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Big U, an alleged top-ranking Rollin’ 60s Crips gang member and community activist, was arrested and charged with other individuals this week in connection to a RICO case. Big U, who was formerly connected to the late Nipsey Hussle, is accused of running a Mafia-like criminal enterprise by authorities, claims that U say are overblown due to Internet chatter.
In a report from the Los Angeles Times, Eugene “Big U” Henley, 58, was a massive influence on the Hip-Hop scene in Los Angeles, and his involvement with the gang world was notable considering he spent recent times as a community leader looking to quell violence on the streets. Now, Henley is facing charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery, and more.
As the Times notes, Big U was instrumental in boosting the career of Nipsey Hussle, who was also a member of the Rollin’ 60s. His connection with the music scene and his reported position in the Crips operation was framed by federal investigators as that of a mob boss with people visiting Los Angeles being required to “check in” with Henley to move untouched about the city. Henley is alleged to have put the “check in” requirement toward musicians and professional athletes alike.
In the 107-page federal complaint, officials say that Henley ran his self-styled enterprise similarly to how the Mafia operates, using his “stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals” across the city, according to the complaint.
When authorities first announced their intent to go after Henley, they named him a fugitive in a news conference but Henley eventually turned himself in. As reported by TMZ, Henley recorded a video ahead of turning himself in, stating that he’s done nothing wrong and has contributed heavily to his community. Over a dozen other individuals connected to Henley were also taken into custody.
U.S. Atty. Joseph T. McNally spoke at Wednesday’s news conference and said that Henley’s image as a music executive and community leader was false.
“[Henley] has maintained the image of an entertainment industry entrepreneur running a music label and of somebody who gives back to the community here in Los Angeles,” McNally said. “The facts alleged in the complaint paint a very different picture. It is one of a murderer, a thief, a liar and a cheat and the criminals that enabled him.”
Henley is accused of kidnapping and killing a young rapper and discarding his body in the Las Vegas desert. FBI investigators say that the hit was carried out due to disrespect and ordering a robbery of an unlicensed marijuana dispensary over unpaid extortion payments. Henley is also alleged to have taken charity donations from the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Draymond Green, only to pocket the money for himself.
Sylvester Robinson, 59, allegedly Henley’s second-in-command, and alleged lieutenant Mark Martin, 50, are both accused of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Along with Henley, Termaine Williams, aka “Luce Cannon,” was charged with robbery, Armani Aflleje, aka “Mani,” was charged with transporting an individual to engage in prostitution, and Tiffany Hines was charged with bank fraud.
As seen in the videos above, Big U is claiming innocence.
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Charleston White has become a popular, if controversial, media figure due to his outlandish comments about Black entertainment and culture. An old video of Charleston White recently surfaced featuring him testifying against a friend, prompting some online to harken back on White’s comments regarding snitching.
Charleston White was trending on X, formerly Twitter, over the weekend after the @rebootjays account shared a 1993 news report from a Texas outlet featuring a teenage White testifying in court. The case appears to involve a murder case involving one Antoine Dolittle, who shot and killed Michael Levy, who tried to stop White and Dolittle from stealing from a department store. The actual crime occurred in 1991
https://x.com/rebootjays/status/1900933462724350261 – The video mentioned above.
White, 216 at the time, is seen telling the court how the shooting was carried out and the clip immediately hit viral status on the X network with fans adding that this is nothing new for him as he’s made snitching part of his ethos.
As is custom, White welcomed the criticism from observers and dropped a video on social media explaining that he doesn’t think the video will stop his current speaking engagement and tour stops, nor will it have any effect on his earnings. White has been explicit in stating that he would gladly snitch on anyone, and the video below highlights his stance.
https://x.com/charlestonwhyt/status/1900996053014401313 – a response video from White.
Gillie Da Kid reacted to the news in his usual outspoken fashion and White replied via video, appearing to address the podcast host and Philadelphia native that had the “no snitching” street code been pushed aside, Gillie would find justice for his slain son, Devin “YNG Cheese” Spady.
https://x.com/batnarc573511/status/1901652025236140278 – The video comment in question.
So far, it doesn’t appear that Gillie Da Kid is going to go back and forth with Charleston White over the matter.
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Dawn Robinson, a singer who first found fame with En Vogue before venturing off on her own, shared details of her current living conditions in a now-viral video. In the clip, Dawn Richardson shares that for the past three years, she’s been living inside her car.
