Gunna
California May Be First State to Ban Use of Rap Lyrics in Court
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department A bill introduced earlier this year by South Los Angeles Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer may soon be signed into law in California. The bill would restrict the use of rap lyrics and other creative works as evidence in criminal proceedings. The bill has already passed both the State Senate and State Assembly. It will soon progress to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature, according to The New York Times. The bill is specific to the state, but follows a national bill called the RAP Act introduced in Congress by two Black democratic congressmen, Hank Johnson of Georgia and Jamaal Bowman of New York. It also follows the indictment of Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna on gang-related RI...
California Governor Set to Sign Bill Restricting Use of Lyrics in Criminal Cases
Amid a growing movement on both the state and federal level, California is one step closer to restricting the use of rap lyrics as evidence by prosecutors in criminal cases. Introduced by California State Assemblyperson Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, AB 2799 would require judges to query prosecutors on whether introducing lyrics would add racial bias into these cases and will reportedly be signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in the coming days. “When rap and hip-hop artists adhere to this time-honored tradition of make-believe, their lyrics are too often — and unfairly — taken literally, stripped of the poetic license afforded other genres,” Recording Industry Association of America chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier wrote the California State Senate in a letter of support for AB 2799. A simila...
Free P: Kim Kardashian Calls For Gunna’s Release On Twitter
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Pierre Suu / Getty Gunna is currently sitting in a cell awaiting trial after being gobbled up in a RICO charge that also hit Young Thug and his YSL label. The rapper has a tremendous ally in his corner calling for his freedom, Kim Kardashian. Can Kim Kardashian Get Gunna Out of Prison? Kim Kardashian has found another legal case to take an interest in. The reality star and aspiring lawyer tweeted to her 73.1 million followers “#FreeGunna,” adding “Free P,” a play on Gunna’s hit single “Pushin P.” Related Stories Kim Kardashian’s support could be a massive deal for Gunna. Kim K’s tweet can put more eyes on Gunna’s current plight. Also, Kardashian has a good track record of getting people freed from prison. Her support could mean the world to Gunna, who was...
Rapper Gunna Releases First Statement Since RICO Charges
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department Gunna, who is currently being held in the Fulton County Jail on state RICO charges, is addressing the public for the first time since being arrested along with Young Thug and 20+ other members of YSL by Atlanta police last month. In a statement shared on his Instagram page on his 29th birthday, the rapper wrote, “2022 has been one of the best years of my life, despite this difficult situation. This year I had the whole world pushing P,” he wrote in reference to his hit single by the same name. He added, “Growing up where I come from in a marginalized neighborhood, I never dreamt my art would change my life and the lives of my loved ones. My entire life, I’ve been Black Men, Black Wome...
DA Claims She’s Been Inundated With Threats After Young Thug RICO Indictment
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department Fani Willis the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia says that extraordinary measures are being taken to protect her and her family in the wake of threats after the indictment of rappers Young Thug, Gunna, and 20+ other members of YSL. Willis was interviewed by WSB-TV reporter Mark Winne and said that the threats have largely been on social media after the sweeping indictment. ‘ “We don’t believe that these threats were directed by anyone that is in the YSL indictment,” Willis said. “I would say that (threats are coming from) people that are very sympathetic, maybe admirers of YSL and people who are connected with them in some sense.” She added that additional threats have been coming supp...
Young Thug Denied Bond After RICO Case Hearing
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department The judge in the racketeering case denied Young Thug the chance to be released on bond after his hearing, dealing the rapper a huge blow in his bid to get out of jail before trial. On Thursday (June 2nd), according to reports, Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville denied bond to the “Tapout” rapper after his hearing despite the pleas from his defense attorneys and Young Thug pleading not guilty to the charges brought against him in the racketeering case. Judge Glanville opted to listen to the prosecution team, who raised concerns about the safety of witnesses for the state in the case. “We have evidence and information of even more threats,” Prosecutor Don Geary said. “Our witnesses in this case are bein...
Young Thug Denied Bond After RICO Case Hearing
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department The judge in the racketeering case denied Young Thug the chance to be released on bond after his hearing, dealing the rapper a huge blow in his bid to get out of jail before trial. On Thursday (June 2nd), according to reports, Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville denied bond to the “Tapout” rapper after his hearing despite the pleas from his defense attorneys and Young Thug pleading not guilty to the charges brought against him in the racketeering case. Judge Glanville opted to listen to the prosecution team, who raised concerns about the safety of witnesses for the state in the case. “We have evidence and information of even more threats,” Prosecutor Don Geary said. “Our witnesses in this case are bein...
Gunna Denied Bond, Prosecutors Allege He Serves “Command” Role In YSL
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty Gunna might be pushing pleas at this rate because the rapper could be behind bars for quite some time. Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, has already pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the rapper’s lawyer Steven H. Sadow confirmed to Pitchfork. The news comes on the heels of “Pushin P” crafter being denied bond and might have to stay behind bars until Monday, January 9, 2023, when his trial is scheduled to begin. In a statement sent to Pitchfork, Sadow wrote: The Court was obviously concerned about threats and intimidation of witnesses. We believe when the Court hears evidence, not just the words of the prosecutor, it will find that Sergio’s release on bond will n...
Rapper Gunna In Fulton County Jail On RICO Charge
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department Gunna is in custody in Fulton County Jail and facing RICO charges. The Atlanta rapper was named in the indictment, along with Young Thug, that came down on Monday (May 9) accusing his YSL label of participating in a myriad gang racketeering crimes. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gunna, born Sergio Giavonni Kitchens, 28, was booked into the Fulton jail on early Wednesday morning (May 11). Related Stories Gunna is facing one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Per the 88-page indictment, the Young Stoner Life label and its affiliates are a gang (Young Slime Life) involved in crimes like drug dealing and murder, amongst others. Besi...
Fans Urge Chloe Bailey Not To Go “Full Monica” After Gunna & Young Thug Were Arrested On RICO Charges
HipHopWired Featured Video CLOSE Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Somehow, someway, social media has found a way to include Chloe Bailey in Young Thug and his YSL crew’s legal drama. For those who don’t know, Atlanta rapper Young Thug was among 28 individuals rounded up by law enforcement and slapped with RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) conspiracy charges. Also among the group was Thugger’s artist, Gunna, who was rumored to be dating Chloe Bailey, a claim that she has flat out denied. Regardless, Black Twitter, who has a unique skill in finding comedy in the direst of situations, decided to throw Chloe Bailey’s name in the mess anyway. Twitter users are hilariously warning her not to go full Monica, a nod to the “So Gone” singer still being down for the currently incarc...
Freddie Gibbs Reacts To Benny The Butcher’s Claim They No Longer Can Work Together
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Peacock / Getty It appears that the reported beef between Freddie Gibbs and Benny The Butcher is heating up after Gibbs took to social media to call out rappers for using his name during interviews. During a recent interview on Spotify’s Greenroom, Benny the Butcher spoke about his previous collaborator after he was asked whether or not he and Gibbs would be appearing on any further tracks in the future after the pair previously joined forces on Freddie’s 2020 album Alfredo for the track “Frank Lucas,” as well as on Benny’s 2020 LP Burden of Proof with “One Way Flight.” In response to the questions, Benny was quoted as saying that “the moment of working together came and went, to be honest with you,” before adding, “It’s all love.” Of course, Freddie Gibb...
Gunna & Chloe Bailey Appear To Be Official, Twitter Comes With The Comments
HipHopWired Featured Video CLOSE Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty Gunna continues to ride high on the heels of the successful debut week of his latest album DS4Ever, along with rumors of a romantic connection with Chloe Bailey. It appears the pair are allegedly making things official after images of the pair displaying public affection for one another made their rounds online. Gunna and Chloe Bailey were snapped by the paps while out and about in Hollywood getting in some shopping in the ritzy Sunset Plaza. The two looked cozy in the images that made it to the outlets, even holding hands in one close-up shot. As it stands, neither has yet to confirm the relationship but it appears to be a real union after Chloe appeared on one of Gunna’s tracks from his third studio album. The reaction from Tw...
