The crew this week discussed some experiences that span from sports to entertainment with good and bad fanfare. Police in Chicago are investigating a shocking attack against "Empire" star Jussie Smollet last night as a hate crime. Two people beat Jussie, poured an unknown chemical on him and wrapped a rope around his neck, while yelling homophobic slurs at the openly gay actor/activist. The men struck Jussie in the face, wrapped a rope around his neck and poured the substance on him, before fleeing the scene. This sort of violence is beginning to get out of hand. On a much more positive note,Hip-Hop’s first pop hit is turning 40 this year and a new exhibit is celebrating the rich history of the revolutionary culture. Hip-Hop Museum Pop-Up Experience, hosted in Washington D.C., offers a journey through Hip-Hop’s origins with rappers Melle Mel, Busy Bee, The Sugarhill Gang, Large Professor, band Trouble Funk and a sold out crowd. The Hip-Hop Museum Pop-Up Experience can be found at 700 Delaware Ave. SW from noon to 6 p.m. daily until Feb. 18. It is also Free. You've GOT to check this one out!! After two male dancers made the squad for the 2018 season, the LA Rams will continue to make history when Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies appear as the first male cheerleaders to ever perform at a Super Bowl this weekend. When Peron and Jinnies take the field with the 38 other cheerleaders on their team however this game filled with firsts will go down in history for breaking the stigma that cheerleading is a female sport. I'm not sure how to feel out this one?? Academy Award nominated "Black Panther" returns to the big screen to celebrate Black History Month for a one-week engagement, February 1-7th and it's FREE! Check out your local listings!  We also had in studio this week, upcoming rapper "I$H I$H". He making major moves!  Check him out everywhere @bigishpoppin. Big sh*t is ALWAYS poppin with Illastr8 Radio! 

With SO many trending topics going around these days from Soulja Boy, to Chris Brown, to R. Kelly...who exactly is the topic of conversation so far this year??  Well, to start off on a very positive note, "Black Panther" & Kendrick Lamar make history again with 7 Oscar nominations! This is the first time a rap song for a superhero film or song for a superhero film in general has earned the nod. R&B singer Chris Brown was taken into custody in Paris, France on Monday. The 29-year-old artist and two associates are under investigation for rape. Allegedly, a 24-year-old woman claims Brown sexually assaulted her in the Mandarin Oriental hotel on January 15 after meeting him at Le Crystal nightclub. She apparently went to the hotel with other women and three men. Updates  are still incoming and the investigation continues, WHOA! To also piggy-back off of all that is going on with R. Kelly these days, Rap legend Yo-Yo claims that Kelly slipped her daughter his number recently, WOW!  Ice Cube tried to warn ya’ll. Don’t mess with Yo-Yo. The rap legend claims that someone affiliated with R. Kelly dropped his digits to her daughter when she brought her daughter to his recording studio. Although YoYo says her daughter was over 21 at the time, but that R. Kelly didn’t know that. She said she felt betrayed by R. Kelly and although knew he had a problem, she had no idea of the scope of it.“I actually went to listen to his music and my daughter came with me,” she revealed. “The sad part was when we got home, my daughter said, ‘Mom, someone passed me R. Kelly’s number. I said, ‘What!?’ She’s like, ‘Mom, please don’t say nothing. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.’ He REALLY needs to get help...then get locked up!! Men Who Do Vs. Don’t Care About Your Orgasm? What's your thoughts on this weeks, 'Illastr8 HOT TAKE'??  Until next week...

MAN...there as been some definite 'hot mess' issues as we get into this new year, lol!  What are your thoughts about the, "Surviving R. Kelly" docuseries??  It was A LOT to absorb and have been new allegations since the airing. R. Kelly is also now striking back with his own series. Check out ALL that the crew had say about this one!!  In, "Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta" news, apparently the entire production team, and replaced them with a team that is being described as "All White.". Love & Hip Hop Atlanta was produced by a mostly African American production team. The new production team is comprised of almost exclusively White people. Love & Hip Hop Atlanta has been the #1 rated cable show by Black women for the past 3 years. Well...I guess, some things do change, no matter how good things are.  In related news, cast member Tommie Lee is facing fifty years or more in prison, after being indicted for child abuse. Tommie was involved in a child abuse scandal after she allegedly assaulted her daughter while inside the school. GOTS TO BE MORE CAREFUL BOO! Gucci Mane is forming a new rap supergroup with Lil Pump and Smokepurpp “Gucci Gang”. Gucci Mane is debuting a brand new act at Coachella this year...here for it?? Pablo Escobar's older bro wants to impeach Trump...but needs $50 Milly! Roberto and his associates at Escobar Inc. are soliciting anyone and everyone to kick in cash toward their crowdfunding page to finance "intelligence research, lobby firms and lawyers" that could ultimately lead to Trump's downfall in Congress. He claims that he's already got dirt on Trump from previous alleged business dealings between DT and the Escobar company...among other things. Roberto says his dirty secrets on Trump are something Special Counsel Robert Mueller would wanna hear. This thing with Trump is REALLY getting thick, if this is true.  The 'Illastr8 HOT Take' this week, the crew discussed, does flirting with other people while in a relationship cross a line? Let us know your thoughts and keep it locked here as you always do

