Music Icon Chuck D and MLB Forge Partnership to Commemorate Hip-Hop Culture

Courtesy of California African American Museum

Major League Baseball has joined forces with music icon Chuck D to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop culture.

This Friday, the Bronx will take center stage as the co-founder of the pioneering musical ensemble Public Enemy assumes a special role as correspondent during the "Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium" concert. This event also marks the launch of MLB's yearlong partnership with New York-based media company Mass Appeal's Hip Hop 50 initiative.

Described on the company's website as "a manifestation of the company’s commitment to celebrating the culture in the most authentic and globally impactful way possible," Hip Hop 50 is Mass Appeal's ultimate tribute to the genre.

In a move that merges music and sports, the rapper will be entrusted with capturing the essence of this star-studded gathering. His insights will be artfully curated into exclusive content across MLB's multifaceted platforms, including @MLB, @MLBLife social handles, MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB Network.

Reflecting on the profound significance of this collaboration, Chuck D expressed his excitement, stating, “As a longtime baseball fanatic, I am beyond honored to be the first Hip Hop artist to collaborate with Major League Baseball in this dynamic new way — connecting sound and culture to the stories of the game. Thank you to MLB for adding me to the lineup... and the pitch is on the way."

Throughout the year, he will engage in a sustained partnership with MLB. This collaboration will encompass MLB’s robust social media presence, the dynamic MLB Network, and captivating in-stadium videos — all deliberately aimed at unraveling the intricate relationship between baseball and Hip Hop culture.

A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Chuck D has long held a deep affection for the sport. In April 2023, he unveiled "We Wreck Stadiums," an album that pays homage to baseball's luminaries and their enduring impact on the sport.

Concert Mic Flung by Cardi B Nets Incredible $99,900 in Auction

Screengrab Instagram

A microphone that once soared through the air in the fervor of a Cardi B concert has landed in the hands of a new owner, commanding a jaw-dropping price of $99,900.

The incident, an eruption of fiery emotion during a Las Vegas spectacle, saw the "Bodak Yellow" star unleash the mic like a guided missile upon a concertgoer at Drai's Beachclub, following a shower of liquid launched in her direction.

Scott Fisher, the architect behind the audio at the gig, initially listed the item for a mere $500 on eBay. Speaking to the New York Post's Page Six column, Fisher said, "I think it's a bit crazy, but to each their own. To some people, it’s a world-famous item and there are definitely collectors that like this kind of stuff."

Cardi B, who was initially under scrutiny as a battery suspect following the microphone toss, can now breathe a sigh of relief. The verdict delivered in the court of justice was unequivocal – no crime committed. In an official statement, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department declared, "After a thorough review of this case and with consultation from the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, this case has been closed due to insufficient evidence. No charges will be filed in relation to this case."

“If it’s up, then it’s up.” Our pop culture expert @NinaBrown weighs in on police dropping the battery investigation against Cardi B for throwing her mic into the crowd during her concert.

“Girl! Calm down...it’s the anger management for me!” #SYMONE on @MSNBConPeacock. pic.twitter.com/9AJtdjGdVf

— SYMONE (@symonemsnbc) August 8, 2023

Fisher said he orchestrated the sale as a conduit for philanthropy, with the proceeds going to Friendship Circle Las Vegas, a local organization connecting volunteers with children and young adults facing special needs, and the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity dedicated to restoring independence to severely wounded veterans.

The eBay listing apparently issued a resonant call to action: "If you want a piece of hip-hop infamy and what has now become national and world news, then please bid whatever you are willing to spend...thanks (sic)."

Tory Lanez Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence for Shooting Megan Thee Stallion

The Come Up Show, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The uncertainty enveloping rapper Tory Lanez's destiny in connection to the shooting incident involving hip-hop luminary Megan Thee Stallion has at last been dissolved today, as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford unveiled the verdict. Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.

Just in: Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023

Presiding over the extensive two-day hearing, Judge Herriford declared prior to pronouncing the sentence that he was disinclined to view Lanez as a menace to public safety—a pivotal juncture in the case. The judge's pronouncement brings to a close the high-profile trial that has engrossed both the music industry and legal analysts.

Throughout the hearing, Herriford maintained a neutral stance, impartially bestowing tactical advantages to both the defense and the prosecution. This approach has veiled the ultimate verdict in secrecy until its unveiling.

Herriford's concurrence with the prosecution's stance of excluding mental illness as a sentencing factor further elucidated the underpinnings of his judgment.

Lanez's legal team laid forth arguments centered on his history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from his mother's untimely death when he was 11 years old, along with other childhood adversities. These struggles led to alcohol abuse in adulthood. Defense attorney Jose Baez vehemently advocated for Lanez's PTSD and battle with alcoholism to factor into the sentencing deliberations.

Judge Herriford's observations underscored his meticulous evaluation of the evidence presented. Despite acknowledging the role of alcohol in the shooting incident, he concluded that the defense had not met the requisites for categorizing Lanez's condition as clinical PTSD or alcohol abuse disorder. Consequently, these aspects did not meet the legal threshold for inclusion in the sentence.

Prosecutors championed a 13-year sentence for Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, following his conviction on multiple charges, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

In contrast, Lanez's defense team advocated for probation and his release from incarceration to partake in a residential substance abuse program. Their intent to challenge the conviction was also affirmed.

Lanez, a notable figure in the music realm, has been a constant presence throughout the hearing, attired in distinct orange jail garb and a black skull cap, seated alongside his legal representatives.

Megan Thee Stallion's impact reverberated even in her absence. Her statement, conveyed audibly by Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta during the proceedings, candidly portrayed the profound trauma she has endured since the incident. "Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace," Megan conveyed, asserting that Lanez's actions necessitate full accountability within the framework of the law.

In a poignant twist, Judge Herriford permitted seven pro-Lanez witnesses, including his father and the mother of his 6-year-old son, to testify. Their accounts illuminated Lanez's philanthropy, resilience in the face of childhood trauma and commitment to nurturing parenthood.

Megan's trial testimony cast a lengthy shadow across the proceedings, detailing the distressing moment when Lanez fired at her feet and exhorted her to dance, as they departed a summer 2020 gathering at Kylie Jenner's Hollywood Hills residence.