Sly Stone, the legendary funk musician who was regarded as one of the most renowned artists of all time, has passed away, Variety reported. He was 82.  Sly’s passing was confirmed by his family, who released an offcial statement. “After a prolonged battle with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family,” a statement from his family reads. “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.” “Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.” Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943. The family relocated to California.  Sly found his love while singing in the church choir from the age of 4, alongside his siblings. Soon, he would gain local fame as a member of bands in high school before goint to study music theory at Solano Community College. After leaving school, he worked as a DJ for San Francisco’s KSOL. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) By the late 60s, Sly and the Family Stone was formed with his brother Freddie Stone, sister Rose Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Greg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham. The trailblazing group was the first multi-gender, interracial band to hit the mainstream. Combining funk, rock, and psychedelic soul, they released their debut album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967. “Dance to the Music,” their first single, was also released in 1967  their album of the same name the next year. In 1969, Stand became their biggest success, featuring classics such as  “Everyday People,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”/”Everybody Is a Star.”  The same year, the band gave a legendary performance at Woodstock. Although the band would have some more hit songs and albums, such as the highly influential Greatest Hits in 1970 and There’s a Riot Goin’ On in 1971, Sly’s drug use caused the group to fracture. He became notorious for missing concert dates. They officially broke up in 1975. For their immense accomplishments, in 1993, Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over the years, Sly stayed out of the public eye, rarely performing due to battling addiction. In 2023, he released his memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), named after the band’s classic 1970 single. Earlier this year by Grammy and Oscar-winning director Questlove documented his life and career in  Sly Lives: aka the Burden of Black Genius. The doc features commentary from various Black artists about how they cope with challenges with success.  We at HOT97 extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sly Stone.

The Game is standing in solidarity with Los Angeles protesters as immigration raids spark unrest across the city. On Monday, June 9th, the Compton rapper took to Instagram to show support for Black and brown communities who’ve flooded the streets in response to recent ICE crackdowns. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) “Ever since I could remember… it’s been black & brown in this city,” The Game wrote, captioning a series of black-and-white photos from the protests. “From the early days of my childhood til now, we’ve been side by side through it all. All of us. All the time. Not always seeing eye to eye but we’ve shared Los Angeles for a very long time. I stand with y’all like I know you’d stand with us. ‘We might fight against each other… but I promise you this.. we’ll burn this b!%?! down get us pissed!!!!!’ To live & die in L.A.” Fans quickly showed love in his comments, thanking him for speaking up. “Meanwhile Snoop Dogg entertaining the king… thanks for using your platform,” one person wrote. Another added, “You always speak about unity. My respect for you.” Protests erupted after ICE agents launched sweeping immigration raids across L.A., including the controversial arrest of union leader David Huerta, who officials claim interfered with the operation. Thousands of demonstrators have since taken to the streets. Chaos followed—protesters set self-driving cars on fire, while officers responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs. According to CBS News, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said 39 arrests were made over the weekend. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump escalated tensions by calling for military action. “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote on Truth Social, prompting even more backlash as scenes of unrest continued to unfold across the city.

