Latest news with #WTHelly
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rob49 Has the Whole World Saying ‘WTHelly'
Rob49 has something big to tell me: He's just realized that Bart Simpson said 'What the Halle Berry?' on an old episode of The Simpsons. On two occasions, the 'WTHelly' rapper interrupts our Zoom conversation to excitedly mention the revelation, asking someone offscreen to go to the Amazon Prime app to find the exact episode. 'That made my day bigger than the song going big,' he raves. Given the magnitude of his success with 'WTHelly,' the Simpsons clip must have really made his day. Since he dropped the song in March, you've probably seen an influx of people jokingly following up 'what the hell?' with 'what the helly?,' the lead query of his high-octane song-of-the-summer contender. With millions of streams on Spotify and Youtube, it's the kind of viral hit that everyone in the family can enjoy, provided they're all old enough to say the word 'hell.' More from Rolling Stone Leafs vs. Panthers Livestream: How to Watch Game 7 of the NHL Playoff Series Online Free 'What Happened to Justin Bieber?' How to Watch the New TMZ Documentary Online Free Justin Bieber Denies Rumors of Sean Combs Abuse in Rare Statement Rob says the song almost didn't make his recently-released album Let Me Fly, but his mother insisted it would be a hit; she was right. Now, Justin Bieber, Latto, Big Sean, and G Herbo are all tabbed for four upcoming 'WTHelly' remixes. They're just the latest artists to co-sign him, joining New Orleans great Lil Wayne, who featured on Rob's 'Wassam Baby' last year, and early advocate Birdman, who Rob says asked him to be on every album he ever does. Rob ended up releasing 'WTHelly' as the lead single from his album, which he says shows him taking more creative control of his music than ever. Rob debuted with 2020's Vulture and broke out with 2022's Welcome to Vulture Island, which marked him as an aggressive, blunt rapper with an ear for uptempo production. Songs like 'Homebody' and his short, graphic appearance on Travis Scott's 2023 hit 'Topia Twins' show that he has no problem telling the ladies everything on his mind. But he also makes mood music for the people who come from gruff environments like his native Fourth and Ninth Wards of New Orleans. When he raps 'I done took two pills, I'm bussin'/I'm clutchin', middle of the jungle' over the surging production of 'Pack Flipper,' he's a reminder for the people who've been there, and a tour guide for those who would never go physically. Throughout his catalog, Rob raps with an untamable presence that feels like a speeding Porsche set to skid off the road at any second. Listeners can take the ride through Rob's rhymes, and he knows the kind of velocitized beats to augment the experience. Rob admits his prior projects have often followed trends, but he's grown more confident in his own musicality as his career has developed. His new process resulted in a project where fans get the Rob49 they know and love on 'WTHelly,' like 'Preach' (with YTB Fatt) and 'On Sight,' but he also digs deeper than ever on introspective tracks like 'Hear Me Momma' and 'Where I'm From,' where he raps, 'I ain't never think I'd be rich, livin' how my life is.' When I ask him what kept him motivated during the dark times, he says, 'Just knowing you can be the one to change everything.' In five years, Rob's life has been totally upended. Things are moving fast — on this day, they're moving a bit too fast when he prematurely cuts our interview before I'm done asking questions. 'I'm damn near busy as hell right now y'all,' he says in his bellowing New Orleans twang. 'I'm not even going to lie.' How are you feeling about the feedback you've gotten for 'WTHelly'? Does it feel like it's hitting differently than your previous hits?Yeah, yeah, it is hitting definitely different than everything. It never was this crazy. This is the cleanest song I ever made that was a hit, honestly. The cleanest dirty song. It's crazy, right? It's almost like the dirtiest song, but it's clean because 'WTHellly' is not a curse word. It wasn't intentional at all. I just realized it a week ago. I heard you say that the title came from something you and your friends say. Do you remember the first time somebody said it and how y'all reacted?I remember I was like, 'Brother, stop fucking saying that shit around me. Brother, say, 'What the fuck?'' And they kept saying, 'What the helly? What the helly?' Until one day I made a mistake and said it. And then that shit was stuck in my head. I was on tour and they was in the studio, I'm like, 'Man, I'm about to make the 'WTHelly' song.' Do you have a favorite meme or reaction of somebody playing the song?The choir and the old ladies. That's my favorite. [They say] 'What the hell? What the hell? What the hell?' — that's what they were saying on that. 