Montell Jordan’s music defined a generation. His 1995 debut single, “This Is How We Do It,” stormed the Billboard Hot 100 and became an anthem of celebration, still played nearly 30 years later. With follow-up hits such as “Somethin’ 4 da Honeyz” and “Let’s Ride,” Jordan secured his place in 1990s R&B. Though he later stepped away from mainstream stardom, his voice and songs never faded from memory. Now, Jordan’s story carries new significance. The singer recently revealed he battled cancer in private and has been cancer-free for one year. The announcement came not from a publicist, but during an intimate live performance at rapper LaRussell’s home in Vallejo, Calif. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Flavor Fest (@flavorfest) What began as a nostalgic evening of R&B turned into a testimony of endurance. Fans who once celebrated milestones with his music now witnessed his revelation as a declaration of faith and survival. Jordan explained that he chose to wait until the one-year mark to share his diagnosis. The decision reflected both caution and conviction. By speaking from a position of recovery, he sought to inspire hope rather than worry. His message underscored a painful truth: cancer affects nearly every family, whether through personal illness or the struggles of loved ones. Jordan’s disclosure resonated because it reflected the collective experience of resilience in the face of disease. The news sparked immediate reaction online. Fans praised his transparency, calling his survival a “testament to perseverance.” In recent years, more artists have chosen to open up about serious health challenges once kept private. Jordan’s story falls within this larger cultural shift toward vulnerability, breaking down barriers between artist and audience. His openness created a connection, reminding listeners that even music icons are not insulated from life’s harshest trials. With his recovery intact, Jordan now enters a new chapter that expands beyond his chart-topping success. His concerts and appearances carry a deeper weight, uniting his artistry with his testimony. His journey affirms that illness does not erase identity—it refines it. For Montell Jordan, the story has moved beyond 1990s nostalgia. It continues as a powerful narrative of survival, faith and renewal.

Young Thug’s jail call leaks have just revealed that he paid for fake streams, also known as “bots,” for his album and his YSL artist Gunna’s album to reach the top of the charts. The conversation, reportedly with a close associate, begins with Thug’s frustrations over Business Is Business, his 2023 album recorded while incarcerated. The project opened with 88,000 units, but failed to debut at No. 1, blocked by Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, which sold 108,000. Thug allegedly laments the missed opportunity, questioning why no one considered pairing him with Wallen to bridge audiences. Young Thug says he spent $50K on fake streams aka (K-BOTS) on Gunna’s ‘DS4EVER’ for it to debut at #1 over The Weeknd’s ‘Dawn FM’ pic.twitter.com/bRlrNofeLq — DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) August 31, 2025 The discussion then shifts to Gunna’s breakthrough moment. According to the leaked recording, Thug claims he spent $50,000 on artificial streams to push Gunna’s DS4EVER past The Weeknd’s Dawn FM in January 2022. “You didn’t honestly earn a number one album over The Weeknd,” Thug is heard saying. “I paid for that.” The audio also captures Thug expressing disappointment with Gunna’s actions since that milestone. He accuses Gunna of charging young, aspiring rappers thousands for features, despite the support Thug says he provided without ever taking a cut. Young Thug finds out ‘Business Is Business’ is at risk of not debuting at #1 and tells his team to contact their fake streams “plug” “You still got that plug, right? That sh*t that we did with Gunna and them?”pic.twitter.com/7L3UwtSrfT — Kurrco (@Kurrco) August 31, 2025 The tone suggests a deep sense of betrayal. “I protected you,” Thug implies, painting a portrait of loyalty met with disloyalty. The leaked remarks add turbulence to an already complicated chapter. Business Is Business was marketed as a triumphant statement from behind bars, but the specter of bot allegations and fractured relationships now colors its legacy. The tape also references Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape, which broke hip-hop’s long absence from the top of the Billboard 200 in July 2023, underscoring how fragile rap dominance was that year. This is not the first time private calls have been made public. Previous leaks captured conversations with 21 Savage and Lil Baby, as well as claims of behind-the-scenes conflicts involving Quality Control. Neither Gunna nor The Weeknd has responded to the latest allegations. Whether verified or not, the recordings reveal how Thug’s incarceration has become a spectacle, reshaping narratives around loyalty, success, and survival in hip-hop.

