urbanradiocollective's Blog

Atlanta Rapper Ca$h Out Accused Of Witness Intimidation In RICO Trial

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 22:21 GMT

Ca$h Out, a rapper who found fame in 2011 with his hit single "Cashin' Out," is currently on trial in Atlanta as the state of Georgia brought racketeering charges against him. In a new report, Ca$h Out and his mother, known as "Mama Ca$h," are being accused of intimidating and attempting to silence a woman who is a witness in the matter. Local outlet WSB-TV shared in a report that Ca$h Out, 34, faced new accusations from the prosecution alleging that the former Epic Records signee employed his mother, real name Linda Smith, to intimidate the aforementioned witness. Smit is a co-defendant in the RICO case, as is the cooperating witness whom the pair tried to silence. The witness, whose identity is being kept hidden, was allegedly cornered by Smith and told not to cooperate with the investigation against her son. The woman was arrested with Ca$h Out in 2021 during a prostitution sting. From what the report states, Smith was arrested in Buckhead at a physical therapy clinic, which apparently is connected to the witness. Smith, in a 2021 interrogation video, claimed she was at the clinic looking for a friend who missed a probation appointment. "I mean, y'all acting like I done kidnapped her," Smith reportedly said during the interrogation session. She was asked why she attempted to reach the witness and answered, "I said why would she miss her probation, she knows how important that is." Prosecutors presented audio recordings of Gibson giving his mother instructions to contact the unnamed witness by phone. The prosecution then played a clip of Smith rebuffing her son's request. "I already told you I'm going to the doctor, I already called the number, I'm doing everything you asked me to do. Stop pissing me off," Smith was reportedly heard saying in the call. Ca$h Out is facing 41 counts of rape, sex trafficking and luring women into prostitution. - Photo: Instagram/@1CashOut via: https://hiphopwired.com/2759253/rapper-cash-out-accused-witness-intimidation-rico/

Keke Palmer Finally Explains Missing Jonathan Majors Interview

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 19:37 GMT

Source: Many believe actor Johnathan Majors didn't deserve a second chance. In December 2023, Majors was found guilty of not only harassing his ex-girlfriend but assaulting her. The incident, which occurred in March of that year, claimed that the budding actor had not only strangled his ex but broke her finger. So in April of this year, Majors started making the rounds to promote Magazine Dreams, and America didn't want to hear it. He was supposed to do an episode of Palmer's podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, but the interview was ultimately pulled. And Palmer never explained why (I mean we can all kind of guess what happened) until Monday. "When I'm doing my hosting, I'm here to be unbiased. Everybody that sits in your chair, you don't agree with everything they did, you don't love everything, but you gotta have the conversation," Palmer said on The Breakfast Club. "You have to set the stage for them to speak and for people to watch and take what they wanna take from it, so that's why I was open and excited to do the interview." The One of Them Days star added: "Ultimately, with my partners, it was just decided - they saw the reaction that people felt it was insensitive, that maybe we shouldn't put it out." "It's always there, if people wanted to see it," she continued. "But I always wanna be respectful and understand where everybody's coming from. If they're not going to feel like they're going to receive anything good from the interview, then okay, cool." Palmer also noted that she sat down with Majors--who was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of reckless assault and harassment and given probabtion--to have a conversation. "I mean, people sit down with serial killers," she said. "I'm not comparing him to a serial killer, but at the end of the day, I felt like, as a journalist, I'm supposed to talk and we're supposed to hear and let the public decide how they want to feel. But that didn't get a chance to happen." Palmer says that "maybe one day we get a chance" to release the interview and wishes Majors and his wife, Meagan Good, "all the best," adding, "I really wanna say that because I don't judge nobody 'cause I don't want to be judged. So at the end of the day, I'm happy for Meagan. I'm happy for them." via: https://hiphopwired.com/2759041/keke-palmer-never-aired-jonathan-majors-interview/

