Current Events
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Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
A new documentary on the unknown story behind the rise of digital piracy produced by Eminem & LeBron James debuts in June.
Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
One of the more obscured stories behind the rise of digital piracy and how it transformed the music industry into what it is today, is on display in a new documentary series, entitled How Music Got Free. The two-episode series is based on the best-selling 2016 book by Stephen Witt. Eminem and LeBron James are executive producers along with Maverick Carter, Paul Rosenberg, and Steve Stoute. The series is directed by Alexandria Stapleton, a veteran who recently was at the helm of the Amazon Prime documentary Reggie, about New York Yankees Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson.
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How Music Got Free focuses in part on the life of Dell Glover. Glover, a man from Shelby, North Carolina, worked at the Universal Music compact disc pressing plant and used his access and ingenuity to leak music as part of the disruption that upended the music industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The series shows how his efforts and others led to the rise of Napster and other downloading sites. As Stapleton expresses in the press release, “The real visionaries, rebels, and anti-heroes of the era were a ragtag group of young people hidden behind online aliases. They leveraged tech and proved to the world how fans really wanted to consume music in the 1990s, 2000s, and beyond. The music industry was too busy raking in profits from CDs to see the digital tsunami that was about to swamp them. When the flood came, the industry didn’t build better boats, they blamed the pirates riding the wave and tried to put them in federal prison.”
How Music Got Free is narrated by Method Man, and features interviews with Eminem, 50 Cent, Steve Stoute, Timbaland, Jimmy Iovine, Rocsi Diaz, Rhymefest, and more. Also involved in the series’ production is Warner Bros. Unscripted Television/Telepictures, in association with SpringHill, Interscope Films, and Shady Films. How Music Got Free will make its premiere on Paramount Plus on June 11.
Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
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Source: Derek White / Getty / 50 Cent
Diddy, aka The Diddler’s long-time nemesis, 50 Cent, continues to keep his foot on the neck of the Bad Boy CEO and is showing no signs of letting up.
The man who coined the phrase “can’t stop, won’t stop” definitely wished that 50 Cent would do the exact opposite.
Fresh off the disgusting video footage of Diddy physically assaulting his then ex-girlfriend Cassie, ultimately leading to a half-ass apology from the music mogul.
Now, TMZ Hip Hop is exclusively reporting the G-Unit general’s trolling will also be profitable for him after selling his Diddy documentary to Netflix following a “bidding war.”
Per TMZ Hip Hop:
Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Fifty’s multi-part documentary about the sexual assault allegations against Diddy was purchased by Netflix.
We’re told there was a massive bidding war over the doc, which was produced through 50’s G-Unit Film and Television Studios, with multiple networks and all of the streaming platforms attempting to land the series.Ultimately, the big red N emerged the victor … with sources telling TMZ the new Diddy docuseries will hit the streamer sooner than later.
Bruh, at this point, 50 Cent needs a lifetime achievement award for his commitment in trolling this man. The two have been at odds for nearly two decades, and Curtis Jackson is showing no signs of letting up on Mr. Combs.
In More Diddy News
Speaking of not letting up, Diddy is facing another lawsuit from a model who claims she was sexually assaulted after the rapper drugged her.
If that isn’t enough salt in the wound, NYC Mayor Mixxy—oops, we mean Eric Adams— may take back the key to the city Diddy got following the release of his latest album.
Social media has also been enjoying 50 Cent’s longstanding commitment to being a pain in Diddy’s a**.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. Yup he sure does
2. Will be seated for it
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty / Tom Hanks / Chet Hanks
Professional Jamaican cosplayer Chet Hanks was the perfect person to help break down the Drake/Kendrick Lamar beef with his dad and beloved actor Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks is one of the few caucasians whose Black card has not been revoked, but he isn’t afraid to admit that he needs to be brought up to speed on Black business.
Case in point: The Toy Story star was deeply curious about the now-ended beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which led to the Compton MC forcing the Canadian superstar to seemingly wave the white flag and ask his favorite Jafaican son, Chet Hanks, to break it all down for him.
Hanks shared a delightful text conversation between himself, aka “Big Main,” and his very famous dad, whom he affectionately labeled “Pops.”
Here is a breakdown of the conversation per BuzzFeed:
Tom: Big Main, can you explain the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud to me?
