Missy Elliott Makes History as NASA Sends Her Hit to Venus

Hold onto your inflatable chairs and dust off your butterfly clips, because Missy Elliott just took "Supa Dupa Fly" to a whole new level: Venus. NASA beamed the iconic 1997 hit across 158 million miles of space on Friday, July 12, making it the first hip-hop track to ever reach another planet.

Missy's lyrics hitched a ride on NASA's Deep Space Network, traveling at the speed of light to give Venus a taste of that '90s hip-hop flavor. And where better to blast this female empowerment anthem than the planet named after the goddess of love and beauty herself?

"I still can't believe I'm going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network when 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)' becomes the first-ever hip-hop song to transmit to space!" Elliott said in a statement. "I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment, and I am so humbled to have the opportunity to share my art and my message with the universe!"

The transmission, facilitated by the Deep Space Station 13 radio dish antenna in Barstow, California (aptly nicknamed "Venus"), took just 14 minutes to reach the planet.

Brittany Brown, director of Digital and Technology at NASA Headquarters, said the collaboration was a natural fit.

YOOO this is crazy! We just went #OutOfThisWorld with @NASA and sent the FIRST hip hop song into space through the Deep Space Network. My song “The Rain” has officially been transmitted all the way to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment. The sky is… pic.twitter.com/g6HofNQSt1

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 15, 2024

"Both space exploration and Missy Elliott's art have been about pushing boundaries," Brown said. "Missy has a track record of infusing space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of this world is truly fitting."

"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" is only the second song ever transmitted into deep space, following the Beatles' "Across the Universe" in 2008.

The transmission comes ahead of two upcoming NASA missions to Venus, DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) and VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy), scheduled for launch in the late 2020s. The Deep Space Network, which has been operational since 1963, will be instrumental in receiving data from these missions.

NASA hopes the transmission of Elliott's music will inspire future generations of scientists and explorers, just as Missy's music has inspired generations of artists and fans on Earth. Perhaps, somewhere out there in the cosmos, extraterrestrial life forms are already grooving to the beat.

Judge Ural Glanville Removed from Young Thug Trial Amid Bias Allegations

The high-profile trial of rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, has been further delayed after the presiding judge was removed from the case amid allegations of bias and improper conduct.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville was formally recused on Monday following a written order by Judge Rachel Krause, who was assigned to hear recusal motions from Williams and a co-defendant.

The defense had filed a motion to remove Glanville, citing allegations of bias and misconduct, including holding an improper meeting with a key prosecution witness.

Judge Ural Glanville has been recused from Young Thug's YSL RICO trial after holding a secret meeting with prosecutors and a key witness.

Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause granted the motions filed by Young Thug and his co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick. pic.twitter.com/szo2cr1bvQ

— No Jumper (@nojumper) July 15, 2024

Krause, while agreeing "generally" with Glanville's defense of his actions as "proper," decided that recusal was necessary to maintain public trust in the judicial system.

"This Court has no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter if the recusal motions were denied, but the 'necessity of preserving the public's confidence in the judicial system' weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville from further handling of this case," Krause wrote in her order.

The decision follows a dramatic turn in the trial on June 7, when Kenneth Copeland, also known as "Lil Woody," refused to testify despite a plea bargain agreement, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Copeland was subsequently found in contempt of court and jailed. Williams' attorney, Brian Steel, confronted Glanville after learning about a private meeting held in the judge's chambers with Copeland and the prosecution, leading to Steel also being found in contempt of court. His sentence of 10 weekends in jail has been stayed pending an appeal.

Remarkable that it doesn't appear to be the actual ex parte meeting that did Judge Glanville in in the Young Thug / YSL trial - it was how he handled the aftermath, and his arrogant rejection of the recusal motions, and his own written order. https://t.co/JcksdZuNe4 pic.twitter.com/FZbwRMVzt5

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) July 15, 2024

The trial, already the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia history, has faced numerous legal hurdles. Jury selection alone took 10 months, and the trial has seen frequent breaks and delays.

Young Thug’s case has been assigned to a new Judge:

Judge Shukura L. Ingram pic.twitter.com/QNoZn866wf

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) July 15, 2024

Following Glanville's removal, the case has been reassigned to Shukura L. Ingram, according to the court's standard procedures. The timeline for when testimony will resume remains unclear as the new judge familiarizes themselves with the complex case.

Williams, along with several co-defendants, faces racketeering charges. The case, which has attracted significant media attention, continues to unfold with each legal maneuver further complicating the proceedings.

Court Dismisses Federal Gun Charge Against Boosie Badazz

TrillEntCMG, via Wikimedia Commons

Rapper Boosie Badazz, legally known as Torrence Hatch, had his federal gun charge dismissed on Friday by the United States District Court Southern District of California. The charge stemmed from his arrest last June in San Diego, where he was accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Hello from San Diego, where a federal judge today dismissed a gun charge against rapper Torrance “Boosie Badazz” Hatch.

Boosie cried and said he’s going to take his family on vacation to celebrate.

Here he is leaving court with his lawyer Meghan Blanco. pic.twitter.com/IgMAIudJEd

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) July 12, 2024

The dismissal marks a significant legal victory for the rapper, who has been entangled in multiple legal battles in recent years. Boosie's lawyer confirmed the court's decision, though specific details surrounding the dismissal remain unclear. The rapper was reportedly filming a music video in San Diego when police observed a firearm in his waistband during an Instagram Live session.

Boosie Reacts To His Federal Gun Case Getting Dismissed Today #Boosie pic.twitter.com/yG2pLx64J9

— Real1Of1TV (@Real1of1TV) July 12, 2024

Court reporter Meghann Cuniff shared a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing Boosie and his attorney Meghan Blanco outside the San Diego courtroom. During the hearing, Boosie grew emotional and expressed his intentions to take his family on vacation to celebrate.

"I'm at a loss for words right now, man," Boosie said in a video posted on his Instagram. "I'm gonna take me a trip cross country, bro. Go to about three different countries. God is good, boy. He'll make a way out of no way. That [expletive] love me, bro."

Boosie also shared his gratitude on social media, posting: "CASE DISMISSED!! GOD I JUST WANNA SAY THANK U!! YOU NEVER LEAVE ME, U MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. U MADE ME BEAT SOUTH BATON ROUGE, U MADE ME BEAT CANCER, U MADE ME BEAT DEATHROW, U MADE ME BEAT GUN SHOTS, U MADE ME BEAT FED CASES, U FORGAVE MY SINS #itrustnugod EVERY TIME IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE YOU SHOWED THEY ASS! TO ANYONE IN TROUBLE CALL ON GOD I DON'T CARE HOW BAD IT LOOKS HE WILL DO IT! HE WILL MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. Shoutout to my attorneys @missanairam @daali5150 WE DID IT!! Shoutout to my prayer warriors @standingongodsword @donkspeaks and all my fans who said a prayer. TO EVERYONE WHO SHITTED ON ME N SAID I WAS GOING TO JAIL, TO THOSE WHO WANTED ME LOCKED UP N TO THOSE WHO DID ME WRONG THINKING I WOULD BE IN JAIL, JOKES ON U [EXPLETIVE]."