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Dr. Dre has served as a mentor to Kendrick Lamar and has intimate knowledge of his fellow Compton native’s mindset as a rapper and lyricist. In a recent audio series, Dr. Dre pinpointed where Drake miscalculated his shots toward Kendrick Lamar, culminating in one of the largest landslides in Hip-Hop battle history.
Via the new Audible original series, The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell, Dr. Dre shared his thoughts with the pair regarding the fervor surrounding the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef and how it went left rather swiftly. According to the superstar producer, Drake’s digs at Lamar’s wife and family were the last straw.
At one point in the conversation, as Billboard notes, Barris turned the conversation toward “Not Like Us” and how it instilled pride in him as a Los Angeles native. Dre chimed in and shared his thoughts on the impact of the record and what inspired it.
“I love that record. I’ma say this on camera. I don’t want to get negative,” Dr. Dre said My whole sh*t is about being positive and moving forward and all that sh*t, but the fact I heard Drake say something negative about Kendrick’s wife and his kids, that made me say, ‘Ah, adios!’”
The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell debuted on Jan. 30 and the series has a wide slate of guests planned such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Ava DuVernay, Sue Bird, and more. They even turn the questions on themselves to discuss careers with Gladwell a notable author and Barris as a producer and director.
Check out the series here.
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Tony Buzbee’s character is now again in question. Jay-Z has blasted the lawyer for not meeting his client prior to filing the lawsuit against him.
As per TMZ, Jay-Z’s legal team is taking umbrage with how Tony Buzbee goes about his business. In documents obtained by the celebrity gossip site Hov’s counsel call out that the controversial lawyer never met Jane Doe before filing a sexual assault claim against the rapper and Diddy. The new filing says the Texas-based attorney blatantly missed several “factual inconsistencies” in her story and much more.
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“Initially, he deflected, saying Plaintiff’s ‘case was referred to [his] firm by another, who vetted it prior to sending it’ to him, and that his firm would ‘continue to vet her claims and collect corroborating data,” the documentation reads. “Now, he concedes that he did not even meet with Plaintiff before signing his name to the complaint, and fails to identify any evidence that corroborates anything his client alleged.”
Jay-Z’s lawyer also went on to question Buzbee’s business principles. “Mr. Carter seeks only to hold Mr. Buzbee to the ethical standards that constrain any responsible attorney who would solemnly sign his name to allegations in court.” TMZ contacted Tony about the suit against him to which he called “weak and desperate.” He also says that he not only interviewed Jane Doe prior to filing the rape lawsuit against Jay-Z and Diddy but four other lawyers did too.
Back in December an unidentified woman claimed that she was sexually assaulted by both moguls at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party back in 2000. During an interview with NBC News there were several inconsistencies in her responses related to the timing, her father picking her up and individuals she spoke to that day.
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The Alchemist has been on a legendary run with one-off singles, a short EP series, and collaborations like his excellent joint album with Larry June, The Great Escape. The West Coast producer and rapper will reconnect with June along with 2 Chainz for the collaborative Life Is Beautiful project.
2 Chainz and Larry June have collaborated in the past via the song “Still Boomin’ from June’s 2022 Spaceships On The Blade album. The trio just unleashed the potent single and video for “Bad Choices” and it’s a natural pairing as any. June’s motivational get-money bars paired next to Tity Two Necklace’s opulent lyrics sound at home over the soulful production of The Alchemist.
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The announcement came as a bit of a surprise with “Bad Choices” not initially framed as part of a larger project. Chainz sounds in tip-top shape and June is always cool, relaxed, and focused on the end game of keeping his hustle up.
Fans won’t have to wait long to experience Life Is Beautiful in full despite the relatively fast rollout of the “Bad Choices” single. The trio will drop that project on Feb. 7.
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Check out a trailer for the album featuring The Alchemist, Larry June, and 2 Chainz below.
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. A new album by @2chainz @LarryJuneTFM & @Alchemist 2/7/25 pic.twitter.com/ctaMD8M4wV
— Alchemist Type Beat (@Alchemist) January 29, 2025
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Personally can’t wait to hear a lot of “Tony!” and “Good job” adlibs all over this album. Color us excited.
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If we’ve learned anything about 50 Cent over his illustrious career it’s that the man has no qualms about sharing his opinion on everything Hip-Hop related, so when A$AP Relli took the stand against A$AP Rocky in the long-awaited shooting trial of the rapper, y’all should’ve known 50 was going to throw his two cents in on the matter.
On Tuesday (Jan. 28), Relli got on the witness stand and told his side of the story in which he described how A$AP Rocky allegedly shot him during an argument in 2021. While on the stand Relli said Rocky pulled a gun on him and pointed it towards his body saying he was “looking for a spot to shoot.” Telling the court that he told Rocky “If you brought a gun, use it then,” Relli says that had it not been for a man named Elijah standing in between both of the men he didn’t know what would’ve happened.
According to A$AP Relli, Rocky did ultimately use the gun, which led to Relli getting a bullet graze on his hand.
