Sean “Diddy” Combs will stand trial on May 5 in his racketeering and sex trafficking case, a federal judge ruled at a court hearing on Thursday (Oct. 10).
The order from Judge Arun Subramanian — who replaced Judge Andrew L. Carter as the presiding judge last week and will handle the eventual trial — was issued from the bench and reported by the Associated Press and other outlets.
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The trial date is in line with what the rapper’s legal team wanted. In court documents Wednesday (Oct. 9), they said they were continuing to assert his constitutional right to a speedy trial and would be seeking to get the case before a jury in April or May.
Though a trial date is now set, the schedule could still be pushed back, particularly if prosecutors file new charges or add defendants to the case. It could also be delayed if Combs eventually waives his speedy trial right to give his team more time to prepare — a decision that might hinge on whether he’s granted bail in a pending appeal.
When he does stand trial, Combs will face charges of racketeering and sex trafficking over what prosecutors say was a sprawling criminal operation aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.” The decades-long scheme allegedly involved not only elaborate sexual parties called “freak offs” and other sex abuse, but also forced labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery.
“For decades, Sean Combs … abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” prosecutors wrote in their indictment last month. “To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources and the influence of his multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled.”
Thursday’s hearing came less than 24 hours after Combs’ lawyers accused the government of leaking evidence to the media, including the infamous surveillance video of Combs assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie in 2016.
At Thursday’s hearing, according to AP, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson pushed back on those “baseless” claims, saying it was simply an effort by Combs’ lawyers to prevent jurors from seeing the “damning” Cassie video: “Not a single one of those alleged leaks are from members of the prosecution team,” Johnson said.
The next court date for Combs’ case is currently set for December.
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“I’m so excited about the Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott x Lainey Wilson collection,” Wilson said in a statement. “It was inspired by the lyrics ‘fly me to the stars, fly me to the moon’ from my song ‘4x4xU’, and the collection truly captures the dreamer’s spirit. I can’t wait to see everyone wearing it on their own adventures.”
The Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott collection pays homage to Texas, where jewelry designer Kendra Scott moved with her family as a teenager.
“We launched Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott in 2023 as a heartfelt tribute to my deep love for Texas,” said Scott, the jewelry brand’s founder and chief creative officer. “Collaborating with Lainey on our first celebrity partnership through Yellow Rose feels like the perfect match. Lainey has carved her own path in the music industry by staying true to her southern roots and authenticity—qualities that resonate deeply with Yellow Rose’s mission to celebrate individuality and empower women. We’re absolutely thrilled to debut this meaningful collection with her, marking a key moment in our continued growth of the Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott brand.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-10-10 20:36:282024-10-10 20:36:28Lainey Willson ‘Can’t Wait’ for People to Wear Her New Jewelry Collab — Shop the Collection Now
In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis debate who the new big three of rap are, why Tommy Richman’s debut album failed, the current state of R&B and more!
Carl Lamarre:
Uzi was in those conversations, I feel like Lil Baby was in those conversations as well.
Trevor Anderson:
You know, A&R Twitter, PR Twiiter, management Twitter is sitting there thinking “what?”
Kyle Denis:
The artists are the issue, because there have been major R&B moments I feel like in recent years.
Carl Lamarre:
Hey, what’s going on guys. Welcome to a fresh episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ and we have the gang here. Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis.
Kyle Denis:
Yo, yo, yo.
Carl Lamarre:
No Damien Scott. He is on the mend but will be back. We want to start the show because I know you were out.
Trevor Anderson:
I didn’t want to say it, but…
Carl Lamarre:
We got to do a quick “happy birthday” seg, you know, a little sing-along.
Trevor Anderson:
What, a little two-part harmony?
Kyle Denis & Carl Lamarre:
*singing*
Carl Lamarre:
I could’ve gone all the way in. Wow, we gave you a little something, something.
Kyle Denis:
We’re giving you a little tease. We’re thinking of all the viewers right now.
