Rapper YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Maurice Demons, will now face the death penalty for allegedly killing his friends Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams, 21, and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas, 19.
Both Melly and Henry were 19 at the time of the shootings.
The court was conducting jury selection started on April 11 but was temporarily stop it for an undisclosed reason.
The selection of jurors that will serve on this case resumed on Monday, June 5.
According to Law and Crime, a big legal decision has been made regarding the Florida recording artist, famous for songs about killing people. The power that the jury will have over his sentencing.
As the jury is being selected, the judge has ruled in favor of the state that should the 12 jurors come back with an 8-4 or higher decision on Melly’s case and sentencing him to death, he would allow it.
The death penalty is new in Florida. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on April 20 this year.
The new law allowing it was created after Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland school shooter was spared the death penalty because the jury was split.
His lawyers tried to fight against it saying, “Applying the new law on a retroactive basis would be changing the rules after the game has begun, thereby violating (Demons’) right to procedural due process.”
That was in vain.
The trial is expected to start on Wednesday, June 7.
Shooney Da Rapper kicks it with Kershaw St. Jawnson, aka Nikki Duncan-Smith, to talk about her career as a rapper, both commercially and as a battle rapper, having a hustler for a dad, dominating college radio, coming up with her name, what it was like to be related to Hip-Hop royalty, and growing up with Heavy D pinching her cheeks.
Raised in Mount Vernon and the Bronx, Shooney was exposed to Hip-Hop through her older brother Pete, now a popular DJ. Her love for Hip-Hop grew when she attended Westchester Community College, where she hosted shows and became a campus celebrity.
Shooney’s first foray into rapping came when a fellow student asked her to do a hook for his song. The song blew up on campus, and Shooney was encouraged to try rapping herself. She wrote her own rap, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. This led to her decision to become a rapper, supported by her sister and her manager, Jay Loyal.
Shooney’s first mixtape, “The Making of a Paper Girl,” was released in Miami during Memorial Day weekend in 2006. She recalled having to rap on every corner to convince people to take her free CD. This hustle, along with numerous showcases in New York City, helped her name start buzzing in the underground scene.
Shooney also shared her experience being part of a girl group, KNS, with her best friend K Nicole, daughter of Jojo Brim. Despite the challenges, Shooney remains true to herself and her love for Hip-Hop.
“You got to stay true to who you are, and if something goes against what you believe in, you got to speak on it,” she said.
The Mt. Vernon “It” Girl also talks about what it’s like to be one of the original Queen of the Ring girls, a pioneer with over a decade of professional battle rapping in tow and still killing the game.
NLE Choppa (born Bryson Potts) recently celebrated opening the brand new Dream Court in Tennessee. According to reports, a fire engulfed the outdoor basketball court located at the Raleigh Community Center on Sunday.
“I feel like Memphis is in need of more things of this nature that represent a positive light,” stated Choppa. TheCottonwood 2 album creator attended the May ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dream Court.
Unfortunately, The Dream Court has been damaged less than two weeks after NLE Choppa helped open the site. Apparently, the destructive blaze started from a pile of fireworks being ignited in the center of the court.
“It is very sad that this random action destroyed a new and valued community asset,” said Nick Walker, Memphis Parks Director, in a statement to Memphis-based WREG.
He continued, “Memphis Parks really appreciates the partnership and sponsorship that led to the creation of The Dream Court, and we really look forward to finding a way to get an asset of similar quality back into the Raleigh community.”
Walker also confirmed he had spoken to NLE Choppa and Lieberman Charities to express appreciation for their efforts. Choppa worked with former WNBA coach Nancy Lieberman’s Lieberman Charities to donate the state-of-the-art basketball court designed for the local youth.
“Big Thanks to @nancylieberman & the city of Memphis! My first basketball court for [the] city and this won’t be my last 💪🏽,” wrote NLE Choppa on Instagram last month. The “Champions” rapper also took to his Instagram Story to respond to the news of the fire. Yesterday, Choppa posted, “It’s ok. [We’re] remodeling.”
Chance The Rapper has not released a solo full-length project since 2019’s The Big Day studio album. It appears Lil Chano from 79th has been working on a new body of work.
Audacy recently spoke with Chance The Rapper for the internet radio platform’s Check In with Julia. Part of that conversation included the Chicago native discussing his upcoming Star Line Gallery album.
“It’s one of my proudest projects in terms of writing and artistic vision,” Chance The Rapper told Audacy about the forthcoming Star Line Gallery. “It’s really been something that I’ve tried to put as much time and intention into.”
He added, “There’s an immense amount of work to be done with it. But it’s cool because I feel like with the love and intentionality that goes into making each physical art piece gives me an opportunity to show people in these museum spaces what I’m working on as I go, the highs and the lows, kind of like a preview to the project.”
Chance The Rapper partnered with his SaveMoney collective comrade Vic Mensa to organize the 2023 Black Star Line Festival. They named the January 6th event in Accra, Ghana after Marcus Garvey’s historic shipping line from the early 1900s.
