Taiwanese Student, Amputate, Insurance Fruad
by Daniel Johnson

March 21, 2024

Officials: Taiwanese Student Amputated Legs In Failed Insurance Fraud Scheme

The story illustrates the rise in insurance fraud, which started with the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

A university student in Taiwan allegedly had his legs amputated as part of an insurance scam he’d hoped would net him and his friend $1.3 million. But, as Business Insider reports, the two men, identified only by their surnames Zhang and Liao, received just $7,200 from an insurer that now wants it back.

According to the Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau, the 23-year-old Zhang stuck his feet in a bucket of dry ice for over 10 hours so they would appear so severely frostbitten that he would have to undergo a double amputation. 

“After a complete investigation, the prosecutor’s office charged Zhang and Liao with fraud, helping others to cause serious injuries, etc., and initiated public prosecution in accordance with the law,” the bureau said in a statement.

The bureau continued, “The suspected self-inflicted insurance fraudster found this time is only in his 20s but has a lifelong disability. This bureau calls on the public to take good care of their health and not to regret small losses due to greed for illegal money.”

According to Business Insider, Liao allegedly convinced Zhang to sign a promissory note which required him to pay a sum of $800,000. As Taiwan News reports, Liao also reportedly told Zhang that he was being pursued by gangsters. 

A few days before January 26, 2023, when Liao and Zhang rode a motorbike at night in order to make the case that Zhang had been afflicted with frostbite, Zhang purchased several expensive policies for life insurance, travel insurance, and accident insurance. 

Despite having suspicions about Zhang’s condition, medical staff at the hospital still performed a procedure that left Zhang with two amputated legs. According to the bureau’s report, Taiwan’s climate makes frostbite practically impossible.

After an investigation, authorities found evidence, including a plastic bucket, insurance documents, a white polystyrene box for dry ice, eight cell phones, and a tablet computer. On January 17, 2024, the pair were arrested. They have been charged with fraud and aiding and abetting serious injury.

The story out of Taiwan is an illustration of the rise in insurance fraud since the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. According to TransUnion, a global information and insights company, global digital insurance fraud rose between the second fiscal quarter of 2021 and the second fiscal quarter of 2022 by 159%.

“We have observed interesting trends in the first half of 2022 with suspected fraudulent activity in the insurance industry continuing to be elevated during the first six months of the year,” said Shai Cohen, senior vice president of global fraud solutions at TransUnion.

“In recent years, we’ve seen fraudsters shift their industry focus each quarter,” Cohen continued. “At this time, we believe the insurance industry is seeing more ‘soft fraud’ because some consumers may be representing their policies incorrectly in an effort to save money, especially in a high inflation environment that places more pressure on their wallets.”

Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray
by Stacy Jackson

March 21, 2024

New U.S. Quarter Features Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray

The 2024 quarter features Murray's face on the reverse side, engraved within the word "HOPE."

A trailblazer for civil rights and a pioneering figure for Black women and the LGBTQ community, Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray is now emblazoned on the latest quarter.

The 2024 coin, the 11th in the American Women Quarters Program, as noted by the United States Mint, features the activist’s face on the reverse side engraved within the word “HOPE.” The coin bears a symbolic representation of Murray’s visage, framed by her iconic eyeglasses.

The design encapsulates the priest’s unwavering conviction that profound societal transformations could be achieved when anchored in the power of hope. Encircling her likeness is an inscription drawn from her poetic work, “Dark Testament,” characterizing hope as “A SONG IN A WEARY THROAT,” a poignant metaphor that resonates with her indomitable spirit and resilience in the face of adversity.

“It was amazing. It was truly like an out-of-body experience,” Rosita Stevens-Holsey, Pauli’s oldest living niece, told ABC 11.

“She created space where there was none, and Pauli saw the deficits in society; she saw that there was not space for Black people to live liberated lives, there was not quite space for women to live full lives,” said Angela Mason, executive of the Pauli Murray Center situated in West Durham, North Carolina.

Born on November 20, 1910, in Baltimore, Murray spent her childhood in Durham, North Carolina. According to The Pauli Murray Center, she moved to New York after high school and graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Hunter College in 1933.

