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Kamala Harris To Host White House Weed Policy Reform Summit With Fat Joe

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Vice President Kamala Harris is hosting a White House meeting to discuss drug policy reform that will feature guests including hip hop artist Fat Joe and others who have benefitted from the cannabis pardons granted by the Biden administration. The Friday meeting will also include Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a leading proponent of cannabis legalization in his state, and other advocates for ending the criminal prohibition of marijuana. 

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In October 2022, President Joseph Biden issued an executive order pardoning thousands of people with federal convictions for marijuana possession, saying, “No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.” In December 2023, the president went further by expanding the pool of people eligible for a pardon for marijuana convictions under federal or Washington, D.C. law. 

“President Biden and I have been clear: We must continue to change our nation’s approach to marijuana and reform the criminal justice system,” the vice president said in a statement in December. As I have declared many times before, no one should be in prison simply for smoking weed. That is why we continue to call on Governors to join us in this long-overdue work.”

White House Meeting Features Pot Policy Reform Advocates

Friday’s meeting at the West Wing of the White House to discuss the Biden administration’s cannabis policy reforms will include guests such as Beshear and five-time Grammy award nominee Fat Joe, who is one of thousands of people to be pardoned by the president. 

“Friday’s engagement will build on the Vice President’s efforts to uplift the historic actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to ensure everyone has access to opportunity, including by making the criminal justice system more just. This will continue in the weeks and months to come,” a White House official said, according to a report from NBC News.

Another pardon recipient, cannabis activist Chris Goldstein, a regional coordinator with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), will also attend. In 2014, he was convicted of a federal marijuana possession charge for smoking marijuana during a protest in an outdoor area of Independence Hall National Historic Park in Philadelphia. 

“These Presidential pardons are a powerful and meaningful action,” Goldstein said in a statement from NORML. “They carry a tremendous power of goodwill — not just to those of us who received them, but for the entire country. These pardons are seen by people everywhere as tangible signs of the White House taking action on marijuana policy.”

Goldstein said that he plans to use the time with Harris at Friday’s meeting to bring further awareness to the presidential pardon process. He also hopes to stress the need for further federal action on cannabis reform, including the descheduling of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.

“Three of us will discuss the real-world impact of our federal marijuana convictions and the relief provided by these Presidential pardons,” said Goldstein. “Thousands of people are still eligible, and this event should help raise awareness for more people to apply.”

“We will help represent tens of millions of Americans who have been arrested for marijuana in nearly a century of prohibition,” he added.

Fat Joe / Shutterstock

Reform Advocates Call For More Than Words

The news of this week’s White House roundtable discussion on cannabis policy reform was welcomed by justice advocates and members of the cannabis industry. Sarah Gersten, executive director and general counsel at the Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit working to secure the release of all cannabis prisoners, said that she hopes the meeting results in action from the president.

“Clearly, the administration understands that taking action to repair the harms of cannabis criminalization will help energize voters who overwhelmingly believe marijuana should be legal,” Gersten said in a statement on Wednesday. “But the general public also believes no one should be incarcerated for cannabis, and Biden has failed to keep that campaign promise. Biden could free the over 3,000 federal cannabis prisoners with the stroke of a pen. If he truly wants to tout his actions on cannabis reform, bolder action needs to be taken.”

Jeffrey M. Zucker, co-founder and president of Denver-based cannabis consultants firm Green Lion Partners, also called for the Biden administration to make meaningful progress on federal cannabis reform.

“From this meeting, I hope to see a shift toward comprehensive drug law reform that acknowledges the disproportionate impact of current policies on communities of color,” Zucker said in a statement to High Times. “Reforms prioritizing social justice, harm reduction and economic empowerment would reflect genuine progress.”

Indiana Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Bill Sent to Governor

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Last week, a psilocybin research bill in Indiana was sent to the desk of Gov. Eric Holcomb. The bill was recently passed in the Senate in February (Senate Bill 139), followed by the House Public Health Committee shortly afterwards.

