Before JAŸ-Z became a billionaire mogul, stadium-selling superstar, and one of the greatest MCs to ever touch a mic, he was a hungry artist trying to make people believe in his vision.

Some of those early moments happened right in Philadelphia. As part of The Backstory Podcast’s exclusive “Road To Roots Picnic.” Reflecting on Hov’s longtime relationship with the city of Brotherly Love, Backstory Podcast host and SVP of programming for Radio One, Colby Colb explains Philly has always held a special place in JAŸ’s journey.

“Philadelphia was one of the first cities outside of New York to truly embrace JAŸ-Z before the world fully understood who he was becoming. Through these rare interviews and moments, you can actually hear the evolution from a hungry young artist building Roc-A-Fella from the ground up to one of the most influential figures in music and culture. It’s the quintessential Philadelphia story, underdog comes of age with limited resources. The Roots Picnic feels like a full-circle moment because JAŸ-Z and Philadelphia have always shared a unique connection rooted in respect, hustle, ambition, and growth.”

The journey starts in September 1995, nearly eight months before Reasonable Doubt dropped. A nervous but confident young Hov sits down for his first radio interview in Philly during his first East Coast promo run. At the time, Roc-A-Fella was still just an idea fighting for space in Hip-Hop, but even then, the hunger stood out.

By 1996, “Dead Presidents” was already making noise and JAŸ-Z was beginning to break down the creation of Reasonable Doubt, discussing everything from the iconic video working alongside The Notorious B.I.G., Ski, and Irv Gotti.

The Backstory Podcast will show how Philly has been part of JAŸ-Z’s story from the jump. From intimate radio freestyles to sold-out arenas, the city watched the evolution of Hov happen live.

Assassin’s Creed Black Resynced is no longer Ubisoft’s worst-kept secret, after the game studio finally pulled the curtain off the remake of the 2013 game Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and we got to play 4 hours of it.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is considered one of the best entries into the AC franchise and the best pirate video game ever made (sorry, Skull & Bones). It’s also the one Assassin’s Creed game I didn’t finish, so I didn’t know everything about it. I went into my preview with a pretty clean slate, having only experienced a small portion of the original, but I still had a good idea of what to expect.

After my meaty hands-on experience with the game, I was left with the impression that Ubisoft approached this remake by playing it safe, aiming to deliver the definitive version of one of its past popular Assassin’s Creed games.

If Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

Based on the build of the game I got to experience, Ubisoft devs took the age-old approach, “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and honestly, that’s a great thing because the OG game was great on so many levels.

Like the 2013 game, Black Flag Resynced is absolutely gorgeous. The Caribbean setting is already a vibrant, lush, and massive world, and the Ubisoft Anvil Engine takes the game’s look and feel to another level.

I marveled at the vibrant blue skies and ocean waters, occasionally featuring whales breaching, as I took the helm of the Jackdaw and the crew sang shanties. I soaked in the jungle environments and was amazed, looking at the waters crashing against the shores of the islands located across the map I was able to travel to during my preview.

The controls have been modernized to make Edward Kenney handle more like recent Assassin’s Creed protagonists.

The new parry is a welcome addition, along with Edward’s new action-heavy attacks, allowing you to take control of battles with multiple enemies. Combine that with the leg sweeps, kicks, and Edward’s sword and pistol, and you’re in for a swashbuckling good time while dispatching foes.

Edward also moves a lot better and can now freely crouch, making stealth easier, taking a page out of the most recent release, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Ship combat is fun, but can be difficult at times. I found myself having to replay a couple of battles a few times, but once I got the hang of all of the different weapons and how to reduce damage from enemy ships.

Black Flag Resynced Could Be The Shot In The Arm The AC Franchise Needs

As mentioned before, I never played 2013’s Black Flag to completion, but after experiencing a significant sample of Ubisoft’s first true remake with Resynced, I’m very eager to experience Edward’s story.

This game isn’t just a facelift; it’s most definitely a bona fide reimagining of a classic that could help reinvigorate a franchise desperate to find its footing, and if Ubisoft can pull this off, who knows, maybe we will see a remake of Assassin’s Creed and Assassin’s Creed II, which are both personal favorites of mine.

One can dream, right?

6LACK sat down with Hip-Hop Wired ahead of the release of his upcoming album Love Is The New Gangsta, his first project in three years.

Since his last release, the Atlanta swiss army knife says he’s been focused on fatherhood, personal growth, and sharpening himself not only as an artist, but as a man. During the conversation, 6LACK broke down the deeper meaning behind the albums title and the mindset he’s carrying into this new chapter of his life.

“I just felt like I made it to a point of my life where I understood what gangsta really is and it’s being rooted in home, being rooted in love, being rooted in community. What you learned growing up falls apart as you mature and get older. I think it’s important to remind folks it’s ok to love at the core.”

The East Atlanta Love Letter artist also looked back on one of the funniest viral moments when LeBron James famously butchered the lyrics to his and Lil Tjay’s song “Calling My Phone” back in 2021.

“Who am I to correct LeBron James? We might as well switch all the websites that have the lyrics to whatever he said which was like, ‘Yaba daba.’ It was something wild, either way he was right I was wrong. He said it so confidently too, I feel like when you’re that confident everybody else is wrong, you’re right. He didn’t think twice, he recorded it, saw it, and posted it, so who am I to say?”

With Love Is The New Gangsta, 6LACK is ready to deliver a more mature and grounded version of himself still keeping it real for his day one fans.

After over 15 years of bringing you the latest news in the Hip-Hop culture on the daily through the airwaves, Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club will be coming to your TV screens, more. Netflix is preparing to live-stream the daily talkshow in just a matter of weeks.

According to Variety, Netflix has just cut a deal with iHeart Media to begin live-streaming the popular morning Hip-Hop show starting this June 1, making the show Netflix’s first daily live program. Beginning at 6am (the time the show starts), The Breakfast Club will be airing uninterrupted for the duration of it’s three hours, giving Hip-Hoppers worldwide something to watch as they get ready for work, school, or just life itself in the early morning.

Now viewers can actually see the reactions of DJ Envy, Charlemagne Tha God, Jess Hilarious and Loren LoRosa’s reactions in real time as they interview guests and break news on the daily.

While this may not seem like a big deal on it’s surface, Charlemagne Tha God knows that this means to him and his morning crew.

Per Variety:

Charlamagne Tha God said in a statement: “Do y’all understand what ‘live globally’ really means? Mornings in New York. Daytime in the U.K. and Ghana. Evenings across other parts of the world. The media landscape will always evolve, but one thing consistently cuts through: live programming. That’s a big reason ‘The Breakfast Club’ has sustained its reign for so long. We’re building something powerful — real-time conversation, real community, on a global scale. The future belongs to those who can see what’s possible — and trust me, the vision for ‘The Breakfast Club’ and Netflix is crystal clear.”

“’The Breakfast Club’ has been a cultural staple for years, and we’re thrilled to make it our first daily live morning show on Netflix,” said Lauren Smith, Netflix’s VP of content licensing and programming strategy. “It’s a big step forward in how we bring culturally defining audio-first franchises to life for Netflix audiences around the world, and we’re excited to deepen our partnership with iHeartMedia.”

Well earned and well deserved.

Will you be cutting on The Breakfast Club on your TV’s in the early morning? Let us know in the comments section below.

