From confirmation by Whitney Houston's former best friend confirming that they were in a lesbian relationship to right here in the DC someone getting shot over that new Popeye's chicken sandwich, we went everywhere! We covered SO much last night, you will just have to hear what took place for yourself, lol! You definitely won't be disappointed. But what else would you expect from the HOTTEST show on internet radio...see what I'm sayin!

It take a special person to be a real trailblazer. Some instances however my show otherwise. This one was a great example of what it takes to be this sort of person. Dave Chappelle was honored in his hometown of Washington, DC on Sunday. The legendary comedian was presented with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Mark Twain Prize ceremony celebrating Dave Chapelle will air January 7, 2020 on PBS. Past recipients include Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Ellen DeGeneres, and Eddie Murphy. Congrats and well deserved! The one person these days especially who embodies being someone that doesn't conform, Kanye. Kanye West’s hard pivot to gospel music has apparently done nothing to alienate his fanbase, as his new album, Jesus Is King, is pacing for a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200. If Jesus Is King debuts at No. 1—which is all but inevitable—it will mark West’s ninth consecutive chart-topper and ninth No. 1 debut, tying Eminem’s record in both departments. West could dethrone Eminem before the year’s end if he sticks to his word and releases a new album, Jesus Is Born, on Christmas. I take my hat off to him. It takes real 'guts' to do some of the things he does. In related news, Kanye is serious about the whole born again thing. Reportedly, Yeezy will no longer perform his past secular music, at least in its OG form. West plans to “never perform his old music in its original form again.” Instead, fans will get safe “for the kids” versions of his songs with updated lyrics. Princeton Theological Seminary, a religious college in New Jersey, has pledged $28 million dollars in reparations as an act of repentance following its ties to slavery. Under the plan, which was announced last week and will be implemented over the course of the next five years, the private school of theology in New Jersey will offer 30 new scholarships and five doctoral fellowships for descendants of people who were enslaved or for others from underrepresented groups. This is what I call REAL reparations! Anyone interested in Melania Trump's bra?? Someone apparently is selling it on Ebay. The starting bid is at $5.00...get it before it's gone, LOL!!  Would you date/sleep with the same man/woman your best friend dated/slept with? This was the 'steamy' Illastr8 HOT Take that the crew talked about. It got a lil crazy for a minute. As always, we got you covered every Wednesday from 9-10 pm!!

Sometimes, you just never know, lol. We had some scenarios this week that proved just that. The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars is investing some of his $8 BILLION dollar fortune into a worthy cause. Shad Khan recently announced that he will be the majority investor in the nation’s only 24-hour news network aimed at African American viewers. The Black News Channel (BNC) news network is set to launch next month and will be available in 33 million households. This is something that is long overdue. Nicki Minaj appears to have tied the knot with her boyfriend, Kenneth "Zoo" Petty. And according to a person close to Nicki, she got hitched without a prenuptial agreement. Fans don't seem to be too shocked that Nicki and Kenneth are now married. Nicki had already announced that she and Zoo obtained a marriage license, and just last week, she revealed that she would be most likely married within the next seven days. This proves the notion that you just never know! This is messed up. Van Lathan, one of TMZ's most popular personalities has been fired - after a politically charged confrontation with a White co-worker. Sources say that Lathan confronted Babcock in the newsroom after the segment and told him there would be trouble if he “ever embarrassed [Lathan] like that again.” Insiders say Lathan met with the site’s attorneys and he was suspended. He was dismissed a few days later, we’re told. Lathan famously went head-to-head with Kanye West last year over the rapper’s claims that slavery was “a choice.” Meanwhile, we’re told Babcock leans to the right. For the past couple of month's the internet has been inundated with "Top 50" rappers lists. Well, a new list began circulating online - The 50 "worst" rappers of all time. Check out our social media sites for the actual list @illastr8_radio! Our good brother Kanye; you just never know, lol. Kanye West's pastor, Adam Tyson, has revealed that Kanye West almost quit rap music because it's the "devil's music." Tyson's words come as Ye took to Twitter to announce that his next album, Jesus is King, will be released later on this week. He has already revealed that the album will be a gospel album - as indicated by the album's title. "The Illastr8 HOT Take" was CRAZY this week! I will just reference a statement that R&B singer 'Tank' recently said. Check this out and then listen to what the crew said about this one!! DON'T WORRY...we'll be back next Wednesday - 9-10 pm. 

