Lil Durk is currently on trial for a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of one man in retaliation over the murder of King Von. Over the weekend, Lil Durk’s legal team has requested that a DJ Akademiks interview be introduced as evidence countering claims that the rapper orchestrated the plot.

As has been previously reported, Lil Durk, real name Durk Banks, is facing two murder-for-hire charges and one racketeering charge. As noted by Complex, the legal team filed a motion on Sunday (August 30) in an attempt to introduce a portion of the DJ Akademiks interview that they believe softens the government’s claims against him.

Durk sat down with Akademiks for the Off The Record podcast, portions of which prosecutors have already used to back their assertions. The excerpt the legal team hopes to put forth this week is a moment where Durk is asked about Tekashi 6ix9ne criticizing him for not getting revenge on Quando Rondo for King Von’s shooting death.

In the interview, Durk waves off 6ix9ne’s attempt to agitate him and simply says he’s focusing on listening to those in his corner and moving on. With Durk entering a not guilty plea, the defense wants this evidence in the court to counter the attempts of the prosecution.

OTF Jam testified in the trial that 6ix9ne’s incessant badgering of Durk eventually made him angry, saying on the stand that the trolling was “getting to [Lil Durk].”

This trial is still ongoing.

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Photo: Broward County Clerk of the Courts

DJ Akademiks is claiming Lil Durk has allegedly been receiving financial support from some of his high-profile celebrity friends while fighting his murder-for-hire case.

The Chicago rapper has completed the first full week of his trial, which saw former affiliate OTF Jam take the stand and testify about his alleged side of the story, including claims that Durk was the ringleader behind the crimes.

As the trial enter its second week, more witnesses are expected to take the stand as prosecutors continue presenting their case.

During a recent stream, Akademiks discussed several people he claims have supported Smurk while he’s been behind bars. According to Ak, Kanye West has allegedly contributed $250,000 toward Durk’s legal funds. He also claimed Drake has given $1 million for attorney Brian Steele to represent Durk.

Akademiks also named Lil Baby and 21 Savage as artists who have allegedly supported Durk. He claimed Wham contributed a smaller amount, sending between $5,000 and $10,000 toward Durk’s legal battle.

None of these financial claims have been confirmed, and they remain allegations.

With Durks trial continuing into its second week, the alleged support from some of Hip-Hop’s biggest names add another layer to the high-profile case.

Victor Victor Worldwide is giving fans another reason to pay attention to its latest creative rollout including new sneakers and music.

A team from NBC News was attacked by masked Israeli settlers as they were interviewing a Palestinian woman
over the weekend, sparking outrage and sharp criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team was interviewing Aida Ahmed Abdullah, a 51-year-old Palestinian resident, and her family in the town of Jalud, near Nablus in the West Bank. She spoke of how she and her family had been previously attacked by other Israeli settlers.

It took 30 years, but one of rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur’s killers has been convicted of murder in a court law. On Monday, August 31, a Las Vegas jury found Duane Keith Davis aka Keffe D guilty of plotting the 1996 drive-by shooting of the beloved actor and rapper.

The New York Times reports that the jury deliberated for about three hours before coming to its verdict. Keefe D was found guilty of first-degree murder, amongst other charges.

Reportedly, the prosecution’s case relied heavily on Keffe D’s own words in various interviews and his own memoir, where he detailed the conspiracy to shoot Tupac. As for the defense, Keffe D’s lawyers maintained that their client is a liar.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 13, 2006 and Keffe D is facing up to life in prison. Reactions to the long-awaited verdict are pouring in.

This story is developing.

Joe Budden is currently enjoying his foray into broadcasting and becoming a media mogul in the progress, but now he’ll have added responsibilities. Joe Budden proposed to his longtime girlfriend Shadée Monique over the weekend, who also revealed at the event that she is expecting.

Fans of The Joe Budden Podcast have been aware that Budden has been planning this proposal for more than a year. He’s publicly shared his search for a proper diamond engagement ring, and detailed moving Shadée Monique from Texas to his New Jersey home.

From images and videos posted online via social media, Budden’s annual birthday party event includes his family, podcast hosts and their guests, friends from all walks of life, and more. The well-attended parties have become part of podcast lore, and listeners of the main pod and Patreon can expect the rest of the week to be centered on Budden’s big moment.

Budden didn’t mince words as he got on one knee decked out in a white tuxedo and skipping all the flowery words, he asks his love “We doing this or what?” which got the guests shouting in approval as the glowing Shadée Monique, in a Black dress, gave enthusiastic approval.

In another video, Shadée Monique let the cat out the bag and told guests that Budden will be an upcoming “girl dad,” something of an inside jab as Budden has joked towards his co-hosts for being fathers of daughters.

By way of the JBTV Community on X, several clips have mad their rounds and reactions on the social media network have also cropped up. We have all that we could find listed down below.

Congratulation to the Pod Father Joe Budden and Shadée Monique.

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Photo: Getty

Rising Philadelphia rapper Surf7 stops by Hip-Hop Wired for one of his first interviews.

Since releasing his breakout single “Goose Coat,” Surf has gained instant traction, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about names out of the City of Brotherly Love. Growing up, Surf7 bounced around different parts of Philly and even spent some time in New Jersey.

Music has always been a part of Surf’s life, but this year is when he decided to take it seriously. After “Goose Coat” began picking up steam, Meek Mill reached out and blessed Surf with a feature for the remix.