Trevor Anderson:
Yeah, first show was, you’re old, and yeah it was a really good one. There was no crazy sort of all in one, but there was a couple events throughout a couple different days. Got to hang out with a lot of different friends.
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Elle King just gave an update on her relationship with dad Rob Schneider — not that there’s much to say.
While stopping by Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday, the 35-year-old singer/songwriter revealed that even she isn’t certain where things stand with the comedian after he publicly apologized for his “shortcomings” as a father in an August interview with Tucker Carlson. “Umm, I’m not sure,” King said when asked about the current state of their relationship. “I haven’t spoken to him.”
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The “Ex’s & Oh’s” musician did confirm, however, that she watched Schneider’s apology to her — not that she stayed tuned for the rest of Carlson’s interview with the Deuce Bigalow actor. “I think it was like two hours long, so no,” she said. “Nobody wants to listen to that. But I did see his apology, yeah. Of course I watched that, yeah.”
The talk-show appearance comes about two months after King slammed her famous father for being “toxic” on Bunnie XO’s Dumb Blonde podcast, on which the four-time Grammy nominee also accused Schneider of sending her to “fat camp,” forgetting her birthdays and being overall absent from her life as she was growing up. A couple of days later, Schneider appeared on Carlson’s YouTube show and directly addressed his daughter, whom he had with model London King.
“I wish I was the father in my 20s that you needed, and clearly, I wasn’t,” he said at the time. “I hope you can forgive me for my shortcomings. “I feel terrible, and I just want you to know that I don’t take anything you say personally.”
About a month after that, King once again spoke about her father. “I was just speaking about my childhood and about my truth,” she told People in September of her Dumb Blonde appearance. “I was not trying to hurt him.”
“A lot of people said, ‘How could she say that about her family?’ and ‘Everything needs to be behind closed doors.’ No, it doesn’t,” she continued at the time. “Sometimes you have to just say things and get them off your chest so that you don’t have to carry it for the rest of your life.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-10-10 20:31:002024-10-10 20:31:00Elle King Says She & Dad Rob Schneider ‘Haven’t Spoken’ Since Tucker Carlson Apology
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Sum 41‘s frontman is holding nothing back in a new memoir detailing the highs and lows of Deryck Whibley’s career.
Released on Tuesday (Oct. 8), Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell is the lead singer’s first-ever autobiography detailing his rise to fame, the success of Sum 41 as well as the struggles he endured — including alleged sexual abuse by the band’s former manager.
Whibley’s memoir starts from the beginning detailing his life before fame, being raised by a single mom in Canada and forming a friend group that would eventually evolve into an internationally famous punk rock band. While the band has since announced their split, fans can relive the group’s most memorable moments straight from the 44-year-old’s perspective.
Since its release, the book has skyrocketed to the top of Amazon’s bestselling chart, earning the No. 1 spot for punk musician biographies. And, for a limited time, you can buy Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell online for 21% off.
Keep reading to learn more and shop Whibley’s memoir.
“Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell” by Deryck Whibley
Readers can expect to delve into more than just the singer’s upbringings in Walking Disaster, as he details Sum 41’s rise to fame. Throughout the start of Whibley music career, he kept hidden alleged sexual misconduct from the band’s first manager, Greig Nori, who groomed him as well as sexually and verbally abused him, according to reporting from Rolling Stone.
Reviewers can’t get enough of the memoir with one Amazon shopper saying it “tells some incredible stories, but it also includes some great life lessons about resilience, redemptions, and suffering.
In addition to the lows, the punk rockstar experienced unforgettable moments like “winning at the MTV Video Music Awards and being nominated for a Grammy,” the official description states. Plus, he’ll revisit some of his high-profile relationships including with Paris Hilton and Avril Lavigne.
Audiobook fans can even listen to the memoir narrated by Whibley himself through Audible. Bonus savings: new Audible users can get three months for $3 when you sign up here.
