A$AP Rocky dropped a political bombshell that’s got New York talking.
The Harlem rapper made it crystal clear he’s eyeing the mayor’s office with dead serious intentions.
“I should be the mayor,” Rocky declared during a recent interview with Esquire. “Rakim Mayers, you see my last name is Mayers, plural like ‘Mayor Mayers’… just rolls off the tongue. Right now, ‘Mr. Mayers,’ in a second I’m going to be ‘Mayor Mayers.'”
The 36-year-old artist didn’t mince words about his political timeline either.
“When I’m mayor of New York City, not ‘if,'” he emphasized, showing the confidence that’s made him a Hip-Hop icon.
Rocky’s mayoral dreams put him in line to join a growing movement of Hip-Hop artists entering politics.
He wouldn’t be the first rapper to lead a major American city if his political ambitions come true.
Zohran Mamdani already made history as New York City’s first Hip-Hop mayor. The democratic socialist politician performed under the name Young Cardamom before trading his microphone for a mayoral chain.
Mamdani’s multilingual rap career included tracks about his grandmother and spice, proving Hip-Hop’s diverse voices can translate into political leadership.
Detroit has its own Hip-Hop political legacy through former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. The Motor City leader embraced rap culture during his time in office from 2002 to 2008.
Kilpatrick used Hip-Hop aesthetics and messaging to connect with younger voters, showing how the culture could influence municipal politics decades before Rocky’s announcement.
Meanwhile, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell continues pushing Hip-Hop’s political boundaries. The 2 Live Crew legend ran for Miami-Dade County mayor and recently announced he’s considering another congressional run in 2026.
Campbell stepped down from his high school football coaching position to focus on potential political campaigns.
“I think I have a great chance of winning,” Campbell said about his congressional aspirations.
The Miami native previously launched a political committee and has been vocal about defending his community through elected office.
Rocky’s political platform focuses on practical New York issues. He called out infrastructure problems like potholes and expensive train fares that burden everyday New Yorkers.
The rapper also criticized current mayor Eric Adams, suggesting new leadership could better serve the city’s diverse population.
“All the decisions and all of these policies that benefit New York City, I can’t wait to assemble,” Rocky explained. “When I’m in office, that’s just gonna be my prerogative and initiative. I’m dead f###### serious.”
The artist’s political ambitions reflect Hip-Hop’s evolution from street culture to mainstream influence. What started as music from marginalized communities now produces legitimate political candidates who understand urban challenges firsthand.
Rocky’s mayoral dreams also connect to his personal growth.
The father of three with Rihanna has transformed from a party-focused rapper to a family man with serious civic interests.
A Florida judge got the boot from the Julio Foolio murder case after defense lawyers said she showed “obvious bias” during trial.
Judge Michelle Sisco was disqualified Tuesday from Alicia Andrews‘ case by Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeal. Andrews was convicted of manslaughter in October for the Tampa shooting death of Jacksonville rapper Charles “Julio Foolio” Jones.
Defense attorney Jeremy McLymont filed an 18-page petition claiming Sisco abandoned “cold neutrality” and did everything possible to ensure Andrews got convicted. The petition included 16 video clips from the streamed trial as evidence.
“Everyone is entitled to a fair trial, including Ms. Andrews,” McLymont told Meghann Cuniff of Legal Affairs and Trials. “We are convinced that a new trial should and will be granted after some litigation at the trial and or appellate level.”
The appellate court’s three-judge panel called McLymont’s petition “legally sufficient” and ordered a new judge appointed immediately.
Chief Judge Christopher Sabella of Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit must now assign someone else to handle Andrews’ sentencing.
McLymont’s petition detailed multiple instances where Sisco allegedly showed favoritism toward prosecutors. The judge sustained objections against defense questions while allowing hostile commentary from the state’s attorneys.
Andrews was the first of five defendants tried for Foolio’s murder. Her boyfriend Isaiah Chance awaits trial with co-defendants Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the four men but not Andrews.
Surveillance footage shows three gunmen ambushed Foolio with AR-style rifles and a Glock 19 as he sat in his Dodge Charger outside a Tampa Holiday Inn on June 23, 2024.
Andrews and Chance were nearby in the same parking lot.
Prosecutors argued Andrews helped plan the murder by tracking Foolio as he celebrated his 26th birthday hours before his death.
The case stems from the long-running feud between Jacksonville drill rap gangs ATK and KTA.
Foolio was affiliated with KTA (Kill Them All) while his rival Yungeen Ace leads ATK. The groups have been feuding for years, with both sides making music videos celebrating murders of rivals and dunping champagne on graves.
A jury acquitted Andrews of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges but convicted her of manslaughter on October 31.
Judge Sisco had scheduled sentencing for December 8 but the appellate court stayed the hearing while reviewing the disqualification petition.
McLymont plans to use the disqualification as grounds for seeking a new trial for Andrews.
Grammys and government pressure are colliding in Los Angeles this weekend as music’s biggest night arrives.
There are very loud whispers ICE activity and a scary vibe. The city is usually buzzing during this time, packed with brunches, label mixers, late night showcases and industry side quests that stretch far beyond the ceremony itself. This year, however, people on the ground are describing something colder, tighter and frankly unsettling.
One source described the scene. “ICE is about to mess us all up. They are reportedly all over LA. We gotta plead the blood of Jesus because the national guard here, ICE on every corner. It is giving militarized government.” Los Angeles is no stranger to big events or heavy security, but the chatter coming out of Grammy weekend feels different. The concern is not about crowd control or celebrity protection. The concern is about immigration enforcement showing up where nobody expects it. Hell, they might even wear a tuxedo.
Anyway, that quote alone is enough. That person is an industry vet, by the way. The question floating around quietly is simple. Why now and why here. What part of the music business requires this kind of posture? People are not readily talking about protests or unrest. They are talking about award season, industry networking and artists trying to celebrate their work.
We have seen moments where cities feel occupied before. After 9/11, New York was transformed into a military state. During the “unrest” in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray, armed presence became the norm. But Grammy weekend is supposed to be about art, not fear.
Politics are also looming over the ceremony itself.
It is hard to imagine this night not becoming political in some way. If it avoids the moment entirely, that silence may speak louder than any speech.
Then there is the ever present shadow of Donald Trump, whose policies and rhetoric continue to ripple through culture. Music and Hollywood have always leaned progressive, which makes the reports of ICE activity feel even more wild.
At the end of the day, people just want to celebrate music. Instead, Grammy weekend may end up remembered for arrests, harassment and politics.
I’m with you on this one. If there’s anyone who’s earned the right to kick the door down on yet another genre, it’s Beyoncé.
