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US rapper Rich Homie Quan, one of the biggest hip-hop names in the mid-2010s, has died at the age of 33.

Homie Quan, real name Dequantes Devontay Lamar, died in an Atlanta hospital, the Fulton County medical examiner said.

The cause of death was not immediately available, with a post-mortem scheduled for Friday.

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion posted an Instagram story with a picture of Quan saying: “RIP to one of the best.”

2 Chainz said he received news of the rapper’s death just after the two had discussed doing a video together.

“Dam lil brother, we just spoke about shooting a video, special prayer for you and your family, and pray for any and everybody that’s dealing with something my condolences bru.”

Quan had his breakthrough in music in 2013, with the Type Of Way – a song that became so successful that several other rappers jumped on the remix, including Jeezy and Meek Mill.

He maintained his momentum, appearing on a YG track with Jeezy and releasing Lifestyle, a London on da Track-produced song, through his Rich Gang rap collective that included Young Thug and Birdman.

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Quan followed up with Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh), a song produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz.

It became his highest charting solo single at No 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He also featured on Lil Dicky’s Save Dat Money.

The rapper’s movements for Flex helped inspire the Hit the Quan dance craze in 2015.

In 2018, Quan debuted his first and only studio album Rich As In Spirit, which mostly went without any features, except for Think About It, a single with Rick Ross.

Quan spoke in 2022 about returning to music after an abrupt hiatus.

At the time, the rapper said he was going through litigation with independent label T.I.G. (Think It’s a Game Record), but was prepared to make a comeback.

During that time, Quan ended up in a feud with his old collaborator Young Thug who, with rapper Gunna, were among a group indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act and were also accused of participation in a criminal street gang.

Quan said there were no issues between him and Young Thug and was open to having a conversation with him if the opportunity presented itself.

He said he hated to see Young Thug in prison, adding rappers were being targeted by law enforcement.

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“I wouldn’t say unfairly targeted because at the same time, some of these rappers are putting guns in videos and, you know, it’s like social media, it goes back to the social media thing,” he said.

“I think we showing too much, I think they’re showing too much.

“That’s the difference in my music, I’ma tell a story but I ain’t going to tell you how I did it,” he added.

“It’s still black art, but we’re definitely being targeted. So that’s why I’m mindful of what I say in my music.”

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R Kelly rushed to hospital after prison ‘overdose’ plot, his lawyers say

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R Kelly rushed to hospital after prison 'overdose' plot, his lawyers say

R Kelly was hospitalised after prison officials gave him an overdose of medication, his lawyers have claimed – as part of what they say is an ongoing assassination plot.

Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is currently serving time at the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner, North Carolina, after being convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering in 2021.

A year later, he was found guilty on three charges of producing child sexual abuse images and three charges of enticement of minors for sex.

The 58-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday after prison staff “administered an overdose of his medication”, according to a court document filed by his lawyer.

The document, filed on Tuesday, reads: “Mr. Kelly’s life is in danger, and that danger is coming from Bureau of Prisons officials and their actions.

“Mr. Kelly needs this Court’s intervention. His life actually depends on it.”

Nicole Blank Becker, one of Kelly’s lawyers, said he is in solitary confinement and that she spoke with him on Monday.

“What is happening right now with him is insane,” she said. “I hope that this really results in someone, somewhere, somehow getting ahold of him today and getting him back in the hospital.”

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement that “for privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual, including medical and health-related issues”.

“Additionally, the Bureau of Prisons does not comment on pending litigation or matters that are the subject of legal proceedings,” they added.

The allegation is the latest in a line of similar claims from the singer’s legal team, who last week filed a motion accusing the Bureau of Prisons of instructing another inmate to kill Kelly.

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A motion filed by Kelly’s legal team claimed Mikeal Glenn Stine, who is alleged to be a member of the Aryan Brotherhood gang and has a terminal cancer diagnosis, was given a chance to “to live out the last of those months as a free man” in exchange for killing the singer.

The next day, his legal team filed additional material saying he had been moved to solitary confinement and denied access to his lawyer.

Prosecutors rejected the claims as “repugnant”.

Their written response said: “Kelly has never taken responsibility for his years of sexually abusing children, and he probably never will.

“Undeterred, Kelly now asks this Court to release him from incarceration indefinitely under the guise of a fanciful conspiracy.”

