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Actor Alejandro Edda describes the experience of facing his real-life doppelganger in court in an Op-Ed with the New York Times. For those who don't know, Alejandro Edda plays a fictionalized version of Mexican kingpin El Chapo. Nevertheless, the showrunners for Narcos: Mexico venture far beyond El Chapo's dealings as the head of the Sinaloa Carter - the series traces the roots of the Narco trade all the way back to the shores of Colombia. But Edda wasn't the first member of the Narcos crew to set foot in the "El Chapo" trial, as it was showrunner Eric Newman who first sat in the gallery section for the opening statements back in November. This past Monday, Alejandro Edda was granted the same wish - to attend in the gallows, but unlike his producer-friend Newman, the actor was far too public a figure to go unnoticed, and as you might be aware, El Chapo is a big fan of his own Narcofiction. Of course, there have been several where the novelization of the drug trade has led to attempted murder and even death, Narcos-included. If you'll recall, a Narcos location scout in Mexican was found dead under back in 2017. All the parties involved, including Netflix, were quick to sweep the issue under the rug, through no fault of their own: it was either go silent or face the same fate. As for Edda and his cursory exchange with the drug lord he portrays onscreen, he described the experience as nothing less than bone-chilling. According to the actor, it was El Chapo who made the first move, smiling and waving in his direction as he entered the courtroom. "I didn’t smile back. I was just paying respect to him," Mr Edda told the NYT. "I was shocked in a way. He has a very intense look. His eyes say a lot. He’s a bit intimidating." View the full article

NBA commissioner has announced that long time All Stars Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade have been added to the 2019 All Star Game as "special team roster additions." According to NBA.com, Nowitzki and Wade will be selected in a new third round of the 2019 NBA All-Star Draft, adding a 13th player to each active All-Star Game roster. “Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade embody the best of the NBA: remarkable skill, drive and professionalism as well as a deep devotion to strengthening their communities and growing the game around the world,” said Silver, per NBA.com. “As a global celebration of basketball, our All-Star Game is an ideal setting to salute these first-class NBA champions and Finals MVPs.” The upcoming game will mark Dirk's 14th All Star appearance and Wade's 13th. Team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will select the 10 All-Star Game starters in the first round, the 14 reserves in the second round and Nowitzki and Wade in the third round. Because LeBron had the most votes, he will make the first pick in the first and third rounds and Giannis will have the first pick in the second round. The NBA All Star Draft will air on TNT on Thursday, February 7. The 2019 All Star Game, taking place at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, will air on TNT on Sunday, February 16 at 8pm ET. View the full article

Seemingly out of nowhere, Adidas dropped its MiAdidas feature which allowed users to customize their own pair of kicks. From Superstars to UltraBoosts, consumers were able to put their own unique spin on their favorite Adidas silhouettes. Well, that initiative has now been discontinued but Adidas has offered to comment on it all with a statement courtesy of Sole Collector. Per Sole Collector: "We’ve made the strategic decision to close our custom footwear business, miadidas. We believe that the future of customization lies in co-creation, and we’re working diligently to offer a new experience for the consumer who wants to join in the creation of our products at a deeper level. Thank you for being a fan of miadidas, and we can promise an even better digital experience in the future." Image via Adidas Based on their response, it appears as though something new is on the way, although there aren't really a ton of details on it just yet. Nike just recently changed the name of the "Nike ID" campaign to "Nike By You" which just goes to show that companies are looking for better ways to bring customization to the public. Are you disappointed by Adidas' decision to discontinue MiAdidas? View the full article

Matt Barnes and Gloria Govan are still dealing with issues surrounding the custody of their twin sons, after the blowout altercation that happened last year. If you can remember, Gloria arrived to pick up her sons from school on a day that Matt was scheduled to have them. The twins were left "terrified, screaming hysterically and crying” after their mom followed them in Matt's car and blocked their vehicle that resulted in Gloria getting arrested and charged with child endangerment. Matt was awarded sole custody of his sons and now Gloria is claiming he owes her child support for the 29% of the time she has them, The Blast reports. The publication got its hands on documents that detail how Gloria understands that her payments have been cut to $7,500 from $20,000 a month but apparently Matt hasn't paid for November 2018 or December 2018 and has only given her $3,750 for January 2019. Gloria claims Matt owes her $23,750 and both parties are set to attend court this month to hash it out. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Matt welcomed his third child with his model girlfriend Anansa Sims last month and his name is Ashton Joseph Barnes. The former NBA player has been sharing adorable updates of his growing son and his love for his mom. "His first word is still gonna be Daddy but his first love is Definitely mommies boobies lol. He’s very protective over them too," hecaptioned teh photo below. View the full article