At this point, her career isn’t about transitions so much as reclamations. R&B, Pop, Country. None of those moves felt random. They felt intentional, almost surgical, like she was reminding the industry who actually laid the bricks. When she stepped into country, the resistance wasn’t subtle, and neither was the history lesson behind it. Black folks didn’t borrow these genres. We built them.
So if Rock ’n’ Roll is next, the pearl-clutching should really be directed inward.
Before anyone acts brand new, let’s be very clear about the lineage. Rock doesn’t exist without Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard. Full stop. The idea that Rock was “invented” by Elvis Presley or perfected by The Rolling Stones or Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the most successful cultural rewrites in American music history. Beyoncé stepping into that space wouldn’t be trespassing. It would be ancestral.
And here’s the thing. Beyoncé doesn’t do eras by accident. If she’s picking up a guitar, it’s not cosplay. She understands spectacle, but she also understands symbolism. Rock music thrives on rebellion, volume, distortion, and controlled chaos. That energy fits her perfectly at this stage. She’s no longer trying to be liked. She’s documenting freedom.
She also doesn’t move without infrastructure. Having Jay-Z as a partner isn’t just personal, it’s strategic. Add in a global fanbase that treats her releases like cultural events, and suddenly the idea of a Rock-forward Beyoncé album doesn’t sound risky. It sounds inevitable.
And you’re right about one thing that doesn’t get said enough. She doesn’t explain herself anymore. No press tours. No apologies. No lane-keeping. She drops the work and lets history catch up.
If she goes Rock, feathers will get ruffled. But honestly? That feels like the point.
Now let me flip it back to you. Do you think the backlash would be louder than the music, or would the music shut everyone up the way it usually does?
Eve is packing her bags and crossing the Atlantic Ocean for one of the biggest nights in UK music.
The Philadelphia rap legend will co-host the 2026 MOBO Awards alongside comedian Eddie Kadi at Manchester’s Co-op Live on March 26.
This marks a major international moment for the American Hip-Hop icon. She’s flying across the pond to help celebrate 30 years of Europe’s biggest Black music celebration.
“I’m so excited to be co-hosting the MOBO Awards in this big 30th anniversary year,” Eve said in an official statement. “Even though our journeys started around the same time across the Atlantic from each other, we have our shared love for music and the culture.”
The Grammy winner brings serious credentials to Manchester. Her hits like “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” and “Who’s That Girl?” dominated charts on both sides of the ocean.
She’s sold millions of records and worked with everyone from Dr. Dre to Michael Jackson. Eve spent over a decade living in the UK before launching her BBC Sounds podcast Constantly Evolving with Eve in 2021.
She knows the British music scene inside and out.
“Manchester, I hope you’re ready because we have an amazing night planned for you,” she added.
Eddie Kadi returns for his second consecutive year hosting the ceremony. The British comedian previously co-hosted with Indiyah P##### in Newcastle last year.
“To be back for the second year in a row co-hosting the MOBO Awards is an honour, especially for its 30th anniversary,” Kadi said. “Expect the unexpected with performances and surprise appearances.”
MOBO founder Kanya King CBE praised the international hosting duo. She said Eve and Eddie represent “excellence, authenticity and cultural impact” while embodying the “spirit, humour and global perspective” that defines the awards.
The ceremony moves to Manchester for the first time in MOBO history. Co-op Live will host the landmark 30th anniversary celebration.
Olivia Dean leads this year’s nominations with four nods. Little Simz, kwn and Jim Legxacy also earned four nominations each. Central Cee, Skepta and PinkPantheress follow with three nominations.
First-wave performers include Olivia Dean, FLO, and Tiwa Savage. More artists and special honorees will be announced soon.
The awards show has traveled across the UK since 2009. Previous host cities include London, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Coventry, Sheffield and Newcastle.
MOBO will also present the MOBO Fringe Festival leading up to the main event. The week-long celebration features industry panels, talent showcases and creative workshops throughout Manchester.
Last year’s Newcastle ceremony delivered over $1 million in economic impact for the region. Manchester expects similar benefits from hosting the milestone anniversary show.
Nicki Minaj stood on stage Wednesday (January 28) holding hands with President Trump, calling herself his “No. 1 fan” while Democrats launched their most vicious attack yet on the rap superstar.
The Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts Summit became ground zero for a political war that has the Dems’ heads exploding.
“I am probably the president’s No. 1 fan, and that’s not going to change,” Minaj told the packed Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium crowd. “What people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more.”
turns out Nicki Minaj was the stupid hoe all along
Donald Trump praised Minaj as the “greatest and most successful female rapper in history” before inviting her on stage. The president revealed she’s investing “hundreds of thousands of dollars in Trump Accounts” to support children in her Barbz army.
The backlash cuts deep for someone who once stood with immigrant families.
Back in 2018, Nicki Minaj wrote on Instagram: “I came to this country as an illegal immigrant \@ 5 years old. I can’t imagine the horror of being in a strange place & having my parents stripped away from me at the age of 5.”
“We’re not going to let them get away with bullying him,” Nicki Minaj declared Tuesday. “And you know, the smear campaigns. It’s not going to work. He has a lot of force behind him and God is protecting him.”
Critics on social media called her “delusional” and worse.
Nicki Minaj’s transformation from Donald Trump critic to superfan started with her support for Christians facing persecution in Nigeria. She spoke at a United Nations event in November, thanking Trump “for prioritizing this issue and his leadership on the global stage.”
At December’s Turning Point event in Arizona, Minaj called Trump and Vice President JD Vance “role models” with “heart and soul.” She even adopted Trump’s nickname for California Governor Gavin Newsom, calling him “New-scum.”
But for many fans, no explanation can justify her political pivot. Fans are furious that someone they once saw as a champion of marginalized communities is now being criticized.
The summit marked Minaj’s first time meeting Donald Trump in person, completing a spectacular shift that has Democrats calling for her exile from the country she’s called home for nearly four decades.
Two federal agents who killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis got benched from their jobs this week. The Customs and Border Protection officers are now sitting on administrative leave while investigators dig into what really went down Saturday morning.
A CBP spokesperson told reporters the move follows standard protocol.
“The two officers involved are on administrative leave,” the agency said. But this ain’t just paperwork: it’s the latest domino falling after ICE’s Minneapolis operation started cracking under pressure.
The 37-year-old ICU nurse died after agents fired their weapons during what officials called an enforcement action.
Video footage shows Pretti holding a phone, not brandishing a gun like federal officials first claimed. An agent removed Pretti’s legally owned firearm from his waist just before the shooting happened.
Department of Homeland Security documents obtained by NBC News reveal that both officers discharged their weapons within five seconds of someone yelling, “He’s got a gun!”
