celebrity news
Page: 39
HipHopWired Featured Video
For all of his musical accomplishments, Robert Glasper stands as one of the most versatile yet accessible musicians of his generation. In a recent chat, the Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer shared with Hip-Hop Wired his vision of The Black Radio Experience and bringing the soulful vibes to Napa Valley for Labor Day Weekend.
Robert Glasper has over a dozen releases that span the audio expanses of Jazz, Soul, R&B, Funk, and Hip-Hop. By way of the world-famous Blue Note record label, Glasper released Black Radio in 2012 and it was true to his interpretation of what a Black radio station under his watchful direction. The initial concept led to a Black Radio trilogy that concluded in 2022, and he’s still reinventing himself as an artist by way of his latest project, Let Go.
Source: Marc Fong / Marc Fong
Anyone who has ever attended a Robert Glasper show learns swiftly that he is, without doubt, a masterful yet playful showman whose dexterity as a pianist allows him to open his musical sandbox to a wide tapestry of sounds. In our talk with Glasper, we asked him what The Black Radio Experience means to him and how he intends to bring those ideas to life in the Wine Country of Northern California.
“The Black Radio Experience, just like you hear on my albums, it’s just that vibe and you can see the festival will feature artists that have appeared on the Black Radio albums like Common, Jill Scott, Ledisi, Terrace Martin, Derrick Hodge,” Glasper explains.
“It’s not about having the hottest song out or anything but a collection of artists that make songs that bring those good feelings out. These are artists who promote real music, love, honesty, and all of that from a Black and soulful perspective. That’s what The Black Radio Experience is and always will be,” Glasper added.
Glasper shared that while the theme of the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa has maintained that creed for the past three years, this year’s festival widens the scope with a focus on Black wine brands, chefs bringing curated menu concepts to light, and making the festival a safe space for celebration of the wide scope of Black creativity that includes the arts and dance as well.
“The festival is just an extension of the love I have for the music and the people and what I set out to do on the first Black Radio album, which is to say this is what Black radio stations could be,” Glasper said.
“When I made that first album, I was already immersed in different styles of music and playing it but committing it to wax was the next step, and over the years with the festival, we’ve been able to bring my vision of Black Radio to the stages and show that there is so much to us as a creative people,” Glasper shared.
Source: Blue Note Jazz Festival / Blue Note Jazz Festival
Among the headliners for The Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents: The Black Radio Experience, which includes the aforementioned acts from the albums, is André 3000. Three Stacks has famously moved on from the rapping portion of his career and leaning into instrumental music by way of his latest album, New Blue Sun. Glasper says that he found the Atlanta artist’s choice to try something new inspirational and that was his thought in creating his latest body of work, Let Go.
“I had so many people tell me that they listened to New Blue Sun and mediated to it or cleaned their house to it, hell, even I did the same,” Glasper said. “I had people tell me that they would do the same to some of my music and that was the reason why I partnered with Apple Music to drop Let Go. I wanted to give listeners something to reset their day to and even to inspire myself to take it slow.”
Robert Glasper will be in Napa, Calif. this Labor Day Weekend for The Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents: The Black Radio Experience.
To learn more about the festival, click here.
—
Photo: Marc Fong/Blue Note Jazz Festival
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: @troyave / Instagram
Troy Ave and his legal ordeals took center stage after turning himself in earlier this year to serve time for his role in the 2016 Irving Plaza shooting incident that left his bodyguard dead in connection to a feud with Taxstone. After a few months behind bars, Troy Ave took to social media to celebrate his release by showing off loads of cash and a red Lamborghini.
Troy Ave, 38, turned himself in and began serving his prison sentence at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility in February. On his Instagram page, the artist born Roland Collins shared a photo of himself holding a large bag of cash and a bottle of liquor next to the aforementioned vehicle.
Ave was decked out in a New York Bricks t-shirt from his God Is Great Paper Straight clothing line and shorts while donning a white sheisty mask. The caption for the image simply read, “Ya Boi Home!!”
