Jay Electronica launched a fierce defense of JAY-Z while shading Birdman in a heated rant on X (Twitter.)
On Wednesday (September 11), Jay Elec slammed Hov’s detractors in a string of tweets amid the backlash over Kendrick Lamar headlining the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans.
“I don’t respect no gangsta that’s scared of the white man Periodt,” he began his tirade. “N##### got all this smoke for Hov but they ain’t got no smoke for David Geffen and jimmy iovine and lucían grange and lyor cohen etcetera etcetera. I DO NOT RESPECT YOUR GANGSTER. You p####.”
The New Orleans native continued, referencing 50 Cent’s business moves in Shreveport, arguing attention should be focused on that rather than the Super Bowl.
“And let’s be real,” he added. “@50cent just opened an entire industry in shreveport and these p#### ass nights slave cooning over a football game. If you don’t get the f### outta my face.”
Jay Electronica then mentioned Hot Boys member Turk, possibly alluding to a recent rift with B.G.
“And how you n##### did Turk was dirty and lame. ESPECIALLY since he REALLY MAGNOLIA and yall not. Get it how you live. I’m sawry potnaaaaa,” he said. “And how yall so quick to let yall gun bust at your brother over nothing. If yall would put 10 percent of this negative energy over a FOOTBALL game into unifying for one common cause, our ppl would be free overnight. Salaaam Alaikum.”
Despite his jabs, Jay Electronica insisted, “I will die in the war with the common enemy on the spot for Birdman and BG and Wayne and whoever else the same way I would Hov. We all we got. But who is man enough to say enough is enough.”
He concluded, “And no, I ain’t sorry for one single damn thing. It’s the Son Of Man against The Synagogue of Satan. It is what it is,” before signing off, “Sincerely, Jaydolph Spitler.”
Earlier this week, Birdman sounded off on social media amid calls for hometown hero Lil Wayne to perform at the New Orleans event.
Diddy is facing yet another lawsuit, this time from Dawn Richard, who rose to prominence in the group Danity Kane, formed on the 2002 MTV show, making the band.
In her suit, Richard accused Diddy of terrorizing and sexually abusing her, per TMZ. She also claims to have witnessed the embattled mogul brutally beating his former partner, Cassie Ventura.
Richard alleged Diddy would force her to rehearse for two days straight, leading her to lose weight excessively and become dehydrated. She recalled one situation when she arrived at Diddy’s home and found him in his underwear. He refused when she asked him to dress, screaming, “This is my f###### house!”
She claimed the situation worsened between 2009 and 2011, detailing an alleged encounter at Diddy’s recording studio. Richard stated Diddy stormed into her dressing room while she was naked and touched her breasts and butt.
On another occasion, she claimed he locked her in a car for hours. Her screams went unheard, and her father had to travel from Baltimore to New York to free her. According to Richard, when her father confronted Diddy, he replied, “Think about your daughter” and “think about your daughter’s career.”
Dawn Richard Claims She Witnessed Diddy Assault Cassie Ventura
Richard’s lawsuit also details alleged abuse against Cassie Ventura. She recounted an incident in 2009 where she allegedly witnessed Diddy choke and manhandle Ventura while he was high on drugs. Richard claimed Diddy also threw the singer against a wall and dragged her up the stairs of his L.A. home and another incident where he hit her in the face and attempted to strangle her.
She also allegedly saw Diddy throw a hot pan at Ventura while berating her, yelling, “I can’t stand you b####, you never do it right!”
Additionally, Richard accused Diddy of hitting Ventura in the face and attempting to strangle her.
Dawn Richard’s lawsuit is the latest in a string of disturbing allegations against Diddy.
Diddy Denies Allegations
Diddy’s lawyer Erica Wolff responded to Dawn Richard’s lawsuit in a statement on Wednesday (September 11). Wolff claimed Richard’s allegations were false and suggested the singer had ulterior motives for suing Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs.
“Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit,” Wolff said. “In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a payday — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour. If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album last year. It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court.”
Monica may have just turned her fans on to one of the hottest culinary content creators on Instagram at the moment following her recent family outing.
In an Instagram video Bernard Hardison shared to his profile on Monday (September 9), the R&B sensation doubled as his right hand as the pair fried a massive batch of fish outside using the outdoor kitchen he fashioned in his backyard. In the clip he shared on IG, Monica operated the one-of-a-kind frying vat Hardison designed, effectively “baptizing” the fish in grease, per the chef’s verbiage.
“She took a road trip to the backyard to help me baptize some fish @monicadenise ‼️!,” Hardison wrote in the caption of the post.
For those of you who are unaware of Hardison, he is the man behind the IG account @bsexperiencesc. Back in July AllHipHop reposted his viral cooking video where he both smoked and deep-fat-fried a 12-foot Burmese python. With over five million views, the fried python video isn’t even one of the highest viewed on Hardison’s profile, which is rife with cooking videos of him creating recipes such as Popeyes fried chicken, grilled red snapper and python stew. While it appears as though Monica and her family chose a more conventional source of protein for their family fish fry, their experience at Hardison’s backyard culinary institute was top-tier.
