Rapper Facing Drunk Driving Charges Plies refused a breathalyzer test when cops pulled him over this morning for driving under the influence, police said. Tampa Police pulled over the “Bust it Baby” rapper at 2:35 a.m. today while he was at the wheel of his red GMC Yukon in the city limits. Cops took less than 15 minutes to assess and arrest the rapper, with public records showing he was taken into custody at 2:48 a.m. Although he refused the breath test, he was still arrested and charged with driving under the influence. He later posted $500 bail. The 40-year-old prolific social media user hasn’t let the arrest get him down, and just hours ago uploaded a picture of himself nursing a glass with a brown liquid in it. “I Need A Tan Bih…” he captioned the picture. Check back as this story is developing.
”Law & Order” 400th Episode celebration in NYC “Law & Order SVU” Star Spoke To BOSSIP At TV Guide Party Ice-T said he’s open to filming part two of his iconic film “New Jack City” and as well as 90s hit show “New York Undercover.” “Just to be around, me and Wesley and Chris Rock to be still in the game, it’s a blessing,” the rapper-turned-actor told BOSSIP Jan. 11 at TV Guide’s party in NYC celebrating the 400th episode of his hit show, “Law & Order SVU.” “It’s been talked about,” he said of filming a sequel. “A New Jack two has been talked about. A New York Undercover sequel has been talked about (too). Maybe I could be captain over there. You never know. you just gotta stay around and the game will come to you.” At the party, held at the Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel rooftop, co-star and party honoree Mariska Hartigay paid tribute to Ice, calling him the “OG” of the show. Harry Connick Jr., Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and actress Kelly Giddish were also spotted at the private party. TV Guide Magazine Celebrates Mariska Hargitay & ”Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” Ice, accompanied by his buxom wife, Coco, said he was just happy to still be doing something he loves every day. “Now, to be doing Law & Order for 18 seasons, who could’ve imagined that? So I’m just happy to still be in the game. you can’t really say more than that.” And the “Cop Killer” rapper insisted he didn’t sell out by playing law enforcement on TV and the big screen. “Do your research – every rapper has played a cop,” he said. “Tupac played a cop, Dr. Dre played a cop. Snoop Dogg played a cop. So it’s kind of like a rite of passage when you get to be in movies…I think when you cast a street cat as a street cat, that’s not acting. When you cast us as law enforcement or as a teacher, you get a cop with an interesting dynamic, and it works on a screen.” Hit the flip for more party pics:
Woman Won A $7.1 Million Judgment Against Rapper After She Sued Him For Sexual Battery A judge has given the green light to The Game’s bid for a new trial and lower judgment amount in his sexual battery case, BOSSIP has learned. Illinois Federal Court Judge Gary Feinerman filed this week that the rapper, who was born Jayceon Taylor, can seek a new trial and file motions to reduce the $7.1 million in damages a jury awarded his accuser, Priscilla Rainey. The judge threw out his December decision to deny The Game a new trial and request for lower damage amount. In November, a jury awarded Rainey, who appeared as a contestant on The Game’s reality dating show “She’s Got Game,” $6 million in punitive damages and $1.1 million in compensatory damages against The Game after she accused him of exposing her privates and molesting her in front of a crowd on stage. In court papers, lawyers for The Game blasted the judgment amount as “monstrously excessive,” and said the trial wasn’t fair to the “This Is How We Do” rapper because he wasn’t able to appear in person as he was recovering from emergency surgery. But Rainey said The Game’s legal arguments didn’t hold any water, and the $7.1 million that a jury awarded her wasn’t excessive given the facts of the case. She said the jury’s award was in line with judgment amounts in similar cases. However, the judge sided with The Game, and said the rapper can come back to court and argue why he should get a new trial and pay way less damages to Rainey. Both sides are due in court at the end of the month.
