Drake just scored a legal win in his ongoing lawsuit against Universal Music Group, securing the right to review Kendrick Lamar’s confidential contract with the label—though the public won’t get a peek.
A federal judge ruled that while Lamar’s agreement with UMG contains “sensitive business information,” Drake and his legal team can examine the full, unredacted document as part of the case’s discovery.
The court agreed with UMG’s argument that disclosing the contract publicly could harm business relationships and expose private financial terms.
The ruling comes amid Drake’s lawsuit accusing UMG of promoting Kendrick’s chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us.” Drake claims the label gave preferential treatment to Lamar while using the song to damage his reputation and negotiating power.
UMG, led by CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, has denied any wrongdoing. In court documents, Grainge called the accusations “groundless,” “absurd,” and part of a “conspiracy theory.”
They also want internal UMG communications about both artists’ contracts and the release strategy behind “Not Like Us.”
The lawsuit intensified after Kendrick performed the track during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, which aired to over 133 million viewers. Drake alleges the performance reignited online threats and harassment toward him and his family.
UMG has resisted strongly, accusing Drake’s legal team of using the discovery process to investigate private executive emails and disrupt operations.
Young Buck is again entangled in legal drama as his bankruptcy case hits a roadblock over more than $71,000 in overdue child support owed to the mother of his child.
Court filings submitted August 21 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee show Shannon Robertson, the creditor and mother of one of Young Buck’s children, is formally contesting the trustee’s final report.
She claims the rapper, born David D. Brown, still owes her $71,721.30 in unpaid support despite having received $81,471 from the bankruptcy estate.
In February 2015, a Georgia judge ordered Brown to pay $1,406.30 monthly in child support. Robertson alleges those payments stopped and the debt ballooned over the years.
She initially filed a claim in 2020 for $81,471.70. That figure was amended in 2024 to $151,786 and again in 2025 to $153,193.
Robertson is now seeking the remaining balance through the bankruptcy court. Her attorney, Wanda S. Jackson of East Point, Georgia, filed the objection ahead of a September hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Randal S. Mashburn.
This development adds to a long list of financial troubles for the 44-year-old rapper, who rose to fame as a member of 50 Cent’s G-Unit. Brown first declared bankruptcy in 2010 amid IRS tax issues and filed again in 2020.
During that period, 50 Cent publicly accused him of using bankruptcy to escape contractual obligations.
Brown’s legal history also includes a 2013 arrest in Tennessee for failing to pay child support. If the court rules in Robertson’s favor, he will be required to pay the remaining amount owed for the child’s support.
The hearing will take place in Nashville on September 9.
Kobe Bryant and the 1996 NBA Draft take center court in a new Warner Bros. project that dives deep into the pivotal hours that reshaped basketball history.
The studio has secured rights to With the 8th Pick, a spec script written by Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen, which zeroes in on the behind-the-scenes decisions that led to Bryant landing with the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the New Jersey Nets.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is being produced by Tim and Trevor White of Star Thrower Entertainment, alongside Ryan Stowell and Gotham Chopra from Religion of Sports, a company co-founded by Tom Brady and Michael Strahan.
Described as a tense draft-day thriller in the spirit of Moneyball and Air, the film unpacks the two weeks leading up to the 1996 NBA Draft.
It focuses on the internal debates within the Nets’ front office, where general manager John Nash and head coach John Calipari reportedly clashed over whether to take the high school phenom with the eighth Pick.
Financial concerns and uncertainty about Bryant’s readiness led the team to pass.
Bryant, who had declared for the draft straight out of Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, was ultimately selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
He was then traded to the Lakers in a pre-arranged deal involving veteran center Vlade Divac. That decision would launch a 20-year career in Los Angeles, where Bryant became a five-time NBA champion and global icon.
The film avoids covering Bryant’s tragic 2020 death in a helicopter crash, instead focusing on the formative moment that set his career in motion. Producers are still in the early stages of development and have not yet announced a director or cast.
Bryant’s high school career was already legendary before he entered the league. He averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game his senior year and broke Wilt Chamberlain’s Southeastern Pennsylvania scoring record with 2,883 points.
Though heavily recruited by top colleges, he chose to go pro at 17, becoming just the sixth player to jump from high school to the NBA.
With the 8th Pick adds to the growing list of Bryant-focused projects, but this one narrows in on a specific turning point that helped define the modern NBA.
