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Madlib, the longtime producer who made his name early on as part of the Stones Throw Records label, filed a lawsuit against his former manager, Eothen “Egon” Alapatt. According to the complaint, Madlib is alleging that Egon engaged in business practices detrimental to their partnership.
In a pitch we received earlier this week, Madlib, real name Otis Jackson Jr., filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday (October 31), which was also the anniversary of the passing of Madlib’s collaborative partner in Madvillainy, Daniel “MF DOOM” Dumile.
In our examination of the complaint, the producer alleges that Alapatt engaged in murky dealings that led to the pair exiting Stones Throw Records in 2010. Madlib took on Egon as a manager at this point which led to the creation of two related companies, Madcine Show and Rappcats. Alapatt was slated to run the business operations along with co-founder and recording engineer Jeffrey “Jeff Jank” Carlson, also named in the lawsuit.
Alapatt also helms Now-Again Records, which Jackson’s complaint alleges was pt into place as a go-between for business deals that were in place for Jackson. However, Jackson says Alapatt only sought to benefit himself and his singular business.
“Not only was EGON not performing these duties, but he was also engaged in rank self-dealing, concealing information from and repeatedly breaching his duties to Madlib, and otherwise engaging in persistent and pervasive mismanagement,” a portion of the complaint reads.
The suit further adds that Alapatt forced Jackson “out of several key music business platforms that he should have access to including but not limited to Ingrooves, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and YouTube as well as MADLIB’s own Facebook account and the Instagram account for his QUASIMOTO character.”
Alapatt has yet to publicly respond to the complaint.
This comes after the widow of MF DOOM, Jasmine Dumile Thompson, claimed that Alapatt took over two dozen rhyme notebooks belonging to the beloved lyricist containing songs that were never released. Alapatt is reportedly hoping to donate the notebooks to an archive, going against the wishes of DOOM’s widow.
The complaint can be viewed by following this link.
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Megan Thee Stallion had a busy 2024 with the release of her third studio album, Megan, and the recent deluxe drop of the project, Act II. The Houston Hottie is continuing the creative streak with the release of a new documentary that reveals details of her relationship with Tory Lanez, her struggles with mental health, and more.
Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words premiered this week on the Amazon Prime streaming service and the documentary has held a share of public previews ahead of its release. Candidly, the artist born Megan Peete shares intimate details of her life with unflinching clarity.
What caught the attention of some on social media was Megan’s admission that she lied to Gayle King during their 2022 CBS Mornings interview regarding whether the pair ever slept together. While she denied having sex with the imprisoned Canadian artist, she says in the documentary that she slept with Lanez a couple of times while intoxicated. Some online seized on this as a means to exonerate Lanez from shooting at the rapper’s feet and injuring her.
Other moments from the documentary include Megan sharing that she made the grueling decision to take her mother and manager, Holly Thomas, off life support after a brain tumor was discovered. Megan’s journey of grieving after the 2019 loss of her mother is also documented.
Despite the setbacks, including suffering from anxiety and entering intensive therapy after the shooting incident, one hallmark of the documentary is the resiliency of Megan Thee Stallion. She makes mention of the various industry roadblocks but the consistent theme is that she is finally on the path of triumph.
The trailer for the documentary can be viewed below.
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A female accusing Diddy of sexual assault will have to drop her anonymity. The presiding judge has ordered her to reveal her name so the case can move forward.
As per New York Daily News, a Manhattan federal judge has ruled that a woman who claims Diddy raped her more than 20 years ago must disclose her name. On Wednesday (Oct. 30), Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil deemed her arguments “wholly meritless.” The U.S. District magistrate explained her reasoning in a formal response. “Combs has had no contact with Plaintiff for the approximately 20 years since the alleged rape and Combs is currently detained pending trial. As such, counsel has not identified any present threat of physical harm to Plaintiff,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, Vyskocil wants the case to be fair for both parties thus it will be required for the plaintiff to reveal herself in order for Diddy to defend himself adequately. “The Court appreciates that Combs is a public figure and, therefore, Plaintiff is likely to face public scrutiny if she proceeds in her own name. The Court is not oblivious to the potential toll of such scrutiny on any litigant,” she explained. “However, Plaintiff’s interest in avoiding public scrutiny, or even embarrassment, does not outweigh the interests of both Combs and the public in the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings,” the judge added.
While this requirement only applies to this case, Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil’s ruling could potentially influence other lawsuits against Diddy where the plaintiffs are using aliases. Diddy’s defense team have denied the allegations. Jane Doe has until Nov. 13 to reveal her name or the case will be dismissed. The Tennessee woman claims she was raped in a studio by Diddy and members of his entourage in 2004.
