Mariah Carey baffled viewers with a string of flat answers and awkward pauses during a remote appearance on Australia’s The Project, raising eyebrows and sparking speculation about whether the pop icon was fully present, or even real.
The Grammy-winning singer, 56, appeared via video link broadcast to promote her upcoming Australian tour, but her brief, monotone replies left many questioning the authenticity of the segment.
When asked how she handles online negativity, Mariah Carey replied, “By not coping, is what I do.” After a pause, she added, “I mean, just don’t pay attention to it, you know? And everybody else goes through it, so… whatever.”
Later in the interview, when asked if she had any specific backstage requests for her tour, Mariah Carey offered a single-word answer: “A kangaroo.”
The segment quickly became a trending topic on social media, with viewers calling the interview “bizarre” and “painful.”
One user wrote, “That was the most bizarre interview!!” while another questioned whether it was actually Carey on screen, writing, “Was that an AI version of MC? That poor lady. I feel sorry for you. You did your best. She hasn’t been called a DIVA for no reason.”
Some even speculated the singer might have been replaced by a digital replica.
“Sure she wasn’t an AI version of Carey?” one viewer asked. “Weird smile, no eye contact. Bot for sure.”
Carey’s demeanor during the interview contrasted sharply with her usual polished media appearances, leaving many puzzled about what exactly went wrong.
50 Cent has been granted court approval to seize a Connecticut property owned by former Sire Spirits executive Mitchell Green, who owes the Hip-Hop mogul’s liquor brand more than $7 million after a fraud conviction.
A federal bankruptcy judge lifted the automatic stay on Green’s Chapter 7 case, allowing Sire Spirits to enforce a lien on the Westport home at 299 Main Street.
The decision clears the way for foreclosure proceedings under state law.
According to court documents, he pocketed roughly $2.2 million in illegal payments between 2018 and 2020.
The fraud unraveled in 2020 after Green was targeted in an extortion attempt and confessed to the scheme. He was fired and later sued by Sire Spirits.
An arbitrator awarded the company more than $6.1 million in damages, legal fees and interest. With added penalties and interest, the total now exceeds $6.9 million.
Green tried to wipe the debt by filing for bankruptcy, but the court ruled the judgment was non-dischargeable due to the fraudulent nature of his actions.
That means the debt cannot be erased through bankruptcy. Sire Spirits recorded a judgment lien on Green’s Connecticut home, which is appraised at $1 million.
However, the property is underwater, with over $7 million in secured debts, including the mortgage and the Sire Spirits lien. Green has no equity in the home.
In court filings, Sire Spirits argued the house was not essential to Green’s bankruptcy case, which is a liquidation rather than a reorganization.
The company also pointed out that Green’s misconduct disqualified him from claiming the full homestead exemption, limiting his protection to $75,000.
The bankruptcy court agreed and waived the standard 14-day waiting period, giving Sire Spirits the green light to act immediately.
Jamie Foxx hallucinated a white version of himself and suspected he was being cloned while recovering from a stroke in a hospital bed, the actor revealed in a new interview.
The 57-year-old entertainer opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about the mental spiral he endured after suffering a brain bleed that left him in a coma for nearly three weeks.
While under heavy sedation, Foxx said he began to believe bizarre theories about what was happening to him.
“Even when I was heavily sedated, and they gave me OxyContin, Dilantin and morphine at the same time,” Foxx said, “it was, ‘This is for your pain, and this is so you don’t remember it.'”
The stroke, which occurred in April 2023, left Jamie Foxx unconscious for 20 days.
When he regained awareness, he said he couldn’t comprehend how someone in what he described as “perfect shape” could have suffered such a serious medical event.
“I snuck in my phone because I didn’t know what the outside world was saying and I couldn’t get my mind around the fact that I had a stroke. I’m in f###### perfect shape,” he said.
As he tried to piece together what had happened, Jamie Foxx said he began reading online conspiracy theories about his condition. One in particular stood out, sending him into a paranoid tailspin.
“I’m sitting in the hospital bed, like, ‘These b#### ass m############ are trying to clone me,'” he said.
The hallucinations intensified. Foxx described a moment when he thought he saw a white version of himself enter the hospital room.
“And then I saw me walk into my room, but I’m white, so I see the white me. The next morning, I said, ‘I know what’s up, you’re trying to clone me and make me white so I’ll sell better overseas.'”
Soon after, his doctors adjusted his medication levels, which helped bring him back to reality.
“Bro, I was on another planet,” he said.
