estate Archives - New Hip Hop News

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Estate Member Accused Of Alleged Sexual Harassment By Ex-Publicist

October 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Publicist Jonathan Hays has alleged that a male member of The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate team made unwanted sexual advances toward him. He discussed the alleged incident during a recent interview with AllHipHop published on Sunday afternoon. In doing so, he compared his alleged experience to the allegations against Biggie’s frequent collaborator, Diddy.

“My experiences with the Biggie Smalls team turned abominable to say the least,” Hays told the outlet. “Similar to Diddy’s alleged practices, The Notorious B.I.G. estate refused to acknowledge my sexual harassment complaints when I awkwardly came forward. I wouldn’t participate in phone sex, nor would I watch one of the representatives of The Notorious B.I.G estate pleasure himself on a video chat during the pandemic.”

The Notorious B.I.G. Attends Billboard Music Awards

American rapper Notorious BIG (born Christopher Wallace) attends the 1995 Billboard Music Awards, New York, New York, December 6, 1996. (Photo by Larry Busacca/WireImage)

He added: “For two years after the disgusting incidents, I lived with regret that I didn’t ‘go along’ with all that freaky ass weirdness, as I was instantly shunned and they terminated the project. I lost a significant amount of money and almost two years of exclusive Biggie work.” As for why he didn’t speak up, he alleged: “I have strong resources, but in no way could I go up against the estate of The Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, and JAY-Z. It’s only now that I can speak out about this because so many strong women have come forward with lawsuits and alleged criminal complaints against the former Bad Boy mogul.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Hays alleged that Diddy was on Zoom with him following the release of his and Frank White’s “Big Poppa (House Mix).” During the call, he allegedly sniffed something Hays believed to be ketamine or cocaine. The allegations come as Diddy remains behind bars in Brooklyn while awaiting trial for his charges of alleged sex trafficking and racketeering. He already pleaded not guilty while also denying the numerous allegations that have been made against him in recent months. Be on the lookout for further updates on The Notorious B.I.G. on HotNewHipHop.

[Via]

The post The Notorious B.I.G.’s Estate Member Accused Of Alleged Sexual Harassment By Ex-Publicist appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Michael Jackson Estate Secures $600 Million Sale Despite Mother’s Objections

August 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

A blockbuster deal has been struck between Sony and Michael Jackson’s estate. The former has paid a whopping $600 million for the King of Pop’s back catalog. It was a lengthy process to secure the deal, but it was finalized on August 22 by Jackson’s estate executors John Branca and John McClain. It was previously reported by Billboard that Sony wanted to purchase half of Michael Jackson’s catalog. Now, however, it seems as though the final sale include all of the recordings Jackson made during his life. It benefits lots of people who were close to Jackson, but his mother, Katherine, is not pleased.

The matriarch of the Jackson family claimed that the Sony deal “violated Michael’s wishes.” Katherine Jackson actually tried to stop the deal, but her legal attempts were rejected by the court. The ruling was that she “forfeited” her case when she failed to present it to a lower probate court. Branca and McCain were ultimately able to make the deal because it did not directly go against the conditions of Michael Jackson’s will. “The will gave the executors broad powers of sale,” the court wrote. “With no exception for the specific assets at issue in this case.”

Katherine Claims Michael Jackson’s Wishes Were ‘Violated’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 2Cool2Blog (@2cool2bl0g)

Furthermore, the court declared that Jackson’s estate was well within its rights to make a deal they felt was advantageous. “[A judge] did not err in concluding that it was Michael’s intent to allow the executors to sell any estate assets,” the court announced. “Including those at issue in the proposed transaction.” Katherine was the last Jackson standing in opposition to the Sony deal. When it was initially suggested, Michael Jackson’s son Blanket and daughter Paris also balked at the idea. The more money went into a legal battle, however, the more open they were to negotiating.

In March 2024, Blanket issued a statement asking his grandmother to stop using Michael Jackson’s estate to pay for legal fees. Blanket, who also goes by the name “Bigi,” declared Katherine’s efforts to be pointless. “Bigi decided not to waste his resources to participate in an appeal,” a court document stated. “Nonetheless, Katherine has decided to appeal this court’s ruling. That decision is not for the benefit of the heirs.” Debate will continue to rage on as to whether Michael Jackson would have inked the deal with Sony himself. As it stands, though, the company now owns $600 million worth of his music.

