Travis Scott Requested To Be Dismissed From The Astroworld Festival Lawsuit, Saying He Shouldn’t Be Responsible For Safety Or Security Concerns

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After being named as a defendant in the hundreds of combined lawsuits stemming from the 2021 Astroworld Festival disaster, Travis Scott has at last asked out of future proceedings. According to Billboard, Travis’ attorney Daniel Petrocelli filed a motion to dismiss him from the suit on Monday, asserting that ensuring safety and security at live events is “not the job of performing artists” — even ones whose album tiles grace said events.

The motion reads in part, “Like any other adrenaline-inducing diversion, music festivals must balance exhilaration with safety and security—but that balance is not the job of performing artists, even those involved in promoting and marketing performances. Which only makes sense: Performing artists, even those who engage in certain promotional activities, have no inherent expertise or specialized knowledge in concert safety measures, venue security protocols, or site-design.”

Even so, the defense writes, Travis did make concessions to alleviate crowding issues when they were brought to his attention during the planning phase. “When, during festival planning, concerns arose about the risk of a stampede occurring in the festival site, the Scott defendants supported festival organizers’ efforts to eliminate that risk by agreeing to remove certain rides and other attractions at the site,” Petrocelli wrote. “Then, when the Scott defendants were told to end the show after Mr. Scott’s guest performer finished performing, they did just that—ending the show as directed.”

Travis is, of course, only one of the named defendants, which included Drake (who has also since requested dismissal from liability), Apple Music, Live Nation Entertainment, and the venue and security companies involved. The nearly 300 cases were combined into a single case in January 2022, and proceedings have have gone relatively slowly since. Scott, after a year out of the spotlight, returned to performing in 2022 and released the follow-up to Astroworld, Utopia, in summer of 2023.

Diddy’s Shares In Revolt TV Were Reportedly Bought By ‘Essence’ Magazine Owner Richelieu Dennis

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Amid personal and business turmoil arising from “Me & U” singer Cassie Ventura’s sexual assault lawsuit against him, Sean “Diddy” Combs has seen his fortunes take a tumble. In addition to stepping down as Chairman of his company Revolt Media (and its television network, Revolt TV) and relinquishing his ownership of DeLeón Tequila, he also sold all his shares in Revolt to an undisclosed buyer earlier this week.

It didn’t take long for the buyer’s identity to be revealed, though; according to Page Six, Essence magazine owner Richelieu Dennis is the new owner of the network founded by Diddy in 2013. Dennis was recently profiled in Forbes as “the Godfather of Black business” after selling his company Sundial Brands, LLC — the parent company of SheaMoisture — to Unilever in 2017 and bought Essence the next year. In the interview, he talked about being “bullish on media” in response to rumors he wanted to buy Vice or BET.

He’s been a controversial figure since those splashy moves, with AfroTech noting that some Black culture critics view him as a “sellout” for selling SheaMoisture to the British consumer goods giant. Meanwhile, last year, Business Insider published a report detailing a “dehumanizing” culture at Essence after speaking with twenty then-current and former employees about the brand’s “extremely unhealthy work culture.”

Lil Yachty Launches His Label Concrete Rekordz, Backed By Quality Control And K-Pop Machine HYBE

Lil Yachty has been everywhere lately, collaborating with both major stars like Drake and J. Cole and rising stars like JID and Nemzzz. Now, he’s taking yet another step in furthering his rap dominance, announcing the launch of his new label, Concrete Rekordz. The label is named after his crew, Concrete Boys, who also comprise the roster, and is backed by the label that originally signed Yachty, Quality Control Music.

An additional wrinkle is that Quality Control is now owned by HYBE America, the stateside arm of the Korean entertainment company responsible for the success of K-pop groups like BTS, New Jeans, Seventeen, and Tomorrow X Together. In other words, there’s some serious muscle behind Concrete Rekordz, which accompanied the launch with the release of their new video for “Family Business.”

The Concrete Boys crew consists of Camo!, DC2TRILL, Draft Day, and Karrahbooo, who accompanied Yachty on his 2023 Field Trip Tour.

In a press release, Quality Control COO “Coach K” Lee said, “Yachty has always had profound vision since the day we met and to see him take his curatorial magic and expand it to discover and enhance other artists is exciting to me.” Meanwhile, his co-founder, QC CEO Pierre “P” Thomas, said, “I’m excited to see Yachty step into the role of executive alongside being one of the most formidable creatives in the world with such an eye for talent. Karrahbooo is a star and they are all going to be the new wave of cool that can bring something different to the culture that is so badly needed.”

You can check out the video for “Family Business” above.

