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Takeoff Murder Lawsuit Continues, Venue Owner Blames Suspect, Migos & Patrons For Violence

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New reports on court documents in Takeoff‘s mother’s lawsuit against the venue at which he met a tragic end in late 2022 reveal some very interesting arguments. Moreover, according to RadarOnline, the owner of 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston placed all blame for the murder on its charged suspect, Patrick Xavier Clark, and his possession of an illegal gun. However, the location also seems to have attributed responsibility to Quavo, Take, and their associates who participated in gambling outside of the venue. Since this lawsuit’s filing in June of 2023, no settlement is in sight and 810 Billiards & Bowling want its dismissal.

Furthermore, Takeoff’s mother Titania Davenport claimed that the bowling alley knew of Quavo and her son’s arrival beforehand and should’ve bolstered security, according to The Los Angeles Times. She maintains that the former Migo was an innocent onlooker during this incident, one that 810 Billiards & Bowling should assume responsibility for given their knowledge of the possibility of large gatherings to see the rappers. In addition, Davenport claimed that some of the venue’s patrons were the one to intimidate Take, cause physical and verbal altercations, and ultimately lead to his loss. She seeks over a million dollars in damages for emotional distress, funeral expenses, and her son’s personal injuries.

Read More: Quavo Honors Takeoff With Gun Violence Reduction Initiative In Atlanta

Takeoff Performing In 2018

CHARLOTTE, NC – MAY 01: Rapper Takeoff of Migos performs at Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre on May 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Hahne/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, Titania Davenport has other issues to handle around Takeoff’s death, as his father Kenneth Ball is listed as an intervenor in this case against 810 Billiards & Bowling. The Georgia MC’s parents have battled over his estate for a while now, as he had no will and, according to RapUp, left around $26 million when he passed. AllHipHop also reported that Ball seeks $1 million in damages from the venue for similar reasons to Davenport. Quavo’s assistant also filed a lawsuit against the location in August of 2023, claiming similar irresponsibility when it comes to security and pointing to his own sustained injuries from the shootout.

Meanwhile, after authorities charged Patrick Xavier Clark with the murder, he remains on house arrest until his next court date for August 2024. Perhaps we will see this year if there will truly be justice for the late legend, at least when it comes to who was responsible for his passing. But justice will never heal these wounds. Instead, that’s up to his family, his loved ones, his legacy, and to us as fans to advocate for the prevention of these incidents in the future and keep Takeoff’s memory alive. For more news and the latest updates on him, stay posted on HNHH.

Read More: Takeoff Sexual Assault Lawsuit Persists, Mother Will Serve As Defendant

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Who Is Lucian Grainge, and How Powerful Is He? Very

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One of the most powerful men in the music industry is having a lot of discourse around his name in hip-hop circles lately. Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has been in the music business for 45 years. The North London native is a certified knight with the honor bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II, who did so in 2016, through her 90th Birthday Honours list, which praised the music industry and its leadership through its challenging times. The guy’s a big deal.

Unfortunately, his name has been used by Ye as ammunition to go at Drake on a diss track more recently. Ye mentioned the 63-year-old music industry mogul to insult Drizzy on the remix to “Like That,” and during an interview with social media personality Justin Laboy. Ye debuted the song last Saturday (April 20) in the chat with Laboy for his new podcast, The Download. The diss track is a remix of Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar, in which K-Dot takes aim at Drake and J. Cole. Ye also referred to Lucian as the 6 God’s “rich baby daddy” elsewhere in the interview. The attack is to imply Grainge is getting Drake all the spins and love on DSPs that his Certified Lover Boy heart desires.

“It’s a wrap for n***as/Where’s Lucian? Serve your master, n***a/You caught a little bag for your masters, didn’t ya?/Lifetime deal, I feel bad for n***as/Y’all so outta sight, outta mind/I can’t even think of a Drake line,” Ye raps on the remix.

The lyrics are likely referring to the lucrative deal Drake signed with Universal Music Group in 2022. The amount of the deal, which includes recordings, publishing, merchandise and visual media projects, has never been confirmed, but sources say it could be worth $400 million.