Following the end of the 2024 legislative session on March 8, bill sponsor Sen. Ed Charbonneau published a press release about his pride in working toward passing three different bills. The first would help make child care more affordable for Indianans, and the second included an expansion to health plans to include coverage for searching biomarkers for diagnosis or condition treatment. 

However, the third bill includes a mention of SB-139. “Another bill I worked on this session was Senate Bill 139, which would have established a fund to aid Indiana research institutions in studying the potential use of psilocybin in treating mental health and other medical conditions, especially in veterans and first responders,” Charbonneau wrote. “While SB 139 did not make it through the legislative process, the language was added to House Enrolled Act 1259, which would also expand the number of people eligible to provide health care services.”

Now the bill is being sent to the desk of Gov. Holcomb for final review. If SB-139 became law, it would create a therapeutic psilocybin research fund that would be managed by the Indiana Department of Health. The fund would provide financial assistance to research institutions to study psilocybin as a method of treating mental health or other conditions. The bill currently states conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, migraines, alcohol use disorder, and tobacco use disorder.

Additionally, it works to compare “the efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for mental health and other medical conditions…with the efficacy of other current treatment options for mental health and other medical conditions.”

One requirement of institutions that apply to research psilocybin would include the use of veterans or first responders in their study as they “Evaluate and determine whether psilocybin is an effective treatment for mental health and other medical conditions.” After the study is concluded, the researchers would then submit a report of their findings to the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission, and Human Services, as well as “state department and division of mental health and addiction.”

If passed, these processes to organize applications would begin starting on July 1, 2024.

Last year in November, the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services held its last meeting and issued a report recommending that legislators consider developing a psilocybin pilot program in 2024 “that strikes a balance between access, research, and prudence.”

At the meeting, Charbonneau explained that he’s already spoken with educational institutions that are interested in studying psilocybin. “I have had discussions with both [Indiana University] Health and with Purdue University,” said Charbonneau. “I spoke to 150 pharmacy students at Purdue, and afterward had a chance to speak with the dean of the pharmacy program…and he texted Dr. Jerome Adams, who’s now at Purdue University.” Adams previously served as U.S. surgeon general under former President Donald Trump.

The report made a distinction between medical cannabis and psilocybin, and described psilocybin-assisted therapy as more beneficial. “Many people conflate increased access to psilocybin assisted therapy with the issue of increased access to medical and recreational cannabis,” the report said. “However, the committee hearing made it clear that the evidence for psilocybin assisted therapy is promising and significantly more robust and the two issues are unrelated.”

Indiana’s neighboring states of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio all have some form of cannabis legalization now. The only remaining state is Kentucky to the south, which currently has legalized medical cannabis but won’t officially launch until 2025.

However, Sen. J.D. Ford told WFYI Indianapolis in January that the lack of progress is due to legislators refusing to discuss legalization. “You’ve got the elected officials who are unwilling to have the conversation and you’ve got some of these other powerful lobbying groups that are continuing to block conversation, block bills from getting a committee hearing,” Ford said.

In a press event in January, Senate Pro Tempore Rodric Bray shut down inquiries from reporters regarding cannabis decriminalization or legalization. “Are we going to legalize cannabis this session? That’s not going to be the case,” Bray said. 

Previously in 2019, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has previously stated that he will not take action on any cannabis legalization bills until it has been legalized on the federal level. “If the law changed, we would look at all the positive or adverse impacts it would have,” Holcomb said. “I’m not convinced other states have made a wise decision.”

In 2023, he did admit that decriminalizing cannabis in small amounts makes sense. “I do not believe that simple possession at certain limits should derail someone’s life,” Holcomb said.

Utah Legislature Passes Bill To Allow Medical Use of Shrooms, MDMA

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The Utah Senate and House unanimously approved a bill that would establish a pilot program for hospitals to administer psilocybin and MDMA as alternative treatment, sending it to the governor.

A bill introduced by Senate Majority Whip Kirk Cullimore (R) and House Speaker Pro Tempore James Dunnigan (R), earlier this month, Senate Bill 266, would create a pilot program to explore psilocybin and MDMA as alternative treatments in hospitals in Utah.

