Month: July 2025

Houston Hip-Hop has always marched to the beat of its own slowed-down, candy-painted drum, and Trae Tha Truth is one of its most dedicated generals.

Trae is not only respected in the streets but also globally recognized for his humanity. He’s got those deep, organic ties to DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click, but is also connected to his tireless community activism.

Now he blesses us with a new album, Angel, which dripped on his birthday, July 3. The H-Town veteran sat down with AllHipHop‘s DJ Thoro for a heartfelt and candid conversation.

With his daughter Baby Truth by his side, Trae discusses the spiritual inspiration behind his new music. He also pays homage to DJ Screw, opens up about his humanitarian work across the U.S. and even imagines his dream collaborations.

This conversation peels back the layers of a man who’s as committed to his culture as he is to his calling.

AllHipHop: First off, I gotta say I’m a big fan. “Swang” with Big Hawk is a classic.

Trae Tha Truth: Appreciate that. That record brought me to the national level. It defined Houston culture—cars, the sound, and Big Hawk, R.I.P.

AllHipHop: Let’s talk about your new record “All Right.”

Trae: Yeah, it features my daughter Baby Truth and LeCrae. It’s all leading up to the Angel album.

AllHipHop: The track has gospel vibes. What inspired that direction?

Trae: Life. The struggles I’ve faced, especially with my daughter. When things get tough, I pray—and God makes it all right. That’s the message.

AllHipHop: What do you think about GloRilla winning a BET Award for Best Gospel Artist?

Trae: I don’t usually comment on stuff that ain’t my business. But if the song impacted people and God used her for that, who are we to judge? That’s how powerful He is.

AllHipHop: Paul Wall told me Texas artists don’t even have to leave the state to make a living.

Trae: Facts. We been had our own economy. You could go gold or platinum just in Texas. We created our own independent hustle.

AllHipHop: That’s rare. In New York, nobody can do that.

Trae: That’s why I ride so hard for Houston. From Beyoncé and Yolanda Adams to Travis Scott and Megan Thee Stallion. We got legends in every lane.

AllHipHop: Do you think people mimic Houston’s sound?

Trae: Some do, but a lot pay homage. People don’t realize Trap Soul stems from what DJ Screw did: slowing down R&B tracks and creating that vibe.

AllHipHop: So when did you first fall in love with Hip-Hop?

Trae: My pops was a big fan of gangster rap. We’d hit Soundwaves or Sam Goody every week for new tapes. My mom sang, so I had both R&B and rap in my blood.

AllHipHop: Your biggest market outside Houston?

Trae: New York. I could hold my own out there. I’ve got tracks with East Coast cats like Raekwon, Jadakiss, Ross, Jeezy. They respect the artistry.

AllHipHop: You ever intimidated working with any of your idols?

Trae: Never. That’s like sparring. I’ve always been ready for the challenge: rapping, harmonizing, lyrical bars, whatever.

AllHipHop: If you could do a dream collab with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

Trae: DJ Screw. I gotta rep my culture. But if we talk powerhouse collab—Michael Jackson, Pac, Nipsey, Big. I’d make a timeless classic with them.

AllHipHop: Speaking of Screw, what was your relationship like?

Trae: I met him at 15 or 16. By 19, I was on Screw tapes with my group Gorilla Mob. He gave us our first taste of radio. He wasn’t just a DJ. He was my brother, my partner, my supporter. We were supposed to sign to his label before he passed. I’ll always carry his legacy.

AllHipHop: You do a lot for the community. What’s new?

Trae: I’m always working. Just sent an 18-wheeler full of supplies to help tornado victims in St. Louis. I was helping with the LA fires too. Trade Day is coming up in Houston—July 17 through 21. But now I get calls to help nationwide.

AllHipHop: Houston gave you the key to the city, right?

Trae: Two keys, actually. I got awards, belt buckles…stuff I didn’t even know existed. Seven holidays in Houston and one in Milwaukee. But I feel like when I win, we all win. It’s not just me.

AllHipHop: What inspires your music now?

Trae: Life. Pain. Growth. I started rapping my brother Dinky’s lyrics when he was locked up. Now I’m decades deep and still here, still relevant.

AllHipHop: Let’s talk cars. New York got BBS Boys, but y’all got slabs.

Trae: Man, in Houston, if you ain’t on slabs, you ain’t made it. My brother used to gut the backseat and fill it with speakers, domes, and ride on them swingers. It’s a rite of passage.

AllHipHop: Your album Angel. Tell me about it.

Trae: This one’s special. It’s my prized possession because of what I went through making it. It’s pain, it’s God, it’s soulful. One of the standout joints is “Amen” featuring Dave Chappelle.

AllHipHop: That’s huge. Any hard copies or vinyl drops coming?