Tink's been on a steady grind for the majority of this decade but she, unfortunately, hasn't broken out to the extent that she should've. It's been nearly a year since she blessed us with her project, Pain & Pleasure. 2018 will hopefully be the year we get a full-length project from her. However, she's still here blessing us with new music whenever she can. Today, Tink enters the month of love with some seriously smooth vibes with her latest single, "Falling In Love." Tink is back with her latest track, "Falling In Love." The song follows the release of "Lost" which dropped last week. Her latest single is a love ballad that speaks directly to the emotions associated with the song's title. Tink showcases both her singing and rapping skills on the track. It's another strong effort by her. Keep your eyes peeled for more new music from Tink. Quotable Lyrics Hella bitches wanna have you I'm the only woman that could bag you Got me intertwined and I'm jealous over mine If somebody gon' be dyin' View the full article

In the wake of his first Breakfast Club appearance, the notorious Blueface found his business being openly discussed, with specific regards to his record contract. Certain reports, including this one from HipHopDX, indicated that Blueface actually had ties to several separate record labels: Cash Money West, Republic Records for distribution, and Universal Music Group by association. Blueface himself seemed to prefer an "ignorance is bliss" approach, which prompted the Breakfast Club hosts to implore him to do his due dilly. Keipher McKennie/Getty Images Now, with talk of Blueface's contract situation reaching an all-time high, Cash Money West's own Wack 100 has issued a statement regarding the rapper's deal. "For the record, no artists on Cash Money West in a 360 deal," says West. "I won't even allow that shit, n***a. It's not going to happen...I got the blessing to continue a legacy based on something they built, cause they trust my hand and trust my judgmentt." "All Blueface gon' know is me, what the fu*k else he supposed to know?" asks Wack. "I'm the one paying his checks. I handle all his business. The fuck else he supposed to know. I do know this. The world gon' know who he is. We got a motherfuckin' machine behind us called Cash Money." Wack doubles down, claiming that BlueFace ain't signed to three different companies, asserting that anyone who believes such foolishness are deserving of the title of "stupid motherfuckas!" View the full article

Back when the Air Jordan 1 "Shattered Backboard" released, there was a ton of hype around the shoe. It was a classic Jordan colorway that was finally coming to the market for everybody to enjoy. Sure the shoe was released in fairly limited quantities but it was still great to see Jordan Brand bring the orange, white, and black colorway to the market. Considering just how limited and hard to get the shoe was, receiving a pair with flaws on them would be pretty frustrating, especially if that flaw was an upside-down Nike swoosh. Well, that exact thing happened to Andrea Canziani, who owns a consignment shop in Milan called Dropout Milano. Canziani bought the shoe from a Foot Locker in 2016 and never returned them after seeing the flaw. Instead, he figured he had a one of a kind shoe, saying "It's like winning the lotto," according to a new interview with Vice which you can watch below. The shoes are on display in his store and he is looking to sell them for $140,000 although the most he's ever been offered for them is $3,000. It's a hefty price for a shoe that's flawed but considering it's a one of a kind shoe, he might find a collector crazy enough to pay it. View the full article

The World Health Organization is looking to make up for lost time, as far as Mary Jane is concerned. And while that majority of buddha-lovers are probably in unison when they "WHO CARES!," the organization "re-organization" is still a pretty big W for the weed advocates who fought long and hard for decades on end. What this all means on a more profound level is this: the WHO will change all the official writing or regulations regarding Marijuana - that includes the removal of whole-plant marijuana and cannabis resins from the "extremely restrictive" list of substances logged under the heading Schedule IV in their official database. All THC-contaminated substances or isomers as they're called in the scientific community will also switch over to a less restrictive category - to match the U.S. Government's Schedule I categorization. As the original report goes on to explain, the pro-Marijuana turn comes vetted by UN reps. So when the WHO recommodifies their database, UN reps will then engage with World leaders to coerce (not enforce) rule changes across the board. To the casual smoker who lights up without provocation, all these regulatory changes might seem redundant on the surface, but as I said before, this is a big WIN for the activist community, several years too late. View the full article

