Over the course of three decades, Mary J. Blige has been one of the leading voices in the music industry. 

With 15 studio albums in the game, the music legend continues to sit on her throne as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.

The post Mary J. Blige Says She Was ‘Afraid Of Success’ But Diddy Helped Her To Be Ambitious In Her Career appeared first on AfroTech.

As previously reported by AfroTech, Blige’s talent and dedication to her artistry led her to build a net worth of $20 million, Celebrity Net Worth estimates. 

While the quality of Blige’s discography speaks for itself along with the record charts and plaques, she has opened up about there being a time when she wasn’t prepared for all of the accolades set to come her way — until meeting the music mogul who helped shape her entry into the business.

For her debut album “What’s the 411,” released in 1992 under Uptown Records, Blige worked closely with Diddy, who was the executive producer of the album.

Nearly 30 years later, in an interview with PEOPLE, the Hip-Hop heavyweight praised Blige for being a “pioneer” and “an unstoppable force.”

“Mary J. Blige is one of the greatest storytellers in R&B history,” Diddy told PEOPLE. “She created a lane for women around the world to speak their truth to power, so nobody deserves this success more than her.”

In the same breath, Blige showed love to her close friend and even admitted he played a significant role in her facing success head-on.

“Puff was a huge inspiration for me,” she said, according to the outlet. “He wanted all of this for me more than I wanted it myself.”

“I was not as ambitious as Puff,” she continued. “When I met him, I was afraid of success, afraid to do anything that could put so much attention on me. When you come from where I come from, you’re scared to be ambitious. You’re scared to want more. And then when I met him, he was the complete opposite. He was such a good thing for me because I needed what he had, to be excited to be seen, to have the lights on him. But it took some years to grow into that.”

Since then, it’s clear that Blige has left fear in her past.

In addition to having success in music, she has an ever-expanding acting portfolio, inked endorsement deals, and has multiple business endeavors including her popular wine brand, Sun Goddess. 

Rapper 50 Cent has been in the music world for over two decades, and throughout that time, the Power star bore witness to the rise of many rappers, from Jay-Z and Eminem to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. When 50 looks back at the legacies of Jay-Z and Eminem specifically, however, he finds that the two artists and their achievements aren’t comparable.

50 Cent has been friends with Eminem for years

Eminem emerged on the hip-hop scene at the turn of the millennium with breakout albums including The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, the latter being the highest-selling rap album of all time. By the early 2000s, he was the hottest new rappers in the game, with a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 and an Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Lose Yourself.” In 2003, Eminem collaborated with New York rapper 50 Cent on “Patiently Waiting” from 50’s debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

In 2022, 50 marked the years of his great relationship with Eminem with a sincere Instagram post. “This friendship is never gonna change,” he captioned two photos of the rappers in 2003 and in 2022.

 

 

 

 

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50 Cent says Eminem has had a bigger impact on hip-hop than Jay-Z

In January 2023, former NBA players Jamal Crawford and Shaquille O’Neal reflected on Eminem’s legacy — along with other rappers’ — on O’Neal’s The Big Podcast with Shaq. When Crawford considers his top five best rappers of all time, he said plainly that he valued “dominance” and cultural impact over record sales and No. 1 singles.

“My five, the dominance outweighs the number,” Crawford said. “Like, Jay-Z’s effect on hip-hop is bigger than any album sales that Eminem will have, you see what I’m saying? That’s just how it goes.” O’Neal disagreed, as did 50 Cent.

50 shared his thoughts on Crawford’s claim in an Instagram comment on Hip Hop Wolf‘s post detailing the interaction. “Ha bulls***,” 50 wrote with a sneezing face emoji.

Ari Lennox is taking a moment to reflect on her contributions to past relationship issues in her “Waste My Time” music video. Or maybe not. In the Val Vega-directed visual, the vocalist ponders physically fulfilling romance as she questions her choices.

Entering the office of a therapist certified by Cold Outside University, the 31-year-old songstress is visibly nervous about the session. Sitting anxiously across from a counselor, Lennox is seemingly prepared to face her flaws head-on.

“So Ari, why do you think you keep falling for the type of guy?” they ask. The “Queen Space” singer’s mind shifts to a sultry romance as she thinks of an answer.

The nearly three-and-a-half-minute video includes sensual moments between the artist and a lover with visually stunning moments of Ari dressed in a blue gown, singing in a pool of water, and seductively performing in a gold two-piece ensemble.

In the end, she answers the question after an audible sigh, “Well I mean, why do they keep falling for me?”

“Don’t Waste My Time” follows “POF,” “Hoodie,” and “Pressure” in the songs from Ari Lennox’s latest album age/sex/location to receive video treatments. The release, which ranked at No. 11 on VIBE’s top 25 R&B albums of 2022, features contributions from Summer Walker, Chloe, Lucky Daye, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and more.

Watch the music video for “Waste My Time” above and check out age/sex/location below.

Chlöe made her solo debut in September 2021 with the release of the sultry jam, “Have Mercy.” Following the positive reactions, she continued to tease her solo era with singles including “Treat Me,” “Surprise,” and “For The Night” featuring Latto to accompany a slew of live performances and independent wins.

Now, the multi-hyphenate creative returns with “Pray It Away,” the lead single from her long-awaited debut album, In Pieces.

“I have been the rawest, the most vulnerable, and the most open I have been in my entire life with this album,” Chlöe, 24, shared in a statement. “I used to believe the way I love so hard without question, was a curse. Only to find out, it’s been my greatest gift all along.”

With the expressive “Pray It Away,” the Praise This star finds herself seeking guidance from a higher source after being smitten, swooned, and swindled by the wrong person.

Despite being warranted to choose violence, Chlöe doesn’t. The bold siren instead gives it to God. In an effort to pray the pain away, she sings, “I just learned to hate from a f**k n***a/ Just start?healin’/ Now?when I hear?his name, I get more triggered […] Damn, I waste this time for nothin’/ I faked it for nothin’.”

