Beyoncé’s decade-long absence from the Met Gala red carpet will end with her commanding the entire 2026 event as co-chair.
The superstar joins Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour to lead the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring celebration. This marks Beyoncé’s first Met Gala appearance since 2016.
She walked away from fashion’s biggest night at the height of her “Lemonade” era, leaving fans wondering when Queen B would return. Her last appearance featured a stunning Givenchy Haute Couture look for the “Manus x Machina” theme.
The 2026 gala will celebrate “Costume Art,” an exhibition exploring the relationship between clothing and the human body. Curator Andrew Bolton designed the show around different body types – from the naked body to the pregnant body and aging body.
The exhibition opens May 10, 2026 and runs through January 10, 2027.
Rihanna blazed the trail in 2018, serving as co-chair for the “Heavenly Bodies” theme. Her papal-inspired look, featuring an ornate bishop’s headdress, became one of the most iconic Met Gala moments ever.
Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz will co-chair the 2026 Host Committee.
Additional members include Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Misty Copeland, LISA, Teyana Taylor and A’ja Wilson.
The “Costume Art” exhibition will debut in The Met’s new Condé M. Nast Galleries. The nearly 12,000-square-foot space, adjacent to the Great Hall, represents a significant expansion for the Costume Institute.
The formal dress code for the 2026 event will be announced later.
Sheriff Patrick Withrow revealed the true scale of violence that terrorized a child’s birthday party in Stockton during the November 29 massacre.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff revealed masked gunmen unleashed at least 50 rounds from five different firearms during the attack that killed four people and wounded 11 others. The sheriff’s disclosure came during a press conference where he warned the community that arrests could still be months away.
“This is going to take months to process all this, figure out who did this,” Withrow said.
Shell casings littered the banquet hall floor where a 2-year-old’s birthday cake was about to be cut when the gunfire erupted. The victims included three children – Maya Lupian, 8; Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8; and Amari Peterson, 14 – plus 21-year-old Susano Archuleta.
“At least 50 rounds” were fired during the attack, Withrow confirmed. “We’ve been able to determine that there were at least five different firearms that were fired at this birthday party, a birthday party that killed three innocent children and a young adult.”
The shooters wore all black with face coverings, making identification nearly impossible.
“The only information we’re getting so far from folks who were at the scene was that the people involved in this were dressed all in black and had face coverings, so all you could see was this,” Withrow said, gesturing around his eyes.
But the sheriff hinted that investigators have leads.
“That doesn’t mean we don’t know who they are or don’t believe we know who they are,” he said. “We just need to follow the evidence to prove who was there and who did this heinous act.”
Firearms were recovered from the banquet hall’s roof, though officials haven’t determined if they’re connected to the attack. Investigators are also trying to figure out where the shots came from and whether any party guests returned fire.
The attack has rocked Stockton’s Hip-Hop community. Rapper Fly Boy Doughy, who was at the party with MBNel, described the chaos from jail where he’s being held on parole violations.
“I just started to run after all the kids I saw fall and I started to carry them,” he said.
The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATF, U.S. Department of Justice and Stockton Police. Officials are processing more than 50 tips from the public.
Patrick Peterson, whose 14-year-old son Amari was killed, made an emotional plea for information.
“I hope that you do the right thing because at the end of the day, if you don’t do the right thing, it’s just going to keep happening,” he said.
Withrow confirmed that known gang members attended the birthday party but wouldn’t elaborate on potential motives. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi has called for federal assistance to combat gang violence following the shooting.
“It’s babies we’re talking about, children,” she said. “We’re talking about a cake being cut as bullets are ringing out.”
Common dropped a heartfelt tribute song that may bring viewers to tears, as the Chicago rapper honors Stuart Scott’s revolutionary impact on sports broadcasting with “Vision.”
The Common collaboration with producer 9th Wonder, featuring PJ and Bilal, serves as the emotional centerpiece for Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott, which premieres Wednesday (December 10) at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Common captures Scott’s fearless approach to bringing Hip-Hop culture into mainstream sports media.
“Behold, a rebel with a cause without a pause/One after another, yo, I battle for ours/And push bars on TV screens/Quoting rap gods, Hip-Hop kings and queens,” Common raps on the track.
His lyrics directly reference Scott’s groundbreaking decision to incorporate rap lyrics and Hip-Hop slang into his SportsCenter broadcasts.
The late anchor revolutionized sports broadcasting by refusing to conform to traditional presentation styles.
Scott popularized catchphrases such as “Boo-Yah!” and “cooler than the other side of the pillow,” which became part of American sports culture. He regularly quoted rap lyrics during highlights and wasn’t afraid to bring street vernacular to primetime television.
He understood the culture’s connection to sports and made ESPN feel more authentic to younger, diverse audiences. His approach opened doors for other broadcasters to express their personalities and cultural identities on air.
The documentary features clips of Scott’s most memorable moments, including his courageous 2014 ESPY Awards speech about his battle with cancer.
