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“I watch this video and reminise on that krazy am hour of september 13, 2010. I got a visit from Lesane Parish Crooks. Reserch this name.”

There’s a question that often frequents certain rap circles: “what would the rap game be like if Tupac was alive today?” ‘Pac doesn’t necessarily stand at the top of hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore due to his technical prowess or even the charge of his wordplay. He’s the greatest to ever do it because he wasn’t afraid of speaking his mind, and through that, he challenged the listener with timeless gems that resonate even during the most unpredictable moments in life. A pen that undoubtedly influenced generations of rappers that followed, Tupac painted an image of a Black America ravaged by the Reagan administration’s policies and budget cuts. An America that was being silenced and even further marginalized through Reaganomics and tough-on-crime stances that continued to target Black and Brown Americans across the country. That’s a narrative in hip-hop that hasn’t changed mainly because things haven’t changed. In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed an uprising in America that has led to protests in other countries demanding justice. 

Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image

The murder of George Floyd isn’t an uncommon story in America. We’ve seen it in the past, most notably with Eric Garner, who died from suffocation at the hands of police in 2014, over allegations of selling loose cigarettes. George Floyd, it was an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. Both deaths shouldn’t have happened, and anyone with a grain of humanity in their soul would agree. But the death of George Floyd has sparked protests across the country calling for imminent change. Change that’s beginning to seem somewhat tangible. Not just within the justice system but in society as a whole. Racism is still rampant and has been, even in the most subtle ways. Nearly 100 years after Black Wall Street was burned to the ground, America’s witnessing some of their “sacred values” that are rooted in racism get burned to the ground as well.

In the midst of a revolutionary uprising, a few people across social media began criticizing artists like Kendrick Lamar for not using his platform to issue a statement or show his solidarity publicly. His music has previously been anthemic for the Black Lives Matter movement. The hook for “Alright,” for example, became a chant during demonstrations against police brutality. This week, Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 opus To Pimp A Butterfly returned back to Billboard 200 chart after seeing 120% increase in sales. “Alright” has soundtracked peaceful protests but as these same peaceful protesters get hit with teargas and rubber bullets, the intro to Kendrick Lamar’s “HiiiPower” truly resonates.

“The sky is falling, the wind is calling/ Stand for something or die in the morning.”

“HiiiPoWer” was initially introduced by Ab-Soul before every other member of TDE at the time began to push the movement as a collective. References to HiiPoWer are scattered throughout the TDE discography but there was a stronger emphasis on the idea in Section.80. Kendrick explained it as a movement that should be treated like a religion of sorts, one that’s meant to bring a sense of enlightenment and elevation to the minds of Generation Y.

“HiiiPoWer is the way we think, the way we live. See it’s known as today that the human race is nothing. No morals. No standards. What we’re about to do is raise the level of expectations. No, you don’t have to have a lot of money. You don’t have to be rich. But you will be rich in mind and spirit. Some say it’s as big as a crew, some say it’s as big as a gang. HiiiPoWer, we stand for it as if it’s as big as a religion.”

“HiiiPoWer” was a key introduction to someone who would become one of the most important artists of our time. 2011 was a year that many considered essential to the rap renaissance. Artists like Drake, Wale, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar were on their come-up, but truthfully, no one’s vision was as vivid as Kendrick’s.

‘Pac once said, “I’m not saying I’m gonna rule the world or I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee you that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” Kendrick Lamar became that mind. “HiiiPoWer” was admittedly inspired by a dream Kendrick had, where ‘Pac visited him to tell him not to allow his message and his memory to die. He didn’t. 

Kendrick Lamar tackles conspiracy theories and oppressive systems, taking notes from prominent Black figures who dedicated, and ultimately lost, their lives for Black liberation. MLK Jr. and Malcolm X had visions that were bigger than themselves or even their immediate geographical community. Even references to Black Panther co-founders Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton emphasizes the message of imminent change on “HiiiPoWer”, though we’re witnessing it come into fruition nine years later. The reference to Seales, at this point in time, seems to reflect exactly what has gone on in the past two weeks. Bobby Seales was tried as part of the Chicago Eight accused of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 DNC Convention in Chicago. The riots that ensued in late August 1968 sparked due to police brutality against demonstrators. Police fired teargas into the crowd, beat down demonstrators, and arrested them. Then-mayor Richard J. Deley shut down a protest permit for anti-war demonstrators before deploying 12K police officers, the Illinois National Guard, and Army Forces. Sound familiar?

“Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the navy
Pull your guns and play me, let’s set it off
Cause a riot, throw a Molotov
Somebody told me them pirates had got lost
‘Cause we been off them slave ships
Got our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs.”

The theme of liberty, especially for the Black community under an oppressive system, runs deep throughout the track. But there are moments when Kendrick admits that his fate could be similar to ‘Pac’s. Or Malcolm’s. Or Martin’s. As a voice of rebellion for a generation, a community of marginalized groups, Kendrick acknowledges that his words carry weight. There’s a long list of activists, Black activists specifically, who have been targeted and have been under surveillance for speaking out against the system. Kendrick invites the world to view his autopsy if ever he’s assassinated for speaking his truth. But even now, in the age of social media, where performative activism is at an all-time high, these community leaders and activists who have been at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement organizing and leading protests are being heavily surveilled under the FBI’s concern for “Black extremism.” Just last week, The Verge published an article on protecting digital security ahead of protests, to block authority from receiving information that would tip off the police, or allow them to trace you. 

Roger Kisby/Getty Images

What emboldens this is J. Cole’s production on the song. Cole enhances the feeling of paranoia with synths that sound phone-tapped blended with dial-up Internet tones and morse code. The drums kick with a powerful punch and a Just Blaze touch. Distorted guitars clash through the beat like an interception on a radio signal, and Kendrick’s leading the takeover. 

2020 will mark 24 years since Tupac was shot and killed in Las Vegas. He was only 25-years-old at the time. He changed the world in his own way, though he never lived to witness it with his own eyes. Even as injustices continue to take place, the power system at large is beginning to dwindle at the hands of the people, slowly but surely. It’s long-deserved, and a battle that has been passed on from generation to generation. The level of expectation, as Kendrick Lamar explained on the “Cut You Off” outro, has been raised to a point where rebellion can be the only solution to change. 

“All of society is doing is leeching off the ghetto. They use the ghetto for their pain. For their sorrow. For their culture. For their music. For their happiness. For their movies to talk about Boyz In The Hood,” ‘Pac said in the same interview referenced earlier. “I don’t want to be 50-years-old at a BET ‘We Shall Overcome’ achievement awards, you know what I’m sayin’? I want when they see me, they know that everyday that I’m breathin’, it’s for us to go farther.”

“HiiiPoWer” has been overshadowed in Kendrick’s catalog by the more commercially appealing records, understandably. His core fans, though, will always hold the record in high regards. Some were introduced to Kendrick with this single while others recognized a moment as his official arrival to the realm of rap’s elite. That same summer Section.80 was released, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The Game officially passed the torch to Kendrick as the new reigning King of the West Coast. Surely, ‘Pac would’ve been alongside all three rappers if he had lived to see the day. 

“I watch this video and reminise on that krazy am hour of september 13, 2010. I got a visit from Lesane Parish Crooks. Reserch this name.”

There’s a question that often frequents certain rap circles: “what would the rap game be like if Tupac was alive today?” ‘Pac doesn’t necessarily stand at the top of hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore due to his technical prowess or even the charge of his wordplay. He’s the greatest to ever do it because he wasn’t afraid of speaking his mind, and through that, he challenged the listener with timeless gems that resonate even during the most unpredictable moments in life. A pen that undoubtedly influenced generations of rappers that followed, Tupac painted an image of a Black America ravaged by the Reagan administration’s policies and budget cuts. An America that was being silenced and even further marginalized through Reaganomics and tough-on-crime stances that continued to target Black and Brown Americans across the country. That’s a narrative in hip-hop that hasn’t changed mainly because things haven’t changed. In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed an uprising in America that has led to protests in other countries demanding justice. 

Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image

The murder of George Floyd isn’t an uncommon story in America. We’ve seen it in the past, most notably with Eric Garner, who died from suffocation at the hands of police in 2014, over allegations of selling loose cigarettes. George Floyd, it was an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. Both deaths shouldn’t have happened, and anyone with a grain of humanity in their soul would agree. But the death of George Floyd has sparked protests across the country calling for imminent change. Change that’s beginning to seem somewhat tangible. Not just within the justice system but in society as a whole. Racism is still rampant and has been, even in the most subtle ways. Nearly 100 years after Black Wall Street was burned to the ground, America’s witnessing some of their “sacred values” that are rooted in racism get burned to the ground as well.

In the midst of a revolutionary uprising, a few people across social media began criticizing artists like Kendrick Lamar for not using his platform to issue a statement or show his solidarity publicly. His music has previously been anthemic for the Black Lives Matter movement. The hook for “Alright,” for example, became a chant during demonstrations against police brutality. This week, Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 opus To Pimp A Butterfly returned back to Billboard 200 chart after seeing 120% increase in sales. “Alright” has soundtracked peaceful protests but as these same peaceful protesters get hit with teargas and rubber bullets, the intro to Kendrick Lamar’s “HiiiPower” truly resonates.

“The sky is falling, the wind is calling/ Stand for something or die in the morning.”

“HiiiPoWer” was initially introduced by Ab-Soul before every other member of TDE at the time began to push the movement as a collective. References to HiiPoWer are scattered throughout the TDE discography but there was a stronger emphasis on the idea in Section.80. Kendrick explained it as a movement that should be treated like a religion of sorts, one that’s meant to bring a sense of enlightenment and elevation to the minds of Generation Y.

“HiiiPoWer is the way we think, the way we live. See it’s known as today that the human race is nothing. No morals. No standards. What we’re about to do is raise the level of expectations. No, you don’t have to have a lot of money. You don’t have to be rich. But you will be rich in mind and spirit. Some say it’s as big as a crew, some say it’s as big as a gang. HiiiPoWer, we stand for it as if it’s as big as a religion.”

“HiiiPoWer” was a key introduction to someone who would become one of the most important artists of our time. 2011 was a year that many considered essential to the rap renaissance. Artists like Drake, Wale, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar were on their come-up, but truthfully, no one’s vision was as vivid as Kendrick’s.

‘Pac once said, “I’m not saying I’m gonna rule the world or I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee you that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” Kendrick Lamar became that mind. “HiiiPoWer” was admittedly inspired by a dream Kendrick had, where ‘Pac visited him to tell him not to allow his message and his memory to die. He didn’t. 

Kendrick Lamar tackles conspiracy theories and oppressive systems, taking notes from prominent Black figures who dedicated, and ultimately lost, their lives for Black liberation. MLK Jr. and Malcolm X had visions that were bigger than themselves or even their immediate geographical community. Even references to Black Panther co-founders Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton emphasizes the message of imminent change on “HiiiPoWer”, though we’re witnessing it come into fruition nine years later. The reference to Seales, at this point in time, seems to reflect exactly what has gone on in the past two weeks. Bobby Seales was tried as part of the Chicago Eight accused of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 DNC Convention in Chicago. The riots that ensued in late August 1968 sparked due to police brutality against demonstrators. Police fired teargas into the crowd, beat down demonstrators, and arrested them. Then-mayor Richard J. Deley shut down a protest permit for anti-war demonstrators before deploying 12K police officers, the Illinois National Guard, and Army Forces. Sound familiar?

“Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the navy
Pull your guns and play me, let’s set it off
Cause a riot, throw a Molotov
Somebody told me them pirates had got lost
‘Cause we been off them slave ships
Got our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs.”

The theme of liberty, especially for the Black community under an oppressive system, runs deep throughout the track. But there are moments when Kendrick admits that his fate could be similar to ‘Pac’s. Or Malcolm’s. Or Martin’s. As a voice of rebellion for a generation, a community of marginalized groups, Kendrick acknowledges that his words carry weight. There’s a long list of activists, Black activists specifically, who have been targeted and have been under surveillance for speaking out against the system. Kendrick invites the world to view his autopsy if ever he’s assassinated for speaking his truth. But even now, in the age of social media, where performative activism is at an all-time high, these community leaders and activists who have been at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement organizing and leading protests are being heavily surveilled under the FBI’s concern for “Black extremism.” Just last week, The Verge published an article on protecting digital security ahead of protests, to block authority from receiving information that would tip off the police, or allow them to trace you. 

Roger Kisby/Getty Images

What emboldens this is J. Cole’s production on the song. Cole enhances the feeling of paranoia with synths that sound phone-tapped blended with dial-up Internet tones and morse code. The drums kick with a powerful punch and a Just Blaze touch. Distorted guitars clash through the beat like an interception on a radio signal, and Kendrick’s leading the takeover. 

2020 will mark 24 years since Tupac was shot and killed in Las Vegas. He was only 25-years-old at the time. He changed the world in his own way, though he never lived to witness it with his own eyes. Even as injustices continue to take place, the power system at large is beginning to dwindle at the hands of the people, slowly but surely. It’s long-deserved, and a battle that has been passed on from generation to generation. The level of expectation, as Kendrick Lamar explained on the “Cut You Off” outro, has been raised to a point where rebellion can be the only solution to change. 

“All of society is doing is leeching off the ghetto. They use the ghetto for their pain. For their sorrow. For their culture. For their music. For their happiness. For their movies to talk about Boyz In The Hood,” ‘Pac said in the same interview referenced earlier. “I don’t want to be 50-years-old at a BET ‘We Shall Overcome’ achievement awards, you know what I’m sayin’? I want when they see me, they know that everyday that I’m breathin’, it’s for us to go farther.”

“HiiiPoWer” has been overshadowed in Kendrick’s catalog by the more commercially appealing records, understandably. His core fans, though, will always hold the record in high regards. Some were introduced to Kendrick with this single while others recognized a moment as his official arrival to the realm of rap’s elite. That same summer Section.80 was released, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The Game officially passed the torch to Kendrick as the new reigning King of the West Coast. Surely, ‘Pac would’ve been alongside all three rappers if he had lived to see the day. 

Ever since the NBA shut down on March 11th, a lot has happened in the world. In terms of the Coronavirus, millions of people have been infected with it worldwide, and over 100,000 people in the United States have died from it. Meanwhile, over the past couple of weeks, protests have been going on all across the world following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police. 

Today, the Los Angeles Clippers released a powerful short film called "While We Were Away" which speaks on many of the events of the last three months. This film was narrated by Paul George and there are some very poignant lines that truly make you think and reflect on everything that is happening in the world right now.

It’s rare that a song’s power only intensifies with time. Though nostalgia can be a powerful means of preserving replay value, more often than not a song stands as a representation of a moment in time. A reflection of the social climate, of the musical trends prevalent. When N.W.A. first released “Fuck Tha Police” back in August of 1988, over thirty years ago, it’s uncertain whether Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella had any idea what they had created. A song that has continued to resonate with people of all ages, unified by a shared disdain for abusive police and the systems they represent.

Following the death of George Floyd, murdered by the disgraced police officer Derek Chauvin, the protests that sparked in defiance looked to the past for its theme music. With thousands placed in direct confrontation with police, in many cases forced to suffer abuse with impunity, the need for a rallying cry has reached an apex. “Fuck Tha Police” has found new life as a modern-day anthem, one whose message has endured for decades. In its simplest form, a stand against authority figures, especially those who succumb to the temptations of tyranny. Yet amidst the simple bluntness of the titular curse lies a long and complex history. One chock-full of racial prejudices borne through a lack of empathy and understanding. Satisfying though it may be to blast “Fuck Tha Police” in a cop’s vicinity, the deeper meanings should not be diluted.

Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The story of its creation was sold to many by the 2015 N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton, which depicted our five heroes being racially profiled outside of a recording studio and roughed up for no other reason beyond their skin color. In reality, a revelation on HBO’s The Defiant Ones confirmed that “Fuck Tha Police” was originally declined by Dr. Dre, after Ice Cube presented the young producer with the incendiary lyrics. It was only after Eazy-E and Dre engaged in a joyride on the Los Angeles freeway, possessed by a desire to fire paintballs into passing cars. “Fifteen minutes after that, the police is behind us,” reflects Dre, older and wiser. “They pull us out of the car with guns drawn, lay us face down on the freeway.”

