Usher Wins “Entertainer Of The Year” At NAACP Image Awards, Reunites With Keke Palmer

Usher had a lot to celebrate last night (Saturday, March 16) at the NAACP Image Awards, taking home Entertainer of the Year and the President’s Award. The 55th annual ceremony saw him take the stage at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and accept the latter accolade from the organization’s president and CEO, Derrick Johnson. The R&B superstar’s acceptance speech was largely a tribute to his mother Jonnetta Patton for her support, inspiration, and hard work. Specifically, he mentioned how she inspired him to reach the world through art and fought against a male-dominated space to become a successful businesswoman who got her son the best deal possible.

Not only that, but Usher extended this praise to women in the industry at large, whom he rightfully declared receive insufficient recognition for their contributions. The one and only Oprah Winfrey gave him the Entertainer of the Year award, for which Coleman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, and Keke Palmer were also nominated. Speaking of Keke, she actually reunited with the Dallas native at this ceremony. For those unaware, their interaction at one of his Vegas residency shows resulted in a high-profile split between her and her partner Darius Jackson, plus a lot of pop culture discussion and drama.

Read More: Keke Palmer Wishes Baby Leodis A Happy Birthday With Heartfelt Post

Usher’s Big Wins & Speeches At The NAACP Image Awards

But ironically enough, it was this residency -– plus a new album, a Super Bowl halftime show, and much more -– which nabbed Usher this Entertainer of the Year award. In terms of other awards, the Queen Latifah-hosted event also honored Fantasia Barrino for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, The Color Purple for Best Motion Picture, and more. Also, this celebration follows some more partying for the Oscars last weekend, so the Confessions star is having a great time these days. Hopefully it’s an energy that he can keep rolling throughout 2024.

Keke Palmer Meets The R&B Star Again After Residency Drama

Meanwhile, the rumor mill will tell you that Keke’s already moved on from Jackson, although this is largely unconfirmed. Regardless, it was curious to see them meet again, and even more heartening to see the NAACP celebrate them both. Congrats to all the winners and nominees; this year will be even better, and so on and so on. For more news and the latest updates on Usher and Keke Palmer, check back in with HNHH.

Read More: Usher & Russell Simmons Comments Bring Backlash For Latter’s Ex, Kimora Lee

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Usher & Russell Simmons Comments Bring Backlash For Latter’s Ex, Kimora Lee

Usher walked into 2024 feeling more confident than ever ahead of his iconic Super Bowl Halftime show, but this year hasn’t been all roses and rainbows for the R&B crooner. He did tie the knot to his long-time lover and remind us all how awesome his discography is over the past few weeks, but at the same time, Usher’s been catching strays regarding his sexuality for some time now. Discourse previously heated up amid Keke Palmer’s feud with her baby daddy, Darius Jackson, at which time the actress’ mother stated that her daughter wasn’t flirting with the “Yeah!” hitmaker as he was a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Usher himself didn’t address this gossip, but now that Kimora Lee Simmons seems to be insinuating that he and her ex-husband, Russell, might’ve been intimate, people are putting the Baby Phat creator on blast. After Rus shared a heartfelt message thanking the Texas native for supporting him during a low moment, KL was among those adding fuel to the fire in the comments. “Not ‘by my bed!!’ Lolol 😂😂,” she wrote on her story after seeing her co-parent’s post. “What is this I’m seeing in the news today?? Lol, y’all some wild boys frfr 🫣.”

Read More: Russell Simmons Thanks Usher For Paying Him A Visit, Fans Go Wild With Theories

Kimora Lee Seemingly Shades Usher & Russell Simmons on IG

So far, most IG users aren’t taking kindly to the model’s antics. “Slandering an unhealed person’s NAME while you keep their last name as your NAME is quite insidious,” one Instagram user chastised Kimora Lee under @theshaderoom’s post. “If I was her I’d keep real quiet when her husband Tim robbed $93,000,000 from Malaysian banks and faces 25 years in jail,” another called out the fashion icon’s new romantic partner.

Read More: Russell Simmons Accuses Kimora Lee Of Stealing From Him To Bail Out New Husband

Countless others have been rushing to Usher’s defense amid the drama. “This was unnecessary, and this is one of the reasons Black men don’t speak up. Regardless of their situation, he was acknowledging Usher as a friend/brother at one of his lowest points. #MentalHealthAwareness BLACK MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT!” Keep scrolling to read more responses to KL’s shade, and check back in with HNHH later to catch up on music/pop culture news.

