Russell Simmons Faces Defamation Lawsuit Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Records, is facing a new lawsuit. This time, it’s for defamation. The lawsuit has been filed by Drew Dixon, a former music executive who alleges that Simmons sexually assaulted her and then defamed her by labeling her a “liar” when she made the accusations public, as per court documents that Rolling Stone obtained.

Dixon, who served as an A&R executive at the label from 1993 and left shortly after the alleged assault in 1995, initiated the lawsuit in New York on Thursday. She is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Dixon’s lawyers refer to a December interview in which Simmons minimized the allegations of harassment and sexual assault, stating “Yeah, [rape is] a serious word, but I think they’ve changed the meaning.” He also insinuated that his accusers might be “thirst[ing] for fame” and asserted that all his relationships were consensual.

The court papers allege that Simmons “has gone on a concerted and malicious campaign to discredit Ms. Dixon and to so damage her reputation” to the extent that her claims would not be believable. They further state that “this defamation has exacerbated the paralyzation of Ms. Dixon professionally.” (A representative for Simmons did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

In a statement given to Rolling Stone, Dixon’s lawyers, Sigrid McCawley and Kenya Davis of Boies Schiller Flexner, said, “Ms. Dixon has taken enough abuse. Not only was she violently raped by Russell Simmons – profoundly disrupting her personal and professional life – but after she tried to move forward and heal, he then further abused her by publicly proclaiming that she lied about the rape in search of ‘fame.’ Mr. Simmons has used his public platform to re-traumatize and terrorize Ms. Dixon, and the time has now come to hold him accountable for his defamatory statements and to end this cycle of abuse.”

Dixon first disclosed her alleged encounter with Simmons to The New York Times in 2017. She claimed that she had to constantly ward off Simmons’ sexual advances while working at Def Jam. She alleges that he would often try to grope and kiss her and would expose himself to her. One night in 1995, while waiting for a car in Simmons’ apartment, Dixon alleges that he grabbed her from behind, pinned her to a bed, and sexually assaulted her. “The last thing I remember was him pinning me down to kiss me on the bed,” she told the newspaper, saying she “blacked out” and the next thing she remembered was being naked in a hot tub together. Dixon immediately informed a friend about the incident and later submitted a handwritten resignation letter, leaving her position at Def Jam.

Last December, Simmons responded to the accusations from more than 20 women who allege that the music mogul harassed or sexually assaulted them. (In addition to The New York Times article where Dixon and two other women came forward against Simmons, the 2020 documentary On The Record also featured multiple women who accused him of misconduct.)

In a conversation with journalist Graham Bensinger, Simmons confessed that he had been in “crude, compromising situations,” but insisted that he has “never been forceful in any of my relationships.”

Dixon’s attorneys underscored four statements from the interview to substantiate their claim of defamation, stating that in “their full context” Simmons has effectively accused Dixon of lying. Early in the discussion, Simmons admits that he’s slept with “thousands” of people but suggested only “six people” have come forward against him.

“I can simply tell you that I was in so many compromising situations, that people can have a recollection from 30 or 40 years ago, and it can be different from my recollection,” Simmons added. “And it could be one where there was perhaps a collaboration. If you had more foursomes than most guys at once, could someone leave and feel hurt? Could some reimagine a story out of thousands of people? Could someone want notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame, even infamous.” The lawsuit alleges that Simmons “has persisted in his efforts to discredit Ms. Dixon, referring to the ‘main accuser’ from On the Record and labeling her a liar for publicizing the account of the assault — defamation that began in December 2019 and has continued to this day.” The suit further claims that “this defamation has climbed the ranks to the apex of the leadership circle, encompassing not just Ms. [Oprah] Winfrey, but also other founding board members of Time’s Up, which includes some of our nation’s most influential women across various sectors from business to politics to entertainment.” (Winfrey had initially signed on as an executive producer of On the Record, but Simmons alleged she withdrew from the project “at his urging back” in late 2019.) This marks the second lawsuit against Simmons in the past week. A Jane Doe accuser lodged a lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that after she joined Def Jam in the mid-1990s, Simmons “disrupted and derailed” her career following an alleged sexual assault at his New York apartment. (Simmons’ attorney refuted the allegations in a statement to Rolling Stone.)

Jane Doe’s lawsuit was filed under the provisions of New York’s Gender Motivated Violence Act, which offers a lookback window for survivors of gender-motivated violence until March 1, 2025. The music industry is currently undergoing a MeToo reckoning after both California and New York enacted laws to waive the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse allegations. Other individuals who have been sued include Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jimmy Iovine, Axl Rose, and the former CEOs of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow and Mike Greene.

Killer Mike Responds to Grammy Night Arrest

Apart from the buzz around Taylor Swift, the 2024 Grammy Awards were marked by the arrest of Killer Mike. Footage of the rapper’s detention, which occurred shortly after his triple Grammy win, circulated widely on social media that Sunday night. He was subsequently released, but the reasons behind his arrest remained largely undisclosed. A source for Rolling Stone has now revealed that the arrest was a result of a dispute with a security guard following his victories.

The source detailed that the artist, whose real name is Mike Render, was halted by a guard who requested his tickets and guided him towards a security checkpoint. Render attempted to bypass her, leading to a second halt, during which she claimed that Render knocked her to the ground. The guard reportedly sustained injuries from the alleged assault, prompting her to summon additional security and contact the police. She received medical attention and filed a citizen’s arrest for misdemeanor battery.

This explains why the authorities didn’t postpone the matter until after the Grammys to address it discreetly: because “it was a private citizen, and she had everything she needed to exercise her rights to make a citizen’s arrest,” as the source clarified to the outlet. “And we are bound by law to make that arrest.”

Killer Mike, on the other hand, refutes the accusation. A representative from his team informed Rolling Stone that the “situation has been overblown, but we are confident that the facts of the case, when laid bare, will show that Mike did not commit the alleged offense, and he will be exonerated.” In his personal statement, Render expressed, “As you can imagine, there was a lot going and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an over-zealous security guard, but my team and I have the upmost [sic] confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing.”

