Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty R. Kelly is facing even more sex crime charges. The embattled singer is facing two counts of engaging in prostitution with an individual under 18 years old and offering to hire for sexual purposes a person under 18. The events allegedly took place with an underage girl in Minneapolis in July 2001. During a news conference on Monday, State Attorney Mike Freeman said the alleged victim approached Kelly for an autograph and claims that the 52-year-old singer paid her $200 to get naked and engage in sexual acts at his Minneapolis hotel. Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg calls the latest charges “absurd.” Re: New charges @RKelly give me a break. This is beyond absurd — Steve Greenberg (@SGcrimlaw) August 5, 2019 Freeman said that there was no sexual intercourse between Kelly and the underage girl, but there was “sexual contact.” He also admitted that the case will be difficult to prosecute, given that the evidence dates back nearly 20 years. The news follows a month in and out of courts for Kelly. He was charged with 18 counts of sexual misconduct and other charges in Chicago and New York and pled not guilty to five federal criminal charges including kidnapping and racketeering. RELATED: Alleged Sexual Predator R. Kelly Calls His Accusers “Disgruntled Groupies” RELATED: Steppin’ Down In The Name Of Common Sense: R. Kelly’s Crisis Manager Quits
Source: AFP Contributor / Getty D.J. Cooper Suspended By FIBA For Suspicious Drug Test Results D.J. Cooper, who was once a stand-out basketball player during his time at Ohio University, was suspended from competition by the International Basketball Federation (better known as FIBA) back in 2018. Now, according to a new report from Eurohoops , Cooper’s two-year-long suspension came after a drug test administered by the governing body revealed that he was pregnant. Cooper–who was looking to join the Bosnian national team last year–tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that’s produced by pregnant women. Of course, this means that the urine used for the test wasn’t actually his, but instead, came from Cooper’s pregnant girlfriend. FIBA immediately suspended the player for fraud. Cooper’s suspension means that he is ineligible to play internationally until June of 2020. D.J. played for the Bobcats from 2009-2013, starting in nearly every game in his collegiate career. After going undrafted, the guard took his talents to Europe. He played two seasons in the Greek League, for both Panathinaikos and AEK Athens, and then three in the French league with three different teams. So, for anyone out there looking to pass a drug test with their significant other’s pee–you should probably consider the fact that pregnancy is detectable through urine.
Source: Erika Goldring / Getty Gunna Gets Honored With His Own Day In Chicago Gunna is seriously raking in the accolades. On Saturday, August 3, the College Park, Georgia native announced that he was being honored with his own day in Chicago. Joining his most recent honor of being inducted into the 2019 X XL Freshman Class , the rapper shared his latest bit of good news on his Instagram Story. The photo he posted shows the decry, which was granted on behalf of the Community Schools Initiative. “On Sat. Aug. 3, 2019, Chicago Illinois South Shore International College Preparatory High School would like to proclaim today Gunna Day!” the letter reads. “In tribute to your first ballot hall of fame music career on and off the stage and your wonderful work providing billions of youth around the world to have the audacity to hope against all odds.” The rapper finished off the post by writing “Thank you so much Chicago” over the image. @1GunnaGunna got his own day in Chicago #gunna #gunnamedia pic.twitter.com/6iqshSExHe — GUNNA.MEDIA (@GunnaMedia) August 4, 2019 Gunna’s latest honor coincides with his appearance in Chicago for his performance at Lollapalooza. Congrats to Gunna on having his very own day in Chicago!
