Current Events
Page: 22
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Courtesy of Billboard / Courtesy of Billboard
Billboard Magazine is looking at BigXthaPlug as Rap’s newest star. He has been chosen to grace the cover of their “Future Of Hip-Hop” issue.
Source: Courtesy of Billboard / Courtesy of Billboard
This week the music industry trade publication released their first cover series of 2025. On the cover BigXthaPlug is featured and with a headline that reads “BREAKS THROUGH GENRE NOW”. In the exclusive interview he details his come up, his recent success and more. Early in the feature he explains that his father was the one who saw his musical talent early on. “The first time I remember having a mic in my face was when I was about 9 or 10 years old. My pops took me to this spot, and right in the middle of the room, there was a round wooden table with a mic…” he revealed. “Then they just put me on the mic, and I just started rapping. Afterwards, my dad told me, ‘You’re good—you need to rap for real.’ That was one of my earliest memories for sure.”
Later on BigXthaPlug explains his creative process and makes it clear that he makes music for everyone. “I’m talking about something,” he explains. “A lot of older people who love music—that’s what they grew up on: actual substance. Here’s this young dude that sounds old, but he’s on these young-old beats. I literally mixed everything up so everybody could love it.”
Billboard Magazine’s “Future Of Hip-Hop” issue is out now. You can view BigXthaPlug’s interview below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: The Washington Post / Getty
The report by Special Counsel Jack Smith on Donald Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election was released, with many on social media outraged at the findings.
Early Tuesday morning (January 14), the report by Special Counsel Jack Smith on the alleged attempts by Donald Trump to interfere with the results of the 2020 presidential election was released, sending shockwaves as the report rebuked the president-elect for his efforts. “Indeed, but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial,” Smith stated in the report.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report painfully reminds us of just how far the conservative justices were willing to go: pic.twitter.com/M6GwQw5Tlf
— Shanlon Wu (@shanlonwu) January 14, 2025
The damning 137-page report explicitly connected Trump to the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, that left five dead and 140 police officers injured, having encouraged “violence against his perceived opponents” after losing the presidential election in 2020 to Joe Biden. Smith also highlighted how Trump and his accomplices, including Rudy Giuliani, attempted to overturn the results in Arizona and Michigan. The report also detailed racist threats made to District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, and how Trump encouraged the isolation of his then-Vice President Mike Pence to compel him not to certify the 2020 results.
Smith wrote that he made the move to quickly indict Trump to not impact the 2024 presidential election. “Because of the Office’s deep familiarity and experience with these policies, it focused on completing both of its investigations promptly and making timely charging decisions, long before the election,” he wrote. Smith resigned as Special Counsel last week, and while the report has been sent to Congress, it’s assured there will be no further action since Republicans control both the House and the Senate. There is a second volume of the report related to the classified documents case against Trump. Still, Attorney General Merrick Garland has opted to wait until the legal proceedings against Trump’s co-defendants have ended.
The report has left many online upset at the evidence against the president-elect, seeing it as justice being denied. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Denise Wheeler, a novelist, laid the blame squarely at Garland’s feet with her post: “Merrick Garland waited until late 2022 to appoint a special counsel to investigate the biggest & most treasonous criminal in our country’s history. Yet it wasn’t until after Trump announced his candidacy that Garland acted. This wasn’t weakness. It was flat-out intentional.”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Universal History Archive / Getty
Last September, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would conduct its first federal review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. On Friday, the DOJ released the findings from its review — only about a century and three and a half years late.
As the Guardian noted, a June 1921 report on the race massacre by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Investigation, which preceded the FBI, blamed the attack that killed hundreds and leveled an entire affluent Black neighborhood on Black men and, alleging that the white perpetrators of one of the most notorious white supremacist attacks in American history did not violate any federal laws. (And people say objective journalism is dead. When was there ever objective journalism? Certainly not when white men were the only demographic allowed in the field.) The DOJ’s report, however, acknowledged who the true villains were during the massacre, and that the vicious attack on Black residents by the white mob “was so systematic and coordinated that it transcended mere mob violence.”