'What the Halle Berry?' In church?Yeah, for sure. They're going straight to where they was talking about. They didn't say 'helly-lujah.' They should have said that. They should have went that way with it, but they just went the straight doggish way. You posted a screenshot with four 'WTHelly' remixes. How did they come together? All of them reached out to me. Every single one. The only one I reached out to was [G Herbo]. And I reached out to Herb because we did it months before. We did it five months before it came out. So the other three artists just sent you a file like, 'This is a version of your song with my verse on it. Here you go?'Exactly. I actually called Justin Bieber and was like, 'Man, you should get on the remix.' And he's like, 'I thought you was going to say that.' And while we were still on the phone, he's like, 'Check your messages. I just sent you the remix.' He had already recorded it, waiting on Had already did that shit. Probably did it before because I called him right then and there. You and G-Herbo have a collaboration on the project called 'Swerve.' When did y'all first meet?On Nardo Wick's tour. When I met him, I'm like, 'Man, I listen to you all day, brother.' I had showed him my Apple Music to show him like, 'Man, your shit been downloaded. I really do this.' He showed me I been downloaded on his phone. [Then] I had seen an interview of him saying, 'My favorite songs right now is two.' He's like, 'Rob49 actually got both of the songs.' Do y'all share music with each other?Hell yeah. We always be on that. That's really the nigga I look at and take what I like from what they do. That's my nigga. I been with him a lot. Do you know your plan to roll out the remixes?I don't feel like you don't need no rollout, man. I think we just go. First I'm going to go with the Justin Bieber first, then I'm going to go with the Latto and Herb one together. Then I might drop one more. I don't know. Might drop the Big Sean one. I saw that you opened a venue called the Nest Lounge in New Orleans. What made you want to open a lounge?I always just wanted, when people come to New Orleans, them to have somewhere to go. And that's how I came up with it. For real. It's not a lot of choices. [We] really don't have nothing. Really? I thought New Orleans was a big party But not for people like us. Lil Baby not bouta' go walk on Bourbon. You feel me? Everybody came down [to the lounge]…. That's my shit. 100 percent my shit. Ain't no partners. These niggas be doing partners and all that. How important is it for you to give back to the community in New Orleans?I don't know. I really don't think of it like that. It's just like, I know I'm in love with my hometown. Everybody in love with their hometown. I know a lot of niggas leave, but I be trying my hardest to stay there even though it's not the best thing for me. So I don't be there as much, but be trying. What's the meaning behind your album title, ?When I put it as my title, a lot of people [were] like, 'Man, you tripping with that.' But I put it because I'm like, 'Man, this is going to be the one.' This before 'WTHelly' came. I'm like, this going to be the one that be like, 'Man, give dude his shot because he coming crazy.' Let Me Fly. It's my turn. And it actually worked out in my favor. Why did you think people would say you were tripping with it?Because they didn't understand the meaning behind what I was saying. But I understand that. It's all right. What do you think is the story being told on the project? Is it just your evolution, like you said?Yeah, it's an evolution. This not everyday Rob, you heard all that. Now this is what we doing. This just popping shit. It ain't even too much storytelling. I probably got three of them on the song. But other than that, just popping it. Every song, every line, every ad lib. I heard Birdman talking on the intro and then on 'Scarface.' How did that come together?He just called me one day and was like, 'Man, Neph', do me a favor.' I'm like, 'What?' [He's like], 'Man, I want to be on every album you ever drop in your life.' I told him all right and I told him I promise, and that was three albums ago. So when I said I promised, even though I shouldn't have promised that, I just was like, 'Fuck it. I told him. So that's what it is.' He just fuck with me. He been fucking with me since before I even made it. When I ain't have nothing. Nigga flew me to L.A. and was like, 'Man, I wanna sign you.' This before I was even signed to anybody. I probably had a thousand dollars to my name. He was telling me, 'You going to be the biggest. Trust me.' So he been believing. How much does outside opinion factor into what you want to do with your music?It mattered too much, honestly. But now I'm in a state like, man, I don't give no fuck what nobody think. I know this shit hard because I said it out my mouth. I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't hard. On two of the features on your album — Meek Mill on 'Supposedly' and Herbo on 'Swerve' — you're doing verses back and forth with them. Was that on purpose, or did it just happen like that with both of the songs?It wasn't on purpose. We just really recorded it together. With Meek, I had wound up structuring that like that because he had been had the song. He played 'em for me. Do you write your bars or do you write in your head?I be punching in. I ain't writing. I ain't write in four years, five years. What made you decide to make that shift?I don't know. I just felt it was better energy with the punch. Listening to the project, your energy and your cadences are some of the most unique things about the project. How do you decide how you're going to approach a track, cadence-wise? It's a feeling that you get. You asking me that question, I kind of was like, 'Huh?' But it's like when you hear the beat, whatever vibe you get from it, whatever feeling you get from it, that's what you're going to say out your mouth. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rob49 on Viral Stardom, ‘Let Me Fly,' Collab Album With G Herbo & Making Music With Justin Bieber
In an age of elusive algorithms and viral fame, Rob49 has had an uncharacteristically steady rise for a young rapper. After an uneventful stint in the National Guard and two semesters at Southern University, Rob49 picked up the mic for fun during the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost immediately, he garnered co-signs from industry vets like French Montana, and inked a record deal before the year was out. From there, Rob's uptick in popularity hasn't ceased — much to the surprise of everyone, even him. 'I ain't never wanna be no rapper. I used to really be looking at rappers like they were lying,' Rob told Billboard of his early days. 'Like, 'Ain't no way you doin' what I'm doin and made it out this s—t.' Now, I feel like all rappers gotta be doing what they're talking about — because ain't no way your hood let you [fake] that, let you say what you say and get away with it.' More from Billboard Morgan Wallen Reclaims ARIA Albums Chart With 'I'm the Problem' Miley Cyrus Performs Live Debut of 'More to Lose' on 'Kimmel' Rob Thomas Announces 2025 Australia and New Zealand Tour Rob49's latest album, Let Me Fly, is a testament to that relentless hustle, and to the acceptance that clearly he was built to be a rap star. The lighthearted nature behind his inescapable hit 'WTHelly' shows that making hit songs, even if the origin of it is rather silly, comes as easily to Rob as breathing. 'I don't be looking for a catchy record,' Rob says. 'I really just be doing what I want.' Below, Billboard talks with Rob49 about 'WTHelly,' linking with Justin Bieber, and the key to making good music. Let's set the record straight: Who was the first person to say 'what the helly?' I don't know who the first person was, but a lot of people are trying to take credit for it in my city. It's New Orleans slang right now. How are you feeling about the reception to 'WTHelly' so far? Were you expecting it to be a hit from the jump? I knew it was gonna be good, but I was kinda scared. A lot of the other releases I had, I was kinda thinkin', 'Oh this is gonna be it!' and it was not what it was supposed to be. I was scared ['WTHelly'] was gonna be one of them ones. I'm grateful for it [catching on]. It must be nice to see it starting to get the traction the song is getting. Did you see it? Did I see what? Did you see 'WTHelly' on your socials? I had to search it, it didn't just pop up for me. Ah, see that's why I asked you that. We ain't go hard enough then. What's your favorite 'WTHelly' flip? What the helly-Bron James. I came up with that one, and my friends came up with the rest. How are you feeling about the reception to the remix? Justin Bieber's verse seemed to really divide people, and I can't help but notice you haven't dropped it. I was gonna drop the [remix] with [G Herbo] first and add it to the album, but we wound up doing it too late. So it might come out the next day on the album, then we're just gonna go from there with it. Do you plan to drop the Justin Bieber remix as well? I talked to Justin a couple of days ago and he was telling me he wanted to do some more songs. So I don't know. How is he feeling about the reception to his verse? It was pretty divisive when it dropped. It's funny — when he first did it, he was like, 'What you think? You think I can go harder?' I told him like, 'Man I love it, bro — if you feel comfortable about it, if you like it, then I love it.' You know? Were you surprised by people's negative reaction to Bieber's verse? No, not really. I knew it was a possibility, because — it was the same way when he asked me, 'Do you think I can go harder?' What do you think people misunderstood about it? Probably the singing part. You just never know what it's gonna be — and fans don't understand that all the time, that you don't know what a hit is. Like, it just kinda happens. Some people might've been, like, 'Oh my god he sung!' and if it would have been a hit it would have been a crazy banger. That be the difference between songs. Tell me about the work you did with Birdman on this album. What did you learn from working and talking with him? Just go