New Hip Hop News

There finally seems to be some positive updates in the case surrounding the murder of Tray Savage, an artist signed under Chief Keef’s Glo Gang imprint. In June of last year, we reported that the 26-year-old rapper was tragically shot and killed on the South Side of the city around 11 am. 

According to reports, he was dropping his girlfriend off back at home when he was shot in the neck and shoulder by an unknown aggressor, subsequently causing him to crash into three parked cars. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Now, police officers have reportedly finally made an arrest in the case. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, a murder warrant was issued for 20-year-old Demitri Jackson and he was recently arrested while out in Forth Worth, Texas. He was then extradited back to Chicago to face charges where he then received a bail hearing on Sunday (April 25). Judge David R. Navarro denied his bail and ordered him to return back to court later this week. 

As briefly explained, Tray Savage was shot and killed on the 8100 block of South Evans Avenue in the Chatham neighborhood on June 19, 2020. Prosecutors explain that Jackson and the late rapper were affiliated with the same gang, but they failed to explain what specifically triggered the shooting. 

Authorities explain Jackson and Tray Savage “interacted” with each other from their vehicles before driving off in different directions. Around 15 minutes later, Jackson returned with his white Mazda SUV and waited for once Savage returned, where he then allegedly opened fire. 

Prosecutors note they recognized Jackson’s unmasked visage from convenience store footage captured right before the incident. Additionally, they recognized his distinct limped walk, a result of a gunshot wound in 2018.

Jackson is scheduled to return to court on Friday (April 30). We’ll keep you updated as the case develops.

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When it was first reported that Kim Kardashian was filing for divorce from her husband Kanye West, the world instantly started theorizing on who they could move on with in their next relationships. For Kanye, a TikToker started the untrue rumor that he was hooking up with beauty guru Jeffree Star. That speculation quickly dissolved as it was revealed that there was no truth to it. As for Kardashian, people wondered if she was dating Van Jones, the lawyer and left-wing political commentator. Those rumors also drifted by the wayside after neither of them confirmed nor denied.

After Kim’s latest posts, showing her drive as she studies to become a lawyer herself, people have started to connect her again to Van Jones. While the two have not been spotted together for a while, spectators are wondering whether Kim could be “using” Jones to further herself in the legal world. The demeaning comments completely disregard her long-standing aspiration to follow in her father Robert Kardashian’s footsteps to become a lawyer. 

Once again, neither Kim nor Van has confirmed rumors that they’re romantic partners. However, if they are dating, it would make sense that a common interest in law brought them closer together. It seems as though everyone would be glad to see them debut themselves as a couple, but for now, it’s pretty unnecessary for the constant commentary about them maybe dating.

Kim Kardashian’s reps have reportedly stated that she’s taking it slow and isn’t in a rush to find her next partner, despite a list of celebrities, athletes, billionaires, and even members of the Royal Family shooting their shots. Kanye West reportedly wants to move on “with an artist.”

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

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In late 2019, Hasbro made a massive manoeuver with the purchase of Entertainment One for a reported sum of $3.8B. Following the news, many were quick to point out the humor behind legendary hip-hop label Death Row, the former home of 2Pac Shakur, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg, being owned by a toy company. 

Now, it would appear that Death Row, as well as every other artist and property under the eOne Music banner, are undergoing yet another relocation. A new report indicates that Hasbro is selling eOne Music to equity firm Blackstone (or rather, “entities controlled by Blackstone,” as per Deadline) for a cash deal of $385 million. Once the deal is finalized later this year, eOne will continue to operate under the current President Chris Taylor.  

Speaking on the sale, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner opened up about the rationale behind it: “This transaction will ensure that eOne Music is well-positioned to unlock great opportunities for its many talented artists and partners, as Hasbro continues to focus on the core strategic elements of our Brand Blueprint to further strengthen our position as a purpose‐led play and entertainment company. On behalf of the Board and Hasbro management, I want to recognize the strong leadership of Chris Taylor and the entire eOne Music organization.” 

In addition to Death Row Records, eOne is also home to several prominent acts and artists, including The Lumineers, Snoop Dogg, and the Wu-Tang Clan. Keep an eye out for more music industry developments as they surface. 

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The Weeknd unleashed his massive After Hours album on the world back in March 2020. The chart-topping smash-success of an album provided the XO artist with his biggest hit to date with “Blinding Lights,” and a coveted spot performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. He recently reimagined “Save Your Tears” with Ariana Grade, but it seems like the hitmaker is ready to move on from the successful era. 

While the project arrived right at the top of quarantine, being stuck at home throughout the ordeal seems to have inspired the Toronto-native to churn out more hits. In a series of sporadic tweets early Tuesday morning (April 27), The Weeknd shared some of his thoughts about the new music “magic” he’s been working on. 

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Beginning the tweets with a gif of Bugs Bunny, he began, “what is real?”  He continued in four more tweets, “made so much magic in the small quarantined room. nothing’s ever random. now just piecing it all together… it’s so beautiful.”

While he has yet to announce exactly what this project could entail, we’ll keep our ears peeled for any updates. Back in September of 2020, he vaguely hinted at releasing another album once quarantine concludes, although that timeframe was unpredictable at the time. 

“I might have another album ready to go by the time this quarantine is over,” he explained at the time. “I’m guilty of wanting to outdo my last album, but it’s never like, ‘I’ve got to do the same type of song.’ I’m so happy I’m not like that. My palette is so wide.”

Nonetheless, there definitely seems to be new The Weeknd music on the way. Are you looking forward to hearing it? Let us know down in the comments. 

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For the past few years, Eminem’s publisher Eight Mile Style has been engaged in a lawsuit against Spotify, centered around the accusation that the streaming giant had infringed on the rights of over two-hundred-and-fifty of his songs. Eight Mile Style also alleged that the Harry Fox Agency, an organization responsible for collecting royalties, conspired with Spotify to alter and falsify royalty statements among other documents in order to facilitate the process.

In the lawsuit, as reported by Billboard, Eight Mile Style alleges that Harry Fox Agency backdated notices and the licenses were never actually valid in the first place. And while Harry Fox opted to have the lawsuit, which was recently amended to include the company, dismissed, U.S. District Corut Judge Aleta Trauger of Nashville has recently denied their request. 

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“HFA protests that all it is accused of doing is sending letters based on information it received from Spotify,” explains the Judge, in a written statement. “At this stage, however, the court is required to take the plaintiffs’ allegations as true, and those allegations include the plaintiffs’ claims about how and why industry practice and HFA’s own reputation allowed HFA’s actions to conceal Spotify’s lack of a valid mechanical license for the Eight Mile Compositions.”

“The purpose and effect of that concealment, moreover, was not simply to prevent past infringement from being discovered, but to allow infringement to continue,” it continues. “Even if HFA was innocent in Spotify’s first alleged instances of infringement, the plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that its actions contributed to Spotify’s ability to continue infringing over time.” Recognizing that it’s entirely possible that the Fox Agency’s denial of any wrongdoing may hold true, the Judge ultimately decided that letting this one play out in court was the wisest course of action.

One has to wonder about the potential ramifications this may have on the music industry, with one of the biggest superstars in the world going up against the largest streaming platform. Look for further developments on this ongoing legal battle as they unfold.

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