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Usher Gets Backlash for Visiting Russell Simmons in Bali

Usher is getting some serious backlash for visiting Russell Simmons in Bali after the music mogul’s past rape allegations.

Usher Gets Backlash for Visiting Russell Simmons in Bali After Music Mogul’s Past Rape Allegations

On Sunday (March 3), Russell Simmons shared a video on his Instagram Story that showed Usher partaking in a yoga class alongside the Def Jam cofounder. The R&B star was reportedly vacationing in Bali with his new wife Jennifer Goicoechea, and decided to visit Simmons for a yoga retreat.

“Morning flow with a bunch of really happy Bali friends the generosity of spirit exuded by my friend @usher was amazing,” Simmons captioned his post. “Fyi people were / are always so happy to be in his presence …so when i / they practice with him its a honor and privilege but the presence and attention he gives to each person is a gift. its tough to be present with so many of us ‘ fans’ each one of us demanding presence and focus its rare that a person can give so much w/ out it draining his energy …”

Simmons added that Usher’s visit served as divine timing for him, as he recounted being at the “lowest point” in his life.

Simmons wrote alongside another video of Usher: “When i was at the lowest point in my life i woke up and this man was sitting by my bed .. i had known usher since he was a kid but we really bonded because of our mutual love for self discovery and our belief in Yogic science as a direct route to realizing Gods conciousness in ourselves …People remember to remember this ..a friend walks in when others walk out … i will never forget the generosity of spirit i witnessed in this man God bless you baby bro @usher [prayer hands emoji love you !!!!”

Despite all this loving energy, fans were infuriated that the R&B singer would pay a visit to Simmons, who has faced years of sexual assault accusations from various women. Simmons has apologized numerous times for being insensitive, but has claimed he was never violent towards women.

Read More: Social Media Personality Andrew Tate Asks If Diddy Was Having Sex With Meek Mill and Usher Following Allegations in New Lawsuit

Fans React to Usher Visiting Russell Simmons in Bali

Fans flooded X, formerly known as Twitter, with their disapproval of Usher’s recent visit to Bali. A lot of fans recalled Usher’s longtime relationship with record executive L.A. Reid, who has been accused of sexual assault as recent as November of 2023. Other fans were just confused why Usher would risk a PR nightmare of this nature after arguably one of the biggest years in his career. The singer capped off a historic Las Vegas Residency in December of 2023, and performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in February.

Read More: Boosie BadAzz Goes on Rant About Usher Putting His “Nut Sack” on Alicia Keys During Super Bowl Halftime Show

Watch the video of Usher visiting Russell Simmons in Bail, and check out some of the fans’ reactions below.

Watch Usher Visit Russell Simmons in Bali

See Fans Reactions to Usher Visiting Russell Simmons in Bali

Usher Catches Heat For Russell Simmons Bali Hang

Usher caught flack for spending time with Russell Simmons, who’s been accused of sexual assault. Fans were frustrated after Simmons shared footage and photos of the two in Bali on social media.

“Morning flow with a bunch of really happy Bali friends the generosity of spirit exuded by my friend @usher was amazing,” Simmons wrote in an Instagram post. “Fyi people were / are always so happy to be in his presence …so when i / they practice with him its a honor and privilege but the presence and attention he gives to each person is a gift its tough to be present with so many of us ‘fans’ each one of us demanding presence and focus its rare that a person can give so much w/ out it draining his energy … His quote when asked about the energy needed to accommodate so many was God ‘Its not me giving its God through me so it easy.’ this is pure yoga.”

Usher hung out with Simmons just a few weeks after Drew Dixon, one of Simmons’ alleged victims, sued the Def Jam co-founder for defamation. Dixon claimed Simmons carried out a “malicious campaign to discredit” for accusing him of raping her.

Simmons denied various allegations of sexual misconduct. He insisted all his sexual experiences with women were consensual in a December 2023 interview with Graham Bensinger. Drew referenced the interview in her defamation lawsuit.

Usher associated with Simmons at a time when the singer’s name became attached to a shocking lawsuit against Diddy. Producer Lil Rod claimed Diddy had sex with Usher, among others, in a complaint filed on February 26. Usher’s name was redacted in the court documents, but observers quickly figured out the allegations were referencing him due to identifiers in the lawsuit. Lil Rod said Diddy had sex with an R&B singer who performed at the Super Bowl and had a successful Las Vegas residency.

View some of the reactions to Usher chilling with Simmons in Bali below.




