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 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:05:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 Brian McKnight Sues Radio Station Over Deadbeat Dad Allegations https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979541-brian-mcknight-defamation-lawsuit-radio-station-deadbeat-allegations Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:05:03 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979541 Brian McKnight shut down the accusations that he's been an "abusive" and "neglectful father" to his children.

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Brian McKnight is taking legal action against Foxy 107.1, the station’s owner, Urban One, and longtime on‑air host Karen Clark, over an interview they conducted with his ex‑wife, Julie McKnight, in January 2025. He is accusing the defendants of defamation, negligent and reckless publication, and vicarious liability, suggesting that they described him as an abusive, deadbeat dad, which he denies.

With the filing, as obtained by AllHipHop, McKnight claims that Julie used the interview to allege he was “emotionally abusive, mentally abusive, and a neglectful father.” Additionally, McKnight says that, instead of remaining neutral, Karen Clark agreed with Julie and encouraged her accusations. He says Clark should’ve offered him a chance to respond or included a disclaimer.

On top of the complaints about Foxy 107.1, McKnight complained about another Urban One show, Rickey Smiley Morning Show, using a clip from another interview with McKnight’s eldest son, Brian McKnight Jr. In the clip, McKnight Jr. alleged that his father refused to tell his late son Niko that he loved him before he died of cancer. McKnight is seeking $25,000 in compensatory damages for each claim in addition to punitive damages.

Read More: Marc Lamont Hill Goes Off On Brian McKnight For Claiming He Could “Destroy” Him

Niko McKnight’s Death

As for that last claim, McKnight Jr. made the accusation during an interview with Marc Lamont Hill in December. He recalled Niko contacting their father shortly before his death and the move allegedly backfiring. “One of the darkest and coldest and most disheartening memories of my life is the day my brother [Niko] calls me sobbing — with all he’s going through — looking death in the eye, to tell me I’m right about telling him not to call my father because I knew what was going to happen,” McKnight Jr. said during the interview.

“Because I knew where my dad was, I told [Niko], ‘Dad is gone,'” he continued. “All my brother wanted, needed, asked for was my father to tell him he loves him. My father responds to my brother, ‘I can’t arbitrarily say that I love you.’ But this is the man that wanted to help him?”

It isn’t the only time McKnight has made headlines for his relationships with his children. Back in 2024, he labeled his children “evil” in a video on Instagram: “In order to live a life that you love, you have to get rid of the evil and the negativity — even if that evil and negativity is related [to you],” he said at the time, as caught by Page Six.

Read More: Brian McKnight Allegedly Rejected Dying Son Niko’s Plea For Love

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Cardi B Performs Raunchy Rendition Of Miley Cyrus’ “Party In The USA” On Tour https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979531-cardi-b-party-in-the-usa Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:00:09 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979531 Cardi B is currently making her way around North America on her "Little Miss Drama" tour, and serving up some exciting surprises.

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Cardi B is serving up all kinds of surprises on her “Little Miss Drama” tour, including some unexpected covers. Recently, for example, the femcee delivered a special raunchy rendition of Miley Cyrus’ 2009 hit “Party In The USA.” In a clip shared by No Jumper on Instagram, she can be seen performing it while sitting on a swing suspended above the stage, leaving fans amused.

“She’s so effortlessly funny we need more celebrities like her who don’t let money change their personality,” one social media user says of the moment. “The way she gagged the whole stadium!!! Lmaoooo! Ohhh miss wap!” another writes. Someone else says, “I’m sorry but I love Cardi B sooo much.”

Cardi’s NSFW version of “Party In The USA” is far from all she’s surprised fans with during her tour so far, however. She’s also brought out several exciting guests.

Read More: Cardi B Claps Back At Twitter Trolls Claiming She Isn’t Selling Out Her Shows

Cardi B’s “Little Miss Drama” Tour

This includes GloRilla, Blueface, Tyla, and more. Kehlani even joined her onstage in Los Angeles, later giving the show a rave review. “One of the best shows i’ve ever seen in my life, one of the most incredible house hold names of our time,” she wrote. “BRAVO @iamcardib EVERY SINGLE PART of this show rocked me. @itsbankhead you are absolutely out of your mind, @kollincarter you are absolutely out of your mind.”

