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+.

Mariah recently stopped by Pitchfork for a game of “Over/Under,” where she shared her opinions on everything from lab-grown diamonds and Labubus to self-driving vehicles and Crocs. However, her most surprising answer came when she shared her thoughts on the Grammy Awards. Despite having 34 nominations and 5 Grammy wins, the “Always Be My Baby” singer declared that the iconic award show and its awards are, in fact, overrated. “I think the Grammys are overrated,” she tells the outlet. “But we love everybody.” Mariah Carey Says New Album Is On The Way In other news, amid a recent interview at the 10th anniversary of Apple Music with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden, Carey made the announcement. “I’m trying not to tell too much about the new album,” Carey said.  “It’s a special occasion/ Mimi’s emancipation- that’s a lyric from one of my songs. What is next? The album is coming out,” she continued. “I don’t wanna tell too much about it because I just don’t want to reveal the whole thing. It’s finished.”  Carey dropped the news following the release of her newest single, “Type Dangerous.” She went on to say that the track was a “heavy record” and that it has “real weight to it.” “We got some Mariah ballads,” she said, adding that a second single will be released soon. “I’m very excited about it. It’s very summery. I like the beat as well.” Sampling Eric B. and Rakim’s classic 1986 single, “Eric B. Is President”, she performed ”Type Dangerous,” alongside Rakim at the 2025 BET Awards.  “I’ve always loved ‘Eric B. Is President.’ It wasn’t something like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna flip this’- I just wouldn’t think of doing it,” she explained. “But then we were in this restaurant in Aspen, and they had different music on, and they played ‘Eric B. Is President,’ and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! I love this song!’ We ended up in the studio a couple [of] months later and we did it.”

To help celebrate what would’ve been Nipsey Hussle’s 40th birthday (Aug.15), the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a new campaign, aiming to honor the late rapper’s legacy. ABC7 Los Angeles reports along with temporarily renaming Hyde Park Station to “Nipsey Hussle Station,” LA Metro will also offer two limited edition TAP cards featuring the rapper. The effort is part of a new initiative — Metro x Culture — which aims to “connect the agency with the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant cultural landscape by collaborating with prolific local artists, musicians, community heroes and influential brands.” “Hussle’s legacy goes far beyond music. He was a visionary who understood the power of community, connection, and opportunity. At Metro, we share his belief that public transportation is more than just a way to get around; it’s a vital lifeline that can unite neighborhoods, open doors, and uplift lives,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. Two limited-edition Nipsey Hussle TAP cards will drop on August 15, Nipsey Hussle Day. The TAP cards are part of the Metro x Culture series celebrating Angelenos who’ve shaped LA culture, especially those whose journeys began on Metro buses and trains. pic.twitter.com/l54v84ngZj — Metro Los Angeles (@metrolosangeles) August 8, 2025 In a statement from Nipsey Hussle’s family, they said they were “proud to be partnering with Metro for the renaming of the station in honor of Nipsey for his 40th birthday. Access to Metro played a vital role in providing transportation from South Central to Watts to pursue his early musical aspirations.” The statement continues, “Metro helped bridge the gap, not just between neighborhoods, but between his vision and his future. Metro provides access and opportunity to so many people who, without this resource, wouldn’t be able to pursue their passions. The family hopes insight to Hussle’s early years utilizing the Metro will bring light to Hussle’s favorite quote, The highest human act is to inspire.” On March 31, 2019, Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in front of his Marathon Clothing store. He was only 33 years old at the time of his death. Since then, the alleged shooter Eric Holder was found guilty and is currently serving a sentence of 60 years to Life.

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. 

Latto is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her third album Sugar Honey Iced Tea with a fresh treat for fans, the official music video for “Chicken Grease.” The track, which pays homage to T.I., originally appeared on the deluxe edition of the project and now comes to life with vibrant, high-energy visuals. In the video, Latto mixes style with personality, showing off her cooking skills, riding an ATV, and performing from behind the wheel of a polished Chevy. The biggest surprise for viewers is the cameo from T.I., whose 2003 hit served as the foundation for the song’s sample. His appearance not only nods to the original record from Trap Muzik, the project that helped define trap music for a mainstream audience, but also highlights his role as a guiding figure for many Atlanta artists, including Latto herself. Their shared history in Atlanta’s rap scene makes the pairing feel like a full-circle moment. T.I.’s influence as one of the city’s pioneers blends seamlessly with Latto’s confident delivery and modern take on Southern hip-hop. The collaboration stands as both a tribute and a statement of Latto’s place among the genre’s leading names. To make the celebration even bigger, Latto announced the release of a limited edition S.H.I.T. vinyl, featuring “Chicken Grease” as one of its standout tracks. It offers fans a collectible keepsake while drawing attention back to an album that has kept her name buzzing over the past year. With this release, Latto honors her musical roots while showing she’s determined to shape the future of rap in her own way.

Metro Boomin’s weekend listening party in Atlanta for his new album A Futuristic Summa turned into a scene of frustration and confusion after the producer decided to leave before the night was over. The event, meant to be a celebration of his latest work, came to a standstill when a large group of men crowded onto the stage without invitation, making it impossible for the scheduled performances to continue. Videos from the night show Metro speaking directly to the crowd in an effort to clear the space. “If you did not rap or make a beat on this MF tape, please get tf off the stage,” he said. The request was ignored, with the uninvited guests staying put despite the call for them to move. As the situation showed no sign of improving, Metro walked away from the venue, and more than 20 other artists reportedly followed his lead. After his exit, the stage slowly began to empty, but the moment to save the event had already passed. What was intended to be a night of music and celebration ended in disappointment for many who came to hear the album in a live setting. The incident quickly became a topic of discussion across social media. Many criticized the men who refused to leave, labeling them “groupies” and pointing to their behavior as an example of how party culture in Hip-Hop is changing for the worse. Others expressed frustration over how easily the actions of a small group disrupted a major event for one of the industry’s most respected producers. Metro has not shared further comments beyond what was said during the night, but the situation has left fans hoping for another chance to experience A Futuristic Summa live under better circumstances.