In a video posted by DJ Akademiks, Ave is seen being given the bag of cash by an unknown woman who he gives a hug and then takes several photos outside of Rikers next to the vehicle while holding up the cash. In that same clip, Ave can be heard saying he wants to go to the airport but he doesn’t reveal a destination.
Welcome Home to Harry Powder aka Troy Ave.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Wack 100 is most known these days as one of the most outspoken personalities in the Hip-Hop media space, using his large platforms to stir up discussions that the culture can’t ignore. In a recent audio appearance, Wack 100 claims that Irv Gotti has suffered a stroke and is currently walking with the aid of a cane.
On Monday (August 26), Wack 100 appeared on the No Room For The Weak On 100Side ClubHouse show according to YouTuber FC The Truth, and discussed what he learned about Irv Gotti’s recent stroke and recovery.
In the clip, Wack said that he obtained several photos of Gotti, 54, allegedly walking outside of a recovery center using a walking cane. With Wack’s news about Gotti going wide on social media and beyond, the family of the Murder Inc. honcho stated to TMZ regarding the health condition of Gotti.
From TMZ:
A rep for Irv tells TMZ … “Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago. He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy. He’s been successful in making a full recovery. Irv is not in a rehab facility. He is at home with his family, enjoying life.”
In the aforementioned audio clip, Wack mentions Gotti’s diabetes diagnosis and asks fans and supporters to send prayers to the mogul. It wasn’t clear in any reporting we saw if Wack 100 or Irv Gotti’s family have been in contact with one another.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Floyd Mayweather doesn’t have anything else to prove as a boxer but that hasn’t stopped him from cashing in on lucrative exhibition bouts against fighters less heralded than him. While it would be assumed that Floyd Mayweather would prefer to let his hands do the talking, he recently opted to fire a referee during a recent match against John Gotti III over a missed call.
Last Saturday (August 24) in Mexico City, Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III faced each other in a rematch of their 2023 fight that ended in a disqualification decision due to excessive holding from Gotti and trash talk. For this most recent bout, it was another non-scoring fight that took place at the Mexico City Arena.
As reported by TMZ Sports, Hector Afu, who was the referee boxing match, called out Mayweather for what was assumed to be an illegal “rabbit punch” to the back of the ear. Mayweather protested the call, moving Afu out of the way. Afu attempted to keep order in the ring but was eventually given the boot.
The fight went on and fans online said that the action inside the ring was less intense than the argument between Mayweather and Afu. However, it was largely assumed that although there wasn’t a judge’s scorecard, Floyd Mayweather dominated John Gotti III in the ring.
A video of the moment can be viewed here.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Lil Baby was arrested on Monday (August 26) and booked on gun possession charges after being caught with a handgun inside a Las Vegas nightclub. According to reports, Lil Baby was arrested and held on a $5,000 bond but was released from custody after posting the amount.
TMZ reports that Lil Baby, real name Dominique Jones, was at the Encore resort in Las Vegas and was found with a weapon on his person that he was not permitted to carry according to a breaking news report from TMZ. The outlet says that the Atlanta rapper was handed the firearm by another individual and the act was witnessed by an unknown individual but sparked police to investigate the matter.
In a statement, the attorney for Lil Baby wrote, “To be clear, Dominique Jones has a valid Georgia Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permit. On his behalf, we are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding his arrest in Las Vegas.”
A Georgia CCW permit would not be valid in the state of Nevada.
The My Turn star has not made any public statement regarding the arrest, nor have any details emerged regarding why he was given the firearm or who was responsible for handing it over to him.
Lil Baby is due in Las Vegas on October 1 for a hearing related to the charges.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Gilbert Flores / Getty
Memphis rapper GloRilla is being celebrated online for changing a lyric in a new song that fans found offensive.
On Friday (Aug. 23), the Shade Room posted a clip of GloRilla rapping along to her upcoming single.
“H*e you must not know what you just started/Me and my b**ches retarded,” Glo raps over the trap production. “Give a f**k about this party/We gon’ step on sh*t regardless.”
Several people commented under the post criticizing the use of the term, which is deemed a slur against those with special needs. “It’s hurtful to people with disabilities so just don’t use it,” one user wrote.
