News
Page: 68
Grammy-nominated pop-dancehall princess Shenseea and Jamaican dancehall hitmaker Masicka lead the nominations for the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards, with seven nods each.
Notably, Shenseea, who won her first Caribbean Music Award last year for female artist of the year (dancehall), scored her first solo Grammy nomination earlier this year. Her sophomore album, Never Gets Late Here, was recognized in the best reggae album category, ultimately losing out to the Bob Marley: One Love soundtrack.
Soca superstars Patrice Roberts and Kes follow with six Caribbean Music Awards nominations. Dancehall legend Vybz Kartel, genre-fusing soca star Nailah Blackman and Jamaican dancehall stars Chronic Law and Kranium each have five nods. In addition, Trinidadian soca titan Bunji Garlin and reggae luminaries Romain Virgo and Lila Iké are next in line with four nods each.
Trending on Billboard
The Caribbean Music Awards recognizes artists, producers and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the Caribbean music landscape. This year’s nominations list includes more than 150 nominees across 40-plus categories spanning a diverse range of genres including reggae, soca, dancehall, calypso, R&B and gospel.
This year, the Caribbean Music Awards is introducing seven new categories: Caribbean R&B and Zess-Steam Artist of the Year, International DJ of the Year (Female), Reggae Collaboration of the Year, and Reggae, Gospel, and Caribbean Fusion Song of the Year. The new categories reflect the breadth of Caribbean music and the increasing consumption of particular styles and sounds. “The Greatest Bend Over,” Yung Bredda’s Full Blown-produced smash, became one of the biggest soca crossover hits of the year thanks to its incorporation of Zess.
“Zess has a very large following among the youth in Trinidad, but [those artists] have been struggling to be accepted by mainstream Trini music – which is soca,” Kevon Hart of Full Blown told Billboard in March. “For us, this was a very clever way of combining the two and showing the Zess artists that they do what we do, just in a different way.”
Other notable nominees include Jada Kingdom, Spice, Mical Teja, Lady Lava and Dexta Daps — last year’s most nominated artist — with three nods each.
The awards are presented by the Caribbean Elite Group, which also produces Caribbean Elite Magazine – a print and digital publication that highlights Caribbean entertainers, artists, producers, promoters, cuisine, travel, fashion and entrepreneurs.
Voting is currently underway at the Caribbean Music Awards website, and will conclude on Friday, May 1. Winners will be celebrated on Thursday, Aug. 28, at King Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y.
For the complete list of nominations, visit the Caribbean Music Awards website. Here are the nominees in selected categories:
Reggae — Album of the Year
Various Artists — Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired by the Film (Deluxe)
Bugle — Apex
Etana — Nectar of the Gods
Mortimer — From Within
Romain Virgo — The Gentle Man
UB40 — UB45
Dancehall — Album of the Year
Dexta Daps — Trilogy
Govana — Legacy
Shenseea — Never Gets Late Here
Spice — Mirror 25
Vybz Kartel — First Week Out
People’s Choice Award
Joé Dwèt Filé
Kes
Lady Lava
Shenseea
Skeng
Skillibeng
Vybz Kartel
Yung Bredda
Dancehall Song of the Year
Squash, “Big Breeze”
Vybz Kartel, “The Comet”
ArmaniI, “HAAD (Fiesta)”
Busy Signal, “Happy Birthday”
Kranium & Chronic Law, “Higher Life”
Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run”
Jada Kingdom, “What’s Up (Big Buddy)”
Masicka, “Whites”
Reggae Song of the Year
Romain Virgo & Masicka, “Been There Before”
Bugle, Buju Banton & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, “Thank You Lord”
Lila Iké & Joey Bada$$, “Fry Plantain”
Pressure Busspipe, “Haunted”
Protoje, “Legend Legend”
Marlon Asher & Sizzla, “Never See Us Fall”
Alaine & Usain Bolt, “Pile Up”
YG Marley, “Praise Jah in the Moonlight”
Soca Song of the Year
Patrice Roberts, “Anxiety”
Nailah Blackman & Lyrikal, “Best Self”
Blaka Dan, “Blessing”
Bunji Garlin, “Carnival Contract”
Problem Child, “Carnival Jumbie”
Mical Teja, “DNA”
GB Nutron & Farmer Nappy, “In the Center”
Trilla-G, Lil Boy & Quan, “Someone Else”
Musical Event of the Year
Buju Banton — Long Walk to Freedom
Dominica World Creole Festival
Patrice Roberts — I Am Woman
Konpa Kingdom
Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival
Soca Brainwash
Stink & Dutty
Vybz Kartel — Freedom Street
Dreamville Festival concluded its fifth and final outing over the weekend, and Hip-Hop Wired was there to take in all the festivities. As it happens with music festivals of this magnitude, we managed to get a few quick interviews and comments from celebrities while checking out sets in between.Dreamville Festival 2025 was another sold-out event and brought thousands to the city of Raleigh, N.C. Everyone who touched the stage gave it their all, and the fans showed love to all the acts, whether familiar or not. The outpouring of love was bittersweet to witness, and it was beyond clear that this year’s Dreamville Festival meant the world to J. Cole, the Dreamville artists, and all who performed.While backstage, we spoke with several media figures, such as DC Young Fly, who was there representing for his 85 South podcast crew along with the Pour Minds crew, Drea Nicole and Lex P, hosting a joint live broadcast powered by Backwoods. Several Dreamville Festival performers sat down on the couch and gave their perspectives and insights, with DC Young Fly, hilarious as ever, chatting with us briefly as they wrapped.“I really do appreciate Dreamville for having us along with the Pour Minds crew down here and letting us do our thing in their backyard,” DC told us. We then asked DC how seamless the transition from comedy to podcasting was for him.“I give all credit to that man Karlous Miller for seeing something in me and knowing I could carry the weight. It was pretty smooth because I’m used to talking for a living and trying to be funny, so it just came naturally for me,” DC Young Fly shared.We spent significant time in the artist lounge area, coming across the likes of the charming Jordan Howlett, better known as Jordan The Stallion, Dee-1, and Julian Delgado of Something Wrong With The Podcast. Everyone we greeted was charming, affable, and humbled to be recognized by their fans and supporters.In the gallery below, we’ll share a blitz of quick-hit interviews we did with Akia, Kai Ca$h, Niko Brim, Turk of the Hot Boys, and more. We want to thank everyone for being so gracious to us, and best of luck to all in your musical journeys.