In the same clip, Cube admits that Dre’s frequent trips to jail were the catalyst for “Fuck Tha Police.” As he explains, Dre’s company tended to mean that the parties were in full swing; in Cube’s eyes, the Doc’s recurring weekend slammer trips were the ultimate buzzkill. “I was mad that all the fun stopped, and Dre had to go to jail till Monday,” smiles Cube. “So I wrote ‘Fuck Tha Police.’” A far cry from the narrative put forth in the film, but authorial intent doesn’t necessarily matter when the product is ushered into the world. The minute it was released, “Fuck Tha Police” provided a voice to everybody who ever experienced police brutality. Especially when Cube’s opening verse painted such a vivid picture, one that could be juxtaposed with any given protest montage of today with no shortage of relevancy.

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

It’s become all too familiar a sight. A Black person harassed, assaulted, and in the bleakest cases, murdered because a police officer claims to have feared for their safety. We’ve seen the footage. Traffic stops turned fatal, as was the case for Philando Castile. A fatal chokehold placed on George Floyd over a counterfeit bill. Instances where the consequences of an officer’s actions went unfeared, the system backing them designed as an impenetrable safety net. For Ice Cube, frustrated by the seemingly unconquerable presence of the police, rebellion came through music. By belittling the organization that had disrupted his daily life. Provocative in its blunt title and direct message, it didn’t take long before “Fuck Tha Police” caught the ire of law enforcement across the country. For those who self-aggrandized themselves as untouchable, the hostile bars of Compton’s finest served as the ultimate undermining. And given how infectiously catchy the track was, its popularity ensured that “Fuck Tha Police” quickly achieved anthem status. And given how many different walks of life have experienced negative interactions with aggressive police officers — across all generations — NWA’s controversial creation continues to carry the same weight today.

Though the track’s longevity speaks to the brilliance of its creators, it also reveals a darker truth on the other side of the coin. The fact that the animosity between the civilian population and the police sworn to serve and protect still exists is a disturbing reality. It also highlights how deeply entrenched within the system that racism really is. “Police think they have the authority to kill a minority,” rapped Ice Cube, in his instantly recognizable opening verse. Sadly, that truth has revealed itself like clockwork. Only this time, it seems as if the people have had enough. The streets have since come alive in protest; there isn’t a person in the entire United States that hasn’t come to know the name of George Floyd. Though some police have attempted to combat the uprising with force, they’ve quickly realized that heightened publicity can be a devastating counter to their all-too-often unprovoked bouts of violence. Excessive force will no longer be judged by fellow officers, but the court of public opinion — one that is, for what feels like the first time, standing largely united. All the while, N.W.A’s “Fuck Tha Police” continues to capture the zeitgeist once again, gaining renewed purpose as a protest anthem for a new generation. 

Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, a native of Minneapolis, says the city has been turned upside down, but remains hopeful that change is coming. The NFL legend wrote a new essay regarding the state of the country The New York Times, Sunday.

Abbie Parr / Getty Images

“The events of the last several days have turned Minneapolis, and our nation, upside down. Injustice, death, destruction, pain, violence, protests, and riots have made it clear — we as a nation are not OK. We are not healthy,” Fitzgerald writes. “The violent death of George Floyd in police custody is yet another example of a systemic problem we have yet to solve. A cancer we are failing to cut out. People and communities are suffering, lives are being lost and futures are being destroyed.”

Fitzgerald goes on to write that the voice of the unheard cannot continue to be ignored: “We must refuse to allow the screams of the unheard to be disregarded,” he wrote. “We must act. Good people may find themselves a part of a broken system but must take it upon themselves to bring about the needed change. If you are silent and passive you are complicit in upholding the status quo.”

Check out Fitzgerald’s full essay here.

[Via]

Lil Baby shared some moving black-and-white shots taken of him at one of the Black Lives Matter protests in Atlanta recently. He posted the photos to Instagram on Saturday (June 6th) with the caption, “It’s A Bigger Picture …”

In the photos, Baby can be seen wearing a black T-shirt that reads “BLACK LIVES MATTER.” He’s also sporting a black face mask with the words “NO JUSTICE NO PEACE” written on it. The rapper appears to have arrived to the protest on his bike, but later ditched it to march with the rest of the crowd. In the second photo, Baby has a megaphone around his neck, and in the third, he stands next to Atlanta city councilman, Antonio Brown, while he gives a speech. According to a post on Antonio’s account, the two of them had just met the day before.

“Met a dope dude named Dominique,” Antonio wrote on some photos of Baby at the protest, referring to his real first name. “A brother whose seen struggle but also recognizes his divine power to call forth all that he seeks in life. When we first met he showed up in a worn black t-shirt, some joggers and @balenciaga sneakers. No jewelry or entourage. His driver patiently waited outside while we talked for hours. I thought because everyone called him @lilbaby_1 that he would have this huge ego and only care about superficial shit. Instead he spoke about how much he loved business, fashion and lifting up his community. He’s only been rapping for 3 years and has completely dismantled an industry. The hood he grew up in and the projects that raised him made him baby. A rebel with a cause, disrupting with a purpose bigger than himself.”

Paras Griffin/Getty Images for LVL XIII Luxury Footwear

“The next day we marched down Mitchell Street with our fist in the air yelling – No Justice, No Peace as he leaned over and whispered in my ear, ‘this is what matters!'” Antonio continued. “See he understood his calling was greater than the streets – it was to change the streets. To inspire the people to see beyond their environment and conditions that silently kept them unconsciously imprisoned. After marching for an hour, a white business owner brought out some waters to the crowd of walking protesters. As he was handing out the waters Lil Baby ran over to him and gave him $500. I looked up at him and smiled because if I was rich that’s something I would’ve done. As the protest came to an end, I watched in silent awe as [T.I.] graciously walked up to him and greeted him like a King. It was inspiring to see one generation salute the next as they prepare to take their rightful place in Hip Hop.”

Lil Baby recently revealed that he’s been working on some new music about police brutality.

Actor Michael B. Jordan gave a powerful call to action during Saturday's Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles, telling Hollywood insiders they "need to go on notice."

Rich Fury / Getty Images

"We are in the heart of Hollywood right now, one of the world’s most powerful industries and I am an active member of that. And they need to go on notice," he said. "Anybody that deals with me, if you have racist beliefs, if you have a racist bone in your body, if you're not with me, if you don't stand with me and people that look like me, you don't need to be with me. I use my power to demand diversity but it's time that studios and agencies … do so."

"You committed to a 50/50 gender parity in 2020, where is the challenge to commit to black hiring? Black content, led by black executives, black consultants … So let us bring our darkness to the light? We're done with discrimination," he added.

Insecure star Kendrick Sampson also made an appearance during the event.

"I want you to spread the word, this is factual: The police system that we know today is based on slave-catching," Sampson said. "... The policing system started with a bad seed. It has grown a bad tree and it bears bad fruit ... We need to imagine a world free of police terror. We call ourselves an industry of creatives. Where the fuck is your imagination?"

Check out footage from the event below.

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#justice #blmla #bldpwr ? @producertommy

A post shared by Black Love (@blacklove) on Jun 6, 2020 at 1:14pm PDT

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America is witnessing a revolution across the country but the support is coming from all pockets of the world. Black Lives Matter protests in Australia, Europe, and Asia have taken place in support of justice for George Floyd while this week, the officers involved in the Houston native’s death have been charged for their involvement. 

Banksy has often taken social issues and turned these moments into powerful art. Though his identity still hasn’t been confirmed, he shared a powerful statement on his Instagram page with three slides. The first includes a picture frame with a shadowy figure and a lit candle next to it. The next slide zooms out of the shot revealing the candle lighting the American flag.

“At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue.

BUt why would I do that?
It’s not their problem. It’s mine.

People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system. Liek a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. This fauly system is making their life a misery, but it’s not their job to fix it. They can’t — no-one will let them in the partment upstairs.

This is a white problem. And if white people don’t fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in.”

 Check the post out below. 

George Floyd's murder at the hands of the police has created a brand new movement in this country. It is a movement that is more organized, more united, and more motivated than ever. The goal is to eradicate police brutality while also advocating for social equality and equity amongst all races of people. Numerous athletes and celebrities have offered money to these causes and have also used their voices to propel real change. As you can imagine, LeBron James has been one of the most prominent voices on that front.

Today, LeBron released a powerful ad alongside his very own brand, Uninterrupted. As you can see in the clip below, we can hear a basketball bouncing in the background with words on the screen. The words say phrases like "shut up and dribble" which is something LeBron has heard all too often. Eventually, the basketball stops dribbling and bounces wildly as if the person has abandoned it. Then the words "shut up and lay still" appear on the screen.

