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1017 Eskimo Records recording artist, Ralo, releases an official music video for "They Traded." This is off of his "Famerican Gangster 2" mixtape. Grab a copy now from LiveMixtapes: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/38882/ralo-famerican-gangster-2.html

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s stunning firing of FBI Director James Comey throws into question the future of a counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible connections to Russia and immediately raised suspicions of an underhanded effort to stymie a probe that has shadowed the administration from the outset.

Democrats likened Tuesday’s ouster to President Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” and renewed calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor, and some Republicans also questioned the move.

In his letter to Comey, Trump said the firing was necessary to restore “public trust and confidence” in the FBI. The administration paired the letter with a scathing review by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein of how Comey handled the investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s email practices, including his decision to hold a news conference announcing its findings and releasing “derogatory information” about Clinton.

While Comey has drawn anger from Democrats since he reopened the email investigation in the closing days of last year’s campaign, they didn’t buy that justification for his firing Tuesday. Several Republicans joined them in raising alarms of how it could affect probes into possible coordination between Trump associates and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.

WATCH: @JDickerson says James Comey's firing "is a decision that’s not just about politics" https://t.co/D5DCyNRJ3h pic.twitter.com/CPTGK3c1Oq

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) May 10, 2017

Trump will now appoint a successor at the FBI, which has been investigating since late July, and who will almost certainly have an impact on how the investigation moves forward and whether the public will accept its outcome.

“James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI,” he tweeted early Wednesday.

Earlier, the president bristled on his Twitter account over criticism of his move, labeling the Senate minority leader ‘Cryin’ Chuck Schumer.′

Schumer had told Trump in a phone call earlier that he thought dumping Comey was a mistake. Trump tweeted that Schumer had recently said he no longer “have confidence” in Comey. “Then acts so indignant,” Trump said of his fellow New Yorker.

James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

In one of the strongest statements by Republicans, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said, “I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination.”

“His dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the committee,” Burr said.

The firing renewed longstanding demands by Democrats for a special prosecutor, especially since the White House has said the firing of Comey was carried out upon the recommendation of senior Justice Department leadership, including Rosenstein, who is overseeing the Russia investigation since Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself because of previously unreported contacts with the Russian ambassador.

It was only the second firing of an FBI director in history. President Bill Clinton dismissed William Sessions amid allegations of ethical lapses in 1993.

Democrats compared the ouster to Nixon’s decision to fire the independent special prosecutor overseeing the Watergate investigation in 1973, which prompted the resignations of the Justice Department’s top two officials.

"Not since Watergate has a president dismissed the person leading an investigation bearing on him" https://t.co/v5cbYJBBnp

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 10, 2017

“This is Nixonian,” Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., declared on Twitter. “Outrageous,” said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, calling for Comey to immediately be summoned to testify to Congress about the status of the Trump-Russia investigation. Rep. Adam Schiff of California, top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said the White House was “brazenly interfering” in the probe.

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Congress must form a special committee to investigate Russia’s interference in the election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said only: “Once the Senate receives a nomination, we look forward to a full, fair and timely confirmation process to fill the Director position. This is a critical role that is especially important as America faces serious threats at home and abroad.”

Comey was speaking to agents at the FBI’s field office in Los Angeles when the news broke. Television screens in the office began flashing the news, and Comey initially chuckled, according to a law enforcement official who was present and spoke on condition of anonymity. But Comey finished his speech before heading into an office and did not reappear in the main room. He later left Los Angeles on a plane to return to Washington.

Comey’s firing was the latest and most significant White House-driven distraction from the Russia investigations, which Trump has ridiculed and dismissed as a “hoax.” He has denied that his campaign was involved in Russia’s election meddling.

In his brief letter to Comey, Trump thanked him for telling him three times “that I am not under investigation.” The FBI has not confirmed that Comey ever made those assurances to the president. In public hearings, Comey has declined to answer when asked if Trump is under investigation, urging lawmakers not to read anything into that statement.

Comey, 56, was nominated by President Barack Obama for the FBI post in 2013 to a 10-year term, though that appointment does not ensure a director will serve the full term.

Praised frequently by both parties for his independence and integrity, he spent three decades in law enforcement. Before the past months’ controversies, the former deputy attorney general in the George W. Bush administration was perhaps best known for a remarkable 2004 standoff with top officials over a federal domestic surveillance program. In March of that year, Comey rushed to the hospital bed of Attorney General John Ashcroft to physically stop White House officials in their bid to get his ailing boss to reauthorize a secret no-warrant wiretapping program.

But his prominent role in the 2016 presidential campaign raised questions about his judgment and impartiality. Though the FBI did not recommend charges against Clinton for mishandling classified information, Comey was blisteringly critical of her decision to use a personal email account and private internet server during her four years as secretary of state.