“My Family and I truly appreciate your hospitality! You made Papa’s dream come true !!! The fish was FIREEEEE,” Monica wrote.
Several artists jumped in the comments section of the post with their mouth-watering reactions to the down-home cooking Hardison and Monica produced as a unit.
Frankie Beverly, lead singer of the R&B soul and funk band Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, has passed away.
The family of the legendary singer confirmed the sad news in a statement on social media on Wednesday morning (September 10), asking for privacy during their time of mourning.
“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience,” the statement began. “During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way. This period for is one of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly known to the world as Frankie Beverly.”
The family urged, “Love one another as he would want that for us all.”
The legendary frontman carved an indelible mark on the world of music with his soulful voice, heartfelt lyrics, and timeless melodies.
Frankie Beverly retired in July after performing his final concert in his hometown of Philadelphia. As reported by AllHipHop, thousands came out in triple-digit heat to give Beverly his flowers and listen to his numerous hits. Songs like “Joy & Pain” and “Before I Let Go,” along with many others, have served as anthems, birthday theme songs, wedding reception party starters and much more to the Black community.
AllHipHop sends our condolences to Frankie Beverly’s family and loved ones.
Pharrell Williams was interrupted by a PETA activist during the premiere of his new Lego biopic Piece by Piece at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday (September 10).
The multi hyphenate artist was in the middle of a post-screening Q&A when the campaigner approached the stage to protest against his use of fur and animal skins in his work as Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director. The activist held a sign that read “Pharrell: Stop Supporting Killing Animals for Fashion,” and shouted at Williams.
“Your Louis Vuitton collection…Pharrell’s collection is made from their blood,” they yelled. “Pharrell, stop torturing animals! Ostriches are being hung upside down, electrocuted with their necks slit!”
Williams replied, “You’re right, you’re right, god bless you, it’s OK.” He then urged the crowd to applaud the protestor, who was soon escorted out of the building while shouting, “Pharrell stop torturing animals.”
Williams then turned to the crowd, addressing the protest. “Rome wasn’t made in a day,” he stated. “And sometimes, when you have plans to change things and situations, you have to get in a situation of power and of influence where you can change people’s minds and help progression.”
He continued, “That is not necessarily the way to do it, and sitting in my position, when I have conversations on behalf of organizations like that unbeknownst to them, they come out here and do themselves a disservice. But that’s OK, when that change comes, everybody in this room will remember that I told you, we are actually working on that. And if she would’ve just asked me, I would’ve told her. But instead, she wanted to repeat herself.”
PETA protester jumped onstage at premiere of Pharrell’s PIECE BY PIECE, screaming, “Pharrell, stop hurting animals!” #TIFF24pic.twitter.com/NnbMq85lRA
It’s not the first time PETA have protested against Pharrell Williams. They brandished signs reading, “Fur Is Dead” and “Pharrell: Stop Killing Animals for Fashion” at a screening for this movie on Saturday. Additionally, last November the group issued a statement calling out his Louis Vuitton collection.
Latto wasn’t standing for any Cardi B shade, although she had some of her own for Ice Spice during a recent Funny Marco segment.
The “Sunday Service” hitmaker joined forces with the comedian to hold “Open Thoughts Auditions” on his YouTube channel, screening unsigned talent to find “the next BIG THING.”
However, the auditions didn’t go well for one artist who rubbed Latto the wrong way after accusing Cardi B of biting his lingo and dance moves.
“Hey Cardi B,” the contestant who described himself as a train performer said. “Stop stealing my lingo.”
A baffled Latto swiftly interjected, claiming, “Cardi ain’t steal,” before defending her rap peer. “Cardi ain’t here, but I’m here and I’ma step behind Cardi,” Latto added. “What you say about her?”
He repeated his claims that Cardi B stole his dance and lingo, but Latto wasn’t having it and booted him from the audition.
“No she didn’t though,” she insisted. “I’m not endorsing no Cardi B diss. They can go.”
Cardi B didn’t comment on Latto defending her, although she did repost the clip on X (Twitter).
While Latto enjoys a good relationship with “Put It On Da Floor Again,” collaborator Cardi B, the same can’t be said for Ice Spice. The pair have traded numerous shots in a longstanding beef.
50 Cent has had a change of heart and is reportedly seeking to drop his defamation lawsuit against the mother of his youngest son, Daphne Joy.
The G-Unit mogul filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the suit without prejudice, per TMZ. The Judge has yet to approve his request.
Back in April, 50 Cent filed for sole custody of his son with Joy after Lil Rod identified her as one of Diddy’s sex workers in his lawsuit against the Bad Boy Records boss. Joy denied the allegations in the lawsuit before accusing 50 Cent of rape and sexual assault.
