Afroman Lawsuit Launched By Deputies Who Raided His House Still Ongoing

Afroman is still facing a lawsuit after using the images of police officers raiding his house on merchandise to promote his music. On August 21, the Grammy-nominated recording artist’s Ohio home was raided by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office while he was traveling for work.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the artist’s residence, suspecting drug possession, trafficking and kidnapping activities. It claimed he locked women in his basement area called “the dungeon.”

“I get a phone call that the police are everywhere,” he told AllHipHop‘s Kyle Eustice in May. “Now just think about this. What if I would’ve left at six o’clock that morning when I first woke up? I would’ve been home. They would’ve did it to me, man. What was going through my mind was, I was marveling at what I believe to be the navigation of God. God didn’t deliver me from temptation, but he definitely delivered me from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department.”

Even though Afroman wasn’t present at the time, he was fully aware of the events that transpired. His home surveillance system recorded the precise moments when the police breached his gate and entered the premises with their weapons drawn. The marketing genius used the incident to his advantage.

“Lemon Pound Cake,” “Why You Disconnecting My Video Camera,” “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” and ” I’m A Have A Good Time” are just a few songs on his latest album inspired by the raid.

Afroman pulled images from the surveillance tape and placed them on t-shirts and in music videos, incorporating the raid into his musical repertoire.

The officers, Shawn D. Cooley, Justin Cooley, Michael D. Estep, Shawn Grooms, Brian Newland and Lisa Phillips—who broke down his door and front gate—filed a lawsuit in March claiming he unlawfully used their images for multiple commercial purposes.

A legal expert from ABC stated “The officers do have a reasonable right to privacy we all do but typically that something has to be exposed that is intensely personal and it would offend a reasonable person. Officers acting in their job executing their job functions is typically not going to rise to the level of a violation of privacy.”

The lawsuit goes on to say that the plaintiffs have “suffered humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation.”

Afroman also said he faced humiliation because of the incident, adding that his kids were in the next yard playing and saw the police pull up in a fleet of cars to raid the home. He watched it all in real-time on his phone, thanks to technology that allowed him to patrol the safety of his property through surveillance.

Because he was coming from Chicago, he said he felt powerless.Security video shows the officers came in with long-nosed guns and captured them crossing his green lawn and kicking in his door.

Once he got home, he asked the officers if he was under arrest or charged with any of the crimes on the warrant–he wasn’t.

He doesn’t believe the officers have a case and will fight them. The lawsuit is still pending per the deputies’ lawyers. The attorneys say they will not be fighting the case in the court of public opinion and have no further comment

Morris Day Says He Used To Buss Prince’s A## In Band Battles

Prince and Morris Day are legends! They have no peers! They are so unique and talented. They had a complex relationship at times. They had a rivalry and it was real.

There was definitely some competition between Prince and Morris Day, but it was not a feud or beef. It was mostly a way for them to be better creatively and push themselves. Morris Day recently talked about it and he seems to feel like “Purple Rain” was close to real than fiction. Take a look and let us know.

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But, let us be clear. Morris Day and Prince had been childhood friends and even performed together in the band Grand Central before Prince became a solo artist. When Prince formed The Time and chose Morris Day as the frontman, it was a testament to their friendship and mutual respect. Prince saw The Time as a contrasting musical entity to his own sound, showcasing a cool, streetwise funk style.

ALSO READ: Morris Day Talks Rivalry With Prince, Working With Snoop Dogg & Big Daddy Kane And If He’s Retiring

Their collaboration extended beyond the music itself. Morris Day and The Time were cast in Prince’s movie “Purple Rain,” which further solidified their place in pop culture. The film portrayed the vibrant Minneapolis music scene of the time, and both artists played significant roles in its success.

Click here for the full, amazing interview with Morris Day of The Time.

The Real Reason Gunplay Spazzed Over 50 Cent Song…

Gunplay recently lost his mind. As you know, the rapper is down with Rick Ross, his crew and he’s a loyal one. He recently gave Rick Ross a massive chain as the Teflon Don laid in bed. It was an awkward moment, but it signifies that he’s not leaving his homeboy’s side anytime soon.

By the way, I just want to mention that Gunplay is actually a really good rapper. I like him a lot and I wish he would do more music. Because, right now, we are looking at a viral moment that’a not the best look for him.

ALSO READ: Gunplay Goes Off On DJ For Playing 50 Cent Song At His Party

Now, the question is what song did the DJ play? I know what I believe he played, but I am hearing various other songs, tell us what you hear being said on the street.

So, here is what we are getting.

Gunplay was partying it up at G5, the famous booty bar down in Miami. Now we know this. The DJ gave him a shout-out, but the DJ decided to play “I Smell Pu$$y” by none other than 50 Cent. WHAT!? WHAT!?