“When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer,” Scott said during that emotional address. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live.”
9th Wonder’s production provides the perfect backdrop for Common’s reflective verses about Scott’s legacy. The track demonstrates how Hip-Hop artists recognize Scott’s role in legitimizing their culture within mainstream sports media.
The documentary airs almost ten years after Scott’s death, making Common’s tribute particularly poignant for fans who remember the anchor’s unique broadcasting style.
Cardi B‘s dominance of Billboard’s new female rap ranking proves women now control hip-hop’s biggest conversations and chart positions.
Billboard dropped their top 10 hottest female rap artists of 2025 list, crowning Cardi B as the undisputed queen while highlighting nine other women who reshaped the genre this year. The ranking celebrates artists who built massive influence through talent, skill and cultural impact.
Cardi B secured the top spot with unmatched reach and industry influence, keeping her name trending throughout 2025. Doechii claimed second place with standout creativity that caught critics’ attention. GloRilla earned third through high-energy tracks and national appeal that expanded her fanbase.
YK Niece followed in fourth with fast-rising fame that surprised industry watchers. Bunna B took fifth after a breakout year that established her as a force. Megan Thee Stallion placed sixth with major records and a strong presence despite legal battles.
Latto reached seventh through steady chart success and consistent releases. PLUTO claimed eighth with growing success and a sharp creative edge. Monaleo earned ninth with bold lyrics and a powerful voice. Ice Spice secured tenth with rising style and strong hits.
Billboard says the ranking reflects a major shift in hip-hop culture. They noted that women continue to push new styles and sounds that change the rap landscape. The publication highlighted voices that transformed charts and cultural conversations.
Rap fans celebrated the ranking across social platforms, with many praising the wide range of styles represented. Supporters said each artist brought new ideas and energy to 2025’s music scene. The moment marks another milestone for female artists gaining recognition in the genre.
Billboard plans to add more features on rising women in hip-hop as talent continues to grow nationwide. The group says the future of rap will include more diverse voices and perspectives.
The 2025 list proves women remain a major force as the culture evolves through their creative work.
Marlon Wayans vs. 50 Cent is the beef nobody had on their 2025 bingo card, yet here we are — closing the year with a feud between a comedian-actor and a rap mogul playing out in front of the entire world. And honestly, this is exactly why we can’t have nice things.
The spark came from Marlon’s recent interview, where he shared his thoughts on Sean “Diddy” Combs. As usual, a short clip hit social media stripped of context, and by the time it filtered through the internet grapevine, it had metastasized into pure nonsense. In that clip, Marlon mentioned 50 Cent and used the word “karma” while speaking about Diddy’s current situation — not as a jab, but as part of a broader point about piling on someone when they’re already down.
But context doesn’t matter on the timeline. That single word was enough to set 50 off, and fans immediately pushed the narrative that Marlon was siding with Diddy. Today, Marlon jumped back in to make a definitive statement: go watch the full interview. He clarified that he wasn’t defending Diddy and that the internet twisted his words — which, let’s be honest, it often does.
Then, in true Marlon fashion, he couldn’t help trolling 50 a little further on Instagram. And of course 50 responded, because 50 responds to everybody. The two traded jokes and jabs throughout the day, with 50 posting memes and Marlon firing back with lighthearted humor.
At this point, though, these two might want to call a timeout. The world is watching, and the whole thing is starting to look a little goofy — even by 50’s trolling standards.
Cardi B’s album title Am I the Drama? draws direct inspiration from drag queen Scarlet Envy’s viral RuPaul’s Drag Race moment, setting the stage for her own entrance into the Werk Room as Season 18’s premiere guest judge.
That self-reflective moment became a viral meme on social media.
Now Cardi B steps behind the judges’ panel for RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18’s January 2 premiere on MTV. Her guest appearance marks a full-circle moment connecting her drag-influenced album era with the reality competition that inspired it.
MTV unveiled the complete Season 18 guest judge lineup, featuring Cardi B alongside Teyana Taylor, Zara Larsson, Benny Blanco and Dove Cameron. Other notable judges include supermodel Iman, celebrity stylist Law Roach and Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman.
Cardi B’s relationship with drag culture runs deeper than her album title. She frequently collaborates with drag performers and has expressed admiration for the art form’s creativity and performance elements.
Her “Am I the Drama” era embraced theatrical elements that mirror drag’s emphasis on transformation and storytelling.
The timing proves perfect for Cardi B’s Drag Race debut. Her album achieved commercial success while sparking conversations about authenticity and public perception – themes central to drag performance.
The record explored her personal struggles with media scrutiny and relationship drama.
Scarlet Envy herself celebrated the album title connection when Cardi B announced the project in June 2025.
The drag queen posted supportive messages acknowledging the reference to her viral moment. Their mutual appreciation highlights drag culture’s growing influence on mainstream Hip-Hop.
