Source: Scott Olson / Getty R. Kelly Accused of Trafficking School Girls Around The Country For Sex Abuse R. Kelly’s lawyers have put the blame on the disgraced singer’s alleged victims as they mount a bid for him to be let out on bail. In a letter to the judge July 30, lawyer Douglas C. Anton characterizes the five “Jane Doe” witnesses in Kelly’s federal racketeering case as “disgruntled groupies” who only came forward because of “groupie remorse,” and an overzealous Cook County, Il prosecutor, according to the letter, which was obtained by BOSSIP. The lawyer says Kelly’s legal team will show “how these groupies sought out Robert’s attention, even fought each other for it, voluntarily contacted him, came to his shows, pined to be with him and how Robert would spend his time and even become friends with, and care about these groupies and fans who were dying to be with him,” the letter states. The attorneys said the government’s characterization of R. Kelly as the head of a “criminal enterprise” was false, and that the “Pied Piper” was simply running a tight ship on tour. And as for those tours, the “Honey Love” singer’s lawyers contend that the way Kelly ran his “fan experiences” were for the protection of the fans – who were both male and female. Kelly is set to appear in Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday for his first appearance in the racketeering case, where he is scheduled to be arraigned. His lawyer said Kelly’s two girlfriends – who have been dubbed his “alleged sex slaves” – will be in the courtroom to support their man. Kelly is also facing another, a simultaneous federal case in Illinois for child porn charges . The judge in the racketeering case has yet to rule on granting Kelly bail.
Source: Jerritt Clark / Getty Fabolous Serving 12 Months Of Pre Trial Intervention After Admitting To Harassment Of Emily B Fabolous is back in hot water after cops popped him for driving without a license, BOSSIP has learned. Officers from the Leonia, NJ Police Department pulled the “Breathe” rapper over May 24 after spotting him behind the wheel of a 2019 black Rolls Royce that didn’t have a front license plate, according to police. During the stop, the police learned that Fab’s driver’s license was expired and he didn’t have the car’s inspection. The only reason why his Rolls wasn’t towed by the cops was that another person – possibly on/off partner Emily B. – arrived on the scene and agreed to drive the vehicle away. Although he wasn’t arrested, cops issued him with two summonses, and he is supposed to appear in court in September, according to municipal records. We’ve reached out to Fabolous’ lawyer for comment. This latest incident raised fears that he could jeopardize the terms of his March 2019 plea deal, where he admitted “harassment” of Emily B and her father. However, BOSSIP can reveal that Fab’s latest interaction with law enforcement will not affect his plea deal. His deal, which included 12 months in a pre-trial intervention program, had a “no conditions” provision, meaning that if he got in trouble it would not change his deal.
Source: Patricia Schlein/WENN.com / WENN Rapper Turned Reality Star Says She Did Not Attack Witness To Alleged Assault Involving Remy Ma “Love & Hip Hop: New York” starlet Brittney Taylor has been offered a no-jail plea deal following her arrest last month for allegedly assaulting a witness in her separate assault case against Remy Ma. Taylor was in Manhattan Criminal Court Monday for a hearing on the assault rap, where cops charged her after she allegedly scratched her alleged victim Dina Khalil and threw a cell phone at her face during an early morning argument. Prosecutors offered to drop the assault charge in exchange for Taylor pleading guilty to harassment in the second degree, a violation, along with a conditional discharge and order of protection between her and Khalil. But the Manhattan DA’s office said that Taylor rejected the plea deal and the case is now scheduled to go to trial next month. Following the hearing, Taylor’s lawyer Sanford Rubenstein told us that they are now mulling the deal, but also would be pushing to have the case thrown out. He added that Taylor’s assault case doesn’t negate that Remy Ma allegedly pummelled her. “Nothing in this case changes any of the facts with regard to the allegations of assault by Brittney Taylor against Remy Ma,” Rubenstein said. Taylor accused Remy Ma of slugging her earlier this summer at a concert at Irving Plaza in NYC, and cops later charged her with assault. Remy Ma is due back in court this week.
