Contrary to reports that O.J. Simpson’s final moments were witnessed by his children, his lawyer claims none of them were present.
The latest details about the former NFL star’s death come a week after he passed away on April 10 following a battle with prostate cancer.
At the time, his family announced his death via a poignant statement on social media.
In an emotional interview with the Associated Press, Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, recently addressed his final moments.
He debunked the claims that his client had died surrounded by loved ones — which was shared by the family on X.
Their message alleged Simpson “succumbed to his battle with cancer” while “surrounded by his children and grandchildren.”
But according to LaVergne, the 76-year-old passed away in the presence of just a “close family member.”
But he stressed that it did not diminish Simpson’s children’s love for their father.
“You have to remember that they’ve shared O.J. with the world their entire lives,” LaVergne shared, adding: “At first, they shared good O.J. But still he was famous. And then, from 1994 on, they kind of had to share bad boy O.J. with the world. But at the end of the day, these children just lost a father.”
Kanye West could find himself in trouble with the law again as cops are reportedly investigating claims he got into an altercation with an unnamed man.
LAPD named Ye as the suspect in an alleged battery, according to TMZ, whose source says cops received a report West punched a man in the face Tuesday night (April 16). Few other details are known, but the man West struck allegedly pushed or grabbed West’s wife, Bianca Censori.
The outlet reports the alleged victim was not severely injured and did not require treatment. While the couple reportedly left after the alleged altercation, law enforcement intend to speak to West as part of their investigation. LAPD is also seeking witnesses to the alleged altercation.
It’s not the first time Kanye West has faced battery accusations. An autograph-seeking fan sued West earlier this year for punching him several times, “severely injuring him.”The autograph hunter filed suit for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and loss of consortium.
Additionally, in 2023, a paparazzo sued Kanye West for assault, battery, negligence and violation of her civil rights. The woman claimed he reached into her car, took her phone and threw it into the street.
Meanwhile, Kanye West appears in good spirits despite his apparent legal woes. West and Censori were spotted among the visitors at Disneyland on Wednesday (April 17), the day after the alleged battery.
Rapper Yung Lean also joined the couple. A photo surfaced of the group on the Hyperspace Mountain ride, with Ye poking his tongue out.
Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber linked up at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California this weekend—and now, a clip of their interaction is going viral.
In a video making the rounds online, Smith runs up to Bieber from behind and wraps his arms around him. Bieber, in turn, kisses him on the cheek. Naturally, the gesture raised a few eyebrows and people quickly ran to Twitter (X) to weigh in on the public display of affection.
Many, of course, jumped to conclusions and assumed their “intimate” moment meant they were somehow romantically linked. But Bieber has been married to Hailey Baldwin for five years and has had a string of high profile relationships with several women, including Selena Gomez and Kendall Jenner. Still, people couldn’t stop themselves from making jokes or expressing their confusion.
As one person wrote, “I’m sorry but this is not normal. No one is allowed to touch me like that if they are not my man, even my girlfriends don’t approach me like that.” Another asked, “Why TF Do I See Justin Bieber & Jaden Smith Hugging & Kissing On My Timeline??”
Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber’s friendship goes back decades. In 2010, they teamed up for Biebs’ single “Never Say Never” for the film The Karate Kid and, more recently, on 2020’s “Falling For You.” In 2018, Smith announced he was “sexually fluid” during an appearance at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw carnival. He added, “I just wanna say Tyler, The Creator is the best friend in the world. And I love him so f###### much, and I wanna tell you guys something, I wanna tell you, Tyler doesn’t wanna say, but Tyler is my mother f###### boyfriend. And he’s been my mother f###### boyfriend my whole f###### life.”
Tyler was seen backstage laughing it off and ultimately flipping Smith the middle finger. But Smith has other things to think about. He’ll be hitting the road with Kid Cudi on June 28 as part of The Insano World Tour alongside Pusha T and EarthGang.
If you thought Yung Miami had her hands full with trolls bombarding her on social media with “Freak off” references following Diddy’s sexual assault lawsuits, guess again because New Orleans’ natives are now coming for her.
In this case, it all started out with a semi tone deaf tweet in a response to a fan on Twitter (X), who requested Yung Miami’s presence in New Orleans.
“I hate it there real bad!” Yung Miami swiftly replied.
