Erykah Badu is known for trolling on social media, and fans have come to appreciate her jokes and jabs at other stars. So when she saw the new limited edition artwork for Beyonce’s upcoming “Cowboy Carter” album, she accused the singer of stealing her style.
The artwork depicts Bey wearing long beaded braids and a sash that reads, “Act ii BEYINCÉ.”
Badu often wears a similar hairstyle and was seemingly in her feelings when she shared the cover art with her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, captioning it simply with, “Hmmm.”
She also sent a message to Bey’s husband JAY-Z on X/Twitter, writing, “To Jay Z. Say somethin Jay. You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me?? 😆.”
Several Beyonce fans responded to Badu and noted that the late Rick James did it first (rock a beaded bob hairdo).
Meanwhile, Bey’s longtime publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, posted a montage on IG showing the artist wearing the braided hairstyle throughout her career. She captioned the post, “She slays. She slays. Now. Then. Always. act ii COWBOY CARTER 3.29 #criticswithoutcredentials.” See the post below.
We reported earlier that when Beyoncé unveiled a new image for “Cowboy Carter” on her website, she noted in the caption that her latest project “was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t.”
“But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” Beyoncé continued.
As CNN reports, the artist “previously infused country sounds into her work, including her 2016 track “Daddy Lessons.” Beyoncé performed that song with the Chicks at the CMA Awards that year, and later received racist backlash,” the outlet writes.
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” Beyonce wrote in her post on Tuesday. “act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
Monica wants Ray J to keep her name out of his mouth.
“Ray J – I’m kindly asking you to stop speaking on me in public!” Monica wrote on Instagram.
“A private conversation would be both necessary and respectful! Brandy is a LEGEND! She’s one of one with an extensive catalog that I deeply respect and a voice sent from heaven,” the songstress continued.
“Please allow this to remain positive and beautiful!” she added.
“Neither should open, we should give someone else that opportunity and co-headline a massive shared stage if this is to ever happen! Any further convo should be private,” Monica wrote in her Instagram post.
“I’ve been repeatedly contacted about interviews where my name and tour possibilities are being discussed. I’ve not received any contracts or calls about said tour,” she stated.
As Vibe reports, last week, during Monica’s Instagram livestream, Ray J hit up the comments section to write, “BRANDY/MONICA TOUR – PLEASE LETS MAKE HISTORY, ONE RUN FOR THE FANS. 100M plus for you both.”
As you know, Brandy and Monica famously collaborated on the track “The Boy Is Mine.”
Monica is currently on the Pink Friday 2 tour with Nicki Minaj, and Brandy is reportedly working on her next album.
Common’s Player Past Interferes With Potential Jennifer Hudson Engagement
Common is known and revered for his way with rhymes. But the “Go!” MC’s reputation as a lady’s man looks to be a red flag for elevating his relationship with Jennifer Hudson’s past dating status.
In addition to Common’s past flames (tennis legend Serena Williams, singer Erykah Badu, actor Taraji P. Henson, political activist Angela Rye, and comedian Tiffany Haddish), Radar Online reports that Hudson’s hesitancy stems from past heartbreak from her 2017 relationship with former pro wrestler David Otunga. Before splitting in 2017, the pair were engaged for close to a decade and parents to their 14-year-old son, David, Jr.
“After her engagement went south, Jennifer was adamant she would never marry — that it just isn’t in the cards for her,” a friend of Hudson’s told the National Enquirer. “But then Common came into her life and swept her off her feet!”
Although Hudson and Common shared a longtime friendship, the romance between the pair didn’t exist until they worked together on the upcoming sci-fi thriller “Breathe.” From there came sightings of Common and Hudson displaying PDA, as Hudson downplayed talk surrounding their love.
“People create their narratives of it,” the 42-year-old talk show host said. “…we shot a film together and he played my husband. We gotta eat in between those moments.”
The rumors proved true with Hudson and Common an official item. In Common’s eyes, the EGOT winner is the one as he credits his significant other with feeling “like I have grown, and the work that I’ve done on myself has allowed me to see that I am a marrying type.”
Still, it’s hard for Hudson to move forward with Common’s past relationships looming over a potential future with her.
“Common tells Jen despite his past with so many famous women, he’s in the relationship for keeps” an insider shared with Radar. “But Jen felt that way when she was engaged for nine years, and she doesn’t want to end up with a broken marriage and be back at square one!”
Lying Accusations Pointed at Lil Wayne Over Pandemic Era Government Loan
*Rappers are often accused of stretching the truth. The question is did Lil Wayne actually lie to get approval for a pandemic-era loan? The notion is at the center of accusations against the rhyme slayer over his well-known use of marijuana. Alluding to an article from Business Insider, Complex detailed the report, highlighting information the government received from Lil Wayne and his team about the “A Milli” entertainer’s company, Young Money Touring Inc., being a drug-free workplace that warned their staff about using drugs.
