estate Archives - New Hip Hop News

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Michael Jackson’s Estate Resolves Legal Battle Over Allegedly Stolen Belongings

October 4, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Jeffre Phillips was accused by Michael Jackson’s estate of stealing roughly $1 million worth of property from the late performer. Allegedly he entered his home after he passed in 2009, as he had previously been engaged to Jackson’s sibling, LaToya. According to the estate, the stolen items included CDs, DVDs, letters, awards, hard drives, and more.

They also said they believed Phillips planned on selling the items, and had moved forward in getting a judge’s help to recover the property. Now, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the two parties have settled. The details surrounding their settlement remain unknown. It’s additionally unclear whether or not the estate was able to recover the items.

MJ’s Estate Settles With Jeffre Phillips

Michael Jackson's Estate Resolves Legal Battle Over Stolen Belongings — Singer Michael Jackson departs early from the Santa Barbara County courthouse at the end of the sixth week of his trial April 8, 2005 in Santa Maria, California. Jackson is charged in a 10-count indictment with molesting a boy, plying him with liquor and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

Among the items believed to be stolen was also a sweet handwritten note from MJ’s son, Prince. Recently, the 26-year-old opened up about watching his father struggle with his appearance. He shut down allegations that his father wanted to be white, revealing that he wanted to “glow” instead.

“He had a skin condition called vitiligo,” Prince began. “I think it was even on the autopsy report. I think the cause of it– it’s up for speculation. But it’s either vitiligo or some form of lupus that contributed to the vitiligo. And he had a lot of insecurity around, kind of, looking blotchy. So, he wanted to see if he could smooth out his appearance. I think that ‘glowing’ may have also had something to do with it because he was visionary I guess in the way that he thought.” What do you think of MJ’s estate settling with Jeffre Phillips? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Michael Jackson.

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Mo3’s Estate Battles With Engineer, Claims He Stole Late Rapper’s Vocal Tracks

August 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Back in 2020, Mo3 met an untimely death after he was shot on a Dallas freeway at the age of 28. Following his passing, rumors circulated surrounding the circumstances leading up to his death. Some reports suggest that the rapper could have been followed after leaving a woman’s house that day. Reportedly, Mo3 crashed his car after realizing what was going on, and the man following him chased him on foot for a while before shooting him. Sadly, Mo3 passed away that same day in the hospital.

The events leading up to his murder aren’t the only thing to spark controversy as of late. The rapper’s estate is now claiming that a recording engineer, Ray Gene Bollin, is holding some of his unreleased vocal tracks hostage. They say that although Mo3 would frequently use Bollin’s studio to record, he had little to do with the music he created. Apparently, his contribution was limited to “setting up a microphone and pushing the record button,” under the “specific direction, guidance, and control” of Mo3.

Mo3’s Estate Says Bollin Tried To Sell Recordings Without Permission

Mo3's Estate Battles With Engineer, Claims He Stole Late Rapper's Vocal Tracks — Mo3 attends EMPIRE Celebrates The Grammys at The Reserve on January 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for EMPIRE)

Mo3’s estate is now in a legal battle with Bollin, fighting to reclaim the allegedly stolen vocal tracks. According to them, he even approached Empire, looking to sell the stolen recordings. Bollin claims to be seeking unpaid studio fees, on top of royalties, “licensing fees,” and more. Initially, he was asking for $10,000- $20,000 for the studio fees. He then went on to ask for over $600,000 for all the fees combined.

The estate has now dubbed the engineer an “opportunistic interloper.” Mo3’s mother, Nichole Noble, also claims that Bollin wished her a happy mother’s day amid the drama. “If you want to [make] me happy please give me my son’s music. I am having to go through too much as is,” she later responded.

