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DJ Mustard is firing off at Boi-1da, revealing private messages between the producers referring to the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
The current beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has taken on a new dimension as the hit producer DJ Mustard has levied some shots against producer and artist Boi-1da by revealing private messages between the two, where the latter actually praised Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track “Not Like Us.” The back-and-forth began as the Canadian producer and friend of Drake wrote, “West Coast rap is a–,” and continued with, “Nobody outside LA wanna hear that s—t.”
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DJ Mustard, a Los Angeles native and frequent collaborator with Kendrick Lamar, created an Instagram Story by first writing, “Say it ain’t so man,” and then revealing screenshots of his private messages with Boi-1da. “@boi1da I thought you was a real one i ain’t kno you felt this way,” he wrote as a caption to a screenshot of one exchange in another Instagram Story. The two producers had previously enjoyed a good relationship in the past. The next one of those screen captures shows Boi-1da complimenting Mustard on the production of “Not Like Us” by writing, “Good shit. Beat hard af.” Over that Instagram Story, Mustard wrote, “You said you liked ‘Not Like Us’ @boi1da. Welp there’s enough yellow tape to go around.” He’d end it with another Instagram Story bearing the caption, “and that’s the end of my TED talk. Lame a— n——.” Boi-1da and Drake haven’t yet responded to the social media posts.
Mustard has been enjoying substantial success due to the production of “Not Like Us” and his production work on Lamar’s recent album, GNX. In a recent Los Angeles Times interview, he spoke about dealing with the responses and particularly going up against Drake and his fans mockingly online. “These guys don’t go to sleep — all they do is tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet,” he said. “That’s where ‘the Nation of drizzlam’ came from. I said it in a joking manner, but I guess on Twitter it looked like I was mad.” He laughs. “Drake should use that phrase. I won’t charge him for it.”
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Jaleel White found his footing as an actor in the early 1990s by way of his breakout role as Steve Urkel on the hit sitcom series, Family Matters. At a recent talk, Jaleel White shared his thoughts on why Family Matters isn’t mentioned as one of the top Black television series of its time, prompting fans on X to deliver what they felt were doses of reality.
Jaleel White, 48, is currently on a promotional tour for his memoir, Growing Up Urkel, and was at the Wilmington Public Library in Delaware recently to discuss the work and his time on television. During the chat, White shared that he believes Family Matters doesn’t get the same attention as other Black shows of his time for reasons he feels were connected to the fact it focused on a middle-class Black family.
“Being a part of the TGIF brand sometimes makes you feel like you don’t completely belong in the pantheon of Blackness,” White said earlier in the chat regarding Family Matters and its place in Black culture. Blackness has been treated as a very monolithic experience in entertainment. If it’s not a hood story, it’s not a Black story. And you know, sometimes I feel left out of that.”
TGIF was first established as a programming block on the ABC network in 1989 meant to bring attention to several family-friendly television shows, typically sitcoms, that can be viewed by all on Friday evenings. During its height, TGIF was home to some of network television’s top-rated shows of which Family Matters was a part.
White continued in the chat to add while Family Matters isn’t viewed as the Blackest show among the other greats, it is viewed well as a family show.
“If there’s ever a poll, and they say what are your favorite black shows, Martin is in there, Living Single. I already know we [Family Matters] coming in last,” White added. “But if there’s ever a poll and it’s just your favorite family shows, suddenly Martin is not in there [and] we rank really high. So it’s kind of interesting in how we look at ourselves, to be quite honest, as Black folks.”
White’s quip about the perceived Blackness or lack thereof caught the ears and eyes of those who saw or heard the chat, and were especially bothered by the “hood” jab despite Living Single and Martin focusing on middle-class Black characters as well.
On X, formerly Twitter, Jaleel White had his name dragged through the virtual dirt. Just for reporting purposes, we’ll share some of those reactions.
Hop to the 7:30-minute mark on the video below to hear White’s quip in question.
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Jay-Z was named in a civil lawsuit brought against Sean “Diddy” Combs and was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl while attending a music industry afterparty back in 2000. Jay-Z has since filed to have the lawsuit case dismissed, citing that the attorney representing Jane Doe in the matter is attempting a financial shakedown and is asking that the identity of Doe be revealed.
In a new report from Page Six, Jay-Z, 55, has filed documents in court that took aim at Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee and levies a claim of his own that the lawsuit was an attempt to force the rapper and entrepreneur to pay a large sum of cash to make it all go away.