The Madeline Kate Kann-directed visual (above) was filmed in a historic church in downtown Los Angeles. It showcases an angelic Chlöe on her knees, having a tearful conversation with herself while waging war with her pure heart and reactive temper. The juxtaposition of her sheer white corset dress and her latex black look emphasizes that she “ain’t no Virgin Mary.” Don’t test this Cancer’s emotional tolerance as she actively tries to avoid doing something she’ll later regret.

Her In Pieces album—which may have been sonically influenced by Kanye West, Kelis, Donna Summer, and Imogen Heap—showcases songs written, arranged, and produced by Chlöe. It is slated for a March 2023 release.

Watch her album teaser below and the “Pray It Away” music video above.

 

 

 

 

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Keke Wyatt is headed back into the studio. Regarded as “one of the greatest singers of her generation,” the R&B Divas: Atlanta alum has signed a new deal with Shanachie Entertainment and is gearing up to release a new album—her first in six years.

“I really feel good about signing with Shanachie!” Wyatt, 40, expressed in a statement. “I’m excited and finally ready. I feel like this time we will create magic together and make HISTORY!” As far as expectations go, she shared, “Fans can expect some good ole Sanging honey!! I want to give my fans the gift of love, hope and trust with my new music. However, don’t get it twisted because I’m singing about it all. I think everyone will be able to relate to this album.”

The mother of 11 first rose to prominence as a teenager when “My First Love,” her duet with Avant, peaked No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart in 2000. It spent 28 weeks on the chart. Her platinum-selling debut album, Soul Sista, featured another hit single of theirs, “Nothing In This World.” It peaked No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.

On their revived partnership, Shanachie General Manager Randall Grass added, “At a time when great singers are in short supply, Keke continually displays what real singing is all about. Her range, power and intensely felt vocals connect with her audiences on the deepest level. We loved working with her before and are very excited to work with her now to make an epic new album.”  

The album’s title and release date have yet to be announced.

During Eddie Murphy’s recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the You People star reflected on his iconic friendship — and that one time he got snowed in — with Rick James.

“I went up there to record ‘Party All The Time,’” Murphy, 61, explained. “It was maybe the most fun I ever had. I was supposed to go for one weekend, and we got snowed in Buffalo—sometimes it has five feet of snow—and I was stuck in Rick James’ house for two weeks, and it was one of my fondest memories.”

After Kimmel commented on James’ drug abuse, asking, “Are you sure it was snow outside?” Murphy replied, “He never did that around me. Usually, people who do that don’t do it around people who don’t. It’s not like weed.”

Murphy’s 1985 chart-topping hit single was featured on his debut album, How Could It Be. The record was produced by the late artist and he also provided the background vocals. The father of 10, however, is returning to music with his upcoming stand-up performance—his first in 30 years.

“But my show won’t just be a stand-up show; my show will be music and stand-up,” the Cecil B. DeMille recipient explained to Complex. “Because I can’t just get on the stage and just do jokes because I have all this other stuff now. I’m thinking about how to put together a live show that has everything.”

TMZ reported that the comedy special will stream on Netflix and the deal was worth upwards of $70 million.

Comedy special aside, Murphy is working on a remake for Beverly Hills Cop and two other projects. Once his acting obligations are fulfilled, he plans to “get some new material in” for the stand-up show.

Watch his full Kimmel appearance below.

Stand-up comedian and radio personality Rickey Smiley is mourning the loss of his eldest son. The talk show host announced on Instagram over the weekend that his son Brandon passed away at the age of 32. 

“I just had bad news this morning. I’m on the way to the airport to get to Birmingham. I just want everybody to pray for me, pray for our family,” Rickey said in a video. “My son, Brandon Smiley, has passed away this morning.”

Rickey hasn’t disclosed the cause of death but did say that he was ‘ok’ during the video. 

“Pray for my son’s mother and my son’s siblings,” he added. 

“Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt. My granddaddy went through this s–t with my dad and somehow, here I am going through the same thing my grandparents went through. So just pray for our family.” 

 

 

 

 

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Brandon was following in the footsteps of his father. He was also a stand-up comedian and actor. He leaves behind a daughter named Storm, 3.

Rickey is known for The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Fox syndicated TV show Dish Nation, and TV One sitcom, The Rickey Smiley Show. His career in comedy and TV spans over two decades and in 2017 he received the Marconi Award for syndicated personality of the year.

Beyonce Recently, fans around the world spoke when she interpreted her first live concert in more than four years. But while some members of the Beyhive sought all the images they could find of the event on social networks, others were furious that the show even produced in the first place. Beyonce's performance took place in Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates, and it would have been very paid. The greatest criticisms of this recent live appearance even call for the cancellation of the beloved singer, because they believe that her Dubai concert harms members of the LGBTQIA +community. Read the rest to know why the location she has chosen for a rare concert is so controversial and to see how her father, Matthew Knowles , responded.

On January 21, Beyoncé played a one hour concert at the opening of the luxury hotel, Atlantis Le Royal. According to the BBC, the event only invites had a policy of non-telephones , but it was clearly broken by many, because the event videos struck the internet.

Beyoncé received a large sum for performance, which was her first full set since the end of 2018. Forbes report that It was paid $ 24 million For the concert.

Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates. According to Human Diginity Trust, Under the Water Act , the prison sentence can be imposed on a sexual activity of the same sex. "Men and women are criminalized under the law," according to the organization. "The same -sex sexual activity can also be penalized under sharia, under which the death penalty is possible, although there is no evidence that this was used against LGBT people."

Nelly had a bizarre moment on stage, and it had fans a bit worried about his well-being.

During a performance at Melbourne, Australia’s Juicy Fest on Wednesday (Jan. 18), the St. Louis representative took to the stage for a rendition of his crossover hit “Over and Over” and began to act erratically throughout the live show. 

