Hip-Hop Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Earlier this month RiTchie of By Storm (FKA Injury Reserve) shared his first solo single. The track wasn't a one-off, with news today that the rapper's debut album Triple Digits [112] will be released on April 5.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is the subject of a lawsuit filed by music producer Rodney Jones Jr., the New York Times reports. Jones, who is also known as Lil Rod, alleges that Combs subjected him to sexual assault, grooming, and improper payment while they worked on last year's The Love Album. Diddy, via his lawyer, denies all claims.

Diddy’ Combs has been sued by a male producer who worked on his most recent album, with accusations of sexual assault and harassment.The suit was filed in federal court in New York on Monday (February 26), and accuses Combs of forcing him to have sex with prostitutes, in addition to claims that the hip-hop mogul drugged and threatened him for over a year.The producer, named as Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones, says in the lawsuit that he lived and travelled with Combs from September 2022 to November 2023, and produced nine songs on Combs’ recent record ‘The Love Album: Off The Grid’.Among the claims is that Combs made him solicit prostitutes and pressured him to engage in sex acts with them. He also claimed that Combs gave laced alcoholic drinks to people at his house.The lawsuit includes claims of screenshots from gatherings at Combs’ homes where underage girls and sex workers were present, some of whom he said were provided with laced drinks.

Kid Cudi has revealed that he will be taking a break from making music for a year to focus on his film and television career.January saw the Ohio rapper release his 10th studio album ‘INSANO’– a more trap-inspired record that included verses from Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, DJ Drama, Pharrell and Travis Scott – before he dropped the LP’s sequel ‘INSANO (Nitro Mega)’ last week; taking a more experimental and alternative route assisted by the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Layzie and Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony and Pusha T. The two records mark Cudi’s final albums as part of his Republic Records deal.Shortly after the release of ‘Nitro Mega’, Cudi took to X/Twitter to tell fans he would be taking a break from music and to expect new music “every other year.””“My next album is already about 80 per cent done, and it’ll be out in 2026,” he wrote.

Free Nationals have returned with their first new music since 2020 in the form of the single ‘Gangsta’, featuring Anderson .Paak and A$AP Rocky – check out the video below.The free-flowing, jazz-flavoured track sees the Californian R&B and funk group reunite with .Paak, for whom they have often appeared live as the backing band. It is the first time that they have appeared on record together with Rocky.Check out the video for the single below, which sees the band, .Paak and Rocky portrayed by kids who are being forced to defend themselves in court.The band are expected to release more music in 2024, with the possibility of a second studio album, to follow up their self-titled debut in 2019.

Snoop Dogg has teamed up with media personality and comedian Druski for a new comedy song called ‘Standin’ On Bihness’.The Instagram blog The Shaderoom dropped a snippet of the music video, showing Druski and Snoop sporting black and white checkered shirts while rapping menacingly over a modern trap beat. They can be seen getting rappers to sign dubious contracts and dancing around a dark basketball court.Snoop Dogg’ rapped about signing to Coulda Been Records: “Ten toes down, no woulda been / Back in the hood again, bitch this Coulda Been / Sign on the dotted line / 1 per cent is yours, 99 is mine / Coulda Been House – one by one, all you n****s getting kicked out.”The music video for the song is one of the many skits in Druski’s upcoming mockumentary-style reality show, Coulda Been House – which sees the comedian as the CEO of the record label Coulda Been Records (a parody of Birdman‘s Cash Money Records) and inviting a group of aspiring rappers to complete challenges to win $50,000 (£39,430.50) and a contract with the label.The DMV star shared the trailer for the web series earlier this month which heavily featured Snoop talking to the contestants, trying to convince them to sign to his label Death Row Records – which Dogg acquired in 2022 – over Coulda Been Records.

Smino last released an album in 2022 (the very good Luv 4 Rent), but luckily for the St. Louis rapper, he’s got a level of charisma that serves as its own form of momentum, keeping him in the conversation even if he’s not dropping an album.

Rap Blog is a weekly showcase of a standout rap song written by Vivian Medithi and Nadine Smith.

Every Friday, The FADER's writers dive into the most exciting new projects released that week.

Digga D has been remanded and charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis after a police raid on his house was streamed live online. On Wednesday (February 21), the rapper’s home was entered by police while he was in the middle of a broadcast on Instagram Live. In the now-deleted video, the 23-year-old London artist – real name Rhys Angelo Emile Herbert – could be heard shouting at his property in Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln.

Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, with the defence attorney citing Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak in her argument.Jam Master Jay – real name Jason Mizell – was shot in the head and killed at his New York recording studio in October 2002. In 2020, Karl Jordan Jr, who was Mizell’s godson, and Ronald Washington, who was his childhood friend, were charged with murder.The murder trial began on January 30, with the court hearing that the Run-DMC legend’s killing was motivated by greed and revenge related to a drug deal row.An eyewitness who was at the scene of the shooting also appeared in court during the trial, identifying a suspect and recalling the Run-DMC star’s last moments.Jordan and Washington have pleaded not guilty.

It’s already been more than eight months since the premiere of The Idol, The Weeknd‘s widely (and overly!) loathed HBO series, co-created with Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson. Bad reviews and middling ratings led to the show’s cancellation, and like most trending topics, the show has faded from our collective cultural memory.

On March 7, Tony Shhnow will share Out The Woods, the Atlanta rapper's first full-length album of 2024. Ahead of that release, he's shared a brand new single called "Watch." Fans of Shhnow already know of his ability to shift effortlessly between different styles of rap, from the floaty bliss of pluggnb to every color of trap music.

Jelly Roll defied all odds and won “Best New Artist” at the Country Music Awards.One year later, the country/Hip-Hop icon is taking off on his nationwide ‘The Beautifully Broken Tour’ with special guests Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay that will send them to arenas all over North America from August through October.That includes huge gigs at Albany’s MVP Arena on Sept. 24, New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Sept.

Machine Gun Kelly has addressed his fiancée Megan Fox’s pregnancy loss in his new single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.The rapper’s new song, his first new music since last May, arrived yesterday (February 21), with the artist now appearing to go by the name mgk.In the song, Kelly raps: “This psychiatrist keeps evaluating / How can I live with the fact / That my hand wasn’t on her stomach when we lost the baby”.Kelly and Transformers star Fox have been in an on-and-off relationship since 2020 and are currently engaged.‘Don’t Let Me Go’ also sees Kelly wrestling with his mental health, rapping, “Lately my thoughts eating me alive / Laid in the bed thinking maybe the hate’ll finally go away if I’m not alive / Wish I didn’t listen just like I wish they would understand me one time / I had a breakdown and tatted my entire body except one line”.Kelly took to social media earlier in the week to show the new tattoo, which sees a black block covering up his previous inkings, with a blank cross on his chest. In the post, he said he made the decision “for spiritual purposes only”.The tattoo artist Roxx explained that the rapper spent 13 six-hour sessions in her studio to get the tattoo completed.A post shared by colson xx blonde don (@machinegunkelly)He also received a negative backlash last month about his new signature guitar, which is designed to resemble a razor blade.

Snoop Dogg‘s younger half-brother Bing Worthington has died, the rapper has confirmed online.Worthington, 44, was a music executive and had worked on projects at Snoop’s label Dogg Records, as well as previously serving as his tour manager. He briefly made music as part of the hip-hop group Lifestyle, whose sole album ‘Liquid Cocaine’ was released in 2003.Snoop recently shared the news of Worthington’s passing on Instagram, where he has posted numerous tributes.

Questlove has defended Sexyy Red appearing on the Roots Picnic 2024 line-up, saying “I’m still shocked yall got energy for ‘”oh hell no isms’.”The line-up for the annual Philadelphia music festival was revealed yesterday (February 20) and featured the likes of Lil Wayne, Jill Scott, Nas, André 3000 and more. The event will return to The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA on June 1-2.]The announcement of Sexyy Red’s appearance at this year’s edition of Roots Picnic was met with criticism due to her support for Trump as well as comments of her being “trashy”.The Roots drummer took the time to respond to one of the hateful comments about Sexyy Red’s inclusion on the lineup, saying that he was “shocked” at the reactions.“Damn…..hell hath frozen over when I like a Mel post.

Diddy – has denied the gang rape allegations made against him in new court papers.The American rapper faced several sexual assault allegations towards the end of last year, including an allegation that he took part in a “gang rape” of a girl who was aged 17 at the time.Along with Diddy, the allegation also targets Harve Pierre – the president of Combs’ company Bad Boy Entertainment – and a third unnamed person, claiming that they are responsible for sex trafficking and gang raping the unnamed teenager. Pierre has since denied the claims.The teenager is referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, and it alleges that both the rapper and Pierre convinced her to take a private jet to Diddy’s New York City recording studio.

