Doja Cat is speaking out about how she feels about losing her verified blue check on Twitter. Elon Musk announced the removal of verification badges from legacy accounts not interested in forking over $8 for Twitter Blue. Doja Cat’s verification has been recently removed, and she does not care. 

Shortly after, a fan responded to one of her tweets, stating, “No blue check,” Doja tweeted, “Having a blue tick now means there’s a higher chance that you’re a complete loser and that you’re desperate for validation from famous people.”

Doja has previously expressed her displeasure with the social media platform. Late last year, she changed her account name to “Christmas,” only for Elon to immediately implement a rule banning verified accounts from changing their display names to keep them from impersonating other users. How did this rule affect Doja? Well, her display name was stuck for a while as “Christmas.”

Doja put out a voice recording where she stated, “You guys are paying $8 a month to come on here and go to war with people who are not in agreement with who your favorite pop star is. You’re paying $8 a month to come on here and say shit like ‘byeee.’ Um, you’re coming on here for $8 a month to post porn and then get into an argument. I think I can stop there. Ok, cool. Bye.”

The pop star isn’t the only star who has spoken against the “new Twitter.” Seth Rogan said, “I won’t be using it”; Lebron James said, “Welp guess my blue [check] will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain’t paying the 5”; Chrissy Teigen sarcastically tweeted, “going to bed tonight with my checkmark husband, knowing it will all be over by morning,” Implying they won’t be paying to keep their checkmarks, either. Even NFL Star Darius Slay said, “they can have my blue check”.

To maintain a blue check, users must pay for Twitter Blue, a subscription service that costs $8 per month or $84 per year.

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Bad Bunny announced that he launched a new sports management agency, Rimas Sports, in partnership with Rimas Entertainment. Rimas Sports will offer a variety of services, including agent management, brand relations and marketing, public relations, performance and skills training, financial advisors, concierge, and logistics. The company will cater to the Latin community. 

Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez will serve as an ambassador for the company. On Rimas’ list of clients are two of the most prominent players in the SF Giants organization: infielder Wilmer Flores and shortstop Marco Luciano. Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal, an All-Star last year, has also joined Rimas Sports. 

We are thrilled to break into a new industry with the launch of Rimas Sports,” said Assad, the Rimas Entertainment CEO. “In the music world we accomplished success by knowing how to develop talent, helping our clients reach their vision by catering to their unique needs. Assad went on to say that the agency’s mission is to bring greater representation to the Latin community in the world of sports. He stated that they know what it takes to lead a promising star to the top and are ready to offer the same best-in-class services and unique approach to clients in a new industry to help them achieve their goals.

This new venture is an expansion of that mission that aims to bring greater representation to the Latin community in the world of sports.

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According to Tony Rock, Chris Rock’s brother, Will Smith’s public statement that he intends to repair his relationship with Chris is all fake. 

Shortly following the “slap that was heard all around the world” after last year’s Oscars, Will reportedly “reached out to Chris and the response that Will received was that he’s not ready to talk.  In a video that Will released, his exact words were, “I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that, he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you,” said Smith.

“My behavior was unacceptable, and I am here whenever you are ready to talk. I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment.”

Tony alleges that this is completely untrue, and his brother was indeed ready to talk. Tony went on to say that both he and his brother considered Will to be family and that his actions were extremely disappointing. 

During Tony’s interview as a guest on Big Boy’s Neighborhood, he stated, if Smith genuinely wanted to make amends, he knows how to reach him. “My phone number has never changed. So, I just thought I’d get a phone call one day like, ‘Ay, let’s just you and I just talk.’ It hasn’t happened, so I guess it’s not going to happen.” O

n Twitter, Tony expressed the following, “My thoughts? All the crumbs and losers on social media repeatedly said it had nothing to do with me and I should be quiet or stay out of it,” he wrote, “Others said I (who’s been making lots of money since 1999) was commenting in an attempt to gain notoriety.”

Weeks following “the slap,” Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was ultimately banned from attending Academy events for a decade.

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Beginning this past weekend, U.S. states will begin to kick as many as 15 million people off Medicaid insurance as the emergency safety net initially put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end.

What is Medicaid? Medicaid is a public health insurance program for people who have lower incomes. It is jointly administered by the state and federal governments. Over the past three years since the global pandemic, under an emergency pandemic measure, states have stopped double-checking if people who are enrolled in Medicaid are still eligible for its coverage. Suppose you were enrolled in Medicaid in March 2020 or became eligible at any point during the pandemic. In that case, you have remained eligible the entire time no matter what, even if your income later increased.  However, states will now double-check every Medicaid enrollee’s eligibility, a huge administrative task that will put health insurance coverage for millions of Americans at risk. Not everyone will be removed from the program all at once. States plan to verify all recipients’ eligibility over periods of nine months to one year.

The change is “disruptive,” said Dr. Adam Gaffney, a critical care physician at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts who advocates for health care reform. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra says the Biden administration is working with states to prevent Americans from being without any health insurance. “One of the best ways to make sure they don’t, is to make sure that governors have adopted the Medicaid expansion program, which lets them cover more Americans within their Medicaid program,” Beccera said.

People with Medicaid should ensure their personal information is up-to-date, be on the lookout for Medicaid application materials in the mail or via email, and complete the renewal application by their state’s due date. People who lose Medicaid coverage will be eligible to purchase coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The termination notice should provide instructions.

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A clip of an AI-generated JAY-Z verse has gone viral, and Young Guru is concerned.

Young Guru is JAY-Z’s long-time esteemed engineer. In an Instagram post, he went on to say, “We have to learn from past mistakes. You would be a fool to chase every person that is going to do this. We learned that lesson with Napster. The only way I see to deal with it is to change the law. There are so many different opinions. We could change the United States law tomorrow but the internet is world wide. What a time we live in!!” 

He went further to say that everyone else should be concerned and thinks that the government should step in and create laws prohibiting technology such as this one from using an artist’s image and likeness. “People should not be able to take your Name, Image and Likeness without permission. We have to add the voice to this law,” he wrote. “We have to learn from past mistakes. You would be a fool to chase every person that is going to do this. We learned that lesson with Napster.”

Young Guru signed to Roc-A-Fella in 1999 which sparked a career in working with artists like Jay Z. His most notable Jayz songs include “Dead Presidents,” “IZZO,” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

“I don’t even want to continue giving examples for fear that someone will go out and do it. The law has to change to protect everyone not just Public Figures,” he wrote. “And the super scary part is that we are just getting started, we feed the beast constantly everyday with more and more content to be studied.

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“Adidas will withdraw its opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s (“BLMGNF”) trademark application as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement to Reuters.

Adidas recently filed a request to have the Black Lives Matter filing trademark a three-striped logo. However, the sneakers company has just rescinded their request. Adidas has been known for its three-striped logo for over 70 years. In their initial request to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, they claimed that the BLMGNF’s attempt to trademark a three-striped logo would cause customer confusion. They go on to say that BLMGNF’s application incorporates three stripes in a manner that is confusingly similar” to the company’s familiar three-stripe logo “in appearance and overall commercial impression.”

According to reports, the sneaker company’s decision to request the dismissal of the trademark was based on fear of public misinterpretation that the company’s opposition would be confused for not supporting BLMGNF’s mission.

 This came shortly after a failed attempt by Adidas to challenge fashion designer Thom Browne, who was accused of using stripes in his designs in a way that was “too similar “ to the Adidas stripes. A Manhattan Federal Jury ruled against the sneaker company.

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Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has received a threatening letter containing an unidentified white powder. The threat was discovered after former President Donald Trump hinted at “death and destruction” should Bragg bring charges against him. Bragg is investigating a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels by Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen shortly before the 2016 presidential election.

“ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!” said the typewritten note in a letter contained in an envelope addressed to Bragg that appeared to be mailed from Orlando, Florida. However, according to the New York Police Department, the white powder was non-hazardous. 

Bragg sent an email to staffers Friday afternoon indicating that the powder was not hazardous. Bragg thanked staffers for their “strength and professionalism” in the face of “distressing disruptions,” including threatening emails and calls.

A DA spokeswoman said, “The D.A. has informed the office that it was immediately contained and that the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection determined there was no dangerous substance.”

DA Bragg has received several hundred threats in recent weeks, with several dozen of those threats being considered to harm Bragg seriously. On Friday morning, after 1 a.m., Trump suggested Bragg was “a degenerate psychopath that truly hates the USA” as he condemned the investigation and warned of the potential of violence if he is charged. Trump predicted last weekend that he would be arrested Tuesday in Bragg’s investigation, but that did not happen.

According to a source, the former president asked people to come up with a plan for how to deal with Bragg and how the Department of Justice could respond to Bragg’s “illegal” investigation of the president.

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At the end of last year, Nike sued Stockx, the reseller platform, for allegedly selling counterfeit sneakers and having an unreliable authentication process. As the suit continues to be underway, it has been revealed that a reseller once received 38 pairs of fake Air Jordan 1s from StockX. 

