Cardi B teased emotional chaos and romantic turbulence as the driving forces behind her upcoming sophomore album, expected in 2025, following multiple delays.
The Bronx-born rapper described the long-awaited follow-up to her Grammy-winning debut as unpredictable and emotionally layered.
“I feel like my album is messy,” Cardi B told Billboard. “It’s something that’s really not out right now. It’s unexpected. There’s things people are going to expect from me, and then there’s things that are not expected.”
The as-yet-untitled project is about 75% complete and is expected to feature at least 20 tracks—nearly double the number on her 2018 debut, Invasion of Privacy.
Cardi B said the album reflects a journey through heartbreak, healing and rediscovery.
“There’s a lot of lover girl thing too—on my album,” she added. “It’s like I’ve been heartbroken, then I’m loving again, then I’m exploring again.”
Despite a turbulent 2024 that included the birth of her third child and a divorce filing, Cardi has remained focused on finishing the album.
She reportedly has around 100 unreleased tracks to choose from and plans to include both familiar collaborators and new voices.
Kanye West and Bianca Censori were spotted in Spain together, sparking rumors of a recent reconciliation. In videos making the rounds on social media, the couple was seen meeting up for dinner at Indian fusion restaurant Cala d’Or in Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, on Friday night (April 18).
It appears to mark a turning point in their marriage, after the Daily Mail reported their alleged split in February. The perceived breaking point seemed to come amid West’s latest Twitter spree in which he spouted his antisemitic beliefs and claimed to be a Nazi.
West married Censori, an Australian architect and Yeezy employee, in a private ceremony in December 2022, just weeks after finalizing his divorce from Kim Kardashian. Initially, there was uncertainty about the legal status of their union, as reports indicated the couple didn’t immediately obtain an official marriage certificate.
But by late 2023, documents surfaced suggesting they had secured a confidential marriage license in California. Their relationship quickly became a major topic of public fascination, with Censori making headlines for her X-rated fashion choices and prominent presence alongside West at high-profile events such as the Grammy Awards and international fashion weeks.
Despite their whirlwind romance and frequent public appearances, West and Censori’s marriage has faced significant scrutiny and challenges. Rumors of marital strife intensified following Censori’s controversial red carpet attire and West’s increasingly erratic social media activity.
West appeared to confirm their separation through lyrics in the WW3 album, expressing longing for Censori and referencing their troubled relationship. While there has been no official legal confirmation of a divorce, recent reports and West’s own music strongly suggest that the couple did split after two years of marriage, with both parties allegedly consulting divorce lawyers.
But if their reunion in Spain is any indication, their divorce may never come to fruition. Time will tell.
Lil Durk is asking a federal judge in Los Angeles to reconsider his pretrial detention, arguing that prosecutors misrepresented key evidence.
The embattled rapper is denying a rap verse and fan-made videos are proof he profited off a murder he’s accused of orchestrating.
The rapper has been behind bars since his October 2024 arrest on federal charges tied to a murder-for-hire plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo.
Prosecutors claim Durk financed a deadly ambush in Los Angeles that left Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pabb” Robinson, dead in August 2022.
Durk has pleaded not guilty.
Now, his legal team says the government misled the court during a December detention hearing by tying him to a music video he didn’t make and lyrics recorded months before the killing.
“It is unfair, misleading and just flat-out wrong for the government to suggest that Mr. Banks is responsible for these video/audio edits or that they evidence his purported commercialization of a murder that he supposedly ordered,” attorney Drew Findling said in a new court filing.
Prosecutors argued the lyrics referenced the murder of Robinson and included audio from a news clip where Rondo screamed “no, no” after witnessing his cousin’s death.
But defense attorneys submitted an affidavit from the song’s producer, Justin Gibson, confirming the verse was recorded about seven months before the shooting.
Despite that, prosecutors told the court the lyrics were paired with news footage in a video allegedly showing Rondo’s reaction. That video, however, was not created or posted by Durk but rather by unaffiliated social media users, including accounts like \@otf_edit and \@mymixtapez.
“‘Wonderful Wayne’ has nothing to do with the shooting at issue in this case,” Findling said. “Rather than just concede this at the initial detention hearing, the government instead chose to speculate about an alternative theory of criminal liability connecting the videos to Mr. Banks.”
Durk’s lawyers say the government has not produced evidence that Durk directed or approved the videos. His team argues the clips were made by fan pages with no connection to him or his label, Only the Family, Inc.
Durk’s lawyers are now offering a bond package they say eliminates any risk if he’s released.
The proposal includes $900,000 in real estate equity, $1 million in cash from Alamo Records, $150,000 from a business associate, 24/7 private security, electronic monitoring and strict reporting requirements.
“Mr. Banks respectfully requests that the Court reconsider its previous detention order and permit his release secured by a robust bond package and subject to substantial conditions,” Findling added.
Durk is facing multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death and using a machine gun in a violent crime.
If convicted, he could face life in prison or possibly the death penalty.
Kash Doll is falling back on her hometown heritage following a wave of backlash she has faced after going viral during her recent outing at an NBA game in Detroit.
During a recent interview with an Atlanta radio station, Kash Doll admitted she’s no stranger to public scrutiny, and that’s part of the reason why she says she shared the clip of herself wiping her nose with a $20 bill at the Detroit Pistons game. Since going viral for the unexpected moment that had fans and critics alike buzzing and sparked plenty of backlash, she’s says she’s not losing any sleep over it.