Two decades ago, a teenage Rihanna left her home in Barbados with a dream. At just 17 years old, she released her debut album Music of the Sun on August 29, 2005. Now, twenty years later, Rihanna is celebrating the milestone with gratitude, nostalgia, and fresh surprises for fans. To mark the anniversary, Rihanna shared a moving message on Instagram, reflecting on the moment that changed her life forever.“20 years ago, I left my country, my culture, my food, and family to embark on a journey that started with the release of my very first body of music… Thank you for the greatest first 20 years ever!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) Her words not only honored the album but also highlighted the personal sacrifices she made in pursuit of her career—a journey that has since made her one of the most influential artists and entrepreneurs of her generation. As part of the celebration, Rihanna launched a campaign branded R20, updating her X (formerly Twitter) profile with visuals spotlighting all of her albums. The sleek campaign is both a nod to her roots and a reminder of the powerful discography she’s built since Music of the Sun. Rihanna also teamed up with Roc Nation to release exclusive merchandise inspired by her debut album. The limited-edition drop, arriving on August 29, gives fans a chance to relive her early era through fashion, while celebrating the record that introduced her Caribbean-infused sound to the world. When it was first released, Music of the Sun stood out for its unique blend of dancehall, Caribbean rhythms, R&B, and pop. Its breakout single, “Pon de Replay,” became a worldwide hit, climbing to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and securing Rihanna’s place in the global music conversation. The album itself debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified Platinum by the RIAA. While critics noted the unevenness of a debut project, many praised the cultural authenticity Rihanna infused into her music—a quality that would continue to define her artistry. Twenty years later, Rihanna is not just a music icon but also a fashion mogul, beauty entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Still, her anniversary celebration reminds fans of where it all began: a young artist with a vision, unafraid to carry the sound of Barbados into the global mainstream.

Young Thug and the YSL crew are once again making headlines after an old police interrogation clip resurfaced online. The recording, which is around two years old, shows Young Thug mentioning Peewee Roscoe during a lengthy questioning session. Social media quickly exploded, with many fans accusing him of snitching. The controversy centers on Roscoe’s alleged role in a 2015 shooting on Lil Wayne’s tour bus. Despite the backlash, Young Thug defended himself on Twitter, writing, “They didn’t play my interrogation video in court cause I helped my brada #Ratwhere?” His statement fueled even more discussion among fans and hip-hop observers. Other YSL members have also weighed in. Woody, Ralo, Peewee, and Duke have all shared opinions, and outside voices such as Charleston White and Wack 100 joined the conversation. Many believe Young Thug betrayed Peewee, though Roscoe has stepped forward to clear him. Roscoe explained the situation and defended Young Thug’s actions. “That’s what you’re supposed to do. When you go in the interrogation room, that’s what you do. You tell ’em ‘We sold Dwayne Carter weed.’ What the fck is wrong with you? A statement is this right here…. He did what a tax-paying citizen do, a real street n***. He kept it silent, kept it overly real. Really, tried to pull me out the hole.” Despite Roscoe’s defense, accusations continue to circulate. Young Thug has shifted attention toward other members of the collective, naming Gunna, Ralo, and Duke as the ones he considers the real informants. The situation highlights how quickly past events can resurface and spark debate in hip-hop. Old footage, especially involving legal matters, can reignite tensions and put artists back under the public microscope, even years after the fact.

