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Music

Thomas Rhett Honors Boston With Emotional Message After Selling Out Fenway Park

Thomas Rhett reached a lifelong dream on Saturday night (July 19) when he headlined a sold-out show at Boston’s Fenway Park in front of more than 35,000 fans. Following the milestone performance, the multi-platinum country star penned a heartfelt message dedicated to the city that’s been part of his journey from the very beginning.

“Dear Boston.. too many memories to count. Some I remember vividly and some are foggy for reasons I’m sure you can imagine. Pretty sure I have played most every venue this town has to offer,” he began.

Thomas Rhett; Photo by Corey Miller
Thomas Rhett; Photo by Corey Miller

Rhett then took a trip down memory lane, naming a few of the many Boston venues he’s played over the years both as a headliner and an opener and celebrating the fact that each one has helped define the artist he is today.

“From the house of blues, to my first tour ever opening for Toby Keith at the Xfinity center, to the home of the patriots opening for Kenny Chesney, opened here twice for Jason Aldean. Where I got to witness the masterpiece of a performance by the one and only kid rock, to arguably my favorite show ever two years ago at TD garden.”

Everything came full circle over the weekend when he took the stage alongside Teddy Swims and had the honor of performing in front of a sold-out crowd at the home of the Boston Red Sox. Rhett admitted this experience is something he’s still trying to wrap his head around.

The Instagram post doubled as both a love letter to the city and highlight reel, documenting special moments leading up to and during the show. It also captured the sentiment of having his wife and kids in the audience to witness such a defining moment in his career.

Rhett continued his message, “I’ve drank most of your bars outta beer, ate my weight in lobster rolls, tried but failed every time to get a reservation at Neptune oyster, threw my guts up on a whale watching tour, and attended my fare share of Red Sox games. Needless to say this place has always been and always will be one of my favorite places to play shows on the planet.”

This performance is something that Thomas Rhett admits he’s been dreaming of since the very start of his career. He was consumed with nothing but gratitude while reflecting on the support he’s received from fans over the past 15 years that has helped him cross off this bucket list show.

Thomas Rhett with Teddy Swims, Tucker Wetmore and The Castellows; Photo by Corey Miller
Thomas Rhett with Teddy Swims, Tucker Wetmore and The Castellows; Photo by Corey Miller

“If I said I love you too many times last night, it’s because I’m not sure how to fully express how much this city means to me,” he explained. “Lastly, knowing that most of my best friends and family were there because they know how big of a deal this is for me is amazing. Lord willing we will get to do this many more times, but on the off chance we don’t I get to say that my wife and kids watched me headline Fenway park and hopefully that gives me street cred with my grandkids one day!”

Fueled by Marathon, Boston marked another stop on the “Beautiful As You” singer’s BETTER IN BOOTS TOUR. He kicked off the big night with “Boots” from his ABOUT A WOMAN album and kept the energy high and the passion flowing until taking his final bow on stage.

Fans also danced along to favorites like “Make Me Wanna,” “T-Shirt,” and “Beautiful As You,” while swaying to sentimental cuts like “Remember You Young” and current Top 10 single, “After All The Bars Are Closed.” One standout moment came when Teddy Swims returned to the stage to deliver their newly Gold-Certified Duet, “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman.”

The evening closed with a powerful performance of Rhett’s fan-favorite, “Die A Happy Man,” which was recently certified Diamond by the RIAA, celebrating over 10 million units sold. This is only the 15th Country Song to reach its status. Just before the show, RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier surprised Rhett on the field with a crystal statuette and plaque to mark the milestone.

