According to reports, the White House staff was so stunned by the revelations in the Justice Department’s release of the files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein concerning President Donald Trump that it held a meeting without him.

The meeting is one of the many details found in the upcoming book by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. It was convened by Vice President JD Vance in the Situation Room which he raised heavy concern that the files not being fully released would split the president’s MAGA base of supporters.

Immersive stage production is reshaping Hip-Hop performances by turning concerts into full-sensory environments where the music is only one part of what fans experience. The days of an artist with a mic, a DJ, and a spotlight are still present, but the ceiling has moved dramatically. From Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show to the elaborate production architecture that defined tours by Travis Scott, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z, the Hip-Hop concert has transformed into something closer to a cinematic event.

Live Nation’s 2024 earnings report confirmed 151 million fans attended over 50,000 events (a 4% year-over-year increase) and tied that growth explicitly to audience demand for premium live experiences. The arms race for better stage production techniques is happening because fans vote with their tickets.

What Is Immersive Stage Production?

Immersive stage production means designing a performance environment where the audience experiences the show from multiple sensory dimensions simultaneously. Not just sound and image on a screen, but light, movement, spatial architecture, and atmosphere that surround them. It’s the difference between watching a performance and being inside one.

Hip-Hop has leaned into this harder than almost any other genre because the culture has always demanded that the presentation match the magnitude of the music.

The production elements driving the biggest moments in today’s Hip-Hop concert innovations include:

• Full-scale LED volumes that wrap entire stages in programmable visual environments
• Pryotechnics and aerial rigging that create vertical space and physical drama
• Custom automated staging that transforms the performance area mid-show
• Holographic and projection mapping that brings departed artists or visual characters to life
• Real-time camera and video integration that creates an IMAX-like experience from every seat

Each of those elements requires specialists who understand both the technical requirements and the artistic vision. The gap between a good show and an unforgettable one often comes down to who built the room.

Why Hip-Hop Specifically Drives Production Innovation

Hip-Hop has always been the genre most willing to spend on a grand show. From Run-DMC’s stripped-down energy to Kanye West’s Saint Pablo tour, where the artist performed on a floating stage, the culture’s relationship with performance scale has always been ambitious. The artists who command the largest audiences understand that production is part of the artistic statement; the visual environment is as intentional as the tracklist.

How Does Lighting Affect a Concert Performance?

Lighting is the variable that connects everything else on stage. A production can have a million-dollar LED wall and still feel flat if the lighting design doesn’t direct the audience’s attention correctly or create the right emotional atmosphere at the right moments. Lighting is the grammar of a live performance; it tells the audience:

• Where to look
• What to feel
• When the moment has arrived

With Hip-Hop specifically, lighting controls energy in real time in a way no other production element can replicate alone. A rapid strobe sequence during an 808-driven track hits differently than a warm color wash during a slower moment, and the skill of the lighting director determines where those transitions feel intentional. The global Pro AV market, which covers professional lighting and audiovisual services, is projected to grow at a 12% CAGR through 2032, driven by the explosion in demand for sophisticated live event production.

What Major Markets Are Leading the Production Shift

New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Las Vegas are the cities where Hip-Hop production innovation gets stress-tested at scale. Las Vegas, in particular, has become the live production capital of the world following the opening of the Las Vegas Sphere and the growth of its residency and touring concert infrastructure. For production teams staging major Hip-Hop events, working with a skilled Las Vegas lighting technician is the difference between a production that photographs well and one that delivers in the room.

What Technology Is Used in Modern Stage Productions?

The technology stack behind a major Hip-Hop concert would have looked like science fiction twenty years ago. Extended Reality (XR) stages (the same LED volume technology used on film sets) allow artists to perform inside fully rendered virtual environments visible to both the live crowd and the streaming audience simultaneously. Real-time rendering engines usually process visual outputs at 60 frames per second or higher, meaning the production responds to live inputs rather than playing back a pre-recorded sequence.

Tupac’s hologram at Coachella 2012 cost an estimated $100,000 to $400,000 and lasted two and a half minutes. The technology has since become both more capable and more accessible, with production companies now offering extended holographic appearances as a standard tour feature rather than a one-off experiment.

The Hip-Hop community has also used production technology for cultural commentary. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show used staging, lighting, and video to deliver a pointed visual statement that extended well beyond entertainment. When production technology serves a message that specific, it elevates what live performance can communicate entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Produce a Major Hip-Hop Concert?

Major touring Hip-Hop production budgets range from $500,000 per show for large arena productions to several million for stadium-scale events with full custom stage builds. Lighting, LED infrastructure, rigging, and crew costs account for a significant portion of those figures, with festival-level productions typically running the highest daily costs due to build and teardown timelines.

What Is the Role of a Lighting Director In a Concert?

A lighting director designs and executes the entire lighting language of a live performance, programming cues, operating the board during the show, and coordinating with stage management and the artist’s creative team. On major Hip-Hop tours, the lighting director often collaborates directly with the artist and creative director during rehearsals to align the visual grammar with the music’s emotional arc.

Stage Production Is Now Part of the Artistic Statement

The greatest hip-hop performances of this era aren’t just fun shows; they’re modern concert experiences that audiences carry with them. Stage production has evolved from a supporting element into a core component of how Hip-Hop artists express themselves at scale. The immersive technology in music is advancing, audience expectations are rising, and the productions that meet that moment are the ones people remember for years.

