DMX, rap's dark, tortured star, dies at 50

DMX, the hardcore hip-hop star whose ominous, snarling raps chronicled the violence and struggles of the American street, has died. He was 50 years old.

The rapper's longtime lawyer confirmed DMX's death to AFP, after a statement from his family widely shared on social media said the artist born Earl Simmons died after nearly a week on life support following a heart attack.

"Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end," the statement read, saying the rapper died at White Plains Hospital north of New York City, with his loved ones by his side.

"He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him," the statement read. "Earl's music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever."

The family said information on a memorial service was forthcoming.

The agitated rapper -- who reigned over the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits including "X Gon' Give It To Ya" and "Party Up" -- was among hip-hop's darkest stars, laying his inner demons out for the masses in gritty, hard-driving anthems that gained him commercial and critical acclaim.

Raised in the New York suburb of Yonkers, the artist endured a grim childhood, growing up in the projects with his mother and siblings where he suffered abuse.

At 14, he entered a cycle of incarceration that would persist throughout his life, committing robberies that regularly landed him in jail.

Even after he achieved celebrity for his artistry, DMX continued to have run-ins with the penal system, with charges including drug possession, animal cruelty, reckless driving, failure to pay child support, and tax evasion.

But while his colorful criminal record made headlines, it was his blunt, confessional raps delivered with his singular deep-throated growls that left an indelible mark on hip-hop's sound in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

"DMX was a brilliant artist and an inspiration to millions around the world. His message of triumph over struggle, his search for the light out of darkness, his pursuit of truth and grace brought us closer to our own humanity," said Def Jam Recordings, the label with whom DMX released some of his most iconic albums, in a statement following his death.

"DMX was nothing less than a giant. His legend will live on forever."

Agence France-Presse

Kanye West now officially a billionaire: Forbes

WASHINGTON - Rapper Kanye West is now a billionaire thanks largely to the basketball shoes bearing his name that he developed with Adidas, Forbes magazine said Friday.

The rough figure of the wealth of Kim Kardashian's hubby is $1.3 billion, the magazine said in announcing the musician is now on its list of people worth at least $1 billion.

The 42-year-old Chicago-born rapper's Yeezy footwear often sells for more than $200 a pair in the United States and elsewhere.

West was associated with Nike for years but broke away in 2013, lending his name to Adidas as they launched their first shoe together in 2015.

Forbes said that for years West has been pressing the magazine to be listed as one of its mega-rich but that it declined, for lack of proof.

The magazine said tongue in cheek that for years it had applied what it called the Trump rule to West: "Take whatever the future president insisted he was worth, divide by three, and start honing from there."

Much of the rest of West's wealth comes from real estate he owns, the magazine said.

West is the second American rapper to make the Forbes list after Jay-Z, who made the cut last year.

Agence France-Presse

US rapper draws outrage with daughter 'virginity test'

US rapper T.I. has provoked outrage by revealing that he forces his 18-year-old daughter to undergo an annual "virginity test" at the gynecologist.

The Grammy-winning musician told a podcast how he escorts Deyjah Harris to the doctor's office after each birthday to "check her hymen."

"Usually like the day after the (birthday) party, she's enjoying her gifts, I put a sticky note on the door: 'Gyno. Tomorrow. 9:30,'" T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, told the presenters.

The trips began after Deyjah's sixteenth birthday, Harris said, and his daughter is required to sign a waiver allowing the doctor to share the "results" with him.

The episode of the "Ladies Like Us" podcast was released Tuesday, but appeared to have been removed Wednesday afternoon after it went viral on social media.

Social media users were quick to condemn Harris's behavior, and express concern for Deyjah.

"It's extremely abusive to police your daughter's hymen and any doctor who would participate in such an act needs to lose their license," tweeted author Ijeoma Oluo.

Jennifer Gunter, a gynecologist and bestselling writer, added that "hymen exams are medically not a thing," and that the so-called tests "support a disgusting patriarchal trope."

The presence of an intact hymen -- which can easily be broken without engaging in sexual activity -- is not regarded as an effective way to test virginity.

In the podcast, female hosts Nazanin Mandi and Nadia Moham laugh at Harris's comments, jokingly referring to his daughter as a "prisoner." 

Harris's representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment.

A Twitter account appearing to belong to Deyjah Harris had "liked" several comments condemning the rapper's behavior, including one describing it as "disgusting, possessive and controlling."

Harris, 39, is one of the leading forces in trap music, a style of hip-hop from the US South that emphasizes aggressive lyricism and 1980s-style drum machines.

