Latest news with #TopDawgEntertainment
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicki Minaj turns to Luna for help over alleged threat
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A superstar rapper is leaning on Pinellas County Rep. Anna Paulina Luna to help with an alleged threat. Nicki Minaj, whose real name is Onika Maraj-Petty, has been in an ongoing online feud with R&B singer SZA, or Solána Rowe. SZA is signed with Top Dawg Entertainment. NBC News reports MackWop, who is associated with TDE label, weighed in on the feud. 'Hey, Nicki, relax, relax before you get put in a blender,' MackWob said. Minaj then reportedly asked if that was a threat. Following that, she reached out on X to Rep. Luna. The congresswoman said it's not the first time she's assisting the rapper. 'Miss Minaj has actually reached out on social media. I actually chatted with her earlier this past year to help with some immigration related stuff. So, Miss Minaj and I are – I guess you can call us friends,' Luna said. The congresswoman posted on X that officials take acts of violence and threats of assassinations seriously. Minaj also reached out to the FBI. It's unclear if the federal law enforcement agency is investigating. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Nicki Minaj asks Florida congresswoman for help over alleged threat amid feud with SZA
Rapper Nicki Minaj reached out to Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna for help over alleged threats a DJ and streamer made in response to her social media beef with SZA. MackWop, an associate of the record label Top Dawg Entertainment, chimed in on the feud during a livestream, telling Minaj: 'Hey, Nicki, relax, relax before you get put in a blender like your boy did.' SZA is signed under TDE. Minaj, whose real name is Onika Maraj-Petty, re-posted a clip of the livestream on X Thursday, writing, 'Is this a threat?' She tagged the FBI in her post. '@MackWop did you just threaten to harm me? @FBI I want this man investigated right away,' she wrote in a follow-up post. According to Complex, MackWop could have been referring to the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, who is on the same Young Money Entertainment label as Minaj. The 'Super Bass' rapper, however, didn't take the comment lightly and made a post addressing Luna, who previously made headlines for calling for the release of rapper Tory Lanez after he was convicted of shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020. '@RepLuna this man just publicly threatened me,' Minaj posted. 'I've notified the FBI & CIA. I want this thug locked up & I'm ready to talk about everything these ppl have done to me.' Luna said she would help Minaj. 'Can confirm, I spoke with @NICKIMINAJ directly and will be doing everything we can to ensure her safety,' the Republican congresswoman said. 'We take threats of violence and assassination very seriously. RICO is also illegal. I am deeply concerned that there has been unchecked corruption within certain aspects of the rap industry. Artists should be respected and not afraid of managers, labels, etc.' Earlier this week Minaj took a few jabs at SZA, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, while coming after Top Dawg Entertainment founder Punch, according to Complex. In a lengthy, vulgar post on X on Thursday, Minaj claimed that she was originally asked to be featured on Drake's song 'Rich Baby Daddy' instead of SZA. 'He wanted me & sexy on it. I still have the version of just drake & sexy,' she posted, referring to rapper Sexyy Red, who is also featured on the song. The pair continued to go back and forth with Minaj calling SZA a 'clown.'
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nicki Minaj brings up Drake while reigniting tension with SZA
Nicki Minaj continued her public feud with singer SZA this week, making a series of controversial remarks online, including an eyebrow-raising comment about rapper Drake. The tension between the two artists stems from Minaj's suspicion that SZA supported her former manager, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) president Terrence "Punch" Henderson, amid one of Minaj's earlier outbursts. In a now-viral tweet, shared by Akademiks TV, Minaj alleged that she was Drake's original choice to appear alongside Sexyy Red on the track 'Rich Baby Daddy' from his For All the Dogs album. 'I wonder if she know I turned down being on the 'shake dat a** for Drake' song,' Minaj wrote. 'He wanted me & Sexy on it... I said I want to wait for PF2 for me & him to do a Dricki song so it felt more special.' Nicki Minaj reveals Drake originally wanted her and Sexyy Red to be on 'Rich Baby Daddy,' but she turned the offer down, wanting her and Drake to collaborate on her album. Nicki continues violating SZA. — Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) July 17, 2025 Minaj didn't hold back, further insulting SZA with an inflammatory statement. "Now that silly goose still out here shaking dat a** for Drake every day. After swallowing his b-lls. Allegedly. Oh Mza give it up," she added. Though she did not provide evidence for the claims, the comments quickly drew attention due to their graphic and personal nature. Drake and SZA previously dated briefly in 2009, as mentioned in the 21 Savage track 'Mr. Right Now,' according to Complex. SZA has not directly responded to the latest accusations but recently addressed Minaj's earlier insults, writing on X, 'I don't give a fck bout none of that weird sht you popping... Y'all have blessed night!' Minaj also directed criticism at other industry figures this week, including Jay-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez. She even contacted the FBI after interpreting comments made by TDE affiliate MackWop as a potential threat during a livestream.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicki Minaj And SZA Have Heated Exchange Online: 'Go Draw Your Freckles Back On'