Comey strongly defended his decisions during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week. He said he was “mildly nauseous” at the thought of having swayed the election but also said he would do the same again.

Clinton has partially blamed her loss on Comey’s disclosure to Congress less than two weeks before Election Day that the email investigation would be revisited. Comey later said the FBI, again, had found no reason to bring any charges.

Trump disagreed with Clinton’s assessment, tweeting that Comey actually “was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton in that he gave her a free pass for many bad deeds!”

Clinton’s advisers were stunned by Trump’s decision Tuesday. Former campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said that while he believed Comey had “inflicted severe damage” on the FBI, “the timing and manner of this firing suggest that it is the product of Donald Trump feeling the heat on the ongoing Russia investigation and not a well thought out response to the inappropriate handling of the Clinton investigation.”

Given angst by members of Congress in both parties over Comey’s dismissal, it’s unlikely a permanent FBI director will be in place soon. The FBI will be led in the interim by Andrew McCabe, Comey’s top deputy.

___

AP writers Darlene Superville, Ken Thomas, Vivian Salama, Catherine Lucey and Sadie Gurman in Washington and Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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Sean Combs a.k.a. Diddy will soon be facing off in court against a former employee who claims she was harassed sexually while on the job.

Cindy Rueda, who worked as Combs' chef, alleges she was "regularly summoned" to serve Diddy and his guests while they "engaged in or immediately following sexual activity," according to TMZ.

Rueda claims that on at least one occasion she entered her former employer's bedroom, not knowing that he was naked. Diddy allegedly asked her is she liked what she saw.

On another occasion, the chef claims one of the Bad Boy Records CEO's friends approached her in the kitchen, while he was nude and asked her to check out his private parts.

Rueda says she complained to one of Combs' assistants about the sexual harassment she was enduring. That allegedly led to her being set up by another employee to make it look like she had stolen a watch from Combs.

The lawsuit states that Rueda was fired one year ago. At the time she was told that if she signed an agreement waiving all rights to sue Combs, she wouldn't be prosecuted.

Rueda refused to sign the agreement. She is suing for wrongful termination, sexual harassment and violation of whistleblower protection.

"This is a frivolous lawsuit by a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired for cause." a rep for Combs told TMZ.

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Police are currently investigating a possible break-in at the Farmington, Connecticut mansion owned by 50 Cent.

TMZ reports that unmarked and marked cop cars swarmed the 50,000-square-foot home after security called when a alarm went off.

At this time it's not known if anything was stolen or if an arrest has been made.

50 wasn't at the residence when the incident occurred.

Story developing...

**UPDATE**

The Farmington Police Department have arrested a man by the name of Elwin Joyce.

According to TMZ, Joyce forced his way into the home. He's been charged with 2nd degree burglary, trespassing, criminal mischief and attempted larceny.

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Kehlani is taking a little time off after having to cancel her concert in Grand Rapids, Monday May 8th.

The 22-year old singer took to the stage to personally let fans know that she felt ill and would have to either refund their tickets or reschedule the show.

"I truly feel like I might have to go to the hospital at this point because I feel crazy," she said.

After seeing some reports on Tuesday that she had suffered a mental break down, Khelani, took to Instagram to dispute that and chided blogs who were quick to jump to that conclusion.

"Hey guys not sure why blogs are reporting that I had a mental breakdown but mentally I'm fucking fantastic lol," the "Gangsta" singer captioned a video that went into detail about the situation. "Physically tour is EXHAUSTING and people get sick all the time. Please be aware what you spread in regards to mental health; that can be really detrimental. I love you guys! Speak only what you know."

We wish Kehlani the best and hope she's back to feeling 100% physically very soon!

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Check Out

Jiheed

Do Likewise The EP

http://www.datpiff.com/mixtapes-detail-2015.php?id=843466

Tracklist

1.Likewise Intro

2 Signs Feat. Jay Mack (Prod. By JayR & FadedBlackid)

3.Watching (Prod. By FadedBlackid & JayR)

4.Ghost (Prod. By Znasty)

5.The Drugs  

6.Run That (Prod. By Sadbalmain) 

Fresh off dropping their debut single "Papi",The Metro Cartel follow-up with a second offering "Never Stop"! An introspective of the grind and city lifestyle from the troupe, take a deep listen to the various experiences by the DC-based collective.

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In June 2016 Freddie Gibbs was arrested in Toulouse, France on charges stemming from an alleged rape that occurred in Austria in August 2015. He was extradited to Vienna, where he stood trial and was acquitted in September 2016.

The experience was traumatic for Gibbs, who had maintained his innocence all along.

He recently sat down with therapist Siri Sat Nan Singh in an attempt to heal and try to make sense of the ordeal. 

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"T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle" is coming to and end after 100 episodes. Tip sat down with Entertainment Weekly to speak on why he feels the timing is right.