[via]

The post Michael Jackson Estate Secures $600 Million Sale Despite Mother’s Objections appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

OJ Simpson’s Estate Is Reportedly In Shambles Trying To Settle His Debts

August 20, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The executor of OJ Simpson’s estate is reportedly desperately trying to come up with the funds to pay off numerous creditors the late NFL legend owed money to before his death. Malcolm LaVergne, who served as Simpson’s longtime lawyer, told TMZ on Tuesday that he’s trying to get $269,000 from one of Simpson’s homes to come up with the money. However, he’s dealing with “strong resistance” to his efforts to do so.

LaVergne says Simpson’s son, Justin, whose mother was Nicole Brown Simpson, helped him purchase the Las Vegas home back in 2022. He estimates they put $159K into the home, which has helped to significantly increase the value. Regardless, it’s still a small step in covering the $30 million judgment for Simpson’s murder case and a massive tax lien that still needs to be paid. While he was famously acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, he was still found liable in a Santa Monica civil court. Apparently the unpaid interest on the judgment has increased the amount to upwards of $100 million. As for the tax lien, it amounts to $500,000.

The BET Awards Honor OJ Simpson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 30: Image of O.J. Simpson is shown during the In Memoriam portion of the show at the 2024 B.E.T. Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LaVergne is hoping to get permission to sell some of OJs other belongings as well. One item LaVergne is looking for to help him with the debts is OJ’s missing Pro Football Hall of Fame ring. He told TMZ that it “belongs to the estate and I want it placed at my feet.” Additionally, there’s a particularly valuable Rolex watch that should fetch a steep price.

OJ passed away back in April after a battle with cancer. He was 76 years old. Be on the lookout for further updates on OJ Simpson and his estate on HotNewHipHop.

[Via]

The post OJ Simpson’s Estate Is Reportedly In Shambles Trying To Settle His Debts appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Juice WRLD Producer Sues The Rapper’s Estate Over Unpaid Royalties

July 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Juice WRLD died under tragic circumstances in 2019. The rapper’s legacy, however, has only gotten stronger in the five years that he’s been gone. There have been three posthumous studio albums put out under his name, which is more than was released when he was alive. One of these albums, however, has sparked a legal battle between producer Joshua Jaramillo and Juice WRLD’s estate. Jaramillo claims he has yet to be paid royalties for the 2021 song “Girl of My Dreams.”

The song was featured on Juice WRLD’s album Fighting Demons, and is notable for featuring BTS star Suga. “Girl of My Dreams” was released as a promotional single, and peaked at 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. Joshua Jaramillo is credited as a songwriter on “Girl of My Dreams” alongside Juice WRLD, but the court docs assert that he’s still waiting on payment. Jaramillo claims he worked on the song in exchange for 1% of the royalties and 5% ownership of the rights. He’s reportedly reached out to the the rapper’s estate multiple times to secure payment. He attempted to determine how much money the song has made, but the estate did not provide an answer.

Juice WRLD’s Estate Is Being Sued For Unspecified Damages

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TMZ (@tmz_tv)

Joshua Jaramillo is now suing the rapper’s estate for unspecified damages. The producer is also demanding he be shown the accounting numbers for “Girl of My Dreams.” The music Juice WRLD’s estate has released since the rapper’s death has been a source of intense debate. Some fans feel the rapper would have preferred to keep unreleased music, well, unreleased. Others are eager to hear what he had in the works prior to his death. Juice WRLD’s estate issued a statement addressing their decision to release posthumous albums in 2021.

“He left behind an astonishingly deep catalog of music,” the statement read. “That will ensure his fans will have new songs to listen to for years to come.” The legal complications brought about by Joshua Jaramillo is not stopping the estate from putting out even more music. Juice WRLD’s sixth album, and fourth posthumous, The Party Never Ends, is slated for release in 2024. The album has been teased since 2021, and is rumored to feature an Eminem collaboration. Juice and Eminem previously appeared on the song “Godzilla.”

