Grammys To Celebrate Hip-Hops 50th Anniversary With Star-Studded Segment

Courtesy Photo The Recording Academy

The Recording Academy will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop on Sunday with a star-studded tribute.

To showcase the rich history of the genre and its continued global influence, the 65th Annual Grammy Awards will feature performances by a slew of its most exciting, eclectic and impactful artists.

“For five decades, hip-hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the Grammy stage. It is just the beginning of our yearlong celebration of this essential genre of music.”

Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz and Too $hort will perform.

Rapper LL Cool J — who will also perform and give a dedication to the art form — will introduce the Questlove-produced segment. The Roots will provide backing music, and the hip-hop ensemble Black Thought will provide narration.

CBS will broadcast the show live from Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. In addition, it will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Check your local listings for further information.

Charlie Thomas, Member of Legendary Soul Group the Drifters, Dies at 85

SoloEnt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Charlie Thomas, a prominent member of the golden-era lineup of the R&B group the Drifters in the 1960s, died on Tuesday (Jan. 31). He was 85.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who sang on two of the group's top 40 hits — 1961's "Sweets for My Sweet" and "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (1962) — had been battling liver cancer.

Originally formed as a backing group for Clyde Lensley McPhatte, one of the doo-wop and R&B circuit's most popular acts in the ’50s, the Drifters have played an outsized role in music history through the group's various incarnations, lineups and spin-offs.

Thomas was an original member of the second iteration of the band, formed in 1958 when the vocal group he was part of (The Five Crowns) was hired to become the new Drifters by the group's manager George Treadwell following a falling out with the original members over low pay and other issues.  

The CMHOF expresses their deepest condolences for the loss of Charlie Thomas. Charlie Thomas was most known for his vocal talent in the popular group The Drifters. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Charlie Thomas.#CharlieThomas pic.twitter.com/vRkRDluCtc

— California Music Hall Of Fame (@CAMusicHall) January 31, 2023

The group featured legendary singer Ben E. King and was popularly known as Ben E. King and the Drifters. Thomas remained in the group until 1967, only to return to a different lineup later.

I had the great fortune of capturing the legendary Charlie Thomas of “The Drifters” as he sang his iconic chart topper ‘Under the Boardwalk’ on the historic Asbury Park Boardwalk. He was the very sound of the sea #RIP #asburypark #drifters #charliethomas pic.twitter.com/uSAJaSFrGT

— Adam Nelson (@workhousepr) January 31, 2023

Eventually, he formed his own version of the group. Charlie Thomas' Drifters toured incessantly around the world throughout the new millennium until sickness sidelined the singer.

The Lynchburg, Virginia, native was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame in 1988, along with six other former members of the Drifters, whose membership spanned three eras of the band.

Missy Elliott Nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott

Her hometown Portsmouth, Virginia, named a street after her last year but now hip-hop trailblazer Missy Elliott is in the running for a slightly bigger honor.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame revealed its 2023 nominees on Wednesday, and the rapper was selected to compete for one of music's most prestigious accolades in her first year of eligibility for induction.

In its bio for the musician, the Rock Hall credited Elliott, who sometimes utilizes the sobriquet "Misdemeanor," with crafting the Virginia Beach sound that took over radio's airwaves in the late 1990s and 2000s.

She established herself as an in-demand songwriter and producer and founded her own record label, all before breaking out as a platinum-selling solo star. Elliott forged new paths for women in the music industry and society at large through her behind-the-scenes mastery and unapologetic ownership of her body, her sexual desires, and her Blackness in her music.

Elliot was joined in representing hip-hop and R&B on the list of nominees by eclectic, genre-defying hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and 1970s soul supergroup, The Spinners, in their second and fourth appearances respectively after previously falling to make the cut.

The Spinners

A Tribe Called Quest

An individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination to be eligible.

Other first-time nominees on the list were country music legend Willie Nelson, pop princess Cyndi Lauper, rock singer-songwriter Cheryl Crow and Detroit rock duo The White Stripes, English rockers Joy Division/New Order, dance-pop icon George Michael and singer-songwriter Warren Zevon.

