GALLERY
Page: 42
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MoneySign Suede, a young rising rapper from Huntington Park, Calif., lost his life after he was reportedly stabbed in a shower while in prison and succumbed to the wounds. On Twitter, fans of MoneySign Suede are saluting the rapper as they mourn the loss across social media.
MoneySign Suede, real name Jaime Brugada Valdez, was signed to Atlantic Records in 2021 according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. Valdez was housed at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad, Calif., which is where he was found dead inside a shower stall this past Tuesday.
A statement from CTF reads as follows:
At approximately 9:55 p.m. on April 25, correctional officers responded when Brugada was not accounted for in his cell after a regular institutional count. During a search he was found unresponsive in another area of the housing unit with injuries consistent with a homicide.
Staff quickly initiated life-saving measures and summoned emergency services to transport Brugada to an on-site medical facility for treatment, where he was pronounced deceased at 10:00 p.m.
Officials have limited movement at the institution to facilitate the investigation being conducted by the CTF Investigative Services Unit, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Monterey County Coroner. The Office of the Inspector General was notified and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Brugada’s official cause of death.
MoneySign Suede released his album, Parkside Baby, last September. He also released a self-titled EP in early 2022 as well.
On Twitter, reactions to MoneySign Suede’s death continue to take place and we’ve got those reactions below.
He was 22.
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Photo: @moneysignsuede / Instagram
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Jerry Springer, an early leader in the tabloid talk show and unscripted television space, has reportedly died. Springer, a former mayor of Cincinnati in the 1970s, engaged in a decades-long career as a broadcaster and host up until last year.
Jerry Springer, born Gerald Norman Springer on February 13, 1944, in London, England. His parents resettled in America and Springer attended public school in Queens, N.Y. ahead of attending Tulane University en route to earning a law degree from Northwestern University. Early on, Springer worked in the legal field and was a partner of a Cincinnati law firm before engaging in a career in politics.
Springer was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971 and stepped down in 1974 after admitting to soliciting a prostitute. However, his admittance won over the public and he was eventually reelected. Via a now-defunct political arrangement, Springer was elected to serve one year as mayor of the city by the council and entered into a failed bid for the governor’s seat in Ohio in the early 1980s.
From politics, Springer began his career as a television journalist, working for local station WLWT in Cincinnati. The network helped Springer establish his eponymously-named show, Jerry Springer, in 1991, which ran in syndication until 2018. The program proved to be popular once it shifted into having guests confront one another onstage, often coming to blows in the process before security would break up the fracas.
In 2015, Springer started The Jerry Springer Podcast, and in 2019, he also hosted the courtroom series Judge Jerry until it was canceled in 2022.
According to a family spokesperson, Springer died with his family nearby in his Chicago home. Springer was previously diagnosed with cancer according to a statement from the family.
On Twitter, the reactions to the death of Jerry Springer have the host’s name trending. We have those replies below.
Springer was 79.
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Photo: Getty
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Lil Baby and Khloé Kardashian became a hot topic of discussion this week after images of the pair surfaced online while dining out with others. Naturally, speculation that the pair are currently dating cropped up and some fans are warning Lil Baby of avoiding the so-called “Kardashian Curse.”
Lil Baby, 28, and Khloé Kardashian, 38, were seen in images posted by the social media account @HipHopTies, featuring the two dining with a group during a daytime gathering. In one image, the rapper born Dominique Jones is seen laughing and smiling at another patron across from him while Kardashian enjoys her meal. In another photo, the My Turn star is seen talking with Kardashian looking on.
Of course, dining out with other celebrities is something popular figures and entertainers often do without any hint of romantic involvement. Still, the pairing of Baby and Kardashian seemed to come out of left field for many observers. Further, it isn’t known how close the Atlanta artist is to the sprawling Kardashian empire or how long he’s been connected to the family.
The images gave rise to commentary from Twitter fans who think the photos suggest a close relationship that neither Baby nor Kardashian previously spoke about. The reactions on Twitter range from flat-out curiosity to grim warnings of getting away from the Kardashians.
We’ve got reactions from all sides below.
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Pras, also known as Pras Michel of Fugees fame, found himself at the center of a global conspiracy case where it became assumed that the rapper became an informant to the FBI. While that fact is currently being debunked by Pras’ legal team, that hasn’t stopped Twitter from roasting his Fugees bandmates Wyclef Jean and Ms. Lauryn Hill with John Forte catching strays in the process.
Pras Michel was recently in Washington to take the stand in his federal conspiracy trial where he faces up to 22 years in prison for allegedly involving himself in a global money laundering scheme and working with a foreign nation to influence U.S. government matters.
Pras did admit on the stand that he spoke with FBI agents regarding his connection to Malaysian financier and fugitive, Jho Low.
After examining the case further, Michel is actually on trial because he took Low’s money to the tune of millions and reentered a portion of those funds into President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and then attempted to ask the Trump Administration to move away from investigating Kow and extradite Chinese businessman, Guo Wengui who was connected to former Trump ally, Steve Bannon.
Hip-Hop Wired also received a statement this week from Michel’s legal team correcting the perception that their client turned informant.