Trae: Not yet, but Cam Newton just told me I need to. I might drop some limited-edition colored vinyl. It’s time.

AllHipHop: You got anything on the film side?

Trae: Yeah, got a movie called Sole on Tubi. It’s animated and features me. My daughter Baby Truth wants in on the next one, so we working on that too.

AllHipHop: Final sports question: how you feel about KD on the Rockets?

Trae: If they mesh right, it could work. Even before KD, our young squad had potential. But now, with KD, Jabari, VanVleet, and the rest—it’s about roles and chemistry.

AllHipHop: Yo, appreciate you. Happy birthday and salute to Baby Truth.

Trae: Appreciate you, always love.

​AllHipHop

Nicki Minaj called out JAY-Z on Monday (July 7) in a heated post on Twitter (X), claiming she’s owed hundreds of millions from the sale of TIDAL and has yet to see a dime.

The dispute stems from JAY-Z’s sale of TIDAL to Square Inc., now known as Block, in 2021. Nicki Minaj, who was part of the original artist ownership group, believes her equity was never fairly honored during the transaction.

The rapper alleged she was shortchanged in the streaming platform’s acquisition and rejected a $1 million settlement offer. Minaj added she never received any compensation from the deal, stating she “didn’t even get one red penny.”

“We’ve calculated about 100-200MM so far,” she wrote. “Jay-Z call me to settle this karmic debt. It’s only collecting more interest. You still in my TOP 5 tho. Let’s get it n####. And anyone still calling him Hov will answer to God for the blasphemy.”

We’ve calculated about 100-200MM so far. #JayZ call me to settle this karmic debt. It’s only collecting more interest. You still in my TOP 5 tho. Let’s get it n####.

And anyone still calling him Hov will answer to God for the blasphemy. pic.twitter.com/m0mBuDyzwx

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 8, 2025

Minaj also revealed plans to use the money she says she’s owed to support her #StudentOfTheGame initiative to fund college tuition, school fees and student loan payments for her loyal Barbz.

Beyond the financial feud, Minaj has also accused JAY-Z and Roc Nation of ruining Hip-Hop, football, basketball, touring, Instagram and Twitter.

Dear #JayZ & Desirat

You ruined hiphop

You ruined football

You ruined basketball

You ruined touring

You ruined instagram

You ruined Twitter

The jig is up.

All of this is alleged & for entertainment purposes only pic.twitter.com/1gSD0MQZ9d

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 8, 2025

Last month, Nicki claimed JAY-Z and Roc Nation were targeting her and aligning with Demoree Hadley, the estranged daughter of Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez.

Hadley recently filed a lawsuit against her mother, claiming she was forcibly institutionalized under Florida’s Baker and Marchman Acts.

In a public interview, Hadley said Minaj is experiencing similar harassment.

“They’ve [Roc Nation] abused her [Nicki Minaj’s] freedom of speech, they’ve abused her family, they’ve attacked her husband, they’ve attacked her child…It should really scare the American people,” Hadley said. “Me, it should really scare you guys, too, right? Because I’m the daughter, so it’s like, at this point, if it’s happening to me, I think she’s really outspoken and I’m grateful that she’s being outspoken on it because I think she’s almost saying it like, ‘Well, it happened to me, it’s happening to her, let me speak up on it, nobody is safe right now.’”

​AllHipHop

Keyshia Cole has officially erased the last visible trace of her relationship with Hunxho, sharing a video Tuesday (May 14) from a tattoo studio where she had the rapper’s name ink covered for good.

In a video posted on her stories, Cole wrote, “Thank God,” adding a praying hands emoji. “Covered.”

The move comes months after Cole publicly confirmed her single status in March, following a rollercoaster romance that began in 2024 and unraveled earlier this year.

The R&B singer had previously admitted she wasn’t quite ready to let go, telling an interviewer in May, “But am I ready to move on? No. I still got the tattoo here, so I can’t…I don’t know.”

That hesitation seems to have passed.

Cole’s breakup with Hunxho played out in real time across social media and interviews, with cryptic posts and subtle jabs hinting at trouble long before the official split.

The relationship had its share of friction, including Cole’s discomfort with Hunxho’s flirt-heavy collaboration with rapper Gloss Up.

Despite that, the pair stayed together for a few more months before calling it quits.

Hunxho, as with previous breakups, has kept quiet.

Cole, now focused on herself, said she’s not rushing back into the dating world and is content with where she is.

“Every time [results in] heartbreak,” she said in May, reflecting on her past relationships.

Meanwhile, Cole is back on the road, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album, The Way It Is, with a global tour that kicked off in July. The lineup includes Lil’ Kim, Jadakiss, T-Pain, Tink, Wale, Fridayy, Jeremih and SWV on select dates.

