Delfonics lead singer William 'Poogie' Hart dead at 77
William “Poogie” Hart, a founder of the Grammy-winning trio the Delfonics who helped write and sang a soft lead tenor on such classic “Sound of Philadelphia” ballads as “La-La (Means I Love You)” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” has died at age 77.
DA: 6ix9ine's bodyguards broke man's phone after wild chase
Prosecutors say bodyguards for troubled rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine turned New York City into the Wild West last summer, piling into SUVs and chasing a man for 20 blocks with lights flashing after he attempted to record cellphone video of the recording star.
Lawsuit filed over hit-and-run death of Nicki Minaj's father
FILE - In this Monday, May 6, 2019, file photo, Nicki Minaj attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York. Minajs mother has filed a $150 million lawsuit against the man who is accused of killing the rapper's father in a hit-and-run crash in February 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)MINEOLA, N.Y. – Rapper Nicki Minaj’s mother, Carol Maraj, has filed a $150 million lawsuit against the man who is accused of killing Minaj’s father in a hit-and-run crash last month, an attorney for Maraj said. Ad“He was not only irresponsible and negligent, but more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help,” Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys representing Carol Maraj, said in an Instagram post Friday. Nicki Minaj, who was born Onika Tanya Maraj, has not made any public statement on her father's death.
Still divisive, Dr. Luke resurges at Grammys — as Tyson Trax
Dr. Luke appeared as Tyson Trax on the Grammy ballot for Doja Cat's Say So," which he produced and co-wrote. But not all of the academy members may have been aware they were voting for Dr. Luke when they completed their ballots this year. Ad“I didn’t know that Tyson Trax was Dr. Luke. AdTogether, Martin and Dr. Luke crafted hits for Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Pink and Kesha, who he signed in 2005. Eventually Dr. Luke stepped into the forefront, helming successes for Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida, logging 17 No.
Man arrested in hit-and-run death of Nicki Minaj's father
The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, FIle)MINEOLA, N.Y. – A 70-year-old man arrested Wednesday in the hit-and-run death of rapper Nicki Minaj’s father stopped briefly to ask the injured man if he was OK but didn't call for help, police said. Charles Polevich faces charges of leaving the scene of an incident and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death last week of 64-year-old Robert Maraj on New York's Long Island. In interviews, she said Robert Maraj suffered from drug addiction and was abusive toward her mother, once setting fire to their house with her inside. Robert Maraj called his daughter's claims “exaggerated.”
Police say Nicki Minaj's father killed by hit-and-run driver
FILE - Nicki Minaj attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York, in this Monday, May 6, 2019, file photo. The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. Maraj was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)MINEOA, N.Y. – The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. Minaj, 38, was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and was raised in the New York City borough of Queens.
Ladies' night at Latin Grammys: Lafourcade, Rosalía win big
(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)NEW YORK – A year after Rosalía made history by becoming the first solo female performer in 13 years to win the top prize at the Latin Grammys, Natalia Lafourcade followed in her footsteps with a big win at the 2020 show. The Mexican singer won album of the year — a category dominated by male acts — on Thursday night with “Un Canto Por México, Vol. Lafourcade didn't attend the Latin Grammys, which aired live on Univision and featured a number of performances, most of them pre-taped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the Latin Grammys with a strong message about Latin music. Speaking in Spanish and English, he said Latin music “unites all of us and makes us human.”“This is our night,” he added.
J Balvin, Bad Bunny set for big night at Latin Grammys
This combination photo shows Natalia Lafourcade, left, and Rosalia. A year after Rosalia made history by becoming the first solo female performer in 13 years to win the top prize at the Latin Grammys, Natalia Lafourcade followed in her footsteps with a big win at the 2020 show, taking home the album of the year honor on Nov. 19, 2020, for "Un Canto Por Mxico, Vol.
Ladies' night at Latin Grammys: Lafourcade, Rosalía win big
Lafourcade won three awards, tying Rosalia and Carlos Vives for most wins. The Mexican singer won album of the year — a category dominated by male acts — on Thursday night with “Un Canto Por México, Vol. Lafourcade won three awards at the show, tying Rosalía and Carlos Vives for most wins. Lafourcade didn't attend the Latin Grammys, which aired live on Univision and featured a number of performances, most of them pre-taped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the Latin Grammys with a strong message about Latin music.
