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The legendary Roberta Flack was laid to rest on Monday (March 10) in New York during a public memorial service that featured words from the Rev. Al Sharpton and other notable figures. Stevie Wonder was on hand for a moving tribute, along with a surprise appearance from Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.
Roberta Flack passed away on Feb. 24, sparking several responses from entertainers and music lovers from around the world on social media. Flack’s influence and towering legacy were mentioned several times throughout the service, and Rev. Sharpton artfully illustrated the vocalist’s significance in Black music culture, as reported by the Associated Press.
The outlet added in its reporting that Stevie Wonder was a scheduled performer, and other performers, such as Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson fame, took to the stage. Phylicia Rashad, who shared that she first encountered Flack as a young vocalist while attending Howard University, remarked how arresting the singer’s voice was then.
There were also video tributes delivered by Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India.Arie, and Alicia Keys, along with remarks delivered by many in attendance in honor of Flack and her lasting legacy.
The appearance of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean was not on the docket, and Hill delivered a speech citing Flack’s influence on her life.
“I adore Ms. Roberta Flack,” Hill said during a speech. “Roberta Flack is legend.”
Hill performed a rendition of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” and then launched into the Fugees’ award-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” with Wonder joining on harmonica and Jean on guitar. Wonder then took to the stage and performed “If It’s Magic” alongside a harpist. Wonder then went to the piano and performed “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” a song he wrote for Flack.
Roberta Flack was 88 at the time of her passing.
Watch the memorial service in full below.
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The Last of Us, the apocalyptic science fiction thriller series from HBO, was an exceptional adaptation of the video game series that bears the same name. Season two is on the horizon, and a new trailer for the series was just released, featuring more mushroom-fueled madness and dangers for Joel and Ellie.
The Last Of Us follows Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, as they continue their journey some five years after the conclusion of the show’s debut season. Fans of the video game are probably well aware of what’s to come for the pair, and the introduction of Abby, a known character from the game, will bring about some interesting scenarios.
The Cordyceps infection and the raging beasts they produce are still very much prominent in the world, despite armed forces taking back parts of the land. That said, every moment of the trailer hints at something ominous to come, and much like these shows go, the humans have their monstrous ways as well.
For those who haven’t watched the first season, check out streaming episodes on the Max platform. According to reports, it was the most-watched debut season in HBO’s long history and took home a number of awards.
The Last Of Us season two makes its debut on April 13. Check out the trailer below.
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Taxstone might be facing additional time. The currently jailed media personality has been charged with smuggling contraband into a Brooklyn jail.
As per HipHopDX, several inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center are accused of either smuggling or being in possession of contraband. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Taxstone used an elaborate scheme to sneak in different prohibited items including marijuana, cigarettes, lighters, a scalpel and more. Back in June of 2024, he is said to have conspired with Ian Diez, Jonathan Guerrero, Abel Mora and Mayovanex Rodriguez to bring in the contraband by throwing out a piece of line outside of a window. An individual located outside of the correctional facility would then “hook” and attach the package so it can be pulled back up and into the jail. Taxstone is alleged to have used a mobile phone to coordinate the plan with external parties who have yet to be identified.
“The safety and security of our federal detention facilities is paramount,” said United States Attorney Durham via a press release. “These actions undermine the order and security of MDC-Brooklyn and endanger everyone within its walls. My Office is working tirelessly to hold accountable those who commit violent acts or introduce contraband into the prison, whether they are inmates or staff. These charges serve as a warning to those who would engage in criminal conduct behind bars, and anyone else who facilitates those crimes: your conduct will be uncovered, and you will be held accountable.”
If found guilty of smuggling, he could face an additional 10 years in prison. In June 2023, he was sentenced to 30 years for fatally shooting Troy Ave’s bodyguard at a nightclub. He was also sentenced to 10 years on federal gun charges in November 2023 for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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Doechii is really coming up in the world these days as she’s already a Grammy Award winner and well on her way to household name recognition, but nothing says “I made it” like a co-sign from one of the biggest music icons from the previous generation, Lauryn Hill.
Over the weekend the “Ex-Factor” singer was performing at the Jazz in the Gardens (JITG) music festival when she surprised fans during her set by bringing out Doechii to help her perform a rendition of her classic ’90s hit, “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Rapping Lauryn Hill’s verses while Ms. Hill performed the background vocals, Doechii was obviously motivated to show out during the set, as she knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to share the stage with a music legend that rarely pops out, and on the rare occasions when she does, she’s usually hours late (no shots).
Taking to X to express her gratitude over the moment, Doechii thanked the multi-platinum-selling artist and wrote, “Thank you Miss Lauryn Hill. Thank you. My heart is so full. She is my hero. This is the greatest honor hip hop could give me. Praise God 🤎 … my entire body is vibrating with joy right now. I’ll never forget this day! EVER!”
Still on cloud nine from the moment, Doechii tweeted another post in which she said, “I never been so nervous in my life 😭 she is a QUEEN.”