He served seven months in prison in 2009 for attempting to buy unregistered machine guns from dealers who turned out to be undercover agents.

He spent another 10 months in prison two years later for violating terms of probation on drug charges.

He has won three Grammy Awards, including for the song "My Love," a collaboration with pop star Justin Timberlake.

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Rapper A$AP Rocky back in Los Angeles from Sweden: reports

LOS ANGELES -- US rapper A$AP Rocky has returned to Los Angeles after a Swedish court released him pending the verdict of an assault trial, US media reported Saturday.

The 30-year-old artist, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, arrived around midnight Friday aboard a private jet on a flight from Stockholm, ABC and CBS reported.

"The rapper was ecstatic," celebrity news website TMZ said, describing the rapper smiling, taking photos and hugging supporters.

"He actually stayed in the private terminal parking lot for around 45 minutes, talking and joking most of the time," TMZ added.

Mayers had been held in Sweden since July 3 when he was arrested following a brawl in Stockholm on June 30, which saw him and his crew embroiled in a fight with a 19-year-old plaintiff.

The case had even prompted President Donald Trump to call for Mayers to be freed -- drawing complaints of interference from Swedish politicians.

Mayers and two others had been held in custody ahead of their trial because the court deemed him a "flight risk." 

On Friday, the Stockholm district court's presiding judge Per Lennerbrant said that Mayers could be released pending the verdict, which will be delivered on August 14.

His detention has sparked a campaign for his release by his fans and fellow artists, with an online petition called #JusticeForRocky garnering more than 640,000 signatures. Social media campaigns have even urged fans to boycott Swedish brands such as Ikea.

The New York-born rapper made no official announcement of his return to the United States on his social media accounts.

Earlier, however, he thanked his fans via Instagram for their support after his release.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of my fans, friends and anyone across the globe who supported me during these last few weeks, I can't begin to describe how grateful I am for all of you," the post said.

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Lil Nas X is sued for $25 million for alleged song theft

(Reuters) - Lil Nas X, the rapper who shot to fame this year with the blockbuster “Old Town Road,” has been sued by a California music publisher for $25 million for allegedly stealing from a 1982 Bobby Caldwell song for another of his songs.

In a complaint filed on Wednesday, The Music Force LLC said Lil Nas X borrowed without permission from Caldwell’s R&B song “Carry On” for his own song with the same title, which he then posted to YouTube and streaming platforms such as Spotify and SoundCloud.

The plaintiff also sued Lil Nas X’s new record label, Sony Music, saying it chose not to properly vet the 20-year-old’s music because it was “far more important” to preserve the chance to generate millions of dollars of revenue from his career.

Representatives of Lil Nas X and Sony could not immediately be reached on Thursday for comment.

The Culver City-based plaintiff is seeking at least $10 million in compensatory damages, in part for “confusion in the marketplace,” plus at least $15 million in punitive damages reflecting Lil Nas X’s alleged “greed and malicious intent.”

Lil Nas X, whose given name is Montero Lamar Hill, this week saw “Old Town Road” log its 16th week atop the Billboard Hot 100, tying the record for the longest No. 1 stint in the chart’s 61-year history.

“Old Town Road,” which features country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, shares the record with Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” in 1995-1996, and Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber’s “Despacito” in 2017.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles federal court.

The case is The Music Force LLC v Sony Music Holdings Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 19-06430.

Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis

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Rapper A$AP Rocky to face trial in Sweden on assault charge

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky will be tried for assault in Sweden starting on July 30 over his alleged involvement in a street brawl in central Stockholm last month, the Swedish public prosecutor announced on Thursday.

Best known for his song “Praise the Lord”, the 30-year-old performer, producer and model, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was detained about three weeks ago following an altercation with two men on June 30.

Mayers has said he is innocent and that the men provoked him and his two companions who have also been charged with assault. If convicted, they could face up to two years in jail.

Over half a million people, including fellow artists Nicki Minaj and Post Malone, have signed an online petition calling for his release on bail.

Last week U.S. President Donald Trump urged Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to free Mayers and said he would personally vouch for his bail. Sweden does not have a bail system. Lofven has said he will not influence the rapper’s case.

Public prosecutor Daniel Suneson said he had begun criminal proceedings against Mayers and two others for suspected assault causing actual bodily harm, despite claims of self defense and provocation.

“The artist is the one who threw the victim to the ground and then, together with two other suspects, dealt him blows and kicks. A bottle was used during the assault and there are cuts on the arms and (on) the plaintiff’s ear,” Suneson told Reuters.