UFC 6 season is upon us, and as fans prepare for the release of the game next month, new details are being released to the public. Among the many features UFC 6 promises are updated fighter likenesses, improved gameplay physics, and much more.

As big fans of the UFC 5 title, we’re excited to share details with our readers about the upcoming UFC 6 title. In a news posting from the game’s website, the breakdown of some of the bells and whistles in the update was shared.

From the UFC 6 website:

Starting with fighter likeness, EA Sports and Frostbite have updated all textures including skin tones, skin and eye shaders and increased point count per strand of hair all using its Sapien Scaling technology.

In-game, fighters will appear closer to their real-life counterparts than ever thanks to signature striking and movement animations powered by markerless motion capture technology.

To support this, EA Sports analyzes fighters during in-house motion capture sessions and in venue at major UFC events, where dedicated teams scan and record athletes to capture their real-life tendencies for the game.

For those who played UFC 5, the game’s fidelity, graphics, and bone-crunching visuals are still considerably favorable achievements, considering the game has some age on it. That said, some of the images we’ve been privileged to see of the upcoming title definitely blow the past game out of the water.

Adding to the realism, EA Sports developed an improved environment fidelity and cinematic lighting system. What that entails is cinematic color grading as it relates to certain licensed venues under the UFC banner, along with upgrades to rim lighting, lens flares, and more.

“UFC 6 has taken the detail in our fighter fidelity to a level we have never seen before,” said Nate McDonald Lead Producer of EA Sports UFC. “We believe these technologies have helped us reach our goal of making the best-looking fight game of 2026.”

The standup game and ground game were already top-notch on UFC 5, but the EA Sports team wasn’t satisfied. This year’s release was built on an all-new Frostbite Physics Engine for the first time in the title’s history. The engine will bring real-time contact and in-fight physics to the forefront, along with a new ragdoll system and neck and spine reactions to strikes.

UFC 6 drops on June 19 via PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Ultimate Edition will give players early access starting June 12.

Learn more here.

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Photo: EA Sports

Megan Thee Stallion and her Hot Girl Summer swimwear line will be back at Miami Swim Week to set the runway on fire.

Complex reports that the Houston rapper will return to PARAISO Miami Swim Week on Thursday (May 28) for another runway show showcasing her refreshed Hot Girl Summer swimwear line, which will surely tantalize our senses as she shows off new pieces added to the collection.

According to the website, Thee Stallion’s runway show will not discriminate by featuring size-inclusive models across all genders who will be walking alongside canine companions that will be rocking the recently announced items for the swimwear brand’s new pet line.

The pet line features barkini sets and dog tees available in blue, red, and white shell bloom designs ranging from $9.97 to $12.97.

NYX Professional Makeup will serve as the official beauty and body artistry partner, and models will be utilizing the recently launched Caramelt Mami Body Oil.

The refreshed Hot Girl Summer collection features 20 pieces, including bikinis, one-piece bathing suits, and cover-ups in shell-inspired prints and colors like red, orange, pink, white, blue, and green that will surely catch your eye, ranging from $18 to $32.

The Fellas Can Now Celebrate Hot Boy Summer

The line was recently expanded with the addition of a men’s line featuring a nine-piece collection comprised of swim trunks and tank tops with “Hot Boy Summer” that will only cost $20.

This upcoming runway show follows her first successful PARAISO Miami Swim Week runway show in 2025, which saw cast members from Love Island Season 6 walk and be featured on Peacock’s Behind The Villa.

We are definitely looking forward to seeing the recently single leader of the Hot Girls show off her new collection and more next week.

Tailgate Beach Club, nestled inside the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, held its grand opening party last weekend. We had the pleasure of attending the festivities, which featured skating legend Tony Hawk, members of the Las Vegas Raiders, and a special headlining set from Snoop Dogg.

As reported over on CASSIUS, Tailgate Beach Club held its grand opening on May 16 in Las Vegas, and we were in the building to take all of the festivities in. As advertised, the dayclub offers a panoramic view of large LED screens for patrons to take in the sports and live music action, large pool areas, and cabanas for rental.

Among the celebrities in the building were San Fransciso 49ers stars George Kittle and Nick Bosa, along with other members of the team. Los Angeles Rams star Kyren Williams also hit the red carpet ahead of the party.

The legend Tony Hawk, who was there with his skating team, graced the building with his presence and was alarmingly chill despite his vaunted legacy as one of the top thrill seekers out there.

Along with Hawk, several cast members of Love Island USA, including Daniela N. Ortiz Rivera, Ciaran Davies, Charlie Georgio, Courtney “coco” Watson, and Pepe Garcia, also showed up. Castmates from previous Love Is Blind seasons were also present.

With DJ Whoo Kid warming up the crowd ahead of Snoop Dogg’s arrival, the sunny Vegas skies made for a raucous but largely harmonious time at Tailgate. Snoop, who strolled in cool as ever, took to the stage and ran through several of his hits with Tha Dogg Pound’s Kurupt joining him for a lively performance of the “It Ain’t No Fun” track.

In all, Tailgate Beach Club has all the designs one could ask for, and, as a live performance venue, Snoop Dogg showed and proved that revelers visiting the space will no doubt enjoy all of the venue’s scheduled events to come.

To learn more about the club, click here.

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Photo: Getty Images (except where noted)

Cardi B continues to have a monster year, now leading the pack at the BET Awards with six nominations. 

The Bronx superstar picked up nominations including Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Album of the Year for AM I DRAMA?. She also earned nomination for the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award.

The new category was created to honor influential global figures whose impact on fashion goes beyond music and entertainment.

“Fashion presence has had long-standing cultural impact, has significantly influenced style narratives, and continues to elevate fashion as a form of storytelling across music, film, sports, and public file.”

Fresh off her successful Little Miss Drama tour, Bardi keeps adding wins to an already stacked year. Alongside the BET nominations, Cardi B also recently secured a partnership with luxury resale company FASHIONPHILE as the brand’s new Global Ambassador.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar is right behind her with five BET Award nominations of his own, including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Best Collaboration for “Chains & Whips.”

The Compton rapper has been on one of the strongest runs of his career latley. Earlier this year, Kendrick picked up Grammy wins for Record of they Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luther” featuring SZA, officially surpassing JAŸ-Z as the most awarded Hip-Hop artist in Grammy history.

At the same time, his rivalry with Drake appears far from over. The OVO rapper reignited tensions after dropping ICEMAN, where fans believe he took several shots at Kendrick. One of the more talked about moments came when Drizzy linked back up with Future on a track titled “Ran To Atlanta,” seemingly referencing Kendrick’s previous accusations that Drake ran to Atlanta looking for hits.

Between awards, chart success, and ongoing rap drama, both Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar continue to dominate the culture heading into award season.

Wiz Khalifa is officially a wanted man in Romania. The government placed him on their list after his conviction for drug possession late last year, and it was announced by national media outlets Digi24 and Mediafax.

The conviction stems from Wiz Khalifa’s arrest while performing on stage at the Beach, Please! music festival held on the Eastern European country’s Black Sea coast in July 2024. Police officers noted that in addition to the “homemade cigarette” that the “Young, Wild & Free” artist smoked on stage, he was also found in possession of “over 18 grams of cannabis”.

Wiz Khalifa, aka Thomaz Cameron Jibril, apologized in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Last nights show was amazing. I didn’t mean any disrespect to the country of Romania by lighting up on stage. They were very respectful and let me go. I’ll be back soon. But without a big — joint next time,” he wrote.