Foxx has since returned to work and made several public appearances, including one in December 2023, where he spoke emotionally about his recovery.
Kneecap declared they will “vehemently defend” themselves after member Mo Chara, 27, was hit with a terrorism charge in London tied to a flag allegedly supporting Hezbollah during a November 2024 show at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.
The Irish Hip-Hop group responded to the charge on social media, accusing the British government of targeting them instead of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“We deny this ‘offense’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story,” they wrote. “We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win.”
Mo Chara is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 18).
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the charge stems from a video that surfaced online showing the group allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during the November concert.
According to BBC News, authorities were alerted to the footage on April 22, and the Crown Prosecution Service later approved the charge.
The trio, Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí—have faced mounting scrutiny over their politically charged performances. The Met previously launched an investigation into videos showing them chanting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and calling for violence against British lawmakers.
The group denied supporting any proscribed organizations and claimed the footage was misrepresented.
Several of their shows were canceled following the controversy, including fallout from their Coachella performance in California, where they displayed messages referencing the Israel-Hamas war.
Formed in 2017, Kneecap gained wider recognition with their semi-autobiographical film Kneecap, which won a BAFTA in February.
Megan Fox shared that her latest pregnancy with Machine Gun Kelly came as an unexpected but welcome development, revealing the news on Instagram alongside a video from her new Prime Video series Overcompensating.
“38 years old, six weeks pregnant (unplanned but a happy surprise). Please stop listening to the patriarchy. Women are eternal light beings. We do not have an expiration date. Don’t let them rob you of your power,” she wrote in the caption, which has since been deleted.
The clip, filmed last year while she was pregnant, shows the Jennifer’s Body star posing in a short skirt and crop top for her guest role on the streaming comedy.
Fox and MGK welcomed their first child together on March 27, though the baby girl’s name has not been made public.
The couple, who began dating in 2020 and got engaged in 2022, called off the engagement last year.
While they announced the pregnancy in November, their current relationship status remains unclear, though multiple outlets have reported a possible split.
The Transformers actress has three sons—Noah, 12, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, 8—with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, while the Bloody Valentine rapper shares 15-year-old daughter Casie with a former partner.
Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur talks about one of his heroes in creativity, the incomparable Sacha Jenkins.
A few years ago, I had the privilege and honor to sit on a panel with the ubiquitous creative Sacha Jenkins. For me, it was more than a speaking engagement, it was a moment of validation. I had followed his work for years, decades actually. Sacha, the co-founder of the legendary Ego Trip magazine, represented a curvy, creative lane I deeply admired. To share space with someone who helped shape the very culture I coveted felt like an arriving. It should be noted, this was a few short years ago.
Now, did I arrive in the same way he did? Not quite. But I felt accomplished. Proud. And though I never got to know Sacha Jenkins deeply on a personal level, I knew his work inside and out. Like myself, he had a wildly diverse creative palette. That versatility made me feel seen.
I own his Merciless Book of Metal Lists. I have Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers. And of course, the Ego Trip books are on my shelf, staples in any Hip-Hop culturalist’s library. He stood alongside peers like Kevin Powell and dream hampton, journalists who transcended the byline to become cultural architects. And in Sacha’s case, that rebellious spirit was never far from the surface. In my early days they all inspired me to get serious about creating.
That led to my work with Grouchy Greg in building AllHipHop. When I came on board, I brought my own lens. I had a distinct focus on lifestyle, drawn from my prior online publication dedicated to the “lifestyles of aggressive people.” Ego Trip was the “The Arrogant Voice of Musical Truth.” That raw, unfiltered energy poured into AllHipHop. I studied the game. I studied the greats. And Sacha Jenkins was one of them.
Under Sacha’s editorial vision, Ego Trip was more than a magazine. It was an audacious, genre-smashing blueprint. Quirky, defiant and often absurd, it offered a version of Hip-Hop mediam where there were no rules. It wasn’t always polished, but it was always true. For those of us building Hip-Hop platforms outside the mainstream, Ego Trip was just as influential as legacy titles like The Source or XXL. It proved you could build culture without permission.
Jenkins’ creative journey didn’t stop there. He co-created Ego Trip’s The (White) Rapper Show on VH1, eventually becoming creative director at the revitalized Mass Appeal. He directed classic documentaries like Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, You’re Watching Video Music Box and produced Supreme Team with Nas.
Even when critics panned Everything’s Gonna Be All White—Showtime’s lowest-rated doc at the time—Jenkins stood firm. By the way, I was featured in that docu-series with a motley crew of truth-tellers and it was dope. He told hard truths, even if it made people uncomfortable. Haters gonna hate. So what.
