Category: Hip Hop

Nas landed a major win in his hometown as a $5.5 billion casino expansion project he backs in Queens received unanimous approval from a local advisory board, clearing a key hurdle in the race for one of New York’s coveted downstate casino licenses.

The Queens Community Advisory Committee voted 6-0 in favor of the Resorts World New York City expansion near the Aqueduct racetrack, setting the stage for a sprawling entertainment complex that includes a 7,000-seat venue, 2,000 hotel rooms and more than 30 dining spots.

“Queens get the money,” one voting member said, adding a jab at JAY-Z: “Sorry, JAY-Z. We win again! I just had to rub that in.”

Richards’ comment referenced the recent collapse of JAY-Z’s $5.4 billion Times Square casino proposal, which was rejected in a 4-2 vote by Manhattan’s Community Advisory Committee on September 17.

That project, backed by Roc Nation, Caesars Entertainment and SL Green, faced strong pushback from Broadway theater leaders and local groups who feared it would disrupt the area’s cultural and economic ecosystem.

It was also a nod to the pair’s infamous feud, which resulted in a pair of classic diss tracks: “Takeover” by JAY-Z and Nas’ reply, “Ether.”

Nas, who grew up in the Queensbridge Houses, partnered with Resorts World to help shape the development’s community outreach and long-term impact.

The plan includes 3,000 units of workforce housing, over 50 acres of new parkland and upgraded transit connections to JFK Airport and Manhattan. He’s also helping lead a $50 million commitment to launch the Genting Innovation Campus, a wellness center and a STEAM institute aimed at youth in Southeast Queens.

If licensed, the casino would double its gaming revenue from $1 billion to an estimated $2.2 billion by 2027. The expansion is expected to create 5,000 permanent jobs and an additional 5,000 jobs during construction.

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Wale is diving into the gritty past of his hometown with Silk, a television series spotlighting infamous D.C. hitman Wayne “Silk” Perry during the city’s deadliest years.

The Grammy-nominated rapper and Washington D.C. native is stepping behind the camera to executive produce the crime drama, which centers on Perry’s violent reign from 1989 to 1993—a time when the nation’s capital earned the grim title of “murder capital” of the United States.

“D.C. is more than just politics,” Wale said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “We have a rich, Black history that’s inspired audiences around the world, and it’s time to tell more stories that are based here.”

The series will trace Perry’s rise as a feared enforcer for Harlem drug trafficker Alpo Martinez, who moved his cocaine operation into D.C. following the downfall of local kingpin Rayful Edmond. Perry’s reputation for carrying out executions with precision and ruthlessness made him one of the most feared men in the city’s underworld.

“This story is one of the last authentic stories in Black crime lore,” Wale’s manager Kazz Laidlaw said. “People have seen slivers in movies like Paid in Full and read conjecture online, but beneath the surface is an entire world that hasn’t been seen before.”

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Perry, now known as Nkosi Shaka Zulu El, is serving five life sentences at ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Colorado. He was convicted in 1994 for a string of murders tied to Martinez’s drug empire. His conviction followed Martinez’s arrest and cooperation with federal prosecutors, which included testimony that helped seal Perry’s fate.

Among the victims were drug dealer Garrett Terrell and Evelyn Carter, a witness who had been prepared to testify.

Wale has secured a stake in Perry Industries, the D.C.-based company that holds Perry’s life rights. He will produce the series alongside Laidlaw and C. Edwards of Perry Industries.

Set against the backdrop of early 1990s Washington, the show will weave in the city’s chaotic political climate, high crime rates, and the pulse of its go-go music scene. The same years saw the Washington Redskins winning Super Bowls, Mayor Marion Barry under FBI investigation, and Congress passing the 1994 crime bill.

“That era in D.C. was internationally famous,” Wale said. “The Redskins were winning Super Bowls, the mayor was indicted by the FBI, Joe Biden passed the crime bill, and D.C. had 482 homicides — the highest in the country.”

Wale, who has previously acted in Ambulance and American Gods, has consistently infused his music with references to his D.C. roots. With Silk, he’s aiming to bring an unfiltered look at a city that’s often reduced to political headlines.

The project is still in early development, and no network or streaming platform has been attached.

The series joins a growing wave of crime dramas like Power, Snowfall and Narcos that explore the drug-fueled chaos of the 1980s and 1990s.

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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will receive a hometown salute during a celebration at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where the third annual Music Keynote to the City will honor the legendary Hip-Hop group. The news comes two months after it was announced that the group would also get their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame sometime in 2026.