“This remarkable list of Nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “These artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”

The inductees will be announced in May, with the induction ceremony set to take place later this fall.

Find the complete list of 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees pictured below:

Barrett Strong, Motown's First Star, Dies at 81

Courtesy Photo Motown Museum 

Barrett Strong, the man behind Motown Records' first hit and a gifted singer and songwriter who helped create some of the legendary label's classics has died. 

The Motown Museum announced his death, at the age of 81, on social media Sunday.

"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of legendary @ClassicMotown singer and songwriter Barrett Strong," the Museum wrote on its official Twitter account. 

Born in West Point, Mississippi on Feb. 5, 1941, and raised in Detroit, Strong was the voice behind Motown's first hit, "Money (That’s What I Want)."

Recorded when he was just 18, Strong played piano and provided the vocals for the Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford penned song, in 1959.

Within a year the record had become the label that would come to be nicknamed Hitsville's first smash, selling over a million copies and peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B chart (No. 23 on the Billboard 100).

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of legendary @ClassicMotown singer and songwriter Barrett Strong.

The voice behind @motown's first hit, the iconic “Money (That’s What I Want),” was born in West Point, Mississippi on February 5, 1941 and was raised in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/RvINyjJgcc

— Motown Museum (@Motown_Museum) January 30, 2023

Gordy, who founded Motown, offered high praise for his departed colleague in a statement, even though the men had butted heads over the years after Strong claimed he co-wrote the song along with Grody and Bradford.

"Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, created an incredible body of work," he said. 

Ultimately, Barrett was denied a writing credit but that did not damage his relationship with Motown.

Along with Whitfield, he was the driving force behind some of its signature hits, such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "War" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone."

He was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which cited him as "a pivotal figure in Motown's formative years," in 2004.

 

Smokey Robinson Drops New Single From Upcoming Album 'Gasms'

Smokey Robinson's new album “Gasms” will be released on April 28.

On Friday, Motown legend Smokey Robinson teased his first new album release since 2017's "Christmas Everyday" — which included three original songs by the artist mixed in with seven seasonal standards.

"My New Music is OUT NOW!!!" wrote Robinson on his official Instagram account. "The New Single
“If We Don’t Have Each Other” is available on all platforms… and my New album ‘GASMS’ will be available April 28, 2023."

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The founder and front man of one of the seminal R&B labels' first vocal supergroups — the Miracles — Robinson has also enjoyed a lengthy solo career. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

“Gasms” features nine new songs produced and written by Robinson. It is his most ambitious musical undertaking since the release of “Smokey & Friends” in 2014.

The album of duets featured an all-star lineup of his contemporaries, including Elton John, Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow and Mary J. Blige. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200, making it the second most successful effort of his solo career.

Earlier this year it was announced that Robinson will be honored alongside Motown founder and fellow musician Berry Gordy as the 2023 “Persons Of The Year” at the Recording Academy’s annual MusiCares event on Feb. 3 in Los Angeles.

Papoose Named Head of Hip-Hop at Music Distributor TuneCore

Mixtape messiah and occasional "Love & Hip Hop" series star Papoose has been named Head of Hip-Hop at DIY music distributor TuneCore.

The company, which hails itself as "the leading development partner for self-releasing artists—owned by Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies" announced the partnership on Tuesday.

"When hiring executives I look for expertise and experience," TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson said of the company's reasoning behind the move in a statement.

"Papoose’s years of hustling and success in the industry make him uniquely qualified to advise Hip-Hop artists because he’s been in their shoes, he understands what they’re going through and he knows first-hand what works.”

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A post shared by Papoose (@papoose)

The Brooklyn-bred wordsmith, who celebrated the news with several posts on his social media, said the new role would allow him to help others forge their own path to success in an industry notorious for its pitfalls.

“For my whole career, everyone has known what I stand for: independence,” Papoose said. “For me, being in this position with TuneCore where I can directly contribute and help other self-releasing artists on the come-up is like magic. I understand what it’s like to be in the studio, to be on the road, to chase your dreams as an artist, and I’m excited to help up-and-coming artists make their dreams a reality.”