What makes Sacha Jenkins important isn’t just his talent. It’s his willingness to evolve, to challenge the system, while advancing the culture within said system. In an era where many creators chase viral clicks or placate platforms, Sacha chose authenticity every time. He reminded us that Hip-Hop is not just music. By the way, he was never just Hip-Hop. When he texted me his punk rock band, I knew he knew we were like minds, counter culture even within Hip-Hop.
Sacha Jenkins’ work was never about playing it safe. To me, it was about pushing the envelope until it was shredded and tattered. I appreciated when he left Mass Appeal. I don’t know why he left, but I was happy. We talked as the were creating the Rick James documentary, because I was the last to interview the great funk legend. I now realize, in looking at our texts, this guy was that guy. But not that guy dying for social or social media validation or that guy living for others. Like the late Greg Tate, he was just that guy empirically.
His legacy is a torch passed to every journalist, filmmaker and creative who dares to speak truth without selling out. You can be radical, intelligent, hilarious and disruptive and still be respected. He showed us we, the non-rapping, yet rapping better than the rappers, creative as hell, intellectual in the streets and classroom artsy ass kids from everywhere are the culture too.
Tyler, The Creator is facing a federal lawsuit in Texas after being accused of using a copyrighted photo of a dog named Bliss on Golf le Fleur merchandise without permission.
The complaint, filed by Anne Barlow and Joy Radabaugh, alleges that Golf le Fleur, along with Louis Vuitton and Converse, profited from the unauthorized use of a 1997 photograph featuring Barlow’s Airedale Terrier mid-jump at a dog agility show.
The image, taken by Radabaugh, was allegedly reproduced and sold on clothing and accessories without licensing or credit.
“In July 1997, Radabaugh was the photographer for a dog agility show attended by Barlow and her Spindletop kennel. There, Radabaugh photographed Bliss jumping a hurdle in an agility competition. Barlow purchased this photograph from Radabaugh after the show and has kept it ever since. Barlow displayed the photograph on her bedside nightstand for years, serving as a constant reminder of Bliss’s loyalty and companionship even after Bliss’s passing,” the plaintiffs’ attorney Casey Griffith said.
Barlow is a well-known Airedale breeder and Radabaugh has worked professionally as an animal photographer.
They note that while Radabaugh’s photos have occasionally been used without permission, those instances were never for commercial gain.
The lawsuit points to Tyler the Creator’s 2023 “Dogtooth” music video as the first public appearance of the image on a Golf le Fleur T-shirt.
Since then, the photo has reportedly been used across a range of branded merchandise, including in collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Converse.
The pair is unsure how Tyler the Creator got his hands on the image, but they said the picture was published 25 years ago in an issue of the Airedale Terrier Club of America magazine.
“In 2000, a copy of the Airedale Work was included in a 100-year anniversary edition ATCA publication. And Barlow has also published the Airedale Work online,” Griffith added.
Barlow and Radabaugh jointly own the copyright to the image, with a certificate of registration effective April 30, 2025. They claim they only discovered the alleged infringement in 2024.
The suit seeks damages and an injunction to halt any further use of the image.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is staring down the possible loss of his multimillion-dollar empire as federal prosecutors pursue asset forfeiture tied to sweeping criminal allegations that could cost him both his freedom and fortune.
The embattled Hip-Hop mogul’s estimated net worth has reportedly plummeted from $1 billion in 2022 to roughly $400 million in 2025, a steep decline fueled by mounting legal expenses, settlements and the collapse of key business relationships, including his lucrative deal with Diageo, the parent company of Cîroc vodka.
CNN’s Laura Coates reported that Diddy is battling both legal jeopardy and financial risk, with the government potentially moving to seize his assets.
According to former Department of Justice official Jim Trusty, the scope of the government’s forfeiture claims is massive.
“This is a very, very broadly phrased forfeiture allegation,” he explained. “The RICO is essentially anything he touched in his business world. Whether it’s record labels, liquor labels, planes, trains and automobiles. Basically, everything is in play.”
That means everything from Bad Boy Records to his real estate, luxury cars and private jets could be up for grabs.
Additionally, Trusty said prosecutors do not have to prove those assets were tied to criminal activity.
To push back, Diddy has retained Stefan Cassella, a former DOJ forfeiture expert, to challenge the government’s approach to seizing as many of his holdings as possible.
