Angela Yee confronted grief and urgency on her Way Up with Angela Yee platform in New York City as the veteran radio and media personality revealed the sudden death of her only brother while urging listeners to take health warnings seriously and prepare for the unexpected.
The emotional disclosure unfolded during a raw on air conversation that quickly shifted from personal loss to public service.
Yee explained that her brother died from an aneurysm after experiencing days of intense headaches that did not initially register as a medical emergency for him or his family. The first sign something was wrong came through absence rather than alarm when he stopped responding in the family group chat.
“He’s very active in our group text like our family chat every day,” Yee said. “He’s a person that if you call him he’s going to answer if you text him he answers right back.”
That silence prompted action.
Yee said her mother used a spare key to enter his home and found him on the floor. Emergency responders arrived but protocol required a prolonged wait for police and the medical examiner before the family could return inside. Because he was alone and appeared to have fallen authorities had to rule out foul play.
Doctors later confirmed an aneurysm as the cause of death.
Yee shared that her brother had complained of severe headaches in the days before he died and tried to manage the pain on his own.
“He had been saying he had really bad headaches a couple of days before that they were so bad he had to take three Advil,” she said. “When you feel like pain like that and it feels out of the ordinary it is important to see a doctor because again like you never know what could happen.”
Yee acknowledged how easy it is to minimize symptoms especially for people who consider themselves healthy and active.
“I probably would have did what he did take some Advil and go and lay down,” she said.
Beyond the medical warning Yee spoke about another reality families often avoid. At 51 her brother had never discussed burial preferences or end of life wishes leaving relatives to make weighty decisions during shock and grief.
“They’re like does he want to be cremated does he want we never even discussed that,” she said.
As arrangements move forward Yee asked friends and listeners to send photos for a memorial slideshow to bo***********@***il.com.
Milagro Gramz has landed back in legal crosshairs after losing a defamation case to Megan Thee Stallion and allegedly picking up right where she left off, targeting the rapper online despite a jury’s ruling.
In a new motion filed by Megan’s legal team, the Houston artist is asking a federal judge to issue a permanent injunction against Milagro Gramz after what they describe as a resumption of harassment.
Milagro Gramz appeared on Instagram Live on December 1, a day after the gag order was lifted. According to court documents, she downplayed the verdict and floated the idea of shifting her focus to music with a mixtape.
Megan Thee Stallion says the move ot music is an attempt to disguise continued attacks as constitutionally protected speech.
But the motion says the behavior didn’t stop there. On December 2, Gramz posted a photo on X featuring herself next to journalist Gayle King, which Megan’s team says was a veiled jab at the rapper’s 2022 interview with King.
That interview became a focal point during the Tory Lanez shooting trial, where Gramz tried to discredit Megan’s statements.
She also referred to Megan Thee Stallion as “the Black Regina George” (a character in the movie ‘Mean Girls’), a phrase Megan’s attorneys say is both defamatory and racially loaded.
“Ms. Pete will continue to suffer irreparable harm if Defendant is permitted to further stalk, bully, and harass Ms. Pete, and to further incite [Milagro Gramz’s] “mob’ of followers, who has been primed over the last five years with hateful rhetoric directed at Ms. Pete,” Meg’s lawyer said.
Megan’s lawyers argue Milagro Gramz is dodging real accountability while continuing to provoke their client under the guise of free speech. Megan Thee Stallion has been trying to move on after Tory Lanez’s trial, conviction and sentencing.
Megan Thee Stallion has been publicly dating NBA star Klay Thompson since July 2024, and in October, she dropped “Lover Girl,” a track inspired by their relationship.
The couple reportedly bought a home together, signaling a new chapter for the Grammy-winning rapper.
Despite the legal turmoil, Megan’s business ventures haven’t slowed. She’s juggling music, a swimwear line, and other projects, even as Roc Nation faces a lawsuit from two models over contract disputes tied to her brand.
Today, Earl Simmons, the man the world knew as DMX, would’ve turned 55. I count myself among the blessed few who stood in his presence when the culture was shifting, when Hip-Hop was reeling from the deaths of Biggie and Tupac, and a shinier, more polished sound dominated the mainstream. Out of that vacuum stepped X. He was raw, untamed and unapologetically real. And the man bred in Yonkers, New York somehow reshaped Hip-Hop forever.
This was 1998: a pivotal year, not just for DMX, but for hip-hop’s heartbeat. While glossy aesthetics gained commercial traction, there was a hunger for something authentically rugged – for truth delivered with visceral force. Enter It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. In the same calendar year, X dropped two albums that didn’t just top charts – they rattled the industry and reoriented its compass toward raw emotion and street reality.
I had the privilege of interviewing him multiple times that year, which was also the year AllHipHop was born. On the first occasion, X wasn’t in interview mode at all. Irv Gotti had to coax him into sitting still. In classic Dark Man X fashion, all he cared about was rapping. Before we even started, he broke out into freestyle. This was not for the camera, because there were no cameras present. It was not for hype or clout. To me, this was because the music lived in him. That energy, that ferocity, was his gift and his burden.