42 Dugg is coming to the defense of Drake. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday afternoon, the Detroit rapper showed his support for the “6 God,” noting that people will quickly switch up on hip-hop artists. He also pointed out how many artists Drake has helped. “Man GET THE MONEY. Eventually they gone tear you down could be something you did or didn’t do eventually they get tired of your ass no matter who you is. THATS Why MY ADVICE IS ALWAYS GET ENOUGH MONEY TILL YOU CAN LEAVE THIS SH*T ALONE FOR GOOD,” he wrote in one post. Man GET THE MONEY ,Eventually they gone tear you down could be something you did or didn’t do eventually they get tired of your ass no matter who you is. THATS Why MY ADVICE IS ALWAYS GET ENOUGH MONEY TILL YOU CAN LEAVE THIS SHIT ALONE FOR GOOD — 42Dugg (@42_Dugg) August 28, 2025 “I knew our ass was out when these muf*ckas turned on Drake, Drake put on 400 rappers an counting if they can say f*ck him ah street n***a got zero chances,” he wrote in follow-up post. In other Drake news, the “What I Miss” rapper appears in a new trailer for the upcoming documentary, Degrassi: Whatever It Takes. The doc “will take an in-depth look at the iconic TV series.”  “I didn’t have a great time in high school. I just didn’t really fit in,” Drake admits, “ Drake says in trailer. In a statement to Deadline, director Lisa Rideout said: “Degrassi changed the landscape of television with real, unvarnished storytelling and did it unapologetically from a teenage perspective,” Rideout said.  “I was inspired by how fearless the series was in tackling issues that others wouldn’t touch,” the statement continued.m “This documentary celebrates the iconic Canadian franchise while revealing the impact it had on the people who made it and the audiences who loved it.”

Freddie Gibbs is calling out rappers who use the assistance of A.I. to compose their verses. During an interview with The Ringer, Gibbs said that he has major problesm with artists who used A.I. tools for songwrting purposes. “Look at AI rap now man. I don’t even believe nobody that write. I don’t even believe if you even really make it anymore cause I done been in studios with motherf**kers and mutherf**kers is ChatGPT shit and I’m like, ‘What in the f**k?’ Like damn, how long am I gonna be able to do this sh*t? Cause I’m actually making fresh shit.” Gibbs added: “How long am I going to be able to do it when there’s motherf**kers in the studio typing into a computer to get their music? We in a lazy day and age, man. Heart is dying and you got to ask a computer to write your lyrics, sh*t is wack.” Freddie Gibbs speaks on the use of AI in music: “Art is dying when you gotta ask a computer and sh*t to write your lyrics. Sh*t is wack.”pic.twitter.com/agKRFpgqyw — Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) August 24, 2025 Elsewhere in the interview, Gibbs shared that Kanye West was not feeling his verse on Vultures 1 track “Back to Me” because fans like it more than his own. “This n-gga Kanye was mad about that shit. That n-gga was telling n-ggas like, ‘Man, how the fuck this n-gga think his verse is the best on my album?’”“When I sent it to him, I sent it to him thinking that, with the premise, he’d be proud of me. ‘Cause I look up to you. So I would think that, I rapped on your album, and people talking about it like this, you would think that a n-gga like you would be proud of me,” he continued. “That pissed him off.” In conclusion he noted, “A lot of that shit was a slap in the face. I’m putting my shit on pause to be on Vultures bitch ass n-gga. I could be recording Alfredo 2. I put a lot of shit on hold to come to Italy to work with you and for you to shit on some of my best work ’cause you mad ’cause n-ggas saying it’s better, you know what I’m saying?”

Memphis Bleek had addressed Tony Yayo comments when he claimed Jay-Z doesn’t treat him the same way he gets treated by 50 Cent. During an appearance on Drink Champs, Bleek took some time to set the record straight after hearing Yayo’s remarks. The Brooklyn rapper said that Jay-Z is under no obligation to finance his career and he is doing quite well on his own. “I seen something Tony Yayo said Hov don’t look out for me like 50 look out for him. I just want to clear that up, Hov don’t have to. You know what I mean,” Bleek said. “I’m chewing a lot on my own. If Hov look out, I’m telling you, I’ll be up there. So when y’all see me out here, that’s the Blizzo budget. I just want to let n***as know Hov don’t have to.” On an episode of Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Yayo shared his thoughts on the difference between Jay-Z and 50 Cent’s relationships with their protégés. Yayo went on to state that his and 50’s relationship is more genuine.  “It’s a difference. Jay-Z, never really like […] Memphis Bleek, you would say he was his friend, but it was different for us.Me and 50 was more friends […] I’m not saying them n***as wasn’t friends, but when you look at me and Fif, it’s like alright cool,” said Yayo. “Jay and Bleek did they sell drugs, like in the same area? I was on the block with [50 Cent]. I can compare us to Jay and Bleek. What I’m saying to you is I feel like me and Fif have more of a friendship because Jay-Z is more business.” “You gotta understand, lot of artists don’t get treated [well],” Yayo continued. “People think that Fif is a bad guy, but when you’re staying in the Four Seasons, you got the Eiffel Tower there, you staying at the W in Bahrain sipping Ranis on the water.”