The audience watching the Diamond-selling artist began to notice his eyes rolling in the back of his head, twitching and slurring over his words. Then, towards the end of the clip of Nelly’s strange behavior, you can see the artist beginning to wave his hands concernedly. 

As the video began to make its rounds on the internet, fans began to worry about Nelly’s bizarre behavior, with some people insinuating he was high. One online user expressed that the Country Grammer entertainer looked “washed” as he struggled during his performance. 

Nelly was def on something last night coz his eyes were fighting for their life. His crew should have told him to keep his glasses on ????????#juicyfest pic.twitter.com/gTYs3vt0l3

— Chanelle (@imshanz) January 16, 2023

Nelly was def on something last night coz his eyes were fighting for their life. His crew should have told him to keep his glasses on ????????#juicyfest pic.twitter.com/gTYs3vt0l3

— Chanelle (@imshanz) January 16, 2023

“Like look at this ni**a,” the Twitter user expressed. “He is WASHED, DREDGED, BATTERED, AND DEEP FRIED lmaoo.” Another user chimed in, alleging that the 48-year-old emcee appeared to be on Percocet and was having a reaction to the pill. “Nahh Nelly caught 4k Perced up and on god knows what other drugs he on.”

Hopefully, the St. Lunatics head honcho can figure out whatever this was because he has a huge concert arriving this year. 

On Tuesday (Jan. 17), it was announced in an official press release that the Lovers & Friends Festival would be returning for a second year on May 6, 2023, at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. 

Nelly is set to appear at the huge celebration alongside Pitbull, Missy Elliott, Summer Walker, Usher, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, and more. 

Ahead of the RENAISSANCE tour, Beyoncé is reportedly set to make $24 million for a one hour-long performance.

This weekend, Bey will be performing at Atlantis The Royal resort in Dubai in an invite-only, private show, as reported by several sources. Some fans have already leaked alleged rehearsal footage.

According to the newly-surfaced videos, the Parkwood icon may be diving back into her archive to perform hits like “Crazy In Love” and “Naughty Girl” from her 2003 debut solo album, Dangerously In Love, her heartwarming ballad, “Halo,” “Drunk In Love” from her 2013 legendary self-titled album, “Spirit” from The Lion King: The Gift, that supported the 2019 live-action adaptation of the Disney film of the same name, and the dynamic anthem, “Freedom.”

This performance marks Bey’s first since Beychella in 2018.

• Sam Smith said they 'forced' themself to take off their shirt at pools to improve their body image.
• The singer spoke with The Sunday Times about their identity and overcoming insecurities.
• Smith added that they "look fabulous" and that they now have "the opposite of body dysmorphia."

Sam Smith said they "forced" themself to take off their shirt at the pool to overcome their body image issues.

Speaking with The Sunday Times' Jonathan Dean in an interview published this weekend, the singer talked about body dysmorphia, authenticity, and identity. 

Smith told Dean that they were apprehensive about joining an industry where trim, toned celebrities were considered the standard. They said their parents tried to persuade them to undress while on vacation as a child — to no avail.

When asked how they transformed into a star that regularly wears daring looks onstage and online, Smith said they took a bold approach.

"Within my industry there is definitely that question of, 'What should a pop star look like?' When I was 25 I came off tour exhausted," they said, referring to their "The Thrill of It All" tour. "I looked to role models in the body world. Every time I went to the pool I felt self-conscious, but I forced myself to take my top off."

Just before Miguel finally blesses fans with new music, one of his classic records has resurfaced in a monumental way. The crooner’s 2010 hit, “Sure Thing,” has reentered the Billboard charts, thanks to a viral wave on TikTok.

For the week of Jan. 21, 2021, the record is No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart. It initially peaked No. 36 on June 4, 2011 and spent 24 weeks on the chart. The single from Miguel’s debut album, All I Want Is You, last appeared on the Billboard 200 on August 2011.

“YOU GUYS GOT ME CHARTIN BEORE I GET THIS NEW ONE OFF! APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE FOR SURE THING!,” Miguel wrote with a video of performing an acoustic version of the ballad.

Additionally, “Sure Thing” is No. 14 on Apple Music’s Top 100: Global, which spotlights “the most-played songs around the world,” Rated R&B reports. It has also surpassed 605 million streams on Spotify, and is currently Miguel’s most popular record on the streaming platform, bypassing “Adorn,” the Travis Scott-assisted “Sky Walker,” and the Kygo duet, “Remind Me To Forget.”

Upon its release, it was revealed that “Sure Thing” was initially supposed to be an Usher record. “[‘Sure Thing’] made it to the ears of Mark Pitts over at ByStorm/Jive and at the time he was trying to finish Usher’s project, which was the Here I Stand album. He wanted to use the song for [that],” Miguel explained to BET.

He revealed, “I guess he sat with it for a few days, for about a week or so, and he fell in love with the voice and wanted to meet the writer. He flew me out and we vibed. I went back home and a week later I flew back out and met all the A&Rs and the president of Jive at the time…and they wouldn’t let me leave until I signed.”

The Los Angeles native’s last full-length release was 2017’s War & Leisure.

Despite new-age sequels to classic films typically getting harsher criticism than their predecessors, it seems the House Party remake is getting a warm welcome. Christopher “Kid” Reid, the star of the 1990 classic, spoke with TMZ about the LeBron James-produced film.

“We understand that LeBron’s been very supportive of Kid N’ Play in the past by some of the actions that he’s done—doing the [dance] in the TV commercial, dressing up his kids [Bronny and Bryce] as Kid ‘N Play some years back. So, we knew there was a fondness both ways,” said Reid, 58.

The beloved actor admitted that he loved the reprise and even makes a cameo in the film. “I think it’s always great to have a new perspective on it. The original ‘House Party’ came out over 30 years ago and has its place in cinematic lore. I don’t think that’s gonna change. I think it’s nice to get a fresh, young perspective on a classic, so I’m very satisfied for what they did,” he continued.

