Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
Meek Mill is speaking out after newly-surfaced footage from his 2014 birthday reportedly thrown by Diddy has made headlines for what appears to be extreme debauchery.
Daily Mail released video of the private party earlier this week, while also speaking to the property manager of the home they rented for the bash.
According to Jason Haight, “cocaine, half-empty bottles of liquor, used condoms, lubricant, razor blades by the hundreds and bloodstained bedding” were among the items left behind, and “the bedrooms the following day were disgusting.”
“I found panties, bras, and even two iPhones in the bushes behind the bowling alley,” he added.
After Meek recently denounced his association with Diddy – who he has been accused of having a sexual relationship with – he’s now claiming there is a “war on Black men” in response to the new footage.
“None of these publications are owned by black men posting things to destroy the names and brands of the culture!” he wrote on X. “Ima stand on this I know it’s somebody behind this! Ima start a war behind it too when I find out!!!!”
He continued: “Just think about it you are waking up to a bunch of non black owned publication posting major lies about me! Where all the pr people go that was around me! Everybody see what’s going on I’m not gonna be quiet it’s was war on black men!
“When I see page six post something it gives me a bad vibe…. go back 2 years ago they posted only good meek mill news! I know how these things work! Like what just happened with Mike Tyson show his ass out get him beat by young white kid cmon it’s a mockery!
“why nobody looking at the fact of who we consuming this news from …. I went to chat gpt none of these people are even Americans and not close to the black party These weak ass stories this wasn’t even puff party . It’s not nothing to be quiet about if you’re smart!”
He concluded: They putting black men in jail off stories … I wish puff well he’s a black man I hope he didn’t do most of that shit they saying he did …. Why yall so scared to talk yall must got shit In closet! My past the streets it’s nothing to hide! I see how pac got like that!”
When I see page six post something it gives me a bad vibe…. go back 2 years ago they posted only good meek mill news! I know how these things work! Like what just happened with Mike Tyson show his ass out get him beat by young white kid cmon it’s a mockery! pic.twitter.com/jZf4rqxlRw
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 20, 2024
why nobody looking at the fact of who we consuming this news from …. I went to chat gpt none of these people are even Americans and not close to the black party These weak ass stories this wasn’t even puff party . It’s not nothing to be quiet about if you’re smart! pic.twitter.com/GOXKZDRe7g
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 20, 2024
They putting black men in jail off stories … I wish puff well he’s a black man I hope he didn’t do most of that shit they saying he did …. Why yall so scared to talk yall must got shit In closet! My past the streets it’s nothing to hide!
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 20, 2024
According to the report, the 2014 bash – which was in celebration of Meek Mill’s 27th birthday – went on for an entire day and cost Diddy quite a pretty penny, including $25k for the home rental.
“They requested that all interior bedroom door locks were to be ordered new and left unopened for their arrival for security purposes as they would need to supervise the installation,” Haight added. “And both keys were to be given to Mr. Combs directly and nobody else.”
Attendees included French Montana, Lil Durk and King Bach, among others.
As previously reported, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones claimed in a February lawsuit against Diddy that “Mr. Combs informed [him] that he had engaged in sexual intercourse” with an unnamed rapper, as well as an unnamed R&B singer and Bad Boy producer Stevie J.
A footnote described the former as “a Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj,” which fans immediately identified as Meek Mill.
Many believe that the R&B singer, who the lawsuit points out “performed at the Super Bowl and had a successful Vegas residency,” is Usher.
Meek was quick to shut down the claim, calling it “sick” and a ploy to tarnish his reputation.
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DJ Shadow has shared his thoughts on the current touring crisis, saying the industry is close to “extinction”.
Writing on Facebook on Wednesday (November 20), DJ Shadow reflected on his recent tour, saying it was “decidedly different from prior runs, in both positive and negative ways.”
“I found myself constantly weighing the changes, not only as they affect me, but other musicians and the touring industry as a whole,” he added, highlighting an increase in costs associated with touring. “It’s also WAY more expensive to get from point A to point B. I joke about it with my crew sometimes, but it’s true: almost all of my money goes to the travel sector.
“And yet, I’m also aware that many of the venues I played this year are struggling financially. I don’t think it’s an over exaggeration to say that the touring industry as we know it is one more global crisis away from extinction.”
He went on to highlight the physical impact of touring, saying: “At my age, touring ain’t as easy as it used to be. There’s aches and pains that didn’t used to be there, and it takes a total commitment to conserve energy for the show; not always easy when sleep or nourishment become disrupted.”
He concluded, writing: “So where does that leave us? Well, for myself, I can only control my own thoughts and actions. I still love touring, still love making music. After the Australia and Japan dates next February, it’ll be time to build something new, and when I’m ready to head back out, I hope the promoters, venues, and fans will still be there.
“Until then, I’ll continue to appreciate every opportunity as it comes… and maybe check out a show or two to remind myself what a precious and powerful thing live entertainment can be.”
Shadow’s comments point to a wider crisis facing the touring industry. For venues, 2023 proved to be “disastrous” and the worst year on record with 125 grassroots music venues shutting their doors. This is despite recent findings that the music industry contributed a record £7.6billion to the country’s economy the same year.
Music Venue Trust (MVT) has also suggested we’re facing a potential “complete collapse of touring” as a result of the recent budget announcement that introduces £7million in new premises taxes. MVT says that this will place 350 grassroots music venues at immediate risk of closure – threatening more than 12,000 jobs, over £250million in economic activity and the loss of over 75,000 live music events.
In hopes of securing a future for live music, the government recently backed a levy on gigs at arena level that will see the UK’s smaller venues and rising artists receive a contribution from bigger gigs.
The model, similar to the one seen in the Premiere League of football and already in use in several countries across Europe, was recommended by MPs after a DCMS investigation back in Spring.
Major artists like Coldplay, Enter Shikari, Sam Fender and most recently Katy Perry have all adopted a levy on their upcoming UK tours, and now there are increased calls for a clear deadline for the industry to take urgent action.
The closures of venues create a larger issue in the industry, impacting touring artists trying to reach new audiences and gig-goers seeking new music.
Earlier this year, David Martin of the FAC – a trade union body representing the needs of musicians and artists in the UK, wrote to NME to highlight this, saying that even if venues remain open, many artists can no longer afford to play them.
“Even those playing to relatively modest audiences have to bear substantial costs to tour the UK – from transportation, accommodation and rehearsals to paying the salaries of musicians, crew, production, agents and managers,” he said. “That’s on top of recording, and the increasing demands of promotion – all activities which create the demand for shows in the first place.”
This was echoed by English Teacher‘s Lily Fontaine earlier this year, when she spoke at a Parliamentary session, and explained how artists are facing “a crisis in terms of funding” and being able to support themselves.
“There is a lack of funding for musicians to create music,” said Fontaine. Giving a long list of outgoing expenses faced by artists, Fontaine mentioned studio time, rehearsal space, tour managers, engineers, van hire, musicians, non-artist fees, driver fees, accommodation, travel, carnets, visas, insurance, equipment, food, drink and photography to name a few.
Elsewhere, at the start of this year, artists reflected on the challenges they faced in 2023 and their hopes for 2024. This included hopes for a streaming royalties reform, the application of AI in music, the 100 Per Cent Venues campaign to end punitive commissions on merchandise sales, and the #LetTheMusicMove campaign to encourage friction-free international touring.
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