The bill was sent to the desk of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) this week where it awaits his signature. Since hospitals and universities generally default to federal regulations, it’s unclear how the bill would pan out as psilocybin and MDMA remain schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

“The bill is proposing, really, an alternate pathway, ” Rep. Raymond Ward (R) said before the House vote this month. “That’s why I say it’s a philosophical question. Do you think that these medicines really only should always just go through this one pathway, the FDA first and then be allowed to be used? Or do you think there should be any other alternate pathway whereby a patient might be given these medications in a controlled setting from some of our best physicians, but where we really do not yet have all of the data that we normally would have before we gave them to patients?”

Per the bill, psilocybin and MDMA would be administered by a privately owned, non-profit health care system with at least 15 licensed hospitals, or as part of medical programs operated by higher level institutions of learning.

“A healthcare system may develop a behavioral health treatment program that includes a treatment” with psilocybin and MDMA that it “determines is supported by a broad collection of scientific and medical research,” the bill reads.

Utah SB 0266 passed almost unanimously, thanks to the tireless efforts of Utah Patients Coalition and Libertas.Soon there will be be pilot programs for clinical MDMA and psilocybin via IHC and U of U health. finally, some tangible mental health progress from the #utleg 1/3— Michael ???? (@mcmorrise) March 7, 2024

The bill would amend Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 303, and enact 58-37-3.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953. Utah voters approved medical cannabis in 2018, and the state is well on its way towards amending laws surrounding psychedelics for therapeutic purposes.

Any hospital that participates in the psychedelics therapy pilot program would need to submit a report to the Utah Legislature by July 1, 2026, detailing which drugs are being utilized, the outcomes of patients in treating their conditions, and any potential side effects.

If passed, the bill would take effect on May 1, 2024 and sunset after three years.

Two years ago, Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed into law a bill that created a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs and possible regulations for their lawful use.

Rep. Brady Brammer (R), who sponsored the previously enacted psychedelics task force legislation, House Bill 167, said psychedelics represent “one of the few areas of research where we see that there are curative possibilities for mental health, particularly related to PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.”

“This is another tool in our toolbox,” he said. “We’ve done the task force. They’ve come back with their reports. And now we have this clinical trial of sorts that allows for some of the patients to get it under significant observation with the appropriate guardrails.”

Mormons on Mushrooms? A Growing Interest in Psilocybin in Utah

Meanwhile, last November in Provo—a city with nearly 90% of residents who are Mormon, or Latter-Day Saints—a mushroom treatment center, called Singularism, opened its doors.

Singularism touted freedom of religion in order to use psilocybin mushrooms but immediately attracted the wrath of the City of Provo, whose officials appeared to state that the center wouldn’t last long.

A longshot bill that would legalize psilocybin mushrooms in Utah was introduced last February. Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, (D-Salt Lake City) unveiled Senate Bill 200 on Feb. 9, a bill that would legalize psilocybin mushrooms for medical use in Utah.

Deseret News reports that SB 200 would set up a program that mirrors the program behind Utah’s medical cannabis market. Utah’s compromise bill, the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, which was passed in 2018 allows patients with a healthcare provider’s verification, to purchase medical cannabis.

The bill would allow Utahns ages 21 and older to receive a psilocybin-assisted treatment directly from a psilocybin therapy provider. Qualifying conditions would include depression or anxiety if the patient has tried at least one other treatment route, PTSD, and people who are receiving hospice care.

Currently in Utah, possession of psilocybin can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years or a $5,000 in fine. The state has come a long way in terms of cannabis and psychedelic reform, with a Mormon supermajority that has dominated its legislature for decades.