The scholar received national publicity after she was denied acceptance to the all-white University of North Carolina in 1938, a case that connected her to Eleanor Roosevelt. An arrest during a sit-in inspired Murray to pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer. After becoming the sole woman in her law class at Howard University, Murray’s legal acumen proved influential, impacteing luminaries like Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She co-founded the National Organization for Women and became the first Black woman ordained as an Episcopal priest. She died in 1985.

The 2024 quarter featuring Murray is currently in circulation. The Pauli Murray Center’s renovations should be completed in the fall, ABC 11 noted.

Rihanna, Fenty Hair, font beauty, Paris olympics
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 21, 2024

Rihanna Announces Fenty Beauty Expansion To China

Rihanna is taking her global beauty empire further around the world with a Fenty Beauty expansion to China.

Rihanna is taking her global beauty empire farther across the world with a Fenty Beauty expansion in China.

On Wednesday, March 20, the billionaire pop star/entrepreneur announced her Fenty Beauty line’s debut in China. Starting April 1, customers can shop Fenty Beauty at Sephora locations throughout the Middle Kingdom.

The company shared a 30-second commercial that featured diverse women of color modeling Fenty Beauty for the “China Fenty Fam.”

It’s a big move for the “Diamonds” singer, who already enjoys the title of America’s youngest self-made billionaire, with a net worth estimated at $1.4 billion. Much of her wealth is credited to her dominating cosmetics company.

As part of the rollout, Rihanna shared a separate video announcement where she expressed her admiration for China’s “rich culture” and her excitement to “officially land” her Fenty Beauty empire in the country.

The Fenty Beauty China announcement comes just ahead of a sitewide “Fenty Fam” sale starting Friday, March 22, in which shoppers will receive 25 percent off all products, The Strategist reports. The site also has an additional 30 percent off code that can be used ahead of the sale’s Friday launch.

All the while, Rihanna fans are hoping for a new music announcement from the “Umbrella” singer, who hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti and dropped her last single, “Lift Me Up,” as part of the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack in 2022.

The song got her nominated for an Academy Award, and she performed it during the 2023 Super Bowl headlining set, where she also announced her second pregnancy. Rihanna is now a mother to two sons, Rza and Riot, with rapper A$AP Rocky, who recently appeared in a short film to promote her Fenty Skin line.

Earlier this month, the couple acted alongside each other in a nearly two-minute ad that promoted Fenty’s Lux Balm. The lip balm is described as a “juicy, Barbados Cherry-powered lip balm packed with vitamin E + shea butter brings dry lips back to life with instant hydration,” a description states.

Now, with an expansion into skincare and China, Rihanna will likely see her $1.4 billion net worth grow tremendously within the next year.

RELATED CONTENT: Rihanna’s Old Instagram Post Is The Source Of Puma Patent Denial

Emeline King, Ford
by Stacy Jackson

March 21, 2024

Meet Emeline King, Ford’s First Black Woman Designer

During her time as a transportation designer, King contributed to three assignments in Italy, Germany, and England.

A groundbreaking stride in automotive design was marked by Emeline King, Ford’s first African American female transportation designer, who crafted the interior of the iconic 1994 SN95 Ford Mustang.

Raised by a Ford plastic model specialist, King’s love affair with the Mustang blossomed at a tender age. She joined Ford Motor Company in 1983, according to Ford Performance. King’s illustrious nearly 25-year career at Ford extended beyond the 1994 Mustang’s interior design: the 1990 Ford Probe, 2000 Ford Thunderbird, and a patented 15-inch wheel cover for the 1989 Thunderbird.

During her time, she also contributed to three assignments for Italy, Germany, and England.

The Detroit native fell in love with the 1968 Ford Mustang at the age of 9 after her father took her to an auto show, where she was captivated by the Mustang’s shapes and forms.

“The 1994 Ford Mustang, with its striking two-tone, twin-arched dashboard-console and the doors that grow gracefully out of it like boughs from a tree, is largely the product of Emeline King’s designing eye,” the company noted.