So, let’s talk about this DJ. What the hell was wrong with him? Who comes to Miami and purposely plays something that’s gonna rile up a Miami artist like Gunplay? Especially on his damn birthday in his own city. That just ain’t right, y’all. It ain’t right at all. But here’s the catch. Gunplay and his lady are part of Love and Hip Hop Miami. The show thrives on creating conflict and getting reactions out of people. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole thing was filmed or captured somehow for Love and Hip Hop. I think we can bet on that. Drama follows these Love and Hip Hop stars everywhere they go.

On another note, you might remember, Gunplay caught a bad one back in the day. He was jumped outside of an awards show and things got real nasty. 50 Cent and his crew outnumbered Gunplay, and he was laid out when it was all said and done. So, it’s understandable that hearing a 50 Cent record would trigger him.

But let me tell y’all, Gunplay has been through some struggles and battles with addiction, and that can cause reactions like the one we saw. It’s a tough road, but we’re rooting for him to overcome those challenges and come out on top. We need more positivity out here, but hey, when you’re a guy like Gunplay, people will always test you. And that DJ, he had some serious balls to pull a stunt like that. I just hope everyone made it home safe and sound, though.

Alright, y’all, that’s the scoop. Let me know what y’all think about this crazy situation in the comment section below. And don’t forget to like and subscribe for more updates. This is your boy Stacy, signing off. Stay tuned for more gossip!

Lil Wayne Reveals Hov’s Impact On His Early Career: “To Me Jay-Z Was The God Of Words” 

Lil Wayne has opened up about his early musical influences, citing Jay-Z as “my Bible,” while crediting Missy Elliot as the reason he spotted the talent in Drake. 

In a New York Times feature celebrating five decades of Hip-Hop, the Young Money Entertainment founder reflected on the artists who inspired him at the start of his career. He was one of 50 artists to document the genre’s evolution in their own words ahead of the fiftieth anniversary of Hip-Hop later this year.  

Lil Wayne reflected on his beginnings as a pre-teen emerging out of the New Orleans Hip-Hop scene. However, he “fell in love with New York artists,” and “anybody from the East Coast.” While artists like Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes and Onyx, who he believed “woke up in the morning screaming at each other,” thrilled him, he considered Jay-Z a supernatural talent.  

“To me, Shawn Carter, Jay-Z, was the god of words,” Lil Wayne explained. “He could’ve rewritten English books. I was introduced to Jay by listening to Biggie.” 

The rap legend said he learned Hov’s “Lucky Me,” from his 1997 sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, “backward and forward.” The words became so significant for him that Wayne claimed he still opens “every show” with a section of the lyrics.  

Lil Wayne Cites Jay-Z As “My Bible”

At about 16 or 17 years old, Lil Wayne discovered that Jay-Z, who was recently honored with an iconic exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library, doesn’t write down his lyrics. “I didn’t want to ever see a pen or paper again in my life,” he added. “Jay was my Bible.” 

While Jay-Z changed how Weezy pens his music, the Roc Nation boss was not Lil Wayne’s favorite rapper. That distinction went to Missy Elliott, who remains at the top of his list to the present day.  

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“You know when you’re watching a sport and you’re like, this person is just too cold, too damn good and they can do whatever they want? She was that person to me,” the five-time Grammy Award winner revealed.  

In addition, Weezy said his appreciation for Missy’s talents helped him recognize the potential in one of rap’s biggest superstars.  

“Before there was Drake and people who were rapping and singing, Missy was doing that,” Lil Wayne stated. “That captivated me, and I was moved by that. It made me want to do it. That’s why I loved Drake when I met Drake. If you’re around me, you know for a fact that if you’ve got a little harmony, a little melody in your voice, I’m about to make you sing.” 

Read The New York Times Hip-Hop 50 special here.

Did Gunplay Go Off On DJ For Playing 50 Cent Song At His Party?

Footage of Gunplay is making the rounds online. Allegedly, the South Florida-based rapper/reality television star got upset at a DJ for playing music by his enemy.

Gunplay’s 44th birthday was on July 18. According to reports, the Living Legend rapper and some of his loved ones celebrated the occasion at the G5ive strip club in Florida. But a video of Gunplay apparently screaming at the man behind the DJ booth spread across social media and YouTube.

“Why would you play that?!” Gunplay can be heard yelling right before throwing a trash can in the direction of the DJ. The Triple C’s member then told people in attendance, “Don’t touch me before I shoot this s### up!” He later said, “I’ll kill everything in here!”

Reportedly, the G5 club DJ played a song by 50 Cent during Gunplay’s birthday party. Gunplay and his Triple C’s partner Rick Ross have been feuding with 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew for more than a decade.

Even though the video of Gunplay’s outburst seems to suggest the incident ruined his night, the Love & Hip Hop: Miami star later took to Instagram to shout out his significant other Vonshae Taylor-Morales.

“Thank you @lifewithvonshae & @frankydiamonds for the absolute most memorable birthday I’ve ever had. I definitely wasn’t expecting a custom ruby Rolex,” Gunplay wrote on Instagram.

