Nelly is choosing optimism as Donald Trump faces historically low approval ratings. At the 100-day mark, Trump’s rating hovered around 41%—the lowest for any president in over 70 years. The backlash began when Nelly performed at Trump’s inauguration. The St. Louis rapper defended his choice, saying, “He’s the president — he won,” and framed it as respect for the office, not an endorsement. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TMZ (@tmz_tv) At the Stagecoach Festival, he doubled down. “I’m always looking at the glass half full,” he told Fox News. “I believe in bringing people together and making sure we all get what we need.” Not everyone was convinced. During a Grammy afterparty hosted by Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monáe freestyled over “Hot In Herre,” condemning Nelly’s appearance at the inauguration. In a clip that went viral, she called him a sellout and voiced support for marginalized communities. In a later interview with Geto Boys legend Willie D, Nelly insisted his appearance wasn’t about money. “I’m not campaigning,” he said. “I respect the office, no matter who’s in it.” He likened his performance to the duty of U.S. soldiers, saying, “If our men and women can risk their lives for the office, I can perform for it.” Nelly also attempted to defend Trump from accusations of white supremacy, citing old lawsuits and mistakenly referencing the 1994 Crime Bill, which had no connection to Trump. His arguments showed some confusion, but he remained steadfast. “I’m not saying he doesn’t have messed up ways,” Nelly admitted. “But he’s the President. I’m not telling you who to vote for—I’m just saying, he won.” As debate continues around artists performing for divisive figures, Nelly stands by his actions, insisting it’s about honoring the role, not the man.

Fat Joe has initiated a defamation lawsuit against his former hypeman, Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, alleging a calculated attempt to extort him through false and damaging public accusations. Filed in New York, the suit contends that Dixon, after failing to secure additional compensation, resorted to disseminating unfounded claims on social media, including a serious allegation that Fat Joe transported a minor across state lines for sexual purposes. These assertions were accompanied by a photo featuring Joe alongside Diddy and DJ Khaled, insinuating broader misconduct.​ Sloppy Joe’s ghost writer is speaking out along with former employee. This is nasty work. pic.twitter.com/Pm9wSDeYOG — IG: RahiemShabazz (@rahiemshabazz) December 29, 2024 According to the complaint, Dixon’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, is implicated in orchestrating this alleged smear campaign. Blackburn, known for representing clients in high-profile cases, has faced judicial scrutiny for his litigation tactics. In a separate matter, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote referred Blackburn to the Southern District of New York’s Grievance Committee, citing a pattern of filing lawsuits aimed more at attracting media attention than seeking justice. Fat Joe’s legal team, led by attorney Joe Tacopina, argues that Dixon’s claims are not only baseless but also part of a broader scheme to damage Joe’s reputation and coerce a financial settlement. Tacopina emphasized that Joe will not be intimidated by what he describes as fabricated allegations and is committed to exposing the purported extortion attempt.​ The lawsuit also details the history between Fat Joe and Dixon, noting that their professional relationship began in 2006 and ended amicably in 2019. It wasn’t until years later, according to the suit, that Dixon began demanding additional compensation, claiming uncredited contributions as a “ghostwriter” and escalating to public defamation when those demands were not met.​ As the case unfolds, it highlights the complexities of legal disputes in the entertainment industry, where personal relationships and public personas often intersect, leading to contentious and highly publicized legal battles.