In addition to scouting talents on behalf of the music distribution service, Papoose will oversee its artist ambassador program for hip-hop and rap along with education and career advice workshops.

The deal furthers a relationship between TuneCore and the artist that began in 2021 when he had the idea of releasing an album a month. Papoose credits TuneCore as the only distributor that allowed him to release music at that rate.

"When everyone else slammed their doors in my face I was lucky to discover TuneCore, the only distributor that allowed me to share my music at such a high rate," he told Rock The Bells. "Giving me this freedom allowed me to make history by becoming the only artist to release an album a month for a whole year, and that helped me gain support from genre giants like Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz, Fabolous Timbaland, and others."

Papoose also announced the release of his latest single, “Makin Plays (feat. Jim Jones and Jaquae)” out February 10th. He described the song as a high-energy anthem about creating your own opportunities for success and hitting whatever your goals might be.

Legendary Hip-Hop Band The Roots Perform at Kennedy Center In New PBS Special

Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group The Roots will be the subject of the next episode of "NEXT at the Kennedy Center," a primetime series from The Kennedy Center and PBS that spotlights cultural leaders from the worlds of hip-hop, jazz, folk, comedy, modern dance and more.

"The Roots Residency," an hour-long special that will air on PBS at 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27., promises to give audiences rare insights into the band through one-on-one interviews with its founders Questlove and Black Thought bookended, by an electric performance by an "electric performance" filmed during its residency at the Kennedy Center.

Jan. 27 at 9/8c on @PBS, the Kennedy Center celebrates hip hop legends @theroots! 🎧🎶

Join us for the #KenCenNextPBS special featuring an electrifying performance & highlights of their #KenCenHipHop For the Culture Artist Residency. pic.twitter.com/V4VIumHceG

— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 23, 2023

“The Roots have existed at the forefront of culture for over three decades. They are deeply committed to ensuring that generations of artists and communities see themselves powerfully reflected through their work and at venerable institutions like the Kennedy Center,” Simone Eccleston, director of hip-hop culture and contemporary music at The Kennedy Center, said in a statement.

"The Roots Residency’ is a testament to their capacity to not only change the lives of individuals but also to transform institutions. The impact of our partnership is that we are forever changed as an organization. Through their residency, The Roots have created powerful platforms for the celebration of multihyphenates, cultural leaders and emerging artists. We hope that viewers experience their genius as performers, curators and cultural catalysts.”

Formed by Questlove and Black Thought in 1987, while they were students at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Roots have been a mainstay of hip-hop culture for over 30 years.

Its pioneering use of live musical instruments, a revolving lineup that has featured as many as 12 members at a time and an eclectic approach to rap and other genres they dabble in have branded the group as innovators. While their deep discography, The Roots have released 16 studio albums, featuring hits like "Things Fall Apart" and "Phrenology," has earned the group critical praise and three Grammy Awards.

When they are not selling out venues are working on their 17th studio album, "End Game," The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Watch some of the highlights from The Roots' performance below. 

Rihanna Earns First Oscar Nomination for Black Panther Soundtrack Single 'Lift Me Up'

Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” is a 2023 Academy Awards Nominee

It looks like 2023 is shaping up to be the year of Rihanna.

The Barbadian billionaire was already scheduled to headline Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. Tuesday morning it was revealed that she has earned her first Oscar nomination.

Her song "Lift Me Up," the lead single from the soundtrack for the film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," is contending for best original song at the 95th Academy Awards

Not bad for the first solo effort by the 34-year-old star on a track since 2016.

While Rihanna provided the vocals and took part in the writing process for the ballad, it was a team effort.

Singer-songwriter Tems, the film's director Ryan Coogler and composer Ludwig Goransson shared writing credits on the record and in the nomination. 

Tems is the first Nigerian musician to be nominated for an Oscar.

"Lift Me Up" was previously nominated for a Golden Globe but lost to "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR" in January.

The Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on March 12 from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

Below is a complete list of the nominees for best original song.

Best Original Song

“Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman, Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

“Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

“Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler

“Naatu Naatu” from RRR, Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose

“This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once, Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

SZA Tops Billboard 200 for Sixth Consecutive Week

SZA, 33, has only released two studio albums in her short career, but the Grammy Award-winning artist's recent performance on the Billboard album chart has her name being mentioned alongside some of music's greats.