King sad her father’s guidance fueled her dreams. “It was my first visit to my father’s work at the Ford Design Center that became the catalyst for me to want a career in transportation design,” she said. “Seeing how anxious I was, my father told me, ‘Emeline, you have to be a Ford employee and a transportation designer to have access into that studio.'”

Despite facing discouragement from her male instructors, King’s father introduced her to several African American male designers, modelers, and engineers who worked for Ford.

King also made contributions to other vehicle models: the 1989 Thunderbird interior components: 1989 Corporate Steering Wheel, 1989 Thunderbird Wheel/Wheel cover design program, 1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe, 1993 Mach III, 1994 Mustang, 1994 Mustang Official Pace Car Roll Bar/Graphics, 2000 Two-Seater Thunderbird and the 2004 Lincoln Aviator Interior Door Scuff Panel and Interior components.

After Ford let her go in 2008, King was encouraged by her father to share her trailblazing story.

She later transitioned to become an artist and author, penning an autobiography, “What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can’t Design Cars? She Did It!” The book delves into her journey as Ford’s first African American female transportation designer. “One of the most rewarding things about sharing my story is my new interaction with Ford and Mustang enthusiasts,” she told Ford Performance. “There’s satisfaction knowing that I helped design vehicles that were able to give them an experience of a lifetime.”

financial literacy month, budget, expenses, living, rent, debt, loans, transportation
by Denise Campbell Laidler

March 21, 2024

Use These 6 Budget Tips To Battle Being Broke

There are different budgeting styles and strategies suitable for various personality types.

Originally published July 8, 2015

Despite their multiple advantages, many people find written budgets restrictive. That’s why when it comes to effective budgeting, “different strokes for different folks” is more realistic than “one size fits all.” There are different budgeting styles and strategies for various personality types.

Just because you find it challenging to stick to a formal budget doesn’t mean you have to go without the many benefits of having one. Here are a few basic tips to help you make the most out of your budget.

Pay Yourself First.

Treat your savings as though it’s the most important bill you pay each month, not unlike your rent, mortgage, or car payment. Prioritize your “You” bill above every other bill, and the moment you get paid, take your savings out.

Build an Emergency Fund.

Keep 3-6 months of living expenses in an interest-earning savings or retirement account. Some experts recommend as much as 6-9 months of expenses. Set aside 12% to 15 % of your income (or more) into an account. If you receive an employer match, this counts toward the 12% to 15%.

If you’re saving for a future car, home, or signature vacation, create a savings account for a “future project.” Similarly, create an account for holidays, birthdays, and other annual expenses. Treat this like a “monthly bill.” If you typically spend $560 on Christmas presents, for instance, put aside $20 per month. If you’re saving for your children’s college fund, use a tax-advantaged plan like a 529 College Savings Plan.

Make Frugality a Habit.

Shop around for competitive prices on significant expenditures. For instance, make sure you’re getting a good deal on insurance, shop wisely at the grocery store, decrease your penchant for restaurant-hopping, and when you do go, use discount apps like Groupon or Scoutmob. Shop with a prewritten list, and buy only the items on that list.

Review Your Total Spending.

Once a month, review your total spending. You don’t have to break every expense into categories, but you should know how much money in total you’re spending each month and which expenses cost the most. How does this compare to your income? How much are you saving?

Track Your Net Worth.

Keep a spreadsheet to track your total net worth, which is all of your assets (the value of your bank accounts, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, home, and car) minus your liabilities (debts). Monitor your net worth and update the spreadsheet once every one to three months.

Set Income Goals.

The two elements to strong financial power are earning more and spending less. To keep your budget balanced, it’s important to focus on ways to increase your earnings. Can you go after more clients or higher-paying clients? Can you outsource some of your work so that you can grow your business or take on additional workload with a higher pay rate? Setting income goals is an important component of your financial health, regardless of whether you earn a steady paycheck or an irregular income. If you get paid a varying amount every month, income goals are especially important. If your income is dynamic, you have the potential to achieve your new income goals a lot faster than many other people can.

If you can’t commit to maintaining and following a written budget, then incorporate “frugal habit” measures and financial “best practices” into your life to optimize your dollars.

