Tag: Memphis

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FM Sports Trending

Ja Morant Delights Memphis Kids With Exclusive JA 1 Nike Sneakers

JA 1 Nike Sneakers For Memphis Kids Exclusively By Ja Morant
Ja Morant. Image source: ESPN.

In an absolutely hoop-tastic twist of events, Ja Morant, from the Memphis Grizzlies, pulled off a slam-dunk surprise that left a bunch of young ballers in awe at a Nike-sponsored shindig right in the heart of the city.

A bunch of wide-eyed kids dribbled their basketballs, oblivious to the superstar storm brewing. And then, BOOM! In walks Ja Morant, soaring in like a hoops superstar, ready to make his mark all over the place. The kids’ faces lit up brighter than the stadium lights on game night.

But this event wasn’t just any regular basketball clinic; it was a full-fledged Morant Masterclass Extravaganza! He brought his A-game, teaching the kids the art of high-flying layups, crossovers that’d make your ankles scream for mercy, and maybe even a few pointers on how to touch the sky with those gravity-defying dunks.

The scene was like a basketball dream come to life, with Morant playing the role of the upstanding prince and these kids, the future kings and queens of the hardwood. And who knows, maybe one of those awestruck youngsters will become the next basketball sensation, thanks to the unexpected visit from Ja Morant.

“Believe in yourself,” Morant said in a video posted by Nike. “You know, have confidence in yourself. There’s going to be a lot of outside stuff that can distract you from your ultimate goal. Just stay locked in, tune it out, and stay true to yourself.”

 

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A post shared by Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball)

Ja 1s: The Golden Ticket To Sneaker Heaven

The young hoopsters hit the jackpot and struck gold when they were handed out pairs of “Ja 1s,” the legendary signature Nike shoes belonging to the dribbling sensation himself, Ja. It’s like winning the shoe lottery, except the prizes are snazzier than your wildest sneaker dreams!

However, here is the scoop that will make these kicks even more desirable than your mom’s lasagna: According to the ever-watchful Memphis Commercial Appeal, these fabulous Ja 1s come with an added dose of Ja Morant’s charisma. That’s right, they’re not just shoes; they’re fashion statements.

In addition, these sneakers are emblazoned with the bold and audacious phrase, “We Ain’t Ducking No Smoke.” The shoes are channeling their inner Morant, ready to take on the world with the kind of confidence that makes even the boldest fashionista blush.

But if you’re wondering where this catchphrase originated, let’s go down memory lane to February 2022. The Memphis Grizzlies star in all his glory, during a post-game interview, dropped this gem of a line: “Ain’t no running in the M. We climb up the chimney. We ain’t ducking no smoke.” Swagger! So again, if you step out in those Ja 1s, you’re not just wearing sneakers; you’re donning a piece of Morant’s fearless spirit and a dash of Memphis basketball history. Trust me, you’ll be turning heads on the court, at the mall, and maybe even in outer space!

Sneakerheads, Get Ready! Oct. 6th Brings Stylish Kicks At $130 – Time To Start Saving!

According to ClutchPoints, we’re in for a real treat on Oct. 6th. Some snazzy sneakers are about to drop, and they’ll set you back a cool $130. Word of advice: You might need to start budgeting for those shoes right now or start a sneaker-shaped piggy bank to save up!

Ja Morant will have time to break in those new kicks because he’s taking a bit of a timeout. He’s going to be chillin’ on the sidelines for the first 25 games of the upcoming NBA season. Why? It’s because Morant got himself into hot water with the league. In March, the basketball player got suspended for eight games because of a rather peculiar incident. During a late-night Instagram Live video at a Denver nightclub, Morant casually held a handgun. That’s not your typical late-night social media content, is it?

Fast forward to May 14th, and we’ve got another viral video on our hands. This time, our guy Morant is back, still holding a “firearm.” It’s like he’s auditioning for an action movie or something! So, while he’s waiting out his suspension, he might want to consider some other hobbies, like collecting sneakers and even taking up knitting. Who knows, it could be his next big thing!