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Westside Gunn is staying true to tradition of releasing a new project every Halloween. The MC says 11 is his most personal project ever.
It seems the Buffalo, N.Y., native is looking to close out 2024 strong. Every year his fans expect him to release something new on the spooky unofficial holiday, and he did not disappoint. 11 features five new tracks all produced by Denny Laflare. With no guest appearances from other rappers, this effort is all Gunn as he prepares this loyal fanbase for the release of his new album Still Praying, which is scheduled to drop Friday (Nov. 1). According to the press release, FLYGOD deems this project as his most personal yet. “11 is the most personal project I ever made, it’s dedicated to my brother who was killed in April, but narrated by my brother who has life in prison fighting to come home,” Gunn explains. “This is the reality for Westside Gunn.”
“Stone” opens things up with a drop from late great DJ Kay Slay and transitions to a slow but grim instrumental. Here Gunn catches up with his friend Donald “Sly” Green, who is serving four life sentences. From there we get a return to the classic Griselda sound with “Unkle Howdy” and “Cain Tejada.” Additionally, we get a verse from Griselda’s in-house poet Keisha Plum on “BIG DUMP BALLAD.” You can purchase and stream Westside Gunn’s 11 here.
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It seems Clipse fans will not have to wait much longer for their new project. The group has signed with Def Jam Records for their new album.
As reported by Hypebeast, the Virginia Beach, Va., duo are officially back. On Tuesday (Oct. 29), Malice took to social media to share the news in a tongue-in-cheek way. In the post we see the man born Eugene Thorton standing in front of a digital sign that says “DEF JAM WELCOMES CLIPSE.” The caption read, “A picture’s worth….” While the label has yet to formally confirm the signing, the move would make sense as his brother Pusha T is already signed to Def Jam Records as a solo artist. Additionally, King Push served as president of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, which is an imprint of the historic Rap label.
Originally announced in June during an interview with Vulture, the two blood brothers confirmed Pharrell Williams would be producing the entirety of Let God Sort Em Out. “Pharrell producing everything is also an ode to the type of music and the type of albums we want to make. We still want to make full bodies of work. These are movies, man. These aren’t just songs. This isn’t just a collection of joints we went in and banged out. This is tedious,” Pusha T said. Since then, Nas, John Legend and Stove God Cooks have also been confirmed as guest appearances.
Let God Sort Em Out marks the Clipse’s fourth album and first effort in over 15 years.
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Tekashi 6ix9ine is back behind the bars. The rapper turned federal informant has been arrested for violating the terms of his supervised release.
As spotted on TMZ, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native was taken into custody Tuesday (Oct. 29), in New York City. According to NBC News a warrant for his arrest was issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. While details of the paperwork have yet to be publicly disclosed, ABC News NY reports that authorities have confirmed that the “GOOBA” performer was detained because he traveled to Las Vegas without permission and missed his scheduled drug testing. He is also said to have tested positive for methamphetamine and arrived an hour late to his court hearing that same morning.
Tekashi 6ix9ine told the judge that he had just flown back to New York City from Florida and overslept. Additionally, he said that he traveled to Las Vegas to perform and thought he had permission to do since it allows him to earn a living as a music artist. In response to testing positive for methamphetamine the man born Daniel Hernandez says he takes Adderall, which contains methamphetamine. “I’m human,” he said to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. “I’m human bro.”
The magistrate made it clear he was not pleased and said his behavior displays a “full spectrum disregard for the law” and promptly ordered he be arrested. Tekashi 6ix9ine is set to sit behind bars until his next hearing on Nov. 12.
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Nicky Jam, a popular Reggaeton artist, was one of many Donald Trump’s celebrity supporters who hit the stump with the presidential hopeful. After a series of tasteless jokes were delivered at a recent rally held by Donald Trump in New York, Nicky Jam is now walking back his endorsement of the former president.
Just last month, Nicky Jam was a proud Donald Trump supporter and appeared onstage with him while sporting a Make America Great Again cap. However, comedian Tony Hinchliffe unleashed jokes at the expense of Puerto Rico, referring to the island as “garbage” along with other racially charged barbs.
Taking to Instagram and speaking in Spanish, Nicky Jam denounced Hinchliffe’s insults then explained to his fans that he supported Trump due to concerns over the economy and thought as a businessman, he would improve conditions for all economically.