Admittedly, James shared House Party (2023) is not a reboot, similar to his 2021 Space Jam reimagining. “It’s an entirely new look for a classic movie,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Everyone I grew up with loved House Party. To partner with this creative team to bring a new House Party to a new generation is unbelievable.”

For director Calmatic, he simply asked fans to remain open to the remake. “I want the audience to be open-minded when it comes to these classic titles, and I want them to look at this film as this is the new generation,” the Los Angeles native explained to Entertainment Weekly. “This is how we get down, this is what we do, and it’s okay to love it. It’s okay to revamp and expose the next generation to the same vibe that they participated in. I wouldn’t say it’s a part of the same exact universe as the first three House Parties, but I think this title can go a bunch of directions.”

House Party starring Jacob Latimore, Tosin Cole, D.C. Young Fly, Kid Cudi, and James himself is now playing in theaters.

When Michael Jackson died in 2009, his estate was worth $482 million. As for his net worth, his executors said it was over $7 million at the time. But according to documents filed in 2014 with the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, the IRS found that the King of Pop had a net worth of $1.125 billion.

Nine years after his death, the singer broke records after making $2 billion in record sales. While that doesn't mean the late singer's net worth is in the billions, it does mean that his heirs or trustees are entirely set in life after inheriting his fortune.

The Billie Jean hitmaker left 40% of his estate to his mother, Katherine. As a result, the matriarch received $100 million (also her current net worth). Court documents also state that she still receives a monthly stipend worth $67,000 from the estate. However, reports say that all of it just goes to her children's and grandchildren's expenses.

In Janet Jackson's documentary, Janet released in 2022, Katherine said that she still couldn't talk about her late son. In one scene, Janet asked Katherine: "Mother how do you feel talking about Mike's passing, is that too much for you?" The latter responded, "I can't."

However, Katherine also said that she's "very proud" of Michael "because he did succeed." In 2013, she took the stand to testify about her son's tragic death. "They watched him waste away," Katherine said of the concert promoter AEG Live that never informed them of Michael's poor health on tour.

"They could have called me. He was asking for his father. My grandson told me that his daddy was nervous and scared." She added that contrary to the claims, she never saw her son under the influence of drugs, "loopy, or out of it."

"I knew he was taking them [pain pills] but I didn't know he was abusing them," she tearfully told the jury. Then she admitted to staging an intervention with their family at Michael's Neverland ranch in 2002.

However, she recalled the pop star getting upset "because when we got there, there was nothing wrong with him." She then emphasized Conrad Murray's accountability in the case.

Murray was the doctor who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 over the Beat It singer's death. He was sentenced to four years in prison. "Even though [Michael] asked for [the drug propofol], [Murray] could have said no," said Katherine.

Michael Jackson Left Millions To His Children

According to Michael's will, his three children — Prince, Paris, and Blanket — will receive $33 million each. They each received allowances until they turned 21 and will gain access to one-third of their trust fund at age 30. The remainder is said to be disbursed in increments at ages 35 and 40.

When their grandmother Katherine passes away, her remaining shares from the estate will be split between the three siblings. Prince, the eldest, is currently worth $100 million. The elder Jackson has maintained a private life all these years, unlike most of his relatives.

His sister, Paris has a net worth of $100 million. After numerous appearances in films, TV shows, and music videos, she even formed the folk band, The Soundflowers in 2018. A year before that, the young musician purchased a $2 million home with seven bedrooms in the Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles.

Related: Michael Jackson Spent An Enormous Amount Of Money Sending His Three Children To This Fancy School

Like his older siblings, Prince Michael Jackson II A.K.A. Blanket is worth $100 million as well. He also keeps a low profile like his older brother. As for his nickname, his father once explained that it meant "to envelope, cover or 'blanket' someone with love." However, most assume that the nickname stemmed from that one time MJ dangled his infant son over a balcony with a blanket over the baby's head.

These days, "Blanket" goes by the name Bigi Jackson and is following in his dad's footsteps as an environmentalist. In November 2021, he made a rare TV appearance, speaking on Good Morning Britain about the Halloween party his brother held to raise funds for the Heal Los Angeles Foundation.

 

 

 

 

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"I do think it’s important that we all know about it," Bigi said of climate change. "And I think we have some work to do, but our generation knows how important it is."

In 2019, he did a YouTube series with his brother who was a former correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and is the owner of the company King's Son Productions.

While all three of Jackson's children are richer than any average person could dream of, they are still working on pursuing their own passions as careers, something that would no doubt make their late father very proud.

The drive-by shooting murders of two of the hip-hop industry's most beloved players shook up fans in the mid-1990s. On September 7, 1996, 25-year-old Tupac Shakur was leaving the home of hip-hop mogul Suge Knight at 10:30 pm in Knight's BMW. Shakur had just attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas and was en route to Club 662 with Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up beside the BMW. Moments later, the car driven by Knight was struck by a hail of gunfire, with four of the 14 bullets that exploded from the barrel of the assassin's gun hitting Shakur (per MTV News). The rapper was rushed to the University Medical Center, where he underwent multiple surgeries before dying on a respirator a week later on September 13.

Scarcely six months later on March 9, 1997, another murder made national headlines. Prolific East-Coast rapper Christopher Wallace (a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.) was leaving a party in Los Angeles when the SUV carrying Wallace stopped at a traffic light. Gunfire erupted from a newer model Chevy Impala, with bullets striking the rapper who, like Shakur months prior, was sitting in the front passenger seat (per Rolling Stone). The 24-year-old was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead after emergency surgery.

In the years since the deaths of Shakur and Wallace, several conspiracy theories have been formulated about their murders. These accusations aside, there was one friend of both young men who would later reveal that he was in their company in the moments before tragedy struck.