Afrika Bambaataa’s Alleged Victim Pushes For Ruling In Sexual Abuse Case

Back in 2016, former music executive and politician Ronald Savage came forward to accuse Afrika Bambaataa of molesting him in the late 70s, when he was between the ages of 12 and 14. After he shared his story, various other alleged victims spoke out with similar accusations. One of his former bodyguards even suggested that he may have witnessed some concerning activity. As a result, Bambaataa was kicked out of Zulu Nation, an international hip-hop awareness group he founded himself in 1973.

Now, one of Bambaataa’s anonymous alleged victims, who accused the artist of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking in a 2021 lawsuit, is urging the judge to make a ruling. According to an exclusive report by AllHipHop, John Doe previously filed a motion seeking a default judgment. In new court documents from earlier this week, he asks the judge for an update.

Read More: Shyne Nightclub Shooting Victim Says Diddy Is Responsible For Her Life-Changing 1999 Injuries

Afrika Bambaataa’s Anonymous Accuser Wants An Update

Afrika Bambaataa's Alleged Victim Pushes For Ruling In Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Afrika Bambaataa performs at Brooklyn Bowl on February 26, 2015, in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

“From 1991 to 1995, Plaintiff was invited to Defendant’s apartment, located in the BRH, where he was repeatedly subjected to sexual abuse consisting of mutual masturbation and sodomy,” the lawsuit alleges. “During the same time period, Plaintiff was transported by Defendant Taylor, to other locations and offered for sex to other adult men in exchange for money. Defendant Taylor, intentional sexual assault of Plaintiff was for his own sexual gratification and without regard for the Plaintiff’s well-being. Defendant Taylor, performed the aforementioned actions for his own sexual gratification and without Plaintiff’s consent.”

Allegedly, the victim was only 12 years old when the abuse began. He later sued Bambaataa for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence. Universal Zulu Nation and XYZ Corp were additionally named as defendants in the suit. What do you think of Afrika Bambaataa’s alleged victim urging a judge to decide on their motion for a default judgment? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Afrika Bambaataa Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Legend

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UMG Rebuffed Lil Rod’s Diddy Lawsuit In A Fiery Response Calling His Claims ‘A Delusion Or A Lie’

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Universal Music Group would have had enough legal drama to deal with from its row with TikTok over streaming royalties. Unfortunately for Sir Lucian Grainge (CEO of UMG), the company now finds itself drawn into the legal ruckus between Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

In Jones’ controversial sexual harassment suit against Combs, he’s alleged that the music mogul’s supposed transgressions have involved a number of celebrities and fellow recording industry higher-ups, including Grainge, Usher, Yung Miami, and even the UK’s Prince Harry. However, in a new court filing UMG blasted Jones and his accusations as its lawyers argued for UMG to be dismissed from the ongoing suit. In addition, UMG wants legal penalties levied against attorney Tyrone Blackburn, who filed Jones’ lawsuit.

In the new filing, which was shared on Twitter by legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff and reported by Billboard, Universal’s attorney Donald Zakarin writes:

“A license to practice law is a privilege. Mr. Blackburn, plaintiff’s lawyer, has misused that license to self-promote, gratuitously, falsely and recklessly accusing the UMG defendants of criminal behavior… The [complaint] hurls accusations of criminal racketeering and criminal sex trafficking against the UMG defendants, respected individuals and companies having utterly nothing to do with plaintiff’s claims. These accusations are recklessly false and, but for the fact that they are embodied in a complaint, would be libelous.

…I have never seen any lawyer, in any pleading, in any court, accuse people and companies of criminal conduct without the slightest basis and then try to file an amended pleading completely jettisoning every allegation underpinning the original claims and substituting completely different and irreconcilable allegations to support the very same claims.”

The response refutes claims that Grainge has ever been to one of Diddy’s supposed “freak parties,” and points out that the only UMG entity with dealings with Combs was Motown, to distribute one album, The Love Album: Off The Grid. You can see the filing in part below:

Kendrick Lamar Fans Blame Drake For Latest Bizarre Bot Attack

Last summer, Pusha T fell victim to a barrage of bots on Twitter/X, which targeted him with a slew of bizarre posts. The posts included outlandish claims, strange altered images, and more. It wasn’t long before fans started to speculate about the cause of the attack, and ultimately, settled on Drake. Due to their longwinded feud, as well as various posts including Drake-related hashtags, it only made sense that the Toronto-born performer could have spearheaded the attack in some way.

Now, yet another artist has come under fire on the platform, Kendrick Lamar. Twitter/X is currently flooded with countless wild posts about the performer. “Kendrick Lamar is Oprah Winfrey’s adrenochrome plug,” one of the posts reads. “Kendrick Lamar has an iPhone 6 with the screen cracked,” another says.

