The Weeknd has been awarded the key to the city of Toronto, and July 26-27 has officially been named “The Weeknd Weekend.” In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Metro’s the GOAT for this 🙌

• Jay-Z might need to step back 👀 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of August 2.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

K. Dot and SZA’s “luther” re-enters the Top 10 as other tracks like Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” and “NOKIA” continue to fall down the chart. Meanwhile, songs from Tyler, the Creator’s newest project DON’T TAP THE GLASS are claiming their spots this week, including “BIG POE” and “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.”

Ever since he started teasing it, Metro Boomin’s upcoming mixtape A Futuristic Summa has been making waves. Hosted by legendary DJ and producer DJ Spinz — best known for hits like Future’s “F**k Up Some Commas” — the project was confirmed via Metro’s MySpace-inspired website to include 23 tracks and 21 features.

The project was originally supposed to drop on July 22, but was delayed alongside the confirmation that Future would be featured. He’s since confirmed that A Futuristic Summa is dropping Friday, August 1st. 

For the album rollout, Metro’s been unveiling features like he’s counting down to a Verzuz battle: Quavo, JMoney, Roscoe Dash — yes, 2010 just texted back. With every new name, it’s getting harder to tell if this is a mixtape or an Atlanta rap Avengers reunion.

Futuristic Summa is a love letter to ATL

Some inclusions aren’t shocking. Metro’s worked with Lil Baby before (see: 2024’s “All My Life”) and has a whole track record with 2 Chainz, including 2017’s “Big Bidness” and “Both Eyes Closed.” This isn’t just a victory lap, though.

It’s a love letter to Atlanta rap in all its eras — and Metro’s the conductor. T.I., Travis Porter, Rich Kidz, and Waka Flocka Flame are all back outside. And he’s not stopping there. New blood like YK Niece (one of the voices behind the viral menace “WHIM WHAMMIE”) and Bunna B (yes, the one from “Bunna Summa” on TikTok) are pulling up, too.

With five more feature spots still to be announced, Metro’s following through on his promise of an “all-new cast.” That cast just happens to include half of Magic City’s 2012 guest list and the people currently soundtracking your FYP. Let’s hope that Futuristic Summa doesn’t get delayed again — and lives up to the hype. 

Jay-Z’s Latest Business Move Sparks Protests 

Jay-Z’s name has been in the headlines lately — and not always for the reasons he’d like. Yes, he’s been spotted performing on his wife Beyoncé’s (which is a flex in itself) COWBOY CARTER tour, soaking up applause like the world’s most powerful +1.

Even all that love from the Beyhive hasn’t been enough to distract from the chaos brewing offstage. We’re talking lawsuits from his alleged son Rymir Satterthwaite, surprise sneak-disses from Nicki Minaj, and now…a casino controversy. Apparently, Jay-Z wants to turn Times Square into mini-Vegas — and not everyone’s feeling lucky.

Jay-Z wants to bring Vegas to New York

On July 23, HOV showed up at a committee hearing in support of a flashy new proposal: bringing a Caesars Palace casino to the heart of Manhattan. Roc Nation, Caesars Entertainment, and SL Green Realty are teaming up to try and snag one of three available downtown casino licenses. If successful, the project is slated to open in four years and includes a 992-room luxury hotel, Michelin-level restaurants, a wellness retreat, and a full-blown nightlife complex — all inside an existing office building at 1515 Broadway.

“I’m trying to reserve myself — it’s a very good idea,” Jay-Z said at the meeting, which was livestreamed (with YouTube comments obviously off).

According to the proposal, the project promises to generate $7 billion in tax revenue, $26.7 billion in local business support, 3,000 construction jobs, and nearly 4,000 permanent ones. Basically, they’re pitching it like it’s the solution to every economic problem New York’s ever had. Not everyone’s buying it, though.

The people want the casinos out of Times Square

Two days later, the “No Times Square Casino” coalition — which includes local community organizations, neighborhood associations, and some extremely stressed-out theater people — gathered to protest the plan. 

"This casino’s developers don’t care about improving this neighborhood…They are looking to profit on the backs of residents, local businesses, and the theater workers, producers, and owners who have brought us back from the pandemic,” Jason Laks, President of The Broadway League, said about the potential plans. 

He continued by stating that "SL Green and Caesars can continue to promise millions of dollars to buy a veneer of support, but the residents and workers of this neighborhood see through it. These are massive corporations with virtually unlimited resources. But Broadway represents creative vitality and is the beating cultural heart of this city, something fundamentally different from what a casino represents."

Caesars Palace released a statement of their own in response, claiming that the project will “deliver more than $250 million in community benefits to businesses in Times Square and the residents of Hell’s Kitchen, as well as 9,000 new good-paying union jobs for New Yorkers." 

They have also promised to hold exclusive monthly job fairs for Actors' Equity Association and American Federation of Musicians Local 802 (two unions that represent Broadway managers, actors, and musicians). 

Still, the backlash is mounting. And after weeks of personal drama and bad press, the last thing Jay-Z needs is a full-blown war with Broadway — or the internet.

• Lil Baby is giving back. The ATL native recently hosted his fifth annual Back-to-School Fest in his hometown, where he was able to provide for over 4,000 local students and families.

• “Wheelchair Jimmy” is back. Drake will be featured in an upcoming documentary focusing on the impact and legacy of Degrassi titled Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, premiering this fall at the Toronto International Film Festival.

• Nino Paid is in legal trouble. He was booked in his hometown of Maryland for allegedly stealing a vehicle. 

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Yeat is teaming up with Taco Bell to drop the “YeatWrap” and introduce the “Fan Style” campaign. In other news: 

• Song streams & revenue 💰️

• Ye, get it together 😒

• “Tyler, the Creator is facing controversy 👀

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Songs Streams & Revenue

As reported by Hits Daily Double for the week of July 4 to July 10.

It’s a new week and a new song revenue chart. As reported by Hits Daily Double, which tracks streaming revenue week over week, the above chart reflects the streaming period from July 4 to July 10.

Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” might not have secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, but he did this week on the song revenue chart. Meanwhile, BigXThaPlug’s “All The Way” and K. Dot and SZA’s “luther” are still holding on strong as other tracks like Cardi B’s" “Outside” take a tumble down.

New Report Sparks Questions About Ye’s Bankroll

Once upon a time, Ye was a billionaire with brand deals stacked higher than his ego—Yeezy with Adidas, a Gap collab that briefly had hypebeasts shopping in strip malls, the works. Ever since he went on an unhinged, antisemitic posting spree, though, those business relationships have ghosted like they’re Frank Ocean and he’s new music. 

He’s tried to distract from the wreckage by teasing music (BULLY, allegedly dropping soon) and jetting overseas for performances. Between the unpaid taxes and chaotic concerts, though, it’s looking like karma finally found his forwarding address.

Ye’s selling real estate (and the illusion of stability)

On July 23, Ye reportedly listed the Calabasas condo he scored in his divorce from Kim Kardashian for $2.95 million. Unfortunately, it comes with a side of unpaid property taxes—$60,000 worth. The three-bedroom, four-bath pad (just a stone’s throw from the other Kardashian estates) is now officially marked delinquent. Which, coincidentally, is also how fans have been describing Ye’s recent behavior.

Designed by Belgian minimalist Vincent Van Duysen, the condo is nestled in the Avanti community (AKA a place where rich people pretend they’re low-key). However, Ye’s financial picture is anything but chill. Reports claim he owes more than $300,000 in back taxes across his properties, most of which allegedly sit empty while he lives out of hotels like a luxury couch surfer with commitment issues.

BULLY is still “coming soon” 

Ye’s been trying to show signs of life in the music world, mostly by throwing out vague promises. He says BULLY will drop September 26, but given his habit of announcing albums like horoscopes (cryptic, inconsistent, and often wrong), nobody’s holding their breath. 

And then there’s the Shanghai concert. On July 11, Ye hit the stage late (like, 40 minutes late) after a rainstorm soaked the crowd, and fans were already chanting for refunds. Once the show started, things somehow got worse. There were sound issues. Tech issues. Multiple pauses mid-set. And after his final song, Ye dipped without so much as a “thank you” or “sorry about the chaos.”

His team tried to pull the attention away from him, putting out a statement claiming that the rapper was at the stadium at 3 P.M. and that “...The concert was originally scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM, but due to on-site equipment issues, troubleshooting and adjustments,” the tardiness was out of their control. 

The equipment allegedly never reached optimal conditions, but “out of respect for the audience’s passion and anticipation, Ye made the decision to go on stage and perform despite the imperfect setup. Therefore, claims of Ye being late are entirely untrue." 

Still, the apology tour didn’t land. Fans across the globe are growing more disappointed by the day. Between the real estate fire sale, unpaid bills, and barely functioning shows, Ye’s comeback era is off to a rough start. If BULLY actually drops this time, it better be good enough to settle his debts and heal public opinion. Otherwise, he might want to consider a new gig that pays his taxes.

DON’T TAP THE GLASS is Already Facing Controversy

Back in 2018, Virginia rapper $ilkmoney dropped I Hate My Life and I Really Wish People Would Stop Telling Me Not To (a title that screams “good vibes only”). The project featured Tyler, the Creator on two tracks (“Naga” and “Kitt-Katt”), and Tyler even handled some of the production. 

At the time, it seemed like mutual respect, weird beats, and lyrical chaos were bringing them together. Fast-forward to 2025, though, and that friendship has apparently been thrown in the trash thanks to Tyler’s new album DON’T TAP THE GLASS.

“Mommanem” vs “My Potna Dem”

On July 21, $ilkmoney called out Tyler (and randomly Andre 3000, too?) for allegedly copying his work. 

"Tyler, the Creator, stop sucking my d*** n****. Get your own swag. Andre 3000, stop sucking my d***. I'm sick of you little weird ass n***** that I work with thinking you can run off with the swag…Stop eating d***. You weird ass n*****. Do you baby, I'm tryna do me,” he said. 

In a follow-up post, $ilkmoney zeroed in on Tyler’s DON’T TAP THE GLASS track “Mommanem,” accusing it of biting his 2019 song “My Potna Dem.”

"All you n***** get off my d*** in my DMs. F*** you and this n****. Nobody talking about titles. This n**** copying 'My Potna Dem.' Eat a d***,” he said. 

Tyler hasn’t responded back yet to his former collaborator, but those online are calling him out for not only being wrong…but the group Rich Kidz (featuring Young Dro) dropping a track of the same name back in 2009. So $ilkmoney might need to slow his roll on the originality front.

Whether this turns into a full-blown beef or just a one-sided rant remains to be seen. Considering, though, that Tyler’s already warned the world to “STOP PLAYING WITH ME,” it might be in everyone’s best interest to log off, take a walk, and maybe touch some grass.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ MASA by NBA Youngboy ft. Playboi Carti

• 💿️  Alfredo 2 by Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist

• 💿️ Damaged Thoughts by Bay Swag

• 💿️  Finally Fed by Peysoh

• 💿️ Icarus by 24kGoldn

• 💿️ Genesis by Tommy Genesis

• 🎶 “Professional” by Offset

• 🎶 “SOS” by Lupe Fiasco

• 🎶 “Damage Control” by Wale, Pusha T

• 🎶 “Right to Be” by Logic

• 🎶 “It Depends” by Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller

• 🎶 “Wavy Crete” by Babyface Ray, Lil Yachty

• 🎶 “Cannonball” by Lithe, Don Toliver

• 🎶 “Big Bag” by French Montana, Lil Durk

• 🎶 “WYA” by 4batz, Sexyy Red

• Snoop Dogg is getting into his football bag. He recently purchased a stake in the Welsh soccer club Swansea City. 

• Gunna has another gig on deck. Along with Asake, the rapper will be headlining the first Afro+ Fest in D.C. on August 31st.

• 6ix9ine is in legal trouble (again). He officially pleaded guilty to cocaine and MDMA possession, violating his supervised release terms. 

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Metro Boomin’s A Futuristic Summa has been delayed to next week — but we might be getting a Future verse. In other news: 

• Who was #1 on this week’s Billboard 200? 📈 

• Young Thug needs to apologize 😬

• Tyler, the Creator’s new album raises eyebrows 🤔 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard 200

As reported by Billboard for the week of July 26.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units — all compiled by Luminate.

This week on the Billboard 200 chart, JACKBOYS 2 from Travis Scott and the JACKBOYS crew, the surprise drop SWAG from Justin Bieber, and the long-awaited return of Clipse on Let God Sort Em Out went head to head (to head) for the top spot. However, only one could take home the crown — and Travis Scott and his home team got the job done.

We got the first-week sales below:

• JACKBOYS 2: 232K equivalent album units sold (The 160K specifically in physical album sales included in the final number helped them secure the bag)

• SWAG: 163K equivalent album units sold

• Let God Sort Em Out: 118K equivalent album units sold

Young Thug’s Feature Got Yanked By This Artist

Kid Cudi dropped his ninth studio album, INSANO, last year—a project that featured everyone from Travis Scott and XXXTentacion to Young Thug, who showed up on the track “RAGER BOYZ.” It wasn’t their first link-up either: the two had previously teamed up in 2021 on “Moon Man” alongside YSL’s Strick.

But now, it looks like Cudi might be done raging with Thug. And while he hasn’t said anything directly (classic Cudi), fans think a certain deleted tweet—and a certain explosive trial—might’ve pushed him to hit “ctrl+alt+delete” on Thug’s verse. 

The deleted tweet that may have sparked it all

We’ll give credit where it’s due: THUGGERDAILY on X was the first to notice a quietly updated version of INSANO hit streaming platforms — with one key difference: Young Thug’s verse on “RAGER BOYZ” was mysteriously gone.

​​Not edited. Not censored. Just… gone. Also: the song reportedly doesn’t even exist on Tidal anymore. So, yeah. Weird.

The rap world’s conspiracy theorists think this might be related to Thugga’s tweet from May during the Diddy trial. Cudi testified about his brief relationship with Diddy’s ex, Cassie Ventura, and the alleged incidents where the former mogul broke into his house and allegedly blew up his car. 

In response to his testimony, Thugga posted (and then quickly deleted): “Dam Cudi a rat lol” on X. 

At the time, Cudi didn’t respond publicly. Fans pointed out the obvious: he didn’t volunteer to testify—he was subpoenaed, like… by the court. Not exactly “rat” behavior. Still, Cudi stayed silent and focused on the rollout. That is, until now.

With Thug’s feature scrubbed from the album months after the fact, fans are taking this as a quiet-but-clear response. No diss track. No post. Just delete and move on.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like a reconciliation is coming anytime soon. Which might be a reminder for Thug—or any rapper with Wi-Fi — that not every thought needs to be tweeted. Some things are better left in a group chat. Or, better yet, a diary.

LeBron James & Clipse Co-Sign Tyler’s New Album

Even while deep into his CHROMAKOPIA World Tour, Tyler, the Creator couldn’t help but stir the pot. People noticed something was off when he started posting cryptic photos and oddly timed captions on Instagram. That’s usually Tyler-speak for “something’s dropping soon,” and sure enough, by the time he hit Barclays Center on July 18, the hints weren’t so subtle anymore. 

After his performance at Barclays Stadium on July 18, concertgoers found a giant figurine promoting DON’T TAP THE GLASS outside, along with preorder links available for vinyls, box sets, and CDs as well. 

Then came the 6 a.m. album drop on July 21, with this casual PSA: “Get them expectations and hopes down, this ain’t no concept nothing.”

