Author: Segun Gurutrends

Ari Lennox apparently did not have a very good experience in the industry before she finally signed to Interscope Records through J. Cole‘s Dreamville imprint. Talking to fans on Instagram Live on Tuesday (October 1), Ari shared that she thinks the first label she signed to was a scam and recalled how they held her under contract for years and prevented her from doing anything else. The first label I signed to – I think it was a scam!” she began. “I don’t even think it was real because when I signed to Interscope, they literally disappeared! All them years…

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Black Star will be releasing a physical version of their 2022 effort No Fear Of Time for the first time to partially benefit relief efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Haiti and Gaza. Recorded guerrilla-style in hotels and dressing rooms over the course of four years, the LP was released exclusively via the podcast platform Luminary.  The nine-song effort was produced entirely by Madlib and boasted just one guest appearance from Black Thought. On November 22, fans can get their hands on vinyl, CD and cassette versions, along with a limited deluxe double-LP that includes both the main…

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It was only a matter of time before Fat Bear Week turned violent. The annual online tournament pitting bears who lift heavy forks against their girthy brothers and sisters had a delayed start this year after competitor 469, an adult male bear known as Patches, murdered competitor 402, an adult female. The gruesome crime was captured on one of the cameras that stream fat bear activity at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, leading officials to delay the planned Monday night release of the tournament bracket. The bear competitors in Fat Bear Week must be issued guns The bear…

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Kayla Ward was drinking coffee on her porch Friday afternoon when she noticed water from the nearby Nolichucky River rising fast. After nearly a year in the house nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Ward never thought to worry about flooding. But she and her husband had to race to escape after Helene swept through Jonesborough, Tennessee. The couple managed to leave with their pets and the clothes on their back, but their home was severely damaged. Ward, like many other homeowners affected by last week’s storm, did not have flood insurance, and said her insurance company denied her husband’s claim.…

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The Maui wildfire that devastated an entire coastal town and killed more than 100 people last year was caused by the “re-energization” of broken power lines that ignited unmaintained vegetation near a utility pole, officials confirmed in their findings released Wednesday. The Aug. 8, 2023, fire claimed at least 102 lives and destroyed over 2,000 structures in the historic town of Lahaina — making it one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. The blaze, fueled by high winds and dry vegetation, rapidly spread as chaos overtook the town, sending some residents fleeing into the ocean and trapping others in…

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As mortgage rates dip lower, is this the right time to refinance? While the vast majority of Americans – 84.2%, according to an analysis from Redfin – have mortgage rates below 6%, that still leaves several million who could benefit now. Data from Chase Home Lending suggests roughly 4.7 million homeowners would come out favorably from refinancing if rates dropped below 6%. With the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hovering near a two-year low of about 6.08% in recent weeks, it’s likely many homeowners are considering that step. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that borrowers with a $375,000 mortgage who bought when rates…

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The swing states are living up to their name this election season, as both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s edge in the polls are constantly shifting. A recent poll out of Georgia, however, shows former President Trump beginning to take the lead over Vice President Harris. According to a Quinnipiac University survey of 942 likely Georgia voters, Trump received 50% of the vote to Harris’ 44%, well outside the poll’s margin of error. Another 1% of the vote each went to Chase Oliver, the Libertarian candidate, as well as independents Cornel West and Claudia de la Cruz. For Peach State…

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MEAT CAMP, N.C. — Carolyn and Clifford Coffee’s home is less than 10 miles from Boone, a North Carolina mountain town popular with tourists and home to a college campus, set between a creek and steep hillsides. The two-lane road to reach it, which winds past cornfields and cattle farms, heading upwards along Meat Camp creek, is now dotted with washed-out pavement and bridges, downed powerlines and damaged homes. The couple, Carolyn, 77, and Clifford, 80, have lived here for 40 years. Clifford built their home himself by connecting two trailers. But Hurricane Helene’s torrential rains, which caused deadly landslides…

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In the last 12 months, Lisa Feit in Commack, New York, has seen longtime friendships fizzle. In Atlanta, Joy Metzler cut short a military career and no longer feels she can be herself with her family. Since last Oct. 7, people across the country have endured antisemitic epithets, anti-Muslim rhetoric and near-violence. Parents have pulled children from school districts. Careerists have left jobs. College students have been suspended or had their degrees withheld. All because of who they are or their beliefs about the overseas conflict. A year has passed since Hamas forces attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and…

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Cardi B and Offset have clearly handed their musical talents down to their oldest daughter, who recently showcased her work on the piano. Taking to his Instagram Story on Tuesday (October 1), Set shared a quick clip of Kulture alongside a person who appears to be her piano teacher helping her play a few notes on the keys. When they finished, a proud Kulture blushed as her dad cheered from behind the camera. Check out the adorable clip below. Cardi B & Offset’s daughter proves music runs in the family with piano performance pic.twitter.com/fL6X4CpZlD — HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) October 2, 2024…

