News

Exclusive: Ashanti Shares on VERZUZ Battle with Keyshia Cole and New Music

Thursday night the long-awaited first VERZUZ battle of the year between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole took over the timeline, Apple Music and Instagram. The legendary celebration of the R&B Divas was…

Thursday night the long-awaited first VERZUZ battle of the year between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole took over the timeline, Apple Music and Instagram.

The legendary celebration of the R&B Divas was sponsored by CÎROC White Grape, in which Ashanti created a signature drink for the battle in the CÎROC 235 Splash.

After exchanging hits like “Foolish,” “Rain On Me,” and “Happy” with Keyshia Cole’s “I Should’ve Cheated,” “Love” and “Last Night,” Ashanti spoke with The Source to let fans know how the battle came together, the history of Keyshia Cole and more.

How was this VERZUZ battle first presented to you and how does it feel to be one of the first major music events of the New Year?

Apple reached out to my team on behalf of Swizz and Timbaland and it’s an amazing feeling starting off 2021 with this energy and celebration, especially after the unprecedented year we’ve all experienced in 2020. I am excited to hit the stage and raise a glass of CÎROC with the fans.

You have an entire catalog of hits, is there one that you can’t wait to play or have seen fans requesting heavily and how did you strategize for this event?

I’m super humbled to have my catalog and I’m grateful to see so many different requests from fans. I’ve seen a lot of requests for “Foolish,”“Rock With You” and “Baby.” I listened to a lot of my music and it brought back memories of touring worldwide. I also listened to a lot of Keyshia Cole’s music to catch a vibe and get into that celebratory mood.

A part of these celebrations of music has been the presence of CÎROC. You have a signature drink, the CÎROC 235 Splash, what makes this your go-to cocktail, and are there any others that you lend your bartending skills to?

With this battle being the first of the year, I was excited to create a signature cocktail using the limited-edition CIROC White Grape for fans to celebrate with! The name is inspired by my new single “235 (I Want You),” and the cocktail itself is easy-to-make – perfect for those tuning in at home!

You and Keyshia Cole collaborated on the 2012 single “Woman to Woman,” how did your relationship start and how has it developed over the years?

Keyshia reached out about an idea for a record after we saw each other at Platinum Studios. She ended up playing me the song at a different studio a few days later. I loved the concept and song. I even wrote my verse right there and recorded it that night!

We love all of your classics and we catch you on features today, are there any projects in music or elsewhere, that fans can look forward to receiving from you?

Yes, absolutely! My new single, “235 (I Want You)” is coming! I can’t wait for everyone to hear my new music. I’m definitely putting out lots of new music this year.

The post Exclusive: Ashanti Shares on VERZUZ Battle with Keyshia Cole and New Music appeared first on The Source.

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Hip-Hop

Benzino and Jacksonville Rapper Natalac Announce Drop Date for “Trending Topic”

Hey music lovers!

We’ve got some exciting news that you’ve all been waiting for! The highly anticipated new single, “Trending Topic”, will be dropping on all your favorite streaming platforms on April 12, 2024. So, mark your calendars because you wouldn’t want to miss the debut of this promising track!

Straight from Jacksonville, Florida, Natalac, our beloved rapper and the CEO of Natalac Records and Natalac Express, is all set to release this brand new single. The exciting part? This upcoming single will be featuring none other than the entrepreneur, TV personality, and rapper, Benzino!

Remember when Benzino made waves in the hip hop and rap world with his release “Rap Elvis”, an Eminem diss? Our very own Natalac, draped in white mink, was a part of the single’s official video, filmed in Detroit. And it’s not the first time Natalac and Benzino have joined forces. They previously collaborated on projects like “Run Tell That” from the ‘Love & Pimp-Hop’ album by Natalac, which was released back in 2021.

This time, they’re back with “Trending Topic”, their latest collaboration. The official video for this single, filmed in Detroit, will also see Bo$$ Money in the mix. Fans can expect to find “Trending Topic” in the upcoming Natalac album, ‘Return of Goldie’.

Natalac’s illustrious career in music spans over two decades. Remember his voter’s rights single “Fire in Florida”? It was so impactful that it caught the attention of the NAACP “Get Your Vote On” tour for the 2000 Presidential election. Since then, he’s been consistently releasing albums and working on numerous projects. One of his memorable works includes the 2012 ‘Coast 2 Coast Mixtape Vol. 183’ with Wyclef Jean, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige, Ludacris and several more that followed. Currently, Natalac is signed with his own label Natalac Records.

Natalac’s charisma, talent, and raw perspective have earned him billions of views online. He’s also known for his character A Pimp Named Slickback, featured on Adult Swim’s ‘The Boondocks’.

So, on April 12, 2024, all fans and followers of Natalac and Benzino, get ready to tune in to “Trending Topic” as it makes its digital debut. Want to learn more about Natalac? Visit https://natalac.com/ or Google Natalac at http://bit.ly/2RcUJpn.

ABOUT NATALAC: Natalac is a rapper based in Jacksonville, Florida. He’s the CEO of Natalac Express and Natalac Records. Find out more about him on https://rap.fandom.com/wiki/Natalac, https://bit.ly/2RcUJpn, linktr.ee/natalac, and Natalac.com.

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News

50 Cent’s Fiery Fallout, Daphne Joy Accusations Ignite Social Media Storm

50 Cent’s Fiery Fallout, Daphne Joy Accusations Ignite Social Media Storm

In recent developments, 50 Cent finds himself embroiled in controversy as he takes to social media to lash out at Daphne Joy amid rape and abuse allegations. The tumult began when Daphne, mother of 50 Cent’s son, was implicated in a lawsuit against Diddy by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, alleging a financial exchange for intimate favors, which Daphne vehemently denies.

With the online spotlight intensifying, 50 Cent wasted no time in publicly condemning Daphne, even going so far as to seek sole custody of their child. In response, Daphne addressed the accusations and 50 Cent’s aggressive reaction in a now-deleted Instagram Story, vowing legal action against Jones and slamming her ex for his social media antics.

In a poignant twist, Daphne called out 50 Cent, alleging past instances of rape and abuse, shifting the focus from her own predicament to his alleged misdeeds. Despite her claims, 50 Cent vehemently refutes all allegations, doubling down on his social media tirade against her.

As the digital battlefield rages on, 50 Cent continues to air his grievances online, sparking further debate and speculation. What are your thoughts on Daphne Joy’s accusations against 50 Cent, and his subsequent online onslaught? Join the conversation below, and stay tuned to Honk Magazine for the latest updates on this unfolding saga.