Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has avoided receiving a death sentence for protesting the government after the supreme court reportedly overturned a prior ruling. Salehi’s attorney, Amir Raesian, announced the update in a post on X (formerly Twitter) as translated by Google.
“As expected, the Supreme Court avoided an irreparable judicial error,” the post reads after translation. “The death sentence [#FreeToomaj] was violated and based on the appeal decision of the 39th branch of the Supreme Court, the case will be referred to the parallel branch for consideration. In its detailed ruling, the court branch, in addition to violating the death sentence, has reiterated that even the previous prison sentence (6 years and three months) did not comply with the rules of multiplicity of crimes and is contrary to Article 131 and is in excess of legal punishment.”
Une femme brandit le portrait du rappeur Toomaj. Salehi accusé de corruption sur terre lors de la manifestation contre la répression en Iran rassemblant un millier d’iraniens le 8 Janvier 2023 à Lyon. (Photo by Robert Deyrail/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Salehi was initially arrested in 2022 after protesting the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, who died while in police custody. After the incident, he dropped a song about the situation and encouraged his supporters to protest in response. Check out the latest update in the case below.
Toomaj Salehi Provides An Update
شعبه دیوان در حکم دقیق خود ضمن نقض حکم اعدام، مجددا تاکید کرده است که حتی حکم حبس قبلی(۶سال و سه ماه) بدون رعایت قواعد تعدد جرم بوده و بر خلاف ماده ١٣١ و مازاد بر مجازات قانونی است. ٢/٢
— امير رئيسيان AMIR RAESIAN (@amirreiis) June 22, 2024
Following Salehi’s sentencing, worldwide protests ensued. The Recording Academy even put up a statement condemning the Iranian government’s actions. “The Recording Academy is deeply troubled by the recent news regarding Toomaj Salehi,” they wrote. “No artist anywhere should have to fear for their life or livelihood when expressing themselves through their art. Music is a powerful force for good in the world and is needed today more than ever. We stand with music creators around the globe who use their gifts to shed light on the human condition and will continue to work tirelessly to protect artistic freedom.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Toomaj Salehi on HotNewHipHop.
Foolio‘s mother, Sandrikas, says that she’s working on a documentary about the late rapper following his death, last weekend. In a lengthy statement on Instagram, on Tuesday, she explained that the “real” story is “coming soon” and reflected on her son’s passing. Foolio was shot and killed while celebrating his birthday in Tampa, Florida outside of a Holiday Inn.
“RIP Son … Charles Jones II ‘Foolio'[.] The ‘Real’ Life Story Documentary Coming Soon,” she wrote. “The story that only I can tell because I know the Truths from the Fakes, I think Im the ‘ONLY’ mother that keep it Real while MOST others know dam well what was going on with their OWN sons, this been going on since 2014-2015.”
She added: “Some of these same women ‘Celebrating’ your death is some of the same Women looked up to me, sitting in my building I was their TEACHER and they were my STUDENTS at a Big Grown Age taking notes, not lets forget that!!! The same women that was buying your CDs for their kids, lets not forget that!!! These same women sons did the same thing you did went tit for tat on this drill music in which I NEVER Condoned. Mfs ask where his mom, it starts from home!!! Them not knowing I stayed on you bout this beef chit, cussed u out, begged u to take stuff down and when I was SHOT 8 times, I spared their lives even tho mine was changed!!!”
Sandrikas concluded the message by giving a shout out to the artists that believed in her son from the beginning. She named Zaytoven and Young Thug specifically. “I do wanna THANK those who believed in him at the age of 17when he moved to ATL @rapcoalition, @zaytovenbeatz, especially thuggerthugger1, and others who had a impact on his career,” she added. While police have made no arrests in the case, they say they’re coming. Be on the lookout for further updates on Foolio on HotNewHipHop.
Snoop Dogg’s promise to “give up smoke” last year may have been a sales-oriented ruse, but when he’s in Paris covering the Olympics next month, he’s definitely not going to be packing any paraphernalia. During a new interview with Time magazine, the patron saint of pot was asked about whether Paris’ prohibition of his favorite plant would affect his plans.
