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Jill Scott might be a beloved vocalist but she is currently catching the wrath of X, formerly Twitter, after taking a moment to show love to Chris Brown. When challenged about Brown’s history of domestic violence, Jill Scott doubled down and seemingly defended her abusive stepfather because he happened to be an expert at laying concrete foundations.
On Sunday (April 21) in the wee hours, Jill Scott posted a tweet praising Chris Brown, who is currently having a war of words with Quavo of Migos fame.
From X:
@chrisbrown is amazing. How does ANYBODY sing like THAT? Dance, look, Act and Rap… like THAT? Beyond gifted. It appears, exceptional people have to go through exceptional [fire emoji]. There’s nothing to debate.
The Philadelphia songstress was challenged by an X user who wrote, “I think the women he’s abused would disagree,” to which Scott answered, “I doubt it. My Mother’s ex husband was a mean, violent human AND he could lay foundation better than anyone in my city. What he did with cement was awe inspiring. We got away. He got a raise and praise for his ability. God dealt with the rest.”
Scott’s words sparked a flurry of criticism from fans on X who pointed out that her praise of Brown and the attempt to humanize her stepfather was a slap in the face of victims of domestic violence.
Scott continued to try and explain that she wasn’t making an excuse for her stepfather nor was she attempting to shift blame. Her stance, from what we gathered, is to note that terrible people often do terrible things but they’re also capable of change.
“Look. Years of prayer, therapy, self reflection, & making every effort to keep my feet on the ground has made me compassionate for other human beings. People go through [poop emoji] and do terrible [poop emoji]. We say we believe in God ; pray for enlightenment. We ARE a living testimony,” Scott wrote hours after her initial comment.
On X, the reactions to Jill Scott bigging up Chris Brown and pushing back against the critique had her trending near the top of the list on the social media network. We’ve got reactions from all sides below.
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Photo: Getty
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Drake is currently on the offensive after officially dropping the “Push Ups” track, which aims at Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, and Future. As the ongoing war of words continues, Drake pulled off what some online are calling a masterful stroke with an AI-rendered diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar using the voices of Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac “2Pac” Shakur.
The AI-assisted track, titled “Taylor Made,” hit social media over the weekend with Drake posting the full audio across his socials. In the track, Drizzy uses AI to rap from the perspective of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg, using the iconic stars’ voices to coach K-Dot on how to diss the Canadian superstar.
From “Taylor Made”:
(As 2Pac)Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast saviorEngraving your name in some hip-hop historyIf you deal with this viciouslyYou seem a little nervous about all the publicityFuck this Canadian lightskin, DotWe need a no-debated West Coast victory, manCall him a bitch for meTalk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from meHeard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be trueThey told me the spirit of Makaveli is aliveIn the n*gga under 5’5″, so it’s gotta be you
Snoop Dogg’s voice is used for the second portion of the song with some of the bars reading:
Nephew, what the f*ck you really ’bout to do?We passed you the torch at the House of BluesAnd now you got to do some dirty work, you know how to move, right? Right?I know you never been to jail, or wore jumpsuits and shower shoesNever shot nobody, never stabbed nobodyNever did nothing violent to no one, it’s the homies that empower youBut still, you gotta show this f*cking owl who’s boss on the WestNow’s a time to really make a power move
As Drake keeps attempting to goad Kendrick Lamar into responding, it doesn’t appear that he had any more bars for Rick Ross after taking shots at his former friend via the “Push Ups” track.
Breaking the wall here and speaking for myself, I don’t have a strong opinion regarding who is winning this mock meat tussle. I just want to hear some bars from these great rappers and that it all stays on wax without getting weird or personal. Anything else is too toxic for me. There you have it, that’s my view of things so far. – D.L.
Reactions to Drake’s latest salvo have been cropping up since the drop of the “Taylor Made” freestyle. Check out the song and the reactions below. Also, it appears Snoop Dogg also reacted to the news. Check out that video too.
