State Champ Radio pop culture
Page: 7
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Albert L. Ortega / Getty / Sean Kingston / Janice Turner
The family that scams together ends up in jail together. Sean Kingston and his momma, Janice Turner, found that out the hard way on Friday.
TMZ reports a jury found Kingston and his mother guilty on all five charges in their federal wire fraud case. The “Beautiful Girls” singer reportedly cried and told U.S. Marshals to “protect my mother” after learning his fate, and she was remanded into custody and being taken away.
He and his mom are looking at a max of 20 years on each count.
Per TMZ:
Related Stories
The “Beautiful Girls” singer and his mom, Janice Turner, were found guilty Friday on all five charges they were facing.
Sean reportedly cried as the jury returned the guilty verdict … and he told U.S. Marshalls to “protect my mother” as they remanded her into custody and took her away from the courtroom.
As we reported … Sean and his mother were accused of defrauding businesses out of more than $1 million in a fraud scheme involving jewelry, luxury vehicles, and other goods.The judge deemed Sean’s mother a flight risk, which is why she’s in custody … and Sean is now on home detention as they await their July 11 sentencing.
Federal prosecutors successfully convinced a jury that Sean Kingston and his mother “unjustly enriched themselves” by lying and claiming they sent payments for high-end items. Then they kept the items, and when it was discovered, they never sent the money.
Turner allegedly scammed her way to $1 million in property through the scheme. Federal prosecutors alleged she ripped off a car dealership for a $160K Cadillac Escalade and finagled $480K worth of jewelry from a jeweler without dropping a single dime.
The mother/son scamming duo were arrested after the feds raided Kingston’s Flordia mansion in 2024.
According to the celebrity gossip site, the judge reportedly described Kingston’s mother as the “fixer, the nerve center,” while Kingston’s defense team described their client as a “child” who didn’t know anything about his finances.
Yeah, okay.
Social Media Doesn’t Feel Sorry For Sean Kingston or His Momma
Social media had plenty to say on the matter; spoiler alert: no one feels sorry for Sean Kingston or his mother in this situation.
“Sean Kingston momma look like a scammer lmaooooooooo. I didn’t need a judge to confirm that broad is guilty of fraud,” one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user jokingly wrote, “Sean Kingston is going to prison because he finessed a store out of a TV by telling them he was gonna get Justin Bieber to do promotional videos for them.”
Funny, if true.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Carol Lee Rose / Getty / Marvin Sapp
One of Marvin Sapp’s sermons has set social media ablaze and has begun a dialogue about the Black church.
A video of Marvin Sapp’s “holy hustling” for Jesus has gone viral on X, formerly Twitter. In the clip, which Sapp admits is over a year old, the popular pastor asks his congregation to help him reach a goal of $40,000.
In one part of the clip, Sapp asks the ushers to close the door to keep the congregation from leaving.
“We all gon’ leave together,” Sapp said. “Y’all ain’t going no place but to the restaurant.”
Sapp further explained that if the 1,000 people in the pews and the 1,000 people watching online gave $20, which he called a “small seed,” it would add up to $40,000.
“I’m challenging each of you all down here to give a $20 seed,” Sapp told his flock.
He jokingly added that $20 would cover a movie date, popcorn, and drink when his wife, MaLinda P. Sapp, was still alive.
Sapp then asked his clergy members to give $100 while the congregation dug in their wallets and purses looking for a $20. “It costs to sit up here,” Sapp said.
While the mass donations continued, Sapp hushed the crowd and said, “Giving is worship.”
“This ain’t a time to talk,” Sapp said as he continued encouraging worshippers in the building and viewers online to keep the donations coming, describing them as “an easy miracle.”
Marvin Sapp Issues A Statement On The Clip
Word about Sapp’s video going viral definitely reached the pastor, who posted a lengthy statement on Facebook. He explained that the clip was a year old, added that he “gave much more,” and pointed out that the clip was shared out of context.
Per Sapp’s Facebook post:
Recently, a clip has gone viral of me challenging 2,000 individuals(virtually and in person) to plant a seed of $20 during an international gathering held at a convention center, with over 4,000 people in attendance that evening plus virtual viewers. In that same moment, I also challenged leadership to lead by example by sowing $100. That evening, I personally gave much more.
