THIS IS THE CHRONICLES OF EFREM: The Daily Buzz For July 5☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: BARBIE Stars Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Margot Robbie, and Hari Nef Cover TIME Magazine

BARBIE stars Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Margot Robbie, and Hari Nef cover TIME magazine photographed by Carlota Guerrero
“I played with dolls too long,” says the 39-year-old director. “I was still doing it in junior high. Kids were drinking, and I was playing with dolls.” Gerwig’s mom wasn’t a fan of Barbie for feminist reasons: “She went through the ’60s and was like, ‘What did we do all this for?’” But playing with Barbies proved to be a training ground for Gerwig’s job as a professional storyteller.

#RHOA: Did Cynthia Bailey Just Reveal New Details About Her Relationship Status?
Cynthia Bailey has something she wants to say about keeping things casual.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, who officially divorced her husband of about two years, sportscaster Mike Hill, in December 2022, took to Instagram on June 29 to share a modeling photo — and she may have just revealed something new about her relationship status.

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 1 cast member posted a black-and-white modeling photo on her Instagram grid in honor of Throwback Thursday. In the image, Cynthia is sitting on the floor with her legs stretched out.

“‘No strings attached,’” Cynthia captioned her post, referring to the strings on her skirt in the photo (and possibly to the latest in her post-divorce personal life!).

Phaedra Parks wrote “Perfection” along with two fire emojis and a heart eyes emoji. Lisa Wu, who is set to have a cameo on RHOA Season 15 along with fellow original cast members Kim Zolciak and DeShawn Snow, left the same emojis as Phaedra.

Shamea Morton echoed the ladies’ sentiments, adding “Freakin perfect” underneath Cynthia’s post.
Following her split from Mike Hill, Cynthia chatted with Access Atlanta and discussed whether she’s ready to be in another relationship. (She was also previously married to Peter Thomas.)

“I’m not rushing into anything,” she said. “However, I do believe that God is moving my steps. And I think that if he has somebody out there for me, he’s moving their steps. And if they come this week and I meet them, it is what it is. If they come in two years, it is what it is.”

Though Cynthia isn’t in a rush to meet someone, she’s also not holding herself back from dating just because she recently got out of a marriage.

“I don’t believe in like, ‘Oh, I need to, like, just be by myself for two years.’ I’m 56 years old. I’m not trying to have a Hot Girl Summer at 60, OK?” Cynthia continued. “I gotta get back out there. I can only live with so much grass growing underneath my feet.”

Cynthia Bailey Shares a Heartfelt Message for Leon Robinson: “I Am So Grateful”
As Cynthia herself said, the “third time’s a charm,” though her next relationship “doesn’t have to be a marriage.”

What’s next for Cynthia? Like DeShawn and Lisa, Cynthia will also be popping up on RHOA Season 15. See the ladies appear on the show by tuning in every Sunday at 9/8c on Bravo.

#MusicNews: H.E.R. Tags Don Toliver, Jazmine Sullivan, & More For Lights On Festival

R&B sensation H.E.R. is all set to light up the stage again with her annual Lights On Festival, scheduled for Sept. 16 and 17. After a year’s hiatus, the festival returns to Mountain View, California’s Shoreline Amphitheater, promising two days of exceptional music, energy, and R&B vibrance.

On Tuesday (June 27), H.E.R. announced the star-studded lineup for the event on her Instagram page, including artists like PARTYNEXTDOOR, Jazmine Sullivan, Don Toliver, Doechii, Dvsn, Alina Baraz, and more. Newcomers such as Ayra Starr, Ravyn Lenae, Uncle Waffles, Flo, Symba, and Leon Thomas will also grace the stage, offering a fresh blend of talent.

“I’m thrilled that the Lights On Festival will be back this year,” said H.E.R. in a press statement. “It’s the perfect way to close out the summer, celebrating with two days of phenomenal R&B. The lineup this year is remarkable, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds!”

