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Can an album listening party with 16,000 guests feel cozy? Special? Evidently, yes. Last night, Bad Bunny made that happen as he debuted his new LP, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana. Held at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (a.k.a. El Choli) in San Juan, the event itinerary was a mystery when […]
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Westside Gunn, alongside his Griselda outfit, helped transform the landscape of modern Hip-Hop with several high-quality releases over the past few years as the empire expanded. The Buffalo, N.Y., mastermind has curated what is rumored to be his final studio album in And Then You Pray For Me, and the early returns are in on X, formerly Twitter.
Westside Gunn has threatened retirement from music several times to focus on his other growing businesses but it appears that he’s still very much into releasing music and doesn’t intend to stop. That said, And Then You Pray For Me is the latest collection of art from WSG and some of the usual suspects appear on the drop.
Gunn and his family members Conway The Machine, now the head honcho for Drumwork Music, and Benny The Butcher, the top captain of the Black Soprano Family, show up early in the project. We’ve also got Syracuse, N.Y.’s Stove God Cooks, along with Rick Ross, past collaborators Estee Nack and Rome Streetz, Boldy James, Jeezy, and Ty Dolla $ign among others.
It has been written that this release is a sequel to WSG’s celebrated Pray For Paris album although it is a departure in sound with several trap-heavy sounds present. Gunn is aware that core fans aren’t going to love it and has a message for them below.
Producers include the talented Conductor Williams, Tay Keith, Beat Butcha, RZA, Denny LeFlare, Daringer and plenty of work from Miguel Da Plug. It isn’t known if Westside Gunn intends to release the highly-anticipated Michelle Records project that he teased for much of 2022, but for now, this platter will have to hold folks over.
Check out the reactions, some of which are mixed, to And Then You Pray For Me from X below along with an X post linking to the project.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: aqua / iOne
New York Comic Con 2023 kicked off on Thursday, October 12 at the Javits Center in New York City and it was the grand spectacle we’ve come to expect. The first day was once the “slow” day but if the massive crowds were any indication, the entire weekend will be jam-packed.
While the cosplayers were once again in full effect—see our gallery of the best cosplay here—there were plenty of booths, activations, panels and even actual comics for all sorts of fans of all things fantasy.
We got there early enough to peep some booths on the show floor you should definitely take the time to visit if you’re a Hip-Hop head making your way to New York Comic Con this weekend. From Kid Cudi getting in his Star Trek bag to Crocs being sold on the floor via Foot Locker, there’s plenty to see, so make sure your shoes have plenty of cushioning.
Check out our recommends…
Stranger Comics – Booth #3317
Source: aqua / iOne
Stranger Comics is the publisher of actress and activist Amandla Stenberg’s renowned Niobe character and comic. Niobe is a Black, half human and half elven hero and she kicks ass. What more do you need to know? Definitely worth tapping into the World of Asunda.
Foot Locker x Crocs – Booth #3001
Source: aqua / iOne
Speaking of, Crocs are supposed to be comfy and Foot Locker was in the building and moving plenty of pairs of the collab between Crocs and Demon Slayer at Booth #3001
Source: aqua / iOne
Kid Cudi x Star Trek – Booth #2653
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Mr. Rager is rocking with the Star Trek franchise and they collaborated for an official capsule collections that includes tees, hoodies and a mean varsity jacket.
Source: aqua / iOne
Source: aqua / iOne
BAIT – Booth #1435
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The BAIT store has gotten bigger and bigger each year at New York Comic Con. This year’s installation includes collabs with the anime series One Piece and Yu-Gi-Uh!
Source: aqua / iOne
Source: aqua / iOne
Heroes & Villians: MUTATIS MUTANDIS – Booth #1335
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X-Men fans are surely familiar with the Xavier School for Gifted Youngster. Turns out they were freshly dipped with a collection, via the Heroes & Villains “Mutatis Mutandis” booth, that includes tees, hoodies hats and varsity jacket. The prep-familiar fashion is inspired by Wolverine, Rogue, Storm and other classic characters.
