分类： entertainment

In a courtroom verdict that closed a high-profile legal case tied to a former National Football League star, former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been fully cleared of all assault charges brought by his live-in personal chef, Jamila Adams. The jury’s ruling came Tuesday at a courthouse in Massachusetts, where the 32-year-old athlete was found not guilty on two counts: a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation, and a lesser misdemeanor count of assault and battery. Diggs, dressed in a muted gray suit and formal tie, displayed a calm demeanor as the verdict was read aloud, responding with a quiet nod to the jury’s decision.

The legal dispute traces back to December of last year, when Adams filed a police report alleging the assault grew out of an ongoing disagreement over compensation. According to official police documentation, Adams claimed Diggs struck her in the face before attempting to choke her by wrapping the crook of his elbow around her neck. She also confirmed during proceedings that the pair had previously shared a consensual sexual relationship. Diggs entered his initial not guilty plea in a February court appearance, which came just five days after he took the field with the Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl, thrusting the legal matter into the national spotlight.

Throughout the trial, Diggs’s defense team rejected all allegations of misconduct outright, arguing that no assault ever occurred. They drew the jury’s attention to alleged financial demands that Adams’s legal representatives made just before the trial was set to begin, framing the accusations as an attempt to extract improper payment from the high-profile athlete. After two full days of witness testimony and legal argument, the jury retired for deliberations that lasted roughly 90 minutes before returning the unanimous not guilty verdict, as reported by local Massachusetts media outlets.

Diggs, who was released by the New England Patriots earlier this year, is currently a free agent on the NFL market. Off the field, he has been the subject of celebrity gossip for his relationship with renowned rapper Cardi B. The pair welcomed their first child together in November 2023, though multiple entertainment outlets have confirmed the couple split shortly after the birth.

One of the most iconic acts in rock and roll history, Britain’s legendary Rolling Stones, has made a thrilling announcement for fans across the globe: their 25th full-length studio album *Foreign Tongues* will officially hit shelves and streaming platforms on July 10. The reveal, made public via the band’s online channels on Tuesday, came paired with the immediate release of the album’s lead single, “In The Stars,” giving listeners an early taste of the new project.

This upcoming release marks the band’s second studio album in under three years, following 2021’s *Hackney Diamonds* — a record that marked an extraordinary comeback for the group, as it was their first new studio collection in 18 years. *Hackney Diamonds* went on to top album charts in more than 20 countries and earned widespread critical praise from music reviewers, building massive anticipation for whatever the band would create next.

To kick off promotion for the new album, the band’s three surviving founding and core members gathered in New York for a public promotional event hosted by beloved comedian Conan O’Brien. Founding members Mick Jagger (lead vocals) and Keith Richards (guitar), both 82 years old, were joined by 78-year-old bassist and longtime member Ronnie Wood in conversation, where they shared behind-the-scenes insights into the recording process and even gave attendees a sneak preview of several unheard tracks from the upcoming record. Behind-the-scenes footage of the trio working together in the recording studio was also shared to the band’s official Instagram channel to accompany the announcement, giving fans an intimate look at the album’s creation.

When discussing what keeps the veteran band creating new music decades after their rise to fame, Jagger emphasized that the joy of the craft remains undimmed. “We’re still having a lot of fun,” Jagger said, adding, “It’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of concentration.” During the on-stage conversation, O’Brien complimented Jagger on his still-powerful, distinctive vocals, noting that many performers see their vocal ability fade with age, while Jagger’s remains full of force and clarity. Jagger responded with a signature dry quip that drew laughter from the crowd: “Well, I was taking a lot more drugs in 1968.” He followed the joke with the simple secret behind his sustained vocal skill: “The secret is practice… it’s simple.”

Andrew Watt, one of the lead producers on *Foreign Tongues*, told AFP that collaborating with the legendary band was a career-defining experience. “I had the time of my life. I’m the biggest fan in the world,” Watt said of working on the project. The new album will also feature high-profile guest appearances from two other iconic rock figures: former Beatles bassist and frontman Sir Paul McCartney, and The Cure’s legendary lead singer and guitarist Robert Smith.