Lucian was also named as a defendant in producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones lawsuit against Diddy filed in February. The suit alleges Diddy sexually assaulted, harassed and failed to pay Jones for work done on The Love Album: Off the Grid. Lucian is included as providing financial resources to Diddy and Love Records, the rap mogul’s label. As a general business partner to Diddy in that capacity, the head of UMG “had a duty to ensure that the financial support they provided to Sean Combs and Love Records was not being used for sex workers, drugs, and laced alcohol was not being used for sex workers, drugs, and laced alcohol,” according to the court document.

Now with that information out the way, there’s certainly more to Lucian Grainge than the negativity connected to his name over the last few months. He joined Universal Music Group in 1986, launching PolyGram in the U.K, and making it one of the top three music publishing companies in the country. He’s worked as General Manager of A&R (1993) and Managing Director (1997) at Polydor. Then Grainge landed a Chairman and CEO title at Universal Music Group UK in 2001. By 2011, he brought that title with him to take over Universal Music Group. UMG, the house that Lucian built, has dominated as the largest of the Big Three label groups ahead of Warner Music and Sony. Grainge oversees the labels under the umbrella, including Interscope, Republic, Def Jam, Capitol, Motown and Island.

Lil Wayne’s Young Money, Eminem’s Shady Records, J. Cole’s Dreamville and Coach K and P’s Quality Control Music are just some of the hip-hop labels connected to UMG and Lucian.

When looking at what Grainge has accomplished as the head of the biggest music group in the world, he’s responsible for significantly increasing the company’s revenues and profitability. Under his leadership, UMG became the first music company with nine of the top 10 songs on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart and the first music company to score all 10 of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Our barometer for success is not just market share—although obviously if it was we’re doing pretty well,” he said at a Capitol Congress event in 2018. “Our barometer of success is creating companies that the best artists want to sign to, because they know we can accelerate their careers beyond anyone else in any other system or at any other structure.”

He’s even been open-minded about advanced technologies like A.I., which has increasingly infiltrated the music business over the last year. “AI at the service of artists is a good thing, but AI that is used to harm or prevent artists from due compensation is a bad thing,” he told Fast Company in March. “So, our approach is to embrace responsible AI technology in a way that enhances human creativity.”

Scoring major feats like that has earned him big bucks. Grainge takes home an annual salary of $5 million. His annual bonus is $10 million and the equity he receives includes annual grants of $20 million. The music baron also locked in a one-time transition award of $100 million, which encompasses restricted stock units and performance stock options. He even earned $150 million bonus for successfully taking UMG public in 2021. Lucian Grainge makes money moves.

Rappers have taken notice as well. Drake name-dropped Lucian on Migos’ 2021 track “Having Our Way”: “S**t done changed, billionaires talk to me different when they see my paystub from Lucian Grainge.” Travis Scott has also given the multimillion-dollar man his props on Drake and 21 Savage’s 2022 song “P***y & Millions”: “Only signin’ the gang’We the new Lucian Grainge.”

The music business mogul also keeps it in the family. Lucian’s son, Eliott Grainge, is the founder of 10K Projects, the label to which Ice Spice, Trippie Redd, Iann Dior, Jeleel! and Rich Amiri, among others, are signed.

So, while Ye brings up Lucian Grainge’s name to diss Drake, it seems like having a guy with as much power as he has in your corner is a plus in this game.

See the Stories of How Rappers Got Their Artist Names

Metro Boomin Gives an Update on Savage Mode III

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Nonstop
Metro Boomin redefines what being a producer means every day.
Interview: Aleia Woods
Editor’s Note: This story will appear in the Spring 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now.

With Grammy nominations and Billboard chart-topping albums, there’s no stopping Metro Boomin. He’s now showcasing his talent for crafting hit-making musical soundscapes through a partnership with Axe fragrances in conjunction with the release of their new Black Vanilla scent. That, plus the recent releases of We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You, the highly anticipated joint albums with Future, which features a Kendrick Lamar diss towards J. Cole and Drake that sparked one of the bigger rap back-and-forths hip-hop has seen in several years, proves Metro Boomin’s foot is all gas, no breaks. Here, the St. Louis-bred boardsmith checks in, kinda.

XXL: You made the new song, “Enjoy Yourself,” for Axe featuring Coi Leray. Can you explain how that came about?

Metro Boomin: Coi is a good friend of mine. We already got great chemistry in and out of the studio. So, when we had to make a song for Axe, it was just easy and natural for us.