Ever since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police, the entire country has been trying to have productive conversations about race relations in the United States. Systemic racism is still extremely prevalent and police brutality is a perfect example of how that continues to manifest. Athletes around the country have been uniting to talk about these hard subjects and now, the Dallas Cowboys are speaking out in a powerful new video.

The 2-minute clip below showcases various members of the Cowboys, including Dak Prescott, speaking on the racism they have faced over the years and how they hope to educate those around them. During this video, you even see members of the Dallas police force taking to people of color and engaging in a productive dialog about how to better patrol their communities. Clearly, the team is trying to bring all sides together for the greater good.

Following a large-scale tragedy, a new wave of art tends to follow. For many rappers, the fight against police brutality has been an ongoing reality, one that has plagued the likes of Meek Mill, DaBaby, Tee Grizzley, and countless others. As George Floyd’s memory continues to inspire the nation to rise up in protest, Grizzley has taken a moment to put his thoughts on paper. 

Scott Legato/Getty Images

Previewing an acapella verse from a song that appears to be in the works, Grizzely wasted little time in setting the tone. “You ever seen the police kill somebody that’s your color?” he asks. “In uniform, they ain’t even dressed as undercovers / that shit make me want to hit my girl with a rubber, scared to bring a child into this world where don’t nobody love us / Kaepernick took a knee, he was standing his ground / George Floyd took a knee, he was getting pinned down.”

Grizzely continues, his words resonating. “Ahmaud went on a jog, he was minding his business, they chased him down trying to gun him down on a street full of witnesses / this shit gotta stop.” It’s unclear whether he’ll be putting these words to an instrumental, but it should be noted that we’re still waiting for the release of The Smartest, an album that has already seen singles like “Payroll.” Show some support to the Detroit rapper for holding it down with some powerful words, a reminder that the fight continues. 

Following the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, many have felt compelled to stand up in the face of racial injustice -- a systemic injustice that has claimed the lives and shattered the safety of black people for years. Even now, disgraced police officer Derek Chauvin's fate remains uncertain, with questions on whether George Floyd's murderer will end up doing significant jail time to begin with. 

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Amidst all the pain that these killings have caused, the entire hip-hop community has been mobilizing. Several rappers have already issued statements; some have taken to the streets alongside the people to demand justice. For Denzel Curry, the scars of police brutality run deep. In March of 2014, Denzel's brother Treon Johnson was killed after sustaining fatal injuries at the hands of police officers, who tased and pepper-sprayed Johnson into a state of sepsis. Yesterday, Denzel took to Twitter to share a powerful reflection on current events. 

"After looking at most of your comments in my last few posts about the current situation happening in the U.S.A," begins Denzel, addressing his fans and supporters. "It seems a lot of you are Extremely insensitive, Extremely Ignorant, and most likely come from places where you don’t have to face the prejudices that my people face on a daily basis. To you I’m just an entertainer and I’m suppose to dance for your support of my music and craft but now I’m here to say FUCK ALL THAT. We are living in one of the worst times in America."

"It’s even got to the point that I don’t even want to consider myself as an American, most people don’t treat us as Americans let alone human," he continues. "Most of you say there’s no reason to riot but in our defense there’s no reason to be killing my people. The tension in the United States has got me at a crossroads and I’m here to tell you it’s either you With Me or Against Me. I don’t agree with senseless violence and that goes for both ends... I advocate for doing the right thing." 

Our thoughts go out to Denzel Curry, and everyone hurting as a result of systemic racism and police brutality. Rest in peace to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. 

Travis Scott has released a lengthy statement regarding the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests across the country.

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The rapper uploaded his statement to Instagram, calling for police reform and speaking about police brutality.

“As I pace around thinking, trying to find something to ease the pain,” the post began. “There are almost no words that I can think of to properly express, or I can use to suppress, this enraged feeling of us continuously losing our brothers and sisters to brutality at the hands of officers, or anyone with misguided intentions for our well-being.”

“The rage that we are feeling is from direct personal experience and the constant pain of wanting our voices to be heard,” he continued. “To be seen as equal and human, too. We have to change and reform police policy in our U.S. cities, and there needs to be accountability immediately! Especially when officers abuse power to the point where it callously takes a life.”

“My heart goes out to George Floyd’s family and everyone who’s suffered loss based on this type of senseless injustice and brutality,” he concluded. “Me and the team are gonna do everything possible to make sure these issues are addressed on a long-term basis. Thank u Bun for picking me up this morning and helping me figure out ways I can really help move this forward. Love. See you all soon!”

[Via]

Former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar penned a powerful op-ed, published in the Los Angeles Times, Sunday, regarding the death of George Floyd and the protests being held across the country.

Dominik Magdziak / Getty Images

"African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer," he wrote. "Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible -- even if you're choking on it -- until you let the sun in. Then you see it's everywhere."

The Hall of Famer defended the protesters and spoke about the systemic racism inherent in all levels of our society.

Police brutality in the United States has always been a massive problem. Numerous unarmed people of color have been killed by the police, including George Floyd who was choked to death in Minneapolis this past week. Protests have erupted all across the country and people are waiting to see how this will all play out. Needless to say, people are scared and angry and with the Coronavirus going around, life feels incredibly fragile.

When Eric Garner was killed by police a few years ago, many NBA players wore “I Can’t Breathe” shirts in solidarity, including Kobe Bryant. Today, Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram with a photo of Kobe wearing the shirt and urged people to take care of each other while also standing up against injustice.

“My husband wore this shirt years ago and yet here we are again,” Bryant wrote. “Life is so fragile. Life is so unpredictable. Life is too short. Let’s share and embrace the beautiful qualities and similarities we all share as people. Drive out hate. Teach respect and love for all at home and school. Spread LOVE. Fight for change- register to VOTE. Do not use innocent lives lost as an excuse to loot. BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE.”

Bryant’s post is a stark reminder of the loss of Kobe and what a leader he would have been during these times. Regardless, it’s good to know one of the best basketball players ever had the back of his people.

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are all people of color who were tragically taken from us way too soon. The most recent of these tragedies is Floyd who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota this past week. Since his murder, there have been protests all across the country and people are rightfully demanding justice as the deaths of black people at the hands of the police have become all too common in our society. 

Many celebrities are speaking out on these atrocities and are urging fans to donate to various causes that will help those most affected by these atrocities. Today, Travis Scott used his voice, as well as his partnership with Nike to help speak out on what's happening. In the ad below, there are numerous pieces of text that urge people to not remain silent. Instead, the ad asks those with a voice to speak up and let it be known that as a society, we won't stand for these injustices any longer.

George Floyd, a 46-year-old man, was pinned down by police at the beginning of this week, restricting his airway for several minutes as he pleaded with them, saying that he could not breathe. A video has been circulating showing the incident, which is truly disturbing and disgusting. Floyd was later pronounced dead.

Four police officers have been fired following the death of George Floyd and Donald Trump has promised justice for the man’s family. Riots have been breaking out across the country as people are tired of hearing about racist police brutality incidents, with a Target store being looted last night and multiple surrounding buildings being set on fire.

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Doing his part in raising awareness for the continued problem, Juelz Santana has released a freestyle track dedicated to George Floyd, dropping bars about the situation and speaking out in his own way.

“All they wanna do is prosecute us, shoot us when they ain’t gotta shoot us,” he raps. “They kill us, turn around and then protect their own/Meanwhile, we can’t even protect our own.”

Like the rest of us, Juelz Santana is frustrated about constantly facing racial discrimination in the world. For now, this track is only available on the rapper’s IG page. Listen below.

With Run The Jewel’s RTJ4 lined up to be released on June 5th, Killer Mike has taken it upon himself to preview one of the upcoming tracks, “Walking In The Snow.” And while a sneak peek is generally seen as a joyous affair, this latest arrives under somber circumstances. Though it wasn’t specifically written about the death of George Floyd, Mike’s lyrics about police brutality resonate even harder in the wake of it. 

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“And every day on the evening news they feed you fear for free, and you so numb you watch the cops choke out a man like me,” he raps, over El’s off-kilter production. “And ’til my voice goes from a shriek to whisper, ”I can’t breathe” / and you sit there in the house on couch and watch it on TV / The most you give’s a Twitter rant and call it a tragedy.”