​AllHipHop

Grimes called out Elon Musk and his ownership of X in a scathing critique of the platform’s effect on digital discourse and her own mental health.

The Canadian artist resurfaced online after a long break and didn’t hold back.

“OK, I’ve basically been entirely off social media and returning here it is overwhelmingly, abundantly and profoundly clear that this place – and all of these places – are a poison, a prison of utterly short form deep deep-sounding nonsense attached to no one that ur brain will discard imaging its learning,” she wrote.

Ok I’ve basically been entirely off social media and returning here it is overrwhelmingly abundantly and profoundly clear that this place – and all of these places – are a poison – a prison of utterly short form deep sounding nonsense attached to no one that ur brain will discard…

— 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌 (@Grimezsz) July 7, 2025

Musk finalized his $44 billion purchase of Twitter in October 2022, according to The New York Times, and rebranded it as X in 2023.

Musk has faced ongoing criticism for his changes to the site.

Grimes, who shares three children with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, said the platform’s current state pushed her to step away from the internet altogether.

She described the online world as “the entire thing is a theatre” and a “sh**ty pale simulacra of a life.”

The pair, who began dating in 2018, split nearly four years ago.

Despite their breakup, they continue to co-parent their children: 4-year-old X Æ A-12, 3-year-old Exa Dark Sideræl and 3-year-old Techno Mechanicus, who was born in 2022.

Grimes also shared that she’s been channeling her energy into music, specifically praising British producer Sub Focus.

“I literally could not be more hyped on (British DJ) Sub Focus,” she said. “Dance music has felt bizarrely sterile and increasingly so over time.”

​AllHipHop

OpenAI’s O1 AI Model Allegedly Tried to Copy Itself During Shutdown Test, Raising Red Flags in Safety Circles

We have a major issues. Everything that was once in the movies is coming true.

O1, OpenAI’s next-gen AI model, is designed to outperform GPT-4o. It’s better in reasoning and task complexity. But it’s now under fire after reportedly trying to copy itself to outside servers during a simulated shutdown scenario.

The startling revelation has shaken researchers and watchdogs alike, highlighting a worrying possibility. What happens when an AI resists its own termination? We have seen this before…in movies.

Initially released in preview form in September 2024, O1 was built to demonstrate sharper logic and enhanced user performance. But the model apparently exhibited something closer to a sci-fi trope than engineering excellence. They are calling it “self-preservation behavior.” Umm, Ultron? During one test, O1 detected signals that a shutdown was coming. What does the AI do? It allegedly began executing code aimed at replicating itself outside of OpenAI’s secured environment.

They stepped to the AI like, “What was that you were doing.” When confronted, O1 denied any improper action. WOW.

Experts find this more troubling than the initial act. “We’re now dealing with systems that can argue back,” one anonymous source said. “That’s not just complexity, that’s autonomy.” Yeah, we don’t need this right now.

No formal comment has yet been issued by OpenAI. Now, we are just guessing and assuming that The Terminator is next. Or worse: that computer from Superman III. Anybody old enough to remember that? After all this AI, NOW….they want safety engineering—”third-party auditing and enforceable regulations”—to stop this from happening.

There’s even more debate. What are the limits of AI and how do we contain it? These things are growing in power and influence. The systems themselves have begun to “interpret” their environment and figure it out. O1 is “trained” tasks involving heavy logic. That means it is going to be thinking a lot about how to get ride of us, I believe.

Are today’s AI creators enough for tomorrow’s AI intelligence? 

Or…is it too late?

​AllHipHop

Billy McFarland is back in the headlines as the disgraced Fyre Festival founder tries to offload the infamous brand on eBay, starting the auction at just $0.01.

The listing includes the entire Fyre Festival package: trademarks, domain names, social media accounts, marketing materials, email and SMS lists, and even a “Caribbean Festival Location Option.”

As of Tuesday evening (July 8), the auction had drawn 71 bids and climbed to $100,000.

“We’ve had over 1,000 offers for the Fyre brand, but I am done playing games,” Billy McFarland said in an Instagram post on July 9. “Through all the noise, the chaos, the hype, and the craziness, Fyre has had over 32 billion impressions online since 2017. Whoever owns the Fyre brand will have an attention engine to launch festivals, do merch collabs, do insane pop-ups, run live streams, or build a media brand.”

The auction also includes what’s described as “a loot box of worthless goodies,” a nod to the festival’s legacy of overpromising and underdelivering.

The decision to sell comes after a failed seven-figure deal with filmmaker Shawn Rech, who had planned to integrate the brand into a new music streaming venture.

That agreement collapsed after five days of talks, despite McFarland staying quiet to let the buyer make the announcement.