Los Angeles premiere of ‘Get Hard’ at the TCL Chinese Theatre – Red Carpet Arrivals Featuring: TI, Clifford Harris Jr., Tameka Cottle-Harris, Tiny Tiny Filed For Divorce Last Month TI has apparently blown off the chance to respond to his wife Tiny’s divorce filing – paving the way for a judge to give her half of everything. The “Whatever You Like” rapper missed the Jan. 6 deadline to answer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle-Harris’s divorce petition, where she asked for half the property, assets and other wealth they’ve accumulated over the course of their six and a half year marriage. TI, who was born Clifford Harris Jr., had 30 days to respond to Tiny’s filing, but did not according to records from the Henry County Superior Court. Now, a family court judge could rule in Tiny’s favor by default.” Tiny filed for divorce Dec. 7, citing “irreconcilable differences,” and said that there was no hope of getting back together. She said they’ve been living separately, and BOSSIP learned that the pair has been paying taxes on separate mega-mansions a few towns away from each other for at least a year. However, the rumor is that TI and Tiny have been spending a lot of time together lately and the rapper is allegedly doing all he can to keep them from splitting up for good. Tiny asked for TI to make a full accounting of their money, property and investment accounts because she said she is entitled to half of everything. The singer turned reality star also asked for half of the automobiles they amassed during their union as well as half the money TI has in a retirement account. She also asked for primary legal and physical custody of their kids. She also acknowledged that the couple is in debt – likely the millions they owe to the IRS – and said that because of TI’s high earning ability, he should be responsible for paying it off. The pair is set to appear in court in March for a temporary contested hearing, where a judge will determine temporary child support, custody and alimony – and where TI will have his chance to explain why the divorce shouldn’t go through.
Natalie Hawkins Off The Hook For Massive Debts After Four-Year Battle Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas’s mom can breathe a little easier after a federal court judge discharged her debts in her bankruptcy. Natalie Hawkins – Gabby’s mom – filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy back in 2012, just a few months before her daughter won two gold medals in the Summer Olympics. According to the bankruptcy petition, Hawkins claimed she had assets totaling $163,706.10 and liabilities in the amount of $79,754.14. She owed $4,350.23 on a student loan, $1,534 to Capital One, $158.78 and more than $72,000 on the mortgage to her Virginia Beach, VA home. Hawkins filed for bankruptcy to have the federal court judge sign off on a re-payment plan to help make her debt manageable. The court eventually approved a payment schedule where Hawkins would make eight monthly payments starting in February of $400, then make one lump payment of $5,817 in October 2012 then 49 monthly payments of $400 for a grand total of $28,617 paid by Hawkins back to her creditors. Then shortly after the plan was approved, PNC Bank – the owner of Hawkins mortgage loan – accused her of defaulting on the post-petition payments she was to make. They demanded the court allow them to foreclose on her property because she missed three monthly payments of $734.02 for a total arrears amount of $2,202.06. But the judge went easy on Hawkins, and ordered her to continue making her monthly payments to the bank and also pay back her arrears. The order did not allow the bank to foreclose on her home as long as Hawkins made her payments. The bankruptcy has been pending for over a year with Hawkins continuing to make her scheduled monthly payments to her creditors. Hawkins spoke to the press following the story of her bankruptcy hitting the media and stated, “It’s my story, it’s part of me. I’m not even embarrassed about it… (and), “It shows that even though I didn’t like to have to do it, I’m glad there was something there for me to be able to protect my home.” Hawkins case dragged on for over 4 years with the trustee attempting to pay off her creditors and with Gabby’s mom making payments to those owed money per a court approved payment plan. Then on December 25th, the federal court judge came back and discharged Gabby’s mom’s debt. The discharge will give Hawkins a fresh start with her finances, with the majority of her debt being wiped clean by the judge.