Some have taken issue with a particular moment when I instructed the ushers, rather firmly, to close the doors during the offering. To those unfamiliar with the church context or who may not regularly attend worship gatherings this has been misinterpreted as holding people hostage as well as offensive. That was never my intent.
The truth is, when finances are being received in any worship gathering, it is one of the most vulnerable and exposed times for both the finance and security teams. Movement during this sacred exchange can be distracting and, at times, even risky. My directive was not about control it was about creating a safe, focused, and reverent environment for those choosing to give, and for those handling the resources.
Unfortunately, in this social media age, snippets are easily shared without context, and assumptions are quickly made without understanding the full picture. Conferences have budgets. Churches have budgets. And people have budgets. As the assigned ministerial gift for this international gathering, one of my responsibilities was to help raise the conference budget. That’s not manipulation, it’s stewardship.
Social Media Has Plenty of Thoughts On The Clip
Regardless, those on X, formerly Twitter, did not feel the moment in the clip and used it to post their hesitations about the Black Church.
“Marvin Sapp is clearly HUSTLING his congregation for 40k— and using God’s name to do it. he’s calling for the doors to be locked? that’s not faith, that’s a shakedown and a false prophet. someone had a bill to pay, and it wasn’t to the church,” one post on X read.
Another user added, “Some churches ARE cults. Would’ve had to beat Marvin Sapp’s big ass and hide the bible if God watching.”
Lol, well damn.
Sapp might be right about clips being taken out of context, but he can’t ignore people’s legitimate beef regarding churches and how they ask for money. That video was cringe-worthy; we’re just saying.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
@BeanzGotGamez / Erykah Badu
Many believed Erykah Badu was down for the cause. The legendary singer claimed she vandalized her own Tesla in protest of Tesla chief Elon Musk. She was only kidding.
Protests of Musk’s electric vehicle company continue to break out across the nation and globally, with citizens setting fire to the once popular EV, the charging stations and vandalizing Tesla dealerships in response to him ruining government workers’ lives in the name of “efficiency” and “cost-cutting” measures.
Badu revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that she, too, got in on the action but instead did some damage to her own Tesla vehicle.
“Just vandalized my own Tesla. Trying to stay on trend,” the “Bag Lady” singer wrote on Musk’s platform.
Many wondered if she was being serious or was capping as big as the hats she is known for wearing. Turns out she was only kidding.
“Stop playin . This was humor . This stupid . And y’all dumb. If I was even slow enough to participate in the misplaced Tesla debate and smash somethin Id pay a minion to do it . FOH,” she wrote in another post, sharing a photo of an article.
Welp.
We don’t know about the debate being “misplaced.” There is a legitimate beef going on with Phony Stark; we’re just saying.
We hope Ms. Badu is well aware of the millions of people affected by Musk and DOGE’s ridiculous cuts to government agencies and the harm being inflicted on people in this country.
This all comes as she preps to release her first studio album in 15 years. Oh, and we must mention that it will be produced by The Alchemist.
This ain’t the type of stuff to kid about, just saying.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Erika Goldring / Getty / Vince Staples
Vince Staples as the Blue or Black Ranger? It could happen if the Hip-Hop star/actor has his way.
For those who didn’t know, Disney+ is rebooting Power Rangers. Vince Staples wants in on the Mighty Morphin action in the upcoming live-action series.
The “Blue Suede” rapper took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his interest in a role, simply writing, “Call me, [on the] dead homies” after learning that Percy Jackson and the Olympians showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz are working on the upcoming project for the streamer.
Staples is no stranger to film and television cameras; he’s had minor roles in Dope and White Men Can’t Jump. He also starred in the first season of Netflix’s The Vince Staples Show, which was renewed for a second season, and he had guest appearances on Abbott Elementary and Insecure, so he would be very comfortable if given the role.
Fans Say He Would Be A Perfect “Cuh” or Black Ranger
Fans have reacted to the idea of Staples possibly becoming a Power Ranger. One person warned him about the “Power Ranger curse” writing in a post on X, “Vince you gon struck with the Power Rangers curse stay far away bro.” Staples responded, “I’ll die for what I believe in n***a.”
Another user shared what looks like an AI-generated image of Staples in the Blue Ranger costume.
Listen, we would love to see it.
