However, there are some folks who are holding out hope that Drizzy can someday get involved in other ways. For instance, Pat McAfee and his co-hosts would like for Drake to pop out during the NFL’s Thanksgiving Game Halftime Show.

This year, Ella Langley will perform, and it is expected that “Choosin Texas” will be on the menu. That said, McAfee and his co-hosts firmly believe that Drake needs to be there to perform “Solar Eclipse” with her.

Drake seems to agree with this, as he liked a video repost of the Pat McAfee clip on Instagram.

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Drake Is On Board With Pat McAfee

While this would be a lot of fun, and fans would go absolutely bonkers, it is unlikely that we actually get to see this. Even if Langley does want to bring out Drake, the decision rests in the hands of the NFL.

Furthermore, one has to wonder if Drake would really pull up for a Thanksgiving game. There are a lot of factors at play that would have to go 100 percent right for any of this to work out.

Regardless, fans can dream about the potential possibilities here. It would be cool to see Drake at least get some sort of NFL opportunity. Although you shouldn’t hold your breath. For now, this is just pure fantasy.

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However, it appears as though Cole has had a change of heart. After a successful album and an even more successful tour, Cole is revealing that he can never commit to calling it quits.

During a conversation with his mentor and music executive Mark Pitts, as well as GQ writer Frazier Tharpe, Cole revealed the truth behind retirement. While he is not committed to making another album, he knows the appetite to create will return eventually.

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J. Cole Goes Back On Retirement

“After this tour right here? Come on man, this is crazy… When I was making that album, I was making it like, ‘Damn, this is going to be my last sh*t.’ Luckily, by the time I got to actually finishing the album, because of circumstances, I’m like, ‘Nah, I’ll never say I’m going to retire.’ I don’t know when the next thing is going to happen, but I’m definitely not going to say no,” Cole revealed.

This is certainly good news for all of the J. Cole fans out there, who no longer have to worry about the possibility of him quitting music for good. That said, don’t expect a new album anytime soon. You’re still going to have to wait patiently for that.

Regardless, it is good to know that one of this generation’s best artists is not calling it quits so soon. That would be tragic, especially as The Fall-Off proves he still has so much more to give.

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Furthermore, Durk received a plethora of character letters from prominent figures. As we reported today and last night, JAY-Z and J. Cole are among those who have vouched for the artist.

Michael Rubin also delivered a character letter, and as you will read, it’s powerful. Rubin speaks on Durk’s work in the community and his involvement in the REFORM Alliance.

“I first met Durk through my work with the REFORM Alliance, an organization dedicated to transforming the probation and parole system and creating opportunities for people who deserve a second chance. Through our interactions, I have come to know a man who places tremendous importance on his family and his ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others,” Rubin wrote.

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Michael Rubin Goes to Bat For Durk

“When we launched the REFORM Alliance, Durk was among the artists who stepped forward to support our mission,” Rubin continued. “He performed at our inaugural event, which raised more than $20 million to help people less fortunate than him be able to return to their families and rehabilitate their lives through an organization that is rethinking antiquated probation restrictions. His willingness to lend his voice and platform to an issue affecting so many individuals and families demonstrated an understanding that success carries with it a responsibility to help create opportunities for others.”

Next week, Durk will learn whether or not these character letters were enough to get him released from jail until his trial in August of next year. If not, then he will remain behind bars as he awaits his final trial.

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However, after winning an NBA title, fans softened on him, just because the vibes were high. Unfortunately, Dolan has done everything in his power to become hated again. From hitting team employees with championship ring phishing emails to shading Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Dolan is hellbent on being the least likeable guy possible.

Now, according to Stephen A. Smith, Dolan is making things a whole lot worse for himself. With the Knicks struggling to start the season, Smith suggests there is tension within the walls of Madison Square Garden. He says this tension stems from the Knicks players not wanting to go to the White House. Dolan is a Trump supporter and is allegedly catching an attitude.

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James Dolan Sabotages The Knicks…Again

If this is true, then it is an absolutely awful look for the New York Knicks. This is one of the most historic franchises in the NBA, and they should be in the midst of celebrating their success. However, once again, their owner has become the topic of conversation.

This is the opposite of what fans were hoping for to start the season. Moreover, one can just imagine how exhausted the players must be from Dolan and his constant narcissism.