The Rock Hall tribute will take place Sunday (September 28) at 3:30 p.m. local time at the Rock Hall. Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy will present the ceremony, which will include a formal recognition of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony—Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh ‘n Bone and Wish Bone—followed by a brief performance. Admission to the ceremony is free with RSVP, though museum entry is not included.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, formed in Cleveland in 1991, carved a lasting legacy in Hip-Hop with their melodic flows and rapid-fire delivery. Their breakout single, “Thuggish Ruggish Bone,” and chart-toppers like “Tha Crossroads” helped define the genre in the ’90s.

The group collaborated with their mentor Eazy-E, who signed them to Ruthless Records, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., bridging coasts and styles in a way few others have.

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The Rock Hall also unveiled a trio of Rihanna’s stage and video outfits now featured in its “Legends of Rock” exhibit. The collection includes the bustier worn in her “Rude Boy” music video, the bodysuit from the same shoot and the bustier she wore during her “Rehab” performance at the 2008 American Music Awards.

The Music Keynote to the City is part of the Rock Hall’s ongoing efforts to honor artists with deep ties to Cleveland and beyond. Thanks to KeyBank’s CLE*VIP program, Cleveland residents can visit the museum free of charge every day.

Looking ahead, the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for next fall, with the official date and lineup of inductees still to be announced. The annual event, which celebrates artists across genres who have made lasting contributions to music, typically draws major names and performances. Last year’s ceremony featured appearances from Missy Elliott and Willie Nelson, among others, according to NBC News.

The Bone Thugs-n-Harmony celebration and Rihanna exhibit are both housed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, located at 1100 Rock N Roll Blvd in Cleveland.

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Young Thug and YFN Lucci shocked the Hip-Hop world Friday (September 26) by appearing on each other’s albums, signaling the end of a years-long feud that once split Atlanta’s rap scene down the middle.

The two rappers, who had been embroiled in a bitter rivalry for nearly a decade, dropped their respective projects — UY Scuti from Young Thug and Already Legend from YFN Lucci — on September 26.

But the real headline came from their unexpected features on each other’s albums, a move that insiders say was intentional and meant to close the chapter on their public conflict.

Lucci appears on “Whaddup Jesus,” a melodic track that touches on their shared past, with Thug nodding to old street tensions.

Meanwhile, Thug shows up on Lucci’s “Still Waiting” alongside 21 Savage, marking a moment many thought would never happen.

Young Thug & YFN Lucci Drop On The Same Day

The mutual features weren’t just symbolic — they were strategic. Sources close to both camps confirmed the collaboration was planned as a way to shift the narrative in Atlanta Hip-Hop, which has long been shaped by beefs and rivalries.

The rollout included some lighthearted trolling on social media, but behind the scenes, the move was serious and calculated.

UY Scuti marks Young Thug’s first full-length release since being released from jail in October 2024.

The 20-track album runs just over 74 minutes and includes appearances from Future, Cardi B, Ken Carson, T.I., Sexxy Red, Travis Scott, Lil Gotit, Mariah the Scientist and more.

Thug uses the project to reflect on his time behind bars, relationships, and regrets, especially on the single “Miss My Dogs.”

Lucci’s Already Legend is his first major project since returning home earlier in 2025.

The 21-track album spans 55 minutes and includes previously released singles like “Would You Care?” and “JAN. 31st (my truth).”

The fact that both rappers chose to feature each other on the same day, on albums that dropped simultaneously, is being viewed by many as a deliberate and public truce.

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NBA YoungBoy lost a major stop on his MASA Tour after the United Center abruptly pulled the plug on his first-ever arena headliner in Chicago, citing no official reason just one day before showtime.

The Wednesday concert, scheduled for September 24, was scrapped by the venue on Tuesday, according to a notice posted on its website.

“The United Center has made the decision to cancel the NBA YoungBoy show scheduled for Wednesday, September 24 in Chicago,” the statement read. “If you purchased through Ticketmaster, refunds will be issued automatically. If you purchased from a third-party reseller, please reach out to your point of purchase.”

Ticketmaster echoed the refund policy, assuring ticketholders, “You don’t need to do a thing.”

The cancellation followed an incident at YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Kansas City performance, where a 14-year-old attendee was taken into custody for allegedly attacking a T-Mobile Center staff member.

YoungBoy’s manager, Alex Junnier, didn’t hold back his frustration online. He took to Instagram Stories to call out the United Center’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Joe Myhra, directly.

“@UnitedCenter b**ched out. Shoutout to Joe Myhra @unitedcenter. He didn’t want us to have fun. scary,” Junnier posted.

Despite the Chicago cancellation, the MASA Tour will proceed with stops in Columbus, Brooklyn, and Boston this week.

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50 Cent just scored a major win in Louisiana as Shreveport officials gave the green light to his $50 million entertainment district, a project city leaders are calling one of the largest economic investments in the region’s history.

