A judge sentenced Nipsey Hussle’s killer to 60 years to life in prison on Wednesday (February 22).
Last year, Eric Holder Jr. was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Nipsey Hussle. A jury also found Holder guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault with a firearm.
Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke II sentenced Holder to 25 years to life for Nipsey Hussle’s murder. Holder received an additional 25 years for firearm sentencing enhancement and 10 years for assault with a firearm.
Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle’s family did not speak at Holder’s sentencing. The late rapper’s friend Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, a key witness in Holder’s trial, provided an impact statement.
“Nipsey was my friend, he was like a son, he was like a dad,” Douglas said, per the Associated Press. “Our community right now, we lost everything, everything we worked for. One man’s mistake, one man’s action, messed up a whole community.”
Holder shot and killed Nipsey Hussle outside of The Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles in 2019. Prosecutors said the two men discussed rumors of Holder snitching prior to the shooting.
After months of back and forth on social media, it seems that battle rapper K-Shine and the Ultimate Rap League have come to an agreement about how they would go forward in business.
According to an exclusive interview with HipHopIsReal.com under their paid subscription feature, the Harlem native likes what he hears from the team over at SMACK.
“I spoke to URL and we spoke about some things that is kinda suitable for both of us. I agree to do some things if they agreed to do some things,” the rapper said. “I really like what I heard and if they’re gonna honor that, then we straight Nonetheless, we are back a step closer to positivity as far as K-Shine and the URL is concerned.”
One respected voice that has emerged is Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA who shared that Afrobeats is a part of the culture, not something that will take over or bring it to an end.
“Afrobeat is Hip-Hop. They basically are doing their form of Hip-Hop,” the Staten Island native says. “ Just like Trap was Hip-Hop … Just like G-Funk was Hip-Hop. It’s just their rendition.”
Adding, “And you know what? They deserve a chance, just like the rest of us deserve a chance, for our music to be heard around the world, inspire, and feed families.
The statement was sparked by the amazing half-time show during the NBA All-Star Game.
Three major Afrobeat artists such as Burna Boy, Tems, and Rema took the stage and created magic.
So popular is the subgenre of Hip-Hop (or genre of music) that Billboard created its own chart for it in 2022. According to AfricaNews, the magazine would team up with festival company Afro Nation to launch America’s first-ever Afrobeats chart.
Afro Nation founder, Obi Asika told Billboard in 2022, “I am humbled to have made a contribution to growing the genre alongside many talented, passionate people.”
Hip-Hop is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as a cultural movement and has seen other vibes of Black music intertwine with it over the years. Do you think there is an end in sight? Or, considering Duval’s “as we know it” addition, do you think it will continue to change into something different than what we see?
The family of Malcolm X is suing the government for $100 million after discovering the United States hid evidence regarding the civil rights leader’s assassination.
According to Law and Crime, Malcolm X’s daughter Ilyasah Shabazz was one of the relatives that announced the wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday, Feb. 21 with their attorney Ben Crump.
She said, at a news conference on the 58th anniversary of her dad’s murder, her family plans to file the multi-million federal lawsuit against the New York Police Department, the FBI, and other government agencies for withholding evidence regarding the assassination of the family’s patriarch.
The news conference was held at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, the location then known as the Audubon Ballroom. Crump said the lawsuit was not just for the family but “for his people and this world.”
Shabazz, who was 2 years old when her father was shot, said, “Today, we will celebrate our father’s life and legacy with the community because it is something that my mother did every year for as long as I can remember with my sisters and just the larger community, we will also seek justice for a man, a very young man, who was only 39 years old, who gave his life for human rights.
“For years, our family has fought for the truth to come to light concerning his murder. And we’d like our father to receive the justice that he deserves,” she stated.
Shabazz, her mother Dr. Betty Shabazz, and most of her sisters were all present when her father was killed on Feb. 21, 1965. The then-39-year-old was shot 21 times in front of his family.
Two men, Muhammad Aziz, formerly known as Norman 3X Butler, and Khalil Islam, then Thomas 15X Johnson, were arrested and convicted for the killing. In 2021, the men were exonerated after new evidence emerged proving they did not kill the leader.
With the help of the Innocence Project, the government paid the men $26 million in a settlement.
