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☆ How NYC gangs actually work, according to a former Bloods member
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Nazar Risafi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Shanduke McPhatter led the Gangsta Killer Bloods, also known as G-Shine, in Brooklyn, New York, for over 10 years. In 1994, the United Blood Nation recruited him to the Nine Trey Gangsters faction at the Rikers Island jail complex, and he became one of the first East Coast Blood gang members. McPhatter speaks with Business Insider about New York City gang culture, including the formation of new gangs like the Woos and Choos, which emerged as collaborations between Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples sets in New York. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.

Persons: Shanduke McPhatter, Trey, McPhatter Organizations: Gangsta, United Blood Nation, Coast Blood, New, Business Locations: Brooklyn , New York, New York City, New York

☆ Bring Office Cubicles Back; Improve Employee Productivity, Hybrid Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

In a memorable montage from the 1999 workplace satire "Office Space," Peter Gibbons, a fed-up office drone, decides to take a stand. For years, the office cubicle was the four-walled avatar of corporate disaffection. Late '90s films like "Office Space," "Fight Club," and "The Matrix" enshrined its detested status. The tech boom arrived, bringing with it open office plans and a Silicon Valley-led gloss of egalitarianism, epitomized by Google's high-profile headquarters redesign in 2005. The top comment on the "Office Space" cubicle clip on YouTube captures the irony of this shift: "I would have killed for a cubicle," the commenter wrote.

Persons: Peter Gibbons, Google's, weren't, Nikil Saval, Slack, hasn't, Joseph Country, Heather Chapman, Chapman, Sydney Baker, there's, Baker, Thomas Roulet, Roulet, somethings, it's, Kevin Kelley, Shook Kelley, Kelley, cubicles, hewing Organizations: Toyota Corolla, Porsche, Workers, YouTube, Research, Harvard Business School, Environmental Psychology, University of Cambridge Locations: Silicon, Michigan, Louisville , Kentucky, —, Charlotte , North Carolina

In her 14-page order, Brooklyn Federal Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall traced the evolution of hip-hop over five decades, referencing tracks from over a dozen artists before ultimately finding the lyrics inadmissible. “From the genre’s nascence as an oral tradition, rap artists have played the part of storytellers, providing a lens into their lives and those in their communities,” Hall wrote. The use of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions has become a contentious subject in several high-profile cases, including the ongoing racketeering trial of Young Thug. Defense lawyers have claimed the government dragged its feet in indicting Washington and Jordan, making it harder for them to defend themselves. Both men have pleaded not guilty, as has a third defendant who was charged this past May and will be tried separately.

Persons: Jay can’t, Karl Jordan Jr, gunning, Jay, Jason Mizell, LaShann, ”, Prosecutors, Jordan, Hall, Nas, Vince Staples, Joe, Queen Latifah, Jason Aldean, Young, Ronald Washington, Mizell Organizations: Brooklyn Federal Locations: York, Brooklyn, indicting Washington, Jordan

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A judge on Thursday conditionally released U.S. rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine after he was arrested in the Dominican Republic last week on domestic violence charges. After the hearing, Tekashi 6ix9ine’s attorney, Waldo Pimentel, accused prosecutors of “fabricating” evidence against his client. Meanwhile, prosecutor Ana Andrea Villa Camacho explained why she had requested that Tekashi 6ix9ine remain held. It is the second time that Hernández is arrested in the Dominican Republic. Tekashi 6ix9ine had a multiplatinum hit song, “Fefe,” with Nicki Minaj in 2018.

Persons: SANTO DOMINGO, —, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Daniel Hernández, ”, Fátima Veloz, Tekashi, Waldo Pimentel, Ana Andrea Villa Camacho, Hernández, Nine Trey Gangsta, “, Nicki Minaj Organizations: Dominican Republic, Authorities, Nine, U.S . Locations: Dominican Republic, Dominican, Caribbean, U.S, U.S . East Coast, Florida

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former street gang leader charged with orchestrating the 1996 drive-by killing of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas is expected to plead not guilty Thursday to murder, amid questions of whether he'll hire a defense lawyer or a judge appoints a public defender. Goodman spoke for Davis outside court two weeks ago, saying that prosecutors lack key evidence and witnesses to the killing committed 27 years ago. The attorney didn't give a reason Wednesday why Davis couldn’t hire him. He was arrested Sept. 29 outside a home in suburban Henderson where Las Vegas police served a search warrant July 17, drawing renewed attention to the unsolved murder of one of hip-hop music’s most enduring icons. His indictment alleges Davis provided a gun to someone in the Cadillac from which car-to-car gunfire mortally wounded Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight at an intersection just off the Las Vegas Strip.