Chief Keef, Flo Milli, Tierra Whack & More – New Hip-Hop Projects

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Cop Your XXL Merch NowAs the thaw continues and spring continues to roll in, things are starting to heat up in the rap landscape as well. This week, a Chicago drill pioneer releases a surprise mixtape, a female rapper with a hit on her hands drops a new album, another talented femcee releases a long awaited LP and more.Chief Keef Drops Dirty Nachos Mixtape With Mike Will Made-ItChief Keef fans have been waiting with bated breath on his Almighty So 2 album, to no avail. As an appetizer, Sosa brings the new collab mixtape with Mike Will Made-It, Dirty Nachos, to the table. Hosted by Trap-A-Holics, the new tape features 18 songs and guest appearances from Sexyy Red and 2 Chainz. The tape was preceded by the singles “Dirty Nachos,” “Bang Bang” and “Status.” This is Keef’s first offering since 4NEM in 2021.Read More: See Which Rappers Are Touring in 2024Flo Milli Delivers Fine Ho, Stay AlbumFlo Milli’s stock is on the rise. With a certified hit on her hands via “Never Lose Me,” the former XXL Freshman strikes while the iron is hot with her new album Fine Ho, Stay. The new album comes as her 2023 single “Never Lose Me” has spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 18. Fine Ho, Stay features the remix with SZA and Cardi B. Flo will be heading out on tour with Gunna beginning in May for the Atlanta rapper’s Bittersweet Tour.Read More: Watch Flo Milli Spit Bars in an All-Women Cypher and Read Her InterviewTierra Whack Releases Debut Album World Wide WhackIt’s been almost three years since Tierra Whack delivered a new projects to fans. She ends her drought with the release of her debut album World Wide Whack. The Philadelphia rapper has been promoting the project, which features 15 tracks, since January. She has previewed the release with the singles “Chanel Pit” “Shower Song” and “27 Club.” “I really took my time with this, so I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do,” she said of the album in the caption of an Instagram post promoting the project back in January.Cop Your XXL Merch NowListen to all the new projects this week from Kenny Mason, Bktherula and more below.Dirty NachosChief Keef and Mike Will Made-It 43B/Ear Drummer Records/RBC Records43B/Ear Drummer Records/RBC Recordsloading…Fine Ho, StayFlo Milli RCA Records RCA Records loading…World Wide WhackTierra WhackInterscope Records Interscope Records loading…9Kenny Mason RCA Records RCA Records loading…Growing Pains24KGoldn2024 Records Label/Columbia2024 Records Label/Columbialoading…A Forsaken Lover’s PleaChuck Strangers Lex Records Lex Records loading…The Kendrick EPYak GottiYoung Stoner LifeYoung Stoner Lifeloading…LVL5 P2Bktherula Warner Records Warner Records loading…Every Dog Has Its DayGerm G59 Records G59 Records loading…Sacred Heart 2 (+)DC The DonRostrum RecordsRostrum Recordsloading… Humble GiantJay CritchTalk Money Entertainment/EmpireTalk Money Entertainment/Empireloading…LocksmithNo Atheists in FoxholesLandmark EntertainmentLandmark Entertainmentloading…Hibernation ShiversRBXLabcabin RecordsLabcabin Recordsloading…Buy RBX’s Hibernation Shivers Album HereThe GoatSpeaker KnockerzTalibandz EntertainmentTalibandz Entertainmentloading… PsykosYung Lean and BladeeWorld AffairsWorld Affairsloading…Mr. Beat The RoadBossMan DlowAlamo Records/Sony Music Entertainment Alamo Records/Sony Music Entertainment loading…Hell Can’t Save YouBaby KiaBaby Kia/Artist Power GroupBaby Kia/Artist Power Grouploading…Return of Fate: 2021Joey TrapYoung Rich SquadYoung Rich Squadloading…Magic As UsualIcytwatSIDDHISIDDHIloading…See 50 of the Greatest Hip-Hop Album Covers