"SOS" sold the equivalent of 119,000 units in the United States last week according to music data tracker Luminate. It was enough to keep "SOS" on top of the Billboard 200 for the sixth consecutive week since its Dec. 7 release — a feat matched only by icons Adele and Taylor Swift in the last decade.

Janet Jackson's 1993 release "Janet" was the last R&B release by a woman to top the chart for its first six weeks according to Billboard. SZA's run at the top is the longest for an R&B artist since Usher’s “Confessions” spent nine weeks atop the chart in 2004.

Born Solána Imani Rowe in St. Louis, Missouri, SZA's art takes unique inspiration from a childhood spent in New Jersey, where she was raised by her devout Muslim father and a Christian mother.

Citing Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill among her key musical influences, the artists whose acronym — taken from the Nation of Islam's Supreme Alphabet — stands for Sovereign (modified from Savior) Zig-Zag Allah, self-released her first EP "See.SZA.Run" in 2012.

After signing with RCA Records she released her critically-acclaimed studio debut "Ctrl" in 2017. It premiered at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and earned SZA four Grammy nominations. Time magazine gave it the nod over rapper Kendrick Lamar's equally praised release, "Damn," for best album of the year.

BMG Sues Bratz Dollmaker for $10 Million, Alleging it Ripped-off Black Eyed Peas to Promote Pooping Unicorns

The company that owns the rights to one of the Black Eyed Peas' biggest hits is suing MGA Entertainment Inc, maker of the once pervasively popular Bratz dolls, for $10 million dollars. 

BMG Rights Management filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on Thursday alleging the toy company ripped off the group's Grammy Award-winning song "My Humps" to promote the dancing and slime-pooping unicorn dolls from its "Poopsie Slime Surprise" toy line.

The suit, which describes the Black Eyed Peas as "arguably the most popular and recognized pop music group in the past 30 years," states that MGA's toys sing a song called "My Poops," a thinly veiled unauthorized homage to the group's 2005 posterior-focused hit.

In addition to having its toys sing the song, BMG said MGA placed a sticker on the packaging of the dolls that "excrete sparkling slime"  directing consumers to dance to the song and a company-made video for it that was posted on YouTube.

The video features animated versions of the toys dancing and singing along to "My Poops," while a singer whose voice bears a strong resemblance to former Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie belts out the tune.

BMG, which owns 75% of the "My Humps" composition copyright, has asked the court for at least $10 million in damages, alleging that MGA earned tens of millions of dollars in part because of it use of the double-platinum booty-based Billboard Hot 100 (No. 3). hit. 

Click here to read a copy of the full complaint. 

Flo Rida Awarded $82.6M for Breach of Contract Case

Screengrab from "My House" video via YouTube

Flo Rida is celebrating after being awarded $82.6 million in damages on Wednesday by a Florida jury that agreed with his claim that energy drink maker Celsius violated an endorsement deal with him.

"I just want to say God is good in Jesus' name," said the rapper at a press conference outside the courthouse moments after his legal victory, before taking a sip of one of the company's signature beverages.

Flo Rida, 43, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, added that he sued Florida-based Celsius Holdings Inc. because he played a significant role in its rise from an obscure beverage company to an industry powerhouse.

“I carried them on my back,” he said. “I put them in my videos. They were with me everywhere I played.”

Rapper Flo Rida sips from a Celsius energy drink moments after winning a lawsuit against them and awarded millions. @nbc6 @official_flo pic.twitter.com/V89VVkcAWz

— Sheli Muñiz (@SheliNBC6) January 18, 2023

Flo Rida was a brand ambassador for Celsius from 2014 to 2018 according to the civil complaint originally filed in 2021. 

During that time his lawyers argued the musician was integral to the company's growth, noting that it was $50 million in debt when the deal began and had grown into a multibillion-dollar company with his help, as he introduced millions around the world to the brand.

In return for his endorsement, which included prominent product placements in his videos — his 2015 Billboard top 10 platinum single "My House" was shown in court as an example —Flo Rida was promised a percentage of stocks and bonuses worth millions once Celsius achieved a benchmark in sales revenue.

