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Shannon Sharpe is now eating his social media words. He has apologized to Nicki Minaj after she cleared him on a new Lil Wayne remix.
As per Complex, the media personality was put on blast by the self-proclaimed Queen of Rap. This week, Lil Wayne dropped the remix to “Banned From NO.” On the track, she took some indirect shots at your favorite sports Unc. “Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop / If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe,” she said. The bars seemed to be a direct response to the social media post the ESPN analyst made back in February 2024 when an X user asked him if he would have Nicki on as a guest to which he responded Nicki who?
As expected the song quickly landed on Shannon Sharpe’s radar. During a recent episode of Nightcap, he clarified the X post and issued an apology to Nicki. “I used to go back and forth with people. I was talking about Nikki Haley,” he explained. “Nikki Haley said it’s really great for everybody of Black America, and I was like… ‘When has it ever been great?’” He went on to add, “So somebody says Nicki really wants to come on your podcast. I’m like, ‘Nicki who?’”
Shannon Sharpe then said sorry for causing any confusion between the two. “Nicki, I apologize. I meant no disrespect. You’ll always have an open invitation if you ever want to come sit down and have a conversation. Even if you just want to have a private conversation on the phone or something. It won’t go any further between you and I.”
You can see Shannon Sharpe discuss Nicki Minaj below.
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Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, founder of the legendary, genre-bending Funk band Sly & The Family Stone, has passed away. He was 82.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,” said the pioneering musician’s family via a statement released on Monday, June 9. “After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family. While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”
Sly & The Family Stone was a multi-cultural, Soul, Funk, Rock and R&B band with roots in San Francisco, and anchored by Stone’s virtuoso musical direction. Some of the band’s classic and familiar hits include “Sing A Simple Song,” “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “I Want To Take You Higher.” The group’s catalog of music has been sampled extensively by producers, creating new hits for Hip-Hop and R&B artists like Queen Latifah, Jungle Brothers, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J and many, many more.
Early this year, a documentary about Sly & The Family Stone called SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and directed by Questlove, was released via Hulu. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Rest in powerful peace Sly Stone. See reactions to the death of this true musical icon from across social media in the gallery.
This story is developing.
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Way back in 2023–back when people just started feeling safe enough to go back outside and Job Corps could still shape the minds of young folks who’d lost their way—Cam’ron realized something that all hustlers do: Why keep giving it away for free when he could be making money off of it?
“I was arguing with n*ggas about two hours over the phone about sports,” the “Oh Boy” rapper said during an interview with Revolt TV. “When I’d get off the phone I would look at it’d be like two hours and 25 minutes and I’d be mad, and I’m like, I need to put that energy somewhere where I can make money because sports and politics are never going anywhere.”
And Cam’ron gave the world: It Is What It Is.
And it was good.
It was a middle ground between sports talk and a barbershop convo feel. It didn’t have the pretentiousness of other sports shows in which former professional athletes sit around and tell you just how much you don’t know about sports. It was just a rapper, and his friend and fellow MCand reformed pastor, Ma$e, kicking it about sports. It used the language of the streets mixed with the knowledge that just about every common fan has and the result was a success. Cam and Ma$e even wear suits.
He once argued masterfully that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was a virtuoso of code switching, who could speak both the King’s English and the language of the street. And Cam was worried that incoming quarterback Russell Wilson and his proximity to suburban living might ruin the rapport that Tomlin had with his team.
Of course, Cam didn’t say it this way.
“Mike Tomlin is very well spoken. He says the right things. You can tell he’s a great head coach on the sidelines, but you can tell that in his off time, he’s a n*gga-n*gga. Russell Wilson ain’t no n*gga-n*gga,” Cam said. “Don’t f*ck real n*gga shit up.”
It was a brilliant articulation of the duality Black men and the difference between those who identify with the cause and those who caution against it.
In 2024, Cam would host a more laid back, casual conversation show Talk With Flee. A one-on-one style show in which the Dipset Cam would wear his chain, du-rag and bravado. If It Is What It Is is Cameron Giles then Talk With Flee is Killa Cam.
