Home Blog Page 279

UMG Responds to Drake’s Lawsuit. Denies Conspiring with Spotify to Inflate Kendrick Lamar’s Streams

0
BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID

Universal Music Group (UMG) has responded to rapper Drake’s lawsuit that it conspired with Spotify to “artificially inflate” the streaming numbers of rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss record, “Not Like Us”.

The Canadian rapper sued UMG and Spotify claiming that both companies conspired to make the song more popular than it actually was.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Drake’s attorneys claim that UMG violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. They also allege deceptive business practices and false advertising under New York state law.

According to Variety, Drake and his attorneys accused UMG of licensing “Not Like Us” at drastically reduced rates to Spotify and using “bots” to generate streams that gave the false impression that the song was very popular.

HEM / BACKGRID

“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” UMG wrote in its response. “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”

The lawsuit also alleges that UMG conspired with other streaming services to boost streaming numbers.

“UMG appears to have used similar tactics with other streaming services. On information and belief, UMG paid, or approved payments to, Apple Inc. to have its voice-activated digital assistant ‘Siri’ purposely misdirect users to ‘Not Like Us.'”

“UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” the lawsuit continues. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”

Back in June, Instagram blogger DJ Akademiks said a source told him that Kendrick’s manager, Anthony Saleh, paid him to boost Kendrick’s streaming numbers using bots.

The source told DJ Akademiks that he massively inflated the amount of streams for “Not Like Us.” He even showed DJ Akademiks how he did it.

Kendrick’s camp was quick to deny the allegations, but DJ Akademiks stands by his source.

New Yorkers are free to cheat on their wives after governor signs new bill

0
Blend Images/ Getty

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed historic legislation making it legal for men to cheat on their wives. Gov. Hochul signed the new bill into law on Friday legalizing adultery in the state.

The 117-year-old law that criminalized adultery said “a person is guilty of adultery when he engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse.”

For over a century men lived in fear of being arrested for soliciting working girls. The law encouraged men to go home to their wives rather than stop off at brothels and massage parlors.

Adultery was considered a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of up to three months in jail.

Getty Images/Blend Images

The New York State Senate called the law “outdated” and moved to strike it from the books.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine wrote the bill overturning the law. He said 13 people were arrested and charged under the law, while 5 people were convicted.

“If you look into the history of adultery laws, they generally were created as a means to control women, and very, very few men were ever charged or punished for their adultery, whereas many, many women were,” Paul Keable told UPI.

“And so, it’s not lost to me that it was a female governor in New York who struck down this law, because she more than likely saw the hypocrisy within it and that it just has no place in a modern state.”

“This is not an activist action by a governor,” he said. “This is just a simple recognition that society’s moved on since 100 years ago when that law was originally put on the books.”

Gov. Hochul signed the bill into law without comment on Friday.

US Attorney Who Indicted Sean Combs Plans to Resign Before Trump Takes Office

0
Photo may have been deleted
BACKGRID, WENN, SDNY

Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), plans to hand in his resignation in December. Williams is best known for indicting music mogul Sean Combs on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

Williams plans to resign from office in December — before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
 
RELATED: Donald Trump plans to oust US Attorney prosecuting Sean Combs and NYC Mayor Eric Adams
 
Williams indicted Combs in September on charges of sëx trafficking and conspiracy to promote prostitution. Combs is being held without bond in a federal detention center in Brooklyn awaiting trial set for May 5, 2025.

Judge Arun Abramaian is expected to announce his decision on Combs’ third request for bail. On Friday, the judge promised to render his decision this week.

Williams also filed a public corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams – another friend of Trump’s.

Adams is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

He is also accused of defrauding NYC taxpayers of $10 million through allegedly fraudulent campaign funds.

Williams was nominated in 2021 by President Joe Biden, making Williams the first Black American to lead the prosecutor’s office, and the youngest, at age 41.

The Southern District of NY has secured historic convictions, including the fallen crypto king, Sam Bankman-Fried.

Bankman-Fried and Combs are being held in the same VIP area of the MDC federal lockup in Brooklyn.

Stars Attend Motown Founder Berry Gordy’s 95th Birthday Party in Beverly Hills

0
The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

Music icon Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, celebrated his 95th birthday with friends and family at Spago Restaurant in Beverly Hills on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

The record producer, songwriter, film and television producer is best known as the founder of the Motown record label in Detroit, Michigan. He later moved Motown Records to Los Angeles.

Gordy produced No. 1 hits for Diana Ross and The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and more.

The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

In attendance at his party were Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson, Tracee Elliss Ross, Smokey Robinson, Claudette Rogers Robinson (Smokey’s ex-wife), Debbie Allen, Benny Medina, Freda Payne, Hazel Joy Gordy (Berry’s daughter), and more!

