City High’s Robby Pardlo Dead; Singer Helped Propel 2001 Hit 'What Would You Do?'

Robby Pardlo — the New Jersey singer‑songwriter who co‑founded early‑2000s R&B trio City High — has died, friends confirmed Friday.

Public music bios list Pardlo’s birth year as 1977, which would make him 48 this year, though his family has not confirmed an exact date of birth.[1]

Terrill “Rellion” Paul, a longtime collaborator, announced the news in a Facebook post, calling Pardlo “one kind‑hearted person who would literally give the shirt off your back” and sharing recent photos of the two men alongside an early snapshot of the group. No cause of death has been released, and Pardlo’s family has yet to issue a formal statement.

Formed under Wyclef Jean’s Booga Basement imprint, City High — Pardlo, Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby — broke through in 2001 with “What Would You Do?,” an unflinching narrative about poverty and survival that reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for best R&B performance by a duo or group. The group’s gold‑certified, self‑titled debut also produced the Top 20 single “Caramel,” featuring Eve.

Behind the chart success, Pardlo wrestled with alcoholism. His struggle was chronicled in a 2010 episode of A&E’s “Intervention,” where he linked his addiction to the group’s abrupt breakup in 2003. Ortiz later alleged their teenage relationship had been abusive, telling Washington, D.C.’s Majic 102.3 in 2013 that she “had to choose safety over the group.” Pardlo did not publicly respond to those claims but credited the televised rehab program with a lengthy stretch of sobriety.

After City High dissolved, Pardlo largely retreated from the spotlight, surfacing for occasional writing sessions and small‑venue appearances. In his Facebook tribute, Paul said the two recently joked about “getting old together” and still “talking trash like Claud Banks and Ray Gibson,” the bickering cellmates from the 1999 film “Life.”

Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Paul ended his post with a promise to keep his friend’s legacy alive: “We were supposed to do life together… I will miss you so much.”

Sources
[1] Birth year appears as 1977 in AllMusic artist profile, Discogs database entry and A&M Records’ 2001 press kit; no family confirmation yet released.

Unreleased Beyoncé Music Stolen in Atlanta Car Break-In Ahead of Cowboy Carter Tour

Atlanta police issued a warrant for a suspect after unreleased music, set lists, and tour plans were stolen from Beyoncé’s choreographer’s SUV in a break-in days before her “Cowboy Carter” shows in Atlanta.

Just days before Beyoncé was set to light up Mercedes-Benz Stadium for four nights on her “Cowboy Carter” tour, a brazen theft rocked her inner circle — and may have jeopardized unreleased music from one of the most tightly guarded vaults in pop.

According to police and multiple local media reports, thieves broke into a black Jeep Wagoneer at the Krog Street Market parking deck on Tuesday, July 8, stealing multiple suitcases containing hard drives loaded with unreleased, watermarked Beyoncé tracks, footage plans for her shows, and both past and future set lists.

The vehicle belonged to Beyoncé’s longtime choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue, who told police they had parked for about an hour while dining nearby. When they returned, they discovered the rear window smashed and two suitcases missing.

“The hard drives contained watermarked music, some unreleased music, footage plans for her show, and past and future set list,” an officer wrote in the incident report.

Also stolen were laptops, Tom Ford sunglasses, a book bag, clothing, and a pair of Apple AirPods Max headphones. The report notes that the stolen electronics included trackers, and that police used the Find My app to attempt recovery. Officers traced the headphones to a location where they conducted a suspicious person stop, but no arrests were made at the scene.

Cameras reportedly captured footage of the theft at the parking deck’s entrance, and police were able to recover two light fingerprints. An arrest warrant has since been issued, but Atlanta police have not released the suspect’s identity, and the stolen hard drives and files remain unrecovered.

Beyoncé, who has not commented publicly on the theft, arrived in Atlanta for a four-night run beginning Thursday, July 10. The incident unfolded as thousands of fans were descending on the city, part of the southern leg of her genre-bending “Cowboy Carter” tour — a cultural event that’s not just about music, but about reclaiming Black identity in country and Americana spaces.

Christopher Grant, the choreographer whose materials were stolen, can be heard in a 911 call saying, “They stole my computers and everything... I work with someone of high status. I really need my computer.”

