Lil Durk has spent more than four months in solitary confinement at MDC Los Angeles, locked in a small cell for 23 hours a day, as his legal team demands answers over what they call a lack of due process tied to an alleged contraband Apple Watch.
The rapper has been confined to the Segregated Housing Unit (SHU) since August 29, 2025, according to AllHipHop.com.
His attorneys filed a motion requesting a status hearing, arguing that he has been held “without process” in violation of federal regulations and possibly the Eighth Amendment, which prevents cruel and unusual punishment.
Durk’s lawyer, Christy O’Connor, says he has been in the SHU for 131 consecutive days, with no access to commissary, only one phone call per month, and no in-person visits.
“[Lil Durk] is confined to a very small jail cell, just large enough for a single bed, a toilet, and a sink,” O’Connor said. “The deleterious effects of extended solitary confinement on an inmate’s psychological well-being are well-documented.”
Despite the serious restriction, Lil Durk has not yet received the disciplinary review required under federal prison rules, which state that inmates must receive a Unit Discipline Committee review within five working days and may be entitled to a hearing before a Disciplinary Hearing Officer.
His attorneys argue that the Bureau of Prisons and MDC Los Angeles have offered conflicting justifications for his prolonged isolation.
In October, an MDC attorney reportedly said Durk’s celebrity status had nothing to do with his SHU placement. But in December, the Warden allegedly told defense counsel that the rap star posed a threat to the general public because of the high-profile nature of his case and potential rule violations.
Defense attorneys also claim Lil Durk had no behavioral issues during the 11 months he spent in general population before being moved to SHU.
The government’s stance on the Apple Watch accusation has also been described as inconsistent.
Officials say the SHU placement is unrelated to the FBI’s investigation or any charging decision, yet they also claim the Bureau of Prisons is waiting to begin disciplinary proceedings until after a charging decision is made.
Lil Durk’s attorneys cited research on the psychological damage caused by extended solitary confinement, including depression, anxiety, social withdrawal and sensory issues.
The government has taken “no position” on the defense’s request for a status hearing.
Lil Durk is in federal custody after prosecutors charged him with murder for hire tied to a 2022 Los Angeles shooting that killed Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo. Authorities allege Durk helped plan and fund the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von.
He was arrested in Florida in October 2024 and extradited to California.
Judges have denied bond, citing the seriousness of the charges and concerns about flight risk. Durk has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed as he awaits trial.
Tsu Surf is scheduled for release from federal prison on February 16, 2026, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records.
The Newark battle rapper, born Rahjon Cox, has been serving a five-year federal sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
His scheduled release date represents the culmination of a legal saga that began with a 2022 RICO indictment targeting alleged members of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips.
Surf was sentenced in 2023 by U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton. The judge also imposed three years of supervised release and a $15,000 fine as part of his punishment. The charges stemmed from prosecutors’ allegations that Surf was an active member of the Silverbacc Gorillas (SBG) set within the larger Crips organization.
Originally, federal prosecutors sought up to 30 years in prison, 20 for racketeering conspiracy and 10 for the firearm charge, along with a combined $500,000 in fines.
However, Surf’s April 2023 guilty plea during a virtual hearing significantly reduced his potential sentencing exposure. By admitting to both the racketeering conspiracy and firearm possession charges, he avoided the possibility of decades behind bars.
The battle rap legend built his reputation through lyrical dexterity and memorable performances, establishing himself as one of the scene’s most respected competitors. His legal troubles created uncertainty about his future in the culture that made him famous.
While February 16, 2026, is his official release date, federal inmates may be released earlier through good-behavior credits or placement in halfway houses.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains discretion over such decisions based on individual circumstances and institutional conduct.
Durham rapper Billy Resio was gunned down in a drive-by shooting Sunday night, cutting short the life of an artist who had just signed with Rich Nation Entertainment LLC, which has artists like Petey Pablo on the label.
The 30-year-old performer, whose real name was Irease Jeffrey, died at the hospital after someone in a passing vehicle opened fire on his car.