“He [Meek Mill] just f*cked with it. He just reached out to my team. My team was already tapped in with him, so it wasn’t too far off. I guess he seen the song and he felt it.”

While fans are getting familiar with Surf7 through his music, there’s another important part of his story that may come as a surprise, his faith. Surf converted to Islam last year and opened up about how the religion has impacted his life

“Islam is like a father, when your’e reading it [Quran] sometimes it feels like your’e talking to your ddd or a man. Coming from an area where of not having nobody to talk to, it really feels like you got somebody to talk to.”

With “Goose Coat” opening the door, Surf7 is using his momentum to introduce himself to a much bigger audience beyond Philadelphia.

Check out the full interview below.

It’s no secret that TikTok hasn’t truly been the same since Donald Trump “saved” it, but new details reveal how the social media platform got a slap on the wrist from Orange Mussolini’s DOJ.

Spotted on Raw Story, the DOJ’s $400 million settlement with TikTok to hold the popular social media platform responsible for its negative impact on young children turned out to be a “sweetheart deal” that let TikTok avoid properly addressing child-safety claims and more.

According to the website, TikTok cleared up child-safety features it publicly discussed, left a federal monitoring requirement unaddressed, and ignored “a far more alarming allegation that never made it into the case” about your personal data.

Per Raw Story:

A former Federal Trade Commission official told the New York Post that investigators had uncovered evidence TikTok exposed American users’ personal data, including Social Security and bank account numbers, on an internal messaging system accessible to employees in China.

“We knew that China-based employees accessed information contained within this messaging service that included American users’ personally identifiable information,” the former official said. But that finding never appeared in the DOJ’s lawsuit, which focused instead on accounts belonging to children under 13.

Also revealed, of the $400 million settlement, $300 million of it went to resolve child-privacy claims themselves while $100 million went to vacating a 2019 order requiring TikTok to submit to independent monitoring of its data practices, one of the more important provisions that TikTok was able to sidestep.

This just adds to ill feeling towards TikTok since it went under Trump’s homey, Larry Ellison’s Oracle’s and other investors’ control while ByteDance keeps a 19.9 percent stake.

Users also couldn’t help but notice a lot more MAGA content being pushed, with Trump himself even boasting about how popular he is on the platform.

Welp. TikTok is officially home for the ops.

The internet spent the entire weekend locked in on the story of Daejon Love, and once you start going through the details, it’s easy to see why. Federal prosecutors say Love spent years convincing women that he was either a San Francisco 49ers player or a wealthy real estate investor, complete with 49ers gear, luxury cars, fake financial accounts and an alleged accomplice posing as his investment adviser. Authorities say at least 26 women were convinced to hand over roughly $1.3 million, with some even taking out personal loans after being promised huge investment returns. Love and alleged accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan were arrested at Boise Airport on August 24 and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

Then the internet started digging, and somehow the story got even wilder. Videos surfaced of Love seemingly staging his own 49ers contract signing, talking about the NFL lifestyle and showing women supposed luxury homes, cars and jewelry. The situation even helped lead social media sleuths to another man whose supposed NFL résumé didn’t add up. And while the Love case sounds almost too ridiculous to be real, he’s far from the first person whose alleged — or proven — scheme has become an internet legend.

Daejon Love

Love allegedly built one of the more elaborate fake-athlete personas we’ve seen online, telling women he played for the 49ers while also presenting himself as a successful investor. Prosecutors say he and Chan showed victims fabricated account balances and investment gains, sometimes during three-way FaceTime calls, before convincing women to transfer money or take out loans. Investigators say none of the identified victims received investment returns, and the FBI believes there could be additional victims. Love has only been charged, meaning these accusations have not yet been proven in court.

Angela Yee and her boo, Tameek Floyd, have taken a major step in their relationship announcing their engagement.

During Yee’s seventh annual “Angela Yee Day” in Brooklyn, Floyd surprised his longtime love with a ring. Surrounded by friends and family, Angela said yes. Following the proposal, Floyd shared a heartfelt message online to his fiancée.

“Locked in with my best friend @angelayee. As individuals we’re great, together we’re unstoppable…Love you!!!”

The special moment marks another major milestone for the radio personality, who has kept her relationship private over the years.

During a 2019 interview with Essence, Yee opened up about what she loves about her partner, describing him as supportive and low-key ride-or-die.

“What’s great about my boyfriend is that he’s really supportive of everything I do and he’s so low key. Which I really like because I’m the same way.”

The engagement comes during a period of new beginnings for Yee. She spent 12 years as part of The Breakfast Club before stepping away from the show in 2022. A year later, she launched her nationally syndicated midday show, Way Up With Angela Yee.

Since then, Yee continued to build her own lane, having major guests including Cardi B, T.I., Master P, Ray J and many more.

Now, Yee has another reason to celebrate as she enter a new chapter both personally and professionally.

The race for the Senate in Florida has gained national attention due to progressive candidate Angie Nixon winning her primary. Part of that attention turned poisonous as far-right influencer Laura Loomer racially attacked her on social media – but Nixon fired back, drawing support online.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Loomer attacked Nixon by invoking a stereotype of how Black women speak. “These women are all ghetto, entitled, race-obsessed, destructive black B—— who are completely unfit for the power they hold,” she wrote.

Nixon wasn’t deterred. She responded, “Girl. You ate dog food on camera,” Nixon wrote. “In the words of Queen Latifah, ‘Who you calling a b—-?’”

Stove God Cooks says his much delayed sophomore album is finally on the way. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.

