California Court Upholds Tory Lanez’s Conviction in Megan Thee Stallion Shooting External Inbox
A California appeals court has upheld Tory Lanez’s conviction for shooting Megan Thee Stallion, rejecting the rapper’s attempt to overturn the guilty verdict. In a ruling issued Wednesday, a three-judge panel from the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal affirmed all three felony counts stemming from the July 2020 incident. Lanez (born Daystar Peterson), was convicted in December 2022 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The trial drew widespread attention, sparking national conversations about misogyny, race, celebrity, and online harassment.
The appellate court dismissed each of the defense’s claims, siding with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford’s handling of the high-profile case. Justice Anne H. Egerton wrote that it was appropriate for prosecutors to question Megan (born Megan Pete) about the emotional difficulty of testifying, noting the jury was properly instructed on how such statements relate to credibility. The court also upheld the decision to play a recorded interview from key witness Kelsie Harris, who repeatedly claimed memory lapses on the stand. Additionally, the judges ruled that an Instagram comment attributed to Lanez saying “that’s not true” about allegations against Harris was a minor and harmless issue, even if uncertain who posted it.
Lanez’s legal team argued he was innocent and that errors during the trial warranted a new proceeding, but the panel rejected those assertions. His attorneys may still petition the California Supreme Court to hear the case. Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence at the California Men’s Colony after being moved for safety reasons following a stabbing at a previous facility. Megan Thee Stallion, whose career has continued to soar with Grammy wins and chart-topping hits, has not yet commented on the latest ruling.
Justin Radford, a Clarksville, Tennessee singer, songwriter, and producer whose church upbringing and influences like Kirk Franklin and Pharrell. offers up his new holiday single, “The Greatest Gift,” while deliveromg a heartfelt reminder that Jesus is the true reason for the season.
Jacquees drops his new single “Let You Go” featuring K Camp, a smooth preview of his upcoming album Mood 2. Blending silky R&B with Amapiano grooves, the track showcases his vocal finesse over deep percussion and hypnotic rhythms. The Atlanta duo continues their hitmaking streak, while Jacquees builds on the success ofBaby Making, which topped the iTunes R&B/Soul charts.
Following the release of her 2nd album Still Over It(2021), singer/songwriter Summer Walker spent the next two years collaborating widely before releasing her EPClear 2: Soft Lifein 2023 and beginning work on her third studio album. In October 2024, she confirmed the final installment of herOver Ittrilogy, later titledFinally Over It, introducing themes of self-love and growth split into two parts: “For Better” and “For Worse.” Inspired by Anna Nicole Smith and early-2000s pop culture aesthetics, the album rollout included teasers, skits, an escape-room event, and a Pac-Man–style video game.Finally Over Itarrives November 14, with 18 tracks and multiple collaborators that include Chris Brown and Latto..
R&B songstress Tweet makes a graceful return with the video for her new single “Toot Toot,” setting a warm, vintage vibe that invites fans straight into her world. The visual complements the song’s smooth, reflective feel as she distances herself from a man who isn’t ready for her love. Serving as the first taste of her upcoming album Memoirs of a Southern Hummingbird, “Toot Toot” marks a confident, soulful comeback.
Omarion marks his birthday with the powerful dance video for “For War,” a raw, emotional ballad that blends vulnerability with masterful choreography. Moving through lyrics about heartbreak, conflict, and longing for refuge, he turns pain into performance, embodying the song’s intensity with every step. The visual highlights his signature precision and star presence while offering a striking preview of his upcoming O2era. “For War” is Omarion at his most expressive and captivating.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is actively participating in a residential drug rehabilitation program that could shorten his prison sentence by up to a year, his spokesman Juda Engelmayer confirmed this week. Combs, who is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, has committed himself to sobriety and personal growth. Engelmayer said the Bad Boy Entertainment founder is “fully engaged” in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and is “focused on growth, and committed to positive change.” Combs began serving his 50-month federal sentence on October 3 following his conviction on two counts of transporting people for prostitution. Prosecutors had sought more than 11 years. He received credit for 14 months of time served and is currently scheduled for release in May 2028, according to federal inmate records. Successful completion of RDAP could move that date up, though he would still face five years of supervised release, drug testing, and mental health treatment. While incarcerated, Combs is working in the prison’s chapel library, which he has described as a respectful and supportive environment. His team also denied recent rumors that he was caught brewing alcohol behind bars. The disgraced music mogul continues to appeal his sentence, which came after a trial that included harrowing testimony from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Ventura detailed physical abuse and coercion into drug-fueled “freak-offs” with sex workers, describing the aftermath as humiliating and traumatic. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian condemned Combs for abusing his power and harming the women he claimed to love. Combs apologized in court, calling his actions “disgusting, shameful and sick.” Following his July conviction, his legal team even reached out to President Donald Trump seeking a pardon, according to a source close to the defense.
Fans mourning the loss of D’Angelo now have something meaningful to look forward to. The late R&B icon reportedly left behind a vault of unreleased music before his tragic death on October 14 at age 51, and according to Questlove, some of that long-coveted material will soon see the light of day. Speaking on the red carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the Roots drummer revealed that a posthumous album is officially in the works. “You’ll see soon,” he said. “With him, it’s always the sound of yesterday but for the future. And this record is no different.” Further details about the project point to a burst of creativity from D’Angelo in his final months. Raphael Saadiq—who worked closely with the Voodoo and Black Messiah visionary, shared last year that the singer was “in a good space” and actively recording new material. “He’s working on six pieces right now and he seems super excited,” Saadiq said, adding that D’Angelo was fully “in control of his own destiny.” He also teased that both he and Q-Tip will appear on the album through a previously unreleased song from their abandoned Lynwood Rose supergroup sessions. The as-yet-untitled project will mark D’Angelo’s fourth studio album and his first release since 2014’s Black Messiah, which earned the Grammy for Best R&B Album. His death followed a private battle with pancreatic cancer, prompting an outpouring of tributes from peers and fans. In a heartfelt remembrance published in Rolling Stone, Questlove wrote: “D’Angelo, to me, was one of the last pure artists in Black music … I have to say, the last weeks with him were probably the best for our friendship.”
As this Fall honoring change, maturity, letting go, and preparation comes to a close, this edition of Throwback Thursday is dedicated to an artist who has long celebrated both through his music, the incomparable Stevie Wonder . While his catalog overflows with timeless odes to love like “Ribbon in the Sky” and “Overjoyed,” today’s spotlight shines on a lesser-celebrated treasure from his discography: “These Three Words.” It’s a song that captures Wonder’s ability to distill deep emotion into the simplest yet most powerful expression imaginable. “These Three Words” appears on the Jungle Fever soundtrack, a 1991 album Wonder crafted with longtime collaborator Nathan Watts for Spike Lee’s film of the same name. The movie explored issues of race, addiction, and the complexities of interracial relationships in early-’90s America, while Wonder’s music provided a soulful emotional anchor. Despite mixed critical reception, the soundtrack achieved commercial success, and “These Three Words” reached No. 7 on the Billboard R&B chart, standing as one of the project’s most beloved cuts. More than three decades later, “These Three Words” continues to strike a chord with listeners. The song’s message, urging us to say “I love you” before it’s too late, feels even more profound in a world marked by distance, loss, and uncertainty. Scroll through the YouTube comments today, and you’ll find fans sharing stories of how the song comforted them through grief or rekindled appreciation for loved ones. It’s proof that, once again, Stevie Wonder found the universal in the personal, reminding us that love, when spoken simply and sincerely, never loses its power.
Teddy Riley, the Grammy-winning producer and pioneering architect of the new jack swing sound, is officially reviving one of R&B’s most influential groups, but with a modern twist. According to You Know I Got Soul, Riley has announced the launch of Guy 2.0 , a reimagined version of the legendary group Guy that will not feature its original members, Aaron Hall and Damion Hall. Instead, the updated trio will include Fred “Ljai” Robinson (formerly of Profyle), J Stylz (previously of BS2), and solo R&B artist Ray Lavender, who was once signed to Geffen Records. The announcement came directly from the group’s social media pages, where Riley and the new members confirmed both the lineup and the group’s new direction. “Greetings IG! We are GUY 2.0!! Follow us on our mission!!” the post read, adding that fans can expect to see the revamped act perform live as part of the upcoming Teddy Riley Xperience. The move mirrors Riley’s earlier revival of his other acclaimed group, Blackstreet, which he reintroduced as BS2 about a decade ago. Originally formed in 1987 by Riley, Aaron Hall, and Timmy Gatling (with Damion Hall later joining), Guy became a cornerstone of late-’80s and early-’90s R&B with classics like “Groove Me,” “Teddy’s Jam,” and “Let’s Chill.” Their first two albums went platinum, cementing the group’s role in shaping the new jack swing era, a fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and pop that transformed the genre. While the original lineup has reunited for tours and special performances over the years, Guy 2.0 marks a bold new chapter, blending the group’s rich legacy with a new generation of voices.
The countdown to music’s biggest night is officially on. The 2026 GRAMMY Awards will take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+. Fans can also relive highlights and exclusive moments from the ceremony all year long at live.GRAMMY.com . Following the nomination announcements on Nov. 7, social media erupted with excitement as both fans and nominees celebrated the news. Artists immediately flooded platforms with emotional thank-you messages, teary-eyed videos, and exuberant all-caps posts. First-time nominees like Alex Warren and KATSEYE captured their disbelief in real time, while returning favorites such as Laufey , Kehlani , and Summer Walker marked another major milestone in their GRAMMY journeys. Best New Artist contenders The Marías , sombr , and Leon Thomas joined the celebration, sharing heartfelt messages and behind-the-scenes clips. Across genres, the energy was contagious. Zara Larsson , nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording, posted a selfie with the caption, “B— I’m a Grammy nominated artist!!!!!!” while Addison Rae celebrated her Best New Artist nod by tagging the Recording Academy in her Instagram story. Rising international stars like ROSÉ , Trueno , Nicki Nicole , and Malice also shared their joy on social media. Meanwhile, the rock world buzzed as YUNGBLUD —a first-time nominee with three nods for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance—watched the nominations livestream in stunned disbelief. Over in R&B, Kehlani and Summer Walker expressed heartfelt gratitude, with Walker posting her unfiltered, hilarious reaction video for fans to enjoy.