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Muni Long has shared another update on her medical health. The 35-year-old Florida native shared with fans last year that she had been diagnosed with lupus. The development caused her to cancel her highly-anticipated 2022 tour to support her Grammy Award-winning single, “Hrs & Hrs.”
On (Dec. 3), the singer-songwriter, born Priscilla Renea Hamilton, took to social media to share a new update on her health, writing: “So apparently I’m autistic, and my free self is the version of me that I began repressing at the age of 22 because it made people highly uncomfortable. It started first with me doing insane amounts of drugs and then when that didn’t work I just held it in. Which led to lupus,” Long penned on X.
“And now the lupus has gotten to a point where it’s effectively impossible to contain. And in order to free myself from the rollercoaster that is autoimmune disease, I have to let my emotions, thoughts and feelings out…. But…. Autism! OMG WTF THIS IS SO WACK [weeping emoji].”
She concluded: “But at least knowing I am autistic explains SO MUCH.”
The brave revelation was met with support from fans.
Long followed up the three-part post on Dec. 4 writing, “A lot of days I just wanna put my head in the pillow and scream… minus the pillow tho.”
Long told The Breakfast Club last year that she contracted a bacterial infection from a microphone in 2018, and that triggered her Lupus, adding, “So when you have any type of bacteria, especially in your lungs, the inflammation is crazy. So I deal with that. As I’m talking, you can hear me tryna catch my breath,” according to Baller Alert.
She continued, “I deal with that on a daily basis. I take a lot of medicine to like function normally and that’s not something I normally share. Because that’s my journey, I’m not looking for sympathy.”
According to BlackDoctor.org, “Lupus is a disease where the immune system attacks instead of protects. The immune system is the body’s natural defense against disease. In lupus, the immune system creates antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues and organs.”
African American women in particular seem to have a higher risk of getting lupus. As many as 1 in 250 will develop the disease. Women who suffer from lupus are twice as likely to give birth to a child with autism.
We send Muni Long best wishes on her health journey.
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After a weekend of having Black journalists pull CVS-length receipts on him and his management, agents, and publicists—Lenny Kravitz clarified his statements to Esquire magazine that seemed to imply that he was snubbed by Black media.
In the original comments, the rocker said, “To this day, I have not been invited to a BET thing or a Source Awards thing,” Kravitz adds, “And it’s like, here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers—just like those that came before me broke down. That is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it?”
The comments incensed Black journalists, including BET’s Entertainment Director Yesha Callahan, who noted that she had reached out to Kravitz’s team as recently as mid-October only to be ignored. Callahan’s post has since been deleted.
But, others co-signed the experience.
According to theGrio, Kravitz sent a statement exclusively to them which clarifies his remarks, writing, in part, “The comment I made was not about ‘black media’ or the ‘black community.’” the 59-year-old rocker said. “I was specifically referring to black award shows in particular. My comment was meant to express a concern about ensuring that black artists are being recognized for their work in what is now being called “non-traditional” black music, which it is not.”
He added, “Rock and roll is the music we were instrumental in creating and is a part of our history. We must retain our heritage and celebrate that together. BET and countless others have paved the way for this type of recognition. I hope that by sharing my concern a spotlight will be shone on this issue. Love and peace.“
BET has not specifically addressed the comments. However, Callahan shared that the company recently created a video package highlighting Black non-traditional artists.
Social media users are split about the comments. While some believe that Kravitz and others have not gotten their “flowers” from Black media—insiders and others recognize the power dynamics at play including the fact that Black journalists are often snubbed on red carpets and their media requests are often rejected by the non-Black representatives of some of their faves.
One thing is for sure, if BET invites Kravitz to this year’s awards show… He better show up.
Kravitz’s 12th studio album, Blue Electric Light, will be released March 15, 2024.
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The iconic Ramova Theatre is set to reopen in Chicago with the help of Quincy Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Chance The Rapper. The three natives of the city are now part of an ownership group that has reclaimed the theater which first opened in 1929.
The Ramova was a popular movie theater in the Bridgeport neighborhood of South Side Chicago until it shut down in 1985, according to Blavity.
“I believe the cultural divides in our communities will always be bridged and uplifted by music and the arts,” the 90-year-old Jones said in a statement. “With Ramova, I see a future where the rich cultural heritage of Chicago shines even brighter alongside the country’s most talented artists, which will inspire future generations to come and bring glory to America’s Second City.”