“You know anything come at me, I’m kind of ready for it,” Kash Doll said. “Like even when I’m viral for wiping my nose with a 20 and everybody’s mad. I don’t even care.”
Kash doll always been corny and she almost was redeeming herself and then boom this https://t.co/TOQz12AnNU
Kash Doll went on to explain that the decision to use money wasn’t premeditated or part of a flex. It was more of a spontaneous reaction to the moment. According to Kash Doll, the gesture also ties into her hometown’s unique flair for flashy behavior.
“First off, this is Detroit culture,” she said. “We have an ice cam where you show jewelry. We have people that get on the camera and rip up $100 bills. In Detroit, our culture, it’s like, we stunt. That’s our thing.”
But she made it clear that her intent wasn’t to show off.
“I’m gonna be 100 percent honest with y’all,” she said. “I wasn’t doing it to stunt.”
She added that the moment was actually sparked by her NFL player boo Za’Darius Smith, who apparently told her she had some proverbial bats in the cave, prompting her to extract them.
“I literally switched purses and my boo said I had something right there on my nose,” she said. “And all I had in there was some money. And that’s the only thing I could do. And I did it.”
Even more telling, Kash Doll initially didn’t record the moment. It wasn’t until afterward that she realized the impact it might have.
“I did it and didn’t record it at first,” she explained. “Because it was genuine. But then I’m like, ‘Oh, this is kind of fly. Like, everybody be wiping their tears with f###### money. Let me just do this. Let me wipe my nose. This is different.'”
She eventually decided to post the clip, fully aware it might stir controversy.
“I did it, and I recorded it and put it up,” she said. “And it became a thing. And I’m like, ‘Ah, f### y’all.'”
Megan Thee Stallion asked a Los Angeles judge to hold Tory Lanez in contempt of court after he allegedly mocked her attorney and stalled a deposition with evasive answers during a civil defamation case tied to online harassment.
In a motion filed Wednesday (April 16), Megan’s legal team accused Lanez of “disruptive, inflammatory and inconsistent” conduct during a prison deposition related to her lawsuit against blogger Milagro Cooper.
“Mr. Peterson’s conduct during the deposition was so disruptive, inflammatory, and inconsistent with the basic norms of civil litigation that even his own counsel, who also represents the Defendant, Milagro Cooper, disavowed it. As a result of Mr. Peterson’s misconduct, the deposition had to be terminated shortly after it began,” Meg’s lawyer Daniel L. Humphrey explained.
The Texan rapper claims Cooper acted on Lanez’s behalf to spread falsehoods and deepfake pornography about her online.
According to court documents, Lanez allegedly pretended not to understand simple terms, such as “discuss” and “approve,” during questioning. He also took aim at Megan’s attorney’s appearance, calling her hair dye “distracting” and telling her to “bring a hairbrush” next time.
Megan’s lawyers argue that Lanez’s antics obstructed the deposition’s purpose and violated civil litigation norms.
The deposition was part of her ongoing case against Cooper. Megan says Tory Lanez used the blogger as a proxy to orchestrate a smear campaign while he was behind bars.
Lanez’s criminal appeal attorneys clarified they are not involved in the civil case and will not challenge the contempt motion.
Megan Thee Stallion Granted Restraining Order Against Tory Lanez
The deposition occurred under the shadow of a restraining order Megan obtained against Lanez, which remains in effect until 2030.
The order was granted due to what Megan described as continued harassment following the 2020 shooting that led to Lanez’s conviction.
Megan originally filed the defamation suit in October 2024. She accused Cooper of publishing false claims and manipulated content at Lanez’s direction.
In December, she amended the complaint to include new allegations that Lanez continued to coordinate online attacks through third parties even after his sentencing.
The lawsuit also references conversations between Lanez and his father about financially supporting Cooper’s efforts to discredit Megan online.
The court has yet to rule on whether Lanez will face penalties, which could include fines or other sanctions.
Azealia Banks reversed course on her political stance Wednesday (April 16) after years of defending Donald Trump, admitting on X that voting for him was “a f###### mess” and calling his presidency an “absolute disaster.”
The “212′ hitmaker, known for her unfiltered commentary, didn’t hold back in a string of now-private posts.
“Ok I think it’s time everyone who voted for Trump admit that we made a f###### mess,” she wrote. Banks went on to describe Trump as “petty and vindictive,” adding, “Rightfully so, but not when the wellbeing and livelihood of billions of people – damn near the entire world lay in ur hands.”
Banks didn’t stop there. “Nobody on earth is afraid of crazy old white man anger,” she decalred. “Old white men need to reinvent the archetype because it’s too predictable. Like China is just DUNKING on everyone right now.”
The tweets came after Azealia Banks revealed she ultimately voted for Donald Trump, despite her endorsement of Harris shortly before election day.
Her political flip-flopping isn’t new. In 2016, Banks endorsed Trump despite calling him “evil like America.” She later walked that back after the Access Hollywood tape surfaced, saying, “I made a major mistake… Women’s rights are important.”
In 2024, she attended a Trump rally in Florida and praised his “transparency” while mocking President Joe Biden as “elder abuse.”
However, just before the election, she pivoted to Harris, citing Elon Musk as the reason. “He’s dangerous,” she wrote, calling the Tesla CEO “a liar, thief, and cheater.”
