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Sen. Cory Booker wrote himself in the U.S. Senate history books by delivering the longest speech in the chamber on record, eclipsing the record of Sen. Strom Thurmond’s filibuster by a good measure. As Sen. Cory Booker concluded his marathon speech, many on social media, especially X, are showing high approval for the New Jersey politician’s herculean effort.
Sen. Cory Booker, 55, took to the U.S. Senate floor on Monday (March 31) at 7 PM local time and begin his blistering marathon speech, using the time to voice the concerns of the American public who feel betrayed by the machinations of President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the DOGE bros, and the gutting of longstanding federally funded government establishments and programs.
Booker’s time at the podium was partly a reading of letters from not only constituents he represents, but others on the other side of the aisle who have been casualties in President Trump and the GOP’s culture war. Speaking frequently in impassioned tones, Booker appeared weary at moments and used the podium to support himself. When he was alerted that he was nearing Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, Booker quipped that he was near and kept going despite the obvious fatigue present.
Thurmond, the senator from South Carolina, used the filibuster to protest the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1957, which would give Black Americans certain protections and access to the democratic process. Thurmond, holding fast to antiquated views of Black Americans and an obvious allegiance to the memory of the Confederacy, represented a far different Democratic Party than we see today. Adding to this, Thurmond was dogged by rumors that he secretly fathered a daughter with a Black woman whom he allegedly helped by financing her education.
The late senator also voted against the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and 1965 and was a staunch segregationist who pushed for a ban on school integration. Thurmond’s resistance to granting equal access to Black citizens would follow him to the bitter end of his career as he cemented his legacy by being a raging racist.
What Sen. Cory Booker has done in contrast has been deemed symbolic by many, but it isn’t quite a criticism; instead, it is a fact. The United States is splitting apart on party line allegiance and the ever-present reality that this country still has yet to reckon with its past. This is happening at the Trump administration is attempting to sanitize history, do away with DEI, and eliminate social programs that benefited poor, working-class white Americans more than any other group in the nation.
On X, Sen. Booker’s historic feat is all the rage, and we’ve got reactions below.
Americans aren’t a line item in a budget to cut. Your story matters, your voice matters, this fight matters. pic.twitter.com/cDpXIZMtRe
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) April 1, 2025
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Kevin Hart is best known for his comedy specials and blockbuster films, but he has dabbled a bit in the world of Hip-Hop under his Chocolate Droppa persona. Chocolate Droppa, excuse us, Kevin Hart, showed up for NPR’s Tiny Desk series to drop some powerful off-the-dome bars with a backing band for April Fools’ Day.
NPR published the new set from Chocolate Droppa, aka Kevin Hart, on April 1, prompting many in the comments on the YouTube page to ponder if they were being pranked. From what we can tell, this was a serious production with Hart being flanked by a four-man band he constantly referred to as the Band of Brothers.
Throughout the performance and never breaking character, Hart/Droppa offered motivational words between the songs and boasted about being the first rapper to go strictly off the top of the head on the set. The improvisational performance was clear as Droppa did go into his classics bag to deliver portions of “ATL RAP” and the tracks “Love Song,” “West Coast” and ending with “Don’t F*ck With Dem.”
The good-natured performance and Hart’s super-serious speeches, coupled with him directing the band to give him some heat to rap atop of got more than a few chuckles from the Tiny Desk concert attendees. That said, we know why Kevin Hart is a comedian and a major movie star first, but we love the effort.
Check out Chocolate Droppa’s Tiny Desk set below.
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Photo: YouTube/NPR
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Following his very public fallout with Cam’ron and Ma$e, Jim Jones has been hard at work promoting his latest album At The Church’s Steps, and has basically released a new visual in support of the album every week since its release last month.
Continuing to stay on his grind, Jim Jones drops off some new visuals to the ALLSUMMERLONG-assisted “Fashion Killa” in which Capo delves into the world of fashion and shows how spiffy he can get with the attire but aside from walking the runway, Jones styles on the streets and in basically anywhere he lays his hat as he treats his entire life as one big fashion show. Can’t be mad at that.
