Nicki Minaj says she's leaving the music biz ... she's decided to retire because HER family's the next priority.

The rapper made the stunning announcement in a Thursday morning tweet ... saying she's gonna retire because she's ready to become a mom. She wrote, "I've decided to retire & have my family. I know you guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me, X in the box- cuz ain't nobody checkin me. Love you for LIFE.

But yesterday, Nicki Minaj's fiance Kenneth Petty flashed gun on instagram live and fans have been reacting to the circulating screenshot ever since

Lil Nas X has explained why he decided to come out publicly as gay — during a conversation that ended up being more about Kevin Hart, the comedian who interrupted him.

During an episode of HBO’s The Shop: Uninterrupted that aired September 3, Lil Nas X was asked why it was important for him to come out publicly and why he did so by making an announcement on Twitter.

“He said he was gay! So what?” Hart interrupted.

Lil Nas X continued by saying he came out because it was important for him to combat anti-gay sentiment in society.

“I’m growing up to hate this shit,” Lil Nas X said, referring to being gay.

Hart interrupted him again, with a high-pitch squeal and a puzzled look: “Hate what? Why?”

Every episode of The Shop — produced by HBO in collaboration with LeBron James and Maverick Carter — features a roundtable-like discussion about topics at hand and a mix of celebrities, on-air personalities, musicians, and athletes. Lil Nas X and Hart were joined on the show’s September 3 episode by basketball players Kevin Love and CJ McCollum, football player Rob Gronkowski, and radio DJ Charlamagne Tha God. The interaction between Hart and Lil Nas X was a very brief part of the 30-minute episode, but it has become a focus since the episode aired.

“If you’re really from the hood, you know,” Lil Nas X said to Hart, implying that Hart should know about homophobia and anti-LGBTQ sentiments in the black community.

“Any other time, like, I’m doing this for attention in my eyes,” he continued. “But if you’re doing this while you’re at the top, you know it’s, like, for real. It’s showing, like, it doesn’t really matter.”UNINTERRUPTED✔@uninterrupted

.@lilnasx speaks the truth about his choice to come out while at the top. More of The Shop on @HBO now!85.8K11:11 PM - Sep 3, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy

16.4K people are talking about this

Lil Nas was making a point about representation and his belief that had he come out at a different time, it may have been seen as a publicity stunt. But with his song “Old Town Road”having just set the record as the longest-running No. 1 single on Billboard's Hot 100 chart (where it held the top spot for 17 weeks), the rapper suggested that coming out allowed him to use his fame to champion representation.

His “really from the hood” clapback to Hart was the closest any of the guests on the show got to acknowledging that Hart has made homophobic comments and jokes in the past.

Hart was famously picked to host the 2019 Oscars and then quit amid backlash after he initially refused to apologize for homophobic jokes and comments he’d made in the past, saying he'd already apologized for them and changed his ways. Though he eventually said he was sorry for any hurt he’d caused, he did so only after repeatedly referring to those who were upset about his old jokes and comments (Hart had used gay slurs on social media and said that if his son would come out as gay, he would break a dollhouse on his head) as trolls and haters.

It's uniquely puzzling that Hart was part of a national conversation about homophobic comments that cost him an Oscars hosting gig, only to interrupt a gay person’s answer about coming out while seeming to suggest he couldn't picture the homophobia that person might have faced. That no one else who was part of the conversation confronted Hart about his comments was also curious — though, to be clear, we don’t know if anything was said during filming that was later edited out.must be the season of the witch✔@MikelleStreet

I wanted to tweet a long thread about how much this upset me but I have other things to do.

Instead I'll just say everyone in this room who left Lil Nas X to explain this himself as if he were making it all up is a fucking coward. All of their names should be noted. Period. https://twitter.com/outmagazine/status/1169273641667715072 …Out Magazine✔@outmagazine

The comedian, who once joked he would become violent with his own son should he find him playing with dolls, feigned ignorance as to why @LilNasX weighed coming out so seriously. https://www.out.com/television/2019/9/04/watch-kevin-hart-gaslight-lil-nas-x-over-homophobia?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=television …38512:07 PM - Sep 4, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy

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Lil Nas X was literally referring to homophobia he grew up with and the importance of representation, and here was Hart, whose homophobic remarks and indignant apologies for said remarks made national news, appearing to feign naiveté.

