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Kwamé Talks Hair Streaks, Polka Dots, Biggie Beef & Being Rap’s Original “Kid Genius”

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: Exclusives
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Before “brand identity” became a marketing buzzword, late 1980s Hip-Hop artists built their signatures in real time. Most of the time, their creations were from nothing but creativity on ‘roads. For Queens-bred MC Kwamé it was youthful nerve and a last-minute trip to the beauty shop that changed his life. The “Boy Genius,” came up in the Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor ecosystem, a tight orbit that helped launch and shape Salt-N-Pepa, Kid ’n Play, Sweet Tee, Dana Dane, and more, often referred to as the Idol Makers crew. Kwamé’s run is remembered for bright style choices and hit records like “The Man We All Know and Love” and “The Rhythm,” plus the offbeat creative confidence that made him stand out even among giants. 

In this interview with AllHipHop, Kwamé explains how a “stupidest name ever” roast turned into a lightning-bolt rebrand, how polka dots became accidental merch, and why he thinks today’s Hip-Hop isn’t “worse,” just under-taught. He also gets into nerd culture, comic shops, and the Biggie confrontation that sounds like a scene from a hit TV show.

AllHipHop: Let’s go left. My barber Craig Skilz of Phat Cutz in Delaware had a question about hairstyles. Were you the first rapper to dye your hair, or was it Kid from Kid ’n Play?

Kwamé: I’m not the first. I’m thinking about Kid. Everybody had flat tops, but Kid had the super-tall flat top. Around the time Salt-N-Pepa did videos like “Tramp” and “Shake Your Thing,” everybody started doing dye jobs. Salt went blonde, Pep had that orangey-blonde vibe. Kid threw blonde at the top. Play had some blonde in his part. Herbie had a little blonde in his flat top too.

Kwamé: I didn’t do that at first, but I was in the “Shake Your Thing” video for like 10 seconds holding up a sign. Yo, that 10 seconds got me so many girls the next week in school. Side note, but true.

AllHipHop: So how’d you end up with your blonde streak?

Kwamé: A couple weeks before my first video shoot, Kid ’n Play walked into an event and nobody recognized Play at first, but when Kid came in with that hair, everybody knew. I’m like, “Yo, I don’t know if I’m gonna pop, I don’t know if my record’s gonna be dope, but y’all gotta see me coming.”

Kwamé: Last minute, I put a blonde streak in the front. Nobody had the streak in the front. I snuck out the house, went to my friend’s sister’s beauty parlor in Brooklyn, got the streak, and call time was 5 a.m. So it was beauty parlor straight to the video. My mother thought I was in a hotel waiting for the shoot. I was not.

AllHipHop: Let’s#### your origin story. You’re from Queens, but you didn’t sound like what we’d heard. Where did “Kwamé the Boy Genius” even come from?

Kwamé: It wasn’t contrived. It was me being me. Before that I was trying to have a Hip-Hop persona. I had the worst rap name known to man.

AllHipHop: What was it?

Kwamé: Sweet Daddy Jazzy K GQ. My friends from Queens still call me KGQ to this day.

Kwamé: I went to Herbie Love Bug’s house, and the window opens, and it’s Dana Dane. He goes, “Sweet Daddy Jazzy K GQ is the stupidest name I ever heard in my life. We all think it’s the wackest. Your name is Kwamé. We don’t know nobody named Kwamé. Just call yourself that.”

Kwamé: Then Salt chimes in like, “You write your rhymes, you make your beats, you got your own style, you’re like a boy genius.” It was a lightning bolt moment. The only thing I did on purpose after that was deciding to be unapologetically me.

AllHipHop: You were early with the tech. What were you using back then?

Kwamé: I started super simple. I’d literally play drums, record them, put that recording next to another tape recorder, play piano while the drums played, bounce tracks back and forth. If I wanted horns, I played trumpet because I was taking it in school. Then I got a little Casio keyboard, and later it could sample.

Kwamé: And then Herbie had real equipment. He’d go on tour with Salt-N-Pepa. Me and his little brother would break into his room and I’d steal the gear. I’m jacking the 808 for the weekend, learning it, making beats, putting it back. Then he had an Oberheim DX. If you want to know that sound, listen to The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. I’d spend a whole weekend learning it.

Kwamé: Then the SP-12 situation. Floppy disk, all that. When it was time to record my first demo, I did everything on the SP-12. I went to a studio in Queens and the late Paul C was my engineer.

AllHipHop: That’s crazy, telling Paul C what to do.

Kwamé: I didn’t even recognize him at first. I just knew the name. I told him, “Set me up, you can leave.” He took my money Christmas night, midnight to 8 a.m., and I recorded most of The Boy Genius in that block.

AllHipHop: Did you ever get bullied?

Kwamé: Potential situations, yeah, but my father wasn’t having it. There was a kid Frankie bullying everybody. I came home like, “Yo Dad, he’s a bully.” My pops was like, “Go punch him in the face. I don’t care what happens to you.”

Kwamé: Bullying then is different from now. Now it’s cyber, it’s videotapes, kids got it bad. For us it was “give me your glasses” or “give me your sneakers.” You had to handle it. So yes and no.

AllHipHop: That parenting matters.

Kwamé: 100%. If kids can’t tell their parents what’s happening, it can get worse. When parents are in a kid’s corner, bullies know who not to try. Systems matter.

AllHipHop: You’re also a trendsetter. Polka dots became a whole thing. Where did that come from?

Kwamé: Having no money. Dead ass. I had one good outfit: a white shirt with black dots, a black tie with white dots, socks to match. That outfit ended up on the cover of my first single and on the back of my first album.

Kwamé: First show I did was in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania opening for Sweet Tee. I walk on stage and everybody got dots on. I thought it was an elaborate joke. I walked off stage and bounced like, “Y’all messing with me.” They’re like, “No, they came to see you.” Then it was city after city. If I didn’t have dots, people would say, “That ain’t really Kwamé.” So I leaned into it like, “You want dots? I’ll give you dots.”

AllHipHop: We have to talk about the Biggie moment. How did it feel being mentioned?

Kwamé: First, I heard the song months before it came out, so it wasn’t a surprise attack. If your name is mentioned, it means you did something. You can’t mention a no-name.

Kwamé: What got annoying was the fans. People became Biggie stans and suddenly anything he said is “truth.” Random people on the street with stupid comments. But I wasn’t gonna shrink over a line. Rappers get talked about all day long. It’s like the lunchroom. Somebody snapping on your clothes. You gonna stop coming to school?

AllHipHop: Did you ever respond?

Kwamé: Not officially on record. If I could go back, I wish I could. Nowadays you can respond in 24 hours from your bedroom. Back then I didn’t have the footing. I had an indie record and a video where we had somebody that looked like Biggie on stage joking, but that wasn’t really “a response.” He didn’t appreciate it.

AllHipHop: You heard back from him?

Kwamé: We had words. Not an altercation, but we came up on each other.

AllHipHop: Tell me.

Kwamé: Funniest night of my life. Host of an event is instigating like, “You here, Big here, why don’t y’all settle it right now?” I’m like, “Settle it how? Box on stage?” Big walks up, 6’3”, 6’4”, I’m 5’6” a buck-50 wet. He’s rolling a blunt as big as the mic.

