Amber

It was back in April when we were still in the first weeks of the COVID-19 quarantine when Mannie Fresh and Scott Storch met up for Verzuz. Before Swizz Beatz and Timbaland inked deals with Apple TV and made the online series a record-breaking event, Mannie and Storch met up to play some of their greatest hits in an epic producer battle. However, how each artist approached the meeting of the music differed as Mannie looked at it as a beat battle while Storch seemed to take a kinder approach. Mannie brought up Storch's previous drug problems and issues with the law, and afterward, he was criticized for being too hurtful or aggressive. Swizz recently told GQ that he owed both producers a new battle as they weren't a fair match. In a recent interview with People's Party with Talib Kweli, Mannie Fresh addressed the controversy. "Honestly, it was a battle," said Mannie. He added that before Swizz Beatz and Timbaland even came up with Verzuz, he'd been doing "beat battles" with A-List producers. However, with his shows, the skits were a central part of the performances. " "Nobody got they feathers ruffled or none of that. It's competitive. This is it," he said. "This is what goes on in hip hop. Hip hop is a story of your life. Nobody gave me the memo that this is a new hip hop and what I'm saying is the new hip hop is you gotta be politically correct. You can't say nothin' about somebody." Mannie said he called Storch the following day to check-in to make sure he didn't "go too far" and apologized to his fellow hitmaker. "It was all in fun because it was a beat battle. He coulda done the same thing back, it wouldn't have ruffled my feathers. But, it was a lot of people who was like, 'Man, you went too hard.'... This is what hip hop does." While Swizz may feel as if he owes Mannie Fresh another Verzuz opportunity, it's out of the question. The producer said at the time, no one wanted to do the Verzuz and when he learned he was going up again Storch, he began studying to have his ammunition ready. "I will never do another one I don't fit in that criteria," said Mannie. "I am competitive. I want to f*ck over you. I want to win... I don't have no bad feelings about Scott Storch. I love him like a brother, but if you wanna be apart of hip hop, you gotta open up your good and your bad." He recognized that he has some controversies as well, including headlines that he's owned some checks by Cash Money. Yet, he claimed he wouldn't have been salty if that was brought up during the battle because that's what the culture is about. If you missed the Verzuz with Scott Storch and Mannie Fresh, you can check it out above along with the clip from the People's Party with Talib Kweli below. View the full article

A song that NLE Choppa recently released has caused controversy and YouTube stepped in to remove it from their streaming service. If you've been keeping up with NLE Choppa, then you're aware that the spiritually-minded rapper isn't shy about vocalizing his thoughts about health, other-worldly topics, conspiracies, vaccines, and the like, but when he addressed a few of these in his music video for his single "Paradise," YouTube wasn't having it. Today (November 24), NLE Choppa released the visual for "Paradise," but it only took a few hours for YouTube to take it down. "Folks straight deleted me cause they know the message I’m speaking powerful. This some BS," Choppa wrote alongside a screenshot of the notification that his video had been removed. "I been undergoing the most blackballing sh*t ever. Everytime I drop my songs YouTube either crashes, I get a a spam a dislike that blocks it from trending and today I drop 'PARADISE' video and they straight deleted my sh*t. They hate a smart melanin king and it’s been showingALOT." On "Paradise," Choppa raps: "Maturity and prosperity, that's all I been showin' / Ain't wearin' no mask, n*gga, f*ck the pilot / Fake-ass coronavirus, cops killin', startin' riots / Perception is what you decide, I'm grounded when the sun rise." Some believe it's these lyrics that caused YouTube to act and COVID-9 cases have been on a dramatic rise and quarantine lockdowns have been reinforced. You can check out the track below. Twitter View the full article

The Recording Academy responded: 'We understand that the Weeknd is disappointed ... Unfortunately ... there are fewer nominations than ... deserving artists.' View the full article