And then something started changing. The language from the two shows almost began merging and the conversation on the more buttoned up telecast started to become a bit less tactful.
Then the Diddy RICO trial began and Ma$e, (who has to know more than he’s ever let on considering he was one of Sean Combs’ Bad Boy artists during at least some of the allegations,) became noticeably uncomfortable or dismissive around the subject.
The freak-offs between Diddy, his then girlfriend singer Cassie, and sex workers became a joke, because like most of the rest of America it was jarring to learn that Diddy, one of the most prolific and vocal contributors to Hip-Hop in the past 20 years was in a cuckold relationship, in which he allegedly not only liked watching other men with his then girlfriend, but was willing to pay male escorts to be with her while he watched.
And then Cam had one of the male escorts, a man that goes by the name “The Punisher,” (né Sharay Hayes) onto Talk With Flee and it didn’t take long for the conversation to go all the way left.
“Was the p*ssy good?” Cam questioned, referring to Cassie.
And this is where the language of the street and the brashness of Hip-Hop become a disservice to the show and a crutch for Cam. There was an opportunity, a very real opportunity for Cam to have an honest conversation about sex work, sexual abuse, and sexual trauma.
This conversation required a level of sensitivity that I don’t think Cam has, or at least hasn’t exhibited. Cassie maintains that her relationship with Diddy wasn’t just physically abusive but sexually abusive. She’s claimed both in her civil suit and during her testimony that the cycle of abuse included threats made to her and her family. She noted that she couldn’t turn down Diddy’s sexual demands even though she found having sex with random sex workers disgusting and humiliating. She claimed that Diddy would threaten to expose her sextapes and make her “look like a slut” by releasing the videos.
“I feared for my career. I feared for my family. It’s just embarrassing. It’s horrible and disgusting. No one should do that to anyone,” said Cassie.
And Cam somehow took all of this trauma and sexual abuse and found a way to reduce it to the worst question possible. He made a horrific situation worse for no reason other than a cheap laugh at a sexual assault survivor’s expense.
Just a few days later while discussing possible rape charges against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson on It Is What It Is Cam took aggressive, derogatory shots at an adult entertainer.
After news that an unnamed woman filed rape charges against Williamson, Moriah Mills (who had a relationship with Williamson,) claimed that she was considering taking legal action against the Pelicans star.
Cam didn’t just make disparaging comments about Mills’ claims, he…I’ll let Cam explain it.
“B*tch, you was mad he got another b*tch pregnant and you was upset,” Cam said. “You do porn. N*ggas cum on your face for a living.”
He also noted that Mills should “Shut the f*ck up” before calling her a “C*m-bucket sl*t.”
And if that wasn’t bad enough, he fell into a common trope in rape culture in which he noted that if Mills was telling the truth that there should be “scars and bruises” proving that she was assaulted.
“I just wanna see a little evidence with these accusations,” he said.
“I’m not saying she doesn’t have evidence, I didn’t do any due diligence on this topic, I just read it and was like, ‘Whatever, here we go again,’” he continued.
It’s this dismissive attitude from men that leads to sexual assaults going unreported. As it stands, rape is the most under-reported crime with some 63% of sexual assault victims suffering in silence.
I’m not expecting the “Suck It Or Not” rapper to be a changed man on his new medium, but there was a real moment here for an adult conversation from an almost 50-year-old man to show that he’s grown up. Cam’ron is not a stupid man. He’s not only survived being a cassette tape rapper in a streaming world, but he’s thrived and clearly mastered a whole new domain.
But these conversations that he’s having are sensitive and require a bit more context and nuance from a man who is closer to getting his AARP card than he is his next platinum plaque.
But something tells me that Cam’s going to ignore this missive and keep that same energy, and maybe I’ve been ignoring the obvious, because at this point, It Is What It Is.
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Last year, LEGO surprisingly teamed up with Pharrell to bring to life his biographical documentary in the animated Piece By Piece, and now, the iconic toy company will continue their relationship with Hip-Hop as they’re now collaborating with the legendary Run-DMC and the Global Girls Crew.
In an effort to spread an uplifting message to the young girls today who’ll become the women of tomorrow, LEGO and Run-DMC have teamed up to remix their classic 1983 hit “It’s Like That.” And with the help of the Global Girls Crew, turned it into a girls’ anthem for 2025. Starring the likes of DJ Livia, drummer Nandi Bushell, singer Pink Oculus and Chinese alt-pop artist Cacien, the visuals to “She Built That” features both live-action appearances from the aforementioned artists and LEGO versions of themselves as well as the iconic group, Run-DMC.
Looking to inspire young girls to take the initiative and chase whatever dreams they may have for their future, the song and video are sure to be a hit among parents who not only want to encourage their daughters to blaze their own path in life, but also show them what old-school Hip-Hop sounded like and how influential it still can be today.
Check out the video to “She Built That” and let us know what you think about the joint in the comments section below.
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As more people take the stand and testify against Diddy in his sex trafficking trial, any hopes of him seeing the light of day dims that much more as stories and memories of his obscene behavior continue to paint a picture of a man who had no regard for human decency, allegedly.
Now, People has shared an exclusive interview with a former male escort who was hired by Diddy to partake in his infamous “Freak Offs” during its heyday. Not only does he admit to sleeping with Cassie at the “soirees,” but he even had a message for Diddy’s ex-girlfriend who he called “uplifting” and “the kindest and most respectful person.”
Shawn Dearing says he was one of more than 10 male escorts that Diddy hired to have sex with his then girlfriend, Cassie, during his Freak Offs and explained to People that the only reason he’s talking now is because he was already outted during the trial with his picture and alias becoming part of the proceedings when Cassie testified on May 14. Dearing was one of the many male escorts that Diddy hired over the years.
People reports:
“I never wanted to open my mouth,” he says. “I don’t seek attention. I don’t want to go out there and make it seem like I’m trying to get my name known off of this experience.”
When discussing Ventura, he says, “You got me tearing up! I want what’s best for her, honestly, because she … she’s a badass lady, man. She’s awesome. So I want her respect first and foremost.”
Admitting that though Diddy was in the room with him and Cassie every time they hooked up, Dearing aka Skyler stated that Diddy himself never “touched” him and only directed what he wanted to see the two engage in sexually. He also said he never witnessed Diddy physically abuse Cassie but felt that the interactions themselves were a form of mistreatment.
Ventura’s “kindness” was “being abused in [an] improper manner,” Dearing claims.
“She was there under his control, and there was that knowing and understanding that if she didn’t do what he said — I don’t know what the consequences could have been, but I could tell there was that constant energy of knowing that we must perform for him or else,” he felt.
Dearing also remembered that Cassie wasn’t allowed to speak unless Diddy was in the room with them and it got to the point where he once asked her a question after Diddy left the room to which she responded, “No, no, no. Not until he gets back.”
Yeah, Diddy might have to swallow whatever’s left of his pride, open his wallet and beg Donald Trump for a presidential pardon because it’s looking like he’s about to be held accountable for his crimes in a court of law.
What do y’all think about Shawn Dearing’s story about Diddy and Cassie? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Cardi B may be happily moving on with her life with her new beau, NFL star Stefon Diggs, but that doesn’t mean her messy days with her ex-husband, Offset, are officially behind her.
According to BOSSIP, Cardi B’s rapping baby daddy continues to complicate his ex-wife’s life amidst their divorce proceedings and has gone the Kevin Federline route and requested that his multi-millionaire ex-wife cough up some spousal support in an amended response to Cardi’s request for a divorce. Yes, Offset has experienced much success in the rap game, but Cardi’s net worth is said to be up to $100 million while Offset’s sits at around $30 million. Obviously, that man is going to want some coin.
Needless to say Cardi B didn’t take lightly to the news that Offset wants a monthly allowance and crashed out online to let her fans know just how much she despises her ex-husband these days, saying she wants him to “die” as the two continue to go back and forth in their divorce proceedings.
