Earlier this week, Rolling Stone dropped its “The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far” list. According to the outlet, Missy Elliott’s iconic track, “Get Your Freak On,” is the No.1 song of the 21st century. “…It was a challenge, a dare, the sound of Miss E and Timbaland defying everyone else to keep up with the future or get left behind,” the outlet wrote. The outlet continued: “And after more than two decades, ‘Get Ur Freak On’ still sounds like the future — everything vibrant and inventive and cool about 21st-century pop is in here somewhere.” The track, which dropped in 2001 and featured on the rapper’s third studio album Miss E… So Addictive. Upon its release, the track landed at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. That said, Miss E… So Addictive debuted at No.2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 250,000 copies in its first week. It’s also been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2002, at the 44th Grammy Awards, Missy Elliott walked away with a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for “Get Ur Freak On.” Missy Elliott Reaches Settlement In Long-Running Lawsuit In other news, back in August, Missy Elliott finally put an end to a lawsuit that followed her for years. On August 22nd, just as jury selection was about to begin in a Philadelphia courtroom, she and producer Terry Williams agreed to settle their dispute, closing a chapter that had been active for seven years. The conflict stemmed from Williams’ claims that he helped write several songs during Elliott’s early career. He pointed to four tracks from her group Sista’s 1994 project 4 All the Sistas Around Da World and argued that Elliott went on to publish the material without giving him the credit or payment he believed he deserved. He later tried to connect his argument to Aaliyah’s 1996 single “Heartbroken,” but in August 2024, U.S. District Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro ruled that the attempt came too late after more than two decades had already passed.

Kay Flock, the Bronx rapper born Kevin Perez, was sentenced this week to 30 years in federal prison. He was convicted on charges tied to racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. The sentence, which also includes five years of supervised release, follows a March verdict. Prosecutors said this verdict linked Kay Flock to a pattern of gang-related violence. He is 22 years old. Federal authorities framed the case as a necessary intervention in a cycle of retaliatory shootings. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said Kay Flock used both violence and visibility to project fear across the Bronx. “Kevin Perez employed violence and his celebrity status to instill fear throughout the Bronx,” Clayton said. He added that the conduct put bystanders at risk and contributed to instability in the neighborhood. Clayton also pointed to Kay Flock’s rise in music as amplifying the impact of his actions. He said lyrics tied to Kay Flock were used to demonstrate intent and affiliation. The artist’s growing platform, he argued, intensified his notoriety. Law enforcement officials praised the outcome as a step toward curbing organized violence. Kay Flock responded to the sentence with a brief public statement, thanking supporters and members of the court. “I want to thank everyone who stood by me and kept me in their prayers,” he said. He also acknowledged the judge and his attorney, Michael Ashley. “Even though we are still fighting because it ain’t over until Allah says it’s over.” Defense disputes sentence and evidence, plans appeal Michael Ashley, Kay Flock’s defense lawyer, challenged both the length of the sentence and the government’s legal approach. He said Kay Flock had previously been offered a 30-year term tied to a murder charge for which he was later acquitted. He called the current punishment excessive by comparison. Ashley argued that seeking a decade or more in prison for a shooting in which no one was injured pushed beyond what the facts supported. He also objected to the prosecution’s use of rap lyrics in court, describing the practice as inappropriate and misleading. Ashley said the government relied not only on Kay Flock’s music but also on lyrics from other artists to construct its narrative. He said this tactic blurred the line between creative expression and criminal evidence. According to Ashley, such arguments risked distorting artistic work into proof of intent. Looking ahead, Ashley confirmed that the defense plans to continue fighting the case. He said his team has reviewed the record for potential legal issues and intends to file an appeal. For now, Kay Flock remains in federal custody as the case moves into its next phase.