Idaho Shooting Suspect Wess Roley Found Dead After Killing 2 Firemen

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 19:06 GMT

Source: Anadolu / Getty As societal norms continue to crumble and people devolve into the worst versions of themselves in Trump's America, acts of violence and aggression towards everyday people have become the new norm, but over the weekend, things got even weirder when a suspect shot and killed two firefighters and wounded a third for no apparent reason who were responding to an emergency. According to NBC News, 20-year-old Wess Roley was found dead following his ambush after firefighters responded to a call of a burning bush near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Upon arrival, the suspect opened fire with a sniper rifle and killed two firemen on Sunday (June 29). More than 300 police officers immediately responded to the attack and exchanged gunfire with the suspect before he went into hiding. Roley was later found dead near Canfield Mountain not too long after the shooting. NBC News reports: "We had a cell phone activation that was in the same spot since about 3:16 [p.m.], and that it was in the same area," he said at tonight's news conference. "And we honed in on that cellphone, and we saw that there was a male, appeared to be deceased, with a weapon nearby." Authorities believe the body belongs to the sole shooter in today's violence that killed two firefighters who responded to a brush fire believed to have been set intentionally on the mountain. Norris said federal authorities pitched in with technology that helped track that cellphone signal. "There are some helicopters that had some really good technology that were able to pinpoint where that cellphone activity was," the sheriff said. "So yeah, there was our federal partners assisting us in this situation." The third firefighter wounded in the attack is said to be fighting for his life but is in stable condition at the time. There's no word on possible motives for the ambush or whether the suspect acted alone, however, authorities believe Roley carried this ambush out alone. "Based on the preliminary information, we believe that was the only shooter up on that mountain at that time," Norris said. "There is no threat to the community at this time." We really are living through some crazy times in 2025. What do y'all think about the Idaho sniper shooting? Let us know in the comments section below. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757883/idaho-shooting-suspect-wess-roley-found-dead-after-killing-2-firemen/

Nelly Attacks Kamala Harris Supporters After Fans Blast Him For Trump Inauguration Support

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 17:24 GMT

Nelly and his wife Ashanti are promoting a new unscripted reality television series aimed at peeling back the layers of the pair's relationships and musical careers, along with the requisite press runs. Some fans online have yet to forgive Nelly for appearing onstage during President Donald Trump's inauguration celebration, prompting the St. Louis star to call out supporters of former Vice President Kamala Harris and more. The Shade Room shared a clip of Nelly sitting with Hot 97's Ebro Darden doing promo with Ashanti for the pair's Peacock series, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together. The clip shows the "Hot In Herre" artist discussing how he has never endorsed any presidential candidate and pushing back against the assertion that he's a supporter of Trump after the performance. As it often happens with The Shade Room, fans began hurling barbs in Nelly's direction, which got his attention via a lengthy response in where he defends his actions, blasts Kamala Harris, criticized her intteracial marriage, and stood up for Snoop Dogg, who also caught the ire of fans for assumed support of President Trump. From The Shade Room: "'ll put whatever up me and snoop do more in the community and have been doing for over 20 + years against any of you that are just on here talking trash and have no stats to back up what you mean to the community .. from the black families that we employ to the black children that we help every day and all year through our nonprofits, whether we're sending kids to schools on scholarships to HBCU or helping young black boys in la "gang central " with his junior football programs which many players have went on to go to the NFL and live their dreams, .. and on top of that we are "Black Men" married to beautiful Black women with black children .. should be inspiring to most but that some of y'all have a problem with because the "prosecutor who has probably locked up more black men that we've helped woman of color with the white husband and white kids Did not win the election.. again I reiterate, I did not campaign for anyone. I do not tell people who to vote for. I respect and love our country from top to bottom good and bad... and I am very aware that it's a lot of things in this country that we need to work on the right is too far right and the left is too far left. .. I'm a military baby with a grand uncle who is a Tuskegee airmen and red tail that was very prideful for his country I told you it's my respect for the office meaning any president that calls upon Nelly it would be a honor.. nothing to do with money. Nothing to do with race but if you wanna make it about race, then let's goooooooooooooo I find it very interesting. That's so many of you would dump on the two black men that's married to black women that has black children because the "" woman of color with the white husband and white kids. Didn't win..!! Naturally, Nelly has been getting blasted on the popular Instagram site and across social media for his stance. We've got those reactions below. - Photo: Getty via: https://hiphopwired.com/playlist/nelly-kamala-harris-supporters-trump-inauguration-reactions/

Mamdani Meets With Black New Yorkers In Harlem

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 16:05 GMT

Source: MEGA / Getty Last Saturday (June 28), the presumptive Democratic candidate for New York City's mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani, appeared at the Harlem headquarters for the National Action Network. It was the second time that Mamdani spoke before the civil rights organization, having done so in the final days before voting ended. NAN president Reverend Al Sharpton and lauded filmmaker Spike Lee sat behind Mamdani as he spoke, and they met with Mamdani privately after the conference was held. The appearance is a pivotal one for Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and democratic socialist who has energized the political discourse by defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the primary race. A closer look at his victory numbers by The City showed that he won 52% of the first-place ranked-choice votes in areas of the city where more than half the population was Asian. But Cuomo had an overwhelming lead of 59% to 26% in precincts where 70% or more of the population is Black, signaling a divide despite Mamdani's expansion of the electorate. "They say that Mamdani and Lander endorsed each other, so against the Black woman," Sharpton said of Mamdani's cross-endorsement of the city comptroller over city councilwoman Adrienne Adams a week earlier. "Something about that politics ain't progressive to me." But Sharpton appeared to be more open-minded if not outwardly endorsing Mamdani on this visit. "We should give credit that this man has energized our young voters, has brought in new voters and has made the city have to deal with some issues," Sharpton said after Mamdani arrived. "We all ought to thank him and listen to what he has to say." "The more he's out here and community members get to know him, the better he will be received," local Democratic leader Alyah Horsford-Sidberry said to the New York Times. "They've just got to get to know him and see him at more events like this. What's important, though, is that his concerns are the community's concerns." But there seems to be more willingness in the Black community to listen to what Mamdani is offering, but hope he can follow through. "[A]re you able if you win in November to go from aspiration to reality?" senior pastor Dabar Bethlehem Cathedral H. Curtis Douglas said, adding: "He's going to have to convince people in the next five months that he can deliver." via: https://hiphopwired.com/2758026/mamdani-zohran-meets-with-black-new-yorkers-in-harlem/

