Friday, February 7, 2025

Ye's Latest Rant: Praise for Hitler, Support for Diddy, and More

Kanye West, reignited controversy with an explosive spree of antisemitic posts on X, echoing the rhetoric that cost him billion-dollar fashion deals and mainstream credibility two years ago.

In dozens of posts early Friday morning, he praised Hitler, called himself a Nazi, and dismissed antisemitism as “just some bulls–t Jewish people made up to protect their bulls–t.” Making it clear that his statements were intentional and not influenced by substances, he wrote, “AMY JEWISH PERSON THAT DOES BUSINESS WITH ME NEEDS TO KNOW I DONT LIKE OR TRUST ANY JEWISH PERSON AND THIS IS COMPLETELY SOBER WITH NO HENNESY.” He doubled down moments later, adding, “IM NEVER APOLOGIZING FOR MY JEWISH COMMENTS.”

Ye on X
The outburst was a near-carbon copy of his 2022 antisemitic tirades, which included incendiary remarks on social media, a string of unhinged interviews, and an infamous dinner with Donald Trump and white nationalist Nick Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago. The fallout was swift, as Adidas, Balenciaga, and GAP all severed ties, stripping him of lucrative partnerships. He was banned from multiple platforms and lost an estimated $1.5 billion in brand value in just a matter of weeks. Despite eventually being reinstated on X, his latest comments have once again raised the question of whether there will be lasting repercussions this time around.

In the midst of the antisemitic rant, Ye abruptly pivoted to advocating for the release of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who remains jailed on federal charges. “FREE PUFF,” he posted to his 32 million followers, calling Combs his “idol” and “hero.” Hours later, he stunned fans by announcing a Yeezy x Sean John collaboration, claiming it was something they had discussed before Combs’ arrest. “I’M SELLING THE SEAN JOHN COLLABORATION THAT ME AND MY BROTHER SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE THEY LOCKED HIM UP WE SPLITTING THE PROFITS 50/50.” He went further, alleging that Combs is prohibited from earning money while behind bars, saying, “I JUST FOUND OUT THAT PUFF IS NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE OR COLLECT MONEY WHILE HE'S LOCKED UP SO I'MA SEND HIS HALF OF THE MONEY TO JUSTIN.”

The move was unexpected given Ye’s history with Combs. In 2022, Combs publicly condemned Ye for his "White Lives Matter" stunt and attempted to intervene during his antisemitic meltdown. Ye responded by mocking him, calling him a pawn of Jewish executives. Now, despite their past tension, Combs acknowledged Ye’s support from jail, writing on Instagram, “Thank you to my brother @Ye YEEZY.COM.” His son, Christian Combs, echoed the message in a repost.

Ye didn’t stop with Combs. In his flurry of posts, he also attacked other celebrities for not speaking out, calling them “pssies” and “btches,” and praised Chris Brown, despite Brown facing past allegations of violence against women. He hurled homophobic slurs, made crude remarks about former Vice President Kamala Harris, and made a series of bizarre declarations, including claiming that he is a billionaire again, announcing that he is a racist, and stating that he no longer listens to rap music.

While the backlash to Ye’s comments has been swift, his X account remains active, a stark contrast to 2022 when his antisemitic remarks led to outright bans from Twitter and Instagram. His willingness to embrace public self-destruction—burning bridges, alienating allies, and reveling in controversy—seems to know no bounds. The only question now is whether he will once again face real consequences or if the cycle of outrage and acceptance will repeat itself yet again.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Long Live Dilla: Detroit Honors Hip-Hop Visionary With Street Renaming and ‘J Dilla Day’

The newly unveiled J Dilla Street sign stands at the intersection of Nevada and Charest in Detroit today, a day before what is now officially recognized as "J Dilla Day." 
Detroit has immortalized J Dilla, the visionary producer and hip-hop artist, with a street named in his honor and an official day of recognition in his hometown.

On Thursday city officials, fans, and Dilla’s family gathered for the unveiling of J Dilla Street, marking the corner of Nevada and Charest on the east side of Detroit — just steps from where he grew up. The ceremony took place on the eve of what is now officially "J Dilla Day," set to be observed annually on February 7, following a unanimous vote by the Detroit City Council earlier this week.
Dilla’s daughters, Ja'Mya Yancey and Ty'Monae Whitlow, were in attendance to witness the momentous occasion.