From Harlem to LA, YG takes us on a trip down memory lane, and in his Buddy & The Gang featured “2004,” YG reminisces about his life growing up with flashbacks about his youth and interesting experiences.
Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend, including work from NEMS, Redman, Method Man, and DJ Premier, along with more.
JIM JONES ft. ALLSUMMERLONG – “FASHION KILLA”
YG FT. BUDDY & THE GANG – “2004”
REDMAN & METHOD MAN & DJ PREMIER – “LALALA REMIX”
NEMS – “GOD’S HANDS”
GINO MONDANA FT. FIVIO FOREIGN – “CRASH OUT”
G. DEP – “CHARGED WITH WINNING”
B.G. FT. FREDO BANG – “BEEN A DOG”
G PERICO & DJ DRAMA – “LA TAKEOVER”
CJ FLY – “GRIND”
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Kanye West, also known as Ye, has been on a weeks-long rant on Twitter discussing everything from his connection to Diddy, along with harsh critiques of the Jewish community and fellow artists. In a new interview with DJ Akademiks, Kanye West donned an all-Black KKK hood and wore a swastika chain during the meandering and bizarre chat.
On Sunday, Ye, aka Kanye West, was joined by DJ Akademiks, who traveled out to Los Angeles to meet with the Chicago native. As seen in Big Ak’s video that he shared on social media, the planning of the meetup with Ye didn’t go off without a hitch, and it appeared that West wanted Ak to perform the interview in China or Japan, as he claims not to feel safe in the United States.
Some 13 minutes into the video, Ak finally gets to Ye’s hotel room, where the producer is seen wearing a Black Sean John shirt with white lettering and the aforementioned bejeweled chain. At minute 16:10, Ye emerges with the KKK outfit and the pair launch into their chat.
There are far too many moments to highlight, but chief among them was Ye saying that he didn’t intend to have children with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. Kardashian and West are the parents of North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. Ye also stood on business regarding the comments he made about former collaborator Jay-Z and Beyoncé, and seemingly defended what he said about their children.
The conversation between Kanye West, aka Ye, and DJ Akademiks can be viewed below.
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Photo: YouTube Screenshot
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Big U, an alleged top-ranking Rollin’ 60s Crips gang member and community activist, was arrested and charged with other individuals this week in connection to a RICO case. Big U, who was formerly connected to the late Nipsey Hussle, is accused of running a Mafia-like criminal enterprise by authorities, claims that U say are overblown due to Internet chatter.
In a report from the Los Angeles Times, Eugene “Big U” Henley, 58, was a massive influence on the Hip-Hop scene in Los Angeles, and his involvement with the gang world was notable considering he spent recent times as a community leader looking to quell violence on the streets. Now, Henley is facing charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery, and more.
As the Times notes, Big U was instrumental in boosting the career of Nipsey Hussle, who was also a member of the Rollin’ 60s. His connection with the music scene and his reported position in the Crips operation was framed by federal investigators as that of a mob boss with people visiting Los Angeles being required to “check in” with Henley to move untouched about the city. Henley is alleged to have put the “check in” requirement toward musicians and professional athletes alike.
In the 107-page federal complaint, officials say that Henley ran his self-styled enterprise similarly to how the Mafia operates, using his “stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals” across the city, according to the complaint.
When authorities first announced their intent to go after Henley, they named him a fugitive in a news conference but Henley eventually turned himself in. As reported by TMZ, Henley recorded a video ahead of turning himself in, stating that he’s done nothing wrong and has contributed heavily to his community. Over a dozen other individuals connected to Henley were also taken into custody.
U.S. Atty. Joseph T. McNally spoke at Wednesday’s news conference and said that Henley’s image as a music executive and community leader was false.
“[Henley] has maintained the image of an entertainment industry entrepreneur running a music label and of somebody who gives back to the community here in Los Angeles,” McNally said. “The facts alleged in the complaint paint a very different picture. It is one of a murderer, a thief, a liar and a cheat and the criminals that enabled him.”
