Uncategorized
Page: 7
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty
With days left until Americans find out whether or not we’ll continue to live in a free country or fall into an autocracy, The Avengers are doing what they can to save our democracy and encouraging people to vote against the mad orange “titan,” Donald Trump.
On Thursday (Oct. 31), Avengers star Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) shared a video call that included Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Danai Gurira (Okoye), and Paul Bettany (Vision), assembling to show their support for Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States.
The heartfelt and comedic video conference is sure to make people smile as everyone chimes in on the kind of catchphrase Kamala Harris could use in the closing days of the election with Chris Evans suggesting “I can do this all day” and Danai Guirara adding “Kamala forever,” obvious nods to the characters they play in the MCU. Ultimately, everyone agrees that “Kamala Harris down with democracy” should be the go-to phrase as everyone knows by this point that Donald Trump is seeking to be the first authoritarian in the history of the United States.
Hoping this video helps convince people to get out and vote for Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s historic presidential election, Mark Ruffalo wrote in the caption, “Don’t sit this one out. It’s the one where we will lose big: Project 2025, women’s reproductive rights, climate change, LGBTQIA+ rights, public education, student debt relief, Affordable Care Act, Social Security, and as of today, life saving vaccines. This shit is real and it’s going to come for you.”
“Take 3 friends and know, no matter what you are a hero. Always give it all.”
The MCU might’ve just lost a lot of MAGA moviegoers over this. Oh well.
Does The Avengers assembling to take down Donald Trump sway you in any way, shape or form? Sound off in the comments section below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty / Nelly / Apple Bottom Jeans
Apple Bottom Jeans is back. Nelly is trying to make his mark in women’s fashion again with the return of the clothing brand geared towards blessed in the booty department.
Nelly confirmed to TMZ Hip Hop that Apple Bottom Jeans, the clothing line he first launched in 2002 for ladies (mainly Black and Brown) of all shapes, sizes, curves, and contours, will return in November 2024.
Ashanti’s baby daddy told the celebrity gossip site in a statement, “Our goal as a brand remains the same: celebrating ALL women, all shapes and sizes. We have amazing new styles and are ready to shake the fashion world again … we’re back!!!”
According to the brand’s official Instagram account, the presale is live.
According to the celebrity gossip site Nelly and the brand’s president, Michael Saunders, the jeans will use new technology to make them more stretchy. That’s important because the booties have gotten much larger than they used to be when Nelly first introduced the brand to the world in 2002.
The news of Apple Bottom Jeans’ relaunch follows other great news in the rapper’s life. He recently welcomed his first child, a boy, with his longtime girlfriend, singer and songwriter Ashanti, who just sang the national anthem at Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium.
Nelly’s spinning of the block was successful after he encountered Ashanti, who was his ex at the time, during his VERZUZ battle (remember those?) with Fat Joe, who brought the R&B superstar out to sing the hook of their collaborative effort, “What’s Luv?”
PEOPLE reports the couple secretly married in December 2023, which means she will have a lifetime supply of Apple Bottom Jeans gear to wear when she hits the stage.
HipHopWired Featured Video
It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Guwop or even seen the man out and about but recently he linked up with one of your favorite female artists in the game and proceeded to do what it does.
Collaborating with Sexyy Red for the visuals to “You Don’t Love Me,” Gucci Mane and Red get turnt up from the studio to the parking lot where a gang of women twerk up and down, inside and out of some big boy whips while Gucci and Sexyy make it rain on the hardworking women.
Back in New York, Hit-Boy takes a break from working with his pop, Big Hit and links up with another OG and in the clip to the Lola Brooke assisted “Basketball 2.0,” he and Kurtis Blow his the street court where the Nova Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart show New Yorkers what to expect this year at MSG. We’re still tight the Knicks traded Donte DiVincenzo. Just sayin.’
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Royal Flush and Sean Price featuring Cassidy, G Herbo, and more.
GUCCI MANE & SEXYY RED – “YOU DON’T LOVE ME”
KURTIS BLOW & HIT-BOY FT. LOLA BROOKE – “BASKETBALL 2.0”
ROYAL FLUSH & SEAN PRICE FT CASSIDY – “B.O.B.”