From the statement:
Simply stated, if Pras had been an informant for the government, he wouldn’t be on trial right now. The government does not prosecute and threaten its informants with more than two decades of jail time.
Pras never was an “informant” for the FBI.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and the reckless suggestion that he was an informant carries life-threatening implications in hip-hop circles.
During a portion of Pras’ nearly two days of testimony last week, Pras described from the stand a decision he made a handful of years ago to approach the FBI in regard to a narrow issue related to his wider case.
In law enforcement parlance, an “informant” is someone who works directly with an investigating law enforcement agency either to cut a deal for him or herself, or with the direct interests of that law enforcement agency as part of their own agenda.
As it stands, Twitter won’t care about all of that legal mumbo jumbo and is always hellbent on getting those jokes off. We’ve got some of them listed below.
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Photo: Tasos Katopodis / Getty
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Harry Belafonte, an elegant actor, talented singer, and activist, has died according to still-developing reports. Belafonte was best known for his dashing good looks and golden voice, but he was also devoted to eliminating the struggles of Black people worldwide.
Harry Belafonte was born March 1, 1927, in New York, NY., and was raised in Harlem by his Jamaican-born parents. Belafonte began his singing career in the late 1940s and found fame in the 1950s, with his signature track, “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” exploding onto the charts and remains a timeless classic to this day.
Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, who was by his side when he passed, and his children Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte and two stepchildren Sarah Frank and Lindsey Frank. Belafonte also leaves behind eight grandchildren.
Now a word from Belafonte’s publicist:
Known globally for both for his artistic ingenuity and humanitarian ideals, Belafonte became an early, vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and financial backer of countless historic political and social causes and events, including the anti-Apartheid Movement, equal rights for women, juvenile justice, climate change and the decolonization of Africa. He was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington and led a delegation of Hollywood luminaries including his best friend Sidney Poitier, as well as Paul Newman, Sammy Davis, Jr, Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Tony Curtis, James Baldwin, Burt Lancaster, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carrol, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis and Tony Curtis.
To try and capture all the amazing things Belafonte did in his lifetime would nearly be impossible but what should be noted is that Belafonte never tired of seeking justice for his people and all those oppressed around the world.
Belafonte was also decorated heavily within the arts, winning three Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement trophy, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. Belafonte also won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2014, completing the coveted EGOT honor.
Beyond the stage, film, and music, Belafonte also guest-starred on several television shows and his final film role occurred via Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman in 2018.
Harry Belafonte was 96.
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Tucker Carlson, he of slanted opinions and owner of one of the most punchable faces in America, is now out of a job. According to rapidly developing reports, the longtime Fox News host has agreed to part ways amicably with the network, or that is what allegedly happened.
Tucker Carlson, 53, has been a Fox News media team member since 2009 after a three-year stint with MSNBC. Carlson has hosted the Tucker Carlson Tonight show on Fox News since 2016.
Via a statement that was first reported by the Associated Press, Fox News said that they “agreed to part ways” with Carlson, and this announcement comes just after the network settled a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems and how the network reported on the 2020 election.
Carlson, whose show was one of the most popular on the network, aired its last episode this past Friday (April 21).
“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” added the press release from Fox News.
Carlson has attracted plenty of attention as one of the leading voices in so-called conservative media, and also for his on-air gaffes and outward support of former president Donald Trump. Carlson’s departure from Fox News likely wasn’t over the $787 million settlement the network has to pay Dominion Voting Systems However, Carlson did question the network’s coverage of the election and privately stated that he was not a true fan of Trump.
On Twitter, the news of Tucker Carlson leaving Fox News is starting to bubble with reactions from most rubbing a bit of salt in the wound. Given the rise of podcasts that lean right of center coming out, Carlson should be working again in no time.
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Chance The Rapper became a viral hot topic after video footage of him dancing suggestively on women at Jamaican Carnival went wide. On Twitter, the Chicago rapper’s marriage was called into question with some folks acting completely clueless about the nature of these events
Jamaica Carnival wrapped on Tuesday (April 18) with revelers and dancers hitting the road and representing in style. Chance The Rapper was among several celebrities on the island taking in the festivities and one video, in particular, showed Little Chano having a blast behind a beautiful woman. As it stands, this manner of suggestive dancing is normal and even expected during these types of gatherings.
In our search, Chance The Rapper performed the same whine and grind move on other women aside from the video that had everyone talking and questioning the devotion he has to his wife. Some folks on Twitter are clearly clutching their pearls after seeing the footage while some are explaining that these things happen and it shouldn’t be taken for more than what it is.
Thankfully, several people understand what transpired is simply just a dance. Sure, it’s sexually suggestive and over the top, but have you seen what men and women wear at Carnival? Exactly. It’s just good fun at the end of the day.
We’ve got reactions to Chance The Rapper living it up in Jamaica from all sides listed out below.
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Photo: Getty
Alexa, play “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.
Barbie has been a longtime inspiration in pop culture, ever since the first doll revolutionized the toy industry back in 1959. From music to TV and film, the doll’s blonde hair and striking fashion sense has remained a constant in entertainment.
