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 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:54:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 NBA YoungBoy Collaborator Billy Resio Dead At 30 After Drive-By Shooting https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969377-billy-resio-dead-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:54:50 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969377 Durham rapper Billy Resio was shot at about 9 p.m. Sunday night on Hillsborough Road and later passed away in the hospital.

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2026 is off to a difficult start for the loved ones of Billy Resio, a Durham rapper who was targeted in a drive-by on Sunday (January 4). Per WRAL, he was driving on Hillsborough Road at around 9 p.m. when someone in another vehicle pulled next to him and started shooting. Not long after that, he died in the hospital.

A woman who had been sitting in the passenger seat also suffered serious injuries. Her identity and condition have not been made public at the time of writing.

As news of the tragedy continues to make its rounds online, countless fans and loved ones have taken to social media with tributes. This includes Rich Nation CEO Michael Mitchell, who shared an emotional post about the loss earlier this week.

🕊 REST IN POWER BILLY RESIO 🕊,” the post begins. “I don’t even know how to type this
 my heart is broken in ways I can’t explain. Today I lost my artist, my brother, my family.”

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

Who Is Billy Resio?

“Billy Resio was taken from us way too soon in Durham, NC, and this pain is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I loved that kid for real. He wasn’t just talent—he was pure heart, raw truth, hunger, and loyalty. He believed in the vision, and I believed in him,” it continues. “We created history together.
He gave the world ‘Labeled Me Top Shotta’ featuring NBA YoungBoy, and he poured his soul into every record he made. Now he’s gone
 but his voice, his energy, and his story will never die.”

Mitchell went on to promise that Resio’s legacy will live on. In addition to his collaboration with YB, the late artist was known for his songs “Lies,” “Bonnie And Clyde,” and more. He was just 30 years old when he passed away, and is survived by his one-year-old son.

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

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Zadeh Kicks Founder Sentenced To Prison For $80 Million Sneaker Fraud https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969383-zadeh-kicks-prison-sentence-sneaker-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:50:25 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969383 Zadeh Kicks founder Michael Malekzadeh was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for an $80 million sneaker fraud scheme.

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Michael Malekzadeh, the man behind Zadeh Kicks, just got sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. The 42-year-old from Eugene, Oregon ran one of the sneaker community’s biggest scams ever.

He stole approximately $80 million from sneaker collectors, everyday customers, and financial institutions. On top of prison time, he faces five years of supervised release afterward. The court ordered Malekzadeh to forfeit over $15 million in assets back to victims.

His fraud destroyed financial security and delayed major life milestones for countless people. People couldn’t buy homes, retire, or move forward with their lives because of him. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford didn’t mince words calling it pure “insatiable greed.”

For years, Zadeh Kicks looked like a legit sneaker resale platform to everyone. Malekzadeh collected payments knowing he’d never actually send the sneakers out to customers. Instead, he blew the money on his own lavish lifestyle choices consistently.

The FBI finally stepped in after mountains of complaints from scammed buyers piled up. FBI Special Agent Stephanie Shark put it bluntly in her statement about the case. He literally took money from kids and adults promising sneakers that never existed.

This represents probably the biggest fraud case in sneakers. But, it isn’t the only major fraud investigation rocking sneaker resale lately.

Back in October 2025, we covered Cool Kicks owner Adeel Shams getting arrested during an LAPD raid. The high-profile Melrose Avenue store owner faced felony fraud charges after police raided their warehouse. Cool Kicks claimed the issues involved allegedly stolen goods sold in good faith.

These back-to-back cases show serious problems exist within the sneaker resale industry.

Read More: Steph Curry Wears “Black Cat” 4s, CP3 PEs, Kobe 4s Against Clippers

Zadeh Kicks Lawsuit

Michael Malekzadeh operated Zadeh Kicks as a sneaker resale business while running a massive fraud operation. He accepted payments from thousands of customers for limited sneakers he never planned to ship.

The money funded his expensive lifestyle including luxury purchases and personal expenses for years. Malekzadeh also defrauded multiple banks through false loan applications and financial misrepresentations.

The scheme totaled approximately $80 million in losses across all victims. Prosecutors presented evidence showing deliberate intent to defraud from the operation’s beginning stages.

The investigation revealed Malekzadeh knew he couldn’t fulfill orders but continued accepting new payments. The victims of this were sneaker collectors of all ages who trusted that Zadeh Kicks was legitimate.

Read More: Air Jordan 1 “Royal” Returning In 2026: Release Info

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A$AP Rocky’s “Punk Rocky” First-Day Streams Bode Well For His New Album https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969362-asap-rocky-punk-rocky-first-day-streams-new-album-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:45:42 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969362 A$AP Rocky also shared a music video for "Punk Rocky" featuring appearances from Winona Ryder, Thundercat, and more.

