Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, Fat Joe’s former hype man, has filed an incendiary lawsuit in federal court against the rapper. Filed on Thursday, the lawsuit alleges that Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, engaged in “coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.” Dixon asserts that the rapper and his associates deliberately suppressed and erased his contributions to Fat Joe’s success and brand.

Filed in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, the filing details many disturbing claims about Fat Joe’s sexual relations that it contains a trigger warning on the first page of the 157-page document. Allegedly, Fat Joe engaged in sex with minors on numerous occasions.

According to Dixon, Fat Joe forced him into “humiliating situations, including sex acts performed under duress and surveillance, accompanied by threats of abandonment in foreign countries.” Dixon believes he was coerced into “more than 4,000 sexual acts to maintain his standing within the Enterprise.”

“Defendant was in love with Minor Doe 3,” Dixon claims. “He even contemplated leaving his wife. The Defendant paid all Minor Doe 3’s bills and even took her overseas to his tour stops. He brought her to Florida and would put her up in a condo he rented a few blocks from his house with his wife,” the lawsuit asserts. “In a recorded conversation, Minor Doe 3 and her 15-year-old cousin describe in detail to Plaintiff how ‘inappropriate’ it was for Defendant, who was in his late 30s at the time, to be fawning over children.”

Notably, Dixon is represented by Tyrone Blackburn, who is also the lead counsel in the federal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. He is seeking up to $20 million in damages.

Fat Joe’s attorney, Joe Tacopina—who has defended many high-profile clients, including Donald Trump and A$AP Rocky—responded to the lawsuit with a statement to Variety. “The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation—a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort [Fat Joe] through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations.”

“Law enforcement is aware of the extortionate demand at the heart of this scheme,” Tacopina’s statement continues. “The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are complete fabrications—lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure. Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated. We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable.”

The new filing also names Pete “Pistol Pete” Torres and Richard “Rich Player” Jospitre, listed as key associates in Fat Joe’s “criminal enterprise,” with claims of violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Further, the suit names Jay-Z’s Roc Nation with allegations that the company, which represents Fat Joe, knowingly participated in “concealing, transferring, and manipulating” Dixon’s creative rights and royalty interests.

Defendants allegedly “engaged in deliberate tax fraud schemes” in an effort to conceal their extensive wage theft, artificially inflate Dixon’s tax liabilities, and more. The filing also cites a whistleblower accountant who is said to have come forward last year, as well as recorded phone calls that “helped paint the picture” of the full scope of allegations.

graphic.com.gh

Black Star Festival, a celebration of Ghana’s vibrant cultural legacy and its deepening connection to the African diaspora, has been launched in Accra.

The initiative, aimed at expanding and deepening the exploration of Ghana’s culture, is being organised in partnership with the National Commission on Culture (NCC).

It is spearheaded by GD Visionary Group Ltd, which is committed to creating an annual platform to strengthen ties across continents, ensuring that cultural celebration, business opportunities, and youth engagement remain central to the continent’s growth.

Speaking at the launch held on 17 June 2025 at the Accra Tourist Information Centre, the Head of Marketing and Public Relations for the event, Cyril-Alex Kudzo Gockel, highlighted how landmark initiatives like The Year of Return and Beyond the Return have reignited global engagement, fostering strong cultural and economic bonds between Ghana and the wider African community.

“These efforts laid the foundation for what we are building today, a future where connection goes beyond a moment in time and transforms into a lasting movement,” he said.

He announced that the maiden events are scheduled for September 2025 in the United States and October 2025 in Ghana.

The Black Star Festival is expected to bring Ghana to the world and the world to Ghana, engaging academics, university students, entrepreneurs, businesses, and creatives from across the diaspora.

According to Cyril, Nigeria is also a collaborating partner, helping to amplify the message that Africa’s future shines brightest when we stand together, embracing shared identity and opportunity.

“Expect culturally relevant and dynamic music, fashion, visual art, theatre, and business activations that not only celebrate Ghana’s heritage but also position our nation as a global leader in cultural innovation and investment,” he said.

The Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Wakefield Ackuoku, noted that the Black Star Festival aligns with the goals of the government’s Blackstar Experience initiative.

“The Black Star Experience didn’t come from a vacuum. It is building on what has already been started, since government is a continuum. You know of the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, and now we are building the Blackstar Experience into the future,” he stated.

He also mentioned how important the concept of the event is to the National Commission on Culture. 

“When GD Vision approached the National Commission on Culture for us to do such a programme, we could only agree that this is a laudable one.

Now, what is happening is, we have sold Ghana in various forms, but this particular event is unique because it offers an opportunity called a touch of gold,” he noted.

The Washington edition, slated for 26 to 30 September 2025, will feature creative artists such as Serge Attukwei Clottey, Samuel Lovi, Betty Acquah, Kwame Akoto Bamfo and Ibrahim Mahama.

myjoyonline.com

Ghanaian rap lord Sarkodie, is out with a new hard-hitting hip pop track titled “Violence“, a free mp3 download for the fans and music lovers.

TGMA rapper of the year Kweku Smoke, adds his gritty voice to the track.

Enjoy Violence by Sarkodie featuring Kweku Smoke and kindly share this with friends.

Listen to this free and amazing track, download below and add it up to your tracklist.

Watch the video below: