Music

Snoop Dogg Was Reportedly Sued For Sexual Assault Stemming From A 2013 Incident

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This weekend Snoop Dogg’s will take the stage at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige for what’s set to be a monster performance. While one of Snoop and Dre’s most iconic songs might not make the setlist, it’s still bound to be epic. However, just days before the performance, Snoop has a new legal matter on his hands.

According to TMZ, Snoop and his longtime associate Bishop Don Juan were hit with a lawsuit for a sexual assault that allegedly occurred nearly a decade ago. The woman, who is a model and a dancer and was identified as Jane Doe, claims that Don Juan offered her a ride home after attending one of Snoop’s shows in Anaheim, California on May 29, 2013. She says she fell asleep in the car and when she woke up, they arrived at Don Juan’s home rather than her own. The lawsuit states that the “Plaintiff was exhausted and fell asleep at [Bishop’s] home.”

The woman then says she woke up at 4 am the next morning to Don Juan forcing oral sex on her. The lawsuit states that he “discriminated against and harassed Plaintiff because of Plaintiff’s sex and gender.” It was then that Don Juan told her to get ready to go to Snoop’s studio, where they would see if Snoop would make her a “weather girl” for some television show. When she arrived, she went to the bathroom due to a stomach ache. She claims Snoop then came in and also forced oral sex on her. She later said that Snoop didn’t hire her because she “refused to willingly and enthusiastically give oral sex.”

A source told TMZ that the woman demanded $10 million, but her request was rejected. Now Snoop and Don Juan are being sued for an unspecific amount in damages. Snoop denies the woman’s claims and seems to have referred to her as a “gold digger” in a recent Instagram post.

Myles Turner And Detroit Rapper BabyTron Shook Hands On A $100,000 Bet

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Indiana Pacers forward/center Myles Turner hasn’t played in an NBA game since the middle of last month due to a stress reaction in his left foot. He was set to be re-evaluated two weeks after the injury, but it remains to be seen if his next game will be in a Pacers jersey. That’s because his name has come up multiple times in trade rumors. As we wait to see what happens with him, Turner used some of his recovery time to make a giant, $100,000 bet.

Turner was joking with people on Twitter when rising Detroit rapper BabyTron stepped in to throw a jab at him. “ARE YOU EVER GONNA MAKE THE ALL STAR TEAM @Original_Turner,” BabyTron wrote. Turner issued his response, but not without checking out some of BabyTron’s music. “@_babytron No [cap] i have no idea who you are but I just listened and you ain’t bad… wager sumn,” Turner wrote. “I make an all star team or you get a billboard top 10 single.” He then placed his wager for the bet, writing, “Put 100 k onnit [handshake emoji].”

BabyTron seemed quite excited to make the bet as he eagerly replied, “ITS ON [handshake emoji].” As for BabyTron’s rap career, he’s quite the active artist, having released four projects in 2021: Lewis & Clark, Dookie Brothers 2, Luka Tronic, and Bin Reaper 2.

Normani Says Her Upcoming ‘Genre-Bending’ Single Is ‘Probably Not What Everyone Is Expecting’ From Her

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Ever since she released her epic video for “Motivation” back in 2019, Normani has left fans desperately awaiting a new project. Unfortunately, her official debut has yet to be released, leaving many to hope that this is the year it finally arrives. While we’ll have to wait and see about that, Normani recently teased her upcoming single during a Q&A session with her followers on Instagram. It began with a post to her Instagram story that read, “What do you think my next single sounds like?” on a piece of paper surrounded by colorful questions.

Normani 2022 Instagram Story
Normani
Normani 2022 Instagram Story
Normani

Many of Normani’s followers replied, with one saying, “I want your next single to sound like I’m on a cloud and I’m just drifting in your sound.” The singer replied, “You’re so cuteee. This one is really unique and different for me. Probably not what everyone is expecting.” Another person said her next song might be an R&B record like her most recent single, “Wild Side” with Cardi B. Normani replied, “Genre bending for sure. It’s just a great record” with a crying face emoji.

Aside from these tidbits, Normani did not reveal when the song will arrive and if it will have any guest features. This comes after she revealed that her upcoming debut album is “almost done” during an interview with Ciara.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Fans Are Furious With Justin Bieber After He Was Pictured In The Studio With Tory Lanez

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Justin Bieber he been quiet start so far this new year, but things are about to ramp up for him soon. The singer is set to both host and perform at a Homecoming event in Los Angeles during Super Bowl weekend, at which DJ and producer Marshmello will also perform. The show will come days before Bieber sets out on his Justice World Tour, which is set to feature Jaden, ¿Téo?, Eddie Benjamin, and Harry Hudson as opening acts. Days before all of this gets going, Bieber finds himself in a bit of controversy after he was spotted with another, controversial artist in the studio.

