Month: August 2024

As Dame Dash works diligently to auction off his stakes in Roc-A-Fella Records, the courts have (although unintentionally) upheld the rarity value of a piece of hip-hop history involving Wu-Tang Clan.

According to Billboard, the iconic rap group’s supposed fan turned legal foe, Martin Shkreli, has been ordered to hand over any and all copies of Wu-Tang’s exclusive album, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin.

Back in 2021, the government reportedly seized it from Shkreli, the project’s former sole owner. The action was allegedly tied to Shkreli’s 2018 securities fraud conviction, in which he was subject to a $7.4 million judgment.

However, even after the body of work was purchased by digital art company PleasrDAO, Shkreli seemed to still have access to the recording as heard in his past livestreams.

Now, a judge has supposedly ruled in PleasrDAO’s favor. In order to retain its one-of-one nature and enforce punishment over Shkreli’s violation of the original purchase agreement terms and forfeiture order, he has been prohibited from “possessing, using, disseminating, or selling any interest in the album.”

In court documents, this also applied to “its data and files or the contents of the Album, or in any way causing further damage to Plaintiff respecting the album.”

Shkreli has until Friday, August 30 to “sequester and turn over all of his copies, in any form.” The court has also required Shkreli to file an affidavit disclosing the “information regarding alleged copies of ‘Once Upon a Time In Shaolin,’ people he might’ve given them to, and any money he might’ve made from distributing or playing the album.” But he has until September 30 to submit that filing with the courts.

Wu-Tang is for the children and now apparently law-abiding citizens.

If tenacious was a person it would be Big Sean. The “On Up” rapper is determined to get his sixth studio album, Better Me Than You, out into the world. By the end of this week, that goal would have been accomplished.

After experiencing a leak, subsequent delay, and harsh criticism about his flow on single “Yes,” the forthcoming body of work has a new release date. Today (August 26), during an Instagram livestream (captured by NFR Podcast, viewable here) Big Sean announced fans should expect Better Me Than You to hit streaming platforms this Friday, August 30.

“The album is dropping this week,” he said. “I appreciate my mom for being that guardian angel always giving me that advice. She really talked me through it for real. Like I said, I haven’t been sleeping a lot. I been giving this sh*t my all. I’m burned the f*ck out. I’m tired. I do do this sh*t for the people that f*ck with me. I’m excited. That’s one thing my mom said, ‘Get excited! Drop — Your album is fire!’ Everyone around me keep saying that.”

Big Sean also went on to say that supporters can experience the project live at one of the listening parties he has scheduled in New York City, Los Angeles, and of course his hometown, Detroit.

Not much is known about Big Sean’s Los Angeles and Detroit events. But on August 27 at the Samsung 837 NYC location, as part of the Samsung Presents series (in partnership with the IMG Agency) he will sit down for an intimate conversation about the project before previewing it for attendees. Find more information here.

Continue below to view Better Me Than You‘s official album cover.

Artwork

Better Me Than You is out 8/30 via FF. Find more information here.

Between music festivals such as Rolling Loud and Summer Smash to the dozen or so highly anticipated tours, hip-hop fans’ wallets are completely tapped.

Well, De La Soul still wants to put on a live show for their supporters. But don’t worry about it breaking the bank as it is a choose-what-you-pay performance. On January 15, 2025, “The Magic Number” musicians are scheduled to shut down David Geffen Hall’s Wu Tsai Theater.

Although the facility’s recommended ticket price is $35, those lucky enough to secure admission will determine their final cost at check out. Concertgoers can round up if they are feeling generous or down if their budget is depleted. However, there is one catch. The hosting venue within Lincoln Center, proud home to New York Philharmonic only has a 2,200-seat capacity. So, just know competition to grab tickets will be stiff.

At this time the on-sale date has not yet been announced. But according to the upcoming show’s landing page, members of Lincoln Center will be granted early access to its pre-sale.

De La Soul’s concert at will be held located at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, New York. Tickets aren’t on sale yet. But you find more information about the forthcoming show here.

Nicki Minaj’s supposed legal battle with a disgruntled Barb superfan, hasn’t slowed down her music plans. In December 2023, the “Fallin 4 U” rapper dropped her chart-topping and streaming record holding album, Pink Friday 2.