Nicki Minaj and SZA had social media in a chokehold on Tuesday (July 15) when they got into a heated exchange on X — leaving many confused about how their rift began. It all kicked off when Nicki took aim at Top Dawg Entertainment president Punch, accusing him of bullying her online. 'Me after I suck some good zik. Guarantee you wouldn't fight a man,' she wrote on X. 'We have every tweet of your incessant bullying, lying, & more. Your name was added to that sh*t list sh*tty drawers. Same thing that make you laugh make you…sh*t.' In the middle of her rant, SZA posted what seemed like a harmless message about Mercury retrograde, writing, 'Don't take the bait lol silly goose.' Nicki, however, wasn't here for what she perceived as 'shade.' She responded directly, dragging the Grammy-winning singer with jabs about her appearance, streaming numbers, and signature freckles. 'Go draw your freckles back on bookie #JusticeForDemoree #DepositionPerez Liar liar pants on fire. Sounding like a fkng dead dog,' Minaj wrote, also taking aim at Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez. SZA clapped back quickly, tweeting, 'I don't give a f**k bout none of that weird sh*t you popping,' while Nicki fired off another tweet, writing, 'Bi**h looking & sounding like she got stung by a f**king bee. dot dot dot *Draws on my fake freckles.' Trying to clarify her original message, SZA responded to one of Nicki's fans, writing, 'I wasn't even talking about or to anyone I had just got off stage talkin bout retrograde. NI**AS @'d ME. The F**K YES IM MAD NOW DO YOU NEED THAT !??' Eventually, SZA decided to exit the conversation, tweeting, 'Lmao lemme go back to being calm shy and meek. Yall have blessed night! See you tomorrow for night 2 Paris !!' But Nicki wasn't finished. She shot back, 'Shutup ugly. I'm in a meeting so idk if u was still talking shit or not so if you didn't I'll delete later. H*e.' Then she doubled down in another post: 'Bi**h damn near broke that man back & leg. Bi**h fat chubby & Skinny @ the same damn time,' referring to SZA nearly falling during the GNX tour opening night while performing a move with one of her backup dancers. 'bi**h where are those 30 million streams that disappeared on Spotify like your feaux freckles. Botting tweets when you arguing is just as weird as sza,' she continued. Bringing others into the mix, Minaj recalled a few past post from SZA where she allegedly shaded Rihanna, Ciara, and Beyoncé, all of who she has built a relationship with since then. 'Btch used to be on twitter dissing Rihanna, [Ciara], etc. but then when it was time to suck zick & get opportunities from them, she drew them freckles on & got to sucking right? Allegedly,' Minaj wrote on X. 'Like bi**h stop being jealous of women who you secretly would kill to be up their a** holes.' She added, 'These men putting batteries in yall backs & yall stupid enough to still keep it going not peeping that it's not going to end well for them or you.' The whole exchange had fans wondering if there was some deeper beef between the two women. After all, SZA co-wrote Nicki's 2014 Beyoncé-assisted track 'Feeling Myself,' so they've worked together before. As we all know, the 'Snooze' singer is also close to Kendrick Lamar, who performed the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show over Lil Wayne in New Orleans Her TDE ties to has had some fans assuming she might've taken sides in the ongoing Drake vs. Kendrick feud, where Nicki sided with her Young Money brethren, Drake. Take a look at the exchange between SZA and Nicki Minaj above. More from Nicki Minaj Calls Out Roc Nation Over Allegations Including JAY-Z Paternity Rumors, Megan Thee Stallion Lawsuit SZA Claims Nicki Minaj "Asked For Features Twice To No Response" Nessa Supports Nicki Minaj's Claims Of Foul Play At Roc Nation, Says They Undermined Kaepernick Protest Solve the daily Crossword
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
SiR on his upcoming Hollywood Bowl show, his mother's passing and making a classic record
In a TikTok video captured by a fan at one of SiR's sold-out L.A. shows last August, the Inglewood-born singer-songwriter breaks down into tears after his wife appears onstage behind him. 'Y'all give it up for my beautiful wife, Kelly Ann,' he says on the mic after collecting himself. When he leans to give her a kiss, the crowd erupts into a sea of 'aws' and cheers. It was a tender moment between the couple during the final stretch of his Life Is Good tour in support of 'Heavy' — his most vulnerable project yet, which took five years to make and tackles his years-long battle with drug addiction, depression, infidelity and the process of getting sober. Behind the scenes, though, SiR was grappling with a different hardship: The death of his mother, Jackie Gouché, a talented performer who sang with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, and helped build SiR's confidence as an artist. His team was 'ready for me to just drop everything and come home,' says SiR over Zoom. 