Ronald Isley and Late Brother Rudolph’s Estate End Trademark Battle
The legal dispute between Ronald Isley and the estate of his late brother Rudolph Isley over ownership of the The Isley Brothers trademark has come to an end. Attorneys for both sides filed a stipulation of dismissal in federal court in Chicago on Wednesday, August 12, bringing the case to a close. The filing states that the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, with each side responsible for its own legal costs and attorneys’ fees. The dismissal means Rudolph’s estate cannot bring the same claims against Ronald again. No settlement details, ownership division or payment between the parties were disclosed in the court filing.
The dispute began after Ronald Isley applied in November 2021 to register exclusive rights to the The Isley Brothers trademark in his name. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the registration on August 16, 2022, covering visual and audiovisual recordings featuring music and animation. Rudolph filed suit in March 2023, arguing that the trademark should have been jointly owned by the brothers and seeking what he described as his rightful 50% share of proceeds. The complaint alleged that Ronald’s registration claims were made without Rudolph’s knowledge or approval and disputed Ronald’s assertion of exclusive ownership. The court never issued a ruling determining who legally owned the trademark, and Ronald’s registration remains in his name.
Rudolph, Ronald and their brother O’Kelly Isley Jr. formed The Isley Brothers in Cincinnati around 1954 and operated the group as a partnership, according to the lawsuit. O’Kelly died in 1986, leaving his interests to his two surviving brothers, while Rudolph stopped performing and recording with the group in 1989 but continued to participate in managing and benefiting from its assets. The complaint cited publishing, royalty and licensing arrangements as evidence of their continued shared interests, including a 2018 publishing deal and revenue from recordings and sampled music. With the dismissal, the long-running trademark dispute between the two brothers’ sides has officially ended without a court ruling on the underlying ownership claims.
Rihanna is making a bold fashion statement on the cover of Elle Magazine’s September 2026 issue. The singer and entrepreneur poses wearing nothing but a branded Dior headband, leaning against a plywood box while framing her face with her hands. The dramatic feathered headpiece comes from Jonathan Anderson’s Cruise 2027 collection, created in collaboration with legendary milliner Philip Treacy. A Dior High Jewelry ring provides an additional touch of glamour. Photographed by Inez and Vinoodh and styled by Jahleel Weaver, Rihanna wears Dior exclusively throughout the accompanying fashion shoot. The Fenty Beauty founder embraces an understated beauty look, appearing nearly makeup-free with softly bleached eyebrows that blend into her complexion. Other looks include a pale blue satin gown with faux floral details, a black bustier dress featuring pearl buttons and a chunky marled-knit cape wrapped around her body.
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris briefly woke from an induced coma and asked to leave the hospital before doctors were forced to sedate him again. According to an update shared by Shelly White, wife of Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White, Paris opened his eyes, looked around and asked for his wife, musician Kathy Merrick. After seeing her, he turned to a close friend named Eddie and jokingly said, “Get me outta here,” bringing an emotional moment of hope to those at his bedside. The encouraging development was short-lived, however, as Paris’ blood pressure began rising and he experienced difficulty breathing. Doctors subsequently placed him back under sedation to help stabilize his condition while allowing him to continue receiving critical medical care. Paris remains sedated as his medical team monitors his condition and determines the safest course of treatment. Shelly also said there have been small positive signs, noting that Paris appears to show slight responses when music is played. Paris was hospitalized following a medical emergency before Earth, Wind & Fire’s scheduled August 6 concert with Lionel Richie at San Francisco’s Chase Center. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that emergency crews responded to a cardiac incident and transported one person to a local hospital in critical condition. The concert was postponed shortly before it was scheduled to begin. Supporters say Paris’ recovery journey is “far from over” and continue asking fans to keep the drummer and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
Erykah Badu and acclaimed hip-hop producer The Alchemist have joined forces for their new single “Witch Doctor,” released alongside the announcement of their upcoming collaborative album (yet-to-be-named). The track marks Badu’s first studio album project in 16 years. Running nearly six-and-a-half minutes, “Witch Doctor” blends a soulful, percussion-driven beat with Badu’s signature silky delivery and thought-provoking lyrics. On the cut, the neo-soul icon also explores the meaning of witchcraft while playfully referencing fictional witches including Hermione, Elphaba, Glinda, Ursula and Sabrina, as well as the famously witchy Stevie Nicks.
Multi-platinum rapper BIA has released a new remix of “ROLLIN,” featuring DJ Snake, Stunna Sandy and Bay Swag. The track originally appeared on the deluxe edition of BIA’s acclaimed debut album, BIANCA, which arrived in October 2025 before receiving an expanded deluxe release in June. The remix adds fresh energy to the standout record, with NYC rappers Stunna Sandy and Bay Swagg joining DJ Snake. Swag, known as a co-architect of Cash Cobain's hit single “Fisherr,” brings additional momentum to the collaboration.
Grammy-award winning R&B duo Blaq Tuxedo have released the official video for “CRASH OUT,” featuring R&B icon Trey Songz. Directed by Moriah King and filmed entirely on an iPhone 17 Pro, the visual captures the trio enjoying Miami nightlife, performing in a packed club and highlighting viral crash-out moments. Released earlier this summer, the remix adds Trey Songz’s signature vocals and brings fresh energy to the track, showcasing the trio’s undeniable chemistry.
