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Newly crowned American Idol winner Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old gym teacher from Meridian, Miss., debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated May 31) with “Heal.” He capped off his championship run on the ABC competition May 18 with a stirring rendition of the faith-based track, which was written by Tom O’Dell, who released his version in 2013.
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Released May 18, Roberts’ “Heal” sold 9,000 downloads in the United States in the week ending May 22, according to Luminate. It tops Gospel Digital Song Sales, marking his initial No. 1; he previously hit No. 4 with “He’s Preparing Me” earlier in May. On the all-genre Digital Songs survey, “Heal” opens at No. 2, granting Roberts his first top 10 in his rookie appearance. The spiritual power ballad also drew 918,000 official U.S. streams in the tracking week.
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Meanwhile, Roberts is joined on Digital Song Sales by two fellow American Idol finalists: Breanna Nix with “Higher” (No. 4; 5,000 sold), and John Foster with “Tell That Angel I Love Her” (No. 6; 4,000 sold). They finished in third and second place, respectively, in the series’ latest season.
Notably, the three acts’ haul outpaces that of American Idol contestants from a year ago, when champion Abi Carter was the sole competitor to appear on the Digital Song Sales chart (dated June 1, 2024) following the finale, with “This Isn’t Over” (No. 23; 2,000 sold).
We Get an ‘Amen’
Pastor Mike Jr. adds his record-extending seventh straight career-opening leader on Gospel Airplay as “Amen” lifts 2-1. He co-authored the song with Adia Andrews, David Lamar Outing II and Terrell Anthony Pettus.
Pastor Mike Jr., from Birmingham, Ala., last led Gospel Airplay with “Windows” for a week in June 2024. Before that, he reigned as featured on Kierra Sheard’s “Miracles,” for a week in July 2023, and with his own “Impossible,” featuring James Fortune (two weeks, April 2023); “Amazing” (two weeks, May 2022); “I Got It” (four weeks, beginning in March 2021); and “Big Rock City” (10 weeks, beginning in February 2020).
In addition to owning the career-opening record run, Pastor Mike Jr. boasts the longest streak of Gospel Airplay No. 1s overall. Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Tamela Mann follow with active streaks of six consecutive chart-toppers. (Cobbs Leonard ranks at No. 7 on the latest list with “Do It Anyway,” a week after it reached No. 6.)
Additional reporting by Alex Vitoulis.
Former Mojo Music executive Alan Wallis has launched Dynamite Songs, a new publishing venture that boasts rights to songs performed by Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and Papa Roach, it was announced on Wednesday (May 28).
Described as a “specialist music publisher,” Dynamite Songs has acquired around 50 catalogs to date, including those of Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini songwriter Chris Leonard; Sly Jordan, whose songs have been performed by Lamar and Sean Kingston; Jim Sullivan of the English electronic music duo The Wideboys; Dan + Shay songwriter Danny Orton; and Papa Roach’s Anthony Esperance and Bruce Elliott-Smith.
With backing from Crestline Investors Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based investment manager with $16 billion in alternative credit assets under management that previously invested in Mojo, Wallis says Dynamite will focus on rights to enduring catalogs that are considered “smaller sized deals.”
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“The smaller end of the music rights market has been under-appreciated for too long,” said Wallis, who previously led the music transactions practice valuing catalogs at Ernst & Young LLP and will serve as Dynamic Songs’ CEO.
“Our experience with Mojo Music has shown that there are brilliant songwriters and catalogues to be found — you just need to know where to look. With one of the best teams and networks in the business behind us, we’re strongly placed to navigate this market segment, allowing us to support songwriters and honour their works and legacies,” Wallis said in a statement.
Started in 2018 by Wallis and two former Spirit Music Group principals, Mark Fried and Peter Shane, Mojo Music & Media grew to include some 40 catalogs and 30,000 songs before it was acquired by Concord in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. Mojo’s portfolio included portions of songs recorded by REO Speedwagon, KISS, Cheap Trick, Duran Duran and Earth Wind & Fire.