You gotta love it.
Whether or not this will lead to a collaboration between the two women at some point is anyone’s guess (we hope it does), but for now we’re just glad to see these two marvels sharing the same space for the culture.
What do y’all think about Lauryn Hill and Doechii linking up in concert? Would y’all want to hear a cut featuring these two artists? Let us know in the comments section below.
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R. Kelly is currently serving 30 years behind bars due to his explosive sexual abuse and human trafficking case, where he was convicted on nine counts. Largely mum during his prison stay. R. Kelly was a surprise guest for an inmate-focused podcast, saying at one point that singing was a “beautiful disease.”
As seen on TMZ, R. Kelly was a surprise guest for the Inmate Tea with A&P podcast, hosted by April Smith and Patricia Dillard. The podcast is centered on prison reforms and gives inmates a platform to “advocate for criminal justice reform and the humane treatment of inmates, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, by raising awareness of the injustices within the judicial and prison systems,” according to their website bio.
The hosts were slated to speak with another inmate at the FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina but caught wind that the R&B singer and songwriter was housed there. While Kelly didn’t explicitly speak about his case, he did showcase his vocal ability and even shared that he’s written over two dozen albums.
At one point, Kelly referred to singing as “a beautiful disease that’s incurable” and pledged to always lean into that craft as long as he’s able. In a follow-up TMZ post, Smith and Dillard defended their choice to feature R. Kelly on their broadcast, seemingly elated by the big name-grab for their show. Despite Kelly’s infamous reputation, the pair told the outlet that they were able to separate Kelly from the heinous crimes attached to his name and have received backlash for running the interview.
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Gabrielle Union spoke about the comments she received after revealing the 50/50 financial split she has with her husband Dwayne Wade in an interview.
Being open about her marriage took a turn for Gabrielle Union, as she revealed the backlash she received for detailing a financial agreement between her and her husband Dwayne Wade. During her appearance on the recent episode of the Balanced Black Girl podcast this week, Union spoke about how the comments she received left her taken aback. “I famously said, 50/50 or bust, right? And I meant that financially, spiritually, and emotionally,” Union said on the episode that aired Tuesday (March 4). “It’s a trauma response… and 50/50 is, ‘I’m not going to be vulnerable enough to trust you with 100% of anything. Not my heart, not my cash.’”
Union called the comments “wild” and “aggressive.” She first spoke of the arrangement during an interview on the Idea Generation podcast last year, which led to an outcry from social media users who pointed to Wade having a larger net worth as a former NBA star. Wade’s estimated net worth is $170 from his playing career with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Union’s estimated net worth is estimated at $40 million.
The actress explained to the host, Les Allred, that she had to step out of being “fiercely independent” in order to give up control in that manner, citing her being abused sexually at the age of 19 and being “diagnosed with PTSD” in the aftermath as the foundation for being “hyper-focused on efficiency and time,” which she didn’t want to impact her marriage with Wade. “It’s being vulnerable enough to be open enough to know that I’m OK. I’m OK as his wife,” the Bring It On star explained. “He’s OK as my husband. I’m OK in this family. I’m OK in this home. I deserve it… and so, I’m trying to expand my heart, expand all of the notions of what vulnerability can look like.”
Wade defended his wife while appearing on the Club Shay Shay podcast last June. “I have 20 to 50 responsibilities, and my wife has 20 to 50 responsibilities, and when I say that, that means she has her mother, she has her sisters, she has her dad, so she has a lot of things she’s responsible for,” he stated. “She pays 100% of that and you know what I do? I pay 100% of my life.”
Check out the interview above.
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Last year, we learned that famous crypto scammer Sam Bankman-Fried was set to be locked up in the same jailhouse as “The Diddler” himself, Diddy. And as interesting as that was, what’s more intriguing is that it seems like the two public pariah’s have actually crossed paths behind bars, and Fried had nothing but love for him.
According to the Daily Mail UK, Sam Bankman-Fried sat down for an interview with right-wing media darling, Tucker Carlson (of course) from a remote room at the Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, and during the wide-ranging interview, which included his charges, prison life and evil Democrats (of course), Tucker bluntly asked him “Have you made friends there? Are you hanging with Diddy? I think he’s in there with you.”
While you’d think that fresh fish like Fried would have a hard time in jail given the nature of his blue collar crime and his overall appearance, he says that he’s been treated well by his fellow inmates and Diddy, in particular, has basically been living up to his moniker “Brother Love” from what he could tell.
Per Daily Mail UK:
‘He is.. he’s been kind. I’ve made some friends, it’s a weird environment. It’s a combination of a few other high-profile cases and a lot of alleged ex-gangsters.
‘I’ve only seen one piece of him, which is Diddy in prison. He’s been kind to people in the unit, he’s been kind to me.
‘It’s kind of a soul crushing place for the world in general and what we see are just the people that are around us on the inside rather than who we are on the outside.