Hip-hop hasn’t heard a presence like that before or since.
DMX was a man of contradictions, scary one moment, tender the next; a warrior wrestling with demons, yet spiritual in ways few dare admit. As he once told Blackfilm, “Right, wrong, good, bad, heaven, hell. I think that is the theme of my life … you have to know both in order to honestly choose one.”
His spirituality wasn’t superficial. It bled through every album, every “Prayer” track, every confession of struggle and redemption. He spoke often of faith not as an accessory, but as survival: “I’ma shine regardless … the Lord has already written my steps out so no one can do anything to stop it.”
Still, beneath that towering voice and commanding stage presence was a guy who knew pain. In later years, whispers about his struggles with addiction and fatigue followed him. Rumors that were hard to separate from truth. I remember one interview where X nearly nodded off mid-conversation. My colleague Amanda Seales and I exchanged glances, finally ending the interview. We voiced concern quietly to Dee from Ruff Ryders, and she just shrugged, saying, “that’s just X” without further expansion on the thought. Life on the edge never looked like anything else.
Decades on, I sat down with his uncle, Ray Copeland, who offered insight rooted not in headlines but in family history. He reminded me that X wasn’t lazy or lost or even drugged like that. Heoverworked himself. Ray said, “He moved in life in a perpetual state of fatigue” — always exhausted, living on short naps between studio sessions, tours, films and prayer meetings.
And yet, even with all of that intensity, he never lost his human core. Longtime collaborators like Swizz Beatz have spoken publicly about X’s selflessness: “He lived his life for everyone else… you ain’t ever seen him next to a Lamborghini… he didn’t care about that.”
When the world lost him in April 2021 at age 50, the mourning wasn’t just about a rapper. It was about a voice. This was a pure soul willing to expose fear, faith, pain and power without pretense. Tributes poured in from every corner, from fans to icons like LeBron James, who called him a “legend” upon his passing.
Yet, for all the music and memories he left us, there’s always that lingering question: What would’ve been? What heights might he have reached with more time? What battles might he have won? I don’t spend every day on that thought, but I feel it. I know others do too.
Here’s what I firmly believe: DMX didn’t die in the way most legends do. His spirit – that raw, electric, uncompromising force – didn’t fade. It transcended. It lives in every gritty Hip-Hop venue that refuses to sugarcoat life, in every mini-prayer woven through rhyme, in every artist who dares to speak without filters. They still exist.
DMX is infinite.
His music still slaps. His voice still reverberates through new generations. Stories of him, all of them, from the funny and the wild alike keep coming. And the more we share them, the more his legacy breathes.
I still love a good DMX story. I still press play all the time and let that bark cut through the noise. Everywhere, the house, the gym, the car and beyond. And yeah — I would love another interview with him. But what we do have is enough to keep us thinking, feeling, grieving, celebrating, and even growing.
Rest in power, Earl Simmons. You were and remain Dark Man X.
This is the first interview in 1998.
DMX was super tired. This is after he woke up.
DMX made my buy Henny for this interview. Gina had X talking about Drake, but I was trying to get his Top 5 Dead or Alive.
Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor have officially closed the book on their marriage, money and all, and the final numbers are the kind that make even seasoned Hip-Hop observers blink twice. The former NBA champion and the singer, actress and entrepreneur are now legally divorced, with court documents revealing a settlement that sends more than $25 million in assets Shumpert’s way straight into Taylor’s column.
The couple, who were married for eight years and built a public image around love, creativity and family, quietly began divorce proceedings back in January 2023. The case wrapped up in June 2024 in Fulton County, Georgia, but the real shockwaves did not hit until the financial details surfaced. What was once a private split suddenly became a case study in how marriage, money and legal structure can dramatically reshape fortunes.
According to filings, Taylor is set to receive a $10 million cash payout, along with four residential properties valued at roughly $10 million combined. Those homes were part of the couple’s shared real estate holdings and are now being transferred fully into her name. Add in a fleet of luxury vehicles and the numbers climb even higher. Taylor walks away with a Maybach valued around $300,000, a Mercedes Benz Sprinter estimated at $80,000, and a custom tour bus worth approximately $700,000. That alone paints a vivid picture of the lifestyle the two maintained while together.
Anyway, Taylor retains complete ownership and control of her businesses and creative ventures, reinforcing her independence beyond the marriage. Legal documents also show that during the relationship, Shumpert placed the bulk of his NBA earnings into joint accounts. That financial structure, combined with marital property laws, heavily influenced how the assets were divided.
Shumpert is also required to pay $8,000 per month in child support and cover all private school tuition, educational expenses and medical costs for their children. The intent, according to filings, is to preserve stability and continuity in their lives.
After all transfers are completed, reports suggest Shumpert is left with roughly $2 million in personal assets and no primary residence from the marriage. While he may still hold investments elsewhere, it is a stark contrast to his peak NBA earning years. This divorce may be finalized, but its financial lessons will linger in celebrity culture and Hip-Hop conversations for a long time. Who was his lawyer?!