Henley is accused of kidnapping and killing a young rapper and discarding his body in the Las Vegas desert. FBI investigators say that the hit was carried out due to disrespect and ordering a robbery of an unlicensed marijuana dispensary over unpaid extortion payments. Henley is also alleged to have taken charity donations from the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Draymond Green, only to pocket the money for himself.
Sylvester Robinson, 59, allegedly Henley’s second-in-command, and alleged lieutenant Mark Martin, 50, are both accused of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Along with Henley, Termaine Williams, aka “Luce Cannon,” was charged with robbery, Armani Aflleje, aka “Mani,” was charged with transporting an individual to engage in prostitution, and Tiffany Hines was charged with bank fraud.
As seen in the videos above, Big U is claiming innocence.
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Photo: Leon Bennett / Getty
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Charleston White has become a popular, if controversial, media figure due to his outlandish comments about Black entertainment and culture. An old video of Charleston White recently surfaced featuring him testifying against a friend, prompting some online to harken back on White’s comments regarding snitching.
Charleston White was trending on X, formerly Twitter, over the weekend after the @rebootjays account shared a 1993 news report from a Texas outlet featuring a teenage White testifying in court. The case appears to involve a murder case involving one Antoine Dolittle, who shot and killed Michael Levy, who tried to stop White and Dolittle from stealing from a department store. The actual crime occurred in 1991
https://x.com/rebootjays/status/1900933462724350261 – The video mentioned above.
White, 216 at the time, is seen telling the court how the shooting was carried out and the clip immediately hit viral status on the X network with fans adding that this is nothing new for him as he’s made snitching part of his ethos.
As is custom, White welcomed the criticism from observers and dropped a video on social media explaining that he doesn’t think the video will stop his current speaking engagement and tour stops, nor will it have any effect on his earnings. White has been explicit in stating that he would gladly snitch on anyone, and the video below highlights his stance.
https://x.com/charlestonwhyt/status/1900996053014401313 – a response video from White.
Gillie Da Kid reacted to the news in his usual outspoken fashion and White replied via video, appearing to address the podcast host and Philadelphia native that had the “no snitching” street code been pushed aside, Gillie would find justice for his slain son, Devin “YNG Cheese” Spady.
https://x.com/batnarc573511/status/1901652025236140278 – The video comment in question.
So far, it doesn’t appear that Gillie Da Kid is going to go back and forth with Charleston White over the matter.
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Dawn Robinson, a singer who first found fame with En Vogue before venturing off on her own, shared details of her current living conditions in a now-viral video. In the clip, Dawn Richardson shares that for the past three years, she’s been living inside her car.
As spotted on VIBE, Dawn Robinson took to her official YouTube channel and broke down the circumstances that led to her living on the road and embracing the growing “car life” trend that other entertainers such as 3D Na’Tee and others.
Robinson, appearing in great spirits, opened up with a motivational quote and then launched into her story about living in her vehicle.
“Guys, I have been living in my car for almost three years,” Robinson began, adding a sigh of relief and said, “I said it, oh my God, it’s out.”
Robinson continued with, “If you guys were with me in 2020, I did like a 105,000 interviews and in the interim, I was living with my parents in [Las] Vegas. That was wonderful until it wasn’t. I love my mom, but she became very angry,y and a lot of her anger, she was taking out on me.”
She also shared that a former manager gave her an empty promise of housing her in Los Angeles but left her stranded in a hotel for months, hence why she leaned into car life and did extensive research.
The former Lucy Pearl singer goes on to say that she isn’t looking for any sympathy but instead is hoping to show, through vulnerability and openness, that one can live on one’s terms. Not once in the video did Dawn Robinson look out of sorts, and her eternally youthful looks and bubbly personality were infectious. She even shared in the video that the late Marvin Gaye embraced car living.
Check out the video in full below, and kudos to Dawn Robinson.
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Yung Miami and Sean “Diddy” Combs were involved in a brief but intense romantic situation that observers openly coveted and applauded for the unattached way the pair carried their union and their openness about sex. After Yung Miami famously stated on her show that she was a fan of “golden showers,” the rapper and podcast host has since walked back that stance in a new interview.
