Tag: SuperBowl

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FM Sports FM Spotlight

Usher Baby! 5 Friends We’d Love To See During Superbowl Halftime Show!

The entire country will be watching as Usher Raymond, the Millennial R&B King and sometimes pop sensation, takes the stage for his performance at the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show!

Usher Raymond by Bellamy Brewster
Usher Raymond photographed by Bellamy Brewster

https://youtu.be/QcRLTbQxgcI?si=m-5EJSnw-WMGf5WS

The highly decorated artist is no stranger to being in the winners circle as his career began as a child who would rise to stardom winning multiple Kids Choice and Teen Choice Awards. Continuing onward throughout his career to winning multiple AMA Awards, ASCAP’s & BMI’s, BET Awards, BBMAs, Soul Train Awards, NAACP Image Awards, VMAs, and of course GRAMMYs! Brother even has an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee University! Usher is thee MAN!

Doctor Usher Raymond Berklee
Usher received the 2023 honorary doctorate degree from Berklee University

 

LET’S GET TO THIS LIST OF SPECIAL GUESTS WE NEED TO SEE:
Needless to say, “Lovers and Friends” is a tune that we all should be grooving to in two Sunday’s time as it’s also made famous by sharing the name with the title of Usher’s reoccurring tour. Now go tell your lovers and friends that Usher, John (Lil John) and Luda (Ludacris) need to do it again!

Not to mention other Lil John collaborative hits such as “Yeah”. Ummm… yeah. We’re going to have to request Usher reminds the world of that timeless musical era with the EastSide Boyz. While we are on the topic of Lil John tracks:

https://youtu.be/GxBSyx85Kp8?si=sSXHy685cT2kpU19

Remixes often surpass popularity of original tracks and in my case, “Make Love In This Club ” the Beyoncé version (sorry Jeezy) would be iconic.

https://youtu.be/kqZPP8ffvzg?si=HO9AVytVR7eIPFz-

Then imagine if they went from that record to their dance break from Ushers 2004 tour when Beyonce popped out the floor and performed “Bad Girl” with full choreography. Oh, and “Naughty Girl” video when Usher made a choreography appearance. Hawt!!!

https://youtu.be/zVfHbXLCmh0?si=GRGmVn8Xk_dzvdnn

It would almost be blasphemy for super producer Jermaine Dupree and the SoSo Def family to not make an appearance at some point during the show. There’s way too many reasons but here’s a share of a few links leading you to the rabbit hole, but it’s totally up to you to go down.

https://youtu.be/DIpQ4AZSAf8?si=KRVXlxcnTDzwNmM6

https://youtu.be/cMU3j9FZaZM?si=zEnscbKsjY2ZqW1t

OMG! When we said some times pop sensation we meant it! How could the world forget the WILL.I.AM record that had the entire globe going “Oh My God”. This would make the perfect close to a predictably memorable show on an extremely high note.

https://youtu.be/1RnPB76mjxI?si=q1TE6W8noAWfzljo

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FM Legal Trending

Cardi B Gets Second Chance At Completing Community Service

Cardi B Community Service Still To Complete
Cardi B in court. Image source: Adam Gray-Pool, Getty.

Cardi B now has a second chance to complete her community service. According to TMZ, the judge gave Cardi until Mar 1 to complete her sentence, which includes 15 days of community service.

A District Attorney also told the news outlet that the female rapper was to have her community service hours done by Jan 17 but has yet to complete any of them.

The Plea Deal

Cardi B’s community service is part of a plea deal. The “Shake It” artist pleaded guilty to a 3rd-degree assault charge with reckless endangerment. She allegedly got her posse together to attack two strip club bartenders, Jade and Baddie Gi, in 2018. Both bartenders got severe injuries, with chairs and bottles thrown at them. This led them both to file a formal investigation. Jade later claimed that Cardi’s been threatening her for months. Jade was allegedly sleeping with Cardi’s husband, Offset. With the incident happening over five years ago, Cardi and Offset have continued showing their love.

