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Macklemore released a song supporting the collegiate protests decrying the war in Gaza, with proceeds going to relief efforts.
On Monday night (May 6), Macklemore surprised the public with the release of “Hind’s Hall”, a new single inspired by the protests taking place on college campuses nationwide in solidarity with the Palestinian people and decrying the raging war in Gaza. The name of the song comes from the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia University in New York City which was occupied by student protesters and renamed “Hind’s Hall” in tribute to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed during an attack by Israeli Defense Forces earlier this year.
The artist shared it on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Once it’s up on streaming, all proceeds going to UNRWA.” UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. In the video, Macklemore calls out those aiding the ongoing attacks by the IDF as footage of law enforcement officers clearing out campus encampments plays: “Block the barricade until Palestine is free/ When I was seven, I learnt a lesson from [Ice Cube and Eazy-E/ What was it again? Oh yeah, f—- the police.” He even chimed in on the current Kendrick Lamar/Drake battle in chiding other artists for their silence on the matter: The music industry’s quiet, complicit in their platform of silence/What happened to the artist, what do you got to say?/ If I was on a label you could drop me today/ And be fine with it ’cause the heart fed my page/ I want a ceasefire, fuck a response from Drake.”
The 40-year-old has been active in the protests denouncing the actions of the Israeli government and military since the conflict with Hamas began on October 7, 2023. Macklemore took part in a pro-Palestine rally last December, and explained his position on social media: When I say ‘Free Palestine,’ it’s not against anyone,” he began. “It actually means we should protect everyone. It means equality for all. Respect, peace, and love. It means the right to exist, regardless of what sector you’re from.
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Source: Stefanie Keenan / Getty
The media company of mogul Byron Allen has begun a round of significant layoffs, beginning first with The Weather Channel and The Grio.
According to reports, the privately held media group of Byron Allen has initiated a round of layoffs at two of its properties, The Weather Channel and The Grio. In a statement released on Thursday (May 2), the firm said: “Allen Media Group is making strategic changes to better position the company for growth that will result in expense and workforce reductions across all divisions” before continuing to state that the group will “continue to perform well and in many areas our revenue growth has greatly outpaced the market. We are aligning these changes to drive future business opportunities and support our growth strategies in our rapidly evolving industry.”
The precise number of people laid off at The Weather Channel has not been revealed, but it did include station veterans such as on-air meteorologist Mike Seidel, who had been at the station dating back to 1992. “I’ve done over 25,000 live shots during my tenure at TWC, which include all of the broadcast and cable news networks,” Seidel said of his 32-year run. Another senior producer, Trish Landers Ragdale, shared the news of her departure on social media. “After 14 years at The Weather Channel, I had to say goodbye. Definitely not by choice and not expected. At its best and at its worst, I was truly proud to wear the TWC logo,” Ragdale said in the Reels video. Allen Media Group acquired The Weather Channel back in 2018 for a reported $300 million.
These layoffs come days after layoffs occurred at The Grio, affecting the video production staff and the podcast team at the network with managing editor Christy Oglesby also reportedly being laid off according to a source. TheGrio was acquired by Allen Media Group in 2016 and is considered the largest Black newsroom in the nation. Allen reached a deal with Charter Communications in March to have the owner of Spectrum carry The Grio and other offerings under its umbrella on their cable television packages. Observers note that Allen might be positioning himself for more acquisitions in the future. The mogul, who has a net worth of $735 million, previously submitted a bid of $30 billion for Paramount Global and had also expressed interest in obtaining a stake in CNN and buying BET Media Group.
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Like we said before, summer’s right around the corner and Dave East is taking advantage of the incoming hot weather and giving heads enough work to keep head bopping all day and all night as everyone’s going to be making the most of the nice weather these next few months.
This time around the Harlem representative links up with the likes of Mike & Keys and Stacy Barthe for the visuals to “So Much Changed” where the trio take to the streets of New York to style out, rhyme out and enjoy the successful lives they’ve cultivated for themselves. Can’t be mad at that at all.
Back in the South, Plies shows money hasn’t changed him (much) and in his clip to “Pop Yo Sh*t” the Floridian goon gives a news crew an exclusive interview from his humble little home in his hood before rolling out in a hot pink Impala convertible because, well, he’s pimpin.’
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Moneybagg Yo, D-Lo, and more.
DAVE EAST, MIKE & KEYS FT. STACY BARTHE – “SO MUCH CHANGED”
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PLIES – “POP YO SH*T”
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MONEYBAGG YO – “TRYNA MAKE SURE”
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D-LO – “HOMAGE”
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TEMS – “LOVE ME JEJE”
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LIL $O$O – “PASSION”
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GLOSS UP FT. HUNXHO – “COME HERE”
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OT THE REAL, BORIROCK & SHAYKH HANIF – “MULTIPLY”
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Source: adidas/merkyfc / adidas/merkyfc
Stormzy and adidas are giving back to the people in a major way. The UK rapper and the brand have opened the #MerkyFC community center in London.
As spotted on Hype Beast, Stormzy is taking his partnership with the global sports apparel company to the next level. This week he announced that he is extended his #Merky FC (Football Careers) brand to a brick and mortar footprint. According to their website #Merky FC HQ is a football and community center in Selhurst, designed to nurture the voices of tomorrow Purpose-built with a full size 3G pitch, recording studio and gaming room, it’s a safe space for all to express themselves.”
The “Cry No More” performer shared his excitement in a formal statement. “I’m gassed that we can finally open the doors to #Merky FC HQ. Working with adidas, I’ve wanted to do this for a long, long time and now there’s a community space that everyone in the area will be able to use and benefit from” he said “When I was growing up there was nothing like this around for young people, so it means a lot that we now have a facility like this in Croydon. Proper homegrown!”
#Merky FC HQ is located at Selhurst Sports Arena and will be open Monday through Sunday from 8AM-10PM. You can see the promotional trailer below.
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Source: @salehebembury / Instagram
Looks like Crocs smells blood in the water as Adidas and Nike’s popularity out in these streets has been declining as of late and will officially jump into the sneaker game with their first actual outdoor silhouette.
According to Highsnobiety, the long teased Crocs Juniper sneaker will finally see the light of day as the Salehe Bembury crafted creation is set to hit the shelves this coming May 30th. The news comes months after the sneaker was teased on social media and threw everyone for a loop as Crocs is mostly known for churning out clogs, sandals and flip flops. Now that they’re officially releasing a new sneaker line, Nike and Adidas can expect some new competition in the footwear arena as people absolutely love Crocs.
Per Highsnobiety:
As you can probably tell, the Crocs Juniper sneaker echoes Bembury’s love for nature, which has also manifested in other collaborations like the fitting Moncler team-ups and water-inspired runners.
Before the official release, the designer himself took the Crocs Juniper sneaker for a test hike or two. With their distinctive design elements, the sneakers look like they could easily handle the outdoors. The reimagined Crocs ventilation holes and meshy details ensure a breathable setup, while the goo-like sole detail looks to offer excellent grip.
Yeah, these are going to be a hit.
While May 30th is the official release date, no word on where they’ll be sold or how much they’ll be retailing for, but best believe people will copp these as hype is sure to build as the release date gets closer.
Check out pics of the Crocs Juniper sneaker below and let us know if you’ll be picking up a pair in the comments section.
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Source: Prince Williams / Getty
With Future dropping off two new albums in the span of a few weeks and setting off a battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, you’d think he’d kick back and enjoy himself a bit, but the man remains on his grind and took some time to bless Nardo Wick with a quick feature for his latest cut.
Linking up for the visuals to “Back To Back,” Nardo Wick and Future make the transition from a lavish pool party with a gang of bikini clad women to an abandoned building where they get on their gangsta sh*t before rolling off into the dark of the night. We would’ve never left that pool party. Just sayin.’
Ice Spice meanwhile shows us how she keeps her physical degree as thick as molasses and for the clip to “Fisherrr,” Spice, Cash Cobain and Bay Swag take some stacks of cash to the Chinese spot to order up some grub before hitting the streets and flossing some impressive ice while Spice shakes her gluten infused buns as she’s known to do.
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Roc Marciano, JT, and more.
NARDO WICK FT. FUTURE – “BACK TO BACK”
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CASH COBAIN, ICE SPICE & BAY SWAG – “FISHERRR”
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ROC MARCIANO – “LEFLAIR”
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JT – “OKAY”
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SMOOVE – “SKY’S THE LIMIT”
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YOUNG NOBEL – “PAC, YAK & FATAL”
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SADA BABY – “FLIGHT BACK”
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AFN PESO – “PRESSURE”
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Source: Netflix / Netflix
The Netflix reboot of the iconic series Good Times has gained heavy backlash, recently addressed by its showrunner.
It has been a couple of weeks since the animated reboot of Good Times hit Netflix, and the audience reaction overall hasn’t been pretty. The responses haven’t been lost on those behind the scenes, according to its showrunner, Ranada Shepard. In a recent and extensive interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she stated that she understood the backlash due to certain factors.
“I was always rooted in [the fact that] I understand if this is jolting,” Shepard began. “Because what you needed was someone to tell everyone, ‘I know you’re used to the sweet sitcom, but this is not only a reimagination, it’s in a different genre that requires it to be loud and offensive with hard jokes and inappropriate.’ Without that type of framing, you can never blame the audience, and I never would.”
Shepard also said that the lack of a proper rollout may also be a factor. “You haven’t seen J.B. [Smoove] and Yvette [Nicole Brown] and Marsai [Martin] and Jay Pharoah and Slink Johnson on couches all across America, which typically happens when you’re rolling out a show,” she said. “There was no framing that the audience had, it was just: ‘Watch this and form an opinion.’ And, they watched and they formed an opinion.”
The trailer was released in March for the reboot of the late Norman Lear-penned series (Lear remains on as an executive producer), which premiered all 10 of its episodes on April 12. John Amos, who played the patriarch James Evans, had previously spoken about the reboot and the challenges it would present. As for BernNadette Stanis, who played Thelma Evans, she said that the show differed from her expectations of what it would be.
“Look, there’s some people who it’s not going to be for,” Shepard said to the Hollywood Reporter. “But I ask those people, ‘Do you watch adult animation?’ Because I know a lot of people don’t watch adult animation, so if that’s not your genre, this genre is going to be difficult for you. But are they well-written stories that stand in social commentary, and each one has a message? Absolutely.” She also urged people to give the show a chance. “Just give it a second and look at the stories and you’ll understand.”
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It’s been weeks since the internet was having a ball with P. Diddy’s name following allegations that he had sexual relations with multiple men in the music industry and just when the noise began to die out, Gucci Mane decided to add some fuel to that dying flame with his latest offering.
For his latest clip to “TakeDat,” Guwop has some fun of his own with the new phrase inspired by The Diddler a few weeks back and kicks it in a hot tub with a gang of beautiful young women while constantly saying “No Diddy” to end ever single rhyme he kicks throughout the song. Even when it didn’t apply to what he was saying he spit “No Diddy” (LOL).
Elsewhere Nino Man and Millyz make a New York to Boston connection and in their clip to “My Truth” the two rappers link up in the city that never sleeps and stroll through the streets while kicking their bars wherever they stop.
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Lola Brooke, Shani Boni, and more.
GUCCI MANE – “TAKEDAT”
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NINO MAN & MILLYZ – “MY TRUTH”
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LOLA BROOKE – “SHELTER BABY”
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D.R. 1PHIVE – “IRISH SPRING GREEN”
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IMAN NUNEZ FT. HDBEENDOPE – “NUMBERS GAME”
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MARLON CRAFT – “GOLD TEETH”
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SHANI BONI – “COME SEE ME”
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DEE POTTS – “PAYIN”
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Since coming into the game Dave East has been repping Harlem as hard as you’d expect from a rapper who hails from “The World,” and while he’s been traveling the globe and enjoying his success, the man knows that at the end of day there’s no place like home.
Linking up with Harry Fraud for his latest visuals to “Bacc 2 Harlem,” DE returns to the Black Mecca where he gets poured up with his crew and is joined by some of his Hip-Hop peers such as Maino and Millyz. That man was having the grandest of times.
Elsewhere another soiree went down as the BlueBucksClan, Hit-Boy and 2 Chainz got things turnt up and in their clip to “Scroll,” the rappers threw a private house party where they were the guests of honor and a gang of women treated them like the royalty they are.
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Drizzy Juliano, G Perico and Steelz, and more.
DAVE EAST & HARRY FRAUD – “BACC 2 HARLEM”
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BLUEBUCKSCLAN, HIT-BOY & 2 CHAINZ – “SCROLL”
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DRIZZY JULIANO – “MAKAVELI”
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G PERICO & STEELZ – “HOW WILL”
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ICEWEAR VEZZO – “CHEESECAKE”
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PAYROLL GIOVANNI – “ROSE ANNIVERSARY”
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KUR – “UP TO PAR”
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PREME DIBIASI – “IN THAT ORDER”
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Source: Nicholas Hunt / Getty
For a while now Chlöe has been keeping a relatively low profile on the music scene and while she’s still got millions of fans thirsting over every posts she throws up on social media they’ve mainly been waiting on new work from the young songstress.
Now they’ve gotten their wish as Chlöe done released some new visuals to “Boy Bye” in which the young bombshell kicks it in the country in a motorhome with an unappreciative man who doesn’t know most men in the world would kill to be in his shoes right now. You stupid-stupid man!
On the Hip-Hop side, Slim Thug is still putting on for his H-Town city and for his clip to “Slippin Away” the boss hits the strip club with his crew where he makes it rain on the talent before puffin on one of them thangs and relaxing the rest of the night away. Where’s Mike Jones these days?
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Thirstin Howl The 3rdfeaturing The Beatnuts and Tash, Sada Baby, and more.
CHLOE – “BOY BYE”
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SLIM THUG – “SLIPPIN AWAY”
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THIRSTIN HOWL THE 3RD FT. THE BEATNUTS & TASH – “BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE”
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SADA BABY – “SKUBNELLA”
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PEE SUPREME – “ROLL IT ROLL IT”
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NINO MAN – “HIDDEN AGENDAS”
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STARRGAZIN – “OR NAW”
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TSU NAMI – “TAKE OFF”
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