Hip-Hop

Nicki Minaj Fires Back at Megan Thee Stallion After Apparent Diss on New Song ‘Hiss’

Nicki Minaj isn’t a fan of Megan Thee Stallion‘s new song “Hiss.”

On the fiery new single, Megan takes an apparent jab at Nicki’s husband, registered sex offender Kenneth Petty, while referencing Megan’s Law, a federal law requiring law enforcement to make information available about registered sex offenders.

“These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law/ I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start/ B—h, you a p—y, never finna check me/ Every chance you get, bet your weak ass won’t address me,” the Stallion raps on “Hiss.”

Shortly after the song’s arrival on Friday (Jan. 26), Minaj hopped on Instagram Live to preview an unreleased track firing back at Meg, referencing the Houston artist getting shot in the foot by Tory Lanez in 2020. The shooting case wrapped up last year with the Canadian crooner heading to prison.

“Bad b—h she like six foot, I call her Big Foot/ The b—h fell off, I said get up on your good foot,” Nicki raps in the snippet.

The “Super Bass” rapper had a chuckle at her slick wordplay and ran back the venomous track a few times before sniping at Megan for her rapping ability during the Live: “You have three Grammys and you have to learn how to rap on the beat and be comfortable in the music.”

Nicki added on Instagram Live, “You bringing up 30-year-old tea from when this man was a 15-year-old child. You bringing up 30-year-old tea cause no man will ever f—ing love you, and lying on your dead mother.” (Megan’s mother died in 2019.)

Minaj didn’t stop there. She spoke further on the matter during a conversation Friday on radio app Stationhead. “You let everyone be thrown under the bus,” Nicki is heard saying about Meg in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter). “You let DaBaby be thrown under the bus, Tory, your best friend, your mom … You better go conjure up your mother and apologize. That’s disgusting.”

Nicki has also shared numerous posts on X, calling Megan a “disgusting serpant” and writing, “Megan’s Law. For a free beat you could hit #Meganraw.” Minaj added in another tweet that she “does not condone ‘bullying,’” but called Stallion a “pathological & manipulative liar,” alleging that she’s “using ghost writers & still SUCK.”

“Hiss,” which is co-produced by LilJuMadeDaBeat and Bankroll Got It, is the second single set to land on Megan’s third album. The new track arrived two months after she launched her new era with the rock-tinged “Cobra,” which served as her first independent single since leaving 1501 Certified Entertainment. “Cobra” peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her eighth top 10 hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (No. 10).

Saweetie’s ‘Best Friend’ Soundtracks Trailer For Zac Efron Buddy Comedy ‘Ricky Stanicky’

Saweetie‘s 2021 hit “Best Friend” is the perfect soundtrack the first trailer for the upcoming Zac Efron buddy comedy Ricky Stanicky. The initial look at the Prime Video flick directed by Peter Farrelly (Green Book) that also stars John Cena, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino and William H. Macy — cued to the rapper/singer’s bouncy track, which peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 — sets up the movie‘s absurd premise, with the wrestler-turned-box-office-hero Cena taking center stage.

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In the three-minute clip that dropped on Friday morning (Jan. 26), we learn that Efron, Fowler and Santino have been telling a lie to friends and family about their imaginary best friend, Ricky Stanicky, for decades. But when their partners start asking questions about the trio’s trip to visit a purportedly sick Stanicky the ruse appears to be up.

So, naturally, the men hire an out-of-work actor/stripper “Rock Hard” Rod (Cena) to play Stanicky after their latest tall tale about their return of Ricky’s phantom cancer appears to blow down their hooky-playing house of cards. Cue Argylle star Cena dressing up in a variety of silly costumes — including Alice Cooper, Boy George, Peter Frampton and Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh — and energetically inserting himself into their lives in the most screwball manner.

