Author: Wamala

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is putting more money behind the city’s artists—and rappers are eligible to get a piece of it. Mamdani announced Friday that the city is doubling its grants for individual artists and small nonprofits, raising the maximum award from $5,000 to $10,000. The increase marks the first boost to the city-funded artist grants in nearly two decades. Mamdani made the announcement alongside Deputy Mayor Julie Su and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij. The expanded grants are available to creators across all five boroughs, including rappers, musicians, filmmakers, dancers, writers and painters. For Mamdani,…

Ice Spice just turned a quiet getaway into a full-blown internet moment. The Bronx rapper shared a series of travel photos Tuesday with a simple caption—“spiceland [😍]”—and social media quickly did the rest. The original post showed Ice Spice surrounded by dramatic scenery, including steaming open water, rocky terrain and low mountains. While neither of her posts identified a specific location, repost accounts widely identified the setting as Iceland. One repost featuring three of the photos surpassed 1.7 million views on X, turning the seemingly casual vacation dump into another viral Ice Spice moment. And there was no new single,…

Nas is taking “Beat Street” from the South Bronx to Broadway. The rap icon is bringing the 1984 hip-hop classic to the stage as a brand-new musical, assembling a heavyweight creative team to reimagine the film for Broadway. According to Deadline, the project is being directed by Schele Williams, whose credits include The Wiz, with Hell’s Kitchen playwright Kristoffer Diaz adapting the original film for the stage. Music supervisor Jason Michael Webb will oversee the musical arrangements and orchestration. The team has already put the adaptation through an intensive development process. Williams, Diaz and Webb completed a 29-hour workshop in…

Chris Rock is opening up about a decision from years ago that he says still bothers him: refusing to help fund the legal defense of a man who spent nearly two decades in prison for a murder conviction that was eventually overturned. In a candid conversation with The New York Times for “The Interview,” Rock discussed Roger Logan, the brother of one of his closest friends. Logan spent 19 years behind bars before his murder conviction was overturned. According to Rock, Logan’s brother repeatedly asked him to help pay for a private attorney. Rock had the financial ability to contribute…

Queen Naija and Clarence White are adding another little one to the family. The R&B singer announced Sunday that she and her fiancé are expecting their second child together, marking Naija’s third child. Naija and White shared the news in a playful Instagram video, with the singer holding up a Clearblue pregnancy test before teasing the reveal. “Here we go. I’m nervous. Wanna count down with me?” Naija said. After counting down from three, she turned to White and asked, “What does it say?” Then the camera pulled back, revealing Naija’s baby bump. The couple immediately burst into laughter as…

The Game is taking Virgin Music Group and Universal Music Group to court over what he claims was a major shortfall in the marketing campaign for his 2022 album, Drillmatic — Heart vs. Mind. The rapper and his company, 100 Entertainment, filed a lawsuit Sept. 30 in California Superior Court, alleging that Virgin failed to provide most of a $500,000 promotional budget that had been promised for the album. According to the complaint, approximately $320,000 of that budget was never spent on the marketing efforts outlined in the agreement. The alleged promotional commitment was supposed to cover radio promotion, music…

Too $hort is walking back his comments about attending Sean “Diddy” Combs’ welcome-home party, saying he spoke without fully understanding the scope of the allegations surrounding the hip-hop mogul. The Oakland rap veteran apologized in an Instagram video after his earlier remarks sparked backlash. Too $hort said he had been “a little insensitive” with his words and acknowledged that he needed to learn more about the case. “I was a little insensitive with my words,” Too $hort said. Too $hort said he was aware of the 2016 hotel surveillance footage showing Combs assaulting Cassie Ventura, but admitted he did not…

GloRilla is taking her talents beyond the recording studio — and straight into the beauty-tech space. The Memphis rapper has launched GloVerse, a new technology platform designed to connect consumers with hairstylists, makeup artists and other beauty professionals. The platform was developed in partnership with OUT.LI.ER, which is handling GloVerse’s brand architecture, venture strategy and growth plans. The project marks another expansion of GloRilla’s portfolio outside music. And the idea reportedly came from a problem she knows firsthand. As an artist constantly touring, filming and performing in different cities, GloRilla has regularly needed to find reliable beauty professionals away from…

Savannah James is at the center of a fresh online debate over friendship, money and what happens when close friends live in very different financial worlds. The conversation resurfaced after James and longtime friend and business partner April McDaniel discussed their travel arrangements on Boardroom’s Mental Wealth podcast on Sept. 28. McDaniel explained that the two do not always sit in the same airline cabin when they travel together. While some social media posts described McDaniel as flying coach, she clarified that she travels business class, while James may purchase a first-class ticket. That detail was enough to send the…

Quavo is entering a new era — and he brought Pharrell Williams along for the ride. The Atlanta rapper has officially released his third solo studio album, QRÖMELIFE, a 14-track project that pushes him well beyond the traditional trap sound associated with his Migos roots. Released through Quality Control Music and Motown Records, the album was produced entirely by Pharrell, giving Quavo a single creative partner across the full project. According to Quavo, Pharrell challenged him to think bigger and move beyond familiar territory, encouraging him to “go bigger and try to make stadium music.” The result is an album…

