Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, one of the most acclaimed producers of his generation, has sold his royalty income streams rights. According to the Hollywood Reporter, to deal with Jerkins marks his second significant acquisition regarding his catalog. In 2020, Jerkins sold his publishing catalog to Recognition Music Group (formerly Hipgnosis Songs Fund). With the deal, HarbourView now controls Jerkins’ recorded royalties on iconic hits like Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay,” Destiny Child’s “Say My Name,” Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” featuring Beyoncé, Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me,” and Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” just to name a few. In a statement, Jerkins shared his excitement about the deal. “HarbourView truly understands the value of music and the people who create it,” Jerkins said. “Music creators deserve respect and clarity when it comes to selling their life’s work, and working with both HarbourView and Chapter Two has made that process feel seamless.” Sherrese Clarke, HarbourView’s founder and CEO, lauded Jenkins for his vast accomplishments in a statement. “At HarbourView, our mission is to curate a canon of work that represents the very best of global culture which is why it is essential that the contributions of legendary creators like Rodney Jerkins continue to be recognized, preserved, and celebrated,” Clarke said. “We are honored to welcome him to the HarbourView family and humbled by his decision to join us.” Michel Traore, Chapter Two’s CEO, described the deal as “a clear sign that creators are realizing the true value of their work faster and more transparently than ever before.” “Rodney is setting a new benchmark in the industry, and we thank HarbourView for their vision in working with us,” Traore said,  Along with Jenkins’ deal, HarbourView has acquired the music rights from T-Pain, Kane Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, and many others.. Jerkins is also set to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June.

Muni Long took some time to address those who have taken an issue with her personality. In a six-minute TikTok video, Long responded to a TikTok user who challenged her alleged claims that  “only Black women” are not down with her demeanor. “It’s only ever Black women that say they don’t like my personality. I’m being myself, I’m acting just like your raggedly mommy and your aunties,” Long said. “With them ashy cankles. This is how they act, but something wrong with my personality? Take a look in the mirror h*e, you don’t like you.” Following her viral remarks, Long stood by her comments before another TikTok user named NeverStopWithShari reminded her that Black women are the reason she became a successful artist. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Jasmine Brand (@the.jasmine.brand) “Muni Long was on her live today and let it be known that it’s only Black women that don’t like her,” the user said. “I think it was only Black women that supported you too. Nobody liked ‘Hours and Hours’ and all these songs until we liked it.” She also warned Long to “watch what she says” when speaking on Black women.” Long was quick to repsond with another video.  “The first question that I have for you, Ms. Shari, is … you said ‘you better watch what you say’ or what?” Long asked. “I know I look young because I drink water and mind my business, but I’m 36 years old. I’ll be 37 in September. I’ve been grown and taking care of myself for a long time. Nobody will talk to me like that.” “Black women it is okay to speak your mind and take up space, for you to assert yourself, for you to be kind instead of nice, for you not to keep taking the shirt off your back and giving it to the next man. You ain’t mammy. We don’t have to raise the world,” she concluded. Some accused her of missing the meaning behind the user’s message. “Did she…. completely miss the point of what the TikToker was saying? Like completely??” one user said. “I personally think she should address the ppl hating on her and NOT “black women” as a whole.”

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is one of the greatest diss tracks of all time. The scathing song aimed at Drake has become a global phenomenon as it has received airplay at clubs and sporting events. Although it was released in May 2024, “Not Like Us” is still setting new records. The song’s latest accolade is that it broke the record for being the longest rap song to chart on the Billboard 100, according to the NFR Podcast. Produced by Mustard, “Not Like Us” has spent several weeks at the number one spot, and it spent almost a full year in the Top 10. Currently, “Not Like Us” is in the  23 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, “Not Like Us” the longest-running number one hit on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, surpassing Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road”.  Kendrick Lamar breaks Kendrick Lamar’s record (again) for HIGHEST-GROSSING show ever by a Rapper — ($14.81M) 60, 941 total tickets were sold at his show in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/2BDyNWDe7n — NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) May 20, 2025 Previously, “Not Like Us” won five Grammy Awards at the 2025 ceremony, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song also won Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. This marks a significant win for hip-hop, as only one other rap song If that’s not impressive enough,  Lamar broke his own record (again) for the highest-grossing show ever by a rapper, raking in $ 14.81 M. In total, 60, 941 total tickets were sold at the show featuring SZA  at Lumen Field in Seattle. In their review of the show, the Seattle Times described the performance as a “grand-scale presentation of vintage hip-hop storytelling from the Pulitzer Prize winner before a spellbound crowd the size of Bothell.”

