Current Events
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty / G. Dep
G. Dep is wasting no time speaking about his murder confession following his release.
G. Dep sat down with The Art of Dialogue for his first interview since his release earlier this month, touching on why he confessed to the crime almost 20 years after he committed it.
The rapper signed to embattled music mogul Sean P. Diddy Combs’ Bad Boy Records label in the 90s and finally gained some notoriety for his 2001 hit record “Special Delivery.”
He attempted to rob a man at gunpoint in 1993 but, during a scuffle, shot and killed John Henkel, and that crime went unsolved until 2010 when the rapper, born Trevell Coleman, confessed to the murder, leading to his 15 years to life prison sentence.
Now 49, he is a free man after Governor Kathy Hochul granted him clemency and is speaking on that faithful day when his life was forever changed.
Per HipHopDX:
In his first interview since regaining his freedom, G. Dep spoke to The Art of Dialogue about why he confessed to the crime long after it happened.
“In order to restore balance to my life and someone’s family, I wanted to turn myself in and see what happened,” he said. “I was willing to put myself on the line, whether or not he passed on. I just needed to get that off my mind.”
G. Dep continued: “I did the right thing.”
G. Dep Says He Has No Regrets About His Confession
During the interview, G. Dep also denied having any regrets about his decision to turn himself in, even though he was never considered a suspect in the case initially.
While Dep is opening up about his confession and his time behind bars, his former boss is potentially looking at a long prison stint, being that he is the subject of an ongoing federal investigation that he was involved in sex trafficking.
You can watch the entire interview below.
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Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department
For years now Gunna has been fending off allegations that he went Tekashi 6ix9ine on Young Thug and his YSL family and though he isn’t going to be taking the stand against his former crew in their upcoming RICO trial, fans are still torn on whether or not the rapper did allegedly snitch when he took a plea deal.
Now the rapper is looking to clear up any misconceptions about how he was able to dodge a five-year prison stint and regain his freedom in 2022 and in a recent interview with XXL, Gunna tried to explain that the general public has been misled about his Alfred plea which caused a few of his rap peers such as 21 Savage, Lil Baby and others throw darts at him for allegedly dropping dime.
Per XXL:
“None of those rappers, they’re not on the case,” Gunna told XXL. “They don’t know legally what’s going on.”
He added that he has talked “peacefully” to about “three or four of those guys,” but wouldn’t elaborate further.
“I definitely feel like everybody’s been misled,” Gunna added. “And like, you know, when you’re being misled, you got a choice to follow or make your own decisions. And that’s what is being shown right now. You’re being a follower or you’re being neutral to be like, ‘I don’t know what their business is or what they really got goin’ on.’”
Regardless of how his fellow Hip-Hop peers and fans might feel about his current street status, Gunna went on to release his first post-prison album, A Gift & A Curse in 2023 which further divided fans as many loved the album while others refused to listen to it based off principal. Still, the album went on to debut at number 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and garnered more than 100 million streams for records off the album.
Obviously he still has support out on these streets.
With that being the case, Gunna went on Instagram to announce that his next album One Of Wun is on the way and though he didn’t give a release date, the reception in the comments have been mostly positive as his day-ones will remain in his corner. At least until someone like Young Thug comes out and confirms that Gunna did indeed become a turncoat. Should something like that that happen, who knows how the Hip-Hop community would react.
What do y’all think about Gunna saying people have been “misled” about his plea deal? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
The value of shares in Trump Media, the parent company of Truth Social, has been cut in half since being available on the public trading market.
According to reports, shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that operates the Truth Social social media network, closed at $32.59 Friday (April 12). Despite a late rally, the price reflects a 50% drop from its original peak closing price of $66.22 when it was first made available for public trading on the NASDAQ stock market on March 27. The drop has shaved billions off of the value of the stock, of which the lion’s share (at 57.6% of all shares) is owned by former president Donald Trump. Trump owns 78.75 shares of TMTG stock. Its value was previously listed as $5.2 billion, closing with a value of $2.6 billion.
The slide comes as observers have cast aspersions about the validity of the TMTG stock. IAC and Expedia chairman, Barry Diller, went on record in an interview with CNBC calling the public trading of the stock “ridiculous,” comparing it to the “meme stock” that has been associated with GameStop and AMC Entertainment since 2021, which was valued at $700 and $500 at the time. “The company has no revenue. It’s a scam, just like everything he’s ever been involved in is some sort of con,” Diller said.