Interestingly, Smith refused to talk about his own trip to the White House, where he had dinner with the likes of Bill Maher. Either way, if you’re a Knicks fan, you now know why the team seems distracted.

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The post James Dolan Reportedly Catching An Attitude As Knicks Players Refuse White House Visit appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

These days, it sometimes feels like he has to remind people of the glory days, before he, Jeremy Hecht, and DJ Hed became cornerstones of rap media during the Kendrick-Drake beef. There was CRWN, which became a staple of hip-hop journalism around album releases, and the chemistry between Wilson and B. Dot on Rap Radar that made everyone from JAŸ-Z to Will Smith and Drake comfortable enough to open up about their lives and the lore behind their music.

That kind of access doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from decades of building a reputation and earning the trust of the people you’re covering. Born in 1971, Wilson has spent much of his career documenting and shaping hip-hop journalism. From Beat Down to The Source to XXL, where he eventually became editor-in-chief, Wilson helped guide the magazine through the transition into the digital era. As new generations emerged and the landscape changed, he adapted. Even after leaving XXL, he launched Rap Radar, which became an influential interview platform and a place for audiences to discover the latest hip-hop releases. Wilson has spent decades establishing himself as one of hip-hop’s most recognizable media figures.

Wilson won’t let you forget that history, either. His X feed remains a collage of milestones and bragging rights, a running reminder of what he’s accomplished. But if hip-hop remains youth culture, then you have to meet the youth where they’re at. Young audiences aren’t necessarily digging through the archives. They’re coming across clips that draw a reaction, whether it’s an explosive revelation, a heated exchange, or a controversial opinion. Video formats and podcasts still require some degree of trust in the person speaking, which helps explain why Adam22, Akademiks, and Vlad have built influential platforms despite the backlash they often face. Just as important is the emotional response they can draw from an audience. Outrage is just as valuable as agreement when both can spark a conversation.

The difference is that many of these personalities didn’t spend decades working their way through the same institutions as Wilson. Yet their influence has grown beyond what traditional hip-hop journalism can easily contain. The scope of the genre’s media landscape has expanded far beyond newspapers, magazines, and online publications. Rappers have followed the blueprint of Drink Champs without always bringing the same curiosity to their interviews. Executives and A&Rs can offer insight into the inner workings of an industry that most fans rarely get to see. Then there are the streamers and influencers whose interest in hip-hop began while Wilson was interviewing their favorite rappers. The people being interviewed have increasingly become interviewers themselves, and the gatekeepers who once controlled access to the culture no longer have the same authority.

Wilson’s legacy, however, has become more complicated over the past year and change. At the height of The Bigger Picture, he took on Director of Hip Hop Journalism across HipHopDX, Uproxx, and Dime. Those outlets have since leaned more heavily into Instagram as their websites have shifted toward video. That alone reflects a broader shift away from the traditional online publication model. The Bigger Picture itself attracted attention not only because of the chemistry between its hosts, but also because of the behind-the-scenes insight Wilson and DJ Hed could offer into Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and the other rappers caught up in that saga. Their access made the show compelling. At the same time, Wilson appeared to be learning that being a media personality was different from simply being a host or interviewer. Sometimes, a little provocation can go a long way.

During an appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, B. Dot discussed his falling-out with Wilson after the two did not renew their Rap Radar partnership. He described a shift in Wilson’s public persona, one that increasingly seemed to position him as an antagonist. That perception became harder to separate from Wilson’s own public comments regarding the media landscape these days. He apologized to Kai Cenat after criticizing the streamer amid Nicki Minaj’s interest in reaching younger audiences through platforms like his. He also questioned Cam’ron and Ma$e’s move into sports commentary, despite their pursuing a lane distinct from his own. In both cases, Wilson’s reactions raised a question of whether was he defending the standards of hip-hop journalism, or reacting to a media landscape in which his own approach no longer commanded the same attention.

Those moments still brought viral currency back to Wilson’s name. He eventually sat down with Cam’ron on Talk With Flee, where they addressed their differences, and he later ran into Kai Cenat and apologized. His visibility didn’t necessarily wane. Instead, the controversies prompted people to question whether his priorities were still centered on elevating hip-hop or increasingly on elevating himself.

