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Did a father tell his teenage son to kill rapper PnB Rock? Jury to hear closing arguments in trial

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COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Both sides in the murder trial of Philadelphia hip-hop star PnB Rock have agreed that a 17-year-old boy walked into a Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles and shot the rapper twice in the back and once in the chest.

Both sides agree that the boy’s father, Freddie Trone, a defendant in the trial, helped his son after the shooting and tried to cover up the killing.

But in a two-week closing argument Monday in Compton, California, prosecutors will argue that Trone sent the boy to the restaurant with a gun and orders to rob PnB Rock. The rapper, 30, was eating with his fiancée, the mother of his 4-year-old daughter.

Trone’s attorney has said he just isn’t guilty of any wrongdoing in the murder, emphasizing that he was not on the restaurant and didn’t pull the trigger. He said the evidence suggests his son acted alone.

Trone’s son is being held in the custody of the county juvenile justice system, and a judge has determined he just isn’t currently able to stand trial.

The Associated Press doesn’t typically report the names of juveniles accused of crimes.

PnB Rock, whose real name is Rakim Allen, is best known for his 2016 hit “Selfish,” in addition to guest appearances on songs by other artists resembling “Everyday We Lit” by YFN Lucci and “Cross Me” by Ed Sheeran featuring Chance the Rapper.

His murder trial, which didn’t happen in town center courthouse where probably the most high-profile trials are held, attracted little attention. The gallery remained almost empty, and the one media outlet that repeatedly reported it was Rolling Stone.

FBI agents arrested Trone in Las Vegas greater than two weeks after the Sept. 12, 2022, shooting in Las Vegas. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

A co-defendant who was not charged with murder, Tremont Jones, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal person.

Prosecutors say Jones tipped off Trone concerning the rapper’s location and showed the jury surveillance footage of the 2 men talking outside a restaurant minutes before the killing.

Allen’s fiancée, Stephanie Sibounheuang, was the trial’s most dramatic witness, saying she had a “bad feeling” concerning the situation before they entered the restaurant. The couple was scheduled to fly home to Atlanta later that day.

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She tearfully testified that that they had just eaten at Roscoe’s when a gunman wearing a ski mask appeared, put a gun in Allen’s face and demanded all the couple’s jewelry, which she said was price lots of of hundreds of dollars.

Sibounheuang said he seemed like a child “who didn’t know what he was doing.”

She said the shooter fired at Allen, who pushed her out of the way in which and shielded her as he was shot. She called him a “hero” who saved her life.

The masked gunman then took Allen’s watch and other jewelry.

Surveillance footage shows he fled about a minute after entering.

Sibounheuang began applying pressure to Allen’s wounds, trying to stop the bleeding. The first police officer who arrived on the scene did the identical. The rapper was later pronounced dead.

The autopsy report showed that Allen was shot once in the chest and twice in the back.

Investigators determined Allen had a gun on him, but he said he didn’t draw it until he was shot.

Just before the shooting, Sibounheuang posted a photo of the couple eating on Instagram, but testified that she had removed the label that indicated which of Roscoe’s six Southern California restaurants that they had eaten at.

Authorities initially said the post can have prompted the robbery and shooting, but later backtracked and as an alternative blamed Jones for leading Trone and his son to the restaurant.

Surveillance footage from later in the day shows Trone and his son entering the apartment and leaving shortly after, with the son wearing different clothes and holding a garbage bag.

Prosecutors say Trone set the getaway automobile on fire several blocks from his home as a part of a cover-up.

Trone’s wife and the teenager’s stepmother, Shauntel Trone, was also arrested shortly after the shooting. Just before her trial, she pleaded guilty to accessory after the actual fact.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Sade Ends 6-Year Hiatus to Lend Her Voice to Transgender People on ‘Transa’ Album

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Sade, Sade Adu, Sade Transa, Transa, Red Hot Transa, Andre 3000 Transa, transgender compilation album, transgender awareness, Sade son, Sade transgender son, trans visibility, theGrio.com

It’s been six years because the world was treated to recent music from Sade Adu, however the music legend is reportedly ending his recent hiatus to appear on a really special project. As reported Dazed The British-Nigerian singer-songwriter will contribute the track “Young Lion” to the compilation “Transa,” an upcoming album promoting awareness for transgender and non-binary people.

