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The murder of Drakeo The Ruler continues to be a heavy topic of conversation within the rap community. The 28-year-old artist was fatally stabbed backstage at the Once Upon A Time In L.A. Festival in Los Angeles on December 18, bringing his story to a tragic end. With no suspects in custody, Drakeo The Ruler’s family has yet to see any kind of justice.
While Drakeo’s mother has vowed to sue the festival organizers for allowing such a tragedy to transpire on their watch, his brother has made another promise. On Thursday (December 23), Ralfy The Plug broke his silence on his brother’s death with an Instagram post.
“His name gone forever live on,” he wrote alongside a photo of Drakeo. “Literally was a king that got it out the mud and I watched it all from the start. from recording all yo lil freestyle and post ‘‘em on YouTube watching smoking on the porch waking everybody up to spit this hard ass shit you be coming up with in 10 minutes effortlessly to going to camp.
“back to back every time I get out you go back every time you get out I went back to beating indictments starting yo own label and even getting a song with drake biggest artist in game and you did it by yo self you was a self made boss and a leader you was my idol and big brother and I learned a lot from you and I’m definitely gone make sure they still know the truth.”
Ralfy The Plug was backstage when the incident took place. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Drakeo The Ruler’s mother said she talked to witnesses at the scene and came to the conclusion fellow L.A. rapper YG and his entourage were involved. As she explained, Drakeo and Ralfy were accompanied by a small group of people backstage when “like 40 to 60 people” arrived around the same time as YG and “swamped” her son and his crew.
“Everything just happened so quickly,” she said. “They started trying to jump them.” She said Ralphy tried to help but soon realized his brother had been stabbed. Corniel is struggling to understand why so many people were allowed in the restricted area and wants somebody held accountable.
Meanwhile, Drakeo The Ruler associate K7 firmly implicated YG in a recent Instagram Live video and claimed it was a set-up: “YG a real life bitch All them n-ggas is bitches, bro. I don’t give a fuck, bro. I’m so mad, bro. On my mama, YG did some hoe shit. If I see cuh, I’m gonna slap the shit out that n-gga.”
He added, “This shit is weird. N-ggas is hatin’ bro. YG a real bitch. He knew Drakeo was gonna take his spot. Cuh really a bitch. N-gga set the whole shit up. This shit was a set up from the start. N-ggas shoulda been seen this whole setup shit that these faggot ass, bitch ass, gay ass, hoe ass n-ggas did. This shit got me hot, bro … these n-ggas ain’t even ready for war, bro. YG can’t perform in L.A. no more. Fuck all that, n-gga.”
It doesn’t appear to be a good month for rapper Future when it pertains to rap mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. Earlier this month, the Atlanta-based superstar found himself at the end of a social media roast session when he claimed “in the streets, im bigger” than the 23-time Grammy-winning rapper. Now critics are coming after Future yet again after he seemingly agreed with a podcaster who suggested he could beat Jay-Z in a “Verzuz” battle.
It’s safe to say the incident sparked fromcomments initially made by the “4:44” rapper during a discussion in a Spaces chatroom initially created to talk about Alicia Keys’ new album “Keys.”
The multi-layered superstar was asked whether he’d ever participate in the highly popular music competition event, to which Jay answered — much to many people’s agreement — “No one can stand on that stage with me.”
“It’s not a chance in hell that anyone can stand on that stage with me. You got to stand in front of the ‘Grammy Family Freestyle’ live? No one has ever even seen me perform that, you got to stand in front of that? That ain’t never going to happen,” he added before pivoting the discussion back to Keys’ album.
Jay’s comment quickly initiated a debate about what artist could hold a flame to the ultra-successful musician, including “Big Facts” co-host Big Bank who wrote on his Instagram Stories, “I Promise You, ErrBody From Atlanta Feels Like Pluto Can Win A Versus Against Hov!”