“I’ve been watching this undeniable thing build for years,” Kehlani continued. “From Ring to Safe and you will always have me in your corner Big Bardi! You are A SUPER STAR. I was emotional as hell for you. i laughed, i cheered, i lost my voice. There ain’t a day on this earth you gon shine and i wont be cheering! EVERYBODY PLEASE GO SEE THIS SHOW IT WAS 11/10 !!!”

Cardi gave Kehlani some flowers of her own in response, calling her “such a beautiful soul a talented artist and an amazinggg performer.”

Read More: Cardi B Flaunts “Little Miss Drama” Tour’s Record- Breaking Success

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Gavin Newsom Claps Back After Nicki Minaj’s Latest Criticism https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979522-gavin-newsom-claps-back-nicki-minaj-criticism Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:19:26 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979522 Nicki Minaj has criticized Gavin Newsom numerous times in recent months while also showing her support for Donald Trump.

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Gavin Newsom has addressed the backlash to the viral video of his discussion with Mayor Andre Dickens, during which he remarked about his low SAT score and reading ability. “I’m not, you know, I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you, I’m no better than you,” Newsom says in the video. “I’m a 960 SAT guy. And you know, I’m not trying to offend anyone [and] act ‘all there’ if you got 940.”

Newsom addressed the backlash to the clip in a post on X (formerly Twitter) directed at Sean Hannity on Monday morning. “You didn’t give a sh*t about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations sh*tholes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” he wrote.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Defends Donald Trump In Fiery Rant On Gavin Newsom & His Wife

Nicki Minaj’s Post About Gavin Newsom

Nicki Minaj was among the many voices to condemn Gavin Newsom over the comments. “His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” Minaj wrote on X. “This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved. Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that will haunt him forever? He’s literally slowing his speech down & talking in a sporadic cadence.”

She continued: “He’s not just TELLING them that they’re all probably stupid & probably can’t read, he’s LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!! As if they’re children!!!! That means he REALLY BELIEVES they’re slow. He’s not just saying it—he didn’t misspeak!!!! He BELIEVES it!!!! Do ya love it?!?!! Do ya just love it, black ppl?!????”

It’s far from the only time Minaj has spoken out to criticize Gavin Newsom or show support for President Donald Trump. She’s made several posts promoting right-wing politics and attended Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest as well.

Read More: Donald Trump Gushes Over Nicki Minaj’s “Beautiful” Skin & Nails

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Tupac’s “All Eyez On Me” Was His Post-Prison Reckoning https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/972612-tupacs-all-eyez-on-me-was-his-post-prison-reckoning Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:42:00 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=972612 "All Eyez on Me" marked a turning point in 1996, as did Tupac's death. Thirty years later, its ambition still as unapologetic as the rapper intended.

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It was October 1995, when 24-year-old Tupac Shakur was released from Clinton Correctional Facility. He had served time on a sexual abuse conviction he consistently disputed. Within hours, he was on a plane to Los Angeles. Suge Knight had posted his bail. A deal with Death Row Records was already in motion. The transition was abrupt. Tupac did not ease back into public life. He went straight to the studio.

Four months later, on February 13, 1996, he released the double album All Eyez on Me. It debuted at No. 1 and expanded Rap’s commercial scale at a time when the genre was still fighting for respect. The project was prolific and unapologetic. It sounded like an artist determined to reclaim control of his narrative after months of confinement and relentless public scrutiny.

Read More: All Eyez On Me – Album By 2Pac

Then, seven months after its release, he was killed in Las Vegas.

That tragedy changed how the album is heard today. All Eyez on Me captures a young Black artist juggling the effects of incarceration, loyalty, rivalry, fame, and the love-hate relationship with the media in real time. It shows both the power Tupac stepped into and the pressure pressing against him. The record reaches far beyond the idea of a comeback.

Death Row’s Dominance

When Tupac signed with Death Row Records in late 1995, the label was already dominating the Rap game in the West Coast. Founded by Suge Knight and anchored by Dr. Dre, the company had built its reputation on polished G-funk production and lyrical stories from the streets. While success was ongoing, there were also lawsuits, rivalries, and industry intimidation that were part of its reputation. Tupac’s arrival only intensified that energy.

Fresh out of prison and newly aligned with a label positioned at the center of the East Coast–West Coast feud, he recorded at a relentless pace. Studio accounts from that period describe long sessions and rapid writing. There was no slow reintroduction to the market.

