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Liam Payne Jumped from Balcony: Buenos Aires Authorities Confirm

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Liam Payne is reported dead under tragic circumstances. He died on October 16, 2024, consequent to his injuries from falling off a balcony in a Buenos Aires hotel room. This 30-year-old singer had arrived in the city to attend a concert by his former band-mate Niall Horan at CasaSur Palermo Hotel.

It was reported that Payne had fallen off his third-floor hotel room balcony in the early morning hours. Hotel staff had called in the local authorities after observing erratic behavior by Payne, who in their judgment, was highly drugged and drunk. The manager of the hotel reported significant destruction of the room, an indication that the substance abuse problem with which Payne was battling may indeed have worsened during his stay.

When the emergency responders arrived, Payne was suffering from very serious injuries and was pronounced dead upon their arrival. Thus, the Argentine police are still ascertaining whether this was because of an accidental fall or intentional and have scheduled an autopsy to find the real cause of death.

Liam Payne first gained international acclaim with the boy group One Direction. For several years, he struggled very publicly with substance and mental health issues, giving a flurry of interviews on how to cope with his fame and recover from such disorders. It had seemed saddened that his demons finally caught up with him in his final days within Buenos Aires.

He had visited the Argentine capital in support of Niall Horan, who was performing in the city. From the behavior that Payne showed at the hotel, though, the personal issues he was going through with assumptions of a darker turn to arrive at such a heartbreaking conclusion seriously may have happened.

Police are not sparing any effort in investigating the death of Payne. It is still unknown at this point whether Payne deliberately jumped from the balcony or was this a tragic fall. An autopsy will yield critical information relative to his condition at the time he fell, especially regarding what drugs and alcohol played in his death.

Payne’s tragic death was very sudden and really shocked his fans and colleagues. Since the news of his death came out, different social media platforms have been flooded with messages of condolence from all over the world. Other celebrities and fans poured their condolences in their accounts to Payne’s family, and a large number of them have expressed further disbelief at the turn of events that led to such tragic news. The former members of One Direction have not spoken up yet, but it goes without saying how attached they are, and the death of Payne will always leave a scar on the band.

Media also reacted immediately, and many of them took this tragedy to shed light on the harm caused by substance abuse. However, Payne’s death has made many discuss how the stresses of fame impinge on mental health, at least within the entertainment industry.

Fat Joe’s Inspiring Journey: Raising Autistic Son with Unwavering Love

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In an emotional post on his Instagram, Fat Joe remembered when he became a father at age 19. The birth of his eldest son, Joey, had the young dad filled with fear for the forthcoming tasks ahead, almost particularly after the doctors had diagnosed Joey with autism.

“It was one of the scariest days of my life,

the 51-year-old rapper revealed. Even though Joey’s mother suggested that he consider putting his baby up for adoption, Fat Joe made the decision to look after his son-with the help of his own parents. That decision, he now says, was the best life he ever made.

Having been brought up by Fat Joe and his parents, who actively participated in the young boy’s upbringing, Joey grew up surrounded by unconditional love. In an interview with UrbLife back in 2010, Fat Joe revealed: His mom couldn’t handle him, and instead of him going to a center, we raised him all his life. Over the years, Joey has become the heart of this family: a presence keeping Fat Joe’s parents engaged and joyful.

“I also believe he keeps my parents alive because they love him sooooooo much”

as the rapper recently wrote online.

Fat Joe often refers to Joey as the “Don of the family” out of recognition for how the young man has brought purpose and unity into their lives. He calls him “a gift that keeps giving,” claiming he is thankful every day for the joy his son brings into his life. In numerous homages taken to social media, he has called Joey his “best friend” and an inspiration. “He’s my heart and soul.” Even though Joey requires around-the-clock care, Fat Joe considers the sacrifices a labor of love.

“It’s tons of work and an endless sacrifice to make sure your kids are happy and secure”

He acknowledges it yet emphasizes that it’s all worth it.

Initially, Fat Joe protected the young man from the public eye to save him from all the ills. Through time, he has embraced the opportunity to share his son’s milestones with the world.

