DDG chopped off his signature locs in front of 60,000 live viewers on Twitch after surpassing his 40,000-subscriber goal during his weeklong “Hit-A-Thon” livestream, where he made an entire album from scratch.
The rapper and YouTuber had promised to cut his hair if he reached the milestone during the 24/7 Twitch event, which ran from March 24 to March 31.
By the end of the stream, he had gained more than 42,000 new subscribers and hit a peak of over 90,000 concurrent viewers.
“Cutting my dreads right now on Twitch,” DDG told the audience. “It’s 60,000 people watching on Twitch.”
Before the first loc was snipped, DDG invited his friends to help, asking, “Y’all wanna cut one?”
When the first strand came off, he shouted, “Noooo,” as one of his friends held it up to the camera.
Once the last loc hit the floor, DDG was ready for a clean fade. But the new look won’t stick around for long.
“I’mma go right back to where I started,” he said. “I’mma be a sky top again. I got to grow everything out.”
The haircut capped off a high-energy week that blurred the lines between music creation and live entertainment.
Throughout the stream, viewers helped shape the album by voting on beats, giving feedback on lyrics and even influencing which songs made the final cut.
DDG also brought in a steady stream of collaborators, including Ty Dolla $ign, Kevin Gates, Rich the Kid and Shaboozey. Twitch personalities like Kai Cenat, Adin Ross and Deshae Frost also joined, adding to the event’s momentum.
Earlier in the week, after hitting 35,000 subscribers, DDG took on a Fear Factor-style challenge involving “wild animals,” adding another layer of unpredictability to the stream.
The “Hit-A-Thon” wrapped March 31 after seven days of nonstop streaming.
Bishop Brigante, a cornerstone of Canada’s Hip-Hop and battle rap scenes, died on Sunday (March 30) following a fight with cancer at age 41.
His son, Lito, confirmed the news of his passing on Instagram, revealing that Brigante died peacefully and vowed to carry on his father’s legacy.
“My father was many things, but at most he was a fighter,” Brigante’s son Lito shared. “He overcame so many obstacles in his lifetime and not once said something was ‘impossible.'”
He added, “I’ve spent the last 19 years learning from such an incredible man. An incredible man I’m so proud to call my father. Not only did he fight for himself, but he fought just as hard to make sure others wouldn’t go through the same trials.”
The Toronto native, born and raised in the city’s west end, became the first Canadian to win three straight weeks on BET’s “Freestyle Friday,” a feat that cemented his name in battle rap history.
He later transitioned into music, releasing singles including “That’s the Way,” “Shorty Grindin’,” and “It’s Fo’ Twenty,” which earned major airplay across Canadian radio.
Brigante’s influence stretched beyond the mic. He collaborated with Hip-Hop heavyweights including Drake, Nate Dogg, MC Lyte and Sticky Fingaz, and hit the road with acts like Busta Rhymes and G-Unit. His debut album, Legacy, served as both a personal memoir and a tribute to Canadian Hip-Hop.
He also appeared on screen, with roles in the 2002 crime drama Narc alongside Ray Liotta and Jason Patric and the 2003 television series Platinum. He even took the stage in a production of A Clockwork Orange.
Brigante played a key role in Canada’s premier battle rap league, King of the Dot, helping to elevate the platform and mentor up-and-coming talent.
In October 2023, Brigante revealed he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
The following month, Joe Budden spotlighted Brigante’s health battle on The Joe Budden Podcast, urging listeners to support his GoFundMe campaign. Budden pledged financial help and followed through with a sizable donation.
Brigante later said Budden’s contribution was “more helpful than I could’ve ever imagined” and credited Budden’s manager, Ian Schwartzman and the Joe Budden Network for stepping in when he needed it most. “It came at a time when I was at my worst,” Brigante said.
Donald Trump floated the idea of a third presidential term, brushing off constitutional limits and claiming “a lot of people want me to do it.”
Trump said he is “not joking” about seeking a third run for the White House, despite the clear restrictions in the 22nd Amendment, which bars anyone from being elected president more than twice.
“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said durijng a phone call with NBC News Sunday (March 30), though he declined to offer specifics.
He floated one hypothetical scenario involving JD Vance, suggesting the Vice President could win the presidency and later “pass the baton” back to him.
Trump did not explain how that would work under the Constitution, which also blocks anyone ineligible for the presidency from serving as vice president.