RELATED CONTENT: How To Eliminate Expenses In Every Budget Category

beyonce, Erykah Badu
by Jameelah Mullen

March 21, 2024

Is Erykah Badu Accusing Beyoncé Of Being A Copycat? The Hive Seems To Think So

The Beyhive is buzzing after singer Erykah Badu appears to throw shade at their fave.

Singer Erykah Badu is seemingly accusing Beyoncé of appropriating her style. On Wednesday, Knowles-Carter released the limited-edition vinyl cover for her upcoming album, Cowboy Carter. 

The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer is wearing braids with red and white beads at the ends of her bangs. She is holding a lit cigar while wearing nothing but a sash bearing her mother’s maiden name, Beyoncé. 

Fellow Texan Erykah Badu shared the photo on her Instagram stories with the caption that read “hmmmm.”

 After the Shade Room reposted Badu’s Instastory, fans shared their thoughts. 

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

“Rick James had it first. Relax bag lady,” Shanicetiara wrote. 

Many social media users pointed out several other celebrities that have worn the style, including Patrice Rushen, SZA, Solange, and Joanne “JoJo” McDuffie of the Mary Jane Girls. 

“When I see that hairstyle, I think of the mama from Crooklyn, not either one of them,” ThatguyMonte said.

Some fans came to Badu’s defense. 

“Why do people automatically think negatively? Maybe @erykahbadu is saying Twinning, everything is not shade🤷🏽‍♀️”  LegacyCompressions said.

Badu chimed in as well, but she didn’t offer any clarity on the meaning of her post.

“ Y’all was waitin on me tho,” she commented, followed by a laughing emoji. 

The Beyhive swarmed the “Window Seat” singer on “X,” leading her to summon the help of Beyoncé’s husband. 


  

“To Jay Z . Say somethin Jay. You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me ??“ she tweeted.

This isn’t the first time Badu appeared to shade her fellow songstress. Last summer, she shared a photo of the “Formation” singer wearing a metallic wide-brimmed hat in her Instagram stories with a caption that read, “hmm, I  guess I’m everybody stylist.”

It’s unclear whether Badu really has beef with Blue’s mama or is just having some fun at the internet’s expense. But we don’t expect a response from Jay Z or his wife anytime soon.

RELATED CONTENT:Erykah Badu Sold Out 1,000 Boxes Of Incense Social Media Rift

company, CEO, grants, loans, angel investor, fund, marketing, startup, founder, funding, startup
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 21, 2024

Step Into The Business Arena Strong With These Tips

Originally Published Jul. 9, 2015

After having started seven businesses over the last 10 years and as an Enterprise Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, I have been fortunate to view startup businesses and entrepreneurs in a variety of contexts.

Here are seven lessons I have learned along the way.

Don’t Start Out With Capital

It doesn’t matter how great an entrepreneur you are or will be. If you have a big pot of money upfront, you’ll likely waste it. I know I wasted some of what I managed to pull together when I started my first business (printing too many copies, having an unfocused marketing plan, etc.), and if I had more, I would have wasted more. Instead, you need to complete the “hard yard” unfocused first. Get out there and test the concept with your customers. Nothing ever works out as planned, and there will be unexpected problems. Find them before you waste money on them. Once you’ve proven the concept and have a better understanding of how the business will work, then it’s time to use capital.

Don’t Call Yourself a CEO

Don’t call yourself a  CEO unless you are actually running an executive board. When I started my first business, I was embarrassed to have the title of managing director when I had no staff. When I hear people introduce themselves as the CEO of a small business, my first thought is they are simply in it for the prestige associated with the title. Work to put the business first and try to sustain and grow something exciting.

Think Big and Plan Backwards.

Ideas should be hugely ambitious from the beginning. Only after having proposed it should you work backward to determine whether or not it is feasible. At my companies, I am only interested in ideas that sound a little crazy. That’s the time to get involved and create an achievable plan. For example, we wanted to launch a scheme to get independent publishers and bookshops to work together across the country. To execute, we started off in London with 10 bookshops and a select group of publishers. The scheme, called Exclusively Independent, grew into the UK’s largest project, bringing independent companies together. While it might have seemed far-fetched from the beginning, we were able to break it down into feasible steps and go from there.

