Nicki Minaj Calls for Global Action on Nigeria’s Religious Violence in Rare Diplomatic Moment

Nicki Minaj speaks at a United Nations event in New York on Tuesday, pausing at the podium between the U.S. flag and a United Nations backdrop as she delivers prepared remarks calling attention to violence against Christians in Nigeria. The rapper addressed diplomats, officials and attendees during the session, which highlighted reports of church burnings, displacement and religiously targeted attacks in several regions of the country.

Nicki Minaj is usually trending for explosive feuds, late-night livestreams, or the latest culture-war crossfire. But today, the woman who shook hip-hop with alter egos and internet smoke stepped into the United Nations with a tone no one associates with her anymore: calm, measured and deadly serious.

The rap superstar delivered a composed address about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, calling attention to burned churches, displaced families, and communities living in fear. “Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith,” she said, thanking Ambassador Mike Waltz for the invitation and acknowledging Donald Trump for elevating the issue — a detail that instantly raised eyebrows far beyond the U.N. floor.

Her message was straightforward and rooted in verified reports of violence across parts of Nigeria. But the moment wasn’t simple. It came in the middle of one of the most turbulent stretches of Minaj’s career, when her public persona has been defined less by advocacy and more by social-media battles, political backlash and nonstop controversy.

Nigeria’s Violence Crisis

Nigeria faces overlapping conflicts involving extremist militias, armed criminal groups, ethnic clashes and separatist violence. Attacks against Christian communities have been documented across parts of the Middle Belt and northern states, including church burnings and mass killings.

Muslim civilians are also victims, especially in the northeast, where Boko Haram and ISIS–West Africa have carried out deadly assaults on mosques and Muslim communities.

Conflict analysts agree the violence is driven by several factors: religious extremism, land-use conflicts, organized kidnapping operations, political instability and weak state security forces.

Across all sources, the consensus remains the same: the suffering is widespread and real, even if experts differ on the exact causes.

That’s why the optics hit so hard. A star known for turning timelines into minefields was suddenly standing in front of diplomats talking about universal human rights. And behind that microphone sat a political machine that also benefited from her presence. Waltz — a former congressman tightly aligned with Trump — has made Nigeria’s crisis a major talking point. Trump himself has used it to argue for more aggressive U.S. action. Minaj’s appearance didn’t just highlight suffering; it amplified a narrative already central to their agenda.

Online, the reactions split fast. Supporters praised her for using her platform for something meaningful. Critics questioned whether she was being used for a photo op. Nigerians asked why a celebrity was chosen to spotlight a crisis that activists say needs resources and strategy, not celebrity packaging. And longtime Barbz — especially those uneasy with her recent political alignment — wondered if this was sincere, strategic, or both.

Still, inside the U.N., Minaj didn’t posture. She didn’t provoke. She didn’t fight. She delivered the speech straight, without theatrics, ending on a note that felt almost like a vow: “For the rest of my life, I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their beliefs.”

Whether today was a heartfelt pivot, a carefully timed reset, or a calculated moment engineered by people around her, one thing is undeniable: Nicki Minaj added a new chapter to her unpredictable storyline — and she did it on one of the biggest stages on earth.

Watch the entire speech below.

Tory Lanez Fined $20K for Contempt in Megan Thee Stallion Defamation Case

Tory Lanez was found in contempt of court in Miami on Monday and sanctioned $20,000 after refusing to answer deposition questions in Megan Thee Stallion’s defamation case against online commentator Milagro Cooper.

Tory Lanez hasn’t said a public word in nearly a year, but his silence inside a Miami federal courthouse thundered louder than any defense he could have mounted.
The rapper — already serving a decade-long sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020 — was held in contempt of court this week and hit with a $20,000 sanction after refusing to answer basic, court-ordered questions in the defamation case Megan filed against online personality Milagro Cooper.

The moment snapped the courtroom into focus. According to federal filings and testimony reviewed by the court, Lanez repeatedly declined to engage during a deposition about his relationship and communications with Cooper — even after a judge ordered him to continue the questioning under supervision. His refusal prompted U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid to impose the monetary penalty and instruct jurors that they may draw an adverse inference from his silence, a legal way of telling them that Lanez may be hiding information that could damage the defense.

For Megan’s team, the sanctions confirmed what they’ve argued from day one: that the digital smear campaign she accuses Cooper of orchestrating wasn’t random internet chaos but a coordinated effort designed to undermine her credibility before, during, and after Lanez’s criminal trial. In a recent filing, they wrote, “Despite being sentenced to ten years for shooting Ms. Pete, Mr. Peterson continues to subject her to repeated trauma and revictimization.”

Cooper — who hosts a Stationhead show and has built a sizable following by covering rap culture with a street-level, provocative style — is defending herself against allegations of defamation, cyberstalking, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the willful promotion of an altered sexual depiction under a 2024 Florida law. Judge Cecilia Altonaga previously ruled she does not qualify as a media defendant, clearing the path for a standard defamation action without special notice protections.

