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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hip-hop artist and entrepreneur <keyword id="13124361" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="yo-gotti" source="Orion">Yo Gotti</keyword> spoke to Insider at <keyword id="13124362" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="roc-nation" source="Orion">Roc Nation</keyword>'s Manhattan office in an interview tied to the release of his new album, "CM10: Free Game."</li></ul>In January 2020, weeks before the pandemic hit, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-gotti-interview-jay-z-new-album-untrapped-prison-reform-2020-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I spoke to Yo Gotti about his album "Untrapped"</a> at Insider's Financial District office. The interview went down in a cramped conference room, the only space I was able to reserve in what was then a densely crowded workplace. In November of last year, we ran it back at a less claustrophobic location.Ahead of the projected release of his new album, "<a href="https://yogotti.lnk.to/CM10_FreeGame" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CM10: Free Game</a>," Gotti and I spoke in the executive boardroom at Roc Nation's Manhattan office about the making of the album; his business partnerships with Jay-Z, Roc Nation, and Interscope; his connections to the billionaires Michael Rubin and Robert Kraft; and <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/dc-united/rapper-yo-gotti-among-four-new-minority-owners-dc-united" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his co-ownership in the Major League Soccer team DC United</a>. We also got into <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/yo-gotti-cmg-records-partnership-interscope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the success of Gotti's record label</a>, CMG Records, and his roster of artists, including his fellow Memphis natives Moneybagg Yo, Blac Youngsta, and BlocBoy JB, Detroit's 42 Dugg, and Louisville's EST Gee.Following the interview in November, Gotti <a href="https://uproxx.com/music/yo-gotti-delay-cm10-young-dolph-murder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed the album back</a> several months. The double-sided project dropped last Friday, accompanied by <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yo-gotti-unveils-new-album-cm10-free-game--gives-emerging-artists-universal-clearance-to-master-recording-for-dolla-fo-dolla-to-earn-revenue--receive-exposure-301476215.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an opportunity for fans to record</a>, upload to streaming services, and make money off their own versions of his album track "Dolla Fo' Dolla." This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.How often do you come through to Roc Nation? For press shit primarily?For what now?For press shit primarily?Nah, nah, nah. This my office. I work out of here, you know what I'm saying? I work out of the Roc Nation office whenever I'm in town. I love this energy that's in the building. The history, you know.. to be able to work close with <a href="https://www.rocnation.com/news/desiree-perez-is-leading-roc-nation-and-changing-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dez</a>, and I mean just the whole vibe of the office, man. You see just what they built here. This shit just energy, you know what I'm saying? Inspiration.I gotta ask off top about this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk8K46KJRdE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"For The Record" video</a>, man. The salt flats to the city in a chopper is an elite flex. That was a dope video.Yeah. "For The Record." Yeah. Yeah, that was a dope video.What was the approach to putting that out first, as a lead single?Well, uh.. It was just a record to me. I don't think I thought that deep about it as like, "This gonna be the lead single." It was more of a message, you know what I'm saying? If you listen to what I'm saying in the record, it's a lot of things I wanted to say. It's a lot of things I wanted to put out. So I think of it like a good warm up record.What about conceptually.. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-gotti-interview-jay-z-new-album-untrapped-prison-reform-2020-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you dropped "Untrapped."</a> Moving on from that, how did you approach this new body of work?Honestly it changed a couple different times. Like I started recording during the pandemic and I was gonna put out one thing. And then it opened back up, I started going back outside and I changed what it was gonna be. And then we went back on lockdown, and then it changed again, you know what I'm saying? So it kinda like went from one thing to another one, but I'm glad it did over time because it ended up scoping into being "CM10: Free Game," which is my overall message that I always say anyway. You know, I'm an advocate on sharing information, giving out game. So it end up going down that path.<div type="image" title="yo gotti moneybagg yo 42 dugg" height="2962" width="4278" msid="89413489" hostid="261"></div><a href="https://genius.com/Yo-gotti-untrapped-lyrics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">You said on the last record</a>, you spent millions on your artists, and you did it consistently.Yeah.That investment paid off in the pandemic, I'd imagine.That investment been paying off, you know what I'm saying? But it's also a revolving investment. These ain't no things where like you invest millions and then you get a payday. Right? We spend millions every month, probably every week. We spending more millions back into the same artists to keep developing they career to the next level, and the next level. And so it's a never ending hustle, right? It's always resources that have to be spent. And you gotta imagine, the greater level anyone get on the greater expense come with it as well.You're 25 years into the game..It been that long?It's been that long, I think.Yeah.What type of keys do you impart to your artists, with that type of experience?Say that again?What are the keys you impart to like your younger artists, to Bagg, to Dugg?Uh, stay focused, be consistent. And one of the things I've been on lately, big thing I've been on, is money management. You know, we see a lot of money. We make a lot of money. It's easy to spend the money. It's harder to keep it and save it, you know? So I'm on some wealth shit right now, with my guys that I'm working with. Like, let's save the money, let's invest the money. Let's put it in the right places. Let's not just buy every chain and watch we see. Let's make sure at the end of this run, we all on top of the hill somewhere tripping off this shit.[Laugh].[Laugh]. You know what I'm saying?Do you see.. with the age gap between you and your artists, the wisdom you've acquired.. do they look up to you in that way?I think because we likewise people from likewise places that we relate to each other.I was gonna ask, the geography of it..Yeah. I don't know if the age itself play a part in it, more so than the fact that we can relate and understand each other and respect each other. You know, because.. we have an open table policy, meaning like, just 'cuz you younger don't necessarily mean I have all the right answers. Like you could give me some information that I don't have, that I could use. So that's how we try to have an open table policy.And you got EST Gee from Louisville, Dugg from Detroit. Artists from Memphis. Is that regional.. are there differences there that are fruitful to ideation, or is there common background and that allows for creativity?Nah, I think dope music is dope music. When you talk about from a creative standpoint, I think you talking about from a real life standpoint. Going back to what I said, having similar backgrounds, all them guys you just named, we all come from the street, where we all face the same struggle at one point or another. So no matter what city you in, we still face the same thing. We still was trying to get out of the same thing, you know.<div type="image" title="meek mill jay-z yo gotti" height="3496" width="5052" msid="89413491" hostid="261"></div>On the album, you got a track related to the "All-White Party" that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-rubin-profile-fanatics-reform-alliance-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Rubin</a> threw in the Hamptons. How do you put that into a song? [Laugh].[Laugh].How do you encapsulate that?Uh, the party was so dope. Shoutout to Michael Rubin for the invite. But, uh.. I was just inspired, you know what I'm saying? By the house itself, the party itself. The company that he invited. You know, all that energy. At the end of the day, man, I'm a respected entrepreneur now. A growing business man. And I already accomplished a lot of things. But, you know, first and foremost, I'm a project kid, right? That I never imagined being in these type of rooms at some point in my life. Right? So that shit like.. sometimes it be moments like that. They the surreal moments, but real moments. 'Cuz it's like, in one sense, "I feel like I supposed to be here." Right? But then in another moment you feel like, "Damn, I'm hurr."[Laugh].You get what I'm saying? [Laugh]. So, it's just dope.You chop it up with Robert Kraft at all?Yeah, I like Robert Kraft, man. I got a lot of respect for Robert Kraft and Michael Rubin. Not even just from my time around those guys, but even just the outside looking in, you know.. The time they've been around Meek and other artists I think is dope. You know what I'm saying? I think in generations before now, I don't know if we ever seent that before. I don't know if we ever seent guys like them, in positions like them, with the power them guys have, that bump shoulder to shoulder and hand to hand in the same rooms and tables with guys from upbringing like us, you know what I'm saying? So I got a lot of respect for them for that. 'Cause they motivate us too. I don't know if they know it or not, but they motivate us, you know what I'm saying? Like me and Meek talk about shit like that.That was out in the Hamptons. Do you like the Hamptons?Yeah. That was my first time going to it, and what a way to go.[Laugh].You know what I'm saying? I actually had planned on going on some just chill shit. And that was my first time going. So my first time in the Hamptons was super dope.You ever take a chopper with Michael Rubin? I know that's how he tends to get around.Nah, I don't rock with the choppers, man.No.You know, I don't really like flying. Period. Airplanes, helicopters. I never even been on a helicopter actually. Ever.Since Kobe's death, I don't know how anybody does it.Yeah, but way before that. Like I never.. it's just never been my thing. I don't like planes. None of that. I really don't like to fly, but I have to.Wanted to get into the <keyword id="13124363" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dc-united" source="Orion">DC United</keyword>. What drew you to MLS ownership? What made that the move?The opportunity presented itself. Being a businessman, I took the opportunity. But uh, leading up into that, my son played soccer for a while. That's the only sport he ever played. So I got familiar with the sport through him. When I met Jason and the guys over there at DC United, I started to go to games. I went to a few games, a couple home games, a couple away games. And we had a lot of different conversations on probably what I could bring to the organization, and vice versa. I think it was a dope opportunity to be a part of. And I think we gonna bring some dope activations to the organization.You ever play soccer? I was horrendous at it.I kicked a few balls in the Audi Field. And I scored, actually.Kicking it around with your son too, I'd imagine.Yeah, my son though.. He too good, man. He'll fuck around and hurt you. Meaning like, you be in field and he'll twist your ankle or something.[Laugh]. Cross you up?Yeah, he got that feet work. [Laugh].Since we last spoke, you partnered CMG with <keyword id="13124364" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="interscope" source="Orion">Interscope</keyword>.Yeah.What made that the move in.. I think it was June that happened.I think Interscope, in my opinion, is the best label. In my opinion, they forward thinking. They open to new ideas. They not running the company how record labels were running it 20 years ago, like a lot of other record labels still are, you know? They true partners in a sense of, they not getting in our way. They never got in our way. So to me, it seemed like the best fit for what I'm doing and what I'm building.<div type="image" title="yo gotti jay-z" height="2640" width="3520" msid="89413493" hostid="261"></div>I'd be remiss to not ask, since we're here at Roc Nation.. what has Jay-Z's experience as a label head meant to you? What has he imparted to you on that front?Yeah. I always get Jay opinion or advice on a lot of the bigger things I do. You know, different business inquiries, I'm always sending through Roc Nation to vet it and make sure I ain't going down the wrong roads, per se. You know what I'm saying, like, I'm a team player and I believe in strategic partnerships, even my partnership with Roc Nation. So, when it come to certain things, I'm gonna make sure that I'm sending it down the right channels to make sure it's the correct moves that I'm thinking of or making. So, Jay, Roc Nation, the whole family, big part in a lot of the moves you see me making, a lot of the vetting behind the scene and making sure I ain't doing the wrong things, I ain't making mistakes doing it.Like I ain't at the point in life where I'm trying to incur mistakes. You get what I'm saying? So I gotta double check and triple check these things, and having a partner like Jay and Roc Nation, they already been through these ropes before. They already inquired different things and experienced these things years ago that I'm experiencing now. So I would be a fool not to ax your big homie, you know what I'm saying, "Yo, what you think about this, or how you feel about this, or how this go?" Some people too prideful to ax for help or ax for answers. That never been me.What do you hope to see from the reaction to the coming album?Reaction to the coming album? I just wanna cause impact. It's a double CD. Side A, Side B. Which is different. I don't think nobody done that yet in this new digital world. Used to happen back when physical CDs was coming out, but even then, I don't know if anybody ever approached it like two albums on the same day type thing. So it's a different approach. So I think at where I'm at in my career, everything is about impact and legacy, and showing the younger hustlers to be open, to create shit, not just follow shit, you know? So I think it's gonna be fun. I think it's gonna be unique, and I think it's gonna have a culture impact.