Yung Miami was a guest on Stepping into the Shade Room with host Thembi Mawema, and the pair discussed a number of topics related to her career, her recent birthday celebration, and, of course, all things involving her former group, the City Girls.
Mawema, flipping the script, asked the “Rap Freaks” star some scandalous questions in a version of Miami’s Resha Roulette game and was questioned about the infamous moment in 2023 on Caresha Please with Trina where she expressed a love for “watersports.” However, it looks like Caresha was just poddin’ and talking mess.
‘I always go back to that interview and say, ‘Why the fuck did I say that?’” Miami says. She added, “I’m the type of person that’s like that. Like, I say some sh*t and then I’m just like, ‘What?’ I have a bubbly personality. I can tell y’all a thousand times, English, Spanish, and French [that] no man has ever peed on me.”
Last year, Miami clarified that she didn’t let Diddy perform a golden shower on her. However, the chatter persisted all the same.
Check out the full Yung Miami interview with Stepping into the Shade Room below. Hop to the 52-minute mark to see the comments mentioned above.
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Source: Andy Wenstrand / Getty
Ben Affleck is an award-winning actor and filmmaker and starred in motion pictures that have made millions in theaters. Ben Affleck is also a dad of children who love fancy gifts, and the Massachusetts native let it be known that his kids won’t be running his packets for expensive sneakers.
As spotted on Buzzfeed, Ben Affleck and his 13-year-old son went viral after attending a Got Sole sneaker convention in Los Angeles at the top of the month. Affleck’s son pointed out some Jordan 1 Dior lowtop sneakers and tried to get his father to get him the sneakers. When Affleck heard the $6,000 price tag, he ribbed his son by saying he’s going to have to mow a lot of lawns to get a pair. Of course, the kid took it in stride, and we’re pretty certain Dad didn’t leave the convention without something.
Affleck was at the annual SXSW conference to premiere his new film, The Accountant 2, and was approached by Access Hollywood to chat about his latest work, where Affleck deferred and praised his cast, the stunt workers, and director Gavin O’Connor. Toward the end of the chat, the outlet asked Affleck about the sneaker convention moment, and all of Affleck’s Massachusetts accent came out.
“That’s what happens when you tell a motherf*cker you have to mow a lawn, all of a sudden, they don’t want those shoes anymore,” Affleck says with a smile in his eyes. What makes the moment so great is that Ben Affleck is in total media training mode during the first part of the segment, but it all goes away once the sneaker conversation comes up.
Check out both aforementioned moments below.
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Source: Paul Natkin / Getty
The legendary Roberta Flack was laid to rest on Monday (March 10) in New York during a public memorial service that featured words from the Rev. Al Sharpton and other notable figures. Stevie Wonder was on hand for a moving tribute, along with a surprise appearance from Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.
Roberta Flack passed away on Feb. 24, sparking several responses from entertainers and music lovers from around the world on social media. Flack’s influence and towering legacy were mentioned several times throughout the service, and Rev. Sharpton artfully illustrated the vocalist’s significance in Black music culture, as reported by the Associated Press.
The outlet added in its reporting that Stevie Wonder was a scheduled performer, and other performers, such as Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson fame, took to the stage. Phylicia Rashad, who shared that she first encountered Flack as a young vocalist while attending Howard University, remarked how arresting the singer’s voice was then.
There were also video tributes delivered by Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India.Arie, and Alicia Keys, along with remarks delivered by many in attendance in honor of Flack and her lasting legacy.
The appearance of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean was not on the docket, and Hill delivered a speech citing Flack’s influence on her life.
“I adore Ms. Roberta Flack,” Hill said during a speech. “Roberta Flack is legend.”
Hill performed a rendition of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” and then launched into the Fugees’ award-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” with Wonder joining on harmonica and Jean on guitar. Wonder then took to the stage and performed “If It’s Magic” alongside a harpist. Wonder then went to the piano and performed “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” a song he wrote for Flack.
Roberta Flack was 88 at the time of her passing.
Watch the memorial service in full below.
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Photo: Getty
