New York
R. Kelly’s Lawyers In Racketeering Trial Request To Stop Representing Him Because Duh
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Cook County Department of Corrections / Cook County Department of Corrections Robert Kelly is dripping in wack juice and can’t get it off. So much so his lawyers want to withdraw from his New York racketeering case. ABC 7 Chicago is reporting that the disgraced crooner’s legal team is asking to be removed from his trial in The Big Apple. According to the court filings, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard want to be excused from representing R’uh. They formally submitted a letter to a judge to justify their plea. “Our reasons for withdrawal are significant and it is impossible, in our belief, for us to be able to continue to properly represent Mr. Kelly under the current circumstances,” the document read. Mr. Greenberg explained their position in a stateme...
New York’s Teksupport and Avant Gardner Announce Summer Shows With Mandatory Vaccine Policy
While U.S. states like Florida and Texas have roared back to life with full-capacity music festivals, club nights, and headline shows, New York—an electronic music haven—has been wary on its road back to nightlife. However, that will soon change with this week’s major event announcements from Teksupport, an influential Brooklyn-based house and techno organizer, and Avant Gardner, New York’s premier electronic music venue. Avant Gardner recently announced that the venue will require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to attend shows within their sprawling, 80,000-square foot concert complex which houses three separate event spaces: The Great Hall, The Kings Hall, and The Brooklyn Mirage. “Under the current New York State regulations regarding businesses that congregate patrons and operat...
Gunman kills at least 8 in mass shooting at California rail yard
At least eight people were killed when a transit employee opened fire at his co-workers at a light rail yard in San Jose, California, on Wednesday morning, the county sheriff’s office said, in the latest in a string of mass shootings this spring. The gunman, who like the victims was an employee of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), was also dead, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Russell Davis said at a news conference. He did not say how the gunman died or whether police officers fired their weapons at the scene. The name and age of the suspect were also not disclosed. The first emergency calls reporting the shooting at the VTA light rail yard near the city’s main airport came through shortly after 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time (1330 GMT). A bomb squad was searching the yar...
New York Venues Receive Green Light to Open at Capacity—But Must Ask for Proof of Vaccination
In a wide-ranging speech from the stage at Radio City Music Hall, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo explained that within the next month venues will begin operating at full capacity provided they request proof of vaccination from attendees. IQ reports that on June 19th, Radio City will open at full capacity and attendees will be required to present a vaccine passport—likely New York’s Excelsior Pass—in order to enter the venue. Cuomo explained his view that attendance scalability is predicated upon the amount of tickets allocated to vaccinated patrons. “I encourage [private venues] to have a high percentage available for vaccinated people,” he said. “Radio City is going to be 100%, I encourage that, because that’s an incentive for people to get vaccina...
Minister charges diplomats to change the narratives about Nigeria
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, yesterday, charged officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to change the narratives about the country. Onyeama stated this during the opening of a three-day induction programme for over 350 officers posted to Nigerian missions abroad in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Onyeama told the officers that it had been a rocky and bumpy road to get to the point in which they were set to depart the country, adding that he was however glad that the day had arrived. “I am here to rejoice and to express my love for you all and to say that we have to keep hope alive, we have to maintain solidarity. We are in this thing together and by God’s grace, we will all be an asset for our country, Nigeria. That is what it is really all about, about Nigeria,...
Eric Prydz Announces Four Brooklyn Warehouse Shows With “Brand New Production”
After a devastating year for New York’s live music scene, Eric Prydz is returning to the City That Never Sleeps for four industrial warehouse shows. Split between two weekends, Prydz’s upcoming NYC takeover is scheduled for November and December 2021, respectively. The first weekend (11/26 and 11/27) will see the iconic “Call on Me” producer play two extended solo sets for a classic showcase of his progressive house sound. The second slate (12/3 and 12/4) will see Prydz perform under his techno alias Cirez D alongside Drumcode founder Adam Beyer. According to a press release issued to announce the shows, they “will feature a brand new production set-up.” Flyers for Eric Prydz’s upcoming Brooklyn warehouse shows. Prydz’s NYC con...
