The man who has been allowed to make bail after being charged with the 27-year-old murder of Tupac Shakur is now alleging that the food that he’d been eating in jail has caused his cancer to come out of remission.
Duane “Keefe D’ Davis went to court on Tuesday(June 25) and revealed to the court that the 60-year-old Compton Street Legend author is still fighting his bout with cancer.
“I got cancer. I been in jail eating processed food,” Davis said. “I had colon cancer… they serve all this processed food, they don’t serve no fruit, it’s terrible. Fake potatoes. Fake milk. Fake everything. It ain’t good for an ex-cancer patient. I got it again.”
He went on to speak about his lack of proper medical care, saying, “They took me to thee hospital on May 5. He came into my cell and said, ‘Hurry up and get dressed, you need emergency surgery.’ They referred me to my cancer doctor so I went and seen him on May 8 and he said, ‘I’ll get you to do a colonoscopy in a week, CT scan in two weeks, CT scan in three weeks. They haven’t came here to do nothing. I’m in a life situation and I will do anything to save my life.”
In a motion for bail filed last year following his arrest for 2Pac’s 1996 murder last September, Keefe’s attorneys argued, “He is not getting his bi-monthly oncologist check-ups. Additionally, his heart health has declined. He was put back on a group of medications to try to get things under control. He has to take these medications in the jail because he is unable to do the things necessary to maintain proper health. His diet in jail is terrible. He is given heavily-processed meals full of sodium that barely pass as food.”
Keefe D was released on a secured $750K bond last week as the murder of Tupac trial is set to begin later this year.
Tyquian Bowman, widely recognized as Savannah rapper Quando Rondo, has reached a plea agreement. The court will now move forward to schedule a court date, given that both parties have agreed on the terms. According to WSAV-TV, no date has been set yet.
Quando Rondo was arrested on federal drug charges in Georgia.
According to the reports, Rondo was taken into custody without incident after the vehicle he was in was pulled over; however, the “routine” traffic stop was conducted solely to detain the 24-year-old on federal charges.
None of the other occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.
Rondo was indicted last summer, along with 18 other individuals, on state violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act due to his involvement in the Rollin’ 60 Crips organization.
Prosecutors allege that the “ABG” rapper instructed another defendant to negotiate weed prices and then traveled to Macon, GA, to pay the supplier.
TheSource.com will update this story as more details become available.
On this day in Hip Hop history, St. Louis rap icon Nelly released his Grammy debut LP Country Grammar. Released by Universal Records, the unique pop-rap-country sound of this project struck well with consumers and critics alike peaking at #1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
Whether it was intended or not, this album set the bar high for all other summertime albums to come in the new millennium. This mixture of Jason “Jay E” Epperson’s production and Nelly’s Missouri slang proved to be the perfect formula for a high energy album hosting some of the decade’s hottest party tracks.
The sing-along appeal of this project is what brought it so much commercial success. Along with topping the US music charts, this album also made chart appearances in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, France, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK. The album was also certified platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and of course the United States (where it sold 9,000,000 copies).
The album contained hit singles “Country Grammar” (which was nominated for a Grammy), “E.I.,” “Ride Wit Me” and “Batter Up” which all made international music chart appearances. Critics across the board hailed this album as a breakthrough in Hip Hop, never before had a project come from the Midwest with so much appeal to other regions of the country.
Following this album, Nelly grew to be one of the brightest stars of the 2000’s putting out multiple multi-platinum albums and winning a plethora of awards for his musical ability. He has also since had a successful career on-screen both in films and on television.
According to several news reports, a man was mugged by a group of men before he was shot and killed in SoHo Wednesday morning.
Javier Osorio-Mejia, otherwise known in the sneaker reselling world as “Upscale Cracc” ,was killed in an apparent robbery ths morning near the corner of Grand and Greene Street. According to the NYPD, the Bayonne resident was just passing through the area about 5:30 am coming from Queens when he was targeted by his assailants and shot in the mugging.
Osorio-Mejia was shot in the leg, but the wound ended up being fatal, killing Osorio-Mejia.
There are very little details available about the deadly shooting, but the police re actively searching for the person responsible for Osorio-Mejia’s killer.
Here’s Upscale in 2022 talking to NBC4 NY about his sneaker empire:
TheSource.com will update this story as more details develop about this unthinkable tragedy.
Following up on the success of his first-ever co-designed lifestyle sneaker, PUMA Hoops and LaMelo Ball are back with two new colorways of the Y2K-inspired LaFrancé. Just in time for summer, the LaFrancé Moment arrives with a neutral, earth-toned colorway and the LaFrancé Untouchable brings an attention-grabbing black and fuschia colorway to the streetwear-inspired collection.
The LaFrancé Moment adds cream and brown notes to the LaFrancé’s exaggerated proportions. Featuring a chunky, street-inspired silhouette and iconic graphics that lean into Y2K’s extreme aesthetics, the LaFrancé Moment is a perfect expression of Melo’s 1 of 1 style.
The head-turning LaFrancé Untouchable boasts a contrasting fuschia-on-black colorway, bringing a unique and unexpected style combination to the LaFrance collection.
After the inaugural LaFrancé Amour colorway was met with huge demand at launch earlier this year, the new LaFrancé Moment and Untouchable will drop on July 5.
Culture Creators proudly announces its 8th Annual Culture Creators Innovators & Leaders Awards Brunch, reaffirming its commitment to honoring excellence and groundbreaking achievements in Culture. The Hollywood Reporter made the announcement this morning. The exclusive invite-only fête will be presented by BET, powered by Möet Hennessy, and driven by Lexus, with additional support from the following Black-owned brands: The Doux, Afro Unicorn, and Rap Snacks. The event will take place on Friday, June 28, at 11 am PST in the historic Beverly Hilton International Ballroom.
This year, Lorrie Bartlett of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will be honored with the Icon Award for her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry and her steadfast commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion, while spearheading initiatives promoting equity within Hollywood. As one of the industry’s pioneering Black women, Lorrie Bartlett’s client roster includes Regina King, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Travis Kelce, Fantasia Barrino, Corey Hawkins, Jeymes Samuel, Madelyn Cline, Rachel Zegler, Thuso Mbedu, Andra Day, Ruth Negga, Laverne Cox, Josh Duhamel, Kasi Lemmons, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, among others.
Additionally, the Innovator of the YearAward will be bestowed upon Teyana Taylor, the multifaceted artist renowned for her profound influence on music, fashion, film, and culture. Teyana Taylor’s groundbreaking albums, including “KTSE” and “The Album,” have garnered critical acclaim. Her directing prowess, notably exhibited through her vast directorial catalog, and acclaim as an actor, in films like A Thousand and One and
The Book of Clarence, underscore her visionary approach to storytelling.
“At Culture Creators, we believe in the power of diversity to drive innovation and progress,” states Joi Brown, Founder of Culture Creators. “This event is a testament to our commitment to amplifying the voices and contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds. By celebrating these trailblazers, we inspire a new generation of creators and leaders. This is the very reason we founded TheCulture Creators Foundation – to create a pipeline that nurtures and supports underrepresented talent, ensuring their impact on culture and society is profound and lasting.”
Additional honorees include Reign Venture Capital’s co-founder Monique Idlett, EVP, Head of Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy at BET Connie Orlando, Morning Mindset with Tai’sTai Beauchamp, FashionBombDaily’s Claire Sulmers,social impact and brand engagement strategist Alencia Johnson, WME Sports’ Cecil White, celebrity super-styling duo Wayman + Micah, AI innovator and expert in immersive technology Alton Glass, and rising stars Maya and Brian Smith creators of Black-owned hair care line, The Doux.
