Charley Crockett is making it clear that Beyoncé belongs in country music. In a lengthy Instagram post, the Texas artist pushed back against critics of Cowboy Carter while accusing the industry of hiding behind double standards. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charley Crockett (@charleycrockett) “Hey country folks,” Crockett wrote. “Beyoncé ain’t the source of your discontent. It was 25 years of bro country.” His words came as a response to the wave of backlash Beyoncé has faced since releasing the record, which blends traditional country with other genres. Crockett pointed out how some of today’s biggest stars built their reputations while borrowing from Hip-Hop and pop. “#1 country artist on earth listens to nothing but rap,” he said. “Openly says he doesn’t really know any country music. Gotta respect his honesty.” He added, “These ‘country boys’ been singing over trap beats for years. So what’s different now? Authenticity.” He went on to highlight Beyoncé’s accomplishments, noting that she became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album at the Grammys in 2025, while still being overlooked by the Academy of Country Music Awards. “The machine points to a black woman who’s making a statement about marginalized people being removed from the conversation altogether,” Crockett wrote. Sharing his own experience, he revealed that Nashville executives once attempted to mold him into a prefabricated star. “Many of those business folks called me early on. They had whole albums pre-written and recorded, ready to just plug me in. I have receipts.” Crockett closed his message by stating, “I don’t need to put down a black woman to advance my music. That’s just embarrassing to the idea of America and I got no respect for it.” He even praised Texas rapper BigXThaPlug as “genuine” and “a true story teller.”

Kendrick Lamar has reached another historic benchmark in his career, officially crossing 50 billion total streams on Spotify. With this feat, he becomes only the 14th artist in history to hit that number and just the fifth rapper to do so, joining Travis Scott, Eminem, Kanye West, and his long-standing rival, Drake. Kendrick Lamar has officially surpassed 50 BILLION streams on Spotify, making him just the 14th artist in history to do so. He reached this milestone with only 251 credited songs — the third fewest of any artist, and the fewest of any rapper. pic.twitter.com/p0o23ix8JL — NFR Podcast (@NFR_Podcasts) August 20, 2025 What makes this achievement even more remarkable is how efficiently Lamar reached it. He did so with only 251 credited songs, fewer than any of the other rappers who share the milestone. The update arrives shortly after another accomplishment, when his 2017 classic Damn passed 10 billion streams earlier this month. Across his catalog, Lamar has released six full-length albums: Section.80, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, Damn, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, and GNX. Tracks that continue to dominate Spotify include “luther,” “All The Stars,” “Not Like Us,” and “Money Trees.” Each has played a part in keeping his music at the forefront of global hip hop conversations. The streaming success, however, has been shadowed by controversy. Drake is pursuing legal action against Universal Music Group, accusing the company of manipulating promotion in favor of Lamar’s hit “Not Like Us.” He claims UMG relied on “covert tactics” to push the track, which contains harsh lyrics aimed at him. On the record, Lamar raps: “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles… Why you trollin’ like a b*tch? Ain’t you tired? / Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.” While the legal battle plays out, Lamar continues to tour globally. His Grand National Tour with SZA will start again in Mexico City on September 23, followed by shows in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Australia.

The blessings don’t stop for Busta Rhymes. The hip-hop legend received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His most recent honor, Busta, who MTV described as “one of hip-hop’s greatest visual artists”, will receive the inaugural MTV VMA, Rock the Bells Visionary Award. According to Deadline, the prestige award will celebrate his “boundary-breaking cultural impact and indomitable musical career.” Busta will be awarded the honor at the 2025 VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 7. He also will give one of his signature live performances during the show. In his remarkable career, Busta has sold 20 million albums worldwide. He also received seven Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, 12 Grammy Award nominations, and has a catalog with over 60 million records certified gold and platinum. He was also the Global Icon honoree at the 2024 MTV Awards. The 2025 MTV Video Awards will be hosted by another legendary rapper, LL COOL J. He is returning to host the show, and this marks the second time LL will host the ceremony. In 2022, he co-hosted with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow. The “Mama Said Knock You Out” has a long history with MTV. In 1991,  he won his first Moon Person for Best Rap and was the first rapper ever to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1997. The MTV VMAs revealed their nominees for the upcoming awards show on August 5, and Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars have 11 nominations.  Lady Gaga, for the first time in her career,  is the most-nominated artist for the VMAs with 12 nominations.  ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter have eight nominations. Ariana Grande and The Weeknd have seven nominations. Billie Eilish has six nods, and Charli xcx received five nods. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who are both nominated for artist of the year. The 2025 MTV VMAs air live from UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS (for the first time) and MTV. The ceremony will also stream on Paramount+.

