Lizzo Is Living Her Best Life Right Now

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If you’re not a fan of Lizzo yet, get ready, because she’s conquering the world one upbeat, body-positive track at a time. One look at the R&B superstar tells you she’s not what we usually see presented as sexy in the music industry, but sister is taking back self-love and adding a wink to tell us she’s been on this beat the whole time, we’re the ones who are just catching up.

Lizzo slayed the GLAAD awards last week in a mirrored body suit, bringing themes from the “Juice” video to life, and sang through some some major cardio with her backup dancers, daring anyone to body shame her. Just when you think you’ve seen the extent of her skills, she brings out “Sasha Flute” and shows off a quick flute solo, no bigs.

She’s also changing things up in Playboy this month, wearing fishnets, 500 carats of diamonds, and some bedroom eyes, offering up gems like “BEIN FAT BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL EVERYWHERE WHO GON CHECK ME BOO?!” The article offers insight on her rise to the top, her infectious self-love, and the way she’s trying to change gender politics. It’s worth a read.

Lizzo’s dropping an album, Cuz I Love You, on April 19th. And while we’re waiting, you can check out more of her bangers on Slacker Radio!

Steve Lobel Mourns Loss of Nipsey Hussle

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As with all murders in hip-hop, it’s impossible for the community to process losing another of its own in such brutal, shocking fashion. Yesterday, Nipsey Hussle was murdered in front of his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles. It was an area that the Grammy-nominated artist was so proudly trying to cultivate. Nip’s death is extra painful because he was so active in the community, becoming a leader in the culture, not just by words, but with his actions.

Police say he was shot six times and died at the hospital shortly after.  Following the devastating news of his death, fans and friends gathered at the crime scene. For legendary manager Steve Lobel, it was a horrific de ja vu. Hearing how Hussle died was a painful reminder of how another close friend, Jam Master Jay was slain.“It all started right here man. My man right here, me and big Yu, got [Nipsey’s] CD, put it in the car, the Slauson Boy,” Lobel reflected of first meeting Nipsey a decade and half ago. “The rest was history.”

Lobel, who currently reps Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Scott Storch among others, took Nipsey under his wing and was shopping a deal for him to no avail.

“When I took Nipsey around the industry, everybody told me I was crazy,” Lobel continued, visibly angry at the loss of such a great. “[They said he] looked like Snoop Dogg, Rolling 60 Crip. I told everybody ‘I don’t give a fuck what you feel. I go with my gut. From day one.’ That was 15 years ago. Now, after the man worked his ass off ... I was just with him yesterday at the Texas Tech game, we went to the game together yesterday. That was like my bro. People over there are saying ‘the white man killed him.’ I’m a white man, put him in the game. I don’t understand that. It’s not a color thing, race, religion. I started the game with Run-DMC. My man Jam Master Jay got shot in his own studio by somebody he probably knew. Nip gets killed in his own hood, trying to help his own hood. It’s fucking wack. It’s fucked up.  It took 15 years to do this and somebody takes his life. He was a father, he was a brother, he’s a son. It’s fucked up. God bless Nip.”Hussle’s murder in the very community where he was loved, and was trying to improve is baffling to everyone. People are coming up with theories as to who killed him and reasons why, including that he was murdered by someone in the military. At the time of writing, police have no suspects, further stoking the speculative fires.

In potentially related news, Nipsey was scheduled to meet with the LAPD in an effort to further prevent gang violence in his area.

“We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I) were meeting, at the request of @NipseyHusslewith him and @rocnationtomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids. I’m so very sad” said L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff. According to reports the meeting is still on and will now take place in Nipsey’s honor with possibly a representative from Roc Nation, who helped coordinate the meeting.

“Our hearts are heavy over the loss of our brother, Nipsey Hussle” read a statement from Roc Nation. “Rest In Peace. Our thoughts, love and prayers to his family and friends.

Nipsey Hussle’s Life Remembered

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People stood on the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson yesterday in disbelief, same as the rest of the hip-hop community. At that intersection sits Marathon Clothing, the site where Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot on Sunday afternoon around 3:20 PT. As the news spread, family, friends and fans flocked to the crime scene to share experiences, grief and outrage.

Nipsey was a leader and a staple in the community, owning several business there, including Marathon Clothing, and employing the local residents. Nipsey was heavily into empowering his people, so the fact that somebody killed him in the very the place where he was trying to cultivate with his dollars, words and actions, makes it that much more shocking. It didn’t feel real, even after reading the news, and even while physically standing there surrounded by police and yellow tape. How could this be?  Another impactful hip-hop star who had so much more to give to the culture — and was willing to do so — has been taken away abruptly and violently. Nipsey was just getting started.

“I was a fan of the music,” said a local fan wearing a “Crenshaw” hat and matching sweatshirt from Nipsey’s brand. “He represented the culture well. Supported the people of the community. I’m [heartbroken].  Just don’t know what to say. Seems like the Lord always taking the good ones. It’s a whole lot of ignorant n----s that… probably don’t need to be walking the face of this earth right now. You had this man out here with a family, actually taking negatives and turning them into positives. That’s what we need to do in the community. Learn how to support each other. Black owned. For sure he was my favorite. I got a chance to go the ’Victory Lap’ tour, see that. It’s just sad and it seems like we’re killing each other. It needs to stop …  A lot of people are hurt and devastated. Hopefully we can get a positive out of this somehow, someway. I thank him for blessing the city with his music, his brand. It was well needed out in these streets.”

“I’m at loss right now,” another man said. He was holding back tears and spoke of how Nipsey inspired him to start his own YouTube Channel. “I’m just out here showing support for Nipsey. His music got a lot of people through college, through work. Got a lot of people through things. Very inspirational, always gave back to the community. He didn’t leave the community, he bought property in the community. It’s very sad. I cried in the car when I heard it. I’ll be crying all day. I love Nipsey.”

Then there was a woman named Mariah who painted the picture of a man of inspiration.

“I’m depressed,” she told. “I’m really sad about what happened today.  Nipsey Hussle, I worked with a black man that told me the only reason why he’s at where is today is because of Nipsey Hussle. He listened to Nipsey every single day. He said if it wasn’t for Nipsey, he doesn’t know how he would get accepted into UCLA . He said ‘I listen to him every single day and Nipsey inspired me to be better than what I am.’ Every time I turn around, somebody is dying and its us against us. It’s them against us. It’s everybody against us. How do we change it? What’s the next step. I’m depressed.”

“I used to be in a gang in LA,” another woman offered. “I understand all that. My heart is broken because I’m sick of seeing this. We gotta break this ghetto spell we’re under. But for right now, everybody be encouraged, decide to live better. Be better. He was trying. He was invested in his community. He had children; this is senseless. Once again. But until we deal our own internal issues and our own dysfunctions, we’re gonna keep repeating this. We gotta heal ourselves.”

Two other men were shot during the March 31 incident. At the time of writing, police have no suspects.