CHUNO WORLDWIDE

UK emcee Little Simz has made her mark on the industry with her intelligent rhymes which artfully welcome listeners to bear witness to her experiences and journey. 

In her single "Boss," Simz makes it clear that her hard-earned status is one she has fought for and one that she intends to keep. Speaking about the music video's creative vision, director Jeremy Ngatho Cole shared, “For ‘Boss’ I wanted to make something with Simz that felt immediate and striking without any gimmicks. On the track it’s just Simz, so I wanted to showcase her performance directly. I wanted it to feel classic. We shot on 16mm, digital and tape so the aesthetic was layered but simple.”

Earlier this year, Jacquees told Tidal that his sound was influenced by a number of RnB greats. 

"I was raised by my mother and my community. It’s the East side [of Decatur], it’s different from every side," he said. "The type of music I grew up listening to and was influenced by was the Jacksons, Temptations. I used to listen to Hot Boyz, Ginuwine, Usher, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Jodeci, Jagged Edge, Earth, Wind & Fire, Ron Isley, R. Kelly — all the classics."

In his new track with Birdman titled "Anythang," the classic RnB influenced can definitely be felt. The song is further complimented by Birdman's gravely voice which worked well with the simultaneously braggadocious and romantic vibe of the track. 

Quotable Lyrics

When I'm with you, it's expensive
Liquor pitchers, drown when I'm with you
Money's not a problem, got different dollars on me
Me and Stunna ballin', money's steady callin'

Up and coming rap duo City Girls have been making a name for themselves. The group recently released their album Girl Code which boasts a number of features from some of the most influential names in the game today: Cardi B, Jacquees and Lil Baby.

The last of the aforementioned artists is featured on the track "Season" adding a fresh perspective and additional layer to the high energy track which sees JT and Yung Miami discussing the art of securing checks from their main men for no reason other than the fact that their hustle and composure demand it. 

Check out the new track below. 

Quotable Lyrics

It's that season, you gon' cut it or what
I want a AP watch, is you gon' flood it or what 
Want a new whip, all black, gotta be new body 
Wanna get my teeth done and get a new body

We live in an age where ordinary human beings took to eating laundry detergent pods, then made the dangerous and life-threatening act a viral trend. As if that wasn't bizarre enough, it seems that we are also inhabiting a planet where people make the conscious decision to create feel-good concoctions using feminine hygiene products.

In a recent report by the New York Post, it has been revealed that a number of teens in Indonesia have been collecting tampons and menstrual pads for the purpose of repurposing them to act as cheap substitutes to alcohol and party drugs. Some of the feminine hygiene products used by the aforementioned group have already been worn by menstruating women —a factor that evidently does not repel fans of this alternative. The teens are said to achieve a feeling of ecstasy after imbibing a mixture derived boiling the feminine hygiene products, then allowing them cool.

The National Narcotics Agency in Indonesia has announced that the chlorine used to sanitize menstrual products is what causes the teens to feel tipsy and induces hallucinations, as well as a feeling of “flying.” Local police have stated that they have already arrested several minors caught making the dangerous mixture. 

Each year, BET's Soul Train Awards aims to celebrate the best and the brightest of black music and entertainment. This year's award show will be hosted by accomplished Martin actresses Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold who will be joined by influential figures such as SZA, Normani, and Tami Romani onstage.

Among the night's nominees are some of today's most successful performers. Mysterious songstress H.E.R. is the most nominated act with a total seven nominations under her belt, followed by Bruno Mars and Cardi B who can boast six nominations respectively, and CTRL artist SZA who caps off the list at five nominations. Iconic musician Erykah Badu will be honored for her contributions with the Legend Award.

The show has recently kicked off with a dazzling array of looks and ensembles from a number of award nominees and attendees. Badu hit the carpet in a structured, eye-catching piece complete with a towering headpiece, while SZA turned heads with a chic pantsuit and blazer combination."SZA so gorgeous," one commentator observed. "I thought you was Aaliyah," another said referencing the songstress's sleek tresses. Justine Skye also opted for a glamorous pantsuit with violet and white fringe detailing. 

Check out some of the night's looks below.

Bronx-native A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has evidently been hard at work putting together his upcoming album, Hoodie SZN.

In late Septemeber, Boogie dropped a collection of four songs titled B4 #HOODIESZN in anticipation of his next project. The release brought tracks like "Bentley Bentayga,” "3 Min Convo,” “Retaliation” and “Role Model” to the attention of fans, giving them a widely anticipated glimpse of what to expect. B4 #HOODIESZN coincidentally hit the scene shortly after the one year anniversary of his debut album, The Bigger Artist. Back in 2017, the rapper told Billboard that he was changing is ways and taking a new approach to his releases. "I started off throwing out Artist. I made that my first mixtape. Then, I threw out TBA, which means To Be Announced. Right now, it's The Bigger Artist. So it's all connecting. But I stopped doing that mixtape thing. I'm not really rocking with mixtapes no more. EPs and albums, that's it. "

Late last month, Boogie to his Instagram to share a release date for Hoodie SZN. "Hoodie Season Is officially turned in," he wrote. He went on to reveal, "Hoodie SZN IN DECEMBER and Artist 2.0 on Valentines Day." In a new clip posted earlier today, Boogie dropped a preview about an upcoming track from Hoodie SZN featuring Juice WRLD. “DEMONS & ANGELS”😈ION THINK THEY READY FOR THIS ONE BROSKII," he shared referencing Juice WRLD. 