1. AKIA
At just 22 years of age, AKIA is currently pushing her latest EP, DUMB, and her dynamic vocal stylings were on full display at Dreamville. In our all-too-brief chat, the charming artist let it be known that she was destined for her current moment.
“The stage and studio, both are where I feel most at home,” AKIA began. “So, no matter how long my set is when I perform, that’s my sh*t. I just get on that stage or in that booth, and it goes from there.”
The Arkansas native credits her mother for pushing what she referred to as her “God-given gift” of singing. Every Sunday, a young AKIA was asked to sing at her church services, honing her powerful and soulful vocals.
“There would be times where I didn’t want to sing because my head was hurting but my mom would be like ‘God is gonna fix it but you gonna have to sing’ and I thank her for believing in me,” AKIA explained.
Next up for AKIA as she continues to promote DUMB is another pair of EPs, CRAZY and STUPID, which will complete a trilogy depicting a romantic relationship’s ups and downs. Considering how her single “DND” resonates with her fans, AKIA’s trajectory appears sky-high.
Learn more about AKIA here.
2. Cozz
Cozz, a longtime artist on the Dreamville roster, commanded the stage on Day 2 of the festival with the poise of a 20-year veteran. We caught up with Cody Macc after his crowd-pleasing set and got into his story a bit.
“This being the last Dreamville is kind of a bittersweet thing, but this is our home as artists on the label, and you can tell the fans who come out are supporters of our dreams,” Cozz said. “But what made this special is that this is the first time I’ve done this festival sober. This is the best version of me, and that’s why the crowd responded the way they did, because they could tell.”
Cozz added that he’s been sober for 11 months and, for what it’s worth, he appeared to be at peace. There was an aura around the Los Angeles rapper that translated well, and whatever troubles he faced before were on the way behind him.
“I haven’t been able to release music much legally since 2021 because I was on the chain with the label, but I’m still Dreamville all day. I have at least three projects in the stash now,” Cozz said. “I’m just trying to determine what to release and when, and I’m in the studio every week, tweaking and recording new music all the time.”
Cozz is currently promoting his new singles “50 Percent” and “God’s Design,” and on the former track, he hints at his sobriety journey and tells listeners that everything from the time before he stopped drinking was just him at half of his power. Cozz shared what the song meant to him with us.
“The track [50 Percent] is really a testament to the growth and the first freestyle I recorded since being sober,” Cozz explained. “I wanted my listeners to know that they were only getting half of me, so imagine how I’m gonna sound with a clear mind.”
In closing, Cozz left a message to anyone who is struggling on their path and what he hopes his fans get from his music.
“It’s never too late, it ain’t never too late to improve your life but you have to want it,” Cozz said. “It took me a long time to get to this place, but now I’m here and my life feels beautiful.”
Learn more about Cozz here.
3. Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim
Native New Yorkers Kai Ca$h and Niko Brim kicked off the Dreamville Festival with their high-energy set, and it truly felt like we were witnessing Hip-Hop’s latest young superstars in the making. Backstage, the energetic duo shared the trials of their time as artists and where they intend to go from there.
“I used to take this ability I have lightly, and I kid you not, I didn’t take it seriously until my teen years,” Kai began. “Truthfully, you do get discouraged because the music business is not easy. Especially when you don’t see things working expeditiously, but I just kept the focus on what’s next.”
Niko Brim, who has been around the music industry all his life via his parents Misa Hylton and Jojo Brim, added, “I’ve seen a lot because of my parents and their belief in my gifts, but having a brother from another like Kai really makes this journey easier than it looks.”
Niko shared that his first track was with Kai, and they recorded the “Stop Being Greedy” freestyle at his home studio. With Kai leading the way as an artist, Niko said that his brother inspired him to keep going.
“When Kai started making moves and considering all I’ve seen in my upbringing, it made sense for me to fall in line and get serious about it too and I thank him for giving me a lane and making this easy for me,” Niko said.
Kai Ca$h is currently preparing to drop his new album Ca$h Rules, later this month. Niko Brim says he has plenty of music he’s working on and wants everyone to stay tuned.
Learn more about Kai Ca$h here.