Since the song was made for a brand and not an artist, is the production process different, or is it similar to the processes that you usually take when you make songs for yourself and other artists?

No, I approach it the same. Just with the common goal to just put something great together.

You have a massive fan base. They’re always checking for what you have going on musically. What do you want for them to take from this partnership that you have with Axe?

That we’re growing. We’re expanding.

You had a very successful 2023. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment so far in your career?

I’m not sure. I never really stopped to think about it.

What are a few things that are on your list to check off goal-wise for the year?

Stay healthy. Stay close to my family. Stay close to God.

Are there any other collaborations that you have in the works? Are there some collaborations that you don’t have just yet that are dream collaborations for you?

Just got to stay tuned.

How about your next collabo album with 21 Savage, Savage Mode III? Can we expect that soon?

Gotta stay tuned.

You’re really tight-lipped with what’s going on.

I don’t talk much so I don’t get fined.

OK, so as far as your overall process with creating a record, do you have the artist in mind first? Do you start from scratch? Can you talk about the process when you make a beat?

Everything’s tailor-made. We just start from scratch. I might have an idea in mind. We might try that. That doesn’t work, we’ll try something else. I go with what I feel. I go with what my soul needs.

Has there been a beat that you weren’t sure about it, but it ended up surpassing your expectations once everything was mixed and mastered?

[Migos’] “Bad and Boujee.” I didn’t really like that beat like that.

You received the key to the city in your hometown. How did it feel to receive that recognition?

It was amazing, man. Left me speechless. Something near and dear to my heart. So, I feel like it’s the first right step in the right direction to help turn things around and contribute more to the city.

Read how hip-hop in 2024 is experiencing more wins than losses in the Spring 2024 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now. The new issue also includes the cover story with Gunna and conversations with Metro Boomin, comedian Druski, Danny Brown, Teezo Touchdown, 42 Dugg, Jim Jones and Maino a.k.a. Lobby Boyz, That Mexican OT, 41, BabyDrill, Rapsody, actress La La Anthony, BigXthaPlug, Rob49, Reuben Vincent, singer Tyla and producer Tate Kobang. There’s also a look at how social networking has a chokehold on rappers’ feelings, and the ways in which kid rappers are thriving thanks to social media.

See Photos of Gunna’s XXL Magazine Spring 2024 Issue Cover Story

Cam’ron Declares Chris Brown Released Best Recent Diss Track

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Cam’ron has seen his fair share of beefs throughout his entertainment career. The recording artist-turned-sports podcaster offered his opinion on the ongoing Chris Brown versus Quavo rap battle.

For example, Chris Brown took direct shots at Quavo of the Migos rap group on his “Weakest Link” release. According to Cam’ron, that Quavo diss by Brown beat out any other recent response track.

“To me, Chris Brown got the best diss song this week,” Cam’ron declared while cruising on a boat. The Dipset frontman then played “Weakest Link” while providing commentary in the social media video.

Cam also said, “That n#### said that when Takeoff died, n##### wished it was you instead. Chris Brown sounds dangerous. Breezy sounds dangerous right now.”

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A post shared by Watch Live Bitez (@livebitez)

On the “Weakest Link” song, Chris Brown mentioned the late Takeoff. The 28-year-old Migos member, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, died in November 2022 after being shot multiple times in Houston, Texas.

Quavo has returned fire at Chris Brown with the “Over Hoes & B######” diss record featuring vocals by Takeoff. The friction between Quavo and Brown has been playing out for years.

Apparently, the issues between the Georgia-bred rapper and the Virginia-bred singer stem from both stars once being sexually involved with Karrueche Tran and Saweetie.

On Tuesday (April 12), Saweetie responded to Quavo namedropping her in the “Over Hoes & B######” song. The “My Type” hitmaker posted a screenshot of her ex-boyfriend’s alleged, unanswered Instagram direct message.






Saweetie Responds to Quavo’s New Diss Song by Sharing DM He Sent

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Saweetie is responding to being mentioned on Quavo‘s new diss song by sharing an embarrassing DM he recently sent her.