After assuring writer Sean Gregory that he’s “a very legal guy,” when it comes to keeping up on the rules and regulations of reefer in his international travels, Snoop affirmed, “I plan on going out there and doing NBC Olympic work. Being clean as a book, clean as the athletes. They can test me if they want to. I’m going to be out there doing what I’m supposed to be doing to make sure I bring home the gold. Which is me.”
The Doggfather also offered some salient samples of his sports insights regarding a pair of contrasting, but equally controversial athletes, Caitlin Clark and Sha’Carri Richardson. With regard to whether Clark should have made the Olympic team in basketball, Snoop was adamant: No.
“They ain’t lost in about 18 years,” he recalled. “On the women’s side in basketball, in the Olympics, they know what they’re doing. What they said is basically, she’s great, but I don’t believe she’s gold-medal-worthy until she pulls her stuff in the WNBA. This is a big step from college to the WNBA. I love what she’s done for the sport in general. But you’ve got to understand, these are WNBA players that have been seasoned to do this. And when you’re going for that gold medal, you want your best girls out there.”
For Richardson, he jovially compared his track performance to hers to point out the Olympic committee’s error in classifying cannabis as a performance enhancer. “I just ran a 34.44 in the 200 meters and I was smoking all night. So that sh*t ain’t got nothing to do with helping my time at all. It f*cked my time up, if anything. Unless they got some super sh*t to get you faster. Let me know where it is and I’ll be the first to try.”
Don Toliver’s new album just got an upgrade. Less than two full weeks after the release of Hardstone Psycho, the Houston crooner has released a deluxe version with four new tracks, including “Donny Darko,” which features Lil Uzi Vert. The driving, chaotic track sees Lil Uzi still firmly in his “living up to his name” bag (he named himself for his rapid-fire flow, which he resurrected on his last album and hasn’t put down since), while Don Toliver continues to employ his melodic flow; it’s a short-but-effective turn up anthem. The other new songs on the album include “Rockstar Girl,” “Love Is A Drug,” and “Geeked Up” featuring Yeat.
In addition to dropping the deluxe version of Hardstone Psycho, Toliver’s been popping up in all sorts of unexpected places lately. He appears on the tracklists of new albums from dance music specialists Kaytranada and Toro Y Moi and even in the world of video games, via a Hardstone-themed event in the ever-popular shooter Fortnite. What’s next for Don Toliver? One would assume there’s a tour announcement on the way, but if not, keep your eyes peeled. You never know what he’ll do next.
Listen to Don Toliver’s “Donny Darko” featuring Lil Uzi Vert below.
Hardstone Psycho is out now via Cactus Jack/Atlantic Records. Find more information here.
It’s no secret that it’s been a busy couple of months for J Cole, but fortunately, that hasn’t stopped him from showing love to fans when the opportunity arises. Recently, for example, the hitmaker was spotted cruising around New York City on his bike. Of course, some supporters eventually spotted him in the street, stopping him in his tracks to chat and take photos. He obliged for a short time before pedaling away, surely making the fans’ day with the fun interaction.
It may seem somewhat unexpected to spot J Cole in the wild, particularly considering his involvement in what’s become the most viral rap feud of the year. After catching a stray on Kendrick Lamar’s Future and Metro Boomin collab “Like That,” he fired back with a diss track of his own, “7 Minute Drill.” He later took it back, however, and issued an onstage apology. This was a controversial move at the time, though most agreed it was the right decision after witnessing how the beef panned out.
Since then, he seems to have gotten right back to his normal day-to-day activities. Last month, he was seen relaxing on the beach, looking unbothered as can be. He’s also taken part in various high-profile collaborations recently and appears to have a new one on the way. In May, J Cole teamed up with Cash Cobain for “Grippy,” which wasn’t necessarily well received by listeners. After that, he joined forces with Tems for “Free Fall,” and many saw it as a redeeming moment.
