Skepta lit the match and Joyner Lucas is here for the smoke. Lyrical warfare, it is. The North London grime rapper dropped “Friendly Fire” and decided it was time for the gloves to come off.
“Joyner Lucas you bastard/You sound like you come from Harvard,” he rapped. Joyner Lucas noticed.
Lucas has officially fired back and both rappers seem to be holding their best material in the chamber. This is definitely heating up fast. The bars are coming, fans are choosing sides and YouTube reactors are probably licking their lips. “Give me some UK subscribers!”
Nobody’s gone nuclear just yet. These feel like sparring rounds. But the potential is definitely there. I hope they relax.
There’s an air of tension. We just heard about OVO affiliate Top5 getting stabbed in the U.K., even though details are still unclear. While that incident doesn’t appear connected to rap, the timing is eerie. Anything can happen.
The framing of this as a U.K. vs U.S. showdown feels a bit outdated. It’s not 2007. We need collabs unless there’s friendly competition. Skepta drew a weird line between U.K. rappers and the American South; a comparison that doesn’t really hold up.
Maybe URL or another battle league steps in and actually organizes a battle. That way the fans win and the rappers get paid. Until then, let’s enjoy the bars.
Cesar Pina used his real estate seminars and social media clout to allegedly orchestrate a nationwide fraud and money laundering scheme that netted millions and included bribing a New Jersey official, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday (July 15).
The New Jersey real estate promoter, known online as “Flipping NJ,” was indicted by a federal grand jury on six criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and bribery tied to federally funded programs. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Pina allegedly promised high returns to investors, then used their money to pay off earlier investors and fund personal expenses.
“Cesar Pina is alleged to have misappropriated millions of dollars of peoples’ hard-earned money, laundered money for narcotics traffickers, and bribed a politician in furtherance of real estate projects,” U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said. “This multi-year torrent of criminal activity hurt investors around the United States, facilitated the scourge of narcotics trafficking, and undermined confidence in our public officials.”
The indictment accuses Pina of running a Ponzi-style investment scam starting in 2017, soliciting funds under the guise of flipping residential properties in New Jersey and beyond. He allegedly promised returns of 30 percent or more within months, but instead used new investor money to repay earlier backers and cover unauthorized business and personal costs.
Federal agents say Pina also laundered drug money and took part in a sting operation where he allegedly cleaned funds that were represented as narcotics proceeds. He’s further accused of bribing a Paterson city official to push forward a real estate project called “Old School 5,” which was under review by the city’s zoning board.
“Rather than utilize his social media presence for the betterment of society, Mr. Humberto Pina chose to use it to expand his criminal activities,” DEA New Jersey Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz said. “His actions, along with his willingness to launder money from drugs proceeds, is no different than those individuals flooding our streets with illicit and diverted narcotics.”
The charges carry steep penalties. Each wire fraud count could lead to up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The money laundering charges carry the same prison term but with fines up to $500,000. The bribery charge could result in 10 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.
“Under the guise of being an entrepreneur with his clients’ best interests at heart, Cesar Pina allegedly defrauded dozens of investors of millions of dollars,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy said. “His alleged actions didn’t stop at fraud but involved bribery, money laundering, and conspiring to launder illicit funds from the sale of drugs.”
The investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the DEA, the FBI, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Franklin Lakes Police Department also assisted. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation.
Nicki Minaj ignited a digital firestorm Tuesday (July 15) after unloading a series of explosive tweets aimed at Top Dawg Entertainment President Terrence “Punch” Henderson, calling him a “Tiny Dick Executive” and accusing him of harassment.
“Me after I suck some good zik,” Minaj tweeted. “Guarantee you wouldn’t fight a man. We have every tweet of your incessant bullying, lying, & more. Your name was added to that s### list s##### drawers. Same thing that make you laugh make you…s###.”
Minaj, a Grammy-Award nominated rapper, doubled down, repeating the same message and tagging it with more insults, escalating tensions between her and the TDE camp.
SZA, one of TDE’s most high-profile artists, tried to de-escalate the situation with a lighthearted jab, tweeting, “Mercury retrograde .. don’t take the bait lol silly goose.”
That comment only fueled Minaj’s fury. She fired back, “Go draw your freckles back on b#####. #JusticeForDemoree #DepositionPerez. Liar liar pants on fire. Sounding like a fkng dead dog.”
SZA didn’t hold back in her response: “I don’t give a f### about none of that weird s### you poppin,” she wrote.