“I am tired of upholding and protecting an image to our son that you have never even earned,” she wrote. “Let’s put the real focus on your true evil actions of raping me and physically abusing me. You are no longer my oppressor … You have broken our hearts for the last and final time.”
Fiddy denied the allegations, claiming Joy made them in retaliation to his claim for custody of their son Sire, and filed a defamation lawsuit.
“The most recent false and baseless accusations by Daphne Joy are clearly in response to my decision to seek sole custody of my son,” he stated. “My son Sire is my main priority and keeping him in a safe environment is my only focus at this time.”
However, in July, Daphne Joy deleted her post accusing 50 Cent of assaulting her. TMZ reported that Joy was attempting to patch things up with her ex for the sake of their son.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump squared off for their first debate on Tuesday night (September 10), and social media is having a field day.
The Vice President was on attack mode, baiting Trump throughout the debate, calling out his fitness for office and dismantling his campaign promises. It clearly worked, with Trump appearing increasingly rattled, parroting bizarre conspiracy theories and spewing lies about the 2020 election and Democrats supporting post-birth abortions.
Harris told Trump that world leaders view him as a “disgrace” and laugh at him behind closed doors. She also said he was fired by 81 million voters, adding, “Clearly, he’s having a very difficult time processing that.”
Harris laughed mockingly when Trump brought up the unfounded conspiracy theory about migrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
The only thing more amusing than Harris reacting to Trump was the avalanche of memes that took over social media.
A key point missing in a lot of post debate analysis is that Trump’s claim about immigrants eating pets almost perfectly syncs up to the piano in the Peanuts theme song. pic.twitter.com/6icWLe1sPN
Moments after the debate, Taylor Swift endorsed “gifted leader” Kamala Harris. She mocked Trump’s running mate JD Vance’s “childless cat lady” remarks, posting a photo with her own cat.
“She fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift said of Harris. “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Swift signed off with another jab at the Trump campaign. “With love and hope, Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady,” she concluded.
In a lengthy statement he shared on his Instagram profile Tuesday (September 11), Tory addressed the raid that occurred in his cell and provided more context on his purpose-driven mission associated with his Prison Tapes series. In addition to claiming the powers that be were behind the raid, Lanez revealed the major component of legal advocacy for inmates that his project was helping him establish from behind bars.
“The rumors are true,” Tory Lanez wrote in part. “The ‘Prison Tapes’ will be discontinued until further notice however, I think it’s important that my fans know the truth about the crooked ass s### that’s really going on here.
My cell was not rated and trash because I learned how to record myself in prison or because I created the prison tapes, I was shut down because the ‘HIGHER UPS’ figured out what I was really doing with the prison tapes, and how many inmates were being helped in a life-changing way because of them.”
Lanez then explained how his fellow inmates inspired his decision to develop the Prison Tapes.
“Since the first day I was incarcerated all I’ve seen is Black and other minorities receive the most cruel, illegal and unfair punishment/treatment for so many nights,” he wrote. “I asked God to reveal his purpose in making me go through the ills of the prison system. I was shown that purpose.
“I was placed in jail to suffer to feel and to witness firsthand the pain and oppression being inflicted upon the young Black and Brown men and women of my generation. I knew I had to change this injustice. So, I made it plan that when I got to prison, I would figure out a way to record music and put all the proceeds towards the legal representation of my fellow inmates, giving them a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go home to their families on appeal and resentencing.”
Tory Lanez then revealed the immense impact his Prison Tapes releases, such as his “Cell 245” single, have had since he began releasing music a part of the projects earlier this year.
“Although the “HIGHER UPS” have stopped the ‘Prison Tapes’ temporarily they were too late to stop my overall plan,” he wrote. “Since the month of July, I’ve afforded legal representation for 472 inmates and actively reopened 476 cases. With the help of the legal firm ‘UNITE THE PEOPLE,’ so many inmates will be returned to their families and loved ones.
Lanez concluded with one final note that carried a sinister premonition of his.
“I’m naming this ‘The Hands of God’ project,” he said of his initiative spearheaded by the Prison Tapes. “Lastly, they know I’m a threat and they didn’t want me saying or doing this so if anything happens to me, just know I went out in a blaze of glory trying to revolutionize the end of a mass incarceration era on our people.”
Lanez is currently incarcerated at North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, where his fellow rap counterpart Blueface is serving his four-year sentence for a probation violation.
Last year, a California judge sentenced Lanez to 10 years in prison for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. He was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, illegal possession of a firearm and negligent discharge of a gun for shooting the victim in 2022.
Marc Agnifilo, one of Diddy’s attorneys, has issued a statement regarding a sexual assault lawsuit filed against the Bad Boy Records mogul by a Michigan inmate.
On Monday (September 9), Lenawee County Circuit Court Judge Anna Marie Anzalone awarded Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith $100 million default judgement after Diddy failed to address the suit.
But Agnifilo and Diddy’s team discovered Cardello-Smith has filed multiple civil lawsuits against public figures, priests, the Department of Corrections and others.