The case’s paper trail has grown more tangled as trial week begins. Cooper was sanctioned earlier this fall for deleting thousands of messages — including texts with Lanez and Lanez’s father — after being ordered to preserve all communications. Those deletions now allow jurors to presume the missing evidence would have been damaging to her defense.

Lanez’s own role has only complicated matters further. Video excerpts of his earlier deposition will be shown to the jury, and his refusal to answer foundational questions this month turned what should have been routine testimony into a dramatic new legal blow. Legal observers say the sanction is significant: contempt fines in federal civil cases tied to disobedience of deposition orders are not common, and the adverse inference instruction could heavily tilt the jury’s view of the harassment allegations.

For hip-hop fans, the case represents more than a clash between an artist and an online commentator. It marks a turning point in how courts treat digital influence, viral narratives, and weaponized commentary — especially when it intersects with violence against women. It also cements the aftermath of Lanez’s criminal conviction as an ongoing story, one still echoing through the same culture he once dominated.

With trial testimony now underway in Miami, both Megan and Cooper are expected to take the stand in the days ahead. And Lanez — silent, sanctioned, and sitting in a California prison — now faces the reality that his refusal to speak may end up speaking loudest of all.

Cardi B Announces Birth of Her Baby and a New Chapter Focused on Reinvention

Photo Credit: Warner Music

Cardi B didn’t just introduce her new baby to the world Tuesday afternoon — she declared a shift in her entire life.

In a deeply personal Instagram post, the Bronx superstar confirmed the arrival of her fourth child and her first with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, framing motherhood and reinvention as the driving force behind her next era.

“My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons,” she wrote. “I brought new music and a new album to the world. A new baby into my world — and one more reason to be the best version of me.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)

The announcement closed weeks of speculation surrounding the due date, following both Diggs’ confirmation that the baby was a boy (she did not reveal the name) and Cardi’s own "CBS Mornings" interview in September revealing she was pregnant again. It also follows her recent rollout for her “Little Miss Drama” tour, which she said she was preparing for “while creating a baby.”

In Tuesday’s post, Cardi framed the moment not as a soft reset but a full transformation. “This next chapter is Me vs. Me,” she wrote, describing a season of healing, discipline, and purpose. “It’s me against all odds… getting my body right, getting my mind right. There’s nothing that’s gonna stop me from giving you guys the performance of a lifetime.”

Sources close to the couple — and Diggs’ own comments to People — have consistently described this pregnancy as grounding for both artists. Diggs told the outlet he was “100% team boy” prior to the birth and said he was ready for fatherhood “real soon.”

Cardi’s post arrives at a pivotal moment for her career. She released her long-awaited sophomore album this fall, marking her first full project since “Invasion of Privacy,” and opened the door for a new sonic era steeped in vulnerability, sharpened confidence, and hard-earned growth.

Cardi closed her message with a simple declaration that reads as much like a thesis for her next era as it does a promise to herself: “I’ve learned, I’ve healed, and I’m loving the woman I’ve become.”

Akon Detained in Georgia on Bench Warrant Linked to Suspended License Case

Akon, 52, is seen in a booking photo taken Friday after Chamblee police arrested him on a bench warrant tied to a suspended-license case out of Roswell, Georgia. He was released from the DeKalb County Jail later the same day. (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

Akon was briefly taken into custody in Georgia on Friday after police flagged a vehicle registered in his name and discovered he had an outstanding bench warrant tied to a prior suspended-license citation.

According to the Chamblee Police Department, an officer was dispatched just after 11 a.m. to Tint World, an automotive styling shop along Chamblee Dunwoody Road, after license-plate cameras alerted authorities that a wanted vehicle — a white Tesla Cybertruck — had entered the area. When the officer arrived, they located the truck and saw a man standing outside who matched the registered owner’s description.

Police say the man identified himself as Akon, whose legal name is Aliaune Badara Thiam. After confirming the active warrant, officers informed him he was being detained. According to the incident report, Akon complied, remained calm and told officers he was already aware of the warrant. No weapons or contraband were found during a search.

He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, booked early Friday afternoon and released later the same day.

The bench warrant stems from a Sept. 10 incident in Roswell, when police found Akon’s Cybertruck stranded after its battery died. Officers contacted the singer, ran his information and determined his driver’s license was suspended for failure to appear. The truck was impounded, and Akon was issued a citation.

Police records show he was later arrested on the related bench warrant in November, after being transferred from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to Smyrna authorities, before being released again.

It remains unclear when he is due back in court or whether the Cybertruck has since been retrieved from impound. Police have not indicated whether further charges may be forthcoming.

Akon, 52, has not publicly commented on the incident.