The R-rated film from one half of the Farrelly sibling duo that also brought you Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene is due out on March 7 on Prime Video. Farrelly and Efron recently teamed up on the 2022 movie The Greatest Beer Run Ever, based on the improbable story of a New York man who decides to bring some cold brews to his bros serving in the Vietnam War.

Watch the Ricky Stanicky trailer below.



50 Cent Sued By LA Radio Host Over Mic-Throwing Incident: ‘Severe Injuries and Emotional Distress’

50 Cent is facing a new civil lawsuit over an incident last summer in which he was captured on video throwing a microphone at a concert, filed by a Los Angeles radio host who says she was struck by the mic and suffered “severe and permanent injuries.”

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles court, Power 106 host Bryhana Monegain accused 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) and concert giant AEG of legal negligence over the August episode, in which the rapper chucked the mic off to the side of the stage after he became frustrated that it was not working.

Monegain – who publicly shared images of gash on her forehead the next day – claims in her lawsuit that the microphone hit her in the face and left wrist, causing major injuries.

“Plaintiff was transported by ambulance to the Los Angeles General Medical Center emergency department for treatment of injuries, including but not limited to, a concussion, laceration over her forehead, and pain in her left wrist,” her lawyers write. “Plaintiff complained of dizziness, headaches, light and sound sensitivity, and nausea [and] continues to suffer from here severe injuries and emotional distress.”

Part of the incident — which happened on Aug 30. while 50 Cent was performing at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles as part of his Final Lap Tour — was captured in viral videos. In them, the rapper is seen looking frustrated with a microphone, then throwing it down off the side of the stage. Later in the performance, while Nas was onstage, videos show 50 getting annoyed again before hurling the new mic to the same offstage section.

While the viral video doesn’t show the microphone hitting anyone, Monegain appeared in photos shared on social media with a wound on her forehead that was allegedly caused by 50 Cent’s mic.

Reps for 50 Cent did not return a request for comment on Friday. In a statement at the time, his lawyer Scott Leemon told Billboard that “Curtis would never intentionally strike anyone with a microphone.”

Thursday’s lawsuit is purely a civil matter. At the time of the incident, Monegain reportedly filed a police report on the night of the concert alleging criminal battery. But court records show that no charges were ever filed, and TMZ later reported that both the L.A. District Attorney’s office and the L.A. City Attorney’s office had both declined to bring a criminal case against the rapper.

As in any negligence lawsuit, Monegain claims that 50 Cent and AEG had a duty to keep her and other attendees safe from any dangers that they either knew about or should have seen coming. Instead, she says they “failed to create an environment that was safe for attendees on the subject premises.” She claims that 50 Cent should have known “the dangerous nature of a performer throwing a microphone into a crowed area” but did so anyway.

The lawsuit does not say how much money Monegain is seeking, but asks for “past and future wage loss, hospital and medical expenses” and other unspecified “general damages” over the harm she allegedly suffered.

A spokesperson for AEG did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit’s allegations.

Pharrell Williams Biopic ‘Piece By Piece’ to Tell Story Via Lego: ‘I’m Honored to Share This With the World’

All those hours building with Lego before he was famous has really paid off for Pharrell Williams. In fact, the two-time Oscar winning singer/songwriter/producer is parlaying his childhood fascination with the colorful bricks into the building blocks of his upcoming biopic, Piece by Piece.

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“Who would’ve thought that playing with Legos as a kid would evolve into a movie about my life,” Williams said in an Instagram post on Friday morning (Jan. 26). “It’s proof that anyone else can do it too,” he added along with a hashtag for the title of the film.

Pharrell further hyped the movie due out on Oct. 11 with an accompanying man’s march of progress illustration, except make it Lego, with blocky Williams evolving from a single flat 1×1 plate to a 1×1 brick, a golden minifigure and, finally, a camo-wearing minifig in the 13-time Grammy winner’s image.

