You already know that Timbaland has found himself in some controversy over his music competition, and it is playing out on social media. One of the contestants, Amari Blaze, has been very vocal about her objections to how the contest has unfolded. And when I say vocal, I mean VERY vocal!
By the way, it should be noted that the competition is not over. The Timbaland x Orbiiit Global Talent Search 2026 is still moving toward its conclusion, and the ultimate winner has yet to be determined.
However, I think Amari has raised some real questions. Unfortunately, those questions may get lost in the sauce because she is also a disgruntled contestant who is no longer advancing. That does not automatically make her wrong, but it does add some context.
Now, she apparently had some real motion in the competition and believed she was doing well enough to continue advancing. But somewhere along the way, things did not work out the way she expected.
And that’s where the problems started. Before we continue let’s watch her second video. Click here for that: https://www.instagram.com/reel/De414bROdqq/?psln=MmkxNWR4MjM1MGVy
First of all, these contests have always been a little weird to me. Why? Because people can actually PAY for additional votes!
I’ve seen this quite a bit over the years, and I have simply refused to participate. It just feels strange to me that a talent competition can also become a contest over who can generate the most financial support.
Anyway, other people are not like me. They participate, they support their people, and they put real money behind the artists they want to see win.
In this case, Orbiiit’s competition allows free voting, but it also offers supporters the ability to purchase additional votes. So, the more financial support an artist can generate, the more voting power that artist can potentially receive.
That’s where Amari Blaze has a serious problem.
She claims that she and her supporters invested money into the competition, only for her run to come to an end. From her perspective, something about the results simply does not add up.
Her position? She believes the process may have been rigged.
Now, let’s be very clear. That is her allegation, not an established fact.
Nevertheless, she has raised some questions that I believe deserve answers.
One of her concerns involves contestants who allegedly moved ahead despite having relatively small social media followings. She has also questioned why Timbaland was already following certain participants on social media.
Now, does that prove anything? Absolutely not.
A person can have a small following and still have extremely dedicated supporters. A famous producer can follow an artist without there being anything inappropriate about it.
But I understand why she is looking at these things with suspicion, especially after spending money and encouraging her supporters to do the same.
And then there is another component to this whole situation.
Here is the second video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/De685_tuO3w
Amari Blaze’s caption. said, “This is the last part of me discussing this comp. To clear some confusion up I only trusted it due to me reading terms and conditions and prior in person interactions with Timbo đŻthere were a lot of rules that were not followed bc they didnât care as long as it brought in more money.
Using ai generated tools to determine unfairness was THE PROBLEM. preying on underground artists WAS THE PROBLEM. it was a money grab and with over 1000 artists who have experienced this same scam as me I didnât really need proof bc it was DEEP in the pudding đ
No man is bigger than God and I do not care about the risk of blackballing when you are scamming everyday working humans who spent their hard earned money supporting these big celebrities âŒïž”
The charity money.
The competition has a philanthropic component connected to the Adopting Courage Foundation, a legitimate nonprofit organization focused on underserved young people.
This organization has also been publicly associated with Timbaland’s charitable efforts. That relationship, by itself, is not evidence of wrongdoing.
Still, I think it is fair to ask how the money moves.
How much of the money spent on votes actually goes to the charity? How much goes toward operating the competition? What percentage, if any, is retained by the platform or its business partners?
These are reasonable questions when people are spending their hard-earned money to support emerging artists.
And I want to be clear about something else. We are not accusing the foundation of doing anything wrong. We are not saying Timbaland has committed fraud. We simply do not have the financial information necessary to make those claims.
But transparency would certainly help.
Meanwhile, Amari Blaze has made it clear that she is not going away quietly. She has threatened to report the situation to the Federal Trade Commission and has essentially vowed to become Timbaland’s worst nightmare.
And judging from the way she has been going off on social media, she is certainly trying!
As of this writing, I have not found a public response from Timbaland addressing her specific allegations. Nor have I verified any formal legal proceedings arising from her complaints.
And I would not necessarily expect Timbo to jump into the middle of an internet war with a disappointed contestant. He has a lot going on, and the competition itself is still progressing.
But here’s my larger point.
