Archives: Episodes

Nicki Minaj taken aback by man who mistook her for Trina

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Nicki Minaj and Trina are both successful Black female rappers, but they don’t look or sound the same. Yet, a store clerk managed to get them confused when he mistook Nicki for the Miami native. Nicki recalled the incident in a video shared on her TikTok account. 

“Y’all, I just came back from this meeting, right? And because, like, on my way home, I’m like, you know, I asked the driver to drop me off at this store,” she recalled. She went about her shopping trip before having an awkward encounter with the man behind the register.

“He start looking at me like, you know, he didn’t want to kind of, like, blow my cover, ’cause there’s other people waiting right behind me in the store,” Nicki continued. “So, I lean in ’cause it’s clear that he’s trying to tell me something and I don’t want to talk to you. So, he goes—and he was so serious but so excited, so I’m like, ‘Of course, global icon superstar.’ I’m thinking in my head, it’s OK.”

Nicki went on, “He leans in, and with all seriousness, he said, ‘I been listening to you all day.'” The man then revealed he was a fan of her “old school” music, specifically the song with Trick Daddy.

Nicki Minaj has never collaborated with Trick, so it’s clear the fan unknowingly praised the wrong person. It’s assumed he’s actually a fan of Trina, as she and Trick Daddy have collaborated several times throughout the course of her career.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Ma$e reveals he's signing with Snoop Dogg's Death Row Records

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Ma$e, introduced to the world via Bad Boy Entertainment, has announced a potential deal with the label’s former rival. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, he revealed he’s signing with Death Row Records, recently acquired by Snoop Dogg.

“I’m on Crenshaw — just passed Pico, just passed Slauson — and I’m out here to meet with Snoop so I can do another joint venture with Death Row Records,” he said in the clip.

“I’ll be officially the first one signed to Bad Boy and Death Row. And we gon’ get the 2Pac thing rekindled. Let’s see where we go with that.”

Ma$e rapped and danced his way to the top while rocking shiny colored suits with Diddy and letting the world know about Bad Boy. He released all three of his albums under the label but believes he never got his just due.

“I felt like I did more than I got credit for, more than I got paid for,” Ma$e said in his appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. “I never got paid what I was worth and I never got the respect I was worth. So the disdain is like, ‘You’re tryna keep me here, n****?’ I’m not here. All my peers is up here. All my peers are bosses.”

If the news is true, Ma$e wouldn’t be the first artist signed to two labels at once. The deal, however, would mark a notable moment for those familiar with the history between the record companies. Bad Boy and Death Row were embroiled in tension during the East Coast and West Coast rivalry in the ’90s and following the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.     

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Kendrick Lamar reflects on rap's impact on his life

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Kendrick Lamar took some time from The Big Steppers Tour to reflect on the ways rap has positively affected his life. In a post on his Instagram Story, he credited the music for his self-growth, referring to it as a necessity in his lifelong journey.

“rap has truly helped my expansion of self. beyond the perception of who I believed to be. on jojo. music is air to a young n**** at this point. mr morale. the catalyst of my self expression,” Kendrick penned.

He also noted it took him “twenty years” to make “Mother I Sober,” a track off his Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers album, which sees him tackle his childhood trauma, battles with lust and other demons.

Kendrick’s rap career has afforded him the opportunity to meet his fans and travel around the world. He appreciates the experiences, some of which he says will forever be ingrained in his memory.

“ill never forget the process of falling in love with imperfection. the piano. my fans. the stories of reconciliation i hear from penitentiaries to small villages,” Kendrick wrote. “Some words will find you today. Some will find you in 10. find your children type shit. sitting in the corner like an old book.”

“im forever underground. infratrating [sic] the mainstream a la carte,” he continued. “these cities still beautiful to watch. on jojo. ily.”

Kendrick’s U.S. tour ends September 15 in LA; the European leg picks up the following month. Visuals of his shows can be found on his Instagram, where he uploaded 50 photos before sharing his reflective post.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Brittney Griner found guilty in Russian drug trial, sentenced to 9 years in prison

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WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over five months, was found guilty on drug charges in a Moscow-area court Thursday. She was then sentenced to nine years in prison.

The judge found that Griner had criminal intent, and said she is guilty of smuggling and storing illegal drugs.

Griner, a 31-year-old Houston native who plays professional basketball for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki as she returned to Russia to play during the WNBA’s offseason. She was accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who appeared in court Thursday for the final hearing in her trial, was facing up to 10 years in prison, although 9 1/2 years is the maximum sentence with time served. Griner has a right to appeal.

Griner shared an emotional statement in court ahead of the verdict on Thursday morning. She apologized to her loved ones for the hurt that her detention has caused, and said that her parents instilled hard work in her and this value is what brought her to Russia.

The Phoenix Mercury star held up a photo of her Russian teammates on Thursday and said that she made “an honest mistake” by packing the vape cartridges in her bag.

The prosecutor argued that Griner’s guilt has been proven and also asked that Griner pay a $16,500 fine, which is about 1 million Russian roubles.

Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in court last month, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil were in her luggage mistakenly and that she had no “intention” of breaking Russian law.

Her legal team told ABC News in a statement last month that her guilty plea was recommended by her Russian attorneys.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Idris Elba reteaming with 'Hobbs and Shaw' director David Leitch for Netflix spy thriller 'Bang!'

ABC News/Stephen Iervolino

(NOTE LANGUAGE) ABC Audio has confirmed Idris Elba is reteaming with his Hobbs and Shaw director David Leitch — the guy behind Brad Pitt‘s new movie Bullet Train — for a Netflix-bound spy thriller called Bang!.

Based on the Dark Horse Comics books from Matt Kindt and Wilfredo Torres, the film will have Elba playing a secret agent sent to take down a terrorist organization that may be linked to “a science-fiction author … whose books may hold the key to either saving reality or destroying it.”

Incidentally, the 2020 books feature a review quote from none other than Keanu Reeves — Leitch’s pal and John Wick star — who called the series, “A great, f****ed up blend of James Bond and Tintin.”

The latter refers to Belgian cartoonist Hergé‘s beloved comic series about a globe-trotting reporter and adventurer.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.