Crime & Arrests

Metro Boomin's longtime production partner -- Southside -- is pleased with Young Thug's "Business Is Business" album ... revealing the project came together super fast.

We parlayed with Southside at LAX this week, who told us he was hoping YT's new project topped the Billboard 200, especially with all the MacGyver magic they used to create the album.

The album bowed at #2 on the charts ... still not a bad consolation, seeing as the YSL rapper had to record over the phone to beef up his existing vocals due to his incarceration. But, Southside tells us he and the team were willing to do whatever to complete the album.

Southside co-produced "Hoodie" on the album and credits Metro for being the G.O.A.T. ... and piecing 'BIB' together in 2 weeks.

He's also proclaiming the LP to be the best jailhouse rap album ever over other contenders such as Shyne, X-Raided and the late Drakeo the Ruler.

Young Thug supporters have been clamoring for his freedom for over a year, but the incarcerated rap star's priorities apparently lie elsewhere.

Instead of campaigning for his own release from prison or his new album, Thug took to IG to insist T.I. and Boosie Badazz drop their joint album.

"Y'all go ahead and drop that album together ... that's all a n**** want," Thug wrote. Seems sincere, no?

If you remember, Tip and Boosie had a fallout earlier this year after Boosie claimed he had knowledge of T.I. being a snitch, only to walk the comments back with a slice of humble pie.

When we spoke to T.I., he agreed everything was water under the bridge ... but it's been months without so much as an official album name.

Two University of Buffalo football players have been charged with animal abuse ... after prosecutors say they were seen on video earlier this month beating a 4-year-old miniature Poodle with a leather belt.

According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office ... the incident happened at around 9 PM on June 13 inside an apartment in Amherst, N.Y.

Authorities allege 19-year-old Blake Hiligh, a cornerback, and 20-year-old Zachary Pilarcek, a tight end, filmed themselves striking the dog repeatedly ... in what was an apparent attempt to discipline the animal. Prosecutors say the two then uploaded the footage to social media.

On June 14, prosecutors say they hit both men with one misdemeanor charge of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.

Officials also say the poodle, named Kobe, was seized and transported to a local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ... where it received treatment for abrasions and bruises.

Both Hiligh and Pilarcek appeared in court for their arraignment on Thursday ... and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following the proceedings, Hiligh's attorney told a group of reporters, "My client regrets the actions."

"We love our dogs," the lawyer added. "We love our pets. Sometimes they do frustrate us. Sometimes we do discipline them sometimes. I don't believe it was in a cruel manner."

Both Hiligh and Pilarcek have been dismissed from the UB football team over the allegations.

"The UB football program has zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” UB football head coach Maurice Linguist said.

"After learning about this incident, I immediately suspended the two young men from all team activities before permanently dismissing them from the program earlier this month. At UB, not only do we expect our student-athletes to excel on the field and in the classroom, but we also expect them to be outstanding citizens in our community."

Kodak Black didn't let a quick stint in the slammer jack his groove ... the "Super Gremlin" rapper made bail and quickly hit up a charity event where he raised thousands of bucks!!!

Bradford Cohen, Kodak's lawyer, tells TMZ Hip Hop, his client was released from the Broward County jail only 40 minutes after being booked. He was arrested for failing to check in for a mandatory drug test.

Kodak almost immediately put the short jail stint in his rearview... jamming out to his classic, "No Flockin'" record ... as G Herbo looked on. He drew a big crowd and everyone was celebrating.

The money raised went to the Innocence Project, which works to free people wrongfully convicted of a crime.

The concert went down inside the Pompano Beach Amphitheater ... with performances by Herbo, Rico Cartel, iCandy and Sniper Gang.

San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte' Graham has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired stemming from his July 2022 arrest ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to a spokesperson for the Wake County District Attorney's Office, Graham entered the plea during a court hearing on Tuesday after cutting a deal with prosecutors.

We're told the speeding charge that Graham was also facing in the case will be dismissed as part of the deal.