“The Tulsa race massacre stands out as a civil rights crime unique in its magnitude, barbarity, racist hostility and its utter annihilation of a thriving Black community,” Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s civil rights division, said in a statement. “In 1921, white Tulsans murdered hundreds of residents of Greenwood, burned their homes and churches, looted their belongings, and locked the survivors in internment camps.”
“Until this day, the justice department has not spoken publicly about this race massacre or officially accounted for the horrific events that transpired in Tulsa,” the 126-page report was conducted by a team of lawyers and investigators from the Emmett Till Cold Case Unit of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division went on to say. “This report breaks that silence by rigorous examination and a full accounting of one of the darkest episodes of our nation’s past. This report lays bare new information and shows that the massacre was the result not of uncontrolled mob violence, but of a coordinated, military-style attack on Greenwood.”
Investigators for the review “spoke with survivors and with descendants of survivors, examined firsthand accounts of the massacre given by individuals who are now deceased, studied primary source materials, spoke to scholars of the massacre and reviewed legal pleadings, books, and scholarly articles relating to the massacre,” the report says. And yet, the living survivors of Tulsa and their descendants have repeatedly been denied reparations for all that they suffered and lost by the state of Oklahoma. They wanted long-overdue restitution, and all they got was a lousy review of what we already knew about the event.
Clarke noted in the review that “there is no living perpetrator for the justice department to prosecute.” So, basically, no reparations, no justice, only a century-late document confirming that what happened actually happened.
But that’s America for ya.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty / Grammy Awards
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Deadline confirmed the biggest night in music would not move its date, following in the steps of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which also said it would be sticking by its March 2 Oscar ceremony date after having to move the nomination announcement twice, January 19 to now Thursday, January 23, due to ongoing L.A. wildfires.
A note from the Recording Academy revealed that this year’s awards show will raise additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts, honor the first responders battling the fires, and help those in need.
Here is the complete note from Harvey Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt:
Dear Recording Academy Members,
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.
In response to this crisis, the Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need – and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance.
In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th GRAMMY Awards telecast on CBS on February 2nd will proceed as planned. This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.
In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The GRAMMYs will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.
With heartfelt concern,
Harvey Mason jr.
Recording Academy & MusiCares CEO
Tammy Hurt
Chair, Board of Trustees
The Grammys recently reached a new 10-year deal to stream with Disney streaming the award’s show on ABC, Hulu, and Disney+ from 2027 to 2036., ending the 50-year run on CBS.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Cindy Ord / Getty
2024 was a helluva year for the Hip-Hop culture as we all witnessed the downfalls of The Diddler, the King of The North, Drake, and surprise breakup of Remy Ma and Papoose.
Naturally all of these things ended up juicy material for Uncle Murda’s visuals to his “Rap Up 2024” in which he used footage of everything that went down last year while spitting his bars about the eventful year that was 2024 which will more than likely all kinds of ripple effects for years to come.
Keeping the vibe in Brooklyn, Hip-Hop OG’s Smif-N-Wessun are still repping Buck Town down to their Timbs and in their clip for “Infinity,” we’re treated to pics and footage of the Boot Camp Click representatives showing their growth and ascension throughout the decades.
Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Bay Swag featuring 42 Dugg, El Snappo, and more.
UNCLE MURDA – “RAP UP 2024”
SMIF-N-WESSUN – “INFINITY”
BAY SWAG FT. 42 DUGG – “DRANK”
EL SNAPPO – “MO PROBLEMS”
DAX – “FROM A MAN’S PERSPECTIVE”
BIG OPP – “I DON’T GOT TIME”
CARTIER & PEEZY – “BAG ON ME”
VULTURE MAN – “DOGGY”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: ADAM GRAY / Getty / Steve Bannon
There is some MAGA infighting going on. Steve Bannon, one of Donald Trump’s most loyal allies, is letting it be known he is no fan of Trump’s new homie, Elon Musk.