Future reposted the memo on his Instagram Stories, opening the floodgate of jokes almost instantly. “WHO MADE UP THIS LIE!” asked one Instagram user. “ONE THING THIS GENERATION GONNA STOP DOING IS LYING.”
“Future can’t even win a family court battle yet. Let’s not go there,” another person commented.
“It’s giving delusional,” quipped a third person.
“I’m from Atlanta born and raised and I don’t feel that way. Must be this new generation that feel that way….”
The “Jumpman” has been feeling himself lately. Earlier this month, he got on Twitter launching off a series of posts, including one that claimed he’s the only artist that can get Ye, formally known as Kanye West, to “pull up whenever wherever..tuh,” referring to his recent Rollin’ Loud Concert when he brought the Grammy winner out on stage. “Everything I do legendary,” he wrote elsewhere.
Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-year-old who fatally shot two people during the unrest last year in Kenosha, Wis., has been acquitted of all charges in a criminal trial that divided the nation over questions about gun rights, violence at racial justice protests and vigilantism.
The verdict, delivered Friday, follows a highly watched trial in which prosecutors struggled to overcome Rittenhouse's claim that he acted in self-defense on the night of the shootings.
"He has a huge sense of relief for what the jury did to him today. He wishes none of this would have ever happened, but as he said when he testified, he did not start this," said Rittenhouse's defense attorney Mark Richards, speaking to reporters outside the courthouse. "To say that we're relieved would be a gross misunderstatement."
In two weeks of testimony and evidence — led by a daylong turn on the stand by Rittenhouse himself — defense attorneys were able to convince the jury of 12 that the night of Aug. 25, 2020, was filled with deadly peril for the then-17-year-old.
Jurors deliberated for roughly 27 hours over the course of four daysbefore pronouncing Rittenhouse not guilty on all five counts: first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree attempted intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. The jury was also asked to consider lesser versions of several counts, but were not swayed.
"While we are disappointed with the verdict, it must be respected. We are grateful to the members of the jury for their diligent and thoughtful deliberations," said the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office in a statement. "We ask that members of our community continue to express their opinions and feelings about this verdict in a civil and peaceful manner."
Prosecutors declined to give further comment.
A chaotic night of unrest in Kenosha turns deadly
Rittenhouse armed himself with an AR-15-style rifle on a night of unrest in Kenosha sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was left paralyzed after an encounter with a white officer. Rittenhouse, who lived across the state line in Antioch, Ill., testified that he intended to act as a medic and help protect private property.
But the night spiraled out of control. In a series of chaotic encounters with protesters, documented thoroughly by photographs and videos, Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, then 26.
During the trial, Rittenhouse said he feared for his life in all three cases. Rosenbaum, he said, had chased him and was grabbing for his rifle.
"Mr. Rosenbaum was chasing me. He said he was going to kill me if he got me alone. I was alone. I was running from him. I pointed it at him, and it didn't stop him from continuing to chase me," Rittenhouse testified.
Afterward, as he ran toward police, others, including Huber and Grosskreutz, began to chase him. Huber struck him with a skateboard, visual evidence confirms. Grosskreutz was holding a loaded Glock pistol, which, he admitted during cross-examination, was pointed at Rittenhouse, though he said that was unintentional.
The criminal trial ends with acquittal, but civil lawsuits could be coming
Prosecutors argued that Rittenhouse was responsible for creating those situations. He chose to bring a deadly rifle into a dangerous environment, they said, and chose to stay there even after being separated from a friend.
Rosenbaum was unarmed, they pointed out, yet Rittenhouse shot him four times, all as Rosenbaum was falling to the ground. Grosskreutz testified that he feared for his own life, given the presence of Rittenhouse's rifle, and was trying to disarm Rittenhouse, not kill him. Asked on the witness stand what was going through his mind during their encounter, Grosskreutz replied, "That I was going to die."
But prosecutors also made repeated missteps, prompting defense lawyers to request a mistrial on two occasions, the first over Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger questioning Rittenhouse's right to remain silent and a second over a drone video that prosecutors had inadvertently compressed when sharing it with defense lawyers.