On Joey’s birthday and World Autism Awareness Day, Fat Joe took to Instagram with touching messages, celebrating his growing son and inspiring other parents to know the beauty of having children with special needs. It has even placed him as an advocate for autism awareness outside of the booth, using his platform to encourage acceptance, inclusion, and support for families like his.

Fat Joe and his wife, Lorena Cartagena, still nurture a family environment that does wonders for Joey. Recently, Lorena took to her Instagram account to share new pictures of Joey, giving a rather personal touch to the highly publicized family story. Of course, Fat Joe’s sons, Joey and Ryan from previous relationships, continue to be an essential part of his life.

The family’s journey has become a strong message of love, acceptance, and resilience. Fat Joe can look back now on the years raising Joey and admit there have been challenges but celebrate the fulfillment that parenting a child on the autism spectrum brings.

“How do you tell your best friend and most loyal one thanks?

he wrote.

“I’m so proud of Joey. Thanks for being the biggest blessing in my life!”

The future is still bright, as the family remains committed to ensuring Joey’s happiness and good quality of life. Fat Joe reiterates the importance of therapy, family support, and opportunities that allow Joey to be all he can be, inclusive of his differences.

“We make sacrifices, but it’s about love solely “.

He says, underlining his belief that the rewards far outweigh the challenges. His journey offers hope for all parents facing similar circumstances and a reminder that love and patience can support a life full of meaning and joy.

Diddy’s Lube Collection Under Investigation for Date Rape Drug

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Sean “Diddy” Combs has some pretty serious allegations against him regarding a collection of baby oil and lubricant found in his homes. According to a lawsuit, the authorities say Diddy was doping these products with GHB, a substance otherwise known as a date rape drug. Following raids by federal agents at his properties both in LA and Miami earlier this year, over 1,000 bottles of the two aforementioned items turned up.

The allegations have sent shockwaves around the world of entertainment, raising questions about safety and character in the limelight. Ariel Mitchell, attorney for one of the alleged victims, Ashley Parham, spoke with The Daily Beast, citing concerns that she believes Diddy used the spiked baby oil to exploit her client. Parham is quoted as describing in graphic detail her experience thus: “I felt every time they squirted the liquid on me, I went more and more limp. I didn’t know what was happening.”

A disturbing picture is painted by Parham’s lawsuit. She claims that she was assaulted by the music mogul himself after she rebuffed the advances of one of Diddy’s friends. It is alleged in the complaint that Diddy retrieved a bottle from a large fanny pack and squirted the liquid on her-she had reason to be afraid. “I thought it was a chemical substance like acid,” she recounted. It was oil or lubricant she later realized.

She then goes on to say that Diddy brutally hit her with a remote control during the incident and put her mortal life in danger. “He told me my life was in his hands and if he wanted, he could ‘take me’ and I’d never be seen again,” she claimed. The allegations make part of a bigger pattern since Parham is one of the many women who have sued Diddy on sexual assault grounds.

Currently, Diddy waits for trial on all counts involving sex trafficking and racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty to charges against him and to this day continuous to deny everything. While he sits in a Brooklyn jail, the music world basically watches as it adjusts to the implications of such serious allegations.

legal case Diddy lube collection
VIA- MEGA

As the litigation drags on, one will never forget that this is a human story. To many fans out there, Diddy had stood as this larger-than-life figure, carving a niche for himself with music and business acumen. The allegations, however, tempers such an image, confronting his fans with the ugly underbelly of celebrity cultism.

In the midst of such turmoil, artists commonly come to the crossroads. They have to decide on the particular response to change in the public perception of them. Some will double down into their creative process, delivering strong, resonating-with-the-audience lyrics. The connection with fans becomes so crucial when faced with serious allegations.

The music world is left to wonder: what does this all mean? Will Diddy’s legacy forever be marred? Or will he find a way to reclaim his narrative? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the conversation of consent, safety, and accountability in the entertainment industry has never been more crucial.

Big Meech Released from Prison After Decades Behind Bars

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Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, a co-founder of the Black Mafia Family, is now out of federal prison. He was transferred to a halfway house in Florida on October 15, 2024 after serving almost 20 years in prison. He was granted a transfer to community confinement to serve the rest of his sentence in either home confinement or a Residential Reentry Center.

