Even after facing a 56-count indictment along with 27 of his other YSL(Young Slime Life) cohorts, Young Thug is now facing a new set of charges in an indictment filed by the Fulton County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday(August 9), according to WSB TV in Atlanta.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was hit with a new gang charge, new drug charges, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a machine gun in the new indictment. Many of these charges stem from the raid executed on Williams’ Buckhead home on May 9.
According to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office, the new indictment still includes all 28 members of YSL, but the new charges only involve Thug and four other YSL members. Willis contends that the new indictment enhances the prosecution’s case that Thug “performed for years as a leader of a criminal street gang.”
Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, meanwhile, maintained his client’s innocence following his arrest in May. “I’ll tell you the response to any allegation: Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him,” said Steel.
Young Thug will remain behind bars until his RICO trial, which as been set for January 9, 2023.
On this day in Hip Hop history, the management company and label imprint Violator released their first compilation album entitled Violator: The Album. Showcasing the management team’s star-studded talent roster, this album is full of rarities making it a must-have for any self-proclaimed “Hip Hop head.”
For those out of the loop, Violator was a multi-dimensional entertainment conglomerate ran by Chris Lighty until his untimely passing on August 30, 2012. Thriving mainly from 1999 to the early 2000s, Violator represented some of Hip Hop’s most known titans including Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Missy Elliot, Nas, Mya, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep and LL Cool J just to name a few.
Violator: The Album was the first release from Violator Records, in collaboration with Def Jam. Due to Chris Lighty and Violator’s expansive resources, this album was able to be jam-packed with talent ranging from all sides of Hip Hop. With production handled by The Beatnuts, DJ Scratch, Diamond D, Havoc, Q-Tip, and Swizz Beatz it is hard to dispute that this album is not one of the best-produced projects of 1999; and, as prolific as the production team for this album may be, it still in no way outshines the artist performances. With features from Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Ja Rule, Hot Boys, Noreaga, Fat Joe, Big Pun, 8Ball, and Cam’ron, this album can be considered one of the best-orchestrated compilation tapes to date.
Commercially, the album was quite successful peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. The project sold very well and was certified gold within one month of its release.
Regardless of its sales or star roster, what makes this album a piece of Hip Hop history is the first single released from the project,A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip’s solo debut. “Vivrant Thing” which peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 was released in promotion for Q-Tip’s debut solo LP Amplified. This track marked the evolution of Q-Tip’s career, marking his transition to independence.
Following the success of this album, Violator went on to release a sequel two years prior. Violator: The Album 2.0 had a similar response, but failed to be as popular as its predecessor.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is calling for at least a full-year suspension for Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Goodell said the evidence from sexual misconduct allegations against Watson, 26 shows “egregious” actions and “predatory behavior.”
“We’ve seen the evidence,” Goodell said at a press conference on Tuesday. “[Robinson] was very clear about the evidence, should we enforce the evidence. That there was multiple violations here, and they were egregious, and it was predatory behavior. Those are things that we always felt were important for us to address in a way that’s responsible,” according to The Hill.
Seeking a harsher penalty under its personal conduct policy, the league last week appealed the six-game suspension handed down to the quarterback by a retired federal Judge Sue L. Robinson.
Watson is expected to start in Friday night’s game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville despite facing a potentially lengthy suspension. He’s allowed to play in the preseason games and practice following his suspension, which is being appealed by the NFL.
Jacoby Brissett is expected to start when the regular season opens in Charlotte against the Panthers on Sunday, September 11th.
Former New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey will hear the appeal. There’s no timetable on when a ruling will be made.
Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.
Jury selection is expected to begin today in the trial involving photos taken at the scene of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter and seven others.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, contends in a lawsuit that she suffered emotional distress when first responders took and allegedly shared photos of the crash scene. Bryant claims the photos were shared by county employees at a bar and other settings not relevant to the investigation.
Business mogul and producer Irv Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. has been in a number of headlines recently revealing details of his past relationship with Ashanti, the early days of his career in the music industry, and the creation of Murder, Inc. just ahead of The Murder Inc Story five-part documentary series premiere.
The Murder Inc Story premieres on Tuesday, August 9 at 9PM ET on BET.
The five-part documentary will examine Irv Gotti’s initial success as a music executive at Def Jam and how he masterminded a new label that would forever shift and influence the music industry for generations to come.
Murder, Inc. Records played a pivotal role in launching careers of some of the most influential voices in Hip Hop, Soul, and R&B, including Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita, Black Child, Caddillac Tah, and many more.