Rick Ross & Pharrell Williams "For The Money," Dave East & Young Chris "Addin' Up" & More | Daily Vi

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 00:30 GMT

Source: Julia Beverly / Getty We're just two weeks away before hearing that Pharrell done cooked up with The Clipse when Let God Sort 'Em Out hits the streets, but until then it seems like Skateboard P is spending time with the biggest bawse of them all for the time being and enjoying all the luxuries that life offers big time ballers like themselves. Linking up for the visuals to "For The Money," Rick Ross and Pharrell head to Paree for a little R&R and sight seeing as they cruise the streets of France in some high-end automobiles that took them from the Eiffel Tower to the club. Ross will find a club in whatever city or country he touches down in. Back in America, Dave East and Young Chris hit the block to enjoy the summer weather and in their clip to "Addin' Up," the two politic on the corner and the bodega to kick their bars and smoke some bud while making the block hot in 90 degree weather. Check out the rest of today's drops including work from Sheff G and Sleep Hallow, Joyner Lucas, and more. RICK ROSS & PHARRELL WILLIAMS - "FOR THE MONEY" DAVE EAST & YOUNG CHRIS - "ADDIN' UP" SHEFF G & SLEEPY HALLOW - "WOKE UP" JOYNER LUCAS - "WHITE NOISE (ADHD 2)" ALLSTAR JR - "U SILLY" MAVADO - "BIG GUNS" COMPTON AV, D-LO, LEFTY GUNPLAY & HAITI BABII - "IT'S A GO" CONRADFRMDAAVES - "NO LAC" via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757901/rick-ross-pharrell-williams-for-the-money-dave-east-young-chris-addin-up-more-daily-visuals-6-30-25/

King Combs & Ye Ye FKA Kanye West Drop 'Never Stop' Project

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:49 GMT

King Combs, the son of mogul and entertainer Sean "Diddy" Combs, has been supportive of his father throughout the elder Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial. King Combs joined forces with Ye Ye, formerly Ye and Kanye West, for a quick project titled Never Stop, featuring a verse from Ye's daughter, North West. King Combs, 27, has previously released a mixtape and a pair of EPs, with Never Stop being his first collaborative effort. With Ye, who has publicly supported Diddy as well during his ordeal, on the production, Combs uses Never Stop as a vehicle to address the legal woes of his fathers and calling out critics who have had plenty to say in the wake of Diddy's arrest and time in court. North West, who previously appeared on her father's Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 projects with Ty Dolla $ign, shows up on the Never Stop's opening track "LONELY ROADS" featuring JAAS. Combs also dedicates a song to his late mother, Kim Porter, titled "KIM." Ye is only featured on one track vocally, dropping a quick set of bars on the track "PEOPLE LIKE ME." Check out Never Stop via Spotify below. - Photo: via: https://hiphopwired.com/2758204/king-combs-kanye-west-never-stop-project/

LeMatchmaker: Ice Spice & Sauce Gardner Relationship Started Off A Oop From LeBron James

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:23 GMT

Source: The Hapa Blonde / Getty Rapper Ice Spice and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner recently made their relationship official on Instagram, but their story started a year earlier. The two first met during an episode of LeBron James' show The Shop, which aired in April 2024. That episode featured big names like Travis Scott, Chad Johnson, and LeBron himself, along with Ice Spice and Sauce. Ice Spice, from the Bronx, blew up in 2022 with her hit song "Munch (Feelin' U)." She quickly became one of the hottest new names in rap, known for her catchy songs, unique voice, and confident style. She's worked with major artists like Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, and her music mixes drill beats with fun, bold lyrics. Her rise in the music world has been fast and impressive. Sauce Gardner, whose real name is Ahmad Gardner, has also been making big moves on the football field. He was picked by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. He even won Defensive Rookie of the Year and is known for his strong defense and big personality. Now that Sauce has clarified whether they're together or not, people can leave them alone. Let them vibe out and enjoy being young and turnt. Salute to King James throwing the ultimate alley oop to Sauce. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2758134/lematchmaker-ice-spice-sauce-gardner-relationship-started-off-a-oop-from-lebron-james/

