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Lil Durk is currently behind bars awaiting trial for his role in a murder-for-hire plot that targeted Quando Rondo but instead left the rapper’s cousin shot and killed in 2022. In new court documents that were recently filed, Lil Durk’s trial has been postponed until October of this year as officials will comb through 230 gigabytes of digital evidence.
As shared by independent legal reporter Meghann Cuniff, Lil Durk was slated to go on trial next week as seen in the filing made on Dec. 31 to the United States District Court, Central District of California. Cuniff combed through the filing and discovered that Durk’s new trial date will be Oct. 14 as the state continues to examine its haul of evidence as prosecutors continue to build out their case.
Cuniff shared that Durk’s co-defendant Asa “Boogie” Houston is opposing the trial postponement while another co-defendant Deandre “DeDe” Wilson appears to be seeking a plea deal after requesting a pre-plea sentence report.
The discovery portion of the matter focuses on “approximately 230 GB of digital evidence such as audio/video recordings and surveillance footage, and approximately 20,000 pages of reports concerning murder and other violent acts, photographs, witness statements, and medical documents.”
It is expected that Lil Durk will remain behind bars until the trial after being denied bond due to a potential flight risk. The Chicago star was arrested while en route to a Florida airport that was reportedly heading to Europe before he was cornered and arrested.
Meghann Cuniff’s thread from X regarding the matter can be viewed below.
Rapper Lil Durk is looking at a new trial date of October 14 in his murder-for-hire case in Los Angeles, according to a stipulation today from federal prosecutors and the defense. pic.twitter.com/XtMjADEOPd
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 31, 2024
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Dave Benett / Getty
Rihanna’s New Year’s Eve celebration was extra special this year. She revealed she sustained from alcohol all of 2024.
As spotted on Page Six, the “We Found Love” singer admitted something very personal about her current journey. She posted a video of her New Year’s Eve vibes with her friends and family. After counting down the last seconds of 2024 she said, “Y’all, I didn’t drink all year! I didn’t drink all year.” The caption read, “New Year, New Me,” which further cemented her commitment. While her core fanbase was happy to hear that she avoided booze, she was met with plenty of jokes about her very much delayed new album. “Yeah you didn’t drop any music all year either,” someone wrote.
“I thought it was the countdown for the album drop,” a different follower commented. Another user named Lorenzo wrote, “We want an album forehead,” which apparently didn’t sit well with Rihanna. The “Diamonds” performer quickly responded to him saying, “Listen, Lorenzo, you ain’t cute enough to be calling me by my Black name, you dizzy f*ck!” The hilarious clapback was largely embraced with over 800 individuals responding with laughing emojis.
You can see the footage from Rihanna’s New Year’s Eve below.
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Source: @WakaFlocka / Twitter
Waka Flocka Flame will be appearing at a gala hosted by Black conservatives for the second inauguration of Donald Trump, with Antonio Brown among the other featured guests.
As President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches later this month, multiple events are being finalized. One of them will be the Legacy of Freedom Ball, organized by the Black Conservatives Federation, which has added Waka Flocka Flame to its lineup of guests. The federation has promised “an evening of elegance and unparalleled celebration” to honor Trump for his second presidential term. However, the addition of Waka Flocka Flame has drawn derision to the event from observers. “Embarrassing,” was the commentary from activist Deray Mckesson in a post sharing the flyer on X, formerly Twitter.
Embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/3nenAwJIdo
— deray (@deray) December 30, 2024
The other guests that have been to the gala include Brooklyn rapper Fivio Foreign, former NFL star receiver Antonio Brown, former ESPN host and sports journalist Sage Steele, former Florida Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll, and evangelist Dr. Alveda King, the niece of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King and Steele will serve as honorary event chairs along with two Republican members of Congress, Florida Representative Byron Donalds and Texas Representative Wesley Hunt. Noted conservative media figure Kimberly Klacik will serve as the mistress of ceremonies.
Waka Flocka’s inclusion in the event is unsurprising, considering that he’s been an avid supporter of Donald Trump publicly since early last year. The Queens-born, Atlanta-based artist even declared that if Vice President Kamala Harris had won the presidential election in November, he would leave the United States. He defended his position in a post on X, formerly Twitter, last July.
