New Hip Hop News

It’s the gift that keeps on giving. The Fyre Festival was a cultural phenomenon that we all witnessed melt down in real-time, and the controversial festival-that-never-was remains tangled in the courts. Lawsuits against just about everybody have been played out in front of judges as people involved in the faux festival have been called to the carpet. The infamous organizer, Billy McFarland, is currently serving out a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to mail and wire fraud charges back in 2018. His Fyre partner, Ja Rule, continues to be ridiculed for his involvement.

Next week marks the four-year anniversary of the collapse of the Fyre Festival and finally, 277 ticket holders have reached a settlement in the class-action lawsuit. The New York Times reports that on Tuesday (April 13), a $2 million settlement was reached in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Although an agreement has been made, it still needs to be approved in a separate hearing on May 13.

According to the publication, the 277 ticket holders will receive $7,220 each to make up for their harrowing experience. Attendees famously shared images of the festival that was promoted as an exclusive, lavish, island getaway. Instead, they were met with food that was barely edible and inhabitable living quarters.

“Billy went to jail, ticket holders can get some money back, and some very entertaining documentaries were made,” said Ben Meiselas, a partner at the law firm representing the ticket holders. “Now that’s justice.”

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Kentucky’s Louisville Police Department is reportedly involved in several lawsuits in connection to the police-involved shooting death of Breonna Taylor, and it looks as if the spotlight will remain on the controversial division. In March 2020, Breonna Taylor was home with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when plainclothes officers exercised a no-knock warrant on their apartment in the middle of the night as they slept. Walker reportedly fired shots believing they were intruders, resulting in the officers returning fire, striking and killing Taylor.

The investigation into the shooting would reportedly uncover that Taylor wasn’t involved in any wrongdoing and her boyfriend was arrested, and then released, from police custody. The controversial case continues to be widely discussed on social media as well as political circles, and we’re about to get a new perspective of the infamous incident now that one of the officers involved has announced plans to release a book.

Michael Ciaglo / Stringer / Getty Images

According to The Courier Journal, 48-year-old Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly has penned The Fight ForTruth: The Inside Story Behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy. The book will reportedly be published by Post Hill Press, distributed by famed ViacomCBS subsidiary, Simon & Schuster. The book is expected to be released this Fall.

The publishing company has come under fire, but a quick search finds that Post Hill has helped produce books for controversial figures that include several right-wing and ultra-conservative names. During the shooting that took Breonna Taylor’s life, Mattingly was struck by a bullet that severed his femoral artery. The Courier Journal reports that Mattingly was hit by his fellow officer at the scene, Myles Cosgrove. The officers have been accused of firing aimlessly. Mattingly, himself, reportedly fired off six shots.

Kenneth Walker is reportedly suing Mattingly, while Mattingly is returning the favor and suing Walker for “emotional distress” and “anguish” for shooting at the officers that fateful day. Mattingly insists that he knocked on Taylor and Walker’s door and identified himself as an officer. Walker contests that never occurred and the charges against him were dropped.

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It is undeniable that women are making moves in the Rap industry and Issa Rae is hoping to dramatically tell their stories on the small screen. We previously reported that the Insecure boss was partnering with the City Girls to develop Rap Sh*t, a series that is loosely based on the Rap duo’s rise in the Miami music landscape. On Thursday (April 15), Rae’s cover feature for Rolling Stone was released, and inside, she speaks about her new show and how a quote by Jermaine Dupri helped Rae create the concept.

Rap Sh*t is said to be about two best friends who decide to take a chance at a Rap career, and while Rae tells Rolling Stone that other artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B also influenced the series, it was when Dupri came forward “criticizing female rappers for only talking about their p*ssy” that gave Rae pause, she said.

In 2019, Dupri stated that he didn’t have a favorite woman in the Rap game because he believed they all sounded similar. “I can’t give you a favorite because I feel like they’re all talking about the same thing,” he said at the time. “I was talking about these people’s names they gave me. I said, ‘It’s like strippers rapping,’ and it went crazy.”

Rae took note of Dupri’s controversial comments. “I was just like, ‘This is so unfair.’ So that inspired the writing of it.” The producer has also launched Raedio, which functions as a record label that sits as a subsidiary of Atlantic, and Rae expressed that she’s has struggled a bit in adjusting. “The conflicts of interest. The perpetuation of specific images, especially when it comes to Black women,” she said.

