Day: January 4, 2026

Lil Durk is heading toward a federal trial in Los Angeles as prosecutors disclose they plan to call multiple cooperating witnesses who they say will testify that the rapper ordered and financed a deadly 2022 ambush tied to a long-running Hip-Hop feud.

Federal prosecutors revealed their witness strategy in a new court filing this week as they fight the defense’s efforts to block key testimony and related evidence.

The government says insiders are prepared to describe how the alleged plot was planned, funded and carried out, placing Durk at the center of the operation.

The case stems from the August 2022 killing of Lul Pab, a cousin of rapper Quando Rondo, who was shot to death near a Beverly Hills gas station. Prosecutors allege the killing was retaliation connected to the 2020 slaying of Chicago rapper King Von, a close associate of Durk, whose death intensified tensions between rival camps.

According to prosecutors, the government’s theory is straightforward. They claim Durk used his money, status and trusted intermediaries to arrange the attack from afar.

The filing states that cooperating witnesses will testify that Durk approved the plan, helped coordinate travel and logistics, and promised payment upon completion of the job.

“The government’s proposed evidence also provides critical corroboration of its multiple cooperating witnesses, who are anticipated to testify that [Lil Durk] ordered the violence in
Los Angeles, used intermediaries to recruit others to carry out the scheme, and promised a reward for carrying out the murder,” prosecutors said.

Durk was arrested in October 2024 and later indicted in federal court in the Central District of California. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody as the case moves closer to trial.

If convicted, he faces decades in federal prison.

The latest filing was submitted ahead of a January court hearing focused on what evidence jurors will be allowed to hear.

Defense attorneys have asked the judge to exclude testimony and materials they argue unfairly paint Durk and his Only the Family collective, known as OTF, as a criminal enterprise.

Prosecutors strongly oppose that request.

In the filing, the government argues the disputed evidence is essential for jurors to understand relationships among the defendants and why certain individuals allegedly followed orders. Prosecutors say they are not claiming OTF is purely criminal.

Instead, they argue a subset of people associated with the group allegedly operated like a street gang when settling disputes.

“The evidence shows that [Lil Durk] and his close OTF associates had rivalries, discussed violence against rivals and took violent street action to settle scores with their rivals, including the Los Angeles murder defendants, are alleged to have committed in this case,” prosecutors said.

Defense lawyers have signaled they plan to attack the credibility of cooperating witnesses, characterizing them as untrustworthy and self-interested.

Prosecutors acknowledged that strategy in the filing but said it does not justify keeping the testimony from the jury.

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‌Ray J is making a desperate plea in court to see his children after a restraining order has kept him away from 7-year-old Melody and 6-year-old Epik since Thanksgiving.

The singer’s lawyer, Alex Kessel, asked a Los Angeles judge Friday to modify the protective order that prevents Ray J from having any contact with his kids or their mother, Princess Love.

“This occurred when he was protecting his children. There’s no reason to separate him from his two children,” according to a motion obtained by The New York Post.

The legal battle started after Ray J was arrested on Thanksgiving Day following a heated argument with Princess Love at his Porter Ranch home. The incident happened around 4 A.M. during what was supposed to be a family holiday gathering.

According to court documents, Princess Love and a male friend came to Ray J’s house for Thanksgiving dinner and planned to stay overnight with the children. After the kids went to bed, the adults continued drinking, which Ray J claims led to the confrontation.

The court filing states that Ray J was trying to prevent Princess Love from driving with the children while intoxicated.

The cops showed up, and the singer was arrested and charged with six misdemeanor charges, including brandishing a firearm and child endangerment.

Ray J was released on $50,000 bail after his arrest, but he remains under the restraining order. But his main concern isn’t the criminal case – it’s getting back to his kids.

Ray J missed Christmas with his children and couldn’t celebrate his son Epik’s 6th birthday during the holiday season. He posted a heartbreaking message on social media about spending Christmas alone.

“A lonely Christmas. No kids, no presents, no little feet running around – just a tree and the weight of missing what matters most. I’m learning the hard way,” Ray J wrote.

