According to Politico, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked yesterday (Thursday, August 20) whether or not Putin will meet Kanye for this tour visit. “This isn’t our topic,” Peskov reportedly stated to reporters. “This isn’t Mosconcert, this is the presidential administration.”

For those unaware, the Chicago artist is reportedly facing pressure to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ahead of his concerts in St. Petersburg. Politician Nikolay Novichkov warned the concerts could face cancelation if Ye doesn’t publicly show “moral support for Russia and the special military operation” in Ukraine.

Also, conservative lawmaker Vitaly Milonov asked for Kanye West to perform traditional Russian songs during his performances. Milonov posited Ye may refrain from his “disgusting antics” and become a “normal person” in the future if he does so.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Kanye West’s Concerts

Previously, Kanye West’s concerts have faced similar controversy. Much like the backlash in Russia, authorities in the United Kingdom, Slovakia, France, Poland, Italy, and the Czech Republic canceled or prohibited Ye performances for various reasons. Much of it is his antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, although other cancelations have been for external factors apart from sociopolitical controversy.

Whether or not the Yeezy mogul meets with Vladimir Putin or the Kremlin, any association regarding the conflict with Ukraine will also cause debate in either direction. So things could get a lot more complicated for him.

Regardless, Kanye West is pressing on with new material and presumably hopes to treat as many fans worldwide as possible to performances. Now, all that’s left to see is whether any logistical or state-related issues hinder the path to the October shows’ execution.

If the shows go by as planned, Ye would become one of the biggest Western stars on the planet to perform in Russia since the Ukraine invasion began in 2022.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Kremlin Reveals If Kanye West Will Meet Vladimir Putin In Russia appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to an exclusive AllHipHop report from Grouchy Greg Watkins, a male prospective juror said Durk and his codefendants looked guilty, thus stating he could not view them fairly. This man, juror number 18, reportedly said just looking at the codefendants made him feel like they were guilty, despite not yet hearing either side’s arguments.

Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald reportedly removed juror number 18 from the pool, which includes roughly 80 prospective jurors. This jury selection process opened official court proceedings in this case yesterday (Thursday, August 20).

Reportedly, it’s been going slower than expected today, and only about 40 percent of prospective jurors have been evaluated by the court so far. As such, having opening statements today seems unlikely, unless things move much more rapidly as of writing this article.

In order for testimony and opening statements to begin, the federal court must seat 12 impartial jurors and four alternates. We will see when this process will end next week.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Why Did Lil Durk Get Arrested?

For those unaware, Lil Durk faces several murder-for-hire-related charges, to which he and his codefendants have pleaded not guilty. Durk is at the center of prosecutors’ allegations, which are that he arranged for a hit on Quando Rondo’s life.

Rondo faced a shooting in Los Angeles in 2022 that took the life of his cousin, Lul Pab. Prosecutors also accused The Voice of another murder plot in Chicago, but the judge separated those allegations from this L.A. case.

Elsewhere, folks speaking out about the Lil Durk trial have brought up other criminal accusations tied to his name. For example, the mother of FBG Duck recently addressed the trial. She had accused him, OTF, and others of having something to do with the murder of her son.

But that has nothing to do with this federal case. For now, progress seems slow while the court finds its impartial jury.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Lil Durk Trial’s Jury Selection Hits A Snag Due To Juror Saying He Looks Guilty appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to TMZ, a Los Angeles judge ruled Avila can collect Breezy’s “R&B” tour money in order to satisfy the judgement in her favor. Per reported court documents, the judge granted a request for her to assign money he gets in royalties and tour income to her judgement.

Chris Brown previously objected to this move, with he and his legal team claiming this is an overwhelmingly broad push. Also, they alleged the $13 million judgement is well beyond what the law indicates as appropriate damages. Now, we will see if they choose to challenge this approval directly in court. Otherwise, their arguments could form part of their wider attempt to overturn this verdict and secure a new trial.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Chris Brown’s Housekeeper

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For those unaware, Chris Brown’s opposition to his former housekeeper’s judgement stems from a few reasons. Firstly, he and his legal team accused Maria Avila’s lawyer of tainting the jury by making him answer questions about his abuse of Rihanna during a cross-examination in court. The singer’s lawyers called this question “inherently inflammatory” and scolded the court for not mitigating potential prejudicial impact.

