Judge Sentences Fugees Founder Pras Michel to 14 Years in Federal Case

MiamiFilmFestival, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, the Grammy-winning rapper and founding member of the Fugees, was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in federal prison, closing a years-long foreign influence case that prosecutors said represented one of the most brazen political donation schemes in modern U.S. history. Michel, 53, stood silently as U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence in a Washington, D.C. courtroom.

A federal jury convicted Michel in April 2023 of 10 counts, including conspiracy, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, witness tampering and submitting false statements. According to prosecutors, Michel funneled millions from Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho — the fugitive behind the 1MDB scandal — into Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign through a network of straw donors. Prosecutors said Michel later attempted to interfere with a Justice Department investigation into Low and lied repeatedly during the course of the scheme.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life term. In their filing, prosecutors wrote that Michel “betrayed his country for money” and “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.” They argued, “His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed.”

Michel’s attorneys called the 14-year punishment excessive. Defense lawyer Peter Zeidenberg told reporters the sentence was “completely disproportionate to the offense,” reiterating the team’s position that a life recommendation was “absurdly high” and normally reserved for terrorists or cartel leaders. In a sentencing memo, they wrote that the government’s stance “would cause Inspector Javert to recoil” and illustrated how federal guidelines “can be manipulated to produce absurd results.” Michel plans to appeal.

Michel’s trial drew national attention, in part because of witnesses such as Leonardo DiCaprio — who testified about Low’s involvement in financing the film “The Wolf of Wall Street” — and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Low, who has lived in China since fleeing charges in the United States, maintains his innocence.

Prosecutors said Michel obtained more than $120 million from Low and routed a portion of it into Obama’s campaign. They also said Michel attempted to influence the government’s investigation into Low and tampered with witnesses to obstruct the case. His attorneys argued that Low’s goal was less sinister, writing that Low simply “wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama.”

Michel’s legal troubles have unfolded alongside a long and complicated legacy. As one-third of the Fugees — alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean — Michel helped define an era in hip-hop that blended Caribbean roots, political consciousness and mainstream success. The trio sold tens of millions of albums and earned two Grammy Awards, becoming one of the most influential groups of the 1990s.

The current case, however, has overshadowed Michel’s musical legacy. In August 2024, Judge Kollar-Kotelly denied Michel’s request for a new trial, rejecting his claim that his attorney’s use of a generative AI program during closing arguments constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. The judge wrote that, even if “ill-advised,” the AI usage and other alleged errors did not amount to a miscarriage of justice.

Michel, dressed in a suit, declined to speak during sentencing. He was taken into custody immediately after the hearing.

The sentence ends a remarkable fall for an artist once positioned at the center of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated groups. It now places Michel among the highest-profile musicians convicted in a federal influence case, closing a chapter that has stretched across more than a decade and leaving the future of his public life uncertain as he prepares to begin a lengthy prison term.

B2K to Reunite After Two Decades for National Tour With Bow Wow

Official poster for the “Boys 4 Life” Tour, the 28-city 2026 run produced by the Black Promoters Collective and headlined by B2K and Bow Wow. The tour begins Feb. 12, 2026, and features Amerie, Jeremih, Waka Flocka Flame, Yung Joc, Crime Mob, Dem Franchize Boyz and Pretty Ricky. (Image courtesy of Black Promoters Collective)

B2K will reunite for its first nationwide tour in more than two decades, a return that brings the group behind “Bump, Bump, Bump” — one of early-2000s R&B’s definitive hits — back into the spotlight after years marked by commercial triumph, internal conflict and public distance. The announcement arrives as part of the upcoming “Boys 4 Life” Tour with Bow Wow, reconnecting two acts whose ascents helped shape a formative chapter in millennial pop culture.

For fans who remember the group debuting with two albums in the same year, topping the Billboard 200 in early 2003 and igniting the hysteria of the Scream Tour era, the news reads not just as a reunion but as a re-entry into unfinished history. B2K’s run was brief — a two-year burst from 2002 to 2004 — but its impact reverberated far beyond its lifespan. Their polished harmonies, precision choreography and youth-centered R&B helped define the sonic and visual identity of the period. Their leading roles in “You Got Served” brought that blueprint to a wider audience, cementing the group as both chart staples and cultural touchstones.

The group’s dissolution was as public as its rise. In January 2004, their label, T.U.G. Entertainment, announced that Omarion would continue as a solo artist while B2K disbanded — a decision later complicated by disputes over management, finances and personal fallouts among members. Over the years, the fractured dynamics played out in interviews, social media exchanges and reality television, reinforcing the perception that a full reunion was unlikely.