Not one to bite his tongue, 50 Cent shared a clip of Relli’s testimony on his Instagram page and added a caption that read, “Man I hope Rockie alright this fool just want some money,💰 we seen this movie before 🎥it’s a re run, sucker ass 🥷🏾 smh @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi.”
You gotta love how that man will promote his alcohol brand while trolling other people.
Obviously not a fan of Relli dropping dime on Rocky, 50 is publicly backing Pretty Flacko as he fights this case in hopes of clearing his name and moving on with his life.
While Rocky had the chance to do so last week when he was offered a plea deal in the case, the “Riot” rapper rejected the deal and decided to take his chances in a court of law, which could prove to be costly if Relli is able to convince a jury that Rocky pulled the trigger.
During his testimony, Relli went on to say that his relationship with Rocky was broken at the time of the incident and that the meeting between the two was meant to be a settling of differences before things went left once they came face-to-face. For his part, A$AP Rocky is claiming that what he used to scare Relli was a prop gun that shot blanks, but has also stated that the gun has since been discarded.
We’re not sure how this is going to end for A$AP Rocky, but if he’s convicted of the allegation he faces up to 24 years in prison. If he rejected a plea deal in this matter he must be hella confident in his chances.
Check out A$AP Relli’s testimony below and let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section.
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A$AP Relli took the stand on Tuesday (Jan. 28) during former friend A$AP Rocky’s shooting trial, revealing more details about the 2021 incident. During his time on the stand, A$AP Relli claims he allegedly demanded that A$AP Rocky use the gun at the center of the matter in a show of bravado although Relli reportedly testified he never saw a firearm on Rocky’s person before their confrontation.
TMZ reports that A$AP Relli, real name Terell Ephron, took the stand and shared his side of the story regarding the alleged incident. Relli and Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, were childhood friends in New York and came up together as Rocky rose the ranks in music and fashion as part of the A$AP Mob collective. Relli says the issues began when a day before the November 6, 2021 shooting, he overheard a call between Rocky and A$AP Bari that was disparaging toward him and the longtime friendship fizzled from there.
The next day, Reli and Rocky planned to meet in Hollywood and the testimony from Relli claims that Rocky arrived with two other individuals with the idea of hashing out their differences in person. During the testimony, Relli claims he told Rocky, “You better use that sh*t, what the f*ck you got a gun for?” and added, “I was willing to die for my respect. If this is what you want to do, I still have my dignity.”
Relli claims he was grazed on the knuckle after Rocky fired at him. Rocky’s attorney says that the gun in the matter was a stage prop and therefore could not have fired a bullet nor were there casings found.
Rihanna, the mother of Rocky’s children, was in the gallery during the testimony in a show of support. Also taking the stand was an LAPD officer Tommy Zizzo, the son of Erika Jayne who starred in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills franchise.
A$AP Rocky is facing two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faces a maximum of 24 years behind bars if the trial leads to a conviction. Rocky has previously rejected a plea deal.
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NLE Choppa has made it well-known that he proudly stands behind the LGBTQ community and though he doesn’t claim to be gay or bisexual, the man has been accused of gay baiting in the past. So when he posed up a storm for the latest issue of Playgirl, y’all already knew those accusations would once again go into overdrive.
Looking particularly zesty for his photoshoot in the January issue of Playgirl, many in the Hip-Hop community have once again taken to social media to call NLE Choppa out for baiting the gay community while others feel the man may just be slowly coming out the closet. Either way, that’s his business.
Still, it seems like the gay baiting accusations isn’t sitting too well with NLE Choppa. He explained that he did not care what others think about how he’s portraying himself for his fans, but does want people to stop saying he’s a “gay baiter just because I’m comfortable enough to show off the perfection that God has orchestrated over my physical, my mental, my spiritual and even my emotions.”
Homie low-key went from sounding conceited to humble in one sentence.
Continuing on with his statement of the gay baiting sentiment, NLE Choppa added, “I am not a gay baiter because I post a selfie in the mirror showing off how beautiful I am. I am not a gay baiter if I post a picture showing off how much God has blessed me from below the waist with something that got women going crazy. I am not a gay baiter because in my Playgirl shoot I showed a piece of my ass. I can’t show a piece of my own ass without being called a name? It’s my ass! I am not a gay baiter because I showed my ass to a lady photographer.”
Well, he’s not wrong, but y’all already know heads are going to think what they want to think, and they’re thinking he’s either gay baiting or simply gay on the low (not that there is anything wrong with that). That’s just the game.
Still, NLE doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of him and once again reiterated his support of the gay community saying, “I love gay people but I would never want to bait gay people to love me for a certain reason. That’s not what I wanna do.”
Good for you, NLE. Now, go put some pants on, b.
Check out NLE Choppa’s statement and let us know your thoughts on his statement in the comments section below. And peep the CassiusLife cover story while you’re at it.
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Rakim is responsible for changing the way rappers approach rhyming in the 1980s and is regarded as the greatest living MC of all time. Now, Rakim is moving into the fintech space via his new AI-powered Notes platform.