“I only wrote one song [in jail]. But I’ve been in the studio every waking hour since I got out. Me and my producer Johnnie ‘J.’ keep coming up with new songs till people start passing out. Then we come back early in the morning and start over. You’re going to feel the entire 11 months of what I went through on this album. I’m venting my anger.”
-Tupac, L.A. Times interview, October 1995

Read More: E.D.I. Mean Of The Outlawz Talks “All Eyez On Me” & The Legacy of Tupac’s “Hit ‘Em Up”

All Eyez on Me was ambitious. At a time when albums typically ran lean, Tupac delivered a double project that did not feel padded. It moved between aggression and reflection to celebration and paranoia. Commercially, the move was strategic. Death Row understood branding. The album’s rollout reinforced Tupac’s outlaw persona while positioning him as the label’s most visible voice. The project would eventually become one of the best-selling Rap albums of all time. The message to the industry was that Rap could top charts at Rock’s scale without softening its edges.

Yet, with the scale came relentless attention. By early 1996, Tupac was no longer just a rapper. He was a national figure, appearing in films and on magazine covers while navigating active rivalries and media narratives that framed him as dangerous. Death Row’s strength boosted his platform. It also intensified the spotlight.

Read More: French Montana Praises 2Pac’s “All Eyez On Me”: “I Was Listening To That When I Didn’t Even Know English”

Within that environment, All Eyez on Me also functioned as both product and positioning. It cemented Death Row’s authority and elevated Tupac’s status. It also defined the lines between coasts at a moment when tension was already combustible.

Regional Tension & Public Rivalry

Tupac’s conflict with The Notorious B.I.G. in the mid-’90s had become central to his story. What began as a friendship had deteriorated into accusation and distrust after Tupac was shot in the lobby of Quad Recording Studios in 1994. He believed people within Bad Boy Records had prior knowledge of the attack. Those suspicions hardened during his incarceration. All Eyez on Me pressed into that strain.

Tracks like “Hit ’Em Up,” released shortly after the album as a B-side to “How Do You Want It,” left little ambiguity about where Tupac stood. The aggression was direct. The record escalated the Rap beef from competitive rivalry into something deeply personal. In that moment, Hip Hop’s regional split felt less like marketing and more like a fracture.

Read More: Mother & Son Inspiration For 2Pac’s “Brenda’s Got A Baby” Reunite After 3 Decades

At the same time, All Eyez on Me affirmed West Coast identity with clarity. “California Love,” produced by Dr. Dre, was celebratory and expansive. It positioned Los Angeles and the Golden State as a cultural capital. The production was polished, built on synthesizers and heavy bass lines that defined G-funk. It was commercially accessible without sacrificing regional pride.

Moreover, Tupac’s geography complicated the binary. Born in New York, raised in Baltimore, and artistically shaped in Oakland, he embodied multiple regions. Yet in 1996, he aligned himself firmly with the West. That choice exposed rifts that were already established.

“The thing that bothers me is that it seems like all the sensitive stuff I write just goes unnoticed . . . the media doesn’t get who I am at all. Or maybe they just can’t accept it. It doesn’t fit into those negative stories they like to write. I’m the kind of guy who is moved by a song like Don McLean’s “Vincent,” that one about Van Gogh. The lyric on that song is so touching. That’s how I want to make my songs feel. Take “Dear Mama”—I aimed that one straight for my homies’ heartstrings.”
-Tupac, The L.A. Times interview, 1995

Read More: Suge Knight Alleges Tupac Begged Suge To Kill Him After Vegas Shooting

Inside The Record: Sound, Collaborators, & Construction

The album’s opening track, “Ambitionz Az a Ridah,” does not ease the listener in. It asserts power immediately. The tone is aggressive and confident, and the outlaw persona is amplified. Still, the vulnerability never disappears. It is simply layered beneath the bravado.

Then, the Danny Brown-assisted “I Ain’t Mad at Cha” reflects on fractured friendships and the inevitability of change. “Life Goes On” mourns loss without sensationalism. Even nestled within tracks built for the club, there is an undercurrent of fatalism. Tupac oscillates between celebration and premonition.

Dr. Dre helmed “California Love,” built around a Roger Troutman-assisted hook that felt nostalgic and futuristic. The track’s synth layers and talkbox vocals gave it mainstream appeal without diluting its regional identity. It became one of the defining records of 1996.