Which, okay, sure — but there’s still a whole visual tribute to LL Cool J’s 1987 “I’m Bad” video, so don’t act like you didn’t plan this, Tyler. He even issued a manifesto for listeners:

“Body Movement. No Sitting Still. Only Speak in Glory. Leave Your Baggage at Home. Don’t Tap the Glass.”

You’d think that’d be the end of the surprises. It wasn’t.

Tyler broke his own rules — and showed what side he’s on

The ten-track project dropped on the eight-year anniversary of his Grammy-nominated album Flower Boy. He once again dropped a project on a Monday to avoid the “passive listening” and broke the cadence of album releases he’s had for years. For the first time in his career, he hasn’t dropped every other year, but has released DON’T TAP THE GLASS just nine months after CHROMAKOPIA. 

To add even more fuel to the fire, Tyler dropped the visuals for “STOP PLAYING WITH ME” on July 21 as well — with some eyebrow-raising cameos. 

On first glance, having LeBron James, Clipse, and Maverick Carter in your music video might just seem like a cool flex. Let’s get deeper into the lore, though:

• Pusha T (one half of Clipse) recently had an anti-Travis Scott media tour, calling him “a whore” in an interview, then dropped the Clipse comeback the same weekend JACKBOYS 2 released.

• LeBron James was posted up at Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out” last summer (he’s still repping K. Dot today) —and Drake’s been in his feelings ever since, hiding tattoos and tossing stray shots.

• Maverick Carter co-founded LRMR Ventures with James, which includes companies like Uninterrupted, which ironically collabed with Drake to bring the brand to Canada in 2019

With Tyler just dropping a verse with Clipse where he calls out his enemies and states that he will “probably outgrow my heroes,” people initially thought he just had smoke with Ye. With his own “Pop Out” performance and questionable likes, it’s starting to look like Tyler’s sending messages—and making it very clear: he’s done playing nice.

• Playboi Carti just secured a major win. His project, MUSIC, is officially the first rap album this year to sell over one million units. 

• Ca$h Out will be serving time. He has officially received a life in prison sentence after being convicted of charges including rape and sex trafficking.

• Druski is hitting the road again. BigXThaPlug, Young M.A., and more will be joining the comedian for the Coulda Been Fest starting this September. 

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Tyler, the Creator is teasing a new drop on July 21st. In other news: 

• 21 Savage, where are you? 👀

• It’s time for new music, Metro 🎵 

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

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Travis Scott Removes 21 Savage Feature Without Warning

Ever since JACKBOYS 2 dropped on July 13, it’s been a goldmine for viral moments. GloRilla’s unhinged ad-libs on “SHYNE?” Legendary. The fan-made “Bop It?” Already in the Hall of Fame. Even the album’s release timing—going head-to-head with Clipse—had the streets whispering. The biggest plot twist so far, though? A silent edit that left 21 Savage out in the cold.

The people spoke — and La Flame listened 

On the original version of “KICK OUT,” 21 Savage popped up for a little uninvited yap session during Travis’s verse. People were not feeling it. Cue X posts begging La Flame to hit mute.

And apparently, Travis did. Just one day after the album dropped, listeners noticed something... different. The majority of 21’s ad-libs? Gone. His feature? Also gone. While we’re here, “DUMBO” got a stealth mixing update too. The internet quickly connected the dots: 21 literally got kicked out of “KICK OUT.”

Sure, a few people tried to defend him in the IG comments, but let’s be real—most were too busy laughing. It was a rare moment of fan feedback actually shaping a major album drop, and the outcome was messy... in a satisfying way.

While 21 has yet to comment on the update, Travis isn’t slowing down. He dropped three new deluxe tracks — including his song “Da Wizard” — on July 15, and JACKBOYS 2 is projected to move 253K units in its first week. On top of that, it’s gunning for the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, meaning Scott might’ve gotten his get back at Pusha T after all.

Metro Boomin’s ‘Futuristic Summa’ Mixtape: What’s Actually Confirmed

Metro Boomin has been keeping himself busy since last year, dropping two albums with Future (with one of them containing the highly explosive track “Like That” with K. Dot), going on a 27-date trek with Future to promote the albums, and even launching his own comic book series called The Metroverse. However, it was time to get back to the music and give fans what they have been waiting for — just in time for “summa.” 

Metro’s back in his mixtape era

On July 15, the producer officially dropped the cover art for his upcoming mixtape A Futuristic Summa (dropping on July 22). 

On July 15, Metro dropped the cover art, and of course, it’s loaded with Easter eggs for the rap nerds. There’s a pixelated nod to his HEROES & VILLAINS era, a slick “Boominati Don’t Trust You” reference, and even two kids wearing tribute tees for Takeoff and Young Scooter — artists Metro’s worked with on tracks like “Bad and Boujee” and “Jugg Season.”

The tape will reportedly feature 20 tracks, and the first single —“Slide” featuring Roscoe Dash—already dropped on the Fourth of July (Yes, Roscoe Dash. 2025 is full of surprises). So far, Quavo and JMoney are confirmed, and DJ Spinz is officially hosting the whole thing, because when Metro says mixtape era? He means mixtape era. He and Spinz go way back — they were co-producing Future’s “Honest” over a decade ago, and now they’re back in sync.

However, Metro is apparently featuring an “all-new cast” of collaborators on this project, so we might not see any new Thugga, 21 Savage, or Future tracks. 

For those hoping that his collab project with J.I.D would drop first, keep your hope alive. It apparently is still in the works, according to the rapper.

“When the work is there, you gon’ see. You gon’ know exactly what it is…I’m not going to tease and say ‘hey,’ no, this is it. I promise when it’s presented, you’re going to understand exactly what it is. There’s not going to be so much of a mystery around it…” J.I.D told Complex in April. 

The tracklist’s a mystery. The features are being drip-fed. But the hype? Fully activated. If Metro brings the same heat he did last year, A Futuristic Summa might be less of a mixtape and more of a declaration: he’s not just the producer behind the scenes anymore. He’s the whole headline.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ Twitch Tapes by Tory Lanez

• 💿️ Summertime Butch 2 by Benny the Butcher

• 💿️ Rest in Bass by Che

• 💿️ The Emperor’s New Clothes by Raekwon

• 💿️ Grady Baby by Anycia

• 💿️ League of My Own by GELO

• 💿️ Rockstar Junkie by Loe Shimmy

• 💿️ ADHD 2 by Joyner Lucas

• 💿️ Finessekid by Finessekid

• 🎶 “TBA” by Central Cee, Drake

• 🎶 “I’m Yeat” by Yeat

• 🎶 “Woke Up/The Face” by Trippie Redd

• 🎶 “FOMO” by Logic

• 🎶 “ICED TEA” by Young Nudy, 21 Savage, Project Pat, Coupe

• 🎶 “Boffum” by Saweetie

• 🎶 “MIAMI” by Tommy Richman

• Fyre Festival is officially sold. The rights for the festival were sold on eBay for $245,300. 

• Eminem is hitting the big screen. The documentary “Stans” will be released exclusively at AMC Theaters from August 7 through August 10.

• Virgil Abloh is being honored in a big way. Nike and the Virgil Abloh Archives are teaming up to launch the "Virgil Abloh: The Codes" exhibition during this fall’s Paris Fashion Week. 

Like sports? 🏀🏈 Get up-to-date analysis and unique insight that’s actually interesting to read with the Playmaker Newsletter.

K. Dot’s Super Bowl performance is officially nominated for four Primetime Emmys. In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Travis, try again 😬

• Drake’s LeBron tattoo is MIA 👀 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of July 19.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

Thanks to his “suppressor” Alex Warren, Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” is unable to clench the top spot on this week’s chart. Meanwhile, his other smash hit “NOKIA” continues to fall down the chart as other hits like K. Dot and SZA’s “luther” and Doechii’s “Anxiety” also decline in rank.

When Clipse dropped the track “So Be It” on June 17, things immediately got messy between Pusha T and Travis Scott. Pusha can be heard rapping that he “Heard Utopia had moved right up the street, And her lip gloss was poppin’, she ain’t need you to eat…” 

Subtle? Not even a little. And instead of pulling a classic “y’all reaching” backpedal, Pusha doubled down and gave the world a full PowerPoint presentation on why Travis’s loyalty (or lack thereof) had him heated. At one point, he even called him “a whore.”

Everyone immediately looked towards Scott for his own version of “Like That” (that he so eagerly requested at Rolling Loud). Sure, Houston’s very own Bun B said that La Flame wasn’t going to back down — but time was passing by without a peep from him towards Pusha. 

On July 13 though, that silence might’ve finally cracked with the release of JACKBOYS 2. While it’s not the scorched-earth diss fans were expecting, Travis may have finally said something — sort of.

Is Scott’s phone really “on DND?”

On “CHAMPAIN & VACAY” featuring Don Toliver and Waka Flocka Flame, Travis laces in a not-so-subliminal that sure sounds like it’s meant for Mr. “So Be It” himself:

“Yeah, man, I swear these old n***** kill me , Know my YNs feel me, They just want the real me, yeah, Blue Bugatti, I'm dodgin' TMZ [a reference to Pusha’s TMZ leak lyric], Made a hundred off pushin' T's, Now my phone on DND…” Scott raps on the track. 

Let’s break that down:

• “Old n*****” = Hi Pusha!

• “Dodgin’ TMZ” = Referencing Pusha’s TMZ bar from “So Be It.”

• “Made a hundred off pushin’ T’s” = Wordplay around Pusha T’s name that also doubles as a petty flex. 

• “Phone on DND” = AKA leave me alone, I’m not entertaining this beef.

Except… the internet is absolutely entertaining it, and the early reviews are in: not strong enough, bro. People expected a fireball. They got a flicked match.

Ironically, Scott might’ve just proved Pusha’s point—almost word for word—from that Clipse interview with Apple Music.

Talking about La Flame, Pusha didn’t hold back: “…We don’t even want you here, to be honest. We aren’t here to hobnob with any rappers and I personally don’t like rappers who don’t rap. I don’t want to hear that,” he said back in June.  

Pusha might be facing “old” allegations, and he didn’t make a hundred off pushin’ tees, but the new Clipse album leaves no doubt about his or Malice’s ability to rap. Nevertheless, La Flame is continuing to push through and promote JACKBOYS 2, even dropping three new digital tracks, including “Da Wizard” by La Flame and “Trip Out” by Sheck Wes and Yeat. Cool. But if Pusha spins the block again? Yeah... that DND mode might not save him next time.

Drake’s Wireless Set Gets Petty, Personal, and Packed

Drake has been working hard to put the major L he took in his beef with K. Dot behind him (that lawsuit is still happening, though). He dropped $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U with fellow Canadian PARYTNEXTDOOR just in time for Valentine’s Day. He broke the record in May for the most RIAA-Diamond certified singles with 10 total. He also recently confirmed ICEMAN as his next album era. 

However, starting on July 11, Drizzy brought out the classics along with some new teasers and guests galore to celebrate Wireless Festival’s 20th anniversary. In true Champagne Papi fashion, though, you know he couldn’t leave the stage without calling out his biggest opps (currently). 

Day 1: R&B Drake is back in his bag

Night one was R&B Drake in full bloom. PARTYNEXTDOOR and Summer Walker were the big guest reveals, but they weren’t alone. Leon Thomas warmed up the stage before being joined by his label boss Ty Dolla $ign, who declared himself the “King of R&B.” UK newcomer kwn brought smooth vibes, along with Kehlani for them to perform together. Summer Walker came through to deliver as well, but once PND started singing “Come and See Me,” it was the Bat-Signal for Drake to hit the stage.

“This is the first time in my life that I’ve done three different shows on three different days…You came to a very special night. It’s night one. It’s a celebration of all things R&B. All things melodies. All classics,” Drake told the crowd. 

Drizzy then went deep into the catalog — “Jungle,” “Marvin’s Room,” and more sadboi staples — before reuniting with Giveon and Bryson Tiller for some live heartbreak karaoke. However, the true shocker came when Lauryn Hill emerged (on time!) to perform “Nice For What” with Drake for the first time ever.

After a set like this, who wouldn’t be feeling the love? However, “The Mandem” brought petty Drake back out in full force the next day. 

Day 2: It’s too late for all that lovey-dovey shit

“London, tonight is different…All that sweetheart, singing s—? That s— is over tonight. This is for my motherf—ing dogs. I see my dogs came out tonight,” Drake declared as he kicked off Day 2. 

Enter: Rage Drake. He started the night off with “IDGAF” (ft. Yeat), then debuted “What Did I Miss?” from his upcoming  ICEMAN project, before diving headfirst into bangers like “Headlines,” “Energy,” and “Nonstop” — where he casually rewrote the lyrics just to clown LeBron James.

Changing the original lyrics, Drake rapped to the crowd, “How I go from 6 to 23 but not LeBron.” 

Another sign that he’s done playing games with the Lakers superstar? Eagle-eyed fans spotted that Drizzy’s James tattoo has been replaced by another basketball hero — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Wonder who the rapper will choose to replace Gilgeous-Alexander if the basketball player ever “betrays” him.

The shade then moved towards K. Dot once the crows began a chorus of “Fuck Kendrick” for Drake to hear. Instead of telling them to calm down, he decided to take a shot during it instead. 

Despite all the pettiness, Drake had some love left in him after all and shouted out UK rappers like Skepta, Dave, and Central Cee (who performed “Sprinter” together). 

“Nobody can out-rap London — nobody…No disrespect to America. No disrespect to my country. But, nobody can out-rap London rappers. This is the best, this is the highest level. This is what I aspire to be,” Drake proclaimed. 

He ended the night with a wild range of guests: PARTY came back for “SOMEBODY LOVES ME,” Latto and Sexyy Red lit it up with “Big Mama” and “Rich Baby Daddy,” and of course, Drake couldn’t leave without summoning 21 Savage for “Knife Talk” and “Rich Flex.”

And then, Drake closed out this hard-hitting set by serenading the crowd with “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton. Don’t ask why. Just accept it.

Day 3: Drake’s global set is short but sweet 

For his final (and short) set, Drizzy got into his culture bag as special guests like Burna Boy and Ms. Lauryn Hill (again) warmed up the crowd before his arrival. He started off with a bang after finally performing the previously teased new track with Central Cee (that apparently will drop on July 18th). 

He also brought back his verse on Rihanna’s “Work” (hello, nostalgia), and dusted off crowd favorites like “Passionfruit” and “One Dance.” Rema came through for a mini-set, and then things went full karaoke party as Drake invited everyone onstage for “Hotline Bling.” He saved his most dramatic move for last, though: flying above the crowd to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” 

While Drake saw the Wireless run as the “best three nights of my performance career,” other reviews are a mixed bag to say the least, especially with his final performance time only being 40 minutes. Regardless, Drizzy showed once again that he can deliver plenty of surprises (and drama) wherever he chooses to perform. 

• This year’s ESPY Awards have a stacked performance lineup. Clipse, GELO, Busta Rhymes and more are set to perform during this year’s awards ceremony.

• Thugga is looking for modifications. Brian Steel has officially filed a motion to have Young Thug’s 2024 sentence adjusted.

• YNW Melly’s retrial is moving forward. The retrial is scheduled to officially begin on September 10th. 