“Provocation is something that I, as prosecutor, must always take into account, but I still believe that what they have done constitutes a crime,” he said.

Suneson declined to say which of the suspects had wielded the bottle in the fight. Court documents described the plaintiff as a person needing a Persian translator, but did not provide any further details.

TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY

Mayers’ lawyer said the rapper would plead not guilty at the trial when it begins on Tuesday.

“Mayers is extremely marked by the time he has been detained. It is tough to be basically isolated,” lawyer Slobodan Jovicic said at a news conference.

“We have to be humble but I definitely think there are grounds for an acquittal,” he said.

Suneson said he would seek a sentence of less than 2 years. He said he had looked at evidence including text messages and video footage that has not been made public.

Before his arrest, Mayers had uploaded videos on Instagram of the alleged altercation, saying the two men had followed his team and that he had not wanted any trouble.

Mayers, also known by the pseudonym Lord Flacko, was in Stockholm to perform at the Smash hip-hop festival. His detention has forced him to cancel a dozen shows scheduled as part of his Europe tour.

Mayers shot to fame with his 2011 debut mixtape “Live.Love.A$AP”, gaining recognition as much for his experimental approach to music as for his unpredictable fashion style that made him the first person of color to front luxury brand Dior Homme.

His latest album, “Testing”, bagged the No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 charts on its release last year.

Reporting by Esha Vaish and Johan Ahlander in Stockholm, additional reporting by Edward Baran, Helena Soderpalm and Johannes Hellstrom; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Rapper Nicki Minaj to perform in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—US rapper Nicki Minaj will perform in Saudi Arabia this month, organizers said, triggering a storm on social media as the ultra-conservative kingdom loosens decades-old restrictions on entertainment.

Minaj, known for her profanity-laced lyrics and raunchy music videos, will perform in the western city of Jeddah on July 18, organizers of the ongoing Jeddah Season cultural festival announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

The headline act, to be televised on MTV, will also feature British musician Liam Payne and American DJ Steve Aoki, local media reported.

"She (Minaj) is going to be actively on her social media, she'll be posting right from the stage in Jeddah and at her hotel in Jeddah," Robert Quirke, an event organizer, was quoted as saying by the Arab News daily. 

"Everyone is going to know that Nicki Minaj has landed in Saudi Arabia."

The performance in the kingdom, which forbids alcohol and has a strict social code, comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pursues a sweeping liberalization drive that has led to new cinemas, concerts and sporting extravaganzas.

The news was widely welcomed in a country where two-thirds of the population is under 30, with one Twitter user posting a picture of Minaj and writing: "My dream has come true." 

But it also triggered outrage from conservative quarters.

"She is going to go and shake her backside and all her songs are about sex... and then everyone tells me to wear the abaya. What the hell!" one woman said in a video posted on Twitter.

Saudi Arabia is boosting entertainment that allows citizens to have fun, in what some see as an attempt to blunt public frustration over an economic downturn and high youth unemployment.

The kingdom's General Entertainment Authority said it plans to pump $64 billion into the sector in the coming decade.

The reform also stems partly from an economic motive to boost domestic spending on entertainment as the kingdom has reeled from low oil prices.

Saudis currently splurge billions of dollars annually to see films and visit amusement parks in neighboring tourist hubs like Dubai and Bahrain.

While Saudi Arabia is yet to offer tourist visas, the country has fast-tracked electronic permits for international visitors to attend such festivals to further boost revenue.

But such acts have fuelled controversy in a country still steeped in conservatism.

In June last year, Saudi Arabia sacked the head of its entertainment authority, following an online backlash against a circus featuring women wearing skin tight leotards.

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Cardi B vows to be a 'better me' after defense of past crimes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Cardi B has admitted to drugging and robbing men while working as a stripper, but defended her past actions saying she had limited options at the time, and vowed to “be a better me” in the future.

The feisty “I Like It” singer, who shot to fame in the past two years, was responding in an Instagram post after a video surfaced that was recorded three years ago in which she spoke about going with men to a hotel with the expectation of sex, and drugging and robbing them.

The video sparked a backlash on social media under the hashtag #survivingcardib, with some users comparing her past actions with male singers who have been accused of sexual misconduct against women.

In her Instagram posting on Tuesday, Cardi B, 26, said there were “things in my past right or wrong that I felt I needed to do to make a living.”

“I’m a part of hip-hop culture where you can talk about where you come from, talk about the wrong things you had to do to get where you are,” she added.