Timbaland is one of the greatest producers Hip-Hop has ever produced. His legacy is undeniable. From Missy Elliott and Aaliyah to JAY-Z, Justin Timberlake and countless others, this man has helped shape the sound of popular music for decades.
That legacy is exactly why people put so much faith in an opportunity bearing his name.
Independent artists are hungry for opportunities. They want exposure, mentorship, a record deal, a feature or simply a chance to have somebody important hear their music.
So when a major name attaches himself to a contest, people take that seriously.
And when money becomes part of the equation, the expectations should be even higher.
Anyway, I hope everybody involved can get some clarity. I also hope the eventual winners get the opportunities they were promised.
And before I go, let me say one more thing.
Don’t forget to vote!
There is some very important voting taking place in this country, and unlike these talent competitions, you do not have to pay to cast your ballot!
So get out there, exercise your rights and make your voice heard.
And while you’re at it, leave a comment and tell me what you think about Timbaland’s contest. Should people be able to pay for extra votes in a talent competition, or does that defeat the entire purpose?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
]]>The president’s October 25 Truth Social post ran 1,323 words, according to Mediaite. He accused the HBO host of dishonesty following Friday’s episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher.”
“Letâs talk about this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER, Bill Maher. Heâs got a Low Rated Show on equally Low Rated HBO, which was once, long ago, a Network of Quality and Excitement â But thatâs all gone. Itâs not âHOTâ anymore!” Donald Trump fumed.
Maher, Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock joined Trump for the October 15 dinner. The president praised the gathering the next day, but his new post described the meeting as a waste of time.
Trump also disputed how long they spent together. Maher described four hours, while Smith previously put the visit at four hours and 20 minutes. The president claimed it lasted two hours or less.
“I wanted to tell Bill that heâs a major POTHEAD. Heâs got to stop, itâs very bad for his health. He looked like hell this time. Bill was drunk and had alcohol in his hand as he walked through the White House. Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock came along with him. Overall, I thought it was a good meeting. It didnât last four hours, it lasted two hours, maybe less, and everybody was happy. We have the timestamps. I learned nothing, and felt it was a waste of time,” Trump fumed.
On Friday’s show, Maher defended meeting with Trump despite their differences. He argued that a private conversation let him raise complaints directly with the president rather than write criticism Trump might never read.
“I like these dinners,” Maher said.
His account included talk about the Supreme Court, ICE shootings and the treatment of Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war. He also said he told Trump that Pete Hegseth was hurting him.
The comedian credited the president with hearing him out. Maher said Trump kept his temper and let him speak, while admitting he had interrupted Trump during their conversation.
Smith had already faced questions about what the guests accomplished. As AllHipHop previously reported, Charlamagne Tha God wanted a discussion that viewers could watch, so the public could judge the exchange instead of relying on the guests’ accounts.
Smith said the guests had been required to surrender their phones. That rule applied to Kid Rock, Maher and the comedian’s executive producer too. Smith said he would have liked to film the conversation.
After dinner, Smith told CNN he raised concerns about funding for historically Black colleges and universities. He said businesses feared donations could draw trouble because of Trump’s position on diversity, equity and inclusion. According to Smith, Trump agreed to examine the issue but made no firm commitment.
]]>Police announced the arrest Monday, October 26.
Detectives took Rivers into custody Sunday, a day after the gunfire near Perry and Manatee streets in Tallahassee. He faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent, police said.
At Monday’s detention hearing, Judge Andrew Sheeran barred Rivers from contacting victims or witnesses, including through someone else. Police must monitor his calls from juvenile detention unless he is speaking with his attorney. Judge Sheeran also prohibited social media access.
A judge agreed to keep the arrest affidavit sealed at the police department’s request to protect the investigation. Campbell told WTXL the November 16 arraignment date would likely change as the case moved to adult court.
Four of the 11 people shot were Leon County Schools students, the district confirmed Monday, according to WTXL.
The district said Rivers was not enrolled at one of its high schools. It declined to identify the injured students or their schools and said counselors were available for students affected by the violence.
The shooting on Sunday happened near Bragg Memorial Stadium during the school’s homecoming weekend. Officers helped move victims from the scene and get them medical care while the area was still unsafe, AllHipHop previously reported.
The youngest person hurt was 11. FAMU said after the shooting that its campus was safe and asked people to stay away from the area so officers could investigate.