[via]

The post Juice WRLD Producer Sues The Rapper’s Estate Over Unpaid Royalties appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Michael Jackson Estate’s Funds Frozen By IRS In Tax Dispute With His Family

June 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Michael Jackson’s estate is in a legal dispute with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and it’s now affecting his children and mother. Moreover, the estate temporarily froze the distribution of trust funds to his three kids Prince, Paris, and Bigi, as well as to his mother Katherine Jackson. This is due to an unresolved tax issue with the IRS, per documents reportedly obtained by AllHipHop, whose current deadlock is thanks to an open audit. Furthermore, this started with an IRS audit that suggested the estate owed $700 million in taxes and penalties, undervaluing the late superstar’s assets significantly.

Even with the estate‘s executors seeing a court win in 2021, a new motion to reevaluate Michael Jackson’s catalog and its worth made this gray area persist. Apparently, it’s because of this question mark around the estate’s value that the family can’t currently access the trust funds. Nevertheless, the estate’s legal team asked a judge to sign off on earmarking a portion of the funds for the family trust, something that the court withheld approval of due to not being able to determine a “safe” amount for distribution. In response, estate attorneys suggested a temporary “family allowance” for the beneficiaries in order to mitigate some of this monetary strain.

Michael Jackson Performing In 1996

Michael Jackson IRS Dispute Taxes Family Estate Frozen Music News — Michael Jackson performs on stage on his HIStory tour in December 1996. (Photo by Phil Dent/Redferns/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, a previous development for the Michael Jackson estate was Sony Music Group’s $600 million purchase comprising of half of his music catalog back in February. Katherine Jackson herself issued legal contest to this move and sought to cover her legal fees with estate funds, which the estate was in disagreement with. In fact, Bigi Jackson filed paperwork in March to challenge Katherine’s attempt to use the estate’s money to pay for her legal processes. This further complicated the situation for the family, and may still be a point of contention.

Meanwhile, Michael Jackson was in the headlines recently for completely unrelated reasons concerning references to him in the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef. Regardless of that, it’s unclear whether the estate will ever see a resolution to the issues represented by this new legal development with the IRS. The King Of Pop’s name, likeness, and artistry continue to make a lot of cash and maintain their ubiquity and legend status in pop culture. Will this long-lasting success impact how the court and the government agency views the estate? We will see.

[via]

The post Michael Jackson Estate’s Funds Frozen By IRS In Tax Dispute With His Family appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

DMX’s Estate & Artist Legacy Group Team Up To Ensure Late Rapper’s Music “Lives On”

May 29, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s been a little over three years since friends, family, and fans said goodbye to DMX, who passed away at the age of 50 following a drug overdose. His undeniable impact on multiple genres means he’s still celebrated today by those close to him. To ensure that the late hitmaker’s legacy lives on, his estate has now partnered with Artist Legacy Group (ALG), an estate management firm that works to preserve the legacies of late icons.

CEO Ashley Austin shared the news, promising to “ensure that his message and music live on.” According to ALG, they already have various “innovative projects” in the works for DMX. Further details of those projects have yet to be revealed, though it’s safe to say that fans can’t wait.

ALG Teases “Innovative Projects” To Honor DMX

<> at MetLife Stadium on June 11, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

This is far from the first time supporters will have seen the legacy of DMX celebrated following his passing, however. Last month, Five Finger Death Punch unveiled a deluxe edition of their 2022 album AfterLife, complete with a posthumous feature from DMX. “This Is the Way,” quickly managed to top Hard Rock charts, a first for the late rapper. According to guitarist Zoltan Bathory, he had a DMX collaboration in mind for years, though their schedules never lined up. He told Loudwire that the band eventually got a hold of some of his master recordings, which they fused with their own style to create the song.