Minaj then replied, “B#### looking & sounding like she got stung by a f###### bee. dot dot dot. Draws on my fake freckles.”
Me after I suck some good zik. Guarantee you wouldn’t fight a man. We have every tweet of your incessant bullying, lying, & more.
Your name was added to that s### list s##### drawers.
Of course, the Barbz came out in full force, defending their self-anointed queen with comments aimed at SZA. One person asked, “Have you lost your f###### mind? Like actually,” to which SZA replied, “absolutely. U ain’t heard the album that went number one 13 weeks? That shoulda let you know. IM OUT MY F###### MIND.”
The online spat unfolded publicly across Twitter, drawing attention from across the rap world. The feud appears to have started over Minaj’s issues with Punch, but quickly spiraled into a personal back-and-forth between two of music’s biggest names.
Neither Punch nor TDE has issued a public response.
Desiree Perez is asking a Florida court to hold her daughter Demoree Hadley in contempt after an online interview and Instagram activity allegedly violated a court order and triggered a wave of threats against the Roc Nation CEO and her legal team.
Hadley claims Perez used her influence to detain her for over two weeks without cause, alleging false claims of drug abuse and suicidal behavior.
In response to the lawsuit, Roc Nation secured a special court order barring Hadley and her husband from making public statements about the case, including on social media.
According to court filings, Hadley violated that order by participating in an interview with YouTuber Tasha K and allowing the video to be shared on her Instagram page.
The company says Hadley “affirmatively violated this Court’s Special Order and publicize[d] an interview she gave about this case to further influence public perception.”
Hadley told the court she didn’t intentionally share the video and that Tasha K added her as a “collaborator,” which automatically posted the video to her account.
Hadley said she removed it the same day.
Roc Nation isn’t buying any of it and said the post was not accidental, as Hadley claimed, but a deliberate move to incite online attention.
“There’s no way it would appear on her account unless Demoree made that choice,” the company argued.
The fallout from the interview has been severe. Roc Nation says Perez and her attorneys have received thousands of threatening messages.
“[Hadley] and her husband’s inappropriate social media posts…have created an untenable reality for multiple Defendants as well as their counsel, who face daily threats as a consequence of [Hadley’s] and her husband’s conduct,” Roc Nation’s lawyer Timothy A. Kolaya explained.
Hadley allegedly violated that order by sending it to a social media influencer, who reposted it online. The post was shared, including by Hadley’s husband.
Now, Roc Nation is asking the court to find Hadley in contempt for violating the judge’s order.
While the Roc hasn’t specified what penalties it seeks, a contempt ruling could lead to sanctions or other legal consequences. The court has not yet ruled on the contempt motion.
Squid Game is here and AllHipHop’s D-Nellz caught up with two of the show’s breakout stars—Park Sung-hoon(Player 120) and Kang Ae-sim (Player 149). This exclusive conversation touched on acting, strategy and the cultural impact of Hip-Hop in Korea. The wildly popular Netflix series continues to push boundaries and these two Korean actors bring both emotional depth and cultural insight.
Park Sung-hoon shares how Hip-Hop influenced his personal style growing up and how it still motivates him on set. He recalls bumping tracks by Korean rap legends like YDG (Yang Dong-geun, Squid Games Season 2) and TANOS during his Squid Game shoot days. Kang Ae-sim, a veteran of Korean theater and screen, offers her thoughtful take on the show’s evolution and the surreal experience of joining the internationally beloved Netflix show.
The duo even discusses whether they’d survive in the real Squid Game and who was the class clown on set.
AllHipHop (D-Nellz): Hip-Hop has become huge across Asia. How has it impacted you personally or creatively?
Park Sung-hoon: A few years ago, Hip-Hop exploded in Korea—thanks in part to shows like Show Me The Money. That show gave Hip-Hop a serious spotlight. And it’s wild—two of our Squid Game castmates, TANOS and Yong-sik, are legit Hip-Hop figures. Growing up, I was heavily influenced by Hip-Hop—if you look at old photos of me, I’m rocking oversized gear, big pendants, towels around my neck—just fully in that world. I’ve also worked with a lot of actors who started out as musicians, so I listen to their music while filming. I used to play a lot of YDG and TANOS on my way to set.
AllHipHop: Kang Ae-sim, do you feel a connection between music—Hip-Hop or otherwise—and acting?
Kang Ae-sim: Absolutely. Music helps unlock emotional energy, and it influences the rhythm of how I approach a role. Even if I’m not immersed in Hip-Hop like Park is, I respect the genre deeply.