As spotted on VIBE, Dawn Robinson took to her official YouTube channel and broke down the circumstances that led to her living on the road and embracing the growing “car life” trend that other entertainers such as 3D Na’Tee and others.
Robinson, appearing in great spirits, opened up with a motivational quote and then launched into her story about living in her vehicle.
“Guys, I have been living in my car for almost three years,” Robinson began, adding a sigh of relief and said, “I said it, oh my God, it’s out.”
Robinson continued with, “If you guys were with me in 2020, I did like a 105,000 interviews and in the interim, I was living with my parents in [Las] Vegas. That was wonderful until it wasn’t. I love my mom, but she became very angry,y and a lot of her anger, she was taking out on me.”
She also shared that a former manager gave her an empty promise of housing her in Los Angeles but left her stranded in a hotel for months, hence why she leaned into car life and did extensive research.
The former Lucy Pearl singer goes on to say that she isn’t looking for any sympathy but instead is hoping to show, through vulnerability and openness, that one can live on one’s terms. Not once in the video did Dawn Robinson look out of sorts, and her eternally youthful looks and bubbly personality were infectious. She even shared in the video that the late Marvin Gaye embraced car living.
Check out the video in full below, and kudos to Dawn Robinson.
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Yung Miami and Sean “Diddy” Combs were involved in a brief but intense romantic situation that observers openly coveted and applauded for the unattached way the pair carried their union and their openness about sex. After Yung Miami famously stated on her show that she was a fan of “golden showers,” the rapper and podcast host has since walked back that stance in a new interview.
Yung Miami was a guest on Stepping into the Shade Room with host Thembi Mawema, and the pair discussed a number of topics related to her career, her recent birthday celebration, and, of course, all things involving her former group, the City Girls.
Mawema, flipping the script, asked the “Rap Freaks” star some scandalous questions in a version of Miami’s Resha Roulette game and was questioned about the infamous moment in 2023 on Caresha Please with Trina where she expressed a love for “watersports.” However, it looks like Caresha was just poddin’ and talking mess.
‘I always go back to that interview and say, ‘Why the fuck did I say that?’” Miami says. She added, “I’m the type of person that’s like that. Like, I say some sh*t and then I’m just like, ‘What?’ I have a bubbly personality. I can tell y’all a thousand times, English, Spanish, and French [that] no man has ever peed on me.”
Last year, Miami clarified that she didn’t let Diddy perform a golden shower on her. However, the chatter persisted all the same.
Check out the full Yung Miami interview with Stepping into the Shade Room below. Hop to the 52-minute mark to see the comments mentioned above.
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Ben Affleck is an award-winning actor and filmmaker and starred in motion pictures that have made millions in theaters. Ben Affleck is also a dad of children who love fancy gifts, and the Massachusetts native let it be known that his kids won’t be running his packets for expensive sneakers.
As spotted on Buzzfeed, Ben Affleck and his 13-year-old son went viral after attending a Got Sole sneaker convention in Los Angeles at the top of the month. Affleck’s son pointed out some Jordan 1 Dior lowtop sneakers and tried to get his father to get him the sneakers. When Affleck heard the $6,000 price tag, he ribbed his son by saying he’s going to have to mow a lot of lawns to get a pair. Of course, the kid took it in stride, and we’re pretty certain Dad didn’t leave the convention without something.
Affleck was at the annual SXSW conference to premiere his new film, The Accountant 2, and was approached by Access Hollywood to chat about his latest work, where Affleck deferred and praised his cast, the stunt workers, and director Gavin O’Connor. Toward the end of the chat, the outlet asked Affleck about the sneaker convention moment, and all of Affleck’s Massachusetts accent came out.
“That’s what happens when you tell a motherf*cker you have to mow a lawn, all of a sudden, they don’t want those shoes anymore,” Affleck says with a smile in his eyes. What makes the moment so great is that Ben Affleck is in total media training mode during the first part of the segment, but it all goes away once the sneaker conversation comes up.
Check out both aforementioned moments below.
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The legendary Roberta Flack was laid to rest on Monday (March 10) in New York during a public memorial service that featured words from the Rev. Al Sharpton and other notable figures. Stevie Wonder was on hand for a moving tribute, along with a surprise appearance from Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.