A release from Focus Features announcing the film directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) describes the movie as an “unparalleled motion picture experience that captures the magic and brilliance of Pharrell Williams’ creative genius, one LEGO® brick at a time. Uninterested in making a traditional film about his life, Pharrell set out to tell his story in a way that would set audience’s imaginations free. Developed from his singular vision, Piece by Piece defies genres and expectations to transport audiences into a LEGO world where anything is possible.”

Neville is also a co-producer on the movie along with producer Caitrin Rogers, Williams, Mimi Valdés and Shani Saxon of Pharrell’s i am OTHER label/creative collective. Jill Wilfert and Keith Malone are executive producing for the LEGO Group.

“Five years ago, Pharrell Williams approached me with the idea of helping him tell his story through LEGO animation,” director Neville said in a statement. “It was one of those rare moments where I knew in a second that this was a journey I wanted to go on. I’m grateful to our partners at Focus Features and at the LEGO Group for their belief in our crazy mission. We assembled an incredible team of creative collaborators to help make a new type of film. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

Williams added that when he had “this crazy vision” to tell his story via LEGO, he could not have imagined a better partner than Neville. “He is a legend,” said Williams. “Grateful that Focus wanted to collaborate with us and I’m honored to share this with the world and bring people into my universe. Building with LEGO bricks encourages us to follow our imagination.”

See Pharrell’s post below.

Snoop Dogg Says He’s Been Working on New Album With Dr. Dre For 8 Months

Snoop Dogg always has 10 irons in the fire. But on Friday morning’s (Jan. 26) Good Morning America the Doggfather broke some news about the one iron his fans care about the most. “I can let the rabbit out the hat. I’ve been working on a record with Dr. Dre for the past 8 months. We’re about ready to drop a single in a couple weeks, so that’s what I’ve been cooking up,” Snoop told GMA‘s Michael Strahan while promoting his new Prime Video movie, The Underdoggs.

At press time there was no additional information on the unnamed project or timetable for release and a spokesperson for Snoop could not be reached for comment.

Back in Oct. 2022, Snoop said he was almost done with a Dre-produced sequel to his 1993 Dre-produced solo debut album, Doggystyle, with a release planned to celebrate that collection’s 30th anniversary. At the time, Snoop said he and Dre had been in the studio for two months and that they expected to be finished with the sessions for the LP he said would be called Missionary before the end of the year.

In keeping with his reputation as the world’s most productive stoner, Snoop told Strahan that he loves being busy, especially when it comes to a project like Underdoggs, which was inspired by his work with his Snoop Youth Football League.

“I’m mastering the craft of who I am, and to be the best who I am, is to do the things that make me feel good. And the main two things is fun, right? F-U-N and F-U-N-D-S, if it makes funds and it’s fun, I’m in,” Snoop said. “I started off as a underdog. That’s the best dog to ever be, because you’re the one they don’t pay attention to. So you gotta figure out how to master you, to where you become the greatest you that you can be.” 

As for the film, Snoop said working with the kids in the league — whose most famous alumni include Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud, winner of the 2024 offensive rookie of the year — has made him remember what a huge role the sport played in his youth. “I spent my money on brand new equipment, bought fields that we rented, referees, rule books, everything, we did it all the right way,” Snoop told Strahan. “Football was the best thing that ever happened to me as a kid. It taught me how to have discipline and have respect. So I wanted to give some of that back that was given to me.” 

Rapper Lil Zay Osama Facing Federal Gun Charge After Allegedly Leaving Loaded Glock In Uber

Chicago rapper Lil Zay Osama is facing a two-count federal indictment for illegal firearm possession after he allegedly left an automatic Glock pistol in the back of an Uber after a ride in New York City.

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Prosecutors say that Lil Zay (real name Isaiah Dukes) carried a loaded pistol that had been modified into a machine gun during the rideshare trip from a luxury hotel in Manhattan to a recording studio in Queens, then left it in the back when he exited the vehicle.

The indictment, handed down by a Brooklyn federal grand jury Wednesday, charges Lil Zay with possession of a machine gun and possession of an unregistered firearm – accusations that carry a prison sentence as long as twenty years if he’s convicted.

