Newsletter
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Source: Halton Regional Police Service / Halton Regional Police Service
Days after Diddy was indicted for sex trafficking and is facing the possibility of life in prison, a rapper from Toronto has been hit with human trafficking charges and no, it’s not who you think it is.
According to CTV News, up and coming rapper Lady SB and five others have been taken into custody and charged for their roles in a human trafficking ring that was operating out of the Greater Toronto Area. Along with Lady SB (Sabrina Leite-Moniz), police also arrested Prince Munroe, aka “Casino Barnes,” Jamie Munroe, Jonathan Bennett and Shuwayne Mitchell. Along with human trafficking, Lady SB, Prince Munroe and Jamie Munroe have been hit with knowingly advertising sexual services, assault and other charges.
Both Bennett and Mitchell have been charged with one count of “procuring—exercise control.”
CTV News reports:
Halton Regional Police allege from September 2019 to September 2024, the accused coerced, deceived, manipulated, and used physical violence and psychological harm to “maintain control, direction of influence over the victims.” Officers did not specify how many victims were involved.
Following a five-month joint investigation with various services across the GTA, police identified five suspects and conducted five search warrants on Tuesday at various homes in Brampton and Toronto.
As a result, police arrested five suspects and seized a “large sum of cash,” a loaded firearm with ammunition and a prohibited magazine, a vehicle and victim identifying documents.
The suspects range in age from 25 to 35, and come from Brampton, Mississauga, Shelburne, Ont., and Courtice, Ont.
No word on how long Lady SB and her cohorts are facing behind bars, but if Diddy’s facing up to life in prison we can only assume they’ll be facing a long bid behind bars.
What do y’all think about this latest Hip-Hop related human trafficking bust? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty
In the 48 hours following the announcement that Kendrick Lamar would be headlining the Super Bowl Halftime show in New Orleans next February, Jay-Z’s Hip-Hop peers continue to pile on the criticism as many feel that Lil Wayne should’ve gotten the nod over Kung Fu Kenny.
After the likes of Lil Wayne’s studio engineer and Master P spoke on the subject, Nicki Minaj and Birdman have taken to social media to take shots at Jay-Z for overlooking Nawlins native, Weezy for the Super Bowl festivities. Taking to Twitter to express her outrage over the choice, Nicki blasted Hov with a pointed tweet saying the decision to have Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne was driven by Jay-Z’s “ego” and that he was simply punishing Lil Wayne over his hatred for Birdman, Drake and even herself.
We didn’t even know Jay hated them.
Still, Nicki continued to ride for Wayne while taking shots at Jay for being “spiteful” and apparently even some of Roc Nation’s employees.
Birdman meanwhile weighed in on the situation himself but refrained from going all out as Nicki Minaj did in her posts.
Keep in mind Jay-Z paid off Lil Wayne’s multi-million dollar tax lien more than a decade ago when Wayne and Birdman were on the outs. So there’s that.
While many assume the decision to have Kendrick Lamar perform at the Super Bowl was strictly on Jay-Z, apparently the host city gets to pick who they want to perform the Super Bowl Halftime show after they’re presented with a list of names. In other words, Jay-Z didn’t choose Kendrick Lamar, New Orleans did. allegedly. Whether Wayne was on that short list or not is anyone’s guess, but it seems like everyone is hating on Jay-Z for a decision where he probably didn’t have the final say.
That being said, we doubt that the city of New Orleans is going to interject and reveal that it was they, and not Jay-Z who chose Kendrick Lamar and not Lil Wayne. Not after they’ve seen the backlash that Jay-Z got anyway.
What do y’all think about the outrage over Lil Wayne’s snub for the Super Bowl Halftime show in New Orleans? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty
On Sunday (September 8), social media was buzzing when it was revealed that Kendrick Lamar had been tapped to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans as many assumed the honor would go to Nawlin’s favorite son, Lil Wayne.
But with Jay-Z running the show and tapping Kung Fu Kenny to kick things off come February 9th, Lil Wayne’s mixing engineer Fabian Marasciullo took to social media to express his disappointment in the surprising choice. According to HipHopDX, Marasciullo took to his Instagram stories and bluntly stated that he felt “Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all. Inspired.”
Continuing to build on his feelings, Weezy’s engineer added “Will never again be in the position or have the [GOAT] where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
After Kendrick Lamar was revealed to be the headliner for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, many fans felt he’d undoubtedly bring Wayne along with him to perform on stage, but with the way Marasciullo is describing the mood on that side, would Wayne even accept an invitation to the show if he’s not headlining it?
Per HipHopDX:
During an interview with Taylor Rooks for Bleacher Report last December, Weezy talked about his desire to perform at Super Bowl LIX, which is being held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025.
“Just as bad as I wanted to see my name at the top of that list when I was whatever age it was and I would bust into the office and get that Billboard magazine,” he said about wanting to perform.
“Just as an artist, you know, ’cause this has nothing to do with the sport. As an artist, this is an achievement. This has nothing to do with the sport — that’s so crazy. I don’t care what teams are playing, what city it’s in. ‘You performed for the what?!’ Like, what? Oh man, so that right there is an achievement.”
We’re not gonna lie, we lowkey feel bad that Jay passed on Wayne in favor of Kendrick Lamar. Yes, we know K. Dot had a monster year thanks to his back-and-forth with Drake, but Weezy is a Hip-Hop legend from New Orleans with an illustrious catalog. Seemed like a no brainer to us.
Even New Orleans triple OG, Master P took to social media to say Wayne should be added to the Halftime show writing “He’s one of the greatest Hop Hop artists alive, still relevant and he’s a New Orleans native. Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_qySizy0XE/?img_index=2
What do y’all think? Should Lil Wayne have been the first choice to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show? Should he accept an invite to perform alongside Kendrick Lamar? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty
As many sneakers are available these days, Nike, adidas, New Balance and even Asics are running the street scene, but can AND1 make the comeback that no one saw coming in 2024?
We’re not sure if that’s a viable goal for the brand that never really caught on in popularity, but that’s not keeping them from bringing back a “classic.” Sneaker News is reporting that AND1 plans on retroing their white and red “Tai Chi” colorway that Vince Carter wore when he won the NBA Slam Dunk contest in 2000. While that feat didn’t exactly put AND1 on the map, it was still a memorable moment for the company as they were just beginning to find their footing in the sneaker game at the time.
Now, 24 years later, AND1 feels it’s time to take everyone back and have re-released the “classic” silhouette right on time for the back-to-school shopping spree that parents are currently undertaking as their kids head back to the classroom in the finest attire they can afford.
Per Sneaker News:
The AND1 Tai Chi‘s time in the limelight was entirely by chance; just months prior, Vince negged his deal with PUMA before eventually signing with Nike to become the face of the Shox franchise. During that period of shoe purgatory, Vince rocked the Tai Chi from the upstart AND1 brand, a label that grew from indie movement to perhaps the most popular basketball imprint at the time. You can read the full story about Vince’s movements in the shoe industry here
The Tai Chi’s Vince Carter era may have been short-lived, but it’s unquestionably one of the most significant basketball shoes in history. Remembered for its bold two-toned color-blocking, the Tai Chi was worn by the likes of Stephon Marbury, Kevin Garnett, Jason Williams, and more compelling hoopers of the late 1990s/early 2000s.
We’re not gonna lie, if people don’t know the history of this sneaker, anyone rocking them out in the wild might get clowned. We all know kids are ruthless in the social media era. Just sayin’.
The AND1 Tai Chi’s are currently available on the AND1 website for a cool $130. Check out pics of the OG kicks below, and let us know if you’ll be picking up a pair for nostalgia sake in the comments section.
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Source: Prostock-Studio / Getty
Earlier this summer New York State Governor Kathy Hochul implemented a mask ban after masked pro-Palestine protestors began harassing people in public around New York City and after doing so other cities and counties followed suit which led to this week’s first arrest under the controversial mask ban law.
According to The New York Times, 18-year-old Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo was booked this past Sunday (Aug. 25) after police say he was spotted walking alone and masked down Spindle Road in Hicksville, Long Island. Though he wasn’t engaged in any protest or bothering anyone in his proximity, he ran afoul of Nassau County’s recent Mask Transparency Act which was passed earlier this month to combat antisemitic incidents which have risen in recent months over the protests over the conflict in Palestine.
Though wearing a mask is a misdemeanor offense, a search of Castillo uncovered a bigger problem for the 18-year-old.
The New York Times reports:
When police officers arrived, they frisked Mr. Castillo and discovered a 14-inch knife in the waistband of his pants, the department said in a statement on Tuesday. He was charged on Monday with several crimes, including criminal possession of a weapon and a violation of the mask law.
