Watch: Netflix Doc Revisits Fatal Crowd Surge at Travis Scott’s Astroworld

The poster for Netflix’s Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy, a new documentary examining the fatal 2021 crowd surge at Travis Scott’s Houston festival. (Courtesy Netflix)

Netflix is set to revisit one of live music’s darkest nights with Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy, the latest installment in its Trainwreck documentary series. The film, premiering June 10, retraces the November 2021 crowd surge at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival in Houston that left 10 concertgoers dead and hundreds more injured.

Directed by Emmy winner Leslie Chilcott, Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy draws on interviews with survivors, paramedics and festival staff to provide an unflinching look at how a record-breaking crowd overwhelmed safety measures.

The newly released trailer begins with the festival’s electric build-up: “He’s the messiah of music,” one fan intones, while another recalls the “unparalleled experience” of Scott’s live shows. Tickets for the sold-out event vanished in 30 minutes, underscoring its feverish appeal to Houston’s youth.

But jubilation gives way to panic. As gates opened, onlookers describe “overwhelming chaos” at entry points, and an attendee recalls feeling “your whole body move forward” in a surging mass. Narration warns of a “wave effect” that turned celebration into catastrophe. Distressing audio — including frantic 911 calls and pleas to stop the show — punctuates the trailer, as a reporter grimly observes, “People are dead and hundreds others hurt.”

The preview also raises pointed questions about festival management: “You guys were in charge of this. What was the failure?” One survivor, speaking on camera for the first time, says he “never spoke about it before” but now wants “people to know the truth.”

The tragedy has spawned more than 2,500 civil lawsuits alleging negligence and inadequate crowd control. While Scott has settled several claims, dozens remain pending, and Texas prosecutors continue to review potential criminal charges tied to the disaster.

Watch the trailer below.

Convicted Murderer Accused Of Stabbing Tory Lanez

California Department of Corrections

A fellow inmate at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi has been identified as the man accused of stabbing rapper Tory Lanez 14 times early Monday morning, authorities confirmed.

The assailant, 42-year-old Santino Casio, was booked into the prison’s restricted housing unit pending an investigation by the CCI Investigative Services Unit and notification of the state Inspector General’s office.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Casio attacked Daystar Peterson —better known as Tory Lanez — at approximately 7:20 a.m. on May 12 while both men were in a CCI housing unit. Correctional staff immediately intervened, called 911 and began rendering first aid before Peterson was rushed by ambulance to a nearby civilian hospital. He was listed in fair condition.

 

Tory Lanez

In a post to his Instagram account, Peterson’s legal team said he sustained seven stab wounds to his back, four to his torso, two to the back of his head and one to the left side of his face. “Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus,” the statement read. “He is now breathing on his own. Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.”

Casio was transferred to CCI from Los Angeles County on Feb. 10, 2004, after receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, personal use of a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily injury. His record includes a six-year in-prison term, imposed Jan. 3, 2008, for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon, and a two-year term, imposed June 12, 2018, for possession or manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner.

LA District Attorney's Office press release on Tory Lanez guilty verdict.

"Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed."https://t.co/uQ1HEFyhV8 pic.twitter.com/i7fr5OlVix

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 24, 2022

Peterson arrived at CCI on Sept. 19, 2023, following his Aug. 8, 2023, sentencing to 10 years in state prison for assault with a semiautomatic firearm — stemming from the July 2020 shooting that wounded fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion — and related weapons charges.

As the investigation continues, CDCR has placed Casio in segregation “to ensure the safety and security of the institution,” spokesperson Jennifer Shaffer said. The department declined to specify a motive for the attack.

Snoop Dogg Drops Surprise Project, 50 Cent Announces Europe Tour

Rapper Snoop Dogg and his wife, Shante Broadus, are featured on the cover art for Snoop Dogg's surprise new album and short film, "Iz It a Crime?", set for release May 15.

Snoop Dogg put fans on notice today during an appearance on "Access Hollywood," revealing “Iz It a Crime?,” a surprise album and companion short film set to arrive Thursday via Death Row Records and γamma. “I’m dropping a brand-new movie and an album,” the Long Beach legend said. “It’s some of the things that I’ve done that have been speculation. I just want to ask the question — ‘Is it a crime for me to be me?’”

Recorded between Los Angeles and Nashville, “Iz It a Crime?” finds Snoop reflecting on his life and career with guest turns from Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell Williams, LaRussell and October London. “When people are around me, they feel like they already know me,” he explained, calling that intimacy the project’s guiding light after recent forays into gospel on “Altar Call” and preschool education with “Doggyland.”

 

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Meanwhile, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will embark June 8 on a 12-city European run celebrating both his 50th birthday and his blockbuster catalog. The “Legacy Tour” opens at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt and hits major festivals and arenas before wrapping Aug. 10 in Warsaw, Poland.

Jackson’s tour pages promise deep cuts (“Many Men,” “In da Club”) alongside surprise guests, underscoring 50 Cent’s knack for turning nights into events. Between corporate investments and his “Power Book” series, he’s shown the blueprint for hip-hop multiplied — and multiplied again.

