Halle Bailey has set the record straight regarding her relationship with DDG, which many believed was over after the two unfollowed each other on Instagram.
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Shakedeck: Soundtrack Slaps
Rare songs, forgotten gems, and classic hits from movie soundtracks over the years.
Tavion Koonce-Williams, 15, Shot By Akron Police Over Fake Gun: What We Know
Evidently, police brutality and racial profiling is still very much alive. Tavion Koonce-Williams, a 15-year-old teen, was shot by an Akron, Ohio police officer on April 1st, 2024. This is yet another terrible case of the police looking for an excuse to shoot a Black boy. Why? Because Akron PD claims the boy was shot for wielding a “Facsimile Firearm.” However, the innocent boy was simply holding a toy gun.
This story, like many others across the United States, reminds the world at large of the consistent profiling of Black youth. Notably, Ohio has an existing history with trigger-happy cops. Take the case of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was killed in 2014 for possessing a pellet gun. Although Tavion Koonce-Williams is still alive, things could have taken a more serious turn.
What Happened With Tavion Koonce-Williams?
A female 911 caller claimed she saw a Black male pointing a gun at houses on Tonawanda Avenue and Newton Street. Officer Westlake, the responding police officer in the area, went to check it out. There, he found Tavion at an intersection on Brittain Road and Ottawa Avenue. The events of what happened from the released body camera video by Akron’s Mayor Malik show Officer Westlake pulling up next to Tavion and asking, “Where you coming from? Can I see your hands?”
Westlake then gets out of his police car, pointing his gun at Tavion. Only three and a half seconds later, he fires one shot, hitting Tavion in the wrist. Tavion drops to the ground screaming, “It’s fake, it’s fake!” while holding his hands up. The policeman subsequently handcuffs him. Upon inspecting the gun and realizing it was a fake, the officer put a tourniquet on Tavion’s bleeding wrist.
Tavion’s Family Speaks Out
Tavion’s mom, Angel Williams, while speaking at a press conference, said this was “very, very traumatizing” for their whole family. His dad, James Koonce, said he’s “deeply hurt by the trauma” this has caused and that it will “affect his life forever.” Furthermore, their representing lawyer, Imokhai Okolo, has made it clear that the family wishes for Westlake to be immediately removed from the force. Moreover, they believe he also should be charged in court. He also brought up the decade-old police killing of Tamir Rice, who, similarly, had a toy gun. Okolo then asked how a child could get “gunned down” when following the officer’s orders with his hands up.
Community leaders in Akron are also in unison with their demands that the officer be let go from the force. The Akron NAACP president said that, while Tavion shouldn’t have had a toy gun, the “trained” officer should not have shot a 15-year-old kid. Ray Greene Jr., from the group Freedom BLOC, also said that the police “de-escalate and don’t kill white children every day,” but the case was different for Black kids. Unsurprisingly, he also wants Westlake terminated for the shooting of Tavion Koonce-Williams.
The Officer’s Disciplinary Past
fran wilson Records show that in 2021, Westlake was fired for pulling his gun on his girlfriend while drunk and using slurs. However, he was rehired the next day after the police union got involved. The union defended Westlake, saying he subsequently followed his training when making that “split-second deadly force decision.” This has now raised questions about the union’s role in defending police officers who stray. It also strengthens the case that Westlake could have ended up killing Tavion Koonce-Williams.
What’s Next?
An independent state investigation by BCI is ongoing and will head over to the Ohio Attorney General’s office, as well as the grand jury. The Akron police internal affairs will also investigate the case to decide if any policies were broken. This shooting of a Black teenager over a fake gun has people outraged about the heightened racism in the police force. The people want transparency and accountability from a department with a repetitive history. Tavion Koonce-Williams’ life is forever changed, as the young teenager has become part of a larger statistic of the biases that make children of color feel unsafe.
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Deion Sanders Clowns Jacquees’ Height After Posing With Deiondra
Deion Sanders is an NFL Hall of Famer and the current head coach of Colorado. He is also the father of Deiondra Sanders, whose relationship with singer Jacquees is seemingly always in the news. Deiondra and Jacquees’s whirlwind romance has been a point of fascination for fans and something Deion Sanders has to answer a lot of questions about. Deion had recently reacted to his daughter’s pregnancy, joking about being a grandfather. He has been skeptical but ultimately proud of his daughter. His comments on Deiondra’s pregnancy suggested he was still processing things.