Written by Nikiya Biggs | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

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FM Legal FM News

GloRilla Speaks Out After Fatal Concert

GloRilla‘s concert — featuring fellow Memphis rapper Finesse2tymes — in Rochester, New York reportedly resulted in a stampede that killed one person and left two critically injured.

glorilla twitter

Memphis rapper GloRilla. Image source: Twitter/GloTheofficial. 

Memphis rapper Finesse2tymes. Image source: SANTIAGO FELIPE/GETTY IMAGES.

Police Response To Gunshots At A Concert

The concert ended a little after 11 p.m. and officers responded based on initial reports of gunshots fired during the event.

This according to ABC News.

They concluded no injuries were consistent with gunshot wounds after an investigation took place.

According to officials, this was after the concert-goers thought they heard gunshots ring out.

The City of Rochester’s Police Chief David M. Smith said on Monday, “we do not have any evidence of gunshots being fired or of anyone being shot or stabbed at the scene.”

The concert took place at Main Street Armory, which has a capacity of 5,000, on the night of Sunday March 5.

GloRilla Speaks Out After The Tragedy

GloRilla speaks out after the tragic event.

The Tennessee rapper went to Twitter Monday morning at 12:11 a.m. saying, “I’m just now hearing about what happened wtf praying everybody is ok.”

The tweet including sad face emojis and prayer hand emojis.

Results Of The Concert Stampede

Police found three women with critical injuries.

A woman in her early thirties died died at the hospital. The other two women were in critical life-threatening condition Monday, police said.

Six victims injured were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

This is a developing story.

Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld Festival

This sadly is not the first time a stampede has taken place at a popular artist’s concert.

The most memorable recent incident took place in Houston, Texas at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival on November 5, 2021. The fatal crowd crush killed ten people and hundreds of other concert-goers were injured.

A lot of celebrities now, including Drake and SZA, have been more aware of what is going on in the audience as they perform.

Written by Vhannah | YouTube | Instagram

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FM Culture Trending

Gangsta Boo Dead at 43, Believed to be Drug Overdose

Gangsta Boo
via Getty Images

   Memphis legend Gangsta Boo tragically died on Sunday (Jan 1) just after celebrating New Years’ Eve in her hometown.

A Stunning Update

Gangsta Boo, real name Lola Mitchell, was a standout member of Three 6 Mafia and a pioneer in female rap. The 43-year-old was found dead on her front porch around 4 pm, Jan 1. Sources close to Gangsta Boo personally are now claiming the cause of death to be drug-related.

An update from TMZ yesterday is only adding to the talk of an overdose. According to their report, Mitchell was attending a NYE concert with her brother the previous night. At some point, the man overdosed and was rushed to the hospital. Luckily her sibling recovered, but the same can’t be said for Gangsta Boo. It appears the New Years’ celebration continued at Boo’s home, where she eventually suffered from some kind of medical emergency.

Sources in contact with TMZ insist that narcotics were found on her upon police arrival. In addition to this, fentanyl is believed to be a factor in her sudden passing. Nonetheless, an official autopsy has yet to be conducted or released at this time.

Showing Respect to Gangsta Boo

The ‘Throw It Up’ artist was confirmed dead by her friend and former labelmate DJ Paul on Instagram. The Three 6 Mafia alumni posted a captionless photo of Boo with an outpouring of rap industry icons showing love in the comments. Rap heavyweights like Ludacris, Lil Jon, Big Boi, and Paul Wall left their condolences for one of the brightest stars to come out of Memphis.

Gangsta Boo is primarily known for being one of the only female members of Three 6 Mafia. The group emerged during a time when female rappers were already few and far in between. Despite this,  she always held her own off and on the track.

Gangsta Boo, along with DJ Paul, Juicy J, La Chat, Project Pat, Crunchy Black, and several others, formed Three 6 Mafia in the early ’90s and quickly began gaining notoriety throughout the south with their debut album Mystic Stylez. Overnight this turned to national acclaim with the group’s breakout hit ‘Tear Da Club Up’ and ‘Late Night Tip’. All of this culminated in a groundbreaking achievement in 2006 when Three 6 Mafia became the first hip-hop group to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song with ‘It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp’. That record, and the hit movie Hustle n Flow from which it originated, helped bring the group into a huge spotlight.