Federal prosecutors allege Diddy ran a criminal operation that spanned more than a decade, accusing him of using his companies to orchestrate sexual abuse, forced labor, bribery, arson and obstruction of justice from 2008 to 2024.
The indictment claims he coerced women into drug-fueled sex parties with male sex workers—referred to as “freak offs”—and then intimidated them into silence.
Diddy has pleaded not guilty and denies all accusations, maintaining that any sexual encounters were consensual.
Investigators are also combing through his financial records in search of any hidden or transferred assets that may have been shielded from seizure.
Diddy wants more time on the phone and longer video calls as his sex trafficking racketeering trial unfolds in a Brooklyn federal courtroom.
Attorneys for the Hip-Hop mogul filed a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asking to boost his monthly phone limit from 300 to 500 minutes.
They also requested permission for video teleconferencing with his legal team to extend until 9 p.m. daily. The defense team said the extra time is necessary to prepare for trial after court hours and on weekends.
The letter was signed by lawyers Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, Alexandra Shapiro, Jason Driscoll and Anna Estevao and sent to federal prosecutors.
The request comes as Diddy remains jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been held without bail. Judges have repeatedly denied his release, citing concerns about flight risk and possible interference with witnesses.
The trial, which began with opening statements on Monday (May 5), centers on sweeping allegations, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking through force or coercion and transporting individuals for prostitution.
Diddy faces a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Testimony began on Monday (May 12) and has included graphic and emotional accounts from multiple witnesses. Cassie Ventura, one of the most prominent witnesses, testified for over 20 hours.
She described a decade-long relationship marked by alleged abuse, manipulation and forced participation in what she called “freak-off” sex parties.
She also recounted the infamous 2016 incident in which Diddy allegedly assaulted her in the hallway of the Intercontinental Hotel. Surveillance footage of that encounter was later shown in court.
The assault led to a massive payday for Cassie: Diddy settled her civil suit for $20 million, and the Intercontinental Hotel is going to shell out another $10 million.
Rapper Kid Cudi also took the stand in one of the more sensational moments of the trial.
Another witness, George Kaplan, who worked as Diddy’s assistant, testified under immunity. He described being ordered to clean up after sexual encounters and transport large amounts of cash.
Additional witnesses have described Diddy as controlling and abusive, with some alleging he used disguises during sexual acts and pressured others into participating in encounters with commercial sex workers.
Diddy’s attorneys have pushed back, claiming all sexual activity was consensual and that the accusations are financially motivated.
The court is adjourned for the Memorial Day weekend, and the trial is scheduled to resume next week. According to reports, the trial should wrap up before the July 4 holiday.
Reality TV personality/rapper Aaron the Plumber has spoken out against music industry figure Wack 100, accusing him of issuing violent threats against Aaron’s mother.
Aaron, a former street hustler turned licensed plumber and entertainer, said the drama began after an altercation with one of Wack 100’s security guards. One of them allegedly spit on him.
Then, Wack allegedly called Aaron’s mother directly and threatened her life. Aaron’s claims were caught on audio.
“Recently, a man known as Wack 100 threatened to take my mother’s life and the lives of her children over a dispute that started with one of his security guards,” Aaron revealed. “But instead of letting us handle it like men, Wack took it to a whole different level, calling my mom’s phone, threatening her life on audio and even trying to set me up through a female from L.A.”
The severity of the threats left his mother, who has reportedly been clean for two years, in fear.
According to Aaron, she is terrified to even leave her home. This situation ultimately led Aaron to include the authorities, a move he knew would not sit well in the streets.
“This was the hardest decision of my life,” Aaron explained. “Not because I’m weak. Not because I’m scared. But because I’m done letting fake gangsters play god with real people’s lives.”
In a live video, Aaron addressed the stigma often attached to street codes and being labeled a snitch. But he was clear: “Snitching is telling to get yourself out of trouble. I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. I didn’t break any law. I’m protecting my family. Period.”
Although the street life is in his past, he said it is behind him. “I’m not a gangster. I’m a rapper for entertainment,” he said. “I’m not a street dude anymore. I’m a man. I’m a son. I’m a protector. And yeah… I’m a plumber.”
Aaron has since relocated his mother to a new state for safety. He also shared a GoFundMe link to help support her as she regains stability in a safer environment.
“I’ll never let anyone hurt my mom and walk free,” Aaron concluded. “That’s not snitching. That’s standing up.”
Wack 100 had not issued a statement at the time of this writing, but he did make a cryptic statement on Instagram. He suggested that Aaron’s latest move was an extortion attempt and presented a private text.