Lizzo turned heads after teasing her own rendition of the Washington Go-Go band UCB’s timeless “Sexy Lady” hit song. With Lizzo advancing the charge on remixing the tune, some Go-Go fans aren’t on board.

Uncalled 4 Band, better known in DC as UCB, is one of the leading groups pushing the modern-era Go-Go sound known as “Bounce Beat,” which is credited to the Total Control Band (TCB). Their song “Sexy Lady” is considered a local classic and still rings off during day parties and DJ sets in the Washington Metropolitan region.

Lizzo took to Instagram to tease her remix, which speeds up the original track, removes the signature bounce-beat drums, and features soaring vocals. In the comments section, fans had choice words for the “Truth Hurts” singer.

“As a dc girl born and raised. ….. I need u to work with gogo artists when making gogo music. Please,” said one comment. Another read, “Some songs don’t need to be touched.”

However, there was some excitement as the remix would be a major look for UCB and Washington’s Go-Go scene.

“Please get @wale and #UCB band on this joint,” one person commented. Another added, “Yoooooo @lizzobeeating ya gotta come to our city and do this live with the band. Will be [fire emoji] in DC let’s gooooooo.”

Reactions on X to Lizzo’s upcoming “Sexy Lady” remix were a bit more intense, and we’ve listed a handful below.

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Photo: Getty

Ant Jefe, a co-host on Adam22’s No Jumper program, was arrested this week in Los Angeles and charged with murder. Adam22 has given a statement regarding Ant Jefe’s arrest, regarding the moment as a “huge shock.”

TMZ broke the news of the arrest of Ant Jefe, real name Maurice Shelmon. Shelmon, 35, was arrested on Tuesday (May 19) by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), according to reports.

USA Today added in its reporting that Shelmon was arrested by members of the LAPD’s robbery and homicide division.

“[Ant has] been a great podcaster for the last year or so, and as far as I knew, he wasn’t really in the streets like that anymore, so this was all a huge shock,” Adam22 said to TMZ.

Adam22 and his No Jumper compatriots reacted to the details of Shelmon’s arrest during a livestream on Tuesday.

Co-host Mooseman said, “He’s like, ‘Mr. I’m just a podcaster, YouTuber, I’m big chilling.’ So this was disheartening to see for sure. Jefe got our full support up here at No Jumper. We want to see best for bro. And this is a terrible thing to hear, for sure.”

The details of Shelmon’s arrest have largely been kept mum.

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Photo: @young_ant_jefe / Instagram

Mr. 7 O’Clock himself, the legendary DJ Holiday, stays true to the ATL with his Birthday Bash playlist. From classics with Gucci, T.I. and Rocko to new cuts from Sexyy Red, Bally Baby & Bellygang Kushington, DJ Holiday represents all eras of the culture with this playlist.

LISTEN AND SAVE DJ HOLIDAY’S PLAYLIST BELOW!

GloRilla has been dealing with family drama publicly as her career continues to reach new heights.

When money and fame get involved, things can get messy, but Big Glo says she’s never switched up on the people around her. Her sister, Victoria Woods, also known online as “BroRilla”has been vocal for months, accusing the Memphis rapper of not properly taking care of their family.

Earlier this year, Victoria appeared on TMZ, claiming Big Glo has an obligation to share her success with relatives, including herself.

“She got an obligation to share the wealth, we sat here and struggled together. Yea she obligated, them friends obligated? She doing everything for them. So I feel like i obligated. She not doing nothing for the family, at all.”

The FNF rapper has seemingly addressed the situation multiple times, most recently on Latto’s song “GOMF.”

“You could’ve been anything, it’s a million ways to get paid, h *e. But you ain’t sh*t but a freaky stud that’s laced, h*e.”

Following that, Glo also touched on her relationship with her sister in a new Facebook post.

“It’s so hard being a celebrity and having to stfu and not address sh*t but have to watch you delusional b*tches come up with lies & make y’al selves believe em lmaooo.”

One things for sure, Big Glo is gonna stand on business.

On Tuesday (May 19), the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an order granting President Donald Trump immunity from ongoing investigations into his taxes, with the order also covering his family members and his trusts. 

The one-page document for the order, which states that the United States is “FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED from prosecuting or pursuing” Trump and his interests, was signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. It was attached to another statement announcing the creation of a nearly $2 billion fund as part of a settlement of a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is expected to benefit his allies.

Critics marveled with outrage at the brazenness of the order, which was posted on the DOJ’s website. Federal law bars the president, vice president and other executives from issuing something of that nature. It appears that Blanche is seeking to take advantage of a carveout provision in 26 U.S. Code § 7217.

The DOJ’s new order would still be illegal, according to New York University senior attorney advisor Brandon DeDot. “The I.R.S. would need to act to make the release of claims effective, which could raise additional questions about whether there has been unlawful political interference in the audit process,” DeDot said. “The settlement and general release of claims is a breathtaking abuse of the tax and legal system.”

The move has also rankled Democrats and some Republicans who were already opposed to the creation of the fund. “This all seems to be an obvious abuse of power by the Department of Justice, by the president. He negotiated essentially with himself. You’re his appointee, the IRS are his appointees, he’s the plaintiff,” Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island said. “And the American people, I don’t think, are surprised that suddenly all this money is going to his friends or people that are in his orbit.”

1. Lawrence O’ Donnell

Atlanta’s Birthday Bash has always been bigger than a concert. For the city, Hot 107.9’s annual stage has long felt like a family reunion, a victory lap, a roll call and a reminder that Atlanta does not just participate in Hip-Hop — Atlanta helps steer it. Every summer, Birthday Bash becomes one of the clearest reflections of what the city is, what it has been and where it might be going next.

That feels especially true this year, with Birthday Bash ATL 2026 celebrating its 30th anniversary at State Farm Arena on May 24, 2026. The announced lineup is basically an Atlanta rap history lesson in real time, with T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Waka Flocka Flame, Soulja Boy, Travis Porter, Pastor Troy, Kilo Ali, YK Niece and more all attached to the bill. The event is framed as a night celebrating three decades of Birthday Bash, making this one less about a headliner and more about the city saluting itself.

That is what makes Birthday Bash such a perfect backdrop for this conversation. Atlanta has had so many stars, so many crews, so many labels, so many producers and so many movements that it can be easy to talk about the city like it has always sounded one way. But the truth is, Atlanta’s greatest gift has always been reinvention. Every few years, somebody from the city or its surrounding areas has found a new pocket, a new bounce, a new slang, a new flow or a new way to make the rest of rap catch up.

The Atlanta sound we hear now — melodic, trap-rooted, internet-ready, club-tested and globally copied — did not arrive overnight. Before the city became one of Hip-Hop’s biggest power centers, it had to fight for respect in a genre that once treated the South like an afterthought. Then OutKast got booed at the Source Awards and André 3000 told the world, “The South got something to say.” From there, Atlanta never really stopped talking.

What followed was a journey through bass music, Dungeon Family soul, crunk, snap, trap, ringtone rap, mixtape dominance, melodic street rap, futuristic weirdness, Quality Control polish and a new generation raised on all of it at once. Atlanta did not just build one sound. It built a system where the next sound is always right around the corner.