Roberta Flack passed away on Feb. 24, sparking several responses from entertainers and music lovers from around the world on social media. Flack’s influence and towering legacy were mentioned several times throughout the service, and Rev. Sharpton artfully illustrated the vocalist’s significance in Black music culture, as reported by the Associated Press.
The outlet added in its reporting that Stevie Wonder was a scheduled performer, and other performers, such as Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson fame, took to the stage. Phylicia Rashad, who shared that she first encountered Flack as a young vocalist while attending Howard University, remarked how arresting the singer’s voice was then.
There were also video tributes delivered by Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India.Arie, and Alicia Keys, along with remarks delivered by many in attendance in honor of Flack and her lasting legacy.
The appearance of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean was not on the docket, and Hill delivered a speech citing Flack’s influence on her life.
“I adore Ms. Roberta Flack,” Hill said during a speech. “Roberta Flack is legend.”
Hill performed a rendition of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” and then launched into the Fugees’ award-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” with Wonder joining on harmonica and Jean on guitar. Wonder then took to the stage and performed “If It’s Magic” alongside a harpist. Wonder then went to the piano and performed “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” a song he wrote for Flack.
Roberta Flack was 88 at the time of her passing.
Watch the memorial service in full below.
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We’re only a few weeks away from the premier of the 5th and final season of Netflix’s hit series YOU and while fans of the series have been patiently waiting to see how the series wraps up the story of Joe Goldberg and his disturbingly obsessive ways, Netflix has enlisted the talents of Cardi B to let y’all know just how bananas things are going to get, and boy did she deliver.
In a new promo clip for Season 5 of YOU, Netflix gave Cardi B a first look at the trailer for the upcoming season, and she gave the kind of reaction you can expect from a Bronx representative. Seemingly hype and excited after witnessing what Netflix has in store for fans of the show this coming April, Cardi animatedly tells everyone “When I tell you … girl, I am shook. I cannot wait, and it’s like they got a little, cute surprise. I cannot wait for you guys to see the trailer. Y’all gonna gag. Got me gagging!”
A known fan of the series herself, Cardi B has been linked to the show in the past and according to Deadline, people even tried to get her cast in the show but a las, it never happened.
Per Deadline:
Fans of the Penn Badgley vehicle and/or Cardi B — plus the extremely online — will recognize the marketing move as a nod to the two entertainment industry figures’ Twitter-first relationship. The two first began a meme-filled correspondence when the Gossip Girl alum name-dropped the musician in an interview, citing her as a person who has an “authentic relationship” with fans on social media and contrasting that with his self-described inaptitude with online platforms. Since then, the two have switched profile icons and talked glowingly about each other during press appearances. Netflix’s X account even once changed its bio to read: “Petition to get Cardi B to guest star in Season 4 of You!” (That obviously did not happen, but her track “I Like It” did play in the first episode of that season.)
We’re low-key surprised Netflix didn’t jump at the chance to include a Cardi cameo, as that would’ve only helped the series’ popularity even more, but hey, it is what it is.
Check out Cardi B’s reaction to the upcoming trailer to YOU below and let us know if you’re excited for the season premier, which will hit Netflix on April 24 in the comments section below.
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R. Kelly is currently serving 30 years behind bars due to his explosive sexual abuse and human trafficking case, where he was convicted on nine counts. Largely mum during his prison stay. R. Kelly was a surprise guest for an inmate-focused podcast, saying at one point that singing was a “beautiful disease.”
As seen on TMZ, R. Kelly was a surprise guest for the Inmate Tea with A&P podcast, hosted by April Smith and Patricia Dillard. The podcast is centered on prison reforms and gives inmates a platform to “advocate for criminal justice reform and the humane treatment of inmates, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, by raising awareness of the injustices within the judicial and prison systems,” according to their website bio.
The hosts were slated to speak with another inmate at the FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina but caught wind that the R&B singer and songwriter was housed there. While Kelly didn’t explicitly speak about his case, he did showcase his vocal ability and even shared that he’s written over two dozen albums.
At one point, Kelly referred to singing as “a beautiful disease that’s incurable” and pledged to always lean into that craft as long as he’s able. In a follow-up TMZ post, Smith and Dillard defended their choice to feature R. Kelly on their broadcast, seemingly elated by the big name-grab for their show. Despite Kelly’s infamous reputation, the pair told the outlet that they were able to separate Kelly from the heinous crimes attached to his name and have received backlash for running the interview.