Kwamé: He’s like, “I don’t appreciate you joking on me.” I’m like, “What you want me to do? I ain’t got no records out. You tell me what you want.” He’s got a whole squad behind him. I look back and the dudes with me are moonwalking out the back door. Billy Jean in my head. I’m like, “Yo, y’all gonna leave me?”

Kwamé: Somebody, I think Lil Cease, ran between us like, “What the f### y’all doing?” Big walks off like, “Man, go ahead, I don’t give a f###.” I’m like, “I don’t give a f### either.” They kicked him out the front, me out the back. Whole ride home I’m cursing my boys out like, “Y’all sucker-ass dudes. You supposed to be from Brooklyn, Philly, Queens, and you moonwalked out.”

AllHipHop: Idol Makers was really a legendary crew.

Kwamé: It was. Hurby Love Bug ran Idol Makers. It was Salt-N-Pepa, Sweet Tee, Antoinette, Dana Dane, Kid ’n Play, Rich Nice, at one point Joe Ski Love. Everybody was in each other’s sessions, videos, tours. The thing that trips me out is we didn’t make records together. No hit Kid ’n Play and Salt-N-Pepa record makes no sense. No Kwamé and Dana Dane record makes no sense. We should’ve done something like a “Self Destruction” type moment, but funnier. We just didn’t.

AllHipHop: You go heavy on nerd culture too. What’s your favorite lane?

Kwamé: Collecting. Toys, action figures, comics. Forbidden Planet is my number one spot. I go there first, every time I hit New York. During the pandemic, I was watching CNN like, “If they smash Forbidden Planet, I’m gonna lose my s###.” They got there and were like, “No, let’s keep going.” I was relieved.

AllHipHop: And Midtown?

Kwamé: Midtown was crazy, but they closed it.

(Note To Nerds and Blends: Midtown Comics’ Downtown location is temporarily closing in late February 2026 and is expected to reopen in May 2026 after renovations and expansion.)

Watch the video of Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur and Kwamé for the full unedited interview.

Blueface Confirms The Gender Of His Child With Nevaeh

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Blueface announced the gender of his upcoming child with Nevaeh Akira during a livestream celebration that turned into pure joy.

The California rapper and his girlfriend discovered they’re expecting a baby boy after firing confetti cannons during their March 1st reveal party.

Nevaeh Akira and the Hip-Hop artist celebrated with blue confetti exploding across their room while his son from a previous relationship joined the excitement.

The couple embraced and screamed with happiness as they learned about their future son during the emotional livestream moment.

The gender reveal came weeks after Blueface’s pregnancy announcement made headlines in late February when the pair showed positive pregnancy test results on camera.

Nevaeh and the rapper displayed two different tests during another livestream session that confirmed their expecting status.

“Congratulations, you’re having a Blueface baby. Congratulations. You made it,” he told Nevaeh during the original pregnancy announcement. The rapper joked about Nevaeh becoming an official member of the “Blueface Cavaliers” after learning about their pregnancy.

During the livestream gender reveal, Blueface expressed his excitement about having another son join his family.

The couple revealed their son’s name, with Nevaeh suggesting the name.

“Solar Porter is on the way, y’all. I hope the baby has my eyes and just your face,” he said to Nevaeh during the celebration.

“Lord, please bless us with the healthiest baby possible. Boy or girl, doesn’t matter. Forgive us for our sins,” Blueface said during a prayer before the reveal.

The rapper and Nevaeh held confetti cannons together before twisting them to release blue confetti.

This marks the fourth child for the “Thotiana” artist, who already has three children from previous relationships.

Blueface welcomed son Chrisean Jr. with Chrisean Rock in September 2023 after their tumultuous relationship played out publicly across social media platforms.

The rapper also co-parents two children with ex-girlfriend Jaidyn Alexis, including son Javaughn Jamal Porter, born in 2019, and daughter Journey Alexis Porter, who arrived in 2022.

Blueface’s baby shower with Nevaeh is scheduled for March 15 at a Los Angeles venue.

Cardi B Escalates Financial Dispute With Tasha K

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Cardi B escalated her legal battle with blogger Tasha K by demanding comprehensive financial documentation through Florida bankruptcy court proceedings.

The Bronx rapper wants Tasha K to produce records of YouTube earnings and tax returns, and to appear in person to present the information.

Court documents obtained by TMZ reveal Cardi’s aggressive pursuit of transparency in the ongoing financial dispute between the two women.

The legal pressure stems from Tasha K’s $3.9 million judgment loss in her defamation case against the Grammy winner.

Both parties reached a settlement agreement last year that structured the massive payout into manageable installments over five years.

Tasha K must pay $1.2 million during this period while submitting quarterly financial records to ensure compliance with the court-ordered arrangement.

The settlement also prohibits Tasha K from making derogatory statements about Cardi or her family members moving forward. This restriction aims to prevent future defamatory content that could reignite their public feud and legal complications.

“Today marks the end of a multi-year-long chapter of lies, deception, and fraudulent conveyance on the part of Tasha K, her husband, and their entities,” Cardi’s attorney Lisa Moore told Rolling Stone during the settlement announcement. “We are thrilled to put in place such an incredibly unprecedented and protective plan for Cardi. I assume you will see the debtor and her swill counsel selling this as a win. Trust me, for all of the reasons in the plan we insisted on to protect our client, that is not the case. We don’t believe the false tears, and we protect against them.”

The financial scrutiny comes while Cardi performs her Little Miss Drama tour across North America.

She recently completed shows in Portland, Seattle and San Francisco before taking the stage at Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center. The tour supports her sophomore album Am I the Drama? which dropped in September.

Benzino Warns 50 Cent Over Taunts, Says He Will Shoot & Ask Questions Later

By: Nolan Strong Updated Category: News
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Benzino issued a stern warning to 50 Cent after the rapper mocked his recent hospitalization on social media.

The drama began when Benzino and Althea Eaton had a heated encounter, which became public.

Eaton, who previously appeared on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, had a run-in with Benzino that gave 50 Cent ammunition for his social media trolling campaign.

50 Cent wasted no time posting memes about the situation, making fun of Benzino across his Instagram account.

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The G-Unit founder has been targeting Hip-Hop figures with his trademark social media antics for years, but this time Benzino decided to respond with serious threats.

The former co-owner of The Source magazine told Real Lyfe Productions he won’t tolerate any further disrespect from 50 Cent

“If you a man and if you really got a problem with me, then let’s fight, let’s get it all over with, because I don’t want to keep going through this, because somebody’s gonna get hurt for real,” Benzino said. “And it ain’t gonna be me. Because in my head, I know what I got to do. I’m not gonna be getting shot up, beat up. I done been shot up before. I’m not getting shot up no more. I’m gonna shoot first, and it’s gonna be questions later.”

The conflict stems from 50 Cent’s social media response to Benzino’s hospitalization on February 26.

Benzino revealed that his ex-fiancée, Althea Eaton, showed up at his house with Crime Mob’s Diamond and allegedly struck him with her car while taking their son Zino from a school bus stop.

Police officers witnessed the incident and called an ambulance to transport Benzino to the hospital. He sustained injuries to his arm, head and back during the encounter with Eaton’s vehicle.

Eaton denied intentionally hitting Benzino and suggested he was exaggerating his injuries for attention.

