Nicki Minaj’s Spouse’s Rape Victim Is Talking And…It’s A LOT, A LOT.

By: illseed Updated Dec 3, 2020 at 12:57amCategory: Rumors

SOOOOOOOOOO…Nicki Minaj is a mother now. She is married now. She seems to be happy now. I am wondering if she is going to ever find some real peace in this world, because every time it is time to “move on,” something brings back the drama. Now, we already know the mainstream doesn’t care about Black women. So, do not expect this to make headlines like countless others. We all have our relationships, so I get it. But right now, the woman that was raped by Nicki’s spouse is apparently talking.

Now, for those that don’t know, when Kenneth Petty was a teen in 1995, he was found guilty of raping a woman. He had a knife on a woman…well let me let her tell it. I have not verified the authenticity of this audio but the person is either telling the truth of one HELL OF AN ACTOR.

The victim details what happened with Kenny Petty, Nicki Minaj’s husband pt.1 pic.twitter.com/4bwKdWBXVE

— CARDI DROP THE ALBUM 🗣 (@ToriLoves2SeeIt) December 2, 2020

Pt2 pic.twitter.com/noYOEBDQtM

— CARDI DROP THE ALBUM 🗣 (@ToriLoves2SeeIt) December 2, 2020

The other part of this whole thing…is she says “goons” have been harassing her and her family. This is crazy! The woman has adult kids. She said they want her to recant her story totally so that dude can get his charges reversed. This is nuts!

Pt.3
Kenny, Nicki Minaj’s husband, rape victim shows proof that she is the victim and details how Kenny and Nicki’s goons and lawyers have been harassing her and family to recant her statement. She’s refused and has now moved 3 times in fear of retaliation. pic.twitter.com/ZkvYCPV68L

— CARDI DROP THE ALBUM 🗣 (@ToriLoves2SeeIt) December 2, 2020

She also says that Nicki Minaj tried to pay her off to completely say she lied. The woman refuses to do that and basically says just leave me alone.

Here is what a lawyer had to say:

Disclaimer: I do not practice in federal court or New York or California. However, I am familiar with the overall criminal appeals process and interstate SO register compacts.

The point I was trying to make is that you typically cannot defend a failure to register allegation by attacking the original conviction. If she recants now, it won’t do anything to help him beat this failure to register case. Its a valid requirement because regardless of his actual factual guilt, he was convicted — because he pled — of an offense that imposed that requirement. “SEE — I shouldve never been on the register!” is not a defense to that charge.

Attacking the original conviction is going to be tricky. He pled so typically ways to attack the conviction are few. Maybe he could argue it was an involuntary plea because he had a bad lawyer, maybe, but I think the state would raise an objection called “laches” which is where the other party says “you lose because you waited too long to say something”. And I’m not sure that her recantation would help an involuntary plea attack. Maaaaybe he could say his lawyer shouldve investigated the case more. Thats a reach imo.

Lastly, regardless of the amount of coercion Petty did or didn’t use or how much she may have “participated’ in the offense — she was too young to consent to that. so for her to give a statement that would clear him of all guilt shed essentially have to say nothing at all happened ever. The version Petty’s supporters put out multiple times that they “were dating” still makes what she said took place a crime.

I have no opinion abt the witness’ credibility. She may very well be telling the truth. All I’m saying is her recanting now will probably do little for Petty in his defense of the registry case or in overturning his conviction.

This is all rumors…until proven otherwise.

Paris Returns Fire With “Walk Like A Panther”

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 10:21pmCategory: Music

As the latest video installment off of Paris‘ brand-new full-length effort Safe Space Invader, “Walk Like a Panther” continues Paris’ legacy of brutally aggressive, message-infused hip-hop. Born and raised in San Francisco, Paris, who still lives in Northern California, has experienced firsthand the region’s passion for the activism that gave birth to the Black Panther Party and created organizations and awareness that have instilled pride in countless people around the world.

Focusing on a blend of examples of community activism across generations, this beautifully crafted video follows his previous singles, “Nobody Move,” “Turned the Key,” and “Baby Man Hands.” To date, they have collectively garnered over 2 million views and thousands of fans’ praises on Paris’ Guerrilla Funk YouTube channel.

Self Space Invader is entirely self-produced and is available globally via Paris’ own Guerrilla Funk Recordings imprint. The ten-track project is a brutal commentary on Black life in 2020 America, touching on police brutality, racism, gentrification, economic inequality, and cancel culture, among other things.

Paris hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and was catapulted onto the national hip-hop scene with his hit single and album The Devil Made Me Do It, after earning a degree in economics from the University of California at Davis. He’s garnered sales above 4 million units throughout his career, amassing a considerable catalog of anti-establishment anthems in the process. He has cemented his place in hip-hop history as one of the few artists consistently unapologetic in his delivery and assessment of issues pertaining to social justice.

Safe Space Invader is available on all streaming platforms and at major digital and physical retailers.

Youtube Sensation, P2 Signs Up For Disrupt MGMT And New Release

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 9:49pmCategory: Music

With over three million subscribers on his YouTube channel, tagged P2isthename, P2 has become a social media sensation by posting interesting content for the entertainment of his teeming followers.

