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NY Correctional Officers Plead Guilty of Smuggling Contraband Into Rikers for Bloods Gang

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On Tuesday, two New York City corrections officers pled guilty to smuggling contraband into Rikers Island. 

According to the Department of Justice, prosecutors say Krystle Burrell and Katrina Patterson accepted a total of $44,000 to bring narcotics and cellphones into the facility.  The duo was reportedly taking bribes from bloods gang members, with Burrell helping one inmate facilitate business. 

Krystle Burrell, 35, pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting that she accepted nearly $10,000 in bribe payments from her co-defendant Terrae Hinds in exchange for smuggling unauthorized cell phones into the Anna M. Kross Center at Rikers. She also facilitated Hinds’ sale of narcotics and other contraband items at the facility.

READ MORE: 46 Georgia DOC Officers Arrested In Drug Trafficking Sting

 Katrina Patterson, 31, had previously admitted to accepting $34,000 in bribes when indicted on Aug. 16. Patterson was smuggling contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island for her co-defendant Michael Ross. Ross, who is a Bloods gang member, has also pleaded guilty to a bribery offense and is awaiting sentencing.

“The defendants threw in their lot with Bloods gang members and betrayed their sworn duty to maintain the safety of incarcerated individuals and other correction officers at Rikers Island by smuggling cell phones and drugs into the jail,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.  “This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out corruption at Rikers Island.”

“When correction officers betray their oath to serve and protect, the public is put at risk and the entire law enforcement community is tarnished,” stated NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “We have zero tolerance for such misconduct. With today’s guilty plea, Ms. Burrell joins Ms. Patterson in publicly acknowledging that their actions were immoral, unethical, and without integrity – diametrically opposed to the core requirements of our profession.”

When sentenced, Burrell faces up to ten years in prison and Patterson faces up to five years. Charges against Hinds remain pending. 

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Tiffany Haddish Says She’s Jobless But Relieved After Lawsuit Settlement

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Tiffany Haddish to Launch She Ready Internship Program

Actress Tiffany Haddish says she lost all her jobs after a recent lawsuit was filed against her.  Along with Aries Spears, the two comedians were accused of grooming and coercing two siblings “Jane” and “John Doe”, aged 7 and 14 at the time, to take part in sexually explicit skits on two separate occasions.

On Wednesday Haddish told reporters the lawsuit cost her everything, including all her jobs, but that she feels relieved now that the whole thing is behind her. 

 According to reports, Haddish worked out a settlement agreement, privately with the two accusers and in return, the “Jane Doe” has now dismissed the lawsuit entirely.  

READ MORE: Tiffany Haddish Reaches Settlement with Alleged Sexual Assault Victims

The Girls Trip actress said she “deeply regrets” agreeing to act in the comedy sketch six years ago alongside comedian Aries Spears. 

She’s also distancing herself from Aries Spears, and said she doesn’t affiliate with him anymore.  

Continue the conversation on social media.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Suns/Mercury Owner Robert Sarver To Sell Both Franchises

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NBA Suspends Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver from Organization Based on Violations of Workplace Standards

Owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Mercury, Robert Sarver announced he’s started the process to sell both franchises. 

In a statement, Sarver said in “our unforgiving climate,” it’s clear that whatever good he could do in the future is outweighed by things he’s said in the past.  

This comes after Sarver was suspended for one year and fined $10 million by the NBA after an independent investigation into the Suns’ and Mercury’s workplace.  The investigation found he used racist language and conducted unequal treatment of female employees as well as harsh treatment of employees that was related to bullying.  

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he “fully supports the decision” by Sarver to sell both teams. “This is the right next step for the organization and community,” Silver said.

READ MORE: SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James Speaks Against NBA’s Handling of Robert Sarvar Punishment

Sarver said in the meantime, he’ll continue working on becoming a better person and helping his community in helpful ways.

Continue the conversation on social media.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Their Sophomore LP ‘Low End Theory’ 31 Years Ago

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On this date in 1991, Queens emcees Q-Tip, and the late Phife Dawg, along with their DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad, formally known as A Tribe Called Quest, released the group’s second full-length studio album Low End Theory.

The sophomore jinx did not come into play with this project from Tribe, with both Tip and Phife’s rhyme quality better than anything heard from them before. With the Abstract quarterbacking most of the production on the project, with the co-production assistance from Mr. Muhammad and Skeff Amslem, the result is a creative masterpiece. It must also be mentioned that the real-life issues were affecting the group. Phife announced he had diabetes, to firing the World Famous DJ Red Alert as the group’s manager proved that the Tribe was ready for the next level of their career.