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K. Dot’s "Not Like Us" is officially the fastest rap song of the decade to be eligible for RIAA-Diamond certification. In other news:

• Young Thug’s sick of the rats 👀

• Pusha T is ready for war 😈

• NMF releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈 

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Young Thug Fires Off at a “Rat Rapper” — Fans Think It’s Gunna

Young Thug has been tweeting like he just found out what betrayal feels like — and unfortunately for Gunna, it looks like he's still the main character in Thugga’s emotional group chat. Ever since getting released from jail last Halloween, Thugga’s been keeping things cryptic, petty, and just barely one step above subtweeting. At this point, though, nobody’s really buying the mystery act: he’s seemingly still pressed about his former YSL partner.

It’s time for the rats to “go gospel” 

On July 7, Thug logged on and declared that anyone who’s snitched and still raps needs to switch careers and “go gospel.”

He didn’t name anyone in specific— but come on. Just last month at Summer Smash, he muted Gunna’s name while performing their track “Ski.” On top of that, he took a nonchalant approach to the news that Gunna covered up his YSL tattoo back in May. Despite all the vague tweets and passive-aggressive vibes, though, the no snitching campaign seems to be personal. 

DJ Akademiks adds fuel to the fire 

Just when things were already messy, DJ Akademiks did what he does best: make the situation worse. 

“Somebody gotta tell Young Thug that he’s the last rapper on earth who cares who SNITCHING. Lowkey half these n***** telling and the ones telling make the best music. Fans don’t give af,” he said on X. 

Thug responded directly, agreeing with everything except the part about snitches dropping heat.

So, to recap: if you're a rat, you're not welcome in rap — but also your music isn’t even good, according to Thugga.

As Thugga continues his “no snitch zone” campaign, Gunna has been completely silent. Not a tweet, not a subtweet—just vibes. He’s been busy teasing his next (and final) album under YSL Records, and choosing peace over pettiness. Some fans are calling Thugga loyal. Others are just wondering how many more rodent metaphors he can squeeze out of this situation.

Meanwhile, with Thugga potentially hitting the Wireless Festival stage with Drake this weekend, there’s sure to be more drama to come as Young Thug (hopefully) prepares to finally drop UY SCUTI (and maybe more rat bars like on “Money on Money”). 

Pusha T Hints at Sabotage After Clipse Album Leak

To say Clipse’s upcoming album Let God Sort Em Out has “buzz” would be like saying Pusha T kinda likes dissing people. The rollout has been pure chaos in the best way. There’s the K. Dot verse on “Chains & Whips” (and possibly another one lurking in the shadows). Then, Pusha T has been dragging Travis Scott by the braids over being “a whore.” 

Lastly, Pharrell is executive producing the whole thing, so the odds of it sounding anything less than luxurious are slim to none. However, patience (apparently) is not one of the Ten Rap Commandments — and now the leaks have arrived.

The album leaks are the final straw

On July 9, Reddit lit up with the news that the entire album had leaked. Some users rushed to hit play. Others, however, chose the path of righteousness — AKA waiting for the official drop like civilized people.

“I have enough respect for Pusha and Malice to wait for the actual release…Been hyped for this album for a long time now, not gonna listen to some lame leaks to spoil the fun,” a Redditor posted. 

Rather than being his usual direct self, Pusha T in a post the same day decided to keep it shady and call out the recent drama around the album. 

“Can't nothing stop this greatness…The lies are very telling. The people will never believe these smear campaigns…” he said on X. 

Now, is he talking about the leak? Is he referring to Travis Scott? The Redditors? An unholy alliance between all three? No one knows. But it didn’t stop fans from firing up their conspiracy theories like they were analyzing a true crime podcast.

Was it a disgruntled fan page? Travis getting payback? Or just the music gods testing our willpower? Whatever the case, Pusha seems fully locked into “No More Mr. Nice Coke Rapper” mode — and the album’s not even officially out yet.

Whether you’re here for the disses, the drama, or the inevitable luxury drug metaphors, Let God Sort Em Out is shaping up to be one of the most unhinged drops of the year. Just make sure your Wi-Fi is strong when release day hits — unless you’ve already heard it… in which case, Pusha probably has a diss for you too.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ SWAG by Justin Bieber ft. Gunna, Sexyy Red & more

• 💿️ Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse ft. Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator & more

• 💿️ Until Night Comes by Larry June, Cardo

• 💿️ Legends Never Die (Five Year Edition Preorder) by Juice WRLD

• 💿️ Club Siberia by Dom Corleo

• 💿️ Late To My Own Funeral by Boldy James, Nicholas Craven

• 💿️ LET ME FLY (Deluxe) by Rob49

• 🎶 “AMG Music” by A$AP Nast, Destroy Lonely

• 🎶 “2000 Excursion” by Travis Scott, Cactus Jack

• 🎶 “5G” by Homixide Gang

• 🎶 “Severed Ties” by Logic

• 🎶 “Feeeeeeeeel” by Cash Cobain

• 🎶 “GRAVE” by Kid Cudi

• 🎶 “BRACES” by Cochise

• 🎶 “Codeine Problems” by Lil Durk

• 🎶 “I Wanna Win” by 2 Chainz

• 🎶 “Netflix & Chill” by Babyface Ray

• Fyre Festival is up for sale. The Fyre Festival brand is currently up for auction on eBay with a starting bid of one cent and is currently priced at $205,500. 

• Lil Uzi Vert is in legal trouble. He has been sued once again over the previously disputed assault claims involving himself and former pro boxer Floyd Mayweather.

• Kodak Black gets honored by his hometown. He was awarded the key to Pompano Beach in Florida for all he’s done for the community. 

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Travis Scott just dropped the track “2000 EXCURSION” off the upcoming project JACKBOYS 2. In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Drake hits the road with ICEMAN 🧊 

• Rocky needs to get it together A$AP 🙄 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of July 12.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

BigX’s country collab with Bailey Zimmerman, “All the Way,” seems to be the only track moving up this week. “luther” from K. Dot and SZA is still holding on to their spot at number six. Meanwhile, “Outside” by Cardi B takes a fall down the charts despite its top ten debut the week prior.

On the one-year anniversary of Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us” video (and that now-iconic owl piñata beatdown), Drake decided it was time to address...everything and confirm his next album era. Enter ICEMAN: EPISODE ONE, a livestreamed performance-slash-therapy session where Drizzy played both the employee and the egomaniac, while casually reminding everyone he still has the Apple Music stats to justify it.

Drake asks LeBron and K. Dot “What Did I Miss?” 

Drake told fans to lock in at 9 PM. He started at 9:30 PM. Classic. The stream opened with him cosplaying as a bored ICEMAN Toronto employee, watching old videos of himself like a dad revisiting his high school mixtape era. Eventually, though, things got... Drake-y.

The throwback footage cut to a new music video where Drake, now surrounded by a suspicious amount of firearms, rapped about betrayal and hurt feelings. The song, which fans speculated sampled The Weeknd (it doesn’t), starts with “I don’t give a f*** if you love me.”

Then he gets to the beef of it:

“Last time I looked to my right, you n***** was standing beside me,  How can some people I love hang around p****** who try me?”

Champagne Papi doesn’t seem ready to let all past tensions go. Fans are now speculating that one of his new bars takes aim at LeBron James.

“I saw bro went to Pop Out with them, but been dick riding gang since ‘Headlines,” Drake spits on the track. 

Drake and LeBron once appeared to be tight, but the basketball icon might be too busy pretending to know the lyrics at concerts to address the line. That said, the shot might not be about LeBron at all. Some believe it’s aimed at DeMar DeRozan, who also attended “The Pop Out,” appeared in the “Not Like Us” visuals, and was called a “p****” by Drake on the basketball court. 

Once the performance wrapped, Drake hopped in a branded ICEMAN truck, playing deep cuts and new tracks for anyone still tuned in. Alongside his Smiley collab “2 Mazza,” he previewed a new song rumored to be titled “Supermax,” where he reflects on a heart-to-heart with sports journalist Taylor Rooks. 

In the song, he recaps how he was once “talking to Taylor over drinks, and it was getting deep / 'Not everyone can handle this pressure and, in the city, you're the national treasure,' that's what she said to me…” 

Taylor Rooks seemingly confirmed the line was about her. Her rumored ex, Jack Dorsey, is somewhere clutching a quartz crystal and trying not to cry.

Is Drake an ICEMAN or just an old man?

In some ways, episode one of ICEMAN can be seen as a needed victory for the 6 God. Drake reminded everyone he’s still streaming royalty—claiming 39 of the most-played songs in Apple Music history, with “God’s Plan” topping the list for hip-hop. His new single debuted at No. 1 on both Spotify and Apple Music. On paper? He’s still him.

But if you actually watched the stream, he didn’t sound like someone on top—he sounded like someone still trying to prove it. The episode wasn’t just a flex of stats and hits; it was a full-blown vent session. From bringing up old beefs (many of which are now one-sided) to abruptly ending the stream after a fan called him a “bitch” in the chat (“we can fold that up right now,” he replied), Drake seemed less focused on the music and more locked in on the noise.

Even the visuals sent a message—Drake surrounded by guns, posing like he’s ready to unload. But at this point, the sneak disses don’t hit like warning shots. They feel more like hallway whispers: vague, bitter, and aimed at enemies he won’t name.

So, is Drake an ICEMAN? Or just a very rich, very online man with too much time and a chip on his shoulder?

Either way, the rollout is on. And with his headlining set at Wireless Festival kicking off July 11, more music (and more pettiness) is definitely coming.

Fans Say A$AP Rocky Fell Off—Did His Latest Video Prove Them Right?

A$AP Rocky has been thriving at fashion weeks, debuting sunglasses, and casually dropping hints about baby number three like it’s just any other day. However, while Rocky is busy serving looks and vibes, the rest of us are still waiting on the one thing he hasn’t delivered: his long-promised album, DON’T BE DUMB.

The album was supposed to drop last August. Since then, all we've gotten are vague updates, scattered interviews, and the occasional artsy snippet. Even though Rocky swears it’s “mixed and mastered,” there’s still no release date, no rollout plan, and honestly… no signs of urgency.

Yes, he dropped a new track called “pray4dagang” on July 3 (exclusive to Apple Music at first, then rolled out to other platforms the next day). It features KayCyy and production from James Blake, which sounds great on paper — until everything around it started falling apart.

Another day, another lackluster rollout

The track was first previewed during Rocky’s AWGE show at Paris Fashion Week, alongside one of his many “the era is coming” interviews — which, at this point, feel like Playboi Carti cosplay.

“The guy I am now is not the guy I came in this business as. [I’m] not the same kid. We all know I’m a father now … If I’m out here telling y’all how pretty I am again, it’s not talking about nothing. “If I talked about how I f***** your b**** or how I can take your b**** again, it’s not really talking about nothing,” Rocky explained. 

It may be time to let Rocky go

Just days after the video dropped, fans noticed it quietly disappeared from his YouTube channel on July 6. No warning, no explanation. Just gone. Around the same time, Drake’s favorite blogger DJ Akademiks gleefully pointed out that “pray4dagang” had only clocked 236k streams on Spotify — a number that’s not impressive for one of the 2010s’ biggest rap stars. Meanwhile, the track didn’t even crack Apple Music’s Top 200… despite being their exclusive in the first place.

Rocky, of course, hasn’t said a word about the video’s removal. Meanwhile, online sleuths and tired fans have filled the silence with their own theories. And most of them point to the same uncomfortable truth: Rocky may still be a fashion god, but in the rap game? He might’ve aged out of relevance.

If you’re still waiting on DON’T BE DUMB with excitement in your heart, congratulations — you might be one of God’s Strongest Soldiers™. From where most fans are standing, this rollout looks more like a slow, painful breakup than a comeback. No drop date. No explanation. No nothing. At this point, the only thing dropping consistently in this era… is the ball.

• Shoutout to the HITS ACT. Recently passed by Congress, the act will “allow recording producers and artists to deduct up to $150,000 in recording expenses immediately” instead of spreading the costs over multiple years.

• There’s still hope for TikTok. There are reports that a standalone U.S. app is in the works with a potential launch date of September 5.

• 50 Cent just secured another bag. On July 6 (also his 50th birthday), the rapper officially launched his own action channel on the platform Pluto TV.  

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Drake and French Montana are back on good terms and won $12 million dollars while streaming on Kick. In other news: 

• Song streams & revenue 💰️

• Is this a new Carti? 👀

• It’s time to get “ugly” with J.I.D 🎤

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Songs Streams & Revenue

As reported by Hits Daily Double for the week of June 20 to June 26.

It’s a new week and a new song revenue chart. As reported by Hits Daily Double, which tracks streaming revenue week over week, the above chart reflects the streaming period from June 20 to June 26.

Cardi B’s new single “Outside” is taking over the chart this week as BigX’s country collab “All the Way” continues to gain momentum and “luther” from K. Dot and SZA holds onto the top three. Meanwhile, Drake’s “NOKIA” has taken another decline.

Playboi Carti Just Did Two Things He’s Never Done Before

Playboi Carti has never been what you’d call “predictable.” This is the man who dropped Whole Lotta Red on Christmas morning like it was a mixtape from Santa and pulled up to the BET Awards sucking on a diamond-studded lollipop. But this week, even Carti’s most seasoned fans had to double-check their screens — because he just did two things that genuinely no one had on their 2025 bingo cards.

Carti steps out for some sun 

On July 2, a TikTok from rumored girlfriend Gio’s account dropped, and it sent the internet into a minor existential crisis. In it, Gio does a sunny little fit check while Carti lurks in the background, mid-smoke, wearing a full tan ensemble that looks like it’s trapping in more heat than it reflects. Then, out of nowhere, Carti struts up to the camera, hits a quick dance to “WHIM WHAMMIE,” and flashes a smile.

The comments wasted zero time: “Aura farming.” “Get back in the Parisian cave.” “Sir, finish BABY BOI.” It was part praise, part panic — basically, the standard reaction to any Carti sighting that doesn’t take place in the shadows.

But he wasn’t done. In fact, the most shocking move came just hours later.

Carti posts his kid — like, publicly

For the very first time, Carti posted a picture of his daughter Yves on his Instagram. Along with his son Onyx Kelly with ex Iggy Azalea, the rapper is also the father to a daughter allegedly with influencer Brandi Marion. Even Ken Carson popped out to spend time with his Opium boss and Yves. 

It doesn’t seem like all of his side quests have been keeping him from locking in on the music, though. Along with teasing music from BABY BOI (and potential Drake collabs), he might also be popping out on NBA YoungBoy’s newest album Make America Slime Again, now dropping July 25th. 

Maybe the next “first” Carti will cross off his list is dropping an album in a timely manner (we can dream).

What We Know About J.I.D’s God Does Like Ugly Era

It’s been almost three years since Dreamville’s resident verbal gymnast J.I.D dropped The Forever Story, and fans have been pacing the floor ever since, waiting for another classic. The drought may finally be over — and if early signs are anything to go by, this next one isn’t so much a sequel as it is a full-blown villain origin story.

Let’s rewind to 2022: J.I.D briefly revealed that his next album would be titled God.Does.Like.Ugly, then deleted it like we live in a world where digital footprints can be erased. Around the same time, he warned fans that his next drop wouldn’t be so “wholesome.”

Flash forward to 2025, and J.I.D’s finally embracing his darker impulses — proudly entering what we’ll call his “rap game antihero” era.

It’s time to “WRK”

In March, a lucky crowd in Paris got a sneak peek at the new album during a private listening party, and the reviews were five stars.

