Tory Lanez Demands 'Love & Hip Hop' Star Sit For Deposition In Assault Battery

In a major development in Lanez's case, Megan Thee Stallion of 'Love & Hip Hop' fame testified at trial today for most of the day. Her time on the witness stand was said to be intensely emotional.

After a week-long trial, the jury unanimously found Lanez guilty on December 23 of assault with a firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence and possessing an unregistered gun in his vehicle.

Prince’s Lawsuit

Tory Lanez has a major beef with Christopher Michael Harty, the Love & Hip Hop: Miami star who goes by Tory. According to Prince, they got into an altercation at Vendome nightclub on South Beach in 2019 when Lanez approached and socked him in the face. Prince claims he needed medical attention and Lanez ran away in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van.

Prince filed a lawsuit in January alleging that Lanez and another man attempted to intimidate him with guns when discussing a settlement. Now Lanez wants the judge to annul the agreement and require him to attend a deposition.

Attorneys for Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson) deny that Lanez ever threatened Prince with signing a settlement. But Prince's lawyers maintain he was coerced into signing the contract during an encounter with Lanez and an associate who brought a gun to the event. Therefore, they argue, the agreement is unenforceable and there's no proof it refers to the 2019 incident.

On Tuesday, Kenner, the rapper's new lawyer, made his initial appearance. Judge Herriford apparently authorized him to replace George Mgdesyan who had officially left the case after a jury found Lanez guilty in December of shooting Megan Thee Stallion.

After a week-long trial, Lanez was found guilty on December 23 of three felony charges: assault with a firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm and carrying an unregistered loaded gun in his vehicle. If found guilty, he could face up to 22 years in prison.

Harris also testified in the case, telling jurors she ran to Megan's side when she saw her friend being shot and that she feared for her life.

However, she had difficulty recalling certain details prosecutors were pressing her on during cross-examination. For instance, when asked if she remembered saying "b**ches and hoes" or Lanez calling her a "fraud," she denied these memories.

Prince’s Settlement

A Miami man, identified only as Prince of South Beach, is considering suing Love & Hip Hop's Tory Lanez after alleging the rapper punched him at a club last year. NBC 6 reports the man claims Lanez and another individual threatened him with guns to sign a settlement agreement.

Prince claims the rapper and Lanez's entourage punched him inside LIV nightclub in 2019. Prince claims Lanez and his group also jumped him after the altercation, taking place in a VIP area. According to Prince, both parties exchanged punches during this altercation.

Prince's lawyers are reportedly asking for a deposition from the rapper, which would take place in the US. This lawsuit stems from two separate incidents between Prince and an unknown artist.

Reports state one incident occurred between Prince and the rapper at LIV nightclub in November 2019, followed by another altercation the following month at another club in 2020.

Legal experts told Insider that setting aside a settlement is not uncommon, but it will be extremely challenging. That's because the court must examine all evidence and decide whether or not the agreement should be annulled.

If a court rules in Prince's favor, his settlement will be nullified and he's likely to face financial obligations that would be far exceeding UK or American norms.

Andrew may be using some of Queen Elizabeth II's Sovereign Grant to fund this settlement, though no one knows for certain.

Andrew may not have won Virginia Giuffre's approval, but that doesn't guarantee him any respect in the royal family. A former senior royal aide warned that King Charles is unlikely to grant the Duke of York a second chance.

Prince’s Deposition

Tory Lanez, who appeared on "Love & Hip Hop: Miami," is being sued for an alleged assault that occurred last year at a Miami nightclub. Prince told NBC 6 the fight took place inside LIV, located on Miami Beach. He claims Lanez attacked him and is now suing for $50 million damages.

After a weeklong trial, jurors found Lanez guilty of three felonies and sent him to prison for over 22 years. Additionally, they determined that the rapper had engaged in assault with a semiautomatic firearm, had carried an unregistered weapon into his vehicle, and negligent discharge of said weapon.

On behalf of Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott, Deputy District Attorney Lanez played a portion of Lanez's recorded jail call to Harris for jurors to prove he lied during his deposition. Furthermore, Bott refuted Harris' testimony that she didn't hear any gunshots and Lanez threatened her with shooting while they were driving together.

The prosecutor played the recording several times for jurors to see if Harris would recall any parts she didn't, such as when Lanez called them "b**ches and hoes" or threatened her with a gun. She pleaded the fifth, asserting she couldn't recall those portions.