Yo Gotti on his new double album, co-ownership in a Major League Soccer team, and business advice from Jay-Z

<ul class="summary-list"><li>NLess Entertainment co-founders Zach Randolph and Marcus Howell spoke to Insider about the trajectory of their independent record label.</li></ul>Last month, I spoke to former NBA star Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph and Marcus "Head" Howell about the trajectory of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nless_head/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLess Entertainment</a>, the independent record label they co-founded in 2016.In a brief Zoom call, Randolph and Howell broke down the platinum rise of Moneybagg Yo, their first signed artist, and the talent they've drawn from the historical music "hotbed" of Memphis, Tennessee. We also discussed their close connection to hip-hop artist and entrepreneur <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-gotti-interview-cmg-10-free-game-dc-united-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yo Gotti</a> and their plans to expand NLess into the world of sports management.<h2>'Staying in the studio'</h2>The success of NLess Entertainment has coincided directly with the ascension of its first signee.After signing with NLess in 2016, Moneybagg Yo released his debut studio album, "Reset," and steadily built momentum with each subsequent LP. The wave culminated in a series of plaques with his fifth studio release, "A Gangsta's Pain," in 2021, a platinum album backed by two platinum singles, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bN45f9NjlA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wockesha</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H6xw0B3phU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Time Today</a>.""The key to Bagg's success is just his drive," Randolph said. "All the time he puts in a studio, and he's putting his creative mind together and coming up with songs, albums. It's his worth ethic. He's always in the labs."The two-time NBA All-Star compared Bagg's effort to the work he put into his own career on the hardwood: "Like me in basketball, I'm always in the gym. That's how I get better. So with this, like I tell a lot of the artists, my artists: Keep on working, keep pushing, keep going for it. Stay in the studio, stay in the lab, work on your sound, work on your delivery. All that plays a part of Bagg long run.""Man, staying in the studio," Howell reinforced. "Bagg work hard. Actually, he probably in the studio now. We have to drag the man out the studio. Bagg's a guy, he like to work out, he like to take care of his kids, and he like to be in the studio all day. So, working hard, like Zach said, you know, like he be in the gym all day. That's what Bagg do all day. Being in the studio. And you gotta stay in the studio if you wanna get successful. 'Cause that make you good in your craft."Reflecting on NLess' role in his rise, Bagg sent the following statement via email:"When I first met Z-Bo and Head, they just came with genuine energy and intentions. There was no doubt they had my best interests in mind and that's why I believed in their vision for NLess and signed. Whether it's the music business or our investment ventures like <a href="https://viorwater.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VIOR</a>, we've always moved as a unit and I'm grateful to have them both on my team."<h2>'A special city'</h2>Connections to Memphis, Tennessee, are the throughline in NLess' signature achievements to date.Randolph and Howell <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/nless-entertainment-zach-randolph-moneybagg-yo-memphis-1235187327/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first met Bagg in 2015</a> when a local DJ brought the rising artist to the used car dealership they own in Memphis, in an initial attempt to get them to sign him. When Randolph's tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies came to an end in 2017, Z-Bo stayed connected to the city through Howell and the label's progression with Bagg, and NLess would go on to build out an extensive roster of other Memphis artists.I asked Randolph and Howell what separates Memphis from the rest of the US in their minds. "It's a special city, man. It's a city where you gotta work for everything," Randolph said. "You know, ain't nothing given to you, ain't nothing soft about the city. You gotta hard work, and it's a lot of real people and blue collar people. But the music, it's the hotbed right now. You see that all the labels is coming into Memphis and trying to sign all the artists up outta there.""There's a lot of Memphis guys, the music come out they heart," Howell said. "You know, there's a lot of Memphis music. Blues and rock and roll, it comes from Memphis. So, you know, your mom, dad, anybody can be one of the top stars around in the country right now, you won't even know. Like, you got Mr. David Porter, you got, uh, Isaac Hayes. You know, it's a music city. You got Soul Museum. You got so much stuff, music talent there. It's just in the city, it's all over. So it's just in the heart of Memphis."Notable among NLess' recent signees, Memphis' Big30 was on XXL's coveted 2022 Freshman Class cover, after his debut project, "King of Killbranch," reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 in 2021. NLess also signed Memphis-based multiplatinum producer Turn Me Up YC, who laced hits for Bagg, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, Roddy Ricch, Yo Gotti, Lil Durk, and others on his way to winning the BMI Songwriter of the Year Award in 2022.When asked how the label has gone about finding new talent, Howell said it came down to staying true to Memphis, and to his mainly Memphis-based artists."I'm still staying in the street, connected to the street, standing by, with the street, with the players, with the artists," Howell said. "Being at the studios, flying around with 'em. I go everywhere with Bagg, state to state, and you gotta touch the people hand, and be right there where they head at, and understand 'em. Other new artists, they come to the studio, and you listen to their music. Next thing you know, we find a new artist by coming in, trying to get a verse from a guy like Bagg or a guy like Big30, or anybody. I got artists like Dee Mula and Turn Me Up YC, one of our top producers, and we just try to put all of 'em in one room and work together."<h2>'One big family'</h2>In recounting how NLess was able to hit the ground running in its initial years of operation, Howell spoke to the mentorship he had received prior to it from another fellow Memphian, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-gotti-interview-cmg-10-free-game-dc-united-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Collective Music Group label head Yo Gotti</a>."Me and Gotti family," Howell said. "Gotti was the first guy came in, showed me the game, on how to do the label stuff. Put me on his side, running for him for the last couple years, taking me to in and outta every office, every meeting, making me understand the game. Actually he taught me, sit around and understand the game, learn the game first, and then come in and execute the game. So that's what I'm trying to do now." Look at the credits on Bagg's studio albums and you'll see no fewer than four record labels listed in partnership: NLess Entertainment, Gotti's CMG, Interscope, and Bagg's own label, Bread Gang. I asked the NLess co-founders how that confluence has been able to work out from a business standpoint. "'Cause we all family," Randolph said. "We've been had relationships a long time, so it was easy. When we started the label, me and Marcus, it was easy to come to Yo Gotti, to talk to the guys around the city, 'cause we already had relationships with these guys for a long time.""We all get in the lab and we help each other," Howell said. "We all have our own independent deals. I'm an independent company. I got a partnership with [Gotti] with Moneybagg, me and Zach with NLess, with Interscope, just with Money Bagg. And we got a partnership with Big30, just with Interscope, with me and Bagg. So we all try to keep everything together. We signed artists together. We keeping in house, we signed producers together. We try to keep everything in team, like with CMG, Bread Gang, NLess: All us, we like one big family. So when one us doing something, we all get in the studio. We help each other out. So that's what we've been doing. We all try to each help each team out before we can grow. It's not just no one team."<h2>'The league is different'</h2>Citing the Roc Nation Sports wing of Jay-Z's Roc Nation as a "motivation," Randolph and Howell are set to bring a sports management division to NLess Entertainment in the near future. Randolph, whose jersey number (50) became the first number retired by the Grizzlies franchise, spoke to the game he can give rising athletes with his 18 years of NBA playing experience."All my connections and everything with the league and just being around it, and not only that, just being respected," he said. "You know, a guy that's gonna be straight up and down, ain't gonna be talking behind your back. Gon' be real with you in your face. And I want the best for the players. I've been through a lot and I can tell players, talk to the young guys, like I talk on the Grizzlies, about things I went through, and how to get that billion dollars and stay outta trouble. 'Cause the league is different now. It's a lot of opportunities than it was when I played. The salary has tripled, doubled. So it's a lot to it, man."You know, I came in the league at 18, like a lot of guys, I was young, so I learned a lot," he continued. "I bumped my head a few times. So just things like that, you know, staying outta trouble, and not bumping your head, and taking care of your business. Keep your name outta media. 'Cause the first time something happen, it's a stigma. You have a stigma. That's how the league is. So you gotta make sure you keep that clean.""A lot of guys, they love Z-Bo," Howell said. "We been around. He been at League since he was 18 years old, and we've been around a lot of rappers before they started their careers actually, when Gotti first started his career. So we been around the music business so long. And the sports and music always combined together. You know, like athletes all wanna be rappers, and rappers seem like they all wanna be athletes. So we all put it together. We've been together over 20 years now." NLess isn't limiting its reach to sports and music, though. As the call ended, Howell relayed that Bagg and Randolph and his daughter were set to shoot a commercial the next day for VIOR Water, <a href="https://viorwater.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now branded</a> the "Official Water of Moneybagg Yo" through an investment from Bagg and NLess."We trying to go to TV and film. We trying to make this thing pop," Howell said. "We trying to go all over. We trying to do a little everything."

