50 Cent Announces Lloyd Banks’ Exit From G-Unit Records

Lloyd Banks has left G-Unit Records, according to 50 Cent. The Power star announced the departure in a since-deleted Instagram post on Tuesday (June 12).

50 shared a photo of his longtime collaborator that reads “Lloyd Bank$ officially off G-Unit Records.” The split appears to be amicable as 50 promoted his former artist’s mixtape in the Instagram caption.

“Check out my boy Lloyd bank$,” he wrote. “New Mix tape coming soon ! Independence Day, he is doing his own thing and you know it’s gonna be loaded with bars. (Check him out) PLK get the strap.”

50 Cent IG50 Cent IG

Banks’ exit comes just a few months after he teased retirement. On March 16, the veteran MC wrote, “I think it’s time to lay it down” on Twitter. Later that day, he shared a clip of professional wrestler Ric Flair declaring he would never retire.

A post shared by Lloyd Banks (@lloydbanks) on Mar 16, 2018 at 3:00pm PDT

The departure of Banks makes him the second artist to leave G-Unit Records in 2018. Earlier this year, Kidd Kidd revealed he left the label to go independent.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47242/title.50-cent-announces-lloyd-banks-exit-from-g-unit-records

Childish Gambino Performs "This Is America" At Chance The Rapper’s Open Mike Event

Chicago, IL – High schoolers at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago, Illinois got a special treat on Monday (June 11). Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) stopped by to perform his hit song “This is America” for the students attending Chance The Rapper’s Open Mike Chicago event.

Chance — who has been teasing the possibility of a joint mixtape with the Atlanta creator for some time now — told the crowd his next guest needed no introduction. Soon after, the crowd began rushing the stage as “This Is America” began to play over the speakers.

The Open Mike event, which is put on by Chance’s SocialWorks charity, is designed to encourage youth participation in the arts.

Check out footage of the performance below.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47243/title.childish-gambino-performs-this-is-america-at-chance-the-rappers-open-mike-event

Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine Sued For Over $100M In Unpaid Royalties

Just two weeks after Beats by Dre launched the “Decades” collection to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Beats Electronics, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are fighting a lawsuit for over $100 million.

According to Billboard, entrepreneur Steven Lamar claims he created the idea of a celebrity-endorsed headphones line and brought it to Dre back in 2006. After having a fallout a few years later, Dre and Iovine sued Lamar for a breach of contract. The lawsuit left Lamar without rights, but in exchange, he would receive a four percent royalty from every headphone sold.

Now, the parties are battling it out in court to figure out if Lamar is owed more than $100 million in royalties for all versions of Beats sold or just the first model. The lawsuit was initially denied by a trial judge but was revived in 2016 by an appeals court after it determined the royalty agreement was “ambiguous.”

The respective sides have already begun to present evidence in court. Dre and Iovine claim when the deal was done, they had no idea there would be more versions of Beats created. But Lamar has reportedly presented a Powerpoint from early stages of the company that shows different models and future ideas for the headphones line.

Regardless of the outcome, Dre and Iovine are due to receive $700 million from their stock in Beats Electronic in August.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47229/title.dr-dre-jimmy-iovine-sued-for-over-100m-in-unpaid-royalties

Ariana Grande Reportedly Engaged Weeks After Cutting Off Mac Miller

Mac Miller probably isn’t going to like this. Weeks after his split with Ariana Grande, the 24-year-old pop star is reportedly engaged to SNL actor Pete Davidson.

A source close to the couple told People magazine, “It’s a recent engagement. They’re just two people who found love quickly and make each other happy all the time. They both started talking about it this past weekend. It’s nothing they’ve been hiding.”

In a since-deleted tweet, Grande reportedly posted an emoji-filled message shortly after the news went public on Monday (June 11).

“I love you,” she wrote. “sm. ok bye.”

i thought u into my life ? woah ! look at my mind ?⚡️?

A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on May 31, 2018 at 12:51pm PDT

Miller and Grande broke up early last month after roughly a year-and-a-half of dating. In a Twitter post, the singer insinuated Miller’s struggle with substance abuse was partly to blame.

“I have cared for him and tried to support his sobriety prayed for his balance for years (and always will of course) but shaming/blaming women for a man’s inability to keep his shit together is a very major problem,” she wrote. 

Grande’s revelations came shortly after the Divine Feminine rapper was arrested for a DUI.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47230/title.ariana-grande-reportedly-engaged-weeks-after-cutting-off-mac-miller

SOL Development’s "Helicopter" Video Chronicles Black Life In America

Oakland, CA – Oakland-based Hip Hop collective SOL Development has landed with a new video for “Helicopter,” a glimpse into what black Americans go through every day.

Directed by Natho and Plex of OG Media, the visual tackles police brutality and racism while paying homage to the Bay Area and its culture.

“Helicopter tells our truth,” MC Karega Bailey tells HipHopDX. “It is narrative therapy. It historicizes and contextualizes black life in America under the pressure of government surveillance. It pays homage to those who’ve come before us and lights a path of hope for those who come after us.”

June 8th the single ? Helicopter drops via @unitedmasters on all platforms @spotify @applemusic @tidal. We will also officially be dropping the world premiere of the visual. #soldevelopment #disrupthopelessness #wearemore #thelight #oakland #sacramento ????????? ?: @therealbfree

A post shared by SOL Development (@soldevelopment) on Jun 2, 2018 at 1:05am PDT

Spearheaded by Bailey, an award-winning spoken word poet and educator, SOL Development relocated from Washington D.C. to East Oakland in 2015, where Bailey teaches at Roses For Concrete Community School.

The name of the K-8 school was inspired by the book of poetry based on the writings of Tupac Shakur, The Rose That Grew from Concrete.

Watch the “Helicopter” video above. 

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47231/title.sol-developments-helicopter-video-chronicles-black-life-in-america