Cam’ron cracked some jokes about rapper and podcaster Gillie Da Kid by posting an edited photo of him next to the convicted sex offender and disgraced R&B star R. Kelly in a suggestive manner. In the picture, the singer has his arm around someone who the Million Dollaz Worth of Game co-host is edited onto while the two hold hands.
Cam’ron captioned the Instagram post: “Yo @gilliedaking f*ck going on?!! This where u get the phrase ‘nut ASS n-gga’? We gotta have a convo. 1. Where was y’all at? 2. Did he drug you[?] 3. Did you want to get on that bad? (Pause). I got more questions hit me bro.” Gillie, a longtime friend of Cam’s, replied in the comments section: “[laughing emoji] Dam homie don’t do that I told u I was playing.” Gillie’s co-host Wallo also chimed in with some jokes of his own, telling the “story” of what happened that night. “Cam it was a wild night, he woke up the next morning soaking wet in a closet filled with lollipops & whip cream. He was immediately transported to the nearest emergency room. He did a lot of therapy afterwards. We finally got him back to himself. For years anytime he would hear a R.Kelly song he would scream NOOOOOOOOOO, don’t do it!”
Druski previously asked about the photo of Gillie and R. Kelly during an episode of Million Dollaz Worth of Game earlier this year, to which Gillie confirmed it was fake. However, he did tell a story about sleeping over at Kelly’s house with members of the Cash Money Records roster. He also jokingly accused podcast co-host Wallo of attending one of Diddy’s infamous parties, pointing to a random bald man in the background of a photo of Diddy and R. Kelly.
Cam’ron and Gillie have been friends for years, and he credited Gillie for helping him reconcile with Ma$e. Their reconciliation led to the creation of the It Is What It Is sports podcast, one of the more successful sports shows around today. Ma$e did not get in on the jokes, but one can assume he saw them. The two are very successful in their media careers, and it is nice to see longtime friends interacting as such.
Tinashe is having a moment. The singer has been dropping acclaimed albums for over a decade, but her latest single, “Nasty,” has exploded. It’s spread like wildfire on TikTok, and recently cracked the Billboard Hot 100. This marks the first time Tinashe has landed a pop hit as a solo artist, and to make things even better, she managed to do it as an independent artist. “Nasty” was released through the Tinashe Music label. She’s thrilled by the song’s success and the reaction of her former label.
Tinashe, who left RCA Records in 2019, told TMZ that her ex-label is “gagging” over the success of her new single. “Nasty” has continued to gain traction since its release in April. This is not the first time Tinashe has thrown shade at RCA Records, either. During a 2023 appearance on the Zach Sang Show, the R&B singer claimed she was forced to do collabs against her will. To make matters worse, they were often with artists who were over the hill, like R. Kelly. “I literally block out that R. Kelly song from my mind,” she told the host. “I forget that it even exists. That is so embarrassing. That is so unreal that I even have a song with R. Kelly. That’s so embarrassing.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 12: Tinashe is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on June 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Tinashe was also reluctant to do a song with Chris Brown. “He was their biggest artist that they had on rhythmic radio at the time,” she recalled. “To me, I was like, ‘Well, this is a pop song. So, I really don’t feel like we should put Chris on it.’ That doesn’t compute to me, but I don’t know.” Tinashe’s instincts proved to be correct. Chris Brown wound up dissing her by asking IG users to “name five Tinashe songs.” The singer did admit that the independent grind has not been easy, though.
In a recent interview with Polyester, Tinashe detailed the effort that goes into releasing her own music. “I have to keep it 100 with people,” she explained. “It is not easy being independent. To find enough money to be able to fund the things you want to create, putting together a live show, or making a music video. Those things cost a lot of money and to be able to maintain that on your own is very hard.” Fortunately, the singer’s hard work has paid off. She scored her biggest hit in a decade, and she recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Benzino and Coi Leray’s relationship has been strained over the past few years, to say the least. It seems that the one-time co-owner of The Source has an ongoing beef with his daughter that he can’t seem to curb. The comments on both sides have been fiery, though Benzino’s have ranged from needless to downright bizarre. From spilling the beans about her Nicki Minaj collaboration to his wild remarks about Leray losing her virginity, Benzino arguably hasn’t been able to take a step back when it comes to his rap star daughter.