Cassie and her husband, Alex Fine, releases a statement via their lawyer after Cassie’s conclusion of her testimony in the Diddy trial. “I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from abuse and fear,” Cassie said, per TMZ. “For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember. And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget.” The songstress says she’s “glad to put this chapter of my life to rest as I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy.” In the statement Fine also shared his sentiments following the emotional four-day testimony. “I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass,” he wrote. “I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her.” “You did not break her spirit nor her smile,” he said. “I did not save Cassie, as some have said. To say that is an insult to the years of painful work my wife has done to save herself. Cassie saved Cassie,” he wrote. “She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence, and threats. She did the work of fighting the demons that only a demon himself could have done to her.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Cassie is currently eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her and Fine’s third child. The couple have been married since 2019. The pair share two daughters, 5-year-old Frankie and 4-year-old Sunny. With a baby boy on the way.

Styles P believes that Jim Jones is not on his level as a lyricist. During an interview on the No Funny Shit Show, the legendary member of the LOX, at around the co-host Kenny Supreme suggested that Jones might have a better “20 pack” of songs. While Styles acknowledged that  Supreme is “entitled” to his opinion because “hip-hop is about you connecting with music,” Styles said that he and Jones “ain’t in the same league.” “The Ghost” then explained what differentiates him from Capo. “Me and Jim don’t do the same thing. I’m a bar master. I’m a lyrical technician. I’ve been on joints with some of the best emcees in the world,” Styles said, naming The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Black Thought, and Talib Kweli.. “I bar sh*t down. When Rakim tells you you nice, KRS tells you you nice, Big tells you you nice, Hov tells you you nice … all these people tell you you nice, you’re f**king nice,” Styles said. “I’m not here to make catchy hooks and do dope sh*t. I don’t knock that. I’m trying to say some sh*t that’s gonna make your soul move—that’s gonna be some shit you may catch 10 years later, down the line,” he added. “There’s not many people in my age group that have the amount of catalog I have.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by NFS (@nofunnyshit.show) “[Jim] don’t got none of those kind of songs that make n***as cry,” Styles explained. “You better check my jacket. I made up a fucking lane. There was no artist emcee before. It was fly dudes, it was kings. I invented the lane where n***as saying they make hard shit. Me.” In a now-deleted post on Instagram, Jones then challenged Styles to a Verzuz battle. “Now go listen to [the] song ‘Bobby’ we did on Lobby Boy,” Jones said of the track from The Lobby Boyz album with Maino. “We recorded it at the same time in the studio together. Since we talkin’ bars let’s [just] do a versus [sic] ep something for [the] people to listen n judge.” “I’m not scared of no competition on any level, I’m here to level [the] playin field. If we talkin bars let’s go,” Jones added. This wouldn’t be the first time Styles and Jones were involved in a Verzuz. In 2021, The LOX soundly defeated the Diplomats.

