LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Inmates in Los Angeles County jails are deliberately attempting to infect themselves with coronavirus, L.A. Sheriff Alex Villanueva told reporters Monday, calling the activity “deeply disturbing” as the jail system saw a 60 percent jump in inmate cases in just one week.
Surveillance video shot on April 26 from inside the day room of a module at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic showed inmates trying to contract coronavirus by sharing bottles and masks, the sheriff disclosed.
“There was some mistaken belief among the inmate population that if they tested positive, there was a way to force our hand and somehow release more inmates out of our jail environment, and that’s not gonna happen,” Villanueva said.
In the video which Villanueva showed during the news conference, the inmates appear to be passing around and taking drinks from the same hot water bottle just prior to getting their temperature taken by a nurse.
“With the hot water, they were trying to falsely elevate their temperature readings to generate a symptom for COVID-19,” Villanueva said.
The video also showed the inmates sharing a Styrofoam cup and breathing into a common mask, Villanueva said. Furthermore, they appear to be crowded in one area of the day room instead of practice physical distancing.
According to Villanueva, within a week of when the video was shot, 21 inmates from that Pitchess module had tested positive.
“Then all of a sudden we saw a spike, a few weeks, ago, a very noticeable jump, and we couldn’t really understand why, when everything seemed to be going the way we wanted to,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said that since February, L.A. County’s inmate population has been reduced from 17,000 – the largest in the nation — to currently a little over 11,700.
“Had this pandemic swept through while we were sitting on 17,000 inmates, the results would have been catastrophic,” Villanueva said.
357 inmates have now tested positive, a 60 percent jump from May 4, when there were 123 cases. 117 of those inmates who have tested positive have recovered.
All new inmates are being tested as they enter the jail system. There are 4,590 inmates currently in quarantine, which makes up about 40 percent of the jail system’s total population.
“There’s a reason why these people are behind bars to begin with, because they violated the norms of society,” Villanueva said. “But to then imperil not only their only safety, but the safety of their fellow inmates who did not want to participate in this behavior. It also endangers all the personnel, both the professional staff and the sworn staff.”
Rochester, New York emcee and New Crack Era boss, Eto, is preparing to release a new album titled "The Beauty of It." It features production from V Don, Statik Selektah, DJ Green Lantern, Large Pro, Illien Rosewell, Asethic, Backpack Beatz, Marco Polo & More!
Vocal features on the project include Jai Black, Vinnie Paz, Ill Bill, Nyticka Hemingway, Willie the Kid, Rome Streetz, Lord Goat, Sha Hef, Watts, Flee Lord, Grafh and more.
In this clip, Benny the Butcher speaks about what's changed since he and Westside Gunn signed a management deal with Roc Nation. He explained that he's been in contact with bigger artists since, and Benny revealed that he's hung out with Kanye in Wyoming, but added that they didn't record any songs. Benny went on to speak about Jay-Z having specific conversations with him about his career, and trading tracks with Drake to collaborate. He also spoke about his new project with Harry Fraud, which features late rapper Chinx.
A Hilton hotel thinks it's smarter than a bunch of 5th graders -- its allegedly trying to rip off a Florida class, but their school is fighting back with its allies ... Kodak Black and his attorney.
Here's what happened ... 5th grade students from Pinewood Elementary School in Florida raised $17k by selling candy and washing cars for a field trip to Washington, D.C. The week-long trip -- slated for mid-March -- was planned and booked well before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
But, once the virus was ravaging the nation, the school canceled the trip and tried to get a refund for about a month, from Homewood Suites by Hilton for their 30 rooms. Kodak Black's lawyer, Bradford Cohen, tells TMZ ... he's repping the Parent Teacher Organization, which got the runaround until the hotel's director of sales sent an email about a hefty cancellation fee of $20,612.
Hilton added, "Since we already received payments of $17,931 [your] balance is $2,681. We will use the credit card we have on file unless noted otherwise." Pretty crappy deal, right?!!?
We're told the principal got involved, and last week, Hilton finally refunded $7k to the kids. Of course, that means it kept $10,931. Hilton says a portion of that could be credited to the class IF it comes to D.C. later this year ... which, of course, is highly unlikely. So, the kids are out $10k.
Enter Kodak. Bradford, who's working pro bono, says Kodak grew up close to the school ... and is willing to pay for the class trip, if Hilton keeps their money. It wouldn't be the first time the jailed rapper's stepped up for kids in that area.
