The country superstar is sharing a deeper side of himself in his new ‘I’m the Problem’ zine — opening up about childhood, controversy and finding peace at home. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Day: December 12, 2025
Spencer Hatcher’s story starts on a small farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where he was singing and picking up instruments by age five and had the banjo mastered before he hit his teens. He later cut his teeth playing in his family’s bluegrass band, which gave him a foundation that would go on to shape the traditional-leaning country artist he is today.
Music was always at the forefront of life in Hatcher’s household with his dad being proficient on the banjo and guitar and his mom being a “phenomenal pianist” who showcased her talent by playing the organ at church while Hatcher’s grandparents sang along. While he says his parents encouraged him and his siblings to try out an instrument of their choosing, there was never any pressure to stick with it.
“I wound up playing baseball for over 10 years, but it was music that wound up, of course, sticking really long term,” Hatcher told Country Now. “When I was eight years old, I picked up the mandolin, which is primarily, it’s a bluegrass instrument. And I grew up in a house that had gospel music and some rock and roll in it, but lots of bluegrass and a lot of traditional country music. That was what I grew up on. And so I think I gravitated towards wanting to be able to play bluegrass like my dad.”
By 13 years old he had traded Friday night football games for jam sessions, where he got his first taste of playing in front of a small room of people. The performances continued and then in the four years before heading off to college, he dedicated his time to playing gigs anywhere and everywhere with his family band.
“I guess I’ve been in front of an audience for a lot of my life, really. I mean, even in school choirs and church choirs and stuff, you go out and you still perform for people. So I’m very comfortable on stage. I’m comfortable behind a mic, which I’m very grateful for.”
Hatcher continued to pursue his passion while attending East Tennessee State University, where he majored in business administration and minored in bluegrass and country music. He made the switch from bluegrass to country music in 2020, which led to him achieving a few viral videos and performing more and more shows each year.
“The first year we did about 20 shows. The following, 2021, we did about 70. The next year we did 140. And then in 2023 and 2024, I was self-booking over 150 shows each of those years. So we racked up about 500 shows over the course of about four years,” he proudly stated.
Looking back, he now sees that all of that hard work was preparing him for where he is now. The rising star recently played the biggest show of his career thus far, with his brother Connor, still in tow as his full-time bass player. He opened for Josh Turner, where about 4,000 people listened to him showcase a sound that honors the legacy of traditional country music storytelling with a modern edge all his own.
So by the time he launched his own country career, Hatcher already had years of stage time and lessons in the music business behind him, and it showed. He quickly built a loyal fanbase both online and on the road, racking up millions of views on social media.
That momentum set the stage for his debut EP, Honky Tonk Hideaway, a six-song snapshot of exactly who he is as an artist. Built on elements of the pedal steel and fiddle, the project channels the storytelling and authenticity of legends like Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and more while still carving out a sound that’s undeniably his.
Hatcher says the EP is meant to give listeners a full understanding of his identity through songs that each offer something personal and relatable through themes of love, heartbreak, and the adventures of leaving home.
“When a listener turns this thing on, they can get a full understanding of who Spencer Hatcher is as an artist. And to me, that is someone who the plays a traditional sounding country music, it’s real raw, pure country with a pedal steel and a fiddle. It’s replicable from what we do in the studio directly on stage in a live setting and it’s also its own sound. I don’t record a song and say, ‘well, I want it to sound exactly like George Strait, or I want it to sound exactly like Keith Whitley.’ It’s like, for me, I want them to be like, ‘well, this is Spencer Hatcher singing here.’ But man it, it’s real country music, raw, pure country.”
Hatcher instantly noticed that the title track of this EP, “Honky Tonk Hideaway” was one to really inspire a notable shift in the audience during his shows. It’s upbeat, heart-pounding energy was instantly received well by fans, which he considers to be a huge achievement.
“I was pleasantly surprised to see that was kind of the reaction with me opening my set with ‘Honky Tonk Hideaway.’ It was very exciting and people seemed to really love it.”
