Bristling at Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s comment that Carlton Weekly was someone who “fancies himself as a rapper, but is also a member of a gang,” family and supporters of FBG Duck returned to the place he was shot to death to call for peace.
“I am asking that his fans, friends of my son, to please not seek retaliation in the death of my son,” said LaSheena Weekly, who has now lost two of her children to gun violence. “As his mother, I want to say please put the guns down, so that the generation of tomorrow can grow and live long and healthy life.”
Twenty-six-year-old Carlton Weekly was gunned down on Chicago's Oak Street Tuesday near the Dolce & Gabbana store. The murder was committed in broad daylight in what witnesses described as a drive-by shooting.
Police are still looking for those responsible.
Despite frequent references to guns and gangs in his music and his videos, Weekly’s family insists he was not a member of a gang.
“To assassinate his character as if he was this gang-banging thug, run around Chicago terrorizing communities, is an outright lie,” LaSheena Weekly said.
Other supporters called him an entertainer who was popular in Drill Music circles.
Chicago police say they appreciate FBG Duck’s family coming forward to call for peace.
“We always worry about the retaliatory shootings,” said Deputy Chief Daniel O’Shea. “Its nice to see the family come out here and call for peace, not just down here on Oak Street, but throughout the city.”
Still, Weekly’s family and their supporters insist that more needs to be done.
Gwendolyn Baxter, founder of the The Sisterhood, a group made of mothers who have lost children to gun violence said he group wants no more killings.
“Let our young kids live,” Baxter said. “Our babies been dying…let our children be able to go outside and play and laugh again.”
Hip-Hop Artist, Swazey lands a deal with New-York label, EQ
Swazey AKA Hef Swazey was born Rafiq Hawkins 09/15/1995 in Washington DC, with 10 siblings born to a poor working-class mother, in the inner cities of Washington DC. At the tender age of 12, he decides to leave his home to pursue his music career in rap. He's extremely talented and focused with a determination to win and never settle. This disposition earned him a lot of respect and recognition within his community and his social media.
Swazey went viral in a mistaken identity debacle with local neighborhood police officers in Washington DC. During the police harassment incident, he ran and hopped the fence back and forth acrobat style. The viral video is called "You Can't Catch Me, Boy." After the viral video, he was invited on the MTV show "Ridiculousness" and his viral video was a segment on the show. In 2020, he was featured on the MTV spinoff show of "Ridiculousness" called "Disturbed in 2020." Additionally, Swazey performed opening shows for Young Thug during the 'HBCU Black College Spring Tour.' He has countless features on a local radio station in Washington DC WPGC 95.5 FM with host DJ Tony Redz.
The newly-signed EQ artist is Swazey is deceased. On March 23, 2019, he was gunned down by four assailants while on his way to the studio. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries in Washington DC. He was the next upcoming hip-hop artist when he passed. Shortly after he passed away, he was signed to the EQ distribution label in NYC.
His mother Fatima manages his music estate after her son passed. EQ contacted her to sign her son Swazey in June of 2019. "Of course, I wanted to let the world hear what Swazey has dedicated his life to, his love for music, and the craft of creating music. It helped him deal with life," says Fatima.
We appreciate Swazey's Mom, Fatima for sharing her son's story. Be sure to connect with his legacy on social media and digital music platforms.
There's a distinction between being a rapper and a lyricist. All artists can put together words that rhyme, but very few make you stop the song you're listening to, so you can rewind it to comprehend a slick bar you just heard.
Fred the Godson was an elite lyricist.
Sadly, the Bronx, New York native lost his life on April 23, 2020, at the young age of 35 due to complications of coronavirus.
Thankfully, Fred recorded so much material throughout his career we will get a chance hear more of his music on future projects.
The first posthumous release from Gordo is titled "GodSon." A project which features many of Fred's classic songs. A lot of them you may have missed at the time they were originally released.
"Godson" is now available on all streaming platforms:
1. Intro 2. The Sermon 3. Too Fat 4. Put In Work 5. She Called Me God 6. The City 7. Streets of the Bronx 8. Rush 9. We Gone Fly 10. Money 11. Talkin Bout Money 12. It's All There 13. Can I Live with Jay Pharoah
Black Soprano Family artist Rick Hyde drops off an official music video for "Ricky & Fonz." This is off of the new DJ Drama-hosted Gangsta Grillz project titled "The Respected Sopranos."
CHICAGO (AP) — A convicted felon on parole has been charged with attempted murder in the shooting of three Chicago police officers outside a station, authorities said Friday.
Lovelle Jordan was taken to the station on the city’s northwest side after officers arrested him Thursday in connection with a June 26 carjacking in downtown Chicago, police said.
Jordan began firing when an officer opened the door of the squad car they had driven him to the station in, Deputy Chief Brendan Deenihan said. Officers returned fire and wounded Jordan, who faces six counts of attempted murder as well as charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a weapon as a felon.
Jordan was still hospitalized Friday and did not appear in court. Prosecutors said he has been paralyzed from the chest down.
Jordan’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Scott Finger, objected to the bond hearing since Jordan could not appear, the Chicago Tribune reported. A judge ordered him held without bail.
Two of the wounded officers were treated and released from the hospital. The third officer was shot in the chin and remains hospitalized but is “doing well,” Deenihan said.
“He’s not out of the woods by any means ... but it appears he’s going to make it,” he said.
Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin DeBoni said during Friday’s court hearing that the officer had been placed in a medically induced coma to prevent damage to his spine.
Police handcuffed Jordan’s hands behind his back when he was arrested, but he apparently was able to move his hands to the front while being transported to the station, Deenihan said.
He said Jordan, 26, was searched before being transported, but police believe he had a gun “extremely secreted, probably very close to his private area” and was able to retrieve the weapon during the ride to the station.
“They didn’t do anything wrong,” Deenihan said of officers who made the arrest. “I will defend them. They’re out there working, they are wrestling with this guy and once again it’s the offender’s action — that’s who’s responsible for shooting the officer in the face.”
In this clip, Godfrey shares his thoughts on Jada Pinkett's relationship with August Alsina and how Will and Jada's "Red Table Talk" episode talking about the situation made Will look bad. Godfrey also predicted that August Alsina will get the most out of the situation, including remixes to his song "Entanglement." He went on to state that Jada Pinkett-Smith treated her "Red Table Talk" episode like a mob boss, which you can hear more about below.
Oakland A's bench coach Ryan Christenson says he "made a mistake" by throwing up a Nazi salute TWICE during Thursday's game against the Rangers ... insisting it was unintentional.
"I made a mistake and will not deny it," Christenson said in a statement.
Christenson made the salute while greeting players in the dugout at the end of the game. You can see pitcher Liam Hendriks trying to correct Christenson's salute into an "elbow bump" position.
But, R.C. eventually went back to the Nazi salute one more time.
Christenson says the whole thing was born out of an attempt to be more COVID-conscious.
"Today in the dugout I greeted players with a gesture that was offensive. In the world today of [COVID-19] I adapted our elbow bump, which we do after wins, to create some distance with the players."
"My gesture unintentionally resulted in a racist and horrible salute that I do not believe in. What I did is unacceptable, and I deeply apologize."
The A's acknowledged the move looked like a Nazi salute and apologized as well.
"We do not support or condone this gesture, or the racist sentiment behind it."
The team added, "This is incredibly offensive, especially in these times when we as a [club] and many others are working to expose and address racial inequities in our country."
2 Chainz chopped it up with The Breakfast Club about his Verzuz battle against Rick Ross, trying to stay creative during the pandemic, new album, respect in hip-hop and more.
Cardi B was the latest guest on The Breakfast Club.
She talks about moving to Los Angeles, working on new album, getting depressed by the pandemic, "WAP" collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, Breonna Taylor, Joe Biden and much more.
Harlem heavyweight rhyme-writer G4 Jag returns with new visuals. "Where You Been" (first premiered via PaperChaseDotCom) has a jazzy musical back-drop (courtesy of Los Angeles beat-duo DirtyDiggs) with video directed by Starz Coleman.
As he posts up in front of his building with his comrades (including q Stilla, Dutch Brown, The Musalini, Emilio Craig, Madhattan, 448 Brad, Huey P, Aaqil Ali, Fligga and 200 Blokks Vaygez Blakk), reflecting over spirits and piff, G4 relates all the work he has put in the booth and in the hood. Though, his visibility in the game has been raised in recent years with his projects like Still Surviving and his work with artists including Flee Lord, Planet Asia and The Musalini his journey begins much further back.
"Where You Been" is taken from G4Jag’s collaborative project with DirtyDiggs entitled "Keep Going" (Presented by The Dough Networkz). Another video from the project "Make a Plate" also recently dropped (Premiere via Weekly Rap Gods).