An enigmatic tweet by Playboi Carti has Iggy Azalea feeling a bit out of sorts. The two rappers were reportedly dating for some time, and earlier this year they welcomed a child together, a baby boy named Onyx. The private couple rarely, if ever, spoke to or about one another, but when they decided to split, Iggy confirmed the rumors that she was a single woman. Still, she refrained from saying Carti's name, so it came as a surprise when Iggy retweeted her ex after he wrote, "I told da bit shut up! My son crying." Iggy wrote him back, "Did you?" She followed it up with tweets saying she had "zero clue" and was "confused as f*ck," but it doesn't look like Iggy got all that she needed off of her chest. People were tweeting her rude comments and the rapper called out her critics. "Why I gotta log on and see my name dragged in dirt over a random cryptic ass tweet, that hasn’t got sh*t to do with me!" she said. "For WHAT!? I mind my business. I hope your Mac & cheese burns in the oven on Thursday. Night!" She added, "And yes, I’m pissed the f*ck off. As I should be. As you would be." Meanwhile, Playboi Carti has been teasing the release of his phantom album Whole Lotta Red. Twitter View the full article

His episode of Drink Champs was full of gems as Hitmaka took a walk down memory lane with Noreaga and his crew, but it was the producer's stories of his sexual exploits that landed him in hot water. During the chat, Hitmaka shared tales of engaging in sexual acts with women like Teairra Mari and Naturi Naughton, and later, some people like the hosts of Fox Soul's Cocktails with Queens, suggested that he must not have much sex if he talks about it as if it is an accomplishment. Hitmaka addressed his controversy while speaking with Angela Yee's Lip Service and expressed regret over how he handled the Drink Champs conversation. Amy Sussman / Staff / Getty Images "See, after I did, I don't know if y'all was in tune or whatever, I went Live with Fat Joe—I literally hit N.O.R.E. and was like, "Yo, I don't want this out," said Hitmaka. "Please edit it. I will pay for whatever would go on. But the interview, however [much] it cost or whatever, I'll take care of it. I felt bad about the fact, you know what I'm saying, after the fact. But I mean, it is my truth, but I didn't want it to come out like that." Hitmaka added that he was aware that it was going to be edited "to make it like, a thing like that" and once again stressed that he asked production not to include his remarks. "They did it anyway." Angela Yee wanted to know if he felt remorse about his comments. "Of course, after the fact," Hitmaka answered. However, he repeated that "it is my truth." "I think it could have been a little more tasteful than it was but Drink Champs, you already know what they did." Watch Hitmaka chat with the ladies of Angela Yee's Lip Service below. View the full article

Just yesterday (November 23), The Weeknd was full of love as he thanked his supporters for enduring with him throughout his career. "Just wanted to thank the fans for committing to this journey with me," he tweeted. "I love you guys so much, none of this is possible without ya’ll seriously. XO." His March release After Hours was hailed as a cinematic and sonic masterpiece that landed the Canadian artist a No. 1 spot on a variety of charts, and although it has been celebrated as one of the biggest albums of the year, The Recording Academy didn't acknowledge The Weeknd's accomplishment at all. He didn't receive any nominations, and it's something that continues to be a Grammy snub that fans are still trying to wrap their heads around. The Recording Academy's interim CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said that there were only so many spots available for nominees, but that wasn't a good enough excuse for The Weeknd's fans. Finally, the singer responded to the news of being snubbed in a brief tweet. "The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency..." he said. It's unclear if The Weeknd, who has already won three Grammys, will get the explanation he seeks, but another report suggests that the snub was purposeful. According to TMZ, the singer was asked to perform at both the Grammys and the Super Bowl, but because both events are reportedly in the same week, negotiations with The Recording Academy were intense. It was allegedly agreed that he could do both performances, but because the negotiations became a tad heated, the outlet reports that the Grammys decided to exclude him from the nominations altogether. [via] View the full article

