1. Intro 2. Picture Me Rollin 3. Ben 4. Voice of God 5. 57 6. All Liquid 7. K.I.T.T. 8. Haue Living Freestyle 9. Tangerine Lenses 10. The Lord 11. Bye Bye
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman after she called 911 to report a possible rape happening behind her home was sentenced Thursday to nearly 5 years in prison — the most the judge could impose but less than half the 12½ years he was sentenced to for his murder conviction that was overturned last month.
Mohamed Noor was initially convicted of third-degree murder & manslaughter in the 2017 fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a 40-year-old dual U.S.-Australian citizen & yoga teacher who was engaged to be married. But the Minnesota Supreme Court tossed out Noor’s murder conviction & sentence last month, saying the third-degree murder statute didn’t fit the case because it can only apply when a defendant shows a “generalized indifference to human life,” not when the conduct is directed at a particular person, as it was with Damond.
Judge Kathryn Quaintance, who also presided at Noor’s trial, granted prosecutors’ request to impose the maximum sentence in state guidelines on Noor’s manslaughter conviction, 57 months. In doing so, she brushed aside the defense’s request for 41 months, which is the low end of the range. With good behavior, Noor could be freed on supervised release by next summer.
Noor, who was fired after he was charged, has already served more than 29 months. In Minnesota, inmates who behave well typically serve two-thirds of their prison sentences & the remainder on supervised release.
Noor testified at his 2019 trial that he & his partner were driving slowly in an alley when a loud bang on their police SUV made him fear for their lives. He said he saw a woman appear at the partner’s driver’s side window & raise her right arm before he fired a shot from the passenger seat to stop what he thought was a threat.
He was sentenced to 12 1/2 years on the murder count & had been serving most of his time at an out-of-state facility.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Tens of thousands of North Carolina residents convicted of felonies but whose current punishments don’t include prison time can register to vote & cast ballots, a judicial panel declared Monday.
Several civil rights groups & ex-offenders who sued legislative leaders & state officials in 2019 argue the current 1973 law is unconstitutional by denying the right vote to people who have completed their active sentences or received no such sentence, such as people on probation. They said the rules disproportionately affect Black residents & originated from an era of white supremacy in the 19th century.
In a brief hearing following a trial last week challenging the state’s voting restrictions upon felons, Superior Court Judge Lisa Bell said two judges on the three-judge panel have agreed they would issue a formal order soon allowing more felony offenders to register. The judges are acting before issuing a final trial ruling, as voting in October municipal elections begins next month.
Roughly 56,000 more people would now be allowed to vote, based on estimates. One lawyer said it represents the largest expansion of North Carolina voting rights since the 1960s.
“When I heard the ruling, I wanted to run in the street & tell everybody that now you have a voice,” said Diana Powell with Justice Served NC, a Raleigh-based community group that sued. “I am so excited for this historic day.”
Current law says felons can register to vote once they complete all aspects of their sentence, including probation & parole. With the upcoming order, felons who only must complete these punishments that have no element of incarceration can register. The decision also would apply to people convicted of a federal felony but whose current punishment is probation.
A lawyer for House Speaker Tim Moore, who is a defendant along with Senate leader Phil Berger & the State Board of Elections, said an appeal to block the panel’s preliminary injunction will be filed.
Moore attorney Sam Hayes called Monday’s decision an “absurd ruling that flies in the face of our constitution & further casts doubt on election integrity in North Carolina.”
(CNN) Biz Markie, who infused his music with so much fun and humor that he became known as "The Clown Prince of Hip Hop," has died, his manager, Jenni Izumi, confirmed to CNN.
He was 57.
"Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years," Izumi said in a written statement.
Beloved in the music industry for his lighthearted persona, Biz Markie even had a dance named for him.
Born Marcel Hall in New York City, he began rapping in local clubs when he met hip hop producer Marley Marl in 1985.
That meeting led to Biz Markie working as a human beatbox with artists MC Shan and Roxanne Shanté.
In his spare time, Hall recorded demos and in 1988, he secured a deal with the Cold Chillin' label to release his debut album, "Goin' Off."
Radio soon caught on and the album launched hits with "Vapors" and "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz."
The following year, his album "The Biz Never Sleeps" went gold, buoyed by what would be his biggest hit, "Just A Friend."
His playful, sad sack persona was in direct contrast to some of the harder core hip hop that had become popular in the late 1980s.
Honing his DJ skills, he soon became known as much for rocking the party as rocking the mic.