Then on April 6,  while performing at Dreamville Festival, J.I.D gave the crowd an exclusive taste of the lead single of the album (with Metro Boomin credits) titled “WRK.” Later that month, on April 15, he posted the official snippet of the track along with what to expect from his “new journey.”

Referencing the album The Forever Story, the rapper said that he remembered “not feeling like I got what I think I deserved after that album came out and it sent me into a dark place (for maybe 20 mins cus I ain’t no b*****). Fast forward to Pluss playing this beat for me in the studio, and all I could hear was my OG coach saying ‘Let’s go to WORK.’ I live my life by the saying ‘You can only control what you can control.’ So this is the first step into a new world that I control. And. It’s. F*******. UGLY,” he said. 

The track officially dropped days later on April 18 with production credits from Pluss (who’s also behind production for “Down Bad”) and Christo (who’s part of the production team for “Under the Sun”). However, there was still much more to come. 

God Does Like Ugly might be another classic 

On May 8, J.I.D dropped a trailer that looked like Mad Max: Dreamville Edition and officially confirmed that God Does Like Ugly is set to arrive on August 8. The album will have 15 tracks and, if the early material is anything to go by, absolutely zero filler.

The good news doesn’t stop there, though: the rapper continued his freestyle series and dropped number “32” to the beat of Carti’s “HBA” along with the track “BEAU.” Plus GDLU Preluxe is officially out with features from Lil Yachty, 6LACK, and Eminem,

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ GDLU Preluxe by J.I.D

• 💿️ Sins Aloud by LAZER DIM 700

• 💿️ For Nothing by Nine Vicious

• 🎶 “PRAY4DAGANG” by A$AP Rocky, Kaycyy

• 🎶 “AMG Music” by A$AP Nast, Destroy Lonely

• 🎶 “peter pan./tony soprano” by Brent Faiyaz

• 🎶 “The Adventure of Cocaine Larry” by Logic

• 🎶 “Front Row/Bed Sheet ” by Tory Lanez

• 🎶 “Tree” by Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper, Smino

• 🎶 “Catch Me Outside 2 ” by Ski Mask the Slump God

• 🎶“ BABYRINO” by Summrs

• Diddy, step back to the front. Just a day after receiving his official verdict, Combs has been hit with a new $10 million lawsuit from a former music video dancer accusing him and other Jane Does of charges including assault and battery.

• Chris Brown is out of the legal spotlight (kind of). His London nightclub assault lawsuit has officially been dismissed, but the criminal charges are still active. 

• Jay-Z has to take the L. The defamation lawsuit that he filed against lawyer Tony Buzbee has officially been dismissed. 

Like sports? 🏀🏈 Get up-to-date analysis and unique insight that’s actually interesting to read with the Playmaker Newsletter.

You can now try the new Travis Scott smoothie, “The Storm Storm,” at Erewhon. In other news:  

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• A$AP Rocky, where are you? 👀 

• Clipse drops more behind-the-scenes details 🎵 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of July 5.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

K. Dot and SZA’s collab “Luther” has officially dropped out of the top five as other rap tracks, including The Weeknd and Carti’s “Timeless” and Doechii’s “Anxiety,” also fall down in rank. Kendrick, SZA news secured a top ten spot this week for her new track “Outside,” which is featured on her upcoming album AM I THE DRAMA?

A$AP Rocky has been on the move and collecting new achievements like infinity stones. He was named the creative director of Ray-Bans in February and just dropped a new campaign to celebrate his “Blacked-Out Collection.” He pulled up with his now-pregnant partner Rihanna at the Met Gala in May and served as one of the co-chairs. He also presented his second AWGE collection titled "Obligatory Fashion” at Paris Fashion Week with unreleased tracks from DON’T BE DUMB blasting throughout the show. However,  if you're still waiting on that new album, you might want to grab a snack. And a chair.

Rocky might have a baby girl OTW — but not the album

While attending The Smurfs premiere with Rihanna, Rocky subtly hinted that baby number three might be a girl, adding another layer of pink to the Fenty family dynasty. Rihanna, meanwhile. kept her lips sealed about the baby’s gender. 

No official due date has been shared, but insiders (and Instagram comments) are circling November. Which brings us to the question every fan is quietly asking: what happens to the album now? 

Back when Rihanna gave birth to their first child, RZA, in May 2022, Rocky dropped the single “D.M.B.” that same month, but provided no other updates. Then, the singer gave birth to their second child, Riot, in August 2023. A month before in July, Rocky dropped the track “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe'n)” and in an interview with Complex, blamed album delays on leaks. Nevertheless, people weren’t buying it.

To be fair, Rocky has had his hands full — literally. Two kids under three and a partner building billion-dollar brands while casually redefining fashion? The man’s been in dad mode. There’s footage of him holding umbrellas, baby bottles, and the kids all at once.  

Now, with baby number three allegedly on the way and due before the year’s out, the pattern is repeating itself like a looped Metro Boomin tag. The potential gender reveal might’ve been sweet, but fans want to know if the album is going back in the vault. Again.

Rocky hasn’t flat-out said it, of course. He’s still showing face  and DON’T BE DUMB is allegedly mixed, mastered, and “coming soon.” The rollout, though, has gotten quieter than a midnight bottle feed.

So while we celebrate the expanding A$AP x Fenty empire (truly, a genetically blessed boardroom), let’s also hope that if there’s a baby coming in November…that there’s an album announcement, too. 

Pusha T Reveals the Backstory of Kendrick’s Verse on the Clipse Album

It’s almost time to Let God Sort ‘Em Out – and new details about the project are dropping every day. Pusha has been on one of the pettiest press runs possibly ever, letting the world know how he feels about “the engine giving out on rap.” The petty highlight reel includes calling Travis Scott “a whore” and saying Ye isn’t a man—it’s been uncensored to say the least. However, fans are most excited to hear what Kendrick Lamar has to say on the confirmed track “Chains & Whips” — and potentially an additional track as well?

Pusha says K. Dot “wanted to do two” album cuts

In a new interview with Spotify, Pusha broke down the process and call that led up to the duo securing one of the most anticipated verses of the year. 

“It was a situation with the traffic of people just coming in and out of the studio and it happened to be a person from Kendrick’s camp who was in the studio. We let his folks hear the album. And he called them and was like ‘Listen, you need to get on this.’ Mind you, at this particular time, he was just super busy [but we] sent those songs over…” Pusha explains. 

K. Dot hitting Pusha and No Malice back laughing shouldn't be much of a surprise since he loves to get into his petty bag, too. 

“He was like, ‘OK. I got to do it. Don’t worry about it. I want to do two.’ The idea of the right place and right time makes everything happen … And it’s music so you can get caught up in the moment. Like you can catch people up in the moment was something polarizing,” Pusha said. 

The features list is a true family affair

Now, Pusha didn’t confirm or deny if there is a second K. Dot feature on the project, but Clipse did drop the album’s official tracklist and stacked features list on June 30th. 

Some of the other tracks and additional collaborations include:

• John Legend: Featured on the previously teased song “The Birds Don’t Sing.”

• Tyler, the Creator: Featured on the track “P.O.V.” after collabing with Pusha on the 2011 track “Trouble on My Mind” and showing Clipse love in 2022. 

• The-Dream: Featured on the track “All Things Considered,” he’s previously worked with Pharrell and Ye. 

• Stove God Cooks: Featured on the track “F.I.C.O.” and has received a co-sign from Pusha. 

• Ab-Liva: Featured on the track “Inglorious Bastards” and was a former member of the Re-Up Gang with Clipse. 

• Nas: Featured on the track “Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers” after Pusha thought he would be perfect to be a part of it. 

• Pharrell Williams: Featured on four tracks, including “So Far Ahead” and “The Grace of God,” and also serving as executive producer of the album. 

Those lucky enough to have already heard the album are giving it a gold star. Rolling Stone, in their early review, stated that “whatever the year, Pusha and Malice are richer than you, smarter than you, and much better at making rap music than you’ll ever be” — and Pusha T showed their appreciation online. 

Pusha in the Spotify interview declared that they would “love to take home the [Grammy] trophy: for the project — and if the reviews and eventual fan reactions keep rolling in like this, they might actually secure that bag. 

• There’s been an update in the murder of Young Dolph. The trial of Hernandez Govan, the person who allegedly was the leader behind the Dolph’s fatal shooting, has been delayed to August 18. 

• GNX gets another accolade. The K. Dot project is officially the longest-running #1 album in history on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart at 22 weeks. 

• Cash Out and his mother are facing legal troubles. They have both been accused of attempting to intimidate a witness as his RICO trial is ongoing. 

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Our prayers have been answered: Frank Ocean is back in the studio. In other news: 

• Song streams & revenue 💰️

• Will we ever actually get this new Carti x Drake track? 👀

• Gunna’s AI comments are disappointing 😒 

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Songs Streams & Revenue

As reported by Hits Daily Double for the week of May 30 to June 5.

It’s a new week and a new song revenue chart. As reported by Hits Daily Double, which tracks streaming revenue week over week, the above chart reflects the streaming period from May 30 to June 5.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s collab, “luther,” is still dominating the chart as BigX’s country collab with Bailey Zimmerman, “All the Way,” snatches second place from Drake’s “NOKIA.” Meanwhile, Lil Tecca’s “OWA OWA” is making an appearance on the chart thanks to his newest album, DOPAMINE.

Playboi Carti Previews New Song With Drake

Drake and Carti’s relationship has (seemingly) been neutral for a while now, with the vamp rapper appearing on the track “Pain 1993” from Drizzy’s 2020 Dark Lane Demos Tapes. Four years later, the Toronto native would drop the track “No Face” with Carti as part of his 100 GIGS releases (his adlibs didn’t make the streaming version of the track, unfortunately). There’ve been whispers of more songs hiding in the vault, including the long-rumored “One Day,” but we finally got something real — thanks to DJ Swamp Izzo randomly deciding to bless us during an afterparty.

Carti & Drake get soulful 

On June 25, Playboi Carti kicked off his After Hours Til Dawn Tour run at SoFi Stadium in L.A. and brought the full circus with him. Ken Carson showed up (taking a break from side-eyeing Don Toliver), and Travis Scott appeared to rage through “FE!N” as the two sprinted across the stage in designer fits that probably cost more than your rent.

The real chaos happened after the show. Carti hosted the official afterparty at Zouk Los Angeles, where ATL legend DJ Swamp Izzo decided to casually preview a new Drake x Carti collab. The track, which still doesn’t have an official title, flips Luther Vandross’ “A House Is Not a Home.” If there’s one thing Drake loves more than heartbreak, it’s sampling a soul record because what else goes better with a room full of bottle girls?

The petty backstory that might kill the release

Here’s where it gets messy. Back in March, DJ Akademiks (certified Drake fanboy and drama magnet) said this track was originally intended for For All The Dogs, but got bumped over to Carti’s MUSIC. Allegedly, Kendrick Lamar (who supposedly had a director role on MUSIC) cut the song entirely and then ran with the concept himself, giving us “luther,” his own Vandross-sampling hit.

Naturally, Carti’s go-to producer F1THY was not having it and hopped online to deny the claims — and threaten to fight Akademiks. So the rumor was born months ago, and it just sat there, marinating in internet conspiracy.

Now, the track is back in circulation. However, whether it will actually be released is anyone’s guess. With Carti spending time touring and collaborating with Drake’s current enemies (see: The Weeknd, Kendrick), it wouldn’t be a shock if Drake decides to shelve the track out of sheer pettiness. If we’ve learned one thing from recent events: Drizzy doesn’t forget. He just delays.

Gunna Wants to Sign an AI Artist & Shares New Album Details

AI in rap is like pineapple on pizza: people either love it or hate it. Still, that hasn’t stopped some of the biggest names in hip-hop from experimenting with it—results be damned. Drake tried to use an AI-generated 2Pac and Snoop Dogg for his “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which went about as well as you’d expect. 

Ye’s been accused of stuffing VULTURES 2 with AI vocals (and later confirmed he was using AI for BULLY). Famed producer Timbaland is out here launching a whole AI music company.

Now, will.i.am (AKA Black Eyed Peas), who launched their own AI radio station last year, sat down with Gunna to talk about being a visionary, AI in music, and what we can expect next from the ATL native. 

Gunna wants to get into his AI bag

In their sit-down interview for UPROXX, will.i.am asked Gunna (officially crowned the publication's first Visionary) how he personally feels about AI. 

“I fuck with it, but I'm not hands-on with it. I'm not against it; I'm gonna for sure tap in to it, but I'm taking my time,” the rapper said. 

will.i.am then launched into a full-on Black Mirror monologue about how AI artists will run the game by 2030 — producing, writing, and starring in their own music videos. Gunna was so convinced, he practically started drafting a contract on the spot.

“I gotta sign me an AI artist, fast. Get with 'em, you can't beat 'em,” Gunna said. 

This isn’t Gunna’s first brush with machine-made rap. Back in 2022, he dropped a track called “Florida Water” with FN Meka. The AI rapper, Meka,  didn’t exactly score Gunna any aura points, looking like a Tekken character with bars that Reddit could have ghostwritten.

It didn’t take long for Capitol Records to cut ties with Meka after clips surfaced of the digital rapper casually dropping the N-word—because apparently no one on the label thought to check if that might be a problem.

Now, Gunna is being torn up online (understandably) for wanting to dive deeper into using AI. 

Nevertheless, maybe new music news can help soften the blow to his reputation. 

Gunna’s showing “more of him” on this next album

Moving away from AI, Gunna revealed what we can expect from his upcoming sixth album. According to him, there isn’t a specific theme or concept for the project. 

“When I create, I go with what I feel. I might approach an album not even knowing the title yet and it'll form. It'll come to me just through life and just living. So for this album in particular, it's no theme. It's in current time of what's happening with me,” Gunna said.  

Still, he’s promising something more personal this time around. Not just music, but the visuals too:

[The visuals are] “showing more of me. Not just showing my face. It's me showing, ‘This is what he likes to do.’ Versus me telling you, and you might know, like, ‘He goes to the gym.’ These next videos are going to show more real-deal lifestyle of me, but creatively,” he said. 

Here’s hoping one of those things pulling him down isn’t an artificially intelligent rapper with a PR crisis.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ 5816 Forest by Tech N9ne

• 💿️ League of My Own by GELO

• 💿️ The Evolution of the Rose by Lil Skies

• 💿️ Made in Paris by Pi’erre Bourne

• 💿️ Lucy by Bktherula

• 💿️ W!LD by Russ

• 💿️ F1: The Album (ft. Doja Cat, Don Toliver, Roddy Ricch, and more)

• 💿️ Brackish by BLP Kosher

• 🎶 “Shut It Down” by ian

• 🎶 “For The Money” by Rick Ross, Pharrell Williams

• 🎶 “Bullsh*t” by Lazer Dim 700

• 🎶 “BTA” by Young Nudy

• 🎶 “Nookie (Pu$$y) ” by 21 Lil Harold, 21 Savage, Sexyy Red

• Cam’ron is getting ready to reveal it all. He officially announced he will be releasing a memoir after securing a $750,000 deal with publishing house Simon & Schuster.

• Gotta be smoother than that, Joe. The podcaster accidentally revealed via IG Stories that he is allegedly bringing in over $900,000 thanks to his podcast's Patreon subscriptions.