Big Meech, 56, was originally sentenced to 30 years in prison back in 2008 on serious charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. His road to justice has been long and finally just convoluted, but recent happenings have led to the possibility of freedom.

Due to exemplary behavior while incarcerated, including earning his GED and participating in a variety of programs, he had almost three years shaved off of his sentence. This was a testament to the fact that one could be rehabilitated within the federal prison system; good behavior means early release.

During this phase of community confinement, Big Meech will remain in a halfway house or, probably, at home for the rest of his sentence. His new estimated release date is now January 27, 2026, tho many speculate that he will be released even earlier.

The possibility that he may be released before he promised has sparked conversations into the wide-reaching complications of the First Step Act, which entitles inmates to credits toward early release based upon good conduct.

The Black Mafia Family was created by Big Meech and his brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory in the late 1980s and became infamous for its large-scale drug trafficking. At its height, BMF reportedly grossed more than $270 million, making both Atlanta and Los Angeles strong holds of their operation. The group didn’t just participate in drug distribution but also became a cultural force that entwined closely with hip-hop and upscale living.

How long was Big Meech in prison
via- thesource

Big Meech is more than a name in the world of crime. He has been mentioned in several hip-hop songs by artists such as Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, and others; one could say he is a representation of the bling associated with the street life.

Recently, there was a Starz series called “BMF” that was all about how the brothers Flenory rose and fell, therefore drawing more attention to their story and drawing debates on crimes or criminal activities and their representation in popular culture.

Big Meech has always mentioned in most of his interviews that he wants to relate well with his fanbase through potent, heavy lyrics. It is innate for him to know how to tell a story and precisely how it should be told to touch people’s hearts. Now that he is out of prison, many curious questions cannot help but arise. Is he going to release some tracks detailing his experiences? Is he going to inspire others through the roads of his redemption?

Angel Reese Flexes $8K Monthly Rent Reveals WNBA Can’t Cover Her Bills

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Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky has just started to stir on social media as she shared her financial struggles being a WNBA player. Reese, who pays a rent of $8,000 a month for her home in Chicago, admitted that her WNBA salary this 2024 season of $73,439 will not be enough to take care of her living expenses.

Publicly doing the math on social media, Reese, who didn’t even know exactly how much she brought in in the first place, did note one thing for certain: her rent alone, $96,000 annually, far outpaces her WNBA earnings. “I don’t even think that pays one of my bills,” chimed Reese, noting that her WNBA salary doesn’t even come close to touching the majority of her financial obligations.

Although salaried as a professional basketball player, her salary in comparison with the other leagues can be termed as modest; however, Reese has not let that define her financial success. She has opened herself to endorsement deals and other entrepreneurial avenues that have brought in more money streams. In college, NIL rules coming courtesy of the NCAA helped Reese into the seven figures annually with endorsements with companies such as Reebok and Beats by Dre. Such deals have followed her into her pro stage of life, supplementing WNBA income.

Reese, on the other hand, considers the WNBA salary as some sort of “bonus,” claiming the amount one loves to play basketball exceeds any amount of money. She says the league itself gives her a staging area to build her brand, while the business part and endorsements make up the lion’s share of her income.

Reese’s financial transparency has once more brought the issue of pay disparities in professional sports into the spotlight. One would be pretty hard-pressed to ignore that jarring difference between what male and female athletes make. Take, for instance, Donovan Clingan: selected seventh overall in the 2024 NBA draft, he is on course to make as much as $6.8 million during his rookie year-nearly 100 times what Reese has made in WNBA wages.

This has created a chasm that has increased the call for better compensation of women athletes, particularly in the WNBA, where many times players have been left to seek off-season jobs or overseas contracts to buoy their pay. Reaction from the public to Reese’s commentary has ranged between support for her sentiments and frustration with much calling of reform to bridge the pay gap in professional women’s basketball.

