News Exclusives

Drug Dealer Who Sold Mac Miller Deadly Pills Sentenced To 17 Years In Prison

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Three men are being held responsible for the overdose death of rap sensation Mac Miller and the stiffest sentence was handed down to one of the culprits yesterday, according to a report from TMZ.

49-year-old Stephen Walker was sentenced to 17 and a half years behind bars after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl, which ultimately made its way to Miller, who died from a drug overdose in September 2018. Ryan Reavis, 39, was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for fentanyl distribution while the case against Cameron Pettit is still pending.

Miller’s death was the result of a fatal overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.

Walter told the Pittburgh rapper’s family in court that he was “truly remorseful” for the part he played in Miller’s death.

A couple of documentaries chronicling Mac’s life have been on the fringes since his passing while talks of a biopic about his life is in the works.

The post Drug Dealer Who Sold Mac Miller Deadly Pills Sentenced To 17 Years In Prison appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Dropped His First Solo LP ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 32 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history 32 years ago, Ice Cube released his debut solo album Amerikkka’s Most Wanted. Following the tragic break up of N.W.A., this album’s unexpected commercial and critical success not only set the tone for Ice Cube’s solo career but was also a launching pad toward success.

Being able to peak at #19 on the Billboard 200 and be certified platinum in the year if it’s release all while staying true to the hardcore gangsta sound that is prevalent in all of his other work shows, that since the beginning Ice Cube has been a force to be reckoned with. His lyrical style and choice of subject matter force the commercial music world to be comfortable with a narrative uncommon to the majority of those who would consider themselves fans of the work. With this album Ice Cube is able to paint a vivid and accurate picture of his particular experiences as an artist in the process of making it out of Compton yet still thriving as a product of the said environment.

Unlike his previous NWA cuts, Ice Cube is able to get a little more theatrical with the delivery of his message while remaining just as straight forward. From the title of the project to the outro, it is prominent that Ice Cube had no intention of sugar-coating what he had to say. The violently righteous theme of this album shook the rap world showing a more militant side to the consciousness movement going on in the early 1990s. Cube even worked with Public Enemy’s production team The Bomb Squad to harness the high-energy sound that paired perfect with his flow.

Critically, this album is held on a pedestal with some the best selling and most respected projects in Hip Hop. It has been ranked on a plethora of “Best of All Time” and “Best of the 1990s” lists by publications in the US, Canada, and all over Europe. The album has been awarded 5 out of 5 ratings from The Source, Rolling Stone, Allmusic, and The Austin Chronicle.

Following this album, Ice Cube wen ton to grow to be the mega-star he is today. He released eight solo studio albums and has no plans on stopping anytime soon. He also took his talent to the screen as an actor, writer, and director.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Dropped His First Solo LP ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 32 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: De La Soul Dropped Their Second LP ‘De La Soul Is Dead’ 31 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history, De La Soul released their second album De La Soul is Dead.

Being one of the first albums to earned the coveted ‘Five Mics’ from The Source magazine, De La Soul Is Dead marked a change in direction for De La Soul. Although the title would suggest the end of the group as a whole, instead the meaning behind the album’s cryptic title is an allusion to the ‘death’ of this old style. Through this album, De La Soul began to separate themselves from their previous pseudo-1960 flower-child aesthetic that was set up by their popular debut. The title also represents the group’s separation from mainstream Hip Hop.

Regardless of the fact the group stuck to their skit heavy, storytelling structure, critics and charts were all but kind to this album. Unlike their uber-successful debut, De La Soul is Dead did not appear on any charts and was not recognized as a good album until years after it’s release. In the late 90s however, the album rose to critical acclaim when publications realized the impact the album had on the careers of De La Soul and Hip Hop as a whole. The album has been ranked by Rolling Stone, The Source, Pitchfork Media, and others as one of the greatest albums, regardless of genre, of the 1990s.

Following this album, De La Soul went on to be one of the most respected rap groups of their generation. The rebranding that came from De La Soul is dead allowed for De LA Soul to cross over as artists into the realm of respected artistry rather than a continuing their career riding the wave set by their debut.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: De La Soul Dropped Their Second LP ‘De La Soul Is Dead’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Casanova Pleads Guilty To Drug And Racketeering Charges

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According to several confirmed reports, Brooklyn rapper Caswell “Casanova” Senior plead guilty to drug and racketeering charges today in a Brooklyn federal court. Senior confessed to several crimes as prosecutors claimed he was the leader of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods gang.

