R&B/Hip-Hop

NBC News Chronicles ’50 Years Fly: The Rise, Fall and Revolution of Hip-Hop Fashion’: Watch the Trailer

Baby Phat CEO and creative director Kimora Lee Simmons, designer Dapper Dan, FUBU CEO Daymond John and Karl Kani CEO Karl Kani are among the pioneers and experts who will be detailing hip-hop’s seismic impact in the fashion world on 50 Years Fly: The Rise, Fall and Revolution of Hip-Hop Fashion.

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Coinciding with the double celebration of Black Music Month and hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the upcoming digital documentary from NBC News will premiere June 15.

Among the additional fashion industry executives, designers and experts featured in the documentary are Walker Wear CEO April Walker, The Cut editor-in-chief Lindsay Peoples, DTLR vp and divisional merchandise manager of apparel Antonio Gray, author Vikki Tobak (Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-HopIce Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History) and Tommy Hilfiger founder Tommy Hilfiger. 

Here’s an advance look at the trailer for 50 Years Fly: The Rise, Fall and Revolution of Hip-Hop Fashion:

Shalini Sharma, executive editor of NBC News Digital Productions, tells Billboard, “As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, the NBC News Digital Docs team and I wanted to highlight the innovative designers who revolutionized fashion — inspired by hip-hop music and culture — while also bringing to light the struggles they surpassed.”

50 Years Fly: The Rise, Fall and Revolution of Hip-Hop Fashion debuts June 15 on NBC’s Peacock and will stream on NBC News NOW at 10:30 p.m. ET. NBC News Digital Docs, whose team includes executive producer Rachael Morehouse, has produced previous documentaries such as A Marriage on Trial: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Truth in the Age of Social Media, Dear Noah: Pages from a Family Diary, #FillerNation and Boiling Point: A City’s Fight for Clean Water.

Blueface Arrested in Las Vegas for Robbery

Blueface has been arrested in Las Vegas, Clark County Detention Center records showed on Wednesday (June 7).

According to records, the rapper born Johnathan Jamall Porter faces a felony robbery charge, though no specific details about what led to the arrest have been provided. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Blueface was allegedly taken into custody while entering the Regional Justice Center. Billboard has reached out to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for more information.

His initial court appearance is set for 9 a.m. on Thursday (June 8).

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Blueface was arrested in Vegas again less than a year ago, in November 2022, after the 26-year-old rapper had attempted murder with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm at/into an occupied structure warrants out for his arrest following a shooting that took place Oct. 8, according to a statement from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Based in Los Angeles, Blueface had a commercial breakout in 2018 with “Thotiana,” which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Thotiana” remains his only top 40 entry, and is one of three appearances on the chart, including “Daddy,” with Rich The Kid (peaking at No. 78); and “Slide,” with French Montana and Lil Tjay (No. 90), both from 2019.

Tupac Shakur Honored With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star 27 Years After His Death

Tupac Shakur finally received the ultimate Hollywood honor on Wednesday (June 7), 27 years after his tragic death: a star on the Walk of Fame.

The ceremony, hosted by radio personality Big Boy, paid homage to the beloved West Coast rapper’s laundry list of achievements, within music and beyond. “Though his career lasted just five years, Tupac Shakur remains one of the most complex and prolific artists of his generation, with over 75 million records sold worldwide,” Big Boy said.

Speakers at the ceremony included Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur director Allen Hughes, Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, chairman of the board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Matt Fritch, writer and former Black Panther Party member Jamal Joseph and more.

“When we talk about that global influence, we think of Tupac Amaru Shakur,” Joseph said during his speech. “And yes, that impactful time of the world knowing who Tupac was, was a five- or six-year period. But for everybody who knew Tupac, everybody who was here, we knew he was a star from the time he was a little boy.”

Special ceremony guests included Mike Epps, YG, Tupac’s stepbrother and fellow rapper Mopreme Shakur, Money-B and others.

Shakur’s star marks the 2,758th to grace Hollywood Boulevard. While the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce unanimously selected Tupac for star in 2013, it took a decade for it to come into fruition.

“How fitting in the year of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary that the art form’s most transcendent star is finally being placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?” Hughes asked the crowd during his speech.

