The Unforgettable hitmaker was filming a music video at the time of the incident, with footage from onlookers showing him rapping in front of a series of cars outside of the establishment.
Eyewitnesses report that his security escorted him safely out of the area when the shots rang out and he was not among the injured.
French Montana, real name Karim Kharbouch, finally publicly commented on the incident.
“Last night, I was in Miami celebrating the release of my CB6 mixtape w/ friends at a local restaurant. We unfortunately were at the wrong place, at the wrong time when an incident took place that left people hurt. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & families at this time,” French Montana said in a statement.
Last night, I was in Miami celebrating the release of my CB6 mixtape w/ friends at a local restaurant. We unfortunately were at the wrong place, at the wrong time when an incident took place that left people hurt. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & families at this time
Police spokeswoman Diana Gourgue told the station the shooting started at another location and ended at the restaurant.
“We’re still working (the scene),” said Gourgue. “There are multiple shots, there are multiple cases and we’re still working. We can’t confirm any numbers at this moment, because everything is still fresh, and they’re still investigating.”
Witness Ced Mogul told the outlet he went to The Licking to watch Montana shoot the video and saw a fellow bystander being robbed of his watch, keys and wallet.
“And then the gunshots went off,” said Mogul, “at least 13, 14, 15 gunshots. It was very rapid, it sounded like an assault rifle.”
No fatalities have been reported and it is unclear if anybody has been taken into custody over the shooting.
Police are still investigating a shooting that broke out while French Montana was filming a music video in Miami Gardens on Thursday (January 5).
Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt said French Montana didn’t get a permit to film outside of DJ Khaled’s restaurant The Licking. Police weren’t aware of the video production prior to the shooting, which left 10 people injured.
“Any time you’re filming within the city, you should obtain a permit, or at least let us know what’s going on,” Noel-Pratt said.
According to the Miami Herald, a gunman stood behind a $400,000 vehicle and opened fire at the French Montana video shoot. Investigators believe there was return fire from the crowd that gathered outside the restaurant. Police found several weapons at the scene of the crime.
French Montana was not injured in the shooting. Security helped him escape without harm.
New Orleans rapper Rob49 was also in town for the video shoot. Various social media posts claimed he was shot in the gunfire. Police wouldn’t confirm if Rob49 was one of the victims.
Police haven’t determined a motive for the shooting. Investigators are looking into a possible connection to an altercation at a Kentucky Fried Chicken.
A witness said French Montana and Rob49 originally began filming their video at a KFC before a robbery took place. Production later moved to The Licking after the incident.
The Licking said it only learned about French Montana’s video shoot at the last minute. DJ Khaled’s restaurant provided police with surveillance footage in the shooting investigation.
“Our hearts are heavy and go out to the victims of this senseless act,” The Licking told CNN. “We were not aware of a video being filmed and found out last min(ute) French Montana was shooting a scene in the back parking lot. We have no idea what actually took place. The Licking restaurant has nothing to do with the incident and has given police the necessary footage requested.”
Police are seeking more information about the shooting. Authorities have asked witnesses to call Crime Stoppers.
Both RJ Payne and Lloyd Banks have consistently delivered fire in the last couple of years, but they have sparked a proverbial blaze at the top of 2023. “Banks Meets Payne” is just what it says, an overdose of bars over a banging beat by @cartunebeatz. Lyrics man seem like a thing of the past in the current climate, but this collaboration is proof that it doesn’t have to be that way. Clocking in at 2 minutes and 44 seconds, it leaves you wanting more. Payne does what he does best, rips the mic like a man possessed by a demon. So, instead of pulling lines from the song, we want you to just listen below. “Banks Meets Payne” is one big quotable.
Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, asked a judge to withdraw his request to be taken off the New York state’s sex offender registry after prosecutors presented evidence to torpedo his case.
He alleged he was unlawfully on the list since he never got an opportunity in 2004 to contest his status as a medium-risk sex offender for an attempted rape conviction handed down to him in 1995.
Petty was charged over a sexual assault on a woman named Jennifer Hough on September 16th, 1994, after he encountered her at a bus stop when she was 16.
Hough says Petty put a knife to her back and took her to a house around the corner, where he raped her at knifepoint.
Hough claimed when Petty finished his sexual assault, he stood in the mirror and beat on his chest, yelling, “I am the man, I am the man” repeatedly.
Petty was convicted of attempted rape in 1995 and served over four years in prison. In 2004, Petty’s then-lawyer, Jennifer Michaelson, said that her client would not “contest the decision.”
During yesterday’s hearing, prosecutors presented a court transcript that proved Petty was indeed at the hearing. And according to his own words, he had no objection to being labeled a sex offender.
Even though he is withdrawing the lawsuit after being confronted with irrefutable evidence, Kenneth Petty still maintains he was not there and that the transcripts produced by prosecutors may have been part of a conspiracy.
The judge upheld the original ruling to keep him on the public registry.
B2K provided the soundtrack for a generation of music fans’ adolescence. The R&B/Hip Hop group consisted of teenage performers J-Boog, Lil Fizz, Raz B, and Omarion.
Raz-B recently appeared on VladTV, and he talked about the history of B2K. The conversation also included the 37-year-old musician/actor addressing Omarion becoming part of B2K after the original iteration went through several name changes.
“After the five [person] group, we disbanded. We were shopped around to multiple labels. Everybody passed on us. But there was one label that really expressed a lot of interest, which was Epic Records,” recalled Raz-B.