C hicago-bred rapper Common is adding real estate developer to his repertoire. According to the Chicago Tribune , the music artist—whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn —is investing in the transformation of an underdeveloped property located in the city’s South Side area. Chicago rapper Common and a group of real estate developers want to convert the former U.S. Steel plant on the city’s south lakefront into a movie production campus. https://t.co/44yxW8ug3L — Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) July 28, 2019 Lynn is reportedly working with a group of real estate developers to transform a vacant piece of land which used to be a U.S. Steel plant into a large mixed-use development. He wants to convert the 415-acre site into a hub that will include homes, stores, entertainment and sports facilities, and a movie production campus. He hopes that the development of these new establishments will revive the surrounding community and provide job opportunities for people in the neighborhood. The cost to purchase the site will be nearly $71 million. The developers are working on bringing investors on board and the plans for the site would have to be approved by the city. Lynn has been dedicated to bettering his hometown and bringing authentic narratives about the city to the forefront through his artistry. “I felt a responsibility to be a voice for the people of Chicago, to represent their humanity,” he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times . “We are human beings and that’s something many people don’t get to experience or witness because they hear about Chicago through its violence. We have a duty to make sure we tell the stories of these human beings.” The rapper isn’t the only one who is investing in their hometown. Earlier this year it was announced that Queen Latifah is creating an affordable housing complex in Newark to level the playing field when it comes to housing equity. The project—which is reportedly going to cost $14 million—will include a community of multi-family townhouses, a fitness center and commercial space that will be used by nonprofit organizations. SEE ALSO: Queen Latifah To Create Affordable Housing Complex In Newark Real Estate Mogul Don Peebles To Launch $500M Fund For Underrepresented Developers [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3882606″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Roy Rochlin / Getty Black Ink Crew Chicago’s Ryan Henry Talks Tattooing On Dark Skin Ryan Henry isn’t just one of the stars of Black Ink Crew Chicago , he’s a widely respected tattoo artist who specializes in working on darker skin. The reality star joined the people over at Inked to talks about the difference between tattooing on light and dark skin, what techniques he uses to make tattoos on dark skin pop, and more. Check out the video down below to hear Ryan drop some gems about his techniques:
Source: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com / WENN Chicago Mom Arrested For Allegedly Stealing Taraji P. Henson’s Identity A mom of six, suffering from bipolar disorder and currently pregnant with her seventh child, is in hot water after she allegedly stole Taraji P. Henson ‘s identity. 29-year-old Alicia Newby was reportedly able to rack up $12K after targeting the Empire actress and several others. From the Chicago Tribune : A pregnant mother of six trembled throughout a court hearing Sunday as prosecutors accused her of stealing the identities of several people, including a star of the Fox television show “Empire,” and collecting thousands of dollars in merchandise mailed to dummy addresses. Alicia Newby quietly sobbed next to her court-appointed attorney at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, charged with a single felony count of continuing a financial crime enterprise. Newby, 29, was ordered released on a $10,000 signature bail and electronic monitoring, but was forbidden from contacting victims or witnesses. During the hearing before Judge Charles S. Beach II, prosecutors didn’t name either of Newby’s alleged victims, but police and court records list actress Taraji P. Henson, 48, as one of them. A representative for the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress who stars in the hip-hop drama that films in Chicago couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday afternoon. According to the report, about $4,000 worth of fraudulent charges were canceled after Henson’s manager noticed a discrepancy last August. The connection between Newby and avid mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson hasn’t been discovered yet, but authorities say Newby somehow gained access to Henson’s email… Authorities did not say how Newby and Henson knew one another, but a police source said investigators were also looking into whether any other cast members of “Empire” may have been victims. A key to Newby’s success was compromising Henson’s email, prosecutors said. “Once this was done, the defendant then raided the account for a variety of information,” including phone numbers, addresses, financial accounts and telephone numbers that she could then use to purchase items online, Assistant State’s Attorney James Costello told the court. In addition to defrauding Henson, Newby also defrauded JP Morgan Chase, American Express and PayPal and multiple other merchants in her scheme, according to charging documents. Yikes! It also appears this isn’t Newby’s only run-in with the law… Last September, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier refused to deliver packages to one of the addresses, believing it was being used in an ID theft scam, but was allegedly “assaulted” by Newby, demanding that she deliver the packages, prosecutors said. Police officers called to the scene captured the woman’s demands on body-worn camera. But Newby later received the packages after she caused a scene at the local post office, Costello said. Authorities lost track of Newby in December after she cleared out of an apartment, leaving behind thousands of dollars in damages and about $4,000 in unpaid rent. She resurfaced earlier this year when she pawned a designer purse using her real state identification card, Costello said. The pawnbroker and three postal employees identified Newby by photo. We hope this young woman and her children get the help that they need.
Source: Carlos Tischler / Getty Scottie Pippen’s Ex-Mistress Is Suing Him Over Travel Fees From The 80’s According to the The Blast , six-time NBA champ Scottie Pippen is being sued by an ex-girlfriend for $9,999, after she claims she spent thousands in travel expense during their alleged relationship, that took place during the late 80’s and early 90’s. “the maximum allowed in small claims court,” Chyvette Valentine, who claims to have dated Pippen during his time with the Chicago Bulls, is taking him to small claims court after she says he promised to pay her back after she flew herself out but he never did. During the Bull’s dynasty Pippen married Karen McCollum in 1988, later divorcing in 1990. Valentine claims she didn’t know Pippen was married or had kids, and didn’t find out until he opened up about his life in February 1988 as the pair had sex. Following his split from McCollum, Pippen wed second wife Larsa in 1997. She filed for divorce in 2018.