She later posted a photo of her ballot with the caption, “Lmao I lied, I voted for Trump yesterday.”
As of Thursday morning (April 17), Banks’ X account is now private, limiting her posts to approved followers only.
I was intrigued when I heard about Doublelist. This platform, which launched in 2018, bills itself as a judgment-free space for adults to make casual encounters, date, or simply engage with an open-minded community.
Before making a dating decision in 2025, I decided to thoroughly examine the system first. I need to understand both the features of this site and the important details in its terms of use agreement.
Core Capabilities and User Experience
At its heart, Doublelist facilitates connections through personal ads and a messaging system. Users can post “live ads” searchable by location and interest, enabling them to connect with like-minded people in their area. A private messaging feature allows conversation between interested parties.
The site also fosters a broader community, not just one-on-one meetings. Users can share experiences in public forums, including popular threads where couples sex stories are shared and discussed. Open discussions promote connection while making all experiences feel ordinary and provide occasions for sharing personal stories, which appeal to multiple interests. Users can find additional group recommendations on the platform. So, whether you’re looking to date, hook up, or simply engage with a community, Doublelist offers tools to do so.
Subscription Plans
Users can access Doublelist free of charge, yet the platform uses upgraded features to motivate subscription purchases. User subscriptions, both monthly and annually, offer two features: they remove all advertisements from the site while also expanding daily conversation abilities and enabling more search tools. Subscribers who choose the “Hardcore” plan at $90 per year can enjoy unlimited messaging and browsing benefits.
Doublelist profits from both advertisement revenue and user subscription payments that grant better access to its platform. Upgrades on Doublelist offer value to its most involved users.
Target Demographic and Use Cases
Given the nature of the site, Doublelist tends to attract open-minded adults seeking casual relationships outside the norms of traditional dating. With an atmosphere of respect and non-judgment, many also use it to safely explore alternative lifestyles.
Doublelist’s tools enable several common use cases:
Casual Dating and Hookups. The core use case focuses on no-strings-attached relationships. Doublelist provides a space for like-minded adults to initiate flings.
Community Building. Beyond 1-on-1 meetings, group discussions let members share experiences and build a sense of community.
Interest Exploration. Members use Doublelist’s filters to find and connect with others who share specific kinks/fetishes or obscure interests that mainstream sites don’t cater to.
Anonymity. For those craving discretion about an alternative lifestyle or early exploration of their sexual identity, Doublelist allows a level of anonymity difficult to achieve elsewhere.
However, freedom comes with responsibility. As we’ll see next, users must agree to crucial terms and safety precautions.
Terms of Use Overview
As an unregulated platform without formal identity checks, Doublelist emphasizes personal responsibility in its terms of use. By outlining rules and restrictions, these terms establish standards of community conduct.
While dry legalese, understanding these terms helps inform your decision to join. Let’s walk through some key sections:
Eligibility and Age
Since sexual content features prominently, Doublelist restricts access only to adults over 18 (or the local age of majority). This protects minors, but also reduces the site’s legal liability for illicit relationships. Users affirm their legal capacity to agree by accepting the terms.
User Responsibility
Perhaps the crucial section, these terms underscore users’ complete responsibility for activity on the site. Doublelist conducts no criminal checks or identity verification, relying entirely on personal discretion. Therefore, the onus falls on individual members to exercise good judgment when interacting offline.
Content Ownership
Doublelist and its partners retain full ownership and commercial rights to the site material. Users receive the license to access content for personal (not public) use. This protects the business while restricting public sharing of images/text.
Prohibited Activities
The terms prohibit illegal services, underage material, or overtly abusive content. Account limitation or banning is at risk of violations. That also lends itself to enforcement challenges, which is why user-level vigilance is, of course, necessary.
Dispute Resolution
Jury trials are waived, and all civil disputes must enter individual arbitration. The purpose of this binding clause is to efficiently resolve the conflict out of court. It is also likely that it was included to limit the business’s legal exposure and to streamline any user disagreements.
Safety First – Personal Precautions
As emphasized repeatedly, Doublelist avoids any vetting, placing the onus on users themselves. The open nature that enables free expression also allows room for trouble. When meeting people in real life after connecting online, exercise reasonable caution:
Insist on public get-togethers first before private meetings. Choose busy venues and tell a friend where you’ll be.
Use common-sense precautions with strangers. Don’t share personal contact information or identifying details until you’ve developed more familiarity.
Verify age when relevant, being attuned to signs of misrepresentation. Underage users sometimes falsify information to gain access.
Discuss parameters, limitations, and expectations transparently beforehand. Different assumptions breed misunderstandings.
Pay attention if conversations seem “off” or pushy. Don’t feel compelled to meet anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
While most Doublelist members undoubtedly have good intentions, it only takes one bad actor to cause real trouble. Stay sober, listen to your instincts, and don’t take unnecessary risks. If anything seems strange, cut off contact immediately.
When using Doublelist, users must never accept appearances at face value. Doublelist’s anonymous environment allows deception to occur, so users should verify information shared about others before becoming deeply involved.
Conclusion
Users of Doublelist can safely discover new social relationships and sensual encounters as their day ends. The ability to be open, which grants us our freedom, extends the need to take responsibility for ourselves.
