#BBB NEWS| J. Cole Named 2015’s Highest-Earning Rapper

J. Cole has remained one of the central figures in pushing hip-hop forward, and this news just solidified his lyrical mission.

According to Billboard, the Fayetteville native landed on the publication’s Music’s Top Earners list with a 2015 total revenue of $8.8 million, making him the highest paid rapper of that year. In addition to this feat, the “No Role Modelz” artist garnered over 1 billion streams in 2015.

Shortly after he debuted his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album in December, the Dreamville leader went on a widely-successful tour that was sold out everywhere he was scheduled to touchdown.

#BBB NEWS| Timbaland Announces His Final Album ‘Opera Noir’

Famed beatsmith Timbaland plans to record his final album, Pitchfork reports. After news surfaced that Diddy was retiring from laying down new verses, Timbo also shared that Opera Noir will be his final full-length project, but in addition to the album, he’s also working on a forthcoming hip-hop musical with the same title.

In a press release, Leftfield Pictures who’ll also serve as executive producers on the scripted motion picture, described Opera Noir as a program that “will follow young musician’s rise to the top and hardships along the way — including struggles with poverty, substance abuse and crime.”

The Virginia native was currently pictured in the studio with Justin Timberlake, who’s working on his own project. JT hinted that the 20/20 Experience follow-up will be more diverse than his previous works.

#BBB NEWS| Drake Makes First Time Appearance On Forbes Five Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists

Aubrey’s 2016 is shaping up to be quite a successful year. After the release of his highly-anticipated LP Views, the 29 year old achieved another milestone by making a first-time appearance on Forbes’ five wealthiest hip-hop artist list.

Released Wednesday, (May 4) the list, which is comprised of the usual suspects Sean P.Diddy Combs, Dr. Dre, Jay Z Birdman and 50 Cent, welcomed Drake after 50 Cent’s legal woes last year caused him to file for bankruptcy, resulting him being booted off the list.

While the “One Dance” artist who’s $60 million fortune is a far cry from Diddy’s $750 million fortune, Drake has proven his business acumen is indeed lit, securing partnerships with Nike, Sprite, Apple Music as well as his sold-out tours.

#BBB NEWS| Must See! Watch 16 Year Old Beyonce Speak On Achieving Goals And Remaining Humble [VIDEO]

Long before Beyonce became known as Queen Bey who dropped surprise albums, destroyed edges and commanded us to get in formation, she was just a teen from Texas in the beginning stages of her career with Destiny’s Child.

Successfield, an organization aimed at motivating others through inspirational quotes and videos from today’s most influential and successful entrepreneurs, business executive and entertainers, dug up a old video of 16 year old Beyonce in which she outlined what it takes to be successful.

Sporting a new navel ring, a thick Texas accent and chock full of 16 year old goodness, Beyonce’s rules for success as a teen don’t seem to really differ from Lemonade Beyonce.

“My advice is to keep God first. That’s the main thing, keep God first. We go to church every Sunday together and I think that’s what gives this group the bond that we have. Pray every night and be serious with your prayers. Also, stay humble. I know we’re going to stay humble. If you ever meet me and I have a little attitude, just slap me.”

Check out the video below.

#BBB NEWS| Man Wrongly Convicted Of Murder Is Exonerated After 52 Years [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

After years of maintaining his innocence for a murder he didn’t commit, Paul Gatling was finally exonerated of a conviction that haunted him for over 50 years.

MSNBC  reports the 81-year-old retired landscaper was relinquished of the 1964 murder conviction by Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson in New York on Monday (May 2). “Paul Gatling repeatedly proclaimed his innocence even as he faced the death penalty back in the 60s,” Thompson said in a statement. “He was pressured to plead guilty and, sadly, did not receive a fair trial.”

Gatling was nearly given the death penalty for the shooting of artist Lawrence Rothbort in Crown Heights. The well-known artist was shot in the chest when a gunman burst into the home he shared with his wife Marlene Rothbort. Gatling, a 29-year-old Korean War veteran at the time, was accused of the crime after a witness claimed he was in the area when the shooting happened.

#BBB NEWS| WATCH: Nas Joins The Weeknd For His Performance At The Met Gala [VIDEO]

The 2016 Met Gala saw a number of celebs flaunting gorgeous garbs on the red carpet, but the main event was inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with some big name performers taking the stage.

The night’s headlining performer, The Weeknd, performed hits like “The Hills” and “Tell Your Friends,” a song in which a very special and unexpected guest joined him on stage. Nas treated fans to a few bars on the song, which brought them to their feet.

Check out the performance below.

#BBB NEWS| Jada Pinkett-Smith Writes Heartfelt Note To Afeni Shakur

Jada Pinkett-Smith has written a note reflecting on the passing of Afeni Shakur, the mother of her late-friend, rapper Tupac Shakur.

She shared the heartfelt message on Facebook today (May 3), which paints Afeni as a loving mother to all and a wise friend who remained calm, cool and collected during any rough spots in life.

“Today I woke up to the news that Afeni had passed,” she started the post with. “My first thought was of Sekyiwa and the entire clan that loved Afeni. Then I remembered that I was in NY to attend a Mother’s Day event named after a song written about Afeni, Dear Mama. My heart tightened and then all kinds of memories flooded in. I quickly remembered how calm Afeni was especially during any crisis. She always had a way of making me believe all would be well.

Pinkett-Smith also recalls some of the best memories she shared with Afeni, where she noticed that she and her son (who had passed by this point) were very similar.

#BBB NEWS| Afeni Shakur Passes Away At 69

Activist and mother to the late rap legend Tupac Shakur, Afeni Shakur died Monday She was 69 years old.

