Speaking with the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, Griffin said every Clippers player was required to meet with the team’s sports psychologist. After what he believed was a confidential conversation, he said he stepped away to shower and then noticed a voicemail on his phone. According to Griffin, the psychologist had accidentally called him instead of one of the Clippers’ coaches and left a message discussing details from their private conversation.

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Griffin Recalls His Shock

“It was the psychologist and he said, ‘Hey, coach, just left Blake’s house, great talk, and we discussed some interesting things,'” Griffin recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m never meeting another sports psychologist again.'”

Although Griffin didn’t say exactly when the incident occurred, it happened during his tenure with the Clippers, when he helped usher in the franchise’s successful “Lob City” era alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan. His story has since sparked discussion about confidentiality in sports psychology and why athletes may hesitate to seek mental health support if they fear those conversations won’t remain private.

The post Blake Griffin Explains Why He Stopped Seeing Sports Psychologists appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The heel does most of the visual work on this shoe. Decorative light-style graphics on the heel clip nod to the illuminated panels on the original Nike Air Mag.

Rainbow-colored speckle detailing appears on the midsole throughout. The Nike logo on the tongue uses an orange-to-yellow fade tied to the film’s title artwork.

The Vapor 12 Hypersmash itself draws from the original Nike Hyperdunk design. That basketball shoe also received a Mag-inspired colorway years ago, nicknamed “Marty McFly.” This new version keeps that same tradition going but moves it into the tennis category. Nike has applied the Air Mag color story to basketball, skate, and lifestyle shoes before.

No exact release date has been confirmed yet. The shoe is expected to reach adult sizing only. For tennis players and sneaker fans alike, this crossover gives the Vapor 12 a different kind of story to carry onto the court.

Read More: YSL Woody Claims Gucci Mane “Won” After Alleged Pooh Shiesty Video

Nike Vapor 12 Hypersmash “Mag”

The Nike Air Mag first appeared in Back to the Future in 1989. Tinker Hatfield designed the shoe, which featured a self-lacing system and illuminated panels.

Nike later brought the shoe to life in limited charity releases in 2011 and 2016. Both versions used a lottery system rather than standard retail, keeping numbers extremely low.

Since then, Nike has regularly referenced the Air Mag through colorways on other shoes. The Hyperdunk “Marty McFly” from 2008 started that tradition in basketball footwear. Several lifestyle and skate models have followed since.

The Vapor 12 Hypersmash itself draws from the Hyperdunk’s silhouette and cushioning setup. It sits at the top of Nike’s current tennis performance lineup.

Applying the Air Mag palette gives the shoe added visibility outside the tennis world. Fans who can’t access the original Nike Air Mag now have another option that nods to the same story.

Read More: Air Jordan 4 “White Laser” Receives On-Foot Look

The post The Nike Air Mag Gets A New Interpretation On The Vapor 12 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by DJ Akademiks TV on Instagram, Woody took to social media to share his immediate thoughts after the alleged video surfaced. YSL Woody’s talked about Gucci Mane and Pooh Shiesty before, lamenting Pooh’s incarceration but also holding him accountable for his alleged actions.

“Aye, Gucci Mane. You ain’t did nothing wrong… You won,” the YSL RICO trial witness expressed. “The fool? Everything he did, for sure, he was a fool. You recorded yourself, you self-snitched on yourself. Y’all n***as want to be gangsters so bad. That video just pissed me the f**k off. Y’all young n***as better tighten up. Gucci Mane won, f**k you mean? He still got his freedom, his beautiful wife, his beautiful kids, and that beautiful bank account. Gucci Mane, f**k what these n***as talking about. You won. You handled that situation like a player, like a boss, like the n***a you is. And guess what? We still smoking on whoever you want to smoke on. F**k what these n***as talking about. Salute to you, Gucci Mane. F**k whoever mad. So? It is what it is.”

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Pooh Shiesty & Gucci Mane Beef

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For those unaware, Pooh Shiesty and Gucci Mane’s beef stems from alleged contract issues concerning 1017 Records. Apparently, this got so contentious that Pooh, his father, fellow Memphis rapper Big30, and six other individuals allegedly robbed and kidnapping Gucci at a Dallas recording studio to release Shiesty from the contract.

We will see how this alleged video leak affects the upcoming trial in this case, if at all. The trial will reportedly begin on February 22, 2027 if everything goes according to the current schedule.

YSL Woody’s remarks here will be controversial for many fans. After all, snitching allegations and condemnations against Gucci Mane have proliferated intensely following his “Crash Dummy” diss track and other allegations.

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The post YSL Woody Claims Gucci Mane “Won” After Alleged Pooh Shiesty Video appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by The Shade Room on Instagram, the singer employed multiple social media platforms to make her points. It started with some Threads messages responding to calls for boycotts of “Spend Dat.” In them, she spoke about how folks easily become influenced by other media and how the wider acceptance of the track is a “bigger problem” indicating “not everybody wants to get free.”