Before the body of work can celebrate its one-year anniversary, Nicki Minaj will have yet another project to add to her discography. Today (August 26), Nicki Minaj announced Gag City Reloaded, the Pink Friday 2 deluxe album. The forthcoming release is slated to drop on September 13.

At this time the official tracklist has not yet been shared. However, in a poll posted to Nicki’s Instagram stories she hinted that outside of previously teased tracks, supporters should expect a host of new records.

On X (formerly Twitter), Nicki Minaj expressed her excited about what’s to come. “Well, Barbz,” she wrote. “Didn’t really want to have to speak on this, but I just can’t stay quiet about it any longer. Last night, I recorded what will probably be your favorite song on the deluxe. It will immediately go into your TOP 5 of the entire PF2 era. OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS.”

In the meantime, Nicki Minaj is preparing for the second North American leg of her Pink Friday 2 Tour with special guests Tyga, Skillibeng, and BIA set to launch on September 4.

Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are close friends. While they’re two of the fiercest competitors in the NBA and do seem like they love going toe-to-toe with one another, the pair have always enjoyed messing around when they’re in the same place in a non-competitive environment, like when they played in a game celebrating the career of Goran Dragic recently and Jokic poured water on Doncic’s head.

All of this got Dirk Nowitzki thinking about how nice it would be if the pair ever teamed up, and unsurprisingly, the Dallas Mavericks legend would like it if Jokic made his way to Texas to team up with Doncic.

“I hope that would be in Dallas,” Nowitzki told Eurohoops. “I’m not sure if that will ever happen, but obviously both are two of the best players in the world. If now the best players in the world … They both have a great relationship with each other, they respect each other and like each other genuinely. They spend time with each other. I’m not sure, but of course, we want Luka in Dallas as long as we can. Hopefully, he finishes his career there, but I love Jokic’s game, how he plays the game with passion, and the skill level as a big is unbelievable. They’re both incredible players.”

It is worth mentioning that there are 29 teams in the NBA that want Jokic to leave the Nuggets and join their team, and Jokic is under contract for the next three years with a player option for a fourth in 2027-28. As such, we’ll jot this one down as wishful thinking.

Usually, Mariah Carey is all butterflies and rainbows. Sadly, the twinkle in her eyes has grown dim after tragedy struck the Carey family.

Today (August 26), in an exclusive statement to People, the “Always Be My Baby” singer revealed that both her mother, Patricia Carey, and sister, Alison Carey died over the weekend. As if that wasn’t enough of a punch to the stomach, they mournfully passed on the same day.

In the midst of her grief, Carey managed to power through to update her devoted superfans, the Lambs, about their untimely deaths. “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend,” she said. “Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day. I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed,” adds Mariah. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”

Supporters online have begun to flood Mariah’s social media pages with touching messages. Many encouraged others to use their discernment before commenting on the Carey family dynamic. In Mariah’s 2020 best-selling memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, she addressed the at times rocky relationship she had with her late mother, writing: “Our relationship is a prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment. A complicated love tethers my heart to my mother’s.”

Damian Lillard is getting set to enter his 13th season in the NBA and second with the Milwaukee Bucks. The first season in Milwaukee didn’t go as planned, as the Bucks were eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, as Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo both missed time with injuries.

Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, the Bucks are no longer the talk of the East, as the Celtics won a championship in June and the Knicks and Sixers both made splashy additions this summer to try and challenge them. That’s moved Dame, Giannis, and company to the periphery of the conversation, and they’ll be looking to prove they can fulfill their promise as a championship contender in Year 2.

For Lillard, he will do so in the ninth edition of his signature sneaker with adidas, and on Monday they unveiled the new Dame 9, which features a collaboration with BAPE for the initial launch. There will be two BAPE colorways of the Dame 9 ($160) dropping on August 31 — green camo and red — along with some Dame x BAPE merch to go along with the sneakers.

It’s the second BAPE collab with adidas for the Dame line, as they also worked together on a pair of Dame 4 colorways. The sneakers and merch line — which includes a t-shirt, reversible black camo jersey, shorts, and socks — will release on August 31 on the adidas app, CONFIRMED and at BAPE.com.