Learn more about Niko Brim here.
4. Lute
Lute is a mainstay of the Dreamville roster and the Charlotte rapper has kept active on the scene despite having last dropped a full-length project, the excellent Gold Mouf, in 2021. We just had a few minutes with Lute yet in that time, we got to learn more about the artist.
“It’s always love to come to Raleigh, and even though I’m a Charlotte boy living two hours west, this is home for me,” Lute said. “I appreciate the Dreamville fans because without them, I wouldn’t be doing any of this right now.”
Despite just being two hours apart, Lute explained the difference between the North Carolina cities to our outsider’s ears.
“In Charlotte, it was tough making it because we didn’t have much of a Hip-Hop scene when I first started, but now it’s starting to change,” Lute shared. “I come from the Blog Era and that’s how I got my first project West1996 pt. 2 out via the blog site,s and it just makes me appreciate how far I came in this game.”
In a reflective moment, Lute shared that his personal journey right now is bigger than music, although he’s clear that putting something out this year is a goal.
“I’ve been focusing on my mental health journey crazy and I’ve been through a lot. I can be honest and say that things are looking up for me and I won’t keep the fans waiting for too much longer,” Lute said.
Learn more about Lute here.
5. Omen
Omen is one of the senior members of the Dreamville roster, and the Chicago native’s reserved nature is a total 180 from his passionate presence onstage. We caught up with Omen as he made his way to his trailer to learn what’s next for the rapper and producer.
“It’s always amazing to get in front of all these people who know your music and support the Dreamville movement the way they do. It’s humbling, actually,” Omen began. “This journey might not always go the way you envision, but the chance to express that, it feels special.”
Omen’s lone studio album, Elephant Eyes, isn’t available on DSPs at the moment. However, Omen has kept active over the years, appearing on several Dreamville projects and producing for J. Cole among others. As he prepares his upcoming album, Granny’s House Again, Omen is taking it back to his earlier days in Chicago.
“I want this album to bring folks into my world, coming up in Chicago and how I used to be at my grandmother’s house just dreaming about what I’m doing currently,” Omen shared. “I put a lot of work into this project, and I think people who liked Elephant Eyes and anything I did over the years will hear something they never heard before from me.”
In closing, we asked Omen how he keeps himself grounded as a public figure who, by all appearances, would rather just play the background.
“Like you said to me before we spoke, I tend to be introverted and keep to myself and allow my music to do most of my talking,” Omen said. “However, I want my new album and performances to show that I have layers, and maybe I’ll inspire someone along the way because music definitely got me through a lot.”
Learn more about Omen here.
6. TRAP DICKEY
TRAP DICKEY might have been one of our quickest interviews, but also one of our favorites. The South Carolina native’s personality is bigger than life, but what was surprising is how much of a student of Hip-Hop he is.
“People hear my music and the accent and probably think it’s just one thing but I came up freestyling and listening to the greats like Nas, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, DMX, you name them, I was on it,” TRAP began. “You gotta go back to the old ways of rapping and tap into that country soul. That comes from being around grandma; it all comes out in the music.”
TRAP DICKEY says that his upcoming album, The Preacher’s Grandson, will showcase him in a light few have heard thus far.
“I been grinding a long time and things are paying off, but I think this album gonna show the fans about how I came up, how I grew in this game, and where I’m going next, ” TRAP said.
Learn more about TRAP DICKEY here.
7. Turk
Last but not least, Turk, one of the original Hot Boyz members, gave us a few moments of his time and some gems along the way. Turk’s growth as an artist, husband, and solid human being came across in our chat with the New Orleans native.
“I feel so blessed and honored to be on that Dreamville stage with my original family,” Turk began. “People know the story, they know the history and the controversies and what I done been through, but we’re still here and it feels good to be together again.”
He continued, “We had to let that pride and ego stuff go. Brothers fall apart all the time but since we patched it up in November, we out here selling out arenas and shows all over the world, and that feels right.”
Turk said that now, as a married man who has reformed his life, his upcoming musical journey will reflect that growth.
“Seeing as I’ve got my wife in my corner, my new musical outlook is all about growth, development, being a family man, being a leader in my community,” Turk shared. “I want people to know through my story that you can go through some things that’s hard but you ain’t gotta stay there. Look at me, and of course, you keep God in the front, it’s all possible.”
Learn more about Turk here.
Ye (formerly Kanye West) has been staunch in his support for Donald Trump since the business mogul’s first presidential term. During a stream with Digital Nas on Tuesday (April 8), the embattled rapper claimed that Frank Ocean attempted to talk him out of supporting the twice-impeached president prior to the 2016 election.
“Frank Ocean p—y a– come over my house talking about Trump all day and how I shouldn’t support Trump,” he said. “N—a f–k you know about politics and n—a I’m your motherf—ing senior, OG, y’all used to come on tour with mea.”
Ye continued: “None of you n—-s can tell me about politics n—a. F–k you think? You read a book and now you can tell me some s–t? None of these n—-s as talented. I’m the greatest motherf—ing artist that ever existed. They can just be slightly better at one thing cause they only do that one thing.”
Billboard has reached out to Ocean’s reps for comment.
Ye — who has faced continued backlash for his ongoing hate speech — hasn’t been shy about his support for Trump over the years. He originally had a pro-Trump rant during his Saint Pablo Tour in 2016 and met up with the president at Trump Towers in December 2016 for a photo op.