Lyfe Jennings Claims Sony Owes Him $15M, Despite $1M Debt

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Lyfe Jennings has become synonymous with a soulful voice and raw lyricism. He was embroiled in some financial controversy with Sony Music Entertainment that underlined ever-pressing concerns artists have with record labels. His debut album, Lyfe 268-192, despite having loads of success and going triple platinum, Jennings says he is still in debt to Sony on the order of $1 million. Even more astonishingly, he claims that the label owes him the astronomical sum of $15 million due to discrepancies in royalty payments and accounting practices.

In 2004, Jennings did shake the music world by releasing Lyfe 268-192. This was a very personal album featuring hits such as “Cry” and “Time.” Such songs appeal to the audience, which helped him in his success both critically and commercially. In 2006, it reached triple platinum-a great success of any musician, yet more so because this was a first stage album.

Now, however, Jennings reveals that this did little in terms of financial recompense. Despite selling millions of records, he still struggles to fight being $1 million in debt to Sony-a result he describes as grossly unfair.

The heart of Jennings’ dispute lies in what he calls “discrepancies” in Sony’s accounting and royalty payments. According to the singer, after re-viewing his contract and payments, he discovered that Sony actually owes him $15 million, a stark contrast to the debt he allegedly still carries. This is a situation rooted, he said, in long financial mismanagement on the part of the label that has grossly underpaid him for his work.

He has followed up a spate of interviews and podcast appearances-most notably on @bagfuel-speaking to these issues and demanding transparency in how record labels handle artist royalties. “If you’re an artist, audit your record label,” he implored, emphasizing the need to know precisely how much you are owed and toward what destination the money is routed.

Jennings isn’t fighting just for himself. Over the past several years, the veteran Bay Area rapper has become one of the loudest voices in the industry advocating for artists’ rights: using his platform to encourage fellow musicians to be keen about their contracts and financial setups. His advice? Always audit your record label, and make sure you’re being fairly compensated.

This financial struggle is nothing new to Jennings. This shows the bigger problem most artists have while dealing with the major record labels. The contract can be convoluted in ways that leave the artist in debt for many years despite their commercial success. Delayed and miscalculated royalty payments make an artist like Jennings feel he has been left behind after his music had continued making money.

Exclusive: Mariah Carey Reveals Plans for New Album Release in 2025

Mariah Carey have much to be thrilled about since their beloved diva has something to say regarding her plans for 2025. On her recent guesting in The Howard Stern Show, Carey has shared two of her biggest music projects this coming year: the reissue of its 1996 rock album that she did under the pseudonym name “Chick Carey,” entitled Someone’s Ugly Daughter. This already caused a stir in the music world, particularly since the original album, released in 1996, has remained mostly in obscurity almost three decades later.

One of the biggest moments of Carey’s podcast appearance had to be confirmation that she will indeed re-release Someone’s Ugly Daughter in 2025. Recorded simultaneously with her chart-topping album Daydream, the rock record has long been one of the more mysterious entries of her discography. Many were surprised to learn that early on in her career, following her first record release, Carey had experimented with a completely different genre altogether. Billed as a raw, alternative rock project, the album marks quite a departure from the vocal ballads and pop hits she’s known for. The sneak peeks into this side of Carey’s art have kept fans salivating in anticipation for years, and now-after decades of speculation-it would appear the wait is nearly over.

Carey also described her songwriting process from this vantage point, showing listeners just how she constructs her songs. She spoke about the sensory approach in songwriting, whereby she does not just work on the “lyrics and melodies creating an emotional atmosphere” for each track. She shared backstage stories about the birth of her famous hits like “Hero” and showed generally just how deep involvement in creating her own music shaped her whole career.

The news has swiftly spread like wildfire on social media and music platforms. This rock album, one that has not been released in a very long time, keeps the fans, especially the ones who have begged for new material for quite some time, wild with excitement. Another reason it isn’t just any album release but probably one of the most promising ones in 2025: “We’ve been waiting so long for this! I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” tweeted one fan, summarizing the general reaction in the Mariah Carey fan community.

Headlines have picked up the news and have not wasted any time in saluting Carey’s versatility and bravery in order to dive into a completely different genre. Comparisons with her previous work have already started running, considering how different Someone’s Ugly Daughter is compared to her signature pop and R&B sound.