However, the preliminary report makes no mention of Pretti attacking anyone or threatening officers with a weapon. The shooting triggered a massive backlash that reached all the way to the White House. Stephen Miller initially called Pretti a “would-be assassin” and “domestic terrorist.”
Those comments got walked back fast when even Republicans started pushing back. Republican Senator Rand Paul joined the criticism, saying nobody believes Pretti was attacking officers.
“When people watch that video and the government tells them, ‘Well, he was assaulting the police officers,’ nobody with any objectivity believes that’s what’s happening,” Paul said on Fox News.
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, flew to Minneapolis to take control of the situation. The president himself held phone calls with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Democrats he usually attacks on social media.
But the biggest casualty might be Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander who became the face of Trump’s Minneapolis crackdown. Sources say Bovino got stripped of his “commander at large” title and shipped back to his old job at the California border.
Bovino had defended his agents aggressively after both the Pretti shooting and the earlier killing of Renee Good on January 7. He appeared on cable news, calling his officers the real victims, not the protesters getting shot.
The 55-year-old commander built his reputation on flashy social media videos that looked like action movie trailers. He’d stand unmasked while his agents wore black face coverings, creating an intimidating presence that critics compared to Nazi imagery.
Minnesota’s top federal judge isn’t playing games either.
Judge Patrick Schiltz summoned ICE acting director Todd Lyons to appear in court on Friday for allegedly ignoring court orders. “The court’s patience is at an end,” Schiltz warned about possible contempt charges.
The judge had ordered federal agents to preserve evidence from the crime scene. State investigators got blocked from accessing the area where Pretti died, forcing the court to step in with preservation orders.
Protests erupted across Minneapolis after the shooting, with demonstrators blowing whistles and banging pots outside hotels where federal agents stayed. The gatherings remained peaceful despite tear gas and physical restraints from federal officers.
Operation Metro Surge deployed roughly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, five times the size of the Minneapolis Police Department’s entire force.
The massive presence was supposed to target violent criminals and corruption, but ended up killing two American citizens instead.
The two-week manhunt for Gervonta Davis ended Wednesday when Miami Gardens cops finally caught the undefeated boxer.
U.S. Marshals helped track down Tank after he had dodged the authorities since January 14.
Police put out the warrant after a woman accused Davis of attacking her at a Miami strip club. The alleged victim said Tank grabbed her by the throat and hair around 4:15 AM in late October.
She told cops he dragged her from the club to a parking garage while gripping the back of her head.
Miami Gardens Police said they reviewed security footage that backed up key parts of her story and she also filed a lawsuit against Davis on Halloween over the same attack.
Davis faces three serious charges from the October incident.
Cops charged him with battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping. The woman claimed she had an intimate relationship with the boxer for five months before the alleged assault.
The search involved multiple law enforcement agencies working together. Miami Gardens Police confirmed U.S. Marshals joined the hunt for the 31-year-old fighter.
Officials have not revealed exactly how they tracked Davis down or where they found him Wednesday.
Tank’s legal troubles go way back beyond this Miami incident. He was arrested in Baltimore in 2020 for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Andretta Smothers.
Court documents showed he grabbed Smothers by the shirt and dragged her from a charity basketball game.
The Baltimore case resulted in probation for Davis after he pleaded guilty to simple assault. He also faced a separate domestic violence case in 2021 involving another woman. That incident allegedly happened at his home and involved similar accusations of physical violence.
Davis has built a reputation as one of boxing’s most explosive punchers with a perfect 31-0 record. His legal issues have repeatedly overshadowed his success in the ring.
A Florida man is claims Diddy turned a high-end male escort agency into his personal sex pipeline and his threat delivery system.
Steve Otis just dropped a lawsuit saying Diddy straight-up raped him at a Midtown Manhattan hotel back in 2012.
Otis was booked through Cowboys4Angels, a male companion service run by Brett Taylor (who goes by Garren James) that Diddy apparently loved using.
Otis says James basically told him to be Diddy’s personal plaything, keep his damn mouth shut, and remember that the Bad Boy founder could totally “make or break” his whole career.
Once they got to this alleged hotel suite, things got real dark real fast. Otis claims Diddy made him drink from a water bottle and started rubbing baby oil all over his body, leaving him feeling drugged and completely out of it.
Brace yourself for this next part – according to the court filing, Diddy then forced Otis to perform hours of unprotected oral and penetrative sex on an unnamed female companion.
Otis says he was forced to climax in her v#####, mouth and on her breasts, before Diddy kissed her and allegedly “licked” up the semen.
When Otis tried to escape to the bathroom, Diddy allegedly followed him, said “let’s turn up,” grabbed his penis and started masturbating.
The lawsuit says Diddy then shoved his finger into Otis’s a### without any consent, pinned him against the wall and forcibly anally raped him for four to five minutes while Otis screamed “no” in pure agony.
But wait, it gets worse. Afterward, Diddy allegedly went straight into full-on threat mode.
“You better not say a word to anybody about this. Did you hear me?” he allegedly told Otis, before supposedly dropping this statement: “I’m not f###### playing with you. If I can get Pac hit, what the f### do you think can happen to you?”
Otis says he knew “Pac” meant Tupac Shakur and believed this comment proved Diddy had the power to arrange deadly violence anywhere in the world.
The threats didn’t end in that bathroom either, according to Otis.
Around 2014, after he left a comment on Diddy’s’ Instagram about his sexual “deviancy,” Otis says Diddy called Cowboys4Angels boss Garren James, who then rang Otis to warn him about “Mr. Star,” supposedly a Diddy alias, saying, “He makes people disappear.”
Weeks later, another escort, “Jamie a.k.a. Tommy,” allegedly passed along that Diddy had called James “several times” and warned, “He will kill you.”
The complaint says these terrifying threats are exactly why Otis didn’t sue until he felt safer in 2025, after Diddy was under intense criminal scrutiny and finally locked up.
He’s now suing under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law and for common-law sexual assault, battery and rape, arguing Diddy’s alleged sick setup of having men have rough, unprotected sex with his girlfriend before he “reclaimed” both her and the man, was a gender-based pattern of domination.
Otis says this whole nightmare destroyed his mental health and completely derailed his work as an escort, actor and model, costing him serious income and career opportunities.
He’s seeking compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorneys’ fees.
Bill Cosby admitted under oath that he refilled Quaalude prescriptions seven times with plans to give the pills to women for sex.
The 86-year-old comedian made the shocking confession in a sealed deposition that’s now part of legal documents obtained by TMZ.
Cosby said he got the prescription from Dr. Leroy Amar, a gynecologist who handed him the script during a poker game at Cosby’s Los Angeles home before 1972.
Cosby told lawyers he never took a single Quaalude himself. The pills were round and white, according to court papers filed in the lawsuit brought by Donna Motsinger.
