Image via Complex Original
After months of speculation, Lil Wayne finally revealed the release date for Tha Carter V. The Young Money boss also shared the cover art for his upcoming album, which once again features a photo of Wayne from when he was just a kid. This wasn't the only big news about the New Orleans rapper, who earlier in the week was named in a lawsuit for owing a private jet company upwards of $1 million.
Future and Ciara also made headlines this week, as the longtime power couple reportedly called off their engagement. This news comes three months after Future Zahir Wilburn—their first child together—was born. Check out all that and more in What The Hell Just Happened In Music This Week?
Lil Wayne and Young Money were reportedly named in a lawsuit for owing a private jet company $1 million.
Date: August 11
While his fans eagerly await the release of his new album, Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne may have some legal issues to iron out first. According to TMZ, Signature Group LLC of Miami, Florida has filed a lawsuit against Weezy for failed payments on a private jet that the company leased him and Young Money all the way back in 2006. Wayne and Young Money Entertainment have failed to pay the bill during the majority of 2014 for the jet that they used extensively for Wayne's European tour and other domestic travels last year.
In one of his recent “Weezy Wednesdays” episodes, Wayne and his entourage documented a private jet trip to Paris for a performance, though it's not known if this is the jet in question. “We provided Lil Wayne and his Young Money organization with the service they desired and expected, since 2006. We’ve mutually benefited from our longstanding working relationship and have had the pleasure of flying several artists under the Young Money Entertainment umbrella,” Kevin Parrott, owner of Signature Group, LLC said in a statement.
Wayne and Young Money currently owe about $1 million to the company, who is seeking a trial by jury to receive the aforementioned sum and additional damages from Weezy and the label. There has been no statement from Wayne's camp. Wayne is currently on the road with Drake for a nationwide tour for the next few weeks. We will continue to update this story as more details become available. —Zach Frydenlund
Related: Lil Wayne Is Reportedly Being Sued By a Private Jet Company for $1 Million
Killer Mike shared a passionate statement regarding the death of Michael Brown.
Date: August 11
Atlanta rapper and fellow human Killer Mike spoke the truth when he took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the Michael Brown travesty that went down in Ferguson, Mo. over the weekend. His caption is in full below:
We are human beings. We deserve to be buried by out children not the other way around. No matter how u felt about black people look at this Mother and look at this father and tell me as a human being how u cannot feel empathy for them. How can u not feel sympathy for their pain and loos. These are not "THOTS, niggas/niggers, hoes, Ballers, Divas. These two people are parents. They are humans that produced a child and loved that child and that child was slaughtered like Game and left face down as public spectacle while his blood drained down the street. Look at the pain of this mother, look into her eyes. Look at the Man behind her. Look at that father made helpless and hurt that he cud not defend his seed. Don't debate. Don't insert your agenda. Save me the bullshit Black On Black Crime speech and look at these to Noble creatures called humans and look at what govt sanctioned murder has done. It has robbed them of their humanity and replaced it with pain and shame, suffering and hurt. I don't care if others rioted or why. I don't care that ball players and Rappers are what they shud be. I care that we as humans care as much about one another more. I care we see past Class, race and culture and honor the humanity that unites our species. Stop talking and LOOK at these PEOPLE. LOOK at these HUMANS and stand with them against a system allows a Human PIG to slaughter their child. Forgive any typos love and respect u all.
Related: Read Killer Mike's Heartfelt Statement on the Michael Brown Situation
After 15 years on the air, DJ Skee announced he would be quitting radio.
Date: August 13
In an announcement made through his YouTube channel, the legendary DJ Skee has decided to quit radio. Skee explains during the three-minute clip that he's no longer excited about radio anymore, and that he doesn't want to be boxed in by the requirements of having repetitive playlists and lack of variety in what he plays. He also states radio has changed drastically since he was a kid and the magic of it all is lost, and that he believes corporations have “sucked the life” out of radio.