Implement the “Double and Half” Rule.

When you produce your first projections, it is fair to assume that the revenue will be half and the costs will be double. In my first projection, I proposed making a small profit on the first product. I saw myself owning an island by year three as I increased production. Though these projections were completely unrealistic, they were the start of the learning process of forecasting. Keep working on your projections. When they stand up to your revenue and cost models, you’ll be that much closer to a sustainable plan.

Don’t Mistake Action with Progress.

You have to throw everything in when you start a business (I managed to take only one day of leave in my first four years of running my first company). That energy is what will sustain you during the initial years. But it is worth constantly stopping to evaluate what you are achieving and whether it will provide a return on your time. The moment I feel like I have been doing any task for a while, I make myself stop and consider whether this is the best use of my time. Time management and prioritizing will become an increasingly vital skill as your business grows.

Stop the Bad and Scale the Good.

Stopping when something isn’t working is a harder skill to learn than it sounds. I have always found it difficult to accept when an idea turns out not to work in practice. As an entrepreneur, you have an innate drive not to give up and to turn a situation around. But learning to be honest with yourself and knowing the right time to stop is key. Conversely, you need to move fast as a small business. When something is working well, focus on how you can scale it quickly into something much bigger. If you’re given a window of opportunity, take advantage of it.

Always, Always Learn.

Any day you haven’t learned something is a disaster. Since launching a global licensing business, I have had to learn about a wide range of subjects, from different markets and cultures to open access debates and tax law. If you want to evolve and grow your business and staff, you should be involved in the process no matter what stage, and you should constantly be looking to learn from it. This can come through meetings or partners or even by obsessively looking up new information on your phone every evening. I’ve found the best business leaders are constantly listening and learning.

Always understand what you are getting into and why, as well as what is required to be successful. Using these as starting points, a founder can wisely grow his or her business while learning valuable lessons along the way.

Written by Tom Chalmers for BusinessCollective

RELATED CONTENT: Don’t Negotiate The Sale Of Your Company Without Tapping Into These Tips

Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 21, 2024

Marcus Smart Gets Thrown Out Of NBA Game He Wasn’t Playing In

The Grizzlies player, who isn't currently playing because of an injury, argued with officials on the basketball court.

On March 19, NBA player Marcus Smart was ejected from a game he wasn’t even suited up to play in. He was wearing street clothes at the time.

According to CBS Sports, the Grizzlies player, who has been out since January due to a torn thumb tendon, was thrown out of the game for arguing with officials on the basketball court. A feat that may be rare but that nonetheless took place at the Grizzlies home court at Golden 1 Center.

The incident occurred during overtime, with the Sacramento Kings leading by a score of 109-107 with three minutes left. Smart’s teammate Desmond Bane went to the basket to try to score, but although there was contact, no call was made. As the game got closer to ending and less than two minutes after that non-call, with the Kings extending the lead by a 115-107 score, the Grizzlies called a timeout, and Smart was not happy with the officials. He went to argue with them, and for doing so, he was ejected from the game.

A video clip posted to X shows the aftermath of him getting thrown out.

The Grizzlies battled back from being down by 12 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game, forcing the two teams to play overtime. The Kings (39-28) outscored the Grizzlies 16-6 in the overtime period to send the Grizzlies back to the locker room with a 121-111 loss.

The Memphis team continues to struggle without Smart and their top player, Ja Morant, who is out for the season after returning from a 25-game suspension earlier this season. The team fell to a record of 23-46 and played the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 20, losing that game 137 – 116.

phone call, debt, collections, FTC, communicate, rights, federal trade commission, collections, debt, trips
by Denise Campbell Laidler

March 21, 2024

Confront Debt Collectors By Knowing Your Rights

Here are six things to know when a third-party debt collector contacts you.

Originally Published Jan. 9, 2015

A debt collector calls at 7:59 a.m. about a bill that you have already paid. What is your next move to save your credit from crashing? First, don’t panic. When dealing with debt collectors, you have plenty of rights, thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Here are six things to know when a third-party debt collector contacts you.

