Diddy’s lawyers say his trial is on the verge of chaos after prosecutors blindsided his team with what he calls a calculated smear job.
His lawyers claim the feds plan to use a list of decades-old, uncharged sexual assault allegations just 60 days before the courtroom showdown.
“These incendiary allegations are substantially more serious than the charged offenses and if admitted, would make it impossible for Mr. Combs to receive a fair trial,” his lawyers wrote in a motion filed this week
The move caught Diddy’s defense off guard.
Prosecutors waited until the last possible moment to roll out the accusations—many from unknown accusers, with no witnesses, no corroboration, and some dating back to the 1980s.
“These are entirely new, untested, uncorroborated, and uninvestigated allegations,” the filing states. “Some are truly unknown to the defense… and some of the key witnesses… are dead.”
“Collectively, these new allegations require many months if not years to investigate,” the motion states, adding that the trial—initially estimated to last three weeks—could now balloon far beyond that.
Making matters worse, Diddy isn’t even allowed to see who some of his accusers are until April 18. That leaves barely a month to investigate claims that, in some cases, are older than some of the jurors likely will be.
His legal team slammed the government’s evidence as “scant,” accusing prosecutors of recycling claims from civil lawsuits aimed at pressuring him in other venues.
“Not one of the alleged assaults resulted in any criminal complaint or criminal charges,” they wrote.
The defense insists these claims were intentionally timed to throw off preparation.
His lawyers want the court to toss the accusations entirely, warning that if jurors hear them, it will be impossible to un-hear them.
“No limiting instruction could cure such prejudice,” they wrote, adding that “a mistrial would be required” if the evidence slips in.
They also asked the judge to hold a special hearing to see if any of the claims can be backed up.
“The Court should require the government to try the case it charged and prove that case to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The government should not be permitted to pollute the trial with decades of dirt and invite a conviction based on propensity evidence with no proper purpose by painting Mr. Combs as a bad guy who must have committed the charged crimes,” Diddy’s lawyers fumed.
There’s a significant reason J. Cole made this year’s Dreamville Festival the last one under its current name. The eccentric and elusive North Carolina native has reportedly sold the Dreamville Festival franchise. While the event will be rebranded in the coming years, Cole and his team will continue to assist with its production and execution.
Over the course of five years, Dreamville Festival became a massive success, reportedly bringing in around $10 million per day to Raleigh, North Carolina. That figure might even be conservative. The big buzz on the festival grounds wasn’t just about the performances. People want to know how much J. Cole made from selling the festival to Live Nation. Industry insiders speculated that the deal like this could have landed Cole World anywhere between $100 million and $200 million. Cole and his Dreamville brand will still be “powering” the event in future, so there’s likely some residual income involved as well.
On Sunday (April 6), J. Cole headlined the festival for what is the final time under the Dreamville name. The experience was nothing short of incredible. The crowd’s energy was warm and inviting, sort of like AfroPunk before Live Nation got that, too. See a trend? Weather was overcast but warm. The first day was blazing hot.
This year’s lineup was stacked with talent, including 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR and Lil Wayne (with Hot Boys and Big Tymers), Tems and Erykah Badu. They also had Keyshia Cole, Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim, Bas, Ludacris, Coco Jones, Ab-Soul, Young Nudy, Chief Keef, Ari Lennox, Lute, Omen,GloRilla, BigXthaPlug, J.I.D, Anycia, EARTHGANG, Cozz and others.. Each artist brought their A-game, and the performances felt like a celebration. Festivals are tough, but they made it look easy.
Notably, there were no surprise announcements, no last-minute guests (Badu did pull up) and no tension. The contrast to last year was noticeable. People hoped Kendrick Lamar would step out but NOPE! No peace treaty! There were appearances from TDE and OVO, Ab-Soul and Boi-1da, respectively. It was all love.
Dreamville 2025 felt like the END. People loved the vibes, music and spirit of the event, but we don’t know where this is heading. We really just hope it was worth it. The culture is valuable, which is why they keep buying it up. So, how much did J. Cole actually make from selling the Dreamville Festival? And most importantly, what will it become?
The Dreamville Festival is G.O.A.T.’ed. I guess we shall see, eh?
Terrence Howard said he distanced himself from Sean “Diddy” Combs after an uncomfortable encounter that began with acting lessons and ended with what he believed were sexual advances.
During a recent podcast appearance, Howard claimed Diddy invited him over repeatedly under the pretense of private coaching sessions but never actually rehearsed any material.
“Puffy invited me for weeks,” Howard said, claiming Diddy wanted him to be his acting coach for a while.”
According to Howard, the meetings were anything but professional.