Rod Wave Arrested in Atlanta Hours After First Grammy Nomination

Rod Wave, born Rodarius Marcell Green, appears in a booking photo after his Friday arrest in Atlanta on felony drug, weapons and reckless driving charges. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office)

Rod Wave’s first Grammy nomination was supposed to change the narrative of his year. Instead, it ended the way too many of his nights have recently ended — with handcuffs, blue lights and another set of felony charges in Georgia's Fulton County.

The 27-year-old rapper and singer, born Rodarius Marcell Green, was arrested Friday evening in Atlanta after police say he blew through a stop sign in a Dodge Challenger near Defoor Avenue and Taylor Street. Officers reported hearing the engine “rev,” watching the car accelerate “at a high rate of speed,” and smelling suspected marijuana once the vehicle stopped. A search followed, and officers say they recovered a firearm and controlled substances categorized under Schedule II and Schedule V of Georgia law.

Green was taken to the Fulton County Jail and later released on an $8,000 bond, according to court records. The arrest landed the same day he received his first-ever Grammy nomination for “Sinners,” his contribution to the soundtrack for the horror film of the same name — an abrupt collision of career highs and legal lows that has defined much of his last two years.

His attorneys — Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, and Zack Findling — called the arrest unlawful and politically motivated.

“Rod Wave was unjustly profiled and unlawfully arrested in Atlanta,” the team said in a statement. “The arresting officer belongs to the Crime Suppression Unit, a group known for aggressive tactics and a quota-driven approach. We look forward to challenging these violations of Mr. Green’s rights in court.”

Friday’s arrest is the newest entry in a growing legal ledger. Green is already fighting serious charges out of Milton, Georgia, stemming from a May incident in which police say he returned home to a burglary, confronted a man on the property, and a firearm was discharged 14 times, hitting cars and a wall inside the residence. He faces counts including aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence. That case remains open.

At the time, Findling disputed every allegation:
“There is no truth to these charges. Rod was a victim of a burglary and committed no crimes.”

The rapper also has prior arrests in Florida — a 2024 case involving alleged weapon possession connected to a gang-related shooting (no conviction) and a 2022 domestic battery case that prosecutors later dismissed as a “misunderstanding.”

Despite the legal storms, Rod Wave’s commercial momentum remains undeniable. He’s among the highest-grossing touring rappers of his generation, pulling in a reported $36 million across 31 shows, and is the only male artist to debut a top 10 album every year from 2019 to 2024. His 2024 release Last Lap debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, marking seven consecutive top-10s.

Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa Lead Powerful Night at Rock Hall’s 40th Anniversary

Outkast’s Big Boi and André 3000 speak onstage during their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the 40th annual ceremony o Saturday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Atlanta duo was honored alongside a diverse class including Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Bad Company, Chubby Checker and Joe Cocker. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for RRHOF)

When André 3000 and Big Boi started recording in the humid, half-lit basement known as the Dungeon, they weren’t chasing plaques, museums, or a place in rock history. They were chasing a sound — Atlanta’s sound — raw, melodic, Southern, and defiantly different from anything the coasts were doing. On Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame finally caught up to what the culture has known for thirty years: Outkast didn’t just shift the South. They helped shift the center of gravity in American music.

Inside the Peacock Theater, the duo’s induction became the emotional anchor of the Rock Hall’s 40th anniversary ceremony, a night where hip-hop, R&B, soul, and rock were honored with equal urgency. Their longtime admirer Donald Glover — a fellow son of Atlanta — delivered a near-perfect induction, tracing the lineage from the Dungeon Family to the present day. “When I first played ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,’ I heard the people around me,” Glover said. “And I learned you don’t have to scream or yell. You just have to be undeniable.”

"Great things start in little rooms. We started in a little room." — André 3000 and @BigBoi accept @Outkast’s Induction into the Rock & Roll of Fame.#RockHall2025 pic.twitter.com/lYI8xjENLB

— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) November 9, 2025

Big Boi and André 3000 accepted together, surrounded by members of the Dungeon Family who helped shape their earliest sound. André’s speech — loose, unscripted, and deeply emotional — underscored how improbable the moment felt. “A lot of times when you get up here it’s about the musicians,” he said. “But it’s everybody around you. This is my family.” He shouted out Goodie Mob, Rico Wade, and the relatives who let a basement become a laboratory. “Jack White talked about little rooms,” André added. “And we started in a little room. Great things start in little rooms.”

Big Boi, ever direct, turned toward his brother in rhyme: “Thank you for making me be the best I can be… going toe to toe on the records. Iron sharpening iron. Love you, man.”

If Outkast provided the ceremony’s heartbeat, Salt-N-Pepa delivered its thunder. Sandra Denton, Cheryl James, and DJ Spinderella ran through “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Whatta Man,” and “Push It” with the kind of precision that made them pioneers. But it was Salt’s pointed, unmistakable message about their ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group that electrified the room. “We’re in a fight for our masters that rightfully belong to us,” she told the audience, explaining that their catalog had been pulled from streaming during the dispute. “Salt-N-Pepa has never been afraid of a fight.” Cheers erupted — not out of nostalgia, but solidarity.