It’s unclear whether Mike’s verse offers his suggestions as to what might be done, but it doesn’t appear as if he’s particularly satisfied with the current societal state. He all but confirms as much in his caption, writing “I will keep pushing for a better society but I refuse to not acknowledge the one I am stuck with.” Given everything that has transpired, all the racial tension that seems to be brewing in the United States, it’s no surprise that Mike feels the way he does. For now, he remains one of the most powerful voices in the game, speaking as an authority when people need to hear it the most.

Look for Run The Jewels 4, complete with the full version of “Walking In The Snow,” on June 5th. Rest in peace, George Floyd. 

When it comes to boasting about his accomplishments, 50 Cent never misses an opportunity. The media mogul remembers where he came from prior to building his empire, and it was through hard work and careful maneuvering that he’s been able to amass the success that he sees before him. While he has a slew of hits under his belt, there are hip hop fans who don’t recognize Fif as a formidable force in the rap game. It’s been years since he’s released a full-length music project, but the Power boss is here to remind you that he’s still better than your favorite rapper.

Bryan Bedder / Stringer / Getty Images

Twenty years ago, 50 Cent was set to release what was supposed to be his debut album. Power of the Dollar was slated to hit the streets in the summer of 2000, but when he was shot in May of that year, it forced the record to be delayed. Two years prior, Fif completed a sampler of the project, and just a few hours ago, he shared a photo of the tape. “?Damn i did this in 1998 ?‍♂️ and i still can rap better then you fools ???‍♂️,” he penned in the caption.

He also took the opportunity to give a shout out to Pop Smoke by reminding the public that the late rapper’s posthumous album hits streaming services on June 12. Check out 50 Cent’s post below.

Mike Tyson is one of the most celebrated legends of boxing and while his career may have ended on shaky terms, there is no denying that he was an incredible knockout artist in his prime. Tyson was incredibly feared in the ring as his opponents knew that one punch could be the absolute death of them. Even in retirement, Tyson has been passionate about boxing and still likes to give some tips and tricks on how to be dominant in the ring.

Recently, Tyson expressed interest in coming out of retirement to do some charity fights. Today, he decided to take to Instagram where he showed off the full range of his current punching arsenal and all we can say is “wow.” As you can see, Tyson’s power is vicious and his speed is pretty incredible for a 53-year-old. If he were to get back in the ring, he could kill someone.

Tyson has been a fan favorite in pop culture circles over the last decade and a return to the ring would make for one of the most impressive comebacks we have ever seen. Of course, it’s not like he’ll be competing for the heavyweight championship, but still, you can’t help but marvel at his current shape.

If you’re his trainer, your ribs have to hurt after each session, even if you’ve got all that padding on.

One of the most exciting new voices in hip-hop right now is Fivio Foreign. The rapper declared his arrival with “Big Drip” in 2019, a single that has since gone viral, dominating nightclubs and playlists in the virtual world and beyond. Though he’s currently riding the wave of the aforementioned single, along with the recently released “Wetty” that is now a smash on TikTok, a formal body of work is due.

The rapper recently announced his forthcoming project, 800 B.C. which is due out this Friday. Serving as a teaser before his official album, he’s still gathered some star power from hip-hop’s finest to bring the project to life. Eight-tracks in length, the project includes appearances from Meek Mill, Lil Baby, Quavo, and Lil Tjay. On the production side, Fivio enlists Yamaica, Axl Beats, 808 Melo, Szamz, and Bordeau & Non Native.

The rapper recently revealed that he had recorded a collaboration with the late Pop Smoke a day before his death. It’s unclear why it didn’t make this project but we could presume it might be saved for Fivio’s official album. 

1. DRIVE BY (PRODUCED BY YAMAICA)
2. WETTY (PRODUCED BY AXL BEATS)
3. DEMONS & GOBLINS (FT. MEEK MILL) (PRODUCED BY BORDEAUX & NON NATIVE)
4. BIG DRIP (PRODUCED BY AXL BEATS)
5. AMBITION FT LIL TJAY (PRODUCED BY 808 MELO)
6. AWESOME (PRODUCED BY SZAMZ)
7. ISSA VIBE  (PRODUCED BY YAMAICA)
8. BIG DRIP REMIX (PRODUCED BY AXL BEATS)

Coronavirus has put the world at a halt but the pandemic has caused even more stress on the medical system. As citizens practice social distancing to slow down the spread of COVID-19, doctors and nurses are doing whatever they can to increase the speed of testing. However, people are still suffering from other types of medical issues. Cardi B, for instance, was recently rushed to the hospitals after suffering stomach pains. 

Apparently, some fans thought that Cardi was using her celebrity status to get access to COVID-19 testing. A user on Twitter pointed out the flaws in testing after her aunt's friend was denied service at the hospital due to the overwhelming amount of patients. "She's been stuck at home with the rest of her family without getting help. So I go on social media and see Cardi B at the hospital because she 'thinks' she has the virus and getting the help she needs," the person wrote. After suggesting that Cardi a) hasn't donated anything for frontline workers of the pandemic and b) is using up resources that could be used towards people who've actually contracted the virus, the "Press" rapper drew the line.

Drake and his longtime co-manager and business partner, Future The Prince, are setting out to pursue yet another television project, this time for the soon-to-be launched streaming platform, Quibi. Based on Robert Greene’s New York Times best-selling book, Drake and Adel “Future” Nur will be executive producing 48 Laws of Power, a series that will “detail the nature of power and how one can secure and maintain it.” Jason Shirer from the duo’s “co-venture” production company, DreamCrew, will also serve as executive producer, as will Zack Hayden of Anonymous Content, and Greene himself. Drake is also set to direct an episode of the series.

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“When Drake and I sat down with Robert Greene, it was incredibly inspiring,” Future said. “The laws allow for a wide range of dynamic storytelling, and Quibi allows us to tell these stories in bite-sized chapters similar to the book.” Greene is also excited to bring the pages of his widely-read book to the small screen. “I have always thought that The 48 Laws of Power would be a perfect fit for a series, bringing to life the timeless Machiavellian game of power as portrayed in the book,” the author noted. “But it was not until Drake and Future with Anonymous Content approached me with their unique cinematic approach to the laws that I knew I could join forces with them and go all in for a filmed interpretation of my work.”

The series will debut on Quibi, a short-form mobile entertainment platform launching on April 6th. Other series that are set to premiere on Quibi are Chance The Rapper’s Punk’d reboot, as well as Idris Elba and rally driver Ken Block’s car race competition show, Elba vs. Block. Quibi will be offering a 90-day free trial once it has launched.

Love him or hate him, LeBron James has been hailed as one of the NBA’s greatest players of all time. The Akron, Ohio native is respected on and off of the court for his basketball skills, philanthropic efforts, altruistic nature, and of course, Taco Tuesday videos. His former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, Iman Shumpert, sat down with Vlad TV to discuss what it was like ballin’ in the paint with the basketball icon.

Kevin C. Cox / Staff / Getty Images

Shumpert recalled moving form the New York Knicks to the Cavaliers and joining forces with LeBron. “It felt weird,” Shumpert said of the early days. “But Bron has a very genuine characteristic. It’s like, he has to share basketball knowledge. It might be his biggest superpower, his ability to get everybody on the same page. It’s actually kinda scary. He can explain this game forward and backward.”

The free-agent went on to call LeBron’s basketball IQ “unbelievable.” Shumpert said James knows the “playbook, knows where everybody’s supposed to be, know the other team’s coach’s playbook, style of coaching, how his ball club’s gonna play.” He added that it’s amazing that LeBron James can know intimate knowledge of every player’s strengths and weaknesses around the court and how their coaches are going to move because of Bron’s passion, skill, and talent of the game. “Make me feel like I didn’t do my homework!” Watch Iman Shumpert praise LeBron James below and check out what else he had to say about playing alongside Carmelo Anthony.

50 Cent was far from pleased to announce that production on two of his Power spinoff series, Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan, has been halted due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. The network, Starz, made the decision after it was understood that New York State, where both shows were being filmed, officially hosts the largest number of cases of coronavirus in the United States. The hiatus became effective on March 13th, with no recommencement date in sight at this time. As one of the franchise’s creators and executive producers, Fif was majorly frustrated by the ultimately inevitable move, noting that they were one of the only shoots that was still ongoing. Sharing a screenshot of the Deadline article that broke the news, he begrudgingly made the unfortunate announcement to his Instagram followers.