According to Nice Kicks, they exclusively spoke to the reseller involved in the Nike vs. StockX case. He bought many University Blue, Mocha, and Hyper Royal Jordan 1s on StockX when the price had dropped with the intent of holding and flipping later. However, it turned out that 38 of them were fake.” The court document reveals that StockX had “authenticated” the shoes. An exciting fact is that since the scandal in November 2022, the company has removed the word “authenticated” from its site. Following the claim that the sneakers were fake, Nike visited the reseller and confirmed that 38 pairs of sneakers received by the customer from StockX had indeed been fake.

StockX released the following statement, “We take customer protection extremely seriously, and we’ve invested millions to fight the proliferation of counterfeit products that virtually every global marketplace faces today. Nike’s latest filing is not only baseless but also is curious given that their own brand protection team has communicated confidence in our authentication program, and that hundreds of Nike employees – including current senior executives – use StockX to buy and sell products. This latest tactic amounts to nothing more than a panicked and desperate attempt to resuscitate its losing legal case against our innovative Vault NFT program that revolutionizes the way that consumers can buy, store, and sell collectibles safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Nike’s challenge has no merit and clearly demonstrates their lack of understanding of the modern marketplace.”

StockX has since accepted the reseller’s returns and provided a full refund. The litigation between the two companies is still underway. 

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Rudolph Isley, one of the members of the legendary Isley Brothers, is suing his brother Ronald for filing a trademark registration for the Isley Brothers solely under his name. 

Rudolph claims that even though the name “The Isley Brothers” is  owned by both of them, Ronald alone filed for a federal trademark of the name in 2021. The United States Patent and Trademark Office approved Ronald Isley’s registration for sole ownership of the Isley Brothers brand in August.

Rudolph is claiming that despite the name “The Isley Brothers” being jointly owned by both, Ronald filed for a federal trademark of the name in 2021 by himself. In their claim, Rudolph’s legal team states “The Isley Brothers” trademark is “jointly owned” by both him and Ronald “equally”. Furthermore, they are asking the judge to require Ronald to pay him his “share of all proceeds” earned from it.

It appears that a separate fight for money has also begun. “Upon information and belief, [Ronald Isley] has within the past year offered goods and services in commerce to the public under the [trademark] within this judicial district and in other locations, without the authorization or approval of [Rudolph Isley], and has failed to account to or make payment to [Rudolph Isley] in connection with such exploitation of the [trademark],” the court filing reads.

Rudolph stopped working with the group in 1986. Based off of this information, Ronald’s team argues that “the owner of a trademark is the person … who is actually and actively using the mark in commerce during or near the time of registration,” They further claim that Rudolph Isley no longer qualifies for partial ownership of the band name.

“Rudolph is unaware of the degree to which Ronald exploited the Mark, the licenses and/or other transactions that Ronald entered into for the use of the Mark, or the revenue Ronald garnered through such exploitation,” the suit stated. As a result, Rudolph is asking that his brother “account for and pay over” his “rightful 50 percent share of all results and proceeds of the past exploitation of the Mark.

The Isley Brothers received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last June.

The post Sibling Rivalry Brewing Between The Isley Brothers Over Trademark Registration appeared first on The Source.

Multi-platinum rapper French Montana is being sued months after one of his music video shoots in Florida ended in a hail of bullets.

Carl Leon, who was an extra during the video shoot in January, claims that the rapper did not do enough to prevent the injury of at least ten people. French’s attorney denies the allegations and states that Leon’s claim is a “profit play and a publicity stunt.” Leon alleges in his lawsuit that the Montana music video shooting was a “preventable, foreseeable incident” if Montana and his label had received the correct permits for video production. Leon is also suing the restaurant and Gayles Plaza, which owns the strip where the shooting occurred.

As many as ten people were shot on Jan. 5 in The Licking Restaurant in the Miami Gardens parking lot, where French Montana and rapper Rob49 were filming a music video for the song “Igloo.” An unidentified man opened fire with an assault rifle, barricading himself with a $400,000 car used as a prop.

“It was an extremely unfortunate situation that led to multiple people suffering serious injuries,” Leon’s attorney Josiah Graham, tells Rolling Stone. “The most egregious thing is that people were beaten up and robbed at this video shoot and the [production] did not shut down. “Montana continued to video shoot, moved it across the street, and those assailants returned and shot the place up,” he adds. “Things like that should not be able to go on.”

Leon’s attorney stated in the suit that his client has suffered “great bodily injury, pain, mental anguish, and loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life” and is seeking $50,000 in addition to legal fees.

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OpenAI unveiled GPT-4, which according to them, is capable of performing well on standardized tests. OpenAI further reveals that the updated technology passed a law school bar exam with a score in the top 10% of test takers. The older version, GPT-3.5, scored around the bottom 10%. Equally impressive, GPT-4 can also read, analyze or generate up to 25,000 words of text, and write code in all major programming languages, according to the company.

GPT-4 is a multimodal large language model, which means it can respond to both text and images. “Give it a photo of the contents of your fridge and ask it what you could make, and GPT-4 will try to come up with recipes that use the pictured ingredients. It’s also great at explaining jokes, says Sutskever, OpenAI’s Chief Scientist. “If you show it a meme, it can tell you why it’s funny.”

Within hours after its release, several users said they created computer games in less than a minute by simply asking the chatbot to generate code, resulting in near-perfect renditions of Tetris and Connect Four.

We are happy to confirm that the new Bing is running on GPT-4, which we’ve customized for search,” Microsoft said. “If you’ve used the new Bing preview at any time in the last five weeks, you’ve already experienced an early version of this powerful model.”  According to CNN, while ChatGPT has impressed many users with its ability to generate original essays, stories and song lyrics in response to user prompts since its November 2022 launch, it has also raised some concerns. AI chatbots, including tools from Microsoft and Google, have been called out in recent weeks for being emotionally reactive, making factual errors and engaging in outright “hallucinations,” as the industry calls it.

To use GPT-4, users have to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, which has a  $20 monthly subscription, for premium access to the service. 

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Hong Kong model Abby Choi went missing on Tuesday, according to Hong Kong police. The following gruesome timeline occurred: on Friday, authorities found her dismembered body in a refrigerator in a house rented by Kwong Kau in Lung Mei Tsuen, in a suburban part of Hong Kong. On Sunday, authorities discovered a young woman’s skull, several ribs, and hair believed to be Choi’s in a large stainless steel cooking pot seized from that same house. A meat slicer and an electric saw were also found at the home. 

Shortly after the discovery, Choi’s ex-husband Alex Kwong and his parents were taken into custody on a joint murder charge and held without bail. Kwong, his brother, and his father were charged with murdering Kong, and his mother, Jenny Li, was charged with “perverting the course of justice” or trying to stop the police from learning facts about the case.  

According to police, Choi had mishandled her financial assets and had ongoing disputes with her ex-husband and his family surrounding tens of millions of dollars. The citizens of Hong Kong have been in complete shock following the news of Choi’s murder. Her case is one of the most shocking killings Hong Kong had seen since 2013, when a man killed his parents, and their heads were later found in refrigerators. In another famous 1999 case, three members of an organized crime group kidnapped and tortured a woman before her death. Her skull was later found stuffed in a Hello Kitty doll.

Abby Choi was an influencer and model with over 100,000 followers on Instagram. The case has been adjourned to May 8. 

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Sarah Oh, a former human rights advisor for Twitter, and her friend Gabor Cselle, a former Director at Google, have teamed up to create T2, a rival service to Twitter.

Currently, in beta, T2 offers a post feed with a 280-character limit. However, according to Oh, that’s not the only difference between T2 and Twitter. “We really do want to create an experience that allows people to share what they want to share without fearing risk of things like abuse and harassment, and we feel like we’re really well positioned to deliver on that,” Oh told CNN.

There have also been many creators who have teamed up to create Twitter-esque social media platforms to attract those users who have left Twitter after expressing their distaste for the app following Elon Musk’s takeover. For example, the founders of Instagram announced Artifact, “a personalized news feed” powered by artificial intelligence, a description that quickly earned it comparisons to Twitter. According to CNN, it resembled news reader applications like Apple News or the defunct Google Reader. Artifact displayed popular articles from large media organizations and smaller bloggers in a main feed, tailored to users based on their activity and selected interests. 

Additionally, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, who served as Twitter’s global head of social and editorial for three years, and  DeVaris Brown, who served as a product manager lead, were let go by Musk and have also teamed up to create their own social media platform, Spill.

According to The Insider, Spill, named for the phrase “spill the tea,” will use blockchain to compensate users for popular posts and include a feature called “tea parties” where users can gather online or in real life to connect. “While Spill is for everyone, we are catering to culture drivers who frequently set new trends yet routinely get overlooked and under compensated,” Terrell tweeted in his announcement of the app. “Yes, we mean Black creators, Queer creators, and a variety of influential voices outside the U.S.”