He added, “I would definitely say the fact that three of us were already in a group prior, there was some chemistry that we had. But as soon as [Omarion] got in the group, we immediately embraced him. But, I think just like any other brothers, everybody’s gonna have their little frictions.”
Raz also stated, “Just because you’re in a group doesn’t mean you necessarily like each other… Kids, when you’re young, you have a way of expressing you don’t like each other… But, I know I always made [Omarion] feel very, very welcome in the group.”
B2K released their self-titled debut studio LP in 2002. The project debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. 2002’s Platinum-certified Pandemonium! also peaked in the Top 10. “Bump, Bump, Bump” with P. Diddy is B2K’s only single to lead the Hot 100 chart.
A man accused of pretending to work for Chance the Rapper’s charity was arrested on Tuesday, January 3rd, and hit with multiple felony charges linked to his deception.
According to CBS News, the suspect Demarco Franklin, 35, was charged with theft by deception, wire fraud, and false impersonation of a charity.
Franklin met a woman named Lulu Cole outside of her bank in January 2022, introduced himself as Jeffrey Washington, and offered to pay off her mortgage and cell phone bill through monies he had access to from a partnership between the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) and Chance the Rapper’s charity.
Cole agreed to the help without checking out Franklin’s credentials.
Eventually, after Cole shared her information with Franklin, she received a confirmation that her phone bill was paid and payments were posted in her bank account for the mortgage.
She said she “felt ecstatic.”
Cole immediately told her sister Ibi Cole about the hookup, and she, too, despite being a little wary, gave her financials to the stranger and believed some of her bills were paid up.
The two women, unknowingly being scammed, decided to donate cash gifts to the charities he told them he worked for, so that others could be blessed.
In total, the sisters gave Franklin $70,000.
After they gave the donation, all hell broke loose. The bank reversed all the payments noting that some sort of scam was going on and that the women were even deeper in debt.
And just like that, Franklin was gone, no return calls or anything. Luckily, Lulu snapped a cell phone picture of the scammer when she first met him.
The photo helped authorities locate Franklin, noting he did the same thing and used the same name in 2008 to scam others.
Franklin has never worked with nor has any relationship with Chance the Rapper. CEDA also said they didn’t know him.
If convicted of these crimes, Franklin could serve double digits behind bars, with the theft by deception yielding a potential sentence of three to seven years in prison.
During his Wednesday, January 4th hearing, his bond was set for $50,000. No word on if he has a scam set up to satisfy the bond payment.
De La Soul is one of the most enduring rap groups in Hip-Hop. They have had a little problem though their songs were so densely sampled that they were unable to put old albums out out in recent times because it would result in mass lawsuits. Those of a certain age know that Pos, Dave and Maseo were hit hard when the previous generation began feasting on rappers.
Recently, the group announced that all of their work would be released on streaming services, and that got people’s ears peaked. After we celebrated, we were curious as to what was the arrangement that was made to allow this to happen. Remember, they were embroiled in a fierce and terrible legal situation with their former label, Tommy Boy Records, and owner Tom Silverman.
Now, I believe we know what happened. On the low, group producer Prince Paul and others have worked steadfastly to create, or should I say re-create, samples from the original works. So basically they replayed or re-created the original music to make it less samples or sample free. What’s going to be really interesting is that people that reportedly worked on these older albums say WE will not be able to tell the difference. And to me that’s crazy!
Why? Because fans of De La Soul are hardcore, and they respect the Long Island geniuses for their artistry and creativity. And, Public Enemy, they also were beasts on the sample. So we’re definitely celebrating De La Soul‘s return because it is a return like Halley’s Comet! And I think this will also lead to other opportunities for The Three, including money! Because they need money! I need money! But the truth is, we want to see our pioneers and greats do well.
Quentin Miller will go down as one of the most-talked-about “ghostwriters” in Hip Hop history. After coming into the public’s consciousness during the Meek Mill/Drake beef, Miller went on to assist other artists.
For example, Quentin Miller received a writing credit for “The Pressure” off Nas’s King’s Disease II album. That information sparked conversations about Nas, one of the GOAT emcee contenders, using writers for his songs.
Miller spoke about the fallout from his name appearing in the liner notes for King’s Disease II. According to the Atlanta native, the negative reactions to his efforts on King’s Disease II hurt his songwriting career.
Quentin Miller Suggests Ghostwriting Rumors Hurt Business Relationships
“I respect Nas and love Nas like any other rapper in this world. To get an opportunity to work with him and he’s telling me, ‘Yo man, you’re one of the dopest new rappers I’ve heard.’ I’m taking this in. This is a great thing,” Quentin Miller told VladTV.
He added, “You get the opportunity to work with somebody, and then, people find out. Then, they tear him down because he worked with you. Rather than look at you like, ‘Damn, you must be dope.’
The “Emerald_Freestyle” performer continued, “That’s what you expect. But it don’t turn out that way. It turns out they get burnt up, so they’re looking at you crazy. Then they want nothing to do with you at all.”
Q.M. Claims He Never Got Publishing Payments For His Work On Drake’s Verses
Back in 2015, reference tracks for songs like “R.I.C.O.” and “10 Bands” leaked. The recordings revealed Quentin Miller penned Drake’s verses on those songs. Those ghostwriting allegations fueled the Drake versus Meek Mill battle with Q.M. catching stray bullets in the process.
