In this clip, Beanie Sigel talked about building his buzz in his neighborhood of South Philly before meeting Jay-Z. He recounted the series of events that led to him meeting How which included battling Philly’s Most Wanted, who was one of the hottest groups out of the city at the time.
HOUSTON (CBS News 19) — Next month's scheduled execution of a Texas death row inmate, whose attorneys say gouged out both of his eyes - each a separate incident - because of severe mental illness, was delayed by a judge on Tuesday.
Andre Thomas had been set to be executed on April 5, sentenced to death for fatally stabbing in March 2004 his estranged wife Laura Christine Boren, 20, their 4-year-old son Andre Lee & her 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes, cutting out the hearts of the 2 children.
He later told police God had instructed him to commit the killings & that he believed all 3 were demons. The killings of Boren & her children shocked Sherman, a city of about 45,000 residents.
State District Judge Jim Fallon on Tuesday issued an order withdrawing the execution date. Fallon's decision came after Thomas' lawyers had requested additional time to prepare for a court hearing to review his competency.
The Supreme Court has prohibited the death penalty for the intellectually disabled, but not for people with serious mental illness. However, it has ruled that a person must be competent to be executed.
His attorneys have said that after he gouged out the second eye, he ate it to ensure that the government could not hear his thoughts.
More than 100 faith leaders & others had earlier asked Gov. Greg Abbott to stop the 39-year-old's execution.
J. Kerye Ashmore, with the Grayson County District Attorney's Office, which prosecuted the case, said the faith leaders & others calling for clemency for Thomas are not fully informed about the case.
"None of these people know anything about the case. They are parroting what the defense has told them," Ashmore said.
Ashmore said he's reviewed records that would seem to indicate Thomas knew about his execution date & that he's aware that he's in prison because he killed his estranged wife & her kids.
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting in Tacoma, Washington. No one was injured.
Online jail records show Kemp was booked for investigation of felony drive-by shooting shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday.
A Pierce County Superior Court calendar showed that Kemp, 53, was scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday afternoon, though Adam Faber, a spokesman for the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office, said that would only occur if charges are filed.
No charges had been filed as of Thursday morning.
Kemp, who has 2 licensed cannabis stores in Seattle, was a 4-time NBA all-star & played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997. He also played for Cleveland, Portland & Orlando.
Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He became known for his high-flying, athletic dunks.
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Someone claiming to be the Mexican drug cartel allegedly responsible for the abduction of 4 Americans & the killing of 2 of them has condemned the violence & purportedly turned over its own members who were involved to authorities.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel allegedly responsible for abducting the Americans apologized to the residents of Matamoros, the Mexican woman who died in the shooting & the & Americans & their families.
Drug cartels have been known to issue communiques to intimidate rivals & authorities, but also at times like these to do some public relations work to try to smooth over situations that could affect their business.
“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making & lack of discipline,” the letter reads, adding that those individuals had gone against the cartel’s rules, which include “respecting the life & well-being of the innocent.”
A photograph of 5 men face down on the pavement & bound accompanied the letter, which was shared with The AP by the source on condition that they remain anonymous because they were not authorized to share the document.
A separate state security official said that 5 men had been found tied up inside one of the vehicles that authorities had been searching for, along with the letter.
Last Friday, 4 Americans crossed into Matamoros from Texas so that 1 of them could get a cosmetic surgery procedure. Around midday they were fired on & then loaded into a pickup truck.
Authorities located them Tuesday, guarded by a man who was arrested. Two of the Americans were dead, & was wounded & the other was unharmed.
Throwback fire from B.A.R.S. Murre when he linked up with QB rap legend Tragedy Khadafi for this Sid Roams produced track titled "Drug Dealer." Off of Murre's 2006 album, "Black Tanita."
1.Intro (Dinners with Crystal) (prod by. Bharat Bhargava) 2.Essence (prod by. Carter the producer) 3.Time ft. Phillip Morris (prod by. Carter the producer) 4.V.I.T.O.R.I.O (prod by. Vante Miles) 5.What it is ft. Bunny Liiu (prod by. Don D the producer) 6.Back in Denver (5280) / High in Emotion (Interlude) ft. Ivvy Jones (prod by. Carter the producer) 7.Menace (prod by. Jerry Travis) 8. Zinfandel (prod by. Vante Miles) 9.Queen Street West (freestyle) (prod by. Hapa) 10.Hit the switch ft. Hood Tali (prod by. Vante Miles) 11.Lately ft. Lady Los (prod by. Vante Miles & Carter the producer) 12.Heaven or Hell (prod by. Second Self)
CHICAGO (CBS) – A 21-year-old woman is dead after being shot while trying rob people inside a car in the Monday afternoon.
Chicago police said the woman entered the vehicle around 1 p.m., in a robbery attempt. She was inside of a car when she was shot in the shoulder, back & hand.
The woman was then thrown into the intersection. People then came to help her before police arrived.
The woman was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Family & close friends identified the victim as 21-year-old Genesis Escobar.
"My heart is broken in pieces," said Iris Alvarez. "She was also seven months pregnant with a baby girl."
Iris Alvarez said Escobar came to visit Alvarez's daughter around 1 p.m.
She texted my daughter & told my daughter: 'Please help me! I'm in trouble!'" Alvarez said. "But my daughter was sleeping."
Alvarez & her daughter were awoken by 4 gunshots. When they checked to see what was going on, they were stunned.
"They looked out the window & seen that the vehicle - someone opened the driver door, walked around the vehicle, pulled the body out & drove off," Alvarez said.
But before dumping the woman on the ground, witnesses said the driver pulled out cash.
"They threw a bunch of money on top of her," Alvarez said.
Alvarez was asked what she thought the cash that was dropped on Escobar's body represented.
"I don't know if she was into some kind of trouble," Alvarez said.
"I don't care how much trouble you're in," Alvarez said. "I feel that for a person to do that to someone, doesn't have a heart."
No suspects are in custody. Area Five detectives are investigating.
Jake Paul gave a rather funny excuse for why he lost to Tommy Fury. You probably won't guess what it is, but given the fact that he is a media whore this probably won't come as a surprise.
Comparisons aside, Tocarra has a one-of-a-kind sound, and her music is deeply personal and charismatic. She is not trying to emulate any given artist but instead setting the bar higher with so much passion and talent, aiming to create amazing music that is so easy to relate to for people from all walks of life. In addition to the personable and edgy performance value, her latest release “Lick Back” is quite distinctive because of the sheer quality of the production. The balanced and detail-oriented mix makes for a lively, edgy, and stark sonic approach. In other words, there are many subtle nuances in this release, which add to the richness of the track when summed up together. The frequency spectrum of the mix is also very balanced, with tight yet deep low-end working wonders, along with a smooth top end, which adds a sense of clarity to the music.
Outside of music, Tocarra is a remarkable journalist and highly passionate about giving back to the community, as she volunteers her time to many nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. She is the Executive Director of Still I Rise nonprofit organization and is also a driving force behind many successful innovative businesses in her community. While promoting her positive energy, she has worked alongside and been in the company of a massive amount of industry greats, including Nelly, Bow Wow, India Arie, Scarface, Ja Rule, Murphy Lee, Adina Howard, Jon B., Fred Hammond, Donald Lawrence, and a host of more.
Find out more about Tocarra, and listen to "Lick Back" which is currently available on the best digital music streaming platforms on the web. https://songwhip.com/tocarra/lick-back
Texas-based recording artist/producer Yung Dub D is onboard to make 2023 a highlight year. With a career that has seen him release singles and projects that gained him a reputable following, his hunger has pushed him to go for more. While he released a couple of singles in 2022, he looks to cover more ground this year by going “Bar 4 Bar”.
“Bar 4 Bar” is a collaboration with Lil Ron Da Don, Blastmen B, and KBzo, and it finds Yung Dub D trading bars with them. Over Trap production, the artists deliver witty lines, show off different flows, and bring a different energy throughout the track. With a high tempo present, “Bar 4 Bar” is expected to be a hit with listeners when it’s officially released.
The track was recently previewed through a “Mic Check” session visual with Dallas-based ItsAllGoodWitIt Productions. Yung Dub D looks to take the new track on the road in the following weeks after its official release on streaming platforms. He is finalizing a promotional campaign with the featured artists that will see “Bar 4 Bar” becoming a popular sound on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok through a series of videos. An official music video for the track is also in the works.
Yung Dub D is an independent artist and producer from Dallas, Texas, who has been active on the scene for a number of years. He has produced for a number of artists in and out of Texas, providing a unique sound that stands out with every release. He has released a number of singles over the years including “Sonya Blade”, “Take My Advice”, “Head Over Heels”, and “Heal”, while his albums include “Sail Out To Sea”, and “Don’t Underestimate Belief”.
“Bar 4 Bar” featuring Yung Dub D, Lil Ron Da Don, Blastmen B, and KBzo will be released on March 3rd on all digital music streaming platforms.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WKLY) — On Wednesday, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland is in Louisville to announce the Department of Justice's findings resulting from its investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville Metro Government.
It says there is reasonable cause to believe the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government & LMPD have engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the U.S. Constitution & federal law.
Here is a summary list of findings from the DOJ's report.
* LMPD uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and the unreasonable use of police dogs and stun guns. * LMPD conducts searches based on invalid warrants. * LMPD unlawfully executes search warrants without knocking and announcing. * LMPD unlawfully stops, searches, detains, and arrests people during street enforcement activities, including traffic and pedestrian stops. * LMPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities. * LMPD violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech critical of policing. * Louisville Metro and LMPD discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to them in crisis
The bulk of the rest of the report gives an extensive overview of the background leading up to its investigations & the method by which it went about the investigation.