While he admitted “it is far too early” to seriously pursue a third term, Trump made clear he hasn’t ruled it out.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” he said, adding that he believes his work is unfinished.
The idea of extending Trump’s time in office has gained traction among some of his allies.
Rep. Andy Ogles and former White House strategist Steve Bannon have publicly supported amending the Constitution to allow Trump to run again.
Such a change would require a steep climb: either a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress or a constitutional convention called by 34 states, followed by approval from three-fourths of state legislatures.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, was designed to prevent this kind of extended hold on executive power.
It also stipulates that anyone who has served more than two years of another president’s term may only be elected once.
The Twelfth Amendment further blocks any attempt to return to office through the vice presidency, stating that no one ineligible to be president can serve as vice president.
Sean Kingston addressed his followers for the first time since he and his mother, Janice Turner, were convicted in a federal fraud case involving over $1 million in stolen goods and services.
The Hip-Hop artist posted a short message to his Instagram Stories over the weekend, days after a Florida jury found the pair guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“Lately they’ve been trying to break me on the daily,” Kingston wrote, seemingly quoting a new song he is working on, while adding broken heart emoji.
The verdict came on Friday (March 28), after just three hours of deliberation following a five-day trial in which prosecutors accused the duo of orchestrating a scheme to obtain luxury items—including high-end jewelry and a Cadillac Escalade—through fake wire transfers and forged documents.
Kingston, 34, was not taken into custody immediately after the verdict. He remains under house arrest with electronic monitoring. According to court records, his bail terms include a $200,000 cash bond and a $500,000 property bond.
Turner, 62, was detained on the spot.
Prosecutors argued she posed a flight risk due to her criminal history and called her the “fixer and mastermind” behind the operation. Both were labeled “masters of deception” by the government during closing arguments.
Each of the five counts—one for conspiracy and four for wire fraud—carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for July 11, 2025.
Jeannie Mai opened up about the emotional aftermath of her split from rapper Jeezy and how raising their daughter Monaco alone has become her greatest source of strength and self-discovery.
Speaking publicly after their highly publicized divorce, finalized following Jeezy’s September 2023 filing, Jeannie Mai reflected on the unexpected reality of parenting solo.
“Because it’s never what you picture, you know? You don’t ideally think to have a child and have that whole responsibility to yourself,” she told Sherri Shepherd.
The former The Real co-host described the experience as both challenging and empowering.
“I realized that the gift in being a single mom is that you learn how to trust yourself,” she said. “You learn that you good, you got it, you know instinctively what to do.”
Jeannie Mai and Jeezy started dating in late 2018 after meeting on the set of her daytime talk show.
But the marriage unraveled quickly. Jeezy filed for divorce in Fulton County Superior Court in September 2023, citing that the relationship was “irretrievably broken.”
Since then, Mai has accused him of infidelity and alleged “explosive outbursts, excessive drinking, and domestic violence,” claims Jeezy has denied.
Despite the turmoil, Mai says motherhood has helped her reconnect with herself.
“You don’t have to check with anybody else. You know exactly what your daughter needs in love, you know exactly how your children need to be seen and heard,” she explained.
She also shared how raising Monaco has helped her heal old wounds.
“I’m reparenting myself through Monaco and I’m learning that I always had it.”
Their divorce was finalized earlier this year, closing a chapter that began with a proposal in April 2020 and ended in a courtroom three years later.
Freddie Gibbs had a question for Wale after the D.C. rapper posted a photo of himself posing next to his Porsche. Gibbs took to Twitter with a re-tweet of the picture and asked, “Why you got a handicap joint in your car?”
Wale replied, “I can’t drive,” although he didn’t offer any more context.
The photo, which appeared to be taken on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, eventually made the rounds. Once fans got involved, they started telling Gibbs to mind his own business. Others joked Wale was simply trying to get “good parking.” Some were even focused on his headwear, with many calling it the ugliest hat they’d ever seen.
Whatever the case, Gibbs is known for his vicious sense of humor and sharp wit—and he loves trolling people. Although he often blurs the lines between humor and controversy, most of his jabs at fellow artists are playful in nature. Gibbs’ approach to social media is unique; he views trolling as part of his creative process, even going so far as to create burner accounts to keep his online antics fresh and unpredictable.