Dave Blunts pulled no punches in his new track “Hey Curtis,” where he aims straight at 50 Cent over their ugly online feud that kicked off after 50 clowned Kanye West.
The beef boiled over after 50 took jabs at Blunts for working with Ye and Blunts came swinging back with a brutal diss full of personal digs and wild claims.
The odd dispute started when 50 Cent went at Kanye online and Blunts—who’s been in Ye’s creative circle—didn’t take it lightly. 50 then hopped on Instagram to mock Blunts’ weight and dropped a wild warning saying, “If I catch him, I’m pushing him down the stairs.”
Blunts didn’t stay quiet. He clapped back hard, calling 50’s film trash and teasing a diss track. Now that the track is out, it’s vicious.
“Hey Curtis,” calls out 50 by name and drags Daphne Joy into the mix, referencing her alleged connections to Diddy and some serious accusations that have been floating around.
In the track, Blunts accuses 50 of having a weird obsession with Diddy and suggests it’s all rooted in jealousy or hate. He paints 50 as petty and bitter, calling him out for always trying to control narratives online instead of dealing with real life.
And Dave Blunts didn’t stop at the bars. He went all in on the visuals, too. The music video for “Hey Curtis” is a parody of 50’s classic “In Da Club” video.
The reactions have been mixed, but one thing’s clear—Blunts is dead serious about this and isn’t backing off. So far, 50 Cent hasn’t fired back in music or on socials. But knowing 50, that silence probably won’t last long.
Ye went from having writers like Big Sean and Pusha T to n##### like Dave Blunts.
Regina King honored her late son and reshaped her outlook on life with a personal tribute that blends grief and growth through a wine label named in his memory.
“Now, I understand that sadness and happiness can be happening at the same time,” King said. “I one thousand per cent live in the moment more. I don’t know if that’s something that just comes with time, or with pain, or with the pandemic – probably all of it. But I feel it.”
King, 54, has since launched MianU, an orange wine named in tribute to Ian. The name combines letters from both of their names—Regina and Ian. For her, it’s more than a business venture. It’s a way to keep her son present in her daily life.
“Every time I’m pouring a glass, I’m thinking of Ian,” she said. “I’m thinking of him 24/7 anyway, but always in this moment, I can see his face… His name is right there, in the middle of it all. He’ll never be forgotten. If you see me, you see Ian.”
The Jerry Maguire actress shared that the idea for MianU came during what she described as an “epiphany,” a moment when she realized she wanted Ian to remain part of her milestones.
“I’m surrounded by people talking about their children – engagements, weddings, new chapters,” King said. “I still love talking about Ian, I just don’t have the chance to create new memories in the way they do. But I’m not focused on that. This is my way of creating something new, together.”
Amityville, New York, may be best known in pop culture for its haunted house lore, but for hip-hop heads, Long Island has always been a fertile ground for music that shakes the world. From the powerful voice of Public Enemy to the lyrical brilliance of Rakim, the funky originality of De La Soul, the rugged energy of Keith Murray, and the street poetry of Prodigy from Mobb Deep, Long Island has carved an undeniable lane in hip-hop history. Even K-Solo, Grand Daddy I.U., and Biz Markie carried the LI banner with pride.
Now, a new generation is stepping up from Amityville to add their names to that legendary lineage. Ya Boi L.I.V.E. and Natti Kasablanka, together known as Tha New LI, are building a movement they call Mud Rap—a gritty fusion of Golden Era lyricism and modern-day hunger. Coming from different sides of town, they bring raw authenticity, storytelling, and undeniable chemistry.
In this exclusive AllHipHop interview with DJ Thoro, Tha New LI talk about their origins, influences, and their mission to put Amityville back on the hip-hop map. This isn’t just music. This is a movement.
Why “Tha New LI”?
DJ Thoro: So why are we going with that title, “Tha New LI”? What’s wrong with the old LI?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: Out with the old, in with the new. It’s not that there’s something wrong with the old LI. We just haven’t had an up-to-date success story in a while.
Natti Kasablanka: We got classics. We got Rakim, Public Enemy, EPMD, Biz Markie, Busta, Keith Murray, Prodigy… a lot of energy. All those guys had their impact. They’re part of the reason why we rap. But now, it’s time for something new. That’s what we’re bringing—the New LI.