"To all the guys who had a crush on us and had our posters on your wall, you're welcome." — Watch @TheSaltNPepa officially accept their induction into the Rock Hall.

📺 Watch the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony NOW on @DisneyPlus.#RockHall2025 pic.twitter.com/tGnuhfsRkg

— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) November 9, 2025

Outkast may have supplied the ceremony’s cultural heartbeat, but they were inducted amid one of the Rock Hall’s most eclectic classes yet — a lineup that stretched from Bad Company and The White Stripes to Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Soundgarden, and Warren Zevon. For a show built on rock history, the spread of genres made clear how far the Hall’s borders have expanded in its 40th year.

Performances reflected that shift. The night opened with a tribute to Sly Stone, featuring Stevie Wonder, Flea, Beck, Maxwell and Jennifer Hudson — a supergroup that felt more like a jam session than a tribute. Cyndi Lauper delivered the ceremony’s most emotional moment, stopping “True Colors” mid-song to raise her fist in silence for the LGBTQ community. And Elton John offered a delicate, reverent “God Only Knows” in memory of Brian Wilson, who died in June.

Soundgarden’s segment — featuring Taylor Momsen on “Rusty Cage” and Brandi Carlile on “Black Hole Sun” — turned grief into communion. Chris Cornell’s absence hung in the air, acknowledged by the band with love rather than sorrow. “I miss him. I love him,” guitarist Kim Thayil said.

The White Stripes received a heartfelt salute from 22-year-old Olivia Rodrigo, who performed “I Think We’re Going to Be Friends” with Feist. Jack White dedicated a portion of his speech to legendary bassist Carol Kaye, though neither she nor Meg White attended.

The night closed with a Joe Cocker tribute that hit all the expected notes — “Feelin’ Alright,” “The Letter,” and a finale of “With a Little Help from My Friends.” It was scruffy, soulful, and raucous, exactly the way Cocker performed it in 1969, and exactly how a Rock Hall closer should feel.

But no segment resonated like hip-hop’s. Not because it was louder or flashier — but because it was legacy in motion. Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Questlove, Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat, Janelle Monáe, and the Dungeon Family turned a traditionally rock-centered institution into something broader and truer: a celebration of American music as it actually exists, not as it once did.

Thirty years after Outkast told the Source Awards, “The South got something to say,” the Rock Hall finally said something back.

Grammy Ballot Reaffirms Hip-Hop’s Influence as Lamar Leads With Nine

Top album of the year nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards include Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Gunna and Tyler, the Creator. The Recording Academy announced the nominations Friday ahead of the Feb. 1 ceremony in Los Angeles. (Image courtesy of the Recording Academy)

The 2026 Grammys dropped their nominations Friday morning, and the ballot reads like a reminder of
who’s really steering modern music. Kendrick Lamar leads all artists this year with nine nominations, a run powered by the continued dominance of “Luther,” his chart-shifting collaboration with SZA. The single landed nods for Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance , while the album that anchors it, "GNX," is in the hunt for Album of the Year.

Artist	Total Nominations	Primary Genre Focus
Kendrick Lamar	9	Hip-Hop / Rap
Lady Gaga	7	Pop / Dance
Bad Bunny	6	Latin / Música Urbana
Sabrina Carpenter	6	Pop
Leon Thomas	6	R&B / Soul
Clipse (Pusha T & Malice)	5	Hip-Hop / Rap
Doechii	5	Hip-Hop / R&B
SZA	5	R&B / Pop
Tyler, The Creator	5	Alternative Rap

The competition for the night's top honors is fierce, with Lady Gaga following Lamar with seven nominations, and both Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter scoring six nods each. All three major artists are competing against Lamar for Album of the Year, underscoring a historic race where Pop, Latin, and Hip-Hop titans face off in the marquee categories.

Leon Thomas emerged as the ceremony’s breakout story, earning six nominations — the most of any new artist — with his project “Mutt” hitting Album of the Year and multiple R&B categories. The singer-producer’s run marks one of the strongest career-reset moments in recent Grammy memory.

SZA, Doechii, Tyler, the Creator, and Clipse follow with five nominations each, a tight cluster that reflects how deeply hip-hop, R&B, Black pop, and alternative rap remain woven into the Recording Academy’s center of gravity.

Doechii’s “Anxiety” showed up everywhere — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video — a rare sweep for a track driven by emotional precision rather than chart gymnastics. Tyler earned recognition for “Don’t Tap the Glass” and “Chromakopia,” while Clipse broke through with “Let God Sort ’Em Out,” their first album in 16 years, which now competes for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album.

For all the talk this year about rap’s uneven commercial presence — including the moment in August when no rap song appeared in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 for the first time in 35 years — the Grammy ballot tells a different story. The culture continues to define the creative edge, even when the charts glitch.