Cardi B, who won her first Grammy Award in February, has previously spoken about working as a stripper for several years from the age of 19.

The singer said she did not put her past behavior into her music because “I’m not proud of it and feel a responsibility not to glorify it. I made the choices that I did at the time because I had very limited options.”

Cardi B is married to fellow rapper Offset and the couple have a nine-month-old daughter.

“All I can do now is be a better me for myself my family and my future,” she wrote.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant, editing by G Crosse

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Rapper Mac Miller died of drug overdose: coroner

LOS ANGELES -- Rapper Mac Miller was killed by a deadly mix of drugs and alcohol, the Los Angeles medical examiner's office said on Monday.

The 26-year-old performer, whose real name was Malcolm McCormick, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on September 7 and the cause of death was deferred pending a probe.

The coroner's office said McCormick died "from mixed drug toxicity," with the powerful opioid fentanyl along with cocaine and alcohol found in his system.

"The manner of death was certified as an accident," it added.

The Pittsburgh native and one-time partner of pop-star Ariana Grande had released his latest album "Swimming" days before his death and had been set to embark on a new tour.

"I adored you from the day I met you when I was nineteen and I always will," Grande said in an emotional Instagram post after his death.

"We talked about his. So many time. I’m so mad, I’m so sad I don’t know what to do," she added.

McCormick had been open in the past about his battle with drugs and his music often dealt with his depression and drug use.

Several artists, including Chance the Rapper, ScHoolboy Q and Ty Dolla $ign, paid tribute to him last week at a benefit concert in Los Angeles.

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Kanye West says he's been 'used' in politics

NEW YORK -- Rapper Kanye West, who has been outspoken in his support for President Donald Trump, now says he's going to focus on his music and fashion after being "used" in the world of politics.

In a series of tweets, the 41-year-old West lashed out at conservative pundit Candace Owens for saying he had designed apparel for the so-called "Blexit" campaign, or "Black Exit" from the Democratic Party.

"My eyes are now wide open and now realize I've been used to spread messages I don't believe in," West wrote. "I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative!!!"

He did not say if his support for Trump had changed in any way, but he was unsparing in his criticism of Owens.

"I introduced Candace to the person who made the logo and they didn't want their name on it so she used mine. I never wanted any association with Blexit. I have nothing to do with it," he wrote.

"I would like to thank my family, loved ones, and community for supporting my ACTUAL beliefs and my vision for a better world."

Earlier this month, West met with Trump in the Oval Office -- a surreal tete-a-tete that included a hug from the rapper as well as an on-camera rant featuring an expletive not often repeated for the White House press corps.

The rapper, who is married to Kim Kardashian West, has broken ranks with much of the left-leaning entertainment industry to support Trump.

At the White House, he said he felt like "Superman" when wearing one of the red baseball caps handed out at the president's raucous "Make America Great Again" rallies.

On Tuesday, West said: "I support creating jobs and opportunities for people who need them the most, I support prison reform, I support common-sense gun laws that will make our world safer."

He also voiced "love and compassion for people seeking asylum" -- a position seemingly at odds with Trump's anti-immigration platform.

Two weeks ago, West was in Uganda finishing up his delayed ninth studio album "Yandhi." He visited the country's president Yoweri Museveni, and gave him a pair of his own Yeezy brand sneakers.

"Yandhi" -- first expected to be released on September 29, to coincide with West's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" -- is now due out on November 23.

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'Sorry can't take your pain away': Ariana Grande pays tribute to ex-beau Mac Miller

NEW YORK- Singer Ariana Grande paid a poignant tribute on Friday to rapper Mac Miller, a week after her former boyfriend died at age 26.

"I adored you from the day I met you when I was nineteen and I always will," Grande wrote on Instagram in her first public reaction to Miller's death from a reported overdose.

The two split up in May, and Grande has faced attacks on social media by people claiming she was the cause of Miller's death.

"You were my dearest friend. for so long. above anything else. I'm so sorry I couldn't fix or take your pain away. I really wanted to," Grande wrote.

Miller, who released his fifth album in August, spoke openly about his struggle with addiction.

"The kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. I hope you’re okay now. rest," Grande wrote.

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Brief, angry confrontation in New York pits Nicki Minaj against Cardi B

Two of America's most prominent rap and hip-hop artists, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, nearly came to blows in a brief but explosive confrontation during New York's Fashion Week.

Videos on Twitter and YouTube showed the two women, who were on a second-floor balcony above a red carpet event late Friday, being separated by their security guards as Cardi B curses her rival before throwing a shoe at her.

