“An album drops. A conversation happens. You don’t even give a f*** about this artist. You never loved this artist, you don’t even really care about this genre, you’re not educated in the space, you just see a conversation happening, and you want to be a part of the conversation so lemme go listen to such and such’s album… I didn’t do no work to actually get to this album and to have an opinion,” Cole said.

He continued: “If I didn’t like an album when I bought that sh*t on CD, guess what? I got the right to not like this b*tch because I spent $15.99. I got the right, and now I can have a conversation with somebody else that spent their $15.99. If you didn’t spend $15.99, you can’t even talk to me about this album. We can’t have the conversation. You didn’t do the work, you didn’t make any type of investment.”

Read More: The Issue With Usher & J. Cole’s Comments About Diddy

J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” Album

The interview comes after J. Cole put out his seventh studio album, The Fall-Off, in February. It features collaborations with Burna Boy, Erykah Badu, Future, Morray, Petey Pablo, PJ, and Tems. Cole will be kicking off a world tour in promotion of the project in July.

Lost in Vegas is far from the only interview Cole has done in recent weeks. He’s also appeared on the 7PM In Brooklyn podcast with Carmelo Anthony, as well as Cam’ron’s Talk With Flee show. With those discussions, he’s been making headlines for speaking about his viral feud with Kendrick Lamar, whether he’s going to commit to retiring from music, and more.

Read More: Does Future Really Have More Classics Than Kendrick Lamar?

The post J. Cole Reveals The Problem With Hip-Hop In The Streaming Age appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“It’s an empty word now,” he claimed. “It used to mean something. Now it’s just a buzzword that don’t mean nothing. Actually, what y’all are speaking about is bought and paid by paid campaigns, or motherf*ckin’ bots, or just the algorithm.”

“It hurts me to see,” he continued. “Because of ‘culture,’ which is really just the internet, now a word don’t make it out of Black women’s lips more than a day or two before it’s already […] snatched up. The next thing you know, there’s a white girl in Oklahoma, like, ‘Oh girl, okay body tea, okay face tea.’ And she has all right because the culture actually is just the internet economy.”

Read More: Does Future Really Have More Classics Than Kendrick Lamar?

J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” World Tour

Cole’s latest interview arrives just a few months before he’s expected to kick off a world tour in support of his seventh studio album, The Fall-Off. The tour will begin in July with stops in cities across North America, including Charlotte, Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, and more. He’ll go on to perform in Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. He’ll close the tour in December with a show in South Africa.

The hitmaker managed to sell an impressive 800,000 tickets during presale, breaking records in the process. This marks the most pre-sale tickets sold for a hip-hop tour across 18 markets. In response to the success of the presale, Cole expanded the tour from 54 dates to 73, adding 19 new arena dates.

The trek will follow his “Trunk Sale” tour, which has seen him drive across the United States, revisiting his roots by selling CDs out of his old Honda Civic.

Read More: The Issue With Usher & J. Cole’s Comments About Diddy

The post J. Cole Reveals His Problem With The Term “Culture” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

While some fans believe Bully is a return to form for Ye, there are others who believe the album is just more of the same. A soulless take on the sound that made him famous. Regardless of these criticisms, the album is getting a lot of love on streaming services. In its first day on Spotify, it had over 30 million streams, which is the strongest hip-hop debut of the year.

This success has led to predictions about how many first-week sales Bully will amass. Despite his indiscretions, Ye remains one of the biggest artists in the world. It stands to reason that he would be able to garner a strong first-week showing.

Read More: The Issue With Usher & J. Cole’s Comments About Diddy

Bully On Track For Strong First Week Sales

According to WorldStarHipHop, projections from Hits Daily Double suggest that Ye could very well end up with 250K-275K first week units. As per predictions from Kalshi, 100K of these units could be from pure album sales. Vinyls for Bully were selling out fast, and that could be reflected in the first week’s numbers.