Wayans Had Been Hanging Out With Biggie At A Party Minutes Before The Musician Was Murdered

In October 2022, actor and comedian Marlon Wayans was making a guest appearance on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" when the star opened up about his friendship with both Wallace and Shakur. Wayans was an avid fan of both men's music and was lucky enough to see both of the late hip-hop giants share the stage at the Glam Slam nightclub in Minneapolis (via YouTube). Wayans talked of how these two stars were friends, before the "East coast versus West Coast" feud erupted between the rappers several years later.

Fast forward to March 1997. Wayans was at a party for Vibe Magazine in Los Angeles when he bumped into Wallace. He shared the meaningful words that the rap legend told him that night, claiming that Wallace told him "Yo, I'm proud of you guys -- your family. I like what y'all doing, y'all legends. Keep doing what you're doing, kid."

According to Wayans, Wallace left the party only minutes later to take his ill-fated ride in the SUV. But this was not the only time that the comedy star would be with a rap icon only moments before tragedy would strike. Wayans would continue by revealing that he was in Las Vegas the previous September when Wallace's friend-turned-adversary Tupac Shakur was gunned down.

Shakur Hugged Wayans Less Than 30 Minutes Before Being Shot

Wayans was much more familiar with Shakur, having worked with the hip-hop artist on the set of the 1994 film "Above the Rim" (via IMDb). During his interview on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," Wayans also mentioned that he and Shakur had a mutual friend in common, actor Omar Epps. Epps had shared the screen with Shakur several years earlier in the 1992 film "Juice" (per IMDb).

On the night of September 7, 1996, Wayans was at the Luxor in Las Vegas when he bumped into Shakur. He told Corden that Wayans and Epps approached Shakur, with Wayans embracing him in a hug. "I love you brother, good seeing you," he told the rapper (via YouTube). 

Twenty minutes later, Tupac was aboard Knight's BMW when he was shot. Wayans told Corden during his interview, "I love 'em both, miss 'em both." To date, neither the murder of Tupac Shakur nor Christopher Wallace has been solved.

• Cardi B said Offset was "throwing up" and "screaming" after learning Takeoff had died. 
• Takeoff, Offset's fellow Migos member, was shot dead in Houston, Texas, in November.
• "I was just so scared, I was just crying so much," said Cardi. 

Cardi B has recalled the moment she and her husband Offset found out that Takeoff had died. 

Takeoff, Offset's fellow Migos member along with his cousin Quavo, was shot and killed in Houston, Texas, in November. He was 28 years old. 

"We just fell asleep, and out of nowhere, Offset's phone kept ringing, my phone kept ringing," said Cardi, speaking on the premiere episode of "The Jason Lee Show" on Tuesday, 

"Offset picked up the phone, and he's just like, 'No!' He's screaming and screaming, 'No, no, no!' And I'm like 'What's going on?' And he was like, 'Takeoff is dead.'"

She continued: "He's just screaming and just throwing things, throwing up, running all over. I was just so scared, I was just crying so much."
 

Takeoff, full name Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot in Houston outside of a bowling alley in the early hours of November 1.
 

Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument over a "lucrative dice game" in which the rapper was not involved and that he was an "innocent bystander."
 

In December, Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was charged with murder in connection to the Takeoff's death, while Cameron Joshua, 22, was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Clark has since been released on a $1 million bond but is due to appear in court again in March.

A young sports reporter with a "smooth" demeanor well beyond his years has gone viral after a thoughtful postgame interview with Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams.

Sports4free Youth media reporter Jeremiah Fennell joined "Fox & Friends" Monday to discuss his interview with the wide receiver and his work as a young sports reporter.

"When you're very passionate with your job, you really take it seriously. So I'm always preparing for my interviews, and I've always tried to practice it, get it right the first time," Fennell said. 

Our newest (and cutest) reporter on the job with @tae15adams ????

????: IG/jeremiahoneandfive pic.twitter.com/vZEYavX5cQ

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 11, 2023

The 10-year-old Raiders fan's sideline talk, where he effortlessly recited Adams' player stats and asked about his greatest childhood memories, was shared by the team last week in a tweet calling Fennell their "newest (and cutest) reporter." The video has been viewed over 4 million times.

Fennell detailed how he stayed cool under pressure while fulfilling his "dream" of interviewing star NFL players.

"I wasn't starstruck or anything," he said. "I was just there just talking to him like a normal reporter, you know? So I wasn't really scared, because in the end, we're all people." 

Fennell credited his professionalism to his parents who "lead by example."

"They definitely helped me to become the man that I am right now and the man that I will be in the future," he said.

Fennell, who was praised as "smooth" and "impressive" by co-hosts Lawrence Jones, Pete Hegseth and Rachel Campos-Duffy, was then asked about rumors of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady possibly playing for the Raiders next season.

"Tom Brady has always been my favorite quarterback my entire life and the Raiders have always been my favorite team my entire life," Fennell said. "So if they mix together and Tom Brady is on the Raiders? That would be like a dream come true for me. And hey, maybe I get to interview him."

Janelle Monáe has spoken candidly about her non-binary identity after announcing she uses she/her and they/them pronouns last year.
 

The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery star recently appeared on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show”, where she spoke about keeping an open mind to gender identity.
 

“I think it’s all about just honoring your truth and your authenticity, and whatever that may look like,” Monáe told host Jess Cagle during an episode on Friday, 13 January. “I’m not this arrogant person that thinks I have all the answers, so I think for me, it’s about making sure that I’m also saying to people, ‘Further investigate who you are,’ you know?”
 

“Allow yourself to discover something new about yourself,” the 37-year-old actor said. “Open up your mind to different possibilities, and listen to folks who are saying, ‘Hey, this is who I am. This is how I feel inside and outside.’”
 

The Grammy-nominated singer added that she feels it’s important for those who are non-binary to have “patience, truth, compassion” for people who struggle to understand gender identity.
 

