Yo Gotti’s eighth annual Birthday Bash concert at the FedExForum on Friday (July 15) almost became a tragic scene for those in attendance. According to Fox 13 Memphis, a mass shooting incident was thwarted by police after a man threatened to shoot himself and numerous people near the FedExForum after his girlfriend broke up with him.
Memphis PD apprehended the man on Saturday (July 16) and charged him with an act of terrorism. Police were first called to the scene after receiving word of an “armed mental consumer” and met the suspect, Elijah Hyman, and his girlfriend.
According to MPD, Hyman had several weapons inside his apartment and was bleeding from his right hand after being cut by a glass window.
Yo Gotti took to social media on Saturday to thank fans and authorities for ensuring Birthday Bash was a safe event, and the incident involving Hyman took place hours after the show had concluded.
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“Thank you to the fans, artists and everyone involved behind the scenes for making Birthday Bash a smooth, secure and successful event,” he wrote. “We were informed of a potential threat regarding an individual seeking to harm attendees leaving Birthday Bash that occurred 3 hours after our show ended.
“I would also like to thank the Memphis Police Department for their swift and proactive action in ensuring that all attendees returned home safely.”
Birthday Bash returned to Memphis after a three-year hiatus and turned into a full-fledged showcase for Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group label with several surprise guests, including Boosie Badazz, Lil Durk, Lil Uzi Vert, SleazyWorld Go and Big30.
“Where we come from only thing we knew was the drug dealers, the hustlers,” Gotti told the sold-out crowd on Friday. “We showed n-ggas what was possible. We made our way out of nowhere. We changed the narrative.”
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New Music Friday - New Albums From CMG, Steve Lacy, DJ Premier, Rowdy Rebel + More
Yo Gotti’s CMG imprint has been on an impressive run recently, from flagship artist Moneybagg Yo’s chart dominance to the emergence of new signee GloRilla, Mozzy, Blac Youngsta, 42 Dugg, and EST Gee. On Friday, the label released its latest compilation effort titled Gangsta Art. The 27-track effort finds everyone on CMG not only pitching in with verses and proving Gotti’s A&R ear has been on point.
Revisit Gangsta Art below featuring the singles “Big League” and “Steppers.”