He pulled up to the White House in 2018 while rocking a red MAGA hat, where he spoke about his appreciation for the president and met with Trump at the Oval Office. Ye kept the MAGA hat on throughout the year and even wore it during his appearance on Saturday Night Live.
While Ye opposed Trump in 2020 during his own brief presidential bid, he came back to support Trump — who has since been convicted on 34 felony charges in his hush money case — for the 2024 election as DT defeated Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Around the time of the alleged conversation between Ocean and Ye in 2016, they had been collaborative on the music side. Ocean helmed “Frank’s Track” on The Life of Pablo, while West had a cameo on Blonde‘s “White Ferrari.” Ocean hasn’t released a project since.
However, West’s tune changed in March when he claimed during an explosive interview with DJ Akademiks that “Moon” from 2021’s Donda album was the end of his former collaborator’s time in music.
“Like when I made, ‘Moon,’ it basically ended Frank Ocean’s career. He ain’t have a song since then. He talking, ‘Sipping some wine.’ I knew it I heard it, I was like, ‘Oh, this n—a not gonna be able to make another album again,’” he said. “Any genre of music that anyone has, I make a better version of it. I’m 10 times stronger at music than anyone living.”
Machine Gun Kelly will see your jokes and raise you more jokes. The rap/rocker took to his Instagram Story on Tuesday (April 8) to double-down on an Onion headline tweaking the new dad just weeks after MGK’s former fiancée, actress Megan Fox, gave birth to the couple’s first child together.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Megan Fox Confirms She and New Baby Will Co-Parent Machine Gun Kelly,” read the lightly teasing headline, which MGK re-posted along with three laughing crying emoji. That same reel featured a re-post of footage of the rapper performing his 2024 Trippie Redd collab “Beauty,” with a caption that paid tribute to his first-born, 15-year-old daughter Casie Colson Baker. “the girl dad was performing his rap song ‘beauty’ at his birthday party on April 22, 2024, and his daughter casie was vibing to it. she knows it’s a bop,” it read.
In another slide, Kelly hangs with Casie and implores her not to read the comments on one of his performance videos. “Why? They’re not bad,” she says, as he frets, “I know but of them, just like, I see certain words and I’m like, ‘aaaahhh.’”
Trending on Billboard
In an Insta post titled “dad.,” Kelly, 34, appears in a series of selfies in which he wears all black outfits, goofs around with Casie, shows off his Rolls Royce and hangs with pals Travis Barker, Camila Cabello and Atlantic Records VP of A&R Keith “Keefa” Parker aka “Keefa Black.”
Fox gave birth to her fourth child — she has three others with former husband Brian Austin Green — on March 27. To date the formerly engaged pair have posted some face-obscured photos of their newborn daughter’s and not much else. But last month Kelly threw cold water on suggestions that they’d named their little girl “celestial seed.”
The confusion came after MGK announced in an Instagram post that he and Fox, 38, had welcomed their first child along with a picture of his daughter gripping his fingers, writing, “She’s finally here!! our little celestial seed. 3/27/25.” After headlines suggested that the baby’s name was actually “Celestial Seed,” MGK clarified in his Stories, “wait guys… her name isn’t ‘Celestial Seed’ [crying laughing emoji] her mom is gonna tell you the name when we’re ready.”
The NO FAKES Act was reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on Wednesday (April 9) with the help of country legend Randy Travis, his wife Mary Travis and Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl.
The reintroduction of the bill, designed to protect artists against unauthorized AI deepfake impersonations, was part of the Recording Academy’s annual GRAMMYs on the Hill initiative, in which the organization visits D.C. to meet with elected officials and advocate for a variety of music-related causes. On Wednesday, the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards celebrated Travis, along with U.S. Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Ron Estes (R-KS), for their dedication and advocacy for the rights of music creators.
Introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4) Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-1), Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large), the NO FAKES Act has also found new supporters in an unlikely place: the tech industry. The bill is now supported by tech giants like YouTube, OpenAI, IBM and Adobe, showing a rare moment of solidarity between artists and big tech in the AI age.
Trending on Billboard
The NO FAKES Act was first introduced as a draft bill in 2023, and formally introduced to the Senate in the summer of 2024. If passed, the legislation would create federal intellectual property protections for the so-called right of publicity for the first time, which adds restrictions to how someone’s name, image, likeness and voice can be used without consent. Currently, these rights are only protected at the state level, leading to a patchwork of varying laws around the nation.
Unlike some of the patchy state publicity rights laws, the federal right that the NO FAKES Act would create would not expire at death and could be controlled by a person’s heirs for 70 years after their passing. There are, however, specific carve outs for replicas used in news, parody, historical works and criticism to ensure the First Amendment right to free speech remains protected.
Over the last few years, as AI voice models have continued to develop, many artists have often found themselves on the receiving end of AI deepfakes. In 2023, the AI music craze kicked off with the so-called “fake Drake” song “Heart On My Sleeve” which featured the unauthorized AI voices of Drake and the Weeknd. Last year, Taylor Swift, for example, was the subject of a number of sexually-explicit AI deepfakes of her body; the late Tupac Shakur‘s voice was deepfaked by fellow rapper Drake in his Kendrick Lamar diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which was posted, and then deleted, on social media.