As Dazed notes, for Sade, 65, the project is personal because her only child, Isaacunderwent his own gender transition. Acknowledging the difficulties of his journey and people of many others, Sade’s recent song is devoted to Isaac, who now lives as a transgender man, and reportedly includes the lyric, “You must have felt so alone, I should have known.”

“It’s incredible to hear a legendary musician like Sade sing about her honest experiences as a parent of a transgender child,” model, transgender activist and album co-producer Massima Bell said, according to Dazed. “It’s incredibly powerful.”

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Produced by Red hotThe nearly 35-year-old nonprofit that released the platinum-selling, star-studded compilation “Red Hot + Blue” amid the AIDS epidemic, “Transa” will feature greater than 100 artists, including André 3000, Moses Sumney, Sam Smith, “Euphoria” star Hunter Schaefer and more. The first single is reportedly a canopy of the Prince classic “I Would Die 4 U,” created by former Prince and the Revolution members Wendy & Lisa with singer-songwriter Lauren Auder. The album, set for a vacation release on Nov. 22, features 46 tracks and eight “chapters” that make up the three-and-a-half-hour album, an “ode” to the unique eight stripes of the Pride flag.

“We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and nonbinary people as leaders in our society, as long as they do the deep inner work to validate who they are in our current climate. We felt like everyone should do that,” said Dust Reid, executive director of Red Hot, per Diversity“Whether you identify as transgender, non-binary, or other, if you took the time to explore your gender, to get in touch with the emotional side of yourself, perhaps we would have a future centered around the values ​​of community, collaboration, care, and healing.”


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Teedra Moses’ Classic Album ‘Complex Simplicity’ Turns 20: I’m So Happy My Worst Musical Take Ever Has Apparently Disappeared From The Internet

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Over the past twenty years of writing on various platforms—my first blog post was June 3, 2004—I’ve shared my thoughts and opinions 1000’s of times on a wide selection of topics. I’ve written about race, politics, culture, music, movies, family, etc. In fact, if I had access to all of my writings, I’m sure I’d find loads of passages that will make me wince and others where I’d be thrilled to know that my younger self had said something my older self still believes. What I also know of course is that I can’t recall the overwhelming majority of opinions I’ve had on any variety of things I’ve written about.

There are just a few exceptions to this rule, though. I remember just a few songs that I wrote that I wish I had never written. I believe the response to those songs has made them my go-to memories of my writing journey. And there are just a few musical opinions that I’ve had at different times that I just can’t consider I ever had. One of those opinions is one which I shared with people in 2004 about Teedra Moses’ debut album Complex Simplicity, released on August 10, 2004, making it 20 years old.

I vividly remember telling folks that I assumed this album was bad. I do know this because I remember having heated arguments with two specific individuals who loved it and couldn’t consider how absurd my opinion was. (They also remember the arguments and agreeing that my opinion was absurd.) Since this album got here out after I began blogging, and since I often drew inspiration from my personal conversations, I’m 90% certain that in some unspecified time in the future, somewhere, I wrote a blog post or something expressing my dislike of this album.

Younger me was an idiot.

Here’s how I do know my younger self was an idiot. At this point in my life, Complex Simplicity is considered one of my favorite albums, possibly ever. I’m undecided if it’s in my top ten, nevertheless it’s definitely in my top twenty. Any album that has a song (like “You will never find”) starting with the words “Ooooh cat daddy”, should be something I take seriously. The album’s opening track, “Be your own girl” might be considered one of my favorite album openers, partly because I really like the Ahmad Jamal sample “Awakening” but additionally because I really like how Teedra gets right to the purpose; she’s like, “Boo, what’s up with you and me…your girl’s gonna be okay!” Who hasn’t thought that about someone they didn’t know? Damn, Christina Milian must be glad social media wasn’t a thing after I had a crush on her, because otherwise I’d be texting her lyrics to this song daily. I’m a romantic. Or a stalker—it is a wonderful line.

And do not get me began “Care,” by far my favorite track on the album and literally the song I’ll be listening to until the nice Lord calls me to glory. And even then after I hit those pearly gates I’ll be asking if “Caution” is offered on whatever platform they use to stream music in heaven.