“I had to do it we were the last production still working,” he wrote. “F*ck.” While it’s not certain that they were actually the very last ones, the Power teams are certainly following in the footsteps of countless other films and television shows that have temporarily pulled the plug. Almost every major production has shut down in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and plenty of films have been pushing their release dates back by several months. While there is no word yet on the status of the other two Power spinoffs, Power Book IV: Influence and Power Book V: Force, both shows have reportedly not even begun production yet.

We have love for Nate Dogg‘s “I Got Love” and apparently, Jadakiss does, too. The New York rapper stopped by Power 106 in Los Angeles to visit the L.A. Leakers to show off his impressive freestyle skills and he did so over the late Long Beach legend’s classic track. Jadakiss is known near and far as an emcee who can bring hard bars, and he didn’t disappoint with this latest freestyle look.

Mike Coppola / Staff / Getty Images

“You know I will let the nine burst / West Coast mixtape kiss my converse / ‘Fore you play your part gotta read your lines first / ‘Fore it’s in your heart gotta be in your mind first,” Jadakiss rapped effortlessly. “Album is out now / I’m hearin’ ’em chant that / You know it’s heroin whenever I stamp that / Know how I do n*ggas / You know that I chew n*ggas / Seasoned veterans or one of these new n*ggas / Gotta be kiddin’ me / Could never get rid of me / Even if they kill me I’m still the epitome.”

That was just the beginning of Jadakiss’s freestyle and he continued to dominate for another minute and a half. His recent release, Ignatius, is being hailed as the album hip hop needed in 2020, so check out the project here and watch Jadakiss drops bars with the L.A. Leakers below.

After Megan Thee Stallion came forward with grievances against her label, it seems as if everyone is weighing in with their two cents. Megan took to social media to share that 1501 Certified Entertainment was holding her back and keeping her from releasing new music. Now that she's managed by Roc Nation, some things are apparently shifting behind the scenes and Megan revealed that she wanted to renegotiate her contract because there were things in the document that she didn't understand. 

Isaac Hayes III, son to the legendary late music icon Isaac Hayes, has had a long career in the industry. He recently shared his opinion on the matter and uploaded a video of himself criticizing Megan's desire to renegotiate her deal. He starts things off by saying that he is a fan of Megan Thee Stallion and played her music on his radio station long before she became a star. "When I see the same ol' same tricks and mistakes being made by an artist, I'm gonna point 'em out 'cause I want to see her succeed," Hayes said.

"Artists need to be mindful of the 99 and the one percent," he added. "That means that granted, an artist is 99 percent of the success sometimes, right. They do all the heavy lifting, they're out in front of the camera, they do all the traveling, they're up late, they work hard, but there's also this one percent that artists cannot forget about."

Hayes states that the "one percent" are those that give you just a nudge that "changes the entire trajectory of your life." He added, "Meaning, if it wasn't for them, there would be no you. There might be another version of you, but there would be no you." He said he doesn't know Megan's relationship with 1501, but "regardless of what the contract said," she elevated musically as an artist under their guidance.

He doesn't believe that Megan should be talking about reworking her contract until she's released a debut album and gained a level of success where she can pull those types of moves. Hayes gave the examples of Boyz II Men and the Backstreet Boys who both renegotiated their contracts, but that wasn't until they released chart-topping records.

When artists make moves prematurely, Hayes asked if they'd rather have "50 percent of 50 million dollars or 100 percent of a million dollars." Check out his opinion in full below.

Kobe Bryant was one of the most beloved basketball players of all-time. Unfortunately, he and his daughter Gianna tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26th. Today, a memorial was held at the Staples Center where thousands came out to pay respects. The Staples Center was packed with friends, family, celebrities, and fans. It was a beautiful service that saw some tributes from Vanessa Bryant and many others.

To start off the event, Beyoncé got on stage to deliver gorgeous renditions of "XO" and "Halo." Beyoncé's performance was very powerful and resonated with every single person in that building. Many throughout the crowd were moved to tears as they began thinking about the legacy Kobe and Gianna have left us with.

50 Cent‘s knack for directing has earned him a new award of his collection. The Power exec. made his directorial debut in season six on “Forgot About Dre” can now be referred to as an award-winning director. Fif took home an NAACP Image Award this weekend for Outstanding Directing In A Drama Series for his work in Power, a major deal for the South Side Queens native.

“NAACP AWARD – Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series. now you know the vibes LOL SOUTH SIDE i’m not here to make friends we come to take over,” he wrote in one post, following it with another post boasting his hustler’s mentality. “hard work beats talent, when talent isn’t working. you maybe gifted but you don’t want it as bad as me.”

Fif was competing against acclaimed directors such as Ava Duvernay, Debbie Allen, Carl H. Seaton, Jr., and Jet Wilkinson. Power’s Omari Hardwick also scored big with the award for Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series.

50 Cent became a television mogul in the past few years but his hard work throughout his career was recently recognized with his own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The rapper recently launched his new series on ABC, For Life starring Nicholas Pinnock. Fif also has another show heading to Fox titled The Notorious C.O.P on the way. 

Peep Fif’s posts below. 

Omari Hardwick retaliated against some trolls in his IG comments who told him that fans only like him as Ghost on Power after the actor put a famous poem in the caption of his post. The Power actor was repping his Alpha Phi Alpha roots on Instagram when he posted a photo of himself accompanied by the poem “Invictus” by English poet William Ernest Henley. It’s customary that pledges learn that particular poem before they’re given the opportunity to become a member of the fraternity, so it makes sense that these words carry special meaning for Omari.

However, one of his followers was not impressed by this share, and decided to let the actor know that he should stick to playing James “Ghost” St. Patrick on Power instead of trying to be deep. It’s definitely possible that the user didn’t know the significance behind the poem, but even so, they made it clear they’re only interested in Omari when he’s playing Ghost. The troll commented, “We want ghost f*ck what you talking about,” to which Omari replied, “I am ghOst. I am first O. I am everything. You want ghost cuz i put me in him.”

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ

It appears that another user agreed with the original commenter, as they replied, “Honestly I agree holy sh*t .. he was kool until I hear him in real life .. matter fact where’s tommy.” Omari saw this reply as well, and really started to get fed up with all the hate. He did his worst, writing back, “Now you….you the clown. When i slap the sh*t outa you (cuz you don’t deserve more than that) outa you….i will remind you thas from me, Omari. B*tch ass f*ck boy. Go be just THAT. Clown ass n*ggas. Should go ask your Momz if she can rebirth you. Matta fact….go find Tommy & Joe. See if they don’t say the same.”

Omari really let the spirit of Ghost take over him for a minute there. While the series finale of Power already premiered on February 9th, several spinoffs of the popular show have been announced: Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Power Book IV: Influence, and Power Book V: Force.

Michael Harris, a linebacker at Eastern Kentucky University, is facing a felony charge of assault as well as three other misdemeanor charges, stemming from his chaotic altercation with police in Ohio earlier this week.

According to TMZ Sports, a woman at a Grove City, Ohio business phoned police after she allegedly witnessed Harris acting "aggressive" and 'not all there.' When officers on the scene confronted the 6'3, 245-pound linebacker, he responded by power slamming one of them onto the pavement before reinforcements came to the rescue. Check out the incident in the video embedded below.

After regaining control of the 19-year old Harris, officers reportedly took him to a hospital where he "remained aggressive" until he was sedated by the staff. Harris was ultimately booked on a felony charge of assault, in addition to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing officials business.

TMZ Sports reports that a search of Harris' vehicle turned up pills and a digital scale "consistent with drug use," although Harris stated that he was not under any medications or illicit drugs. Harris signed with the Auburn Tigers out of high school but transferred to Eastern Kentucky just this month. It remains to be seen what kind of discipline he'll face from the school.

A new Nicki Minaj album is officially on the way. On Friday, following a week’s worth of Meek Mill-related drama, Nicki dropped off her new single, “Yikes,” followed by the latest episode of the tea-filled “Queen Radio.” As usual, “Queen Radio” is always filled with guest stars and this week she brought out fellow South Queens, Jamaica native, 50 Cent.

