In 2008, T.I. turned his growing dispute with fellow Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo into one of the more personal diss records of the era. “What Up, What's Haapnin'” was released on September 2, 2008, as a single from his sixth studio album, Paper Trail. Produced by Drumma Boy, the track was rooted in a debate over neighborhood credibility, with Shawty Lo questioning T.I.'s claims to Bankhead, the Atlanta community both artists were associated with.
The dispute was bigger than ordinary lyrical competition. Shawty Lo had gained national attention with “Dey Know” and his D4L affiliation, while T.I. was already an established Southern rap star. The argument over who truly represented Bankhead became a public contest over local identity and authenticity.
“What we talkin bout? You’re Yo Gotti, if you got the paper, why wouldn’t you buy it back?” - JAY-Z’s advice to Yo Gotti about buying his music after his label offered Gotti A LOT OF MONEY for his masters.
Some people take the check, some people opt for ownership & control.
Malcolm X holding a Rifle while guarding his family, 1964.
By this point, Malcolm had broken publicly with the Nation of Islam, a split that left him politically isolated and personally vulnerable. After denouncing its leadership and founding the Organization of Afro American Unity, he began receiving repeated death threats. His home in Queens had already been firebombed while his wife and children were inside.
Contrary to popular portrayals, Malcolm X was not advocating violence for its own sake. He argued that nonviolence was a strategy, not a moral absolute, and that it should not be demanded of people who were already under attack.
Added fact:
Less than a year after this photo was taken, Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while preparing to speak at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem.
@sonder410@FirstTake@stephenasmith We barely won the two games we did win. I talk shit about him when we win or lose. He's never been the right coach for us. He can't take over a game. The SuperBowl we did win was thanks to Kellen Moore
Comedian Deon Cole’s friends hold back tears after Deon Cole surprises both of them with a brand new Ford Bronco and a brand new GMC Hummer EV SUV.
(🎥Dein Cole/IG)
Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” was already a hit, but that Timbaland beat made the record unforgettable.
Soon as those keys hit, you already know Jay’s first line before he even says it. 😂
One of the most instantly recognizable beats in rap. What other song has a beat that recognizable?
🚨 HOV JUST ADDED ANOTHER LAYER TO “THREATS.”
Hearing Jay break down the thinking behind this record on #JAYZin8 😮💨
The pen is never just about what he says — it is about the WORLD he is building around it♟️
Roc Nation. The empire. The evolution.
Still ascending. 🚀💎♾️