In addition, Brown and his legal team pointed to other alleged factors that hindered his right to a fair trial. These include allegedly insufficient findings proving innocence, alleged procedural irregularities, and alleged jury misconduct.

As for this wider appeal, the court still has to rule on these motions. But when it comes to the Usher tour money, it seems like Maria Avila has the green light to collect it in the meantime.

We will see what the next step in this legal saga is, whether an appeals court sides against or in favor of Breezy. In any case, the “R&B” tour will keep running for a long time.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Chris Brown’s Dog Attack Victim Allowed To Collect Usher Tour’s Profits appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Game referenced K.Dot multiple times throughout his new album The Documentary 3, which includes a Drake feature and a lot of Los Angeles love. Some fans took these references as just that, whereas others think the Compton MC is lyrically going at his Compton counterpart.

As for the music executive, Wack spoke to DJ Akademiks during Ak’s livestream, as caught by Cousin Tino on Twitter. During their conversation, Akademiks refused to believe Wack 100’s claims about the two L.A. MCs having plans to meet in the studio just a few days from now.

“Game don’t do no sneak-dissing. When he say something, he gon’ say it,” Wack expressed. “Top Dawg killed that s**t two weeks ago. [A beef] ain’t gon’ happen… Kendrick is gon’ be in the studio with Game in three days.”

DJ Akademiks didn’t believe this and even wanted to bet against it, but Wack 100 pressed on. The only way to know for sure is to wait a few days and see if we get any footage or releases…

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

The Game Responds To Kendrick Lamar Rumors

The most important thing to note about all of this is The Game responding to this Kendrick Lamar speculation. He reacted via Instagram to a social media user calling him out for allegedly dissing the pgLang creative and calling for more L.A. unity. “Ain’t diss nobody on that song loud fa nuthin ahhhh [ninja emoji],” the West Coast lyricist wrote.

Kendrick Lamar’s affiliates have also denied beef with The Game, whether it’s by claiming he didn’t diss Lamar on this new material or downplaying any serious tension between him and TDE. Still, there are a lot of mixed signals, and many fans still aren’t convinced.

At this point, we don’t know what it would take for this to die down. But a studio session between Game and Kendrick seems like the best bet.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Wack 100 Claims Kendrick Lamar Will Hit The Studio With The Game Soon appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Now, Weekly is commenting on Smurk’s legal process. In an Instagram livestream caught by DJ Akademiks on IG, she spoke about religion and potential cooperation in the case.

“For any God-fearing person: what God got for you, he got for you,” FBG Duck’s mother expressed. “You gon’ get them bad things too for playing with Him… Motherf***ers ain’t prayed this much in they life, because now they need God… But where was all that when the other families was going through what they was going through behind the s**t this man was doing? […] It’s not right… They say [OTF] Jam gon’ get on that motherf***ing and gon’ tell every goddamn thing.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Duck s**t don’t get brought up…” she continued. “We gon’ see when Jam testify… All that was over music. It’s just senseless… There is no way that [Duck] would’ve gotten in that position and fumbled it like that… His family wouldn’t have let him or his friends. F**k how the clout is… I was a part of this destruction… Whatever the outcome with this man’s life is, it’s God’s decision.”

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Lil Durk Trial Update

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For those unaware, Lil Durk’s trial recently began with jury selection. To be clear, the murder-for-hire charges he pleaded not guilty to do not include any accusations of his involvement in FBG Duck’s murder. Rather, these accusations are only in Weekly’s civil lawsuit when it comes to court proceedings.

