Evidence Archives - New Hip Hop News

YNW Melly’s Lyrics Could Be Used Against Him In Court

December 18, 2023 by newhiphopnews

With all the focus on Young Thug and the YSL RICO case in recent weeks, many fans have forgotten about the ongoing legal status of YNW Melly. The rapper has been behind bars for years awaiting a verdict in his high-profile double murder trial. His arrest dates all the way back to 2019 for a pair of murders committed in 2018 and he’s still awaiting a verdict in the case. Additionally, in July of this year, Melly’s first trial came to an end with the declaration of a mistrial.

YNW Melly’s second double murder trial is set to begin in February and pre-trial proceedings are underway. In a recent motion filed by the prosecution, they’re hoping to introduce a ton of new evidence into the case. According to The Fader, the prosecution filed for 55 songs, 18 audio files, 14 YouTube videos, and four album covers to be introduced as evidence in the re-trial. Included among them is Melly’s biggest hit, the unfortunately titled “Murder On My Mind.” Subsequently, no verdict on how much of the material will be admissible in the trial has been made yet. Check out more details on what the prosecution is trying to attempt below.

YNW Melly Lyrics Submitted As Evidence

Prosecutors in the YNW Melly double murder case will attempt to use the rapper’s lyrics, album covers, and YouTube videos into evidence. https://t.co/DLds5zlKkB

— The FADER (@thefader) December 18, 2023

Lyrics being used in court against rappers has been a hot topic of debate for years. The most recent instance was with Young Thug in the YSL RICO trial. When the announcement was made public that some of Thug’s lyrics were ruled admissible in court hundreds of thousands of fans and numerous rap figures spoke out against the decision.

The time between Melly’s first and second trials has been turbulent for the rapper. He was once again denied bond and had to remain in prison until his second trial. Consequently, he’s been in police custody for almost 5 full years now awaiting a verdict in his trial. His second trial has been delayed numerous times following its originally announced October start date. What do you think of YNW Melly potentially having his own lyrics and music videos used in court against him? Let us know in the comment section below.

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YNW Melly’s Attorney Files Motion To Suppress Cell Phone, Cites “Legally Insufficient” Affidavit

November 17, 2023 by newhiphopnews

YNW Melly’s attorney Jamie Benjamin is pushing for some evidence collected by police to be suppressed ahead of his upcoming murder retrial, claiming that it was obtained with a “legally insufficient” affidavit. He filed the motion earlier this week, according to documents obtained by HipHopDX, with the Broward County clerk. Benjamin says that authorities didn’t have the probable cause necessary to obtain and search the phone.

While a search warrant was issued, he claims it was done in violation of the rapper’s Fourth and 14th Amendment rights. Detective M. Moretti was the one who signed the affidavit, however, he failed to properly fill out the paperwork. Reportedly, he left out various bits of important information in the documents. The judge has yet to make a decision.

Jamie Benjamin Claims Phone Was Improperly Seized

YNW Melly’s lawyer wants cell phone suppressed due to “legally insufficient” affidavit pic.twitter.com/q06aT5j01m

— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) November 17, 2023

This isn’t the first time Det. Moretti’s work has been called into question, however. Back in August, Melly’s team filed a motion against him while he was under investigation for allegedly using excessive force with a potential witness in the case. The defense asked that all materials from the investigation be handed over to them for review. Melly’s retrial is now scheduled to begin in February of this year. Judge John Murphy announced this week that it’d be delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances.”

Prosecutors requested that the retrial be pushed back earlier this month, citing various different reasons. “Throughout the defendant’s 20+ pleadings and in court hearings, the defendant complains of the number of witnesses that must be deposed as well as the many motions that must be heard,” they said in their motion. “The defendant complains that the state has filed motions after the court’s discovery cut off, yet the defendant himself has also filed motions after this date. Several of the state’s motions are a result of the defendant’s new criminal activity … It is abundantly evident that the defendant is not ready for trial.” What do you think of YNW Melly’s lawyer filing to have his cell phone suppressed? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Young Thug Co-Defendant Yak Gotti Compares Lyrics To Jack Nicholson’s “The Shining”

November 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The judge finally signed off on the lyrics that prosecutors will present during the YSL RICO trial. However, the defense team have been trying hard to have it dismissed. Last week, the prosecutors brought out lyrics from songs like “Bad Boy” and “Take It To Trial.” They claimed that these records include admissions of guilt. However, as the court records indicate, there are a number of inaccuracies with both the lyrics themselves and the attributed credits.