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Blacc Sam, the brother of late rapper Nipsey Hussle, was seen on video getting into a verbal scrap with an assumed Crip gang member during what should have been a moment of celebration. From what is shown in the video, Blacc Sam and the gang member exchanged some words, and online sluetshs were able to connect the man in the video to Wack 100, who has made comments about Nipsey Hussle in the past.
As seen on All Hip Hop, the video was uploaded to the X social media platform by Poetik Flakko and shows Blacc Sam, Samiel Asghedom, and Rocstar 2800, who is apparently connected to Wack 100. It appears that Wack’s comments about his brother had Sam heated and he’s essentially telling Rocstar 2800 get away from the business or back up the beef words.
Nipsey Hussle brother Blacc Sam goes off on West Blvd Crip Rocstar 2800. He said anybody who don’t get cracking on people who disrespect Nipsey Hussle can’t come around them nomore until they get cracking pic.twitter.com/593UtD6Xmb
— Poetik Flakko (@FlakkoPoetik) March 1, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
As Sam gets right in Rocstar’s face without flinching, he waves off an associate who wanted to get some space between the two, illustrating he was ready to throw hands or whatever else. Cooler heads prevailed and the men were eventually split apart.
On Instagram, Rockstar 2800 made light of the moment by posting an image that read “Damn All A N*gga Wanted Was A Burger” with a crying laughing emoji at the end.
As Hip-Hop Wired reported last month, Blacc Sam is working to release a posthumous Nipsey Hussle album.
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Angie Stone, an amazing singer and songwriter who established herself as a soul star in the late 1990s and early 2000s, passed away on Saturday, March 1, at the age of 63. Although most music fans are well aware of Angie Stone’s singing career, her roots in Hip-Hop run deep, and Hip-Hop Wired examines those connections.
Angie Stone was born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1861, in Columbia, S.C. It was in her hometown that she was a member of The Sequence, an all-woman Hip-Hop trio consisting of Cheryl “Cheryl The Pearl” Cook, Gwendolyn “Blondie” Chisolm, and Angie “Angie B” Stone. The group came together when the three were all in high school, and they were first noticed after a Sugarhill Gang performance along with Sugar Hill Records founder and CEO, Sylvia Robinson.
The Sequence was the first female Hip-Hop trio to be signed to the famed Sugar Hill Records label and made history with their 1979 single “Funk You Up,” the second single released from the label after “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang. Stone is also credited on the pioneering Hip-Hop single, which helped usher the music to wider audiences and mainstream appeal.
The release and success of “Funk You Up” is significant as The Sequence was comprised of artists who hailed from the Southern United States, proving that Hip-Hop’s reach extended far beyond the five boroughs of New York.
Portions of “Funk You Up” have been sampled by the likes of Too, Short Boogie Down Productions, De La Soul, Ice Cube, and dozens more. Dr. Dre used sounds from the single for his 1995 single, “Keep Their Heads Ringin” as well. Although the group initially disbanded in 1985, the group made comeback songs in the modern era via a 2011 single “On Our Way To The Movies,” which did not feature Stone.
Stone worked with Hip-Hop duo Mantronix (DJ Kurtis Mantronik and MC Tee) before becoming the lead vocalist for the Vertical Hold trio, releasing a pair of albums in the early 1990s. She then joined with Gerry DeVeaux, Lenny Kravitz’s cousin, and Charlie Mole as a member of the group Devox. While the group didn’t last beyond one album, Stone’s songwriting prowess honed in her time in the previous groups led to her providing songwriting credits on D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar and Voodoo albums. Stone and D’Angelo had a son together as well.
In 2003, by now well established as an R&B vocalist and songwriter, Stone appeared on Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life Worldwide” from the Texas singer’s Worldwide Underground album. Badu, and fellow featured acts Queen Latifah and Bahamadia all delivered bars with Stone on the anchor verse with “Funk You Up” as the backing sample.
In 2017, with the assistance of attorney Antavius Weems, The Sequence filed a Federal Copyright Infringement claim aimed at Bruno Mars, stating that his smash hit “Uptown Funk” used elements of “Funk You Up.”
Angie Stone and her contributions to music won’t be forgotten, as evidenced by the outpouring of adoration and regard from her fellow musicians and fans from around the world. Hopefully, those unaware of her strong roots in Hip-Hop culture are enlightened about her place in that great pantheon as well.
Rest powerfully in peace, Angie Stone.
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