosted 150 brands, 40 musicians and groups, and 400 creators across music, design, movies and sports.
NJZ had a merch booth inside the ComplexCon marketplace, which commanded a line of more than 2,000 people on Sunday alone. However, the booth was shuttered after it sold out of all new NJZ merchandise.
This year’s Complex LIVE! Concerts, which brought together South Korean, Japanese, Chinese and American hip-hop artists and DJs, featured the Hong Kong debuts of Quavo and Metro Boomin, who headlined the opening night.
Read Hanni and Dani’s full statement below.
“This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here. It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.
Honestly, we’ve known from the start that this journey wasn’t going to be easy and even though we accept the court’s ruling and this whole process, we had to speak up to protect the values that we believe in, and that was a choice that we don’t regret at all. We surely believe that standing up for our dignity, our rights and everything we deeply care about is something we had to do, and that belief will not change.
We understand and know that today’s news might be disappointing or upsetting but it was not an easy decision for us to make either. But at the moment for us, it’s about protecting ourselves so that we can come back even stronger.
There was a lot that we had to go through … things that really we only know about. But even [through] all that, there are so many things that we wanted to share with you guys and so many fun plans that we are excited to announce. But right now, though, it feels too hard to keep going at this pace, and as strong as we are trying to stay, it has honestly taken a bit of mental and emotional toll on us. However, this doesn’t mean that we are going to give up. We will keep pushing forward no matter what, and coming to Hong Kong and receiving all this love and support from you guys at ComplexCon gave us so much strength.
Right now, our hearts are a little bit worn out, and it feels a bit too hard to keep going at this pace. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to give up; we’re going to keep going. With this decision we’ve made, we’re respecting the court’s decision, and for now, it’s just us taking a step back to pause, take a breath and gather our hearts and ourselves before moving forward.
To everybody who has been believing in us and supporting us through everything from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, and we love you so, so, so, so much, and we can’t express how grateful we are, and we promise, no matter what the circumstances we will meet again soon.”
The Jonas Brothers have unveiled the North American dates for their upcoming 20th anniversary tour.
On Sunday (March 23), the sibling trio revealed the U.S. and Canadian itinerary for their JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour, which will see them perform at stadiums and arenas across both countries starting this summer.
The 43-date tour launches on Aug. 10 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., and concludes on Nov. 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The full list of dates, announced during JONASCON in New Jersey, can be found below.
“We’re beyond excited to hit the road and celebrate 20 years of music,” the Jonas Brothers said in a statement. “Our fans have been with us through every chapter, and this tour is our way of honoring them, the memories we’ve made, and the ones we’ll create together. We can’t wait to make this our biggest, most unforgettable tour yet.”
Tickets for the JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour go on sale March 28 at ticketmaster.com. Opening acts in select cities include Marshmello, The All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls.
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The Jonas Brothers are also celebrating the release of their upbeat new single “Love Me To Heaven.” The upbeat track serves as the trio’s first new release of the year, following previous collaborations with Marshmello and Rascal Flatts.
In addition to rolling out the tour dates, JONASCON was an extravaganza of all things JoBro. The event features live performances, DJ sets, Q&A panels, fan activations, pop-up surprises, retail takeovers, a Jonas trading post, trivia, games, immersive experiences, an interactive art installation, keynote event, karaoke, a Camp Rock bar, special guests, mini golf and exclusive merch.
Check out the Jonas Brothers’ JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour dates below.