When joining Doublelist, maintain awareness of what you are getting into by exercising caution with whom you communicate and protecting your privacy along with your interactions with other members. People should be vigilant about potential dangers, yet fully comprehend the boundaries set by the platform rules.
Yella Beezy will remain under house arrest for the foreseeable future. The rapper, who’s charged with capital murder for the killing of Dallas rapper Mo3, asked the judge for a bond adjustment to attend his son’s football games but was denied.
Beezy filed a petition in March seeking permission from the court to be able to leave the house to support his son, a measure he said would ensure “continued family engagement and stability.” Both sides were presented in court on Friday (April 18), where the judge ultimately decided to rule against Beezy’s request.
Yella Beezy (real name Markies Deandre Conway) was arrested and charged with capital murder in March in connection with the 2020 shooting death of Mo3. According to court documents, Beezy was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury on allegations that he hired Kewon Dontrell White to carry out the killing, which took place in broad daylight on Interstate 35E in Dallas.
Kewon White – the hitman Dallas rapper Yella Beezy is accused of hiring in Mo3 murder- says he’ll be home soon during Live from prison pic.twitter.com/dxeTFQ8ntF
Authorities say White chased Mo3 on foot after a car chase, shooting him multiple times as the rapper attempted to flee. The incident was captured on traffic cameras. A bystander was also injured but survived. White and another man, Devin Brown, have also been indicted in the case, with White already serving a federal prison sentence for a separate firearm offense.
Yella Beezy was initially held on a $2 million bond at the Dallas County Jail but was able to come up with $750,000 to post bail.
The indictment doesn’t specify the motive for the alleged murder-for-hire plot. Beezy rose to prominence with his 2017 hit “That’s On Me” and has collaborated with major artists like Quavo, Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne. He has previously faced legal troubles, including dismissed charges of weapon possession, sexual assault and child endangerment.
White was recently captured on a jailhouse livestream boasting about coming home soon. Check it out above.
Wiz Khalifa said that he was the first person to get Snoop Dogg’s children high while filming their 2012 stoner comedy Mac & Devin Go to High School.
Promoting his new album Kush + Orange Juice 2, the Pittsburgh rapper sat down with DJ Whoo Kid and casually dropped the revelation.
“I did that to Snoop Dogg’s kids,” Khalifa said when asked about the moment.
DJ Whoo Kid responded, “Really?” to which Wiz Khalifa doubled down: “Yes. We were shooting High School, the movie and he was out of the trailer doing his part and he came back in the trailer and was like, ‘Y’all little m############ is high.'”
Wiz Khalifa didn’t specify which of Snoop’s four children he was referring to, but at the time of the film’s release in 2012, the rapper’s kids ranged in age from 12 to 17.
Cordé Broadus was 17, Cordell Broadus was 15, Julian Broadus was 13, and Cori Broadus was 12.
The film, a weed-fueled buddy comedy starring both rappers, became a cult favorite in the cannabis community. Though the movie was released in 2012, it was filmed before that, placing the children’s ages even younger during production.
“I thought they had already smoked though. I’m like, ‘These are Snoop’s kids. Of course, they smoke.’ They got high with me first.”
Snoop Dogg shares three children—Cordé, Cordell and Cori—with his longtime wife, Shante Broadus. His eldest son, Julian, was born from a previous relationship.
Wiz Khalifa’s new album Kush + Orange Juice 2 celebrates the 15th anniversary of his breakout 2010 mixtape.
The sequel features production from DJ Quik, Cardo and Juicy J, with guest appearances from Ty Dolla $ign and Problem.
Vybz Kartel has unveiled his new Florida mansion and a fresh start, showing off the upscale property in a new home tour.
The Dancehall heavyweight gave his followers a peek into his latest chapter on Tuesday (April 15). He shared a video of his new U.S. home, complete with soaring ceilings, a sleek pool and an outdoor space built for entertaining. His fiancée, Sidem Öztürk, was seen lounging comfortably in the clip.
He captioned the post, “[Sidem] chillin in our new home in the name of Jesus #family1st #GodistheGreatest.”
The new property marks a major step in his comeback after serving 13 years in prison. In a recent interview, Kartel confirmed he’s now based in Florida.
“I spent 13 years in prison, like seriously, that’s not a joke,” he explained. “I need to go out now and I’m working. Florida is good because it’s a hub, you can go to New York, you can go across the Atlantic, England, go west, you’re in LA. It’s a nice place to be geographically, where we can just move.”
He also made it clear he’s steering clear of trouble and distancing himself from his old stomping grounds in Jamaica.
“I am just staying out of trouble,” Kartel added. “I don’t want to be in nothing negative, never. So we stay away from that.”
This isn’t his first big real estate move since his release. Back in October, he purchased a sprawling mansion in Red Hills, St. Andrew, one of Jamaica’s most exclusive neighborhoods. He announced the purchase with the caption, “From Prison to Prosperity.”
Meanwhile, Vybz Kartel made his triumphant return to the U.S. stage with two back-to-back, sold-out concerts at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 10 and 11, 2025—his first U.S. performances in 20 years since regaining his American visa.
Each show reportedly drew around 19,000 fans, making Kartel the first dancehall artist to sell out Barclays Center twice in a row, a historic milestone for the genre.
Vybz Kartel’s performances featured surprise guest appearances by Busta Rhymes, Spice, Shenseea and many more.
