Day: October 20, 2025

The Paid in Full Foundation held its third Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards on Saturday night (October 18) at the Bellagio’s Tower Ballroom in Las Vegas.

Anyone graced with an invite was likely overwhelmed by the sheer number of legends in the building—from Nas, Dr. Dre, Ludacris and George Clinton to Scarface, Rakim, Fab 5 Freddy and Mobb Deep’s Havoc.

Needless to say, there were some unforgettable moments that will live forever—especially on social media. One of the highlights of the evening was a panel hosted by Paid in Full Foundation Board of Director Quincy Jones III that featured Babyface, Scarface and the first recipient of The Quincy Jones Award, George Clinton.

Jones asked Clinton to rap the verses to Eric B. and Rakim’s “Follow the Leader,” to which Clinton replied, “Oh man you’re not gonna make me do it in front of him?” Despite the brief protest, Clinton proceeded to spit every single word to the classic track to the audience’s amazement. It wasn’t long before Rakim emerged from backstage and joined Clinton for the final verse.

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Moments later, Dr. Dre—who built his 1992 masterpiece The Chronic on numerous Parliament-Funkadelic samples—surprised the crowd and praised Clinton for not only his contribution to music but to Hip-Hop specifically.

“George Clinton is one of my main motivations and what I grew up to,” Dre said. “Forty years this year, I started in 1985. This summer marks 40 years that I’ve been doing this thing. In the beginning of my career and my childhood and everything was based on this man right here. Everything that I’ve done, studied… all the drums and all the instruments that this man did inspired me to do what I’m doing right now, and I’m just so appreciative. It’s all love.

“These guys [Rakim and George] are responsible for changing music the way it was and the way it is right now. You know how crazy it is for somebody to go into the studio and change the way we listen to music? These two gentlemen did.”

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That was only a sliver of the magic happening inside of the Tower Ballroom. Everyone in attendance had gathered to honor this year’s Hip Hop Grandmaster Award recipients Grand Puba of Brand Nubian and Kool G Rap as well as fellow honorees Jalil of Whodini and the Fat Boys’ Kool Rock Ski.

Former Yo! MTV Raps host Fab 5 Freddy interviewed several people from the red carpet, including Luda, Van Jones, Kool Rock Ski, George Clinton and Scarface. The evening’s host, Roxanne Shanté, spit freestyles, DJ Cool V cheered from his table, Kool G Rap mingled with friends, Havoc rapped his verses from Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones II” and Nas performed “Made You Look” (among others). Past Hip Hop Grandmaster Award honoree Kool Moe Dee was also joined by Fearless 4 MC Mike C and crew for another electric performance.

The event effortlessly illustrated both the strength and resilience of the Hip-Hop community while simultaneously raising money for a good cause. Many of the most influential and trailblazing Hip-Hop artists never received recognition proportional to their contributions the culture.

The Paid in Full Foundation’s primary purpose, as stated on its website, “aims to rectify that through its grantmaking program, by both honoring the people who built Hip Hop and enabling them to pursue their creative and intellectual pursuits for the benefit of society.”

All net proceeds raised from the Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards directly support The Paid in Full Foundation’s mission to “empower Hip-Hop pioneers and other creatives.” Read more about it here and enjoy a photo of George Clinton arriving in a motorized wheelchair below.

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Brandy cut her Chicago performance short during The Boy Is Mine Tour Saturday night (October 18) due to a sudden health scare that forced her offstage before the show’s signature duet.

The R&B star left the crowd stunned when she exited the stage before performing “The Boy Is Mine” with Monica, their chart-topping 1998 hit that spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The abrupt departure came without warning, leaving concertgoers confused and concerned.

On Sunday (October 19), Brandy addressed the incident in a statement posted to social media, revealing that a medical issue led to her early exit.

“To my dear fans in Chicago,” she wrote. “Thank you all for the overwhelming love, support, and, most importantly, your prayers. I sincerely apologize for the abrupt end to last night’s performance in Chicago. After weeks of non-stop rehearsals, last night I experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint. Everyone involved agreed that prioritizing my well-being was of the utmost importance.”

She also praised Monica for stepping in without hesitation.

“I’m deeply grateful to my sister, Monica, for stepping up with such grace and professionalism and the entire crew for their continued care and support… I look forward to returning to the stage, stronger and more grateful than ever, alongside my girl tonight.”

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The tour, which brings together two of the most celebrated voices in Hip-Hop and R&B;, continues through December 14. The pair’s reunion on stage has been a nostalgic draw for longtime listeners, especially those who remember the original release of “The Boy Is Mine” during the late ’90s.

Brandy’s health update comes amid a demanding tour schedule packed with rehearsals and back-to-back performances. Health-related exits mid-show are rare for the seasoned performer, making Saturday’s moment all the more concerning for those in attendance.

According to NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/brandy-hospitalized-after-possible-seizure-rcna51773), Brandy has previously dealt with health concerns, including a hospitalization in 2022 after losing consciousness. Though she recovered quickly, the incident highlighted the physical toll of her profession.