DJ Thoro: Facts. And shout out to one of my favorites who often gets overlooked—Grand Daddy I.U. Smooth Assassin.
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: For sure.
Natti Kasablanka: Yeah, and it’s not just Hip-Hop. We got Ashanti, Billy Joel, JVC Force. Long Island has talent everywhere. We just bringing that new energy.
The Music
DJ Thoro: Alright, so let’s jump into the music. What are we promoting? What’s out right now?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: Tha New LI project drops July 16th.
Natti Kasablanka: We got the first single and video out right now—Way Too Real a second single, Talk to Him.
DJ Thoro: I saw that video. Nice visuals, dope cars, fresh look. Why is it important for y’all to maintain that Golden Era vibe in your visuals?
Natti Kasablanka: We come from the Golden Era—the ‘90s. That era shaped me. My name was originally Illat, then Naughty, now Kasablanka. Inspired by Nas going from Nasty Nas to Nas Escobar. We’re bringing that essence back, what I call Mud Rap.
Origins in Hip-Hop
DJ Thoro: What’s the first record you fell in love with?
Natti Kasablanka: Since Run-DMC’s “Walk This Way.” That’s when I fell in love.
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: First tape I had was Big Daddy Kane. That was my first favorite rapper.
DJ Thoro: Mine was The Fat Boys. My mom bought me the tape. Later I had “The Humpty Dance” on vinyl and even an MC Hammer record. People don’t give Hammer enough credit.
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: Facts. Hammer was a success story before success stories. He got crucified for doing what everyone praises now—endorsements, commercials, crossover records.
Building the Project
DJ Thoro: What was the thought process behind this project?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: It came together organically. We’re from the same town—Amityville—but different sides. We’d been talking about working together for years. Then one day we finally exchanged records, and the chemistry was undeniable.
Natti Kasablanka: We ended up with a bunch of songs and linked with a producer whose beats had that old-school vibe with new-school flows. We picked the strongest eight tracks, and that became the project.
Sound & Originality
DJ Thoro: I’m glad you mentioned sound. Too many artists today just copy whatever’s hot. How important is originality to y’all?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: That’s the problem with Hip-Hop now…lack of originality. People chase trends instead of creating their own lane.
Natti Kasablanka: You gotta live it. It should come natural. Back in the Golden Era, you couldn’t bite. Everyone had their own style. Now people get away with sounding like clones.
DJ Thoro: Exactly. I always say make the music you want to hear. Don’t try to please everybody. Stay true to your lane.
Influences
DJ Thoro: Who are some of your favorite artists, both now and overall?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: I listen to EST Gee. Recently I was bumping Slick Rick’s new album, The Great Adventures Continues. But mostly we’ve been focused on our own music.
Natti Kasablanka: Influences? Mobb Deep, Nas, Biggie, plus Jamaican artists like Bounty Killer, Super Cat. We’re all over the place with it.
DJ Thoro: Dope. That balance of smooth and hard styles.
Dream Collabs
DJ Thoro: Hypothetical question—if I produced a record for you and you could feature any artist, dead or alive, any genre—who would it be?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: Marvin Gaye. I could hear him on a hook for a ladies’ track.
Natti Kasablanka: Marvin Gaye too. Or Bootsy Collins for that funk vibe.
Goals in Hip-Hop
DJ Thoro: What’s the ultimate goal for Tha New LI in this industry?
Ya Boi L.I.V.E: Respect. Of course, we want success and stability. But more than anything, we want to be respected for our lyrical ability. We want to be in barbershop conversations, DJs fighting to break our records, people saying we’re NICE.
Mariah Carey is set to receive the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards’ Video Vanguard honor—and longtime supporters aren’t staying quiet as younger critics question her legacy.
The announcement, made Thursday (August 21), stirred up debate across social media, with some Gen Z users downplaying Carey’s visual impact. But her core base quickly fired back, defending her decades of music videos and pop culture influence.
“Anyone saying Mariah doesn’t have memorable music videos (re: VMA Vanguard Award win) is either just hating/bitter or is too young and doesn’t know pop culture from before their adolescence. Or both,” one user posted.
Anyone saying Mariah doesn't have memorable music videos (re: VMA Vanguard Award win) is either just hating/bitter or is too young and doesn't know pop culture from before their adolescence. Or both. pic.twitter.com/LrZjwYaoZB
A third chimed in, “The kids on this app are trying to say Mariah Carey, THE MARIAH CAREY, doesn’t have an iconic music videos… please do not speak on years that you were not old enough to experience when that s### was happening.”