Additionally, Chance will present threeAcid Rap anniversary concerts in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. Those showcases celebrate the three-time Grammy winner’s breakout mixtape from 2013. Acid Rap featured Vic Mensa, Twista, Saba, Childish Gambino, Action Bronson, Ab-Soul, and more.
“It’s a crazy thing, especially to hear people talk about it and what it meant to them or what brought them to the project or how they heard about it, it’s just a cool thing,” said Chance The Rapper about Acid Rap. “It’s crazy that it permeated, that it stayed with so many people for so long.”
The Voice star added, “Now, ten years out, there’s all these people so excited about the concert. And these are so many songs that I haven’t played in so long, so it’s just good to get to rehearse them and get to relive and rewatch the videos and just go back to that time. Because it was a good time.”
A lot of people did not expect former stripper Cardi B to become one of the most commercially successful rap acts of the last decade. Over the last six years, the history-making entertainer secured her spot as a headlining act.
Hot 97 booked Cardi B to headline the 2023 Summer Jam concert in New York’s UBS Arena. During her set, the “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker brought out 21 Savage for “Bartier Cardi,” GloRilla for “Tomorrow 2,” and Latto for “Put It On Da Floor Again.”
Cardi B’s sister, Hennessy Carolina, was also in the building for the event. Afterward, Hennessy took to social media to post some clips from her older sibling’s Summer Jam performance. She also reflected on Cardi’s rise as a star.
“I had sooo much fun last night! My sister was meant for this! It’s crazy how we use to go to house parties and the whole party would surround my sister in a circle to watch her perform and now look how far you’ve gotten. 😍 God is good & Dreams do come true. 🙏✨💖@iamcardib,” tweeted Hennessy on Monday.
Cardi B built a reported $80 million net worth since making the transition from exotic dancer to internet personality to reality show star to a chart-topping recording artist. Some of that eight-figure fortune came from high-profile deals with McDonald’s, Walmart, and Beats By Dre.
As far as her music career, Cardi holds the records for most No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 for a female rapper (5) and most total weeks at No. 1 for a female rapper (16). She also has the most RIAA-certified Diamond singles for a female rapper (3). In addition, Cardi became the first solo female rapper to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
“NEW YORK thank you for showing me so much love!” tweeted Cardi B following her Summer Jam performance. “People had nasty things to say for weeks just for it to sell out and turn out amazing. I haven’t released music in a long time but this definitely motivated me to get back outside.”
The Invasion of Privacy album creator continued, “Thank you to all artists who came out during my set and all of the other amazing artists on the line up… WE DID THAT!! Don’t pay attention to the negativity, when the hate don’t work they start telling lies. I’m on a high right now.”
Three high-profile acts dropped their respective projects last week. Toosii’s Naujour, Moneybagg Yo’s Hard to Love, and Metro Boomin’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack arrived on June 2.
HitsDailyDouble has reported the projected sales numbers for each of those releases. According to the music industry website, none of the new Hip Hop-focused projects will crack the 100,000 first-week units mark.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently on pace to pull in 48,000-53,000 units. Metro Boomin recruited Lil Wayne, Offset, A$AP Rocky, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Nas, and other artists for the compilation.
Hard To Lovewill likely open in the 45,000-50,000 sales range. The latest commercial mixtape from Memphis-bred rapper Moneybagg Yo contains contributions by Future, Fridayy, Lil Durk, GloRilla, and others.
NauJour “Toosii” Grainger let loose his self-titled Naujour album as a follow-up to 2020’s Poetic Pain. HitsDailyDouble projects Naujour to bring in around 20,000-23,000 units in its first week. Future, 21 Savage, and Khalid show up on the studio LP.
Stray Kids will probably take the No. 1 spot on next week’s Billboard 200 chart. The eight-member South Korean boy band’s 5-Star album moved a projected 200,000-225,000 units out the gate which should be enough to take the top spot.
A Hip Hop project has not topped the Billboard 200 chart since Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains in December 2022. Heroes & Villains launched with 185,000 equivalent album units, giving Metro the third No. 1 project of his career.
By this time last year, multiple Hip Hop acts had scored a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. Gunna, Lil Durk, Tyler, The Creator, Pusha T, Future, and Kendrick Lamar each peaked in the pole position during the first five months of the year.
Additionally, the second half of 2022 saw bodies of work by Drake, 21 Savage, Rod Wave, DJ Khaled, and Lil Baby lead the Billboard 200 for at least one week. Ten Hip Hop projects from last year, including Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains, moved more than 100,000 units in week one.
Following the success of the “All My Life” collaboration, speculation about the track, Lil Durk, and J. Cole began circulating online. For example, one social media rumor claimed Durk paid Cole $978,000 for his verse.
Ibrahim Hamad, the co-founder of J. Cole’s Dreamville Records, took to Twitter to shoot down some gossip about the “All My Life” record. He simply posted a blue cap emoji in response to the alleged $978K payout.
The “🧢” reaction from Ibrahim Hamad likely represents him debunking the alleged disinformation. However, Hamad did not offer any further explanation about possible behind-the-scenes deals associated with Lil Durk’s “All My Life.”
“I’ve been talking to [J. Cole], checking up on him, just seeing how you’re doing. You wait for the right moment for him to ask to be on the song,” said Lil Durk about collaborating with the Dreamville emcee.
