29 Oct

Posted at 21:07h in Music
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Fetty Wap (real name William Junior Maxwell II) is one of six men who have been arrested for allegedly trafficking of 100kg of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin. The drugs were reportedly moved from the West Coast to Long Island and New Jersey. All six men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 100kg of controlled substances.

Fetty was arrested right before his scheduled performance last night at Citi Field — he was there for Rolling Loud New York. His lawyer has entered a not-guilty plea and he is currently being held without bail.

According to court documents, Fetty Wap and his alleged accomplices (which includes a corrections officer) user the U.S. Postal Service to mail the narcotics across the country. They also allegedly hired drivers of vehicles with hidden compartments to transport mass quantities of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine into New Jersey and Long Island.

The other five men — who were all arrested in the month leading up to Fetty’s arrest — have been identified as Anthony Cyntje, a New Jersey correction officer; Anthony Leonardi; his brother Robert Leonardi; Brian Sullivan; and Kavaughn Wiggins.

28 Oct

Posted at 21:51h in Music, Throwback
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When it comes to bops, they don’t get boppier than Aaliyah’s 1998 hit, “Are You That Somebody?” Written by Static Major and Timbaland — and produced by the latter — the song is one of those that literally take over your body. I struggle to think of a beat — past or present — that knocks harder.

Released as a single from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack, the song has the kind of futuristic sound that Timbaland was becoming known for, and in my opinion, is by far his finest work as a producer. And if you had any doubt that Timbaland was a mad scientist, he clears it up with the cooing baby looped throughout the track.

The “Are You That Somebody?” video was choreographed by dance legend Fatima Robinson, who also dances in the video. Also featured as a dancer is future TV host Tanika Ray.

“Are You That Somebody?” only managed to peak at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, but for many (including me), it is the best thing Aaliyah ever did. Click play.

26 Oct

Posted at 13:04h in Television
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Months after initial reports that she was in talks to return, it has now been confirmed that Sheree Whitfield will be returning to Real Housewives of Atlanta as part of the main cast. Also, longtime “friend of the show” Marlo Hampton will finally be getting a peach, and former track star Sanya Richards-Ross will be joining the show.

Earlier this year, show veterans
Porsha Williams and Cynthia Bailey both confirmed that they will not be on the new season of RHOA. Current cast members Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore and
Drew Sidora have all signed on for another season.

21 Oct

Posted at 22:27h in Movies
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According to multiple reports, Alec Baldwin accidentally killed a cinematographer when he discharged a prop gun on the set of the movie ‘Rust.’ The cinematographer — identified as 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins (pictured inset) — was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Baldwin, who is also the movie’s producer, was photographed in the Santa Fe County Sherriff’s Department parking lot after being questioned.

The movie’s director, 48-year-old Joel Souza, was also shot by Baldwin and is said to be in critical condition.

A statement released by the sheriff’s department explained that detectives are investigating what type of projectile was discharged from the firearm.

21 Oct

Posted at 19:37h in Music, Throwback
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Now what the hell is you lookin’ for? Can’t a young man get money anymore?

Mason Betha was at his shit-talking finest when he wrote “Lookin’ at Me,” the third and final single from his debut album, Harlem World. On this anti-ode to his haters, Mase is bragging about the money he makes, the women he sleeps with (including the wives of his haters), the jewelry he wears, and the flashy cars he drives. His boss at the time, Diddy, provided vocals for the hooks and spoken ad libs for that extra razzle dazzle.

“Lookin’ at Me” was released at the height of Bad Boy Entertainment’s success, and thematically, it was consistent with shiny suit style of hip-hop the label was known and loved for. However, production-wise, it was a little different — it had this semi-futuristic sound that was quite unlike anything on the radio at the time. Who produced it, you ask? A then-relatively-unknown duo who called themselves The Neptunes.

“Lookin’ at Me” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Mase’s sixth top 10 hit — his third as a lead artist — and the first for Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who would become superproducers over the next decade.