This week’s edition of Abbott Elementary presented a subplot about podcasting. The Joe Budden Podcast got a shout-out on the ABC sitcom.
The “Read-A-Thon” episode featured the character Jacob Hill (played by Chris Perfetti) starting a podcast club at the school. During a conversation about the “podfather” of podcasting one of Mr. Hill’s students mentioned Joe Budden.
“Not the Podfather @JoeBudden on Abbot Elementary 😂😂,” wrote one Twitter user in response to the Joe Budden scene in the mockumentary. Budden quote-tweeted that person and added, “Nah don’t gas me… I love that show lol.” Four minutes later, he also posted, “That’s 🔥.”
Budden was not the only person in his camp to react to the on-screen name-drop. In addition, the retired rapper’s manager, Ian Schwartzman, tweeted, “Joe is [a] star. It’s ok to admit. He made broadcasting cool. We changed the game forever. #AbbottElementary.”
Joe Budden Enters A New Year Following A Controversial 2022
Abbott Elementary stars Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Chris Perfetti. The television series has won numerous industry awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. ABC’s Abbott Elementary premieres Wednesdays at 9 pm ET.
Quality Control Music recording artist Lil Baby will appear on Saturday Night Live later this month.
SNL announced Lil Baby as a musical guest for the January 28th episode of the show. Creed III actor/director Michael B. Jordan will be the celebrity host that night.
Lil Baby released the It’s Only Me album in October 2022. The QC-backed project includes contributions by Nardo Wick, Young Thug, Future, Jeremih, Pooh Shiesty, and more.
It’s Only Me debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It became Baby’s third Number One of his career. He also topped the rankings with My Turn and The Voice of the Heroes.
In addition to Lil Baby’s upcoming SNL performance, season 48 of the sketch comedy program previously featured Kendrick Lamar, Willow, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Steve Lacy, Black Star, SZA, and Lizzo.
Last year also saw Baby partner with Budweiser and the English band Tears for Fears for “The World Is Yours To Take” single. FIFA World Cup 2022 used that collaboration as the sporting event’s official anthem.
Drill rapper Loski is facing more than a decade behind bars after he was guilty of possessing a loaded revolver.
A jury found the South London rapper guilty of three counts – possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a firearm when prohibited for five years, and possessing ammunition for a firearm when prohibited for five years, as per Evening Standard. The 23-year-old will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court later today (Jan. 6).
The charges stem from a 2019 incident where Loski, real name Jyrelle O’Connor, was stopped in an Uber. Cops were looking for him to question him in relation to the fatal stabbing of his friend in 2018.
Loski took to Instagram on Thursday to share an update with his fans alongside a snippet of an upcoming song.
“It’s minimum 14 if I get a guilty,” he raps on the track, apparently recorded the day before his conviction. “I’m waiting on my verdict right now and I’m tryna stay positive, deep down I’m feeling filthy.”
“April 9th 2019 I caught a gun charge and I been fighting it for over 3 and a half years,” Lisko explained in the caption. “They say you rather get judged by 12 then carried by 6, I had 3 trials so I got judge by 36, unfortunately I got guilty for possession and I made this lil freestyle the day before my verdict, Happ New Year il be back soon.. ✌🏾
Cops Says Loski Is A High-Profile Member Of A Violent Gang
Loski is a member of Kennington, South London-based drill collective Harlem Spartans. However, Metropolitan Police claim he was also a high-profile member of a gang involved in “violent disputes” with other gangs. Detective Constable Snazell stated there was “no doubt” Loski or his associates would have used the firearm in the future.
“[Loski] was an influential individual and had many followers on social media,” Snazell added. “No amount of fortune or fame justifies his serious criminal actions and I’m confident this will be reflected in the sentence that will be handed down by the judge.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter North West dressed up as her rapper father in her latest TikTok, pulling off an uncanny impersonation of him.
The nine-year-old put her make-up skills to good use, while transforming into Ye with the aid of a beanie and black hoodie. The added facial hair and contouring added to the cosplay and left fans commenting on how much she resembles her famous father.
Kim Kardashian joined her daughter, lip-syncing to a remix of Kanye West’s “Bound 2.” The SKIMS founder was featured in the official video for the 2013 hit song alongside her now ex-husband. Watch the TikTok below and the “Bound 2” video at the end of the page.
However, the song choice left fans on social media feeling confused as Kim Kardashian appeared in the video fully naked while riding a motorcycle.
Although the comments on their joint Tik-Tok account are disabled, fans rushed to share their thoughts once the video was shared on Twitter.
“Kim and kanye were f###### in the music video of this song. This is so f###### weird bro,” wrote one.
“I feel. awkward,” wrote another, while many others commented how “weird” they found the video.
Some fans commented on how accurate North’s impression was and how much she resembles her father. The responses also showed concern for Kanye West’s reaction to the video.
“Mentally prepping myself for kanye’s response to this,” said one fan. Another referred to Ye’s apparent absence noting, “If Ye doesn’t crawl out of his cave after seeing this, Lord knows what would make him show. Your daughter needs you Ye, and we need an album… let alone “real” Yeezys 😢”
Kim and kanye were f###### in the music video of this song. This is so f###### weird bro https://t.co/f2I315oy51
If Ye doesn't crawl out of his cave after seeing this, Lord knows what would make him show. Your daughter needs you Ye, and we need an album… let alone "real" Yeezys 😢
OVO dancehall star Popcaan has teamed up with Drake for his high-anticipated new single, “We Caa Done.”