The kids on this app are trying to say Mariah Carey, THE MARIAH CAREY, doesn’t have an iconic music videos… please do not speak on years that you were not old enough to experience when that s### was happening.
Carey will receive the honor during the live broadcast on Sunday (September 7) at UBS Arena in New York. This will be her first VMA win despite nine previous nominations.
Carey is expected to perform a medley of her most celebrated hits during the show.
Her catalog includes visuals for “Honey,” “We Belong Together,” “Touch My Body” and “Heartbreaker”—all of which helped define music video aesthetics in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Adding to the full-circle moment, Carey once presented the same award to LL COOL J in 1997.
LL, who’s hosting the 2025 VMAs, will now witness Carey receive the honor she helped bestow nearly three decades ago.
Carey is also nominated for Best R&B for her single “Type Dangerous,” from her upcoming album Here For It All, which is scheduled to drop on Thursday (September 26).
Iggy Azalea took to Instagram and dropped a handful of smoking hot bikini pics that had timelines in a chokehold.
It all hit while she was still bouncing back from a private health struggle no one saw coming.
In one pic, Iggy’s stretched out poolside in a barely-there neon green bikini, soaking up sun with just her abs, hips and curves in full focus. She also shared a black-and-white bathroom selfie rocking a black two-piece, standing in front of a luxe tub.
Fans instantly reacted. “Can you come back and save female rap?” one user asked. Another said, ‘Her body has always been the most TEA.’
The sexy uploads came right after she revealed she’s been dealing with a medical nightmare.
During an interview, Iggy admitted she’d been quietly fighting a severe leg infection that started as nerve damage.
It got bad enough that she needed IV antibiotics through a PICC line.
“I just ended up getting what’s called a chronically non-healing wound because I had a PICC line in my arm. We would take the PICC line out and then take hot bikini pictures for a day or two,” she said. “I turned lemons into lemonade with that. I really did,” Iggy Azalea revealed.
Still, she kept her OnlyFans content rolling the whole time, racking up just under $48 million.
Iggy said it gave her the freedom to invest in her businesses and keep her creative projects moving.
Omar Gooding is best known for his acting chops and comedic timing, but a lot of people did not know he’s also an MC.
Part of that is because his current rap journey didn’t really begin until life hit him with a two-piece combo in 2017. The passing of his father, Cuba Gooding Sr., and the birth of his son happened in the same year. The double milestone forced him to finally commit to Hip-Hop and release his first solo album that same year.
“I started checking off accomplishments in my head,” Gooding told AllHipHop. “What if your son is like, ‘Dad, you talk about rap. You never rap. Where’s your album?’ I put out my first solo album that same year… I felt a heaviness about my father, like [he said], ‘Okay, bro. This is you. Go ahead.’ Hip-Hop is my thing.”
The family connection has always weighed heavy on Gooding’s music and brother Cuba Gooding Jr. co-signs one particular song. “Legacy” became a turning point when his brother gave him the ultimate seal of approval. “My brother was like, ‘This is the best thing I ever heard in my life,’” he said.
The song is a nod to the family history of entertainment. Gooding Sr. was the lead singer of the classic R&B and soul group The Main Ingredient. The Main Ingredient had an incredible run in the 1970s, including the ubiquitous classic “Everybody Plays the Fool.” “Legacy” samples the original 1972 hit and mentions the Oscar-award winning Gooding, Jr.
Now, Gooding is shifting into the next phase with a new single called “For The Culture,” which he describes as his sharpest lyrical display yet. The track also gets an added boost from Los Angeles rapper Glasses Malone, who jumped on after hearing the record.
“When I wrote this I went, ‘Damn,’” Gooding admitted. “My circle of MCs responded, ‘Oh, so you rapping-rapping now.’” Glasses Malone jumped on after hearing the song.
The recorda comes after a gaggle of headlines linked to his Cam’ron diss series. But Gooding does not want to be known exclusively for his rivalry with the Harlem diplomat.
“I think it’ll be a good switch-up from just hearing me dissing Cam’ron,” he said. “This is really for the culture. I’ve been with rappers. They know I get down.”
The full conversation between AllHipHop’s Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and Omar Gooding will be released soon. Stay tuned!
