Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was seriously injured after being stabbed by another inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tucson, Arizona. The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time within the confines of the medium-security prison.
FCI Tucson, known for its security lapses and staffing shortages, has faced challenges in maintaining a safe environment. The Bureau of Prisons verified that an incarcerated individual was assaulted, and in response, prison employees contained the situation and administered “life-saving measures” before transferring the unnamed assailant to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation. The FBI has been informed of the incident, and visiting privileges at the facility, housing around 380 inmates, have been temporarily suspended. Fortunately, no staff members were injured during the altercation.
Messages seeking comments from Derek Chauvin’s legal representatives and the FBI have been left unanswered as of now.
This marks the second high-profile attack on a federal prisoner in the past five months. In July, former sports doctor Larry Nassar, notorious for sexual abuse scandals, was stabbed by a fellow inmate at a federal penitentiary in Florida.
The incident involving Chauvin is the second major security breach at the Tucson federal prison in just over a year. In November 2022, an inmate at the facility’s low-security prison camp attempted to shoot a visitor in the head. Fortunately, the weapon misfired, and no injuries were reported.
The recent stabbing raises questions about the safety and security measures at federal prisons, with concerns over inmate-on-inmate violence and the effectiveness of protective protocols within the correctional system. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on Derek Chauvin.
Kicking off Hip Hop History Month, the award-winning non-profit Hip Hop Public Health (HHPH) held its annual Remixing Public Health Gala November 1 at Capitale in downtown Manhattan. Before a diverse crowd of supporters including Ja Rule, Styles P, and BET CEO Scott Mills, the evening featured a mesmerizing hip-hop medley performance with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Chuck D, Ashanti, and co-founder Doug E. Fresh, who also hosted the gathering with journalist and media personality Janell Snowden. In addition to raising critical funding for its important donor-driven cause, the event honored several corporate and creative champions of health and wellness, notably Radio Hall of Fame Inductee and syndicated host Angela Yee for her efforts to provide healthier dining options in urban “food deserts” through her ownership and operation of Brooklyn eateries like Juices for Life BK.
Doug E. Fresh and Dr. Olajide Williams, Professor of Neurology and Vice Dean of Community Health at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, co-founded Hip Hop Public Health to teach health literacy in order to improve health equity and remedy disparities in historically underserved communities. Together, they work tirelessly to amplify the medical fact that music can help heal the mind and body.
Since its formation in 2006, HHPH has provided research-based, hip-hop infused learning resources nationally to grades K-12 and worked with Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and other non-profits to create culturally-inclusive health campaigns. The organization has taken important health information and put it into songs recorded by popular multi-generational artists, making it easily digestible and universally accessible. Essentially, HHPH uses music for health education, and its resources have proven to save lives.
Among its many notable achievements, HHPH received the Cannes Lions UN Health Grand Prix for Good Award in 2022 for its “Lil Sugar” campaign (voiced by HHPH Artist Advisory Board Member Darryl “DMC” McDaniels), which warned of the potentially harmful effects of sugar. Additionally, former First Lady Michelle Obama hand-picked HHPH to produce the soundtrack for her “Let’s Move” campaign, aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, HHPH CEO Lori Rose Benson took the stage to announce HHPH’s new Health MCs Ambassador Program, which seeks to provide 100,000 educators over five years with the tools to bring fun and effective health education to young people in a range of learning environments – in-school, out-of-school, community settings, summer camps and more. HHPH supports Health MCs with free, easy-to-use, adaptable resources that engage and inspire young people to be changemakers in their communities.
Memphis-born rapper NLE Choppa took center stage at Kevin Hart’s Hart House at University Park South, hosting “Study Break Sessions.” The event was a delightful mix of serving food to college students and donating 10% of proceeds to LA Promise Fund’s Black College Success Initiative.
During this lively gathering, USC’s Majorette Team performed impressive routines to the rapper’s chart-topping hits, including the latest single, “College Girls.” NLE Choppa also seized the opportunity to spotlight his brand, Eat Virgin Meal Bars, which officially launched earlier this year, alongside Co-Founder Natasha Pestano Rice.
In an episode of “On The Beet With Jermaine Dupri,” NLE Choppa shared his journey towards a vegan lifestyle, motivated by struggles with mental health. The rapper observed the positive impact of plant-based eating on his well-being and decided to embrace veganism fully.