In addition to Wednesday’s honor, Tupac was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017. In 2015, the Grammy Museum unveiled an “All Eyez on Me” exhibit and recently, in 2022, The Canvas @ L.A. Live hosted a “Wake Me When I’m Free” immersive experience, honoring the late rapper, poet, actor and activist.

“Today, we aren’t just honoring a star on the sidewalk; we are honoring the very essence of a person who fearlessly pursued his dreams and fought to turn them into reality,” said his sister, Sekyiwa. “This is Tupac’s moment — the culmination of years of dedication and passion.

“Even before the world recognized his name, he dreamed of having a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame,” Sekyiwa added. “And today, the unveiling of Tupac’s star not only pays tribute to his contributions to the entertainment industry but also speaks volumes about his lasting impact, even after 25 years. I couldn’t be prouder of my brother to watch his star now shine even brighter.”

Tyler, the Creator Finally Shares the Story Behind His ‘WUSYANAME’ NBA YoungBoy Collaboration: Watch

Season 2 of the Interval Presents podcast Rap Radar kicks off Thursday with guest Tyler, The Creator.

In a preview snippet shared exclusively with Billboard, the Call Me If You Get Lost rapper chopped it up with co-hosts Elliott Wilson and Brian ‘B.Dot’ Miller, doubling down on his previously professed love for NBA YoungBoy. “He’s such a sweetheart,” Tyler begins, before switching gears and sharing that the “WUSYANAME” collaborators went out for ice cream and vintage car shopping.

While in the past, Tyler hadn’t divulged how the collaboration actually came to be, he shares the brief but sweet backstory with Wilson and Miller.

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During the sit down, Tyler explains that he sent YoungBoy the initial song idea and received a verse back within one day. “When I made [‘WUSYANAME’], I just knew I wanted that Louisiana drawl, tone, accent over that loop,” he recounts. “I asked him like, ‘Yo, I kind of got this idea. Want to do this?’ Not only did he deliver for me and sounded great, he asked me ‘Is this OK? Is it good?’”

Tyler, the Creator on Rap Radar S2

Tyler, the Creator on Rap Radar S2

Courtesy of Interval Presents

Tyler was impressed with YoungBoy’s focus, sharing that many rappers “just punch in and can’t even stay on f—ing topic of a song. He not only stayed on topic, he just sounded so great.”

The Call Me If You Get Lost collaboration took many fans off-guard, considering their vastly different sounds and images, something Tyler said he found funny. “With my musical knowledge and how much I love it, it’s not that shocking,” he says. “But at surface level, I guess people wouldn’t expect someone like me to even want to associate with a YoungBoy. But I love that s–t. He’s a sweetheart, man.”

“WUSYANAME” debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the highest charting cut from the album. It also became a top 10 record on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at No. 6.

Watch the Rap Radar clip below.

Lil Tjay Gets Arrested While on Instagram Live: Report

Lil Tjay had fans confused on Tuesday (June 6) when he appeared to get arrested while on Instagram Live.

In the video, which has since been circulating social media, the rapper is seen in New York City, telling police officers not to touch him. “No, bro. Hell no. What’s in the car? I don’t know what’s in the car,” he’s heard saying in the clip. “Don’t touch me. There’s no firearm in the car.”

Tjay is then restrained by multiple officers and handcuffed. The 22-year-old rapper’s lawyer Dawn Florio has since told TMZ that he was filming a music video when the police arrived and arrested him for reckless endangerment — not gun possession as was assumed by fans watching the live video. Billboard has reached out the rapper’s label, Florio and NYPD for confirmation and more information.

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Back in 2019, another clip of Lil Tjay being arrested went viral online, but the scene ended up being part of his music video for “F.N.” In January of this year, the star and four others were arrested after police pulled Tjay over and allegedly found four loaded guns inside his car without valid license. The group, who was on their way to film a music video was Ice Spice, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and held on $30,000 cash bail and $90,000 bond by the NYC Department of Corrections.

See the latest clip from Tjay’s Instagram Live below.

Young Thug’s Brother Unfoonk Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Violating Probation in RICO Case

Quantavious Grier, brother of rapper Young Thug, was sentenced Monday (June 5) to nine years and six months in prison after investigators said he violated his probation.