Additionally, Gunplay posted a photo with longtime friend Rick Ross to his Instagram page on Wednesday. The IG caption read, “Best birthday ever!!! @richforever.”

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Meek Mill Raps His Favorite Jay-Z Bar [VIDEO]

Robert “Meek Mill” Williams has been closely aligned with Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter for years. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation agency once managed the Philadelphia native. Plus, both emcees helped found the REFORM Alliance.

Meek Mill recently attended the Shawn Carter Foundation 20th Anniversary Black Tie Gala. HipHopDX caught up with Meek on the event’s red carpet and asked him to name his favorite bar from Jay-Z.

“My favorite Hov bar of all time is every bar,” answered Meek Mill. The 36-year-old rapper then began reciting lyrics from the Timbaland-produced “Is That Yo B####” single featuring Missy Elliott.

Five years ago, Meek Mill recruited Jay-Z to appear on his “What’s Free” track off the Championships album. That well-received collaboration also featured Meek’s longtime musical mentor Rick Ross.

Meek Mill has been making more headlines over the last several months for his public comments than his music. He faced backlash in June for his reaction to YK Osiris forcibly kissing Sukihana on camera.

In addition, many Megan Thee Stallion supporters chastised Meek for saying “Free Tory Lanez” at the Rolling Loud Portugal festival earlier this month. A jury convicted Lanez of assault with a semiautomatic handgun and other charges in connection to a July 2020 shooting that left Megan injured.

Travis Scott Teases New Single With The Weeknd & Bad Bunny

It appears three of the biggest recording artists in the world came together for a song. Hip Hop musician Travis Scott let his 50 million Instagram followers know something is coming this week.

On Wednesday, Travis Scott shared cover art on his Instagram page. The Houston-raised rapper/producer’s captioned the post, “Flame Abe Benito… Out Tomorrow Night.”

The second image in Scott’s Instagram carousel included the names Travis, Abel, and Benito as well. Abel refers to R&B/Pop singer Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. Benito refers to Latin Trap rapper Benito “Bad Bunny” Ocasio.

The cover art for the potential star-studded “KPOP” collaboration features a red lollipop. Travis Scott also added three round pushpin emojis (📍), which resemble lollipops, to his Instagram caption.

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Many fans of Scott expect the Cactus Jack Records leader to drop his fourth studio album, tentatively titled Utopia, in the very near future. Some people assumed the project would arrive as early as Friday, July 21.

Because Travis Scott will headline Night 2 of the Rolling Loud Miami festival on July 22, there were whispers that the rhymer also known as La Flame could let loose his latest body of work the day before the event.

Plus, there have been conflicting reports about whether Scott will be able to perform tracks from his forthcoming album at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Live Nation reportedly denied the concert has been canceled.

Travis Scott has not released a full-length studio album since the Billboard 200 chart-topping Astroworld in 2018. 2016’s Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight also made it to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He scored another Number One as part of the JackBoys compilation in 2019.

Akademiks To Lil Baby: “Stay Far Away From Michael Rubin…It’s Ruining The Facade”

Lil Baby has been the topic of conversations in rap circles in recent weeks. The cancellation of tour dates and mixed reactions to song snippets have some internet users questioning Baby’s current star power.

Akademiks, a longtime agitator of Lil Baby, offered his thoughts on the Quality Control Music recording artist’s apparent dilemma. Over several tweets, Ak addressed rap fans who’ve turned on the man born Dominique Jones.

“So now all of yall wanna jump on the ‘Lil Baby fell off,’ ‘Lil Baby making the same song over and over again’ train,” he tweeted. “When I said his last album was mid y’all said I was a dick-riding hater who only said that cuz he dissed me… Wtf changed since then… why y’all turn on [Dominique]?”

Last year, Akademiks took issue with Lil Baby name-dropping him on the It’s Only Me album. Those bars on “From Now On” and “Top Priority” led to Ak threatening to choke the “retarded rapper” to death.

Ak also tweeted, “This s### shows me how fickle fans are and how they have no real opinion. A few headlines unfavorable to Baby & now he fell off? But when he dropped the music [before]… y’all ate it up and cosigned it as hot cuz it was trendy to do. Now that he hugging white dudes [and] tour floppin. He fell off?”

DJ Akademiks Offers Lil Baby Some Advice To Win Back Fans

Lil Baby caught a lot of flack online after a photo of Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin hugging him at a party went viral. For example, Hip-Hop mogul 50 Cent made fun of Lil Baby, suggesting the picture with Rubin made the 28-year-old southerner appear to be gay.

“I got the remedy for Lil Baby,” Ak continued. “Stay far [the f###] away from that Michael Rubin n###a… or keep it off camera… the optics don’t look right… the internet making it sound like [you] on some Get Out s###… it’s ruining the facade needed for fickle rap fans to buy into music.”

Then Ak advised Lil Baby to do more features, release more mixtapes, use different artists to perform the hooks to his records, stop rapping about not falling off and cut back on arena tour dates.