Gucci Man Claims Angela Yee Was On His D During The Breakfast Club Interview Gucci Mane’s interview with The Breakfast Club since being freed earlier this year was quite a doozy, but perhaps the biggest highlight came during the midway point of the interview when Charlamagne mentioned Gucci’s last interview on the show before his most recent stint in jail asking if he had his pistol with him. Things went a little left when Angela Yee tried to profess she wasn’t afraid of Gucci, and Gucci claimed he didn’t believe her since they had a “history.” Angela Yee: I just want to say I wasn’t scared. Gucci Mane: First off I don’t believe what she saying. She frontin’. You were terrified.” Angela Yee: “Why would I be scared? What was you gonna do to me?” Gucci Mane: It’s not what I was going to do to you. It’s what I was gonna say to you. Cuz we had already had a history. Charlamagne: You smashed Angela Yee Gucci? Angela Yee: No of course not Envy: Why you say of course NOT Angela: Come on guys Gucci: She done tried. Angela is laughing… Gucci: She was on my di**. Angela: Stop lying. I was not on your di**. We was cool. Gucci: You did used to be texting me ‘what hotel I was at’. Angela: That is a lie. Never. You must’ve got me confused with somebody else. Gucci: You don’t remember when we did that interview a long time ago with Melyssa Ford and then you was calling me? That “Lip Service” isht. Stop it. Angela: That definitely was not me. I put my life on that. There must’ve been somebody else in there. I would swear on my life, on my unborn child, I have never hit Gucci up asking what hotel he’s in. Charlamagne is laughing hysterically. Envy: I don’t know. Who you believing Charlamagne? Angela: Nah I wouldn’t do that. Charlamagne: I’ve never known Gucci to be a liar. Angela: Picture me hitting somebody saying what hotel are you in? Envy: Hey, everybody get horny The interview was pre-recorded earlier this week, but during today’s live taping Charlamagne asked Angela Yee yet again about the moment and she said he had to have been either catfished or confused. Well, social media has been crazy over this one so we had to reach out and get the real from Angela Yee herself who told BOSSIP exclusively that she was surprised by the turn the interview took because what Gucci said happened simply isn’t true. “What can I really say?” Angela told BOSSIP. “I was surprised too. I had no idea he never even thought that.” As for all the social media and memes that have followed the interview, Yee tells BOSSIP she’s completely unaffected by the uproar. “I promise you I don’t care,” Yee told BOSSIP.”It’s just not true. I don’t know if he really thought that for all those years. I can laugh at it because it’s not true.” There you have it folks. Seriously though, we have a hard time computing this one… Gucci now — maybe. Gucci 3-4 years ago with the lean belly? Hell nah. We can see why she’d swear on her life with this one. And what is he really arguing for anyway — over a text? Hit the flip for the full Gucci Mane interview.
Brandon Marshall Has Knelt In Protest Of Police Misconduct At Football Games NFLer Brandon Marshall is speaking out after a racist troll sent him a letter that threatened his life and warned him to “go back to the jungle.” An unknown racist sent a letter Friday to the New York Jets wide receiver, calling him the n-word several times and criticizing him over his decision to join fellow player Colin Kaepernick in a protest against police brutality by kneeling during the National Anthem at games. “If you are sooo (sic) unhappy with America, turn in your “millions” and move back to the jungle,” the letter, which was exclusively obtained by BOSSIP, read. “We hate you and your “kind” of n****rs!” But the player refused to be cowed by the shocking show of racism but said it illustrated why he and others are demonstrating against it. “The hatred by some against people of color is one of the reasons why where we’re at in the world today, and they wonder why we feel the way we do and take the stances we take,” Marshall wrote on Instagram Friday. “I received this letter at work.” Marshall has been on the receiving end of a volley of trash talk ever since he sided with Kaepernick in his campaign against police violence, but none of the take downs have been as vitriolic as this letter. The ominous letter ends with “Your time is coming, watch out n****r!”
Photographer says DJ Used His Work Without Permission A photographer has slapped veteran DJ Funkmaster Flex with a $1.65 million lawsuit accusing him of screwing him over by using his work without permission or paying him a dime. Christopher Sadowski filed suit against Flexco LLC and Aston Taylor Jr. – aka Funkmaster Flex – accusing him of copyright infringement, and has demanded the Hot 97 DJ pay up for the damage he allegedly caused. Sadowski – who described himself as a well-regarded professional photographer that specializes in breaking news and events – said Flex’s website, InFlexWeTrust.com, has a bad habit of lifting photos from news websites without permission or attribution, and in his case, the photog claimed Flex’s site took photos he licensed to the New York Post and used them without permission or payment. The photos in question included pics of Whitney Houston’s gravesite, a coyote found wandering in Manhattan, and a photo of the new Freedom Tower. Sadowski explained the website is full of news and information posts that are explicitly sourced from other outlets and the overwhelming majority of those posts are accompanied by photographs or videos – which he said Flex doesn’t have the rights to use. Around May 2014, the man says he sent off a cease and desist to Flex after he noticed his photos being used illegally. Flex took down some of the photos, but over time the photographer noticed many more of his work was being used without permission. Sadowski is suing for an injunction ordering Flex to cease using his copyrighted work & remove his photos from all posts on his website along with $1,650,000 in stator damages and $275,000 for violation of the DMCA. Flex is a professional radio DJ, musician, and producer and well known in the music industry. He promotes himself as “America’s No. 1 radio personality, reaching more than two million listeners a week”.
