50 Cent Cops to Leaking ‘Power’ Episodes

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

The leaks of multiple Power episodes that hit the Internet recently have been a mystery to fans and Starz network, but it looks like 50 Cent is the culprit. The “9 Shots” rapper confesses to the suspicious leak, remarking on the rise in ratings of the popular show’s recent episodes.

Fifty says the ratings for Power are up 10%, stating that Starz must be “glad” he leaked the show. He even puts #SavageLife next to the caption, confirming to fans he meant to do it on purpose.

“POWER Ratings up another 10 percent for episode 408. 😈 They glad I leaked the shit now. 😆LOL #SAVAGELIFENow watch what I do on BET. #50Centralbet.”

If you recall, the hip-hop mogul has been vocal with his frustrations with Starz for the way they treat the show, being that it has become the biggest series on the network. He has already threatened to pull the show from Starz moving forward after the network didn’t approve of adding on more episodes to season four this year.

50 Cent is currently gearing up to star in his BET show, 50 Central, which will premiere in September. We’re not sure what’s in store for the new series, but the season will contain 24 episodes that are a half-hour-long each.

See the post of 50 copping to leaking Power episodes below.

Read More: 50 Cent Cops to Leaking ‘Power’ Episodes – XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/50-cent-leaking-power-episodes/?trackback=tsmclip

Juror Says He Can’t Be Impartial in Martin Shkreli Case Because He Disrespected Wu-Tang Clan

There are a lot of people who are not fans of Martin Shkreli, and it turns out that the court system has been trying to recruit some of them to be jurors in his security fraud case. A transcript of the juror selection process for the entrepreneur’s case has been unveiled, and one of the potential jurors refused to be impartial because Shkreli disrespected Wu-Tang Clan.

While tons of other jurors spoke on not being impartial due to having direct and indirect connections to Shkreli’s pharmaceutical controversies, one juror kept it candid about his Wu-Tang disrespect.

“Your Honor, totally he is guilty and in no way can I let him slide out of anything because…” Juror No. 59 stated prior to being asked if that was their attitude before Shkreli had been proven guilty. “It’s my attitude toward his entire demeanor, what he has done to people… and he disrespected the Wu-Tang Clan.”

Juror No. 59 was not the only one name-dropping the veteran hip-hop group in his reason for not being impartial, as No. 144 also kept things brutally honest as well.

“I heard through the news of how the defendant changed the price of a pill by up-selling it,” the juror explains. “I heard he bought an album from the Wu-Tang Clan for a million dollars. I don’t think I can because he kind of looks like a dick.”

Both jurors ended up being dismissed from the case due to their inability to be impartial.

If you recall, Martin Shkreli not only purchased the one single copy of the recent Wu-Tang Clan album for a large amount of money, but he’s even responsible for leaking songs off of Lil Wayne’s unreleased Carter V album.

Read the full transcript from the juror selection process in Martin Shkreli’s case here.

Read More: Juror Says He Can’t Be Impartial in Martin Shkreli Case Because He Disrespected Wu-Tang Clan – XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/juror-martin-shkreli-case-disrespected-wu-tang-clan/?trackback=tsmclip

Lil B’s ‘Black Ken’ Mixtape Is Finally Here

#LilB‘s Black Ken mixtape is finally here. You can cop it on iTunes and listen to it on Apple Music or stream it via SoundCloud below.

The tape initially appeared on DatPiff on Wednesday (Aug. 16), causing Lil B to call out the mixtape site for posting his project before its release date and then locking him out of his own user profile on the site. Soon after, Based God told Twitter everything had been resolved.

Black Ken is entirely produced by Lil B himself, and iLoveMakonnen is the only feature. Based God calls it his “first official mixtape” and is a tribute to artists like Kanye West, Iggy Azalea, Lupe Fiasco, Charles Hamilton and others.

Thursday (Aug. 17) is also Lil B’s 28th birthday.

