NEWS
5 Big Takeaways From Beyoncé’s New Song “Black Parade”
In honor of Juneteenth—a holiday commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the United States—Beyoncé surprised fans with her new song “Black Parade” late Friday night. The track, produced by Derek Dixie, is a celebration of Blackness. Beyoncé raps and sings about her hometown, Black culture, and womanhood.
“Black Parade” couldn’t have come at a better time. While people continue to fight against systemic racism, police violence, and general injustice, this track is a reminder to keep looking for ways to be proud of who you are.
“I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle,” she wrote in a statement on Instagram. “Please continue to remember our beauty, strength, and power.”
Here are the biggest takeaways from Beyoncé’s new single “Black Parade.” VIA (COMPLEX)
“Black Parade” couldn’t have come at a better time. While people continue to fight against systemic racism, police violence, and general injustice, this track is a reminder to keep looking for ways to be proud of who you are.
“I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle,” she wrote in a statement on Instagram. “Please continue to remember our beauty, strength, and power.”
Here are the biggest takeaways from Beyoncé’s new single “Black Parade.” VIA (COMPLEX)
PUFF DADDY ANNOUNCES A SECOND DATE FOR THE BAD BOY FAMILY REUNION SHOW IN BROOKLYN
Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Family reunion show at the Barclays Center is shaping up to be one of the biggest concerts of the year.
After initially announcing the show on DJ Khaled’s We the Best Radio, he followed through with his promise. On May 20, which is around the time of Biggie’s birthday, Puff is reuniting the Family. According to Ticketmaster’swebsite, the likes of Lil Kim, Mase, DMX, Swizz Beatz, Faith Evans, Mario Winans, 112, Total, The Lox, French Montana, Carl Thomas, Machine Gun Kelly,Yung Joc, Black Rob, Mary J. Blige and Jay Z are scheduled to appear
After initially announcing the show on DJ Khaled’s We the Best Radio, he followed through with his promise. On May 20, which is around the time of Biggie’s birthday, Puff is reuniting the Family. According to Ticketmaster’swebsite, the likes of Lil Kim, Mase, DMX, Swizz Beatz, Faith Evans, Mario Winans, 112, Total, The Lox, French Montana, Carl Thomas, Machine Gun Kelly,Yung Joc, Black Rob, Mary J. Blige and Jay Z are scheduled to appear
Gunplay Takes Another Jab at 50 Cent on His Remix to Young Greatness' "Moolah"Gunplay and 50 Cent really don’t get along.It wasn’t too long ago that G-Unit’s Kidd Kidd sent some shots at Gunplay and Meek Mill during a recent concert in New York City promoting 50’s The Kanan Tape. The Miami rapper wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines after that, sending a tough-talking response on Instagram.
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MAKONNEN SHARES AN EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT BY DROPPING THREE NEW SONGSMakonnen is set to celebrate his 27th birthday on Tuesday and breaking with tradition, he's decided to dole out some gifts to the fans. Earlier today the OVOsignee dropped the new songs, including an expansive, 10-minute long track to his SoundCloud titled "I Remember Makonnen Freestyle." The new song recounts in stunning, personal detail the rapper's rise from a street dealer in Atlanta to getting signed up by Drake and breaking out onto the national stage.
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RONALD SAVAGE OF ALLEGED AFRIKA BAMBAATAA SEX ABUSE SPEAKS OUTEarlier this month, Ronald Savage, a 50-year-old man who was once known as “Bee Stinger” during his time with the Zulu Nation, has accused Afrika Bambaataa of child molestation.
Speaking with The New York Daily News, Savage details his traumatic memories as a teenager in his new self-published memoir, Impulse, Urges and Fantasies (Life Is a Bag of Mixed Emotions): The True Untold Story of Pioneer Hip Hop Artist Liaison Bee-Stinger. |
Beyoncé Explains the Inspiration Behind Ivy Park (UPDATE)
Watch FKA twigs Completely Turn Up to Cardi B's "On Fleek"The multi-talented FKA twigs is back at it in the studio. This time, Twigs is turning up to Cardi B's "On Fleek" in the dance studio with choreographer Kash Powell. In the clip Twigs posted to Instagram, she and Kash lay down a few expert counts of choreography in perfect unison as the duo slay the moves while clearly having a good time together.