He also expanded his career to include acting, appearing in several films and TV shows, including "Men in Black II," as a narrator on the adult puppet show "Crank Yankers," and on the children's series "Yo Gabba Gabba!" with his "Biz's Beat of the Day."
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shock G, who blended whimsical wordplay with reverence for ’70s funk as leader of the off-kilter Bay Area hip-hop group Digital Underground, has died. He was 57.
Nzazi Malonga, a longtime friend who served as head of security and helped manage the group, said the rapper-producer was found unresponsive Thursday in a hotel room in Tampa, Florida. Malonga said the performer, born Greg Jacobs, had struggled with drug addiction for years.
The group found fame with the Billboard Top 10 hit “Humpty Dance” in 1990, as Jacobs donned a Groucho Marx-style fake nose and glasses to become one of his many alter egos, Humpty Hump. He initially maintained the flamboyant Humpty was a separate person, doing in-character interviews and sometimes having his brother Kent Racker play the part.
“Same Song” a year later served as 2Pac’s introduction to music fans, with Shock G handing the baton to the future megastar, who had been working as a roadie for Digital Underground: “2Pac, go ’head and rock this.”
Jacobs was an introverted “technical wizard” adept at arranging samples who played keyboards and drums, said Digital Underground co-founder Jimi Dright, known as Chopmaster J. Dright met his future bandmate while buying equipment at a music store in San Leandro, California, where Jacobs was working.
“The Humpty Dance” invited an audience of awkward youth into hip-hop with its embrace of misfits and outcasts. “Stop whatcha doin’ / ’Cause I’m about to ruin / The image and the style that ya used to,” Shock G rapped with lighthearted bravado. “I’m crazy / Allow me to amaze thee / They say I’m ugly but it just don’t faze me.”
”‘The Humpty Dance’ spoke to all the people that were like him — the fat people, the unattractive people. If you moved like him, you could be whatever you want,” said Malonga.
A Wisconsin pharmacist at Aurora Medical Center has been arrested after it emerged that a hospital worker deliberately spoiled hundreds of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report.
That means that the doses 57 people received Saturday are all but useless. Moderna has told Aurora that there’s no safety concerns, but the hospital system is closely monitoring the people who received the spoiled doses.
Steven Brandenburg, 46, was taken into custody Thursday at Ozaukee County Jail, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Bradenburg — who appears sullen in his mugshot — was reportedly arrested on preliminary charges of felony criminal damage to property and recklessly endangering safety.
Michael Jai White started out this clip by reacting to the news of Evander Holyfield returning to boxing at 57 after hearing of it for the first time. Michael added that he knew about Holyfield training again, and he said that he believes the boxing legend will still be on top. When it comes to his age, Michael said that it's all about how good of shape you keep yourself in, and he revealed that he won against UCLA track athletes in the 100 meter dash recently. To hear more, including boxers going hard during sparring.
Comedian and actor Charlie Murphy has passed away at age 57 following a battle with leukemia.
TMZ reports that the older brother of Eddie Murphy died Wednesday, April 12, at a New York city hospital where he was undergoing chemotherapy.
Murphy starred in several well known movies, including "CB4," "The Player's Club," "Mo Better Blues" and Jungle "Fever." But his career really took off starting in 2003 when he starred on the popular sketch television program, "Chappelle's Show" for three seasons.
He most recently had a recurring role on the Adult Swim television show "Black Jesus."
Murphy leaves behind three children.
Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.
We're very sorry to report that music icon Prince has died at the age of 57.
The Associated Press reports authorities were investigating a death at the musician's Paisley Park compound in Minnesota early Thursday morning, April 21, after a body was discovered.
Local authorities were waiting to contact the deceased person's next of kin before releasing the name.
TMZ has confirmed through multiple sources that it was Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson.
Prince's private jet had to make a medical emergency landing in Illinois on April 15, but it was later reported that he was doing fine. His reps told TMZ that he was dealing with the flu.
His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Associated Press that the music icon died at his home in Chanhassen. No additional information was released.
The singer launched his career in 1978 with the release of the album, "For You." He went on to release 38 additional albums.
His hits included "Soft and Wet," "I Wanna Be Your Lover," "Controversy," "Delirious," "Little Red Corvette," "When Doves Cry," "Purple Rain," "Raspberry Beret," "Pop Life." "1999,""Sign 'O' the Times," "I Would Die 4 U," "Kiss," "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" and countless others.
His mainstream success began to soar with the release of the 1984 film "Purple Rain," which he starred in. It grossed more than $80 million at the box office in the United States.