Of course, given Yung Miami chose to “Act Bad” when NOLA became the topic of conversation, the levees began overflowing with discourse from disgruntled natives who were fed up.
“Yung Miami being a watered down dollar general bounce artist yet hates New Orleans hilarious. There’s real bounce music artists that’s killing her whole catalog. You can’t take the sauce, run with it, then diss the culture almost a decade later,” one Twitter (X) user pointed out.
However, it appears an Instagram user by the name of @winsleymelan drug Miami through the absolute gutter for her statements on Instagram after pointing out the City Girl’s rapper’s blatant history of appropriating classic New Orleans music for her own profit. From her platinum hit “Twerk” sampling Choppa’s “Choppa Style” to leaning on artists such as Juvenile and Magnolia Shorty, Winsley pulled all of the receipts of Miami taking inspiration without giving proper credit. Not to mention, in 2018, Drake brought the City Girls out on stage in New Orleans and it proved to be one of their biggest co-sign moments early on in their career.
What do you think? Should Miami re-think her relationship with New Orleans or simply embrace here “Bayou Ban” and leave Bounce music and their artists out of her next releases?
Karrueche Tran wants no part of Quavo and Chris Brown’s contentious feud. The actress repeatedly focused on herself when a paparazzo asked how she felt about her exes beefing.
“I don’t feel [anything],” she said. “It is what it is. I’m living my life. Working, paying my bills, taking time for myself and that’s all that matters. Whatever else is going on, I ain’t got nothing to do with it. I’m living a peaceful life. That’s all I want: peace.”
Tran initially denied hearing any of Quavo and Brown’s diss tracks. She later admitted to hearing at least one of the songs.
“I’ve heard it,” she said. “I don’t think [anything]. I don’t. No! No comments. I just want peace and happiness. And I wanna work and thrive. That’s all I ask.”
The paparazzo kept pushing, inquiring if she had a message for Quavo and Brown. She offered a simple answer.
“Nothing,” she said.
Tran was the source of Quavo and Brown’s bad blood. The tension between the two artists recently erupted when Brown took a shot at Quavo on the song “Freak.”
“Okay, now f###### my old b###### ain’t gon’ make us equal/Sipping that 1942 ‘cause I don’t do no Cuervo [Quavo]/Freak b####, she like Casamigos, not the Migos,” Brown rapped.
“You did the b#### wrong and now the b#### gone, she posted with a thug/Call the b#### phone, she won’t come home, don’t beat her up/It must be the drugs, need to cross out your plug,” he rapped.
Quavo added, “Tell me, ‘lil bro, what’s your issue? It’s over a thot/You said it’s bigger than that but know that it’s not.”
The situation escalated when Brown dropped his diss track “Weakest Link.” Brown claimed he had sex with Quavo’s ex Saweetie while they were still dating and dragged the late Takeoff’s name into the battle.
“You f##### my ex-hoe, that’s cool, I don’t give no f###, lil’ n####/’Cause I f##### your ex when you were still with her, b####, I’m up, lil’ n####,” Brown rapped.
He continued, “Show me that I’m tender, b####, time to prove what you just said/R.I.P. Takeoff, he the only real one that got true respect/Crazy how when he died, everybody really wished it was you instead.”
Quavo responded with the diss track “Over Hoes & B######.”
“This bullet got your name, Chris/Don’t ever bring up Take, p####,” Quavo declared.
He rapped, “Lil’ boy wanna die ’bout some coochie?/You still f##### up ’bout Karrueche?/You tried to beat up Teyana/But Usher wouldn’t let you do it/The cocaine got him, your honor/Bipolar disorder, no wonder/You was the greatest, n####, you fumbled/Going out sad, I’m watching you crumble.”
Listen to “Weakest Link” and “Over Hoes & B######” below.
A California judge partially denied Tasha K’s motion to dismiss Kevin Hart’s lawsuit against her on Wednesday (April 24). Judge Holly Fujie allowed Hart to proceed with claims of defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional interference with contractual relations. The judge dismissed Hart’s extortion claim.
Hart sued the controversial vlogger, whose real name is Latasha Kebe, and his former assistant Miesha Shakes in December 2023. Shakes claimed Hart paid a man $4 million to take DUI charges for him and faced “charges” for a 2017 sex tape scandal — along with many more unflattering allegations — in an interview with Tasha K.