A few days later, on Monday (Aug. 25), she posted a new version of her unreleased song without the r-word on Instagram. In the song, the lyric is replaced with a less offensive phrase.
“H*e you must not know what you just started/Me and my b**ches go gnarly,” Glo rhymes in the clip below. “Give a f**k about this party/We gon’ step on sh*t regardless.”
The new version is earning Glo the admiration of fans.
Shout out to Big Glo for taking the feedback from her fans and taking the high road. Love to see it.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: James Devaney / Getty
Nicki Minaj is dealing with a new legal battle, this time with a fan who claimed that she relentlessly slandered him online.
According to reports, Nicki Minaj is being sued by a former fan who alleges that the rap star humiliated him by slandering him repeatedly despite his avid support of her. The lawsuit was filed in a Los Angeles, California, court by Tameer Peak. Peak is suing for $5 million in damages for reputational harm, financial loss, and emotional distress. In the documents of the lawsuit, Peak states that he has been one of Nicki Minaj’s biggest fans for over 15 years and was instrumental in the social media promotion of Pink Friday 2, which was a boost to her career.
Peak says that the relationship changed amid the “Nicki Hate Train,” which took place in 2017 where the rapper accused several fans of hers of being moles who were tasked with sabotaging her. He also claims that Minaj berated him on an Instagram livestream that had over 100,000 viewers after inviting him to her hotel room to film, and that her husband, Kenneth Petty, assaulted him during a fan event at the 2020 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida. The suit also claims that Peak received messages from other fans earlier this year to “stop saying dumb s–t,” and would fire insults at him in online sessions with fans, which included, “It’s clear they’re not necessarily, you know, a full basket umm at the picnic.” She also allegedly claimed the Newark, New Jersey, resident was on welfare and that he was a “stalker” who impersonated members of her team.
Peak has gained some notoriety in the past for being a superfan, having gained some fame for showing up to Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour in Philadelphia last year in an alien costume. “Mr. Peak has been harassing Nicki on social media for years on end to no avail,” said Nicki Minaj’s attorney Judd Bernstein in a statement. “He has now graduated to seeking to shake her down financially with manifestly false allegations and legally frivolous claims. He will regret having gone down this disreputable road when he is forced to pay her legal fees as required by California law.”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Robert Gauthier / Getty
Comedian Kenan Thomspon tore into Project 2025 with a skit at the Democratic National Convention highlighting its horrors.
On Wednesday (Aug. 21), the third night of the Democratic National Convention got a comedic boost with context as Saturday Night Live alum Kenan Thompson took the stage, carrying an oversized book under his arm, which he stated was a real document – Project 2025. “Y’all remember this big old book, from before?” he asked the crowd at the United Center, who burst into laughter. “You ever seen a document that can kill a small animal and democracy at the same time? Well, here it is,” he quipped.
“You know how when you download an app and there are hundreds of pages there that you don’t read, it’s just the terms and conditions, and you just click, agree, right?” Thompson said while slamming the book down on the lectern. “Well, these are the terms and conditions of a second Trump presidency. You vote for him. You vote for all of this. Let’s take a look.” He then engaged members of the public who appeared on screen behind him. After encountering technical difficulties with the first guest, he moved on to a woman named Becky who shared that she’s been married to her wife for eight years. “Oh, that’s amazing. Very, very cute,” Thompson replied. “But I have got some bad news for you on page 584, Project 2025 calls for the elimination of protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. Right back to the Stone Age, I’m afraid so.”
He moved on to the next guest, who shared that she was diabetic and thanked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their work in cutting the price of insulin down to $35. “That is great,” said Thompson. “But! On page 465, Project 2025 calls for millions of people like yourself to pay more for prescription drugs like insulin. Why? Well I guess to help big pharma make more money to donate to Republican politicians, I assume.” Thompson then directed the crowd to look up the document on Harris’ campaign website.