The industry’s evolution shows up elsewhere, too. The 2026 ceremony introduces two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, expanding the Academy’s effort to credit the craft behind the music. Even there, the nominations reflect a generation raised on hip-hop’s visual language — bold palettes, narrative artwork, and street-influenced design that now appear across genres.

Click here for a full list of nominees.

Watch: ‘Michael’ Trailer Revisits Thriller-Era Magic With Jaafar Jackson

The teaser poster for “Michael” features depictions of Michael Jackson across different stages of his career for the upcoming Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic. (Courtesy Lionsgate)

Lionsgate released the first trailer for “Michael,” Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biopic about the King of Pop, offering the closest look yet at how one of music’s most iconic stories will be retold for a new generation. The teaser will play in theaters ahead of “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” and the film is scheduled to hit theaters April 24, 2026.

Jackson is portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, whose resemblance has drawn attention since production began. The trailer opens in a recording studio with Quincy Jones — played by Kendrick Sampson — telling Jackson the tracks are ready before the film flashes through childhood moments, breakthrough performances and unmistakable visuals from “Thriller,” set to the pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”

The cast features a wide lineup of heavy hitters: Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as attorney John Branca, Jessica Sula as LaToya Jackson, Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe and Kat Graham as Diana Ross. Additional roles include Liv Symone as Gladys Knight, Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark and KeiLyn Durrel Jones as longtime security chief Bill Bray.

The project — written by John Logan and produced by Graham King alongside estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain — wrapped principal photography in 2024 before undergoing additional shooting. Early rumors suggested the story might be split into two films, but the current marketing push frames a single, full narrative.

The teaser closes on an intimate detail: Jackson asking, “Q, can you lower the lights for me, please?” as the studio dims and his silhouette comes into focus — an image signaling that Fuqua’s film aims to revisit not just the legend, but the artist behind it.

Watch the full trailer below.

Teyana Taylor, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Iman Lead Ebony’s 80th Anniversary Celebration

Teyana Taylor accepts the Entertainer of the Year award during the 2025 Ebony Power 100 Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Matt Sayles / Ebony Media Group)

Teyana Taylor was crowned Entertainer of the Year at Ebony’s Power 100 Gala Tuesday night, leading a lineup that included Tracee Ellis Ross, Iman, Shaquille O’Neal, Lonnie G. Bunch III and reality TV star Olandria Carthen.

The celebration, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, marked Ebony magazine’s 80th anniversary and drew a cross-section of Black talent and industry power players. Robin Thede hosted the evening, with live performances by Ari Lennox and Lucky Daye, as honorees spanning music, fashion, film, sports and philanthropy took center stage.

Taylor — the creative whose work now stretches far beyond her early “Google Me” and “Maybe” days — has evolved into one of the culture’s sharpest artistic voices. The “Rose in Harlem” artist accepted her award with her trademark calm, calling the honor a reflection of “the work behind the light.”

Tracee Ellis Ross, recognized as Pathbreaker of the Year, credited the women who came before her while urging others to define success on their own terms. Iman, named Icon of the Year, spoke briefly about perseverance and the quiet power of longevity — a statement that needed no embellishment from someone who helped rewrite the rules of modeling itself.

Shaquille O’Neal received Entrepreneur of the Year, using the moment to announce he would rename the honor after the late Junior Bridgeman, highlighting the legacy of mentorship in Black business. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was honored as Humanitarian of the Year, while Olandria Carthen took home the People’s Choice Award for her entrepreneurial and community work.

The gala coincided with Ebony’s November “Power Issue,” featuring the 2025 honorees on its group cover — a visual nod to the legacy of excellence the brand has chronicled for eight decades.

From Touchdowns to Toddlers: Stefon Diggs Confirms He’s Expecting a Son with Cardi B

Cardi B and Stefon Diggs aboard a yacht during a Memorial Day-weekend outing in Miami, in a photo (now deleted) she posted June 1, 2025 captioned “Chapter 5 … Hello Chapter 6.” (Image via Instagram/@iamcardib)

New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs is officially in dad mode — and fashion mode.

The 31-year-old wide receiver confirmed to People at Monday night’s CFDA Fashion Awards that he and rapper Cardi B are expecting their first child together — and it’s a boy.

“It’s a boy. That’s enough for me,” Diggs told People. “I can’t wait to make him do push-ups and sit-ups and run around.”

Diggs’ revelation came hours after his appearance on "Extra," where he and designer Willie Charvarria walked the red carpet together. In that interview, Diggs — dressed in Charvarria’s custom design — didn’t reveal the gender but said the baby was “supposed to happen real soon,” adding with a grin, “Wish us both luck.”

Charvarria, who has styled Diggs for three straight years, described the look as “about Stefon himself — strong, a winner, chiseled at all times.” Diggs told Extra host Mona Kosar Abdi he makes time for the things that matter: “We had a game yesterday, we won. So, we’re bringing a little good luck.”

 

When asked about A$AP Rocky receiving the Fashion Icon Award, Diggs called him “an inspiration for the culture for a very long time,” a nod to the night’s celebration of men’s fashion.