“Our police officers were able to use the mask ban legislation as well as other factors to stop and interrogate an individual who was carrying a weapon with the intent to engage in a robbery,” Mr. Blakeman said in a statement. “Passing this law gave police another tool to stop this dangerous criminal.”
Scott Banks, the chief attorney of the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, said Legal Aid was representing Mr. Castillo. Mr. Banks declined to comment on the case.
Castillo played himself both wearing a ski mask (in August) and having a deadly weapon. Everyone knows that you either have one or the other when walking the streets because people will assume that if you’re wearing a mask (especially in the summer) you might have something else on you. In this case they were right. SMH.
But how man stop and frisks turn up nothing, though?
Though there are exceptions for wearing a mask in public (religious or health-related reasons), anyone else could be subject to a fine of $1,000, a year in prison or both.
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Source: @upscalecracc / Instagram
Earlier this summer, the sneaker community mourned the loss of well-known sneaker reseller. Javier Osorio-Mejia aka Upscale Cracc was shot and killed in an apparent robbery attempt in Soho this past June.
Now, two months after the tragic event, police have made an arrest in connection to the shooting. Fox 5 New York is reporting that 35-year-old Jayquan Straker was taken into custody and charged with murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon. Though no motive has been revealed for the June 25 killing, many people assume it was a robbery gone wrong as Mejia was shot in the right leg three times, which ultimately led to his passing.
Fox 5 New York reports:
Sources told FOX 5 NY’s Lisa Evers that Straker, who’s accused of killing Osorio-Mejia, left behind his cash and his brand new Range Rover.
Osorio-Mejia was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he died.
Straker then fled in a black SUV, police said.
NYPD detectives and crime scene investigators spent many hours going over the scene in search of clues. Sources told FOX 5 NY’s Lisa Evers significant ballistic evidence was recovered from the apparent ambush.
Detectives also recovered cash that was left on the ground, along with the victim’s trademark lime green Nike sneakers.
Known for selling sneakers to hard-to-find sneakers to celebrities, Upscale Cracc was loved and considered a stand-up guy by those who knew him best.
Now that his killer has been arrested, maybe we’ll learn what led to the shooting and whether or not it was a set-up or a robbery gone awry.
What do y’all think of the this situation? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz
Bloggers beware as the words you spew about some of today’s top artists can easily come back and bite you in the ass in a court of law.
A year after Cardi B took popular vlogger Tasha K to the cleaners at the tune of $3.4 million for defamatory comments, her rival Nicki Minaj has just settled a similar situation as she and celebrity blogger, Marley Green, aka Nosey Heaux have come to an agreement over some comments Green made about Minaj and her 1-year-old son, Papa Bear.
According to XXL, Nicki Minaj sued Marley Green for posting a video in which she called Nicki a “cokehead” without any proof whatsoever. Though they settled the matter without Green having to cough up any kind of cash, the agreement does include four breaches that prevent Green from speaking falsely of the Queen rapper and her son.
XXL reports:
Those four breaches are:
(I) She will never make any statement, directly or indirectly about Nicki.
(II) She will never state or express her opinion, directly or indirectly, that [Nicki] has engaged in any criminal or unethical conduct, or otherwise engaged in conduct which reflects poorly on [Nicki’s] integrity.
(III) She will never retweet, otherwise post on social media, or publicly recount, directly or indirectly, another person’s statement (including, but not limited to any statements published in any media outlet) of alleged fact or opinion that [Nicki] has engaged in criminal or unethical conduct, or otherwise engaged in conduct which reflects poorly on her integrity.
(IV) She will never mention, directly or indirectly, [Nicki’s] husband or child in public, each of whom shall be deemed an express third-party beneficiary of this stipulation.
Any violations of these breaches will lead to Green having to pay up $50,000 per false comment.
Tasha K somewhere wishing she spoke about Nicki Minaj instead of Cardi B because Nicki would’ve basically left her off with a warning. Cardi B left her bank account as broke as a joke. Who would’ve thought?
Now that rappers are fighting back against bloggers via legal action, it will be interesting to see which social media personality jumps out the window next with some wild theories or accusations and how that will play out in a court of law.
What do y’all think about Nicki Minaj settling this court case the way she did? Should she have went for the money like Cardi B, or did this suffice? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Andrew Chin / Getty
Pitbull’s been relatively quiet on the music front for quite some time but that isn’t keeping the Miami representative from balling like he’s the biggest artist in the music game.