The Chicago Bulls officially waived Carmelo Anthony today, paving the way for the veteran forward to sign with a team of his choosing, such as the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls finally opted to release Melo today because they needed a roster spot after acquiring the Oklahoma City Thunder's Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. According to ESPN, the Thunder will save $7.3 million toward its luxury tax bill by sending Luwawu-Cabarrot to the Bulls. The Bulls officially acquired Anthony on January 22 following a deal with the Houston Rockets, but he never suited up for the team and it was always a matter of when he would be released. Now that the time has come, it is believed that Melo will wait until after the NBA's February 7 trade deadline to see which team is the best fit. According to Bovada, the Lakers are the odds on favorite to land Anthony, but the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are also among the teams listed in the Carmelo sweepstakes. Anthony, 34, has not played since November 8 after the Houston Rockets announced that they'd be parting ways with the 16-year veteran. In 10 games with the Rockets this season, Melo averaged a pedestrian 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in a career-low 29.4 minutes per night. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Lakers are certainly interested in adding Melo, but they do not want to waive a guaranteed player to create a roster spot for him. View the full article

21 Savage and J. Cole show the importance of family in the new "A Lot" video. Some brief glimpses of jail and casket hint at a deeper meaning beneath the celebratory affair. View the full article

If you loved the antagonistic chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in The Fate of the Furious, you're in luck because there's a spin-off in the works focused on their rivalry. Both actors began their respective roles in the Fast and the Furious franchise as antagonists for the main team, but they’ve become the breakout favorites of the series and will likely continue a new strain of movies to the side of the ongoing central installments led by Vin Diesel. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is still many months away, but the movie's first trailer has arrived in time to air during the Super Bowl. The spot not only showcases the reunion of the titular odd-coupled hero and antihero but we get an introduction to Idris Elba's bad guy... Read More View the full article

Reel-Important People is a monthly column that highlights those individuals in or related to the movies that have left us in recent weeks. Below you'll find names big and small and from all areas of the industry, though each was significant to the movies in his or her own way. Bill Anagnos (1958-2019) - Stunt Performer. He was a stunt driver for Hackers, The Fisher King, Jungle Fever and the 1998 Godzilla and also performed stunts in Saturday Night Fever, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Catch Me If You Can, Doctor Strange, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Warriors and numerous other movies. He died of cancer on January 15. (Legacy) Jo Andres (1954-2019) - Filmmaker. Best known as the wife of Steve Buscemi, she also directed the shorts Black Kites and Liquid Tara and was... Read More View the full article

Just one year ago today Kylie Jenner finally revealed to the world that she was pregnant all along (after months of speculation) and gave birth to her daughter, Stormi Webster. "I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark through all the assumptions,” she wrote. “I understand you’re used to me bringing you along on all my journeys. My pregnancy was on I chose not to do in front of the world," she wrote after welcoming her child. Exactly one year later, little Stormi is celebrating her first birthday and Kylie has shared a series of photos of some of her most special moments with her daughter and husband, Travis Scott. "How did I get so lucky to have such a sweet, smart, happy baby. I just couldn’t have dreamt you up, storm. i wish you could stay this little forever and i could protect that contagious smile and laugh of yours," Kylie captioned the images. "I know you won’t remember much about the first year of your life but i pray that you’ll never forget to keep sharing your joy and laughter with the world. my love grows for you a thousand miles a minute. every day with you is the best day of my life. happy birthday to my angel on earth." Another video shows Kylie and Travis embracing each other, seemingly just months after Stormi was born. Sister Kim Kardashian even shared an image of her daughter and Chicago and Stormi hanging out in matching toys. "Happy Birthday to the sweetest baby girl Stormi! We love you so much!!!" she wrote. View the full article

The Recording Academy has announced a sweeping inclusion initiative focused on correcting gender inequity in the music industry. It’s the first public display from the association, which administers the Grammy Awards, on an issue that was stirred up last year when academy President Neil Portnow... View the full article

The Recording Academy has announced a sweeping inclusion initiative focused on correcting the gender imbalance in the music industry. It’s the first public display from the association, which administers the Grammy Awards, on an issue that was stirred up last year when academy president Neil Portnow... View the full article