Veteran MC Tracey Lee pulls no punches on his latest song, “The Pivot.”The song is a fiery collaboration with producer The Mighty O. This hard-hitting track is a masterclass in raw Hip-Hop, which at times can be in short supply. Beats meet razor-sharp bars and Lee braces for a comeback.
Lee, a lawyer and graduate of Howard University, uses the mic like a weapon. He fights against industry politics, the Trump administration, and issues plaguing our communities. Speaking truth to power is alive and well.
Benzino took direct aim at Eminem and the executives behind his rise, alleging in a recent interview that music industry power players have deliberately buried the rapper’s past racist lyrics to protect his image and career.
“Why is he so scared in 20-something years of his career to do interviews with Black media?” Benzino asked during a recent interview. “He’ll expose himself.”
The former Source magazine executive pointed to Eminem’s early recordings—some of which resurfaced years ago and were widely condemned for racial slurs—as evidence of what he says is a double standard.
According to Benzino, the industry rushed to defend Eminem while Black artists face harsher scrutiny for far less.
Benzino claimed Eminem was 21 when he recorded the controversial lyrics but said the label “came out and said he was 16 and he had a Black girlfriend.”
He accused Universal and music mogul Jimmy Iovine of “insulting” the intelligence of Hip-Hop fans and Black communities around the world.
He alleged that executives met behind closed doors to manage the fallout, crafting a narrative that painted Eminem as a heartbroken teenager who made a mistake.
“They got in a room and said, ‘We have to fix this,’” Benzino said, suggesting the explanation was manufactured to soften the backlash.
Benzino also argued that Eminem’s success was used as a wedge between Black and White Hip-Hop audiences and criticized the silence from others in the industry.
The remarks mark yet another chapter in Benzino’s decades-long beef with Eminem, which has flared up repeatedly over the years. Critics have noted that Benzino often revisits these claims when Eminem is back in the public eye.
But the timing of Benzino’s latest comments raised eyebrows, especially since they contradict his more conciliatory tone from just months ago. During a 2024 appearance on Drink Champs, Benzino said, “Eminem ain’t no bad person. He belongs in Hip-Hop. It’s a big racist problem in America right now and Eminem could probably stop half of it.”
He added, “I don’t have nothing against Eminem. That n#### can rap. But I care about us more,” even saying he was open to reconciliation.
Earlier this year, after news broke that Eminem had become a grandfather, Benzino extended an olive branch.
“I think this is a good time, man, to put this behind us and let’s try to enjoy life and try to make some type of statement,” he said. “I truly want to congratulate him and his daughter and him on being a grandfather.”
Despite those earlier gestures, Benzino’s latest statements suggest the feud with Eminem is far from over.
On April 16, the Toronto rapper’s legal team filed a 107-page amended complaint targeting Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl and Grammy performances. According the updated complaint, which was filed in a New York court, Drake’s legal team argues that Lamar’s performance of “Not Like Us” during the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show—broadcast to 133 million viewers—was “orchestrated to assassinate [Drake’s] character.”
A key point made in the complaint hinged on the theory that the NFL’s decision to remove the word “pedophile” from the televised performance served as proof that both the league and UMG recognized the lyric’s defamatory nature.
In UMG’s response to the complaint, the company appeared to warn Drake about the possible ramifications of his actions while also suggesting his legal counsel was misleading him.
“Drake, unquestionably one of the world’s most accomplished artists and with whom we’ve enjoyed a 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another,” the company said in a statement. “Both the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and creative expression. Should his legal representatives senselessly keep the New York lawsuit alive, we will demonstrate that all remaining claims are without merit.”
In a statement obtained by AllHipHop, a spokesperson for Drake refuted the claims UMG brought forth in their response, which confirmed Drizzy and his legal team were fully aware of what they are up against.
“UMG’s latest statement is a desperate attempt to spin the narrative and deflect from the truth: Drake is holding the largest music conglomerate in the world accountable for its actions and doing so without fear,” the statement read in part.
As the statement continued, the spokesperson not only suggested that “UMG knows the case against it is only getting stronger” but also stated that Drake himself has nothing to hide—while also putting pressure on executives at the label, namely CEO Lucian Grainge.
“Drake welcomes discovery and has nothing to hide,” the statement reads. “It’s not Drake who should worry; it’s UMG’s current leadership. We look forward to hearing from Lucian Grainge, John Janick, and UMG employees under oath.”
The statement added, “Drake joins a growing chorus of artists raising questions about UMG’s leadership. The public and artists should be concerned about recent headlines involving UMG’s largest stakeholder that only reinforces the need for transparency all the way up to the Board of Director’s level.”
In dramatic fashion, the statement concludes, “UMG said, ‘be careful what you ask for,’ Drake knows exactly what he asked for: the truth and accountability.”
Prior to Drake’s team issuing the meticulous response to UMG, Kanye West threw his full support behind Drizzy’s lawsuit against the label, calling it “the biggest victory in music history” while urging rap artists to stop targeting each other and focus on the industry’s power players.
Bobby Brown didn’t hold back when asked about Britney Spears’s 2004 cover of his hit “My Prerogative” during a new interview, calling the pop star’s version a “butchering” and saying he only approved it because of her name and the producer attached.
The former New Edition frontman appeared on Club Shay Shay, where he told host Shannon Sharpe that Spears’s rendition of his 1988 single didn’t meet his expectations.