hard, cause you get a lot of motivation from him like that and I just be accepting it. We don't really be talking about too much. Don't let up, don't take it for granted, stuff like that. You mentioned New Orleans — what's your relationship like with your hometown right now? I love my city, but when I go back there now it just feels like dry energy. There's nothing really there, in terms of anything. I saw so much stuff traveling the world, it just doesn't feel like enough for me — and that's scary. I ain't never wanted it to be like that because I like going home. I noticed Skilla Baby's not on — is that collab album still coming? I'm gonna call him and talk to him about that. Right now, I'm working on a collab album with me and G Herbo. I don't know what we're gonna name it — one of my close friends be saying, 'Ghetto Poet' or something like that. I think I wanna name it that. I was gonna ask [G Herbo] how he feel about that. 'Ghetto Poet' sounds great for an album, right? Absolutely. I'm curious about how you approach dropping music. For a lot of young guys the blueprint has been too flood the streets with as much music as possible, but you've been very intentional with the singles you've dropped since 4 God II. I just didn't wanna drop no bulls—t. But at this point in my life I don't care. I know if it's hard, it's better than yours. They got a lot of people out here dropping stuff that's not better than mine. Do you ever worry about losing momentum? I definitely feel nervous about it. I was nervous this time, but I wasn't nervous for myself, I was nervous cause everyone around me was getting nervous. I keep tellin' em we good, but then they keep getting nervous! But you gotta be a strong-minded person, and not let people around you dictate your movements. How did you creatively approach differently than ? I just wanted to be myself for real. 4 God II, it did good, but I felt like I was listening to the people a lot about the songs I was picking and stuff. This time, no one has say so but me. Do you feel pressure with this record to take it to the next level? I don't feel no pressure, I just feel like we gotta go hard. Right now, we don't have to come out with a fake roll out. The songs are going up for real — it's not a game. Right now, I feel like I gotta show you [who I am], because a lot of people hold they nuts. You not gonna be able to hold your nuts this year. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rob49 Responds to Negative Reception to Justin Bieber's Verse on Unreleased ‘WTHelly' Remix
Rob49 has spoken about the negative reception Justin Bieber's verse got on his 'WTHelly' remix, and tells Billboard he doesn't know if he's gonna drop it. The New Orleans rapper speaks about his new album, Let Me Fly, and touches on the divisive reception he got after teasing an unreleased remix of 'WTHelly' featuring Biebs. After teasing the song on a Twitch livestream with the streamer Reggie, fans were quick to clown the pop star for trying to turn a lighthearted track into a soulful ballad. Rob said after speaking with Justin, he doesn't know if he'll officially release it to the public. More from Billboard Kneecap Respond to Terror Offense Charge: 'This is a Carnival of Distraction' BTS' Jin Returns to 'Fallon' With 'Don't Say You Love Me' Performance Mariah Carey and Pitbull to Headline Australia's Fridayz Live Tour 'I talked to Justin a couple of days ago and he was telling me he wanted to do some more songs, so I don't know,' Rob says when when discussing whether he'll drop off the remix. 'It's funny, when he first did it he was like, 'What you think? You think I can go harder?' I told him like, 'Man, I love it bro, if you feel comfortable about it, if you like it, then I love it.' You know? I just told him, 'If you like it you like it.' When asked about whether he was surprised the verse was so divisive, Rob shares, 'No, not really. I knew it was a possibility because, it was the same way when he asked me, 'Do you think I can go harder?'' Rob admits that he knew the singing aspect of Bieber's verse would turn some heads, and said that's just how it goes when trying to make a hit record. 'You just never know what it's gonna be, and fans don't understand that all the time,' he says. 'That you don't know what a hit is! Like it just kinda happens. Some people might've been like, 'Oh my god he sung!' and if it would have been a hit, it would have been a crazy banger. That be the difference between songs.' However, Rob says other 'WTHelly' remixes will soon see the light of day, and that the G Herbo revamp will be the first to arrive. 'I was gonna drop the [remix] with [G Herbo] first and add it to the album, but we wound up doing it too late,' Rob says of why it wasn't on Let Me Fly. 'So it might come out the next day on the album, then we're just gonna go from there with it.' Let Me Fly drops Friday (May 23) and includes features from Birdman, Meek Mill, Sexyy Red, Quavo, Polo G and Fridayy. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Brown's Legal Problems: A Timeline of Trouble