Lil Wayne’s situation was part of the Insider’s story investigating loans the “Go DJ” lyricist and other artists, including Post Malone, took out in 2021. The loans, the report mentioned, were set up to help independent artists.
Lil Wayne’s efforts worked on his behalf. Young Money Touring received a check for $8.9 million that was approved by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The loan may have been approved, but Lil Wayne’s longtime open use of marijuana was something the Insider could not ignore. Armed with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the SBA, the publication investigated the loan approval. In response, the SBA explained its drug certification process via email, stating the process did not cover Lil Wayne or Post Malone’s “personal actions” or any drug use outside of March 2020 to June 2022.
However, the SBA claimed they’re still looking at loans they have already approved, Complex noted.
“The SBA’s process of monitoring and auditing of grant recipients is actively ongoing,” the agency wrote. “To date, about $40 million has been returned from SVOG grantees and additional files have been referred for ongoing criminal investigation or civil recovery.
To date, none of the recoveries relate to the drug-free certification.”
Lil Wayne’s lying accusations come as he voices a desire to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. Chatting recently on the 4HUNNID podcast, Lil Wayne reflected on performing at the big game. but revealed he had not any calls yet.
“I will not lie to you,” Weezy told co-hosts YG and Stevie. “I have not got a call or nothing. But we are praying. We praying. We keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard. I’mma make sure this next album and everything I do is killer. I wanna just make it hard for them not to holler at the boy.”
So, what say you? Do you think Lil Wayne’s marijuana use will keep him from headline next year’s Super Bowl halftime show? Scroll below to weigh in.
Netflix’s ‘Good Times’ Animated Revival Arrives in April
The latest news surrounding the “Good Times” revival comes more than two years after the project was announced in September 2020. The executive producers on the new show are Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins, Brent Millar, Erick Peyton, Brent Miller, and Stephen Curry.
Carl Jones and Ranada Shepard are credited as the creators of the “Good Times” revival, which, according to its official synopsis, will focus on “a new generation of the Evans family keeps their head above water in a Chicago housing project.” Acclaimed North Carolina producer 9th Wonder will serve as the show’s executive music producer and supervisor, Vibe reports.
For McFarlane, the animated format is ” the ideal medium” to present “Good Times” to a new audience ready to embrace the Evans family as well as veteran viewers who still remember the impact of the original 1970s series.
“Animation is the ideal medium with which to reimagine the original show, and through the lens of Carl’s sharp, biting humor, audiences will grow to love these classic characters all over again,” MacFarlane and Huggins stated when the reimagining was first announced.
The new “Good Times” couldn’t come at a better time. According to What’s On Netflix, the streamer is finding itself in troubled waters with shows on its adult animation roster being canceled over the last few years, while others aren’t making much of a dent in Netflix’s top 10s.
FUTURE & METRO BOOMIN’S ‘WE DON’T TRUST YOU’ REACHES MAJOR SINGLE-DAY STREAMING MILESTONE
Future and Metro Boomin have plenty to celebrate as their latest collaborative album, WE DON’T TRUST YOU, garners a significant accolade.
On Saturday (March 23) a post circulating on social media, revealed that the dynamic duo’s latest work had hit a major Spotify milestone — in a single day.
The news was shared via the official Spotify’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) in a post that reads: “On Friday, March 22, Future and Metro Boomin’s WE DON’T TRUST YOU became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day in 2024 so far.”
That same day, the power duo released a visual supplement for one of its standout tracks, “Type Shit” featuring Travis Scott and Playboi Carti, adding to the hype of the aforementioned joint album.
In it, the four trap titans can be seen surrounded by their crew — including Ken Carson, Doe Boy and CashXO, among other recognizable faces — as they switch roles and jam out to the song in a parking lot and strip club.
Future and Metro Boomin’s new record also includes the song “Like That, ” with a surprise feature from Kendrick Lamar that took the internet by storm on Friday. On it, the former TDE rapper takes a number of shots at his peers, kicking things off with a mention of Drake and J. Cole‘s No. 1 single “First Person Shooter” with accusations of “sneak dissin.’”
“Yeah, get up with me/ Fuck sneak dissin’, first person shooter/ I hope they came with three switches,” he raps.
K Dot then boldly singles out “the big three” — a term often linked to him, Drizzy and Cole — claiming he’s the only one atop the rap chain.
Future and Metro Boomin‘s new release WE DON’T TRUST YOU has fans speculating as to whether they have both fallen out with Drake.
After hearing Kendrick Lamar‘s scathing guest verse on the new track “Like That” — which seemed directly aimed at Drizzy and his “First Person Shooter” collaborator J. Cole — fans across social media began wondering what it might mean for Drake and Future.
Nicki Minaj & Husband Kenneth Petty On the Hook for $500k in Lawsuit
Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty were accused of ambushing a security guard with violence a couple years back -- and it appears they ignored his lawsuit ... 'cause they now owe money.