According to WSB-TV, in December, Grier (who performs under the name Unfoonk) pleaded guilty to one count of violating the RICO Act and one count of theft by receiving stolen property as part of the wider YSL case involving Young Thug and several other associates. At the time, Grier was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with two years commuted and 10 years probation.

But on May 4, Grier was arrested again in Atlanta for possessing a firearm by a convicted felon, being associated with a criminal street gang to participate in illegal activity and traffic offenses, WSB-TV reports. According to the outlet, at the time of his arrest, Grier was parked at a BP gas station in a black Mercedes G-Wagon with a group of people around the driver’s side door; in an affidavit, plainclothes officers wrote that they deemed the gathering a possible drug deal. When the SUV pulled away, the officers stopped it, citing a window tint violation and adding that the vehicle smelled like marijuana, which remains illegal in the state of Georgia.

WSB-TV reports that the officer who wrote the affidavit noted a handgun in plain view inside the vehicle: “Mr. Grier advised that the gun was clean, which prompted me to believe he had knowledge of the firearm being there.”

During Monday’s sentencing, Judge Ural Glanville stated that Grier hadn’t paid $141.08 in probation fees or started his community service, but that the deciding factor in his sentencing was being caught with a firearm. “Part of the special condition was that you weren’t supposed to possess a gun,” he added. While Grier’s attorney had asked for a probation revocation of two years in prison, Glanville ultimately handed down the longer sentence.

“The issue I find aggravating in this particular circumstance are several. You got arrested with a gun within six months of you being placed on probation,” Glanville said during the sentencing. “All you had to do was complete your probation and do what you were supposed to do.”

An attorney for Grier did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s request for comment.

Grier was indicted alongside Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams), Gunna (real name Sergio Kitchens) and dozens of others in May on accusations that their group, YSL, was not really a record label called “Young Stoner Life” but instead a violent Atlanta street gang called “Young Slime Life.” The charges include allegations of murder, carjacking, armed robbery, drug dealing and illegal firearm possession over the course of the past decade. Though Gunna pleaded out in December, Young Thug remains in prison ahead of trial.

Nicki Minaj Announces Album Release Date

Nicki Minaj confirmed her first album in five years is finally on the way Monday (June 5), revealing an upcoming release date.

“10/20/23 The Album,” she tweeted alongside emojis of a CD and a pink bow, sending the Barbz into a frenzy.

Minaj’s upcoming fifth studio album will come five years after 2018’s Queen, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The rest of her studio albums — 2010’s Pink Friday, 2012’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and 2014’s The Pinkprint — have all reached the top five of the all-genre albums tally, with Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded reaching No. 1.

Her upcoming, yet-untitled album could mark her first proper release under her own record label, Heavy On It, which she announced earlier this year on her Queen Radio show.

Her addition to Sexyy Redd and Tay Keith’s “Pound Town 2,” which debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending June 10, earned Minaj her 130th entry on the all-genre songs tally. Minaj’s “Princess Diana” remix with Ice Spice earned the rapper her 22nd top 10 hit on the chart when it debuted at No. 4 in April. She’s also collaborated with YoungBoy Never Broke Again on “WTF” and Kim Petras on “Alone” this year. “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” marks her only solo release of 2023, and the song reached No. 13 on the Hot 100.

She’ll also be featured on the upcoming star-studded soundtrack for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which has a theatrical release date set for July 21.

Run-DMC, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg & More to Headline Hip-Hop 50 Live Concert at Yankee Stadium

Hip-hop will enjoy its 50th birthday in the biggest way possible this summer when it returns to the genre’s old stomping grounds in The Bronx on Aug. 11. Dubbed Hip-Hop 50 Live, a slew of the genre’s most decorated stars, including Run-D.M.C., Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube, will take center stage inside the legendary Yankee Stadium to celebrate hip-hop’s origin. 

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Along with the names mentioned above, there will be several special sets in commemoration of the event, including Queens of Hip-Hop, headlined by Eve, Trina, Remy Ma, and Lil Kim, along with a Pillars of Hip-Hop set paying homage to the early architects of the genre such as Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, Roxanne Shante and more. Other performers include T.I., Fat Joe, Common, A$AP Ferg, EPMD, Ghostface Killah, Lupe Fiasco, and Slick Rick, while the DJ set will feature Clark Kent, Marley Marl, Mannie Fresh, and Battlecat. 