‘Some of them I think are thinking well this is sort of an opportunity to meet people they wouldn’t otherwise get to meet,’ Bankman-Fried said.
‘It makes sense from their perspective, but boy is that not how I think about prison.’
Yeah, most of us are actually good on having to go to prison to get the opportunity to meet celebrities or people we wouldn’t normally interact with, but hey, that’s just us.
While we’re glad to hear that Diddy is in good spirits while behind bars, we just hope that Fried doesn’t end up getting shaken down for some “chon chon” at some point on some Blood In Blood Out sh*t. Just sayin’.
Luckily for him, Fried also added that “The fortunate thing, the place I’m in, I’m not in… I’m not in physical danger.” Let’s hope it stays that way.
What do y’all think about Sam Bankman-Fried’s description of Diddy and their current prison environment? Is he good, or do you think it’s only a matter of time before things go left? Let us know in the comments section below.
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With much of the Hip-Hop community siding with Kendrick Lamar these days and having become the butt of many jokes, Drake really seems like the definition of a lonely boy these days, and recently, a video circulating social media seems to drive home that notion, as Drizzy has taken to turning up all by himself in the club… literally.
Recently, video surfaced, which showed the Canadian crooner sitting by himself in a club that he rented out for personal use. But instead of filling it with close friends, family or women, Drizzy simply sat by himself while Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” blasted out the speakers and he gambled the night away as his Stake bets played on the big screen TV’s in the club. Enjoying himself some bubbly while sitting comfortably in a fur coat, Drake seems to be at peace as he ultimately won some paper and confetti showered his person to celebrate his earnings.
We hate to say it, but it seems like the Certified Lover Boy artist needs, well, some love.
While many are suggesting that this could be Drake doing some promotion for the Stake gambling site (for which Drake has money invested in), we low-key think this is how isolated Drizzy’s been feeling as of late, as even his Nike Air Force 1s have been bricking upon release. Y’all know heads ain’t f*cking with a rapper when his/her personal Nike collaborations are dead upon arrival. Heck, even Lil Yachty’s Air Force 1s sold out when they dropped. That’s saying something.
Drake has yet to address the video of himself by his lonesome in the club, but you can bet Kung Fu Kenny is somewhere basking in his victory and in the seclusion he’s subjected Drake to in the aftermath of their classic rap battle of 2024.
Don’t feel too bad for Drake, though. The man is still richer beyond most people’s wildest dreams and has bedded some of the most famous women both in entertainment and on Instagram. So yeah, he’ll be aight.
What do y’all think about Drake politicking in the club all by himself? Is this a reflection of how he feels on the inside, or is this just promo for Stake? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Kendrick Lamar is clearly not taking his foot off the gas pedal. His forthcoming comedy film is set to be released this summer.
HotNewHipHop is reporting that the MC is looking to extend his 2025 winning streak. After much speculation, we finally have more information on his first big screen effort. This week, Paramount+ disclosed more information on the project via a formal synopsis and the culture is already invested. Titled Whitney Springs, the movie follows a “Black man interning as a slave re-enactor at a living history museum” who “finds out that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once owned his.”
Originally announced in 2022, fans have speculated if Kendrick Lamar would play a role in the film and that too seems to be confirmed. In the promotional poster for the movie, Kendrick Lamar is listed as a primary talent along with Chloe East and Celeste Octavia. This is not the first time K.Dot has tapped into his acting talents, as he played a homeless man in Power.
While very little else is known about Whitney Springs, we do know that Kendrick Lamar has partnered with South Park co-creator Trey Parker to product the project. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Parker confirmed that the rapper was very involved in the creative process. “[Kendrick Lamar is] very involved. And Dave Free is very involved,” he stated. “Every day they are working on it.”
Whitney Springs will be streaming exclusively on Paramount+ starting July 11.
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Roy Ayers, the towering jazz legend whose songs reverberated throughout the entire scope of music, passed away this week at 84, leaving behind a massive library of sounds. Throughout his long career, Roy Ayers’s music has been sampled several times, and we have ## essential songs from Ayers that were sampled by Hip-Hop and R&B stars.
Roy Ayers passed away on Tuesday (March 4) after dealing with a long illness, according to reports. In the early 1970s, Ayers and his group, Roy Ayers Ubiquity began to find footing in the music scene. In 1973, Ayers soundtracked the film Coffy, which starred the legendary Pam Grier. The latter half of the decade was fruitful for Ayers with hit albums such as Mystic Voyage and Everybody Loves The Sunshine among them.
Countless artists have sampled Ayers, including Mary J. Blige, Naughty By Nature, The Notorious B.I.G., Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.
Below, we’re sharing these eight essential Roy Ayers songs sampled by Hip-Hop and R&B below.
“Everybody Loves The Sunshine”
“Searching”
“You Can’t Turn Me Away” – Sylvia Striplin (Ayers produced this track)
“Running Away”
“The Third Eye”
“Ooh”
“Mystic Voyage”
“Shining Symbol”
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