And legal experts said prosecutors relied too heavily on video evidence that was difficult to interpret and witnesses who offered testimony that at times seemed to bolster Rittenhouse's case.
"The prosecution had a very difficult time establishing its own case through its own witnesses. Each of the witnesses that the prosecution put forward did something to help their case but also did something that was harmful to their case," said Charles Coleman Jr., a civil rights lawyer and former prosecutor.
In the end, jurors were ultimately persuaded by Rittenhouse's version of events.
"Some might have had concerns about the decisions that brought Mr. Rittenhouse to Kenosha that evening and how he reacted. However, unless the state proves beyond a reasonable doubt that this wasn't reasonable and that he didn't believe that he needed to use deadly force to defend himself, then the only proper verdict is acquittal," said Chris Zachar, a criminal defense attorney based in La Crosse, Wis., who was not involved in the trial.
Rittenhouse could still be sued for damages in a civil trial, where the burden of proof is lower than in criminal trials.
In a statement, Huber's parents, Karen Bloom and John Huber, said that their son "would have his day in court" and that they were "heartbroken and angry" over the acquittal.
"Today's verdict means there is no accountability for the person who murdered our son. It sends the unacceptable message that armed civilians can show up in any town, incite violence, and then use the danger they have created to justify shooting people in the street," they said.
A lightning rod of a trial, broadcast widely across the U.S.
The case has sparked passionate reactions from the American public since the moment Rittenhouse fired his rifle that night.
Nearly every aspect of the case touches on some of the country's most contentious fault lines: Second Amendment rights, self-defense, violence at racial justice protests, vigilantism and perceptions of how police and the justice system treat white people and people of color differently.
Supporters saw Rittenhouse as a champion of gun rights who bravely stepped in to protect a community from what they considered lawless riots. Opponents instead saw an irresponsible vigilante who came to Kenosha to play dress-up as a police officer — a "chaos tourist," as Binger put it.
"What comes to mind is the comment that, 'How do you stop an active shooter? Good guys with guns.' In this case, you've got Mr. Rittenhouse, who fires off four shots at somebody who's unarmed and then continues to shoot people," said Zachar. "Who's the good guy? Who's the bad guy in that scenario? No, nobody really knows."
For the past two weeks, the trial has commanded the nation's attention — thanks in no small part to the fact that nearly every minute of the proceedings was broadcast widely on TV and livestream video. Everyone from basketball star LeBron James to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., weighed in before the verdict.
The White House released a statement from President Biden on Friday saying that the verdict "will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included," but that "we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken." Biden urged people to refrain from violence and property destruction and said he had contacted Wisconsin's governor to offer "support and any assistance needed to ensure public safety."
Behind the scenes of the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic pitch competition featuring HBCU students and alumni competing for funds to kickstart their entrepreneurial dreams
“I called up a couple buddies of mine — Charles King over at MaC Ventures and Serena Williams over at Serena Ventures — and we wanted to do something to sway the system a little bit,” Michael B. Jordan said in an interview. “We put together $1 million for Black entrepreneurs, it’s a crazy stat that less than 2% of venture capital goes toward Black founders. Black ideas, Black products, Black dreams, it’s their chance to take it home.”
Michael B. Jordan’s Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic basketball showcase had much more going on than just basketball games. The HBCU-centric event included an NBA 2K tournament and a career fair that featured stars like Michael Vick, Claudia Jordan, Micahel Rainey Jr., and companies like Morgan Stanely, Capital One, and Wasserman.
But the crowning achievement of the proceedings? Giving founders who are HBCU students or alumni the opportunity to receive $1 million in structured investments from Serena Williams’ investment company, Serena Ventures, and MaC Venture Capital.