“[I] go there, and he’s sitting around just looking. I’m like: ‘Okay, what’s the material you want to work on?’ He’s just looking at me,” he recalled. “Then next thing you know, okay: ‘Hey, will you help me? I wanna hear your music.’ So, I come over there and I’m playing the music. He’s sitting there, just looking at me, like waiting.”
Howard said it was his assistant who finally raised the red flag.
“So then my assistant was like: ‘He wants to hang out with you next weekend,'” he added. “I was like: ‘For what?’ He’s like: ‘I think he’s trying to f### you.'”
The “Empire” actor said he cut ties with Diddy shortly after that exchange, citing a broader refusal to compromise his values in Hollywood.
“I’ve lost businesses because I don’t bend over in that way,” Howard said. “I don’t compromise. I don’t play gay roles.”
He added, “I don’t kiss a man. I don’t do that s### because the man card means everything.”
Terrence Howard’s comments come as Diddy faces mounting legal troubles. On April 4, federal prosecutors added two more charges to Diddy’s case—sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution—bringing the total to five. The new charges involve alleged crimes committed between 2021 and 2024.
Prosecutors claim Diddy used his entertainment empire to orchestrate a network of sexual exploitation from 2004 to 2024.
The indictment includes allegations that he arranged drug-fueled sex parties known as “Freak Offs,” where women were pressured into performing.
One alleged victim, referred to as “Victim-2,” was reportedly coerced into commercial sex acts and transported across state lines.
Diddy’s legal team has denied all allegations, insisting the relationships were consensual and no trafficking occurred.
His trial is set to begin May 5 in Manhattan federal court. He remains in custody at a federal detention center in Brooklyn. If convicted on all counts, Diddy could face life in prison.
Boosie Badazz marked the upcoming arrival of his ninth child with a lavish baby shower, where he surprised his fiancée Rajel Nelson with a brand-new BMW SUV as a push gift.
At the bash on Saturday (April 5), the “Wipe Me Down” hitmaker also revealed their baby girl’s name—Sevyn.
The couple, dressed in matching yellow outfits, posed in front of a backdrop that spelled out “Sevyn,” confirming the name of their first child together.
Boosie shared a photo of the luxury vehicle on Instagram, writing, “#BABYSHOWER #familytime ALMOST THAT TIME TO POP OUT LITTLE GIRL ‘PUSH GIFT’ BEAMER FOR THE BABY TOO.”
The celebration brought together several family members, including Boosie’s daughter Poison Ivi, who posted a video from the party on her Instagram Story and also mentioned her unborn sister’s name. Ivi’s attendance follows previous public tension between her and her father.
The baby shower comes five months after Boosie announced in November 2024 that he and Nelson were expecting a daughter.
Boosie’s Fiancée On Having A Baby Before Marriage
The couple had initially planned to marry last April, but legal issues stemming from a court order have delayed their wedding.
Nelson discussed her desire to be married during a livestream last November.
“I did say I would like to be a wife before I have a kid, but God has blessed me to have a kid before I got married and that it okay,” she explained. “I’m not discrediting myself for being pregnant. I keep seeing everybody keep saying, ‘You need a ring. You need to be a wife.’ The majority of y’all in the world are bastards. That doesn’t mean you’re not a blessing from God. That don’t mean God don’t love you.”
Boosie has eight other children with seven different women and has been vocal about wanting to expand his family even further. He’s already looking ahead to baby number ten.
Little Brother—the celebrated duo of Grammy Award-nominated artist Phonte Coleman and Rapper Big Pooh—have announced their final tour.
Aptly titled the Curtain Call: The Final Tour, the run kicks off on May 24 in Baltimore at the Artscape Festival and wraps up with the Rock the Bells Cruise on October 31. Other stops along the way include Boston, Brooklyn, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Raleigh, North Carolina.
“I wante to let people know, me and Phonte, we super good,” Pooh tells AllHipHop. “We had a chance to reconcile, come back and, I believe, put Little Brother to bed the proper way. We was able to do it the right way and I believe that’s one of the things we both thought was important—not that when we knew when that day would be, but it was still important to have that moment and allow our fans to have that moment, too.”
Phonte adds, “Pooh said it beautifully. We came back after a decade and got our first No. 1 record, we did our own movie, we did our own block party and regained control of our catalog. Our work is complete. Our mission as Little Brother is complete. Pooh and I were really able to not just rebuild but also cement our brotherhood. That was the most important. That was the God of it. Our work as Little Brother is done. Our lives as Phonte and Thomas will go on forever.”
Originating from North Carolina, Little Brother was formed in 1998 alongside producer 9th Wonder. Their debut album, The Listening (2003), garnered critical acclaim for its introspective (and often comedic) lyrics and soulful production, establishing them as pioneers of “alternative Hip-Hop.”