Following the app’s announcement, Terrell tweeted that Spill had received 20,000 reservations for handles within 12 hours.

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A Minnesota woman has been sentenced to life in prison for killing her six-year-old son without the possibility of parole.

Julissa Thaler, 28, was arrested last year in Minnesota when someone called the police and reported that she was driving her vehicle with a shattered rear window and a blown-out tire. When they conducted a traffic stop, police found that Thaler had flesh pieces on her and blood in her car. She claimed the blood was from a tampon, and the flesh was from a deer she had purchased from a butcher. Sadly, her six-year-old son’s body was found in the trunk of that car. Two months ago, a jury found her guilty and convicted her of first and second-degree murder. Prosecutors said that Thaler used a shotgun to shoot Eli Hart nine times.

During her sentencing, Thaler’s family revealed that Thaler and Tory Hart, her now deceased son’s father, had just undergone a custody battle, where Thaler was awarded custody just ten days prior. Following her sentencing, Hart filed a wrongful death suit against the Dakota County employees who gave Thaler custody. That case is scheduled for trial in 2024.

“Everyone knows Eli Hart as the victim of this senseless and horrific crime. But Eli was so much more,” said Josephine Josephson, Tory Hart’s partner. “Eli was an amazing 6-year-old boy who always woke up full of energy and laughter.”

While reading the sentence, Judge Quam said: “The worst thing that seems to happen to parents is to lose their child. It’s worse, though, when you don’t lose your child to something like cancer or an accident, it’s when someone takes that child from the world. What I can’t imagine, nobody can imagine, is that the person that takes the child from the world is the person that brought that child in. Nothing I do would bring justice to this situation. Nothing I do would relieve any of the pain that you caused by doing that.”

When Thaler was asked if she wanted to address the court, she agreed and said, “I’m innocent. F*** you all. You’re garbage. That is all, your honor,”

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Nas is known for arguably being one of the greater rappers of our time. However, in the past few years, Nas has added a different title to his name, that of a tech investor. Nas has invested in over 40 companies as a founding partner of Queensbridge Venture Partners. Queensbridge Venture Partners is a venture capital firm created by the rapper and his manager, Anthony Saleh. Nas said he decided to get involved in tech investments because he wanted “to be surrounded by the smartest people in the world.”

Nas has quite an impressive investment profile. Here are some of the companies he has invested in, along with their valuations: Dropbox- $10 billion valuation, Lyft- $5.5 billion valuation, Tilt- $400 million valuation, and Robinhood-raised $50 million in Series B. He was also an early investor in Ring, the smart doorbell company. After Amazon acquired Ring, he made $40 million, following Ring’s $415 million in sales in 2018. Nas was also an early investor in Coinbase, an online platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing cryptocurrency. His stake is now worth $40 million. 

Earlier this year, Nas teamed up with Google to raise $20 million in financial banking for Carry1st, a South African gaming company. SpongeBob, Mine Rescue, and Match League are just a few of the games released by Carry1st. In an interview with THR, Carry1st co-founder and CEO Cordel Robbin-Coker said, “We’re excited to partner with this world-class group of investors who, in addition to capital, bring expertise across gaming, fintech, and web3. In 2021, we launched multiple games and digital commerce solutions, achieving really strong growth. Together we can accelerate this growth and achieve our goal of becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region.”

At this rate, it does not look like the Queensbridge rapper is slowing down any time soon, and we are here for it. 

The post From Escobar to Investo-bar: Investments by Nas Continue to Run Up His Net Worth appeared first on The Source.

BuzzFeed says it will use AI tools provided by ChatGPT creator, OpenAI, to “enhance” and “personalize” its content, according to a memo sent by CEO Jonah Perett to his staff. Buzzfeed is a news and entertainment website that covers many topics, including politics, business, food, music, sports, and the latest technology. ChatGPT is an extensive language model chatbot developed by OpenAI that has a remarkable ability to interact in conversational dialogue form and provide responses that can appear surprisingly human. OpenAI gained attention from industry leaders and investors and has been used to write high school and even create legal documents.

 CEO Jonah Peretti said AI would play a relatively significant role in the company’s operations. “To be clear, we see the breakthroughs in AI opening up a new era of creativity that will allow humans to harness creativity in new ways with endless opportunities and applications for good,” he said.   Peretti elaborated that the technology will be used to create quizzes and assist in personalizing content specific to its audience. Experts foresee the technology enhancing the quality of many jobs while taking over administrative tasks and replacing some workers.  

BuzzFeed will not be the first journalism platform to use artificial intelligence. CNET, an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, and podcasts, has been using an AI tool to generate reports that human editors later scan for accuracy before publication.

Last month, the company said it would cut about 12% of its workforce to rein in costs. The hope is that implementing this AI technology will assist in growing and energizing the business. Buzzfeed recently reported a net loss of $27 million in revenue.

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The U.S. Department of Justice and eight states filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google on Tuesday, seeking the breakup of the company’s online ad business.

Antitrust lawsuits are a type of class-action lawsuit in which individuals, organizations, or agencies file for claims of anticompetitive business practices which led to unfair competition, price fixing, or other types of fraud. The goal is to keep the market free, open, and competitive. The importance of this is that this is the second major antitrust lawsuit filed against Google by the Justice Department in the last three years, and if successful, it could force Google to sell off much of its ad business. The suit states, “Competition in the ad tech space is broken, for reasons that were neither accidental nor inevitable,” the filing reads. “Google has corrupted legitimate competition in the ad tech industry by engaging in a systematic campaign to seize control of the wide swath of high-tech tools used by publishers, advertisers, and brokers, to facilitate digital advertising.”

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said monopolies “threaten the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based.” He added, “We will aggressively protect consumers, safeguard competition and work to ensure economic fairness and opportunity for all.” Whereas, Peter Schottenfels, a Google spokesman, said the lawsuit “attempts to pick winners and losers in the highly competitive advertising technology sector.”

The Department of Justice further claims that Google is illegally using its monopoly power and should be required to divest a host of entities that allow it to carry out the allegedly offending behavior. Prosecutors must prove that Google holds a harmful monopoly in a ‘clearly defined market.’ Google can argue that its services are free to its consumers, making It tough to prove how its market dominance harms them.

As for the next steps, Google now has a chance to respond to the DOJ’s initial complaint. Antitrust suits like this one can take years before they reach a resolution.

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On Thursday, Instagram announced its latest feature, “quiet mode,” geared to help users focus and set boundaries with their followers.

The feature will send automatic replies to followers who try to message you letting them know you were not notified of their message. Additionally, the profile’s activity status will change to alert followers that quiet mode has been turned on. This update is one of several changes on Instagram today, including expanded parental control tools and other tools to manage recommendations. Its parental controls allow parents to filter out posts with specific words in their captions and hashtags. Instagram had already allowed users to filter out DMs with a self-made list of potentially harmful or offensive content. Still, the expanded filtering option will enable users to tailor their feeds more granularly than before.

While anyone can access this feature, the company said it would prompt teen users to enable it if they use the app late at night. Social media addiction is a behavioral disorder in which young adults become so addicted to social media and cannot reduce or cease their online media consumption despite clear negative consequences and severe drawbacks. According to CNN, US teens spend an average of more than seven hours per day on screen media for entertainment, and tweens spend nearly five hours, a new report finds, and that doesn’t include time spent using screens for school and homework.

Instagram is one of the world’s top social platforms, with at least 1.440 billion users worldwide as of July 2022. Quiet mode will initially be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Luxury designer Thom Browne won a suit in a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Adidas. A New York jury rejected Adidas’s claim that Brown’s three-striped designs were too similar to the company’s. 

Trademark infringement is the unauthorized use of a trademark or service mark. This use can be in connection with goods or services and may lead to confusion, deception, or a misunderstanding about the company a product or service came from. Trademark owners can take legal action if they believe their marks are being infringed. If an infringement of a trademark is proven, a court order can prevent a defendant from using the spot, and the owner may be awarded monetary relief. 

In the lawsuit, Browne’s defended his design by arguing that the two companies are not direct competitors and do not serve the same consumer market. According to the Associated Press, the dispute goes back 15 years. After Browne agreed to shift to a four-stripe design, Adidas did not argue. However, as Browne became more prominent after the 2018 sale, he began expanding further into activewear, and the sportswear giant took notice.’  

Adidas claimed that Browne tried to imitate their logo “in a manner that is likely to cause consumer confusion and deceive the public.” Browne had already agreed to add a fourth stripe to end any confusion potentially. However, the court ruled that the stripes were a common design.

The lawsuit went to trial last week, with Adidas seeking $867,225 in damages and another $7 million that it claimed was equivalent to Thom Browne’s profit. The two-week trial concluded when the eight-person jury returned its verdict in less than two hours. In his closing argument, Thom Browne’s attorney argued that consumers don’t confuse the two brands: Adidas is a sportswear company, while Thom Browne is a fashion house.