Cardi B, 33, had already shared the pregnancy news in September during a CBS Mornings interview with Gayle King, confirming:

“I’m having a baby with my boyfriend, Stefon Diggs,” the Bronx-born rapper said. “I feel very strong, very powerful that I’m doing all this work — but I’m doing all this work while I’m creating a baby.”

This will be Cardi’s fourth child. She shares three children with her estranged husband, rapper Offset, and is due before her “Little Miss Drama” tour begins in February 2026.

The couple first appeared publicly together at an NBA playoff game in May, cementing one of hip-hop’s most unexpected crossovers — NFL precision meeting Bronx flair. Since then, they’ve traded supportive social media posts, with Diggs writing under one of Cardi’s posts, “Proud of you for staying focused ❤️” and later adding, “100% team boy 💙🙏🏾.”

Now, after a headline-making red-carpet night and a confirmed boy on the way, the receiver who’s mastered route running may be mapping out his most important play yet — fatherhood.

Rapper Young Bleed Dead at 51 After Brain Aneurysm, Son Confirms

Young Bleed shown in a promotional image circa 2024.Young Bleed’s son, Ty’Gee Ramon, confirmed his father’s death in a video posted Monday on Instagram, saying the Baton Rouge rapper “gained his wings” on Saturday following complications from a brain aneurysm.

Baton Rouge rapper Young Bleed, whose 1998 anthem “How Ya Do Dat” became a Southern rap classic and helped define the bridge between No Limit’s street realism and Cash Money’s mainstream rise, has died at 51 following complications from a brain aneurysm.

His eldest son, Ty’Gee Ramon, confirmed the news Monday in an emotional Instagram video, saying his father “gained his wings” on Saturday. “It’s unreal,” Ramon said. “He never dealt with real health issues, but he did have high blood pressure and took medicine. It was a natural thing.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ty’Gee Ramon (@ty_gee_ramon)

The Louisiana native — born Glenn Clifton Jr. — suffered a brain aneurysm on Oct. 25, days after performing at the Cash Money–No Limit Verzuz event in Las Vegas and appearing at ComplexCon. He had been hospitalized in critical condition since then.

The sudden loss comes less than two weeks after his sister, Tedra Johnson-Spears, publicly pleaded for fans to stop spreading false death reports while Young Bleed remained in intensive care. “He is still currently in ICU,” she wrote at the time, asking for privacy and respect for the family.

In the days before his hospitalization, Bleed was enjoying a late-career renaissance, celebrating both his roots and his influence as a Baton Rouge trailblazer. Known for his poetic storytelling and unhurried drawl, he brought a philosopher’s calm to the chaos of late-’90s Louisiana rap — a sound that turned regional slang and hustler ethos into national conversation.

His debut album, “My Balls and My Word,” released through No Limit and Priority Records, debuted in Billboard’s Top 10 in 1998. The album’s breakout single, “How Ya Do Dat,” featuring C-Loc and Master P, became a Gulf Coast rallying cry that cemented Bleed’s legacy. The project went gold, earning Young Bleed a place among the first Baton Rouge rappers to reach a mainstream national audience.

Blueface’s First Day Free Turns Chaotic as Jaidyn Alexis, Chrisean Rock Clash

Blueface appears in a video (see below) shared to Instagram shortly after his release Monday, joking with followers and thanking fans for support as online drama with Jaidyn Alexis and Chrisean Rock reignited within hours. (Video via Instagram/@bluefasebabyy)

After 21 months behind bars, rapper Blueface walked out of prison today — and the drama that has long followed him wasted no time resurfacing.

Known for his breakout hit “Thotiana” and a social-media persona built on controversy and charisma, the 28-year-old rapper was released Monday and quickly reunited with his children, including son Chrisean Jr., whom he shares with Chrisean Rock, and two kids with longtime on-again, off-again partner Jaidyn Alexis.

Within hours, Alexis went live on Instagram and fired off remarks aimed at Rock, saying she did not approve of her children being around “a crackhead” — comments originally reported by TMZ Hip Hop. She abruptly ended the stream but not before fueling yet another viral moment between the two women at the center of Blueface’s offstage drama.

Blueface (real name Jonathan Porter) served his sentence on probation-related violations that stemmed from earlier assault and weapons cases. His release marks the end of a turbulent chapter that blended hip-hop fame with near-constant courtroom headlines.

Hours after his release, Blueface briefly went live on Instagram himself, thanking fans for support and joking, “Still that n***a, two years later,” before teasing that he might make his account private. The clip showed him inside his Los Angeles home alongside family members and his mother, Karlissa Saffold, who had posted a countdown to his release for weeks.

The rapper’s return home also reunited him with his new girlfriend Angela, who told TMZ Hip Hop she supported him through his sentence and believes he’s “a keeper.”