Skee got his start working for a station in Minnesota before he then moved onto KISS FM and eventually Sirius Satellite Radio, where he has been for the past nine years. Skee didn't reveal his plans for the future at this time, but did say that he hopes to bring change with whatever he does. —Zach Frydenlund
Related: DJ Skee Announces Decision to Quit Radio, Says Current Climate “Sucks”
As part of Justin Bieber's plea deal for a DUI charge, the pop star was ordered to take an anger management course.
Date: August 12
Justin Bieber will reportedly accept a plea deal as punishment for his arrest in Miami seven months ago, where he was stopped for drag racing on South Beach. The Miami Herald reports that Bieber's case will end, where the state will drop the DUI charge in exchange for a guilty plea for careless driving and resisting an officer without violence. Part of the deal will require Bieber to attend a private 12-hour anger-management course. He will also be required to view online videos of real life DUI cases along with giving a donation of $50,000 for charitable causes. —Justin Davis
Related: Justin Bieber To Attend Anger Management As Part Of Plea Deal
DMX rode the Slingshot ride for a second time, and the results were once again hilarious.
Date: August 12
TMZ recently got its hands on a video of DMX literally losing his shit on a Slingshot ride in Orlando, FL. It was gold. But, X wasn't happy with the general reception of the video.
So, he headed back to the Slingshot ride… and grabbed one of his homies to join him. During his second catapult to the sky, he attempts to smoke a cigarette, throws up a plethora of signs, screams his heart out, and tried to get jiggy with it. This is infinitely better than the first video, and that “Okay, I'm reloaded” drop? Perfection. —Lauren Nostro
Related: DMX Is Back on the Slingshot and He's Looking For Redemption
Future and Ciara reportedly called off their engagement.
Date: August 13
Ciara has called off her engagement with Future because he reportedly cheated on her, according to US Weekly. The couple had been together for over a year and got engaged on Ciara's birthday last October. This news comes just three months after the couple welcomed their baby, Future ZahirWilburn, to the world on May 20. Ciara is devastated by this news and is now making their child her primary focus, according to the report. —Zach Frydenlund
Related: Ciara and Future Have Reportedly Called Off Their Engagement
Kanye West shared a heartwarming photo of him and Robin Williams following the actor's death.
Date: August 13
The outpouring of emotion and celebrity reaction to Robin Williams' sudden passing continued with a touching photo shared by Kanye West of him and Robin throwing up the Roc together. In the tweet, Ye thanks Robin for all of the joy that he brought to the world. Robin was found dead at his home. He was 63. —Zach Frydenlund
Related: Kanye West Pays Tribute to Robin Williams on Twitter
Lil Wayne revealed the cover art and release date for Tha Carter V.
Date: August 14
Lil Wayne took a break from the “Drake Vs. Lil Wayne” tour to stop by the SportsCenter set to announce that his upcoming album, Tha Carter V, is dropping on Oct. 28. Leading up to the announcement, Wayne dropped the latest single from the album, “Grindin,” featuring Drake, and has been promoting the project through various athletes for the majority of the summer. Weezy capped off his day at ESPN with the release of the official artwork for the album featuring a picture of him and his mom. —Zach Frydenlund
Beanie Sigel was released from prison.
Date: August 14
Beanie Sigel was reportedly released from federal custody, which was confirmed in an Instagram photo via HipHopSince1987 and re-confirmation from Spade-O. In 2012, he got a two-year sentence for failing to pay $728,000 in taxes between 1999-2005 and the following year, got a six-to-23 month sentence after getting arrested for possession of a controlled substance in August 2012. —Lauren Nostro
Related: Beanie Sigel Is Home
Karlie Hustle stepped down as music director of Hot 97.
Date: August 15
Karlie Hustle announced she will be resigning from her post as music director of Hot 97. She made the announcement via Instagram. She will be finishing out the month at the station to help with the transition period while they find a new music director.
In the statement, Karlie thanks Ebro and the rest of the staff for the great three years she had with the station, and also reflects on some of her favorite memories from the job. She didn't reveal what she was going to be doing next, but did assure that she wouldn't be going to a rival New York City radio station. Karlie now joins Angie Martinez as a prominent member of the Hot 97 staff to leave the station this year. —Zach Frydenlund
Related: Karlie Hustle Resigns From Hot 97