Continue exploring this site to access more Hip-Hop, culture, and live performances content.

Can she kick it? Yes, she can. Megan Thee Stallion continues to show the world that heartbreak won’t stop this show. The Houston rapper can add being part of the FIFA World Cup’s official anthem.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicks off today, June 11, and to provide an apt anthem for the games, they enlisted the help of  Megan Thee Stallion, David Guetta, Andrea Bocelli, and HUNTR/X’s EJAE for a global toe tapper called “DNA,” which sounds absolutely perfect for the moment.

The song, which features a dance-heavy track produced by Guetta, was released by SALXCO UAM/Def Jam Recordings on Wednesday (June 10).

Like the World Cup unites the world through futbol, or as we call it in the States, soccer, “DNA” pushes for the same, but through music with the highly unlikely, but welcomed pairing between Andrea Bocelli, rapper Megan Thee Stallion, and EJAE, who recorded his lyrics in Korean for the song.

Andrea Bocelli & EJAE Speak On “DNA”

In a statement announcing the song, Bocelli said, “The title of the song, ‘DNA,’ says everything. Football has been in my life for as long as I can remember and will always hold a very special place in my heart. To be invited to sing the anthem of the FIFA World Cup and to participate in the opening ceremony is an honor that moves me deeply.”

EJAE of KPop Demon Hunters fame and currently riding high following the success of their song “Golden,” spoke about repping South Korea on a global stage while reflecting on attending the 2002 World Cup.

 “It’s especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song—representing South Korea on this stage is such an honor,” EJAE added. “One of my favorite childhood memories is being in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup, and seeing the city unite. I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing strangers on the street hug each other and celebrate.”

Again, the action on the pitch begins today, June 11, with the United States taking on Paraguay in its first match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday night (June 12).

As far as music, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will perform at the halftime show during the World Cup in July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

There is also an official FIFA World Cup 2026 album that features Anitta, Future, Tyla, 21 Savage, Shakira, Burna Boy, Daddy Yankee, Latto, and more.

The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks locked horns for Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, and it will go down in the history books. The Spurs choked away a 29-point lead, allowing the Knicks to roar back in the second half and win the game in the final seconds of regulation.

San Antonio appeared to be unstoppable in the first half, dominating the Knicks on their home court in Madison Square Garden and silencing the crowd for much of it. However, with gutsy plays from Jalen Brunson, Jose Alvarado, and Josh Hart, the late-game heroics of OG Anunoby were on display with a block on De’Aron Fox and a quick cut to the basket to win it all.

Fox, a capable point guard, played solidly for much of the game, and the team’s top star, Victor Wembyama, was assertive despite being manhandled in the paint. With 12.8 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Fox went up for a contested layup, with Anunoby blocking him and sealing the win on the other end. The Knicks topped the Spurs 107-106.

Inside The NBA’s Charles Barkley referred to San Antonio as the “dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization,” with his co-host Shaquille O’Neal adding that San Antonio went away from the brand of basketball that was winning the game.

True enough, between the Spurs jacking up threes and taking generally bad shots, along with Fox’s mental errors down the stretch, the Knicks remained poised and got within striking distance while never letting up.

The spectacular collapse of the Spurs was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history and will leave a stain on the future hopes of the team as the Finals go on.

On X, we’ve got reactions from the game below.

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Photo: Getty

Rakim, Wu-Tang Clan’s Masta Killa, and Kurupt connected for a collaborative album that will feature several Hip-Hop heavyweights aside from the aforementioned. The untitled forthcoming project will reunite JAŸ-Z and Eminem, although it’s not known if Rakim, Masta Killa, or Kurupt Young Gotti will also trade bars with the titans.

A&R and producer Matthew “Almighty M80” Markoff shared an image to his Instagram page featuring the tracklist from the album from Rakim, Masta Killa, and Kurupt. On track 6, JAŸ-Z & Eminem’s names appeared for the untitled track. We should add that this looks to be an interlude, perhaps tempering some expectations.

In the caption for the post, M80 wrote, “AOTY 2026 – PUT SOME COT DAMN RESPEK ON MY NAME.”

While details surrounding the album are shrouded in mystery, it appears that the God MC is active once more after releasing last year’s The Re-Up project. Also on the album are Kurupt’s Dogg Pound colleague Daz Dillinger, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Killa Sin, Snoop Dogg, and more.

While JAŸ-Z proved he’s still in tip-top lyrical shape with his freestyle at the Roots Picnic, Eminem’s last studio album was 2024’s The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). Em also appeared on “Animals (Pt. 1” from JID’s God Does Like Ugly (The Preluxe) project.

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Photo: @almightym80 / Instagram

One of the biggest reveals of Summer Game Fest was most definitely Resident Evil Veronica, and we are sharing what we learned about the upcoming remake.

Outside of the announcement trailer, we didn’t get to see any gameplay from Resident Evil Veronica, the remake of the beloved Resident Evil Code: Veronica.

Instead, we were treated to a Q&A session with Resident Evil Veronica’s producer, Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, and he confirmed several details without spoiling much about the game, which is still in development.