The theft comes during a rare moment of tension surrounding a Beyoncé project — particularly one as daring and thematically resonant as “Cowboy Carter.” Critics and fans alike have praised the album as a boundary-pushing work of reinvention, and its stage show has been cloaked in secrecy.

That secrecy may now be compromised.

While artists at Beyoncé’s level typically store backup copies of creative materials in secure locations, the loss of sensitive files — particularly those containing performance plans and unreleased songs — raises alarm not just for the superstar’s brand, but for the tight-knit team that operates under her famously exacting creative control.

As of press time, there is no official confirmation whether the unreleased tracks have leaked. But the breach is a stark reminder that even in an era of global security and digital encryption, physical lapses can still upend the highest tiers of entertainment.

The case remains under active investigation. Beyoncé’s camp has remained silent.

Watch: Grown Men, Grown Bars: Clipse Returns with Grief, Gospel and God at Tiny Desk

In one of the most potent live moments hip-hop has seen in years, Clipse returned to the stage for their NPR Tiny Desk debut—a stripped-down yet searing performance that doubled as a celebration, a eulogy, and a cultural reckoning. Backed by a hard-hitting band and driven by the same raw precision that made them legendary, Pusha T and Malice brought decades of pain, reflection, and bravado into one of the most unforgettable Tiny Desk sets in recent memory.

It had been 16 years since Clipse last stood as a duo in front of a live audience. Since 2009’s Til the Casket Drops, the brothers—born Terrence and Gene Thornton—had gone their separate ways: Pusha ascended the solo ladder as a top-tier lyricist and G.O.O.D. Music president, while Malice found spiritual clarity and changed his name to No Malice, stepping back from the limelight entirely.

But for this moment—on a modest stage that’s become a proving ground for real artists—they stood shoulder to shoulder once again. The performance opened with an audible gasp from the crowd as the eerie first notes of “Virginia” set the tone. “I’m from Virginia, where ain't [expletive] to do but cook,” Pusha rapped, his cadence as cold as ever, while Malice stood stoic, surveying the room like a preacher searching for truth.

There was no band full of jazzy reinterpretations here, as NPR’s Bobby Carter revealed. The group insisted on keeping their sound uncut, unfiltered—heavy drums, haunting synths, no smoothing out the edges. Daru Jones, a hybrid drummer known for blending acoustic and electronic elements, was brought in to match their aesthetic. It worked. So did the chemistry.

The duo slid into “Keys Open Doors” and “Momma I’m So Sorry” with surgical timing, revisiting tracks from their 2006 masterwork Hell Hath No Fury. Then came “Chains and Whips,” a fierce new track from their 2025 album Let God Sort Them Out—their first full-length together in over a decade.

But the most human moment came with “Birds Don’t Sing,” a tear-stained tribute to their late parents, who died just four months apart. Malice described it as a “documented conversation”—their final words with their mother and father woven into the verses. It was less a performance than a confessional, with the band pulling back to let every syllable breathe. Pusha’s voice cracked; Malice stared straight ahead, as if speaking to ghosts.

Then came the gut punch. The unmistakable Neptunes beat for “Grindin’”—their breakout 2002 anthem—sent the room into controlled chaos. Fans shouted every bar. And for a moment, it felt like time folded in on itself: the Coke rap kings of the Clipse era reborn in front of NPR bookshelves.

The performance wasn’t just nostalgia—it was statement. Clipse didn’t just return to the stage; they reclaimed a place in hip-hop's living history. “Let God Sort Them Out,” released earlier this summer, dives deeper into mortality, legacy, and survival than anything they’ve recorded before. And the Tiny Desk concert made it clear—they’re not here to fade into the culture’s rearview.

They’re here to burn it into your memory, again.


Watch the entire performance below.

Tupac, Lenny Kravitz and A$AP Rocky Shine in Harper’s Hottest Men of All Time List

Tupac Shakur was ranked No. 2 on Harper’s Bazaar’s list of the “50 Hottest Men of All Time,” noted for his mix of poetic brilliance, political fire, and undeniable presence.