Durk also added, “The song [gotta] be big. I just wanted to be like, ‘I want J. Cole on the song.’ So when we do the song, the first person popped in my head, I’m like, ‘I got to get J. Cole on this.’”
In addition to J. Cole’s contribution, Lil Durk’s Almost Healed album features other acts such as Alicia Keys, Future, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Morgan Wallen, and the late Juice Wrld. Both Cole and Keys appeared in music videos for tracks from the project.
Central Cee and Dave celebrated their 25th birthdays by making streaming history with their debut collaboration and are storming their way to the top of the U.K. chart. If that wasn’t enough, the London-based rhymers also just dropped off a surprise joint EP.
On Monday (Jun. 5), Spotify announced “Sprinter” became the U.K.’s most-streamed song in a single day of the year so far on Friday, Jun. 2. The track was also the most-streamed Hip-Hop song in a single day in the U.K. in the platform’s history.
Santan and Cench also made a huge impact outside of the U.K., earning the top new music streaming debut on Spotify this week.
According to Chart Data, “Sprinter” debuted at No. 9 on the global Spotify chart with 3.867 million streams. The placement meant Central Cee and Dave nabbed the top new entry beating out The Weeknd & Playboi Carti.
Fans can’t get enough of the track, with “Sprinter” racking up another 10 million YouTube views in the 4 days since its release. However, the two U.K. rap leading lights decided to give the fans a little more, dropping off a surprise four-track EP titled Split Decision. Watch the video below and stream the EP at the end of the page.
Released on Jun. 5, the day Dave turned 25 and 24 hours after Central Cee celebrated his 25th milestone, the project includes three additional tracks; “Trojan Horse,” “UK Rap,” and fittingly, “Our 25th Birthday.”
Teyana Taylor wrapped another successful showing in her latest role as creative director, teaming up with Lola Brooke for her Hot 97 Summer Jam debut at the weekend.
After working her creative magic with Latto in April and Summer Walker a month later, Teyana lent her creative skills to the rising NYC rapper.
The multi-hyphenate took to Instagram Monday (Jun. 5) to share some behind-the-scenes preparation.
Teyana Taylor shared a video of her putting Lola Brooke and her backing dancers through their paces for the upgraded “Don’t Play With It” choreography. Teyana initially observed from the back, demonstrating how to nail every move.
She also shared a of snippet of Lola’s flawless performance at Summer Jam alongside another clip of her greeting the Brooklyn native as she came off stage. Lola Brooke jumped into Teyana Taylor’s arms for a sweet embrace.
Teyana heaped praise on Lola in the caption, applauding her for acing her set, despite the short prep time.
“Damnnnnn @theauntiesinc back at it again 😏” Teyana Taylor began. “Dear @lola.brooke 🌹 Ya summer Jam debut went out with a bangggggggg! You should be very proud of yourself. You got IT! We literally only had 2 four hour rehearsals but I had no worries cause I knew you could & would kill that s###! I want to thank you and ya amazing team for trusting @theauntiesinc and knowing that you were in good hands. This is just the beginning! So be ready to reach beyond the stars ✨”
Meanwhile, Lola Brooke also thanked Teyana Taylor as she reflected on her journey to the Summer Jam stage.
“In 2012 I told myself ‘I’m never coming back to summer jam unless I’m on that stage,” she penned. “2023 I’m MAIN STAGE SUMMER JAM ! Thank you @hot97.” She shared a touching message to the “Rose In Harlem” hitmaker, who she watched on TV as a kid.
“Just wanna say I watched you as a kid on sweet16 and knew girls like me exist ! I never questioned my identity after that! You’re my mood board !” Lola added. “This meant everything to me tee thank you for helping, trusting and believing in me to get the job done in 2days. ❤️🌹 @teyanataylor”
Benny The Butcher opened up about how “p#####” he was that his collab with Drake leaked before the track could be released.
The highly anticipated “Buffalo Freestyle” was never officially released after the track made its way online in September 2021. Fans flocked to hear Drizzy and the Griselda rapper on a track together, especially as Benny had teased the collab for several months before the leak.
During a recent interview with Joe Budden, Benny The Butcher recalled his reaction when the Drake track leaked.
“I was p#####, I’m not gon’ lie. It’s a f###### Drake record. It was my biggest record,” he began before Joe Budden interjected to tell Benny, “You went off.”
Benny continued, “It’s a record just sitting in my pocket but I understand the mechanics of the business.” While the Buffalo artist admitted he doesn’t know the specifics, he understands scheduling.
“This the biggest artist in the world so I understand his release schedule might be hectic,” he said before acknowledging Drake also has a team he’s accountable for. “He’s the name but he represents a lot of people that he work with and his moves represent a lot of people.”
Nonetheless, there’s no bad blood, and Benny is grateful Drake personally kept him in the loop.
“No way did I take it like ‘Damn he f##### me over.’ I swear to God I didn’t take it like that because this is Drake; the biggest artist in the world. Even for him to hit me up personally, that lets me know where he at.” Listen to the clip below or check out the interview here.