“FOR CLARITY!!” I did not say that I think anyone needs to boycott this song,” India wrote on her Instagram Story. “I said it is a sign of where we are as a culture that this song has been accepted so widely. And … THATS FACTS. I THINK – people should do whatever they WANT TO DO. you do what you wanna do. I’ll do what I wanna do. And that’s that. MEANWHILE I also said, that the way we are embracing the song says a lot about where we are as a culture. which … IS JUST FACTS.”

She also shared a response to an IG user in her DMs calling her selective amid many other debates with folks online.

Read More: The 25 Best Rap Albums Of 2026 So Far

Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat”

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Elsewhere, Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” is still going viral. In fact, a woman who participated in the track’s viral Internet challenge actually got a rude awakening when police used the video to track her down for retail theft.

There are still a lot of debates about the song, but it continues to do well. In any case, this goes to show how negative discussions of media are just as important to their proliferation as positive ones. All in all, Miami is probably happy with the attention, despite the critics.

India.Arie’s made similar comments before about artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monáe. In the past, she has also defended them against social media scrutiny.

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The post India.Arie Clears The Air After Yung Miami “Spend Dat” Controversy appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

They have created an anniversary landing page for their ninth annual Freshman issue powered by Rémy Martin. At press time, they have all the artist bios, freestyles, and cyphers available, as well as a lengthy write-up speaking to the class’ history and impact. For example, it included statistics on their numbers, chart placements, and other commercial metrics.

Also, they announced they will do much more to celebrate this class via new anniversary content over the next two months. These will include videos of DJ Drama interviewing class members about the cover’s impact and where their careers have gone since. In addition, they will release a documentary about these artists’ cultural influence, the cover shoot, all the stories from recording sessions, and more.

Read More: The 25 Best Rap Albums Of 2026 So Far

XXL‘s 2016 Freshman Class Turns 10

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This news comes as fans already reminisced on XXL’s 2016 Freshman Class when 2026 rolled around. Even the artists themselves have chimed in on the class with some strong admiration and competitive drive. For example, back in 2022, 21 Savage proclaimed he could beat any of his peers from that class in a Verzuz today.

As for XXL’s 2026 Freshman Class, they recently unveiled the list just last week. The artists on the roster this time around are La Reezy, Slayr, Sosocamo, Trap Dickey, Belly Gang Kushington, Chris Patrick, Babyfxce E, YKNIECE, Skrilla, Trim, Miles Minnick, and Hurricane Wisdom.

Will this group have the same impact as the 2016 Freshman Class? Hopefully so.

Regardless, we’ll see what XXL has in store for these ten-year anniversary celebrations and how they cross it over with the next generation on the rise. If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to revisit those iconic 2016 cyphers once again.

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The post XXL Launches Ten-Year Anniversary Project For 2016 Freshman Class appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The “Hip-Hop: Past, Present & Future” class is titled “Drake: Media, Myth & Manhood.” It will explore the Toronto superstar’s discography and themes, the ascent of the OVO brand and its history, the relationship between art and capitalism, and the industry systems that artists have to deal with.

This all lines up well with Drake’s ICEMAN narratives, and with the status and success he continues to enjoy in the music world. Narcy, a rapper and professor, has taught classes on Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar before. He also has a long history of talking to OVO members, such as interviewing 40 on multiple occasions. The reading list of this course reportedly includes bell hooks and Guy Debord.

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Concordia’s Drake Class

Narcy also reposted a clip of Twitter of a TikTok user explaining the course in more depth. All throughout the fall semester, OVO fans not studying at Concordia will likely want to look out for any nuggets of discussion and debate that emerge.

This follows a series of other college classes dedicated to hip-hop, whose lineage stretches back farther than some may believe, but likely not far enough. As such, any academic engagement with the art form is always interesting and heartening to see, even if it risks separating the space from its original sociocultural origins.

Regardless, Professor Alsalman is very excited to dive in, and it should make for an amazing dissection of this legendary career. It’s also nice to see things like this motivate people in many stages of life to get back into a classroom and learn.

Elsewhere, Drake is busy celebrating Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors return, and just recently showed love to Janice’s via his exclusive parties. With how much he taps into his fanbase, we wouldn’t be surprised if he guest lectures at Concordia for this new course.

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The post Montreal’s Concordia University Is Offering A Drake Course Next Fall appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In the clip caught by Livebitez on Instagram, Shiesty and an alleged affiliate allegedly appear alongside a man with a yellow ensemble with a blurred-out face. Many assume this person is Guwop, and you can his alleged voice is audible in the alleged clip. “I dropped you, Pooh Shiesty’s dropped from 1017… Bro we just did that, that’s done. You dropped. You said you wanted to be dropped, you dropped,” Gucci allegedly says in the alleged clip.

“Let them know you dropping me,” the Memphis rapper allegedly said in the alleged video. “Real n***a, ain’t never did no police s**t or none of that. Tell them what’s going on.” Neither party has publicly responded to this video at press time.

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Gucci Mane & Pooh Shiesty Video

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The emergence of this alleged video is unclear, with no one yet claiming responsibility or identifying the source. But it does match prosecutors’ alleged screenshots of the alleged Pooh Shiesty and Gucci Mane video, which they recently shared in court. They argued against Shiesty’s efforts to secure bond in the case.

