After weeks of lustful pandering, it seems that DJ Akademiks finally landed a date with social media influencer Daphne Joy.

The blogger proudly flexed his arm candy for the evening, enjoying a night out. The two kept it cozy as Joy held a single red rose while wrapped in Akademiks’ warm embrace. 

The link up happened after the streamer caught a glimpse of Joy’s leaked sex tape with Diddy and adult entertainer Sly Diggler. That led to an interview between the two, in which Big Ak revealed that he was attracted to her. Daphne responded that she was “attracted” to his attraction of her.

She would later tell Cam Newton on his Funky Friday podcast that she would be happy to accept Akademiks’ offer for a date. “It’s a, ‘I’m ready at 8:00 p.m. right now,'” Joy said, adding that it’s “effort and energy” that appeals to her.

“It’s not about the looks. It’s about how someone makes you feel,” she explained. “I think, in a really crazy time, he interviewed me at one of my most, probably, emotionally vulnerable times, and he made me laugh.”

Joy made it clear that she has no type, simply saying that she likes men who can make her feel “really good inside.” Judging by the IG photo dump, it appears that Ak is the man that is making Joy feel good.

Fat Joe just picked up a significant victory in his ongoing legal battle. A federal judge has sanctioned the attorney representing his former hype man, calling out the lawyer’s conduct during the discovery process and ordering additional steps as the case moves forward.

Twista has found himself in legal trouble over allegations that he failed to pay his federal income taxes over several years.

The Chicago rapper pleaded not guilty in federal court after being charged with five counts of willfully failing to pay income taxes. The charges stem from tax years spanning 2019 through 2023.

According to court documents, Twista continued earning income from live performance, album sales, streaming royalties, and other business ventures during that time while allegedly failing to satisfy his federal tax obligations. 

Prosecutors also allege that the rapper was repeatedly notified by both the IRS and his personal accountants about his outstanding tax debt but failed to resolve the issue.

Court filings further claim that Twista entered into agreements with third-party companies to receive advances on future royalty payments. Prosecutors argue the arrangement was designed to keep those funds out the IRS’s reach.

During the same period, authorities allege Twista continued spending freely, including the purchase of four luxury vehicles, while his unpaid tax balance grew to more than $440,000.

If convicted on all five counts, Twista could face up to five years in federal prison. He is currently scheduled to be sentenced on October 22.

This story is developing.

BET Awards continues to nail performances after 25 years. While other award shows often feel like a series of acceptance speeches broken up by musical numbers, BET has always understood that the stage is the main event. The performances become memes, group chat topics, and cultural moments that people revisit long after the trophies have been handed out. Check out our favorite performances from the 2026 BET Awards inside. 

This year’s ceremony was something special. From emotional tributes to arena-worthy production, the 2026 BET Awards reminded viewers why culture’s biggest night still delivers some of the year’s most unforgettable live television moments. While Billboard ranked the night’s performances and BET highlighted its defining moments, what stood out most was how every great performance balanced nostalgia with what fans can look forward to in the future. 

Here are the performances that had us glued to the screen. 

This shouldn’t be a shock to anyone, but Donald Trump’s Great American Fair was an epic flop, and his loyal fans couldn’t hide it.

Critics of Orange Mussolini wasted no time clowning him when videos began appearing showing that attendance at the Great American Fair was less than stellar.

Instead of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, the weekend, thanks to the Trump-linked group Freedom 25, was more about celebrating the current occupant of the White House.

That dynamic led to the fair stumbling out of the game, with many of the music acts pulling out of the event, all claiming they were unaware the event would be closely tied to Trump.

In response to no one wanting to hit the stage at the Great American Fair, Donald Trump pitched himself as the main act, proposing he was gonna put on the greatest rally ever.

Weeeeeelllll that wasn’t the case.

Trump kicked things off with one of his epic “speeches” that didn’t seem to be a hit with his MAGA faithful, as videos of people leaving while he was rambling hit the internet.

Then came the weekend, and things didn’t get any better for Trump and his Great American Fair. The Atlantic’s Kelsey Ables described the struggle fair as an event with “holograms, free Frosties and a lot of Donald Trump.”

Videos of The Struggle Fair Quickly Went Viral

Social media immediately began to focus on crowd size, knowing that it’s one of the things that Trump is very sensitive about.

MeidasTouch reporter Aaron Parnas compared Trump’s State Fair to the disastrous Fyre Festival on X (formerly Twitter), the infamous music festival that left attendees stranded and landed its promoter in jail.

Parnas even shared video footage from the fair, and, yeah, there was barely anyone there.

Fox News Only Made Matters Worse For Trump’s Great American Fair

It was so bad that not even Trump’s glazing machine, Fox News, and his MAGA loyalists could spin the fair positively. In fact, they further highlighted how much of a flop the Great American Fair was by reporting live from the event and dropping videos begging people to come out.

The one music act who was still proud to perform, Vanilla Ice, had to cancel his performance because Mother Nature did us all a favor by bringing heavy rain.

So what was there to do? Well, according to Parnas, actual baptisms were performed at the Trump fair, and if that wasn’t enough for you, one MAGA fan dressed up as Uncle Sam allegedly got caught pleasuring himself at the family-friendly event.

Bruh.

We all saw this coming, but apparently, Trump didn’t, and of course, he went on his sh*tty platform Truth Social to try and paint his epic failure as a great success, while taking shots at former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

“Do you think people appreciate what a fantastic job we did in building and operating the Great American State Fair at the National Mall, packed with happy people, and everybody loving it?”