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Witnesses Corroborate Jussie Smollett’s Characterization Of Persons Of Interest In Alleged Race Hate Incident The recent release of several hundred pages of internal documents related to the alleged racist attack against actor Jussie Smollett’s has raised questions about law enforcement’s narrative of the case after some witness statements appear to match the “Empire” actor’s story. Chicago Police released more than 400 pages of documents earlier this week that detail it’s handling of Smollett’s case , and at least two eyewitnesses told police that they saw men who fit Smollett’s descriptions of the suspects loitering near the scene around the time of the alleged incident, according to the documents, which were obtained by BOSSIP. A hotel security guard told police that he saw three men in dark clothing – and one of the men was white and wearing a facemask – near the scene around the time of the incident, the case’s papers state. And another resident who was walking a dog told police that she saw a white man smoking a cigarette with a rope poking out from underneath his coat. The witness said the man appeared to be waiting for something, and his clothes appeared wet. Source: Brandon Caldwell / Radio One Houston Cops accused Smollett of staging the alleged attack to help advance his career and later charged Smollett with making a false police report. The District Attorney’s Office eventually dropped the charges. Smollett and his legal team weren’t aware of the details in the documents because the District Attorney’s Office and his lawyers did not exchange evidence before Smollett’s charges were ultimately dropped, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told BOSSIP. Nevertheless, our source said Smollett’s story hasn’t wavered, and while his camp isn’t worried about his career, there is a concern that his community and advocacy work has been overshadowed by the case. “It got political and it got bigger than him,” the source said. “It’s the years of advocacy, the things he’s been doing for his community and people of color that goes away and it’s not fair.”
Source: Johnny Louis/WENN.com / WENN DJ Khaled On Collaborating With Nipsey Hussle For “Higher” DJ Khaled stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Friday night to talk about his upcoming performances on Saturday Night Live this weekend. The producer has a slew of guests coming to perform a few of his new songs with him, but one presence that will be noticeably absent will of course by Nipsey Hussle–who shot the music video for their collaboration “Higher” only a couple days before his death. Peep Khaled’s interview below to see what it was like being one of the last people to work with Nipsey and why he decided to donate the proceeds from the song to his children. https://youtu.be/yg6gam5zxpg
Source: Westend61 / Getty This…is…scary!!! HIV Contracted After Vampire Facials A bizarre but trendy procedure caused damning consequences for two people at a New Mexico spa. After at first urging patrons of Albuquerque’s VIP Spa to get tested, health officials have confirmed that two people contracted the HIV virus. The New Mexico Department of Health said in a news release Monday that two clients of the spa who received “vampire facials” last year were recently infected with the same HIV strain. The facial procedure that’s garnered attention from celebs who tried it, uses the client’s own blood and injects it into the face to replenish the skin. KOAT Action News reports that more than 100 people have already been tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and C and VIP Spa closed in September after state agencies found issues with how needles were handled and disposed of. The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department added that the owner of VIP Spa did not have a licensed professional to draw blood. So, so scary. Be CAREFUL with the procedures you undergo, folks!
Source: Scott Dudelson / Getty Check Out Diplo’s Remix Of “Old Town Road” There’s another “Old Town Road” remix in town, and Diplo is the latest musician to share his take on the Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus song. The DJ’s upbeat rendition of the hit single comes in celebration of his afterparty at Stagecoach on Sunday night, which featured a very special premiere performance from Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus playing “Old Town Road” for the first time ever. Listen to the remix for yourself down below:
As you’ve likely heard by now, hip hop icon Nipsey Hussle was murdered outside a store he owned in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was just 33 years old. For the past 48 hours, Hussle’s death has dominated headlines and social media feeds for two distinct reasons: 1. The rapper’s music and philanthropy made him an indispensable part of the hip hop community and a role model to millions. 2. Hussle’s killer remains at large, and his murder is viewed as symptomatic of the growing gun violence problem in America and the unique challenges facing neighborhoods such as Nipsey’s native South Los Angeles. While a suspect in Hussle’s shooting has been identified, the Los Angeles Police Department is still gathering facts as the manhunt for 29-year-old alleged gang member Eric Holder continues. Today, that meant releasing the results of an autopsy that confirmed the tragic cause of Hussle’s death: According to a report released this morning, Hussle “was found to have died from gunshot wounds of the head and torso.” The LA County Coroner’s office added that Hussle was shot and then “taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.” “The manner of death was certified as a homicide,” the department wrote. This statement aligns with tweets posted by the LAPD in the moments after the shooting: “At approximately 3:20 pm there was a shooting reported in the area of Slauson Ave and Crenshaw Blvd. 3 victims were transported to a local hospital where one was pronounced deceased,” police tweeted Sunday afternoon. “We have no suspect info at this time and will provide more details as they become available.” The department has been praised for its diligence and transparency in this matter, as well as for keeping the public apprised on the investigation. The LAPD tweeted yesterday that it would be forgoing its annual April Fools’ joke “in light of yesterday’s events” so that they might better focus “on bringing justice to yesterday’s homicide on Slauson & Crenshaw in South LA.” Hussle dedicated much of his life to bettering the neighborhood he grew up and helping to curtail gang violence. He was scheduled to meet with LAPD officials to discuss these matters just one day after he was gunned down. “Having strong enemies is a blessing,” he ominously wrote on Instagram just hours before his passing. We’ll have further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2019: In Memoriam
