Electronic devices were seized from Diddy’s homes during the raids of his Los Angeles and Miami homes on Monday.
According to ABC, Homeland Security executed the raid by order of a Manhattan federal court, seizing devices in an investigation of sex trafficking as a result of civil lawsuits against the music mogul from four women.
Diddy and his legal team released a statement following the raids on his Los Angeles and Miami homes. In a statement, attorney Aaron Dyer stated that federal authorities used “military-level force” to execute the raid.
You can read the full statement below:
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way.
This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Diddy and his legal team have released a statement following the raids of his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. In a statement, attorney Aaron Dyer stated federal authorities used “military-level force” in the raid’s execution.
You can read the full statement below:
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way.
This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
In the raid, electronic devices were confiscated. Diddy is being investigated for sex trafficking by the Southern District of New York.
Uncle Luke is reflecting on spending time at Diddy’s house parties. Appearing on the We in Miami podcast, Luke revealed he didn’t stick around the Bad Boy mogul’s parties long.
“I would go to the party and leave early,” Luke said.
He added. “I don’t know what goes on after hours, but I wasn’t trying to find out. You know, I know my place. So I went to a couple New Year’s Eve parties. I know Puff before Puff became super big like that. He’s a cool dude. I feel sorry for him and his family. More so, his kids.”
The saga of Diddy and the federal raids on his home continue as the person who was arrested for drug possession at the Opa Locka Airport on Monday was a former b-ball player at Syracuse University.
Brenden Paul, the man arrested by federal agents while federal authorities stopped Diddy and his team, formerly played basketball for the University of Syracuse from 2018-2020, playing only 17 games in two seasons. Paul fared better on the court after transferring to Fairmont State University in West Virginia, with 51 points, 23 rebounds, 19 assists, and 11 steals in two seasons.
The 25-year-old was arrested and charged with one count of possession of suspected cocaine and another of possession of suspected marijuana candy after being searched at the Miami airport.
Rodney Jones said in an explosive lawsuit last month that Paul was a close confidant of Diddy’s who allegedly handled his drugs and guns. Diddy, however, has denied all of Jones’ salacious claims
Russell Simmons was officially served a lawsuit. While hiding out at a Bali resort, Simmons received a lawsuit from Drew Dixon, accusing him of defamation.
Dixon is suing Simmons after he called her a “liar” and stated her accusations of sexual assault were an attempt for fame. The comments from the Def Jam mogul are said to have damaged Dixon’s professional career.
According to AllHipHop, Simmons received the lawsuit from a process server named Daniel John Ayoub at 12:30 local time. Ayoub bypassed security by stating he was interested in the resort, hanging out for an hour, and spotting Simmons at a restaurant.
“I recognized him as the person named in the service papers as Russell Simmons is a well-known celebrity and widely known in Bali, Indonesia as well as in the United States and other places,” Ayoub said.
Once Simmons was seated, Ayoub stated he approached: “I said ‘Excuse me, Mr. Simmons, sorry to interrupt your meeting.’ I then handed Simmons the service documents in an envelope and said, ‘This is for you.”
After alerting Simmons that he was being served from the state of New York, Ayoub recalls Simmons dropping the paperwork and responding, “Ah f—. s—!”
Simmons would later wonder how Ayoub got through security and could enter the resort.
In February, Russell Simmons was the subject of another rape allegation from a former Def Jam employee. The Jane Doe states Simmons also obstructed her career from advancing.
The lawsuit was filed in New York City federal court under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, revealing the woman worked for Simmons as an executive and video producer.
Doe’s relationship with Simmons was professional and turned violent, impacting her “financial viability.”
The unidentified woman states Simmons invited her to his home music video work, leading to a “playful” attempt of wrestling turned aggressive behavior and rape. The document reads, “Ms Doe repeatedly told Mr Simmons to get off of her, but he refused.”
Following the incident, the woman stated Simmons would intimidate her in the office when he visited her desk, eventually leading her to have panic attacks. The woman is seeking monetary damages as a result of a trial.