Producer Gotti Gator is preparing to release a new album titled "The Trueprint" on June 23rd. The lead single off of it is the Challace vocally-assisted heater called "Flip On U."
Lloyd Banks is not playing around as he drops his third new freestyle in less that two weeks. This latest one is titled "Painted Houses" and features Vado.
If you haven’t heard the name Tee Melly yet, it won’t be long before you do. Tee Melly is among the pack of upcoming artists in upstate New York with a work ethic like no other. With his immediately captivating sound and extraordinarily deep lyrics he is sure to have his way with your emotions. Tee Melly is a one of a kind artist in that his versatility and consciousness is impeccable. He has everything from club bangers to heartbreak music. In his latest EP “Dying to Live” Tee Melly showcases his pain.
Simply by listening to his music you can feel what he feels. In 2018 Tee Melly took his twitter following from 300 all the way up to 10,000 in about 7 months by releasing a song a week every Tuesday (#TeeTuesday). We also have been notified that his new EP that was released on 4/20/20 has surpassed over 15,000 streams in under three weeks. We are extremely excited for what Tee Melly has coming next and you should be too. Tee Melly is next up. Follow Tee Melly On Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/realteemelly/Read more…
West African rapper, Diom (short for his last name Diomandé) began rapping at a very young age memorizing his favorite raps from the biggest Ivorian rap group at the time M.A.M. But it wasn't until he found himself in high school in Atlanta, GA that he actually began writing his own. First in french but then in English and with the advent of fruity loops he began producing.
His first three projects: The Fresh Prince of the A, The Voyager, and Stage 3 were all self-produced. Wanting to change his creative process to allow for more possibilities, his latest work has not been self-produced although his signature style of producing will be back in due time.
His music is a blend of hip hop, Afrobeat with classic string instruments (you can blame Rob Dougan for that), although he is a big fan of Daft Punk so some EDM elements may make some appearances.
Meek Mill is fed up with Tekashi69 and says he will do something about it.
In a series of tweets posted Monday, May 11, the Dreamchasers boss promised to put an end to the rainbow haired rapper's career.
"The internet got a witness in witness protection living in a town house that can’t even come outside saying check on me. I’m helping free people you putting family members behind bars. I gotta crush you for the culture you chump! How you sleep at night lol," Meek wrote. "We control the culture lol and ima set a example lol. Nip got killed by one of them I feel a way at heart nobody can change that! Go tuck in!"
Meek's anger stems from 6ix9ine turning government witness and putting many members of the Nine Trey Gangster bloods in Brooklyn behind bars.
He had been an active member of the gang himself and committed several crimes.
In exchange for his testimony, Tekashi received a light sentence. He was released from federal custody after serving less than two years.
The representative of the pilot who was flying the helicopter that killed Kobe and Gianna Bryant, along with 6 other passengers, claims the people on board were responsible for the fatal crash.
It's pretty shocking ... the relative of pilot Ara George Zobayan, who also died in the crash, has answered Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit against Ara and the helicopter company, Island Express, saying, "Any injuries or damages to plaintiffs and/or their decedent were directly caused in full or in part by the negligence or fault of plaintiffs and/or their decedent, including their knowing and voluntary encounter with the risks involved, and that this negligence was a substantial factor in causing their purported damages, for which this answering defendant bears no responsibility."
It's shocking because the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies grounded their fleet the morning of the crash due to fog and poor visibility. The pilot had to circle around the Griffith Park area for 15 minutes before being cleared to fly to the Mamba Academy up north.
The pilot was going 184 MPH in blinding fog when he crashed into a hill, killing everyone on board.
The answer to the lawsuit doesn't address how the passengers might have been negligent or assumed a risk. As for negligence ... presumably, they were just sitting in their seats. As for assuming a risk ... it's unclear what risk falls on passengers of an aircraft when the pilot is in control.
Jadakiss shows off his sneaker collection during a quarantine episode of Complex Closets and gives a look at Yeezys, rare Air Jordans, and hype collaborations.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. - The district attorney who recused himself from the case of a black jogger shot and killed by two white men in south Georgia defended the decision not to seek arrests.
Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was shot and killed in February while out for a jog in a residential neighborhood. The suspects, Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, told police they were pursuing a "burglary suspect" and that Arbery attacked them.