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Disgraced singer Gary Glitter to stay in jail as parole bid refused

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Disgraced singer Gary Glitter to stay in jail as parole bid refused

Gary Glitter will stay in prison after the Parole Board refused the disgraced singer’s bid to be released.

Glitter, 81, was recalled to jail less than six weeks after he was released halfway through his 16-year sentence in 2023 for breaching his licence conditions by allegedly viewing downloaded images of children.

He was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in 2015 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980.

The Parole Board last year said it was “not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public” after a hearing held behind closed doors.

Pic: PA
Image:
Glitter was jailed in 2015 Pic: PA

A spokesman on Tuesday said his release was refused again following a “paper review”.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community,” a statement said.

“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

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“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, will be eligible for a further review at a date set by the Ministry of Justice. His sentence expires in February 2031.

He was made bankrupt earlier this year after failing to pay more than £500,000 in damages to a woman who sued him for abusing her when she was 12 years old.

Richard Scorer, head of abuse law and public inquiries at Slater and Gordon, who represented the woman, told Sky News the Parole Board has made “the right decision”.

He added: “My client is relieved at this ruling but apprehensive about having to go through the merry-go-round of Gadd coming up for parole again, and the fear of him being let out on licence.

“This is unfair on victims and it would be better if they were assured that he would serve the rest of his sentence.”

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Glitter was first jailed for four months in 1999 after he admitted possessing around 4,000 indecent images of children.

He was expelled from Cambodia in 2002, and in March 2006 was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Vietnam, where he spent two-and-a-half years in prison.

Glitter was automatically released from HMP The Verne, a low-security prison in Portland, Dorset, in February 2023 after serving half of his fixed-term determinate sentence.

But he was back behind bars weeks later after reportedly trying to access the dark web and images of children.

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How Clean Is Your House? presenter Kim Woodburn dies

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How Clean Is Your House? presenter Kim Woodburn dies

Kim Woodburn – a former cleaner who found fame presenting the hit TV show How Clean Is Your House? – has died.

Woodburn, who was 83, later became a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, finishing as runner-up.

Kim Woodburn is evicted in third place during the Big Brother 2017 final at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
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Woodburn came third in Celebrity Big Brother 2017. Pic: PA

Her manager said in a statement: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness.

“Kim was an incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person.

“Her husband, Peter, is heartbroken at the loss of his soulmate.

“We are so proud of the amazing things Kim achieved in her life and career.

“We kindly ask that Kim’s husband and close friends are given the time and privacy they need to grieve.

“We will not be releasing any further details.”

Aggie MacKenzie and Kim Woodburn.
Pic: PA
Image:
Woodburn with Aggie MacKenzie (L). Pic: PA

On Tuesday, her husband shared a video montage of photos of Woodburn over the years, starting when she was just four years old, with the message: “My wonderful, beautiful, Kim passed away last night. God bless, my love, xx xx”

Known for her trademark tight, plaited bun, Kim was largely blind in her right eye, and had poor sight in her left eye, and earlier this year had told her followers she was undergoing emergency eye surgery.

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Woodburn, who had been selling video greetings to fans, shared her last Instagram post in February, when she posted a message saying “Kim is unable to record any further videos for the foreseeable future due to a health problem”.

She wrote: “No more videos for now, my loves, I need to get better!”

Woodburn, born Patricia Mary in Hampshire, left a turbulent home life aged 16, moving to Liverpool to become a live-in cleaner.

She revealed in her 2006 autobiography that, at the age of 23, she prematurely gave birth to a stillborn son and buried him in a park.

The revelation in her book led to a police inquiry, but no action was taken by officers.

In the same year as the stillbirth, she changed her name to Kim – after American actress Kim Novak.

Years later, she was scouted by a TV company looking for a cleaner with an engaging personality to front How Clean is Your House?

Paired with Scottish cleaner Aggie MacKenzie, the two professional cleaners fronted the show – a ratings hit and a pioneer for the home cleaning genre – from 2003 to 2009.

Woodburn went on to appear in Celebrity Big Brother, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of here! and E4’s Celebrity Cooking School, as well as regularly contributing to ITV’s This Morning and Loose Women.

She also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, Celebrity Come Dine With Me and A Place In The Sun.

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