His attorneys argued that Celsius had met those key sales metrics during the five-day trial and that their client was entitled to additional stock amounting to a 1 percent stake in the business, which was worth at least $75 million in their estimation.

Celsius' lawyers said the benchmark was reached only after its endorsement deal with Flo Rida expired and attributed the company's increased sales to internal moves.

The argument did not seem to hold much sway with the jurors, who awarded him the victory on the second day of deliberations.

Snoop Dogg, Sade Among 2023 Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductees

Snoop Dogg

The Songwriters Hall of Fame has released the names of the seven inductees that make up its class of 2023, and it includes several hip-hop and R&B powerhouses.

Gangster rapper turned entertainer extraordinaire Snoop Dogg, New Jack Swing pioneer Teddy Riley and soul music icon Sade made the cut.

They will be officially inducted at the organization’s 52nd Annual Induction and Awards Gala on June 15 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, along with the "Queen of Latin Pop," Gloria Estefan, Electric Light Orchestra founder Jeff Lynne, Glen Ballard — a writer who co-wrote some of Alanis Morissette's and Michael Jackson's biggest hits — and frequent Taylor Swift collaborator Liz Rose.

"The music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first. Without them there is no recorded music, no concert business, no merch . . . nothing, it all starts with the song and the songwriter," Nile Rodgers, the hall's chairman, said in a statement.

"We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2023 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and, in their time, literally transformed music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world."

For more info on the inductees, the process used to determine their worthiness for the hall and their official bios click here.

Mimi and Missy to Headline Second Annual Lovers & Friends Fest in Las Vegas

Las Vegas will be the center of the R&B music universe for the second year in a row, at least for a day, this May.

Usher announced the lineup for his Lovers & Friends music festival Tuesday, putting the world on notice that some of the genre's biggest acts and their hip-hop brethren are headed to Sin City.

"We’re back at it! Lovers & Friends Festival in Vegas Saturday, May 6, 2023. Time to “Get Ur Freak On,” wrote the self-declared "King of R&B" on Twitter, alongside an image of the festival's lineup.

Standing out among the loaded list of performers, which features over 45 acts, are some marquee names, including first-time headliners Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott and Pitbull.

Along with the festival's host, Usher, they give this second edition of the annual event some serious star power.

🎧We’re back at it! Lovers & Friends Festival in Vegas Saturday, May 6, 2023 👈🏾
Register now for presale tickets, available on Friday, January 20th at 10AM at https://t.co/DIKuR9PIOh pic.twitter.com/EuLXrbj0At

— Usher Raymond IV (@Usher) January 17, 2023

The bill is rounded out by fellow music luminaries Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, Boyz II Men, and an astonishing array of chart-topping acts from previous decades to the present including Ginuwine, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, Master P, T.I., Flo Rida, Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller, Shaggy, Eve and Omarion.

Lisa Marie Presley, Singer-Songwriter and Elvis' Only Child, Dead at 54

Lisa Marie Presley, a singer-songwriter who was the only child of Elvis, the man many people regard as the king of rock n’ roll and who was married briefly to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has died at the age of 54.

She passed away Thursday after being rushed to the hospital earlier in the day for treatment after going into cardiac arrest at her Calabasas, California, home.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” her mother, Priscilla Presley said in a statement Thursday evening. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”

Presley was eager to follow in her footsteps earlier in her career, releasing three albums. Her debut effort in 2003, "Whom It May Concern," reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified gold. Her second release "Now What" peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2005.

While critics heaped some praise on her songwriting ability and her voice, Presley's music career stalled after her third release "Storm & Grace" in 2012.

My beloved daughter Lisa Marie was rushed to the hospital. She is now receiving the best care. Please keep her and our family in your prayers. We feel the prayers from around the world, and ask for privacy during this time.
-Priscilla Presley pic.twitter.com/j5oNfNMYJx

— Priscilla Presley (@Cilla_Presley) January 12, 2023

In addition to being the only heir of one of the most famous men in music, and retaining ownership of his legendary estate Graceland, Presley's short marriage to Jackson further cemented her standing as music royalty and sparked the curiosity of the world.