I never thought I’d be in this position. I’m Aaron The Plumber. I come from a real street background — I know what it means to keep it solid. But today, I’m not speaking to the streets… I’m speaking from my heart.
Recently, a man known as Wack 100 threatened to take my mother’s life — and the lives of her children — over a dispute that started with one of his security guards. That man spit on me. I stood on business. But instead of letting us handle it like men, Wack took it to a whole different level — calling my mom’s phone, threatening her life on audio, and even trying to set me up through a female from LA.
My mother is a recovering addict. She’s been clean for 2 years. She’s finally working a job, holding it down, and making me proud every single day. But now she’s scared to leave the house… afraid to go to work… because of one man’s ego.
So I made the hardest decision of my life: I took it to the courts. Not because I’m weak. Not because I’m scared. But because I’m done letting fake gangsters play god with real people’s lives.
People are gonna call me a snitch. But snitching is telling to get yourself out of trouble. I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. I didn’t break any law. I’m protecting my family. Period.
If your mom was in danger — if you had proof a man was trying to harm her — would you stay silent to protect an image? Or would you step up and make sure she lived another day?
I’m not a gangster. I’m a rapper for entertainment. I’m not a street dude anymore.
I’m a man.
I’m a son.
I’m a protector.
And yeah… I’m a plumber.
So say what you want. But I’ll never let anyone hurt my mom and walk free.
That’s not snitching.
That’s standing up.
If you would like to donate to my mother: We just moved her to another state so she is safe and will be back working in a few days. Thank you for your love and support.
Joey Bada$$ and Serayah are preparing to welcome their first child together. Get ready for Baby Bada44!
The couple will have a baby boy, marking a new chapter in a romance that evolves from silent admiration.
The couple confirmed their relationship last year. This is Serayah’s first child and Joey’s second (he already shares a 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship).
Serayah, known for her roles in Empire and Kingdom Business, recently talked to ESSENCE about the final stretch of her pregnancy. “I’m great, honestly. At the finish line,” she said.
Their connection dates back to a mutual friend’s birthday party in 2021, but it wasn’t until a year later that they began to see each other.
Joey recalled the first time he saw her.
“I saw her and I remember thinking to myself like, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful,'” he said. “She was just strikingly gorgeous, and her aura was just kind of radiating. It was really just a silent thought. But it was definitely a very distinctive feeling that I’ve never felt before.”
For Serayah, the feelings were mutual. “He’s the most mysterious person I’ve ever met, but also very magnetizing and something about him also spoke loudly without speaking at all,” she explained.
Joey’s past life as a polyamorous man changed after meeting Serayah, which reshaped his entire outlook on love and commitment.
“That was where I was at in my life at the time,” the Raising Kanan star admitted.
“I was very much living a lifestyle of a bachelor and it just aligned with what I was doing. But I met Ray, I bought a home, and it just changed my perspective. It definitely shifted, and the dynamic that I wanted changed.”
While Joey respects alternative relationship styles, he’s fully stepped into a monogamous space.
“I’m very much monogamous now, and I don’t discourage or disagree with anybody going after polyamory or whatever if that’s what you want to do. But this is where I’m at now and this is where I feel secure.”
For now, it seems as if Joey’s battle with Daylyt and Ray Vaughn will be on hold.
Lizzo addressed her emotional exhaustion and offered support to others dealing with mental health challenges in a raw Instagram post while hinting at her upcoming album Love in Real Life.
Wearing a T-shirt that read “God’s sexiest soldier,” along with dark sunglasses and a cap from her Yitty brand, the About Damn Time artist didn’t hold back about her recent emotional state.
“My crashouts about the world are valid. And so are yours,” she wrote. “Today I was bawling in bed… I cancelled my workout… I was driving around sobbing because some days I just can’t take it. This s### ain’t easy for anybody.”
Lizzo continued by extending empathy to others who may be feeling overwhelmed.
“I have grace for everyone who feels like they’re going insane… for everyone who feels like nothing is good enough… for everyone who feels like they failed… I FEEL YOU. But I’m still here, and so are you.”
The post quickly drew messages of gratitude from her followers, many of whom praised her openness. One user commented, “Your response to anything in life that affects you is valid. Take the time you need to process and to feel. Blessings of love and light, clarity and peace to you.”
Another added, “Your honesty helps so many who are feeling the same way. Thank you.”
Later that day, Lizzo shared a short clip of herself playing the flute in a backyard, captioned simply, “Have a good day.”
