Kanye West would be the first person to tell you he belongs on this list. The dude doesn’t believe in false modesty, and he shouldn’t. Kanye’s belief in himself and his incredible tenacity—he performed his first single with his jaw wired shut—got him to where he is today. And he fought for his place in the cultural pantheon with a purpose. In his debut album, over a decade ago, Kanye issued what amounted to a social critique and a call to arms (with a beat): “We rappers is role models: we rap, we don’t think.” But Kanye does think. Constantly. About everything. And he wants everybody else to do the same: to engage, question, push boundaries. Now that he’s a pop-culture juggernaut, he has the platform to achieve just that. He’s not afraid of being judged or ridiculed in the process. Kanye’s been playing the long game all along, and we’re only just beginning to see why.
JoJo returns with a new ballad entitled "Far From Heaven." The 24-year old singer is currently working on her third solo album. Listen to her new tune up top and let us know what you think in the comment section below.
SMACK/ URL is the largest platform in the world for MC Battling. On March 28th the industry leader held their first event of the year "Rookies vs Vets" . The event featured some of URL's top new recruits versus some of URL's established veterans. The Battle is match up between AYE VERB Veteran) vs BRIZZ RAWSTEEN (ROOKIE).
A$AP Mob member A$AP Twelvyy releases something new for his fans entitled "Lord." Take a listen to it up top and let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes recently sat and talked to VladTV about the sport he's grown old with, and how he feels that boxers these days have a lot to prove if they want to stand with the greats- Mayweather included.
"Mayweather and Pacquiao really haven't shown me a lot like what we did," expressed Holmes, referring to boxing legends like himself, Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. Though he feels like Floyd will win, he does admit that he notices the champ makes some wrong choices while in the ring.
"I think [Floyd] Mayweather is carrying the whole load," Holmes states before adding that Mayweather "does make some mistakes" that could ultimately help Pacquiao win. Watch as he describes what he feels boxers these days do wrong and the $3.5 million reason why he came out of retirement to fight Mike Tyson above.
Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj are one step closer to tying the knot, according to E! News.
"Both Meek and Nicki have been spending amazing quality time together lately and have gotten extremely close these past few months," an inside source told E! News. "It may seem like it all is happening very quickly but Nicki and Meek are in this 100. They truly love each other."
Nicki posted a photo of herself wearing a 15-carat diamond engagement ring on Instagram.
"This looks like a 15-carat fancy yellow heart modified brilliant cut diamond mounted in platinum with a double halo of white pavé diamonds," Morgan Shara of MASbisjoux jewelry told E! News. "This would retail for approximately $500,000. Looks like the natural fancy colored diamond trend that is continuing full steam ahead."
Chris Webby drops off a brand new official music video for his single entitled "So Easy." Check it out below and sound off about it in the comment section.
T.I. called in live & direct from his family vacation down in Costa Rica to chop it up with Whoo Kid on "The Whoolywood Shuffle" with #36Brickhouse. In the short interview T.I. speaks on working with Will Ferrell for the first time in "Get Hard", what his conversation with Young Thug was like about "Tha Carter 6", and what projects he's working on next! POW!
Lil Wayneis facing a lawsuit from his former bus driver who claims the rapper threatened to kill him.
TMZ reports that Mark Jones claims he was hired to drive for Wayne's 2014 tour, According to Jones, Weezy became angry when he stopped for gas on the way to Buffalo.
TheYoung Moneyboss reportedly began to curse at Jones, scaring him to the point where he left the gas station without refueling.
Wayne's tirade allegedly continued as Jones was driving. At one point Jones claims the "Lollipop" rapper threatened to pistol whip him and kill him. Wayne then retrieved a pistol and cocked it at close range, telling the driver, "I want to go to a hotel now."
Jones is now suing for false imprisonment, assault and emotional distress.
Chi-Town rapper Lil Bibby sat down with VladTV correspondent Michelle Visa where he touched on the origin of his rap moniker, basketball, and the meaning of Drill rap.
