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Source: Rémy Martin / Remy Martin
Rémy Martin announced a new limited-edition collection honoring Hip-Hop culture, along with a new initiative mentoring creatives with financial support and expert knowledge.
Source: Rémy Martin / Remy Martin
On Wednesday (February 19), the iconic Rémy Martin brand announced the release of a limited-edition collection of their V.S.O.P. cognac to honor the flourishing culture of Hip-Hop across the United States. The “This Is My City Limited Editions” come in four bottles representing the four major cities – “Atlanta – the city pushing boundaries, Chicago – the home of lyrical legends, Detroit – the home of Motown and resilient beats, and New York City – the city that birthed hip hop”, according to the press release. Each bottle and its box are carefully designed with vibrant colors to reflect the spirit of each city’s heritage through popular landmarks, sports teams, and other elements. It follows another limited edition collection the venerable brand released in 2023, honoring the DJ and their impact on culture.
In addition, Rémy Martin has announced the This is My City Microgrant Initiative, a new program crafted to honor emerging creatives in each of the four cities. Each micro-grant consists of $20,000 which will be given to a creative from each city along with one-on-one mentoring from industry experts. One example is the New York grant, which will have legendary radio host, author, and producer Angie Martinez as the mentor for that city. Fashion designer Jon Stan will also continue his collaboration with the cognac brand to create an exclusive collection of custom merchandise for each microgrant recipient. Each bottle in the collection also has its own curated playlist, available through the website.
The collection’s release will be marked by upcoming events in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit where Rémy Martin will welcome the microgrant honorees, their mentors, and other notable figures from various industries to celebrate “culture, community, and cognac.” Each of the limited editions is available only in the four cities as well as through online retailers. Those interested in applying to the microgrant initiative, as well as customers looking to purchase their bottles from the collection, can do so on Rémy Martin’s website.
Source: Rémy Martin / Remy Martin
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Source: Tom Williams / Getty
Once upon a time, MSNBC host Michael Steele was a diehard Republican. In fact, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland was the chair of the Republican National Committee for four years, from 2003 to 2007.
But things have changed over the last two decades, and these days, Steele is not only over the party that long abandoned him (after discovering he was more moderate than conservative, which is not the way they like their sunken place “Black friends”), but he’s completely fed up with the MAGA-fied GOP as well as the Democrats who have failed to stop them from making white nationalism great again.
On Saturday, after Alicia Menendez, Steele’s co-host on MSNBC’s The Weekend, read from a report from The Nation stating the courts cannot “save us,” during a discussion on whether the courts can rein in Trump and his perceived puppet master, Elon Musk, who have essentially turned the federal government into their own personal Project 2025 execution station.
“What would you have us do?” co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend asked Steele after he went all the way off on feckless Democrats during the discussion.
“I would like you to show that you give a damn!” he shot back.
“That you got a little emotion about the fact that people are losing their jobs indiscriminately,” Steele continued. “That this individual sitting down [in] the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has given absolute power to one man who brings his son into the Oval Office, whose son says to him, ‘You’re not the president, you shouldn’t be in that chair.’ Now, where did he get that from? He got it from his daddy, because that’s what his daddy thinks of the man who brought him into the Oval Office. So I’d just like to see somebody wake the hell up and get excited about the fact that your country is under assault! They’re not at the gate anymore, they’re in your bedrooms they’re in your living rooms, they’re in your businesses, they got your data, dumbasses, they got all your stuff.”
Steele continued his rant with more harsh words for Musk.
“Elon Musk has his tentacles in everything you’re doing, not just off of X, but now he’s in the Treasury Department, he’s in the Labor Department, he’s in the Department of Homeland Security and nobody seems to give a damn,” he said. “So that’s all I want. Somebody to show that they care enough to get off their fat ass and say something about it.”
Mendez attempted to steer Steele’s ire back to the Republican party where the bulk of it belongs, and that’s when Steele made his feelings about his former party clear and unmistakeable.
“The hell with Republicans! They’re not going to do anything, they’re the problem!” he exclaimed.