Blueface’s homecoming comes at a career crossroads. Before his incarceration, he teased new music and a possible label imprint; now, he faces the challenge of converting infamy into focus.

Nas, Resorts World Team up To Fund the Hip Hop Museum With $2 Million Donation

Nas appears at a Resorts World New York City event in Queens earlier this year. The Queensbridge icon recently joined the company in announcing a joint $2 million donation to help fund The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, slated to open in 2026. (Photo: Resorts World New York City)

Hip-hop is finally getting the temple it deserves — and one of its greatest lyricists just helped lay the foundation.

Queensbridge legend Nas has teamed with Resorts World New York City to donate $2 million toward the completion of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, the long-awaited institution celebrating the genre’s origins and global rise. The announcement came during the museum’s annual benefit gala, where Nas said the project “is something our culture has needed for a long time.”

“Building this Hip Hop Museum is something our culture has needed for a long time,” he told guests. “It’s powerful to see a space being created to preserve that history and to educate and inspire the next generation. Being able to contribute alongside Resorts World to help bring this vision to life is an honor. This museum stands as a reminder of where we came from, and a celebration of everything Hip Hop continues to be.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Hip Hop Museum (@thhmuseum)

The museum, rising inside the Bronx Point development at 585 Exterior Street, is slated to open in 2026. It sits just minutes from 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, the site of DJ Kool Herc’s 1973 back-to-school jam that gave birth to hip-hop itself. Led by founder and CEO Rocky Bucano, the project will house interactive galleries, archives, performance spaces and a theater designed to preserve hip-hop’s five core elements — MCing, DJing, breaking, graffiti and knowledge.

“Receiving this generous $2 million donation from Nas and Resorts World at our benefit gala was a major highlight of the evening,” Bucano said. “His generosity supports our capital campaign and brings us closer to opening our doors in 2026.”

Resorts World’s contribution comes as the company pursues a full downstate casino license for its Queens racino, proposing a $7.5 billion expansion with $2 billion in community benefits — including cultural investments like this one. The Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to decide on licenses by late 2025.

The casino competition has been fierce: earlier this year, the Jay-Z/Roc Nation-backed Caesars Palace Times Square proposal was rejected by a local advisory committee after strong opposition from theater owners, leaving Resorts World and MGM’s Yonkers bid among the frontrunners.

But beyond the politics, Nas’s involvement brings the story full circle. The Bronx once birthed hip-hop; now one of its most eloquent sons is helping give it a permanent home. In a city that once tried to silence the genre, the sound that defined New York will finally have its own museum — built by the hands of those who made it matter.

At a Glance: The Hip Hop Museum

• Location: Bronx Point development, 585 Exterior St., Bronx, NY 10451
• Opening Target: 2026
• Latest Funding: $2 million joint gift from Nas and Resorts World New York City (Oct 2025)
• Capital Support to Date: $80 million + public and private funding (NYC EDC, UHHM Foundation, Resorts World)
• Facility Size: ≈ 52,000 sq ft with galleries, archives and 300-seat theater
• Mission: Preserve hip-hop history and foster innovation for future generations
• Context: Near 1520 Sedgwick Ave.—the recognized birthplace of hip-hop culture

Diddy Begins Term at Fort DIX as Appeal and Rehab Plan Take Shape

Sean “Diddy” Combs has begun serving the remainder of his 50-month federal sentence at FCI Fort Dix, a low-security prison in southern New Jersey. The move follows a court filing by his lawyers and places the hip-hop mogul in a residential drug-treatment unit closer to his family and New York legal team.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons lists his projected release date as May 8, 2028, accounting for time already served and potential good-time credit.

Combs, 55, was convicted in July of two counts of transporting individuals for commercial sex and was sentenced Oct. 3 to four years and two months in prison, fined $500,000, and ordered into five years of supervised release. He was acquitted of racketeering and coercive sex-trafficking charges.

At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said a “substantial sentence must be given to send a message … that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability.”

In an Oct. 6 filing, attorney Teny Geragos asked that Combs be placed at Fort Dix so he could “address drug-abuse issues” and “maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts.” Sources confirm he is now housed in a separate unit for inmates in treatment programs.

Before transferring, Combs spent more than a year at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting trial and sentencing. There, he reportedly led a weekly business and leadership course for other inmates called "Free Game with Diddy."

In an interview conducted by journalist Lauren Conlin and published on YouTube in October 2025, former inmate Raymond Castillo — who said he lived in the same unit as Combs — recalled that the artist “brought unity” to the housing block through his program and “showed us that peace is stronger than pride.” Castillo also disputed viral accounts of a “knife-to-the-throat” attack, telling Conlin that no stabbing occurred and that Combs had calmly defused an argument between inmates.

Superthrowbackparty was not able to independently verify any stabbing incident, and Castillo’s account remains the only first-hand description from inside MDC Brooklyn.

Combs has filed a notice of appeal and, according to public statements by Donald Trump, has also requested a presidential pardon. No decision has been announced.