• Snoop Dogg is out of the legal hot water. He settled the alleged copyright infringement suit over allegedly not clearing two backing tracks used in his 2022 album BODR.

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Travis Scott has been officially hired as Oakley’s first-ever “Chief Visionary.” In other news:

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Ken Carson called out Don Toliver and Yeat 👀 

• Young Thug finally headlined Summer Smash 🎵 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of June 28.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

K. Dot and SZA’s collab “luther” is holding onto its top five spot as tracks like Drake’s “NOKIA” and Doechii’s “Anxiety” take another slip down in the Hot 100. Meanwhile, “Dark Thoughts” is slowly making its way up thanks to it being featured on Lil Tecca’s newest album, DOPAMINE. 

Ken Carson and Don Toliver Are Throwing Shots Online

This year’s Summer Smash had everything: Lil Yachty dancing like a hyperactive toddler. G Herbo’s performance with his son Yosohn for their father-son rap debut, and Future turning the crowd into honorary members of the Dungeon Family. Underneath all the viral moments and mosh pits, though, something darker (and dumber) was brewing: a brand-new rap beef sparked by Ken Carson, fanned by Yeat, and aimed squarely at Don Toliver.

Ken Carson said what he said

During Ken Carson’s set, he took a moment between rage beats to let everyone know exactly where he stands, stating, “F*** you talking about, ain't no duos.” 

Now, this wasn’t totally out of nowhere. Carson and Yeat were once on decent terms, with the two linking up in 2022 for “Gëek High”. However, rumors of a falling out began circulating shortly after, when both mysteriously unfollowed each other on social media. Still, nothing had been this direct…until now.

Fans instantly clocked it as a shot at Yeat and Don Toliver, who’ve been cosplaying as the genre’s newest duo ever since revealing a collab album in the works back in March. While they didn’t drop the whole project during their joint Summer Smash headline set, they did perform two unreleased tracks and looked very much like a unit.

Toliver eventually responded on his IG stories, telling the world that "n***** be On the Lame S*** just get your money and go Home.”

What started as an offhand diss turned into a full-on petty war, with Carson and Toliver trading jabs about baby mommas, bank accounts, and who really owns what lane in the rap game. No actual bars dropped yet — just social media posts and very public ego bruising.

Naturally, the Internet did what it does best: turn the entire beef into a roast session. People barely discussed the actual music and instead focused on who looked more like a video game NPC and who they’d rather not be stuck in an Uber Pool with.

Still, behind the memes and chaos, one thing is clear: any chance of a Don x Ken collab in the future is dead in the water. Unless they pull a Ye and Drake and (briefly) make up for the optics, we’re witnessing the birth of a new rap rivalry. 

Everything You Missed During Young Thug’s Comeback Performance

Back in 2022, both Young Thug and Gunna were set to headline Lyrical Lemonade’s Chicago-based music festival, Summer Smash. However, they were arrested and hit with a RICO that seemingly wrecked their friendship and led to Georgia’s longest criminal trial in its history. 

Fast forward three chaotic years— Thug is free and he’s got UY SCUTI on the way. He finally took the Summer Smash stage on June 22 to remind everyone why he’s still one of the most beloved figures in rap. 

Young Thug performs for the first time in 1200 days 

You thought he was gonna just walk onstage and say “Hi?” Nah. This is Thug we’re talking about. He kicked off his set with a cryptic pre-recorded video where he told fans: “Sorry for failing. Forgive me, I’m back.” The lights go out. Then, a Thug doppelganger in a Donnie Darko-like mask appeared on the railing of a viewing tower, just hanging there like he was auditioning for The Purge: Summer Smash. 

Moments later, the real Young Thug hit the stage wearing a similar cursed forest creature mask and launched straight into “Take It To Trial.”

He kicked off a marathon of his biggest hits, performing tracks from different eras like “Ski,” (where he notably muted Gunna’s name), “Digits,” “Lifestyle,” and “Killed Before.” However, he also made sure to show love to the deep cuts and his fans, pulling one on stage while performing the original version of 2023’s “Jonesboro.”

The special guests that Thug brought out

Travis Scott (sans a Pusha T diss track) popped out with whooshing flames as he joined Thug to perform the “Hot” remix. “Chicago, make some noise for the greatest of all time, Young Thug in this motherf*cker ya heard? Ayo Slime, if you don’t mind, I wanna send this shit upside down real quick, you dig what I’m saying?” said Scott before going into the moshpit-inducing “FE!N.”

La Flame coming out for his set should be no surprise, with the two having collabs going back to 2014 with Days Before Rodeo and Scott being seen in the studio with Thug shortly after his release. 

Speaking of “going way back,” Thug brought out ATL legend T.I. to perform their 2014 collaboration “About the Money.” While T.I. did state that he was stepping back from live performances, he was one of the most outspoken rappers about Thug’s imprisonment, and was one of the first people to see him once he got out. This is what Atlanta unity looks like (with just a hint of court trauma bonding).

However, it was time to show the world what he had been cooking up. Ken Carson joined Thug on stage after doing his own set to perform their unreleased song (allegedly titled “YUCK”) for the excited crowd. 

He closed his set with “Money on Money,” sadly without a Future appearance, and dove into the crowd to celebrate his return with fans. He notably used no backing vocals for any of his old songs and was in top form at Summer Smash, proving he hasn’t missed a beat. 

“It means everything for Slime to just — his presence is everything, bro. Being incarcerated at that time and the world missing him, his fans missing him, his peers, his brothers, guys like me, I missed him when he was gone…Just his presence alone is priceless,” G Herbo told Rolling Stone (they have the 2022 track “Breathe Slow” together).  

With his first official performance post-release in the books, Young Thug’s comeback era is here. If UY SCUTI hits like this show did, the throne might be claimed by the rapper once again. 

• TDE is getting into its film bag. They have launched a Short Films Fund for writers and directors with at least two short films.

• Cardi B is playing chess, not checkers. The rapper dropped the presale link for her upcoming album, Am I The Drama? — and has already sold over 1.5 million album units. 

• Chris Brown is still in legal drama. He has officially pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm stemming from a 2023 nightclub incident in the UK.

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Law & Crime Network has dropped the first AI recreation of the Diddy trial. In other news: 

• Rap Madness is back for 2025 ‼️ 

• Pusha T is done playing nice 🔥

• Lil Wayne’s son has his own Drake theories 👀 

• Industry Insights 📈

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Create Your Rap Madness 2025 Bracket Now For a Chance to Win $10,000

Rap Madness 2025 has officially started—64 artists will go head-to-head in a March Madness-inspired tournament where you decide who will be crowned the “Best Rapper of the Year.”

Keep in mind while voting that the eligibility period is from May 2024 to the end of May 2025—what each artist did during that time is what counts for Rap Madness! Below, find out how you could win $10,000 💸 

How it works:

1. Visit madness.raptv.com and click “create my bracket” to get started

2. Click on the artists you think will win each match-up until your bracket is complete

3. Participate in the official voting on the @rap Instagram account, which begins on June 25th

4. Check the @rap Instagram account to see if your picks are correct!

5. A perfect bracket gives you a chance to win $10,000

Pusha T Has Found a New Target: Travis Scott

On June 16, DJ Hed gave the world a first listen to Clipse’s new track “So Be It”, and it didn’t take long for the internet to start playing Who Got Dissed?™. 

At first, everyone assumed Ye was the unlucky winner, thanks to this suspiciously personal bar:

“You cried in front of me, you died in front of me, Calabasas took ya b*tch and ya pride in front of me…” 

Naturally, with Pusha T recently throwing Ye under a few buses (and then reversing over him), people figured he was going in again. However, when the full song and visuals dropped on June 17, the plot thickened. 

Pusha in the rest of his verse raps that “you cried in front of me, you died in front of me . Calabasas took your b**** and your pride in front of me, Heard Utopia had moved right up the street, And her lip gloss was poppin’, she ain’t need you to eat…” 

The rapper’s call-out of Scott instead of Ye was not exactly subtle. Pusha name-checks Scott’s album, clowns the Kylie Jenner breakup, and serves it all with that signature smirk you can hear through the beat.

Pusha T doubles down on the diss

Here’s where it gets messy. Travis and Pusha haven’t exactly had public beef—no leaked texts, no sub-disses, not even a tense backstage photo. But according to Push, that’s because Travis likes to act like Switzerland...when it suits him.

It all started back in 2023, during a session at Louis Vuitton HQ in Paris (yes, that’s a real sentence). Scott popped in to preview Utopia for Pharrell, Pusha, and Malice. But according to Pusha, things went left real quick.

“…He sees me and Malice there. He's like, ‘Oh, man, everybody's here,’ he's smiling, laughing, jumping around, doing his fucking monkey dance. We weren't into the music, but he wanted to play it, wanted to film [us and Pharrell listening to it]. And then a week later you hear ‘Meltdown,’ which he didn’t play. He played the song, but not [Drake’s verse],” he explained to GQ. 

Pusha then went on to reference when “Like That” was previewed during Future and Metro’s set at Rolling Loud, thanks to encouragement from an over-eager Scott. 

“He was on the [Rolling Loud] stage like, ‘Play that, play that!’ He don't have no picks, no loyalty to nobody. He'll jump around whatever he feels is hot or cling onto whatever he feels is hot. But you can play those games with those people…We're not in your mix. Keep your mix over there,” he said. 

Scott’s antics pissed him off enough to let the choppa sing on what eventually became “So Be It.”

“...Dawg, don't even come over here with that, because at the end of the day, I don't play how y'all play. To me, that really was just like…he's a whore. He's a whore,” he proclaimed. 

Since the drop, Pusha T has been on his own little press tour letting the world know how he feels about Houston’s very own, from print to audio like the NYT Popcast. 

While Scott hasn’t responded to Pusha yet, Mike Dean (one of Scott’s collaborators with production credits on UTOPIA), Tyler, the Creator, and A$AP Rocky have all shown love to the new Clipse track. Shade from Rocky shouldn’t be much of a surprise, considering he called him out years ago for “stealing his flow.”

Whether this feud goes full-blown or ends up on “simmer,” one thing is certain: Pusha T is not done talking. The Clipse comeback is officially messy—and we’re all watching with popcorn in one hand, timeline in the other.

Lil Wayne’s Son is Calling Out Drake

Lil Wayne and Drake go way back — like MySpace days back. According to rap lore, it was 2007 when Wayne first discovered Drizzy online through Jas Prince (son of Houston music mogul J. Prince). By 2009, Drake was officially signed to Young Money, and the rest? Hip-hop history. The duo has teamed up for countless classics, including “Miss Me,” “She Will,” and “The Motto.” Even after Drake wrapped up his Young Money deal, he never stopped showing love to the man who put him on. 

That bond has always seemed unshakable. Now, though, things are getting a little...complicated.

Was Wayne a Drizzy ghostwriter?

In a new interview with TrillMarty, Lil Novi —Wayne’s 15-year-old son — took a detour from promoting his “LIKE WEEZY” remix to stir the pot in a major way. When asked who was the better artist, Lil Wayne or Drake, Novi didn’t just choose his dad. He dropped a ghostwriting bombshell.

“My dad wrote most of [Drake's] shit … I mean, on God. Like, if it wasn’t for my pops, there wouldn’t be no Drake. … I mean, there probably would be a Drake, but he wouldn’t be where he’s at, though … “No disrespect to Drake. He hard,” he said.

Nice save — but the damage was already done.

Some fans brushed off the comment by posting that “he’s just a kid,” “that’s not proof,” “Twitter isn’t court ”— but others weren’t so quick to dismiss it. After all, this isn’t the first time Drake’s pen has been put under the microscope.

There’s the infamous “I’m Single” reference track from Wayne that leaked last year, which had people questioning who was really writing what. Let’s also not forget Drake’s long-rumored list of ghostwriters over the years — from Vory to The Weeknd. If Lil Novi’s claim is proven to be correct, 2025 is going to be another long year for Drizzy. 

• Bruno Mars is hitting Fortnite. He has been officially announced as the Season 9 headliner.

• Kendrick Lamar’s still on a roll. His collab with SZA, “luther,” has topped the Billboard Hip-Hop chart for a record-breaking 25 weeks.

• This NYC mayoral candidate has bars. Zohran Mamdani’s rap past is going viral on social media, along with his six-track EP featuring his friend Abdul Bar Hussein. 

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Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter VI has officially debuted on the Billboard 200 at number two. In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Drake has a new opp 👀 

• We’re getting new YoungBoy this summer 🎵 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of June 21.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

Almost everybody experienced a fall on the charts this week, with Drake’s “NOKIA” getting father away from the top spot and the “Timeless” comeback apparently being short-lived. However, the new collab from BigX and Lil Wayne, “Hip-Hop,” is enjoying its first week in the Hot 100 after Tha Carter VI dropped on June 6.

Why This Politician is Apologizing to Drake

Jagmeet Singh probably thought he was just going out for a chill night of live music. Instead, he walked straight into the middle of rap’s coldest civil war. The former New Democratic Party leader and current political main character was spotted vibing at one of Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Toronto shows — and let’s just say Drizzy did not take kindly to the cameo.

Footage of Singh enjoying the Grand National Tour quickly hit the timeline, and while most people laughed it off, Drake was clearly not amused. After all, his own city asking for an encore of “Not Like Us” was already painful. But even the city’s politicians are showing no loyalty? That was salt in the wound and apparently, reason enough for a virtual town square shaming.

Singh only went for SZA (allegedly)

Sure, Drizzy tried to do what he could to look unbothered as the Grand National Tour lit up his city. He dropped a new feature with Toronto rapper Smiley, “2 Mazza,” in between the shows on June 13th. He originally was going to stream with Kai Cenat on the night of Kendrick’s first show, to review director submissions for his upcoming “SOMEBODY LOVES ME” music video, but then delayed it last-minute. Allegedly, this was because the submissions were so good that they needed more time to review (which I’m sure everyone believes). 

However, once the footage started coming out of everyone, including Singh, having a blast at K. Dot and SZA’s show, he decided to crash out on the politician and not his real enemies. 

Drake posted a screenshot of his past DMs with Singh, where he can also be seen tagging the rapper in stories and saying that he was honored the 6 God gave him a follow—back in 2019. However, any potential friendship is probably out the window now since Drizzy called him a “goof.”

Singh immediately responded to the viral post and put on his best Drake fanboy act, stating that he went “for SZA, not Kendrick…Real talk, I get it. I shouldn’t have gone at all. OVO and Drake have lifted up this city and [Canadian flag emoji]. For me it’ll always be Drake over Kendrick.”

Yet, there’s a clip of him dancing to “tv off” like he helped write the setlist.

Fans dragged Drake for beefing with a lawmaker instead of his actual rivals (so much for being unbothered), and clowned Singh for folding like a lawn chair. Still, the Kendrick and SZA tour stop managed to make waves long after the two artists left the city. Timelines in Toronto were full of think pieces from Drake loyalists about the audacity of everyone who attended the shows.

Given the size of the 100K+ crowd that showed up for Kendrick and SZA across both shows, Singh might have secured more votes by standing on business with his decision…

NBA YoungBoy Has a 4th of July Surprise

To say NBA YoungBoy is having a good year would be an understatement. After dodging serious time in a Utah drug ring case last November, he paid a $25,000 fine and walked away without jail time. Things weren’t all smooth, though: a separate set of gun charges landed him 23 months behind bars, five years of probation, and a $200,000 fine.

Then, in true plot-twist fashion, President Donald Trump came through with a pardon on May 28th.