“Machineguns have no place on the streets of our communities,” said Tommy Kalogiros, the lead investigator at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, better known as the ATF. “They are weapons intended to kill and injure with maximum effect, with the shooter often firing uncontrollably and indiscriminately.”

The new federal case is only the latest gun charge for Lil Zay.

Last month, he was arrested in Chicago after Lil Zay and three other men allegedly led police on a high-speed chase. When the car was finally stopped, police reportedly found multiple loaded Glock pistols, as well as the same kind of modification device to convert a firearm into a fully automatic machine gun that was featured in Wednesday’s indictment. Before that, Lil Zay was reportedly arrested in Chicago in January 2023 on separate weapons charges – an incident that led to Lil Zay’s awkward-looking mugshot going viral on social media.

After the September 2022 taxi incident at the center of Wednesday’s indictment, Lil Zay was arrested in New York, but he was later released after he posted bond. Two months later, the rapper claimed on Instagram that the case over the incident had been “dismissed” and demanded an apology from hip hop personality DJ Akademiks, who had publicized incident on social media.

“Me personally leaving a gun in an Uber? Think about it lol I never did that!” he wrote in an Instagram story the time. “So stop saying I did cause if I did DNA would’ve been on gun and they would have found me with it.”

50 Cent Denies Using Ozempic After Dramatic 40-Pound Weight Loss: ‘I’m Focused Man’

If you’ve seen pics of 50 Cent lately you may have noticed that the rapper looks markedly slimmer these days. And while that kind of dramatic celebrity weight loss is often met with snarky suggestions of possible medical intervention, Fiddy promises you that his cut down is all natural and wholesome.

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“You wanna talk about weight loss? I was in the gym, I was working the f–k out, man,” 50 said in an Instagram video posted on Wednesday (Jan. 24). “And they say it’s Ozempic? I was running, I was running, I was doing what I had to do. You seen me on tour.” The rapper said all that hard work has taken him from 253 pounds to his current svelte 210.

The “Wanksta” rapper wrapped up the 2023 dates of his Final Lap tour in November and began 2024 by declaring that he was planning on “practicing abstinence” this year. And guess what? He says it’s working, because his fornication freeze has helped him get the right kind of pump. “I’m focused man, practicing abstinence is helping me train harder,” he wrote in an earlier Instagram post. “I feel great I think more people should try it.”

When announcing his pledge earlier this year, 50 explained that, “My new idea is so big, I don’t have time to be distracted I’m practicing abstinence, I have been meditating and focusing on my goals.” 50 has two more Final Lap shows slated for this year, a March 1 gig at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a March 3 show at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix.

See 50’s video and pics of his svelte new look below.

Snoop Dogg Gives Update on Daughter Cori Broadus After Stroke: ‘Doing a Little Bit Better’

Snoop Dogg gave an update on his daughter Cori Broadus‘ health this week after the 24-year-old revealed that she’d suffered a “severe stroke” last week. The rapper, 52, spoke to People magazine about Cori’s recovery from her Jan. 18 stroke, telling the magazine that she is “doing a little bit better.”

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Asked if the health scare put his life in perspective, the hip-hop veteran said, “Yeah, yeah. Something like that.”

In an Instagram Story from her hospital bed posted on Tuesday (Jan. 23), Cori Broadus wrote, “they took me off heaprin tonight (blood thinner) & most likely can go home tomorrow,” followed by a second message in which she said, “thank you thank you [crying face emoji] when I get out I’m going to share everything more in depth.” She also swung her phone’s camera around to show off the many flower arrangements in her room.

She narrated the video, saying, “I just want to thank everyone single person that has sent me flowers… I mean, like, thank you so, so much. I really, really appreciate all the love and support, it’s been keeping me going in here, like for real.” The Story also included a slide of Broadus passing the time playing Uno and rolling through the hospital on a gurney on her way to get a CT scan of her chest to determine the cause of her stroke.