The group’s name reflects their intent to carry on the legacy of earlier influential acts like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Despite their underground status, Little Brother gained national attention when 9th Wonder produced “Threat” for JAY-Z’s The Black Album the same year.
Their sophomore album, The Minstrel Show (2005), further cemented their reputation for blending sharp social commentary with humor and wit. The album offered blunt critiques on the commercialization of Hip-Hop through the lens of minstrel show imagery, earning widespread critical praise but limited commercial success.
Creative differences ultimately led to 9th Wonder’s departure in 2007, after which Phonte and Big Pooh continued as a duo. They released Getback (2007) and Leftback (2010), showcasing their adaptability and commitment to making authentic music despite industry challenges.
After a long hiatus, Little Brother reunited in 2019 to release May the Lord Watch, an album that revisited themes from their earlier work while reflecting their growth as both artists and people. The group’s legacy is highlighted in documentaries like May the Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story, which chronicles their rise, struggles with industry dynamics and enduring influence on the culture. It also sheds light on the beautiful and, at times, complicated brotherhood between Phonte and Pooh, something they talked about in a 2023 interview with SPIN.
Pooh, you talk about having a pulmonary embolism that could’ve, quite frankly, ended your life had you not gone to the emergency room. What lightbulb went off when that happened?
That was me facing my mortality at that point. Even though you think you understand life is fragile, when you’re faced with your own situation, that’s when you truly understand how important every day is. And I think that was the beginning of me understanding that—not fully—but how important every day is. I really had to start doing my own self-searching and my own work to really understand who I was and who I wanted to be.
Up until that point, I was just trying s###. I was just out there trying to figure things out. That was the turn of me actually maturing after that incident. I was living by the seat of my pants. That was a month before my 33rd birthday. I literally got out of the hospital two weeks before my birthday.
In the doc, Phonte, you admit you didn’t reach out to Pooh when he was in the hospital. How did it feel seeing Pooh’s reaction, and do you wish you’d handled that differently?
Phonte: It’s definitely something I would have done differently. One of the things of the film is brotherhood and how that means different things to different people. And also conflict and how that means different things to different people. For me at that time, the conflict was, “If we ain’t f###### with each other, then we ain’t f#####’ with each other.” When I got the call that Pooh was sick, it was never a thing of like, “I’m glad” or whatever. There was a moment like, “Man, I hate to hear about that. I’m gonna pray for him and keep it pushing.” But in my mind, I didn’t think he wanted to hear from me. I didn’t think me reaching out mattered to him because of where we were.
We had another version of the scene in the film where I was talking more about how I didn’t realize how severe his position was—because it wasn’t Pooh reaching out to me, it was another mutual friend of ours letting me know. We had that in the film at first, but after watching it, me and Pooh talked and decided to take it out. We didn’t need to have a whole bunch of, “Well, see, what had happened was…” No, own your s###. Your man was in the hospital, and you didn’t call him. Hindsight is always 20/20. Emotionally that’s where I was at the time, and the only thing I could do was just own that and grow past it.
With that in the rearview, Little Brother has been able to mend old wounds and move forward as a duo. While Little Brother as we know it may be coming to an end, their friendship will last a lifetime. Tickets go on sale Wednesday (April 9) here. Find the tour dates and revisit The Listening above.
Chrisean Rock said Blueface “went buck wild” after she ended their relationship ahead of her gospel single release, setting off a string of messy livestream moments and behind-bars drama.
During an Instagram Live on Sunday (April 6), the rapper and reality TV star revealed she broke up with Blueface just before releasing her track “Yahweh.” “
Right before I dropped the single, I broke up with my baby father,” she explained. “Then he went buck wild.”
According to Rock, Blueface didn’t take the breakup lightly. She claimed he acted out but tried to mask it with indifference.
“He reacted so crazy,” she said, adding that he immediately started blowing up her phone once she appeared on a livestream. She also alleged he’s been tuning in to her broadcasts from jail using a burner phone.
“And it’s getting to him,” she said. “So he’s back to unfollowing me.”
Blueface is currently serving a four-year sentence for violating probation, with a possible release in July 2025.
The pair had a tense exchange during a recent livestream with comedian Deshae Frost. Blueface called Rock midstream, prompting her to put him on speaker.
“I’m not doing nothing; I’m on stream,” she told him. “I’m about to get a tattoo. Deshae Frost first, I’m going next.” When he questioned her about who she was with, she responded, “We talked about this; why are you trying to be messy?”
Blueface called Chrisean Rock and started CRASHING OUT because she was streaming with Deshae Frost without telling him 😮🍿👀 pic.twitter.com/oE8joq6X0m
Rock also hinted she’s been seeing someone new, though she’s keeping the details private for now. Still, she suspects Blueface won’t take it well. “He gone try to do some evil stuff,” she said on IG Live.