According to Hart, Shakes violated her non-disclosure agreement. Hart accused Tasha K and Shakes of defamation and extortion following the interview’s release.
Tasha K attempted to get Hart’s claims dismissed based on California’s anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect free speech. The law aims to help defendants dismiss meritless lawsuits. But Judge Fujie ruled some of Hart’s claims had merit. The judge cited Shakes and Tasha’s comments regarding Hart’s sex tape as one potential example of defamation.
“Shakes and Kebe’s use of the word ‘charges,’ in context and based on the common usage of the word, could lead a reasonable observer to conclude that Hart faced criminal prosecution,” Fujie said, per Courthouse News Service. “Defendants do not dispute that Hart never faced criminal charges in connection with the Las Vegas incident.”
Hart’s ex-assistant did not participate in Tasha K’s anti-SLAPP motion. Tasha K’s efforts did help Shakes, who no longer faced extortion claims due to the judge’s ruling.
Earlier this year, a judge denied Hart’s request for a temporary restraining order in the defamation case. Hart wanted Shakes’ tell-all interview with Tasha K to be removed from the vlogger’s website. Judge Mitchell Beckloff said the request went “overboard.”
Drake removed his Kendrick Lamar diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle” from social media. The Canadian star took down the song at the behest of Tupac Shakur’s estate.
Tupac’s estate threatened to sue Drake in a cease-and-desist letter. Drake used AI-generated Tupac and Snoop Dogg vocals to taunt Kendrick on “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Tupac’s estate condemned “the dismaying use” of his voice.
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” the estate’s attorney Howard King wrote. “Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest Hip-Hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.”
Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” was never available on streaming services. The track only appeared on his social media platforms.
Tupac’s estate demanded the removal of the “Taylor Made Freestyle” days after its release. The estate also asked Drake to provide a “detailed explanation” of how Tupac’s AI-generated voice was created in its cease-and-desist letter.
“If you comply, the estate will consider whether an informal negotiation to resolve this matter makes sense,” King wrote. “If you do not comply, our client has authorized this firm to pursue all of its legal remedies including, but not limited to, an action for violation of … the estate’s copyright, publicity and personality rights and the resulting damages, injunctive relief and punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.”
Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” was his second diss track aimed at Kendrick. Drizzy previously released the song “Push Ups,” which targeted Kendrick and several others.
Kendrick started the battle by dissing Drake and J. Cole on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That.” Cole responded with “7 Minute Drill” but quickly regretted dissing Kendrick. Cole apologized at the 2024 Dreamville Festival.
Now that Beyoncé has given South Carolina Women’s basketball Coach of the Year Dawn Staley her flowers amid back-to-back NCAA national titles, she’s sending flowers to toddlers.
Well, not exactly. One lucky rugrat has joined the likes of Staley in Queen Bey’s book after the COWBOY CARTER vocalist sent the tike one of her trademark bouquet’s of blue roses. And while the tike is obviously way too young to compete at one of the highest levels in organized sports, he still managed to win over Beyoncé’s heart, much like Staley and the Gamecock’s roster did this year. The boy, Tyler, effectively won the hearts of more than 17 million TikTok users after a video of his conversation with his mother went viral due to his claim that Queen Bey was his actual homegirl.
“Where’s Beyoncé?” Tyler asked his mother in part.
“Beyoncé’s in her house, baby,” his mother, Bea Fabregas, replied.
“She’s our friend,” Tyler insisted after asking to visit Beyoncé.
Considering the original video was posted on April 16, word must’ve spread like wildfire because Fabregas shared an update post less than 10 days later, making it Instagram official by revealing that Tyler and Beyoncé were basically besties.
“BEYONCE VIDEO UPDATE,” Fabregas wrote in the caption of the Instagram post. “For the record @beyonce and Tyler are now actually, officially friends! Through the power of Queen B’s internet (millions of views and likes it’s crazy!) she saw the video and sent over some of her favorite blue flowers, a new animal best friend for Tyler and the sweetest message that our family will now always treasure. In her note (which she started out with ‘To my friend Tyler’ ) she said, ‘I see your halo, Tyler’.”
Bea ended the lengthy post writing, “BEYONCE SENT MY BABY FLOWERS!!!!”