Puff Daddy Announces a Second Date for the Bad Boy Family Reunion Show in BrooklynPuff Daddy’s Bad Boy Family reunion show at the Barclays Center is shaping up to be one of the biggest concerts of the year.
After initially announcing the show on DJ Khaled’s We the Best Radio, he followed through with his promise. On May 20, which is around the time of Biggie’s birthday, Puff is reuniting the Family. According to Ticketmaster’swebsite, the likes of Lil Kim, Mase, DMX, Swizz Beatz, Faith Evans, M |
Demi Lovato and Charli XCX Will Be Involved in the Upcoming Angry Birds MovieEarlier tonight, Demi Lovato took to Twitter to announce her involvement in the upcoming film The Angry Birds Movie. She revealed that she will be contributing an original song to the movie, which is set to come out on May 20, just in time for the start of the summer season.
Twitter Just Exploded After Drake Dropped "Pop Style" and "One Dance"Drake just released two new songs--"Pop Style" with Jay Z and Kanye West and"One Dance" with Wizkid and Kyla—and Twitter is on absolute fire. Whether people love or hate the tracks, everyone naturally has an opinion on them, which has caused Twitter to be an absolute mad house since they dropped. WithDrake's Views From the 6 album on the way
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The Best Rap Verse of the Month
Always on Point: Remembering Phife Dawg's Legacy Through His Lyrics
'BUBBLES' WILL BE A MICHAEL JACKSON MOVIE SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF HIS PET CHIMP
Every year, The Black List puts out a list of the coolest screenplays that nobody is making. It's ranked based on votes by hundreds of Hollywood execs. In 2015, the No. 1 script was Bubbles, a movie narrated by Michael Jackson's moonwalking pet chimp that was by The King of Pop's side for much of the 1980s. The screenplay details Bubbles the Chimp's life with the pop star through the scandals that came to define the latter part of MJ's life.
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HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU CAN EXPECT AT KANYE WEST'S PABLO POP-UP STORE IN NYC
Yesterday afternoon, Kanye West announced a Pablo pop-up store in New York City. The store, located on 83 Wooster St., opened today. Ahead of the opening, we went down to check out the scene. People, including parents who told me were in line for their kids, started lining up hours before the opening (the earliest was noon yesterday). The line covered both sides of the street and expanded from Spring Street to Broome Street in SoHo. "It hasn't been that bad, but some of these guys have been here since yesterday," said one of the security guards manning the door. "They're a little tired and cranky.
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EMINEM REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SNARE
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THE 25 BEST HIP-HOP INSTAGRAM PICTURES OF THE WEEKThis week on Instagram, DJ Khaled announced his new deal with Apple Musicwith a little help from Future, YG spent some quality time with his daughter, andQuavo and Takeoff of Migos chilled with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Plus, Pharrell linked up with Tyler, the Creator in the studio, and French Montana stopped by Kylie Jenner's radio show.
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YOU CAN NOW ORDER UP TO $800 OF SNEAKERS FROM OVERSEAS WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY DUTIESBuying sneakers from overseas often means having to deal with a number of annoying side effects, but the worst of all has to be getting hit with an unexpected bill for import tax and duties. In the past, customs fees kicked in for orders exceeding the $200 mark, making it a headache to cop hard-to-find shoes since many of them already retail for around $200 on average.
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Rae Sremmurd Denounces Donald Trump At SXSWRae Sremmurd might have a song called "Up Like Trump," but when it comes to Trump's politics, it looks like they aren't huge fans. "Fuck Donald Trump," yelled Swae Lee during the group's set at SXSW, according to a report from The Fader. "We're voting for Bernie Sanders," he added.
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HERE'S STEPHEN CURRY'S UNDER ARMOUR SNEAKER FOR EASTERStephen Curry's faith is something he's always been vocal about, and it's often represented on his sneakers, so it's no surprise to see that Under Armour made an "Easter" colorway of the Curry 2.