Season 18 features 14 competing queens vying for the crown. The premiere episode airs January 2 at 8/7c on MTV, with Cardi B helping determine which queens advance in the competition.
Bossman Dlow is being sued in federal court in Los Angeles for copyright infringement after Louisiana music executive Ivory “Mobo Joe” Paynes accused him of stealing from the 1990s Dog House Posse song “Street of Westbank” to create his hit “The Biggest.”
Paynes filed the complaint against Dlow, producer Gentle Beatz, Alamo Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing and Too Slippery Entertainment, alleging they released, distributed and profited from a work that used unlicensed samples from his catalog.
According to the lawsuit, “The Biggest” appeared on Dlow’s album Too Slippery on January 1, 2023, and was pushed across all major streaming platforms.
Paynes says none of the defendants secured permission to use the underlying material from the early 1990s recording, which he controls through his label Mobo Joe Records.
The filing states that the 1992 Dog House Posse recording agreement assigned full ownership of the group’s compositions and masters to Paynes, including “Street of Westbank.”
He claims the opening piano, cello and bass lines in his track appear at the start of “The Biggest” and repeat throughout the song, creating an unauthorized derivative.
Paynes also argues that the defendants benefited from exposure, sales, and streaming revenue tied to the release, and that Sony Music and Alamo supervised and distributed the infringing work.
The lawsuit seeks damages, profits, attorney fees, and an injunction stopping the continued distribution of the track. It claims the infringement is ongoing because “The Biggest” remains active on streaming services.
Cardi B blew the doors off Miami this weekend, turning a simple girls’ night out into a full-blown leather-clad, cleavage-loaded takeover that had everyone in the city doing double takes.
The rapper stepped out in a plunging black leather top zipped so dangerously low it looked like it was holding on through sheer willpower. Paired with lace-up leather pants and a neon-green bob sharp enough to slice through the humidity, Cardi walked in looking like she owned the night before it even started.
Inside the club? Chaos — the fun kind.
Cardi B threw her hands up and instantly got hit with a shower of dollar bills, like Miami collectively decided she deserved a tip just for showing up.
She laughed, danced, and let the cash stick wherever gravity felt like sending it, including right across the neckline she knew everyone was staring at anyway.
Then she took things outside and gave Miami the kind of marina photo op that shuts down timelines.
Cardi posed, turned, and displayed the full power of those leather pants, cinched, laced, and hugging every curve as if they were custom-made for her. The back shots alone could’ve sparked a heat advisory.
Fans online called the look “insane,” “peak Cardi,” and “Miami nightlife’s final boss.”
Cardi didn’t just have a girls’ night out — she turned Miami into a runway, a money storm, and a cleavage event all at once.
Jennifer Lopez just turned a simple holiday chore into a full-body flex, dropping a new video that shows her stuffing a Christmas stocking while casually reminding everyone why she’s still one of the most sculpted women in entertainment, at any age.
The clip appears innocent at first: J Lo walking around her home, a cozy cropped sweatshirt on top and leggings on the bottom.
But once she steps in front of the fireplace, the whole tone switches. Her abs are carved, her waist is tight, and her backside looks like it was trained by a Navy SEAL and a Pilates instructor at the same time.
Every move, reaching, stretching, stuffing the stocking, turns into another reminder that her gym routine is not theoretical. It’s visible.
This isn’t filtered, staged promo either. It’s a candid-style moment inside her house, the kind of thing most people do in pajamas. Jennifer does it, looking camera-ready and athletic to the point of disbelief.
The leggings don’t just fit; they cling. Her glutes don’t just show; they sit high and locked, as if they’ve never taken a day off. And there’s a reason she’s pushing this hard right now.
J Lo is deep into preparation for her upcoming Las Vegas residency, set to kick off in 2025. She’s been training nonstop, rehearsing choreography, building her stamina, and maintaining the kind of shape required to perform multiple shows a week under Vegas lights.
Sources close to the production have said the residency will be one of her most physically demanding yet, with heavy dance numbers, costume changes, and a setlist leaning into her most energetic hits.
So this new video isn’t just holiday content. It’s a preview. Jennifer’s body looks stage-ready and she seems totally dialed in.
Waka Flocka Flame unloaded on Diddy when he got stopped at LAX being questioned about watching Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning, calling the Hip-Hop mogul a “monster” over claims he played a role in Tupac’s murder.
The Atlanta rapper was caught by TikTok creator Joy of Everything and wasted no time being honest about how he felt after watching the four-part docuseries produced by 50 Cent.
“With all that bread, that boy a monster. That could be my own brother, and I would never f### with him a day in my life,” Waka said, standing in the airport, clearly disgusted.
We talk with Waka Flocka Flame about 50 Cent’s Diddy documentary The Reckoning, and his reaction says everything. Flocka makes it clear that if the allegations are true, Diddy is a “monster,” and even if he were his own brother, he’d disown him. As a 2Pac fan, Flocka says that if Diddy had anything to do with what people have long suspected, then it’s game over.
