Report via Newsweek -- Thousands have reacted to reports of a black teenager being allegedly murdered for listening to rap music in Arizona, with the hashtag #JusticeForElijah trending on Twitter.
Michael Adams, 27, has been charged with the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Elijah Al-Amin. The teenager died from his injuries after his throat was slit at around 1:42 a.m. at a Circle K store in Peoria on July 4.
According to court documents, seen by AZ Central, Adams told police that he decided to kill the teenager because he was playing rap music in his vehicle, which made him feel unsafe.
Adams admitted he was not provoked or threatened by the teenager prior to the alleged attack, but decided to be "proactive rather than reactive," as he said people who listen to rap music are a threat to him and the community.
According to Arizona Department of Corrections, Adams had just been released from the Arizona State Prison Complex in Yuma two days before he allegedly killed Al-Amin.
After the murder charges were brought forward, Jacie Cotterell, Adams's lawyer, said her client was "set up for failure," because of inabilities to give him access to mental health services following his release from prison.
"To be specific, he was given resources, he wasn't given means to get to those resources," Cotterell told AZ Central.
Speaking to Fox 10, Cotterell argued that Adams should not have been sent to jail in the first place.
"It's too easy as a society to shake our head and say well, they committed a crime, it's too bad, we have jails for that when really, what they need is treatment. They need a bed instead of a cell," she said.
In a statement, Bill Lamoreaux, a spokesman for Arizona Department of Corrections, said that Adams "was not designated seriously mentally ill" following his release.
"The tragic death is terrible, and Mr. Adams will have to answer for his alleged actions," he added.
Twitter users have been paying their respects for the 17-year-old while questioning whether mental health issues would be brought up if the suspect and the victim's races were switched.
Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle recently stopped by The Breakfast Club to chop it up about new "South Side" series, writing comedy and staying humble.
Presented by Snowfall on FX. On Monday’s episode of #EverydayStruggle, Nadeska, Wayno and DJ Akademiks kick off the show sharing their review of Dreamville’s compilation album ‘Revenge of the Dreamers III.’ The trio highlights their favorite songs and moments off the project, and also name their standout Dreamville artist on the LP. Shortly after this, the crew discusses 50 Cent’s shade towards his G-Unit members after calling them out on a recent IG post. Halfway through the episode, the EDS trio talks about Lil Nas X’s revealing tweet from last week where he opened up about his sexualit, and the ongoing success if his hit song ‘Old Town Road.’ To close out, the crew discusses their thoughts on Tim Westwood’s inappropriate question towards Megan Thee Stallion and AA$AP Rocky’s unfortunate situation in Sweden.
Stranger Things stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo have two simple choices in this Hot Ones spinoff: Tell the truth, or suffer the pain of the Last Dab. Watch as host Sean Evans drills the young stars of the cult Netflix sci-fi series with high-stakes questions about everything from the season 3 spoilers, to Gaten's knowledge of Star Wars trivia. The only way to escape the truth is to eat an incredibly spicy wing.
In this weeks Episode of the Yanadameen Godcast, Lord Jamar is on vacation, but we still have a great show! Hip-Hop legend, Large Professor joins Rah Digga to talk about how he got his start in Hip-Hop. He speaks about producing for Eric B and Rakim, working with Nas, and growing up in Queens during the golden years of Hip-Hop.
Segment 1 0:00 Brooklyn's Black Lady Theater 0:40 Conscious Black Crystal Connection ad 1:00 Today's Mathematics 1:12 Into 1:42 Rah Digga introduces the show and shouts out Lord Jamar 2:43 Rah Digga opens a gift from Rain's Natural Beauty 3:21 Rah Digga let's the viewers know how they can donate to the show 4:33 Rah Digga talks about the BET Awards (Winners & Performances) 15:19 Rah Digga teases a special guest for the Wednesday show 15:25 Credits/ Break
Segment 2 15:30 Rah Digga introduces herself and special guest, Large Professor 17:35 Large Professor talks about how he got started in the Hip-Hop game 23:05 Large Professor talks about working with Nas 26:25 Large Professor talks about knowing Prodigy as a child 29:45 Rah Digga talks about the difference between Hip-Hop fans in the United States vs Hip-Hop fans over seas 34:35 Large Large Professor tells a funny story about Busta Rhymes 37:28 Rah Digga talks about her issues with her record label 41:27 Credits/ Break Segment 3 41:40 Rah Digga introduces herself and Large Professor 41:48 Rah Digga asks Large Professor what he thinks about today's Hip-Hop climate 44:29 Large Professor talks about Jay-Z saying his name on "Take Over" 49:15 Rah Digga says she wanted to write Nas' response to Jay-Z 51:38 Large Professor says Kool G Rap wrote a few rhymes for Roxanne Shanté 1:00:20 Rah Digga talks about working with Rapsody 1:08:50 Credits/ Outro
Report via TMZ -- Slim 400 is finally out of intensive care after being shot up in Compton, but he's not out of the woods yet.