“Trump still my president. I don’t have to stand with a red hat or dance [on] stage for money in my pockets,” he continued. “[It] Didn’t push me [in] this direction. This is my choice like I choose not to eat pork, but do that make me hate pork lovers or disrespect their character…nor will I act like [it].” Waka Flocka Flame was not alone in declaring his support of Trump either on the rap front, as Fivio Foreign was present at a Trump rally last year. They join Kodak Black, who has gone on record of supporting the president-elect after receiving a pardon from him back in 2021.
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Lil Baby last dropped a full-length album in 2022’s It’s Only Me which was a solid outing from the southwest Atlanta rapper and was thought by many to be the next step in his burgeoning stardom. Three years later, Lil Baby dropped his fourth studio album WHAM (Who Hard As Me) and the early returns on X are in with fans giving their knee-jerk opinions as expected.
Hype for Lil Baby’s latest project bubbled at a steady rate in 2024 with Young Thug dropping cryptic tweets suggesting that the pair were soon to cook up something for the masses. As the months rolled on, LB dropped a series of teasers, including sharing a partial tracklist on social media before he officially announced his new album at his birthday concert last month.
Now that the project is here, our first listen to the album reveals that LB hasn’t lost his gift for melody while keeping the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach to the music. The guests on WHAM are also perfectly hand-selected with Young Thug and Future showing up for the early standout track “Dum, Dumb, and Dumber” and GloRilla put on a scene-stealing show on “Redbone.”
Other features include “By Myself” featuring Rylo Rodriguez and Rod Wave, and Travis Scott shows up for the “Stuff” track. What many fans online are zeroing in on is 21 Savage’s feature verse on the track “Outfit” with some believing the Slaughter Gang star is shouting out Drake while throwing a slight shot toward Kendrick Lamar.
Lil Baby should get most of the credit for carrying the project as his mix of sing-song trap anthems and some rare moments of vulnerability highlight how well-rounded an artist he’s become over the years. However, and we’re not sure why, but the reactions are mixed with some believing the production doesn’t match LB’s talent while other fans are enjoying the output.
On X, the reactions to WHAM are still coming in and we’ve got them listed below.
Where I’m from, your heart and your hustle is everything.
WHAM | 1-3-25 | Pre-Save https://t.co/znTirK9Gho pic.twitter.com/HcnTYhpRcl
— Lil Baby (@whamcbfw4) December 30, 2024
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Photo: Prince Williams / Getty
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It’s that time of the year when Uncle Murda pretty much sums up the year in pop culture with his annual “Rap Up” cut and needless to say, there was no shortage of material for him to work with, as Hip-Hop in 2024 was filled with all kinds of wild headlines.
Coming in at a staggering 17 minutes long, Uncle Murda’s “Rap Up 2024” wasn’t only comedic but incredibly unapologetic. From bluntly calling Diddy a “rapist” and basically saying he’s guilty of everything he was accused of, Murda took the time to cut Meek some slack by rapping, “I don’t believe the sh*t they say about Meek and Puffy/but them matching outfits y’all had on was kinda funny.”
Naturally, Murda touched on the whole Kendrick and Drake drama and even took a swipe at J. Cole for bowing out of the battle saying, “This n*gga let the whole Hip-Hop culture down/Won’t write no more raps talkin’ bout he got the crown/Claim to be the best rapper every time you spit a verse/How you apologize to a n*gga that dissed you first? You went out like a sucka, J. Cole, just being honest/A n*gga tell you something different they just being modest.”
Continuing to cut ass on his rap peers, Uncle Murda went on to call Rick Ross a “lame ass” for dissing Drake and getting jumped in Canada and accused Kendrick of “capping” in his Drake diss records for saying Drizzy had another secret child. Though he did concede that K. Dot “shut it down” with “Not Like Us,” Murda admitted that “Drake took an L,” as Kendrick “made an anthem out of a diss record.”
Though the cut was hella long, it was as entertaining as it was informative.
Check out Uncle Murda’s “Rap Up 2024,” and let us know your thoughts on the cut in the comments section below.