In her statement, Hudson referenced her late mother, Darnell Donnerson who was killed in the city in 2008. “My mother always taught us to take care of home first, so to support the rehabilitation of this extraordinary theater with such a rich history in Chicago means more to me than one could imagine,” Hudson said. “I am honored and thrilled to help build this new home for artists and highlight this special community in new ways that will reach far beyond the neighborhoods we call home.”
The Ramova Theater features an iconic sign and spanish-inspired architecture, it became the jewel of the neighborhood — a place for people to gather and communities to come together, according to the official website.
It will now be reimagined as a 1500+ person live concert hall, independent craft brewery, beer garden and grill.
“We’re doing a complete rehabilitation to this pillar in the community, bringing back its historic grill, creating a world-class entertainment space, adding a brewery where we hope people will meet their new best friends. We’re working closely alongside locals who have kept this space standing to allow us this opportunity to do something special for Bridgeport and Chicago,” developer Tyler Nevius wrote.
The Ramova Theater, which is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, will also amplify educational programs and workshops, as well as community initiatives from local non-profits.
“Chicago will always be part of who I am,” Chance The Rapper said in his statement. “I joined the team at Ramova to give back to the city that’s given me so much and to provide a stage to showcase the incredible talent Chicago has to offer. This is our moment to revitalize Chicago neighborhoods through one of the most beautiful ways possible — the arts.”
The space is set to open in Fall 2023.
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In a blow to Hip-Hop artists, an Atlanta judge has ruled that lyrics by Young Thug and other of his YSL associates can be used at his RICO trial.
“They’re not prosecuting your clients because of the songs they wrote,” Judge Ural Glanville said after a November 8 hearing, denying free-speech concerns raised by Brian Steel, an attorney representing Thug (born Jeffrey Williams).
According to Vulture, “These are party admissions,” said Michael Carson, a prosecutor, during the hearing. “They just happen to come in the form of lyrics.”
The issue of using rap lyrics in court is one that has been pressing to the hip-hop community. In November of 2022, more than 100 rap artists including Drake and Megan Thee Stallion signed a letter to protest the use of lyrics in court. As previously reported by HipHopWired, artists, industry leaders, and legal experts have joined together in a call to “Protect Black Art,” publishing an open letter in The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution urging legislators across America to limit how creative expression can be used against defendants on trial. Specifically, it calls for an end to the racially discriminatory practice of treating rap lyrics as confessions.
The letter reads, in part, “Beyond the obvious disregard for free speech and creative expression protected by the First Amendment, this racially targeted practice punishes already marginalized communities and their stories of family, struggle, survival, and triumph.”
It was published by Warner Music Group.
The letter was released just months after one success when the state of California put forward a bill banning lyrics from being used in court–it passed both the State Senate and State Assembly. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill in October of last year.
Earlier last year, on Wednesday (July 27th), the RAP Act was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives by Democratic Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). The Restoring Artistic Protection Act looks to protect artists from the wrongful usage of their lyrics against them in civil and criminal court cases.
“Rap, hip-hop, and every lyrical musical piece is a beautiful form of art and expression that must be protected,” Representative Bowman said in a statement.
Despite the blow, there is no doubt that the battle will continue. Because hip-hop doesn’t give up and we don’t back down.
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Legendary R&B group, New Edition, is set to be the next big thing on stage in Sin City.
The sextet announced Monday (Nov. 6), that New Edition: Las Vegas will kick off February 28 for at least six shows. “We just caught lightning in a bottle,” said Ronnie DeVoe, according to USA Today. All six members will perform at the Wynn Las Vegas Encore Theater, where acts like Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more have taken the stage.
The announcement came days after the group performed a tribute to the Spinners at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City.
“We’re looking to touch that stage and continue on with the legacy,” DeVoe added.
“This is going to be more theatrical than our Legacy and Culture tours,” Bobby Brown said. “This will be a lot more intimate. We wanted it to be up, close and personal for our fans.”
The theater sits nearly 1,500 fans, who will enjoy their many classic hits.
Vegas has been a destination for R&B audiences with Usher soon to wrap up his successful residency before performing at the Super Bowl.
The group says that now is a great time for them to have their residency. “We have each other, we have our health, we have our families. Everybody’s still here,” Ricky Bell said.