LeBron James Exercises $52.6M Option With Lakers

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:04 GMT

LeBron James, at the ripe age of 40, is still one of the best basketball players on the planet, and he'll give a least one more season to the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James exercised a $52.6 million player option, ensuring he'll play in the coming 2025-26 NBA season. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul shared the news of LeBron James picking up the player option with ESPN on Sunday (June 29). According to Paul, James is eyeing the hopes of a championship, a goal that is understandable for the four-time NBA champion. The Lakers have their work cut out with them against a young league that just saw the Oklahoma City Thunder win it all against the Indiana Pacers, with other Western Conference teams such as the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves lurking about. Speaking of the 'Wolves, the Lakers lost to the team in the first round of this year's playoffs, although James gave it his all in the series before suffering a sprained MCL. Luka Doncic joined the Lakers last season after big man Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for the guard. With James sticking with the team, which also drafted his son, Bronny James, last season, Paul says that he believes that James and the Lakers are in lockstep regarding their goals. "LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul told ESPN. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career. ESPN added in its reporting that the Lakers are seeking another center via free agency. - Photo: Getty via: https://hiphopwired.com/2758139/lebron-james-exercises-option-lakers/

Ja Rule Trolls 50 Cent Over Alleged Low Ticket Sales

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:30 GMT

Source: Andrew Chin / Getty Ja Rule and 50 Cent have been beefing for more than 25 years, and the drama is still going strong. The latest shot came from Ja Rule, who roasted 50 online over what he says are weak ticket sales for his European tour. 50 Cent is currently on his Legacy Tour in Europe, with recent stops in places like Germany. Legends like Fat Joe and Mary J. Blige are also part of the lineup, with Mary performing a 14-song set in Germany. But when a 2-for-1 ticket deal for 50's London show popped up online, Ja didn't miss the chance to throw shade. Ja Rule took to X to mock the deal, and when a fan told him that the tickets were sold out, he fired back: "You sure bout that??? Ain't nobody coming to see you Otis... I mean Curtis," referencing a classic joke and using 50's real name, Curtis Jackson, to mock him even more. He also added a laughing emoji for trolling purposes. This kind of trolling is nothing new for Ja Rule. One of the most infamous moments in their beef was years ago when 50 Cent allegedly bought out the first few rows of Ja's concert just so the seats would be empty. He said he did it to embarrass Ja, and that the tickets were dirt cheap on StubHub. Their feud dates back to the late '90s when both were rising stars. It started with street-level conflicts in Queens and escalated through diss tracks, interviews, and real-life altercations. In the early 2000s, 50 Cent dropped "Back Down" and "Wanksta" aimed at Ja, while Ja fired back with songs like "Loose Change." Their feud played a big role in shaping the rap scene of that era, and clearly, the bad blood still hasn't dried up. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757947/ja-rule-trolls-50-cent-over-alleged-low-ticket-sales/

Trump Bullies University of Virginia President To Resign

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:16 GMT

Source: Ryan M. Kelly / Getty Last Friday (June 27), University of Virginia President James E. Ryan stepped down from his position after heavy pressure was exerted upon him by the administration of President Donald Trump to do so. The move was in response to a letter sent to Ryan and his staff by the Justice Department, which demanded his resignation in order to settle an investigation into the university over its diversity policies. Ryan had already decided to step down as president at the end of the next academic year, but "given the circumstances and today's conversations," decided to resign in a letter sent out to the head of the board overseeing the university. According to a source who viewed the letter, his resignation could be effective immediately but "no later than Aug. 15, 2025," and it prompted students and faculty members to assemble at Carr's Hill, the president's residence in a show of solidarity. The Justice Department's letter was written and signed by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon and Deputy Attorney General for Civil Rights Gregory W. Brown, both who are alumni of UVA's School of Law. Brown had already sued the school as a private lawyer. Their letter, dated June 17, alleged that the department had multiple complaints of race-based treatment on campus and that there were "widespread practices throughout every component and facet of the institution." They advised the board to move swiftly, writing: "Time is running short, and the department's patience is wearing thin." The resignation of Ryan is another startling step in the campaign by the Trump administration to exert pressure on universities in the United States to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, in addition to cracking down on what it deems are policies promoting antisemitism. UVA alum and Morgan State University political science professor Dr. Jason Johnson spoke about the situation during an MSNBC segment. "This is a school that didn't admit women or minority students until 1971, 1972....they want UVA to be the old Southern school that it used to be." via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757981/trump-bullies-university-of-virginia-president-to-resign/