Confirmed 50 Cent “Legacy Tour” dates:
June 8 – Frankfurt, Germany (Deutsche Bank Park)
June 14 – Manchester, England (Parklife Festival)
June 21 – Rabat, Morocco (Festival Mawazine)
June 28 – Hannover, Germany (Heinz von Heiden Arena)
July 3 – London, England (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
July 6 – Dublin, Ireland (Longitude Festival)
July 11 – Glasgow, Scotland (TRNSMT Festival)
July 12 – Frauenfeld, Switzerland (Openair Frauenfeld)
July 13 – Paris, France (Paris La Défense Arena)
Aug. 6 – Skanderborg, Denmark (Smukfest)
Aug. 8 – Tallinn, Estonia (Tallinn Song Festival Grounds)
Aug. 10 – Warsaw, Poland (PGE Narodowy)

John Edwards, Frontman for R&B Group The Spinners, Dead at 80

John Edwards, the lead singer who helped sustain The Spinners’ chart success from 1977 through 2000, has died at 80, the group announced Saturday on its official Facebook page.

Edwards, a Missouri native who took over for Phillippe Wynne, lent his baritone to hits such as “Working My Way Back to You” and “Cupid” and was inducted alongside the group into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

 

Edwards joined The Spinners at age 33, stepping into the shoes of Wynne—whose departure in 1977 left big expectations. “He proved more than capable of bearing the burden, ensuring that the excellence that fans came to associate with The Spinners would continue uninterrupted,” the group’s statement read. “John Edwards is an integral part of The Spinners’ legacy and we will continue to celebrate his contributions to this mighty legacy.”

Before his tenure with The Spinners, Edwards recorded as a solo artist and found modest success, according to SoulTracks, which also reported that he had been in poor health since suffering a stroke more than two decades ago.

 

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The Spinners first rose to fame in the early 1970s with Phil Collins–produced tracks like “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.” They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976 and were inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015 before their Rock Hall honor. Edwards’ era kept that momentum alive with polished soul-pop that bridged AM radio and disco dance floors.

Edwards retired from touring in 2000 but continued to make public appearances with his former bandmates on special occasions. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Tory Lanez Stabbed in Face During Prison Yard Altercation

Tory Lanez

Tory Lanez was rushed to a Bakersfield hospital Monday after being stabbed multiple times in the face by another inmate during yard time at the California Correctional Institution, TMZ first reported.

Prison officials say Lanez, 32, endured the attack in a Tehachapi exercise yard when an assailant struck him with a homemade weapon. Corrections officers rendered first aid and summoned an ambulance, which transported the rapper to a civilian facility for treatment of his facial wounds.

Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence for the July 2020 shooting of fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion outside a Hollywood Hills party. He was convicted in December 2022 on three felony counts — assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence — and remains free to appeal.

In January, Megan Thee Stallion obtained a five-year restraining order against Lanez, telling a judge she feared he might attack her again. In April, her lawyers sought to hold him in contempt after he “disrupted” her deposition in a civil defamation case she filed against influencer Milagro Cooper.

UMG Seeks to Silence Drake Suit While Lamar Leads BET Celebrations

Drake is involved in a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us," with the label arguing the suit is a "meritless" attempt to "save face" after Drake lost their rap battle, a legal conflict that comes as Lamar leads nominations for the upcoming BET Awards, where Drake also received multiple nods.

Universal Music Group on Wednesday urged a federal judge to throw out Drake’s defamation lawsuit, accusing the rapper of mounting a “meritless” bid to salve his wounded pride after a public rap battle with Kendrick Lamar.

In a motion filed May 7 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, UMG called Drake’s amended complaint “astonishing,” arguing that his focus on a single censored lyric from Lamar’s hit “Not Like Us” only underscores the true target: Lamar’s commercial and creative success.

Drake first sued UMG in January, claiming the label and its distribution of Lamar’s incendiary track had defamed him. In April he amended the suit to cite Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance on Feb. 9, 2025, contending that Lamar’s decision to omit a critical verse before a record TV audience proved the song’s reputation‑damaging power. Drake’s complaint asserts that the broadcast‑censoring “allowed millions to miss the precise words at issue and unjustly vilified my client.”

UMG counters that Drake “was pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar. But now, after losing the rap battle, Drake claims that ‘Not Like Us’ is defamatory. It is not.” The label is asking that the amended complaint be dismissed with prejudice.

“Drake’s attack on the commercial and creative success of the artist who soundly bested him is the real grievance here,” UMG wrote, calling the lawsuit a thinly veiled attempt to weaponize the courts against artistic competition.

Lamar’s “Not Like Us” did nothing to hurt his momentum. The track swept all five of its Grammy nominations on Feb. 2, 2025, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. This month, Lamar leads the field at the 2025 BET Awards with 10 nominations. 

The ceremony is set to air live on Monday, June 9, from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. His nominations include major nods for Album of the Year for “GNX,” Video of the Year and Viewer's Choice for “Not Like Us,” Best Male Hip‑Hop Artist, and multiple Best Collaboration nominations. He bids to extend his run against competitors that include Drake, who earned six nods of his own, including Album of the Year for "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U," Video of the Year for "Family Matters," and Best Male Hip Hop Artist.