Yak Gotti’s attorneys have pushed back against what the prosecutors are introducing as evidence. The prosecutors brought up lyrics from two songs, “Take It To Trial” and “Mob Ties.” On the former, he raps, “I rep my life for real/ For slimes, you know I kill.” Then, on the latter, he raps, “Knockin’ off your big homie b*tch.” In response, Gotti’s attorney Douglas S. Weinstein stated that the rapper’s performance on the song is no different than Jack Nicholson’s depiction of Jack Torrance In The Shining, per All Hip Hop.

Yak Gotti’s Defense

Weinstein argued that Yak Gotti’s shouldn’t be held against him legally, similar to how the court would separate Nicholson from Torrance. He added that the lyrics are irrelevant, and would create a prejudice in the trial. Furthermore, Weinstein explained that these lyrics don’t have any connection to the allegations against Gotti. “This video [for ‘Mob Ties’ is a perfect example of the problems with the admission of lyrics, for it takes a single line out of context. Let’s give it context. This particular line is a response, to a call issued by another rapper who says, ‘Knockin’ off yo big homie b***h,’” Gotti’s lawyer said.

This lyric is in a rap video, where Yak Gotti appears and raps almost nothing for the majority of the video…It is in a long tradition of call and response that was brought to America by slaves bringing their tradition with them. It has been used from Cab Calloway to Michael Jackson to Missy Elliot,” Weinstein added. What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comment section below.

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Young Thug & YSL’s RICO Trial Will Accept Rap Lyrics As Evidence, Judge Decides

November 9, 2023 by newhiphopnews

It’s a crucial day for the RICO case against Young Thug and his YSL collective, as Judge Glanville made a pivotal decision in Fulton County on Thursday (November 9) according to WSB-TV’s Channel 2. Moreover, he ruled that prosecutors will be able to use rap lyrics as evidence against Young Stoner Life in court during this trial’s proceedings. However, the judge clarified that this is a conditional admittance for attorneys, as they must still lay a foundation in order to justify their use of any of these seventeen sets of lyrics. While this is a promising caveat, it’s also a very vague one, which puts these artists’ right to free artistic speech in jeopardy.

Brian Steel, Young Thug’s attorney, argued as much, vehemently opposing the use of these lyrics. On the other hand, the prosecution believes that the connective tissue between them and real crimes they indicted these individuals with is too great to ignore. “Your honor, someone can look at that indictment and say one thing’s for sure: that’s not fantasy,” prosecutor Mike Carlson expressed in court. “People are dead and murdered and a gang exists.” Now, it seems like it’s up to Glanville to determine their worth, as well as the recently seated jury.

Young Thug Performing In 2021

Young Thug YSL RICO Case Rap Lyrics Evidence Hip Hop News — ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 17: Rapper Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

What’s more is that this is an interesting point on the prosecution’s board that comes just days after they had one taken off. Furthermore, Judge Glanville expressed disappointment in these attorneys withholding evidence and their general plan for the court. As such, it looks like Young Thug and YSL’s fate still hasn’t sealed, and it will likely be a very complex case to navigate. Still, the ruling on these lyrics is understandably disappointing: in an industry where artists are pushed to present the worst and most profitable version of themselves in exploitative ways that glorify violence and struggle, taking this collective’s success away due to the artistry they express and have been rewarded for expressing is an egregiously unfair and inhumane double standard.

Meanwhile, that’s not to say that we should ignore actual evidence of crime in the face of this battle. But this is something that will deeply affect not just this trial, but many more rap cases to come. As such, we’ll see if this injustice is what ends up sinking the ship, or if the system can’t find enough evidence to lock them up. On that note, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Young Thug and the YSL RICO case.

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Prosecutors In YNW Melly Case Seek To Add Evidence Of Witness Tampering

October 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Prosecutors in YNW Melly’s double-murder retrial have requested to admit evidence of alleged witness tampering, according to the Miami Herald. They charged him with witness tampering in connection to his first murder trial, earlier this month. Prosecutors argue the rapper and his team attempted to prevent his ex-girlfriend, Mariah Hamilton, from testifying.