“That campaign was cynical and calculated to force payment of an exorbitant sum of money—Defendant would have to pay X millions of dollars irrespective of the truth, or else,” a portion of the doc said, which was obtained by the outlet.
“When Defendant refused to pay and instead took measures to establish his innocence, this unnamed Plaintiff and her self-promoting counsel (whose name has been splashed across headlines and press conferences under auspices of representing her) went to extraordinary lengths to shut down fair defense,” the doc continues.
“These claims are not about justice for victims. Nor are they about giving victims of sexual violence a voice. Instead, they are merely the next chapter in Attorney [Tony] Buzbee’s sprawling extortion saga—a saga whose aim is base and measured in dollars,” the doc also adds.
Jay-Z’s side wants the judge in the matter to reveal the name of Jane Doe to the public, stating that the accuser’s legal team has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the anonymity.
Buzbee, Doe’s attorney, gave a statement to Page Six regarding the matter.
“Sending a basic litigation demand letter and then filing a lawsuit isn’t extortion or blackmail. That’s the legal practice.
Buzbee added that his side “won’t get bogged down in a silly sideshow that tries to make the lawyers the focus of what are very serious allegations brought by a courageous woman.”
In the court of public opinion, reactions to the lawsuit claims have grown legs, with some already announcing Jay-Z is guilty as charged before the matter has been heard. Others, such as 50 Cent, have taken to social media to take shots. Others are saying that as more details emerge, the truth will be revealed in an attempt to show grace.
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The Roots have always shown reverence to Hip-Hop en route to becoming stalwarts of the culture themselves, and a newly announced event solidifies that stance. The Roots announced on Monday (Dec. 9) the “A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95” with Lil’ Kim, Method Man, and Redman among the stacked lineup for the concert that kicks off next year.
Hosted by Live Nation Urban and the LA Phil, “A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95” will be a one-night-only event taking place at the Hollywood Bowl venue in Los Angeles, Calif.
Along with the aforementioned acts, Bay area legend E-40, Cleveland’s Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Staten Island Wu-Tang Clan swordsman Raekwon, Compton funkster DJ Quik, Atlanta quartet Goodie Mob, Queens rapper and producer Havoc of Mobb Deep, and more will all take to the stage. The Roots will provide the backing sounds for each of the acts, and will be similar in scope to last year’s “Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life” event at Hollywood Bowl which was sold out.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the drummer for The Roots, shared the following statement:
Well: 1995 was our true arrival. Nineteen eighty-seven was the Year of the Creative Adhesive, the year that tied together Tariq’s world and my world in high school, and 1991 was the Year of the Green Light, the year we gave ourselves permission to take our resources and passion and pursue our dream. But 1995? That was the Year It All Came Together, the year when our first major release, “Do You Want More?!!!??!” was sent into the world. Hip-hop was an entirely new ballgame back then, on an entirely new playing field. Those were the days when there were still things like mainstream terrestrial radio, bloated video budgets, and creativity at both the regional and the global levels. Those were the days that produced classic album after classic album, unleashing countless new ideas about art. Those were the days when the world was our oyster. This is the story of those days.”
The “Tariq” that Questlove mentions is no other than the legendary Black Thought, whose given name is Tariq Trotter.
Tickets for “A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95” will go on sale Wednesday (Dec. 11) at 10 AM PST at www.hollywoodbowl.com. Get your tickets fast as this one is certain to sell out quickly.
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Photo: Live Nation/Getty
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Pusha T doesn’t speak much, but when he does the culture listens. In a recent interview, he gave his opinion on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.
As spotted on Rap-Up, the front man of Clipse was in Miami for Art Basel. The Virginia Beach, Va., MC was a guest on “Saint Sessions Live,” an in person Q&A hosted in front of a live audience. While he discussed a variety of topics regarding his illustrious career it was his take on this very high-profile moment that soon went viral. Journalist Ari Melber asked him his thoughts about Kendrick’s infamous “Yeah, f**k all that pushin’ P, let me see you push a T” line from “Euphoria.” Pusha T made it clear he got what K. Dot was hinting at.
“I guess he was just telling him, you know he needed to address me before it comes back and trying to go at him.” He went on to reveal that he took the reference as a gesture of respect. “I think it was a great time for me. That whole battle was an awesome time. I think that him being a fan of Hip Hop, he saw it as that.” When asked if he also agreed with the people that Kendrick Lamar won the battle against Drake he emphatically replied, “1,000%.” Pusha T added, “I think that Kendrick is a lyricist and a lyricist that talks to your soul.”
