celebrity news
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Now that Ma$e is back in the spotlight thanks to his and Cam’ron’s highly successful sports talk show, It Is What It Is, it seems like the former Bad Boy artist is readying his long-awaited return to the rap scene, as he’s announced that he has a new project in the works.
During the March 7 episode of It Is What It Is, Ma$e revealed that not only does he have a new album on the way, but that he’s dropping it on the same day that Diddy’s trial is set to begin! Once known as Murda Ma$e when he first came into the rap game, could the artist also formerly known as Pastor Ma$e be trading in his former monikers for something like Petty Ma$e? We don’t know, but it certainly seems to fit the bill. But hey, we’re not mad at him one bit.
During his conversation with former football player Maurice Clarett, Ma$e let it “slip” out that he was working on a new album and that Cam’ron was helping him pick and choose which songs would make the cut saying, “I’m listening to the songs that Killa picked out of the stuff I made.” When asked when we would be hearing his new project, Ma$e didn’t hesitate to say, “May 25. The first day of the Diddy trial. We’re dropping. You like that? You made me put it out there. I wasn’t going to put that out there, but Mo, you made me.”
While the Diddy trial is actually slated to begin on May 5, Ma$e is clearly looking to send a message to his former boss and might just tweak his release date once he realizes the trial is set to begin a lot sooner than he originally thought.
Interestingly enough, Ma$e is also revisiting a trend from Hip-Hop’s golden era by releasing a double album, which would’ve consisted of a double CD (do kids even know what CDs are these days?), but he’s taking it a step further by dropping a triple album so things can be “even.” What that means to him is anyone’s guess, as it could be related to business or simply a personal statement. But regardless, it will be interesting to see what Ma$e and Cam have been cooking in the lab come May.
Will Ma$e have songs aimed directly at Diddy? Will it be ready for a May 5 release date? Will his day one fans want to hear what he has left in the tank?
Are y’all looking forward to a new Ma$e album? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Ben Affleck is an award-winning actor and filmmaker and starred in motion pictures that have made millions in theaters. Ben Affleck is also a dad of children who love fancy gifts, and the Massachusetts native let it be known that his kids won’t be running his packets for expensive sneakers.
As spotted on Buzzfeed, Ben Affleck and his 13-year-old son went viral after attending a Got Sole sneaker convention in Los Angeles at the top of the month. Affleck’s son pointed out some Jordan 1 Dior lowtop sneakers and tried to get his father to get him the sneakers. When Affleck heard the $6,000 price tag, he ribbed his son by saying he’s going to have to mow a lot of lawns to get a pair. Of course, the kid took it in stride, and we’re pretty certain Dad didn’t leave the convention without something.
Affleck was at the annual SXSW conference to premiere his new film, The Accountant 2, and was approached by Access Hollywood to chat about his latest work, where Affleck deferred and praised his cast, the stunt workers, and director Gavin O’Connor. Toward the end of the chat, the outlet asked Affleck about the sneaker convention moment, and all of Affleck’s Massachusetts accent came out.
“That’s what happens when you tell a motherf*cker you have to mow a lawn, all of a sudden, they don’t want those shoes anymore,” Affleck says with a smile in his eyes. What makes the moment so great is that Ben Affleck is in total media training mode during the first part of the segment, but it all goes away once the sneaker conversation comes up.
Check out both aforementioned moments below.
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Drake is back to blazing the charts despite the overall consensus pointing to the fact that he seemingly lost the battle with Kendrick Lamar. In a new Instagram post, Drake vaguely suggests that he’s got more artistic moves on the way and teased his “next chapter.”
Taking to his preferred social media platform of Instagram, Drake captioned a series of photos with the following:
U know I grew up non confrontational and always treated this game as a sport where my pen won gold, but my these days the podium has been hard for all of us to ignore. I understand that this next chapter may leave you feeling uneasy, but I hope you see my honesty as clarity not charity that answers some questions especially about the unanswered texts you’ve been sending me.
Given that the OVO Sound honcho can be cryptic via social media, it isn’t known who this message is for or what it truly means. It could be assumed he’s ready to address all the chatter about his assumed downfall despite charting big with his latest collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, which is currently the No. 2 selling album on the Billboard 200.
With the Anita Max Win tour in New Zealand and Australia put on pause, fans will certainly be awaiting new music and whatever the next moves are from Drake.
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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.