Larry June and Jhené Aiko have seemingly put months of dating rumors to rest by confirming their relationship in the music video for “California Dream,” featured on June’s album Who Coppin’. Released this past Tuesday, the visual showcases the California natives sharing several intimate and romantic moments, including kisses and affectionate scenes. The collaboration gives fans a closer look at the pair’s chemistry while marking a notable moment in their personal and musical relationship.
Ayra Starr cements her place among Afropop’s most inventive talents with StarrGirl, her bold third studio album released August 14. Following 2024’s The Year I Turned 21, the Nigerian superstar delivers a confident and narratively rich project that blends Afro-pop with House, Congolese bouyon and other influences. Across the album, Starr explores identity, love, fame, pressure and self-possession through her distinctive voice, conversational delivery, persuasive falsetto and vivid storytelling. Tracks such as “Amazing” featuring Kwn and “Pressure” featuring Leon Thomas showcase her versatility, while the project’s polished sound and fearless experimentation make StarrGirl an energetic and compelling portrait of contemporary African pop.
For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we take a trip back to 1989 with Quincy Jones’ “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite),” one of the smoothest slow jams ever assembled. Featured on Jones’ legendary Back on the Block album, the song brought together four distinctive R&B voices (Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge and Barry White) for a performance that feels more like a carefully directed scene than a traditional collaboration. The record went on to top the Billboard Black Singles chart for one week in 1990, while also reaching No. 31 on the Hot 100, No. 26 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 67 in the U.K. What makes “The Secret Garden” so special is how perfectly each singer fits into Quincy Jones’ musical vision. Barry White opens with that unmistakable deep, commanding baritone, immediately establishing the song’s mature sensuality. Al B. Sure! follows with his silky vocals and youthful New Jack Swing swagger, while James Ingram brings warmth, romance and effortless emotion. El DeBarge then adds his signature tenderness and vulnerability before Barry returns to close things out with those legendary deep vocals. Nobody oversings, nobody competes for the spotlight, and everybody understands the assignment. Jones essentially directed the record like a filmmaker, using each vocalist to represent a different shade of romance and seduction. “The Secret Garden” was written by Jones, Rod Temperton, Siedah Garrett and El DeBarge and produced by Jones as part of Back on the Block, an album that famously brought together jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop and New Jack Swing. The song remains a quintessential Quiet Storm classic, the kind of record that felt perfectly suited for late-night radio, dim lights and intimate moments. Grown folks definitely remember when this song came on after 10 p.m. It wasn't club music; it was music for setting a mood. More than three decades later, “The Secret Garden” still sounds like a masterclass in vocal chemistry, production and sensual storytelling and a reminder that nobody quite put a record together like Quincy Jones.
Faith Evans has suffered a legal setback in a dispute involving the company created to manage the legacy and intellectual property of her late husband, The Notorious B.I.G.. On August 7, a Delaware Court of Chancery judge ruled in favor of Wayne Barrow, acting as trustee of the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust, in his case against Evans and Notorious B.I.G., LLC. The court granted Barrow summary judgment, recognizing the trust's membership and rights to distributions from the company. Evans and Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, formed the Delaware LLC in 2007 to oversee Christopher Wallace's intellectual property. Under a 2023 operating agreement, Evans and Voletta each held half of the company's membership units, while portions of their distribution interests were assigned to Biggie's children, Ty'anna Wallace and Christopher Jordan “CJ” Wallace. Before Voletta's death in February 2025, she amended her trust to remove CJ and another successor trustee, leaving Barrow as the sole successor trustee. After Voletta's death, Evans became the LLC's sole manager and stopped making distributions to the trust. The court rejected Evans' argument that the amended trust no longer qualified as a member of the LLC, ruling that the trust remained a permitted transferee under the operating agreement. Barrow's attorney, Jay W. Freiberg, said the decision vindicated his client, while Evans' representatives had not publicly responded at the time of the report. The ruling does not resolve all disputes surrounding Voletta's estate, as CJ has a separate Pennsylvania case challenging the changes that made Barrow sole trustee and executor.
Lionel Richie appeared to take a pointed jab at Chris Brown while performing alongside Earth, Wind & Fire during a recent concert. In a viral video circulating online, Richie addressed Brown and Usher’s current joint tour while comparing their collaboration to R&B tours from earlier generations. Referencing his own history with The Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire, Richie suggested that the pairing of two major R&B stars is not entirely unprecedented. “Only difference is, between then and now, we didn’t go to jail!” he told the audience before appearing to apologize with a smile and continuing his performance. Richie’s comment appeared to reference Brown’s history of legal troubles, including his 2009 felony assault case involving Rihanna. Brown pleaded guilty in that case and received probation and community service. More recently, the singer pleaded guilty to assaulting music producer Abraham Diaw at a London nightclub, adding another legal matter to his history. While Richie did not directly identify Brown when making the remark, the timing of his comments and his discussion of the current Brown-Usher tour led many viewers to interpret the statement as a reference to the singer’s past. The ongoing tour has generated significant attention, with Brown and Usher bringing together two generations of R&B stardom and delivering performances that have sparked widespread discussion online. Their concerts have also drawn headlines for provocative dance routines and interactions with fans. Despite the controversy surrounding Richie’s remarks, the collaboration highlights the enduring influence of both Brown and Usher in contemporary R&B. Richie, who rose to fame as a member of The Commodores before launching a successful solo career, appeared to use his own touring history as the backdrop for a joke that ultimately shifted the spotlight toward Brown’s complicated legal past.