Eleven people suffered gunshot wounds, and another injured an ankle while running away, police said. The injured included six adults and six juveniles.
Police linked the gunfire to a fight involving people who already knew each other. Detectives said their early work had not identified any of the injured as an intended target.
]]>On Instagram, 50 shared the report about his request and objected to Kemp using a claim about his son’s health as an insult. He wrote:
“This is the greatest example of bullying a minor saying he is on the spectrum. I have friends who kids are, it’s not a joke.”
Kemp’s comments targeted the teen online after 50 inserted himself into news about an alleged attack on her own son, William Roberts III, whose father is Rick Ross.
William told police a man struck him with a gun and threatened to kill him in Daytona Beach, Florida, on October 11. William identified a suspect in a photo lineup.
Investigators checked city cameras but did not find video of the alleged attack. Police arrested a suspect on aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges.
50 mocked William’s decision to call police, turning it into another joke about Ross’ former job as a correctional officer.
He questioned why William had not called his father and suggested Ross might have called police himself.
He then offered to help the accused attacker with bond and legal representation from attorney Drew Findling. Whether 50 paid anything was not confirmed.
A judge set the suspect’s bond at $50,000 and ordered him to wear an ankle monitor and avoid contact with William.
Findling did not appear at that court hearing,.
Kemp responded by aiming insults at Sire and the boy’s mother, Daphne Joy.
Sire had already been the focus of several public exchanges between his parents over Joy’s connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs and interviews about her sex life.
Earlier this month, 50 questioned how their son felt after Joy’s September 29 appearance on “Pillow Talk.”
Host Ryan Pownall asked her about sexual rumors involving Kanye West and Bianca Censori. Joy did not confirm the rumored encounter. She separately denied a claim that Beyoncé and Jay-Z had offered her $250,000 for a sexual encounter.
While reposting the interview, 50 brought the conversation back to Sire.
“Why they don’t ask how does your 14 year old son feel about you saying all this.”
His public concern about Sire also ran through the family’s dispute in 2024. Producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones had accused Joy of being paid for sex work by Combs in a lawsuit.
Joy then accused 50 of rape and physical abuse, which he denied. In a statement to Us Weekly, he said the accusations followed his custody decision.
“My son Sire is my main priority and keeping him in a safe environment is my only focus at this time.”
In May, 50 again invoked Sire after intimate footage alleged to involve Joy and Combs circulated online.
He said their son was the victim and asked readers to consider what it would mean for him to learn about the footage at school.
Joy later said she had been filmed without her consent.
She said the person who held the recording demanded money to keep it private and that she nearly paid before refusing.
]]>The rapper, whose legal name is Markies Conway, pleaded not guilty. He denied hiring Kewon White to kill MO3, the Dallas rapper born Melvin Noble.
Judge Chika Anyiam questioned a pool of 75 about media coverage and possible bias, FOX 4 reported.
White was convicted on September 4 and sentenced to life in prison. MO3 died on November 11, 2020, after White chased him on foot along Interstate 35E in Dallas and shot him with a rifle.
The case also brought a fight over how jurors should hear rap music. Prosecutors argued that lyrics helped show motive and intent.
The defense said the songs were creative work rather than accounts of real events. NBC DFW’s coverage of pretrial hearings described a detective pointing to songs as support for the state’s claim that the killing was a paid hit.
That detective also testified about an alleged feud between the two rappers and said White had appeared onstage with Yella Beezy at a concert before MO3 was killed. A third defendant, Devin Brown, was accused of helping arrange the shooting. NBC DFW reported that all three men initially pleaded not guilty.
Another part of the case involves someone Yella Beezy knew long before the trial: his childhood friend Jose Bodega.
As AllHipHop previously reported, the rapper, legally named Theodore Thomas, agreed to testify against him through a deal connected to a separate federal drug case.
At an October 6 hearing, defense expert Julianna Moore said Bodega had pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and agreed to help prosecutors. She also said prosecutors dismissed a gun charge against him, a point the defense could raise when questioning his account.
Both sides were expected to call witnesses who testified during White’s trial, according to FOX 4.
Jury selection was expected to take several days.