Spotted on The Hill, two shirt-wearing former adviser to President-Elect Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, vows to “take down” Tesla chief Elon Musk, and, in a classic pot calling the kettle black moment, describing Trump’s pick to run DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) as “truly evil.”
Per Mediaite, Bannon expressed his disdain for Musk in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Musk’s support of H-1B visas is fueling this MAGA feud.
Per The Hill:
“I will have Elon Musk run out of here by Inauguration Day,” Bannon said. “He is a truly evil guy, a very bad guy. I made it my personal thing to take this guy down.”
With Trump set to take office for the second time shortly, Musk’s influence in the next administration remains unclear.
Bannon criticized Musk over the continued debate over H-1B visas. Musk is supportive of the work program that allows the U.S. to attract international talent. Trump’s base, however, is not supportive of the program, fueling a fight over the topic.
“This thing of the H-1B visas, it’s about the entire immigration system is gamed by the tech overlords, they use it to their advantage, the people are furious,” Bannon said.
Steve Bannon Calls Elon Musk A Racist
What’s even more hilarious is that Bannon, who has been accused of being a racist, slammed Musk’s heritage, calling South Africans the most racist people on Earth.
“He should go back to South Africa,” Bannon continued. “Why do we have South Africans, the most racist people on Earth, white South Africans, we have them making any comments at all on what goes on in the United States?”
Bannon didn’t stop there, adding that Musk has the maturity of a “little boy” and is only trying to add to his ridiculous wealth.
We don’t agree with Bannon on anything, but he’s not lying there.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty /Beyoncé
Beyoncé is putting her money where her mouth is and is lending a financial hand to those in need who were directly impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.
Spotted on Variety through her BeyGOOD charity foundation, the Houston singer is donating $2.5 million to help those families who have suffered tremendous losses during the Los Angeles wildfires rebuild, specifically the Altadena and Pasadena, both of which have a high concentration of Black residents.
BeyGOOD joins the still-growing list of organizations, such as The Walt Disney Company, which pledged $15 million to relief and rebuilding efforts, and Paramount and Fox Corp., which donated $1 million to the American Red Cross and Los Angeles Fire Department.
Per Variety:
BeyGOOD, which was established in 2013, will provide the funds to families in Altadena and Pasadena, two areas that were devastated by wildfires that broke out on Tuesday. In addition to helping those who lost their homes and possessions, BeyGOOD will also assist churches and community centers in other impacted areas to address the immediate needs of people affected by the fires.
Despite all of the misinformation out there and blame incorrectly being thrown at L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom by GOP officials and the President-Elect, the wildfires, which were wildly unpredictable thanks to the powerful Santa Ana winds stoking the flames, continue to ravage the city.
Eleven people are dead as a result of the wildfires, with the toll expected to rise as the search effort for missing people and survivors currently happening.
It’s good to see celebs like Beyoncé being active instead of on social media placing blame on people like Khloe Kardashian, who faced the wrath of Black women after she decided to slam Karen Bass on Instagram.
Shoutout to Beyoncé!
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: MSNBC / Youtube
MSNBC host Michael Steele called out Attorney General Merrick Garland for his lack of holding Donald Trump accountable.
Outgoing Attorney General Merrick Garland has been attacked for his reluctance to fully hold Donald Trump accountable, and an MSNBC host raked him over the coals for it. Former Republican National Committee chairman and co-host of The Weekend Michael Steele began a segment blasting U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Sunday (Jan. 12), for her attempts to help the president-elect ward off investigations by former Special Counsel Jack Smith as he sat with former lawyer Kathy Greenberg. He would veer off to address Garland’s apparent delay in releasing the final report of Special Counsel Jack Smith after Greenberg characterized Cannon’s previous rulings as “lawless.”
“I’m of the view I don’t care how you release it, just get the damn thing released because we have nickel and dimed around this. Merrick Garland has been wholly useless in this process, completely useless,” Steele thundered. “The most timid person at justice, period, in the history of the organization. Even in this hour, in the face of everything else, knowing what happens on January 20th: ‘Well, I don’t know if we should put this out because something may come,’” he continued, referring to the date that Trump is set to be sworn in for his second presidential term.