Halle Berry is facing a temporary restraining order after her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, made allegations of physical abuse involving their 12-year-old son, Maceo. A judge granted the temporary order amid the former couple’s latest custody dispute, escalating a legal battle that has continued for years following their divorce. According to court documents filed by Martinez, Berry allegedly became aggressive toward Maceo while the boy was playing a virtual reality game at her home. Martinez claimed the actress placed her hands around their son’s neck and choked him. The filing also alleges that Berry’s boyfriend, musician Van Hunt, was present during…

Too $hort is already making plans for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ eventual release from prison — and the West Coast rap veteran says he intends to be at the welcome-home party. The hip-hop legend made the declaration during an appearance on The TMZ Podcast while promoting his latest album, Sir Too $hort Vol. 2. “I’m going to the Puff Daddy coming home party,” Too $hort told host Towanda Robinson. Combs is currently serving his federal sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, with his projected release date reportedly moved up to January 21, 2028. Too $hort’s support comes with a…

Chris Brown and his former housekeeper Maria Avila have reached a $9.5 million resolution over a 2020 dog attack at the singer’s California home, bringing an end to a damages dispute that previously produced a $12.9 million jury award. Avila agreed to accept the reduced amount rather than pursue another trial focused on damages, according to Rolling Stone. The development follows Brown’s request for a new trial after a Los Angeles jury awarded Avila $12.9 million in June. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Huey P. Cotton found that portions of the award lacked sufficient evidentiary support and gave Avila…

Rick Ross is out of jail — and the rapper wasted little time returning to his larger-than-life persona. Ross was released from a Miami-area jail Thursday after being arrested on felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges stemming from allegations involving his former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick. Ross has denied wrongdoing and told reporters after his release that he is “totally innocent.” The allegations remain unresolved, and the criminal case is still pending. According to the supplied reports, Kendrick contacted police Tuesday before Ross surrendered two days later. The circumstances behind the allegations remain part of the ongoing case. But…

Drake is shutting down speculation that he fathered fellow singer Keshia Chanté’s unborn child. The rapper’s representative has called the rumors completely false after Chanté announced Tuesday that she is expecting a baby boy. Chanté revealed her pregnancy in an interview with Hello!, where she posed for a maternity shoot and shared details about becoming a mother. She did not publicly identify the father. The Canadian singer did, however, suggest on social media that the child’s father is involved in the music industry. That was enough for Drake’s name to quickly enter the conversation. Chanté and Drake have been friends…

Trippie Redd’s South Florida property was searched by police Tuesday, but authorities have not said whether the rapper is connected to the investigation behind the search warrant. A spokesperson for the Davie Police Department told TMZ that officers were at the rapper’s property assisting with the execution of a search warrant. The circumstances surrounding the warrant remain unclear. Davie police have not indicated whether the warrant was specifically connected to Trippie Redd, whose legal name is Michael Lamar White IV, or what investigators were looking for at the property. The City of Miami Police Department is leading the investigation, according…

Spike Lee found himself at the center of a viral Yankee Stadium confrontation Wednesday after a fan reportedly raised the subject of Palestine while the filmmaker was having dinner before the New York Yankees hosted the Boston Red Sox. Video of the encounter quickly spread online, showing Lee appearing visibly agitated as the situation escalated around him. Sports radio host Andy Slater shared footage of the confrontation and reported that the fan had been recording Lee while he ate. People seated near the exchange reportedly told Slater that the fan raised the subject of Palestine. The short clip shows several…

Kid Cudi is asking a California federal judge to throw out M.I.A.’s $2.8 million lawsuit, arguing that his decision to remove her from his Rebel Ragers Tour is protected by the First Amendment. Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, filed an anti-SLAPP motion in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett and is docketed as 2:26-cv-05768. At the center of the dispute is M.I.A.’s removal from Cudi’s tour following a Dallas performance at Dos Equis Pavilion. Reports differ on whether the concert took place…

50 Cent is weighing in after his former partner Daphne Joy was asked about a longstanding rumor involving Ye and Bianca Censori — and his reaction quickly shifted the conversation toward their teenage son. Joy, who shares 14-year-old Sire with 50 Cent, addressed the rumor during a Sept. 29 episode of Pillow Talk, hosted by Ryan Pownall. During the interview, Pownall asked Joy about claims that she had a threesome with Ye and Censori. Joy laughed at the question before responding, “Oh my God, I need some water.” She then praised Pownall for doing his research but stopped short of…

Hirata Runa, an 8-year-old trainee with Japanese girls’ idol group DIANNA Project, has died after an influenza-related medical complication. Runa “passed away peacefully” on September 25, according to a statement shared through her X account. DIANNA Project said the young performer died “due to myocarditis resulting from influenza.” The group also asked fans and the public to respect the family’s privacy during the grieving process. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the fans who supported Runa Hirata and to everyone involved who provided their support,” the group said in its statement. Runa had continued performing shortly before her death.…