Former NBA star Zach Randolph & Marcus 'Head' Howell on building NLess Entertainment and the rise of Moneybagg Yo

Crystal Cox/Business InsiderYo Gotti.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Roc Nation rapper Yo Gotti spoke to Business Insider last week about his upcoming album, "Untrapped," which is set for release on January 31, and his recent entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts. </li><li>We discussed Gotti's coordination with Jay-Z to help more than a dozen Mississippi prisoners sue the state prison system over its conditions, and his various business investments, including in the esports company FaZe Clan. </li></ul>In the lead-up to the release of his 10th studio album, the rapper Yo Gotti has been active on several fronts outside of music. Earlier this month, Gotti and Team Roc, the philanthropic arm of Jay-Z's Roc Nation record label, helped more than a dozen inmates hire legal representation to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-z-lawsuit-yo-gotti-sue-mississippi-prison-hire-lawyers-to-represent-prisoners-suing-corrections-department/">file a lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Corrections</a> over the conditions of its prisons. Five prisoners died violently in the state between late December and early this month, deaths which the lawsuit called the "culmination of years of severe understaffing and neglect."Gotti, whose real name is Mario Giden Mims, spoke to Business Insider at our Manhattan office last week about the lawsuit and his experiences of working with Jay-Z, his label boss at Roc Nation. We also talked at length about his upcoming album, "Untrapped," which is set to drop on January 31, and discussed the various business investments he's made recently, including in the esports company FaZe Clan, and in real estate and commercial efforts in his hometown of Memphis. Gotti has since announced his eighth annual "Birthday Bash" music event in Memphis, which is scheduled to take place at the FedEx Forum on June 19. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.John Lynch: I wanted to start out with the news of this week. How did the situation in Mississippi first come to your attention?Yo Gotti: I first started seeing it from fans DM-ing me pictures on social media, and I was like, "What's this? What's going on?" Then I started seeing the headlines come out about it, seeing the pictures and everything that was going on. And I was like, "Yo, this is crazy."Lynch: So you had <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/443907803/Yo-Gotti-Team-Roc">the open letter</a> about it with Team Roc. When did you decide, "we should take legal action on this," that's the way to move forward on it?Gotti: The first day I seen the pictures, I started looking into it. Me being from Memphis, Mississippi is like our tri-state area. It's so close to home. Like it's several red lights in our city you can go through, and once you pass that red light, you're in Mississippi. So it's literally like our backyard. My whole career I grew up coming through that tri-state area. When we first got word of the news and started seeing the pictures, I knew we had to do something immediately. Got with Team Roc, the whole Roc Nation team, who feel just as passionate, and the situation is just as important to everybody over there, too, and we decided to take action.Lynch: And you're in the room with Jay for these discussions. He's been increasingly using his voice to shine light on this type of stuff. What have you taken away from his approach to making change happen?Gotti: I respect him because he stand up for what he believe in, which I think every man should. You know, things that's important to you, things you passionate about, you should fight for it.Lynch: At the same time, you're having conversations with this billionaire mogul. What have you taken away from him about what moves to make in business?Gotti: I mean, having a conversation with a hustler, you know what I'm saying? Which I think is one of the greatest talents anyone can have. The talent of hustle. Just to be in the room and to seek knowledge from him. And I'll be able to ask questions, whether it's in general questions or if it's more personal business questions, and get his intake on it. It's valuable as a friendship and a business relationship.Crystal Cox/Business InsiderLynch: You've made an investment in FaZe Clan, an esports company, as esports is rapidly growing. What drew you to that? Why esports, and that company in particular?Gotti: Well, I think esports is like a big thing. It's only growing, and it's going to be an even bigger thing. And I think FaZe Clan is the best team. You know, I think they're the coolest team, the most cultural team. If you look, I think they got the coolest players, the most influence. Like if one of our FaZe Clan players was to tweet out, "I'mma be at this location," you have thousands of fans out there in seconds. It's the same influence as hip hop and musicians. They line up. So culturally, I just think FaZe Clan the best brand.Lynch: Do you have any talent for video games? I'm trash at it personally.Gotti: [Laughs]. I grew up playing the games, man, back when it was just Nintendos and Sega Genesis. They way more advanced nowadays, but that was a big thing. I remember when we couldn't afford to get the game. When all we wanted was the Sega Genesis, or something like that, for Christmas, you know what I'm saying? Just that one item. So to see how the whole gaming world has changed and everything. You know, I slide in my little son room from time to time, pick up the joystick, and see if I can give him a few rounds.But I've actually been playing the games more, though, being involved with FaZe Clan. Actually being involved with FaZe Clan and the energy around them, being at the office and around the players, 'cause I'm actually cool with the players, like I'm in the community with them. This ain't just like a blind investment type thing. I really rock with the players and the brand hard, so I'm around, it's like a family. We go to games together, Rams games and, you know, be at the house, the mansion, chillin'.Lynch: I know you have local investments in Memphis as well. How have you been looking at that?Gotti: Yeah, real estate, commercial and residential, we're involved in. Whether it's flipping houses or fix some up and rent some out, to the restaurant business. We got so many things going on. I'm just hustling, man.Crystal Cox/Business InsiderLynch: "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpACqY0RDaw">Pose</a>," man. Judging by the cars driving in Brooklyn by apartment, it seems like it's moving. How have you seen that move as a single?Gotti: Yeah, I like it. I like "Pose" a lot. I'm gearing up to drop an album, which "Pose" will be on there. "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PnHB4sLqew">Put a Date</a>" will be on there. Lot of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCc5AEmgPYE">more bangers</a>.Lynch: I mean, 10 albums in, right?Gotti: That many?Lynch: I think [laughs]. That's what I counted. 10 studio.Gotti: I would have thought more. I don't know. I can't even keep count, man.Lynch: How has your approach changed to the buildup to that, the release of a project?Gotti: Well, the game changed a little bit with the process of how you put an album out. Like I said, "I'm going to drop an album this month," right? And I can not know the date today, and it could literally come out this month, and it's going to come out this month. That's how the game changed. Years ago, you couldn't do that. You needed three, four months ahead of time just to roll it, just to put the album out.Lynch: Does that affect your creative process at all?Gotti: Nah. Actually, it gives you more time on it, you know what I'm saying. You could be in the studio longer into the last minute, adding or changing, if that's what you want to do.Lynch: What about your approach personally? Are you coming in with 40 songs? Narrowing it down to say, "I want these"?Gotti: 50.Lynch: 50?Gotti: 50 to 60. That's always the hardest part of my albums, 'cause I record so many songs, and I don't record in albums cycles. Some people take off recording cycles, but I record year round. I believe that like, as a hustler, you know, how I'm a musician with no music? You get what I'm saying? Ain't no off days. I don't take off on no businesses I do. So I'm in the studio all the time, with so many records, and I guess it's a good problem when it come down to it. You're trying to just pick like what's the 12 or 14 best out of 60. But it's a hard decision.Lynch: What did you bring to this album that's different from what you've wanted to put out before?Gotti: I think my messaging in this album is going to be very strong. The space I'm in today, the space I've been in in the last six to eight months, the things I'm talking about on the album. I just think it's gonna be a strong message, really, for young hustlers. You're a young hustler, you're a young boss, this album really for you. Or you want to be a boss one day, this the project that's for you. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgetown-professor-reveals-people-wrong-mlk-martin-luther-king-jr-race-black-radical-racism-2017-5">A Georgetown professor explains how Martin Luther King Jr. 'has been severely whitewashed'</a></h3>