Cardi B And Offset Stronger Than Ever

Cardi recently sat down with Jason Lee on his podcast show, where she opened up about her and Offset’s love. After initially filing for divorce in 2020, the Grammy winner spoke about Offset’s full-scale change. “The main thing that I wanted him to stop and everything, he stopped, and he changed, and it showed me that he wanted to change for me.” 

In the same interview, Cardi also speaks about how she and Offset discovered the tragic news of Takeoff’s death. She notes that Offset received numerous phone calls and was screaming, shouting, and throwing things. “I smacked him, and I said, ‘Don’t say that. Like, don’t say that!’ And then he [was] just screaming and just throwing things, throwing up, running all over, and I was so scared,” she said. “I was just crying so much. It was terrible.”

Written by Roy Lott | Muck Rack

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FM News Trending Updates

‘Still D.R.E’ Gains 1B Views On YouTube

One week after the legendary Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, Dre’s 2001 single “Still D.R.E” gained over a billion views on YouTube. 

Among 84 million people watching the Super Bowl, many enjoyed the halftime performance and sang along, including Jay-Z, spotted in the arena. Come to find out, Jay-Z appeared on Lebron James HBO series The Shop in 2021, sharing how he wrote “Still D.R.E” for both Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. 

“In order for me to really nail the essence of Dre and Snoop had to be like a studied reverence of what they were doing. Even to put myself in their shoes. Cause think about that record. That record comes after Dre leaves Death Row ‘How? My last album was The Chronic.”

Jay-Z has a long history of being a phenomenal songwriter. In addition, he is a featured author on “Pop Style” by Drake, “The Worst” by Jhene Aiko, and many more artists such as his wife Beyonce, Kanye West, and Diddy. The record executive wears many hats, and songwriting is one of his most favorable.

In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Snoop Dogg shares the story of hearing “Still D.R.E” for the first time. He explains Jay-Z’s love and admiration for Dre and how it contributes to creating a masterpiece. Jay-Z constructs the entire song, telling each artist when to punch in and out as well. “It was flawless,” Snoop shares. “Me and d.o.c were like well this [man] out struck us on this one so we gone take the backseat. It was “Still Dre” and it was Jay-Z and he wrote the whole song.”

Jay-Z wrote the song intending to showcase Dr.Dre’s accomplishments and relevance to the music industry since he had just left Death Row Records at the time. Today, his lifetime friend Snoop Dogg is the owner of their former label, Death Row Records. However, despite being estranged from the label for over 20 years, Dre is still on top of his game. When he and Snoop performed the “Still D.R.E” at the 2022 halftime show, Dre reminded the world once again of who he is. One billion views on YouTube equates to an average of $7,560,000. Not to mention the couple of million he generated from his performance. 

Dr. Dre is still getting money, producing, and putting on notable artists like Kendrick Lamar and Anderson.Paak. Jay-Z could not have done a better job telling his story in “Still D.R.E”. 

“That’s an author,” Snoop states. “That’s a great author to me. Like he wrote a book with that song right there. That’s of Dr. Dre’s best records.”

FM Hip Hop Story by Mina Fuqua

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FM News Trending

Eminem Receives Message From Former NY Mayor After Halftime Show “Go To Another Country”

Eminem Rudy Giuliani Saga Starts After Halftime Show
Image Source: Getty Images

Former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani thinks Eminem should go to another country after he kneeled during the Super Bowl Halftime show. The topic of Eminem doing the act is being heavily discussed on the internet since the famous sports event. It shows where he stands politically & that he supports the Colin Kaepernick fight.

Rudy Giuliani is sharing an opinion on Eminem, that many other people have as well. This includes both current & former fans of Eminem, as he’s been more vocal on social issues in the recent years of his career. Check out the full clip below:

Rudy Giuliani’s Negative Takes On Halftime Show

Since Rudy Giuliani thinks Eminem should go to another country, let’s take a look at why he’s saying this. He is directly quoted saying, “Why doesn’t he go to another country? I mean, go take a knee someplace else. You know how many cops were defending him and protecting him at that game yesterday? I mean crime is way out of control in Los Angeles.”

Rudy Giuliani is basically on the stance of supporting/protecting the police, and that Black Lives Matter supports the murder of police. “The simple reality is the NFL has made a mockery of law enforcement, particularly with its support for the cop-killing Black Lives Matter.”