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A$AP Rocky’s latest single, “Punk Rocky,” was streamed 1.6 million times on Spotify during its first day of tracking, according to Kurrco. The release comes as he gears up to drop his long-awaited fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, later this month. The project has already amassed over 500k pre-saves on the platform.

Rocky shared “Punk Rocky” on Monday along with a music video featuring appearances from Winona Ryder, Danny Elfman, Thundercat, and A$AP Nast. On the track, he croons about falling in love and the fears that come with doing so. “I wanna fall in love, don’t want no broken heart / Don’t wanna grow apart,” he sings on the chorus.

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

When Is A$AP Rocky Dropping “Don’t Be Dumb”?

Unless there is another last-minute delay, A$AP Rocky will be dropping Don’t Be Dumb on January 16. Since 2024, Rocky has dropped several singles intended for the project. They include “Highjack”, “Tailor Swif”, “Ruby Rosary,” and “Pray4DaGang” as well as “Punk Rocky.” Rocky still hasn’t confirmed a tracklist for the album, so it’s unclear whether all of them will make the cut. Last month, he revealed that filmmaker Tim Burton designed the cover artwork.

Rocky recently teamed up with the financial company, Bilt, to release an exclusive vinyl version of Don’t Be Dumb. In a press release for that announcement, the company provided some insight as to what fans can expect from the album. “The 15 track, 2LP vinyl moves through genres the way you’d move through a city—Jazz, Hip-Hop, Metal, Indie, R&B—each track capturing a different block, mood, or moment. It’s Rocky in full range,” it reads.

Along with the physical release, Rocky also worked with Bilt to help cover the cost of January’s rent for every tenant in an apartment building he lived in as a teenager in Harlem, New York City.

“For me, it’s always been about your community and neighborhood. Harlem made me who I am, from uptown to downtown, and that connection to place is everything,” Rocky said in a press release obtained by Realtor.com. “When Bilt said they wanted to cover rent for everyone in the same building where I grew up, that hit different. That’s not just business, that’s understanding what community really means.”

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

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Papoose Appears To Take Shots At 50 Cent In New Song Preview https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969364-papoose-50-cent-new-song-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:16:27 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969364 50 Cent and Papoose have exchanged various AI-generated jabs in recent days, and Claressa Shields has even been dragged into the feud.

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50 Cent is certainly no stranger to beefing with his peers, and it looks like he doesn’t plan on changing his habits in the new year. Last week, the mogul took to Instagram to share an AI-generated video of Papoose and Claressa Shields’ faces on the bodies of Jesse Amos and Emma Mae, characters from the film Black Sister’s Revenge.

It appeared to be a reference to an incident that happened back in October. At the time, internet comedian Gerald Huston trolled Shields in public by pretending to think she was Serena Williams. Allegedly, Papoose smacked Huston with a book in response, making it clear that he didn’t appreciate the disrespect.

“Now you see, that’s assault!” Fif captioned the post. “You can’t just go around putting your hands on PEOPLE. LOL Happy New Year!” In response, Pap posted an AI-generated video of 50 Cent throwing it back in hoop earrings, a bra, and shorts.

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

Why Are Papoose & 50 Cent Beefing?

The AI trolling went on a bit longer before Fif posted a clip of Papoose’s ex, Remy Ma, reflecting on their relationship. “[My] ex might be the least income-making person that I’ve ever been with. Ever,” she said in the clip. He clowned him for this in his caption, and as a result, Shields jumped in.

“These rappers don’t get they a** beat enough that’s the problem,” she declared. The pro boxer then proceeded to remind him that he once invited her to help out with his nonprofit, prompting him to admit that he’s actually a fan.

Now, Papoose has made his next move. Yesterday, he took to Instagram to preview a new song, which contains a few bars that seem to be directed at his foe. “Best ever
 the untouchable ‘PAPOOSE’. If you feel something kill something! 😎,” he captioned the clip. For now, it remains unclear when the finished product is set to drop. Fif has yet to address the snippet.

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

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Max B Sets The Record Straight Amid Snitching Rumors https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969338-max-b-snitching-rumors-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:57:11 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969338 In 2009, Max B was sentenced to 75 years in prison after being convicted of nine counts related to a robbery, but his sentence was reduced.

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It’s only been a few months since Max B was released from prison after a 16-year stay. Regardless, he’s already wrapped up in all kinds of controversy. In 2009, the rapper was sentenced to 75 years behind bars after being convicted of nine counts related to a robbery-gone-wrong. His conviction was later vacated, and he accepted a plea deal for aggravated manslaughter in 2016. As a result, his sentence was reduced to just 20 years, and he was able to get out early.

This has resulted in some rumors that he snitched to get less time. According to him, however, this isn’t the case. During a recent appearance on the Dog In The Yard podcast, he set the record straight once and for all, clarifying that taking a plea deal doesn’t always mean turning on one’s co-defendants.

