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A church in Atlanta found itself the center of discussion online after videos from a New Year’s Eve service went viral. The dReam Center Church of Atlanta held service this past Sunday (December 31) and a moment showing attendees rocking out to “Swag Surfin’” has sparked an interesting debate.
As seen on local outlet 11 Alive, footage of the Sunday service from The dReam Center Church of Atlanta went wide and showed Pastor William Murphy leading his flock to dance to the song “Walk It Out” by Unk before opening the stage to play “Swag Surfin’” from Fast Life Yungstaz.
Pastor Murphy used the songs, most especially “Walk It Out,” to illustrate how he wants the flock to move into the new year, and this would seem to be a familiar bent for the churchgoers at dReam Center Church
From what we learned, dReam Center Church is known for its high-energy sermons and services, not unlike many churches nationwide that minister to a younger demographic. However, there are some of the faith who feel that the use of secular music in church is a clashing of worlds while others welcome the shift as a breath of fresh air.
On X, formerly Twitter, the debate seems split down the middle with some appreciating the moment and others blasting it. We’ve got those reactions listed below.
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Photo: @travismalloy/TikTok
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Jada Pinkett Smith can’t even blink without folks making it a big moment online for various reasons, and now she’s trending once again on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fans online are unfairly comparing the wife of Will Smith to Fat Joe and Pitbull after she shared a new photo on social media.
Jada Pinkett Smith, 52, shared an image of her outfit on Instagram this past Tuesday (January 2). Decked out in a bubble coat, sweatpants, and jean leg warmers, Pinkett Smith shared in the caption, “I think jean leg warmers is where it’s at for me in 2024.”
Soon after, the photo began making its rounds on X via some of the blog sites looking to drum up engagement. From there, fans began repeating the same two jokes and the lack of unoriginality blossomed into Pinkett Smith becoming a trending topic. Then, someone latched on to the Fat Joe and Pitbull comparisons due to Pinkett Smith sporting a shaved head which she dons for medical reasons.
As it stands, the streets will never let Jada Pinkett Smith live because of the perception that she’s gained after the news of the so-called entanglement with August Alsina and the assumed issues between her and her husband.
Check out the reactions and the picture in question below.
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Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark lit the NCAA Women’s Basketball world on fire after their teams locked horns in the championship game this past April. Helping to elevate the women’s game to fans, the pair were named The Sporting News Athletes of the Year, which has sparked some interesting debates on social media.
Angel Reese, a forward for Lousiana State University, and Caitlin Clark, a guard for Iowa State University, were electrifying during their run through the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. Some observers of the individual players have said Clark is the better overall player but the Reese won the Most Outstanding Player award of the Final Four. It isn’t exactly apples and oranges but a case could be made for how great both players were.
More from The Sporting News:
Their impact on their sport in particular, on the world of sports in general, compelled The Sporting News to select Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese as our Athletes of the Year for 2023, making them the successors to soccer superstar Lionel Messi baseball’s Shohei Ohtani and placing them in the same category as icons LeBron James, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
“I was at the game. Caitlin and I are friends, and Angel is remarkable … It just made me smile, honestly made me smile, just to see the growth of the game, the incredible athletes on both sides,” Nancy Lieberman, the first woman to become a household name playing basketball, told The Sporting News. “It’s really wonderful to see where the game has gone and finally to be able to catch on with some mainstream appeal.”
The opinions on X have been divided with some saying Angel Reese should have the honor on her own with others saying Caitlin Clark deserved the honor. We’ve got reactions from all sides below.
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Jonathan Majors was found guilty in New York on Monday (December 18) after weeks of testimony and evidence introduced to the jury. The actor was found guilty of reckless assault and harassment, but two other charges were dropped.
As seen on Deadline, Jonathan Majors, 34, was found guilty by a New York City jury of three women and three men after a couple of days of deliberation. The actor faced a total of four misdemeanor charges and was found not guilty of intentional assault in the third degree, and not guilty of aggravated harassment in the second degree.