Source: Arnold Turner/Getty Images Exclusive Dreezy Interview There were a zillion cool things happening at ComplexCon Chicago that attracted seas of cool somebodies, transcendent tastemakers and rising stars like Chi-town fire-breather Dreezy who took a break from mingling with fans to chat about her poppin’ PUMA deal, the return of great music, female rappers winning and more at the booming brand’s larger-than-life activation. You can also catch Big Dreez in two campaigns for the brand, including the newly released Roma Amor Mixed Metal campaign. Check it out below!
Source: Viral PR Group / HITCO Entertainment LightSkinKeisha’s Highly-Anticipated Act Up Szn Arrives This Friday On July 26, Instagram phenomenon and Atlanta rapper LightSkinKeisha will unleash her Summer mixtape, Act Up Szn . Along with new music, Keisha is getting ready for her nationwide Act Up SZN Tour, which starts right in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia next month. Act Up Szn’s 12 tracks expand Keisha’s musical palette and showcases her evolution and emphasizes the importance of female empowerment and motivation. When asked about the inspiration behind her upcoming project in a recent interview, she explained, “The inspiration is me. I want girls to understand that ‘Act Up Szn’ means that it’s time to boss up with or without a man. It’s a movement. It shows men that we can keep the same energy.” The project bolsters features from Kash Doll, Miss Mulatto, and an exclusive, never-before-heard prison call from Shannon and Shannade Clermont (AKA The Clermont Twins). This mixtape arrives just a few weeks after the release of Trina’s official “On His Face” music video, which features LightSkinKeisha. Before Act Up Szn’s release this Friday, July 26, here’s an official first look at the project’s tracklist: 1. Motivation by Coca 2. Real B*tch 3. Fuck Sh*t 4. Side Ponytail 5. On Read (ft. Kash Doll) 6. Believe Dat 7. Free Shannade (ft. Clermont Twins) 8. SMD 9. A$AP 10. Still Can’t Do (ft. Miss Mulatto) 11. Over Now 12. Pop Yo Sh*t Beisha Source: Viral PR Group / HITCO Entertainment
Source: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Comedy Central Exclusive Bashir Salahuddin & Diallo Riddle Interview Most everyday people only care about the stars but it’s the Diallo Riddles and Bashir Salahuddins of the very small and very white world of Hollywood that power everything we love about the talent-thirsty industry. Once upon a time (seemingly before Al Gore invented the internet orrr something like that), you never met the creatives, visionaries or showrunners behind your favorite shows, but now, more than ever before, they’re on the forefront of promo campaigns like our new favorite duo Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin who went from “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” to cultivating their very own Comedy Central show. A refreshingly authentic series about Chicago called “South Side” that’s hilarious when it’s not revealing the heart, soul and beautiful sense of community that make the city so special. Billed as an aspirational comedy, the series follows two friends who just graduated community college with dreams of taking over the world but there’s one small problem: They’re stuck at Rent-T-Own–an endearingly run down rent-to-own store that attracts the south side’s most ridiculous characters (who, in one episode, refuse to return an X-Box). Think Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” but in Chicago (which you undoubtedly will) until you realize the series has a different energy that makes it completely unique. That, and the naturally funny cast of regular-smegular people from the community sprinkled into cleverly written episodes. As fans of great TV, we loved the music, zippy editing, cinematography, relatable characters in relatable situations, guest stars (we won’t spoil it), attention to very Black details and classic ’90s sitcom feel that set the tone for an amazing interview with two of Black Hollywood’s brightest talents. How did you get your big idea to Comedy Central? [Bashir] “South Side was very organic. Diallo and I always wanted to do a show about one of our hometowns–we actually developed a couple ideas around Atlanta (where I’m from) unfortunately we hit some walls with those. And then, with “South Side,” we really looked around the landscape and tried to figure out who was filming comedies that felt unfiltered and pure and we just felt like between The Chappelle Show, Key & Peele–we just felt like Comedy Central just kept making shows where you were seeing great stuff and it felt like the comedians were really doing the jokes the way they want to do them, how they want to do them. At the same time, whenever I’m home for Thanksgiving and Christmas I would be hangin’ out with my boys and just lmao and it kinda reminded me of the friendship me and Diallo have and other friendships that he has and it’s like ‘wait a second, we have all these great, funny people in our lives’ and if you ask most people who the funniest person they know is they’ll say ‘oh my cousin is hilarious, my auntie is so funny’ and, you know, it’s like ‘well, let’s put those people