However, Gibbs once faced criticism for posting a video of a man having a mental breakdown, which some perceived as insensitive. Additionally, his long-standing feud with Akademiks has been marked by personal attacks and heated exchanges, with both parties trading insults and accusations. Gibbs even went as far to produce Teletubbies merch targeting Akademiks.
Despite any controversies, Gibbs remains unapologetic about his online behavior, often using comedy to deflect criticism.
Gibbs’ latest album, You Only Die 1nce, was released in November 2024 via AWAL Recordings. The 13-track project served as a follow-up to his critically acclaimed $oul $old $eparately and continued Gibbs’ tradition of delivering raw, introspective storytelling.
Narrated by Slink Johnson (known as Black Jesus from Cartoon Network), the album explores themes of stardom, personal struggles and existential musings, all while Gibbs is metaphorically pursued by Satan. Standout tracks include “Brick Fees,” inspired by Three 6 Mafia, and “It’s Your Anniversary,” which samples Tony! Toni! Toné!.
Nelly playfully questioned Sexyy Red’s claim that they’re related during a recent appearance on Big Boy’s radio show, stirring up some amusing confusion about their family ties.
The funny exchange began when Sexyy Red told Big Boy, “This is my real blood cousin. People don’t believe we’re cousins.”
The revelation emerged after someone at the radio station doubted the two rappers’ relationship, prompting Sexyy Red to insist she had always known about their shared lineage.
Nelly, however, wasn’t entirely convinced. With joked that their southern accents sound alike, implying that Sexyy Red’s claim might be a stretch.
Still, he affectionately referred to her as “my folks,” suggesting a friendly bond even if the bloodline remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Big Boy reminded listeners that Sexyy Red previously claimed she was related to Cardi B during an previous appearance on his show.
While Cardi B hasn’t addressed the claim, she previously confirmed she’s related to another female rapper. She also addressed the familial connection on Big Boy’s show when he doubted GloRilla’s claims they share a bloodline.
“No, we’re cousins,” Cardi insisted. “Like a lot of people don’t know this. This is a true story. My grandfather used to like—I don’t like to put my family business out, but he used to push weight and everything. And there was this one time that he lived in Tennessee and whatever. So, he ain’t told my grandma that he was dealing with somebody over there. And then he had a kid out there and that’s GloRilla’s dad and everything. So that’s what makes us related.”
Erykah Badu made quite the statement at the Billboard Women in Music event in Los Angeles on Saturday (March 29). The neo-soul goddess took the stage wearing an outfit that accentuated her rear end in what appeared to be a statement on Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) culture.
Naturally, the look made the rounds on social media, with many applauding Badu for being bold enough to rock the tan, big booty suit. Others thought it was hilarious to put those who do partake in outrageous plastic surgery procedures on blast.
Erykah Badu will always find a way to send a message within her appearance. This….made all them BBLs b###### look stupid. Because this is how y’all look. A hot d###### mess pic.twitter.com/BXSctj0DcQ
Summer Walker presented the Music Icon Award to Badu, who was the doula that delivered Walker’s twin sons.
“She’s been my fave artist since I was 12,” Walker said, before introducing a video that captured the influence Badu has had on so many others.
“As an artist,” Badu said, “I never thought it was my job to be [limited] to any one category.” During her speech, Badu shared a story in which she explained to her daughter, Mars Merkaba Badu Electronica, that the v##### was the most important thing on earth.
Erykah Badu at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 event in Los Angeles last night pic.twitter.com/kXAsRlQdeh
The Billboard Women in Music 2025 event took place at the YouTube Theater. Hosted by Laverne Cox, the ceremony celebrated the achievements of influential women across the music industry, from artists to executives.
Doechii was honored as Woman of the Year for her groundbreaking contributions and innovative sound, while aespa received Group of the Year. Other notable honorees included Ángela Aguilar as Breakthrough Artist and Jennie from BLACKPINK with the Global Force Award.
The evening also recognized figures like Tina Knowles, who was named Mother of the Year, and Gracie Abrams, awarded Songwriter of the Year. The event featured live performances by honorees such as Ángela Aguilar, Tyla, Megan Moroney, Badu and Muni Long.
The ceremony was broadcasted for free via VIZIO WatchFree+, making it accessible to a wide audience. The red carpet saw appearances from artists like Meghan Trainor and GloRilla.
