HotNewHipHop

Outkast Takes Ovrkast To Court Over Rap Name Dispute

Erika Marie — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:15:52 +0000

A stage-name dispute that was apparently headed toward a private resolution has instead landed in federal court. The company that controls Outkast’s trademarks sued Oakland rapper-producer Ovrkast last week, alleging he kept using his name after agreeing to change it.

High Schoolers LLC filed the complaint against Ovrkast, whose real name is Silas Wilson, on Sept. 16 in the Northern District of Georgia. The federal docket confirms the trademark case and identifies the company as the plaintiff. According to AllHipHop, Outkast’s attorneys initially sent Wilson a cease-and-desist in June 2025 before the two sides reached an agreement that would have him retire OVRKAST and begin using OVERKXST instead.

The complaint claims that switch was supposed to happen by July 15, 2026. Outkast alleges Wilson missed the deadline and continued releasing music under his original name. A Sept. 10 single, “Knock,” still appeared under Ovrkast, according to KQED.

The filing also points to Wilson’s own comments about confusion between the two names. In a 2025 Rolling Stone interview cited in the lawsuit, he acknowledged that people sometimes mix up their names. “They read Ovrkast [as] Outkast,” he said. “They’re like, oh my God, I thought they said Outkast.” Outkast’s attorneys are using that admission to support their argument that the similarity can mislead listeners.

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Ovrkast Says He Thought It Was Love

Wilson didn’t sound thrilled when news of the lawsuit hit social media. He reacted with “Ouch” on X before posting about the case on Instagram. “I thought it was love @andre3000 @bigboi (yes this is real),” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Outkast is asking the court to stop Wilson from using OVRKAST or another confusingly similar name. The lawsuit also seeks damages tied to the alleged infringement. According to the complaint, Wilson received a breach notice in August after failing to complete the agreed transition.

The dispute is not Outkast’s first recent fight over its intellectual property. The duo sued electronic act ATLiens in 2024 over a name taken from Outkast’s 1996 album ATLiens. That case was settled in February 2026. The new lawsuit remains pending before U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross in Georgia, with Outkast requesting a jury trial.

Lionel Richie Cancels Upcoming Dates After Cardiac Procedure

Erika Marie — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:03:04 +0000

Three upcoming concerts with Earth, Wind & Fire have been canceled after another heart scare sent Lionel Richie back to the hospital. The 77-year-old singer underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation this week as doctors addressed the irregular heart rhythm that has interrupted his touring schedule again.

A representative confirmed the procedure to People, saying Richie underwent an ablation and that “everything went perfectly.” The rep added that he is “doing great” but will take some time away from performing before returning to the stage. The cancellations affect the Sept. 26 stop in San Francisco and the Sept. 30 show in Chicago. An Oct. 2 performance in Columbus is also off the schedule. TMZ first reported the hospitalization and described it as Richie’s third hospital stay in as many months.

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Richie’s Tour Is Interrupted

Concerns about his health surfaced again in late August, when Richie checked himself into a St. Louis hospital after performing at The Muny. He spent three days there while doctors conducted cardiac tests before returning home. People reported that he was back in Los Angeles by Sept. 2 and doing well.

A separate incident in June forced Richie to stop a St. Paul concert after becoming dizzy onstage. He later postponed two performances on doctors’ advice before resuming the tour. His next scheduled appearance is currently Oct. 14 at the Encore Theater in Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas still lists that performance, along with additional October dates, while Richie’s representative says he plans to return once he has had time to recover.

Kimora Lee Says Tyra Banks Tried To Protect Her From Russell Simmons

Erika Marie — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:52:31 +0000

A decades-old warning from Tyra Banks looks very different to Kimora Lee now than it did when she was a teenage model being pursued by Russell Simmons. Lee says she once assumed Banks was “hating” by trying to keep her away from the Def Jam co-founder. With hindsight, she believes her friend was trying to protect her. Russell has now responded, but his rebuttal focuses almost entirely on one detail of how old Kimora was when they met.