The documentary will not only cover the music of Murder, Inc, but also the drama surrounding the label. From feuds with Aftermath, Shady and G-Unit Records, along with the federal charges he faced, Gotti, 52 is finally ready to reveal his authorized untold story of the rise, sudden fall, and redemption of his iconic record label..
The Source’s KimSoMajor caught up with Irv Gotti via zoom from his home in New York for a passionate and transparent discussion on the future of his company, Visionary Ideas Entertainment, learning what his purpose is, the upcoming Murder Inc. docu-series, why he would not do a reunion tour without Ashanti and much more.
What’s the biggest reason that you wanted the Murder, Inc. documentary to come out and why now?
The biggest reason is I felt it was a great time for me. I felt the ups and downs. The story needed to be told. Because people have been wanting me to do a doc — Been because they just like how I run my mouth. I’m a pretty good interview piece cuz I just keep it real. Right. But I felt this cuz, I knew I was on my way back up Kim. And I’m on my way back up. Even bigger than the legendary sh*t that I’ve done. Because now I’m doing it, not only in music, but movies and films and I’m owning it, you know?
When people say, ‘the universe is aligning,’ you know, when you hear that kind of bullsh*t —it is aligning for me. Yeah. [Laughs] That bullsh*t is, it’s kind of real for me and things just started falling into place and they’re continuing to fall into place with this doc and Tales following the doc, the one, two punch, I love Tuesday 9 and 10 PM on BET. So I just felt like it felt right. It felt right to tell my story because I have the come up part. I have the success. I have the Def Jam. Then the feds, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, the downfall. What should have been my downfall of 50 [Cent] bombing on me. If the feds wasn’t enough, it’s 50 bombing on me. I’m supposed to be buried and done. And then low and behold I’m coming back like a hundred times stronger.
Also, I wanted to tell my story as an inspiration and I know this is gonna sound corny, but it’s real. I wanted kids and my ni**as to see and hear my story because when I was filming it, one of the execs at BET —I almost moved to tears cuz she was like, I want my son to see this. My son has to see this. And I was like, why? “Cuz” she said, “Yo, you’re saying everything that he’s going through.” And what I was saying was until my dad got laid off, I was f**king off life.
I wasn’t applying myself. I wasn’t taking it serious. So what I said to the viewers and everyone that watches, it’s like, I take myself out of being Irv Gotti, and I basically compare myself to them and I’m like, Yo, I was just like you, I’m 22 years old. I’m playing f**king John Madden 93 for money at a barber shop. And that’s my day. I’m f**king off life. I’m not taking it serious. I had the same talent that I have now, but I wasn’t applying myself. I wasn’t going for it.
That’s what launched you into a savage?
Yeah, my dad was gonna get a pension and his job fired him and I’m at home. And I don’t know why God put me to see this, but he put me to see this. And you know, my dad is talking to my mom and he’s like, “I got no education like that.” He says, “Like, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to us or me,” and that sh*t just put a fire in me, Kim, that still burns right now.
I’m glad that you mentioned that because I wanted to ask you what you felt your meaning and the purpose is. But just taking it back to those earlier moments, I seen a clip where you gave your dad the keys and just the emotion over it. I wanted to tear up. What was that feeling like?
I’m gonna talk about my dad. If I start crying, I start crying, but you know, my dad, —I just, love the f*ck out of him, Kim, him and Nene. ….So that moment is an immortal moment for me because it was the first time I seen my dad cry. He’s crying and he was hugging me and he was like, “My boy, my boy,” he was so f**king happy. And it wasn’t about the car. It was about, my boy is a man. He was like, my boy is a man.
It meant the world to me. He means the world to me. And I give him and Nene all of the credit and all of the props for me because I could honestly say if my dad didn’t get fired, I probably would’ve still been in that stupid ass barber shop playing Sega. And it wouldn’t no Irv Gotti.
Check out the full interview where we get into Irv’s $300M deal and his plans for his company, Visionary Ideas Entertainment and more.
Be sure to catch Tales , following the The Murder Inc Story Tuesdays at 9PM ET on BET.
On this date in 1994, WTC affiliates Gravediggaz dropped the crew’s groundbreaking debut album 6 Feet Deep. The group, composed of Prince Paul, Frukwan of Stetsasonic, RNS, Grym Reaper, Mr. Sime, and The Abbott himself aka the Rzarector, released this classic piece on Gee Street Records. The original title, Niggamortis, was changed in order to appeal to mainstream audiences.
The album ended up being a trailblazing prototype for what is now recognized as the “horrorcore Hip Hop” genre. It’s grizzly references to death, graves, and other snuff scenarios carved a lane for Gravediggaz all of their own.