New Edition also says that the residency is a good time for new music. “It makes sense,” DeVoe said. “I think it’ll be a great time to get in the studio and put our vocals on something new and fresh, so we can deliver that to our fans in anticipation of their residency.”
The group hasn’t released new music since One Love nearly 20 years ago.
“Our audience got a chance to see growth, bond, brotherhood,” Bell said of their recent tours. “Sometimes that’s bigger than any record because people come to look for separation. But I think we’ll give them the glue.”
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Here’s a reminder to never get on Khia’s bad side. The Florida rapper had a lot to get off her neck and her back about “Pound Town” rapper Sexyy Red.
In an episode of her YouTube series, Gag Order, Khia fired back at the St. Louis rapper who said she was a “hater” for rejecting comparisons to her. For more than two minutes and with lyrical dexterity, Khia unleashed a scathing torrent of words on the young rap star from comparing her to looking like Young Thug to commenting on her pregnancy.
“We the people versus fugly, non-sexy, f*cked up-a*s Red,” she began. “Your a*s is being charged with not being ashamed of your goddamn self. Doing h*e shit and being mad about it. Being a deadbeat baby mama, a deadbeat daddy, a deadbeat daughter and a deadbeat, Young Thugga-looking-a*s b*tch. Skin looking like a wrinkled bed sheet. Attempting to come for a real queen. Being ugly than a m*thaf*cka. Looking like an old crumbled up stale backwood that ain’t nobody buying — take that sh*t back to the store wh*re. But ain’t no refund.”
She continued: “Not being able to handle the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God – but ain’t nobody helping you but the Devil. Acting like you that b*tch but you ain’t sh*t and it shows, b*tch. F*cking on n*ggas that don’t want you, not knowing who your baby daddy is. Sucking on balls and toes at the same damn time, getting pissed and sh*tted on trying to come for a real queen.
She added, “Bumping your head on the headboard one too many times thinking you can come for me. And acting like you a superstar rapper when you still looking like a copper penny, chile, and a old dusty penny too that’s been left in the cupholder of a old school box Chevy.”
The entire rant was punctuated with Khia rapidly banging a gavel, and it was a sight to behold.
The Florida rapper fired back at recent comments by the younger rap star who took offense to comments that Khia made where she rejected being compared to some of the current female rap stars, who she said are pushing a “hoe” lifestyle.
Khia made the comments on a previous episode of Gag Order where she rejected comparisons of herself to the current wave of “female rap” despite the monumental success of her single, “My Neck, My back.”
“I’m ’bout tired of y’all comparing me to these h*es. I said my neck, my back, my p*ssy, and my crack,” she said, “Not these n*ggas out here, these h*es out here… I still stood 10 toes down like a m*thaf*ckin’ queen. Hair still wrapped like the first day. I ain’t changed a bit, okay. It’s respect me. It’s snatch the m*thaf*ckin’ cat back. It’s don’t trust no m*thaf*ckin’ n*gga. Get your own sh*t. It’s tell that n*gga to hit the m*thaf*ckin’ door.”
She added: “You wanna f*ck these b*tches, you wanna f*ck these h*es. It ain’t eat no n*gga’s a*s and suck no n*gga’s toes. Y’all h*es couldn’t have grown up listening to me because that ain’t how the f*ck I roll.”
“I been out here 25 years and y’all ain’t seen no pictures of my p*ssy, no videos of me sucking d*ck, my phone never been stolen and y’all ain’t seen me with no man, b*tch,” she said, seemingly referencing Sexyy Red’s recent sex tape leak. “And I got a m*thaf*ckin’ husband.”
“Y’all ain’t never seen me do sh*t. Y’all ain’t seen no husband, no children, no n*gga I’m f*cking… Y’all ain’t never seen me twerking, y’all ain’t seen my p*ssyhole from the back… Y’all ain’t got sh*t on the queen.”
Sexyy Red caught wind of the comments and replied in the comments section of a post about the statements by the Neighborhood Talk, writing, “Just another ol washed up h@g hating ona yung turnt rich bthc,” she wrote. “Hatin on btches den & you still ah mad hater.”
She has yet to reply to Khia’s latest comments.
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More critiques about the substance in female rap lyrics are pouring in after Ice Spice performed at Power 105’s Powerhouse concert this weekend.