Disney+ will be teaming up with Hasbro, who acquired the rights to the iconic franchise in 2018, TheWrap reported. According to the website, Disney and Hasbro’s goal is to “reinvent the franchise for a whole new generation of fans while delighting those who already know and love the world of Power Rangers.”
We shall see if Vince Staples gets a call. Until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Derek White / Getty / Jess Hilarious
Jess Hilarious didn’t bite her tongue when addressing her co-hosts on The Breakfast Club in an IG rant that had many people reacting on social media.
Angela Yee’s permanent replacement, Jess Hilarious, felt a type of way after returning to full-time duty from maternity leave. The comedian hopped on her Instagram account to express her grievances about her peers, especially one person in particular, Loren LoRosa, who filled in for her while caring for her newborn child.
While she did not mention Breakfast Club OGs, DJ Envy, or Charlamagne Tha God by name, she made it clear she had issues with both men.
She expressed to her Instagram followers that she felt she was left in the dark about her role opposite LoRosa, who quickly became a fan favorite in her absence.
Her comments also came after comedian Cory Holcomb, who has had issues with Jess Hilarious, took swipes at her, claiming that she was replaced by someone more “talented” than her after she got pregnant.
Jess Hilarious accused her co-hosts of not coming to her defense.
“We supposed to be a team, but not one person comes to my defense at all, ever,” Jess Hilarious stated. “With this online sh*t. I feel played with, so I’m gonna play with **gas. I’ve been quiet a lot.”
Immediately, many believed that Jess Hilarious got the boot, but that is not the case. She did reveal that even though she picked LoRosa to fill in for her, she was initially not fond of her, especially after she claimed they gave LoRosa her popular “Jess With The Mess” segment.
Jess Hilarious Admits To Not Initially Liking Loren LaRosa
She revealed that she initially overcame her insecurities during LaRosa but did not say that she was not a fan of how The Breakfast Club moves while mentioning that she understood why Angela Yee left the show.
“Nah it ain’t even you I don’t like,’ I’m realizing,” she said on Instagram Live. “It’s the way these n**gas is doing sh*t up here.”
She continued, “Angela Yee ain’t that motherf*cking crazy. Not as crazy as n**gas try to make her out to be. There’s a reason that lady wanted to leave that show… I don’t know how she did that sh*t for 13 years.”
Angela Yee left the show in 2022 and now has her own show, Way Up With Angela Yee, which she co-hosts with Hip-Hop star Maino and other rotating guests.
The following morning, The Breakfast Club addressed Jess Hilarious’s comments, and she further expounded on the situation. It was revealed that LoRosa was initially brought on to be a producer and not an on-air personality.
DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God reassured Jess Hilarious that she was still good, but they also told her to ignore the comments. Envy, in particular, was not fond of Jess Hilarious running straight to IG instead of talking to the team in private.
It seems like everything is cool again, but that’s not stopping social media from sharing their two -cents on the matter. You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Cole Burston / Getty / Drake
Drake is once again the butt of jokes on social media, and it’s not because Kendrick Lamar dropped another diss record but because his own label had bars for him.
Spotted on Variety, Universal Music Group let the chopper spray on Drizzy in a motion to dismiss the Canadian’s lawsuit against the music label accusing them of pushing Lamar’s epic diss record, “Not Like Us.”
In the dismissal, UMG claims that Drake is in his feelings and suing because he “lost a rap battle” and his decision to sue was only to “salve his wounds.”
Damn.
Per Variety:
The motion, filed earlier today and reviewed by Variety, took a cutting approach to making the case for dismissal, claiming that Drake “lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated. Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds. Plaintiff’s Complaint is utterly without merit and should be dismissed with prejudice.”
The filing also calls the rapper who claimed to “study rap battles for a living” a hypocrite, noting that less than three years ago, he signed a public petition criticizing “the trend of prosecutors using artists’ creative expression against them” and stating their lyrics as fact. “Drake was right then and is wrong now.”
The motion continues, “Complaint’s unjustified claims against UMG are no more than Drake’s attempt to save face for his unsuccessful rap battle with Lamar.”
Drizzy’s Attorney Responds To UMG’s Filing
Drake did respond, well his attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, did in a statement shared with Variety.