Motsinger claims Cosby drugged and raped her in 1972 when she worked as a server at the Trident restaurant in Sausalito, California. She says Cosby gave her what she thought was aspirin, but after taking the pill, she started falling in and out of consciousness.
The woman woke up the next day at her house wearing only her underwear.
Dr. Amar lost his California medical license in 1979, making him, according to court documents, a “disgraced” gynecologist. The timing matters because Cosby got the prescription before 1972, years before the doctor’s license got pulled.
This isn’t the first time Cosby’s Quaalude use has come up in court. Back in 2015, he admitted in another deposition that he obtained prescription Quaaludes “to give to women he wanted to have sex with.”
That admission came during Andrea Constand’s civil lawsuit. Constand worked for Temple University’s women’s basketball team when Cosby assaulted her at his Pennsylvania home in 2004. She settled her civil case for $3.38 million.
The court ruled that Cosby’s due process rights were violated. Former prosecutor Bruce Castor had promised Cosby in 2005 that he wouldn’t face criminal charges, which allowed Cosby to testify in the civil case without invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.
Cosby’s legal team is now seeking to have Motsinger’s lawsuit dismissed. The case involves allegations from 1972, when Motsinger was working at the famous Sausalito restaurant.
Motsinger’s lawyers are fighting back against the dismissal attempt. They’re using Cosby’s own words from the deposition as evidence in their case.
The comedian built his career on family-friendly comedy and his role as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show. That wholesome image crumbled as dozens of women came forward with similar stories of being drugged and assaulted.
Cosby’s admission about getting seven prescriptions shows a pattern of planning. He told lawyers he specifically sought out the drugs to give to women, not for his own use.
Nicki Minaj took to X on Wednesday (January 28) to show off one of Donald Trump’s coveted “Gold Cards” after making a surprise appearance at the Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts summit.
The Queens rapper held hands with President Trump on stage and declared herself his “number one fan” during the Washington DC event.
Trump launched the Trump Accounts initiative at the summit to provide $1,000 investment accounts for every American child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026.
The program aims to give kids a financial head start with accounts that could potentially grow to $2.7 million by age 55. Nicki Minaj appeared alongside Trump to announce her $300,000 contribution to the program.
But the real buzz came when Nicki Minaj posted photos of her Trump Gold Card on social media.
The Gold Card program, established by Executive Order 14351 in September 2025, provides an expedited path to permanent residency for foreign nationals who make substantial financial gifts to the U.S. government.
Individual applicants must contribute $1 million, while corporations can donate $2 million on behalf of someone.
Recipients still undergo standard background checks and processing, but the financial contribution serves as additional evidence of eligibility.
For Nicki Minaj, the Gold Card could provide a solution to her long-standing immigration status.
The Trinidad-born rapper revealed in September 2024 that she’s not a U.S. citizen despite paying “millions of dollars” in taxes over the years. She came to America as an undocumented immigrant at age five with her mother, Carol, in 1987.
“I was born on a beautiful island called Trinidad and Tobago. But I’ve been in the States for many years,” Nicki Minaj said during a TikTok Live session. “You would think that with the millions of dollars that I’ve paid in taxes to this country that I would have been given an honorary citizenship many, many, many thousands of years ago.”
According to Nicki Minaj, she currently holds a green card, which grants permanent residency but not citizenship. Her political stance shifted dramatically over recent years.
In 2020, she said she wouldn’t “jump on the Trump bandwagon,” but by December 2025, she was praising both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at conservative events.
Her appearance alongside Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest sparked controversy and prompted multiple deportation petitions.
Over 150,000 people have signed various Change.org petitions calling for Minaj’s deportation to Trinidad and Tobago. Now, the Gold Card could provide Minaj with a clearer path to full citizenship while maintaining her current legal status.
If Nicki Minaj’s Gold Card is legitimate, she won’t need to worry about the deportation petitions that have gained momentum since her conservative political turn.
Clayton Howard just hit 50 Cent and Netflix with a lawsuit over how they portrayed his story in the hit documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning.
The former sex worker says they twisted his testimony to make Cassie look like a victim instead of what he calls his “primary trafficker.” Howard appeared in the Netflix docuseries that dropped last month. But he’s not happy with the final cut.
His lawsuit claims the producers “deliberately edited, distorted, and misrepresented” his account to protect Cassie Ventura while silencing his allegations against her.
“This calculated misrepresentation was done in furtherance of defendant Curtis Jackson’s personal and business vendetta against Sean Combs,” Clayton Howard alleges in court documents. He says 50 Cent created a “commercially profitable narrative” that protected a documented trafficker.
They warned of legal action but never filed anything. Now one of Diddy’s alleged victims actually did what the mogul only threatened to do. Howard wants Netflix to add a notice that accounts are “edited and may not reflect complete testimony.” He’s also seeking damages for what he calls severe harm to his reputation.
The lawsuit stems from Howard’s larger legal battle against both Diddy and Cassie. He filed a $20 million suit against the former couple in July 2025, claiming they sex trafficked him for over a decade.
Howard alleges Cassie recruited him through an escort agency around 2009 and arranged paid encounters that often included threesomes. According to Howard’s claims, Cassie used aliases while Diddy operated under the name “Frank Black.”
Howard says the government used his cooperation when it helped their case, but now treats him like he’s invisible. The unresolved status of his claims has blocked his application to the Backpage Remission Program, a federal fund distributing $200 million to trafficking victims.
Cassie previously accused Diddy of rape and abuse in her own civil case, settling with him for $20 million in November 2023.
Neither 50 Cent nor Netflix has publicly responded to Howard’s new lawsuit.
Diddy is currently serving a 50-month federal sentence after being convicted on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution. He was acquitted of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have meant decades in prison.
Doja Cat just made beauty history by becoming the first covergirl for MAC Cosmetics’ relaunched MACzine. The digital magazine returned on January 29 after folding nearly a decade ago.
The “Paint The Town Red” rapper appears on the cover, smoking red lipstick in a striking visual that captures MAC’s edgy aesthetic. Global creative director Nicola Formichetti announced the magazine’s return in the issue’s opening letter.
“We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been up to over the last few months,” Formichetti wrote. “To start, we’re bringing back MACzine.”
MAC originally published MACzine in print from 2009 until 2017. The brand described this digital revival as a “modern editorial expression of fashion, beauty, culture, and artistry designed to live across platforms.”
Doja Cat created a two-minute makeup tutorial video for the launch. She appears bare-faced and unusually serious while applying products from her new lip kit collaboration with MAC.
“I grew up watching tutorials,” Doja Cat explains in the video while describing the blushes and eye pencils she’s using. The tutorial fast-forwards two hours to reveal her final glamorous look.