“Nothing’s coming of this because it’s all gone at 12:01 next Tuesday, next Monday!” he exclaimed. “So what’s the point, Kristy? I mean, citizens look at this and they go, this has been a complete cluster for the American people relative to our judicial process. How do you restore that faith? Where do we begin to get back this idea that our judiciary, particularly since Donald Trump is going to stack it with more Judge Cannons, is impartial and a place where you can go and have those scales balanced in a way in which you can receive some justice, or that we can at least see it working.”
Steele’s comments echoed those of many observers and experts who agreed about Garland’s lack of urgency. In a surprise move, however, Judge Cannon denied a motion from Trump’s co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira to block the release of Smith’s report on the classified documents case on Monday (Jan. 13). Barring an appeal, the decision means that after the temporary injunction expires on Tuesday, the report will be released to the public.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Randy Shropshire / Getty
Tyler Perry pointed out insurance companies’ failure to cover people who lost their homes in the wildfires in Los Angeles on social media.
As firefighters struggle to eradicate the wildfires plaguing Los Angeles since last week, many have pointed out how the insurance companies have opted not to cover those homeowners who’ve lost their homes. Filmmaker Tyler Perry joined those voices, expressing his anger at those companies in a social media post on Sunday (January 12). He began his post on Instagram by detailing one situation from the fires he saw first-hand. “Watching a daughter use a garden hose to try and protect her 90-year-old parents’ home because their insurance was canceled was just gut-wrenching to me,” he began.
The creator behind the popular “Madea” character continued: “Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on? People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed.”
He ended by declaring his intent to further support the communities affected by the fires. “As I am in the process of trying to figure out what steps to take to do all I can to help as many as I can, I am keeping everyone in my prayers,” Perry said.
The five wildfires that have sprung up, with the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires being the most devastating, have forced the evacuation of over 100,000 from their homes. There are an estimated 1,626 homes in the Pacific Palisades that are without insurance after State Farm General announced it wouldn’t renew 30,000 policies in the state after they expired, blaming inflation and costs related to catastrophe exposure.
Other companies such as Allstate, Tokio Marine America Insurance Co., and the Trans-Pacific Insurance Co. also stopped providing home insurance policies. As other neighborhoods such as the historically Black middle-class community of Altadena are severely affected, the state is working to estimate the costs of the damage, which J.P. Morgan Chase analysts claim could be over $10 billion. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement addressing the homeowner insurance issue that “Californians deserve a reliable insurance market that doesn’t retreat from communities most vulnerable to wildfires and climate change.” There have been no recent comments from his office.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County in California have devastated homes and misplaced longtime residents as firefighters battle the blazes. The community of Altadena, which has a significant number of Black residents, is suffering from the damages of the wildfires as they forge a path forward.
Several outlets have covered the damage from the wildfires in Altadena and the town of Pasadena, including Pasadena Star-News and CBS News. The Eaton fire has damaged around 4,000 structures according to the Star-News, adding that 18 percent of Altadena’s residents are Black along with 7 percent of Pasadena residents.
“This will (displace) a lot of Black people, said Sheila Foster, who lost homes in both Altadena and Pasadena. “Some of them are elderly, some were barely holding on before the fire, trying to keep their property because it was going down from generation to generation up here.”
As seen in Yahoo! News by way of TheGrio, the Eaton fire is among four blazes which include the Palisades fires, and as seen both burning over 30,000 acres of land and over 10,000 structures total. There is a multinational effort made by firefighters from the north in Canada and to the South in Mexico. This is especially interesting to note considering the aggressive tone towards the named countries from President-elect Donald Trump.
On X, formerly Twitter, some are mentioning the devastation endured by the residents of Altadena and Pasadena, while also noting efforts of spectacular scope are being made to support those displaced by the blazes. Those reactions can be viewed below.
—
Photo: Getty