Young Thug YSL Trial Gets Crazy, Lawyers Argue, Judge Yells

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Cop Your XXL Merch NowYoung Thug’s YSL trial continues to get crazier by the day, as arguments between attorneys get so heated the bailiff has to step in today.YSL Trial Lawyers Argue, Judge YellsOn Thursday (March 14), the YSL trial continued after beginning back in November of 2023. Prosecutor Adriane Love was speaking to Judge Ural Glanville, who ruled the prosecution could not include a detective’s testimony as evidence, as shown on the daily Law & Crime livestream of the trial. One of Thugger’s defense attorneys, Doug Weinstein, stepped in to try and move things along.”Your honor, at some point your ruling needs to be,” Weinstein began.”Your honor, I’m sorry, I’m talking about I don’t know why I am being interrupted. I did not stop,” Love continued.At that moment, the bailiff steps in to calm things down.”Ms. Love, both y’all can’t talk at the same time,” the bailiff said, which Judge Glanville agreed with.”You need to just take it down a notch,” Judge Glanville said. “You continually engage in this pattern of behavior Ms. Love. You don’t wanna accept my ruling, and I know you’re being an advocate, but at some point stop. Just stop, I’ve made my ruling! Good, bad or indifferent to ya. You’re gonna win some, you’re gonna lose some.”Love continued to argue that the court was not allowing her to present the evidence needed, but Judge Glanville would not budge.Read More: Young Thug Tries to Evade Traffic Ticket in Old Police VideoYoung Thug’s YSL Trial Continues to Drag OnYoung Thug’s ongoing and bizarre YSL trial entered its 42nd day on Thursday and comes after the prosecution played a recorded 911 call from Sept. 11, 2013, in February. In the call, a woman calls 911 and names Thug as the person responsible for shooting a mutual friend. The woman clarifies in the clip below that this information was passed on to her by someone else, and that the shooting victim is no longer in danger, but she wants to get Thug’s identity on the record.It was also reported in February that a YSL defense attorney, Nicole Fegan, had been arrested in Atlanta and hit with gang-related charges. The Atlanta Police Department confirmed with XXL that Fegan was taken into custody and transported to Fulton County Jail on charges of participation in criminal street gang activity and criminal solicitation to commit tampering with evidence. Her charges had nothing to do with the YSL trial.Read More: Dame Dash Says Lyor Cohen Still Profits Off Young Thug’s MusicWatch the tense argument below.Watch the Young Thug YSL Trial Lawyers ArgueCop Your XXL Merch NowSee 24 Bizarre Moments in the YSL RICO Trial

Bobbi Althoff Removed From Drake’s SXSW Party – Report

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Cop Your XXL Merch NowWord on road is podcaster Bobbi Althoff was removed from Drake’s SXSW party after she tried to casually stroll into the venue amid their alleged friction.Bobbi Althoff Escorted Out of Drake PartyOn Monday (March 11), Drake hosted, in name only, a party at Mayfair nightclub in Austin, Texas during SXSW following the premiere of the documentary Magic City: An American Fantasy, which Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment co-executive produced. According to a report by Daily Mail, published on Tuesday (March 12), podcaster and speculated industry plant Bobbi Althoff tried to casually stroll into the soiree but was reportedly removed by security.A source tells Daily Mail, “I have no idea how she got in because she was not invited by organizers or hosts of the event. If you look up the past history between her and Drake, it’s easy to see why she wasn’t invited—and why she was removed as soon as possible.”Read More: 36 Feuds Involving Rappers Going at Non-RappersTension Between Drake and Bobbi Althoff?Last July, Drake appeared on Bobbi Althoff’s podcast in a cringy interview that went viral online. Afterward, rumors began to circulate that there was friction between them after Drake unfollowed Bobbi on Instagram shortly after their interview. Back in January, Bobbi addressed the rumored issues with Drake on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast.XXL has reached out to Drake’s team for comment.Read More: Kanye West and Drake’s Confusing Feud Continues to Get More ConfusingCop Your XXL Merch NowSee the Artists Drake Has Helped With His Midas Touch