Yo Gotti talks about his prison-reform efforts with Jay-Z, recent investment in an esports company, and his upcoming album 'for young hustlers'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A 28-year-old man upset over a breakup was arrested after he planned a mass <keyword id="11922278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="shooting" source="Orion">shooting</keyword> in a <keyword id="11976975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="memphis" source="Orion">Memphis</keyword> arena, police said.</li><li>Elijah Hyman said he wanted to kill himself and "everyone he saw coming" from the FedEx Forum arena.</li></ul>A man upset over a breakup was arrested after he planned a mass shooting in a <keyword id="11919824" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennessee" source="Orion">Tennessee</keyword> arena, police said. Elijah Hyman, 28, was arrested and charged with commission of the act of terrorism after police said he wanted to kill "everyone he saw coming from an event" at FedEx Forum, the Memphis Police Department said in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mpd1827/posts/412158284276900">statement</a>.Officers responded to a call at Hyman's apartment on Saturday at 2:48 am, where they found Hyman and his girlfriend. "Hyman appeared distraught due to a breakup between him and his girlfriend. Officers were advised that since Hyman and his girlfriend's relationship was coming to an end, he wanted to kill himself and everyone he saw coming from an event being held at the FedEx Forum," police said. While police did not say when Hyman planned to execute the attack, rapper Yo Gotti hosted a performance at the FedEx Forum on Friday night and tweeted about a threat afterward. "We were informed of a potential threat regarding an individual seeking to harm attendees leaving Birthday Bash that occurred 3 hours after our show ended," Yo Gotti <a href="https://twitter.com/YoGotti/status/1548457543948677123?s=20&amp;t=roTQQeV3U2sdJWZAJPbgjA">tweeted</a> Saturday evening, thanking Memphis police for their "swift and proactive action in ensuring that all attendees returned home safely."Authorities responding to the call at Hyman's apartment said his hand was bleeding from "being cut from a glass window inside of his apartment.""Officers were advised Hyman had several weapons inside his apartment. Hyman was detained, placed in cuffs, and taken for medical treatment and evaluation," the police statement said. "A search warrant was conducted on the apartment where Hyman resides and several weapons were confiscated."Hyman's next court date is set for Monday morning, according to Shelby County arrest records.

Man 'distraught' over breakup with his girlfriend arrested after planning a mass shooting at a Memphis arena, police say

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Insider spoke to Krystian Santini, president of <keyword id="13412810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="equity-distribution" source="Orion">Equity Distribution</keyword>, <keyword id="13124362" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="roc-nation" source="Orion">Roc Nation</keyword>'s music distribution service, about the service's inception and its trajectory into becoming an "emerging artist platform."</li></ul>Established in early 2019 as the music distribution arm of Roc Nation, <a href="https://www.equitydistro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Equity Distribution</a> was borne of Jay-Z's experience as an independent artist. "Jay wanted to create a vehicle for independent artists to have as fair an opportunity as a label artist," Equity president Krystian Santini told Insider. "He's very hands-on when it comes to the vision, because this is how his career started. He didn't really get opportunities at a label."In a phone interview, Santini discussed Equity's trajectory into becoming what he called "an emerging artist platform" for a roster of thousands of recording artists. In addition to being a publishing and digital distribution service, Equity essentially operates as an alternative to record labels for artists who want to stay independent and hold ownership of their master recordings."Equity is ownership in its fairness," Santini said. "It's about expanding the potential quality outcomes for artists, because we understand that they don't all start out at the same point. So we want to try to provide as many of the core services that they would get at a label and then try to provide value over all of these artists so that they can get better outcomes."Equity also looks to develop artists in the traditional sense, Santini said, funding some artists and marketing them to potentially "upstream" to Roc Nation's label publishing or management.Prior to his current role, Santini spent five years as an A&amp;R at Roc Nation working with Jay, Vic Mensa, and Jaden and Willow Smith. "From there, I was, I guess, promoted, given the opportunity to run the distribution department," he said, attributing the opportunity to the fact that he was "very vocal about wanting to help artists with the distribution company and trying to create better outcomes for independent artists from my vantage point."Santini spoke to Insider on Wednesday prior to a speaking engagement at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports &amp; <keyword id="11896019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="entertainment" source="Orion">Entertainment</keyword> at Long Island University in Brooklyn. Among other topics in the interview, we discussed Equity's work with the independent hip-hop artist Mach-Hommy; the platform's 2019 distribution of Jay-Z's debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," to streaming services; and its facilitation of Yo Gotti's "Dolla Fo' Dolla" challenge.This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.What are some of the challenges you face daily in this role with Equity?I think it's changing the narrative and the thought process of independent artists as they navigate their careers. I think now distribution is seen as an option for artists, but maybe just as a starting point, not necessarily a place where they can stay and thrive and have a long-lasting career. So the daily challenge is explaining that to artists, getting them to understand it, and creating better outcomes so they can see that there's proof of this idea that, "Okay, I can have an independent career for 10 years plus the same way I would with a label. I don't need to automatically be chasing after that stuff." 'Cause what we find now is artists will sign with a distributor, they may even take funding from a distributor, but ultimately they're trying to get to a label if they can. So I think the hardest thing we deal with isn't anything logistical, more so than just the way that they look at things and think that the label is always the destination.For those unfamiliar, how is Equity Distribution able to empower artists to own their own masters? What goes into that process?So, the process is providing them with the tools to be able to release the music, the insights to be able to market the music properly and to grow from where they're at. What we do is we provide them with do-it-yourself tools like a dashboard, royalty payments that they're able to collect monthly, that get paid out directly to them. Third-party payment options, which up until now have been very difficult for artists to get at that starter level. So that replicates a lot of the services you get from a label, so that you can pay out collaborators in a timely fashion and account for them and all that stuff. So providing a lot of the most core, basic business tools to them upfront.And then from there, teaching them different things that are kind of hidden in the business, in terms of like clearing music, collecting splits, and all that other stuff. It may seem very boring and basic, but that becomes the difference between artists getting synchronizations as an independent artist, or getting brand partnerships as an artist, or potentially getting playlists. So we find that like a large percentage of the work is there. And if you do all those things, labels don't necessarily break acts anymore. So, a lot of your work then becomes just breaking yourself or finding your own audience and engaging with them. And from there, we provide the tools for them to able to market themselves in a similar fashion to what a label artist would.You're speaking at the Roc Nation school at LIU tomorrow. What type of knowledge are you looking to impart in that setting?I mean, I'd love to impart more wisdom on how, how they can navigate careers. 'Cause I'm gonna be talking to young managers, creatives, artists, producers. So I want them to understand just how to navigate the path that they're probably already on in terms of marketing themselves, what costs are associated with it, the real costs, and what is pushed to an artist versus what a distributor should cover. Thinking about how you do the most basic things, like I discussed, and then just asking more questions and talking more about, well, what happens once you've gotten fans. Thinking past the point of, "Okay, how do I get any streams?" Once things start to go well, "where do I go from here and how do I navigate it?" So I'd love to be able to talk about the thought process behind that stuff and the work that goes into really having an independent career.The 2019 distribution of "Reasonable Doubt" to streaming services was, in <a href="https://www.okayplayer.com/news/jay-zs-reasonable-doubt-now-available-multiple-streaming-services-except-apple-spotify.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">your words</a>, a "landmark milestone for Equity Distribution." How did that come about? What went into the behind-the-scenes of that?I think that Jay wanted to open up "Reasonable Doubt" to more audiences in a way that he hadn't before. He wanted to deliver it to all platforms. So, for us, just being able to take something that is a seminal hip-hop album and move it from a platform that was behind a paywall, and put it in front of new audiences. You know, younger audiences that may know who Jay is, but don't have this touchpoint, and put it in front of 'em. So it's like really important for younger fans who are on Spotify or some other platform that may not have had access to it. So it was big just for that.To what degree is Jay involved in Equity at this point? You said he was at the inception of it, but to what degree do you strategize with Jay, for example?I mean, regularly. I would say this is his brainchild like any other vertical in the company. I think he's very hands-on when it comes to the vision, because this is how his career started. He didn't really get the opportunities at a label. So, he's very keen on saying where we should go in terms of the messaging and the vision. And he's always very keenly focused on independent artists, so he'll send artists all the time. He's always looking to try to bring bigger potential opportunities for artists. So we're always having conversations about what bigger looks we can bring that'll benefit the mass of artists that we have, the thousands, versus just the bigger artists. But he's so very focused. I think people would be very surprised about just how in tune he is, with us and just in general.On that note of independent artists, Equity has worked with Mach-Hommy. What do you think new artists can take away from Mach? He's got a singular trajectory.A lot. Patience. The patience to run your own race. You know, 'cause an artist's career, if you compare it to any sport, it's more like golf than anything. It's a solo sport. You move on your own. So, he hasn't been rushed. He's been able to cultivate a completely unique audience, voice, product, for people. Experience. He's never, ever trying to do too much. There's so much forethought put into everything. And he's very detail oriented, too. So I would say for any independent artist, you want to know as much as you can about your business. And I think that Mach exemplifies that. He has this keen understanding of everything. He always is focused on the art first, and he doesn't compromise anything. And that's kind of what drives people towards an independent career. They don't want to compromise their art for any company or corporation. So I would say, the balance of the patience with the vision, because it takes a while to execute something like that the exact way that you want to without corporate forces essentially overtaking it. So, there's a lot from Mach, 'cause he's just like the ideal independent artist in this climate.Another example of that, I guess, would be Yo Gotti's approach on this last album to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-gotti-interview-cmg-10-free-game-dc-united-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the "Dolla Fo' Dolla" challenge</a>. What went into the distribution side of allowing for that? I know Gotti owns his masters, but how did Equity come in to facilitate that? So Equity created a one-stop shop for Gotti to be able to carry out what he wanted to do, which was, have as many independent artists use his music to kind of amplify their brands and their businesses. So what we did was make sure that everybody had the proper music, all the proper instructions for everything to be uploaded. From there, we made sure that all the metadata, you know, the credits for the music, matched properly for what each streaming platform would need. And then from there, we went to each streaming platform, made sure that the delivery would go correctly, map correctly, so there wouldn't be issues on the backend for any of the streaming platforms. They wouldn't have to have any of the music pulled for infringement or any of that stuff. We lined all of those things up, delivered everything, and just continuing on that, because the challenge is still going. Just making sure that people actually complete the challenge. 'Cause a lot of what's been happening is, when people were working on it previous to us, and then if they'd gotten music outside of this and not used our vehicle to do it, their music has been flagged or taken down, the artwork was incorrect, and a lot of deliveries have been failing. So we're just making sure that Gotti's able to execute on what he was trying to accomplish.In closing here, for new artists who are looking to go the independent route, what does Equity look for in the artists they pursue? We want artists that wanna stay independent. That wanna work and release music. That understand that they're gonna do this anyway, and wanna upload music. We want potential stars, too. So anybody that sees themself as the next Rihanna, J. Cole, Jaden Smith, Jay-Z — we want them here too. So if you were trying to find a way to Roc Nation, we're the starting point for any artists as well. So any and all artists that wanna build their own brand, stay independent, and make money. 'Cause we want artists to have financial stability in their careers, and success.