Evidence in the Durk case includes interviews about his alleged OTF dealings, as well as some of his music. While the specific charges relate to Lul Pab’s murder, other accusations continue to become relevant for public discussion. As such, FBG Duck’s mother believes her son’s story will be a part of proceedings.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post FBG Duck’s Mother Speaks Out About Lil Durk’s Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 21, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Tracklist for M.O.B (Mind My Own Business)

1. M.O.B
2. Puppies
3. No
4. Locked In
5. Cash Tall
6. Enough
7. Rollie Wit Baguettes
8. On The Flo
9. Point Of View
10. Bosses In The Clouds
11. New Levels

The post M.O.B (Mind My Own Business) – Album by Payroll Giovanni appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Alleged sources reportedly with direct knowledge confirmed the news to TMZ, relaying his stay at an ICU under doctors’ care at a Las Vegas hospital. Quality Control Music also provided an update to the outlet after the news broke, indicating their CEO is “alive and currently receiving medical care.”

In addition, the label asked for “everyone [to] keep P and his family in their thoughts and prayers and respectfully give them the privacy and space they need during this time… We deeply appreciate everyone’s concern, support, prayers, and loving energy right now.”

This comes after reports indicated family members accompanied Thomas in the hospital and consulted with medical staff about what to do next. Beyond this, not many other details about this situation are available at press time.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Quality Control’s Pierre “P” Thomas

For those unaware, Quality Control’s Pierre “P” Thomas caused controversy last year due to his spat with Young Thug. Amid the Thugger jail calls scandal, he accused P of snitching, and he responded in kind with allegations of his own and a lot of trolling.

Since then, the situation with the label and its associated artists has been unclear as it relates to YSL. Presumably, tensions simmered down and artists focused more on individual relationships rather than collective loyalties.

In the wake of this hospitalization, this debate concerning Pierre “P” Thomas should get a significant reevaluation from fans. Moments like these remind folks of how short and precious life is, hopefully encouraging bridges to build rather than burn.

Quality Control’s dominant run in hip-hop is largely thanks to P and others guiding the ship and working well with their artists. Everyone is sending him their best wishes right now and hope he recovers healthily.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Quality Control’s Pierre “P” Thomas Goes To Hospital After Heart Attack appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 21, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Tracklist for Another Night at The Chateau

1. Sharper Than I Ever Been
2. Showgun
3. Whatcha Know ft. Larry June
4. The Chateau Song
5. Last Time In Vegas ft. Jay Worthy & Akeem Ali
6. Trim
7. Growin Pains
8. Get Busy – Interlude
9. Peace and Chain 2
10. Baby Fever ft. Aye-Jae
11. Is You With Me
12. On Tonight ft. ELHAE & Matt McGhee
13. Would You ft. King Joe
14. Some Real Shit ft. Foggieraw
15. GBH

The post Another Night At The Chateau – Album by Premo Rice appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 21, 2026

Genre: R&B

Tracklist for TO:SUMMER

1. JULY,AUGUST
2. OUTSIDE.COM
3. 20,000 STEPS
4. HERE COMES THE SUN
5. 416 905 LOOK ALIVE!
6. CHAMPAGNE SPEECH
7. LINK SOME (TOOK MY ICE OFF)
8. LAKESHORE WEST
9. XYLO’S SONG
10. BRIGHT SIDE
11. SAD VIBE
12. MET SOMEONE ELSE
13. I KNOW IT’S SUMMER, SOMEWHERE

The post TO:SUMMER – Album by Sean Leon appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 21, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Tracklist for Sewaside IV

1. Fiya Fi Dat!(Intro)
2. Montreal!
3. Jack Mode!
4. 1,2,1,2
5. Tell Em Again (riddim)
6. Disco Duck III
7. Mr.Triggerman! (Introduction)
8. Conehead!
9. Tales From Da Hood, Pt. 1
10. Boom it up!
11. Mike Shabb Getting Married (Interlude)
12. Lefleur Leflah!
13. Ring-A-Round! ft. Obijuan
14. 85.5FM (Intermission) ft. Ankhlejohn & Rvlr Magz
15. Buckshot 26′
16. Bastard Child!
17. Dontsweatit! ft. MIKE
18. Flowers!
19. Reminisce!
20. Party people! (Outro)
21. Imnotakiller!

The post Sewaside IV – Album by Mike Shabb appeared first on HotNewHipHop.