Jury Finds Three Men Guilty In 2018 Murder of Rapper XXXTentacion
Three men were found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2018 death of rapper XXXTentacion. We discuss it here!
XXXTentacion
By: Omar Cook
On Monday, the murder case of rap star XXXtentacion has finally come to a verdict. Three men, Michael Boatwright, 28, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24 were found guilty of first-degree murder of XXXtentacion who was shot while being robber of $50,000 as he outside of motorcycle shop in South Florida.
The trio was also convicted of armed robbery by a jury which reach a verdict in less than an hour of day 8 of deliberations. They are set to be sentenced on April 6 by Circuit Judge Michael Usan and they are expected to receive life sentences per Florida law for first-degree murder convictions.
The three new convictions make a total of 4 now as, Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and testified against his co-conspirators. Over thee course of the trial, it was learned that the group was planning to rob random people and happened to run across XXXtentacion. After they noticed who he was, the group proceeded with the attack.
Trayvon Newsome, left, Dedrick Williams and Michael Boatwright all found guilty of first-degree murder of XXXTentacion at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, March 20, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Surveillance footage showed at least two suspects watching XXXTentacion before carrying on with the murder. Cellphone records also linked the men to the crime as the group took pictures with money they stole.
XXXTentacion was a rising star tackling subjects of depression, and mental health in his music.
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Bryson Tiller Announces "Back and I’m Better Tour" for this Spring
Bryson Tiller announces his "Back and I'm Better Tour," a 25 city tour that will start this spring. We discuss it here!
By: Adonis Armstrong
Bryson Tiller is gearing up for a upcoming tour this spring after a five year drought. Earlier today March 20th, the singer announced he will be headlining his “Back and I’m Better Tour” which consist of 25 city tour produced by Live Nation. The tour will start in May 4, in San Diego, California and will feature some major cities throughout America, including Detroit, Philadelphia, Houston, New Orleans, and Miami. The tour will come to a close in Seattle, Washington on June 12th.
“It’s simple, we back! Taking a trip to the past and giving y’all a glimpse of the future. 5 whole years without touring, Time really does fly… See y’all soon!”
Tiller’s tour poster draws influence from the hit sci-fi classic movie Back to the Future, which was released in 1985.
It’s been five years since Bryson last toured with NAV, “Never Sleep Tour” and I believe this two month tour will draw nice crowds. Bryson has also been working on new music, which will be coming after his 2021 album, A Different Christmas, which earned a spot on the Billboard 200.
Tickets will be made available on March 22 with Live Nation presales. The Back and I’m Better Tour will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 24, at 10 AM local time on ticketmaster.com.
Since Tiller is back and better it’s only right I end it with his classic single, “Don’t”. Listen below!
Bryson Tiller - Don't (Explicit Version)
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Drake and 21 Savage Set Dates For "It's All A Blur Tour"
Hip-Hop duo Drake and 21 Savage announced dates to their upcoming "It's All A Blur Tour set to kickoff this summer. We discuss it here!
21 Savage and Drake perform at Spelhouse Homecoming Concert) at Morehouse College on Oct. 19, 2022 in Atlanta.
Prince Williams/Wireimage
By: Omar Cook
Hip-Hop superstars Drake and 21 Savage are set to go on tour this summer. On March 13th, the duo announced their “It’s All A Blur Tour” which will consist of 29 performances all over America, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, and Atlanta. The tour kickoff in Toronto, with a date still yet to be determined, but will begin its U.S. journey on June 16, in New Orleans. The tour will conclude in Glendale, Arizona on September 5th.
IT’S ALL A BLUR TOUR
— OVO Sound (@OVOSound) March 13, 2023
with @Drake & @21savage
Dates now live on https://t.co/HhizEVu5LP click the link in bio for more information and details for your location. pic.twitter.com/ZR0RKuJ5Ul
It’s been five years since Drake’s last tour with the Migos, “Aubrey & the Three Amigos Tour”, and this four month tour will be sure to sell out some arenas. Drake and 21 Savage recently dropped a joint album in November 2022, Her Loss, which went number on the Billboard 200.
The tour is produced by Live Nation and tickets will go on presale Wednesday, March 16. General onsite begins Friday, March 17 on DrakeRelated.com at noon.
The duo recently released a music to their single, “Spin Bout You”. Check it out below!
Drake, 21 Savage - Spin Bout U (Official Music Video)
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Nipsey Hussle Murderer Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison
Eric Holder Jr., who was convicted of murdering rapper Nipsey Hussle received 60 years to life in prison. We discuss it here!
By: Joshua Martin
Eric Holder Jr., the man who was convicted for murdering rapper Nipsey Hussle back in 2019 in front of his Marathon clothing store, was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison.