Top Nominees at the 2025 BET Awards: (Click here for the full list of nominees) 
Kendrick Lamar: 10 nominations
Doechii: 6 nominations
Drake: 6 nominations
Future: 6 nominations
GloRilla: 6 nominations
Metro Boomin: 5 nominations
SZA: 4 nominations
The Weeknd: 4 nominations

Snoop Dogg Teams with KIDZ BOP Tour and ‘PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie’

Snoop Dogg, center, appears with characters from his preschool series “Doggyland,” whose live show will open for the KIDZ BOP Live Certified BOP Tour this summer, as the rapper also lends his voice to the upcoming feature “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie.” (Graphic courtesy of Doggyland/YouTube)

Snoop Dogg is trading G‑funk for giggles this summer, joining forces with the KIDZ BOP Live Certified BOP Tour and lending his voice to Spin Master’s upcoming feature “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie.”

Beginning June 14 in Stamford, Connecticut, and running through Sept. 7 in Houston, Texas, the 28‑city KIDZ BOP tour will now kick off each night with a live performance of “Doggyland,” Dogg’s animated YouTube series for preschoolers. Created in 2022, “Doggyland” follows Bow Wizzle and a colorful cast of puppies who rap and sing about letters, numbers, colors and social‑emotional skills.

“‘Doggyland’ and KIDZ BOP are teamin’ up for a special tour like no other,” Snoop Dogg said in a release touting the collaboration. “We’re takin’ our animated world and bringing it to life, ya dig? We invite little kids, big kids, mamas, daddies, uncles, aunties — to join us for life lessons and some family fun. When ‘Doggyland’ links with KIDZ BOP, it’s a musical journey you will never forget.”

KIDZ BOP, which claims to be the No. 1 music brand for kids since 2001, will feature its young stars — Aleah, Cliff, Matty and Shila — performing kid‑friendly versions of today’s hits like “Espresso” and “Hot to Go!” on a stage complete with interactive elements and the return of the Daddy Dance Off.

“We’re excited to have ‘Doggyland’ join the KIDZ BOP Live Certified BOP Tour this summer as our special show opener,” added Sasha Junk, president of KIDZ BOP. “Their hip‑hop spin on classic kids’ songs — especially the viral ‘Affirmations Song' — will add fresh energy to our live events.”

Meanwhile, Dogg is also expanding his family‑friendly portfolio on the big screen. He joins a star‑studded ensemble — Jameela Jamil, Terry Crews, Paris Hilton, Bill Nye, Meredith MacNeill and Ron Pardo — in “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie." The third theatrical installment of the animated franchise follows the rescue pups on a prehistoric adventure and is set to drop July 31, 2026.

KIDZ BOP LIVE TOUR DATES

Date	City	Venue
Saturday, June 14, 2025	Stamford, Conn.*	The Palace
Thursday, June 19, 2025	Hershey, Pa.*	Giant Center
Friday, June 20, 2025	Raleigh, N.C.*	Coastal Credit Union
Saturday, June 21, 2025	Charlotte, N.C.*	PNC Music Pavilion
Sunday, June 22, 2025	Greensboro, N.C.*	White Oak Amphitheater
Thursday, June 26, 2025	West Palm Beach, Fla.*	iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Friday, June 27, 2025	Jacksonville, Fla.*	Daily’s Place
Saturday, June 28, 2025	Alpharetta, Ga.*	Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sunday, June 29, 2025	Franklin, Tenn.*	FirstBank Amphitheater
Thursday, July 3, 2025	Gilford, N.H.*	Bank of NH Pavilion
Saturday, July 5, 2025	Bangor, Maine*	Maine Savings Bank
Sunday, July 6, 2025	Bethel, N.Y.*	Bethel Woods
Thursday, July 10, 2025	Richmond, Va.*	Allianz Amphitheater
Friday, July 11, 2025	Wantagh, N.Y.*	Northwell Health at Jones Beach
Saturday, July 12, 2025	Holmdel, N.J.*	PNC Bank Arts Center
Thursday, July 17, 2025	Wilmington, N.C.*	Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Friday, July 18, 2025	Baltimore, Md.*	Pier Six Pavilion
Saturday, July 19, 2025	Boston, Mass.* (2 shows)	Leader Bank Pavilion
Sunday, July 20, 2025	Wallingford, Conn.*	Toyota Oakdale Theater
Wednesday, July 23, 2025	Columbus, Ohio*	Ohio State Fair
Thursday, July 24, 2025	Clarkston, Mich.*	Pine Knob Music Center
Friday, July 25, 2025	Noblesville, Ind.*	Ruoff Music Center
Sunday, July 27, 2025	Cincinnati, Ohio*	PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
Friday, August 1, 2025	Saratoga Springs, N.Y.*	Broadview Stage at SPAC
Saturday, August 2, 2025	Camden, N.J.*	Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Tuesday, August 5, 2025	West Allis, Wis.*	Wisconsin State Fair
Friday, August 8, 2025	Macon, Ga.*	Macon Amphitheater
Saturday, August 9, 2025	Tampa, Fla.*	MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
Friday, August 15, 2025	Tinley Park, Ill.	Credit Union 1 Amphitheater
Saturday, August 16, 2025	Kansas City, Mo.	Starlight Theatre
Sunday, August 17, 2025	Des Moines, Iowa	Iowa State Fair
Wednesday, August 20, 2025	Grand Rapids, Mich.	DeVos Hall
Thursday, August 21, 2025	Toronto, Ont.	Budweiser Stage
Friday, August 22, 2025	Toledo, Ohio	Toledo Zoo Amphitheater
Saturday, August 23, 2025	Syracuse, N.Y.	New York State Fair
Thursday, August 28, 2025	San Diego, Calif.	Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheatre
Friday, August 29, 2025	Phoenix, Ariz.	Arizona Financial Theatre
Saturday, August 30, 2025	Anaheim, Calif.	Honda Center
Sunday, August 31, 2025	Mountain View, Calif.	Shoreline Amphitheater
Friday, September 5, 2025	Irving, Texas	Toyota Music Factory
Sunday, September 7, 2025	Houston, Texas	Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Wednesday, September 10, 2025	Puyallup, Wash.	Washington State Fair

*Doggyland opening act dates

No Bars, No Flute, Just André: 3000 Unveils '7 Piano Sketches'

The cover of André 3000’s new album “7 Piano Sketches” depicts the Outkast co‑founder with a stripped‑down grand piano strapped to his back, a visual nod to the release’s sparse, lo‑fi improvisations.