While the two are no longer together, Rock hasn’t completely ruled out a reunion.
During another livestream, she said she might reconsider if Blueface “gets serious and does it right.” She even joked about getting another tattoo of him—this time on her other cheek.
Rock confirmed in March 2025 that the relationship was over, saying she chose to walk away and focus on her faith and career.
“I’ve decided to disassociate,” Rock tweeted. “To leave that man alone and focus on my career and the purpose Jesus called me for in the first place.”
The pair previously exchanged vows over the phone in November 2024, though it was not a legally binding marriage.
Real Boston Richey is reportedly facing a felony charge in Houston after allegedly assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, Tatiana Chanell, during a violent confrontation outside a nightclub last month.
According to court records obtained by The Neighborhood Talk, the Florida rapper is accused of choking Chanell repeatedly over two hours, causing her to lose consciousness and vomit.
The influencer, who is reportedly 19-year-old and two months pregnant with Richey’s child, told authorities he was fully aware of her condition during the alleged attack.
The altercation reportedly began when Richey snatched Chanell’s phone and escalated as he tried to drag her toward the back of his vehicle.
She claimed he threatened her life, saying, “If you call the police, I might as well kill you.”
A video from the night of the incident appears to show Richey grabbing Chanell’s phone during a heated argument in a parking lot outside Sekai nightclub on March 30.
Moments later, he steps toward her again before a group of bystanders and a mutual friend intervened to stop the situation from getting worse.
According to the outlet, Real Boston Richey is now facing a felony family violence charge and a separate theft allegation tied to the phone incident.
Richey has not made a public statement since the report surfaced. However, the rapper’s social media has been flooded with backlash, with many condemning his alleged actions in the comments of his latest post.
Drake is calling out Justin Bieber after the pop star invited potential collaborators to message him and then he allegedly ghosted the rapper’s response.
On Sunday (April 6), Bieber uploaded a carousel of blurry photos to Instagram. He captioned the post, “Dm me if u wanna make music together.”
Drake didn’t let the moment slide, jumping into the comments to say, “I DM’d but no reply.”
The comment quickly gained traction, with hundreds of users chiming in. Another famous artist, Big Sean, also added fuel to the moment by telling Bieber to “Check Dm’s.”
Big Sean previously worked with Bieber on the 2012 hit “As Long as You Love Me.”
Drake and Justin Bieber have shared a long-standing friendship that dates back over a decade. Drake appeared in the video for Bieber’s breakout single “Baby” in 2010 and even brought him out on stage at the Indianapolis State Fair that same year, referring to him as “my little brother.”
The two later teamed up on the track “Right Here” from Bieber’s 2013 album Believe.
Bieber’s recent online activity has stirred concern. Alongside teasing new music on Instagram, his appearance in the clips—looking weary and unkempt—prompted speculation about his well-being.
In March 2025, he posted emotionally raw messages about feeling “drowning” and struggling with imposter syndrome.
That concern intensified after paparazzi photos from February 2025 showed Bieber looking frail, sparking rumors of drug use. His team denied the claims, calling them “exhausting and pitiful.”
Meanwhile, Bieber’s personal life has also drawn attention. Reports suggest he and wife Hailey are in marriage counseling to work through relationship issues.
However, Hailey recently addressed speculation that she unfollowed Justin on Instagram, saying it was simply a glitch.
Kanye West ignited fresh controversy after previewing a track from his upcoming WW3 album that takes a direct shot at Drake and includes inflammatory references to Adolf Hitler.
The divisive rapper continued teasing the project during a livestream Sunday (April 6).
The song, titled “Heil Hitler,” features a line aimed squarely at the Toronto rapper: “N##### be actin like f###### so much I think they might be Drake…”
Kanye West was on livestream today again recording music for his WW3 album, including a song about H*tler
"n*ggas be actin like f**g*ts so much I think they might be Drake… they dont understand the things I say on Twitter… all my n*ggas N*z*s n*gga H*il H*tler…"
The track is part of West’s 11-song project WW3, which he has publicly stated will contain antisemitic content.
The album includes titles such as “Hitler Ye and Jesus,” “Free Diddy,” “Cosby” and “Virgil Let Me Down.” The release continues West’s recent embrace of far-right rhetoric and Nazi imagery, a shift that has alienated many in the music industry and beyond.
Kanye West’s Love-Hate Relationship With Drake
Earlier this month, West posted conflicting sentiments about Drake while dissing J. Cole.
“How I hate Drake and I’m team Drake at the same time,” he tweeted. “Life is funny like that It’s the weird thing where I feel closest to Drake outta any body in rap.”
He followed that with a post reading simply, “Drake #1.”