A woman passenger in Jeffrey’s car suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Durham police have not released her identity or current condition, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the shooting.
Jeffrey performed under the stage name Billy Resio and had recently collaborated with NBA YoungBoy on the track “Labeled Me Top Shotta.“ The song was distributed through Rich Nation Entertainment LLC, the Miami-based label that had signed Jeffrey to develop his career.
Rich Nation CEO Michael Mitchell said Jeffrey was planning to relocate from Durham to Miami to focus on his music career. Mitchell described the rapper as having natural talent and said they had discussed moving Jeffrey away from the violence in Durham.
“He was just a natural, like he was born to do it,” Mitchell told WRAL News. “Wish I could have saved him because we had talked about him moving out of Durham and coming down here to Miami.”
Jeffrey’s music catalog included tracks like “No Lie” and “Bonnie and Clyde,” showcasing his lyrical abilities and emotional depth. Mitchell said Jeffrey’s collaboration with NBA YoungBoy demonstrated Jeffrey’s potential for mainstream success.
The shooting adds to Durham’s ongoing struggle with gun violence, which claimed multiple lives during the holiday period. Jeffrey leaves behind a one-year-old son, whom Mitchell said was the center of the rapper’s world.
“He wanted to be to his son what his father was to him,” Mitchell said, adding that Jeffrey’s music would have taken off if given more time to develop.
Durham police have not provided information about potential suspects or whether the shooter and victims knew each other. The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine the motive behind the attack.
Mitchell posted tributes on social media calling Jeffrey “pure heart, raw truth, hunger, and loyalty,” promising that his artist’s legacy would be protected. The CEO said Jeffrey’s unreleased music would continue to be promoted through Rich Nation Entertainment.
The fatal shooting occurred during a violent start to 2026 in Durham, where gun violence has become a persistent problem affecting the local music community. Jeffrey’s death represents another loss of young talent to street violence in North Carolina.
Police are asking anyone with information about the Hillsborough Road shooting to contact Durham investigators as they work to identify the suspects responsible for Jeffrey’s death.
BigXThaPlug hit the gym and hit record, using his Instagram to shut down rumors and reclaim the narrative around his body transformation as he kicks off the new year with a focus on health and longevity.
The Dallas rapper known for his booming presence and breakout track “The Largest” is now aiming to get smaller, on purpose. Weighing in at nearly 440 pounds and standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, BigXThaPlug has long stood out in Hip-Hop for more than just his bars.
But now, he’s making it clear that his weight loss is the result of sweat equity, not surgery or shortcuts.
“See, the only reason I’m showing y’all this s### is that n#### really putting in this work, sweat and all this other s###, is because I don’t need y’all m############ popping out saying, ‘oh, BigXThaPlug got a BBL, got his body done.’ No, no, n####. This is all hard work, dedication, n####. Come on, man,” he said in a video posted to his Instagram, where he documented his workout routine.
“Yeah, get up, get active, drink some water, hit that gym. I’ve been rich. Now it’s time for me to be wealthy. Come on, man.”
BigXThaPlug, who has built a loyal following by defying traditional Hip-Hop aesthetics, said his decision to get fit is about more than image. It’s about redefining what success looks like beyond the charts and the chains.
“And I know some of y’all might not understand that. Y’all saying, oh, what you mean you already rich, now you’re trying to be wealthy? They say health is wealth. I got the money. Now I need to be healthy so I can be wealthy. You dig,” he added.
His transparency comes at a time when celebrity transformations often spark speculation about cosmetic procedures or prescription aids like Ozempic.
BigXThaPlug made it clear: he’s not about that life. He’s grinding for every pound lost.
A Massachusetts woman turned her regular Sunday grocery shopping into an unforgettable celebrity encounter when she bumped into Cardi B at a Dedham Star Market on January 5, 2026.
Lanasia Bentley from Stoughton was finishing up her weekend brunch plans at Legacy Place when she decided to grab some groceries at the nearby Star Market around 2 P.M. that afternoon.
Bentley immediately noticed something unusual when she arrived at the store: a massive Cadillac truck with New York license plates parked prominently outside the entrance.