Grammy Award season is always controversial, especially in the days immediately following the announcement of nominations. Today (November 24) we received the coveted list of artists who may or may not take home a trophy in just a few months, and it's caused quite a stir. An exchange on Twitter caused Cardi B to come with her claws out after Wiz Khalifa responded to a user who attempted to diss the Invasion of Privacy rapper by mentioning Nicki Minaj's losses. A person tweeted that Cardi B winning a Grammy award while Nicki Minaj didn't "is the biggest proof that they don't know a sh*t bout music." Wiz Khalifa retweeted the message and added, "Most self made artists have this problem." Cardi thought the rapper was taking a dig at her win so she decided to respond. "I don't understand why n*ggas entertain tweets that pit successful women against each other?" she wrote. "Ya not tired of that? Specially when ya was rooting hard when a b*tch was at the bottom." Then, she shared a screenshot of a DM Wiz allegedly sent her back in 2016. The rapper encouraged her and wrote "your doing a great job and the way you address things is admirable. Keep your light shining and don't let others take it." Wiz came back and replied, "Damn that wuz good advice. I still support u. Nothings changed. Your self made in my book as well." A fan told him that he shouldn't further address the drama because not everything needs his attention. "I just don’t want a Cardi/ Wiz war goin on for no reason," said Wiz. View the full article

It was a slightly awkward moment for Doja Cat as she had a moment with the press during the American Music Awards on Sunday. The singer-rapper took home two wins for Best New Artist and Best Female Soul/R&B artist, but it was what happened backstage that captured attention after she was asked about her friend Megan Thee Stallion. Doja was answering questions from the media when a journalist wanted to know what she would say to the "naysayers" who have accused the Good News rapper of lying about being shot by Tory Lanez. The question seems random considering Doja hasn't said anything about the incident in the past and isn't involved in it whatsoever, but she gave an answer nonetheless. "Um, one, if you are trying to take somebody down for something that you have no idea about, like, one, we should trust her 'cause she's the Stallion," said Doja. "And also just...it feels like, I don't know, it just feels like, why even do that? It's pointless." "I don't know. It's a really sensitive topic, too," she added. "It's not even like you can just jump in and throw tomatoes. It's not the environment for that kinda thing." Check out the clip of Doja giving her opinion about Megan Thee Stallion below. View the full article

Netflix may have taken down Chappelle's Show, but T.I. is calling for the public to stop watching the series altogether. After sharing on Instagram that he isn't being paid by ViacomCBS for his classic sketch comedy series that helped make him a household name, Dave Chappelle has received support from those in and out of the industry. In his "Unforgiven" social media post, Chappelle revealed that he was confused to learn that Netflix, who he's worked with repeatedly on stand-up special in recent years, was airing his show. In good faith, the streaming service bigwigs removed Chappelle's Show from their options, and now T.I. is calling for a boycott. The rapper and activist took to his Instagram page to upload a text image that reads, "Do Not Watch The Chappelle Show." In the caption, he added, "They ain't paid my mans.... Go Watch #Unforgiven on @davechappelle page #DaveSayItsUP." This isn't the first boycott that T.I. has called for; the rapper has also told the public to refrain from supporting brands like Gucci, Burberry, and Prada as well as a number of restaurants that have been accused of racist or discriminatory behavior. While Chappelle's Show won't be available on Netflix, it's still up in its entirety on Comedy Central's website. View the full article

Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Tainy are the only Latin artists nominated for a Grammy beyond the Latin categories. They collaborated with British singer Dua Lipa. View the full article

Every year when Grammy nominations are announced, there many artists and fans who are disappointed by The Recording Academy's choices. Throughout the day (November 24), we've heard from plenty of music industry professionals and entertainers as they lament over just how and why they weren't included on the 2021 Grammy nods, but one exclusion shocked more than most: The Weeknd. The Candian superstar is one of the most celebrated artists in the industry today with three Grammy awards under his belt, and his March release After Hours was one of the biggest albums of the year. As fans attempt to piece together how The Weeknd didn't receive any nominations from the Grammys this year, the Recording Academy's interim President/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. attempts to address concerns. Frederick M. Brown / Stringer / Getty Images In an interview with Billboard, Mason briefly touched on the snubs after being asked about The Weeknd and Harry Styles who missed out on the "Big Four" categories. He said, "For The Weeknd, in every year you only have a certain amount of people you can nominate for each category. As for Harry, he has some great nominations this year [even though he wasn’t nominated in the top categories]. We are excited about some of the other categories where he was nominated. It’s never easy to tell where people are going to land." He added that The Academy had a "very diverse group of new voters" and didn't have much to say when it was noted that these "new voters" seemed to value rising, lesser-known artists than those who have established careers and bodies of work. "[Hesitantly] Yeah, it’s interesting," said Mason. "We take it very seriously. We review every bit of music that is submitted," he added elsewhere in the interview. "From year to year, it is really hard to predict who is going to be nominated and who’s not. I personally wish we could give everybody a nomination, but there are only a certain amount of slots. There were some amazing records that did not get nominated." Make sure to check out the full list of nominees here: 2021 GRAMMY Awards Nominations Announced. [via] View the full article