The general sale for the festival’s tickets launched last Friday (June 30). Interested fans can secure tickets through Live Nation Urban, the festival’s partner.

Launched in 2019, the Lights On Festival has seen incredible talents like Jhené Aiko, Daniel Caesar, Summer Walker, Ari Lennox, and Lucky Daye in its inaugural event. After missing 2020 due to the pandemic, the festival rebounded in 2021, staging concerts in California and New York. Brooklyn’s Barclays Center witnessed electrifying performances by Maxwell, 6LACK, Bryson Tiller, Chloë Bailey, and Queen Naija.

With H.E.R. at the helm this year, the festival promises to rekindle the magic, introducing fans to new and seasoned R&B talents. So, mark your calendars and prepare to bask in the heartwarming melodies of the Lights On Festival. The Grammy Award-winning creative is known for her impeccable live show, which boasts musical direction from Platter Boyz co-founder Carrington “Buckets” Brown.

Fans can check out the detailed lineup below or visit the festival’s website for more updates.

#HipHopNews: Busta Rhymes Explains Why He Could Never Do A Verzuz With Missy Elliott
Busta Rhymes has always been sure of his skill as an MC and songwriter, but there are some people he simply won’t compete against out of respect.

During a new interview with Apple Music posted on Friday (June 30), the Flipmode leader was asked about who he would consider a worthy opponent in a Verzuz battle, to which he responded, “Ain’t nobody playing with me, period.”

However, when Missy Elliott‘s name came up, Busta immediately shut down the idea.
“Never with Missy,” he said. “The reason why I can’t ever do a Verzuz or even compete with Missy on a challenging level is ’cause that’s my twin … I’m Missy and she’s Busta Rhymes. I will never ever ever ever ever, because I love her so much, I can’t talk my shit the way I would want to in a Verzuz.”

After drawing comparisons to their style and noting that the two are indeed at the same level, Bus said that going toe-to-toe with the Virginia native “would be a celebration” as opposed to a battle.

In the same spirit, it was no surprise when Missy commended Busta for winning BET’s coveted Lifetime Achievement Award last month.

In an Instagram reel posted to her official account, the “Supa Dupa Fly” rapper shared a snippet from the award show where she was featured in a video along with Busta’s other friends and collaborators. In the clip, Missy praises her friend for his versatility and imaginativeness.
She also referred to the 51-year-old musician as her “twin,” noting how he inspired her throughout her career.

“To my Twin @bustarhymes, we have been glued at the hip for 26 years & my LOVE & ADMIRATION for you still grows. I am still in aww over your ART & your MUSIC, but most of all, your HEART is at the TOP of any chart,” she wrote in the post’s caption.

She concluded: “Love you, bro, and CONGRATULATIONS on your Lifetime Achievement award & many more to come thank you for the TIMELESS MUSIC & CLASSIC VISUALS you’ve shared with the WORLD,” she wrote in the post’s caption.”

Nicki Minaj Shades Elon Musk Over Twitter Reading Limit

Over the weekend, Nicki Minaj called out billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk while simultaneously promoting Lil Uzi Vert’s new album. It came after Twitter users had their reading limit capped on Saturday (July 1).

Using her allotted limit on the social media platform, Minaj posted a tweet about her plan to promote Uzi’s LP titled Pink Tape. “Planning out how I’ll use my 600 [reading] limit today to promote the #PinkTape, mush the Barbz in they head, block [and] beat the duds while dissing them [and] cracking up laughing at my own jokes,” the artist wrote on Sunday (July 2).

As a verified user, Minaj’s limit sits at 6,000 tweets, which is a vast leap from the 600 cap for unverified users. In response to one fan pointing that out, she responded, “No… I’m the kind of Queen that likes to get right down in the dirt with her subjects, sir. The monarchy will also not tolerate any sort of disrespect. Oh [and] sir… Never turn your back on the Queen.”

