ysl

The SOURCE’s Top Hip-Hop Stories of the Year

by
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and More Win Emmys for 2022 Superbowl Halftime Show

2022 was a big year in Hip-Hop, and The SOURCE was along with all the news as it broke. Kanye West, YSL, Tory Lanez, Rap Lyrics, and Super Bowl are just the tip of the iceberg. Below are The SOURCE’s Top Hip-Hop Stories of the year.

S7 2
S7 2

Ye Cancelled in 48 Hours and Loses Billionaire Status

As year-end honors are being handed out, Kanye West may have one that he wishes to sidestep. Ye has been named Antisemite of the Year by a watchdog group. StopAntisemitism named Ye “the most problematic person of 2022” regarding the group’s mission, corraling 10,000 votes from members. For the last half of 2022, Ye found himself in an endless war with the Jewish community, where he hinged his comments in anti-semitic rhetoric. Ye received the dishonor by announcing love for Hitler, launching attacks on the Jewish community, and also having disparaging remarks about George Floyd. What did that get him? Cut from Adidas, Balenciaga, and other deals resulting in the loss of billions.

Hip-Hop on Trial: YSL Rico & Tory Lanez Trial

Thug and the Young Stoner Life record label members are currently awaiting trial or taking plea deals. At the close of 2022, one trial will be over, and another will stretch into the new year. Young Thug is headed to trial in January on a state RICO case. The team is facing accusations of guns, murder, and more, dominating headliners for the better part of the year.

In addition, Tory Lanez also ran headlines for the second straight year as he approached trial for three separate charges concerning the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez faces up to 22 years in prison with these pending convictions. His sentencing is set for January, and he is currently behind bars in Los Angeles.

California Restricts the Use of Rap Lyrics in Court

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act, prohibiting songs from being used against defendants. The bill, known as AB 2799, was unanimously approved by the California Senate and Assembly in August. Rap lyrics will no longer be able to be used as evidence in court in the state of California. Rappers Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Too $hort, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, E-40, and Tyga spoke at a virtual bill signing ceremony on the significance of the law, along with CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. Leaders from Songwriters of North America and the Black Music Action Coalition also attended the signing ceremony. More on this here.

Latin Hip-Hop Rises and Bad Bunny is the Artist of the Year

Daddy Yankee did a victory lap retirement tour grossing nearly $198 million, Anuel AA is rising, and then there is the titan of Bad Bunny. To show you why Bad Bunny is the hottest on the planet, his Un Verano Sin Ti album sat at the top of the Billboard 200 for 11 non-consecutive weeks. Bad Bunny has the most week at No. 1 in nearly six years, matching Drake’s Views effort of 2016. Bad Bunny was named the year’s Artist of the Year on Apple Music. Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny’s sixth project in four years and one of the most streamed albums on Apple Music in 2022. More than 18.5 billion plays of Bad Bunny music have been created on Spotify this year, and his album “Un Verano Sin Ti” was the No. 1 most streamed album globally. In 2022, Bad Bunny’s concerts grossed $393.3 million globally, and his North American tour grossed $356.5 million this year.

Dr. Dre & Hip Hop’s Super Bowl

The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show was an instant historic moment in Hip-Hop history. The set kicked off with Dr. Dre sitting at an enormous mixing board before “The Next Episode” kicked off, sending the stadium into an uproar. Following his group that featured Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and special guests 50 Cent and Anderson. Paak, Dre received an increase of nearly 185% in the first hour following the game. Tracks from the halftime show also witnessed a significant rise in global Spotify streams after the show. Including in the surge was a nearly 520% increase in Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama,” more than a 270% increase in Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg’s “The Next Episode,” plus more than a 245% increase in “Still D.R.E.” and 250% increase of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” 

The post The SOURCE’s Top Hip-Hop Stories of the Year appeared first on The Source.

Lil Duke Takes Plea Deal Following Gunna & Other YSL Members

by

After Gunna announced his release from jail after a plea deal, authorities freed other members of YSL in quick succession. While many are excited at the news, others have been critical of the conditions of this plea deal. Nevertheless, Lil Duke also took his shot, where defendants pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to violate the RICO act. Since him and other YSL members did not face criminal charges, their sentences have been altered following this negotiation.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 06: Lil Duke and Gunna attend Gunna’s DS4EVER LA Listening Party on January 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DS4EVER Presented by Gunna, Young Stoner Life Records, 300 Entertainment)

In addition to Gunna and Lil Duke, two other members of YSL entered the agreement. YSL co-founder Walter Murphy entered the same plea deal as Gunna’s, known as an Alford plea. Slimelife Shawty recently took to Instagram to share his freedom and snuff out claims of snitching.

“Yea I’m home,” he wrote, “ain have to snitch to get here d***head. I admitted you slime life was a gang cus it ain’t illegal for no group to be a gang look it up that don’t hurt nobody anybody can be a gang, plus the founder already admitted it stupid. What I pose to say if a founder admitted it. What I den do was say Yes it’s a fact people in ysl commit crimes like murder and etc cus ion no nun bout that.”