Last month, she revealed she had been overwhelmed with anxiety ahead of her 37th birthday celebration but said she felt relief after “crying like a baby” in the company of close friends and family.
Lizzo’s next album, Love in Real Life, is expected to be released later this year.
Beastie Boys ended a legal dispute with Chili’s after accusing the restaurant chain of using their 1994 hit “Sabotage” in a social media ad without permission.
According to court documents, the Hip-Hop pioneers and Universal Music Group reached confidential settlements with Chili’s parent company, Brinker International, following a mediation session held two weeks prior.
Details of the agreements remain sealed.
The lawsuits, filed in 2024, alleged that Chili’s ran ads on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms using copyrighted music without securing the necessary synchronization licenses.
The Beastie Boys specifically claimed that Brinker lifted both the sound and style of their “Sabotage” video for a Chili’s promo that featured three men in retro wigs staging a mock heist of food ingredients—an unmistakable nod to the group’s iconic video featuring Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, Michael “Mike D” Diamond and the late Adam “MCA” Yauch.
UMG also accused Chili’s of using unlicensed tracks from several of its top-charting artists, including Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Lana Del Rey, Luke Bryan, Travis Scott and The Weeknd.
The legal filings did not disclose how much Chili’s may have paid in the settlements or whether any formal licensing agreements were established moving forward.
Young Thug ignited a digital firestorm after labeling Kid Cudi a “rat” on Instagram, a jab that has since been deleted but continues to circulate widely across social media.
“Dam cudi a rat lol,” Thug wrote in a now-removed post, triggering a wave of backlash from users who didn’t hold back.
One person replied, “Young Thug is a goofy…switching up on Gunna and now calls Cudi a rat.”
Another added, “Young thug needs to get into a car accident and leave this earth forever. We don’t need him here!” A third user chimed in, “All this means is that young thug was at Diddy’s freak-offs.”
The insult came after Cudi testified in a federal courtroom about a 2012 incident in which his Porsche was set ablaze with a Molotov cocktail.
The alleged arson followed a dispute with Diddy, who was reportedly enraged over Cudi’s past relationship with Cassie Ventura.
“She told me my car was on fire. I immediately went to my house,” Cudi said in court. “The top of my Porsche was cut open and that’s where they inserted the Molotov cocktail.”
Cudi also testified that Diddy broke into his home in 2011 and later confronted him about Cassie. The testimony was part of a broader federal case against Combs, who faces charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.
Thug’s swipe at Cudi comes amid his own legal saga. The rapper recently accepted a plea in the sweeping YSL RICO case.
His deal included a 40-year sentence, with five years commuted to time served and 15 years of probation. He must also complete 100 hours of community service annually and is banned from metro Atlanta for a decade.
Since then, Thug has taken aim at Gunna, who accepted an Alford plea and admitted YSL was a gang.
After Gunna recently posted a gym selfie showing his YSL tattoo had been removed, Thug commented, “I mean… he said it must end lol.”
Thug’s recent posts have only intensified criticism, with many questioning his credibility for calling others out after taking a plea himself.
Young Thug was wearing dresses calling it art… I know he had a ball in jail…
Sacha Jenkins died suddenly, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped Hip-Hop journalism and documentary filmmaking through decades of culture-defining work.
The news of Jenkins’ death was loosely confirmed Thursday (May 23) by his wife, author and filmmaker Raquel Cepeda, who shared a message on Instagram asking for privacy.
“Please respect our family’s privacy during this difficult moment and refrain from posting before we as a FAMILY get the opportunity to make a formal announcement,” she wrote.
The exact date of Jenkins’ death has not been made public.
Jenkins began his career as a teenager in New York City, publishing Graphic Scenes & X-Plicit Language, one of the earliest graffiti-focused zines.
That early passion for street art and Hip-Hop culture would shape the rest of his life.
In 1994, he co-founded Ego Trip magazine, a publication that became a cult favorite for its raw, unfiltered take on Hip-Hop, race and pop culture.
The brand later expanded into books and television, including VH1’s ego trip’s The (White) Rapper Show, which Jenkins created and executive produced.
He later served as chief creative officer at Mass Appeal, where he helped steer projects that blended journalism, music and visual storytelling.
Jenkins directed and produced several acclaimed documentaries, including Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing, and Fresh Dressed.
He also helmed B######’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James and Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, both praised for their depth and storytelling.
Through his work with Mass Appeal and Showtime, Jenkins helped launch the Hip Hop 50 initiative, a multi-year celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary.