Source: aqua / iOne
Source: aqua / iOne
The Boondocks – Booth #1043
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The Boondocks booth offered prints and Boondocks apparel. Even the dude who voiced Uncle Ruckus was on hand to sign autographs and take photos.
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As Israel is in the midst of conflict with the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza region, LeBron James expressed support via social media which drew a lot of mixed reactions and plenty of disapproval.On Wednesday night (October 11), LeBron James posted a statement to X, formerly known as Twitter, addressing the current turmoil in Israel after the southern region including the Gaza Strip suffered an attack from members of the militant Hamas organization. James began, “The devastation in Israel is tragic and unacceptable.”
“The murder and violence against innocent people by Hamas is terrorism,” the post continued. “The SpringHill Company family sends our deepest condolences to Israel and the Jewish community. We pray for peace in the region and reiterate our continued commitment to fight hate in all its forms. We all must work to ensure this tragedy does not spread even more hate, racism, and antisemitism.” The statement was also co-signed by James’ business partner, Maverick Carter.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward’s statement is one of a series of releases by noted celebrities who have expressed similar sentiments about the conflict in the region which is now in its fifth day after Hamas members killed and kidnapped Israelis in the region in a shock attack over the weekend.
To date, Over 1,200 Israelis have reportedly been killed with close to 2,700 injured while in Gaza, it is estimated that 900 Palestinians have been killed along with 5,000 that were injured. It has increased divisions between those who believe the Israeli government to be too brutal in attacking innocent Palestinians in Gaza, and those who try to conflate the support of the Palestinian people with the support of Hamas.
James’ statement was met with dismay by quite a few users on X, who feel he made that statement to placate right-wing individuals. Others flatly accused him of “selling out” by not even mentioning the Palestinian people in the statement.
And tangentially, of course, many took the opportunity to crack jokes against LeBron James, saying he will never be a better player than Chicago Bulls guard and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
Keep scrolling to see the reactions from X below.
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Photo: George Pimentel / Getty
1. Kordeli
This X user simply said, “NO LEBRON NOOOO” in response to the statement.
2. Captain MB
A meme featuring Lightning McQueen from “Cars” spinning out of control comes into play to express this user’s disappointment.
4. A Bro Next Door
A meme satirizing LeBron’s penchant for being pictured reading a book.
5. Kanki
One user replied to James with a tweet commenting on the way Palestinians are depicted as opposed to Israeli when violence comes into play.
6. Maor Melikson
This user was one of the lone voices fully supporting LeBron’s statement – with one caveat.
7. StaticMMIV
This X user queried out loud if celebrities were to be censured if they didn’t put out a statement of support for Israel.
8. Blue_999
A comparison of LeBron James losing his hair to the land lost by Palestinians since 1948 in Israel.
9. Mr.
“See what the man you pretend to read says and you didn’t go beyond the first page just for the sake of photographing!”, this user wrote.
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Oysters are a delicacy enjoyed by many across the world, and a new spot in Atlanta might have to find itself a new haul after a video highlighting the restaurant went viral. What has some on social media flabbergasted is that the young lady threw down four dozen oysters during a date she seemingly didn’t want to go on.
TikTok user EquanaB shared a video to her TikTok account highlighting Fontaine’s Oyster House, a popular seafood restaurant in Atlanta. Opening her video by saying that she was meeting with a man she ignored for weeks simply out of boredom, EquanaB documents her date night and devouring of oysters, complete with slurping sounds and breakdowns of how good the food was.
We’re never going to shame a young woman for getting it how she lives but what folks online are completely shocked by is the fact that EquanaB probably wiped out Fontaine’s inventory in one night. Granted, the oysters with $15 per dozen so her date wouldn’t have had to shell out too much for the one-sided date.
