Gunna Booked Into Jail on Racketeering Charge

Photo Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office

The fallout from Monday's 56-count grand jury indictment, filed in Georgia, naming 28 members and associates of record label imprint YSL (Young Stoner Life, Young Slime Life), which identifies it as “a criminal street gang” that “claims affiliation with the national Bloods gang,” continues.

Monday, Grammy Award-winning rapper Young Thug (real name: Jeffery Lamar Williams), the founder of the label, was booked into Fulton County Jail on gang-related charges.

On Wednesday he was joined by labelmate and fellow platinum rapper Gunna, born Sergio Giavonni Kitchens, who is charged with a single count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Williams, who was booked on charges of participation in street gang activity and conspiring to violate RICO, also picked up seven new charges: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon, or silencer; and three counts of being a person employed or associated with a criminal street gang to conduct or participate in criminal gang activity through the commission of a crime.

Both YSL members had previous brushes with the law, including a 2017 incident where they were both arrested in Atlanta on drug-possession charges following a traffic stop. Williams was indicted on felony drug charges, which are still pending. Kitchens was sentenced to six months of probation in 2019 when his marijuana possession charge was dropped after he pleaded guilty to a window tint violation.

Those troubles pale in comparison to the current legal quagmire they and their associates have waded into. The 88-page indictment details charges of murder, drug dealing, drug and gun possession, witness intimidation, robbery, theft and carjacking.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis claimed the indictments as a major victory against violent crime.

“As the district attorney of Fulton County, my No. 1 focus is targeting gangs,” Willis said. “And there’s a reason for that. They are committing, conservatively, 75 to 80% of all of the violent crime that we are seeing within our community.”

Williams made his first court appearance on Tuesday and was denied bond.

According to Fani some of the defendants could face life in prison.

“There are definitely many people that are looking at life under this indictment,” she said. “These are serious times, they are serious allegations and it is my opinion that violence in our community deserves maximum penalties.”

Kidd Creole Convicted of Manslaughter in 2017 Stabbing

©Instagram @thekiddcreole

 

Kidd Creole, a rap pioneer and a founding member of one of its seminal, groups, was found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old rapper, whose real name is Nathaniel Glover, was facing a murder charge in the 2017 death of John Jolly, a homeless New Yorker who was stabbed twice in the chest with a steak knife in midtown Manhattan.

During the month-long trial, Glover's attorney claimed that the stabbing was self-defense. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4.

Prosecutors alleged Glover stabbed Jolly, 55, after becoming enraged because he thought Jolly was gay and hitting on him during a confrontation between the two men, captured on video, in August 2017.

After Glover Passed Jolly on the street, the two exchanged words, and Glover squared up to him chest-to-chest before stabbing him twice in the torso. A group of tourists found Jolly, and he was taken to a hospital where he died of his wounds.

Rapper Kid Creole was convicted of manslaughter in the stabbing death of a homeless man on a Manhattan sidewalk nearly five years ago. https://t.co/X4fJuznlaJ

— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) April 8, 2022

According to prosecutors, Glover was working as a handyman and security guard near the scene of the stabbing. He rushed two blocks to work, changed clothes and cleaned the knife before leaving 15 minutes later to dump it in a sewer near a Bronx subway station where it was later found by police.

He was arrested the next day.

Glover was a co-founder of the rap group Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. Consisting of Glover, his brother Melle Mel, DJ Grandmaster Flash, Keith Cowboy, Scorpio (aka Mr. Ness) and Rahiem, the Bronx-based group helped guide the formation of hip-hop as an art form in the late 1970s.

Their 1982 hit song, "The Message,” is one of the most influential pieces of the period, combining social commentary with catchy beats in a way that was later emulated by predecessors, such as Public Enemy and KRS-One, and remains a hallmark of rap today.

In 2007, they became the first hip-hop group to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

Jon Batiste Becomes 11th Black Artist to Take Home Album of the Year Honors at Grammys

Jon Batiste became just the 11th Black artist, and the first in 14 years, to take home album of the year honors at the 64th Grammys Sunday.

The multifaceted singer and musician went into the night with 11 nominations for “We Are,” which peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard 200 music chart, and to the shock of many finished the night with five trophies.