“I don’t think they really did justice to any of the samples that they have done to my songs,” Bobby Brown said. “Britney Spears butchered (My) Prerogative. Teddy Riley produced it, but that was a butchering that I couldn’t take it. I cleared it only because it was Britney Spears and I was thinking (she would do a good job). Teddy Riley is doing it too, so you know, but I felt it was a butchering.”
While Brown credited Riley with producing Spears’s version, the track was actually handled by Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant. Riley, who produced the original, is listed as a songwriter on both versions.
Brown also explained that he now insists on hearing any proposed cover of his work before giving it the green light.
“Yes, I gotta hear it,” he said. “Because you don’t know what these kids will say these days. These kids will say some s**t that you don’t want your song associated with.”
Spears’s team has not responded to Brown’s comments.
Knxwledge and Mach-Hommy just went from collaborators to full-blown rap beef. It all played out in Instagram Stories. What started as a casual fan Q&A turned into a roast—and Knxwledge pulled out the flame-thrower. He was asked if he had any unreleased music with Mach. What happened next…nobody saw coming.
“That [n-word]stole an album worth of beats and released a dogsh#t mixed 12″ for 1k each,” he snapped. “Don’t ask me sh#t about this [n-word]. Your favorite rapper a thief.”
Ir felt like it came out of nowhere, but this has been brewing. And then he took a swipe at his fans: “Y’all love this [n-word] and y’all dont even understand French.”
Now, Knxwledge, Hip-Hop is the place where language barriers do not apply.
Whew.
Knxwledge and Mach-Hommy collaborated on numerous, new wave classics like “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Gnarly Dude” and “Ron van Clief.” Clearly, their relationship didn’t end on the best note. Now, what he did not do is name the project of stolen beats.
But, doing the “knowledge,” he’s likely referencing The S####, a 2017 project. It was sold on Mach-Hommy’s website for $1,000 per vinyl copy. It sold out. That’s a lot of money.
Mach-Hommy isn’t talking. No statements. No denials. Nothing. Last year’s #RICHAXXHAITIAN, which boasted production from KAYTRANADA and Conductor Williams, reached the AHH Best Albums of the Year.
Meanwhile, Knxwledge is fresh off a Grammy win for Why Lawd?, his sophomore NxWorries album with Anderson .Paak. So, both artists are winning. This “beef” is probably printed in a lab or something. I doubt it turns into anything significant. But we’ll be here if Mach responds.
Top Dawg Entertainment President Punch has pulled the curtain back on the temperament of the West Coast label a the particular moment Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s rap battle kicked off last year.
During his recent interview with Curtiss King TV, Punch spoke at length for over three-and-a-half hours on a number of topics including managing SZA, advice from LL Cool J, whether or not TDE fans will get a Black Hippy album and more. Of course, one of the most sensational topics Punch touched on was the rap beef between Drake and Kendrick.
In a rare and candid moment, Punch finally addressed the simmering tension between Drake and Kendrick, revealing what went down behind the scenes leading up to their explosive, history-making rap beef. In his initial remarks, Punch confirmed what fans have suspected for years — the subliminal jabs were very real.
“It had been bubbling for a while,” Punch admitted. “You’ll hear a little subliminals.”
He explained that the team usually keeps things quiet, but he reached a point where the weight of legacy outweighs the industry politics.
TDE President Punch says Drake throws so many subliminal shots he can’t keep up — and reveals Kendrick Lamar was laughing after recording the “Like That” verse.
“But I got to the point now where I’m like, ‘I’m gonna speak on it, if somebody asked me, right,'” he said. “Now it’s about legacy. You know what I’m saying? Like, usually we just let things go how they go…But now it’s like, okay, I speak on certain things.”
Punch also detailed the moment he found out about Kendrick’s “Like That” verse, which has been credited with turning the rap world on its head and setting off the full-blown lyrical war. While he didn’t catch Kendrick in the studio that day, he recalled hearing the track through TDE boss Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.
“I hit Top, he told me a little bit about the record,” he said. “Then I hit Dot. I’m like, it’s going down,” he recalled. “I hear the record. I’m like, yeah, it’s up. It’s go time now, baby.”
And while the verse shook Hip-Hop to its core, Punch revealed Kendrick’s mood was surprisingly lighthearted—even amused.
“[Kendrick Lamar was] laughing,” he said. “This thing is from Compton, California, bro. You getting shot at, you getting home invasions, you in gang wars. Hey, we talking about music, bro. So it’s like, it’s funny.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Punch confirmed the validity of many Kendrick easter eggs fans have speculated about while also laying out the critical mistakes he believes Drake made by releasing diss tracks, such as “Taylor Made” which he revealed inspired “Not Like Us.”
In a bombshell 107-page amended complaint filed on April 16, 2025, Aubrey “Drake” Graham escalates his legal war with Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of malicious defamation and betrayal amid the viral success of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.”
Here are the key points:
Violent Fallout: Just days after “Not Like Us” dropped, Drake claims his Toronto home was targeted in a drive-by shooting, followed by multiple break-in attempts. He connects the attacks directly to UMG’s role in promoting the diss.
False Allegations: The lawsuit states the track falsely portrays Drake as a pedophile, citing lyrics, music video symbolism, and the song’s cover art—showing his home marked with sex offender icons.