First off, the "Game Over" rapper confirms that his Hip-Hop handle is derived from the basketball court. Before attacking the booth, he was a certified point guard with moves reminiscent to those of Mike Bibby. "I had a little handle, but I had the shot; that's why they call me Bibby." Soon, basketball drives the dialogue as the conversation turns to the recent game between the Clippers and the Warriors which matched up point guards Chris Paul and Steph Curry.
These poignant playmakers truly delighted the crowd when Curry hit Paul with a behind-the-back dribble that momentarily discombobulated the celebrated Clipper. Following a brief debate about that highlight Bibby adds, "From the post on my Instagram, it looks like [Curry's] been embarrassing [Paul] for a few games now."
As the conversation segues back to sixteens, Lil Bibby speaks on popular subjects for Chicago rappers such as "guns, killings, and drugs" that permeate their everyday existence. Bibby then concludes that, "Outsiders categorize it as Drill Rap," but he believes that its a reflection of the plague that's possessing Chicago.
Tanboys boss Bodega Bamz drops off his new album entitled "Sidewalk Exec." Features include Lil Eto, Flatbush Zombies, Joel Ortiz and more. Stream it up top and purchase it now from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sidewalk-exec/id972463089
Tracklist:
1.Down These Mean Streets Producer: V'Don 2.Bring Em Out featuring Flatbush Zombies Producer: V'Don 3.Woopty Woop Blahzay Blah Producer: V'Don 4.Gods Honest featuring Joell Ortiz (of Slaughterhouse) Producer: V'Don 5.Cocaine Dreaming featuring Youth Is Dead Producer: V'Don 6.El Rey Producer: V'Don 7.Invoice featuring Aston Matthews Producer: V'Don 8.Raw Deal Producer: V'Don 9.Killa featuring Lil Eto Producer: V'Don 10.Billy Bats Producer: V'Don 11.Everybody Eats (Interlude) Producer: V'Don 12.I'm Ready Producer: V'Don
A Massachusetts jury has found Aaron Hernandez guilty on Wednesday, April 15, of the first-degree murder 27-year old Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player.
The jury deliberated for 36 hours over seven days before reaching a unanimous verdict. Hernandez faces. According to the Associated Press, the first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole and automatically triggers an appeal to Massachusetts' highest court.
Odin Lloyd
The prosecution's case was built mostly on circumstantial evidence. The murder weapon was never found, but by Hernandez's defense team's admission he witnessed the killing. Two other men will stand trial for their part in Lloyd's murder. He was shot six times in the middle of the night on June 17, 2013, in a deserted industrial park near Hernandez's home in North Attleborough.
Hernandez, 25, was an All-Pro tight end for the New England Patriots prior to being arrested for this crime. In August 2012, he signed a $40 million extension with the team. The Patriots organization cut Hernandez when police tied him to Lloyd's murder.
The reason for Lloyd's murder was never made clear. There has been speculation that he may have known too much about a 2012 drive-by homicide Hernandez has been tied to.
Hernandez's mother,Terri, and his fiancee,Shayanna Jenkins, cried when the verdict was read. Hernandez turned to them and mouthed, "Be strong."
The former NFL player was also convicted of illegal gun possession and illegal ammunition possession.
TUCSON, Ariz. (Associated Press) — Dramatic dash-cam video released Tuesday shows a police officer in a Tucson suburb using his cruiser to ram an armed suspect, sending him flying in the air before the car smashes into a wall.
The man survived the Feb. 19 crash, and prosecutors cleared the officer of any wrongdoing.
The video, now getting attention across the U.S., comes at a time of heightened tension over the use of force by police across the country.
The man who was hit, Mario Valencia, 36, faces several felony charges, including assault on a police officer. His attorney, Michelle Cohen-Metzger, has not responded to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Mario Valencia
Marana police Sgt. Chris Warren said Valencia robbed a convenience store in Tucson, broke into a church, invaded a home and stole a car. Valencia drove the stolen car to Marana, just north of Tucson, where he stole a rifle from a Wal-Mart.
Video from two different police cruisers shows Valencia walking down a busy business corridor with a rifle in his hands. At one point, Valencia points the rifle at himself and threatens to kill himself.
