It’s been almost a month since a certain Jermaine Lamarr Cole, higher referred to as J. Cole, turned the world of hip-hop the other way up. After releasing a response album titled “7 Minute Drill” (on a surprise album titled “Might Delete Later”) to Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s album “Like That”, Cole took the stage on the Dreamville Festival on April 7 and apologized Kendrick and his fans for doing something (probably making a half-diss track) that was out of character for his soul. He recorded this song since it’s what the streets wanted; J. Cole is well probably the greatest rappers in the sport and has spent most of his profession letting everyone know that they don’t need to smoke with him. And then the smoke appeared and flew away in an honest, authentic way, nevertheless it felt… strange. Of all of the individuals who would withdraw from the hip-hop battle, J. Cole can be the last person you would expect him to achieve this.

The streets were offended. Annoyed. We felt cheated. Cheated. Run amok. How could J. Cole, the very best equipped and beefiest of the three, back out of this? And yes? It’s been a protracted time since an artist has irritated me a lot. And apologize in such a public way on stage and all that? It was such an odd and unexpected thing that I think it’s protected to say that the majority of us didn’t think there can be any comeback from this move. It was definitely one of the vital memorable events of my hip-hop life and I was alive when Tupac and Biggie were murdered.

And then something happened. Drake released “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Great records, although AI Tupac and Snoop are an interesting selection and for a second Drake looked like he was on his last legs; he rapped and shouted out the diminutive Compton MC and for a split second everyone thought Drake might still have it.

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Meanwhile, we’ve not heard from J. Cole for a month, and he is not any longer perceived as soft and banal, but has develop into one of the vital prescient and astute market analysts of all time. Instead of looking weak, Cole looks like a genius. He’s the smart guy in all of this, who assessed the situation, realized he never wanted this, and properly (and maturely) decided to bow out gracefully. Even “The Apology” doesn’t have that sting anymore because the words “OV-Hoe,” pedophile, wife-beater and youngsters’s names were thrown into the combination. While Drake’s “Family Matters” record was cool, Kendrick’s “Meet the Grahams” was one of the vital irreverent things I’ve ever heard in my life and remember, I grew up with Tupac’s record “Hit them.” And like Tupac’s record, Kendrick actually abandoned club bop with “Not Like Us,” which I heard in a club someday. I mean, I do not know where that is going, but I feel like J. Cole made absolutely the smartest move by deciding to persist with his profession plan and move in that direction.

J. Cole, my bad. I felt like you looked soft here and because it seems, you just knew higher. You tell us that your decision to reply wasn’t what you really wanted, so I’ll take it at face value, but I’ll assume you also realized that Drake and Kendrick, for lack of a greater word, are, crazy and running around with no brakes . This argument could easily last so long as Kendrick’s anger lasts, and because it seems real, Kendrick could also be in it for the long haul.

The thing is, Cole, my bad, brother. You do not know me – I gave you the peace sign at a concert in New York in 2010, but I don’t think you saw it. Anyway, sorry for questioning your methods. You were right, family. You got it. I’ll return to waiting for “The Fall Off.”

Okay thanks. Goodbye.

More than ever, actor Will Smith is sharing parts of his often private world with his fans. While fans had mixed feelings concerning the news of his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith, others enjoyed the nostalgic photos of Smith with his siblings.

In celebration of National Siblings Day, the Oscar winner posted a photograph of himself, his mother and his siblings. Now, to have a good time the birthdays of his younger brother and twin sister, Harry and Ellen Smith, Smith has shared more photos of his family from the past.

The “Pursuit of Happyness” star wrote, “Happy birthday to my little sister and brother, El and Hara (heart emoji) I love you.”

The first photo shows Will and Harry playing Monopoly.

Ellen responded within the comments writing, “Oh. Me (heart emoji) is!!! I’m kind of mad that Ion knows play Monopoly (crying face emoji). Do not judge me. One day.”

The next photo shows Harry and Ellen smiling like Smith earning money. The third and fourth photos show all three siblings, smiling as adults in a single, after which one with a pouty Will as a baby in between his lovable siblings.