The Los Angeles, California-based influencer is known for making prank videos that are witty and funny, with themes such as, The Rich Family Gold Digger Experience, Would You Rather Date my Girlfriend or Sommer Ray, and My Duos Partner is a Fortnight Hacker.

Besides his profile as an influencer and entertainer, P2 is also a rising business tycoon and investor, who became a self-made millionaire by investing in stocks during the COVID-19 lockdown.

His growing fan base is expected to grow even more rapidly with this latest move.

The deal between P2 and Disrupt MGMT will see the talent management firm, which specializes in growth in the entertainment industry, promoting the works of P2 and stimulating the growth of his channel across multiple platforms, with the aim of swelling his fanbase and increasing the reach of his content.

According to the CEO of Disrupt MGMT, Katarina Schwab, the deal will also push P2 and his content deeper into the mainstream entertainment industry, creating more opportunities.

“This is about P2 finally getting into the traditional space after three years of working hard on YouTube,” Schwab said in a statement.

EXCLUSIVE: How G Herbo Got Indicted For Using Stolen Credit Cards To Book Jets, Luxury Vacations And Puppies

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 7:14pmCategory: Exclusives

Chicago Rapper G Herbo has found himself in a world of trouble in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Earlier today (December 2nd), the Feds unsealed an indictment against G Herbo and five other associates, who are accused of various crimes including identity theft, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

G Herbo, born Herbert Williams III, his unnamed girlfriend (who is not charged), and associates Antonio Strong aka -“T-Glo,” Joseph Williams AKA “Joe Rodeo,” Steven Hayes, and Demario Sorrells are named in the 14-count indictment.

The Accusations Against G Herbo

G Herbo and his crew are accused of victimizing four private jet companies, two vacation rental companies, a limo company, hotels in Massachusetts, and a luxury pet shop in Michigan.

The Feds claim starting around March 2016 up until last week, G Herbo and his associates defrauded a variety of businesses using stolen credit card account information.

The rapper and his cronies scheduled private jets, yachts, exotic cars, and even booked their own private chefs.

The fraud didn’t end there.

G Herbo also hired security guard services, rented limos, paid for commercial airline flights, bought food, and even ordered two designer puppies using his official Instagram account.

How G Herbo’s Alleged Scam Worked

G Herbo and his co-conspirators provided legitimate-looking payment card information, with the actual cardholders’ names, addresses, security codes, and expiration dates.

The cardholders would naturally discover the transactions on their accounts and dispute the charges, resulting in chargebacks to the businesses that suffered major losses.

G Herbo, his girlfriend and their crew would get the information from dark websites on the internet, and then send each other the credit card numbers through text, social media emails, and their cellphones.

The group also managed to get their hands on unauthorized state identifications and driver’s licenses to execute their scams.

G Herbo Allegedly Booked A Jet To SXSW With A Stolen Credit Card, And Chilled In Jamaica

G Herbo would travel under the false name “Herbert Light.” He even may have fleeced Epic Records, the label he calls home, since he would charge some of his bills to “Epic Music.

The rapper is accused of booking a private jet from Chicago to Austin, Texas during SXSW in March 16th, 2017. The band of accused scammers also rented a variety of luxury cars, including a Bentley CGTC, and a Maybach 600 from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Later that year, G Herbo and his friends allegedly booked a private Villa in Jamaica in July of 2017 and stayed in a lavish resort from July 7th to July 11th.

G Herbo Allegedly Bought Luxury Puppies With His Own Instagram Account

In November of 2017, Antonio Strong identified himself as G Herbo’s manager and ordered two designer puppies for the rapper, which were charged to a stolen credit card.

The pet company grew suspicious of the order and asked for a direct confirmation message from G Herbo’s official Instagram account.

G Herbo replied to the pet company’s DM and confirmed he was ordering the puppies, and even arranged for a car service to pick them up and deliver them to Chicago.

For the crimes above, G Herbo and his co-conspirators are facing decades in prison.

Tote&Carry: Fusing The Worlds Of Hip-Hop & Fashion

By: Shirley Ju Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 5:21pmCategory: Features

Tote&Carry’s mission statement is to “Travel With Luxury,” and they’re here to change the narrative altogether. The company prides itself in being the go-to, affordable, luxury bag brand specializing in trendy, fashion pieces and travel sets to elevate your look no matter what the occasion. Their most popular product, the Apollo I, unveils eye-catching colors and high quality fabric with a variety of matching colors and sets.

When it comes to celebrities, everyone from Rich Homie Quan to Omarion to T.I. has rocked their bags. “You’ll always stand out when you wear our bags,” says co-founder Tony Rey.

In actuality, Tony is a rapper during his off-days and loves to create music as a hobby (a serious hobby, he clarifies). Having had a huge interest in music since his high school days, it’s this unwavering love and passion that drives him and his success to this day.

“My love for music and Hip Hop is what drives me.” Tony reveals, “There’s a lot of inspiration in the design, the lifestyle. It’s my life.”