In a recent discussion with Joe Budden, Nas reflected on his work following the release of “Light-Years,” his collaborative project with DJ Premier. The conversation touched on creative decisions. It included a notable moment involving Eminem, who declined Nas’s request to feature on the track “Daughters.” Nas explained that Eminem had reached a point of saturation with songs about his relationship with his daughter, Hailie. “Not every record I create is a competition,” Nas said, giving context to the exchange, as reported by Hip-Hop-N-More. He emphasized how personal and deliberate artists are when exploring intimate themes in their work. He elaborated, “I forwarded the track ‘Daughters’ to Eminem. At that moment, he had invested significant thought into the theme of fatherhood in his music. He acknowledged my effort but clarified, ‘I told my daughter I’m not making any more songs specifically about daughters right now. It’s a delicate topic given all the music I’ve released.’” The interaction underscores the care prominent artists apply when navigating personal subject matter. Nas Reveals How Eminem Welcomed His ‘Daughters’ Feature Request Nas also highlighted Eminem’s appreciation for the gesture: “He expressed thanks because many artists aim to craft songs that position themselves against him. I found this response refreshing as it diverged from the usual competitive atmosphere.” The exchange demonstrates that respect and professional courtesy can guide collaboration. This holds true even among high-profile figures. The track “Daughters,” from Nas’ tenth studio album “Life is Good” (2012), delves into the complexities of fatherhood through candid lyrics. “Took her from private school so she can find balance / To public school; they nurture teen talents too / They grow quickly; one day she’s your little princess / The next day she’s discussing boy matters – what is this?” he raps. This reflects the rapid shifts and challenges inherent in parenting. The conversation coincided with the release of “Light-Years,” which highlights Nas’ enduring chemistry with DJ Premier. The album includes standout tracks such as “My Story Your Story,” featuring AZ. It also introduces a third installment of the classic “N.Y. State of Mind.” The project blends timeless storytelling with contemporary beats, reaffirming the duo’s influential presence in hip-hop.

Lil Baby’s recent project, The Leaks, has become the center of conversation on social media, not only for its music but for the discussion surrounding its early sales projections. The rapper released the tape on December 3rd, 2025, choosing a mid-week drop instead of the usual Friday schedule. The release followed several weeks of buildup as he unveiled new tracks each Wednesday for his “Wham Wednesdays” rollout. Songs like “Try to Love,” “Otha Boy,” “Real Sh*t,” and “Middle of the Summer” helped create momentum leading up to the full project. Lil Baby responded to an NBA YoungBoy fan mocking the projected first-week sales for ‘THE LEAKS’ “One day not first week crazy” pic.twitter.com/Wi2NcAwPZ9 — Kurrco (@Kurrco) December 9, 2025 However, after the album arrived, online chatter shifted toward numbers. Projections estimated The Leaks at 14–15K units, and one comment comparing the performance to an NBA YoungBoy project ended up drawing a response from Baby himself. When a user on X joked, “dam yb leaks projects outsold shocking,” Baby quickly replied: “One day not first week crazy.” His choice to engage set off a new round of reactions from fans. Some users criticized him for responding to random accounts, with one saying, “Ya u know a n***a washed when they keep responding to fan accounts in they free time.” Another person offered a theory about the release date, writing: “Im a conspiracy theorist. And this was a business decision. He was scared to flop so he dropped on a Wednesday so it would count only 1 day of sales/streams. His team knew what they were doing by dropping it on Wednesday.” Before the debate over numbers began, Baby had explained the timing of the project on Instagram. “Happy B Day To Me ! What’s A Better Way To Get The World To Celebrate Wit Ya , Then Dropping A Tape ?? ‘The Leaks’ Out Nowwwwwww ! Shoutout To Whoever Be Leaking My Sh*t , Yall Made This Possible!!” he wrote. Originally intended for a September release, the project features appearances from Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Veeze, Lucki, Skooly, Bino Rideaux, Rylo Rodriguez, and G Herbo. Contributors on the production side include Wheezy, June the Genius, TM88, Murda Beatz, and Frankie Bash.