We talked about some some trending topics this week that covered a lot of ground for some people in the industry. These two stories proved this this be true...maybe not in a good way though. One of our favorite singers, KeKe Wyatt is expecting baby No. 10, wow! Man...I guess since she's obviously not recording, we see how's she's been spending her time. In related news, hype man #1, Flavor Flav could be a dad again at 60 yrs old! Rapper Flavor Flav could be a dad-of-eight if he loses a new paternity lawsuit. Kate Gammell, a member of the Public Enemy star's management team, claims the hip-hop emcee is the biological father of her two-month-old son Jordan. Flavor Flav, who is already a father to seven kids, has denied he is Jordan's dad. Good luck with this one! Zoë Kravitz, daughter of famed artist Lenny Kravitz and actress Liza Bonet will be definitely coving ground by staring as 'Catwomen' with her roboot of, "The Batman".  Zoë Kravitz (X-Men: First Class, Mad Max: Fury Road) will be in the rebooted Batman film. The 30-year-old actress is set to play the iconic Selina "Catwoman" Kyle. Kravitz follows Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway as a live-action version of Catwoman. She previously voiced the criminal anti-hero in the animated The Lego Batman Movie. We thought that it might have been Teyena Taylor but congrats to Zoë! Queen Latifah is to be honored by Harvard University for her contributions to black history and culture. She is one person that always has her priorities straight. Latifah is one of seven honorees who will receive the institution's Hutchins Center for African and African American Research's W.E.B. Du Bois Medal at a ceremony on October 22. The rapper and actress is not the first hip-hop star to be honored with the Medal, as LL Cool J was a recipient in 2017, while Nas was chosen for the accolade in 2015. Harvard chiefs have also established a Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship in his name. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its nominees for the class of 2020. As reported by NPR, The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston are among the 16 artists selected for the honor. Noticeably absent from the list is LL Cool J who has been nominated for a spot in the Rock Hall five times but never inducted. The 2020 inductees will be announced in January 2020. The induction ceremony is expected to take place at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on May 2, 2020. They are still doing BIG things!! For the "Illastr8 HOT Take" the crew had something that men may have done or asked on a date. 'Would you be offended if a man asked to see your real hair on a date?' It got a lil rowdy but LADIES...let us know how you would feel? Until next Wednesday...

We had some examples of this and some good situations that the crew discussed. A bad match was about a Florida man who has never been arrested was slapped with a 10-day jail sentence for missing jury duty, prompting many online to speak out against the presiding judge. Deandre Somerville, 21, overslept and missed his August appointment which led to his arrest in court. Some matches are not necessarily made in heaven. Somerville, a college student who has never been in trouble, was given 10 days in jail, 150 hours of community service, ordered to write an apology, and one year of probation. Crazy! 50 Cent stays securing the bag. The Queens rapper is reportedly producing a docuseries on infamous snitching rapper Tekashi 6ix9nine, and other celebs. The docuseries has five subjects, including Snoop Dogg, producer Scott Storch, and former NBA star and streetball legend Rafer “Skip To My Lou” Alston, as well as 50 Cent. The series is called A Moment In Time and will feature 6 to 8 hour-long episodes about each subject. This should be quite interesting?? This match may actually be a good one. Master P is getting back into the professional wrestling business. Two decades after signing a deal with the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling, the No Limit Records founder has stepped back into the ring as the new owner of House Of Glory Wrestling. Fittingly, the promotion’s next event has been titled No Limit. It is scheduled to take place at the NYC Arena in Jamaica, Queens on November 16. Master P and the No Limit Soldiers were once on "WCW Nitro" in the mid to early 90's. This whole story is absolutely a match made in heaven. After the jaw-dropping opening of his 330 acre studios, Tyler Perry has revealed that the work will still continue on. Tyler Perry's Studio will feature a complex for trafficked women and displaced LGBTQ youth. On Tuesday, the Tyler Perry Studios CEO sat down with CBS This Morning’s Gayle King to discuss the venture which will hopefully help offset the challenges faced by the most vulnerable communities in Atlanta. GOD bless you Tyler Perry! This week also for "The Illastr8 HOT Take" the crew had one that everybody riled up, 'When your in a relationship and find out your significant other is gay'. We keep it entertaining for you every week...stay tuned!!