It's been quite the day for Dave Chappelle. After the comedian complained that he wasn't being paid by ViacomCBS for Chappelle's Show on Netflix, the streaming service pulled the sketch comedy classic from airwaves. "I called [Netflix] and I told them that this makes me feel bad. And you want to know what they did? They agreed that they would take it off their platform just so I could feel better.” Chappelle has completed a number of specials for Netflix and their working relationship seems to be a good one, so it doesn't come as a surprise that they wanted to accommodate his request. Aside from that controversy, it looks as if Dave Chappelle has a stream of live performances coming up with Joe Rogan, as the podcast host revealed just as much on his show, The Joe Rogan Experience. While tossing back a few shots with fellow comedian Tom Green, Rogan slipped and let the cat out of the bag. "I shouldn't probably say this on the show but I'm gonna anyways cause we've been drinking," Rogan began. "Dave and I are gonna do a residence here [in Texas]. We're gonna do a bunch of shows here." Green was excited and wanted to know if he could get a few minutes on stage at one or more shows. "F*ck yeah!" replied Rogan. Chappelle has reportedly been hosting social distancing shows on his property in Ohio, so to hear that the comedian will hit the stage for a residency in Texas isn't surprising. Check out Tom Green and Joe Rogan chatting below. View the full article

Chris Brown took to Instagram on Tuesday to flex his new wheels, gifted to him by Kanye West. The photo shows Brown standing on top of the back wheel, and the caption reads: "THANK YOU KANYE." With no further explanation as to why Kanye would hand over his tank, it's only right that we do some digging. In August, Business Insider reported that Kanye's vehicle of choice in Wyoming, where he has been residing, was a $500K high-performance tank, also known as a Ripsaw EV2. The luxury tank happens to be the fastest tracked vehicle on the market, and was originally designed for military use. Understandably, you may now be wondering how Kanye managed to get a military-grade, high-performance, super-fast, presumably very heavy tank all the way from Wyoming to Los Angeles — Where Brown lives — or why he would want to make such a grand gesture to him in the first place, or why Brown would casually share it on Instagram without giving us any answers to these obvious curiosities. This isn't the first time Kanye has gifted somebody a vehicle, however. Back in 2019, he gave his manager a Laborghini SUV for his birthday. Neither Chris Brown or Kanye West have elaborated on this massively generous gift, and while we don't have the foggiest idea what the backstory could be here, let us know your theories in the comments below. [via] View the full article

Mickey Guyton, nominated for her song "Black Like Me," became the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nod in a country music category Tuesday. View the full article

Speculative biopic "Stardust" looks at David Bowie in America before he became a cultural icon. View the full article

Last year, Bow Wow and Wendy Williams made headlines after exchanging shots at one another when Williams criticized Bow Wow for comments he made about his ex, Ciara, and he responded by body-shaming a photo of the bikini-clad 56-year-old host at the beach. It appears Williams may still be harboring some resentment towards the 33-year-old rapper, as she took to her show once again, to call his musical ability into question. In a segment, Williams asked DJ Suss One, who replaced DJ Boof after his abrupt exit from the show last month, “Name one hit record that Bow Wow has had in his 27-year career." Upon Suss One’s momentary hesitation, Williams retorted, "That’s right, rub your beard," as the audience laughed. Since the episode aired, many have been quick to remark that the comment may not have been entirely fair, seeing as Bow Wow arguably birthed several hits throughout his career, including “I’m a Flirt,” “Shortie Like Mine,” and “I Think They Like Me,” and even helmed an acting career at the same time. Paras Griffin/Getty Images If history is any indication, it likely will not be long before Bow Wow fires back with some shade of his own. If anything, maybe he’ll kill two birds with one stone and shut down the Wendy shade and appease fans by taking part in a Verzuz battle sometime soon. Watch the show segment in question below. View the full article