The Shreveport City Council voted Tuesday (September 23) to create the Film and Entertainment Gateway Economic Development District, a downtown zone that will be funded by a 2 percent sales tax.

The plan centers around reviving the area by transforming it into a production and entertainment hub anchored by Millennium Studios and Stage Works Studio.

“This is one of the largest economic development deals in this city, in this region that we’re having,” District A Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor said during Monday’s (September 22) administrative session.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, according to representatives from 50 Cent’s executive team. The project aims to attract film and television productions while breathing new life into downtown Shreveport’s economy. Production has already started at Stage Works Studio, while Millennium Studios will undergo infrastructure improvements to address flooding issues before it becomes fully operational.

Some community members are pushing for the district to reflect local cultural roots. Craig Lee, a local advocate, called on the city to rename the area the Sam Cooke Cultural Arts District, honoring the legendary singer’s ties to Shreveport.

“This project is going to be the largest development in the history of North Central Louisiana, spearheaded by an African American,” Lee said. “Sam Cooke was inspired here to write ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ — that’s a branding opportunity the world would recognize.”

Ahead of the vote, 50 Cent shared a local news clip on Instagram on Monday (September 22), writing, “Shreveport is gonna be the place to be, Art, music, film, Television and entertainment. Let’s go !”

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50 Cent Teases Upcoming Wiz Khalif Movie “Saint Moses The Black”

He also teased his upcoming film “Saint Moses The Black,” a faith-based drama starring Wiz Khalifa, Omar Epps, Chukwudi Iwuji, and Quavo. The movie draws inspiration from the life of Saint Moses the Black, a fourth-century Ethiopian monk who went from gang leader to revered religious figure.

“It’s time to work let’s get it, all roads lead to SHREVEPORT! (Saint Moses The Black) coming soon !” 50 Cent wrote.

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The film is set in present-day Chicago and follows Malik, a street figure whose spiritual journey mirrors that of Saint Moses.

The entertainment district and film project are part of a broader push by 50 Cent to turn Shreveport into a creative and economic hotspot.

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Dua Lipa dismissed a report alleging she cut ties with her agent after he attempted to remove Irish Hip-Hop group Kneecap from the Glastonbury Festival lineup due to their pro-Palestinian stance.

The Grammy-winning artist responded after the Daily Mail claimed she dropped longtime agent David Levy for signing a letter urging Glastonbury organizers Michael and Emily Eavis to exclude Kneecap from the June festival.

Dua Lipa, however, made it clear Levy hasn’t represented her in years.

“I do not condone the actions of David Levy or other music executives toward an artist speaking their truth,” Lipa wrote on Instagram Stories. “I also cannot ignore how this has been handled in the press. Not only was the story completely false, but the language used by the Daily Mail has been deliberately inflammatory, crafted purely for clickbait, clearly designed to fuel online division.”

A representative from her agency, WME, also weighed in, stating Levy “transitioned into an advisory role” back in 2019 and has not been involved in Lipa’s business since.

“He fully removed himself from the project, among others, earlier this year,” the spokesperson said. “Reports suggesting that Dua Lipa or her management dismissed one of our agents because of his political views are categorically false.”

Lipa, who has publicly supported Palestinian rights during the Israel-Gaza conflict, added, “It is always Free Palestine, but exploiting a global tragedy in order to sell newspapers is something I find deeply troubling.”

Despite the controversy, Kneecap performed at Glastonbury as scheduled.

However, the BBC cut their livestream during the set after the trio led the crowd in chanting “Free Palestine” and “F**k Keir Starmer,” referring to the UK Prime Minister.

The group has remained in the headlines.

Kneecap member Mo Chara was charged in May with a terrorism-related offense for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a 2023 performance.

He has denied the charge and is expected in court later this week.

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Joshua Jahn opened fire from a rooftop near a Dallas, Texas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility early Wednesday, killing two detainees and critically wounding a third before dying by suicide, according to federal investigators.

The 29-year-old gunman targeted an unmarked ICE transport van parked outside the North Stemmons Freeway facility around 6:30 A.M., officials said. Authorities reported Jahn unleashed a barrage of bullets at both the van and the sally port entrance before turning the weapon on himself as officers approached.

The FBI, now leading the case, is treating the incident as an ideologically motivated act of violence. Officials recovered shell casings at the scene engraved with the phrase “ANTI ICE.”

Another wrote, “This is the fishiest s### I’ve ever seen. We’re supposed to believe the shooter wrote ‘Anti-ICE’ in pen on a bullet and then shot detainees but not ICE officers?”

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the attack in a statement, calling it part of a disturbing pattern.

“These despicable, politically motivated attacks against law enforcement are not a one-off,” he said. “We are only miles from Prairieland, Texas, where just two months ago an individual ambushed a separate ICE facility targeting their officers.”

