Category: Hip Hop

Saba is bringing heartfelt purpose and hometown pride to Thanksgiving weekend with the return of John Walt Day, a tribute concert honoring his late cousin and fellow Pivot Gang member, John Walt.

The benefit show, set for Friday, November 28, at Chicago’s Metro, marks the first time the event has been held since 2022. The timing is intentional.

Walt’s birthday falls on November 25, and the holiday season’s themes of family and gratitude align with the spirit of the memorial. The show will feature a mix of established and rising Hip-Hop artists paying homage to Walt’s legacy as both a performer and mentor.

“This year represents a true homecoming for us,” Saba told The Chicago Sun-Times. “When I return to Chicago and connect with people who genuinely understand our music and want to be part of this community, you can feel how much this event means to everyone involved.”

Walt was 24 when he was fatally stabbed outside a CTA station in River West in February 2017. His death rattled Chicago’s underground Hip-Hop scene, where he had been gaining recognition for his lyrical talent and leadership within Pivot Gang.

Saba helped launch the annual John Walt Day in 2017 alongside Walt’s mother, Nachelle Pugh.

The event not only honors Walt’s memory but also raises funds for the John Walt Foundation, which awards $1,000 scholarships to young Chicago creatives ages 14 to 24.

Beyond scholarships, the foundation supports programs like T.I.P. Fest and collaborates with Lollapalooza through its Lolla University initiative. It also runs Feed the West Side, a food distribution effort that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This month, the program delivered 25 Thanksgiving meal boxes to families, each containing enough food for an entire week.

Saba’s dedication to community outreach has remained steady. Earlier this month, he organized a pop-up for his recent album Coffee! at Spill the Beans Café, where attendees were encouraged to donate winter coats.

Since Walt’s passing, Saba has turned personal loss into creative momentum.

His 2018 album Care For Me explored grief and healing, earning critical praise. In 2024, he dropped two new projects, one with No I.D. in March and another surprise album, Coffee!, recorded entirely inside his Ford Bronco.

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This Ray-J situation is wild. As you already know, he was arrested after pulling a gun on someone during a livestream. The first reports claimed he was trying to threaten or possibly shoot his child’s mother, Princess Love. But newer reports say he may have been trying to harm another man who was in the residence. I don’t know what that’s really about, but what’s clear is Ray-J was arrested on Thanksgiving Day—already having the worst holiday ever even before the cuffs went on.

Now here’s where things get tricky. Some people are suggesting there’s more to this than what we’re seeing. In fact, they’re saying the whole fiasco might’ve been a skit or something staged behind the scenes—a pre-planned ploy to go viral. That’s what the streets are talking about. Or maybe it’s what Ray-J, Princess Love, and others are floating to stay out of trouble. Either way, this is the kind of foolishness we end up dealing with as MEDIA on a holiday when we should be enjoying our families. But here we are.

Honestly, it feels like Ray-J’s life is spiraling out of control, and people around him are just trying to protect the bag. What’s really true is anybody’s guess. Still, it’s getting more frustrating to even write about this type of nonsense. And for the record, I saw the footage—it looked real to me. Whether the reactions were real is another story, but I didn’t see any acting, no staging, nothing that made it look scripted.We all know there are networks out here—Black-owned networks included—that push and rely on this kind of content to stay relevant in 2025. Personally, I’ll take old-school BET over this mess any day. This stuff goes completely against the best interests of the public. And when I say the public, I mean Black America.

There’s more…

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Love came back…first pass…

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Princess Love was not done calling out Ray J. She says he’s abusive, that she’s raising the kids on her own, and insists she would never do anything to harm her children. Princess also claims that during one of Ray’s visits, the kids walked in on him in bed with another woman. And finally, she says he needs rehab.

Check it out.

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​AllHipHop

Nicki Minaj’s hubby, Kenneth Petty, is preparing to intensify his legal clash with Jennifer Hough by bringing in an expert witness to support his side in their long-running courtroom standoff.

Petty’s attorney has confirmed plans to retain an expert and submit a full report by January 30, 2026, signaling that he is not stepping away from the legal fight that has followed him across the country.

The expert witness strategy marks the latest development in a legal saga that began with Petty’s 1994 conviction for attempting to rape Hough when they were both teenagers in Queens. Petty served nearly five years behind bars and was released in 1999. That conviction placed him on New York’s sex offender registry, a status he has repeatedly challenged.