“I think all of it, to me, is important as we evolve as humanity, as we understand more about gender, as we understand more about sexuality,” she said. “So, I’m just keeping an open mind about it all.”
 

Janelle Monáe first came out as non-binary in April 2022 during an episode of Facebook Watch’s Red Table Talk. Speaking to co-hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Monáe said: “I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely. I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she’.
 

“And if I am from God, I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am, beyond the binary.”

When the Moonlight actor was asked about speaking her truth, she recalled: “Somebody said, ‘If you don’t work out the things that you need to work out first before you share with the world, then you’ll be working it out with the world.’

“That’s what I didn’t want to do. So I thought I needed to have all my answers correct, I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” she continued.
 

Monáe added that she prefers to perceive people based on their energy, rather than based on their gender and sex, saying, “I don’t see how you identify, and I feel like that opens you up to fall in love with whoever, with any beautiful spirit.”

Gladys Knight has announced upcoming tour dates for 2023.

The Empress of Soul will kick off her 12-city tour on Jan. 13 at Silver Legacy Grande Hall in Reno, Nevada. From there, the legendary singer will play in Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Greensville, South Carolina; Albany, Georgia; and more. 

“I can’t wait to join you for a phenomenal and soulful evening,” Knight wrote in an Instagram caption. Tickets are on sale now at Knight’s official website. 

Knight was honored at the 45th Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., for her “contributions to American culture through the performing arts.” The ceremony aired Dec. 28, 2022, on CBS.

 

 

 

 

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“In her 55-year music career, legendary singer and America’s beloved ‘Empress of Soul’ Gladys Knight went from the Pips of Georgia to GRAMMY royalty, showcasing a boundless vocal range and soulfulness that has stood the test of time,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein.

Knight’s tribute performance included appearances by Garth Brooks (“Midnight Train to Georgia”), Mickey Guyton (“Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”) and Ariana DeBose (“I Heard It Through the Grapevine”).

Patti LaBelle joined the three singers to perform “That’s What Friends Are For,” the 1985 cover by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Knight that raised proceeds to benefit AIDS research and prevention. 

In early December, Knight and LaBelle headlined AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) 2022 World AIDS Day Concert at the same venue.

“It was a momentous night to host our World AIDS Day concert at The Kennedy Center for the first time, and welcome back the legendary Patti LaBelle, and have another great American icon, Gladys Knight join us, while also being able to honor the legacy and humanitarian work of the late Princess Diana,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AHF.

Circling back to music, Knight released her last single “Just a Little” in 2015. Symbolyc One produced the party-ready groove.

“We just wanted to have fun. Most of the singles I’ve released prior to ‘Just a Little’ were ballads. I wanted something new. Something that we could dance to,” Knight explained. 

The video for “Just a Little” featured appearances by Chanté Moore, Eric Benét, Erica Campbell, Ledisi, LeToya Luckett, Karina Pasian, Kelly Price and more.

See Gladys Knight’s upcoming tour dates below.

Gladys Knight 2023 Tour Dates

Jan 13 – Reno, NV @ Silver Legacy Grande Hall
Jan 14 – Primm, NV @ Star of Desert Arena
Feb 14 – Nashville, TN @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Feb 16 – Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock
Feb 17 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Feb 19 – Orlando, FL @ Steinmetz Hall
Feb 21 – Tampa, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock
Feb 23 – Greenville, SC @ Peace Concert Hall
Feb 25 – Biloxi, MS @ Beau Rivage Theatre
Feb 26 – Albany, GA @ Albany Civic Center
Mar 2 – North Charleston, SC @ North Charleston PAC
Mar 4 – Wetumpka, AL @ Wind Creek Hotel & Casino

Get tickets at gladysknight.com.

Queen Naija Wants to Talk About it: R&B songstress Queen Naija has released a new single and video called “Let’s Talk About it.”
 

The song sees Naija laying down some home truths for dudes that apparently need them. “Why you scared of therapy?” she sings. “Probably can’t accept the truth.” Ooof!
 

The press release describes the song as “a slow-burning but unstoppable new single that calls out all the self-absorbed and drama-obsessed men of the world. Listen HERE via Capitol Records. Accompanied by a cinematic video that finds Queen taking back her power, ‘Let’s Talk About It’ arrives around the Detroit-bred artist’s milestone five-year anniversary of her breakthrough hit ‘Medicine’ (a double-platinum smash that premiered on New Year’s Day in 2018 and immediately set her meteoric rise in motion).”

“Co-written by Queen with Mike Woods (G-Eazy, Tink, Ty Dolla $ign) and producer Oak Felder (Kehlani, Nicki Minaj, Pink Sweat$), ‘Let’s Talk About It’ is a powerful piece of R&B-pop built on her ultra-smooth soothing vocals. With its soulful backdrop of lush textures and hypnotic beats, the bold but vulnerable track challenges the men in her life to face their issues once and for all (from the second verse: ‘Putting up a front to hide behind your traumas/Takin’ all your anger out on me won’t solve ‘em/Had a real one by your side, but you just lost one’).”

Donell Jones has survived a car crash after falling asleep while driving, revealed the R&B singer in an Instagram post shared Tuesday.

The musician, known for hit songs including 1999's "U Know What's Up" and 2000's "Where I Wanna Be," shared a series of images from the incident to the social media platform and told fans in the post's caption that he did not suffer any injuries.

"I fell asleep while driving yesterday and ended up in a ditch," wrote Jones, 49, alongside photos of his Mercedes-Benz lodged into a grassy trench. "I walk away with no injuries but I learned a valuable lesson, That if you're tired just park the car cause this could've been bad…."

Jones cited his faith for keeping him safe. "I know that I am truly protected but I needed this experience," he said. "Thank you God for wrapping your arms around me as you have always done… My love and loyalty is to you.. ????????????????"

Underneath the post, several fellow musicians left supportive comments for the singer. "My brother hope you ok ??????????," wrote Fat Joe.

"Dam yo. Im glad you're ok," commented Da Brat.