There Is No Process When Determining What RE Game Gets A Remake

During the session that followed a video breaking down the timelines of all the Resident Evil games leading up to Veronica, we asked Hirabayashi if there is a process when determining what games they are going to remake.

Hirabayashi revealed there is not, explaining “there is no set process” and that the plan was to jump into Claire’s story arc after wrapping up Leon’s stories in the remakes.

Resident Evil Veronica Will Be A Third-Person Game

The trailer gave many the impression that, like the recently released Resident Evil Requiem, Resident Evil Veronica would feature a first-person view, as there were moments when we were experiencing events directly from Claire’s point of view.

Hirabayashi shut that down by confirming that Resident Evil Veronica will be a third-person game, adding that the third-person camera is the “biggest impact” and it will be “resource-focused” like Resident Evil 2.

He also added that survival is the one thing that ties all of the games in the Resident Evil franchise together.

Claire Isn’t A Super Agent Yet, But Has Been Hardened By Her Resident Evil 2 Experience

As far as how much Claire has evolved since escaping from the zombie-filled nightmare in Raccoon City, Hirabayashi explained that while she is a bit more hardened following the events of Resident Evil 2, she is no super agent yet, noting that Veronica takes place three months after the events of RE 2.

“So during Resident Evil 2, she was a university student,” Hirabayashi said. “Veronica takes place about three months after the events of Resident Evil 2. So let’s just think about how that progression or how much change happened in about three months. So again, three months is not a lot of time. Of course, she has had training from her brother, and of course, she survived the incident in Raccoon City, so she’s not going to be the exact same character. But the portrayal of her and her style is going to be in alignment with that timeline and that history that we’re looking at for Veronica.”

Why They Dropped The Code & Will Steve Burnside Be In The Game?

There was speculation that Resident Evil Veronica would serve as the fifth game in the franchise, replacing Resident Evil 5. Still, Hirabayashi shut that down, explaining that the name change reflected Capcom’s desire to make the game just as important as the numbered titles in the franchise.

“We respect the original,” Hirabayashi explained, “but I’ll ask you to think about the titles of recent Resident Evil games, such as Village and Requiem.”

As for Steve Burnside being in the remake, it’s a safe bet he will return, but Hirabayashi didn’t outright confirm his appearance, but did say if he does show up, they will dig deeper into his story.

“Let’s say hypothetically that he is in the game, like we do in every remake title, we’re always looking for ways to dig deeper into characters to give them more dimension,” said Hirabayashi. “That goes for Claire, and might include Steve. We’ll have to wait and see.”

And wait and see, we shall do. Resident Evil Veronica arrives in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

If you happen to live in the Big Apple these days you’d know that the New York Knicks have become the main topic of discussion as they attempt to win the NBA Championship for the first time in half a century and it seems like French Montana, Max B and Remy Ma are also caught up in Knicks fever for their latest collaboration.

Decked out in Knicks colors and attire for their visuals to the Big Bronx remix to “Ever Since You Left Me,” French Montana, Max B and Remy Ma post up on the corner of 34^th Street with some fellow Knicks fanatics and get busy on the mic to get everyone amped up though the crowd just mostly recorded the performance on their phones. Technology is really robbing people of living in the moment. Just sayin.’

Wyclef Jean meanwhile hails from a time when celebrities were made without the help of social media and in his G Herbo assisted clip to “2010 Mr. October,” the Fugees OG uses some black-and-white visuals to showcase he’s a man of many talents and methods as he and G Herbo drop some gems.

Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Courtney Bell, Royce Da 5’9” and Benny The Butcher, Paul Wall, and more.

FRENCH MONTANA, MAX B & REMY MA – “EVER SINCE YOU LEFT ME REMIX”

WYCLEF JEAN FT. G HERBO – “2010 MR. OCTOBER”

COURTNEY BELL, ROYCE DA 5’9” & BENNY THE BUTCHER – “BANG”

PAUL WALL – “ALL TYPES OF WAYS”

SAMARA CYN FT. OVRKAST – “BUSHWICK”

LARRY JUNE – “THE MACHINIST”

TIERRA WHACK – “WAX PAPER”

BABYTRON – “JALEN BRUNSON”

The trial date for Pooh Shiesty (Lontrell Williams Jr.), his father, Lontrell Williams Sr., Memphis rapper Big30, and six other defendants who are accused of kidnapping and robbing Gucci Mane and two other victims has been pushed back.

According to local news affiliate WREG (News Channel 3), the trial will take place on February 22, 2027, instead of July 6.

Per WREG:

On January 10, 2026, U.S. Attorney Raybould said three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas, Texas, for a scheduled business meeting.

Williams Jr. arranged the meeting to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims, agents said.

As alleged, once the three men were inside the recording studio, Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators, several of whom traveled from Memphis, Tennessee, executed a coordinated armed takeover, U.S. Attorney Raybould mentioned. Williams Jr. allegedly produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a release from the recording contract at gunpoint.

Raybould stated that the remaining armed suspects robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and other high-value items.

Pooh Shiesty Was The Alleged Ringleader

According to Raybould, Pooh Shiesty was the ringleader of the robbery and was on home confinement at the time of the alleged crime due to a prior firearms conspiracy charge and conviction handed down by the Southern District of Florida.

Electronic monitoring data placed Pooh Shiesty at the scene of the alleged crime, and several defendants hopped on social media to show off the stolen goods.