The former couple appeared together on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta season 3 in 2014 before their relationship ended around 2015-2016.

50 Cent posted an image of Benzino wearing a neck brace with the caption “GOD TOLD ME TO SHARE THIS.” The G-Unit founder’s mockery prompted Benzino to retaliate by wearing merchandise featuring 50 Cent’s deceased mother.

Benzino explained his frustration with 50 Cent’s support system during the Real Lyfe Productions interview. He criticized the rapper’s connection to Eminem and its impact on public perception of their ongoing feud.

“A guy like 50… I’m not surprised, you know what I’m saying? You know, the bozo that he is, I’m not surprised at what he did,” Benzino said. “But what disappoints me is his fans…a big part of his fan base are white people from that Shady camp. Since he’s Em’s mascot and they hold him dear as far a fan base, whoever he goes up against, they’re gonna support him.”

Benzino concluded his warning by emphasizing his determination to avoid future confrontations while making his position clear to 50 Cent and anyone else who might challenge him.

“I’m not going through that pain no more. I’m just not. And I’m not starting trouble with anybody,” Benzino said.

Bill Duke Speaks: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Means Much More As Black History Month Wraps

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: Exclusives
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Legendary actor, director, and filmmaker Bill Duke was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 26, 2026 .

“I feel great that it happened,” Duke told AllHipHop’s Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur in an in-depth interview reflecting on the honor. He said being immortalized on the Hollywood sidewalk not only celebrates his body of work, but also ensures that future generations of his family and fans can literally see his name for years to come. Duke added that having the star placed on his birthday — and during a month dedicated to celebrating Black excellence — was a humbling and meaningful moment.

The magnificent event doubled as both a birthday celebration and a long-overdue recognition of his decades of influence in film, television, and Black culture. 

“I feel great that it happened. And on my birthday,” the 83-year old said, “They also made my birthday Bill Duke Day here in Los Angeles.”

The ceremony took place at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, where Duke received the 2,837th star in the Motion Pictures category, a moment made even more special by the fact that it occurred during Black History Month. 

“Long after I’m gone, the star will still be there and my grandchildren, my great great grandchildren will be able to see it,” he said.

Friends, family, and colleagues gathered for the public celebration, including iconic actor Glynn Turman, Jeff and Nicole Friday from the American Black Film Festival, and Duke’s daughter Nathalie Duke, president of Duke Entertainment. Even music mogul Dr. Dre came out to pay his respects.

The star was officially unveiled in front of Eastown at a morning ceremony that was live-streamed via the official Walk of Fame website.

Bill Duke’s impact in Hollywood spans more than five decades, beginning with his breakout role in the ensemble hit Car Wash (1976). Over the years he became known for intense, unforgettable performances in films like Commando and Predator, where his commanding presence and physicality helped define strong, complex Black characters in blockbuster cinema. 

Off-screen, Duke built a formidable résumé as a director — helming influential films such as Deep Cover, A Rage in Harlem, The Killing Floor, and the beloved musical comedy Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. His television work brought him behind the camera on series like Knots Landing, Dallas, Miami Vice, and Hill Street Blues at a time when few Black directors were given those opportunities. 

He’s also earned acclaim for pushing boundaries and expanding representation behind the scenes, earning a Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Tribute and mentoring generations of creatives along the way. 

Duke’s legacy now extends beyond the Walk of Fame. He is founder and CEO of Duke Media, Younite Network, and the Duke Media Foundation. He steadfastly champions mentorship, media education, and storytelling access for Black creatives. 

As he told AllHipHop, this isn’t just a personal milestone. It’s a symbol of decades of perseverance, influence, and resistance against limitations that once defined who could be seen, heard, or honored in the entertainment world.

“Can I say, grateful? Grateful,” he concluded.

Stay tapped in for AllHipHop’s full talk with the legendary Bill Duke.

Photo Credit: Shawn White

Bob Power, 74, Passes Away After Shaping The Sound Of A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Erykah Badu & More

By: Houston Williams Updated Category: News
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Bob Power, the influential producer and engineer who helped shape the sound of Hip-Hop and neo soul through his work with A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, has died at 74.

The meticulous producer, engineer, composer and professor helped define a generation of Hip-Hop and neo soul. His passing closes a chapter on a career that quietly influenced some of the culture’s most celebrated recordings.

The news of Power’s death moved swiftly among the elite in music.

“R.I.P. to one of the iLLest Engineers of all time… Mr. BOB POWER. Thank you for your various pointers in recording from D’angelo to ATCQ’S Low End Theory, Erykah Badu’s Baduizm and so on,” said DJ Premier on Twitter (X).

Power’s name may not have always been front and center, but his sonic signature was unmistakable. He worked extensively with A Tribe Called Quest, helping craft the warm yet crisp sound that became a hallmark of their classic era. His work extended to The Roots, where live instrumentation and lyrical dexterity met careful engineering.

He also collaborated with soul innovators including D’Angelo, Erykah Badu and Common, helping sculpt albums that blurred genre lines and elevated Hip-Hop’s musicality. His reach stretched further to pioneers like De La Soul, Chaka Khan, Stetsasonic and Me’shell Ndegeocello.

Power’s contributions were not limited to turning knobs and aligning levels.

He was known for drawing out performances that felt organic yet polished. Artists often credited him with creating studio environments that encouraged experimentation without sacrificing clarity. In an era when sampling and live instrumentation were colliding in new ways, Power served as a bridge between analog warmth and digital precision.

“RIP to an absolute legend and the man who I patterned my sound after. Bob Power. From Tribe, to D’Angelo, the Roots, Erykah Badu, (the list is endless) you gave my generation a sound,” said Jay-Z Engineeer Young Guru. “There aren’t enough words to describe what you mean to me. Thank you for all the lessons, (in person and from just listening).”

Beyond the boards, he was a respected educator, mentoring young musicians and engineers while teaching the craft with the same intensity he brought to the studio. Students remember him not just as an accomplished professional but as a patient guide who understood both the technical and emotional components of sound.

Power’s work delved into non-conventional music as well, including television and commercials.

As a composer for television, Power earned recognition for creating the theme to the Emmy Award–winning PBS program Over Easy. He also wrote the original theme and score for Disney’s family series The Scheme of Things. His additional television work included composing the theme and score for the prime time special Four Alone: The Older Woman in America, contributing to the National Endowment for the Humanities–funded project The State of the Language, and providing music for the Lifetime Channel and Disney’s Imagine.

In advertising, Power built an extensive portfolio, writing and producing music for major brands such as Coca-Cola, Philip Morris, Mercedes, Casio, Hertz, Jell-O, AT&T, Sprite, the U.S. Postal Service, Hasbro, Hardee’s, Duracell, Fritos, Ragu, A&W, Sharp Electronics and Intel. He also composed music for the American Cancer Society, a campaign that earned an Emmy Award, among numerous other clients.

But Power’s passing at 74 leaves a massive void in the Hip-Hop and R&B community.

The albums he helped shape remain staples in Hip-Hop and soul history and they will continue to be studied by producers and listeners alike.

Bob Power’s legacy lives not in the music and the impact on the generation that knew him and his work.

Drake Shows Off New CPFM x Nike ACG Collection

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Drake teased the upcoming Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike ACG collaboration on social media, sending streetwear communities into overdrive.

