Under Fire: T.I. and Tiny Deny Decades-Old Assault Allegations Amid Recent Lawsuit

Photo Credit: Piotr Sikora for VH1

Hip-hop power couple T.I. (Clifford Harris) and Tiny (Tameka Harris), renowned for their music careers and reality TV appearances, are facing serious allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2005. The claims are detailed in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

According to the complaint, a Jane Doe accuses the celebrity couple of luring her from a nightclub to a Los Angeles hotel room, where she alleges they assaulted her after giving her a spiked drink. The incident, said to have occurred almost 18 years ago, has resurfaced due to California's Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act.

The plaintiff, an Air Force veteran in her early twenties at the time, claims to have met T.I. and Tiny through an associate named “Caviar,” whom she encountered at a party at rapper Coolio’s house. She asserts that she was separated from her group and ended up alone with the couple and two other women.

The lawsuit provides graphic details of the alleged abuse, accusing T.I. of coercing the plaintiff into watching pornographic material and engaging in inappropriate acts. Tiny is alleged to have been involved in restraining the accuser and participating in the assault.

The accuser describes feeling extremely ill during the assault and asserts that she was escorted out of the hotel room the next morning while in "serious pain."

In a statement to TMZ, T.I. and Tiny deny the accusations, stating that they have consistently refuted these claims for the past three years. They characterize the allegations as "fake claims" and express confidence in their innocence, stating, "We will not be shaken down, and we look forward to our day in court."

The lawsuit adds to the ongoing legal challenges faced by the celebrity couple, who have been outspoken against previous accusations.

Tupac Murder Suspect's Bail Delayed Over Witness Tampering Fears

Duane "Keffe D" Davis

In a surprising turn of events, the bail hearing for Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the individual charged in connection with the 1996 murder of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur, faced postponement on Tuesday in Las Vegas. The delay was granted in response to prosecutors' concerning claims that witnesses in the case might be at risk, citing jail telephone recordings and a list of names shared with Davis' family members.

Davis, a former Los Angeles-area gang leader, is the only person ever charged in the infamous drive-by shooting that claimed Shakur's life and left rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight wounded. Knight is currently serving a 28-year sentence in a California prison for an unrelated shooting in 2015.

The court-appointed defense team for Davis sought the delay to allow for a proper response to the prosecution's assertions. Attorney Robert Arroyo, representing Davis, indicated that the defense aims to address the allegations in court in writing. Last week, Arroyo stated that he did not see evidence indicating any witness had been named or threatened.

The prosecution's court filing, presented last week, asserted that Davis poses a threat to the public based on jail telephone recordings and the dissemination of a list of names. The filing did not specify if Davis instructed harm to anyone or if any individuals directly associated with the case faced physical harm.

Davis, originally from Compton, California, is currently held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. If convicted at trial, he could potentially face a life sentence.

The case resurfaced in July with Davis' arrest, a significant breakthrough in the decades-old investigation into Shakur's murder. Davis, once considered a gang member, had previously disclosed his involvement in the killing on BET's "Death Row Chronicles" in 2018 and later chronicled the events in his 2019 memoir, "Compton Street Legend."

Prosecutors argued that Davis' own words, including jailhouse calls and interviews over the years, serve as critical evidence in the case. In an October jail call, Davis' son allegedly mentioned a "green light" authorization, a phrase suggesting permission for violence, causing enough concern for authorities to take steps to ensure the safety of at least one witness.

The legal battle intensifies as Davis' defense contends that his descriptions of Shakur's killing were embellished for financial gain and "entertainment purposes." Meanwhile, prosecutors assert that Davis' repeated confessions, both in interviews and before law enforcement, indicate his responsibility for orchestrating Shakur's murder.

Davis' bail hearing is now scheduled for January 9, adding another layer of anticipation to a case that has captivated the public for over two decades.

Les McCann, Jazz Icon Behind Protest Anthem 'Compared to What,' Passes Away at 88

Photo Credit: F.N. Broers, National Archives of the Netherlands
McCann (left) with the Les McCann Trio (Herbie Lewis & Ron Jefferson), in 1962.

Les McCann, the legendary jazz pianist whose iconic 1969 protest anthem "Compared to What" resonated across genres, has died at the age of 88.

The news, confirmed by his longtime manager, Alan Abrahams, to various media outlets, attributes the cause of death to pneumonia. McCann breathed his last on Friday at a Los Angeles hospital.

A self-taught musician, samples of McCann's dynamic and soulful playing, particularly with his trio, laid the foundation for some of hip-hop's biggest hits. His influence echoes in tracks by The Notorious B.I.G. ("10 Crack Commandments"), A Tribe Called Quest ("After Hours"), Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre ("The Next Episode"), and more.

Beyond his instrumental prowess, McCann showcased his vocal talents. In 1968, he signed with Atlantic, releasing the rendition of Gene McDaniel's "Compared to What" in collaboration with saxophonist Eddie Harris, a song that remains a powerful protest anthem.

In 1971, McCann participated in the historic "Soul to Soul" concert in Accra, Ghana, alongside R&B and rock luminaries, documented in the film of the same name. Despite facing challenges such as a stroke in the 1990s limiting his keyboard playing, McCann continued to perform.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, McCann's journey began with a Navy singing contest, leading to an appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Rejecting an offer to join Cannonball Adderley's band, he pioneered soul jazz, merging jazz with funk, soul, and world rhythms.

McCann's legacy extends beyond music; he was the first artist in residence at Harvard University's Learning From Performers program. An avid photographer, his work is featured in the book "Invitation to Openness: The Jazz & Soul Photography of Les McCann 1960-1980."

His prolific discography boast over 60 albums. McCann's final album, "Les McCann — Never a Dull Moment! Live From Coast to Coast 1966-1977," a collection of unreleased live recordings, was released posthumously on Dec. 1, 2023.