Sources connected to the rapper tell TMZ that Slim was recently taken out of the ICU at the hospital he's being treated at, and that he's now in stable condition. That said, we're told Slim still has a long road of recuperating ahead of him.
Our sources say he's expected to remain in the hospital for a good long while, despite initial expectations that he'd be making a full recovery in the coming weeks.
Considering he's undergone 4 surgeries since being rushed to the hospital -- after being shot 9 times in multiples areas of his body -- it's no wonder he'll be bedside for the foreseeable future.
We're told YG has come by to visit since touching down in L.A. last week -- when he told us he and his crew would respond to the shooting by staying "dangerous." Other folks have come to see him as well.
No suspects have been identified in the ambush shooting that took place a little more than a week ago. As we first told you, the gunmen hopped out of their drive-by vehicle to finish the job, but miraculously ... Slim lived through the ordeal.
Willie D spoke to VladTV about the group dynamic in the Geto Boys, revealing that they didn't really speak in between shows. Willie D also spoke about leaving the group because he didn't want to be around Bushwick Bill, which he felt was a mutual feeling. Willie D went on to speak about being cool with Scarface and talking regularly, which you can hear more about below.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Amanda Nunes won in spectacular fashion. Jon Jones barely hung on.
Both champions still emerged from UFC 239 with their belts around their waists.
Nunes stopped Holly Holm late in the first round to defend her bantamweight title, and Jones squeaked out a split-decision victory over Thiago Santos to defend his light heavyweight title on Saturday night.
A two-division champion on a nine-fight winning streak, Nunes (18-4) remained the pound-for-pound ruler of her sport with her usual devastating flair. After she floored Holm (12-5) with a perfectly timed kick to the head, she mercilessly finished Holm with punches on the ground with 50 seconds left in the first round.
“I told my coaches I wanted to knock her out the same way she knocks people out,” Nunes said of her opponent, an accomplished kickboxer. “I did it tonight. She was the only former champion I didn’t beat yet. Now I beat her, and I’m very happy.”
Jones (25-1) had much more trouble with Santos (21-7), who nearly scrapped his way to victory despite injuring his left knee early in the fight. Jones fought cautiously and earned a 48-47 decision on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
“He implemented a game plan I think a lot of people have wanted to for a very long time,” Jones said. “He did a good job. He exploited a hole in my game that won’t be there next time.”
Jon Jones defeats Thiago Santos by split decision and ties the record for most title wins in UFC history. #UFC239pic.twitter.com/P9fe2zpEk4
Until Jones’ tactical victory, UFC 239 was all about violence.
Jorge Masvidal knocked out previously unbeaten Ben Askren with a sensational flying knee just 5 seconds into their bout on a card peppered with jaw-dropping finishes until Jones’ decision.
Jan Blachowicz also knocked out Luke Rockhold with a devastating left hand in the second round of ex-champ Rockhold’s light heavyweight debut.
Nunes took a few minutes to find her groove against Holm, who famously knocked out Ronda Rousey with a head kick nearly four years ago. When Nunes felt comfortable, she unleashed a sophisticated array of strikes and eventually caught Holm with a kick that sent her straight to the canvas.
Nunes completed the knockout with punches, sending Holm to her fifth loss in seven fights.
Amanda Nunes drops Holm with the head kick and finishes her with some shots on the ground! First time Holm's been KO's in her MMA career! WOW! #UFC239pic.twitter.com/xiHPf8dJYQ
After her fourth successful bantamweight defense, Nunes said she wants to defend the 145-pound belt next. UFC President Dana White is trying to book a rematch with long-reigning featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino, who lasted just 51 seconds against Nunes in December.
“This woman is tough, man,” White said of Nunes. “She’s unbelievable. Pound for pound, one of the greatest of all time. But there will be somebody next.”
Jones was a significant favorite against Santos, a longtime middleweight who moved up in weight last year. But Santos’ power and energy caused problems for Jones from the opening minutes, forcing the champion to be cautious and to use his superior length.
“We all knew Thiago’s best chance was to knock me out,” Jones said. “I played it smart and brought home this gold for my family and team. He was technically a lot more sound than I thought. Thiago Santos is a black belt in Muay Thai. I’m proud of myself, because I stood with a guy who’s been kickboxing way longer than me.”
Santos landed several significant strikes in the first round, but Jones briefly floored the challenger with a big kick in the second.