Chris Brown was arrested at his hotel in the U.K. on May 15, 2025, marking the latest entry in a long list of legal problems that have plagued the 35-year-old singer since his 2009 arrest for assaulting former girlfriend Rihanna. More from Billboard Rob49 Responds to Negative Reception to Justin Bieber's Verse on Unreleased 'WTHelly' Remix Dance Moves: Mau P, Zack Martino & Calvin Harris Hit New Highs Producer Spotlight: Carl Bown Tops Producer Charts Thanks to Breakout Sleep Token Album The singer was detained by the Metropolitan Police at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Salford and has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm, according to Reuters. The arrest is tied to an alleged 2023 London nightclub assault in which Brown is accused of smashing producer-promoter Abraham Diaw with a bottle over the head, then proceeding to kick him at the Tape nightclub in Central London. Brown has dealt with myriad legal issues throughout his career. For example, in 2024, a lawsuit was filed in Texas claiming that Brown and several accomplices 'brutally and severely beat' four men backstage at Dickies Arena in an unprovoked attack following the show. 'The violence included Brown and his entourage surrounding the Plaintiffs, throwing chairs at them, and repeatedly kicking, stomping, and beating them,' the complaint read. 'The unprovoked violence included multiple strikes to the Plaintiffs' heads and chests, and ultimately involved stomping them while they were down. The brutal, violent assault participated in and directed by Brown, severely injured all Plaintiffs.' Brown's series of legal entanglements include the singer's guilty plea for beating his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, for which he was sentenced to five years' probation and community service and forced to undergo domestic violence counseling. The 'Forever' singer has also been arrested and/or sued multiple times for various instances of alleged physical and sexual assault. We've compiled a full timeline of Brown's legal troubles, from 2009 to present. At 19 years old, Brown punched, choked and bit his then-girlfriend Rihanna, leaving her with visible facial injuries and in need of hospitalization. Brown turned himself in to the police and later plead guilty to one count of felony assault. Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts asked Brown repeated questions about Rihanna during his visit to the show, after which the artist stormed off set, and threw a chair through his dressing room window. Brown was involved in a brawl with Drake and his entourage at a New York nightclub, in which about eight people were injured due to broken bottles and punches thrown. The fight was reportedly over Rihanna, whom Drake has also dated. Brown was involved in an altercation with Frank Ocean over a parking space outside a recording studio in West Hollywood, California. According to police reports, Brown pushed or punched the singer. Ocean did not press charges. Brown's probation was revoked for his involvement in an alleged hit-and-run in Los Angeles. The charges were dropped at a hearing the following month after reaching a 'civil compromise' with his accuser. Brown was arrested for felony assault after punching a man outside the W Hotel in Washington D.C. Brown and his bodyguard allegedly punched a man and broke his nose after he had tried to get in a picture with him and two women. Brown's charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and he voluntarily entered a rehab center while awaiting sentencing. Brown checks out of rehab, and his representative shared that he would be continuing treatment for anger issues as an outpatient in Los Angeles. On Nov. 20, Brown was sentenced to 90 days at an anger management rehab facility, as well as submitting to drug testing and to take any prescriptions recommended by the facility. A judge turned down a prosecutor's motion to send Brown to jail, citing the R&B singer's continued good behavior and progress in a rehabilitation program. Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin said probation officials reported that Brown is making good progress in treatment and must remain in the program unless he is given permission by the court or his probation officer. Brown was sentenced to three months of in-patient rehab in November after the singer was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault over an altercation several weeks earlier in Washington, D.C. Brown was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, his rehab facility confirmed. According to court documents obtained by E! News, the facility determined that the singer suffers from both ailments, which are the causes of his history of aggression. 'Mr. Brown will also require close supervision by his treating physician in order to ensure his bipolar mental health condition remains stable,' a letter from the unnamed facility reads. 