All in all, it looks like Sanders is being more open to the relationship. In a new video, he wasn’t afraid to throw some jabs at the father of his grandchild. We all know Jacquees is short. That didn’t stop Sanders from making the obvious joke. The joke was obvious but still funny. it is probably a good sign for the couple that Sanders is comfortable enough to joke on someone who will essentially be a part of his family.
Deion Sanders Calls Jacquees Short In Playful Video
When shown a new picture of his daughter Deiondra and Jacquees, Deion Sanders couldn’t help but joke. He tells Jacquees that he can’t take pictures like that in hilarious fashion. Deion also posted a video on his Instagram where he called his daughter. Deion told her that she had to Jacquees, and he couldn’t do that anymore. Furthermore, she shouldn’t do him like that in the first place. it’s all fun and games for the Sanders family and a funny moment for fans to enjoy.
Deion Sander is looking to have a better season than last year in Colorado. Sander’s team features potential top draft picks in his QB and son Sheduer Sanders and CB Travis Hunt. They will look to turn things around and push for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Deion is trying to bounce back and ensure that his top players go to suitable teams where they can thrive in the NFL. Sanders’ family will be welcoming a new member soon, and as long as the jokes are all good fun, they should be fine.
Read more: Deion Sanders Reveals Teams He Wants Son To Play For
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GloRilla Does Field Sobriety Tests In Bodycam Footage From DUI Arrest
Earlier this week, GloRilla’s lucky streak came to a screeching halt when the femcee was arrested and booked for driving under the influence. Reportedly, the femcee was pulled over for making an illegal U-turn at a red light in Georgia. Upon approaching her, however, an officer could smell marijuana and alcohol coming from her car. Now, bodycam footage of her arrest has made its way online, showing her doing various field sobriety tests.
In the first video, GloRilla is seen chatting with an officer through her window, repeatedly telling her that she’s “cool” when asked about how many drinks she’d had that night. She then asked the officer whether or not she knew who she was, which she didn’t. At one point in the video, she told the officer she had a gun in the backseat of her car registered under her name, though it wasn’t listed in the police report.
Read More: GloRilla Arrested In Georgia: What We Know
GloRilla Chats With Officers In New Arrest Bodycam Footage
After exiting the vehicle, GloRilla inquired about her rights as they pertained to refusing a breathalyzer test. They told her that she had the right to refuse, and the female officer pointed out that GloRilla’s breast was exposed, which she then fixed. Eventually, she agreed to some field sobriety tests, which she’s seen doing in the footage. While Glo appeared to do pretty well, officers clearly weren’t convinced, as she was taken into custody.
GloRilla Does Field Sobriety Tests
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as though GloRilla’s reaction to the arrest has fans impressed either. Earlier today, she shared a photo of herself on Twitter/X holding a bottle of Taylor Port. Considering that she was just arrested for drinking and driving, many felt this was in poor taste. She’s since deleted the post. What do you think of GloRilla’s DUI arrest? What about the newly-surfaced bodycam footage? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Read More: GloRilla Angers The Internet After Posing With A Bottle Of Liquor On Instagram Following DUI Arrest
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Joe Budden Claims J. Cole’s Apology Will Hurt His Legacy But Help Hip-Hop
As one of the most prominent members of the hip-hop media space, Joe Budden is very interested in the biggest rap story of the year so far. Throughout the beef sparked by Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Future & Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” Budden has followed the resulting beef very closely. He even called together an emergency podcast to react to Drake’s response song when it dropped over the weekend. That podcast proved pretty insightful to both the potential future of the beef and how others in the rap world are reacting to it.
During a new podcast episode, Budden and company discuss J. Cole. He was the first to fire back at Kendrick when he dropped his surprise mixtape Might Delete Later. The project contained a song called “7 Minute Drill” where he called out Kendrick’s discography in an attempt to rock his foundation as one of the genre’s most acclaimed figures. Clearly, he regret the diss track because he apologized for it only a few days later during his Dreamville festival headlining slot. He doubled down a week later when he removed the song from streaming services entirely. Check out what Joe Budden had to say about his actions below.
Read More: Joe Budden Walks Back Beyonce Criticism
Joe Budden Comments On J. Cole’s Apology Kendrick Lamar
Budden and his co-hosts have an interesting take on the situation. He says directly that he believes Cole’s legacy will be negatively affected by his apology. But after a discussion of the way the rap community is reacting, he makes another observation. Claiming that younger and less competitive rappers aren’t thinking nearly as much about the apology as older generations, he sees the move as an over all positive one for the genre.