Eric Holder Jr., left, listens during his sentencing for the murder of Nipsey Hussle in Superior Court. | Brian van der Brug via Los Angeles Times
Holder received 25 years to life on the murder charge, another 25 years to life since a gun was used and an additional 10 years for shooting two other men on that same day, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Ermias Asghedom, Hussle, was gunned down by Holder after a brief conversation between the two. Holder returned minutes later and began opening fire in the parking lot killing Hussle and wounding two other men.
According to reports, the two belonged to the same gang - the Rollin 60s of the Crips, however Nipsey in the later years of his life worked to stop gang violence and broker peace between rival gangs.
“Neighborhood Nip”, as he was affectionately called, often traveled the area without security despite his celebrity status to interact with patrons and fans.
The rapper’s murder at the age of 33 sent shockwaves throughout the hip hop community and the city of Los Angeles. The marathon clothing store where he was killed became a memorial where thousands came from across the world to pay their respects.
The Marathon Clothing Store
The agony still resonates deep within the L.A. community three years after the Grammy Nominated winners death. Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, a friend, expressed those sentiments in this statement.
“Nipsey was my friend, he was like a son, he was like a dad. Our community right now, we lost everything, everything we worked for. One man’s mistake, one man’s action, messed up a whole community.”
Since his death, Hussle’s metaphor for overcoming the struggles of life The Marathon Continues can be seen posted on social media as tributes to the fallen rapper.
Holder’s sentencing closes an ugly chapter in what seems to be a trend in today’s society of senseless gun violence.
In 2022, Hussle was honored by receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of fame cementing his status as a hometown hero.
His girlfriend Lauren London addressed the crowd honoring Hussle.
Lauren London speaking at Nipsey Hussle Walk of Fame ceremony
“I think I speak for the entire city of LA when I say that we’ve always known that Hussle was destined for greatness. Nip would’ve been honored by this moment. So whenever you’re in the City of Angels, and you see this star, I hope that it encourages you to break away from whatever might be holding you back, and for you to run your marathon until God says that it’s finished.”
With that being said… #TheMarathonContinues 🏁🏁
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20 Nominations, 0 Wins: Why Hasn't Snoop Dogg Won A Grammy?
20 times Snoop Dogg has been nominated for a Grammy and never won. What’s the holdup? We discuss it here!
Concord, CA/USA - 8/28/16: Snoop Dogg performs during The High Road tour in California. He is a multiple Grammy Award nominated artist. He has also won Billboard awards, AVN awards, MTV awards.
Credit: Sterling Munksgard via Shutterstock
By: Omar Cook
Rappers have had beef with the Grammy Awards dating back to 1989 when Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff decided to boycott the event after the awards show decided not to televise the rap category. It’s 2023, and Hip Hop royalty is still at odds with the Grammys.
It’s safe to say Snoop Dogg is easily one of the most accomplished hip hop artists alive, but even with that being said, Snoop has yet to win a grammy. 20 times the hip hop legend has been nominated for the prestigious award and zero times has he been the recipient. That’s crazy.
It has to open up the question; are the Grammy’s biased towards certain winners? Snoop of all people has every right to feel the way he does with his work being able to speak for itself. 20 nominations and no wins is pretty wild and anyone in that position would be upset.
Although any artist would love to take home the Grammy honor, it’s not the end all to be all for determining how successful one’s career was. Snoop was stamped off his Doggystyle alone. Will we ever see Snoop get a Grammy? Comment what you think below?
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Kendrick Lamar Wins Best Rap Album at 2023 Grammy Awards
Kendrick Lamar takes home the Grammy for Best Rap Album for his groundbreaking album "Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers" at the 2023 Grammy Awards, solidifying his position as a leading force in hip hop. We discuss it here!
BARCELONA - MAY 30: Kendrick Lamar (rap artist) performs at Heineken Primavera Sound 2014 Festival (PS14) on May 30, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain.
Credit: Christian Bertrand via Shutterstock
By: Adonis Armstrong
Kendrick Lamar took home three awards at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for his critically acclaimed album, Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers. He won Best Rap Album and added two wins Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his lead single “The Heart Part 5”. This marks K. Dot with 17th Grammy wins and solidified his place as one of the most influential and successful rappers of his generation.
The album which was released in 2022, was a venture from Lamar's previous works and saw him explore new themes and styles in his music. Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers was met with widespread praise from fans and critics, who hailed the album as a triumph of hip hop and a testament to Lamar's artistry.
In his acceptance speech, Lamar thanked his family, friends, and fans for their support, and dedicated the award to the next generation of rappers who he hopes will continue to push the boundaries of the genre. He also used the platform to address social and political issues, calling for change and encouraging young people to be active in their communities.
Lamar's win was a triumphant moment for the hip hop community and a testament to the genre's growing influence and impact on popular culture. K. Dot, who has always stood out from most of his peers, once again demonstrated his ability to create innovative and meaningful music that resonates with audiences around the world.