Now, he has a collab with Tee Grizzley in the works, as the duo was seen filming a music video just last week. What do you think of J Cole getting spotted riding his bike around NYC? What about him stopping to chat with fans? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
With Drake taking L after L lately, he is seemingly doing anything imaginable to come out with a win. In his mind, that is following the ex-wife of Mustard, Chanel Thierry, on Instagram. Fans caught notice of it and now it is becoming quite the trending topic online. The Boy is always up to some passive aggressive behavior and that was especially the case with his social media posts during his beef with Kendrick Lamar. It was a tactic he used to try and instigate the latter to respond, and it wound up backfiring in the end. We will just have to wait and see how this turns out, as Drake following Mustard’s ex-wife is reportedly a revenge scheme.
That information comes courtesy of AceShowBiz, as they say a source close to Drake’s camp let the cat out of the bag. So far, fans are confused with Drake’s plan on X. One user writes, “Y’all believing Aubrey doing some damage by following Mustard’s EX wife is just proof that y’all view women as property. Mustard been moved on & has a baby otw. I doubt he cares about who follows his ex or who she follows. Y’all need to grow up, & Aubs should do the same.” For those unaware, Mustard initiated the divorce between him and Chanel Thierry back in May 2022. Irreconcilable differences were the driving force in his decision, and things have been rocky, to say the least. Chanel has accused Mustard of emotional abuse and failure to pay child support. The “Not Like Us” producer shut down all of those claims in court documents, as he still continues to fight for custody of his three kids.
“Chanel’s claim that I have starved her out financially since separation is a flat-out lie. I continued to pay all of Chanel’s living expenses, including all of her credit card bills. I also continued paying Chanel’s housing costs and the children’s expenses including school tuition”. Mustard is now in a relationship with girlfriend Brittany Stroud, and they are now expecting their first child together soon.
What are your thoughts on Drake and Mustard’s ex-wife Chanel Thierry following each other on Instagram? Do you think The Boy is plotting something here, why or why not? Could you see these two linking up in the near future? How do you think Mustard will react if something materializes? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Mustard and Drake. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Cash Jones, better known as Wack 100, attempted to post bail for Duane “Keefe D” Davis,” the man charged in the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur. Wack had already discussed his intentions to post Keefe D’s bail in the past but his appearance in court this week didn’t necessarily work out as he hoped. The judge met his offer with skepticism and pressed Wack on the legitimacy of the funds. Below, we’ll be diving into the details surrounding Wack’s recent appearance in court.
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, arrives in a Las Vegas court on October 19, 2023 for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. (Photo by John Locher / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN LOCHER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Duane “Keefe D” Davis faces a first-degree murder charge for his alleged role in the drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur and injured Death Row Records founder Suge Knight. Arrested last September, Davis, now 61, lived in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson with his wife and son. His arrest came decades after he had detailed his involvement in the shooting through a federal proffer agreement, which initially granted him immunity for his statements related to the case.
Davis has pleaded not guilty and maintains that his health conditions, including a prior colon cancer diagnosis, necessitate his release to house arrest. The court set his trial date for November. However, he argues that the deterioration of his health relates to poor health conditions. Keefe D said that his condition worsened due to a lack of proper nutrition and medical care.
Wack 100’s Bail Offer
According to Rolling Stone, Cash “Wack 100” Jones’s involvement in the case emerged when Davis testified that Jones was providing $112,500 as a non-refundable deposit for his $750,000 bond. This offer raised questions, particularly after a recorded jail call suggested a link between Jones’s funding and deal to exploit Davis’s story for commercial gain. Prosecutors argued that Wack’s bail money offer might connect to a potential series or film project detailing Davis’s life and the events surrounding Tupac’s murder.
During a court hearing, prosecutors played a portion of a jail call between Jones and Davis. In the call, Jones proposed creating a series about Davis’s life. Wack mentioned that some of the potential episodes would focus on Davis’ upbringing as a youth, as well as particular individuals surrounding the East Coast-West Coast feud, such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace, and his late nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, who is the suspected shooter in Tupac’s murder. Ultimately, the judge expressed concerns that the bail money might derive from a transaction where Davis benefits from discussing the crime.