In a list stacked with silver screen legends, red carpet royalty, and pop culture crushes from every decade, it was a poet from the streets of Baltimore who stood out loudest. Harper’s Bazaar dropped its “50 Hottest Men of All Time” feature this week, and there — sandwiched between Hollywood heartthrobs and blockbuster superheroes — sat Tupac Shakur, shirtless and defiant.

Placed second only to James Dean, Tupac’s inclusion wasn’t just a nod to aesthetics. It was a reminder: style can’t be separated from substance. The magazine praised his duality, noting his ability to quote Baldwin one moment and deliver a blistering diss track the next. It was more than thirstbait — it was rare recognition from a mainstream outlet that Tupac’s magnetism wasn’t manufactured. It was revolutionary.

 

His “peak hot” moment, according to the write-up, came in the “Hit ’Em Up” video. That pick said everything. Not a red carpet photo or sanitized press image, but raw fury on tape — Tupac in full attack mode, shirt off, energy high, making sure nobody mistook him for anything less than a threat.

That kind of placement carries weight. Harper’s list reached from the golden era of Brando and Paul Newman to TikTok-era poster boys like Jacob Elordi and Charles Melton. A few names earned their spots with high cheekbones and prestige scripts. Others, like Lenny Kravitz, Bad Bunny, and Dev Patel, brought a mix of edge and cultural resonance. But for fans of true legacy, the list had some glaring omissions and unexpected wins.

There was no Biggie. No Snoop. No Rakim. No Nas. No Prince, even — an icon whose look and aura redefined masculinity in the ’80s. But Denzel made it in, honored for the abs he flexed in "The Hurricane." Michael B. Jordan got his nod for "Creed." Idris Elba and Mahershala Ali were rightfully present. Tyson Beckford — one of the original Black male supermodels — showed up near the end, low ranking considering his impact.

The biggest eyebrow-raiser? The lack of deeper hip-hop representation. If Tupac was worthy of slot No. 2, what did it say about the culture that helped shape him? If Bad Bunny’s Calvin Klein campaign made him a contender, what about LL Cool J’s shirtless “Mama Said Knock You Out” era? If Elvis could make the cut for shaking his hips in “Jailhouse Rock,” where was Bobby Brown?

Seeing Tupac listed alongside James Dean and Paul Newman signaled that hip-hop’s style icons can’t be boxed out of “sex symbol” conversations anymore. But the gaps — the glaring absence of other pioneers who made millions scream with a single look — were impossible to ignore.

Still, Tupac at No. 2 means something. It means the culture cracked through again. With the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame already behind him, holograms on festival stages, and lectures at Harvard dissecting his lyrics, this latest nod was less about heat and more about presence. Tupac stays on the list because Tupac never left.

Harper’s Bazaar: 50 Hottest Men of All Time

1. James Dean
2. Tupac Shakur
3. Charles Melton
4. Lenny Kravitz
5. Paul Mescal
6. Pedro Pascal
7. Hayden Christensen
8. Marlon Brando
9. Bad Bunny
10. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
11. Dev Patel
12. Harrison Ford
13. Jason Momoa
14. Robert Pattinson
15. Paul Newman
16. Jacob Elordi
17. Elvis Presley
18. Damson Idris
19. Keanu Reeves
20. Robert Redford
21. Jesse Williams
22. Bill Skarsgård
23. Rick Yune
24. Matthew McConaughey
25. Theo James
26. Denzel Washington
27. Heath Ledger
28. Jake Gyllenhaal
29. Henry Golding
30. George Clooney
31. Shemar Moore
32. Brad Pitt
33. Leonardo DiCaprio
34. Rami Malek
35. Clint Eastwood
36. Oscar Isaac
37. Chris Evans
38. Idris Elba
39. Ryan Gosling
40. Tyson Beckford
41. Channing Tatum
42. Michael B. Jordan
43. David Beckham
44. Mahershala Ali
45. Maluma
46. Henry Cavill
47. Zayn Malik
48. Gong Yoo
49. Chris Hemsworth
50. A$AP Rocky

Diddy’s Twin Daughters Step Into Fashion Spotlight With '12TWINTY1'

D’Lila and Jessie Combs announced their debut fashion line, “12TWINTY1,” just days after their father Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail on federal charges.

