Category: News Feeds

Judge Tossed Lawsuit Over “Country Grammar” Contributions

Nelly secured a legal win in Missouri after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ali of the St. Lunatics and sanctioned his attorneys for pursuing what the court called a baseless case.

Ali Jones, a longtime collaborator and member of Nelly’s Hip-Hop group, sued the rapper for copyright infringement and unjust enrichment. He claimed he was denied credit and compensation for work on Nelly’s 2000 debut album, “Country Grammar.” But U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig shut down the case, ruling that the claims were either invalid under the law, filed too late or both.

Court Cited Missed Deadline and Bad Faith Filing

The court found that Ali received a letter from Nelly’s legal team in June 2021 clearly stating he was not considered an author and would not be paid. That communication, the judge said, triggered the three-year statute of limitations for a copyright claim. Ali didn’t file his lawsuit until after that window closed.

“Ali’s claims are barred by the statute of limitations,” Judge Fleissig wrote. “He was clearly and expressly informed in June 2021 that he was not considered an author and would not be paid.”

Ali’s attorneys tried to sidestep the timing issue by modifying the complaint and omitting key dates. The court said that tactic showed bad faith.

“The Court finds that Plaintiffs’ counsel acted unreasonably and vexatiously in continuing to pursue claims that were clearly time-barred and preempted,” the ruling stated.

Judge Sanctioned Ali’s Attorneys Over Meritless Case

The court also rejected Ali’s unjust enrichment argument, stating it was essentially a duplicate of the copyright claim, which is not allowed under federal law.

Because the case lacked legal merit, the judge ordered Ali’s lawyers to pay a $1,000 penalty and reimburse Nelly for legal expenses incurred after the original complaint. Ali himself was not fined, but the judge criticized both him and his legal team for pushing forward without a valid basis.

“The Court finds that sanctions are warranted,” the ruling said. “Counsel should have recognized early on that the claims lacked merit.”

Final Ruling Ends Two-Decade Dispute

The judge emphasized that Nelly’s 2021 response left no uncertainty about Ali’s lack of rights to the music in question. The ruling, filed in late April, officially ends Ali’s attempt to claim authorship on songs from “Country Grammar” more than 20 years after its release.

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Bia dismissed Cardi B’s latest lyrical jab during a Hot 97 interview, telling the Bronx rapper to “go enjoy your pregnancy” and redirecting the spotlight to her debut album, “BIANCA,” dropping October 10.

Bia Responds To Cardi B’s “Pretty & Petty” Verse

During her sit-down with Nessa, Bia addressed Cardi’s pointed lyrics on “Pretty & Petty,” a track from the 2024 album “Am I the Drama?” that reignited their long-running dispute. Bia didn’t mince words.

“Girl, go enjoy your pregnancy,” she said. “I don’t want to get on your ass again, or say something that’s going to hurt your feelings, make me look like the bad guy, because I’m talking about somebody with a baby. Like, no, that’s not the energy I’m on, you know? I don’t want that to come back to me. My mother didn’t raise me to be dragging a pregnant lady.”

A Feud That Started With A Tweet

The tension between the two artists dates back to 2023, when Bia liked a tweet suggesting Cardi had copied her creative style. What had once been mutual admiration quickly unraveled.

“It started on the phone, and she called me screaming like 15 times back-to-back. So that respect is out the window,” Bia said. “The yelling was because I liked a tweet for the similarities between the creative. You bully them out of how they feel or the creative that you stealing. You can’t bully everybody you know I’m saying there’s a real truth to what’s going on.”

Cardi later fired back through music, including a verse on the “Wanna Be” remix and more recently on “Pretty & Petty,” where she took aim at Bia’s appearance and career.

@tprmediagroup #BIA finally addressed being the topic of #CardiB’s song “Pretty & Petty” during a new interview with Nessa of Hot 97! BIA also shared she’s releasing her album ‘Bianca’ Friday! Classmates are you here for it?!? #TheProgressReport #TPRMediaGroup ♬ original sound – TPRMediaGroup

Bia Says She’s Done With The Drama

Bia responded with her own diss track “Sue Me” but said she’s not interested in continuing the back-and-forth.

“I’m glad she got that. I’m glad she felt like she could get that off,” Bia said. “But, but overall, like for real, I knew it was coming. Cause like, this is rap, I’m competitive. So like, I diss you, you diss me, but you diss me, I diss you. It’s like, it was like a thing that, that we know, we know what the reasons were and why it was all happening. So I just, I like, it’s part of the game. I’m not gonna keep going back and forth with you and the writer, this is a year later.”

Cardi has claimed her response was triggered by Bia referencing her children, but Bia pushed back on that claim.

“I didn’t speak about her kids. I didn’t speak negatively about her kids,” she said. “I spoke negatively about her, but I used their names because that’s rap. It’s wordplay. It’s a metaphor. Even if those weren’t her kids’ names, the bars would have still worked. So like, okay, noted. That’s the only part that I see. But we see when people talking about people’s kids online all week. That wasn’t that.”

“BIANCA” Dropped October 10

Instead of dwelling on the feud, Bia is focusing on her first full-length album, “BIANCA,” which she describes as her most personal work. The project features 16 tracks, including “DADE” with Key Glock, which landed on the Madden NFL 26 soundtrack, and “Birthday Behavior” featuring Young Miko. Another track, “WE ON GO,” was used during the WNBA playoffs and appears in NBA 2K26.

“This album is really the best parts of me,” Bia said. “It’s poured from the heart and made with people I love.”

“BIANCA” follows a trio of EPs: “Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado” (2018), “For Certain” (2020), and “Really Her” (2023). She told Nessa the album represents her evolution as an artist.

Bia Says The Issue Is Bigger Than Cardi

While the Cardi B feud has drawn headlines, Bia said it speaks to a larger issue in the music industry.

“You have to know that this happens to artists every single day,” she said. “It’s not even about her. It’s about that you have smaller artists or artists who don’t have as big of a platform and their creative gets reworked by bigger artists. And instead of those bigger artists being like, ‘oh, yes, I did rework that creative’ or ‘yes, oh, I didn’t know that we stole that creative.’ Because it’s happened numerous times. It’s not just me. I can pull out five songs that she did it to. So it’s like, let’s just be real about that. The issue for me is a creative issue.”

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Lauryn Hill mourned the loss of D’Angelo with a deeply personal message following the announcement that the neo-soul trailblazer died from pancreatic cancer at age 51.

The Grammy-winning singer remembered her longtime collaborator with a heartfelt post on Instagram Tuesday night (October 14), calling him “a presence not of this world” and reflecting on the bond they shared through music.

“I regret not having more time with you,” Hill wrote. “Your undeniable beauty and talent were not of this world, and a presence not of this world needs protection in a world that covets light and the anointing of God.”

The two famously teamed up on “Nothing Even Matters,” a standout track from Hill’s 1998 debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The song, which showcased their vocal chemistry, earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.

Lauyrn Hill, D’Angelo – Nothing Even Matters

D’Angelo, born Michael Eugene Archer, rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with his debut album Brown Sugar, which helped define the neo-soul genre. His 2000 follow-up, Voodoo, won the Grammy for best R&B album and cemented his place as one of the most influential voices in modern soul.

After a lengthy hiatus, he returned in 2014 with Black Messiah, credited to D’Angelo and The Vanguard. The album won another Grammy for best R&B album, and the single “Really Love” took home the award for best R&B song.

Over the course of his career, D’Angelo earned four Grammy Awards from 14 nominations. His impact on R&B and soul music was profound, inspiring peers like Erykah Badu, Maxwell and Angie Stone, all of whom emerged from the same creative wave.

Hill’s tribute went beyond admiration, touching on D’Angelo’s influence on culture and identity. “You sir, moved us, stirred us, inspired and even intimidated others to action with your genius,” she wrote. “Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us.”

She also praised him for redefining masculinity in music. “You showed a unity of strength and sensitivity in Black manhood to a generation that only saw itself as having to be one or the other.”

Hill ended her message with a prayer for his peace and protection. “It is my earnest prayer that you are in peace, far away from selfishness, fear and/or controlling interests,” she wrote. “I Love you and I miss you. May God grant peace and shelter to your family, true friends and genuine appreciators, Brother, King.”

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A post shared by Ms. Lauryn Hill (@mslaurynhill)

D’Angelo’s family confirmed his passing on Tuesday. He was 51.

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Tyler, The Creator shut down speculation about his personal life on Tuesday after a post circulated online, implying the rapper was seen with a new romantic partner in New York City.

The footage showed Tyler walking through Manhattan alongside a man later identified as “Koopz.”

The pair were followed and filmed by an individual without their consent, prompting Tyler’s security to step in. Tyler, visibly annoyed, addressed the situation directly in the clip.

“I will pay for your lawsuit, bro,” Tyler said. “I’m loaded, I’m with all that.”

Tyler, the Creator confronts fan for following him in New York City pic.twitter.com/q6EQidQkSX

— STAYGROUNDEAD TV (@staygroundeadtv) October 13, 2025

Akademiks reposted the video on Twitter with the caption: “Tyler the creator reportedly seen out with his new partner.”

That post didn’t sit well with Tyler, who fired back in a blunt message.

“B#### ass, 1. thats koopz aint no partner or nothing,” he wrote. “How did ur brain choose to make that up? 2. weird caption for engagement 3. ‘tyler leaving party for the screening of new movie hes apart of’ or ‘waste of space man follows tyler, words exchanged’, seems like it fits better.”

The Grammy winner has long been vocal about his desire for privacy, especially when it comes to his relationships.

The confrontation came just weeks after Tyler wrapped his Chromakopia World Tour, which ended in the Philippines.

During his final set, Tyler hinted at stepping away from the road for the foreseeable future.

“I’m excited to go home and think about if I’ll ever really tour again,” he told the crowd. “I can’t lie to y’all, I’m at that part of my life where, man, I’ve done enough. Let me go take a very, very, very long break.”

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