'It is not uncommon for patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar II to use substances to self-medicate their biomedical mood swings and trauma triggers. 'Mr. Brown became aggressive and acted out physically due to his untreated mental health disorder, severe sleep deprivation, inappropriate self-medicating and untreated PTSD.' The Grammy-winning R&B singer spent the weekend in a downtown Los Angeles lockup after a judge ordered him to be arrested for violating the rules and regulations of his treatment. Court records did not elaborate on the reason for Brown's dismissal from the facility in Malibu that was treating him for anger management, substance abuse and issues related to bi-polar disorder. Brown admitted a probation violation over the altercation outside the Washington, D.C., hotel and was sentenced to remain on probation and serve an additional 131 days in jail. Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin sentenced Brown to serve a year in county jail, but gave him credit for nearly eight months of time served. The credits include time the Grammy winner has spent in rehab and jail, as well as credits for good behavior while behind jail. The singer was released from jail around midnight after serving 108 days of his 131-day sentence, TMZ reported. 'Humbled and blessed,' Brown tweeted after his release. Brown's probation officially ends. Brown was identified as the individual who allegedly assaulted another adult male during a basketball game at Palms Casino Resort, according to the Las Vegas police. The man was treated for non-life threatening injuries, which were sustained after a verbal spat led to a physical fight. In a press release, the LVMPD noted that Brown wasn't the only man who assaulted the victim. 'Chris is currently in Las Vegas as he is performing at Drai's on May 5th and receiving a Key to the Strip that day as well,' his rep said in a statement to CNN. 'He has a suite at the hotel that has a basketball court and invited friends to come play. An unruly individual showed up uninvited and was removed from the premises. Chris was not in an altercation with this person.' Police responded to a report of battery that occurred inside a Palms hotel suite. When police arrived, the female victim appeared to have minor injuries sustained as a result of battery. Metro Police determined that the victim was attending a party inside a hotel room at the Palms hotel where an altercation took place over a cell phone. The victim alleges that she was battered by Brown when she took out her cell phone to take a picture of the singer, who then proceeded to take her phone from her. According to police, the victim was escorted out of the room by private security into the hallway, and proceeded to be escorted off property by hotel security. The victim later returned to the hotel and reported the incident to Palms' security. Though detectives attempted to contact Brown, they were not permitted entry into the room and later determined that he had left the room prior to police arrival. A representative for Brown said in a statement to THR that the '[victim's] statements are unequivocally untrue' and a possible motive for the accusation was retaliation since she had been removed from the private party due to her 'disruptive and out of control' behavior. 'Her claim that she had her phone in her possession inside the after party and was able to take a photo causing an altercation with Chris Brown is a complete fabrication,' Brown's rep said in the statement. 'This seems like a clear case of retaliation for her bruised ego.' A crime report has been taken for misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor battery. Brown was arrested at his home on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. According to the Los Angeles Times, model Baylee Curan said that Brown and another man became angry when she admired the man's diamond necklace. She also said that Brown threatened her with a gun before asking her to sign a nondisclosure agreement. A short time later, Brown posted a series of (since deleted) Instagram videos in which he claimed his innocence. 'When I call the police for dangerous people that are stalking my life, they don't come till the next day,' he said in one clip. 'Let somebody make a f–ked up allegation about me and oh yeah, the whole f–king SWAT team. My n—a. I'm innocent. I'm tired of this s–t.' He was later released from jail on $250,000 bail The Grammy winner was court-ordered to stay 100 yards away from ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran and not attempt to contact her after she wrote in court filings that Brown had repeatedly threatened her since December. Tran also accused the singer of punching her in the stomach and pushing her down stairs a few years ago. Her filing does not offer any additional specifics or note if she reported the events to police. It states that no one was present at the time. Tampa police reported that Brown 'sucker punched' a photographer after a disagreement over some pictures. According to one of the club's