When asked about his opinion of those buying the stock, he replied: “I think they’re dopes.” Representatives for TMTG fired back at Diller. “It is unsurprising to see die-hard Trump haters and leftwing flacks blow a gasket now that Truth Social has become a public company that, still today, refuses to suppress political expression that contradicts the narratives they want to enforce,” they said.
Donald Trump is currently in New York City as the jury selection process has begun for his “hush money” trial in a Manhattan courtroom Monday (April 15), the first-ever criminal trial of a former president. The company filed a motion to issue 21.4 million additional public stock shares earlier in the day. The impact of the news plunged the value of shares down another 15% at the beginning of trading. The additional shares cannot be released until a registration takes effect with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to the preliminary prospectus filing.
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Source: Dania Maxwell / Getty / Tyler the Creator
Tyler, the Creator, used his 2024 Coachella headlining set to get a few things off his chest.
Jerrod Carmichael had the internet buzzing last month when a clip from his new Max series, the Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, went viral.
In the clip, Carmichael revisits the moment he shared his feelings for Tyler, the Creator, which led to an awkward moment between the two friends, with the rapper responding to the comedian by turning him down and calling him a “stupid bitch.”
During their sit-down, Carmichael reveals the moment created “a distance” between himself and the rapper. Tyler permanently put Carmichael in the friend zone, calling him a “true brother” and saying he’s like “family.”
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During his headlining set at Coachella, Tyler, the Creator broke his silence on the matter.
“I’m guessing y’all got TikTok and probably seen my homie try to fuck me on camera,” he said. “I looked terrible. I told the n—a no, and he said, what about if we filmed it? Terrible.”
That wasn’t the only thing Tyler, the Creator, touched on during his set. He also revealed to the crowd his past hate for A$AP Rocky and Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, both of whom he shared the stage with during his electrifying performance.
Per Variety:
Childish Gambino (a.k.a. Donald Glover) was the night’s first guest, singing the hook on “Running Out of Time.” “You know what’s sick?” said Tyler after Gambino left the stage. “I used to hate that n—a. Seriously. I don’t know why, I gotta go to therapy to figure it out, but this n—a put this song called ‘Urn’ out. It was so undeniable n—a, I was at conflict with myself, like fuck, how could a n—a I hate so much make something so good?”
He shared that he felt a similar way about ASAP Rocky, who joined him for “Potato Salad” and “Who Dat Boy.” “You know what’s crazy? I used to hate that n—a too,” he said. “OK we thought we had beef. it was the n—s around us and then me and Rock was like, we got love and now we friends.” Elsewhere, Charlie Wilson joined Tyler at a piano for “Earfquake,” while Kali Uchis made a brief cameo to sing her part on “See You Again.” He also took an opportunity to take a trip down memory lane, running through a medley of verses from tracks like “She,” “Tron Cat,” “Yonkers” and “Tamale.”
We can always count on Tyler, the Creator to give us a stellar performance.
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Source: Arturo Holmes / Getty
It looks like Will Smith is officially out of the doghouse as far as fans are concerned. Years after alienating millions of his supporters for slapping Chris Rock, Smith is once again feeling the love and adoration whenever he takes the stage these days.
His latest surprise appearance came courtesy of J Balvin during his set at Coachella Sunday night (April 14) and much to the delight of the crowd, Will Smith burst on the scene in his Men In Black attire and performed the title track from the smash 1997 film. Why that song was chosen is anyone’s guess. Smith does have a few other songs that people would’ve grooved to like “Welcome To Miami,” Summertime” or even “Gettin’ Jiggy With It,” but nah, they decided “Men In Black” was the one.
According to Variety, the song turned out to be the right choice as not only did the crowd approve, but also appreciated the entire theme that overtook the stage for the surprise cameo.
Per Variety:
The appearance was brief but memorable, capping a UFO-themed set and concluding with Balvin being dragged off by black-suit-clad dancers as Smith pulled out a “Neuralyzer,” the famous memory-eraser device from the film.
Balvin returned for another song, however, and rocked energetically through a rousing version of his hit “In Da Ghetto” with his troupe of dancers, who were clad in comically stereotypical alien costumes, green with big black eyes.
