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PEOPLE & ARTSThursday 24 December 2015
‘Hit the Quan’ rapper navigates success, personal troubles
NICOLE EVATT len DeGeneres Show.”
Associated Press iLoveMemphis’ career is ris-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — You ing, but he’s facing legal
may not know the name charges in his hometown
iLoveMemphis, but you’ve of Memphis, Tennessee.
likely heard the rapper’s According to a police af-
catchy track “Hit the fidavit, the performer,
Quan” or watched one of whose real name is Richard
the viral videos featuring Colbert, and several oth-
the song’s playful dance. ers, are accused of hav-
The song marked a break- ing non-consensual sexual
through for the 22-year-old, contact with an intoxicat-
who achieved a Top 20 ed woman at a party on
pop hit with the tune and May 30.
also performed on “The El- “Never would ever do
Richard Colbert, professionally known as rapper iLoveMemphis from Memphis, Tenn., poses
for a photo during an interview to discuss his debut single, the viral dance hit “Hit The Quan” at
Associated Press, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
such a thing,” Colbert ous charges relatively un- Hop songs charts, and it
told The Associated Press scathed, Kiyonna Anthony
in a recent interview. “I of theentertainment web- peaked at No. 15 on the
love women to death. My site Global Grind said it’s
mom has eight kids, so I’ve difficult to predict how the Hot 100 chart. The music
grown up with five sisters, allegations will affect Col-
including my mom. So, you bert’s career. She pointed video has earned millions
know, yeah, that’s the last to rapper Tupac Shakur
thing that I would ever, and more recently CeeLo of views, and the single has
ever, ever get myself into.” Green as examples of stars
In a statement to the AP, who weathered legal trou- sold 587,969 tracks so far.
Colbert added that his bles.
lawyer is working to clear “Some artists don’t come The idea for “Quan” came
his name, and that he is out successful,” Anthony
positive that he will be vin- said. “Like a rapper Mys- as Colbert was dancing
dicated of the “viciously tikal, who was big in the
false allegations.” ‘90s, was charged with in his backyard to rapper
Colbert’s case is now on aggravated rape and he
hold, pending consider- served four years and after Rich Homie Quan’s song
ation by a grand jury. If that no one really heard
convicted of aggravated from him.” “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).” He
rape, he would face 15 to But she said Colbert’s up-
60 years in prison. Vince and-coming status may rushed to the studio and
Higgins, communications work in his favor when
director for the Shelby it comes to public opin- finished the track in one
County district attorney ion: “If he was already on
general, said in an email, a mainstream level, this session — and on a shoe-
“We can make no com- would knock him back a
ment on any of the facts of few notches.” string budget.
the case.” “Hit the Quan” became a
While some musicians Top 10 hit on both the Bill- “I paid $35 and I didn’t look
have emerged from seri- board rap and R&B/Hip-
back,” he said. “I dropped
it on Sunday. By Tuesday I
knew it was a hit.”
Celebrities including
Dwayne Johnson, Chris
Brown, Kendrick Lamar
and Terry Crews — along
with toddlers, teens and
even police officers —
have hopped on the
dance craze and posted
videos featuring Colbert’s
moves.
The performer said he’s
wanted to be a rapper
since the seventh grade.q
‘Real Housewives’ star released from prison
DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — in Connecticut. She will submitting phony loan ap-
One of New Jersey’s “Real travel home to Montville, plications to get about $5
Housewives” has been New Jersey, and will be on million in mortgages and
freed after serving nearly home confinement until construction loans.
a year in prison for bank- Feb. 5. Giudice was sent to Joe Giudice is expected
ruptcy fraud. A lawyer for prison in January. She and to start his own prison sen-
Teresa Giudice (JOO’- her husband, Joe Giudice, tence in March. A fed-
dys) says she was freed at pleaded guilty last year to eral judge staggered the
about 5 a.m. Wednesday bankruptcy fraud. They ad- couple’s sentences in
from the Danbury Federal mitted hiding assets from deference to their four
Correctional Institution bankruptcy creditors and daughters.q
