HotNewHipHop https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ The Latest Hip Hop News, Songs, Rap Albums & Music, Gossip & Entertainment News, Sneaker Releases, Sports News, TV & Movies, Interviews, Culture & more Sat, 26 Sep 2026 16:07:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 Cam’ron Laughs At Jay-Z’s Alleged Efforts To Perform At The Super Bowl https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1011007-camron-laughs-jay-z-efforts-perform-super-bowl Sat, 26 Sep 2026 16:06:59 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1011007 Cam'ron doesn't believe for a second that Jay-Z and Roc Nation are struggling to find a Super Bowl halftime performer, as rumors suggest.

The post Cam’ron Laughs At Jay-Z’s Alleged Efforts To Perform At The Super Bowl appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Jay-Z has been having a massive 2026 so far, with various concerts and anniversary celebrations for his classic albums dominating many hip-hop conversations. But there’s also a lot of controversy, debate, and speculation attached, such as recent unverified rumors that Roc Nation and its mogul have been struggling to book a Super Bowl halftime show headliner for 2027. On the most recent episode of It Is What It Is, though, Cam’ron and Mase had a good laugh because they believe all of this is “cap,” and that Hov is actually setting himself up to be the halftime performer.

“Come on, now,” Cam remarked amid lots of laughs, as caught by Killa on Twitter. “So out of all the artists in the world… The year that you got your masters back from Reasonable Doubt, the year you sell out Yankee Stadium three nights in a row, they year that you in Paris and Europe and all these places doing tours right now, nobody can find time for the NFL? ‘I just might have to do it myself… what I’ma do.’ Come on, Jay. We can see you… Just say you’ve been lining this up for three-and-a-half years…

“And I’m not knocking it. ‘Cause that’s what I would do too…” he continued. “You having trouble finding talent for the Super Bowl? Send the email out… This has been planned for three years… If Jay-Z does the Super Bowl, to me it’s gon’ be fire… You bring out Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Rihanna. Jay-Z has songs with the best of the best… It wouldn’t even be enough for everybody to perform… It would be a phenomenal show. But don’t say you having trouble finding talent.”

Read More: Is Jay-Z Losing His Grip On The NFL Halftime Show?

Cam’ron On Jay-Z

To be clear, these rumors did not come directly from Hov or Roc Nation. Rather, they emerged in a Daily Mail article with information from an alleged source close to Jay and the NFL. So the veracity of the struggle itself is still up in the air. We’ll see what else we learn or how folks react when they announce a performer soon.

Elsewhere, Cam’ron and Mase had other Jay-Z-related comments on It Is What It Is, specifically about Colin Kaepernick. They reacted to the former NFL player’s book tour for his The Perilous Fight memoir, arguing he’s trying to play both sides by still wanting to be in the league despite calling Hov out and protesting.

Cam’ron’s past comments on Jay-Z suggest some friction and disagreement, but nothing in a truly beef-heavy sense. They have a complicated history from the Roc-A-Fella days, but it’s all relatively smoothed out.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Cam’ron Laughs At Jay-Z’s Alleged Efforts To Perform At The Super Bowl appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Kanye West Surprises Fans At Chris Brown & Usher’s Los Angeles Show https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1011003-kanye-west-chris-brown-usher-los-angeles-show Sat, 26 Sep 2026 15:35:18 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1011003 Ye pulled up to SoFi Stadium to perform some of his biggest hits alongside Chris Brown and Usher, and fans went wild.

The post Kanye West Surprises Fans At Chris Brown & Usher’s Los Angeles Show appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Ye has been having some huge concerts in the past few years, the last of which was his Chicago homecoming at Soldier Field earlier this month. Despite the controversies and backlash he continues to face, it’s clear he isn’t stepping away from the stage anytime soon. Last night (Friday, September 25) at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, Kanye West popped out as a surprise guest performer at the “Raymond & Brown (R&B)” tour, the massive trek from Chris Brown and Usher.