“Ask yourself this simple question, ‘DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA [sic] OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?’ THE ANSWER IS NO,” he continued.

Welp.

You can see more reactions below.

Skepta is making headlines after comments he made online regarding North West, the daughter of Kanye West aka Ye, and Kim Kardashian. In his missives, Skepta railed against adult fans and paparazzi hounding the teenager at Paris Fashion Week.

Over the weekend, Skepta fired off a few tweets regarding what he viewed as inappropriate interactions with North West at Paris Fashion Week. In one video shared by Big Smoke, West, 13, is greeting a fan with her hand out, who then leans in for a hug.

The veteran Grime artist shared another tweet stating that he tried not to involve his opinion but couldn’t abide by what he saw.

“My fans know I try to stay out of peoples business but damn the way grown men, complete strangers, try to use North makes me sick,” Skepta wrote.

One X user wrote in response, “With all those piecing she’s only a child by age not outlook. She basically skipped being a teenager,” which Skeppy replied with, “WOW!! Protect your kids people. Protect your kids!”

Below, we’re sharing some of Skepta’s other tweets regarding the North West and the odd interaction with adult fans that rubbed the rapper the wrong way.

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Photo: Getty

The Nike Air Force 1 may be regarded as a “dad sneaker” by today’s generation (ya lil bastards!) but the silhouette is still a classic and whenever an exclusive colorway or iteration of the sneaker drops, heads take notice.

The latest ultra-exclusive friends-and-family Nike Air Force 1 was revealed by the good people over at Sneaker News, who captured images of the JAŸ-Z-inspired Air Force 1, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the iconic rapper’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. With Jay-Z already doing his own thing in New York City to celebrate the release of his classic record, Nike took it upon themselves to also celebrate the man who helped catapult their white-on-white Air Force 1 sneakers to must-have status in the late 90s. Seriously, there were times when the white-on-white Air Force 1s were hard to find during the summer months.

This particular pair, though, pays tribute to the legend himself, and the details will have sneaker heads wishing these would see a general release.

Per Sneaker News:

A first look at the upcoming release, which pays tribute to Jay-Z’s iconic 1996 debut album while quietly referencing one of the most coveted Air Force 1 collaborations ever produced. The all-white design appears to utilize the coveted 2001 Air Force 1 shape while focusing on a series of subtle storytelling details.

The most significant nod appears at the heel; the right shoe features the legendary Roc-A-Fella Records logo, immediately recalling the ultra-rare Roc-A-Fella Air Force 1 that has long stood as one of sneaker culture’s ultimate grails before it re-released in 2017. Opposite it sits the official Reasonable Doubt logo with 1996 underneath, tying the project directly to the album’s 30th anniversary. The Nike branding on the heel features the dots above the logo mirroring the distinctive graphic treatment found on the album cover.

These go hard.

Of course, these will more than likely remain a friends-and-family exclusive, but don’t be surprised if you see a pair or two up for sale on the secondary market for a grip.

Peep the “Reasonable Doubt” Nike Air Force 1s, and let us know if you’d like to see these joints get a general release in the comments section below.

The 2026 BET Awards have concluded, and with the dust settled, the accolades, performances, and more. With Clipse and Teyana Taylor clearing the competition by notching the most BET Awards, fans are dissecting the wins and notable subs online.

Taking place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the BET Awards, hosted by Druski, were another crowd-pleasing feather in the cap for the network. Clipse took home three awards, including Album Of The Year for Let God Sort Them Out, Best Group, and Best Collaboration for their track “Chains & Whips” featuring Kendrick Lamar.

Teyana Taylor’s awards include The Fashion Vanguard Award, Best Actress, and Video Director of the Year, under the nickname “Spike-Tey.”

The Best Male Hip Hop Artist went to Kendrick Lamar, beating out Drake, J. Cole, and Lamar’s cousin, Baby Keem, among others. Cardi B won for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, beating out Megan Thee Stallion, Doechii, GloRilla, and more.

The Album Of The Year award going to Clipse has sparked some dialogue online regarding the Virginia duo’s win, with some fans seeing it as a snub towards Wale’s excellent everything is a lot… album.

There was also an epic moment for Ms. Lauryn Hill, who was awarded the Living Legend Icon. The influential vocalist and rapper was treated to a rousing tribute performance featuring Nas, Lizzo, SZA, Doja Cat, Tems, Doechii, and her children, YG Marley, Selah Marley, and Zion Marley.

The late D’Angelo was also honored with a tribute, with his children offering loving words in memory of their father before the Virginia singer’s band, The Vanguard, with Ari Lennox, Durand Bernarr, and more joining in.

From social media, we’ve captured some reactions to the 2026 BET Awards winners from all sides. They are listed below.

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Photo: Getty

Dame Dash isn’t done taking shots at his favorite op, JAŸ-Z.

As Hov continues celebrating the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, he’s been making rounds with special fan experiences. including pop-ups dedicated to both Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint. The celebrations also come on the heels of his recent appearance at Roots Picnic, where his freestyle had the Hip-Hop world talking for days.

Many fans believe the NYC rapper slipped a few shots at Dame Dash during the performance, though he never mentioned his former business partner by name. 

In true Dame fashion, he wasn’t about to let it slide. A recent video surfaced where Dash mocked one of JAŸ-Z’s Reasonable Doubt pop-ups, questioning why anyone would want to celebrate the album inside a New York City subway station.

“What the f*ck are we doing at a train station? I haven’t been on the subway since I was like ten. I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s in Brooklyn. Thinlk about this: they made the n*gga do that and walk down.”