Sandi Borchetta (BMLG), Andrew Kautz (BMLG), Mitch Glazier (RIAA), Scott Borchetta (BMLG), Lauren Akins, Thomas Rhett, George Briner (Valory Music Co), Allison Jones (BMLG), Ashley Sidoti (Valory Music Co.), Virginia Bunetta (G Major); Photo by Corey Miller
Sandi Borchetta (BMLG), Andrew Kautz (BMLG), Mitch Glazier (RIAA), Scott Borchetta (BMLG), Lauren Akins, Thomas Rhett, George Briner (Valory Music Co), Allison Jones (BMLG), Ashley Sidoti (Valory Music Co.), Virginia Bunetta (G Major); Photo by Corey Miller

The 2015 chart-topping hit from his second studio album Tangled Up has become one of country music’s most treasured love songs, earning six major awards, including ACM, CMA, and Billboard honors, as well as a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Country Song.

In addition to the Diamond certification, “It Goes Like This” and “Get Me Some of That” were certified 4x Platinum and “Make Me Wanna” and “T-Shirt” have been certified 3x Platinum for a grand total of 59M career RIAA-certified units.

Saturday’s show came on the heels of Thomas Rhett releasing ABOUT A WOMAN (& A Good Ol’ Boy), the second wave of new summer music tied to his latest album. The additional tracks showcase a few standout collaborations such as “Ain’t A Bad Life” featuring Jordan Davis, “Old Tricks” with Blake Shelton, as well as the new tune, “Bottle With Your Name On It.”

Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton; Old Tricks
Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton; Old Tricks

This batch of songs is part of Rhett’s promise to keep dropping new music throughout the summer. These releases come as his current Top 10 hit, “After All The Bars Are Closed,” which to climb at country radio.

Meanwhile, Thomas Rhett’s BETTER IN BOOTS TOUR continues through early fall, with even more opportunities for him to light up amphitheaters and arenas nationwide.

The post Thomas Rhett Honors Boston With Emotional Message After Selling Out Fenway Park appeared first on Country Now.

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R&B

Session Musician Spotlight: Clarence McDonald

Close-up of piano keys

“All great music is a combination of what came before it,” musician/songwriter/arranger/producer Clarence McDonald once said. He spent his life mastering gospel, soul, jazz, blues, funk, and pop and blending them together in magic moments with artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Barbra Streisand, Carole King, James Taylor, and Johnny Mathis.

“My original background was from the church,” he explained to Jake Feinberg. “That’s where you got musical training you couldn’t get anywhere else.” McDonald learned piano and organ there, and by the age of sixteen, he was backing jazz artists in a Los Angeles nightclub.

When he began college, he worked as musical director for The Vocals (which later became the Fifth Dimension), a group that was subsequently invited to go on tour with Ray Charles. “Lots of what I play today, I learned directly from him. If it doesn’t feel good, don’t play it. Playing the notes is not the function. Making people feel them when you play them is the function.”

In 1966 just as his musical career was beginning to gain traction, he was drafted by the US Army to fight in the Vietnam War. In a 2009 interview, he said, “You learn what terror really is. There’s no glory in war, and it never proves who’s right or wrong.” When he returned home in 1968, he began getting calls for session work. “The fun of it was getting to meet so many different kinds of people, playing different kinds of music, and learning a lot,” he reminisced.

McDonald died in the summer of 2021, having lent his skills to thousands of recordings and live performances. As he told InterviewWorld, “The joy is knowing when you walk out of the studio, what we just did, everyone was on the same accord. That’s really what a hit record is. It’s not the technique. It’s the magic moment where everything aligns.”

Billy Preston – Will It Go Round In Circles

Preston and McDonald were connected in their youths by way of being musicians in the Los Angeles church world. They came together in 1972 for Preston’s Music Is My Life album, which McDonald arranged. “Will It Go Round In Circles” went to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and sold over a million copies.

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The Emotions – Best Of My Love

In 1976, McDonald submitted a tune for the project The Emotions were beginning with Maurice White and Charles Stepney. Stepney invited him to the studio where he was introduced to Earth, Wind & Fire. They made plans to work together, but Stepney died of a heart attack days after their meeting. “That was a man I wanted to study and learn from,” McDonald recalled. White brought McDonald into the EW&F squad, and they co-produced Rejoice, the album that delivered this #1 smash in 1977.

