Pretty Ricky member, Baby Blue, has been released from prison. He was incarcerated for a PPP scam in Dec 2021. He also promises to post more on his Instagram again. Baby Blue also decided to change his name.
On Feb 7, 2022, Baby Blue turned himself in and was sentenced to 20 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as well as paying $1,111,345 in restitution and $1,134,782 in forfeiture. In 2020, he filed fake loan applications to obtain funds specifically allotted to small businesses as part of the U.S. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. He had obtained over $24 million through the scam. He used the money to purchase luxury items, including a Ferrari. The car was seized when he was arrested.
When he turned himself in, Baby Blue was acting apologetic for the scam. Only time will tell if he is going to do something like this again.
Baby Blue’s Post-release changes
He was released after only 1 year through Trump’s First Step Act, which shortens federal sentences and focuses on rehabilitation. Baby Blue was released after a year for good behavior. The act had been put into place in 2018, and was the first criminal justice reform bill passed in nearly a decade.
When Baby Blue was released, the rest of the Pretty Ricky cast was there to pick him up. They confirmed that he was going to post on his Instagram again, now that he is out on the streets.
Shortly after being released, Baby Blue announced exclusively to The Shade Room that he is going to be changing his name to “Bigg Money Blue”. He had also announced that new music is on the way, as well as a book. There is no word on their release dates, or what the book is going to be about.
The “Always On Time” singer Ashanti will be releasing a children’s book in July. My Name Is A Story is the title of her picture book. According to Ashanti the book was inspired by her childhood experiences. She faced bullying because her name was different. Over time Ashanti learned to love her name.
Her Instagram followers first got the news back in March. Ashanti posted a picture of the book on Instagram for her followers to see. She let everyone know when the book will hit bookstores. Make sure to grab a copy.
“I’m so excited to share the news that my debut picture book MY NAME IS A STORY comes out on July 19th!” -Ashanti(Instagram)
Ashanti moved the release date for My Name Is A Story forward. It goes on sale July 12. Buy the book on pre-sale and it comes with a signed bookplate from Ashanti.
“Inspired by my own experiences, I wrote this book to remind children that every name is special and deserves to be honored and celebrated.” Ashanti (Instagram)
Harper Collins Publishers is publishing the book.
“First days aren’t easy for a girl with a name like Ashanti. It feels like no one can pronounce it correctly! But with some encouragement from her mom, Ashanti spells her name and learns just how special it is.”
Ashanti wants every child to know that their name is special. My Name Is A Story was made with children struggling to love their name. Ashanti wants children to be proud of their name.
Monica Mikai illustrated My Name Is A Story. The 40 page book is for those four to eight years old. Buy the hard copy while it is currently on sale for $15.99.
Ashanti Signs My Name Is A Story
Check out Ashanti signing copies of My Name Is A Story at the Essence Festival in New Orleans.
27-year-old Bobby Shmurda, fresh off his seven-year prison sentence, has revealed he’s working on an autobiography.
After being released, Shmurda took to Twitter to share several stories of his life. One of his stories was recording his smash hit “Hot N***a” was made for $20, in one hour. He also shared his need for sex therapy, insight on label drama, and old photos of him as a child.
While telling those stories, Shmurda came up with the idea of writing an autobiography. So, back on Twitter, he gave us a taste of how exciting the first page would be.
“I just started writing my autobiography & my first page more lit than yo daddy’s daddy whole life,” his post read.
Bobby Shmurda’s Writing
He didn’t give any more details, just spoke about how excited he was writing it. There is no title or release date yet. However, it’s safe to assume that he will include his childhood in Brooklyn and his recent imprisonment.
The responses to the tweet were mixed. Some fans barked at Shmurda to make another song. Others joked about whether Shmurda would be the one writing it because of the poor grammar in his post.
Few comments supported his decision, and he seems fine with it. Three days before the tweet, he posted about chasing dreams.
“Too many people got a DREAM that they never chased, then go through life and be angry they never tried. Let me remind y’all Hot N***a took $20 for 1 hour of studio time in the hood to create, and that 1 hour of FOCUS changed my life and everyone around me FOREVER.”
Now, the rapper will write down old tales and new dreams, and share them with the world. Shmurda also joins other rappers like Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, DMX, and others who’ve penned their own autobiographies.
Jamie Foxx is taking no chances when it comes to his daughter’s dating life. Foxx revealed the secret of keeping her dating life on track during The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night (Oct. 14).
Foxx shared that he once asked Snoop Dogg to invoke some fear in his daughter’s boyfriend by shaking him up a bit. It’s giving Bad Boys II Jamie!
“Act Like You Got Some Sense”
The entertainment powerhouse is adding author to his extensive catalog. Comedian, actor, and musician, Jamie Foxx announced in August he would embark on the five city book tour. Foxx, while discussing his new book, Act Like You Got Some Sense, shared that he got an early start in making sure his daughter would approach dating correctly. Foxx urges his daughters to perfect their crafts and qualities as a way to ensure they are operating at full capacity before entering into a relationship.
The title Act Like You Got Some Sense derived from his grandmother. She would utilize the phrase to chasten Jamie when she felt he may act out. For this reason, Foxx shares the same values and skills with his young daughters. His goal is to break down the barriers with his daughters.
Uncle Snoop to the rescue!
Foxx shared with Fallon that Snoop had been at his home prior to Jamie’s daughter’s boyfriend arriving. He expressed that he wanted Snoop to “shake him up.” Foxx impersonates Snoop saying, “Hey wassup cuz.” Foxx continued in his best Snoop impression, “We’re her Uncles, so act accordingly homie.”
What’s it giving?
Martin Lawrence and Will Smith created this historical moment on set of Bad Boys II.
Foxx is shedding light on the very colex father-daughter dynamic. Rather than forcibly enter the young women privacy, he has tailored a way to enter this delicate arena. This has proven to be a delicate topic of conversation, but he has began to lay the groundwork towards bettering relationships within these relationships.
Act Like You Got Some Sense book tour may come to a city near you. Look for tickets at LiveNation.com.
Vivian Billings publishes her first book, “How I Came to Accept Him: Loving Your Child for Who They Are”
Media personality and reality star Vivian Billings is best known for divulging entertainment news and gossip as blogger “Gossip Viv,” and for her role as a castmember on the now canceled VH1 show “Gossip Game.” Now, her intimate experiences as a mother of a transgender child are shared in her first book, “How I Came to Accept Him: Loving Your Child for Who They Are.” Billings’ life journey and difficult path to accepting her son’s news are detailed honestly in the paperback, and the account has inspired and enthralled readers. “How I Came to Accept Him” is available now through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and everywhere else books are sold. Learn more about Billings and her book in an exclusive interview with FM Hip Hop.
FM HIP HOP: When you initially told your son that you would be writing a book about your experiences, what was his initial response?
VIVIAN BILLINGS: He was happy. He didn’t have any problem with it. He just wanted his life to remain private, which is why I changed everyone’s name in the book.
FM: What was your process in creating the book?
VB: It was just basically my experience and my struggles. I take you through my teenage years and certain things that lead up to me having Kamal [an alias], and certain situations that I had my children around that I thought may have affected his life choices.
FM: When LGBTQ issues are in the spotlight, do you think it benefits parents and families with transgender children, or do you think it presents more challenges?
VB: I think the whole [trans] topic is a bit much for a family in itself because it’s outside of your sexual preference and sexual orientation. It’s actually someone feeling like they’re trapped in the wrong body. So they’re making decisions to fix how they feel. They want to see in the mirror what they’re feeling inside. I think a lot of parents are dealing with that kind of struggle. I’m looking to help, not so much to cause controversy or anything like that.
FM: Have you heard any unexpected responses to the book?
VB: Some people said I’m promoting a “trans agenda.” I’m not trying to do that at all. I’m just trying to help parents who are struggling with acceptance try to find their acceptance.
FM: How old is your son now, and how is your relationship?
VB: He’s 24 and our relationship is great.
FM: How old was he when he revealed his gender identity to you?
VB: 18 [years old].
FM: Do you think that made it easier or more difficult to accept, since he was already of age?
VB: It was difficult for me to accept his decision, which is why I decided to write the book. It was kind of heartbreaking for me as a parent, because you gave birth and raised this child up one way, and he’s telling you, “I’m not that way; I’m this way.” It was a struggle for me. Definitely.
FM: Are there plans for additional books?
VB: There are plans for additional books. Right now I’m just taking this book and trying to go as far as I can with it. I do want to create an additional book that’s more in depth about the things that I went through.
I was thinking about [a book on] teen pregnancy because I was very young when I had my kids. I do want to touch on that topic. Even if you read [“How I Came to Accept Him”], there are topics of me being pregnant while a teenager, there’s domestic violence in there as well, there’s the relationship with my mom that wasn’t so great and still isn’t to this day… so there’s a lot of topics in there. I don’t want to just focus it on being a mom to a trans child.
FM: What else are you currently working on?
VB: Right now I’m working on speaking to the schools, speaking to their Communications Department. I’m working with the Board of Education on going to different schools in Queens and Brooklyn and speaking with the LGBT students there. I’m working on being more of a motivational speaker, helping the students, and giving back to the community. That’s what I’m doing right now outside of working with ThisIs50.com and doing what I do.