The Weeknd’s native’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour has grossed over $600,000,000 and sold nearly five million tickets, according to Billboard. The outlet reports the singer-songwriter’s tour broke a Boxscore record, earning the title of “the biggest R&B tour in history.” Since kicking off nearly three years ago in July 2022, the After Hours Til Dawn tour has raked in $635.5 million. The outlet reports that this is the “ninth tour to hit this benchmark, and the only one by an R&B artist or a Black artist.” With that, now The “Star Boy” singer’s tour has eclipsed Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, which grossed $579.8 million, “over 56 shows in 2023.” He’s also surpassed Bruno Mars’ 3.6 million on his 2017-18’s 24K Magic World Tour. DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MAY 24: The Weeknd performs onstage during After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour at Ford Field on May 24, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) Just last week, The Weeknd reached another record-breaking milestone by setting the record for most performances by a Canadian artist at one of Toronto’s biggest stadiums — the Rogers Centre, which also houses the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Billboard Canada, the singer performed four shows on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour at the Rogers Centre, which began on Thursday, August 7. The outlet also reported that he set the record for “most shows at the venue by a male solo artist on the same tour.” This trek would count as The Weeknd’s seventh concert tour. The stadium tour was in support of his fourth, fifth, and sixth studio albums: After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025). This tour serves as a victory lap for the “Timeless” singer and marks the end of his Weeknd era. The good news doesn’t end there. Last month, The Weeknd was awarded the ultimate honor from his hometown of Toronto by receiving the Key to the City and a citywide proclamation of “The Weeknd Weekend” from July 26-27. 

Rag legends Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan and Havoc of Mobb Deep have announced a co-headlining tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of two of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time—Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… and Mobb Deep’s The Infamous. During each set of the show, Raekwon and Havoc will perform all their hits together for the very first time. According to the press release, “each night will feature a dynamic, collaborative performance, with Raekwon and Mobb Deep flowing in and out of each other’s sets to deliver one seamless, career-spanning show.” Produced by Live Nation and presented by LOUD Live, the 19-city run launches on November 13 in Portland, OR, and hits major markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, and more before wrapping on December 15 in Miami Beach, FL. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wu Tang Clan (@wutangclan) “Me and Havoc from Mobb will be pure hip-hop at its finest. This is gonna take rap shows to the next level—guaranteed!, Raekwon said in a statement. “The fans can expect nothing less than pure, raw, unfiltered energy on stage,” Havoc added. “I’m excited to celebrate these two legendary albums—the world doesn’t exist to me without that purple tape in it. This will be a tour the fans will never forget.” This tour defines what hip-hop means to the culture—30 years of greatness, and two Top 10 hip-hop albums of all time. Raekwon and Mobb Deep have supported each other for over three decades,” Steve Rifkind, CEO of LOUD Live, added. “ The Loud Wu-Tang family and Mobb Deep family have been through it all together. When this tour comes to your city, you’re definitely going to witness greatness at its best—with a ton of surprises.” Tickets will be available starting with artist presales beginning Wednesday, August 13, at 10 AM local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, August 15 at 10 AM local time at LiveNation.com.

According to Billboard Canada, The Weeknd has set the record for most performances by a Canadian artist at one of Toronto’s biggest stadiums — the Rogers Centre, which also houses the Toronto Blue Jays. The singer performed four shows on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour at the Rogers Centre, which began on Thursday, August 7. The outlet also reported that he set the record for “most shows at the venue by a male solo artist on the same tour.” This trek would count as The Weeknd’s seventh concert tour. The stadium tour was in support of his fourth, fifth, and sixth studio albums: After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025). This tour serves as a victory lap for the “Timeless” singer and marks the end of his Weeknd era. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NFR Podcast (@nfrpodcast) Last month, The Weeknd was awarded the ultimate honor from his hometown of Toronto by receiving the Key to the City and a citywide proclamation of “The Weeknd Weekend” from July 26-27.  Complex reported that the City of Toronto recognized” the pop star actor for his accomplishments as a singer-songwriter and producer, his enduring humanitarian efforts, and his dedication to giving back to his city.” During the private ceremony, The Weeknd was presented by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who was attended by youth from West Scarborough and The Weeknd’s alma mater, Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute. “I’m deeply honored to receive the Key to the City. It feels good to be home,” The Weeknd said. “Toronto is where I found my voice, and I’m committed to helping the next generation find theirs. That’s why I’m proud to support the Boys & Girls Club of West Scarborough and my former high school, Birchmount Park, providing youth with the means to unlock their full potential.”

