World News
R. Kelly sex-abuse charges dropped by Chicago prosecutor

A Chicago prosecutor said Monday that she’s dropping sex-abuse charges against singer R. Kelly following federal convictions in two courts that should guarantee the disgraced R&B star will be locked up for decades.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced the decision a day ahead of a hearing related to state charges accusing him of sexually abusing four people, three of whom were minors. She said she would ask a judge to dismiss the indictments Tuesday.
Foxx, who in 2019 had pleaded with women and girls to come forward so she could pursue charges against Kelly, acknowledged that the decision “may be disappointing” to his accusers.
“Mr. Kelly is potentially looking at the possibility of never walking out of prison again for the crimes that he’s committed,” the prosecutor said, referring to his federal convictions. “While today’s cases are no longer being pursued, we believe justice has been served.”
READ ALSO: R. Kelly found guilty on six counts of child pornography
Since Kelly was indicted in Cook County in 2019, federal juries in Chicago and New York have convicted him of a raft of crimes, including child pornography, enticement, racketeering and sex trafficking related to allegations that he victimized women and girls.
Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, is serving a 30-year prison sentence in the New York case and awaits sentencing on Feb. 23 in Chicago federal court. He is appealing those convictions. Based on the New York sentence alone, the 56-year-old won’t be eligible for release until he is around 80.
Foxx said she reached out to Kelly’s lawyer two weeks ago to indicate that charges might be dropped. She also spoke to the women whose allegations were at the heart of the case.
Foxx expressed praise for the “courage it took for them to come forward.”
Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said she was “pleased” with the prosecution’s decision to drop charges.
“He only has one life to give. So I don’t know how many sentences upon sentences would satisfy people,” Bonjean said.
Lanita Carter, who said she was sexually assaulted by R. Kelly in February 2003, said she was “extremely disappointed” with the news.
“I have spent nearly 20 years hoping that my abuser would be brought to justice for what he did to me. With today’s announcement, all hope of justice for my case is gone,” Carter said, adding that she trusted Foxx and her office with her story and has spent four years steeling herself to face Kelly to no avail.
“Justice has been denied for me,” she said.
Prosecutors sometimes choose to go ahead with more trials out of a concern that convictions elsewhere could be reversed during appeals. They see an opportunity for additional convictions as insurance.
“We didn’t do a monetary cost-benefit analysis,” Foxx said, adding, however, that resources spent on a trial now could instead be used “in advocacy for other survivors of sexual abuse.”
Another sexual-misconduct case is pending in Hennepin County, Minnesota, where the Grammy Award-winner faces solicitation charges. That case, too, has been on hold while the federal cases played out. Minnesota prosecutors haven’t said whether they still intend to take Kelly to trial.
Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and for sex-infused songs such as “Bump n’ Grind,” Kelly sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of young girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s. He beat child pornography charges in Chicago in 2008, when a jury acquitted him.
Widespread outrage over Kelly’s sexual misconduct didn’t emerge until the #MeToo reckoning and the release of the Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” in early 2019.
Foxx announced the Cook County charges months before the federal cases in New York and Chicago. Foxx’s office alleged he repeatedly sought out girls for sex, including one he encountered at her 16th birthday party and another who met Kelly while he was on trial in 2008.
Federal prosecutors in New York told jurors at his 2021 trial that Kelly used his entourage of managers and aides to meet girls and keep them obedient, an operation that prosecutors said amounted to a criminal enterprise.
Last year, prosecutors at Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago portrayed him as a master manipulator who used his fame and wealth to reel in star-struck fans, some of them minors, to sexually abuse then discard them. Four accusers testified.
While prosecutors in that case won convictions on six of the 13 counts against him in that case, the government lost the marquee count — that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his 2008 child pornography trial.
World News
Michael Bolton Releases New Single & Music Video For “Spark Of Light”

Grammy award-winning and Emmy nominated singer-songwriter Michael Bolton releases the official music video for his latest single “Spark Of Light,” out everywhere today at 2pm EST / 11am PST. Watch it HERE. Ahead of the premiere on his Youtube channel, Bolton will go live on Youtube to answer questions from fans.
“Spark of Light really marks for me a return to my songwriting which is where everything started,” states Bolton. “Wherever that inspiration or joy comes from you just want to grasp it and run with it.”
“Spark of Light” is the title track from Bolton’s forthcoming album of original music, co-written by Bolton with contemporary writers, producers, artists and DJs. This musical collaboration with Walk The Moon (“Shut Up And Dance”) frontman Nicholas Petricca and producer Tushar Apte (Demi Lovato, ZAYN, Nicki Minaj, Adam Levine, Noah Cyrus) creates a sweet, chill and catchy vibe that sparked the inspiration for the entire project.
About Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is a multiple Grammy Award-winning Singer, Songwriter and Humanitarian, who has sold more than 65 million records globally and continues to tour the world. Bolton remains committed to and recognized for humanitarian causes, especially through the Michael Bolton Charities, advocating on behalf of women and children at risk for more than 25 years.
Celebrating more than 50 years of contributions to the entertainment industry, Bolton won 2 Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance (nominated four times), 6 American Music Awards, 3 Emmy nominations and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As a songwriter, he has earned over 24 BMI & ASCAP Awards, including Songwriter of the Year, 9 Million-Air awards, and the Hitmakers Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. To date, Michael has seen 9 studio albums rank in the Top Ten, with 9 #1 singles.
Michael became a viral sensation in The Lonely Island’s Emmy nominated video, “Jack Sparrow” that launched on Saturday Night Live and has racked up over 230 million views on YouTube. He earned another Emmy nod for his collaborations with the Screen Junkies channel popular “Honest Trailers” and partnered with Funny Or Die to release a spoof on the cult-classic Office Space which achieved Immortal Status.
With The Lonely Island team and Comedy Bang Bang, Bolton executive produced and starred in the Netflix show Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Valentine’s Special which has become a seasonal cult classic. The collaborators have reunited to produce Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Podcast which will air on Will Ferrell’s iHeart comedy network, Big Money Players.
Michael recently starred in The Celebrity Dating Game, airing primetime on ABC and ranking #1 in its slot. Bolton’s comedic appearances span several episodes of CBS’s hit series Two and a Half Men, the hit Fox network show Glee, ABC’s hit comedy Fresh off the Boat, and HBO’s hit series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Michael had a featured cameo in the Showtime hit series Billions and has made guest appearances on shows like Lip Synch Battle, Beat Shazam, Hollywood Game Night, To Tell the Truth. He recently performed as a special guest on the hit Fox TV show The Masked Singer.
Michael’s songs are frequently heard on Idol, The Voice, Got Talent and X-Factor all around the world. His songs and performances have been featured in film soundtracks, including the Oscar-nominated theme song “Go the Distance” from Walt Disney’s blockbuster animated film Hercules and the Russell Crowe film Fathers & Daughters which has become a favored wedding song and part of several viral videos.
Last year, Bolton represented his hometown Connecticut performing the first single “Beautiful World” from his forthcoming album through to the finale of NBC’s American Song Contest.
World News
HOODLUM announces ‘Southside Story’ + “OUTSIDE” (feat. Maxo Kream) / “Pressure”

San Antonio’s prolific rapper, HOODLUM has just announced the 4/7 release date for his upcoming album, Southside Story, along with a new single, “PRESSURE” and the arrival of “OUTSIDE” (feat. Maxo Kream) on streaming services. HOODLUM broke out on the national stage with his 2019 single, “OJ” (3M Views), taking off online due to his anxious yet punchy flow and subsequently landing on the soundtrack for the horror film, Random Acts of Violence later that year. In June 2021, visual artist Colton Valentine painted a mural of the rapper adjacent to a memorial of Nipsey Hussle, solidifying HOODLUM’s spot as a San Antonio Star.
Maxo Kream caught onto HOODLUM’s wave in 2021, jumping on “OUTSIDE” which helped HOODLUM subsequently garner the attention of No Jumperwho reached out to book him an interview on the podcast. His laidback flow, off kilter cadence, and an ear for deep and bass heavy beats has set HOODLUM apart as an emcee with a sound that’s uniquely his own. In the words of Pitchfork, “No rapper in Texas right now has a better beat selection than San Antonio’s HOODLUM. The South Side rapper can lay his croaky delivery over any type of instrumental: a soul sample, trendy minimalist Texas production, or a Bay Area funky flip.”
HOODLUM is now gearing up to tell his complete life story through his debut album, Southside Story with features including Maxo Kream, Paul Wall, Valee and Doeman. Southside Story features HOODLUMrapping with his signature low-key Texan flair over an impressive array of beats ranging from G-Funk to hard-hitting Southern Trap to Boom-Bap with a select few star features to match.
Fresh off the release of LOST FILES 2 in January, HOODLUM is continuing to expand upon his dynamic sound with his forthcoming debut album, Southside Story. The upcoming project is a strong statement from HOODLUM, as he boasts about his lifestyle and shares introspective reflections on his past life. In his new single “PRESSURE”, HOODLUM showcases his punchy flow and unique delivery over a mesmerizing piano loop and stuttering hi-hats. On “OUTSIDE” with Maxo Kream, the duo show off their undeniable chemistry as they exchange magnetic verses over the bouncy production, with HOODLUM handling the striking hook. Boasting features from Texas Hip-Hop icon Paul Wall, Maxo Kream, Valee and Doeman, the album as a whole helps to showcase HOODLUM’s diverse sound, expressive lyricism and croaky flows – all with an unapologetically southern style.
Please find links to pre-save Southside Story and stream “PRESSURE” & “OUTSIDE” (feat. Maxo Kream) below and stay tuned for more announcements to come:
SOUTHSIDE STORY – OUT 4/7
PRE-SAVE
02. BLUE FACE
03. ON MY MIND
04. SOMETHIN’ 2 SAY
05. FAMILY FEUD
06. GROOVE
07. CASH $
08. HOOD BITCH
09. OUTSIDE (feat. Maxo Kream)
10. PRESSURE
11. MONEY TALK
12. BELLY
13. DOPE SELLS
14. CROOKED (feat. Paul Wall)
15. HAUNTED (feat. Valee)
16. I’VE BEEN MOVIN’
17. SMILE (feat. Doeman)
18. GRAVE DIGGER
19. 28 SHOTS FREESTYLE
World News
Lionel Richie jokes ‘All Night Long’ has become a ‘fierce 15 minutes’

World News
Tory Lanez files appeal in Megan Thee Stallion shooting conviction

Tory Lanez has filed an appeal against the conviction verdict in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case. (more…)
World News
Bleached Festival Announces Joji, Leon Bridges, Omar Apollo, PinkPantheress, Lizzy McAlpine, Stephen Sanchez, Channel Tres + More For San Diego Debut

Today, San Diego’s newest alternative and indie-pop curator, Tight Knit, has announced Bleached Festival, a new festival in partnership with FNGRS CRSSD. Bleached will take over downtown San Diego’s iconic Waterfront Park on August 5th and 6th, offering a laid back uniquely Southern California summer experience.
Bleached, and the newly founded Tight Knit, aim to connect the worlds of alternative, indie-pop, and new-age R&B for a washed out weekender for those looking to kick-back and enjoy some of the moment’s most celebrated live-acts.
The festival’s debut lineup is topped by multi-talented Japanese icon Joji, whose hypnotic R&B stylings made his latest Smithereens full length one of the most celebrated albums of 2022. Neo-soul forerunner Leon Bridges follows suit, alongside DIY pop auteur Omar Apollo. Together these artists define the sonic spirit of Bleached, united by a sense of aesthetic with something meaningful to say.
Bleached’s pop sensibilities continue with the tender tones of singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine, smooth Nashville crooner Stephen Sanchez, the intimate and emotionally powerful hitmaker Jeremy Zucker, and English songstresses PinkPantheress and Cat Burns. Additional highlights include electrifying Compton act and versatile beatsmith Channel Tres, Mad Decent’s breakout crossover star Aluna, and philosophical pop princess Maude Latour.
The lineup dips into the varied world of alternative with ‘Olympus’ riser Blondshell, the emotive Sam Austins, Surf Curses’ modern take on the classic surf rock sound, and upbeat atmospheric ballads from Dayglow.
Billing veers towards the avant garde with interpretive jazz and vocalists BADBADNOTGOOD, hard hitting indie-pop from the UK’s Lovejoy, the feel-good dance antics of The Jungle Giants, plus many more.
With its bay views, ocean breezes, and convenience to the vast amenities of downtown San Diego, Waterfront Park offers the perfect setting for this easygoing concept. Being a short walk from the Amtrak station, with countless hotels, bars, and restaurants just outside its gate, the venue is built for the type of kicked-back, care-free experience that Bleached aims to deliver. Together with San Diego power-house promoters FNGRS CRSSD, Tight Knit aims to deliver the next unmissable date on the North American festival calendar.
Tickets are expected to go live on Tuesday, April 4th at 11am PT with more details to be shared on the Bleached website. Bleached is an 18+ event.
Bleached Phase One Lineup
Joji
Leon Bridges
Omar Apollo
PinkPantheress
Lizzy McAlpine
Stephen Sanchez
Channel Tres
Surf Curse
BADBADNOTGOOD
Dayglow
Inner Wave
Lovejoy
Aluna
Maude Latour
Cat Burns
The Jungle Giants
Jeremy Zucker
Riovaz
Blondshell
Binki
bülow
Baird
Hether
Rainsford
Sam Austins
World News
Do LaB Coachella Announces The Glitch Mob, A-Trak & Dave1, Cloonee, Party Favor & Baauer, Mr. Carmack, Aluna, Whipped Cream + More for 2023 Stage

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