Inside Equity Distribution: The president of Roc Nation's music distribution service on working with Jay-Z to create a new ownership platform for independent artists

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Florida man is among several who burned his Yeezy collection to protest Kanye West's antisemitism.</li><li>Danny Shiff says that for every pair of shoes he burns, he'll donate another two pairs to charity.</li></ul>A Florida man burned his Yeezy shoe collection on social media in protest of antisemitic remarks made by Kanye West.Danny Shiff, who runs an investment and development firm in Miami Beach, told <a href="https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/florida-man-burns-yeezy-collection-to-protest-rappers-antisemitic-remarks/2894346/">NBC Miami</a> his family owns 45 pairs of Yeezy's between them. Since October 17, Shiff's been setting his Yeezy collection on fire and posting videos of the burning shoes to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shiffee/">Instagram </a>and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shiffee1">TikTok</a>. "Kanye West is going to spread this hate and talk this shit. It's time that everybody drops him," he <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shiffee1/video/7158125304509156654?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1">said</a>. Shiff, originally from Israel, is protesting antisemitic remarks made by West earlier this month. On October 8, <a href="https://www.insider.com/twitter-removes-kanye-west-tweet-about-jewish-people-2022-10">West tweeted</a> that he was "going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE." The following week, West appeared on Revolt TV's "Drink Champs' podcast and said, "the Jewish community, especially in the music industry…they'll take us and milk us till we die." At the time, he told podcast hosts N.O.R.E and DJ EFN that <a href="https://www.insider.com/adidas-drops-kanye-west-ye-anti-semitism-online-campaign-2022-10">brands like Adidas wouldn't drop him no matter what he said</a>.But West's calculations were incorrect — in the weeks since his interview, brands including Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga severed ties with the rapper and producer. On October 27, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-lost-billion-one-day-adidas-gap-cut-ties-2022-10">West said</a> he lost more than $2 billion in a day after Adidas — makers of his Yeezy shoes — ended its relationship with him. In an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkQt5d6KEGp/?hl=en">Instagram post on October 28</a>, Shiff said he'd be saving the burned shoes for an art installation."These shoes were burnt to make a statement. I do agree that it is a waste to burn them, as there are many needy people in the world. So now I will make an art installation from all these shoes and try to auction it during Art Basel In Miami this winter. All proceeds will go to charity," he wrote, adding that he was looking for artists to collaborate with. On October 28, Shiff said in a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shiffee1/video/7159532658618354986?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1">video</a> that after burning nine pairs of Yeezy's on camera, his tenth pair would be his last video, and that he would auction off the rest of his Yeezy's for charity. Though Shiff's videos have not been going viral on his own accounts, typically receiving hundreds of views and likes, a clip from one of his earliest videos has been circulating on TikTok and has received hundreds of thousands of views each on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nowthis/video/7158952882778443054?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7158952882778443054&amp;q=burning%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963911965">several</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mikekruzich/video/7159362160379088174?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7159362160379088174&amp;q=burning%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963911965">accounts</a> that have re-uploaded it onto the platform. The viral clip has stirred significant levels of debate on the platform, with some people saying they think the act of burning the shoes was performative and unlikely to have any significant impact on Ye's wealth and profits from the Yeezy brand. "It doesn't matter if you burn, donate, or auction them all, either way, he already got the money. why waste?" said a top comment with 1,600 likes under a viral <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nowthis/video/7158952882778443054?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7158952882778443054&amp;q=burning%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963911965">repost</a> of Shiff's video. One TikToker who <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hypelabscg/video/7159248752325201194?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7159248752325201194&amp;q=burning%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963911965">reacted</a> to Shiff's clip said he would have "just sold them off" instead of burning them, while another user accused Shiff of filming the videos for <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@flames_401/video/7159275501062917422?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7159275501062917422&amp;q=burning%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963911965">"views."</a> Some other TikTok users stood in solidarity with Shiff, with one user writing, "It's not about money, it's about sending a message," under a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mikekruzich/video/7159362160379088174?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7159362160379088174&amp;q=burning%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963911965">viral repost</a> of the clip. A handful of others have filmed themselves either <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@yaboihatestiktok/video/7158205320366492974?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7158205320366492974">burning</a> or <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@smoking_lasagna/video/7153324995140242734?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7153324995140242734&amp;q=throwing%20out%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963571820">throwing away</a> their Yeezy's over the past few weeks to protest the rapper's remarks. "Kanye's antisemitism and white lives matter propaganda on top of his degrading attacks on everyone who calls him out is absolutely disgusting and I'm no longer interested in having these as part of my shoe collection," wrote one user in an on-screen caption on an October 11 <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@smoking_lasagna/video/7153324995140242734?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7153324995140242734&amp;q=throwing%20out%20yeezys&amp;t=1666963571820">video</a>, where she threw a pair of orange Yeezy sliders in a dumpster. Prior to making antisemitic remarks, Ye was widely criticized for other offensive behavior. He hosted a pop-up shop in July, as <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2022/07/29/yeezy-gap-balenciaga-launch-herzog-de-meuron-car-park/">Dezeen</a> reported, where shoppers had to "Dumpster dive" for Yeezy clothes, and he previously required Gap <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-its-like-to-shop-for-yeezy-gap-photos-2022-8">to sell his merchandise in trash-style bags</a>.<a href="https://www.insider.com/kanye-west-sports-white-lives-matter-shirt-2022-10">He also sported a "White Lives Matter" shirt</a> at Paris Fashion Week and <a href="https://www.insider.com/kanye-west-white-lives-matter-shirts-skid-row-advocates-criticize-2022-10">sent a box of the shirts</a> to homeless people on Los Angeles' Skid Row. Homeless advocates accused West of turning unhoused people into a "political prop."Danny Shiff, Adidas, and representatives for Kanye West did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.<a href="https://www.insider.com/culture">For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</a>

Clips of a man burning his Yeezy collection are going viral, as former fans criticize the rapper for his antisemitic remarks