“The defendant went to great lengths to have others contact Mariah Hamilton for him,” the prosecution said. “Because he was in jail and had his phone privileges taken away previously by BSO for numerous violations, he utilized fellow gang members to do his dirty work. Not only did he use his fellow gang member Terrence Mathis, who was in custody with him, he also utilized his co-defendant Cortlen Henry, who was out on pretrial release at the time, to be his messenger.”

YNW Melly Booked In Florida

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – FEBRUARY 13: In this handout photo provided by the Broward’s Sheriff’s Office, rapper YNW Melly, real name Jamell Demons, is seen in a police booking photo after being charged with two counts of murder in the first degree February 13, 2019 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Demons allegedly conspired with Cortlen Henry to fatally shot two other Florida based rappers, Christopher Thomas Jr and Anthony Williams, October 26. (Photo by Broward’s Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)

Melly was initially tried in the double murder case over the summer, but that trial ended with a hung jury. Now, Melly will face a new prosecutor after his team successfully got former lead prosecutor Kristine Bradley removed from the double murder case. Jury selection for the retrial began on October 18.

At the beginning of October, Melly penned an open letter to his father, expressing his confidence that the second trial will prove his innocence. “It’s finally over doe,” he wrote at the time. “I knew I wasn’t getting bond I’d have to have a second mistrial I ain’t trippin. I’ll be home this trial! God is working! I still remember everything.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Melly’s retrial on HotNewHipHop.

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Rich Homie Quan Offering $1 Million For Evidence He Snitched On Young Thug

October 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Rich Homie Quan has finally spoken out concerning a lot of snitching allegations that came his way earlier this year. Moreover, he put up a $1 million offer if anyone online could provide any sort of evidence that he told on someone. For those unaware, accusations against the rapper stem from a leaked audio clip of him allegedly speaking on Young Thug’s RICO case. The two were former collaborators, and iconic ones at that, but things soured along the way for much-speculated reasons. Regardless of all that, the Atlanta MC maintains that people calling him a rat are dead in the wrong.

“Did I snitch?” Rich Homie Quan remarked during a recent Instagram Live session. “N***a, my name ain’t in no paperwork, bruh. Suck my d**k. Did you suck one this morning? Get you out of body, young man. Did I snitch… N***a, find my name in some paperwork, bro, and I’ll give you a million dollars. We can trade lives, on God.” Of course, he didn’t directly reference Thugger in these remarks, but fans can connect the dots quite easily.

Rich Homie Quan Denies Snitching Allegations

In addition, this is what Rich Homie Quan’s manager, Rich Homie Monta, had to say about these snitching allegations. “I don’t think [there’s] a man in this world [that’s] never talked about some type of business or some type of way they felt,” he remarked. “All you p***y-a** n***as do that. I don’t give a f**k who you talking to.” Not only that, but he said they don’t engage in “street culture” anymore, suggesting that everyone “snitches” sooner or later and that it’s easy to “talk a little bit too much.” As such, many saw this as vague confirmation that the 34-year-old rapper did speak on Thug’s case, but maybe didn’t have any actual impact in it.

Meanwhile, what do you think about these accusations and the situation that Young Thug is in the middle of? Do you trust Quan or are you going to do some digging in public records to get that bag? However you may feel, let us know in the comments down below. Also, stay posted on HNHH for the latest news and more updates on Rich Homie Quan.

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Diddy Accused Of Withholding Evidence In Ex-Nanny’s Wrongful Firing Case

October 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

As successful as this year was for Diddy, it also came with its fair share of legal complications and cases. For example, one that developed towards the end of 2022 and carried over into 2023 has to do with a nanny that he fired. Raven Walden sued the Bad Boy mogul in September of last year for wrongful termination, alleging that he let her go because she requested maternity leave and “set a bad example” for his daughters by getting pregnant out of wedlock. Now, according to court documents obtained by Radar Online, Walden requested that the court force him to hand over evidence she requested in the case months ago.