With that being said, the numbers will be handicapped by the fact that West decided to release the album on a Saturday as opposed to Friday. There will be one less day of reporting, which certainly impacts how the final sales numbers will fall.

Regardless, these numbers can be seen as a triumph for Ye given recent events. There was a time when people felt like he was done. Now, fans are showing that they still have room in their hearts for the artist.

Ye’s decision to drop the Nazi aesthetic has certainly led to some good PR. His apology in the Wall Street Journal has also led to this resurgence. Whether or not Ye can keep this going is something that still very much remains to be seen.

Furthermore, there are still skeptical fans who aren’t there yet when it comes to forgiving him. Ultimately, Ye still has a lot to do before anyone can say for sure that “he’s back.”

Read More: Does Future Really Have More Classics Than Kendrick Lamar?

The post Kanye West’s “Bully” Receives Astronomical First Week Sales Projections appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Air Jordan 5 OG “White Metallic” will be released on April 25th, 2026.

The “White Metallic” is not a new concept for the Jordan 5. An original version released back in 2000 and again in 2015.

Both runs sold out quickly and held strong resale value for years. A new retro was inevitable. Now it is finally happening, and the early images confirm this version is well worth the wait.

The execution looks sharp across the board. The all-white leather upper is crisp and structured. Metallic silver hits land on the eyelets, the lace toggle, and the midsole details. The mesh netting panel sits clean against the white base. Nike Air branding on the heel is bold and clear. The icy blue translucent outsole ties everything together perfectly.

Jordan Brand rarely misses with white and silver on the 5. It reads clean enough for everyday wear but has enough detail to hold up as a collector piece.

Spring is the right time for this shoe. Whether you are a long-time Jordan 5 collector or just getting into the silhouette, this one is hard to ignore.

Read More: James Harden Taps Nipsey Hussle In Latest Adidas Release

Air Jordan 5 “White Metallic” Retail Price

The Air Jordan 5 has always carried a certain weight in sneaker culture. Also Michael Jordan wore the original in 1990, and the design that’s inspired by World War 2 fighter jets has aged incredibly well.

The “White Metallic” colorway strips everything back to the essentials. White tumbled leather further covers the upper cleanly. Silver metallic accents catch the light at the lace cage and eyelets.

The iconic shark tooth midsole detail also runs along the bottom in matching white. Flip the shoe over and a light blue translucent outsole gives the look a final touch of depth. It is a classic executed properly.

Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be $215 when they drop.

Read More: LeBron’s New Nike LeBron 23 Is A Direct Shot At The 2016 Warriors

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Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Nike LeBron 23 “Hurt Feelings Write History” will be released on April 17th, 2026.

The name goes straight back to Klay Thompson. During the 2016 Finals, Klay dismissed LeBron’s referee complaints by saying he was being too emotional. Cleveland was down 3-1 at the time.

What happened next is the most legendary comeback in NBA Finals history. LeBron and the Cavs won three straight to claim the title. The phrase “hurt feelings” aged very poorly for Klay.

Nearly a decade later, LeBron is bringing it back on his own terms. That is a level of pettiness that fans are fully celebrating. The marketing leans into it completely. Check out the press conference clip below from that era accompanies the shoe’s reveal.

The colorway makes the tribute even sharper. The shoe runs in black with yellow and green gradient accents. Funnily enough they are the colors that read immediately as Warriors. Wearing LeBron’s signature shoe in the opponent’s colors while celebrating the comeback over them is a statement.

Read More: James Harden Taps Nipsey Hussle In Latest Adidas Release

Nike LeBron 23 “Hurt Feelings Write History”

The LeBron 23 “Hurt Feelings Write History” is built on a black textured upper with a cracked pattern running across the surface. The cracking is intentional and it symbolizes fractured rivalries and broken narratives.

Below it, a translucent yellow-to-green gradient panel wraps the midsole, fading from gold at the base into a sharp lime green near the toe. The green Nike swoosh pops cleanly against the black upper.