The album took home golden gramaphones for American roots performance and American roots song, best score soundtrack for visual media (in a tie with Carlos Rafael Rivera’s score for The Queen’s Gambit) and best music video for “Freedom.”

What incredible blessings tonight 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/uDv2kx8X0N

— jon batiste (@JonBatiste) April 4, 2022

“I focused on love and freedom when making this album. I just wanted to give some good ole Black joy to the world. My other focus is family, my mom, my grandfather who is 90, my dad, my sister, and everyone is here,” Batiste said of the win in The Recording Academy’s press room. “I wasn't prepared to win album of the year, but I hope this resonates with the young people to be yourself.”

Prior to Batiste taking home the Grammys top award, fellow jazz musician Herbie Hancock was the last winner for 2008’s “River: The Joni Letters.”

Other big winners included R&B duo Silk Sonic. The collaboration between singer Bruno Mars and rapper Anderson .Paak won record and song of the year for their hit “Leave the Door Open.” They also scored best R&B performance (in a tie with Jazmine Sullivan) and best R&B song.

Click here to see a full list of the nominees and winners.

Artist's Estate Announces an Immersive Prince Experience Debuting in June

CREDIT: WARNER BROS. RECORDS

Prince's death in 2016 was a blow to music lovers across the globe, but his purple reign continues.

Thanks to one of pop's most memorable music catalogs and his estate's determination to keep the artist relevant, the Prince brand is thriving.

Recently valued at $156 million, The Prince Estate's latest venture to keep the Purple One's legacy alive is an ambitious one.

It has partnered with entertainment and brand experience company Superfly for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience that will honor the legacy and artistry of Prince.

The collaboration with the company, best known for co-founding Bonnaroo and co-producing the Outside Lands festival, is set to launch in Chicago in June.

Prince: The Immersive Experience, a collaboration between @Superfly and The @Prince Estate, will make its worldwide debut in Chicago on June 9, 2022. Tickets go on sale March 31 at 10 a.m. CT. Join the @PrinceTheExp waitlist: https://t.co/Fat8unEpTX pic.twitter.com/gOPD9VgRKr

— Prince (@prince) March 23, 2022

Superfly's co-founder, Kerry Black, said in a release announcing the project that its goal is to "reimagine how fans interact with their favorite artists and music.”

“There are few ways to encounter music in a physical space outside of concerts," Black said. "This project will change that, pioneering a new approach to experiences while respecting the creative vision of the artist.”

Details were sparse at the time of the announcement, but in addition to offering more than 10 multidimensional spaces that take visitors through the icon’s life — showcasing his musical eras and creative evolution and highlighting his influential sound —Black told Rolling Stone that fans will be able to interact with the Purple Rain album cover as well as the studio where Prince created much of his music.

"You’re going to be able to step into a Purple Rain album cover,” he said, "where you can get your photo up on the motorcycle. But we’re also doing a full buildout of the entire street scene, right? So there’s going to be the First Avenue club and a bunch of the stores.”

Black added, “We’re doing a partial replica of Studio A, which was his studio where he created all his music from about 1990 on, and in there, people are going to be able to go and sort of play producer and mix stems from ‘Let’s Go Crazy.'” The exhibit will also display a mix of Prince’s original wardrobe and instruments alongside replicas as well as photographs.

The experience will run through Oct. 9 in Chicago. Time-stamped tickets, starting at $39.50, go on sale at 10 a.m. March 31, at PrinceTheExperience.com.

Prince's Shelved 1986 Album 'Camille' to Finally be Released

Rocker Jack White has big news for Prince fans.

His Third Man Records label is releasing new music from the Purple One with the approval of his estate.

Well, it's not entirely new, and most of the tracks have made it out in one form or another at this point, but "Camille" is a project that has attained near-mythic status among Prince devotees.

It was recorded in 1986 and was to be released under a feminine alter-ego, Camille. The album, which features pitched-up vocals, was shelved after a test pressing. The only other remnant of the Camille era was the more feminine fashion that the pop star more fully embraced at that point in his career.

Three of the tracks, including "If I Was Your Girlfriend" ended up on Prince's classic 1987 double album "Sign O' The Times," but the other five have only been available as B-sides, deluxe reissues or soundtracks.