Lionel Richie – Wandering Stranger

On this track from Lionel Richie’s solo debut, McDonald plays electric piano, accenting Gene Page’s moody orchestral arrangement. Lionel Richie sold over four million copies in the United States and topped Billboard’s R&B Albums chart in the winter of 1982.

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James Taylor – How Sweet It Is

Taylor’s cover of this Holland-Dozier-Holland composition hit the top five of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1975, featuring McDonald on piano and Fender Rhodes. McDonald had fond memories of touring with Taylor: “The best shows we had with James Taylor were when we were playing smaller theaters. I miss [performing] where people are close enough that you can relate to them as opposed to piping it out to them in the 2000th row at an arena.”

Justin Timberlake – Another Song (All Over Again)

Produced by Rick Rubin, this track closed Justin Timberlake’s 2006 FutureSex/LoveSounds. McDonald played organ on this Timberlake/Matt Morris composition that one critic called “a lovely, very old-fashioned soul ballad produced in an organic anti-Timbaland style.” “There’s a feeling you get when human beings interact that you can’t get following a click track or doing computer stuff,” McDonald said.

Patti LaBelle – Love Never Dies

McDonald and Sami McKinney co-wrote and co-produced this ballad from Patti LaBelle’s Grammy Award-winning album Burnin’. The tune’s inspirational message and uplifting mood affirmed one of McDonald’s core beliefs about music: “Music is just fun. Play it, make people smile, you’ve done your job.”

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Looking for more? Check out our series of articles on the greatest sessions musicians ever.

​Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music

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R&B

Robbie Pardlo of R&B Group City High Has Died

Robbie Pardlo, former lead singer of the Grammy-nominated R&B group City High, has died. TMZ reported that Pardlo died on Thursday, July 17, while surrounded by family and friends in Willingboro, New Jersey. No official cause of death has been revealed. Pardlo was 46.

Pardlo’s brother, Gregory Pardlo, shared a statement with People: “I’ve been taking shelter in the love of family and in my brother’s memory. Even with his body covered in tattoos and the streetwise tough guy persona he cultivated, my little brother will always be a sweet, goofy kid in my eyes.”

Pardlo formed City High with his classmates Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby in 1999. The group began as a duo composed of Pardlo and Toby, but they soon invited Ortiz to join. The trio signed to Wyclef Jean’s label Booga Basement and in 2001 released their only album, a self-titled effort that included the 2001 hits “What Would You Do?” and “Caramel” featuring Eve.

Produced by Fugees member Jean, “What Would You Do?” first appeared as part of the soundtrack to the 1999 film Life starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. The song was envisioned as a motivational anthem for single parents dealing with poverty and reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It would later be nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2002 Grammy Awards.

The album’s second single, “Caramel,” peaked at number 18 on the Hot 100. The track contains vocal samples from “Silent Treatment” by The Roots in addition to a drum sample from Al Green’s “I’m Glad You’re Mine.”

City High disbanded in 2003. Pardlo was later a member of the R&B quartet First Take, who collaborated with Whitney Houston and Lil Kim.

​Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music

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Hip Hop

Tyler, The Creator Explains New Album & What He Wants From Fans

Tyler, the Creator announced Don’t Tap the Glass mere days ago and now it is here. The Grammy Award-winning creative has done it again, guys. Tyler was vague about what this album was and he seemed to imply that it wasn’t like anything he’s done in the past.

Now we know what it is—a dance album. There are a lot of House vibes mixed with rap. I’m not mad at this. We know that Tyler is a genre-bender. He took time to explain himself and what he wants to accomplish with this project. (If you see “typos,” that’s because his statement is unedited.)