An Artist All Her Own

Of course, Gangsta Boo’s legacy extends outside of Three 6 Mafia. Before leaving the group in the early 2000s, her solo music had already gained praise and respect from her peers. Namely, ‘Where Dem Dollas at’, ‘Love Don’t Live’, and ‘Nasty Trick’ effectively made Boo one to watch out for amongst her male peers. She continued to drop albums throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, including Enquiring Minds Il – The Soap Opera, 4 da Hood, Witch, and Underground Cassette Tape Music, Vol. 1 and 2. During all this, Boo racked up countless features with rap’s biggest names like Outkast, TI, and Gucci Mane. Most often, she would collaborate with Killer Mike of Run The Jewels and close friend La Chat.

Gangsta Boo never stopped making music, right up until her death. Just last year she collaborated with Glorilla and Latto on ‘FTCU’ and perfectly matched both the southern hitmakers’ energy. And that’s no coincidence. The confidence, boldness, and rough flow coined by Gangsta Boo and other Memphis rappers in the 90s served as a massive inspiration for the female artists that followed. With so many successful female MCs recently coming from down south, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Glorilla, and Flo Milli just to name a few, it’s safe to say Gangsta Boos’s legacy will always carry on.

Not to mention remaining members of Three 6 Mafia like La Chat, Juicy J and DJ Paul using social media to carry a torch for their late friend. Support and give condolences below.

Dreema Carrington

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How Glorilla Rose To The Top

glorilla
Still from GloRilla’s “Blessed” video, directed by LOUIEKNOWS.

In a matter of months Memphis-born Glorilla has snagged a record deal, a major feature, and now a Grammy nomination.

Starting Small

It all started with one beat from Tennessee producer Hitkidd. The producer initially reached out to Glo after seeing her at a city showcase the previous year. The beat, which was originally meant for Megan Thee Stallion, eventually ended up in a 23 year old Glorilla’s lap. From there, all it took was a makeshift video, a powerhouse hook, and a set of friends and the rest is history.

‘FNF (Lets Go)’ was a hit before it was even unveiled to the world. Glo, born Gloria Woods, posted a snippet of the chorus to Triller to test the waters. This is a common practice for artists in this social media age. Instantly, the song went viral in her hometown. Once the video dropped days later, the local tune rapidly transformed into a national anthem. Little did Glorilla know this was the jumpstart to her promising career.

“I’m F-R-E-E, fuck nigga free / That mean I ain’t gotta worry ’bout no fuck nigga cheating / And I’m S-I-N-G-L-E again / Outside hanging out the window with my ratchet-ass friends.”

With the music video for ‘FNF’ now comfortably sitting at 49 million YouTube views, it’s a bonafide hit. “You know faith without works is dead but you’ve still gotta manifest, but then they’ve still gotta pray. Gods gonna be the reason for everything.” She told Wunni Bella in a sit down interview last week.

What Makes Glorilla Special

The appeal of ‘FNF’ and Glorilla as an artist is the relatability. The track exudes the excitement of a group of friends bunched in front of a mirror, getting ready for a night out. It’s clear to see female unity is currently a massive theme in the music industry. From Megan and Cardi’s ‘WAP’ to Megs other hit with Dua Lipa ‘Sweetest Pie’, women teaming up to assert themselves on a track is clearly Billboard gold. Glorilla understands that and makes it a point to uplift her team with her. With Glorilla and her friends/fellow artists K Carbon, Gloss Up, Slimeroni, and Aleza, it’s an instant feeling of approachability. In a music scene often overwhelmed by heartbreak ballads and teary confessions by female artists, a song simply brushing off a unfaithful man is more than refreshing. It’s necessary.

In July, Glorilla was signed to Yo Gotti’s label CMG. ‘FNF’ was the initial spark, but getting a label to back her financially set the young artist on a whole new course.