UMG’s Alleged Motives: Drake alleges UMG supported Kendrick’s diss for profit and leverage. With his contract nearing expiration and Kendrick newly signed, the lawsuit suggests UMG sought to devalue Drake while boosting Kendrick.
Super Bowl Performance: The complaint blasts UMG for promoting the track to a global audience during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, calling it “the first halftime show orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist.”
Online Campaigns & “Whitelisting”: UMG allegedly removed copyright restrictions to allow widespread reposting on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, fueling the track’s virality. The label is also accused of covertly paying influencers and platforms to promote the diss.
No Help from UMG: Despite the threats and backlash, Drake claims UMG dismissed his concerns and warned that suing them would backfire.
Hakeem Prime enters the chat with “Meet The Duckworths” Diss Track
As Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” continues to ripple across the culture and legal headlines with Drake’s explosive UMG lawsuit, rising rapper Hakeem Prime has entered the chat dropped a second scathing diss titled “Meet The Duckworths” — a deeply personal open letter turned lyrical takedown aimed at Kendrick, his upbringing, and his image.
Hakeem Prime has stepped into the battlefield with not one but two surgical diss tracks aimed at Lamar: “CTRL+C” and the newly released “Meet The Duckworths.”
Where CTRL+C serves as a tech-toned teardown of Kendrick’s image and artistry, Meet The Duckworths hits deeper, positioning itself as a letter — or a warning — addressed to Kendrick, his mother Paula, and even Drake’s son Adonis.
Key Themes from “Meet The Duckworths”:
A Message to Kendrick: Prime paints a picture of a young Kendrick groomed by the industry to commodify pain, warning him about exploitation, fake praise, and the traps of fame. “They’ll call you conscious, but they’ll market your grief,” Prime raps, critiquing both the industry and Kendrick’s own choices.
Paula’s Chapter: The second verse directly addresses Kendrick’s mother, Paula, suggesting her tough love and silence shaped Kendrick’s pain and artistry. Prime questions whether she ever returned the healing Kendrick offered in his music — especially after his public acknowledgments of trauma and faith.
A Word for Adonis: In a surprise turn, Prime shifts to speak to Drake’s son, Adonis, advising him to avoid the traps set by broken men pretending to be leaders — subtly aligning himself as someone who’s grown beyond past mistakes and now sees the bigger picture.
Bars from Boise: With a lyrical backdrop from Idaho, Prime flexes his own growth — from his credit score to a yacht party — giving the diss a personal, grounded tone amid the chaos of the high-stakes rap feud.
“Meet The Duckworths”: A Letter, A Lesson, A Lashing
In his second offering, Prime trades punches for poetry. “Meet The Duckworths” unfolds like an open letter — first to Kendrick, then his mother, and finally to Drake’s son. It’s introspective, ruthless, and thick with generational commentary.
To Kendrick
He positions himself as both a former admirer and a prophet warning of exploitation:
“Don’t let ‘em use your pain just to show they love it.”
“They’ll call you conscious, but they’ll market your grief / Turn your trauma to a stream, while they dine like a thief.”
Prime challenges Kendrick’s identity and evolution:
“You gon’ hear ‘King Kendrick’ a lot, they’ll flood you with praise / But remember—pedestals flip when the trends start to fade.”
To Paula (Kendrick’s Mother)
The second verse cuts deeper, holding Kendrick’s upbringing up to a mirror of accountability:
“You gave him melody, but never taught him peace in the chorus / No guidance, just force… and the silence with the belt.”
“He healed you in Morale, laid it all on the track / But I wonder, Paula—have you ever gave that love back?”
It’s raw and reflective, even referencing alleged family trauma:
“You a Black mom, no doubt, and the world been cold / But I’ma tell you ‘bout this boy I know—his name is Carmelo Anthony.”
To Adonis (Drake’s Son)
:The final verse is less an attack, more a generational memo:
“Dear Adonis, don’t trust these broken nas, they real dishonest. I promise.”*
“They do it to their own kin, just to win, but it’s a sin / And they don’t know it.”
Prime shifts into life-lesson mode, using his own growth to inspire:
Listen here:
“CTRL+C”: Aimed at the Brand, Not the Man
The first track, CTRL+C: A Kendrick Lamar Diss, is sharp, direct, and critiques what Prime views as cultural mimicry, industry shielding, and clout choreography. He raps:
“CTRL+C, boy, you copied the Bay / They thought it was yours, but you borrower.”
Prime accuses Kendrick of repackaging regional styles and hiding behind industry machinery:
“Bot farm got you safe / While the industry in a sting.”
And with surgical coldness, he questions Lamar’s Pulitzer win:
“Gassed off the Pulitzer Prize with googly eyes / That was for pity, they gave you your turn because of Pac & Biggie.”
The track closes with a mic-drop aimed at Kendrick’s Super Bowl performance:
“CTRL+Alt+DEL from the Super Bowl / Now it’s time to erase.”
Listen here:
The Bigger Picture
Together, these tracks make up a personal and political statement. While CTRL+C calls Kendrick out for artistic fronting, Meet The Duckworths speaks to the cost of commodifying pain, the weight of legacy, and the fragility of fame when tethered to systemic narratives.
And with Drake taking UMG to court for allegedly exploiting “Not Like Us” for profit and cultural spectacle, Prime’s records feel less like side beef and more like commentary on the cost of being Black, brilliant, and branded.
