Monday, September 16, 2024

Sean Combs Taken Into Custody Following Federal Indictment

Sean Combs, the music mogul and entrepreneur known as Diddy, was arrested Monday evening in Manhattan following a sealed grand jury indictment, according to his attorney and federal prosecutors. While the exact charges remain undisclosed, sources familiar with the investigation suggest they may include racketeering and sex trafficking.

Combs, 54, was taken into custody at a Manhattan hotel, his attorney Marc Agnifilo confirmed.

"We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Agnifilo said. He added that Combs has been cooperating fully with the investigation and “relocated to New York last week in anticipation of being charged.”

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person but not a criminal,” Agnifilo said. “These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Federal prosecutors are expected to unseal the indictment on Tuesday, according to Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

"We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time,” Williams said.

Combs is facing mounting legal troubles. In addition to the indictment, he has been the subject of a months-long federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking, which included raids by federal agents on his Los Angeles and Miami homes in March.

Earlier this year, CNN reported that federal prosecutors were preparing to bring Combs’s accusers before a grand jury, signaling the government’s intent to seek an indictment. Since November 2023, Combs has been named in ten lawsuits, nine of which accuse him of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault.

While Combs has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in the lawsuits, he issued a public apology after CNN released surveillance footage in May showing him assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie (Casandra Ventura) in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.

The lawsuit filed by Cassie last November described years of abuse, including claims that Combs forced her into drug-fueled sexual encounters and abused her physically and emotionally. That suit was settled swiftly, with Combs continuing to deny any wrongdoing. However, five additional women have come forward with civil suits, alleging similar misconduct.

A prolific producer, Combs is credited with helping bring hip-hop into the mainstream, launching the careers of artists such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige through his label Bad Boy Entertainment. His career flourished throughout the 1990s and 2000s, and he expanded his empire into fashion, liquor, and television, including the reality competition show "Making the Band" on MTV. He also co-founded the cable network Revolt and launched his latest business venture, Love Records, under which he released his album "The Love Album: Off the Grid" in 2023.

However, the legal battles are taking a toll on Combs’s brand. He has sold his stake in Revolt and his share of DeLeรณn tequila, a partnership with the spirits conglomerate Diageo. His Los Angeles mansion in the Holmby Hills neighborhood, where federal agents carried out a raid in March, was recently listed for sale at $61.5 million.

Combs’s attorney and legal team continue to push back against the charges.

“Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation,” Agnifilo said. “He relocated to New York voluntarily and looks forward to clearing his name.”

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Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson Dies at Age 70

Gabriel Gonzรกlez, via Wikimedia Commons
Tito Jackson, a founding member of the iconic Jackson 5 and brother to Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon, died Sunday at 70.

His death was first reported by "Entertainment Tonight," citing family friend and associate Steve Manning, who said Jackson likely suffered a heart attack while driving. The official cause of death is pending.

Jackson's sons, T.J., Taj, and Taryll, confirmed the news on Instagram. "It is with heavy hearts that we announce our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us," they wrote. "We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. ... It will forever be 'Tito Time' for us."

Jackson, the third of Joe and Katherine Jackson's nine children, began playing guitar at 10. After being caught by his father using one of his guitars, Joe bought Tito his own. This small act of encouragement led to the formation of the Jackson 5, with Tito's guitar work complementing his brothers' vocals and choreography.

The Motown group skyrocketed to fame in the late 1960s with hits like "I Want You Back" and "ABC." Blending soul, pop, and rhythm and blues, the group became international stars, performing on shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and dominating the charts.


Despite the fame, Tito's role in the group was often overshadowed by the immense success of his brother Michael. While Michael became one of the world's most recognizable solo artists, Tito continued to play guitar and perform with the family group, even as they transitioned from Motown to Epic Records in the mid-1970s, becoming The Jacksons. Hits like "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and the Mick Jagger collaboration "State of Shock" kept the group in the spotlight.
In 1997, Tito Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5. His guitar playing, initially limited to live performances, became a larger part of the group's sound after their move to Epic. Tito eventually launched his own career as a blues musician, releasing his debut solo album, "Tito Time," in 2016, followed by "Under Your Spell" in 2021. He collaborated with artists like Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Joe Bonamassa on his final album.

Jackson's sons also pursued careers in music, forming the group 3T in the mid-1990s. Their debut album, "Brotherhood," co-produced by Michael Jackson, was a commercial success.

He is the second member of the original Jackson 5 to die, following Michael Jackson in 2009. Michael was 50.

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Friday, September 13, 2024

Lil Wayne Thanks Fans Amidst Super Bowl Heartbreak

Chris Allmeid, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New Orleans native Lil Wayne has revealed his heartbreak after not being selected to headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, set to take place in his hometown at Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9.

"It broke me," he said in an emotional Instagram post. "That hurt. It hurt a lot. I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, in my city."

The NFL announced Kendrick Lamar as the headliner for Super Bowl LIX, leaving Wayne — who had hoped to represent his hometown — devastated.

Wayne's Message

In his message, Wayne expressed gratitude for the support he's received from fans and peers.

"First of all, I want to say forgive me for the delay," Wayne said. "I had to get the strength to do this without breaking. I want to thank every voice, every opinion, and all the care and love out there. Your words turned into arms that held me up when I tried to fall back.”

Wayne also acknowledged that he had mentally prepared himself to take the stage, leading to a greater sense of disappointment.
"I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown. I just automatically put myself in that position like somebody told me it was my spot,” he said.

Despite his heartbreak, Wayne shared how the outpouring of support has helped him cope.

“Y’all are amazing. It made me feel like I wasn’t getting this opportunity, but when I felt like shit, you reminded me that I ain’t shit without y’all. That’s an amazing reality.”

He concluded: “It broke me, and I’m just trying to put myself back together. But my God, y’all have helped me. Thank you to all my peers, my friends, my family, and my homies on sports television. I really appreciate it.”

Fan Outrage and Industry Reaction

Lil Wayne's Super Bowl snub has drawn vocal reactions from fans and his industry peers, including Nicki Minaj, Birdman and Boosie Badazz. Many have criticized the NFL's decision to overlook the Young Money founder, especially given his deep ties to New Orleans.

Nicki Minaj, in particular, vented her frustration on social media, directing her ire at JAY-Z, who has played a key role in organizing the halftime show since 2020 through his partnership with the NFL.

Minaj accused JAY-Z of allowing personal grievances to affect the decision, claiming, "Denying a young Black man what he rightfully put into this game... Lil Wayne? The GOAT?"


The controversy even prompted commentary from Cam’ron, who suggested Wayne’s past tensions with JAY-Z might be a factor.

“This is payback,” Cam’ron said on his sports talk show It Is What It Is. “Lil Wayne not performing in New Orleans for the Super Bowl is egregious.”

As of yet, neither Kendrick Lamar nor JAY-Z have addressed the backlash, though Lamar recently released a track that some believe alludes to the industry's drama surrounding the halftime show.
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