Earlier this month, Dash doubled down by releasing a underwhelming diss track titled “Cheap Teeth” alongside one of his new artists. The record was intent as a response to what he believed were shots aimed at him during Hov’s Roots Picnic freestyle.

On the song, Dame accuses JAŸ of having “cheap teeth” and even throws in a jab about his breathe.

SMH…

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced late last week the indictment of 22 alleged Folk Nation gang members. According to the 176-page indictment, the alleged Folk Nation gang was involved in 26 shootings across Brooklyn and Manhattan, with one ending in a fatality.

Among the charges in the indictment document are conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, and other related offenses. In a press statement from the governor’s office, the alleged Folk Nation gang members were connected to 33 criminal acts across the city.

In the 26 shootings, one of the victims died of their wounds, and there were 12 non-fatal incidents, for a total of 23 shooting victims.

From the Brooklyn DA’s press office:

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These alleged gang members are responsible for dozens of separate shootings and other acts of violence all across Brooklyn and beyond, with 23 victims, including one fatality. The type of wanton shootings alleged in this indictment will not be tolerated in Brooklyn as the NYPD and my office are committed to targeting the crews and trigger pullers that cause the most harm in our communities. The consistent support we have been receiving from Governor Hochul has helped in conducting strategic takedowns such as this, which play a key role in the historic drop in gun violence across Brooklyn.”

Governor Hochul said, “Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority. That is why I have invested more than $3 billion in law enforcement and public safety – investments that empower our local police departments and District Attorneys to investigate and prosecute those who threaten our communities. This indictment is proof that when we give our law enforcement partners the tools they need, crime declines and New Yorkers are safer.”

Commissioner Tisch said, “The 22 alleged gang members indicted today are responsible for 26 shootings that left 23 people victimized, including one person killed. NYPD continues to drive down crime and shooting incidents to record lows because we continue to dismantle gangs, remove guns from our streets, and hold criminals accountable, just as we are doing in this case. I thank the men and women of the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division for doing the important and dangerous work of taking down violent crews, and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in pursuing justice.”

The 22 alleged Folk Nation gang members are said to be part of the Renegade Goons and OOs offshoot groups. This gang subset reportedly wars against Blood gang members, such as the 59 Brims, and also some Crips subsets such as 8-Trey, Grape Street Crips, and Insane Crip Gangsters.

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Photo: Don Pollard / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

Initial reports suggested that gamers could expect a physical copy of GTA 6 down the line, but new reporting indicates that is not the case.

When preorder and pricing details were revealed for GTA 6, fans were stunned to learn that there would be no physical version of the game when it finally launches on November 19.

Rockstar Games said that gamers could expect a physical case, but instead of a disc, there would be a piece of paper containing a download code for the game.

After plenty of outrage on social media, an insider report on ppe.pl claimed that a physical disc version of the game could be expected sometime in December. An email response to puzzled fans claimed, “You will be able to acquire a physical copy during the following months,” sparking hope for physical media collectors.

But a new report from THR has thrown cold water on that. According to the website, a source close to the matter said there are no plans to print any GTA 6 discs, and the response listed above was greatly misinterpreted.

The aforementioned “physical copy” in the email response referred to the case containing the download code inside.

THR says the source revealed to them that there are no plans to print GTA 6 discs “not at launch, and not months after.”

Damn.

Gamers Are Deeply Concerned

As expected, this latest update to the game is sparking plenty of concern about the state of physical media and the ownership of games purchased digitally.

But the lack of a physical disc doesn’t seem to be affecting GTA 6’s preorder hype as the game is reportedly selling exceptionally well, bringing in $1 billion within an hour of preorders going live.

Only time will tell what the GTA 6 effect on the gaming and entertainment industry will be. You can see more reactions below.

If your name is Janice and you’ve been getting random people telling you to “STFU” ever since Drake dropped ICEMAN, you might be entitled to a little something from the 6 God himself.

On Thursday (June 25), Drake posted on his IG story that he may be sending something special for the specifically-named fans in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto, and Houston.

“All my Janice’s in NY, LA, MIA, TO, HOU, look out for my invitation for Sunday,” he wrote.

Toronto was the first city to receive more information about the event. According to the invitation, the exclusive gathering will take place at Cactus Club on Sunday, June 28. There’s just one catch, you actually have to be named Janice. Guests will reportedly be required to show a valid ID at the door to prove it.

Details for the events in other cities have yet to be announced, though they’re expected to follow a similar format.

The apology parties are, or course, inspired by Drizzy’s standout ICEMAN record, “Janice STFU.” The track has become one of the album’s biggest huts, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify while earning Drake his firt multi-week No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since 2018’s “In My Feelings.”

The song has also sparked plenty of conversation over who Drake may have been taking aim at.

DJ Akademiks believes the track contains shots at Jay-Z, pointing to the lyric, “You boys got big off my name, that’s big enough / We know how you OG’s rockin’ already, my n***a, the jig is up.” 

Other’s have speculated that the record is directed at Joe Budden. The podcaster addressed the theory during an episode of The Joe Budden Podcast.

“The internet has put one and four together and I’m Janice,” he said. “The record is ‘Shut the F*ck up Janice,’ and maybe I’m Janice, but he’s dissing, at least when I listen to it, I thought he was dissing everybody else in the world. I didn’t really hear a Joe Budden diss. I got to listen to it again now.”

Whether “Janice STFU” is aimed at one person or several, Drake has managed to turn his big record into a real-life fan experience.