Scott Storch Says The Roots Hated On Him For Leaving To Work With Dr. Dre

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:12 GMT

Source: Thaddaeus McAdams / Getty Older Hip-Hop heads are familiar with the run that Scott Storch had in the early and mid-2000s when he was behind the board on some of the biggest records to hit the streets, making him one of the most sought-after producers in the music game. Now with his glory days behind him (no shots), all Scott Storch can do is reminisce about the good ol' days and his ascension in the music business. But it wasn't all good and fun as Storch recalled an interesting interaction he had with the group he started his career with, The Roots. In a recent interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, Storch explained how things between himself and the legenadary Roots Crew went sour when he decided to fly solo and began his historic run with the legendary Dr. Dre. Saying he was referred to as the "Pete Best of The Roots" (Pete Best was someone who actually quit on The Beatles), Scott Storch said his work with Philly squad was very "under appreciated" as he felt he created a lot of the "nucleus" of some of what they recorded and "did a lot of stuff for them." Once he walked away from the group to give himself a shot and grow as an artist, Storch said that the decision caused his girlfriend to leave him and say "You f*cked up." Ultimately, he didn't care because he wasn't going to "go on the road with a bunch of guys that don't appreciate me and be like, 'That's the white guy who plays keys in The Roots.' I'm the f*cking guy coming up with all the sh*t." It got to the point that he said they began to call him the "white devil" while explaining that he's the most "harmonious" and "non-racist" person "ever." Storch even revealed that while he was working with The Roots in the '90s, he was also working in the studio with a girl who at the time was working at Urban Outfitters in Philly who now goes by the name of Jill Scott. The name sounds kinda familiar to us (sarcasm). Jill Scott was even supposed to be the original singer on the hook to The Roots' smash hit, "You Got Me," but they decided to switch her out for Erykah Badu. Then when it came time for him to leave and work with Dr. Dre, he says they told him he was working with Dre "10 years too late." Calling them "haters," Storch did explain that he wasn't trying to dog them out for how they treated him, but simply breaking down how this was all part of his journey in his music career. Should be interesting to see if anyone in The Roots responds and gives their side of the story. [Editor's Note: We'll be monitoring Quastlove's socials] Check out Scott Storch explain his relationship with The Roots below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757868/scott-storch-the-roots-hated-on-him-for-leaving-to-work-with-dr-dre/

Trump Demands Apologies For "Unpatriotic" Iran Bombing Stories; CNN, NY Times LOL

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:12 GMT

Source: Xinhua News Agency / Getty President Trump has always been allergic to the truth. It is his kryptonite. So it's par for the course that he's threatening to sue CNN and the New York Times over reports issued by the government that the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites had set that program back months-but not "totally obliterated," which is what Trump claimed. On June 25, Trump's personal lawyer sent letters to news stations demanding that they issue retractions and apologies over their reporting. Both CNN and the NY Times rejected the lawyers' claims and issued letters noting that their reporting was accurate. The Times notes that Trump's attorney called the stories defamatory, "false" and "unpatriotic." "Trump has railed against CNN, the Times and other news organizations that have reported on intelligence, alleging the outlets 'want to try and demean me,'" The Times reports. "No retraction is needed. No apology will be forthcoming. We told the truth to the best of our ability. We will continue to do so," David McCraw, SVP and deputy general counsel for the New York Times Co., wrote in a reply dated June 26. McCraw added, "I must admit I was surprised by your letter's unwavering certainty that the U.S. air strike 'unequivocally eliminated Iran's nuclear capabilities.' That was at odds not just with the preliminary assessments of the U.S. intelligence services that we quoted, but - of more direct relevance to this letter - at odds with what your client said following the publication of the Article." McCraw then quoted Trump's own comments during the NATO summit, "The intelligence was very inconclusive. The intelligence says, 'We don't know, it could have been very severe' - that's what the intelligence says." The Times' story notes "that the President may have overstated the case when he said the Iranian sites had been 'obliterated,' that the impact of the bombing raid was uncertain, that the attack did not eliminate the threat posed by Iran," McCraw wrote, "is not false and does not defame the President." The Times even posted a copy of McCraw's letter which you can read here. A CNN rep told the Times that they received a similar letter from Trump's lawyer and only noted that they responded and were "rejecting the claims in the letter." After CNN reported, like most other news stations, that Iran's nuclear site had been crippled but not decimated, Trump took to social media to attack CNN reporter, Natasha Bertrand, over her Iran story. The President of the United States noted that she "should be fired by the network and "thrown out 'like a dog.'" "We stand 100% behind Natasha Bertrand's journalism and specifically her and her colleagues' reporting of the early intelligence assessment of the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities," CNN said in a statement viewed by Variety. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757908/trump-demands-apologies-for-unpatriotic-iran-bombing-stories-cnn-ny-times-lol/