If you haven’t watched Sean Combs: The Reckoning yet, it’s been fanning flames online since it dropped. The series digs into decades of dark accusations against Diddy, including claims he helped fuel the deadly East Coast vs. West Coast beef and might have had a hand in the murders of both Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.
One episode zeroes in on Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former Southside Crip boss who got locked up in September 2023 for his alleged role in Tupac’s 1996 killing.
In his 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend, Keffe D claimed Diddy offered $1 million to have both Tupac and Suge Knight killed. He also said he passed the gun to his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, the guy who allegedly pulled the trigger. Anderson was killed two years later in 1998.
Diddy’s legal team has been on defense, slamming the Netflix doc as a “shameful hit piece” and accusing the streamer of using “stolen footage that was never authorized for release.”
Waka, who’s always shown love for Tupac, made it crystal clear where he stands.
“I’m a 2Pac fan,” he said. “That n#### did anything to Pac, it’s f### him for life. Everybody that love that n####, it’s f### him.”
Meanwhile, Diddy is currently locked up at Fort Dix in New Jersey, serving a 50-month sentence for transporting two male escorts across state lines.
Keefe D has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and remains in custody. His trial is set take place in 2026.
Jay-Z’sMarcyPen Capital Partners unveiled a sweeping cross-continental play at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, rolling out plans for a $500 million fund aimed squarely at the soaring global demand for Korean culture.
The new vehicle, MarcyPen Asia, is designed to zero in on South Korean lifestyle and consumer brands that are ready to scale far beyond their home base, marking a striking fusion of Hip-Hop hustle and K-Pop culture momentum.
A majority-owned MarcyPen team based in Seoul will steer the effort as the fund targets growth-stage companies in entertainment, beauty, food and lifestyle. These are the sectors riding the wave of Korean influence that has swept across music, film and fashion in the past decade and shows no signs of slowing.
MarcyPen and Hanwha Asset Management will pinpoint opportunities on the ground in South Korea and create new pathways for Korean companies seeking to break into international markets.
MarcyPen Asia also reflects the broader philosophy of the firm co-founded by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Jay Brown, Larry Marcus, Robbie Robinson and D’Rita Robinson. From its headquarters in Beverly Hills, the investment group has consistently sought out companies positioned at the crossroads of culture, creativity and commerce.
This latest move extends that strategy into one of the most influential cultural engines in the world.
If the partnership succeeds, it could become a bridge between East and West that doesn’t just push brands into new markets but reshapes how cultural capital is invested.
By aligning Korean innovation with MarcyPen’s entertainment pedigree, the fund signals a new era of cooperation fueled by audiences who now consume art, beauty and lifestyle without borders.
The 20-year-old Bronx man who allegedly gunned down New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd outside a Manhattan nightclub now faces attempted murder charges that could send him to prison for decades.
Frederick Green surrendered to Buffalo police on Monday after the Regional Fugitive Task Force tracked him to his girlfriend’s apartment. He had been hiding there for nearly a month since the November 16 shooting that left Boyd fighting for his life.
The shooting happened around 4:30 A.M. outside Sei Less restaurant on West 38th Street. Boyd and teammates Irvin Charles and Jamien Sherwood had just left the upscale establishment when they got into a verbal dispute with another group.
“There’s a group outside who begin to, their words, begin to ‘chirp them’ about the clothing that they’re wearing, and are asking them: ‘Do you think you’re better than us?'” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
Boyd didn’t like the “vibe” inside the restaurant and only stayed about 10 minutes. But when the Jets players walked back outside, the same group confronted them again with verbal insults.
Doctors successfully removed the bullet from Boyd’s lung. He later posted on Instagram, thanking fans for their support: “I’m coming along, starting to breathe on my own now. Sincerely appreciate everyone!”
The suspect refused to answer questions about why he shot Boyd or whether he knew the victim played for the Jets.
Green has been charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
Boyd remains on injured reserve for the Jets. The shooting occurred just as the team was fighting for a playoff spot in what many considered a make-or-break season.
Gene Deal’s just dropped explosive information that Diddy threatened to “drug” Danity Kane on the heels of Aubrey O’Day’s emotional scene in 50 Cent’s documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning.
The former bodyguard’s disturbing revelations connect directly to O’Day’s emotional breakdown in the documentary, where she learned for the first time about witness testimony alleging she was assaulted by Diddy and another man at Bad Boy studios in 2005.
“This s### is so crazy…because I heard him say it. But to know that he was doing it, it’s a whole nother f###### thing,” Gene Deal told The Art of Dialogue. “He said it. ‘I’ma drug them out and pimp them out to my n#####, they keep f###### with me.’ And he was talking about Danity Kane as a group. He didn’t single out any one of them. But to hear that he did it, that s### is crazy to me.”
Gene Deal’s interview becomes even more chilling when viewed alongside Aubrey O’Day describing how she appeared “sprawled out on a leather couch, looking very inebriated” during the alleged assault.