Speaking of, the true plot twist, granted if this is an actual true story, is that her date ditched her at Fontaine’s and left her with the bill. With folks always looking to go viral and the fact folks have been duped before, we caution readers to take all of this information with a grain of salt.
Again, as users on X, formerly Twitter, have shared, 48 oysters are overdoing it to the max. We just hope that EquanaB’s insides are okay after taking down that much seafood on top of lemon drop martinis, potatoes, and crab cakes.
Check out the X reactions and video below.
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Photo: JacquesPALUT / Getty
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Jada Pinkett Smith is finally speaking in detail about the infamous Oscars incident where her husband, Will Smith, smacked Chris Rock during the live broadcast. In a new interview, Jada Pinkett Smith reveals that she and Will Smith were separated for years and thought the Oscars incident was a skit for the show.
Jada Pinkett Smith, 52, sat down with People for an exclusive interview discussing the aftermath of the Oscars slap, her journey from Baltimore to Hollywood, and details about her marriage to Will Smith, 55, and the trials they’ve faced. It appears that the interview is in connection to Pinkett Smith’s upcoming memoir, Worthy.
In Worthy, Pinkett Smith shares details of her upbringing in Baltimore, Md., being raised by parents who struggled with addiction, and her stint as a drug dealer in the streets of Charm City. But what most want to know is what went on in the Smith’s fairytale marriage and what hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
Regarding the Oscars moment, Pinkett Smith was just as shocked as everyone viewing.
“I thought, ‘This is a skit.,’” Pinkett Smith said of the slap. “I was like, ‘There’s no way that Will hit him.’ It wasn’t until Will started to walk back to his chair that I even realized it wasn’t a skit.”
Regarding their marriage, Pinkett Smith shared that she and her husband are still working on their union but urged that love is at the center of it all.
“We’re still figuring it out,” Pinkett Smith said. “We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together. We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”
Naturally, any mention of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith gets the X timeline going and we’ve got reactions from all sides below.
Worthy will be released on October 17.
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Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS / Getty
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World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10 and was established to call attention to the need for awareness, education, and support for those contending with issues surrounding mental health. On X, formerly known as Twitter, several people are sharing their journey with mental health along with tips and tools for coping.
“To break the wall here a bit, I am someone who suffers from mental health issues and I am in constant search of tools and expert assistance to push me to a greater version of myself. I fail often, and sometimes to the point of despair. But with the help of great therapists, family, and friends, I’ve found ways to stay afloat even on my hardest days. I hope that all of you reading are doing your best because that’s all we can do. Just know that you’re not alone in climbing the mountain.” – D.L. Chandler, Senior Editor.
World Mental Health Day was first established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. Around the world, mental health professionals and those suffering from mental health issues come together in support of improving the station of those in flux.
On X, several individuals are sharing parts of themselves with amazing vulnerability and encouraging others to take charge of their mental health using the various avenues available. As some note, the ups and downs of mental illness are not easy to contend with but there are more ways to get help than ever before.
To learn more about the World Federation for Mental Health and the day itself, please follow this link. Keep scrolling to see the reactions from X and do remember to be kind to yourselves during this time,
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Photo: Eva Almqvist / Getty
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Drake is currently taking in all the kudos and critiques of his latest studio album, For All The Dogs, which dropped on Friday (October 7) after a spat of delays. Joe Budden, a noted fan of The Boy, had some harsh words for the latest drop, prompting Drizzy to unload the clip on Jumpoff via Instagram in epic fashion.
The rift between the pair began when DJ Akademiks shared a clip from The Joe Budden Podcast where the hosts were discussing For All The Dogs and who the target audience is. It appears that Budden and his co-hosts believe that Drake was attempting to cater to a younger generation instead of those in his late-30s age group. Always aware of where his name is mentioned, the Canadian superstar unloaded the clip as only he could.