50 Cent Is Not A Fan Of NYC Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:44 GMT

Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz 50 Cent is concerned about the upcoming mayoral race in New York City. He has made it clear he isn't feeling the democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani's plans for the town. As spotted on HipHopDX, Zohran Mamdani was a recent guest on The Breakfast Club. During the interview, he discussed his political career and his proposed tax plans for The Big Apple. "What I've proposed is we raise $10 billion to pay for our entire economic agenda and start to Trump proof our city because we know he'll use federal funding as leverage over this city. And we will do so in two key ways," he explained. "The first is to match the state's top corporate tax rate to that of New Jersey. We are at 7.25%, they are at 11.5%. Corporations can pay it over there, they can pay it over here. And the beauty of it is it doesn't just apply to corporations headquartered in New York City, wherever you are headquartered, as long as you are doing business in the state of New York, you are liable for that corporate tax." Zohran went on to further detail that the top earning citizens will have to pay like they weigh. "The second is taxing the top 1% of New Yorkers. We're talking about people who make $1 million a year or more, taxing them by a flat 2% tax rate increase. I know 50 Cent is listening, he's not going to be very happy about this, he tends to not like this tax policy but I want to be very clear, this is about $20,000 a year." As expected, this clip soon landed on Fif's radar prompting him to respond on his Instagram account. "Where did he come from whose friend is this? I'm not feeling this plan no. I will give him $258,750 and a first class one way ticket away from NY. I'm telling Trump what he said too !" he wrote. He has since deleted the post, but you can view it below. ( function() { var func = function() { var iframe = document.getElementById('wpcom-iframe-feb77b9d02a77ffe521a06ff165277bb') if ( iframe ) { iframe.onload = function() { iframe.contentWindow.postMessage( { 'msg_type': 'poll_size', 'frame_id': 'wpcom-iframe-feb77b9d02a77ffe521a06ff165277bb' }, "https:\/\/embeds.go.ione.nyc" ); } } // Autosize iframe var funcSizeResponse = function( e ) { var origin = document.createElement( 'a' ); origin.href = e.origin; // Verify message origin if ( 'embeds.go.ione.nyc' !== origin.host ) return; // Verify message is in a format we expect if ( 'object' !== typeof e.data || undefined === e.data.msg_type ) return; switch ( e.data.msg_type ) { case 'poll_size:response': var iframe = document.getElementById( e.data._request.frame_id ); if ( iframe && '' === iframe.width ) iframe.width = '100%'; if ( iframe && '' === iframe.height ) iframe.height = parseInt( e.data.height ); return; default: return; } } if ( 'function' === typeof window.addEventListener ) { window.addEventListener( 'message', funcSizeResponse, false ); } else if ( 'function' === typeof window.attachEvent ) { window.attachEvent( 'onmessage', funcSizeResponse ); } } if (document.readyState === 'complete') { func.apply(); /* compat for infinite scroll */ } else if ( document.addEventListener ) { document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', func, false ); } else if ( document.attachEvent ) { document.attachEvent( 'onreadystatechange', func ); } } )(); via: https://hiphopwired.com/2754855/50-cent-zohran-mamdani-mayor-candidate/

British Punk Rock & Grime Duo Bob Vylan, Explained

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:42 GMT

Bob Vylan, an English punk rock and grime duo, is under investigation by British authorities after the pair rocked a politically-charged set at this weekend's Glastonbury Festival. Bob Vylan's lead singer led the crowd in a pro-Palestine chant and calling for the death of the Israeli Defense Force. Bob Vylan is comprised of lead vocalist and guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan. The duo explained in past interviews that they used the stage names due to their political leanings and to avoid being surveilled by police and similar entities. However, Bobby Vylan's given name, Pascal Robinson-Foster, is known to the public. Robinson-Foster, who is in his mid-30s, is of Jamaican descent. As seen in The Standard, the pair formed in 2017, which also saw the release of their debut album, Vylan. The themes of Bob Vylan's music include calling out racism in Britain and beyond, police violence, and addressing the struggles of the mental health of Black residents of England. One of the band's biggest songs, "We Live Here," addresses the use of the n-word slur towards one of its members. Bobby Vylan cites Whitney Houston as an influence, according to a 2024 interview with DIY. In that same chat, the award-winning duo explained what their chief musical aims were, fusing the aforementioned themes with messages of hope and upliftment. "Things are hard here, but there's way more to our existence than the bricks and mortar that we surround ourselves in," Bobby Vylan told DIY. In 2022, the group won the MOBO Awards recognition for Best Alternative Music Act, the first to do so, and also won the Best Album award for Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life. The duo's last album, Humble As The Sun, was also widely praised after its release. This past Saturday (June 28), Bob Vylan hit the stage with Bobby Vylan leading a chant of "Free Palestine" and "Death to the IDF," both of which alarmed British and Israeli officials, who both have condemned the band's actions over the weekend. The BBC aired the festival on its network channels, sparking outrage from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and prompting the Israeli Embassy in London to issue a statment calling the performance hate speech and inciting violence against the IDF. Glastonbury Festival organizers issued a statement decrying the actions of the band during their performance. "We are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence. With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer's presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs," the organizers said. Sticking to their ideals, Bob Vylan's Bobby Vylan issued a statement on his Instagram page largely centered on his daughter filling out a school survey and wanting healthy meals, and flipping it to address the Glastonbury Festival. Listening to her voice her opinions on a matter that she cares about and affects her daily, reminds me that we may not be doomed after all. Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place," read part of the statement. Bobby Vylan remained defiant in his statment, concluding it with, "Today, it is a change in school dinners, tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy." View the statement in full below. - Photo: via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757829/british-punk-rock-grime-duo-bob-vylan-explained/