I ASKED SOME FRIENDS WHY THEY DONT DANCE IN PUBLIC AND SOME SAID BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF BEING FILMED. I THOUGHT DAMN, A NATURAL FORM OF EXPRESSION AND A CERTAIN CONECTION THEY HAVE WITH MUSIC IS NOW A GHOST. IT MADE ME WONDER HOW MUCH OF OUR HUMAN SPIRIT GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF BEING A MEME, ALL FOR HAVING A GOOD TIME, I JUST GOT BACK FROM A ‘LISTENING PARTY’ FOR THIS ALBUM AND MAN WAS IT ONE OF THE GREATEST NITES OF MY LIFE. 300 PEOPLE.
NO PHONES ALLOWED. NO CAMERAS, JUST SPEAKERS AND A SWEATBOX.
EVERYONE WAS DANCING. MOVING, EXPRESSING, SWEATING. IT WAS TRULY BEAUTIFUL. I PLAYED THE ALBUM FRONT TO BACK TWICE, IT FELT LIKE THAT PENT UP ENERGY FINALLY GOT RELEASED AND WE CRAVED THE IDEA OF LETTING MORE OF IT OUT THERE WAS A FREEDOM THAT FILLED THE ROOM, A BALL OF ENERGY THAT MIGHT NOT TRANSLATE TO EVERY SPEAKER THAT PLAYS THIS ALBUM BUT MAN DID THAT ROOM NAIL IT. THIS ALBUM WAS NOT MADE FOR SITTING STILL. DANCING DRIVING RUNNING ANY TYPE OF MOVEMENT IS RECOMMENDED TO MAYBE UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT OF IT. ONLY AT AT FULL VOLUME

– Tyler

Tyler has longevity because he pulls elements from different genres but makes it his. You can’t box this dude in, much like Pharrell. He has a very unique sound and loves music. What’s interesting is Don’t Tap the Glass supposedly has no theme or concept. We’ll be talking about it, but the consensus is there’s a theme.

Don’t Tap The Glass is not CHROMAKOPIA. And that is a good thing!

The album rollout might feel familiar to last year’s CHROMAKOPIA.  That project also hit on a Monday morning, but Tyler’s said previously this release stands in contrast to the cinematic vibes of that project. The visuals for Don’t Tap the Glass seems to be a nod to legends like LL COOL J, Ludacris and 50 Cent. These hints of gritty lyricism isn’t what the project is. At least that’s what I think for now. Clipse show up in the video below.

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Now we can also confirm that the rumored guest list is totally fake.

There’s no Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Earl Sweatshirt, BADBADNOTGOOD or Lola Young. Anyway, listen below or on YouTube.

​AllHipHop

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Hip Hop

“Cosby Show” Star Malcom-Jamal Warner Dead At 54

Malcom-Jamal Warner has died at age 54 following what sources say was an accidental drowning. According to a report from PEOPLE on Monday (July 21), Warner was on a family vacation in Costa Rica and drowned while swimming.

The actor, best known for playing Theo Huxtable on the hit NBC sitcom The Cosby Show across all eight seasons, was reportedly found unresponsive, though no official cause of death has been confirmed by authorities.

Warner rose to fame in the 1980s as the youngest son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, a role that earned him an Emmy nomination and made him a household name.

“I know I can speak for all the cast when I say The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of,” Warner once told PEOPLE of the show. “We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other.”

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Warner acknowledged how the show’s legacy had changed given the allegations made against Cosby, who was convicted of sexual assault in 2018 but later had the charge overturned in 2021,

“Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture,” Warner added.

In his late teens, Warner began directing music videos for acts like New Edition and Special Ed and went on to direct episodes of The Cosby Show, All That and Kenan & Kel. He later co-starred in the UPN comedy Malcolm & Eddie and lent his voice to the animated series The Magic School Bus, where he played the character of the classmate Tim.