Minaj was reportedly not hurt. But a photo taken immediately afterward shows Cardi B with a large bump just above her left eye. The Variety website said one of Minaj's guards elbowed her during the melee.

It was not immediately known what touched off the dispute, but gossip site TMZ said Cardi B, the first female rapper to have had multiple No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, had accused the older Minaj, one of the best-selling musical artists now performing, of spreading "lies" about her. 

In a subsequent Instagram post, the 25-year-old Cardi B complained -- without naming names -- that her rival had gone too far when she criticized Cardi B's qualities as a mother. Cardi B had a child in July with fellow rapper Offset.

Cardi B gained enormous notoriety in the US musical world last year with the release of her song "Bodak Yellow," with its references to her past as a strip-tease dancer trying to make ends meet.

Minaj, 35, has sold more than five million albums worldwide and won 10 Grammy nominations.

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Rapper Mac Miller dead of overdose at 26: reports

NEW YORK, United States - Mac Miller, the troubled rapper who won fans with his retro hip-hop but generated uncomfortable attention with songs on ex-girlfriend Ariana Grande and Donald Trump, died Friday at age 26, reports said.

Celebrity news site TMZ said that Miller was found dead from an apparent overdose in his Los Angeles-area home and US Weekly said it also confirmed his death.

A representative for Miller did not respond to requests for comment and Los Angeles emergency services declined comment.

His death comes several months after he ended a high-profile, two-year relationship with pop superstar Grande, often seen as the inspiration for his songs.

Shortly after their breakup, he crashed his car in May and was charged with driving under the influence. 

Grande at the time wrote on social media that she had long tried to help Miller become sober but described their relationship as "toxic" and said, "I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be."

Miller has been open about his trouble with substance abuse including an addiction to powerful cough syrup -- known on the street as purple drank.

But he said he was getting better as he released his fifth studio album, "Swimming," last month. 

He told Rolling Stone at the time: "Have I done drugs? Yeah. But am I a drug addict? No."

Born in Pittsburgh as Malcolm McCormick, the rapper first found fame releasing music online as a teenager, choosing a minimalist style with heavy beats that harked back to early hip-hop.

His delivery was uber-masculine, with hard-spit lyrics that often graphically described sexual encounters, yet he gradually tried to mature from his frat-boy persona.

In 2011, Miller wrote a song about becoming fabulously wealthy and, seeking a metaphor, entitled the song "Donald Trump."

The real estate mogul was flattered by the song, although he described the lyrics as "a little hard to understand." Trump hailed Miller as "the new Eminem" -- another prominent white rapper.

After Trump's surprise political ascent, Miller reversed the message of the song and would vociferously denounce the president in concert.

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Cardi B, fast-rising woman of rap, reveals pregnancy

NEW YORK - A day after releasing one of the most eagerly awaited rap debut albums in recent years, rapper Cardi B made another splash -- revealing she is pregnant.

The fast-rising 25-year-old star showed off an unambiguous baby bump as she appeared on weekly comedy show "Saturday Night Live," becoming a top trending item on social media.

In a teasing confirmation to persistent pregnancy rumors, Cardi B took the stage twice on "Saturday Night Live," first concealing her body with a fulsome feather boa as she performed her breakout single "Bodak Yellow."

When she returned to rap "Be Careful," a track off her debut album "Invasion of Privacy" that came out Friday, Cardi B donned a body-hugging white dress and smiled knowingly as the lights shone on her protruding belly.

Cardi B is engaged to Offset of rap trio Migos, who shortly after his fiancee's television appearance confirmed the pregnancy on Instagram, writing, "We feel so blessed."

Cardi B, a Bronx native whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, has quickly found stardom with her hard-driving rhymes that unsentimentally tell a story of a rough life that included a stint as a stripper.

"Bodak Yellow," released less than a year ago, made her one of the most watched names in rap -- a genre dominated by men and, often, by machismo.

She raked in top prizes including single of the year at last year's BET Hip Hop Awards, leading to high anticipation for her debut album -- and she is not letting the pregnancy slow her down. 

The rapper is due to perform next weekend at Coachella, the premier US music festival -- whose top headliner Beyonce pushed back her appearance by one year as she gave birth to twins in 2017.

The gossip site TMZ earlier reported that Cardi B is due to give birth in early July.

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Music industry hails Jay-Z before Grammys

NEW YORK -- Jay-Z, who once boycotted the Grammys as biased against hip-hop, was hailed Saturday by the music industry's power brokers ahead of the latest awards where he leads nominations.