By the way, she has moved on totally…based on this, ol’ boy should be careful.
Cardi B celebrated a welcome change this holiday season when her daughter, Kulture, asked for dozens of outfits from Fashion Nova and SHEIN instead of pricey designer labels. The shift that comes one year after Offset allegedly skipped out on Christmas gifts for their children during their divorce.
“Kulture just sent me like 40 outfits from Fashion Nova and SHEIN she want for Christmas… I love that for me,” Cardi B wrote Tuesday night on X, formerly Twitter.
The 7-year-old’s simple wishlist stood in stark contrast to earlier years, when Cardi B famously splurged on luxury items for her kids.
Kulture just sent me like 40 outfits from Fashion Nova and SHEIN she want for Christmas…..I love that for me 😩😩😩
In 2021, she gifted Kulture a $48,000 Hermès Birkin bag. Just last Christmas, she went all-out with themed trees for each child, Hello Kitty for Kulture and Baby Shark for her son Wave.
But this year’s scaled-back holiday comes after a tense 2024 and 2025.
During a January X Spaces session, Cardi B revealed that Offset didn’t buy any presents for their three children, Kulture, Wave and Blossom, amid their ongoing divorce.
“Do you guys know that my kids didn’t receive no Christmas gifts from somebody in particular?” she said. “M############ want to make it seem on social media like I was keeping my kids away from them, but purposely fly to New York to buy their kids gift and guess how many did they buy my kids? Zero.”
She called the alleged move “spiteful” and accused Offset of trying to “ruin” her year. Cardi B filed for divorce in August 2024 and requested primary custody of their children. Since the split, Cardi B has moved on with Stefon Diggs, wide receiver for the New England Patriots.
The couple welcomed their first child together, a baby boy, on November 4, 2025. She recently posted photos of their son on Instagram Stories, calling him her “cuddle buddy.”
Diggs and Cardi B began dating in late 2024 and have appeared at multiple public events, including a yoga fundraiser. Diggs also posted pictures of their newborn in Patriots gear, showing their excitement about fatherhood.
Despite the cheerful moment, Cardi B admitted she knows Kulture’s taste in fashion may evolve.
When a follower warned her that kids eventually discover designer brands, she replied, “Ugh I know…once kids get in that Wave it’s no turning back. I didn’t care about brands till I was in the third grade. She just google ‘girls clothes’ and whatever pops up she ask me to buy.”
Supporters applauded her for letting her daughter enjoy childhood without brand pressure. Cardi B now has four children, three with Offset and one with Diggs.
Her daughter’s budget-friendly wishlist marks a new chapter for the family following last year’s holiday fallout.
D4vd is under renewed scrutiny after a private investigator uncovered a boxed incinerator at his former Hollywood Hills rental, just weeks after 14-year-old Celeste Rivas-Hernandez’s body was found in the trunk of his Tesla parked nearby.
The 20-year-old singer was leasing a $20,000-a-month property on Doheny Drive when the teen’s remains were discovered on September 8.
Private investigator Steve Fischer, hired by the property’s owner, found the unopened burn cage during an inspection of the home.
The device, which Fischer described as “unusual for a Hollywood Hills home,” can reach temperatures of 1,600 degrees and weighs roughly 55 pounds. Incinerators of this type are banned in Los Angeles County.
“Some will argue that this item was intended as a prop for a video,” Fischer wrote on X. “If that were the case, it raises several obvious questions. Why would a 55-pound burn cage be delivered to a private residence instead of directly to a prop designer or production house?”
Although my words have been misquoted by some, what I actually said about certain items found at the Doheny address was that they were “items you would expect to find on a farm rather than in a home in the Hollywood Hills.” One of those items was a Burn Cage incinerator,… pic.twitter.com/VlS2MHdb2G
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) December 16, 2025
Fischer said the incinerator was ordered before D4vd left for his “Withered” world tour, which he later canceled following the discovery of Rivas-Hernandez’s body. The device was shipped under a fake name and remained unused in its packaging.
The teenager had been seen in multiple photos with D4vd and reportedly spent considerable time with him. Her remains were discovered by tow yard employees who noticed a foul odor coming from the impounded Tesla.
The vehicle had been parked less than half a mile from the singer’s rental. The LAPD executed a search warrant on the property on September 17 and collected evidence. Authorities have classified the case as a “murder investigation,” though no arrests have been made.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet released an official cause of death.
Fischer said he also found other items that could be used with the incinerator, but declined to specify what they were. Because the burn cage had not been used, it was not seized during the police search.
“Given that Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were ultimately found in the Tesla trunk, the presence of an incinerator at the same residence associated with that vehicle necessarily raises questions about intent,” Fischer added.
D4vd, who rose to prominence with his viral track “Romantic Homicide,” has since canceled all remaining tour dates.
Terence Crawford is being accused of letting a luxury watch deal fall apart the same way a sponsor patch did on his shorts mid-fight.