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Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty
1. Is he monetizing it? Doesn’t seem so but what do we know?
8. Thoughts?
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Nas and DJ Premier have made musical magic together throughout their still-ongoing careers, and the promise of a joint album between the pair is seemingly confirmed as fact. The pair connected for the track “Define My Name,” with Nas hinting at the long-awaited collaborative project with DJ Premier.
Fans of Premier know to expect hard drums, heavy basslines, and expert scratching on the hook from the legendary producer and member of Gang Starr. Nas, who has proven to be in great shape lyrically during his recent run with Hit-Boy, hasn’t lost any of that momentum present across all three King’s Disease projects and the Magic trio.
From “Define My Name”:
The definition of my name probably started where/I rode the E train, fingers covered in ink stains/Writin’ was like an escape, excitedly leave the beat flamed/It was Ra, Kane, Kool G and Kris/Few names like Cool James, ‘Face, Cube and Rick
The bar work is exceptional per usual but some fans felt the track from Premier wasn’t strong enough. However, Nas making mention that “it’s album time” near the end of the track caught the interest of Hip-Hop Xitter. The duo have teased this mythical pairing for years and now all signs are pointing to actually happening.
DJ Premier produced three tracks from Nas’ classic debut album, Illmatic, so it’s fitting they’re putting out this new heat today to celebrate three decades of creative excellence.
Also, Nas announced Friday (April 19) that he will embark upon his Illmatic 30-Year Anniversary Tour across Europe and the United Kingdom this fall. Learn more here.
Check out the reactions below along with “Define My Name.”
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Photo: Jerritt Clark / Getty
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Cannabis fans, it’s time to celebrate as 420 (or 4:20 or 4/20) is here this weekend and we’ve got a gift guide that should come in handy. Depending on where you are, you can snag yourself one of the offerings below to get your mind and the vibes right.
As I say every time I put together one of these roundups, I’m a proud cannabis user but I tend to focus on function versus feeling good. There is nothing wrong with being stoned but I’ve got way too much to do so I’m the kind of person that prefers small doses, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t indulged on a higher level. No pun intended.
In this guide, I’ve added some brands you may have seen before in my coverage along with others that are new to me. What I’m enjoying as cannabis usage is more widely accepted is the range of innovation and products available to the market. When I was a much younger man, it was just flower and whatever cheap delivery method you could find.
These days, edibles, carts, e-rigs, infused beverages, and more are dominating the space and the world is better for it. Hopefully, you’ll see a product below that will be your new favorite. We do want to urge that these products are made for individuals who are at least 21 years of age and please use them responsibly.
Let’s have a safe 420 weekend!
P.S. I will be gradually updating this post with more offerings as the day goes on. If you don’t see your brand yet, grant me a little patience or give me a kind shout. Thanks.
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Photo: Getty
1. 22Red
Source:22Red
22 Red comes from the mind of musician Shavo Odadjian and covers all your cannabis delivery methods via flower, prerolls, vapes, and more. There is also a merch line and other goodies. Only available in Arizona and Nevada for now.
Learn more here.
2. A Golden State
Source:A Golden State
We’ve featured A Golden State in previous cannabis roundups and I’ve had the good fortune of visiting a recreational dispensary that carries their product. From flower to vapes, A Golden State’s commitment to quality is clear. Only available in California,
Learn more here.
3. Betty’s Eddies Sweater Weather Fruit Chews
Source:Betty’s Eddies
I may have said this before but Betty’s Eddies are the best tasting edibles I’ve ever had. The fruit chews come in a variety of flavors and functions, and have I mentioned how good they are? Only available in Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts & Puerto Rico.
Learn more here.
4. Blazy Susan Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2024
Source:Blazy Susan
Blazy Susan specializes in accessories to aid one in their cannabis enjoyment. This includes rolling papers, trays, a very dope backpack that comes complete with a rolling tray, dabbing tools, and more. We’re big fans of the Blazy Susan over here.
Learn more here.
5. Breez
Source:Breez
Breez is a brand new to our roundup but we like what we’re seeing. Specializing in infused mints, tinctures, flower, prerolls, and beverages, Breez aims to take the fuss out of choosing your preferred path whether you’re ready to turn up or turn down. Available in California and Illinois.
