Rapper Kodak Black to be Released From Federal Custody on Time Served

Kodak Black

U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez ruled on Wednesday to release rapper Kodak Black from federal custody, granting him credit for time served after spending approximately two months behind bars. The 26-year-old artist, known for hits like “No Flockin” and “Super Gremlin,” faced legal scrutiny over a probation violation stemming from a guilty plea for failure to report police contact.

The ruling comes in the wake of recent developments in Broward County court, where Circuit Judge Barbara Duffy dismissed a drug possession case against Kodak Black. Attorney Bradford Cohen, representing the rapper, presented evidence of a 2022 oxycodone prescription from a pharmacy, attributing the inconsistencies in court-ordered drug tests to rehab and a warrant.

According to his defense, Kodak Black’s use of oxycodone was a result of pain management following a prison assault in 2020 and a gunshot wound to the leg in 2022, incurred during an incident at a restaurant afterparty hosted by Justin Bieber in California.

Despite his legal battles, Kodak Black remains active in the music scene. His latest music video, “Shampoo,” released on YouTube earlier this week, quickly climbed the charts, ranking in the top 16 globally within days of its release. In the song, the rapper references substance use with lyrics like “I’ve been smoking... I’ve been drinking... whipping up a dope cake.”

This isn't the first time Kodak Black has faced legal challenges. His history includes multiple arrests and convictions dating back several years:

In 2015, he faced charges in Broward County for assault, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana. He also faced charges in St. Lucie County for marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia.

In 2016, he was charged in Florence, South Carolina, for sexual battery, as well as for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and fleeing from law enforcement.

In 2018, he faced charges in Broward for grand theft of a firearm, possession of marijuana, child neglect, two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon and two counts of probation violation.

In 2019, he faced federal weapons charges related to a U.S.-Canada border search and a purchase in Miami-Dade.

In 2022, he was charged in Broward for trespassing in Pompano Beach and a drug possession charge related to a Florida Highway Patrol search.

Kodak Black's legal struggles persisted even after former President Donald Trump commuted his three-year prison sentence in 2021 for federal weapons charges. Despite the setbacks, his music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, reaffirming his status as a prominent figure in the hip-hop community.

Beyonce's 'Texas Hold 'Em' Grabs No. 1 on Country Chart

Beyoncé has made a historical debut on Billboard's streaming, airplay, and sales-based Hot Country Songs chart with her latest singles. The chart, dated February 24, showcases Beyoncé's "Texas Hold ‘Em" at No. 1 and "16 Carriages" at No. 9, marking her first entries on this chart.

These songs, released on February 11, made a splash across various charts, including the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where they debuted at Nos. 2 and 38, respectively. The announcement of their release came during a Verizon commercial aired during CBS’ Super Bowl LVIII broadcast, building anticipation for Beyoncé's upcoming album, expected to be titled "Act II" and slated for release on March 29, following her 2022 "Renaissance" LP.

"Texas Hold ‘Em" garnered significant attention, drawing 19.2 million official streams, 4.8 million in all-format airplay audience, and selling 39,000 units in the U.S. through February 15, according to Luminate. Meanwhile, "16 Carriages" arrived with 10.3 million streams, 90,000 in radio reach, and 14,000 units sold.

Beyoncé's dominance extends beyond the Hot Country Songs chart. Her reign as a solo artist spans across seven of Billboard’s multimetric song charts, including the Hot 100, Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, Hot Gospel Songs, Hot Latin Songs, Hot R&B Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. This achievement solidifies her status as the only artist to achieve such a feat.

"Texas Hold ‘Em" is the first song by a solo Black female artist to chart on country radio since Micky Guyton's 2016 hit "Heartbreak Song" reached No. 45.

Bing Worthington, Brother of Snoop Dogg, Passes Away at 44

Photo Credit: Instagram/Snoopdogg

Bing Worthington, the younger brother of iconic rapper Snoop Dogg, passed away at the age of 44 on Friday.

Snoop Dogg, 52, whose birth name is Calvin Broadus Jr., shared the heartbreaking news through a series of Instagram tributes, expressing profound grief and reminiscing on cherished moments with his late brother.

In one post, Snoop Dogg shared a photo featuring himself, Worthington, and their nephew Rollin Carter, with a caption adorned with emotive emojis.

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Another tribute showcased a video capturing Snoop and Worthington reminiscing amidst family members at a cemetery, evoking memories of shared laughter and camaraderie. "Always made us laugh 💙🙏🏾😢 u bac with moms," Snoop Dogg captioned the post.

Amidst the somber reflections, Snoop Dogg shared a family portrait brimming with smiles and joy, bidding farewell to his brother with a heartfelt message: "Until we meet again ☹️😔😢🙏🏾🕊️."

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While the cause of Worthington’s passing remains undisclosed, authorities from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in California, confirmed ongoing investigations awaiting the results of toxicology and autopsy reports.

Worthington played a pivotal role in Snoop Dogg’s professional endeavors, contributing to various aspects of his brother's business ventures. From collaborating on the launch of Snoop's skateboard brand to pivotal roles in documentary productions and label mergers, Bing's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication were indispensable.

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Worthington served as his brother's tour manager and managed the Snoop Dogg Skateboards brand. He co-founded Dogg Records, a Canadian record label, and served as the executive producer for the documentary Bigg Snoop Dogg: Raw ‘N Uncut Vol. 1, released in 2003.

He also briefly ventured into music himself, manifesting his passion for music in the release of the album Liquid Cocaine with his rap group, Lifestyle.

The family's mourning unfolds amidst other recent hardships, including health challenges faced by Snoop Dogg’s daughter Cori Broadus, who battles lupus and recently suffered a stroke. These difficulties compound the grief of the passing of their beloved mother, Beverly Tate, in October 2021.