Persons: Tupac Shakur, Duane Keith, Keffe, ” Davis, Shakur, Ross Goodman, Goodman, Davis, didn't, Marion “ Suge, Knight, Orlando, Lane ” Anderson Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las, Prosecutors, West Coast Locations: Las Vegas, Nevada, Compton , California, Henderson, California, Compton, East Coast

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former Southern California street gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas has lost his bid to be represented at his arraignment by the lawyer who spoke publicly about his defense two weeks ago. The judge also could name a defense attorney in private practice to represent Davis at taxpayer expense, or assign a special public defender from the county, an alternate roster of possible court-appointed attorneys. Political Cartoons View All 1230 Images“We're just not sure at this point how this will play out and who will end up representing him,” said Jordan Savage, assistant special public defender. Edi Faal, Davis’ longtime personal lawyer in Los Angeles, said Wednesday he expected that a special public defender would be named to represent Davis. Davis is expected to plead not guilty to a murder charge that could put him in prison for the rest of his life.

Persons: Tupac Shakur, Ross Goodman, Duane Keith “ Keffe, ” Davis, Goodman, Davis, Tierra Jones, Scott Coffee, ”, Jordan Savage, Davis ’, Faal, Shakur, Marion “ Suge, Knight, he’s, Shakur’s, Orlando, Lane ” Anderson, Anderson, Marc DiGiacomo, Suge Knight Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Associated Press, Edi, AP, ” Prosecutors, West Coast, Davis Locations: Southern California, Las Vegas, Clark County, Clark, Los Angeles, Nevada, Compton , California, Compton, East Coast, Las

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A self-described gangster who police and prosecutors say masterminded the shooting death of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996 is due to make his first appearance Wednesday before a Nevada judge. In mid-July, Las Vegas police raided Davis’ home, drawing renewed attention to one of hip-hop music's most enduring mysteries. The car was stopped at a red light near the Las Vegas Strip when a white Cadillac pulled up on the passenger side and gunfire erupted. Shot multiple times, Shakur died a week later at age 25. Sheriff Kevin McMahill, who oversees the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, has acknowledged criticism that his agency was slow to investigate Shakur's killing.

Persons: Tupac Shakur, Duane “ Keffe, ” Davis, Davis, he's, “, ”, there’s, Davis ’, Marion “ Suge, Shakur, Orlando, Lane ” Anderson, Mike Tyson, Knight, Marc DiGiacomo, Anderson, Dre, ” Smith, Terrence “, Brown, Kevin McMahill, McMahill, Sekyiwa, ” Shakur Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Court, Associated Press, East Coast, West Coast, MGM, BMW, Cadillac, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Locations: Las Vegas, Nevada, Henderson, Clark County, Las, Knight, Compton , California, Compton, Compton . Knight

☆ The Future of Rap Is Female
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Niela Orr | Photographs Adrienne Raquel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +22 min

The Future of Rap Is Female As their male counterparts turn depressive and paranoid, it’s the women who are having all the fun. In the mid-’80s, the dynamics shifted slightly, when UTFO released “Roxanne, Roxanne,” a comical torch song dissing a woman who rejected the men’s advances. Like good sex, raunchy rap is only fun if all parties are completely enthusiastic, and this music provides necessary female perspectives to match what the men make. In Miami one weekend in late July, Rolling Loud, one of the biggest annual hip-hop festivals, made itself into a microcosm of the rap world. There’s a relentless gender pessimism in the air, too — on the street, on dating apps, in the Supreme Court and, of course, in rap music.

Persons: Sackler, Drake, Foley, Yung Miami, Wu, Da, Tupac Shakur, Nicki Minaj, Cardi, Megan Thee, there’s, ”, There’s Latto, Jung Kook, “, Diana ”, Boy’s, Red’s, Munch, Rodney Dangerfield, munch, ” MAIYA, “ We’re, Lil Baby, Flo Milli, —, ” Flo Milli, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire —, Debbie D, Lisa Lee, Mercedes Ladies, UTFO, Roxanne, Lolita Shanté Gooden, Gooden, ” FLO MILLI, Roxanne Shanté, Clover Hope, M.C, Brian Coleman, Lyte, Ruff Ryders, it’s, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Kash Doll, SKODI LOLA BROOKE, Lil ’ Kim, “ I’m, I’m, ” That’s, Lolita Gooden, Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie ”, James Harden, P.J, Tucker, KENTHEMAN “, I’ve, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Grace Jones, Benzino, blowin, ignorin ’, Berry hairdo, Grandmaster Flash, It’s, ” —, ” Leray, VETTE, CHANEL, ” Flo, Cartier, “ Lyte, Flo Organizations: YouTube, Girls, City Girls, Public, Down Productions, Wu -, Digital, City, Memphis, Brooklyn Locations: Miami, Wu - Tang, “, Bronx, Mobile , Ala, y’all

☆ Rapper Coolio died from fentanyl overdose, manager says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Singer Coolio performs before a panel discussion on his new Oxygen Network reality series "Coolio's Rules" at the NBC Universal summer 2008 press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 20, 2008. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, April 6 (Reuters) - Grammy-winning rapper Coolio died from a fentanyl overdose, his manager said on Thursday, six months after the musician was found dead at a friend's home in Los Angeles at age 59. Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio was best known for his 1995 single "Gangsta's Paradise," from an album of the same name. Coolio's manager, Jarez Posey, said the rapper's family had been informed on Thursday by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office that the singer had died from a fentanyl overdose. Born in Pennsylvania in 1963, Coolio began performing as part of the West Coast hip-hop scene after moving to Compton, California.