From Akademiks’ IG:
You have failed at music. You left it behind to do what you are doing in this clip cause this is what actually pays your bills. For any artist watching this just remember you are watching a failure give their opinion on his idea of a recipe for success…a quitter give their opinion on how to achieve longevity…you switched careers cause the things that pop into your brain had you broke living cheque to cheque and the raps you write had 450 men showing up to your shows in dusty Enyce jeans to screw up their face to Mood Muzik 29 and pretend you are the goat…pls to any artist that’s doing what they feel is right don’t let these opinions affect your mindset after the fact…this guy is the poster child of frustration and surrendering. You retired and we never hung up your jersey we don’t even remember your number. We know you for doing this…you withdrew from rap not cause you accomplished all you need to it’s cause it wasn’t working for you. I never want anybody in the generations to think that the whole “everybody’s entitled to their opinion” is a real thing…this is a man projecting his own self hate and the fact I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself. If you need it put in simpler terms I own a 767…he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions.
Budden replied under the missive, writing, “You’ll grow up sooner or later…Father time is undefeated.”
Budden and Drake have a history of going back and forth with one another although, at a time, it was relegated to the music. An example is in the X reply below.
With Budden known as one of the top podcasters in the entertainment space, the New Jersey network chief has aired his grievances with Drake and his moves via his wildly popular program. In fact, he’s been very critical of Drizzy’s recent output while also praising him as one of his faves.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans are having a field day with this exchange and we’ve got the reactions from all sides below. A warning: there are some emotional responses down there. We hope they’re okay.
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Photo: Getty
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Doja Cat is no stranger to attracting attention as almost everything she does is under the microscope due to her massive fame and past controversies. Now, the Scarlet artist is facing criticism on X, formerly Twitter, for wearing a t-shirt featuring the image of an alleged neo-Nazi.
Via an Instagram post that she has since deleted and reposted, Doja Cat is seen in a car selfie wearing a t-shirt with Sam Hyde, a comedian, and social media figure who got his first break in 2016 via the Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace show on Adult Swim. Hyde, 38, has previously shown support for Donald Trump and contributed to the legal defense fund of Andre Anglin, the founder and editor of the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer.
As usual, the eagle eyes of social media fans caught the image of Hyde, who is seen holding a semiautomatic rifle, but Doja eventually deleted and reposted the selfie with the t-shirt cropped out. Comments on the post are pointing out that the other image from the previous post is circulating online but Doja has yet to address the criticism.
Doja has been linked with the alt-Right world in the past after fans uncovered that she was participating in alleged racist chat rooms on the platform Tinychat, an issue that seemingly got buried as her fame and artistry grew. With the release of her latest studio album Doja Cat is still very much a huge star despite wanting to shed her connection to the fame she’s gained as a musician.
On X, we’ve gathered some reactions to Doja Cat and the Sam Hyde t-shirt below.
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Drake will drop his highly anticipated upcoming studio album, For All The Dogs, and a new track from the Canadian superstar is only adding to the excitement. Timestamp Drizzy is back with the song “8 AM IN CHARLOTTE,” and X is reacting to the drop as expected.
Drake, already employing his young son Adonis to provide the cover art for his upcoming album, introduced his progeny to the masses again by way of the visual treatment for “8 AM IN CHARLOTTE” which was released exclusively on Drake’s Instagram page.
Produced by the talented Conductor Williams (Stik Figa, Westside Gunn, Tyler, The Creator, etc.), “8 AM IN CHARLOTTE” is a decidedly “Boom Bap” affair that, as true fans of Drake know, isn’t new territory for The Boy.
During the video, Drizzy and Adonis are centerpieces for the visuals while Dad proudly flashes rap hands and bars while his son rocks a shirt with the words “Hate Survivor” on the front.
As details regarding For All The Dogs are largely mum, we’re not aware if “8 AM IN CHARLOTTE” is going to be on the project. The reactions to the drop are definitely the opposite of what fans said of Drake’s previous single, “Slime You Out” featuring SZA.
The reactions to the track are still coming in strong with some wondering if Drake is heading into a new direction along with the requisite hate he seems to attract. We’ve got reactions from all sides below.
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