Uzi’s much-awaited Pink Tape serves as a follow-up to their 2020 sophomore album Eternal Atake. It was unveiled this past Friday (June 30). In addition to features from Travis Scott and Don Toliver, Minaj graced the track “Endless Fashion.” With references to Natalie Nunn and MAGA, the song also contains a sample from Eiffel 65’s 1998 Eurodance sensation “Blue (Da Ba Dee).”

In addition to promoting the aforementioned project, Nicki Minaj has been teasing the Barbz with snippets of her own upcoming album Pink Friday 2. It marks a sequel to her 2010 debut Pink Friday, which spawned hit singles like “Moment 4 Life” and “Super Bass.” The rapper also promised her followers that the delayed release would be “well worth the wait.”

She wrote on social media, “I love you guys so much. I am so grateful for the years of support [and] love you guys have given me.” The Queens musician further fueled the excitement by hinting at a 2024 tour to accompany the album release.

Rihanna Shares New Adorable Photo Of 'Bajan Boyz' A$AP Rocky And Son RZA
Rihanna has bragged about her "Bajan boyz." While enjoying a family getaway in Barbados, the "Lift Me Up" songstress made use of her social media account to upload an adorable moment her rapper partner A$AP Rocky shared with their son RZA.

On Monday, July 3, the 35-year-old singer turned to Instagram to upload a silhouette photo of her 34-year-old partner lifting their 13-month-old up in the air with both of his hands, seemingly recreating a famous scene from "The Lion King" movie. In the caption of the post, she simply wrote, "My Bajan boyz," and added a red heart and Barbados flag emojis.

RiRi's shared picture also captured Rocky smiling from ear to ear. It was taken in an outdoor swimming pool that was located near a beach, and displayed a breathtaking view of the beach, sky and palm trees with the sun shining brightly in the background.

The "Believe It" singer's sweet post did not take long to be flooded with positive responses. In the comments section, one Instagram user exclaimed, "Rihanna living life right .. popping out babies w her man in her mid 30s after spending her 20s being theeeee bad gal & becoming a business mogul. mhm. Love u riri."

Another chimed in, "It is pure delight to see Rihanna build a powerful empire, and now reap the blessings of motherhood with a man who adores her, and their children. Perfect timing. God is great." A third gushed, "Family is EVERYTHING. you worked so hard for this!!!! phuck an album. you're living your dream."

RiRi's adorable post came a few months after she opened up about motherhood. In an interview with British Vogue that was published in March, she reflected on her first months as a mother, "Oh, my God, it's legendary. It's everything. You really don't remember life before, that's the craziest thing ever."

"You literally try to remember it - and there are photos of my life before - but the feeling, the desires, the things that you enjoy, everything, you just don't identify with it because you don't even allow yourself mentally to get that far, because… because it doesn't matter," she added.

'Bachelorette' Recap: Charity Responds To Being Called 'Classless' By One Of The Suitors

Charity Lawson continued her love journey in a new episode of "The Bachelorette". Airing on Monday, July 3, the episode saw Charity embarking on her first round of dates with her suitors. The first date card was the one-on-one date with Aaron B.

For their date, Charity and Aaron B. drove vintage red convertible to a parking spot near the Hollywood sign. The two sat down and popped open a bottle of champagne. While sharing about their own lives, they cuddled in the car.

Later, they got closer to the Hollywood sign and hiked up the mountain to stand in front of and share another kiss. During dinner time, Aaron B. said that she made him feel like he was the luckiest man. He also noted that his family was very important to him, adding that he's closest to his little brother.

Charity then gave another surprise for Aaron B. as they entered a theater where Lauren Alaina performed for them. They danced before Charity gave him the rose, which he gladly accepted.

At the mansion, meanwhile, Aaron S. said that he could look through who among the 19 men who were there for the right reasons. Another date card then arrived for Dotun, Tanner, Adrian, John, Caleb A., Caleb B., Kaleb K., Xavier, James, Aaron S., Sean and Brayden.