Ice Spice and Sauce Gardner finally gave fans what they’ve been speculating about for months—a subtle yet unmistakable confirmation of their relationship. With no formal announcement, the rapper and New York Jets star made their romance Instagram official, sharing a series of intimate, stylized photos that quickly lit up social media. One image in particular—shot in a bathroom, with the two posed closely—left little room for doubt. Though neither has spoken publicly about the relationship, the visual language is clear. Their chemistry has been unfolding quietly across social platforms, through coordinated looks, shared events, and fleeting cameos in each other’s content. But now, the bathroom shot acts as a modern soft launch—a coded declaration that resonates louder than any press release. For Ice Spice, the relationship offers a moment of personal grounding during a fast-moving career. Since her breakout in 2022 with “Munch (Feelin’ U),” the Bronx native has evolved from viral newcomer to pop culture fixture. Her debut EP Like..?, along with hits like “In Ha Mood” and collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, showcased her versatility. By mid-2024, she dropped her debut album Y2K!, followed by a deluxe edition that featured BB Trickz, Anuel AA, and DaBaby. Though reviews were mixed, fans praised her risks and evolving aesthetic. Meanwhile, Sauce Gardner has become one of the NFL’s brightest young stars. Drafted fourth overall in 2022, he made history as a rookie, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-Pro honors. His swagger, on and off the field, has made him a Gen Z fashion icon—known for custom fits, diamond chains, and effortless cool. Together, Ice Spice and Gardner represent a new era of celebrity coupling. Like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce or Ciara and Russell Wilson, they bring together worlds of music, fashion, and sports into one cultural force. Yet they’ve done it on their own terms—eschewing tabloid drama for quiet coordination and minimal commentary. The bathroom photo might seem casual, but in today’s social media economy, it’s a definitive move. Without needing a caption or official statement, Ice Spice and Sauce Gardner have entered the chat—and it’s clear they plan to do so stylishly, strategically, and unapologetically.

According to reports, Drake and Yeat are preparing to launch a significant collaboration soon. Prior to this announcement, the two artists had joined forces before in 2023, with their duo track “IDGAGF” off Drake’s For All The Dogs. The forthcoming collaboration was made public after a billboard was set up in Toronto featuring Drake’s OVO symbol and Yeat’s Lyfestyle Corp logo. The ad also contained a note from Drake stating, “”YOUNG TWIZZZZZZZZY FEEL A WAY,” in reference to Yeat’s label. Shortly after, Yeat uploaded a video of the billboard to his Instagram, captioning it “Feel No Wayz.” New Yeat x Drake billboard spotted in Toronto “YOUNG TWIZZZZZZZZY FEEL A WAY” — The Boy pic.twitter.com/nV1zPzn6bP — Kurrco (@Kurrco) April 30, 2025 Drake Teases New Album Amid Legal Battle with Universal Additionally, Drake and Yeat have also partnered up on “As We Speak,” which was a standout track from the Portland rapper’s 2093 project. Nonetheless, Drake recently announced that he’s in the process of releasing some music of his own after dropping his duo album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. In a live stream with Adin Ross, the Toronto rapper declared that his next project is going to “slap.” “Working on a new album,” he stated, prior to saying that it will be a solo release. “It’s a slap.” Aside from Drake’s music endeavors, the rapper is currently in a legal battle with Universal Music Group. The 6 God is suing his record label for defamation stemming from the company’s alleged role of defaming him through Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Notably, Drake claimed that Kendrick Lamar’s highly televised Super Bowl Halftime Show is evidence of his alleged defamation. He argues that Kendrick censoring out the word “pedophile” during his performance of “Not Like Us” has strengthened his case.

Birdman recently reflected on all the obstacles he had to overcome before Cash Money Records launched into a successful label. Appearing on Nick Cannon’s Counsel Culture Show on Wednesday (April 23), he shared how his and his older brother Ronald “Slim” Williams’ vision was not immediately accepted. Birdman recalled having a meeting with executive Sylvia Rhone of Warner Bros., but the brand said it was not ready to partner with an independent label. “Sylvia Rhone said our music don’t work for them, so we just left,” Birdman told Cannon. “I just walked out.” They also met with Def Jam, but was rejected because of their album artwork, and Birdman is still confused about their brief interaction with the label. “I went to Def Jam and met with Russell [Simmons], Lyor [Cohen], and Kevin Liles,” Birdman said. “This ni**a Russell said he don’t like our artwork. I said, ‘This some weird sh*t. I walked clean out. N*gga don’t like my artwork, what about my music? You don’t care for the music? So, I left.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Art Of Dialogue (@theartofdialogue) Birdman went on to say that they almost inked a distribution agreement with Priority Records, who also signed Master P’s New Orleans-based label No Limit Records, to an unprecedented deal. According to Birdman, Master P intervened and made sure it didn’t happen. “I went to Priority, some weird sh*t here.  I go to Priority, they fly us to California,” he said. “Me and Slim, a couple of the homies, we go out there. Ni**a come in there and said, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t do the deal. They said because Master P said, ‘If we sign y’all, he’s leaving.’ I just jumped on a jet and went back to New Orleans was like, ‘F—k it, we just gonna grind with it.” When Universal Records reached out to the camp, they negotaied “one of the more historic deals in music history.” “And then Mel Lewinter and them called and I said, ‘This my last trip. I ain’t taking no more motherf**king flights to New York or California,” he recalled. “F**k it, we’ll thug it out. I’m still making millions, they gonna come down here and f**k with me, I ain’t going back. And that was my last flight,” Birdmand rememverd. After years of rumored tenseions between Cash Money and No Limt, everything seems to cool now. On No Chill with Gilbert Arenas, Master P spoke on the relationship between the two camps. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, they got beef,’ but, man, we lived right up the street from each other,” Master P said.

