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Nelly is asking a federal judge to punish the lawyers who recently sued him over his 2000 debut album Country Grammar, arguing the case is “objectively frivolous” and should “never have been brought in the first place.”
The lawsuit, filed last year, claims Nelly (Cornell Haynes) has failed to pay his former St. Lunatics bandmate Ali for his work on the album. But in a new motion Thursday (Jan. 16), Nelly’s attorneys say those decades-old allegations are so “baseless” that Ali and his lawyers must face legal penalties for filing them.
“Plaintiff and his counsel should be sanctioned in the full amount … that Haynes has been forced to incur in defending this action,” the rapper’s lawyer Ken Freundlich writes. “That is because plaintiff’s claims should never have been brought in the first place.”
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Freundlich says that if Ali’s attorneys (Gail M. Walton and Precious Felder Gates) had done “even the barest factual investigation and legal research,” they would have found fatal flaws in the lawsuit — most notably that it was filed years after the statute of limitations had expired. Instead, he says they doubled down after such shortcomings were exposed.
“Plaintiff and his counsel’s failure to withdraw their fatally flawed claims, and their insistence on pressing forward with frivolous assertions and legal arguments require a substantial sanction,” Nelly’s lawyers write. “[This is] not only to compensate Haynes for the substantial legal fees and expenses he has been forced to incur in defending this action, but also to deter plaintiff and others who would flout the Copyright Act’s rules and clear undisputed court precedent.”
In a response statement to Billboard on Thursday, Felder Gates said Ali’s legal team would “vehemently defend” against Nelly’s motion and would continue to pursue their client’s “undeniable right to be properly compensated” for his alleged work on Country Grammar: “It is both unethical and unlawful for artists and their corporate partners to exploit the creative work of writers, deceiving them out of their rightful credits and fair compensation.”
Nelly rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of St. Lunatics, a hip-hop group also composed of St. Louis high school friends Ali (Ali Jones), Murphy Lee (Tohri Harper), Kyjuan (Robert Kyjuan) and City Spud (Lavell Webb). With the June 2000 release of Country Grammar — which spent 5 weeks atop the Billboard 200 — Nelly broke away into a solo career that later reached superstar heights with his 2002 chart-topping singles “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma.”
In a copyright lawsuit filed in September in Manhattan federal court, all four of those bandmates accused Nelly of cheating them out of compensation for contributions they allegedly made to Country Grammar. They claimed that he had “manipulated” them into falsely thinking they’d be paid, then never made good on the promises.
But a month later, the lawsuit took a strange turn: Nelly’s lawyers filed a letter warning that Lee, Kyjuan and Spud had never actually wanted to sue Nelly and that they had not given legal authorization to the lawyers who filed the lawsuit to include them as plaintiffs.
“They are hereby demanding you remove their names forthwith,” Nelly’s lawyers wrote in a letter to Walton. “Failure to do so will cause them to explore any and all legal remedies available to them.”
In November, Ali’s attorneys filed an updated version of the lawsuit listing only him as a client and vowed to fight on: “While others may have chosen to withdraw, his dedication to his artistic legacy and his rights as a creator remains unwavering,” Felder Gates said in a statement to Billboard at the time.
But in Thursday’s motion, Nelly’s attorneys argue that the case has deeper problems than simply improper plaintiffs.
They say the lawsuit was filed many years after the Copyright Act’s three-year statute of limitations had expired since Nelly had clearly “repudiated” Ali’s demand for payment years before he filed his case. And they say that when Ali’s attorneys refiled the case under just his name, they tried to sneakily remove certain dates to “hide” that fatal flaw.
“Plaintiff omits the dates of repudiation in his [amended lawsuit],” Freundlich says. “This ruse does not save the claim from being time-barred. In fact, all it does is elucidate how Plaintiff and his counsel are engaging in sanctionable conduct.”
As a penalty, Nelly’s lawyers want the judge to order Ali and his attorneys to repay all legal fees and other costs that the star has incurred defending the case. Even for just a few months of copyright litigation, that figure could reach thousands of dollars when top law firms are involved in a case.
