Source: Tony Forte/WENN / WENN Today (July 25), SiriusXM announced it has entered into a partnership between Grammy Award-winning rapper and SiriusXM and Pandora. Part of the deal includes a dedicated station as well as curated music playlists and collabs with talent. Reportedly, Drake holds the distinction of being the most-streamed artist of all time, so it only makes sense for SiriusXM and Pandora to link up with the 6 God. Drake previously hosted OVO Sound Radio on Apple Music, but there are no specifics on the exact type of programming he will be contributing to Sirius XM just yet. Sirius XM acquired Pandora in a reportedly $3.5M deal late last year, and the merger was finalized at the top of 2019. The creative partnership with Drizzy is there first major foray as one company. View this post on Instagram From Old Town Road to #CMAFest… @lilnasx brings the party ! Don’t worry, he’s got the horses in the back A post shared by SiriusXM (@siriusxm) on Jun 9, 2019 at 6:33pm PDT
Source: Karl Walter / Getty Sometimes it’s nice to see David knock Goliath on his you know what. Even when that Goliath really is just a big ol’ teddy bear. Tyler, The Creator finally responded to DJ Khaled in a recent interview he did with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “… no disrespect to Khaled or anyone, but this nigga had every person in the industry, everyone on that fucking album. Everyone. Everyone. Cardi B. 21 Savage. Travis Scott. Post Malone. Beyoncé. Jay. Everyone who sells billions of records…” remarked Tyler. View this post on Instagram #TylerTheCreator speaks on IGOR going number 1 over FATHER OF ASAHD @beats1official A post shared by Rap by RAPTV (@rap) on Jul 18, 2019 at 4:29pm PDT Check out the full interview here .
Source: DMV Podcast / DMV Podcast Have you heard the news? The DMV Podcast is now recording at Radio One Studios! Join Leroy, Sesay, and Midori Amae as they catch up on their latest shenanigans, and share their thoughts on achieving another milestone. #TheTrifecta #ThisHowWeDoIt #ViewsFromTheDMV #DMVpodcast #RadioOne Make sure you rate, like, download and subscribe to the DMV Podcast CLICK HERE FOR SOUNDCLOUD CLICK HERE FOR SPOTIFY CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE PLAY CLICK HERE FOR APPLE PODCASTS
Source: WENN / WENN Nas And Will Smith Invest In A New App Geared Toward Teens Will Smith and Nas are among the initial investors in a new app that aims to teach teenagers financial literacy. Step, the start-up company, is developing an app that will give young adults access to bank accounts with no minimum balance, no fees, and advice on how to manage the money inside of it. The app will also integrate with Apple Pay and other online money-moving apps, along with giving parents the option to monitor the account while setting limits and guidelines. Step CEO and co-founder CJ MacDonald explained why this app is so necessary, saying, “Schools don’t teach kids about money. We want to be their first bank accounts with spending cards, but we also want to teach financial literacy and responsibility.” He continued, “Banks don’t tailor to this, and we want to be a solution teaching the next generation of adults to be more responsible with money in the cashless era. It was easy with cash to go to the mall but now everyone is using their phone for Uber and more.” Mastercard’s Sherri Haymond praised the new idea in a press release, also noting how it would incorporate new avenues of financial literacy to account for changes in the way that people access their money–like the aforementioned Apple Pay and other similar technology. “Today’s young people are digitally savvy, having grown up with technology as a mainstay in their day-to-day lives. As a result, we also need to ensure that they become familiar with the unique aspects of digital payments including providing education about the various finance and payment products available,” Haymond said. “Step has taken a thoughtful approach to developing an offering for teens and families that provides that first step in educating and acclimating today’s youth to help them gain confidence and awareness around their finances.” Both Nas and Will Smith know first hand how important it is to get your children equipped with the right tools early, and that’s exactly what this app aims to do.
Source: Chesnot / Getty Apple Is Doing Away With iTunes In Favor Of Other Apps It’s definitely the end of an era. Although… If you’re some lowlife still living off iTunes instead of the various options for streaming services then shame on you. No judgment though. According to CNBC , Apple announced at their annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that they’ll be officially shutting down iTunes, its 18-year-old digital media software. To take its place, Mac users will have three separate apps for music, podcasts and TV. The transition will go down when the macOS Catalina, the latest Mac operating system, debuts in the fall. If you’re still someone who uses iTunes and has your loads of illegal downloads and favorite hard-to-find CDs uploaded to your library, rest assured. Apple confirmed that your iTunes content won’t just vanish from the digital universe. “Users will have access to their entire music library, whether they downloaded the songs, purchased them or ripped them from a CD,” a press release read. The company explained that when Mac users update their software, the music currently in their library will transfer to the Apple Music app. Meanwhile, T.V. and movie purchases will transfer to the Apple TV app. Mac users will be able to access the iTunes Music Store within the Music app, and they can buy movies and T.V. shows in the TV app. Windows users will witness no change in their iTunes experience, and iTunes Store gift cards are still valid. For folks who want to keep their digital files forever, you can feel free to download them to an external hard drive or upload them to a cloud service. It’s a new world folks, and Apple is running it… At least for now.