The Instagram account for R&B group Next wrote, "Your karma and good energy will always protect you my brother. Blessings always ????????????"

"I'm glad you're ok!!!??????????" said SWV member Cheryl "Coko" Gamble, while Mario Winans wrote, "Thank GOD you alright!"
 

Born to Married to Medicine star Renee Byrd and gospel singer Roy Jones, Donell was raised in Chicago and wrote songs for Usher and 702 before releasing his debut album My Heart via L.A. Reid's LaFace Records in 1996.
 

Over his decades-long career, Donell has scored Billboard Hot 100 hits including "In the Hood," "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (originally by Stevie Wonder), "U Know What's Up," "Where I Wanna Be" with Lisa Lopes of TLC, "It's So Hard" with Big Pun, "You Know That I Love You" and "Put Me Down" with Styles P.

 

 

 

 

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Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was convicted of felony assault in December 2022 stemming from his shooting of Megan Thee Stallion back in 2020. Lanez hasn’t given up hope of fighting his case, however. As his sentencing date approaches in late January, Lanez has hired the help of a new lawyer for his appeal case. The lawyer has had many famous clients before, including hit-making rapper Snoop Dogg in his infamous 1990s murder case.

Megan Thee Stallion first came forward alleging Tory Lanez shot her in the foot in the summer of 2020. Lanez’s trial was set for December 2022 in Los Angeles.

On December 23, 2022, Lanez was convicted in a jury trial on three felony charges related to the shooting: assault with a semiautomatic handgun, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and gross negligence in discharging a firearm.

Lanez was taken to jail following the conviction, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for January 27, 2023.

During the trial, Lanez relied on defense attorney George Mgdesyan to help him with the case. As Lanez now prepares to appeal his conviction, he hired longtime lawyer David Kenner. “I don’t do appeals, so we had to get somebody on board to handle the appeal,” Mgdesyan explained to Rolling Stone of the move.

Kenner has represented Suge Knight in court, and there’s another connection to Death Row Records that he’s represented in court: rapper and business mogul Snoop Dogg.

“Kenner’s biggest claim to fame appears to be getting Snoop Dogg acquitted of murder a.k.a. ‘murder was the case that they gave me,’” Law & Crime reporter Meghan Cuniff, who covered the trial, wrote on Twitter. “He told me he has a video of Snoop at his 80th birthday party saying, ‘Without David Kenner, there’d be no Snoop Dogg.’”

In 1993, Snoop Dogg was charged in relation to the death of a rival gang member, facing counts of first- and second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit assault, and being an accessory after the fact. He went to trial and was acquitted after six days of deliberations in 1996.

Snoop addressed the charges on his 1993 song “Murder Was the Case,” as well as the short film and soundtrack of the same name released the following year.

“They made the right decision,” Snoop told reporters as he left the courthouse, according to the Los Angeles Times. “This has been an ordeal that has affected our lives for the past two-and-a-half years. I was just trying to figure out if I was going to be here to raise my son.”

In an interview with radio host Big Boy, 50 Cent attempted to apologize to Megan Thee Stallion for making light of and perpetuating the idea that she had lied about being shot by Canadian artist Tory Lanez. Lanez was found guilty of shooting Megan last month and awaits sentencing. 

In an unwieldy conversation — where Big Boy implied he would encourage Oprah Winfrey to be unfaithful in a hypothetical relationship between the two of them and 50 Cent described Gabrielle Union’s recent revelations about a “dysfunctional” marriage prior to her relationship with Dwyane Wade as “hoe s***” — the New York rapper addressed his taunts.

After Megan revealed that Lanez had shot her in the feet in a dispute in July 2020, 50 Cent shared memes that downplayed the shooting circumstances by depicting Megan and Tory as characters in the film Boyz in the Hood and the Austin Powers franchise. He later took to Twitter to apologize, saying he wouldn’t have posted a meme he didn’t create about the shooting if he had known she was telling the truth about having been shot.

However, he went on to post another meme last month comparing Megan to Jussie Smollet, the Empire actor found guilty of staging a hate crime against himself in Chicago in 2019. 

“Do you have guidelines?” Big Boy asked 50 Cent on his show, which was shared via YouTube on Wednseday, Jan. 11. “Because there’s sometimes when I see… man, you can be a brand. Then you’ll do things, and then I’ll see other stuff, and I’m like, ‘What the hell?’” Big Boy then went on to ask 50 for his opinion on the case against Tory Lanez for the shooting. 

“I’m gonna apologize to Megan Thee Stallion,” he said after a brief gaze above his interviewer. “I said some things, and it was because… On social media I posted things that — when she was with Gayle [King]—she said, ‘Were you intimate with Tory Lanez?’ And she said, ‘What?’ and it was like, ‘No.’ And I was like, ‘Ah, she lying.’ At that point, I knew she was lying: It wouldn’t be no reason for them to be around each other. From that it felt like she was lying, to me.”

50 Cent said the only reason he owes Megan an apology is because he heard Tory Lanez’s jail call with Megan Thee Stallion’s former friend Kelsey Harris in which he apologized profusely for his drunken behavior the night of the shooting. “What happened happened, I can’t take it back,” Lanez told Harris. “But I’m just telling you I’m sorry.” 

“I would’ve never did that s*** if I wasn’t that drunk, bruh, you feel me?” Lanez said as well. 

As Rolling Stone’s cover star last June, Megan decried the intense disparagement she faced on social media as the trial approached. 

“I get online,” Megan said. “I see funny s*** all day. But then in the mix of that, there is also 20 people at-ing me at one time, saying crazy stuff. I’m like, ‘My 15 minutes [online] is over. Get off.’” What kind of crazy stuff? “??I see people saying, ‘Damn, I would’ve shot that b**** too,’” she added.