Brandy is expected to rejoin Monica on stage for the next scheduled performance.

The Boy Is Mine Tour wraps up December 14.

 

​AllHipHop

Nas called it dead in 2006, but now the Queensbridge icon is praising Kendrick Lamar and Clipse for reviving Hip-Hop in 2025 with chart-topping releases and renewed energy across the genre.

In a recent sit-down with Complex, the Grammy-winning MC reflected on the current state of rap, pointing to Lamar’s explosive year and Clipse’s long-awaited return as proof that the genre is thriving.

“I used to say [that] Hip-Hop is dead. It is kind of dead, but we have to think about it, in a sense, like that,” Nas said. “Because if you think about it, this year is really incredible. I mean, Kendrick’s been on a roll, Clipse cooking, Legend Has It [series], Mass Appeal.”

Nas specifically praised Kendrick’s recent run, marked by the viral hit “Not Like Us” and his critically acclaimed album GNX.

Meanwhile, Clipse’s comeback project Let God Sort Em Out, their first full-length release in 16 years, has stirred excitement across the industry.

Both albums are expected to land nominations for Best Rap Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards, signaling a broader shift in the genre’s momentum.

But Nas didn’t stop at the veterans. He also gave props to the next generation and women in Hip-Hop for keeping the culture alive and evolving.

“All the younger dudes and the females, all of the females, it’s like Hip-Hop is really alive too,” he added. “So, you have the part that’s, that can threaten it, you know, the ignorance — the stuff that’s really, it doesn’t evolve… or it gets too violent — you know, you got the things that can threaten it… But then you also have everything that’s happening this year, too, so it’s a balance.”

Nas released Hip Hop Is Dead in December 2006 under Def Jam, marking his first project after leaving Columbia Records. The title track, which featured will.i.am, sparked debate over the genre’s direction and longevity.

Now, nearly 20 years later, the “Illmatic” legend says Hip-Hop is here to stay.

“I think rap is timeless, and yeah, Hip-Hop is timeless,” Nas said. “Hip-Hop keeps reinventing itself. It keeps staying current even if it’s a certain artist that’s not doing it no more. The art form in itself will find a new person to keep pushing it.”

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Cardi B voiced sharp criticism of the Trump administration’s food assistance policies during a Saturday (October 18) Twitter Spaces session. She warned that families may struggle to afford Thanksgiving meals due to recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“People are complaining that they have taken away food stamps,” the Grammy-winning artist said. “Thanksgiving is next month, no turkey for some of y’all.”

The Bronx native reminded listeners about her previous warnings during her campaign support for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“These are the type of things I was trying to tell y’all about when I was talking about the Trump administration,” she stated. “But all y’all cared about was me saying ‘Shrump.’”

Cardi B’s comments come as millions of Americans face potential loss of food assistance benefits.

The Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025” cut approximately $186 billion from SNAP funding through 2034, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.

Cardi B talks about the pause on food stamps & high prices due to tariffs from the Trump Administration via Spaces. pic.twitter.com/rem0CKRp3p

— ໊ (@BardisMedia) October 18, 2025

The legislation tightened work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.

Starting in late 2025, many low-income adults will lose SNAP eligibility. The changes affect nearly 3 million young adults nationwide.

About 20 states will see their waivers end on November 2, 2025, potentially affecting thousands of families.

States with SNAP error rates above 6% will lose federal funding beginning in fiscal year 2028.

Food assistance advocates warn that SNAP cuts will significantly impact families and the broader economy. State officials describe potential benefit pauses as devastating for vulnerable populations.

The timing of Cardi B’s criticism coincides with rising food costs and economic uncertainty. Many families rely on SNAP benefits to supplement their grocery budgets, especially during holiday seasons.

The rapper also criticized tariffs that drive up prices for both luxury and everyday items. She emphasized that working-class families bear the burden when public programs face cuts.

Cardi B actively campaigned for Harris during the 2024 presidential election. She spoke at a Milwaukee rally in November, describing Trump as a “bully” and expressing her initial reluctance to vote before Harris changed her mind.

“I wasn’t going to vote, but Kamala changed my mind,” she said at the Wisconsin event. The rapper wore an all-white outfit while delivering her endorsement speech.

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Blueface is facing a new legal push in Los Angeles where attorneys for a woman who won a $125,000 defamation judgment against the jailed rapper are asking a judge to redirect his music royalties to satisfy the debt.

Jackilyn Martinez, who sued the California rapper—real name Johnathan Jamall Porter—in December 2023, filed a motion Thursday (October 16) asking Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Hernandez to assign royalties from BMI and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The two organizations collect performance royalties on behalf of artists like Blueface.

Martinez’s legal move comes as Porter serves a four-year sentence at North Kern State Prison for violating probation tied to a 2021 assault case. She alleges the 28-year-old “Thotiana” rapper defamed her online by implying that Soulja Boy’s toddler might actually be his son.

“As a result of Porter’s wrongful conduct and the defamatory statements, I have and continue to suffer severe emotional and mental distress, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks (and) crying spells,” Martinez wrote in court documents.