Gunplay has shown his appreciation for Rick Ross with a lavish gift, thanking the rapper for being there for him when nobody else was.
Rozays’s Triple C’s groupmate, Gunplay found himself in Rick Ross and DJ Envy’s recent online feud over their respective car shows. While the beef between The MMG honcho and the radio host started off as lighthearted humor, it soon escalated.
Before long, there were insults, cease and desist letters, and recorded conversations flying back and forth. The “Bible On The Dash” rapper threatened to “slap the s###” out of The Breakfast Club host after Envy referenced his newborn child’s health issues to take a shot at Rick Ross.
The radio host mentioned a GoFundMe page for Gunplay’s daughter, who underwent emergency heart surgery in February. “If that’s your brother, you take care of your brother,” DJ Envy said in a rant directed at Rick Ross.
Gunplay’s fiancée Vonshae Taylor-Morales objected to mention of her child in the beef. She also said she and Gunplay thanked Rick Ross “multiple times” for the “heavy lump” he sent towards the baby’s medical expenses.
“Once [Rick Ross] found out what was going on, [he] immediately wired our DAUGHTER’S account a heavy lump. We were able to get her better insurance, get her equipment, pay off all her deductibles, [and] make sure she can see all these specialists. We’ve thanked him multiple times.” she wrote on Instagram.
Gunplay attended the “Mafia Music” hitmaker’s car show at the weekend (Jun. 3) and gifted Rick Ross a diamond-encrusted AMNLHLTR pendant and chain “a token of my appreciation.” Rozay was lounging in bed when Gunplay dropped off his present. Check out the video below.
Kevin Hunter Jr. has broken his silence and addressed his concerns for his mother Wendy Williams’ deteriorating health, fearing the worst.
According to a new interview, Kevin says her struggles with alcohol have spiraled out of control and claims her team is emboldening her drinking.
He told The U.S. Sun the talk show host is “being taken advantage of,” by the people around her who seek to profit from her fame. Kevin also believes his mom is not “in her right mind,” and is agreeing to things she wouldn’t otherwise.
He says the first time he spoke to anybody from his mom’s team since late last year was in May, when Wendy’s manager, Will Selby told him she was taken to hospital.
According to Kevin, the people around her prioritize “earning income” over Wendy Williams’ health, which has declined since she lived with him from late 2021 to early 2022.
Wendy Williams Alcohol Consumption Is Abnormal According To Kevin
“I know the rate that she uses alcohol isn’t like a normal person- and we’ve spoken about it. I’ve said ‘This is one thing where you don’t know how to approach it normally, and that’s fine.’ And it’s gotten to a point where yes, it could have that effect that it might be fatal because it affects her way worse than a normal person since it stays in her system,” Kevin told the outlet.
He is also concerned about reports that his mother signed contracts while in rehab last year.
“They had her in a position where she was agreeing to a lot that she shouldn’t have.” he said. “I feel that when it comes to people wanting to ‘help’ her, a lot of it is coming from a stance of, okay, she’s alone now.”
In addition, Kevin shared his worries that Wendy Williams’ team is making her alcohol battle more difficult.
“If they aren’t providing it, they are definitely enabling a type of personality and giving her the green light to drink,” he claimed.
Ultimately, Kevin wants Wendy Williams to “prioritize her health first,” above anything else. “Nobody around her will tell her this, but she doesn’t have to be working.”
In a twist that could be straight out of a reality show script, “Shark Tank” star and FUBU founder, Daymond John, is now swimming in a sea of legal issues.
According to Page Six, John has filed a temporary restraining order against former contestants Al “Bubba” Baker, his wife, Sabrina Baker, and their daughter, Brittani Bo Baker. The family trio runs the mouth-watering Bubba’s Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs food truck.
They allege that John attempted to snatch control of their sizzling enterprise.
The Bakers tell a tale as juicy as their ribs. They claim they were initially offered $300,000 for a 30% stake in their company when they appeared on “Shark Tank” in 2013.
But they allege that John later revised the deal, offering $100,000 for a 35% stake and an alleged attempt to bring Rastelli Foods Group into the mix.
The Bakers also claim they’ve only seen around 4% of the $16 million in revenue, leading to suspicions that their financial cut might have been trimmed a bit too close to the bone.
John’s spokesman, Zach Rosenfield, has refuted these claims, stating that John’s actions were not a barbecue takeover but a response to the Bakers’ apparent violations of their partnership agreement.
It seems that John’s patience with the Bakers has finally been smoked out, with Rosenfield lamenting, “It is unfortunate that it has come to this.”
“Their belief that they can unwind poor business decisions through slanderous social media posts and articles will no longer be tolerated,” Rosenfield added.
One thing is sure – with accusations flying and tempers flaring, this beef could get hotter than a Texas summer.
As for the Bakers, they’re hoping to prove that you can’t just throw a small business on the barbecue and expect not to get burned.
Prayers have been going up for the multi-talented Jamie Foxx since he suffered a major health challenge while on set filming the Netflix “Back in Action,” on April 11.
The family has been very hush about the illness and also the celebrity’s progress.
However, RadarOnline.com has released a report from a source close to the Academy Award-winning actor and comedian.