The collection also includes his debut radio single, “When She Calls Me Cowboy,” which, much like “Honky Tonk Hideaway,” had an impact on the rooms he was playing in, even before it was released.
Penned by Marv Green, Bart Butler and Tim Nichols, the tender tune centers around the moment a simple nickname becomes its own love language. The chorus captures the spark in the intimate moments between a couple when the woman lets her hair down, dims the lights and calls her man “cowboy,” signaling the romance that’s ahead.
For Hatcher, “When She Calls Me Cowboy” is the special song he was searching for that he feels sets him apart from other acts and can’t be compared to other songs he’s recorded.
“I’m very lucky to have that so early on in my career because the people, number one, just in the live shows already, this is the first song that I’ve ever performed live where it was one of the first shows I’d played since the song had come out, and I had it probably midway through the set or something like that, and when I announced I was going to play it, it was like the entire venue, and it was a sold out show that I was playing, had been waiting on this song,” Hatcher reflected. “And I mean, they cheered when I said I was going to sing it. And then when I started singing it, they sang every word to it. And that’s the first song I’ve ever done like that.”
The track not only became a standout moment during his live shows but also on the airwaves. It came out of the gate hot, becoming a Top 10 Most Added Song at U.S. Country Radio that continues to climb the charts.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. And what I study and the people I look up to are the people that have been in the industry like George Jones and Keith [Whitley] and Hank Jr. And all those guys. I would love to have a name like those guys one day and hopefully all along I can honor country music by putting out some really pure country music that the fans love…I’m very, very grateful that so many radio stations loved it that much that they wanted to add it.”
Recently signed to WME for global representation, Spencer Hatcher, has big plans for his future in country music. He proudly declared he has even more “amazing” music coming out next year that will seamlessly follow his debut project and will hopefully include a full-length album.
“It’s all going to be very real, raw, straight country music, and this is just the very beginning of it. And so I hope that everybody just keeps on enjoying everything that I continue to put out.”
The post Meet Spencer Hatcher: A Bluegrass-Rooted Artist Bringing a Fresh Take to Traditional Country Music appeared first on Country Now.
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Last night (Dec. 10), Trisha Yearwood brought the holiday spirit to Atlanta with a show fans won’t soon forget. As part of her Christmastime Tour, the country music icon delivered all the elements of a perfect holiday performance, from her signature vocals to the stunning arrangements from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and plenty of festive cheer. But the biggest highlight of the night was the surprise appearance from Yearwood’s husband, Garth Brooks.
Yearwood has been touring in support of her new holiday album, Christmastime, on what she deemed to be her own “12 Days of Christmas celebration.” Beginning November 2 and 3 with back-back-nights in Nashville, each stop on the run has features a setlist blending holiday classics as well as some original tracks from her latest project.
One song in particular on the album titled, “Merry Christmas, Valentine,” was co-written and recorded by Yearwood and her husband Garth Brooks. This heartfelt track has already become a standout among listeners, and it took on an extra special meaning during her stop in Atlanta and the pair took to stage to perform it in honor of their 20th wedding anniversary.
Just as the concert was nearing the end, the audience was caught completely off guard when Brooks walked onto the stage and began delivering stunning harmonies alongside his wife. Their love was palpable throughout the venue while singing the love-filled story about celebrating their “true forever love” while warmth and intimacy that perfectly captured their life together. The audience responded with loud cheers of excitement as the listened to the couple deliver the final notes.
The song paints a cozy, romantic winter scene, with Yearwood’s warm vocals describing the glow of a fire and the gentle fall of snow. She goes on to set the mood by singing, “There’s a heart-shaped wreath beneath the mistletoe/ Spelled out in chocolates are the words “Be Mine”/ Merry Christmas, valentine.”
The lyrics continue to celebrate the kind of love that’s everlasting as they come together on the chorus and reveal that the ultimate gift isn’t wrapped in paper, but found in simply in each other’s hearts.