As caught by yazzerz_87 on Twitter, he emerged from the stage to perform “Runaway” before running through “N***as In Paris,” “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Flashing Lights,” and “All Of The Lights.” The crowd went wild when the Chicago artist came out, and while he didn’t say much, he did dap Breezy up. Given all the respect the two have formed for each other over the years (and how they are both highly criticized musicians), this solidarity should come as little surprise. Still, there was a shock factor to all this regarding the performance itself, and you can tell by how fans reacted.

Kanye already performed at SoFi this year, as his L.A. shows kicked off an ongoing tour. Future tour stops include an October 24 show in Indonesia, an October 31 performance in Houston, a November 7 concert in Dallas, and a November 21 live set in Phoenix. As for Chris Brown and Usher’s “R&B” tour, they will perform at SoFi Stadium again tonight (Saturday, September 26) and will continue their trek before returning to L.A. on November 15 and 16 and wrapping up the tour about a month later in Tampa on December 11 and 12.

Read More: Is Jay-Z Losing His Grip On The NFL Halftime Show?

Kanye West Joins Chris Brown & Usher

Kanye West and Chris Brown’s dynamic has made their camaraderie clear over the years, although the former hasn’t been as publicly linked to Usher. Still, we imagine the respect and appreciation is there regardless.

We will see what other surprises the R&B superstars have in store for fans on this successful and wide-ranging trek. Elsewhere, Ye has more shows to look forward to amid his attempts at redemption, which should hold some surprises too.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Kanye West Surprises Fans At Chris Brown & Usher’s Los Angeles Show appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Is Jay-Z Losing His Grip On The NFL Halftime Show? https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010999-jay-z-losing-grip-nfl-halftime-show Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:44:00 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010999 On HNHH's latest livestream, Aron and I also discussed fresh Chris Brown debates, the Macklemore controversy, and our dream label duo tours.

The post Is Jay-Z Losing His Grip On The NFL Halftime Show? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
HotNewHipHop had a lot of controversies and debates to get into for its latest livestream yesterday (Friday, September 25). Aron and I discussed fresh Chris Brown debates, the Macklemore/Ed Sheeran controversy, Jay-Z and Roc Nation’s alleged struggles to book a Super Bowl halftime show, and Colin Kaepernick’s book tour going at Hov for the NFL/Roc Nation deal. We also discussed our dream joint tours in light of the Cash Money and No Limit trek, discussed new releases of the week, and highlighted some artists “On The Come-Up.”

First, we spoke on Chris Brown facing fresh re-litigations of his allegations in the public eye, thanks to a journalist falsely claiming he’s actively abusing women and a state representative walking back a Congressional honor. Aron and I emphasized the importance of taking allegations seriously, but also stressed the need to not conflate those with actual convictions. With a huge fanbase and a “no friends in the industry” mentality, Breezy continues to find success and downplay narratives against him, whether you like it or not.

Concerning Macklemore and Ed Sheeran’s controversy over the former’s advocacy for Palestine, we discussed how the rapper’s “Free Palestine” tour is keeping the focus on humanitarian efforts that his removal sought to quell. Aron and I also commented on the irony of Ed’s Gillette Stadium shows being canceled due to weather. Stadium owner Robert Kraft had allegedly threatened Sheeran to cancel his shows there if opener Macklemore remained.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

HNHH Live

Speaking of live performance controversies, Aron and I also spoke on the rumors that Jay-Z’s struggling to book a halftime show. While these rumors could be completely false, they do speak to logistical and cultural challenges of this booking that don’t even account for more sociopolitical controversies. In addition, we talked about Colin Kaepernick’s book tour for his memoir The Perilous Fight and how his desire to play in the NFL represents a cognitive dissonance for some.

On a lighter note, Aron and I made some dream label/collective joint tour pairings inspired by Cash Money and No Limit’s tour. These aren’t all realistic, but we can dream. Among out picks were Odd Future and A$AP Mob, Quality Control and Cactus Jack, G.O.O.D. Music and Young Money or Roc-A-Fella, and the Dungeon Family and Native Tongues.

For our First Listen segment, Aron and I specifically discussed Remy Ma’s new EP Alimony, DDG’s new stream-emergent album HIT-A-THON, Che and Tezzus’ new two-pack, and the new 2Dead Boyz single. As for artists “On The Come-Up,” I encourage you all to check out Rockitneedspace, and Aron points you to the Guatemalan-Canadian MC Romeo Don’t Die.