Hart, along with others in the discussion, went on to say that being gay shouldn’t be an issue in 2019.

“What I wanna say to Lil Nas X is that in no way shape or form should you have to defend [yourself] … when you have a voice and simply say ‘this’ [being gay,] there is no back-and-forth about what ‘this’ is. Nothing else needs to be said,” Hart says.

Those are generous and supportive words. But because of Hart’s past comments and behavior regarding LGBTQ issues and his failure to acknowledge that history on The Shop, many have questioned his sincerity, saying his interaction with Lil Nas X feels more like a gaslighting.Janelle Belgrave L.Ac@JSoAbove

Kevin Hart's reaction to Lil Nas X reminds me of what I see from the men in my own family and it's disturbing. And when you try to call them on it they shut down and try to gaslight you.9310:19 AM - Sep 4, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy

19 people are talking about thisG O L D I E.✔@goldietaylor

"He said he was gay. So what!" Kevin Hart knows exactly what the "so what" is here and why a young black boy would closet his sexuality until he believed it was safe. Why not simply listen, give @LilNasX the space and deference to tell his own story... https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1169232154980753408 …Yashar Ali ✔@yashar

I love @LilNasX so much10.3K9:22 AM - Sep 4, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy

1,805 people are talking about this

Additionally, the rest of the male athletes and celebrities did not address their own experiences with homophobic sentiments in sports or pop culture. The brief discussion ended with some members of the panel praising Hart’s perseverance and ability to pick himself up after his failures, noting that because of these failures, he's a good person to listen to for advice.

“That’s the most impressive thing to me [about Kevin Hart],” Charlamagne Tha God said. “That’s what inspires me about Kev the most … you could have given up and said, ‘Fuck it,’ but you kept going.”

The Shop could have provided a startling look at how many people, and men in particular, shy away from addressing anti-LGBTQ sentiment in their personal lives, and how that can discount ideas of representation and the courage it takes for LGBTQ celebrities and athletes to come out. But the way this conversation was presented, it seemed like no one except Lil Nas X was aware of the points being made.

Instead, the discussion ended with Kevin Hart being hailed as a hero and a gentle mentor to Lil Nas X. And the failure is that neither the show nor many of its participants dared to suggest that Hart might be anything else.

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Tekashi 6ix9ine’s former manager Shotti will be sentenced by a judge this week and prosecutors want him locked up for 15 years.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, prosecutors are laying out their case prior to Shotti’s (real name: Kifano Jordan) sentencing, which is scheduled for September 6.

Shotti was arrested on federal charges around the same time Tekashi was locked up for the same crimes.

In their motion they argue, “The defendant was a high-ranking member of the racketeering enterprise known as the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods (“Nine Trey”).”

It seems that there is a big difference between JAY-Z the rapper and Shawn Carter, the kid from Marcy Projects.

And within that space between those two realities, a philosophy of what causes police brutality has emerged from the RocNation head honcho. Depending on who you ask, this mindset is the undercurrent that supports his new controversial and complicatedly secret partnership with the National Football League. It is also why so many people have jumped on this video where he seems to be victim blaming. In the video he seems to offer up a reason why young people from single-parent households don’t respect authority, and how that lack of respect yields the violence perpetrated against poor Black and Brown people in our country’s urban jungles.

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Yoba directed his post toward black men stating intimidation isn't a form of masculinity."Trans love is ok and bullying has nothing to do with masculinity or HETEROSEXUAL behavior."

"Trans people deserve love and respect as do those who love them! "Yoba captioned. "I love all women and count myself among those who find themselves trans attracted."

After making the assertion in the lengthy post, Yoba admitted to feeling the societal shame a lot of men do for loving trans women.

"I too have felt the self-imposed shame that comes with that truth but it’s time to speak up. It is NOT about GENITALIA OR SEX but about attraction to the soul and humanity of an individual and often the beauty that is in the courage and conviction to live one's truth!"