D’Lila and Jessie Combs have officially stepped out of their father’s shadow — and into the spotlight as fashion entrepreneurs.

The 18-year-old twin daughters of Sean “Diddy” Combs and the late Kim Porter announced this week they’re launching their first clothing brand, “12TWINTY1,” a project they say has been in the works their entire lives.

“We are launching our very own clothing line,” the twins said in a recently posted TikTok video. “This isn’t just a brand. It’s our story. Our bond. Our roots.”

Named after their shared birthday — December 21 — the brand blends numerology with personal identity. “One is bold, fearless, and marks the beginning of something powerful,” they said in the caption. “Two speaks to love, connection, and harmony — the essence of our twinhood.”

Their official Instagram account echoed the message: “12TWINTY1 was created with purpose, built from who we are, not just what we wear.”

While no pieces from the line have been revealed yet, the twins emphasized that the project is about more than aesthetics. “This brand is for everyone,” D’Lila said in another clip. “It’s comfort, confidence, and meaning.”

Jessie added, “People always ask if we think alike — and the answer is definitely. That connection is the heart of our brand.”

Their announcement comes at a complicated time for the Combs family. Just days earlier, their father, Sean “Diddy” Combs, was denied bail after a federal jury acquitted him of several top charges — including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — but found him guilty on two counts of transporting women across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. He now awaits sentencing on October 3, with federal prosecutors recommending a prison term of up to 63 months.

Throughout the trial, D’Lila and Jessie were seen supporting their father in court, sometimes exiting the room during emotionally charged testimony. They also recently celebrated their high school graduation — a personal milestone largely overshadowed by their father’s legal saga and the surrounding media scrutiny.

Now, with “12TWINTY1,” they appear to be carving out their own narrative — one rooted in legacy, but reaching for something all their own.

From Compton to the Classroom: Temple Adds Kendrick Lamar to Curriculum

Kendrick Lamar's life and lyrics will be the subject of a new fall semester course at Temple University, taught by Professor Timothy Welbeck. 

Kendrick Lamar’s legacy is already cemented in music history. Now, it's making its way into the college classroom.

Starting this fall, Temple University will offer a course titled "Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City," an Afrocentric deep dive into the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper’s life, lyrics and cultural weight. Designed and taught by professor Timothy Welbeck, a respected scholar in Africology and African American Studies, the course aims to unpack the socioeconomic, political and personal factors that have shaped Lamar — and the world that shaped him.

“This isn’t just about rap lyrics,” Welbeck told NBC10 in a recent interview. “Kendrick Lamar is one of the defining voices of his generation. His art and life reflect the Black experience in deeply telling ways.”

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A post shared by Timothy N. Welbeck, Esq. (@timothywelbeck)

Welbeck, who also serves as director of Temple’s Center for Anti-Racism and is a hip-hop artist himself, has previously taught courses on Tupac, Jay-Z and the evolution of Black culture through music. With this new offering, he hopes to explore Lamar’s full trajectory — from his Compton roots to the Grammy stage and global influence — through an Africological lens that centers Black expression and self-actualization.

The course arrives at a critical cultural moment. Lamar’s recent lyrical feud with Drake reignited debates over authenticity in hip-hop, while his explosive anthem "Not Like Us" — a searing takedown of celebrity ego and false alliances — has become a cultural flashpoint, sparking industry lawsuits and think pieces alike. At the same time, his co-headlining Grand National Tour with SZA was one of the year’s highest-grossing, cementing his status as both icon and provocateur.

Students in Welbeck’s class will study that tension head-on. From Lamar’s major-label debut "good kid, m.A.A.d city" to the densely layered "To Pimp a Butterfly" and his latest effort "GNX," the course promises a sharp examination of hip-hop as not just music, but social commentary — shaped by public policy, systemic inequality and Black resilience.

Beyond lectures, the course will include guest speakers from the music industry who have worked with Lamar, offering students rare insight into both his creative process and the business machinery behind the music.

Rapper Young Noble, Member of Tupac’s Outlawz, Dead at 47

Mogkilluminati, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Young Noble, the last artist personally added to Tupac Shakur’s iconic group Outlawz, has died by suicide. He was 47.

