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Akon Reveals His Brothers Cashed In By Performing As Him

Honk Magazine

In a story that sounds like something from a comedy show, global music star Akon recently revealed a surprising secret that his brother, Abou “Bu” Thiam, used to perform as him during concerts whenever Akon’s schedule got too busy. In a fun conversation with Bootleg Kev, the singer of the hit song “Locked Up” shared a funny and outrageous part of his early career that shows even famous musicians aren’t safe from family pranks. He explained that Bu would take the stage pretending to be Akon while the real Akon was performing elsewhere.

But the surprises didn’t end there. Their other brother, Omar Thiam, took things to a whole new level. “He would just straight-up take a show,” Akon said with a laugh. “I could be in New York, and next thing I know, I’m getting a flyer from Baltimore saying I’m performing live!” Yes, you heard that right. Omar would pretend to be Akon, book gigs without telling him, and keep the money for himself. “He wouldn’t even let me know, as if I wouldn’t find out,” Akon joked. “He’d go out there as me. O was quite the hustler!” The craziest part is the audience had no idea they were seeing a stand-in instead of the real Akon. “If you saw me and my brother separately, you’d definitely think, ‘Okay, that’s him,'” Akon admitted. “Omar was really making it work.”

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While this amusing story might raise some eyebrows, it also adds a fun twist to Akon’s legacy, full of family loyalty, lighthearted mischief, and the kind of determination that defined the music scene in the early 2000s. This peek behind the curtain shows the unpredictable side of fame where brothers step in for each other, flyers go out without your knowledge, and the shows keep going on. In true Akon style, he doesn’t seem mad about it. After all, if anyone can laugh off a few surprise concerts and a sibling’s sneaky cash grab, it’s someone whose music has made people dance worldwide.

Celebrity

Eminem’s music publisher sues Suno for $41 million in a copyright case over AI music.

Eminem

Eminem’s music catalog is at the center of a new legal battle over artificial intelligence, with his publisher, Eight Mile Style, reportedly suing AI music company Suno for $41 million. The lawsuit alleges the company used copyrighted recordings of the Detroit rapper without permission to train its generative music model. Eminem is not said to be named as a plaintiff. Still, the case puts rights associated with some of his most famous compositions at the center of an ongoing debate over how AI companies use existing music.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco, according to AllHipHop. Suno is accused of using copyrighted content from Eminem’s catalog to train its model, and the generated output allegedly resembles his work, according to Eight Mile Style. The publisher reportedly has the rights to 269 of the rapper’s compositions, including “The Real Slim Shady,” “Lose Yourself,” and “Stan.”

The suit lists financial demands, including $150,000 for each composition, and $672,000 concerning the alleged removal of copyright information. The total amount being sought is said to be $41 million. That figure, however, is what the plaintiffs are seeking in damages, and is not to be confused with a sum that has already been awarded in court. The allegations and demands in the lawsuit are only allegations in an ongoing legal dispute.

In a statement made to Billboard, Suno has responded to the accusations. “The company said its purpose is to help people create new and original music, not capitalize on an artist’s name or likeness. It also said it bans unauthorized use of an artist’s work and does not allow prompts that ask for specific artists’ names and songs.

The company said it also uses third-party providers to scan uploaded audio files and lyrics for possible misuse. Suno said the measures are part of an effort to strengthen protections for artists and users, and that it plans to roll out more safeguards. It offers a different description of how the platform handles copyright issues, while the Eight Mile Style lawsuit challenges whether those protections are adequate.

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The dispute raises a complicated question for the music industry: how should copyright law apply to generative artificial intelligence systems trained with existing creative works? The problem is even more difficult when a platform can generate new material that purports to imitate the style or sound of an established artist. Legal battles over AI-generated music, including those involving Suno and others, are one example, such as the one with Eminem’s publisher.

It also raises questions about the relationship between copyrighted recordings, training data, and the material users create through AI platforms. It doesn’t solve those problems of distinguishing the training process from the final output. They are part of the broader legal issues that are fought over in cases like this.

Meanwhile, Eight Mile Style is currently pursuing significant damages for the alleged use of Eminem’s compositions. Suno maintains it has policies and screening mechanisms in place to prevent unauthorized use. The court will need to process the claims according to the law. Until then, the $41 million figure is what is being sought, not a confirmed judgment.

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Music

Kanye West Breaks Yet Another U.S. Hip-Hop Attendance Record in Texas With Kid Cudi and Erykah Badu.

Kanye-West

Kanye West’s latest show in the Dallas area apparently reached another huge attendance benchmark, with AT&T Stadium saying the rapper broke his own record for the most-attended hip-hop concert in U.S. history. The Saturday, Nov. 7 concert in Arlington, Texas, followed the record-setting Halloween performance in Houston and included special appearances by Kid Cudi and Erykah Badu. The official attendance number isn’t in the information provided, but the announcement has already made the show one of the biggest events of West’s current tour.

AT&T Stadium says it was West’s largest crowd ever, topping his previous record of 80,210, set Oct. 31 at his Houston show. The Arlington venue reportedly holds 100,000 for sold-out events, and fans speculate the latest crowd may have come close to that number. However, the final attendance number is unconfirmed, so the audience size is not set in stone.

The concert was also marked by guest appearances. Kid Cudi joined West on stage, adding another big moment to a show already gaining attention for its claimed attendance record. They performed “Hands Pt. 1” and “Ghost Town” together before walking out together for “Runaway.” Cudi also played two of his own songs, “Pursuit of Happiness,” the Steve Aoki remix to be exact, and “Day ‘N’ Nite (Nightmare).”

Many fans were surprised earlier in the show when Erykah Badu showed up. Her set included several of her biggest hits: “Didn’t Cha Know,” “On & On,” “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip-Hop),” and “Tyrone.” Another huge musical moment of the night was her presence, offering a different sound and performance style to West’s concert.

The information also mentions André Troutman as a close collaborator who attended the event. The show featured a wide range of artists across the musical spectrum, with the event’s attention and attendance record squarely on West. Special guests included Badu and Cudi.

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This latest milestone follows a particularly strong run of West’s live shows. His Houston gig on Halloween had already set a new benchmark, drawing 80,210, according to the figure given. The Arlington show was said to have topped that mark a week later, but the final figure is still to be released. That’s the distinction: the stadium’s announcement supports the claim that West has broken his previous record, but the exact attendance figure is not confirmed in the details given.

For fans, it was more than just an album announcement. Beyond the crowd size, the concert had several memorable moments, including joint performances by Cudi and West, Cudi’s solo appearances, and a surprise set by Badu. But the attendance achievement is the headline, continuing West’s recent run of large-scale performances.

Until the official figure is released, the question remains. How many people were in the Arlington audience? The information does confirm that AT&T Stadium says West topped his Houston record, making the Nov. 7 show another huge milestone in his concert run.

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