Beyond that, Tony has found a way to persevere as a minority in the industry, proving that no dream is too big when it comes to success and doing what you love.

AllHipHop: What artists did you listen to growing up?

Tony: Nas was a very inspirational artist in my life, Lil Wayne was a big inspiration. Biggie Smalls, Tupac. In Asia, Jay Chou. Jay Chou’s a big inspiration in my life. Who else? I wouldn’t say Drake or J. Cole, but Nas was one of the biggest influences in my life.

AllHipHop: What’s your favorite Nas song & why?

Tony: This one’s hard, there’s a few tracks. “Affirmative Action,” “The Message,” “Take It In Blood,” “Halftime.” Just lyrical content, the realness, and life relevance. “Life’s a b####, but God forbid the b#### divorce me. I’ll be flooded with ice, so hell fire can’t scorch me.”

AllHipHop: How does being an Asian rapper influence the American hip hop market?

Tony: Asian rappers, we’re not really on the scene like that. It’s not very influential yet. Overseas in Asia, we do have our own little market. We have our own little shows, our own communities. We’re still finding a way to get our own little fanbase, our own little community, and make our own impact. The Asian hip-hop community isn’t too big in the U.S., but definitely overseas we do a lot of shows. A lot of stuff is happening overseas.

AllHipHop: Who influenced you to become a rapper?

Tony: That’s a deep one. It just happened.

AllHipHop: Where do you see the crossover in music and fashion?

Tony: I see designing fashion like writing a song, recording and producing music. It’s the same thing to be honest, you have to create. The crossover is you always want to look fly when you’re doing music, you always want to have something different. Of course, the lifestyle goes hand in hand.

AllHipHop: What’s the reality of running a fashion brand?

Tony: Hard work, sacrifices, challenging, mind-blowing, exciting, puzzling, lifestyle, risk-taking, leadership, innovation.

AllHipHop: What makes your merchandise appeal to hip-hop culture?

Tony: We love what the rappers do, we love the rapper s###. I’m sure that rappers like the fashion, the “drip”. Of course, the ball players. When we’re doing a Tote&Carry bags, we don’t want to be like the rest, the norm, we want to stand out. That’s where it crosses over, it’s about having something unique and different.

AllHipHop: What sets your bags apart from other designer bags?

Tony: Originality, influence from the streets. The culture, price point, minority-owned, fabric selection, timeless bags.

AllHipHop: You had Omarion and T.I. rock your bags in their music videos organically, how?

Tony: Certain stylists probably put the pieces on them. We didn’t pay for it, I’m sure they paid for it full price, that’s the best part about it. [laughs] They paid full price for it.

AllHipHop: Do you think Tote&Carry is a Hip-Hop brand?

Tony: I wouldn’t say it’s a hip hop brand, because a lot of Tote&Carry customers are really average people. Some of them are older like 40 or 45 years old, some of them have some swag. A lot of them are conservative too, they don’t like the super loud designs. They’re working professionals, they have a nice career. Some of them are lawyers, some of them are nurses. We have doctors that spend $1000 with us, it’s for the consumer that wants a little something “fly”. For the hip-hop culture and community, I’d love for it to have more influence because it drives fashion forward. Tote&Carry is everybody’s bag.

AllHipHop: Has Tote&Carry tapped into the Asian hip-hop community in the States?

Tony: Tote & Carry hasn’t really tapped in there yet, but it will pretty soon. It’s coming up. Personally, I have a lot of relationships with certain celebrities and rappers in Asia. We might do a few music festivals in Asia once it opens up. We might have our own little tour, our own little music festivals, sponsors. On TV shows, we’re getting placements and sponsors. The Asian people want to see somebody out here doing well, I’m sure it’s something they can wear proudly.

AllHipHop: Are you still making music as well?

Tony: Yeah, I was in the studio last night. I had to take a break this whole entire year because it’s been crazy. Now that we’re moving into the holidays towards the end of the year, I felt like it was good therapy for me to get back and do a little bit of music. Get back to doing music in the studio, get ready for some shows in 2021 when things open up.

AllHipHop: Any rappers you’d like to work with?

Tony: Ty Dolla $ign, Justin Bieber, he’s not a hip hop artist though. Chris Brown, but they’re not rappers. J. Cole’s a good rapper, Nav’s been dropping some hot s###. Young Thug, Gunna, the whole ATL been lit.

AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?

Tony: We’re trying to get more rappers involved. We want an upcoming rapper to make a Tote&Carry bag song. We want rappers to put Tote&Carry in their rap music. We want to do a contest too, a Secure The Bag challenge. Tote&Carry wants to put out a mixtape of all the hottest upcoming rappers and put on all major platforms.

B.B. King’s Estate Invites Lil Wayne, Drake And Dj Khaled To Collaborate With Late Blues Legend

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 4:16pmCategory: News

Lil Wayne’s new mixtape “No Ceilings 3” could land the rapper and his star artist Drake an unexpected collaboration.

One of the standout songs on “No Ceilings 3” is the “B.B. King Freestyle,” the pair’s first collaboration since 2017.