In the aftermath of his awards, he stated, “We are incredibly proud and are basking in this moment.” He also shared his gratitude for a personal blessing: “I am also grateful that one of my prayers has been answered—the day after my Grammy win—I learned that my son, who has been on the list for a kidney for years, finally has a match. Obviously, we are elated.”

Lil Pump Gets An Ugly A** Tattoo Of Trump’s Mugshot

Lil Pump, the artist behind “Gucci Gang,” is a staunch supporter of the former president, Donald Trump, and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. His loyalty to the one-term Republican leader was recently demonstrated when he tattooed a well-known image of Trump, from his time on The Apprentice, onto his leg. On Tuesday (Jan. 30), the 23-year-old Pump, whose real name is Gazzy Garcia, shared a photo on Instagram of the new tattoo, which is a replica of a widely circulated mugshot of Trump. This mugshot was taken when Trump was arrested and processed in Fulton County, Georgia, in August of the previous year after he turned himself in following his indictment for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2022 election in that state. This indictment is one of four, amounting to 91 felony charges, that the current GOP presidential front-runner is facing as he campaigns for the presidency for the third time.

Alongside the image, Pump wrote, “MAGA [two American flag emoji].” The post also included an older photo of a grinning Pump standing next to Trump at a rally. In a November post featuring the same photo of Pump and Trump, the rapper referred to the former real estate tycoon as the “Greatest president of all time.”

Pump has been vocal about his support for Trump for almost four years, starting in October 2020 when he posted a video criticizing President Biden’s proposed tax policy, which aims to make the wealthy pay a larger share of taxes. This was followed by the release of the song “Lil Pimp Big MAGA Steppin.” Trump, in turn, invited Pump, who was wearing a MAGA hat, to join him on stage at a rally in Michigan just before the 2020 election polls opened (though he mistakenly called him “Lil Pimp”). However, as reported by the Smoking Gun, Pump, who was 20 at the time, was not eligible to vote for the first time because he did not register in his home state of Florida in time.

Pump’s tattoo tribute is the latest in a series of hip-hop endorsements for Trump. Chicago rapper Bandman Kevo also tattooed the first-ever presidential booking photo on his leg in August of the previous year. Trump has received endorsements or words of praise from rappers Benny the Butcher, Sexyy Red, Kodak Black, and most notably, Ye, who visited Trump in the White House in November 2002.

Just this week, after years of animosity, Snoop Dogg expressed “nothing but love and respect” for Trump. This change of heart was brought about by one of Trump’s final actions as president: granting clemency to Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris in the final moments of his single term in office.

Drake’s Music: The Ideal Soundtrack for Your Next Target Run, Says Yasiin Bey”

Yasiin Bey, a highly respected figure in the Hip Hop community, has recently expressed his views on a prominent figure in the current music scene.

In an exclusive interview with The Cutting Room Floor on Patreon, which was broadcasted on Wednesday (January 10), the Brooklyn-born artist delved into the topic of contemporary rap and its key player.

“Drake is pop to me,” he shared with the host, Recho Omondi. “In the sense like, if I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song, it feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping. Or shopping with an edge, in certain instances.”

While Bey did describe the music of the Canadian sensation as “likeable,” he and Omondi humorously discussed the concept of music serving as a perfect accompaniment for commercial activities.

“I love this mall!” Bey humorously declared. “They have everything here. This is the new Drake — you hear it?”

Switching to a more serious tone, Bey proposed that music suitable for shopping might lose its relevance during “the collapse of empire.”

“Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour?” he questioned. “Buying and selling — where’s the message that I can use? What’s in it for your audience?”

In a bold statement, he said, “I’d bet a million dollars on DOOM against Lil Wayne,” expressing his affinity for DOOM’s unique style. “He rhymes as weird as I feel. When I saw that Madvillain record, I bought it on vinyl and I didn’t even have a record player. I bought it just to stare at the album. I stared at it and I just kept going, ‘I understand it.’

“’Cause, you know, I was a teenager growing up listening to [John Coltrane’s] Love Supreme and [Miles Davis’] Bitches Brew and [Charles Mingus’] The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, but I was also rhyming.”

The unfortunate demise of MF DOOM (whose real name was Daniel Dumile) at the age of 49 in October 2020 due to respiratory issues was also mentioned. It was later revealed that he succumbed to angioedema, a rare side effect of blood pressure medication.

Blueface Sued For Defamation by Soulja Boy’s Ex

Jackilyn Martinez, who has a young son with Soulja Boy, is taking legal action against Blueface for defamation. This follows a series of social media posts by the rapper suggesting that he could be the father of Soulja Boy’s one-year-old son.

Martinez lodged her complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on a Friday. She claims that her legal team sent Blueface a cease-and-desist letter on a Tuesday, but his response on Instagram was dismissive and derisive, stating, “Nobody even said your name.”

In her legal documents, Martinez asserts that she had protected sex with Blueface once in 2018, but there has been no contact between them since then. She firmly states, “There is zero chance that the defendant is plaintiff’s child’s biological father,” as per her complaint obtained by Rolling Stone.

Blueface, legally known as Johnathan Jamall Porter, allegedly stated in his social media posts, which are included in the complaint, that he had sex with Soulja Boy’s “baby mama the day before your baby shower,” and he specified the date of the shower as June 11, 2022. He further speculated, “Might be my kid he ain’t even get the DNA test,” in another post mentioned in the lawsuit.

Martinez alleges that after she announced on her Instagram that she had sent Porter a cease-and-desist letter, she began receiving numerous death threats on the platform from unidentified individuals. One message read, “We gun in u down,” while another chillingly stated, “When u in the grave I’ll make sure you baby Alr,” according to the complaint.

Martinez expressed in her filing that she is deeply worried for her and her child’s safety and well-being, stating, “Plaintiff is gravely concerned for herself and her child’s safety and well being, and plaintiff is extremely nervous and afraid to go outside and/or be in public.” She argues that the alleged defamatory statements portray her as “promiscuous” and “unfaithful to the father of her child.” Martinez accuses Porter of failing to retract or remove the statements from social media, and she suspects that he made these claims to boost his career by “engaging in a feud” with Soulja Boy, legally known as Deandre Cortez Way. Her lawsuit includes charges of defamation, false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. She is seeking actual and punitive damages, legal fees, and a permanent injunction preventing Porter from defaming her.

