Grammy nominated, NY Times Best Selling Author, Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins is set to host the 4th Annual Sno Ball Gala, a night of glamor and giving back, on Thursday, October 3, 2024. This highly anticipated event will take place at a private location, with proceeds benefiting The Street Dreamz Foundation.
The evening promises to be a spectacular affair, featuring a star-studded guest list, gourmet dining, and entertainment. Comedian Mike Epps will serve as the master of ceremonies, bringing his signature humor to the gala. Guests will dance the night away to the beats of the renowned DJ Cassidy.
A highlight of the evening will be the silent and live auctions, offering attendees the chance to bid on exclusive items and experiences while supporting a worthy cause.
The Street Dreamz Foundation, founded by Jeezy, is dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth through education, entrepreneurship, and community development programs. All proceeds from the Sno Ball Gala will directly support the foundation’s initiatives.
“The Sno Ball Gala is more than just a night of entertainment,” says Jeezy. “It’s about coming together as a community to make a real difference in the lives of young people who need our support. I’m grateful for everyone who contributes to making this event a success year after year.”
Once word was out that a new documentary series, “Tupac: Cover Up,” was released for the late rapper’s death anniversary on September 13, 2024, a panicked group of individuals began to call major platforms, making false claims about the show in an attempt to have it taken off the air.
In fact, the docuseries’ producers were contacted about the matter, and one of the platforms made an unprecedented request; “Remove certain content, or we will remove the documentary.”
One need only look at the docuseries as a whole- NOW AVAILABLE ON XUMO PLAY to understand why certain groups are creating pressure on these platforms to silence the filmmakers: the documentary focuses on the life and death of the Grammy-winning artist Tupac Shakur, but also focuses on the moments following the unsolved shooting. The series makes the claim that from five minutes after the shooting until charges were returned from a Las Vegas Nevada Grand Jury last year, a group of self-interested individuals, some of which were alleged to be informants for the Federal Government, have carefully planted and cultivated a 27-year narrative that in truth has not one shred of physical evidence attached to it—just “hood lore” which they have perpetuated.
“Tupac: Coverup” features new and unheard interviews with celebrities (Mykelti Williamson, of Heat and Forrest Gump fame) Death Row Insiders (Kevin Black, Mike Nixon), Industry Insiders (Billy Johnson, Jr., Cynthia Horner, Janie Jennings), Law Enforcement (FBI Special Agent Phil Carson, who lead the Tupac/Biggie investigations for the FBI) as well as unheard and unreleased material from former Tupac bodyguards, friends and family. Athena Bond is the Executive producer, and Edna Sims is the film’s producer.
“We have had documented communications with the platforms showing that individuals with- shall we say- clear conflicts of interest didn’t follow the platform procedures for making claims against a show,” says Producer Richard “RJ” Bond, known for his previous works on the matter: 2020’s “Last Man Standing” and the beloved “Tupac Assassination” trilogy of movies.
“They did stupid stunts like calling the platform customer service departments and screaming at the poor representative on the phone. In our current “squeaky wheel” culture, extreme acts and rhetoric get moved to the front of the line. The platforms don’t always want to support Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Speech. This form of “consumer terrorism” and resulting censorship- is a big problem for everyone.”
The “Tupac: Cover Up” producers took last week to decide: Do they leave the story out—which has received incredible reviews from fans who viewed an estimated 400,000 minutes of the show for its premiere date—untouched? Or do they make politically correct changes to cave to trouble with radical individuals?
“Well, let’s take a look at how Tupac viewed pressure; he went after C Delores Tucker and the entire government over trying to suppress his message. How would we honor him by silencing voices to serve a convenient and popular narrative?” added Bond.
Bond has put together a block-busting list of Former FBI agents, former Vegas law enforcement, Death Row “insiders” and music industry leaders that give credible and damning information regarding the motives behind the “False Narrative”. “Tupac: Cover Up” uses Vegas’ police files, grand jury testimony, and impeachable statements to demonstrate how flimsy the Vegas case is. This is a problem for those with less-than-clean agendas.
“After the documentary dropped, I was contacted by the family of Mr. Davis, the man charged in the murder of Shakur. They are understandably interested in the show’s talking points and feel we adequately addressed the situation. I hope to be in better contact with his defense team, whom I intentionally did not speak to until the show’s release.”
And the docuseries?
“We elected to partner with Xumo, an upcoming internet streaming venture owned by Comcast and Charter networks. Xumo got the situation right away, realized the foolishness, and agreed to keep the show as it was and not compromise our artistic vision, said Bond.
“Time to step up to the bullies who control media by threats and extreme rhetoric.”
Former Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy was arrested last night for what Scottsdale Police are calling a case of “extreme DUI”.
Scottsdale PD reported that they pulled Lacy over Monday night after they noticed the NFL star committing several moving violations. When he stopped, Lacy was showing signs of being overtly intoxicated, thus, the 34-year-old was arrested and booked on four separate DUI charges, including “Extreme DUI — BAC .20 or more.”
Lacy was also charged for “liquor – possess open container in vehicle,” among his host of infractions ,according to a police statement.
A spokesperson from the facility where Lacy was held said that he was released early this morning(October 1). There were no other details about his arrest available at press time.
Lacy, know as one of the toughest offensive backs in the NFL, rushed for over 2,000 yards and 20 TDs in his first two seasons after being drafted by Green Bay in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft in 2013. He left the league after a bid with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.