That perception shifted in June 2025, when Omarion, J-Boog, Lil Fizz and Raz-B made an unexpected joint appearance at the BET Awards. Though the moment lasted only seconds, it was the first time all four had stood together publicly in years, immediately triggering speculation about whether their long-running divisions had finally begun to ease. The brief reunion circulated widely and reopened conversations about their legacy. Omarion later referenced the chemistry the group once had in a short Instagram clip, saying, “There was a certain level of authenticity that we all had. So in a way, we’re completing it.”

Bow Wow’s participation connects the tour to another central figure of the same era. Signed by Snoop Dogg as a child and mentored by Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow’s debut album Beware of Dog went platinum before he reached high school. Over the next decade, he delivered seven No. 1 singles, sold more than 10 million albums and built a parallel acting career that included “Like Mike” (2002), “Roll Bounce” (2005) and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006). His tenure as host of BET’s 106 & Park solidified his role within youth-driven hip-hop culture.

The tour will open Feb. 12, 2026, in Columbia, S.C., with stops in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C., before closing April 19 in Hampton, Va. The lineup features Amerie, Jeremih, Waka Flocka Flame, Yung Joc, Crime Mob, Dem Franchize Boyz and special guests Pretty Ricky.

Both B2K and Bow Wow are expected to release new albums in February through BPC Music Group. The releases coincide with the tour calendar and mark a formal return to recording for both acts.

Nicki Minaj Calls for Global Action on Nigeria’s Religious Violence in Rare Diplomatic Moment

Nicki Minaj speaks at a United Nations event in New York on Tuesday, pausing at the podium between the U.S. flag and a United Nations backdrop as she delivers prepared remarks calling attention to violence against Christians in Nigeria. The rapper addressed diplomats, officials and attendees during the session, which highlighted reports of church burnings, displacement and religiously targeted attacks in several regions of the country.

Nicki Minaj is usually trending for explosive feuds, late-night livestreams, or the latest culture-war crossfire. But today, the woman who shook hip-hop with alter egos and internet smoke stepped into the United Nations with a tone no one associates with her anymore: calm, measured and deadly serious.

The rap superstar delivered a composed address about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, calling attention to burned churches, displaced families, and communities living in fear. “Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith,” she said, thanking Ambassador Mike Waltz for the invitation and acknowledging Donald Trump for elevating the issue — a detail that instantly raised eyebrows far beyond the U.N. floor.

Her message was straightforward and rooted in verified reports of violence across parts of Nigeria. But the moment wasn’t simple. It came in the middle of one of the most turbulent stretches of Minaj’s career, when her public persona has been defined less by advocacy and more by social-media battles, political backlash and nonstop controversy.

Nigeria’s Violence Crisis

Nigeria faces overlapping conflicts involving extremist militias, armed criminal groups, ethnic clashes and separatist violence. Attacks against Christian communities have been documented across parts of the Middle Belt and northern states, including church burnings and mass killings.

Muslim civilians are also victims, especially in the northeast, where Boko Haram and ISIS–West Africa have carried out deadly assaults on mosques and Muslim communities.

Conflict analysts agree the violence is driven by several factors: religious extremism, land-use conflicts, organized kidnapping operations, political instability and weak state security forces.

Across all sources, the consensus remains the same: the suffering is widespread and real, even if experts differ on the exact causes.

That’s why the optics hit so hard. A star known for turning timelines into minefields was suddenly standing in front of diplomats talking about universal human rights. And behind that microphone sat a political machine that also benefited from her presence. Waltz — a former congressman tightly aligned with Trump — has made Nigeria’s crisis a major talking point. Trump himself has used it to argue for more aggressive U.S. action. Minaj’s appearance didn’t just highlight suffering; it amplified a narrative already central to their agenda.

Online, the reactions split fast. Supporters praised her for using her platform for something meaningful. Critics questioned whether she was being used for a photo op. Nigerians asked why a celebrity was chosen to spotlight a crisis that activists say needs resources and strategy, not celebrity packaging. And longtime Barbz — especially those uneasy with her recent political alignment — wondered if this was sincere, strategic, or both.

Still, inside the U.N., Minaj didn’t posture. She didn’t provoke. She didn’t fight. She delivered the speech straight, without theatrics, ending on a note that felt almost like a vow: “For the rest of my life, I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their beliefs.”

Whether today was a heartfelt pivot, a carefully timed reset, or a calculated moment engineered by people around her, one thing is undeniable: Nicki Minaj added a new chapter to her unpredictable storyline — and she did it on one of the biggest stages on earth.

Watch the entire speech below.