Lil Baby’s It’s Only Me debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2022. His third studio LP earned roughly 216,000 first-week units. The Grammy winner also topped the album chart with 2020’s My Turn and 2021’s The Voice Of The Heroes collaborative effort with Lil Durk.

Ice Spice, Central Cee, Luh Tyler & More Earn RapCaviar Rookie Of The Year Nominations

Earlier this week, Spotify presented its annual list of All-RapCaviar teams. The streaming giant has now announced the nominees for its 2023 RapCaviar MVP and Rookie Of The Year awards.

Metro Boomin, Drake, 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, and Lil Baby picked up nods for Hip Hop’s Most Valuable Player this year. All five chart-topping acts also made the All-RapCaviar 1st Team.

“Man, it’s an incredible feeling to be recognized as one of the MVP nominees for All-RapCaviar this year. It’s a huge honor to be recognized among the best in the game, and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my craft,” states Metro Boomin.

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For ROTY, RapCaviar nominated Ice Spice, Central Cee, GloRilla, Destroy Lonely, and Luh Tyler. The 2023 All-RapCaviar 2nd Team includes Ice Spice. Both Central Cee and GloRilla made the 3rd Team.

“Feels great & shout out to all the other nominees. I feel like I may do a few more features this year, I haven’t done many in the past so it should be interesting,” says British rapper Central Cee.

Tallahassee, Florida-bred rhymer Luh Tyler also adds, “It feels great to be nominated for Rookie Of The Year. Y’all can expect new music and more great shows!”

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Fans can cast votes to decide the winner of All-RapCaviar’s Most Valuable Player and Rookie Of The Year at allrapcaviar.byspotify.com. The victors will be announced on Friday, July 28.

Spotify’s RapCaviar brand will also reveal the 2023 Coach Of The Year winner on July 24. Atlanta’s Young Thug was 2022’s Coach Of The Year recipient.

In 2021, J. Cole attained RapCaviar’s MVP honor and Pooh Shiesty claimed the Rookie Of The Year accolade. Last year, Yeat won Rookie of the Year and Kendrick Lamar won MVP.

Drake & Central Cee Surprise Collab “Loading,” Duo Announce Upcoming Joint Freestyle 

Drake’s apparent love affair with the U.K. just ramped up a notch after he announced an upcoming joint freestyle with British rap star Central Cee.  

The West London native has been a national sensation for some time, with arguably the biggest breakthrough of any U.K. rapper in the U.S. Among his American admirers is Ice Spice, who recently revealed she might leak Central Cee’s “Munch” remix. She also announced the pair are also working on new music. 

Calls for a Drake collab have grown since Central Cee was unveiled as the face of Drizzy’s Nike X Nocta collection in 2021. 

The cries became louder after Cench joined the OVO founder in St. Barts in December 2022. He joined Drake onstage to perform his smash hit “Doja” and partied with the Rich Flex rapper and “150 supermodels.” The following month, Drake invited him to Miami to film the “Jumbotron S### Poppin” visuals.  

When Drake shouted out his “twin” Central Cee at the NYC stop of his It’s All A Blur Tour Tuesday (July 18), fans hoped the duo had something in the works.  

The following day, Drake made the announcement fans had been waiting for, teasing he and Central Cee have something “loading.” 

“A little exercise on a off day,” Drake wrote in the caption, revealing their upcoming On The Radar Radio freestyle.  

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Central Cee Prevents Drake From Securing U.K. No. 1

The news comes weeks after Central Cee held off Drake and J-Hus to retain his record-breaking run at the top of the U.K. charts with his Dave collab, “Sprinter.” 

Cench attempted to break down the accent barriers with his LA Leakers Freestyle earlier this year, explaining the differences between U.S. and U.K. slang. He addressed his Stateside impact in an interview earlier this year after performing in New York City’s Irving Plaza.  

“I’ve definitely paid my forefathers their dues; they’ve come and bust down certain doors,” he told The Guardian in April. “And the internet, TikTok – I can just reach so many people with just a click of a button. I was anxious about the American shows; I didn’t know what to expect. But I’m seeing the same characters in the crowd.” 

50 Cent Recalls First Impression Of Nas: “He Was Smarter Than The Music He Was Releasing” 

Days after 50 Cent announced an appearance on Nas’ upcoming album, Magic 2, he took a moment to reflect on their working relationship, which spans over two decades.  

The Grammy Award winner selected Fiddy to go on tour with him after hearing his 1999 breakout diss track, “How to Rob.” Once they hit the road, 50 Cent realized there was more to the NYC legend than his music revealed.  

“He was ahead of us,” 50 Cent said of Nas during a recent interview. “What he had, and I was looking at it going, ‘You gotta be careful’ because he was smarter than the music he was releasing.” 

Fif was able to see another side of Nas as they relaxed while hanging out between shows. He was surprised to learn the “One Mic” hitmaker was a bookworm.  