Look, I can try this with every song on this album. I really like all of them. I absolutely love Complex Simplicity. Along with How I Do, Res are two of probably the most defining R&B albums of my 2000s. Each of those records lived within the CD changer in my automotive. When I believe of Panama Jackson within the mid-2000s walking around New York or Washington, D.C., or traveling to Los Angeles or wherever, I actually have songs from each of those albums in my head. Complex Simplicity is just a beautiful and enjoyable singer to take heed to, and her voice is gorgeous.

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That’s why I’m so excited to know that I can not find written proof that I made profane and meaningless negative comments about this album. Now, I got into a little bit argument with Teedra Moses just a few years ago a couple of review I wrote about how she set the blueprint for 2010s R&B that was less subtle and more intrusive. While I believe my sentiment was spot on, I believe my approach was reckless in a way that got here across as insulting, which was my calling card — the goal was more essential than how I got there. I can also’t find that clip, mostly because while I remember writing it, I can not pinpoint after I did it, and a few of those older tracks are just about inconceivable to seek out and not using a date to assign them to. That works great for me, because I hate reading things I’ve written that I now think are silly. Cheers to growth. And do not be silly, Panama.

As a music lover and someone who would find albums that touch my soul, it makes me very sad to know and do not forget that I ever considered a Teedra album to be anything lower than a fantastic murals that makes the world a greater place. That’s how I feel now and I believe that is the suitable solution to feel about it. To know “Complex Simplicity” is to like “Complex Simplicity” and there is simply no other solution to perceive it. Even 20 years later, the music sounds as fresh and sonically jamtastic because it did within the 2000s, aside from in the future after I didn’t prefer it.

Today is just not that day because today is the day I admit that I really like “complex simplicity” and I’m so joyful that it continues to be a component of my life, 20 years later.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Megan Thee Stallion to Host, GloRilla, Lenny Kravitz to Perform: Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2024 MTV VMAs

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NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper, singer, songwriter, businesswoman, hot girl summer provider and now… an awards show host? Megan Thee Stallion to host in 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

It’s her first time hosting an awards show, though she’s guest-hosted “Saturday Night Live” and co-hosted “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in the past. This time, she’s hosting a lineup of her musical peers.

The 2024 Awards Gala Announces Star-Studded Performances, Lots of Attractions people of the moon, and more Taylor Swift.

Here’s every little thing you would like to learn about the MTV VMAs.

When are the MTV Video Music Awards?

The VMAs will air survive September 11 at 8:00 PM ET from the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York.

Prize the show has been moved back day due to the upcoming US presidential debate. ABC News recently confirmed that each Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s campaigns have agreed to take part in the debate September 10.

Who is nominated for the VMA Awards?

Fast with 10 VMA nominations, he ranks first — eight for her “Fortnight” video and nominations for artist of the 12 months and best pop. She’s followed by her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone, who has nine nominations. He’s tied with Swift for eight nominations and earned a ninth nomination for his country hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen.

Also nominated for Artist of the Year are Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter and SZA.

Grande, Carpenter and Eminem have six nominations each; Megan Thee Stallion and SZA have five nominations each. LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims of Blackpink have 4 nominations each.

This 12 months, there have been 29 first-time nominees, including Wallen, Carpenter, and Swims, in addition to Benson Boone and Silence — the latter can boast three nominations each.

Who will receive the Video Vanguard Award?

Katy Perry will receive Video Vanguard Award. She may even perform.

Previous winners of the award include Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Missy Elliott.

Perry will return to the VMA stage for the first time since 2017, when she performed and hosted the awards show.

The pop singer has won five VMAs in her profession, taking home her first three in 2011: Video of the Year (“Firework”), Best Collaboration, and Best Visual Effects (each for “ET” featuring Kanye West).

Who will perform at the VMA Awards?

Featuring: Perry, Boone, Carpenter, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, Rauw Alejandro, Anitta, Karol G, LL COOL J, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.

What about voting?

Fan voting in 15 gender-neutral categories is underway now and can end on Friday.

Voting for Best New Artist will proceed throughout the exhibition.

___

For more information on this 12 months’s MTV Video Music Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/mtv-video-music-awards

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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