Wallis’s team includes former Mojo Music & Media executives Sophie Brown, who will serve as CFO/COO; Lisa Macy, who will serve as head of sync; and Tom Donovan, Dynamite’s head of business development. Dynamite’s investment manager is Naomi Riley, whil Peter Thomas, previously MD of Carlin Music, serves as chief catalogue officer.
John Cena’s You Can’t See Me has hit its 20th anniversary, and we’re taking a look back into how the album rocked the Billboard 200, and how he bridged the world of hip-hop and wrestling. What do you think of John Cena’s You Can’t See Me? Let us know in the comments! Narrator:During this WWE […]
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Summer is here and the deals at Sam’s Club are worthy of a splurge.
Members of the warehouse retailer know the deals are extremely juicy. Whether you’re looking for new and innovative tech or trying to upgrade your skincare game, Sam’s Club features steep sales on top products in pretty much all categories. We’re talking sales on top brands such as Apple, Bose, Olay, Neutrogena and Steve Madden.
To help you narrow down what to put in your shopping cart, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best deals we spotted on the Sam’s Club website. Get ready to shop till you drop.
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Apple Watch Series 7
$589.91
$719
18% off
A watch with stainless steel accents and an adjustable strap.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is exceedingly sought after these days, especially as folks move away from more traditional watch styles. Well, thanks to Sam’s Club, you can snag the tech for 18% off the price. You won’t have to break the bank to keep up with the tech trends this time.
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This piece is more crack-resistant than its predecessors, equipped with a resistant front crystal that can withstand drops from high heights. Beyond telling time, this watch lets you measure your blood oxygen level, take an ECG and access mindfulness and sleep tracking apps so you can manage your health and wellness all hands-free. The best part? The watch also boasts all-day battery life and faster charging speeds so you’ll never have your watch inconveniently die on you.
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds
$149
$179
17% off
Bose earbuds in black with noise-cancelling tech.
Bose’s QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth earbuds are made for the music lover in your life. Currently on sale for $149, these earbuds feature hands-free Bluetooth multipoint and up to 8.5 hours of battery life so you can bump your tunes uninterrupted.
Perfect for workouts, studying or working in an office, these earbuds are also equipped with renowned noise cancellation tech to tune out the world when you need to focus the most. Each bud is affixed with an ear tip and stability band that ensures that the tech fits snugly in the ear without budging. Our favorite feature is the customizable tap control buttons. If you don’t love the song or podcast you’re tuning into, tap to skip or pause. It’s as easy as that.
Olay Super Cream with Sunscreen
$44.98
$54.98
18% off
A moisturizer with SPF 30 formulated in it.
Olay has changed the game with its Super Cream formula. It’s a sunscreen and a moisturizer in one. How innovative is that? It’s all about the formula. Ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E and collagen peptide work to help brighten and hydrate, while the built-in SPF 30 helps protect the skin against those pesky UVA and UVB rays.
The best way to care for your skin, especially as you get older, is moisturizing and religiously using SPF. The added SPF and skincare benefits are a major plus, especially if you don’t have time for an in-depth 12-step skincare routine. We love this formula because it’s not heavy or greasy like some moisturizers. If you want to get fancy with it, working this moisturizer into your skin ahead of your makeup application can make things go on much smoother.
Totes Everywear Women’s Clog
$12.77
$16.77
24% off
A iridescent blue clog in a slip-on style.
Clogs have become majorly popular over the last few years, seen on stars such as Justin Bieber, Saweetie, Lil Nas X, Teyana Taylor and Post Malone, among others. The style is timeless and easy to wear, and these Totes’ Everywear clogs are no exception. Ready to slip on and go, these clogs feature a chunky silhouette and a backless construction.
They also come equipped with nifty non-slip rubber soles that make for a great work shoe if you’re a nurse or cook. We like the Metallic Bonnie Blue colorway because it’s slightly iridescent, adding visual interest to any outfit it’s paired with. We recommend wearing these with classic baggy jeans and a colorful zip-up to tap into those cozy vibes.