Majors will learn his sentence on February 6 of next year. As told by the judge overseeing the matter, Majors is still under a protective order and has to avoid contact with his accuser, Grace Jabbari. Majors entered a not-guilty plea and has maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal that first spilled out into the public view in March of this year.
A statement from Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg can be viewed below:
At the Manhattan D.A.’s Office, we are committed to centering survivors in all of our work. The evidence presented throughout this trial illustrated a cycle of psychological and emotional abuse, and escalating patterns of coercion far too common across the many intimate partner violence cases we see each and every day. Today, a jury determined that pattern of abuse and coercion culminated with Mr. Majors assaulting and harassing his girlfriend. We thank the jury for its service and the survivor for bravely telling her story despite having to relive her trauma on the stand.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, news of the guilty verdict in the domestic violence trial for Jonathan Majors is spreading wide with several varied reactions. We’ve got some of them listed below.
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Happy holidays to the Hip-Hop Wired readership, and thanks to all of you who have supported us throughout the year. We’re back with another hefty holiday gift guide to assist any of the last-minute shoppers out there like us.
We’d like to apologize for just getting this guide up as this has been a pretty busy month at HHW. That said, let’s get into it.
This year’s holiday gift guide covers a lot of areas from products for the outdoors, apparel, tech, gaming, and much more. Some of these companies are shipping out goods all week so be sure to peruse the list below and snag that one item that will make the day of your loved ones. If you can’t make the shipping deadlines, put those gift cards to use!
Once again, happy holidays to all of the Hip-Hop Wired massive an’ crew out there. We’ll see you all on the flipside in 2024 with more gift guides!
Airscape
Coffee storage is a serious business and keeping one’s precious beans fresh is the first step in a proper cup. Airscape provides a solution in that regard via its innovative, airtight canisters that will also look good on your kitchen counter.
Learn more here.
Banana Phone
The Banana Phone might take some people back to the days of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimo (D.L. is showing his age here). The device is a Bluetooth-enabled handset that also works as a speaker. But beyond its wacky look, the Banana Phone has a bigger mission. A percentage of its annual sales goes toward gorilla conservation.
Learn more here.
Blvck Paris
We featured Blvck Paris last month for our Black Friday guide and they’re back again with a series of new streetwear fashion drops for men and women. Whether you’re going for the understated or the expressive, Blvck Paris doesn’t miss.
Learn more here.
Blackthorn Denim
Blackthorn Denim, founded by John Gallagher, has fit at the top of its mind. With three styles for varying body styles from slim fit to relaxed, Blackthorn Denim aims to bring quality jeans back to the forefront with its limited but tightly curated offerings.
Learn more here.
Can I Remix You A Drink?
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From the minds of legendary “Rappa Ternt Sanga” T-Pain and veteran music journalist Kathy Iandoli, Can I Remix You A Drink? is a drinking card game that comes on the heels of the T-Pain’s cocktail book, Can I Mix You A Drink? The concept of Remix is clever as it gives players the objective of ending with no cards in their hands via mixing, remixing, and drinking.
Learn more here.
Caribbrew
Founded by Beverly Malbranche, Caribbrew specializes in coffee and cacao sourced from Haiti with gift sets, individual bags of ground and whole-bean coffee, body scrubs, and more.
Learn more here.
Culture Kings
We’re always down to feature Culture Kings, a leader in streetwear fashion. Boasting a number of high-profile collaborations with the likes of Nas, J. Cole, and more, there isn’t a lane that the company doesn’t cover.
Learn more here.
DOROTHY
DOROTHY is a one-stop shop that offers music-themed blueprints, posters, tote bags, mugs, notebooks, you name it. The designs are eye-catching conversation pieces and the price point is beyond approachable. As they are across the pond, order now to get your wares by the holiday.
Learn more here.
Flexispot
is a leader in functional office equipment in the form of its innovative standing desks and office chairs, among other offerings. We love the fact that Flexispot is always offering great sales throughout the year and this period of time is no different. We’ve used their Comhar table, and we love it! We can’t recommend Flexispot enough.