A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent that J. Prince and Scarface have accused of corruption could be facing some serious prison time.

According to a press release, which the U.S. Department of Justice issued on Wednesday (Aug. 28), former DEA special agent Chad A. Scott was convicted on two counts of perjury, three counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of falsifying government records.

Over the course of the seven-day trial, prosecutors used evidence that pointed to Scott committing these crimes during his time as a DEA special agent in and around the New Orleans and Houston areas. Evidence indicates that Scott directed a Houston-based drug trafficker to purchase a Ford F-150 truck worth approximately $43,000 and forfeit the vehicle to Scott as part of the trafficker’s cooperation.

Afterward, prosecutors say, Scott falsified the paperwork for the seizure of the truck in numerous ways. Prosecutors say he lied about seizing the truck in New Orleans instead of in Houston. This led to the vehicle being forfeited and given to Scott as his official government vehicle.

Before Scott was indicted for the charges last May, Scarface called out the former DEA special agent on two songs separate songs, "Look in My Eyes" and "The Gangsta Shit," featured on his 2000 album, Last of a Dying Breed.

"Can't be stopped, not even by a bad soul/Fuck Jed and Chad, it's J. Prince and Brad," Scarface raps on "The Gangsta Shit."

Scott will be sentenced on Dec. 4, which is nearly 19 years to the day that the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform reviewed both Scott and his partner Jack Schumacher's publicized investigation into J. Prince's Rap-A-Lot Records. After Scott was arrested last year, J. Prince shared his thoughts on the matter n an Instagram post. In the post, Prince says Scott and Schumacher tried to take him and his record label down. "They finally caught one of the two DEA agents assigned to take my life over a decade ago," he wrote on Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NFL and Jay's Roc Nation just announced a new Inspire Change apparel line and a music showcase called Songs of the Season. The music part of that deal will begin with Meek, Meghan Trainor and Rapsody performing at the NFL Kickoff Event in Chicago on Sept. 5.

Meek and Rapsody are Roc Nation clients, but Meghan is not ... which shows that despite facing a wave of criticism, Jay still has plenty of entertainers willing to support his NFL venture. All 3 artists are the first Inspire Change advocates.

The bigger part of the deal, though, is the apparel line -- because it seems to have Jay's fingerprint all over it. After successfully launching his Rocawear and Paper Planes (that Roc Nation logo you see everywhere) ... he knows there's big money in clothing and caps.

Roc Nation and the league say the revenue from Inspire Change apparel will fund Inspire Change programs across the U.S. -- with a focus on  "economic empowerment, police and community relations, and criminal justice reform."

Play video contentWE'RE PAST KNEELINGNFL

As you know, Jay-Z took a ton of heat after a meeting with Roger Goodell to announce their partnership. Many critics, including athletes and entertainers, felt like Jay was turning his back on Colin Kaepernick and the kneeling protest he started for social justice.

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You speak ill of Eminem and Royce Da 5’9 will be sure to check you on it, which Lord Jamar found out and has recently responded to.

The Brand Nubian member made an appearance on Vlad TV where he stated “real n***as” don’t listen to Eminem, prompting a swift response from Royce.

“Lord Jamar—you a legendary rapper. You’re a part of a legendary rap group. It’s like you’re going in there sitting on a couch, sitting in this man’s chair, and you running up all these views because you have all this controversial shit to say about one f**kin’ person and he walks away with the check and you walk away craving attention,” Royce said. “I don’t care about none of that shit. You don’t have to respect me just don’t disrespect me.”

Lord Jamar took to Instagram Live for his reply:

“I bet y’all thought I wasn’t going to reply to Mr. Royce Da 5’9,” Jamar said during the session. “Wrong! Let’s unpack this, shall we? An IG just surfaced recently a couple days ago of Royce Da 5’9 talking about me. What up Royce? Apparently, you were a little upset—again. I thought the video was old actually. But nope, it’s a new one. People don’t really ask me about you Royce. They ask me about Eminem, but for some reason, you like to respond. OK. I get it. You’re a loyal guy.”

