Category: Hip Hop

Missy Elliott nearly scrapped her now-iconic anthem “Get Ur Freak On” after producer Timbaland was too drained to keep working in the studio, the Hip-Hop pioneer revealed in a new interview.

In a conversation with Rolling Stone, Missy Elliott explained the 2001 hit almost didn’t make it onto her third album, Miss E… So Addictive because Timbaland was ready to call it quits.

“He just started hitting anything,” Missy Elliott said. “He was bamming on the keyboard ’cause he was ready to go.”

But Elliott pushed back, convinced the project needed one last track. That’s when magic struck.

“And he hit something and I was like, ‘That’s it right there.’ And he was like, ‘What? What you talking about?’ I just went in the booth and did the record,” she said.

As she laid down the lyrics, Elliott envisioned the choreography that would eventually define the song’s visual identity.

“I’ve spent so much time around dancers,” she said. “From my first time on tour, I had 22 dancers… When I’m doing that record, I’m thinking of my dancers. I could just see them moving to it.”

The gamble paid off. In October, Rolling Stone named “Get Ur Freak On” the best song of the 21st century so far, cementing its place in music history.

Elliott, whose last release was the 2019 EP Iconology, also hinted that more music is on the horizon.

“I have something in the works,” she said. “It’s just different. It’s me being experimental again… I got some stuff coming. Some fire.”

“Get Ur Freak On” was released in 2001 and remains one of Elliott’s most celebrated tracks.

​AllHipHop

Khaby Lame secured a major UN Tourism ambassador position in November, just months after Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement forced him out of America in a move that cost the U.S. access to the world’s most powerful social media creator.

The 25-year-old TikTok star, who has 162 million followers and earned $20 million in 2024 without speaking a damn word, was detained by ICE in Las Vegas on June 6 after allegedly overstaying his visa.

Conservative influencer Bo Loudon claimed credit for the deportation, stating he “personally took action to have him deported” after discovering Lame was “an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA.”

Khaby Lame accepted voluntary departure rather than face formal deportation proceedings, leaving America behind just as his earning power peaked.

Reports show he commands between $500,000 and $850,000 per sponsored post, with some campaigns paying over $1 million.

The UN Tourism appointment, announced during the organization’s General Assembly in Riyadh, puts Lame in a position to promote global travel destinations while America loses access to his massive audience.

@khaby.lame This is Qatar Airways! Get a chance to WIN 1 of 5 BUSINESS CLASS TICKETS in 2 easy steps: 1. Follow @qatarairways on Instagram & Tiktok. 2. Comment #QRFlyMeTo ♬ original sound – Khabane lame

His role focuses on youth engagement, sustainable tourism practices, and showcasing “hidden gem” destinations worldwide.

“Khaby Lame has brought joy to many millions of people, in every corner of the world, and from every walk of life,” UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said in the announcement. “His openness and readiness to connect with people across borders and languages represents what tourism is all about.”

The timing highlights the consequences of America’s immigration policy.

While Trump’s administration revoked Lame’s visa for visa violations, international organizations immediately recognized his value. UNICEF named him a Goodwill Ambassador in February 2025, giving him a platform to influence global audiences that American brands can no longer easily reach.

Lame rose from factory worker to social media king during COVID-19 after losing his job in Italy. His wordless reaction videos became the most-watched content on TikTok, building a following that spans every continent and demographic.

The Senegal-born creator now works with two major UN agencies, while American companies lost direct access to his influence. His UN Tourism role will showcase international destinations to his massive following, potentially directing tourism dollars away from U.S. destinations.

Trump’s immigration crackdown reached peak irony when it targeted the world’s most successful content creator, someone who built his empire on American social media platforms but was forced to take his influence elsewhere.

The move represents a broader pattern of America losing global cultural ambassadors to strict immigration enforcement.

Lame’s departure came during his peak earning period, when TikTok reportedly paid him $20 million in 2024 alone. His content creation empire, built without speaking any language, transcended cultural barriers that traditional American entertainment often struggles to cross.

The UN appointments give Lame official platforms to influence global travel patterns, youth engagement, and cultural exchange, roles that could have benefited American tourism and cultural diplomacy if immigration policies had been different.

​AllHipHop

Nipsey Hussle will be the focus of a long-awaited docuseries expected to debut in 2026, as director One9 wraps post-production on a project built from decades of rare footage and personal archives.

One9 confirmed the multi-part series is nearly complete and awaiting distribution, telling Variety on December 5 that the collection includes never-before-seen material dating back to Hussle’s childhood.

“His father videotaped everything,” One9 said, describing the trove of recordings that follow the late rapper from his first studio session at age 12 to his rise as a Grammy-winning artist and entrepreneur.