“The truth about the circumstances leading to the death of our father is important not only to his family but to many followers, many admirers, many who look to him for guidance, for love,” she continued. “And it is our hope that litigation of this case will finally provide some unanswered questions.”
The then-33-year-old Grammy-nominated chart topper was hanging outside of his Marathon clothing store in the South Los Angeles neighborhood when he was approached by Holder for calling him a “snitch.”
The two men both were from that community, were acquaintances and had connections to the Rollin’ 60s sect of the Crip gang.
However, Nipsey was changing and the people around him knew it.
According to NBC News, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney John McKinney said during the trial, “This man was different “He wanted to change the neighborhood. He kept the same friends. And the neighborhood loved him. They called him Neighborhood Nip.”
“He was no longer a gangbanger. He was a world-known recording artist and so much more. It really is a shame that his life was so brutally and coldly taken, on his own property, in his own neighborhood, by someone from his own gang. By somebody that he considered a friend,” he added.
The shooting was captured on camera— and was immediately shared on social media, traumatizing legions of fans.
In addition to murder, Holder was convicted of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a firearm for gunfire that hit two others present at the scene of the crime. Those men survived.
Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox will take on a new executive position for the Love Renaissance (LVRN) record label. The Atlanta-based company announced Cox as Senior Vice President, A&R, and Executive Producer.
“A&R has become a lost art in this new generation of music because of the gap in the relationship between A&R, the artist, and the label. Bryan-Michael Cox is a respected and accomplished producer and executive, and he’s the perfect addition to our team to help continue in bridging that gap,” states Justice Baiden, co-founder of LVRN.
Baiden, continues, “Bryan not only speaks the same language as the artist, but he also shares the same values as LVRN. We are on an unwavering mission to disrupt and redefine the rules of the music industry while also preserving the quality and integrity of the music. When I think of someone who handles the music with care, I think of Bryan, and we’re excited to welcome him home to Atlanta and LVRN.”
Bryan-Michael Cox Calls Union With LVRN A “Perfect Fit”
“The time is right for this union because what LVRN has been able to do culturally is incredible. The commitment to the full picture of artist development is something that this business has been missing,” says Bryan-Michael Cox. “From the single selections to album track listing to the rollouts, each artist has been launched uniquely with care.”
Cox adds, “Justice pays attention to detail, and he has a great understanding of what hit records should sound like without compromising the artists’ creativity and identity. I have a great track record of being able to bond with artists, get the best out of them, and, of course, being able to create or identify hit records. This is a perfect fit.”
Bryan-Michael Cox won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2007 for his contributions to “Be Without You” by Mary J. Blige. In addition, Cox has written records for other musicians like Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Usher, Destiny’s Child, Chris Brown, and Justin Bieber.
BMF (Black Mafia Family) will add more star power to the program’s third season. The Starz network hired Hip Hop artist Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) and R&B singer/songwriter Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith (Stomp the Yard) for parts on the show.
According to Variety, 2 Chainz and Ne-Yo will play recurring roles in future installments of BMF. 2 Chainz signed on to portray a character named Stacks. Ne-Yo will play Atlanta-based entrepreneur Rodney “Greeny” Green.
BMF, inspired by the real-life story of convicted drug kingpins Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, began airing on Starz in 2021. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson serves as one of the executive producers.
“[We’re] making big moves for Season 3. Welcome to #BMF @NeYoCompound,” tweeted 50 Cent on Tuesday afternoon. The Hip Hop mogul also posted, “We got @2chainz locked in for #BMF Season 3. Just wait, it’s going to be 🔥.”
Starz President Expresses Excitement About Expanding BMF Story
Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. and Da’Vinchi lead the BMF cast as Big Meech and Southwest T, respectively. The family drama also features acting performances by Kash Doll, Snoop Dogg, Yung Miami, Mo’Nique, La La Anthony, and Leslie Jones.
Starz ordered a third season for BMF after the season two premiere drew over 4.1 million multiplatform viewers. New episodes of the show returned on January 6 via the Starz premium cable channel and Starz streaming app.
“BMF captures the essence of Detroit through elevated, gritty storytelling and our fans have passionately responded to this show more than ever before,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming for Starz in a press release.