Born Rufus Lee Cooper III, Noble was found dead Friday morning, July 4, at his home in Atlanta. The news was confirmed by longtime friend and fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean, who shared the update on Instagram with a heartfelt plea: “Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many. CHECK ON YOUR FOLKS!”

Noble’s death was also verified by a representative speaking to PEOPLE. No additional details were released by his family.

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A post shared by E.D.iMean (@edidono4l)

A fixture in one of hip-hop’s most influential crews, Noble carried a direct line to Tupac Shakur’s vision. He joined Outlawz in early 1996, just months before Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas. At only 18, Noble made his debut on Shakur’s posthumous classic “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,” appearing on standout tracks like “Hail Mary,” “Bomb First (My Second Reply)” and “Just Like Daddy.”

Over the decades, Noble became a torchbearer for the Outlawz legacy, both through music and community engagement. He recorded four solo albums — "Noble Justice," "Son of God," "Powerful," and "3rd Eye View" — and co-founded Noble Justice Productions, an independent outlet through which he released his work.

Damn my dude Young Noble of The Outlawz has passed. Unfortunately he took his own life according to his Outlawz member E.D.I. Amin's post.
Everyone must respect mental illness and what someone may be going through. Check your loved ones, friends, family etc.
I'll cherish the… pic.twitter.com/prdMsNQtKj

— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) July 5, 2025

He also outlived nearly all of his Outlawz bandmates. Yaki Kadafi was killed in 1996, Hussein Fatal died in a car crash in 2015, and Napoleon left the music business entirely. Noble remained active, both on record and on social media, where he posted an uplifting message just days before his death: “You're not reading this by accident. This is your confirmation. You're going to make it. No matter what it looks like right now.”

Noble’s life was marked by struggle from the start. Born in Rancho Cucamonga, California, in 1978, he was raised under difficult circumstances. His mother battled addiction, and he never knew his father. He relocated to New Jersey as a teenager and eventually met Kadafi, Tupac’s godbrother, who helped introduce him to the rest of the Outlawz.

In 2021, Noble survived a serious heart attack. But in 2024, tragedy struck again: his mother, Ellen Ferr, was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and died later that summer. Friends say her death deeply affected him.

The outpouring of grief from the hip-hop community was immediate. Snoop Dogg — who was labelmates with Shakur and the Outlawz during their time at Death Row Records— posted the tribute song “The Good Die Young” on Instagram, writing simply: “DAMN. Mental health is real.”

In announcing the news, E.D.I. Mean asked for privacy while hinting at the unspoken toll fame and legacy can sometimes take: “Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable. My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning. Rest in Power, Rufus Young Noble Cooper.”

Outlawz Member Young Noble Calls Out Snoop Dogg For Telling A Wild Exaggerated Story About 2Pac's Interaction With Nas At Bryant Park.

(🎥 The Art Of Dialogue/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/mJtz6F52vD

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) December 21, 2024

Court Denies Diddy’s Release as Prosecutors Warn of Risk

Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail Thursday, following his conviction on two counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution. Combs will remain in custody pending sentencing.

A federal judge has denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’s request for bail, following his conviction on two Mann Act charges for transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution. Despite being acquitted on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, prosecutors successfully argued — and Cassie Ventura’s attorney reiterated — that Combs remains a danger to potential victims and the community. 

Cassie Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, submitted a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian emphasizing her ongoing concerns: “Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community.”

Cassie is opposing Sean "Diddy" Combs' release from federal custody.

"Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community." pic.twitter.com/DMeDAQECnG

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) July 2, 2025Prosecution filings argue that Combs’s conduct during the trial — including graphic accusations, admitted violence, and drug-fueled sexual “freak offs” — justify keeping him behind bars to prevent further intimidation or harm.

Meanwhile, Combs’s legal team proposed a $1 million bond, strict travel restrictions, passport surrender, and regular drug testing 

But prosecutors stood firm, underscoring concerns about public safety and witness protection.

The next step is sentencing. Combs faces up to 20 years in prison — 10 years per conviction — though legal experts have suggested he may receive “time served” or a lighter sentence, given the split verdict.