Read More: Maino On Tupac: “Nobody Spoke To The Black Male Experience Like He Did”

“If they can stop me, they can stop 30 more rappers before they even born. But there’s something else I understand now: If we really are saying Rap is an art form, then we got to be true to it and be more responsible for our lyrics. If you see everybody dying because of what you saying, it don’t matter that you didn’t make them die, it just matters that you didn’t save them.”
-Tupac, Vibe Magazine cover story, 1995

Still, Dre was not the sole architect. Daz Dillinger and Johnny “J” contributed significantly to the album’s sonic backbone. Johnny “J” in particular shaped much of the project’s melodic feel. His production on tracks like “How Do U Want It” and “All Bout U” balanced smooth instrumentation with hard percussion, allowing Tupac’s cadence to cut cleanly through arrangements.

Speaking of “How Do U Want It,” featuring K-Ci & JoJo, it became another commercial high point, topping charts and reinforcing Pac’s crossover presence. The collaboration also bridged Rap and R&B at a moment when that fusion was expanding radio. Moreover, the album’s guest list included Snoop Dogg, who appeared on multiple tracks, reinforcing Death Row unity. Nate Dogg added hooks with melodies that softened otherwise hard-edged bars. Further, Tha Dogg Pound’s presence grounded the project firmly in the West Coast ecosystem.

Read More: 2Pac’s Father Admits He Was “Upset” Over “Dear Mama”

The duality of All Eyez on Me was a part of what makes the album endure. It does not present one single version of masculinity. It presents a young Black man steering survival in public view. He performs invincibility while acknowledging fragility. He embraces excess while speaking openly about incarceration and institutional distrust.

The persona was purposeful. Tupac understood the power of image. He knew controversy extended reach. At Death Row, power was currency. Yet, beneath the performance lay a writer who had studied theater and poetry and had been raised in political thought. That education surfaces in the emotional scope of the record.

The Album, In Hindsight

On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas. He died six days later at 25 years old. The case remained shrouded in rumors and conjecture for decades. Soon, a trial may lay some of the speculation to rest. Pac’s death altered the way All Eyez on Me was heard.

It was not built as a farewell. After his murder, however, it became foundational to the mythology surrounding him. Tupac was no longer just an artist figuring out conflict. He became a symbol, a martyr to some and a cautionary tale to others. His posthumous releases followed, and death solidified his status while also accelerating the business of legacy.

Read More: Tupac Shakur BMW He Was Riding In When Shot Is Up For Auction At $1.7Mil

The mid-1990s were not kind to Black male celebrities. Rappers were often depicted as threats rather than artists. Media narratives emphasized criminality and chaos. Pac’s prior legal troubles fed that framing. Rather than retreat, he leaned into it. He exaggerated the outlaw image and forced audiences to confront it on his terms. The same industry that celebrated his sales figures also commodified his volatility. All Eyez on Me sits at that intersection. It is celebratory and defiant, yet also aware. It documents what it meant to be young, Black, famous, and constantly misread.

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Megan Thee Stallion Hints At Wanting To Marry Klay Thompson https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979500-megan-thee-stallion-engagement-plans-klay-thompson Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:29:30 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979500 Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson first confirmed their relationship by attending a gala in New York City together, last year.

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Megan Thee Stallion hinted at having marriage plans with Klay Thompson while stopping at a cafe in Milan with Olympians Brittany Bowe and Hilary Knight for a recent YouTube short. “I heard y’all just got engaged, congrats!” Megan told the couple. While watching a TikTok video of Knight proposing to Bowe, she added, “I love love, that’s so sweet. Manifesting my engagement, too.”

The remarks come after Megan shut down break-up rumors about their relationship that had been swirling online, earlier this month. As fans noticed that they weren’t following one another on social media, Megan shared a photo dump from a recent vacation they took together. “Aw man I was not ready for this birthday trip to be over. A time was definitely had,” she captioned the post. THANK YOU BABY.”

Read More: Megan Thee Stallions Turns Heads With Black & Yellow Dress Amid Klay Thompson Rumors

Megan Thee Stallion & Klay Thompson’s Relationship

Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson originally went public with their relationship at the inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City in July 2025. At the event, she labeled the Dallas Mavericks star the “nicest person I’ve ever met in my life.” In the months since, they’ve made numerous public appearances together.