Adidas said it plans to appeal the ruling. “We are disappointed with the verdict and will continue to vigilantly enforce our intellectual property, including filing any appropriate appeals,” a spokesman said.

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A man confessed to decapitating his 21-year-old wife at their home in Waller County, Texas.

According to authorities, the parents of the young woman, identified as Anggy Diaz, 21, called the police after they discovered her body in their home. Sheriff Troy Guidry said, “A portion of the body was dismembered, and the residence was covered in blood. Gruesome scene at best.” The crime scene investigation revealed that the man, Jared Dicus, 21, used a kitchen knife to commit the murder. 

The parents told officials that Dicus, who lived in a small cabin with Diaz behind their home,  came inside their home and made some type of statement, prompting them to check the home where they found the body and immediately called 911. Dicus was interviewed by authorities and confessed to the crime.

Judge Carbett J. Duhon III, who wed the couple last fall, posted the following to his Facebook account, “I’m sure many of you have heard about an occurrence yesterday in the Oak Hollow area of Waller County where a young man was arrested and charged with murdering his wife. This involved a young couple that I married in October of 2022. During my short time with them, they were a very nice young couple. As with many of you, I’m greatly saddened and shocked by the news of this tragic event and my prayers are with all of their families. Out of respect for the families, I have taken down my photo with the couple and the post announcing their marriage, primarily due to the insensitive nature of some comments that were being made on that post. This matter will now go through  our court system, and I am confident that the Waller County Sheriff’s Office and the Waller County District Attorney’s Office will see to it that justice is served.”

Jared Dicus was taken into custody and has been charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held on a $500,000 bond. In Texas, first-degree murder refers to a murder that was premeditated and done with the goal of ending another’s life. The sentence for those convicted of first-degree murder is anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison.

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A New Jersey woman was sentenced to three years in state prison on Friday for her role in a $400,000 GoFundMe scam in which she and her then-boyfriend lied about helping a homeless veteran in Philadelphia.

Katelyn McClure, 32, was already serving a one-year sentence on federal charges related to the case. McClure was sentenced to three years in state prison on Friday for theft charges. According to prosecutors, McClure and her ex-boyfriend, Mark D’amico, created a fake GoFundMe page with a bogus story claiming that a homeless veteran named Johnny Bobbitt Jr. had given McClure his last $20 to help her put gas in her car. At the same time, she was stranded on a highway in Philadelphia. The then couple even went as far as doing television and newspaper interviews to support their campaign, which they named “Paying It Forward.” The campaign’s donors believed that the fundraising would get Bobbitt a home. 

In a month, the couple collected $400,000 from 14 donors. However, officials began to look into the story once Bobbitt sued McClure and D’amico, claiming that he never received any money from the campaign. The investigation discovered that most money was spent on a recreational vehicle, a BMW, and trips to Las Vegas and New Jersey casinos.

In a press release Friday, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw said that “people genuinely wanted to believe it was true. “But it was all a lie, and it was illegal,” she stated. “Our office is pleased to bring justice for the more than 14,000 kind-hearted people who thought they were helping someone who was living in a desperate situation.”

D’Amico was sentenced to five years in state prison in 2019 to run concurrently with a 27-month federal term, and Bobbitt was sentenced to federal and state probation. They have also been ordered to return the funds to GoFundMe. 

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It has been months since Atlanta native Young Thug and members of his Young Stoner Life Records, also known as Young Slime Life, were arrested and charged in part of a RICO case in Georgia. Thug, born Jeffrey Williams, was the critical name of District Attorney Fani Willis’ 56-count indictment on the chart-topping rap star along with fellow star Gunna and other label signees Lil Duk, Yak Gotti, and more.

Thug is facing numerous charges; some were added to his name as recently as Dec. 2022. Meanwhile, at least eight of his co-defendants have pleaded out. One of which, an alleged co-founder of the gang, has reportedly agreed to testify without the use of the fifth amendment.

With this new ever-flowing, Hip-Hop is being introduced to new legal terms, some familiar, some never heard. As the case gets underway, The SOURCE offers a legal breakdown of charges and terms to help you understand what has already occurred and prep you for what may be on the way.

Jury Selection:   Those qualified are randomly chosen to be summoned to appear for jury duty. This selection process helps to make sure that jurors represent a cross section of the community, without regard to race, gender, national origin, age, or political affiliation. 

Voir Dire:  the process used by the parties to select a fair and impartial jury. During voir dire, the jury panel is questioned by the judge and by both parties’ lawyers. The questions are intended to help the lawyers determine whether potential jurors are eligible to serve, or may have conflicts of interest or existing bias against a particular party. Voir dire is an important factor in prevailing at trial, since a single biased juror can cause a mistrial regardless of what the actual evidence shows.

Indictment:  a formal written accusation of crime affirmed by a grand jury and presented by it to a court for trial of the accused.

Grand Jury:  Selected from a cross section of the community and formed for the purpose of issuing indictments based on criminal charges.  The grand jury proceedings are secret and the targets of the criminal charges and their attorneys are not allowed to attend.  The prosecution presents evidence to the panel arguing that an indictment must be issued, and the panel of 16-23 jurors votes on it, with 12 jurors required to indict.  Unlike a criminal trial, in which the burden of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” to issue an indictment the burden of proof is a “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning that the jurors must find that it is “more likely than not” that there is a sufficient basis to issue the indictment.

Plea Deal:    A plea deal is a negotiated resolution of a criminal case between the person accused of a crime and the prosecution. Typically the government will offer a reduced sentence in exchange for cooperation, for example, providing testimony helpful to the prosecution of other defendants.  Plea deals are also called plea bargains, plea agreements, or charge bargaining. Criminal laws allow these arrangements if both sides and the judge agree on the deal. When the Government has a strong case, the Government may offer the defendant a plea deal to avoid trial and perhaps reduce his exposure to a lengthier sentence.

Immunity:   Typically, a prosecutor offers immunity to someone who has committed a minor crime because they believe that it will help them catch or convict someone who has committed a major crime.  By receiving immunity, that person may give testimony without having to worry that they are incriminating themselves.

Pleading the Fifth:  a witness who would otherwise be compelled to make a self-incriminating statement (i.e., in testimony under oath) may invoke the Fifth Amendment, which protects individuals from being forced to self-incriminate themselves.  In a criminal case, the witness’s silence cannot be used against him or her to argue or imply guilt.   Pleading the Fifth in front of a jury may be risky because it can still damage the credibility of the witness.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt:  the standard of proof the prosecution must meet in a criminal case. The standard of proof is the level of certainty each juror must have before determining that a defendant is guilty of a crime. “Beyond a reasonable doubt” is a much higher standard than “more likely than not.” It is not enough for a juror to believe that the defendant committed the crime – rather, the juror must be certain, based on the evidence presented, that the defendant is guilty.

Stand Your Ground:  provisions under self-defense laws that justify the use of deadly force under imminent threat of harm regardless of whether a safe retreat is possible. Imminent means happening very soon, not later in time. 

Self Defense: the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or members of the family from bodily harm from the attack of an aggressor, if the defender has reason to believe he/she/they is/are in danger.

Breakdown of Charges in the YSL Case:

RICO: RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. A violation of RICO occurs when a person, in connection with an enterprise, engages in a pattern of racketeering activity. Racketeering activity includes: Arson, Bribery, Counterfeiting, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Embezzlement, Extortion, Gambling, Homicide, Kidnapping, Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, Robbery, Wire Fraud, and Witness Tampering.

Felony: a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death.

Conspiracy: an agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal act, along with an intent to achieve the agreement’s goal.

Murder: 4 categories: (1) intentional murder; (2) a killing that resulted from the intent to do serious bodily injury; (3) a killing thatresulted from a depraved heart or extreme recklessness; and (4) murder committed

Armed robbery: aggravated form of theft that involves the use of a lethal weapon to perpetrate violence or the threat of violence.

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon: For any assault to be considered assault with a deadly weapon, a deadly weapon must be used to carry out the assault. A deadly weapon is defined as a weapon that is readily able to cause death or a serious physical injury.

Possession of a firearm: the unlawful possession of a weapon by an individual.

Theft: the taking of another person’s personal property with the intent of depriving that person of the use of their property.

Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act (VGCSA): a VGSCA crime refers to such charges as: Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Cocaine; Possession of Methamphetamine. A VGCSA can carry a potential penalty of 2 to 15 years in prison for a first offense and 5 to 30 years in prison for a second and subsequent offense.

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Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety, suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during the first quarter of Monday night’s game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, his team said. It’s not clear what caused his cardiac arrest. 

Which leads to the question, what exactly is cardiac arrest? According to Heart.Org, cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not has been diagnosed with heart disease. It can come on suddenly or in the wake of other symptoms. Cardiac arrest is often fatal if appropriate steps aren’t taken immediately. More than 356,000 cardiac arrests occur annually outside a hospital in the U.S.