“I believed it was what’s best for the economy in the United States, where a lot of Latinos live [A] lot of immigrants that are suffering over the state of the economy,” Jam said. “With [Trump] being a businessman, I felt it was the right movement.”
Below, we’re sharing the video Nicky Jam posted to his Instagram page. The comments for the clip have been turned off, however, so we’re not certain how his statements were received among his 43.5 million followers.
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Metro Boomin is currently facing a lawsuit from a woman who claims that the producer allegedly raped and impregnated her in 2016 after meeting him on a chance meeting in Las Vegas. According to the attorney for Metro Boomin, this is nothing more than a money grab for the accuser.
TMZ first reported about the lawsuit filed against Metro Boomin and the details are as follows. According to the filing, the woman says that she met Metro in Las Vegas while on a getaway vacation following the passing of her 9-month-old son.
According to the documents, a woman named Vanessa LeMaistre claims that she hung out with Metro at his recording studio in Los Angeles and said she allegedly saw the producer downing codeine. From what we understand of the report, LeMaistre says she was at the studio in September 2016 and took Xanax and a shot of alcohol but later said she lost consciousness.
LeMaistre added in her claim that when she awoke, she was in a bed with Metro allegedly raping her along with performing other sexual acts. LeMaistre says she passed out once more and was inside a Beverly Hills hotel room but didn’t remember how she managed to get inside the establishment. LeMaistre says she discovered that she was pregnant after the assault and said that Metro was the father but terminated the pregnancy in November 2016.
In an update to TMZ’s initial report, Metro Boomin’s attorney offered a statement on the lawsuit.
From TMZ:
According to Metro Boomin’s (real name Leland Wayne) lawyer Lawrence Hinkle II of Sanders Roberts LLP tells TMZ … “This is a pure shakedown. These are false accusations. Mr. Wayne refused to pay her months ago, and he refuses to pay her now. Mr. Wayne will defend himself in court. He will file a claim for malicious prosecution once he prevails.”
Metro Boomin has yet to respond publicly beyond this statement.
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Ray J, we’re to take Vince Staples‘ word for it, might be one of the most important figures within the culture although that is an arguable point. However, Ray J’s cache in the game almost took a literal hit after he allegedly almost got into some fisticuffs with three of Diddy‘s children with Chris Brown reportedly breaking up the beef.
According to a TMZ report, Ray J was in attendance at Tara Electra’s Unruly Agency Halloween party last weekend with King Combs aka Christian Combs, Justin Combs, and Quincy Brown.
Sources speaking directly with the outlet say that when the party was over, Ray J was making his exit to to the parking lot with an entourage that included Amber Rose and his manager David Weintraub. However, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sons allegedly stopped him in his tracks. Recent comments made by the “One Wish” singer regarding Diddy didn’t sit well with his sons and they allegedly surrounded him.
Of the three, Justin and King really wanted to get it on like Waingro in the parking lot but Chris Brown witnessed the argument from his vehicle then hopped out of his ride and helped settle things with Ray J’s manager.
Apparently, this isn’t the first time the Combs brothers tried to step to Ray’s business, and from the looks of things, it might not be the last.
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For all the noise and hoopla he’s made in the previous years, Kanye West has been keeping an uncharacteristic low profile in this election cycle, which has a few people wondering, “Where in the world is Kanye West?” (besides walking everywhere with his wife, mostly).
Well, according to TMZ, Yeezy can now be found in Beverly Hills. Looking for a fresh start after selling his Malibu estate for $21 million, Yeezy dropped a whopping $35 million on a home in the gated community of Beverly Park North. Keep in mind that Kanye dropped $57 million on the beachfront Malibu mansion only to strip it down and attempt to turn it into a bomb shelter. Ultimately, that didn’t happen, and Ye ended up taking a $36 million loss on the sale.
Luckily for him, he’s still pretty rich. So dropping another $35 million on a new home isn’t a problem for him.
Per TMZ:
Kanye’s new crib comes with all the bells and whistles … including an entertainment pavilion connected to the main house and a pool area that looks straight out of a resort … with cascading waterfalls and separate pools for swimming laps or soaking, plus a pool house and a gazebo.
There’s also a paddle tennis court on the grounds.
Yeezy may have gotten a sweet deal here … because Honey co-founder George Ruan paid $44 million last week for a property in the same neighborhood.
What’s the chances he strips this one down too only to sell it for less than what he bought it at some point in the future? We’d say a little likely, but hey, that’s just us.
What do y’all think of Kanye splurging on a brand new home in Beverly Hills? Let us know in the comments section below.