]]>His October 19 motion asked the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to reject their Reasonably Shady application for cosmetics and candles.
Dixon and Bryant, known for The Real Housewives of Potomac, filed their application on February 1, 2022, listing the disputed goods.
The motion asks the board to decide, based on the existing evidence, whether they genuinely intended to sell the goods when they applied.
“The undisputed record in this proceeding compels a single conclusion: Applicants lacked a bona fide intent to use the mark REASONABLY SHADY on any good in International Class 3 or International Class 4 at the time they filed the Application. The record is barrenânot merely thinâof any evidence of such intent. Opposer is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.”
Eminem originally opposed their application in February 2023, arguing that the name could confuse shoppers familiar with his Shady and Slim Shady brands.
The USPTO permits applications before sales begin but requires applicants to have a good-faith plan to use the mark.
His lawyers said years of discovery yielded no business records showing concrete plans for eye shadow, lip gloss, makeup or candles.
Bryant discussed the earlier trademark dispute during this December 2024 Breakfast Club interview, before Eminem filed the current motion.
Dixon’s July 2023 deposition supplied part of his argument for an early ruling, with her answer cited in the motion.
“No current plans, but that’s not to say that we would never. But at the moment, we don’t have anything.”
In her September declaration, Dixon said that testimony described July 2023, rather than her intentions when the women filed their application.
“I did not include candles, lip gloss, eye shadow, or make-up in the application simply to prevent others from obtaining trademark rights or to reserve the REASONABLY SHADY name without an intention to use it. They were included because we intended to expand the existing REASONABLY SHADY brand into those product categories.”
The board allowed Eminem’s intent claim on August 17 and reopened discovery on that claim through September 30.
]]>The couple attended the champagne brand’s celebration at Omnia nightclub, according to the Daily Mail. Photos published with the report showed them walking arm in arm through the club. BeyoncĂ© wore a green dress, while Jay wore black with a diamond chain.
Ace of Spades is the familiar name for Armand de Brignac, the French champagne business Jay co-owns. He became its sole owner in 2014, then sold half the company to Moët Hennessy in 2021.
That deal brought him into business with LVMH’s wine and spirits division. Its current brand profile still lists Armand de Brignac as a joint venture between Jay and MoĂ«t Hennessy. LVMH also recorded its 50 percent stake in its 2021 results report.
When the champagne partnership was announced in 2021, Jay said he wanted the brand to outlive him.
“We don’t cut corners or lean on fame to sell the product. We’ve built it through passion and integrity.”
The group said it began integrating the champagne house into its business in the third quarter of that year. The anniversary reaches back to 2006, the year LVMH identifies as the brand’s start.
Jay worked with the Cattier family, whose champagne-making history stretches back more than 250 years. Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son Alexandre are the winemakers behind the range.
The brand’s identity goes beyond the gold bottle. Its first release was Brut Gold, a champagne made by blending wine from three vintages. The company also produces a vintage champagne, with 2015 as its first Blanc de Noirs. Its cellars are in Rilly-La-Montagne in France.
The packaging is also hand-finished. According to LVMH, workers hand-apply French pewter labels to the metal-coated bottles, then polish them. Those details sit behind a label that has remained part of Jay’s business life through full ownership and a partnership with a much larger group.
The Vegas outing followed his two SoFi Stadium anniversary shows in Inglewood on October 23 and October 24. The concerts honored Reasonable Doubt at 30 years old and The Blueprint at 25.
]]>Dinah Jane of Fifth Harmony will sing the national anthem, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s report on the entertainment lineup.
On the court, neither team can close out the championship Monday. The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries enter Game 5 tied at two wins apiece after Golden State won Saturday’s game 67-62. A win Monday puts one team a victory away from the title in the best-of-seven series.
For the Valkyries, this is their first trip to the Finals in just their second season. They reached this round by sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in three games, after needing three games to get past the Dallas Wings in the opening round.
Atlanta gave Saturday’s crowd a different hometown soundtrack. Big Boi brought Sleepy Brown out for the Game 4 halftime show at State Farm Arena, drawing from the OutKast catalog rather than making it an OutKast reunion. AndrĂ© 3000 did not perform.
The set included “Ms. Jackson,” “So Fresh, So Clean” and “The Way You Move.” The two wore fur coats, brown for Big Boi and gray for Sleepy Brown.