In contrast, West criticized J. Cole, writing, “I hate J Cole music so much It’s like between Kendrick and J Cole. I bet you industry plants asked J Cole to diss Drake then we would have been accosted with a J Cole Super Bowl commercial with no SZA song to save it.”
J. Cole capped off the last Dreamville Festival under its original name by bringing out Erykah Badu on Sunday night (April 6) in Raleigh for a surprise soulful performance of “Too Deep for the Intro.”
The song samples Badu’s 2000 track “Didn’t Cha Know” from her Mama’s Gun album.
The moment unfolded on a stage designed to resemble Cole’s former Queens apartment, known affectionately as “Mohammad’s Crib,” adding a personal touch to the festival’s emotional finale.
Held at Dorothea Dix Park on April 5-6, the fifth and final Dreamville Festival drew tens of thousands of attendees.
The two-day event featured a stacked lineup, with Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, and Keyshia Cole headlining Saturday.
The festival’s bill included performances from Tems, GloRilla, J.I.D., Wale, Coco Jones, EarthGang, BigXthaPlug and Ari Lennox before Cole and Badu closed the show.
Keyshia Cole marked the 20th anniversary of her debut album, The Way It Is, while Lil Wayne reunited with the Hot Boys and Big Tymers for a rare set.
Although this was the last festival under the Dreamville name, organizers confirmed the event will return in 2026 under a new brand.
J. Cole Addresses Future Of Dreamville Festival
J. Cole addressed the upcoming changes during his set.
“We said this is the last Dreamville Festival,” Cole told the crowd. “I’m just keeping it one hundred with y’all; that s### be a lot.”
He confirmed, “This festival will exist,” before adding the Dreamville name may be gone, but the “family reunion” feel will continue.
The city of Raleigh has signed a multi-year agreement to keep the festival at Dorothea Dix Park for at least four more years.
The new version is expected to stay true to its Hip-Hop roots and maintain the community-driven feel that has defined Dreamville since its launch.
Cole’s longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, said the goal is to preserve the festival’s spirit, describing it as a “family reunion” that unites people from around the world.
J. Cole will continue to be involved behind the scenes, though it’s unclear how often he’ll take the stage moving forward.
92Byu (@92byu) keeps the momentum going with the release of the official visuals for his standout single “Repeat”, following an impressive run across streaming platforms and social media. Since its February drop, “Repeat” continues to resonate with fans for its high energy, introspective lyrics and overall vibe.
Blending infectious melodies with nostalgic touches, “Repeat” features a slick, laid-back groove underscored by a masterfully flipped Mary J. Blige sample, courtesy of producer NattCarlos. 92Byu rides the beat with precision and heart, offering a reminder that the greatest success lies in loving the journey, not just the destination.
“The meaning behind the title is about doing what you love, loving the process, and repeating it,” says 92Byu. “It’s about being present, having fun, and still staying grounded.”
Since its release, “Repeat” has seen traction across social media and has sparked buzz online thanks to its thoughtful themes and replay-ready production. The track follows in the footsteps of fan favorites like “Catch A Vibe” and “Love Me or Not,” but marks a new era for the artist as he embraces full creative direction.
Now, 92Byu adds a cinematic layer with the release of the visuals, directed by the artist himself. “I wanted the visuals to reflect who I truly am—raw, real, and completely unfiltered,” he shares. “No gimmicks, no filters—just the art.”
“Repeat” sets the tone for what’s shaping up to be a milestone year for 92Byu. The track will appear on his upcoming project. Through his independent label 9ine11 Records, 92Byu is also gearing up to spotlight new talent and push creative boundaries.
“This is only the beginning,” he says. “I’m just getting started.”
Blueface‘s mother, Karlissa Saffold, is once again questioning her son’s taste in women. Last week, his alleged “side chick” shared a video of her new tramp stamp tattoo that reads “Jonathan” across her lower back. The problem? His name is spelled Johnathan [Jamall Porter].
Over the weekend, Saffold shared a screenshot to her Instagram Stories of some messages she exchanged with a fan, who asked her if the tattoo was spelled correctly. She had a snarky caption to go along with it: “Y’all can @ me before you tatt the wrong name. That’s not my sons name girl. @bluefasebabyy likem slow yall.”
Blueface has prompted multiple women to tattoo his name or likeness on their bodies. The mother of his third child, Chrisean Rock, has his portrait on her cheek and recently said she’d be willing to get another one on her other cheek but he’d have to “be serious and do it right.”
Rock’s confession arrived after she insisted the two are no longer in a relationship during a contentious back-and-forth with Blueface’s other ex, Jaidyn Alexis.
“He’s not the prize if its community penis,” she tweeted at the time. “I don’t trust him. I’ve decided to disassociate/to leave that man alone and focus on my career and the purpose Jesus called me for in the first place. I took risk and that risk ran it’s course.”