Grocery prices are high, gas prices are high, and now the block about to go dry as the NYPD just pulled off the biggest drug bust in more than 10 years.

According to Gothamist, authorities in New York City seized 580 pounds of cocaine this past Wednesday (Aug. 26) from a self-storage facility in Long Island City, making it the largest coke bust the city has seen in more than a decade. With drug dealers and drug users no doubt punching air upon hearing the news, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch was more than proud of her team’s operation and at a news conference on Friday (Aug. 28) asked the public to just “Think about the scale of what was intercepted here,” as more than 266 kilo’s were confiscated by police.

The Gothamist reports:

The cocaine has an estimated street value of $10 million and would have likely been cut with fentanyl before reaching city buyers, prosecutors said. Cocaine now factors into more than half of all overdose deaths in New York City, they said.

“It is often mixed with other dangerous substances such as fentanyl,” Lisa Tompkins, chief assistant district attorney at New York’s Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, said at the news conference.

Prosecutors charged Nelson Salcedo, 35, of Englewood, New Jersey, with first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday evening. He is being held at Rikers Island on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

Salcedo for his part pleaded not guilty to the charges he was slapped with even though Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says Salcedo was seen unloading numerous boxes of the cocaine himself. Something his lawyer very much questions.

“Salcedo was gainfully employed as an elevator mechanic and the issue will be if he had knowledge of what was in those boxes,” Brackley said.

Aside from Salcedo, authorities also booked two other individuals though their names are being withheld for the time being.

Unfortunately for Salcedo, the NYPD and DEA had been monitoring his moves for weeks witnessing him unload boxes of drugs to another person at the north end of Central Park on Wednesday nights. After arresting Salcedo and confiscating the cocaine, authorities say they discovered that the purity of the coke indicated it was uncut and would’ve been “stretched three or four times before reaching buyers.”

Salcedo had that forreal forreal plug, b (allegedly).

ICE hilariously deported far-right numbskull and Kanye West’s former chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos, and he had something to say about it.

TMZ exclusively broke the news over the weekend about British right-wing political commentator Yiannopoulos getting sent back to his country for overstaying his authorized stay after entering the country legally in 2019.

The celebrity gossip site reports that Yiannopoulos missed an immigration hearing in July.

In a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson from the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) called Yiannopoulos “an illegal alien from the United Kingdom” and added that he was sent “back to his home country.”

Milo Yiannopoulos Blamed Louisiana For Being Deported, Not Trump

Yiannopoulos, who has pushed for stronger immigration law enforcement and called for mass deportations before getting swept up in them, finally broke his silence on the matter. Instead of calling out the Trump Administration, he took a cowardly shot at the state of Louisiana.

On X (formerly Twitter), Yiannopoulos posted a tweet blasting the state, taking a screenshot of a KFC ad for the “Dirty Louisiana Burger” and writing in the caption, “oh f*** off.”

Welp

Before he was given the boot, Yiannopoulos was in New Orleans for West’s concert and was taken into custody at Louis Armstrong International Airport over his immigration status and brought to an ICE detention center.

West and his “wife”- slash-favorite mannequin, Bianca Censori, were seen leaving the airport not long after Yiannopoulos was detained.

So after all the Far-Right MAGA glazing, they still treated him like the other immigrants he railed against.

Social media, of course, didn’t feel sorry for him at all and has been clowning him for getting deported by the same administration he is a fan of.

Maybe Ye can get Trump on the phone and fix this.

You can see more reactions below.

Tom Hardy and his credentials as an actor are well established, leading to awards and accolades due to the variety of roles he’s played over the years. Now with Tom Hardy stepping into the Hip-Hop world as Frankie Pulitzer, fans have been blown away by his skills as a rapper on the album, Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer.

Fans of Tom Hardy are no doubt aware of acting chops with roles such as the supervillain Bane in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, starring as Max Rockatansky in Mad Max, and a star-making guest role on the Peaky Blinders series.

Hardy’s foray into rapping aren’t new, and in the late 1990s, he recorded an unreleased mixtape under the moniker Tommy No. 1. which was leaked in 2018. Under the Frankie Pulitzer persona, Hardy has appeared on past Czarface tracks. but joining with the trio for a full-length drop was unexpected.

Czarface consists of Boston duo 7L and Esoteric, who’ve been active since the 1990s, and Wu-Tang Clan swordsman, Inspectah Deck. The trio first began working with one another in 2013 and have been consistently dropping music and high profile collaborations with the likes of Ghostface Killah, Kool Keith, and the late MF DOOM.

While Hardy isn’t confirming his identity as Frankie Pulitzer, he does put on the Bane voice on one of the tracks from Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer to great effect. Along with rapping, Hardy is also trained in mixed martial arts, perhaps owing to the physicality he brings to his roles.

On X, the reactions to Tom Hardy having actual bars and hanging with the likes of Method Man, El-P, and more have been great to witness. We’ve got all the reactions below.

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Photo: Getty

Lil Durk is in the midst of his murder-for-hire trial, but according to prosecutors, the case could be wrapping up sooner than expected.

Toward the end of Friday’s proceedings, the judge reportedly asked federal prosecutors when they anticipate the trial being completed and whether the government plans to call any additional witnesses.

The judge also acknowledged that the government could change its plans at any point and extend the trial if necessary,

Ian Yanniello, an Assistant United States Attorney, said there is a strong possibility the trial could conclude Tuesday or Wednesday, “depending on cross-examination [and] the cooperators.” 