There’s no flute this time. No bars, no features, no rollouts. Just André 3000, alone with a piano, playing in rooms with nothing but beds, TV screens — and feelings.

On Monday, André 3000 attended the Met Gala in New York, donning a Burberry jumpsuit and red hat, with a lightweight replica Steinway Model S baby grand piano strapped to his back. Later that day, while fashion fans were still basking in the afterglow of the gala, the Outkast co‑founder quietly released “7 Piano Sketches,” a seven‑track follow‑up to 2023’s “New Blue Sun.”

“These piano sketches are improvisations,” the eclectic artist wrote on Instagram. “To conjure them up, I spread my fingers out on the keys and randomly but with purpose move them around until I find something that feels good or interesting… I cannot name which notes, keys or chords that I’m playing. I simply like the sound and mechanics of piano playing.”

Originally titled “The Best Worst Rap Album in History,” the project contains no lyrics—and that’s the point. “It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all. It’s the best because it’s the free‑est emotionally and best I’ve felt personally. It’s like a palette cleanser for me,” he wrote in his liner notes.

Most of these sketches were recorded in Texas nearly a decade ago, when André 3000 and his son were living in a sparsely furnished house — only beds, a piano and TV screens — sharing snippets privately with friends and family. One studio‑quality track, “Blueberries,” stands out for its fidelity, but the rest are honest, lo‑fi improvisations.

He cites Thelonious Monk, Philip Glass and Joni Mitchell as key inspirations — a list as idiosyncratic and unbothered by boundaries as the artist himself.

For longtime fans who’ve waited decades for a traditional solo album, “7 Piano Sketches” may feel like another detour. But for those listening closely, it’s exactly what André 3000 has always been: open, emotional, strange and beautiful.

Chuck D Accepts Reverb Award at Stax in Tribute to Music’s Power and Purpose

Chuck D receives the inaugural Reverb Award from the Soulsville Foundation at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis on Friday. At left is songwriter David Porter. (Photo: Claire James)

Rap pioneer Chuck D received the first-ever "Reverb Award" from the Soulsville Foundation during a powerful ceremony at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on Friday — a moment that bridged generations of Black musical resistance, from protest soul to politically conscious rap.

The honor, part of the Foundation’s new Power of Music Honors series, celebrates artists who wield music as a tool for activism, education and real-world change. And few embody that ethos more than Chuck D, the commanding voice behind Public Enemy, whose “Fight the Power” remains a battle cry more than three decades after it was released.

“I grew up on my mom’s Stax records and to this day am still in total and complete awe of the talent, the genius, and the legacy that came out of the soul of Memphis,” Chuck D said at the ceremony. “I am humbled beyond any words to receive this honor and I share it with everyone who came before me, stands alongside me now, and will follow us all in the future.”

Presented by songwriter and soul icon David Porter — co-author of “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’” — the award recognized Chuck D not just for his music, but for his decades-long role as a cultural commentator, activist and music historian.

“Chuck D has utilized his platform to transcend the sequestered space of musicians as entertainment,” said Soulsville Foundation CEO Pat Mitchell Worley. “His activism and role as a music historian have fueled the knowledge and self-determination of a generation and exemplify the Power of Music Honors.”

The setting made the moment even more profound. Stax Records was never just a hit machine — it was a community anchor that created jobs, mentored local talent, and nurtured revolutionary Black artistry. During the 1960s and ’70s, it launched the careers of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s and The Staple Singers, and helped define the sound of Southern soul and the pulse of Black America.

That legacy continues through the Soulsville Foundation and the Stax Music Academy, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. At the ceremony, soul singer Talibah Safiya and current Academy students delivered stirring renditions of “Respect Yourself” and Johnnie Taylor’s “I Am Somebody,” affirming the next generation’s connection to the music’s mission.

The Power of Music Honors will be presented annually to individuals and organizations who use music to open doors, build community, and spark cultural movements. The Reverb Award — named for the echo of impact — is the highest distinction, and Chuck D’s selection as its first recipient reflects a full-circle moment: the rebel spirit of soul finding its mirror in the fire of hip-hop.

The award also shines a spotlight on Soulsville’s ongoing work, including Music Employs, an initiative that connects young artists with training, mentors, and real-world pathways into creative industries. It’s all part of a broader mission to ensure that the power of Memphis music isn’t just remembered — it’s reimagined for the future.

Floyd Mayweather Sues Business Insider for $100M Over Real Estate Story

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is stepping back into the ring — this time, the courtroom. The undefeated boxing legend filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit Wednesday against Business Insider, its parent company Insider Inc., and journalist Daniel Geiger, accusing them of knowingly publishing false claims about his real estate dealings in a story he says was laced with racial bias and malicious intent.