Gum rubber covers the outsole, keeping the look grounded. Gold lace hardware and subtle golden details tie everything together. The Warriors color palette worn by LeBron himself is the whole point.

Also the retail price of the Nike LeBron 23 “Hurt Feelings Write History” will be $235 when they are released.

Read More: Japanese Retailer Drops Golden Tickets For Custom Fragment Air Jordan 1s

The post LeBron’s New Nike LeBron 23 Is A Direct Shot At The 2016 Warriors appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Adidas Harden Vol. 10 “Marathon” will be released on April 12th, 2026.

Nipsey Hussle founded The Marathon Clothing in 2017 as a cornerstone of his Crenshaw community vision. The brand carried his message of self-sufficiency, ownership, and neighborhood pride until his passing in 2019. His legacy has only grown since. Bringing TMC into an official Adidas collaboration keeps that mission alive in a meaningful way.

Harden is now in Cleveland, but his ties to Los Angeles run deep. Playing at Crypto.com Arena tonight, in Nipsey’s city, makes this debut feel intentional. The timing and location carry real weight.

The Harden Vol. 10 was already one of the more interesting basketball silhouettes on the market. This version takes it further. The TMC flag branding on the heel is a direct nod to Nipsey’s logo and the flag motif he made iconic.

The all-blue colorway runs deep and rich throughout. This is not a casual tribute. It is a meaningful and community-rooted collaboration that connects basketball, streetwear, and one of hip-hop’s most enduring legacies.

Read More: Japanese Retailer Drops Golden Tickets For Custom Fragment Air Jordan 1s

James Harden x Adidas Nipsey Hussle

The “Marathon” Harden Vol. 10 is built entirely in royal blue, running consistent from the sculpted foam upper down to the sole. Also the shoe’s most striking feature is its molded layered shell that features these ridges wrapping the forefoot like a fingerprint.

Further, it is bold and futuristic without feeling gimmicky. White Adidas stripes also hit the heel for contrast, and the TMC flag logo sits cleanly on the heel tab.

That detail alone makes this shoe significant. Nipsey’s flag imagery represents community and ownership. Seeing it on an official Adidas product in 2026 feels long overdue.

The retail price of the sneakers will be $160 when they are released.

Read More: Steph Curry Rocks Exclusive ON Cloudtilt In The Tunnel

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Release Date: March 27, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

The post Kickin It – Song by Stanclickin appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

They handed out 300 chocolate bars to regular customers who visited the shop. Only 20 of those bars contained a golden ticket inside. Winners could redeem their ticket for a customized Fragment piece selected by Fujiwara himself.

The prize attached to that ticket? A Fragment x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Lost & Found.” That is not a shoe you stumble into easily.

The “Lost & Found” colorway is one of the most celebrated Air Jordan 1 releases of the past decade. Adding Fragment’s lightning bolt hardware to the heel takes it somewhere else entirely. This is the kind of collaboration that collectors build display cases around.

The Willy Wonka-inspired format was a perfect match for the mystique Fragment carries. It rewarded loyal customers rather than bot farms and reseller accounts. That alone makes this drop stand out in an era of SNKRS app crashes and raffle links.

20 people walked away with something genuinely rare. The other 280 got a chocolate bar and a story to tell. In streetwear, that kind of experience is worth almost as much as the shoe itself.

Read More: Slimesito Calls Out Travis Scott After Latest Merch Drop

Fragment x Air Jordan 1 “Lost & Found”

The Fragment x Air Jordan 1 “Lost & Found” builds on one of Nike’s most beloved colorways. The shoe runs in a classic Chicago palette with red, black, and off-white and an aged, vintage finish that makes it look worn-in from the start.

Elephant print texture sits at the collar and tongue, adding depth to an already loaded silhouette. Fragment’s contribution is subtle but unmistakable.

A metal lightning bolt pin sits flush on the heel, replacing the standard Nike Air badge. It is a small detail that carries enormous weight for anyone who knows the history between Hiroshi Fujiwara and Jordan Brand.