So, what do y’all think? Is Steele right to highlight Democratic complicity in Trump and Musk’s MAGA regime, or are the Dems being unfairly blamed for Trump’s second term? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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Source: Prince WIlliams / Prince Williams/ATLPics.net
While Atlanta’s continued to be a presence on the rap scene, it’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen or heard anything new from one of it’s OG’s, Gucci Mane, but now the man seems ready to get back into the spotlight as he dusts off his luxury cars and blocks of ice for his latest offering.
Dropping off a new clip to “Preference,” Guwop pulls out all his luxury accessories to remind everyone how large he’s living and enlists the talents of some thick women of all ethnicities to demonstrate his openness to racial relations as they make it bounce next to some of his fancy whips. Look away Dr. Umar. Look away.
Druski meanwhile continues to show he can make everyone laugh whether with hilarious skits or musical numbers and in the clip to “Coulda Been Love,” he, Yung Bleu and Young M.A have a helluva time with some thick women of their own and turn up on the driveway of a private residence with rose pedals floating everywhere. It’s great to see Young M.A back on her Brooklyn bullsh*t.
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from The Weeknd, Nardo Wick, and more.
GUCCI MANE – “PREFERNCE”
DRUSKI, YUNG BLEU & YOUNG M.A. – “COULDA BEEN LOVE”
THE WEEKND – “CRY FOR ME”
NARDO WICK – “I WONDER”
RICH HOMIE QUAN – “I SO SORRY”
TYGA – “MY TURN”
DAVE EAST & RANSOM – “THE MOSQUE”
P-LO – “YEAH”
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Source: NBC Universal / Peacock
As more and more men and women come out of the woodworks to file new lawsuits against Diddy for his alleged predatory ways, the embattled music icon is swinging back, but not at his accusers but rather at those involved in exposing his supposedly horrifying history.
According to the Huffpost, Diddy has just filed a $100 million dollar lawsuit against NBC Universal and Peacock over the making of their documentary, The Making Of A Bad Boy for defamation as he claims that they falsely accused him of human trafficking, molestation and even murder. Saying that the companies prioritize profits over factual evidence, Diddy filed the claim in New York State Court this past Wednesday (Feb. 12) in hopes of getting a jury trial underway in order to prove wrongdoing on the part of NBC Universal and Peacock.
Per Huffpost:
Combs’ complaint says the documentary falsely accuses him of sex trafficking, molesting minors and murdering Porter and several figures in music, including The Notorious B.I.G.
“As described in today’s lawsuit, NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Peacock TV, LLC, and Ample LLC made a conscious decision to line their own pockets at the expense of truth, decency, and basic standards of professional journalism,” Combs’ lawyer, Erica Wolff, said in a statement to HuffPost. “Grossly exploiting the trust of their audience and racing to outdo their competition for the most salacious Diddy exposé, Defendants maliciously and recklessly broadcast outrageous lies in ‘Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.’”
“In making and broadcasting these falsehoods, among others, Defendants seek only to capitalize on the public’s appetite for scandal without any regard for the truth and at the expense of Mr. Combs’s right to a fair trial,” Wolff added.
For those who aren’t familiar with the documentary, The Making Of A Bad Boy features interviews with quite a few people who’ve worked with Diddy in the past including his former bodyguard, Gene Deal, artist Al B Sure!, and childhood homie, Tim “Dawg” Patterson amongst others. Needless to say, they didn’t exactly paint their former Bad Boy associate in the best light.
Though the documentary has been streaming for almost a month, Diddy decided now was the time to bring the case and with the brand new legal troubles that’s been thrown at him as of late (and probably going forward), it will be interesting to see what kind of evidence he’ll be able to provide to prove The Making Of A Bad Boy was false and all hearsay.
What do y’all think about P. Diddy suing NBC Universal and Peacock over The Making Of A Bad Boy documentary? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: CHANDAN KHANNA / Getty
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance was already historic, but it was his background dancer, Zul Qarnain, who stole the spotlight with a powerful political statement. As Kendrick rocked the stage, Zul used the massive platform of the Super Bowl to bring attention to the ongoing suffering in Gaza and Sudan.
Standing on top of a car, Zul pulled out both a Sudanese and Palestinian flag and waved them proudly, sending a clear message of solidarity. However, his peaceful protest was short-lived as security quickly tackled him and escorted him off the field. While he wasn’t arrested or charged with anything major, Zul was banned from attending any NFL events for life.
Zul Qarnain is no stranger to activism. He is the owner of the Open Book Platform, an initiative that unites Muslims and promotes peace. In his work, Zul has continuously tried to bridge divides, and he recently made headlines by visiting one of America’s most dangerous neighborhoods, Chicago’s “O-Block,” to reduce violence and help people turn toward faith.
His Super Bowl protest, though controversial, was an extension of his lifelong mission to raise awareness and encourage peace in places that need it most. Despite the consequences, Zul’s actions sparked conversation around global issues and demonstrated his commitment to using his platform for positive change.
Check out Hip-Hop Wired’s full conversation with Zul Qarnain:
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Reverend Al Sharpton is convening a gathering of top Black officials to address New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ relationship with President Donald Trump.
As news broke of the Justice Department recommending that federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams be dropped, one of Adams’ allies is acting on his concern about the situation. The Reverend Al Sharpton is gathering top elected Black officials to meet to determine whether they will pull support from Adams as Mayor and in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary. “I have spoken to several elected officials and clergy, whom I convened early in the Mayor’s term, to meet between now and the weekend to decide where we will go,” Sharpton said. “Because we have clearly crossed the Rubicon.”
The longtime civil rights activist expressed his concern over Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove’s memo, which states that the charges be dropped against Adams so that he can further President Donald Trump’s agenda of detaining and deporting more immigrants in New York City. “It is unheard of in a criminal justice proceeding to suggest you not deal with the criminal allegations for political or policy reasons,” Sharpton said, adding: “So if the mayor were to disagree with the president, does that mean they have the right to call a trial on him at any time? It certainly sounds like President Trump is holding the mayor hostage.” The memo did state that the DOJ can revisit the case at a later time.
The summit is expected to include House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NY State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Attorney General Letitia James along with several clergy leaders. “A potential loss of Al Sharpton is huge because you don’t want him against you,” Fordham University political science professor Dr. Christine Greer said. ” He’s an organizer, a brilliant one at that, and has been for a very long time, and knows all five boroughs of New York City. But he also has a very strong, active, loyal collection of people who really do listen and respect his political analysis.”
As for Adams, he took the memo as vindication in a video address to the city on Tuesday, saying: “I thank the Justice Department for its honesty,” Adams said. “Now, we can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city. It’s time to move forward.”
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Source: Michael Owens / Getty
Streamers like Kai Cenat are known for their bold reactions, but his take on Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime performance raised some eyebrows. While reacting to Kendrick’s performance, Kai made a claim that caught many off guard. He suggested that the NFL added crowd noise behind Lamar’s performance to make the crowd’s reaction sound louder and more intense than it actually was.
Lamar’s halftime show was widely praised for its depth, artistry, and the way it brought hip-hop to the biggest stage. Fans saw it as a celebration of culture, and many argue it was one of the best Super Bowl performances ever. However, Kai’s comment, implying that the NFL enhanced the sound, caused an immediate uproar. He was quickly met with backlash from Kendrick Lamar fans who vehemently denied any fake crowd noise.
They argued that the raw emotion and energy of Kendrick’s performance was enough to elicit a powerful crowd reaction without any artificial help. Despite the controversy, Kai stood by his point, claiming that it was something he noticed while watching the show.
Despite the controversy, Kai stood by his point, claiming that it was something he noticed while watching the show. His statement led to heated discussions across social media platforms, with fans debating whether the NFL might have enhanced the sound for dramatic effect. While the debate rages on, it’s clear that Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance is still a defining moment in halftime show history.
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Source: Jacopo Raule / Getty
The musical biopic on Pharrell Williams’ life as a child might never see the light of day. He has confirmed that the film has been scrapped.
As spotted on Variety the multi-hyphenate is putting the brakes on what would have been his newest big screen project. On Friday, Feb. 7 he and director Michel Gondry provided the entertainment magazine a formal statement on the status of Golden. “When all of us got into the editing room we collectively decided there wasn’t a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned,” it read. “We appreciate all the hard work of the talented cast and crew. While we’re disappointed we can’t deliver this film, we have incredible partners at Universal and will collaborate in a different capacity again soon.”
Golden was set to capture Pharrell Williams’ childhood by combining music and story telling. During pre-production he described the project as “a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and pursuing your dreams, but it’s so much more magical than that. It’s a celebration of Black life, Black culture, and most importantly, Black joy.” It featured an all-star cast of talent including Janelle Monáe, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle, Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry and Quinta Brunson.
It is unclear what Universal Pictures will do with footage and soundtrack.
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Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty
Super Bowl LVIII was jam-packed with exciting moments that will live rent-free in our heads for an extended period. While the game is centered around the actual sporting event (congrats to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs), the fashion is what we come to see. From Kendrick Lamar’s riveting performance in swaggy Celine flare jeans to Serena Williams’s chic halftime cameo, Super Bowl LVIII did not disappoint.
Kendrick Lamar and His Flare Jeans were the Moment
Since the announcement was made that Kendrick Lamar would headline the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, fans were giddy with anticipation for his performance, hoping he would bust out with his popular diss track, “Not Like Us.” Not only did the Compton, CA native boldly execute his now-historical track, but he also made a fashion statement for the men with his Celine flare jeans that proved the rapper is not only a style risk taker, but it also showed that men can venture outside of their usual masculine regalia- and it works. Lamar paired his statement jeans with a custom Martine Rose jacket and Nike DT Max 96 sneakers.
According to Google Trends data, searches for bell bottoms soared by 2,292%, and “flare jeans” searches jumped by 438%. Kendricks look which consisted of a varsity jacket also saw a spike in searches by 197%.
Serena Williams’ Snazzy Cameo
The world wasn’t ready for Serena Williams’ surprise appearance during Super Bowl LVIII halftime, but it was everything we needed! The champ lit up the stage C—walking in a blue Nike skirt set that consisted of a cropped jacket and a tennis skirt. Her textured tresses added the pizazz to her cool outfit as she bounced around on the stage, giving Black Girl magic.
Williams’ hairstylist, Angela Meadows, went the extra mile to ensure the mogul’s hair was spotlight-ready and that every strand stayed in place as she bounced around the stage. “We wanted a statement style that would be a showstopper for Serena’s surprise dance moment with Kendrick Lamar but also hold up against the wind and possible humidity of New Orleans for the big game. The game changer was Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth Miracle Oil Serum that set the whole look keeping the curls in place without any frizz!” said Meadows.
SZA’s Custom Performance Look
SZA sizzled on the stage with Lamar in a custom Born x Raised red leather work shirt embroidered with “Lana” (from the deluxe version of SZA’s SOS album) and a “CRYBABY” leather jacket also by the brand. The singer complemented her outfit with a custom leather and fur belt by Luis Cendejas and custom Converse shoes.
DON’T MISS…
Serena Williams Hit The Stage With Kendrick Lamar At Super Bowl LIX—And It Was Everything
Top Fashion Moments From Super Bowl LIX: Ledisi, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Jalen Hurts, & More
Searches For Flare Jeans Skyrocket After Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance
was originally published on
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President Donald Trump continues to push his agenda to make America great again, and the MAGA acronym is becoming far more than a catchy slogan under the current administration. In a recent post on his Truth Social network, President Donald Trump wants to reshape the programming of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., claiming that the venue is promoting entertainment that doesn’t fit his MAGA vision.
In one of his frequent Truth Social posts, President Trump railed against the Kennedy Center’s programming, highlighting in his rant that the institution has moved from its intended goal of showcasing American exceptionalism in so many words.
From Truth Social:
At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP! Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Following that post, President Trump posted an AI-rendered image of himself as a composer leading an orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center responded to President Trump’s missive with a statement of their own:
Throughout our history, the Kennedy Center has enjoyed strong support from members of [C]ongress and their staffs—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Since our doors opened [in 1971], we have had a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. Since that time, the Kennedy Center has had a bi-partisan board of trustees that has supported the arts in a non-partisan fashion.
While we are a living memorial to President Kennedy, we are also a unique public-private partnership. The Center is supported by federal annual appropriations for the upkeep and maintenance of the building as a federal memorial, or approximately 16% of the total operating budget. Support for the Center’s artistic programming comes from ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue sources.
The Kennedy Center is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media. We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.
Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.
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Photo: Getty