Glorilla continued to run with the authentic girl power motif with the ‘FNF’ remix featuring JT and Latto in September. This received immediate warm feedback on TikTok where it became a viral sound. Practically overnight, Glorilla had all eyes in the rap industry on her. Luckily with the help of one Bronx MC, her star would start shining even brighter. ‘Tomorrow 2’ marked the Southern rappers first entry into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 9. This is a stunning feat for an artist just months into her career.

Thats Why I Love Tomorrow

‘Tomorrow 2’ was released late September and features Cardi B. One powerful quality Glorilla has is the ability to captivate an audience with her vocal presence. After combining this quality with one of Cardi’s hardest verses of her career and both their natural charisma, it’s no wonder ‘Tomorrow 2’ became a quick classic. If you’re active on social media chances are you’ve already seen a room full of people at the club screaming the words bar for bar like it’s been studied. It’s a rare case when a song doesn’t have to grow on the general public. With ‘Tomorrow 2’, the people simply knew a hit when they heard one.

Glorilla’s new EP ‘Anyways Life’s Great…’ dropped just last week featuring all her hits like ‘FNF (Lets Go)’, ‘Tomorrow 2’, ‘Blessed’, and a recent track ‘Nut Quick’.  The project is already gunning for a top 10 debut on the U.S albums chart with over 30k units sold first week. Clearly Glo’s success with singles translates into her full length projects as well.

Glorilla at The Grammys

All of this was topped off yesterday with an exciting announcement from the Grammy awards committee. Glorilla has been nominated for her first Grammy award for best rap performance alongside Latto, Doja Cat, and DJ Khaled. Upon learning of her nomination, fans and fellow artists showed out with avid support.

https://twitter.com/femalerapgamee/status/1592583105344589824?s=46&t=ZZ5TkVzNn4sGbsYG3yL3hA

In the span of less than a year,  Glorilla has conquered the music world. For all the naysayers claiming she was a flash in the pan, they’ll have to tune in Feburary 2023 to see her on the red carpet.

Written By: Dreema Carrington

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FM News Trending

Glorilla Continues To Get Attacked For Her Looks

Kodak Black Glorilla IG Comments Appear
Glorilla in the "FNF" music video. Image source: TIDAL.

“FNF” has gone absolutely viral in record time, and the star of the show, Glorilla, is relishing in the newfound attention. The 23-year-old has gone from a local Tennessee celebrity to a nationally known CMG Records signee. “FNF” was the big hit, and Glorilla’s clever and assertive bars and a fun-loving and tomboyish nature garnered her all the love. Of course, anytime an artist, particularly a female artist, gets big, it’s only a matter of time before their looks are out on the chopping block.

Glorilla Loves Herself

Last week (Aug 29), Glorilla posted a pointed message on Instagram stories about her looks. “This my last time addressing this,” she began. “You mfs better get use to this slim body, green pretty ass eyes and big beautiful nose of mine.” 

Glorilla finished the post by confirming she doesn’t want to alter her appearance, “cause ain’t a damn thing gone change hall can hate y’all self all ya want but I luv me some BIG GLO.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

The rant followed a barrage of viral social media jabs at the young rapper. Common points of criticism seem to be her slim body type and nose. This wouldn’t be the first time Glorilla has had to fight back against cosmetic surgery suggestions. In July, the “Blessed” artist responded to comments asking when she plans to get a BBL. It appears she’s steadfast in her refusal.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

Fortunately, fans were quick to swoop in for Glorilla this past week. One viral tweet comparing Glo to a Toyota vehicle was met with massive pushback. “It’s sad the hate she get for her Afrocentric features especially from other women smh,” one person wrote. “As a black woman, this is pathetic af,” another commented.

https://twitter.com/fatalessence_/status/1565373238909321217?s=21&t=E_Nvzy7QDLK5FUtkCrVazQ

https://twitter.com/siekyx/status/1565357999727775744?s=21&t=E_Nvzy7QDLK5FUtkCrVazQ

https://twitter.com/natibynaturee/status/1565465233405132805?s=21&t=E_Nvzy7QDLK5FUtkCrVazQ

This quickly snowballed into one viral tweet condemning online bullying. Thankfully, this has attracted twice the engagement as its evil counterpart. Online trolls are the bane of any celeb’s existence, but clearly, Glorilla has a robust support system around her.