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the suit claims that Business Insider ignored direct documentary evidence, dismissed multiple offers to view verified records, and proceeded to publish a story headlined: "Floyd Mayweather Jr. bragged about a $400 million property deal. There's just one problem."

Mayweather's legal team says there was no problem. In the complaint, they assert that the article misrepresented his business acumen, omitted key facts, and relied on anonymous sources to cast doubt on his ownership claims. The lawsuit also accuses Geiger of an aggressive pattern of harassment — including hundreds of phone calls to Mayweather’s friends, family, and associates, many placed late at night — and alleges he made racially charged comments suggesting the boxer was unqualified to own such properties.

"Floyd Mayweather earned his legacy through discipline and hard work, both in and out of the ring," said attorney Bobby Samini of Samini Block APC. "This lawsuit isn't just about setting the record straight — it's about holding the press accountable when they cross the line from journalism into calculated character assassination."

The complaint seeks $100 million in damages, a public retraction, and injunctive relief, citing defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and prima facie tort. The full complaint can be viewed here.

USC Awards Presidential Medallion to Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine for Innovation in Education

Jimmy Iovine, left, and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, right, celebrate with a graduate of the USC Iovine and Young Academy during commencement ceremonies in Los Angeles. (Photo: USC Iovine and Young Academy)

Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and fellow music industry titan Jimmy Iovine were awarded the University of Southern California’s highest honor — the Presidential Medallion — during this month’s Academic Honors Convocation, recognizing a decade of educational innovation and cultural impact through the USC Iovine and Young Academy.

The two co-founders, whose names now anchor USC’s 21st school, joined USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni and philanthropists Leslie and William McMorrow as the latest recipients of the medallion, which is given to individuals who bring "significant honor and distinction" to the university.

 

The announcement was made by USC President Carol Folt during April’s Academic Honors Convocation. “They’ve brought immeasurable value and innovation to the learning experience for our students,” she said. “It would be a privilege to honor everything they’ve done to usher in a new era of education.”

For Dre and Iovine, the moment represents a full-circle evolution from shaping the sound of a generation to reshaping the future of learning. In 2013, the duo donated $70 million to create the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy, an interdisciplinary program blending design, technology and business. The Academy has since expanded with affiliated high schools in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

“Education was siloed,” Iovine said during the ceremony. “So we said, ‘What if we create a school where people collaborate and learn to innovate together?’”

Dr. Dre, the Compton-raised hip-hop pioneer and co-founder of N.W.A., first teamed with Iovine while launching his landmark solo debut "The Chronic" under Iovine’s Interscope Records. That partnership later grew into Beats Electronics and Beats Music, companies that helped redefine consumer audio and streaming before being acquired by Apple in 2014.

Dr. Dre’s production resume includes shaping the careers of Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak. He also co-produced HBO’s Emmy-nominated docuseries "The Defiant Ones."

Meanwhile, Iovine’s legacy spans decades in music and media — from engineering records for John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen to executive producing some of hip-hop’s biggest crossovers. “I think we created something really special,” Iovine told the audience. “And thank you, Dr. Dre — you’re the greatest partner and friend that ever lived.”

From ‘The Twist’ to ‘Hey Ya!’: Rock Hall’s 2025 Class Bridges Generations

Outkast’s André 3000 and Big Boi, leaders of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 induction class, redefined hip-hop with a style all their own. (Photo via Rock Hall)

"What's cooler than being cool?" For Outkast, the answer might just be the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The genre-bending Atlanta duo — alongside fellow hip-hop trailblazers Salt-N-Pepa and dance-floor icon Chubby Checker — lead the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. The eclectic roster, unveiled live during American Idol on Sunday night, bridges the old school and new school with legends who rewrote the rules of sound, culture and swagger.

The Rock Hall’s chairman John Sykes said this year’s class "created their own sound and attitude that changed the course of rock and roll forever," giving "a voice to generations."

For hip-hop fans, Outkast’s enshrinement feels long overdue. From the slow-boil southern funk of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik to the genre-bending masterpiece Stankonia and the pop brilliance of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, André and Big Boi blew open the definition of rap, crafting albums that felt like entire worlds. Hits like “Ms. Jackson,” “Hey Ya!” and “Rosa Parks” didn’t just dominate the charts, they rewrote the rules.

Their induction underscores the Rock Hall’s slowly widening lens on hip-hop as a revolutionary musical force, not just a genre, but a movement with staying power equal to rock’s earliest legends.

Salt-N-Pepa will receive the Musical Influence Award, cementing their legacy as rap’s original bad girls — bold, sexy, self-possessed — who opened the gates for generations of women in hip-hop and pop. Long before “WAP” shook the mainstream, Cheryl James and Sandra Denton crashed it with tracks like “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Let’s Talk About Sex,” making them household names without sacrificing their edge.

And for the oldest heads in the room, Chubby Checker’s induction feels like a homecoming decades overdue. His 1960 hit “The Twist” didn't just launch a dance craze — it transformed R&B’s relationship with youth culture forever, making dancefloor rebellion mainstream long before the Beatles or Stones caught fire.