NatureWell Hydrating Lip Mask Variety Pack
$14.98
$16.98
12% off
A three pack of lip masks in mango, vanilla and berry.
This lip mask trio aims to emulate Laneige’s viral lip sleeping mask but at half the price — plus, you get three for the price of one. This lip mask trio comes with 0.70 oz pots in three different scrumptious scents: mango, berry and vanilla. No matter the scent, each lip mask is infused with antioxidants and shea butter that can help imbue moisture, healing chapped lips. Non-greasy and non-sticky, the product feels smooth and plush on the lips. Simply put, there’s no excuse for crusty lips with this deal.
Xbox Wireless Controller
$42.00
$52.00
19% off
A bright red wireless controller for Xbox.
Want to game in style? Sam’s Club features an Xbox Wireless controller in a bright Pulse Red hue, with an affordable price tag to boot. This controller currently retails for $42 and features key details such as sculpted surfaces and refined geometry for enhanced comfort in the hands during gameplay. Texture grip on the D-pad, bumpers and trigger also make for a more seamless gaming experience. The controller’s wireless and Bluetooth detailing are compatible with Windows 10 PCs, Android phones and tablets.
Dolce & Gabbana Devotion Eau De Parfum
$79.44
$93.44
15% off
A designer perfume with ornate gold accented packaging.
Dolce & Gabbana’s perfume line is usually pretty expensive. At Sam’s Club, you can snag the designer’s Devotion Eau De Parfum for just $79.44. The bottle features 1.7oz of perfume scented like candied citrus, orange blossom and vanilla. Feminine and floral, this scent is pretty universal thanks to the vanilla base note. Like the scent, the packaging is equally extravagant and sweet, made of see-through glass with ornate gold accents that make you feel like royalty when spritzing on this scent. A sacred-heart emblem can be seen on the front with the brand’s logo inside.
RM by Rebecca Minkoff Women’s Tank Top
$10.96
$12.96
15% off
A tan tank top with a mock neckline.
Basics such as this RM by Rebecca Minkoff tank top are a must-have in your wardrobe. Retailing for $10.96, this slim-fit cotton garment is classically constructed with a mock neckline and no sleeves, flattering just about every figure.
Sizing options for this top range from XS to XXL, while colorways include vibrant light blues to more neutral black tones. Ruched detailing at the sides makes for a more unique fit. We like the Cream colorway because the hue is exceedingly versatile, and wears well with jeans or sharp pleated slacks. Wear this to work with a blazer for a formal feel, or take it out to dinner with a matching miniskirt.
Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Blemish Patches
$13.98
$17.98
22% off
A multipack of acne patches.
Ever struggle with pesky acne that just won’t go away? Sam’s Club has got you covered. A three-pack of Neutrogena’s Stubborn Acne Blemish Patches is currently on sale for just $13.98. This 24-count pimple patch ensures that you’ll never have to suffer surprise acne scars ever again thanks to its star ingredient hydrocolloid, a polymer that absorbs fluid and promotes healing.
These patches are as easy as applying a sticker. Just peel off the adhesive film, stick the patch on and let it do its thing. The patch should absorb the gunk in your pimple, taking out any impurities in the skin. The product really works, and the testimonies don’t lie. Ninety percent of users witnessed a noticeable reduction in pimple size the next day.
Steve Madden Men’s Casual Varick Sneaker
Men’s sneaker in a white and deep blue colorway.
It’s officially time to update your sneaker wardrobe for summer. Steve Madden’s men’s Varick sneaker is a great addition for those searching for a trustworthy lifestyle sneaker. These kicks marry style, comfort and everyday functionality with details such as a cushioned footbed that offers all-day support and durable outsoles for a non-slip feel.