The Canadian rapper displayed multiple pieces from the collection just hours before the official 10 A.M. release scheduled for March 4. His Instagram stories featured a grey polo shirt with dual branding and a reflective rainbow cap that perfectly captures the collaboration’s wild aesthetic.

The partnership brings together two completely different design philosophies in ways that shouldn’t work but absolutely do.

Nike ACG focuses on serious outdoor performance gear built for harsh weather and rugged terrain. Cactus Plant Flea Market adds their signature psychedelic touches with neon color schemes and surreal graphic treatments throughout.

Drake’s outfit included black cargo pants with bright green accent details that showcase the collection’s bold approach to functional wear.

The reflective cap features rainbow gradient patterns that would work equally well at music festivals or mountain hiking trails.

The collaboration includes technical jackets, performance pants, graphic tops and accessories designed for outdoor adventures with serious style elements.

CPFM’s signature smiley face graphics appear on several pieces alongside nature-inspired artwork and gradient color treatments. The collection merges legitimate outdoor functionality with avant-garde streetwear design in ways that feel fresh and innovative.

Nike ACG has built a reputation for creating gear that performs in extreme conditions while maintaining understated, earth-toned aesthetics.

This partnership with Cactus Plant Flea Market represents a major departure from their typical design approach. The rainbow pullover jackets and neon accent pieces transform traditional outdoor wear into statement fashion that works in urban environments.

The collection launches on March 4 at 10 A.M. on Nike’s official website and at select retail partners across North America and Europe.

Chocolate MC Gets Decade Behind Bars For Revenge Scheme Against El Taiger Killer

By: Nolan Strong Updated Category: News
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Chocolate MC received a 10-year prison sentence Monday after accepting a plea agreement that consolidates charges from three separate criminal cases in Miami-Dade County.

The Cuban Hip-Hop artist agreed to the deal that combines sentences for soliciting murder-for-hire, kidnapping and burglary charges.

The 29-year-old rapper’s legal troubles stem from his attempt to orchestrate revenge against Damian Valdez-Galloso, who faces murder charges in the October 2024 killing of Cuban reggaeton star El Taiger.

El Taiger was found shot in the back of his head near Jackson Memorial Hospital on October 3, 2024. The 37-year-old reggaeton artist died from his injuries one week later.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing Chocolate MC offered a $20,000 bounty for Valdez-Galloso’s death while both men were incarcerated. Court records reveal Chocolate MC posted social media videos targeting his friend’s alleged killer.

“Bring me his head and I’ll pay you a reward,” Chocolate MC said in one video played during his November 2025 trial. The prosecution argued this constituted clear solicitation of murder-for-hire.

During testimony, Chocolate MC broke down while discussing El Taiger’s death.

“If you’re asking me to kill him about this, no, no, I don’t, but I’m not capable of killing anyone,” he said on the stand, according to Local 10. The rapper claimed he expressed himself incorrectly in the threatening videos.

The plea agreement also addresses Chocolate MC’s December 2024 kidnapping case, where prosecutors allege he abducted a fan at gunpoint in Opa-locka who simply wanted a photograph.

Video evidence showed the rapper forcing the victim into a vehicle before driving to an undisclosed location. Additionally, Chocolate MC pleaded guilty to burglarizing a hotel room, though specific details of this incident remain sealed in court documents.

The combined plea deal requires him to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations while serving his sentence.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Teresa Pooler ordered Sierra Hernandez to maintain no contact with victims from all three cases during his incarceration and five-year probation period.

According to NBC 6, the rapper was immediately fingerprinted and escorted from the courtroom following Monday’s sentencing hearing.

Chocolate MC rose to prominence in Miami’s Cuban Hip-Hop scene through collaborations with artists like Gente de Zona and his solo tracks that gained millions of YouTube views.

His music often reflected the struggles of Cuban immigrants adapting to life in South Florida.

Valdez-Galloso remains in custody awaiting trial for El Taiger’s murder, with prosecutors seeking first-degree murder charges.

Kodak Black Beats $10M Shooting Lawsuit, Lawyer Offers Chilling Ultimatum

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Kodak Black scored a major legal victory when attorneys representing two shooting victims withdrew their $10 million lawsuit against the Florida rapper without any settlement payment.

The case stemmed from a February 12, 2022, incident outside The Nice Guy restaurant in Los Angeles during a Justin Bieber-hosted after-party for Super Bowl LVI weekend.

Mark Schaefer and Adam Rahman claimed KodakBlack escalated tensions that led to gunfire, injuring them and the rapper himself.

Kodak Black sustained a leg wound while Schaefer and Rahman suffered injuries they attributed to the rapper’s alleged role in provoking the violence.

Bradford Cohen, Kodak’s attorney, delivered a scathing statement to TMZ about the case’s dismissal.

“This lawsuit filed by Gloria Allred, might have been the dumbest, most ridiculous lawsuit I have ever read,” Cohen said. “As I said when this idiotic lawsuit was filed, they would not get a dime.”

Cohen revealed his legal strategy involved giving opposing counsel an ultimatum rather than negotiating any financial settlement.

Justin Bieber was initially named as a co-defendant in the original complaint but was dismissed from the lawsuit months after it was filed. The pop star’s legal team successfully argued he bore no responsibility for the violence that erupted at his event.

Gloria Allred’s law firm represented the plaintiffs but has not responded to requests for comment about the case withdrawal. The dismissal prevents any future refiling of similar claims related to the 2022 shooting incident.

Cohen concluded his statement with a warning to other attorneys considering similar cases against his clients.

“This should be a warning and a lesson to d#### attorneys, filing d#### lawsuits, come for our clients and we will come for you,” he stated.

Benzino Needs Surgery After Diamond Mowed Him Down During Custody Fight With Althea

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Benzino broke his silence about the custody battle that left him hospitalized after Diamond from Crime Mob allegedly ran him over with her vehicle outside his son’s school.

The Hip-Hop veteran said he sustained multiple injuries requiring potential surgery when Diamond accelerated her black Escalade while he tried to stop her from taking his 10-year-old son, Zino.

“I hit my head, twisted my neck up my back, f##### my arm up because I’m gonna have to get surgery on my arm, on my shoulder, and possibly my elbow,” Benzino said.

The confrontation started over school attendance issues between Benzino and his ex, Althea Eaton. He said she previously kept Zino out of school in Miami, but then complained when he re-enrolled the child.

“She made a big stink about him being in school,” Benzino said. “She kept him out of school in Miami. Couldn’t got kept back. I got him back in school. He’s been going to school six weeks.”

He said Althea called for a wellness check while he was working on set as Zino was attending school.

“So I have to call the school principal to get the security to call the school to call the lieutenant at the police office,” Benzino said.

The next day, Benzino waited near the bus stop to surprise his son, but witnessed what he described as a kidnapping attempt.

“I was kind of like hiding a little bit parked where I was hiding, so I could just see like a little,” Benzino said. “As soon as he gets off with the stairs that were at, I could see.”

He said Zino looked happy as he got off the bus before the situation turned chaotic.

“He was like one of the last ones to get off and smiling,” Benzino said. “Next thing you know, he’s off, I don’t see him no more. And I see like the other kids kind of crowding up.”

