ICYMI: This Week’s Internet Drama, Served Hot (Jan. 27 – Feb. 3)

who, what, where, when

Can’t keep up with the current stream of news?  We get it, it’s not easy. But you can count on us to keep you in the loop about this week’s internet drama. Skip the doom-scrolling and read on for a bite-size recap of all the headlines you might have missed over the past seven days. Below, a rundown of all the top stories you need to know from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3. 

Moroccan Rapper Tchubi Releases Live Rendition of ‘Diary of a Dead Man’ EP

Just months after his viral appearance on Planète Rap, which garnered over 3 million views and put him under the industry’s spotlight, 25-year-old Moroccan rapper Tchubi just released a live version of his EP Diary of a Dead Man. Released in 2024, the project follows the journey of a man who, having lost his sense of self, struggles to find purpose and find inner peace. As he rekindles with faith, he begins to realize that letting go of the past is essential to move forward.

With almost the same track-list as the original EP, the live version brings in subtle changes, re-works, and tweaks, counting seven songs instead of the initial nine. Blowing new life into a project that already carried so much emotion, the performing band in the background of this new iteration takes things up a notch, giving a twist that feels more mellow, yes, but also more intimate and powerful.

Neymar Left Saudi Arabia 

Calling Neymar’s 18-month spell in Saudi Arabia disappointing would be quite an understatement. After scoring only a single goal in a mere seven games played, the Brazilian star-player’s time in the Gulf has been far from successful. In August 2023, he joined Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain for a record fee of €90M ($93M). However, after a challenging year-and-half marked by repeated injuries and inconsistent performances, both parties had, last week, agreed to part ways by mutual consent, leaving fans speculating over which club the South American player could be joining next.

Over the weekend though, it was confirmed that the 2015 Champions League winner had inked a deal with his boyhood club Santos, marking a move back to his native Brazil. Back home after 12-years spent abroad playing in some of the most competitive tournaments, the 31-year-old is heading back to where it all started, hoping to find his form again in familiar surroundings. Fingers crossed he does. 

Frank Ocean is Shooting a Feature Film in CDMX

According to American entertainment magazine Variety, Frank Ocean has begun shooting his first film as a director in Mexico City. While specifics about the upcoming project— including plot details, release date and full cast— are still under wraps, it has been confirmed that British actor David Jonsson will star in the lead role. Should it come to fruition, this would mark Ocean’s first release since the drop of Dear April (Side A – Acoustic) and Cayendo (Side A – Acoustic) in 2020.

Kanye West Went Cray-Cray on X (again)


Ugh, looks like someone handed Ye the keys to his social media accounts again, and it didn’t take long before he went off on another wild rant online. Over the weekend, the controversial American artist shared a slew of tweets, from intimate polaroids of him and his wife Bianca Censori, to unhinged posts about his thoughts on fame, family, and the industry– one of which included a message aimed at Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the U.S.

Quickly sparking a mix of reactions, from shock and concern to amusement, fans and skeptics tried to make sense of his most recent outbursts, although, as usual, no one was able to. Sigh.

Turkish Man Abandons Suicide Attempt After Being Offered Kebab

A 33-year-old Turkish man attempted to take his life for the 232nd time by climbing a five-story rooftop in Antalya, Turkey. Causing wide-scale panic and prompting emergency responders to intervene, during negotiations, the man admitted feeling extremely hungry, leading officers to order him a döner kebab, which convinced him to abandon his attempt. Sometimes that’s all it takes..

The Weeknd Persona Is Officially Dead

The Weeknd persona is officially over—until proven otherwise. On Jan. 31, the Canadian pop star, born Abel Tesfaye, dropped his much-anticipated sixth studio album, Hung Up Tomorrow, and nearly every track seems to align with what he hinted at in a 2023 interview with W Magazine, saying that “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music … but I still want to kill The Weeknd.”

Upon closer inspection, it appears that the album’s outro fades into an instrumental before transitioning into High for This— the opening song of his 2012 debut project, Trilogy. Whether or not he’ll reappear under a new moniker remains unknown, but for now, all we have left of The Weeknd lives on in his music and on our streaming platforms. Sad.

Saint Levant Releases New Single, ‘Wazira’

Following the recent release of Exile on digital streaming platforms earlier this month, Palestinian-Algerian artist Saint Levant wasted no time, making his return with a brand-new track, Wazira. Described as a “heartfelt ode to the complexities of love and devotion,” the song, which fuses Arab and Western sonic styles, serenades a significant other, likening them to a “minister of love” and an “ambassador of feelings.” Up-beat and lush, the track was recorded over the past summer in Sahel, Egypt, designed for year-round plays through a sound that stays in line with Levant’s signature blend of nostalgia and current trends.   

Beyoncé Announces World Tour

Beyoncé has announced her upcoming Cowboy Carter tour, set to support her latest album of the same name. The tour will visit major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Houston, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas. Internationally, she has confirmed performances in London and Paris. The announcement follows her recent Grammy wins, including Best Country Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, marking her first win in this category and solidifying her status as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history with 35 wins. Rehearsals are set to begin in Glendale, LA, in April, with the tour kicking off at the end of that same month.

Rapper Ziad Zaza Co-Designs Capsule Collection With Egyptian Brand Coddiewomple


Egyptian brand Coddiwomple has teamed up with artist Ziad Zaza for an exclusive, limited-edition capsule collection. The drop includes hoodies, crewnecks, jackets, tees, and sweatpants, all featuring graffiti-style prints inspired by Zaza’s music. Designed with relaxed, oversized silhouettes, the collection takes cues from Cairo’s underground music scene, with baggy sweatpants and layered looks. Standout pieces include a varsity-style crewneck with Zaza 22and star motifs, a sporty “Cairo” jacket, and hoodies ranging from minimalist black to bold lyric-driven prints.

 

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