Keak Da Sneak’s Wife Petitions For House Arrest Before He Checks Into Prison

Jackson, CA – Keak Da Sneak is expected to begin a 16-month prison sentence on Thursday (February 7) for a non-violent offense. The Bay Area rap legend, who is confined to a wheelchair after being shot in 2017, requires around-the-clock care, which his wife Dee Bowens fears he won’t receive behind bars.

Bowens is currently Keak’s full-time caregiver, but he also requires specialized care from nurses. Bowens has launched a Change.org petition to ask California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Representative Tom McClintock to allow Keak to serve his time under house arrest rather than in prison.

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Keak shared the petition on Tuesday (February 5) via Twitter.

“This issue is bigger than me,” Keak says in the petition. “Our penitentiary system lacks any compassion for those with disabilities and it is not equipped to handle our care. I’m lucky to have people in my corner that are making this an issue. Other people aren’t so lucky, who’s looking out for them?”

Bowens adds, “Prison is dangerous, he cannot defend himself and has already been the victim of two shootings. There’s really no reason for a disabled, non-violent offender to have to do his time in jail.”

At the time of publication, Keak’s petition has received over 37,000 signatures.

“Last year the movement to save Meek Mill garnered over 425,000 signatures,” Director of Change.org Michael Jones says. “Keak’s petition is at over 35,000 in less than a week. The hip hop community’s outcry is forcing officials to really take a closer look at how our criminal justice system works.”

On January 28, Keak attended a hearing and learned he will begin serving his 16-month sentence for one count of possession of a firearm as a felon on February 7.

[This article has been updated. The original version was posted on January 28, 2019 and can be found below.]

Keak Da Sneak nearly lost his life in January 2017 after several men attempted to rob him in Oakland. After the altercation, the assailants started firing their guns. The Bay Area staple was sitting passenger side and came extremely close to getting killed. Following the incident, he decided to get a gun despite being a convicted felon.

But according to KQED, he’s been the target of multiple violent attacks and felt he had to have a way to defend himself. On Monday (January 28), Keak attended a hearing and learned he will begin serving his 16-month sentence for one count of possession of a firearm as a felon on February 7.

Keak was originally supposed to start his sentence following the hearing, but Amador County Superior Court Judge J.S. Hermanson gave him additional time to complete a medical procedure.


? @isawdray They call me a Legend but I’m just BLESSED ?? #allnfallndoe

A post shared by Keak da Sneak (@officialkeakdasneak) on Apr 24, 2018 at 2:54pm PDT

In March 2017, Keak was caught with the weapon while coming home from a night of gambling at a casino in Amador County, a rural area east of Sacramento. The latest census report says the population is 89 percent white.

“It was really racial profiling at an all-time high,” he said.

A police officer ran his license plate at a gas station and discovered he was on probation because of a prior firearm charge. That’s when the officer decided to search his car where he discovered the gun.

Consequently, the Amador County district attorney charged Keak with possession of a firearm as a felon, possession of ammunition as a felon, receiving stolen property, driving with a suspended or revoked license and possession of a controlled substance.

A post shared by Keak da Sneak (@officialkeakdasneak) on Jul 13, 2018 at 7:55am PDT

Shortly after the criminal case began, Keak was involved in another shooting in August 2017 outside of a Richmond gas station. Much like the shooting in Oakland, he was the victim of another attempted robbery.

“The first bullet busted the window and hit me in the face, grazed my face,” he said. “It made me put my arms up and guard my head, so I got shot all in my side, abdomen, my elbows, my sides. When the gunfire stopped, I couldn’t feel my legs.”

Keak woke up two days later at Oakland’s Highland Hospital. He now has to use a wheelchair full-time, see a nurse three times a week and use a colostomy bag. Although he put up a legal battle for two years, prosecutors refused to consider house arrest as a part of his plea bargain.

“It feels like they had no compassion,” he said. “My health is not good. I know they’re not gonna give me the treatment I need in prison. I’ve been to jail before, and once you get behind these walls, they have no compassion. You have to be on your dying bed for them to give you some assistance.

“Am I gonna get the treatment I’m getting out here? I don’t think so. I’ve been to jail with people who were sick and really doing bad, and the guards and deputies didn’t care about them at all. They came and beat on them because they were pushing the button like, ‘I need help, I need help.’”

Hyphy New Year?@theshepire God put her back in my life ?? My Wife #thesneaks #15years

A post shared by Keak da Sneak (@officialkeakdasneak) on Jan 1, 2019 at 12:23am PST

During Keak’s time behind bars, he hopes to be able to take care of his kids with his music.