The Power executive and Nicki discussed a variety of topics from his upcoming show For Life to his love life. Nicki and 50 Cent have, surprisingly, never worked together on music, although Fif’s always shown his support to the fellow South Side native. Nicki even went as far as saying aside from her husband, 50 Cent has been one of the few people that has always had her back.

Nicki did take the opportunity to ask Fif a few questions she’s been longing to ask him for a while. The first one was aimed at 50 Cent and Jay-Z, asking why neither of them signed her. 

“Because of Fendi,” 50 Cent said about Nicki’s former manager. “That’s the only reason why I wasn’t saying nothing or checking real hard for her because he was over there.”

Before letting 50 Cent go, she asked him why she never got the opportunity to star in one of his films or television projects. Fif then flipped it on her. “We can make that happen whenever I can get availability outta you,” he said.

“You heard it here first, Barbz. He’s going to let me come on one of his shows, okay? I should’ve been on Power, chile,” she said.

Check the clip on the latest episode of “Queen Radio.” 

Power finally came to an end yesterday and it appears as though not everyone is entirely satisfied with the finale. However, a few weeks prior, a leak finally revealed the question everyone’s been asking: who killed Ghost? The answer turned out to be Ghost’s son, Tariq, who’s portrayed by Michael Rainey Jr. If you recall, Rainey revealed he received exactly 326 death threats in his DMs following the big reveal. Now, the thing is Rainey is solely an actor on the show. He doesn’t write or control the fate or actions of his characters but not everyone got that memo, clearly.

Cam’ron can relate. The rapper took on the iconic role of Rico in Paid In Full where he famously shot and killed Mitch out of greed. Although Cam’s career extends far past his acting career, many still associate him with Rico. In fact, in wake of Michael Rainey’s alleged death threats, Cam stated that it’s been eighteen years since the film launched and he’s still getting asked about Rico’s actions. 

“Yo bro, live with it ??‍♂️.. it’s been 18yrs and they still asking.. why I killed Mitch ??‍♂️?.. #YaTurn??#NiggasGetDeathThreatsEveryDayB#UBeAlright #UTuffRight,” he wrote on Twitter. 

If you’re one of those who aren’t satisfied with the Power finale, Starz announced that they’ve ordered three more Power spin-off series on top of Power Book II: Ghost. 

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent turned Starz into a contending cable channel with Power. The nation became obsessed with Ghost, and his struggle to attain power at any cost. For the last two months, fans of Power have been piecing together clues to try and discover the final betrayal. Who shot Ghost? The answer to that question was finally revealed this weekend. The signs have always been there, and we've suggested multiple times that Tariq would be the killer. Courtney Kemp has admitted that Shakespearian themes influence her writing, and there is nothing more Shakespearian than a son murdering his father. Patricide is as classic as poetry itself. 

With Power officially coming to an end this weekend, a conversation needs to be had about the impact the gangster-drama had on the culture over the past half-decade. The death of Ghost St. Patrick’s daughter, Raina, the murder of LaLa Anthony’s character, LaKeisha, and the antics surrounding who killed Ghost has provided the masses with genuinely compelling and sometimes hilarious television content that will be talked about for years to come. However, as the production comes to its conclusion, the show’s actors are left with the reality that they are officially unemployed and have to pursue their next venture. Naturi Naughton, who plays Tasha St. Patrick’s character on Power appears to have her next opportunity lined up heading back into the music realm as she recently posted a photo of herself and Omarion on Instagram hinting at a possible upcoming music collaboration. 

During her stint in the R&B girl group, 3LW, Naughton contributed to multi-platinum hits like “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right),” and “Playas Gon’ Play,” while also collaborating with artists such as Beyonce, Usher, Luther Vandross, and more. Naughton obviously has the talent, vocal range, and aesthetic to become one of the newest power players in today’s R&B scene and a collaboration with the extremely unbothered Omarion can possibly propel the singer turned actress up the Billboard charts. 

In the photo posted on her Instagram, Naughton and Omarion blissfully sit side-by-side as it’s captioned:

“We STILL HERE! #2020 it’s on! Me + @omarion + @ehudsonmusic + ezra__xx = (fire) #NaturiMusic #Omarion #3LW #B2K#20yearsinthegame #theyaintready #blessed.

While the Notorious actress didn’t exactly roll out a single name or project release date, there’s a good chance she and the former B2K frontman do have some listen-worthy music currently in the works. Check out Naturi Naughton’s Instagram post below and tune into the series finale of Power tonight at 8 P.M. EST on Starz.

Starz is ordering three more new shows set within the Power universe. 

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson posted the eulogy he gave at his father's funeral recently on Instagram, as noted by Complex.

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You trail blazed and even harder, you changed people’s harsh behaviors toward a man of color. Paving the way for me, my family and generations to come. You loved us with the capacity of which you could - given all the givens. Raised me with an iron hand and a tough complicated love. A love that now, as a father and man, I’ve learned to refine as I raise my own children. I wish I had one more shot. To say one more thing. You were taken too fast. Slipped right thru my hands. But you were so loved, lived so full, defined culture and now you rest high. Peacefully. And that makes my heart smile. I love you and now I have an angel to call by name. I’ll see you down the road, Soulman. Til we meet again. Your son ??

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Feb 7, 2020 at 5:35pm PST

The 11-minute video includes old photos of him and his father, footage of the speech, funeral and more.

“I wish I had one more shot,” Dwayne says to began his emotional tribute. “I wish I had one more shot to say goodbye … to say I love you, to say thank you, but I have a feeling he’s watching. He’s listening.” 

He walks through learning about his dad's passing, his father's legacy and his impact on the wrestling community and other stories.

“What’s amazing to me now, after a day like today after we come here and we give our respect and our love, he’s galvanized, he’s responsible for galvanizing families now," he said reflecting on how a loss like this can bring family together. "Because through processes like this, we’ve all lost loved ones, but guaranteed when we walk out of these doors, we’re going to hold each other a bit tighter, we’re going to hug each other a bit harder, we’re going to kiss each other and we’re going to say, ‘I love you,’ and we’re going to be a bit more present.”

Rocky Johnson died of a heart attack on January 15th at the age of 75.

This week's episode of Power, entitled "Reversal Of Fortune," presented viewers with the calm before the storm. After the violence and the emotional ups and downs of last week's episode, Courtney Kemp slowed things down a bit. Hopeful politician Rashad Tate took the mainstage in "Reversal Of Fortune." The clock rewinds back to the moment that St. Patrick and Tate split ways, and we witness the enraged politician have a night out on the town. In a drunken stupor, he puts a hit on Ghost which leads to a guest-starring role for Cedric the Entertainer. Viewers saw Cedric (who is named Croop in the show) get killed by Tommy before the mid-season break, and now Power illustrates how it reached that point. 

50 Cent‘s beloved series Power is coming to an end in its final sixth season but fans know that there’s more coming since Mary J. Blige has confirmed that she will be leading the new spin-off series titled Power Book II. “This is probably the most exciting thing that’s going to happen to me this year,” MJB said. “I’ve been a fan of Power since the very beginning and I want to thank Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent for starting this conversation with me.”

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After the announcement, it was revealed that Method Man would also take part in the show and will play attorney Davis Maclean. Clearly the Power executives know how to get their fans pumped since they’ve just dropped off the first look at Mary’s character in the upcoming spin-off. The image sees Mary speaking sternly to another character, dressed in high fashion wear. “The Queen has stepped onto the scene,” the caption reads. 

Omari Hardwick, who stars as James “Ghost” St. Patrick, recently chatted about the end of the show and detailed how he would sum of the final chapter.”Chaos. Chaos, chaos, chaos. Some of the best acting and writing we’ve seen in all six seasons,” he said.

Plenty of friends, fans, and family of XXXTentacion took to social media to honour the late rapper this past Thursday, January 23rd, on what would have been his 22nd birthday. After he was murdered on June 18th, 2018, X did not make it to see 22, but his supporters and loved ones have ensured that his memory is kept alive by sharing some loving messages and revealing special exchanges they'd had with the rapper while he was still alive. One of those people was fellow rapper, Lil Xan, who posted a tribute to X on Instagram and shared some of the powerful advice he had given Xan.