Cardiac arrest and heart attack are not the same. Heart.Org describes a heart attack as being caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart. A heart attack refers to the death of heart muscle tissue due to the loss of blood supply. It’s a problem with one’s circulation. A heart attack is quite serious and sometimes fatal. Cardiac arrest is caused when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions. The heart stops beating properly. The heart’s pumping function is “arrested” or stopped.

In cardiac arrest, death can result quickly if proper steps aren’t taken immediately. Cardiac arrest may be reversed if CPR is performed and a defibrillator shocks the heart and restores a normal heart rhythm within a few minutes.

The symptoms for both are vastly different as well. Heart attacks often begin with sudden chest pain but can also start slowly with mild pain that lasts several hours. Symptoms of a heart attack can vary, and if you’ve had one heart attack, your symptoms may be different if you experience another one. On the other hand, cardiac arrests can often happen to people who didn’t know they had a heart problem. A person experiencing cardiac arrest may collapse and lose consciousness. They may stop breathing or experience difficulty breathing.

If, when reading this, you feel like you may have experienced or are experiencing one of these symptoms, please do not hesitate to Get medical help immediately. Let’s prioritize our health in the new year.

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Takeoff’s alleged killer, Patrick Xavier Clark, could be home in just a few days.

According to reports, Clark’s attorney has filed for another bond reduction. The Eighth Amendment’s Constitutional protections against “excessive bail,” as well as the federal Bail Reform Act, give a defendant the right to request lower bail when the amount initially set by the court is too high to pay and would effectively be a denial of bail and order of pretrial detention. Clark’s bond was initially set at $2 million and then reduced to $1 million. His legal team is attempting another reduction at around $300,000. Should the judge grant this reduction, Clark will be home before the New Year. Furthermore, Clark will be instructed to turn in his passport upon his potential release. He will be assigned a GPS monitoring device that will immediately notify authorities if bond conditions are violated.

A bail bondsman stated during the hearing on Tuesday that Clark’s family has already put up their Texas home as collateral.

Typically, a judge sets the initial bond or bail at an amount based on the severity of the alleged crime, whether the defendant poses a flight risk if released, and whether the defendant poses a risk to the community if released. The judge can also look at additional factors, such as the defendant’s character, physical and mental condition, family and community ties, and financial resources.

In this case, there are concerns regarding Clark and his bond reduction application. Clark was arrested with his passport and tickets to Mexico, making him a flight risk in the eyes of the court. Clark’s request to hire a private investigator was approved, and this same investigator reported to the court that the tickets to Mexico had been canceled a few days before Clark’s arrest.

The chances of getting a bond reduction depend on several factors, including the defendant’s current charges, past criminal history, financial resources, and character. The ability and skills of a defendant’s defense attorney will also make a big difference. Ultimately, judges decide these matters on a case-by-case basis, so it’s not a statistic easily reduced to a number.

Takeoff, whose real name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, was killed over an alleged dice game outside Houston’s 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley on November 1st. A subsequent bond hearing for Clark is set for Wednesday morning.

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According to Lil Wayne’s personal chef, the rapper fired her after she left in him in Vegas to deal with a family emergency.

Morghan Medlock claims that the ordeal took place while in Las Vegas with Wayne and his team during Memorial Day weekend. She was terminated after alerting Wayne that her son suffered a head injury and she needed to tend to him.

Medlock further alleges that she wanted to fly back to L.A. as soon as possible, however, her flight back was delayed significantly due to Lil Wayne and his entourage allegedly smoking on his private jet. The chef stated that she then booked her own separate flight home to be with her
son, who had been hospitalized as a result of his injury. The chef also alleged that she notified the rapper’s assistant of the situation and urgent timeline and claimed she was asked by Lil Wayne’s team if she was quitting, to which she responded, “No.”

Medlock states that she was subsequently informed that she was being dismissed, with a comment from Wayne stating, “tell Chef Morghan this isn’t going to work,” according to the lawsuit.

She claims her dismissal was inappropriate under California law because she was absent in support of her injured son, and she is suing Lil Wayne for at least $500,000.

In California, a termination is wrongful if the employer-based their decision to fire the employee on the employee’s race, religion, age, sex, or other legally protected personal quality.  To prove a case of wrongful termination, the fired worker generally has to show that the employer’s stated reason
for the discharge was false, and that the termination was for an illegal reason. That illegal reason is motivated by 1. unlawful retaliation, discrimination, breach of contract, or violation of public policy.

Typical evidence that can help demonstrate that you were fired illegally includes:

1. Recorded communications such as emails or voicemails from managers that show harassing or prejudiced behavior. Other materials that could work include handwritten notes, memos, or social
   media posts.
2. Eyewitness accounts from fellow co-workers who can back up your side of the story. An example would be a colleague who saw the boss harass you.
3. Company employment data that shows the company is systemically prejudiced. For example, a lack of people of color in management positions indicates that the hiring partners may be discriminating in
   favor of white employees.

According to the suit, Medlock also accuses Wayne of ‘ conduct with a substantial factor and causing harm to [her] including but not limited to loss of earnings and other employment, benefits, mental anguish, and emotional distress.’

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Kobe Bryant’s eldest daughter Natalia has been granted legal protection against a man she says poses a threat to her life.

Natalia testified at a court hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, saying she’s terrified of what 32-year-old alleged stalker, Dwayne Kemp, might do next based on his “unsettling” actions over the past couple of months. As per court documents, Natalia had first sought a temporary restraining order last month, claiming Kemp had been messaging her on social media “as if he wanted to initiate such a relationship” since December 2020. The court docs allege that Kemp sent Bryant numerous unsolicited messages, including one picture of her late father with the rest of the family. Bryant also said she received another message from him that read, “I Love You and
I’m Sorry. Can We Talk and Makeup So We Can Be Friends Again…?”

A Temporary Restraining Order, commonly known as a TRO, is a written instruction issued by a court or judge that temporarily protects people from Domestic Violence, Civil Harassment, Workplace Violence, and Elder Abuse. This court order directs the abuser to not contact and abuse the victim (i.e., person seeking the TRO). It regulates and restricts the behavior of the abuser. A TRO is generally issued for 21 days. In some cases, it can last a bit longer, usually until the abuser is served with the TRO.

A Restraining Order (also called a “protective order”) is a court order that can protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed. The person getting the restraining order is called the “protected person.” The person the restraining order is against is the “restrained person.” Sometimes, restraining orders include other “protected
persons” like family or household members of the protected person. If the restrained person Violates (breaks) the restraining order, he or she may go to jail, or pay a fine, or both. Unlike a TRO which is generally issued for 21 days, after having a court hearing, a judge can grant you a “restraining order after hearing” that can last up to five years. However, if there is no
termination date on the order, the order will last three years from the date it was issued.

Bryant was granted a three- year restraining order against Kemp, who has allegedly showed up at Bryant’s sorority house at the University of Southern California and at one of her classes and roamed the campus at USC. Under this order, Kemp cannot possess or purchase any firearms, and he has 24 hours to surrender any weapons he currently owns.

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DaBaby and Roddy Ricch have been hit with an infringement lawsuit over their 2020 hit “Rockstar.” Copyright infringement is when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the copyright owner’s permission. To prove copyright infringement, a copyright holder must establish a valid copyright and that the original material was used illegally. The plaintiff can produce a copyright certificate or other proof showing the date the copyrighted material was created. 

A Florida producer has sued the rapper Craig Mims, who is publicly known as JuJu Beats. He claims DaBaby took the beat from his song “Selena” to create his Roddy Ricch-featuring single “Rockstar” without his knowledge. JuJu Beatz claims he sent the moment in a digital file and believes the rapper’s camp accessed the file more than 40 times between 2019 and the beginning of 2020. JuJu said he was not compensated for using his song’s beat. He claimed he’s reached out to DaBaby to settle the dispute, but the rapper won’t “cooperate or accept responsibility for blatant and willful copyright infringement.” Therefore, he is now seeking $150,000 worth of statutory damages per infringement.

Five examples of copyright infringement are illegally downloading music files; uploading someone else’s copyrighted material to an accessible web page, downloading licensed software from an unauthorized site, modifying and reproducing someone else’s creative work without making significant changes; or recording a movie in a theater.

The lawsuit states, “plaintiff provided his musical composition known as ‘Selena’ to defendants in 2019, who then used ‘Selena’ to create a sound recording entitled ‘Rockstar.’ The Defendants accessed plaintiff’s ‘Selena’ on more than 40 occasions in late 2019 and early 2020”.

 Earlier this week, Mim’s lawyer told Rolling Stone, “It is unfortunate that these types of situations occur almost daily within the music industry; the unequal balance of power and money in the industry is sometimes used to silence the real individuals who truly deserve a piece of the action and money.” He added, “It is too easy for the labels and mainstream artists and producers to cut out the ones who really matter the most, it is disheartening because there is enough money in the industry to change everyone’s lives, but the money usually ends up in the hands of the few.”