"I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building—as a man, as a father and as an artist…The moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for and I'm fully prepared to step into this,” he said in a statement shortly after the news broke. 

Now that the legal drama is (mostly) behind him, YoungBoy is wasting no time ramping up. He’s gearing up for his first headlining tour in five years, Make America Slime Again, which kicks off this September. The streets have been starving, and he’s finally coming back to feed them.

Earlier this year, he dropped the compilation album More Leaks in March, followed by loose singles like “Finest” in May. However, fans have been locked in for a proper new project—and now it’s officially on the calendar.

We’re Celebrating YoungBoy and America's Independence

On June 16, YoungBoy took to his IG stories to confirm that his next project is dropping on July 4th — just in time for fireworks, barbecues, and slime.

Other details like the title and tracklist are still being kept under wraps, but it's enough to get fans excited about what’s to come. They’re flooding the comments and crossing their fingers for a collab with Carti (they allegedly have a collab album called 004KT that has been teased for years) and YoungBoy’s craziest tour yet. With a presidential pardon, a comeback tour, and new music all in motion, YoungBoy is racking up wins faster than ever. This might just be the start of his biggest chapter yet. 

• Coca-Cola and UMG are locked in. They joined forces to launch Real Thing Records to “elevate emerging talent from around the world” and bring fans and artists together.

• Dame Dash has to pay up. He has reportedly lost his companies and copyrights in order to pay off more than $800,000 of debt.

• Gunna is giving back. He is co-hosting a youth empowerment camp in Frisco, Texas on June 21st along with Washington Commanders offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, and Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu.

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Lil Wayne has dropped a surprise song with Lil Baby and Future called “Momma Don’t Worry.” In other news: 

• Who did Lil Baby recently piss off? 👀

• Drake’s delaying his “SOMEBODY LOVES ME” plans 🎬

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Why is Lil Baby Snatching Chains?

Jack Doherty might have over 15 million followers across platforms, but that clout hasn’t exactly made him controversy-proof. In fact, it’s kind of his whole brand.

Case in point: back in October, he got booted from Kick after crashing his McLaren live on stream—because he was looking at his phone instead of the road. You’d think the wreck would be the worst part, but no. His passenger clearly had a head injury, and Jack’s first instinct? Telling him to keep filming. Naturally, that earned him more enemies than fans. 

Not long after the crash, he was in headlines again for his infamous 21st birthday party featuring a short set from Lil Baby with a major price tag. According to DJ Akademiks, Doherty allegedly paid $200,000 for the performance, which was a “good deal.” Doherty recently decided to get back outside with Lil Baby again — but this time, it was really going to cost him. 

Lil Baby runs away with Doherty’s chain

As Doherty was in conversation with the rapper at the club on June 11, Lil Baby smoothly slid Doherty’s chain off of his neck and claimed it as his own. Adding even more insult to injury, Lil Baby gave Doherty a noogie like you would to your little cousin and still didn’t give it back.

After the club, Doherty pulled up to Lil Baby’s G-Wagon and begged for his chain back. Nevertheless, the rapper didn’t budge and even told him to “call the police” before driving off. Hours later, the rapper posted that the “bag was secured” — but it seems like the streamer eventually got his piece back. 

This isn’t the first time Doherty has had his jewelry snatched, with allegedly $300,000 in chains being yanked off him in April (of course, he was streaming while it happened). Hopefully, Doherty and his security can keep a more watchful eye. 

Drake Had Plans During K.Dot’s Toronto Show — But Now He’s MIA

Drake and Kai Cenat have had a friendship that could best be described as chaotically casual. One minute, Drizzy’s giving Cenat a shoutout on For All The Dogs and calling him mid-stream like a proud uncle tuning in. The next, he’s name-dropping Cenat in his lawsuit, specifically as one of the streamers who helped turn “Not Like Us” into a global roast session.

You can always count on Drake to keep things petty and playful. 

Despite the awkward lawsuit cameo, the two seem to be on solid ground again. Drake apparently even took Cenat’s feedback to heart after the streamer flamed the visuals for “NOKIA” during an April review, saying it wasn’t a “banger” and (respectfully) he should’ve been the one directing it.

“…I don’t think that’s a song where you got to do symbolism…We’re looking for color, we’re looking for arcades, we’re looking for roller skating rinks. That’s what it gave me. We’re looking for going to modern day to as soon as the beat changes, we’re in the ’90s now. You see the vision?” Cenat said. 

Apparently, Drake did see the vision—because now Cenat’s helping him and PARTYNEXTDOOR pick the director for the “SOMEBODY LOVES ME” music video. On stream in May, Cenat revealed they’ll be choosing 20 winners, each walking away with $15K to bring their treatments to life. 

Drizzy won't be streaming away the pain

Now comes the most Drake part of all: the announcement stream to choose the winner was supposed to happen on June 12 at 8 PM ET. Which just so happens to be the exact time Lamar hits the stage in Toronto with SZA for his GNT tour stop.

“We were blown away by the creativity and thought poured into each submission. We were suppose to go live today but needed a little extra time to review them. Tomorrow DRAKE & I gonna go through some of the submission with you guys, share some of my favorites and some of the not so good ones and let ya’ll know which 20 ppl [are] getting money to bring their treatments to life,” Cenat said via his IG Stories. 

Yes, that means Lamar is performing in Drizzy’s hometown for the first time since their beef blew up. Obviously, the fans had to point out the obvious online. 

However, there was more drama to come. Just hours before the stream was set to go live, Cenat popped up with a casual announcement: they’re “pushing the stream back a few more days.” Insert Lamar’s sinister Super Bowl grin here. There were supposedly too many submissions to sort through.

Maybe Drake wasn’t in the mood to watch Twitch chat light up with “THEY NOT LIKE US” all night long. Maybe there actually were a bunch of dope treatments that the team couldn’t decide between. Given how tense things have been between him and Lamar lately, the delay feels less like a scheduling hiccup and more like a strategic retreat—but who knows?

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ Cycles by iann dior

• 💿️ Dopamine by Lil Tecca

• 💿️ Don’t Box Me In by Smiley (featuring Icewear Vezzo, Drake, and more)

• 💿️ pinkPrint 3 by skaiwater

• 💿️ Live and In Color by Juicy J, Logic

• 💿️ My World by EST Gee

• 🎶 “Pop” by Pi’erre Bourne

• 🎶 “Palace” by thirteendegrees, BNYX

• 🎶 “When I Get Home” by 4batz, Wale

• 🎶 “Underdog” by Roddy Ricch (F1 Soundtrack)

• 🎶 “Pablo & Gunner” by Dave East

• 🎶 “Jack and Jill” by BLP Kosher

• 🎶 “Off Road” by Rory, Freddie Gibbs

• 🎶 “Nights Like This & Reminds Me Of” by Tory Lanez

• 🎶 “Sick n Tired” by Cash Cobain, OnlyHeaven

• 🎶 “sound like” by 310babii, Ty Dolla $ign

• 🎶 “Won’t Stop” by Gunna

• 🎶 “Zap Stars” by Kodak Black

• 🎶 “Not the Same” by 2 Chainz, Ne-Yo

• 🎶 “Hood Cry” by Babyface Ray, Mozzy

• 🎶 “Carolina Panther” by Sauce Walka

• 🎶 “On the Unda” by Larry June, Cardo Got Wings

• 🎶 “Bathing Ape” by Lelo

• 🎶 “Go Bestfriend” by Bino Rideaux, BLXST

• Key Glock’s entourage is in hot water. Two members were reportedly caught with loaded weapons when trying to enter Governor’s Ball and have been charged with weapon possession charges.

• Silento has been hit with a major sentence. He will serve 30 years in jail for the 2021 killing of his cousin, Frederick Rooks.

• Rolling Loud is heading to India. They have officially announced their first event in Mumbai with the dates, venue and lineup to be revealed at a later date. 

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Clipse is about to go on their first tour since 2010 to celebrate Let God Sort Em Out. In other news:  

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• The Diddy trial continues on ⚖️

• Who did Kendrick Lamar help in a rap battle? 👀 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of June 14.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data—all measured by Luminate.

After finally dropping down in the charts, K. Dot and SZA’s “luther" is fighting for a comeback. Meanwhile, Drake’s “NOKIA” takes another dip this week but Doechii’s “Anxiety” is still holding on as BigX’s country collab picks up speed again.

Diddy Trial: Former Girlfriend Testifies to “Freak Offs” and Alleged Physical Abuse Up Until His 2024 Arrest

A former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs is the latest witness to testify in his criminal trial. Under the pseudonym “Jane,” she testified that Combs used manipulation, drugs, and financial control to pressure her (and others like singer Cassie Ventura) into participating in orchestrated sex acts with other men during events known as “hotel nights” or “Freak Offs.”

Her testimony on June 9th, kicking off the fifth week of trial, revealed that the alleged “Freak Offs" continued after Combs’ homes were raided in March 2024 up until his arrest in September of that year. She also recounted an incident of alleged physical violence in June 2024, which happened a month after CNN released surveillance footage of Combs’ assaulting Ventura. 

The pair dated from 2021 to 2024, during which Jane said Combs paid her a $10,000 monthly allowance to cover rent and living expenses. She testified that the financial support was conditional—and that refusing to participate in “hotel nights” meant risking being cut off.

Here is what she revealed about her allegedly abusive relationship with Combs, the “Freak Offs,”  and their continued communication up until his arrest in August of last year. 

Jane Describes Her Reaction to Cassie’s Lawsuit 

Jane said Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs struck a painful chord. “I can’t believe I’m reading my own story,” she recalled thinking. Days later, she messaged Combs, accusing him of gaslighting her and making her feel “crazy” about the trauma she experienced. He didn’t respond for two days, but then told her to call him.

The jury was then played a recorded phone call between Jane and Combs from November 2023. On the call, Combs dodged direct accountability, framing the “hotel nights” as “just some kinky sh*t” he thought they both enjoyed and asked her to “be there” for him. 

She testified that they took a break for 3 months following the lawsuit, but still had some communication, and the following texts were read from December 2023:

• Jane wrote, “Please stop using women for your fetish.” 

• Jane wrote, “Leave women alone who don’t want to do those nights with you. Hire prostitutes and stop emotionally harming women that love you.”

• Combs responded, “You trying to set me up. This is crazy, fucking crazy, are you recording our phone calls?”

• Jane wrote,  “I became the side chick and sex worker in my own relationship.”

During a FaceTime call, Jane testified that Combs urged her to “charge” him to help her move on and said he didn’t want any “loose ends.” She later proposed a six-figure financial agreement she felt would compensate her for their three-year relationship, and Combs responded by calling her a liar and opportunist and threatening to show sex tapes of their “hotel nights” to her child’s father.

Jane Describes Aftermath of Hotel Surveillance Footage

In 2024, the couple reconciled, and Jane testified to multiple incidents of “hotel nights” where she had sexual encounters with paid male escorts at Combs’ request. She was with Combs the day CNN published surveillance footage of him assaulting Ventura in May 2024. 

According to Jane, Combs spent the day huddled with close friends and family and asked her to review a draft of the public apology he would later post on social media. When they discussed the surveillance footage a few months later, he told her it was the only instance of physical violence between him and Ventura. 

In June 2024, she described a violent incident in which she confronted Combs about another woman. According to Jane, he choked her, kicked her, and damaged parts of her home. Despite visible injuries—including welts and a black eye—Combs allegedly told her to put on makeup, take ecstasy, and have sex with an escort while he watched. “Is this coercion?” he asked her, she testified.

The next day, Combs’ assistant dropped off $10,000–$12,000 in cash to cover the escort and property damages. While the two discussed ending their romantic relationship, their communication continued. Jane said the last time she saw Combs in person was in August 2024, just weeks before his arrest, and that their routine—including sex and “entertainers”—had resumed.

According to CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson, Jane’s testimony is “critical” when it comes to the sex trafficking allegations that Combs is facing. 

Specifically, her testimony about not wanting to be a part of “hotel nights” or feeling like she was “reading her own sexual trauma” in Ventura’s lawsuit go to the “broader issues not only of proving the charges but [...] the issue, from the prosecution’s perspective, that this is his MO and that’s critical,” Jackson said. 

Kendrick Lamar Gave Advice to This TDE Artist Battling Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$ decided to kick off 2025 with more than just a champagne toast—he pulled up with bars, shade, and what sounded a lot like East Coast elitism on his New Year’s Day drop, “The Ruler’s Back.” It wasn’t just a flex—it was a warning shot aimed squarely at the West Coast rap scene.

“Too much West Coast dick lickin', I'm hearin' n***as throwin' rocks, really ain't shit stickin', 'Cause if we talkin' bar for bar, really it's slim pickings…” Bada$$ raps on the track.

Joey Bada$$ sparks East vs. West Coast battle

Enter Ray Vaughn, TDE’s next-up and apparent defender of West Coast honor. On January 8, he fired back with “Crashout Heritage,” a freestyle that didn’t mince words. Joey went subliminal—Ray went for the jugular.

“What's with the sneak dissin'? Takin' shots at us, then hide the Uzi, 'Cause the only badass the world was recognizin' is Boosie,” Vaughn rapped. 

The back-and-forth quickly picked up steam. Bada$$ dropped “Sorry Not Sorry,” Ray followed with “Impossible Patty” (which is, objectively, a hilarious name for a diss track), and then… silence. Radio silence. Joey dropped “Pardon Me” in February, brushing off his critics by telling them, “I’m worth y’all time, but y’all just ain’t worth mine.”

Just when it seemed like things had cooled off for good, Ray Vaughn pulled a Uno Reverse with his “Justin Credible Freestyle” on May 7 and lit the spark back up. Bada$$ returned fire with “The Finals,” calling out Kendrick Lamar by name. So far, it remains a one-sided battle with K. Dot, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved behind the scenes for team TDE.

K. Dot’s in his mentor bag 

Now, Vaughn is recapping what’s gone down so far on the June 6th episode of The Bootleg Kevin Podcast and revealed that he often calls K. Dot and gets advice from him. 

“I’m on the phone when I’m going at Joey [Bada$$], ‘Ay, do you f–k with this?’ I always get feedback. It still got a protocol,” he said. 

Apparently, that “protocol” includes heavy editing. Kendrick’s top-tier advice? Less is more.

“If anything, it's [to] take something out. Like ad-libs, take some ad-libs about…Or if it’s not, it didn’t come out… It’s still the way we run TDE, it’s still the same thing. You’ve got to go down the line. When they post it, it’s going on TDE’s page. N***a, you speaking and it’s coming from our side, come correct,” he said. 

Despite the name-drops, the jabs, and the occasional lyrical drive-by, Vaughn made it clear there’s no real animosity. Just good ol’-fashioned rap competitiveness.

For those wondering what’s next? Vaughn also confirmed that the long-teased TDE compilation album is officially on the way and it's “fire.” So while the Joey smoke may or may not continue, one thing’s certain: the West Coast has more than enough firepower lined up.

• Russ had to pay a hefty fine. The rapper revealed he had to cut a check for around $850,000 thanks to an uncleared sample on one of his biggest tracks, “Losin Control.”

• TikTok is safe (for now). President Trump is apparently planning to postpone the deadline for the app’s potential ban in the US once again.

• We found our Snoop. Outer Banks actor Jonathan Daviss will play the rapper in the Universal Pictures biopic about their life. 

