Author: alaskaadmin

Boosie BadAzz avoided prison Friday in a California federal courtroom after pleading guilty to a gun charge.

The ruling closed a long running federal case and delivered an outcome far lighter than prosecutors sought. The judge sentenced the Louisiana rapper born Torrence Hatch Jr. to time served along with three years of supervision and 300 hours of community service. The decision followed months of uncertainty and capped a legal saga that shifted from local authorities to federal court.

Boosie’s attorney Meghan Blanco confirmed the outcome in a statement provided to XXL.

“Mr. Hatch was sentenced to time served, in addition to three years of supervision and 300 hours of community service. The resolution brings a sense of relief, allowing him to finally put this chapter behind him. He can now focus on continuing his music career, dedicating time to his family, and being a positive and inspiring presence for his children and the wider community.”

Ahead of the hearing prosecutors had pushed for a tougher punishment. They recommended a 24 month sentence followed by three years of supervised release. The judge declined that request and instead allowed Boosie to walk free following the court appearance.

Before entering the courthouse Boosie shared videos on social media showing him preparing for the day. He appeared in a bright blue suit and flashed a high end Audemars Piguet watch.

The caption was brief and confident. “Let’s Get It!”

The case dates back to 2023 when Boosie was booked in San Diego after a traffic stop. Authorities said officers later found multiple firearms inside his vehicle. The situation escalated after police referenced a gun seen in his waistband during an Instagram Live session. Local officials initially dropped the case but federal prosecutors later stepped in.

In July a federal judge dismissed the charges only for prosecutors to refile them soon after. By August Boosie opted to accept a plea deal and waited months for sentencing while continuing to tour release music and post regularly online.

The ruling allows Boosie to resume his career without the shadow of incarceration. While supervision and community service remain part of the sentence the outcome marks another moment where the rapper once again sidestepped prison and returned to the spotlight with momentum intact.

​AllHipHop

Salt-N-Pepa lost a major legal fight against Universal Music Group in New York this week after a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit over ownership of their classic recordings.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote ruled the Hip-Hop duo failed to prove they ever owned the master recordings they attempted to reclaim under copyright termination laws. The court found that Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, better known as Salt-N-Pepa, never held the rights to begin with due to the terms of their original 1986 agreements.

Salt-N-Pepa alleged that UMG retaliated against their efforts to regain control of their catalog by pulling hits like “Push It” and “Shoop” from streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

The pair filed suit in May 2025, citing federal law that allows artists to reclaim rights to their work after 35 years.

UMG rejected their termination notices, arguing that the duo lacked legal standing since they had never transferred ownership of the copyrights in the first place.

Judge Cote agreed, writing that copyright termination rights only apply to authors who originally granted those rights away. Because Salt-N-Pepa never held the copyrights, the court ruled they had no authority to reclaim them.

Despite the ruling, Salt-N-Pepa made it clear they’re not backing down. In a statement posted to social media, the trailblazing group thanked their supporters and promised to keep pushing forward.

“For over 40 years, you’ve been right there with us, from the first time you heard us on the radio to every show, every video, every moment,” they wrote. “We thank you for the love and support you’ve always given us. It means everything.”

“We started as two girls from Queens, NY, with a dream. That dream became our reality because of YOU. God blessed us with the most loyal fans in the world, and there would be NO Salt-N-Pepa without you.”

They added, “For the last few years, we’ve been fighting to regain ownership of the music we created. The songs we performed and poured our hearts into for 40 years. Yesterday, we received a setback in the process, but we believe that justice will prevail in the end.”

“The music and culture we built together changed lives. The legacy we created as women who refused to be silenced. We’re still here. We’re still Salt-N-Pepa. And we’re not done fighting. Not just for us, but for every artist who deserves to own what they create. We are Salt-N-Pepa, and nothing changes that!”

UMG, for its part, called the lawsuit “baseless” and said it had made repeated efforts to resolve the dispute privately.

The company stated that it had no legal obligation to renegotiate, but still attempted to improve Salt-N-Pepa’s compensation and maintain access to their music.

The label continues to hold the rights to a catalog that has generated millions in revenue over the decades.

UMG said it remains “open and willing to find a resolution” and wants to “amplify Salt-N-Pepa’s legacy for future generations.”

​AllHipHop