“This is the final look, and I only wear MAC,” she declares at the video’s end.
The collaboration continues MAC’s long history with Hip-Hop artists, which started with Queen Latifah in 2001.
Missy Elliott made MAC history in 2004 as a Viva Glam campaign ambassador. She promoted the MAC AIDS Fund initiative alongside the brand’s signature charitable lipstick line.
Nicki Minaj partnered with MAC in 2010 for her “Pink Friday” lipstick collection, which coincided with the release of her debut album. The limited-edition shades reflected her Barbie-inspired aesthetic and bold color choices.
Rihanna launched multiple “RiRi Hearts MAC” collections between 2013 and 2015, featuring signature red lipsticks and bronzers that became instant sellouts.
Taraji P. Henson also collaborated with MAC in 2016 for the #MACTaraji collection. The Empire star’s line celebrated bold, confident makeup during her show’s peak popularity.
The late Aaliyah received a posthumous MAC collection in 2018. Fan campaigns on social media convinced the brand to create a tribute line featuring products named after her songs, such as “Try Again” and “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.”
More recently, Saweetie became a MAC global brand ambassador in 2021. She joined the brand’s “Challenge Accepted” campaign alongside music legend Cher, representing MAC’s commitment to diverse partnerships.
Formichetti emphasized that the timing of MACzine’s return aligns with current beauty trends. “As the world shifts and bold, confident makeup makes its return, this feels like the perfect time to bring it back,” he said.
The creative director called the original MACzine their “creative playground” where they “experimented and brought some of our most daring ideas to life.”
Doja Cat’s involvement signals MAC’s continued investment in Hip-Hop culture and boundary-pushing artistry. Her uncharacteristically serious demeanor in the tutorial video contrasts with her typically playful public persona.
The magazine’s digital format allows MAC to reach audiences across multiple platforms in real-time. This approach reflects how beauty brands now engage with consumers through social media and streaming content.
MAC’s decision to feature a Hip-Hop artist for their magazine relaunch acknowledges the genre’s influence on beauty and fashion trends. Hip-Hop artists have consistently driven makeup innovation and bold aesthetic choices.
Formichetti concluded his letter with an invitation for creative collaboration. “Let’s embrace this new chapter and create the future of beauty together,” he wrote.
The MACzine relaunch represents MAC’s commitment to artistic expression and cultural relevance. Doja Cat’s cover appearance establishes her as the face of this new digital era.
MAC will release additional MACzine content throughout 2026, featuring more artists and creative collaborations across beauty and culture.
The impersonator flipped Digable Planets’ “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” chorus into “I Miss My Dah” while copying King Combs’ lazy speaking style.
The next day brought another crushing blow when 50 Cent shared a photo of King Combs with his twin sisters.
A comedian in the clip absolutely destroyed the rapper’s outfit choice with zero mercy. The roaster went off about King Combs doing “too much kissing and smooching and hugging and biting of the lips.”
“Get him the f### out they face and he’s f###### up they aesthetic with this thin-ass, promiscuous-ass blouse he got on,” the comedian said. She kept going about the “concrete snake print jeans with them wizard of Oz boots” topped off with a do-rag.
Earlier this week, King Combs tried to fight back after 50 Cent clowned him for a failed “Bad Boy” chant at a Total concert. The crowd went silent when King Combs said “Bad” and nobody responded with “Boy.” 50 Cent jumped on the moment with his signature trolling style.
“The real reason why this senior citizen Curtis, is angry and keeps posting me is cuz his BM,” King Combs fired back on Instagram. He cited AllHipHop’s story that 50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins, is involved in an ongoing lawsuit with G-Unit Books.
Tompkins alleged in a sworn affidavit that 50 Cent’s late manager, Chris Lighty, pressured her to sign away her life story rights.
50 Cent wasn’t having any of King Combs’ comeback attempt. He posted on Instagram, calling out the “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” rapper for his own legal troubles.
“Come on Christian you can do better then that man,” 50 Cent wrote. “LOL No seriously how is your case going, the one when you drug shorty on a boat?”
The comment referenced Grace O’Marcaigh’s sexual assault lawsuit against Christian Combs from April 2024.
O’Marcaigh sued after King Combs allegedly drugged her with tequila shots and attacked her on a yacht in December 2022. King Combs denied all allegations in the case.
This unusual beef kicked into overdrive after Netflix dropped Sean Combs: The Reckoning in late 2025.
The four-part documentary series, featuring 50 Cent as an executive producer, examined allegations against Diddy. The show became a massive hit, with over 50 million viewers worldwide tuning in.
The 2026 release will show “our voice” and cover “the family, the foes, the joy, the pain” and “the lies,” according to their trailer. Zeus Network CEO Lemuel Plummer said the documentary isn’t meant to “endorse, defend, or vindicate Diddy.”
The ongoing feud shows no signs of slowing down as 50 Cent continues finding new ways to embarrass King Combs.
Cardi B and the Super Bowl are back in a conversation. Back? Walk with me. With her world tour loading up and an album campaign still breathing, there is a quiet rumble that Cardi B could pop up during the Super Bowl halftime show.
Now before anybody starts yelling about logistics and rehearsals, let’s discuss it. The Super Bowl is planned months in advance, yes. But it is also famous for last minute magic when the stars align and the business makes sense. Cardi is a professional. Her sets are locked, her tour is reportedly baked, and she has proven she’s ready for massive moments.
Here is where it gets interesting.
There has been noticeable motion between Cardi B’s label and Team Bunny. Bad Bunny is already attached to the Super Bowl, and the two artists share a record. This would be a hell of a victory lap. A quick 30 seconds or even a minute…not impossible. It is unlikely, sure, but unlikely and impossible are not the same thing.
From a strategy standpoint, the Super Bowl is still the biggest stage on earth. If you are Cardi B and you are pushing an album and a global tour, why would you not take advantage of that kind of reach. Add in the fact that this moment in culture is heavily politicized and emotionally charged, and suddenly the idea of Cardi B grabbing that spotlight feels very on brand.
It also does not hurt that Donald Trump will not be in the building. Once upon a time, the Patriots were his guys, back when Tom Brady was throwing lasers and Robert Kraft was playing footsie with MAGA energy. That era is over, literally. Kraft and Trump are not friends anymore. Trump is sitting this Super Bowl out, even with all the noise around the 250th anniversary of the country. Whether you care or not, his absence removes a very specific cloud that has hovered over past Super Bowls.
With the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs not involved, the usual Trump adjacent superstitions are gone too. That alone makes this feel like a cleaner slate.
One more thing if you are still reading. Cardi B turned the Super Bowl down already.