That tension became more apparent when Wilson attempted to work with Vlad on a one-off episode of VladTV featuring Hit-Boy. The partnership was short-lived. Vlad later alleged that Wilson wanted a payout for the interview that was double the revenue Vlad’s channel had generated from the segment. Wilson has also faced allegations surrounding a separate financial dispute with SaVon Slater of The Joe Budden Podcast, who has claimed that Wilson owes him $20,000. These are competing accounts and allegations, but they’ve contributed to the scrutiny surrounding Wilson’s business relationships.

Business is business, at the end of the day. But the fallout from Wilson’s Rap Radar partnership–despite saying that he and B.Dot could pick up right where they left off if and the disputes that have followed raise questions about how he approaches his relationships with peers and collaborators. At least, that’s how some of the public has come to view him. After years of providing value to hip-hop, Wilson now finds himself under suspicion from people who once might have given him the benefit of the doubt. Part of that reaction comes from stan wars and the expectation that a journalist should remain impartial, even when covering artists whose fans have turned every disagreement into a contest. But another part stems from the perception that Wilson has become increasingly estranged from peers and partners with whom he once shared a rapport.

As a consumer, it’s hard not to see how some of Wilson’s more antagonistic rhetoric has complicated his legacy. It’s one thing to challenge someone in an investigative report or call them out when you catch them in a lie. It’s another to provoke a reaction simply because the next viral moment is worth chasing. Wilson isn’t Vlad or Akademiks, two personalities who have turned online controversy into an effective part of their brands. He still seems to want the respect that comes with his journalistic legacy, even as he navigates a media landscape where younger personalities have had to build their own platforms without the institutional support that once helped journalists like him get through the door. Leaning into the hate only gets you so far when it risks undermining the principles that made people respect you in the first place.

Clout can outweigh merit in certain circumstances. Wilson’s recent controversies won’t erase what he’s accomplished. But his legacy isn’t immune to scrutiny, either. Those who criticize him often acknowledge the respect they still have for his contributions to hip-hop journalism. The problem is that every new controversy gives his critics more reason to question whether the man he has become is living up to the work he has done.

For all the times Wilson has evolved with the culture, he now faces the challenge of adapting to a generation in which many of his former interview subjects have become the interviewers themselves and the new faces of media haven’t had to jump over the same hurdles he had to face. Trying to shapeshift to fit the mold of the moment risks turning him into a villain, even among people who don’t necessarily want to see him that way. His legacy remains significant. Whether he can protect it without becoming consumed by the very attention economy will have to be seen in whatever he has planned next.

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“I woulda went to war with Pooh Shiesty if he had [impregnated] one of my baby mamas,” he explained. “And I would have went to war with him and tried to get his PO to lock him up.”

These were massive allegations, especially when you consider how Pooh Shiesty is currently in jail awaiting trial for allegedly robbing and kidnapping Gucci Mane.

Despite his predicament, Pooh Shiesty still found some time to respond to Rainwater’s allegations. Over on his Instagram story, he wrote “Mane i dont got no baby momas, no babies otw, nun of that and dont want none! or nun to do with you gabage a** h*es.”

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Pooh Shiesty Responds

Ultimately, this is a strong response to the allegations. Allegations that certainly took some by surprise when they first surfaced on the internet. After all, Pooh Shiesty is a person of interest to hip-hop fans right now. This kind of salacious accusation only adds to the conversation around the rapper’s name.

Now that this is cleared up, Pooh Shiesty will be looking to focus on his upcoming trial. His federal trial is expected to begin on February 22. If convicted, he could face life in prison as a maximum sentence.

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“Ms. Kemp shamelessly used the label ‘on the spectrum’ as a pejorative slur hurled at a child to humiliate him and his family,” Fif’s lawyers argued in a complaint filed Oct. 26. “But autism is not shameful. What is shameful is fabricating a diagnosis for a private child, inventing a sexually degrading cause for it, and broadcasting both to a mass audience in order to degrade him.”

Fif is specifically alleging that Kemp committed libel and slander, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and he’s looking for $2M for each count.

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Tia Kemp & 50 Cent Legal Battle

However, it looks like Tia Kemp isn’t folding. In response to Fif’s lawsuit, she shared a fake GoFundMe fundraiser asking to help her reach her goal of $6M with the caption reading, “I need Money by Monday”–flipping the script on 50 Cent. 

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A post shared by Tia Kemp (@yuntietiaback)

She then shared a video where she heckled 50 Cent over the lawsuit, claiming that he’s still bitter over his feud with 50 Cent. She said that Fif constantly dishes out insults to others but, in this case, sues when the tables have turned. 