“He was smarter than things he was saying on the records,” he continued. “Because what he said on the records matched how things felt in the environment not who he was actually [in his head]. We’d be on the tour bus, and he’d be reading books and stuff.” 

50 Cent Addresses Working With Nas 20 Years After Last Collaboration

Elsewhere during the interview, 50 Cent discussed their upcoming offering “Office Hours.” The song comes more than 20 years after they last worked together on “Too Hot” and “Who U Rep With,” which featured on the G-Unit founder’s 2002 mixtape Guess Who’s Back?

“[Nas] felt like it was time so it’s done,” 50 Cent wrote, announcing the song on Instagram earlier this week. The track arrives Friday (July 21) on Nas’ Magic 2 album.

“It was cool to get in with him and do something like that,” he added. “It’s interesting that the relationship is different because we in two different places now.” 

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Elsewhere during the interview, 50 Cent revealed Nas “wanted me to be around,” after hearing “How To Rob,” telling him, “That’s like when I first came out.” He loved the “raw” energy of the track, which saw Fiddy go after some of the biggest Hip-Hop acts of the time.  

50 Cent didn’t call out Nas, although he did send shots at JAY-Z, DMX, Diddy, Ma$e and many more.

Drake Reminisces About Old Times With Rumored Ex Bernice Burgos After Backstage Link Up 

Drake took a walk down memory lane after reconnecting with one of his rumored exes backstage at a show. 

The OVO founder performed at the Barclays Centre Tuesday night (July 18) for the NYC stop of his It’s All A Blur tour. Drake met up with a few friends backstage after the show ended, including Bernice Burgos, who made headlines after packing on the public displays of affection with Drizzy back in 2015. 

On Wednesday (July 19), Drake took to his Instagram story with a photo from their link-up. Their encounter had Drake reminiscing about old times and digging through old press photos.  

Instagram/Drake

He shared a throwback photo from their 2015 trip to Australia, where photographers spotted the pair hanging out poolside. In the paparazzi pictures, Drake is seen getting very hands-on with Bernice Burgos and kissing her sweetly on the side of the head during an embrace.  

In the image he posted, the “Rich Flex” hitmaker is seen gazingly adoringly at her while relaxing by the pool. Drake captioned the photo “A lifetime ago” with Bernice Burgos alongside a laughing emoji.  

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Burgos addressed the rumors about her and Drake a couple of years later during a 2017 appearance on The Breakfast Club.  

“Drake, I’m going to tell you something about Drake. He’s the sweetest person ever,” she stated. “He’s always been good to me and I’ve always been good to him.” 

Drake shared the photo a day after making headlines following a separate backstage meeting with his “rightful wife” Sexyy Red. He shouted out the “Pound Town” hitmaker during the concert, referring to her as his “baby mama.”  

SpotemGottem Busted After High-Speed Chase With Cops

Rap artist SpotemGottem found himself in big trouble with the law after a high-octane chase through the streets of North Miami Beach yesterday (July 18).

The pursuit, which could have been a scene of an action movie, ended with the discovery of illegal firearms in the rapper’s possession, as reported by WSVN Channel 7 News.

The saga began when Miami-Dade Police officers, on a mission to curb the city’s escalating violent crimes, spotted a red Corvette with heavily tinted windows at a gas station. 

SpotemGottem hit the gas as the officers approached, igniting a chase through the streets. He smashed into another car and only stopped fleeing when his vehicle was incapacitated.

But the rapper wasn’t done running. He bolted from the car, only to be cornered and arrested in a nearby shed.

The chase’s aftermath revealed a black Glock 23 modified into a fully automatic weapon. A loaded extended .40-caliber gun magazine was also found in the car.

SpotemGottem is a convicted felon and is not allowed to carry concealed weapons.

This is far from SpotemGottem’s first dance with the law. In a previous incident in July 2021, as reported by AllHipHop.com, he was arrested in a hotel room in Aventura, Florida, where he was found lounging in bed with an AK-47 resting on his lap. 

He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In September 2021, the rapper was caught in the crossfire of a road rage incident in Miami, where he suffered gunshot wounds to both legs.

SpotemGottem faces many charges related to the high-speed chase and the illegal possession of firearms.

EXCLUSIVE: Diageo Moves Forward With Winding Down Diddy’s DeLeon Deal Despite Mogul’s Claims Of Retaliation

Diageo is moving forward with terminating its marketing services agreement with Sean “Diddy” Combs for Cîroc and the wind-down of their business relationship together with DeLeón despite his allegations of retaliation by the company.

A spokesperson for Diageo told AllHipHop, “This is a business dispute and should not be recast as anything other than that. We have exercised our contractual rights to terminate the marketing services agreement in place for Cîroc and begin the wind-down of the DeLeón joint venture.”

The spokesperson added, “Our actions are consistent with our desire to protect the significant investment we have made in both brands and their future growth. Mr. Combs’ longstanding bad faith actions, false accusations, and breaches of contract overwhelmingly support Diageo’s justified decision to sever ties.”

