Archives: Episodes

The life of the legendary Muhammad Ali will be celebrated with a new Broadway musical.

Producers announced Wednesday that the production, simply titled Ali, is now being developed.

“Muhammad has been a muse and continues to be a source of inspiration to so many artists around the world,” Lonnie Ali, who was married to the iconic athlete for 30 years, said in a statement. “I’m so proud to support this project and am thrilled to see his story brought to life on the Broadway stage.”

After winning a gold medal in boxing at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Ali made history as the only boxer to win the heavyweight championship three different times. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named him Sportsman of the Century.

Muhammad was also a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, he portrayed himself in the 1977 biopic The Greatest. In 2001, Will Smith starred as the revered boxer in Ali.

After living with from Parkinson’s syndrome, Ali passed away in 2016. He was 74 years old.

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Busta Rhymes was honored for his historic career Wednesday night at the BMI 2022 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at LIV Nightclub in Miami Beach.

BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill introduced the “I Know What You Want” rapper as the BMI Icon for his “defining impact on hip-hop and for mentoring the next generation of talent.”

“We’re all blessed with this gift. It’s one thing to identify with the gift, it’s another thing to believe in it once you identify with it,” Busta said as he received the award. “I’ve never been celebrated as an icon before, but I never had to question whether I was one.”

Previous recipients of the Icon Award include Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface and Al Green.

A video tribute was shown including Janet, Lil Wayne, Missy Elliott, Fat Joe and Mariah Carey sharing the love and respect they have for the 50-year-old MC.

Pharrell Williams praised the 12-time Grammy nominee and said he felt “honored to be in the presence of someone who had the courage to be so different … and still does today.”

Busta performed a melody of some of his biggest hits, such as “Break Ya Neck,” “Scenario,” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.”

Pharrell co-wrote, co-produced and is featured on Rhymes’ 2002 hit “Pass the Courvoisier.” They turned the awards show into a party, bringing the invitation-only crowd to its feet as they closed the night performing the classic.

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Quavo and Takeoff, of Migos, have announced their joint debut album, Only Built For Infinity Links, set to drop October 7.

The duo separately announced the news on social media with a teaser video and the caption, “Only Built For Infinity Links album out 10/7.”

The album announcement follows the lead single “Hotel Lobby” and their latest release, “Big Stunna,” featuring Birdman. The duo is also featured on “Party” on DJ Khaled’s #1 album, God Did.

Quavo and Takeoff performed their new music August 27 at the National Battle of the Bands in Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The third member of Migos, Offset, recently shared the solo singles “Code” with Moneybagg Yo and “5 4 3 2 1.”

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After making history with “Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj is preparing to drop the remix.

Pink Barbie teased her fans Wednesday with a snippet video from her recording studio. “#QueenMix coming to collect her things. Soon come,” the MTV Video Vanguard Award winner captioned the clip of the “Super Freaky Girl” remix blaring loudly through the speakers.

On the new take of the track, Minaj says, “Ayo, this the Queen Mix right here. Miami, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, New York … stand the f*** up!” before the sample of Rick James’ 1981 hit “Super Freak” kicks in and the rapper spits the lyrics to “Super Freaky Girl.”

“Super Freaky Girl” recently hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This is Nicki’s first solo hit to debut at the top of the chart and the first number one single from a female rapper since Lauryn Hill in 1998. The song also makes Minaj the first female lead artist to debut at number one this year.

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As Eminem celebrates winning an Emmy for his Super Bowl performance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent, he’s also reflecting on one of the darkest times in his career.

Slim Shady appeared on a podcast hosted by his manager, Paul Rosenberg, and recalled nearly dying from a drug overdose in 2007.

Eminem was battling an addiction to prescription pills and was hospitalized after accidentally ODing on methadone.

“It took a long time for my brain to start working again,” the “Lose Yourself” rapper said.

“You literally were coming off of an overdose, and they had to sort of stabilize you with a few medications,” Rosenberg explained. “And some of them took you a minute to adjust to—let’s just leave it at that. So, you’re learning how to rap again almost literally, right? Because it’s the first time, probably, you were creating without having substances in your body in…however many years, right?”

The Detroit MC, born Marshall Mathers, remembered Rosenberg worrying about the long-term effects of the overdose.

“Didn’t you ask the doctors when I first started rapping again, didn’t you say, ‘I just wanna make sure he doesn’t have brain damage’?” Mathers asked.

“Yeah. I thought you might have some permanent problems,” Rosenberg responded. “Yeah. I was concerned, for sure.”

Now, 15 years later, Eminem is healthy, and he just dropped an animated video for his 50 Cent collab, “Is This Love,” off his new greatest hits collection, Curtain Call 2.

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The Weeknd has left a large impression on one of his youngest fans, who is currently battling cancer.  

A young girl named Katana is a big fan of the singer — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — and she got to hang out with him before his Los Angeles show. Her mother shared tender moments on Twitter via the username @hxouseoflisa.

“Katana meeting Abel for the first time,” she captioned the sweet video, which shows Katana excitedly handing over a stack of gifts to the Grammy winner and stressing they are all for him.

Fans felt the clip was too short and begged Katana’s mother to share more videos — and she obliged.

An extra video shows Katana running full-speed at The Weeknd, who scoops her up in his arms for a big bear hug. “Their connection is the sweetest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” Katana’s mother expressed. 

In another clip, Katana is holding the “Save Your Tears” singer’s hands as they walk behind the stage. The two then part ways but not before The Weeknd gives her another hug. As he walks away, Katana calls out to him, telling him to “Have fun” at his show.

This sweet meeting took place at The Weeknd’s Los Angeles concert, which he cut short after suffering vocal issues. Despite the disappointing end of their night, Katana’s mother is thankful the “Starboy” singer reached out and made her little girl feel special.

“It’s bittersweet that Katana got to walk Abel out to his show tonight and Abel couldn’t give us his all like he had hoped,” she wrote while sharing a photo of the new friends walking hand in hand. “we love you Abel and we’re praying for you to recover quickly. you love what you do wholeheartedly.”

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Fans may know Lizzo as, well, Lizzo, but that’s not what her boyfriend calls her. 

The “About Damn Time” singer, whose birth name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, is currently dating Myke Wright, and she revealed the sweet nickname he has for her. 

“Well, I am in love,” she shared during a September 7 appearance on Audacy Check In. “He has his own name for me. He calls me Melly.”

Lizzo added that Myke is the first man to call her Melly.

The “Truth Hurts” singer and her beau first sparked romance rumors about a year ago after they were spotted having dinner in Los Angeles. However, it wasn’t until April that she confirmed their relationship. 

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