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You can now watch Travis Scott’s Barcelona performance, with two unreleased JACKBOYS tracks, as a film on Spotify. In other news:

• Fans are inspecting Drake’s UMG lawsuit 👀 

• What to know about DDG and Halle Bailey’s legal battle ⚖️

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Drake’s UMG Lawsuit Makes a Lot More Sense After This

Pusha T just revealed that Clipse left Def Jam because the label tried to get them to censor a Kendrick Lamar verse—yes, really. Instead of cutting the bar, they cut ties. And according to Pusha, it cost them seven figures to walk away.

That bombshell, casually dropped mid-interview with GQ, has fans connecting dots that go way back to before the Kendrick and Drake beef. From shelved verses to blocked releases, the theory goes like this: Drake was the most protected man in hip-hop… until he wasn’t.

Steven Victor Adds Fuel: The Pop Smoke Block

​​Not long after Clipse’s GQ interview blew up, Pusha T’s longtime manager, Steven Victor, added fuel to the fire in a Billboard interview—and the plot thickened.

Victor claimed that UMG almost blocked Pop Smoke’s posthumous album because they thought Pusha’s verse on “Paranoia” was a diss aimed at—you guessed it—Drake. 

“We’re not going to put this out now, unless you get Pusha to change these lyrics,” Victor recalled. “Even though it has nothing to do with Pop Smoke... they’re like, ‘Either he changes these lyrics, or we’re not putting the album out.’”

Pusha himself hinted at this back in 2020, saying that while his verse got blocked, Young Thug’s made the cut. According to Pusha, the execs didn’t even understand the lyrics. They just assumed there was shade because “HE”—allegedly Drake—told them so. Insert your favorite Illuminati meme here.

Fans are now connecting the dots, pointing to a pattern of UMG protecting Drake at all costs. Case in point: the infamous “Story of Adidon” was dropped on SoundCloud, bypassing traditional label release—allegedly to dodge industry interference.

The “Splash Brothers” Censorship 

That suspicion only deepened after another curious case of censorship resurfaced—this time from Drake himself.

Last year, French Montana dropped “Splash Brothers” with Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. But fans noticed someone missing from the final cut: Drake. He was originally on the track… until he wasn’t. ​​In the unreleased version, Drake raps: “Lucian [Grainge] and me is just like Kobe and Shaquille, but we never even chill, and that’s the reason going independent just never had an appeal…”

While it might’ve sounded like a flex at the time—comparing his relationship with the UMG CEO to one of the greatest duos in sports history—it hits a lot differently now. Fans are calling it ironic, if not downright embarrassing, considering Drake yanked the verse after UMG didn’t ride for him the way he clearly expected.

Why the UMG Lawsuit Suddenly Makes Sense

And that brings us to the lawsuit.

Back in January, Drake filed a defamation suit against UMG. His legal team claimed it had nothing to do with Kendrick and everything to do with UMG: “This is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us…’ It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false but dangerous.”

The lawsuit, taken in context with all the old receipts, as well as Pusha and Victor’s interviews, has led fans to feel very validated in their conspiracies. The theory? Once UMG broke rank and didn’t block Kendrick’s diss, Drake felt betrayed—and decided to take them to court over it. 

Turns out, the machine Drake once flexed might be the same one that finally turned on him. But again, these are all just conspiracies. 

A Judge Has Denied DDG’s Restraining Order Request

On June 4, DDG (AKA Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) filed an emergency motion asking the court to block his ex-girlfriend Halle Bailey from traveling internationally with their son, Halo. He claimed Bailey posed an “emotional and psychological risk” to the child and requested sole physical and legal custody. Alternatively, he asked that any custody exchanges be facilitated by a neutral third party if not granted sole custody.

DDG also detailed several allegations in his motion. He claimed that Bailey once took his firearm and left the house without informing him of her whereabouts, later finding her outside, allegedly holding the weapon. 

He further alleged that Bailey attempted to have an abortion without telling him, but ultimately decided against it. In addition, he claimed she sent “a series of alarming text messages,” in which she allegedly threatened to kill herself and implied that their infant son might also be harmed.

Halle Bailey Responds to DDG’s Motion 

That same day, Bailey responded by filing a motion to deny DDG’s emergency request. She also asked the court to issue protective orders preventing DDG and his family from posting publicly about her, Halo, or their ongoing legal proceedings. 

In her filing, Bailey pointed out that DDG and his legal team had ignored repeated attempts to schedule supervised visits since May 13—the day she was granted a temporary restraining order. That order also gave Bailey sole custody and cleared her to bring Halo with her for an eight-week film shoot in Italy starting early June. She argued that DDG waited until days before her departure to challenge the terms, despite having weeks to respond.

She also specifically highlighted a recent incident at Dream Con 2025 in Houston, Texas as a reason why DDG’s motion should be denied. His brother DuB got into an altercation with another man after they referred to DDG as “Doo Doo Garbage.”

“…I will bring this video to Court. Darryl and the people around him are aggressive and angry, which leads me to believe this is not a safe environment for Halo,” the declaration states. 

The Latest Verdict 

The judge ultimately denied DDG’s emergency motion, allowing Bailey to proceed with her previously approved travel plans with Halo. The court has not yet released the official reasoning behind the decision. A full hearing is scheduled for June 24, where both parties’ competing permanent restraining orders will be reviewed.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ Tha Carter VI by Lil Wayne

• 💿️ Lotus by Little Simz

• 💿️ Veteran (Director’s Cut) by JPEGMAFIA

• 💿️ Luka Trončić 2 by BabyTron

• 🎶 “Blocs” by Pi’erre Bourne

• 🎶 “see ur face,” “nylon,” “sdp,” “super serum” and “SRTBBL” by Destroy Lonely

• 🎶 “Typa” by GloRilla

• 🎶 “Old Logic” by Logic

• 🎶 “Outta Here” by French Montana, Trippie Redd

• 🎶 “ALL I WANT IS YOU” by The Kid LAROI

• 🎶 “All In” by Ty Dolla $ign

• 🎶 “Hostile” by midwxst

• 🎶 “Intermission” by Tory Lanez

• 🎶 “Shop With Us” by Icewear Vezzo

• CoachDaGhost is facing the music. The Brooklyn rapper was sentenced to 60 years to life for the ambush shooting that ultimately killed 17-year-old Bryan Sanon and injured two others in 2021.

• Fyre Festival isn’t gone after all. The “Fyre Coral View Pop-Up in Utila” will take place this September in Honduras.

• Russell Simmons is taking legal action. He has filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery over the On The Record documentary, which tells the stories of his accusers of alleged sexual assault. 

Like sports? 🏀🏈 Get up-to-date analysis and unique insight that’s actually interesting to read with the Playmaker Newsletter.

Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR are about to go on tour in Europe and the UK. In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Pusha T talks about Def Jam exit, Ye & Drake 👀 

• Lil Durk’s case could potentially change ⚖️

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of June 7.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data—all measured by Luminate.

Morgan Wallen’s new music has finally pushed K. Dot and SZA’s “luther” from the top spot, coming in at number five for the past two weeks. Meanwhile, tracks like Drake’s “NOKIA” and BigX’s country collab “All the Way” are in their comeback era.

Clipse Is Back—and They’re Not Holding Back on Ye, Drake, or Kendrick

Over 15 years ago, Clipse (aka real-life brothers Pusha T and Malice) dropped Til the Casket Drops—and then kind of did just that. Pusha kept grinding, releasing projects like It’s Almost Dry in 2022. Meanwhile, Malice took a well-earned spiritual sabbatical to recover from burnout. Now, after years of cryptic teasers and surprise Louis Vuitton runway debuts, the reformed duo is officially back with a new album, Let the Lord Sort Em Out, dropping July 11.

While they could’ve just quietly delivered new music like some chill uncles returning from retirement, they decided to go full scorched-earth instead—airing out the rap world like it's 2006 and they’re still pushing weight in Virginia.

Clipse lets the choppa sing

In a new GQ interview, Clipse talked about the upcoming album—but also took time to check some major names off their "we got time today" list. Here’s a quick roll call of who caught strays.

Ye

Pusha T used to be G.O.O.D. Music’s golden child—until Ye pulled a Ye. After inviting Clipse to work on “Use This Gospel” (over a beat from “Follow God”), Kanye hit them with the ol’ psych! and kept the track for 2019’s Jesus Is King. That beat-snatching incident was the beginning of the end. “We made some great shit, bro. We did…But…let me tell you something,” Pusha said. 

From a financial POV, though, Pusha T said that Ye kept his word, giving 50% ownership stake in the masters of his own GOOD Music roster back to the artists like himself. 

“The greatest thing he did and why I am okay with where me and him are right now—and I'm cool with staying that way—is because at the end of the day, my truth is my truth, but I still respect what he did in the business. And he speaks ill about the music we've made and giving me certain records, but the one thing he did give me was all the profits back from the Def Jam deal,” he said. 

Drake 

When it comes to Drizzy, the duo’s stance is…less than positive as well. 

The Clipse x Drake tension is nothing new. When Pusha T dropped “The Story of Adidon” in 2018, revealing Drake’s secret son and throwing in that blackface photo for good measure, the beef went from passive to nuclear. Since then, Drake’s been in his feelings, taking passive-aggressive shots at Pusha and Pharrell (who’s producing Clipse’s new album), even posting up in Pharrell’s jewelry auction like a jilted ex.

Is Pusha T bothered by Drizzy’s antics, though? Not in the slightest. 

“He’s always said he was a fan. So I feel like that's something a fan would do. It wasn't like [P] was hurting for money and sold his jewelry,” Pusha T said. 

He also shared his thoughts on the ongoing legal battle between Drake and UMG, stating that “the suing thing is bigger than some rap shit. I just don't rate you. Damn, it's like it just kind of cheapens the art of it once we gotta have real questions about suing and litigation. Like, what? For this?”

Kendrick Lamar

Speaking of Drake’s antics, K. Dot’s drama with the Toronto native impacted his highly anticipated (and now confirmed) verse on the track “Chains and Whips” on the project. While the majority of the verse was kept under wraps, GQ did reveal one quotable line from Lamar: “Therapy taught me how to open up/it also showed me I don’t give a f***.” Def Jam (under UMG) didn’t want two of Drizzy’s opps to link up on the track. 

“They wanted me to ask Kendrick to censor his verse, which of course I was never doing…And then they wanted me to take the record off. And so, after a month of not doing it, Steve Gawley, the lawyer over there was like, ‘We'll just drop the Clipse.’ But that can't work because I'm still there [solo]. But [if] you let us all go…” Pusha T said. 

Eventually, that is exactly what happened. Def Jam dropped Clipse and Pusha T (who apparently paid seven figures to get out of his deal), so now they are with Roc Nation instead. 

“I think that that synergy, just in a rap sense, is going to speak volumes,” he said about their new home. With July quickly approaching, who knows what else Clipse has up their sleeves? One thing we know for sure though — the fans can’t wait to hear it. 

A Questionable Informant Could Change Everything in Lil Durk’s Case

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk, born Durk Derrick Banks, is currently in a high-profile federal case alleging his involvement in a 2022 murder-for-hire plot. The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Saviay'a Robinson AKA Lul Pab, cousin of rapper Quando Rondo (who was the intended target). Prosecutors assert that Durk orchestrated the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close associate, King Von.

Durk has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include conspiracy to use interstate facilities in a murder-for-hire scheme resulting in death and weapons-related offenses. His trial is scheduled to commence on October 14, 2025, in California.

Central to the prosecution's case is testimony from a cooperating human source (CHS 1), described as a “paid FBI informant and former gang member with a criminal history.” Durk's legal team, led by attorney Drew Findling, has now challenged the informant's reliability, arguing that the individual has been providing false information. 

Lil Durk’s team wants him out

“The government repeatedly cites allegations from a federal case out of Illinois where Mr. Banks has never been charged and never will be charged, despite the passage of over three years since the underlying incident … The government’s own exhibit reveals that the allegations pertaining to Mr. Banks are based primarily on information from a cooperating human source, ‘CHS 1,’ described in the affidavit as a paid FBI informant and former gang member with a criminal history,” Findling said in a released statement. 

The attorney also claimed that the government has failed to prove that Durk is a danger to the public or a flight risk. 

In an effort to secure bail, Durk has proposed a $4.5 million package, including $3 million in personal funds, along with conditions such as house arrest and 24/7 security monitoring. Prosecutors have opposed the bail request, arguing that Durk's wealth could facilitate further violence.

The court has yet to make a decision on the informant. However, as the trial approaches, the credibility of the FBI informant remains a new focal point of contention. 

• Megan Thee Stallion is in her anime bag. She announced at Dreamcon May 30 that she is working on a new anime with Carl Jones, who previously worked on The Boondocks.

• Lil Wayne is back on road. His Tha Carter VI tour kicks off June 6 at Madison Square Garden — his first time headlining as a solo artist. 

• “Not Like Us” took its final victory lap. It has finally fallen off the Billboard Hot 100 after spending a record 52 weeks on the chart. 

Like sports? 🏀🏈 Get up-to-date analysis and unique insight that’s actually interesting to read with the Playmaker Newsletter.

Clipse is dropping a new song produced by Pharrell called “ACE TRUMPETS” on May 30th. In other news: 

• Trump attempts to boost his street cred 👀 

• Bryson Tiller is back outside 🎉

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Trump Just Pardoned More Rappers—Here’s Who Else Made the List

President Trump has been working on boosting his street cred for a minute. After his assassination attempt last year, social media and even 50 Cent himself gave him the “Many Men (Wish Death)” treatment. He is constantly referenced in rap music, from Mac Miller to YG and Nipsey Hussle (who both decided to let the choppa sing on the politician). He even tried to help A$AP Rocky out when he was imprisoned in Sweden back in 2019. 

However, he might have been able to secure new allies thanks to the official pardons that have benefited some of the biggest names in hip-hop. 

It’s pardon season 

Trump was once again in a giving mood and decided to officially pardon individuals, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley (they were found guilty of bank and tax fraud and were incarcerated since 2022) and NBA Youngboy, on May 28. Youngboy was previously serving a 23-month sentence over a weapon found in his Utah home last year and a gun charge while filming a music video back in 2021. 

"I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building - as a man, as a father, and as an artist. This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this,” the rapper posted on IG shortly after the news broke. 

Another headline-making commutation was granted to a name long associated with both controversy and influence: Larry Hoover. If that rings a bell, it’s because Rick Ross shouted him out on his hit song “B.M.F.”, and Drake and Ye even held a benefit concert for him in 2021.

He was serving six life sentences in Colorado after being one of the 39 Gangster Disciples leaders indicted in August 1995 in Operation Headache (AKA the feds’ six-year effort to infiltrate gangs). However, he still has the remainder of a 200-year sentence for the murder of 19-year-old neighborhood drug dealer William "Pooky" Young in 1973. 

Nevertheless, Ye shared how excited he was on X once the news was officially released, thanking President Trump and for some reason…Drake, too.  

"The Courts have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to consider Mr. Hoover's considerable growth and complete rehabilitation. Despite the Court's unwillingness to do the right thing, Mr. Hoover has been able to keep his voice alive through the incredible work of many advocates and supporters. Thankfully, Mr. Hoover's pleas were heard by President Trump who took action to deliver justice for Mr. Hoover,” Hoover’s attorneys,  Jennifer Bonjean and Justin Moore, said in an official statement. 