Prosecutors maintained that Lanez had not fired any shots at Megan Thee Stallion after she disparaged his musical abilities. They maintained the bullet fragments found in her feet were not due to anger but rather a reaction to her remarks.

In addition to the shooting, Lanez allegedly punched Prince in the face at a nightclub and then ran out into a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van before fleeing. Additionally, he is believed to have punched another man after that incident; who later filed a lawsuit against Lanez for this attack.

On Monday, a jury found Lanez guilty of all three charges and sent him to prison. The judge will consider sentencing next week; however, Law & Crime's Meghan Cuniff reports that delays may arise depending on how long it takes Lanez's lawyers to obtain trial transcripts so they can prepare a motion for a new trial.

Prince’s Response

Tory Lanez's legal battle continues, as he now demands that "Love & Hip Hop" star Prince Michael Harty take a deposition. According to TMZ, Prince claimed there had been an altercation with Lanez at a Miami club last year.

Prince is claiming that Lanez attacked him early on May 3 at Vendome Nightclub in Miami on May 3. He alleges the 'LUV' rapper threw a punch at him, leaving him with a swollen mouth and head.

Prince's lawyer reported that Prince was sitting at a table when the rapper approached and started shouting. As Prince turned around, he was hit on the left side of his face with something. He was taken to the hospital and later reported having suffered severe facial trauma.

According to the police report, Prince had a visibly swollen cheek after Lanez punched him in the face before fleeing.

Lanez's representatives strongly refute this assertion. They maintain that he was nowhere near Prince at the time and is simply obsessed with him.

Tory's reps also refute Prince's account of what happened, asserting that he was at the club with NFL star Malcolm Butler when he noticed people staring at him. After Butler left, Lanez and his entourage followed and threw punches at them.

After Prince reported the incident, Lanez and his entourage fled in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. Additionally, an associate of Lanez brought a gun with them and threatened to shoot Prince during their meeting.

Prince is still going after Lanez despite these allegations, and has even asked a judge to nullify the settlement he requested from Lanez.

Prince will be deposing on May 3 and answering questions under oath about the events of that night. Additionally, he must give an in-depth account of what transpired at Vendome Nightclub to help the judge decide whether to reject or continue with the settlement.

De La Soul Made Hip-Hop Weird

De La Soul's groundbreaking early albums were once only accessible on rare disc. But today, all three major-label debuts can be legally streamed on streaming services.

At a time when gold chains were becoming ever more intricate and James Brown sampling was in full swing, the Amityville trio of Posdnuos, Trugoy and DJ Mase made headlines with their clever yet sardonic avatars for Black misfits and nerds alike - mining the sublime from the absurd.

What Made De La Soul Weird?

De La Soul revolutionized hip-hop with their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989, sounding unlike anyone else. Drawing samples from jazz, funk, reggae, pop music and beyond, they created an eclectic sound that was both whimsical and avant-garde. Their clever rhymes and goofy skits gave their music an unorthodox edge that revolutionized it for good.

The Long Island trio of Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer), Maseo, and Trugoy the Dove had formed in high school and already produced their own music before signing to Prince Paul's Handsome Boy Modeling School label. Their witty take on Hip-Hop culture, relationships, and life was truly original and refreshingly unique.

Their playful take on Hip-Hop and their confident rhymes quickly earned them a following among hip-hop enthusiasts. Their debut album set an important landmark in the genre, featuring clever wordplay with goofy jokes and samples from Steely Dan, Johnny Cash and even The Turtles.

They were members of the Native Tongues, a collective that promoted peace, love and having fun. Their acronym, Da Inner Sound Ya'll, was an ironic nod to the hippie movement that was popular at that time.

Unfortunately, De La Soul never achieved the level of success their witty and creative work had initially predicted. Yet this serves as a testament to how much they meant to their fan base and the impact of their lyrics.

Following their debut album, the group quickly sought to refine and perfect their signature style of hip-hop with a series of records that explored different stylistic avenues and encouraged listeners to consider how they might respond. It's no secret that they had an enjoyable time making each album while constantly seeking new creative outlets.

Despite these efforts, their early material remains difficult to come by today. Even classics such as "Eye Know" and "The Magic Number" can be challenging to locate on streaming services or download stores - a reality which can be disheartening for fans.

