On Wednesday, R. Kelly was informed of his destiny in a Brooklyn courtroom (June 29). According to the Associated Press, the disgraced R&B artist, 55, may potentially spend the rest of his life in jail after receiving a 30 year sentence from U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly.
During her trial in September 2021, Kells was found guilty on nine counts related to different racketeering and sex trafficking allegations.
“You made me do things that broke my spirit,” one alleged victim said in court. “I literally wished I would die because of how low you made me feel. Do you remember that?”
BREAKING: R&B singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for using his superstardom to subject young fans — some just children — to systematic sexual abuse. https://t.co/63L9C6w8xq
Eleven accusers, including several who were adolescents when they first had sex with the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer, (nine women and two men) testified that Kelly had abused them.
“He committed these crimes using his fame and stardom as both a shield, which prevented close scrutiny or condemnation of his actions,” federal prosecutors added. “And a sword, which gave him access to wealth and a network of enablers to facilitate his crimes, and an adoring fan base from which to cull his victims.”
Before Donnelly gave Kelly a 30-year jail term, federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York allegedly sought the judge to impose a 25-year prison term on the troubled singer. R. Kelly’s attorneys claimed that because to the trauma and abuse he experienced during his difficult upbringing, he should only be sentenced to ten years.
The situation was considered a turning moment in the #MeToo movement. Following the debut of Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly documentary series in early 2019, Kelly’s criticism gained momentum. R. Kelly was charged with child pornography in Illinois in 2008 but was ultimately found not guilty.
“The defendant’s victims aren’t groupies or gold diggers. They’re human beings,” U.S. attorney Nadia Shihata said. “Daughters, sisters, some are now mothers. And their lives matter.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 29: Cordae performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 29, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic,)
Together with Puma and Goodr, Cordae is giving back to his neighborhood.
The rapper from Maryland gave away more than 200 free dinners and pairs of sneakers to deserving families on Thursday (December 1) at his former high school in the District of Columbia.
The 25-year-old MC displayed multiple grocery bags overflowing with fresh food and other items, as well as more than 200 boxes of brand-new Puma footwear, in a video posted to Cordae’s Instagram Story.
As he conducted a tour of his business, Cordae stated, “I’m not recording this to brag about, ‘Oh, we giving back’ and stuff like that, but more so just if you know anybody in the DMV area man that’s in need.”
Cordae and Puma have a long-standing relationship that began in 2019 when the footwear company appointed the Lost Boy rapper as their Youth Ambassador.
In 2020, Puma enlisted Cordae once more to assist with the promotion of their Unity campaign. The rapper appeared in multiple photos wearing the company’s most recent outfits, which were designed to symbolize “the athletic brand’s global heritage and the power of sport uniting our world.”
The former YBN member admitted to Zane Lowe that the inspiration for the new songs just came from him being in the zone in the studio.
“I did all of that stuff off the top. You can [ask] ATL Jacob the producer,” he said of “Unacceptable.” “I did not write a word. That was all just from the heart, literally. Me saying a couple of lines, line by line just punching in. I think it may be my most vulnerable and transparent song I’ve come out with so far.”
He continued: “When I made this song, I was feeling like my life was on the line. I swear. I just had an alert moment…a huge sense of urgency. I don’t know how else to describe it… just a sense of urgency. We was playing it back and I was just like — we just kept playing it back. I was like ‘I gotta get this out ASAP — this gotta come out now.’”
From a Bird’s Eye View, Cordae’s most recent full-length album, was released in January. He subsequently acknowledged that it didn’t measure up to his debut album Lost Boy.
“Yo so I just drove on a lil 4 hour road trip and listened to both my albums front to back,” he wrote on Twitter earlier this year. “And fuck I must say it’s most definitely The Lost Boy > FABEV lmaooo. My bad y’all. Ima do better next time. I got sumn to prove.”
The long-awaited tracklist for Beyoncé’s seventh studio album, Renaissance, has finally been made public.
The Grammy-winning R&B artist shared the album’s tracklist on Wednesday (July 20) through her Instagram Story, nine days before it becomes available for streaming on July 29.
Her most recent single, “Break My Soul,” which Queen Bey released on June 20, is one of the 16 songs on the album. I’m That Girl, Plastic on the Sofa, Thique, and America Has a Problem are some of the other song names.
After revealing the cover art at the end of June and using that time to further discuss the meaning of the album to her, Bey then released the tracklist.
“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving,” Beyonce wrote in her Instagram caption.
“My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment,” she continued. “A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
Both reviewers and Beyoncé’s pals have been praising her new song. Michelle Obama, a former first lady, expressed her congrats to the musician.