Key Glock called out the Memphis legal system after a jury acquitted Hernandez Govan in the murder case of rapper Young Dolph, expressing outrage over what he saw as a miscarriage of justice.
The Memphis rapper, who was both a protégé and cousin of Young Dolph, took to social media with a blunt reaction after the verdict, posting in a since-deleted tweet: “my city failed but what’s new.”
The message captured a wave of frustration shared by many in the rap community, who believed the trial did not deliver accountability.
Govan had been accused of orchestrating the 2021 killing of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., outside a Memphis bakery.
But after a short deliberation, jurors found Govan not guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Key Glock seemingly reacts to Hernandez Govan being found not guilty in the Young Dolph murder trial:
The defense team argued that the prosecution’s case leaned heavily on unreliable testimony from Cornelius Smith, one of the convicted shooters.
Smith was described during trial as a “pathological liar” who was angling for a reduced sentence.
Attorneys also challenged the cellphone records introduced by prosecutors, stating they lacked direct links to Govan. No DNA, physical evidence or eyewitness testimony tied him to the crime.
After roughly two to three hours of deliberation, the jury agreed with the defense’s position that the state failed to prove Govan’s involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.
Following his acquittal, Govan thanked the jury and reiterated his innocence.
He also criticized the prosecution’s approach, saying the process left him both relieved and disillusioned with the justice system.
The verdict left many in Memphis stunned, especially those close to Dolph, who had been a major figure in the city’s Hip-Hop scene.
Young Dolph was fatally shot on November 17, 2021. The trial surrounding his death has remained a point of pain and controversy in the city ever since.
The Truth About Jussie Smollett?? questions the official version of events and explores how public distrust in police and media helped shape competing narratives.
Director Gagan Rehill revisits the controversial case that saw Jussie Smollett convicted of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself in Chicago.
Netflix released the documentary nearly six years after the original incident in downtown Chicago, where Smollett claimed he was beaten by a pair of white MAGA supporters who tied a news around his neck and doused him with a chemical spray.
The film, now streaming globally, dives into the swirling debate over what really happened and why so many people still believe conflicting versions of the truth.
“What a gift as a director. You can tilt it one way [and] it will look like one thing. You can tilt it another and there’s another story behind it,” Rehill told The Hollywood Reporter.
Smollett, best known for his role on Empire, was found guilty of felony disorderly conduct in 2021 after prosecuters charged him with faking the crime.
He served six days of a five-month sentence in 2022 before being released pending appeal. In November 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction on legal grounds, meaning he cannot be retried.
The documentary features interviews with key figures in the case, including the Osundairo brothers—Abel and Ola—who claimed Smollett paid them to carry out the staged assault. The brothers reportedly received immunity from unrelated gun charges in exchange for their testimony.
Rehill said the film is not just about Smollett’s guilt or innocence but also about the broader cultural moment.
“This film is about whether you believe Jussie or not, but it’s also about a reaction to [the news coverage of his case] as well. It’s just very interesting that people’s trust in mainstream media and in the police has been eroded so much that they have to open the door to alternate truths, or alternate results or verdicts.”
The case has remained a flashpoint in conversations about race, celebrity, and credibility in the United States. Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout.
Halle Bailey and DDG have been legally barred from sharing any online content involving their 19-month-old son Halo following a court order out of Los Angeles that restricts both parents from posting images or information about the child on social media.
According to court filings, the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles issued a directive stating: “For reasons discussed on the record, and with no objection from either party, the Court orders both parties to refrain from posting, uploading, or disseminating on the Internet or social media platforms, photographs, images, and/or information regarding the minor child or causing any other person to engage in such posting, uploading, or dissemination.”
The decision comes amid ongoing custody arrangements between Bailey, known for her role in The Little Mermaid, and the YouTuber and rapper.
The court also approved a revised visitation schedule that allows DDG professionally supervised time with Halo twice a week and every other Sunday.
Per the documents, DDG is allowed “peaceful contact” with Bailey to coordinate visits. He is permitted to see Halo every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on alternating Sundays during the same hours.
The court emphasized that the monitor’s role includes ensuring both parties follow social media sharing restrictions.
“The professional monitor is to be advised and instructed that a primary purpose of the monitoring requirement is to ensure compliance with the Court’s orders regarding social media posting, dissemination of information, and the like as explained above in this order,” the documents read.