As for the album’s highlights, Low End Theory is one of the genre’s conceptual albums that cannot be understood unless listened to in its entirety. From the album’s beginning on “Excursions,” which would cause the average Tribe fan to anticipate the sound of a People’s Instinctive Travels Part 2 until you hear the bass line come in for “Buggin’ Out,” which was possibly the best lyrical showing by Phife on all of ATCQ’s albums. While songs like “Rap Promoter” and “Show Business” talk about the uncertainty of the Hip-Hop industry, tracks like “The Infamous Date Rape” and “Everything Is Fair” talk about social issues that plague urban communities.

Supreme salute to the Tribe, rest in peace to Phife and the Jive Records squad for helping to bring the people such an essential piece of Hip-Hop history 31 years ago.

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URL Battle League Releases Full Card For Biggest Event Of The Year Streaming Exclusively on Caffeine

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The Ultimate Rap League (URL) announces its highly-anticipated Summer Madness 12 (SM12) card, bringing together some of the biggest names in battle rap to go head-to-head in this one-night-only event. The sold out event will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 3 p.m. EDT / 12 p.m. PDT from the World Night Club in Charlotte, NC and will be broadcasted live on URL’s Caffeine channel. Battles from the event will start to stream exclusively on The Ultimate Rap League’s App soon after their debut.

For over a decade, the Summer Madness series has been the most anticipated card of the year for battle rap fans, pairing artists who have consistently wrecked stages over the last year, and defining themselves as the most requested emcees on the league’s roster.  This year, social broadcasting platform, Caffeine, will bring each battle to audiences around the globe, as fans can tune-in and interact throughout the event.   

The featured battles on SM12 are Tsu Surf vs. JC, Tay Roc vs. Swamp, Easy the Block Captain vs. Calicoe, Chess vs. Shotgun Suge, and Danny Myers vs. Fonz.

This year’s event has been heralded as the “Gun Show,” as one of battle rap’s most dangerous crew, Gun Titles, is headlining, further solidifying the URL as the world’s most respected MC battle arena.

Tsu Surf, who has arguably not lost one round in a battle for at least three years, and Tay Roc, the undisputed “Face of URL,” lead the collective of heat-spitters on this night of battles. Chess and Easy the Block Captain, two emcees who had the showing of the night at last year’s SM11, are sure to bring their grit, street talk, and performance to the event, further leaning into the mystique usually associated with the card.

“This year, Summer Madness 12 sold out before we announced the third battle. This affirms one thing, the URL has a level of favor with our fans, where they can trust we will deliver a fire card,” owner and founder, Troy “Smack White” Mitchell stated.

Adding, “And from the feedback we have been getting from our valued supporters, we not only completed the objective, bringing to the culture an amazing event, but we saluted some of the culture’s hardest working emcees like Calicoe (who arguably had the greatest battle in history and also a war waged a Summer Madness stage), Shotgun Suge (who is a contender for battler of the year with a flawless 2022 record), JC (our Ultimate Madness 5 winner), Swamp and Fonz (two of the most formidable emcees on our roster).”

Smack concluded, “The Gun Titles are electrifying, but if they are to dominate these top-notch competitors and fan favorites, they got to come correct. It is going to be a blood bath up there!”

Like every marquee event over the last 12 years, SM12 promises to build on that tradition with our streaming partner. 

Follow the URL channel on Caffeine for the latest: https://www.caffeine.tv/URLTV 

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[WATCH] Elijah McClain’s Shocking Cause Of Death Revealed

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Elijah McClain’s autopsy has revealed his death was caused by ketamine injection after being forcibly restrained. The dosage was too much for his body size and it resulted in an overdose.

On Aug. 24, 2019, officers responded to a call about a suspicious person and put McClain, a massage therapist, in a chokehold and paramedics later injected him with ketamine, a powerful sedative. He died about a week later.

An amended autopsy report released Friday revealed Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after a confrontation with police officers, died because he was injected with ketamine by paramedics after being forcibly restrained.

“I believe this tragic fatality is most likely the result of ketamine toxicity,” the report said, adding McClain received a higher dosage of the sedative than he should have. “Simply put, this dosage of ketamine was too much for this individual and it resulted in an overdose.”

The original autopsy report, signed Nov. 7, 2019, said McClain’s cause of death could not be determined, but new information that emerged during a grand jury investigation prompted the state attorney general’s office to order a second autopsy.

The amended report comes one month after Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that two police officers, one former officer and two paramedics in the Denver suburb of Aurora had been indicted and would be charged with one count each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, among other allegations in the 32-count indictment.

“The opinions rendered were based on information available at that time. Since then, this office has received additional material for review including extensive body camera footage, witness statements, and additional records,” the report said. “It is worth noting that these materials had been requested prior to release of the initial autopsy but the material was either not provided to us or not provided to us in their entirety.”

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Tasha K Asks Courts to Stop Cardi B From Wage Garnishment

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Last week rapper Cardi B began garnishment proceedings against gossip vlogger Tasha K. Tasha K moved to Africa and bragged about dodging the $4 million judgment awarded to Cardi B after winning her lawsuit for defamation.
Now Tasha is trying to convince a judge to stop the proceedings.