 

The duo was married from 1994 to 1996. Together they weathered child molestation accusations against Jackson, before the constant attention and Jackson's health issues led Presley to file for divorce in 1996, citing irreconcilable differences.

She later revealed in a 2010 interview with Oprah Winfrey, that she and Jackson — who died of a drug overdose in 2009 — had attempted to reconcile on and off for four years following their divorce, and that she had traveled to different parts of the world to be with him.

Mama Lion with cubs ❤️💙🖤🧡🦁😘 pic.twitter.com/UiYoceWHWN

— Lisa Marie Presley (@LisaPresley) June 20, 2019

Presley was married three other times: musician Danny Keough (1988-1994), actor Nicolas Cage (2002-2004) and guitarist Michael Lockwood (2006-2021).

The unions produced four children: Actor Riley Keough, her brother Benjamin Keough who committed suicide in 2020 and twins Finley Lockwood and Harper Lockwood.

Dr. Dre Selling Catalog Assets to Universal Music Group and Shamrock Holdings in $200 Million-Plus Deal

After falling to No. 5 on the list of Hip-Hop's richest moguls in 2022, as curated by Forbes magazine, with a fortune estimated at $400 million, it looks like Dr. Dre has found the perfect prescription to put himself back among the genre's top earners.

The super-producer, who once wrongly proclaimed himself hip-hop's first billionaire, is close to reaching a deal to sell some of his music assets for more than $200 million. 

It's not enough to get him into the coveted three-comma club with Jay-Z ($1.5 billion), and Diddy ($1 billion) but it will provide a significant boost to his net worth, which peaked at $800 million.

According to reporting from Variety, the sales are being made to Shamrock Holdings and Universal Music Group through a pair of deals for assets making around $10 million a year. The assets being purchased include his artist royalties from N.W.A. and for two solo albums, along with producing royalties and other entities.

The master recording of Dre’s iconic debut solo album following his departure from N.W.A., 1992′s "The Chronic,” will also be acquired by UMB. The triple-platinum album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2019 as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Dre, 57, will reportedly maintain control of his Aftermath Entertainment record label.

Naomi Osaka is Expecting First Baby With Boyfriend Cordae

Naomi Osaka and Cordae on the cover the March 2021 issue of GQ

Three-time Grammy Award-nominee Cordae and former world No. 1 tennis player Naomi Osaka are having a baby.

Osaka, 25, made the announcement that she and the rapper were expecting Wednesday on social media.

"Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023," she labeled a post on her official Instagram account featuring photos of a sonogram along with a letter to fans in both English and Japanese.

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A post shared by 大坂なおみ🇭🇹🇯🇵 (@naomiosaka)

“The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that it’s the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun. These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to,” it reads.

“I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure. I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’ haha. 2023 will be a year that'll be full of lessons for me and I hope I'll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I'll be at [Australian Open] 2024."

Osaka added, "I don’t think there’s a perfectly correct path to take in life but I always felt that if you move forward with good intentions you’ll find your way eventually."

The announcement sheds new light on Osaka's withdrawal from the upcoming Australian Open, which was announced Sunday by tournament organizers.

It was scheduled to be her first on-court action since September when she played in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Osaka and Cordae, 25, have been dating since 2019 after meeting at a Los Angeles Clippers game.

Watch: Angela Bassett Make History as First MCU Actor to Win a Golden Globe

Photo Courtesy Marvel 

Angela Bassett paid a touching tribute to late "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman, Tuesday, while accepting her Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a drama film for her performance as Queen Ramonda in the film's sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

“We embarked on this journey together with love. We mourned, we loved, we healed. We were surrounded each and every day by the light and the spirit of Chadwick Boseman,” Bassett said following the historic win, the first for an actor in a Marvel movie.

Congratulations to @imangelabassett for taking home the Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture! A well deserved honor 🙌

Watch LIVE on NBC and Peacock! #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/zcuzdg46Jf

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 11, 2023

“We have joy in knowing that with this historic ‘Black Panther’ series, it is a part of his legacy that he helped to lead us. We showed the world what Black unity, leadership and love looks like, behind and in front of the camera."