“It got me doing a lot of recording right now, so while I’m gone I can be dropping music to take care of my family,” he said. “I have a lot of people in my corner, on my side. They feel like it’s biased, the way they’re treating me. If I was another race, they wouldn’t be doing me like this.”

Keak is expected to be released sometime around June 2020.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.50094/title.keak-da-sneak-to-begin-16-month-prison-sentence-despite-wheelchair-confinement

R. Kelly Announces Tour Thousands Of Miles Away From America

R. Kelly is facing scrutiny unlike ever before in wake of Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly, but the pressure isn’t stopping him from making moves in his career. The controversial RB star announced a tour of Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Tuesday (February 5) despite his highly publicized troubles.

Kelly’s decision to tour overseas is notable since any attempt to do shows in North America would likely bring an intense backlash. The widespread allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct against the disgraced artist have sparked investigations by police and the FBI.

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? NEW TOUR ALERT ? Australia | New Zealand | Sri Lanka see y’all soon! ?

A post shared by R Kelly (@rkelly) on Feb 5, 2019 at 8:42am PST

While Kelly’s alleged misconduct had been well documented for years, he continued to operate in the music industry without repercussions until 2019. The personal stories told by Kelly’s accusers in Lifetime’s documentary tipped the scales unlike previous reporting ever had.

Sony Music, the longtime home of Kelly, parted ways with him in the aftermath of Surviving R. Kelly. Some of Kelly’s industry peers, such as Chance The Rapper and Lady Gaga, even removed their collaborations with the polarizing figure from streaming services due to Lifetime’s docu-series.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.50190/title.r-kelly-announces-tour-thousands-of-miles-away-from-america

21 Savage’s Legal Team Says He Came To The U.S. At Age 7

Atlanta, GA – 21 Savage’s legal representatives have issued a statement on his behalf in an attempt to combat misinformation.

The Epic Records artist was revealed to be British when he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday (February 3). While the revelation caused many to question his backstory, 21’s team noted he was indeed born in the United Kingdom but came to the United States when he was 7 years old.

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According to 21’s team, he entered the country under an H-4 visa. H-4 visas are given to the immediate family members of H-1B visa holders, who are allowed to legally work in the U.S.

Earlier this week, ICE claimed 21 “initially entered the U.S. legally in July 2005 but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his nonimmigrant visa.”

21’s reps say he stayed in the U.S. until June 2005, when he visited the United Kingdom for one month. According to them, he returned to the U.S. under a valid H-4 visa in July 2005. Although they admit he lost his legal status in 2006, 21’s team notes he was a child with no means to address his immigration status on his own.

The statement claims 21 is eligible for cancellation of removal from an immigration judge. Reasons cited for his eligibility include his near 20-year residency in the U.S. and having multiple family members who are citizens or lawful permanent residents.

21’s team also reiterated his immigration status was never hidden from any federal agencies. They specifically noted the Department of Homeland Security knew his address after he filed for a U visa in 2017.

Read the entire statement below.

There has been a great deal of misreporting in the case of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known professionally as 21 Savage. Conjecture and misinformation help no one make good decisions and leads to false conclusions. Here are the facts:

Mr. Abraham-Joseph was born in the United Kingdom. Mr. Abraham-Joseph arrived legally in the United states at the age of 7 under an H-4 visa. He remained in the United States until June 2005, when he departed for approximately one month to visit the United Kingdom. He returned to the United States under a valid H-4 visa on July 22, 2005. Mr. Abraham-Joseph has been continuously physically present in the United States for almost 20 years, except for a brief visit abroad. Unfortunately, in 2006 Mr. Abraham-Joseph lost his legal status through no fault of his own.

Mr. Abraham-Joseph, like almost two million of his immigrant child peers, was left without immigration status as a young child with no way to fix his immigration status. These “Dreamers” come from all walks of life and every ethnicity. Mr. Abraham-Joseph has no criminal convictions or charges under state or federal law and is free to seek relief from removal in immigration court. ICE provided incorrect information to the press when it claimed he had a criminal conviction.

Mr. Abraham-Joseph has three US Citizen children, a lawful permanent resident mother and four siblings that are either US Citizens or lawful permanent residents. He has exceptionally strong ties in the United States, having lived here since he was in the first grade. Because of his length of residence in the United States and his immediate relatives, Mr. Abraham-Joseph is eligible to seek Cancellation of Removal from an Immigration Judge.

Mr. Abraham-Joseph was placed into deportation proceedings AFTER his arrest, he was not in deportation proceedings prior to this detention by ICE. DHS has known his address since the filing of a U visa application in 2017. He has never hidden from DHS or any of its agencies.