To quote the great Stephen Strange, aka Dr. Strange, “we’re in the Endgame now.” Apple, which has claimed that it has been absorbing high memory prices, is now jacking up the price of its products.

Tim Cook kissing Donald Trump’s orange a** wasn’t enough to shield the company that Steve Jobs built from the incoming RAMpocalypse.

Apple shared that prices are increasing on a number of its products, and they are:

MacBook Neo: Increased to $699 (up from $599).
MacBook Air (512GB): Increased to $1,299 (up from $1,099).
MacBook Pro (1TB): Increased to $1,999 (up from $1,699).
iPad Air (128GB): Increased to $749 (up from $599).
iPad Mini: Increased by $100.
Apple TV 4K went up to $199 (from $129), HomePod rose to $349 (from $299), Vision Pro increased by $200 to $3,699, and M3 Ultra Mac Studio went up by $1,300. iPad Pro was originally $999 and is now $1199.

Bruh.

For now, the iPhone has been spared a price hike, but we won’t be shocked if that changes when Apple announces the new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.

According to Polymarket, Apple lost $268,000,000,000 in market cap following the price hike announcement.

Social Media Is Not Happy About The Apple Price Hikes

As expected, the reactions are pouring in, and people are not reacting positively to the news that they will be paying more for Apple devices.

“We’re now in the timeline where hardware appreciates in value. which is pretty ridiculous,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter.)

Another person wrote, “I don’t understand how these companies are investing all this money into AI, then have the audacity to raise the prices of their products and say it’s because of memory and data storage demand. You are the one creating the problem!”

If things are beginning to sound bleak on the tech front, that’s because they are. After Apple announced its price hikes, Microsoft also announced it is raising the prices of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles and will stop production of the 2TB model.

Console sales have also tanked with both XBOX and PS5 reporting dismal numbers, all thanks to recent price hikes.

You can see more reactions to what is going on in the tech world below.

We all love a good reality TV series. Whether it’s Love Island, Baddies, Survivor, Big Brother, The Traitors or whatever show has the group chat yelling at the screen, the appeal is usually the same: drama, chaos, plot twists, people saying things they absolutely should not have said and moments so random they feel like they were cooked up in a writers’ room.

Well, this past week, Hip-Hop apparently decided it wanted in on the action. From political figures awkwardly trying to flex rap knowledge, to Drake throwing apology parties to women named Janice, to old street stories turning into courtroom exhibits, the rap game had enough wild storylines to fill an entire season. Here are the wildest things that happened in Hip-Hop this week:

JD Vance Name-Dropped Diddy While Trying To Flex His Hip-Hop Knowledge

JD Vance somehow found himself in Hip-Hop headlines this week after trying to make a joke during a June 25 book-tour stop at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California. While discussing a chapter in his memoir titled “More Money, More Problems,” Vance called it “the wisdom of the great Christian theologian P. Diddy,” before adding that Diddy is “very much not a Christian or a theologian.” The room laughed, but the internet immediately got to work, especially because Vance appeared to fumble the reference: “Mo Money Mo Problems” is famously tied to The Notorious B.I.G., with Diddy and Mase appearing on the 1997 hit. So not only did Diddy catch a random stray during a political book tour, but Vance’s attempt at showing off his rap fluency ended up sounding like somebody’s dad trying to explain Bad Boy Records after reading one headline.

Drake Announced “Janice” Only Apology Parties

Drake turned one of the funniest running jokes from his Iceman era into an actual rollout. After his song “Janice STFU” became a major hit, Drizzy announced that he would be throwing apology parties for women actually named Janice in cities like Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston. The catch? At least for the Toronto event, guests reportedly needed a government-issued ID proving their legal first name is Janice to get in. It’s ridiculous, extremely Drake and very on-brand for an artist who can turn a meme, a diss, a lyric and a party into one marketing moment. Between the Joe Budden theories, the Jay-Z speculation and the fact that actual Janices are now part of the album cycle, this might be one of the most unserious-but-genius rollouts of the year.

Big30 Was Allegedly The One Filming During The Gucci Mane Robbery Situation

One of the more serious and shocking stories of the week came from the ongoing case involving Pooh Shiesty, Big30 and the alleged robbery and kidnapping of Gucci Mane. Prosecutors shared photos they say came from a video taken inside a Dallas recording studio, where Gucci was allegedly held at gunpoint and forced to sign a release form tied to Pooh Shiesty’s recording contract. According to XXL, prosecutors claim Big30 recorded the scene on his phone, with one photo allegedly showing a man holding an assault rifle near Gucci and another showing Pooh Shiesty standing next to Guwop. Pooh, his father, Big30 and several others are set to stand trial next February, while Pooh remains in custody and the defendants face extremely serious consequences if convicted. It’s one of those stories that sounds like a rap rumor until court documents, photos and federal filings make it very real.

Real Boston Richey Said He Quit Rap & Would Rather Trap

Real Boston Richey had fans confused this week after hopping on X and seemingly announcing that he was done with music. On June 23, the Florida rapper posted, “I quit rap. I rather trap,” before following up the next day by saying he had already accomplished things other people never would, including having a solo platinum record. The comments came a little over a month after his ex-girlfriend Tatiana Chanell made serious public allegations against him, which Richey denied, so naturally, fans tried to figure out whether the posts were frustration, trolling, a real retirement announcement or just a heat-of-the-moment rant. Either way, for an artist with real momentum, telling the world you would rather leave rap for the streets is exactly the type of chaotic update that lands you on a list like this.