Lil B’s Black Ken Tracklist

1. “Produced by the BasedGod Intro”
2. “Still Run It”
3. “Bad Mf”
4. “Wasup JoJo”
5. “Hip Hop”
6. “DJ BasedGod”
7. “Berkeley”
8. “Free Life”
9. “Pretty Boy Skit”
10. “Young N****z”
11. “Getting Hot”
12. “Go Stupid Go Dumb”
13. “Global” Feat. iLoveMakonnen
14. “Ride (Hold Up)”
15. “Mexico Skit”
16. “Zam Bose (in San Jose)”
17. “Go Senorita Go”
18. “Turn Up (Till You Can’t)”
19. “Ain’t Me”
20. “Raw”
21. “West Coast”
22. “The Real Is Back”
23. “Rawest Rapper Alive”
24. “Da Backstreetz”
25. “Rare Art”
26. “Show Promoter Skit”
27. “Live From the Island – Hawaii”

Read More: Lil B’s ‘Black Ken’ Mixtape Is Finally Here – XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/lil-b-black-ken-mixtape/?trackback=tsmclip
#BlackKen

Eazy-E’s Son and Widow Fight Over Ruthless Records

Thirty years ago, Eazy-E founded his Ruthless Records imprint to help launch his then-nascent rap group N.W.A. Now, the son and widow of the late rapper—who passed away shortly after being diagnosed with AIDS over 20 years ago—are engaged in a legal battle over the name. Page Six reported the news on Wednesday (Aug. 16). According to the site, Eazy’s widow Tomica Woods-Wright has owned Eazy-E’s imprint since his death in 1995. On Tuesday, she filed a a federal trademark infringement suit against Eazy’s son Eric Darnell Wright, who goes by the name of Lil Eazy-E.

The suit alleges that Lil Eazy-E and his friend Arnold White infringed upon the Ruthless Records trademark by operating their website—titled ruthlessrecordsinc.com—as if they were the actual Ruthless Records. Their site sells T-shirts and promotes concerts, but it also offers up some potentially incriminating evidence of Wright’s claim. “Our old-school outlook mixed with cutting edge technology makes Ruthless Records Inc. a leader in the music business,” reads one part of Lil Eazy-E and White’s website. “Eazy-E’s first-born son and longtime friend are carrying on the legacy that started it all.” Another part of the website reads it was “founded by legendary gangsta rap artist Eazy-E.” In the suit, Wright alleges Lil Eazy-E and White first attempted to trademark Ruthless Records Inc. last year, but their application was rejected because the name was deemed too similar to Ruthless Records. Elsewhere in the suit, Eazy-E’s widow claims Eazy’s son and White incorporated as “NWA-LLC,” which she says is also a copyright infringement on N.W.A.
Photo cred: Al Pereira, Getty Images

Read More: Eazy-E’s Son and Widow Fight Over Ruthless Records – XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/eazy-e-son-widow-fight-over-ruthless-records/?trackback=tsmclip

Tyler, The Creator Wants to See More Black Cartoon Characters

 

Tyler, The Creator just released a new album for fans, but he’s still focusing on his TV career. While attending San Diego Comic Con to promote his upcoming The Jellies! cartoon, the Flower Boy rapper explains why he made the main character, Cornell, black, as he was previously white on the GOLF Media app.

The “Boredom” entertainer believes that there aren’t enough black cartoons on television right now, and explains why he wanted to make sure there was better representation in the cartoon world. He also details why Cornell won’t fit any of the potential stereotypes that have followed black characters in the past.

“Why you make him black?’ Why can’t niggas have anything, man?” Tyler exclaims. “How many fuckin’ black cartoon characters is it on TV right now? Name five. I’ll give you time. It is none… We don’t got shit… So I said fuck that, we about to make this nigga black, and he ain’t got no guns, he ain’t shoot no fucking basketball, and he a fucking goober, and we gon’ put him on TV. And he’s the lead character, he ain’t the comic relief, he ain’t the sidekick, he the lead nigga.”