He also has eight other codefendants, including his father Lontrell Williams Sr. and fellow Memphis MC Big30. They deny the allegations against them, and we will see how this new development affects the future of the trial.

Speaking of which, the trial will reportedly begin on February 22, 2027, if everything goes according to the current schedule. Folks within hip-hop and beyond continue to debate their expected outcomes as snitching debates and other discussions gain momentum and trade places in the discourse.

We will see if there are explanations for this alleged video. Folks criticized the alleged recording in the first place, whereas others believe something more nefarious may be afoot.

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The post Alleged Video Of Pooh Shiesty’s Alleged Gucci Mane Robbery Hits The Internet appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Keefe D’s lawyers tried to prevent this, as well as the admittance of Los Angeles Police Department interviews as evidence in the trial. He claims he had an agreement with the LAPD to keep police interviews off legal records, and he and his legal team claimed the book is pure fiction that a jury should not examine.

But prosecutors reportedly argue the book voided that agreement. Compton Street Legend reportedly details Keefe’s alleged role in orchestrating the murder of the Death Row rapper.

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Keefe D’s Trial

However, the door is reportedly still open when it comes to the police interviews and sequestering the jury. The jury trial will reportedly begin later this summer, specifically on August 10. We will see what evidence enters the courtroom by the time proceedings begin.

Elsewhere, other claims about Keefe D’s alleged Tupac confessions have surfaced. For example, a report emerged claiming audio tapes of Keefe’s jail calls feature him allegedly bragging about orchestrating the murder. No official reports on whether or not prosecutors will use that as evidence have emerged at press time.

Also, Keefe D received a wrongful death lawsuit from ‘Pac’s stepbrother, Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur, on behalf of his father’s estate. The suit references multiple anonymous alleged co-conspirators and seeks damages for the 1996 incident.

For years, Duane Davis has toed the line between standing by his side of the story and backtracking it as fabrication. Where the truth really lies is up for the jury to decide with whatever evidence they have in front of them.

As for next steps, the police interviews and other alleged confessions from Keefe D are next to decide on concerning admissible evidence. But Keefe’s lawyer believes the state is scrambling if they resort to these statements to prove culpability beyond reasonable doubt.

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The post Judge Allows Keefe D’s Book To Be Used As Evidence In Tupac Murder Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The outlet cited a local report that claimed the venue informed the crowd Weezy wasn’t going to perform just a few minutes after Wayne’s allegedly scheduled appearance time of 10:45PM local time. But the show began hours before, so the timeline of the specific parts of the concert is longer.

At press time, there hasn’t been an official explanation from his team, and fans are figuring out refund opportunities via ticket sellers and providers. Per WABI 5, Waterfront Concerts President Alex Gray apologized to the crowd and suggested they canceled the show because they asked the city for a curfew extension they were not able to secure.

Lil Wayne fans expressed anger at this online, whether just pure disappointment or accusing the hip-hop legend of neglect. His next concert of this tour will reportedly take place tomorrow night (Thursday, June 2) at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in New York. We will see if Wayne or his camp address this absence before then.

Read More: It’s About Time Lil Wayne Retires “Tha Carter” Series

Lil Wayne’s No-Show Concert

Amid fan reactions on Twitter, many fans responded to Tunechi being on Twitter the morning after the canceled show without responding to the backlash. “Nobody told Lil Wayne he had a concert in Maine last night,” one user wrote.

It’s the New Orleans MC’s latest concert cancelation controversy following a history of no-shows, walk-offs, and more. However, all of these have different reasons and contexts, and many of them don’t have exact explanations for what went down.

Fans React

Elsewhere, Lil Wayne is sparking Verzuz debates thanks to a recently published 2023 interview with DJ Drama. Now, he has even more discussion to address, and we’ll see if he does so on the rest of this tour. Elsewhere, fans are hoping for another chance, or at least a refund.

Read More: Lil Wayne Is The Most Influential Rapper Alive – LaRussell Just Outlined Why It’s Complicated

The post Lil Wayne Angers Fans After Failing To Show Up For Maine Concert appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Law enforcement says they found Campbell in her Atlanta home on Tuesday following a request for a welfare check. A man “appeared to have barricaded himself inside the home” when the police arrived, which led to Ciarre Campbell’s arrest.

“We look forward to his day in court. I’m honored to defend him and, most importantly, the Campbell family. I’m asking on their behalf that the public respect their privacy at this time.” Campbell’s attorney, Jay Abt, explained.

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Calais Campbell Faces Family Tragedy

Following the news of Nateal Campbell’s passing, her family released a statement on the matter. They noted that they are allowing law enforcement to complete their investigation. However, they are still finding comfort in the news, and are allowing for their faith to guide them during this time.

“While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask for privacy at this time so that we may honor her and share in our overwhelming grief privately and as a family,” the statement read.

This is just a horrible tragedy, and out heart goes out to the Campbell family as they go through this. This remains a developing story, and we will be sure to keep you informed.

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The post Calais Campbell’s Brother Charged With Murder In Connection With Mom’s Death appeared first on HotNewHipHop.