The report also recommends 36 remedial measures for improvement.
While it commends LMPD and Metro government for not waiting for the outcome of the investigation to make its own improvements, the DOJ says more must be done.
The report concludes by saying the DOJ looks forward to working with Metro government & LMPD in implementing its recommendations.
It calls it a starting point for ending Louisville Metro’s & LMPD’s pattern or practice of unlawful conduct.
MADISON COUNTY, Ill. (KTVI) — An autopsy released last week explains what happened to a Troy, Illinois, man who was found deceased in his home months after being reported missing.
Richard Maedge died by suicide, according to a report from Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn that was released Thursday.
Maedge’s wife, Jennifer, reported him missing on the afternoon of April 27, 2022. She told Troy police she last spoke with him the day before. Richard Maedge called his wife & said he was leaving work early. When his wife arrived home, Richard was gone, but his car was parked outside & his wallet & keys were left behind.
Troy police initially searched the home but found no trace of him.
Kelly Rogers, the county’s chief deputy coroner, said police described the residence as a “hoarder home.” While searching the house, police noticed a “sewer-like” odor inside the residence.
Jennifer Maedge called the police again sometime later to report an odor. Troy police searched the home a 2nd time & did not find any remains.
The family contacted a plumber, who described the odor inside the house as sewer gas, Rogers said. The plumber placed a cap on 1 of the sewer pipes in the basement, which seemed to eliminate the odor at the residence.
Jennifer found her husband’s body on Dec. 11, 2022, nearly 8 months after his disappearance. She told police she’d gone to a concealed closet area to retrieve Christmas decorations. Richard’s body was inside that storage space.
Rogers explained that Maedge’s body had advanced beyond decomposition & was in a mummified state. Rogers said that a mummified body may not have a strong odor, which would explain why it took so long for Richard to be found.
The autopsy showed no further injuries & no foul play was involved in in his death.
Speed Dollaz has put the state of Delaware on his back as he follows up the release of his new "Herbal Tea" single featuring Reed Dollaz with a fire freestyle over the instrumental to Jay-Z's classic "Dynasty" instrumental.
Spanish Harlem, New York emcee UFO Fev and producer Spanish Ran deliver "Everybody Talking," the 2nd music video off of their new "Painting Houses" album.
Ja Morant was suspended for at least 2 games by the Memphis Grizzlies after he appeared to brandish a gun at a Denver-area club in a social media video over the weekend after a game against the Nuggets. But, the star guard could potentially end up serving a much longer suspension if it turns out that he brought the gun on team premises. That includes Memphis' plane, bus or locker room.
The league & Colorado police have launched investigations into the situation & the NBA could ultimately decide to fine Morant, or hit him with a lengthy suspension if he's found guilty of wrongdoing. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NBA & NBPA states explicitly that a player is prohibited from carrying a firearm while traveling on any league-related business. So the question becomes: Did Morant have the gun on team premises? That's likely exactly what the league is looking into at this point.
The Commissioner shall have the power to suspend for a definite or indefinite period, or to impose a fine not exceeding $1,000,000, or inflict both such suspension & fine upon any person who, in his opinion, shall have been guilty of conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the Association.
So basically, if Morant is found guilty of violating the CBA, it will be up to commissioner Adam Silver to hand down a punishment. At that point he can choose to fine Morant up to $1 million, and/or serve a suspension. There isn't an established suspension length for the situation, so if Morant is suspended by the league, the length will be at Silver's discretion.
After he was suspended by the Grizzlies, Morant -- who has been involved in a string of off-court incidents in recent months -- released a statement apologizing to those he impacted & vowing to get help.
Check out the official audio visualizer from Agallah Don Bishop for "Force Em To Fold" featuring YZ. Off of Agallah's new album "Endangered Species Protocol."
March 7 (Reuters) - Five women who said they were denied abortions despite grave risk to their lives or fetuses sued Texas on Monday, in the first apparent case of pregnant women suing over curbs imposed after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.
The lawsuit asks a state court in Austin, the state's capital, for a ruling clarifying that a doctor cannot be prosecuted for providing an abortion if, in the doctor's good faith judgment, the abortion is necessary to treat an emergency that threatens a pregnant patient's life or health.
Texas, like most of the 13 states with abortion bans, allows exceptions when a physician finds that there is a medical emergency. But the lawsuit, backed by the abortion rights group Center for Reproductive Rights, says that the law is unclear, leading doctors to refuse to perform abortions even when the exception should apply for fear of losing their licenses and facing up to 99 years in prison.
Texas banned abortion shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed abortion rights nationwide.
Four of the women in Monday's lawsuit had to travel out of state to obtain abortions in order to avoid serious medical complications. A fifth was hospitalized in Texas with a premature rupture of membranes, which meant that her fetus could not be saved, but was not given an abortion until she developed a severe infection that required her to stay in an intensive care unit, according to the complaint.