The Jamaican dancehall superstar released the song with accompanying visuals on Friday (Jan. 6). The Theo Skudra-directed music video was shot in Turks and Caicos, featuring cameos from Lil Yachty and Kevin Durant. Watch the visuals below or stream the song at the end of the page.
Popcaan, Drake – We Caa Done
Drake also featured on Popcaan’s last album Fixtape, appearing on “Twist & Turn” and “All I Need.” “We Caa Done,” is expected on the reggae star’s upcoming album. Great Is He, out Jan. 27 via OVO Sound.
Drake explained his love of all types of Jamaican music during a 2016 interview with Nardwuar.
“I am into any dancehall, any reggae, conscious, whatever, it doesn’t matter I’ll listen to anything,” he said. “I feel like the writing, the melodies and the layering of the music in the genre is incredible.”
However, he faced accusations of cultural appropriation after he released the dancehall-infused “One Dance” and “Controlla” in 2016.
“The definition of appropriating a culture is not supporting that culture, doing songs with people who are deeply rooted in that culture, giving opportunity to people who are in that culture,” That’s not appropriating,” Drake explained on Rap Radar.
“Appropriating is taking it for your own personal gain and denying that it was ever inspired from this. That’s the true disservice that somebody could do to the UK, to dancehall, to afrobeats. Me, I’ve always… I ensure that not only paying all due respects verbally but… I make it a point to give opportunity,” he added.
A shooting outside a Miami Gardens Restaurant during a video shoot for French Montana has left multiple people injured.
The “Higher” rapper was filming a video outside The Licking restaurant on Thursday night (Jan. 5) in Miami Gardens. According to multiplereports, at least one person opened fire, leaving ten people injured.
Witnesses said New Orleans rapper Rob49 was among those shot during the terrifying incident. It is unclear whether French Montana was hit. A witness told TMZ the rapper was whisked away by his security.
Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene shortly before 8 p.m.
A law enforcement source stated there are three different crime scenes, although further details are scant at the time. Miami Gardens Police are yet to confirm the number of victims.
“We’re still working [the scene]. Yeah, there’s multiple shots, there’s multiple cases,” MGPD detective Diana Gorgue told Miami 7 News. “We’re still working. We can’t confirm any numbers at this moment, because everything is still fresh, and they’re still investigating.”
Four victims were reportedly airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center. No fatalities have been reported.
“We had a total of 10 [victims]. Four brought themselves to the hospital, and we’ve treated six transported,” a first responder said in radio transmissions.
French Montana was seen before the shooting, filming a music video, as footage circulated online confirms.
#NEW: Rapper 'CED Mogul' shared this video with @nbc6. He says shows #FrenchMontana and #Rob49 in the backseat of a car during the video shoot, and prior to the shooting.
One witness reported more than a dozen rapid-fire gunshots.
“At least 13, 14, 15 gunshots. It was very rapid, it sounded like an assault rifle,” Ced Mogul claimed.
“I took off running, and I was looking back, but I was like, ‘You know what? Let me just duck first, and then people started asking me, you know, ‘Can you help me?’” said Mogul. “When I realized people were asking for help, there was nothing you could do about it when you got shot.”
Hip Hop legend Slick Rick will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the 2023 Grammys.
The Recording Academy announced its Special Merit Awards honorees on Thursday (January 5). This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners include Slick Rick, Nirvana, Ma Rainey, The Supremes, Nile Rodgers, Bobby McFerrin, Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson.
Slick Rick and his fellow recipients will be presented with their awards a day before the 2023 Grammys. The Special Merit Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on February 4.
“The Academy is proud to celebrate this diverse slate of influential music people spanning numerous genres and crafts as our 2023 Special Merit Awards honorees,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said. “Each creator on this list has made an impact on our industry — from technical to creative achievements — representing the breadth of music’s diverse community. We’re excited to celebrate this group of legends next month that continues to inspire and shape the music world.”
Only a few Hip Hop artists have been honored with the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement Award. The Recording Academy previously bestowed the award to Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Salt-N-Pepa and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
A music publisher sued Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Gunna and producer Wheezy over their collaboration “Strawberry Peels.”
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Sun City Publishing claimed “Strawberry Peels” sampled Blackout’s 1995 song “Dim Da Lights” without permission. The publisher named Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Gunna, Wheezy, Atlantic Records and Generation Now as defendants in the lawsuit.
“Strawberry Peels” was released in 2020. The song was one of the tracks on Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World 2, which was the deluxe edition of his 2020 album Eternal Atake.
Blackout’s Playa Posse-assisted track “Dim Da Lights” appeared on the 1995 album Dreamworld. The producer was a key figure in the ’90s Memphis rap scene, but he didn’t receive wider recognition like Three 6 Mafia and 8Ball & MJG. He most notably produced for artists such as Playa Fly, Gangsta Blac and Tommy Wright III.
Sun City Publishing is seeking more than $1 million in damages for the unauthorized sample of “Dim Da Lights.” The publisher thinks Lil Uzi Vert’s “Strawberry Peels” has earned at least seven figures.
The lawsuit adds to Young Thug’s legal trouble as he prepares for trial in the YSL RICO case. Jury selection for the RICO case began on Wednesday (January 4).