Kathryn Busby continued, “Following such a strong debut with season two, we’re thrilled to continue to expand on the incredible story of the Flenory brothers as they change the game by writing their own rules. We can’t wait to see what our extraordinary producers and cast deliver next.”
Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston is one of the hottest rappers on the planet at the moment, according to multiple Billboard charts. The “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” collaboration with PinkPantheress has become Ice Spice’s biggest hit to date.
Both Ice Spice and British singer PinkPantheress scored their first Top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” rose from No. 14 to No. 4 on the latest rankings of the most popular songs in America.
Additionally, Ice Spice and PinkPantheress made it into the Top 10 of the Billboard Global 200. “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” jumped from No. 15 to No. 4 on the chart that ranks the top songs from over 200 territories worldwide.
The official “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” music video amassed more than 25 million views since premiering on YouTube on February 3. PinkPantheress’s original version of the track peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles chart.
Ice Spice first gained notoriety when “Munch (Feelin’ U)” went viral in 2022. The 10K Projects/Capitol Records signee followed the success of that record by dropping the “Bikini Bottom” and “In Ha Mood” singles.
This year also started off with Ice Spice receiving co-signs from two major entertainment platforms. Vevo named the 23-year-old New Yorker as a DSCVR Artist To Watch. Plus, Spotify listed Spice as part of the streamer’s “Artist To Watch” class for 2023.
Darryl Dwayne Granberry cannot seem to stay out of the headlines in recent weeks. For example, the internet personality, better known as DDG, found himself in the hot seat once again for an online joke.
Social media users blasted the 25-year-old entertainer for apparently idolizing Blueface and Chrisean, the Crazy In Love reality show stars who constantly trend for abusive behavior. DDG insists he was only trolling.
The Shade Room re-posted what DDG had to say about the toxic duo. The rapper wrote in the Instagram blog’s comment section, “😂😂😂😂😂😂 If y’all understood my sense of humor, I swear y’all would like me.”
Many critics had a problem with DDG’s “relationship goals” remarks, because he has recently been involved in a cheating scandal with his ex-girlfriend Rubi Rose. That personal drama also included The Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey.
DDG and Halle Bailey reportedly began dating in late 2021. Rubi Rose exposing her ex’s DMs took place around the time of rumors that Grandberry and Bailey had broken up. At first, Bailey seemingly defended her boyfriend on Twitter, but she has since deleted that tweet.
Prior to the questions about their relationship status, DDG and Halle Bailey went on a double date to a Los Angeles-area bowling alley with Blueface and Chrisean in 2022. In addition, DDG and Blueface collaborated on songs such as “Moonwalking in Calabasas [Remix]” and “Meat This.”
The Breakfast Club morning show recruited comedian Jessica “Jess Hilarious” Moore to serve as a guest host for the week. During Tuesday’s show, the Wild ‘n Out alumnae spoke about Hip Hop legend Master P.
Jess Hilarious presented “The Rumor Report” segment which included coverage of Master P’s falling out with some of his No Limit Records acts. In addition, Hilarious recalled her own issues with the New Limit CEO.
“That man will talk a good game to you,” said Jess Hilarious about Master P. “Even with me – [I Got the Hook-Up 2]. I’m still owed some bread for that. I’m not gonna lie.”
Hilarious added, “I did two scenes. He thought if he used one scene he ain’t gotta pay for the second one. No. I stayed there for thirteen hours to do two scenes… You know I Got The Hook-Up was a long skit.”
When asked how much money she missed out on, Jess Hilarious told The Breakfast Club‘s co-host DJ Envy she charges $15,000 per skit. The internet personality also appeared in the 2021 television movieHip Hop Family Christmas.
The original I Got the Hook-Up came out in May 1998. Master P, A. J. Johnson, John Witherspoon, Sheryl Underwood, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and several No Limit artists made up the movie’s cast.
Master P and A. J. Johnson returned for 2019’s I Got the Hook-Up 2. Jess Hilarious played Officer Keisha Smith in the sequel. Both comedies made a combined $10,570,072 at the domestic box office.
Stefflon Don urged her young female fans not to believe everything they see on social media, claiming that some influencers end up prostituting themselves to maintain a lifestyle they can’t afford.