Megan Thee Stallion recently discussed her relationship with Klay Thompson while speaking with People. In doing so, she admitted that it came as a surprise, but it still ended up being the perfect time for her. “I think that because finally I started being in a better mind space about myself and my life, and I had already been doing a lot of work to heal me,” she told the outlet. “I had been going to therapy, I had a bunch of activities that I started doing for myself; maybe God just opened up that space for me to have somebody that loved me right. This is one of the first times that I’ve ever been just overly comfortable. I’m comfy, babe!”

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Shows Off Sporty Look At The Winter Olympics

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Offset Throws Grayson Waller Over A Table During Explosive “WWE Raw” Debut https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979486-offset-wwe-raw-debut Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:01:14 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979486 Offset recently made his "WWE Raw" debut during Je’Von Evans’ face-off against Kofi Kingston at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

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Recently, Offset made his WWE Raw debut at the State Farm Arena in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. During Je’Von Evans’ face-off against Kofi Kingston, the former Migos member tossed Grayson Waller over a table, as seen in a clip shared by WWE on Twitter/X. Ultimately, Evans took home the victory.

Offset was far the only celebrity in attendance. Several other special guests, like 2 Chainz, Lil Yachty, Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Tierra Whack, and more, were also there. Offset’s 2025 single “Bodies (BNYX Mix)” featuring J.I.D and Drowning Pool was recently named the official theme song for the elimination chamber.

News of Offset’s WWE Raw debut comes just a few months after his ex, Cardi B, hosted SummerSlam 2025.

Read More: Stefon Diggs Seen With Offset’s Ex At Super Bowl Amid Cardi B Breakup Rumors

Cardi B Hosts SummerSlam 2025

Ahead of the event, Triple H spoke about the femcee’s involvement during an interview with Billboard. When asked whether or not she’d be stepping into the ring, he suggested that anything was possible.

“I don’t know if anybody can control Cardi B, let me just start with that,” he explained. “So if she wants to, I think it’s going to be hard to talk her out of it. And then what can we expect? Who the hell knows. The one thing I know about Cardi is, whatever she’s going to do, is what she’s going to do. And you’re sort of kind of just hanging on to the tiger’s tail a little bit there.”

“She’s excited to do it,” the retired professional wrestler added. “I think, as everybody knows, she’s a big fan and has, you know, talked a lot about the business over the years and all that stuff and comments on it a lot. So when you work with people like that, it’s exciting. We’ll see, we’ll see where that goes. But we’re thrilled to be working with her.”

Read More: Fans Scream “F*ck Offset” At Cardi B & Stefon Diggs

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Mase Calls Out Charlamagne Tha God For His Negativity On “The Breakfast Club” https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979450-mase-calls-out-charlamagne-tha-god-negativity-the-breakfast-club Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:45:28 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979450 Mase has been at odds with Charlamagne tha God for years, but he reflected on their issues on "It Is What It Is."

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Mase called out Charlamagne Tha God during a recent episode of his talk show with Cam’ron, It Is What It Is. In doing so, he complained about The Breakfast Club host’s negative coverage of him on the show.

“It seemed like every time something would come up, Charlamagne would just talk about my name and just go in a negative direction,” Mase said. “I didn’t know what was the connection that we had or where our paths crossed or what happened. But it just seemed like he always had a negative take about me. It was something I remembered, even when I started doing journalism. So, when I hear people say certain things about me, I kind of try to remember that same thing. I never met this guy, I don’t think we’ve crossed paths, I don’t think I know anybody that he knows.”

From there, Mase explained that he felt like Charlamagne was making it his “personal business” to tear him down, despite him not doing anything to warrant mainstream attention at that point in his career. “This person is not on the radar. They’re not doing anything on the public side at that point that merits the number one show in the country to be talking about this person,” he said.

Read More: Ebro Goes Off On Mase For Criticizing Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

Are Charlamagne Tha God & Mase Still Beefing?

Although he was hurt at the time, Mase says he’s moved past it. “I forgot it,” he said. “It wasn’t something I held on to. It taught me a lesson. So, even when I’m up here… You don’t want somebody to feel like you’re just taking your platform, and because you have all of these people that listen to you, and you’re focusing in on me in a negative way. That’s not the way to use a platform. That’s not good journalism.”

Charlamagne Tha God’s criticism of Mase stemmed from his hiatus from music to focus on Christian ministry, as well as his claims about being blackballed from the industry. Charlamagne described him as inauthentic, and they allegedly had a confrontation over the criticism.