Though the fans hold out hope for new music, they can also catch Cary live at her ongoing residency in Las Vegas titled Mariah Carey: The Celebration of Mimi. This residency was extended into 2025 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her hit album entitled The Emancipation of Mimi. This would be a great residency to revisit some classic hits: “We Belong Together,” “Hero,” and “Fantasy.”.

Billie Eilish’s Custom Converse Shoes Drop on October 17 – Here’s How to Get Yours

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Billie Eilish is launching customizable Converse shoes on October 17th. Dubbed “Converse By You”, the collab invites fans to design their very own Chuck Taylor All-Star and Chuck Taylor Lift Platform sneakers. You’ll be able to search through different colors and create imagery with a Billie Eilish focus, such as her lyrics and BLOHSH character.

Starting at 10 a.m. ET on the release date, customers can dive into the customization process via the Converse website. This program will let fans mix and match colors, add in their personal graphics, and even bring in some lyrics from Eilish’s powerful songs. The price tagged for these shoes ranges around $100-$110 USD. 

Billie Eilish Converse shoes October 17th
via-Converse

After placing the order, it is expected that within a few weeks, the shoes will finally arrive-a novelty for those who can hardly wait to show off their uniquely crafted pieces. Through this collaboration, Eilish moves into what is a whole new chapter away from her joint projects with Nike and Jordan Brand. She also says that these shoes mean much to her and her fans alike, enabling her to showcase her artistic idea and peculiar style.

As for customization, the limits are endless. In fact, fans can choose each shade of panel in shades of white, off-white, and jet black. But that’s not all! Eilish is adding personal touches in exclusive graphics and designs that bring to life her musical journey.

Pre-order Billie Eilish Converse shoes
via- Converse

As one of those specific distinguishing characteristics in the collection, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is where fans add their favorite lyrics from her album, like BLUE and CHIHIRO, to the midsole. This allows the canvas of such innovation to connect with the feelings behind her music in a whole new way.

Billie Eilish is an amazing musician, but she’s also one big advocate for sustainability. The upper material for her shoes will be highly durable canvas, similar to what Converse usually uses. In collections in the past, she was clear that she used solely vegan materials and recycled elements so that whatever she created would be as close to her values on environmental responsibility.

Billie Eilish limited edition Converse shoes
via- Converse

Eilish’s efforts have been constant in reducing waste and encouraging good ecological practice within the fashion industry. The closer it gets to the launch date, the more excited fans get. To have a pair of shoes that are customizable in their own right, too-which represent Billie Eilish’s artistic style-is to own a personal connection with her music-to say the least.

Massive Apple App Store Outage Hits New York, San Francisco, and More

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Thousands of Apple users in major cities such as New York, Minneapolis, and San Francisco faced significant disruptions with the App Store starting at around 2 PM ET. According to monitoring websites like isdown.app and DownDetector, the outage was mainly related to the inability to download or update apps while the store itself remained accessible. For many, the “Get” button would load briefly before reverting, thus not making any progress.

Despite extensive reports, the issue remained absent from the System Status page belonging to Apple during the early hours of the outage. This left a gaping hole in the communications, which was growingly infuriating as no word came through from motive. Blake, a user, had this to say:

“I’ve been trying to download a game for hours, and it just won’t log me in. I don’t understand why Apple isn’t saying anything.”

But the delay only heightened frustration, with many feeling their pleas were being ignored by Apple. In mid-afternoon, the tech giant updated to say it was suffering problems with its Subscription Purchase and Volume Purchase programs. These issues, though, apply more to businesses and larger organizations. Everyday users, for the most part, were still complaining.

“Every time I try to download an app, it just keeps loading, and then does nothing. It’s really annoying,”

said Geraldine, another affected user.

This outage comes, of course, on the heels of this week’s release of macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta 7, which itself had some brief availability issues earlier in the week. There was some speculation from users whether that could be related to these problems with the App Store, though Apple has shed no light on that, one way or the other. Varun, a frequent user of App Store, says,

“I just couldn’t update my apps, and it is not only me. My friends in other cities are facing the same problem, and Apple is mum over the issue.”