'But I prayed about it. I talked to my family, and we made the decision for me to finish the tour out, in honor of her.' So by the time he got to the Hollywood Palladium, where he performed back-to-back shows, he says, 'I think I was drained and I needed my support, and my wife just so happened to be there, which was just perfect for me. I'll never forget that night.' Since that emotional performance, SiR, born Sir Darryl Farris, released an extended version of 'Heavy,' subtitled 'The Light,' in April, which features six new tracks, some of which are new, such as 'Sin Again' and 'No Good,' and others that didn't make the cut on the original project. The Grammy-nominated singer, who is signed to L.A. powerhouse label Top Dawg Entertainment alongside R&B darling SZA, is set to make his headlining debut at the Hollywood Bowl on July 20 for the KCRW Festival. The upcoming show will feature an opening set from singer-songwriter Leon Thomas, of whom SiR is a 'huge fan,' along with two surprise appearances from, he says, the 'best guests I could get.' Ahead of the upcoming show, we caught up with the 'John Redcorn' singer to discuss how he's keeping his late mother's memory alive through his music, how becoming a father of two daughters has affected him both personally and artistically and his goal to make a classic record that everyone knows. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. You recently wrapped up your Step Into the Light tour a few weeks ago. How was it being onstage with your older brother, Davion, who sang background vocals, and your uncle Andrew, who is a gospel bass legend? It was so fulfilling. I've worked with them before on so many different levels. My uncle plays on all my songs, and Davion and I write songs together, but to have them on the road with me was just a different outer-body experience. I think my favorite part of all of that was the time we spent [together] before and after the shows, like having dinners with my uncle and finding out things about my parents that I didn't know. Finding out stories about my grandfather that I'd never heard. Now, our bond is that much stronger. It's really nice to have him on the road. My uncle Andrew is awesome. I got sick of my brother. [laughs] You were also on tour last year in support of 'Heavy,' which is your most vulnerable project yet. How was it performing these songs this time around as opposed to last year? Did any songs hit differently? We changed the set list just a tad because we had new music that we wanted to promote. The newer songs felt great. I was really specific about which ones I added because I wanted them to be songs that I enjoyed singing. The songs that I have in the set list that are staples still hit the same, and the audience still responds the same way. But it was surprising to see people singing the new music. I was fully prepared to go there and have to explain myself through these songs, but people were already vibing and singing along, which was great. My audience is great. I love my fans so much. What songs did you add from the 'Heavy Deluxe: The Light' project? We added 'No Good,' 'Sin Again,' 'Out of My Hands' and then, of course, 'Step Into the Light,' which we added to the end of the set. But we also have songs like 'John Redcorn' in there, which is a staple. If I don't sing 'John Redcorn,' people will come for my neck. Last August, a fan posted a video of you crying during one of your shows at the Hollywood Palladium after you saw your wife, and the comment section was filled with sweet and supportive messages. Do you mind sharing what headspace you were in that night and why you felt so emotional in that moment? That was the end of the tour, so I knew I was done, and in the middle of that tour, I actually lost my mom. At the time, I was on the phone with [TDE Chief Executive Anthony 'Top' Tiffith], and he asked me if I wanted to continue. They were ready for me to just drop everything and come home. But I prayed about it, I talked to my family, and we made the decision for me to finish the tour out, in honor of her. My energy was just so low. I've never felt like that and had to go perform, and we had like eight more shows left. So by the time I got to the Palladium, I was drained. There's a song that I sing called 'Tryin' My Hardest,' and I wrote that when I wasn't sober and I was just trying to work myself through recovery. It was an ode to my mother and my wife, just telling them that I wasn't giving up every time I relapsed. I [think] it was that song that she came out to. Half the time, tears were flowing down my face. So I think I was drained and I needed my support, and my wife just so happened to be there, which was just perfect for me. I'll never forget that night. We sold out the Palladium twice. You had a really close relationship with your mother, Jackie Gouche, who was a phenomenal artist in her own right. Have you written any songs in dedication to her since her passing? I have a song that goes: (Starts singing lyrics) Her name is Danielle, born in December but never felt the cold Chocolate skin and a heart that's made of goldA certain resemblance to someone that I know As bitter, as sweet As easy as it was to sweep me off my feet I never imagined that you may never meet I wish you could be here to watch my baby grow She's gonna to do well Her name is Danielle. It's just a song about my daughter that I wrote for her, and hopefully, I put it on the next project. Ooh. But we'll see. My mother was such a big reason why I started really writing songs and wanting to be SiR. I was a different kind of guy growing up. I was very timid. I wasn't sure about my musical abilities or gifts, and anytime I sent her songs, she would just light up and tell me how beautiful it was and give