Chet: Yeah, so Drake and this other dude J Cole been saying they along with Kendrick are the “Big 3” in Rap. Then Kendrick put out a song saying, “Fuck the Big 3, it’s just big ME” initiating the beef. Then Drake was like, “you got small feet cuz you’re like 5 foot 5 or whatever.” And then Kendrick was like, you’re a dead beat dad and made fun of his Canadian accent.
So Drake came back and was like, “oh yeah! Well I heard you beat your wife” but literally like 30 seconds later Kendrick put out a diss overshadowing Drakes diss where he pretty much methodically dismantled Drakes entire psyche and called him a pedophile for flirting with young girls and revealing Drake had another kid that he was hiding from the world, which turned out to be false, and Drake came back and was like, “hahaha I gotcho ass I had people give you false info to make you look stupid” but it didn’t even matter cuz then Kendrick just dropped another West Coast banger where he really went in on labeling Drake a pedophile that was pretty much the sonic equivalent of when you took me to your high school in Oakland and we walked in on the basketball game and everybody started going nuts.
Like if you heard it you would just automatically know how to Crip walk with a stank face while clutching an Oscar in each hand with Marshawn Lynch, then dap him up and tell him “Town Bidness” which solidified the win not only for Kendrick but the entire West Coast.
Tom: Holy cow! These are fighting words. People taking sides?? Who’s winning??
Chet: Did you not just read what I said (crying laughing emojis)
Social Media Loved Seeing Tom Hanks So Interested In The Beef
Now, we are not going to gloss over Chet Hanks, who was also accused of domestic violence by his ex, Kiana Parker.
Still, we loved seeing Tom Hanks being so curious about the drama between K. Dot and Drizzy.
X, formerly Twitter, was also here for the voice of our favorite toy cowboy, Woody, asking his son to explain why King Kendrick was dissing Drake.
One person on Elon Musk’s social media platform wrote, “petition to have tom hanks and chet hanks start a podcast called big main where chet explains extremely online things to his dad and it helps out other olds not necessarily like me but almost exactly like me.”
Another user added, “Tom Hanks calling Chet Big Main tells me that Tom loves and accepts his ridiculous son for who he is.”
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Yes, with a lot of Tom Hanks, not his son. Just saying.
2. We agree
3. Signs of a great father.
4. He definitely did.
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Source: Mike Coppola / Getty
Famed artist Kehinde Wiley has been accused of sexual assault by another artist, with Wiley denying the incidents.
According to reports, the award-winning painter Kehinde Wiley has been accused of sexual assault. The claims come from Joseph Awuah-Darko, a British-born Ghanaian artist and the founder of the Noldor Artist Residency in Ghana. Awuah-Darko made the claims in a post on Instagram that he made on Sunday (May 19). “I hope my words and openness about my painful experience empower others to come forward,” Awuah-Darko wrote in the caption. “I hope all that unravels creates a path towards not only accountability, but recompense and collective healing for other victims.”
Awuah-Darko said that Wiley sexually assaulted him twice while the two were at a dinner held by the Ghana Creative Arts Council at the Noldor Artists Residency in 2021. “The act was categorically unwelcome and unprovoked,” he wrote, stating that the first incident occurred within two hours of them being at the dinner. “The second [italics by the artist) assault was much more severe and violent.” Awuah-Darko didn’t describe the second assault, but went on to say that it took him time to “confront the reality of my abuse as such.” He also stated that he would be seeking legal action against Wiley, but acknowledged in an email to the New York Times that given the passage of a new law imposing jail on LGBTQ individuals in Ghana, it may not be received well.
Wiley has firmly denied the accusations from Awuah-Darko. “Someone I had a brief, consensual relationship with is now making false, disturbing, and defamatory accusations about our time together,” he wrote in part in his own Instagram post. “I kindly ask for privacy as I work to clear my name.” The 48-year-old artist forwarded a copy of a cease and desist letter he sent to Awuah-Darko to the Times in addition to an email where he said that Awuah-Darko had “been trying to be part of my life ever since we met.”
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Source: C. Morgan Engel / Getty / Minnesota Timberwolves
The Denver Nuggets blew a golden opportunity and are now thinking about Cancun after the Minnesota Timberwolves ended their title defense run.
It took a historic 20-point comeback from the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Denver Nuggets to punch their ticket into the Western Conference Finals to play the Dallas Mavericks.
The Timberwolves’ Game 7 victory at Ball Arena in Denver was the punctuation mark on a story that began last year in a local bar that ESPN highlighted in a story.