Taking to X Spaces Cardi aired out Offset calling him a “f*ckin’ pu**y” before bluntly screaming “I want you to die, but I want you to die f**king slow, n***a!! I want you to die slow in the bed and while you die, n***a, you gotta think of me.”
Once she blew off some steam and gathered herself, Cardi explained how the divorce proceedings went along and revealed she didn’t want any child support from Offset because she simply wanted to be “done” with the relationship as a whole and stated that though Offset can see their kids whenever he wants. She also claimed he stood them up three times.
“You asking for spousal support because I’m trying to take the kids from you?” Cardi said. “The kids is always open to see you. It’s not my fault you don’t want to fly to New York. You talk to the kids almost every single day. You call the kids almost every single day. I allow you to talk to the kids every single day. If I allow you to talk to the kids, why would I not allow you to see the kids?”
Yeah, this is bound to get uglier.
While Offset claims to be “happy” to see Cardi B moving on with her life, the man does seem to know how to trigger her anger and isn’t afraid to do so.
What do y’all think about Offset wanting spousal support from Cardi B? Fair or foul? Let us know in the comments section below.
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The 40/40 Club is set for another comeback. JAY-Z’s former hot spot will be returning to Fanatics Fest.
As per The New York Post the famed nightclub will be recreated once again for the annual Fanatics Fest. For this edition the lounge will host V.I.P.’s personally invited by JAY-Z and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. In 2024 the pop-up experience hosted an array of high profile celebrities, athletes, musicians and more. In the house were the likes of Quavo, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Carmelo Anthony, Dez Bryant, Jalen Rose and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. According to the periodical JAY-Z is slated to attend the 2025 Fanatics Fest.
Originally launched in 2003, The 40/40 Club was a chain of upscale sports bars and lounges. Its name was a nod to the very exclusive group of Major League Baseball players who attained 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in one single season. The venue decor featured memorabilia from some of the greatest moments in sports. The brand would eventually open other locations in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn. All of the locations have since been closed.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin detailed his enthusiasm for the event in a formal statement. “Seeing the pure joy, excitement and enthusiasm from all the fans who attended our first event last summer was absolutely incredible and I could not be more excited to bring Fanatics Fest back to New York City this June” he said. “We’re going bigger and better next year, adding hundreds of athletes and celebrities to the roster, blowing out the event space to add many more interactive experiences from the top leagues and teams, creating more opportunities for fans and collectors to meet their favorite athletes, more exclusive product drops and overall taking the entire event to a new level. June can’t come fast enough.”
Fanatics Fest will take place June 20-22 in New York City. You can find out more information about the event here.
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We’re now just weeks away from the highly anticipated trial of Diddy and while the Hip-Hop world waits to see what kind of evidence and stories prosecutors have in the chamber against the embattled music icon, we’re learning that Diddy’s dress code will be limited when his trial gets underway (huh?!).
According to Newsweek, Diddy has been given instructions on how he will be allowed to appear in court. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, this is apparently a standard practice as the courts do not want anyone coming to court in jailhouse jumpers looking like a common criminal. That being said, Diddy will be allowed to have a mini-trial wardrobe that ensures he looks like a man who’s to be presumed innocent before a jury of his peers. He’s known for his flashy ways, but we doubt he’ll be incorporating any of his infamous shiny suits when his trial gets underway on May 5.
Per Newsweek:
Judge Arun Subramanian issued the order in response to a request from Combs’ legal team. The directive permits Combs to wear “up to five button down shirts, up to five pairs of pants, up to five sweaters, up to five pairs of socks, and up to two pairs of shoes without laces” for his trial in New York.
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Combs for comment.
At a court appearance in March, Combs was seen in a beige-colored jumpsuit, with graying hair and a grey beard, as depicted in courtroom sketches.
Will Diddy at least get to put on some Just For Men for his greying hair and beard? Just asking.