Prince taught himself to play the piano, guitar and drums beginning at the age of seven.
In addition to his own career, Prince, played a major role in the success of the group Vanity 6, it's lead singer Vanity and Sheila E.
Over the years he toured constantly and become known for his dynamic live shows.
During his career Prince won seven Grammys and sold over 100 million records. In 2004 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family.
Posted by ChasinDatPaper on February 16, 2016 at 11:30am
Video After The Jump
Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and model Vanity died at the age of 57 on Monday, February 15.
Vanity, real name Denise Mathews, was a former protégé of Prince and the lead singer of the singer of the group Vanity 6 in the mid-80's. The trio released one self-titled album in 1982 that spawned the hit song "Nasty Girl."
She also appeared in the films "The Last Dragon" and "Action Jackson."
According toBillboard, Mathews passed away due to kidney failure, caused by years of crack cocaine use.
Mathews had become a born again Christian.
TMZ reports that she told her church congregation on Saturday that she was "ready to go home."
Artists Sheila E, Questlove, MC Hammer, Solange Knowles and more mourned her death on Twitter and Instagram.
Posted by ChasinDatPaper on November 11, 2014 at 10:30am
Big Bank Hankof the pioneering rap groupThe Sugarhill Ganghas passed away at the age of 57. He, along withMaster GeeandWonder Mikereleased the 1979 hit record,"Rapper's Delight," which is probably the most well known rap record ever.
TMZ reports that Hank died Tuesday morning, November 11. His cause of death was not disclosed.
"So sad to hear of our brother's passing. Rest in peace Big Bank," group members Mike and Gee told TMZ.
No doubt we need police to protect us and most do their jobs correctly. But there are a few rouge thugs with badges that use their authority to abuse the people they are paid to help.
Case in point, third grade teacher, 57 year old Janice Wells called Richland, Georgia police to report a prowler outside of her home. What should have been a routine check for a criminal by police ended up being a brutal case of police brutality.
Officer Tim Murphy became enraged because Ms. Wells would not give him the name of a person inside her house.
Ms Wells had called longtime friend John Robinson to come and wait with her until police arrived. Officer Murphy asked him how long he'd known Ms Wells, the status of their relationship and where he lived. He never asked Robinson his name.
He then allowed Robinson to leave and asked Wells his name which she refused to give him. After that she was pepper sprayed and told she would be arrested.
Murphy called for backup. When Officer Ryan Smith arrived he Tasered Wells at least 12 times.
Ms Well told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "All of it's just unreal to me. I was scared to death. "He kept tasing me and tasing me. My fingernails are still burned. My leg, back and my butt had a long scar on it for days."
A third officer who has known Ms Wells for years responded to the call and got there just as the last Taser was being fired. He thinks there was a racial component to the incident.
“I don’t think they would have done a white female like that,” said Sheriff Larry Jones, who is black. “If they had, it wouldn’t have been any doubt about whether they need to be terminated."
Ms Wells is heard on the tape crying and begging, "Please don't do that, sir I aint do nothing, I teach school"
Smith replies by repeatedly telling her to "Get in the car! You gonna get it again" At one point the idiot shocks himself "Sh*t it's getting me" he says. He then asks Officer Murphy if he had mased her yet. "Yeah, she took a load of it," Murphy replies.
Ms Wells is contemplating filing a lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Officer Murphy has been fired and Smith quit eight days after the incident. However Smith isn't at all sorry for his actions. "I did what I had to do to take control of the situation."
Lumpkin Police Chief Steven Ogle was shocked when he saw the tape
"I couldn’t believe it,” Ogle said. “You don’t use it [a Taser] for punitive reasons, to prod someone. It was evident it was an improper use of force. He was an excellent officer other than that incident."
Sheriff Jones said it was hard to keep his composure as Ms Wells begged him for help when he arrived. “Larry, help me,” Wells said as the sheriff walked up. “Larry, I didn’t do nothing, you know I don't get in trouble, Larry you know I don't."
Later that night, Jones bonded Wells out of jail and drove her to an area hospital to be examined
Officer Smith is already back at work for another police department
Kelis performed at New York's Club 57 on Saturday (March 13) and definitely brought her milkshake.
The "Bossy" singer surprised everyone by dropping to the floor and doing the splits for an extended period. She seemed to be having a really good time as she danced and sang her way through the rest of the performance.
Kelis' new album 'Flesh Tone' is due this spring.
Watch the video below at 0:19 mark she does her impression of a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
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