Poor Wonder Mike. The Sugarhill Gang member, now 65, was hospitalized in January 2022 with a serious condition that left him bed-ridden for three months. As Wonder Mike explains to AllHipHop, he’d been diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition that affects the stomach muscles and prevents proper stomach emptying. Simply put, he was unable to digest food properly. At one point, he couldn’t walk. He needed a wheelchair, walker or cane just to get around. He also developed peripheral neuropathy in his hands. No so wondrous.
“When I was in hospital, I asked for a bass,” he says. “He brought it and I said, ‘Yeah! Finally.’ But I couldn’t play. My fingers just stumbled over each other.”
Thankfully, all that’s behind him now, and Mike has been on the road to recovery. He adds, “I can walk without anything now. It ain’t as smooth as it used to be, but I’m moving [laughs].”
Clearly in better spirits, Wonder Mike is looking forward to celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, which lands on August 11 of this year. The good news just so happens to coincide with another anniversary. On Thursday (January 5), The Sugarhill Gang’s seminal single, “Rapper’s Delight,” hit a new milestone. On the same day in 1980, the song became the first rap single to crack the Billboard Hot 100, landing at No. 37. It’s a day he’ll never forget.
“We were in Europe,” he remembers. “I flipped out. I didn’t know anything about charts, I just knew I loved music all my life.”
“Rapper’s Delight” was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014 and preserved in the Library of Congress in 2011. It’s often cited as one of the Best Hip Hop Songs of All Time. Revisit it below and send Wonder Mike some love while you’re at it.
Former Disturbing Tha Peace artist Shawnna reacted to a viral video of Keith Murray claiming he once performed oral sex on her.
Murray went into extreme detail about his alleged sexual history with Shawnna in an Art of Dialogue interview released on Tuesday (January 3). Shawnna dismissed his story in an Instagram post on Thursday (January 5).
“Y’all believe anything,” she wrote. “Get help.”
Shawnna told social media users to leave her alone if they found her Instagram due to the Murray interview. She referred to Murray as a “leaf head.”
“If y’all here bc of Keith you can gone back home,” she wrote. “I know you leaf heads stick together. Goofy b######, I coulda agreed you dumb mf.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnBt8XROZYA/?hl=en
Shawnna wasn’t the only woman Murray mentioned in an interview with The Art of Dialogue. The Def Squad rapper also brought up Foxy Brown in a previous conversation, which was published in December.
Murray said he and Brown were “intimate friends.” He recalled having oral sex with Brown while she was dating Kurupt.
According to Murray, Brown endangered his life by cheating on Kurupt. The sexual act occurred during Hip Hop’s East Coast vs. West Coast feud.
Check out Murray’s comments about Shawnna and Brown below.
JAY-Z is taking his legal affairs to Bermuda. According to documents obtained by AllHipHop, the Roc Nation boss has filed paperwork to continue his $2.5 billion battle against Barcardi near its Bermudian headquarters. As explained in the docs, JAY-Z’s company SC Liquors and a Bacardi subsidiary contractually agreed to become partners and equal owners of D’Usse in 2012. The joint venture was responsible for producing, marketing and selling the premium Cognac brand.
In late 2021, SC exercised a “contractual put option,” compelling Bacardi’s United States- based subsidiary to buy out SC’s 50 percent interest in the joint venture. But, rather than “negotiate in good faith and exercise commercially reasonable efforts,” as mandated by the D’Usse Operating Agreement, the Bermuda-based Bacardi caused its United States-based subsidiary to breach its contractual obligations to SC by seeking to force SC to sell its interests for far less than its $2.5 billion value.
“Based on those events, SC is now preparing to bring litigation against Bacardi in Bermuda, where Bacardi is incorporated and headquartered (the ‘Bermuda Action’), for procuring a breach of D’Usse’s Operating Agreement under Bermudian law,” the docs state. “In aid of that contemplated case, SC seeks this Court’s assistance to obtain relevant evidence from certain investors in Bacardi and/or its affiliates that are found within this Court’s jurisdiction. SC therefore respectfully requests that this Court approve the application and permit service of the proposed subpoenas seeking documents to aid its anticipated Bermuda Action.”
JAY-Z initially filed a lawsuit against Bacardi in October 2022, demanding complete financial transparency from Bacardi concerning D’Usse. He requested access to information about D’Usse’s production and sales, all books and records for the business and “the location of all warehouses storing D’Usse barrels, bottles and accessories.” The docs also wanted to see all the files pertaining to Bacardi’s physical inventory processes. AllHipHop has reached out to one of JAY-Z’s attorneys, Reed Brodsky, for comment.
Gangsta Boo died unexpectedly in her hometown of Memphis on Sunday (January 1), leaving the Hip Hop community in shambles. The Three 6 Mafia rapper was beloved not just for her skills on the mic but also her lively personality. Prior to her death, Gangsta Boo and longtime partner Emmett Flores participated in Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition, but their stint was short-lived. In one of the episodes, they were busted with a “white powdery substance” in their room. The resident therapist, Dr. Ish, confronted the couple on the show and she denied knowing what it was. Despite her claims, they were eventually kicked off. In a subsequent Twitter rant, Gangsta Boo went off on Dr. Ish, accusing him of failing to do his job.
Before the explosive episode aired, Gangsta Boo and Flores were happy to discuss their Marriage Boot Camp experience, early origins of their relationship and struggles they were trying to overcome. During a conversation with AllHipHop last April, the two were playful, upbeat and, above all, doing their best to navigate their relationship.