“I thought I hit him more and out-pointed him, but with my knee like that, it was all I could do,” Santos said. “I knew it was a very close fight. In the condition I was in, I thought I fought a good fight.”
Jones found his rhythm midway through the fight, using his size to keep Santos away. Santos also hurt his knee along the way, although he kept striking even while he struggled for balance.
“I felt like I was winning, so there was no need to take him down,” Jones said. “We were playing a very high level game of chess in there.”
Masvidal (34-13) played a less complicated game to get his star-making finish.
Masvidal authored one of the most dramatic knockouts in UFC history when he destroyed Askren (19-1), a high-level wrestler in his second UFC fight after a prosperous career in other promotions. Masvidal and Askren had an intense personal rivalry heading into the fight, exchanging voluminous trash talk rooted in years of mutual dislike.
JORGE MASVIDAL WITH THE FASTEST KNOCKOUT IN UFC HISTORY
— Second Deck Sports (@2nddecksports) July 7, 2019
After listening to the opening bell while touching his own fence, Masvidal took three running steps out of his corner and sailed directly into the face of Askren, who had ducked for a wrestling takedown. The knee landed flush, and Askren was unconscious.
Masvidal then landed two punches to the defenseless Askren’s head before the referee could stop the bout after only 5 seconds. Masvidal then celebrated in the cage while Askren struggled for several minutes to gain coherence.
“I’m glad I got to end that dude, man,” Masvidal said. “He’s so predictable. He’s a scrub. ... It was like, ‘Come and eat.’ He probably thought he was going to get a three-piece (dinner). Nah, you’re getting a whole MGM Grand buffet to the face, man.”
On Episode 6 of UFC 239 Embedded, fighters hit their targets at a smooth morning weigh-in. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones rides to T-Mobile with his brother Chandler. Welterweight rivals Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren run in backstage before facing off for fans. The stars of the two title fights also have intense staredowns, as double champ Amanda Nunes meets bantamweight Holly Holm and Jones stands off with Thiago Santos. UFC 239 Embedded is an all-access, behind-the-scenes video blog leading up to the two title fights taking place Saturday, July 6 on Pay-Per-View.
On Episode 5 of UFC 239 Embedded, welterweight Michael Chiesa’s support system arrives in town. Double champ Amanda Nunes and fiancée Nina Ansaroff get dressed up for the World MMA Awards, where Nunes wins more gold. On Thursday, Ultimate Media Day features intense faceoffs between opponents: Chiesa and Diego Sanchez, welterweights Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal, light heavyweights Jon Jones and Thiago Santos, light heavyweights Jan Blachowicz and Luke Rockhold, and Nunes and Holly Holm. UFC 239 Embedded is an all-access, behind-the-scenes video blog leading up to the two title fights taking place Saturday, July 6 on Pay-Per-View.
Report via TMZ -- The heat Nike is taking over the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick and the Betsy Ross Flag Shoe is having another effect ... enhancing the brand's appeal to investors.
Nike shares are surging in the wake of the company's decision to recall its special Betsy Ross Flag Air Max 1 USA sneakers after Kaepernick complained the 13-star flag design was offensive because it's been co-opted by several white nationalist groups.
Since Nike pulled the plug on the sneakers following Kaepernick's objections earlier this week, Nike shares have seen a 2 percent increase since Tuesday, adding nearly $3 BILLION to the shoe giant's market value.
Friday afternoon, trading Nike shares were up slightly to $86.62 and the company's market value is now $136.38 billion.
The stock surge looks a lot like what Kevin O'Leary predicted a few days ago ... the "Shark Tank" investor told us Nike is taking advantage of the controversy with a firestorm of free marketing.
A similar trend involving Nike and Kap unfolded last year, with Nike stock rising and sales jumping after the Swoosh signed Kaepernick as a spokesman.
Report via PEOPLE -- A$AP Rocky will remain in a Swedish jail for two weeks as prosecutors investigate his involvement in a street altercation earlier this week.
“There was a detention hearing earlier today where the court decided he should be detained for two weeks,” a spokesperson from the Stockholm Prosecutor’s Office told PEOPLE Friday. “This is so that the prosecutor can gather evidence and look into the case a little further. He is in custody somewhere in Stockholm.”
The 30-year-old music star, né Rakim Mayers, was arrested in Stockholm on Tuesday following a street altercation for suspected assault, along with three others who were involved in the incident — “two of whom were suspected of serious abuse and one of the abuse of the normal degree,” according to the prosecutor’s office press release on Wednesday.
A$AP Rocky appeared in Stockholm District Court with his lawyer on Friday, where the judge ruled on the two-week investigation — though the rapper could be detained even longer if prosecutors need more time.
“It depends on whether the investigation is completed or not,” the spokesperson told PEOPLE. “If the investigation is finished and the prosecutor chooses to indict, then they will do that. But if the investigation is not completed by then — which is fairly likely given that two weeks is a relatively short time — the prosecutor will request that he is detained for a further two weeks. It is then for the court to decide.”
In response, the rapper’s lawyer Henrik Olsson Lilja claimed the group “were attacked and he made use of self-defense,” the Evening Standard reported.
“He of course is very disappointed and this is a catastrophe for his tour,” Lilja told the New York Times, adding that he will be appealing the court’s decision to detain A$AP Rocky after declaring him a flight risk. “Of course a world artist like him would come back to Sweden if there is a trial in the summer or fall.”
A$AP Rocky detailed the events leading to the arrest to his 10.2 million Instagram followers.
The first video the artist shared to his social platform showed what appeared to be the beginning of the street incident that later led to the arrests.
In the footage, A$AP Rocky and his entourage are approached by two young men on the street when an argument between the groups breaks out. One person from the rapper’s crew, whom the rapper later claimed was his bodyguard, can be heard telling the two men to “go that way — you following us” and another person can be heard saying, “Nobody wants to fight with you bro.”
Stream Machine Gun Kelly's "Hotel Diablo" album. Features include Travis Scott, Naomi Wild, Lil Skies, YUNGBLUD, Phem, Madison Love and Trippie Redd.
Available now on all streaming platforms.
Tracklist:
1. Sex Drive 2. el diablo 3. Hollywood Whore 4. Glass House ft. Naomi Wild 5. Burning Memories ft. Lil Skies 6. A Message From The Count 7. FLOOR 13 8. Roulette 9. Truck Norris Interlude 10. Death In My Pocket 11. Candy ft. Trippie Redd 12. Waste Love ft. Madison Love 13. 5:3666 ft. Phem 14. I Think I'm Okay (with YUNGBLUD & Travis Barker
Jaden Smith has dropped off a new album titled "ERYS." Features include Tyler, The Creator, SYRE, Trinidad James, Willow Smith, A$AP Rocky and Kid Cudi.
Available on all streaming platforms.
Tracklist:
1. P 2. I 3. N 4. K 5. Noize f. Tyler, The Creator 6. i-drip-or-is 7. Again f. SYRE 8. Got It 9. Fire Dept 10. Mission f. Trinidad James 11. Summertime In Paris f. Willow 12. Blackout 13. Pain 14. Chateau f. A$AP Rocky 15. On My Own f. Kid Cudi 16. Riot 17. ERYS
J. Cole presents Dreamville's "Revenge of the Dreamers." Stream it up top.
Available on all streaming platforms.
Tracklist:
1. "Under the Sun" featuring J. Cole, Lute and DaBaby 2. "Down Bad" featuring J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, EarthGang and Young Nudy 3. "LamboTruck" featuring Cozz, Childish Major and Reason 4. "Swivel" featuring EarthGang 5. "Oh Wow...Swerve" featuring J. Cole, Zoink Gang, Key! and Maxo Kream 6. "Don't Hit Me Right Now" featuring Bas, Yung Baby Tate, Guapdad 4000, Cozz and Buddy 7. "Wells Fargo (Interlude)" featuring J.I.D., Buddy, EarthGang and Guapdad 4000 8. "Sleep Deprived" featuring Lute, Mez, Omen and Davionne 9. "Self Love" featuring Ari Lennox, Baby Rose and Bas 10. "Ladies, Ladies, Ladies" featuring J.I.D and T.I. 11. "Costa Rica" featuring Reese LaFlare, Bas, Guapdad 4000, Jace, Mex, Smokepurpp, J.I.D., Buddy and Ski Mask The Slump God 12. "1993" featuring Buddy, Smino, Cozz, EarthGang, J.I.D and J. Cole 13. "Rembrandt...Run It Back" featuring J.I.D., J. Cole and Vince Staples 14. "Sunset" featuring J. Cole and Young Nudy 15. "Got Me" featuring Ty Dolla Sign, Ari Lennox, Omen and Dreezy 16. "Middle Child" featuring J. Cole 17. "PTSD" featuring Mereba, Deante Hitchcock, Omen and St. Beauty 18. "Sacrifices" featuring EarthGang, Smino, Saba and J. Cole
If Eminencee is not one of your favorite emcees currently, he soon will be. With a unique flow that's heavy on wordplay he has quickly separated himself from the pack of new artists. With that being said, check out his debut album titled "Elevation."
Produced entirely by Homage
Available on all streaming platforms.
Tracklist:
1. Thanos 2. Underrated 3. Send Help 4. Hall of Fame 5. Jersey Call 6. Slow Feet 7. LA Clippers 8. Money Bags 9. Love Me Not 10. Peep Game 11. Outro
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