The official announcement puts an end to weeks of growing fan speculation that a new record was on the way. Last month, the band quietly released a limited-edition vinyl-only single under the alias “The Cockroaches” — a stage name the Stones have used for decades to play unannounced secret club shows. The one-off track “Rough And Twisted” was sold exclusively at select independent record stores, priced at exactly £10.07 ($13.64) in the UK — a detail that sharp-eyed fans quickly connected to a projected July 10 (10/07) release date, proving their speculation correct.

Notably absent from the event was any announcement of a supporting world tour, a staple of the band’s activity for decades. Multiple media outlets have reported that while the band’s management did discuss the possibility of a tour, the idea was ultimately set aside out of concern for the health risks that strenuous global touring would pose for the band’s octogenarian core members.

Three decades ago, the infectious R&B track “Hey Mr DJ” by American female duo Zhané took global music charts by storm, peaking at the sixth spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The single quickly found success across international markets too: it cracked the top 10 in Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, and landed at number 26 on the UK Official Singles Chart. After earning gold certifications in the United States and Australia decades earlier, the track earned its latest milestone two weeks ago, when it was awarded platinum certification by music regulators in New Zealand.

In a recent candid interview with the *Jamaica Observer*, Renee Neufville — one half of Zhané, alongside bandmate Jean Morris — opened up about the unexpected decades-long success of the track, revealing that she never anticipated the song would resonate with millions of listeners around the world. “I didn’t know that I was writing a hit record. It took me literally 30 minutes to write that song,” shared Neufville, who was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jamaican immigrant parents. “However, it is one of a few hit records that God has blessed me to create. So I have to give the honour and the glory to Him.”

Neufville explained that even after finishing the writing and recording process, she only trusted her own artistic judgment, with no way of knowing the track would connect with mainstream audiences. “When I completed the record I just knew it was right to me. One cannot assume that that would resonate to others; I tried my best to trust my own taste and judgement. I didn’t know that it was going to be a hit,” she said. She also recalled the surreal first moment she heard the song playing on major U.S. radio, calling it a milestone she still cherishes to this day. “All I could think about was how big God can be. Here is something that you take for granted — your singing voice. I knew we were embarking on something bigger than ourselves. The music itself was considered feel-good music. That was a very powerful moment, one that I never took for granted to this day.”

Produced by Kay-Gee, then an in-house producer for iconic rap group Naughty By Nature, “Hey Mr DJ” was recorded in a simple basement home studio. The track’s iconic beat draws from a sample of Michael Wycoff’s early 1980s track “Looking Up to You”: Neufville recalls that as soon as Kay-Gee played the 8-bar loop from a cassette tape, the melody came to her instantly. Beyond its own success, the track has had a lasting impact on pop and R&B, directly inspiring hits including Rihanna’s breakout debut single “Pon De Replay”, as well as tracks from Madonna and Missy Elliott. “It has been a cultural staple in our music,” Neufville noted, adding that at the time of recording, she was a student at Philadelphia’s Temple University working a part-time job to make ends meet.

Zhané released two full-length studio albums during their time together. Their 1994 debut *pronounced Jah-Nay*, released under Motown Records, went platinum and spawned a string of additional hit singles including “Groove Thang”, “Vibe”, “You’re Sorry Now” and “Sending My Love”. Their 1997 follow-up *Saturday Night* also produced fan-favorite hits “Request Line” and “Crush”. After the duo disbanded to pursue individual projects, Morris launched a new musical project with her husband called The Baylor Project in the early 2000s, which has earned the pair multiple Grammy Award nominations.

For her part, Neufville spent years touring and recording with jazz legend Roy Hargrove’s Collective RH Factor. Today, she prioritizes time with family, caring for her 87-year-old father Albert, a former Jamaican teacher who retired to the U.S. Neufville’s mother Joyce, a former registered nurse at Kingston Public Hospital, passed away several years ago. Her family has deep roots across Jamaica: her parents moved to Brooklyn in the 1960s after marrying, her older brothers were born in Jamaica, the family once owned a home in the Kingston neighborhood of Mona, and she still has extended family spread across the island. Notable Jamaican cultural figures count among her relatives: 1960s ska star Millie Small was married to her mother’s uncle, and retired champion sprinter Marilyn Neufville is her father’s cousin.