Saweetie Exposes Quavo DM

Quavo’s beef and rap battle with Chris Brown is getting intense with Huncho releasing the latest shot in the back-and-forth in the form on his new CB diss track “Over H*es & B***hes.” On Tuesday (April 23), Saweetie responded to being name-dropped on the track where Quavo raps: “I can take a model b***h and make a Saweetie, n***a.” In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Cali rhymer shared a screenshot of her Instagram DMs that shows an unread message from the former Migos member.

“Damn, we used to be mean af to eac…,” the message reads in part, giving some insight into their possibly volatile relationship.

Saweetie captioned the post, “Hopefully the model he turns into me replies.”

Read More: Saweetie Tries to Avoid Questions About Quavo But Shannon Sharpe Continues to Press Her in Interview

Saweetie and Quavo’s Relatioship

Saweetie and Quavo dated from 2018 from 2021, during which time they hinted at possibly getting married. However, they split shortly after a viral video surfaced that showed them getting into an altercation in an elevator. Soon after the breakup, Quavo repossessed the Bentley he bought Saweetie when they were dating.

This isn’t the first time Saweetie has been dragged into the Quavo and Chris Brown beef. On Chris’ new Quavo diss track “Weakest Link,” he implies that he slept with Quavo’s ex while they were still together. Many people assumed CB was talking about Saweetie. She responded to the speculation with a social media post.

Read More: 20 Unnecessary Disses in Hip-Hop That Didn’t Need to Happen

See Saweetie’s reaction to Quavo’s new diss song and hear Quavo’s “Over H*es & B***hes” below.

See Saweetie’s Response to Name-Drop on New Quavo Diss

Stream Quavo’s “Over H*es & B***hes”

See Rappers’ Most Wildest Insults They’ve Said During Beefs

Kanye West Calls Chris Brown “A God” Amid Quavo Beef

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“I’m the new Jesus, b####. I turn water to Cris. This for what they did to Chris. They can’t do s### with this,” Kanye “Ye” West raps on his chart-topping “Carnival” single.

Kanye West further expressed his support for Chris Brown during a sit-down interview with The Download With Justin Laboy podcast. That paywalled conversation included Ye reflecting on his “Carnival” shout-out to the R&B singer.

“Chris is a god,” Kanye West told Justin Laboy in a clip from The Download that made its way to social media. West then clarified he was talking about Chris Brown.

On February 8, 2009, Chris Brown got into a physical altercation with his then-girlfriend, fellow R&B star, Rihanna. Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault in that case. He also faced other abuse accusations throughout his career.

Over the last several weeks, Chris Brown has been engaged in a lyrical back-and-forth with Migos member Quavo. Both artists released respective diss tracks that mentioned abuse allegations against the other.

Kanye West has also fully embraced the current beef season in Hip-Hop. The Chicago-raised rapper aimed at his longtime rival Drake, as well as J. Cole, on a remix of Metro Boomin and Future’s “Like That.”







50 Cent Predicts Chris Brown Will Punch Quavo In Face Over Latest Diss 

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50 Cent believes Chris Brown will put hands on Quavo after the Migos rapper went nuclear on his Brezzy diss “Over Hoes & B#tches.” 

The G-Unit founder and entertainment mogul is keeping an eye on the beef, which has seen the singer and the rapper go back and forth on wax. Over the weekend, 50 Cent put Quavo on the clock, urging him to respond to Chris Brown’s “Weakest Link” with some heat or “it’s a wrap.” 

Whether Huncho was listening or not, he fired back on Monday (April 22), with an explosive diss less than a day after Fiddy’s post. It appears the scathing track was to his liking.  

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50 Cent shared his reaction to Quavo’s attack on Chris Brown via Instagram Monday evening. He gave “Over Hoes & B#tches” his seal of approval and wants the lyrical warfare to continue. However, he thinks the latest shot might have escalated the tension and predicts the feuding artists will come to blows.   

“I don’t know why I like all of this, but I like it ! This heat,” he declared before adding, “keep it coming. Breezy gonna punch him in the face.” 

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A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

Chris Brown and Quavo’s latest tracks follow their first round earlier this month. Breezy targeted Huncho on “Freak,” while Quavo returned fire on “Tender” 24 hours later. 

Their issues date back to 2017 when Quavo was linked to Brown’s ex, Karrueche Tran, leading to a heated confrontation involving the duo at the 2017 BET Awards.  







