Pop Shots – A New Attitude

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Lil’ Kim’s career being under new management, to Mariah Carey having the potential to become the new Mark Zuckerberg, to a new, and potentially huge problem for Sony Music, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Lil’ Kim says Nick Cannon is now her manager. We can now all look forward to an episode of The Masked Singer where a blinged out rhinoceros raps, “I used to be scared of the dick …”

* Kanye West has succeeded in legally changing his name to Ye. I just have to say, it’s good to know the courts can push something through when it’s truly important.

* Adele’s “Easy On Me,” which is the lead single from her upcoming album, 30, now holds the record for the most streams on Spotify in a single day. Personally, I was disappointed to find it isn’t a reply to the old Stetson cologne commercial from the ‘80s.

* Jay-Z and Beyonce are being totally relatable in a new commercial for Tiffany & Co. In the ad, titled “Date Night,” the married couple are in a Rolls-Royce deciding on what to eat. Eventually it’s revealed the entire scene is actually taking place on a soundstage, utilizing a green screen, because, I mean, c’mon, do you really think the Carters would slum it in a Rolls-Royce?

* Mariah Carey announced a partnership with the cryptocurrency platform Gemini, which was founded by the Winklevoss twins. Gemini reportedly aims to educate and inspire women about better investment, and is used to buy, sell, earn, and store more than 50 cryptocurrencies. With the Winklevoss’ history, if Gemini is successful, Mariah Carey will end up being credited as the creator of the company, which will then play a prominent role in the downfall of society.

* Naturi Naughton reveled 3LW used a fake house for their 2001 episode of MTV’s Cribs. I hate to break it to her, but this isn’t the revelation she thinks it is. We can all do basic math. Nobody believed she had a house when she was 17.

* 50 Cent’s Branson cognac has been accused by Remy Martin of copying the well known brand’s bottle design, but 50’s company says this is nothing more than an attempt to eliminate a competitor and “monopolize the Cognac market.” There’s no word on if Remy Martin has contacted Cam’ron to get involved, but it might be a wise move.

* Mental health organization This Is My Brave has distanced itself from Jamie Lynn Spears, who wanted to donate a portion of the proceeds from her upcoming memoir to the charity. This came after fans of Britney Spears bombarded the organization upon learning of their connection with Jamie Lynn, claiming the younger Spears has been part of Britney’s many family woes. Well, it’s a good thing those fans – checks notes – made sure none of the money went to charity, and instead will go directly to the person they claim is problematic. Go team?

* Sony Music was hoping to avoid having to open their books for the now 7-year-old Dr. Luke vs. Kesha libel suit over a rape accusation, but the record label has lost its bid for secrecy. Sony had argued that the release of information such as royalty rates, artist advances, producer fees, and recording budgets would cause “substantial harm” to the label, and that if Kesha’s recording agreement were to become public, competing labels would use it to encourage artists to sign with companies other than Sony. Although they lost the battle, you gotta hand it to Sony, basically admitting their business practices are a damned horror show they didn’t want anyone to see was a bold path to take.

* Vince Neil might not want to contact “Dr. Feelgood,” but he was certainly in need of a medical professional after falling off the stage during a performance with his solo band at the Monsters on the Mountain festival in Pigeon Forge, TN. Since it happened at Monsters on the Mountain, I wonder if he landed on a “Mississippi Queen.”

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.