Turning Tables

This situation comes in the wake of Lizzo’s recent drama. Similarly to Glorilla, Lizzo is an artist constantly picked on for her looks. Namely, her body shape is a common point of discussion with the “Rumors” singer. When comedian Aries Spears critiqued Lizzo’s weight last week, calling her a “plate of mashed potatoes,” the decrying was swift and aggressive. Within hours the MADtv alum faced criticism for his needlessly hurtful words and apparent hypocrisy. Even other comedians jumped in the fray, with Mike Epps giving comments of his own and eventually challenging Spears to a boxing match.

This also marks a turning point in the music industry, where physical perfection is typically expected from female artists. Fans and the hit makers are taking a stand against conventional beauty standards and not bending to the pressures of the status quo. For Glorilla, her confidence is absolutely profoundly resonating with listeners.

Written By Dreema Carrington

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FM News Trending

Young Dolphs Family Celebrates First Birthday Since his Passing, Drops new Song

Young Doplh's Girlfriend Celebrates Artist's Birthday
Young Dolph. Image souce: Getty/Paras Griffin.

Rapper, icon, and family man Young Dolph has an impressive legacy that hasn’t stopped building yet.

Dolph Never Forgotten

Young Dolph’s longtime girlfriend and mother of his kids’ Mia Jaye, wished him a happy birthday this past week. She posted an intimate moment between the two this Wednesday (Jul 27). “Happy heavenly birthday my love,” Jaye typed.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mia Jaye (@iammiajaye)

Paying respects with rap

In addition to the loving tribute, new music came out to honor the late artist. “Hall of Fame” premiered on YouTube Wednesday and has already gained over 200k views. The Bandplay-produced track contains all the elements that first launched Dolph to fame. Bandplay had a particularly close personal and professional relationship with the “100 shots” rapper.

He produced perhaps Dolph’s biggest hit, “Major,” which soared to 5.9 million streams after his untimely passing. Moreover, Bandplay signed to Dolph’s label Paper Route Empire in 2019. The record label mainly houses Memphis talents like Paper Route Woo and a rising star Key Glock. “Hall of Fame” is honestly the perfect title for this respected community member.

Take a listen for yourself below:

Young Dolph was tragically shot and killed last November while visiting his hometown. At the top of this year, two suspects went under arrest for the artist’s murder. In a strange twist, one of the suspects, Justin Johnson, was recently sentenced to two years while still awaiting a trial for the shooting. The 23-year-old also violated the terms of a supervised release related to a previous weapons charge. 

Johnson pled guilty to missing drug screenings, leaving the district without permission, and several other violations. The alleged gunman already had a checkered past with the law before the fatal shooting.

Despite the unusual circumstances, someone is behind the bars for now. Still, Young Dolph’s girlfriend, children, friends, and fans are seeking some much-deserved justice.

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Written by Dreema Carrington

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Yo Gotti Signs R&B Artist Lehla Samia To CMG Label

Yo GOtti
Yo Gotti signs first female artist to his CMG label. Image: Shareif Ziyadat/WireImage

Yo Gotti just added his first female artist, Lehla Samia, to CMG’s roster.  The 22 year old vocalist is widely known for her amazing sound.  Gotti announced her signing by gifting her a pink Lamborghini Urus!  Lehla has been very popular over social media with over 1 million followers on TikTok and 263,000 followers on Instagram.  Gotti also recently  signed Jacksonville rapper, Lil Poppa to his label.  They both join Moneybagg Yo, EST Gee, Mozzy, 42 Dugg, & Blac Youngsta on the CMG roster.

CMG Celebrations

Yo Gotti likes to celebrate the signing of his artist.  After signing Lil Poppa, they instantly made a song together, titled “H Spot”. Now they just dropped the video for it!  In the video, Lil Poppa and Yo Gotti roll through Jacksonville, Florida showcasing the city.  Just like Lehla Samia, Lil Poppa is also 22 years old. His last project, “Blessed”, came out last year with favorable reviews.   Lil Poppa has already collaborated with Polo G, Toosii, and Lil Durk.