He emphasized that while he’s confident in the truth, he also knows that people will believe whatever they choose to.

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

Did Max B Jump Ja Rule?

This isn’t the first rumor Max B has had to shut down since getting out of prison, either. Back in November, rumors began to swirl that Ja Rule got jumped outside of a restaurant in New York City, and that Max B and his crew were involved.

Amid the rumors, Ja Rule hopped online to respond to Tasha K’s post about the alleged juping and reveal what actually happened. “Tasha why you lying to these good ppl,” he asked her at the time. “Yes some b*tch a*s n****s tried to jump me. No it wasn’t at sei less and I’m chilling smoking a joint watching SVP wit not a scratch on me
”

Shortly after that, Max B took to Twitter/X to clear the air and tell the world to stop trying to drag him into drama. “Don’t tie me or my people to anything negative,” he demanded. “We grown we on positive vibes only.”

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

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6ix9ine Claims He’s Going Back To Jail Because A Close Friend Snitched On Him https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969342-6ix9ine-going-to-jail-because-close-friend-snitched-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:56:29 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969342 6ix9ine pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his supervised release in 2025 and will spend the next three months in jail.

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6ix9ine discussed why he’s going back to jail for the next three months during a live stream with Adin Ross before turning himself in. He claimed that a former friend snitched on him and sent authorities to conduct a raid on his home in Florida. 6ix9ine was charged with violating the terms of his supervised release in 2025.

“I had a close friend/worker, and we fell out,” 6ix9ine told Ross. “What he ended up doing was meet with the feds and say I had drugs and guns in the house. They found an illegal gun and three ecstasy pills. Like I said, I’m on probation, so I give full consent to search my house, because I know there’s nothing there. After that was the mall situation… Basically, I was at the mall, and I was shopping with my girlfriend and my stepson and some guy was like, ‘If you weren’t with your family, I’d kill you, you f*cking rat.’ When we beat him up, he called the cops and made a report.”

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

Where Is 6ix9ine In Jail?

6ix9ine is currently residing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Taking to social media, earlier this year, he confirmed that he’ll be living alongside several other high-profile inmates at the facility. These include Venezuelan President NicolĂĄs Maduro as well as Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024.

“Yo guys, remember when I told you I was in prison with Diddy, the president of Honduras, and Sam Bankman-Fried, and you guys thought I was lying? And then it came out that the president of Honduras was like, ‘He’s such a cool guy,’ I put Diddy on the phone with Akademiks. Now, I’m about to go meet the president of Venezuela,” 6xi9ine revealed. “I have that luck of just being locked up with presidents. Oh, and I’m about to meet Luigi too. I’m about to play chess with them n****s, eat ramen noodles.”

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

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Cardi B Claps Back At Jesse Woo For Accusing Her Of Having A “Revenge Baby” https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969320-cardi-b-claps-back-jesse-woo-accusing-her-revenge-baby-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:06:46 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969320 Cardi B and Stefon Diggs welcomed their first child together back in November.

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Cardi B went off on Jesse Woo in a fiery X Spaces livestream viewed by Complex on Monday. The Love and Hip Hop: Miami star had recently accused her of having a child with Stefon Diggs as a way of getting back at her estranged husband, Offset.

“A revenge on what? On who? Yo, these b*tches just be saying sh*t because what is a revenge baby? Do you think that l be like, ‘Hey, I’m going to have a baby because I’m going to have revenge!’ On what, b*tch? On my ex-husband, b*tch?” Cardi began her rant. “I don’t need to have a baby for revenge, baby. My whole life is revenge, my money is revenge, my career is revenge. My album is revenge. Me not dying over a n***a is revenge. Me having freedom is revenge.”

She continued: “I could wake up and buy me a car, a house. I could spend a million dollars in one day. You know why I kept my baby? Because I love my baby. Me and my man made that baby with f*cking love, b*tch. We was f*cking down. F*cking down, ‘til it stank!”

From there, Cardi B went after Jesse Woo directly. “Jessie Woo is another hating ass b*tch,” she said. “You always f*cking lying about some sh*t, dumb*ss b*tch. Sick of you too, bitch. The f*ck is you talking about ‘policing?’ I don’t got to police no n***a to stay with me.”

Cardi concluded: “You think it’s easy to carry life? 
 Of course this a b*tch with no f*cking kids, so you wouldn’t even understand how sacred that sh*t is. Think having a baby is buying a puppy? B*tch, this ain’t no f*cking puppy! And that’s another b*tch that I don’t f*cking like cuz she lied on me. Lied on me the day that I announced that I was pregnant. Suck my d*ck, b*tch.”

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

Who Is Cardi B Dating?