me advice, which was very important. After a while, I just kept impressing her and kept blowing her away in her own words. She was a huge part of my confidence. You've been vocal and vulnerable about your experience of dealing with addiction and all of the lifestyle changes you've made since becoming sober. Can you talk about what you've learned about yourself throughout this time? I've learned that I have an addictive personality, no matter what the drug is, and I've created some good habits. The gym is now the biggest addiction that I have. I definitely had to just learn who I was looking at in the mirror, because when you're inebriated, intoxicated all the time, you don't really know what's going on or who you are, and it's a tough place to be. It's a tough hole to dig yourself out of, but once you get out of that, you've got to navigate not falling back into the hole. It took about a year before I even got close to being sober. I'd have, like, sober weeks, and relapse after relapse and things like that. But at this point, I'm proud of where I am as a father, as a husband, and I'm trying to make sure that I just keep nourishing my artistry, because as much as I'm glad that that album came out, it took me five years to put that album out, and that shouldn't happen. I always like to think of myself as a hyper-creative, and I should be able to have an album out every year. I'm a studio rat, so we should be able to find it. But my sobriety had to be at the forefront of everything, and I'm navigating being SiR sober. This is all new, and it's definitely fun, but I definitely had to really work to get here. Since releasing 'Heavy,' you had another daughter, whom you talked about earlier, so now you're a father of two. Can you talk about how fatherhood has affected you personally and creatively? Fatherhood is like, ooh man, it's a process. It taught me a lot about myself. I'm selfish. I'm impatient. I'm getting old. [laughs] My body doesn't move and respond the same. When you have a 3-year-old who's running as fast as she can and you're trying to keep up with her, it's tough. But it also just taught me a lot about how well I was raised. My parents were sweet. They were so nice and so kind and so gentle with us, and very protective, but in the best ways. If I'm half as good of a parent to my kids as my mother was to me, I think they're going to be fine. On Sunday, you are going to headline the Hollywood Bowl for the first time. How are you feeling about the show and what are you most excited about? I can't lie, I was excited about Leon Thomas' set, but I realize now that I'm not going to be able to watch it, because I'm going to be doing my vocal warmups and getting ready for own thing. So now I'm just excited to see that sea of people. In L.A., I've done some really good shows, but it's a 17,000-cap venue, and I think we're doing good on ticket sales. This is the largest SiR audience that I've ever seen, so I'm excited to see the fans and hear them sing along. Have you met Leon Thomas before? We haven't met, but I'm a huge fan. I don't know if a lot of people [know], but Leon Thomas was a songwriter before he started putting music out on his own. Of course, everyone knows him from his acting days, but he was a part of a writing group that is based in L.A. and has been writing songs for other artists, so to see him come to the forefront of his own artistry is a beautiful thing. I think I'm on the waiting list for a Leon Thomas session. Collaborating is big right now with me, especially since things have changed and I don't work as much as I used to on my own. I want to bounce ideas off of good artists, and I want to have great musicians in the room so we can make sure that everything is where it's supposed to be in the song. We talked about it. I texted him [last] week just to thank him for being a part of this, and I wanted to congratulate him on all of his success. He's a good guy, and I'm definitely a huge fan. Why is collaboration so important for you now? What's changed? I want better songs. I've been around a long time. I got a lot of music out, but I have this thing in my head where I just want a classic. I feel like I have some really good records, but I want a song that everybody knows. As a songwriter, I think the most beautiful music comes from collaboration because you have people there to give you guidance in your own thought process. Even if I'm leading the way, I have somebody in my ear that's navigating into this place we're trying to get to. But I definitely just want to write better songs, and I'm not afraid to ask for help. I've had to learn that the hard way. I spent a lot of time over the years just kind of closed off in my box, which was great because it created my world, my sound. But now that I have established my sound, I should always be open to people helping me create in my world, especially if they know what my world is. Have you started thinking about your next project yet? I am definitely thinking about my next project. It does not have a name. We don't have a date, but I am as busy as I can be right now, just with new songwriting and trying to stay ahead of it, because if I make you guys wait another five years for another project, I don't think I'ma survive. I might have to go get me a day job. So I'm definitely working, but I'm not gonna rush. I'm not gonna force anything. I'm not just gonna put out anything. We need, you know, at least 40 to 45 minutes of just greatness, and I'm gonna do everything I can to deliver for the fans, because they deserve it more than anything.
