The ruling itself was expected after prosecutors laid out their evidence. However, one of the most significant developments involved the “special circumstances” attached to the murder charge. Under California law, those allegations can make a defendant eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Read More: Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Family “Horrified” By D4vd’s Latest Defense Strategy

A Judge Makes A Ruling

Judge Charlaine Olmedo determined prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to allow the special circumstance allegations to move forward. Those include claims that the killing was carried out for financial gain, involved lying in wait, and was committed to eliminate a witness. Prosecutors reportedly claim Burke had a financial motive because Hernandez allegedly threatened to expose their relationship, which they claim could have damaged his rapidly growing music career. During Monday’s hearing, jurors heard text messages Hernandez allegedly sent on April 22, 2025, warning she would “end” Burke’s career following an argument involving another girl.

According to prosecutors, Burke arranged for an Uber to bring Hernandez to his Hollywood home the following day, where they allege she was fatally stabbed. Moreover, the financial gain allegation is notable because prosecutors are not claiming Burke stood to receive money directly from Hernandez’s death. Instead, they argue the alleged motive was protecting the earning potential of his career by preventing damaging information from becoming public.

Read More: D4vd Allegedly Put A Dozen Air Fresheners In Tesla To Mask The Smell Of Celeste Rivas’ Body

The defense painted a much different picture during the hearing. Burke’s attorneys contended prosecutors failed to establish probable cause. They pointed to evidence they say raises questions about the timeline and forensic findings. They also noted investigators acknowledged Hernandez had lied about her age to Burke, claiming she was older than 14.

Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski also alleged that Hernandez’s parents were aware of the relationship and had previously signed paperwork allowing their daughter to travel overseas with Burke. Further, questions surrounding physical evidence also surfaced during testimony. Prosecutors alleged Burke purchased body bags, shovels, inflatable pools, and chainsaws after Hernandez’s death. It was claimed those items were used to dispose of her body. However, a Los Angeles Police Department criminalist testified that chainsaws recovered from Burke’s garage tested negative for blood, while another saw that investigators believe was purchased has not been recovered.

Meanwhile, despite the special circumstance findings, prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty. Hochman said that determination will be made at a later stage in the proceedings. Burke has pleaded not guilty to every charge. He is scheduled to return to court on August 31 for arraignment, with trial expected to begin within 90 days of that hearing.

The post D4vd Could Face Death Penalty If Convicted In Murder Case appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“If they really done their job, he would not have been charged,” Sanft said, criticizing both prosecutors and investigators involved in the decades-old case. Davis, 63, was arrested in September 2023 and charged in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting that claimed Shakur’s life in Las Vegas in 1996. Prosecutors have identified the former Compton gang figure as the alleged orchestrator of the killing. However, it’s a claim Davis now rejects despite years of public statements in which he appeared to place himself at the center of the case.

Read More: Keefe D’s Allegedly Talked About Role In Tupac Murder During Jail Call

Keefe’s Own Words Used Against Him

For years, Davis discussed the killing in interviews, his memoir Compton Street Legend, and conversations with law enforcement. His defense now argues those statements were fabricated. They claim they were simply exaggerated stories meant to generate publicity and financial opportunities rather than admissions of criminal conduct. Sanft contends his client was exercising his First Amendment rights, even if those remarks were, in his words, “not in good taste.”

Rumors recently circulated that prosecutors had offered Davis a plea agreement that would have significantly reduced his potential prison time. Sanft denied any such offer was made. He also made it clear he would advise his client against accepting anything short of a complete dismissal of the case.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has previously indicated the state will seek life imprisonment if Davis is convicted rather than pursuing the death penalty. As the trial approaches, jury selection is expected to present its own challenges. The investigation has remained one of Hip Hop’s most scrutinized criminal cases for nearly three decades. The rumors have been fueled by documentaries, books, podcasts, and extensive media coverage.

“In picking a jury, the number one promise that we expect from our jurors is that they will be fair and impartial to both the state, as well as Duane, and that they will reserve their judgment until the close of the evidence on the case is then given to them,” said Sanft. “I have an ethical duty to never try my case in the media prior to the jury being picked and sequestered.”