You can see King Push discuss the beef below.
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On Sunday (Dec. 8), the Hip-Hop culture was shocked when it was revealed that Jay-Z was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in a civil lawsuit against Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. While most lawyers advise their clients to keep quiet in such cases, Hova, allegedly, went on the offensive.
In a statement shared on Roc Nation’s X account, he suggested that attorney Tony Buzbee was “blackmailing” him with the lawsuit.
That in turn prompted Buzbee to respond in kind. The lawyer representing “Jane Doe” in the latest lawsuit against Diddy took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to push back against Jay-Z’s claim of blackmail by stating that Jay got himself in this pickle by suing Buzbee for trying to inquire about the situation in general. In his post Buzbee wrote, “Regarding the Jay Z case and his efforts to silence my clients: Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm. He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym.”
As for Jay saying that Buzbee was “blackmailing” him with this case, Buzbee added, “What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him. Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation.”
Buzbee then went on to say Jay and his team tried to intimidate him and his client and wrote, “Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve. As far as the allegations in the complaint filed, we will let the filing speak for itself and will litigate the facts in court, not in the media.”
https://x.com/TonyBuzbee2/status/1865928354114814391
In the statement in which Jay-Z accused Buzbee of blackmailing him, Jay not only denied the allegations but went so far as to dare the lawyer to file a criminal complaint instead of a civil one and said, “Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?” After calling Buzbee a “deplorable human” and “ambulance chaser in a cheap suit,” Jay ended the statement and said, “I look forward to showing you how different I am.”
https://x.com/RocNation/status/1865917852542247358
Jay-Z wants all this legal smoke to clear his name.
In the lawsuit, Jane Doe claims that both Jay-Z and Diddy raped her at a 2000 MTV VMAs afterparty when she was 13-years-old as another female celebrity watched.
Needless to say, Jay-Z haters celebrated the lawsuit on social media while Jay-Z fans also suggested this could be a shakedown and are awaiting all of the evidence to be presented before abandoning ship.
50 Cent for his part isn’t weighing in but wonders if this lawsuit will effect the Super Bowl.
Y’all knew 50 Cent wasn’t going to not say anything.
What do y’all think about this latest bombshell? Do y’all think Jay-Z is being blackmailed, or is karma catching up to the pop culture icon? Sound off in the comments section below.
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Severance, a critically acclaimed series that netted several awards along with prominent nominations, made its debut on the Apple TV+ streaming service in 2022. After a lengthy hiatus, Severance returns to the streamer next month, and a new trailer was unveiled that surely drummed up excitement.
Starring Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, and Britt Lower, Severance follows the life of Mark Scout and the split between himself and his severed persona. Cherry plays the role of Dylan George, another severed worker for Lumon Industries in the Macrodata Refinement division who is deeply committed to the job. Lower plays Helly Riggs, a recently severed Lumon employee.
For those who haven’t seen the first season, we won’t reveal too much of the plot but the show benefits from strong performances by a variety of fantastic actors including Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, and Patricia Arquette among others.
Source: Severance / Apple TV+
Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle split directing duties for the first season with Stiller returning to direct five more episodes in season 2 according to reports. The main cast members are returning to their roles and with the first season ending explosively, fans are clamoring to see what happens for the rest of the severed workers and their “outies” in the coming season.
Severance returns on Jan. 17, 2025. Check out the trailer below.
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Photo: Apple TV+
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Diddy is requesting access to a laptop while in jail awaiting trial, decrying the conditions restricting him from using it.
The legal team representing Diddy has requested the use of a laptop promised to him while he is incarcerated and awaiting trial, claiming that he’s been blocked from use by the government under unfair conditions. The request was made in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian Wednesday (Dec. 4). In that letter, it was explained that Diddy could gain access to the laptop either in the video-teleconference room at the Brooklyn Detention Center while in the presence of other legal staff or the legal visiting room between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
“These restrictions are untenable and from what we understand, not required of any other inmate on Mr. Combs’ unit,” the letter from attorneys Tony Garagos and Marc Agnifilio stated. “They significantly limit the time available for Mr. Combs to use the laptop and force Mr. Combs to choose between using the laptop and meeting with his attorneys (who often meet with Mr. Combs over video-teleconference).”