JAŸ-Z’s “JAŸ-Z30” Anniversary Activations Took Over New York

JAŸ-Z also made noise this week, but in a much more calculated and legendary way. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, Roc Nation rolled out immersive JAŸ-Z30 pop-up experiences across New York City, including activations in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood and Manhattan. The events were built as a public celebration of Hov’s debut album, complete with culture-archive-style displays, time-capsule elements, limited-edition merchandise and nods to both Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint. For most artists, an album anniversary might mean a deluxe reissue or a social media post. For JAŸ-Z, it became a full citywide museum-level flex, reminding everybody that three decades after his debut, he can still make New York stop and pay attention.

RELATED: JAŸ-Z Documentary Coming To HBO This Fall

Microsoft is not moving consoles, but that’s not stopping the company from raising the prices of the Xbox Series X and Series S…AGAIN.

Yup, you read that correctly: after current XBOX CEO Asha Sharma openly admitted that the current consoles cost too much, XBOX is jacking up the price of its current consoles so much that it ccan’teven sell them at the moment.

In a blog post, XBOX announced an increase of “$100 for 512 GB models and US $150 for 1 TB models.” he company also announced it will be “sunsetting “the 2 TB model.

The reasoning for the price hike: the RAM shortage due to the AI boom.

Per Xbox Wire:

Last October, we increased XBOX console price by $20-$70 in the U.S. We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.

XBOX Announced New Financial Programs To Help You Secure A Console Without Going Broke

Knowing that consoles now cost too damn much, XBOX did share financial programs to help you secure an XBOX, that’s if you still want one.

• Buy Now, Pay Later: We’ve made it easier for players to use Buy Now, Pay Later options on eligible XBOX hardware purchases at Microsoft Stores, allowing you to break up your payment into predictable, short-term, interest-free installments.
• Interest-Free Financing: We are working with partners to let players purchase eligible XBOX hardware at 0% APR financing for up to 12 months, giving players more flexibility with lower monthly payments and more budgeting control.

• Previously Played Consoles: We are working with retail partners on new programs to provide previously played consoles at lower prices. Players who are ready to upgrade or no longer use their console will be able to trade it in with participating retail partners for cash or store credit. Those consoles will then be made available at lower prices for players.
• Certified Refurbished Consoles: XBOX Certified Refurbished Consoles are available at Microsoft Stores for up to US$100 off MSRP.

The Asha Sharma Honeymoon At XBOX Is Over

When Asha Sharma took over as XBOX CEO, she hit the ground running, announcing a slew of changes, including that XBOX Game Pass was too expensive and would get a price cut. She got rid of “Xbox Gaming” and resurrected the original XBOX branding.

The goodwill has come to a screeching halt following the XBOX Games Showcase, which, looking back now, seemed like an upfront for the company.

Sharma and co. announced a return to console exclusivity by snatching back Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution, keeping both titles off the PS5 console.

Then, in another strange move, Senua, a new game from Ninja Theory, was announced while knowing it was actively trying to find a way to unload the studio without having to shutter it completely.

Combine this with the news of price hikes, XBOX hardware sales falling to the lowest level ever recorded for the month, it’s a rough time to be an Xbox fan.

You can see reactions to the Series X and Series S price going up again below.

After several delays, T.I. has officially released his long-awaited album, Kill The King. 

While the Atlanta legend has said this could be his final album, plenty of fans are calling cap and believe TIP still has more music left in the tank. Either way, Kill The King has finally arrived.

The rollout gained momentum with the success of “Let ‘Em Know,” a record many fans crowned as the “Unc Anthem.” TIP stayed on the gas promoting the single, and the effort paid off as the track went on to earn Gold certification.

He followed it up with “Mr. Him,” which quickly built its own buzz and helped set the stage for the full project. Now that the album is here, fans are already sharing their early reactions.

Kill The King features an all-star lineup of guests, including The Dream, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Usher, and many more. One of the biggest surprises was T.I. linking up with NBA YoungBoy.

A TIP and YB record definitely wasn’t on our bingo card, but it’s one of the standout moments that has listeners talking online as they dive into the project. 

Check out the full reactions to T.I.’s album, Kill The King below.

JAŸ-Z has been more visible in 2026 than he has in years, culminating in an upcoming run of shows and a stellar performance at the Roots Picnic. Now, JAŸ-Z’s story will be told in a new documentary helmed by Rick Rubin, which comes later this year.

JAŸ-Z IN 8 is the title of the eight-part series with Rick Rubin in the director’s chair in partnership with HBO Documentary Films. According to a post on the Warner Bros. Discovery press page, the series will debut this fall and stream on HBO Max.

A teaser clip shows Hov and Rubin, who produced the Brooklyn veteran’s “99 Problems” from his The Black Album full-length from 2004. Rubin previously worked on the one-on-one series, McCartney 3, 2, 1, featuring singer, songwriter, and famed The Beatles legend, Paul McCartney.

The synopsis of the documentary is that Rubin will discuss JAŸ’s musical career, lyrical breakdowns, his early days in Brooklyn, and how he approaches creating music and managing his business endeavors.  

JAŸ-Z IN 8 is part of HBO Documentary Films’ slate and is a Tetragrammaton. Executive producers include Daniel Kaluuya, Rick Rubin, and JAŸ himself. Producers of the series include Leila Mattimore and David Rohde.

Check out the teaser clip below.

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Photo: Screenshot/YouTube

JAŸ-Z’s debut album is getting a celebration worthy of its New York legacy. Thirty years after Reasonable Doubt introduced Shawn Carter to the world, Roc Nation is turning the city into a living tribute to one of Hip-Hop’s most important catalogs.