Learn more here.
FRESH by Houston White
Designer and businessman Houston White Jr. is on a mission to provide fashion, hair, and skincare products to the masses. The Minneapolis native has an exceptional product in his FRESH line of body washes, lotions, and more. He also has a product line that can be found in Target stores.
Learn more here.
High Camp Flasks
If you’re someone who likes to schlep their drinks handily when enjoying the outdoors, High Camp Flasks is the brand for you. Coming in various sizes, and colors, along with customizable engraving, this is the flask or tumbler for the nature lovers in your family or crew.
Learn more here.
Hippy Feet
Any time we can feature Hippy Feet in our gift guides is a mood boost. Beyond its wide selection of socks and apparel pieces, what warms the heart is that a significant portion of sales goes towards helping homeless youth.
Learn more here.
It’s A Date
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Whether you’re a new couple still getting to know one another, or you’ve been together for years, dates are a way to keep the flames stoked. It’s A Date, a fun scratch-off card set that gives over three dozen date ideas, offers a number of ideas to bring you and your loved one closer.
Learn more here.
Jigsaw Surf Co
Founded by former college athletes Charlie and Victoria Fennell, Jigsaw Surf Co combines the pair’s love of surfing and jigsaw puzzles. So when you can’t get to the waves, why not build a board until the conditions improve?
Learn more here.
Lee
Lee is much more than just a brand that makes jeans as the company has expanded to casual and work wear, streetwear apparel, collaborations with other brands, and more. They’ve got a handy gift section on their site so check it out!
Learn more here.
Lyrically Correct
Lyrically Correct is a card game that tests players on their knowledge of lyrics of their favorite Hip-Hop and R&B songs of the 1990s and 2000s. Paired with good vibes and someone on the aux, this has all the makings of an epic game night.
Learn more here.
Meta Quest
Meta Quest, the leading VR headset in the game, is still going strong with its Meta Quest 2 headset with plenty of games and experiences for the whole family. With the addition of the beefed-up Meta Quest 3 headset, the Metaverse graciously awaits all willing to explore the various worlds within.
Learn more here.
Moonbird
Founded by Stephanie Broes and Michael Broes, moonbird (stylized spelling) is a device that helps its users learn the benefits of deep, controlled breathing. We’ve been using moonbird ourselves for the past few weeks and already can tell the difference in our temperament, outlook on life, and ability to focus. It’s truly miraculous.
Learn more here.
Nokia
Nokia is still in the digital devices game despite other companies taking big strides over the years. The Finnish company offers a selection of affordable smartphones and tablets that run on the Android operating system, including its flagship Nokia XR21 rugged phone.
Learn more here.
Old Trapper
Old Trapper is the beef jerky and beef snacks line for people not afraid of big, bold flavors. This is premium stuff, trust us on that.
Learn more here.
PaddleSmash
PaddleSmash combines Pickleball and Roundnet into a fun backyard game the whole family can play.
Learn more here.
PDP
PDP specializes in high-end gaming controllers and accessories for the Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This is for the serious gamers out there and with branded collaborations, you’re sure to find your next pair of sticks and headset.
Learn more here.
PURPLE
PURPLE, founded in 2017, offers comfortable but luxurious streetwear and denim offerings. While its wares are designed to be high in quality, the price point isn’t going to deter anyone who might be looking to invest in their fashion journey.
Learn more here.
Ray-Ban Stories
Improving on already impressive tech, Ray-Ban and Meta connect once more for its Ray-Ban Stories smartglasses. Style and function never looked this good.
Learn more here.
SMMT Outdoor
Learn more here.
Tillys
Tillys is a retail destination for several top fashion and apparel brands for men, women, and children. The company has a handy gift guide section that will take some of the fuss out of finding the perfect gift.
Learn more here.
Wacom
Wacom specializes in an array of graphics tablets and display devices that are essential for graphic designers and sketch artists to form their creations. The Wacom experience is boosted with its Wacom One tablet and pen series with seamless integration via Mac, PC, or Android devices.