According to the source, “Jamie is receiving treatment at one of the top physical rehabilitation centers in the country … The clinic specializes in physical therapy programs to treat injuries or a physical condition that limits or prohibits the ability to walk or walk correctly.”
“They teach people how to walk again at this particular clinic,” the insider continued, adding, “Jamie would not be at this clinic if he was not impaired in some way as a result of whatever happened to him. But fans should rest assured: Jamie is in the best of care at this type of clinic.”
While the clinic has not been revealed, it is said to concentrate on the rehabilitation of people who have endured strokes, brain injury, and spinal cord injuries.
AllHipHop.com continues to pray and send warm wishes to Jamie Foxx and his family.
Nicki Minaj delighted her diehard Barbz by announcing her fifth studio album on Monday (June 5).
The Republic Records artist revealed an October 20 release date for the LP. Nicki Minaj didn’t share the project’s title, simply referring to it as “The Album.”
Nicki Minaj hasn’t released an album featuring all-new material since 2018’s Queen. Her most recent project was a greatest hits compilation titled Queen Radio: Volume 1, which dropped in 2022.
Last month, Nicki Minaj set high expectations for her upcoming album. She also teased a tour in support of the project.
“NM5 is the best thing that will come out of 2023 & will raise the bar to new & unreachable heights,” she wrote on Twitter. “NM5 tour will be hailed as ‘genius.’ That’s it & that’s all.”
Nicki Minaj supplied fans with several tracks in the first half of 2023. She dropped a solo single titled “Red Ruby Da Sleaze” in March and appeared as a guest on a few singles in recent months.
The diamond-selling rapper linked up with Ice Spice for the “Princess Diana” remix in April. She also connected with Sexyy Red for a remix of the viral hit “Pound Town” in May.
An appeals court struck down several claims in Sabrina Peterson’s lawsuit against T.I. and his wife Tiny Harris.
According to Law360, California’s Second District Court of Appeal axed Peterson’s claims of trade libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and intentional and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage. The appeals court allowed her to proceed with claims of defamation and false light invasion of privacy.
Peterson sued T.I. and Tiny after accusing the rapper of pointing a gun at her head in 2021. Peterson also publicized other women’s allegations of sexual assault against the couple. T.I. and Tiny fired back at their former friend on social media, denying the allegations. Peterson said their responses led to harassment.
T.I. and Tiny filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit based on California’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects free speech. A trial court denied the motion, so the two appealed the ruling.
The appeals court sided with T.I. and Tiny on several claims without completely dismissing Peterson’s lawsuit. But it did determine Peterson owed the couple “fees and costs incurred both in the trial court and on appeal in moving to strike the claims on which they prevailed.”
T.I. and Tiny’s lawyer Andrew B. Brettler told Law360 he was “generally pleased with the decision.” He expressed confidence in clearing his clients of Peterson’s defamation and false light invasion of privacy claims.
A Georgia judge sentenced Young Thug’s brother Unfoonk to more than nine years in prison on Monday (June 5).
Judge Ural Glanville sent Young Thug’s brother to prison for a probation violation. Unfoonk violated the terms of a plea deal when he was arrested on a gun charge in May.
Last December, Unfoonk accepted a plea deal in the highly publicized YSL RICO case. He pleaded guilty to one count of violating the RICO Act and one count of theft by receiving stolen property.
Unfoonk, whose real name is Quantavious Grier, received a 12-year sentence in the RICO case. The plea deal allowed him to get out of jail with two years commuted and the remaining 10 years on probation.
Young Thug’s brother was prohibited from possessing a gun while on probation. Last month, authorities caught Unfoonk with a firearm during a traffic stop.
Unfoonk’s attorney requested a lenient punishment for her client at Monday’s hearing. Judge Glanville sided with the prosecution, ordering Unfoonk to serve the remainder of the RICO sentence behind bars.
“You got arrested with a gun within six months of you being placed on probation,” Judge Glanville told Unfoonk. “And I agree with the State that you’re not a candidate for probation because all you had to do is just complete your probation and do what you’re supposed to do. Instead, you were riding around in a car with a gun in violation of your probation and what this court explicitly had conversations with you about … And for that reason, sir, I’m gonna revoke the balance of nine years and six months. And you will serve that in the Department of Corrections.”
Unfoonk’s brother Young Thug awaits trial in the YSL RICO case. Jury selection started in January and could last through the summer.
WATCH: Judge Glanville found #YoungThug's brother, Quantavious "Unfoonk" Grier, violated his probation as part of the plea deal in the #YSL RICO case by being caught in possession of a firearm. He is ordered to spend the balance of NINE years, 6 months behind bars. pic.twitter.com/7l9yIsFA5p
A lawyer representing Tory Lanez quietly filed a request to delay the rapper’s sentencing in California on Thursday (June 1).
According to Meghann Cuniff’s Legal Affairs and Trials newsletter, attorney Matthew Barhoma sought a delay a few weeks after filing a petition to disqualify Judge David Herriford. The judge is scheduled to sentence Tory Lanez for a shooting conviction on June 13.