G HERBO – “DARK KNIGHT”
RANSOM, CONWAY THE MACHINE & V DON – “NEFARIOUS”
FINESSE2TYMES – “2FITHYRICKY”
ICEWEAR VEZZO – “ADD UP”
KAMAIYAH – “MILLION”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Leon Prevost / Radio One Houston
DaBaby went from one of Hip-Hop’s most popular stars to getting canceled after going on a homophobic rant a few years ago. And while he’s since made amends with the LGBTQ community, it’s been a struggle for him to get back to the top of the mountain he slipped off from.
Still, the spitter from North Carolina is out here showing he’s got them bars and in his new visuals to “They Ain’t Strong,” DaBaby hits the streets with his crew in tow on dirt bikes and ATV’s while the rapper flashes stacks of cash and even lets his little one hold a grip as they turn up on the block.
From the YG’s to the OG’s, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Krayzie Bone is still spitting that rapid fire ish that made him a superstar and for his Don Tolliver assisted clip to “A Lotta Pain,” KB and Don go from a funeral to the basketball cout where Kray spits his bars about his struggles growing up in his hood.
Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Big Hit and Hit-Boy, Amine & Smino, and more.
DABABY – “THEY AIN’T STRONG”
KRAYZIE BONE FT. DON TOLLIVER – “A LOTTA PAIN”
BIG HIT & HIT-BOY – “ON MY MOMMA”
AMINE & SMINO – “PASSENGER PRINCESS”
POLO G – “S.I.P”
RICH THE KID & JAY CRITCH – “I LIKE THOSE”
MELANIE FIONA – “SAY YES”
BIG SAD 1900 – “FALSE NARRATIVES”
HipHopWired Featured Video
The arrival of UFC 5 in 2023 sparked celebration among mixed martial arts fans and as the only game of its type on the major consoles, that excitement was understandable. Now out for an entire year, UFC 5 has seen a series of patches and tweaks and we look to see how the game has held up.
To break the fourth wall a bit, I’m a huge fan of mixed martial arts and the UFC has a roster that features many of the world’s best fighters. In some ways, the latest UFC game from EA Sports puts a lot of pressure on the title to deliver every bit of nuance MMA provides in the real world and mostly holds up to that promise with a deep fighting system, several big-name fighters, and patches over the past year that improved the experience for fans.
Source: EA Sports / EA Sports
The game’s predecessor, UFC 4, had its fair share of fans who enjoyed the gritty realism of the standup game and the career mode but others found the ground game to be difficult at times. UFC 5 largely looks the same but now it employs the Frostbite game engine so there are several visual improvements from the former Ignite engine.
The fifth iteration of the fighting series has four main gameplay modes: Fight Week, Fight Now, Career, and Online.
With Fight Week, real-time UFC fights are at the center of the mode. When updated, there will be opportunities to make fight picks before the actual matches and earn valuable UFC Coins for your created fighter and online store. There are also Fight Week Contracts, daily fights where you take on opponents to earn UFC Coins. There are also challenges to earn player emotes and other rewards.
Source: Screengrab/D.L. Chandler
Fight Now is a mode that puts you right in the middle of action against a computer opponent or a pal on the couch. Here, you can select hundreds of fighters from the UFC roster and slug it out. The mode features Main Card fights, which are three-round matches.
Then there are Main Event and Championship fights, both going five rounds. Backyard fights are five 3-minute rounds where the judges score the fight on how much damage is doled out. Then there is the Kumite event, which is one 25-minute and if it goes until the end, the fight will be called a draw.
Also in Fight Now, you can pick between gameplay styles such as Simulation, which is the purest way to play. Knockout style turns off health regeneration and fighters are granted unlimited stamina and combos. Lastly, Stand and Bang keeps the action standing until one drops.
Source: Screengrab/D.L. Chandler
UFC 4’s Career Mode was one of the top features in the last game and the mode is back with Coach Davis returning to guide you along the way into becoming the G.O.A.T. The path to greatness is a difficult one but this gameplay mode is the best way to learn all of the tricks and tips of the game.
Lastly of the main modes is Online, which also has a career mode, ranked championships where you can take on fighters of the same skill level, blitz battles, and quick fights.