Learn more here.
Well Gifted
Well Gifted, founded by longtime friends Heather Pittman and Andi Longsworth, takes the fuzz out of creating a thoughtful gift box with its customizable selections, themed gift sets, and more. Coffee, sweets, and more are all artfully selected to create the gift boxes.
Learn more here.
Yoursy
Founded by NAHA-certified aromatherapist and aromatic perfumer Melike Atilgan, Yoursy created a line of essential oils for productivity, calming, and even rest. The oils can either be used in a diffuser or applied via a handy roll-on applicator.
Learn more here.
Zojirushi
Zojirushi is a brand that’s new to us but the Japanese manufacturer has been a leader in kitchen and home appliances unbeknownst to us. You can shop their rice cookers, coffee makers, and more here in the States. Everything appears to be high-quality stuff too!
Learn more here.
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Nicki Minaj has long established herself as one of the leading Hip-Hop artists of her era, regardless of gender, and earned a historic mark to go along with her lengthy accolades. Nicki Minaj recently released her latest studio album Pink Friday 2, which went No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, earning the Queens superstar the most top of chart debuts among female rappers.
Nicki Minaj, 41, is coasting on the success of Pink Friday 2, which dropped on December 8, which is her birthday. Each of her albums has debuted at or near the top for the duration of her career, and her latest set sold the equivalent of 228,000 album units in the week ending December 14.
More from Billboard:
The set also sold 25,000 copies sold on vinyl — the largest week for a rap album by a woman since Luminate began electronically tracking sales in 1991.
Pink Friday 2 was preceded by a trio of charting songs on the Billboard Hot 100: “Super Freaky Girl” (No. 1 in 2022), “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” (No. 13, 2023) and “Last Time I Saw You” (No. 23, 2023).
Minaj was previously tied with Foxy Brown for the leaders among female rappers with a Billboard 200 No. 1 debut, and she is also the first female rapper with No. 1 albums in two different decades, a testament to Minaj’s talent and longevity.
On Twitter, the Barbz are celebrating Nicki Minaj and her latest chart-topping album, . Check out the reactions below.
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Christian Keyes, an actor and model who has several credits in both film and television, revealed that a powerful figure in the industry sexually harassed him for years. Keyes, a Michigan native, made his film debut in Tyler Perry‘s Diary Of A Mad Black Woman along with other productions Perry was involved in.
Via an Instagram Live video, Christian Keyes, 48, shared chilling details of what he allegedly endured at the hands of the unnamed person on Friday (December 15). In the video, Keyes explained that he was propositioned by the individual several times with requests to remove his clothing for money or visit the person’s home after auditions.
In the video, Keyes clearly states that he didn’t take the bait or engage in any activity to gain favor with the person who allegedly pressured and sexually harassed him. While he didn’t name the person in question, Keyes claims to have recordings that back up his story.
“The good news is that they don’t even have to believe me. Hopefully they do, but if they don’t, they can hear this person. Since the sexual harassment started, I’ve carried many recorder devices on me: keychains, pens, thumb drives, all of the above,” Keyes said.
Keyes went on to say that he wants to “air that sh*t” out because the person he is accusing of harassment is a beloved figure in the industry and has several supportive fans. Further, Keyes said that the perpetrator of the alleged harassment told him that he had other men on the payroll who heeded their beck and call in a bid to get him to follow suit.
On Twitter, Tyler Perry as mentioned above, saw his name trending and given the fact that Christian Keyes got his start with Perry, folks online are connecting unconfirmed dots on their own. Others one mentioned Robert Smith and Sean “Diddy” Combs as the mystery figure.
We’ve got reactions below. The IG Live session in question can be viewed below as well.
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Nicki Minaj is still coasting on the high waves after dropping her latest studio album Pink Friday 2 last week and is now making the media rounds. The American-Trinidadian superstar joined with popular streamer Kai Cenat for a stream event that has the Barbz celebrating but also sparked some critics to chime in, too.