The Quality Control signee took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday (Feb. 21), with a warning for her young female followers.
“Young girls please stop idolizing the ‘It’ girls,” Stefflon Don began before claiming they’re selling themselves “For a “Lifestyle” they can’t maintain on their own & getting disrespected.”
She added, “It’s never worth it,” and encouraged, “Go get it your self,” following up with a self-empowerment message. “Whether its school a business or a job,” she added, “ Get it.”
Stefflon Don also urged her fans to ignore social media likes. She warned against using them as a measure of self-worth. “Yu are amazing and beautiful even if the “likes” on Instagram say other wise,” the “Down Flat” hitmaker added. “You are everything beyond social media, F### social media.”
Stefflon Don Says Don’t Allow A Boy To Disrespect You Over Money
She concluded: “never allow no boy to disrespect you just cuz he has money: What ever you want make sure you can give it to your self.”
The U.K. rapper is set to release her long-anticipated debut album this year, despite her breakout coming in 2016. Stefflon Don has high expectations for the upcoming release. She called it a “masterpiece,” and claimied she’s “very much deserving of the No 1 spot.”
During a recent interview, Stefflon Don revealed she wants to prove herself as an artist and not a female rapper.
“I’m not living my life like, ‘I’m a woman and I have to prove myself,’” she told The Guardian last December. “I’m just trying to prove myself, period. That’s my mentality, more so now than ever, because I’ve been around for a minute and I feel like everyone is like: ‘OK, I know she can do this and that – what else?’ That’s what it is to be an artist – you’ve always gotta evolve.”
After teasing an album with Drake last year, Kodak Black says he’s cooled off on releasing it following the Toronto megastar’s 2022 collab with 21 Savage, Her Loss.
Both rappers are fans of each other, with the Florida rapper first suggesting a joint album back in 2020. However, despite previously revealing he and Drake have recorded enough music to drop on an album, Kodak Black has gone cold on the idea.
He addressed the topic after being asked about the project during a recent Instagram Live session. While he did not mention 21 Savage directly, seemingly referring to him as “lil’ buddy,” Kodak Black says he lost interest after Drake and 21 dropped Her Loss.
“I had told Drake I don’t wanna do no collab,” he stated. “No songs or no album. ‘Cause we supposed to done did a whole album before him a lil’ buddy.”
He continued: “Before him and lil’ buddy did that s###. I had told him I wanted to wait [until] like, 2023. Like, after February.” Check out the clip below.
Last June, Kodak Black revealed he and Drake recorded multiple songs together, and were considering a joint project.
“Me and Drake, we got some more music,” Kodak revealed during his “Kodak Black Day” music festival. “It’s really on whenever bruh might feel like he ready and stuff.”
However, Kodak Black was waiting on the call from Drizzy. “They be like, ‘Is we gone drop the album? We gon’ do this?’ It’s really on him. We got a lot of songs though,” he added.
The Super Gremlin creator’s issues with 21 Savage may stem from their war of words last year after the ATL rapper said nobody from his class, including Kodak, could beat him in a Verzuz.
Despite being behind bars, Pooh Shiesty has resurfaced on Instagram with a lengthy message for his supporters.
Last April, a judge sentenced Lontrell Donell Williams Jr. (aka Pooh Shiesty) to 5 years and 3 months in federal prison. The rapper previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence and drug trafficking.
While he shared messages of gratitude in earlier updates, the Shiesty Season mixtape creator’s latest posts were of a more boastful nature. He posted some new jailhouse pics alongside a note, bragging about making so much money that even Jay-Z can’t relate. He also demanded Google fix his net worth estimate.
“King Shiesty tappin in from the middle of the pennititary aka Hell where they say i cant go , jailing no telling !!” he began. “I still remain Untouched , Millions still in double digits ! tell google fix my networth we can verify that s### right now.”
He continued: “Yeah im locked up not f##### up. i was 21 up 8 figures jayZ cant even relate my money tripple my followers.”
After ranting about people “playing with my name,” maintaining he’s still the “Menace of Memphis,’ Pooh Shiesty thanked his supporters.
“Keep keeping it solid,” he added. “i promise it dont get unnoticed i see everything and got some special for all word is law.”