Lil Baby did not make "The Bigger Picture" to profit off the protests. He made the song to provoke thought in his audience, and he absolutely succeeded. The song is nominated for two prizes at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards, of which the nominations were announced today. While his label thinks he was snubbed in the Best Rap Album and Album Of The Year categories, Baby isn't speaking about that. Instead, he's celebrating the awards that he was nominated for, donating the earnings from "The Bigger Picture" to a number of different sources that he will announce at a later date. "I got 1.5 million dollars to donate off of 'Bigger Picture' I want the money to go we’re it’s needed," wrote Baby on Twitter. "I don’t want to donate to just any organization but I will be letting my fans kno exactly we’re the money goes. Lawyers ,Bonds , Play Grounds , Jobs , youth activities , things that WE can really benefit off of." Kevin Winter/Getty Images This initiative is pretty special and, considering the song was just nominated for two of the greatest honors in music, it means that much more. Plus, he's actually looking to help out the community, paying for bonds, providing lawyers, and more. Lil Baby will be listening to where the money should go, so you better get to hitting him up if you've got a case for it. View the full article

23-year-old Florida rapper, Billy Bennett Adams III, has been charged with two counts of murder in the first degree after allegedly fatally shooting two men, and one count of armed burglary of a structure. Adams, whose stage name is Ace NH, supposedly knew both of his victims. On Thursday evening Adams arrived at a recording studio where he was reportedly filming a music video of his. After his session was over, he shot the two men and sped off in his car. He was apprehended by officers from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office two days after the shooting and is being held at the Orient Road Jail without bail. It's unclear whether or not he has an attorney at this time. While the police have not released the names of the victims, they did mention that the crime was gang-related. Adams and at least one of the victims, allegedly, identify as Crips. In a statement, Sheriff Chad Chronister said: "Although the attack was clearly targeted, we will not allow gang-related disputes to disrupt the comfort and safety of innocent residents in any of our communities." “It is clear that this suspect had no regard for human life, and now he will face the consequences for his actions," he added. [via] View the full article

Today has seen the unveiling of the 2021 Grammy Nominations, and as such, the news cycle has been absolutely flooded with hot takes, celebrations, explanations, theories, and straight-up displeasure. To be expected really. In spite of all the division, one category stands out as being particularly interesting -- Rap Album Of The Year. Michael Bezjian/Getty Images With nominations for D Smoke, Royce Da 5'9", Freddie Gibbs, Nas, and Jay Electronica, many (including staunch Grammys detractor Eminem) were quick to praise the Recording Academy for getting it right. And let's be honest, each of the contenders really came through with their A-Game and deserve to be celebrated accordingly. For Freddie Gibbs, his first Grammy nomination marked a major personal milesto e, one that he actually sought back when Bandana was being crafted. And now that he's on the cusp of a possible victory with the Alchemist-produced Alfredo, it would appear his excitement has spilled over to his kids. The self-proclaimed Skinny Suge recently let his guard down in an endearing and wholesome clip, one that finds him promising a Grammy family outing to his two young children as he smiles with happiness. It's a nice moment for one of the game's most consistently elite lyricists, who has gone frequently praised by his peers but seldom recognized by the mainstream at large. Perhaps, now that he's got a Grammy nomination under his belt, Freddie can take comfort in knowing that his work is being recognized on a wider level. Check out Freddie's feel-good clip below, and show some love to Alfredo in the comments -- do you think it has a chance at securing the prize? View the full article

On 2021 Grammy nominations day, Nicki Minaj criticized the Recording Academy for crowning "white man" Bon Iver over her as best new artist in 2012. View the full article