Keefe D’s Statements on 2Pac’s Murder Merely for ‘Entertainment Purposes,’ Lawyers Claim

The attorneys of Keefe D, whose real name is Duane Davis, have asserted that his comments about 2Pac’s murder were merely for “entertainment purposes.” Davis is the sole individual ever charged with 2Pac’s 1996 murder and has pleaded not guilty, with his trial scheduled for next year.

His legal representatives have recently asked for his release from jail and bail ahead of the trial, a request that has been denied since his arrest in September. As per KTNV, his lawyers have cited several reasons in their motion for this request, including that many of Davis’s public statements about the murder of the rap icon were for “entertainment purposes.”

They argue that the prosecutors have based their case on excerpts from Davis’s 2019 book, Compton Street Legend, co-authored by Yusuf Jah, and “did not delineate which parts of the book, if any, were written by Duane.” They also pointed to interviews Davis has given about 2Pac’s death in recent years, alleging an “astounding amount of hearsay and speculative testimony” was presented to the grand jury that decided to indict the 60-year-old.

“The truthfulness of the content of the interviews was never verified,” they contend in the filing. “The book and interviews were done for entertainment purposes and to make money from a situation that [LAPD officers] and others had already profited [from].”

Davis’s lawyers also state that he has been dealing with health issues while in jail, including a previously disclosed colon cancer diagnosis. “He is not getting his bi-monthly oncologist check-ups. Additionally, his heart health has declined,” the petition states. "He was put back on a group of medications to try to get things under control.

“He has to take these medications in the jail because he is unable to do the things necessary to maintain proper health. His diet in jail is terrible. He is given heavily-processed meals full of sodium that barely pass as food.” Davis was arrested for 2Pac’s murder in September following a search of his residence, marking the first arrest in the 27-year-old case. His next court appearance is set for January 1, with the trial commencing on June 3, 2024.

While Davis has been arrested for the murder of the rap legend, it is not believed that he was the shooter but was in the vehicle that pulled up next to 2Pac and Suge Knight in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and fired multiple shots. He is the only living suspect in the case.

The prosecution alleges that 'Pac was shot in retaliation for assaulting Davis’s nephew and fellow gang member, Orlando Anderson, in a Vegas casino earlier that evening.

Tiffany Red Coraborates Cassie Ventura’s Accusations Against Diddy In EXPLOSIVE Open Letter

In her bombshell abuse lawsuit, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura accused Sean Combs of controlling and isolating her, regularly assaulting her, and coercing her into sexual acts with other men during their long-term relationship. The suit, which was settled within a day after being filed in November, mentioned many friends, assistants, security guards, and Bad Boy Entertainment staff who allegedly saw some of the abuse.

Red, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who has written songs for Zendaya, Joe Jonas, Jason Derulo, and Tamar Braxton, among others, wrote an open letter to Sean Combs to back up the claims of abuse Ventura made against the hip-hop mogul. Red is still a close friend of Ventura’s, and they met while working on Ventura’s second album, which was never released. Red says she was there on the night of Ventura’s 29th birthday party in August 2015, when Ventura claimed Combs and his security guards “cornered” and “forced” her to leave because Combs wanted her to join in sexual activity with other men.

Red says she felt scared and helpless as she saw Combs yell and swear at Ventura on the night of her party. She says she tried to intervene for Ventura when Combs, who was “intoxicated” and angry, insisted Ventura go with him. She says she later found out what happened when Combs took Ventura away that night, and it “shocked her to the core.”

When Rolling Stone contacted Combs’s representative with a detailed list of questions, they referred to a previous statement. Combs wrote, “Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to kill my character, ruin my reputation and my legacy. Horrible accusations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be very clear: I did not do any of the terrible things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Red has quietly backed up her friend for years and even took on the role of her manager when Ventura tried to restart her career and break free from Combs professionally in 2019. But Ventura found out that her termination deal depended on a nondisparagement clause. Now, Red is speaking up to tell of the trauma of witnessing that night and share her hopes that others will be free to tell their stories.

Dear Sean Combs,

I’m stepping forward to recount my experience as a witness to events detailed in my friend Casandra Ventura’s now-settled civil lawsuit against you. I’m breaking my silence, freeing myself from haunting recollections, standing in solidarity with Cassie, and standing up for myself. I fear for my safety as her suit alludes to me, although not by name. I hope that revealing my identity to the public will afford me some measure of protection

Cassie and I became friends in 2015 while co-writing songs for her album that you never released. We remain close to this very day. I’m one of the friends mentioned in her lawsuit, specifically from the night of her 29th birthday, as detailed in the section labeled “Mr. Combs Forces Ms. Ventura Into Sex Trafficking.” 

The weight is heavy as I gather my thoughts to articulate these distressing memories. Physical reactions — the surge of heat on my face, sweaty palms, racing heart, and the onset of a panic attack — serve as stark reminders of the toll it’s taking. I am traumatized by you. The burden of vocalizing these experiences should never have been mine or anyone else’s.

I first met you in person in August 2015 at a surprise party you threw for Cassie’s 29th birthday at a hotel in Los Angeles. I was at her old apartment before the party with friends in the Wilshire Corridor Condos, right down the street from your home. Rushed by calls from your team about her ETA, we were in a frenzy to get her ready without spoiling the surprise. We all piled into a black car service from her place to the party.

We arrived at the area reserved for her party at the hotel, and you popped out singing “Happy Birthday.” There were many friends, a few famous faces, and cameras recording as we sang. She was definitely surprised. 

Eventually, we all started to mingle around the room. Up until that point, I’d only spoken to you once before on FaceTime with Cassie about songs we were working on together. You approached me and introduced yourself, saying, “So you’re the one writing all these songs about me?” I said yes, and you stared back and said, “That means she’s talking to you, huh?” I was uncomfortable because it seemed like you were talking about the more turbulent parts of your relationship. 