Catch the snippet below. 

In today's age of social media, how one is perceived or presents themselves has come to carry increasing importance. Countless individuals have been able to launch successful and high earning careers through platforms like Instagram and YouTube. The former is notable for virtually creating one of the most coveted and celebrated professions: Instagram model. Instagram models and influencers have taken the fashion and beauty industries by storm, often serving as spokespeople for campaigns by reputable brands, and in some cases, entering into lucrative partnerships with such brands. 

Emma Hallberg, a 19-year-old self-described model and “influencer” who resides in Sweden has recently come under fire for her presentation after her 193,000 followers Instagram followers discovered that the teen was not in actuality, a black woman. “I honestly thought Emma Hallberg was half black,” one user lamented. “The girl was clearly posing as black, as she’s posted by many black pages etc.,” another mentioned after sharing one of Hallberg's older posts. Other Twitter users criticized Hallberg for neglecting to correct accounts who reposted her pictures with the intention of celebrating black beauty, and argued that the teen's choice to use makeup that is significantly darker than her complexion is almost akin to wearing blackface. 

Hallberg told BuzzFeed News that she identifies as "white" and has never “claimed or tried to be black or anything else." She later explained, "I do not see myself as anything else than white. I get a deep tan naturally from the sun." She went on to add, “It made me sad that some of my natural features are hurting and upsetting people. It also made me upset and scared that I can’t look the way I look naturally, without receiving false accusations, hate, and threats. I do not have any specific intentions other than [to] show my passion for makeup and fashion.”

British singer and songwriter Lilly Allen has recently released an autobiography titled My Thoughts Exactly. The book has given fans an intimate glimpse at the musician's life with many passages revealing never before heard narratives. The "5 O'Clock" songstress addressed her struggles with addiction and coming to terms with sexual assault. "I was behaving in a way that was the opposite of being sexually liberated or free; I was trapped in a cycle. I was addicted to the drink and drugs I was consuming and the sex I was chasing," she wrote. 

In her book, Allen also revealed that while she on tour with Zoe Kravitz, the pair shared a kiss. "For my New York shows, Zoë Kravitz and her band Lolawolf supported me, so I got to know Zoe a bit," she shared. "We became friends. Later in the tour, when we were in Washington.... Zoe and I went out partying and ended up kissing. I heard that later that same night she'd got down with A$AP Rocky," she added. While on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live, Kravitz addressed the claim saying that Allen had in actuality attacked her. “If by kissing she means attacking, then yes, she kissed me,” she said. When Cohen asked if she had read the book, Kraviz responded, " I don’t think anybody read the book.”

Watch Zoe on Watch What Happens Live below. 

Over the past several years, headlines of celebrity burglaries have unfortunately become commonplace. The homes of A-listers such as Paris Hilton, Rihanna, LeBron James, Viola Davis, and Matt Damon have been trespassed by thieves who on occasion, make away with millions of dollars' worth of their victims' belongings. Kim Kardashian West's robbers went to extreme lengths to purloin the reality star of her jewels, holding her hostage at gunpoint after breaking into her Paris hotel room. During an episode of her family's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim recalled thinking that her time had come to an end. “The guy came in, grabbed the phone from me, threw me on the bed and I was like, ‘This is it,’ ” she said.

One celebrity who takes careful precaution to avoid becoming victim to a burglary is Jamie Foxx. At the premiere of the Robin Hood film, Foxx, who plays the role of Little John, shared some of his tips on how not to get robbed with The New York Post. “Stay off your Instagram telling everybody where you’re at," he said. You better start posting that thing like three or four days after. And I ain’t got nothing in my house . . . That’s all it is — a house — if they want to take a house.”

A Wisconsin based glassware company named BensShot has recently grabbed headlines for its unconventional decision to offer its staff an unconventional holiday bonus. Straying away from a traditional cash offer, the company has instead offered each one of their employees a gift card to a local gun store allowing them the opportunity to redeem a gun of their choice. 

According to BuzzFeed News, each card is worth approximately $500, and each employee will need to pass a background test to even be eligible to redeem it for an actual gun. Speaking to Buzzfeed News, the co-founder of Benshot, Ben Wolfgram said the intention behind the gesture is to "give a gift .... of personal protection to keep employees safe." Wolfgram informed the publication that any member of the company's staff planning to purchase a firearm will have to undergo a basic training course on handgun safety and protocol. 

It seems that an overwhelming majority of Benshot's 16 full-time employees were thrilled by the gift cards, and have already made use of them. "There were a couple employees who said they already had handguns so they got a rifle instead," Wolfgram revealed. Only two employees are said to have declined the offer, one of whom who made the decision on account of her husband owning "a bunch of guns already," and the fact that she did not hunt, or harbor any desire to "carry [a gun] on her person for protection."