Barhoma and attorney Jose Baez claimed Judge Herriford wasn’t impartial in the Tory Lanez shooting case. The lawyers filed an appellate petition on May 19, but an appellate court hasn’t ruled on the matter.
Judge Herriford can proceed with sentencing while the petition is pending. He denied any bias against Tory Lanez.
“I am not prejudiced or biased against or in favor of any party to this proceeding or their counsel,” the judge wrote. “All rulings made by me in this action have been based upon facts and arguments officially presented to me and upon my understanding of the law … All statements made by me and all actions taken by me in this proceeding have been done in furtherance of what I believe were my judicial duties.”
Last December, Tory Lanez was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion. A jury found him guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
Tory Lanez faces up to 22 years and eight months in prison. He has remained in jail since his December 2022 conviction.
It seems like LeBron James is not the only basketball player getting into the producer/ show runner seat?
According to a press release, NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill, Tyler Perry producer Roger Bobb, and NBA Senior VP of Entertainment, Charles Rosenzweig have joined on as producers of Eric B’s new sitcom, “Daddy’s House.”
While adapting to single life and “enjoying bachelorhood,” his newfound freedom is interrupted by a visit (that turns permanent) from his two teenage children.
Directed by veteran TV actor and showrunner Terri J. Vaughn (who will double in the series as Kane’s wife), the show hopes to show that once the kids move in, while it might be Daddy’s House… the mini-adults run the show.
The series was created and written by author and screenwriter Jeff Farley.
“I’ve always been fascinated by film and television production, and I love this show’s storyline and characters,” Hill stated. “It’s also great to have an opportunity to work with such talented and creative people.”
This is not the first project the NBA All-Star has produced.
According to Deadline, Hill produced and acted in “Starting at the Finish Line: The Coach Buehler Story.” He is also the producer behind two documentaries “The Miracle of North Jackson” and “The Jayson Williams Story.”
NandoSTL is the first artist to release a project under T-Pain’s label, Nappy Boy Entertainment, and he’s letting the music speak for itself. His debut project Y.O.T.A. stands for Year of the Ape, a 10-track body of work that speaks volumes to the type of recording artist he is. With standout features from T-Pain and Nelly, Y.O.T.A. arrives in perfect timing for mental health awareness month.
The St. Louis, Missouri native’s love for music began as early as two years old, traveling to Chicago to see his dad’s side of the family. It was then where he experienced African dance and drums, and he hasn’t stopped beating on stuff ever since. While he was raised in the church, it was fellow STL native Nelly, Wyclef Jean, and Cee-Lo Green that influenced him the most — and allowed him to create his own unique sound at the intersection of rap and soul.
NandoSTL describes his music as “melodic rap for sure, but it has a lot of gospel and soul influences. If I had to compare myself to people, it would be Smino, Chance [The Rapper]. CeeLo Green, The Fugees, people like that.”
Serving as the new face of Nappy Boy Entertainment, it’s crazy to think NandoSTL only started rapping three and a half years ago. From growing up listening to Nelly to now making a song with him, from working at Wells Fargo to throwing the first pitch at the Cardinals game, from entering T-Pain’s Twitch competition to signing to T-Pain’s label… it’s safe to say the future is bright for NandoSTL.
AllHipHop spoke with NandoSTL to discuss his relationship with Smino, roots in St. Louis, meaning behind Y.O.T.A., getting signed to T-Pain, collaborating with Nelly, fatherhood, goals, and more!
AllHipHop: Your music reminds me of Smino’s, not gonna lie.
NandoSTL: Fasho. We went to the same high school, and we stayed three or four minutes from each other growing up. It’s a Midwest thing. I’m in a few of his videos. I’m actually his stunt double in the “I Deserve” video. If you look, the guy in the gray jumpsuit with the afro, that’s me.
AllHipHop: Stop! What were you doing that he couldn’t do?
NandoSTL: He wanted to be in both scenes. So any scenes where he plays a double, where he has two characters that’s supposed to be him, I’m always the other him. Because we’re about the same height. Essentially, he wanted to be the landlord. He calls himself the love lord, the older version of himself. When he owned apartments back in St. Louis, started playing that. He walked past, and I was the older version. So I know Smi.
AllHipHop: What was it like seeing his career blow up? Because he really puts on for St. Louis.
NandoSTL: Oh yeah, he went crazy. He deserves it for sure. I only started rapping three and a half years ago, but I produced. I made beats. I played drums before that, so that’s how we really know each other. We were in the marching band together. We both were on the drumline together, he always claimed it though. I remember back then, he’d say, “I’m never getting a regular job. If it ain’t music, I ain’t doing it.” He made it happen, it’s dope.
AllHipHop: Talk about being from St. Louis, what was your upbringing like?
NandoSTL: St. Louis is low key a melting pot for music. There’s always so much going on locally, there’s live music everywhere. It’s a church on every corner. I guess it has a big city look, but it’s a hometown feel. Everybody knows everybody. It’s really hard to not have seen someone before, it’s not that many of us. A lot of it translates to my music. People get a real country feel out of me, but it’s not necessarily I’m country. It’s just St. Louis has a real small town feel.