partner's, Brown showed up for a paid appearance at the 11,000-square-foot Aja Channelside club, and around 1 a.m., the club's in-house photographer attempted to take pics of the singer and his entourage when Brown's team told him to stop. The partner said the unnamed photographer alleged that when he was taking crowd shots from behind Brown as the singer manned the DJ booth, the singer noticed and jumped over a couch to punch the photog in the face. In a video posted on the site, a person identified as Brown appears to throw a punch at an unseen person in a dark corner of the club. Karrueche Tran was granted a five year restraining order against Brown. California fish and wildlife agents seized Chris Brown's pet monkey from his Los Angeles home. Capt. Patrick Foy said that investigators determined the singer didn't have a permit for the capuchin monkey, named Fiji. In December 2018, the singer was charged with two counts stemming from his possession of a pet capuchin monkey without a permit. In March 2022, exotic animal dealer Jim Hammonds pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking charges, with court documents claiming that the breeder illegally sold the singer the capuchin monkey for a total of $12,650. Prosecutors further alleged that Hammonds conducted the sale in Nevada to make it appear that a resident of the state had purchased the primate, since possessing one as a pet is illegal in Brown's home state of California. In June, Hammonds was sentenced to five years probation and more than $90,000 in fines for violating federal wildlife laws. Brown was accused of co-conspiring, aiding and abetting in a 2017 sexual assault that took place during a party at his house in a lawsuit filed by attorney Gloria Allred on behalf of her client, a woman who will be known as Jane Doe. According to the lawsuit, a copy of which was reviewed by Billboard, Doe had attended a concert at 1 Oak in West Hollywood, where she was invited to attend an after party at a recording studio where Brown and rapper Young Lo — whose real name is Lowell Grissom, Jr. — were working. When she arrived there, her phone was allegedly taken from her because Brown did not want any phones in the studio. Even when Doe wanted to leave, she claims her phone was not returned and she was then coerced into going to Brown's house in order to retrieve her phone. While at Brown's house, the plaintiff claims alcohol and illicit drugs that she believed include cocaine, molly and marijuana were provided to guests. She also says Brown handed each female guest, including herself, a pill filled with white powder and instructed them to take it to have a 'good time.' Doe did not take her pill and instead sought to isolate herself in hopes she would be left alone. Meanwhile, according to the filing, Doe's mother — with whom she is usually in close contact — became worried because she had not heard from her daughter and used an app to track the phone's location to Brown's house. Using that information, she called the police asking they go search for her daughter. The police did show up, but Brown refused to open the gate and denied them entry to his property. The police left and the party continued, while Doe claims Grissom was 'evasive' and would not return her phone. From there, things took a turn for the worse. The plaintiff alleges that Brown, Grissom, a female guest referred to as Doe X — who is believed to be friends with Brown and Grissom and to have toured with them — and others planned to use drugs, alcohol and intimidation to 'coerce and force unwilling female guests to perform sexual acts for Defendants and others.' They allegedly lured the female guests into a bedroom and then falsely imprisoned those unwilling to voluntarily engage in sexual activity by going so far as to barricade the door and then further 'coerce, intimidate and sexually harass the unwilling female guests to commit sexual acts' on the defendants and others. Brown, Grissom, Doe X and other unnamed defendants were accused of sexual battery, gender violence, hate violence, assault, interference with exercise of civil rights, intentional infliction of emotional distress and more. Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, denies the allegations in the lawsuit. 'There's no case here,' Geragos stated during a live interview with TMZ's Harvey Levin. 'Chris is a target and for the last 10 years anybody who comes at him should know they're going to meet the full force of my firm.' Geragos also claimed that the case is not currently under criminal investigation. 'If any of that were true it would have been criminally investigated. Obviously, it was and it was rejected,' he continued. 'Chris didn't do anything. My investigation shows that none of these allegations are true.' After reports surfaced that Brown had been detained in Paris on potential charges of aggravated rape and drug infractions after a woman filed a rape complaint, his rep confirmed to Billboard that Brown had been released from custody and that all charges have now been dropped. Brown subsequently denied rape allegations against him, posting a photo that reads 'This B—- Lyin'' in all caps. 