Tracks like “Diary Of A Madman” and “Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide” led the album’s momentum as strong singles, but hidden gems like “Bang Your Head” and “Here Comes The Gravediggaz” were favorites of backpacking rap enthusiasts everywhere.
Salute to the Gravediggaz for this solid album! Peace!
Brianna Grier, who died while in police custody, has an autopsy confirmed for the reason of her death.
Reportedly Grier, 28, was having a mental health crisis when her family called 911 for help but the police didn’t bring the ambulance with them arriving alone.
“When they used to come out to the house they’d call an ambulance service,” Grier’s father Marvin Grier said last month to CNN. “The ambulance service would come out and they would take her to the hospital to get some help.”
According to authorities Grier died after she fell out of a patrol car in Georgia. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office had taken her into custody before the incident.
The autopsy reveals she was killed by blunt force trauma to her head. The doctor who conducted an autopsy commissioned by her family confirmed it yesterday. Dr. Allecia Wilson from the University of Michigan was asked by Grier’s family to conduct the review. Grier fell from the moving vehicle and later died on July 21 after being in a coma for several days.
Authorities previously revealed a rear door of the cruiser was never closed and she was placed in the backseat without a seat belt during her arrest. Grier allegedly fell out of the car after a deputy drove a short distance.
Acting representation for the family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump shared they were still seeking answers as to why Grier wasn’t secured in the patrol car with a seat belt and call for the release of any other body camera footage from that night.
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj is set to receive MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year’s VMAs. It also was announced that Minaj will be performing at the awards show for the first time since 2018. One executive noted that Nicki has broken barriers for women in Hip Hop through her versatility and creative artistry.
“Nicki has broken barriers for women in Hip Hop with her versatility and creative artistry,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’.”
Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are the only black female artist to win a Video Vanguard Award.
The Video Vanguard Award hasn’t been given out since 2019. The 5x “VMAs” winner took home her first Moon Person for Best Hip Hop Video in 2011, and is nominated this year for “Best Hip Hop.” Nicki Minaj’s new single “Super Freaky Girl” is set to hit streaming platforms this Friday.
Catch the 2022 “VMAs,” airing live from Prudential Center on Sunday, August 28 at 8PM ET/PT.
I’m receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 #VMAs! You don’t want to miss my performance – Sunday August 28 at 8p on @MTV Aaaahhhhhhcsfxffvmmkbdsavgkmkkevhvjj pic.twitter.com/dPGgXe2gZA
Presenting your 2022 Video Vanguard Award recipient… @NICKIMINAJ!!! Come party with us as she takes the #VMAs stage for an epic performance, August 28th on MTV!!! pic.twitter.com/ks5puKYHxy
Actress Anne Heche is fighting for her life after crashing her car into a home in Los Angeles last week. She’s said to be in “extreme critical condition” after slipping into a coma, according to Deadline. Her reps told multiple outlets that she hasn’t regained consciousness since the accident and is dealing with significant injuries.
“At this time Anne is in extreme critical condition. She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention,” the rep said in a statement. “She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident.”.
The Six Days, Seven Nights actress, 53, was reportedly driving a blue Mini Cooper down a suburban street in Los Angeles around noon when she crashed into the garage of an apartment complex. According to TMZ, bystanders tried to help Heche exit the vehicle, but she allegedly backed up and drove off before crashing into another home where her car became “engulfed” in flames.
The news comes after she was thought to be in stable condition over the weekend. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The woman living at the home survived but her home has significant damage from the fire. Hopefully all parties have a speedy recovery.
Omg. This is what remains of Anne Heche’s charred SUV, being loaded onto a tow truck after the accident today. She remains in critical condition.
The Hip Hop community will never forget the feeling that permeated the atmosphere the morning that everyone woke up to find out that SeanPrice aka Hussain Sayyid aka Ruck of the famed Boot Camp Clik duo Heltah Skeltah passed away in his sleep on this date seven years ago. He was 43 years old.
His death sent shock waves throughout Hip Hop, especially in NYC and Brooklyn to be specific. The native Brownsvillian was loved and respected in his community, whether it was for his penchant for spitting fire verses, his Comedy Central-esque shenanigans or just being one of the few examples of a responsible family man in the hood.
P left behind a myriad of solo studio work, including MicTyson and the critically acclaimed, yet posthumous release, Songs In The Key Of Price, in which his scheduled album release party at NYC’s SOBs ironically was turned into a memorial show.
Rest In Peace to Sean P. and condolences to his wife Bernadette and their children from the entire Mind Squad. Supreme salute to the entire Boot Camp Clik for holding down their comrade and his legacy.
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(@lanechanged) 