The event celebrated Hart House’s first anniversary and its commitment to providing plant-based, real ingredients to the community. With four locations across LA, including Westchester, Monrovia, Hollywood, and Downtown, Hart House is a beacon of “plant-based for the people.” Their menu showcases a delectable range of plant-based options, from burgers and chick’n sandwiches to salads, nuggets, fries, tots, and milkshakes, all free from antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup. NLE Choppa’s partnership with the plant-based chain underscores the growing popularity and importance of plant-based dining in today’s world.
Angie Martinez will be joining forces with the world-renowned oral care brand Listerine and their creative partner, Compound, to launch a groundbreaking initiative known as The Whoa Collection. This unique endeavor aims to bridge the diversity gap in the field of dentistry.
While more than 12% of the United States’ population identifies as Black, shockingly, less than four percent of dentists belong to this community. This underrepresentation is not only a disheartening reflection of the larger disparities in the healthcare industry but also has real consequences when it comes to oral health care access.
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Reports indicate that a staggering 40% of Black adults in the U.S. are living with untreated dental cavities. These disparities in oral health care access have far-reaching effects, impacting the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities.
The Whoa Collection aspires to address these inequities head-on. By increasing the number of practicing Black dentists, LISTERINE aims to positively impact the understanding, behaviors, and access surrounding oral healthcare. The initiative recognizes that increasing diversity in the dental profession is a critical step toward achieving oral health equity.
As part of this inspiring effort, LISTERINE has partnered with acclaimed artist Saladeen to infuse creativity and passion into the cause. Saladeen’s artistic vision is brought to life through limited-edition bottle art, exclusive merchandise, and a captivating painted canvas.
“A compound is something that organically brings things together, and The Whoa Collection is an embodiment of that. It’s an honor to join Listerine and blend music, art, and oral health care in a way that helps the community while delivering that whoa feeling!” – Set Free Richardson, founder of partner agency Compound
The limited-edition bottles, adorned with Saladeen’s distinctive artwork, are now available for purchase at Target, with Walmart joining the initiative in October. Additionally, the original canvas, a testament to the power of art in advocacy, will be auctioned off during a charity event taking place on September 14th in Brooklyn.
To engage the public and create awareness around this important mission, LISTERINE will offer limited-edition kits. These kits will include the artistic bottle, a custom-designed robe and slippers, and background information on the cause. Details on how to participate in this exciting giveaway will be announced soon.
In addition, music sensation Thundercat has contributed a bold and innovative track that captures the essence of LISTERINE’s “whoa” feeling. This extraordinary musical piece incorporates the sounds of swishing, cap twists, pours, and more, creating a unique auditory experience.
The track will be available on various digital channels, including artist social media profiles, SoundCloud, and Listerine.com, allowing supporters to immerse themselves in this creative expression of oral health advocacy.
Up to $150,000 in proceeds generated through The Whoa Collection will directly benefit Increasing Diversity in Dentistry (IDID), a dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, mentorship, and retention of Black dental professionals.
The upcoming panel discussion surrounding the issues seen in the lack of diversity in dentistry will feature:
Angie Martinez (moderator) Set Free Richardson, Founder of The Compound Joahne Carter, Commercial Leader, Oral Care (Kenvue) Dr. Zerita Buchanan, Assistant Director, IDID Former/current IDID students
Displays of the artistic creations of The Whoa Collection’s artists King Saladeen, Thundercat, and Set Free Richardson
Live auction of King Saladeen’s canvas that inspired the bottle art and a special performance by DJ Clark Kent
When will these deadly trends and challenges stop?The creators of the Paqui One Chip Challenge tortilla snacks have removed their products from store shelves after a Massachusetts boy died attempting a social media challenge.
14-year-old Harris Wolobah tried the Paqui One Chip Challenge at school and immediately complained of abdominal pain, his mother, Lois, told NBC 10 Boston. Harris was a member of the Doherty Memorial High School boys basketball team. He also started up his own basketball league at St. Bernard’s Church, WCVB reported.
His family picked him up from school and took him home. He initially said he felt better, but his condition quickly deteriorated. Harris was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.
According to the NY Post, the “One Chip Challenge” tests how long a person can go without drinking water or a beverage after eating one Paqui tortilla chip.