He would also point out how Royce calls him a legend.

“The reason why he would call me a ‘legend’ and my group ‘legendary’ is because when Brand Nubian came out, our debut album received five mics in The Source,” Lord Jamar added.

“Does the hood listen to Eminem. Now, he disagreed with me, as far as the whole Eminem being a guest in the house of hip-hop, but he did agree with me that n***as in the hood don’t really listen to Eminem,” Jamar added. “In general, black people don’t f**king listen to Eminem. It’s not a f**king diss, it’s a f**king fact. Did you come at Conway with all this energy you came for me? Did you come at Gucci Mane who also stated the same thing?… You say nobody cares about my opinion, but my opinion seems to bother you very much.”

A bill signed into law 30 days ago takes effect today, partially decriminalizing marijuana possession (again). Residents across New York State can publicly possess or smoke up to 2 ounces of marijuana without criminal penalties.

The new law changes Marijuana Possession in the Fifth Degree from a low-level misdemeanor to a non-criminal violation. That means police, in theory, can’t arrest people but can only issue summonses that could lead to fines.

The maximum penalty is $50 for possessing less than one ounce of pot and a maximum of $200 for between one and two ounces.

But there are a WHOLE lot of caveats.

Violations are still trouble. A violation isn’t a criminal conviction, but they can still have significant consequences, according to Emma Goodman, a lawyer for the Legal Aid Society. “It's still something that shows up on your record and stays with you for a very long time,” she said. “And it can affect your ability to get jobs and housing and all of the things that criminal convictions can affect.”

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Twitter was abuzz on Monday afternoon with a salacious story surrounding two of the greatest comedians who have ever graced a stage: According to Richard Pryor’s bodyguard, the late comedian’s young son was “violated” by Paul Mooney decades ago. That unsubstantiated report published Monday rocked social media and propelled Mooney’s name to the top of Twitter’s trending topics as tweets flooded timelines with opinions on the unfounded report by Rashon Kahn, who spoke out during an interview promoting his upcoming book.

Richard Pryor Jr. has seemingly confirmed the sexual misconduct claims against Paul Mooney, the comedian who is accused of "violating" him decades ago.

The allegations were fueled by a recently published video featuring Rashon Kahn, the former bodyguard of Richard Pryor Sr. Khan claimed Pryor Sr. and Mooney's personal and professional relationship began deteriorating around 1986, because "Mooney had fucked Richard's son by that time." Khan, who is promoting his forthcoming tell-all book, Everything Wasn't Funny, did not indicate when the purported "violation" took place; however, Richard Jr. has indicated it happened when he was under age.

"Whatever happened in my life, it happened when I was young. Way before the '80s," Pryor Jr. told TMZ when asked about the allegations against Mooney. 

The cameraman then questioned whether the sexual relationship was consensual, to which Richard Jr. replied: "How can any relationship be consensual if I was a teenager?"

The 58-year-old refused to speak on the claims that his late father had put a $1 million hit on Mooney for the alleged molestation.

Mooney's representative has continued to deny the allegations, telling TMZ that Khan's story doesn't add up. The representative highlights the fact that Mooney and Richard Sr. were seen hanging out as late as the 1990s, about 20 years after Khan claims their relationship had gone sour. The rep also points out that Richard Jr. never mentioned Mooney by name when he was speaking to TMZ about the nonconsensual sex.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I’m also proud of my brother JAY Z for showing how it should be done."

When it was announced Jay-Z was partnering with the NFL, many raised their digital eyebrows in suspicion. It's been five years since Colin Kaepernick's took a knee bringing national attention to police brutality, and Jay-Z was one of several celebrities who publically supported Kaepernick's activism.

In the weeks since Jay's announcement, a line has been drawn. Some are in full support of Mr. Carter, while others have taken to social media to express what they think is a betrayal.

Longtime friend and collaborator Sean "P.Diddy" Combs took to Instagram Monday (Aug. 26) to express his support of Jay-Z's newest venture.