Fans were shocked when the photos showed their striking family resemblance – an ideal combination of two parents.

“You and your sister look exactly the same,” one person wrote, while one other added: “It’s amazing isn’t it, that last slide in front of him is just a different shade.”

A 3rd comment read: “Happy birthday to your siblings, such a humble, honest family and show more love.”

Will has a big family that features two older sisters named Pam, twins, and a younger sister named Ashley Marie Pettway Smith.

Both parents, his mother Caroline Bright (formerly Smith) and his father, Willard Smith Sr., had daughters named Pam.

Through social media, his followers gain insight into the bonds and closeness of the Smith family.

During Easter 2024, the “King Richard” star shared a photograph through which the twins and Mommy (nicknamed Bright) are surrounded by family members Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, Pinkett Smith’s mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris (aka Gammy), Will’s eldest child, Tre Smith, and Tre’s mother, his ex-wife Sheree Zampino.

Family has been necessary to the artist over the past few years. Between the backlash to each memoirs (his and his wife’s), the connection between his wife and August Alsina, and the Oscars incident where he slapped Chris Rock, he was stricken by negative press for years, but he didn’t back down. The actor sought spiritual support and surrounded himself with family.

“People don’t realize that we’re dealing with real people. “Family is everything,” one sensible person added, emphasizing the importance of their core crew.

Amidst the madness across the Super Bowl, there’s a hint of pleasure that flows through the week’s festivities, beyond the important event itself. One of such holidays is the so-called A soulful Super Bowl celebration, a testament to the vision of selling pioneer Melanie Few. Its mission was clear: to spark a spiritual movement that will strengthen the Christian community ahead of the most important television event in the country.

“The Super Bowl has always been about sports fans. But more importantly, it has become a diverse lifestyle event, attracting a more diverse audience, including a huge swath of women,” Few explains. Her drive to create Super Bowl Soulful Celebration was driven by a desire to amplify the testimonies of NFL elites in the assumption that their stories of triumph and resilience would encourage countless others.

However, the journey towards this twenty fifth anniversary has not been without its challenges. It took a few years of perseverance and determination before Few earned the NFL’s endorsement. “We created Super Bowl Soulful to inspire NFL fans and local communities, but at the same time we built a global following of music and sports fans. We have been around for 25 years thanks to the support we received from the unsung heroes of the NFL,” he reveals. “We initially pitched the idea in 1991 and it took us 7 years to get a YES and approval from the NFL.”

Few’s historic achievement as one among the primary Black women to carry an NFL license reflects her deep-rooted connection to music, nurtured throughout her church upbringing. What began as a low-key gospel brunch was a star-studded extravaganza that featured players like Deion Sanders and our cover star Russell Wilson, in addition to gospel musicians Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin. Today, the event, renamed Soulful Celebration, has expanded to incorporate a number of the biggest names in the soccer, hip-hop, R&B and gospel communities.

The recent rebranding to Soulful Celebration was intended to broaden the event’s appeal without discouraging its loyal fans. “We have been very careful to keep our long-time, traditional supporters and supporters engaged while also reaching a new audience. This year, our talent pool consisted of artists from a variety of genres including R&B, gospel, pop and more,” Few said. This strategy paid off by including diverse musical acts resembling Earth Wind & Fire, Mickey Guyton and T-Pain.

Reflecting on the impact of the celebration, Few highlights its role in inspiring NFL fans and communities around the globe. “We have existed for 25 years thanks to the support we received from the unsung heroes of the NFL,” he admits.

To rejoice its twenty fifth anniversary, the celebration was held in the spirit of Las Vegas, promoting each the music and the Black community. With an all-female African American production team and co-hosts Cedric The Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, the event showcased diversity and excellence on a grand scale. Both on camera and behind the scenes, Few says he has “been passionate about hiring minority vendors for years.”

Melanie Few’s leadership has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of triumph. “The lesson is to never give up,” he says. As Super Bowl Soulful Celebration continues to grow, Few reflects on what it took to get here 25 years later. Through all of it, he embodies the spirit of perseverance, echoing the timeless words of Frank L. Stanton: “KEEP A GOIN.”