Badu, meanwhile, is prepping her next album with The Alchemist. It will mark her first official studio album since 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). She released the mixtape But You Cain’t Use My Phone in 2015.
Blac Chyna is sharing insights about co-parenting with her famous exes, Tyga and Rob Kardashian, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and firm boundaries.
During a recent sit-down with Access Hollywood, the 36-year-old reality star and entrepreneur didn’t hold back when asked about her best advice for navigating shared parenting duties.
“I think the main thing is communication,” Chyna began. “And also, learning your boundaries.”
She further explained her stance, adding, “Sometimes people lose themselves and they’re so caught up in the other parent’s business to where they can’t even focus on themselves. But ultimately, focus on the kid, show respect, have boundaries and communication, and you should have a healthy co-parenting life.”
Blac Chyna also had some advice for those tempted to rekindle the flame with their co-parents.
She strongly advised against mixing romance with parenting duties, urging parents to clearly separate the two. “If you say you’re done, be done. Don’t be off and on with them… that can stir up some stuff,” she warned.
The former relationship drama involving Chyna has been well-documented over the years.
She first became a mother in 2012, welcoming son King with rapper Tyga. Although the pair got engaged, they called it quits in 2014.
Two years later, Chyna made headlines again when she and reality TV personality Rob Kardashian welcomed daughter Dream. Their whirlwind romance and engagement ended abruptly after just six months, sparking intense media coverage.
Despite past controversies, Blac Chyna now describes her relationships with both exes as “splendid,” confirming in January 2024 that she maintains a balanced 50/50 custody arrangement for both King and Dream.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are opening their first Still G.I.N. Lounge in Nashville next month, an “all-new elevated nightlife destination located downtown in the restored catacombs of the historic building that houses Nashville Live,” according to the press release.
The menu will offer craft cocktails such as the Platinum Negroni, Bee’s Knees, OG-OF and Nashville Nightcap featuring the duo’s flagship spirit, Still G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop. The lounge will have a rotation of local DJs, live performances and playlists catering to Hip-Hop, R&B and funk fans.
“Our collaboration with Live! Hospitality and Entertainment offers an authentic way to enjoy this ultra-premium spirit we’re so proud of,” Still G.I.N. Chief Strategy Officer Andrew Gill said. “We want to continue to give people memorable experiences to discover and appreciate the defiantly smooth Still G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop.”
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg expanded their legendary partnership in October 2024 with the launch of Still G.I.N. Distilled in the United States using artisanal vapor distillation in copper pots, the ultra-premium gin boasts a vibrant citrus-forward profile with notes of tangerine, jasmine and coriander.
The ingredients, such as hand-peeled citrus and hand-crushed spices, are carefully processed to create a complex yet smooth flavor. Dr. Dre emphasized it’s not just a celebrity endorsement but a product crafted “from the ground up,” mirroring their dedication to excellence seen in past ventures like Beats headphones.
Snoop Dogg added that the gin embodies their shared history with the spirit, dating back to their studio days when they wrote the 1993 Doggystyle single “Gin and Juice.” The collaboration follows the duo’s earlier success with their Gin & Juice canned cocktails.
The Still G.I.N. Lounge is expected to open on Thursday (April 4) and promises to bring a “smooth sophistication of a top-tier cocktail lounge with the energy and cultural influence of the legendary duo.”
Snoop and Dre’s latest endeavor follows their Missionary album, which arrived last December. The project debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 with 38,000 album-equivalent units earned in the first week and featured 50 Cent, Eminem, Method Man, Sting and Jelly Roll.
Snoop Dogg will step onto the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stage to deliver the 2025 commencement speech for USC’s Marshall School of Business.
The rapper will bring his decades of experience in Hip-Hop, entrepreneurship and philanthropy to graduating students.
The West Coast icon, known for his chart-topping albums and business savvy, was tapped to inspire the next generation of business leaders by drawing from his journey through music, branding and community work.
“I am deeply honored to join USC Marshall’s commencement in celebrating the remarkable achievements of these graduates,” Snoop Dogg said. “Commencement is not just a milestone — it’s a launching point. It’s about stepping into your purpose, applying what you’ve learned, and making an impact that matters. I look forward to welcoming them into the next chapter of their journey as leaders, innovators, and changemakers.”
The rapper has released 21 studio albums and earned 20 Grammy nomination and beyond music, he’s built a business empire that spans cannabis, media, tech and food.