Read More: Diddy Might Have To Testify On Keefe D’s Behalf In Tupac Shakur Murder Trial

Davis’ past comments have also fueled years of speculation involving Sean “Diddy” Combs. Davis alleged Combs offered him $1 million to kill Shakur during the height of the East Coast-West Coast rivalry. Those allegations have long been denied by Combs, and Sanft did not revisit their credibility while discussing the upcoming trial. Meanwhile, jury selection is scheduled to begin on August 10. Davis is expected to remain off the witness stand. Instead, his defense plans to challenge the prosecution’s evidence directly. They’ll claim investigators relied too heavily on statements they now contend were never true in the first place.

The post Tupac Murder Case: Keefe D Wants An Apology From Law Enforcement appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The proposed amendment centers on Buzbee and attorney David Fortney’s handling of the now-dismissed civil lawsuit accusing Jay-Z of sexual assault. According to the filing, the dispute began after U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres directed Buzbee to provide proof that he was admitted to practice before the Southern District of New York. Jay-Z’s attorneys allege Buzbee subsequently learned his application for admission had been denied.

Read More: Tony Buzbee’s Lawsuits Against Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Have Been Dismissed

Discovery Could Become A Major Battleground

Carter’s legal team reportedly claims that, after receiving that news, Buzbee sent Fortney to meet with the woman identified in court records as Jane Doe, the plaintiff in the dismissed lawsuit. The amended complaint alleges Fortney falsely told Doe that Jay-Z had threatened her life and that continuing the case had become too dangerous. Jay-Z’s attorneys allegedly argue those statements were knowingly false and were made to persuade Doe to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit for reasons unrelated to the merits of her claims.

According to the filing, the alleged objective was to end the litigation before additional scrutiny could be placed on what Carter’s legal team describes as a fraudulently filed lawsuit in a court where Buzbee allegedly was not authorized to practice. Jay-Z’s attorneys further argue that the dismissal deprived him of the opportunity to fully clear his name through the litigation process while allegations of child sexual assault remained part of the public record. They also contend the lawsuit caused significant reputational, personal, and harm to his businesses.

Judge Dale E. Ho will now decide whether the amended complaint can move forward. If approved, Buzbee is expected to challenge the new claim and could seek its dismissal. Further, the ruling could also determine how quickly the parties move into discovery. According to the filing, proceedings in the Southern District of New York are not automatically paused while dismissal motions are pending. This means Jay-Z’s legal team could pursue emails, text messages, internal communications, and deposition testimony related to Buzbee’s admission status, the meeting with Jane Doe, and the decision to dismiss the underlying lawsuit.Those materials could also become relevant in the parties’ separate legal proceedings in California, where related litigation remains ongoing.

The post Jay-Z Says Tony Buzbee Misled Client & Court In New Legal Filing appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

It is also said that Durk allegedly hired OTF members to travel to California to do the hit. However, the prosecution is now looking to add some evidence ahead of the August 20th court date. In that same breath, Durk’s legal team is trying to keep the supposed evidence out of the courtroom.

According to AllHipHop, the prosecution wants to use the music video to Durk’s 2021 song, “Pissed Me Off.” The prosecution believes Durk’s “V.Roy” chain, as well as his King Von imagery, is evidence that he allegedly put out a hit on Rondo and Lul Pab.

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

Lil Durk – “Pissed Me Off”

Furthermore, the prosecution says the very location of the music video is further proof of Durk’s alleged motivations. The video was shot at 59th Street and Princeton Avenue, which prosecutors say is associated with the Black Disciples. They also claim that Durk and his crew were using gang signs in the video, which further connects OTF as an alleged criminal enterprise.

Throughout the case, Durk’s legal team has been adamant that lyrics and music videos should not be put on trial. It is a major First Amendment issue, and it also is a knock against artists’ freedom of expression.

While Durk’s legal team has been successful at pushing back against the prosecution, at times, there is no telling if this latest battle to keep music videos out of the court will yield similar results.

Read More: Who Really Won YG Verzuz The Game?