Combs has accused Diageo of “illegal and outrageous retaliation” following his legal action against the company. He alleges that Diageo has neglected, racially discriminated, and unequally treated him in the distribution, production, and sales of DeLeón Tequila, a brand he co-owns.

Combs also alleged that Diageo classified DeLeón as a “Black” brand only marketable to urban customers and complained about its neglect of the DeLeón brand, which included allocating all its agave, the main tequila ingredient, to its other tequilas; erratic production leading to repeated shortages of DeLeón; and mistakes that led to a shipment of DeLeón being impounded by Mexican authorities.

In a court filing, Combs stated, “The message is clear – if you dare to shed light on Diageo’s conduct, you will be punished.”

He further claimed that Diageo has no legal basis to end its contracts with him, and everything he has done in filing his lawsuit has been done in strict accordance with all Diageo agreements.

John Hueston, Combs’s attorney, sent a letter to Diageo’s attorney, demanding that the company end “its plainly retaliatory and unlawful conduct.”

Hueston stated, “While Diageo has self-servingly misrepresented the goals of Combs’s lawsuit in the press, its attempt to retaliate against Combs for asserting his legal rights will not work in court.”

In the letter to Diageo, Hueston detailed that there was absolutely no legal basis for the company to claim that Combs breached any contracts to end the DeLeón and Cîroc relationships.

He added that, ironically, a Diageo spokesperson had disparaged Combs in public statements outside of litigation.

Finesse2Tymes Lives Up To His Name: Police On Hunt For Rapper Over Rental Car

Finesse2Tymes is a wanted man.

According to ABC 13, police issued a warrant for Finesse2Tymes’ arrest in Houston on Wednesday (July 19). Authorities claim the Atlantic Records rapper stole a rental car.

A man named Ronald Bell rented an Infiniti QX80 SUV from an Enterprise location in Houston on February 2. The car was due back at the car rental agency on March 10.

The car, valued at $72,200, did not get returned. Enterprise sent a 10-demand letter to Bell roughly a month after he was supposed to return the car.

An Enterprise employee spoke with Bell about the car on April 20. Bell said Finesse2Tymes, whose real name is Ricky Hampton, was in possession of the vehicle.

Finesse2Tymes later spoke with the employee and said he was in Atlanta with the car. He vowed to take care of the situation by April 23.

The vehicle was reported stolen on April 24. That same day, authorities learned someone was driving the car in the Houston area.

Cops tracked down the vehicle on April 25. The woman driving the car told police she got the keys from her boss, Finesse2Tymes. She knew the vehicle was a rental overdue for return.

Finesse2Tymes faces one count of theft between $30,000 and $150,000. The charge is a felony.

Police Basically Say Carlee Russell Lied About Being Abducted

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, a 25-year-old nursing student, was reported missing for a period of two days. After coming home safe, she informed the police that she had been abducted, but Alabama officials stated on Wednesday that no evidence of a crime has been found.

Hoover PD officials have reported concerning findings regarding Carlee Russell’s phone and work computer prior to her disappearance. These findings include searches such as “what’s the maximum age of an amber alert” and “the movie Taken.” Officials have expressed their request for another interview with Russell, which has not yet been granted.

According to the family, they informed the police that due to Russell’s mental state, she is currently unable to communicate. During the Carlee Russell press conference, several key points were highlighted. The authorities have no evidence to suggest that there is a threat to public safety in relation to this case, despite Carlee’s claims of being kidnapped.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis stressed investigators have been unable to corroborate most of Russell’s claims about being captured. Additionally, there were searches related to the Birmingham bus station and bus tickets from Birmingham to Nashville.

Russell vanished on Thursday night after calling 911 to report the sighting of a toddler on an Alabama interstate. She returned home on foot two days later, attracting national attention. Upon her return, Russell provided a brief statement to the police, but further questioning was not pursued out of respect for her and her family.

“We have requested a second interview with Carlee, but our request has not been granted,” stated Derzis. “There remain numerous unanswered questions, and only Carlee can provide the answers.”

On top of that, the Hoover Police Department confirmed on Wednesday that no evidence of a child on the highway has been found. Despite multiple vehicles passing through the area on Thursday night, the department did not receive any additional 911 calls regarding a toddler on Interstate 459.

While engaged in the phone conversation with a dispatcher concerning the toddler, Russell covered a distance of approximately 600 yards in her car, equivalent to about six football fields, according to Derzis. She informed the dispatcher that a child wearing a white shirt and a diaper was present on the highway.

“It’s difficult for me to comprehend how a barefoot toddler, potentially 3 or 4 years old, could travel six football fields without entering the roadway or crying,” Derzis remarked.

On Wednesday, the police played audio from Russell’s 911 call, in which she stated that she was following the child in her car. Russell assured the dispatcher that she would keep an eye on the boy until the arrival of the police.

The police say that created a timeline of the entire matter, along with other evidence and it simply doesn’t add up.