As reported by AllHipHop, Kenneth Petty has made several failed attempts to be removed from the registry, arguing that he was misclassified and that Hough’s version of events was untrue.

Courts have consistently rejected those claims.

The case returned to public view in 2019 after Petty married Nicki Minaj and moved to California. His failure to register as a sex offender in the state led to a federal indictment in 2020 and a 2022 sentence that included probation and home detention.

That legal issue became one of several tied to his ongoing dispute with Hough.

In 2021, Jennifer Hough filed a lawsuit accusing Petty and Nicki Minaj of attempting to intimidate her into recanting her story. The complaint alleged that people connected to the couple offered her money and pressured her to change her statement.

Hough said the harassment became so intense that she left her home. Nicki Minaj denied any wrongdoing and was later dismissed from the case, leaving Petty as the sole defendant.

Jennifer Hough has maintained that she remains fearful due to Petty’s continued presence and alleged efforts to undermine her credibility. Petty has denied the allegations and vowed to defend himself in court. The case has been bogged down by depositions, procedural delays and ongoing disputes between both parties.

Petty’s decision to bring in an expert witness suggests a more assertive legal approach as the lawsuit enters another phase of discovery.

​AllHipHop

Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words when he pointed the finger at Fat Joe for the New York Yankees’ collapse against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, accusing the Bronx rapper of jinxing the team with a botched Game 3 performance at Yankee Stadium.

Appearing on the Joe & Jada podcast on November 25 alongside Jadakiss, Smith dropped the accusation without hesitation: “I blame you for the Yankees losing to the Dodgers last year.” Fat Joe fired back instantly, saying, “You full of s###. Steve, you full of s###.”

Smith, however, stood firm.

“I was very mad at you for doing that s###. You know what I said? No, that’s for the Knicks. That’s not for the Yankees. You ain’t identified with the Yankees,” Steven A. Smith said, making it clear he believed Fat Joe had no business stepping into the Yankees’ World Series spotlight.

The controversy stems from Game 5 of the World Series, where Fat Joe performed during a key moment at Yankee Stadium. What was meant to be a morale boost turned chaotic due to technical issues.

“They put a delay in my sht. Okay. I practiced three times that day. They put a delay in my ears. So, the sht could be f*cked up,” Joe explained during the podcast. He added, “I rehearsed three times that day. It was no delay. When it came on, it was a delay. Now I got to be real with you. Ice Cube’s ‘great day was a good thing.”

That performance quickly became the centerpiece of a growing superstition now dubbed the “Fat Joe Curse.”

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly added fuel to the theory in a post-game interview, saying, “They put Fat Joe up on the board, and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s an easy dub now.’ You know Fat Joe is the curse. And you know, they started kicking the ball around.”

Kelly even claimed he predicted the unraveling in real time: “I’m pretty sure, right before the fifth. I looked over at [Brent] Honeywell and said, ‘The Fat Joe Curse, watch.’ and we started chipping away, chipping away, chipping away. And bad play, bad play, bad play. And I end up getting my second one with the Dodgers.”

The entire saga echoes the long-running “Drake curse”, a superstition that’s haunted athletes and teams for more than a decade. From Serena Williams’ 2015 US Open loss to the Toronto Blue Jays’ recent World Series flop, the Toronto rapper’s presence has been blamed for high-profile sports failures.

That myth has followed Drake to Kentucky basketball, Alabama football and even the Golden State Warriors.

Now, Fat Joe finds himself lumped into that same territory after the Yankees’ championship hopes were derailed in 2024 and his performance was under scrutiny. For a franchise with sky-high expectations, being linked to a rapper’s technical glitch is a new level of sports drama.

The blame game highlights just how deep superstition runs in sports culture. Whether it’s Drake’s courtside antics or Fat Joe’s stage mishap, Hip-Hop figures are increasingly being cast as scapegoats when things go south.

Smith’s comments on the podcast show that even seasoned sports analysts buy into the narrative. When someone with his reach starts pointing fingers, it’s no longer just a joke—it becomes part of the story.

​AllHipHop

50 Cent has officially broken the brief lull in his ongoing feud with Damon Dash, delivering a pointed warning to his 35 million Instagram followers that has reignited one of Hip-Hop’s most contentious battles.

The G-Unit mogul took to social media with a direct message under an infamous image of Damon Dash with no teeth, which left no room for interpretation: “What ever you do don’t believe people like this. don’t believe people like this. they’re desperate looking for attention.”