The post Lil Durk Fighting To Keep Music Video Out Of Murder-For-Hire Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

One of the men suing him was former Adams County Sheriff’s Office sergeant Brian Newland. To celebrate Afroman’s 52nd birthday, the artist has announced his own lawsuit against Newland. As you will read, he wants to make an example out of the man.

“HAPPY OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY TO ME,” Afroman wrote. “And for my birthday present I’m suing the police officer who stole my $400, then had the audacity to sue me for 1,500,000 dollars. His name is PEDOPHILE POLICE OFFICER, BABY MAKING BRIAN NEWBORN NEWLAND PEDOPHILE POLICE OFFICER BABY, MAKING BRIAN NEWBORN NEWLAND HAS A PEDOPHILE BROTHER HIS NAME IS PEDOPHILE POLICE CHIEF WILL YOU STOP SENDING DICC PICS WILLIAM NEWLAND. AMERICA STAND UP TO PEDOPHILE POLICE.”

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

Afroman Launches Lawsuit

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According to Complex, Afroman is suing due to the “frivolous” nature of the lawsuit. Furthermore, he asserts that he suffered “reputational harm” as a result of Newland’s allegations.

Afroman claims he has experienced “anxiety” and “sleeplessness” as a result of the previous lawsuit. The artist is seeking damages and legal fees in the lawsuit, although an amount is currently unknown.

Malicious prosecution, abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with contract are the allegations being made by Afroman and his legal team.

Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing legal battle.

Read More: Who Really Won YG Verzuz The Game?

The post Afroman Celebrates Birthday By Suing Cop Who Accused Him Of Defamation appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

His stay at FCI Fort Dix has been relatively uneventful. It was reported that he entered a rehab treatment program. Furthermore, the music mogul was helping the other inmates out with an education initiative. These actions helped Diddy lower his sentence by a few weeks. Originally, he was set to be released on April 15. However, the most recent update stated his release date was changed to February 23.

Diddy’s good behavior streak was recently threatened as it was reported that the mogul was put in solitary confinement following a fight with a fellow inmate. The inmate reportedly provoked the situation, and Diddy allegedly fought back.

This had some wondering if the mogul’s release date would be impacted. Well, as it turns out, Diddy’s release date has changed. Except he’s now going to be released even sooner.

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

Diddy’s Prison Release Moved Up Again

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According to legal reporter Lauren Conlin, Diddy’s documents suggest his release date is now set for January 24, 2028. It appears as though his recent prison fight has had absolutely no bearing on his standing with the legal system.

The details surrounding his fight remain fairly scarce. It’s for this reason that some are confused as to why Diddy’s release has been moved up as opposed to being delayed. Perhaps those details will be known soon, although for now, it is a developing story.

All things considered, Diddy still has 18 more months before his time at Fort Dix comes to an end.

Read More: Who Really Won YG Verzuz The Game?

The post Diddy Receives New Release Date Following Prison Fight appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In the aftermath of these allegations, Diggs sued for defamation. This subsequently led to a countersuit from Griffith. The two are now deadlocked in a legal fight, and according to TMZ, Griffith has been summoned to provide new evidence.

As per the report, Griffith has 14 days to submit every single text message he and Diggs have shared over the years. This includes their entire Instagram thread. Furthermore, Griffith must produce travel expenses and documents between May 20-23, 2023. These were the dates of the alleged incident. These documents would include receipts for flights, luggage, and hotels.

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

Stefon Diggs’ Legal Battle Continues

Stefon Diggs has previously asked for sanctions against Griffith, but that request was ultimately denied. Previously, Griffith stated that he had produced 100 pages worth of texts between him and Diggs. However, the judge is clearly looking for something more thorough.

This legal battle has seemingly impacted Diggs’ ability to get another NFL contract. He is still a free agent and has not signed a deal since being let go by the New England Patriots following the Super Bowl.

Teams like the Washington Commanders are reportedly interested, but nothing has materialized. With training camp starting soon, one must wonder what is next for the NFL superstar.

Read More: Who Really Won YG Verzuz The Game?

The post Chris Blake Griffith Ordered To Submit All Of His Alleged Texts With Stefon Diggs appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

There have been rumblings that he wants to live in New York City and travel to Philadelphia via helicopter. It is a bold decision, albeit one that some sports fans think is disrespectful to the city of Philadelphia.