FKA Twigs lit up Instagram on Thursday (August 22) with a pole-dancing photo that featured a pronounced baby bump, leaving followers puzzled about whether she was expecting a child or just serving a concept.
The image, which showed the British artist in a bikini gripping a pole with a rounded belly on full display, instantly stirred confusion.
“I’m confused,” one user wrote. Another chimed in, “U jus ate? Lol.”
But not everyone was thrown off. Some followers caught the metaphor. “Pregnant w that new album,” one person commented. Another added, “Afterglow having too many aunties, uncles and theyties.”
The bump, it turns out, was a prosthetic. The visual was part of a symbolic rollout for her upcoming album Afterglow, which FKA Twigs first teased during a set at the Lowlands Music Festival in the Netherlands on Friday (August 16).
“It’s true. I am pregnant with new music. I am full and abundant and ready to give birth. Her name is Afterglow, and my labor shall commence next month,” she said on stage, referring to the album, not an actual baby.
Eusexua Afterglow is the follow-up to her January 2025 experimental album Eusexua.
While some initially thought Eusexua Afterglow was a deluxe edition, her team confirmed it’s an entirely new body of work.
The album is expected to arrive in September 2025, though no official date has been announced.
The project will include the single “Perfectly,” which dropped in July and was described by Twigs as a continuation of the Eusexua era.
Her visual metaphor may have confused some, but it’s clear that Twigs is leaning fully into theatrical storytelling as she prepares to deliver her next musical chapter.
Cardi B’s latest move has Hip-Hop talking. Her new song “Imaginary Playerz” is a flip of JAY-Z’s American classic from the late 1990s. And now we are in a full-scaled debates over the creative merits of the song. Some praised the song and others said she totally missed the bullseye.
Let us walk a bit farther with this.
The song has also ignited Nicki Minaj’s loyal fan base, the Barbz. Oh, Barbz. I am so glad I am not in their crosshairs anymore. They have spread the idea that Cardi’s version has flip-flopped. And they have pushed the idea that JAY-Z somehow set Cardi up by approving the remake. HUH?
By the way, AI offered a response to this rumor, unsolicited I might add.
No, JAY-Z did not “set up” Cardi B for her song “Imaginary Playerz,” but rather he approved of her sampling his song “Imaginary Players” for her new track. Cardi B stated that JAY-Z’s approval was necessary for the release of the song and that she was happy he “loved it”.
Not everyone is buying that idea. Most believe that Jay likely gave Cardi his blessing in good faith. Some say because the song jabs Nicki Minaj, this is Jay’s way of jabbing the thorn in his side. Then there’s a video clip circulating that shook everything up. Cardi wasted no time firing back in the comments.
“The charts next Monday …my dong is number 1 iTunes ..you don’t even know wat you talking about but got a mouthful,” she replied. Monday will be here soon enough.
That clap-back, typos and all, just got people talking more. Quite a few detractors said the record shouldn’t have been touched. But Def Jam’s first lady, Nikki D, gave it her stamp of approval. That’s a heavy co-sign considering her place in Hip-Hop history. Watch our Nikki D interview here.
Back to Cardi. At the end of the day, whether you love it or hate it, the song has people revisiting JAY-Z’s original. For Cardi, that’s still a win. She’s on her rap rap ish. She could be doing “WAP 2,” which would drive me up a wall. The Brooklyn billionaire version is untouchable, but Cardi did it anyway. Now everyone’s talking.
Lil Nas X found himself locked up this weekend after wildin’ out on the streets of LA in nothing but his drawers and some cowboy boots.
Cops say they rolled up on the rapper around sunrise on August 21 after folks started calling about a dude strutting down Ventura Boulevard half-naked rocking only underwear and boots.
But things didn’t stay cute for long. LAPD says when they pulled up, Nas didn’t chill.
According to officers, he came at them swinging and clocked one in the face not once, but twice.
That move earned him a ride straight to the hospital for a check-up and possible overdose treatment before he got hauled to Van Nuys Jail.
He ended up getting slapped with a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly attacking the officer. Cops booked him around 11:22 a.m. and he’s still sitting behind bars with no bail set.
No word yet from his team. They’ve been silent since the whole thing popped off and haven’t dropped a statement or even a tweet.
As of August 22, the “Old Town Road” hitmaker is still locked up waiting to see what happens next.