Hollywood’s finest stars showed up in their best fashions on the Black-tie red carpet at The 4th Annual Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards held this past Friday, June 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
The award show highlights recipient contributions across the music, film, media, political, social and creative industries to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions for the Black community. The awards was founded by CEO of Hollywood Unlocked, culture critic, media personality, and talk show host, Jason Lee.
Host Tiffany Haddish wore a black, strapless black gown with a sheer polkadot bottom, while Impact Awards founder, Jason Lee, wore a pink tux jacket styled by Wayman and Micah.
A highlight of the evening was Christian Louboutin receiving the Innovator Award from Sharon Stone, who praised his iconic red soles as the “Rolls Royce of stilettos.” Notably, Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, who received the Inspiration Award, celebrated Louboutin’s famous red soles in her debut hit “Bodak Yellow,” calling them “Bloody shoes.” Cardi B stunned in a black blazer dress with puff sleeves, tulle gloves, and a long tulle skirt by Fwrd. She completed the look with a side bang, red lip, and crystal jewelry.
Actor Jonathan Majors who received the Perseverance award showed up in a gray suit, alongside girlfriend Meagan Good who was dressed in a gold bedazzled Retrofete gown.
Other award recipients included rap icon Fat Joe (Culture Award), U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (Social Impact Award), attorney Ben Crump (Community Award), and Grammy-nominated rapper Da Brat and her wife Jesseca Harris-Dupart (Spirit Award).
These distinguished honorees join a prestigious list of previous awardees, including Chlöe Bailey, Law Roach, Whoopi Goldberg, Babyface, Tupac, Catherine Brewton, Floyd Mayweather, Kelis, Karen Bass, and Lizzo.
The 2024 Impact Awards also included special performances from singer and actor Fantasia Barrino, R&B singer-songwriter Lucky Daye, Hip-Hop artist Yellopain and Grammy Award winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard. The award show was pre-recorded and will air exclusively on The Zeus Network.
Apple Music rounds out Black Music Month with the release of a special Apple Music Nashville Sessions: Beyoncé Covered collection, featuring live-recorded country covers of Beyoncé’s catalog by Black rising country artists.
Celebrating the global icon’s genre-redefining COWBOY CARTER and her profound impact on music, the collection spotlights country artists championed by Apple Music over the years. These artists include Tiera Kennedy, BRELAND, and Joy Oladokun, who have hosted their own radio shows on Apple Music Country. Additionally, Madeline Edwards re-recorded P!nk’s “More” through Apple Music’s Lost & Found initiative, and other Apple Music Nashville Sessions have showcased artists such as Edwards, BRELAND, and Tanner Adell.
All covers are available in Spatial Audio exclusively on Apple Music and include “Sandcastles” by BRELAND, “Irreplaceable” by Brittney Spencer, “II MOST WANTED” by Joy Oladokun, “Halo” by Madeline Edwards, “Drunk In Love” by Tanner Adell, and “1+1” by Tiera Kennedy.
“Sandcastles” by BRELAND
A truly one-of-a-kind force on the country scene, BRELAND is reshaping the genre’s future with his fearless originality and visionary sound, and has earned massive acclaim for merging elements of country, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and pop. Taking on the mission of redefining the possibilities of country and uniting fans from all walks of life, the New-Jersey-bred artist putting his own spin on “Sandcastles” says, “I think people should be able to express themselves however they want.”
“Irreplaceable” by Brittney Spencer
As a Baltimore native, Brittney Spencer—who released her debut album ‘My Stupid Life’ earlier this year—is known for her free spirit and standout ability to mold life, truth, and wild imagination into songs. Spencer, who covers “Irreplaceable,” tells Apple Music, “When I first heard that Beyonce was making a country album, I felt…ready.”