Common Talks 13th , Social Activism Common is really living up to his original rap name “Common Sense” these days. The rapper’s activism anthem “Letter to the Free” is the end-title track on 13th and has already been nominated for a 2016 Critics’ Choice Documentary Award for “Best Song in a Documentary.” The song’s lyrics tackle America’s racial divide and reflect the film’s focus on the prison system as a new form of slavery in America. It’s also featured on Common’s own latest album, “Black America Again.” Take a listen: We caught up with Common to chat about the single, his invovlement with the project, and how his affiliation with Ava Duvernay movies have shaped his musical direction and activism… What made you want to become involved with 13th in the way that you have? 13th hit me in a way…it was like I know some of this, I didn’t know about this ALEC stuff, I didn’t even know the 13th amendment said that — I’ll be honest — I didn’t even realize that the 13th amendment said that if you’re a “criminal,” you can [legally] be a slave. So all that information, I’m still continuing to learn. It’s been an awakening for the country. This is part of American history and the same way we teach our kids about the people who came to revolutionize this country, we need to teach them about slavery too. We need to teach them about slavery and how that ties into where we are now. If they can see that, they would be able to put two and two together and start functioning differently. Your name has become more and more synonymous with “wokeness” in a sense since your involvement in Selma a few years back. How do you feel that movie experience prepared you for projects like 13th and even placing some of the messages you have in your latest album? Well, Selma was definitely one of the moments that changed my life forever. One of the greatest experiences of my life. One of the reasons is being introduced to the Civil Rights Movement in another way. It’s more than just researching and reading it in textbooks. You’re talking to people. Ambassador Andrew Young came and had a talk the first day of our rehearsal and said “What are you willing to die for? Live for that.” He said that was the whole mentality of the people of the Civil Rights movement. “We’re willing to die for freedom, so we’re going to live for freedom. We’re dedicating each day toward that.” One of the practical things I was able to connect with was the fact that each and every person that was a part of that movement, each day they contributed something towards fighting for that freedom. They dedicated their lives to saying “okay, some part of my day will be dedicated towards that.” I felt like, I have been doing things and putting my spirit and energy into wanting to see change, but I had to do more. I had to contribute my days into being more active and more present — not only in the music. So then, aside from the music, what ways did you begin pursuing to be more active? That made me think about things, and question how can I use my creativity not only towards the art that I’m doing that is socio-political work, but how can I use my mind towards these communities. So that made me start going into communities and start to listen and made me more political than I had ever been. Before I would think — “Okay, I need to vote for the president.” And “I’ll vote for this person I know about.” But now, I need to know. If I have a problem with police injustice and police killing Black people, I need to know what things I can do policy-wise to help change things. Who is the person that selects the police chief? Who is the person that sets up the training for the policemen in this state and that state? Not that I’m going to know everything, but even if it’s connecting with groups that do know, so that I can get that information and see how I can contribute my name, celebrity, whatever access I have, and creativity towards that change. What action has 13th pushed you to take? With this movie, I’ll put it this way: If I’m going to talk it and rap it, I’ll have to be it. So I will be at somebody’s prison — just building with brothers and sisters about getting out and what life will be like getting out and trying to provide help in that way. I even realized this morning from Kim Fox, the State’s Attorney of Chicago — she comes from Cabrini-Green in Chicago so she’s for the people, she comes from it — she says one of the biggest issues is, they don’t assist people when they’re about to get out of jail, so when they come out, they’re shocked. And it’s hard to get jobs, hard to get housing, you can’t vote in certain places, so then you feel second-class, and then you end up going back to that same cycle. So, if someone has been convicted of a crime, when they’re about to get out, when do we start training them to work on that? I want to help with figuring that out. Nice! Great to see a celeb taking his influence and really focusing on making a positive impact with it, right? Have YOU taken a listen to “Black America Again?” What did you think? Splash
Donald Trump Praises Kanye West For Choosing Him As A Hero This week Kanye West ensured that a large portion of the African-American voting bloc will not be casting their votes for him in the 2020 election. While many of us were a bit shocked and thoroughly disgusted with Yeezus’ support of Donald , there was one person who wasn’t surprised one bit…Donald. Last year at a presser, The Orange One spoke highly of the hoodwinked rapper… Donald praises Kanye because Kanye praises Donald. Peas in a narcissistic pod. SMFH. Image via AP/Splash
