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Today in Hip-Hop History: The Beastie Boys Dropped Their ‘Licensed To Ill’ LP 34 Years Ago
On this date in 1986, Adam Horowitz (Ad Rock), Adam Yauch (MCA) and Michael Diamond (Mike D) aka The Beastie Boys, dropped their sophomore LP Licensed To Ill on the Def…

On this date in 1986, Adam Horowitz (Ad Rock), Adam Yauch (MCA) and Michael Diamond (Mike D) aka The Beastie Boys, dropped their sophomore LP Licensed To Ill on the Def Jam Imprint under Columbia Records.
On the heels of the successful LL Cool J Radio album and the cult classic flick Krush Groove, Def Jam head honcho Russell Simmons decided to head in the most unconventional direction with the quasi-punk rock/Hip-Hop trio for Def Jam’s follow up to those monumental releases. The original title of this release was Don’t Be A Faggot, but Columbia Records pushed Simmons to change the homophobic title.
Rated as one of The Source Magazine‘s Top 100 Best Albums, Licensed To Ill received the coveted five-mic status, a precedent for Jewish Hip Hop artists. In less than six months after its release, this critically acclaimed project earned the Beastie Boys a platinum plaque, lead by the singles “Brass Monkey,” “No Sleep Til Brooklyn,” “Hold It Now, Hit It” and the storytelling smash “Paul Revere.”
Unfortunately, crew member MCA lost his battle with cancer in 2012, which actually caused a resurgence in the album’s popularity and sales.
Salute to Def Jam, Russell Simmons, Ad Rock, Mike D and the continued legacy of MCA for creating such a timeless Hip Hop classic!
The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Beastie Boys Dropped Their ‘Licensed To Ill’ LP 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.
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Big Sean Claps Back At Fake Abs Rumors And Embraces His Natural Look Amid Social Media Comparisons To Drake

Welcome to the noisy universe of celebrity fit or body debate, where Big Sean was recently caught in an unusual online row. The Detroit rapper’s chiseled six-pack has generated quite the conversation on social media, where some fans and critics have been questioning the authenticity of his washboard abs. But Sean wasn’t going to let the whispers go down without firing back with a sharp reply. The speculation began when fitness influencer Blake Sanburg, aka @thenutritionnarc on Instagram, published a theory suggesting that Big Sean may have received some extra help achieving his cut abs, alluding to either steroids or abdominal etching.
This claim, a favorite in celebrity fitness circles, struck a nerve with Sean, who swiftly pounced on the comment section to set the record straight. With his usual laid-back and confident swag, Big Sean denied the rumors and hit back with a bit of laughter and truth in his rebuttal. “Bro mine are actually real lol,” he wrote, clarifying his abs were naturally earned. He also sent a shoutout to the “fake an community,” revealing a nonjudgmental attitude towards others’ decisions, but making it clear that his physique is a result of genetics and hard work. “What’s funnier, is this is the way God made me,” he added, joking, “I think my face looks like a chewed up tootsie roll when I’m outta shape.”
Sean’s honest answer not only cleared the air, but it also led to new comparisons to Drake, who is also often recognized for his chiseled form and fit body. Social media users immediately jumped on the comparison bandwagon, with many debating which of the rappers has the mightier natural abs. What is remarkable in this episode is not just the discussion about fitness, but Sean’s very relatable way of having that conversation. Despite the team not coming to a deal, Curry didn’t respond with a snappy retort or ignore the issue; he responded authentically and with good humor, and fans loved him for it.
In a world of photoshopped pictures and surgically sculpted silhouettes, Big Sean’s humble response is a refreshing reality check that, every once in a while, hard work and good genes are the truth. As the online chatter rages on, Big Sean is comfortable in his own skin, and that alone deserves to be applauded.
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Karrine Steffans Gets Candid About Her Past With Diddy

During a candid interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored this week, author and former video vixen Karrine Steffans spoke out about her previous relationship with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. However, listeners are still left scratching their heads after hearing Steffans’ version of the story. Steffans, famous for her uncensored memoirs and candid storytelling, was once steadfast in insisting she had never had a sexual relationship with Diddy. “Absolutely not,” was the initial impression she gave. But her tone quickly changed, only to shift back again.
“Well, not that I know of,” she responded, then added, “To be honest, I’m questioning a lot of things right now.” The discussion took a more serious turn when Piers Morgan asked her if in her heart she felt raped by Diddy, given that she was intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. Her response was haunting in its vagueness, “I don’t know. In light of what we know now, I can’t. That pause, that questioning, holds a thousand words. And just like that, it’s not just about her and Diddy but about a larger fact of life that many other women experience as they parse through memories that appear in a new and often disturbing light.
Diddy, she was quick to add that to her recollection, he was “very nice” and their relationship was “platonic.” But her doubts indicate that the waters of memory can grow muddied, especially when freighted with trauma, inebriation, and time. The interview follows Diddy’s recent legal challenges, in which he was cleared of serious federal allegations that included sex trafficking and racketeering. But he was convicted anyway on two lesser charges involving taking people across state lines for prostitution. All of this is the context in which Steffans’ contemplation now feels particularly loaded.
What’s telling is not what Steffans alleges but what she acknowledges she does not know. And in a media environment full of absolutes, her ambiguity is chilling. It requires viewers to sit with discomfort, to sit with uncertainty, to sit with the painful complexity of power, memory, and survival. Karrine Steffans’ voice still breaks through even the most noise, and she’s still asking questions, of herself, if no one else.
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