Read More: Drake’s Appearance On Bfb Da Packman’s Upcoming Album Sparks Idea That He Might Clap Back At Kendrick Lamar

Social Media Users Recall Pusha T’s Bot Attack

Obviously, none of these claims are confirmed, nor is Drake’s involvement in the debacle. Either way, fans are convinced. After all, Kendrick did just recently drag both Drake and J. Cole on a new track with Future and Metro Boomin, “Like That.” Drizzy’s yet to properly address the diss, though he’s speculated to have a response on the way. He’s set to appear on a track called “Olympic S*** Talkin” on Bfb Da Packman’s new album Forget Me Not which arrives this Friday (March 29). Of course, listeners expect to hear him take at least a few shots at Kendrick.

Kendrick also may have a Drake diss track at the ready, at least according to streamer Adin Ross. He’s yet to say anything publicly about his explosive We Don’t Trust You verse. What do you think of Kendrick Lamar fans speculating that Drake is behind this latest bot attack? Do you think they’re on to something, or is it a reach? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Eminem “Zeus” Lyrics Foreshadowing Drake’s Downfall Resurface Amid Kendrick Lamar’s Viral “Like That” Verse

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“Ghostbusters” Franchise: All 5 Films, Ranked Worst To Best

The Ghostbusters franchise began as a goofy passion project from iconic ’80s comedians Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, and Dan Aykroyd. Since first premiering in 1984, the original Ghostbusters film has inspired millions of dollars in sales, merchandising, and Halloween costumes, and has launched a massive film franchise that spans five decades. Though the series saw a prolonged hiatus after the disappointing returns of Ghostbusters 2, Sony has rebooted the brand twice, with an all-woman cast in 2016 and a young cast of up-and-coming actors in 2021. With five films to choose from, here’s a definitive list of the highs and lows the Ghostbusters franchise has to offer, ranked from worst film to best film.

5. Ghostbusters (2016)

Paul Feig’s all-woman Ghostbusters reboot from 2016 is widely regarded as the franchise’s worst entry. The film has sufferred a flurry of critiques from fans and critics, with some highlighting genuine filmmaking issues and others making hollow complaints about so-called “woke” casting choices. Though the film has received a great deal of undue criticism, 2016’s Ghostbusters fails its most important task by simply not being funny.

The film, featuring a stellar cast of SNL alumni, including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, should have dominated the comedy scene. Unfortunately, the team just couldn’t bring it all together in the edit, with poor writing, obnoxious performances, and over-the-top slapstick that completely misunderstands the tone and vibe of the Ghostbusters franchise.

4. Ghostbusters 2 (1989)

Despite the palpable hatred that Ghostbusters fans hold for the 2016 reboot, 1989’s Ghostbusters 2 has the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any installment in the franchise, with a paltry 55 percent. The film doesn’t measure up to the 1984 original and suffers from behind-the-scenes drama that seeps into the final edit. Bill Murray alleges he was deceived into joining the project and largely blames his lackluster performance on his genuine disdain for the script. Murray’s ire for the production and subsequent falling out with Harold Ramis on the set of 1993’s Groundhog Day essentially eliminated the possibility of a third installment in the original film series, despite the best efforts of screenwriters Dan Aykroyd and Tom Davis.

3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

The latest installment in the Ghostbusters franchise just dropped last week and has already received mixed reviews. While the film seems to revive some of the magic from earlier installments, it also relies far too heavily on nostalgia to sell tickets. Luckily, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire pushes the boundaries of the franchise by introducing some bold new concepts and shifting the lore into unexplored territory for the first time in decades. Only time will tell how this film is regarded in the overall context of the larger series, but for now, we feel comfortable ranking it dead in the middle.

2. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Ghostbusters: Afterlife surpassed all odds by expanding the lens of the original films while remaining true to the franchise’s roots. Director Jason Reitman set out to launch a legacy sequel that could introduce new characters while serving fans of the earlier installments, creating an excellent viewing experience. The film also stars a wide array of modern A-listers, including Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, J.K. Simmons, Bokeem Woodbine, and Carrie Coon, with cameo appearances from the likes of Josh Gad and Olivia Wilde.

Most importantly, Ghostbusters: Afterlife succeeds where the 2016 reboot falls flat by bringing some warmth, charm, and humor to the big screen without relying on cheap topical gags and awkward attempts at fan service. While Frozen Empire doesn’t quite hold up to the 2021 installment, it seems clear that these new movies are establishing a modern Ghostbusters franchise that properly carries the torch of the original.

1. Ghostbusters (1984)

Despite four more recent attempts to revitalize the franchise, the original 1984 Ghostbusters is far and away the best of the bunch. It may seem anticlimactic to list the original film at No. 1, but sometimes classics are classics for a reason. The dream team of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson are unparalleled as the eponymous ghost-hunting quartet, and additional cast members Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts put the film over the top.

Ghostbusters maintains a perfect tonal balance that has never been perfectly replicated. It plays itself straight when necessary and pivots hard into comedic territory when appropriate. The film offers some genuine horror elements while still managing to be a classic, mostly family-friendly romp through New York City, culminating in one of the greatest giant monster fights ever committed to cinema.

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