Read More: Mase Echoes Chris Brown’s Super Bowl Message While Trashing Bad Bunny’s Performance

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Jesse Jackson Never Underestimated Hip-Hop’s Power https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979468-jesse-jackson-hip-hop-influence Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:33:50 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979468 As long as hip-hop continues to articulate the frustrations and hopes of marginalized communities, it will carry echoes of Jesse Jackson’s voice.

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Hip-hop has always been an extension of the American civil rights tradition—a genre rooted in grassroots community building that eventually became a global phenomenon. It carries forward the political theory and moral urgency developed by Black leaders during the civil rights movement, transforming that blueprint into rhythm and verse. That impact has been felt globally. Not just in America, but across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, hip-hop has become the voice of communities fighting marginalization. It empowers those who have been minimized and discarded, translating protest into culture.

Very few people recognized hip-hop’s long-term impact in its early days, but Jesse Jackson did. When news broke that Jackson passed away on February 17, 2026, at 84, it marked the loss of one of the few civil rights leaders who consistently saw rap not as a threat, but as a potential. His work began in the 1960s—marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr.—and stretched into every decade that followed. He criticized presidential administrations, confronted systemic racism, and remained attentive to hip-hop’s cultural reach.

Jackson treated rap as an extension of the Black freedom struggle rather than a cultural liability. That distinction mattered during the late 1980s and 1990s, when politicians and media outlets targeted the genre as corrosive. Even as hip-hop’s political lens narrowed over time, Jackson remained committed to its higher possibilities. He defended its legitimacy while challenging its excesses. He could critique misogyny and violence while insisting that rap deserved space as political speech.

In many ways, Jackson became a bridge between hip-hop’s cultural force and its political conscience. His voice appeared in the orbit of groups like Public Enemy, and artists such as Nas referenced him as part of a broader tradition of Black leadership. Jackson was never a mogul or producer, but his influence seeped into rap through language and moral framing.

PHOENIX – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Muhammed Ali, Jesse Jackson and Jay-Z attend the 58th NBA All-Star Game, part of 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend at US Airways Center on February 15, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The most famous convergence of Jackson-style rhetoric and hip-hop spectacle came in 2005, when Kanye West interrupted a Hurricane Katrina telethon and declared, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.” The backlash was swift, but the moment echoed the tradition of prophetic protest speech that Jackson had long embodied. Jackson didn’t amplify Kanye’s exact words, but he affirmed the broader truth behind them, arguing that the suffering of Black residents in New Orleans reflected “a historical indifference to the pain of poor people and Black people.” The cadence was a familiar moral indictment delivered without apology.

In Chicago, where Jackson built much of his career, that influence was felt long before Kanye stepped onto a national stage. During an interview on The Breakfast Club, Kurtis Blow recalled how Jackson viewed hip-hop artists as the next generation of civil rights heroes. Blow passed that message along to pioneers like The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, and The Furious Five. According to Blow, early artists even adopted a code of ethics—no cursing, no dissing, keep it clean—as a form of discipline and respectability that could help the culture gain mainstream acceptance.

Jackson folded hip-hop’s community-driven spirit into his own outreach through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, recognizing its ability to mobilize young people. One of the most visible intersections between Jackson and hip-hop politics came in 1992, in the aftermath of the Los Angeles uprising. When rapper and activist Sister Souljah made controversial remarks that sparked outrage from then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton, Jackson defended her right to express the anger of her generation. Clinton’s rebuke became known as the “Sister Souljah moment,” but Jackson countered that she represented “the feelings and hopes of a whole generation of people.” That statement represented hip-hop’s broader emotional reality.

Still, Jackson’s support was not blind. As rap grew more commercial and corporate, he became more critical of its excesses—violence, misogyny, and the normalization of harmful language. He believed hip-hop could be transformative, but he also believed it carried responsibility. His stance reflected tension rather than contradiction: hope mixed with accountability.

Jackson wasn’t a mogul who elevated hip-hop in boardrooms, nor a producer who defined a sonic era. But his spirit lives in artists who fuse sermon and studio. On Michael, Killer Mike channels that preacherly cadence, turning confession and critique into performance. Whether mainstream rap still carries the urgency Jackson championed is debatable. In an era of corporate caution, fewer artists are willing to rattle political cages. Yet hip-hop remains, at its core, a grassroots movement. As long as it continues to articulate the frustrations and hopes of marginalized communities, it will carry echoes of Jesse Jackson’s voice.