Senior surrendered to the FBI at t he end of 2020, with prosecutors alleging that the “Don’t Run” rapper directed a drug gang conspiracy that spanned from New York to Florida. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan says that Senior confessed to a shooting in Florida in 2020, a 2018 robbery in NYC and trafficking more than 100 kilos of marijuana.

Back in December 2020, Casanova was the centerpiece of a federal investigation, to which he surrendered to the feds on racketeering charges and was denied bail, despite his lawyers and family situating a $2.5 million bail package, but S. District Judge Phillip Halpern denied his proposal.

Shortly after co-defendant Shantay Outlaw struck a deal with prosecutors, Senior was hit with an attempted murder charge for the 2020 shooting in Miami, to which he has now admitted guilt.

Casanova is set to be sentenced in federal court in December. He faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 60 years in prison.

His guilty plea comes within days of Young Thug, Gunna and 26 other YSL members indicted on RICO and other street gang/organized crime related charges.

The post Casanova Pleads Guilty To Drug And Racketeering Charges appeared first on The Source.

Federal Authorities Add Drug Possession And Weapons Charges To RICO Case Against Young Thug

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As the details surrounding the RICO case against Young Thug, Gunna and 28 YSL members continue to grow, recent reports have confirmed that Thugger has now been hit with federal charges; two illegal firearms charges and two drug possession charges to add to his laundry list of offenses that have kept him behind bars since Tuesday.

Rap ultra-star Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was one among 28 people who were ensnared by a 56-count indictment handed down by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for criminal activity going back as far as 2015 and as recent as 2020. The 88-page indictment filed on Sunday details 180 acts that support just the first of the 56 separate charges for 28 members of the alleged gang.

Williams was denied bond yesterday by a Fulton County Superior judge despite the assertive plea by Williams’ lawyer Brian Steel to grant him a bond based on the nature of his alleged, non-violent charges, but that effort was unsuccessful. 

Now, Thug’s initial court hearing has been followed up with additional charges after federal investigators discover guns and drugs in the rapper’s Buckhead home, according to a report from Atlanta news affiliate WSB-TV. 

Authorities contend that they have more than enough evidence to convict Williams, who they allege rented a Q50 Infiniti used in a 2015, ordered an attempted hit on YFN Lucci by two YSL members during his incarceration in Fulton County Jail and is even named as a co-conspirator alongside Birdman in the 2015 shooting of Lil Wayne’s tour bus in Atlanta. 

Williams new charges come the same day as authorities announce that they have taken “Pushin P” rapper Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, into custody at the Fulton County Jail.

Young Thug is now currently charged with is now charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon, or silencer, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and three counts of participating in criminal gang activity through the commission of a crime.

Thug’s Attorney Brian Steel said in a statement, “Jeffery Williams, who performs as “Young Thug,” vehemently denies the allegations lodged against him in the Fulton County (Georgia) Indictment of May 9, 2022. We look forward to the opportunity to defend this case in court. We filed a Motion for Bond and anticipate a hearing in the near future. We will fight this case ethically, legally and zealously. Mr. Williams will be cleared.”

The post Federal Authorities Add Drug Possession And Weapons Charges To RICO Case Against Young Thug appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Young Thug Appears In Court Following RICO Indictment Arrest

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To the surprise of many of his fans, Young Thug was arrested on Monday(May 9) along with almost 30 other YSL members on RICO charges, including murder, armed robbery and participating in street gang activity.

Thugger, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, appeared in court yesterday(May 10) in Fulton County for the first time since being detained after a 56-count indictment was handed down to Thug, Gunna and 28 members of the YSL outfit. He went in front of a judge donning his own Fulton County Jail uniform while being read his charges, while his attorney, Brian Steel, volleyed with the judge as to whether or not Thugger would receive a bond, to which he was denied.

Mr. Steel spoke to the media, saying, “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.” Lawyers for Gunna have yet to speak publicly to the press.

As for prosecutors and police, they have completely different POV of the entire ordeal. According to the Atlanta police chief, they “got one of our top offenders off the street.”