No progress was made at a hearing in YNW Melly’s double murder retrial on Friday (April 26). The embattled rapper remained stuck playing the waiting game as a Florida judge issued no ruling on his legal team’s request to move forward with discovery.
According to NBC Miami, Melly’s lawyers wanted to proceed with depositions and outstanding motions in the case. The prosecution claimed the proceedings must remain on hold while they appeal Judge John Murphy’s order to suppress a documentary as evidence in the trial.
Judge Murphy granted the defense’s motion to suppress the video in January. Prosecutors filed an appeal, delaying the retrial. It could take months to sort out the appeal. Melly has remained in jail since his 2019 arrest for the murders of Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams.
Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, was tried for the murders in 2023. Judge Murphy declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Prosecutors quickly pursued a retrial against Melly. His defense team convinced Judge Murphy to remove former lead prosecutor Kristine Bradley from the case. Alixandra Buckelew replaced Bradley.
Jury selection for the retrial began in October 2023. Judge Murphy granted the defense’s request to strike an entire panel of prospective jurors, forcing the selection progress to start from scratch in November 2023. Jury selection eventually was put on hold for months.
Melly’s retrial was scheduled to start in January 2024 at one point. Judge Murphy pushed it back to February before it was delayed indefinitely.
Prosecutors accuse Melly of killing his friends in 2018. The prosecution said his alleged accomplice YNW Bortlen helped him stage a drive-by shooting to cover up the murders. Bortlen will be tried separately.
Melly maintains his innocence. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
An appellate court upheld R. Kelly’s conviction for child pornography and child enticement charges in Chicago on Friday (April 26). Kelly’s attorneys claimed the charges were filed after the statute of limitations expired. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit disagreed.
“For years, Robert Sylvester Kelly abused underage girls,” the court noted. “By employing a complex scheme to keep victims quiet, he long evaded consequences. In recent years, though, those crimes caught up with him at last. But Kelly—interposing a statute of limitations defense—thinks he delayed the charges long enough to elude them entirely. The statute says otherwise, so we affirm his conviction.”
The appellate court also denied Kelly’s request for a new sentencing hearing. Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his Chicago conviction. His lawyers argued the sentence was too harsh.
Most of Kelly’s sentence will be served concurrently with a 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York. Judge Harry Leinenweber ordered Kelly to serve one more year behind bars once the disgraced singer completed the New York sentence. The appellate court said Kelly’s arguments ignored the realities of his intertwined sentences.
“Kelly challenged the 72 months added to the high end of his Guidelines range,” the court wrote. “That challenge is beside the point. What matters most is the 30-year New York sentence, which the district court called ‘the elephant in the room’ at sentencing. The sentence Kelly ultimately received was fashioned with the New York sentence in mind. Kelly’s nominal above-Guidelines sentence cannot be fairly assessed without reference to its running concurrently with the New York sentence—what looks like 240 for this Illinois conduct is, with that context, more like twelve.”
The court concluded, “An even-handed jury found Kelly guilty, acquitting on several charges even after viewing those abhorrent tapes. No statute of limitations saves him, and the resulting sentence was procedurally proper and—especially under these appealing circumstances—substantively fair.”
Kelly is appealing his New York conviction. He remains in a federal correctional center in North Carolina.
Mike Moz spoke to TMZabout Kanye West’s supposed adult entertainment company. The Vixen Media Group affiliate made a bold statement about what potential viewers will get with Yeezy P###.
“I’ve been having discussions with Ye about a potential collab between Yeezy brand and my team at Vixen Media Group. While it’s too early to give any details I’m excited about where Ye’s vision takes this,” Mike Moz stated.
Moz continued, “The idea that this project is going to be another p### studio is not correct. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before.” Vixen Media Group owns brands such as Blacked, Slayed, and Milfy.
“Playboy was my gateway into full-blown pornography addiction,” Kanye West stated in 2019. “My dad had a Playboy left out at age five, and it’s affected almost every choice I made for the rest of my life. From age five to now having to kick the habit.”
It is well documented that Remy Ma can crush people with her clapbacks. One social media user found out how brutal the Bronx, New York City native can be when provoked.
While speaking with her followers on Instagram Live, Remy Ma saw a commenter claim the “All the Way Up” rapper had no money. Remy fired right back at the troll.