Bieber and Tory Lanez were pictured in the studio together and it earned harsh reactions from fans all over the music world. Tory is currently facing two felony gun charges for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot during the summer of 2020. He’s denied the allegations, but the matter has earned him plenty of criticism, with names like Kehlani, JoJo, Bun B and speaking out against him.

Considering the fact that an assault against a woman was committed, especially one that involved a gun, many fans hoped their favorite acts would distance themselves from Lanez. However, it’s not clear what Lanez and Bieber were doing in the studio together, and if any music was recorded. What we do know is a lot of people were not happy about it:

https://twitter.com/cooIpeopIe/status/1491556032602157065?s=20&t=RTN18xBLBjzsGa9q3TK5cw

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Fans Comfort Isaiah Rashad With Supportive Messages After A Hacker Leaks His Alleged Sex Tape

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Social media can be a cold, cruel place, with users all too ready to pounce on anyone who missteps — especially if the offender is an entertainer with tons of followers and a catalog of beloved works. However, sometimes social media brings out the kinder side of people when they really behind someone who has been taken advantage of or otherwise harmed, offering messages of encouragement and support. Fortunately for Isaiah Rashad, he’s receiving the latter after a hacker reportedly leaked Isaiah’s sex tape, outing him in the process.

The TDE rapper is coming off a 2021 that saw him recovering from the destructive results of an addiction to prescription pills and alcohol to release the long-awaited follow-up to his fan-favorite 2016 debut album, The Sun’s Tirade. The new album, titled The House Is Burning, marked a successful comeback for the Chattanooga, Tennessee native, landing in the top ten of Billboard‘s US albums chart and spawning catchy singles such as “Lay Wit Ya,” “Headshots (4r Da Locals),” “Wat U Sed,” and “From The Garden,” with a deluxe version adding four new tracks including “RIP Young” with Juicy J and Project Pat.

While there are naturally plenty of toxic responses from trolls, the overwhelming majority of reactions have been supportive and comforting Rashad, while also admonishing the guilty parties. Rashad himself has yet to respond; stay tuned for any updates.

Snoop Dogg Has Reportedly Acquired Death Row Records

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West Coast gangsta rap godfather Snoop Dogg vowed to purchase his onetime label Death Row Records last year and now, he’s done just that, according to Variety. Snoop acquired the label’s brand from MNRK Music Group and the private equity fund that owned it managed by Blackstone investment firm. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, a source said Snoop will also begin acquiring the rights to some of the label’s music — including his own — in the near future.

In a statement, Snoop said, “I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value. It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me. I would like to personally thank the teams at Blackstone, MNRK, and especially David Kestenbaum, who worked collaboratively with me over several months to make this exciting homecoming a reality. I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.”

Death Row Records was Snoop Dogg’s first label home when he debuted in 1992 on Dr. Dre’s debut solo single, “Deep Cover” and where he released his first two albums Doggystyle and Tha Doggfather, as he proudly proclaimed on “Nuthin’ But A G Thang” with Dr. Dre in 1992. “Death Row is the label that pays me,” he rapped, pledging his allegiance to the label founded by Suge Knight which also put out Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and Tupac Shakur’s catalog. Unfortunately, tensions within the label led Snoop to part ways with Knight in 1998, aligning with Master P’s No Limit Records, then Priority in 2002, and Geffen in 2004. More recently, Snoop has released his music via his independent label Doggystyle in joint ventures with eOne, Empire, and Create.

In 2021, he took an executive creative consultant gig at Def Jam, A&Ring the compilation album Snoop Dogg Presents Algorithm. Now, the original label that paid him will pay him once again, albeit in a new capacity as owner of the brand — and possibly its lucrative publishing catalog.

Influential Funk Icon Betty Davis Has Died At The Age Of 77

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Betty Davis, the pioneering icon of funk and soul music who was at one time married to jazz legend Miles Davis, has passed away at the age of 77 according to Rolling Stone. Ethnomusicologist Danielle Maggio, who performed on Davis’ 2019 song “A Little Bit Hot Tonight” — the singer’s first in 40 years — confirmed Davis’ death of natural causes.

Although Davis did not have a vast collection of mega-hits to her name, she proved to be one of the most influential musicians of the 1970s funk movement, developing a cult following and growing in public esteem in more recent years due to her music receiving more recognition in pop culture, with placements of television series such as High Fidelity, Mixed-ish, and Orange Is The New Black. Miles Davis also credited his ex-wife — his second after Frances Davis — with introducing him to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, leading to his experimental jazz fusion work in the ’70s.