This isn’t Trump’s first time showing love to the rap world. Back in 2021, he granted a full pardon to Lil Wayne, who had pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges and was facing 10 years in prison. He also commuted Kodak Black’s sentence — he had been serving four years for falsifying information to purchase firearms — and cut short the sentence of Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris, who was 32 years into a sentence for cocaine trafficking and attempted murder.

With Youngboy about to go on tour and reactions to the pardons flooding the Internet, only time will tell to see if more people end up on Trump’s “nice list.”

Bryson Tiller Has a Double Album Coming Soon

Bryson Tiller is apparently taking a break from working on video games. The Trapsoul crooner is finally stepping back into his music bag — but not just with a regular album. Nah, he’s going double. Yes, you read that right. Tiller is going full ambitious R&B Jedi mode with a two-part album titled Solace and The Vices, because apparently, one mood isn’t enough to contain his emotional complexity.

What Tiller has in store

He first made the announcement on his Instagram on May 27th, also dropping the potential album covers. Based on the visuals, Tiller’s aiming to show two sides of himself: one peaceful, one chaotic. Think: Zen garden with a cup of chamomile tea on one side, and a late-night link-up with your most toxic ex on the other.

“S O L A C E • somber, vulnerable, my own personal therapy session. Saying things I wouldn’t normally say out loud. Inspired by the season, my life changed 4ever, FALL ,” he said in the caption. 

Meanwhile, The Vices will be “Fun, Energetic, Bars on Bars, Summer Vibes, leaning into my ‘other’ side.” 

There’s no official release date yet, but he did say that it was coming soon and thanked the fans “who never left my side.” Hopefully, the project will drop shortly after he gets off tour with Chris Brown and Summer Walker for the Breezy Bowl XX Stadium World Tour  (which can now go on with Brown freed on bail). 

This will be Tiller’s latest full-length project since dropping his self-titled album last April.

Between the crying-in-the-shower vibes and Instagram captions practically writing themselves, Tiller’s return is exactly the kind of emotional chaos R&B’s been missing. And with a double album in the works, fans are already setting reminders, prepping mood boards, and dusting off their “u up?” texts.

So whether you’re team Solace or team Vices, one thing’s for sure: Bryson’s outside again. And this time, he’s coming with twice the feelings.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ FIVEFOREVER by PlaqueBoyMax

• 💿️ Out The Blue by Benji Blue Bills, BNYX

• 💿️ Florida Boy by Luh Tyler

• 💿️ ENOCH by Goldlink

• 🎶 “whoa (mind in awe) [Remix]” by XXXTENTACION, Juice WRLD

• 🎶 “OWA OWA” by Lil Tecca

• 🎶 “ACE TRUMPETS” by Clipse

• 🎶 “Diamond Stitching” by LUCKI

• 🎶 “just have PATIENCE” by $NOT

• 🎶 “Bad Motherf*cker” by Logic

• 🎶 “I Luv All The Opps” by AB, Kodak Black

• 🎶 “Wanted More” by Tory Lanez

• 🎶 “Survivor’s Guilt” by Meek Mill

• 🎶 “Bail Bonds” by TisaKorean

• 🎶 “HUNNIT” by Icewear Vezzo

• Drake has broken another major record. He officially has the most RIAA Diamond songs of any artist with 10 certifications. 

• Fivio Foreign’s legal woes continue. He has pleaded guilty to charges including terroristic threats and aggravated assault in order to hopefully secure probation.

• Welcome home, YFN Lucci. The rapper announced his first concert following his prison release, scheduled to take place in his hometown of Atlanta.

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K. Dot might have thrown shade at Drake (again) in his newest Gatorade ad. In other news:  

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• A$AP Rocky & Young Thug have been in the studio 👀

• Drake is making a comeback in a big way 🥳 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

As reported by Billboard for the week of May 24.

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data—all measured by Luminate.

“Luther” from K. Dot and SZA and Drake’s “NOKIA” are both at a standstill this week. “Timeless” from The Weeknd and Carti gains popularity once again due to their ongoing tour, and “All the Way” takes a tumble down the charts.

A$AP Rocky and Young Thug Have a Collab Album OTW

Both A$AP Rocky and Young Thug have been through the ringer recently (to say the absolute least). They have both beaten the charges stacked against them and are back outside to take over the rap world — and beyond. 

Rocky has been busy getting Rihanna pregnant (again), serving as co-chair for the Met Gala, and collaborating with acting legends like Denzel Washington. Meanwhile, Thugga has been putting his Twitter fingers to work, leaving no doubt of how he feels about people who take the stand and teasing the UY SCUTI era. However, in a sudden plot twist, it seems the two have found time to work on a collab tape aside from their own respective projects. 

A$AP Illz gives his confirmation 

While on a livestream with Digital Nas, Illz stated that Rocky and Thugga have a new album in the works as the producer looked at him in disbelief. 

“That’s the biggest announcement that I have f****** heard…Flacko and Thugga are about to break the Internet,” Nas said on the stream. 

Let’s just take a quick look at the track record here. Rocky’s DON’T BE DUMB was supposed to drop last August. It didn’t. Thugga’s UY SCUTI was slated for this month — but surprise! It got delayed to June. So yeah, forgive us if we’re not holding our breath on a collab that wasn’t even supposed to exist five minutes ago.

If this album does drop, it’ll be the most unexpected miracle since Frank Ocean remembered he was a musician. Two of the biggest rappers from the last decade, linking up to end the drought of their solo careers with a collab project? Madness. But until then, all we’ve got is hope, chaos, and a suspiciously long list of “coming soon” projects.

At the very least, it’s good for a laugh — and 300 tweets clowning the situation. Because if you can’t get new music from Rocky or Thug, at least you can meme about it.

OVO Fest is Making a Comeback

Before the barrettes, the diss tracks, and the never-ending back-and-forth with K. Dot, Drake actually used to throw a pretty epic party. And not just any party — OVO Fest, his yearly homecoming celebration in the 6ix.

The first one kicked off in 2010, conveniently during Caribbean Carnival season, and quickly became the place to see hometown talent and rap royalty all in one sweaty, screaming Toronto venue. Outkast even came out of hiding for a reunion show. That’s right. Outkast. Drake had that kind of pull.

Just like one of his old flings, though, OVO Fest eventually ghosted. The last time we saw it was 2022, when Drake reunited with his Young Money fam (Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and several metric tons of nostalgia). And then… silence. Until now.

OVO Fest is back, baby 

On May 24, Drake surprised fans at Central Cee’s show at History in Toronto (AKA the venue that he serves as a partner for) with a performance of “NOKIA” and let them know what to expect next from him. 

"I'll see you this summer, by the way… OVO Fest will be back this year," he told the crowd, casually recruiting Central Cee for the lineup like he was handing out party invites at lunch.

So far, that’s all we’ve got — no dates, no poster, no lineup. Just vibes and a very public promise. Still, it’s enough to get fans (and probably some former friends-turned-ops) watching closely. Drizzy’s got some reputation rehab to do. Between the Kendrick situation and those cryptic “ICEMAN” breadcrumbs, he’s clearly cooking something. Whether OVO Fest is part redemption arc, part rollout, or just a distraction while he plots his next move, we’ll take it.

• One of Lil Wayne’s producers is upset with UMG. He is suing the music company for unpaid royalties for his work on 2008’s Tha Carter III.

• Cardi B just secured a major honor. She will be awarded with the ASCAP’s Voice of the Culture Award next month in Los Angeles.

• Tory Lanez is moving on. He is now being transferred to a new prison after being stabbed 14 times earlier this month, according to his father, Sonstar Peterson.  

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A$AP Rocky teased new music while on the Cannes red carpet for the premiere of his film Highest 2 Lowest. In other news: 

• Song streams & revenue 💰️

• Kid Cudi testifies in Diddy’s trial 👀 

• At.Long.Last.A$AP hits the double digits 💐

• New Music Friday releases 💿️

• Industry Insights 📈

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Songs Streams & Revenue

As reported by Hits Daily Double for the week of May 9 to May 15.

It’s a new week and a new song revenue chart. As reported by Hits Daily Double, which tracks streaming revenue week over week, the above chart reflects the streaming period from May 9 to May 15.

The Weeknd and Playboi Carti’s “Timeless” is slowly rising back up the charts as “luther” from K. Dot and SZA continues to reign supreme. Following close behind the mega hit, Drake’s “NOKIA” is still fighting for the top spot. Better luck next week.

What Kid Cudi Said on the Stand About Diddy

Kid Cudi took the stand Thursday, May 22, in the second week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial, offering the most explosive testimony of the day. Referred to in court as Scott Mescudi, the rapper detailed an alleged break-in at his home, an arson attack on his Porsche, and a confrontation with Combs that prosecutors argue speaks to a broader pattern of intimidation and violence.

Kid Cudi Recalls Home Break-In

Cudi testified that in late 2011, after Combs found out he was dating Cassie Ventura, the mood turned hostile.

Later that day, the two learned that Combs and an associate had entered Cudi’s home. When Cudi returned, his security cameras were repositioned, opened gifts were scattered around, and his dog was locked in the bathroom. He called the police and filed a report.

The Car Bomb and Soho House Showdown

A month later, in January 2012, Cudi’s dog sitter called to inform him that his Porsche was on fire in his driveway. In court, Cudi said it looked like “the top of the car was cut open and a Molotov cocktail was thrown in.”

Cudi testified that he later arranged a meeting with Combs at the Soho House in LA, believing Combs was behind the fire. When he got there, “Sean Combs was standing there, staring out the window with his hands behind his back, like a Marvel supervillain,” he said, prompting laughs from several jurors and courtroom spectators.

Twitter tweet

He asked about the Porsche and Combs allegedly replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Though Cudi said he believed Combs was lying, the two later crossed paths again in 2015—at the same Soho House—where Combs apologized. “I found peace after that,” Cudi testified.

Cudi Admits Cassie Played Him

Under cross-examination, Cudi acknowledged that DNA was collected from the car but never yielded results, and no charges were filed. When asked if Cassie “played him,” Cudi answered, “Yes.” He explained that the relationship ended because “the drama became too much” and that he feared for both their safety due to Combs’ violent behavior.

How Cudi’s Testimony Could Fit the Bigger Picture

While Cudi’s testimony did not directly prove Combs was responsible for the arson, prosecutors are likely to use it to support their argument that Combs ran a criminal enterprise fueled by intimidation, retaliation, and abuse. The defense, meanwhile, is expected to point to the lack of physical evidence and Cudi’s own admission of being “played” to undercut his credibility.

What the 10-Year Anniversary of 'At.Long.Last.A$AP' Says About Rocky Today

In 2015, A$AP Rocky was that guy. He wasn’t just rapping — he was moodboarding an entire aesthetic for a generation of cool kids who thought Tame Impala and Three 6 Mafia should absolutely be on the same playlist. May 26 marks the 10-year anniversary of At.Long.Last.A$AP and we’re here to give the album its flowers, its props, and its obligatory retrospective write-up because... it still bangs. 

A$AP Rocky in 2015: A Walking Tumblr Mood Board

Let’s rewind. 2015 was wild for Rocky — and not always in a good way. Just five months before A.L.L.A. dropped, Rocky lost his best friend, mentor, and A$AP Mob co-founder, A$AP Yams, to an accidental overdose. Yams’ spirit floats over the whole project like a purple-hued ghost of swag past. This was Rocky’s first album without him, and instead of playing it safe, he went off the creative deep end. Spoiler alert: the water was full of hallucinogens and genre-bending.

What Made A.L.L.A. Important to the Culture

This album wasn’t chasing trends—it was straight-up weird (in the best way). While everyone else was trying to land a Metro Boomin beat and call it a day, Rocky linked with Danger Mouse and got real psychedelic. “L$D” sounded like Prince was on psychedelics while watching Eternal Sunshine.

The production pulled from blues, rock, G-Funk, Wu-Tang, and whatever was playing during his last acid trip. It was chaotic in theory, cohesive in execution—a cocktail of highbrow taste and downtown grime.

More importantly, the album felt like a eulogy and a rebirth at the same time. Yams’ fingerprints are everywhere, with the project serving as one “last relic of he and his best friend’s collaborative vision.”

The album was Rocky’s most experimental yet, with the rapper declaring to GQ that “people are scared to test new sounds, so they go with what's current 'cause it's the easy thing to do. The top 100 songs sound a certain way. People cater more to that because it's a bigger demographic behind that, or it's a guaranteed demographic behind that. I prefer to experiment and have my crowd grow with me and to reach new crowds. I don't just rap—I actually make music. That's why it takes time. These sonics represent me.”

A.L.L.A is A Chart-Topper and a Cult Classic

Despite all the left turns, A.L.L.A. debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Yes, an album with Miguel moaning into a psychedelic soup of guitars and ghostly ad-libs went platinum with the rap crowd. It didn’t just soundtrack rooftop parties and weed smoke in college dorms — it changed the sound of rap. Think about it: today’s rap is flooded with acid-rap aesthetics, lo-fi melancholia, and moodboard-core. Rocky was ahead of that curve, wearing Raf Simons while the rest of rap was still figuring out what “Margiela” meant.

Rocky’s still around. Sort of. He’s more fashion week than mixtape these days, more Vogue than Verzuz. The long-teased Don’t Be Dumb album has become a meme in itself, with delays that rival Carti’s MUSIC. However, Rocky insists it’s coming—and that it’s fire.

“I’ve been really experimenting as usual, and what I like about this is it feels like my best work yet,” he told DAZED in October. Sure, Flacko. We’ve heard that before. 

At the end of the day, At.Long.Last.A$AP is a classic—whether people admit it or not. It holds up against the Hall of Fame era that 2015/2016 was for rap music. It's moody, stylish, sad, druggy, and unpredictable. 

The question now is: Can he do it again? Cult classics are cool and all — but we’re not just trying to rewatch the movie. We’re ready for the sequel. So Flacko, if you’re listening: the aux is yours. Don’t be dumb.

New Music Friday

Here’s all the music you can listen to now—categorized by 💿️ for albums and 🎶 for singles:

• 💿️ Let Me Fly by Rob49

• 💿️ Be (20th Anniversary) by Common

• 💿️ WHERE IS MY HEAD? by Rich Brian

• 💿️ Magnolia Lefore by Boldy James, Your Boy Posca

• 💿️ Helium by G-Eazy

• 💿️ Dlow Curry (Deluxe) by BossMan Dlow

• 🎶 “Some Morem / Alive” by Playboi Carti

• 🎶 “ICHIBAN” by Denzel Curry

• 🎶 “Alive” by Ye

• 🎶 “TaTaTa” by Burna Boy, Travis Scott (out now)

• 🎶 “Finest” by NBA Youngboy

• 🎶 “GoROUND” by Logic

• 🎶 “cliché.” by mgk

• 🎶 “Hollywood” by YG

• 🎶 “Turn Back Time/Katrina” by Tory Lanez

• 🎶 “My Thoughts 5” by Babyface Ray

• 🎶 “Blue Stripes (Remix)” by Jessie Murph, Sexyy Red

• Tyler, the Creator and Converse are linking up again. They are teaming up to launch the 1908 program, where Tyler is putting his own spin on the brand’s archived designs. 

• Rod Wave is facing legal issues.  He was booked into Fulton County jail on May 20 for charges including evidence tampering, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm. 

• Chris Brown has had a small legal win. He has been released on a $6.7 million bail after his arrest in Manchester, England on May 15.

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