The arrest, the hospital pit stop, the no-bail situation — it’s all stacking up to a rough weekend for the chart-topper who’s usually more at home on red carpets than jail floors.
D Smoke made a huge move and joined forces with the Snoop Dogg-owned Death Row Records. The pair confirmed this exciting new partnership with a joint post on Instagram.
The pair have had long-standing ties going back to 2019’s Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow. Snoop was a judge and D Smoke emerged victorious in rap contest. The Inglewood native used the prize money to finish his Grammy Award-nominated debut Black Habits.
Smoke’s decision to align with Death Row is a bold move in an era of no rules and chaos.
Smoke hasn’t been idle, even thought it has been over three years since his last album. He landed a role on Paramount Plus’ Mayor of Kingstown. Now he has Wake Up Supa on the horizon with the accompanying tour.
The Wake Up Supa Tour kicks off October 28 in Vancouver and will travel through major North American markets like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Toronto and Chicago. It wraps on November 24.
D Smoke 2025 Wake Up Supa Tour Dates
10/28 — Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
10/29 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
10/30 — Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
11/02 — San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
11/04 — Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
11/06 — Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
11/08 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Other Side
11/10 — Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Factory
11/11 — Houston, TX @ House Of Blues Houston
11/13 — Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
11/14 — Charleston, SC @ The Charleston Pour House
BigXthaPlug got hit with a weed and gun charge at the worst possible time—right before his album release party. The Dallas-bred rapper was pulled over Thursday night (August 21) at a street takeover event.
Cops say they stopped him for not having a front license plate, but things escalated fast. According to Arlington PD, once they ran his name—Xavier Landum—a gang database flagged him as a documented member.
Officers asked if he had a weapon, and BigX reportedly told them a gun was stashed under the armrest of his Dodge Ram TRX.
Naturally, the responding officers searched the truck and said they found 3.4 grams of suspected marijuana and the firearm he mentioned.
That earned him a couple of misdemeanor charges—one for carrying a gun and another for possession of less than two ounces of weed.
According to WFAA, he was booked into Dallas County jail at 2:20 a.m. Friday (August 22) was literally hours before his new project, I Hope You’re Happy, dropped.
This isn’t BigX’s first legal run-in this year either. Back in February, he caught a similar charge for marijuana in Arlington, according to police records.
I Hope You’re Happy bridges country, rap, and soul into an innovative country-trap blend. The Dallas rapper, known for his gritty storytelling and genre-blurring hits, assembles an impressive lineup of country stars and songwriters, including Darius Rucker, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Bailey Zimmerman and Thomas Rhett.
Standout singles like “All the Way” with Bailey Zimmerman have already made waves on both Hip-Hop and country charts, highlighting the album’s crossover appeal. Signature tracks such as “Box Me Up,” “Hell At Night” and the title track with Darius Rucker) showcase both BigXthaPlug’s lyrical depth and the emotional resonance of his collaborators.
But for now, he’s got bigger problems—no pun intended.
Claressa Shields turned up the heat in the ring with Diamond The Body as the rapper and reality star preps for what’s expected to be a volatile “Baddies Africa Reunion” this September.
On Thursday (August 21), Diamond posted a video of herself getting a crash course in boxing from the two-time Olympic gold medalist.
“Listen, reunion is going the f### down, okay?” Diamond declared. “I just got my lessons from Claressa Shields, the great, the boxing legend, the muthafuckin gold medalist.”
Shields responded with a nod of approval: “Listen, you’ve got the goods. All you have to do is let the goods go.”
The rapper captioned the video, “Trained by the GWOAT herself! Honored and grateful for the lesson from the gold medalist @claressashields. I’m ready for whatever now !!”
The training session wasn’t just for show. Shields has been working with Diamond to sharpen her boxing fundamentals, including proper punching technique and footwork.
The goal? To make sure Diamond is ready for any physical confrontations likely to erupt during the reunion taping.
Physical altercations are a regular part of the “Baddies” franchise, and “Baddies Africa” has been no exception.
Diamond has already been involved in several on-camera fights during the season, even claiming she squared up with seven castmates during filming.
The reunion, scheduled for late September 2025, is expected to be a pressure cooker of unresolved drama and face-to-face confrontations. With tensions running high, Diamond’s decision to train with a world-class boxer like Claressa Shields appears to be a strategic move.
Charley Crockett fiercely defended Beyoncé and her genre-bending album Cowboy Carter, calling out the country music world for what he sees as years of hypocrisy and selective outrage.