Ogun governor suspends aide arrested for ‘fraud’ in US
The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has suspended his aide, Abidemi Rufai, who was arrested in the United States for an alleged $350,000 (about N140 million) COVID-19 unemployment fraud. Kunle Somorin, Abiodun’s chief press secretary, confirmed the suspension to newsmen on Tuesday. This was also confirmed to newsmen by the chief press secretary to Abiodun, Kunle Somorin. “Our position is that the law should take its course,” Somorin said in a WhatsApp interview. “Meanwhile, the governor has ordered his immediate suspension from office to answer charges against him.” Sources within the government told newsmen that the governor took the action immediately he was briefed about Rufai’s arrest. This newspaper earlier reported that Rufai, Senior Special Assistant to Abiodun, was arrested l...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Rolls Back Capacity Restrictions for Large Venues
A new day is dawning for New York’s concert venues after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a lift on capacity-related restrictions effective later this month. Beginning May 19th, large-scale indoor venues have been given the go-ahead to operate at 30% capacity, up from 10%. Meanwhile, outdoor venues have been permitted to scale up to 33%. Currently, venues have been instructed not to exceed 500 attendees for outdoor events and 250 attendees for indoor events. However, going forward venues will be permitted to exceed this limit if attendees produce a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination prior to entry and as long as the venue enforces social distancing and mask-wearing. The cutback in restrictions arrives amid a successful vaccine campaign. Thus far, an estimated 50% o...
US Supreme Court dismisses case on Donald Trump blocking Twitter critics
The U.S. Supreme Court set aside a federal appeals court ruling that former President Donald Trump violated the First Amendment when he blocked critics from following his Twitter account. The case had already lost its practical impact given Trump’s election defeat and Twitter’s Jan. 8 decision to permanently ban his @realDonaldTrump account for glorifying violence. But the two sides in the case continued to spar over the fate of the appeals court decision. Before Trump left office, the Justice Department asked the justices to wipe away the precedent, while those suing him sought to keep it intact. The appeals court said a social media account run by government officials can become a constitutionally protected “public forum” if used to conduct official business. The Supreme Court has said t...
Marijuana Is Finally Legal In New York, Now What?
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Bloomberg / Getty It’s a beautiful morning in New York for many herb enthusiasts now that the state has finally legalized recreational marijuana. State legislations and Governor Andrew Cuomo made it official on Wednesday, allowing some parts of the legislation to take effect immediately. The New York Times breaks down what’s expected out of the new law and what it means to communities disproportionately hit by marijuana-related charges. For starters, forty percent of the tax revenue from the sales will be earmarked for them. And for the people with marijuana-related offenses that are now legal, their records are automatically expunged. In an even bigger win for the culture, the law allows people with past convictions and those invo...
Electric Zoo Announces Second Phase of 2021 Lineup—And It’s Massive
Back in October 2020, when Electric Zoo first announced their initial 2021 lineup, it seemed like an eternity until the festival date. Now, one brutal pandemic later, the festival’s organizers, Made Event, have released the Phase Two lineup—and it’s a massive addition. Featuring artists such as ILLENIUM, Destructo, Blunts & Blondes, PEEKABOO, JOYRYDE, LICK and more, the festival is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event. As countless brands continue to roll out their 2021 lineups, the countdown to one of the most beloved dance music fests on the East Coast continues. Electric Zoo organizers have been hard at work to ensure the festival goes off without a hitch. Made Event has teamed up with a stable of labels and artists to host stages this year, inc...
Black Man Who Murdered Mom Arrested For Beating Asian Woman In New York
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Screencap / NYPD Crimestoppers A horrific incident on a New York street involving a Black man unleashing a brutal beating on an elderly Asian woman has led to an arrest and growing outrage. Brandon Elliot, who murdered his mother in 2002 and served 17 years, was free on parole and carried out his attack on the 65-year-old woman on Monday (March 29). The NYPD Hate Crimes division shared a tweet on Tuesday that featured surveillance video images of Elliot along with reports of his arrest and charges. Elliot was slapped with both Felony Assault as a Hate Crime and Attempted Assault as a Hate Crime charges. Thanks to assistance from the public and excellent investigative work by @NYPDHateCrimes Detectives, the individual wanted for Monday’s assault of a 65 ye...