In her new Lifetime documentary, Kimora Lee: On Her Own, Lee recalls Simmons repeatedly showing up at her fashion shows before sending flowers and calling her. She told People that Banks once kept her at her apartment for an entire weekend so she could not go home and check her voicemail. At the time, Lee interpreted that interference as jealousy. “I thought she was a little bit hating,” she said. “She was trying to protect me.”

Lee says she was 16 when she met Simmons and that he was 18 years older. She now views their relationship much more critically, telling People that she did not fully recognize what she describes as abusive behavior until later. Simmons has denied allegations of abuse against him.

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Russell Simmons Disputes Kimora Lee’s Timeline

A spokesperson for Simmons challenged Lee’s account in a statement. According to the representative, the two first met at a Mary McFadden fashion show in February 1993. Because Lee was born May 4, 1975, the spokesperson argues she would have been 17 years and nine months old then, not 16.

The statement also points to older profiles about their relationship. A 2004 Observer profile described Lee as 17 when Simmons first noticed her on the runway. His representative also cited a 2005 Vanity Fair interview in which Lee said, “We didn’t do anything until I was 18.” Simmons’ spokesperson added, “I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.”

That response does not challenge Lee’s account of Banks trying to keep her away from him. It also does not address her newer claims about the marriage itself. Instead, Simmons is disputing whether she was 16 or nearly 18 when the pursuit began. Lee and Simmons later married in 1998, separated in 2006, and finalized their divorce in 2009.

Zion Williamson Seeks Dismissal Of Rape & Abuse Lawsuit

Erika Marie — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:26:38 +0000

Zion Williamson is asking a judge to throw out the lawsuit accusing him of rape and years of abuse, arguing that his relationship with the woman suing him was consensual and never involved violence. In newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, the New Orleans Pelicans star issued a general denial of the allegations and described his relationship with the unidentified woman as “friends with benefits.” He said they never lived together and characterized their interactions as “pleasant and consensual.”

The woman, identified as Jane Doe, sued Williamson in May 2025 and accused him of rape, sexual battery, and a broader pattern of abuse between 2020 and 2023. According to the original complaint, which was also reviewed by ESPN, she alleged that Williamson raped her twice in Beverly Hills in 2020 and later subjected her to physical violence and controlling behavior. Williamson has denied those claims from the beginning, calling them “categorically false and reckless.”

Williamson Challenges Several Claims On Legal Grounds

His latest response does more than reject the allegations. TMZ reports that Williamson argues several of Doe’s claims are barred by statutes of limitations and contends that California laws covering sexual battery, domestic violence, and stalking cannot be applied to alleged conduct she says occurred in North Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana.

Williamson also disputes Doe’s characterization of their relationship as domestic. He calls that claim “nonsensical,” arguing that they neither lived together nor interacted frequently enough to meet that definition. He maintains that no misconduct occurred in California or anywhere else.

Doe’s lawsuit seeks monetary and punitive damages. Her attorney previously told TMZ that she looks forward to presenting her case in court. Williamson’s attorneys, meanwhile, have accused her of attempting to extort him and previously said the matter had been reported to law enforcement. Williamson is now asking the court to dismiss the civil case in its entirety.

Chris Brown Calls Out Journalist Over Claims About His Abuse History

Erika Marie — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:55:31 +0000

A criticism of Chris Brown’s fan base has turned into another public fight over how his history of violence should be discussed. After journalist David Dennis Jr. argued that Brown’s supporters minimize a pattern that extends beyond his 2009 assault of Rihanna, the singer entered Dennis’ Instagram comments and challenged him to produce evidence that he is “actively abusing women to this day.”

Dennis, a senior writer for Andscape, argued in his video that fans often defend Brown by treating the Rihanna assault as an isolated event from nearly two decades ago. Brown responded by narrowing the question to criminal convictions. “Can you show me where I’m actively abusing women to this day,” he wrote, asking Dennis to provide “charges and convictions” involving violence against women from the past 17 years.