Both lawyers claim that there is “no justification” for those conditions, also alleging that the federal government was keen on surveillance of the embattled mogul’s communication. “Moreover, given the government’s efforts to surreptitiously monitor and record his handwritten legal notes, Mr. Combs’ need for a laptop to take legal notes free from government surveillance is heightened,” they wrote. The letter also said that the government “has indicated that it intends to file a response.”
Diddy is currently awaiting trial for federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. The date for preliminary hearings to begin is May 5, 2025. If convicted, Diddy aka Sean Combs can receive a sentence of life in prison. With Damian Williams, the Attorney General for the Southern District of New York having resigned to be replaced by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, there will be more scrutiny on the Bad Boy Records founder’s case as Donald Trump is set to return to the White House next January.
Indeed, Trump’s pick to head the FBI, Kash Patel, has declared that he would release the names of all those who attended Diddy’s parties in the past decades if appointed to the position. Of course, that list would include Trump who was a fixture at some of Diddy’s parties as well as those of the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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Last month, Diddy was forced to celebrate his 55th birthday behind bars with some prison pizza, biscuits and oatmeal. With Christmas now on the horizon, the “Bad Boy For Life” rapper will have to endure his first Christmas celebration under similar circumstances. Luckily, it will be an improvement over his previous soiree.
According to TMZ, Diddy’s Christmas in the bing won’t be as struggle as his birthday and Thanksgiving were as not only will he and his fellow inmates at MDC Brooklyn be served some baked Cornish hens, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, and a “holiday dessert,” but there will also be some fun and games as there will be a spades tournament along with a dominos competition. The winner may get to make Diddy’s bed for a month (just kidding, but probably).
As if that wasn’t fun enough, there will also be a 3-on-3 basketball tourney and a soccer competition. Truth be told, this sounds like more fun than being unknowingly drugged and sexually trafficked at a Diddy party. Just sayin’.
If officials wanted to make some money they could sell tickets to these sporting events a la The Longest Yard or something.
The revelation comes after Diddy was hit with yet another lawsuit by an associate of Cassie who says Diddy dangled her off a 17th-floor apartment balcony back in 2016.
With many months between now and his sex trafficking trial date of May 2025, one can only wonder what other stories about Diddy’s past and maybe present will surface between now and then.
What do y’all think about Diddy’s current status? Should he be granted bail for the holidays, or is society better off with the man behind bars until he has his day in court? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Doechii is shining brightly in the limelight, living up to the promise many of her longtime fans knew existed before inking a deal with the Top Dawg Entertainment collective. After tearing down NPR’s Tiny Desk stage in what some say is the best performance delivered on the set, Doechii is delivering anything but “Harriet Tubman Music.”
Doechii, 26, hit the Tiny Desk stage with an all-Black, all-woman backing band who provided powerful sonics to match the Tampa, Fla. star’s charismatic and animated performance. The rapper and singer, born Jaylah Hickmon, first appeared on our radar with her 2020 mixtape, Oh the Places You’ll Go. It was clear then that the “Swamp Princess” was poised for stardom. TDE, as is the label’s custom, has brought the multi-talented Doechii along carefully after signing her in 2021, and it culminated in her acclaimed mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, an explosive mix of Hip-Hop, pop, and R&B music but even that simplifies her artistry.
The Tiny Desk set opened with “BOOM BAP” from Alligator Bites Never Heal, one of many standout tracks from the mixtape. Doechii and the band then launched into a six-song set comprised of songs from the aforementioned mixtape, including a rousing high-energy rendition of “NISSAN ALTIMA” before toning it down and allowing her band and background singers to carry the moment over.
In an emotional closing moment, Doechii took it back to 2020 with “Black Girl Memoir,” neatly wrapping up her set but doing so with a manner of pride about not only her status as a Black woman but specifically as a dark-skinned Black woman from the South.
Despite a nearly universal amount of praise for the performance, a viewer of the performance by the name of @Mzthangggg took to X and dropped off what many felt was a tasteless insult regarding another acclaimed performance. Doechii was the musical guest for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, rocking the studio set with “DENIAL IS A RIVER” and “BOILED PEANUTS” via a theatrical production that was just as stirring as the Tiny Desk set.
Of the latter performance, @Mzthangggg wrote, “Making those Harriet Tubman music is the cheat code to getting respected in rap,” which led to an epic dragging and charges of colorism.
By now, social media and much of the world realize that Doechii makes great music coupled with stellar performance values and the culture is rallying around her. We’ve got reactions from X listed below.
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