Pooh Shiesty Issues A Warning
However, Pooh Shiesty then returned to his foes, issuing a chilling message.
Im touching down to terrorize I gotta dorito on my shoulder Im going 100% flamboyant on you clowns
“The rest of you p###### dead ! keep hating , false advertising , back biting , and counting me out, it up and stuck like a tree house. im touching down to terrorize i gotta dorito on my shoulder im going 100% flamboyant on you f###### clowns ! its all bad for you wild ass n##### ” ALL EYES ON SHIEST ” #NeverCheckedIn #SnitchK #No5k1 #Norule35 #Mr.Omerta,” he concluded.
While women, especially those in the public eye, are often negatively labelled for having children with multiple fathers, Erykah Badu has managed to avoid the stigma.
The neo-soul songstress shares three children with three different men, Seven, Puma, and Mars. Over the years, much has been said about Erykah Badu and her famous partners, including the fathers of her children, Andre 3000, The D.O.C., and Jay Electronica.
However, while the focus of the attention centres around her supposed mystical powers with men, she avoids the stigma society often unfairly places on women for having children with multiple fathers.
During a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne questioned how the four-time Grammy Award winner escaped the negative labelling.
“They don’t do that to other women,” he noted. After explaining that she’s “transparent,” Erykah Badu admitted, “No one would expect to have three baby daddies. Who plans that?” she questioned.
“But when those things start to happen, you don’t stop living,” she added. “You continue to grow and live and learn and make the best out of those situations. Who gone do that? In this judgemental society?”
After joking that it was all planned, Erykah Badu opened up about the realities of relationships and falling in love.
“Let’s be transparent. For my sisters out there,” she stated. “We fall in love. Love is a chemical thing In our culture. The next step is supposed to be marriage. That doesn’t fit me.”
She explained that not everybody comes equipped with “relationship skills,” before adding, “We try but were not taught that. It’s a whole culture built around it but we don’t even know how to do it and it’s the most important thing.”
Check out the clip below and watch the episode at the end of the page.
Iggy Azalea has shed light on what led to the breakdown of her relationship with Playboi Carti, revealing she upped and left one day and never looked back.
During an interview on Emily Ratajkowski’s High Low with EmRata podcast, the “Fancy” rapper addressed her “volatile” relationship with the father of her child, admitting they broke up in the summer of 2020 when their son Onyx was just three weeks old.
The couple had a dispute, and Iggy Azalea walked out and left for Los Angeles, never to return.
“I had something happen one day with my son’s father and me and it was just like one of those moments where you’re just like, I didn’t wake up thinking this is what my day would be,” she recalled. “But by the end of the day, I was on a plane to Los Angeles and I never went back. And that was the end of it.”
She explained that they knew things weren’t working, but circumstances kept them together.
“Don’t get me wrong. We had a volatile relationship and you know that, you’re not an idiot. You know when something’s not working,” she continued. “I knew it wasn’t working, but I also just had a baby, it was COVID. There were a lot of things to navigate for me at that time and I didn’t think I’d be leaving when I left.”
Iggy Azalea Claims She Left Playboi Carti To Break The “Toxic Cycle”
However, Iggy was determined her son would not witness the same “volatile relationship” she did with her parents.
“In that moment that I had on that day, I was like, ‘I will never let my son see this because I don’t want him to see someone talk to me this way, ’cause I don’t want him to ever learn this, I don’t want him to be exposed to this.’”
She decided “in that moment,” to break the “toxic cycle” for her son’s sake, vowing to leave and never come back.
“I have to be more accountable for myself into what I’m doing with my child,” Iggy continued. “Even if there are days where I wanna go back to this… I just never would do it. I will never do it. I’m leaving.”
Check out a clip from the interview below or listen to the podcast here.
Last week, Iggy Azalea reacted after Playboi Carti was arrested for allegedly choking his pregnant girlfriend. “Been there. Done that. Warned you,” she tweeted. “Imagine having a pregnant girlfriend and pretending they don’t exist until it comes out you like to abuse them too.”
However, some fans called out the Australian hitmaker for supporting Tory Lanez after Megan Thee Stallion accused him of shooting her in the feet.
Ghana-born, Atlanta-based artist Deuce Caliber has returned with new heat!