Dennis answered by asking Brown directly whether every subsequent accusation and restraining order involving women was false. The exchange quickly spread past the original post, with social media users circulating screenshots of Brown’s lengthy Wikipedia section documenting arrests, lawsuits, restraining orders, and allegations. Those matters do not all carry the same legal weight. Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault in the 2009 Rihanna case, while other accusations have resulted in civil proceedings, dismissals, or no conviction. In 2017, Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year restraining order against him after presenting the court with threatening messages, The Los Angeles Times reported at the time.

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Brown Wants The Conversation Limited To What Was Proven

That distinction sits at the center of Brown’s defense. He argued that allegations should not be treated as convictions simply because they generated headlines. Dennis’ criticism, however, was broader than Brown’s criminal record and focused on the repeated accusations of violence that have followed him since the Rihanna case.

Brown’s recent legal history is not limited to allegations. In July, he pleaded guilty in London to affray stemming from a 2023 nightclub confrontation involving music producer Abe Diaw. The Guardian reported that the plea was to a lesser offense and involved a male victim, making it separate from Dennis’ specific claim about violence against women.

The online argument appeared to leave Brown fed up with more than Dennis. He later posted on his Instagram Story, “I don’t want your fake love. I hate the music industry,” as criticism of his response continued circulating.

Brown has repeatedly objected to having past allegations folded together with conduct for which he was actually convicted. The latest exchange shows why that argument remains contentious. His 2009 felony assault conviction is established, while the years that followed include a mix of accusations and civil cases with very different outcomes. Brown wants those categories separated. His critics argue that the broader pattern is precisely what should not be ignored.

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Air Jordan 7 “Playoffs” Coming Back After 15 Years

Ben Atkinson — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:21:43 +0000

The Air Jordan 7 “Playoffs” is officially coming back after years of rumors. It’s set to release February 20th, 2027, priced at $215, with the style code IX6104-001.

Dark charcoal covers most of the upper this time around, replacing the deep black leather used on past releases. Red and purple accents run through the midsole, tongue, and heel tabs, staying true to the original color-blocking. Some geometric patterns also return across the tongue and outsole, keeping that early ’90s look alive.

This marks the shoe’s 3rd-ever retro, following its last release back in 2012. That 15-year gap has made this one of the more anticipated Jordan 7 comebacks in recent memory. Sneaker leakers first reported the news months ago, though Jordan Brand has yet to confirm anything officially.

The timing also lines up perfectly with the shoe’s 35th anniversary. Jordan Brand seems intent on celebrating that milestone properly, rather than rushing out a quiet re-release. Landing during NBA All-Star Weekend only adds to that sense of occasion.

Expect strong demand once this one actually lands, given how long collectors have waited for its return.

Air Jordan 7 “Playoffs”

The “Playoffs” Air Jordan 7 OG will be RETURNING on February 20th, 2027.

The upcoming retro will feature Dark Charcoal on the upper. pic.twitter.com/sLmLOwjChB
— zSneakerHeadz (@zSneakerHeadz) September 21, 2026

This colorway holds real weight in Jordan history. Michael Jordan wore it throughout the 1992 playoffs, capturing his second championship with the Bulls that same season.

It’s also connected to “The Shrug,” one of the most famous moments from that entire Finals run. That single image helped cement this specific pair in basketball lore.

The “Raptors” nickname also actually came later, tied to how closely the colors resembled Toronto’s early team uniforms. No official connection to the franchise ever existed, but the name still stuck permanently.

Beyond color, the Jordan 7 itself marked a real shift in design. It dropped the visible Air unit entirely, introducing a Huarache-style inner sleeve instead.

Further, that change pushed Nike Basketball toward lighter, more secure builds during that era. Bringing this specific pair back only adds to that legacy.