☆ Former NBA star Zach Randolph & Marcus 'Head' Howell on building NLess Entertainment and the rise of Moneybagg Yo
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( John Lynch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

NLess Entertainment co-founders Zach Randolph and Marcus Howell spoke to Insider about the trajectory of their independent record label. After signing with NLess in 2016, Moneybagg Yo released his debut studio album, "Reset," and steadily built momentum with each subsequent LP. "Man, staying in the studio," Howell reinforced. "Bagg work hard. I asked Randolph and Howell what separates Memphis from the rest of the US in their minds.

☆ Final farewell: From Sidney Poitier to Pope Emeritus Benedict a look back at the influential figures who died in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +55 min

Other world leaders who died in 2022 include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August. The final days of 2022 saw the loss of some exceptionally notable figures, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2022 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Dan Reeves, 77. A Cuban-born artist whose radiant color palette and geometric paintings were overlooked for decades before the art world took notice. A prolific character actor best known for playing villains and tough guys in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven” and other films.

Weird Al, known for taking famous pop and rock songs and sending them up by rewriting the lyrics. It began as a fake movie trailer that director Eric Appel made in 2013 as a sketch for Funny or Die. It featured Aaron Paul, Olivia Wilde, Gary Cole, Mary Steenburgen, Patton Oswalt and yes, Weird Al. Yankovic noted that the day after the trailer came out, “if you did a Google search for Weird Al, the first thing is, ‘Did Weird Al date Madonna?’ Everybody wanted to know. Weird Al Yankovic during a photo shoot in Los Angeles in 1984.

Rapper Cardi B arrives at the Queens County Criminal Court in Queens, New York, U.S., September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/Oct 21 (Reuters) - A California federal jury on Friday rejected claims that musician Cardi B misused a man's image on the cover of her first 2016 mixtape album. Brophy's 2017 lawsuit sought at least $5 million in damages from Cardi B and an order blocking her from using his likeness. The New York rapper argued that the cover's use of the design qualifies as "transformative" under intellectual property law and is constitutionally protected. The tattoo was used "in an anonymous manner, as a single building block" in the complex cover image, Cardi B said in a court filing.

☆ Coolio, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Rapper and Grammy Winner, Dies at 59
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Neil Shah | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Coolio, a West Coast hip-hop star known for melding gangsta rap and pop music into memorable hits such as “Gangsta’s Paradise,” died Wednesday at the age of 59. The rapper, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at a friend’s home in Los Angeles, his manager, Jarez Posey, told the Associated Press. The cause of death wasn’t immediately clear. Coolio had been performing for audiences and was scheduled to be in Stuttgart, Germany, on Saturday.

☆ Coolio, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Rapper, Dies at Age 59
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s with hits including “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died Wednesday at age 59, his manager said. Coolio, whose legal name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at the Los Angeles home of a friend, according to longtime manager Jarez Posey. The cause was not immediately clear.

LOS ANGELES — Rapper Coolio, known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta’s Paradise," has died at age 59, his manager confirmed Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the home around 4 p.m. for a death investigation, the department said. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office will officially release the identity, officials said. No foul play is suspected, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said. Coolio was also known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage," "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)" and "C U When U Get There," among others.

☆ Coolio, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper, dies at 59
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Diana Dasrath | Phil Helsel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rapper Coolio, known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta's Paradise," has died at age 59, his manager confirmed Wednesday evening. Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., had a music career that spanned more than three decades. Coolio won a Grammy for "Gangsta's Paradise," which was released in 1995 and spent three weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 list. Coolio was also known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage," "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" and "C U When U Get There," among others. He was nominated for five other Grammys, including for "Fantastic Voyage" and "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)."

☆ Grammy-winning rapper Coolio dies in Los Angeles at 59
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LOS ANGELES, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Grammy-winning rapper Coolio died on Wednesday after being found unresponsive at a friend's Los Angeles home, the New York Times reported. Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was best known for his 1995 single "Gangsta's Paradise," from an album of the same name. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe rapper died at about 5 p.m. pacific time (8 p.m. EDT) at a local hospital, his manager Jarez Posey told the Times. Posey told the paper that Ivey had earlier been found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend's home. He released his debut album, "It Takes a Thief", in 1994, scoring a Top Ten hit with the single "Lakeside."

☆ Coolio, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper, dead at 59
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Coolio, the ’90s rapper who lit up the music charts with hits like “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” has died, his friend and manager Jarez Posey, told CNN. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive male and performed “resuscitation efforts for approximately 45 minutes.”The patient “was determined dead just before 5:00 p.m.,” Scott said. Coolio was a friend and one of the warmest, funniest people I’ve ever met. Arguably his biggest song, “Gangsta’s Paradise,” from the soundtrack to the film “Dangerous Minds,” grew his star power to gigantic proportions. “I didn’t use any trendy words…I think it made it timeless.”Over his career, Coolio sold more than 17 million records, according to his website.

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