“II MOST WANTED” by Joy Oladokun
First-generation daughter of Nigerian immigrants and proud queer Black woman, Joy Oladokun counts extraordinary accomplishments thus far—from captivating audiences on sold-out tours and late-night television to finding herself with a guitar in hand on the White House lawn in celebration of equality. Taking on the COWBOY CARTER track “II MOST WANTED,” she thinks the album has amplified an idea that she and her peers—and their fans—have known for a while. “Audiences of country music are bigger than we thought,” she says, “and they don’t look like we thought.”
“Halo” by Madeline Edwards
California born and Texas raised, Madeline Edwards has earned the praise from many—including Apple Music Country’s Ward Guenther who spotlighted the artist as “Riser of the Month” in August 2022—for transcending musical boundaries by incorporating her jazz, soul, gospel and country influences into her unique sound. “I get to add to the tapestry of beautiful American stories that make up the South,” says Edwards, who contributes a version of 2008’s “Halo.”
“Drunk In Love” by Tanner Adell
Brought up between the coast of Manhattan Beach, California and the rustic charm of Star Valley, Wyoming, Tanner Adell lived a free-spirited childhood in the country, complete with cowboy boots and rodeos. Weaving the tales of her upbringing through her musical storytelling, her lyricism keeps its roots in country while infusing an addictive blend of pop vocals and hip-hop beats. “Country music to me means family, and country music lets you tell your story,” the Buckle Bunny songstress tells Apple Music.
“1+1” by Tiera Kennedy
Rising singer-songwriter and Apple Music Country host of The Tiera Show, Tiera Kennedy is injecting country music with a breath of vitality. The Alabama native’s unique sound—an earnest storytelling-based country laced with the influence of the R&B she was raised on—stems from equal parts nature and nurture. As she readies her forthcoming full-length debut album, Kennedy tells Apple Music, “Beyonce has opened a door that’s going to be really hard to close.”
Apple Music Nashville Sessions gives artists the opportunity to perform a selection of their favorite tracks from their catalog, as well as a cover versions of their choice, recorded in incredible, immersive Spatial Audio.
33 years ago today [June 25], Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth unleashed their 1991 debut EP, All Souled Out, to critical acclaim. All Souled Out was a precursor to their official Elektra Records debut 1992’s Mecca and the Soul Brother.
All lyrics on the album are performed by C.L. Smooth with the exception of “The Creator,” which is a Pete Rock solo track. A deluxe edition of All Souled Out was released on February 18, 2014 on Traffic Entertainment Group, featuring the original six EP tracks, along with remix and instrumental versions of “The Creator” and “Mecca & the Soul Brother.”
Lauryn Hill is continuing the anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by launching The Celebration Tour alongside The Fugees. The trio will perform songs from The Miseducation and The Score. YG Marley will be a special guest on the tour, which will begin in August in Tampa and wrap up in Amsterdam in October.
Ms. Lauryn Hill and YG Marley were musical guests onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May. It was the show’s 10th Anniversary Special and YG Marley’s late-night TV debut. On the show,the two performed a medley of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s beloved “Ex-Factor” and YG Marley’s blockbuster single “Praise Jah in the Moonlight,” which has amassed over 1 billion streams since its release last December. Additionally, he unveiled a new song “Survival”, an interpolation of Bob Marley’s “Ambush in the Night”, written by YG Marley and his late grandfather, Bob Marley. The new song was produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill, YG Marley, and Johnny G.
Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums also culminated in the much-anticipated reveal of the top 10 albums of all time, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill crowned No. 1.
Upon receiving the news, Lauryn Hill told Apple Music, “This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative, and involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love.”
To celebrate, Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden sat down with legendary record producer, writer, and performer Nile Rodgers and Grammy-nominated artist and producer Maggie Rogers to reflect on the list during a special roundtable broadcasting globally today on Apple Music. Watch the full roundtable at music.apple.com.
Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums is a modern 21st-century ranking of the greatest records ever made, crafted by Apple Music’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.
Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums – Top 10
10. Lemonade – Beyoncé
9. Nevermind – Nirvana
8. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
7. good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version) – Kendrick Lamar