Will Smith Sends More Shots At Chris Rock In New Freestyle

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:25 GMT

Source: Variety / Getty Will Smith is back on the mic, and he's not ready to let the Chris Rock slap incident fade away just yet During a new freestyle on Apple Music's Fire in the Booth, the rapper and actor seems to send a few sharp lines at Chris Rock, the comedian he famously slapped at the 2022 Oscars. Though Smith doesn't say Rock's name directly, the message feels clear. He raps, "If you talking crazy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, expect me on the stage." That's a pretty obvious nod to what happened at the Oscars. He keeps going with, "Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it's time to take it / City full of real ones, wasn't raised to fake it," suggesting Rock couldn't handle what he started. Chris Rock hasn't commented on the freestyle yet, but fans online are already talking about it. This isn't the first time Smith has mentioned the slap. Earlier this year, he dropped an album called "Based on a True Story". It didn't do well, failing to make the Billboard 200, but it still made headlines. On the first track, which features DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone in a barbershop-style skit, people talk about Smith and his career. One line says, "I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back - and you know they only made him do that shit because he's Black." Another adds, "He's only still relevant because of his kids." Smith also touches on his personal life in the track "You Lookin' For Me?" where he raps, "Personal life with my wife - mind your business, it's complicated." With this new freestyle, Will seems to be unapologetically himself, whether people like it or not. Whether fans love it or hate it, one thing is clear: he's not done talking about that night. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2757766/will-smith-sends-more-shots-at-chris-rock-in-new-freestyle/

Drake's Abs Are Getting Flamed On Social Media, X Says BBL Drizzy Can Never Beat The "Ab Etching"All

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 16:42 GMT

Source: Getty Images / Drake Drake tried to get the ladies hot and bothered on social media with a thirst trap, but instead, social media is reminding him he's not beating the plastic surgery allegations. BBL Drizzy, oops, we mean Drake, has owned the weekend thanks to news of his forthcoming album Iceman, which his biggest fan, Mal, of the Rory and Mal podcast, will have a "bomb" on it. The Canadian Hip-Hop star is also getting clowned for his thirst trap showcasing his abs, which many believe is the product of "ab etching," which is described as "a liposuction procedure that claims to sculpt and enhance the appearance of your waistline and create six-pack abs," per Healthline. In the caption for the Instagram post, which features several other photos, the rapper wrote, "I'm wide awake for the nights that separate the type who get to it til they get it right from the type who just ...type." Rigghhhhttt. Well, the post seems to be backfiring spectacularly, with many folks pointing out that the rest of Drake's figure doesn't match the abs. "Drake fake abs look like the precut cookie dough squares omg," one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote. Another user on X wrote, "Access to the best trainers and healthiest food in the world, but chose to go to a plastic surgeon for fake abs. What a bitch @Drake." Lol, damn. Well, as long as he is fine with the alleged "ab etching," that's all that matters, right? You can see more reactions in the gallery below. via: https://hiphopwired.com/playlist/drake-abs-thirst-trap-social-media-reactions/

SUMiT ft. Millyz & Dave East "Super Nice," Paul Wall & DJ Fresh "Blantons" & More | Daily Visuals 6.

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 01:00 GMT

Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz Years ago it seemed like Millyz and Dave East were joined at the hip as the two dropped quite a few duet records and popped up in each other's videos regularly and though they've since gone on to do their own things, SUMiT has reunited the two for his latest offering and for that we're grateful. Linking up for the visuals to "Super Nice," Millyz and Dave East once again ride again at the behest of SUMiT as the trio get smoked out and poured up during their studio session and lay down their bars over an impressive track that has them making the most of their flows. Back in the South, Paul Wall continues to remind us that white men can jump all over a beat and in his and DJ.Fresh's clip to "Blantons," Mr. Wall gets his grown man on and pours himself a drink while kicking back in a fly suit and enjoying himself some down time at home. Suited up with an iced out grill. Paul Wall bout to start a new trend for the more sophisticated ballers. Check out the rest of today's drops including work from Burna Boy, Jane Handcock and Anderson .Paak, and more. SUMIT FT. MILLYZ & DAVE EAST - "SUPER NICE" PAUL WALL & DJ FRESH - "BLANTONS" BURNA BOY - "DON'T LET ME DROWN" JANE HANDCOCK & ANDERSON .PAAK - "STARE AT ME" DON TOLIVER - "FWU" SAUCE WALKA, PESO PESO & OGDBERRY - "4 PINTS" 3BREEZY FT. JEWELS - "OH LAWD" RMC MIKE - "WE THE ONES" via: https://hiphopwired.com/2754418/sumit-ft-millyz-dave-east-super-nice-paul-wall-dj-fresh-blantons-more-daily-visuals-6-27-25/

