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Four years after a shooting left an unarmed Sean Bell dead (on the eve of his wedding) and two of his friends wounded following a tragic incident with New York City police, the city has agreed to pay $7 million dollars to settle a federal lawsuit filed by Bell's family and his friends.
According to The New York Times, in the early hours of November 25, 2006, five New York City police officers fired 50 shots into the car Bell — who was to be married that day — was driving outside a club in Queens, New York. The car reportedly struck a detective in the leg and hit a police van before the officers began firing. None of the three men in the car — Bell and his friends Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield — were armed, although the officers apparently believed at least one was.
In what's seen as the closing chapter in one of the most controversial police shootings in New York City history — three officers were acquitted of manslaughter and reckless-endangerment charges in 2008, a ruling many activists and rappers spoke out against — the families of the victims are looking to move past the tragedy.
As part of the settlement, Bell's two young daughters (whom he had with his fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell) will receive $3.25 million; Guzman (who was shot 17 times) and Trent Benefield will receive $3 million and $900,000 respectively, according to Times.
Earlier this week, Foxy Brown — a close friend of Bell's fiancée — said Paultre Bell is a strong woman who remained in high spirits throughout the four-year ordeal.
"She just handled everything so gracefully," Brown said. "She just did everything with grace and class."
G-Unit member Tony Yayo, whose G-Unity foundation gave proceeds from a recent event to Bell's family, said the settlement is long overdue.
"I think it's a beautiful thing, but rest in peace to Sean Bell," Yayo said. "I mean, you have times now when a police officer can shoot you in your back, handcuffed on the floor, in a train station in front of everybody and get two years," Yayo said, referring to the Oscar Grant shooting in Oakland, California, in which found a transit officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter last month. "So Sean Bell's people deserve that money, definitely, and blessings to them."
Source: MTV
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G-Unit Capo Tony Yayo chops it up with Doggie Diamonds of Forbez DVD about beefs.
He explains why G-Unit was able to dead the beefs with D-Block & The Diplomats, but not Fat Joe .
Very interesting interview, peep it below.
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For concertgoers at Metro Park in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, the hottest ticket at the annual Funk Fest wasn't the performance by '90s girl group SWV or the line for fruity refreshments as temperatures climbed into the 90s. It was watching singer Bobby Brown propose to his girlfriend of nearly three years, manager Alicia Etheridge.
Holding their 11-month-old son Cassius, Etheridge joined Brown on stage as he got down on one knee and presented her with a ring. The crowd roared its approval as a beaming Etheridge kissed Brown, who remained kneeling.
Brown, who had a troubled 15-year marriage to Whitney Houston and most recently appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, seemed elated to have the audience in his corner.
"We shouted, we screamed," fan Carol Pearsall told the Florida Times-Union. "We supported him."
Added her husband, Paul, "Hopefully he'll get it right this time."
Source: People
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Move out of the way Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, the Rapping Granny is about to take your spot!
64-year-old dental hygienist Hindy Melzer recorded a youtube video parodying Hov's hit single "Empire State Of Mind" and it's gaining a lot of attention.
Melzer's kids re-wrote the lyrics of the song to be all about Boca Raton, Florida. After teaching her the lyrics, they recorded the video over two days.
"You have to get out there have fun don't take yourself too seriously," says Melzer. "I have a new respect for rappers. It's so fast you can't even catch your breath!"
Peep the video below and CNN's report on it.
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The Rapping Granny "Empire State Of Mind" (Boca Parody)
CNN Report On The Rapping Granny
The 30th Annual Brit Awards were held at Earl's Court in London tonight (Tuesday February 16) and an American stole the show.
Lady Gaga won three awards for best international female, breakthrough act and best international album for 'The Fame'.
Rapper Jay-Z also won an award for best international male.
Both Gaga and Jigga got an opportunity to perform during the show. Jay-Z brought out Alicia Keys for "Empire State Of Mind"
Meanwhile. Lady Gaga dedicated her performance to Alexander McQueen, the British fashion designer who died last week. She sang "Telephone" and "Dance In The Dark"
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Lady Gaga "Telephone/Dance In The Dark"
Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys "Empire State Of Mind"
Dizzee Rascal and Florence "You Got The Love"
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