Month: July 2025

Lil Baby brought school spirit and serious support to Atlanta’s West End with the launch of his nonprofit, The Jones Project and his fifth annual Back to School Fest, where more than 4,000 families received free supplies, food and fun.

The event, held at West End Production Park, was part giveaway, part block party.

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Students from kindergarten through 12th grade picked up backpacks, uniforms, wellness kits, shoes and custom gear—all at no cost. The day also featured carnival rides, bounce houses, face painting and free haircuts and braiding services.

“I love them like they love me,” Lil Baby told The Atlanta Voice during the event. “It means a lot to be able to come back and give back, because I know so much comes behind not having shoes and school utensils and stuff for school. Because that be a lot of kids’ reason to steer off.”

He continued, “To know that the parents don’t have to stress about this part makes me feel good.”

The Jones Project focuses on helping families in Atlanta’s West End by removing obstacles that can impact a child’s education—like not having the right supplies or clothes. The nonprofit’s mission is rooted in Lil Baby’s own experiences growing up in the area.

Local leaders, including Atlanta City Councilmembers and Board of Education representatives, were on hand to show support. Sponsors like Zaxby’s, Slim & Husky’s and Dr. Bombay Ice Cream provided food and treats throughout the day.

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Lil Baby stayed present throughout the event, posing for photos and connecting with families. His message was clear: every kid deserves to start the school year feeling ready and confident.

​AllHipHop

What do we have here?

Curren$y and Freddie Gibbs might have made magic once, but it looks like there won’t be a Fetti 2. The internet might just short-circuit from the maturity Spitta just displayed.

While fans are still bumpin’ Alfredo 2, the long-awaited sequel from Gibbs and Alchemist, it didn’t take long for ears to smell the beef. That lurked in “Gas Station Sushi,” a track where Gibbs sneak-disses someone that loves vintage Chevys. Many speculated (clearly) the bar—“Could’ve ran that Fetti by myself”—was a jab at Curren$y. They put in good work on Fetti and their creative chemistry was awesome IN SONG. But in real life, not so much. Some folks braced for lyrical warfare, but Spitta had other plans. He’s basically ignoring it.

Curren$y addressed it before but said something new in his comments section. The New Orleans native addressed it plainly. It would be “corny” to respond to Freddie.” That’s it. No beef, just vibes…and his new project, 730.

Freddie never named Curren$y outright, so he didn’t drop a bomb. I do believe the fans were ready to start placing bets.

READ ALSO: Freddie Gibbs Throws Lyrical Hands At Curren$y, AK & More

But Curren$y is a chill, laid back dude. The man known largely for outworking most of the industry and not ever raising his voice. He’s clearly staying focused on his cars and peace. The streets are begging for “blood,” but he’s not with it.

Interestingly, 730 includes a few special guests and bonus tracks at the end.

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Curren$y might be leaving space for it, but don’t hold your breath. He’s not stepping out his lane for this. Freddie fans are happy. Spitta’s fans are about to be fed. They just won’t be chewing on beef—it’s simply not on the menu.

What the heck…let run that Fetti back.

-illseed out

​AllHipHop

Damn, this is the oddest future ever.

Frank Ocean and Tyler, The Creator are two of the most brilliant, enigmatic minds in modern rap. And they have unfollowed each other on social media. That may seem trivial, but it’s not. We are definitely in an era where everyone is clout-tapping and algorithm-chasing (or is that reversed?). But this isn’t that. This is personal. And it didn’t stop there. Hell, Tyler even unfollowed Frank’s fashion brand, Homer. TF. That move alone had longtime fans clutching their pearls.

So what’s really going on?

Let’s walk this down carefully. The unfollowing came with no real drama. No bars aimed at each other. Frank Ocean recently released the Channel Orange vinyl and something happened. Two tracks were noticeably missing. “White,” produced by Tyler, and “Golden Girl,” which features him were both gone. Why? Some say licensing. Maybe. Pettiness? Hmmmmmm….

Tyler, The Creator recently told fans that a “longtime friend” threatened to sue him over a feature he wanted to drop. Tyler never said who, but the streets are saying it was Frank. This isn’t far-fetched either. Frank reportedly threatened Travis Scott during the Astroworld album rollout. It could be nothing or it could be everything.

Then, Tyler dropped Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale with surprise features by Kanye West, Vince Staples, A$AP Rocky but not Frank Ocean. Now his new record, Don’t Tap the Glass, continues the trend. Frank is M.I.A. despite being such a pivotal part of Tyler’s history.