“To celebrate this true forever love/ One holiday is just not grand enough/ So let the days of love and joy combine/ The greatest gift is still your hand in mine/ Merry Christmas, valentine,” they sing on the chorus.
The combination of the holiday season magic, a live orchestra, and the couple’s 20-year love story created a memory that fans will be talking about for years.
Trisha Yearwood’s Christmastime Tour is set to continue with select dates through December, offering more festive performances, holiday favorites, and maybe even a few more surprises along the way.
Tonight, she will make her way to Clearwater, FL for a performance at the Ruth Eckerd Hall followed by a visit to Naples, FL on December 12 and Ft Lauderdale, FL on December 13. Her final round of stops will take place across Michigan, Pennsylvania and Michigan before wrapping up at the Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY on December 20.
The post Trisha Yearwood And Garth Brooks Surprise Fans with Romantic ‘Merry Christmas, Valentine’ Performance in Atlanta appeared first on Country Now.
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![<a href="https://countrynow.com/riley-green-reflects-on-a-breakout-year-and-heads-into-2026-more-motivated-than-ever-exclusive/" target="_blank">Riley Green Reflects on a Breakout Year and Heads Into 2026 More Motivated Than Ever [Exclusive]</a>](https://countrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-8-1024x683.jpg)
2025 shaped up to be the biggest year of Riley Green’s career so far. He headlined a massive tour, took a few songs to the top of the charts, and walked away with multiple major industry honors, including three CMA Awards at last month’s ceremony. And as he looks toward 2026, he’s feeling more motivated than ever to top it.
Calling in from sunny Los Angeles, Green reflected on his standout night at the CMA Awards and the opportunity to perform during “Country Music’s Biggest Night.”
“Well, for one, it’s always nice to have an award show like that towards the end of the year. You get to catch up with everybody and celebrate this cool thing we all get to do, which is traveling around playing country music. And to be able to go to those things is always fun. But to be nominated, and then to have a night we did, me and Ella [Langley] win three awards, it’s a pretty special thing. I’ve been around long enough to know it doesn’t happen very often.”
Green has now earned CMA wins in back-to-back years (one in 2024 and three this year), a streak he doesn’t take lightly.
“I didn’t think I would get to go. It never crossed my mind that I would ever be up for an award or win an award, or much less win three,” he admitted. “It’s great, and to be able to perform at the award show is a big deal, so it was a great night all the way around.”
Ahead of the big show, Green stopped by Riley Green’s Duck Blind in Nashville, where he hopped onstage for a surprise performance celebrating his partnership with HEYDUDE. He said it was a fun way to give back to fans and let them be part of the moment.
“Well, that’s the coolest thing about having your own bar in Nashville, aside from being able to eat and drink for free, is whenever you have an event like that, you get to do it right there at your bar and it’s always cool,” he pointed out. “At this point, we’ve kind of got people that have been listening to me for a long time, and regulars even that come in the bar. So letting them be involved in something like that, and kind of sneak in and feel like they’re getting something a little special that everybody can’t be a part of, is a pretty cool thing. So HEYDUDE did a great job with the event, and it was obviously fun for me to get to do it right there at my bar.”
For Green, working with HEYDUDE was a no-brainer. He says the shoes fit seamlessly into his lifestyle.
“For one, comfy dad shoes is probably my style more than anything, so when they reached out about doing a partnership, it was a pretty easy ‘yes’ for me,” he shared. “I grew up going down to the beach and doing offshore fishing, and the lifestyle of lounging around the farm or around the beach house or whatever it is, is certainly what I do when I have time off. So it was a great bunch, and more than anything, when you do a deal like that, it’s about meeting the people and seeing that you all have similar goals, and they’re all just good folks and they’ve been really great to work with.”
His HEYDUDE partnership may also score him some points with his nieces and nephews this holiday season.