For instance, Barstool Sports founder and infamous LeBron hater, Dave Portnoy, thinks this is absolutely outrageous.

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

Dave Portnoy Is Offended

“This guy is so disgusted by the city of Philadelphia that he is commuting in from Manhattan? Are you serious?” Portnoy said. “This guy hates you so much, Philadelphia, he comes in and says, ‘Hey, Governor Shapiro, name a day after me, the LeBron James day in the state of Pennsylvania.’ BTW, he loves your city so much, Philadelphia, that he won’t even live in the city? … This is the biggest spit in the face to any city I’ve ever seen.”

Quite frankly, Portnoy’s opinion on the matter should not be much of a surprise to anyone. He has always looked for reasons to criticize LeBron, and this appears to be the most recent way to get that hate off.

For LeBron, his focus is mainly going to be on potentially winning a championship with the 76ers. That is what the fans want to see right now. LeBron has a huge opportunity in front of him, and you can’t help but hope he gets to five rings.

To do that with four teams would put him in a league of his own. We will just have to wait for the NBA season to start to see if it works.

Read More: Who Really Won YG Verzuz The Game?

The post Dave Portnoy Loses His Mind Over LeBron James Potentially Living In New York City appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

However, they came under fire last week for their hot take on Drake’s relationship with Sexyy Red. Their comments about Sexyy Red were deemed anti-black, with some feeling as though they shared a deep disdain for her entire existence. They also made the claim that Drake was using her as a way to be more in tune with his blackness.

Akademiks responded to The Mallory Bros, claiming their take was idiotic. This subsequently led to a response, in which they said Akademiks takes his relationship with Drake more seriously than his own race.

“You take your Drake Fandom more serious than you take your blackness… No n**** could ever put a chain around my neck. I would never wear another n**** chain,” the brothers said.

As you can imagine, Akademiks was not a fan of these comments, and he let his feelings be known during his most recent live stream. He even went so far as to insult the brothers’ intelligence and their media empire.

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

DJ Akademiks Responds

Akademiks says that he never heard of the brothers before their hot take on Sexyy Red. Given their 357K subscribers on YouTube, this is quite hard to believe. You may not agree with them, but you can’t say they’re not popular.

During the 40-minute segment, Akademiks likened The Mallory Bros to Kendrick Lamar stans who reach for arguments against Drake. However, Ak acknowledged how The Mallory Bros are fans of Drizzy. This subsequently led to Ak’s conclusion that they are jealous.

If one thing is for certain, it is that Ak is going to respond when you come for him.

Read More: Who Really Won YG Verzuz The Game?

The post DJ Akademiks Rips The Mallory Bros Over Drake & Sexyy Red Discourse: “Your Momma Should Have Swallowed” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Bronx rapper addressed the conversation on social media this week after repeatedly seeing comments from people urging her to get a BBL reduction. Cardi said she has already taken steps to reduce her previous enhancements but does not plan to undergo another major procedure.

According to Cardi, she has had two liposuction procedures and one butt reduction. She explained that another reduction would require a more invasive process because of loose skin, which could involve cutting and a lengthy recovery period.

“I like my body how it looks right now. I’m comfortable in my skin,” Cardi B said while responding to critics. She added that she is not interested in taking time away from her busy schedule for another surgery.

Read More: Rick Ross’s Greatest Strength Becomes His Achilles Heel On “Set In Stone”

Cardi B Claps Back Over Body Speculation

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The rapper also questioned why fans continue to assume she has had new work done every time she appears with a different look. Cardi pointed out that she frequently shares updates from her life and travels, making it unlikely that she would have enough downtime for repeated procedures.

She also defended her current appearance. She said she has been transparent about the methods she uses to maintain her look. Cardi encouraged followers to focus less on speculation and more on healthy habits, mentioning the importance of staying hydrated and maintaining proper digestion.

Read More: Timberland vs Nike Air Force 1: Which Shoe Actually Won Hip-Hop?

The post Cardi B Responds To Fans Pressuring Her To Get Another BBL Reduction appeared first on HotNewHipHop.