This feels like the final nail in the Odd Future casket, at least for these two.

Odd Future has been more of a concept for a while now. In 2015, Tyler said, “I don’t think OF is coming back.” Still, he has never said there was an official breakup. Maybe that was a respect thing. Maybe he didn’t want to cross what they represented. They were a rebellion in creativity.

Sources close to the situation say a cease-and-desist from Frank Ocean over the use of his old vocals might’ve been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Seriously, legal threats between friends is a big issue.

The optimist in me wants to believe they’ll make nice again. But I knows how ego, age and artistic ambition can become a cancer. They aren’t teenagers anymore. They’re grown, running empires and making space for their own big brands.

Hopefully, Earl Sweatshirt’s lurking somewhere with a project. Until then, I’ll be listening to that new Clipse album and wondering what could have been.

-illseed out

​AllHipHop

Rahiem of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five has ignited a storm of controversy after appearing to accuse fellow group members Scorpio and Melle Mel of being gay, while also alleging he’s been deliberately shut out of group performances due to personal conflicts and what he describes as “zesty behavior.”

In a lengthy and unfiltered Facebook post, Rahiem claimed he’s been financially stable without the group’s involvement, writing, “To those who believed exclusion would end me….fyi, I moved to a new apartment, went on vacation the same week and went shopping and spent thousands! While on vacation, spent a few more thousand and I’m on my way home and still have thousands and not one dime of it can be attributed to any rap shows!”

He went further, accusing unnamed group members of trying to sabotage his income. “My money comes on time every time and there’s no hating ass anti men/bisexuals blocking my ability to get my money because they’re secretly mad I’m not down with their little gay ass clique!”

The Hip-Hop veteran didn’t hold back, directly calling out the group with a slur-laced message: “Fk ALL YOU GATE KEEPING MO’s and especially GMF & the Furious bi’s! I said wtf I said but this isn’t an angry post….this post is indicative of my triumph!”

Rahiem also alleged that a member of the group’s team tried to spy on him during hotel stays. “The person responsible for booking the Furious 5’s shows deliberately excludes me from performing with the group because when I was performing with them regularly, (after first joining the group) he’d sneak to the front desk of whichever hotels we checked into and ask for an extra key to my room (unbeknownst to me), in order to try and watch me engage in intimacy with women.”

He added that once he confronted the individual, he was iced out of future performances. “Once I realized that’s what he was doing and blacked out on him for it, in addition to him being jealous, people outside of the group recognize I’ve contributed much more to the group’s success than he has, so he began excluding me from performing with them!”

Despite the harsh tone, Rahiem clarified he has no issue with the LGBTQ+ community. “For the record, I have nothing against gay people, whether man or woman! However, I’m heterosexual and absolutely adore women!”

He continued, “We could co-exist in the same group if they didn’t try to involve me in their gayeties and didn’t take on the attitude of scorned women! Dude carries empty matching purses to match everything he wears on stage.”

Rahiem also recounted a conversation with one of the group members, who allegedly shared a story about receiving oral sex from a man. “My immediate response was ‘yooooo that’s gay.’ His response was ‘I’m not gay because he sucked mine but I didn’t suck his.’ I said, ‘Bruh I don’t know where tf you got that twisted ass logic from but whenever two men engage in intimacy, that makes them both gay!’”

He added, “Then he said ‘bruh that carries the different color man purses on stage at every show, did the same thing he did after going in the bathroom and finding the glory hole’! I responded and said ok so that means you’re both gay!”

According to Rahiem, the rest of the group was present during that exchange but remained silent.

​AllHipHop

Beyoncé closed out her Cowboy Carter Tour on July 26 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, ending a 32-date run. She didn’t just break records, she reshaped country music with the tour. With more than $407 million grossed and 1.6 million tickets sold, it’s the highest-grossing “country” tour of all time.

For me, the impact was deeply personal.

I was there in the crowd at D.C., and the second the lights dimmed, it was clear—this wasn’t just a concert, it was a cultural shift. The production was cinematic and her vocals were flawless. The energy in the venue was electric. Beyoncé opened with a haunting performance of “American Requiem” followed by a Jimi Hendrix–style rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” She was setting the tone for a genre-fusing night that moved effortlessly between country, gospel and even ballroom. One moment she was crooning a bluegrass ballad and the next, the crowd was vogueing to deep basslines. Beyoncé is one of the only artists who could deliver that kind of genre-bending brilliance.