The win was the second for the 64-year-old actor. Bassett, who has been nominated twice for Golden Globes, also won the award for best actress in a musical or comedy for 1993’s Tina Turner biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It."

Gordy Harmon, Co-Founder of R&B Hitmakers the Whispers, Dies At 79

Early promotional material for the Whispers featuring Gordy Harmon. 

The Whispers, and fans of the acclaimed California-bred R&B group, are in mourning following the death of one of its founding members.

Singer Gordy Harmon, who co-founded the quintet in Watts, California, with twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott, Marcus Hutson, and Nicholas Caldwell in 1964, has died at the age of 79.

No cause was given for Harmon’s death, but his family confirmed the news to ABC 7. The media outlet reported that the musician died peacefully in his sleep at his Los Angeles home on Thursday (Jan. 5). 

The surviving Whispers shared their condolences on social media. 

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“We are saddened by the passing of one of the founders and former member of the Whispers,” the group captioned a collage of photos during Gordy's time with it on its official Instagram page. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and his memory and his contributions will never be forgotten. Much love.”

Before leaving the band in 1973, after his larynx was damaged in a driving accident, Harmon helped lay the groundwork for the group's future success. 

He sang on early hits like 1969's "The Time Will Come," which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard R&B chart, and “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong” which became the group's first top 10 R&B entry in 1970.

Harmon was replaced by, Leaveil Degree, formerly of Friends of Distinction, and the Whispers went on to enjoy even greater success.

During the eighties and early nineties, the group scored multiple hits on the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts, putting out five gold and two platinum-certified albums. 

In 1987, their signature hit "Rock Steady" peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100, while taking the top spot on the R&B chart. 

The Whispers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003, the Soul Music Hall of Fame in 2012 and the R&B Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

De La Soul's Music is Officially Headed to Streaming Platforms

De La Soul (Photo Courtesy Instagram: @wearedelasoul)

De La Soul has finally gone digital.

On Wednesday, the Grammy Award-winning rap group announced its iconic catalog will be released on streaming services for the first time ever on March 3 — the 34th anniversary of its debut album "3 Feet High and Rising."

"We can’t believe this day is finally here, and we are excited to be able to share our music with fans, old and new. Golnar, Rell, Faith and the Reservoir team have been great partners in this entire process. We’re grateful that our relationship with them all has enabled this to happen,” De La Soul said of the long-anticipated release in a statement.

The rest of the group's first six albums, "De La Soul Is Dead," "Buhloone Mindstate," "Stakes Is High," "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" and "AOI: Bionix," will also be made available.

De La Soul's label AOI will distribute the music in partnership with Reservoir Media and its subsidiary Chrysalis Records.

The move ends months of speculation on whether or not the move would really happen. Previously, infighting between the trio and their label Tommy Boy had kept De La Soul's work from being digitally distributed. 

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As we reported earlier Reservoir acquired Tommy Boy — founded by Tom Silverman in New York in 1981 and instrumental in launching the careers of Afrika Bambaataa, Queen Latifah, Digital Underground and Naughty By Nature amongst others — in June for a deal valued at $100 million dollars.

The purchase proved fortunate for De La Soul which was at an impasse in negotiations with Tommy Boy over streaming rights in 2019 after the label acquired the rights to its back catalog from Warner Records.

In August the group revealed during an Instagram live session that its whole catalog would be made available for streaming as a result of the deal.

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"We have finally come down to a deal between ourselves and Reservoir Media to release our music in 2021," group member Dave "Trugoy" Jolicoeur said. "Our catalog will be released this year, we are working diligently with the good folks at Reservoir, and we sat down with them and got it done pretty quickly actually."

Made up of Jolicoeur, Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer and Vincent "Maseo" Mason, De La Soul were pioneers of alternative rap and prominent members of the so-called Native Tongues collective, along with A Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers and others known for the positive Afrocentric lyrics, eclectic samples and jazz-influenced beats. A 2006 collaboration with the Gorillaz on the single “Feel Good Inc.” earned it a Grammy.