One of the dash cam videos shows an officer slowly driving behind Valencia as he shoots the rifle in the air. That officer tells others to stay back because the suspect is armed.
But within seconds, a different officer drives his patrol car at high speed and rams into Valencia, sending him flying into the air. Officers with guns drawn quickly swarm the scene.
Officer Michael Rapiejko
The officer has been identified as Michael Rapiejko. Warren said Rapiejko was put on a standard administrative leave because the incident was considered use of force. The Pima County Attorney's Office cleared Rapiejko of any wrongdoing and he is back on the force, Warren said.
LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) — The billionaire wife of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling got her revenge against a woman he secretly showered with gifts and whose recording of his racially offensive rant cost him ownership of the team.
Shelly Sterling's victory Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court will force V. Stiviano to surrender a $1.8 million duplex and return $800,000 lavished on her in cash handouts and several luxury cars, including a Ferrari, during a shadowy relationship.
Shelly Sterling claimed that Stiviano seduced her 80-year-old husband and manipulated him to give up community property the couple amassed through a real estate rental empire built over six decades of marriage.
"Shelly is thrilled with the decision," attorney Pierce O'Donnell said.
The award is a trifle for Sterling, but represents a triumph over a younger woman who cuddled up to her husband in public, told others she was the "next Mrs. Sterling" and caused them shame when the recordings surfaced.
Stiviano's recordings toppled her husband and "took us both down," Shelly Sterling testified at trial last month. "We lost the team. They were like another child."
Stiviano was partly undone by those same phone recordings.
"Everything that I have you've given me from your heart without me begging or asking or throwing myself all over you," Stiviano could be heard telling the billionaire in a clip played at trial to show they plotted to shield gifts from his wife.
Judge Richard Fruin Jr. rejected arguments by Stiviano's lawyer that the gifts were made when Donald and Shelly Sterling were separated and that Shelly Sterling couldn't seek them from a third party.
Attorney Mac Nehoray said he and his client were disappointed and would appeal the ruling, which is tentative and will become final in 15 days if there are no objections.
"Judges are supposed to interpret the law not make them," he said in an email.
The ruling comes nearly a year after the recording of Sterling telling Stiviano not to associate with black people caused an uproar and led the NBA to ban him for life and fine him $2.5 million.
With the NBA threatening to seize the team, Shelly Sterling got hold of a family trust by showing her husband had signs of Alzheimer's disease and negotiated a record $2 billion sale to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Her husband failed to block the sale in court and has sued his wife and the NBA in federal court.
The couple presented a united front at the Stiviano trial, discussing their enduring love for each other.
Testimony shed little light on the nature of the unusual three-way relationship that lasted about 2½ years.
Shelly Sterling said she assumed Stiviano was her husband's mistress.
Stiviano and Donald Sterling denied having sex. She referred to him as a father figure and lover.
Donald Sterling, who was incredulous that his wife had described them at one point as being estranged, referred to the 32-year-old Stiviano as an "ex-friend."
Shelly Sterling and Stiviano didn't hide their disdain for each other.
Shelly Sterling said Stiviano had been nasty to her and taken advantage of her husband and didn't deserve millions in gifts. Stiviano called Sterling the "Wicked Witch of the West" and said she hated her.
Sterling initially sought about $3.6 million from Stiviano, a figure an accountant said was a conservative estimate of the gifts that included the $240,000 Ferrari, a Bentley, a Range Rover, extravagant spending sprees and world travel.
After Fruin said he was having difficulty connecting all the money to Stiviano, lawyers for Sterling reduced their claim to $2.8 million, based on evidence and Stiviano's own admissions.
Fruin awarded all of that but $200,000, saying he had no credible evidence to support Stiviano's guess that she rang up hundreds of thousands of dollars on Donald Sterling's credit card.
Nueliphe World emcees Nyce Da Future, Kay1er and Pretty Boi Green link up to remix Nipsey Hussle's"U See Us." This is off of their forthcoming mixtape entitled "Nueliphe City."
Directed by UnLEASH (filmed and edited), Lot A Nerv (co-filmed), and Fes Taylor (lighting).
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