Aug. 10: East Rutherford N.J. (MetLife Stadium)Aug. 12: Washington, D.C. (Nationals Park)Aug. 14: Philadelphia (Citizens Bank Park)Aug. 17: Hershey, Pa. (Hersheypark Stadium)Aug. 21: Toronto (Rogers Centre)Aug. 23: Boston (Fenway Park)Aug. 26: Chicago (Wrigley Field)Aug. 28: Detroit (Comerica Park)Aug. 31: Arlington, Texas (Globe Life Field)Sept. 6: Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium)Sept. 18: Vancouver (Rogers Arena)Sept. 20: Portland, Ore. (Moda Center)Sept. 22: Seattle (Climate Pledge Arena)Sept. 25: San Francisco (Chase Center)Sept. 26: Sacramento, Calif. (Golden 1 Center)Sept. 28: Phoenix (PHX Arena)Oct. 2: Denver (Ball Arena)Oct. 4: Omaha, Neb. (CHI Health Center)Oct. 5: Des Moines, Iowa (Wells Fargo Arena)Oct. 7: Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center)Oct. 8: St. Louis (Enterprise Center)Oct. 10: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)Oct. 12: Milwaukee (Fiserv Forum)Oct. 14: Nashville (Bridgestone Arena)Oct. 16: Tulsa, Okla. (BOK Center)Oct. 17: Austin, Texas (Moody Center)Oct. 18: San Antonio, Texas (Frost Bank Center)Oct. 19: Houston (Toyota Center)Oct. 22: Tampa, Fla. (Amalie Arena)Oct. 24: Sunrise, Fla. (Amerant Bank Arena)Oct. 26: Orlando, Fla. (Kia Center)Oct. 28: Atlanta (State Farm Arena)Oct. 29: Raleigh, N.C. (Lenovo Center)Nov. 1: Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)Nov. 2: Indianapolis (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)Nov. 4: Knoxville, Tenn. (Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center)Nov. 5: Charlotte, N.C. (Spectrum Center)Nov. 6: Columbia, S.C. (Colonial Life Arena)Nov. 8: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center)Nov. 9: Buffalo, N.Y. (KeyBank Center)Nov. 11: Cleveland (Rocket Arena)Nov. 12: Pittsburgh (PPG Paints Arena)Nov. 14: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun Arena)
Snow White is off to an underwhelming start at the box office.
Disney‘s live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic, starring Rachel Zegler in the titular role and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, opened to a lackluster $43 million domestically, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Amid controversy and lukewarm reviews, the opening weekend haul falls short of Tim Burton’s Dumbo, which opened to $45 million in 2019.
Despite the sluggish debut, Snow White claimed the top spot at the box office, outperforming Warner Bros.’ mob movie The Alto Knights, which disappointed with an estimated $3.2 million opening.
Overseas, Snow White earned $44.3 million, bringing its total global launch to $87.3 million, falling short of its projected $100 million goal.
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Final weekend numbers will be released on Monday morning.
Snow White, which had a $250 million production budget, is a rare Disney live-action remake to receive a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. Nearly every other film of its kind has earned an A grade, according to THR.
To put Snow White‘s disappointing debut into perspective, other Disney live-action princess remakes have performed much better: Beauty and the Beast launched to $174.6 million domestically in 2017 (not adjusted for inflation), Cinderella opened to $67.9 million domestically in 2015, and Maleficent debuted to $69 million in 2014.
Snow White has been marred by controversy, beginning with backlash over casting Zegler in the lead role due to the color of her skin, despite her Colombian heritage. The 23-year-old actress and singer has also been outspoken in her support for the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Gadot, who is Israeli, has faced criticism for her comments about the Gaza conflict.
Snow White is directed by Marc Webb, known for The Amazing Spider-Man films, and features songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the duo behind The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen.
Sauce Walka is recovering after being shot in broad daylight in downtown Memphis on Saturday (March 22).
The 34-year-old Houston rapper, born Albert Walker Mondane, was shot in the leg outside a hotel near Memphis’ FedExForum when a car with multiple people pulled up and began firing, TMZ reports. He is currently in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
An unidentified man who was with Sauce at the time of the incident died from his injuries at the scene. The victim’s name has not been released. Memphis police are still searching for the shooters, who fled the scene in a white four-door vehicle.
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In a press conference on Saturday, Memphis authorities confirmed that investigators believe Walka and the other individual were specifically targeted by the gunmen. Police do not believe the attack was random.