Read More: Steph Curry Rocks Exclusive ON Cloudtilt In The Tunnel

The post Japanese Retailer Drops Golden Tickets For Custom Fragment Air Jordan 1s appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The choice is noteworthy for more than just the aesthetic. Curry split from Under Armour in November 2025 and has been in full sneaker free agency since. He has worn Nike, Adidas, Li-Ning, Reebok, and more during that stretch. Every shoe he puts on gets analyzed like it means something. This one probably does.

On Running has been one of the fastest-rising brands in footwear over the past few years. The Swiss brand has built serious cultural credibility through its ongoing Loewe collaboration. Curry has been spotted in On runners before during his free agency tour. He is not just wearing these for comfort. He is sending a signal.

Curry has reportedly narrowed his sneaker deal down to three brands, with ANTA leading the conversation. But nothing is signed yet. That leaves the door open for a brand like On to make a late push.

The Loewe collab shows On can play in the luxury lane. Curry clearly appreciates that world. A performance brand with a high-fashion partner and a global athlete at the center? That pitch writes itself. Whether it actually happens is a different story.

Read More: Tyler Reddick Laces Up The Virgil Abloh Archive “Alaska” Jordan 1

Is Steph Curry Playing Tonight?

The Loewe x On Cloudtilt “Dark Sand” is one of the cleaner shoes either brand has produced together. The entire silhouette runs in a single warm tan tone. The upper, laces, midsole, and outsole all match.

It creates a monolithic, almost sculpted look. The knit upper is soft and breathable but structured enough to feel intentional. Below it, On’s CloudTec Phase midsole punches cutout pods into the sole for cushioning and visual texture.

The Loewe anagram logo sits subtly on the lateral panel in a tonal silver. It is the kind of shoe that reads expensive without trying too hard.

No, Steph Curry is not playing tonight. He has been sidelined since January 30 with a pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee.

Golden State’s next game is Wednesday, April 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. His return timeline remains uncertain, though he has been ramping up individual workouts.

Read More: DJ Khaled Flexes Travis Scott’s Jordan CJ1 T-Rexx “Green Spark”

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Your eyes did not deceive you and one of the more well-known impersonators is confirming his involvement. That man in particular is known as Fabio Jackson. As caught by Live Bitez and Complex, he spoke about the collab and how cool it was to be a part of it.

“It’s not my project, but I’m happy to say that, yes, I was involved and yes that is me. It was amazing. All this was very magical to me because this was my very first involvement in a music video,” Fabio expressed.

He also praised everyone behind the scenes on this project, including Ye’s wife, Bianca Censori. Fabio reveals that she was a great director all around.

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“She was welcoming, she was warm, she was happy, positive. She was giving such great vibes all the time.” He also tells anyone ready to hate on Bianca to “cut [her] some slack.”

While he seemed very humble in his video, a lot of people aren’t too fond of people like Fabio taking advantage of Michael Jackson since his passing.

Read More: Kanye West & Travis Scott Top Apple Music Charts With “Father”

Kanye West To Headline Wireless Festival 2026

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“Mike was such an icon. People are still making a living impersonating him in 2026,” one disgruntled commenter writes.

Another adds, “Fabio the one thing you haven’t said is that you are an impersonator of the KING MICHAEL JACKSON and WHY they wanted MJ is this video! You are not MICHAEL JACKSON so please explain why they wanted the image which is you of Michael Jackson in this video! Don’t forget Fabio this was for MJ!!!!! [red heart emoji].”

There’s a chance that some of this anger has to do with the fact that a Michael Jackson biopic is coming to theaters on April 24.

But while this situation is causing some controversy, Kanye has some more less divisive news to share elsewhere. Earlier today, it was revealed that he is going to be headlining all three nights of Wireless Festival.

The three-day event begins on July 10 and ends on the 12th. The first pre-sale, which is for PayPal users, starts at 12 p.m. BST on March 31.

Read More: Young Dolph’s Self-Admitted Gunman Delays His Fate Again

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