"Hov is one of the greatest to ever do it. He has been there more than anybody from the hip hop culture, including me. He always has been so selfless and fights for other people. We as a people can not be divided and conquered at this time!" Combs captioned.

Diddy also made sure to publically acknowledge Kaepernick and his social justice: "I’m so proud of @kaepernick7 and the attention he was able to bring and the efforts he continues to make. I’ll continue to support him in every way possible."

Catching up on the news and subsequent backlash Jay-Z has received, Diddy said he was hurt to know his friend's decision wasn't entirely being properly received.

"I was just watching everything last week but it hurt me to my heart because I know this man personally. He’s one of the most genuine and intelligent black leaders we’ve ever had. We cannot go against each other, there’s not enough of us. I applaud Jay Z and I applaud the NFL for bringing him in."

⁣ This isn’t just about the NFL, it’s about how black and brown people are treated daily across this country," Diddy continued. "We have to come together and make the hard decisions, nobody is going to do it for us."

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the NFL announced a partnership with Roc Nation, the company founded by rapper and businessman Jay-Z. As part of the deal, Roc Nation will help produce musical performances at major NFL events, like the Super Bowl. The company will also "amplify the league's social justice efforts."

"This partnership is an opportunity to strengthen the fabric of communities across America," Jay-Z said in statement. The rapper also intends to become a part owner of an NFL team, according to reports.

The agreement was announced three years to the day after then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first started protesting what he calls "systemic oppression" of minorities by refusing to stand for the national anthem before games.

Kaepernick, who has been out of the NFL since 2017, has been the target of intense criticism as a result of his protests. He also had many vocal supporters — including Jay-Z. The rapper wore a custom Kaepernick jersey while performing on "Saturday Night Live" and dedicated a song to the quarterback during a concert.

Why there's debate:

Many of Kaepernick's supporters say Jay-Z is betraying the social justice mission he previously supported by partnering with the NFL. The league is seen by some as "blackballing" the quarterback because of his political views. Eric Reid, a former Kaepernick teammate who joined him in kneeling during the anthem, accused Jay-Z of making "a money move with the very people who’ve committed an injustice against Colin."

Others argue that the deal is a natural extension of the work Kaepernick has done in compelling the NFL to taking social justice seriously. "I think we’ve moved past kneeling. I think it’s time for action," Jay-Z said.

Some have also expressed the belief that Jay-Z is free to make whatever business decisions benefit him and his company, regardless of Kaepernick's situation.

What's next:

Kaepernick released a workout video showing that he was in shape and "still ready" to return to the NFL. There is speculation that Jay-Z's involvement with the NFL may signal that the quarterback's absence from the league could end soon. "I feel like Jay-Z can bring back Colin Kaepernick," rapper Cardi B said. “I feel so. I feel like he has that power."

Perspectives

Jay-Z should give a more thorough public explanation of his decision-making

"More details are bound to follow on this partnership. And more questions too. None more pressing than the one that asks Jay-Z about how he went from supporting Colin Kaepernick to cutting deals with the league that has been accused of locking him out." — Charles Robinson, Yahoo Sports

Jay-Z's motivations don't matter if his involvement brings results

"If the resources of the most powerful league in the country are utilized to improve the lives of minorities and spur real change in the criminal justice system, does it really matter if the NFL did so for publicity or Jay-Z for money?" — LZ Granderson, Los Angeles Times

Jay-Z may not understand the implications of the partnership

"While Jay’s support for Kaepernick was almost certainly genuine, he is in bed with Kap’s primary enemies, those who fought the hardest to silence him and his message." — Bomani Jones, The Undefeated

Kaepernick himself has sold out his principles for money

"The problem with viewing the Roc Nation-NFL partnership as this great schism between Kaepernick The Good and Jay-Z The Bad is that Kaepernick himself has already profited from the very same move Jay-Z is using now. The NFL’s exploitation of Jay-Z — the man and the brand and all the signifiers that come along with him — is identical to Nike’s exploitation of Kaepernick in that much-celebrated yet fundamentally repugnant ad campaign last year." — Billy Haisley, Deadspin

