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Tracee Ellis Ross Ventures Solo in New Docuseries “Tracee Travels”

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Emmy-nominated actress Tracee Ellis Ross is set to embark on a thrilling new adventure with the upcoming Roku Original series, “Tracee Travels.” The docuseries promises to take viewers on an exhilarating journey as Ross explores captivating destinations around the world.

According to a report by Variety, “Tracee Travels” will follow Ross as she meticulously prepares for and embarks on solo travel escapades to breathtaking locations. Known for her roles in iconic television shows like “Girlfriends” and “Black-ish,” as well as her recent appearance in the Oscar-winning film “American Fiction,” Ross is no stranger to captivating audiences with her charisma and charm.

The series aims to capture Ross’s exploration of the intersection between beauty, fashion, design, food, and culture at each stop on her itinerary. From bustling cityscapes to serene natural landscapes, Ross will immerse herself in diverse cultures and experiences, offering viewers a unique perspective on solo travel.

Reflecting on her passion for solo exploration, Ross shared, “I took my first solo trip when I was 22 years old. I decided way back then that I wouldn’t wait to do the things I wanted to do or for my life to come to me. I’ve been solo traveling ever since, now there’s just a lot more luggage!” Her enthusiasm for travel and zest for life promise to infuse the series with energy and authenticity.

Ross hopes that “Tracee Travels” will inspire viewers to embrace the courage to live life on their own terms, find happiness, and be their authentic selves. With a message of empowerment and self-discovery, the series aims to showcase the joy and freedom that come from embracing solo adventures.

“Tracee Travels” is slated to premiere exclusively on the Roku Channel in 2025, offering audiences an exciting opportunity to join Ross on her solo travel odyssey. As anticipation builds for the release of the series, fans can look forward to a captivating exploration of the world through Ross’s eyes, filled with adventure, discovery, and inspiration.

Tracee wrote:

I’m a solo traveling broad and I want y’all to come with me as I explore! And when I say explore I mean wear my pretty clothes, eat yummy food, dive into art & culture, and get into hotel pools Our time together will include me meticulously, laboriously and sometimes ridiculously preparing for these explorations. Basically Imma do my Instagram, but on TV!

I hope this show reminds all of us that we can live our lives courageously on our own terms and be our best selves, by ourselves, out in the world. All this will debut exclusively on @therokuchannel in 2025.

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The post Tracee Ellis Ross Ventures Solo in New Docuseries “Tracee Travels” first appeared on The Source.

The post Tracee Ellis Ross Ventures Solo in New Docuseries “Tracee Travels” appeared first on The Source.

WATCH: Benzino Says R. Kelly Should Get ‘Second Chance’

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Benzino pulled up on the We In Miami podcast and spoke his heart about R. Kelly, stating “Everybody deserves a second chance.”

After mistakenly stating the legal age in America is 16, Benzino doubled down with his rationale: “Why the fuck is R. Kelly doing all this time? Because you know why? Because they’re 14 and 13 — two years younger — but you don’t think that the people who cleared it for 16 years old didn’t know that they’re fucking with 13s and 14s, too.”

He later added, “Them parents of them girls knew what they were dealing with, with R. Kelly, lot of people knew that shit. R. Kelly wasn’t educated, man. Like when does that come in play?

While Benzino is sticking up for R. Kelly, Kells hopped on Clubhouse to talk with Wack 100 and vouch for Diddy. Speaking on the raids of Diddy’s homes, Kelly provides a warning to those making jokes: “they ass could be next.”

“That’s what’s so fucked up about it,” R. Kelly said. “They so stupid they don’t even realize the moves that’s going on. I don’t believe none of this shit. You could tell me about Puffy, you could about anybody. You could tell me on the news, the weather, the sky is blue, I’m not gonna believe the shit. Cause I’m in it now, and I know what they did.”

You can hear from R. Kelly and Wack 100 below.

In other R. Kelly news, he is fighting to reclaim $28,000 confiscated from his prison commissary account, a sum seized and used as restitution for one of his victims. This development is part of the ongoing saga following Kelly’s high-profile legal troubles and subsequent incarceration.

According to reports from HipHopDX, which accessed court documents, a hearing concerning the dispute over the commissary funds was scheduled for Monday, March 18. The proceedings saw Assistant United States Attorney Kayla Bensing representing the interests of the United States against the embattled musician’s claims.

The roots of this financial conflict can be traced back to a series of court decisions aimed at compensating Kelly’s victims. In March 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of Heather Williams, granting her access to R. Kelly’s label fund. This fund, reportedly valued at $1.5 million in 2020 according to Billboard, became a source of restitution before Midwest Commercial Funding, a property manager, secured a separate $3.5 million ruling against Kelly over unpaid rent for a Chicago studio.

In a significant move in August of the same year, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly ordered that Kelly and his label, Universal Music Group, surrender more than $500,000 in royalties. This order also included the directive for Kelly to hand over the $28,000 in his prison canteen account, emphasizing the legal system’s efforts to ensure Kelly’s victims receive restitution.

The announcement of the livestream link for the hearing noted, “The defendant is appealing his conviction and the government’s seizure of his substantial Bureau of Prisons commissary account to satisfy the financial penalties imposed in the case.” It further stated that each side would be allotted ten minutes to present their arguments, underscoring the limited time frame to address such a complex issue.

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The post WATCH: Benzino Says R. Kelly Should Get ‘Second Chance’ first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Benzino Says R. Kelly Should Get ‘Second Chance’ appeared first on The Source.

Moneybagg Yo Unveils Release Date for New Album ‘SPEAK NOW’

May 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Memphis-born hip-hop sensation Moneybagg Yo has set the stage for the arrival of his much-anticipated album, SPEAK NOW, slated for release on Friday, May 24th, through CMG / N-Less Entertainment / Interscope Records. Serving as his eleventh solo project, SPEAK NOW follows the massive success of his previous albums, including last year’s Hard To Love and 2021’s chart-topping A Gangsta’s Pain.

Representing a fresh chapter in Moneybagg Yo’s musical journey, SPEAK NOW marks a significant evolution for the artist, showcasing his growth and maturity at the pinnacle of his career.

The album’s lead single, “BUSSIN,” featuring rising star ROB49 from New Orleans, debuted in March, setting the tone for the forthcoming release. The track made waves across social media platforms, with a snippet shared by Moneybagg Yo himself during the Ceiling Challenge, sparking a viral sensation. Within hours, the video amassed over 20 million views on Instagram and quickly ascended to the top of Twitter’s trending topics.

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With tracks like “F My BM,” “Quickie,” and the RIAA Gold-Certified hit “On Wat U On,” Moneybagg Yo continues to showcase his songwriting prowess and dynamic musical range, building anticipation for SPEAK NOW as fans eagerly await the album’s arrival.

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The post Moneybagg Yo Unveils Release Date for New Album ‘SPEAK NOW’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Moneybagg Yo Unveils Release Date for New Album ‘SPEAK NOW’ appeared first on The Source.

Journalist And NYC Influencer Dallas Penn Dead At 54

May 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Hip Hop community is saddened by the unexpected passing of Hip Hop journalist and NYC culture influencer Dallas Penn, whose death was announced this morning(May 1) by his wife Chocolate Snowflake(C.S.) on Penn’s personal Facebook page.

Penn was 54 years old.

“Dallas has ascended to the music that was waiting for him,” she wrote. “From September 1970 to April 2024, he always said it don’t stop, it won’t stop, and he’s waiting for us all at the Funkadelic Stevie Wonder Sean Price party in the sky. Rest my love and see you in our other lifetimes. Love you always, for all time.”

On April 18, Penn, who was diabetic, revealed from a hospital bed that he was hospitalizec being moved to the intensive care unit. Penn also mentioned he’d been enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program and the latest health issue that was ahead of him.

“I’m enrolled in the WTC health program which tracks the various acute ailments being suffered by the folks exposed within the pit,” he explained. “In the last few days I experienced what should have been a fatal bowel perforation. The opening was larger than a quarter and leaking gas, fluids and waste material thru my gutular setup. The old man on the street whom we castigate for being homeless would at least be honest when he says I’m filled with s###. My kidneys shut down. They stopped completely. My blood pressure sank and my heart was packing it’s bag.” Dallas went on, “I looked towards my wife one last time and I promised her I would find her in the multiverse. C.S. said eff the MCU, I’m going to see you in the ICU. Then she put me in the care of a trusted physician who held my hand as I crossed thru the dark side. I confronted many Dallas’ on this journey. The Dallas Who Remains is the one sending the shout to the Internets. Thank you for your love and your concern. I’m still standing. Better than I’ve ever been. Feeling like a true survivor. Smiling like a little kid. We’ll chat sooner than later!”

Penn, who served as co-host to the late Reginald “Combat Jack” Osse on his “Combat Jack Show” podcast, mentioned in a 2017 episode of the show that he needed a toe removed due to diabetes-related complications (Check the 11 minute mark).

Penn was an esteemed journalist and cultural critic with an affinity for 90s fashion, specifically Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand, to which he was the most recognized writer who pledged allegiance to the brand.

His presence on the NYC Hip Hop landscape and beyond will be sorely missed. The Source Magazine/Northstar Group sends its condolences to Penn’s family, friends and associates.

The post Journalist And NYC Influencer Dallas Penn Dead At 54 first appeared on The Source.

The post Journalist And NYC Influencer Dallas Penn Dead At 54 appeared first on The Source.

Key Takeaways From the Ninth Day of Trump’s Historic Hush Money Trial

May 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

First Day of Trump Trial Ends After Opening Statements

Whelp, another first went down in the first trial of a former POTUS. Donald Trump received his first punishment from Judge Juan Merchan in the New York hush money trial for defying the judge’s gag order, resulting in fines totaling $9,000 for nine violations. The judge’s written order also cautioned the former president that further breaches could result in imprisonment, highlighting the gravity of the trial’s significance from a historical standpoint.

During the trial on Tuesday, jurors listened to testimony from Keith Davidson, the attorney who orchestrated the hush money agreements involving Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Davidson recounted the stresses of working with Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, in the final days of the 2016 campaign to secure funds, allegedly to silence Daniels. Remember Daniels said she had sex with the married Trump, who was running for President and was reeling from the salacious Access Hollywood grab em by the you know what scandal. Here are some additional takeaways from today’s proceedings:

Jurors were briefed on the financial dealings surrounding the Stormy Daniels payment

Gary Farro, Cohen’s former banker, detailed Cohen’s swift actions in setting up a shell company and transferring funds to Daniels’ attorney. Within a day, Cohen expedited a $131,000 advance on his home equity line of credit, promptly wired to the newly created Essential Consultant LLC account. This maneuver, disguised as a real estate deal, resulted in a $130,000 transfer to Daniels’ lawyer. Farro emphasized the frequency of urgent matters in his interactions with Cohen, noting that Cohen’s accounts were subsequently closed by First Republic Bank following the public revelation of the hush money payment to Daniels.

Video evidence was presented to the jury in court on Tuesday morning, with prosecutors relying on records custodians to introduce several clips.

Clips from C-SPAN featuring Trump speaking at public events were shown to the jury.

The clips depicted then-candidate Trump vehemently refuting allegations of sexual assault made by women following the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape that month. In one clip, Trump asserts, “As you have seen, right now I’m being viciously attacked with lies and smears. It’s a phony deal. I have no idea who these women are.”

Some of Trump’s family and friends showed up at court today.

On Tuesday, Trump received guests in the courtroom gallery, expanding beyond the usual team. Notably, his son, Eric Trump, made an appearance. That marked the first attendance by a family member at the trial. Susie Wiles, Trump’s senior campaign adviser, accompanied Eric Trump.

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, and David McIntosh, a co-founder of conservative political groups such as the Club for Growth, were also in the courtroom.

The post Key Takeaways From the Ninth Day of Trump’s Historic Hush Money Trial first appeared on The Source.

The post Key Takeaways From the Ninth Day of Trump’s Historic Hush Money Trial appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Donald Trump Held in Contempt of Court For Violating Gag Order

May 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Donald Trump Reportedly Teases 2024 Presidential Run at CPAC

Former President Donald Trump’s legal woes have taken a turn as he faces consequences for violating a gag order imposed by the judge overseeing his criminal trial in New York. This week, Judge Juan Merchan held Trump in contempt of court and fined him $9,000 for repeatedly breaching the order, warning that further violations could result in jail time.

CBS News reports that the gag order restricts Trump from making public statements about individuals involved in the case, including key witnesses such as Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. However, Trump defied the order by posting on his social media platform Truth Social and campaign website, targeting these witnesses in his fiery posts.

Judge Merchan emphasized that Trump’s actions undermined the integrity of the legal proceedings. By publicly discussing witnesses and jurors, Trump violated the sanctity of the trial process and jeopardized its fairness.

The judge’s ruling came after Trump violated the gag order nine times in recent weeks, prompting Merchan to impose fines of $1,000 for each violation. Additionally, Trump was ordered to delete the offending posts, which were promptly removed by Tuesday afternoon.

Trump’s penchant for trying his case in the court of public opinion has led to clashes with the judiciary, with Merchan warning him of the consequences of flouting the gag order. The judge’s decision underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting judicial orders in high-profile legal proceedings.

As Trump’s trial unfolds, his approach to the legal process continues to draw scrutiny. With the rumors of potential jail time looming, Trump faces mounting pressure to adhere to the court’s directives and refrain from further violations of the gag order.

Watch below. Thoughts?