Big Sean is among the many Detroit rappers to secure a Grammy nomination this year. The 32-year-old rapper was nominated for Best Rap Performance for his album, Detroit 2’s lead single, “Deep Reverence,” featuring the late Nipsey Hussle. Also nominated was Big Sean’s girlfriend and R&B powerhouse, Jhene Aiko, who landed in the Album of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best Progressive R&B Album categories for her latest project, Chilombo. The couple, who reunited earlier this year after taking a hiatus from their relationship, have both made significant musical strides with their 2020 releases. Both Sean and Aiko have garnered a handful of Grammy nominations over the years but have yet to secure a win, although it looks as though this may be the year they do so. The pair took to Twitter to applaud each other’s nominations, as support from fans on both sides poured in upon the announcement of the artists' respective nominations. Check out the couple’s tweets to one another, as well as some fans’ reactions, below. It has been announced that Trevor Noah will be hosting the 2021 Grammy Awards. Among the other nominees are Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, and Jay-Z, who is celebrating his 80th Grammy nomination. View the full article

Kim Kardashian reportedly met with death row inmate, Julius Jones, and his family yesterday. Jones was sentenced to death in 2002 for the murder of a 45-year-old man, but he and his family have maintained his innocence all these years, insisting that he was having a game night with his family on the night that the crime took place. More than 6 million people have signed a petition to free Jones, including Kardashian, who first became involved with his case after watching the three-hour TV documentary about it, The Last Defense. The reality star has quietly helped free 17 low-level drug offenders in the last two years, and it's Jones' hope that she will be able to help him as well. She and Jones had their first meeting on death row at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. From there, she met with his family at a church in Oklahoma City. “Our family knows that Julius did not commit this murder, because Julius was at home with us at the time of the murder,” Jones' mother said. “We were at home playing board games and eating spaghetti. The judge and jury that convicted and sentenced my son to die never heard that we were having a family game night. Julius’ attorney never gave us the opportunity to tell them about where Julius was. My son did not kill anyone because he was home with his family.” Angela Weiss/Getty Images Back in April 2019, Kardashian shared a detailed explanation on Instagram, outlining her plans to take the bar exam in 2022. "Last year, I registered with the California State Bar to study law. For the next 4 years, a minimum of 18 hours a week is required, I will take written and multiple choice tests monthly," she wrote. "It’s true I did not finish college. You need 60 college credits (I had 75) to take part in 'reading the law', which is an in office law school being apprenticed by lawyers," she continued. "I changed my number last year and disconnected from everyone because I have made this strict commitment to follow a dream of mine - It’s never too late to follow your dreams." [via] View the full article

Could we be in for a First Day Out mixtape from Baby Grizzley and Tee Grizzley? At the end of last month, Tee Grizzley's brother, known artistically as Baby Grizzley, was released from prison after a 5-year stint for robbery. Ever since his release, he's been flaunting his iced-out watch and chain as he gets settled in, lowkey getting ready to make an impact in music. Tee is already established as one of Detroit's best rappers out, so could his brother follow suit? The Grizzlies have been teasing new music for weeks, finally uploading their new record "Twin Grizzlies" with a brand new music video, which marks as an introduction for many to Baby Grizzley. Tee Grizz starts the song out before his brother jumps in for a verse, which is actually pretty solid. Clearly, Baby Grizzley was brushing up on his rap skills while he was locked up. Listen to the new record below. Quotable Lyrics: Y'all can lie to Instagram but y'all can't lie to me Shooters got their passports, we thuggin' overseas We'll burn somethin', I ain't talkin' STDs Call the plug like I'm locked out the house, send some keys View the full article

With his sixth solo album, 'The Hustle Continues,' out November 27, hip-hop icon Juicy J talks through his career beginnings, winning an Oscar with Three 6 Mafia, and why he wants his flowers while he's still around. View the full article

With his sixth solo album, 'The Hustle Continues,' out November 27, hip-hop icon Juicy J talks through his career beginnings, winning an Oscar with Three 6 Mafia, and why he wants his flowers while he's still around. View the full article