“You wish I was broke. Go to this person’s page, real quick. I’m sure you’re broke. I can tell by your f###### background and headboard,” the Chrome 23 battle rap league founder replied.
Remy Ma then showed a photo of her tormentor and added, “This is who just told me, I’m broke, y’all…. You see why I don’t entertain people on social media… Ma’am hush.”
In addition, the Terror Squad member said, “This one right here said I be doing too much.” Remy again held up the woman’s pictures for her supporters to make fun of in the comment section.
This was not the first time in recent days that Remy Ma addressed an online killjoy while on Instagram Live. The There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story album creator also offered to fight one of her haters.
Future and Metro Boomin recruited Aftermath Entertainment alumnus Kendrick Lamar for the “Like That” single which includes diss bars for Drake. Metro also wants to link with fellow Aftermath representative Eminem.
Around 11:30 pm ET on Thursday, Metro Boomin jumped on X to announce he wants to make music with the Rock & Roll of Fame inductee. Metro tweeted, “Somebody please tell Eminem I’m tryna lock in!!!”
A possible Metro Boomin and Eminem collaboration would come after the start of the so-called Hip-Hop Civil War of 2024. The latest chapter in the ongoing Kendrick Lamar versus Drake battle spawned from “Like That.”
Drake fired back at his foes with the “Push Ups” diss track. On that record, the OVO Sound leader took a direct shot at Metro Boomin with the line, “Metro, shut your ho ass up and make some drums, n####.”
At one point, Drake and Future appeared like an unstoppable duo with multiple chart-topping songs. The last few months have seen the Toronto rapper and the Atlanta rapper have a public falling out.
Future made it clear he has beef with Drake on his recently released We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You albums. It appears the Freebandz founder also dissed Drizzy on the new “Back To Back” single.
Nardo Wick’s “Back To Back” shares the same name as Drake’s iconic Meek Mill diss track “Back To Back” from 2015. The Nardo version has some listeners wondering if Future had words for the OVO boss.
“Ain’t gon’ be no n#### who dissin’ you, I’m spinnin’ back to back,” Future raps on the Nardo Wick collaboration. In the chorus, the trap music artist says, “Back to back to back to back to back, the shooters back to back.”
Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You studio LP hosts the “Like That” single. Kendrick Lamar used his verse on the Billboard Hot 100 #1 record to call out Drake and J. Cole.
Drake replied to Future, Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar and other adversaries on “Push Ups.” J. Cole decided to step out of the ring by apologizing to Lamar for dropping his “7 Minute Drill” diss track which he later removed from streaming platforms.
Fat Joe is weighing in on the recent battles in Hip-Hop and he had plenty to say about Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Chris Brown.
During an Instagram Live (Thursday (April 25), the Terror Squad leader, who has had his fair share of rap beef, isn’t a fan of rappers dissing their former friends.
“I don’t really like the present status of rap beef because I’m loyal to a fault,” he began. “I can’t be your friend and make songs with you and make albums with you and then start exposing your secrets later and start dissing you. It just ain’t in me.”
However, Fat Joe has been following the drama and declared Chris Brown the clear winner for his Quavo disses.
“Of course, the Tupac of 2024 has got to be Chris Brown,” he declared. “Chris Brown is considered an alien. If you playing basketball, he’ll bust your ass, if you sing against him he sings better, he dance better. If he got to rap, he rap. That’s battle rap. Chris Brown, that’s the one I been listening to. Not disrespecting everybody that got they records.”
He then pivoted to the battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar and shared his belief that K. Dot had thrown the towel in.
While he thought Drizzy was “pushing the envelope” and being “creative” with his A.I generated Tupac verse, he doubts Lamar will respond.
I don’t think Kendrick’s cooking up,” he stated. “It didn’t take him three to four weeks. I think that’s over.”
Ultimately, Fat Joe said, “I got no horse in this game.” He added, “I wish they would all get along.”
Check out the video below. Fat Joe talks Chris Brown and rap beef around the 10:15 mark.
Kai Cenat has responded to Kanye West accusing him of being an industry plant.
During a recent interview, Ye bashed the Twitch Streamer for criticizing his Vultures merch and mentioning his daughter, North West. On Thursday (April 25), Cenat reacted to the rapper’s appearance on The Download podcast.