In addition to acting, Warner built a respected career in music and spoken word. He won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his work on Robert Glasper’s Jesus Children alongside Lalah Hathaway. Warner also directed several television episodes and short films over the years, showcasing his range behind the camera.

Most recently, Warner had been hosting a podcast titled “Not All Hood,” which explored themes of identity, culture and personal growth. The most recent episode was released just three days prior to his death. Warner was known for keeping his personal life out of the spotlight. He’s survived by his wife and daughter, whose names he never publicly disclosed.

​AllHipHop

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Hip Hop

50 Cent & Dave Blunts Roast Each Other Over Respective Weight Loss Journeys

50 Cent ignited a weekend war of words with Dave Blunt on Instagram while also launching a $1 million lawsuit against his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins over alleged contract violations tied to tell-all content.

The rap mogul stirred controversy after posting a photo of Blunts with the caption, “Ye this ya manz? If I catch him im pushing down the stairs,” referencing Blunts’ connection to Kanye West. Blunts didn’t hold back, retaliating with a photo of 50 from his 2011 film, All Things Fall Apart, where he portrayed a college athlete battling a terminal illness.

“I been going to the gym and been locked in on my health journey the world is watching me lose weight,” Blunts wrote in the caption. “But you lost all that weight for that weak ass movie and nobody watched that s###.”

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The back-and-forth quickly made its way to Instagram, where reactions ranged from disapproval to amusement. “Thats foul on 50s part that big ass n#### prolly grew up loving 50 cent,” one user commented. Another joked, “Stairs is diabolical bro can’t stand on one he gon break it.”

While the online spat grabbed attention, 50 Cent—real name Curtis Jackson—was also making headlines for legal reasons. According to court filings obtained by AllHipHop, his publishing company, G-Unit Books, is suing Tompkins for allegedly breaching a 2007 agreement by promoting and discussing their past relationship in recent interviews.

“Capitalizing on her recent notoriety from a ‘viral’ post commenting on testimony in the high-profile ‘Diddy’ trial, Tompkins has repeatedly and deliberately exploited the very rights she conveyed to G-Unit Books,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit seeks to halt the distribution of the content and demands $1 million in damages. Tompkins has appeared in multiple interviews in recent months, where she accused 50 Cent of abuse during her pregnancy and throughout their relationship in the 1990s.

The legal filing was submitted earlier this month.

​AllHipHop

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Hip Hop

Lil Wayne’s Looks Causes Concern From Fans

People are really concerned. Over the weekend, Lil Wayne was supposed to walk a UFC fighter to the octagon, basically do a quick performance during the entrance. But that didn’t happen. Why it didn’t happen still remains a mystery. Folks quickly shifted their attention to something else entirely.

READ ALSO: Lil Wayne Was Supposed To Walk Dustin Poirier Out At UFC 318… But Never Did

Lil Wayne’s physical appearance became the main focus. The Young Money king seemed to be carrying some noticeable weight. I’m not sure what else to say about his demeanor, but he just seemed a little off. And you know, we’ve watched Wayne evolve through the years. Some of us have been frustrated by his journey, while others have stayed loyal fans. One thing’s for sure: he’s been consistently dope that whole time—unless you hated this last album. Again, another story.

READ ALSO: Lil Wayne Surprises Fans With Unexpected Carter VI

Now here’s where things get a little tricky.

Lil Wayne has lived the life of a rockstar for most of his life. At 42, maybe some of those years are finally showing up physically. Or maybe not living that wild lifestyle anymore is what’s having an effect. Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not here to throw stones about what he has or hasn’t done, but let’s keep it a bean. He’s openly promoted a lifestyle that includes habits like sipping lean. And if you know what lean is, you know there’s nothing good that comes from it.

Hopefully he’s in good health and just packing on some extra weight like many OGs do. From lean…not so lean and it’s still hopefully all good.

We still don’t know why he didn’t perform at the UFC event, but maybe that was for the best. In today’s viral world, it could’ve easily turned into a bad look. I’m sure the performance would’ve been cool, but all it takes is one little clip for people to overanalyze it into oblivion—and that’s exactly what happened.