Last Thursday, Cori posted a Story from her hospital bed in which she wrote, “I had a severe stroke this am. I started breaking down crying when they told me,” later adding, “I’m only 24. What did I do in my past to deserve all of this?”

Broadus was diagnosed with lupus when she was six-years-old, and, according to Lupus Corner, “the risk of stroke is 4-times to 8-times higher in lupus patients, due to inflammation influencing the tendency of blood to clot and vasculitis stiffening the blood vessels; at press time it was still not what caused Broadus’ stroke.

Ludacris Dramedy About Early Rap Career in Development at BET+

If you’ve ever heard Ludacris talk about the early days of his career working as an intern at Atlanta’s Hot 97.5 under the name “Chris Lova Lova,” then parlaying his undeniable hustle into a nearly three-decade run as a hitmaker, movie actor and author, then you know there’s a great story there.

A story that could be coming to BET+.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streamer is developing an untitled half-hour scripted dramedy inspired by the life of the man born Chris Bridges, focusing on his experience “coming up in the competitive music scene in Atlanta as DJ Chris Lova Lova.”

The show will follows the “misadventures of a sharply drawn ensemble who are willing to do anything and everything to bolster ratings at their hip-hop radio station.” The script for the potential series currently in development will be written and executive produced by Noah Gardenswartz (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), with Luda slated to serve as an executive producer and music supervisor.

The series is being developed by Universal Television and Disturbing Tha Peace, the label the rapper launched in the late 1990s along with his longtime manager, Chaka Zulu, who will also serve as an executive producer; Larry Wilmore (The Daily Show, Insecure) and Malcolm D. Lee (Night School, Girls Trip) are also on board as exec producers.

While it’s not yet known if the series will get a full green light, Luda will be on your screens soon as he was recently announced as one of the judges — alongside Latto and DJ Khaled — on the reboot of Netflix’s hip-hop competition show, Rhythm + Flow. The series is slated for a long-awaited return later this year for season two after a five year hiatus; the first run of the show featured guest judges Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and T.I.

Jacob Elordi’s Sad Janitor Way Sadder After Please Don’t Destroy Unnecessarily Pimp His Ride in Cut ‘SNL’ Sketch

Jacob Elordi slipped into a lot of hilarious costumes during his inaugural run as Saturday Night Live host last weekend. But the Saltburn star’s best character work ended up on the cutting room floor as evidenced by the posting of a cut-for-time sketch parodying the 2004-2007 Xzibit-hosted MTV series Pimp My Ride.

Playing sad sack janitor Sergei, Elordi is going about his business when the viral video Please Don’t Destroy trio — John Higgins, Martin Herlihy and Ben Marshall — take pity on him after finding out that the mop man has a “busted” car that is too expensive to fix and has to take the bus to work. So, naturally, they accost Sergei at the bus stop and give him the worst surprise ever: a pimped-out “fully customized trash wagon” with all the features he never wanted.

At first a teary Sergei is overwhelmed with the kind gesture… until he sees the abomination the Destroy boys have cooked up for him. “What have you done?” a crestfallen Sergei asks as he casts his eyes on the pink and purple minivan with a trash can logo on the hood, toilet plunger and broom decals on the doors and a custom vanity plate reading “Sergei Da Trash King.”

But that’s not all.

“Cleaning is just job,” Sergei tries to explain in vain as the zero-experience customizers show off some of the other special features, including a Swiffer WetJet front bumper, the requisite LCD headrest monitors, giant subwoofers, a front console crock pop for on-the-go borscht cooking and, worst of all, no more room for his large family after the back seats were ripped out to make room for custom mop bucket holders.

“For what purpose?” a frustrated Sergei asks.

The piece ended with a special message from Xzibit: “Whatever you do, do not drive that f–king car!” Spoiler alert: Sergei should have listened to Xzibit.

Watch the Pimp My Ride sketch below.