What do you think of Joe Budden’s claims that J. Cole’s apology to Kendrick Lamar is bad for his legacy but good for hip-hop overall? Do you think it was the right move for Cole to walk back on his diss track so soon after dropping it? Let us know in the comments section below.
Read More: Joe Budden’s “Halfway House” Turns 15
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Big Sean Headlining NFL Draft Concert Series In Hometown Detroit
Big Sean has always repped his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Now, he is going to walk across the NFL Draft stage in his city. No, he’s not getting drafted, but he is going to be the headline act of the NFL Draft. The NFL has announced the Big Seaon will headline its Bud Light NFL Draft Concert Series. Along with other artists and Detroit favorites, Sean will look to put on for his city on the biggest nights of the year. The Draft takes place next week on April 25th and 26th.
Sean Will Perform on day one of the draft. Sean will tasked with hyping up the crowd at Campus Martius Park for the night’s festivities. The draft is already a must-see TV, so Big Sean adds another layer to the broadcast. The Bears hold the number one overall pick, and there are numerous teams trying to change their franchise’s fortunes in this draft. The Bears’ likely first overall pick will be USC’s Caleb Williams. It’s a big night for every fan. I hope their team gets a future star and Big Sean gets to show up for the home crowd.
Read More: Big Sean NPR “Tiny Desk” Review
Big Sean Set To Kick Off The NFL Draft Concert
Big Sean will hold down day one of the NFL Draft Concert Series. The Detroit Youth Choir will hit the stage on day two. Bazzi, a Michigan native, will close out the NFL Draft Concert Series. The show is completely free for fans. The event is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tim Tubito, director of event presentation and content at the NFL, said of the event in a statement: “With the Draft coming to Detroit, we knew the importance of representing the rich cultural history and music legacy of this city as part of our NFL Draft Concert Series,” Tim Tubito, director of event presentation and content at the NFL said. “With an incredible lineup of headliners who all hail from the region, we’re excited for these great artists to help us create an amazing on-site experience for our fans and prospects.”
Big Sean recenlty ended his break from music in march realeasing a new single for the first ti me in years. Recently he and Jhene Aiko treated fans to a romantic performance at Coachella. along with his music comeback, Big Sean has also announced hes dropping a self help book called “Go Higher”. Next week we will be able to see the NFL’s headliner in action as Big Sean is set to start the NFL draft off with a bang.
Read More: Big Sean Seemingly Takes Shots At Drake, Kendrick Lamar, And J. Cole On New Freestyle
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Jeezy & Common Examine Rap’s Journey To The White House In New Documentary: Trailer
Jeezy and Common are among those featured in a new documentary that explores Hip Hop culture’s relationship with United States politics.
Travis Scott Still Covets Grammy Award Despite ‘Rough’ Losses
Travis Scott has revealed that despite his significant trouble winning a Grammy Award with 10 nominations, he still covets the award and wants to win one.
When Will Gunna’s ‘One Of Wun’ Album Come Out?
With Gunna a year removed from the release of his well-received fourth studio album A Gift & A Curse, many of the former(?) YSL rapper’s fans have wondering whether he’ll release a new album this year. With the announcement of his fifth studio album One Of Wun earlier this week, that curiosity has shifted to the album’s eventual release date. So…
When Will Gunna’s Album One Of Wun Come Out?
Well, as of this writing, we just don’t know. Gunna’s announcement did not include a release date, only a possible cover image and a promise that it’s “OTW” (on the way, for those not fluent in internet shorthand). However, with his Bittersweet Tour beginning on May 4, it seems likely that the album will be out by then — although technically, he could just be touring for A Gift & A Curse, since he only had two shows for that album last year. In any case, you can see the list of tour dates below.
Gunna’s 2024 Tour Dates: The Bittersweet Tour
05/04 — Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
05/06 — Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
05/08 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
05/10 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
05/12 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
05/16 — Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
05/18 — San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
05/21 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
05/24 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
05/25 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
05/28 — Nashville, TN @ Nashville Municipal Auditorium
05/29 — Charlotte, NC @ Bojangles’ Coliseum
06/01 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
06/02 – Philadelphia, PA @ Roots Picnic Festival
06/06 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
06/09 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
06/11 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.