If you don’t believe you owe the money, dispute the debt in writing. Send the debt collector a letter by certified mail disputing the debt within 30 days of the initial contact. After your dispute letter has been received, he/she must provide written proof of the debt or cease all communications with you. Be sure to keep all records of all debt collector phone calls and messages. Although a debt collector is not required to respond within a specific period of time, you have a reasonable expectation of a timely response.

When you dispute a debt, the debt collector must report it as “in dispute” to the credit bureaus with which he or she works. The dispute will remain in your credit history until the debt collector provides you with proof that the amount you owe is, in fact, accurate. The “in dispute” information could remain in your credit history for several months if you don’t accept the debt collector’s initial proof.

You can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the organization responsible for enforcing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA is the main federal law that prohibits debt collection companies from using abusive language and unfair or deceptive practices to collect past-due debts from you. You can file your FTC complaint online, call 800-382-4357, or mail: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.

If an attorney is representing you, the debt collector can only contact your attorney. If they call you, supply the name of the attorney and end the conversation.

Debt collectors are required by law to tell you pertinent information about the debt, including: the name of the creditor, the amount owed ,and ways to dispute or seek verification of the amount. If this information is not provided on first contact, the debt collector is required to send you a written notice with the relevant details within five days of initial contact. If you have questions about the information provided to you by a debt collector, request formal verification of the debt in writing.

If you request in writing that a debt collector stop contacting you, he/she must comply to confirm that there will be no further contact and to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor may take the certain specific action it is legally allowed to take, such as a lawsuit against you.

Debt collectors have many restrictions. When it comes to collection calls, the Debt Collection Act says there is much that collectors cannot say or do, including:

  • Using abusive or obscene language
  • Harassing you with repeated calls
  • Calling before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. unless you agree
  • Calling you at work if you have asked them to stop
  • Talking to anyone but you or your attorney about the debt
  • Falsely claiming to be an attorney or a law enforcement official
  • Falsely claiming to be a credit bureau representative
  • Threatening to garnish wages or seize property unless they actually intend to do it.

Remember: Telling a debt collector to stop contacting you does not prevent him or her from pursuing other legal ways to collect the debt from you if you owe it, including a lawsuit against you or rreporting negative information to a credit reporting company.

Trinidad James, Saucony, Sneaker Collaboration
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 21, 2024

Trinidad James And Saucony Prepare Release Of Next Sneaker Collaboration

The new Saucony Spot-Bilt Sonic Low sneaker "Coach's Shoe" will be available April 5.

Former platinum Def Jam recording artist Trinidad James is releasing another sneaker collaboration with Saucony that is slated to be released in April 2024.

According to Complex, the “All Gold Everything” rapper, through his partnership with his label, Hommewrk and Saucony, has debuted a new Saucony Spot-Bilt Sonic Low sneaker labeled “Coach’s Shoe” that will be available for purchase on April 5. The sneaker has a dirty white look to them with the Spot-Bilt logo having a metallic gold color. It looks like a throwback sneaker from the 1980s.

The sneaker tongue is emblazoned with the Hommewrk logo, and the bottom of the soles has Spot-Bilt by Saucony written on one foot. The other foot sports the phrase “Give Em Hell,” both in maroon. The footwear comes out less than a year after James showed off Hommewrk’s Spot-Bilt Sonic Highs in August during an episode of Complex’s “Full-Size Run.”

The sneakers will be available for purchase on the Saucony website in two weeks and will retail for $140.

Footwear Plus Magazine reports that this sneaker is the remixed version of its Jazz 81 low-top sneaker and is meant to pay homage to women in sports. The insole showcases various women’s hairstyles that are vital to their identity.

James, who was once signed to Def Jam in 2012, released his debut single for the recording label, “All Gold Everything,” and went platinum (At least one million units sold) as his song reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Although he had a platinum single, he was dropped from the label in 2014 because he never turned in an album. He has virtually disappeared from the music scene and hasn’t dropped any new music, at least not commercially. But he did drop two freestyles last year on his YouTube channel, “567 Freestyle” and “OFF WITH HIS HEAD (Paris Freestyle).”

×