Category: News

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Nicki Minaj is setting the record straight when it comes to her drug use.

Fresh off the re-release of her Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape, the Queen went on Instagram Live Friday afternoon to discuss the “topic of the day,” her sniffling. On her IG Live the day before, viewers took notice of her runny nose and frequent sniffling, sending social media into a frenzy. There was speculation that she was sniffling because she was on drugs, specifically cocaine.

But Nicki put the rumors to rest. “You would know, if you’re a fan of mine, that all you gotta do if you wanna know my drug of choice or my drugs of choice, just listen to my music, chile, ’cause it’s all right there,” said Nicki, who continued to sniffle while getting her hair done.

“I wouldn’t be embarrassed about any fu**in’ drug I did, that’s why I talk about the motherfu**in’ drugs I do in my music, always have, always fu**in’ will,” she added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvQYZfg91nc

However, she made it clear that she has never used cocaine in her life. “I have never, ever in my life, with my hand to Jesus Christ…Never in my life, ever, not even once, sniffed coke—ever!” she said. “That’s just never been my drug of choice.”

She said that the sniffling comes from her ongoing allergies, which are sometimes triggered by wearing contacts. She also feels cold regularly because her “natural body temperature is just lower than the average person.”

She takes Allegra at least once a day to relieve her allergy symptoms. “This is me all day, runny sniffly all the time.”

She has friends who do coke, but she’s never done it personally. “I’ve never tried it, never wanted to, never asked them to—especially in the fashion world, that’s so common and normal.”

Nicki has shared her preference for pills on songs including “Pills N Potions” and “Miami,” on which she raps about Percs, Xannies, and Addies.

Later on, she revealed that she enjoys the smell of rubbing alcohol and bleach. “I love sniffing rubbing alcohol and I love sniffing bleach,” she admitted. “I started sniffing bleach a little bit when I was pregnant.”

On Friday, Minaj celebrated the 12th anniversary of her mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty by releasing it to streaming services for the first time featuring three new tracks including “Seeing Green” with Drake and Lil Wayne.

Governors Ball 2021 has announced the lineup for its much awaited music festival today. Billie Eilish, ASAP Rocky and Post Malone will headline the event which takes place at New York City from September 24th through 26th.

Apart from the three big names plus J Balvin, there are many other biggies playing the event including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, Young Thug, Burna Boy, Carly Rae Jepsen, 21 Savage, Ellie Goulding, Leon Bridges, 24kgoldn, Cordae, Future Islands, Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist, Princess Nokia, RMR and more.

Single-day tickets and three-day passes will go on sale on May 6th at 12 p.m. ET on the official Governors Ball website. Citi Cardmembers, like usual, will have access to a presale starting Tuesday, May 4th, at 9:30 a.m. ET through May 6th at 11:59 a.m. ET.

The festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and is moving from its usual Randalls Island location to the Citi Field complex in Queens as it will be accessible via multiple transportation options, including the MTA’s 7 train line, the LIRR, and limited parking for attendees who choose to drive to the event.

Due to continued Covid-19 safety concerns, Governors Ball organizers said in a statement that they will be working closely with New York City officials and follow all state and federal guidelines for the event.

Birdman is making millions off Cash Money’s masters.

During an interview with Wallo of “Where’s Wallo” (via Complex), the Cash Money Records boss revealed how much money he earns annually from Cash Money’s current and former roster of artists, which includes Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj.

“We license the music, I just started letting people sample my shit. So yeah, it’s a gang of ways you can make money with your masters,” Birdman said.

He went on to reveal that the figure is in the tens of millions. “We generate $20-30 million a year just on our masters,” added Birdman.

Cash Money has come under fire in the past from its own artists including Lil Wayne. In 2015, Weezy sued the label for $51 million. In 2018, they settled their legal dispute for an undisclosed amount. Tyga also filed a lawsuit in 2018 for millions in unpaid royalties.

Last year, Wayne sold his masters to Universal Music Group for a reported $100 million.

While he continues to make bank, Birdman is also giving back. Last May, amid the COVID-19 crisis, he and his brother, Cash Money co-founder Ronald “Slim” Williams, donated over $225,000 to help pay rent for hundreds of subsidized tenants and families in New Orleans.

The Weeknd will continue to boycott the Grammys.

Last week, the Recording Academy announced that it would eliminate the “secret” nominations review committees. Now the “Blinding Lights” singer has responded to the rule change. In a statement to Variety, he called the decision an “important start,” while doubling down on his previous comments.

“The trust has been broken for so long between the Grammy organization and artists that it would be unwise to raise a victory flag,” he said. “I think the industry and public alike need to see the transparent system truly at play for the win to be celebrated, but it’s an important start.”

However, The Weeknd will still withhold his music from consideration in the future. “I remain uninterested in being a part of the Grammys, especially with their own admission of corruption for all these decades. I will not be submitting in the future.”

His manager, Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, added, “No change comes without a voice heard. I’m just proud of Abel for standing up for what he believes in. I was in a shock when all this happened but now I see it clearly, and I’m glad we stood for our beliefs.”

In November, The Weeknd blasted the Grammys after being shut out of the 2021 nominations despite the success of his latest album, After Hours.

“The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…” he tweeted, while vowing to boycott the awards. “Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys,” he told The New York Times.

The “secret” committees have faced growing criticism in recent years. These anonymous expert committees were put in place to review the initial nomination choices from voting members and ultimately decide who makes the cut in 61 of the Grammys’ 84 categories.

“It’s been a year of unprecedented, transformational change for the Recording Academy, and I’m immensely proud to be able to continue our journey of growth with these latest updates to our awards process,” Harvey Mason Jr., the Academy’s interim president and CEO, said after the decision. “This is a new Academy, one that is driven to action and that has doubled down on the commitment to meeting the needs of the music community.”

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NLE Choppa is speaking out after a brawl at the beach.

Over the weekend, video surfaced of Choppa getting into a physical altercation with an unidentified man at Venice Beach in California. The man approaches Choppa and his crew on a bike before a verbal argument ensues. Choppa swings at him and the man swings back, landing a blow to his face. But the man was outnumbered by Choppa and his crew, who attack him, eventually knocking him to the floor before Choppa and friends walk away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4PfXqZqPD0

After the video went viral, the Memphis rapper took to Twitter on Monday to address the scuffle, which reportedly started after the man asked for a picture. When he said no, Choppa claimed that the man insulted him.

“Damn y’all never got hit in a fight before?” he tweeted. “bruh asked for picture I said no I’m enjoying my self and I get called scary and a bitch. I make sure I take pictures with every fan but some days I just be trying to chill and get disrespected in the process.”

He insists he didn’t want any problems, while defending himself against those who said he lost the fight. “And I eat punches ask bout me. Imma rush you take what you got to give and resume beating some. Honestly ain’t wanna fight I was just tryna walk the beach.”

In late March, Choppa was arrested on burglary, drugs, and weapon charges. After his release from jail on $4,500 bond, he claimed that he was framed. “During this arrest I was setup, substances were planted on me that I don’t consume/use/own, my name was lied upon, and I was even mistreated in the process,” he tweeted.

On Friday, Choppa released his new single “Final Warning” on which he takes aim at the police for trying to lock him up.