A sentencing hearing for Graham has now been slated for next month.

The 28-year-old NBA player was initially hit with the two charges back on July 7, 2022 ... after authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina say he had been doing 63 MPH in a 40 MPH zone while intoxicated at around 3 AM.

Police at the time said after pulling over Graham for speeding, breath tests revealed he had a BAC of .11.

Graham -- a former second-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft -- had been playing for the New Orleans Pelicans at the time of the arrest ... but he was traded to the Spurs roughly seven months later as part of a deal for Josh Richardson.

Graham went on to play in 20 games for San Antonio, averaging 13 points per game.

Casanova was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison ... but the Brooklyn rapper's girlfriend says their fort is secured.

In a series of IG posts, Cas' partner Swaggy Jazzy disputed reports from earlier this month that Cas had his face damaged after being attacked in prison.

Jazzy scoffed at haters who predicted Cas would be slapped with the 60-year sentence he was facing and placed her focus on her fashion brand Dope Emporium.

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, released a statement about the sentence sending a strong message, saying “Caswell Senior is not just a notorious recording artist, but he is also a high-profile leader of a vicious street gang and a magnet for gang violence. At a crowded Miami house party, Senior personally fired a gun that seriously injured and could have killed a victim, inciting a shootout."

He continues, "Further, Senior’s stature in the community was central to Gorilla Stone’s successful recruitment and nationwide expansion. Today’s sentencing — along with the other significant sentences that have been imposed in this case — shows once again that gang life is not worth it and will lead to many years in prison.”

Cas was hoping for leniency in the sentencing after renouncing his gang ties in a letter to the judge ahead of sentencing.

"General Hospital" star Haley Pullos has been charged by the L.A. County D.A. ... this after getting cuffed after a near-fatal DUI.

Haley's been charged with one felony count of DUI causing injury, one felony count of driving with a .08 BAC or higher, and one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run.

The actress pled not guilty and a preliminary hearing is set for next month.

TMZ broke the story, Haley was arrested in April after cops say she was driving the wrong way on a freeway and collided head-on with another car that was going about 60 mph.

Cops said Haley was also involved in a hit-and-run before the crash ... and officers say they found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila during a search of the vehicle. Police claim she showed clear signs of intoxication.

Young Thug's prison-time album "Business is Business" just got a boost ... with new raps from Nicki Minaj and the late Juice WRLD.

Album executive producer Metro Boomin fired off his personalized deluxe version of the recently released project on Tuesday ... introducing the "Money" track which features Nicki and Juice, and an additional song that closes the album titled "Sake Of My Kids."

Several other songs on the tracklist are rearranged from the version that dropped last Friday ... and Metro says the current edition is the vision he originally had for the album.

Drake, Future, 21 Savage, Travis Scott and others also helped Thug complete the album as he sits courtside for his RICO trial in Georgia.

Hits Daily Double projects Thug's album could sell upwards of 100k units in its first week and could be rap's first #1 project this year ... if Morgan Wallen doesn't stand in his way.

A convicted double murderer facing the death penalty lost it in a Florida courtroom, attacking his lawyer Monday ... and the violence was all caught on video.

Joseph Zieler was wearing shackles and surrounded by bailiffs in the Lee County courtroom when he turned to his attorney, Kevin Shirley, to whisper something.

When Shirley leaned in to listen, Zieler gave him a sharp elbow to his face, causing all hell to break loose. Check out the video ... two bailiffs immediately jumped on Zieler and wrestled him to the ground.

The judge then asked Shirley if he was ok ... and Shirley gave an amusing response, saying, "I'm fine. I used to box. I've taken a lot better shots than that."

As for Zieler, his life is not going to be so fine. He was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the 1990 slayings of Robin Cornell, 11, and her babysitter, Lisa Story, 32. Zieler was tied to the crimes in 2016 after police matched his DNA to the cold case following his arrest for an unrelated assault.