Source: Thomas Trutschel / Getty After 18 long years of existence, Apple is finally getting rid of iTunes. Bloomberg reports the company is phasing out the tool that Mac users have utilized to help manage their music, watch movies, and TV shows. The decision to trash iTunes is on par with Apple’s new vision for its future when it comes to its gadgets. Now there will be separate apps for users to listen to music, watch movies and TV and listen to podcasts. You will still be able to manage your Apple gadget through the music app. The announcement of the move came on the heels of Apple’s upcoming WWDC where the company is expected to confirm the decision and announce how it plans to move going forward. Per Bloomberg : iTunes has been the way Apple users listen to music, watch movies and TV shows, hear podcasts, and manage their devices for almost two decades. This year, Apple is finally ready to move into a new era. The company is launching a trio of new apps for the Mac – Music, TV, and Podcasts – to replace iTunes. That matches Apple’s media app strategy on iPhones and iPads. Without iTunes, customers can manage their Apple gadgets through the Music app. Well if you were looking to blow the dust off your iTunes to help manage your new iPod Touch , then you won’t receive this news too well. 18 years is a long time for an app, so the app is rare air when it comes to outlasting the competition. iTunes had a hell of a run though, never forget. — Photo: Thomas Trutschel / Getty
Source: Chesnot / Getty This shouldn’t really come as a shocker, but according to the ever so reliable site 9to5Mac , Apple has just filed model numbers for three new handsets the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max and an upgraded version of the iPhone XR. The Apple news source reports this news with the utmost confidence being that Apple devices always show up in the Eurasian Economic Commission regulatory database usually ahead of their official announcements and releases. According to the website the 2019 iPhone models reportedly showed up in this group of model numbers A2111, A2160, A2161, A2215, A2216, A2217, A2218, A2219, A2220, A2221, and A2223. Models A2220, A2221, and A2223 more than likely represent the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max, and the upgraded XR model. Rumors are already swirling about the handsets with leaks of its new design and specs getting Apple fanatics talking and cringing at the phones new triple camera design. Per 9to5Mac : This year’s iPhones are expected to largely feature the same outside appearance as the 2018 iPhone flagships, although Apple may switch to a more matte finish for the back glass. In addition to upgrades like bilateral wireless charging for AirPods and the more powerful Apple A13 chip, it looks like the 2019 iPhones will focus on camera upgrades. Apple is adding an extra camera to both the XR and the XS; the 2019 iPhone XR will feature a dual-camera module and the iPhone 11 and 11 Max will feature a triple-camera system for the first time. The iPhone will seemingly include a larger, square camera bump to accommodate the new cameras. The additional lens in the triple-camera system is believed to be an ultra-wide camera made by Sony, expanding the range of zoom available in the iPhone Camera app. Apple may also use computer vision technology to blend data from each of the three cameras together to take more-detailed photos at a standard zoom level. The front-facing camera will also be upgraded to take better quality shots. Apple is currently playing catch up with Samsung and Google , whose current flagship phone models are ahead of the curve with their new camera systems. You can expect Apple to pull the lid off its new iPhones at a fall media event sometime in September. — Photo: Chesnot / Getty
Source: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET / Getty New city, who dis? “Growing Up Hip Hop New York” Cast Includes Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, Charli Baltimore & Fat Joe Some familiar faces are coming to the New York version of a popular WE tv franchise. Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, and Charli Baltimore are all bringing their Murder Inc. alumni status to “Growing Up Hip Hop New York.” WE tv announced today that their popular franchise is going to New York to reveal the perks and perils of being born into a rap dynasty. Coming this summer, the cast will consist of a tight-knit group of the Big Apple’s “finest of hip-hop royalty” ranging from groups and labels including Murder Inc., Terror Squad and Public Enemy. “Growing Up Hip Hop New York” stars; Ja Rule and progeny Jeff Bruce Atkins Jr. and Brittney Atkins; Murder Inc. mogul Irv Gotti and children, Angie Pearson and Jonathan “JJ” Wilson Lorenzo; Fat Joe with son Ryan Cartagena; “infamous rapper and side chick” Charli Baltimore and daughter DJ Siaani; Young Dirty Bastard , son of the late Old Dirty Bastard; Flavor Flav’s daughter, Da’Zyna ; JoJo Simmons , son of legendary rap pioneer Rev. Run; rapper and actress Lil’ Mama and her brother Arnstar; and DJ Kid Capri with daughter Vina Love. “Growing Up Hip Hop: New York” is produced for WE tv by Entertainment One (eOne) and Datari Turner Productions. Will YOU be watching????