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Meek Mill Reveals The Truth Behind Infamous Bunny Hopping Video https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979470-meek-mill-truth-behind-bunny-hopping Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:10:51 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979470 An old video of Meek Mill doing "bunny hops" for Michael Rubin on a tennis court is under scrutiny once again.

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A couple of years ago, footage of Meek Mill doing “bunny hops” for Michael Rubin on a tennis court surfaced online. The video quickly went viral and raised questions about what exactly was going on. Now, the Philly-born performer has taken to Twitter/X to set the record straight, making it clear that it wasn’t what trolls have made it out to be.

“They clipped me doing bunny hops and acted as if a billionaire made me do something against me moral codes from a lost bet,” he wrote. “That was a ‘clip’ I bought them billionaires around the culture where millions was made in the rap industry many artist that’s the clip!”

This isn’t the first time Meek has addressed the infamous clip, however. In 2024, he also provided fans with some clarification. According to him, he was simply showing Rubin a game he and other inmates used to play when he was in prison.

Read More: Meek Mill Thanks Young Thug For Staying Solid During Meek’s Drake Beef

Michael Rubin Addresses Meek Mill Rumors

“This a game I started from prison we used to make killers do bunny hops when they loss because it was too hostile for money,” he tweeted. “This be us!!! Ima get Rubin to bunny hop for me okay lol ima teach him d thang hop!” 

Rubin discussed the video and subsequent rumors during an appearance on The Breakfast Club later that year. “When I see the narrative of, a really good friend of mine like Meek, and people are trying to… Again, if he was gay — which there’s not one gay bone in his body — who cares, number one. If people wanna be gay, it is 2024. Who the f*ck cares?” Rubin began.

“Number two, there’s not a gay bone in his body, so why do people wanna lie about that? Why do people want to change the narrative of a bet he made with me to try to hurt him?” he continued. “That is the one thing I’ve learned about, you know, look, I’m just being blunt because it’s me. It’s the one thing I’ve learned about Black culture that I don’t like is that Black hate on hate [sic].”

Read More: Meek Mill Goes Off About Today’s Overproduced “Bubblegum Rap”

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Joe Budden’s Girlfriend Checks Emanny For Insinuating He Cheats https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/979447-joe-budden-girlfriend-checks-emanny Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:42:33 +0000 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/?p=979447 Joe Budden's girlfriend Shadée Monqiue was in the studio for a recent episode of his podcast, and didn't like what she was hearing.

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Things got awkward on the set of The Joe Budden Podcast recently, after the personality’s girlfriend Shadée Monique called out his co-host Emanny. The situation unfolded after Emanny supposedly insinuated that Budden had been unfaithful to her. Emanny denied this, insisting that it was just a simple misunderstanding. “You’re a liar,” Shadée told him, as captured by joebuddenclips / fanpage on Twitter/X. “Don’t get on this mic lying.”

Fortunately, it looks like everyone was able to laugh it off, but social media users have plenty to say about the interaction. While some are calling Shadée out for trying to press Emanny, others are coming to her defense.

“Everybody including Joe makes cheating jokes its unfair to try and attack just emanny over that,” one viewer. “You should have that energy for Joe not him,” another claims. Someone else asks, “Now why would he do that?”

Read More: Joe Budden Weighs In On DJ Vlad “Trolling” With His Conspiracy Post

Joe Budden Podcast Drama

This is far from the only drama to unfold on the set of The Joe Budden Podcast, however. Back in 2021, both Rory and Mal were also famously fired while filming an episode, resulting in a messy public feud. During a recent appearance on Club Shay Shay, Budden reflected on the ordeal, admitting that it was far from easy for him to navigate.

“It was really tough in the moment,” he told host Shannon Sharpe. “You got friendships you’re managing, you’re managing business [and] people’s view of the business. It was difficult. […] And then they left, and I wish them brothers nothing but the best. Again, my faith be in God. My faith is in a higher power at all times. So, whatever is happening, that’s what’s supposed to be happening.”

“I’m not sitting around weeping at the hand that I’m dealt,” Budden concluded. “I’m getting to it. I needed all that education that came from that split. It was informative. It was important for me to get to the next place that I was going.”

Read More: Joe Budden Shows Off Body Transformation In New Workout Video

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