“I’m thinking to myself, who parks in front of a grocery store like they own the whole place,” Bentley explained in a TikTok video she posted about the encounter.
Bentley was reaching for an onion in the produce section when she suddenly found herself face-to-face with the Grammy Award-winning rapper who was shopping for the same vegetable.
“I was like, oh my gosh Cardi, how are you doing,” Bentley recalled saying when she recognized the famous musician standing right next to her.
The rapper appeared to be dealing with some personal matters and seemed preoccupied during their brief interaction, responding that she was doing “fine” when Bentley greeted her. Bentley quickly apologized for interrupting and asked if they could take a picture together. Cardi B agreed, saying, “Come on, girl,” before posing for a selfie.
The two women snapped a photo together before Bentley wished the rapper well and told her to enjoy her time in Massachusetts. Despite appearing to have other things on her mind, Bentley emphasized that Cardi B remained friendly and accommodating throughout their unexpected meeting at the store.
Cardi B is currently in a relationship with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and the couple reportedly made Massachusetts their home base after purchasing property in the area. The couple welcomed their first child together in November 2025 and reportedly closed on a $2.5 million luxury home in Easton, Massachusetts, in December 2025.
Diggs is currently facing legal challenges stemming from felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charges related to an alleged December 2025 incident involving his personal chef.
The Patriots player has denied all allegations through his legal representatives, calling the claims “unsubstantiated” and “uncorroborated” in public statements.
Bentley’s grocery store encounter with Cardi B comes just weeks after the rapper was spotted strolling around Nordstroms in the Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Maryland, where she remained cordial and took a selfie with a fan.
6ix9ine turned his federal prison surrender into a live-streaming spectacle on Tuesday (January 6), broadcasting his final moments of freedom before beginning a three-month sentence at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
The controversial rapper appeared on Adin Ross‘s stream just hours before his 2 P.M. surrender deadline, making light of his upcoming incarceration with jokes about the facility’s high-profile inmates.
During the broadcast, 6ix9ine bragged about potentially sharing meals and playing chess with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione, both currently housed at the same facility.
“I’m about to be eating ramen noodles with the Venezuelan president,” 6ix9ine said during the stream, referencing Maduro’s recent detention at MDC Brooklyn following his capture by U.S. forces.
The rapper’s casual attitude toward his imprisonment contrasted sharply with the serious nature of his supervised release violations.
The harsh characterization came after the rapper repeatedly violated the terms of his supervised release, including unauthorized travel and drug possession charges that accumulated throughout 2025.
The violations stem from 6ix9ine’s original 2018 federal racketeering case, where he cooperated extensively with authorities against his former Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods associates.
His cooperation led to a reduced sentence, but Judge Engelmayer expressed frustration with the rapper’s continued legal troubles despite receiving leniency.
MDC Brooklyn, where 6ix9ine will serve his sentence, has earned the nickname “Hell on Earth” among inmates and advocates due to its harsh conditions and frequent violence.
The facility has housed numerous celebrities, including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell, and R. Kelly, making 6ix9ine’s jokes about rubbing shoulders with famous inmates somewhat prophetic.
Prison officials confirmed that 6ix9ine will be placed in protective custody and segregated from the general population due to his high-profile status and cooperation history.
This separation will likely prevent the casual interactions with other celebrity inmates that he joked about during his surrender stream.
Mary J. Blige just scored a clean courtroom win after a New York judge blasted stylist Misa Hylton for walking away from her own $5 million lawsuit.
The Supreme Court of New York tossed Hylton’s complaint against Blige and her company, Beautiful Life Productions, after finding that Hylton and co-plaintiff Vado completely abandoned the case. Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond didn’t hold back, saying their failure to oppose Blige’s dismissal motion counted as “the abandonment of their claims.”
The longtime friends’ falling-out made headlines across the industry, as Hylton accused the R&B legend of ruining her business reputation. But when Blige’s lawyers called the case “frivolous” and asked the court to dismiss it, Misa Hylton didn’t respond.