Balvin’s concerts are always heavily thematic, and the interstellar theme was present throughout. It opened with a mock-1950s newsreel about an alien invasion (in English, with Spanish subtitles), eventually revealing that the alien was… Balvin, who then arose on a platform from beneath the stage, underneath a giant mock-UFO that looked like a cross between the evil spaceship in the film “Nope,” a pointer from a Ouija board and a cushioned toilet seat.
Who knew J Balvin was such a big Men In Black fan? We sure didn’t. Either way it was cool to see Will Smith back in his bag and getting love from the crowd. Whether or not that love once again extends to Chris Rock is anyone’s guess, but we wouldn’t bet on it.
Check out Will Smith’s performance at Coachella, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Donald Trump is due in court Monday (April 15) in New York to stand trial in the criminal hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. As a result, the hashtag #TrumpTrial is trending on X, formerly Twitter, with memes and jokes coming in by the dozens.
Several outlets, such as The Hill and CNN are covering the trial of Donald Trump with up-to-the-minute updates from inside the Manhattan courtroom. Trump is standing trial for a criminal matter involving hush money paid to Stormy Daniels to conceal the nature of their relationship ahead of the 2016 election. Trump would go on to defeat his Democratic Party opponent Hillary Clinton but only served one term.
Jury selection begins today with dozens of New York residents going through the process before 12 jurors and six alternates are chosen. It isn’t known when this selection period will end but it can be expected to take days if not longer.
The trial marks the first time a former or current U.S. president ever faced a criminal trial and it also makes him the first former president to be criminally indicted. This matter adds to several mounting legal issues that the business mogul is enduring. Trump is also facing three other indictments, including election meddling in Georgia. He is the frontrunner for the Republican Party and has a strong support base that seemingly looks past his legal mishaps.
Trump opponents online have taken to social media to voice their displeasure and the aforementioned #TrumpTrial features several reactions to the announcement of the trial that don’t exactly land in the favor of Donald Trump.
Check out those replies below.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Nykieria Chaney / Getty
The cast of A Different World was welcomed at the White House and led the press room in a sing-along of the famed sitcom’s theme song.
On Wednesday (April 10), the cast of the beloved NBC sitcom A Different World was in Washington D.C. on the next stop of their reunion tour which is visiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation. They did make a special stop before visiting Howard University – they visited the White House to see Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Press Secretary Karina Jean-Pierre.
The visit was made more memorable as the cast members led the press room in a sing-a-long of the show’s iconic theme song, first done by the legendary Aretha Franklin. Veteran journalist April D. Ryan of The Grio captured part of the moment on video showing Jean-Pierre enthusiastically singing along with the cast members in the front row, which she shared on her Instagram account.
A Different World ran on NBC for six seasons from 1987 to 1993. The current reunion tour’s mission is to raise funds for scholarships at HBCUs. “By leveraging the star power and cultural impact of A Different World, we aim to inspire a new generation to choose HBCUs as their academic homes,” said the statement from the group which was released as the tour began on February 29 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The tour features the core cast members Darryl M. Bell (Ron Johnson); Charnele Brown (Kimberly Reese); Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert-Wayne); Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne); Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor); Cree Summer (Winifred Brooks); and Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford Taylor). Sinbad, who played Walter Oakes, has joined in virtually due to his recovery after suffering a stroke a couple of years ago. Producers Debbie Allen and Susan Fales are also on the 10-city tour, which will be announcing tour dates in the fall portion of the year.
Those interested in attending can visit the website for further information.
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty / Jeezy
The Snowman wants to be a full-time dad because he claims his ex-wife isn’t stepping up to the plate as a parent, allegedly.
TMZ exclusively reports that Jeezy is seeking primary custody of the former couple’s daughter, Monaco. According to the celebrity gossip site, the Atlanta rapper is making the move because he feels Jeannie Mai is not around to take care of the child.
Per TMZ:
The rapper just filed new legal docs — obtained by TMZ — asking a judge to toss out the current custody and parenting time arrangement he hashed out in mediation with his estranged wife … and requesting that his daughter be allowed to live with him full-time.
Jeezy says he initially agreed to move to the basement amid their breakup. However, he says Jeannie later moved out of their family home, and took their little girl with her.
Jeezy alleges Jeannie has since tasked her brother and mother with the majority of the care of 2-year-old Monaco, claiming Jeannie’s extensive travel schedule isn’t good for their kid and adding that Jeannie has withheld his parenting time with their child for nearly 2 months.
