Shawn Setaro Portrait

Shawn Setaro

Shawn Setaro is a writer, reporter, and podcaster who primarily covers courts and the legal system. He is the author of the book 'Dummy Boy: Tekashi 6ix9ine and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods' (Kingston Imperial, 2021) and was the writer and reporter for Complex's podcast series about 6ix9ine, Pop Smoke, and YNW Melly.

Joined May 2016 | 1340 posts
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Latest Stories

Kendrick Lamar at the BET Awards 2025 held at the Peacock Theater on June 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Kendrick Lamar Fulfills Birthday Promise to a Very Special Young Fan

The rap legend gave seven-year-old Romell Frazier Jr. — seriously injured in a dog attack earlier this year — a visit with his favorite artist.

Shawn Setaro14 minutes ago
Stop Snitch'n t-shirt ( DENVER POST PHOTO BY CRAIG F. WALKER)

Is Lil Durk Snitching or Just Mounting a Defense? A Look Into the Rapper’s Murder-for-Hire Trial

Durk's defense strategy appears to involve his lawyers blaming everything on OTF Vonnie. Fans are debating whether that makes him smart, or a different word that starts with "s."

Shawn Setaro7 hours ago
Machine Gun Kelly and Lil Durk perform at Amazon Music Live Concert Series on October 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

MGK Makes Surprise Appearance at Lil Durk's Federal Murder-for-Hire Trial

There was an unexpected person in the overflow room.

Shawn Setaro3 days ago
The Game and Drake

The Game Discusses Earlier Versions of Drake Collab: 'They Weren't Too Kind'

The L.A. rapper talked about previous incarnations of "No Brakes," and said any lyrical changes were made to protect "the coast."

Shawn Setaro3 days ago
Damon Dash attends the 57th NAACP Image Awards Official BET Dinner at Grand Venue on February 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Dame Dash May Soon Have a Biopic That He Doesn't Get Paid From. There's a Reason.

If you see 'Pause: The Dame Dash Story' on your streaming service soon, there's a good chance Dame won't see a dime.

Shawn Setaro6 days ago
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 18: Quality Control Music (QC) co-founder Pierre "P" Thomas attends The Rocket Foundation Summit on Gun Violence Prevention at The Carter Presidential Center on June 18, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quality Control's Pierre "P" Thomas in Hospital After Reportedly Suffering Heart Attack

The Quality Control co-founder is currently in Vegas, per TMZ.

Shawn Setaro6 days ago
AllStar JR

AllStar JR Asks for Trial Delay, Acknowledges NBA Ben10 Social Posts

The rapper's lawyer is hopeful that Ben10's belief that JR "ain't do s**t wrong" can help lead to a resolution.

Shawn Setaro7 days ago
Mychal Threets, aka Mychal the Librarian, speaks at the Read Them Home vigil against the child detention policies of ICE and the Trump Administration.

Reading Rainbow Host Mychal Threets Says He's 'Not Okay,' Will Be Checking in to Hospital

"In this moment I am safe," he clarified. "Thank you for your care."

Shawn Setaro9 days ago
Lil Durk performs during iHeart Powerhouse 105.1 at Prudential Center on October 28, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.

Lil Durk Trial: Feds Want to Use 6ix9ine/Akademiks Interview as Evidence (UPDATE)

The final hearing before the trial starts had a surprising mention of Ak's show 'Off the Record.'

Shawn Setaro9 days ago
Lil Durk performs during J. Cole's headlining set at the 2024 Dreamville Music Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on April 07, 2024

Lil Durk Turned Down a 'Peace Offering' From Quando Rondo After Shooting, Feds Claim

The information comes from a "recently identified" text message thread, per prosecutors.

Shawn Setaro10 days ago
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Drake.

Drake Partners With Stake to Give Away Over $1 Million on Upcoming Livestream

The rapper and his favorite crypto gambling site are teaming up once again.

Shawn Setaro20 days ago
Cam'ron and Cardi B

Cam'ron Threatens to Leak a Cardi B Song and Expose Her Management Over Interview Dispute

The whole thing traces back, he says, to a Bardi remake of a classic Cam tune.

Shawn Setaro22 days ago
Derrick Parker

Derrick Parker, the 'Hip-Hop Cop,' Leaves Behind a Messy Legacy

The man who spied on a culture he loved died on July 24th.

Shawn Setaro23 days ago
A vintage large format camera in combination with a digital back was used to create this image) (L-R) Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City.

ASAP Rocky Says Rihanna 'Held Me Down When I Was at My Lowest'

Pretty Flacko recalled a time Rihanna stopped everything to comfort him in Paris.

Shawn Setaro24 days ago
Christopher Nolan visits "Fox & Friends" at Fox News Channel Studios on July 16, 2026 in New York City.

Grounded in Realism: The Parallels in Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' and 'Batman Begins'

The director's choices in creating Ancient Greece mirror ones he made when putting Gotham onscreen.

Shawn Setaro28 days ago
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Ronny Doe

Murder of Chrisean Rock's Ex-Boyfriend Ronny Doe Remains Unsolved After 17 Months

Nearly a year and a half later, the investigation remains open.

Shawn Setaro29 days ago
Rapper Lil Durk performs during 2024 Dreamville Music Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on April 7, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Feds Want to Use Lil Durk's "Pissed Me Off" Video as Evidence in His Murder-for-Hire Trial

On top of that, prosecutors don't want Durk to use rap music scholars as expert witnesses.

Shawn Setaro29 days ago
d4vd looks on during his arraignment for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on April 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Nathan J. Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney, announced earlier in the day that David Anthony Burke, known as d4vd, was charged with the first-degree murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found decomposed in his car.

D4vd Will Stand Trial for Killing of Celeste Rivas

A judge ruled that there is probable cause to try the "Romantic Homicide" singer.

Shawn Setaro31 days ago

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