Hip Hop Community News

Diddy is facing new allegations of assault in a lawsuit filed by Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, who claims the music mogul dangled her off a 17th-floor balcony in a fit of rage eight years ago. The complaint, filed on November 26 in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks damages “believed to be in excess of $10,000,000.00.”

The lawsuit details an alleged incident that occurred on September 26, 2016, at the Los Angeles apartment of Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s then-girlfriend. Bongolan, a self-described “quintessential starving artist” and former designer for Diddy’s clothing line, says she was staying overnight at Ventura’s apartment when Diddy arrived in an enraged state.

“On or about September 26, 2016, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs s*xually battered Ms. Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan, dangled her off of a 17-story-high balcony, and then slammed her into the patio furniture on the balcony,” the lawsuit claims. According to the filing, Diddy’s actions violated Bongolan’s “fundamental dignity, bodily autonomy, and sense of safety.”

The lawsuit portrays this event as the culmination of ongoing intimidation and violence. “This event was the culmination of a series of threats, intimidation, and violence that colored many of Ms. Bongolan’s interactions with Mr. Combs from the day she met him,” the document alleges.

Bongolan’s attorney, James R. Nikraftar, emphasized the lasting impact of the incident. “The September 26 assault ultimately proved that Ms. Bongolan was correct to fear Mr. Combs and has resulted in deep and lasting harm,” the filing states. It also highlights Diddy’s alleged threats, including his claim that he was the “motherf*cking devil” and that he “could kill” Bongolan. These threats, the lawsuit says, were intended to “terrorize, intimidate, and instill fear.”

The complaint further describes the balcony incident as an act of extreme psychological and physical harm. “The only purpose of dangling someone over a balcony is to actually kill them or to intentionally terrorize them and rob them of any concept of dominion over their own bodily autonomy and safety,” the document states. “It should be no surprise that is exactly what happened to Ms. Bongolan.”

Back in May this story was alleged months before the recent lawsuit. Tiffany Red, a longtime friend of Cassie Ventura, claimed Diddy “hung a woman over a balcony. And in Cassie’s earth shattering lawsuit, she alleged that Diddy “picked up one of Ms. Ventura’s friends like a child” and dangled them over a 17th-floor balcony. Red even posted about the incident. She did not name the woman, at the time. But now we have more intel.

Bongolan’s claims bring renewed scrutiny to Diddy’s behavior and past relationships, demanding accountability for the alleged actions that have caused her lasting trauma.

The post Diddy Sued For Allegedly Hanging Woman Off 17th Story Los Angeles Balcony in 2016 appeared first on The Source Magazine.

Prosecutors in Diddy’s sex trafficking case argue that he poses a significant danger to the community and should remain in custody while awaiting his May 2025 trial. Combs, 55, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He also faces nearly 30 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct.

Now ICYMI this week, Judge Arun Subramanian will decide whether Combs can await trial in a $50 million bond arrangement secured by his Miami mansion and live in a three-bedroom Upper East Side apartment with enhanced security. Prosecutors, however, emphasize their opposition, citing public safety risks and Combs’ alleged attempts to obstruct justice.

“To clarify, as outlined in the Government’s opposition briefing and at the hearing, the Government is seeking the defendant’s detention based on his danger to the community, including the serious risk of obstruction of justice he poses, as well as the defendant’s risk of flight,” prosecutors wrote.

What’s more, prosecutors allege that from jail, Combs orchestrated social media campaigns to influence public perception and potential jurors, including instructing his children to post celebratory birthday content on Instagram. They claim Combs monitored the campaign’s analytics and discussed strategies to amplify its reach.

Combs’ legal team defends these actions, citing First Amendment protections. “The government’s arguments that asking his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and that he is not entitled to publicly express his opinion that this prosecution is racially motivated are, quite simply, an unconstitutional effort to silence him,” his lawyers stated.

Get this, prosecutors also accuse Combs of contacting potential witnesses from jail using unauthorized methods, including other inmates’ phone accounts, three-way calls, and a third-party communication service called ContactMeAsap. Combs’ attorney, Teny Geragos, acknowledged his use of the platform but stated it was discontinued as of November 16, 2024, after learning it was unauthorized.

This is the third time Combs’ bail request has been reviewed, with two prior denials. Prosecutors remain firm in their position that he should remain detained, citing his potential to influence witnesses and jurors and concerns about public safety.

The post Diddy Bail Fight: Prosecutors Argue He’s “Danger to Community” appeared first on The Source Magazine.

Lawsuits are just flying everywhere in Hip Hop these days. Okay, YNW Melly is up and a federal judge has ordered the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) to justify the continued detention conditions of rapper, whose lawyers argue he has faced unconstitutional treatment while in custody. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian’s ruling on Monday requires BSO to submit a detailed explanation by December 6, including all relevant documents, regarding why Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, should not be released from jail.