The series, which will run between five and seven episodes, features narration from Hussle’s brother Blacc Sam and posthumous voiceovers from the rapper himself. The production also includes unreleased music and excerpts from an audiobook Hussle recorded before his death in March 2019.

Produced by Marathon Films, the company Hussle co-founded, the docuseries is backed by LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment.

The project aims to offer a complete picture of Hussle’s life—including his early ties to the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, his independent music career and his community development efforts in South Los Angeles.

One9, who previously directed Nas: Time Is Illmatic and recently completed Allen Iv3rson for Prime Video, said he intends to approach Hussle’s story with the same unfiltered lens. “We’re not sanitizing anything,” he said, noting that the series will explore both triumphs and struggles.

Interviews include appearances from Hip-Hop heavyweights like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, as well as close friends from Hussle’s early days in Crenshaw.

The director said the goal is to present Hussle’s whole journey—from burning CDs on his home computer to launching real estate projects in his neighborhood.

Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed at age 33 outside his Marathon Clothing store in March 2019. His death left a lasting impact on South Los Angeles, where murals in his honor still line the streets.

The docuseries is currently seeking a distribution partner, with a tentative release planned for sometime in 2026.

​AllHipHop

Q Parker is watching the buzz around 112’s legacy reach a fresh peak, but he’s not letting nostalgia stop his own momentum.

After Slim and Mike of 112 appeared on Tamron Hall, social media chatter erupted about “incomplete groups” and fans demanding a full reunion. The Atlanta native stated clearly he’s open to making history again. But he’s also done waiting on phone calls that never come.

Parker told AllHipHop that he wants nothing more than for the original 112 lineup to reunite for the group’s 30-year anniversary, a moment he knows holds both emotional and financial weight for everyone involved. Still, he says he’s the only one reaching out.

“The side of this coin that I sit on have reached out on multiple accounts personally and through third parties on my behalf,” Parker said. “Haven’t gotten a response.”

He emphasized he hasn’t spoken to Slim or Mike—who currently represent 112 on tour—in “a while,” but the desire remains. “I remain hopeful. I would love more than the fans would love for us to be able to celebrate together.”

That hope hasn’t paused his career. Parker has leaned heavily into his new solo era, which he describes as “romance dealing,” a nod to the hustler in him.

“I have a singular journey at this moment,” he said. “I would love to get some of the support from the fans in the same regard as how they want to see the reunion. I don’t think it’s an either or. It can be an and. There can be a 112 reunion and you can still support Q Parker too.”

He acknowledges the public’s hunger for nostalgia, because 112’s golden era touched an entire generation. But Q also warned that getting stuck in the past isn’t an option.

“I love that we fight for nostalgia, but I just think we can’t stay there. We have to still allow evolution,” he said. “I just don’t want to be one of those guys that is saying when I’m older, I wish I would have.”

Parker compared the ideal scenario to how New Edition balances group success with individual ventures, calling it a roadmap he believes 112 could follow if communication ever reopens.

Until then, he says he’s fully committed to his latest project while keeping a small emotional space reserved in case the door cracks open again.

“If there ever is an opportunity for a reconcile and a reunion of sorts, I’m always keeping myself in position for that,” he said. “But until then, I have to move in the direction that I am in.”

112’s first album dropped on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records, nearly 30 years ago. The self-titled opus was released on August 27, 1996, on Bad Boy Records, featuring hit singles like “Only You” (with The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase) and “Cupid.”

​AllHipHop

Trump becomes the center of a new National Park Service plan that grants Americans free entry to national parks on his birthday in 2026 while removing Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the agency’s annual no-fee schedule as outlined on the National Park Service website.

The change marks a sharp turn from previous years when both federal holidays were part of about 100 park sites’ free-admission calendar. For 2026 the agency is rolling out what it calls patriotic fee-free days including June 14 for Trump’s birthday plus free access during the July 4 weekend and during celebrations for the National Park Service’s 110th anniversary.

Juneteenth which became a federally recognized holiday in 2021 after decades of cultural observance across the country commemorates the final end of slavery in Confederate states following the Civil War. Martin Luther King Jr. Day remains a pillar of national service and remembrance but it will no longer trigger complimentary entry at national parks next year.

The Department of the Interior has not responded to requests for comment from USA TODAY and the update arrives amid a broader push inside the agency to scale back DEI-driven directives. The administration has also directed park units to examine retail spaces for items tied to diversity themes and shift toward what it labels America-first visitor policies.