According to Derzis, while Carlee Russell was on the phone with a dispatcher regarding the toddler, she drove her car for approximately 600 yards, equivalent to about six football fields. During the call, she informed the dispatcher that there was a child wearing a white shirt and a diaper on the highway.

Derzis expressed his disbelief, saying, “To think that a barefoot toddler, possibly 3 or 4 years old, could cover a distance of six football fields without entering the roadway or crying, it’s incredibly difficult for me to comprehend.”

Following her conversation with the dispatcher, Carlee Russell ended the call and connected with a relative. During their conversation, the family member experienced a loss of contact with Russell, but the line remained open, as stated by Hoover Police Lt. Daniel Lowe during a news conference on Friday.

Subsequently, Russell’s mother contacted the police and relayed that Russell had been speaking to a relative who heard her scream.

Hoover officers promptly arrived at the scene within five minutes of being dispatched. However, Russell was no longer present. Her car, cellphone, wig, and purse were discovered by the officers, while her Apple Watch was found inside the bag.

Upon her return home on Saturday night, Russell briefly communicated with the police. However, since then, they have been unable to conduct another interview with her in the following days. She gave some information to officers.

According to Russell’s account to the police, a man emerged from the woods and muttered that he was checking on the child. She informed the officers that the man then forcibly took her over a fence and into a vehicle.

Russell recalled that the next thing she remembers is being in the trailer of a truck with the man, who had orange hair, accompanied by a woman. She also mentioned hearing the sound of a crying baby.

Additionally, Russell informed the police that she managed to escape at some point but was subsequently recaptured and placed in a car while blindfolded. She stated that she was not physically restrained, as her alleged captors claimed they did not want to leave any marks on her wrists.

The police are not buying the story she is selling.

Police built a whole timeline of events leading up to Russell’s disappearance. 

Click here for the whole timeline of events.

G Herbo Awaits Sentencing After Accepting Plea Deal In Fraud Case

G Herbo agreed to a plea deal for his involvement in a fraud scheme.

According to the Chicago Tribune, prosecutors disclosed the terms of the deal in a Massachusetts court on Wednesday (July 19). G Herbo faces up to 20 years in prison for federal wire fraud charges.

G Herbo and five other men were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2020. The rapper caught an additional charge for making a false statement to a federal official in 2021.

Prosecutors claimed G Herbo and his co-defendants defrauded a variety of businesses and individuals to obtain luxury items and accommodations. The fraud scheme spanned from March 2016 to December 2020.

G Herbo allegedly lied to a federal agent about his connection to promoter Antonio Strong, the purported mastermind behind the fraud. The rapper denied receiving anything of value from Strong and said they did not have a close relationship.

Investigators determined G Herbo was lying. Strong provided private jet charters, exotic car rentals and more to the rapper for years. The two also kept in close contact via phone and social media.

G Herbo, whose real name is Herbert Wright, will pay $140,000 in restitution as part of his plea deal. He accepted the deal a little over a week after he was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon in Chicago.

Diddy Says Diageo Cutting Ties Is Revenge For Lawsuit

Sean “Diddy” Combs accused Diageo of “illegal and outrageous retaliation” for ending its partnership with him after he sued the alcohol company.

Attorney John Hueston, who represents Diddy, urged a judge to reject Diageo’s motion to dismiss his client’s complaint against the company. Hueston claimed Diageo had no legal basis to terminate its contracts with Diddy in a filing submitted on Wednesday (July 19).

“While Diageo has self-servingly misrepresented the goals of Combs’s lawsuit in the press, its attempt to retaliate against Combs for asserting his legal rights will not work in court,” Hueston contended.

Diddy sued Diageo for allegedly mishandling the DeLeón brand in May. He cited racism, calling out the company for treating him and “his brands worse than others because he is Black.”

Diageo denied any wrongdoing. The company insisted Diddy’s allegations lacked merit and cut ties with him in June.

“Mr. Combs’ longstanding bad faith actions, false accusations and breaches of contract overwhelmingly support Diageo’s justified decision to sever ties,” the company said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Hueston’s law firm demanded Diageo put a stop to its alleged retaliation. Diddy’s legal team disputed any breach of contract in a letter sent to Diageo’s lawyers on July 11.

“Combs Wines has not breached the DeLeón Agreement and Diageo’s claims to the contrary are obviously made in retaliation for Combs Wines’ exercise of its legal rights,” Hueston’s firm argued. “We urge Diageo to withdraw its feigned notice of breach.”

Diddy’s legal team also took issue with Diageo saying it had the contractual ability to prevent Combs Wines from “speaking with distributors and retailers about DeLeón.” Lawyers said none of the contractual provisions cited by Diageo contained such restrictions.

“All available evidence thus indicates that Diageo is using its significant market power to intimidate market participants from speaking to Combs Wines about DeLeón,” attorneys declared. “Continuing to do so will have devastating effects on DeLeón sales. And based on Diageo’s decade-long neglect of DeLeón, it is reasonable to expect that the brand will suffer further decline without Combs Wines’ continued active involvement.”