BTS, Lady Gaga win top awards at MTV Europe Music Awards
FILE - Korean pop band BTS attends the 2019 Variety's Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2019. The South Korean boy band BTS HAS won a leading four awards including best song for Dynamite and best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 while Lady Gaga took home the best artist prize. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
BTS, Lady Gaga win top awards at MTV Europe Music Awards
The South Korean boy band BTS HAS won a leading four awards including best song for Dynamite and best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 while Lady Gaga took home the best artist prize. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)The South Korean pop group BTS won a leading four awards including best song for “Dynamite” and best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday night, while Lady Gaga took the best artist prize. Coldplay won best rock, Haley Williams got best alternative and Little Mix was named best pop. And the best Latin award went to Karol G, who also won best collaboration for “Tusa” featuring Nicki Minaj. David Guetta, who won best electronic, also performed at the show from a stage in Budapest.
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine's kidnapper is sentenced to 24 years
NEW YORK – A man convicted in the kidnapping of rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was sentenced to 24 years in prison Wednesday by a judge who cited his leadership role in a gang active nationwide. During a two-hour proceeding, the judge repeatedly cited the July 2018 kidnapping of Tekashi 6ix9ine and Ellison’s slashing of another man’s face that left him permanently disfigured. After his own arrest, Tekashi 6ix9ine — whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez — pleaded guilty and became a cooperator. He described the kidnapping, saying Ellison and another man forced him into a stolen car at gunpoint. In 2018, Tekashi 6ix9ine had a multiplatinum hit song, “Fefe,” with Nicki Minaj, which peaked at No.
Drake bests Aretha Franklin, Wonder to set Billboard record
1 hit on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, Drake has bested a record previously held by icons Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Drake's “Laugh Now Cry Later," featuring rapper Lil Durk, reached the No. Wonder and Franklin, who died in 2018, each have had 20 songs top the chart. 1 hits on the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, 12 include him in the leading role, including “God’s Plan,” “In My Feelings,” “Hotline Bling,” “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and “Best I Ever Had,” his first major hit released in 2009. Earlier this year, 34-year-old Drake made Billboard chart history when he set a new record for most songs on the Hot 100 chart — Billboard's main songs chart that includes all music genres.
Reggaeton redemption: Balvin, Bunny top Latin Grammy nods
J Balvin performs during the Coca-Cola Flow Reggaeton festival in Mexico City on Nov. 23, 2019, from left, Ozuna performs at the Latin American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2019 and Bad Bunny performs a medley at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 25, 2019. Balvin scored a whopping 13 nominations at the 2020 Latin Grammys, including two nominations for album of the year and two for record of the year. The Latin Academy announced Tuesday that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively.
Reggaeton redemption: Balvin, Bunny top Latin Grammy nods
Balvin scored a whopping 13 nominations at the 2020 Latin Grammys, including two nominations for album of the year and two for record of the year. The Latin Academy announced Tuesday that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – At last year’s Latin Grammy Awards, popular reggaeton and Latin trap musicians such as J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Ozuna were dismissed in the show’s top categories. The Latin Academy announced Tuesday that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively. Ozuna and Bad Bunny will also compete with themselves in several categories.
End of the runway? Fashion world mulls post-COVID future
Fashion designer Gareth Pugh poses for a photograph in front of his creations, exhibited ahead of his London Fashion Week show in London, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. This is no typical year, though, and London Fashion Week is decidedly less glamorous. “This is not a full-blown fashion week - it’s not mass audiences. It’s very much happening in private and the scales have tipped in favor of digital,” said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, which organizes London Fashion Week. Even before the virus outbreak, brands had been experimenting with technology to get to broader audiences by streaming shows online.
Nicki Minaj announces she's pregnant with 1st child
NEW YORK – Nicki Minaj has a new release coming soon: her first child. The rapper took to Instagram on Monday to announce she is pregnant, posting photos of herself with a baby bump. Musically, Minaj has also had a winning year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice. Her remix of Doja Cat's “Say So" helped Minaj achieve her first-ever No. 1 on the Hot 100, despite releasing multiple hits throughout her career.
