Archives: Episodes

Lil Tjay is prepping for his musical return after surviving a near-fatal accident in June. In a new billboard displayed in his hometown of the Bronx, he teased, “I’m back.”

The promising message comes roughly two months after Tjay was shot at The Promenade in Edgewater, New Jersey. Bergen County prosecutors say he was struck in the thoracic cavity after resisting the suspect’s attempt at an armed robbery. He was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Tjay was unconscious, causing initial concerns he wouldn’t make it; he was discharged from the hospital last month.

Meanwhile, suspect Mohamed Konate was arrested, held at Rikers Island and later extradited to a New Jersey county jail. He faces three counts of first-degree attempted murder in connection to the shooting. Tjay’s friends Antoine Boyd and Jeffrey Valdez, one of whom exchanged gunfire with Konate, were charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The California state Senate passed a bill that would limit the use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal proceedings — a controversial and common practice by prosecutors that has garnered national attention amid the indictment against rappers Young Thug and Gunna.

Bill AB 2799, which is expected to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom after clearing the State Assembly, would be the first legislation of its kind to be signed into law.

According to the bill, the legislation seeks to “ensure that the use of an accused person’s creative expression will not be used to introduce stereotypes or activate bias against the defendant, nor as character or propensity evidence.”

Referencing the lyrics of hip-hop artists in criminal charges is not new and is a practice that has drawn criticism from both freedom-of-speech advocates and the musicians themselves, who argue that lyrics — often with no factual connection to a case — are not a true reflection of reality or the artists’ state of mind and serve to prejudice a jury against a defendant.

The bill, which was sponsored by Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, would require a judge to determine the admissibility of the lyrics in question as evidence and whether they are directly linked to an alleged crime.

The controversial practice of using rap lyrics in court was thrust into the national spotlight earlier this year when rap lyrics were used as part of the alleged evidence in a grand jury indictment that led to the arrests of Young Thug and Gunna.

The hip-hop stars were charged with conspiring to violate the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, according to charging documents obtained by ABC News.

They have pleaded not guilty and were denied bond; their trials are set for January 2023.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/15-months-uvalde-massacre-police-chief-arredondo-raised-security-issues-school-board

https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/fentanyl-mail-arrest-saved-millions-lives-police

Kobe Bryant, who passed away in a 2020 helicopter crash, would have turned 44 on August 23.

In honor of his birthday, wife Vanessa Bryant and a few of his peers have taken to social media to commemorate the Los Angeles Lakers legend.

“Happy birthday, baby! I love you and miss you so much!” Vanessa wrote next to a photo of her and Kobe. His oldest daughter, Natalia, sent him some birthday love, as well, posting a throwback of her and her late father.

The love for Kobe was also shared by others.

In a heartfelt post to his “hero,” actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. mentioned the impact the baller had on his life even after his death. “I watch and listen to you still, on bad days and the good,” O’Shea wrote on Twitter. “Wherever you are my friend, I know exactly how you spending this birthday. Getting shots up lol,” he continued, sending a hello to Kobe’s daughter Gianna.

The Lakers, actress Kerry Washington, Isaiah Thomas and Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving were among the others to celebrate Kobe.

“Love you Big brother @kobebryant Happy Solar Return…,” wrote Kyrie. “You and all the angels celebrate up in Paradise! The Black Mamba lives on.”

As fans know, Kobe, Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Vanessa has since been embroiled in a lawsuit against LA County over leaked images of the victims and crash site. In testimony during the ongoing trial, she claimed the photos caused her to “live in fear every day of being on social media and having” them resurface. She’s suing the county for emotional distress and mental anguish.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, released the premiere episode of her long-awaited podcast Tuesday and did so with the help of a celebrity friend.

Meghan’s first Archetypes podcast episode features the duchess in conversation with tennis superstar Serena Williams, a longtime friend who attended Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

The two talked about ambition, and the stereotypes and criticisms they’ve faced as women in the public eye — the focus of Meghan’s podcast — and chatted about how they became “fast friends” after meeting at the 2014 Super Bowl.

“We have a lot in common,” Williams said of their friendship.

“So much,” said Meghan. “… you experience behind closed doors the pain that I’m going through and vice versa.”

Meghan, 41, and Williams, 40, spoke about Williams’ recent announcement that she plans to “evolve” away from professional tennis. The duo also revealed that Meghan’s husband, Harry, helped counsel Williams as she considered her next career move.

“He was trying to knock some sense into me and I’m just like, ‘Uh,'” said Williams.

“I think, you know, I think both of us, or the three of us, really know that sometimes the right decision isn’t the easiest decision,” said Meghan. “It’s a hard decision. And it takes a lot of thought, and a lot of counsel and a lot of support to just go ‘uh uh uh’ and then just make the choice.”

Harry and Meghan made the decision to step down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, and now live in California with their children Archie and Lilibet.

Meghan’s next episode of Archetypes will feature a conversation with Mariah Carey and is set to be released next week.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(Note Language) Flo Milli declares she’s a “Big Steppa” in her new single, but now she wants fans to see it for themselves. The rapper released the song’s music video, which captures her posing for a photoshoot, rapping in front of a green screen displaying various sets of steps and destroying a small city — all in designer ensembles.

“Big Steppa” is one of 17 tracks featured on Flo’s debut album, You Still Here, H*? — which dropped in July. The project includes appearances from Babyface Ray and Rico Nasty and serves as a follow-up to her EP H*, Why Is You Here?

“I wanted to kinda do something as a sequel,” Flo told Stereogum of her new album. “But at the same time, I wanted to showcase different things about me, like versatility with my music and stuff, instead of giving them the same things that I gave them before.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Does T-Pain have what it takes to be a Peloton instructor? Check out his audition tape. 

Released Monday, the TikTok clip captures the Grammy winner as he gives viewers a glimpse of what it’d be like to have him guide a Peloton class. 

“Alright Peloton, let’s go,” says T-Pain while riding the stationary bike. “Let’s do this. James, what the f***? Pick it up, buddy. Pick it up. You’re letting Carol beat ya. Look at that output, terrible! Terrible!”

“Cathy, you’re doing great, by the way,” he continues. “It looks like I haven’t been looking at you, but I’ve been watching you all night. It’s been great. Thighs, it’s gonna all go to it. You gonna feel it afterward.”

The clip has since been shared on Peloton’s TikTok and appears to follow a video in which Pain declared his new “permanent” role at the company. “I’ll be your Peloton instructor all the time,” he says.

He also shared a video of him randomly popping up at an ongoing Peloton session. “@onepeloton thank you for having me. Yelling at ppl and not doing much of anything really works up a sweat!!” he penned the caption. “Hope everybody had a good ride/run this morning! Keep up the hard work. I’m gonna go get some pizza.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/man-dies-after-reportedly-chasing-dog-traffic-being-hit-car

https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/k-9-helps-find-missing-teenager-north-carolina-were-just-really-thankful