The singer has battled multiple health issues in recent years. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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Joe Nichols put his foot down on this one. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
In the heart of Nashville, Keith Urban found himself in a moment that turned a concert into a shared experience of healing and support. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
He’s tired of people looking for clues that just aren’t there. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
As debuts go, Gabrielle’s was pretty spectacular. She launched her career in the summer of 1993 with the self-penned single “Dreams,” an aspirational anthem welded to a danceable pop-soul groove. It landed at the No. 2 spot on the UK charts in the first week of its release, breaking the UK record for the highest-ever chart position achieved by a debut single. A week later, “Dreams” was ensconced at the summit of the charts, where it stayed for three weeks; it also broke into America’s Top 30. In its wake came a Top 10 UK album, Find Your Way; and to cap it all, Gabrielle won the Best British Newcomer gong at the 1994 BRIT Awards.
Her self-titled sophomore album in 1996 proved that the Hackney chanteuse born Louise Gabrielle Bobb was no flash in the pan. It also brought her a second BRIT award for Best British Female Vocalist. Given her previous successes, expectations were understandably high for Gabrielle’s third album Rise.
Listen to Gabrielle’s Rise now.
There was no reason to worry. Rise proved to be Gabrielle’s magnum opus and easily the most accomplished of her first three albums; a culmination of the elegant pop-soul aesthetic she had cultivated since her debut six years earlier. Working with past collaborators – like Richie Ferme, who produced “Dreams” – and new associates like Johnny Dollar, a British trip-hop producer whose credits included Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack, Gabrielle created eleven sharp-eyed observations of love and life.
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Rise spawned four Top 10 UK singles: the mellow “Sunshine,” the upbeat “When A Woman,” the haunting mid-tempo “Out Of Reach,” and, most notable of all, the album’s memorable title song, a defiant tale of overcoming adversity which sampled Bob Dylan’s 1973 single “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” (The sample was authorized by Dylan – a rarity in itself – who purportedly liked Gabrielle’s song and received a co-writer credit). Rise’s rousing, gospel-infused title track ascended to No. 1 in the UK charts – where it spent three weeks – and helped push the parent album to pole position. (It eventually went quadruple platinum).
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Although Gabrielle has made albums since Rise, her 1999 long-player has a special place in her catalogue. It was a career-defining recording that deepened the stylish singer’s mainstream appeal, added more signature songs to her repertoire, and succeeded in transforming her into a household name.
Listen to Gabrielle’s Rise now.
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Four pioneering Hip-Hop artists will receive long-overdue recognition at the third annual Hip-Hop Grandmaster Awards on October 18 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The Paid in Full Foundation will honor legendary rappers Kool G Rap and Grand Puba with their top awards. Kool Rock Ski of The Fat Boys and Jalil Hutchins of WHODINI will receive the Contributor Award, while George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic will receive the Quincy Jones Award.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Recipient Roxanne Shante will host the ceremonies. Expected attendees include Nas, Ludacris and Doug E. Fresh. The Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards serves as the foundation’s annual fundraising gala. The event celebrates hip-hop artists who have not received recognition equal to their contributions to art and culture.
“The award includes a financial stipend for the honorees and is intended to empower the artists to further their creative and artistic endeavors,” according to the foundation.
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Kool G Rap, born Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, is considered one of hip-hop’s most skilled lyricists. The Corona, Queens native pioneered mafioso rap in the mid-1980s as part of Marley Marl’s Juice Crew collective. His complex rhyme schemes influenced countless rappers over several releases with DJ Polo and his solo work.
Grand Puba, whose real name is Maxwell Dixon, first gained attention with Masters of Ceremony in the late 1980s. He later found success with Brand Nubian in the early 1990s. Puba’s clever wordplay and unique delivery style made him a standout performer. He also earned recognition as a fashion innovator in hip-hop culture.
The inaugural Contributor Award celebrates artists whose talents helped expand hip-hop’s reach and expression. Additionally, George Clinton will receive the inaugural Quincy Jones Award, which honors individuals who provided hip-hop’s building blocks.
The Paid in Full Foundation launched its awards program in 2023. The organization focuses on giving hip-hop’s originators their deserved recognition and financial support.
Previous honorees have included other hip-hop legends who helped shape the genre during its formative years. The foundation’s work addresses a long-standing issue in hip-hop: many pioneering artists never received proper compensation for their groundbreaking contributions.
The Las Vegas ceremony represents the foundation’s commitment to celebrating Hip-Hop’s rich history while supporting its creators.
AllHipHop
Kim Kardashian shut down years of speculation about a rumored romance with Travis Barker during a wide-ranging interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast, making it crystal clear she never dated the Blink-182 drummer before he married her sister Kourtney Kardashian.
When host Alex Cooper asked whether she had “ever hooked up” with Barker “in the past,” the SKIMS founder didn’t hesitate.
“No, I never have,” Kim said. “Absolutely, that I do not mind you asking. I never have and it really sucks that (rumour) has gone on.”
The rumor has lingered for years, fueled in part by Barker’s own 2015 memoir Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums, where he admitted to having a crush on Kim. But Kardashian said she had no idea he’d written about her.
“No,” she replied when asked if she knew about the memoir mention. “But it would say that we never hooked up. I mean, I don’t think he would allude to that information, you know?”
Kim explained that she and Barker became friends through social circles that included Paris Hilton, whom Barker briefly dated.
“He dated Paris (Hilton) and we were all friends and we’d all hang out when I was with Paris,” she said. “We’d be on the road and go to, like, their tour in Amsterdam. So, I have been friends with him… And never hooked up with him.”
Barker and Kourtney began dating in 2020 and tied the knot in 2022. According to Kim, their families had already been close for years before the romance started.
“Kourtney was around during that time. They were neighbours for a decade,” she explained. “So, when everyone was all hanging out… he was always around with his kids. They’d always come to Kourtney’s house for all the birthdays. Everything was super open and cool and everyone’s been friends. He was just as good of friends with them as he was with all of us. It was nothing weird.”
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Pras Michel is turning his legal battle and Hip-Hop legacy into a documentary with actor-producer Mark Wahlberg, aiming to shed light on the Fugees member’s conviction and looming 22-year sentence tied to foreign influence allegations.
The project, currently in development under Wahlberg’s Unrealistic Ideas production company, will examine Michel’s rise with the Grammy-winning group and his fall into a high-stakes federal case involving international money, politics and power. Wahlberg is producing the film alongside Unrealistic Ideas president Archie Gips.
“Everyone is fascinated by all the twists and turns, like it’s some kind of thriller,” Michel told Variety. “But for me, this is just my life — the real, messy, complicated truth of what I’ve been living through.”
Michel was convicted in April 2023 on 10 felony counts, including conspiracy, witness tampering and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China. The charges stem from his connection to Malaysian financier Jho Low, who is accused of masterminding the multibillion-dollar embezzlement from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Low remains a fugitive, wanted by law enforcement in several countries.
Federal prosecutors say Michel received millions from Low to influence U.S. politics, including allegedly funneling money into Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign through straw donors. Authorities also claim Michel tried to interfere with a Department of Justice probe during Donald Trump’s presidency.
“I’m rooting for Pras and excited to tell his story,” Wahlberg said in a statement. Gips added that the story is “a surprising mix of pop culture and geopolitical intrigue that feels like a spy thriller come to life.”
Michel’s legal troubles began in 2019 when he was first charged in connection with the sprawling international corruption case. The Justice Department alleges he played a key role in helping Low avoid extradition and maintain influence in U.S. political circles.
Before his legal issues, Michel was one-third of the Fugees, the influential Hip-Hop trio that also included Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group’s 1996 album The Score sold over 22 million copies worldwide and produced hits like “Killing Me Softly” and “Ready or Not.” The group disbanded shortly after their peak.
Michel’s sentencing date has not been announced. The documentary, which aims to explore both his musical impact and legal downfall, is his attempt to reclaim control of his narrative.read this New York Times report on Michel’s conviction.
AllHipHop
In a mashup nobody saw coming, Hip-Hop’s loudest podcast duo Gillie & Wallo are squaring up against Hollywood funny man Howie Mandel in what’s being billed as one of the most entertaining clashes in esports history.