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12011894" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rose-mcgowan" source="Orion">Rose McGowan</keyword> said she "stands with <keyword id="12020147" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nicki-minaj" source="Orion">Nicki Minaj</keyword>" after the rapper's vaccine controversy.</li><li>Minaj said she wouldn't be getting the COVID-19 vaccine just to attend the <keyword id="11931630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="met-gala" source="Orion">Met Gala</keyword>.</li><li>McGowan posted a video on Instagram and Twitter, referencing the "powerful elite" and "cult leaders."</li></ul>Actor and activist Rose McGowan said she "stands with Nicki Minaj" after the rapper made controversial comments about the <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> vaccine.On Monday September 13, rapper Nicki Minaj tweeted to her 22.7 million followers that she wouldn't be attending this year's Met Gala because entry rules required her to have had the COVID-19 vaccine. This set off <a href="https://www.insider.com/nicki-minaj-met-gala-vaccine-tweet-swollen-testicles-feuds-timeline-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a chain of events</a> leading to Minaj feuding online with world leaders, commentators, and journalists.On Friday, McGowan <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT6WrLxFEDg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted a video on her Instagram</a>, where she has 804,000 followers, and <a href="https://twitter.com/rosemcgowan/status/1438749483785916417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to Twitter</a> where she has over a million, with a cryptic caption. The short video shows McGowan overlaid in front of a photo of Minaj, with "Rake it Up," by rapper Yo Gotti featuring Minaj plays. The on-screen text reads, "I STAN/D WITH NICKI MINAJ." "Both of us know the powerful elite &amp; it's likely you do not," the caption says. "If you are freaking out because she said something you don't believe, it's most likely because you are scared to examine the thought too closely."McGowan added that "millionaires have become billionaires, billionaires are now trillionaires" and urged people to "think" and "question.""Just cos you want to believe what your cult leaders say, doesn't make it fact," she said.On September 13, Minaj said her cousin's friend in Trinidad had "became impotent" and suffered from swollen testicles after he received the vaccine, and she needed to do "more research" before choosing to get it herself.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/planning-for-pregnancy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The CDC has stated</a> there is no evidence the vaccine causes infertility in men or women. Several doctors have also <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-doctors-debunk-nicki-minaj-161440964.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debunked the claim</a>.Minaj's comments caught the attention of journalists and international government officials. England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said in a press briefing that Minaj should be "ashamed." Trinidad and Tobago's health minister Terrence Deyalsingh said in a press conference on Wednesday that there was no evidence of Minaj's claims about her cousin's friend's testicles.Minaj has since told her Instagram followers she has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nicki-minaj-said-locked-in-twitter-jail-twitter-denies-it-2021-9?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended from posting on Twitter</a> because the company "didn't like" what she was saying. Twitter has denied this.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-fauci-responds-to-nicki-minaj-vaccine-skepticism-resounding-no-2021-9">Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, responded to Minaj's claims</a> on CNBC, warning the artist that she needs to "think twice" about what she posts about COVID-19 because of her large platform even if her tweets were "innocent."Insider has reached out to McGowan for clarification about her Instagram post but did not immediately receive a response.<a href="https://www.insider.com/culture">For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</a>

Rose McGowan 'stands with Nicki Minaj' after her controversial vaccine claims, in a cryptic Instagram post referencing cult leaders and the 'powerful elite'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jay-Z is joining the company set to be California's largest <keyword id="14728" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="cannabis">cannabis</keyword> brand as a "chief visionary officer" as part of a <keyword id="1817616" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="SPAC">SPAC</keyword> deal announced on November 24.</li><li>The special purpose acquisition company, Subversive Capital Acquisition, agreed on the same day to acquire the cannabis brand Caliva and the hemp producer Left Coast Ventures, forming The Parent Company in January, when the deal should close. </li><li>Jay-Z will help the company with marketing and brand strategies, while Roc Nation artists <keyword id="3318" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rihanna">Rihanna</keyword>, Yo Gotti, and <keyword id="1102581" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Meek-Mill">Meek Mill</keyword> also invested in the newly formed company via a private placement. </li><li>Also, Jay-Z will lead The Parent Company Social Equity Ventures, which will seek to invest at least 2% of its net income into BIPOC-owned cannabis businesses and "contribute to the effort to rectify the wrongs of prohibition through initiatives that are working toward meaningful change in the criminal justice system."</li><li>2020 has been a <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/spacs-drive-the-majority-of-us-ipo-growth-in-2020-according-to-spac-analytics-1029711247">breakout year for SPACs</a> in general, and the cannabis industry is nascent but expanding, with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-citigroup-jpmorgan-opening-their-doors-to-cannabis-2019-10?IR=T">Wall Street banks gradually</a> becoming more involved with cannabis firms. </li></ul><keyword id="25931" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="billionaire">Billionaire</keyword> Jay-Z is joining the company set to be California's largest cannabis brand as a "chief visionary officer" as part of a SPAC deal announced on November 24.The deal will see a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, called Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp., acquiring cannabis brands Caliva and Left Coast Ventures to form The Parent Company, with deal close targeted for January 2021.The news comes shortly after Jay-Z announced a partnership with Caliva in October that will see him launch his own cannabis line, Monogram, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/24/business/jay-z-cannabis-monogram-trnd/index.html">as reported by CNN</a>. Jay-Z's Roc Nation announced an exclusive partnership with The Parent Company simultaneous with its formation, while Roc Nation artists Rihanna, Yo Gotti, and Meek Mill also joined as investors in the newly formed company via a private placement. According to a press release, the Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp already holds about $575 million in cash in trust, meaning The Parent Company is expected to become one of the best-funded cannabis companies in the US. It will combine the revenues of Caliva and Left Coast Ventures to reach $185 million in revenue in 2020, expecting to hit $334 million in 2021. The Parent Company hopes to reach 90% of all cannabis users in California by 2022. The cannabis market has continued to grow in recent years, with sales in California reaching almost <a href="https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2020/01/16/555143.htm">$3 billion last year</a>, per Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics. <h2>A cannabis SPAC deal with a social advocacy angle</h2>Jay-Z's work as chief visionary will also have a major social component. The rap mogul will take the helm of the company's Social Equity Ventures, which has pledged to invest at least 2% of its net income into BIPOC-owned cannabis businesses.The Social Equity Ventures unit will also "contribute to the effort to rectify the wrongs of prohibition through initiatives that are working toward meaningful change in the criminal justice system," according to the press release. Initiatives will include bail reform, industry vocational training, job placement, expungement clinics, and Social Equity application support."Although we know we can't fully redeem the injustices created by the 'war on drugs', we can help shape a brighter and inclusive future," Jay-Z said in the press release. "The brands we build will pave a new path forward for a legacy rooted in equity, access, and justice. We're creating something people can trust and we're investing in our future, our people, and our communities."When reached for comment, Jay-Z referred Business Insider to his comments from the press release.<h2>SPACs are so hot right now, and cannabis keeps heating up</h2>Using SPACs to invest in cannabis companies has become all the rave lately, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subversive-capital-raises-225-million-for-a-cannabis-reit-2020-2">as extensively reported by Business Insider's Jeremy Berke</a>.Several cannabis SPACs have turned into multimillion-dollar juggernauts through deals similar to The Parent Company. In August, Credit Suisse led Silver Spike Capital's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silver-spike-capital-raised-250-million-for-cannabis-fund-2019-8">$250 million public offering</a>, and Citigroup's Canadian branch helped lead the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-07-17/bespoke-capital-acquisition-corp-files-preliminary-prospectus-for-u-s-350-000-000-initial-public-offering?sref=BLKWHazc">$350 million SPAC public offering</a> of the private equity firm Bespoke Capital, Berke reported.It's a bit of an issue from an investment perspective that cannabis is still illegal on a federal level, although states including California have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-new-year-brings-broad-pot-legalization-to-california-2018-1">legalized it for recreational use</a>. The cannabis industry could <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-marijuana-stocks-to-invest-cowen-vivien-azer-2019-9">grow into an $80 billion industry by 2030</a> if it becomes legal under federal law, according to the investment bank Cowen. This potential increasingly drawing Wall Street establishments such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan into assisting <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-citigroup-jpmorgan-opening-their-doors-to-cannabis-2019-10?IR=T">cannabis-related SPACs going public</a> in the US and advising their clients on cannabis-related deals, Berke also reported. And now Jay-Z and his Roc Nation superstars are players at the table.