As 2025 draws to a close, 21 Savage is ready to reemerge with highly anticipated new music. After months of relative quiet, the Atlanta rapper teased a release this Friday with a simple post on X: “Friday !” The brief announcement has fueled speculation about the themes and sound of his latest project. His Apple Music profile now features a pre-save link for WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?, a title that echoes an acronym he recently highlighted at Art Basel in Miami. During the event, a massive inflatable sculpture by Nigerian artist Olaolu Slawn displayed the letters “WHTTS,” sparking immediate conversation among fans eager to decode the album’s meaning and direction. Fans have been waiting for a substantial solo release, as Savage’s activity this year primarily consisted of guest features on tracks like Lil Baby’s “Outfit” and Summer Walker’s “Get Yo Boy.” His last album, american dream, arrived in early 2024 and produced standout tracks including “redrum,” “nee-nah,” and “should’ve wore a bonnet.” That project contained 15 songs, while WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS? appears to be slightly leaner, featuring 14 tracks. As with his previous releases, Savage has kept details about song titles and collaborators tightly under wraps, leaving fans to speculate in anticipation of the full rollout. Friday ! — Saint Laurent Don (@21savage) December 8, 2025 Who Will Collaborate on the Album? Savage has a history of revealing guest artists only at the time of release, and observers expect a similar approach this week. The upcoming album follows a chart-topping predecessor that sold 133,000 units in its first week—Savage’s fourth number-one album—raising expectations for its commercial performance. Whether this new project will surpass those numbers remains uncertain. Hints of potential features have surfaced subtly. Travis Scott recently reshared the album’s teaser on his Instagram Story, sparking rumors of a collaboration. Moreover, given the provocative title and recent exchanges between Savage and 6ix9ine, listeners anticipate bold lyrics and possibly a pointed musical rebuttal woven into the tracks. With WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS? set to arrive this Friday, excitement is building around both the music and the stories it may tell. Fans await the release to see how 21 Savage charts his next chapter and whether the album will signal a new artistic direction for one of hip-hop’s most influential voices

The Game’s newest mixtape rollout has sparked immediate discussion thanks to one track title that stands out from the rest. As he prepares to release Every Movie Needs a Trailer, produced by DJ Drama along with Mike & Keys, fans quickly noticed a song labeled “The Assassination of Candace Owens.” The artist revealed the full lineup of songs on December 1, prompting widespread conversation about whether the track was aimed at the conservative commentator. Two days later, TMZ posted a brief interview with The Game in which he broke down the meaning behind the title. According to him, the choice was inspired by recent comments Owens has made publicly. “Recently I’ve been seeing conspiracy theories about Candace Owens from herself, you know, self-admitted,” he said. “She feels like people are conspiring [against] her. So what it was is more so an assassination of the character. So I just used that because it’s current news, but the song is not about Candace.” He also emphasized the creative approach behind it, adding, “I’m a rapper, we use metaphors, you know?” When asked whether he expected Owens to fire back, The Game didn’t express any concern. “Nah, I’m not worried about Candace. But then again, you gotta hear the song,” he told TMZ. He also complimented her intellect, calling her “real smart” and “intelligent,” before making it clear he was ready for whatever response might come: “But if she comes for me, you know, it is what it is.” Owens has found herself referenced in hip-hop before. Earlier this year, she was mentioned in Jay Electronica’s 2025 track “@RealCandaceO …Tell Us More!” where he rapped, “The whole world is phony/I’m exposing like Candace Owens and Brigitte Macron,” adding her to a lineage of political figures woven into rap commentary.

According to Rolling Stone, Clipse are among the 14 artists who “met the moment,” earning a spot on the outlet’s inaugural “Voices Of The Year” list. “Amid fraught and fractured times, the world is hungry for inspiration, and these musicians, writers, actors, comedians, and broadcasters delivered,” the outlet said. Back in July, after almost two decades, the rapping duo—comprised of brothers, Pusha T and Malice—reunited to drop off their fourth studio album, Let God Sort Em Out. Upon its release, Let God Sort Em Out put the hip-hop genre at a standstill with all eyes on the Virginia natives. The project would go on to receive critical acclaim and debut at No.4 on the Billboard 200. “…It’s an album of startling maturity and vulnerability from a duo once more accustomed to boasting; and perhaps most of all, it’s a must-listen, endlessly replayable set of songs from two seasoned veterans working in a genre that often prizes youth,” the outlet wrote. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 01: Pusha T and No Malice of Clipse perform during Roots Picnic 2025 at The Mann at Fairmount Park on June 01, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban) “We’re perfectionists almost to a fault sometimes,” Pusha T tells Rolling Stone For the two brothers, the project wasn’t just about bringing lyricism back into the genre, but “slamming the door on ageism in hip-hop,” Malice tells RS. He added, “That’s a stigma that probably never should have existed, and hopefully that’s done away with.” For Pusha T, the response to the project is a “testament” to how the two “look at music.” Pusha continued, “We’re perfectionists almost to a fault sometimes, but we know what we want, and I think it translated.” The elder of the two, Malice, also spoke about reuniting with his brother after taking a brief hiatus to embrace his spirituality. “It’s great to be back with my brother,” Malice says. “The level that he has kept our legacy alive — the professionalism, the taste level, just being top-tier — it made it a real nice place for me to be able to land at. To have him save a seat for me all this time the way he did is an amazing thing.”