“You talking about rat? And you want to ratty ratty with lawyers?” she said. “B*tch, suck a d*ck, p*ssy.”

She then pointed to Fif filing for bankruptcy after he lost his lawsuit to Lastonia Leviston, Rick Ross’s other baby mama. Check out the clip above and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below. 

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One of the artists who wasn’t at the party was none other than 21 Savage. He and Drake used to be the best of friends. However, over the weekend, he decided to spend his time in the studio with Metro Boomin. Of course, in 2024, Metro found himself at odds with Drake, thus putting 21 in an uncomfortable position.

Adam22 was one of the people who attended Drake’s party, and on No Jumper this week, he made the suggestion that something is, indeed, amiss. Based on a conversation he had with someone at the party, he believes that Drake and 21 are no longer on good terms. They don’t like each other’s Instagram posts anymore, and they don’t show up for each other either.

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Are Drake and 21 Savage Beefing?

Adam22 didn’t have any direct evidence to support this theory. Although he does believe that, based on what he has heard, there is a compelling case that something is amiss right now.

It should be noted that DJ Akademiks has weighed in on all of this, and he says Drake and 21 Savage are on good terms and remain locked in.

Meanwhile, Adam spoke about Travis Scott and Future, whose involvement in the party has been disputed. Adam claims Scott did get into the party, but he never saw the artist interact with Drake.

Moreover, Adam believes Future won’t cut off the people Drake was beefing with, and therefore, they remain on icy terms, even if the artist was on ICEMAN.

Whether or not Adam22 is proven right about this situation still very much remains to be seen.

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The post Adam22 Suggests Drake & 21 Savage Aren’t On Good Terms These Days, Akademiks Says Otherwise appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Per All Hip Hop, he initially filed a lawsuit against Spotify in 2025, but the complaint was dismissed. However, the judge allowed him to file an amended complaint against the company. In the first complaint, RBX specifically cited Drake as an artist who benefited from botting, though he didn’t name the Canadian rapper as a defendant. RBX’s amended complaint then alleged that Spotify implemented stricter fraud controls that impacted smaller artists without holding bigger artists to the same standard.

Unfortunately for him, the judge did not agree with his argument. The latest response from the court told RBX that he didn’t actually identify a specific rule that indicated that a double standard existed. Apparently, RBX used the minimum streams and listener requirements that impact smaller artists as an attempt to push his case through.

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RBX’s Amended Complaint Denied

“That streaming activity on Spotify’s platform may impact [RBX’s] career and status does not transform Spotify’s role into one of a protector,” Judge Staton wrote, claiming that Spotify doesn’t have a special duty to prevent third-party bots from impacting smaller artists, nor does their relationship with major labels and the industry at large make them obliged to protect smaller artists.

Moreover, RBX’s claim that Spotify did hold that responsibility through its anti-fraud initiatives was also rejected by the court. The judge also pointed to the fact that RBX didn’t show that Spotify’s consumers or competitors were harmed, as he claimed he suffered losses as a music rights holder. We will continue to keep you posted on any further updates here. 

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The post RBX Lawsuit Alleging Drake Bots On Spotify Rejected, Again appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Now, Drake is back in Houston, where he is starting to build new roots. As it turns out, the 40th celebrations have continued, this time with comedian Jeff Ross.

If you remember, Drizzy stated that he wanted to be roasted by Jim Carrey for his birthday. While his friends were unable to hire Carrey, they were able to get the Roastmaster General himself.

Ross’ roasting acumen is well documented, and as it turns out, he’s actually obtainable for events. Drake posed with Ross for a photo, and now, the image is making the rounds online.

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Drake Roasted by Jeff Ross

Unfortunately, we do not have any videos of Ross’ roast. Although given his track record, we can imagine that the vulgarity levels were high. Meanwhile, we all know Drake has been through a lot, and we would not be surprised if some of his controversies were topics of Ross’ roast.

Either way, all of this just confirms how much motion Drake still has out here. He can get big-time comedians like Jeff Ross to show up to his birthday. Moreover, he can also get the Backstreet Boys to perform. There aren’t many people out there who can say that.

For Drake, his 40th year was absolutely one to celebrate. ICEMAN continues to be a success, and in terms of mainstream hip-hop, Drake has carried the year. It’s hard to imagine that changing anytime soon.

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