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If this were 25 years ago and Beanie Sigel was coming to your front door, uninvited, and accompanied by a crew of about a dozen, maybe his intentions would be more on the nefarious side. But the hip-hop legend, whose nicknames include “The Broad Street Bully,” is out in broad daylight determined to positively affect change. It’s September 17, National Voter’s Registration Day, and Sigel has quite the entourage as he canvases homes throughout Detroit’s 8 Mile. Beans is flanked by his State Property collective brother Freeway, media personality and Quality Control Records A&R Wayno, Harlem MC Smoke DZA, Bronx rapper Mysonne, and My’s tag team partner in activism, Tamika Mallory.
“Hello ma’am, good afternoon to you, my name is Beans,” Sigel says with a grin to an elderly woman as he stands on her porch. Unfortunately, the brimming bravado that endeared him to so many as a mainstay of Roc-A-Fella Records in the 2000s, is turned down. Undeterred by rejection, Sigel speaks calmly and candidly to seniors and youngsters while taking pictures with OGs on the block who came up on his music. Across the street is a contingent of Detroit born and bred MCs captained by Icewear Vezzo, who too are ringing doorbells and knocking on doors. Today, these hip-hop coalitions share the same goals: sign up as many people as they can who are of legal age, but not registered to vote.
“I’ve lived a very colorful past, where I haven’t always done good in the neighborhood,” Sigel would say later in his sprinter heading to Wayne State University, where he and his compatriots would go on and register students there to vote. “This is a chance for me to not only do some good for the people, but for myself, as well. As I got out and talked to people and share the information about voting and my experience, I’m taking some gems away from the people. We are all learning together in these conversations.”
Ice Wear Veezo at the launch of Vote or Else on Sept, 22 2024 in Detroit, MI.
“It was a dope experience,” Freeway adds. “I get a lot of love in Detroit. I feel so strongly about the city. Me and Beans have been coming out here since the early 2000s. It was a good experience to go door-to-door. I feel like they connect with us through our music anyway, but being able to connect with them in-person and talk about real life [issues] is an amazing experience. They knew we were speaking to them from a real place and not just trying to make some money. It seemed like people were really receptive to getting registered and those that were registered said they would be going out to vote.”
This past summer, Sigel started spearheading a movement to get involved — not so much in politics, but getting more educated in the political process. With the urging and guidance of his close friend and fellow Philly native Marvin Bing, Beanie aligned himself with organizations Mobilize Justice (which Bing founded) and AAP and started going directly into various communities. Beans would give personal testimony about his journey and heard the stories of the locals, which included activists, members of the church, social media influencers, small business owners and business executives. These conversations commenced in mid-July in Detroit and continued in August in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention.
“We started talking to the people in the community about the issues affecting them and what they wanted to see addressed,” Sigel elaborates. “If they have not voted in the past, we talked about what may have discouraged them from doing so. If they have voted before and will keep putting their ballots in the boxes, we asked them to elaborate on what inspired or inspires them to continue. We don’t try to sway people in the direction to vote for this person or vote for that person. I do tell them to get informed about what candidates’ policies are and who can be beneficial to your needs, your family’s needs and your community’s needs.”
Mysonne during an interview for the launch of Vote or Else on Sept, 22 2024 in Detroit, MI.
As National Voter’s Registration Day turned into night, more hip-hop luminaries started landing in Detroit to participate in a Town Hall called “Vote Or Else” at the Huntington Place convention center. The event was open to the public who were already registered or signed up to register to vote. Nipsey Hussle’s brother Blacc Sam — who runs The Marathon brand and store — Killer Mike and Pusha T were among those also participating.
“Everybody thinks it’s always on such a presidential level. Bro, it’s the state and local [elections] too. That’s where you’re gonna feel it at,” Pusha T says about the voting process. “It’s about being mindful of that and knowing what you’re really getting into. Understand the policies of those who are running in circles that are close to you. Be mindful. At this time more than ever, you’re watching the industry, the community, everybody, at once are feeling the effects of the government. We’re seeing the effects of it. The only way to change that is to get out there and vote.”
Reverend Michael McBride, co-founder of The Black Church PAC and lead Pastor of The Way Church in Berkley, CA was the moderator for a very spirited conversation about reparations for Black people, the need for Black entrepreneurship, the hip-hop community using their voices and platforms as vehicle to inspire and the need to vote.