There’s a rumor floating around that 50 Cent might actually have a good side. Ha! I’m joking—kind of. We all know 50 is no stranger to doing good deeds. We’ve seen it happen in real time—sometimes with a heart, sometimes hilariously and, occasionally, it goes sideways. Just ask Lil Meech, Big Meech’s son, how that played out.
More often than not, though, those good-guy moments get overshadowed by the drama-filled, meme-ready antics he posts online. But in a twist nobody really expected, 50 Cent did something recently that caught people off guard—he showed a little love to Damon Dash.
50 Cent: Dame where you at? bounce back, a little stress but no depression. A little set back is just a lesson, you get a little arrogant you lose blessings, but when you know how to Win you win. So quit f###### around and Win again. Chin Up!
Now, when I first read his post, I had to double back. Was he supporting Dame, or just being sarcastic? Because with 50, you really never know. But after reading through the comments and looking at the tone a little deeper, it felt genuine. He was actually encouraging the embattled former Roc-A-Fella CEO. That’s right. Encouraging.
What had me doing a double take though? AllHipHop broke the story first, but 50 Cent shared the news using a different media outlet’s post. We’ll save that conversation for another day.
Still, salute to 50 for what appears to be a genuine moment of compassion toward a fellow mogul. And honestly, I respect that. 50 takes a lot of heat online, but let’s be real. It comes with the territory.
As for Dame, we wish him nothing but the best. We’ve tried to offer advice before, but he moves how he moves. The legal problems and financial issues just keep stacking up. It’s hard to tell if he’s being crushed by the weight of it all, but it sure doesn’t look easy from the outside.
Now here’s the real question: Could 50 Cent actually help Dame out of this mess? That’s a big “what if.” Personally, I think 50 Cent should offer him a position. But knowing Dame, he’s so built to be his own boss that he might see that move as an insult instead of a blessing. That’s just real talk. Two alphas in one house? Never ends well.
Still, both of these men are brilliant in their own right.
Jussie Smollett agreed to donate $50,000 to a Chicago-based youth arts organization to resolve a years-long legal dispute with the city over the cost of investigating his 2019 hate crime report.
The Empire actor reached a settlement with the city last month, and on Thursday (May 16), the Chicago Law Department confirmed the agreement had been finalized.
The city had initially sued Smollett in April 2019, seeking to recover more than $130,000 spent on a police investigation that concluded he staged the attack.
Jussie Smollett, 42, has consistently denied orchestrating the incident and responded with a countersuit accusing the city of malicious prosecution.
The legal back-and-forth stretched over several years before both sides opted to end the matter without further litigation.
“The City believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive, and conclusive resolution, allowing all the parties to close this six-year-old chapter and move forward,” a spokesperson for the Law Department said.
As part of the deal, Smollett’s payment will go to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, a nonprofit that supports underserved youth in Chicago through creative programming.
The saga began in January 2019 when Jussie Smollett told police he was attacked near his downtown apartment by two men who used racist and homophobic slurs and shouted, “This is MAGA country.”
But weeks later, investigators accused him of staging the assault with his Nigerian trainers and charged him with filing a false report.
Those charges were initially dropped, but in 2020, he was indicted again and convicted of disorderly conduct in 2021. That conviction was overturned in 2023.
A man using the pseudonym John Doe filed a lawsuit against Afrika Bambaataa in 2021, alleging the Hip-Hop pioneer sexually abused and trafficked him between 1991 and 1995. According to the complaint, the abuse began when Doe was 12 years old, while Bambaataa was in his early 30s.
According to court docs viewed by AllHipHop, Bambaataa didn’t submit a legal response to the lawsuit, prompting Judge Alexander M. Tisch to issue a default judgment against him. The matter of damages will be decided by a Special Referee in a future proceeding.
John Doe’s lawsuit came about five years after Ronald Savage publicly accused Afrika Bambaataa of sexually abusing him as a minor in the 1980s. Bambaataa denied Savage’s allegations, describing them as “baseless” and “false.”
Nevertheless, following Savage’s disclosure, additional men came forward with similar accusations of childhood sexual abuse by Bambaataa, all of which he also denied. Despite his denials, the Universal Zulu Nation, an organization Bambaataa co-founded, issued a public apology in 2016 for its inadequate response to the allegations, and Bambaataa stepped down from his leadership role.
Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force emerged as pioneers in the early ’80s Hip-Hop and electro-funk scene, fundamentally shaping the direction of modern dance and electronic music. Led by Bambaataa, the group gained international acclaim with their 1982 single “Planet Rock,” which fused elements of Kraftwerk’s German electro-pop, British rock and disco rap into a new, futuristic sound.
The track not only propelled Hip-Hop into the mainstream, but it also laid the groundwork for the electro movement and influenced genres such as Miami bass, techno and house music. Other influential tracks include “Looking for the Perfect Beat” and “Renegades of Funk.”
The formation of Soulsonic Force was inspired by George Clinton’s approach of having multiple groups with overlapping members, with Bambaataa drawing from the Universal Zulu Nation for his ensemble. The group’s willingness to experiment with synthesizers, drum machines and electronic production—especially under the guidance of producer Arthur Baker—set them apart from their contemporaries.
Beyond their musical achievements, Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force also played a key role in promoting themes of unity, peace and social consciousness, making their work both culturally and artistically significant.
Since the allegations surfaced, a permanent stain has remained on Bambaataa’s legacy, and he’s largely withdrawn from public life.
Kim Kardashian saw justice delivered in a French courtroom on Friday (May 23), as eight of the 10 men accused in her 2016 Paris hotel robbery were found guilty of armed theft, kidnapping and criminal association.
The verdicts bring closure to the high-profile case that stunned the entertainment world when Kardashian was bound, gagged and robbed at gunpoint inside her luxury hotel suite during Paris Fashion Week.
The masked intruders, posing as police officers, made off with more than $6 million in jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring given to her by Kanye West.
The group, nicknamed “the Grandpa Robbers” because most of them were in their 60s and 70s, included ringleader Aomar Aït Khedache.
Prosecutors requested a 10-year sentence for Khedache, who was convicted along with seven others. Two defendants were acquitted.
Kardashian, who testified during the trial, described the ordeal as a terrifying moment where she feared for her life.
“I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case,” Kim Kardashian told NBC News in a statement. “The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice and promoting a fair legal system.”
DNA traces and intercepted phone calls helped authorities identify and arrest the suspects. Despite the convictions, the stolen jewelry has never been recovered.
Several of the convicted men expressed remorse in court. According to BBC News, one apologized directly to Kardashian, though she did not attend the sentencing.
Kardashian later admitted that flaunting her wealth on social media may have made her a target.
“My first one that I got engaged to Kanye (with) was a cushion cut and that was the only piece of jewelry I owned that I didn’t take to Paris,” she said in a recent episode of The Kardashians. “Kanye saw it and he goes, ‘Don’t you ever wear both of your rings at the same time. Are you looking to get robbed?'”
Since the robbery, Kardashian has scaled back on displaying expensive items publicly and now travels with increased security.
The robbery occurred on October 2, 2016 during Paris Fashion Week.
So allow me to pontificate for a moment. But before I really dive in, I want to talk a little bit about Remy Ma and Papoose. Individually? I like them a lot. I mean, a lot. But together? Nope. I can’t stand it.
For the longest time, they were considered relationship goals—Black love personified. But now? It’s honestly one of the messiest things I’ve ever witnessed in Hip-Hop. Sure, there have been worse situations—Biggie and Lil’ Kim, Diddy and Cassie Ventura—but when it comes to straight-up, public bickering? These two take the crown.
Now, let’s get into the rumor. There are a ton floating around, but one in particular has Hip-Hop heads really talking. Supposedly, Papoose wrote 90 percent of Remy Ma’s raps. He said that. According to the chatter, since they’ve been together, he’s been the pen behind those bars. This is hard to process, but we do know that she was an accomplished artist before they got together. But when he jumped on Instagram Live to talk about it, you could tell he knew it was going to be a bombshell.
See, Remy Ma has long been respected as one of the fiercest lyricists in the game. That’s not even up for debate. But this claim by Pap makes you pause for a second. We’ve heard whispers before, and I never believed them. (For me, “SHEther” was the beginning of the rumors. By the way, I did not believe them then.) I still don’t know if I believe it now. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t raise an eyebrow.
At this point, I think it’s time for the rest of us to be released from this group chat. Let them handle their drama privately. I don’t want any part of this mess anymore. I really don’t.
Because here’s the thing—I still like them both. I genuinely don’t want to see this get uglier, especially because there’s a child involved. Hopefully, this was just a one-day, 24-hour thing. I hope they both find peace in moving on with their lives.
Just one request: next time you wanna argue, take it off the internet. Let us breathe. Because right now? It feels like we’re sitting on the couch in your living room, watching it all unfold.