​AllHipHop

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Hip Hop

EXCLUSIVE: NBC Defends Calling Diddy “Lucifer,” Says His Rep Already Ruined In $100M Battle

Diddy is facing a legal counterpunch from NBCUniversal, which has asked a judge to throw out his $100 million defamation lawsuit over a documentary that the network argues is protected by free speech and rooted in public interest.

The media giant, along with Peacock TV and Ample Entertainment, filed a motion to dismiss Diddy’s complaint, asserting that the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy neither defamed him nor caused new damage to his public image.

The film aired on Peacock in January 2025 and includes commentary on Diddy’s upbringing, career, and a series of lawsuits and criminal charges that have engulfed him in recent years.

Diddy filed the massive suit earlier this year, claiming the documentary falsely portrayed him as a violent predator and criminal mastermind.

His legal team argues the documentary “shamelessly promotes conspiracy theories” and portrays him as an incarnation of “Lucifer,” comparing him to Jeffrey Epstein.

NBC contends the film simply reflects a broader conversation already unfolding in the media.

NBC’s legal filing argues that Diddy’s reputation was already under intense scrutiny before the documentary aired and his July 2025 conviction on prostitution-related charges did nothing to help his arguments, not to mention the hundreds of civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and abuse.

The lawsuit also takes issue with segments referencing the deaths of Diddy’s former partner Kimberly Porter and rappers Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace and Heavy D.

NBC says the film did not accuse Diddy of murder but instead explored public speculation and theories, many of which had already circulated through national outlets.

The network states that those statements originated from interviewees and were not endorsed by the producers.

NBC’s defense mirrors the argument made by attorney Ariel Mitchell, who is also seeking dismissal of a separate $50 million defamation suit filed by Diddy.

Mitchell appeared on Newsmax with a client who claimed to possess flash drives showing Diddy with minors. Mitchell argues that Diddy’s reputation had already been “irreparably damaged” by his criminal case. Like Mitchell, NBC wants the judge to dismiss the case.

Diddy remains in custody while awaiting sentencing on October 3 after he was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

​AllHipHop

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Hip Hop

Wu-Tang Forever: Final U.S. Tour Reminded Us Why They’re The Greatest

History stood still over the weekend. The Wu-Tang Clan, one of the greatest hip-hop collectives music has ever seen, rocked the Wells Fargo Center in Philly for what was promoted as their final tour on U.S. soil. I was fortunate enough to be there. This wasn’t just a concert, it was a cultural communion. A moment of extreme reverence. A time capsule. A victory lap of the surreal sort. And, for many of us, it was a full-circle experience.

READ ALSO: Wu-Tang Clan Close Out Final Tour With Star-Studded Farewell In Philadelphia

What unfolded was an unreal, masterfully orchestrated display of greatness. Wu-Tang Clan proved, once again, that they’re not just icons of Hip-Hop—they are the embodiment of all things Hip-Hop. LL COOL J was there. Lauryn Hill was there. Philly’s own Freeway was embraced like a hometown mayor. We, the fans, showed up in full force. It was a smorgasbord of humanity. Fans from every walk of life co-existing in peace. Every race, age, and background—Black, white, Asian, South Asian, Latino and more. Teenagers who weren’t born when Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) dropped were standing next to OGs from the ’70s. RZA asked the crowd when they were born and every era was represented—loud and proud.

It wasn’t lost on me that the show stuck strictly to Wu-Tang group material. There were no solo album joints performed. There were nine (10 if you include Cappadonna) distinct voices, nine philosophies, nine flows converging to form something otherworldly. RZA, the conductor, led the night like the general he’s proven to be. A couple times he poured champagne on the crowd, but it wasn’t offensive. It felt like a symbolic toast to a 30-year championship run by a proud coach.

