Source: REVOLT / Revolt The Breakfast Club Interviews Teairra Mari Teairra Mari is STILL dealing with the blowback (no pun intended) from her sex tape “leaking” online. The truth behind how the explicit video ended up on her ex-boyfriend’s Instagram page is still in question but Teairra maintains that she’s know’s exactly what happened. In her interview with The Breakfast Club, the Love & Hip-Hop star explains her side of things in addition to talking about the effect that the public humiliation has had on her and much more. Don’t take our word for it, press play below to watch Teairra tell it. Thoughts?
Source: Reagan Elam / Reagan Elam-relam@radio-one.com via NewsOne.com : Nipsey Hussle ‘s beloved Marathon Clothing store has closed its doors in in South Central Los Angeles. However, that does not mean it’s the end of merchandising for the rapper’s legacy. The Marathon Clothing is still fully operational online but its doors were closed this week and there was no word on when it will reopen. There were unconfirmed reports that Marathon Clothing has made $10 million since the rapper’s untimely death. If that was true, coupled with Nipsey Hussle’s estimated net worth of $8 million, his multiple investments that included buying a strip mall likely have his family set up for life. pic.twitter.com/WHnKn9hq1W — Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) May 6, 2019 Hussle was shot and killed outside of the Marathon Clothing store on March 31. The suspect, 29-year-old Eric Holder, was arrested on April 2 in Bellflower, California. He has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). Herman Douglas, Hussle’s business partner, described his final moments with the rapper early last month. “Me and Nipsey was talking, and the dude that shot him (Eric Holder) , he came and shook our hands,” Douglas told the Los Angeles Times. Said he was a rapper and this old bulls**t. Shook our hands, the dude went and got his burger. He left.” Douglas also added, “What seems to be a less talented rapper had envy and hate in his eyes. It was nothing else. It was no motive. It was no beef.” Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit Douglas said he went inside the Marathon Clothing store to get some food, which is when 29-year-old Holder returned. “So, I might have left Nipsey’s side maybe three seconds,” Douglas said. “I left him maybe, approximately three seconds that I had left Nipsey and the dude came and shot him.” While Hussle was associated with gangs, he appeared to be distancing himself from that life. Shortly before his death, he was talking with Steve Soboroff, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, about how to avoid youth from getting involved in gangs. SEE ALSO: Lauren London Honors Her ‘Soulmate’ Nipsey Hussle With Commemorative Tattoo [PHOTO] “We’re talking about programs to help underserved kids, to keep kids out of gangs. And this was his idea,” Soboroff told ABC News . “We’ve been working on this meeting for three months. How I wish it would have been on Saturday.” Rest in power, Nipsey Hussle. ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Meek Mill Gets A Nipsey Hussle Diamond Pendant [PHOTOS] The Getaway Driver In Nipsey Hussle’s Murder Being Investigated Nipsey Hussle’s Sister’s Guardianship Request Over Niece Denied By Judge Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Pacific Press / Getty Despite newly surfaced video evidence from Sandra Bland ‘s point of view during her ill-fated 2015 arrest, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis has no desire to re-open her case. “Five special prosecutors were appointed to consider the evidence. The grand jury was diligent and considering the facts and circumstances considering the arrest and her subsequent death of Ms. Bland. I have no knowledge at this time of new evidence to second guess the work of those five prosecutors or the grand jury.” The video, cellphone footage from Bland’s phone on the day of the July 2015 arrest was released to the public after being obtained by WFAA. Her sister demanded that her case be re-opened in light of the evidence surfacing. “Open up the case, period,” Bland’s sister Shante Needham said when reporter Brian Collister showed her the video. On Tuesday, investigators and special prosecutor Darrell Jordan pushed back on that notion, saying Bland’s cellphone video was considered during the original investigation. The lawyer for Brian Encinia, the arresting officer in the case said that Bland’s cellphone was given back to her family years ago. “It was part of the evidence that was considered since day one,” Encinia’s attorney Chip Lewis said. “It actually goes towards the defense I put forth that he did what he was required to do under the law and his training which was remove her from the potential threat.” Encinia was indicted for perjury. However, the charge was dropped in exchange for him never working in law enforcement again. Texas DPS also released a statement about Bland’s cellphone video: “The cellphone recording is referenced by Ms. Bland in the dash cam video that was released by the department on July 22, 2015. The video recording from Ms. Bland’s cellphone was specifically identified multiple times in the Ranger Report of Investigation. The Ranger report was made available to all the litigants during the civil litigation filed by her family. At all times, the department complied with its discovery obligations in the civil litigation. “Additionally, the video from Ms. Bland’s cellphone has been treated as public information and made available upon request (see attached). Brian Collister, the reporter who describes the video as “newly discovered,” filed a public information request back in August 2017. Mr. Collister specifically requested the video from Ms. Bland’s cellphone, and the department provided the video to Mr. Collister at that time. Again, we reiterate that the video is not newly discovered and has in no way been concealed by the department.” RELATED: Sandra Bland Secretly Recorded 2015 Traffic Stop With Overly Aggressive Officer RELATED: Sandra Bland HBO Documentary Releases First Clip Ahead Of Premiere RELATED: Sandra Bland Museum Exhibit Is Latest To Use Art To Honor Police Deaths Of Unarmed Black People
via NewsOne.com : G entrifiers have been trying to whitewash Black communities all over the country for decades now. However, one store in Washington, D.C., has unwittingly caused an uprising and now residents in the nation’s capital are fighting back in the best way ever. The Save Chocolate City Protest took place at the historic northwest Washington intersection of 14th and U streets Tuesday night and reportedly had more than 3,000 people in attendance . Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). #MOECHELLA was classic. Three thousand people singing Pretty Girls #DontMuteDC ( via @BackyardBand ) pic.twitter.com/lNljH31ifI — DC Maryland Virginia (@DMVFollowers) May 8, 2019 Dubbed Moechella — a name that combined the Coachella music festival with “ Moe ,” a pronoun for a friend exclusively used in D.C. — the gathering invited people to demonstrate against gentrifiers who have been fighting the city’s native go-go music. D.C.’s paling population was most recently exemplified by a tone-deaf white man who wondered aloud on live TV why Howard University couldn’t just relocate to make room for other people who look like him. View of the latest #DontMuteDC rally ( from 15th & U NW). GoGo keeps on playing . pic.twitter.com/BEsjFL4snF — Molly Mitchell (@mollyemitchell) May 8, 2019 Situations like that united Black D.C. Tuesday night for Moechella. See Also: Gentrified D.C. Tries To Whitewash Chocolate City By Targeting Go-Go Music In case you missed it, a Metro PCS store in the historically Black Shaw neighborhood has been playing go-go music without any complaint for nearly a quarter of a century. But that all changed in March when T-Mobile, Metro PCS’ parent company, ordered an end to the musical tradition. An online petition to keep the store playing its go-go-music was nearing its goal of 10,000 signatures. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit That complaint silenced the music for several days. The hashtag #Don’tMuteDC went viral and there were protests with some local lawmakers joining. Council member Brianne K. Nadeau , who represents Shaw, wrote a letter to T-Mobile’s senior vice president for government affairs outlining the city’s history and go-go’s place in it, the Post said. Mayor Muriel Bowser added her voice to the protest. I’m with you #DontMuteDC Sign the petition: https://t.co/NOhSrDvqky Celebrate DC & Go-Go on Emancipation Day this Saturday: https://t.co/ALN6uKbzCl pic.twitter.com/ZYikLZG0BE — Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) April 9, 2019 By April 10, T-Mobile yielded to the increasing pressure and authorized the Metro PCS store to turn the music back on, the Washington Post reported. John Legere , chief executive of T-Mobile U.S., tweeted his support for the longstanding tradition to continue. I’ve looked into this issue myself and the music should NOT stop in D.C.! @TMobile and @MetroByTMobile are proud to be part of the Shaw community – the music will go on and our dealer will work with the neighbors to compromise volume. https://t.co/qXvwzmc24E — John Legere (@JohnLegere) April 10, 2019 Go-go music, typically described as funky percussion-based instrumentation, is many times compared to a junkyard band (in fact, one of the top go-go groups is called Junk Yard Band ). Protesters feared that the muting of the speakers outside the mobile phone store was just a first step in a larger attack on their culture. Here’s the scene outside Central Communications in Shaw, minutes after @JohnLegere announced the store could turn its go-go back on. Music going, cars honking in support, #DC residents dancing around cameras lining the sidewalk. #DontMuteDC pic.twitter.com/shmN9RZ1FX — Marissa J. Lang (@Marissa_Jae) April 10, 2019 ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : RHOA Star Eva Marcille Is Pregnant With Baby No. 3! [PHOTOS] New Evidence Surfaces In Brittney Taylor’s Case Against Remy Ma Nipsey Hussle’s Sister’s Guardianship Request Over Niece Denied By Judge Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Ian West – PA Images / Getty Last month, MadameNoire.com wrote about the brilliance of comedian and actress Mo’Nique in the Adidas commercials , featuring Donald Glover ’s latest collection. It was clear from the series of commercials that the two seemed to have a good rapport with one another. And it showed in the final product. Recently, during an interview with Complex , Mo’Nique shared how beautiful and rare the experience was. Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). When Complex asked her how she came to be cast in the commercials, she said: “Well, Fam Rothstein, who is one of Donald Glover’s teammates, and a sister named Sylvia, they called and spoke to my husband, who everybody knows is my manager,” she said. “They spoke to Sydney, and when I say it was a beautiful negotiation? It was the way it’s supposed to be done. It was professional people dealing with professional people, and we made something beautiful. I wish every deal and every phone call could be the one that came in from Fam Rothstein and Sister Sylvia. I wish they could be that way because it makes it so much easier.” Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit Mo’Nique said that her experience with Glover and his team was one of the few times where she can recall being respected as she should in this business. “I remember at the end of the shoot, I asked Donald if could I talk to him and his team, and it was one of those moments that brought tears to my eyes to say to those brothers, ‘This is how it’s supposed to be,’” she said. “And to treat a Black woman with such respect and honor, that for me goes down in my history book, to say there are still those out there that treat us with the respect we’re supposed to be treated with. They’re still out there and I know it seems like we got to dig deep, but dammit his name is Donald Glover.” This admission is bittersweet to read. Considering all of the Black men Mo’Nique has worked with throughout the course of her career, it’s a shame that this business deal sticks out in her head as one of the few times she was respected properly as a Black woman. Thankfully, Glover and his team were not only able to see her talent, they were able to respect her worth as an artist and a Black woman. Kudos to him. Hopefully, this type of treatment will become the norm for Mo’Nique and other Black women artists like her. SEE ALSO: You Won’t Believe How Good Mo’Nique Looks Now [PHOTOS] SEE ALSO: Donald Glover Cries On Stage At Coachella After Emotional Speech About Losing His Father, Nipsey Hussle & More [VIDEO] Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Prince Williams / ATLPics.Net Eliza Reign Posts First Pictures Of Baby Reign Wilburn The woman who claims her beautiful baby girl is Future’s is sharing sweet pics. As previously reported Eliza Reign claimed that Future was none too pleased that she was expecting and alleged that he wanted harm to come to her. Despite the challenging circumstances and shade from Future fans , Eliza’s since given birth to a child, a baby girl, and she’s absolutely precious. Eliza posted pics of little Reign Wilburn on IG and has since started an Instagram page for her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Haitian Goddess (@elizareign_) on May 7, 2019 at 9:45am PDT Wilburn is, of course, Future’s last name. Rein would be Future’s seventh child. Future himself said he’d be open to having more kids —but wants boys. “Hendrix [his Joie Chavez child] is number 6, all boys, one girl. Hendrix is the last—naw, naw Hendrix not the last. I gotta have more kids. […] “Me and my boys [sons] we’re like best friends, it’s unbelievable.” Eliza also wrote a lengthy post about how she felt alone during her pregnancy—until she felt her baby girl kick and reassure her. “There were times I felt so alone and would look down at my belly and immediately cheer up, knowing she’s hanging in there with me through all of the stress and drama,” wrote Eliza on IG. “She’s truly been my protection and kept me strong and going. There were moments I began to doubt myself, but my spirit wouldn’t stay down, thanks to my beautiful little girl. Her annoying kicks would always be the reassurance I needed to make it through the tough days. Knowing what I know now and after looking back on my experience, I can confidently say she was well worth all the chaos. […] I can’t stop crying tears of joy when I look at her. Thank God we made it ” View this post on Instagram This pregnancy was absolutely the toughest, most humbling, yet beautiful experience of my life. I went through hell and back. Health complications seemingly from day one. Lost friends, money, opportunities, and even some of the little bit of sanity I thought I had . However, this journey taught me to be more understanding, observant, forgiving, and most importantly PATIENT . There were times I felt so alone and would look down at my belly and immediately cheer up, knowing she’s hanging in there with me through all of the stress and drama. She’s truly been my protection and kept me strong and going. There were moments I began to doubt myself, but my spirit wouldn’t stay down, thanks to my beautiful little girl. Her annoying kicks would always be the reassurance I needed to make it through the tough days. Knowing what I know now and after looking back on my experience, I can confidently say she was well worth all the chaos. From the moment I decided to keep her, I promised myself and God that I’d show her unconditional love and teach her to be 3x the woman I am. And that’s a promise that will never be broken. I’m super excited and blessed to get a chance to love and guide this little one. I can’t stop crying tears of joy when I look at her. Thank God we made it A post shared by Haitian Goddess (@elizareign_) on May 1, 2019 at 5:33pm PDT Children are absolutely innocent. We wish Eliza and little Reign the best. See another post from Eliza on the flip.