Jay-Z undermines his support for social justice by partnering with the NFL

"Jay-Z can’t stand up for Kaepernick while tucking himself into bed with the NFL. It is disingenuous. It is hypocritical. It is fake." — Kevin B. Blackistone, Washington Post

Working with the NFL can't be off-limits forever

"Was Jay-Z supposed to never be involved with the NFL again, even after Kaepernick settled his lawsuit? If Kaepernick and the NFL are done with each other, is everyone who felt sympathy for Kaepernick obliged to participate in a forever boycott of the league?" — Kyle Smith, National Review

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MIAMI (AP) — Rapper Kodak Black pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal weapons charges stemming from his arrest just before a scheduled concert performance in May.

Black entered the change of plea in a Miami federal court. Prosecutors charged him with crimes including falsifying information on federal forms to buy four firearms from a Miami-area gun shop on two separate occasions.

Black, 22, was able to obtain three of the weapons: a 9 mm handgun, a .380-caliber handgun and a semi-automatic Mini Draco weapon. Authorities said one of the guns was found at the scene of a March shooting in Pompano Beach.

Black also faces drug, weapons and sexual assault charges in other states.

When U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno asked Black why he needed so many weapons, he shrugged and said he needed them for “protection.” In a previous hearing, his attorney, Bradford Cohen, said the rapper faced threats from gangs and other rivals.

Black is a Florida native who was born to Haitian American parents as Dieuson Octave and who now goes by the legal name of Bill Kapri.

He has been in federal custody since he was arrested during a Miami-area hip-hop festival in May that was marred by several violent incidents. Authorities are still investigating three unrelated shootings in the Miami area with possible connections to the festival, one of which involved a property owned by President Donald Trump.

Moreno previously denied Black’s request for bond, ruling that he was a danger to the community.

The rapper, known for the singles “ZeZe” and “Roll in Peace,” could face up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13.

Dame Dash suffers from a particularly biblical sort of curse. He turns into a pillar of salt any time he looks back on his partnership with JAY-Z. With people piling on Jiggaover his NFL deal, you know that Dash had to find a mic fast. 

In an interview with Adam22 of No Jumper, Dame addressed the rumor that JAY-Z snaked Jermaine Dupri to get a deal with the NFL. Both Funkmaster Flex and Brian-Michael Cox claimed that Jay talked Dupri out of working with the NFL, then turned around and secured a partnership for himself. Dash couldn't be less surprised.

"I mean, everybody knows JAY ain't shit," Dash said at the 29:00 mark. "If you ask anyone in the industry, it's a common knowledge that JAY ain't shit."

Dash explained that JAY has no motivators beyond money and claimed that he regularly stiffs small fries, knowing that they don't have a platform to push back.

"He's about the bag. We all know that. He's self-preserving. Period. It's just that the people he does it to don't have Beyoncé next to 'em," he said. "They don't have that kind of power, but this dude here, everyone's looking."

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longtime Jay-Z associate Irv Gotti told Page Six that the rapper looks as if he’s being “used like a pawn” by the NFL.

The “Empire State of Mind” rapper shocked fans last week by making a deal with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to join its “social justice campaign” — after backing Colin Kaepernick in his struggle with the league over his kneeling protests. And Gotti — who called Jay “my brother” and was reluctant to talk about the issue until we pushed him on it — said that it appears as if Goodell could be using Jay to rehabilitate the league’s image in wake of the Kaepernick debacle.

While he said that he hopes that the hip-hop idol is planning to improve the league from the inside, Gotti told Page Six, “To sit there and watch Jay talk [at their recent, widely publicized meeting] while Roger Goodell is sitting there quiet, it almost looks like the NFL manufactured and manipulated Jay to be the front and face of the bulls–t, knowing Jay is so powerful that he can make people forget about [Kaepernick and others] kneeling.”

Gotti called it “a brilliant move for the NFL” and added, “If it was a masterminded plan, then you just used Hov for a masterminded plan and made him look like a pawn in this whole f–king thing.” He added that he’s willing to see how it plays out before making a final judgment on it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.