TIMELINE OF ATLANTA’S SOUND IN HIP-HOP

Late 1980s-Early 1990s: Bass, Booty Music & The Club Foundation

Before Atlanta became known as the capital of trap, the city was already moving to bass-heavy party music. Influenced by Miami bass and Southern club culture, early Atlanta rap leaned into fast drums, call-and-response energy, dance floors and neighborhood anthems. Artists like Kilo Ali helped give the city an early identity, bringing an electro-bass flavor that made Atlanta music feel loud, physical and built for cars, clubs and skating rinks. It was not yet the Atlanta sound the world would later recognize, but it gave the city its first real sonic backbone.

Early-Mid 1990s: So So Def, Pop-Rap & Atlanta’s Commercial Breakthrough

As Atlanta started finding its place in the industry, Jermaine Dupri and So So Def helped prove the city could make hits that traveled far beyond Georgia. Kris Kross brought Atlanta into mainstream pop-rap conversation, while Dupri’s production and label work helped build a bridge between Hip-Hop, R&B and radio. This era made Atlanta feel youthful, stylish and commercially viable. It also showed labels that the city had more than local flavor — it had stars.

1994-Late 1990s: Dungeon Family, Organized Noize & The “Dirty South” Soul

Then came the era that changed everything. OutKast, Goodie Mob, Organized Noize and the larger Dungeon Family gave Atlanta a sound rooted in funk, soul, live instrumentation, gospel feeling, street wisdom and country Southern imagination. These groups helped Atlanta earn recognition as “The Motown of the South,” while Organized Noize’s work blended soul and funk into a distinctly Southern Hip-Hop language. This was Atlanta getting serious, poetic and cinematic. OutKast made the city feel futuristic and country at the same time, while Goodie Mob made “Dirty South” feel like both a sound and a worldview. The beats were warm, the drums knocked, the lyrics had depth and the message was clear: Atlanta was not trying to sound like New York or Los Angeles anymore.

Late 1990s-Early 2000s: Crunk, Rage & The Sound Of The Club Exploding

As the Dungeon Family gave Atlanta its soul, crunk gave the city its riot. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Ying Yang Twins, Pastor Troy and other pushed a louder, more aggressive sound built on chants, booming bass, rowdy hooks and moshpit energy before rap shows were commonly described that way. Crunk was not about subtlety — it was about command. It turned Atlanta into the soundtrack for fights, parties, football locker room, HBCU nights and clubs where the DJ needed the whole room to lose it.

Early 2000s: Trap Begins Taking Shape

By the early 2000s, Atlanta’s street rap started sharpening into what the world would come to know as trap. T.I. helped put the word in the mainstream with his 2003 album Trap Muzik, while Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy gave the sound different but equally important identities — Tip brought slick confidence and Bankhead storytelling, Jeezy brought snowman motivation and recession-era hustler sermons, and Gucci brought raw charisma, dark humor and underground influence. All three have strong claims as trap innovators. Sonically, trap was colder, heavier and more dangerous than the party records around it. The drums were sharper, the hi-hats moved faster, the synths felt darker and the subject matter lived in the tension between survival, ambition and consequence. This is where Atlanta’s sound started becoming the default language for modern rap.

Mid-2000s: Snap Music & The Ringtone Era

Just when Atlanta was getting darker with trap, it also got lighter with snap music. Dem Franchize Boyz, D4L, Fabo, Yung Joc and others helped push a minimalist club sound built around finger snaps, 808s, simple chants and dances everybody could learn. Snap music is commonly traced to early -2000s Bankhead, with records like “Laffy Taffy,” “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” and “I Think They Like” helping the sound cross into the mainstream. This era sometimes gets dismissed as too simple, but that simplicity was the point. Atlanta understood better than almost anybody that. a beat, a dance, a shirt, a phrase and a hook could become a movement. Snap made the city feel playful, viral before “viral” really meant what it means now, and perfectly built for the ringtone economy.

Late 2000s-Early 2010s: Futuristic Swag, Teen Clubs & The New Atlanta Party Sound

After snap music had Atlanta dancing, the city’s younger generation pushed that energy into the Futuristic era — a colorful, youthful wave built on skinny jeans, wild graphics, dance records, teen clubs, MySpace/YouTube buzz and hooks that felt made for school hallways, house parties and skating rinks. Rich Kidz, Travis Porter, J. Money, V.I.C., Roscoe Dash, Yung L.A., K Camp, F.L.Y. and others helped make Atlanta sound lighter, flashier and more playful without losing the city’s bounce. This was the era of songs like “Wassup,” “Make It Rain,” “All The Way Turnt Up,” “Swag Surfin’,” “Get Silly,” “Dey Know” adjacent energy and records that could move from local clubs to national radio fast. It may not always get treated with the same historical weight as trap or Dungeon Family, but the Futuristic wave was crucial because it showed how Atlanta could turn youth culture, fashion, dance and internet momentum into a full-blown sound.

Late 2000s-Early 2010s: Mixtape Trap, Brick Squad & Street-Rap Infrastructure

While the Futuristic wave had Atlanta’s teen clubs, parties and fashion scene in a chokehold, the city’s street rap scene was getting darker, louder and more dominant through the mixtape circuit. . Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, OJ Da Juiceman, Rocko, Shawty Lo, Gorilla Zoe and producers Zaytoven, Shawty Redd, Drumma Boy, Lex Luger and Southside helped make Atlanta’s street rap feel constant, raw and impossible to ignore. This was the era where trap got more chaotic and more industrial. Waka’s music made the club feel like a battlefield, Gucci’s mixtape run became a talent incubator, and Atlanta’s producers started shaping the drums everyone else would copy for the next decade. The sound was no longer regional — it was becoming the main operating system.

Early-Mid 2010s: Future, Young Thug & Melodic Trap Mutation

Then Atlanta got emotional and melodic. Future took Auto-Tune and turned pain, drugs, heartbreak, toxic love and ambition into stadium-sized trap blues. Young Thug bent his voice into an instrument, stretching words, melodies and flows until rap sounded less boxed in than ever. This era changed what a rapper could sound like. The bars still mattered, but tone, texture, melody and feeling became just as important. Atlanta was no longer only producing street anthems; it was producing vocal styles that would influence everybody from superstar rappers to pop artists.

2013-Late 2010s: Migos, Triplet Flows & Quality Control’s Takeover

With Migos, Atlanta gave the world another language. Quavo, Offset and Takeoff popularized a rapid, bouncing triplet flow that became one of the most copied cadences in modern rap. Alongside Quality Control, the group helped make Atlanta feel polished, flashy, global and still deeply rooted in the city’s trap DNA. This era was all about precision and momentum. The beats were clean but hard, the flows were athletic, the ad-libs became part of the rhythm and the hooks sounded designed for clubs, cars, arenas and social media all at once. Once Migos broke all the way through, it felt like every rapper in the world had to learn at least a little Atlanta.

Late 2010s-Early 2020s: Lil Baby, Gunna & The Streamlined Trap Superstar Era

By the late 2010s, Atlanta trap had become sleek, melodic and built for streaming dominance. Lil Baby brought urgency, clarity and everyman hunger, while Gunna leaned into smoother flows, luxury lifestyle rap and floating melodies. Young Thug’s YSL tree also became a major force, helping shape artists who made Atlanta rap feel stylish, fluid and commercially powerful. This era sounded less chaotic than early Brick Squad trap but just as influential. The drums still hit, but the flows were smoother, the hooks were cleaner and the stars felt built for both street respect and festival stages. Atlanta had fully transitioned from regional powerhouse to the center of rap’s mainstream.