Source: The Washington Post / Getty D.C. Go-Go Protest Dubbed Moechella Fights Gentrification In The City The D.C. gentrifiers were no doubt chocking on their newly-opened coffee shop scones when the glorious go-go community of the DMV took over 14th and U Street. According to News One , a Save Chocolate City Protest was organized outside the Reeves Center in Northwest D.C. and more than 3,000 people came out to beat their feet, keep it gangsta, or shout out their hood against gentrification. At the event dubbed “Moechella,” honoring the city’s “kill moe” slang, iconic go-go band Backyard Band (BYB) brought the tunes for the evening. LAST NITE IN D.C. !! #MoeChella #DontMuteDC pic.twitter.com/hHM76YcFR4 — DCTOP20 (@DCTOP20) May 8, 2019 The event acts as the most recent demonstration against gentrification. Things reached a fever pitch back in March when a Metro PCS store known for playing go-go music from their speakers was under attack by soup cookie complainers. The new residents of the Shaw neighborhood complained that the go-go tunes were disruptive. After threats of legal action, PCS’ parent company, T-Mobile, ordered an end to the go-go music coming from the store, which had been playing there for almost 25 years. An online petition was started to keep the store playing go-go music and eventually a #DontMuteDC campaign was started on social media. This resulted in the first huge protest outside the Reeves Center in April where the go-go band TOB and rapper Wale appeared. The chief executive of T-Mobile, John Legere , took notice of D.C.’s demands and he eventually tweeted out that the Metro PCS store could continue playing go-go music and they would negotiate volume levels. I’ve looked into this issue myself and the music should NOT stop in D.C.! @TMobile and @MetroByTMobile are proud to be part of the Shaw community – the music will go on and our dealer will work with the neighbors to compromise volume. https://t.co/qXvwzmc24E — John Legere (@JohnLegere) April 10, 2019 Now, it seems D.C. residents are continuing the fight against gentrification with the thousands of people showing up on Tuesday. Hit the flip for more crankin’ clips of the demonstration and the beauty of Black organizing, celebration and fighting back.
Source: Adene Sanchez/ Getty Images / Getty All Whites Matter… Hoschton, GA Mayor Rejects Black Candidate We’d love to say this is unbelievable but we’ve long known that Georgia outside of Atlanta isn’t the friendliest of places for black people. The mayor of Hoschton, GA is currently the subject of an Atlanta Journal Constitution investigation because she allegedly withheld a job candidate from consideration for a city administrator role because he was black. According to documents obtained by the AJC and interviews with city officials, Mayor Theresa Kenerly told a member of the City Council she pulled Keith Henry’s resume from a packet of four finalists “because he is black, and the city isn’t ready for this.” The mayor’s comments were reportedly whispered to a member of the council during a closed-door session on March 4th, and were overheard. Councilwoman Hope Weeks said Kenerly repeated her comments in the parking lot after the meeting, according to a document released by the city in response to an open records request from the AJC. “She proceeded to tell me that the candidate was real good, but he was black and we don’t have a big black population and she just didn’t think Hoschton was ready for that,” Weeks wrote in an account dated March 4. Weeks shared Kenerly’s comments with Councilwoman Susan Powers and the two decided to take the issue to city attorney Thomas Mitchell. “Both of us were just appalled, so we thought we had to do something to stop it,” Powers said. Weeks declined to be interviewed on the record, but issued a statement saying she was disappointed in the mayor’s comments about the candidate. “Mr. Henry was a very professional and qualified candidate who was a finalist for the position of city administrator before withdrawing to accept another position,” she said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Hoschton, but this has been one of the most challenging seasons of my life.” According to emails obtained by the AJC, Mitchell and the city’s five elected officials opted to continue the hiring process, allowing Kenerly to attend but not participate. Mitchell also cautioned officials to cease sending emails about the issue. “I do not think it in the best interests of the city (or the individual elected officials) to continue emailing in this manner,” he wrote in a March 14 email. In emails, Powers protested the mayor’s continued involvement in the search for a city administrator. “Since she corrupted this entire process by trying to shield the application of Mr. Henry from Council members and then making the comment to the effect that while he is qualified he should not be considered because he is black and the city is not ready for this, she should not be a part of this hiring process,” Powers wrote. “I am appalled that in 2019 an applicant would not be hired based solely on the color of their skin.” Henry withdrew his candidacy not long after the March 4 meeting and a phone interview with council members. He told the AJC he chose to withdraw because the city asked that he pay his travel, room, and board to travel for an in-person interview with the promise of reimbursement at a later date. Two of the other candidates for the position were