Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty We told y’all the Grammys get no love in certain Hip-Hop circles. Although Drake won a Grammy for Best Rap Song, he used his acceptance speech to shade the organization. Drizzy actually picked up his hardware (he won for “God’s Plan”) in person, while acts like Jay-Z and Childish Gambino (who won Song of the Year for “This Is America”) were no-shows to the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. The Toronto rapper sent a message to the kids aspiring to do music, and his peers who make music from the heart, from the stage at the Staples Center. “We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport,” said Drake. “So it’s not the NBA where at the end of the year you’re holding a trophy because you made the right decisions or won the games. This is a business where sometimes it’s up to a bunch of people that might not understand what a mixed race kid from Canada has to say or a fly Spanish girl from New York or anywhere else.” He added, “My point is, you’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown. Look, if there’s people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here. I promise you, you already won.” Where is the lie? Everyone at the #GRAMMYs is a winner tonight according to @Drake . pic.twitter.com/sQ1NqKXQ7m — CBS (@CBS) February 11, 2019 — Photo Getty
Group lashed out at late night host over his jokes about an Al Qaeda leader. By Gil Kaufman David Letterman Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images David Letterman is currently on hiatus, but that hasn’t stopped the late night legend from angering some people with comments he made before taking off for summer vacation. According to reports from SITE Intelligence Group, which scans the Internet for terrorist activity, Letterman has been marked for death by a jihadist group for comments the “Late Show” host made on June 5 about Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri, who was killed earlier this summer during a U.S. military strike in Pakistan. The threat on the Shumukh al-Islam web forum, which called for followers to “cut the tongue of the lowly Jew and shut it forever,” said that Letterman — who is Protestant — should be punished for his comments about the man who had been considered a possible replacement for late terror leader Osama bin Laden. “He showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden,” wrote someone calling themselves Umar al-Basrawi on the site, according to Entertainment Weekly . “We ask Allah to paralyze his tongue and grant the sincere monotheists his neck.” The FBI is reportedly investigating the threat and Letterman has been informed of the posting. The incident appears to have been inspired by a joke Letterman made in which he announced the death of Kashmiri, which involved the comedian making a slashing motion across his throat. “So Al Qaeda picked a succesor to Osama bin Laden and his name is Ilyas Kashmiri,” Letterman said during his monologue. “Well, guess what? He was blown up by an American drone. It wasn’t going to work anyway because they got off to a rocky start with this guy … He botched up the story of Paul Revere.” “He said that Kashmiri was killed in an airstrike in Pakistan … then, he showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden. Then the despicable one put his hand on his neck and demonstrated the way of slaughter!!” wrote al-Basrawi.
‘Jay-Z doesn’t owe me a verse because I signed to him,’ Cole tells a room of writers after playing his debut album for them. By Rob Markman J. Cole (file) Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage J. Cole has had his whole life to make his first album, and for Cole World: The Sideline Story , the Roc Nation rookie draws on a combination of his past failures and victories to tell his tale. A select number of writers were invited to Roc the Mic studios in Manhattan on Wednesday night to hear the North Carolina MC’s debut, which is due out September 27. Though the album is almost complete, the guests were asked not to report any song titles or lyrics because they are still subject to change. In many ways, Cole feels like an underdog, and on Cole World , he raps as if he may never get another shot. In a wrap-up speech delivered to his guests, he even compared himself to the character Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger from the 1993 film “Rudy.” In the movie, Rudy dreamed of playing football at the University of Notre Dame but faced immeasurable odds due to his small frame and lack of natural ability. It isn’t until the waning moments of the final game that Rudy is allowed to suit up and achieve his dream. Familiar previously released songs like “Work Out,” the Drake-assisted “In the Morning” and “Lights Please” anchor the album, which revolves around heartbreak, triumph and good old-fashioned storytelling. On one gut-wrenching track, which Cole produced himself, the rapper strikes a chord when trying to convince his pregnant girlfriend to abort their child. In the song’s second verse, he switches roles and rhymes as if he is a pregnant woman — singing in a higher pitch for effect. J revealed to the room that this song in particular had been completed even before he signed with Jigga in 2009. In fact, four of the album’s songs were holdovers from his early days. Cole produced most of the LP himself, though Danjahandz and NO I.D. both contributed. Although Drake appears on “In the Morning” and Trey Songz sings the hook on the album’s next single “Can’t Get Enough,” the record is light on featured guests. But what about Hov? One of the big questions surrounding the album has been whether Cole secured a featured verse from Jay-Z . The answer is no — well at least not yet. As of now, the rapper has until August 20 to turn his album in, so there is still hope for a last-minute collaboration from the God MC. If Jay does decide to lend his bars to Cole World, the rapper already has a track set aside — he’s actually left the third verse open just in case. If not, Cole doesn’t feel slighted but motivated. “Nobody owes me anything,” he told the crowd. “Jay-Z doesn’t owe me a verse because I signed to him.” No, Jay has given J. Cole something much greater: a chance to make his dreams a reality when the album is released on September 27. The guest verse is merely a bonus. Related Artists J. Cole