READ ALSO: Beyoncé Rewrites Country Music History With Cowboy Carter Tour

With the Cowboy Carter Tour, she became the first woman—and the absolute first American artist—to headline two separate tours that each grossed over $400 million. The mammoth trek followed her 2023 Renaissance World Tour, which raked in $579.8 million.

Even though it was a shorter run, the tour smashed more than 40 records, including:

• Fastest tour to surpass $400 million (in just 32 shows)
• Highest-grossing female engagement at a single venue: $70.3 million at MetLife Stadium
• Record-breaking runs at major venues like SoFi Stadium (L.A.), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

The tour was about more than just numbers. It was a reset. Beyoncé reclaimed country music’s Black roots, elevated artists like Shaboozey and spotlighted Black creators in Western fashion. Her influence sparked a cowboy-core revival with fans showing up in fringe, boots and custom gear designed by Black women.

In D.C., I saw more than fans. I saw families. They all gathered to celebrate heritage, identity and I saw pure joy. When she closed the night with “Ya Ya” and the entire stadium sang in unison, it was more revival than a concert.

And then there was Las Vegas.

The Vegas finale somehow raised the bar even higher. Destiny’s Child reunited for their first performance in seven years. Her husband, JAY-Z joined her onstage. Her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi, both made appearances. Rumi even performed alongside her mom, her official debut. With Oprah, Tyler Perry and Kris Jenner in the crowd, it had all the glitz and glam but still felt intimate.

The Cowboy Carter Tour didn’t just break records, it broke barriers. Beyoncé redefined what country music is, who it belongs to and how it sounds. And as someone who witnessed it up close, I can say this: she preached. It was intentional, inspirational and it worked.

Whether you caught one show or followed the whole tour, one thing is certain: Beyoncé didn’t just ride into country music—she galloped in, bold and brilliant, forever changing the game.

​AllHipHop

Talent alone isn’t enough in today’s music industry. Plain and simple. Much more is required of artists in this climate. Artists need strategy, presence and adaptability to stand out. Phresher, a one-time Brooklyn rapper, was known for hits like “Wait a Minute” and collaborations with Remy Ma and Eminem. But now, Phresher is making waves in artist development and management. Trading in the mic (for now), he’s focused on mentoring the next generation and helping young artists navigate the game.

The path to success looks drastically different than it did just a few short years ago. Artists today have to be part musician, part content creator and a whole brand. Phresher chatted with AllHipHop’s Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and dropped real gems for artists trying to make it.

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1. Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot
Phresher isn’t retired from music, but he is evolving.

“A lot of people are afraid to pivot,” he said. “But I saw a loophole in the game: artist development.”

His move into management wasn’t just about paperwork and booking shows; it’s about building artists from the ground up. If your path changes, adjust your playbook, but keep the passion.

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2. Artist Development is Everything
Being an artist is way more than just making music. Phresher stresses showing up, knowing how to talk, interview and, most importantly, how to respect the game. “You gotta be outside. Touch the people. You can’t win being Hollywood at home.”

The grind doesn’t stop, but you have to be professional in all the ways these days.

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3. Move Beyond Instagram – TikTok and YouTube Matter
“Instagram doesn’t matter,” Phresher declared. “Build your TikTok. Build your YouTube.”

TikTok and YouTube give artists the best shot at organic reach, fan building, and relevance. Stop chasing likes. Start building impact.

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4. Stream and Collaborate
“Every artist should be a streamer now,” he said. Whether it’s Twitch, YouTube Live, or IG Live, fans want to see you. New artists should stream your lifestyle and your music in those streams. Also, don’t limit collabs to your own circle. You have to step outside your neighborhood and build bridges.

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5. Be You—Unapologetically
“You can’t fit in and stand out at the same time,” Phresher said.

He likens each artists to the uniqueness of fingerprints. Individuality is a superpower. Authenticity separates timeless artists from temporary ones.

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 BONUS: “Out of sight, out of mind,” he implored. Stay visible. Events, interviews and streams all matter for your brand.

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Whether you’re just getting started or leveling up, Phresher’s advice is a masterclass in artist longevity. Be strategic. Be active. Be yourself.