Benzino Says Coil Leray Can’t Criticize His Support for R. Kelly
Benzino’s support of R. Kelly is widely known. He’s repeatedly stated that he believes the R&B singer deserves a second chance to redeem himself. Coi Leray’s response to this has been to further distance herself from her father, stating that she doesn’t approve of or respect any of the interviews he’s been doing lately. But a bizarre turn of events took place during a recent interview on the Famous & Wealthy Podcast. Benzino responded rather oddly to Coi’s decision to put more space between her and her father directly. He weaponized her reveal that she lost her virginity at 14 to both defend himself and R. Kelly, stating, “How can you say that when you just said that you lost your virginity at 14? So is the guy that you lost your virginity at 14 with, is he a pedophile?” This is definitely one of Benzino’s weirdest comments.
Benzino Charges Coi Leray With Pushing A False Narrative
In a fall 2023 interview with Angie Martinez, Coi Leray discussed her shaky relationship with her father. She told Martinez that she sensed some jealousy from her father over her recent success. She added that it’s not something she holds against him since he’s “he’s human.” However well-intentioned her comments were, Benzino seemed to take them as a complete attack. In a since-deleted Instagram video, the 58-year-old responded in a rant. He called Leray’s comments, in so many words, ridiculous. He shot down any charges of envy, arguing that there’s no way he could be jealous of someone he “raised, nurtured, provided for, influenced, and loved very dearly.” The intensity of his response makes one of Benzino’s weirdest comments. It also makes you wonder whether Benzino is trying to make amends or just saving face.
Benzino Lets Coi Leray-Nicki Minaj Collab Out Of The Bag
Benzino slipped a terribly timed comment about his daughter’s collaboration with Nicki Minaj, “Blick Blick.” It almost ensured the song never came out since Minaj faced pressure from her label to pull the track. Benzino teased that Leray “got this song with Nicki Minaj that’s gonna be coming out that’s gonna be crazy” on the audio chatroom Clubhouse. Leray, understandably heated, would hop on Instagram Live to publicly lambast her father, telling him to calm down and that “it’s [her] turn now.”
Benzino Threatens Coi Leray’s Mother
During an album promotion interview on The Breakfast Club in April 2022, Coi Leray publicly revealed that her father went broke over the loss of The Source magazine. She said she was about nine years old at the time. Leray would take to social media soon after to reveal that Benzino had sent threatening messages to her mother since the interview. She asked him to stop mistreating her and her mother because of his failures. This seemingly did nothing to slow Benzino down, as he retaliated by taking to X to tweet, “The problem with this…generation is that they have no respect or regard for who came before them and how they laid the blueprint for them to be successful.” His almost compulsive need to have the last word has led onlookers to question the motivation behind his public responses.
In a February interview on Drink Champs, Benzino expressed his upset over Coi Leray shooting a music video for “Luxury Life” with Busta Rhymes. He asked, “How come [Busta Rhymes] didn’t call me?” The answer seems fairly obvious; Leray is a grown woman with a career and makes her own decisions. But this didn’t seem clear to Benzino, who continued, “If he has my number, call me, ‘Hey bro, I’m getting ready to do videos with your daughter’ – that’s my f******* daughter.” The Drink Champs hosts tried to be understanding but were caught off-guard by this statement, one of Benzino’s weirdest comments. They then became downright confused when he stated moments late that “ain’t no beef with Busta Rhymes.” He’s obviously upset with Leray’s part in the Busta Rhymes video, but his anger seems misdirected at best.
Benzino still feels a type of way after his daughter Coi Leray expressed disappointment in him over his defense of R. Kelly, effectively disowning him and their familial bond. Moreover, he recently appeared on the Famous & Wealthy podcast and spoke about her reaction to his take on the disgraced R&B singer. Speficially, the Source co-founder brought up an interview that Coi did with Math Hoffa on his My Expert Opinion podcast some time ago, in which she revealed that she lost her virginity at the age of 14. This rubs her father the wrong way given her outright condemnation of his R. Kelly comments and wants her to expand upon this.
“She made a comment about the R. Kelly situation and said that she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me,” Benzino’s thoughts began. “Because of the R. Kelly thing. And I’m saying -– but then, right? Four months ago, she’s on the Math Hoffa show. And Math Hoffa -– which I thought, you know, was a kind of crazy question. But hey… Like she said, she’s grown, you know what I’m saying? She’s of age, I don’t think they’re grown sometimes. But anyways, alright, alright. But he asked her, ‘Hey, when did you lose your virginity?’ She said at 14.