Cardi B turned down the Super Bowl halftime show in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. Remember that? She did not appreciate the NFL’s treatment of him for protesting police brutality, feeling she needed to stand with him as he stood up. She felt a strong obligation to support Kaepernick, making it a hard decision given the massive opportunity.
All that said, musically speaking, this still feels like one of the weaker Super Bowls in recent memory unless a surprise shakes the room. A Cardi B cameo would do exactly that.
No matter what…she’s going to be at the Super Bowl.
Donald Trump just made the wildest promise of his presidency so far.
The commander-in-chief told a packed Treasury Department summit he’s gonna grow his nails like Nicki Minaj after the rapper showed up in a massive white fur coat.
The Trump Accounts Summit went completely off-script when Trump spotted Nicki Minaj in the crowd. The Treasury Department event was supposed to focus on the new investment program for American children.
“[Nicki’s] the greatest and most successful female rapper in history, Nicki Minaj. Come on!” Trump declared from the podium.
“I’ve been hearing over the years she’s a big Trump supporter and a Trump fan, and she took a little heat on occasion,” he said. The president admitted her community isn’t necessarily his typical base, but claimed he did well with that demographic.
Then came Trump’s weird nail promise.
“I am going to let my nails grow, because I love those nails. I’m gonna let those nails grow,” he announced. “She’s been MAGA. What can I say? She’s been with us all the way.”
The Trump Accounts program gives eligible kids born between 2025 and 2028 a $1,000 government contribution to start investment accounts.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent organized the summit to promote the tax-advantaged savings tool. More than 500,000 families have already signed up for the program.
Nicki Minaj strutted to the podium wearing a huge white fur coat that appeared to have a bunny rabbit tail. She didn’t hold back when she grabbed the microphone.
“I am probably the President’s number one fan. And that’s not going to change,” Nicki Minaj declared. The rapper said criticism only motivates her more.
“The hate, what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more,” she said.
“We’re not going to let them get away with bullying him. He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen?” Nicki said.
The audience erupted in applause as she finished her impromptu speech.
The rapper’s appearance marks her continued embrace of the MAGA movement. She’s been publicly supporting Donald Trump since his return to office and has faced significant backlash from fans.
Nicki Minaj is dropping serious cash to back Donald Trump‘s baby investment program. The Queens rapper, who is a special guest at the Treasury Department summit today (January 28) with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz at the Washington event.
Nicki Minaj has pledged between $150,000 and $300,000 to fund Trump Accounts for her Barbz fans’ newborns.
“I absolutely love my Barbz,” Nicki Minaj said in a statement. “I want to see them bring healthy and successful children into the world.”
The 43-year-old mother explained her motivation comes from personal experience.
“Becoming a mother was the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me, and I want others to experience the same joy my son has brought into my life,” Nicki Minaj said.
Trump’s program gives every child born between January 2025 and December 2028 a $1,000 investment account. Parents can contribute up to $5,000 per year, and employers can contribute up to $2,500 per year until the child turns 18.
The rapper believes Trump Accounts will close financial gaps between privileged and underprivileged children. “This program will benefit everyone, decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren’t born with a full bank account & children who are.”
Minaj’s appearance marks her second major political move with the Trump Administration, following her address at the United Nations on Christian persecution in Nigeria. However, the artist has faced intense backlash since embracing Trump’s administration.
The summit will also feature other celebrity speakers, including Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank and Cheryl Hines from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Hines is married to Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.
J. Cole appears ready for legal war with Cam’ron after hiring entertainment attorney Samantha W. Frankel from Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.
Frankel brings serious firepower to Cole’s defense team. The commercial litigation specialist is based in the firm’s New York office and focuses on complex entertainment disputes.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp has deep roots in Hollywood’s legal battles. Founded in 1908, the firm built its reputation defending major studios and record labels in high-stakes entertainment litigation.
The century-old firm handled landmark cases that shaped the industry. They represented Warner Bros. in the Friends wrongful termination lawsuit and won a unanimous California Supreme Court decision.
MSK also led the charge against Napster in the groundbreaking file-sharing case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Recent years brought more major victories for the firm. They successfully defended Netflix in copyright disputes and represented Dr. Luke in his legal battles.
The lawsuit centered on a 2022 recording session in New York City. Cam’ron alleged Cole agreed to collaborate on a future single in exchange for using his vocals on “Ready ’24.”
According to court documents, Cole initially agreed to the collaboration deal but later backed out. Cole allegedly told Cam’ron in July 2023 that instead of recording a new song together, he wanted to appear on Cam’ron’s podcast It Is What It Is.
Cam’ron claimed Cole repeatedly said he was unavailable for the podcast between July 2023 and April 2024. Cole then released “Ready ’24” in April 2024 without fulfilling the collaboration agreement.
The original lawsuit stated Cam’ron was credited only as a co-composer on “Ready ’24,” not as a performer, even though his vocals appear on the track. He wanted a court to declare him a co-author of the sound recording and order an audit of the song’s royalties.
The timing of Cole’s legal preparation comes as he gears up for major career moves. The North Carolina rapper dropped four new freestyles yesterday in Birthday Blizzard ’26, hosted by DJ Clue and available on his website for just $1.
Cole’s highly anticipated album The Fall Off drops February 6, rumored to be his final studio project before retirement.
Minneapolis has once again found itself at the center of a national reckoning. But for rapper, producer, and activist Tufawon, this moment is not just another headline. It is lived reality.
AllHipHop caught up with the Minneapolis native as he remained embedded on the ground, witnessing coalition-building across Black, Indigenous, Somali, and immigrant communities, while also releasing Gradient, a museum-commissioned EP rooted in Native identity, resistance, and futurism.
What follows is an unfiltered conversation with Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur about fear, hope, hypocrisy, mutual aid, infiltration tactics, and why Minneapolis may be building the blueprint for what comes next. Click here for full Q&A or watch in the video below.
“Everything Is Chaotic, But the People Give Me Hope”
AllHipHop: How are you holding up right now?
Tufawon: All things considered, I’m doing well. I’m feeling inspiration from the people on the ground getting organized. I’m going through waves of emotions because everything right now is chaotic, but the movement of the people is giving me a lot of hope.
AllHipHop: As a Black man, it feels like we’ve taken decades backwards. How do you see this moment historically?
Tufawon: There’s a lot of history repeating itself. This administration is clearly taking steps backwards. It’s blatant. It’s out in the open. But even with how bad it is, the people are organizing on a level I’ve never seen. My hope is bigger than the atrocities. Bigger than the fascism. I believe they’re afraid of this movement.
Fear, Shifts, and Second Amendment Hypocrisy
AllHipHop: What keeps you going when you’re watching people be killed like this? Do you feel fear that it could keep escalating?
Tufawon: I do. But I’m seeing a shift. A lot of white people who were on the fence are pulling back from Trump. Some are saying they won’t vote Republican in the midterms.