The rapper who rose from a broken home to become a hip-hop multimillionaire was contrite over his previous attacks on the Grammys when he accepted a prize as an "industry icon" at a pre-award gala thrown by veteran music executive Clive Davis.

Jay-Z refused to attend the Grammys in 1999 because the Recording Academy which administers the awards snubbed fellow rapper DMX.

He stayed away, upset at the lack of recognition for hip-hop, until coming in 2004 with wife-to-be Beyonce, who joined him on Saturday.

"I realize like, man, art is super subjective and everybody is doing their best and the Academy, they are human like we are," Jay-Z told the packed ballroom in New York's Times Square.

"We can pretend we don't care, but we really care," he said of Grammy recognition. "We care because we see the most incredible artists stand on that stage and we aspire to be there."

A who's who of top artists performed in Jay-Z's honor, with soul legend Gladys Knight singing her classic "Midnight Train to Georgia" and Luis Fonsi dancing through his viral hit "Despacito."

Alicia Keys weaved Jay-Z's songs from "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" to their collaboration "Empire State of Mind" into a piano medley, in which she raised her hands and led a chant of the rapper's nickname Hov.

Breakthrough year for rap 

Jay-Z is in the running for eight awards at Sunday's Grammys including Album of the Year for "4:44," a strikingly introspective work in which the rapper apologizes for infidelity to Beyonce and supports his mother as she comes out as lesbian.

The music industry's premier awards gala -- which has returned to New York after 15 years in Los Angeles -- is shaping up to be a big night for hip-hop, which for the first time makes up a majority of nominations in the top categories.

Jay-Z is already one of the most accoladed artists in Grammy history with 21 awards. But until this year he had always been passed over for the main categories.

Jay-Z grew up fatherless in Brooklyn and became a small-time drug dealer.

He is now worth an estimated $1 billion with Beyonce after amassing a business empire that includes fashion, entertainment and the Tidal streaming service.

In an interview aired Saturday on CNN for a new show of Van Jones, the community activist and former aide to president Barack Obama, Jay-Z urged African American entrepreneurship.

"Until we come to the table with our own... power base, nothing will change," he said.

Jay-Z is nominated for Record of the Year, which recognizes the top song, for "The Story of O.J.," which explores the persistence of racism with his own success as a backdrop.

Tough competition

While Jay-Z is ahead for Sunday, music industry prognosticators see fewer clear-cut favorites compared with previous years.

West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar closely trails Jay-Z with seven nominations amid acclaim for his album "DAMN.," a return to a classic hip-hop sound by an artist known for his experimentation.

Lamar's previous album, "To Pimp a Butterfly," offered an unofficial musical soundtrack for the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality -- but, to the disappointment of many music industry watchers, was denied Album of the Year two years ago.

Album of the Year contenders also include two high-selling pop albums -- "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars, who has revived fun-loving retro funk, and "Melodrama" by Lorde, the 21-year-old pop prodigy from New Zealand.

A dark horse in the category is "'Awaken, My Love!'," the psychedelic, R&B-infused album of Childish Gambino, the rap alter ego of actor and comedian Donald Glover.

Lorde is the only woman nominated in one of the two top categories -- despite the growing attention to gender discrimination in the entertainment industry following revelations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

In a show of support for the #MeToo movement, performers selected for the televised Grammy show include Kesha, who has taken on sexism in the industry after accusing her producer of raping her.

A group set up by female entertainment executives plans to hand out white roses as a show of solidarity with women fighting abuse.

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With new album, Eminem finds political voice

Just how much has America changed since Donald Trump's election? Eminem, knee-deep in controversy a generation ago for misogyny and homophobia, is back as a self-styled moral conscience.

The top-selling rapper in history rips into Trump on "Revival," his first studio album in four years, in which Eminem openly muses on whether he can stay relevant as his career enters its third decade.

"Revival," which came out Friday, returns to Eminem's musical tropes as he recrafts pop tunes into quick-tongued raps and taps some of the biggest names in music as collaborators, including Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and P!nk.

But the 45-year-old also shows a new side -- a politically sensitive Eminem, woke and alarmed at the direction of the United States a year into Trump's presidency.

"Someone get this Aryan a sheet / Time to bury him, so tell him to prepare to get impeached," Eminem raps on "Like Home," juxtaposing the imagery of death and the racist Ku Klux Klan.

"He's trying to divide us," Eminem warns, taking the language of a street activist, while vowing, "He'll only unite us."