That silence cost them everything. The judge granted Blige’s motion to dismiss and said the plaintiffs’ inaction “constitutes the abandonment of their claims.” While Blige’s legal team also sought sanctions, the judge denied the request, but not without issuing a public warning.
Perry-Bond said she refused to “condone parties filing lawsuits claiming millions in damages based on inflammatory accusations, only to have those very same parties abandon their allegations when faced with a motion to dismiss.”
The written order added that Misa Hylton and her lawyer should take this as a formal warning, stating that it “may serve as weighty evidence” if they ever try similar “bad faith litigation tactics” in the future.
Blige’s camp left court with a full dismissal, no sanctions, and a clear message from the bench: don’t file and flee.
The lawsuit’s collapse marks the end of a year-long public feud between two women once seen as Hip-Hop’s original style sisters, now split by business and bruised egos.
Hip-Hop has been taught for decades, just not always in classrooms. The earliest “curriculum” was the basement, the sidewalk cipher, the radio and the DJ who decided you were worth spinning. Then the internet cracked the gates open. When AllHipHop launched in 1998, it helped define that early online wave, where discovery and debate moved at forum speed and where lyricists could be championed without a major label megaphone.
Fast-forward to today and the conversation has flipped: no gatekeepers, more noise and a real hunger for craft again. That’s where Mickey Factz comes in. He built Pendulum Ink as an online school centered on lyricism, plus the stuff artists usually learn the hard way, like business, content, and even mental health support. The Bronx wordsmith recently brought “The Art of the MC” into NYU’s Clive Davis Institute, stepping into a course previously taught by Black Thought. He and Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur discuss the education of rap and much more.
Factz and Jigsaw zoom out on the larger state of Hip-Hop, touching on the ongoing Jay-Z vs Nas GOAT debate and what longevity really means in 2026. Factz questioned whether any artist can permanently hold the crown without continuing to add to the canon, especially as Nas keeps releasing high-level work. And where does Drake fit into the conversation as the charts reflect a decline of sorts. Factz also spoke about Hip-Hop’s current fragmentation, citing gatekeepers, lack of mentorship and no clear torchbearer. Hip-Hop isn’t lacking talent, it’s lacking structure, discipline and more. Check the full video interview below, along with an edited Q&A.
Mickey Factz: Yeah, yeah, it’s Mickey Factz, Dean of Pendulum Inc. The goat of lyric breakdowns. And I’m here with one of the originators of the internet wave for Hip-Hop, exclusively AllHipHop.com. Keep it locked.
AllHipHop: What’s going on world, it’s AllHipHop in the building at Oneworld Studios with a veteran, a legend. I’m a call you a Hip-Hop icon. An emcee. And now an educator.
Mickey Factz: Wow. Thank you, brother. Yes sir.
AllHipHop: I was on the train like, “Mickey Factz is teaching people how to rap.” And I had mixed emotions. Because I’m from the basement era. You studied tapes, wrote trash, threw it away, recorded, battled in front of the supermarket. Now we teaching that? Or are people skipping ahead?
Mickey: Everything you said is what every MC did. You were self-teaching. But every art form has teachers. There’s jazz classes, piano classes, art classes. There were no rap classes. I wanted to change that. And before I started, I asked my peers for the blessing.
AllHipHop: Who’d you ask?
Mickey: Black Thought. Lupe. Rest in Peace Chino XL. We had a lot of conversations. Through them, I felt like I had what I needed. Then once it rolled out, MCs started hitting me like, “Yo, I want to come teach at your school.” At first we reached out. Now they reach out to us.
AllHipHop: Give people Pendulum Inc in plain terms.
Mickey: It’s an online school for lyricism. Teaching MCs how to rhyme on beat better, how to write better. We have mental health group therapy sessions. We teach the business of music, how to create content. Electives too, like poetry for rappers, Hip-Hop history with Dart Adams. And we bring in a legendary guest MC every month. We’ve been operational four years. Most businesses fail after two. We still here.
AllHipHop: I’m going to ask you a messy one. What MC makes you cringe technically?