For the first group date, the men arrived at the beach and when they saw Charity, Brayden bolted to be the first one who hugged her. She told the men that it's one of her favorite places so she thought they could unwind and play a dodgeball game. The winning team went to the afterparty, while the losers went back to the mansion.

After playing in front of judges Jesse, Charity and Liz Habib, the pink team won. Adrian was also named an MVP award.

At the after-party, Charity said that she had the best time. Brayden, however, didn't think Adrian deserved the MVP. Meanwhile, Charity and John sat down together to get to know each other better. At one point, he leaned in for a kiss.
Charity also enjoyed some time with Adrian, who confessed that he has a daughter. He said that his daughter is his everything, adding that it was hard for him to leave her for this. He tried to convince Charity that he's serious.

Later at the after-party, Charity eventually learned about conversations that some people might not be there for the right reasons. She wanted to find those men because she didn't want them to stay. Meanwhile, Charity presented the group rose to John, surprising both Brayden and Adrian.

Josh, Joey, John Henry, Michael, Warwick and Spencer were then picked for the next group date. Former "The Bachelorette" stars Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia also joined the group. The one man who impressed all the women the most would have an opportunity to break the record for the longest kiss ever in Bachelor Nation history. Charity eventually picked Joey and they managed to break the record with four minutes and twenty five seconds. Joey also got a chance to get a one on one for the evening.

The other guys were totally bummed and walked away. The men returned to the mansion with Brayden saying he would have walked away. As for Charity and Joey, they bonded as he talked about his parents who were divorced after his dad came out as gay.

The next day, Jesse came and gathered the men. He told them he had some good news and bad. The bad news was there will be no cocktail party, while the good news was going to be a BBQ. Despite that, Joey said that he felt loved.

Brayden got his time to speak to Charity. He discussed the time she broke the longest kiss record with Joey. At one point, Brayden and the guys talked about the kiss and he said it was classless and disrespectful to the guys. Charity was beyond shocked to be called classless, especially by Brayden with whom she thought she had a strong connection.

"To be called 'classless,' that's just not the word that was used in our conversation," Charity said. Charity was understandably upset. Jesse told the men that she cut short the party and moved straight to the Rose Ceremony.

At the Rose Ceremony, Charity opened up about struggling after being told two different stories. "I'm doing what I feel is best and that doesn't take away from any of you all," Charity told the men. She eventually gave the first rose to Donut. Also receiving roses were Tanner, Caleb B., Warwick, Michael, Sean, Xavier, Aaron S., James, Adrian and Brayden. Meanwhile, Caleb A., Kaleb K., John Henry, Josh and Spencer were eliminated.

Tamika Scott Granted Order Of Protection Against Her Sister And Brother-In-Law
Earlier this year, Xscape singer Latocha Scott and her husband Rocky Bivens were exposed for allegedly stealing money from Latocha’s sister Tamika Scott. Tamika accused Rocky of fraudulently cashing her Xscape royalty checks.
The story was shown on their hit TV show SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B, where it was revealed that Rocky was getting kickbacks from certain promoters unbeknownst to Kandi, Tamika, and Tiny.

Tamika admits she has a protective order against her sister and brother-in-law because they’ve threatened her.
Tamika spilled the tea on Kandi Burruss’ podcast, ‘Speak On It.

JAY-Z's mother gets married in star-studded Tribeca wedding

On Monday (July 3), JAY-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter, reportedly got married to longtime partner Roxanne Wilshire at an unknown location within New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood. According to TMZ, the event was attended by a wealth of big names, including Kelly Rowland, Tyler Perry, Robin Roberts, Corey Gamble, and Tina Knowles. Of course, JAY-Z and wife Beyoncé — along with daughter Blue Ivy and bodyguard Julius de Boer — were also there to see Gloria’s big moment.