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The post marks Fif’s first major salvo against the Roc-A-Fella co-founder since their explosive exchanges earlier this fall.

The renewed hostility comes after months of escalating tensions between the two entertainment executives, with their feud reaching a boiling point over 50 Cent’s acquisition of the television rights to Paid In Full.

The Power executive producer announced his plans to develop the classic Harlem drug dealer story into a premium TV series, partnering with Cam’ron as executive producer – a move that immediately drew Dash’s ire.

Dash, who produced the original 2002 film, publicly criticized the collaboration and launched into a series of social media attacks against both 50 Cent and Cam’ron.

The Harlem entrepreneur went so far as to threaten to file a $300 million defamation lawsuit against Cam’ron, citing the rapper’s public comments about his family.

In September, Dash attempted to call a truce with both 50 Cent and Cam’ron, posting an Instagram video where he proposed they “show the world that Black people can work together.”

The Roc-A-Fella co-founder wrote, “Let’s show the world that they can’t divide us over bullsh*t. That jig is up #Checkmate.”

50 Cent initially appeared receptive to the peace offering, writing on Instagram, “I agree with Dame 100 percent it’s better to work together. we should sit down and figure out how to move forward. I believe we can create a path to more success.”

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However, the Queens native quickly reversed course, adding, “Oh wait? CAM just said f### Dame and his fake chat GPT lawsuit. So it’s f### you Dame.”

The feud intensified throughout October, with 50 Cent consistently trolling Dash about his financial struggles and a viral dental mishap that became internet fodder.

In one fierce Instagram post, 50 Cent wrote, “Tag Dame and tell him If he was respectful to people when he was up, this would never have happened. Try to have a nice day!”

As for Dash, he has largely shifted his social media presence toward inspirational and motivational content, focusing on business advice and personal development posts rather than engaging in public feuding.

​AllHipHop

If you’ve been watching the rise of underground voices up north, you’ve probably heard the name 604Blizzy floating around. The Vancouver artist doesn’t move loud, but he moves right. You won’t find him chasing hits or trends. You’ll find him sharpening his sound until it hits the way it’s supposed to.

“I grew up on hip hop. That’s what raised me,” he says. “But at home, it was always Punjabi music. That mix became part of me without even trying.”

That balance shows up in his new collab with Diljit Dosanjh called “Gunda.” The track landed on AURA, Diljit’s album that dropped October 15, 2025. Blizzy slips into the groove with precision, his verse sharp enough to cut through but smooth enough to ride with.

What’s refreshing is how unforced it all feels. “Gunda” isn’t a crossover gimmick, it’s a conversation between two worlds that already understand each other. Blizzy’s tone sits right beside Diljit’s voice, creating something that sounds global without chasing it.

He shrugs when asked about how it happened. “I don’t really plan features like that. If it feels real, I’ll do it. That’s how this came together.”

The chemistry between them is effortless, no forced fusion, no cultural checkbox. It’s just real. “Gunda” feels like two artists meeting in the middle, where Punjabi rhythm meets hip-hop cadence, and both breathe. Diljit brings heart. Blizzy brings grit. Together, they build something neither could have created alone.

That’s been his story from the jump. No label machine. No blueprint. Just movement. Before this moment, Blizzy had already carved a name for himself in underground circles. One of his first big moves came when he brought Payroll Giovanni to Vancouver for a sold-out show that hit capacity, a night that signaled the start of something much larger. Since then, he’s worked with Detroit staples like Payroll Giovanni, Big Quis, BabyTron, and Peezy, connecting regions through raw, independent artistry

“I wanted to learn from the ones who really live it,” he says. “Detroit taught me that you can stay independent and still win.”

Back home, that mindset is shaping a bigger vision. Blizzy isn’t just rapping, he’s directing visuals, structuring rollouts, and overseeing every layer of his releases. Every project feels like a page from a manual he’s writing in real time controlling his own narrative. You can’t deny his work ethic or his skill set and working with an artist like Diljit Dosanjh is no small accomplishment. Gotta give credit where credit is due and 604Blizzy deserves it. 

He’s carried that mindset back home. You’ll catch him behind the mic, behind the camera, and behind the rollout plan. Every move goes through him. The art, the visuals, the details is all his.

But what stands out most about 604Blizzy isn’t the grind. It’s the calm. He talks about his goals like someone who already knows where he’s headed.