Killer Mike at the launch of Vote or Else on Sept, 22 2024 in Detroit, MI.
“These are the conversations we need,” Killer Mike said afterwards, still standing on the stage as everyone began dispersing. “We need to be in a constant state of organizing, Kwame Ture once said. We need to be in a constant state of educating ourselves, Fred Hampton said. So for me, whether you read The Wretched of Tte Earth or Watch The White Guys Have All the Fun, we need to come to a place where we’re alone, [and] outside of cameras, to discuss what’s going on in our communities.”
He adds: “What we had here was a great discussion. I loved that, because I walked away knowing more, feeling more empowered, more engaged. I know if we do this at home, if we do this in our living rooms, that’s where the real organization begins.”
“Vote or Else” isn’t just the name of the Town Hall; Mobilize Justice, The Black Church PAC and AAPI have joined forces as one organization under the same name. Their initiatives are to eradicate voter suppression, the mass incarceration of Black people and end gun violence in the Black community. Vote Or Else are putting out a self-titled EP with contributions from MCs such as Bun B, Havoc From Mobb Deep, Styles P. and of course Beans and Free. The lead cut was just released and is called “Still Here.” The track is a collaboration of fiery, insightful wordsmiths, Benny The Butcher, Jay Electronica, Black Thought from The Roots and Freeway.
“It’s time for us to come together and stand up for something, stand up for something we believe in,” Freeway said of the MCs joining forces for a common cause. “I gained a lot of respect for certain artists that were out there. Especially Icewear Vezzo. As soon as I pulled up to the community earlier, his mom and his family were out there speaking to people about voting. He does sneaker and clothing drives, he has a juice bar in the city. So he doesn’t just talk, he invests in the community. When I got first signed to Roc-A-Fella records, Jay-Z and Dame Dash instilled that in us. This music thing is just a launch pad for 1000 other things we can do.”
Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a lawsuit claiming Chili’s used more than 60 copyrighted songs from Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and others on social media without permission, just months after the Beastie Boys accused the restaurant chain of the same thing.
In a complaint filed Tuesday (Oct. 10) in Manhattan federal court, the music giant accused Chili’s owner Brinker International Inc. of willfully using unlicensed music in dozens of promotional videos across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
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“In order to draw the attention of consumers in the fast-moving world of social media, defendants chose to rely on the use of popular music as an integral part of their Chili’s messaging,” UMG’s lawyers write. “But despite this success, defendants have failed to pay plaintiffs for the music that serves as the soundtrack for Chili’s social media ads.”
In addition to Grande and Bieber, UMG says the videos featured music from dozens of other stars, including Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Lana Del Rey, ABBA, Luke Bryan, Travis Scott, Bruno Mars, Lil Nas X, Earth Wind & Fire, The Weeknd and more.
The new case comes less than three months after Chili’s was accused of largely the same thing by the Beastie Boys. In that case, which remains pending, the iconic rap trio accuses the restaurant of using their 1994 smash “Sabotage” online, including in a video that mimicked the song’s 1970s-themed music video.
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok provide huge libraries of licensed music for users to add to their videos. But there’s a key exception: The songs can’t be used for commercial or promotional videos posted by brands. That kind of content requires a separate “synch” license, just like any conventional advertisement on television.
That crucial distinction has led to numerous lawsuits in recent years.
Beginning in 2021, all three major labels sued drink maker Bang Energy for using hundreds of copyrighted songs in promotional TikTok videos, with Universal and Sony eventually winning large judgments. In May, Sony filed a case against Marriott over accusations that the hotel chain had used nearly 1,000 of its songs in social media posts. And in July, Kobalt and other publishers sued more than a dozen NBA teams over the same thing.
In Tuesday’s case against Chili’s, UMG argued that a sophisticated company with more than 1,600 restaurant locations would have known that it needed sync licenses to use well-known music in ads — or at least that it should have known.