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XXXTENTACION’s Estate Drops Official Version Of Lil Uzi Vert Collab, “I’m Not Human”

June 18, 2023 by newhiphopnews

XXXTENTACION’s estate has released an official version of the late rapper’s collaboration with Lil Uzi Vert, “I’m Not Human.” The track originally dropped on SoundCloud and YouTube back in January of this year, on what would have been X’s 25th birthday. However, it was eventually taken down due to sampling issues.

The new version of the track is about 50 seconds shorter in length. It arrives on the fifth anniversary of X’s death. He was shot and killed at the age of 20 outside of a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida on June 18, 2018.

XXXTENTACION & Lil Uzi Vert Team Up

John Cunningham, who produced the song, detailed how it came together in a statement shared by Hip Hop-N-More. “When I was living with Jah in Florida in 2018 we would spend most days in his room, me playing guitar and him singing, and the day he first sang ‘I’m not human’ as I was playing that guitar part we both looked at each other and cracked a smile, knowing it was special,” he recalled. “We listened back to the voice memo he recorded and talked about finishing it, but the few times that we tried recording vocals in the studio the feeling was never the same and he always preferred the original voice memo which is why we chose to keep it in the official version of the song.”

Uzi previously reflected on his relationship with X on the fourth anniversary of his death. “That was, like, my only competition,” Uzi said of XXXTENTACION at the time. “Every time I dropped, he dropped… He would go number one or I would go number one. Either way it was going to go, one of us was going to turn it up.”

Quotable Lyrics

Let all your secrets in my skin
I won’t even tell my best of friends
I know that I’m not from this earth
And I know deep down you are hurt, but
I’m not a human, I’m not a human

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Coolio’s Estate Receives $173K Demand From Alleged Assault Victim

June 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Coolio’s alleged victim of assault recently demanded that the late rapper‘s estate pay her $173K stemming from an unresolved lawsuit. Back in 2011, Randa Davis sued him for allegedly jumping on her back and riding her like a bull after a September 2009 concert in Detroit, which not only injured but humiliated her. According to that suit, the Compton-raised MC was very drunk and invited Davis and a friend to a VIP area after the show for some clubbing when the incident occurred. A few years passed, and he allegedly ignored the filing until she sought default judgement. However, when an attorney appeared on his behalf after he caught wind, the judge still aware Davis the money in question back in 2013.

Ten years later, that default payment is the center of her demand to Coolio’s estate. From what Radar Online reports indicate, Davis put forth a creditor’s claim for $173,069.28 and claimed that she is still owed this money from the verdict. In her initial lawsuit, she alleged to have experienced “pain, disability, mental anguish, medical expenses, wage loss, loss of future earning potential and other damages” as a result of the incident. Given that she originally wanted $1 million in damages, it’s unclear whether this new demand is full or partial payment.

Read More: Coolio’s Death: What We Know

Coolio At The 1997 MOBO Awards

Coolio winner of best International hip hop act, The 1997 MOBO Awards, New Connaught Rooms, London, 10th November 1997. (Photo by JM Enternational/Getty Images)

However, this situation faces further complications when it comes to the beneficiaries of the “Fantastic Voyage” artist’s estate. Moreover, back in April, a judge sided with his manager’s motion to access these assets since Coolio passed away without a will in September of 2022. However, earlier reports indicated that the estate would likely split between his seven children. As such, perhaps there will be multiple sides trying to decide how to handle these demands, and the rest of what the hip-hop legend left behind.

Unfortunately, the rapper’s loss halted his plans to close out 2022 with big events. For one, he apparently came close to finalizing a deal for a 10-show residency in Las Vegas, specifically at the Westgate Resort & Casino. While these never came to fruition, he will live on through his family, projects in his honor, and the legacy and impact of his music. Perhaps his estate will also allow wrongs in his name to be rectified and finally laid to rest. For more updates and the latest news on Coolio, log back into HNHH.