CMG Management

These two artist signings must be a part of Gotti’s other plans to develop his CMG label.  He recently launched his management division and said he wanted to focus on managing artists.

“Long story short, I came up with a new idea-I came up with a new hustle- Form now on, I’m finna start managing artists.  I want to start with two or three artists and I’m trying to get muthafuckas on the Grammys”, said Yo Gotti on Instagram.

He created an Instagram page for CMG Management, and it instantly reached 10,000 followers.  Gotti is encouraging artists to DM the account to showcase their talent.

Gotti Moves Through Memphis

He was spotted courtside at Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors.  The Grizzlies have home court advantage and Gotti had to support his city as he sat next to star point guard Ja Morant’s dad and his artist MoneyBagg Yo.  After the game, Moneybagg Yo closed out the Beale Street Music Festival and during his 45-minute set, he brought out Yo Gotti to perform.  He doesn’t miss a chance to show love to his city.

Written by: Brandon Simmons

 

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“Moneybagg Joe” Resurfaces After MoneyBagg Yo And Yo Gotti Was At The White House

Moneybagg Yo, Yo Gotti

Moneybagg Yo and Yo Gotti were both spotted at The White House.  Both were apparently there for President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s first Easter Egg Roll as Moneybagg had his children with him.  This is the first event since COVID-19 with over 20,000 people in attendance.  You may have thought Yo Gotti was there because he has been working with lawmakers in regard to criminal justice and prison reform.  But if you are curious of Moneybagg Yo’s involvement, we’re not too sure.  We can only think of one instance where his and the President’s name have come up.

Moneybagg Joe

President Biden and Moneybagg Yo have a little bit of history.  When President Biden approved the stimulus plan to help out the country during the pandemic, Twitter decided his new name is Moneybagg Joe.  Fans ran with it and ultimately made one of the best memes ever.  So many different variations, mainly with a picture of Joe smiling dripping in jewelry with a whole lot of money.  The hashtag #MoneybaggJoe was a long trend as you can still find many threads on Twitter.

Moneybagg Joe | Know Your Meme
#MoneybaggJoe Meme. Photo: MemeCreator

Other rappers to visit the White House are Chance the Rapper, Ludacris, J.Cole, Nicki Minaj, and Common. This group in 2016, met with President Barack Obama in regard to justice reform and the My Brother’s Keeper movement.  Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Lil Baby, and of course Kanye West have visited The White House as well.

Moneybagg Making His Moves

Moneybagg Yo is busy!  After this, he went to Miami and performed with Lil Durk on his 7220 tour.  Durk brought Moneybagg out as he performed his hit “Time Today”.  He also joined Durk onstage along with the other guests such as DJ Khaled while Durk wrapped up his set to end the concert.

As it is NBA playoff season, and Moneybagg Yo’s hometown team, Memphis Grizzlies are the number 2 seed in the Western Conference.  They fought hard in a Game 1 Loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but after the game Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant had something to smile about.

Moneybagg Yo told Ja he was going to give him a Bread Gang chain and he kept his word.  In Memphis at the FedExForum, he handed Ja the Diamond Bread Gang pendant right on the hardwood.  Moneybagg Yo didn’t care that they lost, he still feels Ja is a winner as he said, “…either way it go he a champ to me he been putting on for our city regardless”.

WRITTEN BY: Brandon Simmons

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FM Education

NLE Choppa Teams Up With Local And State Leaders For An Event For Adolescents In Memphis

NLE Choppa, town hall
Image Source: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

On Saturday afternoon, Memphis rapper NLE Choppa headlined a town hall at a downtown church to give the city’s youth a chance to voice their thoughts on improving the city.

“Speaking Up with NLE Choppa”

Black Men Crowned held the “Speak Up with NLE Choppa” town hall at the Light of Glory International Church, located at 225 Exchange Avenue in downtown Memphis. Furthermore, about 100 people attended the event, which lasted almost three hours. Most of the attendees were middle school and high school students from Memphis.