Early-Mid 2020s: New Atlanta, Internet Rap & Genre-Blending

The newest Atlanta wave is harder to box in because the city’s younger artists grew up with every previous Atlanta era in their headphones at once. You can hear trap, pluggnb, rage, melodic rap, drill influence, scam rap energy, dance records, underground internet sounds and old-school Atlanta confidence colliding in real time. Artists like Latto, Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson, Anycia, Tony Shhnow, BabyDrill, Hunxho, YK Niece and others represent different corners of a scene that is still stretching. What makes this era interesting is that Atlanta no longer has to prove it belongs anywhere. The city can be street, weird, melodic, luxury, underground, nostalgic or futuristic depending on who is holding the mic. That freedom is the real legacy of Atlanta Hip-Hop: every generation gets to inherit the sound, then break it open again.

That is why Birthday Bash ATL 2026 feels like more than another concert. A 30th anniversary lineup with names like T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Waka Flocka, Soulja Boy, Travis Porter, Pastor Troy, Kilo Ali, Fabo, Ying Yang Twins and Goodie Mob is not just a show — it is a living timeline. It connects the bass era to Dungeon Family, crunk to snap, trap to mixtape dominance and the blog-era party sound to today’s Atlanta. More importantly, it reminds everybody that Atlanta’s sound was never one thing for too long. The city keeps changing because that is what Atlanta does: it turns neighborhoods into movements, slang into hooks, producers into architects and local moments into global sound.

We think it’s pretty safe to say that Kanye West’s “Yeezy” brand isn’t what it was just a few years ago — before he proudly proclaimed his Nazism for all to witness. But the brand is still surprisingly around (kinda) and as you might’ve guessed, it’s not doing too well.

According to TMZ, Ye’s “Yeezy” line may still be operating, but it’s allegedly stiffing some of their freelance workers out of their pay as a web design company has just filed a lawsuit against Kanye’s company citing unpaid wages for the work they put in. In the court filing, Ryanso, LLC claims that entered into a partnership with Yeezy in January of 2025 in which they agreed to do some work for the brand for a cool $150,000. While that seems like chicken feed for a man who was declared a billionaire as recently as 2020, times have been hard for Kanye “MAGA” West as of late and well, he doesn’t seem interested in ponying up what he owes and will now have to answer for it in court.

Per TMZ:

Ryanso claims it completed the work for Yeezy in October of last year and issued an invoice for the work … but says the company never paid up.

Ryanso alleges it sent a written demand to Yeezy with a promise of legal action if it didn’t pay up in March … and, now two months later, has officially filed the lawsuit.

Yeezy’s being sued for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and more. Ryanso asked for the $150K, as well as money for attorneys’ fees and other expenses.

Why do rich people hate paying bills and taxes? These are basically drops in a bucket for them. Some things will never change.

While Kanye West is experiencing a sort of resurgence in his popularity amongst Gen Zers (who saw that coming?), he’s still in the dog house with everyone who was around to see him go from “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” to rocking a MAGA hat and ultimately proclaiming “I’m a Nazi.”

Yeah, we miss the old Kanye.

Welp, you can now add Mark Cuban to the list of billionaires who have capitulated to Donald Trump in some way.

Mark Cuban, who proudly supported Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, is now partnering with Orange Mussolini and joined the current occupant of the White House at a May 18 event to speak about drug prices.

Cuban has since expressed regret for supporting Harris, describing it as a “big mistake,” adding that he wouldn’t support her again, and, while speaking at POLITICO’s Health Care Summit in April, said he would not like to see her run again.

In the same breath, he praised Trump for trying to bring down prescription drug prices.

The Trump Administration held the event to announce the expansion of TrumpRX.gov, the government website where customers can buy prescription drugs at discounted prices negotiated by the administration.

USA Today reports that TrumpRX will also refer customers to private-sector websites, including Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, Amazon Pharmacy, and GoodRx.

“Republicans want cheaper drugs. Independents want cheaper drugs. Democrats want cheaper drugs,” Cuban said while speaking at the event. “I think we’re going to do something special.”

Social Media Is Not Feeling Mark Cuban Capitulating To Donald Trump

While noting he is there for a good cause, Cuban’s appearance at the event is going over too well with folks on social media, expecially under the backdrop of Americans suffering because of Trump and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, the bloated price for his ballroom, reflecting pool vanity project and most recently the $1.8 billion slush fund created by the DOJ that will potentially dishout payments to Trump’s buddies.

Welp.

Cuban did respond to the outrage, but quickly deleted his response, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Deleted the last post because I decided cursing didn’t make my point. It hurt it. And I rarely care about cursing.

Of course, there are always screenshots.

Cuban joins the likes of retiring Apple CEO Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg as the latest billionaires who decided to work with the racist-in-chief in some capacity.

You can see more reactions below.

Drake is once again proving why he’s one of the biggest artists in music industry after dropping three albums in a single night.

After making fans wait three years for his next solo release, the Toronto superstar returned with not just ICEMAN, but also HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR. Leading the charge, ICEMAN is project to move around 475K first-week units, while both HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR are expected to bring in 120K each.

Altogether, Drizzy is looking at a massive 715K combined first-week units across the trilogy. That alone is a huge moment, but the numbers don’t stop there. His classic album Take Care also re-entered the Top 20, showing just how that body work stood the test of time nearly 15 years later.

Fans have flooding social media debating which of three prokects is the strongest, with ICEMAN currently leading most conversations online. The rollout itself has also become a moment in Hip-Hop, with many calling it one of the boldest album drops of Drake’s career.

On May 15, Spotify crowned the OVO rapper as the most-streamed artist in single day, while ICEMAN became the most-streamed album of 2026 in one day. The project intro track, “Make Them Cry,” is also currently the most-streamed song of the year on the platform.

Even though the trilogy has received mixed reviews from some listeners, that hasn’t slowed the numbers down at all. The success marks Drake’s 14th career chart-topping project, allowing him to surpass Michael Jackson.

Ray-Ban Meta is going to have some competition; Google is coming through with not one, but two intelligent eyewear models.

During the recent Google I/O 2026, the Alphabet-owned brand shared more about its intelligent eyewear glasses.

Google announced there will be two different types, one, audio glasses that will offer the wearer spoken help in their ears, while the other will display the information you need, when you need it.

The audio frames will launch first sometime later this fall, according to Google, and through their partnership with Samsung and eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, will provide eyewear models that can be worn all day.

Both models will give the wearer instant access to Gemini, allowing them to ask questions about what they are seeing or to have the glasses execute tasks.

Here Is Breakdown of The Features Via Google:

• Ask about what you see: Ask Gemini about anything you see. Find reviews for the restaurant you’re walking past, learn the name of that cloud formation up above, or quickly decode a confusing parking sign.
• Navigate with ease: Glasses know where you’re standing and which direction you’re facing, so they’ll give you natural, turn-by-turn directions. Gemini can also add stops to your route or find nearby restaurants based on your preferences.
• Stay connected, hands-free: Manage calls, send texts and have Gemini summarize missed messages without reaching for your phone. Or ask to listen to music that complements your environment — all on crisp, clear, and private over-ear speakers.
• Capture and edit: Snap high-quality photos and videos instantly. With a single command you can take a picture and use Nano Banana to remove background distractions or playfully transform your images. Try, “Hey Google, take a picture and put everyone in funny hats.”
• Translate speech and writing: Get real-time translations with audio that matches the tone and pitch of the speaker’s voice, or simply look at text on menus and signs to hear a translation.
• Get help with tasks: Gemini Intelligence handles multi-step tasks in the background. Gemini can prepare your coffee order on DoorDash while your phone stays in your pocket. All that’s left for you is the final order confirmation.
• Tap into your apps: Order a ride with Uber, learn a new language with Mondly, and more, just by using your voice with your phone’s apps. Glasses pair with both Android and iOS phones.

