Entertainment
Defense Attorneys In Ahmaud Arbery Case Want Black DA Removed
The defense attorneys of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan are calling for the Black-American assigned District Attorney, Joyette Holmes, to be removed from their upcoming trial claiming that she was “illegally appointed” her position in the case. Back in Feb., the three assailants hunted down and fatally wounded 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery with two point-blank shotgun wounds to the chest which was filmed by one of the perpetrators in William “Roddie” Bryan. It wasn’t until footage of the alleged lynching was made public that the three men were indicted on a total of nine charges with each party being charged with one count of malice murder, four counts felony murder, two counts aggravated assault, one count false imprisonment, and one count criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment months later. Now, the McMichaels and Bryan are set to make their return to the Brunswick, Georgia courtroom on July 17 for an official hearing according to WOTC.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Back in May, the Cobb County Courier revealed that the prosecuting attorney for the Ahmaud Arbery case would be Joyette Holmes who was sworn into office on July 1, 2019. In an official statement from the District Attorney’s office, the prosecuting team revealed that they will be acting swiftly and not handle the defense delicately stating,
“Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes announces that she has accepted Attorney General Chris Carr’s appointment of her office to handle prosecution in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, and that the call to serve will not be taken lightly.” The press statement continues, “The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has charged Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, with aggravated assault and murder in Arbery’s death. Our office will immediately gather all materials related to the investigation thus far and continue to seek additional information to move this case forward.”
The DA’s office has made it clear that they are committed to the “process of seeking justice in this case.” With the former Republican Chief Magistrate Judge of the Cobb County Magistrate Court in Georgia at the helm of this case, Ahmaud Arbery’s murder trial is in potentially good hands. However, the masses will have to wait until next Friday, July 17 to see what the defense’s argument will be to have Attorney Joyette Holmes removed from the case altogether.
Artist Spotlight
“Yonkers” – Song by Tyler, the Creator
15 years ago, Tyler, the Creator released “Yonkers.” The song would go on to shape a generation of hip-hop fans and make him one of the most talked-about artists in modern music. Tyler’s work on “Yonkers,” which came out of the Los Angeles group Odd Future, was a brave mix of raw lyrics, dark humor, and simple production that made him stand out from other artists right away.
“Yonkers,” which is just over three minutes long, seems simple but has a big effect. The song’s production is based on a spooky bassline, simple piano chords, and simple drums. This puts Tyler’s voice and story front and center. His flow is slow and threatening, and it sends out a stream of verses that balance shock value with deep thoughts on themes like being alone, rebelling, and thinking about oneself. This song has a modern twist on the gritty, confrontational style of hip-hop that was popular in the early 2010s.
The music video for “Yonkers” became a cultural phenomenon all by itself. In the black-and-white video, Tyler looks straight into the camera while doing something that surprised both fans and critics. Tyler became known as an artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries when the song’s raw lyrics and stark images quickly went viral. The video’s viral success brought Odd Future national attention and helped Tyler get more work, including his albums Goblin (2011) and Wolf (2013), which were both well-received by critics.
People who didn’t like “Yonkers” thought it was a new take on hip-hop. People in the genre often liked flashy production and collaborations, but Tyler’s solo song showed that minimalism can be just as interesting, if not more so, when it has strong lyrics. Young people who wanted realness and change connected with the song’s unapologetic tone, and its influence can still be heard in music today. Many contemporary artists assert that Tyler’s early compositions, particularly “Yonkers,” significantly influenced their lyrical writing and visual storytelling techniques.
“Yonkers” was a big moment in Tyler, the Creator’s career. It was a bold statement from a single artist who wanted to change the rules of hip-hop, and it captured the spirit of early Odd Future, a group that thrived on chaos, creativity, and free expression. More than ten years later, the song is still a touchstone for fans and a turning point in the growth of alternative rap. Its creepy beat, controversial lyrics, and viral music video are still seen as examples of a time when hip-hop was pushing its limits and welcoming a new generation of voices that were willing to question the way things were.
“Yonkers” is a cultural artifact, a snapshot of the time that shaped Tyler, the Creator’s unique artistic style, and a reminder of how powerful bold, unapologetic music can be.
Artist Spotlight
A Boogie Wit da Hoodie’s New Project “Before Artistry” Drops Friday, Teasing Fans with a New Snippet
A Boogie wit da Hoodie, a rising rapper from New York, is set to release his highly anticipated project Before Artistry this Friday. Fans are going crazy over what will be another big step in his musical career. A Boogie is known for mixing melodic flows with deep lyrics. He has a reputation for making music that appeals to both mainstream audiences and hardcore hip-hop fans.
Along with the announcement, there is a short, exciting clip from the project that gives listeners a taste of what’s to come. We don’t know much about the tracklist yet, but the short preview shows off A Boogie’s signature style: smooth singing over catchy, hard-hitting beats. The snippet shows how well he can balance being emotionally open with telling stories in a confident, streetwise way, which is something he’s done in the past.
As soon as the snippet came out, fans took to social media to share their excitement and guess what kinds of collaborations might happen. A Boogie has worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop before, so fans are already making guesses about which artists might be on Before Artistry. It’s clear from the snippet that the rapper is still working on his sound. He mixes modern hip-hop styles with the melodic sensibilities that have defined his career since Artist 2.0 came out in 2020.
View this post on Instagram
Before Artistry is a turning point for A Boogie, who has steadily risen from his early days in Highbridge, the Bronx, to become one of New York’s most important voices in modern hip-hop. His past work, like Hoodie SZN and The Bigger Artist, has made him known for making records that do well on streaming services and in cultural conversation. Fans and critics alike are excited to see how he pushes his art even further with the release of Before Artistry.
Music industry experts say that A Boogie’s strategy of teasing short clips before a full project comes out has worked very well to build excitement. The clip that was shared this week shows that he knows how to keep fans interested by giving them just enough to get them excited without giving away the whole experience. This method has helped him keep a strong online presence, with streaming numbers often going up right after teaser releases.
Before Artistry’s release date is also in line with a trend in hip-hop where artists use short previews to get people excited in a time when streaming is very competitive. A Boogie makes sure that fans are ready and conversations are already happening on social media by releasing a short clip before the project.
As Friday gets closer, excitement for Before Artistry grows. A Boogie is ready to release another project that will solidify his status as a major voice in modern hip-hop, thanks to his track record and the promising snippet. Fans will be paying close attention to see how the rapper balances new ideas with the catchy melodies that have made him famous. They want to see the full range of his latest work.
Before Artistry comes out this Friday.
-
Artist Spotlight7 days agoMatt Johnson breathes new life into “For Good” with a solo piano interpretation
-
Artist Spotlight7 days agoPhilly and Suzy poke fun at politics with “Dirty Little Girl”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoFrançois Marius & Bérénice turn moments into magic with “Happy Day”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoVibrational Match serves up light and breezy vibes in “On a Sunny Shore”
-
Artist Spotlight7 days agoPJ Far-West Selecta drops roots reggae single to lift spirits on “Jah Jah Riddims”
-
Artist Spotlight7 days agoEylsia sings faith and healing in every note on “He Walked Among Us”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoSpiros Exaras blends jazz with greek roots on “Kalamatiano Medley”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoMracks paints city life in new release “Cornerstore”