Mickey: I’m not saying “what works,” I’m talking technique. But everybody has nuances. The MCs who lean more on songwriting to appeal to the masses, they don’t always live in that super technical space. I’m not asking everybody to rap ultra technical, I just want content on point and at least a two-syllable multi. Somebody like Kid Cudi, talented songwriter, super successful, but his lyrical technique might not be the highest. That’s not a shot. It’s just not his focus.
AllHipHop: Break down what a “multi” is, because a lot of people hear it and don’t realize there’s a name for it.
Mickey: If I say, “What rhymes with space?” you say “ace.” Space/ace is one syllable. Two-syllable, “backspace.” Flat face, fat face, rat race. Three-syllable, “outer space.” The more syllables you stack, the more advanced the pattern gets.
AllHipHop: People forget Run-DMC. They kept it simple, right?
Mickey: Here and there, but listen. “There is none higher… they call me sire.” Sire/fire is two syllables. Shout out to Run-DMC.
AllHipHop: You said DMC came to the school?
Mickey: Yeah. Shout out to DMC. To me he was the MC’s MC.
AllHipHop: Let’s talk NYU. How did that even happen?
Mickey: I’m at lunch with Ray Daniels and I get a random text like, “Yo, this is Dan Charnas. I work at NYU. We’d love for you to be a professor.” I thought it was spam, so I let it sit. Then I checked LinkedIn, it was real. I called him and I got fast-tracked. The position was held by Black Thought previously, and his schedule couldn’t make it work, so they called me. I thought it’d be virtual. They said nah, in-person. I live in Atlanta now, so once I got it, I started booking flights once a week.
AllHipHop: How were the students? Did anybody give you a hard time?
Mickey: I love them, but they treated it like a show at first. Showing up 15, 20 minutes late. I’m like, “Yo, I’m flying in at 7:30am for a 10 to 1 class, y’all can be on time.” But it was love. I had people FaceTime in, Method Man showed love, Maeda Dawn showed love, and Corey Gunz was coming in. They’re in the Clive Davis Institute, so they get professors who were musicians, managers, attorneys. But not a rapper who’s lived the highs and lows and worked with people they actually listen to. It was eye-opening for all of us.
AllHipHop: I replay that whole Royce, Ransom, you, Lupe moment over and over. It might be the greatest thing that never happened. It felt like relationships got blown up, and the culture veered off a cliff.
Mickey: Everybody expected the rumble. Lupe and I were ready for whatever. We didn’t know who would jump in or if Royce would respond. We had conversations about strategy, even about dropping records if it got worthy. Lupe dropped freestyles every day for like a week just to show the time he was on. Then nothing really happened, so it dissipated.
AllHipHop: Let’s talk the state of Hip-Hop. I don’t feel that “young hungry” torch-passer like when Nas hit, or when Kendrick hit. Does that concern you?
Mickey: Yes and no. No, because this was inevitable. AllHipHop and Nah Right and 2 Dope Boys, y’all were pivotal. You were like the mutation of what the DJ was, getting music to the people. Now there’s no gatekeepers, no filter. Anybody can record and go viral tomorrow. That’s where we need some sort of filter again.
AllHipHop: Who are you listening to right now?
Mickey: My students at Pendulum Inc. I’m excited for Conway, excited for Nas, I listen to Graf, waiting on Saigon, waiting on new Thought, love Stove God, hoping Royce drops next year, more Lupe. And Ransom is breaking every rule. A DJ Premier album, then a Conductor album right after. That’s crazy.
AllHipHop: Is Jay-Z still the GOAT if he’s not dropping?
Mickey: He’s still a GOAT, but is he the GOAT? That’s between Jay and Nas. When Jay pops out with a verse, everything shuts down. But we need an album.
AllHipHop: I’ve concluded we might need Drake. Where you at with him?
Mickey: Necessary evil, if you want to phrase it like that. Incredible songwriter. I think he should stay in that space. I don’t know if I want “guns and tough talk” Drake. “Nokia,” that’s Drake. That’s the pocket I want him in.