SPACs are so hot even Jay-Z is partnering with one. He's set to be the 'chief visionary officer' for California's largest cannabis firm.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13167572" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kendrick-lamar" source="Orion">Kendrick Lamar</keyword> just released his last album with TDE, "<keyword id="13993749" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mr-morale-the-big-steppers" source="Orion">Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers</keyword>."</li></ul><ul class="summary-list"><li>Each song is filled with allegories and metaphors that are hard to understand with just one listen.</li></ul><ul class="summary-list"></ul>Kendrick Lamar exorcizes personal and societal demons in "Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers," his first double album and his final project released under the independent label he helped establish, TDE.The 18-track double album sees Lamar call out the clickbait economy, admit to the ways lust has negatively impacted his life, find grace for public figures fighting invisible demons, and chase after a new definition of manhood. He also talks about some of the sacrifices he made to strengthen who he was when the <a href="https://www.insider.com/kendrick-lamar-artist-of-the-decade-2010s-2019-12">crown</a> was set aside. Lamar teamed up with a number of famed producers to pull it off, including <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/roli-administration-luminary-hoxton-seaboard-lumi-music-2021-9?_ga=2.10639922.765532686.1652666837-1996747788.1647018266">Pharrell</a>, the Alchemist, Boi-1da, Sounwave, Duval Timothy, Beach Noise, and more to create the album's sonic story. As a listener, who's guilty of much of what Lamar criticizes the project, I listened closely to the double album, putting it through a series of tests: blasting it through my car speakers while driving to my local <a href="https://www.insider.com/trader-joes-best-things-to-buy-family-with-kids-2022-4">Trader Joe's</a> on Saturday, playing it through my waterproof speaker in the shower, and streaming it from the TV while cleaning the house on Sunday.Once my research was complete, I selected my favorite lyrics and assigned an extremely unscientific overall score to each song based on how many of my edges it snatched on the very first listen, and how many times I was forced to run it back since. Let's take a trip through my feelings together before I start a GoFundMe campaign to pay for the therapy to process Lamar telling me Tupac being dead means I have to think for myself. <h2>On 'Savior,' Lamar forces listeners to consider their idol worship</h2>On track four from disc two, Lamar informs listeners that while they might be inspired by his work and the examples set by J. Cole, Lebron James, and Future they cannot be saved by them. With help from Baby Keem and Chicago singer Sam Dew, the rapper also calls out fairweather friends on this track. He's suspicious of those "smiling in his face" and isn't sold on those who "<a href="https://genius.com/25810004/Kendrick-lamar-baby-keem-and-sam-dew-savior/I-seen-niggas-arguing-about-whos-blacker-even-blacked-out-screens-and-called-it-solidarity"> blacked out screens and called it solidarity</a>." Best lyrics: "Seen a Christian say the vaccine mark of the beast / Then he caught COVID and prayed to Pfizer for relief / Then I caught COVID and started to question <a href="https://www.insider.com/kyrie-irving-200-million-contract-extension-hanging-over-nets-2022-4">Kyrie </a>/ Will I stay organic or hurt in this bed for two weeks? (You really wanna know?)"Score: 10/10 Some people I love are still disappointed that I let "them put that thing in my arm," so it felt validating to hear Lamar rap about suspicions surrounding the COVID-19 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fda-authorizes-3rd-pfizer-booster-shot-for-children-5-11-2022-5?_ga=2.183352992.765532686.1652666837-1996747788.1647018266">vaccine</a> in the Black community. <h2>'We Cry Together' centers Lamar and Taylour Paige as they show us exactly how stupid we sound in an argument</h2>Lamar and "Zola" actress <a href="https://www.insider.com/zola-aziah-king-movie-nudity-taylour-paige-riley-keough-2021-6">Taylour Paige</a> go back and forth on this record where they spit jabs, co-written by The Alchemist, Bēkon, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florence-welch-calvin-harris-slam-conservatives-for-using-their-songs-2017-10?_ga=2.81952016.765532686.1652666837-1996747788.1647018266">Florence Welch</a>, J.LBS, and Lamar himself. The rapper and actress act out an argument that seems like it was pulled straight from somebody's IG Story after they've been recording their neighbors going at it again.Best lyrics: "Bitches starin' at me in Zara, hoes scratchin' my cars up / Shoulda followed my mind in '09 and just moved to Georgia"Score: 10/10 This is the most I've appreciated the "having a fake argument" as a means to five a lecture on a song device since 50 Cent's 2005 hit, "Baltimore Love Thing." I can't stop listening to it. (P.s. I always thought L.C. should've gone to Paris instead of staying with Jason during the season finale of <a href="https://www.insider.com/surprising-things-about-the-hills-2018-8">"The Hills,"</a> and this song proves that I was right once again. Because Paige's character would've been better off in <a href="https://www.insider.com/rhoa-marlo-hampton-full-time-rumors-2022-5">Atlanta</a>. That city rarely fails a pretty girl with a plan.)<h2>'Father Time' sees Lamar confront ideas about masculinity</h2>In "Father Time," the fifth song on the first album, Lamar details what he absorbed from childhood, revealing how those lessons have been useful on his journey to success. He's aided on the track by British singer-songwriter Sampha.Best lyrics: "Daddy issues kept me competitive, that's a fact, n— / I don't give a fuck what's the narrative, I am that n— / When Kanye got back with Drake, I was slightly confused / Guess I'm not mature as I think, got some healin' to do"Score: 10/10 I'm just glad someone else admitted that petty can be powerful. <h2>'Count Me Out' sees Lamar admit that reaching for the crown is a result of his tendency to 'care too much' </h2>Disc two opens with Lamar saying how much he likes to be counted out by those who doubt him. Here he seems to resolve his misgivings about what is real and what is not seen in "Mother I Sober." He boldly states "this time around I trust myself." Best lyrics: "Some put it on the Devil when they fall short / I put it on my ego, lord of all lords"Score: 10/10 This is the track with the most replay value for me. It passed the car test with flying colors. <h2>'Purple Hearts' references Christ, codeine, and cheating spouses seamlessly </h2>This song closes the first disc with appearances from Summer Walker and Ghostface Killah. With his "crown on Bob Marley" and his "wrist on Yo Gotti," Lamar explains why he ducks the trappings of celebrity life and chooses to remove himself from friendships with other "rappers" because of his suspicion about their "intentions."Best Lyrics: "Summer in the storm, I cannot conform / I just might love you still, just think I love me more / It ain't love if you gon' judge me for my past / No, it ain't love if you ain't never eat my ass / It ain't love if you just only tie me down because you seen me in my bag / That's why I'm anti-everyone before this mask"Score: 10/10 If there's something more dependable than Walker having a "forget all y'all, I'm out" attitude, I haven't seen it yet. <h2>'Worldwide Steppers' sees Lamar highlight his shortcomings and reject efforts to reduce art to analytics</h2>The third track on the first disc dives into stories of disassociation, promiscuity, and grief. Notoriously more private than his peers, Lamar rarely delves into details of his relationship. Still, here he shines a light on the developmental stages he's gone through as an artist, a trauma survivor, and a Black man with his fianceé Whitney Alford at his side. Best lyrics: "The media's the new religion, you killed the consciousness (What the fuck?) / Your jealousy is way too pretentious, you killed accomplishments (What the fuck?) / N— killed freedom of speech, everyone sensitive (What the fuck?) / If your opinion fuck 'round and leak, might as well send your will (What the—) / The industry has killed the creators, I'll be the first to say (What the fuck?) / To each exec', "I'm saving your children"—We can't negotiate"Score: 10/10 One: This should be the official anthem for the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/influencers-share-favorite-creator-economy-startups-to-make-money-2022-1">creator economy</a>. Two: I am not OK. <h2>'Crown' reminds us external praise is linked often to convenience</h2>This song immediately made me think of Beyoncé's 2003 song "Yes." The same way Queen Bey asserted that "the first time I say no, it's like I never said yes," Lamar says that his rap crown comes with those who get "amnesia" the first time he declines to appease them. Traditionally celebrated for not being big on braggadocious rap bars, he reveals that he purchased cars to fight the feelings associated with the fact that "Favor come with favors and you can't say no."Best lyrics: "But the time it'll come (But the time it'll come) / To not be there when somebody needs you (When somebody needs you)"Score: 10/10 Lamar might use a mic and Tiktokers may use their camera's 4K setting, but the message is the same as the song's closing lyrics: "I can't please everybody." <h2>'Rich Spirit' marks the value of standing alone at a time when one can easily be guilty by association</h2>Track seven on disc one declares the death of oversized hip-hop entourages and warns of their potential pitfalls. As he fasts from fooling around with randoms and chilling with hangers-on, Lamar tells his peers that they "gotta watch your homies and police" because "clout chasing" is a "hell of a disease." Best lyrics: "I would never live my life on a computer / IG'll get you life for a chikabooya / More power to ya, love 'em from a distance / Why you always in the mirror more than the bitches?" Score: 10/10 Somehow boasting about boundaries has become the new black. I'm into it. <h2>'Mr. Morale' find empathy for Lamar's fellow celebrities </h2>"Mr. Morale," the seventh track from the second disc, calls out the evils some have faced before fame. Lamar reframes the perception of public figures who might not receive as much grace for their mistakes and reminds us that fame and fortune might not be the cure-all we would assume it would be. He centers on the t<a href="https://www.insider.com/r-kelly-verdict-sex-crimes-trial-2021-9">rauma of R. Kelly,</a> and wonders aloud if <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/05/21/oprah-the-me-you-cant-see-talks-rape-and-trauma/5186682001/">"Oprah found closure." </a>Best lyrics: "Tyler Perry, the face of a thousand rappers / Using violence to cover what really happen / I know somebody's listenin' / Past life regressions to know my conditions / It's based off experience / Comma for comma, my habits insensitive"Score: 10/10 This track feels the most connected to the album's prelude "The Heart Part 5" in which Lamar discusses living in a land where "hurt people more people." <h2>'Savior (Interlude)' speaks to the lack of civility you can encounter in your own home </h2>In the fourth track on the second disc, which features Lamar's cousin Baby Keem and German spiritual self-help author Eckhart Tolle, the rapper sets the scene for the following song "Savior." Best lyrics: "You ever seen your mama strung out while you studied division? Your uncle ever stole from you, day after Christmas? / Seen both of those in the county jail visits / The first and the fifteenth, the only religion" Score: 9/10 Lamar expresses how trauma can create reverence for payday. If you've ever stepped foot in a check-cashing spot after waiting all day for the mailman to bring salvation to your mailbox, or argued with your cousin about why chicken Cup O' Noodles is the best flavor, you can relate.<h2>'United in Grief' reunites Lamar with the listener after '1855 days' of writer's block</h2>The first track on disc one sets the tone for the album perfectly. Best Lyrics: "Paid lottery for it, I ain't want it in portions"Score: 9/10 With references to writers block, therapy, and the trends he's been observing while sitting in silence, this track stoked my excitement. <h2>'Mirror' forces us all to acknowledge our own 'toxic energy' </h2>In "Mirror," which closes out the second disc, Lamar releases himself from the prison of prestige and encourages the listener to find their own path to freedom because we might be the "main character" but we're kind of the villain too. Best Lyrics: "Workin' on myself, the counselin' is not easy / Don't you point a finger, just to point a finger / 'Cause critical thinkin' is a deal-breaker / Faith in one man is a ship sinking"Score: 8/10 <h2>On 'Mother I Sober,' Lamar personalizes the references to generational trauma he embedded in 'Mr. Morale.'</h2>In the eighth track on the second disk, which features Beth Gibbons of Portishead, Lamar shares a story of being gaslit by a parent who didn't believe his experience with abuse as they were still suffering from their own trauma.Best lyrics: "In the shadows clingin' to my soul as my only critic / Where's my faith? Told you I was Christian, but just not today"Score: 8/10 I'm not crying. You're crying. <h2>'N95' reminds us that flexing 'outside' isn't always all it's cracked up to be</h2>Lamar comments on the hypocrisy in our cultural addiction to aesthetics and encourages us to look at who we are beyond how we want to be perceived on the second track of the first disc. Best lyrics: "The industry wants n— and bitches to sleep in a box while they making a mockery followin' us / This ain't Monopoly, watchin' for love/ this ain't monogamy, y'all gettin' fucked"Score: 8/10 Women have overshadowed men as faces of hip-hop consumerism and there's something about Lamar rapping about Birkins as the "mask" for designer drip that comforts me. <h2>'Die Hard' taps into the fear that there really is such a thing as too much honesty </h2>The long-suffering hip-hop girlfriend narrative is a staple in hip-hop, but it's slowly being shaken up by songs like these. With help from Blxst and Amanda Reifer, the rapper is upfront about who he's been and who he wants to be. Old habits are no match for his new ideas. Best lyrics: "We all got enough to lie about / My truth too complicated to hide now / Can I open up? Is it safe or not? / I'm afraid a little, you relate or not?"Score: 8/10 The track is even more beautiful because other songs on the project show how he intends to be better.<h2>In 'Rich (Interlude),' Kodak Black details his struggles in the industry.</h2>Controversial rapper Kodak Black, who pleaded guilty to charges of assault and battery in an incident involving a teenage girl, jumps in front of the criticisms he knows are coming his way for being featured on Lamar's album. (Black was later sentenced to probation for the incident, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kodak-black-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-a358cc99b5001c0eb611e548a7a794b6">according to the AP</a>.) Best lyrics: "A bunch of lost souls in survival mode / It wasn't no way for us unless we found our own"Score: 8/10 I always appreciate tales of making a way out of no way. <h2>'Silent Hill' sees Lamar lean into a trap vibe with Black.</h2>In the third track on disc two, Lamar appears to reject his role as the patron saint of commercially viable conscious rappers with the line "Like it when they pro-Black, but I'm more Kodak Black." Following Lamar's verse, Black shares his desire to give his children what he lacked and appears to shed light on at least part of how he became such a controversial figure in the culture. Best lyrics: "It's like six o'clock, bitch, you talk too much / You makin' it awkward, love I mean, it's hard enough"Score: 8/10 Anything that makes me think about my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcp2KpgElRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorite scene in "BMF"</a> is fine by me.<h2>'Auntie Diaries' is a big swing that brings to mind 2011's 'Tammy's Song'</h2>In the sixth track from disc two, Lamar reveals his own experiences with how the LGBTQ community intersected with his family dynamics.Best lyrics: "I said, 'Mr. Preacherman, should we love thy neighbor? / The laws of the land or the heart, what's greater?' /I recognize the study she was taught since birth / But that don't justify the feelings that my cousin preserved /The building was thinking out loud, bad angel / That's when you looked at me and smiled, said, 'Thank you' / The day I chose humanity over religion / The family got closer, it was all forgiven"Score: 7/10 The song has the ability to have us question who we were before we realized others were watching for quite a while.