Even President Donald Trump participated in the deepfake trend, posting an unauthorized AI image of Swift allegedly endorsing him during his campaign to return to the White House.
“Recently, I was made aware that [an] AI [image] of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post soon after. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”
Overall, the bill has seen widespread support among the entertainment industry establishment. According to a press release about the bill’s reintroduction, it is celebrated by Sony Music, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, the Recording Industry Association of America, the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, Human Artistry Campaign, Motion Picture Association and more.
Mitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of the RIAA, praised the bipartisan effort, saying “this bill proves that we can prioritize the growth of AI and protecting American creativity at the same time.”
Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, added: “The Academy is proud to represent and serve creators, and for decades, GRAMMYs on the Hill has brought music makers to our nation’s capital to elevate the policy issues affecting our industry. Today’s reintroduction of the NO FAKES Act underscores our members’ commitment to advocating for the music community, and as we enter a new era of technology, we must create guardrails around AI and ensure it enhances – not replaces – human creativity.”
Bootsy Collins‘ endless alter-egos — Boot-Tron, Zillatron, King of the Geepies, Bootdullivan, Bedroom Bootsy and, of course, Bootzilla — have always battled for space inside the funk pioneer’s brain. But early in his career, as a teenager in the early 1970s, they hit a wall. “All them boys have wanted to do all kinds of genres, but when I was coming up, I got stuck with James Brown,” the bassist recalls with a laugh. “It’s hard to get out of that funk, you know?”
Collins, now 73, was playing with Cincinnati’s Pacesetters in 1970, when Brown sent a Learjet to fly the band to a Columbus, Ohio, gig, abruptly replacing his own disgruntled road band. The Pacesetters, who’d been hanging around Brown’s King Records studio, knew his songs and could play any of them on demand. “I said, ‘Just call out whatever song you want to go into. We got you,’” Collins recalls. “That’s how we made it through that night — but after that night, we had about two weeks of straight rehearsal, every single day. Which we were used to anyway.”
Trending on Billboard
Collins and company scrupulously adhered to Brown’s funk orthodoxy for a year. Then, for a gig at the Copacabana in New York, Brown cut the band’s pay and forced them to wear jackets and ties, so they split. Collins went on to join another funk pioneer: George Clinton, whose alternating bands Parliament and Funkadelic were innovating a looser, more improvisational and funnier style that would help define Black music in the ’70s.
In P-Funk, Bootzilla and the rest of Collins’ alter-egos found a receptive home. “By the time I got with George, I got a little more freedom — well, a lot more freedom — to do funk. And the name was Funkadelic,” he says, in an audio-only Zoom from his Cincinnati home, along with his wife and manager, Patti Collins. “So what am I going to do? Am I going to come there and play everything else but funk? No, you’ve got to bring the funk: ‘I’m up to my trunks in P-Funk.’”
Collins — whose bass style “had sap flowing through it, it moved,” according to Brown’s biographer R.J. Smith — was part of a funky bass coalition in the ’70s, including Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone and the late Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson, which brought the instrument into the foreground. Collins had unlimited musical creativity, and a weird, say-anything persona that he capped with star-shaped shades, bright-colored suits and spangled ringleader hats. And he made several great albums with his solo outfit Bootsy’s Rubber Band, notably 1977’s Ahh… the Name Is Bootsy, Baby. But even then, he felt limited.
“I just got caught, like, ‘OK, Bootsy’s thing is funk,’ so everybody levitated towards that — except me,” he says. “I wanted to play other music, but it was who I wound up with that solidified what I was going to be and what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Collins’ Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, due April 11, allows all these musical detours and imaginary best friends to do whatever they want. In addition to straightforward funk (“The InFluencers,” with guest star Snoop Dogg, a vocal P-Funk adherent), Collins travels into guitar-shredding metal (“Barbie T & Me”), electronic dance music (the murmuring “I.Am.AI,” with competing robot voices) and hip-hop (“Bootdullivan is Soopafly”). Collins’ solo albums in recent years have been long and varied, unlike the Bootsy’s Rubber Band days, when he hit the studio, jammed with his bandmates and occasionally turned on the recording machines.
“Those jams were just so long. You could only put so much on an album back in the day without it not sounding good,” he says. “I never thought we were going to be doing as many songs as I’m doing now, but that’s where technology has taken us.”
On the Zoom, Bootsy and Patti Collins discuss a number of projects, beginning with Bootzilla Records, the pair’s indie label, distributed through Jay-Z‘s Roc Nation, which puts out Collins’ own albums as well as a roster of young artists he discovers online, such as singers Fantaazma and Myra Washington. Collins is also working on an album for guitarist Buckethead, with whom he collaborated in experimental-music bandleader Bill Laswell‘s band Praxis in the ’90s. He’s working with the Wooten Brothers, jazz, funk and bluegrass stars, on an album. And he’s in touch with his old P-Funk mate, Clinton, for the first time in years, discussing a tour.
The two reconnected last summer, after then-Vice President Kamala Harris bought a George Clinton Funko Pop doll during a campaign stop, then asked reporters, “Do you know P-Funk? No. OK, well there are lessons to be taught. Bootsy Collins. Does everybody know who Bootsy Collins is? OK, there’s some education to be done, I can see that.”
