Erika Marie

Las Vegas

Features Editor and Journalist at HotNewHipHop

journalist • IG: xiErikaMarie • Founder: @OurBlackGirls & REK • Features Editor: @HotNewHipHop • Views are my own • seen in VICE, NPR, TIME, ABC 7, NYT & more.

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Articles

LeBron & Savannah James: A Relationship Timeline From Sweethearts To Power Couple

2 days ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

Prior to the championships, global brand, or billion-dollar empire, there was simply Akron, a city in Ohio where LeBron and Savannah James began. Long before he became the most talked-about athlete in the world, LeBron was just a rising high school phenom with his eye on a girl from across town at a rival school. When he finally worked up the nerve to ask out the 16-year-old Savannah Brinson, she agreed.
Big U RICO Case: The Murder Allegations Involving Rayshawn Williams

2 weeks ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

There are several disturbing elements in the federal case against Eugene "Big U" Henley that have stunned both Hip Hop and the streets of Los Angeles. Once dubbed the “Godfather of Hip Hop,” Big U recently turned himself in following news of a sweeping RICO case involving more than a dozen defendants. His legacy in the culture has been well-documented—from managing Kurupt to mentoring Nipsey Hussle during the late rapper’s formative years.
Big U RICO Case: What Does It Mean To 'Check In'?

3 weeks ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

The indictment of Eugene “Big U” Henley didn’t just rattle L.A.’s underground—it reopened one of Hip Hop’s most controversial conversations: what does it really mean to “check in”? For years, the idea of “checking in” has lingered just beneath the surface of Rap culture. It's a well-known code of conduct tied to street respect, survival, and territorial politics.
Who Is Big U? From Street Legend To Accused Industry Enforcer

3 weeks ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

Gang affiliations in Hip Hop are nothing new, but federal authorities allege that Eugene “Big U” Henley weaponized his ties in a way few others have.
Summer Walker’s Dating History: From London on Da Track To Rico Recklezz

1 month ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

BY Erika Marie Published 1 min ago Link Copied to Clipboard! ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 13: Summer Walker performs onstage during Strength of a Woman's 'Purpose Ball: Bridging the Gap' in Partnership with Mary J. Blige, Pepsi, and Live Nation Urban on May 13, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
From D’Angelo To Erykah Badu: The Pioneers Who Made Neo-Soul Timeless

1 month ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

Soul music was never lost, but by the 1990s, some believed it needed a revival. The rise of Hip Hop-infused R&B and radio-ready pop left a gap for something more profound—a space soon filled by a new generation of artists creating more than simple records. They restored the essence of Soul with live instrumentation, introspective songwriting, and a bold embrace of Black traditions in music. This movement, later known as Neo-Soul, was a rebirth.
HNHH's Women's History Month Playlist: Hip Hop And R&B Queens

1 month ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

Undeniably, Hip Hop and R&B have always been shaped by women—whether or not they got the credit they deserved. From the trends they set, the boundaries they pushed, and the culture shifts with each release, they dropped classics that still shake speakers years later. Despite setbacks and often being excluded from G.O.A.T. conversations, Hip Hop and R&B wouldn't be what it is today without ladies on the mic.
LARRENWONG’s Next Play: "4th & Long" EP, NFL Roots, And Reviving Old School R&B

1 month ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

Reinvention is never easy, but for LARRENWONG, who transitioned from professional football to pursue a career in R&B, it was inevitable. The Bay Area native, known by his teammates as Warren Long on the field, has traded touchdowns for music, crafting a sound fusing genres that have influenced him since he was a child. Moreover, as a self-taught musician who plays several instruments, LARRENWONG isn’t keen on being pigeonholed into one niche.
LARRENWONG’s "4th & Long" EP Delivers R&B-Soul, Struggle, & Self-Discovery

1 month ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

BY Erika Marie Published 1 hr ago 50 Views Link Copied to Clipboard! Link Copied to Clipboard! Moving from the NFL to R&B, LARRENWONG is embracing his place as a new, defining voice of the genre with his latest EP, "4th & Long." Undeniably, R&B is ever-evolving, and LARRENWONG told us he describes his addition to the scene as “natural, nostalgic, and stylish.” While some may think the transition from the NFL to a new industry would be a dramatic shift, LARRENWONG has studied music since he...
Angie Stone Remembered: From Hip Hop Pioneer To Neo-Soul Icon

1 month ago | hotnewhiphop.com | Erika Marie

Angie Stone’s voice was a bridge between eras—the nostalgia of deep southern Soul and the jazzy essence of Neo-Soul. However, Stone is also hailed as a pioneer of Hip Hop, launching her music career as a member of The Sequence, one of the first all-women Rap groups. There are some who weren't aware that she helped lay the foundation for women in Hip Hop with the legendary Sugar Hill Records.