AllHipHop: When you first read the script for Season 3, what was your reaction?
Park Sung-hoon: Honestly? I was shocked. I didn’t expect a third season, but the script was incredibly tight. It felt like Seasons 2 and 3 were always meant to follow the original. It was that well put together.
Kang Ae-sim: I felt the same way. Season 1 was meant to be the end, but it got so much love, the world expanded. The writing surprised me—it was complex, emotional, and thrilling.
AllHipHop: Did you feel any pressure knowing the entire world was watching?
Park Sung-hoon: Not pressure—more like disbelief. It was surreal to realize I was part of something this big. I just focused on doing my best and enjoying the process.
AllHipHop: If you were in the real Squid Game, would you go solo or build an alliance?
Park Sung-hoon: [Laughs] One, two, three—build an alliance. I definitely want help. This isn’t a game you want to go through alone!
AllHipHop: Last question—who’s more serious on set, and who’s more playful?
Park Sung-hoon: [Laughs] I’ll admit it—I’m the playful one. I love keeping the mood light between scenes.
Kang Ae-sim: And I’m probably the more serious one. But we balance each other out well.
Consequence and his 13-year-old son, Caiden The Crownholder, are real legacy vibes. The father-son duo caught up with AllHipHop and brought charisma and generational energy. Caiden, who recently went viral with more than five million views on his On The Radar freestyle, is emerging as a force in his own right.
Meanwhile, Consequence is set to release a new single produced by longtime collaborator Kanye West. The two spoke candidly with AllHipHop about the state of Hip-Hop, creating music in the TikTok era, their upcoming projects and more. Cons admitted that his son tends to raid the closet, but he had his own as well.
AllHipHop (Chuck Creekmur): AllHipHop is in the building once again with Consequence and Caiden the Crownholder. You still holding that crown?
Caiden: No doubt. Absolutely.
AllHipHop: Since the last time we talked, you had one of the Top 10 Most Viral On the Radar freestyles on TikTok.
Caiden The Crownholder: Yeah, it’s at 5.4 million now.
AllHipHop: That’s what’s up! Hey, man, I gotta ask you this, how does it feel to have a dad that loves you so openly and publicly? It’s documented.
Caiden: It’s the greatest feeling in the world.
AllHipHop: That’s what’s up. And, Cons, your son is so talented. You gotta be proud.
Consequence: Absolutely. This has been the happiest Father’s Day I’ve had. His album is done. We outside this summer.
AllHipHop: When y’all pulling up to the studio for a full interview?
Consequence: July.
AllHipHop: Bet. We’re locked in. Let’s talk music. Caiden, you’re in the game now and it’s a tough space. How are you feeling about the landscape?
Caiden: I feel pretty good. New things are coming to me. I’m rocking with it. It’s been good lately.
AllHipHop: Cons, what about you?
Consequence: You know me. It’s wash, rinse, repeat. These days it’s about being a content creator. TikTok, Instagram—you gotta adjust. Back in the day, you had to learn how to scratch, how to use MySpace. It’s always evolving.
AllHipHop: So what’s changed?
Consequence: It’s just a new format, but Hip-Hop’s always been about pushing forward. From “Callin’ Me” to newer music, we’ve taken this thing further than we ever imagined. Like a wise man once said: “We never thought we’d take it this far.” So we have to keep going. The road may get rocky, but we know the texture, the sound, the feel. It’s our responsibility to pass that knowledge on to the next generation, like this guy right here. That’s how the tradition stays alive.
AllHipHop: Respect. It doesn’t always feel like it’s ours anymore.
Consequence: Nah, I’m not having that. Never have. I’ve never been the type to kick my feet up. It’s boots to the ground with me, always.
AllHipHop: Let’s talk about the music y’all are creating. What should we expect from the project? Any features?
Consequence: Absolutely. We’ll be dropping the tracklist soon. He’s 13 and already has incredible records. The charisma, the MCing, the versatility—it’s all there. And yes, we kept some traditional vibes too. I’ll say this—we have a record with me, Caiden, Cory Gunz and Peter Gunz.
AllHipHop: That’s a classic lineup.
Consequence: You already know. Cory Gunz can spit. I’m a rapper’s rapper—but also a songwriter, and I’m always about that check. That’s well documented. But the bars? They’re still there. Just wait until you hear it.
AllHipHop: I’m familiar. I’m looking forward to that one.