The estate of the late B.B. King caught wind of the song, and invited the superstar rappers to collaborate on an upcoming Hip-Hop album as a companion to the Blues legend’s highly-anticipated biopic “B.B. King: The King Of The Blues.”

Reps for B.B. King’s estate confirmed they are working on a Hip-Hop album that would sample his music, and they invited Lil Wayne, Drake, and DJ Khaled to be a part of the project.

“When I heard ‘B.B. King Freestyle,’ I was shocked, as this is exactly what we wanted,” said B.B. King’s estate manager Vassal Benford. “For DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, and Drake to show love makes a big statement on behalf of the music world regarding B.B. King and the significance of Blues. We would like to thank them on behalf of the family members and the B.B. King estate, and welcome all three artists to the project in whatever capacity.”

According to Variety, there will also be tributes to B.B. King from Country, EDM, and traditional Blues artists.

“B.B. King: The King Of The Blues” is slated to start pre-production in 2021.

Tekashi 6ix9ine Associate Gets 4.5 Years In Prison For Trying To Kill Chief Keef

By: Mike Winslow Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 1:05pmCategory: News

The guy who tried to kill Chief Keef in Times Square in New York for Tekashi 6ix9ine is heading off to prison.

Judge Paul Engelmayer sentenced Kintea “Kooda B” McKenzie to 4.5 years in prison yesterday, for trying to kill the Chicago for Tekashi 6ix9ine and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.

Kooda knew this day was coming. 6ix9ine testified against the gang and admitted he paid Kooda $10,000 out of a $20,000 bounty to try and kill Chief Keef. In 2019, Kooda struck a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.

He caught a break in April, when Judge Engelmayer released him from the city’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in April, due to the spread of the coronavirus.

But Kooda ran afoul of the court after he was caught on tape drinking, smoking, and partying with alleged gang members. Kooda B claimed he was charmed into the shooting because 6ix9ine after made a song named after him.

“I allowed myself to look up to and listen to someone with more success and fame. That was not the right thing to do,” Kooda explained to Judge Engelmayer. “I regret it and it won’t happen again. I thought he was a good friend. I was excited that he named a song after me.”

Gucci Reportedly Regrets Playing Diss “Truth” In Jeezy Verzuz Battle

By: illseed Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 10:42amCategory: Rumors

The Jeezy / Gucci Mane battle was one of the biggest “battles” and marked the second season of the Swizz Beatz / Timbaland-helmed Verzuz battle. These days they aren’t really regarded as actual battles, but more of a celebration! There is a clear competitive spirit in the air, but they are not going at each other, just playing songs and stuff. It seems like in the negotiations, Gucci wanted to include “Truth,” a scathing diss song that details – among other things – how he killed Jeezy’s homeboy. The legend is that Jeezy sent some boys to kill/rob Gucci and in an act of self-defense, he blasted the man back to his maker. That’s the legend. There’s another rumor for that…but this is the new rumor.

Word is: Gucci regrets playing that song. How did this come to pass? Well, there is this new app called Clubhouse, which currently invite-only. It is not that exclusive though, but there are a bunch of stars on it, causing the thirsty people to actually PAY for an invite! Anyway, one of the Quality Control guys admitted on Clubhouse that Gucci almost immediately regretted that move. I am sure he also regrets saying “Smoking that Pookie Loc” too, but he didn’t say all that.

He should do a new interview and atone for it and make a plea for peace. It seems like a kid is getting “smoked” every day. They are killing US…we are killing US! When is someone respected like Gucci going to step up? Oh wait, Jeezy did that. Anyway, I know Gucci talks to a different group of fans! Tell ’em chill, Wop!!

Questlove Announces Multi-Year Partnership With The Balvenie Whisky

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 8:40amCategory: News

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the Scotland-based The Balvenie whisky company have announced a new partnership. The multi-year collaboration will produce the creation of a Questlove-hosted digital series, titled Quest for Craft, which is set to premiere in Fall 2021.

“I have always been curious about what drives people creatively, and have used that curiosity in my own creative process,” said Questlove. “From my youth touring with my parents, to my many conversations and collaborations with diverse creatives over the years, and writing a book on the subject, there are endless stories of creativity still to be discovered. I’m excited to take this journey with The Balvenie to tell these important stories of makers and their creative processes.”

Leading up to the premiere of Quest for Craft, The Balvenie and Questlove will showcase “the beautiful convergence of craft and creativity” through original events, collaborations, and activations. For example, the partners will offer limited-edition holiday gift items sold exclusively on Goldbelly.com beginning December 7.

Questlove curated the collection which includes a special savory and sweet snack selection from his favorite chefs and brands, a set of Glencairn glasses, and a set of coasters and cocktail napkins designed by the Hip Hop star. Each The Balvenie box sold will help provide meals to those most in need this season.

100% of the proceeds are going to America’s Food Fund. That non-profit collective helps provides funding relief to organizations working to feed America’s most vulnerable populations, including children who rely on school lunch programs, low-income families, the elderly, and individuals facing unemployment.

Additionally, a ReserveBar code can be redeemed for a bottle of The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old. The distilled alcoholic beverage will also come with the ingredients to create the “Best Enjoyed Fireside” signature cocktail from The Balvenie Ambassador Naomi Leslie.