Eminem -- who has faced criticism throughout his career for employing a homophobic slur, although he insists it is just a narrative device -- also attacks Trump for seeking to ban transgender people from the military.

- Familiar beats -

"Revival" opens on a fresh note for Eminem -- "Walk on Water," the album's first single, a piano ballad about self-doubt that features a Gospel-tinged chorus by Beyoncé.

But the 19-track album quickly returns to more familiar territory. "Believe" and "Chloraseptic," which is assisted by the up-and-coming New York rapper Phresher, are backed by minimal, ominous beats with nods to horrorcore.

"Remind Me" refashions the sing-along chorus of "I Love Rock and Roll," the boisterous classic by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, while "In Your Head" builds off a riff in The Cranberries' "Zombie."

On "Untouchable," Eminem -- who has brought hard-edged hip-hop to a white audience like no one else -- embraces the slogans of the Black Lives Matter movement as he voices outrage at police brutality.

"I admit there have been times when it's been embarrassing to be a white boy," he raps, as he offers solidarity with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other American football players who have kneeled during the national anthem as a protest over racial injustice.

Not all of the political bent on "Revival" is likely to sit comfortably even with Trump's opponents. Eminem, whose songs have often imagined violence against women, depicts Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka inside his car's trunk on "Framed."

- Passionate opponent of Trump -

Eminem's political passion appears deeply felt, with the rapper going public with harsh denunciations of Trump even before "Revival."

While Trump enjoys little celebrity support, Eminem's hostility is notable as the two share much of the same demographic base. Eminem hails from Michigan and has personally struggled with some of the afflictions of working-class white Americans from the Rust Belt -- addiction to painkillers and junk food and, to put it mildly in Eminem's case, complicated family relationships.

Eminem -- who on his last album apologized to his mother whom he once spoke of raping and killing -- on "Revival" offers his regrets to Kim Mathers, his high school sweetheart whom he married and divorced twice.

"I loved you, but I hated that 'me' / And I don't want to see that side again / I'm sorry, Kim," he raps on "Bad Husband."

Eminem's oldest child -- Hailie, who turns 22 on Christmas Day -- makes a cameo in "Bad Husband" and also inspires one of the strongest songs on "Revival" -- "Castle," written around a series of letters addressed to his daughter over the years.

"Things that should have been private with me and your mother is public," Eminem raps ruefully of his past songs.

And the song may draw a curtain. With the track, Eminem rapped that he is "100 percent finished" with airing family baggage.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US rapper Nelly arrested over tour-bus rape allegations

LOS ANGELES - Grammy Award-winning rapper Nelly was arrested Saturday after a woman accused him of raping her in his tour bus, police in the northwestern state of Washington said.

Just before 4:00 am local time (1100 GMT) a woman called the emergency 911 line "to report that she was sexually assaulted by a male, who is known as the rapper 'Nelly,'" police in Auburn, Washington said.


After police investigated the incident, "at 4:37 AM Nelly was taken into custody and booked" at the local jail, the police statement read.

The alleged assault reportedly took place on the tour bus hours after Nelly had performed at the White River Amphitheater just east of Auburn.

A lawyer for Nelly vehemently denied the charges.

Nelly -- born Cornell Haynes Jr. -- "is the victim of a completely fabricated allegation," his attorney Scott Rosenblum told AFP in a statement.

"Our initial investigation clearly establishes this allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness.

"I am confident, once this scurrilous accusation is thoroughly investigated, there will be no charges," he added.

According to TMZ, Nelly, whose schedule has him performing Saturday evening with country duo Florida Georgia Line in the city of Ridgefield, a two-hour drive to the south of Auburn, was booked on a charge of second-degree rape.

The 42-year-old has received 12 Grammy nominations and won three Grammy awards, including for best rap solo performance in 2003.

A native of Austin, Texas, he grew up in St Louis, Missouri. His first three albums, released between 2000 and 2004, were all US number ones.

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Kanye West unveils new Yeezy line during New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK -- Three months after being hospitalized for exhaustion, rapper Kanye West made his first major public appearance on Wednesday, turning up for his Yeezy fashion show during New York Fashion Week.

With his wife Kim Kardashian West in the front row next to Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, West debuted the fifth season of his high-end athleisure wear collection for Adidas to the fashion world's elite.

The show, which has become one of the most exclusive presentations during recent fashion weeks, was not live-streamed on the music streaming website TIDAL as some of West's shows have been in the past.