“Does this mean I was raped? Is that what this means?” O’Day asked through tears in the documentary. “I don’t even know if I was raped, and I don’t want to know.”
Deal’s allegations suggest O’Day’s condition that night wasn’t from voluntary drinking. The former bodyguard revealed he was disturbed after watching O’Day in the documentary.
To then hear O’Day’s text message confirming she was drugged and that Diddy was having sex with her was upsetting for him, as he realized the verbal threats he had heard were actually carried out.
“It makes you feel sick. I guess I wasn’t looking for it. But to see her pain, and to see that she had to experience some s### like that. The n#### was doing a lot of that s### right under your nose on the days that you wasn’t working or the days that you left early or you wasn’t around,” Deal said.
Aubrey O’Day has long maintained she was fired from Danity Kane for refusing Diddy’s sexual advances.
“I absolutely felt that I was fired for not participating sexually,” she stated in the Netflix documentary. The singer also revealed sexually explicit emails Diddy sent her while she was in the group, saying, “This is your boss at your work sending you that email. What happens in real life to anyone else? Your boss gets fired. Six months later, I was fired.”
The former bodyguard also revealed Diddy’s pattern of inappropriate behavior extended beyond Danity Kane.
Deal mentioned that Diddy “tries everybody,” recounting how Diddy “tried me before” by having two women in bed and inviting him to join. Deal declined the offer.
The revelations add another disturbing layer to the mounting allegations against Diddy, who was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison in October after being convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
He was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
The Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning, executive-produced by 50 Cent, premiered on December 2 and features never-before-seen footage of Diddy discussing his legal troubles just days before his September 2024 arrest.
Diddy is moving toward a massive courtroom fight as he and his family prepare a $1 billion defamation lawsuit against Netflix in a clash that goes back to the most watched documentary on the platform right now. The rumored development arrives as attorneys for the Combs family push back at explosive claims featured in the 4-part series executive produced by 50 Cent.
The Netflix special has dominated viewing charts with more than 25 million streams and ignited a storm of allegations about the Hip-Hop mogul’s personal life. The project includes accusations that Diddy abused women, assaulted male employees, forced the Notorious B.I.G.’s family to cover funeral costs and even slapped fired out of his mother Janice Combs. Those claims traveled fast across social media as the series gained traction.
Representatives for Biggie’s estate contacted Media Take Out directly and disputed the suggestions about funeral expenses. According to the estate, the idea that Combs made the family pay for the legendary rapper’s funeral is completely false. The allegation is being described as inaccurate and unsubstantiated.
Janice Combs’ team followed with their own response after the documentary included claims that Diddy mistreated his mother. Her representatives rejected the narrative entirely and called it “deeply hurtful” and “fabricated,” adding fuel to the Combs family’s argument that Netflix allowed harmful material to flourish.
Inside Diddy’s camp, people familiar with the situation insist the project was built on unreliable interviews and misleading statements that mischaracterize his life at a critical moment.
One insider told MTO, “This documentary was made to assassinate his character. It isn’t journalism — it’s entertainment.” Their position is that the series goes beyond sensationalism and crosses into defamation as it presents what they view as fiction dressed up as fact. Interesting.
Behind the scenes, the family has hired one of the country’s most powerful firms with plans to seek at least $1 billion in damages, the source says. Sources say the number could rise if Netflix refuses to retract certain claims. If the case moves forward, it would eclipse the high profile $750 million defamation settlement reached in the fallout over the 2020 election. That comparison alone underscores how far the Combs family is willing to go.
Presently, Netflix stands behind the program while 50 Cent continues to comment online, creating a volatile mix of views, memes and more making this a complete spectacle. What began as a docuseries could become a legal showdown that could reshape celebrity defamation battles for years. Le Sigh.
Jeremy O. Harris walked free Monday after spending three weeks in Japanese custody following his arrest at Okinawa’s Naha Airport for allegedly attempting to bring MDMA into the country.
Harris, 36, was not formally charged and has since been released, his representative said. The writer of “Slave Play” plans to remain in Japan to continue research for a future project.
Before his arrest, Harris had been preparing to attend the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia to promote his indie road movie “Erupcja,” which features Charli XCX. His scheduled appearance was canceled after his detainment.
Japan is known for its rigid drug laws, with even minor drug offenses often leading to prolonged detention and legal consequences.
In a high-profile example, Paul McCartney was arrested in 1980 for marijuana possession and subsequently banned from the country for years.
Harris rose to prominence with the provocative Broadway hit “Slave Play” and has since expanded his reach into television, portraying fashion designer Grégory Elliot Duprée on Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.”
He’s also appeared in HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl” reboot and FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows.”
The Grouch is at his Los Angeles home taking a couple of well deserved days off—kind of. With the second leg of the annual How the Grouch Stole Christmas Tour starting Thursday (December 11) at the Observatory in Santa Ana, California, there’s still a lot to do. As he tells AllHipHop, he’s been “wearing a lot of hats:” driver, merch supervisor and performer, to name a few.