Tory Lanez Fined $20K for Contempt in Megan Thee Stallion Defamation Case

Tory Lanez was found in contempt of court in Miami on Monday and sanctioned $20,000 after refusing to answer deposition questions in Megan Thee Stallion’s defamation case against online commentator Milagro Cooper.

Tory Lanez hasn’t said a public word in nearly a year, but his silence inside a Miami federal courthouse thundered louder than any defense he could have mounted.
The rapper — already serving a decade-long sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020 — was held in contempt of court this week and hit with a $20,000 sanction after refusing to answer basic, court-ordered questions in the defamation case Megan filed against online personality Milagro Cooper.

The moment snapped the courtroom into focus. According to federal filings and testimony reviewed by the court, Lanez repeatedly declined to engage during a deposition about his relationship and communications with Cooper — even after a judge ordered him to continue the questioning under supervision. His refusal prompted U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid to impose the monetary penalty and instruct jurors that they may draw an adverse inference from his silence, a legal way of telling them that Lanez may be hiding information that could damage the defense.

For Megan’s team, the sanctions confirmed what they’ve argued from day one: that the digital smear campaign she accuses Cooper of orchestrating wasn’t random internet chaos but a coordinated effort designed to undermine her credibility before, during, and after Lanez’s criminal trial. In a recent filing, they wrote, “Despite being sentenced to ten years for shooting Ms. Pete, Mr. Peterson continues to subject her to repeated trauma and revictimization.”

Cooper — who hosts a Stationhead show and has built a sizable following by covering rap culture with a street-level, provocative style — is defending herself against allegations of defamation, cyberstalking, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the willful promotion of an altered sexual depiction under a 2024 Florida law. Judge Cecilia Altonaga previously ruled she does not qualify as a media defendant, clearing the path for a standard defamation action without special notice protections.

The case’s paper trail has grown more tangled as trial week begins. Cooper was sanctioned earlier this fall for deleting thousands of messages — including texts with Lanez and Lanez’s father — after being ordered to preserve all communications. Those deletions now allow jurors to presume the missing evidence would have been damaging to her defense.

Lanez’s own role has only complicated matters further. Video excerpts of his earlier deposition will be shown to the jury, and his refusal to answer foundational questions this month turned what should have been routine testimony into a dramatic new legal blow. Legal observers say the sanction is significant: contempt fines in federal civil cases tied to disobedience of deposition orders are not common, and the adverse inference instruction could heavily tilt the jury’s view of the harassment allegations.

For hip-hop fans, the case represents more than a clash between an artist and an online commentator. It marks a turning point in how courts treat digital influence, viral narratives, and weaponized commentary — especially when it intersects with violence against women. It also cements the aftermath of Lanez’s criminal conviction as an ongoing story, one still echoing through the same culture he once dominated.

With trial testimony now underway in Miami, both Megan and Cooper are expected to take the stand in the days ahead. And Lanez — silent, sanctioned, and sitting in a California prison — now faces the reality that his refusal to speak may end up speaking loudest of all.

Cardi B Announces Birth of Her Baby and a New Chapter Focused on Reinvention

Photo Credit: Warner Music

Cardi B didn’t just introduce her new baby to the world Tuesday afternoon — she declared a shift in her entire life.

In a deeply personal Instagram post, the Bronx superstar confirmed the arrival of her fourth child and her first with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, framing motherhood and reinvention as the driving force behind her next era.

“My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons,” she wrote. “I brought new music and a new album to the world. A new baby into my world — and one more reason to be the best version of me.”

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A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)

The announcement closed weeks of speculation surrounding the due date, following both Diggs’ confirmation that the baby was a boy (she did not reveal the name) and Cardi’s own "CBS Mornings" interview in September revealing she was pregnant again. It also follows her recent rollout for her “Little Miss Drama” tour, which she said she was preparing for “while creating a baby.”

In Tuesday’s post, Cardi framed the moment not as a soft reset but a full transformation. “This next chapter is Me vs. Me,” she wrote, describing a season of healing, discipline, and purpose. “It’s me against all odds… getting my body right, getting my mind right. There’s nothing that’s gonna stop me from giving you guys the performance of a lifetime.”

Sources close to the couple — and Diggs’ own comments to People — have consistently described this pregnancy as grounding for both artists. Diggs told the outlet he was “100% team boy” prior to the birth and said he was ready for fatherhood “real soon.”

Cardi’s post arrives at a pivotal moment for her career. She released her long-awaited sophomore album this fall, marking her first full project since “Invasion of Privacy,” and opened the door for a new sonic era steeped in vulnerability, sharpened confidence, and hard-earned growth.