The Drama Between Kanye West and YesJulz’s Firing Explained

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Kanye West has fired influencer YesJulz from his team and is reportedly suing her for allegedly violating her NDA.Who Is YezJulz and Why Was She Fired?YesJulz is a popular social media personality and talent manager who has been working closely with Ye on the rollout for his new album Vultures 1. The confusing debacle began to unfold on Tuesday (March 12) on Ye’s Instagram Stories, where he unexpectedly wrote, “We have decided to no longer have YesJulz involved in the roll out of Vultures. All the activity on her page and with our fans in the past few days has been unauthorized.”The firing was surprising considering how closely the influencer documented Ye’s lengthy rollout of Vultures 1, capturing the entirety of his notorious Las Vegas listening party on Instagram Live, where Ye went on a lengthy rant targeting Jay-Z, Drake and numerous others.Shortly after Ye’s announcement on his Instagram, an e-mail presumably written by Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos leaked on X, formerly known as Twitter. The e-mail appeared to be sent to YesJulz, whose real name is Julieanna Goddard.”Dear Ms. Goddard, enclosed please find a letter and statement of account from your time with Yeezy. Fines incurred to date as a result of your NDA violations come to $7.7m,” it read. “While you were a contractor, I suspended enforcement of this debt. It now falls due. Hassan from the compliance team will reach out with information about payment. Please note that any further violations will accrue more fine. Because you are being terminated for cause but also because you forgot to sign your contract your termination is effective immediately.”A follow-up e-mail from Yiannopoulos said, “Obviously, you are fired.”Read More: Kanye West, Drake’s Feud Continues to Get More ConfusingHow Did YesJulz Allegedly Violate Her NDA?YesJulz’s NDA violation appears to have occurred during a Twitter Spaces conversation Julz had with numerous Ye’s fan accounts. The influencer attempted to get fans interested in working with her in developing a “Yeezy Universe” app for free, saying she’d reward them with virtual money. Julz then admitted none of these ideas had been approved by Ye, but said the Vultures 1 creator, “sees and hears everything. He knows how active you’ve been. I know sometimes it might feel like you might be working all day, every day, and you’re work is not being seen or recognized.”While Julz wrote on X after the broadcast that she felt “inspired,” the reaction among Ye’s fan base was divided, with some claiming the influencer was trying to convince Kanye’s supporters to work as part of a “pyramid scheme.”YesJulz then pushed back on her firing on X writing, “F**k an NDA. Sue Me,” before sharing an alleged text conversation between her and Milo Yiannopoulos that showed the far-right commentator referring to Ye’s biggest fans as having “developmental disorders” such as Down syndrome.YesJulzYesJulz/Xloading…However, some of Ye’s fans have appeared to be in support of the influencer’s exile, with some trolls apparently sending her a fake e-mail posing as Yiannopoulos. The e-mail read, “Ye and I have been listening to your current twitter spaces. We are willing to meet and reconsider next steps and with your future with YZY and as a contractor.””Call me Ye,” Julz wrote on X alongside a screenshot of the fake e-mail. “Always here for YOU.”XXL has reached out to YesJulz and Milo Yiannopoulos for further comment.Goodassjobsub tweet.goodassjobsub/Xloading…Read More: Meek Mill Gives Honest Opinion About Meek Mill’s Polarizing MindSee 43 Photos of Impressively Unique Mansions Rappers Own

