New Hip Hop News

Empire star Bryshere Gray is set to spend 10 days in prison after pleading guilty to felony aggravated assault in his ongoing domestic violence case, new court documents obtained by TMZ have revealed.

Additionally, Gray will serve three years on probation, during which, he will be required to enroll in a domestic violence offender treatment program and submit to drug and alcohol testing.

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

Last July, the actor’s wife claimed Gray throttled her, causing her to lose consciousness. When police attempted to arrest him, Gray barricaded himself inside his home in Goodyear, Arizona.

Gray maintained his innocence in a recent interview about the case with Marc Lamont Hill.

“It’s been beyond frustrating, and I certainly am not going rogue,” he said when asked about speaking publically regarding the case. “I’m still taking the advice of my attorneys and everything like that, but I don’t really see, honestly, what staying quiet has really done, like, where it has gotten me… It’s so much bigger than me.”

Gray’s Empire co-star, Jussie Smollett, has also faced legal trouble in recent years for allegedly filing a false report claiming that he was attacked by two men in January 2019.

[Via]

The late New York rapper, Pop Smoke, was honored with the award for Top Billboard 200 Album for his project Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, Sunday.

Pop Smoke’s mother, Audrey Jackson, accepted the award in his place.

“I thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he were still here in the flesh,” she said. “He created music for the kid who has to sleep four in a room, the kid who has to figure out how to get to school each day so he can graduate and make his mom proud. He did this so that 14-year-olds would not have to kill to prove they are somebody.”

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

The rapper was killed during a home invasion in February 2020 at the age of 20.

“That is the irony in this, so thank you to the Billboard Awards leadership for honoring my young warrior,” she continued. “Bashar Barakah Jackson, we call your name.”

Other nominees for the Top Billboard 200 Album were Juice WRLD for Legends Never Die, Lil Baby’s My Turn, Taylor Swift for Folklore, and The Weeknd for After Hours.

For the full list of winners and nominees from the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, click here.

[Via]

The late New York rapper, Pop Smoke, was honored with the award for Top Billboard 200 Album for his project Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, Sunday.

Pop Smoke’s mother, Audrey Jackson, accepted the award in his place.

“I thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he were still here in the flesh,” she said. “He created music for the kid who has to sleep four in a room, the kid who has to figure out how to get to school each day so he can graduate and make his mom proud. He did this so that 14-year-olds would not have to kill to prove they are somebody.”

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

The rapper was killed during a home invasion in February 2020 at the age of 20.

“That is the irony in this, so thank you to the Billboard Awards leadership for honoring my young warrior,” she continued. “Bashar Barakah Jackson, we call your name.”

Other nominees for the Top Billboard 200 Album were Juice WRLD for Legends Never Die, Lil Baby’s My Turn, Taylor Swift for Folklore, and The Weeknd for After Hours.

For the full list of winners and nominees from the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, click here.

[Via]

The Atlanta Hawks outplayed the New York Knicks 107-105, Sunday night, after a game-winning shot from Trae Young to close out the first game of the two team’s first-round playoff matchup. After hitting the buzzer-beater, Young channeled Reggie Miller when taunting fans in Madison Square Garden.

“I wanted to hear those F-U chants again,” Young told TNT right after the game.

Young finished with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists in his first career playoff game. 

Prior to Young’s game-winner, Derrick Rose tied the game with 10.2 seconds remaining in the game.

Pool / Getty Images

“I’m glad fans are back, MSG was rocking tonight, and I’m glad everyone got to experience it,” Young told reporters after the game. “I definitely know the history of players coming in here and being hated, and I take that as a compliment, to be honest with you.

“I’ve always looked at it is I’m doing something right,” Young continued. “If I’m offending them with my play that they hate me that much, I’m obviously doing something right. I just got to let my play do the talking. At the end of the day, fans can only talk. They can’t guard me. They’re not out there playing.”

Sunday was the first time the Knicks have played in the post-season since the 2012-13 season, causing the Garden to be extra rowdy.

Game 2 between the Hawks and Knicks is scheduled to tip-off on Wednesday at 7:30 PM, EST.

[Via]