The undefeated boxing star is now facing a New York lawsuit from Manhattan jeweler Mazza New York, which claims Crawford took a six-figure Patek Philippe Aquanaut and never fully paid for it after the jeweler’s logo quite literally failed to stay on his trunks.
The dispute traces back to February 2024, when Terence Crawford visited Mazza’s Diamond District office to pick up custom pendants. While there, he reportedly set his sights on a brand-new Patek Philippe Aquanaut, priced around $139,000.
That night, over dinner, Crawford allegedly pitched a creative payment plan. He would put down $35,000 cash and cover the rest by wearing a Mazza New York logo patch on his boxing shorts during his next professional bout.
The jeweler claims it agreed, banking on the exposure that comes with one of boxing’s biggest names, and handed over the watch the same evening.
Crawford’s next fight came on August 3, 2024, against Israil Madrimov. The Mazza logo made it to the ring but barely survived the opening rounds.
According to the lawsuit, the patch started peeling off in round one and was entirely gone by round four of the 12-round fight.
After the fight, Mazza claims Terence Crawford and his representatives acknowledged the problem and promised a redo, assuring the jeweler the logo would be adequately featured in Crawford’s next bout.
That next bout turned out to be massive.
Crawford faced Canelo Alvarez on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in a heavily promoted showdown streamed live on Netflix. The complaint says the fight drew more than 70,000 fans in person and reached over 41 million viewers worldwide.
This time, Mazza says it did everything by the book. The jeweler claims it coordinated with Crawford’s team for months, delivered a physical patch and digital logo files, and even flew its staff to Las Vegas, expecting to see its branding on one of the most-watched fights of the century.
Two days before the bout, the lawsuit alleges, Crawford’s representative abruptly informed Mazza the logo would not appear on his shorts after all. No explanation was given. The logo never appeared during the fight.
Mazza argues that missing out on exposure during an event of that scale was no small slip. The complaint compares the lost opportunity to premium Super Bowl advertising and claims damages exceeding $1.5 million.
The lawsuit also cites reports that Crawford earned roughly $50 million from the Alvarez fight, citing a World Boxing Council statement issued during a separate sanctioning fee dispute.
Mazza is suing for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and conversion. The jeweler is asking the court to either compel Crawford to return the Patek Philippe in new condition or pay its current market value, which it estimates at more than $155,000, along with additional damages for the missed promotion.
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Says a Lot About Boxing Right Now
“Tomorrow, tomorrow.”
That is how fast boxing rumors move in the social media era. In 24 hours, Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are set to fight in a heavyweight showdown that has captivated the sports world.
Jake Paul has built his career on spectacle. A few months ago, his name was attached to conversations involving Gervonta “Tank” Davis. That matchup never materialized, and it is important to be clear here. There was no reason made public, and no verified reason for it falling apart. Tank Davis has dealt with legal issues in the past and most speculate his canceled Jake Paul fight was due to issues around alleged domestic violence against women. What was obvious, however, is that the size difference would have been dramatic. Jake Paul would have been the much bigger man against a smaller, elite boxer.
Anthony Joshua represents the opposite end of the spectrum.
AJ is a legitimate heavyweight. He stands around 6-foot-6 and typically weighs well north of 240 pounds in fighting shape. He is a former unified heavyweight champion who has faced elite competition, including Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz, Oleksandr Usyk and others. Win or lose, his résumé places him firmly in boxing history. That matters. For the record, Jake is 6 feet 1 inch, weighing around the cruiserweight limit (up to 200 lbs). He fought heavyweight at 227 lbs against Mike Tyson.
There has long been a narrative that Jake Paul’s fights are manipulated or staged. People point to odd moments in past bouts, including his highly publicized fight with Mike Tyson, which did happen on Netflix. Still, we have no concrete evidence proving that Jake Paul rigs fights. Suspicion is not proof, but people are not fools when it comes to boxing. And AJ is not an idiot.
Applying that same suspicion to Anthony Joshua crosses another very big line. The idea that AJ would take money to lose to Jake Paul ignores everything we know about elite fighters and legacy. A loss like that would permanently damage Joshua’s standing in the sport. He has too much to lose and nothing meaningful to gain. AJ has actually accused Jake of fixing fights, as have numerous heavyweights in the sport.
Joshua himself has repeatedly denied any suggestion of staged outcomes or financial incentives tied to losing. His response has been direct and dismissive, as it should be. Jake has denied rigging fights too.
What has largely fueled the conspiracy talk is Jake Paul’s behavior, especially during the face-offs. During recent promotional appearances projects, he has leaned heavily into exaggerated antics. More than usual, some would argue. At face-offs and public events, his goofy, erratic energy has confused audiences. Some read it as nerves. Others see it as trolling. A louder group interprets it as proof of something shady happening behind the scenes. In reality, it is probably what it has always been with Jake Paul: marketing.
That approach works with casual viewers, but it wears thin with boxing purists. Gimmicks only go so far in a sport built on risk, discipline and consequences. Netflix exposure guarantees eyeballs, but if this were a traditional pay-per-view, many fans would likely sit it out. They are tired of feeling played.