OTF Vonnie and Keith”Flacka” Jones are both expected to take the stand this week.

Meanwhile, several of Smurk’s high-profile friends and family members have gathered at the courthouse in support of the Chicago rapper. His wife, India Royale, has attended the first week of proceedings and has remained composed throughout.

“She is very composed, very eloquent, very classy, she’s not speaking any of the media, which I don’t blame her. She is here to support her husband, her family is also here. She’s aligned with Durk’s mother,” Zül Qarnain told Hip-Hop Wired.

With key witnesses still expected to testify, the next few days could play a major role in determining how Durk’s trial ultimately comes to a close.

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist are two acts who truly need no introduction, but they’re certainly separated by the genres they’ve individually mastered. Erykah Badu & The Alchemist’s highly anticipated joint album, Before The World Blows, was released over the weekend and here are Hip-Hop Wired’s top takeaways.

In 2025, Erykah Badu and The Alchemist unveiled their first single “Next 2 U” and showed the promise of the union. However, the album’s many stops and starts, along with slowly naming the project filled some fans with concern that the album wouldn’t materialize as hoped.

Before The World Blows effectively eliminates any concerns of cohesion, and Badu’s strong songwriting and dreamy vocals work well with the atmospheric platters set by Alchemist.

Below are our top takeaways from Before The World Blows.

What ring rust?

With her first full-length album in over 16 years, not counting 2015’s But You Caint Use My Phone mixtape, some fans may have pondered if Badu would be in fighting form. Trust us when we say the songstress more than lives up to her legendary status.

The Alchemist exists comfortably in Badu’s soulful world.

If there were any concerns that Alchemist would struggle to find beats to merge with Badu’s potent ability as a vocalist, they’re eliminated on the album’s opener, “Echos,” and sets the tone. With veteran producer and past collaborator Mike “Chav” Chavarria involved, Before The World Blows sticks the landing repeatedly.

Westside Gunn appears on Before The World Blows twice.

On paper, Westside Gunn’s boisterous persona would seem like an ill fit for Badu and Alchemist’s foray, but the Buffalo, New York star’s outsized boasts are right at home on the tracks “I Just Play A Part” and “No I.D.” Gunn’s uncanny confidence and elite bag talk is on display.

Every feature is seamless and fits Badu’s afro-futuristic vision.

From the aforementioned Westside Gunn, to DJ Creole Princess, Joi, DRAM, Steve Lacy, Earl Sweatshirt, Thundercat, and Kamasi Washington, everyone is a welcome addition to Alan and Abi’s extended jam session. In particular, DRAM’s soulful crooning with Alchemist’s backing was an early highlight.

Before The World Blows maintains a steady, persistent groove.

Before The World Blows is in no hurry, due to its steady BPMs and Badu’s measured style. But that’s a good thing. What remains at the heart of the album is Badu’s ability to inject Blackness, spirituality and even humor into her lyrics and the sonics elevate her front and center at all times.

Badu got bars?

While the album’s rap features are expertly handled, Badu shows off her ability with a confident showing on “Hot BiBi (Apostle 2), prompting hope that she’ll dive into that lane in the future. Deluxe? Part two? We can dream.

We got (some) jazz.

The previously mentioned Kamasi Washington is one of the premier Jazz frontmen of his era and his appearance on the album’s closer, “Black Box,” gives an inside track of how Badu would flourish in any genre, with this jazzy spoken word heater being no exception.

A sequel should happen if the pair decide to do so.

Clocking in at just over an hour, Before The World Blows breezes by, no pun intended. While there aren’t many tempo peaks and valleys, the consistent knock and the overall creativity shared between Badu and Alchemist will hopefully inspire a reunion in the near future.

Find Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s Before The World Blows at your preferred DSPs by clicking here.

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Photo: Getty

Another day, another leak, only it’s not Grand Theft Auto 6 this time, but EA Motive’s highly anticipated Iron Man game.

It’s been crickets since EA announced an Iron Man game was in development almost 4 years ago. The Iron Man game was one of three Marvel Games in production, including a now-canceled standalone Black Panther game and delayed 1943: Rise of Hydra, which will see Captain America and Black Panther team up.

So you can understand how much of a shock it was to see leaked footage from the game magically appear on ResetEra and X (formerly Twitter) timelines.

The footage shows a game that is clearly still in development, but it also teases something very promising: it looks like it takes cues from the first Iron Man film and showcases Iron Man flying around what appears to be Chicago.

The trailer shows what combat in the game will look like, with Iron Man using missiles and lasers, and we also get a glimpse of possible suit customization.

We also see some familiar faces like James Rhodes, aka Rhodey, and Pepper Potts show up, and of course, Tony Stark himself.

The Official Account For EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Confirmed The Leak Is Legit

The leaked footage was officially confirmed to be real with the official X account for the game, which had been inactive until Friday, writing:

“Well, that didn’t go as planned. But now you know, and we’ve got a lot more to show you. See you when we’re ready.”

The accounts following the account also jumped substantially following the leak.

Could this mean the actual trailer isn’t too far off? Maybe. It is also reassuring to know that the game is still in the works and hasn’t been put on ice like Black Panther.

Still, there’s time for EA to toss Iron Man out like a box of scraps.

You can see more reactions to the leaked trailer below.

As more veterans of Hip-Hop are stepping back onto the scene, one icon is throwing her hat into the ring. Cheryl “Salt” James of the pioneering group Salt-N-Pepa is setting out to release her debut solo album.