“And as described further in the complaint, within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, a number of the defendants were on social media displaying some of the items that appeared to be the jewelry that had been robbed from the victims,” said Raybould.

Bruh.

Keep it locked on HipHopWired for more updates on this case.

When Fanatics Fest returns to the Jacob K. Javits Center, attendees can look forward to seeing JAŸ-Z’s iconic 40/40 Club activation.

Fanatics Fest will be back for a third year, following a record-breaking second year that saw more than 125,000 fans, 300+ athletes and celebrities, and over 250 hobby shops and dealers attend the event.

Also, unlike the 2025 event, this year’s Fanatics Fest will have a 25% larger presence at the Javits Center, featuring more live programming, larger brand activations, interactive fan experiences, autographs, and photos
opportunities and exclusive merchandise drops, and HOV’s 40/40 Club will be one of those experiences returning.

“Taking place at the Javits Center in New York City from July 16-19, Fanatics Fest NYC is bringing back an authentic version of the legendary The 40/40 Club that captures the essence of the Club’s signature blend of sports, luxury, and entertainment,” a press release reads. “Guests can expect an atmosphere that pays homage to The 40/40 Club’s rich legacy, complete with signature details like framed jerseys from the club archive, grand chandeliers, stadium seating, a culinary experience inspired by its original menu, specialty D’usse cocktails, Armand de Brignac, and a unique ambiance that made the original a favorite among the A-list crowd.”

JAŸ-Z & His Cloud Bob Will Be In The Building

Along with the 40/40 Activation, JAŸ-Z, who is the co-owner of the sports bar and lounge and co-founder and investor in Fanatics Betting and Gaming, will be in attendance.

Joining JAŸ-Z will be a “highly-curated” list of VIPs, and if it’s anything like last year’s event, you can expect to see some big names hit the 40/40 red carpet.

Last year’s attendees included JAŸ-Z, Michael Rubin, Robert Kraft, Kevin Hart, Travis Scott, DJ Khaled, Hailey Bieber, Tiffany Haddish, Derek Jeter, Spike Lee, Quavo, Livvy Dunne, Suni Lee, Emma Roberts, Marcelo Hernandez, Druski, Justin Gaethje, Jalen Rose, Odell Beckham Jr., Darrelle Revis, Cam Skattebo, Malik Nabers, and more.

One thing about Soulja Boy, he’s going to find a way to force his name into any conversation.

Big Draco may end up becoming the first rapper to enroll in Kai Cenat’s Streamer University, but only if he gets the invite. Before anyone starts filling out acceptance letters, Soulja took to social media with a message for Kai that sounded less like an application and more like an ultimatum.

“If you don’t let me in Streamer University @KaiCenat we beefin. I let u slide the first time.”

Soulja’s issue appears to stem from Kai’s relationship with DDG, whom he considers an op. Rather than simply asking for an invite, Draco made it clear he views the situation as a loyalty test. According to him, if Kai invites DDG but leaves him out, he’ll take it as a sign that sides have been chosen.

“If I don’t make it to Streamer University this year, I’m on your a** for the whole year Kai Cenat. I’m gonna feel like your clicking up with my ops (DDG) & I’m gonna feel like you don’t like me n*gga. If you don’t like me I don’t like your b*tch a** either. This is your last warning Kai, you click up with DDG again, it’s f*ck both y’all b*tch a** n*ggas.”

Soulja said what he said, now we wait on Kai Cenat’s decision.

Let the MAGA conspiracy theories begin!

Over the past few months, Donald Trump and his MAGA cult has waged cultural and spiritual war on both Bad Bunny and Pope Leo XIV (among many others) and now it seems like these two beloved public figures seem to have met behind closed doors to discuss their next phase to enrage Donald Trump and his MAGA movement (we kid of course).

According to Reuters, the Vatican confirmed that the vicar of Jesus Christ held a private meeting with Bad Bunny this past Monday (June 8) while the Grammy award-winning artist was at Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium in Spain to continue his hugely successful Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour. While both Bad Bunny and the Pope have received worldwide praise and adoration for their humanitarian ways and actions, the two men have drawn the absolute fury of Donald Trump and MAGA country simply for being Puerto Rican while performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show (Bad Bunny) and for speaking out against the unnecessary war in Iran (Pope Leo).

While details about their meeting are unknown, knowing them they were probably plotting on new ways to help underprivileged people of the world or something.

Per Reuters:

According ​to a Vatican statement, the pope met the ​reggaeton sensation, whose album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (I Should ⁠Have Taken More Pictures) won Album of the ​Year at this year’s Grammys, with his family and ​other people. He offered them a short greeting before leaving the stadium, it added.

If Donald Trump kicks the bucket anytime soon y’all know MAGA is gonna blame these two somehow, right? That’s just how that cult works these days.

What do y’all think about Bad Bunny meeting with Pope Leo XIV? Let us know in the comments section below.

President Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith are at odds, and the feud is gaining momentum. After Stephen A. Smith made a quip about President Donald Trump attending Game 3 of the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs NBA Finals, it appears that the gloves are off.

Stephen A. Smith threw the first blow after urging President Donald Trump to avoid attending Game 3 of the Spurs vs. Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Trump answered back by attacking the ESPN host’s intellect in connection with his now-defunct presidential bid.