Benzino said he saw someone forcing Zino into Diamond’s SUV while two police officers moved slowly nearby.

“I noticed two police officers,” Benzino said. “They walking slow as f###.” He described watching his son get thrown into the vehicle before he ran to intervene.

“All I see is Zino getting thrown on the other side, take, take to the other side of the truck and was thrown in,” Benzino said. “I’m like, ‘Yo, that’s my f###### son.'”

Benzino said he jumped onto the SUV to stop it from leaving with his child.

“All I know is that I jumped on the car. I put my body on the car towards the back door,” Benzino said. “I think the window was open, so I put my hand in the door.”

The vehicle then accelerated with him still attached, causing his injuries. “I just heard the car rev up and just go in and get it, took off,” Benzino said. “It flung me around, kind of f##### me up.”

He criticized the police for allowing the removal based on what he called outdated paperwork.

“The paperwork was a 2019 child support court order,” Benzino said. “They just let her take my son off the bus with that,” Benzino said officers never spoke to him at the scene, even though he was present.

“They never called me, consoled me. I was there on the spot. Never talked to me,” he said. He also questioned why the police didn’t pursue the vehicle after he was injured.

“How the f### can you just let them just speed off like that?” Benzino said. Child protective services later returned Zino to him at the hospital, according to previous reports.

“They brought Zino back to me at the hospital,” Benzino confirmed. He said the incident traumatized his son, who witnessed everything happen in front of his classmates.

“This poor kid, 10 years old, man. He’s a great kid,” Benzino said. “You put him through this. Awful b#######. You did it in front of his whole class on the bus. You scared him, everybody.”

Benzino’s legal team is currently reviewing the police report and the circumstances surrounding the custody dispute.

‘Boss run county’: Michigan woman realizes a police officer has been following her for 20 minutes. Then her husband steps in

By: Nina Hernandez Updated Category: Newsbreak
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A Michigan woman calls her husband for help after being followed by what appears to be a state police car for over 20 minutes. When he gets to her, she’s being pulled over, and he wants to know why.

TikTok creator JBird (@jbird.pma.officia) posted a video about the encounter on Feb. 16.

“So, my wife called me because this cop has actually been following her for 20 minutes now,” he says to start the video. “All the way from Adrian to all the way up the road here. So, we’re going to see if he follows her. She’s going to turn left at this light.”

Michigan Woman Calls Husband After Being Followed by State Police

JBird’s wife makes the left turn, and sure enough, the police car goes the same way.

“He literally followed her,” JBird says. “I’m going to go and see what the heck he is pulling her over for.”

The video cuts to JBird standing on the other side of the street while the officer exits her vehicle. As she approaches the driver’s side door, JBird asks, “What did you pull her over for, ma’am?”

The video cuts out. A second video related to the encounter appears to have been deleted.

In the caption of the video, JBird asks, “Isn’t there like a law against following somebody for 11 miles before you pull them over?”

Viewers React to the Michigan Couple’s State Police Story

In the comments section of the video, viewers reacted to the police officer’s alleged actions.

“They’re not supposed to follow that long,” one person argued.

“It doesn’t take 20 minutes to know you’re going to pull someone over,” said a second viewer.

“Just imagine if she didn’t have a husband to call,” said a third person.

Someone else said, “I’m glad she called you because just because someone appears to be in a law enforcement vehicle doesn’t mean they’re law enforcement.”

While several people in the comments suggested this could qualify as entrapment, that’s not what the term means legally. Entrapment is a criminal defense used by defendants that argues an officer induced them into committing a crime they weren’t already predisposed to commit.

Michigan state law requires that officers have probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity to initiate a traffic stop. However, following a vehicle along a public roadway and later stopping the driver for a traffic violation isn’t prohibited by itself.

A Reddit user posted to r/AskLE asking about why an officer might do this and received several responses. One person said, “Possibly waiting for an area to stop that was safer for him and you.” A second person said, “He might have been looking for DUI driving clues.” And a third person said, “Another cop was giving a dissertation over the radio and he had to wait for him to shut up before calling in the stop.”

AllHipHop contacted Jbird via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also contacted Michigan State Police via email for comment. We will update this story if either party responds.

@jbird.pma.official isn't there like a law against following somebody for 11 Mi before you pull them over?? #jbirdspma #michigan #statepolice ♬ original sound – Jbird

EXCLUSIVE: TI, Sabrina Peterson Settlement Talks Break Down In Middle Of 50 Cent Beef

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Exclusives
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TI refuses to back down from any conflict, whether it involves rappers or courtrooms, right now.

The Atlanta rapper walked away from settlement negotiations with Sabrina Peterson after talks broke down a few weeks ago.

Peterson filed a defamation lawsuit against TI in 2021, alleging that she damaged his reputation through social media posts and public statements.

The Peterson lawsuit centers around allegations that TI orchestrated a campaign to discredit her after she made public accusations about his conduct and personal life.

Court documents show Peterson seeks damages for lost business opportunities and emotional distress caused by TI’s alleged defamatory statements.

TI fired back with his own counterclaim, alleging Peterson made false accusations about him and his wife, Tiny.

TI’s legal team argues Peterson’s claims lack merit and that she initiated the public dispute through her own social media activity. Both sides and their lawyers engaged in a three-hour mediation session with a settlement officer acting as the referee.

The settlement conference did not result in a resolution, but the parties may return to the table at a later date to try to work things out again before the case heads to trial.

The failed settlement discussions took place while TI battled 50 Cent in an escalating Hip-Hop feud that began over a canceled Verzuz battle.

50 Cent originally agreed to face TI in the popular music competition series but pulled out at the last minute in late 2025.

The Queens rapper then began posting mocking content about TI’s career, his personal life and Tiny. TI responded to 50 Cent’s attacks with several Instagram posts defending his legacy and calling out 50’s business failures.

His sons, King Harris and Domani Harris, also jumped into the beef with their own social media responses and brutal diss tracks supporting their mother and father.

A federal judge will schedule the next pre-trial conference for the Peterson lawsuit within the next two weeks.

As for TI, he is focused on his new music. He just dropped an epic video for his new song “Let Em Know,” which was directed by Hype Williams.

Cardi B Denies Destroying Stefon Diggs In Brutal Concert Rant After Messy Breakup

By: Mike Winslow Updated Category: News
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Cardi B denied that she was unleashing a brutal verbal assault on Stefon Diggs during her San Francisco concert stopover over the weekend.

Multiple outlets reported that the Bronx rapper tore into her ex-boyfriend while performing at the Chase Center during her Little Miss Drama Tour.

Concert footage captured the 33-year-old artist delivering what was reported as a message that left no doubt about her feelings toward the NFL wide receiver. She was reciting parts of the lyrics to her song “Principle.”

“It’s called the principle. You can’t be out here playing with a b#### like me. There’s n##### out here praying for a b#### like me. You hear me?” Cardi declared to the packed arena.

“You ain’t never had a bad b#### like this, n####. Never in your m############ life! None of them b###### ain’t fuking with me!” Cardi shouted to thunderous applause from her audience.

Cardi addressed the reports on Monday (March 2).

“Dear blogs, when I perform a song I always introduce the song with a lil razzle dazzle.. not everything is a shot or personal. I’m actually repeating lyrics from the songs…Relax,” Cardi B said.