Meek Mill opened up about wanting to spice up his dating life in a recent X post. The Philadelphia native states he aims to try something he’s “never done” before this winter: date two women at the same time. “Ima try sister wives because I never did for the winter….. f*ck it,” he wrote on Tuesday (Nov.25). That wasn’t the first time the rapper toyed around with the idea of having multiple partners. A few weeks earlier, the rapper posted another message hinting at the idea of dating multiple women, “Some days I want 2 girlfriends walking around my house? Am I wrong?” Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that Meek has been two successful in his efforts. That said, there’s always next year. The rapper’s last relationship, with designer Milan Harris, ended back in 2020. Prior to their split, the two welcomed a son, Czar. Ima try sister wives because I never did for the winter….. fuck it — MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 26, 2025 Meek Mill Rips Into Modern “Bubblegum Rap” In other news, earlier this week, Meek Mill took to X to critique what he calls “bubblegum rap,” calling for substance and authenticity over fleeting trends. In his characteristic candor, he argued that music lacking depth is both forgettable and corrosive to hip-hop’s core. He contrasted his own storytelling-driven work with the lighter, trend-focused songs dominating the charts. “That bubble gum rap sht not gone work when that organic sht hit them streets!” he declared. He insisted that genuine artistry connects with audiences in ways marketing alone cannot replicate. The comments sparked a lively debate online. Some observers suggested Meek’s frustration reflects the industry’s focus on short-lived hits rather than enduring lyrical craft. Others echoed his sentiment, praising his dedication to meaningful content: “Real talk, Meek! Authenticity always wins. The streets crave substance.”

Known for his forthright opinions, Meek Mill took to X to critique what he calls “bubblegum rap,” calling for substance and authenticity over fleeting trends. In his characteristic candor, he argued that music lacking depth is both forgettable and corrosive to hip-hop’s core. He contrasted his own storytelling-driven work with the lighter, trend-focused songs dominating the charts. “That bubble gum rap sht not gone work when that organic sht hit them streets!” he declared. He insisted that genuine artistry connects with audiences in ways marketing alone cannot replicate. The comments sparked a lively debate online. Some observers suggested Meek’s frustration reflects the industry’s focus on short-lived hits rather than enduring lyrical craft. Others echoed his sentiment, praising his dedication to meaningful content: “Real talk, Meek! Authenticity always wins. The streets crave substance.” That bubble gum rap shit not gone work when that organic shit hit them streets! If your song has no meaning we not listening, fuck that marketing budget lol — MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 24, 2025 Recent Incident: Public Confrontation in New York Separately, Meek Mill faced intense scrutiny after a Halloween night encounter with law enforcement in New York City. Reports indicate officers removed him from a vehicle and detained him in front of a crowd. It was a moment he described on Twitter as humiliating. “They just pulled me out the car and cuffed me in front of the whole club embarrassed the s**t out of me in NYC! I’m not scared to go outside without a gun… they had guns in my face for no reason smh I thought it was a prank,” he wrote. Nonetheless, authorities said the stop followed reports of a man with a firearm. No weapons were found, and Meek and other passengers were released without charges. The episode has renewed discussions about law enforcement interactions with high-profile figures and the public scrutiny that accompanies them.

Muni Long is shutting down growing speculation that she took a jab at Mariah Carey in a new Instagram video. The R&B star sparked debate this week after posting a comedic Instagram skit featuring a Mariah Carey impersonator. The clip, tied to the rollout of her new single “Delulu,” shows the impersonator dramatically auditioning while referencing diva-like behavior, including joking about not wanting others to sing her songs. Fans quickly pointed out that the moment echoed comments Mariah once made in a past interview, leading many to believe Muni was throwing subtle shade. View this post on Instagram In the skit, Muni can be heard reacting with exaggerated shock, saying lines like, “THE DIVA!? My cute lil number?” and “Maybe I can come around to people singing my songs if this who singing it!” View this post on Instagram “Y’all don’t be delulu. I would never disrespect Queen Mariah… forever a Lamb,” she wrote, emphasizing that the entire bit was part of a comedic rollout — not a diss. View this post on Instagram The rumors also reignited discussion about a past viral moment between the two singers, when Mariah gave a lukewarm reaction to Muni’s tribute performance at the a recent Music Award show. While the moment resurfaced in fan conversations, Mariah herself has not addressed the recent skit.