The Jellies! was created by Tyler and Lionel Boyce of Odd Future and is coming soon to Adult Swim. We can also look forward to Tyler starring on his Nuts and Bolts show on Viceland next year.

Watch Tyler speak on black cartoon characters and The Jellies! in the video below.

Read More: Tyler, The Creator Wants to See More Black Cartoon Characters – XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/07/tyler-the-creator-not-enough-black-cartoon-characters/?trackback=tsmclip

B.O.B. Announces 3rd Annual BobWood Festival

Two years ago, B.o.B launched his now-annual BoBWOOD FEST after the release of his surprise album, Psycadelik Thoughtz. Now, the “Mr. Mister” MC is revving up for his latest interactive music festival in the heart of downtown Atlanta, with hopes of giving newer artists a chance to show and prove.

Since B.o.B has always been a rapper who’s not afraid to dip into various other genres, serving as host to an array of music acts—old and new—during the event is right up his alley. The festival takes place on Sat., Aug. 19, just in time for the summer festivities.

The date was purposely set around the anniversary of Woodstock, which was held in 19 and deemed to be one of the greatest music festivals of all time. Set to be held at Murphy Park Fairgrounds, confirmed performers already include Young Dro, Trae tha Truth, London Jae and other Hustle Gang artists, with B.o.B headlining, naturally. BoBWOOD FEST will also include a set by Stafford Brothers, a pair of DJs from Australia who specialize in EDM.
XXL caught up with the six-time Grammy nominee in June in regards to his latest LP, Ether, B.o.B’s first studio album in almost four years. When it comes to the title, the rapper explained its importance. “Ether is the fifth element,” he shared. “It’s the realm in which all matter and material or thought moves through, you know what I mean? So, I feel like I knew I was gonna have to do an album and I was gonna have to do the Ether tape but I just didn’t know that they were gonna be the same thing. So, you know, I really like bringing that conscious crowd into merging my fans, you know what I’m saying, kinda making something everybody can listen to without being like, ‘I like this project,’ [or] ‘Well, I like this project.’ I don’t like it being all divided.” Ether, released May 12, received an XL rating from XXL, and includes features from fellow ATL natives such as Young Thug, Dro and T.I.
Via: #XXLMagazine

“The Cross out 3” Movie Trailer

 

SWISH GANG FILMS PRESENTS “THE CROSS OUT 3” PREMIERE SCREENING AT THE PLAZA THEATRE JULY 20th 2017 Atlanta, GA – Swish Gang Films and director Swish Pzy announce their special invitation premiere screening of “The Cross Out 3” on June 20th, 2017 from 7pm-9:30pm at the Plaza Theatre (1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE Atlanta, GA). The event will showcase the independent film followed by a Q&A with the director and actors. Tickets can be purchased in advance online through eventbrite or at the Plaza Theatre box office the day of the screening.

WHEN: Thursday, July 20, 2017 WHERE: Landmark Plaza Theatre- Midtown 1049 Ponce DeLeon Ave.NE, Atlanta, GA- Red carpet begins at 6:30pm. Screening begins at 7:30pm.

About “The Cross Out 3” From Swish Gang Films, executive producers Swish Pzy, Calico Jonez and director Apar alongside Curtis Snow, director of “Snow in the Bluff” and assistant are releasing the third installment of the “Cross Out” trilogy which consists of “The Cross Out” and “The Cross Out 2”. “The Cross Out” film series depicts the lives of several individuals who reside in Austin Homes Projects located in what Knoxville, TN refers to as “the gun zone” an area is known for shootings and violence. This is the backdrop for the team as they commence to take over the city through their ruthless dealings and set forth on a mission to get paid causing chaos along the way. “The Cross Over Part 3” is a continuation of the story line taking place in Atlanta and features cast members Swish PZY, Calico Jonez, Curtis Snow, Swish Frosty and many more.  Follow director Swish Pzy on social media @SwishPzy