His ventures include partnerships with major brands and his own media company, Snoopadelic Films but his impact also extends into youth development.
He founded the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005 to provide opportunities for underserved children in Southern California.
His philanthropic work has earned him recognition, including being named Entrepreneur of the Year by USC’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
The 2025 USC Marshall commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 17.
Young Scooter’s death has left his family, including his son, reeling. Kenneth Bailey Jr., the son of the late rapper, took to Instagram with an emotional and unfiltered message.
“You got me sick asl bruh,” he wrote. “We tight as ever I learned everything fro you. How to move round. Ain’t never hid nun from me. Told me everything and yo shi safe wit me. Im hurt s### feel weird walkin man why you did me like dat.”
Young Scooter, born Kenneth Bailey, died on Friday (March 28), his 39th birthday. He suffered a fatal leg injury while fleeing police and hopping over two fences.
Authorities had responded to a call about possible gunfire and a woman being dragged back into a home in southwest Atlanta. Young Scooter took off once officers arrived on scene.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office are still working to determine the full circumstances surrounding his death..
Cardi B accused Offset of threatening both his life and hers during an emotional Twitter Spaces session over the weekend, revealing disturbing messages she says he sent amid their ongoing divorce.
“This guy… is upset because I sent his girlfriend text messages of him begging me, begging me saying he was going to take away his life, begging me saying he’s going to take away my life,” Cardi B said during the livestream.
The Bronx-born rapper, 31, also alleged that Offset shared explicit content of the two with someone she was romantically involved with.
“This man sent text messages to somebody that I was dealing with… of me and him having sex,” she said.
Cardi claimed Offset repeatedly contacts her when she travels, leaving her shaken and emotionally drained.
“Every time he knows that I go out of town he harasses me. He leave me voice notes trying to put my self-esteem to the ground and I’m so tired of it,” she said.
She also accused Offset and his current girlfriend of sending her vulgar messages.
“I’m so tired of him and his girlfriend playing games on my phone, leaving explicit voice notes,” Cardi added.
The pair’s split has grown increasingly hostile since Cardi filed for divorce in August 2024 after seven years of marriage.
Offset, 32, requested joint custody of their three children—Kulture, 6, Wave, 3, and a newborn daughter born in September. He also asked the court to divide their marital assets and for each party to pay their own legal fees.
Offset, who has three other children from previous relationships, agreed that Cardi’s home should remain the children’s primary residence. Cardi has accused Offset and his mother of financially exploiting her during their marriage.
The divorce has spilled into the public eye, with both artists airing grievances online. Offset recently released a track titled “Ten,” where he admitted to cheating and took lyrical jabs at Cardi.
Cardi and Offset secretly wed in September 2017, a month before Offset proposed publicly during a concert.
Their relationship has long been marked by public breakups and reconciliations, but this latest chapter appears to be the most volatile yet.
Lil Nas X nearly teamed up with Taylor Swift on a track but ultimately passed on the offer after the song didn’t strike the right chord for him.
“We were working on something,” he told E! News. “She offered to let me try a verse on something, but I couldn’t catch a vibe for it, so it didn’t happen.”
The Grammy-winning rapper, known for his genre-blending hits, said the song just didn’t feel right creatively. Still, he’s hopeful the door isn’t closed for good.
“When it happens… Global. World. Tay-tay and Nassy,” Lil Nas X added.
Despite the missed opportunity, Lil Nas X had nothing but praise for Swift, calling her a powerhouse in the industry.
“I’m proud of my girl,” Lil Nas X said. “I love the album. She’s been doing her thing. She’s at the very tippety top. I’m thankful that she even considered me.”
Swift, 35, has built a long list of collaborations over the years, including Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Future, Ice Spice and Haim.
On her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, she joined forces with Post Malone on “Fortnight” and Florence and the Machine on “Florida!!!”
DaBaby went viral on social media after sinking a half-court shot at a local park to win a sneaker bet from a group of kids.
The “Rockstar” hitmaker was filmed challenging a group of kids at a basketball court with a bold wager: if he missed a half-court shot, he’d hand each of them $100. But if he made it, their sneakers were his.
“If I make it, everybody got to take their shoes off,” DaBaby warned the kids. “Them shoes coming with me.”
He missed his first try. But on the second, he nailed the shot—collecting a pile of sneakers from the stunned group.
