For George Floyd, a complicated life and consequential death

HOUSTON (AP) — Years before a bystander’s video of George Floyd’s last moments turned his name into a global cry for justice, Floyd trained a camera on himself. “I just want to speak to you all real quick,” Floyd says in one video, addressing the young men in...

Rapper Black Rob, known for hit ‘Whoa!,' dead at 52

NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper Black Rob, known for his hit “Whoa!” and key contributions to Diddy's dominant Bad Boy Records in the 1990s and early 2000s, has died. He was 52. Black Rob died Saturday in Atlanta, according to longtime friend and former labelmate Mark Curry,...

Rapper Mystikal breaks silence on dropped rape charge

New York (AP) — Mystikal, convicted almost two decades ago of sexual battery and recently cleared of a second allegation of rape and kidnapping, acknowledges his past puts him in a “horrible fraternity.” But the rapper says he’s ready to move on from the sexually-charged songs of his...

Hip-hop legends Jay-Z, Diddy, Nas back McGuire for NYC mayor

NEW YORK (AP) — Hip-hop legends Jay-Z, Diddy and Nas endorsed banker Ray McGuire for New York City mayor on Wednesday, throwing their star power behind a candidate who has yet to break through in a crowded Democratic primary field. The three entertainers praised...

Business-seeking singer Akon draws political fire in Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The American rap artist and singer Akon is drawing criticism from rights activists over his meetings with Uganda's president as he pursues the development of a futuristic city in the East African country. Akon is helping to rehabilitate longtime...

Kanye agrees with Kim on joint custody in divorce response

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kanye West agrees with Kim Kardashian West that they should have joint custody of their four children and neither of them need spousal support, according to new divorce documents. West's attorneys filed his response Friday in Los Angeles Superior...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 18-24

Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 18-24: April 18: Actor Robert Hooks is 84. Actor Hayley Mills is 75. Actor James Woods is 74. Actor Dorothy Lyman (“Mama’s Family”) is 74. Actor Cindy Pickett (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) is 74. Keyboardist Walt...

Nas, Eve, Snoop, Aaliyah's mom react to death of rapper DMX

NEW YORK (AP) — Reaction to the death of Grammy-nominated rapper DMX, who died Friday at 50. — “Earl Simmons was a wonderful, caring father, and a sensitive, thoughtful man. Unfortunately, Dark Man X took over and ran amok, tormented and struggling to find the...

'Nothing less than a giant': Rapper-actor DMX dies at 50

NEW YORK (AP) — DMX, the iconic hip-hop artist behind the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)” whose distinctively gruff voice and thoughtful messages in his rhymes made him one of rap’s biggest stars, has died, according to a family statement Friday. He was...

Family says DMX, the rapper and actor known for iconic hip-hop songs and a gruff delivery, is dead at 50