Ops At Work?: Biz Execs Plot To Stop Mamdani's NYC Mayoral Rise Via Mixxy Mayor

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:14 GMT

Source: Pacific Press / Getty The statement win by New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary election to become New York City's mayor on Tuesday (June 24) has captured the attention of the country. And its raised alarms for high-level business executives, who are now meeting to craft a plan to thwart his potentially winning the mayoral race in November. According to reports, business owners in the city incuding hedge fund manager Daniel S. Loeb met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to discuss how to stop Mamdani and to talk about Adams' own re-election campaign as an independent candidate. Sources noted that the businessmen were impressed with Adams' comments about Mamdani the morning after the initial results of the primary came in. The incumbent mayor called Mamdani a "snake oil salesman" in his criticisms while appearing on Fox & Friends. The business owners expressed concerns about Mamdani's campaign platform, specifically pointing to his ideas of levying more taxes on corporations to provide funding for other elements he would put in place as mayor. "You want to have leadership that speaks to what New York is," said prominent landlord Scott Rechler . "It's the capital of capitalism." Another attendee of the meeting was former hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson, who ran against Mamdani in the Democratic primary. In a text message to the New York Times, Tilson called him "totally unqualified to be mayor of one of the world's largest, most complex cities" and a "Trojan horse" for "the extremist, dangerous ideology of the Democratic Socialists of America." Zohran Mamdani's primary win puts the mayoral race in a new light after his defeat of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo, who the group reportedly felt ran a "low-energy" campaign, hasn't yet decided to run as an independent in November. Adams registered to run on an independent basis, and is perceived as more of a deterrent to Mamdani's victory than the presumptive Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa. GOP megadonor John Catsimatidis is expressing support for Adams. "The only people who are going to help Eric Adams is Washington, whether it's (border czar) Tom Homan, whether it's Donald Trump," the Gristedes grocery chain store owner said. "And Tom and Donald Trump want a safe New York." Sliwa, however, is adamant that he won't drop out. "I'm not getting out of this race unless they figure out a way to put me in a pine box and bury me six feet under," he said. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2754695/business-execs-plot-to-stop-mamdanis-nyc-mayoral-rise/

Nike Says Trump Tariffs Will Cost It A Billion Before Prices On Sneakers Go Up & Supply Chains Shift

Posted by urbanradiocollective — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:07 GMT

Source: Nike / NIke At this point it's no secret that Donald Trump's idiotic and unnecessary tariff policies on America's trade partners are going to spike prices on products all across the board and have American consumers pay more for everyday items. While Nike and other sneaker brands warned customers that this would lead to higher price tags on their releases going forward, we're now getting an idea of how this is going to effect not only consumers (sneaker prices have gone up a bit), but sneaker companies themselves. According to CNBC, Nike is bracing itself for some rocky times after taking a big financial hit in their fiscal fourth quarter, and that was before Trump tariffs went into effect. Now that they're prepping for tariffs to play a role in their costs on manufacturing, importing, etc, Nike is looking for ways to curb even more financial losses in the coming years. Hint, it might cost sneakerheads that much more to keep our feet fresh going forward. With Nike's direct revenue falling 14%, which was led by a 26% drop in digital sales and a 9% decline in wholesale, y'all know Nike is going to be making some changes and it will be coming directly out of our pockets. CNBC reports: While the worst could be behind the company, it has new challenges such as tariffs to face, making a tough turnaround that much more difficult. On a call with analysts, finance chief Matt Friend called the duties a "new and meaningful" cost. "With the new tariff rates in place today, we estimate a gross incremental cost increase to Nike of approximately $1 billion" in its current fiscal year 2026, Friend said. He added that the company intends to "fully mitigate" that cost over time as it tweaks its supply chain, works with its factory and retail partners and implements price increases. Nobody likes to pay more for anything, but if sneakerheads have proven anything on the resale market it's that they will pay more to look fly out in the wild. So, it shouldn't be surprising that Nike and other sneaker brands wouldn't hesitate to pass on the cost of tariffs to customers as will every other company that has products made in tariff-imposed countries. Though Nike had a struggle fiscal fourth quarter (really due to the lack of interest in sneakers the brand was dropping at the time), Nike's releases in 2025 have been selling like hotcakes. Retro Jordans and Nikes from yesteryear have once again become a hot commodity, which in turn caused Nike stock to jump over 10% as some hype for their products has returned. Couple that with the interest in the remaining releases that Nike has planned for the remainder of 2025 and they should be in better shape going into 2026. What do y'all think about Nike's plan to increase prices to offset losses going forward? Fair or foul? Let us know in the comments section below. via: https://hiphopwired.com/2754406/nike-trump-tariffs-will-cost-a-billion/