The Grammy Award-winning MC’s debut album, Salty N Lit, will be released on Sept. 25. It will premiere on her own label, Salt Songs Inc. Fans will find that the album’s tone draws strongly from Salt’s own artistry and personal foundation.

There is a distinct spiritual strength in the album, stemming from the teachings of the Bible, particularly from Matthew 5:13 in the New Testament, which inspired the album’s title.

The 15-track album features appearances by Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Chuck D, Shanice and Dee-1, and four singles have already been released. Each song shows Salt’s magnetism and lyrical strength, appealing to old and new fans alike.

“This album is personal, the lyrics are written from my perspective, based on my life experience, and who I am now. This is a labor of love, I have something I want to say, and this is me expressing myself,” says Salt in the press release. “This ain’t a gospel album but the gospel is all through it. There’s no question about what I believe. I’m making music for the people who appreciate me and my contribution to Hip-Hop. I don’t have anything to prove, I’m just doing what I do. I ain’t finished. I ain’t done.”

Salty N Lit will debut as Salt is currently on the road with her bandmate Pepa as co-headliners of the IT’S ICONIC Tour alongside En Vogue and TLC. The tour, which kicked off on Thursday in Saratoga Springs, New York, will roll through 28 cities in the U.S. with a stop in Toronto, Canada, before it ends on Oct. 11 in Concord, California. 

Back in November of last year, iconic Hip-Hop group De La Soul released their tenth studio LP, Cabin In The Sky (RIP Trugoy) and though it was overlooked by today’s generation of Hip-Hoppers, us older heads appreciated the project as it took us back to a simpler time when lyrics, content, and originality reigned supreme. Now all these months later the De La decided to breath life into one of the album’s standout tracks featuring a fellow Hip-Hop legend who too has withstood the test of time.

Linking up with Nas for the visuals to “Run It Back!,” De La Soul and the Queensbridge King utilize old school visual graphics and imagery that helped De La Soul standout from the rest in the 90’s while they spit their bars and show the world that MC artistry is still in high-demand and just as important today as it was back in the 90’s.

Keeping with that OG NY flavor, Busta Rhymes continues to demonstrate that he too has a lot left in the tank and for his J Dilla and D’Angelo assisted clip to “This Woman,” the Brooklyn OG woo’s a beautiful young woman with his rhymes and style while she stares into the camera and shows how seductive a woman’s glare alone can be.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work form Millyz featuring GNipsey, Swae Lee featuring French Montana, and more.

DE LA SOUL FT. NAS – “RUN IT BACK!”

BUSTA RHYMES & J DILLA FT. D’ANGELO – “THIS WOMAN”

MILLYZ FT. GNIPSEY – “FIRE ON IT”

SWAE LEE FT. FRENCH MONTANA – “SUITCASE”

BENNY THE BUTCHER & FUEGO BASE – “LIKE IT IS”

YASIIN BEY – “PRIORITY”

BJRNCK & FETTY WAP – “RADIO LOVE”

OMARION – “WORK OF ART”

Kanye West pulled up to Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial in Los Angeles to show his support for the Chicago rapper.

In true Ye fashion, he arrived at the courthouse dressed in all black as he stood behind his Chicago bredrin. West reportedly sat with Smurk’s family during OTF Jam’s testimony.

Following the court proceedings, the Graduation rapper linked up with Durk affiliate OTF Doodie Lo, who held up a “Free Durk” T-shirt. Doodie Lo later shared the photo online, writing,”Ye we love and respect you for showing up at our darkest times.”

As Smurk’s first week in court wraps up, several major names have made appearances in support, including G Herbo, Machine Gun Kelly, Dreezy and now Ye.

Throughout OTF Jam’s testimony, he made it clear why decided to take the stand, while also saying he doesn’t want to see Lil Durk go to prison.

“I’m not banking or hoping that Durk gets life. I’m just telling my side of the story.”

Jam also expressed frustration over Durk allegedly summoning him to carry out the hit on Quando Rondo.

“I just did all that time in jail. Why call me?”

Detailing his regret after being apart the shooting that ultimately left Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab dead, “I didn’t know dude that got shot. He was an innocent person to me.”

With the first week of testimony now in the books, all eyes remain on the courtoom as Durk’s high-profile trial continues.

Donald Trump isn’t done rebranding things in the name of stupidity. First it was the Gulf of Mexico, now it’s Lake Ontario, and it’s all because his ego is fragile.

The so-called “deal maker” got sonned by Canada after starting another stupid trade war with our neighbors to the north and trade partner after negotiations between the two countries epically collapsed, with the US slapping new 50% tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Canadian goods.

After the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, gave Trump a dose of his own medicine and told him to kiss his a** Trump childishly retaliated by signing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America.

We wished we were joking.

In response to the decision, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement:

The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”.

The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms.

Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.

Well, the moment isn’t getting the reaction he hoped from Americans, who are siding with the Canadians and clowning Orange Mussolini, and blasting him with memes.

LOL, son.

You can see more reactions below.

Brevard County’s 2025 Deputy of the Year decided to resign in disgrace rather than being given the boot after photos showed him being a wild racist.

Spotted on Raw Story, Deputy Michael Fultz, 24, quit before he could be fired for “egregious misconduct” after an ex-girlfriend did the world a favor and aired him out in an email, putting out all his racist dirty laundry.

In photos she attached to the email that was hilariously received by the sheriff’s office the same day as Fultz’s Medal of Valor ceremony, the now ex-Deputy shaved his mustache to mimic Adolf Hitler’s stache and performed Nazi salutes.