Despite Offset and Quavo’s past tension, the rapper makes it clear that their familial bond remains unbroken. “That’s family at the end of the day,” he tells the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast in their latest episode. “You’re gonna bump heads with your family sometime,” he added. “In the day, a n*gga ain’t finna play with him, or a n*gga ain’t finna play with me.” The pair’s tension started around 2022 after rumors swirled that Offset had slept with Quavo’s then-girlfriend, Saweetie. This had also been what allegedly led to the disbandment of the Migos. However, after Takeoff was shot and killed in November 2022, the pair only became further estranged. Eventually, things came to a head at the 2023 Grammys, where the two reportedly got into a brief scuffle over the direction of Takeoff’s tribute. Luckily, Offset and Quavo were eventually able to settle their beef. Set revealed to the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast hosts, he and Quavo talk at least once a week, saying “It be the internet trying to do some old sh*t, but with us, it ain’t about that. Like, we holla at each other.” In 2013, Migos — which consisted of Offset, Quavo, and the late Takeoff— burst onto the scene with their track, “Versace.” After dropping hit singles like “Fight Night” and “Look At My Dab,” they landed a record deal with Quality Control Music and 300 Entertainment. They went on to release four albums, Yung Rich Nation (2015), Culture (2017), Culture II (2018), and Culture III (2021). The trio even earned two Grammy nominations: one for Best Rap Album for Culture 1 and Best Rap Performance, for their “Bad and Boujee.” In other news, Offset is preparing to drop off his forthcoming solo album, Kiari, on August 22, just weeks before his former partner, Cardi B, unveils her highly anticipated project, Am I the Drama?, scheduled for September 19. The announcement, made via social media earlier this week, included the album’s cover art and full tracklist, quickly stirring anticipation among fans.

Busta Rhymes is receiving his long-overdue flowers The hip-hop legend will be honored with the 2,818th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony is slated for Friday, August 1, at 11:30 am PT at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard in front of East Town. Rhymes will be honored with his star in the category of Recording. Guest speakers for the ceremony include Chris Rock, LL Cool J, Chuck D., and Big Boy. “The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will be adding Busta Rhymes, one of Hip-Hop’s most enduring and electrifying voices, as a new member of Hollywood’s iconic sidewalk, “ said Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ”His talent and influence are undeniable. His star on the Walk of Fame will stand as a testament to his lasting impact on hip-hop music and how important it is to the American culture,” added Martinez.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ana Martinez (@stargirl_stuff) Regarded as one of the best rappers of all-time, Busta Rhymes has earned 12 GRAMMY® nominations and sold over 60 million records certified gold and platinum songs in his catalog. He has had eight songs reach the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These include hits like “Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check”, “Dangerous”, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”, “What’s It Gonna Be?!”, “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II”, “I Know What You Want”, and “Touch It”.  Also, Busta Rhymes has released several classic albums such as The Coming, When Disaster Strikes, and Extinction Level Event, just to name a few. He has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, landing seven Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200.

Don Toliver has some new music coming. Taking to Instagram, the Houston native shares his big news with his followers with a concise message. “ALBUM INCOMING 2025 ,” his post read. He also shared that he was the featured artist on the new FAULT Magazine cover story.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by DON TOLIVER (@dontoliver) During the interview, Toliver revealed that he is looking forward to showing his “creative identity” with the new project. “The part I’m most excited to reveal is my next album, and really, just my future in general,” Toliver said. “It’s going to be a fun time, and I’m excited for it all.” With all the success that he’s experienced, Toliver said that he feels no pressure with the upcoming project. No, my current run of hits doesn’t make me feel pressured,” he responded. “And I don’t find it hard to keep experimenting or finding new winning formulas.” The forthcoming, untitled album follows his 2024 album Hardstone Psycho, and a collaborative project, Cactus Jack’s Jackboys 2, with Travis Scott. Since his debut in 2018 no his mixtape Donny Womack and a feature on Travis Scott’s song “Can’t Say” from the Astroworld album, Toliver has been a prolific artist. He’s dropped singles such as “No Idea,” “After Party,” and “Lemonade” (with Internet Money and Gunna featuring Nav), which have charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Toliver also released several other albums, including Heaven or Hell (2020), Life of a Don (2021), and Love Sick (2023).

Jeezy made it clear that “everything he does” is for his “hood” nearly 20 years ago with his debut album, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. So, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the rapper is bringing those words to fruition with a “Community Day” near his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. According to TMZ, the rapper is collaborating with “one of the USA’s largest community development organizations,” Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The event is scheduled to take place at Impact Church on Saturday (July 26) in East Point, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta), and is free and open to the community. Along with giving out almost 25,000 pounds of food, attendees will also be able to receive free health screenings. There will also be a free giveaway of back-to-school supplies for almost 500 children. On July 26, 2005, Jeezy dropped his debut album, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. While the project was his commercial debut, the rapper had dropped two albums prior — Thuggin’ Under The Influence (T.U.I.) in 2001Come Shop Wit Me 2003. Source: Google.com The album would go on to spawn four singles: “And Then What” featuring Mannie Fresh, “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon, “Go Crazy”, and “My Hood.” Upon its release, the project debuted at No.2 on the Billboard 200, selling nearly 172,000 copies in the first week. Per the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the album has been certified double platinum. Jeezy told the Associated Press in an interview back in June that he believes the album still resonates with fans today because “the music and the words” had “come from a real place.” He added, “I wasn’t trying to entertain — I was trying to reach.” The rapper also noted that rap was his way “out” of his environment, and he was determined to make his dream a reality. “If you’re doing something to change your life and you know that the only other avenues are prison or death, you’re just like, ‘This gotta work.”