“The Balvenie has been committed to the old-school, hands-on methods of making Scotch whisky for well over a century,” stated Greg Levine, Brand Director for The Balvenie. “That process of making our award-winning whiskies is easy to see, but the intrinsic values and human characteristics that drive our distillery craftspeople every day often escape the spotlight. “It’s these attributes that drive innovation, creativity, and consistency and there’s no better partner to embark on this co-creative journey with than Questlove.”

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Talk Possible ‘Verzuz’ Battle Featuring Diddy & Dr. Dre

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 7:43amCategory: News

Verzuz is coming off its most successful event to date. The Gucci Mane versus Jeezy hits-for-hits celebration reportedly drew over 9 million watchers which is a larger total than the respective viewership numbers for the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2020 Billboard Music Awards.

How will Verzuz curators Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley followup such a high-profile and well-received peaceful clash? Both men appeared on TMZ, and they were questioned about potentially having two of the most celebrated Hip Hop producers/artists/moguls take on the Verzuz challenge.

https://twitter.com/Diddy/status/1330186794890039300?s=20

“Now that’s something different,” replied Swizz when asked about possibly booking Sean “Diddy” Combs and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young for a battle. “The way this Verzuz thing works is everybody has these magical wishes that they want. The universe has been bringing these magical wishes, so I can’t even say what’s not going to happen anymore.”

The Poison album creator continued, “Like the last one we’ve seen, everybody said that couldn’t happen. Now we just let the universe naturally make things happen.” When it was pointed out that he did not deny whether Diddy and Dre are already preparing for a Verzuz showdown, Swizz responded, “I’m never going to say no anymore.”

If a Dr. Dre vs Diddy Verzuz is officially announced for season two of the series, fans will likely get to hear classic tracks like Diddy’s “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” and “It’s All About the Benjamins” as well as Dre’s “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” and “Forgot About Dre.” Previous Verzuz matchups included Teddy Riley vs Babyface, Erykah Badu vs Jill Scott, DMX vs Snoop Dogg, Brandy vs Monica, Gladys Knight vs Patti LaBelle, and other friendly faceoffs featuring music icons.

Spinrilla Streaming Platform Found Liable For Copyright Infringement Of Users

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 6:50amCategory: News

The era of mixtape services being the go-to location for Hip Hop fans to download new music was essentially ended with the streaming takeover by Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Even though sites like Datpiff, LiveMixtapes, MyMixtapez, and Spinrilla have lost the cultural relevance they once had, music corporations are still keeping an eye on what is being uploaded to those platforms.

In February 2017, the Recording Industry Association of America sued Spinrilla on behalf of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Recording Corporation, and LaFace Records. The plaintiffs accused Spinrilla and its founder Jeffery Dylan Copeland of being liable for copyright infringement of their sound recordings.

The case centered around the RIAA accusing Spinrilla of allowing its users to stream and download content without properly licensing the material. Copyrighted recordings by major label artists such as Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Missy Elliot, Common, and Ludacris were mentioned in the suit.

The RIAA reportedly identified 4,082 total works on Spinrilla – some of which were supposedly promoted, featured, and advertised directly by Copeland – that allegedly infringed the copyright owners. Copeland was also accused of instructing users to modify recordings in order to get past the Audible Magic digital filtering technology.

Spinrilla argued it is a venue where artists and deejays can promote their own work and should not be held liable for copyrighted content uploaded by those users. The defendants attempted to lean on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s “Safe Harbor” provision which shields online service providers from claims of copyright infringement if specific conditions are met.

United States District Judge Amy Totenberg for the Northern District of Georgia granted summary judgment in favor of the RIAA on the issue of liability. Totenberg rejected Spinrilla’s “Safe Harbor” defense because the company did not have the required repeat infringer policy or a designated U.S. Copyright Office agent to handle DMCA-related claims until after the lawsuit was filed.

Totenberg ruled, “Even if volitional conduct is required to prove direct infringement, the cases on which Plaintiffs rely have all held that the affirmative act of streaming constitutes direct infringement of the copyright holder’s exclusive right of performance regardless of the fact that the streaming occurs at the request of the user.”

Both parties may still have to go to court in order to deal with the Plaintiffs’ claim for damages from the ruling, but mediation could be an option. The RIAA and Spinrilla have until December 16 to decide whether to go to trial or settle the issues of damages in mediation with former discovery Special Master Carlos A. González.

Kenneth L. Doroshow, Chief Legal Officer of the Recording Industry Association of America, released a statement regarding the ruling in the Spinrilla infringement lawsuit. He stated:

We are gratified by the court’s decision, which sends a message that online streaming providers cannot hide behind the actions of their users to avoid their own liability for copyright infringement that occurs through their systems. The decision also reaffirms that merely characterizing unauthorized copies of sound recordings as ‘mixtapes’ does not make them any less infringing than any other unauthorized uses of copyrighted works. The court got it exactly right on several key points of copyright law in the digital streaming context, and we hope that it serves as a lodestar for other courts and service providers alike

Slim Thug Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine & Bill Gates Conspiracy Theory

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 5:55amCategory: News

Coronavirus is still ravaging America. As of press time, over 14 million people in the United States have contracted COVID-19 and more than 260,000 people have died from the disease.