Jack White's Third Man Records plans to release Prince’s long-shelved 1986 album Camille, which was originally scrapped shortly after getting its test pressing: https://t.co/ApZqsTT3Tr pic.twitter.com/2ArB8awEIQ

— Consequence (@consequence) March 16, 2022

White's mission to get the whole project released on vinyl began in 2016 when a copy was up for auction. Questlove outbid him for that copy, but recently Third Man Records acquired one of their own.

"We're finally going to put it out," Third Man co-founder Ben Blackwell, who revealed the company paid $49,375 for a different vinyl copy of "Camille," told Mojo. "Prince's people agreed — almost too easy."

Check out the tracklist for Camille below:

Camille Tracklist:
1 – "Rebirth Of The Flesh"
2 – "Housequake"3 – "Strange Relationship"
4 – "Feel U Up"
5 – "Shockadelica"
6 – "Good Love"
7 – "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
8 – "Rockhard In A Funky Place"

Chris Brown Rape Accuser Loses Lawyers After Incriminating Texts Found on Phone

Photo by Francesco Carrozzini

Chris Brown is feeling vindicated after the sexual assault case against him filed by an unknown woman, began to fall apart Wednesday, nearly as quickly as his career briefly did in 2009, when he pled guilty to the felony assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Lawyers representing the woman, known only as Jane Doe in court proceedings, who filed a lawsuit in South Florida against the R&B superstar alleging he drugged and raped her on Diddy's Miami Beach-based yacht, announced they are recusing themselves from the case.

The news followed the release of several incriminating texts recovered from the woman's phone by Miami Beach Police during their investigation.

George Vrabeck told Rolling Stone he and his co-counsel, Ariel Mitchell, will no longer represent the plaintiff in the sex assault, false imprisonment, and gender violence lawsuit that was filed against Brown, 32, on Jan. 28 due to unspecified "information" obtained from police last Thursday.

"We are very grateful that the Miami Beach Police Department brought this to our attention. They did a great job," George Vrabeck said. "We were not made aware that the information existed (prior to filing). It precludes us from going forward for a number of reasons."

He added, "It's not a comment on whether an assault happened or not, but it precludes us from going forward."

While Miami Beach Police declined to comment on the matter, Brown, who has long denied the allegations, had a lot to say.

Praying for my brother @chrisbrown “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities”Ephesians 6:12 🙏🏾 The enemy stays busy… ‘You Were The Best ---- I’ve Had’: Case Of Woman Who Said Chris Brown Drugged https://t.co/dzhhXVqqpG

— Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) March 8, 2022

He took to social media to share months of text, voicemails and images sent by the woman beginning shortly after the alleged incident — including a voicemail dated Aug. 23, 2021, in which she pleads to see him again.

"Well, you're giving me mixed signals. You're like reading my messages and stuff and you haven't blocked me yet so I'm guessing you don't hate me," the accuser says in the audio clip posted on Brown's Instagram Story. "I just wanna see you again, I mean, you just answered the phone and then you just hung up. Like, just let me know. Like, if you want me to leave you alone I definitely will, but I really just want to f—k with you again."

Brown said his legal team will be taking action against the woman who sued him and made a public plea to the media.

#ChrisBrown's text messages leaked! The singer's alleged victim's allegations start to crumble after photos were revealed. #RadarExclusive
https://t.co/7cWIyjYfCF

— Radar Online (@radar_online) March 8, 2022

"No more dragging me through the mud," he wrote on social media. "CLEARLY YOU CAN ALL SEE THE [blue cap emoji]. Now let's see if the media will keep that same energy they had trying to destroy me, to Run the real story. Me and my team are taking legal action on this situation. You don't play with people lives like that. THX TEAM BREEZY."

Travis Scott Donates $5 Million to Fund Community Initiatives Through Newly Launched Project HEAL

Frank Schwichtenberg via Wikimedia Commons

Embattled rapper Travis Scott, has kept a low profile since 10 attendees were killed and hundreds injured at his annual Astroworld Festival concert last November.

Facing more than 140 lawsuits and a mass litigation suit by 1,500 show attendees against himself, Live Nation, Apple Music, and Drake,  among others — the "Sicko Mode" artist has been dropped from Coachella and other festivals.

He also lost lucrative deals with McDonald's and Dior for his Cactus Jack Brand.

Scott, who has offered to pay for the funerals of the dead and provide other assistance, has maintained his stance that he would have stopped the show if he had heard signs of distress in the crowd.