“I guess I feel more empowered in the film and television industry,” Rae continued. “We have our own problems, but it is nothing like the music industry. I’m in awe every single day of just, ‘Y’all can do this? This can happen, and it’s still going to happen?’ I have a lot of catching up to do. That feels exhausting in a different way.” Check out a few images from Issa Rae’s cover feature below.

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In an Instagram post uploaded to his account earlier this week, AR-Ab was expecting the worst. “Sentencing week…don’t expect no leniency from them folks…but I’ll be right back on appeal,” he wrote in the caption. Philadelphia rapper AR-Ab, real name Abdul West has been entangled in a controversial case after authorities accused him of using his Original Block Hustlaz as the front for a “large-scale drug trafficking network,” reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Prosecutors alleged that in addition to trafficking drugs, the organization was involved with a number of murders, as well. West, who is respected in the music industry and worked with some of our favorite artists in the game, has denied the allegations against him, but it was clear that authorities were looking for a conviction.

The Inquirer reports that AR-Ab was sentenced to 45-years in prison and could very well spend the rest of his life behind bars. “You could have been a hero instead of a criminal,” the judge reportedly told the rapper who stood with his arms crossed. “But you became a drug dealer. You made that decision. That’s why you’re being punished.”

AR-Ab had a chance to say his piece before being carted off to prison and he didn’t hold back. “The court, the FBI agents, and the prosecutors don’t understand my culture,” he said, seemingly addressing how his lyrical content was a focal point of his trial. “We don’t rap about flowers and rainbows. We’re gangsta rappers. We rap about where we grew up. So we rap about drug dealing. We rap about violence.”

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Supreme and Nike have been a dynamic duo over the years and every single season, the two team up to deliver some dope apparel while also coming through with a sneaker collaboration that pays homage to a forgotten silhouette. For Supreme’s Spring-Summer 2021 collection, they have decided to link up with Nike for a collab on the Nike Air Max 96 which is a shoe that will truly turn some heads.

Thanks to the good folks over at Stadium Goods, we now have a clear look at two of the colorways, including “Camo” and “Black.” In the images below you can see that both models have translucent cutouts that make for a unique aesthetic which will ultimately allow people to see what color socks you are wearing. Meanwhile, each shoe is outfitted with various Supreme and Nike logos, to really hammer home what kind of collab this is. The Air Max 96 is a bit niche at this point but since it’s Supreme and Nike, we’re sure they will sell out instantly.

If you are hoping to grab yourself a pair, you will be able to do so this Spring as Supreme continues to launch new products from its Spring collection. Let us know what you think, in the comments below.

Image via Stadium Goods

Image via Stadium Goods

Image via Stadium Goods

Image via Stadium Goods

Image via Stadium Goods

Image via Stadium Goods

Although he’s recently been criticized for not helping his mother after a video of her went viral, Lil Nas X has spoken about the struggles that she faces. In an interview back in January 2020, Lil Nas X told Variety that while he doesn’t have the “closest relationship” with his mom, he still loves and supports her through her addiction.

“I never really talk about my mom. She’s an addict so we don’t have the closest relationship,” said the “MONTERO” singer. “Even trying to get her better — things didn’t quite work out. But there’s still love… The biggest surprise of becoming globally famous? On the outside, everybody loves you — but on the inside, everything [feels] the same.”

On Thursday (April 15), Lil Nas X’s father came forward to speak up for his famous son. According to dad, X can’t be blamed for his mother’s choices and everyone in their family is doing the best they can to help the singer’s mother during this time.

“Despite what people say @lilnasx is the greatest kid a parent can be BLESSED with. Although his mom is in a struggle with an addiction she’s STILL a QUEEN and he goes through great lengths to make sure we’re taking care of,” he wrote. “Those who have family members and friends dealing with addiction understands that there ain’t enough money you can throw at this situation to make it right. I dont usually address personal issues publicly but felt like this need to be.”

“Please join us in keeping her in your PRAYERS. And to those out there trying to create a false story you wont prosper.” Check out his post a few others of Lil Nas X’s family below.