So what education needs to be done? Collins explains that P-Funk made great albums, performed on tour for thousands of fans and became influential for generations of best-selling artists from hip-hop stars like Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube to funk bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone, but never hit that multiplatinum megastar stratosphere. “Of course, we sold some gold and platinum records, but it wasn’t like Prince, it wasn’t like Rick James, it wasn’t like all the big boys that raised all that noise with all those records,” Collins says. “Funk was a bad word when we first brought it. Radio wouldn’t even touch us in the beginning. But it was something that the people stood up for and I would never forget that. And that’s what Kamala was talking about: ‘I’m going to have to educate y’all.’”
From touring with Taylor Swift in 2013 to selling out stadiums on his own in the years since, Ed Sheeran has performed on some pretty big stages in his career — but the Super Bowl Halftime Show probably won’t ever be added to that list, he says.
On the latest episode of Call Her Daddy posted Tuesday (April 8), the “Bad Habits” singer opened up about his friendship with the Eras superstar as well as revealed whether he’d ever headline the biggest American sporting event of the year. When host Alex Cooper asked if he’d ever been asked to play the Super Bowl, he began, “There was a conversation about 10 years ago to go on with someone, and I think that’d be the only way that I would do it at the moment.”
“I don’t think English artists … I mean, there are some that have the pizazz of Super Bowl, fireworks, dancers, blah, blah, blah, but me going up there and being like, here’s ‘The A Team’ and here’s ‘Perfect,’ no one wants to see that,” Sheeran continued, laughing. “Whereas if there was a show with a lot of that, like if it was Beyoncé’s show, and she had all the bells and whistles, and then there was a moment where we sang ‘Perfect’ together, that makes sense to me.”
Trending on Billboard
The four-time Grammy winner did say that he thinks he could “nail one song” as a guest artist sharing the Super Bowl stage with someone else, but beyond that, he thinks his catalog “doesn’t really lend itself” to the high-energy gameday environment. “Have you seen me play as well? Because it’s with a loop pedal and you have to build the things,” he added. “Doesn’t really lend itself to the Super Bowl. ‘Hey, hang on guys. I’ve just gotta set this up for two minutes.’ You know?”
The interview comes about two months after the 2024 Super Bowl, which Kendrick Lamar headlined with assistance from SZA. In recent years, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd have also all added the coveted gig to their resumes.
One star who has generated much speculation over the past few years as to whether she might ever headline is Swift, whom Sheeran has known for more than a decade. Also on Call Her Daddy, the “Shape of You” musician opened up about his longtime friendship with the pop star, sharing that he recently went through their text conversations after being forced to dig out his old devices while preparing his defense for his ongoing legal battle over copyright issues.
“It was really nostalgic going through,” he told Cooper. “I lived in Nashville, and she lived in Nashville, and we used to fly to and from the gigs together and do all sorts of … I don’t know. I literally spent almost every single day with her for about six months, so I think that period of time [was my favorite].”
Sheeran opened for Swift on the North American leg of her global trek supporting 2012’s Red album, on which the pair had a duet titled “Everything Has Changed.” The two singers have since worked together on several more duets, including “End Game” on Swift’s Reputation (2017) and “The Joker and the Queen” on Sheeran’s = (2021).
Now, the British star says he probably sees the “Karma” artist “like, four times a year.” “I see her when I see her,” he said on Call Her Daddy. “Like, instead of catching up the whole time, we have a proper sit-down, six-hour catchups, and I think that’s like a really nice way to do it.”
Watch Sheeran’s full interview above.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Lilly Lawrence / Getty
Travis Scott recently opened up about his relationship with Kanye West, which dates back to the early stages of his career.
.ione4-flex-posts-section{background:var(–ione4-background-secondary);padding-bottom:10px;padding-top:10px}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-flex{flex-direction:column}}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-card{margin-bottom:20px}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-card:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section a,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-byline-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-category-text a:link.ione4-link,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-title-text a:link.ione4-link{text-decoration:none}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-widget-title{color:var(–ione4-font-color-primary)}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic{margin-bottom:10px;position:relative}@supports not (aspect-ratio:auto){.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic:before{content:””;display:block;overflow:hidden;padding-top:56.25%}}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic img{aspect-ratio:16/9;-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;width:100%}@supports not (aspect-ratio:auto){.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic img{position:absolute;top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%)}}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic video{aspect-ratio:16/9;height:auto;-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;width:100%}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-post-date{margin-top:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-content{display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-content{padding-left:20px}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default{text-transform:none}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-flex{flex-direction:column}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-column{width:100%}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-content{padding-left:0}}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-category{font-size:.9375rem}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-flex{flex-direction:column}}@media(max-width:1023px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.4375rem}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{display:grid;gap:20px 20px;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(calc(50% – 20px),1fr));min-height:0;min-width:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-flex-posts-card,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-flex-posts-card,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-flex-posts-card,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-flex-posts-card{margin-bottom:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-flex,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-flex,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-flex,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-flex{flex-direction:column}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-column,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-column,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-column,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-column{width:100%}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-content,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-content,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-content,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-content{padding-left:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-title-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-title-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-title-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.0625rem}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-category-text{text-transform:uppercase}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-category.empty,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-category.empty,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-category.empty,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-category.empty{display:none}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-byline-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-block-post-date-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-byline-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-post-date-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-byline-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-block-post-date-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-byline-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-category-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-block-post-date-text{font-size:.75rem}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(calc(33% – 20px),1fr))}}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(310px,1fr))}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(calc(25% – 20px),1fr))}}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(225px,1fr))}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(calc(20% – 20px),1fr))}}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(175px,1fr))}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-category-text,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-category-text{font-size:.75rem;text-transform:uppercase}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-title-text,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-byline-text,.