While most of the nation confronts the medical and financial fallout of the ongoing pandemic, some states are reportedly preparing to administer a vaccine. Healthcare workers will likely get immunized first with the rest of the population having to wait months.

But will most Americans actually take the vaccine once it becomes available? While speaking with Fatman Scoop, Houston-bred rapper Slim Thug was asked if he was open to getting vaccinated for coronavirus.

“I’m gonna take the medicine. I see a lot of people say don’t take medicine. I’m gonna take it because I’m scared of it. I’m not encouraging nobody else to do it,” said Slim Thug.

Later in the interview, he told Fatman Scoop, “More than anything, I want the world to come back to normal. I’m tired of doing the masks everywhere, so if we all got to take a damn vaccine to get back to not wearing masks every day and get back to being normal then I’ll take the damn vaccine.”

The “I Ain’t Heard of That” rhymer also addressed the conspiracy theory that suggests Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will use the COVID-19 vaccine to implant tracking devices in humans or to depopulate the planet. The billionaire philanthropist has denied those claims.

“I don’t think Bill Gates wants to kill me,” stated Thug. “I think Bill Gates got too much money to be worried about my broke ass. He gives away too much of his fortune to all of a sudden turn into somebody who wants to harm me.”

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A post shared by Fatman Scoop (@fatmanscoop)

Mulatto Addresses Being Accused Of Making Colorism Comments

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 5:16amCategory: News

Alyssa “Mulatto” Stephens broke out in 2020. She became an XXL Freshman, made a cameo in Cardi B’s recording-breaking “WAP” music video, earned a Gold plaque for her “B#### from da Souf” single, and dropped her Queen of Da Souf project.

This year also saw Mulatto dealing with some controversial moments. For example, the 21-year-old rapper was recently accused of denying the existence of colorism during a conversation on the private Clubhouse social media platform.

“I WOULD NEVER SAY NO S### LIKE COLORISM DOESN’T EXIST!” tweeted Mulatto on Tuesday afternoon in response to the rumors circulating on Twitter. She later added, “Please stop with the false narrative!”

I WOULD NEVER SAY NO S### LIKE COLORISM DOESN’T EXIST!

— BIG LATTO (@Latto) December 1, 2020

Please stop with the false narrative!

— BIG LATTO (@Latto) December 1, 2020

Mulatto has also faced backlash for her stage name which is an outdated racial term for a light-skinned person of mixed-race ancestry. The Atlanta native has publicly talked about being the child of an African-American father and Caucasian mother.

According to The Rap Game winner, the decision to use Mulatto as her professional moniker was a way to reclaim the slur in order to shift its meaning from something negative to something positive. However, she is said to be considering officially changing her name to Big Latto.

“I would be lying to say it hasn’t crossed my mind before. It is a controversy that I hear and see every day as far as my name goes, so I would be lying to say no I never thought of that. But I can’t say too much right now, because it’s going to be a part of something bigger,” said Mulatto.

Spectacular Smith Addresses Being Arrested For Allegedly Punching A Disney World Employee

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 2, 2020 at 4:50amCategory: News

Overnight, reports began circulating online that Spectacular Blue Smith was arrested on Sunday at Walt Disney World in Orlando. The Pretty Ricky founding member was accused of pretending to sneeze on an employee and saying, “coronavirus.”

According to the alleged victim, Smith also punched the worker twice after he was repeatedly asked to leave the line for a ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. The 34-year-old entertainer/entrepreneur was charged with misdemeanor battery in Orange County and bonded out. He is scheduled for a hearing in January.

Spectacular took to social media to address the situation. The multi-millionaire businessman wrote on his Instagram Story:

The more success you have as a Black man, the bigger target you are. The media will put out a one-sided story even without facts, because they enjoy demonizing our culture and bringing us down. It’s sad. However, when you know you’re rights, you know that you have the right to remain silent and a right to have a lawyer present before giving a statement. With that said, there’s 2 sides to every story and since this story is bigger than me and the color of my skin, I’ll wait till my attorney gives the green light. Thanks for your support. Love. Ps: Y’all know my character.

The FBI Is Looking For Casanova In A Slew Of Gang Related Crimes Leading To Death Of Teen

By: illseed Updated Dec 1, 2020 at 9:07pmCategory: News

Rapper Casanova is one of the numerous alleged gang members that have been publicly indicted on numerous criminal charges including assault, conspiracy to commit racketeering conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, identity theft, attempted murder, and murder. Others are charged with infractions connected to Covid-19 fraud.

The FBI made the jarring revelation Tuesday and outlined the assortment of defendants: Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation street gang. Casanova, nee Caswell Senior, is not charged with assault, attempted murder, or murder.

A man named Brandon “Stacks” Soto is charged in the killing of a teen in Poughkeepsie, NY on Sept. 21. A report says the kid was “murdered in furtherance of the gang’s activities.”

The FBI have not located there Brooklyn-based rapper.