Jeremy Meeks has gone full Hollywood after leaving behind his life of crime -- now, he's got a vet who's taken him under her wing ... one Ptosha Storey, who's raving about her protégé.

We got the former "hot felon" -- who became internet famous for his attractive mug shot way back when -- at LAX Monday ... and he was telling us all about his new showbiz career ... including a slew of movies and TV shows he's been acting in over the past few years now.

We've caught him at the airport before, but here ... he had company. Ptosha was right next to him -- and she too was singing Jeremy's praises the whole time -- like, very much so.

Check it out ... we get into a long convo about the craft of acting, and what exactly JM does to get into character -- and, perhaps just as important, how PS has shown him the ropes after a long and storied career of her own ... which dates back the '90s.

As you can see, Ptosha has nothing but good things to say about Jeremy -- who she says is a naturally gifted actor ... which she believes has to do with his many life experiences.

We also asked Jeremy how he gets into character for his projects these days ... and the dude is blunt, saying he has to go to dark places at times -- and it's not always so easy to shake that. Sounds like a straight-up future Oscar winner, if you ask us!!!

It's a pretty fascinating convo -- for starters, you can tell Ptosha truly believes in Jeremy, and the guy is very clearly grateful for her support and wisdom. As for an update on that biopic series, he's been wanting to make happen ... no real update just yet, at least not right now.

Bill Bidwill Jr. -- a former Arizona Cardinals exec and the brother of the NFL team's current owner, Michael Bidwill -- was allegedly involved in a wild dispute with his wife earlier this month ... one in which he told cops she hit him in the head with a glass cup.

According to a Paradise Valley Police Dept. incident report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Bidwill Jr. made the allegations to officers at his Arizona home back on June 9.

In the docs, cops say Bidwill Jr. called police at around 6 PM ... telling them his wife, Nicole Kugler Bidwill, had just broken a glass over his head during a fight -- causing him injuries.

Bidwill Jr. claimed the altercation started because Nicole was upset that he hadn't been home when carpet installers had arrived earlier in the day. Bidwill Jr. said that when he eventually came home, he poured himself a glass of beer ... but before he could drink it, Nicole snapped on him.

According to the docs, Bidwill Jr. claimed his wife hit "him with her hands about a hundred times" ... before she picked up his cup and cracked him with it, causing it to shatter.

Cops say Bidwill Jr. admitted to striking Nicole's arms to defend himself ... before he ultimately got away from her and dialed 911.

In the call with dispatch, which we also obtained, you can hear Bidwill Jr. -- seemingly out of breath -- explaining that he had just "had a glass broken over my head." He said in the call, though, that his neighbor, who's a surgeon, checked out his wounds and "he doesn't think it's bad."

Officers eventually arrived on the scene ... and after questioning the two, they arrested Nicole. Jail records show she was booked on June 10 on one count of assault.

According to the police report, however, Bidwill Jr. did not want to press charges.

Bidwill Jr. served as the vice president of the Cardinals for several years when his dad, Bill Bidwill Sr., owned the team. Reportedly, he helped take over ownership duties in 2019 with his brother, Michael Bidwill, following their father's passing. Jr. does not currently have any role/responsibility with the team.

We've reached out to the Cardinals for comment ... and they sent us the following statement.

Boosie Badazz is a free man after posting a $100K bond in his federal gun case Friday night ... and we caught him happy as a clam as he left a California lockup.

The rapper was photographed seated in the backseat of an SUV following his Friday night release from Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego -- and BB was clearly elated, smiling from ear to ear.

Check out the snapshot we obtained ... Boosie's just beaming as he rides away with his chauffer.

And he has every reason to celebrate after winning several court battles against prosecutors, who wanted to keep him behind bars for the duration of his gun case.  Prosecutors filed motions to deny his bond -- but two federal judges ruled in favor of Boosie, paving the way for his release from jail.

TMZ broke the story ... Boosie was arrested by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and charged in an indictment with being a felon in possession of a gun. Police initially arrested Boosie in early May after a traffic stop revealed he allegedly had two guns inside the SUV he was riding in.