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-excerpt-text,.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-post-date-text,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-byline-text,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-excerpt-text,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-post-date-text{font-size:.9375rem}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-post-date,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-post-date{margin-top:0}.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-content,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts .ione4-block-content{width:100%}@media(min-width:901px){.container-with-sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.is-style-homepage-river-left .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-type-sidebyside .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper{max-width:43%}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-flex-posts-cards{max-width:658px}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-block-graphic{margin-bottom:0}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-block-excerpt-text,.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-standard .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.375}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-flex-posts-card{border-color:var(–ione4-color-accent);border-bottom:1px solid;margin-bottom:12px;padding-bottom:12px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-flex-posts-card:last-child{border-bottom:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image[class*=-across] .ione4-flex-posts-card{border-bottom:0;border-right:1px solid;padding-right:16px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image[class*=-across] .ione4-flex-posts-card:last-child{border-right:0}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-flex-posts-card:nth-child(2n){border-right:0}}@media(min-width:901px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image.ione4-flex-posts-type-2-across .ione4-flex-posts-card:nth-child(2n),.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image.ione4-flex-posts-type-3-across .ione4-flex-posts-card:nth-child(3n),.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image.ione4-flex-posts-type-4-across .ione4-flex-posts-card:nth-child(4n),.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image.ione4-flex-posts-type-5-across .ione4-flex-posts-card:nth-child(5n){border-right:0}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper{display:none}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-block-content{padding-left:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-block-column{width:100%}.ione4-flex-posts-section.no-image .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-flex-posts-card{margin-bottom:18px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper{min-height:77px;width:136px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-graphic{min-height:77px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-content{max-width:176px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem}.ione4-flex-posts-section.one-column-mobile.ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-content{max-width:100%}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.one-column-mobile .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:100%}.ione4-flex-posts-section.one-column-mobile .ione4-block-graphic{margin-bottom:10px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.two-column-mobile .ione4-flex-posts-cards{display:grid;gap:15px 20px;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(calc(50% – 20px),1fr));min-height:0;min-width:0}.ione4-flex-posts-section.two-column-mobile .ione4-block-graphic{margin-bottom:5px}.ione4-flex-posts-section.two-column-mobile .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.25}.ione4-flex-posts-section.two-column-mobile .ione4-block-category{font-size:.75rem}}.ione4-flex-posts-section.side-by-side-mobile.ione4-flex-posts-type-noimage .ione4-block-content{padding-left:0}@media(max-width:900px){.ione4-flex-posts-section.side-by-side-mobile .ione4-flex-posts-cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(350px,1fr))}.ione4-flex-posts-section.side-by-side-mobile .ione4-block-flex{flex-direction:row}.ione4-flex-posts-section.side-by-side-mobile .ione4-block-content{padding-left:10px}}.ione4-flex-posts-section~.alternating-super-feature,.ione4-flex-posts-section~.ione4-cover-story-section,.ione4-flex-posts-section~.ione4-dynamic-lead,.ione4-flex-posts-section~.ione4-super-feature-section{margin-top:0}.post-type-archive-ione_episode .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-widget-title{font-size:1.5625rem}@media(min-width:901px){.post-type-archive-ione_episode .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-widget-title{font-size:2.3rem}}.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-widget-title,.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-widget-title__text{color:var(–ione4-font-color-primary)}@media(max-width:900px){.swipe-mobile .ione4-flex-posts-card{margin-left:20px;width:80%}.swipe-mobile .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem!important}.swipe-mobile .ione4-block-byline-text,.swipe-mobile .ione4-block-category-text{font-size:.75rem}}.swipe-mobile .flickity-viewport{transition:height .2s}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-category{font-size:.75rem;line-height:1.5}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:1.25rem}@media(min-width:1024px){.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small div.ione4-block-category{line-height:1;margin-bottom:5px}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small span.ione4-block-byline-text,.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small span.ione4-block-category-text{font-size:.625rem}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-type-list-small h2.ione4-block-title-text{font-size:.75rem}}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section{width:100%}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-cards,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-cards{display:grid;gap:10px;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(100%,1fr))}@media(min-width:901px){.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-cards,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-flex-posts-cards{display:block;margin:0}}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-category,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-category{margin-bottom:2px}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-category-text,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-category-text{text-transform:uppercase}@media(min-width:901px){.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-byline-text,.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-category-text,.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-post-date-text,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-byline-text,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-category-text,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-post-date-text{font-size:.75rem}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-excerpt-text,.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-title-text,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-excerpt-text,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-title-text{font-size:.9375rem}}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-title,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-title{margin-bottom:3px}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper{width:100%}@media(min-width:901px){.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper{max-width:43%}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section[class*=-across] .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section[class*=-across] .ione4-block-graphic-wrapper{max-width:100%}}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-content,.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section[class*=-across] .ione4-block-content,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section.ione4-flex-posts-type-default .ione4-block-content,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section[class*=-across] .ione4-block-content{padding-left:0}@media(min-width:901px){.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic{margin-bottom:0}}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic a,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-graphic a{display:flex;height:100%}.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-content,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-content{width:100%}@media(min-width:901px){.sidebar .ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-content,.sidebar.ione4-flex-posts-section .ione4-block-content{padding-left:10px}}.ione4-flex-posts-cards .icon-photos,.ione4-flex-posts-section .icon-photos{left:50%;margin-left:-35px;margin-top:-35px;position:absolute;top:50%}@media(min-width:64em){.ione4-flex-posts-cards .icon-photos,.ione4-flex-posts-section .icon-photos{border-width:4px;height:70px;margin-left:-35px;margin-top:-37px;width:70px}.ione4-flex-posts-cards .icon-photos:before,.ione4-flex-posts-section .icon-photos:before{display:block;font-size:26px;line-height:40px}}
Travis was signed to Kanye’s label, G.O.O.D. Music, as a producer, and quickly became an integral part of Kanye’s creative process. He played a pivotal role in producing tracks for Kanye’s Yeezus album, Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise, and many of the GOOD Fridays songs. Travis has often referred to Kanye as a mentor, a figure who not only taught him about music but allowed him to experience firsthand the art of music creation.