Below is the full FBI Statement:

18 Members Of The “Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation” Gang Charged With Racketeering, Murder, Narcotics, Firearms, And Fraud Offenses

Brandon Soto, a/k/a “Stacks,” Is Charged in Connection With the Murder of a Minor in Poughkeepsie, New York, On September 21, 2020

Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William V. Grady, Dutchess County District Attorney, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Thomas Pape, Chief of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department (“CPPD”), Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Don Halmy, Chief of the Peekskill Police Department (“PPD”), Thomas Gleason, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety (“WCDPS”), and Anthony J. Annuci, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”), announced the unsealing of a 16-Count Indictment charging 18 members of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Gang (“Gorilla Stone”) with committing various racketeering, murder, narcotics, firearms, and fraud offenses. BRANDON SOTO, a/k/a “Stacks,” is charged in connection with the September 21, 2020, murder of a minor in Poughkeepsie. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged in the Indictment, members of Gorilla Stone committed terrible acts of violence, trafficked in narcotics, and even engaged in brazen fraud by exploiting benefits programs meant to provide assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of that, communities across the Southern District – from Poughkeepsie to Peekskill to New York City – suffered. Most shocking, as alleged in the indictment, a minor was murdered in furtherance of the gang’s activities. Because of the extraordinary work of our law enforcement partners, the defendants now face federal charges for their crimes.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As the indictment alleges, the violence and drug activity committed by these gang members threatened the safety of our communities and placed innocent lives at risk. Their unabashed criminal behavior, as alleged, included the murder of a 15 year-old and even extended to defrauding programs meant for people suffering economic hardship due to the pandemic. But thanks to the partnership and hard work of all law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, we were able to stop this violent criminal organization – and show that Gorilla Stone is actually not ‘untouchable.’”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “These arrests demonstrate the NYPD’s relentless pursuit of the few individuals who drive violence and disorder in New York City. I commend the NYPD investigators and the many law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation whose hard work resulted in these arrests. Murder, robberies, narcotics trafficking, and other associated gang behavior will never be tolerated by the people we serve.”

Peekskill Police Chief Don Halmy said: “While it’s clear that the alleged actions of these individuals had a negative impact on the quality of life in Peekskill, it’s also obvious that the extent of their alleged criminal enterprise was much further reaching. Through this joint operation, utilizing Federal, County and local law enforcement agencies, communities both large and small will benefit from the arrest of those allegedly responsible for the distribution of illegal narcotics as well as the commission of violent felonies. We thank all those involved in bringing this to such a successful conclusion.”

Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Gleason said: “Today’s arrests put a halt to an alleged criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking, gang-related violence and other crimes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Our streets are indeed safer thanks to the great work of the Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and all of the partner agencies that contributed to the success of this complex investigation.”

DOCCS Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annuci said: “DOCCS has zero tolerance for any criminal activity involving incarcerated individuals in its custody and within our facilities. These arrests highlight the successful investigation that the Department fully assisted with in the pursuit of justice.”

Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew A. Weishaupt said: “Gorilla Stone Nation, as alleged below, was involved in widespread crimes of violence which erodes the infrastructure and quality of life in our community. Our office will continue to collaborate with our Federal, State, County and Local partners to eradicate the crime drivers that fuel gang violence. This effort will enhance the safety and quality of life in our community. We extend our thanks to the outstanding job of all the law enforcement agencies involved and special thanks to the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, and Bureau Chief Sara Thompson of our office.”

City of Poughkeepsie Chief of Police Thomas Pape said: “I would like to thank our partners at the Federal, State and Local levels of law enforcement for the unwavering assistance and dedication to their sworn duties. These partnerships are proof that collaborations with agencies at all levels of law enforcement work to bring those responsible for the heinous murder of a 15-year-old on our City streets to justice.”

Nipsey Hussle’s Killer Appears In Court, Trial Date Delayed Due To Pandemic

By: Mike Winslow Updated Dec 1, 2020 at 6:50pmCategory: News

Nipsey Hussle’s killer will eventually face justice for allegedly gunning down the rap star in a shocking murder and broad daylight in 2019.

The man accused of gunning down rap star Nipsey Hussle appeared in court earlier today (December 1st).

Eric Holder was charged with gunning down Nipsey in front of his Marathon Clothing store on March 31, 2019.

Video footage captured the moment Holder aka “S##### Cuz” got out of a car and walked up to Nipsey, born Ermias Asghedom.

The pair, who were members of the Rollin 60’s Crips, chatted briefly.

Witnesses say the rapper accused Holder of snitching. He left and returned firing with two different handguns, trading between his right and his left hand, and killed Nipsey, kicked him and fled.

Eric Holder stood before Judge Robert R. Perry, who refused to set a trial date, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Holder waived his constitutional right to a speedy trial,

Eric Holder’s next date is slated for January 21st, 2021.

Holder agreed to waive his constitutional right to a speedy trial during today’s hearing.

Eric Holder’s next date is slated for January 21st, 2021.

According to Judge Perry, Eric Holder’s trial could take place within 30 days of the next hearing, but that scenario seemed to be very unlikely.