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Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre, and Missy Elliott received the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award
Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre and Missy Elliott received the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award at the 2023 Black Music Collective’s BMC Honors. We discuss it here!
SACRAMENTO, CA - AUGUST 28: Rapper Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. aka Lil Wayne performs in concert as part of America's Most Wanted Tour at Sleep Train Arena on August 28, 2013 in Sacramento, California.
Credit: Randy Miramontez via Shutterstock
By: Joshua Martin
Black Music icons took center stage at the annual Recording Academy Honors hosted by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective in celebration of this year’s Grammy Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Spearheaded by CEO Harvey Mason Jr, The Black Music Collective was formed in 2020 by prominent industry leaders to promote Black representation and inclusion.
Hip Hop legend Lil Wayne took home the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award, which was affectionately renamed the ‘Dr. Dre Impact Global Award’ in honor of the West Coast music legend.
During his acceptance speech, Wayne reflected on his career in the music industry and the adversity he faced becoming a success hailing from Louisiana.
“I don’t get honored. Where I’m from, New Orleans, you’re not supposed to do this.”
Preceded by emotional video tributes by Drake and the new Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, the night of celebrations continued for Wayne as his peers, 2Chainz and Tyga, performed some of Wayne’s greatest hits on a night where the past, present and future of Black music were being honored.
Followed by a lively performance by West Coast legend Snoop Dogg, Ty Dolla Sign, and Kurupt. During his speech, Dr Dre. spoke about his hip hop origins and how music changed his life.
“The birth of hip-hop completely changed the course of my life. Just imagine where a lot of Black men, including myself, would be without hip-hop. I was in junior high school when I had ever heard hip-hop for the first time. I heard mixing and scratching, I couldn’t get enough of that sound. And once I got my hands on the turntables, I knew I had found my wings and I was determined to know how to fly.”
Before being introduced by longtime manager Mona Scott-Young and Ciara, Elliott was praised by super producer Timbaland and fellow singer, rapper Lizzo with heartfelt video tributes. Emotionally herself, Missy exclaimed how important this award means to her.
“People don’t understand that this is a Global Impact Award. It’s not just neighborhood, it’s global. So it hits different when you stand up here, knowing that when you get something like this, you gotta know that you’ve been through a lot.”
She also gave a powerful tribute to fellow winner, Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone. Later, Swiss Beatz commanded a packed house to give “Sylvia Rhone the Great” a standing ovation before presenting her with the Global Impact award.
“It’s been a lot of years for me in hip-hop, and it’s even more special to me amongst this elite group of artists with Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, each of whom I’ve had the privilege of working with throughout my career.”
Additional musical acts included Chloe Bailey, Busta Rhymes, and Tweet.
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Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest Get 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominations
Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest announced as 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees. We discuss it here!
NOVI SAD, SERBIA - JULY 10, Missy Elliott performing on the Best European Music Festival - EXIT 2010, on July 10, 2010 in the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad.
Credit: Nikola Spasenoski via Shuttterstock
By: Adonis Armstrong
This year has been an amazing year for many hip hop artists from nomination to winning awards. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced 14 nominees for this year's class including some hip hop heavyweights Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest. The two are among hip hop royalty when it comes to creation and paving their own lanes in the industry.
Missy Elliott, the iconic rapper and producer, has been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2023. This is a major milestone in her career and a testament to her impact on the music industry.
Missy is highly regarded as one of the pioneers of hip hop and R&B from her artistic creativity style. Her innovative style that she brought to the game of hip hop was crazy. Her debut album Supa Dupa Fly was released in 1997 which I believe is a certified CLASSIC! The production of the album is A1 on how she blends hip hop, R&B, and funk music all together, which. is still heavily inspired today. Throughout her career, Missy has released six studio albums and has collaborated with numerous artists, including Aaliyah, Timbaland, Ginuwine.
Her impact on music extends far beyond her own discography, but her innovative music videos, which often feature her as the main character and creative director, have been praised for their creativity and impact on the music video industry. I can remember when I was a kid watching her videos when I was younger thinking she had some of the dopest music videos in the game.
A Tribe Called Quest, pioneers in their own right are by far one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time, has just been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This news has been met with widespread excitement and joy from fans and music lovers.
A Tribe Called Quest
ATCQ are known for their unique approach to hip hop such as their native tongues style and conscious lyrics. The groups first three albums People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, and Midnight Marauders are stamped as hip hop history. The group has left an indelible mark on the music industry and has inspired countless artists over the years.
The Afrocentric style in their music was amazing and continues to last the test of time in hip hop history. The style is evident in their music and lyrics which often focuses on themes of African and African American culture, history, and consciousness. Even the fashion choices they incorporated from African fashion helped them shape and define a huge part of the hip hop genre.
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