The moment, captured on video and posted across social media, quickly caught attention, with some joking DaBaby “finessed” the kids out of their kicks.
The playful park stunt comes as DaBaby deals with more serious legal issues.
Earlier this month, his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Brandon Bills, the brother of DaBaby’s ex-girlfriend DaniLeigh.
Bills filed the $4 million suit in February 2022, claiming DaBaby and his entourage attacked him without warning at Corbin Bowl, a Southern California bowling alley.
He’s seeking compensation for medical bills, emotional distress and physical injuries.
DaBaby has maintained he acted in self-defense. Authorities investigated the incident but declined to press charges, reportedly due to Bills’ lack of cooperation.
In the motion to dismiss, DaBaby’s legal team argued that Bills failed to properly serve him with legal documents. They also claim the case exceeds California’s three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. The bowling alley, also named in the lawsuit, has denied any liability.
SZA wasted no time responding after Chappell Roan named her as a dream collaborator during an appearance on theCall Her Daddy podcast.
The Grammy-winning singer shared a clip of Roan’s interview on her Instagram, making it clear the admiration was mutual.
“Actually didn’t believe this quote when I saw it written til I saw it come out her mouth (just) now ’cause DEAD A*S SAME (sic),” SZA wrote, adding an emotional face and sparkle emojis before declaring, “pls we must.”
Roan didn’t hesitate when host Alex Cooper asked her to name an artist she’d love to work with.
Without explanation, she simply said, “SZA.”
SZA has been vocal about her appreciation for Roan’s artistry. After Roan’s performance at Lollapalooza last year, SZA praised her on Instagram, writing, “She makes me wanna keep making new music n art forever (sic).”
The “Snooze” singer also recently spoke about her admiration for Roan during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, calling her one of her favorite musical storytellers.
SZA also revealed she floated the idea of collaborating with Taylor Swift when they crossed paths at the Grammys.
“I think I mentioned that I would love to write with her and build some things together. I love her storytelling. She was open to it. I think she’s awesome. She’s so bossed up,” she said.
SZA’s Instagram post has fans hoping a collaboration with Roan could happen, though no official plans have been announced.
The betrayal didn’t come from a hacker. It came from inside the family.
Eminem keeps his music securely stored in his Ferndale, Michigan recording studio and only a handful of people know the passwords. The unreleased music—songs born out of pain, rage, trauma and survival—was stored not in the cloud but in locked safes and offline hard drives.
And when the music was found online, the few employees knew this wasn’t just another celebrity data breach. This was something deeper. More intimate. More violating. And when the FBI finally traced it all back, it led not just to a former employee, it pointed to Em’s inner-circle.
Joseph Strange, 46, had spent years inside the studio where Eminem (real name Marshal Mathers) built his legacy. He wasn’t a name in the liner notes. He was the guy behind the systems, the one making sure the hard drives worked, backups backed up, safes stayed shut. He knew every digital folder. Every password.
He was also the nephew of Mike Strange, Eminem’s right-hand engineer, a man so close he might as well be blood.
The Strange men, though technically uncle and nephew, were raised more like brothers. Music was their bond. So was Eminem. The trust ran so deep that no one thought to question it. Until unreleased tracks— more than two dozen of them—started showing up on Reddit, YouTube and black-market fan forums in early 2025. Songs written between 1999 and 2018. Some finished. Most not. None of them ever meant to leave the room where they were born.
“The studio where the music is kept is the personal studio of Mathers. The public is not allowed in the studio and only employees and invited guests are admitted. Mathers uses the studio to create the music that is ultimately sold and distributed to the public.”
Brian C. Max, Special Agent, FBI
Max and the FBI got the call on January 16. By January 28, they were inside Joseph’s house in Holly, Michigan, and what they found was staggering: 12,000 audio files.
Original handwritten lyric sheets by Eminem. A VHS tape with an unreleased music video. And the hard drive maps, those digital fingerprints, identical to the ones inside the Ferndale studio’s most secure safe.
The whole thing unraveled because of a fan.
A teenager in the United Kingdom saw a tweet from Eminem’s business associate, Fred Nasser, asking followers not to share the stolen songs. He reached out. He had screenshots. Conversations. Proof.
He’d been talking to someone named “Doja Rat,” who boasted about buying Eminem’s unreleased tracks from a man named Joseph Strange. The fan passed the messages to the FBI. One read: “He used to work for Em… I gave him $50K. He needed the money for surgery.”