The post Air Jordan 7 “Playoffs” Coming Back After 15 Years appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Jaidyn Alexis Reveals She Slept With Blueface Amid His Nevaeh Breakup

Alexander Cole — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:58:05 +0000

Blueface, Jaidyn Alexis, Chrisean Rock, Nevaeh, and various other women appear to be in some sort of love octagon with the rapper. Triangles have completely gone out the window when it comes to the “Thotiana” rapper.

Since coming home from jail last year, Blueface has gotten into relationships with various women. He has had a child with Nevaeh, whom he recently broke up with in very public fashion. Meanwhile, he has renewed flings with the likes of Chrisean Rock and now, Jaidyn Alexis.

During a livestream rant, Alexis addressed Nevaeh and the drama surrounding getting her kids to school. From there, she let it slip that she recently slept with Blueface. However, she also made it a point to say that the two are not getting back together anytime soon.

Jaidyn Alexis Goes In On Nevaeh

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Given everything we have seen from Blueface as of late, none of this should come as a surprise to anybody. The artist has been moving in this kind of manner for years, and now that he has become a viral star on Kick, this has just become another way for him to get content.

As we have reported, Blueface’s earnings have skyrocketed as a result of his new endeavor. However, it has also come with some downsides. Every few days, he gets swatted by some crazed fan who wants to inconvenience him. It just goes to show where we are as a society.

As for Jaidyn Alexis, it remains to be seen whether or not she will become a regular on Blueface’s streams. For the most part, she has been able to avoid such a fate. Moving forward, that might not be the case.

The post Jaidyn Alexis Reveals She Slept With Blueface Amid His Nevaeh Breakup appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Shannon Sharpe Claims Agents Are Telling Athletes To Avoid His Show

Alexander Cole — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:13:06 +0000

Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco have created a late-night sports talk livestream empire with Nightcap. The show recently added former NBA star Joe Johnson, and since that time, the show has continued to explode in popularity.

Unfortunately, the show has experienced some hiccups in recent months. During last night’s livestream, Sharpe revealed that it has been a struggle to secure guests for his show. As Sharpe alleges, it’s all because agents have advised their clients to avoid Nightcap and even Club Shay Shay.

Sharpe believes it all has to do with a conversation he and Chad Ochocinco had last year. This conversation was centered around the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Sharpe alluded to the fact that you can’t criticize Israel without facing public scrutiny. The NFL Hall of Famer states that those comments angered agents around the sports world, which subsequently led to his show being blackballed.

Shannon Sharpe Reveals His Experience

Shannon Sharpe gets deep and reveals that agents have blackballed their clients from coming on the show over a topic they discussed last year. He says you sees how they are treating Macklemore. He says you can talk about Black people any way you want and nothing happens . They… pic.twitter.com/3SQsWMTmYb
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) September 21, 2026

This conversation was sparked by the situation involving Macklemore, Ed Sheeran, and Robert Kraft. Sharpe believes there are some who are okay with freedom of speech when it comes to speaking negatively about black people. However, once Israel is involved, it becomes a major problem that needs to be tackled.

Ochocinco chimed in, saying that despite the blackballing, the show is going to be just fine. He’s not wrong, especially when you consider how Nightcap gets hundreds of thousands of views every single episode. When it comes to late-night sports talk television, there is no show doing it better.

Ultimately, the Israel/Palestine conflict is a sensitive issue that has brought about strong opinions and even strong polarization. The situation described by Shannon Sharpe is yet another example of that in action.

The post Shannon Sharpe Claims Agents Are Telling Athletes To Avoid His Show appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Joe Budden Goes Off On His Patreon Audience Amid Guest Criticism

Alexander Cole — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:12:24 +0000

Joe Budden has one of the biggest hip-hop podcasts in the world, and it has led to an abundance of Patreon subscriptions. On Patreon, The Joe Budden Podcast has various tiers that all come with different costs. The cheaper tiers will get you access to new episodes early, while the more expensive tiers will grant you access to exclusive episodes that aren’t posted on Spotify or YouTube.