Smith, never one to let a shot slide, fired back with, “You want to talk about IQ? I could say I put my IQ up against yours any day of the week.”

He added, “I could ask you to debate me since you think you’re that dude, OK? We could go a myriad of ways with all of this. But I’m not gonna let you off the hook because none of that is important.”

Smith also took shots at Trump further on First Take, addressing chatter that the president fell asleep while watching the game.

“I’m not going to accuse him of snoring because I wasn’t in earshot. The brother wasn’t awake,” Smith said.

Trump took to Truth Social to deliver a blistering takedown of Smith in an early-morning rant yesterday (June 9).

“Stephen A. Smith is an arrogant fool, a low IQ individual,” Trump said on Tuesday. “In other words, he’s ‘dumb as a rock,’ and totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office, or even low political office, for that matter!”

Your move, Stephen A.

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Photo: Getty

Camp Flog Gnaw, the sprawling music festival spearheaded by Tyler, The Creator, will make its return to Los Angeles this November. Tickets for Camp Flog Gnaw go on sale this week and will likely be the hottest ticket in the land.

Taking to social media, Tyler, The Creator shared a poster image for Camp Flog Gnaw, emblazoned with the dates and sharing the advance ticket sale information. While a lineup is said to be forthcoming, the festival has seen various major acts play shows there.

First launched in 2012 as the OFWGKTA Carnival ahead of adopting its new name. It became an annual event between 2012 and 2019 before COVID-19 gathering restrictions prevented shows from taking place between 2020 and 2022.

Last year, performers included Doechii, A$AP Rocky, T-Pain, Glo-Rilla, Thundercat, MIKE, and others.

This year’s festival will be a two-day affair, much like the recent events, and will kick off on November 14 and run through November 15. Tickets will go on sale June 11 at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET.

Register now at campfloggnaw.com.

A former child actor has filed a suit alleging that Sean “Diddy” Combs sexually assaulted him, allegedly. The actor, now an adult who filed as John Doe, claims that the incident between him and Sean “Diddy” Combs took place in 2007.

As reported by TMZ, John Doe says that in 2007, he attended a networking event in Hollywood Hills. Still working as an actor at the time, Doe says that he encountered Diddy, who invited him to discuss career opportunities in private.

Doe then says Combs began touching him on various parts of his body and performed oral sex on him, which Doe claims he told the business mogul that it made him uncomfortable. After he was done, Doe says Combs left him inside the room alone.

In response, Combs’ rep offered a statement which reads, “The allegations from this so-called nameless child actor are false and ridiculous. He’s just another hater in a long list of people trying to get in on the money gravy train encouraged by personal injury lawyers. Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — and that includes any child! These allegations will be disproved like all the rest.”

John Doe is suing Sean “Diddy” Combs and various agents who, in Doe’s words, were supposed to protect him for an unspecified amount.

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Photo: Getty

Drake’s right-hand man, Chubbs, recently pressed a streamer who appeared to be trying to get some clout off “The Boy.”

During the OVO crew’s annual Turks and Caicos trip, Drizzy decided to shoot a video for “Outside Tweaking.” Even Stunna Sandy, who is featured on the song, popped out to make a cameo. Before filming got underway, a few streamers on the island were live trying to capture the scene.

In the clip that’s now going around on the internet, Chubbs walks up to one of the streamers and appears to ask them to stop live streaming. The conversation was brief, but it quickly caught the attention online once the footage started making rounds.

Once Chubbs walks away, the streamer can be seen looking confused while telling their audience they have to cut the live. As they’re wrapping things up, Drizzy casually walks past them in the background. 

To their credit, the streamers didn’t seem to make a scene or push back on the request. Instead, they appeared ok with giving the ICEMAN some privacy while he cooked up a video and sipped a frozen peach bellini.

There was also a funny moment during filming when an older woman accidentally wandered into the shot, leaving Drake and Stunna Sandy laughing.

It only took nearly a year, but Instagram is finally rolling out a new feature that will let users reorganize their profile grids.

The Meta-owned platform announced that the feature, which was once available to some users in test groups, began rolling out to users on both iOS and Android platforms beginning June 8.

Photos on your grid, outside of pinned posts, were shared in chronological order. The new feature will now allow users to move posts by long-pressing them and placing them where they desire them to be, no matter how old they are.

In a post on its Creators account, Instagram announced the rollout, writing:

With this week’s latest update, you now have more control over how your content is displayed. With the new “Reorder your grid” feature, you can now rearrange content on your main profile grid, which is perfect for highlighting your best work or making your profile feel more like you. Simply go to your profile, tap and hold any post on your grid, select “reorder grid” in the pop-up menu, long press, and drag your content to the desired position. Your changes are saved immediately and are visible to all profile visitors.

Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri Also Confirmed The Feature Is Live

Instagram’s chief, Adam Mosseri, announced the update on his profile, sharing a post and simply writing “finally” in the caption.

When he first announced the feature back in January, he apologized to users who had spent a lot of time strategically crafting their posts after Instagram switched from square thumbnails to longer vertical ones, which messed up their grids.

Congrats to the folks who have been waiting for this update.

Boosie Badazz recently sat down for an interview on Posted On the Corner With Incognito and DJ Misses.