We did a song called “Loyal” that you didn’t like. We were writing about her pain. In the first verse of that song, she sings, “I don’t know what is real, I just know how I feel, and you keep acting like you don’t know what you did wrong, trying to get me to chill. Since we ain’t been together, I been on some whatever.” She was pushing back in that song. You later came back up to me and said you were playing. I didn’t believe you. One of your security guards did something similar. I’d never met him before, either. He approached me and said, “I heard a lot about you, Tiffany.” You both creeped me out, and this interaction was super intimidating. It felt like you both wanted me to know that you knew who I was and you didn’t like how close I was to her.

Later that evening, after being at the party since it started that afternoon, Cassie wanted to go to a karaoke spot called Blind Dragon on Sunset Boulevard with some friends. You were not happy that she was leaving. I remember your people hovering around us, trying to discourage Cassie from leaving, but we went anyway. You followed us and arrived just a little bit after we did. It was instantly uncomfortable. You pulled Cassie out of the private karaoke room; she put her head down and went with you. I followed to see if she was OK because something was off. When I walked out of the room, you had her backed into a corner in the hallway outside of the door, and your security surrounded you two as you cursed her out with your hands in her face. She and I briefly made eye contact. I felt helpless. She looked afraid and kept looking down at the floor. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared.

Karaoke was cut short because you wanted her to leave with you. Cassie asked me and two other friends if we’d meet her back at her place and stay the night. She was stopping at her house first to grab a bag and then going with you. I said yes because I was worried you would hurt her. Prior to this incident, she had confided in me that you were physically abusive, and the way you were in her face that night was alarming to me. I didn’t want to leave her alone.

When we got back to her house, she kept saying to us she didn’t want to go with you, but you were already on your way to pick her up. One of our friends was packing an overnight bag for her. I’ll never forget it; it was the biggest Birkin bag I’d ever seen. It was blue. I kept asking why they were packing her stuff if she clearly said she didn’t want to go with you, and this person said, “She always goes.” You arrived at the door and whisked her away. Cassie looked uneasy. I didn’t know where you were taking her. Once you left, the person who packed the bag said, “They’ll be back; watch.” It was almost like they had seen this movie before.

A few hours later, I was woken up by you screaming, “Emotional singing bitch, where are you?!” You and Cassie were back, it was around 3 or 4 a.m. When I walked out of her bedroom where I was asleep, you yelled, “Emotional singing bitch, there you are.” I was mortified, humiliated, and scared when I realized you were talking to me. You were visibly intoxicated, and so was Cassie. She appeared sedated and very withdrawn. It was the first time I saw her this way. You started screaming at us, “Tell your girl she wants some birthday dick. I flew all the way from Miami. She gone get this birthday dick!” You were visibly angry that she didn’t want that from you. I was terrified; I said, “She doesn’t have to have sex with you if she doesn’t want to.” You just kept screaming, “She gone get this dick.” All I kept thinking about was how, before you came to get her and she was sober, she kept telling us she didn’t want to go with you.

You two left her place in chaos on a golf cart and drove off into the night. We watched you from her balcony, driving toward your house. I thought you were going to get pulled over and go to jail or crash from being so high. It was like a real-life scary movie. I was terrified for Cassie and completely traumatized. She later told me you made her have a “Freak Off”— which Cassie described in her lawsuit as an “arrangement” where you would make her perform sexual acts with male sex workers — that night. The reason you called me “emotional singing bitch” was because you were listening to new songs we wrote during the “Freak Off” that had begun after you came to get her earlier that night. I am disturbed to my core by this. It makes me think it must have been songs Cassie hadn’t recorded yet that were still demos. I can’t begin to explain how it makes me feel thinking about my voice playing in the background of that nightmare. 

Throughout my time knowing Cassie, I’ve seen many concerning instances. There were occasions when I heard you yelling at her and making threats, observed her so high I was afraid of her overdosing at a party you threw for her in Malibu, and witnessed both of you getting IVs after a different night of partying. Additionally, when I was part of her management team in 2019 — a year after she was able to leave you — I saw you try to silence her by attempting to tie a nondisparagement clause to her record deal termination agreement, which felt unjust.

With Cassie bravely sharing her story, I’m finally free to share mine. That night of her birthday, and so many others, are burned in my brain and have tormented me since. I feel compelled to show up for Cassie and myself and confirm that everything she described in her complaint about what happened that night is consistent with what I experienced. Cassie and I became close while writing songs together nearly a decade ago. One of our friends used to call us “TiffAndra.” Never could I have imagined this is how it would turn out. The music I helped create for her suffered due to these events, compounding the trauma. It’s devastating. I still mourn that time in my songwriting career.

I continue to work through the PTSD, paranoia, and anxiety from these events. It’s one of the catalysts for my advocacy for music creatives today with my organization, The 100 Percenters. Your abuse of power has inflicted ongoing harm on countless individuals, including myself, my friends, and my peers. You are a literal pillar in Black music. So many of us looked up to you. This moment hurts for us, too, but no one deserves to endure all this, Puff. It’s not right. You’re hurting the very Black and brown people you say you love and support. It pains me to write this letter to you as a Black woman, but when will this cycle of abuse stop? It has to stop. 

Recent events, such as the unveiling of accusations against numerous former record label CEOs and artists for sexual assault due to the Adult Survivors Act in New York, underscore the gravity of the situation. The systemic issues of rape culture and misogyny deeply entrenched in the music industry pose a real threat to so many people’s safety every day in this business. How can we expect meaningful change when senior leadership and superstars face accusations of these crimes? 

The power imbalance makes it nearly impossible to fight back and terrifying to speak up. But despite that, here I am, standing beside my friend. There are moments in life when some of us have to face the hard choice of speaking truth to power or not. This is one of those moments.

50 Cent To Produce “Surviving P Diddy” And Will Donate Proceeds To Victims Of Sexual Assault

A documentary about the scandals that have plagued Diddy for years has been secured by 50 Cent’s pitch.

G-Unit Films and Television company is working on a TV special about the Bad Boy Records mogul, but it’s unclear if it will be a single episode or a series. On Friday, Fifty shared the Page Six link on Twitter, saying he was “the best producer for the job.”

Fifty and Sean “Diddy” Combs used to be on good terms in the early 2000s, but their relationship soured later in the decade, when Diddy demanded $2 million to release Mase from his Bad Boy contract and let him join G-Unit.