“This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years,” Agnifilo tells AllHipHop. “His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed.”
Cardello-Smith claims Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted him in 1997 at a party in Detroit. He claims they met when Cardello-Smith worked as a Detroit-area restaurant. Cardello-Smith further alleged that Diddy visited him in prison and offered him $2.3 million to drop the case. He provided records showing Diddy’s name in the visitation record but admitted he rejected the offer. He’s serving an unrelated sentence at the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon Heights.
In an August hearing, Anzalone issued an order preventing Diddy from selling assets that could be used to pay for any potential damages resulting from Cardello-Smith’s lawsuit. He filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and or a preliminary injunction to stop Diddy from selling his Los Angeles mansion and other properties.
“[Diddy] stated that he would make me an offer to end the case and what happened to me because of other things that he stated he has going on in his life that require his money right now,” Cardello-Smith told the judge. He continued stating that Diddy said “he wants to sell everything off,” before offering him $2.3 million “to allow what happened to me to go away.”
According to Metro Times, the $100 million judgement is possibly the largest awarded to a non-attorney and a currently incarcerated inmate in history.
Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones struggled to serve Cuba Gooding Jr. with legal papers after naming the actor as a defendant in a $30 million lawsuit against Diddy. According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Jones asked for a 60-day extension to serve Gooding after several failed attempts.
Tyrone Blackburn, the attorney representing Jones, claimed Gooding dodged service of process in multiple cases. Jones tried to serve Gooding at properties in California and New York to no avail. Jones never attempted to serve in Gooding in Florida because the actor allegedly lived out of hotels there.
Blackburn believed Gooding still resides In New York City. The lawyer also discovered tax liens on a Los Angeles property owned by Gooding. Blackburn told a New York judge he would attempt to serve Gooding at both locations again.
“The plaintiff has attempted to serve Mr. Gooding Jr. at [the New York City] location several times and he has refused to answer the door,” the attorney wrote. “The plaintiff discovered this is Mr. Gooding Jr.’s address from conducting a skip trace search, which was also confirmed through court filings … Additionally, this was his address of record for his recent criminal cases where he [pleaded] guilty for sexual assault.”
Jones accused Gooding of sexual assault in an amended version of the producer’s lawsuit against Diddy. Jones said the incident occurred on a yacht in 2023.
“According to Mr. Jones, during the introduction, [Diddy] suggested that Cuba ‘get to know’ Mr. Jones better,” the lawsuit noted. “He then left them alone in a makeshift studio on the yacht. As evidenced by a video, of which screenshots are embedded below, Cuba Gooding Jr. began touching, groping and fondling Mr. Jones’ legs, his upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks and his shoulders … [Jones] was extremely uncomfortable and proceeded to lean away from Mr. Gooding Jr. He rejected his advances and Mr. Gooding Jr. did not stop until Mr. Jones forcibly pushed him away.”
Gooding told the PBD Podcast he was shocked to see his name included in the Diddy lawsuit. Gooding thought he was only dragged into the case based on his past legal issues and described Diddy as an acquaintance.
Eminem announced a deluxe edition of his latest album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) on Tuesday (September 10). The new version, billed as the “Expanded Mourner’s Edition,” drops on Friday (September 13).
The Alchemist, Eminem’s longtime DJ, appeared in a teaser video for the “Expanded Mourner’s Edition.” The vignette shows Eminem walking into a convenience store with his song “Somebody Save Me” playing in the background. He grabs a milk carton and drops it on the floor. The box displays a missing person ad for Slim Shady. Alchemist yells at Eminem, “Get the f### outta here! Don’t come back.”
Eminem released the original version of The Death of Slim Shady in July. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold 281,000 equivalent album units in its first week.
The Death of Slim Shady featured “Somebody Save Me,” a song in which Eminem imagined an alternate reality where he never overcame his drug addiction. His daughter Hailie discussed how the track’s music video affected her on the Just a Little Shady podcast in August.
“I watched the ‘Somebody Save Me’ music video,” she said. “I definitely cried. I refuse to watch [it] again. It’s so scary to think that could’ve happened. And that’s why I get emotional.”
Eminem is scheduled to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday (September 11). He will open the show, which begins at 8 p.m. ET.
A court awarded a California woman $5.6 million over the disturbing encounter she underwent years ago as a visitor during a strip search at a prison.
The nightmare unfolded in 2019 at a correctional facility in Tehachapi, California, where Christine Cardenas—who was visiting her incarcerated husband—was met with an appalling violation of her rights. CBS News reports the woman was subjected to a deeply humiliating and invasive ordeal while trying to visit her incarcerated husband.
The traumatic incident occurred on September 6, 2019 after Cardenas made a four-hour trip to see her husband. According the the report, Cardenas was strip searched, forced to undergo drug and pregnancy tests, X-Ray and CT scans upon her arrival to the facility. She was then forced to do yet another degrading strip search, which was conducted by a male doctor, who she said sexually violated her. Her attorneys revealed that the strip search was based on a warrant, but it only permitted the search if an X-Ray revealed foreign objects. Yet, all of this was done despite no evidence of contraband being found in her body.