The bigger truth is this: even false fights now feel plausible because boxing has allowed spectacle to blur the line between reality and performance. That should concern everyone who loves the sport.
I will be watching the situation like everyone else, not because I believe the rumors, but because the reaction to them reveals where boxing is headed.
Let me know who youthink will win this fight if it were real in the comments below.
Mariah the Scientist revealed that she saw Young Thug’s proposal coming in a clairvoyant vision. The R&B singer got engaged on December 16 when Thug dropped to his knee during his Young Thug & Friends Atlanta concert at State Farm Arena.
The couple has been together since 2021 but split briefly this year after leaked jail calls revealed Young Thug’s infidelity. They reconciled recently and Thug decided to make things official during Mariah’s “Burning Blue” performance.
Video footage shows Mariah crying tears of joy as she shows off her engagement ring. Young Thug posted photos from the proposal with the caption “USneverTHEM.”
The engagement comes after months of relationship drama. Young Thug admitted to cheating in leaked phone calls from jail, causing Mariah to break up with him. He later apologized publicly and they worked through their issues.
Mariah has been vocal about wanting marriage and children. She recently shot down pregnancy rumors, saying kids will come “definitely post-wedding vibes.”
Young Thug previously claimed he “put a baby in her,” but Mariah clarified she’s not currently pregnant.
Mariah the Scientist is scheduled to tour Europe in January 2025. The couple plans to marry before starting their family together.
Wiz Khalifa landed a nine-month prison sentence in Romania after a court finalized a drug possession case tied to his 2024 music festival performance, where he lit a joint on stage.
The Constanța Court of Appeal issued its ruling on December 18, reversing an earlier decision that had fined the rapper only around $700.
Authorities released him shortly after, but the legal process continued.
Romania enforces some of the toughest drug laws in Europe. While countries like Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands have eased penalties for small-scale cannabis possession, Romania still treats such offenses as criminal, even when intended for personal consumption.
The Romanian court clarified that the case involved only possession, not distribution or trafficking.
Wiz Khalifa has long been vocal about his marijuana use, weaving it into his music and public persona. Tracks like his 2011 hit “Black and Yellow” and the “Kush + Orange Juice” mixtape have become synonymous with his cannabis-friendly image.
He released a sequel to that mixtape in 2025, fifteen years after the original. Despite the ruling, the rapper remains in the United States.
Romania and the U.S. do have an extradition treaty, but according to the U.S. Department of State, extradition is not automatic and depends on several factors, including dual criminality and prosecutorial discretion.
Unless Khalifa travels to a country that enforces Romania’s warrant, he is unlikely to be forced to serve the sentence.
It seems like a lot of the beef simmered down today and honestly, thank God. This whole fiasco has been a bloody mess, and it’s one we did not need. Maino, Jim Jones, and 50 Cent going at each other is a recipe for disaster, plain and simple.
There was also real concern that Maino and 50 Cent could take things to a more serious, street-level place. While 50 isn’t actively moving around New York City like that anymore, it would be naïve to think he doesn’t have deep connections. Maino is well-connected too. Nobody wants to see two apex predators collide outside of music. That’s not entertainment, that’s danger.
What we need right now is peace, not escalation. And hopefully, that’s where this is headed as we move into a new year focused on growth and prosperity. Were you as uneasy about this situation as I was? Because if you really look at the broader landscape, things are getting wild out here and not just in Hip-Hop.
One key piece of this situation appears to have been settled. 50 Cent publicly claimed that Jim Jones paid off roughly $200,000 in back rent. For the record, it was never confirmed whether any rent was actually owed in the first place. Still, 50 somehow alleged that there was an unpaid balance, which led him to label Jim and the crew as squatters. That’s not something you want to put on the names of successful, established rappers. It felt like we were on the brink of an old-school battle royale, and that could have gone left very fast. Thankfully, cooler heads seem to have prevailed.
Yes, 50 will continue to troll them. By the way, he should button that top button and relieve the lower one. But, I digress.
Grandmaster Flash and Cee-Lo Green will DJ Primary Wave’s annual pre-Grammy party on January 31 in Beverly Hills, California.
The event, sponsored by VENU, will simultaneously celebrate 20 years of Primary Wave’s roster and vast catalog of over 1000 Top 10 singles and more than 400 No.1 hits across the history of music.
Cee-Lo Green and Grandmaster Flash will be joined by Grammy-nominated artist Trombone Shorty, with special surprise guests expected to pop up throughout the evening.
Primary Wave will also host its own version of the viral Whitney Houston drum challenge, inviting guests to try and hit the drumbeat before the final chorus of “I Will Always Love You,” a viral moment that made headlines in The New York Times.
“Primary Wave is celebrating our 20th anniversary milestone by hosting friends and family of our artists as we prepare for music’s biggest night,” Primary Wave Chief Brand Officer Jeff Straughn said. “We have built a tremendous event over the years where we welcome music executives, influencers and the biggest names in music to honor Primary Wave, The Home of Legends.