Opening statements for the trial are set to begin May 12 following jury selection. After that the trial will get underway and will probably get the same kind of attention that the OJ Simpson trial got back in 1995.
Diddy for his part has not only pleaded not guilty to all charges, but even turned down a last minute plea deal on the eve of his upcoming trial. No details about the deal have been revealed but according to the Daily Mail , it did involve some prison time and that seemed to be enough for Diddy to say “nah.”
What do y’all think about Diddy’s upcoming trial? Should he have taken a plea deal? Let us know in the comments section below.
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For the past few months the entire Hip-Hop culture has been convinced that Diddy is pretty much cooked as his sex trafficking trial is set to get underway in just a few weeks. But low and behold former Diddy critic, Ray J, believes that Diddy will not only walk away Scott-free, but feels the charges lobbed against him are “nonsense.”
In a recent appearance on Sneako’s livestream, Ray J made the shocking prediction that the embattled music icon will be getting out of prison because he feels that the case against Diddy is a conspiracy, which will apparently somehow come crashing down and Diddy will once again be a free man.
“Puffy ’bout to get out too. On The dead homies, n*gga. Puffy getting out. All that sh*t they trying to charge that n*gga for is nonsense, bro. He did something bad that we all seen and that sh*t’s unacceptable, but that’s not what the charges are for. The charges are weak.”
Yeah, we don’t know about that, Ray. Unless he’s privy to some kind of inside information, it seems like the feds wouldn’t bring this big a case against someone like Diddy unless they had all their ducks in a row. But hey that’s just us.
Though Ray J talks about the laced bottles of baby oil and Diddy using remote controls as sex toys as “nonsense,” Diddy’s actually being charged with sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Things that seem like he might’ve done given the stories we’ve heard.
Still, this is 2025, and with a certain “business man” in power who’s known to get charges dropped for people who kiss the ring and even importing sex traffickers into the United States, Diddy may very well have a slither of hope of walking out a free man at some point during or after his highly anticipated trial. Just sayin’.
What do y’all think about Ray J suggesting that Diddy’s coming home sooner or later? Is he onto something or just straight bugging out? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Well, it’s not the Oscars like he originally hoped for, but Kevin Hart will indeed finally be hosting an awards show. And truth be told we can’t wait to see what kind of comedic hi jinx he has in store for us.
According to TheGrio, Kevin Hart has been tapped to host the 25th Annual BET Awards on June 9 and with that will come all kinds of jokes and “insults” aimed at celebrities that only Kevin Hart can get away with making. Having already been a part of the BET family with his 2013 cult classic comedy show, Real Husbands of Hollywood, the only question is why did it take BET so long to come to this decision? Regardless of the delay, Kevin Hart is excited about taking on hosting duties for the BET Awards 25th anniversary, and we don’t blame him one bit.
TheGrio reports:
“I love a celebration! It’s a chance to reflect, cherish, and honor life’s unforgettable moments,” Hart said in a press release. “I’m truly honored to host the 25th BET Awards and celebrate the culture’s biggest night. This year marks the 25th anniversary, and my partners at Hartbeat, BET, and JCE [Jesse Collins Entertainment] are pulling out all the stops to make it a night to remember. It’s a Black-Tie affair, and you’re all invited.”
Kevin Hart isn’t the only one bursting at the seams about hosting the BET Award’s 25th Anniversary show. BET President and CEO Scott Mills is also elated at Hart’s involvement in this year’s ceremony.
“For over a decade, Kevin Hart has been a beloved part of the BET family, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him return to host the 25th anniversary BET Awards,” said BET President and CEO Scott Mills. “His unparalleled talent, infectious energy, and deep connection to our audience make him the perfect host for this historic celebration. Kevin has continuously pushed boundaries in entertainment. On the heels of the successful launch of BET+ original series Lil Kev, we are eager to expand our partnership and continue to bring groundbreaking projects to life.”
Check out the comedic announcement of Kevin Hart hosting the 2025 BET Awards below, and let us know if you’ll be checking out this year’s show on June 9 in the comments section below.