Yes, Hip-Hop Will Survive Without TikTok

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Cop Your XXL Merch NowLast September, TikTok announced it had collaborated with Billboard to launch its first-ever Top 50 Chart, and Sexyy Red had debuted at No. 1. The announcement confirmed what many saw as inevitable: TikTok was taking over the music industry. Prior to the Billboard TikTok 50 chart, songs from rappers were blowing up on the app, leading to chart domination. Now, as the U.S. House of Representatives gives the Chinese-based app six months to find a U.S. buyer or face stateside exile, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the music industry as a whole. The conversation around whether or not it will affect hip-hop is ongoing, especially rappers who rely on the platform to share their music. Will hip-hop survive without TikTok if it gets banned? Of course it will.When Billboard debuted its TikTok Billboard Top 50 in 2023, rap was having far from a stellar year on the more traditional Billboard charts. The first rap-related entry on the Billboard 200 was Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape last July, followed by Jungkook’s song “Seven” featuring Latto that hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in the same month. Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red” emerged as the first solo No. 1 rap track of the year, but didn’t hit that spot until September. Meanwhile, on the app, the genre was actually thriving.Rappers Take Over Billboard TikTok ChartSexyy Redd claimed the first-ever No. 1 spot on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart with her smash hit “SkeeYee.” Doja followed close behind at No. 2 with “Paint The Town Red.” Sexyy also appeared two more times in the top 50, with her songs “Looking For The H*es (Ain’t My Fault)” and “Mad At Me” debuting at No. 19 and No. 50, respectively.Elsewhere, Ice Spice’s “Deli” and NLE Choppa’s “It’s Getting Hot” also debuted in the chart’s top 10 and No. 6 and No. 8. While Charlie Wilson’s “I’m Blessed” featuring T.I. additionally debuted at No. 9, Young Thug and Drake’s “Oh U Went” debuted at No. 14 and Young Nudy’s “Peaches & Eggplant” featuring 21 Savage debuted at No. 16. Gunna, Tee Grizzley, Kaliiii, Toosii, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj and J. Cole also debuted within the top 50.That trend has so far continued into March of 2024. Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Carnival” comfortably sits at No. 1, 21 Savage’s “Redrum” is at No. 8, Bossman Dlow’s “Get In With Me” is at No. 10. Elsewhere, Jack Harlow, Flo Milli, Rich Amiri, Dej Loaf, G-Eazy and 4Batz are just a few of the rappers scattered throughout the top 50.Read More: Sexyy Red Admits She’s Shocked By Her SuccessTikTok’s Relationship With Hip-HopIt’s impossible to ignore TikTok’s star-making power, as the app has kickstarted the careers of dozens of rappers such as Sexyy Red, Lil Nas X and Armani White. There are a few reasons for this, one of which is that a 2021 study by MRC Data showed 64 percent of the reported app’s user base were teenagers, who historically have always been more hungry for new trendy music than adults. Additionally, a behavioral poll conducted by Midia Research in 2021 showed that 40 percent of active TikTok users had a monthly paid subscription service for music, compared to just 25 percent of the general population. This means it was much more likely for a TikTok fan to switch to their streaming platform of choice and stream a new track discovered on the app.But as time has gone on, artists have criticized major labels for funneling TikTok’s star power to their clients and choking off indie success.”If a song is going viral on TikTok, and the artist is unsigned, and as a result, it’s getting a million streams on Spotify, the labels are scrambling to sign that song or that artist,” Tatiana Cirisano, a music industry analyst and consultant at Midia Research, told CNBC in 2022. “They’re obsessed with expanding their market share and making sure they don’t lose any market share to independent artists.”TikTok is also showing that it may not know how to compensate artists reliant on their platform. Universal Music Group pulled the plug on TikTok in January, and said it would remove its signees’ music from the app entirely in part because of “how little TikTok compensates artists and songwriters.” The label’s roster includes Drake, Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd and many other of the biggest artists in the world. In an open letter, UMG said, “Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music.”Would a TikTok Ban Hurt Hip-Hop?So, would a TikTok cancelation be detrimental to rap? Considering the messy stumbles mentioned above, all signs at this moment point to no. Not to mention the correlation between rap’s dominance on TikTok versus its tepid presence on the Billboard charts is in line with the genre’s history. Trendsetting is in hip-hop’s blood, dating back to when New York’s word-of-mouth “block parties” of the 1970s kickstarted the genre. So, it makes sense that in 2024, the place to find the hottest hip-hop records isn’t always on the charts or TikTok. It’s on streaming platforms, many other apps, internet message boards, YouTube, in the streets, on the radio and by good old word of mouth.While sifting through TikTok can’t remotely be compared to crate-digging through a pile of records, the point is that rap will always be whereever the kids are. Regardless of where that is, even without TikTok, wherever the kids go next, rap will be sure to follow.Not to mention, the artists don’t appear to be stressing that much, since there are so many avenues for them to get their music out. Coi Leray, whose song “No More Parties” earned a big surge in popularity in 2022 thanks to TikTok, knows the benefits of the platform. It’s benefitted her career significantly. However, it doesn’t make or break her as a artist.”Tiktok is not a streaming platform,” Coi tweeted on March 13. “And I never looked at it as one. I’m not worried. As long as you don’t take away Apple Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, Tidal, Audio Mac, YouTube music, Amazon music, I’m good. Music and the love I have for it, is forever.”Can’t argue with that.Read More: Drake’s Serious Devotion to Sexyy Red Is Costing Him Big BucksCop Your XXL Merch NowSee How Much It Costs for a Verse From Your Favorite RapperAny guesses on dollar amounts before you look?