For Ray J, the legal fight isn’t about avoiding criminal charges; it’s about being a father to his children. The restraining order has created a painful separation during what should be precious family time.

Kessel said Princess Love actually supports Ray J seeing their children and plans to testify in his favor.

Court papers confirm that “the children’s mother does not object to the defendant having contact with their two children.”

“The possession of a gun was to prevent the victims from physically removing them from the home and placing them in the vehicle of an extremely intoxicated person,” the documents say.

The couple has a long history of relationship drama. They’ve filed for divorce four times since 2020, with Princess Love most recently filing in February 2024.

Each time, they’ve dismissed their requests while trying to work things out.

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A woman hired a personal trainer, but started questioning their practices and technique. That’s because the trainer has been “fixing her form” by contacting her in a way she feels is inappropriate and squeezing her body. 

In a video with over 20,800 views on TikTok since Dec. 17, Arya Rae (@aryaraeeeee) discussed the uncomfortable physical contact. 

“ I hired a personal trainer, and he keeps, like, touching my butt and saying it’s because he’s trying to fix my form, but I don’t know,” she told her viewers. “He touched it for, like, and started squeezing it. So, I don’t think that’s right.”

Despite this, viewers have let her know it may not be as inappropriate as it seems. 

Is It Normal for a Personal Trainer to Touch a Client for ‘Muscle Activation ’?

Some commenters immediately chimed in to let Arya know that this may be a normal practice. As one commenter concluded, “touching the muscles establishes [a] mind/muscle connection. I cannot say if his reasoning is professional or not, but asking if he can touch you and state the reasoning why is a professional courtesy he should have extended to you.”

Muscle activation generally refers to activating a specific group of muscles. In this case, a personal trainer might check to make sure that their client is using their muscles properly and following through on an exercise throughout a workout. 

But, trainers should also ask for feedback throughout the workout and regularly communicate why and how they’re touching their client, especially if it’s their first time working together. Generally, a trainer can also ask their client for general feedback to see if a workout is feeling right, and incorporate warm-ups into their routine to ensure a better likelihood of the results they’re looking for. 

A good trainer may not necessarily need to “squeeze for results” multiple times during a set once they’ve verified that their client is working out with appropriate form. 

As Fitness and Health reiterates, trainers should “avoid touching clients unless it is essential for instruction, using verbal cues and demonstrating on [their] own body in preference to touching the client. Most trainers might touch their clients during a first set, but may not continue doing so after verifying form.”

Was the Trainer Engaging in Inappropriate Physical Contact With His Client?

Based on Arya’s video, it didn’t necessarily seem like the trainer was “avoiding touching” his client unless absolutely necessary. 

What she described in her video was a trainer’s habit to touch her multiple times during a set, not just one or two instances. She mentioned how he “[kept] trying” to touch her, without any explanation. 

A fitness and lifestyle coach even wrote, “I’ve worked with hundreds of people and I’ve probably touched 4 shoulders. Fire the man.” 

Overall, there was an emphasis that touching her repeatedly during a workout wasn’t necessarily “normal,” especially in inappropriate areas. Those generally include the breast, crotch, or butt. 

AllHipHop reached out to Arya for comment via TikTok direct message. We’ll let you know if she responds to our request.

@aryaraeeeee

♬ original sound – Arya Rae

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Education officials made history last month when they approved America’s first public high school dedicated entirely to Hip-Hop culture. The Bronx School of Hip-Hop will open its doors in September 2026.

New York City’s Panel of Educational Policy voted unanimously to establish the groundbreaking institution in District 9, reports ChalkBeat. The school will serve students in the South Bronx, where Hip-Hop was born over 50 years ago.

“Hip-Hop reflects the brilliance of our students,” said Harry Sherman, District 9 superintendent. “It’s time for our students and community to make sure it belongs to us.”

The new high school will welcome 115 to 125 ninth-grade students in its opening year. School officials plan to add more grades each year until it becomes a full four-year program.