“I’ve got a lot of nieces and nephews now that I need to hook up with some HEYDUDEs. I think that’d be a great idea for Christmas.”
Speaking of the holidays, if you want to know what Christmas is like for Riley Green and his family, just go listen to his song “Christmas To Me.”
“That might be the most accurate and true song I’ve ever written,” Green declared, and with a laugh added, “except for my sister doesn’t have a tattoo. That’s the only part that’s not true.”
He described his Christmas as a “little bit of chaos” but also “really special,” and just like the song, if you pull up to his grandma’s house, you can bet it’s going to look “like a parking lot.”
“You run into the Bass Pro Shop, you get a last-minute gift, we forgot somebody or whatever it is. And we have such a big family. Somebody’s always got some kind of emotional breakdown it seems like at Christmas. And I got two sisters and two girl cousins that were always around, so it was a lot of females and that drama going on. So it was a really cool thing growing up with a really close family like that. And I think the chaos of family get-togethers is kind of what makes it fun and keeps it exciting.”
With his final two shows of 2025 taking place this weekend, Green is already looking ahead to 2026 and feeling more inspired than ever.
“When you have a year we did, some people might think there’s a feeling of like, ‘Oh, well, I can relax now. I’ve accomplished this.’ But it is really the opposite,” he revealed. “It’s such a motivating thing when you’re writing songs and people are relating to ’em and it really seems to be working, and you’re getting recognition from the industry and your peers. And for me, it just makes me want to go put out more music and play more shows.”
Green told us that fans can expect more new music at the beginning of next year and, of course, plenty of shows around the world, with dates planned in the U.S., Canada, and Australia throughout the year.
The post Riley Green Reflects on a Breakout Year and Heads Into 2026 More Motivated Than Ever [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
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Clint Black will give fans an intimate look into his life with the upcoming release of his memoir, KILLIN’ TIME: My Life and Music, arriving May 19, 2026.
Named after his hit song and 1989 debut album, the book finds the ’90s country icon reflecting on his journey as a singer, songwriter, husband to Lisa Hartman Black, and father to Lily Pearl Black. Starting with his Texas upbringing—marked by “near-death” experiences as a child—it follows him through his rise in music, including dropping out of high school to pursue his dream and eventually becoming a country hitmaker. The memoir also features a 16-page color photo insert, offering fans a visual glimpse into his life and career.
The 2025 BMI Icon Award recipient shares behind-the-scenes stories of his life and career, giving readers a candid look at the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that shaped him.
“This is the story of a dreamer with a persistent soul. After ten years of playing clubs in Texas, I never knew if I’d get the chance to record my music in Nashville. And then, in one year, my life changed forever,” Black shares. “If my story—this crazy, 40-year rollercoaster ride—can inspire that young singer-songwriter grinding every day, or support someone struggling through a seemingly endless pursuit of a dream, then I’ll know my life has made a difference.”
“Clint Black is part of the fabric of America. An icon in the world of country music, his talent spans nearly 40 years of our culture,” Harper Influence Publisher Lisa Sharkey added. “His tough Texas upbringing and rise to the pinnacle of his craft, coupled with his love story with wife and actress Lisa Hartman, will leave readers with a new appreciation for this extraordinary man and his music.”
“This is more than a musician’s memoir; it’s the definitive account of a transformative era in country music,” said Maddie Pillari, Editor.
With over twenty million records sold, twenty-two number-one singles, including “A Better Man,” “When My Ship Comes In,” and “Summer’s Comin’,” 31 top-ten hits, nearly two dozen gold and platinum awards, countless CMA and ACM honors, a Grammy Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Clint Black’s career stands as a testament to his enduring impact on country music and his status as one of the genre’s true icons.
Clint Black continues to tour, launching his Back on the Black Top Tour February 12 in Nashville, TN, with three shows and continuing around the U.S. through the spring. Full details are on his official website.