Since Gangsta Boo’s death, Flores has been sharing memories of their time together on Instagram, as recently as Thursday (January 5). In one of them, the two are all smiles as they paddle a boat. He wrote in the caption: “THE QUEEN’S BOAT RIDE.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnCtRBkL1rZ/?hl=en
In another, Gangsta Boo excitedly calls her mother so the Delfonics can sing to her over the phone. The clips are rare glimpses into their private life together and a clear sign Flores is struggling in the wake of her death.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnAZbofsknW/?hl=en
As a way to preserve Gangsta Boo’s legacy and shine a spotlight on her endlessly charismatic personality, AllHipHop has decided to posthumously publish a Q&A with the couple. There’ll be a little bit of feistiness, some arguing but also a whole lotta love. From her father’s 2017 death to how they met, nothing was off limits.
AllHipHop: What does it take to get to that point where you’re comfortable with putting your personal life out there? If people saw what happened between my husband and me, I don’t know if I could ever go in public again [laughs].
Gangsta Boo: I like the way you’re laughing because that’s how I feel right now. But s###, I’m going to let Emmett answer that one.
Emmett: I have no qualms about any of this. It doesn’t really bug me. It’s kind of on her really, and the way her public image is perceived at this point. Because I’m just the plus one on the show. That’s all.
AllHipHop:That’s so funny. My husband calls himself my permanent plus one.
GangstaBoo: Thank you. We need your husband on call.
AllHipHop:I know, right?
Gangsta Boo: He sounds like a smart man. He sound like a smart guy. He’s playing his position.
Emmett: Yep.
AllHipHop:He just went with me to the Grammys this weekend. He played his position; he got me my dress, my shoes. He was running around, doing everything.
Gangsta Boo: I like that. That one I can’t relate to [laughs].
Emmett: Hey, hey, hey. That’s craziness right there.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, I can’t relate to that one. I typically handle my own business.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm7tLXvt_QX/?hl=en
AllHipHop: You’ve been dating for a long time. Has it been consistent for seven years or have you guys been off and on. What’s the status of the relationship?
Gangsta Boo: I’ll let him answer that one.
Emmett: Consistent for eight years.
Gangsta Boo: That’s a lie. He’s lying.
Emmett: I’m not lying.
Gangsta Boo: Well, it ain’t been no consistent—
Emmett: Let me answer, what happened to that?
Gangsta Boo: We did have a situation where we wanted to see what it was like to be apart. We can break up but, it didn’t work, well the first few months.
AllHipHop:I would imagine being in your business, Boo, does it make it even harder to be in a committed relationship? I know, it’s got to be rough with all the traveling and engagements and things.
Gangsta Boo: To be honest with you, no. Because I’m like, “No, that’s not an issue.” I keep it pretty separate. But then he does the same thing that I do in the entertainment field. Something like that. So we kind of get it. No, it don’t affect us.
AllHipHop: Emmett, you rap, too. And what else do you do? You’re kind of a mystery man.
Emmett: Yeah, I really host a podcast. We met on tour and several lives ago, in another life. I was an opener. That was the level I plateaued at.
Gangsta Boo: Girl, I cannot even believe. I was like, “Wow, actually f##### an opening act. What the f###?”
Emmett: Yeah.
AllHipHop:You took a step down. Is that what you’re saying? [Laughs]
Emmett: Yeah.
Gangsta Boo: But we upgraded each other.
Emmett: Step down. Oh my God [laughs].
Gangsta Boo: No, we upgraded each other. It’s pretty cool.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm-BS4OD8wF/?hl=en
AllHipHop: Obviously you guys ended up really liking each other. You said you were boyfriend and girlfriend by the time you got to Seattle.
Gangsta Boo: Yep, I f##### an opening act and he moved me to LA, so it worked out.
AllHipHop: And here we are, on Marriage Boot Camp.
Gangsta Boo: Eight years later.
AllHipHop:I watched the first episode and it kind of seemed to me the two things you needed to work on the most or the biggest thing was communication. That’s a big one for a lot of couples. Do you feel like you’re communicating better now as a result?
Gangsta Boo: Absolutely not. No. The thing is, what I have learned is no matter what type of therapy you do, especially a Marriage Boot Camp therapy, if you don’t take it with you and apply it to your everyday lifestyle the best way you can, it’s pointless. So we’re still working on applying the tools that we did pick up on the show.
Emmett: Yeah. It’s also about progression. We’ve been wired like this for what? 44 years? I’m 44 years old, so I’m not going to change overnight. So now speaking from my perspective, I can identify the issues. I see them at hand. And like she said, whether or not I apply the tools that I learned, that’s a different story altogether. But it has helped.
AllHipHop: What you said, Boo, is perfect because my husband is in recovery. Well, I’ve been sober for a long time, but he has too. I think he’s going on 10 years or something and he learns a lot of tools, but if you don’t actually use it in real life, it’s all for show.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, it’s all for show. Yeah.
AllHipHop: So that’s something like I have to work on too, is just actually using those tools, like taking in a minute to respond sometimes when you want to just go off on them.
Gangsta Boo: It’s called comprehending and listening.
AllHipHop: Sometimes that’s not my strong suit. I think, Boo, you and I have a lot of similar traits, kind of bossy sometimes, like you were saying, because you’re a boss, right?
Gangsta Boo: BWA, huh?
AllHipHop: Yep. And I’m the eldest child. So I’ve kind of always been used to being in charge.
Gangsta Boo: Ah, and see, Emmett is an only child, so he has that type of syndrome.