He forcefully rejected West’s claims and laid out his history of content creation. “Okay buddy, first things first,” Cenat began after pausing the interview to address West directly. “Ye, I’ve been doing this s### since 2018, Ye! Facebook, Bronx, funny skits… been doing this s###, gang. You feel me?”
Cenat began to explain the issue before losing his patience. “Man, f### that!” he said standing up and pacing around the room. “The pants ain’t fit, my n####. Why is we arguing? Ye, some send me some new pants, bro.”
He continued, “I’m far from an industry plant. You feel me? I got this s### out of the mud! People got to do some research! Okay? That’s crazy! All this because of pants ain’t fitting is crazy.”
Kanye West Says Kai Cenat “On The Wrong Side Of The Future”
During his appearance on The Download podcast, Ye called out Cenat for being critical of his merch.
“If you’re posting something negative, you’re on the wrong side of the future,” West stated. “Because, you know, we’re out here, stepping away from Adidas. Like, the s### that Kai said – that’s some industry plant s###.”
When asked if he genuinely believed Kai Cenat was an industry plant, Kanye West said he was certain of it. “Of course,” he replied. “That exact genre is the most industry plant. It’s about, like, influence and mind control.”
Furthermore, West was incensed by Cenat talking about North West. “Then he’s gonna mention my daughter’s name,” Ye said. “Don’t mention my daughter’s name and then you dissing what’s paying their $200,000 a month child support. That don’t make God happy.”
Kanye calls Kai Cenat an "industry plant" after he criticized Yeezy clothes on his stream pic.twitter.com/AHOvz5juwc
Eminem has announced a new album, The Death of Slim Shady, which is expected to arrive sometime this summer.
NFR Podcast unveiled the news via Twitter (X) on Thursday (April 25) shortly after Eminem opened the 2024 NFL Draft in his hometown of Detroit. It also included a teaser for the project starring 50 Cent. The concept revolves around an investigation into the murder of Slim Shady, Eminem’s longtime alter ego. The caption read simply, “EMINEM-THE DEATH OF SLIM SHADY. NEW ALBUM. SUMMER 2024.”
“Through his complex and oft-criticized, tongue-twisting rhymes, the anti-hero known as Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies,” the reporter says. “The same rude lyrics and controversial antics may have ultimately led to his demise. Join me as we recreate the events that led to the murder of Slim Shady.”
As for 50 Cent, he offers. “He’s not a friend, he’s a psychopath.”
Slim Shady dates back to 1997’s Slim Shady EP as well as 1999’s The Slim Shady LP. He’s assumed the role on songs such as “Guilty Conscience,” “’97 Bonnie and Clyde” and “Kill You.”
The Death of Slim Shady marks Eminem’s 12th studio album and the follow-up to 2020’s Music To Be Murdered By.
G-Unit Studios setting up shop in Shreveport, Louisiana was just the beginning of 50 Cent’s plans for the city. According to multiplereports, the diamond-selling rapper intended to transform the city’s Stageworks of Louisiana a.k.a. Expo Hall property into a sports and entertainment venue.
Shreveport officials introduced an ordinance to lease the city-owned facility to 50 Cent’s production company on Tuesday (April 23). Like the G-Unit Studios deal, 50 Cent would pay $2,400 annually to lease the building.
“G-Unit Film & Television Louisiana, LLC (‘Tenant’) desires to operate a sports and entertainment event venue to include, but not be limited to, amateur and professional basketball and volleyball leagues and tournaments, amateur and professional boxing and MMA matches, seminars, conventions, auto shows, concerts and general business meetings,” Shreveport City Attorney Marcus Edwards wrote. “Tenant has requested and City desires to lease portions of the property to Tenant for such purposes.”
The ordinance proposed a second 30-year deal with 50 Cent. Last year, the Shreveport City Council unanimously approved his 30-year lease of the property where G-Unit Studios currently resides. The agreement included an option to renew the lease for another 15 years.
50 Cent launched G-Unit Studios at a location formerly known as Millennium Studios on April 18. Shreveport declared April 18 to be Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Day to celebrate..
“Through the expansion of G-Unit in Shreveport, my aim is to embody the spirit of conscious capitalism to focus on creating jobs, stimulating commerce and contributing to the economic growth of this vibrant community. I envision [making] Shreveport a beacon of the entertainment industry,” he said at the launch.