The post [WATCH] Young Thug Appears In Court Following RICO Indictment Arrest appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Vivica Fox Says Kevin Samuels’ Death Was Due to “Karma”

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One of the 90s’ most prolific actresses showed no love was lost when speaking on the death of self proclaimed relationship guru Kevin Samuels, who passed away this past week at 56 years old. The cause of his death has not yet been revealed.

Many of his opposers, particularly Black women, have had mixed feelings about Samuels’ passing, with some being outright callous about the death of Samuels, who was very critical of single, Black women who were still looking for relationship advice.

Veteran actress Vivica Fox appeared on her show Cocktails With Queens, where Fox didn’t hold back at all when speaking about Samuels after death. Fox said, “This man was a hypocrite, in my honest opinion. He really was. I didn’t find anything about him to be healing. He insulted African-American women on a consistent basis.” F

ox then pointed out details of Samuels’ death, saying, “I hope this is teaching folks a lesson about the karma that you put out, the negativity that you put out in the world. That when karma comes knocking at your door, she mind not be so kind. So, the fact that he keeled over real quick and was supposedly with a woman that we don’t yet know the nationality, rest in peace..”

The post [WATCH] Vivica Fox Says Kevin Samuels’ Death Was Due to “Karma” appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Onyx Released Their Smash Single “Slam” 29 Years Ago

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The four-man crew from Jamaica, Queens dropped their crossover hit single on this date in 1993

On May 10, 1993, Big DS, Sonny Seeza, Fredro, and Sticky released “Slam”, the smash hit from Onyx’s debut album, Bacdafucup.

The song’s chorus was the crew’s own remix of “The Champ” by The Mohawks. As one of the album’s most propelling singles, Slam ventured into heavy metal and punk rock’s “slamdance” culture, featuring a violent mosh pit in the song’s video. Onyx even did a remix of Slam with heavy metal giants Biohazard. This platinum single has appeared on TV as well as the silver screen, with Meth and Red using the amp-up track for their How High flick.

Salute to Onyx, Def Jam, and everyone involved with this track!

Do remember that Onyx will be going head to head with Cypress Hill this weekend in a VERZUZ battle scheduled for May 14 in Los Angeles!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Onyx Released Their Smash Single “Slam” 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

French Montana Accused Of Stealing The Lyrics For “Handstand” From Turk Of The Hot Boys

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Bod Boy French Montana will be appearing i n court in the near future after it was reported that he is being sued for allegedly stealing the lyrics from his 2021 smash hit “Handstand”.

Turk from Cash Money’s Hot Boys claims that Montana stole his lyrics for the song and says that French has to pay up.

According to a lawyer from Turk’s lawyer to French’s attorney, Turk, whose real name is Tab Virgil Jr., claims that French ripped off the lyrics from the group’s 1999 hit “I Need A Hot Girl” without permission and says that the song where the stolen lyrics are heard already have received over 17 million views on YouTube.

A source close to the situation says that French took the lyrics and the beat under the impression that he’s received clearance, but it has been reported that French is already trying to rectify the situation.

Turk’s attorney, Paul M. Aloise Jr. of the Brooks LeBoeuf law firm, says they’re willing to settle out of court, so hopefully this case will end without unnecessary litigation.

The post French Montana Accused Of Stealing The Lyrics For “Handstand” From Turk Of The Hot Boys appeared first on The Source.

Young Thug’s Mugshot Surfaces Following RICO Arrest

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After his arrest yesterday on RICO, murder and other gang-related charges, Young Thug’s mugshot has surfaced online. The arrest and indictment allegedly stem from as far back as 2013 and as recent as 2018.

As reported, Young Thug and Gunna were both arrested and taken into custody at the Fulton County Jail on RICO charges, including murder, racketeering, armed robbery and participation in street gang activity.

28 YSL members have been arrested under a 56-count indictment by Fulton County prosecutors including Thug, who prosecutors say rented a vehicle that was used in the commission of a 2015 murder. Prosecutors also allege that two other YSL members tried to get permission from Thugger to kill YFN Lucci in the Fulton County Jail.

The post Young Thug’s Mugshot Surfaces Following RICO Arrest appeared first on The Source.