50 Cent Reacts to “Bmf” Cancellation With Viral Lil Meech Post

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson wasted no time turning bad news into internet comedy after Starz officially canceled his hit crime drama “BMF.”

Within hours of the announcement, the G-Unit mogul posted a photoshopped image of actor Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. looking disheveled and homeless, captioned, “What next season, little 🥷🏾 @50centaction,” sparking laughter — and controversy — across social media.

The image, shared Tuesday on Instagram, marked another chapter in 50’s long-running feud with the Flenory family, whose real-life story inspired “Black Mafia Family.” Fans and fellow celebrities flooded the comments — from “50 see a roach & demolishes the building 😂” to “Two things I don’t play with…the IRS and 50 Cent.” Even “BMF” star Kris Lofton chimed in, writing simply, “Sheesh.”

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson posted this edited image to Instagram on Oct. 29, 2025, mocking actor Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. after Starz canceled the crime drama BMF following its fourth season. The post drew thousands of reactions from fans and celebrities, many joking about 50 Cent’s relentless humor. (Screenshot via Instagram /@50cent)

The cancellation ends one of Starz’s most popular crime sagas. “BMF” debuted in 2021 and dramatized the rise and fall of Detroit brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, founders of the Black Mafia Family. The real-life Big Meech remains incarcerated; his son Lil Meech portrayed him in the series.

Despite star-studded cameos from Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Lil Baby, 2 Chainz, Saweetie and others, ratings began to flatten in later seasons. Industry sources told Deadline that Starz’s cost-cutting strategy — shifting toward new, cheaper shows — ultimately sealed “BMF’s” fate, not the behind-the-scenes tension between Jackson and the Flenorys.

Still, the drama between 50 Cent and his former lead actor added fuel. Their relationship reportedly soured after Lil Meech appeared in a promo with Rick Ross, one of 50’s longest-standing rivals. 50 later accused Big Meech of cooperating with federal authorities — an allegation the elder Flenory publicly denied — widening the rift even as production continued.

The series finale, “Dreams Deferred,” aired Aug. 15, 2025, ending with Lil Meech’s character being arrested by Detective Von Bryant (Steve Harris). The real-life ending has been just as dramatic: a hit show abruptly cut short and its creator celebrating online while the cast absorbs the fallout.

Despite the cancellation, 50 Cent retains ownership of the “BMF” film rights and says he’s far from finished. He previously teased plans for an expanded “BMF Immortal Universe” and confirmed multiple spin-offs in development under his G-Unit Film & Television banner, which continues to collaborate with Starz on other “Power” franchise series.

‘How Ya Do Dat’ Rapper Young Bleed Hospitalized in Critical Condition

Young Bleed, shown in a promotional image circa 2024, remains hospitalized in critical condition after suffering a brain aneurysm on Oct. 25, 2025. His family has urged fans to stop posting false death notices and to respect their privacy during his recovery. (Photo via Instagram @therealyoungbleed)

When Baton Rouge’s own Young Bleed stepped on stage at the Cash Money–No Limit Verzuz event in Las Vegas, the crowd erupted as he launched into his timeless anthem “How Ya Do Dat.” Just days later, the 51-year-old rapper — born Glenn Clifton Jr. — was rushed to the hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm.

According to TMZ, the emergency occurred on October 25, shortly after Bleed’s performance weekend at ComplexCon. He was taken to the ICU, where doctors continue to monitor him around the clock. His family confirms he remains in critical condition.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Master P (@masterp)

In the chaos that followed, false reports of his death spread online — prompting a forceful statement from his sister, Tedra Johnson-Spears, who took to social media to set the record straight.

“THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST POST,” she wrote. “WE ARE RECEIVING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CALLS ABOUT MY BIG BROTHER GLENN, TANK, YOUNG BLEED. … HE IS STILL CURRENTLY IN ICU … OUR FAMILY ASKS THAT YOU ALL RESPECT OUR PRIVACY AND NOT MAKE ANY RIP POSTS.”

Her plea came after Bleed’s mother was flooded with calls and condolences from fans who mistakenly believed the rapper had passed away. The family has since asked the public to stop contacting them directly and wait for official updates.

Fellow Baton Rouge legend Master P, who collaborated with Bleed during No Limit’s late-’90s run, confirmed the rapper’s condition and asked followers to pray. “Keep my brother Young Bleed in your prayers,” he posted. “He’s a fighter.”

Bleed’s influence runs deep. Emerging from Louisiana’s underground in the late ’90s, he helped connect No Limit’s street realism with Cash Money’s mainstream polish. His 1998 album "My Balls and My Word" debuted in Billboard’s Top 10, driven by “How Ya Do Dat,” a record that became an anthem from Baton Rouge to the Bayou.

As of Tuesday evening, his family says Young Bleed remains hospitalized and “still fighting.” They’ve asked for continued prayers — and peace — as he battles through the toughest verse of his life.