The company said their One Chip products were intended for adults only and were not intended for children, pregnant women, anyone with allergies to spicy ingredients.
“We have seen an increase in teens and other individuals not heeding these warnings,” the company said on its website. “As a result, while the product continues to adhere to food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution, we are actively working with our retailers to remove the product from shelves.”
Paqui is offering refunds on any of the company’s single-serve “One Chip Challenge” products. The flaming hot chips contain Carolina Reaper Pepper and Naga Viper Pepper, according to the company’s website.
Paqui also advised people to seek medical care if they experienced trouble breathing, fainting or prolonged nausea after eating the “extremely hot” tortilla chips.
“After touching the chip, wash your hands with soap and do not touch eyes or other sensitive areas,” the company states.
“Harris was one of the kids that consistently came to me and tried to stay and play an extra game,” Doherty coach Douglas Hill said. “He just loved the game of basketball and wanted to really improve.”
A GoFundMe account collected over $24,000 toward its $30,000 goal, as of Tuesday afternoon.
Growing up in Harlem NYC back in the 90’s, it was a common thing for young men to ‘holler’ at a girl passing by in the street. Many times if that girl didn’t respond or ‘thought she was cute’ one of the guys would throw a bottle in her direction and everyone would laugh. I was always in the streets, so seeing this behavior became oddly normal to me. As a defense mechanism, I became tough. Some would say a ‘scrapper’ and my answer to dealing with this aggressiveness daily in Harlem was to become just as tough as the men were. That was until I filled out and puberty began to take over and men began to approach me too. I’ve had bottles thrown at me, fought men off to protect my own vagina and sadly, much much more.
This weekend, a Houston woman released a video saying she was hit in the face with a brick after a man asked for her number and she told him no. The details of the incident are limited but in the video, the woman has a huge knot covering half of her face, which she said was caused by being hit with a brick.
She said that a guy approached her, asked for her number, she told him “no”, and then he picked up a brick. The woman said that a group of black men stood by and did nothing as she was struck by an unidentified man who sped off in a car. When she angrily approached the group of men asking why they did nothing while she was assaulted, one responded—“What are we supposed to do?”
This was triggering for many black women in the comments on social media because this is a far too common thing. Women feeling scared and giving out fake numbers to appease a man who could possibly turn violent. The truth is we are alone in this battle. Many people will make excuses for our feelings while the proof is painfully honest. We are forced to be ‘strong black women’ in spite of what happens to us, what is put on us and what we have to endure. I pray this woman finds justice and this man is brought to the light.
To all the black women out there that suffer through countless attacks daily and are forced to be strong, I see you and I respect you. May we all get the royal treatment we truly deserve.
Watch the horrific videos below.
Thoughts?
Mahn this is so pathetic. Able-bodied men standing around watching a woman get hit in the face with a BRICK and asking what they shoulda done. Niggas can swim across a lake to join a dock brawl when it’s time to defend a man but get scared when a woman is at the receiving end of… https://t.co/S8bDokRmLB
Ta’Kiya Young did not have to die. When it comes to a black woman, no one ever stops to think of her story. Unlike ‘Karen’s’ who have the ability to cry and get a response with a phone call, black women’s feelings, conditions, marital status, or mental health is never considered at first sight.
The senseless shooting of the 21-year old black woman, Ta’Kiya Young led to protests and an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation into the use of deadly force by the police in Blendon Township. The pregnant mother was accused of stealing liquor when she was pulled over and killed in less than one minute.
Young was an aspiring social worker and mother of two boys, ages 6 and 3. She had been expecting a third child in November.
The Columbus branch of the N.A.A.C.P. has called for the officer, who, video shows, opened fire as Mr. Young drove forward, to be fired.
Ms. Young’s family said in a statement on Friday that the body-camera footage shows that her death was “not only avoidable, but also a gross misuse of power and authority.”
The police showed the video to Ms. Young’s father, grandmother and other relatives on Friday morning before it was released to the public, according to the family’s lawyer, Sean L. Walton.
According to the Blendon Police, two officers were in the parking lot of a Kroger supermarket on Aug. 24, helping a woman who had been locked out of her car, when a Kroger employee approached one of them and said that Ms. Young had stolen bottles of alcohol.
The video shows one of the officers walking up to Ms. Young, who was behind the wheel of a car in a parking spot, knocking on the window and telling her repeatedly to get out of the car.
“They said you stole stuff — do not leave,” the officer says.
Ms. Young remains behind the wheel and tells the officer that she did not steal anything, the video shows.
During the confrontation, the second officer walks directly in front of the car, commands her to get out and then draws his gun as she turns the wheel, the video shows.
As Ms. Young drives forward, and appears to hit the officer, he fires into the windshield, striking Ms. Young, whose car then rolls slowly forward and crashes into the wall of the shopping plaza, the video shows.
Ms. Young was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to Mr. Walton, who said that Ms. Young’s family believes her death should lead to an indictment of the officer who shot her.
In a statement released by Mr. Walton, Ms. Young’s family said, “As if the pain of losing Ta’Kiya isn’t enough, we must grapple with the knowledge that her unborn daughter was also robbed of her life in this hateful act.”
John Belford, the Blendon police chief, called Ms. Young’s death “a tragedy in our community.”
“Ms. Young’s family is understandably very upset and grieving,” he said in a statement. “While none of us can fully understand the depths of their pain, all of us can remember them in our prayers and give them the time and space to deal with this heartbreaking turn of events.”
Chief Belford said that he had placed both of the officers on paid administrative leave after the shooting, although the officer who did not fire his gun has since returned to duty.
Chief Belford did not release the names of the two officers, saying that they, along with Ms. Young, were “possible crime victims” whose identities cannot be released without a waiver under the Ohio Constitution and a state law known as Marsy’s Law, or the Ohio Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights.
The officer who shot Ms. Young was a “victim of attempted vehicular assault,” Chief Belford said.
The officer who was standing next to the car had his hand and part of his arm in the window when Ms. Young drove forward, making him “a victim of misdemeanor assault,” the chief said.
Chief Belford said he had asked the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate the shooting.
A bureau spokesman said on Friday that the investigation was continuing and that the findings would be sent to the county prosecutor to determine if criminal charges were warranted.
The Blendon Police also released a version of the body-camera footage narrated by Russell Martin, a former sheriff of Delaware County, Ohio, and a former chief of police in Delaware, Ohio.
Chief Belford said he had asked Mr. Martin to “make observations and provide contextual comments” about the shooting without drawing conclusions about whether it was justified.
In that video, Mr. Martin says that the officer who shot Ms. Young was in “a clearly vulnerable position” directly in front of the car and adds, “Police officers are trained to draw their firearms when threatened with deadly force, which can be from a gun, a knife or a vehicle.”
Mr. Walton, the Young family’s lawyer, said that the officer had violated department policy, which states that officers should take reasonable steps to move out of the path of a vehicle instead of firing.
He also said that, according to a witness, Ms. Young had not stolen anything from the store.
The Blendon police referred questions about the theft accusation to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which declined to comment, citing the continuing investigation.
In the days since the shooting, protesters have gathered outside the Kroger to express outrage at Ms. Young’s death and to demand accountability.
“Whatever she did, it doesn’t warrant her being shot and her unborn baby being killed,” Nana M. Watson, president of the Columbus branch of the N.A.A.C.P., said in an interview on Friday. “It’s tragic, and it’s horrific for this community.”
Social media was enraged after a viral video showed an officer violently punching a Black man while he was holding his 1-year old child. The officer mistakenly believed the man was involved in a hit-and-run crash while the real perpetrators hid in the bathroom. Now, Jay-Z and his legal team are coming to the defense of the Wisconsin man wrongfully arrested. While the man didn’t commit the initial charges and officers made a mistake, he’s still being charged.
TMZ reports:
Jay-Z’s Team ROC org has enlisted powerhouse lawyer Alex Spiro to rep Jermelle English Jr. and his family … in hopes of getting all charges dropped, and possibly to sue the Kenosha PD.
English was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest back in July, after Kenosha cops investigating a hit-and-run burst into the Applebee’s, slammed him onto the ground and deployed pepper spray in the presence of his 1-year-old child.
Applebee’s employees recorded video of the whole violent encounter.
The video shows officers repeatedly pummeling English as he lay on the ground … prompting several protests in the local area, especially once the full details — that cops grabbed a completely innocent man — were uncovered.