Other honorees this year include Seattle grunge architects Soundgarden, pop trailblazer Cyndi Lauper, blues powerhouse Joe Cocker, and British rock staples Bad Company. In the Musical Excellence category, legendary Philadelphia producer Thom Bell (known for work with The Delfonics and The Stylistics), session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, and bass pioneer Carol Kaye will be recognized, while Warner Bros. executive Lenny Waronker earns the Ahmet Ertegun Award for his behind-the-scenes influence.

The induction ceremony is set for Nov. 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, streaming live on Disney+ and airing later on ABC. Tickets and further ceremony details are expected later this summer.

Grassroots Campaign Aims to Fund Sun Ra Arkestra’s Return to Jazz Pioneer’s Hometown

Sun Ra appears in a 1973 publicity photo for Impulse/ABC Dunhill Records. A grassroots GoFundMe campaign aims to bring the Sun Ra Arkestra to his hometown of Birmingham for a four-day celebration of what would be his 111th birthday.

A grassroots GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $22,000 (as of press time) toward a $31,000 goal to bring the Sun Ra Arkestra to Birmingham for a four-day celebration of the bandleader’s 111th birthday. All proceeds will cover travel, lodging and production costs, with concert ticket revenue supporting local venues and youth jazz programs.

Herman “Sonny” Poole Blount, better known as Sun Ra, was born in Birmingham on May 22, 1914, and died there on May 30, 1993. A pioneering composer, bandleader and Afrofuturist philosopher, he fused big-band swing with synthesizers and cosmic theatrics to forge a sound that inspired generations. Over a 50-year career and nearly 200 albums, he composed more than 1,000 pieces, pioneering free improvisation, modal jazz and early electronic keyboards. His theatrical live shows — complete with elaborate costumes, dancers and spoken-word manifestos — helped lay the foundation for Afrofuturism and influenced artists from Parliament-Funkadelic to Janelle Monáe.

 

Since Ra’s passing, saxophonist Marshall Allen has led the Arkestra, preserving Ra’s “discipline” and expansive vision on stages worldwide. Allen, who turned 100 last year, remains at the helm of a band that has sold out shows from European jazz festivals to Tokyo’s Shinjuku Pit Inn.

The campaign, “Celebrate Sun Ra’s Legacy in Birmingham,” brings together the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Sidewalk Cinema, Saturn Records, Seasick Records, Southern Music Research Center and East Village Arts. Two headline concerts — May 22 at Carver Theatre and May 23 at The Nick — anchor a slate of film screenings, art exhibits, panel discussions and youth workshops. Proceeds from the May 22 concert will benefit the Hall’s Saturday Jazz Greats initiative.

“This is our chance to honor Sun Ra where it all began,” said organizer Lee Shook. “Fans from Chicago to Tokyo to Johannesburg can join us in spirit — and help launch Birmingham’s first official Sun Ra Day.”

Tentative Event schedule (May 21–24)

• May 21: Screening of Space Is the Place at Sidewalk Cinema; House of Found Objects after-party

• May 22 (Sun Ra’s birthday): Seasick Records in-store signing at noon; workshop TBA; Arkestra concert at Carver Theatre; late-night set at Saturn Records

• May 23: “An Evening with the Sun Ra Arkestra” at The Nick, site of their famed 1988 show

• May 24: Craig Legg’s “Ark in Town” exhibit at East Village Arts; Moon Stew potluck and DJ sets by Rahdu, Suaze and The Audiovore

Full schedule and donation info at gofundme.com/f/4sc93-celebrate-sun-ras-legacy-in-birmingham.

2025 AMAs: Kendrick Lamar Tops Nominees, Beyoncé Lands Country Album Nod

Kendrick Lamar, seen in a promotional image for “GNX,” leads the 2025 American Music Awards with 10 nominations — a showing that could make him the most-awarded hip-hop artist in AMA history.

Kendrick Lamar tops this year’s American Music Awards with 10 nominations, including Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for "GNX"; Song of the Year for "Not Like Us"; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist; Favorite Hip-Hop Album; and three entries in Favorite Hip-Hop Song ("Like That," "Not Like Us" and "Luther").

He landed three of the five slots in Favorite Hip-Hop Song, underscoring his dominance on the charts and in culture.

Black women make a major showing across genres. SZA joins Lamar on multiple fronts — Artist of the Year; Collaboration of the Year ("Luther"); and Favorite Female R&B Artist — while rising star Doechii vies for Social Song of the Year ("Anxiety") alongside fellow breakout Lola Young. In Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist, the field is a who’s-who of today’s voices: Doechii, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion and Sexyy Red.

R&B also reflects the strength of urban voices. SZA’s "SOS Deluxe" and The Weeknd’s "Hurry Up Tomorrow" go head-to-head for Favorite R&B Album, while Kehlani, Muni Long and Summer Walker join SZA in the Favorite Female R&B Artist race. Usher, Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller lead the men’s side in Favorite Male R&B Artist.

On the country front, Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" makes history with a nod for Favorite Country Album against Shaboozey’s "Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going" — two Black artists vying in a category long dominated by white acts.

Post Malone follows Lamar with eight nominations, spanning Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for "F-1 Trillion"; Song of the Year for "I Had Some Help"; two bids in Collaboration of the Year ("I Had Some Help" with Morgan Wallen and "Fortnight" with Taylor Swift); Favorite Male Country Artist; Favorite Country Album; and Favorite Country Song.