Let us know what you think about all these topics in the comments below. Make sure to stay updated on HNHH to rate new songs and albums and check out our news and feature coverage. We’ll see you again next week with more of hip-hop’s buzzing developments.

Read More: Is Kendrick Lamar’s Feature Run Hurting Or Helping Him?

The post Is Jay-Z Losing His Grip On The NFL Halftime Show? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Remy Ma Shows Off “Jezebel”-Inspired Look To Troll Papoose https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010995-remy-ma-jezebel-troll-papoose Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:01:32 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010995 Papoose recently dropped the "Jezebel" diss track commenting on his divorce with Remy Ma, and she clapped back with the "Alimony" EP.

The post Remy Ma Shows Off “Jezebel”-Inspired Look To Troll Papoose appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Remy Ma hosted a special event last night (Friday, September 25) to celebrate the release of her new EP, Alimony. The project contains various references and allusions to her messy divorce process with fellow MC Papoose, who recently gave his side of the story on his “Jezebel” diss track. Now, Remy’s clapping back not just with this new tracklist and more claims about their relationship, but also her fashion choices for the event.

As caught by Livebitez on Instagram, she pulled up in an all-black fit with a leather jacket that had “Jezebel” on the back. Not only that, but the New York City star had a “Jezebel” chain as well. She performed the EP during the event with fans and had a lot to say afterwards.

“We live in a society where if you don’t say something, that means it’s true,” Remy expressed. “Or if you do say something, you’re bothered… Don’t f***ing bother me. When you do bother me, you get s**t like the Alimony EP… I peep the plan now ahead of time… Nobody ever really takes them seriously… They want me gone. I’m here. I’m staying here, I’m not going anywhere. And I’ma be popping my s**t while I’m here, and can’t nobody do nothing about it.”

“People are mad that I’m the wife,” she continued. “Nobody, and I swear nobody, is more mad than me… Let’s move on. Everybody’s adults here… I don’t care from this point on, what’s said, what’s spun…”

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

Remy Ma & Papoose Beef

Elsewhere during the event, Remy Ma also shared a video that included some more shots at Pap. “He’s asking for f***ing half, he don’t pick up my f***ing daughter,” she ranted. “She hasn’t seen him in months. That n***a don’t pay for s**t. He still got my f***ing jewelry. Literally looked me in my face and told me, ‘I want half of everything,’ when he was supposed to come and sign the f***ing papers… Couple times, he’s f***ing mad b***hes. Always has been. And I kept it a f***ing secret like everybody else keeps their f***ing husband’s secret.”

The comments at the Alimony event might also refer to Remy Ma’s feud with Claressa Shields, Papoose’s current partner. They have been going at it on social media as well, but like both have pointed out, nothing has escalated yet despite threats. Hopefully it stays that way. You can watch the full Alimony event below.

Read More: Is Kendrick Lamar’s Feature Run Hurting Or Helping Him?

The post Remy Ma Shows Off “Jezebel”-Inspired Look To Troll Papoose appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
QueenzFlip Explains Rory Confrontation: “Nobody Plays With Me Like That” https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010991-queenzflip-explains-rory-confrontation Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:33:58 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010991 After hearing Rory break down why he pressed QueenzFlip at a club, the "Joe Budden Podcast" cohost feels even more slighted.

The post QueenzFlip Explains Rory Confrontation: “Nobody Plays With Me Like That” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
The Joe Budden Podcast has two distinct eras to it: the Rory Farrell and Mal era and the iteration of the show most fans are familiar with now with hosts like QueenzFlip. Earlier this week, Farrell pressed Flip at a nightclub in New York City, and Rory later apologized for the whole thing on the New Rory & Mal program. Now, on the most recent episode of the JBP, Flip gave his side of the story, as caught in various highlights by CY Chels on Twitter.

This follows his earlier responses to the situation. The commentator and streamer broke it down during his livestream and responded to some folks on Twitter’s commentary on the situation.

