Not only does The Game diss Mr. Mathers, he takes aim at the entire Aftermath camp, including Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. The single is just in time for The Game’s forthcoming Drillmatic album release.
According to a recent report from VladTV, federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York’s U.S. Attorney’s office are recommending 20 to 24 years in federal prison for who they allege served as the “Godfather” of the Brooklyn-based Gorilla Stone Nation.
31-year-old Donovan “Donnie Love” Gillard plead guilty to a racketeering charge and is set be sentenced on August 17. Southern District prosecutors have linked Gillard to an approximation of 220 and 881 pounds in marijuana sales as well as a failed murder attempt of a rival gang member.
Prosecutors from New York’s U.S. Attorney’s office held a sentencing brief, in which they dubbed Gillard the “Godfather” of the “Money Gang Cave” of Gorilla Stone and even pegged as the “acting Street Leader” of the entire organization. They allege that Gillard ordered hits and was by default entitled to profits made from illegal drug transactions out of state.
“Gillard’s leadership role meant that he was responsible for ensuring that his many reports followed the gang’s rules, including retaliating against rival gang members who threatened the gang’s narcotics dealing or its overall reputation and stature,” federal prosecutors wrote in the sentencing brief. “Gillard was responsible for ensuring that his reports learned the Gorilla Stone oath and its various rules, and he played a role in recruiting young members to the violent gang.”
Gillard’s lawyers have requested that their client be sentenced to no less than the mandatory minimum, citing that Gillard made it through a traumatic childhood, including the death of his mother.
“He is the role model to his girlfriend’s sons, a role he is equally eager to return to, and an ailing aunt that previously relied on his support and daily assistance,” his attorneys wrote in the sentencing brief.
It is suggested that Gillard’s sentencing next week will give some indication as to what type of sentence Brooklyn rapper Caswell “Casanova” Senior could be handed down. Casanova has pleaded guilty to a racketeering offense and faces a maximum of life in prison. Both Senior and Gillard will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Phillip Halpern.
Casanova’s sentencing is set for December 6, 2022.
According to several confirmed reports, former A$AP Mob member A$AP Rell has come forward as the man that A$AP Rocky allegedly shot last year and was arrested for upon his return from Barbados with RIhanna.
Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron, alleges that Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Meyers, lured him to a seedy Hollywood location “to discuss a disagreement between the two of them,” according to a statement provided by Ephron’s attorneys Jamal Tooson and Brian Hurwitz.
“Unbeknownst to Mr. Ephron, A$AP Rocky was not just planning for a conversation and came armed with a semi-automatic handgun,” the statement claims. “After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, A$AP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron.”
Relli’s lawsuit also alleges that “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident.”
Rocky nor his representatives have responded to these allegations. TheSource.com will update this story as details develop.
It was on this day 49 years ago (August 11, 1973) that Kool Herc threw his legendary back-to-school basement party, which would go on to create the foundation for Hip Hop music through the “breakbeat” DJ technique he used to keep the party rocking. Many aspiring emcees at the time paired ‘the break’ with the rhymes flowing through their minds, jumpstarting a sound and movement that is now considered to be the most popular genre in music; Hip Hop.
Many are familiar with the story of the 1520 Sedgewick Avenue Recreation Center and how Jamaican-born Herc attracted the youth from the community and other boroughs that had already made names for themselves in other aspects of the culture(B-Boying, Graffiti and MCing). What has been often omitted from history is the climate in NYC, where the city was on the brink of bankruptcy, while crime and “white flight” was at an all-time high. These were the circumstances in which the culture of Hip Hop was born and thrived throughout the city for about a decade before it became recognized by the mainstream.
Salute to the pioneers of the era such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Coke La Rock, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, The Funky Four Plus 1 More, The Magnificent Seven and a host of others who were there at the foundation. Thank you for giving us what we can document now as Hip Hop history!
Even after facing a 56-count indictment along with 27 of his other YSL(Young Slime Life) cohorts, Young Thug is now facing a new set of charges in an indictment filed by the Fulton County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday(August 9), according to WSB TV in Atlanta.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was hit with a new gang charge, new drug charges, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a machine gun in the new indictment. Many of these charges stem from the raid executed on Williams’ Buckhead home on May 9.
According to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office, the new indictment still includes all 28 members of YSL, but the new charges only involve Thug and four other YSL members. Willis contends that the new indictment enhances the prosecution’s case that Thug “performed for years as a leader of a criminal street gang.”
Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, meanwhile, maintained his client’s innocence following his arrest in May. “I’ll tell you the response to any allegation: Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him,” said Steel.
Young Thug will remain behind bars until his RICO trial, which as been set for January 9, 2023.
On this day in Hip Hop history, the management company and label imprint Violator released their first compilation album entitled Violator: The Album. Showcasing the management team’s star-studded talent roster, this album is full of rarities making it a must-have for any self-proclaimed “Hip Hop head.”