According to Variety the “Give Me Everything” artist just plunked down a huge chunk of change to buy himself a football stadium. Yes, you read that right, a football stadium. Given, it’s a college football stadium, but still it’s a very impressive purchase. According to the report, Mr. 305 plunked down a cool $6 million on the FIU Football Stadium which will now be known as Pitbull Stadium for the next five years.
Per Variety:
Along with the name, according to the agreement, Pitbull can use the stadium for up to ten days a year, “Pitbull-affiliated” performers get preference to play at games, and, of course, Pitbull gets his own suite during every game in the stadium. In return, he’s going to make an “FIU Anthem” for the university’s sports teams and will show up for at least one fundraising event per year. We’re ready for all of it: Pitbull rocking a stadium named after himself, finding out what constitutes a Pitbull-affiliated performer, hearing Pitbull’s new fight song. If you didn’t have your eyes on the FIU Panthers season before now, dale!
Not a bad investment for $6 million. Don’t be surprised if others rappers follow suit in their respective cities and states.
What do y’all think about Pitbull copping himself a college football stadium? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Drake may be done going back and forth with Kendrick Lamar, but it seems like A$AP Rocky isn’t letting the King of the North off the hook that easily for speaking sideways about his queen, Rihanna.
Months after A$AP Rocky took a subliminal shot at Drake on Kid Cudi’s “WOW,” the Harlem rapper is at it again as he throws another indirect dart at the Canadian crooner for his transgressions on his 2023 song, “Fear Of Heights.” In a newly released cut dubbed, “HIJACK,” Rocky seems to continue to rub his relationship with Rihanna in his ops’ face with some bars saying, “These n*ggas want my wife bad, the people want my next track.”
While people may make of that what they want, Hot 97’s DJ Kast One recently attended a listening event for A$AP Rocky’s next album, Don’t Be Dumb, and according to HipHopDX, Pretty Flacko got a little something for Drizzy in the chamber ready to go.
Per HipHopDX:
After attending a listening event for the album, Kast One said on air: “I heard A$AP Rocky definitely addressing a lot of the main topics that are happening out there right now. Let’s just say the list keeps going on strong.”
Host Ebro Darden then asked whether “Rocky is still on Drake’s list,” with the DJ responding: “Oh, he’s gonna be cemented on the list after this.”
Whether Rocky’s shots at Drake are more subliminal bars or direct darts at the embattled Canadian king remains to be seen, but one has to wonder if Drake would even entertain another battle so soon after getting beaten, battered and bruised by the likes of Kung-Fu Kenny.
Check out “HIJACK” below, and let us know if A$AP Rocky vs. Drake is a battle you’d like to see, or if the two men should just let things go and move on with their lives.
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty
For years we’ve been told that eating foods like bologna, hot dogs, and other kinds of ultra processed foods are horrible for your health. Now, we’ve gotten some more incentive to avoid the delicious deli meats as Boar’s Head is recalling a lot of their products from your neighborhood markets and bodegas.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Boar’s Head has announced that they’ve recalled more than seven million pounds worth of ready-to-eat-meats and poultry products due to fears of possible listeria contamination. The news comes just days after they recalled an initial 270,000 pounds of meat for the same exact reason for their Strassburger Brand Liverwurst products that were made in Virginia on the same line during the same day.
The Detroit Free Press reports:
A liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health, “tested positive for the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes,” according to FSIS alert. Meat intended for slicing at retail delis and some packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations are also being recalled.
The products have sell-by dates ranging from July 29, 2024 through Oct. 17, 2024 and were distributed to retail locations nationwide with some exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama. The products shipped to retailers have the establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
According to a Boar’s Head website July 30 message to customers, and out of an abundance of caution, the company voluntarily expanded the recall to all items produced at its Jarrett Virginia, facility. Boar’s Head also said they’ve “paused ready-eat-operations” at the facility until further notice.
We hope consumers take notice of the recall and check their Boar’s Head products before consuming them and ending up with a fever or a bad case of diarrhea. If you happen to be in possession of one of their recalled products, it is recommended that you thoroughly clean your refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination with your other produces on your shelves.
Yeah, it’s that real.
With that being said, be safe eating that “harmless” sandwich, y’all. You might end up paying for it one way or another.