Infectious with an upbeat tempo, “WAVES” brings a cool vibe while chronicling a pretty serious subject of issues and differences in relationships. The song explores how sometimes individuals end up getting what they need outside of their relationship.
Everything on the Hip Hop level started for the rapper early on as he drew inspiration from 50 Cent and Nelly.
As he evolved, he also began to study Kanye West heavily, especially when it came to sonics. His introduction to music came by way of his stepfather who taught him about the intricacies of instrumentation and sound.
By middle school, Deuce began to play with music, battle rapping other kids in his neighborhood and quickly becoming a master of off-the-cuff wit.
In college, Deuce would go on to focus even more on his true passion of music, opening for various artists across the state such as Wale, Big Sean, Fabolous, Pusha T, Davido, Burna Boy, Kizz Daniel, Mayorkun, and Runtown, and the rest was history.
Marking a musical shift, Deuce explains the inspiration behind the song “WAVES”:
“The inspiration behind “WAVES” comes from real moments I had with a woman I was dealing with outside of my failing relationship. I went through the euphoria of being with that person but still touched on the strain of outside influences in the dynamic. I had a woman, but my heart was somewhere else completely. The song was actually freestyled one night after I linked up with my engineer. The beat took me through a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Deuce.
“I talked about both women simultaneously in the song, but most of the happy parts were inspired by the other woman,” he continued.
Deuce shows no signs of slowing down as he gears up for his 2023 shows and as he taps into acting and screenwriting. He also plans on expanding into entrepreneurship with his own cologne line and with building a school in Ghana.
As his star continues to rise, expect a lot more from Deuce Caliber! Stay connected: Instagram:@deucecaliber
UPDATE: Tip is talking and not snitching. He is explaining in a recent interview.
Welp.
We let the devil get between us again! I was looking so forward to this Tip and Boosie album! And what happens? THIS! He does an interview with you-know-who and gets enticed into a conversation. But, I will admit, it seemed like Boosie JUMPED out the window when it was just cracked! DAMN BRUH!!!! WHY!?
Well, Boosie basically nixed the album and then also called out Tip. Well, we know Tip and he’s a good dude and he does a lot of good. Well here is what he had to say in response to the snitch rumors!
Yeah so… Idk if it’s you or ya “OG Uncle” that needs to see it… but I GOT MY PAPERWORK ready to show!!! PULL UP!!! My number the same & my address the same my n####. To get on da net & speak on s### you’ve never spoke to me about is leaving me to believe you been hiding ya heart the whole time!!!! I’d NEVER speak “certain disrespect” on your name/reputation bout a “IF” homie… da convict code say When in doubt…pull the paperwork out!!! & “IF” you ain’t did that…🤐Now … Idk what type of time you on but I say again… “IF”it was a question or confusion bout anything I said you could’ve called and asked …. so u can report back & tell ya “OG” …or you could’ve pulled up & checked the blk & white like I’m offering now. Either way tho my n#### … I ain’t bound to no n####’s opinion of me… cause what dey “THINK” will NEVER overrule what I KNOW!!! So don’t wonder no mo’ homie…. answer the “IF”… PULL UP & report back to da rest of these n##### who opinions matter so much to you. Cause I could Give a F### bout what no n#### think bout me!!! “The tail shall never wag the dog” Leadership Leads…. wit facts and stats… we don’t follow no fantasyland s###…remember that!!! & I ain’t bending my knees for nothing or fearing nothing but GOD!!! So cmon & see what you speaking bout so next time you can speak intelligently. @mamaheliveagain.2.0 I expected more from you. This s### ain’t solid. obviously I thought we WAS something we WASNT.🤷🏽♂️
50 Cent’s alleged penile enhancement saga continues. According to court docs obtained by AllHipHop, the rapper-turned-television exec has agreed to settle with The Shade Room after suing the media outlet for defamation.
The docs read, “Pursuant to Local Rule 16.4, Plaintiff Curtis J. Jackson, III p/k/a 50 Cent (Jackson), by and through his undersigned counsel, hereby gives notice that he has reached an agreement to settle with Defendant The Shade Room, LLC d/b/a The Shade Room (TSR) in the above-captioned action.”