Digga D‘s home was visited by armed police while the rapper was in the middle of a broadcast on Instagram Live today (February 21).A 40-second clip of the live video recorded by a fan shows the 23-year-old London rapper – real name Rhys Angelo Emile Herbert – shouting at officers who are attempting to enter his property.It is reported that the incident occurred in the early hours of this morning.“What do you lot want?” the artist shouted ahead of a loud band and smash being heard in the background. “I’m here! I am here!” he added.

The Roots have announced the acts for this year’s edition of their annual Roots Picnic festival in Philadelphia.The two-day music festival will return to its usual home of The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA on June 1-2. Lil Wayne with The Roots, Jill Scott and Nas are set to headline the festival with André 3000 performing a special set in support of his recently released debut solo LP ‘New Blue Sun’.Other acts set to play include Gunna, Victoria Monét, Sexyy Red, Babyface, Wale, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Cam’ron, Funk Flex, and more.A post shared by The Roots (@theroots)The festival will also see various collaborations take place such as The Roots’ Black Thought performinf with Method Man and Redman, Fantasia and Muni Long teaming up with Adam Blackstone and Scarface and Amerie set to play with the Backyard Band.General ticket sale will commence on Friday, February 23 at 10am local time.

Drake has promised to gift a cancer survivor $50,000 while performing at the Pittsburgh stop of his “It’s All A Blur – Big As the What?” tour.While performing at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Friday, February 16, the rapper took the time to read a poster that an attendee was holding that shared how his music helped her through her cancer battle.“This beautiful young lady has a sign that says ‘Your music carried me through cancer’. Well that’s a strong statement coming from a survivor, coming from a “G” like yourself,” he said while on stage.He continued: “So, tonight, I don’t know what you want to do with it, it’s up to you, I hope you do whatever you want, do something nice for yourself, by the way, I’ll keep trying to make music you want to listen to, but tonight we are going to give you $50,000.

The 2024 Roots Picnic line-up has been announced with Lil Wayne and festival organizers The Roots teaming up for a celebration of New Orleans. They are joined by fellow headliners Jill Scott and Nas while André 3000 will present his 2023 album New Blue Sun live.

Even in the Das Racist days, when he was rhyming “Pizza Hut” with “pizza gut” and “pizza butt” for the comic relief of a largely white, largely online audience, it was obvious that Heems had something special. To drop a needle on any track in the Punjabi-American MC’s extended catalog is to be swept away by his preternatural cleverness.

Killer Mike has addressed the comments made by streamer Kai Cenat after the rapper won Best Rap Album at this year’s Grammy Awards.On February 4, the Atlantan took home three Grammys, including the aforementioned award for last year’s critically lauded ‘Michael’ album.

Rap Blog is a weekly showcase of a standout rap song written by Vivian Medithi and Nadine Smith.

As a rapper Vince Staples chronicles memories of life in Long Beach with the kind of granite-like coldness only possessed by those who have experienced true darkness. "No matter what we grow into, we never gon' escape our past," he stated matter-of-factly on "Like It Is," a song from his 2015 album Summertime '06.

There’s something in the water in New Jersey — a close-to-deadly concentration of wormwood, perhaps, or of fresh blood drained from an inexhaustible supply of sacrificial virgins. Whatever it is, Fatboi Sharif and Roper Williams are drinking from the tap.

Every Friday, The FADER's writers dive into the most exciting new projects released that week. Today, read our thoughts on Heems's LAFANDAR, Molly Lewis's On The Lips, Frances Chang's Psychedelic Anxiety, and more.

Yeat has released his new album, 2093. The Portland rapper's latest project is a blockbuster, arriving with 22 tracks and a feature-length 1hr 20m running time.

Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have been announced as headliners for Rolling Loud California 2024.The two rappers will take to the stage for a special, bill-topping ‘Vultures’ set at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California on Thursday, March 14.As Rolling Stone reports, Ty was initially scheduled to perform in a solo slot at the event on the Saturday night (March 16). Organisers of Rolling Loud California said on social media that single-day ticketholders would receive an email with a link to upgrade.