But at this point, Grouch is well seasoned, having launched his music career in the 1990s. He’s gone on dozens of tours, performed at countless venues and traveled around the world with his Living Legends brethren—only this time, there’s one missing.
In August 2025, Derrick McElroy, better known as Aesop the Black Wolf or simply Aesop, died suddenly, leaving the rest of the Living Legends—Luckyiam, The Grouch, Eligh, Bicasso, Sunspot Jonz and Scarub—in shambles. Just 50 years old at the time of his death, Aesop wasn’t supposed to go and the tight knit Hip-Hop collective was by no means ready to say goodbye.
Despite the massive, soul-crushing loss, the Living Legends have soldiered on, honoring Aesop every chance they get, whether it’s with tribute t-shirts, photos, video montages during concerts, social media or his verses. But each show is a challenge in its own way.
“Now that Aesop’s not here, I got to take out his verse or add it, and it’s just been a lot for me,” Grouch explains. “But it’s what I signed up for.”
That’s the easy part. Living Legends performed with Atmosphere, Hieroglyphics, Dilated Peoples, Immortal Technique and CunninLynguists at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater in September, mere weeks after Aesop’s death. The air was heavy with grief though there was a sense he was there in spirit. That continues to happen on occasion but, of course, a Living Legends show will never be the same.
“We got a tribute part to him in the show,” he says. “But just being on stage and him not being there that’s an obvious thing. We’re missing a person that’s been with us for 30 years. Even staying at some of the hotels we’ve stayed at or being in some of the cities—all these different triggers that can spark a memory of him are just hitting right and left. Sometimes I just block it out, and sometimes it’s just deep and I’m like, ‘Whoa, he’s really not here.’ I just miss his spirit. I miss his laugh.”
Still, without Aesop—who had a huge, colorful personality and truly cared about the people in his life—the vibe has shifted.
“We include his verses on some of the songs, but it’s obviously not the same,” Grouch adds. “Part of me feels like, ‘Oh, he’s on stage with us.’ There’s moments where something will happen and I’ll be like, ‘Oh yeah, like he’s here.’ I love that but, it’s a big void.”
Thankfully, Grouch has his fellow Legends to lean on. For this year’s iteration of How the Grouch Stole Christmas Tour, he’s enlisted Souls of Mischief and CunninLynguists to round out the bill. They, too, have proven to be good support systems. Some of their friendships, in fact, stretch back decades.
“I always try to get a creative lineup,” he says. “A lot of years I tried to do a younger artist and an older artist. I’ve tried a couple things and this time we were just like, ‘Let’s keep it a golden era, underground hip-hop lineup. The Souls of Mischief thing is really huge because I went to high school and even junior high with a couple of the guys.”
In many ways, The Grouch exists because of them. He explains, “They were in a grade higher than me and they were cooler than me, so I didn’t really know them. But I was inspired by them in real life, watching them on Yo! MTV Raps, seeing them sign to Jive Records and have their initial success. I was super inspired. It gave me a feeling that if these guys from my hometown and my actual school can do it, then maybe I can do it, too.”
He adds, “The power of them creating, what I believe is, one of the best Hip-Hop songs of all time,’93 to Infinity,’ those guys are Hip-Hop royalty. To have them on the same stage as us in 2025 is a beautiful blessing.”
Living Legends’ latest album, The Return, was released in 2023. The How the Grouch Stole Christmas Tour wraps up December 20 in Salt Lake City. Find a list of tour dates above.
Ja Rule threatened legal action against 50 Cent after the rapper posted a controversial video to his 36 million Instagram followers involving a salacious story about Ja and Diddy in a hotel room.
The post featured a clip from The Art of Dialogue, in which Diddy’s former bodyguard, Gene Deal, recounted an incident in North Carolina involving Ja Rule, Diddy, and two women.
According to Deal, Ja’s cousin tried to enter a hotel suite where Ja and Diddy were allegedly behind closed doors. Deal said he blocked the cousin, who then tried to force his way in, prompting Deal to throw him into a piano.
“Puff and Ja Rule run out the room, Puff got his towel, Ja grabbing his towel, but they butt naked. Ja was like ‘yo what’s going on, yo Gene that’s my cousin.’ Puff’s like ‘Yo Gene, what happened. I said, ‘he tried to get in the room. I told him he couldn’t get in the room.’ Puff looked at Ja. Ja said, “You ain’t want to go in that room because there’s a lot of freaky s### going on.”
In the original clip, Gene Deal suggested Puff and Ja Rule were playing with butt plugs the Bad Bad founder had purchased in New York earlier in the day.