As previously reported Gloria has been open about her sexual orientation, which many learned about through JAY-Z’s 4:44 standout “Smile.” “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian, had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian,” the Brooklyn icon rapped on the No I.D.-produced cut. In an appearance on Memphis Bleek, Rel Carter, and Tom Puzo’s “D’ussé Friday Podcast,” the matriarch admitted her apprehension about the song.

“Me and my son share a lot of information, so I was sitting there, and I was telling him one day, I just finally started telling him who I was,” she revealed. “Besides your mother, this is the person that I am, this is the life that I live. So my son actually started tearing because he was like, ‘That had to be a horrible life, Ma.’ And I was like, ‘My life was never horrible; it was just different.’ So that made him want to do a song about it.”

She continued, “I was never ashamed of me, but my family, it was something that was never discussed. Because everybody knows who I am, I don’t hide who I am… I’m tired of all the mystery. I’m gonna give it to ’em. I don’t have to worry about anybody wondering whether I’m in the life or not — I’m gonna tell them… Now it’s time for me to live my life and be happy, be free.”

Philadelphia mass shooting leaves five adult males dead and two children injured
Many nationwide are beginning to fear that mass shootings are becoming a norm in America.
There have been over 300 shootings involving at least four or more victims. One of the latest incidents occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ABC6 reported. On Monday night (July 3), authorities began receiving calls about a shooting in the Kingsessing area of the city while other officers were flagged down.

When local police arrived at the scene between 56th Street and Chester Avenue, they discovered several gunshot victims. As law enforcement began helping the wounded inside their patrol vehicles to be transported to a hospital, additional shots were heard. When authorities ran toward the sound, they found a 40-year-old male suspect, the news outlet shared. Officers chased the alleged gunman as he continued to fire and eventually cornered him in an alley.

When apprehended, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said, “This male was wearing a bulletproof vest with multiple magazines. He also had a [police] scanner, an AR-style rifle, and a handgun.” Initially, law enforcement reported the total number of victims as six. However, the number was changed to seven by Tuesday morning (July 4). Hours after the incident, a man returned home in the area and found his 31-year-old son, the seventh victim, deceased in the living room. Police said ballistic evidence discovered in the house led authorities to believe his death was connected to the mass shooting.

The other fatally shot victims included five men aged 20 to 59. Two kids, a 2-year-old and a 13-year-old, were taken to a hospital with injuries and placed in stable condition. Officers arrested a second man who reportedly picked up a gun and fired back at the alleged shooter. The police department is investigating the tragic incident and what caused it to take place.

Ne-Yo takes a fan to task for removing his hat during a performance: "She wasn’t supposed to grab my hat"

Back in June, Nelly held his inaugural Hot In Herre Festival in Toronto, Canada, which saw appearances from Akon, T.I., Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Ja Rule, and more. During a performance by Ne-Yo, a fan took to the stage and — according to him — took his hat off during the performance. As can be seen in the video, the Las Vegas talent did not take the gesture well.

“Kai’s not a Ne-Yo fan. She know good and godd**n well she wasn’t supposed to grab my hat,” the singer stated during his set. “Kai, get your ass back over there!”

Back in 2022, Ne-Yo liberated his ninth studio LP, Self Explanatory, a 13-song offering with appearances from Zae France, Jeremih, Trippie Redd, and Yung Bleu. The project both charted on the Billboard 200 and Billboard‘s Current Album Sales charts following its debut.

In related news, Ne-Yo will soon be heading on his “Champagne And Roses Tour,” with Robin Thicke and Mario providing support. For those interested, you can check out the full schedule for that below.