By late afternoon the monitoring “sites, including the isdown.app, showed “App Store status is operational“.

Apple App Store Status

But many users, notably among them Geraldine, Blake, and more, otherwise.

“It might say the store is working but I still can’t download anything,”

said Tristan, a user in San Francisco.

frustrated apple user commenting for app store issue
VIA-isdown.app

Even Apple Support‘s total disregard for these issues and refusal to post anything about them so far has fueled discontent among users, especially over X.

Apple app store outage not reported by apples official Apple Support X page
VIA-X

Due to a lack of communication from their side, people do not know what exactly is happening at Apple. Many people, therefore, have to rely on third-party monitoring sites. Though the App Store seems to be up, that does not necessarily mean these glitches are completely gone, which may mean the resolution is incomplete.

Justin Bieber’s Bored Ape NFT Loses 95% of Its Value

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An astonishing turn of events in the NFT market, which was once booming, saw pop sensation Justin Bieber’s BAYC NFT plummet in value by 95%. Bieber bought Bored Ape #3001 for 500 ETH back in January 2022 when it was roughly $1.3 million. But as of October 2024, his ownership of this NFT is worth a mere 29.95 WETH, or approximately $59,000. It features a “New Punk Blue” background, dark-brown fur, and a plain gray T-shirt- all traits considered rather common at the time compared to the rarer, more valuable Apes. Even upon purchase, Bieber’s investment raised eyebrows for its lack of distinguishing features that would make the steep price tag hard to substantiate.

Justin bieber Bored Ape statistics
VIA-dappradar.com

Bieber’s loss is symbolic of the general downturn in the NFT market, which has been very much driven by the crash in cryptocurrency prices and the general loss of interest in digital collectibles. Once hyped as a way to own digital assets that would revolutionize the world, NFTs have seen values plummet across the board. The collection of BAYC was once the crown jewel in the space of NFTs, and it has certainly not been immune to this crash. It peaked in April 2022 alone, with a floor price of 153 ETH, the minimum to get into the collection. Today, that has substantially fallen off, with the general collapse of both the NFT market and investor enthusiasm.

Bieber isn’t the only one with such huge losses. Other celebrities who also bought into the Bored Ape craze, including Paris Hilton, Jimmy Fallon, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg, were experiencing similar drops in their NFT investments. For instance, Paris Hilton purchased a Bored Ape for $350,000 in 2022; today, it’s valued at approximately $150,000. Jimmy Fallon paid $200,000 for his, now worth about $85,000. Eminem’s ape-or $1.2 million-worth has dropped in value by a little more than half, to around $500,000.

Paris Hilton and Jimmy Fallon
VIA-Jimmy Fallon Show

These public losses are representative of the extreme devaluation of the intact NFT market. Of the celebrities, Snoop Dogg has continued to be one of the most productive in the NFT area. He purchased several Bored Apes, including #6723, along with other NFTs via MoonPay back in 2021, a crypto payment platform facilitating purchases for other stars. Snoop has not just sat on such assets; he has gotten his NFTs into creative projects, from music videos to metaverse performances.

In 2022, he and Eminem showed up as their animated Bored Apes at the MTV VMAs– a surefire sign that some celebrities are finding creative ways to work NFTs into their personal brands, even as the market sags. There are reasons for the collapse of the NFT market. Big cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, have greatly been on the decrease in value, shaking investors’ confidence.

Presently, with the decrease in hype surrounding NFTs and questions over their usefulness, this sector has struggled to hold its interest. Interest in digital assets also waned when the fall of FTX and other platforms eroded confidence in the crypto ecosystem in general.

Kendrick Lamar Dominates 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards, Takes Home 8 Wins

Kendrick Lamar was solidified as hip-hop’s one of the greatest talents as he swept a record eight major categories at the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards, on Tuesday night, 2024, Lamar added glories to his artistic brilliance as he took major categories in Hip-Hop Artist of the year, Song of the Year with his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us“, and Lyricist of the Year at the event held in Las Vegas. This was a record night for Lamar-took home a record eight awards out of 11 nominations, setting a new success bar at the annual ceremony.