The Ruff Ryders Entertainment crew also visited DMX’s grave at Yonkers’ Oakland Cemetery in April, where they honored the late artist by reflecting on some of his most memorable moments. What do you think of DMX’s estate partnering with Artist Legacy Group? Are you looking forward to seeing what kinds of “innovative projects” they’re working on to keep his legacy alive? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

[Via]

The post DMX’s Estate & Artist Legacy Group Team Up To Ensure Late Rapper’s Music “Lives On” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Madonna AIDS Tribute Has Luther Vandross’ Estate Addressing His Inclusion

February 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Even in her mid-60s, Madonna continues to make waves throughout the music world. She’s currently embarking on her Celebration Tour, which has consistently been in the news for everything from on-stage tumbles to now, an unnecessary tribute to the late Luther Vandross. As TMZ notes, the legendary singer passed away in 2005 due to complications from a prior stroke, not AIDS, as the Queen of Pop seemed to suggest during a recent show. While honouring friends like Freddie Mercury and Keith Haring, who openly battled the disease, an image of Vandross flashed up on the screen while Madonna was performing “Live to Tell.”

“Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier,” a representative told Page Six this week. “While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus,” they doubled down. During his life, the New York native addressed gossip about his health head-on, calling out a British magazine in the mid-80s that suggested his dramatic weight loss was related to a battle with AIDS.

Luther Vandross Didn’t Have AIDS, Despite Queen of Pop Honouring Him On Tour

#Madonna was requested to removed the Luther Vandross’s photo during her segment “Live to Tell” in her #CelebrationTour.

“While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus.” – Vandross’s estate pic.twitter.com/CrQMgyRM7J

— MarieFranceRemillard (@MFRemillard) February 27, 2024

Vandross’ image is no longer a part of Madonna’s tribute segment, and it seems the matter between both parties was resolved amicably. The “Le Freak” artist never came out as anything other than a straight man while in the spotlight, though his sexuality clearly remains a hot topic of conversation.

Madonna and her team might’ve missed the mark when attempting to pay homage to Luther Vandross, but hip-hop has done a great job of continuing the late vocalist’s legacy over the years. One of the most recognizable samples of his work appears on Jay-Z and Pharrell’s “Excuse Me Miss” over the years, but several other artists have cleverly interpolated Vandross too. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: 7 Best Luther Vandross Samples In Hip Hop

[Via] [Via]

The post Madonna AIDS Tribute Has Luther Vandross’ Estate Addressing His Inclusion appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Biggie Smalls’ Estate Reaches Settlement In World Trade Center Pictures Lawsuit

January 21, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Some of the most iconic pictures in hip-hop history unsurprisingly belong to one of the genre’s most iconic figures. Moreover, fans of any generation likely know the photos of Biggie Smalls with the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers as their backdrop. Photographer Chi Modu took them in 1996, and said that his lyrics on the song “Juicy” referencing the Towers partly inspired the shoot in Jersey City, New Jersey. However, a 2019 lawsuit from Big’s estate claimed that Modu illegaly licensed the snaps for sold products without respecting his rights. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2021, and thus, the battle turned to estate versus estate.

Furthermore, Billboard reports that Staci Jennifer Trager -– Biggie’s estate’s legal representative in this case -– announced a settlement on Thursday (January 18). While its details are unknown at press time, she explained that the rapper’s children and Modu’s widow came to an agreement. “Pictures of Christopher cannot be commercially exploited without a license from our client,” Trager reportedly remarked to the outlet. “The settlement agreement is a testament to the dedication of our client as well as our team members in staying the course over several years.”

Biggie Smalls’ World Trade Center Photos

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by C H I M O D U (@chimodu)

As such, it seems like Modu’s estate will still be able to sell physical and digital prints of the pictures. However, they will not be able to use the images for other products, as suggested by the explanation of the settlement. Of course, this joins a long list of other “legacy items” that the hip-hop community treasures, especially for such an influential and impactful late legend. For example, Biggie’s autographed arrest fingerprints, and those of Tupac Shakur, went on sale for $225K last year.

Meanwhile, as the West Coast icon’s murder case develops with the arrest of alleged culprit Keefe D, folks also claim that the Brooklyn MC’s death is connected. That emerged as a speculative theory long ago, and the mystery that surrounds both cases makes judging it a tough call. Regardless, this settlement shows that his legacy will live on in respectful ways if his estate gets their word in. For more news and the latest updates on Biggie Smalls, stay up to date on HNHH.