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Kim Porter’s alleged memoir detailing her relationship with Diddy has been removed from Amazon following claims it’s a fabrication. Amazon confirmed on Tuesday (October 1) that they had withdrawn the book, which is titled Kim’s Lost Words: A Journey For Justice, From the Other Side, from sale after it became a bestseller following Puffy’s arrest for sex trafficking and racketeering. In a statement, the retail giant said: “We were made aware of a dispute regarding this title and have notified the publisher. The book is not currently available for sale in our store.” The book was published independently by Chris…

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Nicki Minaj has seemingly resumed taking shots at Megan Thee Stallion by casting her former best friend Kelsey Harris in her new shoe ad. Nicki recruited Harris to model her new LØCI shoe line, with Harris sharing the campaign photos on Instagram on Tuesday (October 1). In the pictures, Harris can be seen rocking the navy blue, pink and gold kicks while holding up a newspaper that features the headline: “The Nicki Minaj x LØCI Collection Has Landed !!” Kelsey captioned the post: “Have y’all checked out the @locibynickiminaj shoe line? Now available at @dtlrofficial & @shoepalace [two hearts emoji].…

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Plenty of products may become hard to find amid the ongoing union dockworkers strike, but there is one crucial place that experts don’t anticipate consumers are likely to suffer: at the gas pump. On Tuesday, 45,000 union workers walked off the job when negotiations for a new contract broke down, effectively shutting down 36 East and Gulf coast ports that, combined, handle about half of all U.S. ocean imports. The decision represented the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) first strike since 1977. The work stoppage is expected to make it harder for shoppers to find products like bananas, electronics, auto parts, pharmaceuticals…

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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into a plastics manufacturer in Erwin where several workers were swept away by floodwaters from Helene, the Knoxville News Sentinel has learned. Employees of Impact Plastics have alleged management didn’t allow workers to leave the factory even as warnings were issued and floodwaters from the Nolichucky River began to swamp the building. Two women in the group died, an immigrant advocacy group working workers’ families said. At least three are missing. The company confirmed the death of one person but did not provide details. The News Sentinel – known as Knox News,…

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I didn’t like Donald Trump’s choice for vice president when I first saw that he had chosen Ohio Sen. JD Vance. In July, during the Republican National Convention, I posted on X that Vance was an “awful pick for VP,” who wouldn’t reach voters who were unsure about Trump. I thought he’d come across as too zealous. Boy, was I wrong. And I’ve never been happier to be wrong. After Tuesday night’s debate against Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, all I could think was, forget Trump: I want Vance and his vision for America. Voters should, too. Vance bested…

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Two racing teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, sued NASCAR on Wednesday, accusing the organization of restraining fair competition and violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, preventing teams from competing “without accepting the anticompetitive terms” it dictates. The suit was filed in the Western District of North Carolina and comes on the heels of a two-year battle between NASCAR and more than a dozen charter-holding organizations that compete in the top tier of stock car racing. 23XI Racing is co-owned by Basketball Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin. “Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and…

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(This story was updated to add new information) Jason Shepherd appreciated being asked to take a picture of Pete Rose with some of his former Cincinnati Reds teammates Sunday after the Music City sports collectibles and autograph show in Franklin, Tennessee, near Nashville. Rose, in a wheelchair, was surrounded by Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr. They left the building together after taking the picture. It might have been the last picture taken of Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader as well as one of its most controversial figures. Rose died on Monday. He was 83. On…

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They used to post about stroller-safe hikes and kid-friendly breweries. Now, they’re coming to each other’s rescue. In the mountains of western North Carolina − one of the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene − moms are doing what they do best: taking care of others. Local Facebook groups, previously filled with weekend activity recommendations and hand-me-down clothes offerings, are now swamped with moms ready to go to great lengths to help one another − even while in dire need themselves. They’re sharing formula and baby wipes. They’re giving away their kids books and toys. They’re offering up cribs, mattresses,…

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A son who journeyed 11 miles into the Blue Ridge Mountains to locate his parents. A pastor and a rag-tag group of parishioners navigating collapsed roads to deliver aid to stranded residents. Strangers meeting online and coordinating searches for each other’s missing loved ones. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, one of the worst storms the U.S. has seen in the modern era, residents across the devastated Southeast and elsewhere have showcased unshakable resolve, heroism and compassion. Harrowing stories of rescues and treacherous hikes to find the many missing abound. And hundreds have turned out to assist in the recovery,…

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Israel’s military intends to retaliate “significantly” and swiftly against Iran after the latter fired around 180 missiles at Israel’s territory, but it is still weighing what form this reprisal will take, according to a person briefed on the matter. Israel is currently examining a range of options to strike back at Iran, and it is still consulting with the U.S. about this. However, one of those options, the person said, is causing severe financial or economic damage to Iran by striking its lucrative oil fields. The person briefed on the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity. The person added…

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