The Million Dollaz Worth of Game hosts are officially joining the Global Gaming League (GGL) as team owners, marking their entry into the competitive gaming arena. The matchup — Gillie & Wallo’s Million Dollaz Gaming Teamversus Mandel’s Howie Do It Gaming Team — will take place live in Las Vegas on Oct. 29 and stream exclusively on the GGL YouTube channel on Nov. 7.
Founder Clinton Sparks said this is bigger and more meaningful that it seems.
The DJ and CEO told AllHipHop exclusively, “Most of us from underprivileged neighborhoods have looked to music and sports as a way to a better life. Gaming is the new way out of the hood, and we’ve built something where everyone and anyone can join, climb the ranks to fame and a build a career as a gamer.”
This won’t just be another gaming match either. Expect heavy smack talk, high energy and more according to Hip-Hop Gamer.
“This is so dope,” he told us. “It is going to huge out in Vegas. This is exactly what happens with cultures collide.”
“Gillie and Wallo bring the type of passion, competition, smack talking and credibility that defines what GGL is all about,” said Sparks. “Pairing them against Howie Mandel’s team aligns with what the mission of the GGL is all about — bringing different cultures, industries and worlds together.”
The Philly natives have built a media empire, from their landmark Barstool Sports podcast deal to their other business ventures. Gillie and Wallo have vested interests in Noggin Boss hats and Pure Fuel energy drink.
READ ALSO: Hip-Hop Gamer’s Vision: From Denzel Washington’s School To Samsung Studios To Bars With Papoose
But, when it comes to gaming, Gillie said he’s going to destroy the comedian.
“I love Howie Mandel, but we’re about to embarrass that man in 4K,” Gillie said. Wallo echoed his partner’s sentiments with: “Howie better bring his A-game. We don’t lose on the mic or the monitor.”
For the GGL, known for merging music, celebrity, and competitive gaming, this matchup represents the next step in bridging cultures through entertainment. With comedians, rappers, and esports pros colliding in one digital arena, the event promises a spectacle that’s as much about laughs and personality as it is about gameplay.
Howie Mandel is known for his quick wit, but he has not commented yet. What he feels or says remains to be seen.
Lastly, there will be a halftime performance by early 2000s rock favorites Wheatus.
AllHipHop
Saweetie has issued a strong denial after a woman claiming to be her former road manager made shocking allegations on social media.
The accusations include unpaid debts and disturbing personal claims about the “Boffum” artist. On Friday (October 17), Saweetie posted a statement on her Instagram Story addressing the allegations.
“The recent allegations made about me are false, defamatory and deeply disturbing,” Saweetie’s statement reads. “These claims misrepresent the facts and are solely aimed to damage my reputation.”
The controversy began when a woman using the Instagram handle @maybachmayy started making public accusations against the rapper earlier this month. She claimed Saweetie owed her money for booking services.
“I booked her for an appearance to visit the chelsea stadium & support the soccer team,” the woman alleged in one social media post. She claimed that instead of paying her, Saweetie became romantically involved with the client and instructed him not to pay the booking fee.
The accuser also made more serious allegations involving substance use. “[Cocaine], witchcraft, & liquor is one hell of a mix, send me my bread home [wrecker]! @saweetie ,” one of her posts stated.
In her response, Saweetie firmly denied any professional relationship with the woman. “This person never managed me. She was simply introduced to me by family,” the rapper stated. “Her motives are now obvious. I’ll let the lawyers take it from here.”
The woman also shared what she claimed were text messages between herself and Saweetie. These alleged messages suggested the rapper was using her rumored relationship with soccer player Jadon Sancho for financial gain.
Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, rose to fame with her 2017 debut single “Icy Grl.” The 31-year-old California native graduated from USC before pursuing her music career full-time. She has built a successful brand around her “icy” persona and has collaborated with major artists throughout her career.
The rapper has not provided additional details about potential legal action against her accuser. Representatives for Saweetie have not responded to requests for further comment.
This incident marks another challenge for the artist, who has previously spoken about facing difficulties in the music industry behind the scenes.
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