Ja Rule blasted 50 Cent for reposting the clip, calling it defamatory and threatening to take him to court. “I thought jug head was smarter than that, posting a blatant lie to your millions of minions SLANDER and DEFAMATION… DUMMY!!! Lawsuit on the way…”
😂🤣😭 I thought jug head was smarter than that posting a blatant lie to your millions of minions SLANDER and DEFAMATION… DUMMY!!! Lawsuit on the way…
The feud reignited as the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning stirred public scrutiny around Diddy’s alleged history of abuse. Ja Rule accused 50 Cent of exploiting the situation for profit and clout, not justice.
On X, formerly Twitter, Ja called 50 “a cancer to the culture” and demanded he donate proceeds from his Diddy documentary to domestic violence organizations, which 50 Cent is already doing.
Ja Rule also resurfaced past allegations against 50, including a 2013 domestic violence case involving Daphne Joy and later accusations she made and dropped, of rape and assault.
“50 is no different,” Ja wrote, suggesting that 50 Cent could easily be the subject of his own exposé. He hinted at creating a documentary of his own, stating there’s “a lot to unpack” about 50 “allegedly.”
Ja also shared old photos of 50 Cent and Diddy together, accusing 50 of hypocrisy and calling him a “dry snitch” for constantly exposing others.
“He always telling on somebody,” Ja said.
As of now, 50 Cent has not responded directly to Ja Rule’s threats or the “cancer to the culture” remark. The clip remains online.
Virginia’s own B. Lotto (@b.lotto) has been on a steady rise, blending ambition, authenticity, and opulence with his signature mix of street wisdom and self-made drive. His latest release, Underground Lottery IV marks a new chapter that captures the evolution of his sound and spirit. From his entrepreneurial ventures to his creative collaborations, Lotto continues to build an empire rooted in lifestyle, loyalty, and lyricism. In this exclusive conversation, Lotto sits down with Milan for AllHipHop to talk about his growth, his team, and the world he is creating for his listeners, one track, one vision, and one lesson at a time.
The VA artist embodies hustle at every level. His knack for making money has no bounds. His business acumen stretches across nightlife, yachts, exotic car rentals, music, and more. His latest project, Underground Lottery IV, has provided real inspiration for the young money makers all up and down the East Coast, especially his home region of Virginia. People respect him for what he’s doing for the community and for the message he stands for. Following his impressive 11-track LP, he has been on a massive run, putting on for his area and following in the footsteps of dynamic creatives like Pusha T, Pharrell, Timbaland, and more.
Check out his latest interview exclusively with AllHipHop below!
This new project, Underground Lottery IV, feels like your most complete body of work so far. What inspired the title and concept?
B. Lotto: Honestly, I thought Glitch really put me on the map. I wrote that in Miami, where the whole vibe came from. My energy changed because I was in a different environment. Before this, I dropped Underground Lottery 1, 2, and 3 as EPs. With Underground Lottery 4, I wanted to be intentional. I tried to match Glitch because that one still gets love. This project was about finding myself, my voice, my sound, the way I communicate, and the emotion I put into every track. Underground Lottery 4 is a box of colors and feelings.
A lot of your music balances lyricism with lifestyle. How do you keep that authenticity while still delivering ambition and motivation?
B. Lotto: I keep it real because music is life to me. It is things we already know, but we do not always know how to say them. Artists give people the words for what they feel. I do not rush. I only drop quality. Sometimes I do not even call myself a rapper. I am a life-builder. I took two years on this project. I will not drop anything unless I have lived it. I will take a year off to breathe and grow so my lyrics stay organic. It takes time, but it is always worth it.
If you had to pick one track that defines where you are in life right now, which Would it be and why?
B. Lotto: It depends on my mood, but right now I am headed to the gym before my show at Central. It is raining, so I would say “City to City.” A lot of people love that one. I did not expect it to go up the way it did. Personally, I love Improvised featuring SP. That is my favorite. I might be biased, but that one does something for me.
Speaking of SP, he is featured on a few standout records. What is the chemistry like between you two creatively?
B. Lotto: SP is an artist from Portugal. He hit me during COVID and told me he loved Glitch. Over the last few years, he has been rising in Central and South America. We have a Rick Ross and Drake have a type of dynamic. Two artists from different worlds with the same hunger. He writes, he raps, he is versatile. We linked two years ago and agreed to build something. Now our songs are on the radio. We have never met in person, but that is my brother. We talk all the time. We are planning to drop a joint tape and shoot a show in Brazil.
You are also an entrepreneur. How has that business mindset shaped your music and creative process?
B. Lotto: At first, it was stressful trying to juggle the business, the art, and the image. But I have learned about mental health and personal development. As men, we are judged by how much pressure we can carry. That changed my perspective. I still get overwhelmed, but I know something will always go wrong in life. I paid a price to get here. It is never enough because I always feel like I can do better. That comes from sports and business. I wake up, pray, and keep going.
You also mentioned running a car business with your brothers. How does that circle keep you grounded?
B. Lotto: It is four or five of my brothers from Virginia State. We run the car business together and we all make music. It is the same energy across everything we do. Creating something from nothing. That is what keeps me going.