Cardi closed her message with a simple declaration that reads as much like a thesis for her next era as it does a promise to herself: “I’ve learned, I’ve healed, and I’m loving the woman I’ve become.”

Akon Detained in Georgia on Bench Warrant Linked to Suspended License Case

Akon, 52, is seen in a booking photo taken Friday after Chamblee police arrested him on a bench warrant tied to a suspended-license case out of Roswell, Georgia. He was released from the DeKalb County Jail later the same day. (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

Akon was briefly taken into custody in Georgia on Friday after police flagged a vehicle registered in his name and discovered he had an outstanding bench warrant tied to a prior suspended-license citation.

According to the Chamblee Police Department, an officer was dispatched just after 11 a.m. to Tint World, an automotive styling shop along Chamblee Dunwoody Road, after license-plate cameras alerted authorities that a wanted vehicle — a white Tesla Cybertruck — had entered the area. When the officer arrived, they located the truck and saw a man standing outside who matched the registered owner’s description.

Police say the man identified himself as Akon, whose legal name is Aliaune Badara Thiam. After confirming the active warrant, officers informed him he was being detained. According to the incident report, Akon complied, remained calm and told officers he was already aware of the warrant. No weapons or contraband were found during a search.

He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, booked early Friday afternoon and released later the same day.

The bench warrant stems from a Sept. 10 incident in Roswell, when police found Akon’s Cybertruck stranded after its battery died. Officers contacted the singer, ran his information and determined his driver’s license was suspended for failure to appear. The truck was impounded, and Akon was issued a citation.

Police records show he was later arrested on the related bench warrant in November, after being transferred from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to Smyrna authorities, before being released again.

It remains unclear when he is due back in court or whether the Cybertruck has since been retrieved from impound. Police have not indicated whether further charges may be forthcoming.

Akon, 52, has not publicly commented on the incident.

Rod Wave Arrested in Atlanta Hours After First Grammy Nomination

Rod Wave, born Rodarius Marcell Green, appears in a booking photo after his Friday arrest in Atlanta on felony drug, weapons and reckless driving charges. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office)

Rod Wave’s first Grammy nomination was supposed to change the narrative of his year. Instead, it ended the way too many of his nights have recently ended — with handcuffs, blue lights and another set of felony charges in Georgia's Fulton County.

The 27-year-old rapper and singer, born Rodarius Marcell Green, was arrested Friday evening in Atlanta after police say he blew through a stop sign in a Dodge Challenger near Defoor Avenue and Taylor Street. Officers reported hearing the engine “rev,” watching the car accelerate “at a high rate of speed,” and smelling suspected marijuana once the vehicle stopped. A search followed, and officers say they recovered a firearm and controlled substances categorized under Schedule II and Schedule V of Georgia law.

Green was taken to the Fulton County Jail and later released on an $8,000 bond, according to court records. The arrest landed the same day he received his first-ever Grammy nomination for “Sinners,” his contribution to the soundtrack for the horror film of the same name — an abrupt collision of career highs and legal lows that has defined much of his last two years.

His attorneys — Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, and Zack Findling — called the arrest unlawful and politically motivated.

“Rod Wave was unjustly profiled and unlawfully arrested in Atlanta,” the team said in a statement. “The arresting officer belongs to the Crime Suppression Unit, a group known for aggressive tactics and a quota-driven approach. We look forward to challenging these violations of Mr. Green’s rights in court.”

Friday’s arrest is the newest entry in a growing legal ledger. Green is already fighting serious charges out of Milton, Georgia, stemming from a May incident in which police say he returned home to a burglary, confronted a man on the property, and a firearm was discharged 14 times, hitting cars and a wall inside the residence. He faces counts including aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence. That case remains open.

At the time, Findling disputed every allegation:
“There is no truth to these charges. Rod was a victim of a burglary and committed no crimes.”

The rapper also has prior arrests in Florida — a 2024 case involving alleged weapon possession connected to a gang-related shooting (no conviction) and a 2022 domestic battery case that prosecutors later dismissed as a “misunderstanding.”

Despite the legal storms, Rod Wave’s commercial momentum remains undeniable. He’s among the highest-grossing touring rappers of his generation, pulling in a reported $36 million across 31 shows, and is the only male artist to debut a top 10 album every year from 2019 to 2024. His 2024 release Last Lap debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, marking seven consecutive top-10s.

Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa Lead Powerful Night at Rock Hall’s 40th Anniversary

Outkast’s Big Boi and André 3000 speak onstage during their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the 40th annual ceremony o Saturday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Atlanta duo was honored alongside a diverse class including Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Bad Company, Chubby Checker and Joe Cocker. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for RRHOF)

When André 3000 and Big Boi started recording in the humid, half-lit basement known as the Dungeon, they weren’t chasing plaques, museums, or a place in rock history. They were chasing a sound — Atlanta’s sound — raw, melodic, Southern, and defiantly different from anything the coasts were doing. On Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame finally caught up to what the culture has known for thirty years: Outkast didn’t just shift the South. They helped shift the center of gravity in American music.

Inside the Peacock Theater, the duo’s induction became the emotional anchor of the Rock Hall’s 40th anniversary ceremony, a night where hip-hop, R&B, soul, and rock were honored with equal urgency. Their longtime admirer Donald Glover — a fellow son of Atlanta — delivered a near-perfect induction, tracing the lineage from the Dungeon Family to the present day. “When I first played ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,’ I heard the people around me,” Glover said. “And I learned you don’t have to scream or yell. You just have to be undeniable.”

"Great things start in little rooms. We started in a little room." — André 3000 and @BigBoi accept @Outkast’s Induction into the Rock & Roll of Fame.#RockHall2025 pic.twitter.com/lYI8xjENLB

— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) November 9, 2025

Big Boi and André 3000 accepted together, surrounded by members of the Dungeon Family who helped shape their earliest sound. André’s speech — loose, unscripted, and deeply emotional — underscored how improbable the moment felt. “A lot of times when you get up here it’s about the musicians,” he said. “But it’s everybody around you. This is my family.” He shouted out Goodie Mob, Rico Wade, and the relatives who let a basement become a laboratory. “Jack White talked about little rooms,” André added. “And we started in a little room. Great things start in little rooms.”

Big Boi, ever direct, turned toward his brother in rhyme: “Thank you for making me be the best I can be… going toe to toe on the records. Iron sharpening iron. Love you, man.”

If Outkast provided the ceremony’s heartbeat, Salt-N-Pepa delivered its thunder. Sandra Denton, Cheryl James, and DJ Spinderella ran through “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Whatta Man,” and “Push It” with the kind of precision that made them pioneers. But it was Salt’s pointed, unmistakable message about their ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group that electrified the room. “We’re in a fight for our masters that rightfully belong to us,” she told the audience, explaining that their catalog had been pulled from streaming during the dispute. “Salt-N-Pepa has never been afraid of a fight.” Cheers erupted — not out of nostalgia, but solidarity.

"To all the guys who had a crush on us and had our posters on your wall, you're welcome." — Watch @TheSaltNPepa officially accept their induction into the Rock Hall.

📺 Watch the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony NOW on @DisneyPlus.#RockHall2025 pic.twitter.com/tGnuhfsRkg

— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) November 9, 2025

Outkast may have supplied the ceremony’s cultural heartbeat, but they were inducted amid one of the Rock Hall’s most eclectic classes yet — a lineup that stretched from Bad Company and The White Stripes to Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Soundgarden, and Warren Zevon. For a show built on rock history, the spread of genres made clear how far the Hall’s borders have expanded in its 40th year.

Performances reflected that shift. The night opened with a tribute to Sly Stone, featuring Stevie Wonder, Flea, Beck, Maxwell and Jennifer Hudson — a supergroup that felt more like a jam session than a tribute. Cyndi Lauper delivered the ceremony’s most emotional moment, stopping “True Colors” mid-song to raise her fist in silence for the LGBTQ community. And Elton John offered a delicate, reverent “God Only Knows” in memory of Brian Wilson, who died in June.

Soundgarden’s segment — featuring Taylor Momsen on “Rusty Cage” and Brandi Carlile on “Black Hole Sun” — turned grief into communion. Chris Cornell’s absence hung in the air, acknowledged by the band with love rather than sorrow. “I miss him. I love him,” guitarist Kim Thayil said.

The White Stripes received a heartfelt salute from 22-year-old Olivia Rodrigo, who performed “I Think We’re Going to Be Friends” with Feist. Jack White dedicated a portion of his speech to legendary bassist Carol Kaye, though neither she nor Meg White attended.

The night closed with a Joe Cocker tribute that hit all the expected notes — “Feelin’ Alright,” “The Letter,” and a finale of “With a Little Help from My Friends.” It was scruffy, soulful, and raucous, exactly the way Cocker performed it in 1969, and exactly how a Rock Hall closer should feel.

But no segment resonated like hip-hop’s. Not because it was louder or flashier — but because it was legacy in motion. Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Questlove, Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat, Janelle Monáe, and the Dungeon Family turned a traditionally rock-centered institution into something broader and truer: a celebration of American music as it actually exists, not as it once did.

Thirty years after Outkast told the Source Awards, “The South got something to say,” the Rock Hall finally said something back.