The concert outburst came just weeks after the couple’s highly publicized split before Super Bowl 2026. Sources revealed that Diggs had allegedly “betrayed her so many times,” leading to the relationship’s demise.

The “WAP” artist is now focusing on her tour and four children while embracing her single status.

The former couple first sparked dating rumors last February when they spent Valentine’s Day together in Miami. They went Instagram-official in June 2025 with steamy Memorial Day yacht photos before welcoming their son in November.

Diggs also shares five other children with five different women, four of whom were born in 2025. Cardi shares three other children with her estranged husband Offset, whom she divorced in August 2024.

The Little Miss Drama Tour continues through April with stops in major cities across the United States.

‘They love the Indiana Jones ride’: Woman goes to Disneyland. Then she finds a random child unattended in a stroller

By: Rachel Thomas Updated Category: Newsbreak
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A woman shared one of the “craziest things that ever happened” to her at Disneyland. That’s because when she was waiting for her family outside a ride, she noticed an unattended child in a stroller right outside the line. 

Curious, TikTok content creator Pixieduststudio (@thepixieduststudio.co), stayed nearby by happenstance. Then, she noticed that a couple left their children outside for 45 minutes. She posted about what she did afterward—and how Disney’s cast and crew responded—in a TikTok with over 84,000 views. 

A Trip to Disney Turns Into a Concerning Experience

TikToker Pixieduststudio regularly takes trips to Disneyland. But, her experience during a July 2025 trip was slightly less magical when she noticed a child left unaccompanied. 

Before her encounter with the unattended children, she made her way outside the Indiana Jones Adventure ride, with no intentions of getting on. Her children love it, but she gets sick when she rides it. For that reason, she waited outside and let her kids get on the ride without her. 

Pixieduststudio found a spot right outside the ride to sit with every intention of enjoying some reading time. But, she looked right next to her and noticed some children that caught her eye. 

“ There was probably maybe a seven-year-old girl kind of sitting on the thing next to me and looking at the stroller, and there was a toddler in the stroller asleep,” she said.  “I kind of thought it was weird that these kids were here without any adults, but I thought, ‘Oh, … maybe the mom parked them there and then went to pick up their mobile order or something.’”

After a while, Pixieduststudio noticed that her kids weren’t coming back because the ride broke down.

The Indiana Jones Adventure Comes to a Halt

As Pixieduststudio kept an eye out for her children, she noticed an “exodus” of people leaving the ride. Her kids, though, were still missing. Still, she waited patiently for them.

Eventually, it had been 45 minutes since her children went to wait in line for the Indiana Jones Adventure. Pixieduststudio thought that she might have to leave her spot to find them, but she couldn’t just leave the children who were waiting outside there by themselves. 

“ Nobody’s with them, and I’ve been here a long time. So, I find a cast member and I say, ‘Hey, I don’t know whose kids these are, but they’ve been sitting next to me for like 45 minutes. … I need to go locate my kids because they seem to be stuck on a ride somewhere,’” Pixieduststudio recalled. 

She told a cast member about the children, who promised to “take care” of the situation. Then the situation got “crazier.” 

Castmembers Assist Woman With Finding Her Children—Then She Learns Something Shocking

Pixieduststudio went to find her children, who had gotten stuck in some way on the Indiana Jones ride. A cast member ended up leading her to an area to wait for them to come out. After another 15 minutes, they were able to finally reunite. 

Then, her kids started to tell her a story about some of the other riders. At first, Pixieduststudio didn’t understand what had happened. The Indiana Jones ride apparently stops working “all of the time,” so she figured there was little that was out of character. Then, they started talking about how a couple on the ride reacted to getting stuck. 

According to her children, there were two parents on the ride who “freaked out.” They explained that their children were waiting outside for them. That’s when she realized she had essentially just watched their kids for free.

But, what made the situation more hectic was that the parents cursed and yelled at Disney employees because they were stuck.

“ My 11 year old’s like super, super sensitive to language. She doesn’t enjoy the swear words,”  Pixieduststudio said. “She was like, ‘Mom, they were saying all these mean words to the cast members. They were saying the S word, and the D word, and the H word.’”

Pixieduststudio recalled that the entire situation was a “huge” coincidence, but she was bothered by the couple’s behavior, especially considering their treatment of Disney employees.

Commenters Give Their Takes on the Indiana Jones Adventure Incident

While some viewers said that leaving children unattended is more common in other countries, others pointed out just how dangerous it can be to leave a child unattended. 

“​​That’s crazy and so incredibly irresponsible of those parents to leave their children unattended. Children could have been kidnapped,” one commenter said. 

Another added that “sadly this is not a random occurrence. I’ve seen this happen before where it’s reported that a child has been left in a stroller and cast members and security respond.”

What Should I Do If I Notice an Unattended Child at Disneyland?

According to the Disneyland website, you should “report lost children to a Cast Member so Disneyland Resort security personnel can assist you. Children who become separated from their parents while in the park will be escorted to the nearest Baby Care Center and Lost Children facility by a Cast Member.”

AllHipHop reached out to Pixieduststudio via TikTok direct message and comment. We’ve also reached out to Disney via email. We’ll let you know if either party responds.

@pixieduststudio This was one of the craziest things I’ve personally witnessed at Disneyland! This is part 1- follow along for part 2!! #disneyland #crazystory #disneyexperience ♬ original sound – thepixieduststudio.co

EXCLUSIVE: 21 Savage Accused Of Keeping $150K From Scrapped European Tour

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Exclusives
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21 Savage is facing a new federal lawsuit from a European promoter who claims the rapper’s team took a $150,000 deposit for a tour that never happened and never gave the money back.

In a civil complaint filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Dutch company J. Noah B.V., which does business as J-Noah Entertainment, accuses 21 Savage, his Slaughter Gang LLC and several members of his business team of breach of contract, fraud and other claims over a stalled European run dating back to 2019.

The suit says the money was supposed to lock in at least 10 shows on the continent, excluding London, between August and December of that year.

According to the filing, J-Noah says it wired a $150,000 “binder” payment on March 20, 2019, after receiving an invoice from 21 Savage’s then-representatives, Girls Do It Better LLC and manager Kei Henderson, along with YB Talent Agency, which is also named in the suit.

The complaint says the cash was meant to be held in escrow or trust while the parties finished out the full tour paperwork, and that it had to be refunded within five days if the deal fell apart.

The tour hit a wall when 21 Savage allegedly could not secure a valid passport, the promoter claims.

J-Noah says both sides agreed to pause the tour plans while the immigration issue played out and put the refund requirement on hold, with the understanding that they would lock in new dates once the paperwork came through.

From 2019 through 2023, the promoter says it stayed in touch with 21’s camp, waiting for word that he was clear to travel and perform the shows.

During that stretch, the complaint claims, the rapper’s team kept offering “one excuse after another” about why he still did not have his passport and continued to stall on either moving forward with the tour or sending the money back.

The situation allegedly blew up in late 2023. J-Noah says he learned for the first time in mid-October 2023 that 21 Savage had already secured his passport and had gone ahead and booked a different European tour with another promoter.

The Dutch company calls that a “material breach” of their agreement and says it never got a single show in return for its $150,000.