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Yasiin Bey and The Alchemist are teaming up as a rap duo, and they’re set to release their debut album next month.
As the new year begins, the Hip-Hop world received some exciting news that veteran MC Yasiin Bey and the producer and rapper The Alchemist will join forces as a new duo. The new group will be known as Forensics, and fans won’t have to wait long for new music as the two are set to debut their first album together next month in Paris, France.
The two will perform together at the historic Le Trianon in the French capital on Jan. 25. Little else is known about the event, outside of the fact that it will be one where audience members are not allowed to use their smartphones throughout. It remains to be seen if audience members will have to restrict them beforehand using Yondr pouches, which have been employed before at shows featuring Bey and his Black Star bandmate, Talib Kweli. The Alchemist did give fans an early listen to what might be on the upcoming album while performing with MIKE and Wiki at a show in Los Angeles, Calif., in November. According to reports, the crowd raved over a song that he played during the show featuring Bey.
The news emphasizes how busy 2024 has been for The Alchemist. His most recent album, The Skeleton Key, is another collaboration with veteran MC Roc Marciano, which was released earlier this month. The rapper and producer also released The Genuine Articulate in September, which features ScHoolboy Q, Larry June, Action Bronson, and Conway The Machine. As for Yaasin Bey, he recently released his first solo effort in five years in December as well. The Money Christmas EP made its debut in a livestream through his Bandcamp page, and audio downloads are available for purchase. The method highlights the first “of a number of upcoming releases intended to inextricably link the acquisition of music to the artwork and supporting video footage, creating a stronger and more creative bond with fans.”
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It seems Mariah Carey is restarting her soft girl era. She has been spotted holding hands with Anderson .Paak, and she is all smiles.
As spotted on Bossip, the iconic songstress may have a new man in her life. Earlier this month, she was seen out and about with Anderson .Paak in Aspen, Colo. While neither performer addressed the nature of their outing, it seemed that the two were out on a date. Now, it looks like the two might be an official item, as they were spotted again in the snowy vacation town on Sunday (Dec. 29.) Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak were holding hands leaving Duemani, a popular Mediterranean restaurant in the area. She was wearing a three-quarter black fur coat with a shimmery dress. He, on the other hand, played it more casual with a newsboy cap, a blue suit and a tweed overcoat.
An unnamed source tells The Sun to be close to them says the pair have been hanging out for several months now. “Mariah and Anderson have been hanging out for months, and have a flirty connection,” the insider says. “But he has a reputation as a ladies’ man in Hollywood and is still legally married to his wife.” Anderson .Paak met his wife, Jaylyn Chang, while at music school. They would wed in 2010 but would file for divorce back in January. They share two children Soul Rasheed and Shine Tariq. Mariah Carey also has two children Monroe and Moroccan, with ex-husband Nick Cannon.
You can see the two holding hands below.
#MariahCarey and #Anderson.Paak are definitely “Leav[ing] The Door Open” for those dating rumors 👀 All we know at the link in bio!
📽️: BACKGRID pic.twitter.com/PovdZ0lWiE
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 30, 2024
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Tina Knowles took those criticizing Beyoncé for her Christmas halftime show on Netflix to task online, calling it “mind-boggling.”
Critics of the A Cowboy Carter Christmas concert performed by Beyoncé on Christmas Day got a hefty rebuke from her mother, Tina Knowles, online. The superstar singer’s mother shared a post on Instagram from a fan that declared that “people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say” about her daughter no matter the circumstances. Knowles then decided to add her own comments.
“Repost: My sentiments exactly!” she began in the caption. “It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later. Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them, wish you could be them, that you cannot help but to watch and critique and comment and say dumb ridiculous stuff that makes you look like a joke!!
“So go to another channel when it’s halftime watch goofy cartoons or Bozo the clown or something you can relate to and see yourself in,” Knowles continued, adding: “Said with love. PS I have learned so much from her warrior spirit, of when they go low I work harder ‘No weapon formed against me shall prosper’ one, two, three waiting for the fake bots to come.”