The project is out now in limited CD edition as well as digital (link below).
Benny The Butcher brought Black Soprano Family members Heem and Rick Hyde to the Bars On I-95 show to chop it up about anything and everything. Tap in below.
Check out the official music video for "What U Need" by JoJo from the upcoming album good to know (Deluxe) available 8/28. Pre-order here:https://JOJO.lnk.to/goodtoknowdeluxe
To understand the music and talent this artist possesses you have to understand where he comes from. Living in the streets of Akron Ohio is a ruff journey. Having a mother with a crack addiction during his childhood and an absent father most of the time he was lead to a life of drugs and violence. At the age of 14 his trouble lead him into juvinile programs, oriana houses and eventually to juvinile prison. Music was always his escape and with artist like 2 Pac and tribe called quest and many more his passion grew, with his time to sit down and think about life and write. After his release he made some songs he never releasd nation wide but got alot of support, did alot of shows even got a deal from Sonics Wave International but eventually found himself back in juvinile prison again. From then on he's stayed out and has been making moves towards his music career more then ever and has released music and has a single out nation wide on all platforms. Also his Album Real Estate. This is an artist with alot of life experiences, writing, recording, performing, and business talent. Nothing is possible without G O D!
East Coast Artist, Kouvaris-The Universal Prince delivers his latest project "Destiny"
When you live life with no regrets, you're bound to reach your destiny. This holds true for Kouvaris-The Universal Prince-the the multi-talented Singer, Song-Writer/Composer. He is a force to be reckoned with! Achieving over one million streams and being a featured artist in numerous blogs and magazines such as Model Citizen Magazine, MTV-USA, MTVrock, and Billboard Music, he has taken the world by storm.
The Jacksonville, Florida native began singing at a young age. He was able to find his voice through music and to escape the seriousness of the world around him. His music seeks to uplift others so that they too can rise like a phoenix from every obstacle and circumstance they face.
Personality, fierce, and unapologetic are words that best describe his voice. Not only is he unforgettable on-screen and in-person, he has been featured on numerous radio shows from the Mica Nicole Show in Atlanta, Georgia to shows in the UK. Kouvaris-The Universal Prince is the total package!
Be sure to connect with Kouvaris on his website, social media, and digital music platforms.
Slim Thug connects with one of his former Boss Hogg Outlawz, Killa Kyleon, to drop an official music video for their latest collaboration titled "Wishing On A Star."
Conway the Machine is preparing to release his solo album titled "From King to a GOD" on September 11th. The first single off of the project is the Daringer and Beat Butcha-produced heater, "Lemon," featuring Method Man.
Facebook removed hundreds of accounts on Thursday from a foreign troll farm posing as African-Americans in support of Donald Trump and QAnon supporters. It also removed hundreds of fake accounts linked to conservative media outlet The Epoch Times that pushed pro-Trump conspiracy theories about coronavirus and protests in the U.S.
Facebook took down the accounts as part of its enforcement against coordinated inauthentic behavior, which is the use of fake accounts to inflate the reach of content or products on social media.
The foreign pro-Trump troll farm was based in Romania and pushed content on Instagram under names like “BlackPeopleVoteForTrump” and on Facebook under “We Love Our President.”
Troll farms — groups of people that work together to manipulate internet discourse with fake accounts — are often outsourced and purchased by foreign governments or businesses to push specific political talking points. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of security policy, said the troll farm’s motivations were unclear, but they didn’t see “clear evidence of financial motivation” or “clear links to known commercial actors in this space.”
Facebook stressed that the takedowns were based on “behavior, not content,” like breaking rules against creating fake accounts to boost engagement on some pieces of content.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Authorities in Florida say a Burger King worker was fatally shot after a dispute over a delay in a food order.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office identified the shooter in a news release Sunday as 37-year-old Kelvis Rodriguez Tormes. Authorities said he is charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, destruction of evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The victim was identified as 22-year-old Desmond Armond Joshua Jr., who had only recently begun working at the restaurant.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Saturday night shooting followed a confrontation between Joshua and a woman over the length of time it took for a drive-through food order to be completed.
The woman was refunded her money, then left and returned with Rodriguez Tormes, authorities said. After a scuffle, deputies say Joshua was shot in the parking lot and later died at a hospital.
Jail records Sunday did not list an attorney for Rodriguez Tormes.
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