You can follow updates on the Gentle Monster’s smartglasses by going here.

Barack Obama really knows ball when it comes to Hip-Hop, and now he’s revealing which artists helped him lock in before major debates.

Ever since stepping onto the political scene, Obama has made it clear how much he loves music. Growing up in Chicago, he’s consistently supported artists from the city, including Chance The Rapper, who has appeared on several of his annual playlists throughout the years.

Now the former president is giving the world some insight into what was playing in his headphones before stepping onto the debate stage, naming classics from JAŸ-Z and Eminem as part of his routine.

“A couple of songs about defying the odds and putting it all on the line, JAŸ-Z’s “My 1st Song” and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” were always in rotation. Maybe because they felt suited to my yearly underdog status. Sitting alone in the back of the Secret Service SUV on my way to the venue, nodding to the beat, I would feel the pomp and circumstance and artifice of my immediate surroundings melt away.”

Before switching fully into Hip-Hop mode, Obama said he would ease into his playlist with Jazz records, specifically mentioning Miles Davis’ “Freddie Freeloader” from Kind of Blue and John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things.”

Obama also admitted he became extremely particular about his routine during presidential campaign debate days, making sure everything from his workouts to his meals and music selection stayed consistent.

“During my first presidential campaign, I became a bit particular, maybe a little superstitious, about my debate-day rituals.”

Obama’s playlist proves he has A1 taste in music.

James Murdoch, who some might remember as the co-founder of celebrated Hip-Hop label Rawkus Records, is making a deeper foray into the media world. After earlier reports suggesting so, James Murdoch has completed the purchase of several Vox Media properties.

As reported by The New York Times, James Murdoch has purchased several Vox Media properties to the tune of $300 million. In essence, Murdoch’s Lupa Systems company now owns half of Vox Media’s holdings.

From the Times:

Mr. Murdoch, 53, emphasized that he was not looking to acquire a “daily news business” but rather wanted “longer-form, thoughtful journalism that can really speak to the culture,” he told The New York Times in an interview on Tuesday. “We want to create platforms where really amazing, talented people can come and do the best work of their lives.”

Murdoch’s purchase of the holdings includes New York Magazine, Vox Media’s podcast network, and the Vox website. As some industry experts have noted, Murdoch purchased the same entities once owned by his father, media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

Oddly enough, Murdoch says he’s not interested in following the lead of his father, nor was that the motivation in purchasing the holdings from Vox Media.

The new companies will be operated under Lupa Systems, which also owns a stake in the Art Basel brand and Tribeca Enterprises.

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Photo: Getty

Lupe Fiasco’s trademark sense of humor is lost on some fans who think that he’s only a wordsmith and doesn’t know how to poke a little fun at himself. After flubbing a line in a recent performance on tour, Lupe Fiasco addressed the fan criticism in a new freestyle over Drake’s “Shabang” instrumental.

During the first stop on his tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco appeared at the Ace of Spades venue in Sacramento, where he forgot the lyrics to his song, “Kick Push II.”

Lupe seized the moment to joke with the crowd and sarcastically flame them up for leaking his debut studio album, saying that the song wasn’t even supposed to happen but was tacked on due to the premature drop. In the playful rant, Lupe joked that the tour should’ve been in a stadium, with some fans oddly connecting that as a diss towards Kendrick Lamar.

Instead of taking to social media, Lupe dropped a quick freestyle as he’s known to do over Drake’s “Shabang” titled “CliqueBang,” aiming his bars at those who overreacted to his rants and that he’s feeling some kind of way about it. Lupe took on the same bar structure as Drake did on the Iceman track, but inserted his own take of the moment in Sacramento.

Check out Lupe Fiasco’s “CliqueBang” below. Keep scrolling to see the reactions from fans online.

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Photo: Getty

Max B has enjoyed a nice six-month run since going free from prison, including gracing stages and hitting the booth with his compatriot, French Montana. In a recent interview, Max B seemingly took some disparaging shots at the legacy of Big Daddy Kane, prompting Fat Joe to respond.

On episode 379 of Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Max B and French Montana sat down with hosts Gillie and Wallo for a chat that went off the rails more than a few times.

Early in the discussion, Gillie asked where Max ranked himself in the top 100 list of best Hip-Hop artists of all time. Biggavelli answered with, “Listen, after Big (Notorious B.I.G.), Jay (JAŸ-Z) and Nas, you can put me anywhere on that motherf*cker right after that.”

Wallo challenged Max’s stance by bringing up Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Gillie, who chimed in with LL COOL J. Max defiantly stated that while he respected them, none of them could hang with him as an artist. Now, to be fair, Max didn’t compare himself to those artists on a lyrical level but more as a complete musical artist.

Hop to the 22:40-mark of the video below to see the discussion at hand unfold.

Inexplicably, French jumped in and stated that some of the aforementioned legends had a “two-year run,” which Wallo swiftly corrected. However, Max took things all the way left by saying Big Daddy Kane has been missing from his personal algorithm, thus sparking the discussion online and beyond.

Max B apparently doubled down on his BDK critique, naming himself a fan of the Brooklyn legend but stating that he fell back from his support of the rapper after Kane dropped his third album, Taste of Chocolate, and the suggestive images associated with the release.

Joining the responses online to the Kane shots was Fat Joe, who showed deep respect for Max but said that Kane’s legacy is far too important to disregard.

Check out Fat Joe’s response below, courtesy of 9MagTV.

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Photo: Getty

Max B has never lacked confidence, but this time around, the internet might not be fully rocking with his take.

During a recent appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, The Wave God gave his ranking of New York rappers and made it clear he believes he belongs in the conversation.

“Look, after Big, JAŸ, and Nas, you can put me on that motherf*cker right after that. That’s how I feel about it after that. I can prove it. After them, you can’t really…put’ em up.”

Gillie Da Kid quickly jumped in and argued that LL Cool J deserved to be included in that conversation. Max B doubled down on his stance, pointing to his consistency and influence. 

“When it comes to creativity, or just consistent songwriting, I just don’t think anybody got the catalog to match me. Look at my catalog! Look at my tapes! Look at my domains! Look at the Coke Wave.”

While fans still love The Wave, many respectfully disagreed with where he ranked himself.

One user joked:

“Never heard a n*gga say put that Max B on the aux. Never even seen his CD in the CD man book. 3 for $10 mix CD having ahh n*gga.”

At one point of the debate, Big Daddy Kane was menntioned, from Wallo, saying that he is still relevant. Max strongly disagreed, saying he hasn’t seen or heard Kane in a very long time.

After getting pushback from Kane fans online, Max later posted a follow-up video clarifying his comments.

“Kane you my n*gga, but you know when you let me down? You was that n*gga until that third album.”

Check out the full reactions to Max B’s claims of being right behind JAŸ-Z, Biggie, & Nas on the top NY rappers list.

