Grammy-winning rapper Jay Rock, famed for his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, was arrested this week. The 39-year-old artist was taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department officers in the Watts area on Thursday at around 6 PM.

Born Johnny Reed McKinzie III, the LA native was apprehended on a felony weapons charge. He was initially found trespassing and drinking in public near the Nickerson Gardens housing complex. In an attempt to evade capture, he dashed away from his vehicle but was soon apprehended by the officers. A search of his vehicle uncovered a firearm, leading to his booking into a Los Angeles jail on charges of felony possession. He was held overnight after being booked just after 8 PM.

According to reports, McKinzie has ties to the housing complex, having grown up there alongside Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony Tiffith.

This isn’t Jay Rock’s first encounter with the law. He was previously arrested in 2009 in connection with a shooting in his neighborhood but was later exonerated. Additionally, he survived a serious motorcycle accident in 2016 that left him with a shattered pelvis and leg. Reflecting on that incident, he stated to Billboard, “I was just doing what real dudes do. I was on my bike. Accidents happen,” and credited his recovery to divine protection, saying, “It took me a couple weeks to get back out here ’cause you know, you can’t bring a strong one down.”

The impact of the accident is also featured in the title track of his 2018 album, “Redemption,” which includes collaborations with artists like SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Future, J. Cole, and Jeremih. In promoting the album, he shared how music transformed his life, explaining, “I was speaking on my experience, my trials and tribulations in the hood when I started rapping. The hood was always bringing me back and I was doing bulls**t. I just fell in love with the music, man. The music just took control. It really saved my life.”

Jay Rock is also a founding member of the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside fellow West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and ScHoolboy Q, all of whom signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Although the group has not released new music together in recent years following Lamar’s departure from TDE, the members continue to collaborate on solo projects. They reunited for a special concert titled ‘The Pop-Out: Ken and Friends’ in June 2024, celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month.

Amid rumors surrounding a potential TDE breakup following Lamar’s exit from the label in 2022, Jay Rock addressed these speculations in a 2023 interview with DJ Whoo Kid, clarifying, “We all good, though. The family, TDE family, despite what everybody’s saying — the breakup — everybody’s all good.” He emphasized his enduring bond with Kendrick Lamar, noting, “That’s my little brother. Ain’t nothing changed.”

Jay Rock has collaborated frequently with Kendrick Lamar on tracks like “Money Trees,” “Hood Gonna Love It,” and “King’s Dead,” the latter of which featured on the Black Panther soundtrack and won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. He also joined forces with Anderson. Paak for “Lockdown” and made headlines for participating in protests against the death of George Floyd.

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan surprised fans and the media when he introduced his girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, at a pre-birthday event in Mumbai. The actor revealed that he has known Gauri for 25 years, and they have been in a relationship for the past 18 months.

Gauri Spratt’s background

Gauri Spratt hails from Bengaluru and has spent most of her life there. She is the daughter of Rita Spratt, who owned a salon in the city. Gauri pursued her education at Blue Mountain School and later studied fashion, completing a course in FDA Styling & Photography from the University of the Arts, London, in 2004.

Currently, she manages a BBlunt salon in Mumbai. Reports also suggest that she is a mother to a six-year-old child.

Aamir Khan on his relationship with Gauri

At the press meet, Aamir Khan shared that Gauri Spratt is now working with his production house. Speaking about how he managed to keep their relationship private, the actor joked, “Dekha kuch bhi pata nahi chalne diya maine tum logo ko (See, I did not let you get a wind of this).”

He further revealed that since Gauri was based in Bengaluru, he often traveled there to meet her, which helped them maintain a low profile. “For one, she lived in Bangalore till recently. So, I would fly down to meet her, and the media scrutiny is less there. So we stayed under the radar,” Aamir added.

Gauri Spratt meets Aamir’s family and friends

Aamir Khan recently introduced Gauri Spratt to his children, his family, and close friends, including Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. On March 12, both actors visited Aamir’s house to meet her.

Aamir Khan’s birthday celebration

As Aamir Khan turns 60, he shared that he has planned a family dinner to celebrate the occasion, and Gauri Spratt will be a part of the gathering.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently expressed his intrigue regarding the public’s interest in a sequel to his beloved 2007 film Jab We Met. This renewed curiosity comes on the heels of actors Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan sharing a stage at the recent 25th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Jaipur, which many fans eagerly celebrated as a nostalgic reunion of their iconic characters, Aditya and Geet.

During an interaction with PTI, Ali remarked, “It’s fascinating that people are linking Shahid and Kareena’s meeting at IIFA to Jab We Met. Shahid mentioned that he believes I have moved on from the film, but I think everyone has. It’s been a significant amount of time since the film’s release.”

Despite the enduring love for the romantic drama, which tells the story of a heartbroken businessman and a free-spirited woman, Ali doesn’t plan to make a sequel. “We should cherish what we have rather than risk tarnishing it with a sequel,” he stated. While he acknowledges the talent and charm of both actors, he clarified that he is not currently developing a project that involves them together.

Ali, known for a variety of feature films including Love Aaj Kal, Rockstar, Tamasha, Highway, and Amar Singh Chamkila, shared his thoughts while walking the red carpet at the I View World Film Festival on Wednesday. The event kicked off with a screening of My Melbourne, an anthology created in collaboration with directors like Onir, Rima Das, and Kabir Khan.

Additionally, Ali is set to release a new film titled Jules, which explores the unique friendship between a newlywed food blogger and a homeless woman in Melbourne. “This is a film featuring a very diverse cast with numerous voices, genders, nationalities, and languages. I’m excited about its premiere on March 14 during Holi, celebrated across India,” he enthused.

The festival, organized by Engendered—a trans-national arts and human rights organization—will take place at the exquisite Travancore Palace and will continue until March 16.