The true hit-and-run suspects were actually found later hiding inside the restaurant’s bathroom
Casanova is looking to receive a prison reduction. In new court docs, Casanova cites “extraordinary acceptance of responsibility” in association with his role in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang court case.
According to AllHipHop, Casanova thinks his actions during an altercation at a New York diner did not equate to a “robbery” in New York State law. Casanova was one of 18 charged. Casanova faced two counts of felony robbery associated with removing a cell phone from Niya Rucker. Cas and his legal team maintain no robbery accused.
Casanova stated he had no intention of keeping the cell phone, lessening the crime. This follows a report in which he renounced his gang membership in connection to his sentence appeal.
Casanova has also released a new message from jail. Hitting X, the jailed rapper wrote: “I am terrified of how loneliness brings em a twisted kind of comfort.”
I am terrified of how loneliness brings me a twisted kind of comfort.
Casanova is behind bars, serving a 15-year sentence in a court case that labeled the rapper as a “high-profile leader of a vicious street gang.” Slowbucks, who shared a Facetime to his Instagram Stories, is giving an update on Casanova’s condition.
“Don’t believe the hype,” Slowbucks wrote, HipHopDX notes. “My guy in great standards and in great spirits. Free @bigcasanova_2x.”
Casanova has officially been sentenced, and now his legal team has officially filed an appeal. The Brooklyn rapper was viciously slashed across his face right before sentencing and his lawyer feels jail is not safe for him following his denouncement of the Gorilla Stone Nation gang.
According to HotNewHipHop, Casanova’s lawyer James Kousouros, mentioned that his sentence should be reduced because the Brooklyn rapper (real name Caswell Senior) denounced his formal ties to the Gorilla Stone Nation gang.
“The fact is that Mr. Senior stayed in this gang as it furthered his rap career,” Casanova’s lawyers said. “As he gained moderate success and then a recording contract with Roc Nation, he increasingly separated himself from the gang’s activities despite remaining a member.”
Casanova received 188 months or 15 years behind bars on June 27 from U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern. The crimes he’s accused of include a shooting in Florida on July 5, 2020, a robbery in New York City on August 5, 2018 and conspiracy to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana.
“Caswell Senior is not just a notorious recording artist, but he is also a high-profile leader of a vicious street gang and a magnet for gang violence,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a press release at the time. “At a crowded Miami house party, Senior personally fired a gun that seriously injured and could have killed a victim, inciting a shootout.”
He continued: “Further, Senior’s stature in the community was central to Gorilla Stone’s successful recruitment and nationwide expansion. Today’s sentencing — along with the other significant sentences that have been imposed in this case — shows once again that gang life is not worth it and will lead to many years in prison.”
Casanova was the 12th defendant in the Gorilla Stone case to have been sentenced. Five more defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
After he received the sentence, he took to to Twitter and issued a short message, saying, “Everything to the chin, Nothing to the heart. I GET IT NOW. I hope that don’t go over ya heads.”
Before his sentencing, Cas was assaulted in a bloody prison altercation that took place at Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey, in early June.
Over the weekend Love and Hip Hop Miami star/rapper Gunplay was arrested for pointing a gun at his wife, VonShaé, while she was holding their infant daughter. Social media users were surprised at the arrest considering Gunplay had a huge meltdown with radio personality DJ Envy over him allegedly disrespecting his wife.
Now Vonshaé has filed for divorce.
She posted a message to her Instagram page announcing the reason for her decision.
I just want everyone to know my daughter and I are safe. My daughter safety is my first priority. Unfortunately Richard is back using and developed a very bad drinking problem. I’ve tried everything in my power to help him and love him. This is a demon he has to overcome on his own. At this point I really believe it’s too late. To summarize last night event. I asked Richard to quiet down as he scared the baby sleeping by yelling playing call of duty. He started going off on me for asking him to be quiet. I tried to collect a bag so my daughter and I can go to a room while he sobers up. He didn’t want us to leave and things went left fast. He was arrested last night, the weapon is in police custody. I have a restraining order, my daughter is in my custody and I am filing for divorce. He will never get the chance to disrespect us again. Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers. This is a very traumatizing experience please keep me in your prayers.
(@its_daqueen) 
(@lifewithvonshae)