Blueface is currently serving a four-year prison sentence after violating his probation, which stems from a 2021 assault case involving a security guard at a North Hollywood lounge. Initially, Blueface had avoided prison due to a suspended sentence, but he was later caught with drug paraphernalia, prompting the judge to impose the maximum sentence.
Blueface has been incarcerated since January 2024 and is serving his sentence at North Kern State Prison in California. His manager, Wack 100, stated that Blueface had already served over 440 days in jail prior to sentencing. He’s expected to be eligible for release after completing about one-third of his sentence, potentially as early as this month.
In addition to this case, Blueface has faced other legal troubles, including an arrest for robbery in Las Vegas in 2023 and charges of attempted murder related to an incident in October 2022.
A 45-year-old man filed for divorce from his wife after USHER “seduced” her at a London concert. The claim started making the rounds on social media over the weekend and suggested the husband was upset that his wife, who “has never kissed him in public,” appeared intimately engaged with a “complete stranger in the presence of 20,000 people.”
During the show, which took place at the O2 Arena, the R&B star sang “There Goes My Baby” to a female audience member and simultaneously offered her two cherries. Their intense eye contact and close proximity to each other drew loud cheers from the crowd. The salacious interaction was widely described as seductive, with some fans describing it as “electric” and “like a private moment” on social media.
In the clip, she can be seen saying, “Whatever you want to do.” But a source tells AllHipHop the narrative is totally false.
🔥🚨BREAKING: A 45 year old man has filed for Divorce from his wife after she allowed Grammy winning singer Usher Raymond to ‘seduce her on stage.’
The husband claims, the woman has never kissed him in public and he was shocked that she could do that to a ‘complete stranger in… pic.twitter.com/qItccLYonA
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) April 6, 2025
Granted, USHER has caused problems in other people’s relationships before. In 2023, an interaction between USHER and actress Keke Palmer at his Las Vegas concert went viral. As part of his show, USHER serenaded Palmer and she danced along while wearing a sheer black dress, leading her then-boyfriend Darius Jackson to publicly criticize her attire on social media, stating, “It’s the outfit tho… you a mom.”
His comments ignited widespread backlash online and brought attention to their relationship dynamics. In the aftermath, Palmer described the incident as a fun moment that was blown out of proportion. She expressed shock at how it became a storyline suggesting romantic involvement with USHER, which she firmly denied.
The public scrutiny contributed to tensions in her relationship with Jackson, which she later described as “unhealthy.” The couple eventually broke up amid allegations of domestic violence and a custody battle over their son, Leo. However, they have since reached an amicable joint custody agreement.
USHER and Palmer later reflected on the incident during an episode of her podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. USHER attempted to absolve himself of responsibility for the fallout, emphasizing that his intention was purely entertainment. The two also collaborated on his video for “Boyfriend,” which playfully referenced the controversy.
Palmer has since used the experience to highlight broader issues of fame, relationships and public perception while maintaining a positive outlook on co-parenting and her career.
Tina Knowles marked Beyonce and JAY-Z’s 17th wedding anniversary with a heartfelt message and personal video montage celebrating their enduring bond and resilience.
“Happy 17th anniversary to two of my favorite people in the whole wide world!!!!,” Knowles wrote in an Instagram post alongside a video featuring intimate moments from the couple’s relationship. “[Love] your love and commitment, and the ability to block out all the outside noises is remarkable. True love rises above all the bulls—t. Enjoy your day.”
The tribute offered a rare public glimpse into the private world of one of music’s most influential couples, who tied the knot in a secret ceremony on April 4, 2008.
Beyonce and JAY-Z had been close friends for more than a year before they began dating, eventually building a relationship that has weathered public scrutiny and personal challenges.
Known for fiercely guarding their personal lives, Beyonce and JAY-Z have nonetheless shared parts of their journey through music.
Their collaborative album, Everything is Love, and their joint On The Run tours gave audiences a curated look into their partnership as artists and spouses. The couple’s marriage has not been without strain.
JAY-Z publicly acknowledged his infidelity in 2017, a rare moment of vulnerability that added context to earlier solo projects like Beyoncé’s Lemonade and his own 4:44.
Despite the turbulence, they’ve remained committed to each other and their family. They are parents to three children—Blue Ivy, born in 2012, and twins Rumi and Sir, born in 2017.
Blue Ivy has already made headlines for joining her mother on stage during performances, while the twins are occasionally seen in family photos and videos shared by Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
The couple’s wedding date, April 4, holds symbolic meaning for them, as the number four is significant in their lives. Beyoncé was born on September 4, JAY-Z on December 4 and the number appears in several of their creative works.
Little Simz postponed the release of her upcoming album Lotus to June after landing a last-minute film role that disrupted her original schedule.