on camera’ So, we really developed a show about these two guys who are fresh out of community college and now they wanna take over the world. So, you know, it’s a blue collar vibe but it’s really starring a lot of Chicago people who have not even done a lot of acting–just naturally funny people. …my wife is in, my brother is the main character, two of my boys from high school are in it, Diallo is it, a lot of our family and friends are in it… and it’s just people in our lives who make us laugh naturally and what we ended up with was this really hilarious show that shows people a side of Chicago they don’t get to see, especially the south side, and showing people that we can have fun and we can laugh and be light and silly and all those things… And it’s still as authentic as something heavier. I know a lot of Chicago-based shows deal with pretty tough stuff and it’s like ‘yea, that stuff has a place and then we also have a place too where we can have fun’ because I think there’s nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves” We have to ask this question–because, working in this space we know you had to present this to people who may not look like us -[Diallo] Oh yea! Yes! We don’t want to say the room was mostlyyyy white buttttt –[Diallo and Bashir] “It was all white!” (laughs) [Bashir] “The President of Comedy Central, you know, he’s just somebody who really gets it and came to us four years before we pitched the show and was like ‘look, I think you guys are great if you ever wanna do a show come and see me–let’s figure something out’ Sometimes people say that and what thats means–and I think this is what you’re speaking to–it means they wanna throw some names on there that’ll satisfy some sort of diversity interest but ultimately still develop something that looks like everything else and has the same tired vibe as everything else. Kent Alterman of Comedy Central was the opposite–he was like ‘no, no, what do yall really want to do and he actually championed it and supported it and there were definitely a lot of notes and things we had to figure out but every single frame of that show is our vision and I think it shows in what you saw and doesn’t feel like something that was watered down. The City of Chicago is not a soft place–it’s a hard place–and I think luckily for us our comedy is a hard, sharp comedy that’s about some tough stuff BUT they were super supportive and like ‘tell your truth’ And so, the answer to your question really is that we just made the right choice in who we partnered with and I would encourage all people who are developing projects to really think hard about who you work with because if you make the right choice the person will help you create value and broaden what you’re doing in a wonderful way And if you make the wrong choice you’ll look up and wonder like ‘what is this we made this looks nothing like I wanted to make -[Diallo]- “Yea” – so we got lucky” Do you talk to other showrunners and creators in the space? [Bashir & Diallo] “All the time!” [Bashir] “We literally just hosted Issa Rae at the Clusterfest in San Francisco and she couldn’t be more of a delight and an intelligent, genius showrunner and helluva talent. And to be able to just chat with her about the process of showrunning and to know that we have a somewhat similar background because we got our start doing web material and she got her start on Awkward Black Girl–she created it and was doing her own thing–and to know we share the DNA of people who did their own thing before TV figured us out–that was special” What would be a success, in your eyes, for “South Side?” [Bashir] “For me, I always tell people that what you see about Chicago on the news is a small piece of a very big pie and we’re gonna give you the rest of the pie. And, you know, we feel like if the city of Chicago, especially Black Chicago, if more and more people start to think first ‘hey, isn’t that the funny place where everybody is really hilarious and has a good time’ vs. ‘hey, isn’t that the place where I just saw somebody who got hurt on the news’ You know, that is beginning to move the dial in the right direction. I don’t just want people on the outside to see that and think that about Chicago. My deeper goal is to have the people who actually live there begin to also self-identify moreso–which they already do but you just don’t hear about it–but self-identify moreso as a place of joy, as a place of comedy, in the same way Harlem is all about culture, specifically Black culture [Diallo] “I’m the only person involved in the show who didn’t grow up in Chicago but, as a person who didn’t, I can guarantee you that not only will you come out of it feeling like you know a lot more about Chicago but you’ll also understand all the ways that the south side of Chicago has similarities and relationships with all the other south sides of Atlanta, Inglewood, North Philly–all the neighborhoods where we are–you’ll understand the humanity that exists in Chicago and you’ll be a lot less likely to believe lies that get spread when people say it’s all violence and mayhem” Source: Comedy Central “South Side” debuts tonight at 10:30/9:30c on Comedy Central!