Fat Joe is looking to make waves in the liqueur industry. The legendary rapper recently celebrated the official launch of his new spirit, Sonrisa Rum. As a proud partner in the brand, Joe hosted an unforgettable night at Bleau Bar at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Along with being served signature cocktails from Joe, he gave a surprise performance of two of his classic songs, “What’s Luv?” and “All The Way Up.” Taking to Instagram, the brand shared its excitement about partnering with Joe. “Still thinking about the unforgettable time we had last week at the Bleau Bar in @fontainebleaumiamibeach with @fatjoe during Race Week. Pouring up drinks and ending the night with a surprise performance—good vibes all around,” the post read. “Three new Sonrisa Cocktails are now on the menu at Bleau Bar, and you’ve got to try them.” Aiming to be more than a premium spirit,  through its foundation, FPR FPR (From Puerto Rico, For Puerto Rico), Sonrisa Rum gives “a portion of every sale supports small businesses on the island still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic. For Fat Joe, Sonrisa is a personal commitment to community, culture, and giving back to Puerto Rico.” Along with his new liqueur venture, Joe also premiered the episode of his new podcast Joe and Jada, which he co-hosts with fellow rap legend Jadakiss. During the episode, Joe shared his thoughts on Kendrick’s unprecedented run of success over the last year, noting that no other West rapper has gotten more radio spins than K-Dot. “I was there last week. I’ve never seen nothing like that: Every single song, ‘Turn his TV off…’ What?” he continued. “It’s a fact. Kendrick Lamar gets played nine out of every 10 songs in L.A. right now. Not even Snoop Dogg, not even Tupac Shakur — nobody from L.A. has dominated the paint like this guy… If you’re from L.A., you probably think there’s only one guy on Earth, Kendrick Lamar. I’m just keeping it a buck with you,” Joe said.

SZA is giving Beyoncé her flowers, literally and financially. In a recent Instagram comment, the “Kill Bill” singer revealed she technically owes Queen Bey a huge cut of her SOS album earnings thanks to a key interpolation. The title track of her 2022 project samples “Listen,” Beyoncé’s powerful ballad from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, which usually comes with a hefty publishing fee. But according to SZA, Bey never made her pay up. “I literally owe her half my publishing off interpolation alone on SOS and she never pressed me lmao. A generous QUEEN,” she wrote in the comments of a reel poking fun at the long list of writers on Beyoncé songs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zuhaila (@zuhailajama) Their mutual respect clearly goes both ways. After SZA took home three Grammy Awards in 2024, Best R&B Song for “Snooze,” Best Progressive R&B Album for SOS, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Ghost in the Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers, Beyoncé sent her a bouquet to celebrate. The handwritten note read: “I’m so happy for you beautiful! Watching you grow and watching you win is an honor. Sending you a huge congrats talented queen. All my love and respect, B.” SZA was touched, later writing in her Instagram Stories: “Thank you for seeing me before anyone else saw me. Thank you for making me feel valuable when I was the tiniest in the room… May God continue to protect and bless you queen.” SZA has always been vocal about her love for Bey. In a past Instagram Live with Lizzo, she admitted she’s only seen Beyoncé live once, at Coachella, and was stunned to learn Lizzo had seen her 11 times. “I don’t give a f***, I’m getting tickets. I’m a fan, I deserve. F*** y’all, I deserve.”

Fat Joe believes that no other West Coast rapper dominated the game like Kendrick Lamar has over the past year. On the premiere episode of Joe and Jada, his new podcast series that he co-hosts with fellow rap legend Jadakiss, Joe shared his thoughts on Kendrick’s unprecedented run of success. Jada started the conversation by stating he was amazed that it’s been a year since Kendrick took on Drake.  “One year since the Kendrick and Drake discrepancy. What they like to call it ‘beef’ in the media world,” Jada replied. “Thank God nothing really happened to anybody, physically. Personally, I thought it was about four or five months ago. I can’t believe it’s already been a year.” “How is it a year?” Joe said. “But what I can tell you is, boy, that Kendrick Lamar gets some spins on LA radio…” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe & Jada (@joeandjada) Jadakiss noted that every L.A. artist gets spins on the local radio, but Joe argued that Kendrick’s run was the greatest that he’s ever seen. “I was there last week. I’ve never seen nothing like that: Every single song, ‘Turn his TV off…’ What?” he continued. “It’s a fact. Kendrick Lamar gets played nine out of every 10 songs in L.A. right now. Not even Snoop Dogg, not even Tupac Shakur — nobody from L.A. has dominated the paint like this guy… If you’re from L.A., you probably think there’s only one guy on Earth, Kendrick Lamar. I’m just keeping it a buck with you,” Joe said. While Jadakiss acknowledged that K-Dot and “a helluva career,” he said that today’s rap beefs were “getting out of hand.” “It’s always good as long as it stays on wax,” Jada said. “Now, when it first started, somebody say something about you, you gotta go to the studio, you gotta immediately work on getting one back at there… Now, as the technology evolved, it turns into movie skits, animations, retrieving fake information… It got a little wacky for me. I like it to be beats and rhymes, and keep it like that. Once it got out of my pay grade, it’s a little bit of disinterest to me… I just wanna see rhymes and song and hip-hop shit.”