Tuesday he stepped out of the shadows to announce a $5 million investment in community-focused initiatives through his newly launched Project HEAL.

According to a statement released by the Cactus Jack Foundation, which will administer the charitable project, it is a "multi-tiered initiative dedicated to addressing challenges facing today's youth, especially those from marginalized and at-risk communities."

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A post shared by Cactus Jack Foundation (@cactusjackfoundation)

"My grandfather was an educator who made a difference in thousands of young lives throughout his life. He is a major influence on me and countless others, whose dreams he believed in, whose hopes he invested in, and whose futures he made big," said Travis, of his motivation for creating Project HEAL in the press release. "It’s in his spirit that we are creating projects and programs that will look to the future of our communities and create hope and excellence in as many lives as possible.”

The first phase of the program kicks off today with $1 million in scholarships for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Waymon Webster Scholarship, bankrolled by Scott, will provide $10,000 grants to seniors with GPAs of at least 3.5 who risk not graduating due to financial adversity.

In the future, Project HEAL plans to address the mental health crisis through digital counseling and telephone hotlines, expand Scott’s CACT.US Youth Design Center at TXRX Labs in Houston — a nonprofit makerspace for aspiring artists, designers and tech innovators — and fund the previously announced U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Event Safety and a tech-driven device that will address safety at large-scale live events.

Megan Thee Stallion Launches Charity Honoring Parents to Celebrate 27th Birthday

Hip-hop diva, Popeyes Franchisee and recent college graduate Megan Thee Stallion celebrated her 27th
birthday Tuesday with a gift to underserved communities across the globe.

The Houston native launched the Pete and Thomas Foundation in her hometown, a non-profit organization supporting charitable programs in the city and beyond. It honors the memory of its namesake's, her father, Joseph Pete Jr., and her mother, Holly Thomas.

“In celebration of my birthday, I’m honored to introduce the Pete and Thomas Foundation. @PeteThomasFDN is a non-profit organization focused on uplifting and assisting women, children, senior citizens and underserved communities in Houston, Texas and across the world,” she wrote in an Instagram post announcing the endeavor.

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A post shared by Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion)

The "Savage" rapper added in a press release, "Launching the Pete and Thomas Foundation is easily one of the most significant endeavors that I'll ever be part of in my career. My family raised me to help others and give back, so I'm incredibly proud to be in a position to accomplish that goal. I have a responsibility to use my platform to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who may not have access to resources and support services."

According to its website the organization will focus on awarding scholarships and student resources, addressing housing issues for senior citizens, single mothers and families in need, and providing health and wellness care.

Snoop Dogg Announces Acquisition of Death Row Records

B.O.D.R., Snoop Dogg's first album for his  

newly acquired label drops on Feb. 11.

Thirty years after signing the deal with Death Row Records that launched him to superstardom at age 21, Snoop Dogg is returning to the seminal west coast hip-hop label as its boss.

The rapper announced he acquired the Death Row Records brand from MNRK Music Group, which is controlled by private equity funds managed by global investment firm Blackstone, for an undisclosed sum on Wednesday.

"It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the
founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me," the artist said of the move which puts him in charge of the once prestigious label founded by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, the D.O.C. and Dick Griffey in 1992. "... I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.”

Snoop Dogg has pursued ownership of the label, which reigned supreme over rap for a stretch in the 1990s, thanks in part to releases from himself and labelmates Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur, for quite some time.

Just last year he told the hosts of the "Million Dollaz Worth of Game" podcast that all of Death Row — which filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and was acquired at auction three years later for $18 million by WIDEawake Entertainment and eventually landing at Blackstone and MNRK — should be in his hands.

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A post shared by 2Cool2Blog (@2cool2bl0g)

“I should be running that sh—t. Just like I’m [in] a position at Def Jam, Death Row means more to me because I helped create that. I think they should give me that and let me run that shit with the merchandise out, with the music all over the world. [Add] some new West Coast acts.”
To celebrate Snoop Dogg is releasing a new album, B.O.D.R., an acronym that stands for “Back on Death Row," on Friday.

Watch: The Queen Bee Impersonates Adele on 'Carpool Karaoke'

Adele's rendition of Monster, while appearing on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" during a “Carpool Karaoke” segment in 2016, is the stuff of legend.