However, many are still critical of this whole ordeal. 6ix9ine, an alleged “rat” himself, said that Gunna is a snitch no matter what.

“Once you plea guilty, you admit to the crime,” he told Wack 100 in addition to his Instagram post. “Once you plea guilty, that’s it, you admitting. You walking into that courtroom, you gonna admit everything you did wrong. So now anything you said is gonna be used against your man. Once I say yes I’m guilty, I was there, once you go under oath in the courtroom your man is dead. You just hung up your man.”

Meanwhile, Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel believes that these plea deals are a huge hindrance to YSL’s RICO case. Since these deals come with at least some form of admission, he believes the court will unjustly pin collective actions squarely against Thugger.

Still, what do you think of Lil Duke’s plea deal and others at YSL? Let us know in the comments below and check back in with HNHH for the latest case updates.

[via]

Young Thug’s Lawyer Speaks On Recent YSL Deals

by

Given recent news of Gunna’s release from jail, many are wondering how the rest of the YSL case will develop. Meanwhile, people are unsure whether this bodes well for its boss, Young Thug, or if he will face increased consequences. His lawyer, Brian Steel, spoke about these plea deals within YSL and how they might actually be hurting him. According to Steel, law enforcement will take advantage of people seeking release in exchange for information incriminating Thugger (Jeffery Williams).

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been processed using digital filters.) Rapper Young Thug attends the game between Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 25, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Steel stated, “When they want a deal, law enforcement officers are all too eager to say, ‘Well, tell us about Mr. Williams. Was he involved in this, what do you know about it? That’s the problem with this case. It’s coming from the word of people who are getting deals to say ‘Yeah, he was there. I saw him around’ or ‘He gave the order’ or ‘I heard from someone else he gave the order.’ That’s what this case is about. You’re not gonna hear any confession of Jeffery Williams.”

Furthermore, Gunna spoke about his recent plea deal and explained the circumstances. He wrote, “While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.” YSL co-founder Walter Murphy also took a plea deal.

Meanwhile, Young Thug’s legal battles took stranger turns indeed this week. Indeed, a naked man boasting “Free Young Thug” disrupted the “Digits” rapper’s hearing via Zoom on Thursday (December 15th). Moreover, the hearing was to suppress evidence in YSL’s RICO case.

While authorities scrambled to turn courtroom monitors off, they already had delayed the hearing by several hours given tech issues. Still, Thug attended the hearing in-person for the first time since his arrest, and he scored a big win. Judge Glanville prohibited prosecutors from using mobile phones and other evidence taken from the rapper’s home with no search warrant in 2015. Moreover, prosecutors intended to present said evidence at the January trial. Needless to say, the Zoom bomber brought a much less helpful surprise.

What do you think of Steel’s remarks and the YSL plea deals? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest case updates.

[via]

Slimelife Shawty Released In Third YSL Plea Deal

by

Recent releases and negotiations indicate that the YSL gang indictment saga may be entering a new phase of more freedom. Many of the Atlanta label’s members are doing time and accused of racketeering, gun and drug distribution, and other charges. Meanwhile, fans were ecstatic about the news of Gunna’s release this week. Also, officials also freed YSL rapper Slimelife Shawty on a plea deal, the third so far in this case.

Moreover, Shawty requested an Alford plea, which is the same one Gunna’s team employed. The 24-year-old pleaded guilty as a first offender to one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act. Meanwhile, the court will sentence him to ten years: one year commuted to time served, and nine of probation.

EAST POINT, GEORGIA – APRIL 22: (L-R) Dolly White, Unfoonk, HiDoraah, Strick, BSlime, Young Thug, Yak Gotti, YTB Trench, T-Shyne, Lil Keed, Lil Duke, and FN DaDealer attend Young Stoner Life Meet & Greet at DTLR Camp Creek on April 22, 2021 in East Point, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Moreover, Slimelife Shawty grew up on Cleveland Ave, the same neighborhood that Young Thug, Lil Keed, and Lil Got did. However, he’s with Alamo Records, and made waves Keed’s viral track “Blicky Blicky.” Shawty’s attorney reportedly stated that most charges he faced of “in furtherance of this conspiracy” were not criminal. Later, Shawty posted on his Instagram story to share the good news- and clarify it.

“Yea I’m home,” he wrote via text on a black background. “Ain have to snitch to get here dickhead . I admitted young slime life was a gang cus it ain’t illegal for no group to be a gang look it up that don’t hurt nobody anybody can be a gang , plus the founder already admitted it stupid. what I pose to say if a founder admitted it. what I den do was say Yes it’s a fact people in ysl commit crimes like murder and etc cus ion no nun bout that .”

Similarly, Gunna’s statement of release clarified that he wasn’t speaking against his crew. “While I have agreed to always be truthful,” he remarked, “I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.” While his statement, along with court footage, has received a wealth of positive reactions from other rappers, some were critical.

What do you think of YSL’s Slimelife Shawty’s release and plea deal? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates.

[via]