The post Country Legend Clint Black to Share His Life Story in New Memoir, ‘KILLIN’ TIME: My Life and Music’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Throughout this year, fans saw Dylan Scott tackle some of his biggest venues yet, including first-ever arena show and performed in front of record-breaking audiences on his Country Till I Die Tour followed by his recently wrapped Easy Does It Tour. A brand-new announcement from the country act reveals he’s ready to bring that momentum into 2026 with his Till I Can’t I Will Tour.
“Had so much fun in 2025, we gotta run it back for ‘26,” he shared on Instagram.
The upcoming trek will launch March 12, 2026, at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, N.Y. and continue through the end of May with stops in major cities like Chicago, Fort Worth and Las Vegas and more along the way. Scott will be joined by a rotating lineup of special guests including 12/OC, Kelsey Hart and Lauren Watkins, who will take turns appearing on select dates.
Fans hoping to snag tickets for a show in 2026 can take part in the general onsale beginning tomorrow, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets can be purchased here.
Along with announcing new tour dates, the “Livin’ My Best Life” singer also shared a heartfelt family moment this season. Back in the ’80s his father wrote a powerful holiday track that centers around the emotions of growing up in a divorced household. This year, Scott decided to surprise his dad by bring the song to life in the studio and even made it a three-generation moment by featuring his young son Beckett on the final verse.
Scott might not have personally had to navigate divorce through his upbringing, but it always held meaning in their home as it was a tradition for the song to be played during the holiday season.
“My dad wrote it in the ’80s, I’ve heard it my whole life and I’ve always thought it was such a cool song when I was kid,” Scott told Country Now backstage at the CMA Awards. “It’s special to me not only because of my dad but to have my son on it as well.”
With “Two Christmas Trees,” the multi-Platinum singer expands his holiday collection that already includes classics like “Jingle Bell Rock,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Mary, Did You Know?” and “Winter Wonderland.”
Both sets of news comes amid a landmark year for Scott, who kicked things off with the release of his third studio album, Easy Does It. Among the project’s 11 tracks is his single, “What He’ll Never Have,” which now sits inside the Top 20 at Country radio and continues to rise. The track was recently recognized by ASCAP as one of the year’s most-performed country songs.
Another standout, “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” earned him his sixth career No. 1. And the wins didn’t stop there because also Scott found his way onto the top of the charts earlier this year with “Boys Back Home” (featuring Dylan Marlowe), marking two No. 1s this year alone and positioning him as the third most-played artist on Country radio in 2025.
Now with his new tour on the horizon, we’re ready to see what else is in store for Dylan Scott in 2026.
Till I Can’t I Will Tour Dates:
March 12, 2026 in Syracuse, N.Y.at Landmark Theatre*
March 13, 2026 in Bensalem, Pa.at Parx Casino – Xcite Center
March 14, 2026 in Bangor, Maineat Cross Insurance Center*
March 20, 2026 in Orillia, Ont.at Casino Rama*
March 21, 2026 in Ottawa, Ont.at Hard Rock Ottawa*
March 27, 2026 in Tallahassee, Fla.at Kleiman Park#
March 28, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.at TBD
April 11, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.at Boots In The Park#
April 16, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohioat Agora Ballroom●
April 18, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.at Bulls, Boots & Barrels#
April 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.at The Palace Theatre●
April 24, 2026 in Mount Pleasant, Mich.at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort●
April 25, 2026 in Windsor, Ont.at Colosseum Windsor●
May 8, 2026 in Sacramento, Calif.at KNCI’s Country In The Park#
May 9, 2026 in Henderson, Nev.at Green Valley Ranch●
May 15, 2026 in Rosemont, Ill.at Joe’s Live●
May 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texasat Billy Bob’s Texas+
May 30, 2026 in Helotes, Texasat Floores Country Store+
* with special guest 12/OC
● with special guest Kelsey Hart
+ with special guest Lauren Watkins
# festival
The post Dylan Scott Wraps 2025 on a High, Announces Till I Can’t I Will Tour for 2026 appeared first on Country Now.