Ne-Yo’s “Champagne And Roses Tour” dates:
Sep. 9: Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Sep. 10: Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
Sep. 13: Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sep. 14: Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sep. 15: Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Sep. 17: Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann
Sep. 18: Hartford, CT – The XFINITY Theatre
Sep. 20: Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sep. 22: Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Sep. 23: Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sep. 24: Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sep. 27: Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sep. 29: Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
Oct. 3: San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Oct. 4: Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky Open Up amid Separation About Their 'Most Challenging' Year of Marriage
Following PEOPLE's confirmation Monday that 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star and her husband had "been separated for a while now," Richards and Umansky issued a joint statement on Instagram

Hours after PEOPLE exclusively confirmed that Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky had separated, the Bravo couple broke their silence and acknowledged they had faced the "most challenging" year of their 27-year marriage.
Earlier on Monday, a source close to the couple told PEOPLE that The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills mainstay, 54, and her Buying Beverly Hills star husband, 53, were "still living under the same roof" as they tested out the waters of a life apart after nearly three decades together. But, the sourced noted, "They remain amicable as they figure out what’s next for them and their family."

Late Monday night in Los Angeles, Richards and Umansky each posted a joint statement to their social media accounts shedding light on the situation.

"In regards to the news that came out about us today... Any claims regarding divorcing are untrue," Richards shared on her Instagram. "However, yes, we have had a rough year. The most challenging one of our marriage. But we both love and respect each other tremendously."

The same statement, which Umansky also shared on his Instagram, continued: "There has been no wrongdoing on anyone's part. Although we are in the public eye, we ask to be able to work through our issues privately. While it may be entertaining to speculate, please do not create false stories to fit a further salacious narrative."

The statement concluded, "Thank you for the love and support, Kyle & Mauricio."
Richards first met Umansky at a nightclub in 1994. After getting engaged later that year, the couple tied the knot in January 1996 and went on to welcome three daughters: Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 15. (Richards also has a 34-year-old daughter Farrah Brittany, née Aldjufrie, with first husband Guraish Aldjufrie.)

The couple welcomed Bravo viewers into their home life when The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiered in 2010. Both then and now, they have affirmed that their relationship as seen on the show was authentic.

"We're the same, with or without cameras. We're just super real and we know each other and we're real," Umansky told PEOPLE in March 2013. “We don't have any secrets to hide. That's one thing we talked about, the skeletons in the closet, and we can handle our worst skeletons."

No return date has been set for season 13 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which just wrapped filming. Seasons 1–12 can be streamed in full on Peacock.

Diddy’s Son Justin Combs Hit w/ 2 Charges Over DUI Arrest

New details surrounding Justin Combs’ recent DUI arrest have been released.
As previously reported, last month Justin Combs made headlines after being arrested for driving under the influence. The traffic stop stemmed from officers witnessing Justin Combs run a red light. According to an LAPD spokesperson,

“He was put through a sobriety test that he failed.” Well, it looks like the 29-year-old has been charged for his actions.
According to RadarOnline, on June 27, a criminal case was filed against Justin.

He reportedly received two misdemeanor charges for driving under the influence and for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than 0.08% or more. As of now, his pretrial hearing is set for Aug. 10.

Rakim Reacts To Billboard Naming Outkast The No. 1 Rap Group Of All Time
Billboard recently started a discourse by ranking the Top 50 Greatest Rap Groups, with Outkast listed as number one.
TMZ caught up with Rakim in New York City on Friday, where the legendary emcee gave his opinion on the list.

When asked about Eric B. and Rakim making the list at number seven, the OG expressed gratitude for the recognition.

“I’m always gonna say I should’ve been higher, but it’s a blessing to be recognized, and it’s a good time to be recognized as well,” he said.
When asked about Outkast taking the top spot, the Long Island rapper humbly acknowledged the group deserved their flowers.

“It’s not really my place to who else deserves or not,” Rakim explained. “I can only speak for myself. But Outkast pushed the envelope. A group that a lot of people got love for, so we have to give the flowers to who earns ‘em.”
As for Rakim, he’s currently receiving flowers of his own as hip hop celebrates 50 years. He’s been featured in multiple anniversary celebrations and recently shot a hip hop tribute with Sprite.