He spoke about family, music, and a few topics that only Mr. Badazz could turn into a viral moment. The conversation kicked off Boosie proudly highlighting his son’s academic success, making it clear he’s happy with how he’s been raised.

“Not one B, I raised them right.” Badazz said, noting his son is bringing home straight A’s.

From there, the Wipe Me Down rapper shifted to music, where he reflected on his longtime collaboration with Webbie. Boosie didn’t hold back when ranking their legacy among Hip-Hop duos, calling them the best to ever do it.

“I feel like no duo ever better than me and Webbie.”

Boosie also weighed in on the latest Madden NFL cover, which features Quarterback Caleb Williams with painted nails. The Baton Rouge rapper expressed frustration with the decision, questioning the message being sent through a game played by millions of kids.

“I’m mad, I’m totally mad, I came up on Tecmo Bowl. I’d never thought I’d see this a day in my life, that a game would have a masculine man with his finger nails painted on the game that billions of little kids play. What are you trying to do?”

Check out the full interview below.

Matt Damon doesn’t come to mind when one thinks about Hip-Hop music, but he’s employing the culture as a vehicle to support a necessary initiative. With his Water.org co-founder, Gary White, Matt Damon is using music as a way to bring attention to Get Blue, which connects consumers with partner brands that are aiming their collective efforts to address the global water crisis.

In a new feature from GQ, Matt Damon and engineer turned philanthropist, Gary White, talk at length about Water.org’s new Get Blue initiative, which partnered with GAP, Starbucks, Amazon, and Ecolab, for branded consumer products that go towards the organization’s larger effort in providing clean water to underserved nations.

From GQ:

Your dulcet tones. But, OK—so the focus is shifting, with this GetBlue campaign.
White: Expanding.

Damon: Yeah. The great thing about this system of micro-loaning is that it’s driven the philanthropic cost per person [way] down. So classically it costs $25 to get somebody safe water. But what we’ve been puzzling over for years, the question we get all the time from people, is How do I help? And Get Blue is a way to say to people, Look, in your everyday life, without changing much at all, if you look for Get Blue products, and that’s where you put your dollar, some of the proceeds from, say, the blue matcha that you buy, that’s going to Water.org. That’s going directly to this problem. And so if you’re keeping that ticker in your head that $25 gets an entire family on the other side of the world clean water, then you start to realize that you really are having a major impact just by being intentional about how you’re spending the money that you were going to spend anyway.

We’re taking on new ones as they come, but the founding partners are Gap, Amazon, and Starbucks. Ecolab as well, which is a B2B, but that’s different. But the public-facing, consumer-facing brands are Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon.

White: And [we’re] working with TikTok now as well.

Damon: [wryly] Which is right in our wheelhouse.

While Water.org’s aims are still the same, Get Blue is an entry point for people who want to assist but aren’t sure where to begin. Given that donations help organizations like Water.org run, Damon and White believe Get Blue will provide an easier pathway for those not accustomed to giving.

However, getting the word out is another thing, and Damon, 55, is working with famed producer Hit-Boy under the rap name The Nomad, to, as he put it to his partner, “spit bars” to get folks on board.

The entire profile is a fascinating read. Check it out here.

Learn more about Get Blue here.

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Photo: Getty

DJ Akademiks and Lil Baby have started exchanging shots online and neither of them plan on backing down.

The latest round began after Wham was spotted filming a music video for an unreleased collab with EST Gee. In a snippet making rounds on the internet, the Atlanta rapper appeared to take direct aim at Akademiks.

“F*ck Akademiks that n*gga the feds.”

As expected, Big Ak wasn’t about to let that one slide. The media personality fired back almost immediately, using X to respond to Baby while also taking a jab at Atlanta’s rap scene.

“Half of Atlanta rappers documented on audio tape telling to cops including half of the n*ggas he still call ‘TWIN.’ Is this n*gga stupid.. If I’m the feds… Young Thug the lieutenant, I report to him.”

Not satisfied with just one response, Akademiks screenshotted his own tweet and shared it on Instagram, where he doubled down with even stronger words for the 4PF rapper.

“Tell that r*tarded n*gga @lilbaby this is my response to him. N*gga you can’t call no one the feds… fool you think we don’t got eyes and ears???”

Lil Baby has not responded to Ak’s latest rants. However, given the bloggers track record or never missing an opportunity to defend himself online, fans should know he’s far from over.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City was one of the worst days New Yorkers experienced in recent history. Not only did city officials shut down foot traffic in Midtown to accommodate the arrival of the human jinx known as Donald Trump, but the world watched as referees basically handed the San Antonio Spurs the victory in what many felt was blatant favoritism throughout the game.

That being said, Cardi B’s halftime performance did give New Yorkers something to enjoy as even Charles Barkley couldn’t help but notice the Bronx rapper’s obvious assets. Watching the 33-year-old Bronx bomber take to half court to perform her hit “Bodega Baddie” for thousands in attendance, the 63-year-old NBA Hall of Famer seemingly enjoyed the view as he told his co-hosts, “I don’t know if those B’s. Those might be Cardi D’s!”

Well, he’s not wrong. The hilarious moment caused “Cardi D” to go viral as fans took to social media to spread the word on Charles Barkley’s assessment of Cardi B’s physical degree.