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“This appears to be a targeted shooting incident,” a Memphis Police representative said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The victims were outside by a vehicle. The suspect vehicle pulled up. Multiple people got out of that vehicle, fired shots without engaging in any conversation, they got back into the white vehicle and fled.”
Individuals with information about the incident are urged to contact Memphis CrimeStoppers.
Sauce, a Houston native, began his hip-hop career in 2007 and has since released multiple mixtapes. He has collaborated with fellow Houston rappers, including Bun B, Lil’ Keke, Slim Thug and Travis Scott, as well as other hip-hop stars like A$AP Rocky and Migos.
In 2009, Walka was involved in another gun-related incident during a Trae Tha Truth concert. Police also connected him to gang activity in 2018, though he has denied the claims. “I know that I’m a record label, I know that I’m an artist… I’m not into gang activity or any of that stuff,” the rapper stated in response, according to the Houston Chronicle. In 2023, the rapper was reportedly arrested after leading Houston police on a car chase that ended in a crash.
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Sauce Walka and an associate, Sayso P, were reportedly shot in Memphis on Saturday according to several developing reports online and among local media outlets. Via some large Hip-Hop news account on X, Sayso P was reported to have died from his injuries.
Details regarding the shooting of Sauce Walka and Sayso P are scant but according to local outlet Fox 13, the shooting took place near FedEx Forum earlier this afternoon outside of a Westin hotel. The outlet has reported that the shooting left one man dead and another in stable condition and so far the chatter points to Sauce Walka being the lone survivor.
Online, some social media accounts have posted video footage of the crime scene with a wounded person being attended to by first responders and medical personnel. The shooting took place at the intersection of Second Street and Lt. George W. Lee, which is currently closed off to traffic.
Sauce Walka hails from Houston and has worked alongside Griselda Records with songs alongside Westside Gunn and the label’s in-house producer, Daringer. Walka, 34, is also a prolific recording artist with nearly two dozen projects across DSPs and other means.
As Hip-Hop Wired gathers more details, we’ll return to this story with fresh updates as it is still breaking. Check out reactions from X, formerly Twitter, below.
UPDATE:
Local outlet WREG added in its report that local authorities are on the lookout for a white vehicle that carried the alleged shooters and tailed the suspects out of the city. A citywide manhunt is underway.
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Justin Bieber is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of his upcoming album.
On Saturday (March 22), the 31-year-old pop star shared a video on Instagram of himself jamming with fellow musicians in a spacious room filled with music equipment and a pool table, all while overlooking stunning outdoor views.
“I think I hate myself sometimes when I feel myself start to become inauthentic,” Bieber captioned the nearly three-minute clip. “Then I remember we’re all being made to think we’re not enough but I still hate when I change myself to please people.”
In the video, Bieber sports a yellow beanie while immersing himself in a trippy, experimental jam session with an eclectic mix of mind-bending electronic sounds. The “Sorry” singer tagged several other musicians and friends in his Instagram Stories, including singer-songwriter Jensen McRae, pastor Judah Smith, Josh Mehl, DJ Taylor James, producer Camper, and others.
Bieber’s post also drew a supportive comment from frequent Prince collaborator Sheila E. “DONT EVER SAY U HATE URSELF!!!!!!!!!!! call auntie Sheila. Let’s talk,” the Grammy-winning drummer wrote.
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Earlier that day, the “Peaches” hitmaker shared another reflective post on Instagram, writing, “I got anger issues too, but I wanna grow and not react so much smh.” The message included three photos: a close-up selfie of him in a hoodie, an image from his childhood, and a photo of what appears to be his baby son, Jack Blues, lying on a blanket in front of a large screen.
On March 16, the singer opened up on Instagram Stories about his journey toward letting go of hate. In an all-caps message, he wrote, “I WAS ALWAYS TOLD WHEN I WAS A KID NOT TO HATE … BUT IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WASNT ALLOWED TO HAVE IT AND SO I DIDN’T TELL ANYONE IVE HAD IT.”