The rapper and her husband had a default judgment entered against them Friday in L.A. County Superior Court -- this after a judge says they failed to respond to the lawsuit.
As a result, Nicki and Kenneth now have to pay up -- in the amount of $503,318.02.
We broke the story ... Nicki and Kenneth were sued by a guy named Thomas Weidenmuller -- who alleged Petty and Minaj roughed him up in 2019 at a concert she did in Germany.
At the time, Weidenmuller claimed Nicki had berated one of his security guards working under him, and he says he went to her to address it -- at which point, he alleged she threw a shoe at him. He says he dodged it -- however, the guy alleged Kenneth was waiting in the wings.
Weidenmuller claimed Kenneth socked him in the face and broke his jaw ... and he alleged he had 8 different surgeries to fix the damage. He sued in 2022 for hefty medical bills.
BENZINO USES EMINEM'S MOM'S SPAGHETTI RESTAURANT AS VIDEO SET AS FEUD CONTINUES
Benzino has taken his ongoing feud with Eminem to a new level by using his Mom’s Spaghetti Restaurant as a music video set.
The Hip Hop entrepreneur took to Instagram on Wednesday (March 20) to document his visit to Slim Shady’s 8 Mile-inspired restaurant.
In one clip, Benzino poses in front of a sign for the restaurant flashing his middle finger and noting that it’s the location for an upcoming “Rap Elvis” music video. The clip is accompanied by another Benzino diss track, “Vulturius.”
He wrote: “Mark this date. #Rapelvis Video soon come……oh the [spaghetti emoji] was horrible. #shadyslayer #Benzino [goat emoji, pirate flag emoji, [a-ok emoji].”
Benzino has taken his ongoing feud with Eminem to a new level by using his Mom’s Spaghetti Restaurant as a music video set.
The Hip Hop entrepreneur took to Instagram on Wednesday (March 20) to document his visit to Slim Shady’s 8 Mile-inspired restaurant.
In one clip, Benzino poses in front of a sign for the restaurant flashing his middle finger and noting that it’s the location for an upcoming “Rap Elvis” music video. The clip is accompanied by another Benzino diss track, “Vulturius.”
He wrote: “Mark this date. #Rapelvis Video soon come……oh the [spaghetti emoji] was horrible. #shadyslayer #Benzino [goat emoji, pirate flag emoji, [a-ok emoji].”
Kanye West Asks Music Industry to Strictly Refer to Him as Ye
Kanye West is asking major players in the music industry to respect his decision to go by his legally changed name "Ye" ... TMZ has learned.
In a letter obtained by TMZ ... Kanye's chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, fires off a strong message to big players in the music industry -- including streamers, publishers, lyric websites and more -- with a demand that the rapper be referred to as Ye moving forward.
As Milo puts it ... Kanye didn't come to the decision to change his name lightly, as he is aware he's sacrificing brand value that comes with "Kanye West." Still ... the Grammy winner considers it a "slave name" and wants to ditch the moniker across all platforms.
He adds ... "Ye is a Black man in America who wants the right to full self-determination just like everyone else."
Bey’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ LP Cover w/American Flag Sparks Insane Online Debate by Pro-Black Militants and Pan-Africianists
Beyonce has sparked debate over the cover art of her new country album “Cowboy Carter” because she is depicted holding the American Flag.
As Ace Showbiz reports, one social media critic wrote, “BEYONCE is trying to be patriotic and simp for America cause she holding an American flag is crazy. Lmfaoooo you the same mfs that would scream SATIRE when [Kanye West] was wearing the mf confederate flag. But now y’all- ok.”
Several pro-Black militants and Pan-Africianists suggested she should have “waved the Black American flag.” In response, X/Twitter user Cornbread Mafioso wrote, “To all the Pan-African groups..”LIVING”..in America that are mad at Beyoncé for being a proud American. If you hate America so much, why are you here, living off its benefits & comforts..LEAVE! Go back to your countries. We are Black American 1st. (Ethnicity over Everything)”
One Bey fan reacted to the fury over the artist holding the flag on her new album cover, writing, “I love that Beyonce is reclaiming Black American Patriotism. Our Black Ancestors built this country and we have pride in that! “Pan Africans” have been LYING on our ancestors claiming Black Americans are not patriotic or shouldn’t embrace the American flag. #FBA”
Another critic on X/Twitter wrote, “I want to take this at face value and say she’s being patriotic. But, all that comes to mind is “behold a pale horse” juxtaposed with the American symbols. So, it seems to suggest “death to America,” imvho.” “The underlying leftist implication to the meltdown over Beyoncé having an American flag on her album cover is of course that leftists don’t consider Black people to be real Americans,” noted another X commenter.
We reported earlier via CNN that Bey unveiled a new image for “Cowboy Carter” on Tuesday and noted in the caption that the project “was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t.”
“But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” Beyoncé continued.
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” the Grammy-winner wrote. “act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
The global superstar noted in her post that “Cowboy Carter” is not “a Country album,” she wrote.