Now, while everyone is entitled to an opinion, it’s ridiculous to make wild claims such as BLM being a movement that kills police. Where do you stand in this situation? Do you think Eminem’s kneeling is justified & helpful? Or do you believe Rudy Giuliani is right about the Halftime show? Read more of FM Hip-Hop’s featured articles today.

 

Written by: Oryah Brown | Instagram: @oryah.wav

 

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FM Sports

Ice-T Warns Rappers of Potential West Coast Dangers

Ice-T share's opinion on Mike Tyson's recent plane Incident
Ice-T warns new rappers of Mike Tyson & LA OG's. Image source: Mega.

Rapper Ice-T has a message for rappers who may be heading to the West Coast for this year’s Super Bowl. The rapper is a long-time resident of Los Angeles. He has been outspoken on an array of issues affecting residents of the city. In the past, he’s talked about police brutality and protests. These issues have a complicated history in L.A., but the focus this time is on gang violence. It was no surprise when he took to Twitter  Saturday to express his concerns. Ice-T claims there are over 50 thousand active gang members in L.A. With the deaths of  rappers like Nipsey Hussle and most recently, Drakeo The Ruler, there is a sufficient reason to worry.  

Recent Gang Activity and Danger in Los Angeles

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the city has seen an increase in theft. Motor theft increased by nearly 14%.  Also, officer-involved shootings rose 142.8% and homicides rose 38.8% in 2021. A significant number of homicides had to do with homelessness and the lack of mental health resources. However, gang activity is behind a lot of the homicides. According to LAPD crime statistics, the surge in murders started after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Murders are the highest they’ve been in a decade.

Earlier this year, officers arrested seven suspected gang members for a series of deaths and attempted murders. Two suspects are still on the run. Though this incident is upsetting on its own, it is just one of many incidents sparking alarm in the area. Ice-T himself, who has had past ties to gang activity, was right to warn followers. This is an issue outside the city as well.

Los Angeles isn’t the only major city experiencing a spike in crime. However, it’s important to highlight the city this weekend because of the influx of out-of-town visitors. In order to help combat potential issues, places like Santa Monica prepared safety guidelines ahead of time. The goal is to keep those who might visit, safe. No major threats are on the horizon. Law enforcement will increase surveillance to air on the side of caution. They can’t see everything, so Ice-T’s post is a warning to keeping up with personal safety.

Written by Kimberly Stelley

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2 Chainz Opens L.A. Dispensary Super Bowl Sunday

Rapper and entrepreneur 2 Chainz set to open a marijuana dispensary called Pineapple Express in L.A. on Super Bowl Sunday Feb.12. The move is on-brand for the Dope Don’t Sell Itself rapper who dared Snoop Dogg, another famous toker and marijuana businessman, to blaze on stage at Super Bowl LVI telling TMZ, “it would be legendary.” 2 Chainz, formerly known as Tity Boi, joins a legion of rappers who have formally invested in the marijuana market as more states legalize medical and recreational use.

The “trappa turnt rappa”, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, stays vocal about the role cannabis has played in his life.

“All I’ve ever known since I touched down on this Earth was drugs or drug dealing,” 2 Chainz said to Matt Barnes in an interview for a YouTube web series called, Same Energy. “I stay true to myself.”

2 Chainz advocates for marijuana legalization

He also advocated for marijuana legalization in an interview with Nancy Grace in 2015. Later, he founded premium marijuana brand, Gas Cannabis Co., in 2018—the same year California legalized recreational use. He has since aligned himself with brands such as Vice, High Times and Green Street Agency. 2 Chainz monetization of his love for cannabis is arguably legendary as well.

2 Chainz affirms that whatever path he chose would lead to success because he always believed he would be great.

“I surrounded myself with great people and I always thought it could happen for me too,” he said. “You take God given talent plus work ethic then you combine them and you get people like Lil’ Wayne, Kobe, Jordan. That’s what I aim for.”

The flagship Pineapple Express Dispensary is located on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. It monumentalizes the transition from dark disenfranchisement to wealth and financial freedom—making a bold statement. FM Hip Hop is watching to see if Snoop will blaze to that.