Chris Tucker to be back running his mouth for $ - and I say that with no ill-will whatsoever. The iconic comedian describes his Rush Hour partnership with Jackie Chan as a "perfect match," and it's pretty easy to see why. Tucker spoke about Jackie, the upcoming Rush Hour 4 project, and his past relationship with Michael Jackson in an appearance on the Winging It podcast - simulcast on Art19. "We're working on a few things on the script right now, so we’re trying to get into production. But we’re working on it and trying to get it going," Tucker revealed to his hosts on the subject of Rush Hour 4's current production status. He pressed on, "Jackie Chan wants to do it, I want to do it, (the) studio wants to do it, so we’re trying to get it together." As for Tucker's onscreen chemistry with co-star Jackie Chan, the comedian refers to his partner's blend of martial arts, comedy and charm as a perfect compliment to his one-sided arsenal, while also crediting himself with a unique comedic style all the same. While we await further developments from the Rush Hour 4 team, it's worth noting that Rush Hour and its two sequels have garnered an incredible $849 million at the Global box office. Rush Hour 4 would realistically push the franchise past the billionaire threshold - keep it locked. View the full article

There was a moment, however fleeting, when documentary filmmaker Ken Burns thought a change of pace might be in order as he was wrapping up more than a decade of often emotionally draining, logistically nightmarish work on his 10-part, 18-hour exploration of the complex history and bitter legacy... View the full article

There was a moment, however fleeting, when documentary filmmaker Ken Burns thought a change of pace might be in order as he was wrapping up more than a decade of often emotionally draining, logistically nightmarish work on his 10-part, 18-hour exploration of the complex history and bitter legacy... View the full article

Tekashi 6ix9ine has been in federal prison since November after getting indicted on firearms and racketeering charges. Earlier this week, one of his associates was also indicted in possible connection to Chief Keef shooting in 2018. In the latest development in the rapper's case, it would appear as if he may have struck a deal. Bob Levey/Getty Images According to TMZ, Tekashi 6ix9ine pleaded guilty to 8 counts in his federal case. The rapper reportedly struck a deal with prosecutors on Jan. 23rd. The rapper pleaded guilty to several federal counts including of conspiracy racketeering, firearms offenses, drug offenses, and drug trafficking. At this point, it's unclear what sentence he faces now that he plead guilty. Newly unsealed documents revealed that he was involved with trafficking heroin, fentanyl, ecstasy, amphetamines, and weed. As for the conspiracy counts, officials said those consisted of acts of murder, robbery, and extortion. The only count that 6ix9ine didn't plead guilty to is the robbery in 2018 of Nine Trey rivals. The video of 6ix9ine offering $30K for someone to shoot at Chief Keef's cousin Tadoe was referenced by the feds in legal documents. They said that 6ix9ine "aided and abetted the shooting at rivals of Nine Trey [Bloods gang] at a hotel in Times Square." The shooting occurred in June of 2018 at Time Square a few days after 6ix9ine made the offer. 6ix9ine is reportedly scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 24, 2020. View the full article

Though late in the game, 21 Savage and J. Cole's "A Lot" was one of the year's highlights, a collaboration as unexpected as it was effective. With soulful production and the combined gravitas of two vastly different artists, 21 and Cole's thought-provoking banger brought harmony between the new generation and hip-hop's self-professed "Middle Child." Now, the pair has come through for some new visuals, appropriately cinematic in scope. Centering around a family get-together of sorts, those present find comfort in their shared company; meanwhile, various others find themselves reflecting on misfortunate circumstances, adding visual weight to the song's refrain. It's yet another good look for the hot-streak-riding Cole, who continues to maneuver through the game with a notable poise. As for 21 Savage, it's clear that the young rapper is looking at another one for the books, and it'll be exciting to see what manner of direction he ends up taking. In the meantime, check out the Aisultan Seitov-helmed clip, and sound off below. View the full article

Zoe Kravitz and her father Lenny teamed up with popular luggage company Tumi to film a campaign that allowed them to head home to the Bahamas and explore their roots and ancestry. The video below shows the beautiful landscape of the island as Zoe and Lenny drive through the plush country and end up at a vacant beach house that was where Zoe's great-grandfather lived. “I thought it’d be nice to go down to the end of the island and show you a bit of our family history, pay a little respect to our elders and the people who came before us. I think we’ll get a lot out of it.” Lenny says in the video. Overall, the trip brought the father and daughter even closer where Lenny reflected on his daughter's accomplishments explaining how he could have never expected her to be such a hard worker. "But I think that’s how you raised me and that’s how grandma raised you and I think that’s how grandpa raised her,” Zoë responds. “But everyone has taken it to the next level in their own way, allowing the next person to take it even further.” “That was grandpa’s dream,” Lenny adds. Watch the full clip below. View the full article