Flash forward to 2023, and a live-action Barbie movie is hitting theaters on July 21. The Greta Gerwig-directed film is set to star Margot Robbie as the iconic Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, and will feature appearances from Dua Lipa, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera and more. The official synopsis notes that the film will follow the tale of the titular doll on a quest to find happiness “after being expelled from Barbie Land for being a less than perfect-looking.”
In celebration of the upcoming Barbie film, we’ve compiled a list of musicians who have dressed up as the doll at one point or another in their careers. See the photo gallery below.
Nicki Minaj
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Nicki Minaj is a huge fan of Barbie (her fans are even called the Barbz), and she channeled her love for the iconic doll in her “Barbie Tingz” music video.
Amy Poehler & Britney Spears
Image Credit: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GI
During a 2002 SNL skit titled “Inside Barbie’s Dreamhouse,’ Amy Poehler appeared as Barbie alongside Britney Spears’ Skipper.
Dolly Parton
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Dolly Parton’s 2008 track “Backwoods Barbie” included an accompanying cover photo in which the country superstar is seen lounging in hay in the back of a pickup truck, dressed in a cheetah print mini-dress and pink chiffon robe.
Trixie Mattel
Image Credit: Albert Sanchez
As her name suggests, drag superstar Trixie Mattel is not only a Barbie collector, but also uses the doll as inspiration for her famous look.
Paris Hilton
Image Credit: Venturelli/WireImage
Paris Hilton dressed in theme while attending Jeremy Scott & Moschino Party with Barbie in 2014, with her blonde hair making her a real-life version of the doll.
Kacey Musgraves
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/GI for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kacey Musgraves opted for life in plastic for the 2019 Met Gala theme, Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion.
Rita Ora
Image Credit: David M. Benett/GI
In 2014, Rita Ora wore a Barbie-inspired look for ‘Death Of A Geisha’ hosted by Fran Cutler and Cafe KaiZen with Grey Goose, complete with a pink tiara.
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Jonathan Majors continues to experience a spectacular fall from grace in the wake of an alleged domestic violence incident between the actor and his reported girlfriend. Adding to his woes, both the actor’s talent manager and his PR firm dropped Majors as a client this week.
According to an insider who spoke exclusively with Variety, Jonathan Majors will no longer be repped by Entertainment 360, which served as his talent manager. This comes after PR firm the Lede Company reportedly dropped Majors as a client around a month or so.
All of this comes just as Majors was enjoying the fruits of his acting career along with star turns in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the supervillain Kang The Conqueror and a role in the Michael B. Jordan-directed hit, Creed III. Majors held prominent roles prior to the aforementioned acting gigs and it appeared he was elevating himself to a higher stratosphere.
Majors, 33, was arrested in New York on March 25 after an alleged domestic dispute with a woman reported to be his girlfriend ended in the actor being charged with assault and harassment. Police responded to a 911 call that night with Majors being led away in cuffs. The woman suffered minor injuries to the head and neck according to police accounts.
The legal team for Majors immediately denied the reports of domestic violence and criminal defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry shared a series of texts from the woman that was meant to clear Majors’ name but instead shed more doubt on his innocence according to some.
With the news of Entertainment 360 and Lede Company dropping Jonathan Majors as a client, many on Twitter are seemingly vindicated in assessing the incident as domestic violence and are further condemning the man.
We’ve got those reactions listed down below.
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Photo: Jeff Kravitz / Getty
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Ahmad Jamal, a legendary Jazz pianist who released a bevy of songs heavily sampled in the Hip-Hop sphere, has died after combating prostate cancer according to reports. Ahmad Jamal remained an active and curious musician well into his 80s, including a Kennedy Center set he expertly performed two years ago.
Ahmad Jamal (formerly Frederick Russell Jones) was born on July 2, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pa. According to biographical accounts, Jamal began playing piano at the age of 3 and became a professional player at 14. Shortly after high school, Jamal’s touring career began and his travels led him to Islam, thus changing his name to Ahmad Jamal and keeping with the Muslim traditions of prayer.
In 1951, Jamal’s recording career would officially begin, culminating in his touring nationally and around the world behind the success of the At the Pershing: But Not for Me album. Jamal was also known as a prudent investor and used his fortunes to make investments across Africa. In 1962, Jamal stepped away from music for more than two years, returning to recording with the release of three albums in 1965, including the acclaimed Extensions album.
In 1973, Jamal released an instrumental version of the theme song for the 1970 film M*A*S*H*, a song originally known as “Suicide Is Painless” by The Mash and featured on the film’s original soundtrack.
The American Jazz Masters award, National Endowment for the Arts gave Jamal an American Jazz Masters award in 1994. In 2007, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts named Jamal a Living Jazz Legend. In 2017, Jamal was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy.
Jamal’s music was famously sampled by Hip-Hop acts such as De La Soul, Pete Rock, Nas, 9th Wonder, Earl Sweatshirt, and countless others over the past two decades and more. Jamal’s last official recording was 2019’s Ballades album.
According to a report from the Washington Post, Jamal’s daughter, Sumayah Jamal, confirmed the passing of her father.
Ahmad Jamal was 92.
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Photo: MARTIN BUREAU / Getty