Doja Rat was real. A 31-year-old Canadian bank employee and die-hard Eminem fan. He confessed to the FBI that he’d met Joseph through a YouTube channel called “Dope Edit,” which hosted rare and remixed Eminem songs. The two began chatting on Discord. Then Signal. Then, Joseph — under an alias — offered him access to unreleased tracks.
At first, the price was $8,500 for four songs. All payments in Bitcoin.
Doja Rat didn’t have the money, but he knew people who did. He and a group of collectors pooled resources. Took out lines of credit. Sent the Bitcoin. Over six months, they paid out nearly $50,000. In return, they received dozens of tracks — and eventually, high-resolution photos of original lyric sheets, allegedly rescued by Joseph from a studio flood.
That story — the flood, the cleanup, the chance to quietly pocket handwritten pages — was compelling. So was Joseph’s pitch: this wasn’t theft. This was memorabilia. This was history.
But the FBI didn’t see it that way. Neither did Eminem’s manager, John Fisher.
“Fisher was able to identify these as images that were taken directly off the hard drive in the studio labeled “Raid I.” Fisher confirms that Joseph Strange did not have permission to possess/sell these items,” according to Special Agent Max.
Back in Ferndale, Fisher opened the studio vault and checked the hard drives. One, labeled “RAID 1,” hadn’t been touched in years. Its logs told a different story: files had been removed on October 16, 2019, and again on January 16, 2020. At the time, Joseph still worked at the studio.
Mike Strange told investigators that only four people had ever had access to those drives — himself, Tony Campana, Fisher, and Joseph. All of them, except Joseph, still worked there. All had been interviewed. All denied leaking anything.
Mike was blunt: “This music could have only come from someone who has direct physical access to the hard drives.”
Tony Campana agreed. So did Fisher, who personally identified the folder structure and lyric sheets recovered from Joseph’s home as exact matches to those in the vault.
One photo of a computer screen sent to Doja Rat contained the full listing of unreleased Eminem songs, in alphabetical order. Fisher said it was the same list found on the studio’s RAID 1 drive — a drive stored in a locked safe, disconnected from the internet and protected by a shared password used only by the four employees.
The kind of drive that only Joseph could have accessed, and copied, when no one was looking.
Eventually, the digital trail led everywhere.
The FBI tracked Bitcoin wallet addresses, examined Venmo test payments, and traced IP logins tied to email aliases Joseph used. They spoke with other buyers, including “ATL” and “Kali Kush,” fan aliases who independently confirmed Joseph’s identity. One fan paid through a Venmo account labeled “Hal Finney,” an obvious nod to Bitcoin culture. The account led directly to Joseph — his home address, social security number, and even one of the email addresses he used to send the leaked songs.
There were attempts to obscure it all, but not enough. The receipts told the story. So did the NDA.
When Joseph left the studio in 2021, he signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of his severance. He agreed, in writing, not to “post, transmit, or otherwise circulate” any photos, videos, or audio “of or concerning” Eminem or his associates. He acknowledged the importance of protecting “intellectual property,” including “masters embodying Artist’s performances” and “handwritten lyrics.”
Then he took them anyway.
The betrayal stung.
Not just because it was calculated. But because it was close. Because it wasn’t done by some faceless cybercriminal or opportunistic hacker. It was done by someone who used to sit in the same rooms. Who grew up in the same family. Who was trusted with the music before it had a name, a beat, or a hook.’
“Mike Strange is the uncle of Joseph Strange, but the two were raised together and consider themselves brothers.”
Special Agent Brian C. Max
In March, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan formally charged Joseph Strange with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods. He hasn’t spoken publicly. The case will likely head to trial.
For now, the music’s back in the vault. The passwords are changed. The drives disconnected. But the leak changed something — not just for Eminem, but for the small group of people who thought their circle was unbreakable.
Denzel Washington returned to Broadway to portray Shakespeare’s Othello and made it clear that he was a theater guy first and foremost.
During an interview withCBS News, the Academy Award-winning star of Training Day and Fences emphasized that theater remains his true calling despite his massive Hollywood success.
“I’m a stage actor who does film; it’s not the other way around. I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film,” Washington explained.
The celebrated actor, now 70, currently headlines the revival of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City.
The production also stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the villainous Iago.