The shoes include plenty of unique design details such as quilted side panels and mesh accents that add texture and dimension, while two-tone uppers make styling options practically endless. Our favorite? The Blue colorway is pretty great, given the hue is centered around deeper blue hues that are just as adaptable as black.
Reservoir Media wrapped up earnings season on Wednesday (May 28) by announcing that its revenue rose 10% to $41.4 million in the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), a popular measure of profitability, was $18.2 million, up 14%.
“The music industry has a longstanding ability to weather broader macroeconomic headwinds as consumers believe in the value that music brings to their daily lives,” CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi said during the earnings call. “Our top-line growth is a testament to the demand and resiliency of our catalog.”
Music publishing revenue grew 6% to $27.9 million in the quarter. Digital, publishing’s largest revenue stream, rose 5% to $13.6 million. Sync revenue jumped 51% to $5.5 million due primarily to the timing of licenses. Performance revenue dropped 13% to $6.5 million and mechanical royalties fell 6% to $1.2 million.
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Recorded music revenue improved 7% to $12.0 million. Digital revenue jumped 19% to $8.8 million due mainly to price increases and subscriber growth at subscription platforms. Direct affiliations with collection societies helped neighboring rights rise 15% to $1.1 million. Physical sales fell 26% to $1.3 million due to a lighter release schedule. Sync revenue fell 29% to $700,000 due to the timing of licenses.
Full-year revenue of $158.7 million beat the high end of the guidance range of $155 million to $158 million. Adjusted EBITDA of $65.7 million also topped the high end of the guidance range of $64.5 million.
“Reservoir had a standout fiscal year, capitalizing on our opportunities to boost our organic revenue,” said CFO Jim Hindlmeyer. “Thanks to our value enhancement team, the deals we closed this year were substantial and delivered notable value to the company, and profitability was further aided by our internal efforts to control costs.”
In a busy year for signings, Reservoir Media inked songwriting deals with Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records, k.d. lang, Travis Heidelman and Aaron Zuckerman, among others. It also acquired the publishing catalog of Lebo M, Lastrada Entertainment, Big D Evans and Billy Strange, and purchased the produce royalties of Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick).
While Reservoir Media has a roster of Western songwriters and recording artists, the company also focuses on emerging markets. This month, Reservoir Media announced its PopIndia subsidiary acquired the publishing and master rights of Musicraft Entertainment, which spans decades of Indian music. Khosrowshahi described the growth rate of India’s music business as “pretty significant given both the size of the population and the opportunity for the number of people to become streamers of music.”
Guidance for fiscal 2026 is revenue of $164 million to $169 million, which at the midpoint would result in 5% annual growth. Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $68 million to $72 million represents 7% growth at the midpoint.
Reservoir Media shares fell as much as 8.4% Wednesday morning but recovered to $7.69, down 1.4%, by early afternoon. The share price jumped 7.9% on Tuesday (May 27) on heavier than average trading volume.
“Breakin’ speed records on roads that these n—-s paved,” Drake raps on Scorpion‘s “Emotionless.” The 6 God collected another impressive accolade on Wednesday (May 28) when the RIAA announced that Drizzy has earned his 10th Diamond certification, which is the most of any artist ever.
“Drake has the most RIAA Diamond Certifications of any artist, ever,” the RIAA wrote on social media with a graphic featuring all 10 of Drizzy’s Diamond plaques. “‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ and ‘Best I Ever Had’ are now certified RIAA Diamond, bringing Drake to a total of 10 Diamond Certifications.”
Outside of classics such as Nothing Was the Same‘s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” or “Best I Ever Had,” the rest of Drizzy’s Diamond club includes “God’s Plan,” “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE,” “Life Is Good” with Future, Lil Wayne’s “Love Me” and Chris Brown’s “No Guidance.”
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There could be an 11th Diamond plaque on the way, as Drake will look to extend his record with Scorpion‘s “Nice for What,” which is currently at 9x Platinum.