J.J. Braden

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FM News Trending

Andre 3000 & Zendaya Collab For Squarespace’s Superbowl Commercial

Image Source: HBO series 'Euphoria'
Image Source: HBO series 'Euphoria'

The Super Bowl ads are rolling in now that the monumental event is only a few days away. Legendary Atlanta rapper Andre 3000 narrates Squarespace’s new Superbowl ad, also featuring beloved actress Zendaya.

The former Disney actress is on a roll right now. This “Sally’s Seashells” commercial adds to her other successful ventures, such as Marvel’s blockbuster film Spider-Man: No Way Home and the trendy HBO series Euphoria.

On the other hand, Andre 3000 is known for being very private and reserved compared to other celebrities. It’s also nice seeing him branch out and work with one of the newer generation’s biggest icons. Check out the commercial yourself below:

Fan Reactions To Andre 3000 & Zendaya’s Squarespace Superbowl Ad

It’s been a pretty pleasant surprise to hear that Andre 3000 is narrating Squarespace’s new commercial. When you get the massive fanbases of both Outkast and Zendaya together, it’s a guarantee that there’ll be tons of reactions. Also, let’s look at some of these reactions found on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Moni_artist/status/1491790230390591493?s=20&t=tK2aHtWHdOPayd1qpv4rPQ

A Very Hip-Hop Superbowl LVI

Andre 3000 & Zendaya Collab For Squarespace's Superbowl Commercial
Image Source: NFL

In addition to the news that Andre 3000 is narrating Squarespace’s new commercial, there are tons of Hip-Hop artists for this year’s halftime show. The stage will also consist of Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and also Snoop Dogg. These acts are legends already, so it’ll be exciting to see how the chemistry appears on stage. Who do you think will have the best performance? 

Are you excited about the upcoming performance? Will you be watching?

Read more of FM Hip-Hop’s featured articles today.

 

Written by: Oryah Brown | Instagram: @oryah.wav

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New Music

Warren G To Drop New Single “Life Is Beautiful”, Announces EP “On The Way”

Warren G
Warren G performs on stage during the 93.5 K-Day Krush Groove held at the Gibson Amphitheatre on April 20, 2013 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP)

Rapper Warren G is set to drop his new single Life is Beautiful on Super Bowl Sunday, as part of his new EP which is still in the works. The Long Beach native made the announcement on Instagram Sunday, with the caption “Life Is Beautiful 2/13/22 Single Off The Upcoming Ep,” confirming that a new project is on the way.

The release date of Super Bowl Sunday shouldn’t come as a surprise, since Warren G’s stepbrother Dr. Dre will be performing at the halftime show. Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige will also be performing.

Warren G took to social media to tease his own Super Bowl LVI event as part of a collaboration with the NFL. “About to drop something special #SBLVI Sunday in collaboration with @NFL,” he wrote. “Check out #ThisIsLA on @NFLGameday Morning at 9AM ET on @NFLNetwork @icecube @warreng @xzibit @bigboy”.

In another post, Warren G shared a snippet of the video for Life Is Beautiful, with the cautionary lyrics “Life is beautiful, Don’t ever say you can’t try,” he raps. “Doing evil like you can’t die, cuz evil out here tryna murder everybody.” The icon also warned, “You do a murder, you get murdered next.”

Warren G’s comeback

Warren G, Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg
HOLLYWOOD, CA – AUGUST 18: (L-R) Nate Dogg, Warren G and Snoop Dogg attend The Source Hip-Hop Awards on August 18, 1999 at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

The new EP will be Warren G’s first project since his 2009 album The G Files. He cemented his status as a hip-hop icon with the 1994 single Regulate featuring the late Nate Dogg. Signs of a comeback first appeared when Warren G responded to an Instagram comment, saying “much love, appreciate it g. 2.13.22 the comeback coming.”

On February 5th, Warren G posted another teaser for the forthcoming single on Instagram, showing him masked up in the studio along with several other musicians. “Behind the scenes, it’s that time a day!” he wrote in the caption. “2.13.22 #regulator WarrenGfunkera #independent Different From The Rest @bombbass1014.”