Interestingly enough, during an interview with Vlad TV, Wack 100 revealed that he previously crossed paths with Keefe D at his studio. Wack explained that, at the time, he was in the process of securing the life rights of Orlando Anderson. There’s no confirmation whether there’s any connection between that conversation and Wack’s alleged proposal to create a series out of Keefe D’s life story.
The jail call in question relates to two conversations that Keefe D had: one with his wife and another with Wack. In his conversation with his wife, he reportedly said, “Cash [Jones] ain’t got no damn money to get me out.” Over the recorded call, he also reportedly heard told her that Wack serves as a front. “[It’s] the Jewish man that own the fucking movie company. Cash ain’t got no fucking money to own no fucking movie company. …They just using him as a front, so it won’t look like they did it, you know what I’m saying?”
However, Keefe D told the court that he lied to his wife, who didn’t trust Wack, to “get her off my back.” He added that he only lied to her to get her to sign off on something related to the case. “I said [Jones] had no money like that… just so she could sign the fucking bond and leave as is,” he testified.
The call involving Wack 100 painted another picture, however. Prosecutors played the call where Wack reportedly detailed potential plans for a television project including filming 10 episodes before the trial ends. “My thing is, fuck the movie shit, takes too long. We get to that later. Let’s do the series, you know what I’m saying?” Wack said. But when the defense lawyer asked Wack if he has “anything in writing that states that you will derive any benefit from Keffe D’s release and his story?,” Wack responded, “No, I don’t.
The Court’s Scrutiny
LAD VEGAS, NV – JUNE 25: Cash “Wack 100” Jones, who put up the bail for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, is shown during an interview in a court hearing for Davis on June 25, 2024 at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis is accused of orchestrating the 1996 slaying of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur. The judge denied Davis’ request to be released on bond. (Photo by K.M. Cannon-Pool/Getty Images)
Judge Carli Kierny expressed doubts about the source of the bail money, highlighting the need for transparency and legality. She emphasized that the funds used for bail should not come from any agreement where Davis profits from recounting his involvement in Shakur’s murder. Although Jones testified via Zoom, claiming that his offer was unconditional and not tied to any business deal, the court remained unconvinced.
Judge Kierny decided to withhold a final ruling on the bail until she could review the bank records submitted by Jones. She pointed out that the defense failed to sufficiently demonstrate that the bail money was unconnected to any commercial exploitation of Davis’s story. This left Davis’s bail status uncertain, with the court demanding clearer evidence of the money’s source.
Health Concerns & Desperation
Davis’s plea for house arrest also centered on his health issues. He testified about his deteriorating condition, citing his need for better medical care and nutrition. Davis described the inadequate food and healthcare in jail, arguing that these conditions were life-threatening given his history of cancer. He admitted to lying to his wife during a recorded jail visit, claiming he did so out of desperation to secure her cooperation in posting bail.
Wack 100’s involvement in posting Keefe D’s bail revolves around a $112,500 deposit, which has raised questions about the legitimacy and source of the funds. Keefe D, charged with the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, argues for house arrest due to his health issues. The court, led by Judge Carli Kierny, will examine whether the bail money links to a potential commercial deal to exploit Davis’s story. Jones, appearing via Zoom, denied any such business arrangement. The court awaits further evidence before deciding on Davis’s immediate release.
Wack 100 testified as to why he wants Duane “Keefe D” Davis out on bond during an appearance in court on Tuesday, arguing that he’s a “monumental guy” in the community. He had attempted to pay off a chunk of Keefe’s bail but a judge rejected the move over suspicions regarding his motivations and questions from where the money came. Wack claimed the funds came from his business, 100 Entertainment.
“I know him from passing. I know his son. We sat down and talked a few times in general about personal things when he was having his bout with cancer. Personal things, industry stuff. Just regular conversation,” Wack said. “He’s always been a monumental guy in our community. And I’ve helped several people in our community, whether it was funerals, whether it was for bail.”