Ariana Grande is holding the top spot for a second week on the Billboard 200. Her latest LP, eternal sunshine, Grande’s run at No. 1 landed with the equivalent of 100,500 album units in the United States, followed closely by Kacey Musgrave, who debuted at No. 2 with 97,000 album units.
Justin Timberlake’s sixth album, Everything I Thought It Was, is a new entry on the Billboard 200. It enters at No. 4 with 67,000 units. The album had a strong 31.13 million official streams of the project’s songs, measured by Luminate and reported by Billboard.
GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Ariana Grande has achieved yet another milestone in her illustrious career, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her latest single, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).” This marks Grande’s ninth #1 hit on the chart, making her the first artist in 2024 with multiple #1 hits, following her earlier success with “yes, and?”.
Moreover, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” has not only topped the Billboard Hot 100 but also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart, solidifying Grande’s status as one of the most influential female artists of all time. With record-breaking global streams and chart-topping positions on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes, Grande’s latest release has made an indelible mark on the music industry, cementing her position as a global superstar.
Latto is making history again as the first woman and female rapper to headline Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash this summer. This marks the 29th annual music festival and will be held at the State Farm Arena on June 22. The rapper recently stopped by the radio station to drop the announcement.
“It’s pressure for them, not me,” Latto said after the radio host asked if she felt pressure to be the first female headliner for the iconic Atlanta festival.
Latto teased that there would be special guests, who would be announced at a later date.
“I’m bringing out hellaaaaaaa special guests,” she posted on Instagram before inviting fans to buy tickets. Latto has collaborated with big names as of late, including Jennifer Lopez and Usher, just this year alone.
She is currently promoting “Sunday Service,” her latest solo single.
Get this: Latto may be the first woman to headline the Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash, but it won’t be the rapper’s first time performing at the festival. Last year, she was a surprise guest with Cardi B, NLE Choppa, and 21 Savage.
Expect this summer’s Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash to feature performances by rapper Killer Mike, Key Glock, Hunxho, Bossman DLow, Boosie Badazz, Tee Grizzley, and Rob49. The event will pay homage to Atlanta’s Big Oomp Records, the city’s first independent record label, with rap pioneers Big Oomp and DJ Montay.
On the Billboard Hot 100, Teddy Swims has his first No. 1 hit with Lose Control riding the wave to its 32nd week on the coveted chart. Swims dropped two new remixes with a Tiësto remix and a radio edit. This added momentum to push the song to the chain to number 1.
Just several songs down is Cardi B’s “Enough (Miami),” cracking into the top 10 at No. 9. The record, which fans have been anticipating to hear new music from the Bronx emcee, marked Cardi’s 12th entry into the Top 10. The single scored nearly 15 million streams and 8.8 million radio audience impressions.
Here’s more motion on the Billboard Hot 100 as reported by Variety: “Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” is at No. 2. While Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” moves down to No. 3 after debuting at the top last week. Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” is at No. 4; Ye (Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Carnival” is at No. 5; Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” is at No. 6; Zach Bryan and Musgraves’ “I Remember Everything” is at No. 7; Tate McRae’s “Greedy” is at No. 8 and Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” rounds out the Top 10 at No. 10.”
It’s a milestone that resonates deeply within the hearts of hip-hop heads and aficionadas alike. Nearly twenty years after its initial release, the iconic collaboration between the masked author MF DOOM and beatsmith extraordinaire Madlib, known as “Madvillainy,” has achieved a monumental feat: gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This certification, bestowed upon the album almost exactly two decades after its debut on March 22, 2004, marks a testament to the enduring legacy of an album that has consistently captivated audiences since its inception.
Initially released under the banner of Stones Throw Records, “Madvillainy” has now ascended to the echelons of gold status, denoting sales surpassing a remarkable half-million copies. Reflecting on the creation of “Madvillainy,” on Complex Music’s Instagram, Peanut Butter Wolf, the founder of Stones Throw Records, reminisces on the album’s humble beginnings. He reveals the intimate process behind its creation, recounting how Madlib meticulously crafted the beats within the confines of his home, renamed The Bomb Shelter.
“This was an album where Madlib chose to record the beats in my basement that we called The Bomb Shelter (it was a literally a concrete bomb shelter),” he wrote.
