Month: July 2024

Rapper B.G. Was Ordered To Have All Future Songs Approved By The Government — How Did We Get Here?

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Last year, Louisiana rapper B.G. was released from federal prison after serving a 10-year stint for illegal gun possession. However, a new report today suggests that he won’t be returning to business as usual right away. According to The Guardian and other sources, it turns out the onetime Hot Boy must now submit his songs for approval before release as a condition of his parole.

US district court judge Susie Morgan issued the ruling as a sort of compromise with prosecutors, who wanted the rapper barred from putting out any music “promoting and glorifying future gun violence/murder.” Instead, Morgan ruled that he must turn his lyrics over to the government prior to putting out or promoting any songs he planned to use them in, and may be asked to change them should they fall short of “the goals of rehabilitation.”

B.G. was originally signed to Cash Money Records as a member of the group Hot Boys, which also boasted Lil Wayne and Juvenile among its members (Turk was the fourth member, but for some reason, a lot of people seem to forget Turk). B.G.’s biggest hit was the slang-spawning “Bling Bling” (featuring all the other members of Hot Boys, as well as Mannie Fresh and Cash Money founder Birdman, then going by Baby). However, he was arrested in 2009 after being pulled over by New Orleans police, who found three guns after searching his SUV. Two had been reported stolen.

In December 2011, B.G. pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, resulting in a 14-year sentence. He was released last September, but was arrested in March for parole violations after he performed at a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada with Boosie and released a mixtape with Gucci Mane, Choppers & Bricks. Prosecutors said this constituted associating with known felons, and censured his lyrics on the tape.

Rap fans have criticized the news on Twitter, saying it violates B.G.’s freedom of speech. The legal treatment of rap lyrics has come under scrutiny in the wake of high-profile trials like the racketeering case against Young Thug, which alleges the Atlanta rapper participated in gang activity purely based on lyrics mentioning alleged gang “YSL” — which is also the name of his record label. Such practices have prompted some lawmakers to introduce legislation specifically protecting rap music from prosecution.

Mariah The Scientist Pleads Not Guilty To Battery After Alleged Club Fight

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Earlier this year, footage of Mariah The Scientist and a woman named Cleopatra Dues allegedly getting into a brawl at an Atlanta club left social media users shocked. Reportedly, Dues told police that Mariah allegedly approached her and ripped off her wig, then proceeded to drag her across the floor of Cavo Kitchen and Cocktail Lounge. She insists that she never interacted with Mariah until the alleged incident.

In May, Mariah was arrested and charged with simple battery. Now, according to court documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, she’s pleaded not guilty. Moreover, her attorney Brian Steel has asked for a jury trial. She’s yet to address the debacle but may do so soon in court.

Read More: Mariah The Scientist Admits She Felt “Bullied” At The Beginning Of Her Tour

Mariah The Scientist’s Attorney Demands Jury Trial

Mariah The Scientist Pleads Not Guilty To Battery After Alleged Club Fight
Recording artist Mariah the Scientist performs onstage on Day 1 of 2023 ONE MusicFest at Piedmont Park on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Unfortunately for Mariah, her own legal woes aren’t the only ones she’s dealing with these days. Her boyfriend Young Thug is also currently behind bars on RICO charges. His high-profile trial was put on hold earlier this week. The defense filed a motion for Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville to recuse himself due to an ex parte meeting with prosecutors and witness Kenneth Copeland. The trial won’t continue until another judge reviews the case. Glanville also plans to release a transcript of his meeting with Copeland “so everyone will have a chance to look at it.”

It’s unclear exactly how long this could take. The trial is already the longest in state history, however, and doesn’t look like it’ll be coming to a close anytime soon. What do you think of Mariah The Scientist pleading not guilty to battery? What about her attorney Brian Steel asking for a jury trial? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Mariah The Scientist Arrested For Alleged March Assault: Details

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LeBron James Re-signs With The Los Angeles Lakers On 2-Year, $104 Million Deal: Report

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LeBron James shook the foundation of the NBA six years ago when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second time to join the Lakers. However, the face of the Los Angeles franchise did not really leave a lot of people wondering what he would do this offseason. Number 23 did decide to opt out of the final year of his two-year, $97.1 million extension he inked back in 2022. But the free agency “drama” did not last more than a week. The King is returning to the purple and gold on another two-year max contract, although this time it worth $104 million.

That deal was confirmed by Dime, as well as NBA insiders Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski. In addition to the max money, James also as has a no-trade clause and a player option for the final year. Unfortunately, this negotiation further hampers the possibility of adding any other higher-level talent to the roster. However, it does not matter all that much as LeBron’s key targets –Klay Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas, James Harden– are no longer available.

Read More: Rihanna DM’d GloRilla To Ask When Her New Album Is Dropping

LeBron James Will Be A Laker For At Least 2 More Years

Perhaps, the Lakers could go out and acquire Bulls guard/forward DeMar DeRozan. But in terms of a roster fit, his game is not really the ideal marriage. The Lakers need extra deep shooting, and DeRozan, while still an effective scorer, is not the guy you think of when it comes to being a three-ball specialist. There is still time for the front office to work some numbers, but as it stands, LeGM’s team remains nearly the same as last year. They were the eighth seed in the Western Conference and were bounced out of the playoffs again by the Nuggets, this time in five in the first round.