​AllHipHop

Activist Chris Smalls Beaten and Detained by Israeli Forces During Gaza Aid Mission As U.S. Media Remains Silent

People in the Hip-Hop community may not be familiar with the name Chris Smalls, but he’s pretty famous. He’s the Amazon union activist who once stood in the White House alongside former president Joe Biden. That distinction didn’t help him in Israel. Smalls was reportedly beaten and detained by Israeli forces Saturday (July 26) while attempting to deliver aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza. He and others were aboard the Handala, a ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. He was the only Black person on the boat. All others were returned unharmed. How?

According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Smalls was the only Black activist aboard the ship when Israeli Defense Force troops intercepted it in international waters. They took the 20 activists into custody. By the way, all of it was documented on social media. It was shocking and harrowing. I thought they were going to be taken and held. Graphic images released by the group show the activists with their hands raised as soldiers boarded the vessel.

On Monday (July 28), the organization revealed Smalls was violently assaulted after his arrest.

“The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirms that upon arrival in Israeli custody, U.S. human rights defender, Christian Small, was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals,” the organization wrote on Instagram. “They choked him and kicked him, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back.”

Smalls has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, GQ and other major U.S. media outlets. But, it seems most of them have ignored the incident. Smalls linked with Biden in 2022 after his union victory inspired workers across the country. The Times wrote so eloquently about his fashion sense in the style section, but things have changed just a few years later.

These same legacy outlets have remained quiet about the alleged injustice. The IDF must have journalists on the payroll. Only a few reported on this.

“This totally makes sense,” wrote Nathan Kalman-Lamb, a professor at the University of New Brunswick, on Bluesky. “A notable public figure in the US (Amazon labor organizer Christian Smalls) is illegally arrested by Israel and subjected to severe physical violence while on a hunger strike… and not one US media outlet of any type has decided that is news.”

I smell sarcasm.

Organized labor unions have been quiet as well, by and large.

The California Faculty Association isn’t one of them. It represents 29,000 workers. “We further call for an immediate end to the engineered famine and deliberate starving of the people in Gaza, labor complicity with genocide, and all US military aid to Israel,” the union said.

The Teamsters said nothing. In fact, president Sean O’Brien allegedly spent the weekend promoting a chat with right-wing commentator Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy, who once opposed the president, is a favorite among Trump supporters. Suddenly, it begins to make sense.

The labor unions and the media seems complicit in ignoring Smalls’ beating and detention. They may bash the president or align with him, but they will not cross that invisible line. How long many international human rights violations must occur until we admit that media silence is a powerful form of complicity?

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has called for the end to the humanitarian blockade of Gaza. And now, the pressure mounts on political and labor leaders to join them.

​AllHipHop

Donald Trump is reportedly giving serious thought to granting Sean “Diddy” Combs a full presidential pardon before the incarcerated Hip-Hop mogul’s sentencing date on October 3, following his federal conviction earlier this year.

Diddy was found guilty in July on two counts tied to the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. He was acquitted of more severe charges involving racketeering and sex trafficking. With time already served, he faces a likely federal prison term of two to three years.

According to Deadline, sources close to the situation say conversations about a pardon have escalated in recent days.

Allies of Diddy have reportedly been lobbying behind the scenes, and the White House is now treating the matter as an “actionable event.”

While no official decision has been made, speculation is swirling that Trump’s interest in the case may be politically motivated.

Some insiders suggest the former president is looking to redirect attention from his own legal controversies, including renewed scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Diddy Pushes For Release On $50 Million Bond

Diddy’s legal team is also pushing for his release on a $50 million bond while awaiting sentencing. They argue that his continued detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn is unjust, citing unsafe conditions and comparing his treatment to other similar cases.

Judge Arun Subramanian previously denied bail, pointing to what he described as a “years-long pattern of violence” and a lack of convincing evidence that Diddy poses no threat to others.

Trump has not issued a formal statement on the matter, and neither has the White House. All current details stem from off-the-record sources and internal discussions.

Back in May, before the verdict was handed down, Trump addressed the possibility of a pardon during a public appearance.

“I would certainly look at the facts,” he said. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

At the time, Donald Trump said no one from Diddy’s team had requested a pardon, but added, “I know they’re thinking about it.”

He also admitted, “I haven’t been watching it too closely,” though he acknowledged the case had drawn significant media attention.

Trump also noted that he hadn’t spoken to Diddy in years, saying their relationship changed after he entered politics.

​AllHipHop