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Hateful Policy Haters, Lawsuits & More<\/h2>\n

By Jasmine Williams<\/h3>\n

Spotify Walks Back<\/h2>\n

Spotify\u2019s new \u2018Hateful Content and Conduct\u2019 Policy has a whole lot of haters. Following outcry from a number of industry heavyweights and rumors of internal conflict, Spotify has backtracked<\/a> on the rule<\/a> which stated that Spotify could choose to remove or refrain from promoting artist whose music promotes hate or engages in behavior that is \u201cespecially harmful or hateful.\u201d So far, the policy\u2019s implementation only saw the removal of R. Kelly and XXXTentacion from promotional playlists, although their content was still searchable.<\/p>\n

Public critics of the policy, including Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment, accused the streaming giant of censorship, vagueness, and discrimination. R. Kelly has been accused of various forms of sexual abuse while XXXTentacion was charged with battering a pregnant woman, but neither have been convicted. In response to Spotify\u2019s action, XXXTentacion’s manager tweeted<\/a> a list of other artist who have been accused of deplorable conduct.<\/p>\n

The controversy over the rule illustrates the music industry\u2019s increasingly complicated relationship with the #MeToo movement. While XXXTentacion\u2019s streaming numbers immediately decreased following Spotify\u2019s policy, the opposite effect was had on R. Kelly who saw a rise in plays on the streaming service. Spotify has announced that they will restore XXXTentacion’s presence on promotional content but they have no plans to reinstate Kelly.<\/p>\n

R. Kelly Gets Sued (Again)<\/h2>\n

In very related news, in New York on Monday, R.Kelly was sued<\/a> by a woman for sexual battery, false imprisonment, and failure to disclose an STD. Faith A. Rodgers began a relationship after meeting the R&B hitmaker in March of 2017, when she was 19 and he was 51. In the following year, Rodgers alleges<\/a> that Kelly abused her \u201cmentally, sexually, and verbally,\u201d and held her against her well in various places without access to food, water, or a bathroom. Her lawyer, Faith C. Hills, calls the lawsuit a standard example of R. Kelly’s alleged predatory behavior, stating, \u201cFor over 20 years, women across America have been victimized by R. Kelly, and have filed eerily similar claims.”<\/p>\n

That New New<\/h2>\n

Pusha T dropped Daytona<\/i>, his third studio album. Right before the release, he spoke with NPR\u2019s Sidney Madden<\/a> about Kanye West, rap beefs, and #MeToo. Pusha fans have waited three years for a LP from the Clipse member but it\u2019s not just the tracks that have people talking. The album artwork has sparked a controversy. Kanye provided the creative direction for Daytona<\/em> and made the last minute decision to spend $85,000 to license a photo of the late Whitney Houston\u2019s bathroom for the cover (seen below). Houston\u2019s family is now demanding <\/a>a public apology.<\/p>\n

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Asap Rocky also released\u00a0his third studio LP,\u00a0Testing<\/i>. Preceding the release, the rapper\/style icon premiered an art performance<\/a> in which he went through a series of physical challenges in front of an audience at Sotheby\u2019s.<\/p>\n