The best lyrics from every song on Kendrick Lamar's final album on TDE 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Kanye West is back to getting things off his chest on Twitter.It started Tuesday night, when West asked, "Has anybody ever heard of Bob Ezrin?"&#xa0;Ezrin, a 66-year-old music producer who has worked with artists such as Phish and Pink Floyd, wrote a harsh critique of West in industry analyst Bob Lefsetz's popular&#xa0;<a href="http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2016/02/22/bob-ezrin-on-kanye-west/">music newsletter</a>."Unlike other creators in his genre like Jay-Z, Tupac, Biggie, or even M.C. Hammer for that matter, it's unlikely that we'll be quoting too many of Kanye's songs 20 years from now," he wrote. "He didn't open up new avenues of public discourse like NWA, or introduce the world to a new art form like Grandmaster Flash, or even meaningfully and memorably address social issues through his music like Marshall, Macklemore, and Kendrick."The producer also said, "Kanye's greatest achievements have been in the form of excessive behavior, egomaniacal tantrums, and tasteless grandstanding."West didn't take kindly to those&#xa0;criticisms and unloaded on Twitter saying, "What the f--- does he know about rap," "Do something relevant," and "I'm tired of old people that have no connection with anything trying to comment on music."<div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>He also said he would send "free Yeezys," West's shoes with Adidas, to Ezrin's children to "make up for the embarrassment" Ezrin caused.<div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>After going after Ezrin some more, Kanye&#xa0;took a jab at Taylor Swift, referring to her as "you know who.""I made 'Dark Fantasy' and 'Watch the Throne' in one year and wasn't nominated for either and you know who has two albums of the year," he tweeted. <div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>Swift won her second album of the year Grammy this year, becoming the only woman to do so. In her acceptance speech, she may have alluded to West and said, "There will be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame."&#xa0;West's song "Famous," on his newest album&#xa0;"The Life of Pablo," makes an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-defends-taylor-swift-lyric-2016-2">unflattering reference to Swift</a>, saying, "I made that b---- famous."&#xa0;&#xa0;He then went on to send "positive vibes."<div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>West also <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-kanye-west-reference-debt-einstein-on-new-track-20160224">debuted</a> a new song at&#xa0;Yo Gotti's album-listening party a 1 Oak in L.A.Listen below:<div></div>&#xa0; <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/detective-munch-on-10-tv-shows-2016-2">'Detective John Munch' has appeared on 10 different TV shows across four networks</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="k1dGlvMDE6TaGcXVaPOP_I7Lbmb3yueL" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

You Searched For "yo gotti" and got 10 results

Yo Gotti on his new double album, co-ownership in a Major League Soccer team, and business advice from Jay-Z

John Lynch

Former NBA star Zach Randolph & Marcus 'Head' Howell on building NLess Entertainment and the rise of Moneybagg Yo

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Yo Gotti talks about his prison-reform efforts with Jay-Z, recent investment in an esports company, and his upcoming album 'for young hustlers'

John Lynch

Man 'distraught' over breakup with his girlfriend arrested after planning a mass shooting at a Memphis arena, police say

Katie Balevic

Inside Equity Distribution: The president of Roc Nation's music distribution service on working with Jay-Z to create a new ownership platform for independent artists

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Clips of a man burning his Yeezy collection are going viral, as former fans criticize the rapper for his antisemitic remarks

Charissa Cheong,Amanda Krause

Rose McGowan 'stands with Nicki Minaj' after her controversial vaccine claims, in a cryptic Instagram post referencing cult leaders and the 'powerful elite'

Lindsay Dodgson

SPACs are so hot even Jay-Z is partnering with one. He's set to be the 'chief visionary officer' for California's largest cannabis firm.

Dominic-Madori Davis

The best lyrics from every song on Kendrick Lamar's final album on TDE 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'

Keyaira Boone

Kanye West eviscerated a critic of his album and went after Taylor Swift again

Anjelica Oswald

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