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Dave Chappelle is a funny guy. He’s a really funny guy. But is he still that funny when Diddy is roaming the earth? That’s the question people are suddenly asking after Dave took a surprising jab at the Bad Boy mogul. And to be clear, nobody is rooting for any gangster theatrics here — not at all. Still, Dave strongly hinted that if Diddy ever pressed him the way he allegedly pressed Kid Cudi, things would go a whole lot differently.
Now, why does this matter?
Because Dave has history with Puff. Go back to the early 2000s: on Chappelle’s Show, Dave turned Diddy into a cultural caricature with the legendary “Making the Band” parody… the cheesecake walk, the big boss talk, all of it. It’s one of the most iconic sketches of the era, and it actually helped cement Puffy’s pop-culture mythology. Diddy himself leaned into the joke at the time, even reenacting it years later. So Dave’s jokes about him aren’t coming out of nowhere.
Fast-forward to now.
In a new leaked clip from Dave’s rumored upcoming Netflix special, he jokes about how he’d respond if Diddy blew up his car the way he allegedly blew up Kid Cudi’s. As you already know, Diddy is accused of tossing a Molotov-cocktail-style device onto Cudi’s vehicle, which reportedly exploded. The story created a cloud of speculation, all allegedly tied to jealousy over Cassie.
Whether people believe the story or not, the culture has spent years imagining what they would do in that situation. And Dave Chappelle jumped right in. He said he’s “built like that,” implying he would definitely handle it like a G.
Now remember: Dave notoriously forbids recording at his shows. Phones get locked up. Devices get bagged. But somebody clearly smuggled one in, and the clip hit the internet anyway. It’s only going to supercharge promotion for his next rumored Netflix special, which is already poised to dominate streaming when it drops. Chappelle stays controversial, Netflix stays winning and the internet stays messy.
Stay tuned.
AllHipHop
LL Cool J found his Grammy-winning anthem weaponized by federal agents after the Department of Homeland Security used “Mama Said Knock You Out” to soundtrack dramatic footage of a Venezuelan oil tanker seizure.
The DHS posted a 45-second video showing U.S. forces rappelling from helicopters onto the deck of a massive oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast. The agency captioned the clip “KNOCKOUT” and set it to LL’s 1990 classic, turning the Hip-Hop legend’s comeback anthem into government propaganda.
“If you threaten America’s national security, we will find you,” DHS wrote alongside the video, which shows the coordinated operation involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense.
KNOCKOUT.
If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you.
Thank you to the brave service members from @USCG, @ICEGOV, @FBI, @DeptofWar, and @TheJusticeDept. pic.twitter.com/KUCRjES267
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 11, 2025
The tanker seizure represents the largest vessel ever captured by U.S. forces, according to President Trump. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ship had been under sanctions for “multiple years” and was part of an “illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations” linking Venezuela and Iran.
“Mama Said Knock You Out” emerged from LL Cool J’s darkest career moment. After his 1989 album Walking with a Panther received harsh criticism from Hip-Hop purists who felt he’d gone too commercial, LL shared his frustrations with his grandmother.
Her response became Hip-Hop history: “Oh baby, just knock them out!” The resulting track, produced by Marley Marl, samples James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and became LL’s most aggressive statement.
Released in February 1991, it won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance and re-established LL as a force in Hip-Hop after critics had written him off. The song’s boxing metaphors and defiant lyrics made it an instant classic, with LL declaring, “Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years.”
Now those exact fighting words accompany federal law enforcement operations.
The DHS video continues the Trump administration’s controversial practice of using popular music without the artist’s permission for government messaging.
Last week, Sabrina Carpenter blasted the White House as “evil and disgusting” after they used her song “Juno” in an ICE arrest montage.
The pattern shows federal agencies consistently co-opting Hip-Hop and pop music to dramatize enforcement actions for social media consumption.
LL Cool J has not yet responded to the use of his music in the operation.
