Ye Says He's Out, But Will He Really Fade to Black?

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign's "Vultures 1" album topped the charts when it was released in February.

Hold onto your hypebeasts, folks! Ye — the artist formerly known as Kanye West — might be hanging up his microphone for good. Yes, that's right, the man who brought us "The College Dropout" and "Jesus Walks" (and, let's be honest, a whole lotta controversy) is hinting at a full-blown musical retirement.

Rich the Kid shared an alleged text message from Ye on Tuesday, July 9, in which the rapper explained his decision to walk away from professional music. "I am retiring from professional music. Not sure what else to do," West wrote in the message.

Ye said he’s retiring from making music but he don’t know what else to do pic.twitter.com/Sd3aM52dTl

— Donda Times (@dondatimes) July 9, 2024

Rich the Kid tried to convince him otherwise: "Retire? Why? How? The people NEED you. The music you & Ty & we have made the BIGGEST STAMP in culture to this date in 2024. Drop Ye about mine & V2 and we do it all over again. The kids need you big bro for sure. Maybe some time to chill but retiring ain't it." The "New Freezer" rapper deleted the text message exchange featuring Ye's alleged retirement from his Instagram Story about a half-hour after originally posting it.

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign's "Vultures 1" album topped the charts when it was released in February, as did the album single "Carnival" featuring Playboi Carti and Rich the Kid. However, the second and third volumes the duo promised fans in March and April failed to drop. According to Ty Dolla $ign, all the songs for the second album are complete. However, no release date has been announced since it was last rumored to be dropping in May. Most recently, Ye and Ty announced a "Vultures" listening event to take place in Korea on Aug. 23.

Ye's career has been marked by dramatic announcements and sudden changes in direction, leaving fans and industry observers questioning whether this retirement declaration is final or another twist in his unpredictable journey. His influence on the music industry has been significant, from groundbreaking albums like "The College Dropout" and "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" to his ventures into fashion and other creative fields.

For now, fans and the music world wait to see if Ye's retirement will stick or if he will once again surprise everyone with a new chapter in his storied career.

Rising Chicago Drill Star Lil Scoom, 18, Slain in South Side Shooting

Photo Credit: Instagram/_lilscoom89

Rising Chicago rapper Lil Scoom, whose real name was Asyrion Hogan, was fatally shot July 7 in the Chatham neighborhood on the city's South Side.

According to police the 18-year-old artist, known for his hit song "Caught On," was involved in a verbal altercation that escalated into gunfire around 11:50 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of 89th Place and Langley Avenue.

Chicago rapper Lil Scoom was shot and killed yesterday, only 1 month after he made a diss track for Lil Durk’s artist that was also shot and killed Lil Jeff. pic.twitter.com/Loqn6e03rj

— TMC Music Connoisseur 🇯🇲 WATCH S2TIMES 🤩 (@MusicConnoisseu) July 9, 2024

Hogan and his 16-year-old friend were confronted by an unidentified individual. As the conflict intensified, shots were fired, striking Hogan twice in the chest. He was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His friend, who was also wounded, is expected to recover.

Chicago police responded to the scene and pursued a suspect who fled on foot. During the chase, the suspect fired at officers, prompting a 10-1 emergency call for immediate backup. Multiple districts and the CPD SWAT team responded, but the suspect managed to escape.

Signal Records, Lil Scoom's label, confirmed his death in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we share the loss of our artist @_lilscoom89. A true creative, Scoom's passion for music was evident in the near-constant flow of songs and videos to his fans. His immense talent, ambitious vision, and quiet determination made him a one of one and an inspiration to so many. We will miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with his family."

Hogan's music often reflected the harsh realities of life in his neighborhood, including themes of violence, poverty, and drug use. He was a prominent figure in the Chicago drill scene, known for his raw lyrics and aggressive delivery. His popularity had been growing, with millions of streams on platforms like YouTube and Spotify.

Lil Scoom was also involved in several online feuds with other rappers, including FBG Cash, Lil Jay, and Memo600. These conflicts, often played out on social media, have raised concerns about their potential to incite real-life violence.

The shooting occurred amid a surge in gun violence in Chicago over the extended July Fourth weekend, which saw more than 109 victims, including 19 fatalities.

Chicago police continue to investigate the incident and search for the suspect involved in the shooting.

Court Grants Extension for Prosecutors in Young Thug Judge Recusal Dispute

The trial of rapper Young Thug has been further delayed after prosecutors requested more time to respond to a defense motion to remove the presiding judge. The defense motion seeks to remove Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville from the case due to allegations of bias or misconduct.

The court has granted a 48-hour extension due to an unexpected medical emergency, pushing the deadline from 5 p.m. on Monday to 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Motion granted by Judge Rachel Krause.

State responses are now due Wednesday 5PM. pic.twitter.com/vKLKB1nyC5

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) July 8, 2024

Last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause ordered the Fulton County District Attorney's Office to respond to the motion, halting the months-long trial. Before Judge Krause could issue a ruling, defendant Deamonte Kendrick filed a motion to disqualify all Fulton County Superior Court judges.

YSL Woody goes LIVE, addressing trolls calling him a rat and talking about his loyalty to his people. Woody remains a witness in the trial of Young Thug and associates. DA Adriane Love is likely taking note of his statements. pic.twitter.com/tVS5oa3Olk

— Mr. Garland Merrick (@GarlandMerrick) July 7, 2024

The trial saw a dramatic turn on June 7, when Kenneth Copeland, known as "Lil Woody," refused to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right, despite a plea bargain agreement. Copeland was subsequently found in contempt of court and detained over the weekend. The following Monday, a meeting was held in Judge Glanville's chambers to discuss the violation of the plea bargain, involving Copeland, the judge, and the prosecution.

Young Thug's attorney, Brian Steel, confronted Judge Glanville during a court break after learning about the private meeting. Steel, who did not disclose how he obtained this information, was also found in contempt of court. His sentence of 10 weekends in jail has been stayed by the Georgia Supreme Court pending appeal.

YOUNG THUG TRIAL IS PAUSED UNTIL A DIFFERENT JUDGE DECIDES IF JUDGE GLANVILLE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE CASE

Judge Glanville has changed his mind and transferred Young Thug and Yak Gotti's motions to recuse him to a different judge. pic.twitter.com/EIDI3Vjxe6

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) July 1, 2024

Judge Glanville has denied the recusal motion filed by Steel and co-counsel Keith Adams. However, Kendrick's attorney pursued relief from the Georgia Supreme Court, which dismissed the motion on procedural grounds, deciding that another judge should hear the recusal motions.

The trial remains stalled as these legal disputes continue to unfold. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, faces racketeering charges along with several co-defendants. The high-profile case has seen numerous legal maneuvers and complications, with the latest delay further prolonging the proceedings.