Before getting the green light for the documentary, Fifty asked his Instagram followers for their opinion, suggesting a docuseries called Surviving P. Diddy or Diddy, Do It Or Not, inspired by Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly about the notorious R&B singer-songwriter.

While the “In Da Club” rapper is touring with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih, he has been mocking Diddy online for months, especially after “Brother Love” faced multiple allegations of sexual assault and abuse. It started when Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a shocking lawsuit that came with a trigger warning and accused Diddy of sexual assault, rape, and sex trafficking. The lawsuit was later settled, but Diddy was sued by two more women, with alleged incidents that happened in the 1990s. 50 says proceeds from his upcoming Diddy documentary will go toward sexual assault victims.

50 confirmed in an Instagram post that G-Unit Film and Television’s proceeds from the doc “will go to victims of sexual assault and rape.” Additionally, according to TMZ, the doc is “currently in development,” but more details are not available.

Young Thug Rico Trial Day 2: Pushing P = Pushing Positivity & Thug = Truly Humble Under God

The second day of the trial began with Brian Steel, the lawyer representing Young Thug, striving to debunk the State’s portrayal of the rapper as a villain. In the courtroom, Steel depicted Thug as a man who reveres God and contributes significantly to his community. Steel also offered positive interpretations for terms linked to Thug. He stated that YSL is an acronym for “Young Successful Life”, while Thug is an abbreviation for “Truly Humble Under God”. According to Steel, “Pushin P”, the title of a 2022 track by Gunna featuring Thug and Future, is a symbol for “Pushing Positivity”. Steel’s initial remarks also included a dismissal of song lyrics as incidental proof. He portrayed Thug as a performer who merely narrates unlawful deeds in his music, but does not engage in them. The State intends to utilize lyrics from 17 songs that feature Thug and his co-defendants as evidence against the group. The dispute between Young Thug and YFN Lucci was another issue raised by Thug’s lawyer. Young Thug has been alleged to have authorized YSL members to assassinate Lucci in prison. Lucci was stabbed in the Fulton County Jail in March of the previous year, where he is currently awaiting his own RICO case trial. Steel minimized the conflict between the rappers and suggested that Lucci’s feud with Thug originates from Lucci’s lesser success and his desire to associate himself with a more renowned artist. Young Thug, along with six co-defendants, is on trial for charges that include violation of Georgia’s RICO Act. The prosecution alleges that Young Thug’s record label, YSL, serves as a cover for a violent street gang, which has been involved in numerous violent crimes over the past few years, including conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, and participation in criminal street gang activity.

T.I. Gives Back By Building Affordable Housing Including 25 Free Units For Unhoused Children

An increasing number of families in Atlanta now have the opportunity to live in affordable homes. This Tuesday, a new housing project was revealed by Atlanta’s rapper T.I., Mayor Andre Dickens, and several other organizations. They introduced 140 units located at the Intrada Building on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

Mayor Dickens mentioned, “When you listen to Tip’s album… he shouts out all the neighborhoods right around here.”

T.I. shared a humorous anecdote, saying, “I’m going to tell y’all a secret. Don’t tell nobody. I got caught stealing from this Kmart.” He was referring to a store that used to be in the neighborhood. He added, “I thought that, you know, just to offset the shame that came with that, it would behoove me to invest in the community by acquiring these properties.”

“The Rubber Band Man” is discussing his investment in this newly constructed building on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. He’s not the only one familiar with this area.

The community is a collaborative effort between the city of Atlanta, T.I.'s “Briarhouse Holdings,” and the Vecino group, according to the mayor and the rapper. T.I. mentioned that he was motivated by Killer Mike, a fellow native of West Side.

“He says, ‘If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot,’” T.I. quoted.

Since 2017, numerous organizations have pooled their resources to create a secure environment for families struggling financially. RentCafe states that the average rent in Atlanta exceeds $1,800. Considering a ZipRecruiter survey that shows the average individual earns $34.21 per hour, the focus on developing affordable housing is understandable.

“Safe, quality, affordable housing is linked to what we value,” stated the mayor. “It’s not something a government can fix on its own.”

The goal is to construct, and even better, a community by “buying back the block.”

Over the past two years, the mayor reports that the city has established 3,200 affordable homes, with an additional 5,000 under construction. The mayor’s objective is to reserve 20,000 units for affordable housing.

Day 1 Of Young Thug Rico Trial: Everything You Need To Know

The YSL RICO trial of Young Thug, which has been long-awaited, finally began with opening statements on Monday (Nov. 27) and the trial is scheduled to officially start this week. The rapper, whose birth name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, is facing charges of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and gang laws, among other things. He was indicted last year along with more than 24 other people. He will stand trial with five of them.

Thug and his five co-defendants are charged with conspiring to murder, armed robbery, and participating in criminal street gang activity. Fulton County, Ga. prosecutors have alleged that YSL is a cover for a violent street gang that has reportedly wreaked havoc on Atlanta for over 10 years. Thug is said to be the leader of the YSL organization, which stands for Young Stoner Life.

The jury was selected in mid-November after 10 months of deliberating, and it consists of 12 people. Seven Black women, two White women, two Black men, and one White man will determine Thug’s fate. The trial is expected to take up to a year, so as things get started, here are the biggest takeaways from the first day.

The first notable event happened before opening statements, with Judge Glanville mentioning that his dog moving around the courtroom might distract the jury.

“Here behind me is this ball that starts jingling,” the judge said. “and if you hear a jingling sound like a bell, please don’t think that I’m doing anything creepy up here, alright? I have a service dog behind me. His name is Jack. I think some of you may have seen him already. He lives the best life ever. He’s pampered, he’s a Labrador Retriever and he’s about two and a half, three years old at this point in time.”

He continued, “If you hear that bell, that’s him moving around. He doesn’t bark. He rarely gets interested in what’s going on so he might come up here and look but that’s about it. Don’t bring him any food either, okay? He is spoiled rotten. Please don’t try to throw him any food back here behind me or anything like that. He doesn’t need anything else.”