The show flowed so fluidly. Meth played hype man for LL, Rae and Ghost shared the stage with Lauryn Hill and ODB’s son Young Dirty Bastard brought his father’s spirit back to life in the most uncanny way. But one misstep bothered me. Every member received a city proclamation…except Ol’ Dirty Bastard. That stung. If any spirit deserved formal acknowledgment, it was his. The essence of Wu isn’t whole without ODB. His son deserved to accept that honor on his behalf. In the past, I was blessed to meet and briefly interview him. He was so special.

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Still, Wu’s legacy was on full display. From the sea of W logos on shirts, hoodies and jackets. This was a congregation and we were in church.

I thought back to my DJ days, spinning “Protect Ya Neck” on community radio, feeling like I was part of something seismic. Back then, Wu was targeting campuses and indie radio, building a grassroots base. Now, decades later, I’m playing The Emperor’s New Clothes, Raekwon’s new album, en route to see them in what may be their last collective stand. That’s wild.

This show also reminded us of how Hip-Hop can age gracefully. Not neutered and not overly clean. Stylish. Confident. Raekwon came out looking like a fashion week ambassador, but it was a reminder that that elder statesmen in Hip-Hop don’t have to wear suits to be dignified.

They also reminded us of responsibility and what being grown looks like after 50. RZA used his platform to speak on community violence, promoting unity and peace. He name-checked Biggie, Pac, Nip and others. Warriors are often meant to evolve into wise men.

I saw the brotherhood. When one MC faltered even slightly, another jumped in seamlessly. That’s real love: the very foundation Hip-Hop was built on.

They left nothing behind. They passed the torch and offered the blueprint. It’s up to us now to carry on the culture, to protect it, to honor the standard they set.

Wu-Tang taught us that being fly, being smart, being radical and being raw are not contradictions. They exist in the same cipher. Family is more than blood. It’s also the crew that goes to war with you, support you and the people that rally behind you when you need it the most.

Salute to the Wu-Tang Clan. Thank you. For the music. For the message. For the memories. You may never tour again, but the legacy will continue on.

Wu-Tang forever.

​AllHipHop

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Hip Hop

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Cause Of Death Confirmed As Bill Cosby Reacts

The Cosby Show creator Bill Cosby reacted to the shocking news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death at 54 from an accidental drowning.

Warner drowned in Costa Rica during a family vacation on Sunday (July 20), after he was caught in a high tide. His official cause of death has been listed as asphyxiation.

Warner rose to fame playing Theo Huxtable on NBC’s The Cosby Show, a role that made him a household name in the 1980s and earned him an Emmy nomination at just 16.

“He’s devastated and it’s a sad day,” Bill Cosby spokesperson Andrew Wyatt said in a statement.

Wyatt said the impact of Warner’s death on Bill Cosby was similar to when he got the news that his own son, Ennis Cosby Cosby, was killed in a failed robbery attempt.

Born August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner entered the entertainment industry as a teenager. His breakout role as Theo helped define a generation of television and launched a career that spanned more than four decades.

Following The Cosby Show, Warner starred in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie alongside Eddie Griffin, which ran for four seasons. He later appeared in recurring roles on shows like Community, Suits and The Resident, where he played Dr. AJ Austin.

Beyond acting, Warner built a reputation as a skilled director, helming episodes of The Cosby Show, All That and Malcolm & Eddie. He also pursued music, blending spoken word and jazz into his performances.

In 2015, Warner won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B; Performance for his contribution to Robert Glasper’s “Jesus Children” featuring Lalah Hathaway. The song honored the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Throughout his career, Warner remained vocal about the importance of representation and creative control. He often used his platform to advocate for Black artists in Hollywood and the music industry.

His final television appearance aired earlier this year, continuing a steady presence on screen that began in the early 1980s.

Warner’s death comes just weeks before what would have been his 55th birthday.

​AllHipHop