local, while the third was willing to drive from the Georgia coast at his own expense. Henry told the AJC he didn’t detect any bias after being interviewed by Kenerly over the phone but as a black man applying for executive government positions in small Southern towns, he wasn’t surprised that it may have existed. “It comes with the territory,” he said. “If you live in America as a minority you can’t be naïve that it is the reality that you face.” Kenerly refused to initially answer questions about her reported comments, saying she could not publicly talk about matters that occurred in executive session even though the law does not forbid that. “I can’t say I said it or not said it,” she said. Kenerly later issued a statement disputing accounts from other city officials. Kenerly was not without defenders. Councilman Jim Cleveland confirmed many aspects of the story, including his account that Kenerly made a tearful apology in another executive session on March 12, where council members say she claimed to be “looking out” for Henry because the city does not have a lot of minority residents. “I was there for that,” Cleveland said. “She cried. She had tears in her eyes. It was in my opinion a very sincere apology.” Cleveland also seemed to express understanding of Kenerly’s motives saying: “I understood where she was coming from,” he said. “I understand Theresa saying that, simply because we’re not Atlanta. Things are different here than they are 50 miles down the road.” Cleveland described Hoschton as “a predominantly white community” not in accord with urban sensibilities about race.“I don’t know how they would take it if we selected a black administrator. She might have been right,” he said. Cleveland said he ranked Henry fourth out of the candidates in any case because he’d elected not to come for the in-person interview. Councilman Cleveland also shared his not so enlightened views on race: “I’m a Christian and my Christian beliefs are you don’t do interracial marriage. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I believe,” he said. “I have black friends, I hired black people. But when it comes to all this stuff you see on TV, when you see blacks and whites together, it makes my blood boil because that’s just not the way a Christian is supposed to live.” YIKES… Sounds like Hoschton has a loooooong way to go when it comes to race. Located just outside Gwinnett County, in Jackson County, adjacent to the larger city of Braselton, Hoschton has a population of less than 2,000 people and only 201 of that number identify as non-white according to U.S. Census data. Hoschton’s city code reads: “There shall be no discrimination exercised because of race, national origin, color, religion, creed, age, sex … All personnel actions shall be based solely on individual merit and fitness.” Looks like the code is a long way from being followed.
Source: kali9 / Getty Missouri Police On Camera Smashing Suspect’s Car Window To Pull Him Out Police officers from the St. Ann Police Department were caught on camera smashing a man’s car window and dragging him out by his head and choking him with the seatbelt. A passerby, Lisa Jones Watson, recorded the incident and posted the video to Facebook. Let the cops tell it, they HAD to do this to “protect themselves”. Seems to always be the excuse when someone’s civil rights are violated. The St. Ann police department released a statement via Facebook in an attempt to explain their officers’ behavior… What does this look like to YOU?
Source: Scott Dudelson / Getty If you were one of the haters hoping Lil Nas X’s 15 minutes of fame was coming to an end you will find this news disappointing. The crafter of the viral hit “Old Town Road” rode into the Desus & Mero show where he partook in a fun game of “Country or Nah” where he punted on some very obviously country things and talked about the initial reception of his song and performed it live on television for the first time. Since its inception, “Old Town Road” has become a monster hit spawning a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus , a cover by Keith Urban as well version of the song from the point of view from Game of Throne’s villain the Night King . Before he hit the stage to perform the song, the “king of the yee-haw agenda” chopped it with the Bronx natives who kept it real country by rocking cowboy hats with Desus jokingly pointing out “My wife left me, and she took the F-150,” and mero adding “again” before they spoke with the viral sensation. During their conversation, they touched on Lil Nas X performing at the Stagecoach Festival and becoming a Country Music star. When speaking on the initial reaction to “Old Town Road” catching fire on the internet X added: “Every day is like, OK, everything was a dream . . . That terrible situation ended up helping me,” As of Monday (May 6) “Old Town Road” is still the number one record on the Billboard Hot 100 chart holding off Taylor Swift’s struggle shimmy inducing new record and Panic! at the Disco. The single is poised to be one of the most dominant #1 songs of all-time putting in elite company with tracks like “The Boy is Mine,” “Shape of You” and “I Will Always Love You” just to name a few. As for the performance, Lil Nas X was ready backed by his live band he performed an updated version of the track. It’s pretty safe to assume that X isn’t going anywhere, you can check out his live rendition of “Old Town Road” below. — Photo: Scott Dudelson / Getty