Non-scripted projects are scheduled to begin production at G-Unit Studios this summer. 50 Cent’s G-Unit Films and Television produced several hit TV shows, including BMF and each spinoff in the Power franchise.
Authorities apprehended Sukihana for allegedly possessing codeine and ecstasy in Florida. According to Broward County Sheriff’s Office records, the polarizing rapper/reality TV star was hit with two drug charges on Thursday (April 25).
Sukihana, whose real name is Destiny Lanette Henderson, was booked in the Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach. She was charged with possession of codeine with the intent to sell, deliver or manufacture codeine and possession of MDMA with the intent to sell, deliver or manufacture.
The codeine charge carried a $5,000 bond. The ecstasy charge was listed at $2,500.
Sukihana was arrested a month after her collaborator OJ Da Juiceman got busted for drug and gun charges in Georgia. OJ led Coweta County deputies on a car chase before he was taken into custody.
“Me and OJ is #3 on iTunes Hip-Hop and he just got locked up,” she wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “This so hurtful. We supposed to be celebrating this moment. I know he would be happy. I was bringing him on stage for Rolling Loud. I literally want to cry but God got us. He coming home soon.”
OJ was arrested for cocaine trafficking, eluding police, evidence tampering, possession with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm, among other charges. He joined Sukihana at the Rolling Loud Festival after getting released from jail. OJ performed his song “Make Tha Trap Say Aye” during her set. Sukihana recruited OJ for her single “Selling,” which dropped in March.
Drake’s social media activity has become a major source of agitation in his ongoing rap beef with multiple artists and the latest fan theory looks to entangle producers into the mix.
In addition to Metro Boomin, BNYX could be injected into the mix currently being stirred by artists such as Future, Rick Ross and Kanye West, who are attempting to stick a fork in Drake to ensure he’s done for! Well at-least that’s what this Twitter (X) user’s theory appears to suggest, based on the news of BNYX’s new partnership deal with Zack Bia’s Field Trip Recordings imprint and Capitol Records.
Multiple artists, including Yeat himself showed their support to BNYX in the comments section of the Instagram post he shared announcing the news.
“LYFESTYLER… … CEO,” Yeat wrote in his comment while Zack Bia wrote, “BIGTIMESTYLER.”
But somehow, a simple like on the post from Drake seemed to overshadow the post as users literally began reaching for reasons as to why Drizzy’s support could be considered as him throwing shade at Metro. In fact, Instagram users literally drug snatched a screenshot of Drake’s like on the post and re-shared it on Twitter (X) for the sole purpose of instigating.
“Drake about to replace Metro with BNYX [Crying laughing emojis],” one user wrote in a tweet with the picture.
Of course, all hell broke loose almost immediately as users began arguing point-for-point why or why this was even relevant to the ongoing beef between Drake and Metro, and pretty much every other major rapper.
“BNYX way better than Metro anyway,” one user argued while another countered by writing, “Metro one of a kind respectfully.”
There could be some actual validity to this wild claim, considering the fact that BNYX and Drake have been building up a great deal of creative chemistry within the last year, give or take. Not only did BNYX produce Drizzy’s viral “Search & Rescue” but he also cooked up Travis Scott’s UTOPIA banger “MELTDOWN” and also crafted Drake’s For All The Dogs album cut “IDGAF.” It should be, at minimum, safe to say that a new collaboration could be on the way, considering BNYX confirmed he has a new album on the way along with the news of his partnership deal.
Jeezy denied domestic violence allegations on Thursday (April 25). The 46-year-old rapper released a statement after reports revealed his estranged wife Jeannie Mai accused him of abusing her in their contentious divorce proceedings.
“The allegations are not only false but also deeply disturbing, especially coming from someone I loved,” Jeezy said. “This malicious attempt to tarnish my character and disrupt my family is ridiculous. It’s disheartening to witness the manipulation and deceit at play and at this time my main concern is being an active father to our daughter as I continue to fight for court-mandated joint custody. Rest assured, the truth will prevail through the proper legal channels.”
Jeannie claimed Jeezy hit her three weeks after she gave birth to their daughter Monaco, who was born in January 2022. Jeezy allegedly told a driver to step out of their car before berating his wife, telling her “I can’t wait to divorce you when we get back.” Jeannie said Jeezy held her against her in the vehicle. He allegedly struck her with a closed fist when she attempted to get out of the car.