The God MC’s new platform, Notes, combines “music, money, and knowledge” aimed at empowering independent musicians and aiding them in their quest for financial freedom. Further, Notes exists to provide its users with financial literacy, music business education, and more to help them in their creative aims.
Among the features of the Notes platform are connections to find loans or credit providers to raise capital, AI-powered financial literacy, and entrepreneurial education content, membership-focused access, and an “Ask RA” feature, which is an AI-powered vocal rendering of Rakim that serves as your online assistant within the Notes community.
“Independent urban music artists and creators often struggle to gain financial stability despite their market impact,” Rakim shared in a statement. “With Notes, we’re building a community- and lifestyle-driven platform that combines cultural connection, technology, and empowerment to give them the tools they need to thrive.”
The Notes platform is headed up by Rakim and his longtime associate Divine, who also offered a statement of his own.
“The opportunity to partner with Rakim and build a platform like Notes, to empower and support artists and creators in the urban community who have been underserved and exploited for so long, is unprecedented,” Divine says.
While still in its early stages, Notes will continue to develop the platform to include business banking, debit cards, peer-to-peer payment services, and more.
Those interested can learn more about Notes by clicking here. At the bottom of the Notes landing page is a tab for all their socials to follow.
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Popeyes, the fried chicken fast food chain, and Don Julio, one of the top tequila brands in the world, aren’t exactly in the same wheelhouse on several fronts but it appears things are changing. Don Julio and Popeyes look to be hinting at an upcoming collaboration and those who make up Black Xitter on the X platform had some thoughts.
Last Thursday, Popeyes posted a video on its Instagram account that teases the Don Julio collaboration featuring a vibrant party scene and a woman DJ decked out in gear adorned with the chain’s namesake along with some fancy Black boxes featuring the tequila brand’s name as well.
The caption for the video read, “The kitchen is heating up for the big game. Party starts 1.31.25,” which we assume is meant to illustrate that the Super Bowl contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs is happening soon on Feb. 9.
While we’ll have to wait until the end of the month to find out what exactly Popeyes and Don Julio are up to, fans on X, formerly Twitter, are chiming in with a wild variety of theories. Naturally, with the drop happening on the eve of Black History Month, some eyebrows were raised.
Will it be a new tequila-based glaze? Will there be Mexican-themed spices in a new drop? Is it a fashion collaboration considering the DJ’s outfit in the clip? It’s all over the place.
Check out the teaser clip below.
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The music industry’s biggest night is shaping to be something special. Doechii has been confirmed to perform at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
As spotted on Rap-Up, the Recording Academy made their first round of announcements of musicians who will perform at the upcoming ceremony. Set to hit the stage are Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doechii, RAYE, Sabrina Carpenter, Shakira, and Teddy Swims. All the aforementioned musicians are currently nominated for awards.
Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal is up for the Best Rap Album and her song “NISSAN ALTIMA” is competing for Best Rap Performance. She also has the chance to take home the honor of Best New Artist. 2024 marked her breakthrough year with the success of her mixtape. Doechii’s 19-track effort was her first-ever project on Top Dawg Entertainment and featured several breakout singles including “Boom Bap,” and “Denial Is a River.”
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will not only honor the very best in music but will also raise funds to help those who were impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. “The upcoming Grammy Awards won’t just be about celebrating and honoring the best in music this year, it will also show how the power of music can help rebuild, uplift and support those in need,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “We are thrilled that so many artists in our community are banding together at this time to show support for their fellow music makers and others impacted by the recent wildfires.”
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will air Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS Television Network.
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Another in depth examination on Diddy’s alleged misdoings is on the way. Identification Discovery is set to release a documentary titled The Fall of Diddy.
As per Variety, the ID Network is throwing their hat into the Diddy documentary ring. The Fall of Diddy attempts to pull back the curtain on the mogul’s personal and professional life. Here several of his former friends, staff and associates are interviewed and the picture they paint of Diddy is a man with many more secrets. One of the most memorable moments was what his short-lived girlfriend Kat Pasion had to share about her experience dating him back in 2019.
While she says everything was great in the very beginning she alleged that he tried to coerce her with drugs and even threatened to have her deported if she ever betrayed him. “This man is sick. He uses his resources and what he thinks he can do for you and thinks that that can band-aid and solve the horrible things he does to people because he thinks he’s God,” she said.
Former bodyguard Roger Bonds also confirmed he saw what he believed to be male sex workers when leaving hotels that Diddy and Cassie were staying at. “I’ve seen questionable things, but I never knew exactly what was going on. It’s been times where Cassie and Diddy would just go to the hotel for a weekend, and I would see guys get off the elevator,” said Bonds.
Diddy’s legal team has refuted the claims and part of their formal statement is said to be included in project. “These documentaries are rushing to cash in on the media circus surrounding Mr. Combs,” it read. “This production is clearly intended to present a one-sided and prejudicial narrative. As we’ve said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every publicity stunt or facially ridiculous claim. He has full confidence in the facts and the judicial process, where the truth will prevail: the accusations against him are pure fiction.”
The Fall of Diddy is set to premiere Jan. 27 at 9 p.m. ET on ID. You can view the trailer below.