Students will study Hip-Hop foundations alongside traditional academics. The curriculum includes entrepreneurship and civic engagement through music. School leaders want to create pathways to college and careers for graduates.

A Grammy-nominated producer is helping design the school’s programs. Local business partners are also contributing to the project’s development.

“It’s about keeping the Bronx at the center of a culture we gave to the world,” said Carl Manalo, high school superintendent for Districts 7, 9, and 12.

Hip-Hop started in the Bronx on August 11, 1973. DJ Kool Herc threw a back-to-school party for his sister, Cindy Campbell, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. The 18-year-old DJ extended percussion breaks while dancers created new moves. He began speaking in rhymes over the music.

That basement party launched a global cultural movement worth billions of dollars today.

The school will share space with two merged middle schools at 1600 Webster Avenue. Even with all three schools in the building, officials expect only 34-40% capacity.

The Hip-Hop Museum will also open in the South Bronx this fall. The museum plans a Hip-Hop Science program combining culture with STEM learning.

 

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Electric violinist Brian King Joseph dropped a message just days before he filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Will Smith on New Year’s Eve.

Joseph worked on Smith’s 2025 “Based on a True Story” tour as an electric violinist. But what started as a dream gig turned into something completely different, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The lawsuit claims Joseph discovered someone had entered his Las Vegas hotel room in March 2025.

He found a handwritten note reading “Brian, I’ll be back…just us” with a heart, signed “Stone F.” The room also allegedly contained wipes, a beer bottle, HIV medication with someone else’s name, and hospital discharge papers.

Joseph says he reported the incident to hotel management, but got fired instead of getting help. The lawsuit accuses Smith of “deliberately grooming and priming” Joseph for “further sexual exploitation.”

The 35-year-old musician, whom you might remember from America’s Got Talent, posted an Instagram video on Christmas Day that makes much more sense now that details of his lawsuit have gone viral.

“Earlier this year I was hired to be a performer on a major major tour with somebody who was huge in the industry. So I was excited, you know, proud of myself for getting the opportunity. Unfortunately, some things happened,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

Joseph couldn’t get into specifics because of the legal case, but his message was clear.

“I know that there’s a lot of other people out there who have been afraid to speak out, and I understand, and if that’s you, I see you,” Joseph said in the video.

Joseph, who finished third on America’s Got Talent Season 13, has built a career as “The King of Violin.” He’s been playing since age four and performing professionally for years. Landing the Smith tour gig seemed like a major breakthrough. But his Instagram message shows this isn’t just about him.

“Getting fired or getting blamed or shamed or threatened or anything like that simply for reporting sexual misconduct or safety threats at work is not okay.”

Will Smith’s attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, fired back, calling the allegations “false, baseless and reckless.” But Joseph isn’t backing down. The lawsuit seeks damages for sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, and wrongful termination.

Joseph claims the incident left him with PTSD and economic losses after losing the tour job.

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Bun B and his Trill Burgers team just scored a massive legal win that has them celebrating into the New Year.

According to The Houston Chronicle, the rapper’s award-winning burger chain decisively rejected false ownership claims from former business partners in an arbitration ruling.

Former U.S. Fifth Circuit Judge Gregg Costa handed down the final verdict on New Year’s Eve, rejecting every single claim made by Patsy and Benson Vivares against the restaurant empire. The siblings had been fighting for over a year, claiming they created the original smashburger recipe and deserved ownership stakes.

“We beat the brakes off those lying motherf—ers. Happy New Years!” said Jourdain Poupore, the attorney representing Trill Burgers co-founder Nick Scurfield.

His blunt celebration perfectly captured how the legal team felt after months of battling what they called completely false accusations. The victory came after a bitter dispute that painted a messy picture of how the popular burger chain actually started.

No one disputes that Trill Burgers was founded in 2021 through a partnership among the Vivares siblings, hospitality entrepreneur Andy Nguyen, Houston rap legend Bun B, and marketing expert Nick Scurfield.

But that partnership fell apart just one year later when the business relationship between the siblings and the other founders completely fractured. The Vivares siblings filed a lawsuit in 2023, alleging they were the original creators of the Smashburger concept and still owned a stake in the business.

Bun B and his team responded forcefully, not only denying those claims but also accusing the siblings of stealing $45,000 from the company. The legal battle got nasty fast, with both sides throwing serious accusations at each other.

The case eventually went to arbitration, where both sides could resolve their differences privately rather than in open court. Costa’s ruling completely rejected the Vivares siblings’ claims and confirmed that Bun B, Nguyen, and Scurfield are the rightful owners of the burger empire.

For Bun B, this victory protects more than just a business; it protects a legacy. The Houston native helped create the legendary rap duo UGK with Pimp C back in 1991. Bun has also released five solo albums using the Trill theme: Trill, II Trill, Trill OG, Trill OG: The Epilogue and Return of the Trill.

That trill mentality clearly carried over into this legal fight. Instead of backing down from false accusations, Bun B and his team stood their ground and fought until they won completely.

Trill Burgers can now focus on what they do best: serving up award-winning smashburgers.

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Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro is now locked up at the same dangerous Brooklyn jail where Diddy nearly had his throat slashed by a fellow inmate in 2025.

Maduro arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Saturday (January 3) after Donald Trump ordered a military operation that captured the Venezuelan leader from his fortress-like compound in Caracas. The facility has earned a reputation as one of America’s most violent federal prisons, where inmates regularly face life-threatening attacks.

The 62-year-old dictator will face the same brutal conditions that terrorized Diddy during his time at MDC Brooklyn before his October 2025 transfer to Fort Dix. According to sources close to the Hip-Hop mogul, an inmate snuck into Diddy’s cell while he was sleeping and pressed a makeshift blade against his throat.

“He woke up with a knife to his throat,” said Charlucci Finney, a friend of Diddy who revealed the terrifying incident. “It would only take a second to cut his throat with a weapon and kill him.”

The attack happened during one of Diddy’s nights at MDC Brooklyn, where he was being held on prostitution-related charges before his sentence was completed. The assailant reportedly wanted to earn “prestige” by harming the disgraced mogul, highlighting how high-profile inmates become targets in the facility’s violent environment.

Diddy was eventually transferred to Fort Dix federal prison in New Jersey in October 2025 to serve his 50-month sentence.

MDC Brooklyn has been described as “hell on Earth” by former inmates and advocates. Federal judges have repeatedly criticized the facility’s dangerous conditions, which include regular 24-hour lockdowns, violence between inmates, and inadequate security measures that allow weapons to circulate freely.

The prison has housed other high-profile defendants, including Ghislaine Maxwell, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Michael Cohen. Currently, Luigi Mangione, who allegedly assassinated UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is also being held at the facility alongside Maduro.

Judi Garrett, former assistant director at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, expects Maduro will be placed in a special housing unit for his own protection. However, even these supposedly secure areas have proven vulnerable to violent incidents.

Maduro faces charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons violations. His wife and son are also named as defendants in the federal indictment.

The president said American forces captured Maduro after he “got bum rushed so fast” during the early morning raid on his heavily fortified compound.

The operation involved more than 150 aircraft and special forces from the Army’s Delta Force, with CIA intelligence helping track down the Venezuelan dictator. Trump revealed that Maduro was trying to reach a steel-reinforced safe room when American troops overwhelmed his security.

Meanwhile, Trump announced that the United States will “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can take place.

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Angel Reese started 2026 with more than just stunning Instagram photos. The WNBA superstar shared a powerful message about personal transformation, prompting fans to discuss her mindset shift heading into the new year.

The basketball champion posted a series of photos wearing a striking black mini dress from the Vietnamese fashion brand Fanci Club. But her caption revealed something deeper than just a fashion moment. “New year= elevation: mentally, physically, and spiritually,” Angel Reese wrote, giving fans insight into her goals for 2026.

The dress itself made a statement as well. The $410 Mustella fur mini dress features black cotton sides with brown fur panels down the middle, creating a bold contrast that caught attention across social media. Angel Reese paired the piece with matching boots and wore a long black fur coat for some shots.

Fanci Club has become a favorite among young celebrities. The Vietnamese brand, founded by designer Duy Tran, has dressed stars like Doja Cat, Bella Hadid, and Olivia Rodrigo. The brand’s Y2K-inspired designs, featuring tight silhouettes, have gone viral multiple times when worn by A-list celebrities.

Angel Reese’s glam-up look defines her New Year mindset. pic.twitter.com/u8Qves806k

— mydzn (@MadelaineDizon) January 3, 2026

For Angel Reese, choosing this particular outfit seems intentional. The basketball star has been making waves both on and off the court, and her New Year’s post suggests she’s ready to take things to the next level in 2026.

The timing of her message is also significant. After a successful WNBA season, Angel Reese appears focused on growth beyond basketball. Her emphasis on mental, physical, and spiritual elevation indicates she’s considering success across multiple areas of her life.

As 2026 gets underway, Angel Reese has set the tone for what promises to be another exciting year. Her combination of style and substance in this New Year post shows she’s ready to elevate every aspect of her life.

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After a Florida man moves into a smaller rental home, he is shocked to receive higher electricity bills than ever before. Then he takes a second look at the “cabin” behind the property.

TikTok creator Nick (@nickharding904) posted a video about the issue on Oct. 24. He starts the video by saying, “So I moved into this house back in February of [2025], and the electricity prices have been insane.”

The first bill only covered part of the month, and it was approximately $200. Nick says his last place was bigger, and the electricity never cost more than $150 per month. “Every month since, the bill has been between $300–$400,” he says. 

Nick decided to adapt by lowering his air conditioning use and was shocked to receive yet another $400 bill. That’s when Nick remembered the cabin-like structure set up across the property line from his backyard. A wire runs from the cabin along the fence line. “What’s going on here? Am I paying for my neighbor’s electricity?” Nick asks.

Is This Florida Man Paying for His Neighbor’s Electricity?

Nick decided to visit his county’s property appraisal website and found that the two units are on the same parcel of land. “It’s not listed separately,” he says. 

So, he decided to call the electric company. He says they told him they don’t have a record of that address. That led him to call the property management company. A representative confirmed that the company managed a property at that address, but couldn’t say whether the tenant was receiving a separate electricity bill.

That led Nick to conduct an experiment. He went over to his circuit breaker box and flipped off one of the switches. As he suspected, that cut the power to the porch light on the second unit. “So, what you are telling me is that for the last eight months, I have been paying for somebody else’s [expletive] utilities?” asks Nick, referring to the property owner, Patel, as a “slumlord.”

Before the video ends, he states that he will give property management until the following Monday to give him an explanation. Otherwise, he says he plans to escalate to various city departments, including code enforcement. 

Viewers React to the Jacksonville Man’s ‘Slumlord’ Story

In the comments section, viewers weighed in on the situation and offered advice for how Nick might choose to proceed.

One person said, “Look up the permits on the property appraiser’s website and see if there’s a permit for the building.”

A second person said, “This happened to us when we had a house fire. It affected the second house’s power. The utilities got involved and the homeowner got in hella trouble for an illegal second rental.”

“The power company should be able to come out and they’ll see that your unit doesn’t have its own meter,” a third viewer wrote. “I don’t know if they can install the separate meter or if they’ll contact the land owner and they’ll be forced to update the meters. That landlord is most likely aware and was hoping no one would notice. Maybe because that other building is not legally on the property.”

In Florida, landowners can furnish each residential unit with its own meter, opt for submetering— which allows the utility company to charge each renter for their individual usage—or use a formula based on occupancy numbers and average energy consumption. That arrangement would generally be outlined in the lease agreement, however, and not uncovered like in Nick’s situation.

AllHipHop contacted Nick via TikTok comment and direct messages for comment. This story will be updated if he responds.

@nickharding904 I am beyond livid #fyp #slumlord #local #jacksonville ♬ original sound – Nick

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