State prosecutors dropped their case the same day ATF busted Boosie at a San Diego courthouse and charged him with essentially the same offense but on a federal level.

Jussie Smollett has a lot of balls in the air ... at the same time he's appealing his conviction in his hoax hate crime case, he's also directing a new movie with a big star, who just so happens to be one of his biggest supporters.

Jussie was in his element Thursday in Orange County on the movie set for "The Lost Holiday," an upcoming film starring Vivica A. Fox.

As you see, Jussie and Vivica worked closely together on set ... adding another layer to their long-standing working relationship.

Remember ... Jussie and Vivica both starred on "Empire" back in 2019 when Jussie was allegedly attacked in Chicago ... a claim that police said turned out to be a hoax and ultimately led to the conviction he's now appealing.

If the appeal fails, Jussie will have to spend 5 months behind bars. The appeal has been continued 5 times, and the court said no more ... the hearing is set for December.

Vivica has staunchly stood by Jussie's side throughout the entire saga ... telling us in 2021 she wanted to work with him again ... and now she's getting her wish.

Jussie had a huge smile on his face on set, though it's unclear if he's getting in front of the camera for this project or just directing.

As for his case, Jussie is appealing and his legal team is arguing the conviction should be overturned because his due process rights were violated.

Young Thug surprised fans Friday by dropping an album from behind bars that's LOADED with A1 features -- and, clearly, released to rival Gunna's own surprise project!!!

Orchestrated by Metro Boomin, "Business Is Business" officially stands as Thugger's third album, but due to his ongoing YSL RICO case ... it leans heavily on Drake, 21 Savage, Future, Travis Scott, Lil Gotit and many more to complete the project.

The album proves Thugger's got real friends in his corner when he needs it most, and while he could've asked Gunna to add more star power ... it's conspicuous that he didn't!!!

Akademiks claims to have audio of Thug instructing Lil Durk to save his Gunna disses for his "BIB" album for a song that would've featured Durk and Lil Baby.

Interestingly, there's no such Durk and Baby track on Thug's album and his sister insists Ak's recording is AI, so it all could be a ploy to generate album streams.

Either way, the clear intention of Thug's album is to dwarf Gunna's that dropped last week.

Eric Bellinger has no qualms with Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good's whirlwind romance, something he's seen up close and personal ... because he's Meagan's brother-in-law!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the R&B maestro in NYC ... he's been married to Meagan's sister La'Myia since 2015, and he informed us he's not only met Jonathan, but thinks he's a helluva swell guy to be around!!!

We broke the story back in May ... the 2 actors officially became a couple amid Jonathan's assault case with his ex-girlfriend, and Megan was recently spotted supporting him in court, an indication the 'ship is sailing strong.

Eric admits he hasn't inquired about the details of the case, but insists he's seen no reason to grill him ... due to Jonathan's character.

His stamp of approval echoes the thoughts of Meagan's longtime friend and former castmate Robert Ri'chard ... who vouched for her decision-making when we spoke to him on the subject.

Bebe Rexha is thankin' the Lord for getting through her most recent performance without taking a cell phone to the face ... getting emotional onstage just days after getting clocked.

The singer bounced back to performance mode at The Fillmore in Philly Tuesday night while still donning a bandage above her eye. As the show was coming to a close, she jokingly announced, "No phones in the face, thank God."

Bebe then started one of her hits, "In the Name of Love," but doesn't get very far -- stopping after getting emotional in front of the crowd.

To be fair, it's been a wild few days for Bebe -- it was during her show Sunday night in Manhattan when a rogue phone hit her in the face, taking her to the ground.

Bebe's fans were outraged at Nicolas Malvagna, the alleged attacker -- but his lawyer Todd A Spodek told us he chucked the tech towards the singer in hopes of getting her to take a pic with it.

Looks like Bebe's doin' better -- and that's good news!

We covered it all on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.