Before tipoff, actress Crystal Renee Hayslett sang the anthem. Pastor Troy performed “No Mo Play in G.A.” during a separate break in play, not as part of Big Boi’s halftime set.
Those appearances followed a Game 3 halftime show led by Quavo. Q Parker of 112 also performed before that game, giving the Atlanta dates a lineup drawn from several eras of the city’s music.
Monday’s booking adds another arena appearance to En Vogue’s busy year. The group joined TLC and Salt-N-Pepa for the “IT’S ICONIC” tour announced in March. That bill brought the three acts together for their first shared tour, with a schedule running from August through October and a final listed stop in Concord, California.
Game 5 tips off at 5 P.M. Pacific and 8 P.M. Eastern. The Valkyries’ playoff schedule lists USA Network and Peacock for the broadcast. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, October 29.
]]>On “PoliticsNation,” Sharpton asked about the targeting of El-Sayed’s faith and background. He also raised similar attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar.
El-Sayed said Trump had “about as much regard for the Constitution as he has for a piece of toilet paper in his personal bathroom.” He said the country’s laws protect the right to worship or have no faith at all. He viewed attacks on himself and Omar as a threat to that promise.
His interview came on the same day Trump used a Port Huron, Michigan, rally to question whether El-Sayed belonged in the Senate. Trump called him a “jihadist” and suggested he should face a metal detector before entering the chamber, according to The Associated Press.
AP reported no evidence linking El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood. The candidate, who was born in the United States to parents from Egypt, would be the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
El-Sayed rejected the group, and his campaign said he had no link to it. Republican opponent Mike Rogers has also alleged contributions from people he linked to the organization.
The fight over religion had already drawn Kid Rock into the race.
Donald Trump shared a clip of the musician warning Lara Trump that his grandchildren could one day face a civil war over faith. Kid Rock made the remarks while discussing El-Sayed on Fox News.
In an October 8 post on X, El-Sayed accused Trump of turning to religion to distract voters from household costs. He pointed to gas, food and medical bills as issues the president was avoiding.
Trump’s latest remarks also drew criticism from Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, now called Arab Americans for Peace. Bahbah described the comments as racist. El-Sayed and Rogers will face voters November 3 for the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
]]>The 4th Annual Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards took place at the Bellagio, where roughly 500 supporters gathered in the Tower Ballroom, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Roxanne Shanté and Jay Pharoah hosted the evening.
Kurtis Blow joined The D.O.C. as a Grandmaster honoree. Nile Rodgers received the Quincy Jones Achievement Award, while Ralph McDaniels received the Contributor Award. The Review-Journal also reported a five-year, $500,000 grant as part of the awards program.
Ice Cube introduced The D.O.C. and praised his influence on West Coast rap. Referring to “It’s Funky Enough,” Cube said, “He asked, ‘Y’all ready for this?’ and we weren’t.”
The D.O.C. said he urged Snoop Dogg to become great after the 1989 car crash that damaged his voice. He also expressed interest in using AI to restore the sound of his recorded vocals.
That interest predates the gala. In an AllHipHop interview last year, The D.O.C. discussed AI as a possible path toward new music. His business partner, Chris Gannett, connected that possibility to decades spent guiding other artists in the studio, including Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.
The same interview took place during the launch of plans for the Dream Experience Academy in Dallas. The D.O.C. and Gannett aimed to help students in grades seven through 12 explore work in music, gaming and technology.
Saturday’s honors also reached across the culture’s early records and television history. Blow’s “The Breaks” became the first gold-certified rap single in 1980. Rodgers’ work with Chic helped supply the sound behind “Rapper’s Delight,” while McDaniels helped bring rap to television through “Video Music Box.”
The foundation’s approach pairs recognition with money.
In a September a16z discussion, Nas, Grandmaster Caz, Steve Stoute and Ben Horowitz explored why financial help alone did not fully address what rap’s pioneers had missed. The awards also gave those artists public recognition.
Music closed the Las Vegas celebration. Johnny Gill performed “My, My, My,” and Rodgers took the stage with Chic. Grandmaster Caz joined a performance that brought “Good Times” together with “Rapper’s Delight.”
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