Since its embryonic stages, hip-hop has fought tooth and nail to be recognized on an even keel with other genres. Although it’s jarring to think of now, there was a time where hip-hop artists would only attain chart success as novelty acts or one-hit-wonders. Thankfully, hip-hop’s best and brightest no longer have to lampoon the genre or make a mockery of its artistic tropes to be successful. In fact, they don’t have to pander to mainstream audiences whatsoever-- proven by the fact that it is currently the most streamed genre in America. With Drake bookending Spotify’s 2018 Top Songs list alongside XXXtentacion, Juice WRLD and Post Malone, today’s widespread acceptance of hip-hop seems largely irreconcilable with the days where 2 Live Crew faced obscenity charges and the FBI kept a watchful eye on N.W.A’s every move. If any story of 2019 encapsulates this overhaul in public perception, it’s the news that not one, but two, high profile rappers have inked deals for Las Vegas residencies. Rather than being a lightning rod for moral panic, hip-hop is now being welcomed into America’s playground in the desert with open arms and ginormous sums of cash. The first to hop aboard this newly opened avenue, Drake has followed in the footsteps of pop songstresses and EDM heavy-hitters by signing a contract to perform at Vegas nightclub XS for the next couple of years. Rumored to be worth a staggering $10 million for a minimum of ten shows, The Blast has suggested that this deal is the culmination of a bidding war between XS and several other clubs. Days later, it emerged that the 6 God’s money move was mirrored by Cardi B as she unveiled a new agreement with the Palms. Outlined in an Instagram tirade, the Bronx-based artist outlined exactly why she deserves this lucrative spot: “Yes, it's true that Cardi got a residency in Las Vegas I see a lot of you motherf****s in the comments talking bout 'she only got one album, I thought you gotta be a legend, why her.' Bitch, f**k you mean ’why me?’ Because I bring bitches out!” Ethan Miller/Getty Images Said to be held at their new “dayclub and nightclub amphitheater-style complex” known as KAOS, these two deals may seem like just another trapping of their worldwide fame but it represents something far larger for hip-hop at a global level. Although the genre had begun to make in-roads, courtesy of nightclubs such as Drai’s, LIGHT and JEWEL, these two new deals carry a sense of occasion to them that parallels artists in rock, country and pop. Yet as little as 14 years ago, former Las Vegas sheriff Bill Young embarked on a quest to ban hip-hop shows in the county following a violent altercation after a Nelly and Fat Joe concert. Under political pressure, the Gaming Control Board informed all venues that they’d be culpable for any criminal activity in the wake of a rapper’s performance and this would lead to a planned Snoop Dogg show at The Rio Hotel being unceremoniously canceled. In the wake of this scrutiny, J Michael Carr Jr of Vegas-based company A New Way Media explained how this unfair stigma had manifested and the ominous precedent it set: “The demographics of Las Vegas have changed over the past ten or fifteen years. No longer is it a retirement community. We have a lot of young people moving here, a lot of black and brown people. And the [Vegas residents] are scared. The Sheriff is playing to his Republican base and to their fears and anxieties. If this can happen in Las Vegas—the entertainment capital of the world—it can surely happen in small rural areas.” While hip-hop’s top stars are on the fast-track to being welcomed into Vegas’ palatial auditoriums, the significance of these residencies for the genre lies in the fact that there remains two sides of the coin. In the same era that Cardi and Drake are invading a formerly genteel entertainment hotspot, hip-hop is still facing suppression and censorship in places far removed from the Nevada desert. In China, hip-hop culture has been the subject of a ban on “low taste content” due to its perceived mortal impunity since last year. A move that has affected both consumption of US mainstream hip-hop and the burgeoning underground scene that was blossoming in the country, this blanket prohibition of the genre is evidence of rap’s continued fight to be respected as an artform. In addition to the decrees of The Communist Party, Russia also placed restrictions on hip-hop that has prompted numerous arrests. Believed to be founded on “sex, drugs and protest.,” the nation’s president Vladimir Putin has since stipulated that “if it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it.” Across the straits of The Black Sea, 2018 also saw Turkish rapper Ehzel detained for lyrics that allegedly promoted drug use whilst the United Kingdom placed draconian legal restrictions on the drill rap scene and removed music videos by order of the police. What’s more, this summer’s Wireless Festival at London’s Finsbury Park may be headlined by Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky and Bardi herself, but only retained its license after agreeing to strict rules on profanity in lyrics and any “vulgar gestures, actions or remarks during the performance.” Four years on from 2 Chainz’ Instagram post about being unfairly barred from every club in Vegas, it’s heartening to know that things are moving in the right direction. Propelled by hip-hop’s undeniable stronghold over youth culture, “sin city” has heeded the writing on the wall and recognized Cardi and Drake in the same breath as Gaga, J-Lo and Mariah. Although it’s probably just another accolade in the portfolio for traditional pop acts, this represents a moment that carries a similar magnitude to Jay-Z finally opening the doors of Madison Square Garden to hip-hop back in 2003. As flag-bearers for a genre that’s been historically suppressed and discredited, Cardi and Drake’s move into a deceptively conservative town is a real show of defiance to those who wish to keep hip-hop’s advances at bay and represents hope for fans in countries such as China, Russia and Turkey. With sources suggesting that Post Malone will be next to put pen to paper on a residency, it would be easy to bicker over who deserves this platform and who doesn’t, but what matters more it is its potential knock-on effect for hip-hop culture. When a young Aubrey Graham set out to become a rapper, the concept of receiving a mil per show as part of an exclusive Vegas deal would’ve seemed absurd even in his wildest dreams. For the next generation of aspiring MCs, this unfathomable acceptance from the mainstream will now seem within their grasp and that can only be a good thing for rappers at large. View the full article