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NOW YOU SEE ME: A LOOK AT THE WORLD OF ACTIVIST JOHNETTA ELZIELast May, the New York Times Magazine published a feature on the contemporary civil rights movement in America and its two most formidable organizers: DeRay Mckesson and Johnetta “Netta” Elzie.
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A$AP FERG HAS A TRACK FOR TAYLOR SWIFT ON 'ALWAYS STRIVE AND PROPSER'A$AP Ferg is getting ready to drop his sophomore album, Always Strive and Prosper, and although the project is pretty much complete, the Harlem rapper would still love to lock down a Taylor Swift feature for one track. Complex News caught up with Ferg at SXSW 2016 and he promised that ASAPwould be released in a few weeks, but there's always room for a remix, right?
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IT'S KANYE WEST AGAINST THE WORLD IN THIS 'THE PEOPLE V O.J. SIMPSON' PARODYYesterday we reported TIME named Kanye West one of the Most Influential People on the Internet. Living up to the title today West starred in a parody of Ryan Murphy's American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson. Instead of Simpson on trial it's West. "This could be the most high profile criminal case in the history of the world," says John Travolta (playing Robert Shapiro) at the beginning of the video.
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Offset of Migos Has Reportedly Been Arrested in AtlantaUpdate 8:30PM: According to a report from The Fader, Offset's lawyer believes the arrest won't pose any long-term problems for the Migos rapper. "I don't see it being an issue at all," he said. "It won't interfere [with his probation], because it's not committing an offense... it's just not realizing you hadn't paid a fine and paying it." He suspects Offset will be out of jail by tomorrow morning.
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Justin Timberlake Hit the Studio with Pharrell TodayIt's been a minute since Justin Timberlake dropped new music, but it looks like that might be about to change. He shared a picture of himself in the studio today with none other than Pharrell. The two musicians certainly aren't strangers, as Pharrell co-wrote and produced almost every track on Timberlake's 2002 debut album Justified. Timberlake was also featured on Pharrell's 2014 album G I R L. -
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LISTEN TO ARIANA GRANDE'S "BE ALRIGHT"A week after delivering her new song, "Dangerous Woman," Ariana Grandeshares her latest Dangerous Woman track, "Be Alright." Once again, Ariana does not disappoint as the song immediately launches into her signature falsetto before sinking into a syrupy hook coated in an uptempo beat and a relentless body-dipping groove.
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HERE'S GWEN STEFANI'S COMEBACK ALBUM 'THIS IS WHAT THE TRUTH FEELS LIKE' F/ FETTY WAPIt's been almost a decade since Gwen Stefani's last solo album The Sweet Escape, and while she's continued to tour and make music with No Doubt since then, many fans have been holding out hope that she would eventually come back with more solo pop music.
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Jay Electronica Played HimselfRemember when you first heard Jay Electronica? It had to have been around 2007/2008. Rap was getting stale, right? At least that’s how I felt, you probably felt that way, too, and maybe you still feel that way. The Internet was just starting to become a thorn in the music industry’s side, making it harder for mainstream radio to play underground records. The guy sounded like the one—the messiah, the lamb.
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Interview: Lil Yachty Is Ready for Mainstream Success and Wants to Bring Soulja Boy Back While He's At ItLil Yachty, the latest Internet sensation in hip-hop, isn't your typical Atlanta rapper. Instead of your standard trap beats, Yachty prefers to rap over sounds like, for instance, a flip of the Rugrats theme song. That isn't to say that Yachty isn't spitting, because he is, though he does lean on a very unorthodox style of melodies. A good way to describe Yachty's sound in a nutshell would be a blend of Makonnen and Lil B.
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Scott Disick Is Reportedly Dating a 20-Year-Old Kendall Jenner Look-AlikeScott Disick is reportedly attempting to move on from last year’s split withKourtney Kardashian by dating someone new, with a remarkable twist: She looks more than a bit like Kendall Jenner. Disick was spotted hitting Nobu (with shoes on) alongside 20-year-old Christine Burke on Tuesday, the Huffington Postreports. Totally professional photographers were able to grab a quick shot of the pair, who have reportedly been grabbing lunch together quite often
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