“As a company, we have continued to raise the bar each year over the last 20 years, and 2026 will be no exception. Attendees of this historic night should be prepared for many surprises and live performances that will make this year’s event like no other.”
Grandmaster Flash is plotting his birthday celebration on January 1, which includes a 15-hour “Birthday Raid Train” DJ event featuring DJ Shortkut, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Icy Ice, Flash and a dozen others.
“For my birthday this year I’m celebrating with DJs across the globe and the Twitch fam!” he announced in an Instagram post. “We’ve put together a 15-HOUR BIRTHDAY RAID TRAIN with DJs from Japan, England, LA, the Bronx and more for the ultimate celebration.
“The journey begins at 7 am EST with @djtashi (twitch.tv/vdjtashi) and ends at 10 pm EST with my good friend @djdemoclassic (twitch.tv/djdemoclassic) This is more than a party to me, it’s a reminder of where it all started and the DJs who keep the craft alive and well. See you January 1 on @twitch.”
Cee-Lo Green, meanwhile, is plugging his latest single, “Rest of Your Life,” on social media, though fans are still waiting on the new Gnarls Barkley album. The Goodie Mob/Dungeon Family member has been teasing the Danger Mouse -produced project for years.
Green spoke to AllHipHop in February 2024 and said it was nearly complete.
“Let the people know that the new Gnarls Barkley is on the way,” Green said at the time. “We are much much closer [to getting it done] than we were [last year]. We are a quantum leap closer. Let ’em know.”
Green is based in Fayette County, Georgia and Danger Mouse lives in New York City, so they’ve either traveled to each other’s respective studios or traded music over the internet.
“When schedules permit, we get together,” he said. “We’ve gone out to Joshua Tree, just me and him, and talked. Sometimes it’s just about connecting on a personal level and then we can work on music from that point on. But we have about 20 songs finished at this point.”
He then teased the project in April with what appeared to be album art featuring photos of Danger Mouse and himself. The caption read, “Gnarls Barkley is coming…#soon.”
Bianca Censori let a masked stand-in do the talking during a surreal Interview Magazine feature following her performance art debut in Seoul.
The 30-year-old Australian designer and wife of Kanye West remained completely silent during the interview, opting instead for a masked proxy to answer every question while she locked eyes with the interviewer.
The unusual setup followed her first official performance piece, “BIO POP,” which took place in South Korea and immediately drew online backlash. In the performance, Censori wore a dark red latex bodysuit while serving gelatinous cake to a room of lookalike clones posing as human furniture, which mirrored her image.
“The doppelgangers are not copies of Bianca. They’re spillages. They’re what happens when a public image detaches from the person who animates it,” the masked figure explained in the interview.
During the Interview Magazine session, her representative continued to speak on her behalf, offering an abstract explanation of Censori’s artistic intent.
“A woman in the public eye is forced to watch versions of herself multiply without her consent,” the doppelganger said. “People project, people invent, people erase. So she sculpts the versions they create, the phantom selves.”
The masked speaker described the performance not as a cry for help, but a bold act of control. “She is reclaiming the unauthorized clones. She’s not trapped in her image. She’s multiplying it until the original becomes myth.”
“BIO POP” drew inspiration from Allen Jones’ controversial 1970s sculptures that depicted women as furniture. While some in the art world dismissed Censori’s work as “redundant,” others praised it as subversive and symbolic.
When asked to define her purpose, influence and identity, the masked figure gave rapid-fire answers: “Expression,” “Reality,” and “Tension.” The interview ended with Censori finally breaking her silence, thanking the interviewer and offering a hug.
Censori, whose public appearances have drawn scrutiny throughout 2024 and 2025, has become a lightning rod for criticism.
Joe Budden and Hot 97 might be getting cozy very soon. We are in the middle of New York radio’s biggest shakeup in years! It is a free-for-all out here. There are whispers of a massive deal swirling just days after Ebro and the crews exit. If you thought the end of Ebro in the Morning was just another chapter in terrestrial radio’s decline…think again. They are about to bring in who they want, if these rumors are correct. For the record, nobody is talking at all on the record.
Hot 97 did not just fire a longtime host and one-time program director. Ebro Darden had been a lightning rod for years, praised by some and criticized by others. Let me tell you we had a fierce discussion about Ebro today. Some really thing he destroyed New York City like Godzilla and others thing he was an outspoken hero. I think he was a hero that really spoke truth to power.
Enter Joe Budden, podcasting’s most polarizing power player! You remember him on AllHipHop all the time when he was a rapper. They used to joke on us and call us AllBudden.com. Anyway, he knows a microphone and he knows controversy. According to industry chatter, Hot 97 is deep in negotiations on a reported $65 million partnership spread over three years. Everybody is doing double takes. Only time will tell, but this seems very realistic! I think Joe will talk about this or address it soon! I know he sees the chatter.
Budden represents everything traditional radio is afraid of…yet secretly envies. Independence. Ownership. Direct connection to fans. His platform thrives on unfiltered conversation and viral moments not playlists and control. Betting on Budden is Hot 97 admitting…this is the way.