Childbirth is a difficult endeavor, and Summer Walker has firsthand experience with how challenging it can be. Speaking with Mariah the Scientist on her Apple Music 1 show, Over It Radio, she was asked if there was a difference between her first and second births. “The second one, it sucked bad. Real bad,” Walker recalled. “But, believe it or not, the second birth was shorter than the first one.” When giving birth to her twins, Walker said it only took seven hours. But she was in labor for 52 hours with her first child. “That shit was bad. All of it’s bad,” Walker said, noting she “almost died both times.” When Mariah asked if she would do it again, without hesitation, Walker said, “Yes.” In 2021, Walker had her first child, Bubbles Renee Walker, with ex-boyfriend London on Da Track. She had her twin sons with LVRD Pharoh in 2022. According to PEOPLE, she gave birth to her three children at home.  In December, Walker confirmed she was dating Rico Recklezz. On Instagram, she expressed her affection for how the Chicago rapper treats her. “You know what? Ya’ll can say whatever ya’ll wanna say about my man, but let me tell you one thing,” she said in an IG post. “When I ask this man to do something for me, he gon’ do it the best, the biggest way he motherfucking can. He don’t never go small.” On the music side, Walker is gearing up to release Finally Over It, her third album. The LP will be the third and final installment of her Over It series, following Over It (2019) and Still Over It (2021).

In 1994, Nas forever changed the landscape with the release of his seminal debut, Illmatic. More than 30 years later, the album his regarded as a classic, a touchstone moment in history where the Queensbridge native ..To pay tribute to the album, Nas has partnered with the Gotham Dispensary to premiere its inaugural show, “The World is Yours,” a collaborative exhibition between legendary rapper Nas and future-conscious design studio Objects Are By and named after one of his signature songs. Featured in the groundbreaking exhibition are never-before-seen photos of Nas from 1994, captured by Danny Hastings, the Creative Director of Wu-Tang Productions. These striking images, “taken during a pivotal moment in Nas’s rise to fame, offer a glimpse into a young artist on the brink of changing the world of hip-hop. The exhibition is not just a visual journey but an immersive experience that speaks to the stillness before the storm—the quiet before Illmatic reshaped the genre.” Along with the iconic photography, “The World is Yours” will feature a limited-edition collection of homeware and apparel, created in collaboration with Nas and Objects Are By, inspired by the unseen photographs. The collection includes “woven tapestry blankets, heavyweight hoodies, long-sleeve tees, collectible rolling trays, and ashtrays.” Each item is designed with OBJECTS ARE BY’s signature bone-free china and is available exclusively at Gotham. Curated by Danny Hastings, the exhibit features never-before-seen images of the legendary rapper from 1994. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gotham (@gotham.ny) In a statement, Hasting spoke about curating the exhibit and collaborating with Nas.  “In 1994, a young Nas stood beside me on a subway platform, the city buzzing above us, destiny waiting in the shadows. Illmatic had yet to be released. There was no entourage. No flashing cameras,” Hastings told HOT97. “Just two kids from the boroughs—one with rhymes, the other with a camera. I titled that first portrait Last Train to Queensbridge, a poetic timestamp of a moment before it all began. You can see the wonder in his eyes, the weight of dreams just beginning to take form.” “Five years later, in 1999, I photographed Nas again—this time for his I Am… album. He had arrived. The innocence had shifted into certainty. The raw energy matured into vision. These portraits are styled, polished, intentional. They reflect not just his rise, but mine as well,” his statement continued. “By then, I was pushing my technique—refining light, playing with texture, treating each frame like a cinematic painting. “Together, these images create a dual narrative: a coming-of-age story told in silver halide and shadow. One subject, two eras, bound by art and ambition. This is not just a portrait of Nas,” Hastings added. ‘It’s a portrait of time, of transformation, and of trust between a rapper and a photographer, both carving space for their voices in a world that didn’t hand anything out. These photographs are windows. They look back, but they also echo forward. In them, you see not only what was, but what was coming.” For more information, visit here.