Source: Michael Short / Getty Not lost in the bevy announcements Apple made which included Apple News+, Apple TV+, and a credit card the company that Jobs built revealed it’s new video game subscription service Apple Arcade. When it launches the service will feature over 100 exclusive titles and a bevy of cool features, but we don’t know exactly how much it will cost you. Apple Arcade’s primary focus is to help gamers discover new games which used to be a task in the App Store because there is just so many to choose from once you start searching. Apple Arcade will give subscribers a new tab to explore the games that would otherwise get buried in the App Store. Part of the money that comes from the subscriptions will help fund the developers who made the games. Once you are subscribed the games will be all-you-can-play meaning outside of the subscription fee, you won’t have to dish out an additional penny for DLC or any other updates. You will also be able to play all titles offline, so if you are always on the go, this is a huge deal. Subscribers can also play the games across Apple’s family of devices which includes, iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV and can even pick up exactly where you left off in the game before you switched the device. As far as games are concerned Apple did show a glimpse of a new Sonic game, a reimagined version of the Arcade classic Frogger. Apple has done some heavy recruiting as far as studios are concerned with Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, Lego, MIstwalker Corporation, Sega, Snowman, ustwo games, and others helping bring exclusive titles to the service. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Ken Wong, and Will Wright are all on board to help deliver unique titles out the 100 that are coming when the service launches in this fall. Again no price has been revealed, but we are definitely curious to see how Apple Arcade will stack up against Google’s recently announced Stadia video game streaming service. You can get a glimpse at what’s to come from Apple in the trailer below and let us know if you are excited about the new video game service from Apple in the comment section below. — Photo: Michael Short / Getty
View this post on Instagram New Cover Alert: @issarae has it ALL. However, the road to stardom wasn’t paved in gold for the #LittleMovie star. From awkward days in high school to not being comfortable in her own skin—Issa focused on being smart versus over-valuing her physical appearance. “When you don’t have much to do or you don’t have plans on Friday night, you’re making up a character who does.” From there, a star was born. Tap the in bio for more from our April issue. On stands 3/28 ( : @itayshaphoto) #IssaEssenceSlay Photographer: Itaysha Jordan – @itayshaphoto Stylist: Jason Rembert – @jasonrembert Hair: Felicia Leatherwood – @lovingyourhair Makeup: Joanna Simkin – @joannasimkin Manicure: Vontrell Jiles – @sparklev789 Katalina Mitchelle – @katalinadoesnails A post shared by ESSENCE (@essence) on Mar 25, 2019 at 10:46am PDT Someone we actually LOVE… Issa Rae Covers ESSENCE, Engagement Rumors Surface Issa Rae is covering the latest issue of ESSENCE and looking beautiful while doing it. Issa’s rocking spring trends and pastel covers for a cover story penned by The Undefeated’s Kelly Carter. In the interview, Issa speaks on overcoming insecurities to flourish as the dope content creator she is. She also personally thanked ESSENCE for once again picking her to shine in their publication. View this post on Instagram Yes, we're giving you #BlackGirlMagic—and a special announcement! Not only will you be able to snag ESSENCE on newsstands, you’ll also be able to catch us on Apple News +. Tap the in bio for all the deets. #IssaEssenceSlay Photographer: Itaysha Jordan – @itayshaphoto Stylist: Jason Rembert – @jasonrembert Hair: Felicia Leatherwood – @lovingyourhair Makeup: Joanna Simkin – @joannasimkin Manicure: Vontrell Jiles – @sparklev789 Katalina Mitchelle – @katalinadoesnails A post shared by ESSENCE (@essence) on Mar 25, 2019 at 10:30am PDT What’s really catching people’s eye about the cover story, however, is a shiny rock that’s on Issa’s ring finger. The mysterious ring is fueling rumors that Issa Bae’s secretly engaged. Some nosy dedicated fans have pointed out that Issa’s been booed up with Louis Diame on the low. Louis and Issa were together way back in 2012 when she was interviewed by The Washington Post, but she clearly keeps their relationship under wraps. Source: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET / Getty If you’re curious about who that is, he’s a Senegalese businessman who’s reportedly been in the picture even while the “Issa Rae Is Bae”/Kofi Siriboe rumors were swirling. If Issa IS engaged, we wish her a lifetime of happiness and years of having her Insecure a$$ets smashed to hit HBO show smithereens. Congrats (possibly), boo! See more Issa Rae for Essence on the flip.