Unfortunately for us viewers at home, we weren’t treated to Cardi B’s performance. We were instead “treated” to the halftime game analysis courtesy of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Draymond Green, Kenny “The Jet Smith,” and of course, Earnie Johnson. We guess if you pay thousands of dollars for nosebleed seats at Madison Square Garden, you get certain perks along with it.

That being said we would’ve taken a Cardi B performance over any NBA analysis any day of the week. Just sayin’.

Check out some clips of Cardi B’s performance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals below, and let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments section below.

On Monday night’s (June 8) episode of CNN’s NewsNight, the panel moderated by host Abby Phillip were front-row attendees to CNN commentator Charles Blow blasting Hal Lambert, a Republican megadonor and frequent NewsNight guest as a “liar”.

President Donald Trump had some choice words for the presidential hopes of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, seemingly in retaliation for the host’s comments. After attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York, President Trump delivered his comments on Smith, attacking his intellect in the process.

The big story in New York was President Trump returning to the city to attend the contest between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Stephen A. Smith aimed harsh words at the president attending the game and said he would blame the former business mogul if the home team lost.

The president, who doesn’t seem to miss any criticism about him, was asked outside Air Force One after the Knicks loss the Spurs, and was asked about Smith’s presidential aims.

Trump said that while he thought Smith was a “nice guy,” he added that he didn’t think that the longtime sports commentator had the intellectual mettle for the job.

Knowing how opinionated Smith can be, it wouldn’t be a shock if he responded to the president in his usual brash fashion.

For the record, Stephen A. Smith has since dashed his presidential plans after previously teasing a run in 2028.

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Photo: Getty

Offset nearly came to blows with a driver in Monaco after witnessing what multiple people described as aggressive behavior toward women.

The Atlanta rapper appeared heated as he confronted the driver, who was allegedly grabbing women by the neck while attempting to remove them from a vehicle. According to witnesses at the scene, the driver was “manhandling women aggressively, pulling their hair, and trying to get them out of his car.”

Footage caught by TMZ shows Set confronting the man outside of a black van in front of a crowd. During the heated exchange, the former Migos rapper didn’t hold back.

“You touching women, you putting your hands on women? You a b*tch.”

The Set It Off rapper then issued a warning, making it clear he wasn’t going to tolerate that kind of behavior, “He’s grabbing the girls by their neck… If he grab one more girl like that, I’mma beat him the f*ck up.”

It’s unclear whether law enforcement was ever called to the scene, but Offset was clearly standing on business when it came to defending the women involved.

Outside of the incident, the rapper has largely stayed out the way of drama while recovering from a gunshot wound back in April. Since then, he has returned to performing, recently making stops in Dubai, France, and Spain as part of his overseas run.

Offset’s mother previously spoke about her son’s resilience after the shooting, praising his determination to get back to work.

“I don’t typically address things about my son on social media. I learned a long time ago that facts rarely survive the internet, and I refuse to feed that machine… But today, I have to speak. Six days ago, my son was shot. Four days later, he was released from the hospital. Last night he was on stage doing what he loves to do. He is a miracle walking.”

Umlaut JAŸ-Z is going to be active this fall. On Tuesday (June 9), the Hip-Hop mogul and Roc Nation announced that he will be performing in Paris and Los Angeles in September and October, respectively.

The shows go down in Paris, on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at Stade De France, and Los Angeles, Friday, October 23, 2026 at SoFi Stadium. Tickets go on sale starting Thursday, June 11 through Citi and Mastercard presales, while general sales will kick off Friday, June 12 at 10am at livenation.com. 

The news arrives after the “Hovi Baby” rapper’s headlining set at the annual Roots Picnic on May 30. The performance quickly went viral thanks to a new freestyle he delivered that featured shots at names like Drake, Damon Dash and Nicki Minaj.

The show also served as an appetizer for the series of Yankee Stadium concerts JAŸ-Z is holding in July to celebrate milestone anniversaries of couple of his classic albums; Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint.

JAŸ-Z was spotted courtside at last night’s (June 8), game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Unfortunately for the home team, Donald Trump also came through and they took an L, with many pinning it on the Sleeper in Chief. Not respectfully.

This story is developing.

Westside Gunn is pushing back after a new round of Griselda rumors hit the timeline. This time, the chatter involves JAŸ-Z, business splits and the long-speculated tension between Griselda’s core trio.

Donald Trump just had to make it about himself. With the Knicks on an epic 13-game winning streak that saw them up 2-0 against the Spurs in the NBA Finals, the Commander In Sleep just had to attend game 3 — and right on brand, due to the Trump Effect, the squad suffered a loss.

Cheeto was invited by the team owner James Dolan, who has long been a Trump supporter. This is despite New York City and Knicks fans being generally anti-Trump by default. Nevertheless, the convicted criminal attended the game despite everyone with sense asking him not to.

When you’ve lost SAS…

The consequence of his attendance were pretty much as expected — bad juju. Because of the security precautions necessary for a current POTUS to attend a game, ticket holders were told to arrive at least two hours before the game. Then there street closures around Madison Square Garden and as for the big watch party outside the venue — cancelled.

As for silver linings, Trump got soundly booed when his imaged was flashed on screen during the singing of the National Anthem.

Then to add insult to pending injury (as far as the Knicks taking an L), the guy dozed off. Yes, he was asleep and is clearly seeing getting jarred awake after one his long “blinks.”