A major piece of that shift takes effect Jan. 1 when international travelers without an annual pass will be charged an added 100 dollars per person at the 11 most visited national parks in the country. Beginning next year free-entry days will apply only to U.S. citizens and residents.

“These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release.

For travelers the announcement signals a major recalibration of how national parks will handle cost access and holiday recognition heading into 2026 and beyond. As the agency leans into patriotic themes and tightens policies for foreign visitors the new framework sets up a different kind of park year one shaped by cultural debate economic recalculation and federal direction all converging under the banner of public lands.

What do you think of this?

​AllHipHop

An Australian nail tech catches on camera the moment a customer decides she doesn’t want to pay for the service. The exchange rate is confusing viewers across the globe.

TikTok creator Grace (@glazenailstudio_) is the operator of Glaze Nail Studio, which is based in Australia’s Gold Coast.

She recently started filming her sessions and that led to her catching this incident—and her reaction to it—in real time. “You’re going to have to pay, otherwise I’m going to have to chop them off,” Grace says to the woman as the video starts.

Nail Tech Gives Ultimatum to Customer Who Refuses to Pay

In the on-screen text, Grace makes it clear that this isn’t satire. “My client didn’t want to pay for her nails,” the text reads. “I wish this was a skit.”

The video then cuts back to the beginning of the appointment, which started out normally. Grace says this is a customer she’s seen in the past. But things take a turn after Grace finishes up the work and asks the customer how she’d like to pay. The customer asks, “What do you mean?”

Grace explains that the customer paid a 50% booking fee to reserve the appointment. Now that the service is complete, the customer is responsible for paying the other half. In this case, the total amount due is $100. So the customer still owes $50.

Clearly, paying another $50 isn’t in the woman’s plans. “Girl, you’ve come to me a couple of times now,” Grace says. The woman responds, “They’re good, but they’re not, like, perfect. For $100.”

The customer asks if there’s any way they can just call it even at the $50 deposit, and Grace refuses. That’s when she tells the woman that she can pay or get the nails cut off. Instead of backtracking and agreeing to pay, the woman says, “Just take them off. They’re not that good.”

Viewers Struggle with Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

In the comments section, some viewers said they are inclined to take the customer’s side on this one. “Why do lash and nail techs charge so much as though they are on doctor wages?” asked one person.

“The amount of people that seem to be struggling with the fact that British pounds, United States dollars, and Australian dollars are not all worth the same amount is staggering,” said a second person.

A third person said, “Guys, 100 Australian dollars is £48! That’s pretty standard, if not a little cheap.”

An Australian dollar is equivalent to $.66, which means that the full service cost a little under $66.50. The customer already paid 50% as a deposit, so she chose to get her nails chopped off over approximately $33.25. A full set of acrylic nails here in the U.S. will generally run you about $46, but that price can go up if the nail design is particularly detailed.

All Hip Hop contacted Grace via TikTok comment and direct message for comment.

@glazenailstudio_ wtf #glazenails #gelx #fyp #goldcoast #biab ♬ original sound – Glaze Nail Studio | Gold Coast

​AllHipHop

Doc Fuller launches his latest musical chapter with “UPGRADE,” a father–son collaboration that signals the next phase of his education-themed album series and sets a tone of self-improvement for listeners. The track, created with his son D.A., is the lead single from his forthcoming project The Syllabus – Junior Year.

The video for “UPGRADE” debuted online this week, pairing the duo’s back-and-forth verses with imagery that mirrors the theme of personal elevation. Their collaboration underscores a growing trend of multigenerational partnerships within Hip-Hop, where family dynamics are increasingly shaping creative output.

READ ALSO: Dr. Marlon “Doc” Fuller Teaches Financial Truth To Youth

Doc Fuller’s “Syllabus” series has built a following by blending motivational themes with real-life guidance, positioning the artist as both musician and mentor. With “Junior Year,” he continues that framework, offering listeners a new collection designed to encourage discipline, ambition and practical growth. The Quarter Zips & Matcha reference, a recurring motif within his branding, speaks to a lifestyle that prioritizes balance, improvement and financial awareness.

Fans can watch the full video and explore more music through TheSyllabus.com, where Doc continues to preview elements of the upcoming album. As “UPGRADE” begins circulating across social platforms, its message of ambition and forward motion positions it as an anthem for anyone entering their own season of transformation.

In this latest chapter, Doc Fuller leans into the idea of education through experience, crafting a narrative that links family, creativity and financial literacy. “UPGRADE” signals a shift to a more mature stage in the series, setting the stage for an album rooted in growth and the pursuit of better outcomes. The track closes the gap between personal development and Hip-Hop expression, pushing Fuller’s mission forward while inviting listeners to join him on that climb.

