Newsletter
Page: 3
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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 $6 million. Don’t be surprised if others rappers follow suit in their respective cities and states.
What do y’all think about Pitbull copping himself a college football stadium? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Drake may be done going back and forth with Kendrick Lamar, but it seems like A$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.
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Source: @drvelasquez / Instagram
Tragic news is coming out of Colombia as well-known Reggaeton artist/manager Dr. Velásquez, was found murdered in his home earlier this week.
According to Digital Music News, Velásquez and his girlfriend, Sofia Valdez, were found shot to death in his home in Envigado, outside of Medellín, Colombia, this past Saturday (June 8). The sad news was announced by Velásquez’s record label, JMW Music, which put out a statement on social media informing his fans of the tragic news.
“With deep pain, we inform you of the death of Dr. Velásquez, renowned singer, composer, manager, businessman, and paisa [Medellín native] dreamer,” reads the statement written in Spanish. “Dr. Velásquez was a pioneer in the Medellín music scene, being the founder of the largest and first reggaeton hubs in our city. His legacy and passion for music left an indelible mark on the industry and in the hearts of those who knew him.”
“In this moment of pain, we ask for prudence and respect for his family, friends, and colleagues. We appreciate your understanding and support in these difficult times. We join in prayer for his eternal rest and solidarity with all those who feel his departure.”
While the motive behind Velásquez‘s murder is still unknown, authorities already have a person of interest in cuffs.
Digital Music News reports:
The label clarified in a separate statement that although the facts surrounding his death are being investigated, “the judicial authorities have ruled out suicide among the hypotheses. Thanks to the quick and efficient action of the authorities, the main suspect in the double homicide is already in custody.”
Velásquez, whose real name was Daniel Alejandro Velásquez Franco, enjoyed a solo singing career from 2014 to 2018, but he is better known for having propelled the music careers of many Colombian urban artists, including Reykon, Maluma, and J Balvin. He discovered Blessd in 2019 and signed him to his home label of JMW Music.
Some of the artists Dr. Velásquez has worked with include J Balvin, Blessd and Maluma, among many others.
Rest In Power, Dr. Velásquez.
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Source: @drvelasquez / Instagram
Tragic news is coming out of Colombia as well-known Reggaeton artist/manager Dr. Velásquez, was found murdered in his home earlier this week.
According to Digital Music News, Velásquez and his girlfriend, Sofia Valdez, were found shot to death in his home in Envigado, outside of Medellín, Colombia, this past Saturday (June 8). The sad news was announced by Velásquez’s record label, JMW Music, which put out a statement on social media informing his fans of the tragic news.
“With deep pain, we inform you of the death of Dr. Velásquez, renowned singer, composer, manager, businessman, and paisa [Medellín native] dreamer,” reads the statement written in Spanish. “Dr. Velásquez was a pioneer in the Medellín music scene, being the founder of the largest and first reggaeton hubs in our city. His legacy and passion for music left an indelible mark on the industry and in the hearts of those who knew him.”
“In this moment of pain, we ask for prudence and respect for his family, friends, and colleagues. We appreciate your understanding and support in these difficult times. We join in prayer for his eternal rest and solidarity with all those who feel his departure.”
While the motive behind Velásquez‘s murder is still unknown, authorities already have a person of interest in cuffs.
Digital Music News reports:
The label clarified in a separate statement that although the facts surrounding his death are being investigated, “the judicial authorities have ruled out suicide among the hypotheses. Thanks to the quick and efficient action of the authorities, the main suspect in the double homicide is already in custody.”
Velásquez, whose real name was Daniel Alejandro Velásquez Franco, enjoyed a solo singing career from 2014 to 2018, but he is better known for having propelled the music careers of many Colombian urban artists, including Reykon, Maluma, and J Balvin. He discovered Blessd in 2019 and signed him to his home label of JMW Music.
Some of the artists Dr. Velásquez has worked with include J Balvin, Blessd and Maluma, among many others.
Rest In Power, Dr. Velásquez.
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Seems like someone lit a fire under Vado’s ass as the Harlem rapper has been on his grizzly as of late and for his latest cut the Violence And Drugs Only artist links up with a Buffalo bars-smith to kick that gutter ish that the two are known for dropping.
For his new visuals to “Gotta Wait,” Vado connects with Benny The Butcher at a Chinese takeout spot where they count stacks of cash but don’t seem to place an order at any point. The restaurant workers must’ve felt crazy teased thinking they were about to buy out the kitchen.
Quavo meanwhile doesn’t seem to mind a little smoke and in his clip for “Clear The Smoke” the ATLien uses a smoke machine to fill the room with some carbon while some thick women walk around half-naked for no apparent reason. Yeah, we can’t call that one.
Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Vado (we told y’all he was grinding), Juicy J, and more.
VADO FT. BENNY THE BUTCHER – “GOTTA WAIT”
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QUAVO – “CLEAR THE SMOKE”
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VADO – “PRESSURE”
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JUICY J – “SERENITY”
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NINO MAN – “HELLA HOT”
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BELLY – “PATIENCE VS. PATIENTS”
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GSE GRAM – “THE MOST”
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SNOW THA PRODUCT – “NAH”
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JAYMAN24 – “INSANE”
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Source: Carmen Mandato / Getty
On Tuesday (April 30), Kendrick Lamar had social media collectively clutching their pearls he laid down the murder game with his Drake diss record “Euphoria,” and with all eyes turning to the Canadian actor turned rapper, Drizzy quickly responded to the song but in the most 2024 way possible.
Instead of releasing a response record (which everyone wants), Drake took to his Instagram stories to share a clip from the popular 90’s film 10 Things I Hate About You in which Julia Stiles checked off a list of things she hated about someone she had a crush on in the film. An obvious reference to Kendrick’s bars in which he spit “I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress/ I hate the way that you sneak diss, if I catch flight, it’s gon’ be direct,” the clip did little to move Hip-Hoppers who are eagerly waiting to see what Drake cooks up in the kitchen as the beef continues to heat up.
While this wasn’t the response fans were expecting from Drake (he’s apparently trying to laugh to keep from crying), rest assured that he will indeed clap back at some point as he sent a quick message to his man, DJ Akademiks saying “See you soon.” While some assumed Drake had a joint in the chamber ready to deploy whenever K. Dot responded to “Push Ups” or his “Taylor Made Freestyle,” Drizzy is seemingly soaking in “Euphoria” before getting back in the booth to address Kendrick’s many critiques of him.
Drizzy really got his work cut out for him with this one. We know one thing for damn sure and that’s that Drake definitely won’t be using an AI version of Tupac on another song as he doesn’t want any legal smoke with the Shakur estate who’ve shown they have no interest in having the Hip-Hop legend participating in any new rap songs from beyond the grave.
The ball’s in Drizzy’s court now. One can only wonder how he plans on topping Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” and if that’s even possible at this point.
What do y’all think of Drake’s response to Kendrick’s latest diss track? Sound off in the comments section below.