Alex Proyas directed The Crow in 1994 and has been not so secretive about his disdain for the new take on the story. In the weeks leading up to the release of the 2024 remake starring Bill Skarsgard and FKA Twigs, the director was criticizing the existence of the film. Now that the movie is out, he is taking his airing out his frustration in the land of opinioned individuals: Facebook.

Proyas posted a series of dramatic Facebook statuses, all referencing the audience response for the reboot, which added up to less than $5 million on opening weekend. In one post, he wrote “I thought the remake was a cynical cash-grab. Not much cash to grab it seems.” Another said, “Wow. Box office is a bloodbath.” A third post read, “Wow. The reviews are brutal.” You know what else was brutal? This comment from Proyas: “Maybe they can lend their DCPs to film schools for classes on how NOT to make a movie? The theatres sure won’t need ’em after next weekend.” Ouch!

This isn’t the first time Proyas has spoken about the remake, though he had a much more neutral approach when the trailer first dropped, posting:

I really don’t get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmakers work. And I’m certain the cast and crew really had all good intentions, as we all do on any film. So it pains me to say any more on this topic, but I think the fan’s response speaks volumes. THE CROW is not just a movie.

Brandon Lee died making it, and it was finished as a testament to his lost brilliance and tragic loss. It is his legacy. That’s how it should remain.

He also took a slight jab at Bill Skarsgard’s haircut, which seems like a low blow, but at least it will grow out! It makes sense that Proyas did not want the legacy of his film tarnished, and sharing a post from a user who was “marked safe” from the remake went far enough without going for poor Bill’s hair.

TLC was supposed to perform at the New York State Fair in Syracuse on August 23. But, the duo didn’t end up making it, as T-Boz (real name Tionne Watkins) had been hospitalized for a health issue that turned out to be a severe abdominal blockage. A performance at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut set for that night was also canceled.

Now, T-Boz herself has spoken out.

In an Instagram post shared over the weekend, T-Boz wrote, “I’m on The Mend!!! This Was Just One Of Those Unexpected Things That I Had No Control Over! I Look Forward To Making It Up 2 You All… And Hopefully I’ll Get Out Of The Hospital Soon!!! As Soon As Tomorrow If All Goes Well!!! Thank You For Understanding… Blessings Always T [heart emoji].”

TLC’s original post announcing the cancellations explained the situation, saying in part, “After delivering an electrifying performance in Toledo, Ohio on Thursday, TLC was eagerly anticipating their next stop at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. However, shortly after arriving in Syracuse, Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins experienced sudden and severe nausea, vomiting, and intense abdominal cramps. She was immediately seen by a doctor and subsequently taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Last evening, Tionne was diagnosed with a severe abdominal blockage, necessitating the cancellation of both the Syracuse and Foxwoods performances. She remains in the hospital under medical supervision but is expected to be released tomorrow. The doctor verified that this was not food poisoning, but an abdominal blockage.”

The European leg of Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour is over, and so, too, is Paramore‘s time as an opener. The influential group — led by Hayley Williams, Zac Farro, and Taylor York — has played more than two dozen shows on the trek, including every show since May. Paramore shared their appreciation for Swift asking them to join the tour in a post on their Instagram account.

“@TaylorSwift, thank you for asking us to be a part of such an incredible moment in your life and career. We loved playing for the Swifties, we loved watching you tell your life story through this show. And we truly fell in love with your whole crew,” they wrote. “Congrats on one more leg of this giant, history making tour. We love you!” There’s also a fun photo of Williams and Swift giving a thumbs up, which you can see here.

Swift and Williams have known each other since 2009 when they were introduced to each other at a Grammys party thrown by Timabaland. The Paramore singer recalled the meeting last year on The Tonight Show. “I was very nervous,” she said, “but a woman came up to me and she said, ‘I’m Taylor Swift’s mom and, you know, Taylor doesn’t have a lot of friends her age that do music. And I would love to, like, you know, introduce you guys or get your number.’… Andrea, the legend that she is, she connected us.”