Takeoff, Member of Popular Atlanta Rap Trio Migos, Dead at 28

Takeoff, second from right, was shot and killed Tuesday morning in Houston.

Takeoff, one-third of the popular Atlanta rap group Migos, is dead following an early morning shooting in Houston.

Rest in Peace Kirshnik “Takeoff” Khari Ball

Takeoff’s legacy lives on in Atlanta and across the world

Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends pic.twitter.com/27UbMtCLkY

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2022

A spokesperson for the Houston Police Department said the artist was shot outside a bowling alley on Tuesday.

Police responded to reports of a shooting at 810 Billiards & Bowling at around 2:30 a.m. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered one man dead (from a gunshot wound to the head or neck) and two other people injured.

Takeoff wanted his flowers 💐🕊️ pic.twitter.com/KbjLgBlorv

— Hot Freestyle (@HotFreestyle) November 1, 2022

Later authorities positively identified the victim as Takeoff. Born Kirshnik Khari Ball, the 28-year-old was the youngest member of the chart-topping group he formed with his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset.

Media partners: We will have a 3 p.m. news conference at HPD Headquarters at 1200 Travis St on this fatal shooting investigation.

Additional information will be released at that time. We will live-stream the news conference on our Twitter and Facebook platforms. #hounews https://t.co/NjRs2vcHTE

— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) November 1, 2022

When the incident transpired, forty to fifty people were at the after-party, including Qauvo. No arrests have been announced yet.

Formed in Atlanta in 2008, Migos has been one of hip-hop's most successful acts. The group has sold over three million albums and received two Grammy Award nominations.

Takeoff also found success outside the group. His solo album, “The Last Rocket,” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2018. Recently, along with Quavo, he released “Only Built for Infinity Links,” which peaked at No. 7.

Jay-Z, Diddy Top List of Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs

With Kanye West's self-immolation nearly complete, as he continues to burn down his music and fashion empires with his heated and hate-filled rhetoric, another has risen to replace him on the throne of hip-hop's billionaires.

Jay-Z, an idol, mentor, and sometimes partner-in-rhyme with West—who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021—now holds the number one spot thanks to his $1.5 billion fortune.

The news comes courtesy of reporting from former Forbes entertainment editor Zack O’Malley Greenburg. Currently covering the business of music at Substack, Greenburg dove deep into the numbers to find Ye's wealth-heir apparent after the rapper lost a reported $2 billion in net worth.

"All in all, the genre’s top five acts are now worth a combined $3.8 billion," Greenburg, who published his last hip-hop wealth list for Forbes in 2019, wrote. "Since then, the world has changed quite a bit, but the five richest artists’ combined net worth has jumped 20% from a pre-pandemic total of $3.17 billion."

Hailed as the first hip-hop billionaire in 2019, Jay-Z overtook his former protégé with a diverse and growing portfolio that includes investments in everything from real estate to art and spirits.

Fellow mononymous artist, Diddy, another former collaborator surged into second place on the list with a $1 billion net worth, courtesy of lucrative deals with Cîroc, DeLeón Tequila and the Revolt media network, among others.

Following antisemitic comments and other erratic behavior that led to the end of lucrative deals with a slew of companies, including his massive partnership with Adidas — distributor of his Yeezy shoes — Ye fell to third on the list with $500 million.

Gilbert “Berner” Milam ($410 million), and Dr. Dre ($400 million) rounded out the top-five earners in hip-hop. Milam, a Bay Area rapper, secured his spot on the strength of his cannabis empire, Cookies. The company sells 70 strains of weed and 2,000 different marijuana-related products around the globe.

Dre, who once proclaimed himself the first billionaire in hip-hop following the sale of his Beats headphone empire to Apple, was No. 5 on the list. The producer, whose fortune peaked at $800 million, has taken hits to his wealth in recent years thanks to a divorce and some expensive investments, including the purchase of Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s Los Angeles mansion for $40 million.

For more information on Greenburg’s methodology, click here.

Salt-N-Pepa Headed to Hollywood Walk of Fame

Salt-N-Pepa to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Nov. 4.

The first ladies of rap are getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced on Tuesday that Salt-N-Pepa will receive the Walk's 2,738th star on Friday, Nov. 4.

"This upcoming star ceremony honoring Hip-Hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa will honor the amazing 80s music we all love and so many grew up with," Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a statement.

She added that the hip-hop duo would be in good company:

"We’re placing these ladies of Hip Hop royalty adjacent to Amoeba Music and right next to the Walk of Fame star of another Queen of Hip Hop, Missy Elliott!"

👑👑🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 What a Blessing to be beside Salt & Pepa who inspired me to Rap! My sisters for over 2 Decades! & they took a lot of Criticism coming in this game to make the female emcees after them walk through the door a lot easier💜 Thank you S&P RESPECT👑 https://t.co/mqdbMUpnnA

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) October 26, 2022

Comprised of Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton, Salt-N-Pepa’s 1986 debut album "Hot, Cool & Vicious" sold over one million copies.

The lead single "Push it" topped the charts in three countries and helped the group become the first female rap act to achieve both gold and platinum status.