Pop powerhouse Billie Eilish and breakout Chappell Roan each picked up seven nominations, while rock stalwarts Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots aim to extend their reign in Favorite Rock Artist.

Jennifer Lopez returns to host the 51st AMAs live from Las Vegas on Monday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+.

Key Nominees by Nomination Count

• Kendrick Lamar (10): Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (GNX); Song of the Year (“Not Like Us”); Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist; Favorite Hip-Hop Album; Favorite Hip-Hop Song (×3)

• Post Malone (8): Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (F-1 Trillion); Song of the Year (“I Had Some Help”); Collaboration of the Year (×2); Favorite Male Country Artist; Favorite Country Album; Favorite Country Song

• Billie Eilish (7): Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (Hit Me Hard and Soft); Song of the Year (“Birds of a Feather”); Favorite Touring Artist; Favorite Female Pop Artist; Favorite Pop Album; Favorite Pop Song

• Chappell Roan (7): Artist of the Year; New Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; Song of the Year; Social Song of the Year; Favorite Female Pop Artist; Favorite Pop Album

• Shaboozey (7): New Artist of the Year; Song of the Year (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”); Social Song of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Country Artist; Favorite Country Album; Favorite Country Song

For the full list of nominees, visit the official AMAs site by clicking here. 

Snoop Dogg’s Gospel Album ‘Altar Call’ Drops Sunday on Death Row

Album art for “Death Row Records Presents: Altar Call” features a photo of Snoop Dogg’s late mother, Beverly Tate, whose birthday coincides with the album’s Sunday release. (Courtesy Death Row Records)

Snoop Dogg will swap G‑funk for gospel this month, unveiling a 21‑track set titled “Death Row Records Presents: Altar Call,” dropping this Sunday — the day that would have marked the 74th birthday of his late mother, Beverly Tate.

The rapper announced the project in an Instagram reel, telling fans, “Good afternoon, loved ones … April 27 I’m dropping a gospel album on Death Row Records … God is good — won’t He do it? Try to block my blessing, my team undefeated.”

“Altar Call” reunites Snoop with several high‑profile collaborators. iHeartRadio lists guest spots from Jamie Foxx, Robert Glasper, Jazze Pha, Denaun Porter, Mali Music, Jane Handcock, October London and the newly formed Death Row Mass Choir, while the Bereal Family lends vocals to the lead single “Help Me Jesus,” released April 18.

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Speaking with faith‑based outlet Movieguide, the Long Beach native said the album “is a reflection of what [my mother] taught me — use my voice to spread love and heal the world.”

Fans can already pre‑add the record on Apple Music through a Death Row/Gamma landing page that displays the full 21‑song lineup.

“Altar Call” follows Snoop’s 2018 gospel debut, “Bible of Love,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and remained on the tally for 32 weeks overall. It is also his first full‑length release since he reacquired Death Row Records in 2022, turning the onetime gangsta‑rap stronghold into what he calls “the world’s most dangerous record label — now with a message.

Ye’s New Song Alleges Involvement in Childhood Sexual Encounter with Cousin

 

Ye appears in footage from the Netflix documentary “Jeen-Yuhs.” The rapper’s latest unreleased track, “Cousins,” has sparked controversy for its graphic lyrics and revelations about family trauma. (Photo via Netflix)

Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, ignited fresh controversy this week after sharing a graphic lyric about a family member in a snippet of an unreleased track titled "Cousins."

In an Instagram post that included audio from the song, Ye rapped, “I sucked my cousin’s d***,” a line that quickly set off a firestorm of online reaction. Delivered without explanation, the lyric appears amid broader themes of trauma, incarceration, and family betrayal.

The song's content is deeply personal and disturbing. In "Cousins," Ye recounts a sexual encounter with a male cousin during childhood, attributing the experience to early exposure to explicit material. He also claims that the cousin, whose name he has not disclosed, is currently serving a life sentence for murder.

Ye expanded on the track’s backstory in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“This song is called COUSINS about my cousin that's locked in jail for life for killing a pregnant lady a few years after I told him we wouldn't 'look at dirty magazines together' anymore. Perhaps in my self-centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6 and then we acted out what we saw.”

The lyrics describe discovering adult magazines in his mother's closet, reenacting what they saw, and a sexual relationship that reportedly lasted until Ye was 14. In the song, Ye describes the cousin as someone he once loved, but who later became estranged — and now, incarcerated.

The response was immediate and polarized. Critics and fans alike questioned Ye’s mental health and artistic judgment, while some attempted to interpret the song as a confessional or a commentary on generational trauma. Others viewed it as a calculated shock tactic.

Mental health experts have emphasized the need for sensitivity when addressing subjects involving abuse, family trauma, and childhood sexual experiences. Ye has previously spoken about living with bipolar disorder, and episodes like this have renewed public debate over the boundaries between transparency, trauma, and sensationalism in art.

The full track has not been released on streaming platforms, but the snippet remains available on Ye’s Instagram.

Shannon Sharpe Faces $50M Lawsuit From Woman Alleging Repeated Sexual Abuse

Shannon Sharpe, host of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, is being sued for $50 million in a civil case filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, alleging multiple instances of sexual assault. (Photo via Club Shay Shay)

Hall of Fame tight end and rising media mogul Shannon Sharpe is facing serious legal trouble just days after making headlines for reportedly seeking a nine-figure podcast deal.