'I wanna make it perfectly clear…..,' he elaborated in the caption, 'This is false and a whole lot of cap (sic)! … For my daughter and my family this is so disrespectful and is against my character and morals!!!!!'' Charges for the alleged Tampa nightclub assault were dropped. An LAPD spokesperson told Billboard that officers responded to a report of a domestic argument in the 19600 block of Citrus Ridge Drive in the San Fernando Valley area — which corresponds with the address the Grammy-winning artist shared for his Tarzana, Calif. home on a promotional flyer for a garage sale he hosted in November 2019. According to TMZ, the woman told police officers that Brown smacked the back of her head so hard her weave came off. However, The Los Angeles City Attorney's office later confirmed to Billboard that it 'declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence.' Brown and Drake were slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit over the 2019 single 'No Guidance,' which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Filed in U.S. District Court in Florida's Southern District, the complaint alleges that Brown, Drake and their various collaborators on the track (which was featured on Brown's 2019 album Indigo and featured Drake) lifted various lyrical and melodic elements from 'I Love Your Dress,' a 2016 song performed by plaintiff Braindon Cooper (performing as Mr. Cooper) and produced by co-plaintiff Timothy Valentine (credited on the track as Drum'N Skillz). Among other alleged similarities, the accusers pointed to the fact that each song featured the phrase 'you got it' in the lyrical hook. In a motion to dismiss the case, attorneys for Drake and Chris Brown said that lyrical phrase was clearly too simple and commonplace to be covered by copyright law. 'Plaintiffs' suit is premised upon the alleged similarity [to a] wholly generic lyrical phrase,' wrote James G. Sammataro of the law firm Pryor Cashman LLP, who reps the two stars. 'No one, including plaintiffs, can own or monopolize the non-copyrightable phrase 'you got it,' and it should come as no surprise that this phrase appears in countless other works.' The case was later dropped in September 2022. Brown and several members of his entourage, along with Brown's 11:11 Tour promoter Live Nation, are facing a lawsuit over an alleged assault that took place following Brown's concert in Fort Worth, Texas. The lawsuit claims that Brown and several accomplices 'brutally and severely beat' four men — Larry Parker, Joseph Lewis, Charles Bush and Damarcus Powell — backstage at Dickies Arena in an unprovoked attack following the show. 'The violence included Brown and his entourage surrounding the Plaintiffs, throwing chairs at them, and repeatedly kicking, stomping, and beating them,' the complaint reads. 'The unprovoked violence included multiple strikes to the Plaintiffs' heads and chests, and ultimately involved stomping them while they were down. The brutal, violent assault participated in and directed by Brown, severely injured all Plaintiffs.' In addition to Brown, the lawsuit names three members of his entourage — Conway, Hood Boss (a.k.a. Omololu Omari Akinlolu) and Sinko Ceej — as defendants. As for Live Nation, the complaint alleges that the concert promoter continued working with Brown despite his history of 'bad conduct and violent conduct.' According to the lawsuit, the company 'shamelessly profits and promotes Brown's The 11:11 Tour and brought Brown to Texas for financial gain. Live Nation failed to insure that the [participants] of the concert who may be around Brown, and his associates, were safe.' Brown was taken into custody on May 15 after being arrested at his Manchester hotel and charged with 'inflicting grievous bodily harm,' which has been tied to a February 2023 London nightclub attack allegedly involving Brown. According to The Independent, the victim, Abraham Diaw, accused Brown of smashing a bottle over his head, in addition to kicking him. Diaw has also filed a civil complaint against Chris Brown for $16 million, and is seeking damages for injuries and losses as a result of the alleged altercation. The singer was denied bail and will remain behind bars until his next court date, which is slated for June 13. Brown's Breezy Bowl XX tour is now in jeopardy since the global stadium trek is supposed to kick off in Amsterdam on June 8. A London judge released the musician on bail after he was initially denied bond days earlier. The magistrate ordered Brown to pay $5.4 million, plus an additional $1.3 million in seven days. He also has to surrender his passport while not traveling for his Breezy Bowl XX tour, which kicks off June 8. Hours after his release, the R&B star shared a simple message on his Instagram Stories, writing, 'FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!!' 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