At some point, people better put some respect on Mo'Nique's name. For those that don't will be, at the very least, on the receiving end of a stern talking to. As no-nonsense as she is talented, the Oscar-winning actress slash comedian recently found herself making a few disparaging remarks about Whoopi Goldberg, whom she dubbed "The Help." The nature of Mo'nique's harsh words caused ripples in the game, which recently culminated in a heated face-to-face with none other than Steve Harvey. The Jasmine reports that Mo'Nique was holding it down on Harvey's daytime talk show, Steve. Unfortunately, the situation allegedly went far left, prompting the segment to come to a premature close. It's told that Mo'nique even threatened to "put hands on son," as Danny Brown might say. Apparently, the tension boiled to a height when Mo'nique, ostensibly there to promote her Las Vegas residency show, was asked about the aforementioned Whoopi comments. Steve seemed to feel that Mo'nique ought to apologize, which prompted the actress' heated reaction. As of now, there's no word on whether the segment will air as is, or find itself on the cutting room floor. [via] View the full article

Chris Brown is staying true to his character in prolonging the issue of his Paris rape allegations. His latest public gesture has been to upload an untitled video/song medley as a character. The clip which features scenes shot in France's capital features a forlorn Chris Brown appealing to a faceless crowd of non-believers. "My mom and grandma always said: 'The Lord can give you a gift and he can take it away.' I feel like I don't have to explain any bullshit or any lie that somebody has been perpetrating or portraying me as," Brown says during an intended moment reprieve during the video. "I came out there to do a job and that's what I did." In the days and weeks following his arrest in Paris, Chris Brown has been on a bit of a reclamation project of sorts on social media. With every post he makes on the subject, the R&B singer is hopeful of retaking the narrative cause from the people who still view him as an abuser. Days prior, Breezy posted a picture of him giving his daughter a piggy-back, and before that, he released a thinly-veiled song on the subject. Whilst he marches forward with his defamation suit against the accuser, French authorities remain entrenched on the case to no avail. He is nonetheless innocent until proven guilty, and her the same. View the full article

Jussie Smollett has finally spoken since the brutal attack that took place earlier this week when two men approached him hurling racial and homophobic comments and left him battered and bruised before running off. Police have issued a photo of the possible suspects as the investigation is still underway and just one day after Jussie's family issued a statement about the Empire actor, he has now shared words speaking for himself. “Let me start by saying that I’m OK,” Jussie told ESSENCE. “My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. ” The 35-year-old discussed certain inaccuracies of the case that are floating around, explaining how he is being "100% factual and consistent on every level." “As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident. We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process,” he concluded. “Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. It’s all I know. And that can’t be kicked out of me.” View the full article