“Defendants include successful companies promoting multiple restaurant franchises with their own legal departments and protecting their own intellectual property interests,” UMG’s lawyers write. “Despite defendants’ prior history of licensing music from plaintiffs for use in commercials, defendants did not seek to determine which of the videos at issue in this complaint used plaintiffs’ musical works.”
Brinker did not immediately return a request for comment.
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Pusha T’s manager Steven Victor takes Billboard inside the launch of Victor Victor Worldwide featuring exclusive content, clothing, shoes from Japanese designer Nigo and more.
Steven Victor: What’s up, Billboard? Welcome to Victor Victor World, let’s take a walk inside. Yeah, it’s called Victor Victor World, so the idea is, like, whoever’s within our world, this is where you’ll operate. This will be, like, a home base. It’s the culmination of all the different things I’ve been working on, like music, content, clothes — I feel like it’s just like a further expression of just, like, everything that I’m into and trying to be, like, an inspiration for people like us, you know? So we got music, we got food, we got clothes. You know what I’m saying? The first 50 people get a whole package. It’s on this side, too. Final. We got a T-shirt, got the headphones on listening to music. You know what I’m saying? This is Nigo’s first shoot with Nike, the exclusive colorway. It’s limited to just this store, Nigo store in Tokyo, and Dover Street Market. Air Force three. Come here. Let me show you something you got- see the difference? This is an exclusive one. You can only get this in Asia. So when you get it in Asia, in here, this store in Asia, so you can fly to Asia, or you can come to the pop up. See the difference, Nigo and ogin OG original. You feel me. Then you could come over here, check me out. Put the headphones on. Press play.
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Flavor Flav is celebrating an important milestone while helping others.
The Public Enemy musician took to social media on Oct. 10, which is also World Mental Health Day, to announce that next week marks “4 years sober from alcohol.”
To help others struggling with mental health, Flav noted that he reached out to AI therapy app, Sonia, “to cover the subscriptions for anyone who signs up today.” The app describes itself as “your personal AI-powered therapist. We can talk via voice or text about anything on your mind”
Flav concluded his message by telling his fans, “Help me help you.”
Flav has a long history of good deeds, and spreading his positivity to others. During the Paris Olympics over the summer, he was dedicated to the U.S. squad, pledging $1,000 and a cruise for all the members of the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team and helping to cover rent costs for 24-year-old discus thrower Veronica Fraley. He also boosted a GoFundMe page for Paralympic sprinter Nick Mayhugh to help pay for his parents to fly to Paris to see him compete.
Most recently, the Flavor of Love star attended the Black Music Action Coalition Gala in Beverly Hills, Calif., this week, where he auctioned off a blinged-out clock straight off his neck for $15,000, and the donation will go toward initiatives to help address “systemic racism within the music industry” while also preparing the “next generation of industry leaders.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-10-10 19:17:112024-10-10 19:17:11Flavor Flav Celebrates 4 Years of Sobriety, Pays for Therapy App Subscriptions for World Mental Health Day
Feid is set to light up Miami as Billboard Latin Music Week marks its 35th year in the heart of Miami Beach. But who is Feid, and how did this Colombian sensation ascend to the echelons of global stardom?
The Colombian singer-songwriter began his music journey in Medellín, learning the clarinet before focusing on singing. He joined a children’s choir and performed in talent shows. In his 20s, he became a sought-after songwriter for major Latin artists — he co-wrote J Balvin’s first global hit, “Ginza” (2015) — and signed with Universal Music Latin Entertainment. Feid released his debut album, Así Como Suena, in 2017, and by his third album, Ferxxo, Vol. 1: M.O.R. (2020), he had reached No. 1 on Latin Airplay.
His success continued with albums such as Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo Te Pirateamos el Álbum (2022), and Mor, No le Temas a la Oscuridad (2023), which peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard 200. To date, he holds eight No. 1 hits on Latin Airplay and 10 Latin Rhythm Airplay charts.
Ferxxo’s journey is highlighted as he prepares to appear at Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami on Monday, Oct. 14, on a panel called From Clubs to Stadiums featuring Feid, presented by Live Nation. Get your tickets here.
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