The two were not initially arrested. However, The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate the case after video, taken by a third person, of the killing became public. McMichael and his father now both face charges of murder and aggravated assault.
George E. Barnhill, the elected District Attorney for the Waycross Circuit, recused himself from the case.
On February 23, Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, insisted Barnhill had a conflict of interest. Barnhill said his son works in the Brunswick DA's office that Greg McMichael worked in as an investigator and later retired from.
Barnhill's letter to Glynn County Police has gotten national attention because in it, he justifies the deadly shooting of Arbery, who was unarmed.
The longtime prosecutor wrote, "We do not see grounds for an arrest of any of the three parties."
It goes on to say Travis McMichael, his father Greg McMichael and the man who he says shot the video, Bryan Williams, were following in "hot pursuit of a burglary suspect, with solid first-hand probable cause."
Attorneys for Arbery's family say he was not a burglary suspect, but rather a jogger who was shot down in a modern-day lynching.
"It screams out for investigation," former federal prosecutor Bret Williams told FOX 5.
The former Assistant U.S. Attorney viewed the video and believes it shows the two men with guns as the attackers, not the jogger.
"Are you supposed to just sit down and be executed? If someone shows up to me with a gun and is pursuing me and gets out with a gun...and I am now at fault because I tried to resist that attack?" Williams told FOX 5.
D.A. Barnhill writes that the video in real-time shows Mr. Arbery "attack" Travis McMichael, but the former federal prosecutor said he disagrees with district attorney's conclusion.
The GBI began investigating the high profile case this week. Director Vic Reynolds has asked for patience as his agency puts fresh eyes on the case.
On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down Grammy-winning producer, rapper, and very close friend of Kweli -- 88-Keys. In this comprehensive discussion, we get to hear the timeline of how 88 carved out his niche in the game, becoming one of the most sought after hip-hop producers in the industry. The trio discusses 88's upbringing in the Bronx, New York, and move to Long Island, where he attended high school. The producer/rapper details the huge influence that the Native Tongues movement had on him with groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul deeply inspiring his love for hip-hop culture. He talks about how he met record dealer John Carrero, who gave him his first job cleaning records, and eventually became the ear to find all the best beats for sampling -- which John would then market at record shows to legends like Q-Tip, Pete Rock, Large Professor, and others. This would lead to 88 meeting Q-Tip who showed him how to work a beat machine. 88 also gets into the difference between looping and chopping when making beats, his production on Black Star's 'Thieves In The Night', his methods and motivations for sending his works out as demos, and the importance of trusting your ears.
Later, 88 speaks on his long-time friendship with Kanye West, how they met and started hanging out on a daily basis. Talib and 88 also discuss their shared unflinching loyalty to Kanye, despite all the controversy that surrounds him, and perspectives on how much his intentions should matter. 88 also touches on the concept for his album 'The Death of Adam,' as well as his love of Ralph Lauren clothing and his habit of leaving the house geared up with Polo from head to toe for decades. In closing, 88 reflects on his friendship with Mac Miller, details how they met, and Talib asks 88 for his take on the most important drum machine to master for the producers of tomorrow who aspire to put their own stamps on the culture.
TIME STAMPS:
2:50 -- 88 talks about his parents originally being from Cameroon, and growing up in the 80's in the Bronx, New York, then moving to Long Island. He speaks on hiding his African ancestry to not be targeted by bullies, until he learned to embrace it, hating being forced to go to Catholic school mainly due to the uniform he had to wear, and begging his parents to let him go to public school. He also talks about his love of dancing, basically whenever, wherever he hears a beat.
12:08 -- The trio discuss how Long Island has always been under-represented in hip hop, regardless of all the legends that hailed from there. 88 gives his take on why Long island never gets its due props as one of the epicenters of hip hop. They discuss how De La Soul really went out of their way to put the Long Island lifestyle on display. 88 talks about getting made fun of for being such a huge fan of their alternative style, and also talks about meeting the group KMD.
19:02 -- 88 lays out all the stepping stones that took him into the music business. At 14 listening to the radio when Roy Ayer's 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' came on, being the song that Brand Nubian sampled for their song 'Wake Up'. He tells the story of how he hunted down a sealed original copy, buying from John Carrero who would give him his first job cleaning records, then later assisting as the ear to find the best records for sampling, that John would end up selling at record shows to all-time greats like Q-Tip, Pete Rock and Large Professor.