“Now first, right, I didn’t know, you know what I’m saying?” Benzino continued. “Right, so I’m like… So here you are condemning me for saying what I’m saying, which is a grown folks’ conversation. Which I never mentioned you. Which, really, you shouldn’t have even really involved yourself because this was a conversation that I’m having. But since you did involve yourself, which is what you do, alright? How can you say that when you just said that you lost your virginity at 14? So is the guy that you lost your virginity at 14 [to], is he a pedophile?“
At this point, it’s very unclear whether Benzino and Coi Leray will ever truly make up and avoid conflicts like this in the future. They have always been at odds, but also found common ground to forgive each other over and move forward. With this in mind, arguably the most serious situation and clash the two have had so far, the future looks a bit more bleak. But there’s always a chance for folks to grow as long as they accept accountability and due consequence for their mistakes.
Musicians work hard to earn a living and become globally renowned stars. However, a negative news story or occurrence can tarnish an accomplished artist’s legacy. This can be in the form of celebrity lawsuits. Many rappers and R&B artists had their legacies questioned after legal battles. Although some of these artists survived or recovered from these lawsuits, they became an unwanted entry in their lives or careers—something people know them for besides their craft.
Rap mogul Diddy is famous for founding Bad Boy Records and helping many musicians rise to the top of their careers. He also enjoyed massive success as a rapper and music producer. However, Diddy has been in the news for the wrong reasons since November 2023, after his former longtime partner and singer Cassie filed a lawsuit against him. In the suit, she claimed Diddy sexually and physically assaulted her, among other damaging allegations. Diddy quickly settled the lawsuit but has since seen seven more lawsuits filed against him.
Leaked footage of Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel lobby soiled his image even further. Although the rapper apologized for his actions, too much damage had been done and one can only wonder what becomes of him. Besides Diddy, many more MCs have suffered celebrity lawsuits that soiled their legacies. Let’s dive in and see who these artists are.
7. Mystikal Gets Jail Term After Sexual Assault Conviction
It is easy to forget that Mystikal was a Grammy Award nominee. The New Orleans native is famous for his hit songs like “Here I Go,” “Ain’t No Limit,” “The Man Right Chea,” and “Shake Ya Ass,” a track featuring Pharrell. However, while Mystikal was at the peak of his career in 2003, his world came crashing down after his indictment on charges of sexual battery and extortion. The rapper pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to six years in state prison in Jan 2004. Mystikal and two bodyguards allegedly forced his hairstylist to perform oral sex. They also accused her of stealing $80,000 in checks.
While serving his six-year sentence, Mystikal received two federal misdemeanor charges for failing to file tax returns in 1998 and 1999. He was convicted of those charges in Jan 2006 but was allowed to serve the one-year sentence concurrently with his six-year sex assault sentence. He regained his freedom on Jan. 14, 2010, and registered as a sex offender afterward.
Mystikal had more legal troubles after his release. In February 2012, he served a nine-day detention following a dispute with his domestic partner. He also served a three-month jail term for violating his probation terms and was released in August 2012. In August 2017, Mystikal was charged with rape and was held at the Caddo Correctional Center on a $3 million bond, which he posted in Feb 2019. However, the rape charges were dismissed in Dec 2020 due to lack of evidence. Mystikal’s career and celebrity status took a great hit due to his lawsuits, which soiled his reputation in more ways than one. One can only wonder what could have been of the once-great rapper if he avoided those troubles.
Lauryn Hill first gained fame as the frontwoman of The Fugees before becoming celebrated as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Her 1998 solo debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, was a massive success, earning her five Grammy Awards. Lauryn became the first woman to win five or more Grammys in one night. Despite this acclaim, she unexpectedly withdrew from the music scene.
Before her Grammy wins, Hill faced a significant celebrity lawsuit. Musicians Rasheem Pugh, Vada Nobles, and Jahari Newton accused her of using their songs and production skills in her debut album without proper credit. Lauryn settled the lawsuit by paying $5 million. Struggling with the pressures of stardom, she decided to retreat from the spotlight. In a 2020 interview with Essence, Lauryn explained that she stepped away because she felt compromised by the industry’s demands, stating, “I discovered people could only acknowledge red and blue, and I was somewhere between. I was purple.”