In a recent interview, La Flame reflected on Ye’s influence in his life, saying, “That’s my kids’ uncle.” He described how Kanye took him in at a young age, when Travis was just 19, and helped shape his musical journey. According to Travis, Kanye’s mentorship extended beyond just teaching him; it was about collaborating and creating together. Travis expressed that his time working alongside Kanye played a crucial role in his growth, not only as a producer but as an artist in general, helping him hone his skills in music, film, fashion, and more.
Despite recent controversies surrounding Kanye, including his inflammatory comments online, some of which have targeted the Kardashian family, Travis emphasized the enduring bond they share. His children’s connection to the Kardashian family, with Kylie Jenner being his partner and Kim Kardashian’s sister, may have created tension between Kanye and the family. However, Travis kept it vague for the sake of the history between the two artists.
Lucy Dacus reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Americana/Folk Albums charts for the first time as a soloist, debuting atop the April 12-dated surveys with Forever Is a Feeling. Dacus’ fourth solo LP bows with 30,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 3, according to Luminate. […]
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Soulja Boy hasn’t had a hit record in quite some time, so you know whenever he’s trending or making headlines it’s for something wild he said or allegedly did, and in this case, it happens to be the latter of the two.
According to Court House News, a woman has just slapped Soulja with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit with an explosive claim saying that the “Crank That” rapper basically kidnapped her, beat her and raped her for a year while she was employed as his personal assistant. This past Monday (April 7) closing arguments in the civil case in which Jane Doe described the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of Soulja in 2018, which not only included being raped multiple times, but even starved as she said she was locked in a room for days without being fed.
On Tuesday (April 8), the 12 members of the jury began deliberations to determine whether or not to hold Soulja Boy liable for the claims and determine what kind of damages he may owe his former personal assistant if found guilty.
Court House News reports:
“If you don’t believe my client, don’t give her a dollar,” Ron Zambrano, a partner at West Coast trial lawyers, said. “But if you do believe her, give her everything.”
He added: “He raped her. He punched her. He kicked her. He cut her. He pointed a Draco gun at her. He locked her in her room … He told her, ‘I hope you die slow.’”
The plaintiff, who has asked to remain nameless throughout the trial, says she wasn’t paid while employed beginning in 2018 by the rapper, during which time she claims she was raped and beaten numerous times, and subjected to various acts of emotional abuse.
For his part, Soulja Boy (born DeAndre Way), denied the allegations and even called her claim that he punched her in the face and recorded a sex tape in order to blackmail her “disgusting” as he fights off any notion that he abused her in any way, shape or form. That being said, Soulja claimed that he never even hired her to be his assistant and according to his lawyer, Rickey Ivie, only offered her a place to stay so long as she became the designated “blunt roller” on his team.
Still, both admit things did eventually get amorous between the two only for things to become toxic as time went on.
Both Way and the plaintiff have said that for a time, they were in a consensual romantic relationship, one that could be loving and tender, but that it soured amidst mutual distrust.
A long text message thread between Way and the plaintiff screenshots of which were shown to the jury, showed the two exchanging terms of endearment. But the thread also showed both, especially Way, to have a violent temper, with Way going so far as to text her: “Die bitch. Shoulda killed your stupid ass.”
Showing the jury pictures of the bruises that she claims Soulja left on her person as evidence of the physical abuse, Jane Doe is suing for a whopping $73.6 million for her trauma. Whether or not a jury agrees with her story and demands remains to be seen. Unfortunately for Soulja though, this isn’t the first time he’s been sued for similar behavior as he took a court ordered L under similar circumstances not too long ago.
In 2021, a jury ordered Way to pay $471,800 to an ex-girlfriend named Kayla Myers, who accused Way of domestic violence and kidnapping, among other things. Myers was mentioned a number of times throughout the current trial. According to testimony, the plaintiff and Myers once got into a fight in Way’s driveway in Malibu.
Looks like Soulja may have to cough up a little something-something when this is all said and done.
What do y’all think about this latest legal issue for Soulja Boy? Let us know in the comments section below.