On October 20, 2023, J-Noah’s European lawyer sent what is described as an “urgent notice” to 21 Savage, Slaughter Gang, Henderson, Girls Do It Better, YB Talent and Yusaf Ahmad Babar, demanding the full refund within five days under the terms of the artist binder agreement.

The suit says the money still hasn’t been returned, despite repeated demands and even alleged promises from representatives to pay the balance down in $10,000 monthly installments.

Instead, the complaint claims all of the defendants “shared in the $150,000 windfall,” never properly placed it in an escrow or trust account and were “unjustly enriched” while J-Noah was left unable to book another headliner in that slot.

The promoter says it lost both its deposit and the profits it expected from a 21 Savage tour or from a replacement act.

J-Noah is suing for at least $150,000 in compensatory damages, plus additional consequential and incidental damages for alleged lost profits, and is also asking for punitive damages over what it calls “outrageous” and “reckless” conduct by 21 Savage and his team.

The complaint includes claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and more, and demands a jury trial.

21 Savage faces a federal lawsuit from a Dutch promoter alleging he kept a $150,000 deposit for a canceled 2019 European tour

YNW Melly’s Mom May Have Hurt Son’s Freedom Bid By Wearing Wire

By: illseed Updated Category: Rumors
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YNW Melly has been sitting behind bars since 2019. That sucks since he has yet to see trial. But now his own mother’s courtroom testimony has reportedly added a WILD new twist to an already crazy case.

The Florida rapper, born Jamell Demons (hell of a name), has maintained his innocence in the 2018 killings of his two friends. His supporters have long argued that the evidence tying him to the crime is far from airtight. But this latest development? It hits different.

Mom may have gotten her son in a real bind and her own efforts could hang him, according to the streets.

READ ALSO: YNW Melly Gets Massive Win, Prosecutors Drop All Charges Against In Tampering Case

Word circulating is that Melly’s mother attempted to broker what she believed was a lifeline. The alleged plan was risky. She would wear a wire, try to draw out a confession, and in return, secure a drastically reduced sentence. The thinking, as it’s being spread on social media, was survival. The alternative was the death penalty, but a decade plus time served was a decent alternative. Remember, he’s been in there since 2019. That is real time.

Here is where it reportedly unraveled.

The state never offered the rumored 10-year deal. Instead, prosecutors are said to be pushing hard for 40-years-to-life if convicted. Any admission and any recorded statement could become a weapon in court. What may have been intended as help for Melly now looks like evidence and leverage against him. We are still sifting through all the chatter for the truth, but this is what is being said.

This saga does not see to have an end.

Melly’s first trial ended in a mistrial, and the retrial has been closely watched. The whole ordeal is insane. Look it up if you do not know. He has spent years incarcerated pre-trial, which has fueled serious debate about due process, prosecutorial tactics, and even perception. Personally, I thought this was open and shut. But why is it still open? And why is his mother pulled into the strategy against him? Doozie.

If the reports are accurate, Melly’s mom did not betray him. She may have just gotten played. A mother believing she could use the system to save her son from death is the stuff movies are made of.

Legal chess is wildly brutal and the “laws” tend to be the ones yelling “checkmate!” Stay safe and comment below.

Ma$e and Cam’ron Slam Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao Rematch Plans

By: Mike Winslow Updated Category: News
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Hip-Hop legends Ma$e and Cam’ron delivered their unfiltered takes on the announced September rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao during their latest It Is What It Is podcast episode.

The Harlem duo expressed serious reservations about the upcoming September 19, 2026, showdown at the Las Vegas Sphere, which will stream live on Netflix.

Ma$e didn’t hold back his concerns about the Filipino boxing icon’s recent performances.

“I really don’t like to even talk about this, you know,” Ma$e said in a YouTube video. “Um, Manny Pacquiao in his last outing didn’t look um like the Manny Pacquiao of old. So, this is not something I’m looking forward to.”

The former Bad Boy Records rapper compared aging athletes returning from retirement to Michael Jordan’s later career phases.

“I think once you retire there’s a separation of the greatest period of your life, right?” Ma$e explained. “And then there’s this um this continuence. It’s almost like a continuence. It’s like seeing Jordan out there in 45. We know that’s not 23.”

Cam’ron echoed his co-host’s skepticism about the highly anticipated rematch, particularly given their disappointment with the fighters’ 2015 encounter.

“I didn’t want to see the first fight. I don’t think this fight would be better than the first fight,” Cam’ron stated. “But if Floyd, like I said, we both agreed that we don’t necessarily want to see Floyd fight. But if he’s going to fight, this isn’t one of the fights that I would want to see.”

The Dipset founder acknowledged Mayweather’s selective approach to comeback fights, referencing the boxer’s previous return against Juan Manuel Marquez.k

“Floyd retired, then Marquez called him up,” Cam’ron recalled. “Like, ‘Oh, what? Bet I ain’t doing nothing. I’ll come mess him up real quick.’ But it was a good time.”

Both hosts expressed concerns about legacy preservation for aging combat sports legends, particularly when financial motivations appear to drive comeback decisions.

The rematch announcement comes more than 11 years after their initial meeting, which generated record-breaking pay-per-view numbers despite widespread criticism of the fight’s entertainment value.

Netflix’s involvement represents a significant shift in boxing distribution, following the streaming platform’s successful Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson event that attracted 108 million global viewers.

The Sphere venue adds another layer of spectacle to the proceedings, marking the second major combat sports event at the $2.3 billion entertainment complex.

Mayweather, now 49, hasn’t competed professionally since defeating Conor McGregor in August 2017, while Pacquiao has remained more active with eight fights since their first encounter.

The Filipino senator’s most recent professional bout resulted in a majority draw against Mario Barrios in July 2025.

​​‘It’s Just Our Standard Practice Because We’ve Been Burned’: Washington Man Denied Pizza Over the Phone Because He Wouldn’t Comply With the Store Policy. Then He Digs Up Dirt on a Worker

By: Rachel Thomas Updated Category: Newsbreak
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A Washington pizza company was surprised at the lengths customers would go to when they couldn’t place their order. That’s what Zac from Zac’s Zzas Pizza (@zacs.zzas), a pizza shop in the Yakima Valley, mentioned in a TikTok post with over 232,000 views. 

Zac says the issue started with a simple phone call and then spiraled out of control. He states that on Feb. 18, a customer tried to place an order over the phone without paying for it. So, he refused to take the order. Then, he says the couple who tried to order the pizza came into the store asking where their order was and why they couldn’t place it over the phone, claiming Zac hung up on them. Zac says he let them know it had never been placed, as he had just been on the phone with them when they hung up on the other end without giving their card information. 

Eventually, the couple made the decision to go on Facebook to air out their issues with Zac’s pizza shop, Zac says. He says they badmouthed the company at first; then, they found out about an employee’s legal issues and threatened to expose them.

“I don’t understand it,” Zac says. “This is petty at the highest level. OK, you’re trying to hold my feet to the fire for things that I have … nothing I could do about it.”

Zac Takes a Call That Leads Down a Rabbit Hole of Complaints

Zac says that on Wednesday, Feb. 18, he took a call that would lead to a series of threats against his business and employee. 