Consequence: Let’s go!
AllHipHop: OK, switching gears—I hate to do this, but I gotta ask: What’s up with your boy?
Consequence: Which one?
AllHipHop: Let’s start with Kanye. What’s the word?
Consequence: Let’s save that for the longer sit-down. But when my new single drops—and yes, Ye produced it—we’ll talk. I’ve got the beat of the summer again. I wasn’t lying last time, and I’m not lying now. This joint is incredible.
AllHipHop: Say less. Looking forward to it. On the fashion tip, though—you see the drip, the kicks. You stay fresh.
Consequence: You know how I do.
AllHipHop: Caiden, what’s your favorite fashion item right now?
Caiden: Probably my Hublot watch—and of course, the chain.
AllHipHop: Hublot! Excuse me, young king! Cons, I see the family doing well!
Consequence: We’re in a great space. Since the last time you saw him, he’s grown up. Now we’re at a point where we wear the same sneakers. I’ve been looking forward to that. It’s a whole new vibe now—double the flavor.
AllHipHop: Y’all wearing the same size?
Consequence: Same sneakers, not the clothes yet. But we getting there.
AllHipHop: That reminds me of my pops. You’ve created something special.
Consequence: Appreciate that. This is a special moment in time for us. And I can’t wait for people to hear his new album.
AllHipHop: Spicy?
Consequence: Spicy. And he’s talking hot on there, too.
Kendrick Lamar earned four Emmy nominations Tuesday (July 15) for his Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, placing him in the running for Variety Special, Directing, Music Direction and Choreography. The high-profile performance, broadcast by Fox, marked another milestone in the Pulitzer Prize winner’s career as he continues to blend commercial success with critical acclaim.
Lamar’s halftime set was praised for its sharp visuals and tight execution, adding another layer to his already decorated resume. The Emmy recognition arrives as Lamar remains a central figure in rap’s most talked-about feud of the year.
His lyrical war with Drake has dominated headlines since last spring, with both artists trading pointed diss tracks. Lamar’s “Not Like Us” became a cultural moment, with its beat and bars dissected across social media and radio.
The track, widely seen as a direct hit at Drake, fueled a wave of response tracks and commentary. The back-and-forth has reignited interest in lyrical competition in Hip-Hop, drawing comparisons to past rivalries. It also sparked Drake’s lawsuit with his label, Universal Music Group, which he accused of defamation and negligence over the release and aggressive promotion of “Not Like Us.”
The lawsuit, submitted in January 2025, alleges that Universal’s promotion of the song—which features lyrics insinuating Drake is a pedophile—directly endangered his life and career by fueling public hostility and multiple security threats, including a shooting at his Toronto residence and the circulation of flyers labeling him a predator. The complaint also claims the track’s cover art displayed an aerial photo of Drake’s home, further encouraging harassment and potentially inciting vigilante behavior.
Drake’s legal team asserts that Universal Music Group leaned into the song’s commercial potential at his expense, leveraging its viral success and cultural impact—bolstered by high-profile Grammy and Super Bowl promotions—to gain negotiating power ahead of contract renewals with both he and Lamar.
Despite “Not Like Us” becoming a chart-topping hit and cultural milestone, Drake’s lawsuit pointedly targets Universal, not Kendrick Lamar himself, for allegedly prioritizing profit over artist safety and disseminating “false and malicious” narratives. Universal has moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Drake’s claims are merely an attempt to recover from what they describe as a self-provoked and publicly lost rap battle, while Drake’s counsel maintains that the label is responsible for amplifying dangerous misinformation that has already led to real-world consequences
While the Emmy nominations celebrate Lamar’s artistic achievements on stage, the ongoing tension with Drake keeps his name circulating far beyond award season chatter.
Beyoncé also landed four nods for her Netflix special, Beyoncé Bowl, which showcased her 2023 Renaissance World Tour performance. The production is up for Variety Special, Directing, Production Design and Choreography. Both specials are now in the Emmy race alongside the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, which scored nominations for Production Design, Lighting Design/Direction, Sound Mixing and Choreography.
Winners will be announced during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14.
The chancellor has confirmed she is considering “changes” to ISAs – and said there has been too much focus on the “risk” of consumers investing.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
The man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio more than 20 years ago has died – without revealing the location of his victim’s remains.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
It is aimed at stopping terrorism and radicalisation, but devastating attacks and high-profile reviews have meant Prevent has been under scrutiny since it started.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