Of course, Trump is getting blamed for the Knicks loss, as well as the refs and some tepid gameplay. But Trump being the main scapegoat is way more entertaining as the reactions we’ve gather below will prove. Stay home for Game 4 (and ALL the games), chief.

J.R. Writer is taking legal action against Universal Music Group, alleging the company has failed to pay him master and publishing royalties.

Born Juan Rusty Brito, the Harlem rapper and songwriter is seeking compensation for his work on records by Dipset members Cam’ron and Juelz Santana. Writer claims he has not received his share of royalties tied to Cam’s “Shake” and Juelz Santana’s “Squalie,” despite being credited on both records.

A longtime affiliate of Dipset, Writer played a key role in the collective’s rise during the early 2000s. “Shake” appeared on Killa’s classic Purple Haze album, while “Squalie” was featured on Satana’s debut project, From Me to U.

According to the lawsuit, Writer is credited as both a featured artist and co-writer on the songs. However, he alleges that Universal Music Group has not paid him any master or publishing royalties connected to the records. The company reportedly told Writer that approval from either the artist or the label was required before payments could be issued.

Writer disputes that position, arguing that his existing songwriting and performance credits should be sufficient proof of ownership and entitlement to compensation.

Notably, the songwriter says he has already received royalty payments for both songs through ASCAP and SoundExchange, further supporting his claim that he is owed additional compensation.

Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest has come and gone, but there is one moment in particular that had gamers collectively saying huh?

RGG Studios had one of the many announcements of the night, delivering a new look at its highly anticipated game, Stranger Than Heaven, and when Tupac, who plays a new character named Amaru, showed up, boy, was it strange.

While I was sitting in the audience watching the latest Stranger Than Heaven announcement next to the homie, HipHopGamer, he didn’t hide his excitement about the reveal; however, the look on my face told a different story as I was saying to myself in my head, “Yeah, this isn’t going to go over well with the internet.”

After Tupac showed up in the game’s trailer, which also features Snoop Dogg as an original character, the West Coast rapper took the stage with his son to talk about the late rapper’s presence in the game.

A Press Release States RGG Studio Worked Closely With Tupac’s Estate & There Was No AI Use

Knowing this announcement would ruffle feathers, the game’s press release made sure to point out that Tupac’s estate approved the use of his likeness.

“Tupac’s portrayal of the character Amaru in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN is made possible with the permission and ongoing supervision of his estate, Amaru Entertainment. RGG Studio is treating this integration with the utmost respect for his legacy, crafting every aspect in the close collaboration and without the use of AI, including his character design based on archival footage and photographs. More details regarding his role will be shared at a later date,” the press release read.

Well, that didn’t really make anyone feel any better because the person who signed off on Tupac’s likeness being in the game wasn’t anyone in the late rapper’s immediate family, but Tom Whalley, the former head of Warner Bros. Records.

Whalley signed Tupac, who died without a will, to his record deal, and is now embroiled in a lawsuit brought by Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, in 2022, who claims he embezzled millions from her brother’s estate.

Whalley took over the estate after Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, passed away in 2016.

“He has effectively embezzled millions of dollars for his own benefit,” Sekyiwa Shakur said in her complaint. “Whalley has unreasonably enriched himself at the expense of the beneficiaries and in bad faith by taking excessive compensation in a position from which he should properly be barred based on the inherent conflict of interest.”

RGG Studios is likely avoiding online reactions because it’s getting slammed for including Tupac in the game.

“Something about this feels really evil,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another post read, “Def no buy from me. Snoop should be ashamed of himself.”

Some replies were also quite hilarious.

We shall see if Tupac and Snoop’s inclusion in Stranger Than Heaven will hurt the game. Until that day arrives, you can see more reactions below.

Well, it looks like witnessing The LOX manhandle Dipset at the classic Verzuz battle of the summer of 2021 will be the last time we’ll see Cam’ron alongside his Harlem brethren on stage. Killa says he has no interest in being part of any Diplomats reunion anytime soon.

On a recent appearance on the Do You podcast, Cam chopped it up a bit with its hostesses, Jenny and Shy, who touched on the subject of a possible Dipset reunion happening in the future to which Cam bluntly stated, “Nah.” Looking to further explain his stance on such a thing actually happening, Cam made it clear that he has no interest in participating in such a reunion, saying, “Let me rephrase that, it could without me.”

“All I’m saying is I seen them do Dipset reunion shows without me… It’s mad members of Dipset. I’m just sayin’ I wouldn’t be there.”

Maybe seeing his former rap crew do shows without including him rubbed him the wrong way.

While explaining that Dipset had many more members than just himself, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana, Cam was simply explaining that they could “all gather up and do the reunion,” but he wouldn’t be part of such an effort.

For a minute there it really seemed like Cam, Jim, Juelz and Dame Dash were going to be ride-or-die Harlem bros forever, but alas, it was not meant to be. Money and ego will always have crazy effects on friendships.

Check out Cam break down his thoughts about a Dipset reunion around the 55-minute mark, and let us know your thoughts on his stance in the comments section below.

President Donald Trump stormed off the set of an interview with Meet The Press – but not before he lashed out at the host, Kristen Welker after a verbal exchange calling her and NBC “crooked” and “stupid” and appearing to step on the microphone in the process.