“Queen @Beyonce, you’ve done it again!” she wrote. “‘Break My Soul’ is the song we all need right now, and I can’t help but dance and sing along while listening to it. Can’t wait for the album!”
The Goat Dave Chappelle does a stand up from his house! The set up was amazing. Dave Names the stand up 8:46 in honor of George Floyd & his own Birth Time. Check out the New 27 min Special from Chappelle. This is history right here, with everything in the world going on from covid 19 to protesting Dave delivers a Classic and a special stand up!
Louisiana native Sco money continues to create buzz in the competitive southern rap scene and for good reason! With the release of his new project “Sunday’s On Simoce” Featuring Lady Kim. The projects is the follow up to his hit single “No Love” that released in early July with incredible reviews!
Having the name Diddy can bring a lot of pressure. DJ Diddy is internationally known and has already proved that he is built for the music industry. He is now 3 years into the game and has worked with many of your favorite artist like 6ix9ine, PnB Rock, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Juice WRLD. DJ Diddy Official is coming off of his electric “Do You Get Ass” International Tour, that had the young DJ performing in Tel Aviv, Israel, Germany, Lebanon, and Paris!
At 21 Anwar Gavilanes (DJ Diddy Official) is ready to spread his entrepreneur wings and venture into plenty of different areas within the industry. Lock in with @DJDiddyOfficial and catch him in a city near you!
You never know what in life could be the final straw for someone. What can go wrong between two individuals in the heat of the moment is delightfully explored in the new Netflix comedy Beef, which debuts on April 6.
Beef, which Lee Sung Jin based on his own experience with road rage, follows the fallout from a confrontation between two strangers: Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a struggling contractor who believes that everyone is against him, and Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a successful businesswoman with what appears to be the ideal life. Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, and Patti Yasutake complete the impressive cast.
Yeun said that despite the outrageous nature of his character, he was able to relate to and make Danny, who is all about settling disputes, seem real. He attributed the inspiration for his performance to Jin’s writing.
“I think that acting to some degree is the art of bringing a little bit of yourself to these roles,” Yeun said. “But I think that Sonny really excavated this character and he wrote something so true that it felt like who isn’t this person? Who aren’t these people? So it felt very relatable. Every character felt relatable to me. Sometimes I feel like Amy, sometimes I feel like Danny, sometimes I feel like George. There are so many many characters that everyone can identify with.”
“I feel the same way,” Wong added. “I think that it was Sonny’s goal for every audience member to walk away with a different favorite character and to not have it be a landslide to me or to Danny but you know, maybe people are rooting for Team George or Team Naomi. It’s a really colorful cast of extremely beautiful, complicated and flawed characters.”
Wong talked about her involvement in the East Coast vs. West Coast beefs between 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. in the 1990s when she was a teenager.
“I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, but I grew up mostly at the height of Biggie vs 2Pac,” Wong said.
According to Yeun, for a quarrel in hip-hop to be considered a true battle, it must be a match between equals.
“After making this show, the thing that I really see about beef, especially in the Hip Hop world, is that it’s not real beef or a battle unless the rappers are equals. They have to be evenly matched,” Yeun argued. “Sometimes, I think they secretly probably really love each other and really respect each other. That’s why they beef. You know what I’m saying?”
The actor who plays George in the show, Joseph Lee, has talked about how he recognized aspects of himself in the role and how it influenced how he approached each scene.
“George obviously comes from a completely different background and family circumstances as myself,” Lee explained. “But, Sonny, really provided enough seeds in there from a human standpoint for me to really connect with George.”
Yeun and Wong were interested in the series, which attracted young Mazino, who portrays Paul, to the screenplay. He initially believed he wouldn’t get a call back.
“I mean it’s A24, Netflix, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, the series was definitely stacked. I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m getting this.’ Then I sent the tape. I don’t need to hear anything else. Let’s make this happen. I was excited to find out that I would be a part of the cast,” Mazino said.
“The writing in the audition process was very, very solid. It definitely stood out for sure,” Lee added.
Lee didn’t think twice to declare a classic song as his all-time favorite diss track when it came to rap beefs.
“To me, I think Nas’ ‘Ether’ is just one of the greatest songs of all time, even if it’s a diss track. It’s just it’s pure magic,” Lee said. “But I would have to go with Nas as my favorite track about beef.”
As an alternative response to the feud debate, Mazino honored the great MF DOOM, one of his favorite rappers.
“I would say MF DOOM and mortality. I wish mortality went away because I think MF DOOM was GOAT,” he said. “God bless his soul.”