Hitmaka recently revealed that Diddy once came on to him at his home in Miami. During a livestream with Ray J, the multiplatinum producer recalled a moment when Diddy gave him a compliment that he felt was suspect. “Ayo, I never told this story,” Hitmaka began. “Diddy be doing some real wild sh*t…he was like, ‘Come here, you little pretty motherf**ker!’” Showing his discomfort witht the incident, Hitmaka gave a side-eye as he rolled in his seat. According to the Hitmaka, that was just the beginning. Producer Hitmaka aka Yung Berg reveals to Ray J that Diddy tried to flirt with him at his house on Star Island “come here you little pretty motherf*cker… imagine when I put my arms around your fine a**… and I left… Diddy is one of the nastiest n*ggas ever…” pic.twitter.com/RKSLDlsI07 — SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) June 8, 2025 “We at his crib, we at Star Island, and I’m like, ‘huh?’ He like, ‘Yo, I made motherf**kers forget that such-and-such was this, imagine when I put my arms around yo lil fine a**.’ I said, ‘WHAT?!?’” Hitmaka then said he left the house after Diddy’s latest compliment. He then gave a shout-out to musician Rob Holliday, who he said was in attendance at the event before calling Diddy “one of thee nastiest ni**as ever in life.” Currently, Diddy is on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering in Manhattan. “Jane” an anonymous woman claiming to be his girlfriend for several years, took the stand again. During testimony on Monday (June 9), Jane testified that after having a single encounter with a male sex worker later it turned into many “hotel nights,” during which she was allegedly pressured into multiple sexual acts over several days.  “I don’t want to be used and locked in a room to fulfill your fantasies,” she wrote in a message to Diddy. In court, she added, “I’m not a porn star. I’m not an animal.” She went on to detail how she was caught in a toxic situation. “I became a side chick and sex worker in my own relationship.” If found guilty on all charges Diddy faces life in prison.

For the first time in 15 years, the Clipse will be heading on tour. In support of their album Let God Sort Em Out, which is set for release on July 11, Pusha T and No Malice will be playing live shows all across North America accompanied by Earthgang. The highly anticipated tour kicks off on August 3 and includes stops in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, and their hometown of Virginia Beach, VA. The first single, “Ace Trumpets,” was released to critical acclaim, and the official video was released on June 4. In an interview with GQ, Malice expressed his excitement about goint out on tour. “Once you’ve delivered and once you have done your part, you got to see how things fall in place,” Malice said. “And a lot of times they fall in place better than you could have planned […] “No matter the day and the age, you just have to deliver. We do what we do. It’s always quality. Everything is always fine-tuned. We could never just give you haphazard. And I think that’s what the fans recognize about us. They know that everything that we do is chiseled and handcrafted.” Below are all the dates of the tour: 08-03 Boston, MA – Roadrunner  08-05 Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall  08-07 New York, NY – Terminal 5  08-09 Fairfax, VA – EagleBank Arena  08-10 Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome  08-12 Miami, FL – The Fillmore  08-13 Orlando, FL – The Vanguard  08-14 Atlanta, GA – The Eastern  08-16 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre  08-17 Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom  08-18 St. Louis, MO – The Factory  08-19 Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live  08-21 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom  08-23 Los Angeles, CA – The Novo  08-25 San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre  08-27 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater  08-28 San Diego, CA – SOMA  08-29 Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels  09-02 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall  09-03 Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion  09-04 Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory  09-06 Kansas City, MO – Midland Theatre  09-07 Minneapolis, MN – The Armory  09-08 Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed  09-10 Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple 

Sean “Diddy” Combs stands at the center of a high-stakes federal trial as disturbing new testimony from a former girlfriend, known in court as Jane, adds to the scrutiny. Jane dated the artist on and off between 2021 and 2024 and now claims she was coerced into sexual encounters as part of a pattern of manipulation and emotional control. Jane testified that what began as a single encounter with a male sex worker later spiraled into prolonged “hotel nights,” during which she was allegedly pressured into multiple sexual acts over several days. “I don’t want to be used and locked in a room to fulfill your fantasies,” she wrote in a message to Diddy. In court, she added, “I’m not a porn star. I’m not an animal.” She described feeling an eerie sense of recognition when reading Cassie Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit against Diddy. “I felt like I’m reading my own sexual trauma,” Jane told jurors through tears. That moment, she said, forced her to confront her own experience in a new light. Testimony reveals private trauma and manipulation behind Diddy’s public apology Jane also recalled a tense trip to Miami in May 2024, when the two watched the leaked surveillance video showing Diddy assaulting Ventura. The footage, which had already made headlines, left Jane physically ill. While Diddy later issued a public apology, Jane testified that his private explanation downplayed the assault, suggesting it was a one-time incident. During the March 2024 Homeland Security raids on Diddy’s homes, Jane said she was approached by law enforcement but chose not to speak. At that point, she still felt emotionally entangled, though she had begun to question the relationship’s foundation. Text messages between the two reveal a toxic pattern of gaslighting, with Jane writing, “I became a side chick and sex worker in my own relationship.” She testified that threats to release private videos followed emotional breakdowns, including one exchange where she told Diddy, “I’m gonna kill myself.” Her account paints a troubling portrait of emotional and psychological abuse shaped by power imbalance, fame, and fear. “I felt violated and manipulated,” she told the court, summarizing a relationship she described as built on coercion masked by luxury.