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Coolio’s Longtime Manager Takes Over His Estate With No Will In Sight

April 30, 2023 by newhiphopnews

After no will was found, the fate of Coolio’s earthly possessions hung in the balance after his untimely passing. However, reports indicate that the court appointed control of his estate to his longtime manager Jarel “Jarez” Posey. According to RadarOnline, a Las Vegas judge approved of Posey’s petition of access to the “Gangsta’s Paradise” MC’s assets. More specifically, the court appointed him as a special administrator, meaning that they now tasked him with collecting residuals and taking charge of the estate’s financial matters.

In Posey’s petition, he took note of the fact that the estate was divided between his children due to lack of a will. However, he wanted to obtain appointment as executor to avoid “waste and/or loss of the personal property of [Coolio]. Specifically, the estate is believed to include personal property and demand deposit accounts, financial accounts, insurance policies and royalties, all of which need to be marshaled and protected on behalf of the estate.” In his opinion, the court must allow him to “access monies from Decedent’s personal property and accounts and the same shall be placed in the attorney’s IOLTA Trust Account until further ordered by the Court.”

Coolio’s Estate Entrusted With His Longtime Manager

Rapper Coolio in October, 2000 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images)

According to the court documents in question, authorities approved all of Posey’s requests. With his proximity to Coolio in mind, the decision to entrust the estate with him is understandable. Despite that, questions arose when it comes to what his children will receive. Furthermore, it was Posey who told TMZ of the coroner’s report concerning the California rapper’s tragic loss. According to the medical official, he had a mixture of fentanyl, methamphetamines, and heroin in his system. Additional reports concerning the circumstances of his passing only make it that much more somber.

Still, Coolio’s legacy will live on far beyond his death, whether through his loved ones or his music. In fact, following his first posthumous release, fans are anticipating his posthumous album, LONG LIVE COOLIO. Reportedly, features on the full-length project include Treach of Naughty By Nature, Too $hort, and others. With that in mind, return to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Coolio.

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Nipsey Hussle’s Estate Beats $5 Million Lawsuit

April 17, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Nipsey Hussle’s estate previously faced a lawsuit from Los Angeles-based singer Tasleema Yasin. Moreover, she claimed to be an uncredited co-author on the late MC’s single “Hussle & Motivate,” and had collaborated with Nip on multiple occasions before his death. In said lawsuit, Yasin maintained that she wrote a “prominent vocal phrase” and worked on the Victory Lap cut’s chorus and countermelody. However, legal documents obtained by AllHipHop indicate that a judge dismissed said $5 million suit. From what these suggest, Yasin failed to prosecute within a given timeframe and lost the opportunity to reach a settlement.

Furthermore, reports show that the singer sought an unspecified amount of cash at first, waiting on accounting details from Nipsey Hussle’s label. According to these legal docs, the rapper’s legal team offered an initial settlement of $100,000 to Yasin. In addition, they packaged in a ten percent share of the master royalties from “Hussle & Motivate” plus three other cuts. However, when she alleged they didn’t honor these terms, she sought damages of $7.5 million and later offered to settle for $5 million.

Nipsey Hussle’s Estate Beats “Hussle & Motivate” Lawsuit

After this development, the judge required Yasin to serve the summons and complaint via a court order. To elaborate, she had 90 days after she filed the complaint to properly prosecute Nipsey Hussle’s team. Despite that precedent, Yasin reportedly failed to do so and did not respond to the order. As such, she could not show cause in writing by the April 4 deadline. Unfortunately for Yasin, the judge dismissed the case due to a lack of prosecution earlier this week, ending this legal battle for the rapper’s family and estate.

While it proved to be an unfortunate and complicated situation, at least it’s something that won’t bother Nip’s surviving colleagues any longer. Also, this comes just a couple of weeks after millions around the world remembered his tragic loss on the fourth anniversary of his death. His partner Lauren London shared some touching words on Instagram to commemorate the occasion and give life to Nipsey’s legacy. For more on Nipsey Hussle and his incredible impact and influence long after he’s gone, check back in with HNHH.

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