Both viewers and the musically-inclined host were left impressed by the 15-time Grammy Award winner's effortless flow and familiarity with the subject matter.

At the time the Queen Bee herself even co-signed the performance. She tweeted, "Adele is mad ratchet. I can’t take her #UK #WutsGood,” with the laughing emoji, seeming impressed with the take on her verse.

This past Thursday (Feb. 3) it was Minaj's turn to return the favor. While appearing on the talk show, she did her own take on the superstar chanteuse that was just as stunning.

“First of all, it’s Adele. Second of all, it’s ‘Monster.’ You guys made such an amazing freaking tag team,” Minaj said about the Adele impersination. “That made my day, my year. I probably got a thousand phone calls about that one thing.”

Nicki then got into character as Adele and spoke with a British accent.

“All right, in order for me to channel Adele, I sort of have to think like a black lady in London, right?” Nicki said while getting into the accent.

Adele is mad ratchet. I can't take her😂 #UK #WutsGood

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 14, 2016

She continued, “Because the thing is, normally, everybody knows … my British accent is sort of like a posh white lady. A rich white lady, right? But with Adele, I sort of have, like, to transform. She might have used to sell crack. Maybe she used to be hustling nickels and dimes in the hood and then she got her big break.”

Watch the entire video below:

Kanye West Documentary 'Jeen-Yuhs' to Debut on Big Screen Ahead of Netflix Release

Courtesy of Netflix

Act 1 of “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” the controversial upcoming Netflix three-part documentary about rapper Kanye West’s rise to fame is getting a theatrical release.

Feb. 10, a week before its Feb. 16 debut on the streaming service kicks off a three-week event centered around the documentary’s three parts, fans will have a chance to see the opening arc — focused on the artist's early years — in more than 1,100 theaters across the nation.

Filmmakers Clarence "Coodie" Simmons and Chike Ozah praised Netflix for working with them to share it in theatres.

"As filmmakers, it's a blessing to have our work presented on the big screen," they said in a statement announcing the news Friday.

It is a big move for the movie, chronicling over 20 years of West’s career and highlighting his progression from rapper to businessman and eventually presidential candidate. In January, two days ahead of the film’s anticipated premiere at the virtual Sundance Film Festival, the mercurial artist demanded final cut approval over the documentary.

"I'm going to say this kindly for the last time. I must get final edit and approval on this doc before it releases on Netflix,” the 44-year-old rapper wrote in an Instagram post.

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A post shared by ye (@kanyewest)

West continued, "Open the edit room immediately so I can be in charge of my own image. Thank you in advance."

In response, Simmons and Ozah told the New York Post, "We're still trying to work things out with Kanye and his team." Later the duo confirmed to Variety that West’s demands would not be met.

Tickets are on sale online at jeen-yuhs-tickets.com. A new trailer for the documentary was also released and can be seen below.

India Arie Joins Exodus From Spotify

Photo credit: Benedict Evans

Neo-soul artist India Arie joined a growing list of prominent defectors from the Spotify streaming music platform on Monday.

The artist, who has been nominated for 23 Grammys and taken home four awards over the course of her lauded career, took to Instagram to declare her reasons for leaving.

“Neil Young opened a door that I MUST walk through,” Arie wrote, referencing the legendary Canadian-American singer and songwriter leaving Spotify last week because of Joe Rogan continuing to share vaccine misinformation on "The Joe Rogan Experience," Spotify's most popular podcast of 2021.

Young, in a since-deleted open letter to his management team and record label demanding they remove his music from Spotify, wrote, “I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them. Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule."

The artist received his wish, and despite an apology from Rogan and assurances by Spotify that the misinformation spread on its podcasts would be debunked on its own popular science program, other musicians have continued to follow his lead.

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A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan)

Musicians Joni Mitchell, Nils Lofgren and Graham Nash are among the most prominent, along with bestselling author Brené Brown — who recently signed an exclusive deal with the platform.

Rogan and his guests' bad takes on science, however, were not the only reason Arie chose to remove her catalog. She cited the host's controversial comments on race in her post.

 

“I believe in freedom of speech. However, I find Joe Rogan problematic for reasons other than his Covid interviews. For me, it’s also his language around race,” Arie wrote. “What I am talking about is respect — who gets it and who doesn’t. Paying musicians a fraction of a penny? And him $100 [million]? This shows the type of company they are and the company that they keep,” she continued. “I’m tired.”