Not only that, but Walden and her lawyers want a judge to impose sanctions on Diddy for his negligence in this. Specifically, they accused him of improper proceedings in the discovery process, as they allegedly controlled what the court and the case had access to. According to the plaintiff’s team, Sean Combs and his legal team “abused the discovery process with impunity and have shown no regard for this Court’s directions to them, their own promises, or their discovery obligations.” As such, it will be interesting to see how this case develops in court when this debacle over evidence is such a big component.

Diddy Performing In 2016

Diddy Nanny Withholding Evidence Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Hip Hop News — NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: Sean “Diddy” Combs aka Puff Daddy performs onstage during the Puff Daddy and The Family Bad Boy Reunion Tour presented by Ciroc Vodka And Live Nation at Barclays Center on May 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Live Nation)

In response to all this, Diddy sought to dismiss this lawsuit promptly, and fired off some counterclaims at Walden. Maintaining that he fired her for good-faith and non-discriminatory reasons, he alleged that she “[wasn’t] performing all of her job duties as required.” In addition, Puff Daddy stated that Walden “received compensation for work that was not performed, thus resulting in wages being paid to [her] that were not owed.” This is relevant because Walden seeks an unspecified amount in damages for the allegedly wrongful termination, which he might counter with these claims of overpayment.

Meanwhile, the music executive also detailed steps to “implement internal grievance processes designed to respond to, correct, remedy, or otherwise avoid the alleged harm, if any.” He said Walden didn’t take advantage of these, and thus her grievances are less justified. We’ll see where the court sides on these matters. For more news and updates on Diddy, log back into HNHH.

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YNW Melly Achieves Small Victories In Trial Over Use Of Evidence

June 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The double murder trial of YNW Melly is looking bleak online for those who want to see the rapper walk away. Moreover, this is because social media clips of his behavior, including blowing kisses and his lawyer’s suggestive notebook, have people thinking that it looks ridiculous. However, none of those aspects actually translate into the court of law, and on the fourth day of his trial on Thursday (June 15), he and his team actually heard some good news. Furthermore, these reports come from Law & Crime Network correspondent Bryson “Boom” Paul, who has been consistently covering this trial with frequent updates via his social media accounts.

“Judge John Murphy III denies the Prosecutor’s use of @Snapchat memories in the next witness testimony due to the presence of a firearm and cash in one of the videos,” the reporter tweeted. “‘Prejudicial,’ he says.” For those unaware, “prejudicial” means that it would be evidence that would cause an inherent bias against the defendant without actually being evidence that contributes to the matters of fact in the case. Another update held similar weight and described the reaction of the family of YNW Juvy, the deceased associate of YNW Melly who he stands accused of murdering. The state also accused him of murdering YNW SakChaser in this trial for double murder. “Juvy’s grandmother says “Damn” as Judge Murphy lll says the music video “Murder on My Mind” will not be used based on prejudice,” Paul relayed via Twitter.

Positive Updates For YNW Melly’s Side Of Murder Trial

#YNWMellyTrial: Judge John Murphy III denies the Prosecutor’s use of @Snapchat memories in the next witness testimony due to the presence of a firearm and cash in one of the videos.

“Prejudicial” he says. #ynwmelly #melly #lawandcrime @LawCrimeNetwork

— Bryson “Boom” Paul (@brysonboompaul) June 15, 2023

#YNWMellyTrial: Juvy’s grandmother says “Damn” as Judge Murphy lll says the music video “Murder on My Mind” will not be used based on prejudice. #ynwmelly #melly #lawandcrime @LawCrimeNetwork

— Bryson “Boom” Paul (@brysonboompaul) June 15, 2023

Meanwhile, Juvy’s mother recalled how she walked out of the courtroom when the 24-year-old accused murderer blew kisses during session. “He did it a couple of times.. that wasn’t his first time,” Leondra Phillips said, calling his displays “disrespectful. I walked out. What you praying for? You sitting there like you ain’t got no remorse. Like, every time I walk in, you smiling. This ain’t the same for that. This is sad, this case is serious.”

Others have instead stood by the Gifford native’s innocence, with Boosie Badazz showing up in person during proceedings. Another famous rap figure, Lil Durk, declared “Free Melly” via his Instagram page. It remains a murky case, but one that, at least for today, brightened for the rapper and his team. For the latest updates and news on YNW Melly and his trial, stay logged into HNHH.

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Tory Lanez’s Lawyer Claims To Have New Evidence Releasing Today For National DNA Day

April 25, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Tory Lanez’s efforts to free himself from behind bars have become increasingly intense as of late. This past weekend, the embattled Canadian penned an open letter claiming that his trial with Megan Thee Stallion was unjust. Now, his new lawyer is claiming to have some interesting new evidence expected to be revealed later today. User @baezlawfirm on Instagram shared the news early on Tuesday (April 25) morning via a Story post. “Today is National DNA Day,” the attorney’s message began.

“We are happy to announce that Tory Lanez will be releasing information about the DNA in his case that gave false and misleading information to his jury,” Jose Baez later added. To conclude, the R&B star’s legal representative threw in a “#FreeToryLanez,” obviously hoping to get his client back to freedom in the near future. “You know he’s legit because he posted this on his Story…” one person quipped in @theneighborhoodtalk’s comments. “Give it up, Delicious!!!” several others wrote.

Tory Lanez’s Lawyer Gives an Update on National DNA Day

It remains unclear when Lanez plans to unleash his big news. Still, the aforementioned letter he wrote certainly gave us some insight into how he’s been feeling since his December 2022 arrest. “Until my court date, I’ll be posting the OUTRAGEOUS & DISGUSTING INJUSTICES used against me by the PROSECUTION to get the conviction they so DESPERATELY wanted, DESPITE the evidence they knew existed,” the father of one wrote in an IG post shared on his behalf last week.

His message to the LA District Attorney was markedly softer in tone, reading, “I write this message with the utmost humility, love, and respect for the remarkable stance you’ve taken in regards to fighting for the justice of Black and Brown minorities. Today I take a stance as an innocent Black Man, wrongfully convicted of a crime I DID not commit,” the Chixtapes hitmaker penned. “I was completely robbed and deprived of a fair trial.” Are you curious to see what Tory Lanez’s attorney has to share with the world today? Let us know in the comments, and read his full letter to George Gascon here.

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Tory Lanez Case: 47 Prosecution Exhibits Surfaces Including Megan Thee Stallion X-Ray

January 2, 2023 by newhiphopnews

It’s been over a week since a jury found Tory Lanez guilty of all three counts in the trial surrounding the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. From die-hard fans online to his own father, the outcome of the trial became a divisive point of conversation online.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Tory Lanez attends Sorry For What Event on September 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) — NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 28: Tory Lanez attends Sorry For What Event on September 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Deputy District Attorneys Alexander Bott and Kathy Ta showed the jury 47 exhibits to push for Tory’s conviction. Now that the case is closed, the exhibits of evidence used in the case have finally hit the Internet. StreetTV obtained evidence from the case which includes much of what appeared in the trial. Firstly, X-Ray images of Megan Thee Stallion’s injuries and bloodied foot surfaced, along with pictures of the shell casings at the scene of the crime. Additionally, LAPD bodycam footage and a neighbor’s surveillance video from the scene surfaced online.

The 35+ minute video also includes several text messages that helped the prosecution secure their conviction. One of which is Tory’s apology to Megan after the shooting. The second comes from Kelsey Nicole, who messaged Meg’s bodyguard Justin Edison, “Tory shot Meg.”

All 47 exhibits appeared online a few days after Tory Lanez’s jail call to Kelsey Nicole emerged. The call, which became critical in the prosecution’s case, includes an apology to Nicole and Megan Thee Stallion, though he didn’t outright admit to shooting anyone.

“I know she [Megan] probably never, ever gonna talk to me ever again,” Tory said. “But I just want you to know, bruh, I was just so fucking drunk. I ain’t even know what the fuck was going on, bruh, like deadass. I’d never do some shit like that… I was just so fucking drunk, n***a, I just didn’t understand what the fuck was going on, bruh. Regardless, that’s not going to make anything right and that’s not going to make my actions right.”

Tory Lanez was taken into custody after he was convicted. A jury handed down guilty verdicts on charges of assault with a firearm causing great bodily injury; possession a concealed, loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He returns to court on January 25th for his sentence.