Per ESPN:
The Timberwolves had just lost to the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in April 2023, with Anthony Edwards’ potential game-tying 3 coming up empty as time expired in Game 5. Afterward, Edwards and a couple of teammates went to a cocktail lounge, Forget Me Not, in the Cherry Creek neighborhood, with their chartered flight back home not scheduled to leave until the next morning.
Of all of the gin joints in all of the towns in all of the world, Denver point guard Jamal Murray — fresh off a 35-point showing in the closeout game — just so happened to walk into the same bar as the Timberwolves.
And Edwards, a budding star yet to have the breakout postseason that has turned him into a bona fide superstar this spring, had a message to deliver to Murray.
“He was talking s—,” Edwards told ESPN as he walked down the ramp toward the team bus after his club’s 98-90 victory on Sunday. “He was telling Mike [Conley], ‘I’m sick of you, you can’t guard me,’ and all that.
“I told him, ‘We’ll be back. You’ll see us again when we’re fully loaded.’”
A Historic Night For The Timberwolves & Nuggets
Anthony Edwards’ words turned out to be prophetic.
He and his Timberwolves erased a 20-point third-quarter deficit, completing one of the largest comebacks in Game 7 history in the past 25 NBA postseasons.
The Nuggets also made history, becoming the first team in NBA history to lead by 15 points or more at halftime and lose a Game 7 playoff game. They also became the fifth consecutive defending NBA champions not even to sniff the conference finals.
Speaking on his squad’s herculean effort, Ant-Man told reporters, “It shows who we are. Once we really lock in on the defensive end, man, we’re a hell of a team to beat.”
Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who is usually the butt of the jokes when they can’t clown Rudy Gobert, came up big for his team.
The team’s No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft kept his team in the game by scoring 23 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and a blocked shot.
Kat was also effective when defending three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic.
His head coach, Chris Finch, had glowing words about Towns. “I think you see how at peace and happy he is right now,” Finch said. “He had to trust that he was never going to be marginalized. All young players always think they can do it all by themselves, but in this league, nobody can.”
“I couldn’t be more happy and proud for him. Just because I think he’s faced a lot of unfair criticism when it comes to the postseason at times.”
Of course, the reactions to the Nuggets choking were on point. You can see those in the gallery below.
1. Brilliant tweet
2. Gotta love the Joker’s even in defeat
3. What is wrong with y’all? LOL
4. The accuracy
5. Ant-Man is a legend
6. Howling
8. Draymond was LOUD and WRONG
10. Man on a mission
11. LOL @ A-Rod
13.
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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty / LeBron James / Bronny James
Bronny James’ name has yet to be called during the 2024 NBA Draft, but the chatter around LeBron James’ son, where he will land, and if the Lakers superstar will join the team that takes a chance on his seed is deafening.
Word around the NBA streets was that LeBron James was very gung-ho about playing alongside his son in the league, giving many teams the impression that if they draft Bronny, they could land LBJ in free agency.
According to reports, teams shouldn’t bet on that because Bron Bron has no desire to ditch the Los Angeles Lakers to hoop with his son.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that James is telling teams not named the Lakers who believe their chances to sign him in free agency will increase if they draft Bronny “No, as of right now,” regarding leaving Los Angeles.
Yahoo! Sports reports the “as of right now” in his statement leaves enough wiggle room for teams to continue to continue working on a situation that would pique his interest.
Interest in Bronny James increased following his strong showing at the NBA Draft, and some people believe he could be drafted in the second round.
LeBron James Did Express In The Past He Wanted To Play With Bronny In His Final Season
Regardless of the chatter around Bronny James, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the front runners to resign James, who has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, if they land a head coach LeBron James approves of and a third piece to compliment him and Anthony Davis.
LBJ’s new alleged stance on playing alongside his son starkly differs from his past comments.
He made his desire to play his final season as a teammate with Bronny, even saying he would sign with the team that drafts his son.
That changed after the Lakers were bounced out of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, with James telling people hooping with Bronny was no longer a priority for him.
As for Bronny James, a conversation is happening now that he doesn’t deserve the attention he is receiving. Some people believe the spotlight is on him because he is the son of arguably the greatest professional hooper not named Michael Jordan.
ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins has been very loud on the matter.
Now, Bronny knows that carrying the James torch is the main topic of discussion, but the young hooper has made it clear he doesn’t want anything handed to him because he is the son of LeBron James and wants people to judge him on his skills and what he does on the court.
“Everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness he’s achieved and I haven’t done anything yet,” Bronny told reporters. “So there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron. I just want to let people know that my name is Bronny James and not being identified as LeBron James’ son.”
We hear you Bronny.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Draymond Green is a believer in Bronny James
2. Interesting
3. Fair question
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Source: CHRIS DELMAS / Getty
Cassie’s lawyers have been masterful in their reactions to the release of footage of Diddy beating the singer, and his ex-girlfriend, back in 2016. After Diddy dropped an apology on Sunday (May 19), the now happily married singer’s legal team issued a statement slamming the mogul’s already derided mea culpa.
Taking to Instagram, Diddy posted a video apology that was widely criticized as insincere and never mentioned Cassie by name. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you gotta do that,” said Diddy. “I was f*cked up. I mean I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”
He also added, “I went and I sought out professional help, going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry, but I’m committed to be a better man each and every day.”
Cassie’s attorney wasn’t feeling Diddy’s words.
“Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt,” said Meredith Firetog, of Wigdor LLP, which represented Cassie Ventura in her settlement, in a statement shortly after Combs released his apology.
“When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,” continued Firetog.
The post that the attorney references is from late 2023, and is still up on Diddy’s Instagram account. “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday,” he wrote on the post, dated December 6, 2023. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
Well, that clearly is not the case.
Firetog added, “That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
Cassie’s husband, Alex Fine, also brought the smoke. “Men who hit women aren’t men. Men who enable it and protect those people aren’t men. As men, violence against women shouldn’t be inevitable. Check your brothers, your friends, and your family. Our daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives should feel protected and loved. Hold the women in your life with the upmost regard,” said Fine in an Instagram post.
Also, Diddy’s old stomping grounds at Revolt—he resigned from his chairman position last year—washed its hands of him.
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Source: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty
Another familiar face is about to make an appearance at Young Thug’s RICO trial. Rich Homie Quan has been called to testify.
As reported by HipHopDX the former Rich Gang member will see his former collaborator in person in court. According to the X, formerly known as Twitter, account @ThuggerDaily, a fan account that provides daily updates on Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan has been formally subpoenaed by the State of Georgia to testify. “He is expected to take the stand in the upcoming few weeks. Just to be clear – this does NOT mean he cooperated or will cooperate” the caption read. The post also included a screenshot of the subpoena which reads confirms the Lieutenant Investigator’s serving of Dequantes Lamar, Rich Homie Quan’s government name.
This subpoena should not be taken as a sign that Rich Homie Quan will be taking the stand against Young Thug. A subpoena is simply a written order that requires an individual to appear before a court during a legal proceeding. The two previously collaborated during their run at Cash Money Records with their biggest being “Lifestyle”. Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug would go their separate ways but Quan has always spoken highly on Thug.
In an interview with VladTV he revealed those were some of the best years of his life. “Even now I don’t have no bad blood with [Young] Thug or Bird [Man]. We were all in a great place in our life and that’s what it is about. At any time we can press play and do it again” he said.
It is unclear when Rich Homie Quan will testify.
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Source: James Devaney / Getty / Cardi B
President Biden and Donald Trump don’t have to worry about Cardi B pulling the lever for either of them in the voting booth in the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, the Bronx Hip-Hop star got candid on numerous topics, including her highly anticipated sophomore album, love life, parenting with her ex-husband Offset, and politics.
The “Bodak Yellow” crafter has never been one to shy away from sharing her thoughts on political matters and what’s going on in the country, so it should come as no surprise that she had something to say about our choices when picking a president.
In the interview, Cardi B doubled down that neither the incumbent, President Joe Biden, nor his rival, disgraced former president Donald Trump, will be getting her support.
“I don’t fuck with both of y’all n*ggas,” Cardi B told the publication.
Cardi B’s Beef With The Current Government
This is not the first time Bardi has expressed her disdain for President Biden, whom she supported in the 2020 election. She explained that her current stance is due to “layers and layers of disappointment.”
“I feel like people got betrayed,” in reference to wages not going up (wage growth is outpacing inflation), the cost of living going up at a staggering rate, and no one in the government is doing anything.
We can attribute the lack of production due to the House GOP, who instead participate in culture wars and spend their time standing behind Trump in solidarity while he is on trial for illegal hush money payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
“It’s just like, damn, y’all not caring about nobody,” she told Rolling Stone. “Then, it really gets me upset that there is solutions to it. There is a solution. I know there’s a solution because you’re spending billions of dollars on any fucking thing.”
She’s No Fan of “Endless Wars”
Cardi B also spoke out against President Biden’s commitment to supply military aid to allies Ukraine and Israel last fall and told Rolling Stone the United States should not “pay for endless wars for countries that have been going through shit for a very long time.”
“There’s countries [where] kids are getting killed every single day, but because the [U.S.] won’t benefit from that country, they won’t help,” she explained.
“I don’t like that America has this superhero cape on. We never did things to be superheroes. We did things for our own convenience.”
Ukraine is currently fending off dictator Vladimir Putin’s Russia, who illegally invaded the neighboring country on February 22, 2024, in an attempt to restore Russia’s strategic depth and counter NATO’s eastward expansion.
Israel is currently locked in a battle with Hamas to free hostages taken by the terrorist organization on October 7 during the bloody surprise attack on the country.
Gaza has been ground zero for the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has seen the death and displacement of Palestinians, leading to massive protests breaking out on college campuses and city streets across the United States.
X Users Are Reminding Cardi B She Is Speaking From A Place of Privilege
Following the article’s release, Cardi B received plenty of flak for her stance on not voting. Users on X, formerly Twitter, didn’t waste time reminding her that she could afford not to vote because she was in a position most Black and Brown US citizens were not.
“Cardi B and celebrities like her are fortunate enough to not have to care about who the president or any elected official is bc the decisions they make likely will not affect them. The rest of us don’t have that luxury,” one user on X wrote.
Another X user wrote. “YOU do not have the financial means to ignore. YOU will be the first to suffer. When the plague comes it strikes your home and your body first.”
Responding to the backlash, Cardi B explained her decision to not support Biden due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“I just can’t support that. My heart can’t support that, “Cardi B said during a Twitter Spaces stream. “I can’t see children under rubble. Im not with that. I hate that. It disgusts me. My heart hates it.”
Cardi B has every right to feel the way she does, but keeping it a buck, there is a lot at stake in our democracy, and who is sitting in the Oval Office after November 5 will most definitely impact our future.
Do your due diligence and read up on Project 2025 before mindlessly following Cardi B’s lead.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. An excellent explainer video
2. Another video you should watch
3. Civics 101
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Earlier this week DJ Akademiks found himself in some legal hot water when his ex-girlfriend sued him for rape and defamation and though he’s vowed to his fans that he’d fight the case to the bitter end in what he’s calling a “shakedown,” the Hip-Hop personality shouldn’t count on much support from one, Saucy Santana.
It wasn’t that long ago when DJ Akademiks and Saucy Santana were involved in a very public back-and-forth and though things have died down since then, Santana reemerged to take some shots at Ak as he deals with this latest legal headache. Taking to Instagram stories to roast Akademiks for the accusations made against him, an animated Santana seemed to enjoy pointing out that Akademiks reveled in the allegations made about Yung Miami in P. Diddy’s lawsuit but asked fans to dismiss the accusations made towards him.
“6ix9ine freaky b*tch! Nasty tail! And what would make you think we believe that it’s fake lawyers? What would make you think we believe that these is fake headlines? But when it was Caresha b*tch, the word was bond. It was no m*thaf*cking way! Pink cocaine and all this other weird ass sh*t, but b*tch we supposed to believe that shorty lying on you? I don’t think so. Not gon’ happen. Midget d*ck bitch! Sitting down all m*thaf*cking day. You just smell like sat! Sat! Been sitting in that m*thaf*cking seat!”
You can tell Saucy Santana’s been waiting for a reason to once again clap at Akademiks and we ain’t mad cause it was pretty funny. Just sayin.’
Earlier this week DJ Akademiks ex-girlfriend Ziya Abashe filed a lawsuit against Akademiks alleging that he and two of his friends drugged and raped her after he invited her to his home in July of 2022. Naturally Akademiks proclaimed his innocence and promised he’d pay as much money as needed to clear his name in a court of law instead of paying Abashe to settle as he’s called this suit a “shakedown.”
Now that Saucy Santana’s gotten in on the clowning of Akademiks once again, will he respond and reheat the beef the two had just last year or will he refuse to entertain the drama? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
What do y’all think of Saucy Santana cutting ass on DJ Akademiks over his rape lawsuit? Let us know in the comments section below.