Many social media users expressed their frustrations when they learned they would not be able to watch online, but critics were positive about the 39-year-old singer's latest runway show, saying the emphasis was on his new collection, rather than him.

"To me it felt like the most traditional fashion show that he's done," said Rickie De Sole, W Magazine's fashion market and accessories director, who was at the show.

"It had a polish to it. It felt like a serious fashion show. It felt substantial and there was less hoopla. It really was all about the fashion," De Sole added.

The collection was dominated by denim, high-waisted jeans, hoodie sweatshirts, baseball caps, cargo pants, knee-high boots and, of course, sneakers.

Muslim model Halima Aden, the 19-year-old Somali-American who competed for Miss Minnesota wearing a burkini and who recently scored a major modeling contract with talent agency IMG, strutted the catwalk wearing a floor-length fur coat and a hijab.

Buzz had been building around the appearance of the so-called "Yeezy Runner" after West was photographed wearing the oversized white sneakers by paparazzi in January.

Kardashian appeared in athleisure wear herself, a sleeveless, see-through turtle neck shirt, track pants and an over-sized winter coat, all of which were maroon.

During the presentation, there were roughly 150 posts per minute about the Yeezy line on Twitter, according to social media analytics firm Zoomph.

The "Jesus Walks" singer emerged as one of Donald Trump's most high-profile supporters during the 2016 election campaign and met the then president-elect at Trump Tower in New York on Dec. 13, making him the target of outrage and sarcasm from fans on social media.

(Reporting by Melissa Fares and Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Tom Brown)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Rapper Coolio charged with felony firearm possession in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning rapper Coolio was charged on Thursday with unlawful firearm possession stemming from a handgun that prosecutors said was found in his backpack during baggage screening at Los Angeles International Airport last month.

The recording star, whose legal name is Artis Leon Ivey, 53, could be sentenced to as much as three years in state prison if convicted, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Prosecutors said it was illegal for the performer to carry a gun because of two prior felony convictions - in 2001 for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and in 2009 for possession of cocaine base.

The rap artist was scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday for an arraignment, but the hearing was postponed until Oct. 26 after his lawyer told the judge that Coolio was out of state performing, district attorney spokesman Ricardo Santiago said.

Santiago said a warrant for Coolio's arrest would be issued if he failed to appear for the later court date.

The rapper's lawyer, Michael Aisen, declined to comment on the case.

Coolio, a Los Angeles-area native, is perhaps best known for his 1995 Grammy Award-winning hit "Gangsta's Paradise," the No. 1 US chart-topper that year and one of the best-selling singles of all time.

According to Los Angeles police who arrested Coolio at the airport, a stolen, loaded pistol was discovered in the rapper's backpack on the X-ray screening belt as his entourage was going through security to board a flight en route to a concert.

Another member of the entourage initially claimed ownership of the bag, but evidence in the backpack directed police to Coolio, who by then had boarded the plane, and police removed him from the aircraft, police spokesman Rob Pedregon said.

Pedregon said Coolio acknowledged under questioning that the bag and the gun were his, but said little else after he was taken into custody.

Prosecutors said the case remains under investigation by police.

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Kanye West set to complete community service over photographer assault

Kanye West has nearly completed the community service hours imposed on the rapper after he pleaded no contest to charges that he assaulted a photographer outside Los Angeles International Airport, his attorney told a court on Tuesday.

West did not appear at the progress hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, but his attorney Blair Berk said at the hearing that her client has completed 228 out of 250 hours of community service and will likely finish the rest by a Sept. 15 court date, allowing him to fulfill the terms of his probation.

West was involved in a fight outside of Los Angeles International Airport in July 2013 with photographer Daniel Ramos, an incident that followed a 2008 encounter he had with a photographer at the airport that had resulted in his arrest.

In a video posted by celebrity news website TMZ of the 2013 incident, the rapper appeared to lunge at Ramos, and prosecutors accused him of trying to take equipment from the photographer.

West, who has been in the spotlight since his 2004 album "The College Dropout," started garnering even more frequent paparazzi attention when he began dating reality TV star Kim Kardashian in 2012. The couple has since married and they have a daughter, North West.

In 2013, West pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and grand theft charges stemming from the incident. In March 2014, he was sentenced to two years of probation, which included a requirement to complete community service and anger management counseling.

Berk told Reuters on Tuesday that the rapper has completed all of his anger management counseling.

West last year avoided a civil trial over the fracas when he settled a lawsuit brought by Ramos.

(Reporting by Phoenix Tso, Writing by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Eric Beech)

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