The 13-minute concert performance took place at halftime between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in her hometown of Houston. “I’m so honored to be in Texas right now. It’s only right that we do ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ for the first time in Houston, Texas on Christmas,” Beyoncé told the crowd. The 32-time Grammy Award winner performed songs with country artist Shaboozey and Post Malone and was joined by her daughter Blue Ivy Carter on the field.
The performance was a high moment for Netflix, which livestreamed that game and the previous tilt between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers earlier that afternoon as the first-ever NFL games to air on the platform. An estimated 27 million viewers tuned in to the live show, which is now available for those who missed it as a standalone special, Beyoncé Bowl.
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Source: Harry How / Getty
Dwight Howard may not be the NBA superstar that he once was, but people still love getting hot tea about him and his baby mama is ready to serve it all up, as hell hath no fury like a woman scorn.
Not too long after announcing his engagement to Amy Luciani, Dwight Howard’s baby mama Royce Reed decided to take to social media to reveal the mental, emotional and physical abuse she claims to have suffered at the hands of the former NBA MVP. According to HotNewHipHop, Reed took to her IG account to state that Dwight “Asked for it!” and added, “I told him to leave me alone! Messing with my career after already being a deadbeat and then telling me to ‘Get a job!’—like I haven’t been working since I was 16—is the last straw.”
Following through on her threat, Reed went on to create a new Instagram account, @ihadababybysuperman, and went into detail about how her relationship with Dwight began in 2004 while she was a dancer for the Orlando Magic during his rookie year and reveals that after she got pregnant, Dwight agreed to pay for the abortion only to disappear on her when it came time to do so.
But that’s not all.
Per HotNewHipHop:
Reed also claims Howard initially wanted no connection to their child, forbidding his name on baby shower invitations. She recalls a brief change of heart in 2008 when he visited her, bringing a car and phone as gifts, and even offering to buy her a house under his name—an offer she declined. Despite the material gestures, Reed says their relationship turned abusive when they tried to co-parent. She accuses Howard of forcing her into unwanted sexual acts and subjecting her to verbal, physical, and mental abuse.
Sounds like Dwight was out there acting like Diddy. Just sayin’.
Dwight has remained mum on these accusations. And we doubt he’ll waste any energy defending himself, as much of his dirty laundry has already been aired for public consumption. At this point, it feels like nothing is shocking when it comes to the former NBA superstar.
What do y’all think about this latest twist in the story of Dwight Howard? Let us know in the comments section below.
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The Cosby Show actor Geoffrey Owens spoke candidly about his struggles to find work as an actor in a recent radio interview.
Six years after he was spotted working at a Trader Joe’s grocery store in New Jersey, actor Geoffrey Owens sat down for an interview to share more about his difficulties as a “middle-class actor”. Owens was a guest on “The Big Tigger Morning Show”, aired on the V-103 radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cosby Show alum revealed that after the photos of him working at the store taken by a shopper were published, he left his position.
“I quit Trader Joe’s actually before the news hit,” Owens said. “It was strange because someone had been in the store taking pictures. … And I was like, well now that this is breaking, I’m not going to feel comfortable working in this store wondering who’s around with a camera. It’s gonna be just too weird. I’m a very private person.” The photos, published by the tabloid Daily Mail and by Fox News, were regarded as “job shaming” by observers.
But Owens would also receive heavy support from celebrities, including director Tyler Perry, who offered him a role in his OWN drama series The Have and The Have Nots. Big Tigger mentioned that his residual checks from The Cosby Show must’ve been good, to which the actor replied they weren’t, given that his role as Elvin Tibideux meant that “I did maybe 20% of the show.”
“People have a false you impression of what the average, what I call middle-class actor makes and their ability to make a living in the industry,” the 63-year-old continued. “So that’s what drove me to work at Trader Joe’s to begin with. Honestly, I’m not much better off now than I was then.” Owens has appeared on the CBS sitcom Poppa’s House and is currently promoting the holiday movie Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza, which he stars in with comedian Tommy Davidson.
The actor also shared how he was gifted $25,000 by rapper Nicki Minaj, which he wound up donating to the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly the Actors Fund) in honor of the late actor Earle Hyman, who played Russell Huxtable, Bill Cosby’s father on the NBC sitcom. When his revelation was met with surprise, he replied that
“at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do.”
Watch the interview above.