According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Tasha K has filed documents in Georgia pleading for the judge to stop Cardi from being able to collect on the judgment until her appeal is heard.

However, Cardi is opposing this motion claiming Tasha has to put up a bond of $3.8 million to stay execution. The blogger is desperately trying to convince the judge to side with her.

The ruling is pending.

Thoughts.

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PHOTO RECAP: Mary J. Blige ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’ Tour w/ Ella Mai & Queen Naija

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Mary J. Blige

It’s the boots for me! The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige kicked off her Good Morning Gorgeous tour with special guest Ella Mai and Queen Naija on Saturday, September 17.

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 MJB rocked her most notable classics, (“Real Love,” “Family Affair,” “Everything,” “Be Happy,”) and new smashes (“Good Morning Gorgeous,” “U+Me,” “Rent Money,” “Amazing,”) to a sold out crowd in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Blige, 51, is set to visit over 20 cities ending on Saturday, October 29 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

The iconic singer brought the heat onstage and gave fans an epic and emotional night to remember.

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READ MORE: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and More Win Emmys for 2022 Superbowl Halftime Show

 Fellow GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ella Mai and platinum-selling singer Queen Naija also performed at the Greensboro Coliseum which started promptly at 8 p.m. 

Click here for more information on the Good Morning Gorgeous tour co-presented by Hologic and the Black Promoters Collective (BPC).

Are you running out  to see Mary’s Good Morning Gorgeous tour? Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

Check out some photos and the remaining tour dates below courtesy of Black Promoters Collective.

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Saturday, 9/24                          Detroit, MI                   Little Caesars Arena (Not listed – Queen Naija)

Sunday, 9/25                        Chicago, IL                 United Center

Wednesday, 9/28                     Birmingham, AL       Legacy Center at BJCC

Thursday, 9/29                         Atlanta, GA                     State Farm Arena

Saturday, 10/1                          Houston, TX                   Toyota Center

Sunday, 10/2                            Fort Worth, TX                Dickies Arena (Not listed – Ella Mai)

Thursday, 10/6                         Oakland, CA                Oakland Arena (Not listed — QN or EM)

Saturday, 10/8                          Las Vegas, NV            Michelob Ultra Arena

Sunday, 10/9                             Los Angeles, CA       Kia Forum (Not listed — QN)

Wednesday, 10/12                   St. Louis, MO                  Enterprise Center

Saturday, 10/15                       New Orleans, LA              Smoothie King Center

Sunday, 10/16                          Memphis, TN                   FedEx Forum

Wednesday, 10/19                  Cleveland, OH                  Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Thursday, 10/20                       Brooklyn, NY                    Barclays Center

Saturday, 10/22                        Hampton, VA                   Hampton Coliseum

Sunday, 10/23                           Newark, NJ                      Prudential Center

Wednesday, 10/26                   Nashville, TN                   Bridgestone Arena

Thursday, 10/27                       Cincinnati, OH                 Heritage Bank Center

Saturday, 10/29                        Atlantic City, NJ              Boardwalk Hall

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Original Cast Returning to Star in ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Netflix Sequel

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Beverly Hills Cop Eddie Murphy

The original cast from Beverly Hills Cop is returning to join Eddie Murphy in the upcoming Netflix sequel.  Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, and Paul Reiser are all joining Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley.  

According to Variety, Netflix picked up the rights in 2019 to release the next ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ movie, which is currently in production. The film will be the fourth installment in the action-comedy franchise with the third movie being released in 1994.  

READ MORE: Eddie Murphy in Talks To Play George Clinton in Upcoming Biopic

Plot details for the film are being kept under wraps, but it’ll most likely follow Murphy’s character “Axel Foley” as he returns to 90210 to break open a new case. Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have reportedly been cast in the film as well.

Murphy is producing the movie with Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman for Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

Will you be turning in to watch Netflix’s reboot of Axel Foley? Continue the conversation on social media.

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James Earl Jones Officially Retires His Voice From Star Wars

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Distinguished actor James Earl Jones is officially retiring from Star Wars. After 45 years of voicing ‘Darth Vader,’ Jones announced he’s officially signed his voice rights over to Lucasfilm.  

The Oscar winner first debuted his voiceover role in the original 1977 film, as the iconic Star Wars villain, giving voice to the ‘Sith Lord’ while David Prowse physically portrayed the character.

Now, sound editors will use archival recordings and an A.I. program to create new dialogue with his iconic voice.  This method has already been used in the Star Wars franchise to recreate the voice of a young ‘Luke Skywalker,’ and to mimic Darth Vader’s voice in the new show ”Obi-Wan Kenobi.”  

According to Vanity Fair, Jones has given his blessing for Lucasfilm to use his signature voice in future Star Wars content, even those made after his own passing. 

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

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