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It is reported that the uptick in viral infections has pushed NYC officials to recommend New Yorkers to mask up…again.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “The advisory comes as the rate of new Covid cases in the city has increased by about 55 percent over the past two weeks, according to data compiled by The New York Times, while the hospitalization rate has increased by 20 percent over that time. The city registered a seven-day average of 3,761 new cases on Thursday, up from 2,425 two weeks before. The number of flu cases has also increased, rising 64 percent during the week ending Dec. 3. Cases of R.S.V., or respiratory syncytial virus, which poses a particular risk to young children and older people, appears to have plateaued in New York State.”

Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city’s health commissioner, advised New Yorkers to always wear masks in public settings, including in stores, offices, elevators, and schools, and on public transportation, even if vaccinated for Covid-19 or the flu. Dr. Vasan states, “The holiday season is about togetherness and there is a way to gather safely — even as respiratory viruses in our city are unusually high. “It starts with protecting yourself. Vaccination and boosters are critical but so are common sense precautions like masking when indoors or among crowds and staying home if you don’t feel well,” he added. “Also, get tested before getting together, and get treated quickly if you test positive.”

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky also had something to say. “CDC continues to recommend masking for anyone choosing to travel by plane train, bus or other form of public transportation or for anyone who may be immunocompromised or the increased risk of severe disease.”

Though most New Yorkers have been vaccinated and 40% of those have gotten their boosters, Covid and other virus infections remain on the rise. “Wear a high-quality mask, such as a KN95 or KF94 or an N95 respirator, for additional protection,” city health officials say.

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Five years after her breakout debut studio album “Ctrl,” R&B singer SZA is ramping up the rollout for her follow-up effort. Its finally here, SZA’s , whose real name is Solana Imani Rowe Read, finally dropped her new album: “S.O.S.” The album features 23 new tracks with a mixture of R&B, rap, pop and almost every music genre under the sun. “S.O.S” has features from Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.  “Shirt,” produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has more than 69 million streams on Spotify alone. When asked about finding artist to collaborate with during
an interview on Hot 97, SZA reveals, “Collaborations happen in the DMs and begging people,” she said. “Sometimes people turn in their verses and sometimes they don’t. A lot of people just like, did not turn in their verses — but I’m grateful for who did.”

Since her platinum debut album “Ctrl” dropped, SZA has won five Grammy nominations  and a legion of fans. Before releasing “Ctrl,” SZA put out three EPs, wrote for artists such as Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, and collaborated with fellow rappers such as label mate, Kendrick Lamar. When asked why she named her debut album “Ctrl”, SZA explained, “I’ve lacked control my whole life and I think I’ve craved it my whole life. I couldn’t really arrive at it and now, I’m not really looking to arrive at it anymore. I’m just happy to be present.” SZA was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She has previously spoken about her home life, saying that it was a relatively restrictive one due to her family being Muslim. The name, pronounced “sizz-ah”, stands for “sovereign” or “savior,” “zigzag”
and “Allah”. She explains, “It just kinda like stumbled on me, cause my name is Solána… People called me Sos for short, which comes from Sosa”. Not wanting to be confused for rapper Chief Keef, who went by Sosa at the time, she then went to the “Supreme Alphabet” for inspiration.

SZA began her career by recording with her friends, using beats off the internet. Before breaking into the music industry, she worked at Sephora in the skin care department.

To date, SZA has sold over 2,145,000 albums, including 2,000,000 in the United States and 100,000 in the United Kingdom. CTRL, which sold over 2,145,000 copies . “S.O.S.” seems to be on a similar track for success. It’s already eligible to be certified gold in the US, according to Chart Data. It has already sold over 500,000 units, with available singles such as “Good Days,”
“Shirt,” and “I Hate U.”

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A three-block stretch on Foothill Boulevard between 47th avenue and High Street in Oakland has been renamed “Too Short Way” Too during the rapper’s celebration of his day in his hometown of Oakland. 

Too $hort, whose real name is Todd Anthony Shaw, received a proclamation from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, officially making December 10 “Too $hort Day” over the weekend. “You have told the stories of Oakland’s streets,” Mayor Schaff told Too $hort, “so it’s only right that Oakland gives you a street!!!” When the news of the street naming was confirmed, $hort posted, “December 10 it’s official, blow the maf*ckin whistle Biiiiiiii*ch!!!!!”

Too $ hort’s street naming coincides with the release of Mount Westmore’s new album. The supergroup consists of $short, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and E-40. Mount Westmore recently dropped their latest album, Bad MFs, to the metaverse. “You know what it is. Mount Westmore- you got the four pillars of West Coast hip hop. We are down with Gala Music. We are coming out with that Mount Westmore’ Bad MFs album,” said Ice Cube. He continued, “There is going to be new music, new experiences, shows, everything that the Westmore got, baby, you gonna get it.”

Oakland city council member Noel Gallo, tweeted, “Too Short is not only the first rapper from Oakland but also the most successful having put out relevant music across 5 decades. A graduate of Fremont High School,” “I have felt like I owe a debt to Oakland, and that nothing I do will ever repay it because of the life that I was given through Oakland,” Too $hort told SFGate. “There’s a few things that happened in my life that, if they didn’t happen, Too $hort wouldn’t happen, and going to Fremont High is one of those things. It was like our home base; we’d meet up at school and then we’d go to the house and make tapes, then we’d go out into the neighborhoods and sell the tapes.”

Too $hort started his solo career in 1985 and released his debut album, Don’t Stop Rappin’, on Oakland record label 75 Girls Records And Tapes. This was also one of the first hip-hop records to use the word “b*tch” – a word which became one of the rapper’s trademarks and was the focus of subsequent raps such as “Ain’t Nothin’ but a Word to Me.” Too $hort runs his record label, Up All Nite Records. In addition to creating Up All Nite Records, Too Short has been a mentor at Youth UpRising, a group serving at-risk youths for several years.

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A nine-foot-tall sculpture pays homage to Kings County hip hop’s royalty; The Notorious B.I.G has been erected in Brooklyn. 

The artist, Sherwin Banfield, tells Artnet News: “I’m a traditionally trained figurative sculptor and wanted to take something classic then remix or sample it with something new and fresh.” The sculpture was cast in the Brooklyn foundry owned by Bill Makky, the same foundry responsible for bronzing the much-recognized Wall Street Bull. Using resin, a sealant used to protect surfaces from water damage, corrosion, or staining; the sculpture is decorated with Biggie’s first studio album. It features a crowned head of the Brooklyn native and hip-hop legend, who was gunned down in 1997. He was just 24 years old when he was killed.

This towering sculpture, titled Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings, is the latest art project funded by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and the Dumbo Improvement District, two organizations dedicated to enhancing the cultural life of local spaces. “Giving space to new kinds of monuments and works is what a public art fund is all about,” said Alexandria Sica, President of the Dumbo Improvement District. “This is a spectacular piece that will greet countless New Yorkers.”

Earlier in the year, there was an open call for proposals from local artists who wanted to showcase an art piece that would live at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge. With the 5oth anniversary of hip-hop just around the corner, Banfield’s piece, titled “Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings,” stood out to panelists who helped select an exhibit. “We were really, really careful once we received all these wonderful proposals to make sure that we were choosing projects that really spoke to what was unique about downtown Brooklyn and Dumbo — pieces that really activated our neighborhood with really forward thinking and provocative work and I think this piece really fits into that way of thinking,” said Regina Myer, president of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

“Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings” will remain on display through the spring of 2023.

The post Spread Love, It’s the Brooklyn Way: The Notorious B.I.G Honored With Art Installation at Brooklyn Bridge appeared first on The Source.

Drake earned ten new plaques from the RIAA ( Record Industry Association of America), totaling 184 million singles sold. This new record propelled Drake past Eminem, who held the record since March when he hit 1​​66 million units across his singles catalog. Drake became only the third act in history to have at least five diamond singles; Bruno Mars has six, and Post Malone has five.

The RIAA began its certifications in 1958. Its process is as follows: one unit equals 150 on-demand streams. Regarding plaques, Gold means an artist has hit 500,000 units, Platinum is 1 million units, multi-Platinum is 2 million units, and Diamond is 10 million units. While digital and physical albums count as one “unit” per sale, the RIAA requires ten permanent track downloads and 1,500 on-demand video or audio streams for the same amount. In other words, 1,000 downloads and 150,000 streams equal the 100 units you’d earn by selling just 100 physical or digital albums. 

Drake has been on a record-breaking streak. Presently he is close to breaking the record for the highest certified RIAA song, which Post Malone and Swae Lee currently hold for Sunflower and Lil Nas X for Old Town Road. Both pieces are presently 17x platinum. Last month, the Toronto rapper tied Jay-Z’s record for the most No. 1s on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with 14. His latest album, Her Loss, dropped on November 4, 2022. 