“When you speak on the youth, I feel like I’m part of it myself, I’m 19 years old,” said Choppa, also known as Bryson Potts. “I ain’t even reach 21 yet. When you speak on the youth, it’s the future. A few years from now, they’re gonna be the adults.”

NLE Choppa joins leaders for a town hall event dedicated to Memphis youth. Credit: WATN

 

Credit: WATN

Participants discussed key issues such as communication between youth and older generations, crime rates in Memphis, and mental health. At Saturday’s event, Choppa and Black Men Crowned aimed to uplift and encourage the youth present.

Additionally, nine other panelists participated in the town hall. The participants included were state senator London Lamar (D-Memphis), Choppa’s manager Angeleta Potts, and two Memphis students. Educators and parents interested in attending the limited seating event registered their students ages 12-18 in advance.

What is ‘Black Men Crowned’?

Furthermore, founded in 2021, Black Men Crowned is a nonprofit organization “devoted to honoring, celebrating, and empowering Black Men in the City of Memphis while uniquely designing a space to mold our youth into becoming productive citizens in their communities.”

In the view of Black Men Crowned, Saturday’s town hall marked the beginning of a conversation about these issues. Thus, these issues won’t change overnight or any time soon.

“It’s gonna take time, it’s gonna take a lot of work,” said Black Men Crowned CEO Justin Hart. “But I truly believe that this town hall is the first step in the right direction in creating a positive image that we want to see.”

Moreover, students from Memphis discussed some of their struggles and areas where they would like to see future changes. Also, other points included is more space for youth activities, coping with peer pressure, and communicating better with their household members.

Choppa, who has a young daughter, said a parent-child friendship could help improve the dynamic between the two. According to him, most youth tell their friends things that they don’t usually say to their parents. Overall, Eddie Jones, Shelby County Commissioner, presented Choppa with a proclamation honoring him for his contributions to the community.

Written by Nikiya Biggs

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Key Glock Considers Going To Acting School Instead Of Doing Music

Key Glock
Source: Getty

Memphis rapper, Key Glock, has been considering a career change inciting music just isn’t the same anymore for him. 

He tweeted out this sentiment on Thursday, Mar. 3, saying that he would go to acting school instead of rapping.

“finna go to acting school.. doing music don’t hit da same for me anymore,” he said.

Glock has reportedly been heavily impacted by his cousin Young Dolph‘s death, so fans speculate that is the reason for his pending decision. 

Glock’s fans encourage him to keep making music

His followers responded to his post, saying that they don’t want their favorite artist to give up. 

“N***a you got the game from Dolph, you the youngest of the empire and heir to the throne better keep going up the ladder,” said @ILuvTheFame.

“Nah… you’re too talented to stop music. It’s in your blood. PRE needs your sound. Dolph still lives through you. Make acting a side hustle. But supporting all moves you make regardless,” @Chris_Goral_ said.

“It can be depressing seeing as that you did a lot of music with your brother and was inspired by him! Take all the time you need to heal.. step away if need be but don’t give up completely on it. You’re talented asf,” @thebiggestdonp wrote. 

Young Dolph was a rapper to the public but a cousin to Glock

Dolph was tragically shot and killed in his hometown as he was exiting a popular local shop called Makeda’s Cookies. Fans were completely shocked and sent a flood of condolences to Glock, and Dolph’s wife and children. Celebrities also chimed in with their thoughts on the late rapper’s passing, and fellow rappers even created musical tributes. 

Not only was Dolph related to Glock, but he also signed him to Paper Route Empire label in 2017. From there, he released a ton of songs like “Mr. Glock” and “Mister Glock 2.” The pair collaborated to drop their joint mixtapes Dum & Dummer one and two, which hit no. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Most recently, the 24-year-old musician dropped an emotional record titled “Long Ling Dolph” as a tribute to his slain cousin. Its accompanying video includes a compilation of video clips of him, Dolph, and Dolph’s memorial in Memphis. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, he announced that he will be going on his first solo tour, The Yellow Tape Tour.

Written by Amber Alexander

Twitter: Ambernofetari