Following the status quo is not always the best way. This proved true with what the crew discussed this week. A new study published in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education found that the average size for American women grew from a 12-14 in 2018, to a range of 16-18. But it's not just women that are growing in size. The study reporting that ALL Americans are growing, and that the average American (male or female) is 50+ LBS overweight. The status quo for 'The Original Don Dada' was that of a gangster and overall drug lord. I'm sadden to report that Belly actor Louis Rankin has reportedly passed away in a fatal car accident. The crash involved a transport truck and another vehicle, but the police have released no other information about the incident. As well as his role in the movie Belly, he also starred in the Jamacian hit move, "Shottas." He's reported to have been well received and loved by his community and family - R.I.P.  This next story definitely broke the status quo mold! Rapper 'Too Short' becomes a father for the first at 53. His daughter, Yanni Shaw, was actually born back in December, but Too Short leaked the news of her birth this week. Too Short is credited as being one of the pioneer rappers of West Coast hip hop. Congrats to PIMP # 1!  Status Quo of the 'alt-right' Republican Stacey Dash just caught a dub. The Clueless actress and proud shuffle footing woman of color was arrested for domestic violence. Reportedly she put hands on her husband (this is her fourth marriage), and the cops arrested her after noticing scratches on his arm. Dash was held on $500 bail, and reportedly kept for 24 hours to "coo off." FINALLY, Rapper Gucci Mane partners with "Gucci." Just a day removed after announcing his fifteenth studio album in Woptober 2, the fashionable rap star has revealed that the presented cover art stems from the Gucci Cruise campaign. In May 2019, Snoop Dogg inquired about the purported ban and the legendary Dapper Dan actually sat down with Gucci and now, Radric Davis is getting paid to rep the Italian fabrics. I'm glad to see this relationship finally happen. For, "The Illastr8 HOT Take", the crew talked about 'some signs that your new boo may not be over their ex?" This was a 'spicy' one!  You MUST check this one out, lol! Keep it RIGHT HERE...we got you!

Ironically, Issa is reportedly remaking the movie "Set It Off". According to reports, the project is still in early development stage, but Issa will likely star in the movie herself, and it's unknown as to whether it will be an actual remake of the film or just a reboot. Rae will produce with plans to star in the project. Syreeta Singleton and Nina Gloster have been hired to pen the script. Montrel McKay (Issa Rae Productions) will produce alongside Rae. Can't wait for this one! J. Lo set it off also with her new movie "Hustlers" being her best live-action box office opening of her career. Hustlers, JLo's latest motion picture, came in at #2. Director Lorene Scafaria's stripper-revenge dramedy made $33.2 million at the box office in its opening weekend. That total is the highest amount for a live-action Lopez-led movie, surpassing the $23 million for 2005's Monster-in-Law. Plus, the $33.2 million is the largest opening for STXfilms, topping the $23.8 million for 2016's Bad Moms. Congratulations goes out also to Kendrick Lamar’s ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ for being the longest charting hip-hop album of all time. Lamar’s opus landed on the Billboard 200 this week at No.141 which isn’t nothing to boast about, but it did mark the albums 358th straight week on the charts. That makes it the longest-charting Hip-Hop album of all time, surpassing Eminem’s The Eminem Show. The crew also discussed for, "The Illastr8 Hot Take", 'when your best friend is a sidepiece'. It got a little rowdy in studio, but check it out and let us know what you think? Until next Wednesday, 9-10 pm...

There was 'no limit' to this weeks show. In saying so, former No Limit soldier turned chef Mia X is now adding a new profession to her resume—college professor. In an Instagram post, the Hip-Hop legend made the official announcement that she was joining the faculty of the esteemed Loyola University as a professor of Hip-Hop Studies. Congrats to the legend and all the best with her new position! NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. was flexing on the job, showing off a $400K watch during his Cleveland Browns debut, what! For Odell, wearing a $350,000 Richard Mille RM 11-03 McLaren Flyback Chronograph watch to match his jersey was his answer to making a grand entrance. It can't be this serious. Not on the football field, lol. There was definitely no limit for a 74-year-old woman, Mangayamma Yaramati of southern Indian that gave birth earlier this month to a healthy set of twin girls via in vitro fertilization. After the birth, she provided doctors with her birth certificate where they were able to accurately confirm her age. Yaramati and her husband, 82-year-old Sitarama Rajarao, had never had any children during their 57-year marriage…until now. Man...this is incredible. Yaramati also admitted that she and her husband had been ridiculed in their village for years because they didn’t have children, but now that has changed. We also had in studio comedian extrodinaire, Omar Terell. Check him out everywhere @iamomarterrell for show updates and events. As usual, we got you covered with the latest and greatest!  Don't go far because we'll be RIGHT BACK next Wednesday from 9-10 pm!!