Regarding QueenzFlip’s podcast appearance, he explained he had reached out to Rory following his health scare, and he thought they were cool. He thought his “suckers” comments about Farrell and Mal were “water under the bridge. But this didn’t turn out to be the case. Flip was mad at Rory saying “Clip that” after the confrontation, and let the anger stew for a while despite REASON’s attempts to diffuse the situation. Emanny also told both the podcasters to not let things go too far.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

Rory & QueenzFlip Beef

Flip also said he knows how the JBP still has love for Farrell, but he said he doesn’t “f**k with him” anymore after hearing his response to this. “You made me aware of how you view me, and I’m not with none of that,” he expressed. Still, QueenzFlip said he was wrong for calling him and Mal “suckers” in the first place, and shouted out Demaris as well.

Other JBP highlights include Emanny saying he won’t try to play middleman with Rory anymore, Joe Budden arguing Farrell looked like he wanted to get into it, and Flip realizing when the confrontation became too tense for comfort. We’ll see if this develops any further or if both men just let it stay in the past.

Elsewhere, QueenzFlip got into other arguments during this nightclub outing in New York City for a “Girls Love Karaoke” event. Remy Ma called him a “b***h,” so he had to deal with a lot of animosity this week.

Read More: Is Kendrick Lamar’s Feature Run Hurting Or Helping Him?

The post QueenzFlip Explains Rory Confrontation: “Nobody Plays With Me Like That” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Blueface Accused Of Pirating Chrisean Rock’s Pro Boxing Debut https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010988-blueface-chrisean-rock-boxing-debut-lawsuit Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:20:17 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010988 Promoters say Blueface gave viewers free access to Chrisean Rock’s pay-per-view fight and caused lost revenue in the process.

The post Blueface Accused Of Pirating Chrisean Rock’s Pro Boxing Debut appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Putting Chrisean Rock’s $29.99 pay-per-view boxing match on a free livestream could become an expensive decision for Blueface. A new federal lawsuit accuses the rapper of broadcasting Rock’s professional debut on his verified Kick channel while viewers were supposed to be paying BLK Prime for access.

According to TMZ, boxing promoter Skyy Myles and streaming provider BLK Prime claim Blueface livestreamed the Sept. 19 fight for more than an hour. The complaint alleges Wack 100 joined him during the broadcast and that tens of thousands of viewers watched without purchasing the official pay-per-view.

The filing goes further, claiming Blueface actively told viewers not to buy the fight. The plaintiffs allege he encouraged fans to stay on his stream instead and tied the decision to a financial dispute involving Rock. Blueface has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.

Read More: Adam22 Goes Scorched Earth On Chrisean Rock, Calls Her “Scum Of The Earth”

Chrisean Rock Won Her Professional Debut

The disputed broadcast covered Rock’s bout against Ku’Shiyah Williams at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor. Competing under her birth name, Chrisean Malone, she won by second-round TKO in what was promoted as her first sanctioned professional fight. The event aired exclusively through BLK Prime as part of Skyy Myles Promotions’ The Supper card.

Rock had already stepped into the ring earlier this year, defeating Zenith Zion in an April crossover bout. That fight was not counted toward her official professional record, making the Williams matchup her formal entry into pro boxing.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for the revenue they claim was lost because of the unauthorized stream, along with legal fees. Rock’s attorney, Charles Lew, told TMZ he had “never seen such a blatant and brazen disregard for copyright,” arguing that the broadcast was not only taken without permission but promoted as a free alternative to the paid feed. Blueface’s representatives had not responded to TMZ’s request for comment when the outlet published its report.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Blueface Accused Of Pirating Chrisean Rock’s Pro Boxing Debut appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Cardi B Parts Ways With Longtime Management Company https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010985-cardi-b-parts-with-management-company Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:06:06 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010985 Four years with Full Stop Management have come to an end for Cardi B. The rapper and the powerhouse firm run by Jeffrey Azoff have amicably parted ways, according to TMZ. Cardi joined Full Stop in November 2022, with Shawn “Tubby” Holiday playing a major role in overseeing her career at the company. No dispute […]

The post Cardi B Parts Ways With Longtime Management Company appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Four years with Full Stop Management have come to an end for Cardi B. The rapper and the powerhouse firm run by Jeffrey Azoff have amicably parted ways, according to TMZ. Cardi joined Full Stop in November 2022, with Shawn “Tubby” Holiday playing a major role in overseeing her career at the company. No dispute has been cited in the split, and TMZ reports that both sides simply decided to move forward separately.