He’s building something called The Blizzard Foundation, a space for young creatives to get access to studios and guidance. It’s about mentorship and about giving people a real shot. It’s a platform built for opportunity, not profit. A place for talent that usually gets overlooked to finally get seen, heard, and supported.

“I didn’t have that,” he says. “Now I can build it.”

At its core, The Blizzard Foundation is about lifting others up, giving the next generation of creators a pathway he never had. A foundation rooted in generosity, built out of experience, and driven by the belief that creativity can change lives when given the right environment

That’s the energy. Real hip hop. Self-made, self-taught, self-pushed. No fake hype, no “industry” gloss. Just work. We wish 604Blizzy nothing but success and are excited to see what’s next for him, and for the selfless legacy he will be building with his charitable venture, The Blizzard Foundation.

​AllHipHop

Eminem spends his mornings locked in the studio, and his legal team says that’s precisely why Real Housewives of Potomac stars Robyn Dixon and Gizelle Bryant are out of line for demanding an all-day, early-morning deposition in a trademark dispute over their podcast name “Reasonably Shady.”

At the heart of the legal fight is whether “Reasonably Shady” is too similar to Eminem’s SHADY trademarks, which have been part of his brand since the late 1990s.

Dixon and Bryant want to lock down the name for their podcast and merchandise. Eminem contends it could confuse consumers and dilute his brand.

The rap icon’s lawyers argue the Housewives are using the deposition as a pressure tactic, not a legitimate effort to gather facts, especially since Eminem doesn’t control the SHADY trademarks at the center of the case.

According to court filings, Eminem is not listed as a witness, doesn’t make decisions about the SHADY brand, and plays no role in its licensing, enforcement or commercial use.

Still, Dixon and Bryant are pushing for a full-day deposition, arguing they need to probe Eminem’s thoughts and motivations behind the SHADY identity.

“Showing his lack of good faith, although requested and suggested by Applicants’ counsel, [Eminem’s] counsel did not propose alternative start times nor any options to accommodate the witness’s availability, including earlier start times or alternate days when [Eminem] would be available for a full day within normal business,” Dixon’s lawyer, Andrea H. Evans, explained.

Em’s legal team calls that a stretch and a distraction.

“[Eminem’s] image, mindset, and intentions…are not relevant to the claims or defenses of this case,” his attorneys wrote, pushing back on the Housewives’ insistence that they need to question the rapper directly.

Eminem’s lawyers say the Housewives rejected a proposed 2 P.M. start time, even after being told that Eminem’s mornings are packed with high-cost studio sessions involving engineers, artists and staff.

“[Eminem] is presently working on new music for various projects, which requires his daily attendance with the people identified below. It is not only difficult and very expensive for him to be out of his studio at such times, but it will also put him behind schedule for the various contracts which have been promised by dates certain,” Paul Rosenberg said. “The reality of Mr. Mather’s schedule is that he needs to be at his studio every morning to meet with the people who rely on his presence when creating new music.”

Both Dixon and Bryant were deposed in less than two hours, and Em’s team says there’s no valid reason they need up to seven hours with someone who doesn’t handle trademark matters.

They also rejected an offer to extend the session into the evening or resume it the next day.

Now, Eminem’s attorneys are asking the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to limit the deposition to two hours, enforce the afternoon start time, block any broad extension of discovery, and bar any irrelevant questions about his persona or image.

​AllHipHop

Doja Cat turned up the volume and the drama Tuesday night (November 25) at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, delivering a high-energy two-hour set that doubled as a bold response to criticism surrounding her Ma Vie world tour.

The Grammy-winning performer leaned into an ’80s aesthetic, complete with a leopard print bodysuit and half-face makeup that blurred the line between glam rock and performance art.

Backed by a full band featuring brass, bass, and keytar, she reworked tracks from her latest album, Vie, into funk-heavy live arrangements that gave the show a retro pulse.

Despite recent backlash over her Auckland tour opener, where complaints included sparse costume changes and scaled-back production, Doja Cat didn’t mince her words. She addressed critics online with zero filter, writing, “I’m not your costume monkey” and “keep your opinion to yourself.”

Her Melbourne stop came just days after a nightclub appearance in the same city stirred more controversy.

Arriving three hours late, she performed only three songs before exiting due to vocal rest orders for a sore throat. Local outlets slammed the 15-minute set, while attendees voiced their disappointment across social media.