The British rapper took to Instagram to explain the delay, which pushes the album back nearly a month from its original May 9 release date.
“Hey guys, I’m having to push my album back due to scheduling of shooting a movie that just came in,” she wrote. “Not ideal for me or you I know, trust me I’ve tried many ways around it but just means I can’t do the film otherwise. If there was ever a time I ask for your grace and patience it is now. I’m sorry maynnnnn, I proper am. But only a few more extra weeks then yours.”
Simz didn’t reveal the name of the film or her role, but the opportunity was significant enough to shift her music plans.
She’s no stranger to the screen, having played Shelley in Netflix’s Top Boy and Meleka in Youngers.
Her acting debut came as Vicky in the BBC’s Spirit Warriors and she made a cameo as herself in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, performing her track “Venom.”
Despite the delay, Simz has more on her calendar.
She’s slated to perform a special orchestral set at London’s Meltdown Festival in June 2025, adding another layer to her already multifaceted career.
A vivid mural meant to honor Hip-Hop’s birthplace at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue has sparked a legal clash between city officials and the property’s ownership group, Workforce Housing.
The graffiti installation is at the center of a dispute over what the city says is unauthorized and commercial signage.
The iconic Bronx apartment complex, widely celebrated as the launching pad of Hip-Hop culture thanks to DJ Kool Herc’s groundbreaking 1973 party is now in legal controversy.
The New York City Department of Buildings has already issued two code violations. One violation cited the property’s management for using prohibited signage that includes a URL—Birthplace of Hip Hop NYC. They object to the site selling memorabilia.
“We’re not going to back down from it,” John Crotty, founder of Workforce Housing to New York’s Fox 5, said. “We’re not going to stop. We’re not going to acquiesce to it.”
Crotty argues the mural is art, not marketing. He also believes the city’s actions infringe on the First Amendment rights of the artists and the community’s ability to celebrate cultural legacy.
“We have the power to speak,” Crotty continued. “The power to say and say what is necessary in the places we think that is true. There are limitations to it, but building signage is not relevant to it because in the end of the day, the message is about Hip-Hop. The building is where it began. We don’t think we should bow to anyone.”
The Department of Buildings in New York City sees it differently.
Officials said Crotty failed to gain proper approval from the Department of Cultural Affairs under the City Canvas program. This is a city initiative that permits public art on temporary protective structures with guidelines.
Crotty has already been hit with a $2,500 fine, but he intends to contest in court.
Lil Nas X said he believes releasing his provocative 2021 hit “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” in today’s political environment would put his life at risk.
He cited the return of Donald Trump to the presidency and a more hostile conservative climate, which could potentially put his life at risk.
“If I did that today, they’d actually try to kill me, like I’m not kidding,” Lil Nas X told Paper magazine.
The track, which featured biblical imagery and LGBTQ+ themes, ignited controversy when it dropped three years ago.
But Lil Nas X suggested the backlash would be far more dangerous now.
The 25-year-old artist, born Montero Hill, is promoting his latest project, Dreamboy, which includes the upbeat single “Hotbox.”
He said the song is meant to offer a brief escape from the chaos of the world.
“I know a lot of people are very scared in the world right now, about all the s**t that’s happening, especially in our own country,” he said. “I don’t want to think about it. And I don’t mean that in the sense of being dismissive. If this song could even for three minutes make somebody forget what’s going on and feel some oblivious joy, then so be it.”
Lil Nas X also opened up about the emotional toll of public scrutiny and credited singer Camila Cabello with helping him regain confidence after collaborating on her track “He Knows” last summer.
“We did a great job at uplifting each other and showing each other how we view the situation and how we view each other from outside of ourselves,” he said.
“To hear affirmation from somebody who you greatly respect and you love what they’ve done, it feels great, especially because you can feel like it comes from a genuine place, and not like someone trying to get something from you.”
K-Pop group Kiss of Life is being accused of being nothing but a bunch of racists after a birthday livestream featuring the group dressed in early 2000s Hip-Hop attire and dancing to 50 Cent’s “In da Club.”
The cringy video drew accusations of blackfishing and cultural appropriation.
The March 29 video, intended as a celebration for member Julie, instead ignited outrage for its use of 50 Cent’s#### song, cornrows, Bantu knots and gold chains—styling many online said leaned into harmful stereotypes of Black culture.
The South Korean girl group has reportedly lost more than 200,000 followers across social media platforms and their label, S2 Entertainment, was forced to respond.
The company initially described the video as a tribute to Hip-Hop’s influence on the group’s music but acknowledged that the content “could be perceived as offensive.”
On April 5, the four members—Julie (Julie Han), Natty (Anatchaya Suputhipong), Belle (Shim Hye-won) and Haneul (Won Ha-neul)—issued a handwritten apology, admitting they had crossed a line.