Beloved director and filmmaker David Lynch has died at the age of 78, and Hollywood is mourning one of its most visionary artists.
Lynch’s family announced the news of his passing via a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan. 16). “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the statement reads. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
While his cause of death was not revealed, Lynch’s death comes just five months after he announced he was diagnosed with emphysema from years of smoking.
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The visual artist was best known for the television classic Twin Peaks, as well as films including Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, among others.
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Following the news of his death, a number of celebrities took to social media to mourn Lynch and celebrate his works. “RIP #DavidLynch,” Slash wrote on Instagram alongside a black-and-white photo of the late star. “Everything is fine…,” The Weeknd wrote as a tribute to Lynch alongside a photo of the director on the set of Twin Peaks.
Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, who contributed to the soundtrack for Lynch’s Lost Highway, wrote via Instagram, “Truly saddened to hear of the passing of David Lynch. Working with him was like a dream out of one of his movies, and I treasure the times I got to speak with him and hear first-hand his vision for a film. I truly encourage anyone who loves movies and television to watch all that David produced. He was a true artist, through and through.”
Questlove echoed the sentiment alongside a series of photos of himself with Lynch. “Lynch was the first human/creative that stressed the importance of not overworking and taking time out to breathe & meditate and searching for creative avenues not in my comfort zone (he was my guiding creative light for the Somethingtofoodabout book from 2016,” he wrote. “Took a liking to me always inviting me to his events and parties and really stressing the importance of self care. Thank you.”
Taylor Swift is speaking out about the crisis in Los Angeles County as catastrophic wildfires continue to devastate the area.
On Swift’s Instagram Stories on Thursday (Jan. 16), the 35-year-old pop star began by acknowledging, “The fires in California have devastated so many families, and it’s been heartbreaking to see these stories unfold.”
“So much suffering, loss and destruction,” Swift continued.
The 14-time Grammy winner went on to commend the numerous charitable causes that have emerged in the wake of the disaster, which has left tens of thousands of California residents displaced and destroyed countless structures in the area. “As so many people embark on some of the most challenging times of their lives, there are also many amazing organizations and groups banding together to help these communities rebuild,” she added. “These are the organizations I’ve donated to. If you feel compelled or able to donate, please do.”
Included in the list of Swift’s chosen organizations are 211 LA, California Community Foundation Fund, Direct Relief, Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Los Angeles Unified School District Education Foundation Emergency Relief Fund, MusiCares and Pasadena Educational Foundation Eaton Fire Response Fund.
The California wildfires first broke out Jan. 7 in Pacific Palisades, rapidly spreading through L.A. faster than first responders could subdue the flames. More blazes later broke out in other areas of the city, with CNN reporting that at least 25 people have died so far in the destruction.
For as many organizations as Swift listed in her post, they are only a few of the numerous charitable efforts that have been launched in the area in the past week or so. ASCAP, Guitar Center Music Foundation, the Recording Academy and more music industry organizations have busied themselves with the creation of emergency funds and resources for those affected, while Beyoncé’s BeyGood Foundation, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group and more have made sizable donations to the cause. Plus, Live Nation, AEG and the Azoff Company are planning a FireAid benefit concert at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 30, unveiling a lineup led by Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Jelly Roll, Gwen Stefani and more stars Thursday.
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President Joe Biden will be vacating the White House after serving four years along with his decades of public service, some of which has garnered its fair share of criticism. In his outgoing address, President Joe Biden warned of an oligarchy taking form in Washington and framed the changing landscape of content moderation in social media as a danger to democracy.
In the 17-minute farewell address, President Joe Biden was stern in his delivery as he thanked the American people before taking aim at the formation of what Biden feels is an influential core of Big Tech leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk inserting themselves in opposition of democracy.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
President Biden didn’t explicitly name Zuckerberg or Musk by name but it is little secret that the pair’s recently affirmed proximity to President-elect Donald Trump is questionable considering the influence the pair wield in both wealth and across social media. Further, Meta, helmed by Zuckerberg, is adopting a new policy that does away with content moderation and instead will adopt the community notes feature from X.
