World News

Ed Sheeran wins copyright court battle over ‘Shape of You’

Published

1 month ago

April 6, 2022

VJ Scaro

Ed Sheeran has won the High Court copyright infringement case in England over his 2017 single ‘Shape of You’

Songwriters Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue had alleged that Sheeran’s 2017 hit single ‘Shape of You’ had infringed on particular lines and phrases from their 2015 track titled Oh Why.

In 2018, the ‘Shape of You’ writers launched legal proceedings requesting that the High Court declare they had not infringed on the copyright. While Chokri and O’Donoghue issued a counterclaim two months later.

At the 11-day trial in London in March, Ed Sheeran denied borrowing ideas from other songwriters without acknowledgment.

Speaking to the court, he revealed that he “always tried to be completely fair” in crediting his contributors, adding that he was using the opportunity of the trial to clear his name.

Also, in their testimony, Sheeran, McDaid and Mac all denied being aware of ‘Oh Why’ before writing ‘Shape Of You’.

In today’s ruling, Justice Zacaroli ruled that Sheeran “neither deliberately nor subconsciously” copied a phrase from the track when writing Shape of You.

The judge ruled that Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ and his co-writers, Johnny McDaid and producer Steve Mac, did not plagiarise Sami Chokri’s 2015 song ‘Oh Why’.

In a video statement posted to Twitter celebrating his win, Sheeran said: “While we’re obviously happy with the result, I feel like claims like this are way too common now and have become a culture where a claim is made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court. Even if there’s no base for the claim. It’s really damaging to the songwriting industry. There’s only so many notes and very few chords used in pop music. Coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify.

“I don’t want to take anything away from the pain and hurt suffered by both sides of this case, but I just want to say that I’m not an entity. I’m not a corporation. I’m a human being. I’m a father. I’m a husband. I’m a son. Lawsuits are not a pleasant experience, and I hope with this ruling it means in the future baseless claims like this can be avoided.”

Watch him speak after he won the case in the video below.

Ed’s been dealing with a lawsuit recently and he wanted to share a few words about it all pic.twitter.com/hnKm7VFcor
— Ed Sheeran HQ (@edsheeran) April 6, 2022

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World News

United Africa Organization and 5,315 hopeful immigrants sue Biden administration

Published

20 hours ago

May 18, 2022

Ameyaw Debrah

On Tuesday, Chicago-based United Africa Organization and over five thousand Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery applicants filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, challenging the unlawful withholding of Diversity Visas. (Complaint available upon request.)

As part of their legal challenge, Plaintiffs attack the lawfulness Secretary Antony Blinken’s policy changes implemented through a November 2021 cable with the subject line, “Recalibration of Consular Services Prioritization at Posts Abroad.”

Immigrant plaintiffs all entered the FY-2022 lottery in late 2020 and were selected in May 2021 from a pool of millions of entries through a computer-generated random drawing. They should each be eligible 55,000 visas that should be issued in FY-2022 (between October 1, 2021 and September 20, 2022).[1] Immigrant plaintiffs followed the rules and submitted their applications. They made plans to build a new life in America. Yet, the Biden administration, still beholden to restrictive immigration policies adopted during the Trump administration, stands in their way.

Modernly, the Diversity Visa lottery program is responsible for the largest percentage of African and Black immigration to the United States. Yet, according to the CATO Institute, Africans Face Steepest Decline in Immigrant Visas under Biden.

Fasika Alem, Programs Director of United African Organization, said:

“The administration’s decision to make the DV lottery program a low priority for visa issuances is decreasing African immigration to the U.S, and that outcome is not consistent with the country’s values.”

Alexandra George, Chicago-based co-counsel for Plaintiffs, said:

“President Biden campaigned on promises to support the DV lottery, but the administration’s own policies are the biggest hurdle for African winners. These broken promises harm thousands of real people and tarnish Biden’s legacy.”

Jana Al-Akhras, co-counsel for Plaintiffs, said:

“The DV Program, its selectees, and its recipients are a vital aspect of our country’s immigration process — the importance of which cannot be overstated. The Biden Administration’s attempt to undermine this program harms our nation and runs contrary to the express will of Congress. We urge the Biden Administration to consider the harm that incurs as a result of their deprioritzation of these very worthy applicants.”

Case number: NDIL: 1:22-cv-02599

World News

Watch: Michael Blackson’s fiancée allows him one sidechick a month

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2022

Zeinat Erebong Issahaku

American-based Ghanaian Comedian and Actor, Michael Blackson and his fiancée, Rada have revealed they have made some special arrangements in their relationship.

The couple made an appearance on the Shade Room and revealed that they have both agreed to allow Michael have one “sidechick” every month.

In a conversation with Thembi from the Shade Room, Rada explained why she’s allowed Michael to have a sidechick every month.

“The reason why is I’ve been in a long term relationship and I’ve said it before, you having sex with the same individual for years, it gets boring and I need some excitement in the bedroom,” Rada said.

When asked if Michael also allows Rada to have a side piece, he responded;

“I mean, she’s allowed to have any female she wants and not a man because we don’t need another penis in the relationship.”

Watch rest of their conversation below;

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

Michael Blackson and Rada have been engaged since July 2021 after two years of dating.

In May, 2021, Rada announced on social media that she had broken off the engagement because she was not going to be lied to. However, the two got back together immediately and have been lovey lovey ever since.

Michael also brought her back home to Ghana during one of his numerous visits to introduce her to his family back home in Ghana.

World News

Drug dealer in Mac Miller case sentenced to over 17 years for fentanyl distribution

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2022

VJ Scaro

One of the three men charged in relation to Mac Miller‘s 2018 death from a drug overdose has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison. (more…)

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Moneybagg Yo And Kodak Black Team Up For Heartfelt New Single/Video “Rocky Road”

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2022

Ameyaw Debrah

Photo Credit: “Bodi” aka Botti Denton

Today, Memphis superstar Moneybagg Yo drops “Rocky Road,” a heartfelt, Kodak Black-assisted new single that affirms the pair’s status as the faces of modern, complex street rap. “Rocky Road” also arrives with an evocative video and is now available at all digital retailers via CMG/N-less Entertainment/Interscope Records. With this release, Bagg is featured on the cover of New Music Daily on Apple Music Listen HERE.

Cruising over emotive keys, Kodak kicks things off with a declaration of loyalty: “Tryna get to my hoe but the Perkys got me froze / Been doing my baby momma wrong and leaving her at home / I cannot leave you on your own, we made this child together.” For his part,Moneybagg injects memories of the hustle and damaged romance: “Out there standing by the pole, selling dope to buy some clothes / Cause I knew that attract the hoes, until one left my heart so cold / I just didn’t know no better made me hard on the next forever.” Soul-baring yet of the streets, “Rocky Road” is Moneybagg and Kodak at their best.

The video also dwells in that zone. Equal parts gritty, evocative, thoughtful, and real, the Young Chang-directed clip spins a familiar narrative as a man who’s already balancing life’s complexities finds himself at a crossroads: how to respond to another man’s reckless violence. The two rappers bear witness, occupying a perspective both within the scene and adjacent enough to have eyes on the bigger picture. It’s a space Bagg’s held down for a long time now. Watch HERE.

As a pioneer of his craft the Memphis native has been able to garner a cult fan base and prove his artistry as one of the best to do it. After sharing his album Time Served, Bagg continued to prove his aptitude and magnetism with the release of his fourth studio record, A Gangsta’s Pain, which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The critically acclaimed project features notable features with the likes of Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Future, and Jhené Aiko to name a few and was accredited “Best of 2021” by several media outlets including The New York Times, NPR, Billboard, Fader, Rolling Stone, Complex. In addition to his album going No. 1 he also topped the Urban Radio chart four times consecutively with “Said Sum” “Time Today” and “Wockesha,” and, “Scorpio.” A Gangsta’s Pain was the fourth highest selling rap album of the year and ultimately led to his performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a live performance on the BET Awards and several award nominations (BET Hip Hop Award, MTV VMA, iHeartRadio Award, etc.) As a man on the go Moneybagg Yo also starred in a Nike Commercial, helped develop artists on his own label, Bread Gang, and continues to explore several business ventures with his latest being Vior Water. In 2022 the Certified Speaker will maintain his unbreakable hot streak and continue to immerse himself in various projects. With “Rocky Road” at his back, Moneybagg Yo is all set to continue his trend of leveling up with each month.

World News

Kali Uchis wins Top Latin Female Artist and Top Latin Song at Billboard Music Awards

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2022

Ameyaw Debrah

Grammy-winning artist Kali Uchis won Top Latin Female Artist and Top Latin Song for “telepatía” at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards last night, where she was a finalist in four categories total.

Additionally, Uchis is nominated for six Latin American Music Awards this year for New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “telepatía,” Favorite Artist – Female, Favorite Artist – Pop, Favorite Song – Pop for “telepatía” and Viral Song of the Year for “telepatía.”

Uchis recently won Favorite Latin Song for “telepatía” at the 2021 American Music Awards. The track has accumulated more than 2 billion global streams after hitting #1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay and Latin Pop Airplay charts and topping Latin Digital Song Sales for ten weeks straight. It is the longest running Spanish-language song by a solo act on the Billboard Hot 100 this decade (23 weeks). Additionally, her Spanish-language album Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞was nominated for Best Música Urbana Album at the 64^th Annual Grammy Awards.

Last year, Uchis won her first Billboard Latin Music Award for Latin Pop Album of the Year, her first Grammy for Best Dance Recording with Kaytranada and her first Premios Nuestra Tierraand Univision Premios Juventud awards. She also performed at the Hispanic Heritage Awards on PBS, where she was also recognized as the 2021 Inspira Honoree.

World News

Photos: See all the looks from the 2022 Billboard Music Awards

Published

3 days ago

May 16, 2022

VJ Scaro

The 2022 Billboard Music Awards took over the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday (May 15), with Sean “Diddy” Combs hosting and performing. (more…)