"Happy Birthday Legend ?," Xan wrote, followed by some happy memories of X. "I met you in 2016 and we spent a week in an airbnb with other up and coming rappers to celebrate 'Look At Me' hitting 1 million ! And the way you spoke was like you were an old soul who had a purpose, that purpose was to save millions of life’s." Xan continued to heartfelt message by writing, "love you man and thank you for always giving me the best advice that I’ll cherish forever❤️ Love you man..." In the post, Xan shared a photo of X followed by a screenshot of some of their DMs. "Be empowered by it," X told Xan, followed by Xan writing, "Move in silence." X then proceeds to unleash some words of wisdom, declaring, "Get what you want out of it all, don't let them ruin your love for yourself. And beyond everything, always fear yourself. Because you are your best friend and your worst enemy." Wow.

50 Cent‘s beloved series Power is coming to an end and as the final sixth season is coming to a close the fans are getting wild. The leading man James “Ghost” St. Patrick has been killed and 50 and his team are building lots of drama around the revelation on who the killer is. According to Page Six, a leaked version of the ending shows that the culprit is James’ son Tariq, played by Michael Rainey Jr.

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The one suspicion (that can’t be confirmed) has been taken so literally that Michael has received over 300 Instagram DMs that are death threats all thanks to his fictional character. The 19-year-old actor was so taken back by the real messages that he posted a couple photos to his Instagram feed looking puzzled by the wild reactions. “Me going through my dms tryna figure out why I have 326 death threat messages,” he captioned the image. 

Once the series officially ends, fans will have more to look forward to since a spin-off adaption titled Power Book II will arrive with Mary J. Blige as the lead. This is probably the most exciting thing that’s going to happen to me this year,” Mary said of the series. “I’ve been a fan of ‘Power’ since the very beginning and I want to thank Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent for starting this conversation with me.”

While Power is wrapping up its final sixth season, fans have something to look forward to since there’s already been talk of a spin-off series. We recently posted about Power Book II that will star Mary J. Blige and Method Man and will arrive later this year. “This is probably the most exciting thing that’s going to happen to me this year,” Mary said of the series. “I’ve been a fan of ‘Power’ since the very beginning and I want to thank Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent for starting this conversation with me.”

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While we patiently wait for the arrival of the new series, Joseph Sikora who plays a bad boy in Power jumped on Instagram to announce that his character Tommy Egan will also be getting the spin-off treatment. Joseph shared an image that sees him wearing a hat that reads “Tommy Season One.” 

“Who’s READY?!!!! ???” he captioned the clip. By no surprise, the post had many followers comment in excitement. “???????????????????????????????????????????? HERE. FOR. IT!!!!!!!” Megan Good wrote, while LaLa Anthony added, “Me‼️‼️‼️‼️”

“I’m gonna have to say that I I’ll take a lot of credit for making Tommy funny,” Joseph previously said of his character. “I sought to make Tommy funny because I made that up from guys I was actually scared of growing up or people that I’ve met in dangerous street situations where there always seems to be this strange humor that you have to laugh at. 50 Cent is funny. So there is all of those elements and I sought that out because this character could be a little one new noted.”

For months, fans of the ultra-popular television series Power have been wondering who shot, and ultimately killed, Ghost. The producers of the show laid out a bunch of possible suspects, pointing out even the smallest motives that may have led to the character's demise. Alibis were studied and people were questioned as we patiently waited for the season to continue. Now that we're a few episodes closer to learning the legitimate fate of James St. Patrick, 50 Cent up and spoiled the entire thing in the midst of his current gripe against Starz, the premium cable network that distributes Power. People were up in arms after he leaked a clip revealing that Tasha St. Patrick (played by Naturi Naughton) was the one who pulled the trigger. However, it would appear as though Fif had it all planned, insisting that there are alternate ends to the show and that the one he released may not be the final result.

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Taking to social media, 50 Cent continued his barrage against Starz, this time actually helping out the network by attracting more viewers to the next episode of Power. Leaking the results of the major cliffhanger may not have been wise but, now that we know he may have been capping, we're more enticed to view the next instalment. 

"Your gonna have to wait to find out who killed Ghost," wrote 50 Cent on Twitter, sharing a report that recalls how Courtney A. Kemp, the show's creator, spoke about potential leaks and said that the producers of the show have filmed multiple endings in case something surfaces online. "I will leak more before this is over. I’ve prepared for every possible thing WELCOME TO THE 50CENT SHOW."

It looks like we'll need to keep it locked to 50 Cent's social pages to find out exactly what happened.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was the victim of a shooting that left him with nine gunshot wounds. After being able to live through such a traumatic experience there’s no way any conglomerate or board room full of executives that could strike fear into his heart. In the past, 50 Cent has struggled to come to terms with the premium cable network Starz, in regards to his hit television series, Power.  

We’ve seen the multidimensional artist make amends with the network, make his directorial debut, and establish his dominance as one of the driving forces behind Starz. However, now it looks like that relationship has soured once again as the show is finally coming to an end. In a rather direct post to his Instagram account, 50 Cent revealed that the beef has been rekindled captioning a photo with this statement:

“These people at Starz bugging out, talking to me like they crazy. Like I ain’t who I am, they got me f*cked up. I will put all this shit out tonight.”

 Minutes later, 50 Cent posted a clip revealing who killed Ghost on the timeline. SPOILER ALERT: In the clip, a teary-eyed Tasha St. Patrick (played by Naturi Naughton) can be seen holding a handgun pointed towards her victim James “Ghost” St. Patrick (played by Omari Hardwick) stating, “I can’t let you destroy my son,” before firing off a single bullet and instantaneously regretting her decision. 

While this might have been a ‘power’ move by 50, he definitely has severed his relationship with the Starz network and could also have burned a few bridges with rivaling companies due to his recklessness. With his upcoming “BMF” project set to release in the near future and his executive produced ABC television series For Life set to begin soon, the “I’m The Man” rapper could possibly go on to succeed without some of the relationships he’s tarnished in the television realm. 

Check out the Power storyline revealing clip below. 

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Tommy and Ghost have been boys since day one, which is why their time as enemies has been so dramatic. This week's episode of Power mends the relationship between the two brothers, and also gives fans a hint as to who shot Ghost. Entitled "It's All Your Fault," the thirteenth episode of the season focuses on Tommy. After last week's somewhat slow episode, this week Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent deliver the strongest episode mid-season yet. "It's All Your Fault" begins back at the moment that Tommy kills Proctor's cousin Benny. At this time, Tommy has one goal in mind: Kill Ghost.

50 Cent uses social media to stay in close communication with Power‘s viewership. He reminds them to tune in every week. He supplies them with funny memes to counterbalance the frustration they may experience from some moments of the television show. At times, he takes into consideration the viewers’ complaints and tries to appease them. When Power‘s sixth season kicked off over the summer, fans were disappointed to discover that the original theme song had been replaced by a new rendition by Trey Songz. After weeks of protest, Fifty conceded to switch the theme back to the version sung by Joe. This kind of relationship between a show’s executive producer and its fanbase can be fun, but it must be difficult to monitor the satisfaction levels of the masses. 

50 Cent has taken to Instagram to call out all the Power watchers that criticized him for last Sunday’s episode. “Y’all some funny motherfvckers man,” he wrote in a caption on a photo of himself. “Called me all kinds names because y’all didn’t like the last episode… now we friends again. ?ain’t this some bullshit.” In a follow-up post, he continued: “Now everybody love me again, I wasn’t shit last week. ? say sorry or something nice.”

In the midst of his beef with Fif, French Montana leaked a clip from last week’s episode of Power before it aired and tried to warn its viewers that they would be disappointed with the outcome. I guess he was on to something. Anyway, read our recap of that episode here. 

As the series finale to Power closens, more information on the show’s spin-off series Power Book II is becoming more available since none other than Mary J. Blige is leading the upcoming hit. “This is probably the most exciting thing that’s going to happen to me this year,” Mary said of the series. “I’ve been a fan of ‘Power’ since the very beginning and I want to thank Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent for starting this conversation with me.”

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Deadline now reports that Method Man will be joining Mary in the show and will play attorney Davis Maclean. Method Man (born Clifford Vincenzo Smith Jr.) and Mary are no rookies when it comes to collaboration. They previously won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their 2003 single, “You’re All I Need.” 

Power Book II is currently under production in New York and details on the premise or more stars to join are being kept at a low. “Now you know shit is about to get crazy. POWER BOOK II MJB,” 50 Cent shared on Instagram when showcasing the first poster for the show. Keep it locked for more details and get ready for the series said to be arriving later this year.