Further in the address, Biden suggested that Supreme Court justices serve an 18-year term limit instead of the lifetime appointments of today. He also made slight mention of Trump’s 34-county felony convictions although he won’t face any time.
President Joe Biden’s farewell address can be viewed below.
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Founded by Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled is a new women’s pro league that goes for a three-on-three basketball format instead of the traditional five-on-five play.
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There six team in the league, while games span over a two-month long schedule. Additionally, all games are played at Mediapro US in Medley, Florida. Check out a complete schedule for Unrivaled here.
When Does Unrivaled Basketball League Start?
Unrivaled women’s basketball games broadcast live, with tipoff starting on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. All games air across TNT and truTV, and available to livestream on Max (via Prime Video).
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Where to Watch Unrivaled Basketball League for Free
For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch Unrivaled — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Hulu + Live TV — also offer a free trial so you can watch TNT and truTV for free.
Keep reading for more details on how to watch the women’s pro basketball game with DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV.
How to Watch Unrivaled Basketball League With DirecTV Stream
A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with TNT and truTV for Unrivaled — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, Fox, and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.
How to Watch Unrivaled Basketball League With Hulu + Live TV
Unrivaled games on TNT and truTV is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
How to Watch Unrivaled Basketball League With Max
To watch the Unrivaled, Max starts at $9.99 per month via Prime Video. It’s streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. However, you’ll need a subscription to Prime Video (or an Amazon Prime membership) to add Max to your account (no free trial available).
Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and much more. Learn more about Amazon Prime here.
Max even gets you live sports access to the NBA, NHL, AEW and more, as well as live news from CNN. It also features hit movies and TV shows, including The Penguin, Juror #2, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Peacemaker, Barbie, Dune: Part Two and more.
The streaming service is also the home to exclusive Music Box documentaries, such as Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary, Woodstock ’99: Peace, Love and Rage, Juice WLRD: Into The Abyss, DMX: Don’t Try to Understand and others.
Where Are the Team Names In Unrivaled Basketball League?
At the moment, there are six teams (known as clubs) in Unrivaled. Check out the names, below:
Laces Basketball Club
Lunar Owls Basketball Club
Mist Basketball Club
Phantom Basketball Club
Rose Basketball Club
Vinyl Basketball Club
Who’s Playing In Unrivaled Basketball League
Unrivaled features some of the best and brightest players from the WNBA. However, it doesn’t feature some of the marquee players, such as Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jonquel Jones and others. Below, you’ll find some of the top players featured in Unrivaled this season.
Napheesa Collier
Breanna Stewart
Sabrina Ionescu
Angel Reese
Alyssa Thomas
Rickea Jackson
Courtney Vandersloot
Brittney Griner
Brittney Sykes
Arike Ogunbowale
Cameron Brink
How to Buy Unrivaled Basketball League Tickets Online
Want to attend Unrivaled games in person? There are still last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB2024), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Starting on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, Unrivaled Basketball League broadcasts on TNT and truTV. It’s also available to livestream on Max via Prime Video and DirecTV Stream.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Karol G has unveiled special merch dedicated to the city of Los Angeles, with all proceeds set to go towards wildfire relief efforts. The Colombian hitmaker joins artists like Chiquis, Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma, to name a few, who’ve used their platform to express solidarity with the community of L.A. which, since last week, […]
Bad Bunny debuts at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, and LiAngelo Ball and Flawed Mangoes make their way into the top 10. Keep watching to see where they land! Tetris Kelly:This week sees two top 10 debuts and one of them is taking the top spot. Bad Bunny’s “DTMF” debuts at the […]
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Today would’ve been Aaliyah’s 46th birthday, and she’s still one of the most influential artists in music, even though she passed away in 2001. Aaliyah was more than just a singer—she was a trendsetter. She mixed R&B, hip-hop, and pop in a way nobody had done before, and her smooth vocals and chill vibe made her a legend. Albums like One in a Million and Aaliyah were ahead of their time and still inspire artists today.