The change closes a management run that covered a major stretch of Cardi’s post-Invasion of Privacy career. Full Stop was in place as she worked toward her long-delayed second album, Am I the Drama?, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2025.

Read More: Janice Dickinson Roasts Cardi B’s Vogue World Runway Walk

A New Management Era Comes As More Music Takes Shape

Timing puts the split at an active point in Cardi’s career. Earlier this month, she told The Breakfast Club that work on her third album had already started and that she planned to focus more heavily on recording after her birthday. Complex reported that she already has two songs she likes and is aiming to release the project in 2027.

Full Stop remains one of the music industry’s most prominent management firms, with a roster that includes Harry Styles and John Mayer. Cardi’s next management move has not been announced. From what we know, the split appears to be strictly business. Neither Cardi nor Full Stop has publicly suggested that the relationship ended on bad terms.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Cardi B Parts Ways With Longtime Management Company appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Keke Wyatt Denies Child Cruelty Charge After Georgia Arrest https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010981-keke-wyatt-denies-child-cruelty-charges Fri, 25 Sep 2026 23:36:52 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010981 Reports about Keke Wyatt’s Georgia arrest are being challenged by her team, which says the court record tells a different story.

The post Keke Wyatt Denies Child Cruelty Charge After Georgia Arrest appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Hours after reports tied Keke Wyatt’s Georgia arrest to child cruelty and threats, her team returned with a very different account of what she is actually facing. A statement posted to the singer’s Instagram says Henry County court documents show only one charge and rejects several of the accusations that spread online after news of her arrest broke.

“Contrary to information currently being circulated, the Henry County court documentation reflects one charge: simple assault,” the statement reads. According to CBS News Atlanta, Wyatt’s representatives specifically denied that she was charged with cruelty to children. They also disputed reports of more serious assault-related charges.

The pushback comes after TMZ reported Friday morning that a Henry County Sheriff’s Office representative said Wyatt had been booked on Sept. 20 for terroristic threats, simple assault, and cruelty to children. TMZ stated that she was released two days later after posting $1,050 bond. Details about what allegedly led to the arrest have not been released.

Read More: Keke Wyatt Arrested For Alleged Terroristic Threats & Child Cruelty

Wyatt’s Team Says The Court Record Tells A Different Story

CBS News Atlanta also reviewed Henry County booking information that listed aggravated assault and terroristic threats, along with a misdemeanor child-cruelty count. Wyatt’s representatives say those entries do not match the court documentation in the case, creating a conflict between the booking information being circulated and the charge they say is actually before the court.

Her statement took particular issue with the child cruelty reports. “We are not offering excuses or asking anyone to prejudge the circumstances surrounding the case,” the message reads. “We are simply asking that facts be reported responsibly.” Her team did not provide further details about what prompted the arrest.

The singer plans to address the matter through the legal process. Her representatives also said the arrest will not affect her upcoming performances, and her current schedule remains unchanged.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Keke Wyatt Denies Child Cruelty Charge After Georgia Arrest appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Janice Dickinson Roasts Cardi B’s Vogue World Runway Walk https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010978-cardi-b-janice-dickinson-runway Fri, 25 Sep 2026 23:06:20 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010978 The former supermodel gave Cardi B’s Vogue World walk a two out of 10 and accused her of “waddling” down the runway.

The post Janice Dickinson Roasts Cardi B’s Vogue World Runway Walk appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
“She should stick to Rap” was Janice Dickinson’s verdict after watching Cardi B walk at Vogue World: Milano. The former supermodel reviewed footage from the event in her own video and gave Cardi’s runway performance a brutal 2 out of 10.