Washington dismissed the label “Hollywood actor,” preferring instead to identify with his roots in Mt. Vernon, New York.
“What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I’m from Mt. Vernon, so I’m a ‘Mt. Vernon actor,'” Denzel Washington said. “I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means. Somebody who’s famous on film? A film actor, great success on film?”
Washington first tackled the iconic role of Othello decades ago as a student at Fordham University.
Now, stepping into the Moor’s shoes again, he acknowledges the influence of legendary actor James Earl Jones, who portrayed Othello in the last Broadway revival back in 1982.
“James Earl Jones was my northern star when I was in college,” Washington shared. “He was who I wanted to be. I didn’t get to see his Othello, but I know it wasn’t as good as my 22-year-old interpretation. But you know, it’s my turn.”
The actor also offered insights into the differences between working on stage and film, highlighting the actor’s control in theater compared to the director-driven nature of cinema.
“Movies are a filmmaker’s medium. You shoot it, and then you’re gone, and they cut together and add music and do all of that. Theatre is an actor’s medium. The curtain goes up, nobody can help you,” he explained.
Othello continues its run at the Barrymore Theatre until June 8.
Breon Allen Jr. was walking alongside his cousin in Jacksonville on January 24, when gunfire erupted on, killing the 7-year-old and injuring his older relative.
Now, authorities say the senseless shooting was a gang-related ambush tied to a long-running feud that also led to the death of rapper Julio Foolio.
The child’s death has been linked to a decade-long battle between rival Jacksonville gangs ATK and KTA. The conflict has already claimed multiple lives, including that of Foolio, who was gunned down in Tampa in June 2024.
Four men—Keith Fields, 18, Dannel Larkins, 20, Keith Johnson, 21 and Zharod Sykes, 24—have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. Fields,
Larkins and Sykes are confirmed members of the 6 Block gang. Johnson is listed as an associate.
The intended target, according to investigators, was 21-year-old Lafayette Mango Jr., a rapper and known ATK affiliate.
Mango survived the shooting. His younger cousin, Breon, did not.
“This shooting was a culmination of escalating violence between two rival street groups. It was a targeted, planned act of bloodshed,” Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a press conference. “If any of these groups continue to do this kind of stuff, we won’t rest. We’ll put every one of them away. That’s a guarantee.”
The feud between ATK and KTA has been marked by retaliatory shootings, diss tracks and public taunts.
After Foolio’s murder, Mango released a track titled “6 Ways To Die,” which reportedly mocked deceased 6 Block members, further inflaming tensions.
Foolio, a prominent KTA figure, was killed on June 23, 2024, in the parking lot of a Tampa Holiday Inn while celebrating his 26th birthday.
He had moved from an Airbnb due to overcrowding, only to be ambushed hours later.
Three others were injured in the attack. Authorities arrested five suspects—all allegedly tied to a rival gang—who had reportedly followed Foolio from location to location.
Sheriff Waters didn’t hold back when addressing the nature of the crime that took Breon’s life.
“It should never happen even for the intended target to be hit, but for them to do that in such a callous, cold, senseless manner tells you what kind of people they are. I don’t care that they’re 17 years old. It doesn’t matter to me. They don’t care about people in this community. Let’s put them where they belong. Let’s not let them see the light of day ever again.”
Doechii used her spotlight at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles to call out threats to LGBTQ+ rights and celebrate the community’s resilience.
The 26-year-old Hip-Hop artist, who identifies as bisexual, accepted the Outstanding Music Artist award and didn’t hold back in her remarks.
Referencing GLAAD’s mission, she said, “Those are the same things I strongly believe in and advocate for and that continue to propel me forward — especially now that hard-won cultural change and rights for transgender people and the LGBTQ community have been threatened. And I am disgusted. Disgusted. But I want to say that we are here and we are not going anywhere.”
Her speech came amid growing concerns from LGBTQ+ advocates over recent policy shifts under Donald Trump’s return to office.
Transgender individuals have reported distress over changes to federal documentation, including passports, that affect how their gender is recognized.
During her time on stage, Doechii also acknowledged the legacy of past winners in her category.
“I am thrilled at being recognized with such a prestigious award by GLAAD and to be joining prior honorees such as Renee (Rapp), Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith and Janelle Monáe,” she said. “This is a huge and special moment as well because GLAAD is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, which is super fab.”