Even though she’s gone, Aaliyah’s impact is still felt everywhere. Artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and The Weeknd have all mentioned how she influenced their music. Rappers have also shown love to Aaliyah by sampling her songs. Jay-Z used her track “Rock the Boat” in his song “Blueprint 2,” and Drake always gives Aaliyah props, whether it’s through lyrics or using her music in his own tracks like “Enough Said.” Missy Elliott, who was close to Aaliyah, also keeps her memory alive in her music.
After Aaliyah passed, Ashanti stepped up and became the next big thing in R&B. Her debut album, Ashanti (2002), had that same smooth vibe Aaliyah was known for, mixing R&B with hip-hop. Ashanti’s vocals and catchy songs reminded everyone of Aaliyah’s style, and she was crowned the “Princess of Hip-Hop Soul” as the next queen of the sound. Tracks like “Foolish” and “Happy” showed she could do it all—smooth ballads and street-smart hits. Ashanti took the torch from Aaliyah and kept that whole vibe alive, making her the new face of that sound.
Aaliyah’s legacy is strong, and her style and sound are still shaping the music we hear today. She may not be here, but she’ll always be remembered as a true icon. Let’s go down the list of some of the best rappers that have sampled Aaliyah and did justice to it.
1. Drake – “Enough Said” (sampled “At Your Best (You Are Love)”
2. Blow my high – Kendrick Lamar (sampled “4 Page Letter”)
3. Outkast – Pink & Blue (sampled “Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number”)
4. A$AP Rocky – F**kin’ Problems (sampled “Quit Hatin’”)
5. Nipsey Hussle – A Million (sampled “One In a Million”)
Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga and several more stars have joined the lineup for FireAid, an upcoming benefit concert at the Intuit Dome supporting victims of the ongoing wildfire crisis that has devastated the Los Angeles area. As reported Thursday (Jan. 16) by The Hollywood Reporter, the “Bad Guy” singer and Joker: Folie a Deux actress […]
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Cam’ron sparred with Elliott Wilson on a podcast, with the rapper stating that Wilson resembled a “sloppy sandwich.”
The beef between veteran journalist Elliott Wilson and Cam’ron came to a head as the two spoke face-to-face in a debate session on the Talk With Flee podcast. It was the first time the two directly spoke since Wilson’s comments on Cam’ron’s podcast with Mase, It Is What It Is. The first question zeroed in on Wilson’s words. The Rap Radar CEO confessed that he was wrong to disparage Cam’ron and noted how much time and money he had invested in the show. “I was caught in a vulnerable moment and expressed my passion, but that’s not how I ultimately feel,” he said. The “I Really Mean It” rapper, however, wasn’t going to let that ride without a comment.
“When I’m looking at Elliott now, I didn’t know your face look like pepper jack turkey, like the texture of your skin looks like pepper jack turkey,” Cam’ron said at the 5:30 mark of the interview. “It looks like you sweat duck sauce. You look like a sloppy sandwich in the face. Pause, man. My bad, I never really looked at you like that.” He continued, expressing confusion about Wilson’s stance but took no offense. “As far as what Elliott said, I’m not running around trying to be anybody but myself,” he replied. “As far as comparing me to Stephen A. Smith, I take that as a compliment because he’s kind of the standard.”
Wilson’s remarks about Cam’ron and others getting into media were made during his visit to The Rory & Mal Show earlier in the year. “Everybody is media. Cam’ron’s running around like he’s Stephen A. Smith. It’s what we’re dealing with,” Wilson said. “Why is he a sports journalist? Because he has an opinion? He’s got Mase having a job because the bag is there! […] This is the s**t I do well and now everybody wants to do it. I don’t like it.” Cam’ron and Mase swiftly responded in posts to their Instagram account.
The debate would lead to a thoughtful discussion between the two on journalism and today’s media. “If you have millions of followers, you don’t really have to wait to do an interview,” Cam’ron mused. Wilson agreed, saying: “This isn’t the big interview era anymore, it’s about content creation, it’s about adapting to what’s going on.”
Check out the entire interview above.