To make matters worse, Cardenas was paraded in a “perp walk” in handcuffs, denied basic needs like water or bathroom access and sent bills totaling more than $5,000 for the hospital services she never requested. And after all that, her visit with her husband was still denied.
One prison official reportedly had the audacity to tell her, “Why do you visit, Christina? You don’t have to visit. It’s a choice, and this is part of visiting.” Her attorney, Gloria Allred, slammed the statement as intimidation aimed at discouraging Cardenas from visiting her husband.
In her statement, Cardenas said her motive behind the lawsuit was rooted in protecting others, rather than solely just herself.
“My motivation in pursuing this lawsuit was to ensure that others do not have to endure the same egregious offenses that I experienced,” she said.
Of the $5.6 million settlement, $3.6 million will be paid by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), with the rest coming from two correctional officers, a doctor and local hospital involved in the search.
The settlement also requires the CDCR to introduce new policies to protect visitors from excessive searches and violations, ensuring that no one else endures what Cardenas went through.
Cardenas’ case highlights the growing concerns over misconduct in California’s prison system. The U.S. Justice Department has already launched investigations into allegations of sexual abuse in two women’s prisons in the state. Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom pledged $20 million to overhaul one of the state’s most notorious correction facilities, borrowing rehabilitation practices from countries such as Norway in the process.
Jay-Z, the NFL and local officials in New Orleans faced backlash when Lil Wayne wasn’t selected to headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Kendrick Lamar was booked for the event, which upset fans who believed Lil Wayne deserved to perform in his hometown of New Orleans.
The blame game quickly played out on social media as fans and multiple artists pointed fingers at Jay-Z for not selecting Lil Wayne. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation produces the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” Nicki Minaj wrote in a fiery rant directed at Jay-Z. “Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out. A white man. S### sad. House N##### TINGZ.”
Birdman added, “These n##### P#### @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’ll make these n##### respek us on Gladys. Hatin s### 4real.”
Jay-Z defenders deflected blame by saying the Super Bowl’s host city chose Lamar. Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and a Super Bowl LIX Host Committee member, clarified the selection process in a story published by Andscape on Tuesday (September 10).
“It is the NFL’s decision alone for all entertainment for the Super Bowl,” he said. “We found out about it at the same time everyone else did this past weekend.”
The annual Super Bowl Halftime Show never billed itself as a showcase for artists from the host city, but past events featured a distinctly local flavor. Many New Orleans natives thought a New Orleanian needed to represent the city at such a major event.
“Y’all done threw 11 Super Bowls in New Orleans, man,” New Orleans Hip-Hop legend Juvenile said. “Y’all have yet to put a Hip-Hop artist from New Orleans on the damn Super Bowl … I don’t see how the f### y’all don’t have Lil Wayne doing the halftime show.”
Super Bowl LIX will be held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. Lamar previously performed with Dr. Dre and others at Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
Tyrone Blackburn, a lawyer representing several plaintiffs who’ve sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, requested more time to serve the mogul’s son Justin Combs with legal papers on Monday (September 9). According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Blackburn claimed Diddy’s legal team engaged in deceptive tactics to get Justin Combs dismissed from Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ bombshell lawsuit.
Blackburn said he spoke with Diddy’s longtime attorney Jonathan Davis in May. Davis allegedly agreed to wave service for his clients, including Diddy and Justin Combs, in Lil Rod’s lawsuit. Blackburn revealed he “foolishly relied on [Davis’] word and stopped [his] process server from attempting to serve Justin and Sean Combs.”
“On or about July 11, 2024, I received an email and call from Erica Wolff, who informed me that she would represent the ‘Combs Defendants’ in the cases I filed against Mr. Combs in New York and New Jersey,” Blackburn wrote. “She requested additional time to answer or move in all of the cases. I granted her request. On or about August 26, 2024, Ms. [Wolff] filed a motion to dismiss Mr. Jones’ case but conveniently left out Justin Combs as one of the ‘Combs Defendants.’”
Blackburn believed Diddy’s legal team was trying to “run out the clock” to prevent Justin Combs from being served within 120 days of Lil Rod filing his lawsuit. The court would dismiss the action without prejudice unless Lil Rod showed good cause for failing to serve Justin Combs.
“This is a clear game that [Sean] Combs and his ever-evolving legal team have implemented in an effort to have Justin Combs dismissed from this case due to lack of service of process,” Blackburn contended. “This is the same game that Jonathan Davis and Sean Combs’s former counsel, Shawn [Holley], recently implemented in California in another lawsuit this writer filed against Sean Combs and his other son Christian Combs.”