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FM News Trending

Antonio Brown New President of Donda Sports Makes $2Million Buy

Antonio Brown, former wide receiver of Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now sits at the helm of Donda Sports as president. One of his first moves in his new role was the purchase of a $2M Super Bowl suite. That is lux. He not only made the purchase but plastered the invoice on social media for everyone to view. This bravado is not unexpected, as the wide receiver made an earlier post about his new role, clearly indicating he’s a boss now.

Brown Tapped

Brown has known for a month he would be sitting as president of Donda Sports. He appeared eager in his initial interview. He highlighted,

“We’re just excited about the Donda Sports brand, and making this thing a competitive sports brand to the athletes,”

He was even more charged by what the pair (he and Kanye) had in the works.

Brown Closed One Door; chasing another bag

According to a source, Brown began forming a closer relationship with the Donda performer after his abrupt split with the Buc’s. Brown walked off the field mid-game, officially ending his time with the team. No one will deny this is a bold move.

Brown left a tremendous amount of potential income on the field when he walked. As a source notes, Brown left a potential $1 million payout in performance-based incentives, which the former All-Pro wideout was on the brink of fulfilling. His decision left fans puzzled. However, in his new role, Brown will not want anything.

Brown’s purchase power.

Brown’s decision to purchase a 2M dollar suite for the Superbowl seems a bit much. Brown provides assurance the purchase is not for luxury. The acquisition is a promotional and marketing tool. This purchase is somehow for the greater good of the community. His post reads

“As President, it was important to me to book the Donda Suite for this years SUPERBOWL LVI. This is a game meant to be watched together. This is the love and unity we need to push. THIS IS FOR THE KIDS, OUR NEXT GENERATION!!!”

There is a lot to dissect here. All we can do at the moment is take Brown at his word.

It appears Ye has plans to do more than control the music industry; his goals are much more grandiose. He’s bringing a couple of people with him. Brown is a member of the crew. Let’s hope their motives are pure.

Brown contends,

“Donda is about ownership, empowerment, and discovering the next superheroes. This is for the people who counted us out, for everyone who said we can’t”

We will have to wait to see if this is about helping the community or proving a point. Time will provide the evidence, and FM Hip Hop will report it.

Be sure to like and follow FMHipHop on Instagram and Facebook!

Written by Renae Richardson

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Are you interested in updates on the “Donda 2” project? Then check out FM Hip Hop’s retrospective article. 

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Justin Timberlake Receives Backlash After Janet Jackson Super Bowl Documentary Premieres

Justin Timberlake is once again facing backlash over what happened to Janet Jackson at their 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

In the latest New York Times documentary, Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson, fans and viewers got a clear picture of Jackson’s amazing career leading up to one of the biggest controversies in music history. Although there were no big reveals, the documentary does paint a vivid picture. It covers how the culture reacted to the brief wardrobe malfunction that exposed Jackson’s nipple on primetime TV, and how it changed the entertainment industry forever.

In the new documentary, it’s suggested that only three people know what happened leading up to the halftime show. Those three are Jackson, Timberlake, and her costume designer. The three spoke alone before the performance without any producers present.

The Criticism of Justin Timberlake

Following the release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary in February, Timberlake not only received criticism for his actions against his former pop star girlfriend but against Jackson as well. That behavior is once again highlighted in Malfunction, which shows Timberlake’s post-performance interview in stark contrast with his apologetic statements after the fact. Eventually, he circles back to joking about the incident years later.

Since both documentaries aired, social media made sure to voice their opinions on Justin Timberlake.

JT responds

Following the original criticism in February, Timberlake apologized to Jackson and Spears in a lengthy Instagram post.

“I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right,” he wrote on Instagram nearly 20 years after the fallout of his relationship with Spears and 17 years after the Super Bowl moment. “I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others”, he continued. “And benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”

Janet Jackson did not respond publicly to Timberlake’s apology.  Moreover, she was not interviewed for Malfunction. However, she will discuss the incident in a two-part, four-hour documentary that will air in 2022 titled, Janet.

Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson is available to watch on Hulu. 

 

Writer|Kacee Marie|Instagram|Website