One of the 12 jurors of the YSL trial arrived late to the first day of proceedings because of car trouble, and the trial was delayed by over an hour as a result. Judge Glanville Scolds Both Defense and Prosecution for Use of PowerPoints Glanville became angry early on during opening statements and accused both the Defense and the State of not following his instructions in regards

“OK, here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m excluding the PowerPoints. Y’all are just gonna have to make this thing up the whole way. You’re gonna have to make an opening statement. No PowerPoints. Let’s bring our jury in.”

He continued, “No PowerPoints because you didn’t do what I told you to do, and that was to exchange PowerPoints. We have wasted almost two hours trying to get this stuff done. My orders to you are not aspirational. They’re given for a reason, and when you don’t follow them, then I have a way to remedy that.” Defense Tries to Get Trial Dismissed The defense attempted to get the trial dismissed early on during the proceedings on Monday. Judge Glanville was outraged that the prosecution didn’t share all the slides they planned to say during their opening statements, and the defense asked to have the trial thrown out. However, Judge Glanville didn’t give in and said the trial would go on.

After Judge Glanville ruled on Nov. 9 that song lyrics could be used by the prosecution against Thugga, Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love followed through on that promise on Monday. She showed the lyrics on the screen and told jurors that, “law enforcement didn’t chase the lyrics to solve the murders. Law enforcement chased the murders and found the lyrics.” “Take this st to muthafkin trial,” “I rep my life for real,” and “pay for that casket that’s just if we whack 'em,”

Former Bad Boy President, Label Sued for SA, Negligence amidst diddy accusations

A longtime executive at Bad Boy Entertainment, Harve Pierre, is facing a lawsuit for allegedly grooming and sexually assaulting his assistant, just DAYS AFTER Sean “Diddy” Combs, the founder of the company, was sued for rape and sex trafficking by R&B singer Cassie.

The Jane Doe plaintiff claims that Harve Pierre, who met Diddy at Howard University and became the former president of Bad Boy, victimized her “on multiple occasions in New York City and other locations throughout the country,” according to the complaint filed in New York County Supreme Court and obtained by Rolling Stone.

“Pierre used his position of authority as plaintiff’s boss to groom, exploit, and sexually assault her,” the filing says. “Pierre engaged in a year-long pattern of grooming plaintiff, leading to sexual harassment of plaintiff, and sexual assault.”

The unnamed assistant says she endured physical, emotional, and psychological injuries, along with pain and suffering. She’s seeking damages that will “fully and fairly compensate” her. (Pierre did not immediately reply to a request for comment.)

The lawsuit also holds Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records, and Combs Enterprises responsible, accusing the companies of negligence and gender violence. “Defendants knew or should have known that Pierre was unfit to be in a position of authority before Pierre sexually assaulted plaintiff,” the lawsuit asserts. It alleges the companies failed to “properly supervise” Pierre, especially considering his access to “individuals like plaintiff.”

Pierre joined Bad Boy in 1991, left the company but came back to eventually become its president until December 2017. He now identifies himself as a “partial owner” of the company that helped launch the careers of Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Ma$e and Faith Evans, according to his LinkedIn profile. The suit was filed as a result of the Adult Survivors Act, which allowed a one-year window for those in New York to bring civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse even if the statute of limitations had passed. It’s set to expire on Friday, November 24, 2023. According to the Associated Press, the legislation led to more than 2,500 lawsuits, with many – including Cassie’s suit against Diddy and a Jane Doe lawsuit against Russell Brand – being filed in the final days leading up to the deadline.

Andre 3000 Is Releasing A New Album Friday and Its Not What You Think

This Friday, November 17, André 3000 will drop his first solo album. New Blue Sun is not what you might expect: Instead of beats, bars, and singing, the 87-minute record showcases André the flautist. He plays contrabass flute, Mayan flutes, bamboo flutes, and digital wind instruments, NPR reports. One track is called “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time.” Another is named “Ninety Three ’Til Infinity and Beyoncé.” The full tracklist, below, is worth a look.

André 3000 has been mostly silent since Outkast’s last album in 2006, which won a Grammy. He has released some songs of his own and collaborated with artists like Beyonce, Drake and Frank Ocean. But he has not made any longform releases of his own, making New Blue Sun his first full-length since the 2006 Outkast LP Idlewild. He has been seen as an eccentric, wandering figure in Atlanta, in airports, and around the world, with his flute—images that fans love to share online. “I laugh at it because my homies in Atlanta, we’ll talk and they’ll be like, ‘Man, you know n***** think you crazy to f*** around with this flute,” he told NPR.

The album came from jams André 3000 did with the renowned percussionist Carlos Niño. They brought in keyboardist Surya Botofasina and guitarist Nate Mercereau, and recorded the improvisations that make up the LP. André 3000 said to NPR, “It’s not like I don’t try or it’s not like I have a lot of these songs just sitting—I have songs but it’s not like rap things that I really feel happy about sharing. And really, that’s the most important part. I have to feel happy about sharing it. That’s why New Blue Sun was something that I realized, whoa, I really want people to hear it. I really want to share it.”

He asked artist friends to listen to early versions. Frank Ocean liked it. Tyler, the Creator said one song helped him figure out a complex Louis Vuitton travel suitcase, saying, “It sounds like you’re chasing a butterfly through a garden and I figured it out.” André 3000 said he still works on rap tracks, but “it’s kind of like, I don’t know how to rock on that, really, in a way that I feel great about it. So if I can’t find a way to rock on it, I kind of leave it there.” The new album is inspired by Laraaji, Brian Eno, Alice Coltrane, Steve Reich, Pharoah Sanders, and an ayahuasca trip where André 3000 became a panther (see the third track).

In the NPR interview, André 3000 also talked about Virgil Abloh’s family’s request that he play flute at the late designer’s funeral. “I denied it, but only because I felt like I would be a distraction,” André 3000 said. “I don’t know, I just felt like it would have taken away from the moment and I only knew Virgil through texts and a few conversations. So I couldn’t pretend like I knew him that well. I was honored that the family asked me to play at the funeral, but I couldn’t.”

Other instrumentalists on New Blue Sun are Deantoni Parks, Diego Gaeta, Matthewdavid, V.C.R, Diego Gaeta, Jesse Peterson, and Mia Doi Todd. Learn more about the album in André 3000’s interview with NPR’s Rodney Carmichael for All Songs Considered.