Other great wins from Lamar included Best Collaboration and Best Featured Verse, thanks to his work on the song “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin. His collaboration with his partner in creativity, Dave Free, also saw the pair take home Video Director of the Year for the visually appealing, high-impact music video “Not Like Us,” further sealing his dominance into music and visual storytelling.

A sweep at the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards for Lamar means more than the number of trophies he went home with, and this only means he has kept his spot intact as one of the most influential voices in hip-hop. His track “Not Like Us,” which took home three of the biggest awards, was a bold and controversial diss against fellow rapper Drake. The song did much more than silently touch the fans; it instead opened wide the discussion in the hip-hop community. “Not Like Us” has become a benchmark for the unflinching tendency of Lamar to stir the pot and question cultural convention, enabling the artist to stay ahead in the ever-altering genre.

His collaboration on “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin also brought home awards for Best Collaboration and Best Featured Verse. All these wins, added to his individual ones, further indicate the broad scope of his artistry-from solo projects to team efforts-while continuing to raise the ante on the genre.

The 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards, the third BET Hip Hop Awards in a row to be held by host Fat Joe, was a star-studded evening celebration of the best of the genre. In addition to Lamar’s historic night, other notable winners included Nicki Minaj, who took Hip-Hop Album of the Year for her much-anticipated project Pink Friday 2, and rising star Sexyy Red, named Best Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist following a breakout year of viral hits and chart-topping success.

The Vegas air was electric, touting standout sets from hip-hop legends like Travis Scott, who took home the night’s I Am Hip Hop Award for his contributions to music and culture, while energetic sets came courtesy of 2 Chainz, GloRilla, and more. And it really was a testament to the life of hip-hop at night, having the juggernauts take center stage along with the up-andcomings.

Gigi Hadid Made $9 Million For Just Wearing a Viral Tape DHL Dress

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Gigi Hadid made waves and headlines during Paris Fashion Week in September 2024, walking for Vetements in an outfit that was anything but ordinary. The Swiss fashion house, founded on an irreverent look at modern style, sent the supermodel down the runway in a full dress made of DHL-branded packing tape. As part of Vetements’ Spring/Summer 2025 collection, the look typified avant-garde fashion and caused a whirlwind of buzz on and off the runway.

The dress of DHL inspiration bright yellow mini covered with the unmistakable red logo of a global shipping giant- pretty much summed up Vetements’ sense of irony. Paired with matching yellow heels, it all felt like a clever comment on where high fashion and everyday life intersect. Hadid’s sleek, shoulder-length bob and neutral runway expression cranked up the visual quotient, rendering her appearance rather striking. Blurring the lines between streetwear and couture down to a fine line, Vetements proved that fashion can be a cultural critique wrapped in humor.

Social media platforms went on fire within minutes of Hadid’s walk, with memes, reactions, and debate filling timelines. Immediately, many drew parallels with Kim Kardashian’s 2022 caution tape outfit for Balenciaga’s similarly striking look that wore the idea of fashion as a viral spectacle on its sleeve. Hadid’s DHL dress kicked off debates about the place of fashion in pop culture, from hailing the outfit as a creative stroke of genius to joking about its ironically ridiculous humor. Sure enough, it didn’t take long for the outfit to become meme fodder, its passage into the eyes and minds of millions outside the rarefied fashion elite secured.

Sure, it was all fun and games, but the moment in question had some serious financial repercussions, too. Experts estimate the Gigi tape dress raked in an astonishing $9 million in publicity value for Vetements alone, factoring in media coverage, digital chatter, and heavy gazes. It was the perfect storm that married Hadid’s star power with the provocative designs of Vetements and the grandeur of Paris Fashion Week. High-profile fashion shows can be stages upon which celebrity influence gets equated directly into brand dollars. The special DHL moment was no exception.

At the center of this particular moment is Vetements, led by creative director Guram Gvasalia– a house never to back away from pushing the envelope. A brand well-renowned for transforming the banality of everyday objects into runway pieces, Vetements has long defied any sense of fashion convention. The DHL dress was just one example of their playful yet sharp critique of consumerism, a reminder to the rest of the world that fashion can—and often should—be fun.