Salt-N-Pepa enjoyed continued success in the following decades, selling over 15 million albums, racking up three No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart and placing five albums on the Billboard 200.

In 1995, Salt-N-Pepa won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The victory was the first for a women’s rap group in the category.

The group responded to the announcement on Instagram with a post of it captioned, "We are honored and excited!"

Their soon-to-be neighbor on the Walk of Fame was among the first to congratulate them on the accomplishment.

"What a blessing to be beside Salt-N-Pepa, who inspired me to rap,” Elliott tweeted. “My sisters for over [two] decades [and] they took a lot of criticism coming in this game to make the female emcees after them walk through the door a lot easier. Thank you, S&P. RESPECT.”

Salt-N-Pepa replied, "Our stars being beside each other makes it all the more special. Your sisterhood and friendship is such a blessing. Thank you."

Our stars being beside each other makes it all the more special. Your sisterhood and friendship is such a blessing. Thank you @MissyElliott 🇯🇲❤️ https://t.co/BeJaPkbpI3

— Salt N Pepa (@TheSaltNPepa) October 26, 2022

The ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. (PT). Fellow rap legends Mc Lyte and Roxanne Chante will be on-hand as guest speakers. Those unable to attend the event in person can stream it for free at walkoffame.com.

Adidas Ends Partnership With Kanye West

Kanye West (right) with Adidas CMO Eric Liedtke

The other shoe finally dropped for Kanye West.

Following weeks of inaction from Adidas in the face of his antisemitic remarks and other erratic behavior, including making its execs watch a porn video while he chided them for stealing his designs, the shoe company ended its relationship with the entrepreneur on Tuesday morning.

Sarah Camhi, director of Trade Marketing at Adidas, calls out her company’s silence over Kanye West’s recent comments: pic.twitter.com/JtTwi6zPxn

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 25, 2022

“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," the company said in a statement. “Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness."

The company said the decision came after a thorough review of its relationship with the fashion mogul that began in 2013 when it signed his Yeezy brand away from Nike.

I'm a little shocked that @adidas has still made no statement denouncing hate and anti-semitism, let alone firing @kanyewest 's ass. Adidas seems more than happy to accept being branding a hate supporting company. https://t.co/1mdVGbaJC3

— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) October 24, 2022

Heralded at the time by Adidas as "the most significant partnership ever created between a non-athlete and an athletic brand," the dissolution of the deal will negatively impact its income by $246 million in the short term.

Adidas will terminate the production of Yeezy-branded products immediately and end all payments to West and his companies. The company — which West accused of stealing his designs in recent weeks — also claims sole ownership of all design rights to existing products and previous and new colorways under the partnership.

The move makes Adidas just the latest in a long list of partners who have dropped the billionaire in the wake of massive public pressure.

West talent agency CAA confirmed he was no longer a client on Monday. MRC Entertainment studios shelved a documentary about the rapper-turned-fashion mogul. Fashion house Balenciaga and JPMorgan Chase had cut ties with him the previous week.

Robert Gordy, Motown Executive and Brother of Label Founder Berry Gordy, Dead at 91

Robert Gordy Courtesy Universal Music Enterprises

Music executive Robert Louis Gordy Sr. — the younger brother of Motown founder Berry Gordy ­— has died.

Motown Records' parent company, Universal Music Enterprises, shared the news in a release Sunday. It stated that the 91-year-old, who transformed the label's publishing division into an industry powerhouse, passed away from natural causes Friday (Oct. 21) at his home in Marina del Rey, California.

Berry Gordy (92) confirmed the news, which comes a little over a year after Robert's eldest son, Robert Jr., died of natural causes from a non-specific disease at 67.

“I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my younger brother, Robert,” Berry Gordy said in a statement. “He was absolutely the best lil’ brother anyone could ever hope for. His ability to succeed at whatever he attempted or that I threw his way, amazed me over the years. I will miss his love, his support, and his loyalty.”

Motown Museum mourns the passing of Motown alumnus Robert Gordy.

"He was absolutely the best lil’ brother anyone could ever hope for," said Berry, "I will miss his love, his support, and his loyalty."

More from @freep. https://t.co/2MrjZolOah

— Motown Museum (@Motown_Museum) October 24, 2022

Robert was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1931. The youngest of eight children, he followed his big brother into boxing and later music.

Using the pseudonym Bob Kayli, he had a minor hit in 1958 with a song he co-wrote with his brother. The single, "Everyone Was There," peaked at No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned the artist a chance to perform it on "The Dick Clark Show."

Robert continued to release music as Kayli, but his follow-ups did not enjoy the same success. By the early sixties, his career as a recording artist was over. His impact on Motown, however, had just begun.

He took over Jobete Music Publishing in 1965 at the age of 34. Over the next twenty years, he turned the division into one of Motown's most valuable assets and, according to the release, moved it from being a holder of song copyrights into a profitable international publishing company with a catalog of over 7,000 classic songs.

Kanye West Dumped by Balenciaga in Wake of Antisemitic Comments

Photo courtesy Balenciaga

French fashion brand Balenciaga has ended its relationship with embattled billionaire Kanye West.