Meanwhile, MF DOOM lent his lyricism to the project, recording vocals in a makeshift studio within Wolf’s own home.
“DOOM recorded his vocals in my bedroom down the hall where we also had @ecoleye do a photo shoot that became the album cover–It’s the first (and only) album on my 28-year-old label to go gold.”
It’s a tale of artistic camaraderie and ingenuity, where creative sparks ignited within the confines of DIY recording spaces.
The album’s impact transcended its underground origins, as evidenced by Wolf’s recollection of the LA release party held at The Fonda. Fearing a lackluster turnout, the lineup was stacked with luminaries such as J Dilla and Common, alongside the enigmatic figure of MF DOOM himself. Despite initial trepidation, the event served as a testament to the album’s burgeoning influence, drawing in crowds eager to experience the magic of this future classic.
“We did a few more shows that month with the same lineup in a few major markets to small but very excited crowds.”
On the twentieth anniversary of the album’s release, the Beat Konducta, Madlib paid homage to his late collaborator, MF DOOM, with a heartfelt tribute shared on social media.
“20 years. RIP to the Villain.”
Accompanied by a clip from the “All Caps” video, which yielded a timeless masterpiece.
Beyond its commercial success, “Madvillainy” continues to thrive in the digital age, amassing an impressive array of streams on platforms like Spotify. The album’s popularity has surged in recent years, with an average annual increase of 73% since Spotify’s inception. This surge culminated in a remarkable 241% spike in streams in 2021, following the tragic passing of MF DOOM, underscoring the profound impact of his artistic legacy.
With over 803 million all-time streams on Spotify and appearances on over 8 millions playlists, “Madvillainy” stands as a testament to the enduring power of artistic collaboration and DOOM’s uncompromising creativity.
Its journey from the confines of a basement studio to the halls of gold certification is a testament to the indelible mark it has left on the landscape of hip-hop and music as a whole. As fans continue to revisit “Madvillainy” the collaboration remains a beacon of innovation, originality, and timeless resonance in an ever-evolving musical landscape.
The drama surrounding the Real Housewives of Atlanta is reaching new heights as cast member Porsha Williams finds herself embroiled in a bitter divorce battle with estranged husband Simon Guobadia. What started as a whirlwind romance has now descended into accusations of betrayal, property disputes, and legal wrangling that have captured the attention of fans and media alike.
This week, tensions escalated when Simon reportedly called the police on Porsha after alleging that she arrived at their marital home accompanied by an armed bodyguard. The incident marked yet another twist in the unraveling saga of their relationship, which has been playing out in public view since they tied the knot in November 2022.
According to reports from Radar Online, Porsha has filed court documents accusing Simon of refusing to abide by their prenuptial agreement and unlawfully changing the locks to their shared Georgia mansion while he was away on an extended trip to Dubai. Porsha claims that Simon’s actions were intended to prevent her from accessing their home, a move she describes as “vindictive and retaliatory.”
In the court documents, Porsha alleges that the prenuptial agreement, drafted by Simon’s legal team, stipulates that in the event of a divorce, Simon is obligated to vacate the marital residence within 30 days of the divorce being filed. Porsha asserts that she filed for divorce on February 22, 2024, meaning Simon was required to vacate the property by March 22, 2024.
However, Porsha claims that Simon refused to honor the terms of the prenup and instead proposed a later date for his departure. Despite her legal team’s rejection of his proposal, Porsha alleges that Simon took matters into his own hands by changing the locks and garage codes to their home, effectively barring her access.
Furthermore, Porsha asserts that Simon’s actions have left her and her minor child displaced from their residence, painting a picture of a tumultuous situation exacerbated by Simon’s “erratic conduct.” She argues that his behavior appears to be retaliatory in response to her decision to initiate divorce proceedings.
Porsha claims that Simon has fled the country to Dubai, leaving her uncertain about his intentions or when he plans to return. With Simon allegedly refusing to vacate the marital home and Porsha demanding exclusive access, the stage is set for a protracted legal battle that promises to keep fans of the Real Housewives franchise glued to their screens.
(@latto777)