He continued, “Shawn [Holley] represented to my co-counsel, Rodney Diggs, that she represented Christian Combs. A week or two later, she was terminated, and Jonathan Davis represented that he was counsel for Christian and Sean Combs. Recently, Mr. Davis informed Mr. Diggs that he would only accept service of process for Sean Combs. As a result, we now must request leave of Court in California to perfect the service of Christian Combs. This is not a coincidence. Sean Combs and his counsels clearly plan to misuse and abuse the collegial conversations and agreements counsels have with each other to obtain an unfair advantage.”
Blackburn asked for a 60-day extension to serve Justin Combs in Lil Rod’s case. Lil Rod accused Diddy of sexual assault, trafficking and operating a RICO enterprise, among other allegations.
Investigators released an incident report about the death of Rich Homie Quan. The report included new information from the day he died.
Rich Homie Quan’s brother told police he found the late rapper sleeping on the floor around 3 a.m. His brother thought something was amiss but didn’t contact emergency services.
“[He] advised me that it was very unusual because he had food in his mouth,” an officer noted in the report. “He lifted him up and put him on the sofa.”
Rich Homie Quan’s girlfriend woke up around 6:45 a.m. and realized he wasn’t in their bedroom. She saw him on the sofa while getting their kids ready for school. His girlfriend took their kids to school and discovered he was still sleeping when she returned. She went back to bed and woke up again around 11 a.m. She called 911 after checking on him and discovering his body was cold. He was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
No cause of death has been disclosed. Rich Homie Quan’s family issued an official statement as they began planning a public service for him.
“On Thursday, September 5, 2024 the Lamar family lost our beloved son, brother, father and friend,” the family said. “Known to the world as Rich Homie Quan, Dequantes Devontay Lamar was a proud native of the great city of Atlanta, Georgia and represented for the A as he and his music traveled across this globe. While he leaves us with an undeniable hole in our hearts, we are comforted by knowing his music and triumphant spirit lives on.”
They added, “Quan’s legacy will forever be cemented as a soundtrack to our lives. And for this, we are grateful. Celebration of life details will be shared soon. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support at this difficult time.”
Rich Homie Quan was 33. He is survived by five children.
Beyoncé has given a rare interview, shedding light on her latest ventures, her groundbreaking Cowboy Carter album and more, including the artists she’s currently tuned in to.
In her wide-ranging interview for her GQ Magazine cover story, published Tuesday (September 10), the superstar songstress opened up about the current crop of artists.
“I love and respect all of the female singers-songwriters who are out right now… Raye, Victoria Monét, Sasha Keable, Chloe x Halle, and Reneé Rapp,” she revealed. ”I really like ‘Please Please Please’ by Sabrina Carpenter, and I think that Thee Sacred Souls and Chappell Roan are talented and interesting.”
It’s not only the singers Beyoncé admires; she also has several rappers in her list of favorites. I love Doechii and GloRilla, and I just heard That Mexican OT, he’s from Houston… he goes hard!”
Beyoncé is also a big fan of Cowboy Carter collaborator Miley Cyrus. “I’m obsessed with my backseat baby,” she said, quoting “II MOST WANTED” lyrics before confirming “I’m a Smiler,” a reference to Miley Cyrus’ fandom.
Nonetheless, Beyonce revealed she keeps the “classics” in heavy rotation. “Like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and music from artists on the Stax label,” she added.
Beyoncé On The History Of Black Cowboys
Elsewhere during the interview, Beyoncé opened up about the importance of honoring the untold legacy of Black forefathers. She titled her last album Cowboy Carter and not Cowgirl Carter, specifically to draw attention to the history of Black cowboys.
“I wanted everyone to take a minute to research the word cowboy,” she explained. “History is often told by the victors. And American history? It’s been rewritten endlessly. Up to a quarter of all cowboys were Black. These men faced a world that refused to see them as equal, yet they were the backbone of the cattle industry.”
She continued, noting, “The cowboy is a symbol of strength and aspiration” and derives from slaves who handled cows. “The word cowboy comes from those who were called boys, never given the respect they deserved,” Beyoncé stated. “No one would dare call a Black man handling cows ‘Mister’ or ‘Sir.’”
Beyoncé made headlines earlier this week following the announcement of the 2024 CMA Awards. Despite making history and leading the charts with Cowboy Carter and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Beyoncé received zero nominations.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur and DJ Thoro talk to Fat Trel about why the future is bright.
When Fat Trel arrived at our studio, his vibe was nothing short of cool. Rolling nearly 10 deep, each member of his crew made it a point to personally greet everyone on our team with a handshake, both upon arrival and before leaving. What happened in between those moments was a powerful and engaging conversation with one of Hip-Hop’s most compelling “what if” stories.
Fat Trel’s legal troubles have often overshadowed his insightful, street-hardened trap music. But today, the Washington D.C. native is in great spirits, and his new album, Boosa’s Keeper . The album, a nod to his best friend and his death, reflects Trel’s deep potential and promise of what’s ahead. This interview isn’t focused on his past missteps, but rather his bright future. At 34 years old and as a father, Trel is ready for the next level, even considering leaving his hometown to fully realize his potential.