Jeezy’s estranged wife said he choked her and pushed her down the stairs at a San Francisco hotel in April 2022. According to her, the incident caught the attention of hotel security. They offered her protection after she told them she “felt unsafe.”
Jeannie’s court documents disclosed an abusive incident at the 39th Annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball in December 2022. Jeezy allegedly berated her again inside a car after asking a driver to step out of the vehicle. Jeannie said her husband grabbed the neckline of her dress when she tried to get away from him. He tore the dress and left her with multiple scratches on her right breast.
The alleged domestic violence was reported to a pastor and therapist. Jeannie also mentioned the abuse to a close friend.
Jeezy and Jeannie’s two-year marriage ended when he filed for divorce in 2023. Earlier this year, he asked for full custody of their daughter. He recently revised his request to seek shared custody.
Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, the man dubbed Drake’s “rich baby daddy” by Kanye West, sought his removal from Lil Rod’s explosive lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Attorneys representing Grainge, UMG and Motown Records filed a motion to be dismissed from the case on Wednesday (April 24).
“All of the claims against Grainge, Motown and UMG Recordings (the ‘UMG Defendants’) in the [second amended complaint] are lacking in any legally cognizable basis,” lawyers argued, per court documents. “Every claim is premised on the untenable strict liability theory that when one enters into a commercial contract, the payor under that contract becomes liable for anything that the recipient of payment does with the payment. There is no law underpinning such theory and the baseless ‘general business partnership’ allegation in the [second amended complaint] provides no support. The claims against the UMG Defendants are entirely bereft of legal merit and should be dismissed with prejudice.”
Lil Rod accused Diddy of sexual assault and sex trafficking, among other shocking allegations. The lawsuit linked Grainge to Diddy’s alleged misdeeds, claiming Grainge aided and abetted Diddy’s criminal activity. Grainge’s lawyers said Lil Rod’s accusations against the UMG boss were baseless.
“Plaintiff and his counsel (Blackburn) have blown up a $50,000 claim for underpayment for production services into criminal accusations against Sean Combs and his associates,” attorneys wrote. “Not content to pursue Combs alone, without any factual or legal basis, Plaintiff and his counsel (Blackburn) have also improperly accused Grainge, UMG Recordings and Motown (collectively, the UMG Defendants) of furthering, participating in, and helping to conceal the alleged conduct of Combs and his associates based on a knowingly false ‘general business partnership’ allegation coupled with the fabrication of a non-existent duty to supervise and control how Combs spent his own money.”
Grainge, UMG and Motown asked a New York judge to dismiss all claims against them with prejudice. They await the judge’s ruling.
A Texas judge denied Travis Scott’s motion to be dismissed from lawsuits over the Astroworld tragedy. According to Billboard, Judge Kristen Hawkins provided no written explanation for her rejection of the motion.
Judge Hawkins previously dismissed Drake and others from the Astroworld litigation. The judge removed two more defendants, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group and Unified Command LLC, less than two weeks before the first trial.
Scott’s lawyers filed a motion for dismissal in March. His legal team claimed he was not responsible for the chaos at the 2021 Astroworld Festival, which left 10 people dead and hundreds injured.
“No one disputes that tragedy struck the Astroworld Festival,” his attorneys argued. “But promoting and performing at a concert do not equate to the power to control a crowd or to design a venue safely. Basic tort principles prevent imposing liability on the Scott Defendants for a tragedy arising from forces legally controlled by others.”
They added, “Performing artists, even those who engage in certain promotional activities, have no inherent expertise or specialized knowledge in concert safety measures, venue security protocols or site design.”
Scott’s legal team failed to convince the judge, leaving him on the hook for civil litigation. Live Nation and Apple Music were among the notable defendants remaining in the Astroworld cases.
The first trial is scheduled to begin on May 6. Scott and his co-defendants will defend themselves against wrongful death claims filed by the family of Madison Dubiski, a 23-year-old woman who died at the Astroworld Festival. Noah Wexler, the attorney representing the victim’s family, said Scott had a “conscious disregard for safety.”
Dubiski’s family was one of multiple plaintiffs suing Scott for his role in the Astroworld tragedy. The Epic Records artist avoided criminal charges for the deadly event. A grand jury declined to indict him in 2023.