Benzino Makes Wild Accusation That Eminem Got Plastic Surgery

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Cop Your XXL Merch NowBenzino is making a wild accusation that Eminem got plastic surgery after seeing Shady’s new video for “Doomsday Pt. 2.”Benzino Reacts to New Eminem VideoOn Wednesday (March 13), Benzino shared a post on Instagram where he reacted to Em finally dropping the visual for his latest Benzino diss, which originally came out in January. ’Zino shared a clip of the cameo-heavy visual, which can be seen below, along with the caption: “He finally responded.can someone tell me what in the plastic surgery happened to his face?? He looks like a waking corpse. Nah…this ain’t it. RAP ELVIS DESTROYED @eminem.”Read More: Benzino Takes Aim at Eminem Again by Making Fun of Em Dressed Like Britney SpearsEminem and Benzino Beef ContinuesEminem rehashed his seemingly dormant two-decade long beef with Benzino back in January with the release of “Doomsday Pt. 2,” which appeared on Lyrical Lemonade’s All Is Yellow compilation. Benzino fired back with two response tracks and claimed victory when Slim Shady didn’t respond.”I ate his a*s up. I cooked him,” Benzino said in a video shared on social media. “Back in the day, he cooked me. It’s all good. But what you Stans is not gonna do, what you Saltines ain’t gonna do, is try to come in here and be like I didn’t affect him. Stop it. Because that shows that y’all ain’t real hip-hop fans. That shows that y’all are biased and probably halfway racists.”Benzino would later cry while talking about the beef in a viral interview on the Drink Champs podcast. However, he’s continued to take shots at Em.Read More: Eminem Gives 11 Surprising Facts About the Making of “My Name Is” VideoCop Your XXL Merch NowPeep Benzino claiming Eminem got plastic surgery and check out Eminem’s “Doomsday Pt. 2” video below.See Benzino’s Post Dissing EminemWatch Eminem’s “Doomsday Pt. 2” VideoSee Wild Rap Beefs That’ll Probably Never Be ResolvedPusha-T and Drake, YG and 6ix9ine, and more.

Sexyy Red Appears to Respond to Adin Ross Claiming They Had Sex

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Cop Your XXL Merch NowSexyy Red appears to respond to streamer Adin Ross recently claiming they had sex together by bringing up virginity.Sexyy Red Reacts to Adin Ross Claims?On Wednesday night (March 13), Sexyy Red seemed to react on X, formerly known as Twitter, to video of popular Kick streamer Adin Ross telling DJ Akademiks during a livestream that he had sex with the St. Louis rapper.”You paid me to take yo virginity & I did just that… next,” Sexyy Red wrote on X, along with a yawning emoji.In a follow-up post she added, “SIKE you couldn’t touch me wit ah stick.”Read More: 20 Rappers’ Most NSFW Internet Moments Over the YearsAdin Ross Tells DJ Akademiks He Slept With Sexyy RedSexyy Red’s apparent response comes after video surfaced of Adin making the claim during a livestream with DJ Ak on Wednesday.”I wan to announce something but I don’t know if I should say it,” Adin said in the clip, which can be seen below. “I did f**k Sexyy Red. It was good. It was really good. She was kinda being the dominant one.”Adin later claimed he “jerked off” to Sexyy Red’s leaked sex tape, which is what made him hit her up.Read More: Sexyy Red Explains Exactly How Her Sex Tape Got Put on Social MediaCop Your XXL Merch NowSee video of Adin Ross claiming he slept with Sexyy Red and see her apparent response below.Watch Adin Ross Insist He Had Sex With Sexyy RedSee Sexyy Red’s Response to Adin Ross Claiming They Slept TogetherSee 40 of the Raunchiest Hip-Hop Lyrics of All Time