Drake has solidified himself quite nicely in the music industry. With 170 million records sold worldwide, he is among the best-selling music artists in history. Drake has achieved eleven number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and twelve hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Tory Lanez has been hit with a third felony charge in the 2020 shooting case against Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez, who has pleaded not guilty to two previous charges for shooting the multiplatinum artist in the foot in 2020—assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm—was hit by prosecutors with a felony negligent discharge of a firearm charge.

Here’s some quick background on the case: Tory was arrested in July 2020 when he was pulled over and arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in his vehicle. On July 15, 2020, Megan posted the following to her Instagram, “On Sunday morning, I suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm
me,” Stallion wrote. “I was never arrested; the police officers drove me to the hospital where I underwent surgery to remove the bullets.” In September 2020, Tory dropped Daystar, where he  asserted his innocence and casted doubt on whether Stallion was shot. In October 2020, the
Los Angeles D.A.’s office charged Tory with felony assault with a semi automatic weapon. One week later, a judge hit Tory with a protective order, requiring Tory to stay at least 100 yards away from Megan. In July of that same year, Tory violated the order when he attended the Rolling Loud Festival.

According to California Penal Code 246.3, negligent discharge of a firearm is outlined under  is a crime for a person to willfully discharge a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and shooting it could have resulted in great bodily injury or the death of another individual. Lanez has pleaded
not guilty to two previous charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm, for shooting Megan in the foot in 2020. If Lanez is convicted, the Canadian rapper could face more than twenty- two years in prison.

Jury selection has begun, and opening statements are set for next week.

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After a four-year partnership, Cardi and Reebok are wrapping up their partnership.

Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky stated that the partnership with Cardi has proudly pushed boundaries and have put an emphasis on inclusivity and self- expression. He went on to say, “we’re so grateful for our partnership with Cardi over the years. Having the opportunity to collaborate with someone as passionate, iconic and talented as her is an unmatched experience and will certainly leave a lasting impact on the brand”. Today on her Instagram, Cardi posted her final collection which is the second part of her “Let Me Be…Next Level Energy.” “For my final collection with Reebok, I had to make sure we brought it to the next level. I needed every piece from the slides to the jumpsuit to be as big, bold, and fun as we could make them,” explained the Bronx bred rapper.

“It started with advertisement, and I just loved what they brought to the table,” Cardi B told FN about the partnership. “ I love that they saw my ideas. When I went to their headquarters in Boston, they welcomed me. It was freezing that day and I just had such a good experience and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I didn’t want to team up with someone who doesn’t care about my vision and just the product, but Reebok did.”

The Cardi B x Reebok partnership, which launched September 29,2022, features two styles: the Club C Cardi ($100) and the Cardi Coated Club C Double ($80). The two styles come in three different colors and are available in both women’s and children’s sizing. The Club C Cardi style sold out in the United States in 30 minutes.

“It boils down to two pieces: authenticity and shared values,” said Caroline Machen, Reebok’s Global VP of Marketing, about the ingredients for a successful partnership. “It can’t feel forced. Who Cardi is and what her fans love about her- those are the same values Reebok has. And the, it’s accepting and bringing that message forward into product.”

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Young Thug’s legal team filed a motion to have his Thug’s lyrics, along with social media posts and music videos, removed from evidence. The rapper’s attorney stated that using his client’s speech and artistry as evidence can be considered a “Constitutional Violation” and “an abuse of discretion.” His attorney argues that Thug’s lyrics are protected under the Constitution. The legal team further argues that using his lyrics and speech against his client is “racist and discriminatory because the jury will be so poisoned and prejudiced by these lyrics/poetry/artistry/speech.”

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has defended using lyrics as evidence. “I think if you decide to admit your crimes over a beat, I’m going to use it,” Willis said during the press conference in August when she announced the RICO charges against a gang in Fulton County. “To use rap lyrics without proper context in prosecutions, it’s highly prejudicial and deprives the accused of a fair trial,” says formal defense attorney,  U.S. Representative Hank Johnson. Johnson and U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection Act (RAP Act) to limit the admissibility of artists’ lyrics or expressions as evidence in federal court cases.

D.A. Willis had filed the motion for a two-month delay in October to allow some of the defendants more time to find legal representation. During the hearing, Judge Ural Glanville set the January trial date after denying the prosecution’s motion to delay proceedings until March.

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Michigan State Police have started an investigation after a rap video shot in a Michigan State Prison cell surfaced online. 

Michigan Department of Corrections Spokesperson Chris Gautz said the video was shot inside Macomb Correctional Facility and two prisoners featured in it have been identified and placed in segregation. The videos include shots of corrections officers in the corridor and show a prisoner sitting on a bunk talking on a cell phone. 

“It’s incredibly dangerous” to have phones inside state prisons, “especially with capability of getting onto the internet,” Gautz said because they can be used to arrange escapes, harass witnesses, or place “hits” on people inside or outside the prison, he said. 

Following the news of the surfaced videos, the then warden at Macomb, George Stephenson, had been placed on “stop order,” meaning he was barred from entering the prison pending an undisclosed investigation. Gautz said Stephenson had not been fired, and there was no police investigation related to Stephenson. “Due to it being a personnel issue and an ongoing internal investigation I cannot get into what potential work rules there are or what it is related to,” he said.

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Toy designer, Steven Cartoccio, said he was honored to work with Hip Hop legend Nas as he unveiled the action figure on his social media today. “Nas. Truly honored to collaborate with the hip hop legend I regard as the greatest of all time,” Cartoccio wrote on Instagram. “Preorders open Thursday 12/1 at 11 am est on shop.massappeal.com Much love to @nas and everyone at @massappeal + @hiphop50 for making it happen.” The action figure features different accessories, along with a removable bandana and Nas’ iconic QB chain. 

Cartoccio, a true hip-hop fan, has created similar action figures for Redman, Raekwon, The Notorious B.I.G., and Ghostface Killah. Cartoccio is also the recipient of the 2017 Designer Toy Awards for his creation of  Darth Trump.

You can see the action figure in full below.

In other Nas-related news, King’s Disease III is out and the legend and Hit-Boy are running a victory lap on their trilogy. The new album will made a top 10 debut, behind 30,000 album equivalent units, according to Hits Daily Double.

The new album will make a debut at No. 9, just ahead of GloRilla’s debut EP, which 27,000 units will make a No. 10 debut. Earlier this month, Nas released the music video for “Michael & Quincy” from King’s Disease III.

Nas and Hit-Boy both appear in the Sarah McColgan-directed video for “Michael & Quincy.” Nas and Hit-Boy released this song and accompanying music video as a tribute to the two biggest homies in music, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, working without ego and pushing a notion as far as they could. It’s especially appropriate that this tribute appears on King’s Disease III, Nas and Hit-third Boy’s entry in the King’s Disease series, given Michael and Quincy collaborated on three famous albums.

Nas has announced his first-ever show at Madison Square Garden. The event is set for  Friday, Feb. 24. Tickets for the show are currently available via Ticketmaster.

Earlier this month, Nas released his King’s Disease III album, completing a trilogy collaboration with Hit-Boy. Nas won his first-ever GRAMMY Award in 2020 for King’s Disease. He was nominated for both the first and second King’s Disease albums in the Best Rap Album category.

You can hear the new album below.

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Cardi B is being sued after posting a picture in her Marge Simpson Halloween costume.  

According to artist aleXsandro Palombo, he created this look back in 2013 as part of the Marge Simpson Style Icon Series. The artist hired intellectual property attorney,  Claudio Volpi, to bring forth the copyright claims against the rapper. According to reports, Volpi contacted Cardi and her team who stated that Cardi was unaware “there was an artist behind this image previously” but that she’d be “happy to add credits.” Palombo responded by demanding everyone publish a “remedial” follow-up post that links to his Instagram. This demand went unanswered by Cardi and her team. 

According to Volpi, “Cardi B has illegitimately appropriated the work of aleXsandro Palombo for mere business purposes in defiance of the most elementary rules on copyright and Instagram policies with the consequent serious risks, both of compensation and of discredit for her public image.”

Volpi has since sent a formal notice to Atlantic Records, requesting Palombo’s follow-up post appear within seven days or that legal action would commence. At this time, no lawsuit has yet been filed.

Palombo states that the series was intended to be a “reflection on women’s emancipation and gender equality”. The artist has stated that by using his work without permission, Cardi B was “debasing its original meaning.”

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A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)

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Busta Rhymes, Funk Master Flex, Raekwon and The Lox headlined the “Legacy of Hip Hop -Stop the Violence” Concert which took place on Saturday in Staten Island’s St. George Theatre. The concert was put on by the K Woods Foundation and the Waterteam seeking to put an end to the violence in the community following the recent rise in crime.