The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

Hazel Joy Gordy is Berry Gordy’s eldest child. She was a teenager when she married J5 heartthrob Jermaine Jackson in the 1970s. Berry named his Jobete music publishing company after his eldest children Joy, Berry Jr. and Terry.

The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

Former Motown exec Suzanne de Passe (left), Diana Ross and Berry Gordy’s daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Rhonda’s son, Raif (center) attend Berry Gordy’s 95th birthday celebration at the iconic Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Photo may have been deleted
Jet magazine

Suzanne de Passe is responsible for bringing Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 to Motown Records. But she graciously allowed Diana Ross to take all the credit for discovering the talented family.

The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi attended Berry Gordy’s 95th birthday party.

Lizzo is Unrecognizable After Shutting Down Ozempic Rumors

0
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Lizzo shocked her fans with a new photo showing off her dramatic weight loss. The rapper and singer has been on a weight loss journey for at least 2 years.

Lizzo slammed reports that she used Ozempic to lose wight in a video last month.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

In an Instagram post, Lizzo is unrecognizable in a new photo that shows her wearing “milkmaid braids” and a white sheer shirt dress.

In one selfie, Lizzo winked and pouted at the camera. Another photo captured Lizzo with her tongue out and her hands raised to show off her pink-colored nails.

In a separate post, Lizzo delighted fans with a video of herself alongside her mother, who sported matching braids.

She captioned the photo: “My mom stole my hairstyle & ate me up.”

Fans barely recognized the pop singer. One person wrote: “Is that supposed to be Lizzo?”

Another fan wrote: “Girl, you’re looking absolutely stunning.”

A third follower wrote: “Awwww! You look so beautiful, hun!! Keep up the good work, sis!! I love you so much!”

Sean Combs to Serve House Arrest at His Luxury Upper East Side Apartment

0
Photo may have been deleted
Illustration

Sean Combs’ attorneys asked a judge to place the music mogul under house arrest at his luxury East Side Manhattan apartment.

Combs has been in jail in New York since his arrest on sex crime charges in September.

Combs amended his $50 million bond proposal to include house arrest at his NYC condo with several private security guards monitoring him 24/7.

In a bond hearing on Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs’ Star Island address “is not going to work” for house arrest. This, despite the fact that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries is under indictment on similar sex crimes in NYC – but he’s under house arrest in Florida.

Combs’ lawyers suggested that one security guard would be assigned downstairs in the building and 2 guards would be inside the 3-bedroom apartment with Combs. They also stated that Combs would not have access to a cell phone or the Internet. He would only communicate with his lawyers. All phone calls would be arranged through his approved security team.

Combs’ attorneys said house arrest in a luxurious apartment overlooking Central Park would be “substantially more restrictive” than the jail where he is housed now.

Judge Subramanian is expected to make his decision today (Nov. 25).

Charleston White reacts to Vivica A. Fox saying she’s ready to settle down at 60

0
Photo may have been deleted
Screengrab

Charleston White reacted to actress Vivica A. Fox saying she’s ready to settle down at 60. Thanksgiving is almost here and Vivica still doesn’t have a man to cut her Thanksgiving turkey. So she’s ready.

Vivica is still an attractive woman at age 60. Lots of men would date Vivica if they could afford her.

But Charleston White says men don’t want a woman Vivica’s age because she’s “burnt out.”

In a very disrespectful comment on a recent podcast, White said “Once a woman get 31, 32, and she done had fun in her 20s, she’s a burn out.”

Actually, that’s not true. Once a woman hits menopause in her mid to late 40s, her libido goes into overdrive. Most men her age can’t keep with her demands in bed. That’s why Viagra is a billion-dollar industry.

Charleston White is 53, so he should know better than to put down a woman who can run circles around him in the bedroom.

Photo may have been deleted

TD Jakes Suffers Health Scare On Stage During Sermon (Video)

0
Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Bishop T.D. Jakes, the founding pastor of the Potter’s House Church in Dallas, suffered a health incident on stage during a sermon on Sunday.

At the end of an hour-long sermon video, the exhausted bishop told his parishioners, “I still love to preach, I ain’t tired of preaching.”

“I love you,” he told the crowd as they applauded. “Now Lord let the words in my mouth and the meditation in my heart be acceptable in thy sight. Oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let them go in peace,” he said before dropping his mic.

His body swayed and he appeared to shake slightly as women in the church spoke in tongues. Jakes’ security team rushed to the stage and surrounded him.

It isn’t clear what happened to Bishop Jakes. Some people believe that he suffered either a stroke or a seizure. But doubters say he was faking because he was a regular guest at Sean Combs‘ house parties.

In a statement on Facebook, it was reported that Jakes received immediate medical attention and he is in stable condition.