The Bronx rapper was dressed in a Halloween costume styled as Betty Boop in a short red dress that kept rising over her ample bottom.
The 23-year-old star pulled uncomfortably at the dress as she performed her hit songs to a lackluster crowd. The performance made the rounds on social media as fans either cheered on the “Munch” rapper or detractors took another opportunity to blast the current state of female rap.
Nikki D—who was the first woman rapper signed to Def Jam Records in 1989—took to Instagram to rip into the performance.
“Oh come TF on!!! You mean to tell me, this is true talent.. the Female genre of hip hop today is the ‘prostitution era’, fight me!! [two boxing glove emojis],” Nikki wrote in a caption while sharing a clip of Ice Spice’s performance. “Notice the ONLY 2x’s the crowd reacts.. during the familiar ‘munch line’ and when she turns around to show her ass!!”
“She’s one of the top female rappers out at the ‘moment’.. where’s her show production, rehearsal, and for god sake PLEASE STOP singing over those studio vocals it’s not a live show at that point,” Nikki D added.
The “Lettin’ Off Steam” rapper then implored Spice’s management to reach out to her, claiming, “this girl got 5 minutes left, and y’all gone blow it!!!”
The post garnered a ton of engagement—including from other legendary female rapper Sweet LD of Oaktown’s 357 who wrote, “Oh wow! (with a shocked face emoji).”
Pete Rock commented on the post warning that many would write off Nikki D’s comments as “hating,” but, he added, “No we are not. We telling yall learn how to rap and make music period. Simple as that.
“I come from an era of absolute real talent. Yall love money not music or lyrics yall love money and drugs smfh. im tired of these corny ass artist.”
The debate about the quality of lyrics by female rap artists is ongoing. While it is undeniable that women are having an unprecedented season of success, many wonder if the lyrical content is too sexual in nature.
A Reddit thread on “honest opinions on modern female rap ?” has nearly 750 comments that vary from praising the genre to lamenting the female artists who are underrated and still overlooked. One fan wrote, that female rap has “As much variety and creativity as male rap. Great artists in the mainstream and in the underground, clowns in both too. But with men, the labels love selling the image of a criminal and for women they love selling the overtly sexual stuff. And ofc the consumers eat up both.”
Earlier this summer, Fabolous chimed in on the debate seeking more perspectives from “strong” women, writing in an Instastory, “I love hearing female rappers talking some real shit,” Fab wrote on his Instagram Story, according to HipHopDX. “Women are so strong. Have so many stories and perspectives that we need to hear in pure form.
“No disrespect to any female rappers out there but I think there’s only one style of female rap/Hip Hop being promoted, programmed and looked at as successful now.”
The conversation continues.
After a week of slow-drip bombshell revelations about her relationship with Will Smith while promoting her upcoming memoir, Worthy, Jada Pinkett Smith told The Today Show on Monday morning (Oct. 16) that the couple are working to reconcile and rebuild their fractured marriage.
“There’s no finding another great love, and I think that’s the point,” Pinkett Smith said. “It’s like we are in a place now that we are in a deep, healing space. And we are really concentrating on healing the relationship between us.”
The update came after Pinkett Smith revealed last week that the two have been living “separate lives” for the past seven years — while presenting a unified front in public — and that though they are not legally divorced they have not been together for many years.
“There’s no divorce on paper. We really have been working hard. That’s the whole thing. We are working very hard at bringing our relationship together. Back to a life partnership,” Pinkett Smith told Today co-host Hoda Kotb. “Here’s the thing about husband-wife marriage for me, for my healing process,” she said. “I came into that with very specific ideas that were blocks to me seeing Will as who he is. He can’t be this perfect, ideal guy husband. I have to be able to accept him for the human that he is, he accepts me for the human that I am. And we want to love each other there.”
In a New York Times interview, Pinkett Smith said one of the other things that shocked her about her estranged husband’s attack on Chris Rock at last years Academy Awards was when Smith shouted “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth!” after violently slapping the comedian across the face after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s bald hairstyle; the actress suffers from alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
“Even though we hadn’t been calling each other husband and wife in a long time, I said, ‘I’m his wife now. We in this.’ That’s just who I am,” Pinkett Smith told the paper: “That’s the gift I have to offer, like, ‘Hey, I’m riding with you.’” Though not divorced, not in an open relationship or polyamorous, Pinkett Smith said she and Will are in an agreement they refer to as a “relationship of transparency.”