Those who pay for the exclusive Patreon episodes have been upset as of late. Why? Because Budden has been bringing on an abundance of guests. These guests include R&B artists like Maeta and RL. While these are fantastic artists in their own right, many of the Patreon subscribers simply do not know who they are. Therefore, they have very little incentive to actually watch the podcast.

Fans feel as though their subscriptions are being wasted, and some have even cancelled their monthly Patreon contribution. They want the exclusive episodes to be centered around the cast, or at the very least, interviews they actually care about.

Budden has seen the criticism, and on Monday, during an interview with RL, the former rapper addressed his community directly. “Some of y’all weren’t born, but your mother got folded to this, you bitch ass n****s,” Joe explained while playing an RL record.

Joe Budden Speaks Out

R&B legend RL is on the pods, and Joe Budden had some messages for the JBP community about not wanting guests on the show.

He said he sees what the fans say, and it gets to him sometimes. But what these "internet f*cks" have to understand is, he was born in the 80s, and the… pic.twitter.com/5jRGI79CLw
— Yawovi1986 (@YawoElvn) September 21, 2026

Needless to say, Budden does not care about the criticism. If people want to remove their subscriptions, he’s not going to argue with them. Instead, he would rather just do what he wants to do and talk to the people he wants to talk to.

Budden always did things his way during his career, even when he was indebted to the labels. Now, he is indebted to the subscribers, but he has no interest in kowtowing to their every demand.

Ultimately, Budden’s business strategy has paid off over the years. However, if more and more fans continue to leave Patreon, then perhaps he will have no choice but to reconsider.

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DJ Akademiks Extends An Olive Branch To Pusha T After Drake Diss

Alexander Cole — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:42:20 +0000

DJ Akademiks hasn’t always seen eye to eye with Pusha T over the years. While the two have not gone back and forth in public, it is very clear which sides of the coin these men occupy.

On one side, you have Pusha T, who had a very public feud with Drake back in 2018, which culminated in the release of “The Story of Adidon.” The other side contains Akademiks, who has an OVO chain and is easily one of Drake’s biggest fans. Given this ideological divide, one can see why these two wouldn’t exactly love one another.

However, after Pusha T’s alleged album with Pharrell was leaked online, Akademiks showed some sympathy towards the artist. Throughout the leaked album, Pusha T takes some direct shots at Drake. Normally, Akademiks would have some criticism about this. This time around, he actually showed support, acknowledging that Drake has been incredibly antagonistic towards Pusha T and Pharrell over the last few years.

DJ Akademiks’ Message To Pusha T

Akademiks says he DOESN’T hate Pusha T and actually thinks Push and Pharrell have every right to shoot back at Drake but says if Drake is still the main selling point, “we’re living in Drake’s world.”

Ak says Drake has been taking shots at Pharrell for years, so he doesn’t… https://t.co/J7CVUhlqdS pic.twitter.com/onIK8QPdCk
— CY Chels (@SeewhyChels) September 22, 2026

“Y’all supposed to shoot back at Drake,” Akademiks said. The commentator then went on to say that all of this is further proof that Drake is still the man, and that we are all living in his world right now.

Subsequently, Akademiks acknowledged that Pusha T has liked quite a few of his posts in the past. This has Ak wanting to speak with Pusha T directly, as he feels like a productive conversation could be had.

Whether or not Pusha T would go for this remains to be seen. Furthermore, one has to wonder how Drake would feel about Ak taking on such an interview. The OVO Chain could very well be in jeopardy.

Did you listen to the leaked Pusha T album? If so, let us know what you thought in the comments below.

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HotNewHipHop

Outkast Takes Ovrkast To Court Over Rap Name Dispute

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Ovrkast Says He Thought It Was Love

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Lionel Richie Cancels Upcoming Dates After Cardiac Procedure

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