Elon Musk just took another L in his ongoing war against OpenAI. The billionaire formerly known as Twitter Fingers-in-Chief is still trying to convince the courts that Sam Altman and company betrayed the original mission of the AI startup he helped launch years ago.

Three people are reportedly dead after two teenage gunmen opened fire at a San Diego mosque on Monday.

As reported by NBC News, investigators confirmed that the gunmen are also dead from what appears to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds. San Diego Police are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime.

Authorities responded to reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego at 11:43am, according to Police Chief Scott Wahl. The mosque, believed to be the largest in San Diego County, is located in the Clairemont neighborhood, about 8 miles north of downtown San Diego. 

Chief Wahl said officers arrived four minutes later and found three men dead at the front entrance. One victim was identified as Amin Abdullah, a security guard credited with protecting more than a dozen children and staff at a school inside the mosque. His identity was confirmed by the mosque and the San Diego branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), but has not been named by authorities.

A LaunchGood fundraiser to support Abdullah’s family has collected over $1.9 million in donations as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Those who knew him remember a man who greeted every person who walked through the masjid doors with a smile,” the CAIR fundraiser said. “He wasn’t just a guard. He was the first face of that community to anyone who came through the door, and the last line of defense when it mattered most.” 

CAIR also identified the other two victims as Nader Award and longtime mosque store manager Mansour Kaziha.

Two local senior law enforcement officials and a federal law enforcement officer identified the shooters as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18. The bodies of the two teens were found near the mosque after the shooting. Officers told NBC News that they are checking out possible Islamophobic writings found in the suspects’ car. A motive is yet to be determined, but the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.

This story is developing.

Queen Latifah has proudly showcased full-figured beauty for decades in an industry that prefers skinnier stars. As she balances menopause and maintaining health while over age 50, the New Jersey native has become Weight Watchers’ first spokesperson for their new Weight Watchers for Menopause program.

Menopause often comes with unexpected weight gain. A study by Mehta, Marso, and Neeland for Obesity Science & Practice concluded a 5% and 10% weight loss on liraglutide compared with a placebo.

Generic liraglutide is a cheaper alternative to brand-name GLP-1 medications, which program members can get for as low as $20 monthly. Affordable access to this GLP receptor can help more Black women improve their quality of life, from combating menopausal weight gain to reducing the onset of conditions linked to poor metabolic health.

How Can Queen Latifah’s Wellness Journey Inspire Others?

Before partnering with Weight Watchers, Queen Latifah began working to change the narrative around obesity with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk on the campaign, “It’s Bigger Than Me.”

The star aimed to spread U.N.I.T.Y. among others to conquer the feelings of self-hate regarding weight issues, something she admitted to Essence that she dealt with in her teens before deciding to love herself. 

She managed to overcome self-doubts and societal negativity attached to her size, even while in an industry obsessed with thinness. By the time she was on the hit show “Living Single,” she was ready to “set it off” and defend herself and the cast from insistence from executives for them to lose weight despite looking like actual women in the community they represented.

Representing with Confidence

Ms. Dana Owens continued to stand her ground when being asked to lose weight for other roles. Her beauty, strength, and vitality made it possible to do something with “The Equalizer” that few can do: take over a role from Denzel!

After her highly visible recent weight loss, which people noted on a family outing at Disneyland, she continues to promote balance and inclusivity so women of all sizes and older ages can feel confident in their skin. She’s chosen to lose weight after understanding how her body has changed with menopause and being honest about the effect obesity has had on her family.

Incorporating Age-Appropriate Fitness and Health

Queen Latifah has continued to approach aging with the same confidence and positive outlook as she has with weight. As she told Women’s World, “Being in your 50s is a rediscovery of life. Finally, women have time to reset, and that’s a beautiful thing.”

Regarding her fitness routine, Ms. Owens cites low-impact activities such as:

• Hiking 
• Walking
• Biking
• Scooter riding

She understands the importance of keeping her heart healthy and values her mom’s advice on getting proper sleep. Latifah continued to tell Women’s World, “Sometimes I throw some music on at home and just dance for 20 minutes.” 

Partnering with WeightWatchers for Menopause

The outspoken performer has made this transition as part of a holistic program to help break the stigma around female midlife health changes. Weight Watchers offers specialized care to women going through the change of life from menopause to post-menopause that includes access to generic liraglutide.

She admitted to People that her menopause journey hasn’t been as scary as it is for others due to a doctor who’s given her proper information on managing it. So far, crazy hot flashes and night sweats have eluded her.

What Is Generic Liraglutide?

A GLP-1 agonist, this single-dose, pre-filled pen injection can help lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. It’s available in a brand name, but the generic option makes it more accessible for those on a budget who need a boost for improving metabolic health and weight control.

According to Weight Watchers’ liraglutide program details, you can get generic liraglutide under Saxenda or Victoza, and you may lose an average of between 4% and 8% of your body weight. 

Why Is Metabolic Health Such a Big Topic?

Having someone like Queen Latifah promote body confidence while focusing on health equity matters, as metabolic syndrome disproportionately affects Black women. For example, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among Black women in the United States, according to St. Elizabeth Healthcare. 

High blood pressure, stroke, and other conditions can occur earlier in life compared to other demographics. High rates of obesity add to this problem, as it also increases the onset of type 2 diabetes.

That’s why weight management and understanding of hormonal changes that occur during menopause are essential to the Black community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Oprah No Longer with WeightWatchers?

In March 2024, Oprah left the Weight Watchers board to avoid a conflict of interest from her own special on weight loss medication. She also used a weight loss drug in her recent significant loss.

She discussed this topic on ABC’s “An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution.” It was around this time that Weight Watchers began transitioning to offering similar medication services. 

However, Oprah donated all of her company stock to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture to avoid accusations of profiting from this particular weight loss topic.

How Many Children Does Queen Latifah Have?

Queen Latifah is a proud mother, with partner Eboni Nichols, to one child, a son named Rebel, who was born in 2019. While Queen Latifah has been notoriously private about her family life, she did confirm her family during the 2001 BET Awards.

How Much Does WW Menopause Cost?

For a 12-month commitment, expect to pay about $22 to $25 per month. This precludes specialized nutrition, activity, and sleep guidance that can help any woman dealing with menopause, perimenopause, or postmenopausal life.

Receive special content and registered dietitian support that you can combine with the Weight Watchers clinic for about $65 to $74 dollars a month.

Take a Shot at Longevity and Health

Enjoy the longevity flex that Queen Latifah clearly exudes well into her 50s. Start fending off metabolic conditions that often plague Black women now, and get the help you may need from Weight Watchers and generic liraglutide.

By taking a sensible approach to weight management, hormone control, and adjusting daily routines, you can be happy and glowing in the second half of your life as well.

Pump up your health glow by reviewing more health-based content on our website.

His legal name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, but the world knows him as the rapper, Fetty Wap. After serving a federal prison sentence for a drug trafficking charge, he’s wasted no time in making a comeback that shows off his melodic style. While being locked up was a major change from his previous luxury lifestyle, where he spent millions of dollars on family and friends and going skydiving, the experience gave him a new, healthier perspective on life. 

Fetty Wap has had 3 Top 10 hits and 13 total song entries so far on the Billboard Hot 100 List. His new chapter may include more hits, as he released a new album, Xavier, just two months after his release from federal prison. His recent interviews have shown the mental and physical growth that can carry him far into his new lifestyle upgrades.

Who Is Fetty Wap?