The head of the K Woods Foundation, Kareem “Kay” Woods, has been very involved with trying to make the area of Park Hill in Staten Island safer for its youth. He recently spearheaded the building of a new basketball court and playground for the neighborhood. “I’m so proud to see the youth in
my neighborhood finally get what they deserve. A nice, clean, safe space to play and enjoy their childhood. I am so blessed to have grown-up here and be in the position to come home and open up new possibilities for learning and growth for so many kids who don’t have the opportunities I did,” said Woods.

If you would like to read more abou the K Woods Foundation and/ or donate, check out the foundation’s GoFund me.

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Brooklyn born rapper, Casanova sponsored a Thanksgiving event at Children of Promise in Brooklyn, New York. Children of Promise’s mission is “to partner with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”

The event, which had fellow rapper Jay Critch in attendance, included activities and giveaways for the children of the program. Casanova sent in a video message for the attendees. “Children of Promise we giving back. We don’t stop giving back behind bars. You know what it is.”

In May 2022,  Casanova pleaded guilty to numerous crimes in his Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case back in May.

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Ty Dolla $ign informed his fans of his bad skateboarding accident by posting a picture from his hospital bed to his Instagram. He later then explained the picture in his Instagram stories: “They just let me out. Had a skating accident and was knocked out for a few but I’m back praise God…” The West Coast rapper went on to thank pro skater, Dashawn Jordan for transporting him to the hospital and his daughter for staying by his side.

His friends such as Fat Joe, Big Sean, and 2 Chainz extended their support and offered words of healing online. Ty Dolla $ign has recently dropped two singles, Friends” featuring Lil Durk and Mustard, and “Champions” with Wiz Khalifa.

The post Ty Dolla $ign Hospitalized After Skateboarding Accident appeared first on The Source.

The President wants to sign into law a ban on high-powered guns that have the capacity to kill many people
very quickly. After the mass killing last Saturday at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, he said in a statement:
“When will we decide we’ve had enough? … We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of
war off America’s streets. “She went on to further say, “The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be
purchased is sick. Just sick,” Biden said on Thanksgiving Day.

The Democratic-led House passed legislation in July to revive a 1990s-era ban on certain semi-automatic
guns, with Biden’s vocal support. And the president pushed the weapons ban nearly everywhere he campaigned this year.

Congress has shown reluctance to outlaw AR-15s and other assault-style guns. The Democratic-controlled
House passed a ban in July. However, the bill stands little chance of advancing in the Senate, where 10
Republicans would need to join a unified Democratic caucus to break the stonewall.

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Former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll sued former President Donald Trump for the second time on Thursday, alleging defamation and battery under a new law in New York that allows adult sexual assault victims to file claims that would otherwise be barred by the passage of time.

Carroll sued Trump in federal court in New York for battery after he allegedly “forcibly raped and groped” her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. The suit further alleges that Carroll suffered injuries causing significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological harms, loss of dignity, and invasion of her privacy.” 

The civil lawsuit accuses Trump of the following: 1. rape in the first degree; 2. Rape in the third degree; 3. sexual abuse in the first degree; 4. sexual abuse in the third degree; 5. sexual misconduct, and 6. forcible touching. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said at a court hearing that her client “intends to hold Donald Trump accountable not only for defaming her but also for sexually assaulting her, which he did years ago in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman.” Carroll is requesting that the court grant her an unspecified amount in damages.  

Trump, who has denied the allegations against him, said in a statement that Carroll “completely made up a story that I met her at the doors of this crowded New York City Department Store and, within minutes, ‘swooned’ her. It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years.”

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50 Cent was awarded the key to the city of Houston at this year’s Thanksgiving Parade. Mayor Sylvester Turner presented the key during Thursday’s pre-parade ceremony in the Texas metropolis. 

“This is somebody who is a philanthropist, rapper, artist, businessperson — you name it,” Mayor Turner said during the ceremony. “He used to live in another city up north but found his way down south. This is one person who is now a Houstonian. I want to thank him. The Mayor continued his praise by saying, “He didn’t just come here to live; he has been helping out on so many causes in this city — especially in our high schools, turning our high school students into entrepreneurs with his G-Unity program. This city has been elevated because of his presence, and so today, we have the honor of saying to him, he’s our 2022 Grand Marshal.”

Earlier this week, 50 Cent’s G-unity Foundation linked with the Houston Rockets for a local turkey giveaway to give back for the holidays. He was also given a proclamation honoring his career in entertainment alongside his “countless humanitarian projects.” 

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The Biden administration on Tuesday announced it will extend the freeze on federal student
loan payments to June 2023. This is the eighth extension since March 2020.

Secretary Miguel Cardano tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the U.S. Department of
Education is extending the student loan payment pause until there’s a resolution in the
lawsuits against the administration’s student loan relief plan, which could grant up to
$20,000 in forgiveness to millions of borrowers.

“I’m confident that our student debt relief plan is legal. But it’s on hold because Republican
officials want to block it,” President Biden said in a statement.   The pause was initially set to
expire on Dec. 31, after Biden extended it in August around the same time he announced the
student loan forgiveness program. At the time, the White House called that extension “one final
time.” But the administration had also intended for its student loan forgiveness program to
begin canceling up to $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income borrowers before January.

The program has yet to be implemented as it faces several legal challenges.

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Kelly Rowland addressed a booing audience when she presented the award for the Favorite Male R&B Artist
during this year’s 2022 American Music Awards. As Kelly announced Breezy’s name, the audience began to
voice their displeasure to which she responded, ““Excuse me, chill out. But I want to tell Chris thank you so
much for making great R&B music, and I want to tell him thank you for being an incredible performer.”

Chris Brown was due to headline a tribute to the late Michael Jackson to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of Thriller during the AMAs, but his performance was canceled at the last minute without
explanation. The decision drew backlash from other artist, like Jermaine Dupri who took to his Instagram
and warned that Black music is “in trouble”  while fellow R&B singer Tank demanded an explanation
from the AMAs.

The other nominees in the category were Brent Faiyaz, The Weeknd, Lucky Daye and Giveon.

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Roddy Ricch is living up to the name of his mixtape series, Feed Da Streets, by paying for the groceries of Los Angeles Residents. Roddy surprised customers at an L.A. grocery store by announcing on the loudspeaker that he was picking up everyone’s tab. 

Roddy proclaimed, “If you got your groceries and you want us to pay for them and help y’all out. We here for y’all, make your way to the register — we got y’all and we appreciate y’all. We love L.A Happy holidays.” 

Roddy released his latest project, Feed Da Streets 3, on Friday, Nov.18. The Grammy-winning rapper had recently done plenty of giving back, including when he and Post Malone pulled up to an NYC middle school and offered words of wisdom last month.   

His good was noticed, and he was honored with an official citation by New York State Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman for his positive impact on the community.

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Odell Beckham, Jr. sues Nike and is reportedly suing for $20 million in damages.

Back in 2017, Nike decided to exercise its first right of refusal and match an offer Beckham received from Adidas. The Adidas deal he was offered, Beckham Jr. said, was worth up to $47 million. Beckham said he was due a payment of about $2.6 million in March.

Nike reportedly withheld more than $2 million of that payment over alleged custom gloves and footwear violations during last season when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. Beckham said he was not violating the policy, instead blaming Nike for not giving him cleats for his new team after he moved from the Browns to the Rams, which meant he had to customize his cleats for games. OBJ further stated that he has always worn customized gloves and that it had never been an issue for Nike.

Beckham made the following statement “Today, I’m taking a stand not just for me, but to set a precedent for all athletes who have dedicated their life to the sport they love – especially those who don’t have the means to stand up for themselves,” he said. “We are held responsible for fulfilling our obligations under our contracts, but we also have to hold powerful companies like Nike accountable for honoring their commitments too.” I look forward to resolving this issue and hope we can start a real conversation about protecting athletes and their rights. This happens too often in the sports industry and it’s time for change.”

Beckham’s new contract with Nike, signed in 2017, would pay him $3.25 million initially, with the deal progressing up to $3.75 million in 2021-22. In addition to the cash compensations, he would be guaranteed royalties starting at $1.4 million and ranging up to as much as $2.225 million.

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Former President Donald Trump announced that he’s running for President again and used Sam & Dave’s 1966 hit, “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” during his campaign rally, which has prompted legal action from Isaac Hayes’s estate.

The estate of the late singer is exploring their legal options since Trump was not granted permission or clearance to use the song in any capacity. Hayes’s official Twitter account tweeted, “Once again, the estate and family of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve the use of ‘Hold On I’m Coming’ by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at his 2024 Presidential announcement tonight,”

This isn’t the first time Trump has been involved with the unauthorized usage of an artist’s work. Prince’s estate and The Village People have also called out the Former President for unauthorized usage. Lionel Richie, and others, drafted a letter to Trump warning them to seek permission before using their music during their respective political events. 

“This is the only way to effectively protect your candidates from legal risk, unnecessary public controversy, and the moral quagmire that comes from falsely claiming or implying an artist’s support or distorting an artists’ expression in such a high stakes public way,” Billboard reports.

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