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After Porter failed to respond to the lawsuit, Judge Hernandez granted a default judgment in April totaling $123,245, which included $100,000 for pain and suffering. With interest, the amount has since grown to $129,150, according to a declaration from her attorney Michael Berke.

Martinez initially sought $10 million in damages, but the judge declined to award punitive damages in the defamation case.

The royalty seizure request is the latest financial blow for Porter, who was also ordered by a Nevada judge to pay $13 million to Euphoric Gentlemen’s Club in Las Vegas. That judgment stems from an October 2022 shooting outside the venue, which led to its permanent closure. The payout includes $12.6 million in lost business revenue, $198,000 in property damages and $84,000 in payroll costs. An additional $1 million in interest was later added to the total.

Martinez, who is the mother of the child at the center of the online paternity claim, stated in court filings that she has not had a relationship with Porter since 2018. The defamatory posts were allegedly made on his social media accounts.

Porter’s legal troubles began escalating in 2021 when he was convicted of assault for attacking a security guard at a North Hollywood venue. He was sentenced to probation but ended up behind bars in January 2024 after failing to comply with its terms. His four-year sentence was handed down in August.

Martinez’s attorneys argue that assigning the rapper’s royalties is necessary because he has not made any effort to pay the court-ordered amount. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for December 9.

Porter’s music catalog, which includes collaborations and viral hits, remains a potential source of income that could be tapped to satisfy his growing legal debts.

His representatives have not responded to inquiries regarding the pending motion.

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Steve Rifkind is hitting back at recent claims surrounding DMX’s funeral expenses after the late rapper’s longtime manager and uncle, Ray Copeland, claimed he had to personally marshal funds because major artists and industry figures declined to contribute.

The music executive set the record straight on social media over the weekend, denying that Def Jam and Swizz Beatz refused to cover the expenses.

“I was there every step of the way,” Rifkind stated. “I was his manager at the time. So, for the record, Swizz paid 80% of the funeral. Def Jam paid for the funeral.”

According to Rifkind, a third person also contributed but wanted to remain anonymous. He added that Swizz Beatz continues to support DMX’s family but would never speak on it publicly.

“I knew he wasn’t going to say anything,” he added. “It needs to be said that he was there every step of the way and orchestrated the most beautiful funeral at Barclays.”

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During an exclusive interview with AllHipHop, Copeland claimed that he contacted parties like Ruff Ryders, Swizz Beatz, Steve Rifkind, and Def Jam to ask for help, but was told they “didn’t have it.”

He claimed that although he did receive help later, it did not cover everything.

“Def Jam [later] gave me $35,000 — that’s it,” Copeland said. “They later told the media they paid for the funeral. That’s not true. Kanye West took care of everything at the Barclays Center.”

Copeland insisted that he, business associate Germaine Miller, and attorney Ron Sweeney personally covered the $150,000 cost of DMX’s funeral.

Addressing Copeland directly, Rifkind continued, “I don’t know why you’re saying something like this, but just tell the truth. Def Jam paid something, Swizz paid something, and the third person paid something.”

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Lil Durk may be behind bars on murder-for-hire charges, but that didn’t stop him from sharing new music with his fans to celebrate his birthday, posting a snippet seemingly recorded during a jailhouse call.

The incarcerated rapper, who turned 33 on Sunday (October 19), shared a message with his fans on social media, thanking supporters for sticking by him.

“I don’t have all the words, but I’m thankful to still have a voice,” he began. “Thankful for everyone who stood on love when things got heavy. I’m working on myself, working on peace, and hoping the city feels that too.”

In the snippet, Durk raps: “Who you depend on?/If you need some, who can you bend on?/Ask your b####, is she really puttin’ n##### in the friendzone?”

I don’t have all the words, but I’m thankful to still have a voice.

Thankful for everyone who stood on love when things got heavy.

I’m working on myself, working on peace, and hoping the city feels that too.

— Durk pic.twitter.com/6uuxt1GyPx

— THE VOICE (@lildurk) October 20, 2025

Earlier this month, Lil Durk asked a federal judge to dismiss his murder-for-hire charges or compel prosecutors to provide more detailed evidence.

His attorneys argue the indictment is too vague — while it accuses him of directing co-conspirators to fly to Los Angeles, stalk, and kill a target known as “T.B.,” it fails to specify when, where, how, or to whom he allegedly gave those orders.

Prosecutors claim Durk offered “lucrative music opportunities” and placed a bounty on T.B., but the defense says the government hasn’t identified what offers were made, who received them, or what “coded” communications supposedly took place.

The shooting in question allegedly led to the death of Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, a cousin of rapper Quando Rondo.

Durk’s team maintains there’s no evidence he physically participated in or directly communicated with anyone involved in the attack.

He was arrested in October 2024 near Miami International Airport and remains in federal custody. A hearing on the defense motion is set for November 18.

Lil Durk Promises To “Lead By Example”

Meanwhile, another jailhouse call recording, allegedly of Lil Durk, surfaced online over the weekend. In the audio, Durk says, “I’m doing better, man. We all get second chances.” He also vows to “lead by example” once he is released.

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