Three finalists, Khalil David, Candice Blacknall, and Brandon Stokes, stood in front of Serena Williams, Serena Ventures’ Alison Stillman, CFA, and MaC Venture Capital general partner Michael Palank to pitch their businesses in hopes of winning the $1 million prize. The finalists were advised by Amazon, Invesco QQQ, and Public.com.
David, a graduate of Morehouse College and CEO of TracFlo, started his company in 2014. TracFlo is an online platform that eases the tracking of ongoing costs for construction and contracting projects. Blacknall is the head of GABA, an AI-powered career discovery and development company that uses social media content to drive mentorship and growth. Stokes is the co-founder and CEO of Blacksteel, a company that issues credit cards based on income and cash flow rather than credit score.
“These new inventors are so passionate about what they do,” Anna Paglia, Global Head of ETFs and Indexed Strategies at Invesco US, said in an interview. “The ability of these new inventors to adapt and bring new ideas, concepts into these ever-changing environments is really inspiring.”
And in addition to the $1 million investment from MaC Ventures and Serena Ventures, the winning founder also received a $10,000 stipend from Audible to fund one year in a shared workspace in Newark, New Jersey if they choose to relocate to the area.
“We have a very intentional purpose around amplifying underrepresented voices and growing the tech and innovation ecosystem,” said Aisha Glover, the company’s vice president of urban innovation in an interview. We wanted to figure out the best way for them to be a part of the excitement that is going on in Newark.”
Each of the finalist companies were also aware that the competition was an HBCU exclusive event for a reason. As Shayna Jamison, Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, said: “Our presence here is further evidence of Amazon’s growing investment in the HBCU community. In 2018, we committed to US Congresswoman Alma Adams and the HBCU Partnership Challenge, and have been continuously investing in the space ever since.”
As Sruthi Lanka, Public.com’s CFO, added in an interview, “Public’s mission is to make the public market work for all people. And so inherent in that statement is a desire to serve minorities, people of color, women, and people who are traditionally underserved by financial services. And so HBCUs are exactly in line with the demographic of the people that we want to serve through the company but also the talent that we’re trying to attract. We want to build a company that looks like the community we’re building.”
Alongside Amazon and Public.com, Wheels Up was also a key sponsor of the competition.
“Accessibility and inclusion are critical to our brand purpose, so when we learned of the opportunity to be a part of the Legacy Classic Startup Pitch which offers HBCU students and alumni a transformative moment like this, we absolutely jumped at the chance to be included,” said Lee Applbaum, Chief Marketing Officer at Wheels Up. “Serena has been a longtime investor, Member, Ambassador, and friend of Wheels Up, and Michael is someone we admire for all his work on and off-screen, so this was a partnership we knew we had to be a part of, and one we are immensely proud of.”
In the end, the panel of Serena Williams, Allison Stillman, and Michael Palank chose Khalil David’s TracFlo to be awarded the $1 million.
President Biden prepares to sign the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act of 2021 into law in March. Photo: Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images
President Biden signed a bill Thursday banning imports from China's Xinjiang region and punishing the Chinese government for its genocide of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, pera White House release.
Why it matters: Human rights activists say the bill will impose the first substantive costs the Chinese government has ever faced for its atrocities in Xinjiang. This could set a precedent for other countries to follow suit, writes Axios' Zachary Basu.
Details: The measure imposes sanctions on those responsible for forced labor in the region and bars imports unless the U.S. determines with "clear and convincing evidence" that they were not made with forced labor.
Flashback: The bill easily passed both chambers of Congress earlier this month in a rare bipartisan consensus. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the lone opponent.
What they're saying: The release thanked elected officials of both parties, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — as well as Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fl.).
The other side: The Chinese government on Friday said the lawviolates international law and “maliciously denigrates the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang in disregard of facts and truth."
"It is preposterous for the US, a country with a deplorable track record of human rights issues, to accuse and smear China. The US has serious problems of human trafficking and forced labor."
Of note: President Biden signed a separate bill on Thursday funding treatments for and research into neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