“We really want to sincerely apologize for the content that was uploaded that caused so much disappointment to our fans,” the letter read. “We have to seem calm on the outside but the time leading up to this letter has honestly been hard.”
The group, which debuted in July 2023, said they now understand the video was culturally insensitive and pledged to take full responsibility.
“While shooting the content we ended up taking the concept too far,” they wrote. “We realize now that our content was culturally insensitive and take full responsibility for our actions and can only promise to do better.”
The apology acknowledged the delay in addressing the issue and emphasized that the members had spent the days following the livestream reflecting on the impact of their actions.
“We know that there is nothing we can say or do that will magically fix the mistake we made,” the group wrote. “The only thing that we can promise is that we’ll continue to educate ourselves and show our sincerity through our actions rather than words.”
The controversy has placed Kiss of Life among a growing list of K-pop acts accused of appropriating Black culture, including BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Mamamoo, BTS’s RM and G-Dragon, who once dressed as Trayvon Martin in blackface.
Despite the backlash, the group said they remain committed to spreading positivity through music.
“We truly regret the choices we made and are genuinely sorry for any pain and distress we have caused our fans,” the letter concluded. “This situation has been a valuable learning experience for us.”
SZA refused to budge when her team pushed for John Cena instead of Ben Stiller to star in her “Saturn”-era music video for “Drive,” insisting the role was meant for the comedy icon and no one else.
“Saturn” features the Zoolander actor lip-syncing behind the wheel before stepping out to perform a string of awkward, offbeat dance moves.
“I can’t thank you enough. I can’t even believe you said yes,” SZA told Stiller during the podcast. “Full transparency, right, they tried to get me to concede to John Cena and I was like, ‘No.'”
“I love John Cena; shout-out to fine-ass John Cena. I was like, ‘No, I need my Ben, please.’ I can’t even believe you said yes. They were like, ‘No, no, no, it’s too far-fetched, it’s never gonna happen.’ And I was like, ‘OK, well, I can’t see it any other way.'”
SZA said her admiration for Stiller runs deep, calling him a lifelong source of happiness and creativity. “You’ve brought me so much joy and inspiration my entire f###### life,” she said.
Stiller, who directed and produced Apple TV+’s Severance, responded with a laugh, saying, “So happy that John Cena didn’t get it.”
Their collaboration came after a playful exchange on social media in May 2023, when SZA publicly demanded the second season of Severance “right the f### now.” Stiller replied, “Ok ok got it,” prompting SZA to walk it back and tell him to take his time. That online moment eventually led to her guest appearance on the show’s companion podcast.
The feds just made it crystal clear—some of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ accusers won’t be testifying under their real names—if they can help it.
Prosecutors asked Judge Arun Subramanian to let three of the four expected victims in the upcoming trial testify using pseudonyms.
They say it’s the only way to prevent these women from being dragged through the mud by the press, stalked by the public and humiliated in real-time while recounting graphic allegations of abuse.
They pointed to similar protections granted in other high-profile cases like those involving Ghislaine Maxwell, R. Kelly and NXIVM’s Keith Raniere.
Victim-1, widely believed to be Diddy’s ex Cassie Ventura, is fine using her name. However, Victim 2, Victim 3 and Victim 4 want their identities kept out of public view.
The Government wants the victims to be able to use pseudonyms during testimony, blocking the defense from asking for identifying details and sealing court exhibits that contain their names.
Prosecutors emphasized that Diddy already knows who the women are. So does the jury. It’s the public—and the media—who won’t. That’s because, according to the Government, the case has become a spectacle.
Coverage has been relentless since Diddy was indicted in March of 2024 on sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution-related charges. The spotlight has zeroed in on the accusers.
And prosecutors say that’s exactly the kind of attention that makes victims go silent. They’re asking the court to avoid piling on.
The fallout could follow them forever if their real names were linked to what prosecutors describe as “inflammatory” details.
Prosecutors also say these women have expressed fears about harassment, professional retaliation and losing their jobs. One already made her concerns known about public backlash affecting her future.
While some victims may have been named in news stories or lawsuits, the Government says that doesn’t matter.
“The choice of a victim to publicly discuss a crime is not analogous to being put on the stand about it,” prosecutors argued. “In court, the victim will not be able to choose how and to what level of detail she discusses the crime.”
They also warned that revealing identities could discourage other survivors from coming forward—not just in this case but in future ones.
Documents shown in court will be shared with jurors but redacted for the public. And prosecutors are open to giving jurors a simple explanation: that pseudonyms are being used out of respect for privacy — not to punish the defense.
For now, it’s up to Judge Subramanian to decide whether those protections go into effect.
Diddy is charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jury selection will start on May 5, while opening statements are scheduled for May 13.