"Words cannot describe how grateful we are for this declaration," Ja’Mya said. "For years, he has been celebrated all over the world, and this is such a monumental step to help us continue the work he left behind."

J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, rose to prominence in the mid-1990s as a member of the influential rap group Slum Village before solidifying his place as one of the most revered producers in hip-hop. His distinct, jazz-infused, off-kilter drum patterns and soulful sampling techniques redefined production, influencing artists such as The Roots, Common, Busta Rhymes, D'Angelo and Kanye West.

His solo catalog includes the critically acclaimed albums "Donuts" and "Welcome 2 Detroit," as well as production credits on classic records for A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, and Madlib, among many others.


Dilla died on February 10, 2006, at age 32 after battling thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a rare blood disorder, and lupus. Despite his passing, his influence has only grown, with his beats, legacy, and signature sound continuing to inspire new generations of musicians.
The inaugural J Dilla Day in Detroit coincides with the upcoming Dilla Day L.A. concert on Saturday, hosted by Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey and the James Dewitt Yancey Estate. The event will feature performances by Slum Village, Guilty Simpson, and others, with proceeds benefiting victims of the Eaton wildfires.

Dilla’s daughters, now in their early twenties, say their mission is to preserve his legacy and ensure his genius is never forgotten.

"He put his stamp on the map," Ty’Monae Whitlow said. "Now it’s official. It’s on the street, and the world knows what we’ve known all along."

Killer Mike Sues Security Firm After Grammys Arrest, Claims Assault and Negligence

Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Killer Mike, the Grammy-winning rapper and activist, has filed a lawsuit against private security company S&S Labor Force, alleging false imprisonment, assault, and emotional distress over his arrest at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

The rapper, whose legal name is Michael Render, was detained on Feb. 4, 2024, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, just moments after winning three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album for "Michael."

The lawsuit contends that security personnel wrongfully restrained and detained him, despite multiple attempts to clarify his identity and purpose for being backstage. Render alleges he was physically grabbed and surrounded by security guards as he attempted to move toward the red carpet area after his historic wins, and that their actions led to both public humiliation and physical harm.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, describes an incident where a female security guard allegedly used unnecessary force, grabbing Render’s arm to stop him from leaving. Render claims he was then confined by multiple security personnel, who refused to listen as he attempted to explain that he had just won three Grammy Awards and was authorized to be in the secured area.

“Defendants used their position of authority to degrade, embarrass, and physically hurt [Killer Mike] in public view, subjecting him to emotional distress and public humiliation,” the lawsuit states. The rapper contends that his detainment not only caused physical harm but also robbed him of a once-in-a-lifetime moment — celebrating his career-defining wins on one of music’s biggest nights, in front of an international television audience.

S&S Labor Force, which operates as JRM Security, has denied involvement in the incident, issuing a statement in response to the lawsuit. “We unequivocally state that we had zero involvement in the incident described,” the company said in a statement to TMZ, asserting that while they provided security for the Grammys, their personnel were not responsible for Render’s detainment. “S&S Labor Force Inc takes pride in our commitment to ethical practices and the safety of our employees, clients, and guests. We have thorough protocols in place to ensure all actions taken by our security personnel adhere to the law and our company standards. The claim in question appears to be based on misinformation and lacks credible evidence.” The company stated they are investigating the claims outlined in the lawsuit.

The arrest, which was widely publicized in real-time as videos circulated on social media showing Render being led away in handcuffs, sparked outrage among fans and the hip-hop community. Several hours later, the rapper was released without charges. In July, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office formally declined to pursue charges, citing a lack of evidence. That same month, Render addressed the incident through music, releasing the song "Humble Me," which included the lyrics: "I was sitting there in a room full of cops, like Daniel was sitting with the lions / I had to quiet my mind, I prayed and I prayed and I prayed / The liars were lying their lies, I kept on just keeping my faith." The song was included on his album "Michael & the Mighty Midnight Revival: Songs for Sinners and Saints."

Render, a longtime activist and advocate for social justice, has been vocal about issues of racial profiling and the treatment of Black men by law enforcement and security forces. He has spoken at length about criminal justice reform and economic empowerment within Black communities, and his lawsuit underscores what he sees as a pattern of mistreatment and excessive force used against Black men in public spaces, even in moments of triumph. His legal filing seeks unspecified damages for what he describes as a wrongful arrest that caused serious emotional and reputational harm.

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