In this extended Q&A, we delve into Fat Trel’s musical influences, his creative process, and his evolution as an artist. He opens up about his admiration for legends like Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, and the balance between fatherhood and his career. Most importantly, Trel shares his determination to keep growing and evolving, leaving the past behind as he looks toward the future with optimism and ambition.
DJ Thoro: Where do you come from and how important is that to you?
Fat Trel: That’s important for me because, I would like to think that I’m from that generation where repping where you from really, really, really matters. I tell people all the time [if you] met a real DC ni##a because once he asks you “what’s your name?,” the second question he going to ask you is, “Where are you from?” That’s just some DC s###. it’s real important because I don’t want no n#### to get confused. My career kind of took off with me and Chief Keef. We had a lot of records together and a lot of people thought I was from Chicago. And I kept having to reiterate, I’m from DC man, I’m from DC and vice versa. A lot of people thought Sosa was from DC.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: But then my first thought was Wale. Were you not tapped in with his movement as an artist?
Fat Trel: My first time hearing Wale, I think I was like 16. I remember I was at Job Corps. My mother had put me in Job Corps. I got put out of high school. My mother put me in Job Corps. She was like, “Look, this my last, I don’t know what the f### else to do with you. I’m about to put you in Job Corps. If this don’t work, you on your own after this.” You know what I’m saying? “I’m about to wash my hands with you, you feel me?” And I remember we was in the rec room and we was playing pool one day and I heard this ni##a on the radio station rapping about Nike boots. I’m like, damn, I’m playing pool though. I’m looking over at the radio like, man, that s### hard right there. Turn that up, turn the radio up, fly in the restroom, still got my Nike boots flying in the restroom. I’m like, “Damn, this s### hard right here.”
I’m asking everybody who is this? Nobody knew who he was though. Nobody knew. You know what I’m saying? And then once I started rapping and taking rap serious, somebody had reached out to me. Somebody had reached out to my managers at the time and was like, “Yo, Wale wants to come to the open mic and see Trel.” By that time, n##### started hearing him. He came out with the Lady Gaga record came out, “Chilling” or something like that. But at that time, real Washingtonians knew like, “All right, bet he ain’t from DC he from PG (Prince George’s County, Maryland).
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Side not, Wale is a lyricist. And I can tell you write. Well, do you write or don’t you write? Because I’ve heard you say you don’t.
Fat Trel: I just recently stopped writing probably like five, six years ago. Right. But lemme be honest, certain records I will write the verse to. Certain records where I want to talk, my talk I’ll write to, but for the most part, majority of my studio sessions I’m just punching in. So I did stop writing, but the production got to make me want to write. So certain beats make me want to write.
DJ Thoro: Yeah, I was going to touch on sound. So obviously everybody knows DC is synonymous with Go-Go Music. You think DC Go-Go right? Does Fat Trail or does DC have a Hip-Hop sound? Is there a sound?
Fat Trel: Yeah, we got our own sound for sure. We got our own hip hop sound for sure.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Okay. How’s your mental health? “Bury Me In Neiman’s” has some dark lyrics on it and it made me just wonder how you were mentally. I mean death in itself is tough. Jail prison is tough. These are life-changingthings.
Fat Trel: That’s a good question. Right. And I’m going to be honest. I think my mental health, right? I think back again, when you go to the music and to the lyricism, it was important for “Bury Me In Neiman’s” to be first because the first line of the song. The first line of the song says, “When I go to sleep, I see dead souls telling me to come with ’em and I want to go / I wish I didn’t have to sleep with my eyes closed / You really left me on the street by myself with no help when I needed you. And that’s crazy to me.”
Fat Trel: That’s a conversation with Boosa personally. You know what I’m saying? And so that’s a testament to my mental health alone.
I’m talking to dead people when I’m asleep, when I wake up and brush my teeth. I got Whoop tatted on this eye. Scooby tatted on this eye. When I wake up in the morning and brush my teeth, I see it. Boosa’s Keeper, the album. This is my mental state. This is what I’m going through ups and downs.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: I often hear you say “I need to make better choices.” How are you now with your choices? Are you sober, for example? I know you were dealing with that at a point.
Fat Trel: I smoke, I stopped… Let me say this because a lot of people wonder, right? I had a real bad addiction to Lean and Percocets, it is what it is. I ain’t ashamed of it. I never not speak on it. I don’t care who knows. You know what I’m saying? I have stopped popping Percs, drinking Lean. I haven’t done that in probably over a year now, but do I smoke weed. And do I got a cup of tequila downstairs in the car? Absolutely. And I’m kind of upset that I’ve left the tequila in the car. (Camera man reveals the tequila is actually in the room.) Oh bet! I say no more. Nah, but when I think of drugs, I think of Lean and Percocet. So I am off drugs. I don’t look at marijuana like a drug, and I do drink alcohol. They sell that at the store,
It is what it is. Yeah. But definitely make better choices, man. And for the record, quitting Lean and quitting Percocets was one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life. Mentally it’s one of the hardest things.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: We just kind of worry. Gen X, which is what I am, we just worried, man. We don’t want to lose no more people, especially our young people. You and Rich Homie Quan are the same age.