AllHipHop: Can a lyricist just be a lyricist now, without the movement behind them? The crew, the machine, the mentorship?
Mickey: Having a strong team helps push you to the next space. People want to see motion. Mentorship is missing. Cole might be the last one. Drake doesn’t have an MC under him, he’s got singers. Who’s Future’s MC? Who’s Big Sean’s MC? Even the elite pens don’t really have “the next.” How do we fix it? I’m not sure. I’m working on it.
AllHipHop: Last thing. Podcast rappers. It’s devolved into gossip.
Mickey: That’s where the money is, so people go where the money is. I like podcasts where we talk bars, songs, choruses, features, collaborations, cyphers, battles. I don’t care about who fought who or who dated who. At Pendulum, we stand on the art form. Game told me he hates press because it turns negative, he gave me 30 minutes. I told him we only talk bars. He stayed an hour and 15. That’s what time I’m on.
Rihanna is pushing the Valentine’s Day heat to unbearable levels, posing in barely-there red lingerie that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination from behind.
One frame catches her turned just enough to flash bare butt cheeks, the fabric riding high and tight, while the rest of the set leans full goddess fantasy. Marble columns, flowing drapes, and warm lighting give it a mythic vibe, but the focus remains on her curves, especially the unapologetic reveal below the waist.
The lingerie cuts sharply across her hips, framing her backside in a way that feels intentional and prominent, as if she wanted that angle to hit hardest.
Her stance pulls everything into view: legs set firm, back arched slightly, the camera catching skin where lingerie usually conceals. It’s a bold move that pushes the campaign beyond romance and into headline territory, because flashing cheeks like that turns a Valentine’s shoot into instant gossip.
Up front, the look stays just as aggressive. The bra lifts and shapes her chest, while the backless design makes the reveal feel complete, front and back, no safe angles anywhere.
Rihanna doesn’t hide behind props or poses, letting the camera sit where it sits and daring anyone to look away. For a Valentine’s Day drop, this isn’t sweet or subtle; it’s raw, confident and built to dominate timelines, with those bare cheeks sealing the deal.
50 Cent made waves on social media with a viral video criticizing Campbell’s Soup Company following a major controversy involving a fired executive’s leaked recording that sparked nationwide outrage.
The rapper posted a video of two soup cans in the garbage, saying, “I’m done with Campbell soup they said the s### ain’t even chicken the meat came from a 3D printer.”
50 was referring to a scandal involving Campbell’s former executive, Martin Bally, who made offensive comments about the company’s products and customers during a November 2024 meeting.
The controversy began when Robert Garza, hired as a cybersecurity analyst in September 2024, secretly recorded his meeting with Bally that was supposed to discuss his salary. Garza reported the offensive comments to his manager, J.D. Aupperle, on January 10, but claims Aupperle did not encourage him to report the incident to human resources.
Garza was terminated from employment just weeks later, prompting him to file a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The suit seeks compensation for emotional, reputational and economic harm.
In the leaked recording, Bally allegedly called Campbell’s products “s### for f###### poor people” and claimed the company uses “bioengineered meat” and “3D printed chicken” in their soups, according to a lawsuit.
Campbell’s quickly fired Bally after the recording went public and issued multiple statements defending their products, but 50 Cent’s viral response brought additional attention to the scandal.
The company took the unusual step of responding directly to the rapper on social media, writing: “Hey 50—to set the record straight, we use real, quality ingredients (real chicken!) and put a lot of care into every batch. Come see for yourself, we’d love to show you how we make our food!”
Campbell’s acknowledged the recording’s authenticity in a November 26 statement, calling Bally’s comments “vulgar, offensive and false” and apologizing “for the hurt they have caused.”
The food manufacturer has aggressively defended its product quality, stating their chicken “comes from long-trusted, USDA-approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high quality standards.”
They published a fact sheet confirming that they do not use “3D-printed chicken, lab-grown chicken, or any form of artificial or bioengineered meat” in their soups.
50 vowed to go and inspect the factory, but he may have some company.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his Consumer Protection Division is investigating Campbell’s product quality following the controversy.