New Blue Sun (Track List):

01 I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a “Rap” Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time
02 The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off the Tongue With Far Better Ease Than the Proper Word Vagina . Do You Agree?
03 That Night in Hawaii When I Turned Into a Panther and Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control ... Sh¥t Was Wild
04 BuyPoloDisorder’s Daughter Wears a 3000® Button Down Embroidered
05 Ninety Three ’Til Infinity And Beyoncé
06 Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy
07 Ants to You, Gods to Who ?
08 Dreams Once Buried Beneath the Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens

Meet Lil RT, He is 9 and is the Most Explicit Rapper in the Game!

Lil RT is a 9-year-old rapper from Atlanta, Georgia, who became famous after a video of him freestyling on a staircase went viral on TikTok. He released his first song, “60 Miles”, in October 2023, which features explicit lyrics about sex, guns, and running from the police. He also collaborated with Doe Boy, a 29-year-old rapper from Ohio, on the remix of “60 Miles”, which sparked controversy and criticism from some people who thought Doe Boy was endorsing Lil RT’s inappropriate behavior. Doe Boy defended his decision to work with Lil RT, saying that he was trying to help him get a better life and that he was just a regular kid from the hood.

Lil RT has not revealed much about his personal background or his parents, but he has gained a lot of attention and fans for his rap skills and confidence. He has over 2 million followers on TikTok and over 1 million views on YouTube. He has also been featured in several media outlets, such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Complex, and XXL.

The public reaction to Lil RT’s music has been mixed, with some expressing disbelief and concern over the explicit content in his songs given his young age, while others have shown support and admiration for his talent. Reactions on YouTube range from shock to praise, with many viewers commenting on the controversy surrounding his lyrics and the appropriateness of his content for someone so young.

Some people have criticized the adults involved in his career, questioning the decision to expose a child to such mature themes. However, there are also those who defend Lil RT, highlighting the reality of his background and the potential for music to provide a positive outlet and opportunity for change.

According to a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lil RT’s mother, who goes by the name of Ms. RT, is supportive of her son’s musical aspirations and has hired a manager and a lawyer to help him navigate the industry. She also claims that Lil RT is a good student who loves to read and play video games, and that his rap persona is just a way of expressing himself creatively. She says that she monitors his social media accounts and does not allow him to use profanity at home or in school. She also says that she hopes that Lil RT’s music will inspire other kids to pursue their dreams and overcome their challenges.

Lil RT’s rise to fame has sparked a conversation about youth in the music industry, the influence of adult themes on young artists, and the role of mentorship in guiding young talent. He is one of the youngest rappers to ever make a name for himself in the rap scene, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Lil RT is making waves in the rap world.

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Suspect in Takeoff’s Death Says He Was in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

The suspect in the killing of rapper Takeoff, Patrick Xavier Clark, faced a judge on Thursday (Oct. 26). Clark was taken into custody in December 2022 based on the evidence from ballistics and video footage. However, the defense team of the suspect is arguing that he acted in self-defense.

“He says he is innocent. We think that he has a valid claim of self-defense. I don’t believe they can prove with any certainty that Patrick was the one who shot the bullet that ended Takeoff’s life. There was another person who initiated the shooting, it was not Patrick Clark,” defense lawyer Letitia Quinones-Hollins told the media outlet. “He was in the same situation as Takeoff, he was trying to escape alive too. He had nothing to do with the dispute that happened. He was just unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when people started firing guns.” Patrick Xavier Clark was charged with murder by a grand jury in May 2023.

The 33-year-old was arrested a month after the shooting during a traffic stop by the Harris Police Department Gang Division. He allegedly had a large amount of money, a passport, and a gun with him at that time. In a July 2023 interview, Quavo shared how he has been mourning his nephew. The “Greatness” artist talked in the Conversation For The Fans segment about how his life and creative journey have been changed since Take’s death.

“I miss him a lot and I love him. He knows I love him. That’s what we always know. So when you see me and you see me smiling or something like that, you don’t have to ever think I forgot about him or I’ll forget about him. I think about him all the time. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep. And that’s it. I just know he’s here. If I can’t feel him, I just know he’s around,” he said.

Clark’s next court date is Jan. 23, 2024.

West’s Attorney Confirms NO 2024 Presidential Run

Kanye West, the renowned rapper, has officially put an end to his presidential ambitions. His personal attorney, Bruce Marks, confirmed to Rolling Stone that West will not be running for the presidency in 2024. This announcement marks the end of West’s active presidential campaign efforts, which were unconventional and aimed to challenge the traditional political landscape.

West had previously expressed his intention to run for president after a failed attempt in 2020. However, it now appears that his political dreams are on hold for this election cycle. A source told Rolling Stone that while nothing is impossible with the unpredictable West, the likelihood of him reversing this decision and reentering the race is extremely low.

West’s 2020 campaign was unique in that he did not run as a Republican or Democrat. Instead, he announced his candidacy under his own Birthday Party. Despite spending a reported $9 million of his own money on his campaign, which lacked many of the typical events and ads associated with a presidential run, he failed to secure even 100,000 votes.

Now, instead of pursuing politics, West is concentrating on reviving his music career. After a series of controversial rants led to him being dropped from brand deals and banned from some social media platforms, West is reportedly close to finishing a new album with Ty Dolla $ign. He has been playing new music for friends and is currently in Italy working on this untitled project.

The 45 King, Renowned Music Producer Behind Hits Like "Stan" and "Hard Knock Life", Has Passed Away. His Legacy and Contributions to the Music Industry Will be Remembered.

The 45 King, the producer behind some of rap’s most iconic songs, has passed away, according to his manager, Paul Martinez, who confirmed the news. The 45 King, whose real name was Mark Howard James, was born in the Bronx and began making beats in the mid-80s, when hip-hop was booming in New York City. He rose to fame with his work for Queen Latifah in the late '80s, and later produced hits such as Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” Eminem’s “Stan,” and more. James was 62 years old, and died a few days after his birthday on October 16. The cause of death has not been announced.