Betty recorded four albums during the period: Betty Davis, They Say I’m Different, Nasty Gal, and Is It Love Or Desire? although the last of the four wasn’t released until 2009. Musicians who played on her albums included members of the Family Stone, Buddy Miles, Herbie Hancock, and more, although she became disillusioned with the music industry and retired after the release of Nasty Gal in 1975. Contemporary artists who cite her as an influence include Erykah Badu, Jamila Woods, and Janelle Monae.

One Of Snoop Dogg And Dr. Dre’s Most Iconic Songs Might Not Make The Super Bowl Setlist

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Halftime at this Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI promises to be a total smash when Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar take the stage for the Pepsi Halftime Show at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on February 13. But even though they’ve had months to plan their performances, Snoop Dogg’s setlist might not be finalized yet.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the West Coast rap legend spoke about the nerves he’s feeling right now. “I’m not going to understand it until it happens,” he told the AP. “While it’s happening, I’m in the zone. I’m stuck to the script, laser focused, being on point, sounding good, looking good and feeling good. I want to give off a great presentation. After the fact, it’s when I’ll be nervous about watching it to see what the reaction is. But while I’m going through it, it’s nothing.”

More notably, though, Snoop indicated that he wasn’t sure yet if he would perform his iconic 1994 track “Gin & Juice.” The song was produced by Dr. Dre and it would really cement the feel of being in Los Angeles (Inglewood, to be exact) for the Super Bowl. He said the most important thing is being there with the rest of the performers and purveying a message of unity: “We’re all one. We’re all united together. If you really look at it, that’s what the world needs to understand that we need to come together as opposed to division or separation.”

Omar Apollo Drops The Daniel Caesar Collab ‘Invincible’ And Announces A New Album, ‘Ivory’

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After finding initial success on SoundCloud, Omar Apollo dropped a pair of EPs before releasing his first full-length project, Apolonio, in 2020, which earned the young artist much acclaim. Now, a new album, Ivory, is on the way. Alongside this news, Apollo dropped a new single, the Daniel Caesar collaboration “Invincible,” a lush tune that puts the vocal chops of both artists front and center.

Apollo is also embarking on the “Desvelado” tour this spring, which has a run of North American shows from April to May before a handful of overseas appearances in June. Deb Never supports on a majority of those shows.

Watch the “Invincible” video above and find Apollo’s upcoming tour dates below.

04/05 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
04/06 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
04/07 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox *
04/09 — Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre *
04/10 — Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre *
04/12 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *
04/13 — San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre *
04/15 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/19 — Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl *
04/20 — Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst *
04/22 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/29 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine *
04/30 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren *
05/01 — Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
05/03 — Denver, CO @ The Ogden *
05/05 — Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre *
05/07 — Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *
05/08 — Detroit, MI @ The Majestic *
05/10 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts *
05/11 — Boston, MA @ Big Night Live *
05/12 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
05/14 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
05/17 — Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
05/19 — Austin, TX @ Emo’s *
05/20 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall *
05/21 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
05/22 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *
05/24 — New Orleans, LA @ Republic *
05/26 — Miami, FL @ Space Park *
05/27 — Orlando, FL @ House of Blues *
05/31 — Mexico City, MX @ Auditorio BB
06/14 — Madrid, ES @ BUT
06/15 — Barcelona, ES @ Sala Apolo
06/16 — London, UK @ KOKO

* with Deb Never

Ivory is out 4/8 via Warner Records. Pre-order it here.

Omar Apollo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Eminem Will Be Serving Mom’s Spaghetti In LA For Super Bowl LVI

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Not only is Eminem performing part of the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show but he’s also bringing his popular pop-up restaurant to hungry football fans. The pop-up, Mom’s Spaghetti — so named for a line from Em’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself” — was so successful at previous events that he eventually opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in his hometown Detroit last year to the delight of fans.

This week, Mom’s Spaghetti will return to its roots with a pop-up shop in Downtown LA opening today through Super Bowl Sunday, when the big game will be played at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium between the hometown LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. For those unwilling to risk Super Bowl week traffic themselves (seriously, don’t do it, people) the restaurant will also be available for delivery via Postmates.

Fans actually at the game will get to watch Eminem perform at the halftime show along with Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. The group will also have a pair of deaf rappers signing during the show, translating the classic songs for a wider audience. In other food-related Super Bowl news, Domino’s is offering customers $3 for picking up their pizzas instead of having them delivered.