Friday, October 11, 2024

T.I. Announces Retirement After Dec. 19 Performance at Atlanta's Jingle Ball

HOTSPOTATL, via Wikimedia Commons
After a career spanning two decades, T.I., the Atlanta rap legend known for hits like “Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life,” has announced he will retire from performing after his upcoming show at Atlanta's Jingle Ball concert on Dec. 19.

The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, made the announcement during an appearance on 96.1 The Beat’s afternoon show Rari at 2, hosted by Ferrari Simmons and BT. T.I. revealed that his final performance will take place at the station’s annual holiday concert at State Farm Arena, where he is set to headline alongside T-Pain, Sexxy Red, Saweetie, Khalid, Tinashe and The Kid Laroi.


“I appreciate y’all for offering me my last working gig because I do not need the money anymore, and I will not be performing,” T.I. said. “I don’t want to do it anymore… I don’t want people to pay me to hop around and sweat for their entertainment anymore.”

T.I. shared that while he’s stepping back from regular performances, he is not completely closing the door on future appearances, leaving room for possible stage returns on his own terms.
The rapper’s decision to retire comes on the heels of a significant legal victory. Last month, T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, were awarded $71 million in a lawsuit against toymaker MGA Entertainment. The couple claimed that MGA’s “OMG Dolls” line had misappropriated the likeness and style of the OMG Girlz, a teen pop group founded by Tiny and featuring her daughter, Zonnique Pullins. The group, which gained popularity in the early 2010s, was known for their colorful outfits and distinct hairstyles.
T.I.’s comments about not needing the money anymore reflect the financial security that the lawsuit win has provided. “Of course, I’ll still answer the phone, but it’s to tell them I won’t be performing,” T.I. joked during the interview.

This isn’t the first time T.I. has hinted at stepping back from music. In an appearance on the "We In Miami" podcast last October, the rapper discussed plans for one final album, a double project titled "Kill the King and Kiss the King," which he has yet to release.
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Thursday, October 10, 2024

Prosecution's Case Against Young Thug Undermined by Witness Lies

Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug's sprawling RICO trial has taken another dramatic turn as a key witness admitted to lying under oath to secure a plea deal, potentially jeopardizing the prosecution's case and raising questions about the future of similar agreements.

Antonio Sledge, known as Mounk Tounk, testified last month that he fabricated key statements about the alleged gang activity of Young Slime Life, or YSL, in order to expedite his plea deal, avoid a lengthy prison sentence, and end his eight-month incarceration. Sledge had pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 15 months of probation and agreed to testify truthfully as part of the deal.

However, on the stand, Sledge recanted numerous statements he had previously admitted to, including his knowledge of the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr. and the involvement of YSL associates in the crime. "I just said what they wanted me to say," Sledge testified, claiming he felt pressured to accept the deal due to financial constraints and the desire to return to his family.

This shocking revelation prompted the Fulton County District Attorney's Office to file a motion to revoke Sledge's probation. "The Defendant knowingly and willfully violated his plea agreement by taking the stand and disavowing facts he had sworn were accurate and true," the motion states. "Most importantly, the Defendant acknowledged that he understood that any violation of the special conditions of this plea agreement could lead to the revocation of his probation, with the District Attorney recommending the maximum sentence allowed by law in the Georgia Department of Corrections.”

Sledge's attorney, Derek Wright, testified that he and his client "missed" a crucial factual acknowledgment in the plea agreement regarding Sledge's personal knowledge of the Thomas murder. He admitted that they compromised on the wording of some statements due to Sledge's eagerness to finalize the deal and avoid a potentially lengthy prison sentence.

This development raises serious questions about the reliability of Sledge's testimony and its impact on the prosecution's case against Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. Prosecutors allege that Williams is the leader of YSL, which they contend is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous violent crimes. Defense attorneys maintain that YSL is simply the name of Williams' record label and that their clients are innocent.

The District Attorney's office is now seeking a hearing to determine if Sledge's probation should be revoked. If found in violation, Sledge could face up to 35 years in prison. This potential consequence could discourage other co-defendants from taking plea deals, as they might now fear that the prosecution will renege on their agreements or pressure them to provide false testimony to secure convictions. This could significantly prolong the already lengthy trial, which has been ongoing for over a year and is expected to last several more months.

The YSL RICO trial has captivated public attention with its complex legal proceedings and high-profile defendant. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the Atlanta rap scene and the ongoing fight against gang violence. Sledge's recantation throws a wrench into the prosecution's case and adds another layer of uncertainty to the trial's outcome, potentially jeopardizing the District Attorney's ability to secure convictions against Young Thug and other YSL associates.

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Tuesday, October 8, 2024

'I Would've Killed Him': Presley Defends Jackson in Memoir

Michael Jackson's marriage to Lisa Marie Presley was brief but continues to fascinate the public. Presley's posthumous memoir, "From Here to the Great Unknown," compiled from her personal tapes by her daughter, Riley Keough, and released today sheds new light on their complex relationship.

One of the most startling revelations is Jackson's claim of virginity. At 35, Jackson reportedly told Presley he was a virgin when they wed in 1994.

"He told me he was still a virgin," Presley recalled. "I think he had kissed Tatum O'Neal, and he'd had a thing with Brooke Shields, which hadn't been physical apart from a kiss. He said Madonna had tried to hook up with him once, too, but nothing happened. I was terrified because I didn't want to make the wrong move."
Presley described how Jackson was eager to initiate physical intimacy: “When he decided to first kiss me, he just did it. He was instigating everything. The physical stuff started happening, which I was shocked at. I had thought that maybe we wouldn’t do anything until we got married, but he said, ‘I’m not waiting!’”

She also addressed the allegations of child molestation against Jackson in her memoir. Presley vehemently defended Jackson against these accusations. "I never saw a goddamn thing like that. I personally would’ve killed him if I had," she wrote, emphasizing her disapproval of the allegations that have haunted his legacy.
Their romance began intensely. Presley was still married to her first husband, Danny Keough, when Jackson professed his love.

"Michael said, 'I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm completely in love with you. I want us to get married and for you to have my children,'" Presley wrote. "I didn't say anything immediately. Then I said, 'I'm really flattered, I can't even talk.' By then, I felt I was in love with him too."

Following her divorce from Keough in 1994, Presley and Jackson married in a private ceremony in the Dominican Republic. Despite their deep connection, the union lasted two years and three months, ending in divorce in 1996. Presley previously described marrying Jackson as the “biggest mistake of her life” in a 2007 interview with Marie Claire magazine.

The memoir reveals that the couple faced significant challenges. Jackson's growing paranoia and distrust put a strain on their bond.

"He got really awful and mad at me for asking questions," Presley recounted, describing a period when Jackson accused her of betrayal. These personal struggles, coupled with intense media scrutiny, ultimately drove them apart.
In her reflections, Presley admitted to years of regret and self-blame following their divorce, wondering what she could have done to save the marriage. After splitting from Presley, Jackson married Debbie Rowe, with whom he had two children, Paris Jackson and Prince Jackson. He also had a third child, Bigi Jackson.

Jackson died in 2009 from an accidental overdose of propofol. Presley died in 2023 at 54 after suffering cardiac arrest. Despite their tumultuous relationship, Presley's memoir offers a glimpse into Jackson's vulnerability and humanity, a side rarely seen by the public.

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