EW: Ok, T.I. and Tiny ending after 100 episodes, why?

T.I.: I just think that the family ... the kids, Domani, Major, they're kinda entering a new phase of life. They wanna do their own thing. They don't want their time imposed upon. I think all of us. We just kinda ... we just wanna get our business back a little bit.

EW: What was it like letting cameras into your home?

T.I. It was great. Think it was great documentation. It allowed us an opportunity to, you know be able to go back and actually share moments with the family again. Most families don't get an opportunity to do that. Of course, you get a chance to get pictures, but not many times do you get real conversations and circumstances, that will allow you at a later stage in life to go, 'Remember, when you thought like this?' That is priceless to me.

EW: What's going on with you and Tiny?

T.I.: We're approaching [the marital issues] with class and dignity. As we have everything else. It's not going to be any salacious, provocative, overly amplified conflict. We're going through it. We're dealing with it the way we deal with things. And we're fine. It's everybody else that has the problem.

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LeToya Luckett was a guest on The Breakfast Club on Tuesday, May 9.

She talks about her new album, heartbreak, her music reflecting her personal life, being appreciative of positive feedback from fans, Slim Thug, Destiny's Child, Tina Knowles.

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Check out Hot Boy Turk's new mixtape titled "Y'all Got Me Fucked Up."Features include Emani, Bankroll Fresh, Bossie Badazz, Lil Scrappy, Compton Menace and more.

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2 Eleven "Tales Of A Hustler" visual gives you a vivid look into his extravagant lifestyle and shows the come up and growth of his career. 2 Eleven shows how everyone can come up and when you do to stick with the ones that have been there for you since day one. 2 Eleven prepares for his long awaited project "Tales Of A Hustler" dropping June 9th with appearances from with Freddie Gibbs, Casey Veggies, G Perico, Sean Mackk, Philthy Rich, 1500 Or Nothing and Cardo. He has visuals of champagne glasses showing that he has elevated and is now living better than he once was before. Be ok the look out for a lot more music and visuals from 2 Eleven in the very near future. 

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Big T Speaks on Co-Sign From 50 Cent; Meeting Eminem; Wanting to See Jay-Z Battle 

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King of the Dot releases one of the most anticipated battles from their Blackout 7 event. Watch Serious Jones go bar-for-bar with Dizaster and let us know who you think won.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates told Congress Monday she bluntly warned the Trump White House in January that new National Security Adviser Michael Flynn “essentially could be blackmailed” by the Russians because he apparently had lied to his bosses about his contacts with Moscow’s ambassador in Washington.

The testimony from Yates, an Obama administration holdover fired soon after for other reasons, marked her first public comments about the concerns she raised and filled in basic details about the chain of events that led to Flynn’s ouster.

Her testimony, coupled with the revelation hours earlier that President Barack Obama himself had warned Trump against hiring Flynn shortly after the November election, made clear that alarms about Flynn had reached the highest levels of the U.S. government months before. Flynn had been an adviser to Donald Trump and an outspoken supporter of his presidential candidacy in the 2016 campaign.

Michael Flynn

Yates, appearing before a Senate panel investigating Russian interference in the election, described discussions with Trump White House Counsel Don McGahn in which she warned that Flynn apparently had misled the administration about his communications with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador.

White House officials had insisted that Flynn had not discussed U.S.-imposed sanctions with Kislyak during the presidential transition period, but asked Flynn to resign after news reports indicated he had lied about the nature of the calls.

“We felt like it was critical that we get this information to the White House, in part because the vice president was unknowingly making false statements to the public and because we believed that Gen. Flynn was compromised with respect to the Russians,” Yates said.

“To state the obvious,” she added later, “you don’t want your national security adviser compromised with the Russians.”

Yates’ questioning by a Senate panel investigating Russian interference in the presidential election was just one portion of a politically charged day that began with combative tweets from Trump and continued with disclosures from Obama administration officials about a private Oval Office conversation between Obama and his successor.

Republican senators in the hearing repeatedly pressed Yates on an unrelated matter — her refusal to defend the Trump administration’s travel ban — and whether she was responsible for leaking classified information. She said she was not.

Trump shouldered into the conversation early in the morning, tweeting that it was the Obama administration, not he, that had given Lt. Gen. Flynn “the highest security clearance” when he worked at the Pentagon. Trump made no mention of the fact that Flynn had been fired from his high position by the Obama administration in 2014.

General Flynn was given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration - but the Fake News seldom likes talking about that.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017

Yates filled in new details of the events of Jan. 26, describing contacting McGahn in the morning and telling him she had something sensitive to discuss in person. Later that day, at the White House, she told him there was an alarming discrepancy between how Trump officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, were characterizing Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on recordings of those calls.