[via]

The post Biggie Smalls’ Estate Reaches Settlement In World Trade Center Pictures Lawsuit appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kid Cudi Voices His Frustrations With Juice WRLD’s Team After “INSANO” Collaboration Falls Through

January 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

In just about a week, Cleveland, Ohio rapper and singer Kid Cudi, will be dropping his 10th project, INSANO. Over the past couple of weeks, we have received some exciting updates on the details of the project. We have come to learn the feature list, producing credits, as well as the release date. Fans can expect the album to hit all streaming platforms on Friday, January 12, presumably at midnight. So far, quite a few singles have been rolled out.

Cudi put out a two-pack on Soundcloud, “ILL WHAT I BLEED/MOST AIN’T DENNIS.” We also got “PORSCHE TOPLESS,” as well as “AT THE PARTY” with two of several guests Travis Scott and Pharrell Williams. The hitmaker is also including Pusha T, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Yachty, and ASAP Rocky. Juice WRLD was going to make the cut too. But, according to HipHopDX, it looks like that fell through.

Kid Cudi Calls Out Juice WRLD’s Estate, But Things Seem To Be OK?

First me hearin this. Never was told it cant come out til his album does. Thats cool tho. We have answers. Power of a tweet. https://t.co/aa3gw3vH8E

— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) January 6, 2024

Cudster put out a tweet that read, “Hey gang, so I never heard back from Juice team, they said we could use it on my album and they would use it on his, but his team went ghost when we reached out and its been months so it wont be on the deluxe. I tried but u know, whatever [shrugging emoji] not me.” However, the master hummer posted an Instagram story screenshot from Peter Jideonwo. He is Juice’s former manager but is still involved with his team.

Peter replied to Cudi, saying, “Song is cleared for @kidcudi but since it’s on the party never ends [Juice’s next album] it can’t come out till the release. It can be added to [Cudi’s] album after that happens since his album has to come out now.” He goes on, “No one is ignoring or not responding to him. He knows this information and that’s the deal.” The rapper was made aware of this by a random Twitter user and it seems all things are good now. Cudi writes back, “First me hearin this. Never was told it cant come out til his album does. Thats cool tho. We have answers. Power of a tweet.” So, maybe we will get it after all? We will have to wait and see.

[Via]

The post Kid Cudi Voices His Frustrations With Juice WRLD’s Team After “INSANO” Collaboration Falls Through appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lauren London To Receive Half Of Nipsey Hussle’s $11 Million Assets On Behalf Of Son Kross

November 1, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Late artist Nipsey Hussle’s brother, Blacc Sam, recently submitted an accounting report, unveiling his estate’s assets. The report revealed that Nipsey’s two kids, Emani and Kross, are his only beneficiaries. According to him, the estate has a total of $11 million. Nearly $7 million of that is housed in various bank accounts, while the other $4 million lies in interest of various companies, a 2012 Chevy Suburban, and more.

Blacc Sam also revealed that Emani and Kross will split the assets 50/50. Kross’ mother, Lauren London, will receive a share of the assets on his behalf, making her part-owner of Nipsey’s various businesses. The report comes amid his estate’s ongoing legal battle with Emani’s mother, Tanisha Foster. Foster has been pushing to gain more rights over their daughter following the late artist’s family being granted physical custody.

Lauren London Now Half-Owner Of Nipsey’s Businesses

Lauren London To Receive Half Of Nipsey Hussle's $11 Million Assets — Lauren London attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix’s “You People” at Regency Village Theatre on January 17, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Foster has previously claimed that Nipsey’s family used “their financial position and influence” to gain custody of Emani. “I have continued to be an active part of Emani’s life,” Foster argued in her petition. “She spends the night with me often. I take her to school, and I continue to do the things a parent would do with their child. I am very unhappy that the guardians will not take my calls. They have blocked me on their cell phones. I have to go through a third party or Emani to communicate with the guardians.” During a court hearing in September, she was granted more visitation rights with Emani.

In the meantime, Lauren London continues to honor her late partner’s legacy through various social media posts. She celebrated what would have been Nipsey’s 38th birthday in August, sharing a photo of him with Instagram followers. “Honoring the day you blessed the Earth with your presence. Forever more,” she wrote. What do you think of Lauren London receiving half of the late artist’s assets on behalf of their son? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

[Via]

The post Lauren London To Receive Half Of Nipsey Hussle’s $11 Million Assets On Behalf Of Son Kross appeared first on HotNewHipHop.