Following the New York Knicks historic Championship run in the 2026 NBA playoffs, team owner and proud Trump supporter James Dolan made it clear that the organization had accepted Donald Trump’s invitation to visit the White House and would indeed be heading to Washington to visit his dear friend regardless of how the fan base (and most of America) feels about the wannabe dictator-in-chief.

While many reminded the Knicks team that they are not obliged to follow through with the owner’s intentions, team captain and King of New York, Jalen Brunson doesn’t seem like he needs any reminding of that fact.

According to New York Mag, it seems like James Dolan might’ve jumped the gun or might’ve just been speaking for himself when he made the statement as King Brunson threw some doubt on the players meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. In an interview with The Intelligencer, Jalen Brunson was asked about the traditional championship winning sports team visiting the White House, the NBA Finals MVP didn’t exactly go along with Jame Dolan’s plans.

Per New York Mag:

Dolan publicly accepted the president’s invitation, which would make the Knicks the first NBA champion to visit while Trump is in office. Hours before Dolan’s announcement, Brunson appeared noncommittal when I asked about a White House trip. “We haven’t discussed it,” Brunson said. “But as a team, we’ll discuss it and we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

With reports circulating that Donald Trump is the only person in America taking the experimental drug, Retatrutide to keep him from kicking the bucket, the Knick’s might be able to “run out the clock” and avoid even having to have that conversation, but knowing James Dolan he might press the issue because as we all know, he loves his President and knows he’s living on borrowed time.

The majority of Knicks fans meanwhile hope the team declines the invitation as it would only mar their championship legacy as they’d become thee only NBA team to visit the White House while Donald Trump was in office. Now that’s a title that no NBA team wants. Just sayin.’

What do y’all think about Jalen Brunson’s response to visiting The White House? Let us know in the comments section below.

Lil Durk’s remains behind bars as he continues fighting his federal murder-for-hire case.

During Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival, Durk’s attorney, Drew Findling, caught up with Dometi Pongo and provided an update on the Chicago rapper’s legal battle. According to Findling, he’s been working around the clock to secure Durk’s release and says support for the rapper has come from unexpected places.

“I have people coming up to me all the time saying ‘Free Durk,’ I even have law enforcement officers coming up to me saying ‘Free Durk.’”

The veteran defense attorney also highlighted Durk’s impact outside of music, pointing to his community work in Chicago as a reflection of his character.

“Durk comes from Chicago, he’s self-made, he was a Grammy Award winner, and was deeply involved in community service right here in your city [Chicago]. He had local politicians supporting him, people in the community supporting him.”

During the interview, Pongo asked Findling how confident he was about eventually seeing Smurk walk free. Findling made it clear he’s doing everything possible to make that happen.

“Everybody that I fought for, for years and years and years, everyone knows I’m 24/7 man. You can call me at 3 in the morning, I’m at the police station. So, that’s not me, I’m in it to win it, and we’re going to win it.”

Lil Durk is currently facing federal murder-for-hire charges and could receive a life sentence if convicted. His trial remains one of the most closely watched legal cases in Hip-Hop.

August Alsina is speaking out after Young Thug’s comments about sexuality didn’t sit well with him.

The R&B singer, who has been open about his sexuality in recent years, shared his disappointment with remarks Thug made regarding people who “turn gay.” During a new video on his social media, Alsina questioned why sexuality continues to be such a focal point for some people, especially given everything happening in the world. 

“Maybe that was about a month or so ago. I can’t even remember. There was a comment that I seen Young Thug make randomly saying like, ‘Oh, I can’t respect n*ggas who just turn gay or some wild sh*t like that. It’s very strange to me when n*ggas got all type of sh*t going on in the world in their life, but a gay be the conversation.”

He went on to argue that discussions surrounding sexuality have long been a point of contention within the Black community.

“Nothing keeps the Black community in a chokehold with a conversation like the gay conversation. It always has had y’all in a chokehold, and it unfortunately always will.”

Alsina also recalled a time when Thugger publicly showed him support by posting him on Instagram, making the comments even more surprising to the New Orleans artist.

The singer’s rant stems from remarks Thug made during an appearance on Big Bank’s podcast, where he discussed two things he believes a man cannot come back from.

“Once you rat, or once you turn gay and I don’t got nothing against gay people I love y’all, I can’t look at you the same. I’ma just look at you like you broke a man code.”

As of now, Young Thug has not responded to Alsina’s criticism. 

We are very sure no one had Hunter Biden providing much-needed advice to the Democrat party on their bingo cards after incumbents suffered shocking primary defeats to Mayor Zohran Mamdani-backed DSA candidates.

The internet was absolutely stunned when former President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his observations about the New York City primary elections.

In his post, Biden urged the Democrats to take lessons from the stunning outcomes that saw incumbents who were backed by establishment Dems like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Governor Kathy Hochul telling them, “the country is tired of being managed. People want to be led.”

“I’m not running for office. But if I were, these are some of the lessons I’d take away from what happened in NY yesterday,” Biden continued, before he dived into his talking points.

Social Media Praised Hunter Biden For His Insight On The DSA’s Primary Wins In NYC

Biden’s post was met with shock and plenty of praise, as no one envisioned the former president’s son would be the voice of reason on such a matter. Even Mehdi Hassan, a known critic of the Biden administration due to its handling of the Israel/Palestine war, was impressed.

In a quote repost of Hunter Biden’s original post, Hasan wrote, “Did Democrats try and run the wrong Biden in 2024?”