Source: Screengrab/D.L. Chandler
To be honest with folks, the only modes I consistently play are Career and practicing against the computer opponent in the game’s Learn section. Trust me, it’s taken me a long time to learn all of the moves and I’m pretty sure I still don’t know everything. This isn’t like some fighting games where button mashing might lead to a lucky knockout. For me, the best place for most new players to go is the Learn section to get some reality checks about your ability and then dive into the Career mode to get into the meat and potatoes of the game.
I also want to give a major salute to the UFC team for simplifying the ground game. In UFC 4, you had to play a mini-game of sorts to gain or block submissions or switch in and out of ground-and-pound positions. It was way too difficult for even the most seasoned video game player but in 5, the streamlined ground game makes for a better all-around experience. However, if you end up on the ground with a fighter who isn’t traditionally great at fighting from their backs, you’re in for a long night.
While UFC 5 has all of the visuals correct, there are still some in the gaming community who felt it didn’t improve much upon the last game. Even with the improved face damage animations, slow-motion knockouts, and other tweaks, fans felt like this was a retread of UFC 4 with a prettier face. I don’t quite agree as the Career mode is far more involved than before and there are notable improvements to make this a pure simulation-style fighting game.
UFC 5 is built for devout fans of combat sports even as the UFC and MMA overall are firmly in the mainstream with major sports network coverage. It helps to come into this game with some knowledge of the sport and an openness to learning the intricacies of the gameplay. If you can embrace the massive landscape of ways to play, this title is worth picking up the sticks for.
Learn more about UFC 5 here.
—
Photo: EA Sports
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Broward County / Broward Sheriff’s Office
Lil Durk has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. After getting pinched in Florida, he is being held without bail.
TMZ reports that the Chicago rapper and several members of his Only The Family (OTF) crew were charged in the murder of rapper Quando Rondo’s cousin. On Thursday (Oct. 24) night, Durk was picked up by the feds and locked up at the Broward County Jail. Bail was not granted.
Per the Chicago Tribune, the members of OTF have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, committing murder-for-hire involving a death and use of a machine gun in a violent crime resulting in death.
The OTF members were arrested for their involvement in a shooting that occurred in August 2022 in Los Angeles that left Quando Rondo’s cousin dead. But the kicker is that the indictment claims that the flights and rental cars that five men were provided with were paid for with a credit card connected to Durk’s record label, Only The Family Records. On August 19, 2022, Quando Rondo and crew were at a gas station in Los Angeles when shots rang out. While Quando wasn’t injured, his cousin Saviay’a Robinson, 24, was fatally shot.
Per the Feds, the 2022 shooting was in retaliation to the murder of King Von in 2020. In November 2020, the up and coming Chicago rapper was shot and killed outside of hookah lounge in Atlanta after a reported skirmish with Quando Rondo’s entourage. Flash forward to August 2023, and Lul Timm, born Timothy Leeks, the shooter who reportedly killed Von, saw the felony murder charges against him dropped.
Since Von’s death, Durk had directed his ire at Quando Rondo, reportedly buying out all tickets to a show to spite the rapper. But murder for hire, allegedly, is a whole other level of spite. Rondo has always maintained the shooting was self-defense.
This story is developing.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Raymond Hall / Getty
Diddy’s family continues to stand up for the disgraced mogul. His children are making it clear they stand in support of their father.
As spotted on TMZ the Combs clan are speaking up about their father’s legal issues. On Tuesday, Oct. 22 Quincy Brown took to Instagram to show support for the Bad Boy Entertainment CEO. “The past month has devastated our family. Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media” the caption read. “We stand united, supporting you every step of the way. We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family. WE MISS YOU & LOVE YOU DAD.” The accompanying photo shows Diddy sitting with all his children, his mother Janice Combs and the mother of his youngest child Dana Tran. According to the celebrity gossip website the children volunteered to share the post.
The legal troubles continue to mount for the “Victory” rapper. Last week new lawsuits were filed against him including four males who claimed he sexually assaulted them. Additionally, two minors also allege that they were drugged and taken advantage of. Diddy’s lawyers have refuted the claims. In an exclusive statement to The New York Times Jonathan D. Davis says “the new claims against Mr. Combs for alleged misconduct from many years ago, which were filed at the last minute, are all denied and rejected by him. He views these lawsuits as a money grab.”