Usher Speaks On “Crazy”  Experience Living With Diddy At 13 In Resurfaced Clip

Usher recalled the “wild” experience of living with Diddy at 13 years old for the Bad Boy mogul’s Puffy Flavor Camp during an interview with Howard Stern back in 2016. The interview is resurfacing amid rumors that Diddy was engaged in a sexual relationship with the singer. The allegations stem from Rodney Jones’ lawsuit against Diddy accusing him of sexual assault. The filing mentions Diddy bragging about a sexual relationship with a singer who performed at the Super Bowl and who hosted a successful Las Vegas residency.

“I got a chance to see some things. I went there to see the lifestyle, and I saw it,” Usher said. “It was pretty wild. It was crazy.” He added that he felt like a little brother at the time. “They called me Baby Boo,” he recalled. Further speaking on their relationship, he added: “He wasn’t disciplinary. He was letting me be a young man.” Usher went on to describe him as family. “He was always a family member from afar, so I never felt a disconnection,” he said. “I will always look at him like a brother.” As for whether he would send his kids to Puffy Flavor Camp, however, Usher clarified: “Hell no!”

Read More: Diddy’s Former Bodyguard Accuses Him Of Grooming Usher

Usher & Diddy Pose Together At The Shrine Auditorium

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 01: Singer Usher and rapper/producer Sean “P. Diddy” Combs pose backstage during the VH1 Big in 04 at the Shrine Auditorium on December 1, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Fans had plenty of reactions to the clip when The Neighborhood Talk shared it on Instagram. “Need to be side eyeing usher parents for letting him stay with this grown man at 13,” one user commented. Another added: “I feel like he has trauma that he will never speak on. Smh.” Check out Usher’s full comments on Diddy below.

Usher Reflects On Diddy Relationship

Usher isn’t the only artist dealing with fallout from the lawsuit. Fans also think it alludes to Meek Mill sleeping with Diddy as well. Be on the lookout for further updates on Usher and Diddy on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Tiffany Red Wants To Sue Diddy & Various Record Labels Over New SA Lawsuit

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Diddy’s Former Bodyguard Accuses Him Of Grooming Usher

In a recent interview with the Art of Dialogue, Gene Deal, Diddy‘s former bodyguard, made shocking claims regarding Usher‘s relationship with the hip-hop mogul. According to Deal, Usher was allegedly a victim of grooming by Diddy, sparking controversy within the music industry. Deal expressed bewilderment over Usher’s apparent praise for Diddy during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, given their tumultuous history. “I know and people know that was around in that time that Puff [Daddy] and Usher did have a situation,” Deal stated. “And that situation led Usher to the hospital. Now, I’ll let Usher explain that to y’all. I’ll let Usher tell that story. But how dare you say a man that groomed you, you gonna give him a pass. Bruh, you know I know.”

Usher’s connection with Diddy dates back to his teenage years when he lived with the hip-hop mogul for a year. Deal believed that Usher should publicly address Diddy’s alleged misconduct. To illustrate his point, Deal recounted an uncomfortable incident he allegedly witnessed. “Remember Usher, we was at the Swissôtel,” Deal recalled. “Puff had Kim [Porter] in the room, had one of Keith Sweat’s baby mothers in the big room outside the master bedroom. He came outside in his robe. He came outside in his robe, she gave him f****** right there. His back was turned to me.”

Read More: Woman Injured During Diddy & Shyne Altercation In 1999 Claims Puff Shot Her

Gene Deal Accuses Diddy

He continued. “She gave him f******. You knocked on the door. I came and opened the door for you. Puff went in the room. You came in the room and kissed that girl dead in the mouth. Now, I’m telling that because you taking up for somebody that you know and a lot of more people know didn’t do you right when you was at Diddy’s camp.” Moreover, Deal’s revelations cast a shadow over Usher’s association with Diddy, raising questions about the dynamics of power and influence within the music industry. The allegations underscore the importance of holding influential figures accountable for their actions, regardless of their stature.

However, it’s essential to approach these claims with caution, as they remain allegations until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, they serve as a reminder of the complexities and potential pitfalls of the entertainment world. Furthermore, there are now several lawsuits and allegations against Diddy since Cassie filed a large lawsuit against him. Let us know your thoughts on HNHH!

Read More: Tiffany Red Wants To Sue Diddy & Various Record Labels Over New SA Lawsuit

Diddy Accused Of Grooming Usher By Former Bodyguard

Diddy’s former bodyguard Gene Deal claimed Usher was the Hip-Hop mogul’s grooming victim in an interview with the Art of Dialogue. Gene Deal did not understand why Usher spoke positively about Diddy on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast despite their allegedly sordid history.