Dickinson criticized everything from Cardi’s stride to the way she moved her arms. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing,” she said. “I understand using celebrities to promote your clothes. Cardi B is waddling down the runway.” Dickinson argued that the walk did not resemble professional runway technique before adding, “She’s not a supermodel. She’s a rapper!”

The criticism arrived after Cardi joined the Sept. 22 Vogue World show at Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Vogue reports that she appeared during the show’s “Patterns” section wearing an archival Versace dress from the fashion house’s spring 2018 collection. The pop-art design incorporated vintage Vogue covers and paid tribute to Gianni Versace’s earlier work.

Read More: Cardi B Wants To Leave A Better Fortune For Her Kids Than Music Royalties

Cardi B Was There As A Celebrity Guest, Not A Career Model

Dickinson may have acknowledged that fashion houses regularly use celebrities on the runway, but that did little to soften her assessment. “It’s not a runway walk,” she said before assigning Cardi the low score.

The appearance was not Cardi’s first time modeling in a major fashion show. She made her runway debut in December 2023 for Balenciaga’s pre-fall 2024 presentation in Los Angeles, walking outdoors in an oversized blue fur coat. Her Vogue World appearance came in a show that intentionally mixed professional models with celebrity cameos. Vogue’s event coverage also featured appearances from Jennifer Lopez and J Balvin.

Cardi sounded much happier with the moment than Dickinson did. In an Instagram post after the show, she thanked Anna Wintour and Donatella Versace for including her, calling the opportunity a “dream” and “a moment I will never forget.”

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Janice Dickinson Roasts Cardi B’s Vogue World Runway Walk appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Lil Durk’s Lawyer Drew Findling Reflects On Acquittal & What Comes Next https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1010975-lil-durk-lawyer-drew-findling Fri, 25 Sep 2026 22:51:03 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=1010975 A recent acquittal brought good news, but Lil Durk still faces another legal battle as Drew Findling speaks on the case.

The post Lil Durk’s Lawyer Drew Findling Reflects On Acquittal & What Comes Next appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>
Winning his murder-for-hire trial brought relief, but it did not bring Lil Durk home. Two weeks after a Los Angeles federal jury acquitted him on all five counts tied to the 2022 shooting that killed Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, lead attorney Drew Findling says the rapper is processing the verdict while remaining focused on the people waiting for him outside.

“He’s obviously very, very pleased and happy with the results,” Findling told Complex in an interview published Thursday. He described the trial as emotionally draining for Durk and said the aftermath has centered largely on his family. The defense team spent 22 months preparing for the case, with Findling saying the work became deeply personal as the possibility of a life-altering conviction hung over their client.

That preparation ended with Durk being cleared of the murder-for-hire and stalking charges prosecutors brought over the failed attempt to target Quando Rondo. Prosecutors alleged Durk arranged the attack as retaliation for King Von’s 2020 killing. The jury rejected the case against him on Sept. 11. His co-defendants Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey were acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges but convicted on stalking-related counts.

Read More: Lil Durk Not Guilty: Ye, Drake, G Herbo, Meek Mill, Young Thug, & More React

Findling Takes Aim At Using Rap Lyrics As Evidence

Lyrics became a recurring issue during the trial, and Findling remains sharply critical of prosecutors using an artist’s music to support criminal allegations. He told Complex that treating commercially released Rap as evidence can be a “grave mistake,” comparing it to attempting to use fictional violence from another art form against its creator.

His comments come after prosecutors repeatedly pointed to Durk’s music while presenting their theory of the case. The defense argued that lyrics written and released as entertainment should not be treated as straightforward admissions about real-world conduct. Findling said professional artists are creating music for public consumption, making that context essential when prosecutors try to introduce their work in court.

Meanwhile, Durk’s legal fight is not finished. He remains in federal custody while facing a separate trial on charges that include murder in aid of racketeering and a related firearms count. He has pleaded not guilty. A Nov. 4 bond review is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald, while the timing of the second trial remains unsettled despite an earlier Oct. 5 date appearing on the calendar.

Read More: Artists Who Left Hip Hop Behind For Other Genres

The post Lil Durk’s Lawyer Drew Findling Reflects On Acquittal & What Comes Next appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

]]>