The pair spoke several times over the next two days, with McGahn asking Yates how Flynn had fared during an interview with the FBI earlier that week — she did not answer — and why it was the business of the Justice Department if White House officials had misled each other. Flynn’s forced February resignation followed media reports that he had discussed U.S.-imposed sanctions on Russia with Ambassador Kislyak, which was contrary to the public representations of the Trump White House.

Yates herself, a longtime federal prosecutor, was fired by Trump on Jan. 30 after refusing to defend his travel ban. James Clapper, director of national intelligence under President Obama, testified as well on Monday. He retired when Trump took office.

Separately on Monday, former Obama officials said he had raised general concerns about Flynn with Trump and had told the incoming president there were better people for the national security post. Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer said in response that if Obama “was seriously concerned” about Flynn’s connections to Russia or other foreign countries, he should have withheld Flynn’s security clearance. Flynn served under Obama as defense intelligence chief before Obama dismissed him.

Trump repeatedly has said he has no ties to Russia and isn’t aware of any involvement by his aides in any Russian interference in the election. He’s dismissed FBI and congressional investigations into his campaign’s possible ties to the election meddling as a “hoax” driven by Democrats bitter over losing the White House.

The Associated Press reported last week that one sign taken as a warning by Obama officials about Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak was a request by a member of Trump’s own transition team made to national security officials in the Obama White House for the classified CIA profile of Kislyak. The AP interviewed a host of former U.S. officials, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive national security information.

Yates’ warning about Flynn in January capped weeks of building concern among top Obama officials, former officials told the AP. Obama himself that month told one of his closest advisers that the FBI, which by then had been investigating Trump associates’ possible ties to Russia for about six months, seemed particularly focused on Flynn.

Yates, a longtime federal prosecutor and Obama administration holdover, had been scheduled to appear in March before the House intelligence committee, but that hearing was canceled.

The subcommittee meeting Monday is one of multiple congressional probes into the Russia interference, along with House and Senate intelligence panels. All the committees are led by Republicans.

___

White House Correspondent Julie Pace contributed to this report.

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Don Q recently sat down with Mass Appeal for the latest edition of OPEN SPACE. 

"I don't try to sound like nobody," says Bronx MC Don Q. "Especially no new niggas. I don't wanna sound like no new niggas out." 

Although he hails from hip hop's birthplace, Don Q is not trying to get caught up in some kind of nostalgia trip. "A lot of people stuck in the '90s, like, bringing the ’90s back," he says. "You can't be stuck in the past. There's nothing wrong with lyrics and shit, but sauce it up. Hit some of them hard beats that people want to hear in the street."

Still he is proud to carry on the Bronx's tradition of lyrical combat. "You had to be ready to battle at any time," he recalls of his early days of street rap. "I got confidence from that." His recent Corner Stories mixtape combines his own unique brand of classical lyricism with state of the art production.

Formerly known as Q Da Don, Don Q took his name from a popular brand of rum. "My man just came from the liquor store, he said "I just seen a bottle name Don Q. I just ran with it. I started drinkin' the liquor. I'm trying to get in contact with them now so we can make some money together."

Don Q has a full slate of releases on deck: "Me and A Boogie about to drop a tape in the summer," he reveals. "I'm about to drop this track with Rowdy Rebel called 'Free the Nine.' It's gonna go crazy for the whole summer, I promise you that."

Along with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Don Q has brought new excitement to The Bronx's hip hop scene in 2017. "I knew A Boogie before, when we was still in the hood," he says. "He got his buzz from Soundcloud—and he just took off. It means a lot to the Bronx. Now everybody in the Bronx is rapping. It's good. A lot of people trying to do their thing—I like to see that. I ain't a hater," he says.

But one thing Don Q doesn't appreciate is being copied. "We created our own path," he says. "Get there yourself, like how we got here. You just following what we doing? That shit is corny."

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Artist Spotlight: Papa Bondye is "Turnt Up" on his new single @JrSourcesDotNet

STREAM ON SOUNDCLOUD...CLICK HERE

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Check out the official first look trailer for IT, the new horror movie by Andy Muschietti. Starring Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher and Jeremy Ray Taylor. In theaters September 8.

Plot: When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

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Watch Big Sean do his thing at the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards on Sunday, May 7, as he performs the song, "Jump Out the Window."

.@BigSean doing Jump Out The Window at the #MTVAwards was pic.twitter.com/nwWqnPMvg7

— MTV (@MTV) May 8, 2017

Click here to watch the full performance

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Chicago rapper and Recklezz Renegade Recordz leader, Rico Recklezz, sits down with DJ Smallz and reflects on one of his first nights in prison, rapping while serving time, shares some DO's and DON'Ts inside prison after serving 2.5 years behind bars, physical fights, reveals the craziest thing he seen locked up, what kept him motivated inside and more.

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