LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has sentenced rapper Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for shooting and wounding hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford handed down the sentence Tuesday to the 31-year-old Lanez, who was convicted in December of three felonies. Lanez pleaded for mercy before the sentence was delivered. He said in the courtroom that he takes full responsibility for his actions but did not refer to Megan by name, saying, “The victim was my friend.” His lawyers said they were “extremely disappointed. They plan to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors said the sentence represents justice for Megan.
UNDATED (AP) – Jay-Z’s Made In America festival in Philadelphia has been canceled, less than a month before it was supposed to happen. Organizers say in a statement the festival is off because of “severe circumstances outside of production control.” It was set for Sept. 2-3. The lineup included Miguel, Metro Boomin’, Ice Spice and SZA (SIH’-zah). It also included Lizzo, who was recently sued by three of her former backup dancers.
LONDON (AP) – Fans tossed flowers onto the hearse that carried the casket of Sinead (shuh-NAYD’) O’Connor as it drove through the streets of Bray in Ireland yesterday. The funeral procession was led by a VW camper van that played her music and songs by Bob Marley, her favorite artist. Bono of U2 and Bob Geldof of Boomtown Rats attended the funeral. The burial at a cemetery was private. O’Connor died at her home in London on July 26.
NEW YORK (AP) – Here’s a little history lesson on “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang, according to Chuck D: it was a performance long before it was a record. Chuck D says he remembers hearing about “rap records” coming and he couldn’t figure out how that would work, since “rap” meant a party thing that lasted three or four hours. He says back in the early days, the measure of success was how long someone could rap. He says when a 15-minute version of “Rapper’s Delight” finally came out, he was surprised...that it was so short. This week marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
SOUND: Hip-Hop at 50 pkg
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – When other kids were spending their money on candy, Too Short was spending his on 45s, and then on 12-inch singles. He remembers spending his money on Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash. Too Short says he was one of the first to get a beatbox with two speakers. He says that beatbox sticks in his mind because it was the kind that needed eight “D” batteries that drained every day. This week marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
NEW YORK (AP) – DJ Jazzy Jeff remembers hearing about “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang and thinking it was music just for him. He says up to that point, he liked the music that his siblings like. Jeff says he felt “Rapper’s Delight” had been made just for him. This week marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – E-40 remembers the moment he wanted to be a rapper. It was when he first heard “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang. E-40 says he was in 7th grade and up to that point, he and his friends listened to R&B and soul music. He says when he heard “Rapper’s Delight,” he was hooked. He even wore fedoras and gold rope chains like Run-DMC. This week marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kid Capri says there’s a lot of talk about “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang being the first rap record, but for him, it was “King Tim III (Personality Jock)” by The Fatback Band. Capri had an inside track on that song. His uncle is Bill “Fatback” Curtis. Capri says anyone who sees him on stage will see how his uncle influenced what he does. This week marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Jermaine Dupri was about 11 years old when he first heard “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang. He can still remember the words like it was yesterday. Dupri says he never knew that song would take him on the journey it did. This week marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