The photos were from 2023 before he was hired.

“My intention in providing this information is not to pursue personal retaliation but to ensure the agency is aware of conduct that, in my understanding, may conflict with departmental policies or professional standards,” she said in the email.

Per Raw Story:

Deputy Michael Fultz, 24, quit in May as Sheriff Wayne Ivey prepared to fire him for “egregious misconduct,” according to internal affairs records obtained by News 6 and published Aug. 20.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida opened the investigation after an email from Fultz’s ex-girlfriend, the records show.

In March, the agency had named Fultz its Deputy of the Year and given him its Medal of Valor for a fatal shooting in April 2025, the sheriff’s office announced.

“Deputy Fultz’s decisive actions and extraordinary restraint under extreme pressure undoubtedly saved the life of a frightened mother,” the agency wrote in its award citation.

Her email reached the sheriff’s office the same day as that ceremony, News 6 reported.

Because he was caught in 4K, Fultz admitted he did do the poses but “denied being racist and stated that the photograph was merely a joke,” according to records.

Fultz Also Used The N-Word In Text Messages

Fultz also confirmed that he did use the N-word in text messages, but claims that growing up in a foster home with Black parents and siblings, the “words became normal to use.”

Bruh.

But wait, there’s more. There were also photos of Fultz putting his firearm in his ex-girlfriend’s mouth and pointing it at the back of her head during sex.

Fultz claimed the handgun was his own despite investigators saying it resembled his department-issued firearm.

There is also footage of Fultz speeding on his motorcycle, clocking in at 111 mph.

Fultz’s ex also shared screenshots from a FaceTime call with him in uniform while in his patrol car, but he  “denied ever masturbating on duty and claimed that he was only ‘pretending’ to masturbate while on the video call.”

The ex-girlfriend also said he told her that he was “watching her” on Flock, the license plate reader the agency uses, which also tracks vehicles.

According to News 6, he searched her plate before starting a shift.

“Deputy Fultz denied checking her vehicle registration to spy on her or out of revenge but could not provide any reason as to why he queried her vehicle registration tag while off duty,” investigators wrote in their report.

It definitely sounds like Fultz’s ex-girlfriend did us all a favor; you can see reactions below.

Fat Joe released his new album, Organized Rhyme.

It’s definitely Crack season across the board Alongside Jadakiss, Joe has built one of the most popular Hip-Hop podcasts with The Joe & Jada Show, welcoming A-list guests like Allen Iverson, Cardi B, Clipse and many more.

Joey cracking the mic in the podcast world isn’t the only thing he’s been doing. The New York MC is back in the booth, giving his day ones something new to listen to. Two years after releasing The World Changed On Me, Joe is back with another project.

The new album comes with an impressive feature list, including CeeLo Green, Jadakiss, Yung Miami and Pusha T.

Fat Joe isn’t the only one in his family stacking wins. His daughter, Azzy Milan has been doing her big one as well.

Through her own platform, Azzy has been vlogging and even stepped onto the red carpet this year for the BET Awards.

Fat Joe and the family are continuing to rack up the wins, and now fans have some new music to add to the mix. Check out our early takeaways from Joe’s new album, Organized Rhyme, below.

J. Cole’s upcoming show in Sacramento was canceled following the tragic death of a touring crew member.

TMZ reports a member of J. Cole’s touring crew was killed in a trucking accident early Thursday morning, leading to his performance at the Golden 1 Center being canceled.

In a statement, the North Carolina rapper’s team announced the decision, writing, “Following the tragic passing of a member of the touring crew in a trucking accident this morning,” his August 27 performance at the Golden 1 Center was called off.

“Our thoughts are with the crew member’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement added.

According to the celebrity gossip site, the crew member was the only occupant of the truck, and despite the best efforts of emergency responders on the scene, they couldn’t save the man.

Per TMZ:

The driver was hauling equipment for Cole’s show when the big rig overturned on southbound Interstate 5 near Woodland, California. The crash happened around 6:00 AM, and CHP says the driver was the truck’s only occupant.

Authorities say the truck drifted onto the right shoulder, then overturned when the driver tried to steer it back onto the freeway. The driver was extricated, and a helicopter was called to the scene, but CHP later confirmed the person died.

The Fall Off Tour already has been an emotional experience for Cole. He gave one of his most vulnerable performances ever, fighting back tears while performing “Love Yourz” off his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive.

We can only imagine that losing a crew member will add more emotion to his next performance.

Our thoughts are with the crew member’s family and J.Cole.

Black August is an annual recognition of Black freedom fighters, political prisoners, and key figures who fought against racism, bigotry, and oppression. With nearly five decades in existence, Black August and its grand purpose is more important than ever to acknowledge and uphold these inspirational figures—and the notable names below are worth examining.

Black August’s roots can be traced back to 1979 in San Quentin Prison in California, with the Black Guerilla Family stating that the month was to commemorate the 1971 death of activist and author George Jackson and his brother, Jonathan Jackson.

The eldest of the Jackson brothers, George was arrested in 1960 for robbing a Los Angeles gas station of $71 dollars, and was given the harsh sentence of one year to life, and he spent the rest of his days behind bars. Jackson befriended W.L. Nolen, who exposed Jackson to the texts of Karl Marx, Mao Zedong, and Vladimir Lenin.