Emmett: Hey, there’s too much estrogen on this phone call. OK? You guys are bonding way too much here. I just feel completely left out. I am an outlier.
Gangsta Boo: I forgot you was on the phone. My bad.
AllHipHop: On no. Sorry, Emmett. We love you, too.
Emmett: I know. I’m just teasing. I do. 100 percent. Hey, congratulations on your recovery. That’s awesome. I know a lot of people in the program, so that’s awesome.
Gangsta Boo: It is.
AllHipHop: On a side note, if you guys are ever interested, I have a podcast with MC Serch about recovery. It’s called Breaking Anonymity. We’ve had Royce da 5’9 and DMC and KXNG Crooked and Brandon Novak, the skateboarder.
Emmett: That’s dope, bro. MC Serch? That’s dope, bro. Dang. That’s the OG, bro.
Gangsta Boo: Wow.
Emmett: 3rd Bass. That’s hardcore right there. He got the gas face.
Gangsta Boo: Emmett, Emmett, calm down. So yeah, make sure you remember Breaking Anonymity Emmett, so we could check it out.
AllHipHop: Yeah. I’d love that.
Emmett: That’s dope. Hey, I got a podcast too. It’s called Kush and Chemtrails. Check that out, man.
AllHipHop: I definitely will. I’ve been a longtime fan of Three 6 Mafia. Emmett, were you intimidated at all by stepping to Boo when you first met?
Gangsta Boo: F###, no.
Emmett: No.
Gangsta Boo: No, he went for it.
Emmett: I went for it. We were in the RV and I just went for it. She put her hand up against my face and stiff armed me and was like, “Nah dude, what are you doing?” And I was like, “Oh man.” Yeah. So I wasn’t intimidated at all.
Gangsta Boo: No, he was hella creepy.
AllHipHop: So your initial reaction was to push his face away?
Gangsta Boo: Well yeah, because he tried to kiss me. You know how white people do. They just like to make out, as y’all call it. “Let’s make out.” Like, damn, I just met you 30 minutes ago, bro. I don’t even know you.
AllHipHop: So then how did he finally win you over then?
Gangsta Boo: We just was hanging out and just found out that we had a lot in common during that time and became really cool friends. Before anything, we just kind of became friends.
Emmett: I’d leave her little notes and stuff on her, like on her cup. I’d see her sipping out of a cup and I go write her name on it and a little heart around it.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, but he don’t do none of that s### no more though. Literally, he don’t do none that s###. He don’t do nothing. Yeah, he’s not romantic. Nothing happens no more. It’s just like, it’s washed up now.
AllHipHop: Is that something you’re trying to work on right now?
Emmett: Yeah, it is something I need to work on. I’m pretty bland in that department when it comes to romance.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, he didn’t use to be though, so it’s pretty boring at this point though.
AllHipHop: Is it just because you get comfortable?
Emmett: Yeah. I have a lot less free time than I did then. That was when we were on tour together for two months.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, that’s why I think you got to make time to prioritize certain stuff in your life that’s most important for. At this particular stage, I’m like the last on the totem pole.
AllHipHop: I remember that from the episode. That was intense.
Gangsta Boo: It’s still going down like that.
Emmett: There you guys go again. “I remember from the episode.” What about her?
Gangsta Boo: He hasn’t took me out to dinner. I haven’t been out to dinner in I don’t know how long.
AllHipHop: You could change that tonight!
Emmett: Oh my god. Chart House, dude. Valentine’s. I took you to Chart House.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah. Valentine’s Day. It’s about to be May. It’s about to be May, bro. So yeah. Cool.
Emmett: Come on.
Gangsta Boo: I really feel cool. Thank you.
AllHipHop: It is tough, I know. My husband and I are super busy too. We tried to commit to going to dinner once a week. That didn’t work.
Gangsta Boo: She said that didn’t work.
AllHipHop: Not at all [laughs].
Gangsta Boo: Girl, you are giggly. I like it.
AllHipHop: I just find things funny. I think you got to laugh in life or you’re doing something wrong, right?
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, for sure.
AllHipHop: That’s the only way you can get through stuff, I think.
Emmett: A hundred percent.
Gangsta Boo: But we do have smoke a lot of weed together though, so that’s pretty cool.
Emmett: Hell, yeah.
Gangsta Boo: I’m a weed connoisseur.
AllHipHop: Have you ever taken a break?
Gangsta Boo: Maybe a couple days or something, but I can’t recall longer than that.
All HipHop: What do you think was the favorite or a highlight of being on the show and how dramatic was it sharing a house with so many colorful individuals?
Emmett: It was great. We had a great time, but I guess I don’t want to ruin it. So the most I can say is tune in every Thursday to WEtv and you’ll find out everything you need to know, exactly how it went down in that house.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Yeah, it got pretty crazy for sure.
AllHipHop: So DJ Paul made some comment on your Instagram post about you being anxious walking into the house and asking for alcohol right when you got there. Were you nervous when you got there?
Gangsta Boo: I’m a fan of the show, so I saw all they did on the show was drink. So I wanted to be a part of the show in real life. And when I walked in, I saw them sipping on champagne already. So I was like, “Oh, well, s###, where’s the alcohol?” And yeah, I guess I do be anxious or anxiety kind of kicked in. I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety, but I’m aware. And so once I saw A1 and Lyrica and Mariahlynn and Rich, I was like, “Oh, s###, I’m actually in this Boot Camp and I cannot leave. Oh my God.” And I was like, “All right, let me get a shot. Let me drink right quick to calm these nerves down.” But it was like that.