For those out of the loop, Violator was a multi-dimensional entertainment conglomerate ran by Chris Lighty until his untimely passing on August 30, 2012. Thriving mainly from 1999 to the early 2000s, Violator represented some of Hip Hop’s most known titans including Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Missy Elliot, Nas, Mya, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep and LL Cool J just to name a few.
Violator: The Album was the first release from Violator Records, in collaboration with Def Jam. Due to Chris Lighty and Violator’s expansive resources, this album was able to be jam-packed with talent ranging from all sides of Hip Hop. With production handled by The Beatnuts, DJ Scratch, Diamond D, Havoc, Q-Tip, and Swizz Beatz it is hard to dispute that this album is not one of the best-produced projects of 1999; and, as prolific as the production team for this album may be, it still in no way outshines the artist performances. With features from Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Ja Rule, Hot Boys, Noreaga, Fat Joe, Big Pun, 8Ball, and Cam’ron, this album can be considered one of the best-orchestrated compilation tapes to date.
Commercially, the album was quite successful peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. The project sold very well and was certified gold within one month of its release.
Regardless of its sales or star roster, what makes this album a piece of Hip Hop history is the first single released from the project,A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip’s solo debut. “Vivrant Thing” which peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 was released in promotion for Q-Tip’s debut solo LP Amplified. This track marked the evolution of Q-Tip’s career, marking his transition to independence.
Following the success of this album, Violator went on to release a sequel two years prior. Violator: The Album 2.0 had a similar response, but failed to be as popular as its predecessor.
On this date in 1994, WTC affiliates Gravediggaz dropped the crew’s groundbreaking debut album 6 Feet Deep. The group, composed of Prince Paul, Frukwan of Stetsasonic, RNS, Grym Reaper, Mr. Sime, and The Abbott himself aka the Rzarector, released this classic piece on Gee Street Records. The original title, Niggamortis, was changed in order to appeal to mainstream audiences.
The album ended up being a trailblazing prototype for what is now recognized as the “horrorcore Hip Hop” genre. It’s grizzly references to death, graves, and other snuff scenarios carved a lane for Gravediggaz all of their own.
Tracks like “Diary Of A Madman” and “Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide” led the album’s momentum as strong singles, but hidden gems like “Bang Your Head” and “Here Comes The Gravediggaz” were favorites of backpacking rap enthusiasts everywhere.
Salute to the Gravediggaz for this solid album! Peace!
The Hip Hop community will never forget the feeling that permeated the atmosphere the morning that everyone woke up to find out that SeanPrice aka Hussain Sayyid aka Ruck of the famed Boot Camp Clik duo Heltah Skeltah passed away in his sleep on this date seven years ago. He was 43 years old.
His death sent shock waves throughout Hip Hop, especially in NYC and Brooklyn to be specific. The native Brownsvillian was loved and respected in his community, whether it was for his penchant for spitting fire verses, his Comedy Central-esque shenanigans or just being one of the few examples of a responsible family man in the hood.
P left behind a myriad of solo studio work, including MicTyson and the critically acclaimed, yet posthumous release, Songs In The Key Of Price, in which his scheduled album release party at NYC’s SOBs ironically was turned into a memorial show.
Rest In Peace to Sean P. and condolences to his wife Bernadette and their children from the entire Mind Squad. Supreme salute to the entire Boot Camp Clik for holding down their comrade and his legacy.
On 8/8/88, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, Eazy E, along with the legendary Dr. Dre from the World Class Wreckin’ Crew put together the second N.W.A. album called Straight Outta Compton. This album came on the heels of Eazy E’s debut release, Eazy E, and The Posse, which led Eazy E and his Ruthless Records label partner Jerry Heller to put out another release exploiting the gang culture that saturated the West Coast, giving birth to what is known as “gangsta rap’. Their debut release, N.W.A. And The Posse was already certified and had anticipating fans around the world the second time around.
Some of the most lethal, straight no chaser lyrical assaults can be heard on tracks like the “Dopeman” remix, “Gangsta Gangsta,” and the anti-cop anthem “Fuck The Police.” What made this album so unique was that it rose to platinum status with no radio play or major promotion. The album even drew attention from the federal government, with the FBI and U.S. Secret Service sending letters to Ruthless about the violent message of “Fuck The Police.” N.W.A.’s popularity with the law increased their fan base and record sales. This album was also when Dr. Dre was officially recognized as the legendary producer he has evolved into today. Careers from both coasts and everywhere in between was created from the Straight Outta Compton prototype.
The Source salutes Cube, Ren, Dre, the Wright family, DJ Yella, and the Arabian Prince for this unforgettable masterpiece!
Incarcerated Brooklyn emcee Caswell “Casanova” Senior is sitting in a federal detention facility after pleading guilty to racketeering and drug distribution charges earlier this year. Now, a new photo of Casanova behind bars has surfaced online.
Cas seems to be in good spirits from the look of the image, draped in a yellow, federal prisoner’s uniform while giving a half-smile to the camera.
Senior is slated to be sentenced in December, where he could receive anywhere from five to sixty years in federal prison.