The problem is ICE. A lot of these agents are untrained or minimally trained, and they believe they’re above the law. When white people are harmed too, it exposes how ugly the agenda really is.
AllHipHop: The hypocrisy feels unavoidable.
Tufawon: Exactly. Kyle Rittenhouse shows up with a rifle and he’s a hero. Now a concealed-carry guy shows up and suddenly he’s the villain. Same people. Same logic. You can’t argue around that anymore. The hypocrisy is being exposed and it’s backing them into a corner.
And people saw this man get disarmed. He wasn’t using his weapon. He was protecting a woman. He was protecting all of us. That’s why it hits so hard.
“Minneapolis Is Segregated, But That’s Changing”
AllHipHop: What are you seeing on the ground that people outside Minnesota don’t fully understand?
Tufawon: Minneapolis is heavily segregated. The Somali community is boxed in. The Native community is boxed in. The North Side, the historically Black community, is boxed in.
But right now, I’m seeing coalition-building that breaks those barriers down. We’re eating together. Crying together. Strategizing together. Actually taking action.
There’s also a deep irony. People are being detained on our own land and sent to Fort Snelling, which was a concentration camp for my ancestors. That’s not abstract history. That’s real.
People keep saying this is just about immigration. It’s not. They’re terrorizing Black communities too. It’s all connected.
Mutual Aid, Rapid Response, and Saving Lives
AllHipHop: Explain mutual aid for people who may not understand it.
Tufawon: Mutual aid is people directly supporting people. Money. Food. Transportation. Resources. Some folks can’t leave their homes. Some can’t work.
Pow Wow Grounds coffee shop has become a hub. They’re so well-resourced now they’re redirecting food to other organizations to spread it out.
It affects income too. I’m a rapper, but I’m also a teaching artist. I teach Native youth how to make songs from start to finish. Gigs get pushed back. Restaurants shut down. Mutual aid helps people survive right now.
AllHipHop: You also mentioned rapid response teams.
Tufawon: People are posted throughout the city and suburbs. When ICE activity is spotted, Signal chats light up in real time. People blow whistles. The community comes together. We’ve pushed ICE agents out multiple times. It literally saves lives.
“Everybody Has a Role”
AllHipHop: You talked about heroes and martyrs.
Tufawon: Everybody in Minneapolis is a hero right now. But especially the people out there every single day risking their lives. They could get shot. They’re doing it anyway.
And I’m holding white people accountable. Don’t stop when things feel normal again. Don’t disappear. There’s no stopping.
AllHipHop: You also said even under Democratic leadership, oppression continues.
Tufawon: Exactly. We can’t let up once Trump is gone. Blue administrations still had police brutality. People are realizing the people hold the power.
And there’s a class awakening happening. Racism is used as a tool in class warfare. Poor and working-class people are being pitted against each other so the wealthy can stay in control. Some ICE agents are realizing they signed up for something they can’t live with. The turnover is high. That system doesn’t care about them either.
Infiltration, Security Culture, and Strategy
AllHipHop: There’s talk of infiltration. ICE dressing differently, blending in. Are organizers aware?
Tufawon: Absolutely. A lot of us were trained at Standing Rock and again in 2020. We know infiltration is real. They’ve posed as utility workers. They’ve entered Signal chats.
Security culture matters. Vet people. Ask questions. Know who you’re working with. We’re training people constantly to protect the movement.
Gradient: Hip-Hop, Native Identity, and the Future
AllHipHop: Let’s talk about Gradient.
Tufawon:Gradient is a seven-song EP commissioned by the American Composers Forum as part of their Recomposing America project. It’s tied to a Duluth Art Institute exhibition. Visitors experience the museum while listening to my music.
The project is about fighting colonialism and imperialism, but also about who we were before colonizers and who we’re becoming. Indigenous people exist on a gradient. Our cultures, our skin tones, our histories.
I produced everything. Rapped. Sang. Played Native flute and guitar. It leans Hip-Hop but also R&B. It’s one of the projects I’m most proud of.
Final Words
AllHipHop: Any last thoughts?
Tufawon: Taking care of your family is revolutionary. Babysitting for someone on the front line is revolutionary. Raising money is revolutionary. Everybody has a role.
And I believe this. The love I’m seeing right now is bigger than their fascism. We’re going to defeat this.
AllHipHop Talks To Tufawon On Minneapolis, Mutual Aid, ICE Watch Networks, And “Gradient”
Minneapolis has been a national flashpoint since May 25, 2020, when George Floyd was murdered. The city became shorthand for uprising, police accountability, and what happens when a community refuses to “move on.” The Twin Cities also carry older scars that still shape who lives where, who gets protected, and who gets boxed in. Highway projects like I-94 and I-35W tore through neighborhoods and displaced tens of thousands, accelerating segregation and cutting cultural corridors into isolated pockets.
For Indigenous communities, history is not abstract. After the U.S.-Dakota War, thousands of Dakota people were imprisoned at a Fort Snelling concentration camp site, a trauma Minnesota institutions now openly acknowledge.
Into that pressure cooker steps Tufawon, a Dakota and Puerto Rican artist-activist on the ground in Minneapolis, watching coalition-building form across Native, Somali, Black, and immigrant communities, while also dropping a museum-linked EP, Gradient, commissioned through the American Composers Forum’s “Recomposing America” initiative and featured with Duluth Art Institute exhibitions running January 12 to April 3, 2026.
AllHipHop:Tufawon. How are you, brother?
Tufawon: All things considered, I’m doing well. I’m feeling inspiration from the people on the ground getting organized. I’m going through waves of emotions because everything is chaotic, but the movement of the people is giving me hope.
AllHipHop: As a Black man, knowing the history of the country, it felt like we were making advances toward justice and equality. Now it feels like we’ve taken decades backwards. What are your general thoughts on this moment as it relates to history?
Tufawon: There’s a lot of history repeating itself, and this whole administration is taking steps backwards. It’s blatant, out in the open. Even though it’s really bad right now, there’s so much movement happening with the people. They’re getting organized on a level I’ve never seen. My hope is greater than the atrocities. Greater than the fascism plaguing our communities. I believe they’re afraid of it. With the momentum we have, we can defeat fascism and what they’re trying to do.
AllHipHop: What keeps you going when you’re seeing people essentially being executed this way? And have you felt fear that this could continue?
Tufawon: I do. But I think the Trump administration is backtracking a bit because a lot of people, specifically white people who might have been on the fence, are looking at what happened and saying, “I can’t support this.” I’m seeing people say they’re not voting Republican in the midterms.
And the problem with ICE is many agents are untrained or minimally trained, and they think they’re above the law. When you see white folks harmed too, it makes the agenda look really bad. That’s shifting some people.