The victims were all ICE detainees being transported in the van. Two died at the scene. The third remains hospitalized in critical condition. No ICE agents were harmed.

Jahn had no known violent criminal history, though a 2015 marijuana possession arrest was found in Collin County records. Authorities believe he may have been living in Durant, Oklahoma, and conducted a search of a family home in Fairview, Texas, after the shooting.

The Dallas facility was closed for the day as federal teams gathered evidence and assessed potential links to other anti-ICE incidents.

The Department of Homeland Security has reported a nearly 700% rise in attacks on ICE personnel in recent months. The agency has since adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward threats or violence against its officers and buildings.

The details written in pen on the wet bullets, drenched in water, have fueled online speculation and skepticism.

This is the fishiest s### I’ve ever seen. We’re supposed to believe the shooter wrote “Anti-ICE” in pen on a bullet and then shot detainees but not ICE officers? https://t.co/jqgNDfVZpz

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 24, 2025

“Shell casings that say ‘anti ICE’ instead of something like ‘f### ICE’ or ‘abolish ICE’ or something else an actual human being would say? C’mon man, this is so obviously fake,” one user posted on X.

Another wrote, “This is the fishiest s### I’ve ever seen. We’re supposed to believe the shooter wrote ‘Anti-ICE’ in pen on a bullet and then shot detainees but not ICE officers?”

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash after critics tied his recent comments about ICE to the shooting.

During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Newsom said, “If some guy jumped out of an unmarked car, in a van and a man with a mask tried to grab me, by definition you’re going to push back. These are not just authoritarian tendencies, these are authoritarian actions by an authoritarian government.”

Newsom also described ICE as “the largest private domestic army of its type or police force anywhere in the world” and warned that agents appear to be pledging loyalty to former President Trump instead of the Constitution.

The FBI, Dallas police and ICE continue to investigate. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

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Halsey says she’s been benched by her label after her latest album didn’t meet expectations—despite a strong debut and sold-out tour.

“I can’t make an album right now,” she told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe during a recent interview. “I’m not allowed to. It’s the reality.”

The 30-year-old singer revealed that Columbia Records has halted her ability to record new music following the release of The Great Impersonator, which dropped on October 25, 2024.

The album opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and moved 100,000 units in its first week—a figure that would be a win for most artists—but not enough for her label.

“If I’m being honest with you, the album sold 100,000 f###### copies first week,” she said. “That’s a pretty big first week, especially for an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time.”

Columbia reportedly measured the album’s performance against Halsey’s 2020 project Manic, which featured the 6x-platinum single “Without Me” and debuted at No. 2 with over 239,000 equivalent album units.

“It would be considered a success for most artists, 100,000 albums in the first week, in an era when we don’t sell physical music,” she said. “But it’s a failure in the context of the kind of success I’ve had previously. And that’s the hardest part of having been a pop star once, because I’m not one anymore, and I’m being compared to people that I don’t consider lateral to me.”

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Halsey Gears Up For “Back To Badlands Tour” In October

The comments add to a long history of friction between Halsey and the music business. She left Capitol Records in 2023 after creative disagreements and signed with Columbia that June, hoping for more freedom.

Capitol had released her first four albums, including her 2015 debut, Badlands, and the critically praised Manic. Despite the label freeze, Halsey’s live shows are thriving. Her “My Last Trick Tour” wrapped in July after selling out 32 dates and breaking her personal touring record.

“They want Manic numbers from me,” she said, pointing to the pressure to repeat past success.

Still, she credited her supporters for keeping her career afloat. “I love them, God bless them, because they’re the only reason that I’m even able to make anything at all, that I can sell that many copies of an experimental concept album about death,” she said. “They support me.”

Halsey is now gearing up for her “Back To Badlands Tour” in Los Angeles. The trek is a 10-year anniversary of her breakout debut.

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Kanye West delivered both drama and dollars as his documentary In Whose Name? pulled in $776,000 during its limited U.S. theatrical debut, despite minimal promotion and a modest rollout across 1,000 cinemas.

The film spans six years of Ye’s turbulent life, capturing some of his most polarizing public moments—from the backlash over his “White Lives Matter” shirt to his antisemitic comments on Twitter.

Clips from the “In Whose Name?”, including one in which Kanye West reportedly lashes out at Kris Jenner, have quickly circulated online, fueling even more interest.

Despite the lack of a major marketing campaign, the strong box office performance suggests there’s still a sizable audience curious about Ye’s public unraveling and private reflections.

The documentary’s producers plan to expand its theatrical run and eventually release it on streaming platforms.

In Whose Name? is expected to reach digital platforms in the coming months.

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