“I am honored to hit the stage in the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop and celebrate all of my heroes,” said RUN in a press release. “Aug 11th is Hip Hop’s 50th birthday! So…’Up in the Bronx’ where it all started we will be celebrating this historic moment in history! I am honored to pay tribute to the culture that allowed this little shy kid from Queens to grow up and become The Mighty King of Rock! Thank you Hip Hop!!!” said DMC.

Pre-sales begin this Thursday (June 8), from 10 a.m. EST until 10 p.m., with prices starting at $50. General onsale will begin on June 9 at 10 a.m. EST here. Hip-Hop 50 Live will be co-produced by Mass Appeal, Live Nation and the New York Yankees. Emmy Award-winner, BASSic Black Entertainment CEO Adam Blackstone and producer and keyboardist Omar Edwards will be the concert’s creative music directors. 

Check out the full lineup below.

Ryan Coogler, DJ Dahi & Director Peter Nicks Join Forces to Reimagine ‘Anthem’ for Hulu Documentary

With Black Music Month underway, Hulu is beginning to roll out some of its upcoming documentaries catered to the festivities, notably Anthem. 

Directed by Peter Nicks, Anthem will follow composer Kris Bowers (Bridgerton and King Richards) and Grammy-winning producer DJ Dahi’s trek across the nation to rediscover the roots of traditional American Music. During their quest, they find talent from a bevy of genres, such as jazz and soul, to help recreate the national anthem and reflect the modern times in the United States. Joining Nicks, Bowers and Dahi will be Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler and his multimedia company Proximity Media on the production front. Sean Havey, Chris L. Jenkins will also serve as producers. 

Anthem started with the road trip that [Kris Bowers and I] took when we when we went around and started to just feel [and] understand what American music traditionally kind of comes from,” Dahi tells Billboard. “Soul music, country, jazz, native music, blues, and gospel are the foundational music that’s being a part of our being and a part of the different creative processes that people have expressed themselves through. The road trip really helped us see the world.”

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Dahi has previously worked with Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Last year, Dahi had production credits on Lamar’s Grammy-winning album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. His prints were on five records: “Father Time,” “Rich Spirit,” “Count Me Out,” “Mirror” and the Billboard Hot 100 top-five single “Die Hard.” 

To correspond with the announcement of Anthem, Dahi constructed an exclusive playlist that was instrumental to the documentary and the road trip he and Bowers conducted during their search. Listen below.

Anthem arrives on Hulu June 28. 

Lauryn Hill Hosts Surprise Six-Song Fugees Reunion at Roots Picnic

Fans at the Roots Picnic this weekend got a huge surprise during Lauryn Hill‘s headlining set on Saturday (June 3) when the singer brought out her former Fugees bandmates Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel for a surprise reunion of the beloved 1990s hip-hop power trio. It was definitely a moment to savor, as there’s a good chance it might be the first, and last, time the group will appear on stage for the foreseeable future in light of Pras’ indictment in April in a long-running campaign finance case.

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All that mattered in Philly on Saturday, though, was that the men took the stage with Hill at the end of her set to perform a six-song run of classics after Hill celebrated the 25th anniversary of her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. “We’re out here doing 25 years of Miseducation,” Hill told the crowd about her Grammy-winning 1998 solo bow, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But there’s another 25 years we didn’t do a couple of years ago because of COVID.”

The latter was a reference to a scotched reunion tour the trio had planned to celebrate the 25-year mark of their 1996 album The Score, which was first postponed, then canceled, citing complications from the COVID-19 pandemic after just one gig. Then, when Michel was found guilty in April on 10 criminal counts in a federal conspiracy trial related to an alleged wide-ranging foreign influence campaign scheme that could keep him behind bars for more than 20 years when he’s sentenced, any chance of a re-reboot became unlikely.

So, on Saturday they did the best they could by running through “The Score,” then “How Many Mics,” “Zealots,” “Ready or Not,” “Killing Me Softly” and “Fu-Gee-La.” The crowd response was reportedly electric for the first show since the Fugees reunited for the first time in 16 years during a gig in New York in 2021, with Hill repeatedly referring to her formerly estranged bandmates as her “brothers.”

Check out footage from the reunion below.