A Brief Timeline of The Jeezy & Jeannie Mai Divorce
Jeezy shocked the world when he slapped Mai with divorce papers in September 2023. Since then, the couple has been taking shots at each other. Jeezy initially said in a statement that he cherished the time he spent with her and committed to co-parenting their child.”The decision to end this chapter in my life was not made impulsively and comes with a heavy heart,” Jeezy told XXL. “Despite this, my love and respect for Jeannie remains, and the time we spent together holds a cherished place in my heart.”
“Our beautiful daughter is the best gift from our relationship, and I am committed to assuring she feels the love and stability she deserves. During this period, I kindly request that you respect our family’s privacy as we focus on healing,” he continued.
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Source: Jason Armond / Getty
Dr. Cornel West named Black Lives Matter Grassroots founder Dr. Melina Abdullah as his running mate for his 2024 presidential campaign in a historical moment.
On Wednesday (April 10), independent presidential candidate Cornel West chose fellow academic, activist, and Black Lives Matter organizer Dr. Melina Abdullah as his vice president nominee. He announced the nomination during a virtual press conference which media personality and friend, Tavis Smiley moderated.
“She has a record of deep commitment and investment in ensuring that poor and working people are at the center of her vision,” West said of Abdullah, also calling her a “freedom fighter” in his introduction. “I wanted to to run with someone who would put a smile on the face of Fannie Lou Hamer and Martin Luther King Jr. from the grave.” The selection makes their campaign the first to have two Black candidates on the ticket in history. Abdullah is a Pan-African Studies professor at California State University, who
“I am deeply honored and humbled to join Dr. Cornel West as his Vice Presidential candidate at this critical moment as we work together for transformative change. This campaign offers a real vision for the world that stands in opposition to oppressive forces and holds fast to the universal principles of truth, justice, and love,” Abdullah said of her nomination. She also noted the other historical factors in her selection as “divine timing”, being that she is the first Muslim to be included on a presidential ticket with the announcement coming on Eid-al-Fitr, “the holiest day for Muslims.” West is a Christian who is on the faculty at the Union Theological Seminary.
Abdullah brings a distinctive presence to the race, as her teaming up with West presents an alternative to Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican Party nominee Donald Trump in the election this November, particularly as Biden has come under fire for supporting Israel during its conflict with Hamas. She was also named to the board of Black Lives Matter after co-founder Patrisse Cullors stepped down in 2021 after increased scrutiny of the social justice group’s finances were exposed in a New York Magazine article. West formerly was a People’s Party presidential candidate before switching to the Green Party weeks later.
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Source: Christopher Polk / Getty
Well, that was fast; Ice Spice is going Hollywood.
Variety exclusively reports that Ice Spice is joining the cast of Spike Lee’s High and Low, an English reinterpretation of the Japanese crime thriller of the same name by Akira Kurosawa.
The original 1963 film starring Toshiro Mifune, based on the Ed McBain novel King’s Ransom, follows a businessman whose life is ruined after making a ransom payment to kidnappers.
The “Munch” rapper will make her acting debut alongside Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington and recently Academy Award-nominated Jeffrey Wright in the upcoming Apple Original Films and A24 project.
What her role will be in the project remains a mystery.
Per Variety:
“High and Low” will mark Ice Spice’s acting debut, and she’s already begun shooting for the project starring Denzel Washington.
The rapper skyrocketed to fame following the release of her breakthrough single, “Munch (Feelin’ U),” and subsequent collaborations with Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. She was nominated for four Grammys this year, including best rap song and best new artist. Ice Spice’s first studio album, “Y2K,” is due out this year.
The film will be Lee and Washington’s fifth theatrical collaboration. The actor has also starred in Mo Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man.
Apple Original Films confirmed the film was in production by sharing a photo of Lee and Washington.
Social Media Reacts To The News
The reactions to the news of Ice Spice’s involvement in the film have been met with confusion and some excitement.
“This movie gonna be lit asf,” one person X, formerly Twitter, said in response to Variety’s reporting.
Another person added, “Words can’t describe how badly I want this movie to succeed.”
“This is hilarious but we need to issue a fatwa on spike lee remaking classic asian films,” another post read.
Whether you like it or not, Ice Spice is coming to a big screen near you. We trust Spike Lee, so we can’t wait to see what he cooks up with High and Low.