Fat Trel: Yeah. So you never know what people are going through in life, man. You really don’t. You know what I’m saying? And I was just having a conversation in the car with my youngest about all the athletes who I’ve known who pop Percs their whole career. I never say their name of course, but if I told you’d be like, “Get the f### out of here.” I’m like, nah, I’m talking about like me eight, nine a day.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: So rap-wise, I feel like you’re still growing. I feel like you’re still evolving. And how hard is it for you to keep topping yourself? Because I don’t know, it almost feels like you’re still climbing. Does that make sense?
Fat Trel: Yeah, artistically I get exactly what you’re saying. For example, I was just in Atlanta recently and somebody had sent me a folder and it was all full of Detroit beats. You know what I’m saying? So while I’m listening to ’em, I’m not speaking out loud, but I’m thinking in my mind like, man, this about to be my first time ever f###### with one of these Detroit beats. So when I do the records, it’s like, man, I bet it’s a challenge. You know what I’m saying? And we knock out the challenge, we knock out the record.
Fat Trel: I might not love music for the reason that the next man in the room loved music. But I genuinely have always loved music. My mother told me since you was born, don’t nothing calm you down or put you in your mood, make you happy, make you sad. Music affects you in so many type of ways. I always been around music and Anita Baker and John Legend, those are my favorite singers. And people look at me and they like, “Yo, you like Anita Baker and John Legend?” I’m like, yeah, they’re the greatest of all time in my opinion.
DJ Thoro: Have you ever sampled anything from Anita Baker and rap over it? That’d be crazy.
Fat Trel: I love sampling music. One producer did send me a beat with Anita sampled on it. I ain’t record to it yet. Right. Because what I was trying to do with it and how the beat sound and it was kind of sounding enforced, you know what I’m saying? But I would love to get a record in with Anita Baker or John Legend. She’s still here.
Drake must be feeling sick right now! The Canadian rapper and mogul-in-the-making has taken what is considered to be the biggest loss in Hip-Hop history to Kendrick Lamar. This isn’t just an opinion—it’s a factual statement.
So, what do you do when you take a loss? It depends on the person. Some people get up and keep moving, while others jump right back into business as usual. Then some (just Drake) try to get a do-over. In Hip-Hop, there aren’t any do-overs! This seems to be what Drake and his camp of supporters are hoping for—they want a “round two.” But weren’t there already several rounds? Song after song, in my mind, were rounds.
Drake and his team aren’t letting it go. DJ Akademiks has publicly stated that round two will happen. But how? Will they unload another series of diss tracks aimed at the Compton menace? Are they going to try digging up dirt on Kendrick Lamar? Isn’t that shovel broken? I think they need to let it go. Unfortunately, everything Drake has released this year has either fallen on deaf ears or hasn’t changed the perception of his loss. And that’s the key—perception has taken over. Despite Drake still being one of the top-streamed artists, it hasn’t shifted the public’s view of this loss.
Now, OVO Chubbs is reportedly waiting for Kendrick to drop a new album so they can make fun of it. On his IG stories, he said, “TELL THAT LITTLE BOY DROP!!! BUT HE WON’T HE KNOWS.” Is this how they plan to ensure a “round two”? I guess they’re waiting for Kendrick to slip up, so they’ll have something new to talk about. But I’m convinced that nothing can make Kendrick do anything he doesn’t want to do. He’s already shown he does not respond to the opps’ pressure. On top of that, Kendrick is performing at next year’s Super Bowl and is almost certain to perform “Not Like Us” for a global audience. Let’s not forget—the Super Bowl is the most-watched event in the world every year. My Lord! This is unprecedented!
Since when was AK Team Drake like this?
– illseed out!
By the way, still waiting on Chubbs to crash something.
The family of the late Fatman Scoop is holding a celebration of life following his unexpected death last month.
On Tuesday (September 9) an announcement was made on Fatman Scoop’s Instagram account with details of the memorial. The celebration of life is to be held at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theatre on Thursday, September 12, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST.
Tickets will be available on the Apollo Theatre website. More information will be provided on the site.
The famed New York City Hip-Hop artist died on August 30 after suffering a medical emergency while performing at Hamden Town Center Park, Connecticut. Despite the efforts of paramedics, the 53-year-old died shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital.
The Town of Hamden held a candlelight vigil last Friday evening (September 6) at the site of his final performance to honor the life of Fatman Scoop.
After his death, Fatman Scoop’s family issued a statement expressing their profound sadness and paying tribute to the man they described as a “radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life.”
The statement also acknowledged his presence as a father, brother, uncle and friend, who was a constant source of support as well as joy and laughter.
“His infectious joy and generosity will be deeply missed but never forgotten,” the statement concluded. “Fatman Scoop’s legacy is of love and brightness; it will reside in our hearts and memories forever.”