​AllHipHop

GloRilla and Young Thug have officially buried the hatchet after a leaked jailhouse call earlier this year ignited a public fallout between the two Hip-Hop artists.

The tension began when a recorded phone call from Young Thug surfaced in September, where the Atlanta rapper dismissed GloRilla with harsh words after she was compared to Rihanna. “That bch ugly as fk,” he said. “They say she ain’t ugly, man that b**ch ain’t nothing… I would not pursue her, like at all.”

The clip quickly went viral online, prompting Thug to issue a public apology via X (formerly Twitter). “First of all I’m sorry to u for my words and I honestly don’t think ur ugly at all, I was speaking from jail just having a hard time with life,” he wrote. “I don’t like bashing girls and hardly ever did. I’m sorry to u twin.”

GloRilla didn’t let the insult slide quietly. She clapped back on her track, “Brianna,” where she referred to Thug as “Jamaican Vegeta.” But despite the lyrical jab, the two eventually reconnected and hashed things out in private.

Speaking to Complex, GloRilla confirmed the two have made peace. “We cool, we cool,” she said. “It was a funny conversation. I don’t take a lot of stuff too serious. Like, I joke, especially if it ain’t no death or fighting matter, nothing like that. I ain’t going to take it too serious.”

Thug followed up with another apology on his track “I Miss My Dogs,” further signaling his remorse.

Now that the dust has settled, GloRilla says a collaboration might not be off the table. “We’ll see about it,” she teased.

According to Billboard, the two artists reached an understanding following a private conversation, marking a truce that could open the door to future collaborations.

​AllHipHop

Jeremy O. Harris was arrested at Okinawa’s Naha Airport on November 16 after Japanese customs agents allegedly discovered less than a gram of MDMA in his tote bag, according to Reuters. The 36-year-old playwright and actor has remained in custody for nearly three weeks as authorities move forward with possible criminal charges.

The Slave Play creator and Emily in Paris cast member had traveled from the United Kingdom with a layover in Taiwan before arriving in Japan for what officials said was a personal trip. A spokesperson for Okinawa Regional Customs confirmed the arrest and said Harris is suspected of violating Japan’s strict narcotics laws.

An official at the Tomigusuku police station told Reuters Harris has been held since the arrest but declined to say whether he has admitted to the allegations. On Thursday, local prosecutors received a formal criminal complaint from customs officials, marking the beginning of the legal process.

Japan enforces some of the most rigid drug laws among developed nations, with harsh penalties for even minor possession or smuggling offenses. The country’s zero-tolerance stance has led to lengthy detentions and criminal charges for other foreign nationals caught with small amounts of controlled substances.

Harris rose to prominence in 2018 with Slave Play, which earned a Tony nomination for Best Play. He’s also known for producing episodes of HBO’s Euphoria, co-writing the film Zola, and appearing in Gossip Girl and What We Do in the Shadows.

As of Thursday, Harris remains in custody in Okinawa while prosecutors consider formal charges.

​AllHipHop

Derek Chauvin is once again trying to undo his murder conviction in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, this time alleging misconduct by prosecutors and flawed expert testimony in a new legal filing submitted in Minnesota.

The former Minneapolis police officer, who is serving overlapping state and federal sentences totaling more than 20 years, filed a petition for post-conviction relief on November 20.

His attorney, Gregory Joseph, argued in the court documents that Chauvin’s 2021 trial was riddled with errors that denied him a fair trial.

The filing claims prosecutors acted improperly and that expert medical witnesses gave inaccurate testimony about Floyd’s cause of death. It also accuses Minneapolis police officials of lying under oath when they testified that the knee-to-neck restraint Chauvin used was not part of department training.

Chauvin, 42, became a national symbol of police violence after a video showed him pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes on May 25, 2020. His legal team now contends that the restraint was consistent with MPD policy at the time and that testimony to the contrary amounted to perjury.

The petition also challenges the presentation of video evidence to the jury and disputes the instructions jurors received before deliberations. Chauvin’s attorneys argue that these elements, when combined, deprived him of due process.

This isn’t Chauvin’s first attempt to overturn the conviction. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal.

He was found guilty by a Hennepin County jury in 2021 of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He later pleaded guilty in federal court to violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Chauvin has served about five years of his 22.5-year state sentence. His legal team is now asking for either a complete retrial or an evidentiary hearing to examine the claims raised in the petition. A judge has given the state until January 4 to respond.

Floyd’s death ignited a global outcry and renewed demands for police reform. Chauvin’s conviction was viewed by many as a rare instance of accountability in cases involving law enforcement and the deaths of Black Americans.

​AllHipHop