“During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour long message,” the statement read. “Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.”

Late Sunday, Bishop Jakes’ daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Toure Roberts, who are co-pastors at a Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles, gave an update on Instagram.

Singer/Songwriter Khalid Comes Out As Gay After Ex Outs Him On Social Media

0
Valentina Frugiuele/Getty Images

Singer/songwriter Khalid Robinson stepped out of the closet in response to an ex-boyfriend outing him on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Khalid re-posted a fan’s tweet that read: “Wait hope Mr. Khalid isn’t GEHHH!”

The Grammy-nominated singer responded: “I am! And that’s okay.” In a follow-up tweet, he posted a rainbow flag emoji and wrote, “there y’all go. next topic please lol [sic].”

Khalid post

Khalid post

Fans were very supportive of the singer. They flooded his ex’s timeline with hate tweets after the man claimed Khalid accused him of breaking into his house.

Khalid and ex boyfriend

Khalid, 26, is best known for his hit song “Location,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. The song peaked at No. 10 on the U.S. Hot R&B Songs chart on January 21, 2017. The music video for “Location” was viewed over 590 million times on YouTube.

Khalid’s 21-city Location Tour sold out everywhere. He contributed uncredited vocals to Kendrick Lamar’s song “The Heart Part 4”, in 2017.

Rapper Logik’s single “1-800-273-8255”, featuring Khalid and Alessia Cara, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2017, Khalid won a VMA Award for Best New Artist. He made his television debut performing “Location” on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in 2017.

Khalid’s debut studio album, American Teen (2017) was a commercial success. The album received quadruple platinum certification by the RIAA and was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Khalid’s impressive list of awards and accolades includes six Grammy nominations, 6 Billboard Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. In 2019, Khalid was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.

Photos: Ne-Yo Living His Best Life with Three Beautiful Girlfriends

0
Prince Williams/ATLpics.net

Singer/songwriter Ne-Yo is enjoying life as a single dad with three beautiful girlfriends at home.

The 45-year-old Libra fathered 3 children with his ex-wife Crystal Renay before she left him for impregnating another woman (more on that later).

Prince Williams/ATLpics.net

Now Ne-Yo is the happiest he’s ever been in a polyamorous relationship with three women. Ne-Yo and his harem partied during “Ladies Love R&B” at Flo Lounge in Buckhead on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Prince Williams/ATLpics.net

Ne-Yo, 45, made sure his girlfriends felt loved and appreciated all night long. He shot video of his sister-wives dancing and having a blast in the club.

Unlike most men who are in committed relationships with one woman, Ne-Yo is free to “cheat” with his three girlfriends. He gets the emotional support he needs from more than one woman. And they all share responsibilities around the home.

The women also help Ne-Yo watch his children when it’s his turn to have them.

Prince Williams/ATLpics.net

“I feel like in the realm of love and romance, you should let people do whatever the hell they want to do,” he told TMZ. “Can’t see how it’s hurting anybody.”

Ne-Yo told TMZ he believes polygamy (marriage to multiple partners at one time) should be legalized in America. He is a vocal advocate for polygamy. Now other men are following his lead and shacking up with several women.

Polygamy is popular among high-value men who can afford more than one woman.

Photo may have been deleted
Sandra Rose/Sandrarose.com

Ne-Yo and his first wife Crystal met in 2015 when she auditioned as a dancer in one of his music videos. He told Essence in 2020 that he and Crystal aired their dirty laundry when they first met.

“The first thing I said to her was that ‘I am aware that you are a beautiful woman, that you are smart, that you are driven and I’m aware that I can handle all of this [fame] stuff.’ I need to know that I can handle all the stuff that I’m not aware of. I need to know every reason that a man has ever left you or anything that you feel like a man will leave you for. I need your track record. I need it all right here, right now.”

The “Let Me Love You” singer continued: “She laid out her dirty laundry, I laid out my dirty laundry [and] after this very uncomfortable conversation, the air in the room got lighter so to speak, and we didn’t feel like we had to work as hard to impress each other. After that conversation, I had a laundry list of dos and don’ts in regard to being in a relationship with her and I took that list and turned it into a song and that song is ‘Good Man.'”

They tied the knot in February 2016 but separated four years and 2 children later. They reconciled in 2020 and welcomed their third child, a daughter, in 2021.

Then Crystal discovered that Ne-Yo was expecting a child with another woman. She promptly filed for divorce.

“For the sake of our children, my family and I will work through our challenges behind closed doors,” Ne-Yo tweeted at the time. “Personal matters are not meant to be addressed and dissected in public forums. I simply ask that you please respect me and my family’s privacy at this time.”

Ne-Yo also has 2 children with ex-partner Monyetta Shaw and a child with another woman.