There are lots of levels of success in the music industry. It’s quite an achievement these days just to get a record deal or get to a level where their chosen streaming platform sends them a payment. So perhaps it’s a bit harsh to look at bands that have achieved a lot more than that and suggest they could have been even bigger.
Prior to the headlines about Diddy’s sex trafficking arrest dominating hip-hop news, Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming performance at Super Bowl LIX was a hot topic. Last week, the rapper from Compton announced on Instagram that he would be performing during the halftime show, but there were debates suggesting that Lil Wayne should perform instead as the event will be held in his hometown of New Orleans.
Since Diddy has been sued by several women for sexual assault and other accusations, it’s not unexpected that Aubrey O’Day, a former member of Danity Kane, would express her thoughts on the matter. Given this context, it’s likely she had an immediate reaction to Diddy being arrested in New York yesterday on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force or coercion, and transporting individuals for prostitution.
On Tuesday, U.S Attorney Damian Williams announced a press conference concerning the arrest of rapper and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs. The founder of Bad Boy Entertainment was detained on Monday evening at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York City. He currently faces charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking under duress or deceit, and facilitating prostitution.
In 2024, Jonathan Cain’s legal dispute with his fellow bandmate Neal Schon in Journey intensified when Cain filed another lawsuit. The focus of this new action was allegations of excessive spending by Schon, which Cain asserted had been charged to the band, potentially causing a standstill or “deadlock” within the group. This conflict was particularly awkward given that both musicians were still actively performing with Journey, and they were touring North America together with Def Leppard at the time.
Initially, Aerosmith chose to cease touring due to health concerns with lead singer Steven Tyler, who seems unable to sing as powerfully as before. Subsequently, Journey had to scrap their tour because internal legal disputes kept arising among the band members. Now, it appears that yet another iconic rock band from the 1970s has called it quits as well.
Gene Simmons, bassist for Kiss, has a good understanding of earning money. Although his band’s music may not have been groundbreaking after the early 1980s, they have made a substantial income through touring and earnings for many decades. When offering financial advice to others, he speaks from experience.
In music genres such as rock and jazz, veteran artists are frequently given opportunities to flourish; however, this is not typically the case for hip-hop acts due to ageism. LL Cool J aims to challenge this trend. In a conversation with Billboard, he spoke about his new album titled “The FORCE“, which was produced by A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip. He expressed his intentions to motivate older rappers to persevere.
In the year 2021, when Spinabenz, Yungeen Ace, FastMoney Goon, and Whoppa Wit Da Choppa remixed Vanessa Carlton’s 2002 hit “A Thousand Miles” for their track “Who I Smoke”, Vanessa Carlton granted her consent.
39-year-old Shwayze’s music, played poolside, is easygoing, relaxed, genuine, and it provides a refreshing break after a summer filled with conflicts, hit singles, and an evolving hip-hop scene. With his new album, “Shwaycation,” Aaron Smith invites listeners to join him on a musical journey, blending various genres that exude self-assuredness and fun.