Willie Junior Maxwell II took on the stage name “Fetty” to signify money, while “Wap” is homage to rapper Gucci Mane’s alias GuWop. His breakout hit was “Trap Queen,” which spent 25 consecutive weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and helped earn him BET’s Best New Artist Award. 

He became an overnight star who stayed on the red carpet and was known for his unique melodic rap style, blending it with R&B singing.

In October 2021, the New Jersey native was arrested on drug trafficking charges a week after the release of The Butterfly Effect. On Jan 8, 2026, after serving only half of his initial sentence, the rapper tasted freedom again. However, he’ll remain under federal supervision in Philadelphia for the next five years.

What Was His Previous Luxury Lifestyle Like?

The rapper told Vibe Magazine, after his Vibe digital cover shoot, which put a major stamp on his 2015 breakout year, “Right after that, I went to jump out of a plane.”

In addition to skydiving, the rapper pursued other adrenaline-fueled activities like dirtbike riding, bungee jumping, and jet skiing. He had a fully loaded Yamaha Banshee quad bike to enjoy ATV riding.

He indulged in his love of Jordans and jeans in his luxury lifestyle. Reportedly, he purchased a pair of those shoes every day once the money rolled in and owned over 150 pairs of Robin’s Jeans.

He was also very generous with his newfound wealth, which started with buying his mother a house. Fetty Wap reportedly spent $20 million covering loved ones’ lifestyles, such as buying a friend a BMW. While spending greatly reduced his networth, he doesn’t focus on his income loss now that he’s free to enjoy family and freedom again.

How Was He Preparing for a Changing Lifestyle After Prison?

While he has wasted no time producing new music, Fetty Wap has also made his personal growth and new business ventures a priority. Thanks to his focus on family, community initiatives, and mental health, the rapper seems more mature and healthier than ever.

While behind bars, he didn’t waste time on his self-improvement as he got his GED and took HVAC courses. He was realistic about having a business backup with his HVAC skills for building wealth in case his post-prison rap resurgence didn’t take off. Luckily, the rapper seems to have a lot of support and positive reactions from his honesty about new life lessons and pursuits.

It’s hard not to notice the rapper also looks significantly different. While in prison, he put himself on a highly disciplined fitness routine that included strict daily workouts. As a result, he’s buff with 85 pounds of muscle.

What Is His View on Self-care?

When asked what the first thing he did was genuinely for himself after his release, he replied to People Magazine, “Take a shower with my shoes off. I know it probably sounds crazy, but you have shower shoes when you’re in prison.”

When you spend years having to shower with others and with shower shoes, it’s no surprise that you welcome the privacy and potential luxury of this daily ritual again. Whether you’re a celebrity or private citizen, a self-care shower can help anyone boost well-being and de-stress. 

Enhance your self-care routine with a consultation with the team at Five Star Bath Solutions renovations. Enjoy a stunning walk-in shower, rainfall shower heads, and gorgeous but easy-to-clean natural stone among the many new features that create a luxury bathing experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Did Fetty Wap Go Blind?

You may notice that Fetty Wao can’t see out of his left eye. That’s because he was left blind in that eye due to a case of congenital glaucoma, which he was born with. The disease can damage the optic nerve due to high pressure in the eye.

What Rapper Has a 4.0 GPA?

Kendrick Lamar has long been renowned as one of Hip-Hop’s most eloquent and intelligent rappers. He graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA, but J. Cole achieved a 4.2 GPA.

Why Did Lil Bibby Stop Rapping?

Lil Bibby decided to move from the front stage to behind the scenes. He now runs his own record label, called Grade A Productions, and also focuses on other entrepreneurial pursuits such as real estate. 

He began to manage artists like Juice WRLD since he prefers the financial stability and personal fulfillment of being an executive, which rapping didn’t deliver for him. 

He prefers the long-term career path that he has chosen, compared to the high-risk and low-profit nature of being a rapper. Lil Bibby also has no interest in fame and wants to avoid falling back into street life.

Learn Perspective From Fetty Wap

Living a luxury lifestyle can mean different things to people. Fetty Wap once clearly had the markers of being a millionaire from buying luxury cars, Jordans, and high-stakes activities like skydiving. However, being deterred by years in prison hasn’t stopped him from living well and having a good attitude. 

The rapper has found a new lease on life by improving his fitness, adding other business pursuits, and focusing on his family life. He even has a huge appreciation for a simple ritual like showering, which many people may take for granted.  

If you enjoyed this content, continue to check out our website for other engaging profiles.

Mark Fuhrman, the racist former Los Angeles police detective who was convicted of lying during the O.J. Simpson murder trial, is no longer in the land of the living. He was 74.

Fuhrman was one of the first two detectives who were sent to investigate the 1994 grizzly murders of Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles. 

He famously found the bloody glove (that allegedly didn’t fit) at Simpson’s home, but his credibility took a huge hit after the defense raised the prospect of racial bias.

While being cross-examined, Fuhrman claimed he never made racial slurs. That turned out to be a big lie when Simpson’s defense team hit him with an epic “this you” moment by producing recordings of Fuhrman using the N-word to describe suspects.

The O.J. Simpson case became a huge flashpoint in American history and was labeled the trial of the century. While Black folks celebrated Simpson’s acquittal, mainly because the justice system treats Black people differently, white America took the moment hard and blamed Fuhrman partly for the verdict.

While Simpson was found not guilty of the murder, he was found civilly liable for wrongful death in the double homicide case and ordered to pay $33 million in damages to Goldman’s family. Unfortunately, they didn’t get all of that money because Simpson died in 2024.

Fuhrman pleaded no contest to perjury charges and was placed on probation before he retired and moved his family to Sandpoint, Idaho.

Mark Fuhrman Did Apologize, But Black Folks Said We Good

His time out of the spotlight didn’t last long. Fuhrman did apologize for past racist comments, but insists no foul play regarding the bloody glove.

Social media has been reacting to the news of Fuhrman’s death, and no surprise, folks aren’t losing any sleep over his passing.

We are sure he, O.J. Simpson, and Hulk Hogan are having a ball in that place not called heaven.

Just saying.

You can see more reactions below.

Latto appeared to have just confirmed the birth of her first child while also seemingly making her relationship with 21 Savage public in a new vlog.

In the emotional mini vlog, the Atlanta rapper gave fans a closer look at her pregnancy journey, including the moment she revealed the news to her sister, Brooklyn. Despite finding out she was pregnant, Big Mama said she never slowed down and immediately shifted into album mode.

The Big Energy rapper admitted she initially worried about whether she could still create a strong body of work while pregnant and sober. However, she now appears proud of the final result. The vlog featured clips from several studio sessions, including the night she recorded “GOMF” featuring GloRilla, which has already been gaining traction online.

Fans also quickly picked up on several clues during the vlog from Latto’s baby shower. Decorations featuring daggers, similar to the signature dagger tatto on 21 Savage’s face. The vlog also briefly showed 21 at the shower speaking to his sister-in-law (allegedly) Brooklyn, followed by some intimate shots of Latto with someone holding her stomach.

Pregnancy appears to have been a transformative period for the Atlanta rapper, both personally and creatively, as she prepares to release her upcoming album Big Mama on May 29.

At one point in the vlog, Latto joked about how motherhood has already changed her outlook on performing.

“Imma need a million dollars a show.”

If you want the Georgia Peach to leave her baby for a show, it’s going to cost you a bag, rightfully so.