Many music lovers cannot think about the 1990s without hearing one of TLC's many hit songs in their heads. TLC formed in the early 1990s with Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, per AllMusic. The trio quickly rose to fame with their song "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," on their first album, "Ooooooohhh...On the TLC Tip."

Their next album, "CrazySexyCool," came out in 1994 and featured some of their most popular songs, "Creep," "Waterfalls," and "Diggin' On You." The wildly popular album earned TLC their first Grammy wins for best R&B album, with "Creep" earning them an award for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals, per IMDb.

As reported by BET, "CrazySexyCool" sold over 15 million records and the group was at the height of its success. However, all members of TLC declared bankruptcy in 1995, with over $3.5 million in debt. How did such a successful girl group making millions go broke?

Fans were shocked when the multi-million-selling group, TLC, declared bankruptcy after "CrazySexyCool." Following their Grammy win in 1996, Rozonda "Chili" Thomas announced that despite selling "10 million albums worldwide," they were "broke as broke can be." The group claimed that their labels LaFace Records and Arista Records were conning them out of major dough, per Mirror. According to TLC, expenses such as travel, hotel stays, and music videos were taken out of their paycheck, leaving them with less than $50,000 a year. Additionally, they were receiving a paltry 56 cents per album.

Amid their money issues, Lopes was dating Atlanta Falcons player Andre Rison at the time and after an explosive fight, she burned his house down, XXL reported. The rapper was charged with arson and released on $75,000 bail. While she wasn't sentenced to jail, she checked herself into rehab and was given five years probation, and ended up paying $10,000 in fines. Watkins also spent a lot of money battling sickle cell anemia, which contributed to her debt.

TLC managed to get out of their contract with their manager Perri "Pebbles" Reid and negotiated a new deal with LaFace Records, which took two years, per Grunge. They eventually released their third album, "FanMail" in 1999, but that didn't come without its issues as well.

TLC's next album, FanMail" went multiplatinum, but that didn't stop the band's problems. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins claimed Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes was causing issues within the group and even quit ahead of recording "FanMail." Following the accusations, Lopes threw down the gauntlet. "I challenge Tionne 'Player' Watkins and Rozonda 'Hater' Thomas to an album entitled 'The Challenge,' a 3 CD set [consisting of] three solo albums," she declared. She suggested the winner would be determined by Billboard and be given $1.5 million by LaFace Records.

In response to Lopes' proposal, Thomas and Watkins stated, "We think it'd be best to paraphrase the great poet Iyanla Vanzant.... 'At a time when unity is so desperately needed it is significantly lacking.... Unity does not mean we will all believe in or do the same things. It means we will agree to do something without battling over how and why."'

"FanMail" was the last finished studio album for all three members of TLC before Lopes tragically died in a car accident in Honduras in 2002, per CNN. Despite their issues, Thomas and Watkins remember their bandmate with love. "She was our sister, you know? And no matter what we went through, we're sisters. You know sisters argue, and they kiss and make up and that's just how our relationship was ...Through us, people will always remember Lisa," Thomas declared.

SZA is spending her fourth consecutive week at No. 1 with SOS.

Her fourth straight week atop the Billboard 200 officially gives the SOS a series of firsts, including being the first R&B album by a woman to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 since Janet Jackson’s janet. in 1993, the first R&B album by a woman to log four weeks at No. 1 since Alicia Keys’ As I Am in 2008, the first R&B album by a woman to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 in one year since Adele’s 30 from December 2021 to January 2022 and the first album by a woman to have four consecutive weeks at No. 1 since 30. SOS earned 125,000 equivalent album units this week, with 121,500 from streaming equivalent album units, 3,000 from album sales and 500 from track equivalent units.

A newcomer on this week’s chart include ATEEZ’s Spin Off: From the Witness at No. 7 with 41,500 equivalent album units.

Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, Taylor Swift remains at No. 2 followed by Metro Boomin, Drake and 21 Savage and Bad Bunny at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Making up the bottom half of this week’s top 10 are Morgan Wallen at No. 6, Zach Bryan at No. 8, Lil Baby at No. 9 and Harry Styles at No. 10

A star-studded lineup of rap “legendz” is set to run back another edition of the Legendz of the Streetz Tour.

Listen to Greg Street's Dirty South Hip Hop and more on the free Audacy app

Jeezy, Rick Ross and T.I. head the list, and there’s plenty more firepower in the rest of the line-up as well, including Hip-Hop vets like, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Ja Rule, Cam’ron, Trina and more to be announced.

Set to kick off in New Orleans on February 3, the “RELOADED” North American leg will make stops in in Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Nashville and more before wrapping up in Atlanta on March 5.

And as T.I. wrote on IG, this time he promises “MORE energy, MORE anthems, and MORE legendary’ish.” Check out his announcement below and get your tickets here.

 

 

 

 

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Gabrielle Union says her first marriage was "dysfunctional" from the very start.

The 50-year-old actress initially tied the knot with NFL player Chris Howard, 47, in 2001 but they split in 2005 and she has now admitted that neither of them felt that their marriage should "get in the way" of them dating other people and so they both felt "entitled" to be unfaithful to one another.

Speaking on 'The Armchair Expert' podcast, she told host Dax Shepard: "In our first marriage, neither one of us felt like the marriage should get in the way of our dating. A part of it was like keeping up with his activities, like, 'Oh, that's what you're doing? You're going to feel this one,' and I just felt entitled to it as well. Whoever has the most gets to do whatever the hell they want is what I thought," she recalled. "It was just dysfunctional from day one!"

The 'Bring It On' star went on to marry former NBA star Dwyane Wade and has four-year-old Kaavia with him and is also raising Zaya, 15, and Zaire, 20, from his former marriage to Siohvaughn Funches while Chris - who has been engaged to Sonia Arenatold since 2009 - previously insisted that there was no bad blood between the pair and he wished his former spouse the "best" in life.

He said: "What I do know is that she appears to be very happy with her new family and she's continued to do very well with her career and activism. I wish her and her family nothing but best."