AllHipHop: I understand. I have to ask too, you had to do 14 days of quarantining in a hotel?
Gangsta Boo: Yep. Then we went straight into the house, so it was a lot.
AllHipHop: Wow. Was that the hardest part?
Gangsta Boo: Luckily for us, we had adjoining room, but we obviously spent time together more than we didn’t. But no, it was actually all right. It was a little challenging. You get cabin fever and stuff and you want to do what grown folks do, like leave and come back when you want. But we couldn’t do that. So that got a bit aggravating. And then, of course, we started clashing and arguing. And that’s what happened on the first episode. I was exhausted from that night before because we was up arguing and then we woke up early that next day to do makeup and prepare mentally for the show. So just in general, a lot of brain work, a lot of thinking can make you exhausted as well. You know what I mean?
AllHipHop: Oh, totally. I’ve had fights with my husband where you’re up all night until 4am and you can’t sleep and then you have to wake up for some s### the next day and you’re just like, “Ah. I hate life.”
Gangsta Boo: Yeah. You know what I mean? You out of it. So that’s what happened when I dozed off in Love Court.
AllHipHop: Oh no. So you were really tired when that happened?
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, I was exhausted and most of us was. A lot of them were asleep, but they just didn’t get caught on camera. Or maybe I was the one that they decided to put on blast on camera. Who knows? They got to look cute.
Emmett: It was a lot of work.
Gangsta Boo: They wanted the world to see it.
Emmett: A lot of people don’t realize how much work goes into it. We actually had call times every day We had to report, especially the girls. We have a call time at 10am or 11am and they got a call time at like 6:30am or 7am because they’re in that makeup tent forever. Then there’s a whole set itinerary for the day. And if they don’t got enough footage, they’ll tell you, “Hey man, get out your room, man. Go back out there and mingle. Do something.”
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, mingle with a bunch of people that you don’t even know.
AllHipHop: Did they encourage drinking, encourage the drama? Are they like, “Yeah, go pick a fight.”
Gangsta Boo: Oh, absolutely. You got to tune in. Especially to Thursday’s episode, not sure when this is going to come out, but the second episode. Oh yeah. We can tell, as the show grow, you’re going to be able to tell who’s the s### starter in the house. It’s going to be quite obvious. It’s be going to quite muthafuckin’ obvious.
AllHipHop: This is going to be good. I am really happy for you. I’ll watch every week.
Gangsta Boo: Yes, girl. You so sweet. Yeah, the second episode is going be pretty entertaining, so I can’t imagine the third one. You’re going to see who’s the messy one in the house.
AllHipHop: Before I let you go, I just have to give you props on that Run the Jewels verse because that was one of my favorite songs of 2020 and that s### was tight.
Gangsta Boo: Yes, honey. P#### power over here. Love again, girl. I wrote that about Emmett actually.
AllHipHop: Aw, I love that. How did that come together? Did El-P or Killer Mike hit you up?
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, Killer Mike. I have a relationship with Killer Mike and when I walked in the studio, I didn’t know who the hell El-P was. I thought he was like the engineer. I was like, “Who are you?” Because he was trying to tell me how to record. And I pulled Mike to the side. I said, “Mike, who is this white dude, bro?” Like, “I got this.” He was like, “Uh, that’s the producer. That’s the legend, that’s the guy.” I was like, “Yeah.” I was like, “Oh, OK, cool.” And yeah, it happened like that. So I’ve been knowing Killer Mike for a very long time. Multiple, multiple years, from Atlanta.
AllHipHop: That’s dope.
Gangsta Boo: Dungeon Family. We kind of all grew up together. Yeah, I met Mike when I was 16 or 17.
AllHipHop: I love Goodie Mob, OutKast and, of course, Dungeon Family, all that stuff. So I interviewed Killer Mike and El-P for Wax Poetics right before they became Run The Jewels. It was almost like their introduction.
Gangsta Boo: Oh wow.
AllHipHop: I interviewed them in their trailer at this festival in Omaha, Nebraska. I was leaving and Mike is like, “Hey, do you want this bottle of Moët?” And I was like, “Oh, I don’t drink.” But I was like, “Oh s###, my mom will take it.” My mom texts and she’s like, “Thanks, Killer Mike,” and posted a photo of it.
AllHipHop: Yeah, and my mom actually has passed away since then. She passed away suddenly in 2019. Yeah, so that’s always a really fond memory.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, I hate to hear that. My father, he passed April 17 in 2017, so that’s coming up, so I can relate. Sorry to hear that. My condolences.
AllHipHop: Thank you. Same to you.
Gangsta Boo: It never gets easy.
AllHipHop: No, it doesn’t. And this is exactly when she was in the hospital. This whole period three years ago, we were all at the ICU. It was nuts. So my condolences to you too, losing a parent is horrible. Absolutely.
Gangsta Boo: Yeah, it’s brutal. Well I’m glad she had a good life though and got that Moët from Killer Mike.
AllHipHop:I know. I mean, what other mom can say that? Not too many. I’m really happy for both of you. I think it’s really rare to find somebody that you know can share your life with. Yo guys got this.
Gangsta Boo: That’s so sweet and encouraging.
AllHipHop: Yeah, we got through it, but it was tough in the beginning. We got married in 2015 and s###’s cool now.
Gangsta Boo: She said that s###’s cool now. S###’s cool.