Lauren London is devastated. She’s in shock and mourning and nearly in denial about what happened to Nipsey Hussle . But not completely. The actress has accepted that her boyfriend of five years is dead. She just can’t believe it. “I am completely lost,” London wrote on her Instagram page late yesterday, adding: “I’ve lost my best friend. My sanctuary. My protector. My soul…. I’m lost without you. We are lost without you babe. I have no words.” The 34-year old actress, who has starred on such shows as The Game and Games People Play, included a sweet image of Hussle throwing the couple’s two-year-old son Kross in the air. She also posted a selfie of Hussle and Kross on her social media page, marking the first time London has shared a photo of their baby son’s face. (London is also mother to son Cameron Carter with rapper Lil Wayne; while Hussle was a dad to daughter Emani Asghedom from a previous relationship.) London’s tribute tp Hussle went viral just hours after a suspect was arrested in the Bellflower neighborhood of Los Angeles for the star’s murder. Police have identified 29-year-old Eric Holder as the suspected gunman; he was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon and is believed to have walked up to Hussle on Sunday and shot him multiple times. According to the autospy report, the rapper died from gunshot wounds to his head and torso. Holder allegedly then ran off to a waiting vehicle, as the homicide was premediated and, per TMZ sources, likely gang-related. Two other men were also shot outside of Hussle’s Marathon Clothing Company, although they survived their injuries. The Grammy-nominated artist and London have been together since 2013 at the time of this horrible incident, which has affected celebrities from across various platforms. After recording a historic 20-20-20 triple double in his basketball game last night, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook said the performance was “for Nipsey.” Many others have also expressed shock and sorrow over this senseless murder . Yes, Hussle grew up with ties to the Bloods, but he also worked with members of the Crips and he had dedicated his life to trying to find peace in the violent area in which he was raised. At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel R. Moore said a personal dispute between Holder and Hussle may have been to blame for this shooting, alleging that Holder showed up in front of Hussle’s clothing store numerous tiple times before killing him. Said the officer: “Mr. Holder walked up on multiple occasions and engaged in a conversation with Nipsey and the others that were there. He left and subsequently came back armed with a handgun and purposefully and repeatedly fired, striking and killing Nipsey Hussle.” At the time of his death, Hussle was in the middle of redeveloping a strip mall, where his boutique is located, and also owned a barbershop, a burger restaurant and a fish market. His other charitable community acts included buying shoes for students, refreshing local basketball courts and playgrounds, paying for funerals for people who could not afford them and providing jobs for the homeless. TMZ actually reports that he was only at his store on Sunday to assist a friend who had recently been released from prison. Insiders tell this celebrity gossip site that Nipsey was providing this friend with some new clothing so he could look respectable upon meeting up with loved ones later that day. It was a spontaneous decision, hence why no members of the rapper’s security team were around. “He was a solid man who loved his woman, his family and his community,” fellow California native and Insecure star Issa Rae tweeted on Sunday. “This hurts.” Such a tragic loss. May Nipsey Hussle rest in peace. View Slideshow: 34 Musicians Who Died Too Young
Source: Phillip Faraone / Getty Ghostface Killah And RZA Are Developing A Horror Movie RZA and Ghostface Killah are making some major moves in order to expand their filmography. According to reports from Deadline , the hip-hop legends along with producer Shaun Redick (from films like Get Out and BlacKkKlansman ) are teaming up to develop a film titled Angel of Dust. The movie is said to be a “suspense horror thriller” that RZA himself will direct. The film is reportedly inspired by true events the members of the Wu-Tang Clan experienced while growing up in the Staten Island Projects. Ghostface developed the story idea along with his manager Caruso. Matt Leslie and Stephen J. Smith were tapped to write the modern-day adaptation of the script. Angel of Dust is supposedly going to center on an exceptionally smart teenager and talented rapper named Casey, who is forced to grow up in the streets of Shaolin following the mysterious death of his parents. The boy ends up being confronted by gangs, crooked cops, junkies, along with “a serial killer with seemingly supernatural powers.” “It’s hard to fathom a better way to celebrate the Wu-Tang Clan’s 25th anniversary as rock and rap creative icons than producing a cutting-edge suspense thriller loosely based on true events that though terrifying helped shape one of the greatest groups of all time,” Redick said. “The writers, Leslie and Smith have taken this original idea to seismic levels.” But of course, any film wouldn’t be complete without some music–especially one being made by rap legends. The Wu-Tang Clan will provide the Angel of Dust soundtrack, which is going to be produced by both Ghostface and Caruso. RZA will score the movie. “The creative collaboration of RZA and Ghostface has stood the test of time through our music,” RZA explained. “Now the opportunity to put our creative energies together onto the silver screen has arisen and I’m turbo charged. Bong Bong!” Angel of Dust ‘s release date has not yet been announced.