Buhloone Mindstate

Finally, De La Soul's original Tommy Boy records were cleared for streaming worldwide thanks to sample-clearers like Flying Lotus and MNDSGN who worked tirelessly for years to get their material into listeners' hands.

De La Soul made hip-hop that was unique and out there; their albums 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul Is Dead and Buhloone Mindstate all had a major impact on the genre.

De La Soul's hip-hop often featured sampling and sample flipping, drawing inspiration from jazz music. For instance, on their debut album "Jenifa Taught Me", De La Soul used a primary sample from Maggie Thrett's 1965 dodgy cat tune "Soupy." This technique of using samples to craft new works of music remains central to their work today.

De La Soul's musical direction changed as the era of gangster rappers ended, becoming more serious and their albums began to reflect this shift. While still drawing inspiration from Prince Paul's production techniques and themes, their albums began featuring more introspective and thought-provoking tracks.

On Buhloone Mindstate, they began incorporating live instrumentation more than ever before. James Brown's drummer Melvin Parker joined Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis to create a jazz-infused sound that evolved beyond their earlier works. As a result, fans got to experience more sophisticated sample flips combined with live instruments.

Buhloone Mindstate marked an important change in the group's music direction; they began to break away from their mentor's influence and take more creative control of their output. It also marked a turning point for Native Tongues collective, originally composed of De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers members.

Stakes Is High

De La Soul achieved something rare: they released an entire series of albums that sound completely distinct from each other in 1989-1996, including 3 Feet High and Rising; De La Soul Is Dead; Buhloone Mindstate; and Stakes Is High. This was truly one of music's most innovative and daring collections at its time.

As its title suggests, Stakes Is High is a response to hip-hop's move into increasingly commercial success. A year prior, Nas' It Was Written had become an iconic record for the genre; then Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt and OutKast's A Different Kind of Truth introduced us to an entirely new cast of stars.

Critics and fans lauded It Was Written as a groundbreaking achievement, but Stakes Is High was even more impactful. It served as an oppositional statement against what had become mainstream hip-hop music in 1996 - when its faces had become far more popular than its creators.

On Stakes Is High, De La Soul's veteran members responded to what had been happening within their genre with a humorous take on how hip-hop had become generic.

Stakes Is High was released on July 2, 1996, the same day as Nas' It Was Written and sandwiched between Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt, OutKast's A Different Kind of Truth and the debuts of rappers Mos Def, Zhane and Common.

De La Soul's album is a thoughtful reflection on fame, its effects, the state of hip-hop and its socioeconomic roots. But it also features some funnier tunes than others in their discography.

"Bitties in the BK Lounge" is an infectiously funny song that explores many of the same topics as its predecessor, while also poking fun at themselves, their critics, and society at large. It serves as proof that De La Soul can be cynical without making something no one will enjoy listening to - an example for everyone!

Art Official Intelligence

De La Soul were hip-hop's version of a hidden grail during the digital revolution of the 2000s. Their early works (such as 3 Feet High And Rising, Buhloone Mindstate and Stakes Is High) were repressed in back of vinyl stores or cassette stores by resellers and could only be found on Discogs or eBay by fans searching for that perfect earworm.

De La Soul's early releases, such as 3 Feet High And Rising, set the bar for innovative Hip Hop production with samples, skits, clever wordplay and playful wordplay. This album represented an end to cliches that had become too commonplace during that period.

For the group, evolving their style was also a demonstration that they were adaptable enough to keep up with an ever-evolving music world. Their 1991 album De La Soul Is Dead had been hailed as one of the most inventive and influential albums of its era; yet it only managed to chart in the Top 100.

Four years after 3 Feet's success, Stakes Is High was an ambitious attempt to build upon it. Featuring a diverse group of like-minded producers and high profile guest artists such as J. Dilla, Rockwilder, Prince Paul, Busta Rhymes and Redman on board, the band sought to push themselves as far as possible while still remaining true to their hip-hop weirdness.

Stakes Is High proved De La Soul's ambition, but Stakes Is High only got them so far; a full comeback album was needed to prove they were still relevant. Mosaic Thump fills that void; though not quite on par with Stakes Is High or AOI: Bionix, De La Soul reunited with producer Supa Dave West for an eclectic hip-hop album that showed De La Soul can still move the needle.

De La Soul's "Ghost Weed" skits are a standout moment on this album, as they return to some of their earlier goofball humor that made them so beloved. It's an endearing return to their self-deprecating humor that made them so beloved in the first place, making this record all the more lovable.