Following her split from Offset, Cardi B began dating Stefon Diggs. Within a year, the two announced they were expecting their first child together. She welcomed their son in November.

Diggs was arrested on a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault, last month. Cardi spoke out in his defense in a since-deleted post on X. “Not once has that woman said anything to me about being touched.. NOT ONCE!!,” she wrote, as caught by TMZ.

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

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Drake’s New Album Gets A Huge Update From DJ Akademiks: “The IceMan Is Coming” https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969314-drake-album-update-dj-akademiks-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:58:56 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969314 DJ Akademiks has dropped yet another hint about Drake's highly anticipated ninth studio album, "ICEMAN," following months of teasing.

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Drake has been teasing his highly anticipated ninth studio album, ICEMAN, for several months. Now, it looks like the release date could be imminent. Today (January 7), DJ Akademiks took to Twitter/X to drop a cryptic hint about the project. “The IceMan is coming,” he wrote simply.

While it remains unclear exactly what this means, many are convinced that the album will be released sooner rather than later. Others aren’t so sure, as this is far from the first time Ak has dropped a hint like this. Last month, for example, he hopped on Twitter/X once again to tease what’s to come.

“Damn .. yall n****s really miss Drake… I’ll let him kno,” he said at the time. “All the haters done change their tune .. maybe yall were right all he needed to do was to fall back n let yall realize ain’t sh*t popping out here without hm and now yall all remember the glory days huh…”

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

When Is Drake Dropping ICEMAN?

During a livestream in November, Akademiks told fans that Drake is busy in the studio readying the upcoming LP.

“Yo, Drake been off the road, he’s cooking up, and it’s a beautiful thing for all Drake fans,” he explained. “Now we’re going to get what we really want from The Boy. N***a hit me. He says, ‘Ak, the stove is hot!’ I’m just letting y’all know. […] ‘Remember I tell y’all.’ The Boy is confirming, man, the cook-up is happening.”

“Let my boy live in peace, no livestreams, collabs, or whatever right now,” he continued. “No random distractions. We don’t want no tings trying to jump out. Let my boy cook, and whenever he’s done cheffing, we gon’ have a good time, man. […] We’re about to go through one of those again, I like it.”

For now, an official release date for ICEMAN has not yet been announced, though it’s expected to drop sometime this year.

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

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RAINDROPS – Song By Your Old Droog & WIKI https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969280-raindrops-your-old-droog-wiki-redveil Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:22:00 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969280 Your Old Droog has teamed up with WIKI and redveil for a smooth new track called "Raindrops" that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

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Your Old Droog is looking to start 2026 the right way. This week, he came through with a new song called “Raindrops,” which features the likes of Wiki and redveil on the production. In fact, redveil gets a shoutout on the track for taking the drums out of the beat. Overall, this is a solid performance from YOD and Wiki, who really do shine throughout the run time. The flows are smooth, the production sounds amazing, and everyone is complementing each other perfectly. This is a great way to start the year, and we’re excited to hear more from Your Old Droog, very soon.

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

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50 Cent Roasts T.I. For Bombing During His Comedy Special https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/969293-50-cent-roasts-t-i-bombing-comedy-set-hip-hop-news Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:20:11 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=969293 T.I. finally put out his first stand-up special, "Cheaper Than Therapy," last month after focusing on his comedy career in recent years.

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50 Cent called out T.I. in a recent post on Instagram by sharing a clip of the rapper appearing to bomb during one of his stand-up comedy sets. “Damn it man! It look easy but it’s not easy at all,” 50 wrote in the caption. In the clip, T.I. jokes about Young Thug’s recent legal trouble and suggests white fans in the audience may not be aware of the rapper.

When DJ Akademiks shared the post on Instagram, fans in the comments section theorized that 50 edited out the crowd’s audio to make T.I. seem worse. “So they edit the sound out and of course miserable 50 comes along and wants to repost it,” one user wrote. Another added: “People is haters. Why would you take time to edit the sound out and make it seem like the crowd didn’t respond? SMH people be weird.”

Read More: Why Is The Internet So Mad At Claressa Shields?

Are 50 Cent & T.I. Beefing?

Despite the jab, 50 Cent also shared a clip of T.I. discussing their relationship during an appearance on Get Yo Ass Up Show With Tony The Closer. In the video, T.I. downplayed the drama and shut down a rumor that he was originally supposed to appear in the Starz series, Power. “50 and I were executive producers on a different show outside of the Power universe. But me and 50 cool. I’m the only one who’s not offended by his brass approach. And, he’s not offended by mine. So, you know, we play rough, but ain’t no issue. It’s a mutual respect.”

As for T.I.’s comedy career, he’s been focusing on stand-up for the last several years. Shifting away from music, he’s been honing his craft on various stages across the country. On Christmas Eve, he shared his first special, “Cheaper Than Therapy.”

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

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