*Richard Colbert, professionally known as rapper iLoveMemphis, is facing legal charges in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. According to a police affidavit, the “Hit the Quan” performer, and several others, are accused of raping an intoxicated woman at a party on May 30.
“Never would ever do such a thing,” Colbert told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “I love women to death. My mom has eight kids, so I’ve grown up with five sisters, including my mom. So, you know, yeah, that’s the last thing that I would ever, ever, ever get myself into.”
Colbert’s case is pending consideration by a grand jury. If convicted of aggravated rape, he faces 15 to 60 years in prison. His lawyer is working to clear his name, and Colbert believes he will be vindicated of the “viciously false allegations.”
Kiyonna Anthony, of the entertainment website Global Grind, weighed in on how the allegations will affect Colbert’s career. “Some artists don’t come out successful,” Anthony said. “Like a rapper Mystikal, who was big in the ’90s, was charged with aggravated rape and he served four years and after that no one really heard from him.”
Since Colbert’s star is still slowing rising, his up-and-coming status may work in his favor when it comes to public opinion: “If he was already on a mainstream level, this would knock him back a few notches.”
The rapper’s catchy track “Hit the Quan” became a Top 10 hit on both the Billboard rap and R&B/Hip-Hop songs charts, and it peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100 chart. The music video has earned millions of views, and has birthed a plethora of viral videos featuring the song’s playful dance.
As SFGate.com reports, the idea for “Quan” came as Colbert was dancing to rapper Rich Homie Quan’s song “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).” He rushed to the studio, dropped a few bucks on a session, and finished the track in one day.
“I paid $35 and I didn’t look 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 have posted videos featuring Colbert’s moves.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