Lauryn’s legal troubles continued. In 2012, she was charged with failing to pay over $1.8 million in taxes from 2005 to 2007. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months in jail in 2013. After her release in October 2013, Lauryn remained mostly out of the music industry. However, the rapper has been making a gradual return. In 2019, she contributed a song, “Guarding the Gates,” to Queen and Slim: The Soundtrack. She also toured in 2023 for the 25th anniversary of her debut album. In May 2023, during a chat with TMZ, Lauryn’s son YG hinted that his mom had new material on the way, which Lauryn confirmed. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains one of the greatest albums ever made. Yet, Lauryn’s legacy is also marred by her legal struggles and musical exile.
In July 1991, television show host Dee Barnes filed a $22.7 million lawsuit against Dr. Dre. In the lawsuit, Dee claimed the rapper smashed her face and body into a wall. After she fell, he allegedly proceeded to kick her in the ribs and stamp on her fingers. When Dee allegedly hid in the female bathroom, Dr. Dre purportedly burst his way in and bashed her in the back of the head. Dee claimed the assault occurred on Jan 1991, during a private party at the Po Na Na Souk club.
Dr. Dre pleaded no contest to Dee’s celebrity assault lawsuit and settled it out of court. He received a $2,500 fine and was placed on a two-year probation. Dr. Dre performed 240 hours of community service and produced an anti-violence public service announcement. The rapper regrets the occurrence and spoke about it in 2015. Addressing his violent past, Dr. Dre apologized to the women he had hurt over the years. In 2017, he addressed it again in the second installment of his four-part documentary series, The Defiant Ones. He said there was no excuse for his actions and that no woman should be treated that way.
Dr. Dre added, “Any man that puts his hands on a female is a f***ing idiot. He is out of his f***ing mind and I was out of my f***ing mind at the time. I f***ed up. I paid for it. I’m sorry for it and I apologized for it. I have this dark cloud that follows me and it’s gonna be attached to me forever.” He admitted the incident is a major blemish on who he is as a man and makes him feel sad whenever it comes up. Dr. Dre concluded by saying he was becoming a better person.
4. Chris Brown Charged After Physically Assaulting Rihanna
In 2009, Chris Brown and Rihanna were making waves musically and romantically. The pair started dating in 2007 and were adored by fans for their music and relationship. However, their love story came to a sad end in February 2009. Chris and Rihanna were involved in an argument that took a turn for the worse, leading to Chris physically assaulting the singer. A search warrant in the case revealed Rihanna read a text message from another woman on Chris’s phone. This caused the argument, after which he reportedly tried to force her out of the vehicle they were in. Chris hit Rihanna’s head against the passenger window and punched her in her left eye when she turned to face him.
Afterward, he drove away but continued to punch her with one hand while driving with the other. He also threatened to beat her when they got home and threatened to kill her after she called her assistant to alert the police. Rihanna was hospitalized afterward and left with visible facial injuries. In the aftermath, Chris was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats. On July 22, 2009, he pleaded guilty to a felony and accepted a plea deal of community labor, five years probation, and domestic violence counseling. Chris was widely condemned for his actions during and after the ordeal. He has been involved in more legal troubles following the incident, but his physical assault on Rihanna is one that continues to affect his public perception despite his musical success; a stain that may never go away.
3. Tupac Shakur’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Tupac Shakur was arguably the greatest rapper the world ever knew. However, he found himself in the news for the wrong reasons at the height of his career due to a celebrity lawsuit. A month before the release of his third studio album Me Against The World, Tupac was sentenced to jail after his conviction on sexual assault charges. It all began in November 1993 when Tupac and his crew members were charged with sexually assaulting a woman. The victim, Ayanna Jackson, claimed she had sex with Tupac a few days before the incident. She accused Tupac and his entourage of raping her in a room at New York’s Parker Meridien Hotel. Amid the celebrity lawsuit, Tupac maintained that his encounter with Ayanna was consensual. During a Mar. 8, 1994 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, he discussed the case, maintaining his innocence.
However, on Feb. 7, 1995, the court found Tupac and sentenced him to 1.5 years to 4.5 years in prison for sexually assaulting Ayanna. He served his sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. Tupac served only nine months of his sentence. He regained his freedom after posting a $1.4 million bail. Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight paid the bail after an agreement with Tupac, who released three albums under the record label. Tupac remained a music idol after his death, but his sexual assault lawsuit, conviction, and prison sentence are stains on his music legacy.
2. Michael Jackson’s Child Abuse Lawsuits
The late “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, is one of the world’s greatest-ever musicians. However, his musical legacy is not without blemish due to several child abuse allegations against him. Although these allegations were never proven, their presence constitutes a dark patch over MJ’s laudable achievements. In early 1993, the Los Angeles police conducted investigations after the father of a 13-year-old boy, Jordan Chandler, made disturbing allegations against Michael. According to Jordan’s father, Michael allegedly seduced his son and performed sexual acts with him. MJ denied the allegations against him, while his security adviser, Private Detective Anthony Pellicano, said the allegations were part of a plot to extort his client.
Despite Jordan’s testimony, Michael didn’t face a trial. The singer settled the case with Jordan and his father, reportedly paying $23 million. However, the payment was not an admission of guilt on Michael’s part. He did it to prevent the lawsuit from interfering with his career. Despite the settlement, speculations about his fondness for kids remained. Jordan’s father returned with another lawsuit in 1996, claiming Michael breached an agreement not to discuss the case. However, the court dismissed the lawsuit.
Michael’s celebrity lawsuits continued in November 2003 after his arrest on charges of child abuse. British journalist Martin Bashir made a documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, that showed MJ discussing sleeping arrangements with a 12-year-old boy. After the documentary aired, Jackson bagged seven child sexual abuse charges and two charges of administering an intoxicating agent to commit a crime. Michael denied the allegations. He maintained his sleepovers with children were not sexual in nature. His friend, Elizabeth Taylor, also defended him. She claimed she was there when Michael was in bed with the kids, and nothing was abnormal about it. Michael’s case continued until June 2005, when he was cleared of all charges. The world may never know if Michael ever abused any child sexually. In the eyes of the law, the King of Pop was innocent, but his legacy will always have that stain.
Kelly, once celebrated as an R&B legend, saw his career and reputation irreparably damaged by a series of lawsuits and criminal charges that exposed a pattern of sexual misconduct spanning decades. The artist’s legal troubles began gaining public attention in the late 1990s. However, the revelations and subsequent legal battles of the 2000s and 2010s ultimately led to his downfall. In 2002, Kelly faced his first major celebrity lawsuit when a videotape surfaced allegedly showing him engaging in sexual acts with a minor. Although he was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, the allegations haunted his career. Public sentiment began to shift as more women came forward with accusations of sexual abuse, manipulation, and exploitation.
The turning point came in 2017 with the release of a BuzzFeed News article detailing accusations of Kelly running a “sex cult.” The article spurred the #MuteRKelly movement, leading to widespread calls for boycotts of his music. In 2019, the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly brought further damning evidence to light, featuring interviews with numerous women who accused Kelly of abuse and misconduct. Following the documentary’s release, Kelly bagged several charges on multiple counts of sexual abuse in several states, including Illinois and New York.
The charges encompassed a range of offenses, from child pornography to obstruction of justice. In 2021, Kelly was convicted in New York on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, leading to a 30-year prison sentence. Kelly’s legal battles and the shocking details of his crimes have forever tarnished his image. Once known for his musical genius, he is now synonymous with one of the most egregious examples of abuse in the entertainment industry.
Benzino’s career has been defined by difficult relationships. He rose to fame by picking a fight with Eminem in the 2000s, and the men continue to take shots at each other two decades later. The more tragic relationship, however, has been between Benzino and his daughter, Coi Leray. Leray has put together a successful rap career, but she’s been in a constant push-and-pull in terms of where she stands with her father. She recently claimed to have disowned Benzino after he made controversial comments about R Kelly.
Leray’s announcement was made via X (formerly Twitter) on May 1. She made it crystal clear that she will no longer have Benzino in her life. Fans may have interpreted the tweet as an impulsive response, but the latter confirmed it when he appeared on the We In Miami pod. Ironically, We In Miami is the same pod on which Benzino made his initial R Kelly comments.