AllHipHop: You’re talking about a shift with conservative, Second Amendment folks.
Tufawon: Yeah. I go beyond voting, I always vote, I encourage people to vote, but power is truly held in the people. I’m seeing Republicans who are anti-Trump now. I’m seeing Second Amendment people like, “This is an attack.”
And I’m seeing people I never thought would be out there. Because this impacts everybody, especially Black and brown people in immigrant communities. I’ve never seen so many people locked in, communicating, providing mutual aid, trainings, resources. Every day there’s something happening, we’re building skills.
AllHipHop: The hypocrisy is crazy. Kyle Rittenhouse shows up strapped and he’s treated like a hero. But now people are flipping the script.
Tufawon: It backs them into a corner. Same right-wing people who called Rittenhouse a hero, now say a concealed-carry guy is wrong for being at a protest. If one is wrong, why is the other a hero? The hypocrisy is being exposed and they’re looking bad. That’s part of why you’re seeing a shift.
AllHipHop: You also point out something emotional here: you’re describing someone being disarmed, jumped, protecting a woman.
Tufawon: That’s what gets us emotional. He was protecting a woman. He was protecting all of us from violent extremist fascism. He went down as a martyr. That’s not the same as some kid with a rifle showing up trying to execute people.
AllHipHop: What are you seeing on the ground that people outside Minnesota might not understand?
Tufawon: Minneapolis is segregated like a lot of cities. Cedar-Riverside, the Somali community, is blocked off. The Native community is blocked off. The North Side, the historically Black community, is sectioned off. But I’m seeing coalition-building that breaks barriers down. We’re meeting together, holding space, having meals, crying together, strategizing, taking action that can lead to liberation and defeating fascist violence.
And there’s an irony that hits hard. People are detained on our own land, sent to a detention center in the Whipple building at Fort Snelling, which was a concentration camp for my ancestors. That’s heavy. People try to say, “This is just immigration.” No. They’re terrorizing the Black community too. It’s connected.
AllHipHop: Explain mutual aid.
Tufawon: Mutual aid is people providing resources, money, food, whatever, to communities in need. Some people can’t leave their houses, can’t go to work. It’s getting resources into the hands of people impacted most.
Pow Wow Grounds coffee shop has been a hub. They’re so well-resourced they’re directing food to other orgs so it spreads around.
And it hits income too. I’m a rapper, but also a teaching artist. I teach Native youth, we make songs start to finish. Gigs get pushed back. Restaurants take a hit. So mutual aid is also directing funds to people who need it now.
AllHipHop: You mentioned rapid response teams.
Tufawon: People are posted up across blocks, South Side, North Side, St. Paul, suburbs too. There are Signal chats, real-time dispatch of ICE activity. If agents show up to raid or snatch somebody, the community blows whistles and comes together. It’s been successful pushing agents out. We did one yesterday. It saves lives.
AllHipHop: You shouted out people you call heroes and martyrs.
Tufawon: Everybody in Minneapolis is a hero right now, but especially those risking their lives every day. They could get shot up. I want to honor them, send love and prayers.
And I’m also holding white people accountable. Keep going after it “gets normal.” Don’t stop once you go back to regular life. There’s no stopping.
AllHipHop: You make a point that even when it’s “blue,” oppression still happens.
Tufawon: Exactly. We can’t take our foot off the gas after Trump’s out or whatever. People are realizing the people hold power. We’re more powerful than any party.
And there’s another awakening: racism is used as a tool in class warfare. The wealthy elite pit us against each other. Some ICE agents are middle class trying to get a paycheck. There’s turnover. Some sign up and realize, “I didn’t know I’d be snatching a woman, deporting her, and now her kids never see her again.” People are realizing the system doesn’t care about them either. It’s about time it crumbles.
AllHipHop: You said, “Defund ICE.” You’re also talking about budgets and Minneapolis being a testing ground.
Tufawon: Minneapolis is the testing ground. We’ve been trained since 2020, and before that through the American Indian Movement, and before that through our ancestors. They thought we’d riot so they could deploy military and run a whole regime. But we flipped strategy. They can’t deploy the way they wanted. They’re p#####.
And we want to flood resources out to other cities: trainings on mutual aid, rapid response, knowing your rights. Arm the people with that knowledge.
AllHipHop: You also frame this as ethnic cleansing and “keeping America white.”
Tufawon: That’s what it is. Make America great again is code. You see similar dynamics globally. Push people of color out, whiten it again. That’s what we’re fighting.
AllHipHop: Before we get into your latest project, I saw something about infiltration, people saying ICE is dressing in flannels and using whistles, trying to infiltrate like COINTELPRO. Are y’all addressing that?
Tufawon: A lot of us are trained in this. Going back to Standing Rock, Dakota Access Pipeline. We learned skills there, and people learned in 2020. We’ve heard about utility vehicles, people pretending to be plumbers. We have a vetting system. They can get into Signal chats, so security culture is important. Know who you’re working with, ask questions, identify possible infiltrators. We’re putting people on game.
AllHipHop: Let’s talk about the new project, Gradient.
Tufawon:Gradient is a seven-song EP commissioned by the American Composers Forum as part of their Recomposing America project. It’s part of a Duluth Art Institute exhibition: Fur Trade Nation and Ojibwe Adornment. Visitors can experience the museum while listening to my project. I’m the sonic sound of it.
The theme ties into what’s happening now: fighting colonialism and imperialism, but also going beyond the colonial narrative, who we were before colonizers, who we are today, and what the future is for Native people. It’s about sophisticated trade networks, intermarriage, mixing cultures, creating a beautiful gradient. Indigenous people come in so many colors, dark to light. Our cultures are like that sunset gradient sky.
I produced everything. I rapped and sang. I played instruments, Native flute, electric guitar. It leans Hip-Hop, but also R&B because I’m an R&B singer too.
AllHipHop: I love that. And I love what you said about roles. Everybody can’t do everything.
Tufawon: Taking care of your family is revolutionary. Babysitting for someone on the front line is revolutionary. Raising money for gas cards is revolutionary. Everybody has a role. Some people come to the front line and they’re not good at it and get hurt. Tap into what you’re good at.
AllHipHop: I respect a politically trained rapper. Some artists step into it and get cooked.
Tufawon: It’s okay to say, “I’m still learning.” Maybe you’re not fit for interviews yet. You can still do mutual aid, fundraise, learn, and come back armed for the conversations. Shout out Vic Mensa, he pulled up yesterday. That’s love.
AllHipHop:Gradient out right now. Continued blessings. Pray for protection over you and everybody out there.
Tufawon: We can take all the prayers we can get. I’m honored y’all let me speak on what’s going on and speak about my EP.