Man...this weeks show had some interesting things to talk about. Malik Yoba thanks fans for supporting after he reveals his attraction to Trans women, huh??  With shows like Orange Is The New Black, Star, and Pose, black trans women have been put in the national spotlight. Hollywood is embracing that community, but there is still a stigma connected to black men that are attracted to trans women. For example, G-Unit founder 50 Cent has been making fun of Young Buck, his former friend, for allegedly dating trans women. "Right Thurr" rapper Chingy claimed false rumors that he was involved with transgender celebrity Sidney Starr hindered his career. New York Undercover and Empire actor Malik Yoba took to Instagram to call out black men for perpetuating homophobia and transphobia. Check out what he has to say! In unfortunate news, Kevin Hart reportedly underwent successful back surgery following an accident that left him badly injured when the driver of his classic 1970 Plymouth Barracuda lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a ditch in Calabasas, California. Kevin Hart’s wife has assured fans the comedian is fine after escaping a nasty car crash this past Sunday morning. Prayers to Kevin!! Ben & Jerry's is taking on Criminal Justice Reform with a new flavor called, "Justice Remix'd."  Eddie Murphy is coming back to Saturday Night Live. The SNL alum has been booked to host the December 21 edition of the show’s 45th season. The legendary comedian’s return to SNL will be his first time hosting the iconic sketch series in 35 years. Murphy made a brief appearance at the show’s 40th anniversary special in 2015 but has otherwise boycotted it for decades. Long time overdue, Eddie. Now this is a crazy one!  Death Row Records has reportedly been acquired by the Hasbro toy company, the same entity responsible for several classic toys such as Mr. Potato Head, My Little Pony and G.I. Joe. Go figure that after Suge Knight gets locked up, a company like this aquires all them...wow! Also, one of the new hosts of Illastr8, 'Ms. T. Graye' had an exclusive interview with comedian and former host BET's "Rap City", Joe Clair (@joeclair) that can only be heard on Illastr8 Radio! Where back at it again next Wednesday with more of what you want!

The crew covered some different areas where 'new heights' were showcased on different levels. According to ESPN, on Monday, Steph announced that he would financially support the Bison’s golf teams for the next six years. Howard plans to have their men and women’s golf teams up and running for the 2020-2021 season. Howard previously competed at the Division II level. According to school officials, they believe the team disbanded some time during the 1970s. Nice! This one is a 'new height' that we didn't want to necessarily experience. Apparently the average global temperature in July was 1.71 degrees above the average which is 60.4 degrees F. Breaking the record held by July of 2016 coincidentally. The most alarming part about all of this is that 9 of the 10 hottest Julys have happened since 2005 and the last 5 have happened in the last 5 years. Meaning every year it’s getting hotter and hotter. I BLAME DONALD J. TRUMP! In good news, Tracy Morgan has landed a role Eddie Murphy's, "Coming to America 2" highly anticipated sequel. The former Saturday Night Live star joins a list of new cast members that includes Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones and If Beale Street Could Talk’s KiKi Layne. Although the sequel will have plenty of newcomers, Coming To America fans will also get to see a few familiar faces. Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones and Shari Headley are all set to reprise their roles from the original film, which was released in 1988. Production for Coming To America 2 is scheduled to begin later this month. The movie is currently scheduled to debut on December 18, 2020. WE CAN'T WAIT!!! The "Old Town Road" rapper was finally taken out by newcomer Billie Eilish after spending months at #1. The singer’s hit "Bad Guy" has also landed Billie Eilish in the record books – no artist has ever spent nine weeks at number two before hitting the top of the Billboard Hot 100 countdown. At 17, she also becomes the first person born this century to hit number one, and the youngest since Lorde took Royals to the top in 2013. I never thought I would see this happen. Bugatti releases a new $9M car and Floyd Mayweather buys it...not surprised. The $9 Million is just the starting price for the car, and only 10 of them will be made. The cars sold out within minutes of their announcement. This news comes at a time when Mayweather is trending again - amidst rumors that the champ will fight his nemesis Manny Pacquaio - for a second time. Until next time!