A civil lawsuit filed Sunday in Nevada accuses the 56-year-old of sexually assaulting a woman on multiple occasions between late 2024 and early 2025, following what her lawyers describe as a “rocky, abusive relationship.” The woman, identified only as “Jane Doe,” is seeking over $50 million in damages for claims that include sexual battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

According to the 13-page complaint, the two first met in 2023 at a Los Angeles gym when the plaintiff was 20. She alleges Sharpe began pursuing her aggressively, ultimately coercing her into a relationship characterized by verbal abuse and controlling behavior. One alleged incident involved Sharpe threatening to kill her after he discovered she was attempting to share her location with friends for safety, while a firearm was visible in the room.

The suit claims the first assault occurred in October 2024, after Doe attempted to cut off contact following a livestreaming incident in which Sharpe allegedly broadcast himself having sex — though the woman in the video was not the plaintiff. The complaint says Sharpe showed up uninvited at her apartment and raped her while she was “crying and sobbing.”

A second alleged incident occurred in January 2025, when Sharpe visited her under the pretense of bringing a birthday and Christmas gift but again sexually assaulted her, this time without protection despite her protests.

“Shannon Sharpe… refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of ‘no,’” the lawsuit states.

Attorney Tony Buzbee, known for representing more than 20 women in lawsuits against NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson, is leading the case along with Micah Nash.

“It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against those with power, fame and money,” Buzbee said in a statement. “I look forward to pressing this case in court.”

The lawsuit also accuses Sharpe of secretly filming their sexual encounters and sharing the footage without her knowledge — allegations that appear to reference Sharpe’s September 2024 Instagram Live mishap, which went viral and drew public scrutiny.

Sharpe has not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of press time. He has not been criminally charged.

The civil complaint comes at a pivotal moment in Sharpe’s media career. Just last week, Front Office Sports reported that Sharpe is negotiating a podcasting deal worth over $100 million as his contract with The Volume expires. His “Club Shay Shay” YouTube channel boasts nearly 4 million subscribers, and his January 2024 interview with comedian Katt Williams has amassed over 89 million views. Sharpe also co-hosts “Nightcap” with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and frequently appears on ESPN’s “First Take.”

25 Years Later, Aaliyah’s Soundtrack for 'Romeo Must Die' Still Defines a Generation

Aaliyah and Jet Li share a scene in Romeo Must Die (2000), the hip-hop-infused action film whose chart-topping soundtrack helped define a generation. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Twenty-five years ago, the soundtrack to "Romeo Must Die" did more than just accompany a movie, it helped define an era.

Released in April 2000, the compilation captured the slick, futuristic pulse of R&B and hip-hop at the turn of the millennium. With Aaliyah as both the film’s star and the centerpiece of its soundtrack, the album became a cultural force, fusing sound and screen into one unforgettable moment in time.

The lead single, “Try Again,” didn’t just climb the charts — it rewrote them.

Produced by Timbaland, the track made history as the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on radio airplay, without a commercial single release in the U.S. Its sci-fi beat, driven by Timbaland’s signature synth bassline, gave listeners a glimpse into the sound of the future.

The music video, directed by Wayne Isham, blended stylized futuristic visuals with clips from the film, further cementing Aaliyah’s status as an icon. It went on to earn critical acclaim, winning both Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

 

But “Try Again” was just the beginning.

Aaliyah delivered multiple standout moments on the "Romeo Must Die soundtrack," including the DMX-assisted “Come Back in One Piece” — a gritty, East Coast-meets-sultry-South duet that mirrored the film’s streetwise romance. The slow-burning ballad “I Don’t Wanna” and the percussive, synth-tinged “Are You Feelin’ Me?” showcased her vocal range and cool control, further elevating her role not just as a performer, but as the executive producer shaping the project’s sound and identity.

  

Behind much of the album’s sonic innovation was Timbaland, whose glitchy, polyrhythmic production ran through the tracklist like an electric current. Whether on the playful Timbaland & Magoo cut “We At It Again” or Ginuwine’s smooth and seductive “Simply Irresistible,” his fingerprints were everywhere — reshaping R&B with every stuttered vocal, off-kilter drum hit and futuristic flourish.

Beyond its star power, the "Romeo Must Die" soundtrack played like a roll call of turn-of-the-millennium hip-hop and R&B. Destiny’s Child, still riding high on the success of "The Writing’s on the Wall," brought confident swagger with “Perfect Man.” Joe added smooth soul to the mix with “Rose in a Concrete World (J Dub Remix),” while Cash Money’s B.G. injected street grit on “Rollin’ Raw.” Rounding out the roster were Mack 10, Dave Hollister, Chanté Moore, and Static Major — a lineup that captured the era’s sonic range and commercial reach.

 

More than a collection of songs, the Romeo Must Die soundtrack became a sonic time capsule — the kind of album that blared from car stereos, rocked house parties, and soundtracked late-night club sets. It was music made for motion: dancing, driving, grinding, remembering. It didn’t just complement the film — it outlived it.

Today, the soundtrack stands as a lasting tribute to Aaliyah’s artistry and vision. Her untimely death in 2001 renders every track more poignant — a reminder of what was, and what could have been. Still, the music endures, echoing across generations and playlists.

On this 25th anniversary, revisit the soundtrack that dared to lead, not follow. Press play, reflect, and remember the moment when one album captured the rhythm of an entire era.

Stream the full album here: