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FM Legal Trending Updates

George Floyd’s Family Files Lawsuit Against Kanye West

The family of George Floyd announced on Tuesday that they would file a $250 million lawsuit against Kanye West. The suit is in reference to the rapper’s comments on the latest episode of N.O.R.E and DJ EFN’s podcast Drink Champs over the manner of Floyd’s death.

Following the news that George Floyd’s family was contemplating legal action on Sunday, the Witherspoon Law Group announced it would be handling the suit against Kanye West. The firm was retained by George Floyd’s partner Roxie Washington on behalf of their daughter. The attorneys also filed a cease-and-desist letter to Kanye over his comments.

The firm released a statement, explaining that Ye “knowingly made blatantly false statements about George Floyd’s death” to promote his business interests. They also accused the rapper of “wanting to profit from Mr. Floyd’s horrendous death and his family’s trauma.”

Kay Harper Williams, a partner at the Witherspoon Law Group, also says Ye’s claims cannot be protected under free speech.

“Free speech rights do not include harassment, lies, misrepresentation, and the misappropriation of George Floyd’s legacy,” Williams argued in her statement. “Some words have consequences and Mr. West will be made to understand that.”

Kanye’s comments on George Floyd

Kanye immediately faced backlash for his statements on the October 15 episode of Drink Champs. The rapper claimed that fentanyl was the true cause of George Floyd’s death. However, Derek Chauvin was convicted for the murder. Ye’s argument stems from Candace Owens’ new documentary The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM.

“I watched the George Floyd documentary that Candace Owens put out,” Yeezus argued on the podcast. “One of the things that his two roommates said was, ‘They want a tall guy like me,’ and the day that he died, he said a prayer for eight minutes. If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that.”

On Monday, N.O.R.E apologized for letting Kanye make his comments, as well as for not immediately checking him. In addition, the official video of Ye’s Drink Champs interview has since been removed from YouTube.

Written by Olan Bryant

 

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Updates

Lil Baby and Lil Durk Team Up for “Voice of The Heroes” Music Video

Lil Baby and Lil Durk Team Up for ‘Voice of the Heroes” Music Video

Something special is coming. Lil Baby and Lil Durk are collaborating on a new project, entitled “The Voice of the Heroes!” 

Lil Baby took to Instagram to share the album cover along with the release date, set to come out Friday.

In addition, the two artists released a music video for the title track of the record. The song highlights many aspects of their personal life from childhood to struggles of fame and fortune. The song is slightly somber, but triumphant in a way. A voice of change and hope. The music video is in Lil Baby’s hometown.

The album seems to speak on the political tension that has been prevalent in the media for the last year. Lil Baby has made it a point to talk about the issues he sees in his community. His Grammy award-winning single “The Bigger Picture” was highly acclaimed for its message on police brutality and racism in the black community. This song rocked the music industry when it came out, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement last summer. The music video was extremely powerful and set the stage for Lil Baby to do much community outreach and work after, including financially supporting the family of George Floyd, a black man who was tragically murdered by police in Minneapolis last year.

This song seems to be a continuation of those themes and subject matters, along with his friend and fellow rapper Lil Durk. This album has people already talking and everyone is highly anticipating a great project from the duo.

What do you think the themes of the album will be? 

 

Demetrius Sadler | Twitter: @thademigod7

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FM News

Kendrick Lamar Speaks To #blackouttuesday

Music Helps To Create A Voice For Those Not Heard

Racism has been an issue for decades, while some change has been made, there is so much more to be done. With the appalling death of George Floyd and so many other African Americans, it is clear that racism still continues. There are many ways to call out racism and false judgment in our world. One of these ways was Kendrick Lamar and his Grammy performance in 2016 of “Blacker The Berry” and “”Alright”. While the video is old, the message behind his performance will always stand around race and rebellion. Music as a whole creates a message for people and creates meaning for consumers.

blacksquare.

One Of The Reasons Why Kendrick Lamar Creates Major Impacts In Hip Hop

At the beginning of the 2016 grammy performance, Kendrick Lamar and other dancers begin in handcuffs in a jail setting, showing how there are conceived notions regarding race as a whole. Lamar does this because he is embracing his race. At the same time, he is calling out the issues of racism behind the idea of African American’s being considered dangerous. Soon, Kendrick Lamar and other dancers break free from their handcuffs, showing that there is an escape to the literal and symbolic imprisonment. He is ultimately telling his audience that racism and intolerance are still happening through his powerful stage performance and lyrics, resonating to daily life. Kendrick’s message through his stage performance and lyrics still stand today in 2020. He shows that race is taught and embraced in a negative manner. It’s clear Lamar created this legendary and memorable for the grammy’s to embrace discrimination and inequality to a global level, rather than at a city concert. George Floyd’s death was cruel, to say the least. The primary example shows the real message of Kendrick’s outrage and anger behind race, as it continues. 

Kendrick Lamar 2016 Grammy Awards
Taken by https://q13fox.com/2016/02/16/how-kendrick-lamars-fiery-performance-won-grammy-night/.

Why Kendrick Lamar And Other Artists Sing About Real Life Issues

Music is meant to be symbolic and to inspire others. It allows society to come together as a whole, and there are many other songs like “Where Is The Love” by the Black Eyed Peas that address the importance of racism and that it must come to an end. They remade the video years later, addressing that there needs to be innovation. There is always room for improvement. Music has the capability to create change, but this cannot be done alone. Justice and action must be brought!

#Blacklivesmatter 

#makeachange

#stopracism

Sydney Geller | IG: @sydneyyyyy_g |

Related stories: #FMFashion Black America’s Pain Through Music