This moment radicalized Jackson, later co-founding the Black Guerilla Family with Nolen. The pair were later transferred to Soledad State Prison with Fleeta Drumgo and John Clutchette. The men were housed in the notorious maximum security “O Wing” designed to rob the men of their humanity and dignity. Jackson and his fellow Soledad Brothers defied the limits of their circumstances as best they could.

Those who have studied the life of George Jackson know full well of the connection he and the Soledad Brothers had with philosophy professor Angela Davis. Professor Davis took up the cause for Jackson, befriending his younger brother, Jonathan, and serving as a public mouthpiece for the “Soledad Brothers” — Jackson, Drumgo, and Clutchette — who were accused of killing a prison guard.

Jonathan, inspired by his brother and the plight of other Black prisoners, launched a plot to free his brother in August 1970 by overrunning the Marin County courthouse in California, taking hostages and demanding the release of the Soledad Brothers. In the ensuing pursuit, Jonathan, just 17, died after a shootout with San Quentin prison guards.

The death of his brother further energized the older Jackson brother, and his book, Soledad Brother, is dedicated to the memory and their cause. Jackson, attempting to escape, was shot in August 1971 while fleeing San Quentin Prison.

While the Jackson siblings died violent deaths both in August just over a year apart, they did so while standing as an affront to the political machinations of the time that sought to derail the Black Power movement and stamp out the advances of the Civil Rights movement before it.

Coupled with the historic record of African slaves coming to America’s shores in August of 1619, and Nat Turner’s rebellion, thusly, Black August was founded in San Quentin Prison and remains steadfast today.

Below, we have listed key figures connected to the monthlong acknowledgment and their contributions overall.

Learn more here.

George Jackson (pictured far right)

After being arrested for robbery just before his 19th birthday, George Jackson would never go free again. Behind bars at San Quentin Prison and later Soledad State Prison, Jackson became a co-founder of the Black Guerilla Family, an author, activist, and shining light for Black liberation for many.

Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson was the younger brother of Jackson, who idolized his brother and embodied his drive to break free from the mental and physical confines of prison.

Nat Turner

Nat Turner led the largest slave revolt in the United States on August 21, 1831. Turner was born into slavery in Southhampton County, Virginia, on October 2, 1800. Despite his surroundings, Turner learned to read and write, and attached himself to his religion. Via his faith, Turner was compelled by visions to stage the rebellion. The event lasted four days, ending in the death of 55 white people.

Angela Davis

Angela Davis. a philosophy professor and former member of the Black Panther Party and Communist Party USA, took up legal arms in defense of the aforementioned Soledad Brothers. Davis has since eased into her role as an academic and embraced democratic socialism as an ideal.

Assata Shakur

The late, great Assata Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party and later the Black Liberation Army. Convicted on charges in the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper, Shakur escaped prison and sought aslyum in Cuba in the 1980s, remaining there until her death in 2025. Shakur’s Black Liberation Army teachings and the overall fight against police brutality remained one of her many hallmarks.

Sekou Odinga

The late Sekou Odinga was a comrade of Shakur and also a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. Odinga was one of the Panther 21, who were targeted by the New York Police Department for various reasons. Odinga was instrumental in freeing Shakur from prison in 1979.

Mutulu Shakur

The late Mutulu Shakur was a prominent fixture within the Black Liberation Army, becoming embroiled in such matters as a teenager. Later in life, Shakur was alleged to be the ringleader of a deadly Brinks truck robbery in 1981. In 1975. Shakur married Afeni Shakur, the mother of Tupac “2Pac” Shakur.

Veronza Bowers Jr.

Veronza Bowers Jr. is a musician, healer, and former member of the Black Panther Party. Bowers was charged in the 1973 death of a U.S. Park Ranger, but questions surrounding the case and due process persisted during his incarceration. Bowervs, now 80, was released in 2024.

Mumia Abu-Jamal

Mumia Abu-Jamal, 72, was briefly a member of the Black Panther Party before becoming a journalist, and later working alongside the MOVE organization in Philadelphia. Tensions between MOVE and local police grew, and Abu-Jamal was later convicted of the killing of a police officer. Abu-Jamal has served over 45 years in prison, decades in solitary confinement, but has become an advocate for legal fairness and critic of the justice system.

Fred “Muhammad” Burton

Following his prison sentence in 1972 as a member of the so-called Philly 5, Fred “Muhammad” Burton dedicated his life to clear his name, obtain his freedom, and call out the racial injustices that continue to plague the nation.

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Photo: Getty

Drake’s personal stock may be at an all-time low (the man is randomly doing dating shows for God’s sake), but that isn’t keeping investors from spending big time to own a big piece of his OVO brand for the foreseeable future.

According to Complex, Authentic Brands Group has just plunked down some major chips to acquire the majority stake in Drake’s OVO intellectual property and while some may be confused as to why Drake would give up a big portion of the brand that he and his team built, he will indeed remain with “a significant ownership stake” while continuing to participate in the brand’s creative process going forward.

Having started it from the bottom with his friends, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib, Drake and company founded the OVO brand in 2008 before turning it into a clothing line and record label in 2012. Eventually collaborating with other brands such as Jordan, Canada Goose, and even Marvel, OVO’s popularity grew so much that it led to the opening of 12 flagship stores worldwide.

Then Kendrick Lamar dropped “Not Like Us,” and well, things went south for the brand, but that’s neither here nor there.

Still, Drake sees his latest business venture as a win, and truth be told, it sure seems like one for the man.