28:35 -- 88 details when he first really found his love for hip hop through the Native Tongues movement with groups like De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest using diverse sampling techniques, colorful imagery, and focus on Afrocentricity. He tells the story of how he met Q-Tip at John Carrero's house helping him find records, which then led to John buying a ton of sampling equipment that he gave 88 access to for his beat making journey that made history.
35:00 -- 88 talks about the difference between looping and chopping when making beats, which leads 88-Keys and Kweli to reflect back on creating the classic Black Star song "Thieves In The Night" and the process behind that beat. The story itself, and 88's idea that Kweli and Yasiin were balling, is a funny moment that has to be heard from the Golden Era of hip-hop.
44:38 -- Jasmin asks how 88 demos his beats to potential buyers. He talks about discontinuing the process of shopping beats in the traditional sense, since he's become an established name in the industry. Letting people with open minds be able to approach him based on trust of his abilities to make something great.
48:36 -- Talib brings up Mos Def's ultra-classic album 'Black on Both Sides', which 88 put his fingerprints on with the production of several tracks. They bring up how 88's 'Speed Law' was originally intended to be the lead single until Jermaine Dupree had some harsh words about it, which then led to Rawkus using 'Ms. Fat Booty' as the album's flagship song. They also discuss 88 hanging out at Talib's recording sessions of his album 'Train Of Thought'.
55:32 -- 88-Keys speaks on his long-time friendship with Kanye West, the funny story of how they met in New York, how Kanye introduced himself as a future star, how they became day-in-day-out friends for four years, meeting Donda West (R.I.P.), and how he's one of the few old school friends who's still in daily contact with Yeezy.
1:14:15 -- Talib asks 88 about him sticking by Kanye's side despite all the controversy that surrounds him. 88 explains that Kayne is completely misunderstood, and has always been the same guy since day one. The two also discuss their shared loyalty to Kanye despite all the controversy that surrounds him, and touch on how much his intentions should matter. They also discuss 88's album 'The Death Of Adam' and tells the story of how the concept came about with people's perception of his mixed-race marriage.
1:26:30 -- 88 speaks on his affinity for Polo clothing that he's had since the early 90's. He outlines early on going to the mall and eyeballing all the designer brands but always landing on Ralph Lauren. He also talks about actually getting called in for doing a photo shoot for Polo in 2006 due to his well known 'Lo-Head' status. From that point on he became immersed in the company's catalog and still follows every collection released.
1:39:16 -- 88 reflects on his friendship with Mac Miller, and details the story of how they met, Mac already knowing well who 88 was, being a huge fan of his resume of works. This led to them collaborating on 5 songs together. Talib asks 88 for his take on the most important drum machine to master for all the aspiring producers out there.
San Diego lyricist and New Crack Era artist, Bubu the Prince, drops off a new EP titled "Eye For An Eye." The four-track project was entirely produced by Syer and features Adonis.
Rich the Kid can rap all he wants about how "Money Talks" but one celeb jeweler's wondering why the Kid's gone radio silent when it comes to unpaid jewelry bills ... according to a new lawsuit.
Peter Marco from Extraordinary Jewels of Beverly Hills is suing the "Plug Walk" rapper claiming he owes a whopping $234,800 in unpaid jewelry that includes bracelets and incredibly fancy watches.
According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Marco says he's been doing business with Rich since at least October 2017. RTK ordered diamond necklaces, crosses and even a couple of Patek Philippe watches worth several hundred thousand dollars. And, for a while, Rich did make payments.
In docs, Marco says Rich wired over several payments but they eventually stopped. Even still, RTK continued ordering jewelry and Marco kept delivering ... but the bills kept piling on and Marco claims he wasn't getting paid. So, he's now suing for what he says he's still owed.
GS11, was born Gary Montgomery and is known by his nickname, G Smooth. G is a versatile music artist from Magnolia, North Carolina's Highway 11. His musical trap sound is deeply influenced by his southern small-town roots. As hip hop & trap music continues to become more stylistically diverse there isn't a single aesthetic that can box in the up and coming GS11. From G's hard-hitting trap songs to his more melodic side, GS11 is carving out a lane of his own in this industry. G's poised and ready for stardom and ready to take over 2020 and define the sound of the next decade. Stay tuned for what GS11's cooking up next for the masses.
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