Nicki Minaj hopped on Twitch with Kai Cenat early Thursday morning (December 14) with fans of both figures tuning in at major numbers even in the wee hours. The pair, who both share Trinidadian heritage, talked about Pink Friday 2, engaged with fans, held a dance party, took some shots, and Minaj also shared a new track.
According to some of the chatter we’ve seen online, the stream got over 360,000 views and apparently shattered Cenat’s viewership record but we have yet to confirm that on our side. However, it would be safe to see that having over 300,000 viewers turned in at the hour they began is impressive all the same.
Given the age difference between Cenat, 21, and Minaj, 41, and considering that Cenat’s audience is also on the younger side, some observers didn’t understand the pairing. There was also a dig from a notable Hip-Hop journalist that stood out, which we’ll share in the reactions later.
Despite that, the two seemed to enjoy each other’s company and Minaj joined in a wild dance party with Cenat and his friends. There was also a point where Cenat introduced Minaj to his mother and twin sister.
On X, formerly Twitter, folks are adding their thoughts about Nicki Minaj and Kai Cenat connecting on Twitch. Check out the reactions below.
Pink Friday 2 is out now.
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Draymond Green is undoubtedly one of the most passionate players the NBA has ever seen, but sometimes that passion has led to being ejected from games. In the heat of battle once more, Draymond Green was ejected from his third game of the season after wildly swinging and punching Jusuf Nurkic.
Golden State Warriors were visitors to the Footprint Center, the home court of the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference showdown. Draymond Green and Jusuf Nurkic were mixing it up down low in a battle for position when Green swiftly swung with his arms wide and socked Nurkic on the side of the head. Nurkic, significantly larger than Green, was crumpled to the floor.
Officials on the floor reviewed the physical exchange, ruling it a flagrant 2 foul and leading to Green’s ejection. While it wasn’t the most direct apology, at least on its surface, Green did offer in a postgame comment that he was trying to sell a foul and didn’t intend to hit Nurkic.
Coach Steve Kerr addressed Green’s ejection, stating that the team always needs him on the floor. Green is an integral part of the Warriors’ offense, especially in his point-forward role and defensive prowess.
Green caught wind of Coach Kerr’s comments and doubled down on his point that if he never meant to hit Nurkic and stated that he isn’t one to apologize for something he intended to do, hence why he apologized to Jusuf Nurkic.
With this event being the third suspension of the year for Green, he has tied his previous ejection count in this early going of the season. Green recently served a suspension for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold. It isn’t known what the NBA will decide for Green after this latest ejection.
We’ve got reactions below from NBA Twitter regarding the Draymond Green and Jusuf Nurkic dustup. We also have the video of the incident courtesy of ESPN.
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Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign are close to releasing their collaborative album Vultures and hosted a listening party in Miami this week. What has some people talking is the moment when Kanye West came onstage donning a Black hood stylized like the white KKK hood.
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, collectively known under the ¥$ moniker, appeared together in Miami’s Wynwood Marketplace for an outdoor listening party according to a report from Variety.
The event got a late start and there were some technical issues with audio assistants having a time trying to connect West’s phone to the audio system at the venue. The event was also streamed on YouTube with fans at home experiencing viewing issues as well. According to the outlet, tickets for general admission for the event were listed at $200, $600 for VIP, and $10,000 for tables.
The pair played 10 tracks from Vultures with notable features from Lil Baby, Charlie Wilson, Lil Durk, Bump J, Nicki Minaj, Kodak Black, and more. Joining West and $ign on the stage were Chris Brown, Offset, the aforementioned Kodak Black, Lil Durk, Bump J, Freddie Gibbs, and more.
During the album’s controversial title track where West decries being antisemitic in a vulgar fashion, the artist came onstage wearing the Black hood and stared at the crowd for effect. Instead of shying away from the heat sure to come from the song and the image, West reportedly paused the song after the line in question from the song.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans are chiming in with their thoughts on the album, Kanye West himself, and more.
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