“UMG wants to pretend that this is about a rap battle in order to distract its shareholders, artists and the public from a simple truth: a greedy company is finally being held responsible for profiting from dangerous misinformation that has already resulted in multiple acts of violence. This motion is a desperate ploy by UMG to avoid accountability, but we have every confidence that this case will proceed and continue to uncover UMG’s long history of endangering, abusing and taking advantage of its artists.”
Social Media Is Clowning Drake
Drake’s attempt to sue UMG was already frowned upon by music and Hip-Hop fans alike, and now he catching more strays after getting clowned by his own label.
“UMG literally hit Drake with a Reverse uno,” one post on X, formerly Twitter, read.
Another post read, “all that talk of kendrick being a hypocrite drummed up by that fanbase only for UMG to point out how drake is also one……”
Welp.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
JC Olivera / Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Majors finally opened up about fumbling the Marvel bag and more in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, but newly surfaced audio has social media canceling him all over again.
Majors’ Kang The Conqueror was supposed to be a Thanos-level threat of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, with different variations of Kang making life miserable for whoever is on The Avengers team and other Marvel superheroes for years to come.
Unfortunately, Majors was swiftly given the boot after he was convicted of misdemeanor third-degree assault and second-degree harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
So, the last time we saw Kang the Conqueror was in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumanium, where Scott Lang and a gang of giant technologically advanced ants thwarted the multidimensional hopping villain.
He also revealed that he is working on a new superhero project.
Per THR:
On finding out he was fired, Majors recalled, “He goes, ‘I’m just gonna tell you now. That way you’re not surprised, and you can start processing it. They fired you. Marvel fired you.’”
As for his possible new superhero project, he said: “No relation to the big guys, DC or Marvel, but a pretty wicked story. I’m glad to be reading. Sometimes it feels like it’s not going to happen [about his career resurgence]. And sometimes it feels like we start next week.”
Jonathan Majors Claims Therapy & Domestic Violence Program Helped Him
Majors managed to avoid jail time but was ordered to complete 52 weeks of a domestic violence intervention program in addition to probation. Still, his once extremely promising Hollywood career suffered as studios began dropping him and his projects in the wake of his conviction.
The actor revealed as a result of therapy and a domestic violence program he had to attend as a result of his conviction, he was able to unpack some childhood trauma.
Majors claimed he experienced “sexual abuse from both men and women from the time I was 9,” adding he told his mother, and she apologized for not being able to protect him.
It looks like the Jonathan Majors redemption tour has hit a significant snag, thanks to that new audio. Do you think Michael B. Jordan regrets saying he’s “proud” of his Creed III co-star’s “resilience” and adds that he would love to work with him again?
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Getty Images / Lil Yachty / BLM
BLM has entered the chat following rapper Lil Yachty’s comments about the organization during a recent episode of Quentin Blackwell’s Feeding Starving Celebrities podcast.
Black Lives Matter clapped back at Yachty, calling his comments about the organization “misinformed” and “unoriginal.”
The “One Night” crafter accused Black Lives Matter of being “literally a scam,” and BLM quickly responded in a lengthy statement accusing him of “drinking the white supremacist ideology Kool-Aid.”
Per Rap-Up:
“His comments are wrong,” BLM told FOX News in a relatively lengthy statement earlier in the week. “They are misinformed, unoriginal, and crafted to please the same people who profit from Black suffering.
“The real scam isn’t Black Lives Matter. It is watching Black artists with massive platforms recycle the same tired attacks on Black movements while ignoring the actual systems killing us,” they continued. “Black Lives Matter has supported Black families who have lost loved ones to police violence. We have built programs, funded mutual aid, and fought in courtrooms and on the streets to protect our people.”
BLM’s scathing response came after Yachty said on Feeding Starving Celebrities, “They had bought mansions, and you probably wouldn’t know anything about it because you don’t care about Black people and don’t follow Black news.”
Lil Yachty Needs To Do His Due Diligence When Speaking On These Matters
Black Lives Matter came under fire after purchasing a 6,500-square-foot California property for $6 million in 2020. According to the AP News, the mansion was bought as a “refuge for those grieving loved ones killed in incidents of police violence.”
Like most rappers who comment on social and political issues, Yachty could have done his due diligence and gathered all the information before making such a blanket statement.