According to the New York Daily News, authorities responded to Shakur’s home in Sausalito, Calif. Monday night (May 2) after she suffered possible cardiac arrest. She was then transported to a local hospital where she passed away just before 10:30AM.

Shakur, born Alice Faye Williams, changed her name when she moved to New York and joined the Black Panthers. She and other members were arrested in 1969 and charged with conspiracy to bomb multiple busy city landmarks. She was acquitted of the charges in May 1971 and gave birth to Tupac just one month later.

#BBB NEWS| LeBron James To Star In “Space Jam 2″

Rumors of a Space Jam have sequel have swirled for years. However, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed our greatest joys Monday (May 2) when they announced Space Jam 2 starring LeBron James is actually indeed happening.

Justin Lin, (The Fast & Furious 6 and Star Trek Beyond) along with Andrew Dodge and Alfredo Botello are co-writing the Warner Bros. reboot. Lin is also looking to direct the film via his Perfect Storm Entertainment.

James who provided uncanny comedic relief in Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck, helped add more fuel to the rumors in July when his company SpringHill entertainment signed a deal with Warner Bros.

The original 1996 film starring Michael Jordan was a box office success earning $230 million worldwide. Yet despite the exciting news, many on Twitter weren’t too thrilled about the sequel.

#BBB NEWS| Is Floyd Mayweather Coming Out Of Retirement?

Don’t call it a comeback. Floyd Mayweather hung up his boxing gloves in 2015 after 49 professional matches, but the champion may be considering entering the ring again.

During a professional match on April 30, Mayweather talked to Showtime and revealed that he’s considering coming out of retirement.

The real reason behind the potential return is the payday, he said. “As of right now, some crazy numbers have been thrown my way–upwards, of course, of nine figures,” he told Showtime, “but I’m truly blessed beyond belief, and I really don’t know what we’re going to do.”

After the boxer defeated Andre Berto in September 2015, he told news sources that would be his final fight. And he insisted that he would remain retired despite many fans’ cries for him to recant his decision. But it looks like he spoke a little too fast.

#BBB NEWS| READ: OAP Freeze Writes Open letter To Tiwa Savage

OAP Freeze wrote an open letter to Tiwa Savage following revelations she made yesterday in an interview about her marriage to Teebillz.

Read what he wrote below...

Dear Tiwa,

I have nothing but love for you, but after I watched all 45 mins of your interview.... ..Tiwa, I know it hurts when a relationship breaks down, and those accusations T Billz made were extremely hurtful, nonetheless, I believe you could have employed caution when responding, since according to you, he was unstable and suicidal.

In law, if for instance, you walk in on your man in bed with another woman and you shoot him on the spot, you could get a lighter sentence, if your legal counsel argues provocation. On the flip side, if you walk out of the scene to get a gun and then launch an attack, it's now considered premeditated.

#BBB NEWS| READ: May Day, Tiwa Savage, Her Husband And Nigeria By Reuben Abati

Read his article below:

    “Ol’boy, man don see something oh.”

    “Wetin you see?”
    “My eyes don see something. My ears don hear, and my mouth sef, I for talk something join.”
    “Talk make I hear”
    “No be dis Tiwa Savage and him husband matter? The husband wey say him wife offend am, he no gi am food, him wife dey form for house but him dey open leg for other men, and na another woman they give am edible catering, and the man come vex he wan jump inside river for Lekki-Ikoyi bridge”
    “Who the hell are you talking about?”

"Tiwa Savage and her husband”

“And who are those?”

“Tiwa, now. Marvin First Lady.  She is one of Nigeria’s topmost female artistes. And her husband.  They are quarrelling. The husband tried to commit suicide. She says her husband prefers to follow other women, take cocaine and ignore his responsibilities as a man and a husband. Social media is agog with the news. Mainstream media is feeding on it too. The man even tried to jump into the Lagoon.”

#BBB NEWS| READ: A Retired Navy SEAL Commander’s 12 Rules For Being An Effective Leader [PHOTOS]

For their service in the 2006 Battle of Ramadi, Navy SEAL Team Three Task Unit Bruiser and its commander Jocko Willink became the most highly decorated special-operations unit of the Iraq War.

Willink is now retired from the SEALs, and he and his former platoon commander Leif Babin released a bestselling book last year titled "Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALs Lead and Win." In it, they explain the lessons learned in combat that they've taught to corporate clients for the past five years in their leadership-consultancy firm, Echelon Front.

Willink writes that he realized during his 20 years as a SEAL that, "Just as discipline and freedom are opposing forces that must be balanced, leadership requires finding the equilibrium in the dichotomy of many seemingly contradictory qualities between one extreme and another."

By being aware of these seeming contradictions, a leader can "more easily balance the opposing forces and lead with maximum effectiveness."

Here are the 12 main "dichotomies of leadership" Willink identifies as rules every effective leader must follow.

#BBB NEWS| President Buhari Plans Extradition Of EX-PDP Chair Mu’azu, Ekiti Election Rigging Mastermind, Obanikoro, Abdullahi Dikko And Others

The diplomatic process that will ensure the extradition of suspected looters who have fled the country will dominate President Muhammadu Buhari’s discussions with his counterparts when 60 world leaders meet in the United Kingdom next month.

Saturday PUNCH learnt on Friday that the President would at the summit explore ways of bringing to the country politicians who were being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

It was gathered that the outcome of the summit would speed up the extradition of individuals, including a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro;  a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; and a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Others are the ex-Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; her son, Ugonna; and a former Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, whose house was raided in Abuja in January by the EFCC.