Saweetie Puts Quavo On Blast With Embarrassing DM

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Quavo is having a rough week. The Migos rapper had to stand by while Chris Brown dropped the diss track “Weakest Link” to positive reception from fans. He clapped back with “Over Hoes & B*tches” on April 22, but it did not get the same love as Breezy’s. Some felt Quavo relied too heavily on the feature from the late Takeoff, while others thought the rapper failed to dig up any real dirt on Brown. It gets worse. The same day “Over Hoes & B*tches” dropped, Saweetie hopped on X (formerly Twitter) to disprove one of Quavo’s claims.

Saweetie has become a central figure in the Quavo versus Brown feud. While Karreuche Tran was previously the focus, due to the fact that she dated both artists, Saweetie has been referenced in both “Weakest Link” and “Over Hoes & B*tches.” In the former, Brown claimed to have slept with the rapper while she was still dating Quavo. In the latter, Quavo claims he doesn’t care. “I can take a model b*tch and make a Saweetie, n**ga,” he raps, with the implication being that she’s replaceable. It’s a less than stellar bar, and one that Saweetie was more than happy to upend.

Read More: Chris Brown & Saweetie’s Courtside Link-Up Has Social Media Debating Whether They’ll Date Next

Saweetie Shared Instagram Receipts With Fans

The rapper posted a screenshot of her Instagram DMs, and one of the messages left on read was from none other than Quavo. The entirety of the message is unclear, but the first couple words read: “Damn. We used to mean af to each…” Saweetie posted a withering caption with the screenshot, making it clear that she meant more to Quavo than he’s letting on. “Hopefully the model he turns into me replies,” she wrote. Saweetie and Quavo dated for three years before breaking up in March 2021.

Saweetie talked about their relationship during an appearance on Caresha Please. She skirted around the question of whether or not Quavo cheated on her, and ultimately chalked their split up to differences. “I thought we was gonna spend the rest of our lives together,” she admitted. “With him, I knew it was the one. It was different.” Ironically, the two rappers first connected when Quavo DM’d Saweetie on IG in 2018, which means this new DM drama brings things full circle. Like they say: all’s fair in love and war.

Read More: Saweetie Seems To Respond To Chris Brown’s Quavo Diss Alluding To Her

Saweetie Shares DM From Quavo Following Chris Brown Diss Track  

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Saweetie is clapping back after being dragged into the beef between Quavo and Chris Brown. 

On Monday (April 22) the Migos rapper responded with fire to Brown’s blistering diss track “Weakest Link,” calling Breezy the “crackhead Michael Jackson” on “Over Hoes & B#tches.” 

Both the singer and the rapper got disrespectful about their exes, with the “Best Friend” hitmaker taking multiple shots. Brown claims he was intimate with Saweetie while she was still with Quavo. 

“You f##### my ex-hoe, that’s cool, I don’t give no f###, lil’ n####,” Breezy raps. “‘Cause I f##### your ex when you were still with her, b####, I’m up, lil’ n####.” 

Meanwhile, Quavo boasts, “I can take a model b#### and make a Saweetie, n####.”   

After joking she was hitting the studio after Chris Brown dropped last week, Saweetie reached for the receipts in response to Quavo. She took to social media, firing back at her ex, just hours after he released “Over Hoes & B#tches.”  

She posted a screenshot of her Instagram DMs from back in January 2014. An unread message from Quavo begins, “Damn. We used to mean af to eac…”  

X/Saweetie

Directly referencing Quavo’s “Over Hoes & B#tches” lyric, Saweetie wrote, “hopefully the model he turns into me replies.” 

Despite Quavo being in the DMs back in January, the former couple split in March 2021. Interestingly, his message to Saweetie arrived days before the rumors that she and YG split, ending their brief relationship.   

Chris Brown also shared his reaction to Quavo’s diss, and he was unimpressed.  

“Google raps,” he wrote on his IG Story alongside multiple crying-with-laughter emojis. “That s### is poooooooh.”  

It appears the lyrical warfare might end here. “Damn and I was excited,” he added. “That s### don’t even need a response.” 

Brown also mentioned the late Takeoff again after stating Quavo was the worst rapper in Migos, and that fans wished it was him who died instead of Takeoff. He concluded his post, “Takeoff rap better.”