AllHipHop
50 Cent gave a brutal take about Diddy’s dramatic physical transformation behind bars after images went viral showing the devastating toll prison life has taken on Hip-Hop’s former king.
The G-Unit mogul cracked a joke when describing his reaction to the first photos of Diddy from Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution.
“He got old real fast,” 50 Cent told Us Weekly. “All I saw before were the pictures from the courtroom when they drew him. He looks like a raccoon. I was like, ‘When did this happen?’”
But 50’s most revealing moment came when he revealed that Diddy’s children were initially interested in participating to show their perspective.
“There was a point when they were interested in being a part of the doc because they wanted to show their perspective,” 50 Cent said. “They were concerned about how things would be portrayed.”
The family’s potential involvement added a personal dimension to the four-part series. 50 Cent has previously worked with Diddy’s sons, hiring Quincy and Justin for scripted television programs through his G-Unit Film & Television company.
Diddy’s legal team has fought back against the documentary, sending a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix claiming the footage was stolen.
His spokesperson called the series a “shameful hit piece” and criticized Netflix for giving creative control to Jackson, whom they labeled a “longtime public adversary.”
Netflix defended the project, stating the “footage of Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest were legally obtained.”
The documentary features disturbing allegations from former associates and alleged victims, including Joi Dickerson-Neal and Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. It also explores claims connecting Diddy to the murders of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur.
50 Cent’s relationship with Diddy soured years ago over what he described as an uncomfortable invitation to shop. Despite their feud, 50 Cent insists the documentary isn’t personal revenge.
Diddy was sentenced to 50 months in prison after being convicted under the Mann Act. He faces more than 100 civil lawsuits that 50 Cent believes will “finish off his finances.”
The documentary premiered on Netflix on December 2 and quickly became the platform’s number one series.
AllHipHop
Mariah Carey just made history after her long-lost demo tape from the late 1980s sold for a jaw-dropping $54,050, marking a major moment for collectors and pop historians alike.
The rare cassette, unearthed from producer Arthur Baker‘s personal vault and sold in collaboration with Brenda K. Starr, was the exact tape Baker received the night Carey was discovered at a 1989 holiday party.
The auction, confirmed by Wax Poetics, is the first time one of Carey’s original demo tapes has ever hit the public market.
“This tape is history – a real one-of-a-kind piece that has been long sought-after by Mariah fans,” said Wax Poetics CEO Alex Bruh. “The impact this tape has had on music is unprecedented and we are incredibly proud to have been a part of its story. It captures the exact moment a generational voice was taking shape, and stands as a testament to her self-made beginnings and the creative foundations that defined her ascent.”
The seven-track tape, recorded in 1988, includes early versions of five songs that would later anchor Carey’s blockbuster 1990 self-titled debut album, an LP that produced four No. 1 singles. It also features two unreleased tracks that have long been whispered about by collectors and superfans.
The demo’s backstory is as iconic as the music itself. At the 1989 Christmas party, Starr, who had intended to bring her mother, brought Carey instead, hoping to help her land a record deal.
That night, she handed the tape to then-Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, sparking one of the most pivotal launches in pop music history.
The songs were co-produced by Ben Margulies and Chris Toland, who helped shape Carey’s early sound before she signed to Columbia. The demo versions of “Someday,” “Alone in Love,” and “All In Your Mind” showcase Carey’s early musical range, blending funk, synth-pop, and R&B in a raw, unfiltered form.
“The songs were more primitive in demo form, but all the elements that led to the final record are there – the hooks, the background vocals, the kicks, the chords. Mariah already had it,” Toland said.
The winning bidder received the original 1989 cassette, a certificate of authenticity, archival documentation, and verified research compiled by the Wax Poetics team.
The auction is part of Wax Poetics’ expanding archival series, which pairs storytelling with authenticated music memorabilia. Previous releases have spotlighted artists like Bootsy Collins, Don Blackman, Louie Vega, and Nightmares on Wax.
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