LAD VEGAS, NV – JUNE 25: Cash “Wack 100” Jones, who put up the bail for Duane. “Keffe D” Davis, is shown during an interview in a court hearing for Davis on June 25, 2024, at the Regional Justice. Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis is accused of orchestrating the 1996 slaying of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur. The judge denied Davis’ request to be released on bond. (Photo by K.M. Cannon-Pool/Getty Images)
Judge Carli Kierny also suggested that Wack was only interested in landing an interview with Keefe. In response, Wack promised the interview would only occur after the trial ended. “It would have to be [after the trial],” he said. “It couldn’t go the other way, it couldn’t go the other way because if he’s guilty … he’s gonna be looked upon a certain way. If he’s innocent as I think he is and I know him to be understanding the case, then he’ll be looked at a total different way.”
Police arrested Keefe back in September of last year, 25 years after 2Pac’s death. Be on the lookout for further updates on Wack 100 and Keefe D on HotNewHipHop.
The Gen-Z heartbreak king is back: Omar Apollo is gearing up to drop his second album, God Said No. As indicated by the album’s singles, Apollo experimented with a multitude of sounds, and the album promises to be equal parts sexy and reflective. Ahead of God Said No, we’ve put together a nifty guide on what to expect from Apollo’s much anticipated sophomore album.
Release date
God Said No is out 6/28 via Warner Records. Find more information here.
Tracklist
1. “Be Careful With Me”
2. “Spite”
3. “Less Of You”
4. “Done With You”
5. “Plane Trees” Feat. Mustafa
6. “Drifting”
7. “Empty”
8. “Life’s Unfair”
9. “Against Me”
10. “While U Can”
11. “Dispose Of Me”
12. “How”
13. “Pedro”
14. “Glow”
Features
The only listed feature on God Said No is Mustafa. Actor Pedro Pascal will also have a spoken portion on the album.
Singles
So far, Apollo has released “Spite,” “Dispose Of Me,” and “Less Of You” as singles from God Said No.
Artwork
You can see the God Said No artwork below.
Warner Records
Tour Dates
You can see the God Said No tour dates below.
08/20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
08/21 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
08/23 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
08/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Highmark Skyline Stage at The Mann
09/03 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
09/04 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
09/06 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion
09/07 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
09/10 – Cincinnati, OH @ The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park
09/11 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
09/13 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
09/16 – Miami, FL @ FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
09/17 – Orlando, FL @ Orlando Amphitheater
09/19 – Houston, TX @ The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
09/21 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
09/22 – Irving (Dallas), TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
09/24 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary
09/26 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
09/29 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
10/01 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
10/02 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield
10/04 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/08 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
10/10 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre
10/11 – San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Back in October, Megan Thee Stallion first began teasing her new era after freeing herself from her old record deal and going independent. In just a few days, she’ll reveal the culmination of her efforts in the form of her third album, Megan, which she announced just after launching her Hot Girl Summer Tour. Here’s everything to know about the new album.
Release Date:
Megan is out 6/28 via Hot Girl Productions LLC. Pre-save it here.
Features on the album include New York Drill rapper Kyle Ricch, who appears on “B.A.S.,” Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba, and Memphis rapper GloRilla, with whom Megan previously featured on “Wanna Be” and its remix. In addition, R&B star Victoria Monét appears on “Spin,” while Texas rap royalty (heh) UGK appears on “Paper Together” (whether that means an unreleased Pimp C verse is included remains to be seen). Megan said there is a hidden feature in a livestream:
— InquisitiveCarter.com (IG: @InquisitiveCarter) (@InquisitiveCEnt) June 26, 2024
Singles:
So far, Meg has released three singles: “Hiss“; “Cobra“; and “Boa.”
Artwork:
In sharing the cover for Megan, the Houston Hottie caused some controversy among fans, who decried the original art’s departure from the previously established snake theme of the promotion to date. However, it appeared Meg was ready for the backlash, as she had not just one but two snakier covers ready to go. You can see all three covers below.
The US leg of the Hot Girl Summer tour will be done before the album’s release, but there’s a European leg remaining. After that, Meg may swing back around to the states to perform all her new songs, so stay tuned.