Other A-list appearances at the event, including Travis Scott, used star power to make people think and talk.

Nick Jonas Flees Stage After Laser Pointer Attack

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During a recent concert in Prague, Nick Jonas was startled and ran off stage after a laser pointer was aimed at him. This caused concern among fans and raised questions about security measures.

A viral video captured the moment Nick Jonas gestured for a timeout right before he exited the stage, highlighting the intensity of the situation. 

Nick Jonas performed when he saw a laser pointed at his head, where he immediately left the stage and had signaled to his security team with the possible threat.

The laser apparently was shone at his forehead, which made him panic and sprint away from the scene. His brothers, Joe and Kevin, remained on stage as Nick hurrriedly ran off. The security personnel immediately gimmick the individual/attacker of the laser.

The concert was stopped for about 10 minutes, allowing the band to recover before returning and continuing the performance.

Laser pointed at Nick Jonas Prague concert
via- Getty Images

Even more are still asking questions of what goes around the security arrangement of concert events and how such incidents could have happened without the immediate intervention of someone. The laser eventually proved to be from a toy, but this showed just how artists may face potential danger in live performances.

Laser pointer attacks on celebrities are not very common, but they do happen from time to time. For instance, in 2013, Adele was targeted by a laser pointer during a concert in Italy, which caused her to stop the show and express her frustration to the audience. 

Similarly, Taylor Swift experienced a laser pointer incident during a concert in 2015 in Sydney, Australia, which led to a brief pause in her performance.

Besides the danger, Nick Jonas wasn’t hurt at all, and the concert was able to be resumed; the threat had been neutralized. Still, no official statement has been released on behalf of the Jonas Brothers regarding the event.

Lil Baby Gets Paid a Fortune for 7 Songs at Jack Doherty’s 21st Birthday

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YouTuber Jack Doherty knows a thing or two about throwing a party, and his 21st birthday was no different. Held this October 2024, what was to be a night of milestone celebration turned into the talk of social media courtesy of one special guest: Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Baby. Known for his chart-topping hits, Lil Baby headlined the night and added star power to an already buzzworthy event.

The performance indeed came with a jaw-dropping price tag: reportedly, Jack Doherty paid Lil Baby an astonishing $200,000 to perform an agonizing seven songs that lasted only about 10 minutes. That amounts to the impressive $20,000 he took home for every minute he spent on stage. The short but high-voltage performance kept the guests cheering, leaving the internet talking. So far as paydays go, Lil Baby’s appearance set the bar real high for private performances.

One of those notorious moments during the party was caught on camera and went viral instantly. The clip shows Doherty, all hyped, literally giving Lil Baby a bag of money when Lil Baby is seen making a joint. The behind-the-scenes-like moment sent fans crazy, with the video making rounds across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. Memes and reactions exploded across social media as many people were left in awe of the moment’s extravagance and also Lil Baby’s coolness while pocketing the bag.

A stunt like this is really on-brand for Jack Doherty. Thanks to his adrenalin-packed stunts and wild prank videos, he’s built a huge online following. Over the years, his content has grown bolder, with every new video intended to outdo the last. Booking a major rapper like Lil Baby for his 21st birthday only reiterates Doherty’s knack for creating viral, high-energy moments. That statement move melds his personal milestone with his larger-than-life online persona.

The Fat Fee by Lil Baby speaks volumes about the demand the high-rated artists get, especially at private events. In a world where artists fly around the globe to entertain well-paying customers, $200,000 isn’t an unorthodox paycheck for someone of Lil Baby’s stature. Actually, it comes to remind one of major paysets that larger-than-life talent attracts by way of booking into shows and appearances. The entertainment industry runs on such deals, where 10 minutes may be worth more than what many people make in a year.

The performance left fans and followers with much to discuss, from adoration to shock. Some of Doherty’s fans were excited for him, claiming that he went all out for his birthday and gave his guests an experience they will probably never have again in their lives. In contrast, some Lil Baby fans debated whether it was worth the price given how brief the set was, though most agreed it highlighted the rapper’s undeniable influence and worth.

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