Will Smith told the Times in an email statement that Jada’s memoir “kind of woke him up,” adding that, “when you’ve been with someone for more than half of your life a sort of emotional blindness sets in, and you can all too easily lose your sensitivity to their hidden nuances and subtle beauties.”
The 52-year-old actress/singer also told the Times that as a 50th birthday present to herself she bought her own place in Calabasas, where the couple also shared a home together; the book reveals that the Smiths have been separated since 2017.
In speaking to Kotb last week for a prime-time special, Pinkett Smith described the breakdown of the relationship. “I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying,” she said. “I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be.”
Jada and Will were married in 1997, with son Jaden born a year later, followed by daughter Willow in 2000.
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In April, we reported that Brooklyn rapper, Desiigner checked himself into a mental health facility after exposing himself to a flight attendant on an international flight back to the U.S. from Thailand and Tokyo.
Now, the “Panda” rapper is reportedly set to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure on an aircraft, for which he will serve 2 years probation and 120 hours of community service, as opposed to the 90 days behind bars the charge is punishable by, according to TMZ.
Desiigner, born Sidney Royel Selby III, will also be ordered to pay a $5000 fine and issue a public apology to the flight attendants for his behavior.
For what it’s worth, here’s how Desiigner explained his lude behavior in a statement to TMZ:
“For the past few months, I have not been OK, and I have been struggling to come to terms with what is going on. While overseas for a concert I performed at, I had to be admitted into a hospital, I was not thinking clearly. They gave me meds, and I had to hop on a plane home. I am ashamed of my actions that happened on that plane. I landed back to the States, and am admitting myself in a facility to help me. I will be canceling all of my shows and any obligations until further notice. Mental health is real guys. Please pray for me. If you’re [sic] not feeling like yourself please get help.”
TMZ noted that since the incident, the “Timmy Turner” rapper immediately apologized, and he claimed he has attended 19 court-appointed counseling/therapy sessions. Meanwhile, his attorney asked the court not to impose travel restrictions on Desiigner since he has tour dates planned this year and next year. It’s unclear if a judge is likely to grant that request since it might be considered special treatment not to impose travel restrictions on someone who just pleaded guilty to pleasuring himself publicly during air travel.
Hopefully, DeSiigner is receiving the help he clearly needs and doesn’t create more unsuspecting victims of his indecent public behavior.
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So…
Do y’all remember the episode of Atlanta when Earn thought it was a good idea to enter a footrace against ex-NFL star Michael Vick only to realize that it was, well, not a good idea? Well, apparently, Kevin Hart either didn’t see that episode or didn’t learn anything from it.
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And things turned out much worse for Kev.
“This is just a public service announcement because I know people may see me out and I don’t want you to be alarmed, but I’m in a wheelchair,” Hart said in a recent Instagram video. “Why? Because I tried to jump out there and do some young stuff.”
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And what exactly was the “young stuff” the 44-year-old hurt himself doing? Apparently, he tried to race former New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley, who is 10 years Hart’s junior (and also a former professional athlete who literally ran for a living).
While attempting to run a 40-yard dash against Ridley, Hart reportedly tore his lower abdomen and abductors. Hart, of course, put his injury more on his age than he did the fact that he was trying to race a former NFL running back. (I mean, it’s right there in the name, people! RUNNING back!)
“Ladies and gentlemen, the age 40 is real…it’s not a game,” Hart said. “Respect that age—or that age will make you respect it. I was just forced to respect it…I tried to go out there and do some young man stuff and I was told to sit my ass down.”
Yeah, we get it, Kevin. You work out a lot and keep yourself in pretty good shape for a man in your mid-40s. Still, maybe set your sights a little lower next time. Be less physically ambitious. Race one of your age-appropriate friends who are not pro athletes.
At least Hart’s celeb friends are showing their support.
From HuffPost:
Hart joked that he at least beat his 34-year-old opponent to the punch by getting “this story out there before” him, and has already received a ton of support in the comments from Will Smith, Tracee Ellis Ross and frequent co-star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“I tore my abductor off my pelvis during a wrestling match,” wrote the former wrestler, who apparently suffered the same injuries during a 2013 match. “True story. You’ll be fine. You’ll grow a 3rd ball but you’ll be fine. Heal up.”
Yes, heal up, sir. And don’t do that again.
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