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Cardi B Awarded Millions in Defamation Suit Win Against Blogger Tasha K

VOGUE Taiwan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jury Awards Rapper $4 Million in General and Punitive Damages 

Three years after declaring in an Instagram Live video that if a certain blogger was going to keep
harassing her and her friends and making s—t up, that she was going to take, “All your f—–g bread!” Cardi B may have not decimated Latasha Kebe financially, but the popular host of the Wino Gang Podcast stands to lose millions.

Tuesday, a day after the jury found Kebe, known online as Tasha K, and a company she owns liable for defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the rapper, awarding her $1 million in actual damages for pain and suffering and/or reputational injury and $250,000 in medical expenses — jurors added $1.5 million in punitive damages and Cardi B’s attorney fees to that total to push the compensation owed to more than $4 million.

“After almost four years of repeated libel and slander against me, being able to walk away from this victorious brings me great happiness,” a triumphant Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almánzar, said in a statement following the victory Tuesday.

this is three years ago when Cardi B said to Tasha K
"you wanna keep making sh*t up? alright then, imma take all your fkin bread"
she literally doesn't play pic.twitter.com/GWfhZXORKu

— CardiBArchive💎💎💎 (@cardibarchive_) January 25, 2022

"During this trial, all of you have learned about the darkest time in my life," she said. "That moment in time was fueled by the vile, disgusting, and completely false narratives that were repeatedly and relentlessly being shared online. I thought I would never be heard or vindicated, and I felt completely helpless and vulnerable. I have never taken for granted the platform that my fame allows me to have, which is why for over three years I dedicated every resource I had to seek justice.”

The opposing counsel did not agree with Cardi B’s assessment of the facts, nor the conclusion reached by the jury.

“We disagree with the verdict, and we will be filing an appeal,” Kebe’s lawyer Sadeer Sabbak said in a statement Tuesday.

The legal victory has its roots in 2018 when Kebe began making “degrading and harassing statements” about her, the lawsuit says. On Sept. 19, 2018 Kebe published a video of an interview she did with a woman who said she’d known Cardi B before her music career. The video includes the “false, malicious and defamatory” statements that Cardi B was a prostitute, has herpes and had suffered outbreaks on her mouth, and used cocaine.

“None of the aforementioned statements about Plaintiff are true,” the lawsuit says. “Plaintiff was never a prostitute or a user of cocaine. Plaintiff has never, and does not now, have herpes, nor has she had herpes outbreaks on her mouth.”

Oscar-Winning Actress Regina King's Only Child, Ian Alexander Jr., Dies at 26

Photo Credit @desdune Instagram

After several news outlets broke the story Saturday morning, Oscar-winning actress Regina King confirmed that her son, Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide Wednesday on his 26th birthday.

"Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian," King said in a statement provided by her representative.

"He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. Thank you."

A musician and DJ, Alexander is the son of Ian Alexander Sr. and King who were married in 1997 and together 10 years before divorcing.

The younger Alexander performed under the name “desduné,” according to his Instagram page. His most recent single, "Green Eyes," was released on Jan. 7.

Watch: Hip-Hop Legends Come Together in Epic Super Bowl Halftime Trailer

Last year we reported that Dr. Dre had assembled some of hip-hop's greatest talents to headline the 2022 Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Today, with the game closer on the horizon, the rapper and producer dropped a hype video for the event that has expectations soaring for the halftime experience at the first Super Bowl in Los Angeles since 1993.

In the nearly four-minute clip directed by F. Gary Gray, who had the same role on "Straight Outta Compton," the biographical movie about Dre's former group N.W.A. released in 2015, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar answer "The Call" from Dre and unite to head to the stadium together in their own unique ways.

Eminem opens the video battle-rapping his alter ego Slim Shady before getting the nod and jumping on his private plane. Snoop Dogg cruises the California streets to his frequent partner in rhyme in his custom lowrider. Blige announces she's back in a high-fashion photoshoot before jumping in her own slick ride, and Lamar wrestles with his own verses and smoking pen in an empty room before jumping on his custom bike to heed the call.