The host asked the former Source editor where he was at with his daughter, and he was brutally honest. “It’s unfortunate,” he noted. “But, you know, we don’t communicate too much. The whole thing is surreal to me… I’m a smart guy but I can’t figure this one out.” Benzino went on to interpret Leray’s side of the story, and posit a reason why she has decided to go silent. “Coi is a young lady, she independent,” he explained. This young generation, they don’t want their parents interfering with their lives man.”
Benzino’s account became even more heartbreaking when he revealed that he’s on the outs with some of his other kids as well. “I have to learn to adapt to that and respect that,” he added. “It just ain’t Coi, it’s a lot of my daughters. It’s hard for guys like me to have daughters and try to figure it out. Not the easiest thing.”
Benzino claimed that his closeness with Coi Leray was compromised when she became a popular rapper. “I was the hero,” he asserted. “My daughter looked up to me her whole life” Benzino told the host that he hopes it’s merely a phase, and that him and Leray are able to repair their relationship at some point in the future. Leray has meanwhile gotten attention for the wrong reasons on X. She recently tweeted that she was the female version of Lil Uzi Vert, and the hip-hop community let her know that wasn’t the case.
Reactions to the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef have come in a variety of ways. Some have tried to analyze who landed more punches and came away looking better. Additionally others have taken a more analytical approach trying to find out which of both rapper’s claims can actually be proven. Members of the hip-hop media space like Joe Budden have been doing a combination of both. He’s called together numerous emergency podcasts to break songs down line by line. They also discuss the overall standing of the war between the two artists.
During a recent episode Budden and his co-hosts reacted to the most recent addition to the viral beef. Drake dropped “The Heart Part 6” over the weekend. In the song he claims that the viral story Kendrick spread about him having a secret 12-year-old daughter was actually planted and didn’t have any real evidence. He also defends himself against the allegations that he’s attracted to underage girls, though how good of a job he does has been up for massive debate online. Subsequently, Budden and company seemed to pretty firmly state their takes on whether or not he pulls it off with their immediate reaction to the song. Check out what they had to say below.
After hearing one particular bar on the song where Drake promises that if he had been acting inappropriately to underage girls he would have been caught by now. Budden and company clearly weren’t a fan of that line of thinking. In fact, they went as far as to reference a notorious R Kelly incident where he sang an improvised invitation to a crowd of fans overseas. The comparison speaks volumes about how little they’re convinced by Drake’s denial.
What do you think of Joe Budden and his co-hosts singing a notorious R. Kelly song while reacting to Drake’s newest diss track? Do you think Drake did a good enough job defending himself against Kendrick’s allegations? Let us know in the comment section below.
Coi LeRay doesn’t agree with anything her father, Benzino, has said or done recently. Benzino appeared on the We In Miami podcast and spoke his heart about R. Kelly, stating, “Everybody deserves a second chance.”
After mistakenly stating the legal age in America is 16, Benzino doubled down with his rationale: “Why the fuck is R. Kelly doing all this time? Because you know why? Because they’re 14 and 13 — two years younger — but you don’t think that the people who cleared it for 16 years old didn’t know that they’re fucking with 13s and 14s, too.”
He later added, “Them parents of them girls knew what they were dealing with, with R. Kelly, lot of people knew that shit. R. Kelly wasn’t educated, man. Like when does that come in play?
Hitting X, Coi LeRay made sure to distance herself from the comments, stating: “I don’t respect his decisions and I really want nothing to do with him please dont even think of me when you see him.”
I want everybody to know I want nothing to do with anything my father has going on. I haven’t spoken to him in over a year and I don’t condone or respect any of them interviews he got going on. I don’t respect his decisions and I really want nothing to do with him please dont…
Sharing the same DNA and blood DOESN’T make us FAMILY . Loyalty , boundaries , respect , teaching , guidance , love , patience , encouragement MAKES US FAMILY .
Benzino pulled up on the We In Miami podcast and spoke his heart about R. Kelly, stating “Everybody deserves a second chance.”
After mistakenly stating the legal age in America is 16, Benzino doubled down with his rationale: “Why the fuck is R. Kelly doing all this time? Because you know why? Because they’re 14 and 13 — two years younger — but you don’t think that the people who cleared it for 16 years old didn’t know that they’re fucking with 13s and 14s, too.”