As Prime puts it:
“This a mirror, held still / A letter from the real to the dream you gonna build.”
⚠️ Disclaimer: This article discusses the music and public commentary of Hakeem Prime. All lyrical interpretations and views expressed are for editorial and informational purposes only. The lyrics, legal claims, and public references belong to their respective artists and sources. The content does not reflect the views of AllHipHop.com or its affiliates. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Listener and reader discretion is advised.
Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ request to delay his trial has been denied by a federal judge.
On Friday (April 18), Judge Arun Subramanian denied the two-month adjournment his legal counsel requested via a letter filed with the court on Wednesday (April 16). Judge Subramanian previously gave Combs’ legal counsel a 48-hour ultimatum to file the request, describing the proceedings leading up to the criminal trial as a “freight train.”
According to Fox News, Justin Combs and his mom and Diddy’s mother Janice Combs were in attendance at the hearing when the judge denied the request. Combs legal team will now have roughly three weeks to prepare their defense for the trial, which begins on May 5.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is back in court Friday ahead of his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Legal contributor, @BrianGBuckmire, breaks down what to expect and how both sides plan to focus on evidence and witnesses. pic.twitter.com/JXQN5zbNf1
Combs’ legal team reportedly cites the need for the pause in the case as a means to provide “the necessary time to prepare” the defense for their client—who now faces a superseding third indictment he was charged with on April 3 and arraigned on weeks later on April 14. A
Combs’ legal team claims the delay is needed in order to sift through roughly 200,000 emails and other materials they say haven’t been handed over by federal prosecutors.
Diddy’s legal team claims they are also waiting for at least 3,500 evidentiary materials and a witness list. Not to mention, they are concerned about a new charge against Diddy, which carries a 15-year mandatory minimum charge.
The request also followed Combs’ legal team adding Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, to the roster ahead of his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan next month.
Combs, who’s been in custody without bail since his September 2024 arrest, pleaded not guilty to two additional charges added earlier this month during his April 14 arraignment. He now faces five total counts, including racketeering, sex trafficking and transporting individuals for prostitution.
Chip is putting grime firmly back on the map with the release of his fifth studio album, Grime Scene Saviour.
The British musical icon released the project, a grime-first body of work, on Friday (April 18) under his independent label Cash Motto, marking a return to the genre that made him a household name.
Featuring a lineup of genre titans including Skepta, D Double E, JME, Frisco, Flirta D, Novelist and Flowdan, the album doubles as both a celebration and a declaration—grime is not just alive; it’s thriving.
The centerpiece track, “Grime Scene Saviours,” brought together multiple MCs for a lyrical showcase that honored the genre’s pioneers and ongoing evolution. The accompanying video, packed with rapid-fire verses and gritty visuals, amplified the message.
Chip – Grime Scene Saviours
“This time next week my true supporters will be riding to my latest body of work,” Chip wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post ahead of the release. “Of all the mixtapes, ep’s, albums and singles… this project has made me the HAPPIEST to create.”
He added, “Every synth, every high hat, every sharp snare, every classic sample. The list goes on. When I look at the art work for this body of work… front or back cover. I’ll remember the time we made Grime shake up the culture and conversations for a 3rd time round in life and be proud of my contribution.”
Chip, who first broke through with I Am Chipmunk in 2009 and later teamed up with Skepta and Young Adz for Insomnia in 2020, used this album to reassert his place in grime’s lineage—not as a ruler, but as a servant to the sound.
“I never wanted to be the Godfather,” he admitted, adding, “I never wanted to be the King. I wanted to make the fore-founders and creators proud. Being a trusted service on the microphone giving the glory to God and telling the truth about UK music history as someone who helped build the bridges for my generation and generations to come.”
The album also arrived with visuals for “Sexy Grime,” adding another layer to the rollout.
But Chip’s mission didn’t stop at the studio. In February, he hosted a sold-out Grime Scene Saviour show in London. The epic concert brought together 20 MCs from across the scene. The energy continues with a follow-up event, Grime Scene Saviours Reloaded, set for June 21 in London.
Chip’s Grime Scene Saviour is available now on all major platforms.
DDG didn’t hold back after Waka Flocka Flame took a jab at his fashion choices, calling out the veteran rapper during a Twitch livestream and making it clear he’s not here for the disrespect.
The tension started when Waka commented, “wtf you doin lil bra” under a photo DDG posted from Japan, where he was rocking oversized denim pants. The remark didn’t sit well with DDG, who addressed it live on stream.
“That boy Waka Flocka low key on dick, bro,” DDG said. “That s### be pissing me off. I ain’t even say nothing, but like, Waka Flocka?”
He didn’t stop there. DDG also took issue with what he sees as a pattern of negativity from Waka, mentioning another comment Waka allegedly made about DDG involving himself in “Female s###.”
“N#### quit speaking on me,” he added. “Why are you commenting on everything involving me negative.”
The YouTuber-turned-rapper later uploaded a clip of the livestream to his channel, titling it “Waka Flocka Got Beef With Me??” to further spotlight the exchange.
At one point during the stream, DDG even asked a passerby who they preferred between him and Waka Flocka. The fan didn’t recognize the Brick Squad rapper at all.
“Quit speaking on me,” DDG said. “That s### lame. N##### respect you; I expect the same respect; I’m a grown-ass man. Don’t try little bro me.”