Pras Michél, a founding member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group The Fugees, has filed a lawsuit against bandmate Lauryn Hill, accusing her of fraud and breach of contract related to their shortened 2023 tour and a canceled 2024 tour.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the Southern District of New York, alleges that Hill mismanaged various aspects of the 2023 tour, including its setup, marketing, and budget. According to the complaint, Hill’s actions were “a veiled and devious attempt to make a big score for herself,” with claims that she siphoned money from the tour guarantees for personal gain.
Variety reports that Pras also accuses Hill of preventing an audit of the tour’s finances, alleging that she withheld funds that should have been shared among the band. The full list of claims against Hill includes fraud, fraud in the inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and refusal to permit an audit of the tour.
The Fugees, known for hits like “Killing Me Softly” and “Ready or Not,” had previously reunited for their 2023 tour, which was cut short before it fully launched. The legal battle now casts uncertainty over the future of one of hip-hop’s most iconic groups.
In response to The Source, Ms. Lauryn Hill addresses Pras Michél’s lawsuit:
Megan Thee Stallion’s forthcoming documentary film, ‘In Her Words,’ has received an official release date and a home on which the film can be streamed.
Attorney Tony Buzbee announced in a press conference on Tuesday that he’ll be representing over 120 individuals ready to take legal action against Diddy with claims of rape, sexual assault, and more. The group of accusers encompasses both men and women, 25 of whom were minors at the time of the alleged incidents. Buzbee will not handle the case as a class-action suit and instead file all the claims individually.
“Our team has had, at this point, 3,285 individuals with people claiming to be victimized by Sean Combs,” Tony Buzbee said as noted by XXL. “The youngest victim at the time of the occurrence was 9 years old.”
Diddy’s Attorney Speaks Outside Of His Bail Hearing
Buzbee also hinted at other high-profile names that will be mentioned in future updates. “The day will come when we name names other than Sean Combs,” he said. “The names we are gonna name are names that are gonna shock you.” It’s not the first time an attorney for one of Diddy’s accusers has referenced other celebrities being involved. Attorney Ariel Mitchell-Kidd recently claimed on News Nation that she has a tape featuring another “high-profile” star with Diddy.
Tony Buzbee Speaks On Diddy Lawsuits
The lawsuits come after authorities arrested Diddy in New York, earlier this month, on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. He’s pleaded not guilty to the crimes and plans to argue his case in court. Check out Tony Buzbee’s full press conference regarding Diddy below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Diddy on HotNewHipHop.
Ari Lennox says that she’s been scammed by two different record labels over the course of her career. Speaking about her experiences in the industry during a recent post on social media, the Age/Sex/Location singer recalled losing out on a chance to go on American Idol over her relationship with one of the companies.
“The first label I signed to, I think it was a scam,” she said. “I don’t even think it was real because when I signed to Interscope, they literally disappeared. They literally disappeared. It makes me feel like all them years I was stressing. Crayon corporation. I feel like they got me because, I was so scared. Like I said, I’ve told y’all this story before. I tried out for American Idol. Every time I got to Hollywood, I got my ticket to Hollywood, I was afraid to lie. So, I told them, ‘Hey, I am under contract.’ And then American Idol was like, ‘Well, there’s nothing we can do.’ And rightfully so if I was already under contract. So I guess I’m grateful everything went down the way it did because I don’t think I would’ve performed well on American Idol.”
From there, she explained that she ended up signing another deal with a different label that also scammed her. Regardless, she says that she’s cool with them now despite the incident. When The Jasmine Brand shared the clip on Instagram, fans commented with plenty of supportive messages. “I’m convinced that these record labels lost their A&R divisions, and start signing artist just to shelve them to stop competition,” one user wrote. “I also think there’s no real desire to hear R&B music from the general public.” Another added: “It’s messed up that ppl with true talents get rob for it ..versus ppl without getting deals to sell and promote bullshat which only shows it’s a narrative to push ignorance to the blk communities.”
Ari Lennox Speaks On Her Relationship With Labels
Check out Lennox’s full comments on her experience with record labels below. She’s currently signed with J. Cole’s Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope. Be on the lookout for further updates on Ari Lennox on HotNewHipHop.
Toosii’s JADED is slated to arrive on Friday (Oct. 4). In anticipation of its release, he shared the official tracklist featuring the likes of Kehlani, Gunna, and Muni Long.
John Amos, iconic TV father from Good Times and storied actor, has died at age 84. According to his son, K.C. Amos, he died on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natrual causes.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” K.C. Amos said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
John Amos built a career that spanned over five decades. Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1939, Amos was best remembered for portraying James Evans Sr. on the groundbreaking TV series Good Times (1974–1976). As the strong, no-nonsense father in the first African American two-parent family on prime-time TV, Amos earned acclaim for his authentic depiction of a working-class father navigating life in a Chicago housing project.
Before Good Times, Amos starred as the beloved weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1973), showcasing his range in comedic roles. In 1977, he delivered a memorable performance in Roots, the Emmy Award-winning miniseries based on Alex Haley’s book. His portrayal of Kunta Kinte’s older self cemented his place in television history and earned him an Emmy nomination.
Amos also enjoyed success in film, with notable roles in movies like Coming to America (1988), where he played Cleo McDowell, the owner of McDowell’s restaurant. He reprised the role in the sequel Coming 2 America (2021).
Amos worked steadily in dramatic and comedic roles throughout his career, appearing in shows like The West Wing, Two and a Half Men, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His commanding presence and versatile talent earned him respect as one of Hollywood’s most enduring actors.