“I know and people know that was around in that time that Puff [Daddy] and Usher did have a situation,” Diddy’s ex-bodyguard said. “And that situation led Usher to the hospital. Now, I’ll let Usher explain that to y’all. I’ll let Usher tell that story. But how dare you say a man that groomed you, you gonna give him a pass. Bruh, you know I know.”

Usher lived with Diddy for a year when the singer was a teenager. Gene Deal believed Usher should speak out about Diddy’s alleged misdeeds. He seemingly attempted to motivate Usher to do so by telling the story of an uncomfortable incident the former bodyguard witnessed.

“Remember Usher, we was at the Swissôtel,” Gene Deal said. “Puff had Kim [Porter] in the room, had one of Keith Sweat’s baby mothers in the big room outside the master bedroom. He came outside in his robe. He came outside in his robe, she gave him f####### right there. His back was turned to me. She gave him f#######. You knocked on the door. I came and opened the door for you. Puff went in the room. You came in the room and kissed that girl dead in the mouth. Now, I’m telling that because you taking up for somebody that you know and a lot of more people know didn’t do you right when you was at Diddy’s camp.”

Diddy faced multiple lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault. Earlier this week, producer Lil Rod joined the list of people suing Diddy with several bombshell allegations.

Lil Rod’s lawsuit mentioned Diddy having sex with an R&B singer. The name was redacted but observers quickly figured out it was referring to Usher. A note in the lawsuit said the singer performed at the Super Bowl and had a successful Las Vegas residency.

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How Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3” Ushered Emo Rap Into The Mainstream

It goes without saying that Lil Uzi Vert shook up the Hip Hop landscape when they dropped “XO Tour Llif3” in 2017. Since the rapper broke into the scene with Luv is Rage, they have continued to push boundaries and defy genre norms in music. Consequently, their unique fusion of trap beats, punk aesthetics, and emotionally charged lyrics have catapulted them into the limelight. Despite their deserved success now, we could never forget how, with “XO TOUR Llif3,” Lil Uzi introduced a new sound to the big stage. The Diamond-certified single turned seven on February 27, 2024, and yet, its impact continues to be felt. Here’s how Lil Uzi Vert used the groundbreaking track to usher emo rap into the mainstream. 

Read More: Young Thug Vs Lil Uzi Vert: Who Had The Better Debut Album?

The Emergence Of Emo Rap

Emo rap is a subgenre of Hip Hop that was popularized in the mid-2010s, characterized by its emotional and introspective lyrics. It often touches on themes like depression, heartbreak, and personal struggles, motifs Lil Uzi effortlessly conveys in their music. When artists like Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice WRLD began to explore similar themes within their music, it resonated with millions of listeners. Likewise, Lil Uzi Vert is another exemplary artist from that era, and “XO Tour Llife” put their name on the map forever.

Due to the emotional content in many of their hits, Lil Uzi Vert is often associated with this genre. When they debuted, their music was noticeably peculiar, blurring the lines between rap, rock, and punk. Undeniably, Uzi’s music defied easy categorization. Before long, the rapper’s distinct style and eclectic sound became a symbol of the evolving genre. The energetic delivery in their music, coupled with introspective and often melancholic lyrics, appealed to a wide audience. These audiences were hungry for a new, emotionally charged musical experience, and Uzi was there to supply it to them.

The Breakout Moment: “XO Tour Llif3”

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On March 24, 2017, Lil Uzi released “XO Tour Llife” as the lead single from their debut album Luv is Rage 2. Surprisingly, it soon became a sleeper hit, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Presumably recorded during The Weeknd‘s European leg of Starboy: Legend Of The Fall, “XO Tour Llife” is the breakout track that pushed both Lil Uzi Vert and emo rap onto the main stage of the music industry. The song’s haunting melody, paired with Lil Uzi’s raw and vulnerable lyrics, struck a chord with listeners grappling with the same or similar issues. 

By the end of 2017, it had impressively garnered over one billion audio and video streams across major platforms. Evidently, the song had found its audience, and they were loving it. “XO Tour Llif3” contains themes of betrayal, heartbreak, drug use, and emotional turmoil which are vividly painted in the lyrics. Despite these themes that are typically perceived as dark, listeners were hooked. The song’s chorus, with its memorable refrain, became an anthem and resonated beyond traditional Hip Hop circles.