Project 2025 has been under intense scrutiny since its online publication by the Heritage Foundation, thanks to Democrats along with other celebrities like Taraji P. Henson informing the public. Trump has denied any knowledge of Project 2025 via social media, but reports have tied numerous figures in his previous presidential administration to its creation.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Courtesy of Damon Dash / Damon Dash
It’s no secret that Dame Dash has been strapped for cash for a while now, and though he’s not bankrupt broke, the man certainly isn’t balling out of control like he was during Roc-A-Fella’s heyday.
With a court forcing him to sell his 33.3% share of Roc-A-Fella Records to satisfy his outstanding debt, Dame Dash decided to take the time to explain to everyone why he’s been hard on cash. Yesterday, Dame took to Instagram to inform everyone on how it’s gotten to this point, and truth be told, it’s pretty understandable. No, he didn’t blow all his dough on fancy cars, cribs or more jewelry, but he did blow a decent amount on his dreams.
In his IG Live, Dame explained that his pockets began thinning out when he started “investing” in ventures that he wanted to see grow into fruition. Though he didn’t specify what kind of investments he made, it’s obvious at this point that they just didn’t work out or give him a return on his investment.
“Somebody asked me how I got so broke. Um, investing in my dreams. You know, when you’re investing in your dreams and you dream big, you’re always gon’ be broke. You’ll have a lot of sh*t, but I don’t have no money for nobody else if that’s what you call broke. That’s what it is. Either way, I’ma get with y’all. Stay tuned. I’m curious to see how it all rolls out.”
Call us crazy, but we really hope things work out for Dame.
The post comes a day after Dame Dash took to Instagram to offer an OG iced out Roc-A-Fella chain to the first person to put down $10 million on his share of the iconic record label. With a judge ordering Dame to pay film director Josh Webber a cool $800,000, Dame has to part ways with the label he, Jay-Z and Kareem Burke founded in 1994.
While many would jump at the chance to purchase his stake in the label, Jay-Z put everyone on notice that the crown jewel of Roc-A-Fella Records’ catalogue, Reasonable Doubt, would ultimately be reverted to him in just seven years, 2031. With the starting bid of Dame’s share of the label beginning at $1.2 million, will anybody be willing to put much more than that on the label knowing its biggest asset will be gone in a matter of years? Guess we’re going to find out.
Check out Dame’s post below, and let us know your thoughts on his situation in the comments section.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
In a video on social media, Russell Simmons blasted those “attacking” his celebrity friends who’ve made visits to his home in Bali.
The entertainment mogul Russell Simmons voiced his frustration with those questioning the celebrities that have come to visit him at his home in Bali, Indonesia where he moved to amid multiple accusations of rape and sexual abuse. “Black people, did you forget that I got 10,000 black men out of jail? … And that I registered more of you to vote than probably anybody you know?”, he said in an Instagram Live video which was shared by another account named Live Bitez on Tuesday (August 20). Simmons was seated in a basic yoga pose as he looked into the camera.
“And I worked for Black Lives Matter and every movement that’s helped our people — all the women’s rights and even gay rights movements that I did so much work for,” Simmons continued, “To let them demonize me in such a way that my friends cannot visit me without you attacking them — but yet you stand next to Donald Trump, knock it off.”
He paused before stating that he’ll be in New York City next week. “I call the paparazzi on myself every time I’m there. I have an office. … I’m there all the time. I work out of New York sometimes, but I live here. This is my last chapter. I live here to heal people … and to give them spiritual and mental rejuvenation.”
The 66-year-old then addressed the accusations directly, saying: “From what I can tell, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, President Trump, all have more credible claims against them than I do if you ask Oprah [Winfrey]. I’ve never been charged with — who took nine lie detector tests? … Did Bill Clinton do that? Did Joe Biden do that? Did President Trump do that? Knock it off. I love you. I just don’t want my friends attacked … just leave my friends alone. Don’t attack them for visiting me. Attack friends for visiting Trump; he’s been convicted.”
Simmons has been living in Bali since 2017, and has recently been dealing with a few lawsuits accusing him of rape with the most recent being in February when a former music video producer sued him for allegedly attacking her in the 1990s. Several celebrities, including Taraji P. Henson, Usher, and MC Lyte have been pictured hanging out with the mogul in the past few months.