15 Oct

Posted at 22:59h in Television
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A trial date has been set for the almost-two-year-old case related to the infamous Jussie Smollett hoax, where the actor allegedly lied about being the victim of a hate crime. This comes after a judge denied the actor’s request to have then case dismissed.

Smollett’s lawyer, Nenye Uche, argued that the actor’s rights were being violated because initial charges were dropped after he performed community service and forfeited his $10,000 bond. However, because this case is for new charges brought by a special prosecutor, Judge James Linn said the trial must proceed. Jury selection begins on November 29.

Smollett is being charged with disorderly conduct — to which he has pled not guilty.

14 Oct

Posted at 20:04h in Music
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Adele just released her highly anticipated new single, and as expected, she stayed firmly in her lane.

“Easy on Me” is a piano-driven ballad that allows Adele sell heartbreak like only she can. Co-written by Adele and frequent collaborator Greg Kurstin, the song is about a breakup — presumably about her divorce from ex-husband Simon Konecki.

In her recent interview with Vogue, she said that much of 30 is her trying to explain her divorce from Konecki to their nine-year-old son, Angelo. With that revelation in mind, it is fair to assume that “Easy on Me” is being sung from the perspective of a single mother trying to help her young child understand why his parents no longer live togother.

As mentioned earlier, “Easy on Me” is standard Adele, which means it is solid track but far from spectacular, but as you can imagine, the internet has already began overreacting to the song.

The music video for the track is understated in that I’m-a-very-serious-artist kinda way. It starts of black-and-white before we get a little bit of color. It appears to be set in the past, but this isn’t clear — the cars in the video are old and Adele is seen playing a cassette tape, but she is also seen using a cellphone (an iPhone at that). No chronological consistency, just vibes.

In any case, if you were looking for something semi-depressing to get you right as the daytime gets shorter and shorter, Adele’s got you covered. Click play.

14 Oct

Posted at 17:38h in Music, Throwback
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Another week, another Babyface production.

In early ’89, Karyn White released “Superwoman” as the second single from her self-titled debut album. Written and produced by Face, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons — a trio that would later be responsible for Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” — the song is basically an anthem for unappreciated wives and girlfriends. Karyn White sings with passion and pain when she makes it clear that she is not the kind of girl that you can let down and think everything is okay. And over 30 years later, women who weren’t even born when it was released sing those words like they wrote them themselves.

“Superwoman” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Karyn White’s fourth-highest-charting single. However, it has the longest legacy in her discography and is undoubtedly her signature hit.

Today is Karyn White’s 56th birthday, so there is no better way to celebrate her than revisiting this classic. Click play.

12 Oct

Posted at 13:35h in Music
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Usher and his girlfriend, Jenn Goicoechea, welcomed their second child together, a son named Sire Castrello Raymond, on September 29.

This is Usher’s fourth child. He had two sons — 13-year-old Usher Raymond V and 12-year-old Naviyd Ely Raymond — with ex-wife Tameka Foster, and a daughter, Sovereign
Bo Raymond, with Goicoechea just over a year ago.

07 Oct

Posted at 22:33h in Music, Throwback
1 Like

Today is Toni Braxton’s 54th birthday, so we’re gonna celebrate her by revisiting one my favorites from her catalog, “How Could an Angel Break My Heart.” Released as the fourth single from Braxton’s sophomore LP, Secrets, the song was written by Babyface and the singer herself. It is a beautifully sung lamentation about a cheating lover, and it has Kenny G on the horns for extra drama.

“How Could an Angel Break My Heart” never charted in the US because a physical single was never issued stateside, rendering it ineligible for the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the US, however, a CD was issued, and it included a remix featuring Babyface. On this version, Babyface sings as the cheating lover pleading his innocence and denying every claim made by Braxton. It is the superior version by far.

The music video for “How Could an Angel Break My Heart” matches the drama of the song perfectly and almost makes you wish it was an actual movie. Click play.