Machine Gun Kelly Has A New Drug Of Choice After Therapy: Happiness!

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Dec 1, 2020 at 3:04pmCategory: News

Machine Gun Kelly has entered therapy in a bid to conquer his drug abuse issues.

The rap-rocker, real name Colson Baker, has revealed he is “taking steps” to look after himself.

“Currently, my drug of choice is happiness and commitment to the art, rather than commitment to a vice that I believed made the art,” he said to his friend Dave Franco in the new issue of Interview magazine.

“I had my first therapy session… That’s the first time I ever went, ‘Hey, I need to separate these two people’, which is Machine Gun Kelly and Colson Baker. The dichotomy is too intense for me.”

He admits he’s struggling to chill out in sessions, but the fact he’s willing to try to better himself is having an impact on his loved ones: “The tools that I’ve been given to start with seem helpful, I think,” he explains. “I’m still kind of ripping my hair out: ‘Why am I not changing overnight? How am I supposed to meditate for 10 minutes when I can’t even sit in my own brain for two minutes without distracting myself by doing something?’ That’s really hard. But the commitment to change is inspiring, and I think will reverberate through the universe and definitely through my family.

“I can see it already with the people around me. The willingness to finally be happy with my own self has invited a much more vibrant energy around us than before.”

Machine Gun Kelly credits pal Travis Barker and girlfriend Megan Fox for putting him on the right path, adding, “Travis Barker has been huge in the process of grounding me, because he’s lived it… It’s much different than a priest or something, where I’m like, ‘How can you relate to me…?’ With Travis, it’s like, ‘I know for a fact that you went through what I’m going through’.

“And then obviously, when you have a partner sitting there with you on those dark nights when you’re sweating and not being able to figure out why you’re so in your head, to help you get out of your head and put it in perspective, that really, really helps.”

Donald Trump Can’t Keep Lil Wayne Away From His Love, Denise Bidot

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Dec 1, 2020 at 2:03pmCategory: News

Rapper Lil Wayne has reconciled with his former girlfriend Denise Bidot after they were driven apart by politics.

Weezy apparently dumped the model in the days leading up to America’s presidential election on November 3rd, after he met with Republican leader Donald Trump and voiced his support for the incumbent, while Bidot made it clear on social media that she was voting for Democratic nominee Joe Biden – the now U.S. President-elect.

After early reports suggested she had been the one to break off the relationship, Bidot took to her Instagram Stories timeline to insist that wasn’t the case, writing, “Imagine being dumped over an IG post…that expressed MY political view and encouraged people to vote… It’s definitely 2020.”

However, it appears the couple’s split didn’t last long, and now Wayne and Bidot are back together.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Denise Marie Bidot (@denisebidot)

She initially went public with their romantic reunion last week as she shared a photo of the Hip-Hop star in the recording studio, and captioned it, “Mornings with bae.”

Bidot subsequently posted a selfie from the rapper’s car, and over the weekend, she congratulated her man following the release of his new mixtape, “No Ceilings 3,” reposting an article about the new music on Instagram and proudly writing, “He did that,” alongside a clapping hands emoji.

Rihanna And A$AP Rocky Are Falling In Love

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Dec 1, 2020 at 1:00pmCategory: News

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are reportedly dating.

The Love on the Brain singer and the hip-hop megastar, both 32, were first rumored to be romantically attached back in January, after they shared a hotel suite in New York.

And they fueled romance rumors as they were spotted out alongside friends at the Beatrice Inn in Manhattan on Saturday.

A source has since confirmed that the Bajan beauty and the Praise the Lord hitmaker are an item.

Rihanna’s new romance with A$AP was first reported shortly after her split from her billionaire boyfriend Hassan Jameel in January.

“They shared a hotel suite during that trip in New York,” a source told The Sun newspaper at the time. “However, Rihanna is reluctant to put a label on it as it’s so soon after Hassan.

“They’re really enjoying each other’s company and taking things easy as it’s still early days. It’s really casual between them and she’s not thinking about whether there’s a future with Rocky. She’s a newly single girl having fun.”

The “Work” singer and Hassan, also 32, were first linked together in June 2017, but after almost three years of dating, they decided to call time on their romance.

A$AP and Rihanna go way back, with the former having supported the “We Found Love” hitmaker on her Diamonds World Tour in 2013.

The rapper previously dated Kendall Jenner in 2017.

Future, 6ix9ine, Lil Baby, NLE Choppa & Cardi B Lead YouTube’s List Of 2020 Top Trending Music Videos

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Dec 1, 2020 at 9:22amCategory: News

Hip Hop acts monopolized American YouTube trends in 2020, according to the numbers coming out from the 15-year-old service. Future’s “Life Is Good” featuring Drake (1.3 billion views) ranked at #1 for the year-end tally of Top Music Videos in the United States.

Future and Drake’s joint effort was followed by 6ix9ine’s “Gooba” (639 million views), Lil Baby & 42 Dugg’s “We Paid” (185 million views), NLE Choppa’s “Walk Em Down” featuring Roddy Ricch (153 million views), and Cardi B’s “WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion (298 million views).