Learn more here.
6. Cantrip
Source:Cantrip
Many moons ago, I attended the Cannabis Cup in the Bay Area and I was rather new in my journey. I was blown away by the variety of infused beverages. Cantrip adds to that growing category with infused seltzers, sodas, and energy drinks.
Learn more here.
7. Cookies
Source:@MarblesKennedy
Cookies is a leading brand in cannabis culture and comes from the mind of Berner. From flower, CBD, merch, teas, and more, there is a reason why it’s become a go-to brand for consumers. The quality is unmatched and it’s widely available. Don’t sleep.
Learn more here.
8. CQ
Source:CQ
Some readers may be aware that I cover adult beverages too and sometimes, I want to sip something but don’t always want booze. A brand like CQ would be perfect for those who want to sip their cannabis. I also appreciate they have both a high and low dose offering. The high-dose option is only available in select states so check the website.
Learn more here.
9. Dip Devices X Aster
Source:Dip Devices
Dip Devices offers affordable dab pens, dab straws, and their latest device, a dry herb vaporizer known as the Aster. With an approachable price and tons of function, the Aster should get notice from those who like to take their flower on the go.
Learn more here.
10. Dr. Dabber
Source:Dr. Dabber
I want to give a strong salute to a titan of the cannabis community, the late Rico “Phone Homie” Valderrama, who was the first person to teach me about dabbing. Dr. Dabber is a dab head’s paradise with some awesome devices and bundles. Check out their Switch, Boost Evo, and XS (Khalifa Kush Limited Edition) devices. Available worldwide.
Learn more here.
11. FLORA+BAST
Source:FLORA+BAST
I appreciate companies that understand the science of cannabis and how it can apply to our lives beyond getting lifted. FLORA+BAST epitomizes that with functional gummies, oils for intimacy, sleeping aids, and more. Cannabis and overall wellness go together seamlessly via this brand.
Learn more here.
12. Frozen Fields
Source:Frozen Fields
I’m still learning all the various ways cannabis and hemp-derived products are developed and Frozen Fields has my curiosity piqued. The North Carolina company specializes in THCa and Delta-8 THC products, including its newest innovation, Formula-X.
Learn more here.
13. Gelato Canna Co.
Source:Gelato Canna Co.
Gelato Canna Co. has a product I’ve yet to see on the market in its infused mini sugar cones. They also have a clever product known as Cookie Crumbs, which is loose shake and buds from the bottom of the bag. Available in California and Michigan.
Learn more here.
14. G Pen
Source:G Pen
We’ve been rocking with G Pen for years and we can’t say enough good things about its Dash+ device, a fantastic dry herb vaporizer. But that’s not all they have. The brand also has collaborations with Mike Tyson, B-Real’s Dr. Greenthumbs, and The Grateful Dead among others.
Learn more here.
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For those still invested in this Rap Royal Rumble involving Drake, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Future, and Metro Boomin, it’s been a festive time for those fans. While there hasn’t been much music to emerge from this battle, there has been plenty of back-and-forth between Drake and Rick Ross as the pair trade online insults.
For those not following this mock meat mayhem as deeply as we have to in the media, Drake threw a shot at Rick Ross on the diss track “Push Ups” which prompted Rozay to fire back with the “Champagne Moments” track. From there, Ross went on Instagram and dropped videos attacking the Canadian superstar’s biracial upbringing, an alleged nose job, an alleged BBL, and dropped some ab sculpting claims.
Drake fired back via his Instagram Stories feed, sharing a text message exchange allegedly between him and his mother. This caused Ross to double down on the “white boy” refrain and attack Drake’s character. Drizzy fired back by making light of the size of Ross’ home in Miami’s Star Island, referring to it as a content creator house among other quips. Further, the OVO honcho called Ross a “worker” for Sovereign Brands owner Brett Berish, which produces the Luc Belaire brand of wine and champagne.
In the midst of all this, there have been fake diss tracks leaked that were later found to be constructed by artificial intelligence, Lupe Fiasco calling out anyone who wants to test, and every podcast in the nation has endlessly debated this dustup.