He also isn’t the first artist to say something wild about BLM; Lil Wayne and the Black Nazi sympathizer Kanye West also criticized the movement.
Then again, we are no longer surprised when rappers say dumb things anymore.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Getty Images / YesJulz / DJ Akademiks
Two of the biggest culture vultures, DJ Akademiks and YesJulz clashed over the weekend and social media was here for the drama.
Let’s make this abundantly clear while y’all are here, no likes either of these individuals, BUT, we must admit, we ain’t mad at YesJulz for stating the obvious about DJ Akademiks.
HotNewHipHop reported that everyone’s favorite dark room streamer claimed from his gaming chair that Kendrick Lamar was a creative director on Playboi Carti’s latest album, I Am Music.
“Kendrick is creative directing the whole shit,” Akademiks claimed.
Akademiks is no stranger to saying wild stuff for clicks, and that claim was quickly debunked by Carti’s longtime producer, F1LTHY, who most notably created the beat for Carti’s song “All Red.”
“Kendrick fam but he is NOT the creative director of this album,” F1LTHY said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “This Carti album.”
You would think that would have ended the discussion, but no. Akademiks doubled-down on his claim, stating that Carti himself gave him the information, even taking a jab at the producer.
“No disrespect to F1LTHY, I don’t know who the f**k F1LTHY is,” the Drake stan said. “Kendrick is on the album. Whether it’s creative director, executive producer, I don’t give a f**k. I’m only going off what Carti told me.”
YesJulz Clowned Akademiks On X
YesJulz saw Akademik’s disrespect of F1LTHY and injected herself into the situation writing on X, “Not knowing F1LTHY is one of Carti’s main collaborators in 2025 as a journalist covering hip-hop is surely one way to admit you suck at your job.”
Akademiks caught wind of YesJulz’s response and went on a wild rant, dipping into misogynistic bag calling the influencer a “wh*re” for stating the obvious about him.
YesJulz had plenty to say in response, adding “Bro bout to pop a blood vessel” and that she doesn’t “don’t go back and forth with incels. I got somethin for that lil cootie patootie tho.”
DJ Akademiks is not having a good weekend on the socials. He is also getting clowned for sharing a video of bikini-clad women dancing on a boat to Drake’s music while talking about, you guessed it, Kendrick Lamar.
Social media has also been enjoying the back-and-forth between the two culture vultures. The gallery below shows those reactions, plus more replies from YesJulz.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Allen Berezovsky / Getty / Stephen A. Smtih
Stephen A. Smith is getting called out for giving his confrontation with LeBron James uncessarry extra life, and those people may have a point.
It’s been 7 days since LeBron James took time to confront ESPN’s loudest and well paid voice Stephen A. Smith about comments he made about his son, Bronny James, during a timeout, and Smith still is talking about it.
While LeBron James has seemingly moved on, Smith has gone on what many are calling a media tour to talk about the situation. Smith waited till a Monday, March 10 epsiode of First Take and later his podcast the Stephen A. Smith Show to speak about the situation because he felt he needed to after video of LBJ checking him went viral.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter annoucing his decision to address the moment Smith wrote, “I didn’t want to have to address this. I wouldn’t have, either, had it not gone viral. Now I have no choice. @FirstTake first at 10am EST. Then….The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube! Some things just have to be said.
Hilariously, James former Cavaliers teammate, Kevin Love, clowned Smith’s reasoning for making the moment he claimed he “didn’t wan’t to have to address,” in a quote response writing, “You have no choice? lol Because it went viral? lol You didn’t want to have to? lol You wouldn’t have? lol.”
Following that, the wannabe politcal pundit has spoken about the situation on Sean Hannity’s FOX News show and on a Thursday episode of the Gilbert Arenas podcast where he described James checking him as “weak,” and “some bulls—.”
Users On X Accuse Stephen A. Smith of Going On A Media Tour About The LeBron Moment
Social media is also laying the virtual smackdown on Stephen A., accusing him of going on a “media tour” after James told him to stop talking about his son.
“Stephen A going on a MEDIA TOUR to complain about being bitched by Lebron is a different type of bitch made,” a user on X wrote about the situation.
He’s got a point.
We hope Stephen A. Smith has gotten it all out of his system because we are all over it.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