What are your thoughts on LeBron James resigning with the Los Angeles Lakers? Did they overpay or hit the nail on the head with the contract, why or why not? Do you see the team winning another championship in these next two seasons? If not, who should they go after to round out this roster? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding LeBron James, the NBA, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

Read More: Boosie Badazz Has An “I Told You So” Moment After Rick Ross Vs. Drake Fight

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The post LeBron James Re-signs With The Los Angeles Lakers On 2-Year, $104 Million Deal: Report appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Fresh Look At Travis Scott’s First Original Kicks ‘Sharkidon’ From Nike On The Way

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Images for Travis Scott’s first original kicks are here.

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Let’s be real. They look kinda tough.

Known as the Nike Sharkidon, this sneaker will be the “Sicko Mode” rapper’s first unique design from Nike and is set to be released in a cream and white colorway called “Sail.” 

Interestingly, sneaker insider Brandon1fan on Twitter has mentioned that the shoe might be named the Zoom Field Jaxx instead. 

Let’s get into the design and Inspo …

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Get this, the Sharkidon takes inspiration from the Spiridon running shoe and the Shark football cleat. Scott has been seen wearing the Sharkidon multiple times since last year, causing some confusion between his Nike and Jordan footwear. However, the official images now provide a clear look at the sneaker’s details.

If you ask us, the branding on the Sharkidon is more subtle compared to the CJ1 T-Rexx. The only external mark for Scott is his embroidered Cactus Jack logo on the heel, designed with a Swoosh as its mouth. 

One aspect that stands out, unlike many of Scott’s previous collaborations with Jordan Brand and Nike, this shoe does not feature the signature backwards Swoosh.

Similar to the CJ1 T-Rexx, the Sharkidon includes a velcro strap above the midfoot. 

The shoe’s upper is an all-cream design with suede overlays and leather accents, including the toe box and collar. The white midsole sits atop a faint brown outsole with ample tread.

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As for the drop timing, don’t get too excited on when you can cop these kicks. The release details for Travis Scott’s Nike Sharkidon “Cream” have yet to be confirmed. Let’s all relax but the shoe is anticipated to drop before the end of the year. Maybe holidays? We’re just guessing. 

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The post Fresh Look At Travis Scott’s First Original Kicks ‘Sharkidon’ From Nike On The Way first appeared on The Source.

The post Fresh Look At Travis Scott’s First Original Kicks ‘Sharkidon’ From Nike On The Way appeared first on The Source.

Late Second Round Pick Bronny James Signs Guaranteed 4-Year $7.9 Million Contract

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Bronny James is officially playing alongside his father, LeBron James now that the Lakers rookie just signed a guaranteed contract. 

Bronny, selected late in the second round in the 2024 NBA Draft, has inked a multi-year again, guaranteed contract with Los Angeles. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the four-year deal is valued at $7.9 million and includes a team option for the fourth season. That’s a real contract for a 55th draft pick.

Not for nothing, this contract solidifies Bronny’s place on the Lakers’ roster for the 2024-25 season, marking a notable exception for a second-round pick who usually must compete intensely in the NBA Summer League and training camps to secure even a two-way contract. 

Nope, not Bronny. Forget that, ha!

Rich Paul, Bronny’s agent, was adamant that Bronny would not sign a two-way contract, telling Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, “Yes, that’s absolutely true. Teams know that. I’m not doing that.” I’m not doing that he said, like he’s suiting up. That power is real. 

While Bronny’s guaranteed contract is unusual for a second-round pick, it’s not unprecedented, just rare. In the previous year’s draft, Jalen Pickett, selected 32nd by the Denver Nuggets, signed a four-year, $8.2 million contract with $5.8 million guaranteed. Key numerical value – 32. 

Similarly, Chris Livingston, the last pick in the second round, signed a four-year, $7.6 million deal with $3 million guaranteed. Notably, Rich Paul also represented Livingston, highlighting his influence in NBA negotiations. A ha. 

Naturally, during his introductory press conference on Tuesday, as we reported, Bronny expressed his excitement about joining the Lakers and playing alongside his father. “Everything has been so surreal. Just trying to take it all in day by day,” he said. “Extremely grateful for everything that JJ [Redick] and Rob [Pelinka] have given to me. I’ve just been extremely excited to get to work.”

Bronny is aware of the heightened expectations and scrutiny that come with his high-profile entry into the NBA. “For sure an amplified amount of pressure. I’ve already seen it on social media and stuff on the internet, talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity,” he said. “But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. It’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I can get through it.” Uh, ya think?

New Lakers coach JJ Redick, who himself has immense pressure, emphasized that Bronny earned his spot through hard work. “Rob and I did not give Bronny anything. Bronny has earned this through hard work. For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as a case study. His base level of feel, athleticism, point of attack defender, shooting, passing; there’s a lot to like about his game.”

Whelp, let’s see how that goes. Not like the Lakers needed a veteran outside shooter or anything. 

The post Late Second Round Pick Bronny James Signs Guaranteed 4-Year $7.9 Million Contract first appeared on The Source.

The post Late Second Round Pick Bronny James Signs Guaranteed 4-Year $7.9 Million Contract appeared first on The Source.