The Grammy winner’s recent social media posts followed another vulnerable message on March 13, where he admitted to feeling “unequipped and unqualified most days.” In recent weeks, Bieber has been candid with fans about the need to “grow up,” revealing in February that he was working on “letting go and remembering the weight isnt on me to change.”
Bieber hasn’t released an album since 2021’s Justice, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. This year, the star has teased new music, sharing occasional studio photos on Instagram.
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CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we attempt to showcase music we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back again! With our latest update of the year, we’ve had a lot of catching up to do so let’s get to the newness.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. — D.L. Chandler
Welcome back to the latest update to your newest and favorite playlist, Certified Fresh (CRT FRSH)! We’ve been MIA for a while so we’ll need to dig deep into the virtual crates as we bring the listeners and ourselves up to speed.
We open the playlist with “NOKIA” from Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s collaborative album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, which has been making moves on the charts since dropping earlier this year. Taking it to Montreal, Mike Shabb’s “Crews pop” is one of several standout tracks from his hazy, well-executed album, shabbvangogh. Playboi Carti’s new MUSIC album is doing its numbers and the track “GOOD CREDIT” sounds ready for a stadium performance with Kendrick Lamar appearing for a scene-stealer verse.
MARCO PLUS, one of dopest rappers out of Atlanta, has been on CRT FRSH before and the track “gmfu” is more of his usual strong, hypnotic work. Doechii re-released an extended version of her stellar Alligator Bites Never Heal project and “Anxiety” is one of the bonus tracks of note. We took it back to 2024 and Nappy Nina and Swarvy’s slept-on Nothing Is My Favorite Thing and the track “Omakase” features some extremely dope verses from maassai and Stas THEE Boss.
We want to thank the rest of our CRT FRSH included acts such as GELO, GloRilla, Big Cheeok, Dhani, J. Cole, LORD JAH-MONTE OGBON, Freddie Gibbs, Hidden Renaissance, MACADEN, King Quad, JT, Samara Cyn, Sherwyn, Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, Zelooperz, Real Bad Man, The Alchemist, Wale, IDK, Lil Durk, Jhene Aiko, Pyraminds, Planet Asia, and Guilty Simpson.
We’ll be updating this playlist in two to three weeks with some, ahem, fresh updates and new acts along with a revamped structure to the segment. Stay tuned!
To be considered for inclusion in the CRT FRSH playlist, please email playlist curator D.L. Chandler at: dchandler@bhmdigital.com
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Olivia Rodrigo covered a No Doubt classic during her set at Lollapalooza Chile.
Halfway through her headlining performance on Friday (March 21) at the 2025 edition of the festival in Santiago, held at Parque Bicentenario de Cerrillos, the 22-year-old pop star put her spin on No Doubt’s mid-1990s hit “Don’t Speak.”
“This next one is one of my favorite songs that I didn’t write,” Rodrigo told the crowd before strumming the opening chords on her guitar. “I’m very jealous of the people who wrote it, because I think it’s amazing. If you know it, sing along.”
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“Don’t Speak,” from No Doubt’s third album, Tragic Kingdom, peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart in 1996.
This isn’t the first time Rodrigo has paid tribute to No Doubt. She also included the band’s anthem “Just a Girl” in her setlist during her 2022 North American Sour tour. More recently, No Doubt invited Rodrigo to perform “Bathwater” during their reunion show at Coachella in 2024.
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“Anyone that knows me knows that I am the biggest Gwen Stefani fan in the world,” Rodrigo told a screaming crowd in 2022, before sharing that she met the No Doubt frontwoman at the Met Gala that same year. “I got to talk to her for a while, and she’s just the coolest human in the world. I love her music so much and I wanted to play this song for you guys tonight.”
Rodrigo’s Lollapalooza Chile set also featured songs like “Vampire,” “Drivers License” and “Bad Idea Right?”