Michelle Obama reveals her reaction to her daughter, Malia, dropping her family’s surname. In 2024, Malia Obama, now known as Malia Ann, made her directorial debut with the short film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival. “I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world, and they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally, just handed things,” Michelle Obama tells actress Kate Hudson on her Siblings Rivalry podcast with her brother, Oliver. “They’re very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people,” she adds. “We [she and Barak Obama] were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia, But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.” Michelle Obama Reveals How Therapy Helped Her In This Stage Of Her Life In other news, last month, Michelle Obama opened up about the positive experiences she gained with therapy. Appearing on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, along with her brother Craig Robinson and her co-hosts on the IMO podcast, the former First Lady revealed that she needed therapy as a “tune-up” as she moves through the next phase of her life. “At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning,” Obama said. Obama went on to acknowledge that she completed “a really hard thing” by keeping her family “intact,” as President Barack Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha have been in the public eye for almost two decades. For the first time in years, she can make decisions just for herself. “I’m an empty nester, my girls are in…you know, they’ve been launched,” Obama said. “And now, for the first time, as I’ve said before, every choice that I’m making is completely mine.”

Earlier this week, Samuel L. Jackson sat down with the Mad Sad Bad podcast. In a shocking revelation, the veteran actor revealed he didn’t understand Kendrick Lamar’s intention behind the halftime show until dress rehearsal. “I didn’t know what they were doing,” he tells host Paloma Faith. “It was kinda trippy because it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that when I looked up, and I looked on that stage, and I go, ‘Oh sh*t, that’s a flag. Ah, f*ck, we’re being revolutionaries.’ Because I wasn’t listening or paying attention.” Being a “revolutionary” isn’t entirely foreign to Jackson. Along with being an award-winning actor, he has a long history as a civil rights activist — so much so that Jackson even served as a pallbearer at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. He continued, “Something about me or my persona has put me in the right place at the right time… in a lot of different moments in my life. And I have to accept that that’s what I’m meant to be sometimes: an agent of change, whether I know it or not.” He added, “I wanna be on the right side of history in terms of what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not by choice.” NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Samuel Jackson and Kendrick Lamar are seen onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) SiR Says Kendrick Lamar And Drake’s Beef Caused His Show To Be Cancelled In other Kendrick Lamar news, TDE singer SiR was unfortunately caught in the middle of Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud, and it ultimately led to a scheduled concert in Toronto last year being canceled. “So the venue in Toronto, which was partially owned by Drake, canceled the show completely,” Sir revealed to the crowd. “Then when we tried to switch venues, the next venue was like, ‘Nah, we ain’t f*cking with it, I ain’t taking no motherf*cking chance.” At the time of the show’s cancellation, SiR took to Instagram to apologize to fans for the unfortunate situation. “So sorry to my Toronto fans. The show has been canceled. We’re working on rescheduling for a later date,” he wrote on social media. “For those wondering, we sold that show out. It was canceled by the venue. Not sure why. My apologies again to those that came just to see me.” However, SiR wasn’t the only Top Dawg Entertainment artist to have trouble selling out shows in Canada. Last year, ScHoolboy Q had one of his shows in Toronto at the height of K-Dot and Drake’s war of words.