Lil Uzi Vert Makes History With “XO Tour Llif3”   

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“XO TOUR Llif3” not only dominated the charts but also paved the way for other emo rap artists. After its release, the song was quickly dubbed an emo rap anthem and helped push the subgenre forward. Interestingly enough, on the same day that Lil Uzi Vert released his debut album, Luv Is Rage 2, fellow emo rap pioneer, XXXTENTACION, also dropped his debut album, 17, which was not only a commercial success but became a seminal body of work within the subgenre.

Read More: Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3” Is Expected To Make $4.5 Million

Conclusion

Without a doubt, Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO TOUR Llif3” significantly contributed to catalyzing the mainstream acceptance of emo rap. The song broke down barriers and showcased the power of blending emotional depth with rhythmic beats. As an artist unafraid to push boundaries, Lil Uzi Vert’s impact on the genre continues to reverberate. With “XO Tour Llife,” they certainly left a mark on the ever-changing landscape of contemporary Hip Hop.

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Andrew Tate Asks If Diddy Was Having Sex With Meek Mill and Usher

Controversial social media personality Andrew Tate is questioning if Diddy had sex with Meek Mill and Usher following allegations made in the latest lawsuit against Puff.

Andrew Tate Questions Details of New Diddy Lawsuit

On Wednesday (Feb. 28), Andrew Tate weighed in on the latest Diddy lawsuit brought forward by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, which accuses the Bad Boy Entertainment founder of sexual assault, harassment and several other damning allegations. In a post Tate shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, he reposted one of his tweets from December of 2023, which reads: “I am the most famous man in the world and avoid speaking to famous people because theyre all gay and weird.”

He replied to his own post, “So P Diddy was having sex with Meek Mill and Usher?”

Neither Meek Mill nor Usher are named in the new lawsuit. However, Lil Rod claims Diddy told him he had sexual intercourse with a rapper and R&B singer whose names are redacted on the 73-page court filing. The rapper is characterized as “a Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj.” The singer is listed as performing “at the Super Bowl and having a successful Vegas residency.” Lil Rod also claims to have seen this same rapper “consorting with underage girls” on Diddy’s yacht.

Meek Mill has yet to address the lawsuit.

Meek Mill

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Read More: DJ Akademiks Pulls Up Yung Miami’s Old Tweets and Blames Her for Latest Diddy Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Diddy Denies Allegations in Lawsuit

Diddy’s attorney Shawn Holley has released a statement to XXL in response to Jones’ lawsuit.

“Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday,” the statement reads. “His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies. Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored, as Mr. Blackburn refuses to return our calls. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them.”

Read More: Male Porn Star Claims He’s the Man in Sexually Explicit Photos Used for Latest Diddy Lawsuit Not Producer Stevie J

Check out Andrew Tate questioning if Diddy had sex with Meek Mill and Usher below.

See Andrew Tate’s Post About Diddy Allegations in New Lawsuit

See Rappers Who Embrace Being Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual

Usher Shares Hilarious Video From His Honeymoom

Usher has had about as busy of a 2024 as anybody so far. That was mainly because he performed on one of the biggest stages in all of music earlier this month. The Super Bowl Halftime show is always a spectacular affair and the R&B legend raised the bar even higher by inviting along some very special guests to perform some of the biggest hits of his career. Additionally, he released his first new album in six years. It was called Coming Home and contains the hit single “Good Good” with 21 Savage and Summer Walker.

Another story that didn’t come out until the days following the Super Bowl, is that Usher used his time in Las Vegas to do more than just perform. He used the opportunity to secure a marriage certificate and ultimately get married. Unsurprisingly, he’s celebrating both the marriage and his performance on a gorgeous looking honeymoon. “Inner Peace, Inner Peace,…Inner Piece of DEEZ CANNONBALLZ!!!” he captioned a video shared to Instagram. In the clip his girlfriend is enjoying a relaxing swim in a stunning looking vacation home. But her “inner peace” is interrupted when Usher comes rushing into frame and does a cannonball into the pool. Check out the hilarious video below.

Read More: What Is Usher’s Best-Selling Album?

Usher’s Hilarious Honeymoon Video

Usher is following his wave of renewed interest from the Super Bowl with a massive tour this year. Fans will get the chance to see even more of his big hits in person as he hits dozens of major cities. Unfortunately, his tour became the newest in a long line of shows to have a rough ticket release on Ticketmaster.

Fans trying to get tickets to Usher’s show found long waits that sometimes resulted in tickets being sold out before they could even get in to buy them. Others found exorbitantly high ticket prices as resellers began listing them almost immediately. What do you think of Usher’s hilarious video from his honeymoon? Do you have tickets to any of his tour shows this year? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Usher’s “Coming Home” Features, Ranked

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