It’s been over six years since XXXTentacion’s tragic and untimely death. One of the four men convicted for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting, Dedrick Williams, was handed a life sentence in 2023. He, along with two other men, was found guilty of first-degree murder as well as armed robbery. Now, he’s filing court documents for an appeal. According to Law & Crime Network, his petition points to the late artist’s alleged feud with Drake, arguing that it proves he could allegedly be an alternate suspect.
Williams’ attorney Mauricio Padilla recently spoke with the outlet, describing how he’s trying to create reasonable doubt. “A defendant has every right to defend himself, to show reasonable doubt wherever it may be, and to fully investigate and articulate to a jury an alternate shooter defense or an alternate defense where someone else committed this crime,” he explained. Unfounded conspiracy theories suggesting Drake was allegedly involved in XXXTentacion’s death are nothing new. With that being said, Padilla noted how he’s not necessarily accusing Drake of carrying out the shooting. Instead, he’s trying to prove that this lead wasn’t looked into and that the investigation was sloppy.
Dedrick Williams’ Attorney Discusses Appeal Brief
It appears as though Drake has his own legal issues to worry about these days, however. He recently decided to take legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG). The Toronto rapper accuses the label and Spotify of artificially boosting Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.” He also alleges that UMG could have prevented the release of the song, on which Kendrick accuses him of being a sexual predator. Unsurprisingly, this has since earned big reactions from countless social media users and peers.
Some, like Funkmaster Flex, think Drake is completely in the right. Others, like Joe Budden, believe that taking legal action only makes him look worse. Earlier this week, DJ Akademiks even argued that the timing of Drake’s filing could have worked in Kendrick’s favor, boosting sales of his new album GNX.
About The Author
Caroline Fisher is a News Writer at HotNewHipHop from Chicago, Illinois. She started at HNHH this year, and has since spent her time writing about all that is newsworthy in the world of hip-hop. With a drive for hunting down the hottest stories, she enjoys documenting new developments in culture and entertainment. She also has an appreciation for hip-hop and seeks to cover the most important trends and shifts.
She has a Bachelor of Arts which she received at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having graduated in 2022, she majored in English with a concentration in Media, Rhetoric and Cultural Studies.
Specializing all things music, pop culture and entertainment, some of her favorite musical artists include Snoop Dogg, OutKast, and Nicki Minaj. When she’s not writing about music she’s also a fan of attending shows, watching the latest movies, staying up-to-date with current events, photography, and poetry.
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