As it stands, not much music has come from these exchanges, and this appears to be dividing the fan bases of the aforementioned acts greatly. Even with that division hanging over the culture, fans are seemingly excited about this tofu tussle.
We’ve got reactions to all the shenanigans below.
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Photo: Johnny Nunez / Getty
1. It’d be incredibly corny if so.
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It’s been a minute but we’re back with an update to our running Baes & Baddies segment where we feature some of the most beautiful women we’ve discovered on social media. Our latest feature is the beautiful Nyla Green and she has curves and curls that’ll certainly turn heads for sure.
We don’t know much about Nyla Green but she’s been making moves on Instagram and other spaces across social media with her fun and flirty Reels and various looks that she shares on her pages.
What we can share is that she’s got quite a nice movement happening on X (formerly Twitter) and many of those visuals are a lot more revealing than what she shares on IG.
Nyla Green also has an active OnlyFans page and we’re pretty sure things get more risque over there. Other details about Ms. Green is that she’s sporting a 34KK bra but it’s not just the top portion that would get attention, if you catch our drift.
As we put together the gallery, we’d like to say that if you venture into the lovely model’s other digital haunts, you’re bound to see a lot more than you bargained for but we don’t think those in seek of such treasures will be disappointed by what they discover.
For now, please enjoy our latest Baes & Baddies feature, Nyla Green, and hit the link in the bio on her Instagram page for all the other spaces she’s occupying.
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Photo: @nylagreen_ / Instagram
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Lupe Fiasco has long owned the distinction of being one of the sharpest lyricists in Hip-Hop, and also showed and proved that he is adept at the art of battle. During his set at Coachella over the weekend, the Chicago rapper put any rapper who wants to test his pen on notice in a defiant speech with folks online reacting in kind.
I’m going to break the wall here and state that I feel that Lupe Fiasco might very well be the best on-paper lyricist in modern Hip-Hop. Songs like “Mural,” “The Cool” and countless others demonstrate his immense ability as a writer but also reveal the deep layers of his skillset.
As I’ve written about before, the quick back-and-forth between him and Royce Da 5’9 was largely ended by an inspired Lupe Fiasco on the track “Steve Jobs: SLR 3 1/2” which I still believe was largely freestyled or, at the very least, delivered in one take. Everyone should know and understand that Lu is a dangerous MC if one is a student of this game.
During a pause at his set at Coachella, Lupe addressed the crowd as only he could and let off a profanity-laced barrage by saying that under no uncertain terms can any rapper on the planet take him out when it comes to rhyming.
“Hear me clearly when I say this and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. When it comes to this art, and I quote, I will battle any motherf*cking rapper. Anywhere. Any motherf*ckin’ time,” Lupe said to an uproarious crowd.
This declaration from Lupe has the culture in a bit of a daze considering the mock meat shenanigans between Drake, Rick Ross, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar with K-Dot the only one putting a strong bullet on names while the antics are front and center from everyone else. Even proponents of battle rap culture like Aye Verb got involved and seemingly called out Lupe via X but that was shut down somewhat quickly.
However, Lupe did join Aye Verb in a Twitter Spaces conversation and explained his position on Kendrick Lamar and other rappers.
On X, we’ve got some reactions to Lupe Fiasco putting the game on notice, Aye Verb’s Twitter Spaces chat, and more.
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Donald Trump is due in court Monday (April 15) in New York to stand trial in the criminal hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. As a result, the hashtag #TrumpTrial is trending on X, formerly Twitter, with memes and jokes coming in by the dozens.
Several outlets, such as The Hill and CNN are covering the trial of Donald Trump with up-to-the-minute updates from inside the Manhattan courtroom. Trump is standing trial for a criminal matter involving hush money paid to Stormy Daniels to conceal the nature of their relationship ahead of the 2016 election. Trump would go on to defeat his Democratic Party opponent Hillary Clinton but only served one term.
Jury selection begins today with dozens of New York residents going through the process before 12 jurors and six alternates are chosen. It isn’t known when this selection period will end but it can be expected to take days if not longer.