AllHipHop: Who’d you grow up listening to?
NandoSTL: Of course, Nelly. Nelly was the beginning, the GOAT. Of course, T-Pain. T-Pain stayed on the radio. I was always listening to a lot of Goodie Mob, Outkast. Erykah Badu, Maxwell, those types of people.
AllHipHop: When did you realize you could do music for a living?
NandoSTL: It decided for me honestly. I was doing it because I worked a corporate job. I worked as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo. Being a single dad, I basically would raise my kids, go to work. Raise my kids, go to work. I needed something that was just for me, that’s when I decided to start rapping. When I started dropping music, people took a liking to it.
I ended up doing the Twitch competition with T-Pain, and I got signed. The job I worked in, they don’t really want you to be a public figure. They were more afraid that if I work there, my views and my music would become the views of Wells Fargo. I decided to separate myself in case this didn’t work out, I can always go back. I didn’t get fired, but I didn’t want to go through all the rigmarole of telling them my business.
AllHipHop: Is Nando your real name? I’m guessing STL is for St. Louis.
NandoSTL: Fernando is my real name. I was just Nando for a second, but when I YouTubed it to try to find my first song I dropped, a bunch of Hispanics kept coming up. I’m like, they’re never gonna find me, so I had to add something else.
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for with Year of the Ape out?
NandoSTL: All of it. It’s my first big project. I dropped the EP in the very beginning called Good Vibes that I don’t really count, it was just me trying to get my sound together. Then I dropped Bamboo after that, which I didn’t even really want to drop. It was more so I kept getting booked for festivals out here, and they kept asking me to do 45 minute sets. But I didn’t even have 45 minutes worth of music, so I had to drop something to give me some more music. This was the first time I got to sit down and pick out the songs I wanted. I got T-Pain on the album, Nelly on the album. It came together exactly how I wanted it. This is the first album I listened to of me, I didn’t even listen to the others. So I’m excited.
AllHipHop: Why Year of the Ape?
NandoSTL: In my hometown, due to my stature and my seriousness, I have a nickname. Everybody called me The Rilla, short for gorilla. I was really going through a s##### ass year in 2020, COVID hit me hard. I didn’t want to be pessimistic anymore. Every day, I’d say today is my day. If I got in the car and I found a dollar under the seat, today’s my day! It turned into this week being my week. I’ll start posting hashtags, like #thisweekismyweek. #todayismyday. It turned into a movement. When I linked up with Pain, I started doing songs with Nelly. I started getting put on different platforms. Okay, this year is my year. We dropped this year in January, that’s why I called it Year of the Ape.
AllHipHop: Talk about how you and T-Pain connected on the title track, “Y.O.T.A.”
NandoSTL: I lost his competition. He had a Twitch competition where he took thousands of applicants, but he picked the top 600. He pinned us head to head against each other, for a chance at a record deal and a chance to go on tour with him. Of course, I made top 600, top 300, top 16, top eight, top four. All the way down to the top two, and I lost my .8 in the very last round. When I hit him up, he said “don’t worry about it, I still love the music. I’ve heard enough, and I want to sign you.”
That was all I needed to hear. By then, I started harassing him. I pulled up to his show. He was in Chicago, which is four and a half hours away from St. Louis. I hopped in the car and drove out there. I didn’t even have tickets, I snuck in the show. I went to the studio and I started sending my other people at the label, like Young Cash, my records. He heard Cash recording Y.O.T.A. at his house. When he heard it, he said “what the f### is it?” Cash was like, “Yo, this Nando.” He’s like, “Nando sent you another song?” So he played it for him, then Pain jumped on it. They sent it back, I didn’t even know he was getting on it.
AllHipHop: Really?
NandoSTL: We hadn’t had a conversation yet. I wasn’t signed or nothing yet. That was in February, and it didn’t end till May. I lost in May. But after I talked to him in June, I started pulling up to his shows. I started sending music over. But in July is when that moment happened. Young Cash, who’s the second person on the song, who’s also signing to Nappy Boy, said he wanted to do the song. When he was recording his verse, Pain just happened to walk in the studio and heard him recording it. He’s like, “I love this song. I’ma kill both of y’all on it.” He recorded a verse and they sent it back. And he did, he snapped!
AllHipHop: Damn! So what was the conversation in him signing you?
NandoSTL: That was after that. I reached out to him like, yo, I love the record. I’m trying to put my money behind it. I’m down to shoot the video, I’ll pay for the video. Wherever you’re at, we pulling up. He said he was gonna be back in Chicago. I met him back out there, we shot the video. That was the first time we had a real conversation. After that, they sent some paperwork out. He loved the hustle and the grind, he wanted to bring that over to Nappy Boy. I’m like, bet. Let’s do it!
AllHipHop: How did that feel? That’s one of the biggest artists ever.
NandoSTL: It felt amazing. The biggest part that was amazing to me was not just the deal, it was the way he treated it. Of course, we went back and forth with lawyers. We were going back and forth for months, and we couldn’t come to an understanding. I hit Pain directly. I just sent him a text message like, I’m not trying to rob you or anything.This is what I’m looking for. I want to own my music, I want to own a few things. He said “bet.” He sent back a contract and he had everything in it that I asked him for. That was a moment where okay, this ain’t just a business relationship. He really wants to help. I’m down to do everything I can to make this be it.