Rumors are once again swirling that Rihanna is with child after a recent social media post. On Thursday (May 1), the “Diamonds” singer shared a photo rocking a black two-piece from her Savage x Fenty line. While fans love it when Ri bears it all, this time it’s what she’s not showing that caught fans’ attention. The singer’s comment section was flooded with questions from fans, wondering if the singer was covering her midriff because she and A$AP Rocky were preparing for baby No.3. “Rihanna and I have been pregnant at the same time every time so yeah she’s gonna announce soon,” one fan joked on X(formerly Twitter). Another X user wrote, “She got that pregnancy nose. Lawd A$AP gotta get off of her.” “I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, A$AP RRRRRRRROCKY!!! IT SHOULDA BEEN ME!!!!!!!!!!” one fan commented. Other fans predicted that if Rihanna were, in fact, pregnant it would be announced at the annual Met Gala. “Baby bump debut at the met – u heard it here first,” someone else wrote. softNsavage pic.twitter.com/T6xSiNfGv8 — Rihanna (@rihanna) May 1, 2025 Rihanna Named #2 Billboard’s Top 100 Women Artists Of 21st Century When she’s not on mommy duty, Rihanna is making music history. The singer recently secured the No. 2 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century. Second only to Taylor Swift, her influence extends far beyond music, shaping fashion, business, and culture. With an unparalleled ability to evolve, Rihanna has redefined what it means to be a global icon. Her impact on music is undeniable. As one of the best-selling artists of all time, she has delivered hit after hit, crafting a discography that spans genres. From the moody intensity of Rated R (2009) to the vibrant energy of Loud (2010), Rihanna has never been afraid to reinvent herself. Songs like Only Girl (In the World) and What’s My Name? became instant classics, showcasing her ability to dominate both pop and R&B.

Ja Rule is an unquestioned legend in hip-hop. The Queens native holds the distinction of being one most successful artists of the 90s and 2000s. Launching his rap career in 1994 with the group Cash Money Click, Ja linked up with Irv Gotti, an up-and-coming producer and mogul at the time, who signed him to Def Jam Records. He made his first solo appearance on Mic Geronimo’s “Time to Build” in 1995, alongside future fellow icons, Jay-Z and DMX. In 1999, Ja released “Holla Holla,” his first hit from his platinum-selling album Venni Vetti Vecci, which was a sign of things to come. His sophomore project, Rule 3:36, debuted at the number of the US Billboard 200, selling more than 276,000 copies in its first week of release as the flagship artist of Murder Inc. Records. Eventually, the album went triple platinum. The smash hits on the album were “Between Me & You” featuring Christina Milian, “Put It on Me” featuring Vita and Lil Mo, and “I Cry” featuring Lil Mo. In 2001, Ja appeared on Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real (Murder Remix)”  which held the number one spot on the Billboard 100 for five consecutive weeks. Throughout the 2000s, Ja would release several more chart-topping songs such as  “Living It Up,” “Thug Lovin’,” “Always on Time,” and “Mesmerize,” making him a global superstar. Almost 30 years after his debut in the game, Ja is still in demand all over the world, playing sold-out concerts and festivals. A veteran of the Summer Jam stage, Ja played one of the biggest shows in the history of the event in 2001 and several other shows throughout the years. At Summer Jam 2025, “Ja and Friends” will honor the life and legacy of Irv Gotti, who passed away in February. To catch “Ja on Friends” on stage, make sure you get your tickets to Summer Jam 2025, which will be returning to Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center on Friday, June 20.