What's next, as it pertains to some of these surprises starting 2019??  Everything from, 'Surviving R. Kelly', to Kim and Kanye having a 4th surrogate child, to Yung Joc vs. Usher - the REAL King of "Doo-Wop", LOL!?! Check us out, as the crew covers this and MUCH more!  We also got a spicy 'Illastr8 HOT Take' that got everyone sort of riled up to say the least! Every Wednesday, 9-10 pm...DON'T MISS OUT!!

The crew this week discussed some trending topics that may or may not present a cause for concern. Rapper, Meek Mill has reportedly filed a police report with authorities after a vandal spray painted his grandmother’s house with racist graffiti. The Championships mastermind revealed the news via Twitter: “A white man sprayed a racial remarks on my Grandmom’s house last night in south philly referencing white privileged,” he wrote. “the crazy part is this was a all black neighborhood 20 years ago. It was gentrified and now this! Just don’t let us catch you coward!” “The funny part is we just bought this house,” he wrote. “After its remodeled more blacks coming soon!” This stuff has to STOP!  Alfonso Ribeiro is suing "Fortnite" & "NBA 2K" creators for jacking, The Carlton Dance. In legal docs obtained by TMZ, Ribeiroalleges Fortnite’s “Fresh emote” dance — which debuted in January 2018 — is identical to the dance he came up with for the ’90s sitcom. He’s currently in the process of copyrighting the move. Earlier this month, rapper 2 Milly made similar claims against Epic Games for using his Milly Rock moves. He’s reportedly asking for the game’s “Swipe It” dance to be entirely removed from Fortnite and wants to be properly compensation. Wow, I didn't realize it was this serious!Forever 21 removes the photo of a White male model in a ‘Wakanda Forever’ sweater after facing backlash. The company has since then removed the photo of the model from their website and replaced it with just a photo of the sweater. The company also has a black and yellow panther print sweater, which is modeled by a black male model, and a white Black Panther graphic top modeled by a female model. First the monkey...now this! Angela Ponce Of Spain becomes the first transgender Miss Universe contestant. Transgender contestants have been eligible to participate in the pageant since 2012, thoughts??  Mattel is currently in talks with couple to create a same-sex Barbie wedding set. They just wanted to give their niece a toy that matched their reality, but their makeshift doll set may be on its way to bringing more diversity to toy aisles everywhere. I don't know about all this now!  The Illastr8 HOT TAKE this was, 'are you fully over your ex if you still look at their social media pages??' Think about this one for a sec and let us know about this one, lol!  As usual, we got you covered. Until next week...  

WOW, there were some very thought provoking topics; some of which we definitely covered this week. Last week, Offset and Cardi B announced that they were separating. The couple have been plagued with cheating rumors, throughout their one-year marriage. Apparently, Offset offered up a deal to his wife, that was just too good to pass up. Offset agreed to a financial penalty if he's caught cheating again. The insider added, "Offset said he won't cheat and offered up 10 [million dollars] for each th*t he cheats with." Cardi is REALLY getting that BAG!! There's a new play on Broadway in New York called SLAVE PLAY, that shows a slave girl "twerking" for her master. The play is causing major controversy - and some people are saying that it should be boycotted. The play is filled—according to those who saw it—with disturbing images of inappropriate s*xual relationships between slaves and White people. In case you're wondering who would ever create a play like this? Well, the playwright is a Black man named Jeremy O. Harris - a rising star in the world of Broadway. Got to be more careful...more power too you! Nicki Minaj loves problematic people! Now, he is openly dating a new man named Kenneth "Zoo" Petty. There may be more than a twist of irony as the internets seemingly unearthed that Kenneth "Zoo" Petty is a registered sex offender. This is a startling revelation, but Nicki's own past makes it even stranger. Her brother is now in jail for sex with an underage girl and she openly supports Tekashi69, who has infractions related to an underage girls. It looks like Tyrone William Griffin Jr. is facing serious jail time. The "Paranoid" singer better known as Ty Dolla $ign was indicted on three drug charges. Ty was formally accused in Fulton County, Georgia of committing felony possession of cocaine, felony possession of THC, and misdemeanor possession of less than one ounce of weed. If convicted, he could get 15 years in prison. ONCE AGAIN, GOT'S TO BE MORE CAREFUL!  Is there anything wrong with being direct about only wanting to "hook up"?  This was this weeks, 'Illastr8 HOT TAKE'...let us know how YOU feel?? 