He later added, “Them parents of them girls knew what they were dealing with, with R. Kelly, lot of people knew that shit. R. Kelly wasn’t educated, man. Like when does that come in play?
While Benzino is sticking up for R. Kelly, Kells hopped on Clubhouse to talk with Wack 100 and vouch for Diddy. Speaking on the raids of Diddy’s homes, Kelly provides a warning to those making jokes: “they ass could be next.”
“That’s what’s so fucked up about it,” R. Kelly said. “They so stupid they don’t even realize the moves that’s going on. I don’t believe none of this shit. You could tell me about Puffy, you could about anybody. You could tell me on the news, the weather, the sky is blue, I’m not gonna believe the shit. Cause I’m in it now, and I know what they did.”
You can hear from R. Kelly and Wack 100 below.
In other R. Kelly news, he is fighting to reclaim $28,000 confiscated from his prison commissary account, a sum seized and used as restitution for one of his victims. This development is part of the ongoing saga following Kelly’s high-profile legal troubles and subsequent incarceration.
According to reports from HipHopDX, which accessed court documents, a hearing concerning the dispute over the commissary funds was scheduled for Monday, March 18. The proceedings saw Assistant United States Attorney Kayla Bensing representing the interests of the United States against the embattled musician’s claims.
The roots of this financial conflict can be traced back to a series of court decisions aimed at compensating Kelly’s victims. In March 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of Heather Williams, granting her access to R. Kelly’s label fund. This fund, reportedly valued at $1.5 million in 2020 according to Billboard, became a source of restitution before Midwest Commercial Funding, a property manager, secured a separate $3.5 million ruling against Kelly over unpaid rent for a Chicago studio.
In a significant move in August of the same year, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly ordered that Kelly and his label, Universal Music Group, surrender more than $500,000 in royalties. This order also included the directive for Kelly to hand over the $28,000 in his prison canteen account, emphasizing the legal system’s efforts to ensure Kelly’s victims receive restitution.
The announcement of the livestream link for the hearing noted, “The defendant is appealing his conviction and the government’s seizure of his substantial Bureau of Prisons commissary account to satisfy the financial penalties imposed in the case.” It further stated that each side would be allotted ten minutes to present their arguments, underscoring the limited time frame to address such a complex issue.
Benzino knows how to drum up controversy. The former editor of The Source Magazine has made a career out of it. Few people would know he was a rapper were it not for his highly-publicized beef with Eminem during the 2000s. Unfortunately, Benzino’s knack for making bold statements has come back to bite him. He recently went on the We In Miami podcast, where he declared that R Kelly should be given a second chance despite his heinous crimes. This proved to be the last straw for Benzino’s daughter, Coi Leray, who publicly denounced their relationship.
Leray posted an X (formerly Twitter) thread on May 1 to clarify her stance on Benzino’s comments. She did not mention R. Kelly by name, but it was obvious she did not agree with her father. “I want everybody to know I want nothing to do with anything my father has going on,” she wrote. “I haven’t spoken to him in over a year and I don’t condone or respect any of them interviews he got going on.” The rapper went on to explain that she does even want to be associated with Benzino in the future. “I don’t respect his decisions,” she added. “I want nothing to do with him please don’t even think of me when you see him.”
I want everybody to know I want nothing to do with anything my father has going on. I haven’t spoken to him in over a year and I don’t condone or respect any of them interviews he got going on. I don’t respect his decisions and I really want nothing to do with him please dont…
Coi Leray doubled down on her feelings towards her father in a second tweet. “Sharing the same DNA and blood doesn’t make us family,” she noted. “Loyalty, boundaries, respect, teaching, guidance, love, patience, encouragement makes us family… Keep me away from people who try to ‘get their lick back’ please.” The rapper then told followers that she looks forward to having a child of her own so that she could put what she’s learned into practice. “I can’t wait to have a kid one day,” she concluded. “I can’t wait to look her/him in the eye and tell them how much I love them.”
As sad as this exchange is, Benzino and Coi Leray’s estrangement is not surprising. The father and daughter have gone through a very public cycle of beefing and then making up over the years. Leray criticized Benzino for harassing her mother back in 2022, and went against her father when he tried to revive his beef with Eminem the same year. “Let’s build bridges and get over them before you burn the bridge and burn with it,” she said at the time. Unfortunately, the time for building bridges with Benzino seems to have come to an end.