Akademiks hates Ebro and seems to be the source of a lot of this talk.
So, there is one question: Can Joe Budden do radio? Is radio is finally ready for Joe Budden? This rumored deal would blur the line between podcast culture and broadcast radio in the craziest of ways. If it works, Hot 97 is golden. If it fails…well it fails.
Either way, the station is moving powerfully in a direction of their choosing.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier declared victory Tuesday after a California judge tossed the explosive civil case that accused him of helping Diddy cover up a 2018 gang rape.
The Maui police chief had been named alongside more than a dozen defendants, including NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. and comedian Druski, in what lawyers called the “Diddy Sexual Abuse Coverup Enterprise.”
The lawsuit claimed Pelletier assisted in concealing an alleged assault in California when he worked as a Las Vegas police captain. But the case collapsed when the plaintiffs missed critical legal deadlines.
Their attorneys withdrew from the case after months of failing to find replacement counsel willing to take it on.
He called the lawsuit a “deliberate fabrication” and noted that other defendants produced similar proof that they weren’t present at the alleged locations.
Speaking publicly, an emotional Pelletier lashed out at those who filed the suit. “To those who threw out allegations or promoted a false narrative, to those who hurt my family, you should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said.
The police chief also criticized Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, who had urged the police commission to place Pelletier on leave when the complaint first surfaced.
“The constitution is supposed to apply to me too,” Pelletier said, gesturing to his wife. “Now that you see you’ve hurt an innocent woman. Do you care then?”
Bissen issued a statement expressing gratitude that the lawsuit was dismissed and extending “aloha and compassion” to Pelletier and his family.
While Pelletier celebrates his vindication, Diddy remains behind bars at Fort Dix federal prison in New Jersey. The Hip-Hop mogul is serving a 50-month sentence on prostitution-related charges and faces additional federal charges for sex trafficking and racketeering.
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi fired back at a Texas-based organization claiming to broker peace between rival gangs following a deadly mass shooting that targeted local rappers at a child’s birthday party.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation announced a 21-day conditional ceasefire between Stockton gangs after the November 29 shooting at Monkey Space banquet hall that killed four people, including three children.
Fly Boy Dougi3 and NanoMB were also present during the shooting. Both rappers are currently locked up on parole violations for attending the party.
“I don’t even know if they came to Stockton,” Fugazi said. “All I know is we are already doing the things that they are telling us to do.”
The foundation’s announcement came with demands that city leaders reject an $8 million state grant for violence prevention. The group positioned itself as a cost-free alternative to the city’s existing programs.
“Go somewhere else,” she said. “You are not going to use this tragedy to profit off our city.”
The foundation’s ceasefire claim includes a 21-day timeline for city officials to implement unspecified changes. However, both Stockton police and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said they have no evidence that any peace summit occurred.
“At this time, no information has been provided identifying who participated in a meeting, how any claimed agreement would be monitored, enforced, or sustained, or if any agreement was in fact made,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Fugazi said her office already met with 308 gang members representing 54 different gangs this year, with 88% coming from the most active groups. Despite these efforts, the birthday party shooting highlighted ongoing violence in the city.
The foundation is based in Uvalde, Texas, and has declined interview requests from local media. Their press releases demand immediate action from city leaders but provide no verification of their claimed gang negotiations.
Kanye West shattered a long-standing attendance record in México City with the announcement of his two-night return to Plaza de Toros “La México” in January 2026, marking his first performance in the city since 2008 and selling out the first show in under 12 hours.
YE’s comeback to CDMX after nearly two decades ignited overwhelming demand, with his January 30 show selling out instantly and surpassing the venue’s previous record, set by a Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal exhibition match.
Combined, the two exclusive Latin American dates are expected to draw more than 74,000 people to the historic bullring. The second night, set for January 31, still has limited tickets available.
Both performances will feature custom-built staging and visuals designed specifically for the venue, promising a production scale never before attempted at Plaza México.
Ye’s last appearance in México City happened on October 17, 2008, during his Glow in the Dark Tour at Palacio de los Deportes. His return comes on the heels of his massive July 2025 concert at Shanghai Stadium in China, where he performed for 70,000 attendees.
Andrés Charvel, CEO of 515 Entertainment, emphasized the magnitude of the moment.
“The response has been extraordinary. Breaking the venue’s historic record demonstrates the powerful connection audiences have with such an iconic figure, and the demand shows that fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Charvel said. “Together with the venue, our production team, and the artist’s team, we are working to execute something the world has never seen before.”
Charvel says the team’s collective experience and Kanye West’s hands-on vision make the project realistic and exceptional, while the goal is to prove México can support world-class productions.
He emphasized that it is the largest show ever staged at Plaza México and that the team is focused on showcasing the country globally and delivering a landmark experience for 74,000 attendees.
Plaza México, which has hosted major events for nearly 80 years, is preparing extensively for the back-to-back shows.