The move comes in the wake of antisemitic statements and other offensive comments he made on multiple media platforms in the past month.

"Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist," Kering — the parent company of the fashion house —informed Women's Wear Daily in a statement.

The announcement came in response to a query by the magazine, on Thursday, following the publication of the company's third-quarter results.

Balenciaga did not elaborate on the reasons for severing the relationship with Brown. It is safe to assume that the media firestorm enveloping his recent actions played a part.

The musician and fashion mogul worked closely with Balenciaga and its mononymous artistic director Demna for the past two years. 

That relationship was still strong as early as the begging of this month when West opened the summer 2023 Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week.

Balenciaga and Demna, who previously told Vogue in an interview that West is one of a few people who understand his work, seemingly have had enough of the mercurial artist.

It is unclear what the decision means for the businesses' relationship with West's ex-wife. Kim Kardashian has appeared in advertising campaigns for the brand after being introduced to it by West.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Balenciaga by Demna (@demnagram)

BET Announces 2022 Soul Train Award Nominees

BET revealed the host and nominees for the 2022 Soul Train Music Awards on Thursday.

Actor and comedian Deon Cole will handle emcee duties for the event, which will be filmed on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and broadcast on Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on BET and BET Her.

“Hosting the ‘Soul Train Awards’ is a dream come true. I grew up watching Soul Train and ‘til this day, I’ve never met a Soul Train Line I didn’t bless with my skilled two step,” Cole said in a statement. “It is truly a privilege to be given this opportunity to celebrate Don Cornelius’ legacy, all of the amazing Black talent that illuminated our screens on the iconic TV show, and my favorite genres of music: Soul, R&B and Hip Hop.”

Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige lead all nominees with seven nods apiece. Ari Lennox has six. Chris Brown and Lizzo are tied at five apiece and Burna Boy, Muni Long and Steve Lacy each have four nominations to round out the top contenders.

See the complete list of nominations below:

Best New Artist
CKay
Coco Jones
Dixson
Doechii
Fireboy DML
Muni Long
Steve Lacy
Tems

Certified Soul Award
Chaka Khan
Charlie Wilson
Diana Ross
Mary J. Blige

Maxwell
PJ Morton
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
T-Pain

Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
CeCe Winans
Erica Campbell
Fred Hammond
Major.
Marvin Sapp
Maverick City Music X Kirk Franklin
Tamela Mann
Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Lizzo
Mary J. Blige
SZA
Tems

Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Babyface
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Charlie Wilson
Chris Brown
Giveon
Lucky Daye
PJ Morton

Album of the Year
An Evening With Silk Sonic, Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
Away Message (EP), Ari Lennox
Breezy, Chris Brown
Good Morning Gorgeous, Mary J. Blige
Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Jazmine Sullivan
R&B Money, Tank
Renaissance, Beyoncé
Special, Lizzo

Song of the Year
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
The Ashford And Simpson Songwriter’s Award
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Church Girl,” Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
“I Hate U,” SZA
“Last, Last,” Burna Boy
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox

Best Dance Performance
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Persuasive,” Doechii
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown
“Woman,” Doja Cat

Video of the Year
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)

Best Collaboration
“Amazing,” Mary J. Blige feat. DJ Khaled
“Be Like Water,” PJ Morton feat. Stevie Wonder & Nas
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Gotta Move On,” Diddy feat. Bryson Tiller
“Hate Our Love,” Queen Naija & Big Sean
“Make Me Say It Again, Girl,” Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers feat. Beyoncé
“Move,” Beyoncé feat. Grace Jones & Tems
“Slow,” Tank feat. J. Valentine

Motown Legends Named 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year

Berry Gordy (left) and Smokey Robinson are the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year.

When it first arrived on the scene the “Motown Sound” redefined popular music and transformed a small record company in Detroit into one of the titans of the industry.

Over sixty years later the legacy of Motown Records — the label that popularized the distinctive blend of R&B and precision pop — continues to grow.

So, it only makes sense that the two men most synonymous with its success will be honored together next year during Grammy Week as the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year.

Motown founder Berry Gordy and the label’s original signee, Smokey Robinson, will share the spotlight at the annual benefit. It marks the first time in the event's 32-year history that two recipients have shared the honor.

“Wow! How honored I am to be named the MusiCares Persons of the Year, and together with my best friend of over 65 years, the great Smokey Robinson,” said Gordy in a statement. “How special is that! I am grateful to be included in MusiCares' remarkable history of music icons. The work they do is so critical to the well-being of our music community, and I look forward to a most exciting evening."

Robinson added, "I have supported MusiCares for many years and know what great work they do for our creative community who need our help. Recently, when no one could tour, they were a lifeline to those in the touring industry for monetary help and mental health services. I am honored that they have chosen me and my best friend and Motown founder Berry Gordy to share this beautiful honor and celebrate with you all together."

The MusiCares Persons of the Year Gala raises funds for MusiCares programs and services that assist the music community including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, preventative clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster relief.

It will be held on Feb. 3, 2023, at the Los Angeles Convention Center two nights before the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. A range of popular musicians and other artists will pay homage to the two men with a tribute concert.