Diddy’s trial is set to start May 2025.
HipHopWired Featured Video
A Tribe Called Quest has long cemented its status as one of the most important music groups of all time and that goes far beyond the band’s vaunted Hip-Hop roots. Over the weekend, A Tribe Called Quest was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside other musical greats, with Q-Tip delivering a moving speech thanking those who shaped the group’s sonic background.
The event took place in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday (October 20) with Dave Chappelle leading A Tribe Called Quest’s portion of the induction ceremony. While the surviving members of ATCQ, Q-Tip and Jarobi White, were present, Ali Shaheed Muhammad was notably absent.
After Chappelle’s introduction, clips of Mike D of the Beastie Boys fam, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Pharrell Williams, and André 3000 played, all of whom showered ATCQ with praise and their contributions to Hip-Hop and music overall. Q-Tip and Jarobi then took the stage flanked by their family and loved ones with The Abstract running down a truncated list of thank yous while promising that the full list would be posted on social media.
That gave way to a performance from De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star, Common, Queen Latifah, and The Roots all rocking classic tracks from the band.
We’re sharing videos from Hip-Hop journalist Elliott Wilson’s X account of the ceremony below.
Tribe 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Gx9HJuZ2YB
— Elliott Wilson (@ElliottWilson) October 20, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
My man @QtipTheAbstract, he got something to say. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fcKIR5Ayc1
— Elliott Wilson (@ElliottWilson) October 20, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz
Dr. Dre will have to clear his name in a court of law. His former therapist is suing him for $10 million dollars with claims of harassment.
Rolling Stone Magazine is reporting that a California psychotherapist is alleging that the Rap legend made him suffer while treating him. Dr. Charles Sophy says Dr. Dre enlisted his services back in 2018 to help him with his then marriage to now ex-wife Nicole Young. The medical professional says he worked “diligently, independently and fairly” to help the couple repair their failing union. In 2021 the sessions stopped when the two agreed on a divorce settlement.
About a year later Doctor says the business mogul started reaching out to him again via text with claims he treated the couple unethically. “Rather than treating the mediation process as an opportunity for healing, Young decided to take his frustrations about the mediation out on Dr. Sophy — frustrations that manifested themselves in the form of a nearly year-long sustained campaign of late-night texts, threats of intimidation and violence, and homophobic rhetoric,” the filing reads. Sophy also believes he sent men impersonating FBI agents to his home in attempt to access the property and threaten him.
In response Dr. Dre’s lawyer Howard King tells Rolling Stone Magazine exclusively that “The Next Episode” rapper had filed a claim against the doctor last year to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. “That complaint seeks revocation of Dr. Sophy’s license to provide mental health counseling to needy patients” Kind says. “In gross violation of all applicable standards of care, Dr. Sophy inserted himself into a contentious divorce while he simultaneously ‘treated’”.
You can view some of the alleged texts Dr. Dre sent the doctor below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
It’s been a month and change since Troy Ave was released from prison for the now famous shooting incident at Irving Plaza back in 2016 and looking to revamp his music career, the Brooklyn rapper returns with some new work in hopes to get some heads nodding.
Coming through with some new visuals to “Payed To Play,” Troy Ave hits the highway in a spiffy new Ferrari while showing just how he’s been living his best life following his 6 month prison stint. Say what you will about Troy, he’s not letting anyone dim his light these days.
Back in the South, Boosie Badazz shows love to the San Antonio Spurs and in his clip to “Cold World,” Boosie sports a Victor Wembanyana jersey while stuntin’ on a platform all by his lonesome.
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Ablaze, Albee Al, and more.
TROY AVE – “PAYED TO PLAY”
BOOSIE BADAZZ – “COLD WORLD”
ABLAZE – “SCAREFACE”
ALBEE AL – “COME BACK OUTSIDE”
REASONS – “JALMEN”
JESSICA DOMINGO – “BABY I’VE BEEN”
PEEZY – “A HUNNID”
KEL DA KING – “LATE NIGHT”
DABOII – “BABY”