Megan Thee Stallion is facing allegations from fellow Houston femcee Ivy K, who claims the rapper stole elements from her 2024 song “It’s Whateva” for Megan’s new single, “Whenever.” Ivy went on Instagram Live to accuse Megan’s team of contacting her a month ago but going ahead with a “remix” of her track without her approval or knowledge. In the video, you can hear both songs, which have distinct sounds but share a similar hook: Ivy’s “B***h it’s whatever / He, it’s whatever” and Megan’s “It’s whenever, b***h / It’s whatever, he.” Some fans have pointed out that Khia’s 2008 track “It’s Whatever” could have influenced both songs, suggesting that the hook might be an original sample or interpolation used by both artists, either intentionally or not. The connection seems weak due to the differences in tempo and flow between the tracks. However, if Ivy K can prove that Megan’s team reached out to her, the situation may become more complicated. This isn’t the first time Megan Thee Stallion has been accused of copyright issues. In the past, she has managed to avoid significant repercussions, but Ivy K’s claims could bring more attention to the matter. Meanwhile, Megan is continuing to generate excitement for her upcoming album, although no official release date has been set. She recently mentioned her desire to collaborate with Doechii, saying, “I see Doechii, b***h, I love Doechii,” and expressed a desire to challenge herself by rapping over beats she typically wouldn’t choose. As her legal battles seem to be fading, Megan appears more focused on showcasing her musical skills and consistency.

Lil Durk is reportedly leaning on his faith as he faces serious federal charges in a murder-for-hire case. According to his father, Dontay Banks, also known as Big Durk, the rapper has taken on a spiritual leadership role while incarcerated, guiding fellow inmates toward Islam, a faith both father and son practice. “As a human, you sitting in there looking at four walls. You’ve been told to stand up for count. You’ve been told these things, something that you ain’t normally used to. It’s gonna have this effect on you but you know you always bounce back, you always look at the greater picture,” Banks shared. He continued, “As a Muslim, we look and say to ourselves, ‘What Allah is doing for us right now, building us to be a better man, is greater than what they trying to do to us and trying to tear us down.’” Durk, whose full name is Durk Derrick Banks, is currently accused of orchestrating a hit on Quando Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 death of his close friend and collaborator King Von. The plan allegedly led to the 2022 fatal shooting of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, also known as Lil Pab. His father revealed that Durk’s presence is making an impact in jail, particularly within the Islam community. “[Durk] was telling me that when he came in there was like four Muslims on the block. He said now it’s 17 Muslims on the block, so he in there converting.” Durk has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys are calling for the charges to be dismissed. They claim the indictment was based on false narratives taken from fan-made YouTube content. The trial, which was originally set for earlier this year, is now scheduled to begin on October 14th.

50 Cent is taking legal action to stop the release of the upcoming horror film SkillHouse, claiming he never officially agreed to be part of it. Although he’s listed as an actor and co-producer, the rapper says no final contract was ever signed between him and producer Ryan Kavanaugh. According to the lawsuit, 50 Cent says he and Kavanaugh only outlined a rough deal but never finalized anything. Despite that, the film was shot in 2022 and has used his name and image heavily in promotional materials. The Power creator claims he wouldn’t have taken part in the project unless he had creative control, and now he wants the film blocked from being released and is demanding $5 million in damages. “I didn’t get paid I’m afraid I’m gonna need that by Monday. You already know the vibes!” 50 wrote on Instagram after the suit became public. He also blasted Kavanaugh last week on social media, saying, “They can’t release this MOVIE SKILL HOUSE without my signature which they do not have. What kinda business are they doing? I’d hate to have to demonstrate.” Kavanaugh has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit. SkillHouse is currently set for release on July 11th, but with this legal drama unfolding, that date could be pushed back or canceled altogether. This lawsuit adds more tension to what has already been a rocky collaboration between 50 Cent and Kavanaugh, with the G-Unit mogul openly warning that he’d stop the film from hitting theaters.