Diddy’s lawyers deemed Diageo’s actions to be “wholly improper.” Attorneys believed the company used its market power to bully Combs Wines.

Diageo and Diddy co-own DeLeón. Diageo claimed it invested more than $100 million in the brand while the Hip-Hop mogul only contributed $1,000.

Dr. Rose- “Glory”

Dr. Jerrett Rosenborough, a renowned dentist turned Hip-Hop artist, has embarked on an extraordinary journey that led him to embrace Christ and transition his musical career towards spreading the message of the gospel.

With an unwavering commitment to serving God, he  has found a way to fuse his dental practice with his purpose, impacting lives both as an artist  and dentist.

Growing up in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Dr. Rose was exposed to the vibrant  sounds of Hip-Hop that deeply resonated with his soul. Alongside his love for music, he discovered a passion for dentistry and pursued it through academic achievements at Cedar Valley College, the University of Texas – Arlington, and Baylor University. His journey from  community college to a renowned academic institution enhanced his humility and determination to utilize his skills for the betterment of his community.

Despite his professional success as a dentist, Dr. Rose’s love for Hip-Hop music continued to  burn brightly within him. His life took a transformative turn when he had an opportunity to  create a song to advertise dental products for his practice. This experience opened his mind  to the creative ways he could use music to tell stories.

Dr. Rose has released several bodies of work, including Prescription in 2019 and Flight 717 in 2022. These projects showcased his musical talent and creativity. However, his success in  multiple industries brought about challenges and threats to his life. After surviving a robbery  attempt on his dental practice, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Embracing his  faith wholeheartedly, he realized that his music and dental careers could be channeled to serve a higher calling.

Inspired by these events, Dr. Rose decided to transition from secular Hip-Hop to producing  gospel-driven music. Despite facing both excitement and skepticism, he remained steadfast in his conviction that this path was his true calling.

Recognizing the potential to integrate his dental practice with his newfound faith, Dr. Rose’s  established a unique approach to dentistry. His practice became a sanctuary where patients  could find compassionate care, prayer, and spiritual guidance. He listened to their stories,  offering not only dental expertise but also a compassionate ear and words of encouragement. Many patients found solace and renewed faith in these interactions, as Dr. Rose’s ministry extended beyond music and into the dental chair.

His upcoming gospel offerings will touch hearts and inspire  change worldwide. In his dental practice, he has witnessed transformations firsthand,  providing relief from dental ailments and igniting hope and purpose in his patients’ lives.

His work has gained attention from notable celebrities like Summer Walker, Polo G, Shawn  Cotton, Cee Dee Lamb, Alton Mason, and foster care advocate Runtz Tyler.

Dr. Rose’s remarkable journey from dentistry to Hip-Hop and finally to gospel music stands as  a testament to the transformative power of faith.

By seamlessly blending his talents and  passions, he has created a unique ministry that bridges the gap between dentistry and  spiritual healing. His story serves as an inspiration, encouraging us to embrace new paths,  align our passions with our faith, and use our gifts to serve a higher purpose. Through his  dedication, unwavering belief, and genuine care, Dr. Rose reminds us of the importance of  seeking a deeper connection with our own callings and making a meaningful impact in the  world.

Stay connected with Dr. Rose:

https://youtube.com/@Rose_Aesthetics 

https://unitedmasters.com/a/dr-rose

https://instagram.com/dr.rose.ilift?igshid=Y2IzZGU1MTFhOQ==

Nipsey Hussle’s Ex Accused Of Withholding Evidence In Custody Battle Over Their Daughter

A lawyer claimed Nipsey Hussle’s ex Tanisha Foster refused to hand over evidence in a legal battle over guardianship of the late rapper’s daughter Emani Asghedom.

According to Radar Online, attorney William Spiller demanded Foster share a recording of a conversation between him and Nipsey Hussle’s daughter. Spiller also wanted the device used to make the recording.

Spiller, the court-appointed attorney for Asghedom, accused Foster of playing “a surreptitious, unlawful, unapproved recording” of him and his client. She allegedly gave the recording to a judge at a mediation hearing in 2022. Spiller urged the court to impose $2,500 in sanctions on Foster for her failure to produce the evidence he requested.

Foster, the mother of Asghedom, sought to regain custody of her daughter. Foster previously agreed to Nipsey Hussle’s family obtaining guardianship of Asghedom after his death, but she changed her mind and asked the court to dissolve the guardianship.

“There are no circumstances or events in my life that would disqualify me from regaining my exclusive role as Emani’s parent,” she argued. “There is no longer any need for guardianship. Emani routinely asks me when are she and I going to be able to live together. She longs to be with me as her mother. I am begging the court to terminate the existing guardianship.”

A judge allowed Nipsey Hussle’s family to maintain guardianship of Asghedom at a hearing in April. A final decision is expected to be made later this year.

Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in 2019. He was 33.