Per Complex:

“We’re just a couple kids from Toronto who started something we believed in. Here we are 20 years later, same kids with bigger dreams,” Drake said in a statement shared with Complex. “Authentic and VNCE are the perfect partners to help us continue to grow.”

The deal sees Vince Holding Corp., a.k.a. VNCE, a longtime Authentic partner, taking the reins of OVO’s operating business. This means VNCE will be tasked with overseeing product development, retail, and more.

As Authentic founder Jamie Salter sees it, Drake and company “have built something with incredible cultural influence” through OVO, making this union a “significant opportunity” for all involved.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see how this ultimately pans out for the embattled rapper.

What do y’all think about Drake selling the majority stake of his OVO brand? Let us know in the comments section below.

After a few pushbacks, Rod Wave has finally released his new album, Don’t Look Down.

The Florida artist has quickly built a cult following, with fans eagerly waiting for new music. His last release, Last Lap, arrived in 2024 and featured standout tracks like “Passport Junkie,” “Last Lap” and “25.”

The 2024 project also kept the features to a minimum, with appearances from Lil Baby, Rylo Rodriguez and Lil Yachty.

Fast-forward to Don’t Look Down, and Wave followed a similar approach, keeping the guest appearances limited. The artists who made the final cut are Luv Von, Hazlett and Aimee Carty.

Less than 24 hours after its release, fans have already been gravitating toward Track 4, “Hustle,” which Wave also accompanied with a visual.

During his latest press run, Wave also finally explained why he reached out to NFL quarterback Bryce Young.

“Me and Bryce Young chopped it, he’s a good dude. I reached out to him because I was really online watching sh*t, and people were posting stuff, relationship stuff, I just wanted to hit him and let him know, life go on dog.”

For context, Young was benched at the time and was also going through a public breakup. Wave decided to reach out and offer some words of encouragement during a difficult period.

Now, with a brand-new body of work and the support of Bryce Young and his loyal fanbase, Rod Wave has plenty for listeners to vibe to.

Check out some of our early takeaways from Rod Wave’s new album, Don’t Look Down.

Grand Theft Auto VI leaker Cyberleek might want to stay off social media for the immediate future.

Before Grand Theft Auto VI: Extended Look dropped on Netflix, Cyberleek got all the attention while leaking various clips from a build of the game he had, showing off different sections and taking donations for a sketchy cryptocurrency.

Cyberleek’s most recent leaks took us to the strip club and to a nude colony where plenty of nudity was on display. Cyberleek also dropped a poll asking if he should leak story spoilers, but that didn’t come to fruition, and at this point, it really doesn’t matter because Rockstar Games brought the heat.

Gamers were immediately blown away by what they saw during the 27-minute preview, which pretty much proved that the build of the game Cyberleek was leaking clips from is nowhere near what Rockstar showed during the extended look.

Cyberleek quickly went from social media hero to the butt of all the jokes.

“cyberleek is gonna spend his entire life in prison for leaking some weak ass early gta 6 build,” one post on X (formerly Twitter) read.

Another post read, “CyberLeek lost. BADLY. After all that hype, the “leaks” were mostly boring driving clips and lame scraps while he tried to turn the attention into a crypto hustle. If he really had something that could hurt GTA 6, he would’ve dropped it. Rockstar didn’t cave, the leaks didn’t kill the hype, and now we’ve seen the real thing. GTA 6 looks fucking incredible. I’m ready. Did CyberLeek actually hurt Rockstar at all?”

The answer to that question is an emphatic no, based on the overwhelmingly positive reactions to the new gameplay footage.

GTA 6 arrives on November 19. You can see more reactions to Cyberleek getting clowned below.

Despite Cyberleek’s best effort to steal Rockstar Games’ thunder, gamers were still blown away after watching the extended look at GTA 6 on Netflix.

NO CAP, but GTA 6 looks absolutely ridiculous.

Rockstar Games teamed up with the streaming platform to show off 27 minutes of gameplay footage, captured entirely on PS5, with no narration, and honestly, that’s fine because what we are shown speaks for itself.

In the footage, we see the game’s two protagonists, Jason and Lucia, doing a bevy of different activities across the fictional location of Vice City, along with a look at some of the missions we can expect them to be involved in.

The Grand Theft Auto VI: Extended Look begins with the duo entering a dope house run by a crew of local Black gangsters to pick up some product. Sh*t eventually hits the fan when cops show up, and a shootout ensues, showing the game’s improved shooting mechanics, while showcasing how the game seamlessly jumps from cutscenes to playable moments.

We also see a moment where Jason and Lucia are in an intense car chase with cops hot on their tail, which also reveals there is a 6-star wanted level, replacing the 5-star level from previous games. To evade the cops, Jason and Lucia can drive into dark alleys and other structures to hide from their pursuers.

In a moment where Lucia jumps off the roof of a building before revealing a parachute, we see how you can instantly switch to Jason, who was on the other side of the map.

You Can Do Damn Near Anything In GTA 6

We also see the couple spending time together at the strip club, making it rain on a dancer with some nice curves, riding scooters together in the street, jet skis, and partaking in other kinds of activities, pretty much confirming you can do damn near anything in GTA 6.

As previously reported, the Grand Theft Auto VI: Extended Look will be exclusive to Netflix until 9 pm, when it will premiere on the Rockstar Games YouTube channel.

It appears the extended look has done its job, as gamers were blown away by what they saw.

GTA 6 arrives on November 19 on PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S. Until that glorious day arrives, you can see more reactions below.