James got his name from his DJing style, where he would use obscure 45 records to create sound effects, which influenced his production technique and reflected the hip-hop culture of sampling that is still prevalent today. His breakthrough track “The 900 Number” came out in 1987, and featured a catchy saxophone sample from Marva Whitney’s 1968 song “Unwind Yourself.” The track was also part of James’ 1988 debut album Master of the Game. Since then, “The 900 Number” has been used and remixed by many artists, such as DJ Kool, Public Enemy, Breakestra, and Ced Gee.

James was part of a New York hip-hop collective called the Flavor Unit, which included emerging artists like Apache, Lakim Shabazz, Chill Rob G, and Queen Latifah. After the success of “The 900 Number,” James was hired to produce Latifah’s 1989 debut All Hail the Queen.

James continued to produce and remix songs for Latifah, Gang Starr, Salt-N-Pepa, Eric B. & Rakim, Digital Underground, Madonna, C&C Music Factory, and many others throughout the late '80s and mid-'90s. He also released his own records during that time, such as Straight Out Da Crate and The Lost Breakbeats series.

In 1998, James produced Jay-Z’s smash hit “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” which introduced him to a new generation of rap fans. The song cleverly samples and loops “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” from the original cast recording of the Broadway musical Annie. In 2000, James made another star turn on Eminem’s second album The Marshall Mathers LP, crafting the legendary beat for “Stan,” which samples Dido.

Many artists have paid tribute to James after his death, including Eminem, who wrote on social media: “Legends are never over. #RIP Mark Howard James aka the 45 King … I’m 4ever grateful!!!” The Alchemist called James “one of the original architects of production,” while DJ Premier wrote “we Salute your greatness!”

Jay-Z added: “Thank you Mark. Your instrumentals, namely ‘The 900 Number,’ were more memorable than our whole albums. You gave me a canvas to have a conversation with the world!! You changed my life. Even when the life is short, the art is long!!”

In 2014, after recovering from a heart attack, James posted a video to his YouTube channel where he talked about his legacy. “I like to be liked for my personality and my sense of humor, in honesty, instead of my beats,” he said. “But people just like you for your art sometimes when it’s hot. I never said that my music was good. I’m just so glad enough people like my art where I can pay the bills.”

Suge Knight Speaks Out From Prison In New Podcast

Suge Knight, the former CEO of Death Row Records and one of the most controversial figures in hip-hop history, is launching a new podcast from behind bars. The podcast, titled “Collect Calls With Suge Knight”, will feature conversations between Suge Knight and Dave Mays, the CEO of Breakbeat Media and the co-founder of The Source magazine. The podcast will be recorded from prison, where Suge Knight is serving a 28-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter.

The podcast aims to give Suge Knight a platform to share his opinions on various aspects of hip-hop culture, such as his legendary rap beefs, his responses to artists and hip-hop pundits who have used his name for headlines, and his thoughts on Snoop Dogg’s ownership of the Death Row brand. The podcast will also explore Suge Knight’s life experiences, foster connections with younger and older artists, and address audience questions.

According to Dave Mays, the podcast will be “the most authentic, unfiltered, and uncensored voice in hip-hop”. He said that he wanted to collaborate with Suge Knight because he believes that he has “a lot of wisdom and insight to offer”. He also said that he hopes that the podcast will help to “humanize” Suge Knight and show a different side of him than the media portrays.

The podcast is set to launch on Halloween in 2023, and will release episodes weekly, with audio versions on Thursdays and video versions on Fridays, available on major platforms. A sneak peek of the first episode will be available on October 24. However, the podcast will not reveal any details about Tupac Shakur’s murder case, which Suge Knight witnessed and refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

“Collect Calls With Suge Knight” is expected to be one of the most anticipated and controversial podcasts in hip-hop. It will offer a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential and notorious figures in the music industry. Whether you love him or hate him, you will not want to miss what he has to say.

Pras Michel Claims Lawyer Used AI to Draft Closing Argument in Conspiracy Case

Pras Michel, a member of the Fugees, wants a new trial for his federal conspiracy case. He says his former lawyer, David Kenner, did a bad job and even used an AI program to write his closing argument.

Michel was found guilty of 10 counts of conspiracy and falsifying records in April. He was involved in a scheme to influence the U.S. government with money from a Malaysian financier, Jho Low, who is accused of stealing billions from his country. Michel denies the charges and says he did nothing wrong.

His new lawyers say Kenner hired inexperienced contract attorneys to do most of the work, did not know the relevant laws, and did not object to harmful testimony. They also say Kenner used an AI program to write the closing argument, which was confusing and weak. They claim Kenner had a financial stake in the AI program and used Michel's trial as a way to promote it, which was a conflict of interest. Kenner did not comment on these allegations.

Michel's lawyers also say the jury heard improper evidence from two judges and a case agent who said Michel was guilty. They say this made the jury biased and they did not give Michel a fair trial.

Michel's case is linked to his friendship with Jho Low, who wanted to avoid prosecution in the U.S. Michel allegedly gave money from Low to Obama's 2012 campaign and tried to lobby Trump's administration to help Low. Michel told Rolling Stone that he had no reason to break the laws and that he lost many friends because of the case.

T.I. Announces Retirement From Rap With Final Double Album

T.I. is retiring from rap after releasing his final double album ‘Kill The King’ and ‘Kiss The King’. He announced the 12th album ‘Kill The King’ in February and revealed the second LP ‘Kiss The King’ on the We In Miami podcast. He said he wants to “evolve beyond” his rap career and praised the new generation of rappers. He also teased a new single with NBA Youngboy.

T.I. told Business Insider that ‘Kill The King’ is “a metaphor for killing the ego” and will reflect on his 20-year journey in the music industry. He said he has “seen all the sights, rode all the rides” and this is his “conclusion”. He also confirmed that his joint album with Boosie Badazz has been cancelled.

T.I. is a legend of trap music, who also had pop hits like ‘Live Your Life’ and ‘Blurred Lines’. He also acted in movies like ATL, Identity Thief, and Ant-Man and The Wasp. Recently, he made peace with Gucci Mane, another trap pioneer. He joined him on stage in Atlanta and appeared on his surprise album ‘Breathe Of Fresh Air’. They had a feud since 2012 over who invented trap music.