Drake is the first artist to enter double-digit Diamond certifications across both singles and albums. The OVO rapper broke a tie with Garth Brooks, who has nine Diamond-certified albums, along with Post Malone, who also has nine Diamond certifications across an array of singles.
Fans hopped into the RIAA’s comment section to give Drake his flowers. “You just simply can’t say anything bad about this lol. N—-s staring greatness in the face,” one person wrote.
Another added a reference to Drake’s war with Kendrick Lamar: “Looks like the 20v1 didn’t work out!”
The hard work continues to pay off for Drizzy, who is enjoying another busy year. On the music side, he delivered his long-awaited $ome $exy $ongs 4 U joint album with PARTYNEXTDOOR in February. A pair of songs from the project (“Nokia” at No. 12 and “Somebody Loves Me” at No. 77) remain on the Billboard Hot 100.
Drake will heat up the summer when he hits the Wireless Festival stage to headline all three nights (July 11-13) at London’s Finsbury Park. He’s also promising the return of OVO Fest to Toronto.
Check out the RIAA’s announcement about Drake’s latest accomplishment below:
Source: Kevin Carter / Getty / Tesla / Elon Musk
Going Dark MAGA and meddling with global politics isn’t good for business. Elon Musk can attest to that, as Tesla sales continue to slump not just in the United States, but also in Europe.
Spotted on The Verge, Tesla as a company is taking a tremendous hit in the European car sales market, and Elon Musk can look no further than himself as the reason.
According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Tesla is experiencing a significant decline in sales in Europe, with figures for the EU, UK, and European Free Trade Association falling 49 percent year-over-year in April, while sales of battery electric vehicles rose.
The EAMA reports that Tesla registered only 7,261 new vehicle registrations in April, a steep decline from the previous year, which is concerning for those in Tesla corporate or as an investor, given that the company has just launched an updated Tesla Model Y, one of the more popular models globally. It has also flopped, failing to lure in more customers.
The website reports that all of the company’s current misfortunes can be linked back to numerous factors, including Elon Musk’s decision to align with Donald Trump, his unsuccessful DOGE efforts, his involvement in global affairs, and more.
Per The Verge:
Despite Musk’s optimistic talk about the Model Y’s sales prospects, Tesla’s brand crisis appears to be deepening. And it’s not because European consumers are souring on electric vehicles; in the first four months of 2025, new battery-electric car sales grew by 26.4 percent, to 558,262 units, capturing 15.3 percent of the total EU market share.
Tesla’s falling fortunes can be chalked up to several factors, including rising competition from domestic manufacturers and Chinese rivals, and Musk’s efforts to slash federal spending for the Trump administration as part of DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk’s political meddling in the EU, where he came out in support of Germany’s far-right party ahead of that country’s elections, appears to have done Tesla few favors as well.
The latest financial woes for Tesla come after Musk claimed that he would be taking a step back from politics to focus more on the business, but will somehow stay involved with the Trump presidency throughout Felon 47’s current term.
While Musk’s popularity among Democrats and Liberals was in the toilet due to his glazing of Donald Trump and embracing MAGA, the Republicans who were fans of the billionaire have also gone sour on him.
A Reuters/Ipsos Poll revealed that 58 percent of respondents held an unfavorable view of Musk, compared to 39 percent who viewed him favorably.
Musk’s business woes are currently being celebrated on his platform, X formerly Twitter, which he allegedly sold to xAI.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
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NPR, the longstanding public broadcasting network, is standing up to President Donald Trump’s war on the media after filing a lawsuit this week. On Tuesday (May 27), NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a lawsuit stating that President Trump’s executive order to cut funding for the network and PBS is unconstitutional.
In a report from the network, NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT filed a suit in a District of Columbia court alleging that Trump’s sweeping executive order to end funding to the entities is a violation of their constitutional right to free speech.
“It is not always obvious when the government has acted with a retaliatory purpose in violation of the First Amendment. ‘But this wolf comes as a wolf,’” reads a portion of the lawsuit filing. “The Order targets NPR and PBS expressly because, in the President’s view, their news and other content is not ‘fair, accurate, or unbiased.’”