Another post referenced Biden’s past drug use writing, “How is it that that the dude who once used crack “every 20 minutes or so” understands modern politics better than nearly every mainstream Democratic Party analyst?”

Of course, there were haters as well, with some accusing Biden of using AI (artificial intelligence) to craft his list.

But even if that were the case, the consensus remains that Hunter Biden was spitting, and if the Democrats hope to regain power and keep it, they should definitely listen to him.

You can see more reactions to Hunter Biden dropping political knowledge below.

Big Tigger put out a statement in the wake of his arrest last weekend on battery and cruelty to children charges. In the statement, Big Tigger denied all the charges and said more will come as he continues to cooperate with the authorities.

Taking to IG, Big Tigger shared the following statement on Wednesday (June 24):

unequivocally deny every allegation that has been made against me.

For the past 30+ years, I have built my life around relationships and community. Those who know me know the man, father, husband, and friend I have been throughout my life.

Because this is an active legal matter, I am limited in what I can say. What I can say is that I have complete confidence in the facts and in the legal process. I will continue to cooperate fully and trust that the truth will come to light.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support and encouragement. My family and I are deeply grateful.

According to a TMZ report, more details about the May incident involving Tigger’s wife, Alicia Brown, emerged. According to that report, Brown allegedly confronted Big Tigger, whose real name is Darian Morgan, about texts he had exchanged with a co-worker. According to Brown, Tigger attempted to wrestle his phone from his wife’s hand after he began recording her.

From there, a struggle ensued, which presumably led to Brown’s injuries, which she shared in a now-deleted social media post. To her credit, Brown didn’t explicitly say Tigger was responsible for her injuries but implied that he knew how they happened.

However, Tigger received the battery charge and Brown would go on to say her husband slammed her head into a door. Their son was reportedly home during this dustup, hence the cruelty to children charge, but it doesn’t appear that the boy was physically harmed.

On the same day of Tigger’s statement, a judge granted Brown a temporary restraining order against her husband, stating he must remain away from his wife and children.

A hearing is set for July 13.

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Photo: Getty/Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

From teaming up with Walmart to opening a brick-and-mortar store in New York City, StockX is doing everything it can to remain in the sneaker game and get that resale paper. The brand is now looking to expand its products by letting resellers buy and sell used sneakers and vintage attire on its platform.

According to Complex, StockX is ditching its day-one rule of all its merchandise having to be brand new and have made the decision to let used sneakers and clothing be moved on its website. Using an AI-powered photo analysis and auto-matching technology to help users upload their used attire on to the site in seconds, StockX is seemingly hoping to generate more sales as the sneaker community continues to give it the side-eye for its history of letting bootleg sneakers make it past its once-respected authentication system.

While StockX is offering customers its “Buyer Promise” and even an option to purchase an additional verification process to ensure they’re getting legit goods, StockX still isn’t guaranteeing authenticity as they once did before customers and even Nike exposed it for selling counterfeit goods.

Still, the show must go on and StockX will continue to mush on regardless of the allegations.

Per Complex:

“When we started StockX, the idea was simple: create a marketplace built on trust, data, and transparency. That core hasn’t changed but we’ll now be able to provide our customers with a wider selection of the products they love, and the ability to sell products they’ve previously purchased faster than ever before,” StockX CEO Greg Schwartz said. “We’re using AI-powered photo analysis to streamline the listing process so customers can sell used sneakers, vintage apparel and other unique products with ease. This, coupled with the upcoming rollout of StockX Live, moves us into a new chapter and ensures we’re able to meet our community where they are today.”

StockX Listings will be available to a select group of sellers and all US-based buyers on iOS starting today. The platform is expected to expand to all US-based sellers and have a global rollout in the coming months.

They’re desperate, b.

What do y’all think about StockX letting people sell used merchandise on its website? Will you be buying and selling through the platform? Sound off in the comments section below.

A New York Knicks fan who went viral for snatching up a Knicks-themed garbage can from a city street is still paying for it, as she’s been hit with multiple fines for the act – shortly after losing her job over the incident.

According to reports, the New York City Department of Sanitation confirmed that the orange-and-blue trash can had been returned with a post on X, formerly Twitter showing the can with the caption reading, “Welcome Back!” and “We Missed You!” 

GTA 6’s November 19 launch date is locked in, and preorders for the game are live, but there is plenty of hoopla surrounding what is easily one of the most anticipated games of all time.

When the preorder and price information for GTA 6 dropped, there were two major reactions: The game costing $80 for the standard edition and $100 for the ultimate edition. What also had gamers chirping was that they would be spending that much money on a video game that would not have a physical disc at launch.

It was later revealed that Rockstar Games would be launching with a physical case, but when you opened up the box, you wouldn’t be greeted by a game disc, but by a paper featuring a download code for the game.

As expected, many gamers were not feeling that way, while there were many who couldn’t care less. But, still, that’s very wild.

Well, according to insider Graczdari, who writes for Polish site PPE.pl, who initially claimed that GTA 6 would not launch with a physical release to prevent leaks as well as leaking the correct release dates for Oblivion: Remastered physical copies, the Switch 2 port of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and the PS5 port of Microsoft Flight Simulator, is now claiming that a physical version of GTA 6 will arrive in December.

Two Stores Will Not Be Selling GTA 6 At Launch

Rockstar Games’ decision to delay the physical release of GTA 6 as a security measure to prevent the game’s story from being spoiled has led two video game retailers to decline to sell it.

Video Games Plus, a retailer based in Canada, and Loot Box Gaming, an independent game retailer, have both announced they will not be selling the game, citing the lack of a physical release.