In recent years, Neufville has earned new recognition for her trailblazing contribution to Black American music. Last year, she was inducted into the National Museum of African American Music, honored for her work shaping African American cultural expression as a songwriter. She also recently contributed expert commentary to the documentary about iconic Jamaican dancehall artist Sister Nancy, *Bam Bam*. Neufville performed on a bill with Sister Nancy last December and says the legend is still as captivating as ever. “Sister Nancy and I shared a bill in December last year and she’s still got it. She’s finally reaping the benefits. She truly is a legend,” she said.

Now, 33 years after “Hey Mr DJ” took the world by storm, Neufville is gearing up to release new music. She has finished mixing a brand-new track titled “I Am”, an affirmative anthem crafted for modern audiences, and is preparing to release her eighth EP, also named *I Am*, later this year. “I have completed mixing a new song written for the people for times such as these. It’s called I Am. It’s a song about affirmation and it’s coming soon. I am looking forward to putting out more new music this year,” she shared.

In the vibrant landscape of Jamaican popular music, a beloved early classic is making a comeback: Larry and The Mento Boys’ 2013 album *Jamaica Farewell*, a collection of iconic mento tracks, is set to be reissued this summer by Tad’s International Record. The project anchors itself to the original *Hill And Gully*, a foundational mento standard that has recently seen new popularity as the inspiration for the viral Hill And Gully riddim from acclaimed dancehall producer Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, led by Masicka’s bold hit track Slip & Slide.

The reissued *Jamaica Farewell* features 18 tracks, drawing heavily from the core mento songbook. Standouts include fan-favorite staples like the patriotic *Island In The Sun*, *Shame And Scandal*, *Big Bamboo*, and the album’s namesake *Hill And Gully*. Beyond traditional mento fare, the album also includes the band’s distinctive interpretations of three Bob Marley classics — *No Woman No Cry*, *Three Little Birds*, and *One Drop* — plus a cover of *Ma & Pa*, the track that first rose to fame through Trinidadian performer Lord Creator.

Tad Dawkins, founder and leader of Tad’s International Record, shared the backstory of the re-release with Jamaica’s *Observer Online*. He explained he was first introduced to Larry and The Mento Boys by veteran broadcaster and performer Bob Clarke, who spent decades entertaining guests at tourist hotels across Jamaica’s St Ann and St Mary parishes, where he built a longstanding connection with the band.

“There’s something timeless about mento that carries listeners back to simpler, earlier days, and the tracks on this album are genuinely great,” Dawkins said. “Even today, there remains a strong, dedicated market for authentic Jamaican mento music.”

For many music scholars, mento holds the distinction of being Jamaica’s first commercially popular genre, laying the cultural and sonic groundwork for reggae and dancehall that would rise to global fame in later decades. The genre broke through to mainstream audiences across the 1940s and 1950s, driven by charismatic performers like Lord Flea, who earned enough international notoriety to appear on iconic U.S. variety programs including *The Perry Como Show*.

Mento retained its place on Jamaican radio through the 1970s, even as roots-reggae dominated the national music scene, largely thanks to the work of legendary artist Stanley Beckford. Beckford scored multiple major hits with tracks like *Soldering* — which later received a high-profile cover from pop duo Hall and Oates — *Broom Weed*, and *Leave my Kiselo*, and he took home top honors at Jamaica’s Festival Song Competition on multiple occasions.

In more recent decades, Portland-based group The Jolly Boys have led a renewed interest in traditional mento. Their 2010 album *Great Expectation* earned rave reviews from leading international outlets including *The New York Times*, and opened the door for the band to headline tour dates across the United States and United Kingdom, introducing the genre to a whole new generation of global listeners.