According to the BBC, Doechii has pulled out of two of the largest music festivals in the U.K., as well as another performance in Paris. On Tuesday (Aug.19), in a social media post, the Rock en Seine shared that Doechii had unexpectedly pulled out of her performance set for Thursday, Aug. 21. Mere hours later, the All Points East festival posted to its official Instagram account that they were “sorry to announce” the rapper would no longer be performing. “She is an incredible artist, and, like all of her fans, we were hugely excited to see her on stage,” the post continued. Prior to the cancellation notice, Doecii was slated to take the stage on Saturday, Aug. 23. Not long after All Point East’s announcement, Forwards Bristol festival shared similar news, in a social media post, and had “sadly announced” Doechii “will not be performing at her upcoming shows.” The rapper was scheduled to perform at the festival this upcoming Sunday, on Aug. 24. Neither Doechii nor a representative from her team has released a statement or explanation as to why the rapper pulled out of her upcoming shows. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Doechii attends The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” – Arrivals at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) In other news, Doechii has been named in a lawsuit where an Atlanta event company says it was scammed out of nearly $200,000 in a bogus booking deal for one of Baltimore’s biggest festivals. Blackout Management LLC claims it paid New Jersey agent Christopher Young $187,500 in December 2024 to lock in performances by Doechii and SiR for the AFRAM Festival. Young allegedly assured the company that his ties to Top Dawg Entertainment gave him direct access to the artists. According to AllHipHop, things started to unravel by March 2025 when Young reportedly told Blackout that both acts had scheduling conflicts. The company says that after months of unanswered questions, it reached out to TDE directly and learned that Doechii had never been booked and that there were only brief talks about SiR. No contracts, promotional materials, or official documents were ever provided. According to the lawsuit, the deposit never reached the label and was instead kept by Young and his business, Sacrifice Management LLC.

Fivio Foreign recently sat down with Jim Jones for a candid conversation on Artist 2 Artist, part of Jones’ new IFC Factory platform. The Brooklyn rapper opened up about the music that shaped him and admitted that Nas was not a major influence during his come-up. Fivio explained that his teenage soundtrack was dominated by Chicago artists, especially Chief Keef, who inspired much of his style. “I’m not saying that the man is wack or he’s not a legend,” Fivio clarified. “I got a song with the n—a. I got a song on the album and the album got a Grammy, but I can’t sit there and say a Nas bar to you or a song — I like ‘One Mic.’” Jim Jones responded with his own perspective, making it clear that he grew up in an era where Nas was central to hip hop. “That’s what I want the people to know — but I can ‘cause Nas was my era. I came up f—kin’ with Nas. I know the Nas sh—t. But moving forward, I started a whole new era and a whole new genre and a generation of people…I just be doing me.” When pressed about his biggest influences, Fivio again highlighted his admiration for Chief Keef and the Chicago drill movement, saying he was “infatuated” with that sound. That passion ultimately fueled his own contributions to New York’s drill scene. Their talk also touched on the challenges that come with viral moments. Fivio recently made headlines after clashing with streamer PlaqueBoyMax and fellow rapper Lil Tjay during a livestream that got heated over smoking in an Airbnb. Meanwhile, Jim Jones was pulled into his own debate earlier this year when a college student claimed on a podcast that Dipset had a greater influence than Nas, sparking discussions about legacy and impact.

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+.