Lollapalooza Chile, which runs through Sunday (March 23), also features performances from Benson Boone, Foster the People, Tate McRae, Zedd, Charlotte De Witte, Parcels, Rawayana, Teddy Swims, James Hype, Los Tres, Mon Laferte, Fontaines D.C., Girl in Red, Inhaler, Sepultura, and more.
Lollapalooza Argentina is also taking place this weekend at the Hippodromo de San Isidro in Buenos Aires, featuring a similar lineup, including sets from Tan Bionica, Wos, La K’onga, Los Angeles Azules, Nathy Peluso, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Caribou, Jpegmafia and San Holo, among others.
Check out Rodrigo’s cover of “Don’t Speak” at Lolla Chile here.
Taylor Swift is all about Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s I Said I Love You First.
On Saturday (March 22), just a day after its release, the 35-year-old pop superstar took to her Instagram Stories to praise the newly engaged couple’s joint album.
“@selenagomez & @itsbennyblanco I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH,” Swift wrote, sharing a screenshot of the album on Spotify along with a link to purchase the set.
I Said I Love You First includes previously released songs such as “Scared of Loving You,” “Sunset Blvd,” “Younger and Hotter Than Me” and “Call Me When You Break Up,” featuring Gracie Abrams. The full tracklist also features “Ojos Tristes,” “Don’t Wanna Cry,” “Cowboy,” “Bluest Flame,” “How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten,” “Do You Wanna Be Perfect,” “You Said You Were Sorry,” “I Can’t Get Enough” and “Don’t Take It Personally.”
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Leading up to the album, Gomez spoke about working with her fiancé in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, sharing, “It just felt like it was a little taste of what we are and how we made this together, and how much we loved it and how much we love each other. And it just felt like it was meant to be.”
The couple began dating in June 2023 and got engaged late last year. Gomez shared the happy news with a Dec. 11 Instagram carousel featuring her marquise-cut engagement ring, along with the caption, “forever begins now.”
Gomez has also opened up about sharing her music with Swift. In 2019, she recalled showing her first Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Lose You to Love Me,” to her pop superstar bestie, noting that it brought both her and her mother, Andrea Swift, to tears.
“It’s gonna make me cry thinking about it,” Gomez said. “Because it wasn’t just about how great the song was, which is a lot coming from her, it was just that they had been on that journey with me, intimately. And they were crying because of how proud they were for me stepping into a whole new era of my life, and it not involving the horrible things, the abuse, the emotional chaos, it felt like I had a huge sigh of relief.”
Matthew Knowles is responding to Ye’s controversial remarks about his grandchildren.
In a since-deleted post on X Tuesday (March 18), the embattled rapper — formerly known as Kanye West — questioned the mental capacity of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s 7-year-old twins, Rumi and Sir Carter. He also claimed the children were conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Knowles, 73, who managed his superstar daughter early in her career, addressed Ye’s offensive comments in a new interview.
“People pay a price for being stupid, especially in the music industry,” Knowles told TMZ on Friday (March 21). He added, “I’m hopeful Kanye gets the type of help he needs, in terms of mental health.”
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During an interview with Justin LaBoy in February, West revealed that he was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).
Knowles’ remarks follow an Instagram video from his ex-wife Tina Knowles (and Bey’s mom), which many believe was a response to Ye’s comments. In the clip on Wednesday, she said, “What happens when a snowman throws a tantrum? He has a meltdown.”
Tina captioned the since-edited post: “Corny joke, time! It’s hard to remain positive and classy in the face of ignorance and evil. But I know that no weapon formed against me or my family shall prosper. This battle is not mine, but the Lord’s, I know that God has got this.”
Ye has been in the spotlight for his recent controversial remarks, including antisemitic rants and his willingness to engage in beef with just about any of his past collaborators, including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Ty Dolla $ign, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, and others.
On March 19, West released a self-directed short film for his Bully album, which stars his son Saint West and was edited by Hype Williams.