You have hosted luxury events like your Art in Motion release party. What does that movement represent?
B. Lotto: I wanted to bring Miami energy to Virginia. When I lived in Miami, it changed me. I came back home with a new outlook. Art in Motion was about quality, not money. Quality music, quality people, quality experience. We had governors, business leaders, women and artists. We fed everyone for free. We had three DJs and an open bar. That is how you build a fan base. You let people feel something real.
Virginia has a strong music legacy. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
B. Lotto: I grew up around Malice’s son. I watched The Clipse write music. I learned how to structure songs early. That shaped me. My legacy is luxury and authenticity. I have lived in the hood and the suburbs. I want people to feel that balance. I want my music to be timeless.
When people listen to your music, what do you want them to feel?
B. Lotto: I want them to believe in themselves. I want them to feel like they can do whatever they set their mind to. I want them to travel, grow and manifest the life they want. Everything I have started as a manifestation. I want listeners to feel my energy and know they can do the same.
What is next for you as we head into 2026?
B. Lotto: More visuals. I treat them like short films. I write my treatments and have worked with the same cameraman for ten years. Each video inspires new music. A lot of this album came from my time running my car business in Miami. It is Virginia soul mixed with Miami ambition. I want to keep delivering quality art and storytelling.
How would you describe the Virginia music scene right now?
B. Lotto: The talent is incredible, but it can feel like a popularity contest. You have to know the right people. Some artists get ahead because of connections, not work. I do not play that game. I build from scratch. I want respect for my artistry. Many great artists may never be discovered, but I stay focused on creating something tangible.
Any last words for the readers?
B. Lotto: It is your boy B. Lotto. I am here with my homegirl Milan from 24HipHop. We just finished a great interview. You can find me on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify. Just type my name and I will pop right up.
Lillie Coley accused the New Jersey Attorney General of distorting court records in a high-stakes federal filing as she continues to fight the legal aftermath of her godson’s failed paternity case against Jay-Z, a battle she says has driven her into bankruptcy.
The legal saga dates back more than a decade, when Rymir Satterthwaite and his mother tried to bring a paternity claim against Jay-Z in New Jersey, with Coley serving as her godson’s legal representative.
Despite that, Coley continued to pursue the matter through civil filings and public pleas, becoming the public face of the effort after courts refused to compel a DNA test from the Hip-Hop mogul.
In new court documents, Coley requested reconsideration of a prior ruling, alleging that the state’s top legal office misrepresented material facts in the long-running dispute involving her Satterthwaite.
She argued the misstatements have already affected the outcome of her federal case.
She wrote that the Attorney General’s recent assertion that New Jersey family court “did have jurisdiction” over the original paternity case is “demonstrably and provably false,” pointing to multiple court orders from 2012 that dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.
Coley is now begging a judge to revisit the issue, saying the state’s filing “is a material misrepresentation made in a federal appellate court, directly conflicting with the actual state-court record.”
She claims that this new evidence justifies reopening the matter because it directly affects her request for an injunction and that the defense’s reliance on the family court’s jurisdiction is based on a false premise.
In her latest filing, Coley said liens she was slapped with by the state and Jay-Z’s lawyers forced her into bankruptcy. She described the liens as fraudulent and stated that she is currently pursuing an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court to enjoin enforcement.
“Bankruptcy jurisdiction supersedes state-court enforcement attempts,” she said.
Coley noted that Jay-Z has not filed an opposition and no ruling has yet been issued.
Jimmy Kimmel fired back at Donald Trump with a sharp-edged challenge and a few jabs of his own after the president mocked him during the Kennedy Center Honors, just as the late-night host confirmed his ABC contract has been extended through May 2027.
During Monday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the 58-year-old comedian addressed Trump’s weekend remarks, which included calling Kimmel a “horrible” emcee and claiming he could “beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent” at any time. Kimmel didn’t hesitate to respond.
“Donald Trump was the host of the show; he’s been boasting, saying we’ve never had a President host the Kennedy Center Honors before,” Kimmel said. “Why do you think that is? We’ve also never had Neil Patrick Harris order a military strike on a fishing boat before.”
The late-night host then took it a step further, suggesting Trump might be too focused on him.
“Let’s have a talent competition. I will come out and tell a few jokes, I’ll draw something and play my clarinet. He can play golf, spank a p### star, and ruin the country,” Kimmel said.
Trump has yet to respond to Kimmel’s remarks. The back-and-forth is the latest in a string of public barbs between the two.
Kimmel closed Monday’s episode with news that his late-night show has been renewed for another year, extending the run through 2027.
“I have one more bit of entertainment news to share. I have decided to extend my contract here at ABC for another year,” he said. “Our show has been renewed until May of 2027, or until the world ends – whichever comes first. I was giving a lot of thought and decided I would like to spend less time with my family, and so to our audience here and at home – I’m honored and humbled to be a part of your routine. Whether it’s in bed at night, or during your morning toilet time.”