“For nearly 40 years, VGP has been committed to supporting physical media and preserving the value of physical game ownership,” reads a statement from VGP. “As part of that commitment, our company policy is that we do not carry physical products for video game consoles that contain only a digital download code. Based on the information currently available, the physical release of Grand Theft Auto 6 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X is expected to be a code-in-box product. As a result, VGP will not be offering it for sale under our current company policy.”

“When we started LBG, it was out of a love for our favorite form of media, gaming, as-well as the preservation of said media,” Loot Box Gaming said. “If a product can’t honor the people who pay their hard-earned money to purchase it, then we have no business trying to sell it to our customers, whom we value above anything else.”

We are sure this won’t hurt Rockstar Games’ bottom line in the least bit, as preorders are moving and, at one point, were sold out on Amazon.

You can see more reactions below.

The family of Takeoff is reportedly involved in a dispute over the settlement stemming from the late rapper’s wrongful death lawsuit.

According to reports, Takeoff’s mother, Titania Davenport, originally filed the wrongful death lawsuit following her son’s tragic passing in 2022. The family ultimately secured a settlement, though the exact amount has not been publicly disclosed. 

Now, Takeoff’s father, Kenneth Ball, is reportedly seeking half of the settlement proceeds. Davenport has pushed back against the request, arguing that Ball should not be entitled to an equal share. 

In court filings, Davenport reportedly claims that Ball was largely absent throughout Takeoff’s life and provided little financial or emotional support while she raised the Migos rapper.

She alleges that Ball offered only “negligible financial support and effectively no emotional support to his son.”

Despite those claims, Ball reportedly believes he is entitled to half of the settlement regardless of his level of involvement in Takeoff’s upbringing. 

Takeoff was fatally shot in Houston in November 2022. Patrick Xavier Clark, the man accused of killing the Atlanta rapper, is expected to begin trial later this year.

Since Takeoff’s death, Quavo and Offset have slowly begun reconnecting. The two have recently been spotted together in the studio, fueling speculation that new music could be on the way. Rumors have even circulated that the Migos members may revisit the group’s popular Culture series.

As the legal battle over the settlement continues, the dispute adds another difficult chapter to the aftermath of Takeoff’s untimely death.

The XXL Freshman Class of 2026 has officially arrived, and we got the full breakdown for the people.

Last year’s class had its highs, and it definitely had its lows. Gelo caught lightning in a bottle with his viral hit, “Tweaker.” What started as a song previewed on a livestream quickly turned into one of the biggest records of the year, leading him to put the basketball down, pick up a mic, and sign with Def Jam Records.

Loe Shimmy may have had the steadiest rise out of last year’s class, continuing to build momentum and even landing a spot on Drake’s HABIBTY album. Meanwhile, both BabyChiefDoIt and Ian have carved out dedicated fanbases in the underground rap scene.

Now it’s time for the Class of 2026.

This year’s lineup features names like LaReezy, Trap Dickey, Belly Gang Kush, Skrilla, and several other artists who have already begun making serious noise. In fact, nearly half of the class entered the list with strong hype and growing fan bases.

Representing Atlanta, YKNiece has already proven herself to be a hitmaker. She burst onto the scene with the breakout record “Whim Whammiee” before delivering what many fans consider verse on “Take Me Thru Dere.”

Then there’s Trap Dickey, the newest signee to Top Dawg Entertainment. Enough said, TDE doesn’t hand out deal to just anybody.

Miles Minnick has been making a major impact in the Christian Hip-Hop space. Alongside Trendsetter Sense, he has helped introduce Christian rap to a new audience. During a recent appearance on Chosen Journey, Minnick reflected on his campaign to make the XXL Freshman Class.

“When I was worship, I felt like God said, ‘I’m putting it in your hands, XXL and new property.’”

Shortly after, Minnick learned that he had been nominated to be on the XXL Freshman Class of 2026.

With so much talent on this year’s list, some people are still asking the same question: “Who are these rappers?”

Don’t worry, we got you.

To help the old heads catch up, we’re comparing every artist from the XXL Freshman Class of 2026 to an established rapper in the game. Check out the full list below, and you’re welcome in advance.

Donald Trump’s struggle Freedom 250 MAGA Rally/concert has found its musical act: none other than Kash Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins.

Yup, you read that correctly: DEI Hire FBI Director Kash Patel’s MAGA girlfriend will be bringing her “Musical talents” to Trump’s great MAGA Rally, which is now the replacement for his now-dead Freedom 250 Music Festival.

Wilkins announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she will be the “featured performer” at the June 24 kick-off rally for the Great American State Fair.

Of course, the internet has been having a field day with the announcement, pointing to how unethical and ridiculous Wilkin’s performance at the Trump event is.

“Is this parody or are they actually letting the Israeli honeypot perform?” one person wrote on X.

Another user pointed out that the Babylon Bibi, a satirical website, accurately called Wilkins a performer.

Another reaction said, “America’s 250th anniversary and the best they could do is Kash Patel’s girlfriend… Smh.”

“Kash Patel’s country-singer girlfriend will be performing on the National Mall, apparently at the concert that Martina McBride and Milli Vanilli dropped out of,” said another user on X.

Another social media user wrote, “@FBIDirectorKash’s girlfriend is the FEATURED performer for this Freedom 250 event, huh? They couldn’t even get a D-list artist?”

Trump’s failure to secure actual musical talent for the Freedom 250 Concert was put on blast after Former President Barack Obama had everyone and their mama at the opening of his presidential library on Chicago’s South Side.

Welp.

You can see more reactions below.