The trial marks the first time a former or current U.S. president ever faced a criminal trial and it also makes him the first former president to be criminally indicted. This matter adds to several mounting legal issues that the business mogul is enduring. Trump is also facing three other indictments, including election meddling in Georgia. He is the frontrunner for the Republican Party and has a strong support base that seemingly looks past his legal mishaps.
Trump opponents online have taken to social media to voice their displeasure and the aforementioned #TrumpTrial features several reactions to the announcement of the trial that don’t exactly land in the favor of Donald Trump.
Check out those replies below.
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Photo: Getty
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O.J. Simpson, a former NFL star running back who later in life went into acting and other ventures, has reportedly died according to a family statement. Via social media, the family of O.J. Simpson says that he passed away on April 10 after a battle with cancer.
As seen on X, formerly Twitter, Simpson’s family says that his loved ones surrounded the former Buffalo Bills star during his transition.
From X:
On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.
-The Simpson Family
The news came as a shock to many, although Simpson hasn’t been in the public eye as of late. In the 1990s, Simpson was villainized after the brutal murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and friend Ron Goldman, and the fact he was later acquitted of all charges. Once seen as a popular pitchman for ads and a likable figure, the controversy surrounding his wife’s murder, including the late Johnnie Cochran’s defense tactics, painted Simpson in an unfavorable light with many.
In his later years, Simpson made a return to public life via reality television and became a known presence on social media, often taking pains to inform the public that it was him behind his account activity and not the work of others. Simpson further soured his image by way of his 2007 book, If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.
On X, folks are reacting to the news with memes and other sharp words that we’re merely reporting on. You can view those replies in the gallery below.
O.J. Simpson was 76.
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Hip-Hop music and culture have influenced so many musical genres and fashion trends that there is little question about its value to the world. However, the origins of Hip-Hop are currently under debate after a user on X suggested that it wasn’t born from competition.
Breaking the wall a bit here, Hip-Hop wasn’t always something I viewed as a competitive sport. I was too busy being fascinated by the concept of rhyming words over beats, scratching, breaking, and graffiti— the pillars of the culture itself. It wasn’t until much later that I saw value in competition when I began entering rap battles as a fledgling MC. During that time of my journey, I absolutely wanted nothing more than to tear another rapper’s head off in battle, all in the spirit of wanting to be the best.
Social media is currently in serious debate over the decision J. Cole made to withdraw from a battle with Kendrick Lamar after the Compton rapper seemingly took shots at his North Carolina counterpart on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” track. Oddly enough, many listeners feel that the Dreamville honcho let the culture down for not engaging in the battle further and saying that he intends to remove “7 Minute Drill” from his Might Delete Later project.
If you want my opinion, I don’t see a need to debate Cole’s choice to step aside because I don’t know these people well enough to question their motives. My real life has way more of my focus and concern than some battle of the super MCs debate that social media can’t seem to let go of. The fact people are calling each other names and coming to digital blows over this is cornier to me than what J. Cole did.
Twitter user @RonObasi posed a thought in the wake of these recent happenings that garnered some passionate and even disrespectful replies.
“[S]aying hip hop was born from competition is a crazy narrative and a lie. Lets do our homework please,” @RonObasi wrote on Tuesday (April 9). “Also saying hip hop is at its best & “healthy” when n*ggas using their platforms and influences to beef was/is crazy. Sound just like white men we claim to hate.”
Since putting up the reply, fans from all sides of the debate have chimed in and even blasted the assertion that Hip-Hop wasn’t meant to be a clash of talent. As I view it, every rapper, producer, DJ, and graffiti writer should feel like they’re the best, even if they feel they’re only in competition with themselves.
I do agree that the music and culture aren’t necessarily healthier when the top names are going at each other. I feel we as a culture could do more for all under the banner of unity and togetherness. It all seems like a pipe dream at this point, considering how folks are approaching J. Cole’s decision. And if you don’t like what I’m saying here, we can battle if you want.
Check out the replies below.
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