In an Instagram post on Thursday (Jun 5), Michelle Obama shared the cover for the upcoming book, The Look, which chronicles her journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. “During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled,” Michelle begins in the post’s lengthy caption. “For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) She continued, “It’s a reflection on my lifelong journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. Inside, you’ll find some of the outfits that have meant the most to me, but more importantly, the moments that I lived through in them — big and small, personal and political, historic and ordinary — that were as memorable as the clothes themselves.” “You’ll also get to know the incredible team that supported me through it all and defined my look — my thoughtful stylist @MeredithKoop, my talented makeup artist @CarlRayMUA, and my wonderful hairstylists @JohnnyWright220, @YeneDamtew, and @KitchenTalkwithNjeri. Each of them brings their own story, heart, and perspective to this journey,” the former First Lady added. “The Look is about more than fashion. It’s about confidence. It’s about identity. It’s about the power of authenticity. My hope is that this book sparks conversation and reflection about the ways we see ourselves — and the way our society defines beauty,” she continued. The book is scheduled for release on November 4. Pre-orders for The Look are currently available at michelleobamabooks.com or wherever books are sold.

On Saturday (Jun 7), Cardi B shared an Instagram Story post of her attending her new beau, Stefon Diggs’ annual youth football camp. The camp, which was held at the University of Maryland, “offers youth football players the opportunity to learn from the four-time Pro Bowl wideout, with hands-on instruction, photo opportunities, and autographed items,” per Sports Illustrated. Rumors about the couple began circulating last October. Back in February, TMZ caught footage of the pair at an undisclosed Miami hotel. A few short months later, in April, the Invasion of Privacy rapper finally confirmed that she and New England Patriots wide receiver were, in fact, dating one another. Earlier this week, the two finally made it Instagram official. Source: Instagram/iamcardib Source: Instagram/iamcardib In other news, Cardi B recently revealed how tough things got with Offset before they decided to get a divorce last year. On her X Spaces, she described the mental strain she experienced during the final stages of their relationship. Cardi shared, “I don’t think people understand how tired I was … I was mentally drained. I couldn’t eat—I was getting frequent headaches. I was literally losing my mind. I gave [him] chances after chances.” She also admitted, “If I was still there, I was gonna end up going to jail. Cause I was gonna end up killing him, seriously, with my own bare hands. It was just getting too much.” Offset recently reacted to Cardi’s new romance with NFL star Stefon Diggs after footage showed them getting affectionate on a yacht. In one video, Cardi dances provocatively while Diggs playfully spanks her. Amid their ongoing divorce, Offset took to social media to dismiss the relationship, posting, “Good roll out n PR.”

In a recent Instagram post, Lizzo teased a new rap song she’s been working on. The post, which comes in the form of a short clip, shows Lizzo scantily clad in a slinky two-piece while wearing an all-black ski mask. “Like I said, I’m that b*tch hoe/Black truck, a** poking out tha window,” she raps. “You wanna play games n*gga, I’m Nintendo/And if you ain’t talking bout money, no Nintendo/We hoochie, coochie popping, we get this sh*t rocking/And boy if you ain’t on yo job, imma clock it.” Just late last month, the “Special” singer dropped off a remix to PlutoNotDaBratt’s viral “Whim Whamie” track. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating) Lizzo Honors Pride Month With Moving Performance Of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ In other news, to kick off Pride month, Lizzo gave an electrifying performance at the WeHo Pride Festival, where she paid homage not only to the queer community but specifically to Black transgender women. “The next song is dedicated to you,” she told the crowd. “And most importantly, Black trans women…without their fight, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate today.” The singer then gives an emotional rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” The track, popularized by actress and singer Judy Garland, appears in the 1938 classic Wizard of Oz. Lizzo also shared a clip of the performance on her Instagram, writing: “Happy Pride to the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community. As this month begins, let us remember there would be no pride without the black trans women & trans women of color who fought against the systems that tried to erase them. In honor of that fight, we have to continue to take a stand against that very same system that threatens our rights to bodily autonomy and liberation. We ain’t free till we all free. I love you.”