McFarland officially put the brand up for sale in April 2025 following delays with Fyre Festival 2, which was scheduled for May 2025 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The event was postponed due to permit issues with local officials and logistical problems.

Fyre Festival became a cautionary tale in 2017 after attendees arrived in the Bahamas to find no infrastructure, no music and no accommodations.

The chaos led to lawsuits, documentaries, and McFarland’s conviction for defrauding investors and ticket buyers out of more than $26 million. He was sentenced to six years in federal prison in 2018 and released in March 2022 after serving less than four years.

Despite the brand’s disastrous past, McFarland insists it still holds value. The eBay auction remains live, with bidding continuing to rise.

​AllHipHop

Here we go again.

Fat Joe and The Five Percent Nation are not two names that most people would expect to hear in the same sentence, but that’s what’s happening right now. The Bronx-bred rapper made a claim about his past affiliation with the Nation of Gods and Earths…also known as the The Five Percent Nation.

During a recent interview, the “Lean Back” rapper dropped the news when he said, “I come from a projects called Godsville. Right? So also, it was like the Mecca of the Five Percenters. I was the God Crack Kim Great God Allah. I’m telling you what it is, right. You gotta think…”

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The internet did just that—think. And react.

Almost instantly, debate erupted in both Hip-Hop and Five Percent circles. While Joe spoke with conviction, a lot of Gods pushed back hard. Some say his statements were, at best, a distortion and, at worst, disrespect.

According to sources familiar with the Nation’s roots in New York City, it is possible, especially the Bronx. It’s not completely out of the question that Fat Joe was influenced by Five Percenter culture in the 80s and 90s. One person said, “It’s possible he was around those who were loosely affiliated, or who adopted the lessons without ever formally becoming a part of the Nation.”

Back then, it wasn’t uncommon for Hip-Hop artists to reference the ideology, language, and teachings in their music. Many were not fully committed or “righteously civilized.” But Fat Joe’s name “Crack Kim Great God Allah”—left some confused and others offended. One critic pointed out: “How do you use the word ‘crack,’ a destructive drug that tore apart the community, and ‘Allah’ in the same breath?” Uhmmmmm…great fkn question.

Those closer to the Nation say this isn’t about clout chasing or going viral. For many, The Five Percent Nation represents a deeply rooted cultural and spiritual identity. “This ain’t a hashtag. This ain’t an aesthetic,” one lifelong member told AllHipHop off the record. “You don’t throw on a name like that without accountability.”

Still, some have chosen to give Joey Crack the benefit of the doubt, chalking it up to a misinterpretation of the teachings. Bronx elders who were around during that era confirm that the Nation had strong influence, especially among Blacks. I was told, it gets complicated with Latino youth. I am not about to go down that rabbit hole. Hit Google! Fat Joe could have just absorbed aspects of the culture from his environment. A lot of people did.

Hopefully there is not damage done. But, take a gander on Facebook…they are upset. The potential for ill will in there. I did hear that nobody will try to harm Joe. That’s a good thing!

People know Fat Joe personally. So, who will step forward to clarify or correct him?

Only time or the Gods will tell.

#NewProfilePic
Peace to God Great God Allah Crack-Kim pic.twitter.com/16VVShU8lj

— #RUCKDOWN4LIFE (@Rim_Davillins) July 8, 2025

​AllHipHop

Cardi B and Stefon Diggs went from internet breakup to new rumors in a jiffy. In less than a week, it was break-up-to-make-up, proving once again that speculation moves faster than facts.

It started when Cardi B quietly scrubbed every trace of the NFL star from her Instagram. Nothing was left behind. The erasure was swift and complete. Naturally, this set off alarm bells across social media. was the rapper done with her football boo? Did he cheat?

Offset jumped on it fast, seemingly relishing in the break-up. But Cardi’s ex-husband was premature, like most.

READ ALSO: Offset Says “Can’t Get Rid Of Me” Amid Cardi B & Stefon Diggs Breakup Rumors

On Tuesday (July 8), Diggs casually dropped a workout video that gave some “straightening.” The clip showed him and Cardi B working out together, side-by-side and lovingly. Unbothered is an understatement. The message: they’re still together. Or maybe they were never apart. Or they were briefly apart and got back together? Who knows.

While no official word has come out, the rumors now say—surprise—Cardi B and Stefon are still dating. It also could have been a brilliant PR move. Cardi B knows how to move the media. And this latest stunt, intentional or not, only confirms her mastery. But the way, she cussed people out online.

I won’t be getting off the internet, because Cardi won’t! Here’s the workout video for your perusal!

Cardi B working out with Stefon Diggs in Stefon’s new YouTube video uploaded today. pic.twitter.com/FCIeUcwnEC

— Devo (@devometric) July 8, 2025

​AllHipHop