The soundtrack, scored by Adam Blackstone, transitions into Tupac Shakur's 1999 hit "California Love" as they come together and approach the stadium. It is in an homage to the deceased star who was a pivotal part of Death Row along with Dre and Snoop and the city in which the game will be played.

"The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career," Dr. Dre said in a statement when the lineup was originally announced.

"It will be an "unforgettable cultural moment," he added.

Whether or not that is true remains to be seen but the hype video has certainly made some fans believers. Watch the entire clip below:

Lionel Richie to Receive Gershwin Prize for Pop Music

There’s going to be a celebration for Lionel Richie, and it may just last all night long.

Today the Library of Congress announced that Richie will receive the national library’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

The artist, who has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, will be honored with an all-star tribute concert in Washington, D.C., on March 9, which will be broadcast nationally on PBS stations May 17.

“This is truly an honor of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to be receiving the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song,” Richie said in a statement. “I am proud to be joining all the other previous artists, who I also admire and am a fan of their music.”

Bestowed in recognition of the legendary songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin, the Gershwin Prize recognizes a living musical artist’s lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of entertainment, information, inspiration and cultural understanding. The honoree is selected by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with a board of scholars, producers, performers, songwriters and other music specialists.

In receiving the award, Richie joins an exclusive club. Previous recipients include Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan and Garth Brooks.

“In so many ways, this national honor was made for Lionel Richie whose music has entertained and inspired us — and helped strengthen our global connections,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden of why he was chosen for the award. “Lionel Richie’s unforgettable work has shown us that music can bring us together. Even when we face problems and disagree on issues, songs can show us what we have in common.”

Richie, whose hits include chart-toppers “Endless Love,” “Lady,” “Truly,” “All Night Long,” “Penny Lover,” “Stuck on You,” “Hello,” “Say You, Say Me,” “Dancing on the Ceiling,” at one point in his career wrote No. 1 songs for 11 consecutive years. He also co-wrote the iconic charity tribute “We Are the World,” for USA for Africa.

For his work he has earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe and four Grammy Awards. Richie has also worked to further the career of other musicians, working as a mentor to artists and as a judge on ABC’s “American Idol” for the past four seasons.

Ronnie Spector, ’60s Icon Behind ‘Be My Baby,’ dead at 78

The original bad girl of rock'n'roll, Ronnie Spector, died Wednesday following a brief battle with cancer.

Spector, whose signature reach-for-the-ceiling beehive hairdo and sultry vocals propelled her to pop icon status in the 1960s as the lead singer of the chart-topping girl group The Ronettes, was 78.

"Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today," read a statement posted by her family on the singer's website confirming her passing. "She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan. Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her."

Born Veronica Yvette Bennett in Spanish Harlem. Spector, who was of Black and Cherokee descent on her mother’s side and Irish on her father’s, formed The Darling Sisters while she was a teenager with her older sister Estelle and their cousin Nedra Talley.

The group was signed to Colpix Records in 1961. It was not until two years later, however, when it moved to Phil Spector's Philles Records that its music started to take off, and the girls began to blaze their own path in a market crowded with ready-built acts targeted for teen consumption.

Under Spector, known as “the first tycoon of teen" for his adeptness at the market, the group changed its name to The Ronettes and had a string of 60s hits, such as “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You” and “Walking in the Rain.”

The Ronettes 

In 1968 the creative marriage between Phil Spector, who produced and wrote many of The Ronettes hits,
became a real one. In 1974 Spector’s abuse and refusal to allow his wife to perform led to a divorce, as detailed by Ronnie in her memoir “Be My Baby: The Autobiography of Ronnie Spector."

Photo Credit: Chris Hall

“I knew that if I didn’t leave I was going to die there,” Ronnie, whose touring for a time was confined to psychiatric wards, told Vanity Fair, adding that when the judge ordered support of $1,300 per month, Phil had a Brink’s truck deliver the first payment to her lawyer’s office—in nickels. The court put a stop to that, so Phil switched to checks stamped with “f—k off” on the back.

Following the divorce, Ronnie struggled to reestablish her career releasing four solo albums from 1980 to 2016 to middling success. She made a brief return to the limelight in 1986 thanks to a memorable solo in Eddie Money's 1986 hit "Take Me Home Tonight."

The Ronettes, who headlined for rock heavyweights The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Beatles during their career, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.