NEWS; Cortez Bryant Defends Lil Wayne Against Cash Money

 By Nemmy Kim.

                         

Lil Wayne has been very vocal about his fallout with Cash Money. Now his longtime manager Cortez Bryant is speaking out in his defense.
Bryant, who remained coy when asked about the beef last month, took to Instagram on Monday night to address the ongoing feud between Birdman and Weezy.
In December, Wayne tweeted that he wants off Cash Money, and that his album Tha Carter V won’t be released because Birdman refuses to put it out.

In his open letter, Bryant saluted Wayne for his loyalty and for building the careers of Nicki Minaj and Drake. He also vowed to defend his client’s hard work.
“He don’t deserve the shit he’s going through at this point in the game,” he wrote. “[Young Money president] @mackmaine and myself will not let this dream die WE GOT US!”
He was optimistic about the future, and promised other Young Money artists including Lil Twist, Cory Gunz, and Shanell that they will get their shot.
“Once we unlock these chains, it’s on Young Money!” he said.
While they work on a resolution, Wayne is prepping his mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait 2. On Monday, he dropped the first single, a remix to Future’s “Sh!t,” on which he addresses his beef with Cash Money.

New Music: Gwen Stefani & Pharrell – ‘Shine’

By Nemmy Kim.    

             

Hot on the heels of “Spark the Fire,” Gwen Stefani and Pharrell team up again for “Shine” off the Paddington soundtrack. “The Voice” coaches spread some sunshine on the feel-good and family-friendly track.
“What a wonderful opportunity, as a parent, to contribute to something as classic, authentic, and generational to all of our lives, as Paddington Bear,” said Pharrell, who has a six-year-old son named Rocket.

The film, which follows the comic misadventures of a young bear, hits theaters on Jan. 16. Meanwhile, Gwen has been in the studio with Benny Blanco, Calvin Harris, and Charli XCX working on her first solo album since 2006’s The Sweet Escape.

NEWS; Usher Is Engaged to Manager Grace Miguel

 By Nemmy Kim.

                      

Usher is headed down the aisle once again. The R&B superstar is engaged to his girlfriend and manager Grace Miguel.
The singer, 36, recently proposed to Miguel, multiple sources confirm to PEOPLE.
Miguel is eight years older than Usher and has worked with him for over three years.
“I have an incredible partner and manager,” Usher told Billboard in October. “She has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life and my career.”
Usher has two sons, seven-year-old Usher “Cinco” Raymond V and six-year-old Naviyd Ely Raymond, from his previous relationship with ex-wife Tameka Foster. The two divorced in 2009.
Congrats to the couple!

NEWS; Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, & DeJ Loaf Join Bonnaroo Lineup

 By Nemmy Kim.

                    

While Drake does Coachella and the Governors Ball, Kendrick Lamar will hold down Bonnaroo. The Compton MC is among the performers for this year’s festival.
In addition to K-Dot, the 2015 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival lineup includes hip-hop and R&B acts such as Childish Gambino, Run the Jewels, DeJ Loaf, G-Eazy, and SZA.
Billy Joel will headline following Kanye West and Elton John last year. Other performers include Mumford & Sons, Deadmau5, and Florence + the Machine.

NEWS; Safaree Samuels Opens Up About Breakup with Nicki Minaj

By Nemmy Kim.        

Nicki Minaj has been outspoken and emotional about her breakup with longtime boyfriend Safaree “ScaffBeezy” Samuels. On Tuesday, Nicki’s ex stopped by “The Breakfast Club” to tell his side of the story         .
SB served as executive producer on her first two albums, Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. “Decisions weren’t made without me. That was my soulmate,” he told Charlamagne, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee.
While sipping out of a Styrofoam cup, he opened up about their highly-publicized split. “People thought I was just a hype man, nah. Me and her was the ones calling all the shots,” he said.
They met when they were both in a group called The Hoodstars. “We were friends at first and then it turned into a relationship.”
Despite their breakup, he won’t disparage her. “I would never do anything publicly to pull her down,” he said.
Nicki has been quoted as calling him corny. “I just think it’s crazy for her to come out now and try to be pulling me down, try to say I’m corny.”

According to SB, Nicki is not the one who called off the relationship. “I walked away from the situation. I’m not gonna say I broke it up, but I walked away. I’m the one who packed my stuff and I left.”
After 12 years together, he no longer felt like her equal. “It just got to the point where the respect was gone,” he said. “It got to the point where I was being treated like an employee instead of like her man.”

“I was being treated like an employee instead of like her man.”

Both have moved on. Nicki is rumored to be dating Meek Mill, who SB introduced her to. “If that’s who she decides to move on with then it is what it is. I’m not mad. I’m not bitter. If I wanted to make it work, I could’ve made it work.”
When asked why he didn’t try and salvage their romance, he responded, “You can’t put a price on peace of mind.”
He wasn’t planning to do any interviews, but was upset after Nicki’s response to Lil Duval on Twitter. “When you try and pull me down and discredit what I’ve done for you, that’s what’s weak to me,” he said.
He also revealed that he was in the studio when she wrote her lyrics. “Everytime it came to writing raps and doing music, it was her, me, and the beat. She doesn’t do it by herself. It’s me and her. Don’t discredit me on what I’ve done for you.”

“That’s my soulmate. We just can’t be together.”

He also responded to critics who say she was financially supporting him. “Everything that I have, we got together,” he said. “All my cars, everything I got is in my name.”
Despite everything, he still has love for his ex. “That’s my soulmate. We just can’t be together.”

Video: Wale Brings Out A$AP Ferg In NYC

By Nemmy Kim. 

 
                         

Wale's Simply Nothing Tour made a stop in New York City, and he brought out A$AP Ferg to perform his singles "Work" and "Shabba."

Video: Young Thug, ASAP Ferg & Freddie Gibbs-Old English

By Nemmy Kim. 

           

Mass Appeal drops off a new video for their Young Thug, ASAP Ferg and Freddie Gibbs collaboration "Old English" which will appear on their upcoming compilation.