AllHipHop: That’s fire. How’s it been?
NandoSTL: It’s been dope. It’s been a whole lot of work, I’ll let you know that. Pain believes in this man, and it makes me go to no end. Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. Because Pain is a legend. He curated this whole sound that everybody is doing now. Nobody would be using autotone in the way they use it, if it wasn’t for Pain. He did “Good Life” with Kanye. He did “Bartender,” Sprung,” “All I Do Is Win,” “I’m So Hood.”
We have so many legendary records from Pain, that sometimes I feel I have to achieve that and more. And I haven’t even had my real big viral moment yet. Even though he’s like “Nando let’s go out,” I’m like I got s### to do. I’m the one that’s gonna stay in the studio when everybody else is trying to go out. Trying to find that balance, and it’s okay. Give it time, you only been at this for five months. I want it, and I want it now.
AllHipHop: Was that your kids in the “Loud” music video.
NandoSTL: Yeah, they right here. [shows kids] Always. They in almost every video. They’re in the “Tinted Windows” video. Almost every video shoot, I try to at least easter egg them at least once.
AllHipHop: What does it mean to be a father?
NandoSTL: Everything! It means everything. At first, it was cool when I pull up to places and people know who I am. I pull up to their school. I just threw out the first pitch at the Cardinals game here, people are asking about it. It’s cool, they get to be the cool kid. They got the famous dad technically, so that’s pretty dope. Now, it’s really cool. My son calls himself FerNandoSTL. It’s cool to be recognized for something positive.
AllHipHop: Absolutely how to feel that though the first pitch. That’s awesome.
NandoSTL: That was beyond life, you don’t even know. It was the moment after the first pitch. Throwing the first pitch was dope because I’d never been, I went to one Cardinals game in my life. They played the Dodgers when I was working at Wells Fargo. They were playing the Dodgers when I threw the pitch, so it was full circle.
After the pitch, I was on the side of the field. Chingy FaceTimed me like, “Yo, I’m at the game. Congrats, pull up.” I went up there, chopped it up with him. Nelly hit me like, “Yo, congrats.” I was sitting down in the stands, then Pain called. That was the first moment where damn, I’m doing this.
AllHipHop: Talk about making the song with Nelly, that’s legendary.
NandoSTL: Pain set that up. I recorded the record, we wanted to put another bigger feature on the album. We didn’t want it to just be me and then Pain. I originally did the song on everything, and we were going to send it to Chance. At the last second, I decided to pull out and not give it to Chance, and get Nelly on it. Pain hit Nelly up, told him I was from the city. He wanted to link up and do it. All the other Lunatics from the St. Lunatics knew who I was already, so he was down to do it.
I had already had a little buzz in St. Louis, it was really more so outside of St. Louis that I had to make the impact. But he was down to do it. He was at home for a holiday, we call it 314 Day. It’s March 14th, but it’s our area code. I met him at the club, I bum-rushed him. Same thing man, I’m pulling up on you. If you say yes, I’m coming to get it. We did the record, but he was super cool. After that, he hit me. We went bowling at 1am. Bowled our ass off. We stayed in contact after that. Definitely a good friend, shout out to Nelly.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to get from your story?
NandoSTL: A lot of times right now, everybody else has some type of gimmick. Whether they ratchet as hell, or whether their hair is crazy. My gimmick is I’m just a regular person. I got a big Nappy Noy chain, I don’t really ever wear it unless Pain makes me wear it. I worked a regular job, I went to school. I did it the way I wanted to do it. I didn’t have to kill nobody, shoot nobody, do no crazy s###. And I still put out dope ass music. You could do it, you could be you and be dope as f###.
AllHipHop: Three things you need in the studio at all times?
NandoSTL: Lately, I’ve been drinking Mountain Dew. I don’t know where that came from, because I don’t even like Mountain Dew. I’ma say Mountain Dew, chewing gum, and probably my phone. My phone or the dictionary, because I’d be saying words and I never know if I’m saying the right f###### word. I’m always googling some s### and making sure I’m saying it right.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point?
NandoSTL: Hell yeah, a lot. A lot of goals right now, we go on tour in a few weeks. Me, Pain, and Tobi Lou.
That’s gonna be crazy. Of course, my goal is to murder everybody on the tour, because I’m the one that nobody expects to come. I’ve been practicing hard as hell. My ultimate goal right now, one: I want to break a million on something. Video-wise, I’ve already broke a million on songs. But I want to break a million video-wise, the highest I had was 500K. I want to buy a house, that’s the biggest thing. I want to buy a house just using music money. It’d be really cool that I thought something in my head, and now I’m living inside of something that I manifested with that thought.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want the people to know?
NandoSTL: The biggest thing is as artists, we take for granted all the opportunities that we get. But if it wasn’t for you guys creating these platforms, nobody would hear us. So definitely big shout out to you, for taking the time out to give a f### about other people’s art. That’s it, we need more of that. Other than that, thank you.