Here’s what’s wild depending on how you look at these types of things. Melly has been held in isolation since 2019 while awaiting trial on charges that he killed two childhood friends, Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser) and Christopher Thomas Jr. (YNW Juvy), in 2018. The rapper faces a potential death penalty if convicted in his retrial, set for early 2025.

Get this, the lawsuit, filed earlier this month, describes the conditions of Melly’s detention as “egregious violations” of constitutional rights, including years of total isolation, limited contact with legal counsel, and the inability to communicate with his family. The complaint states, “The conditions in which Melly is living in shock the conscience and could not even be imagined … even in a third-world country that has no guard rails protecting human decency and dignity.”

Here’s what Melly’s lawyer, Michael Pizzi, said regarding the judge’s order, calling it a significant step. “For the first time, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the jail officials will have to explain to a Federal Judge why they are refusing to permit Mr. [Demons] to have the same phone contact and visitation and lawyer visits that all inmates are guaranteed by the United States Constitution,” Pizzi told the Miami Herald.

Now here’s what we know based on reporting …

For three years, Melly has allegedly been barred from making phone calls or receiving visits from family members, including his mother, Jamie King. Defense attorney Raven Liberty reported being forced to wait for extended periods when trying to meet with her client.

Now in contrast, BSO previously justified the isolation by claiming that Melly’s placement in administrative segregation was due to security concerns, citing a 2022 grievance from another inmate alleging Melly was plotting an escape. The accusation, which included claims that an attorney would smuggle handcuff keys, led to a search of Melly’s cell. The search reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing, yet the rapper was moved into solitary confinement, where he remains.

Back to the lawsuit. Melly’s isolation has included being held in a cell without a door, monitored 24/7 by emergency response staff, and denied interaction with other inmates. Liberty described these conditions as “inhumane” and accused BSO of interfering with Melly’s constitutional rights to a fair defense.

“It is due time that BSO is forced to address the unconstitutional conditions,” Liberty said, criticizing the “gross abuse of power” by jail officials. She emphasized that the issues extend beyond her client, stating, “Hopefully, this is the beginning of a change, not only for Mr. Demons but all inmates being housed in the Broward County jails.”

BSO has until December 6 to respond to the court’s demands, potentially revealing more about Melly’s detention conditions and the steps taken—or not taken—by officials to ensure his constitutional rights.

What ya’ll think? Too harsh or this is just what it is for anyone charged with double homicide who is a high profile defendant? Hard to say or maybe not.

The post Federal Judge Okays Movement on YNW Melly’s Jail Conditions Civil Suit appeared first on The Source Magazine.

Diddy’s lawyers are arguing that his public statements from jail are protected by the First Amendment. Nothing weird here except they are citing a legal precedent from former President Donald Trump’s case.

Oh, that part …

Combs’ lawyers referenced a decision from Trump’s ongoing election interference case, which affirms that defendants have broad free-speech rights unless their actions pose a “significant and imminent threat” to justice.

Only a matter of time before that person was going to be used in future legal precedents. Whelp, the future is now.

“Like Trump, Combs is a criminal defendant with the presumption of innocence,” his legal team wrote in an eight-page filing Monday. They argued that Combs has a right to defend himself publicly against the “false and outrageous claims” that have tarnished his reputation. “Mr. Combs is not required to sit idly by and acquiesce to all of this. He has a right to a fair trial and a constitutional right to speak out on his own behalf,” they added.

What do ya’ll think, does their argument hold water? Asking all non-lawyers, ha!

As expected, prosecutors, pushed back, accusing Combs of using prohibited communication methods while in custody to influence potential jurors and disrupt the judicial process. Among the allegations are that Combs used a banned messaging app, ContactMeASAP.com, as well as other inmates’ phone accounts, to coordinate public relations efforts and plant stories about his accusers.

“He is saying, ‘I want to, quote, reach for this jury. I just need one,’” lead prosecutor Christy Slavick argued, describing Combs’ alleged attempts to sway public opinion. Slavick also noted Combs’ use of family members to post birthday messages on Instagram as part of these efforts, which prosecutors contend are more than just a “PR campaign.”

In a fiery response, Combs’ lawyers rejected the idea that his actions obstruct justice, claiming he has not disclosed private or false information. They characterized the government’s efforts to restrict his speech as “an unconstitutional attempt to silence him.”

Furthermore, prosecutors dismissed the Trump comparison, arguing that Combs is not a political candidate and that his case does not carry the same public interest considerations. “These efforts are not protected by the First Amendment,” they wrote, alleging that Combs sought to influence witnesses and plant stories in the media to prejudice the trial in his favor.

Priceless back and forth from one legal team to the next.

The judge is expected to rule on Combs’ latest bail request, his third, later this week. As the legal battle continues, the case highlights the tension between free speech rights and the need to ensure fair trial proceedings.

This is literally going to be the trial of the century. Where are the cameras when you need them?

The post Diddy’s Lawyers Cite Trump in Legal Arguments “When considering Mr. Combs’ speech” appeared first on The Source Magazine.