“Plaza México has been hosting world-class events for nearly 80 years, and these performances represent one of the most ambitious productions in the venue’s history. We have secured all necessary permits and licenses, and our team has worked closely with local and federal authorities to ensure a safe and exceptional experience for all attendees. The venue is fully prepared to deliver on the scale and vision required for these shows, and we look forward to welcoming 74,000 fans across both nights.”
Kylie Jenner didn’t just show up for Christmas; she “sleighed” it, wrapped in a skintight red dress that looked poured-on, like melted candy cane gloss.
The look was pure holiday menace. Latex-shiny, fire-engine red, the dress hugged every curve and clung to her hips and backside so tightly it turned a quiet living room into a full-blown Christmas-after-dark scene.
Kylie angled her body just enough to let the light bounce off the fabric, putting her silhouette front and center and daring the camera to keep up.
She looked back over her shoulder with that practiced, unbothered stare, the kind that said she knew exactly what the dress was doing and had zero intention of fixing it.
Her long dark hair fell straight down her back, framing the open cut of the gown and guiding the eye right where she wanted it. The pose wasn’t loud. It was controlled. A slow burn. Weaponized calm.
A fireplace glowed behind her in one shot, but it was clear what actually heated the room. The glossy red fabric stretched clean across her curves, turning a classic holiday color into a full-scale flex. No ornaments were needed. No mistletoe was required. Kylie was the centerpiece.
This wasn’t a cozy Christmas. This was rich-girl winter, late-night energy where the dress did all the talking and the message stayed simple: Santa isn’t the only one delivering this year.
Google escalated its war with Penske Media Corporation by announcing that YouTube will stop submitting streaming data to Billboard charts starting January 16, 2026.
The move marks a dramatic new front in the ongoing battle between the tech giant and the media conglomerate that owns Billboard, Rolling Stone and Variety.
YouTube’s global head of music and Hip-Hop veteran Lyor Cohen said the platform refuses to accept Billboard’s methodology that weights subscription streams higher than ad-supported streams.
“We believe every fan matters and every play should count equally,” Cohen wrote in a blog post on Wednesday.
The dispute comes just months after Penske Media sued Google in federal court over AI overviews. The September lawsuit alleged that Google illegally uses Penske’s journalism to power AI summaries without consent while reducing traffic to their websites.
Billboard updated its chart rules Monday to narrow the gap between paid and free streams from 1:3 to 1:2.5. But YouTube demanded equal weighting for all streams regardless of whether users pay for subscriptions.
“Billboard uses an outdated formula that weights subscription-supported streams higher than ad-supported,” Cohen said. “This doesn’t reflect how fans engage with music today and ignores the massive engagement from fans who don’t have a subscription.”
The streaming methodology fight represents the latest escalation in a broader war between Google and Penske Media. Penske alleged that Google forces publishers to allow their content to be used in AI-generated summaries as a condition for appearing in search results.
The company said about 20% of Google searches linking to its sites now show AI overviews, with that percentage expected to rise.
“We have a responsibility to proactively fight for the future of digital media and preserve its integrity – all of which is threatened by Google’s current actions,” Penske said in the lawsuit.
The media conglomerate reported that affiliate revenue had dropped by more than a third from peak levels by late 2024, as search traffic declined. Penske attracts 120 million online visitors monthly across its properties.
Google defended both disputes, saying AI overviews help users discover content, while YouTube data will continue to flow to Luminate, Billboard’s primary chart source.
Billboard responded that it hopes YouTube will reconsider and recognize “the reach and popularity of artists on all music platforms.”
The chart company said it measures fan activity appropriately based on consumer access, revenue analysis and industry guidance.
YouTube paid the music industry over $8 billion in the past year, according to Cohen, and now both sides appear dug in for a prolonged battle that could reshape how tech platforms interact with media companies.
And….they allegedly removed Nicki Minaj’s credit from the song as well. Can we unpack this?
6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj just made Hip-Hop history in a strange way. Their song “FEFE” has been officially demoted and stripped down. The once unavoidable 2018 smash has slid from 8× Platinum to 5× Platinum. That is still a lot of units, but it is now the first major record this century to lose that much RIAA ground after the fact. On top of that, Nicki Minaj’s name has been removed entirely from the RIAA credit line. Now, 6ix9ine is represented as a solo act. How?
Now let’s be clear. This is not your typical certification tweak where numbers get nudged because of new accounting systems or delayed data. This is a full three million units. How exactly do you reverse sales?
“FEFE” was everywhere. The song debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated streaming platforms. 6ix9ine was impossible to ignore and Nicki Minaj was still flexing her pop rap style. Now, I think I know what happened, but I will have to get back to you all on that.
The RIAA has not publicly explained why the certifications were revised or why Nicki’s feature credit disappeared from the official listing. That silence has only fueled speculation. All I know is bots are real!
What this does not do is erase the impact. You cannot rewind playlists, radio spins, YouTube views. Or can you?
I don’t think Nicki or Tekashi cares about this. They got their money. But they may care about being embarrassed. I hope somebody clears this up fast.