President Trump, White House budget director Russell Vought, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Maria Rosario Jackson, the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, are all named as defendants.
“The Executive Order is a clear violation of the Constitution and the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech and association, and freedom of the press,” NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher added in a statement.
U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss is overseeing the matter. The same judge is also overseeing a similar case with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) also suing President Trump.
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Photo: Brooks Kraft / Getty
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Months after photos of Victoria Monét getting cozy with Stormzy went viral, the “On My Mama” singer is reflecting on her romance with the rapper.
While hosting Monét on her Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast posted Tuesday (May 27), Keke Palmer first brought up the topic of Stormzy by recalling how the English-Ghanaian hip-hop star had been gushing hard about the singer-songwriter at the Met Gala earlier in May. “I said, ‘You know my girl, Victoria,’” Palmer said as Monét blushed. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, you know, she’s amazing.’”
“Yeah, he’s a really special guy,” replied Monét. “I have so much respect for him, and I got to learn more about him by dating him.”
The Grammy winner went on to say that she “fell deeply, so deeply,” for Stormzy before recalling how photos of the pair — which surfaced in October, less than a month after Monét announced her split from John Gaines — went viral before she and the rapper were even official. “We didn’t even get together yet,” Monét reflected.
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“The first time that you saw us in that viral picture, that was the first time of us really hanging out hard in his city, so I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s everywhere before we’re even starting,’” she continued. “So that was interesting to navigate … We would have wanted to announce on our own time, when everything was official. But that was just the beginning.”
“We had a blast together, we had such a great time,” added Monét, before seeming to hint that she and the “Vossi Bop” artist have since called it quits. “I think there’s mutual respect there and support, no bad blood. Always love.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for Monét and Stormzy for comment.
Monét and Stormzy’s romance followed the former’s September statement confirming her separation from Gaines, with whom she shares 4-year-old daughter Hazel. Noting that they’d actually split 10 months prior to the announcement, the vocalist wrote at the time, “Though we still completely adore and respect each other, we are not a couple anymore.”
Stormzy also announced a breakup shortly before his relationship with Monét, revealing that he and TV host Maya Jama had split in July.
The interview comes about seven months after Monét dropped the deluxe edition of her breakthrough album Jaguar II, featuring collaborations with Usher and Thundercat. The LP originally reached No. 60 on the Billboard 200 in 2023 and won best R&B album at the 66th Grammy Awards.
In April, Monét teamed up with Davido for new track “Offa Me.” She is also gearing up to publish a children’s book titled Everywhere You Are, which arrives June 25.
Watch Monét discuss her relationship with Stormzy on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer above.
Source: Jason Koerner / Getty
Fivio Foreign’s 2025 has been anything but smooth, as the Brooklyn drill rapper has spent the entire year behind bars following a weapons-related arrest on New Year’s Day.
However, there may finally be a glimmer of hope for the “Big Drip” artist. According to the New Jersey Public Information Office, Fivio pled guilty to one count of making terroristic threats, specifically, a third-degree charge involving a threat to commit a violent crime. Originally, Fivio was facing a far more serious legal battle with four additional charges looming over him, including unlawful possession of a weapon and aggravated assault.
However, his attorney, Adam Lustberg, shared with TMZ that those charges are likely to be dropped in light of the plea deal. The incident that landed him in jail reportedly began when a woman asked Fivio for a jump-start for her car. She told police that instead of helping, Fivio pulled a gun on her, leading to his arrest by Edgewater Police. Since then, the rapper has remained in custody, awaiting legal resolution.
Lustberg says the hope now is that Fivio will receive probation at his sentencing hearing scheduled for August. Given the time he’s already served — nearly eight months behind bars — there’s a strong chance the court will consider it sufficient punishment, opening the door for a possible release. For a rapper who’s spent much of his career building momentum, this could be a crucial step toward getting his life and music career back on track.
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