Hip Hop Forever 50th: See Mariah Carey, Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige at MSG

Rolling Loud have spoken to NME about how it became the world’s largest hip-hop festival ahead of the second-ever edition taking place in Portugal this weekend.Established in Florida eight years ago, the festival was created by hip-hop event promoters Matt Zinger and Tariq Chief. In 2010, Zingler and Cherif started to organise monthly parties in Miami headlined by some of today’s most successful rappers – such as Rick Ross, Travis $cott and Kendrick Lamar.Rolling Loud was first held in a Florida warehouse and had six headliners; Schoolboy Q, Curren$y, A$AP Ferg, Action Bronson, Juicy J, and $cott.

Nick Cannon is still a fan of Mariah Carey, and he wants the world to know it.

Murtada Elfadl An intriguing character-based musical that chronicles a few days in the life of an aspiring young rapper, “Lost Soulz” follows Sol (Sauve Sidle) as he navigates life on a road trip while making new friends. The film, from first-time feature writer-director Katherine Propper, won the second-place audience award at this month’s Tribeca Film Festival. Inspired by Sidle’s experience as a musician on the rise, “Lost Soulz” tells a raw personal story in a fragmented structure deriving its strength from the original music composed and performed by its talented cast. Propper opens on Sol admiring his reflection in the mirror and murmuring to himself, “You are a superstar. Look at you.” Sidle proves believable as a big-dreams wannabe with an easy relaxed screen presence. Sol’s odyssey kicks off after his best friend Wesley overdoses at a party they were both attending. Though Sol was living with Wesley’s family, he abandons him and spontaneously accepts a group of hip-hop musicians’ invitation to tour Texas with them. The film becomes a road-trip narrative intercut with musical interludes.

Todd Gilchrist editor Chuck D was one of hip hop’s elder statesmen even before the genre was old enough to have them: born in 1960, he witnessed its birth in the boroughs of New York in 1973, released his first album as a founding member of incendiary group Public Enemy at age 27, and has presided over its evolution with a perspective and erudition shared by few in rap, before or since. His insights and attitudes both shaped hip hop on wax and commented upon it in popular culture, burnishing the legitimacy of an art form driven by people of color even as it became commercially supported, even co-opted by mainstream, majority-white consumers. His impact, and his importance, is reiterated in “Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World,” a four-part documentary he developed and executive produced for PBS which bears the name of one of Public Enemy’s biggest and most influential hit singles. On June 21, Chuck D appeared on a panel in Los Angeles to discuss the creation of the documentary alongside Gil Vazquez, President of the Keith Haring Foundation; Jean-Michel Basquiat’s sister Lisane, appearing on behalf of his King Pleasure exhibit at the Broad Museum; and “Fight the Power” coproducer Lorrie Boula. Before the panel, he spoke to Variety about the four elements — DJing, MCing, break dancing and graffiti — that for 50 years now have formed hip hop’s foundational pillars, the changing tastes and techniques artists use to create work (and get it seen), and the advantages for him of getting old in a genre steadily supported by youth.

he’d fathered 10 other children. Learning of their dad’s bustling brood of 12 came as a shock to his eldest kids, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan Cannon, 12, according to the “Wild ‘N Out” front man, who said the duo immediately questioned where they ranked in his life and heart. “They were like, ‘Oh! Well, what about me?’ ” Cannon, 42, revealed to Dr. Laura Berman on her podcast, “The Language of Love,” of the preteens’ response to his insemination spree across six baby mamas. The ever-fruitful comedian welcomed his twelfth bundle of joy, Halo Marie, with model Alyssa Scott, 29, on December 14, 2022. And while Cannon says his tweens with Carey, 54, were mildly excited about becoming a big brother and big sister to their swarm of siblings — claiming they’d let out a half-hearted “yay” upon being updated about his tribe — he admitted that the duo was more concerned about their value to him. “[Monroe] was like, ‘You love me the most, right?,’” said the “Masker Singer” host. “I was like, ‘Alright, let’s have that conversation,’” Cannon continued.

BET Awards promised a non-stop party paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and they delivered!«We have an incredible lineup of performers who will take us on a musical journey, covering Hip Hop spanning every decade, style, and region,» said Connie Orlando, BET EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, ahead of the night in a press release. «From music to dance and fashion, we are digging through every crate as we celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop and its diversity, evolution, and global impact.»«This wall-to-wall party will reverberate with the amazing energy and passion these artists bring to the stage and the culture,» she continued.

A representative for Katie Holmes is clearing the air about her relationship status before romance rumors kick into overdrive.

Sophia Scorziello editor Timbaland, Big Daddy Kane and other music industry icons came together at this year’s ASCAP Experience in Los Angeles to share advice for making headway in the music business and inspire songwriters and composers to continue channeling passion into their work. A much-anticipated session of the day was the “Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop” panel with Big Daddy Kane and Easy Mo Bee, moderated by Datwon Thomas, editor of Vibe. The industry icons talked Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, and reflected on the history of hip-hop and its longstanding impact on culture. Renowned producer Timbaland was the keynote speaker. The “Supa Dupa Fly” producer was interviewed by Ray Daniels, CEO of Raydar, to talk about Timbaland’s over two decades of work producing in R&B, hip-hop and pop. Throughout his career, Timbaland has produced for artists like Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Rihanna, Brandy and Ludacris.