“[A] gentleman called [and] wanted to place an order,” Zac says. “He had never placed an order with us before under that phone number, and our standard practice, because we’ve had problems with people not showing up to pick up their food, is that we take payment with first-time customers with that phone number.” 

Because of that standard practice, Zac says he let the man know that he’d need his card information. He says the man told him that the policy was “weird” and that he’d never encountered a restaurant with it. Zac says the man ignored his request and continued ordering food. 

He adds that he quickly let the man know that he couldn’t place an order over the phone without giving any card information, which made the man irate. Zac says he told him that he wasn’t going to change the policy. Instead, if he wanted, the customer could order the food in person, pay, and then wait for it. 

Zac says he thought that was the end of the conversation—until he saw two cars pull into the parking lot. 

The Couple Arrives at Zac’s Zzas Pizza Expecting Their Order

Zac says he noticed that a couple—a woman and the gentleman he presumably spoke to on the phone earlier in the day—had pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. According to Zac, the woman told him that he “hung up on them and wouldn’t take their order,” something that he denied immediately.

“This is all on video at the restaurant as well,” Zac says. “Everyone, once you pull in the parking lot, you’re on video. We’ve got cameras inside. We’ve got signs all around the parking lot stating that you are on video, so there’s no surprises, right?” 

Zac says he eventually told the woman that he wasn’t the one who hung up, her partner was. He says she went to speak to the man, and he continued saying that Zac “hung up” on him. Zac says he once again emphasized that he didn’t, so they stormed out of the store—but not before saying they’d review his business negatively online.

Why Is the Couple Threatening To ‘Expose’ Zac on Facebook?

Zac says the couple tried to message him on Facebook regarding their experience with the restaurant. He says they posted a negative review and sent multiple “threatening” messages to the pizza parlor.

Then, according to Zac, they seemingly found alleged information that is significantly more damning. Zac says they messaged him, letting him know that they knew information about one of his employees. 

Zac describes the messages, saying, “They sent some screenshots of … I’ve got an employee that is going through some personal stuff in the … court system, so evidently they’re going to hang me out to dry because I have an employee that’s going through some things.”

Zac says he hasn’t fired the employee because he believes that people are innocent until proven guilty.

“I’m not gonna air out his laundry, but he’s claiming that he’s innocent,” Zac adds. “We’re gonna let the court figure that out ’cause we live in America, and that’s what the court system is for.”

He also states, “He is charged, not convicted. So, there’s two totally different things, and if he is convicted, he will no longer work for us. … That’s cut and dry.”

Zac adds that the employee was going to court the next day. 

He defends the employee in his post, saying, “In the end, it does affect me, and I know that we have lost business because he’s there.” 

But Zac states that he hadn’t seen the employee behave in any way that fit the crimes he was charged with. For that reason, he didn’t want to move forward with termination.

What Were the Crimes?

It’s unclear what the man was charged with based on Zac’s post, as he did not identify the employee. But commenter sleuths think they were able to piece together some information about the case. 

Commenters Add Their Thoughts

Commenters are conflicted on whether to support Zac’s small business.

On Facebook, where Zac reposted the TikTok, a woman added, “I’m all down for the payment part. But avoiding the fact you have an accused child predator there… yeah I’d stop pretending he’s just going to court for something light. I’m still innocent until proven guilty… but I’m looking at the case… and boss… not a good look.”

AllHipHop reached out to Zac’s Zzas Pizza via email and Facebook direct message for more information. We’ll let you know if they respond.

@zacs.zzas

♬ original sound – Zac's Zzas Pizza

Lil Durk May Be Cooked

By: illseed Updated Category: Rumors
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Lil Durk may be staring down serious prison time.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Lil Durk DM About “Hunting” Opps Could Send Him To Prison For Life

Courtroom cooperation and federal testimony are looking this man in the eyes. These are rumors, but If even a fraction of what’s being reported is even halfway accurate, this is a legal nightmare.

Word on the curb is that two of his OTF affiliates, identified as Dede and Boogie, were seen in court allegedly cooperating with federal authorities. According to rumors and reports, they supposedly testified that Durk directed them to target Quando Rondo. They seek to exchange this info and avoid potential life sentences. The time will reportedly be reduced to between 10 and 20 years even if convicted. Wow.

Let that marinate.

READ ALSO: Lil Durk Denied Separate Trial Request, Stays Locked Up Until August

Some that saw the optics claim the pair celebrated in the courtroom. Now, if true, that is not good for Durk and it also is not considered standing tall. The streets are really dead, but let me write enough for Google.

This stuff has not been independently verified here. Durk has branded OTF as a tight-knit unit built on loyalty and brotherhood. The Chicago rapper’s rise from drill pioneer to mainstream icon came with a code. Or so we thought. The Feds have a way of testing even the strongest hood dudes. If you want more on this case, click here for the news coverage on it.

By the way, this trial does not even come until August 2026.

Durk’s legal team has a serious battle ahead.

Stay tuned.

Kid Cudi Offered Bail Money For Shia LaBeouf After Mardi Gras Arrest Fiasco

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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Kid Cudi stepped up to help Shia LaBeouf after the actor’s arrest during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans this February.

LaBeouf revealed during a Channel 5 interview that both Cudi and Thundercat sent representatives to arrange his bail after he was booked on battery charges.

The Transformers star said he received assistance from multiple people, but wasn’t sure who actually paid for his release from Orleans Parish Prison.

LaBeouf was arrested on February 17 after allegedly punching several patrons outside a French Quarter bar and using homophobic slurs. Police charged him with two counts of simple battery after witnesses reported the altercation during the Fat Tuesday festivities.

The actor spent time in a crowded drunk tank with approximately 50 other people before his unexpected release.

“I know Thundercat tried to get it going and Cudi did the same thing,” LaBeouf explained during the interview.

He described how assistants showed up at the jail trying to secure his freedom, but he didn’t recognize their names when guards asked about them.

The bailiff eventually told the representatives to leave and LaBeouf said he “just left on his own” without knowing who covered the costs.

LaBeouf and Cudi have worked together professionally before, when the actor directed a music video for Cudi’s track “Marijuana.”

Cudi’s willingness to help may stem from his own recovery journey and understanding of addiction struggles.

The Cleveland rapper has been open about his battles with cocaine and alcohol abuse that led him to rehab in 2016.

Cudi spent months in treatment after what he called his “rock bottom moment” and has since become an advocate for mental health awareness and sobriety support.

The Man on the Moon artist previously maintained six years of sobriety before relapsing in 2015.

His experience with addiction recovery and the program may have motivated his desire to help LaBeouf during a difficult time.

Cudi has spoken about the importance of support systems during recovery and the value of helping others struggling with similar issues.

The actor was later arrested again on February 28 on an additional battery charge and had his bond set at $100,000 with mandatory substance abuse treatment.

LaBeouf acknowledged his behavior was wrong during the Channel 5 interview and took full responsibility for the incidents. He described feeling “contrition” and said he would “deal with” the consequences of his actions.

LaBeouf revealed he had been sober for nine months before relapsing with kava consumption that eventually led back to alcohol use.

The actor has struggled with sobriety throughout his career and has been in and out of AA programs since age 18. His pattern of legal troubles often coincides with periods of drinking and substance use.

LaBeouf is scheduled to appear in Orleans Parish Criminal Court on March 15 for his arraignment on all charges.