But Tuesday’s arena performance flipped the narrative. Doja Cat moved effortlessly between sultry ballads and hard-hitting rap verses, proving her vocal range and stage command.

A standout moment came during a jazzy version of “Paint the Town Red,” followed by “Gorgeous,” which featured a saxophone solo that stretched into full-blown theater.

Tracks like “One More Time,” “Take Me Dancing” and “Aaahh Men!” were reimagined with funkier arrangements, while older hits like “Wet V#####,” “Ain’t S###” and “Boss B####” were given new life through the band’s brass-forward sound.

The show also highlighted her complicated relationship with her audience. In 2022, she threatened to quit music after backlash from Paraguay fans over a canceled show. Last year, she lost more than 180,000 Instagram followers after telling her supporters to “get a job.”

Still, the Melbourne crowd sang along to every word, and Doja Cat appeared genuinely touched during her closing remarks. The Ma Vie tour continues with stops in Brisbane and Sydney before heading overseas through 2026.

Her Melbourne show proved she’s still in complete control of her narrative, critics or not.

​AllHipHop

Lil Baby will mark his 31st birthday on December 3 with a gift to his most loyal supporters: the announcement of The Leaks, a project dropping long-rumored tracks and unfinished snippets that have circulated online for years.

The Grammy-winning rapper is packaging the collection as a thank-you to his core audience, pulling from various chapters of his career, from his early mixtape grind to his current chart-topping status.

According to his team, The Leaks is meant to honor “day-one supporters for their unwavering loyalty.”

The Atlanta native teased the rollout of The Leaks through his WHAM Wednesdays series, dropping four new tracks: “All on Me” featuring G Herbo, “Real S###,” “Otha Boy,” and “Try to Love.” Each track offers a different lens into his evolution, from street storytelling to polished studio records.

On his newest single, “Middle of the Summer,” directed by BCPBrandon, he raps, “Middle of the summer in Atlanta, I’m still a cold n—a.”

The track adds to his recent streak of music aimed at reinforcing his place in the Hip-Hop hierarchy. Earlier in 2025, Lil Baby earned his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with WHAM, a project that helped fuel his “WHAM WORLD Tour,” which hit major arenas across North America.

The tour featured BigXthaPlug as a special guest and further solidified Baby’s standing as one of the most bankable live acts in rap.

The Leaks will be available across all major platforms on December 3. Pre-saves are currently live.

​AllHipHop

Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the disturbing reports surrounding her death were directly addressed by the LAPD this week as officials moved to shut down misinformation about the teen’s body being found frozen or mutilated in d4vd‘s Tesla.

LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division Captain Scot Williams spoke plainly to People, frustrated by the swirl of online speculation.

“Celeste’s body was not frozen,” he said. “She was not decapitated. The whole frozen thing doesn’t even make sense. Her body was in the car for weeks.”

Williams added that the science alone debunks the frozen theory.

“Even if she had been frozen solid when she was put in the car (which there is NO evidence to suggest she was), five or more weeks in the trunk of a car in sweltering heat in the middle of summer would not have resulted in a partially frozen body being discovered on September 8th.”

The 15-year-old disappeared from her Lake Elsinore home in April 2024. Her remains were discovered five months later, one day after what would have been her 15th birthday, inside a Tesla towed to a Hollywood Hills impound lot.

The vehicle was registered to 20-year-old R&B artist d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.

Police sources told People they believe d4vd “most likely had help dismembering and disposing” of Celeste’s body, suggesting the case may involve more than one person. No one has been charged.

The investigation remains tangled, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner placing a security hold on all documents connected to Celeste’s death. A court order requested by police is preventing public access to her autopsy and cause of death.

“No records or details associated with the case, including the cause and manner of death and Medical Examiner report, can be released or posted on the website until further notice,” the office said in a statement, adding they recognize “the public’s interest in this case.”

While LAPD leads the probe, d4vd has reportedly not been helpful. Law enforcement sources say he is “not cooperating,” despite earlier claims from his team that he was “fully cooperating” with authorities.

At the time her body was discovered, the singer was on tour. Police later executed a search warrant at a residence where he had been staying, but no arrests have been made.

Celeste’s family situation adds another layer of heartbreak. A post circulating on social media shows her mother expressing anguish, writing, “I haven’t seen my daughter in years!!!!”

The message has drawn attention to the teen’s vulnerable state before her disappearance.

​AllHipHop