In a pointed Instagram post earlier this week, the Texas-born singer addressed the backlash Beyoncé has faced from parts of the country music community.
“Hey country folks,” he began. “Beyoncé ain’t the source of your discontent. It was 25 years of bro country.”
Crockett, who has built his career blending traditional country with blues and soul, didn’t name names directly but appeared to take a swipe at Morgan Wallen, one of the genre’s biggest stars.
“#1 country artist on earth listens to nothing but rap,” he said. “Openly says he doesn’t really know any country music. Gotta respect his honesty,” he wrote.
He went on to criticize the industry’s treatment of Beyoncé, who became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album at the Grammys in 2025 but was notably left out of the Academy of Country Music Awards.
“The machine points to a black woman who’s making a statement about marginalized people being removed from the conversation altogether,” Crockett wrote. “And somehow we all act like the entire pop industry didn’t just ambush roots music.”
He also took aim at the genre’s evolving sound, noting that many male country artists have long borrowed from Hip-Hop production styles. “These ‘country boys’ been singing over trap beats for years. So what’s different now? Authenticity,” he added.
Crockett shared his own experience with the Nashville music business, claiming industry insiders once tried to mold him into a prefabricated act. “Many of those business folks called me early on. They had whole albums pre-written and recorded, ready to just plug me in. I have receipts,” he wrote.
He made it clear he wouldn’t tear down another artist—especially a Black woman—to get ahead.
“I don’t need to put down a black woman to advance my music. That’s just embarrassing to the idea of America and I got no respect for it,” he said.
Crockett also praised Texas rapper BigXThaPlug, calling him “genuine” and “a true story teller,” adding, “The best Hip-Hop sound to come out of Texas in this century.”
He ended his post by pushing back against the industry’s tendency to box artists into narrow categories. “I don’t have a problem with Americana. I have a problem with being compartmentalized by the music business.”
The post drew both praise and pushback.
One of the more vocal critics was Gavin Adcock, who previously dismissed Beyoncé’s album by saying, “It just ain’t country,” and argued that lifelong country artists shouldn’t have to compete with a global pop icon.
Cowboy Carter debuted in 2024 and has remained a lightning rod in country circles, with some praising its innovation and others questioning its place on country charts.
Hernandez Govan walked out of a Memphis courtroom Thursday (August 21), cleared of all charges in the Young Dolph murder trial and declared he’s done with the city that, in his words, nearly broke him.
Acquitted of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the 2021 ambush that left the rapper dead inside a cookie shop, Govan didn’t celebrate. Instead, he spoke of grief, regret and a desperate need for a new beginning—especially after losing his daughter, rising rapper Lotta Cash Desto, in a fatal shooting just weeks before he was indicted.
“Leave Memphis,” Govan told reporters outside the courthouse when asked what advice he had for others.
When pressed if he planned to follow his own advice, he replied, “Of course.”
Govan said he’s been “nervous for four years” and now feels like he’s been “born again” with a chance to “restart my life and do some positive things.”
The jury took only about three hours to reach a verdict, rejecting prosecutors’ claims that Govan orchestrated the hit on Young Dolph, who was gunned down on November 17, 2021.
Though Govan was accused of planning the attack, he was never alleged to have pulled the trigger.
Two other men were charged in the case. Justin Johnson was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2024. Cornelius Smith cooperated with the state and testified against Govan.
Lotta Cash Desto Fatally Shot Months before Father Hernandez Govan Indicted
But Govan’s pain runs deeper than the courtroom. His daughter, Lotta Cash Desto—born Destinee Govan—was shot and killed on September 24, 2022, in Houston, amid speculation that her death was retaliation for Young Dolph’s murder.
She was sitting in her car at a traffic light when two men got out of another vehicle and opened fire. A friend in the car survived. Govan was indicted in the Dolph case less than two months later.
The loss of his daughter haunts him, and he blames his “lifestyle” for her death.
In a Facebook post shared weeks after her passing, Govan wrote, “I think I cursed U Destinee with my lifestyle. I apologize baby.”
Two men—Christian Isaiah Williams, 24, and Jeremyah Smith, 19—were charged in her murder. Williams was also injured during the shooting and treated at a hospital.
Now, with the trial behind him and his daughter gone, Govan says he’s focused on moving forward, starting with leaving Memphis.