Mr. Abraham-Joseph is not subject to mandatory detention under federal law and is eligible for bond. By statute, bond should be granted by ICE when there is no flight risk or a danger to the community. ICE has the ability to set a bond and conditions of release on cases exactly like this. ICE routinely grants bond to individuals in Mr. Abraham-Joseph’s circumstances, specifically individuals who have overstayed a prior valid visa and have relief from deportation under federal law. There is no chance that Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a flight risk. Mr. Abraham-Joseph is not a “danger” to the community as his acts of philanthropy and good will, as well as his music, continue to improve the communities from which he comes.

Mr. Abraham-Joseph has a pending U visa application with the USCIS. This U visa was filed as a result of being the victim of a deadly shooting in 2013. That visa was filed in 2017 and remains pending. When granted, the U visa will afford him lawful status in the United States. Generally, ICE has recognized a pending facially valid U visa as a basis to delay removal proceedings and release individuals from custody.

There continues to be no legal reason to detain Mr. Abraham-Joseph for a civil law violation that occurred when he was a minor, especially when people in his exact situation are routinely released by ICE. Many have speculated as to possible ulterior motives for his arrest and detention, including that he released music five days prior to his arrest by ICE, which included new lyrics condemning the behavior of immigration officials for their detention of children at the border. We are unaware of why ICE apparently targeted Mr. Abraham-Joseph, but we will do everything possible to legally seek his release and pursue his available relief in immigration court.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.50191/title.21-savages-legal-team-says-he-came-to-the-u-s-at-age-7

Win Tickets To Meek Mill’s The Motivation Tour

Miami, FL – Coming off his Billboard chart-topping Championships album and a year that earned him the trophy for HipHopDX’s Comeback of the Year Award, Meek Mill has announced his upcoming The Motivation Tour.

And HipHopDX wants to send YOU.

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Simply comment on this article or @HipHopDX on Twitter with the city of your choice and you could win a pair of tickets to attend!


Tuesday, February 19 | Miami, FL |The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

Friday, February 22 | Dallas, TX | South Side Ballroom

Saturday, February 23 | Houston, TX | Revention Music Center

Tuesday, February 26 | Phoenix, AZ | Comerica Theatre

Thursday, February 28 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Palladium

Friday, March 1 | San Francisco, CA | The Masonic

Tuesday, March 5 | Denver, CO |Fillmore Auditorium

Friday, March 8 | Chicago, IL | Aragon Ballroom

Saturday, March 9 | Detroit, MI | The Fox Theatre

Tuesday, March 12 | New York, NY | Hammerstein Ballroom

Friday, March 15 | Philadelphia, PA | The MET

Tuesday, March 19 | Hartford, CT | XFINITY Theatre

Wednesday, March 20 | Lowell, MA | Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell

Thursday, March 21 | Washington, DC | The Anthem

Saturday, March 23 | Raleigh, NC | The Ritz

Sunday, March 24 | Atlanta, GA | Coca-Cola Roxy

The 16-city, Live Nation production will kick off February 19 in Miami, FL and make stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, his hometown of Philadelphia before wrapping March 24 in Atlanta, GA.

Tickets can also be purchased at TIDAL.com.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.50173/title.win-tickets-to-meek-mills-the-motivation-tour

The Game Baits Joe Budden: "I Turned You Into An On Air Personality!"

Shortly after Joe Budden blasted The Game for his lyrics about Cyn Santana, the Compton-bred rapper is firing back. On Monday (February 4), Mr. L.A. Confidential jumped on Instagram and baited the State of the Culture co-host by taking credit for Budden’s career and rubbing his former fling with Santana in his face.

“@joebudden You can’t sue nobody for discovering the pussy before you #christophercolumbusheadassnigga #indianswasthere1st,” he wrote. “I turned you into an on air personality nigga! Enjoy retirement pussy (Quavo voice).”

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#thegame going at #joebudden

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akadmiks) on Feb 4, 2019 at 7:00am PST

The Game and the Slaughterhouse vet’s beef was reignited following Budden’s reaction to a song included on The Game’s forthcoming album, Born To Rap. In addition to recalling one of his sexual escapades with Kim Kardashian, he also drops a sexually explicit lyric about Santana, Budden’s current fiancée.

He addressed it on a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast. 

“The more I sat and thought about this, the more I said to myself, ‘Nigga, so what?’” he said. “What type of loser, face-ass nigga is you, nigga? I don’t give two fucks about what anyone did before I was involved with them. To me, that’s more loser shit.”

Budden seemed mostly upset Game didn’t hit him up first before unveiling the track.

“You didn’t say it to me,” he said. “You said it in a song. And you can call me, Game. You talking about my girl with a girl name. Watch your fucking mouth, man.”

Revisit Budden’s comments below.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.50177/title.the-game-baits-joe-budden-i-turned-you-into-an-on-air-personality