Ever wonder how Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav started wearing those clocks around his neck — or whatever happened to the original one? A&E has a docuseries for you.

DJ Khaled grew up around money. Literally — as a child being raised in New Orleans, the future producer-rapper watched his parents sell clothing out of their car at flea markets and stuff the profits in a pouch wrapped around their young son’s waist. Later, when they got their own store, it was the sound of the cash register that would ring in his ears. Those early experiences with street-level entrepreneurial activity influenced the rest of his life, most dramatically after all of his family’s hard work to build up retail businesses was done in by what Khaled calls “a bad accountant” when he was 17. Now 47, Khaled took those hard lessons to heart. Today, he’s an enormously accomplished artist and entrepreneur, known to most as an eminently quotable hype man (“We the best!” “Another one!” “Bless up!”) whose records feature guest appearances from friends such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake, Lil Wayne and other hip-hop royalty.

Dr Dre is set to be awarded the first-ever Hip-Hop Icon Award at the 2023 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.The ceremony for the awards is set to take place tomorrow (June 22) in Los Angeles, and the event is a celebration of 50 years of the hip-hop genre.At the 2023 edition of the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, the 58-year-old music and tech mogul will be awarded for his contributions to the industry and his impact on the genre.“Dr Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for Hip-Hop as we know it today,” said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams of the rapper.“As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around Hip-Hop. Dre continues to be a pivotal figure in the music industry and we are thrilled to recognise him with the inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award as we mark 50 years of Hip-Hop.”Dre – whose real name is Andre Romelle Young – is considered a pioneer of modern hip-hop, and first rose to fame nearly four decades ago as a member of World Class Wreckin’ Crue.

Monique Samuels and husband Chris Samuels are going their separate ways.

One of Ayrshire's most lauded chip shops has closed its doors forever.

Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri joined Wu-Tang Clan onstage during their recent performance in Scotland – view footage of the moment below, along with the full setlist.The band took to the stage at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena on Monday (June 12), as part of their ongoing ‘N.Y. State Of Mind’ tour.Towards the end of their 24-song set, the band surprised fans with a guest appearance from Spiteri with the Texas singer joining them onstage for a rendition of ‘Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)’ — a track which she re-worked with the hip-hop group in 1998.The moment also marked nearly 25 years since Wu-Tang Clan and Spiteri first joined forces to collaborate on the track, which occurred when she passed the song ‘Say What You Want’ – taken from the Scottish rock band’s 1997 album ‘White On Blonde’ – to RZA to mix and finalise the recording.Eventually, the two ended up making an official collaboration of the track, and named the remixed version ‘Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)’.

Wu-Tang Clan surprised fans with an intimate set at London’s KOKO last night (June 13) during Nas’ afterparty marking 50 years of hip-hop.The afterparty was to celebrate the end of the UK leg of the ‘NY State Of Mind’ tour, a joint tour between the two legendary hip-hop acts.After Wu-Tang Clan and Nas performed at their sold-out show at The O2, a party was held for superfans with a more intimate performance. Nas was originally billed to host the event, however, many fans speculated that the Wu-Tang Clan would also perform with him.Great to celebrate 50 years of hip hop at The House of Koko last night, followed by Nas and Wu-Tang Clan in the Koko Theatre for a late night ‘after party’ set post-O2 performance.

As soon as DeAndre Hopkins became a free agent, The Cleveland Browns were very much in play to land the star WR. His relationship with QB Deshaun Watson, and Cleveland’s talent pool seemed perfect for the former pro-bowler. Hopkins recently had a visit with the Tennessee Titans.

Vancouver is gearing up to host the 3rd annual International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show (IIHHAS) on August 11 and 12.

John Driskell Hopkins, or "Hop" to his friends, knows his ALS diagnosis is no laughing matter – but that's not stopping him from maintaining a playful perspective on life.  Hop shared his ALS diagnosis with fans in May 2022. In the year since, he continued touring as a founding member of the Zac Brown Band, recorded more music and started the Hop On a Cure nonprofit dedicated to not only funding research of the disease but also creating a community for people living with ALS.  "I had one lady ask me … she was diagnosed right around the same time," Hop remembered. "She said, ‘How come you’re not crying all day?' I'm like, ‘Crying sucks.’ You know, I've done my share of crying, and I know I don't want to."  He added, "And I'm full of sh--.

Thania Garcia Mariah Angeliq defines what it truly means to be a “Diva” in her new upbeat and liberating reggaeton single and music video that sees her breaking free from the confines of societal norms — with the swing of a baseball bat. Backed by a buzzing drum beat, and the Rockanfella-produced visual, “Diva” is the focus track to her next project and the follow-up to her recently released “Ricota” and “Peligrosa.” “This bundle is meant to make all feel beautiful, self-loved and empowered,” Angeliq tells Variety of her recent string of releases. “This is a start of a new era in my life and my music.”

The Cleveland Browns have been one team to watch to sign DeAndre Hopkins. From Deshaun Watson going on record to say he wants him in CLE. To many big teams backing out of the race.