50 Cent and The Shade Room are in the process of “executing their respective obligations pursuant to the agreement.” A Notice of Voluntary Dismissal with Prejudice will be filed soon. The notice doesn’t apply to 50 Cent’s original targets, Perfection Plastic Surgery and owner Angela Konan.
50 Cent and his legal team filed a motion requesting mediation with the clinic last month. Per the paperwork, the motion was granted and all parties are expected to convene on February 28.
The Get Rich or Die Tryin’ rapper originally sued Kogan in September 2022. Kogan and her team then set their sights on The Shade Room. Consequently, 50 Cent decided to sue the gossip site.
50 Cent maintains Kogan stole a photo of him to promote her business under the false pretense he’d used the company’s services. He accused The Shade Room of propelling the story forward by re-posting it and opening him up to “ridicule.”
50 Cent and his legal team claimed: “By publishing the article and falsely stating or implying that Jackson had received plastic surgery procedures from Kogan or MedSpa, or the penile enhancement or other procedures described in the article, TSR committed a clear act of defamation.
“The article was particularly egregious because TSR believed it was publishing Jackson’s private medical information, which is not newsworthy or a subject of public interest. Kogan and MedSpa now claim that The Shade Room unilaterally took and used the photo of Jackson for the article without Kogan or MedSpa’s permission. Plaintiff separately seeks compensatory damages as well as injunctive relief, a retraction and an apology from TSR.”
If the mediation between 50 Cent and Kogan fail to result in a resolution, the case will go to trial in July.
A man claiming to be LL COOL J’s secret son says it’s time the world knows about him. In a video uploaded to Instagram over the weekend, Love Benji—as he calls himself—talked about mustering up the “courage” to come forward. He also claimed he was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement sometime around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They made me sign the paperwork, you know, they didn’t want it to go public,” he said. “This is probably around COVID. They wanted to silence me. Ever since my mother really told me the truth, I feel like it should be public. Now, I need to just get this off my chest. I want to give thanks to you too, man. James Todd Smith, that’s what I know him as, [my] father [and] great man. But many of you probably know him as LL COOL J.”
Love Benji went on to allege LL COOL J blocked him on all social media platforms. Plus, he claimed any attempts to see him never worked out.
“I tried to take trips to see him…and his beautiful wife, [my] siblings, brothers, and sisters,” he continued. “I never knew why I wanted to make music, why I wanted to be an actor, why I wanted to do these things. Turns out, my father is LL COOL J.
“I’m blessed. I’m thankful he’ll send me every now and then, probably $200 a month. But it ain’t about the money. He blessed me with the charm, the ladies, the charisma. I really didn’t want to take it here and have the blogs blow it up or nothing like that. Since he’s blocking my number, I haven’t heard much from him. I feel like this is how I’ll be able to reach out to him. That’s my truth. Let me know, Dad. Stay smooth.”
In all fairness, he does look a lot like Mr. Ladies Love Cool James, so much so it’s eerie. LL is probably going to have a hard time denying this one, that is, if he even acknowledges him. Guess we’ll find out.
Or does Ice-T need to do another diss track about LL COOL J á la Pusha T vs. Drake?
Eminem is an iconic rapper, songwriter, and astute businessman who has made several shrewd investments over the years.
So it comes as no surprise that the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, has filed an opposition to a trademark request for the Reasonably Shady podcast.
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, the rapper filed an objection on February 14th to Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon’s application for a trademark for their podcast “Reasonably Shady.”
Eminem argued in the documents that his brand would be “damaged” if the “Real Housewives of Potomac” stars were granted the trademark for their show.
He also claimed that giving the “Reasonably Shady” trademark to the podcast will confuse consumers who have known him by the monikers of Slim Shady and Shady since the late 1990s.
In addition to his music career, Eminem has invested in several companies, including StockX, Genius, and Shade 45, his radio station on SiriusXM.
He has also invested in real estate, including a $2 million mansion in Detroit, and has even launched his own record label, Shady Records.
The rapper owns the trademark for the term “Shady” for use on merchandise.
The “Reasonably Shady” podcast has become a popular podcast in its own right. It covers various topics, including dating, relationships, marriage, entrepreneurship, motherhood, style, and current events.