The crew had some great conversation on some things that were trending this week to let you know that folks are serious out here, lol!  Lil’ Boosie says he has plans to trademark his signature fade haircut. Boosie BadAzz's signature Boosie fade haircut has been part of the Louisiana rapper's style his whole career. He even compared it to using an artist's music without their permission. "Same thing if somebody take Marvin Gaye song," he said. "I started this. This mine." More power to you brotha! It’s Official, Michelle Obama’s memoir ‘Becoming’ is the Best-Selling Hardcover Book of 2018.  The memoir is the best-selling hardcover book of the year and is also the number one seller in several countries including Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Greece. The book is being published in 31 languages. The Obama's continue to win! Eddie Murphy welcomes baby No. 10...enough said with that one. We also had a great "Illastr8 HOT Take", sleezy ways men pressure women. This conversation when a couple different ways that you MUST check out!  We touched on some other things to catch you up on what you need to know. Until next time!

We had some interesting conversation yesterday from Tekashi 69 drama to NBA player Dwight Howard and his TRANSgressions, lol. Some of the crew were not there but Big Sin and Coco Louie held it down along with KING Cyrus on the 1's and 2's. Keep it locked right here every Wednesday, 9-10 pm! 

This week, the crew discussed some trending topics that displayed some of our favorite celebrities handling life and business situations in some interesting ways.  From now until December 31st, customers can choose between KFC’s extra crispy chicken or extra crispy chicken tenders, served with waffles and Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup for their meal. That's right, KFC is now selling Chicken and Waffles! The dishes will be available at KFC’s nearly 4,200 restaurants across the U.S. and are starting at $5.49.  Wow...I may need to check that out!  R.I.P. Marvel Comics Co-Creater Stan Lee Dead At 95. Lee co-created Black Panther, Spider-Man, X-Men, The Mighty Thor, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Ant-Man and other iconic characters. R.I.P. Stan Lee! Jaden Smith Reveals Fellow Rapper Tyler The Creator Is His “Mother F*cking Boyfriend”, HUH?  You got to hear what the crew had to say about this one, LOL. After almost three decades in hip-hop, Missy Elliott is the first female rapper to be nominated to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. If inducted, the Virginia native would be the third rapper to join, after Jay Z and Jermaine Dupri. Well deserved and long overdue...congrats Missy! The Illastr8 HOT Take this was very thought provoking to say the least, 'when should we teach our kids about orgasms?  We spun this a couple of different directions that we KNOW you will enjoy!  Until next Wednesday 9-10 pm!

We had some great topics this week that showed how the come up is real!  Reebok announces partnership with Cardi B. Cardi is in fine company with other artists who have teamed with Reebok including Cam’Ron, Rae Sremmurd and Curren$y. Special edition Cardi B 54-11’s gotta will be on deck sooner than you think...GET IT CARDI! Offset is the last remaining Migos member who hasn’t released a solo album — but that’s about to change. On Tuesday (November 6), the Atlanta-bred super rapper revealed his solo effort is coming on December 14. The project will follow Quavo’s Quavo Huncho, which was released last month and Takeoff’s November release, The Last Rocket. Thanks to her latest collaboration with Tyga via the single “Dip,” Nicki Minaj has made history on the Billboard Charts yet again. The catchy record brandishes the Queen creator as the first female artist with 100 career appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, joining her Young Money brothers Drake and Lil Wayne, Elvis and the cast of Glee. Nicki is still getting it!  Late rapper Notorious B.I.G. has been honored with special jerseys by the basketball team in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York. The traditional black and white jerseys are lined with a multi-color "Brooklyn Camo" pattern, inspired by Biggie, running down the sides of the top and shorts. The Nets stars will debut the special jerseys on November 17 at their home game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Barclays Center - GOAT. My guy Ice Cube continues to set standards in business. According to reports, Ice Cube and entrepreneur Carolyn Rafaelian are leading a team of investors who are attempting to purchase 22 sports television stations from Disney for $20 Billion. Ice Cube is already big in television, with shows like "Hip Hop Squares" and the series "Are We There Yet." He's also had enormous success with films like "Friday," "Next Friday," "Barbershop," "Ride Along" "Straight Outta Compton" and others. How much or would you tolerate cheating in a relationship?  What would it take to make you stay? This was the, "Illastr8 HOT Take" that had the crew ALL over the place, lol. Check this out and get back with us next week. You know where to find us...SEE WHAT I'M SAYIN!