Megan Thee Stallion says she was shot, expects to recover
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019 file photo, Megan Thee Stallion arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J.. The rapper says she was shot multiple times, but expects to fully recover. The 25-year-old said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she had gunshot wounds from a crime committed against her Sunday with the intent to harm her and feels lucky to be alive. She did not say who shot her or why, and Los Angeles police had no immediate comment. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Megan Thee Stallion says she was shot, expects to recover
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019 file photo, Megan Thee Stallion arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J.. The rapper says she was shot multiple times, but expects to fully recover. The 25-year-old said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she had gunshot wounds from a crime committed against her Sunday with the intent to harm her and feels lucky to be alive. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said Wednesday that she was shot multiple times on Sunday, but expects to fully recover. Lee said the Instagram post has been pointed out to the detectives in the case, who are looking into it.
Police: Pop Smoke's social media led killers to LA home
This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home, center, where Pop Smoke, 20, was shot and killed early Feb. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. Authorities say three men and two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the home-invasion death of the rising rapper. (Fox11 News KTTV-TV via AP)
Police: Pop Smoke's social media led killers to LA home
This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home, center, where Pop Smoke, 20, was shot and killed early Feb. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. The three men were identified as Jaquan Murphy, 21, Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre D. Rodgers, 18, all of Los Angeles. Pop Smoke and his entourage staying at the home are not believed to be associated with the gang, Tippet said. “It’s our belief that (the home-invasion robbery) was based on some of the social media" posts, Tippet said. Earlier this year, Pop Smoke released the mixtape “Meet the Woo 2,” which debuted at No.
Florida coach in trouble for letting woman record ‘Twerk Tour’ video in gym
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A high school basketball coach is in some hot water over letting a celebrity twerker use the Miami Beach Senior High gym to make a video during her Feb. 22 “Twerk Tour” stop. The 13-minute video was uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 28 and has more than 151,000 views. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools has a problem with the video being filmed at the school, the Miami Herald reported. The school's basketball coach, Jacob Shaw, allowed Nass and her crew to use the gym for an unauthorized event, district spokeswoman Daisy Gonzalez-Diego told the Herald. Officials said the school’s principal, Maria Rodriguez, reported the incident to the district’s regional office the Monday after the video was filmed.
Police: Robbery looks unlikely as motive in rapper killing
In this undated photo provided by Republic Records is Pop Smoke. "We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of Pop Smoke," Republic Records said in a statement. An autopsy was planned after Pop Smoke was declared dead at a hospital. Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent, Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with Pop Smoke, were among those paying tribute on social media. “Young tycoon gone2soon had a blast wit ya,” Snoop Dogg posted, along with a video of himself and Pop Smoke on stage together.
Judge: Kesha made a false claim about producer Dr. Luke
Kesha made a false claim that Dr. Luke raped Katy Perry when there's no evidence whatsoever that he did, a judge ruled this week while sending a long-running clash between Kesha and her former mentor toward trial. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK, N.Y. – Pop singer Kesha made a false claim that Dr. Luke raped Katy Perry when there's “no evidence whatsoever” that he did, a judge ruled this week while sending a long-running clash between Kesha and her former mentor toward trial. “There is no evidence whatsoever that Gottwald raped Katy Perry,” Manhattan judge Jennifer Schecter wrote in Thursday's decision, calling Kesha's remark a false statement that meets legal standards for being defamatory. The finding is helpful to Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke has produced some of the biggest pop hits of the 2000s, working with stars including Perry, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson and Nicki Minaj.
Nicki Minaj's brother sentenced to 25 years to life
MINEOLA, N.Y. – The brother of rapper Nicki Minaj was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at his Long Island home. A judge convicted Jelani Maraj of predatory sexual assault and child endangerment in November 2017. The victim testified during the trial that Maraj repeatedly raped her in 2015 while her mother was at work. The girl’s younger brother also testified at the trial that he witnessed one assault. One of his attorneys said he suffered from health issues including hypertension, gout and anemia and requested the minimum sentence of 10 years to life.
Breakthrough Entertainer: Megan Thee Stallion feels grateful
This Nov. 20, 2019 photo shows Megan Thee Stallion posing for a portrait in New York. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP)NEW YORK, NY – Megan Thee Stallion's schedule has become so frenetic that she can spend days, or even longer, away from home, in a different city every night. “Every day, they tell me, ‘Megan you’re doing a good job,’” the 24-year-old said, referring to her team. Some may consider her omission from the recent slate of Grammy nominees another disappointment, but Megan brushes it off. ``I don't think you should have it in your mind when you’re in a studio like, ‘I'm going to write these bars because I'm going to win these Grammys.’ No!