Per journalist Michael Blackshire, Durk, Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson, and David “Browneyez” Lindsey will not take the stand to provide testimony about their alleged role in all of this. Prosecutors accused the Chicago rapper of organizing the whole thing, Dede of coordinating logistics, and Browneyez of being one of the gunmen.

The Voice’s defense team pointed to one of Lil Durk’s alleged coconspirators, Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, as the true culprit of the hit on Quando. Vonnie had testified against Smurk along with others who originally faced charges in this case, and many other witnesses for the prosecution.

Read More: Breaking Down Cardi B’s Beef With Plus-Size Fashion Influencer Samyra

When Is Lil Durk’s Next Court Date?

Elsewhere, Durk’s defense team’s witnesses included Kevin Freeman from Durk’s Neighborhood Heroes non-profit organization, his sound engineer Justin Gibson, the wife of OTF Jam, Jam’s ex-girlfriend, and more. Lil Durk also recently broke his silence amid this trial with a simple message posted to his Instagram: “Allah Is The Greatest.”

If everything goes according to the current expected schedule, closing arguments in this case will begin on Tuesday, September 8. Without testimony from the codefendants, jurors will base their deliberation solely on testimonies and evidence presented against these defendants. It’s by no means an uncommon legal strategy to refuse testimony, but like everything else in the trial, it has a big impact.

Elsewhere, closing arguments will give both sides a chance to summarize their claims and highlight the evidence they find to be the most damning, important, or absolving. As for how long closing arguments and jury deliberation will last, we will have to wait and see. Soon, a long-running saga will start to resolve.

Read More: Famous Dex’s Most Troubling Controversies From Arrests To Rehab

The post Lil Durk Won’t Take The Stand In His Murder-For-Hire Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

He took to social media platforms like Twitter this week to share the old 2003 commercial, which saw both MCs rap about their Reebok deals. “See jay still owe me a favor for doing this s**t,” the G-Unit mogul wrote. It’s unclear exactly what the favor is; appearing in the commercial, shouting out the S. Carters, or maybe something else? Either way, 50 claimed he got the first sample of his G-Unit sneakers at this shoot, which allegedly caused a rift.

“They brought me the first G-Unit sample while we was recording this,” he continued. “I said I’m wearing my shoe in this, jay got so mad John [Meneilly, who did big business with Jay back then] said im gonna get fired. LOL True story.”

Via Fif’s Instagram post on the matter, he left a comment that added more fuel to this fire. “I think he still mad I called him a gay painter LOL.”

Read More: Breaking Down Cardi B’s Beef With Plus-Size Fashion Influencer Samyra

Do Jay-Z & 50 Cent Have Beef?

For those unaware, the dynamic between 50 Cent and Jay-Z in recent years has largely consisted of 50 commenting on Jay and trolling him now and again. However, there really hasn’t been a super explicit feud between them beyond NYC competition, subliminal shots, and mutual business respect. So while there isn’t “beef” per se, we don’t expect them to go out for drinks together anytime soon.

Elsewhere, Jay-Z’s 2026 moves have been massive as well, albeit disappointing when it comes to their most recent addition. Fans hoped a listening party would hold new music, but this wasn’t the case. With that in mind, we doubt 50 will get a response here.

Read More: Famous Dex’s Most Troubling Controversies From Arrests To Rehab

The post 50 Cent Claims Jay-Z Might Still Be Angry Over 2003 Reebok Commercial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Both the defense and the prosecutors rested their case and are expected to deliver their closing statements after the long weekend. Testimony from Lil Durk’s sound engineer, Alamo Records SVP Marketing, the mother of King Von’s child, OTF Jam’s wife and more of the defense witnesses took place on Thursday. At one point, Durk’s engineer reportedly testified that Durk’s song, “Pissed Me Off” was partly inspired by 6ix9ine’s trolling.

Read More: Breaking Down Cardi B’s Beef With Plus-Size Fashion Influencer Samyra

Prosecution & Defense In The Lil Durk Trial Rest Their Case

A lot is riding on the line for Lil Durk as he could be facing a life sentence if convicted for murder-for-hire. Throughout the trial, Durk saw several members of OTF turn into cooperating witnesses and deliver damning testimony against him. Jam, Flacka, and Vonnie took the stand, pleading guilty to their roles in the attempted attacks on Quando Rondo.

Jam’s testimony, specifically, has garnered immense scrutiny. Meek Mill questioned Jam’s intentions on X. “jam was killing his community and robbing at will. Now he’s trying to take somebody life he say he loved,” he said. “he is the definition of a heathen you can’t even let them around you especially when your successful. I wouldn’t believe a word he says.”

Most recently, when the wife of Jam took the stand, she reportedly revealed that his own son disowned him for turning into a cooperating witness in the case. We will keep you posted on any further updates on the trial. 

Read More: Famous Dex’s Most Troubling Controversies From Arrests To Rehab

The post Lil Durk Breaks His Silence Amid Murder-For-Hire Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to journalist Bryson “Boom” Paul, the Dallas County Clerk indicates Yella’s capital murder trial will begin on September 14. Judge Chika Anyiam will reportedly preside, and a court appearance for today (Friday, September 4) was reportedly removed. Attorneys Toby Shook, John F. Gussio, and Michael Mowla will reportedly represent the rapper in this capital murder case.

We will see how this timeline matches with the other trials in this case. Kewon White’s case continues to develop, with the prosecution wrapping up with its final witnesses. Elsewhere, the trial of Devin Brown seems less defined at press time, but will also be key in presenting and refuting evidence for both sides.

Read More: Breaking Down Cardi B’s Beef With Plus-Size Fashion Influencer Samyra

Is Yella Beezy In Jail?

Beezy left jail on a $750K bond back in March of last year, and has been awaiting trial ever since. Prosecutors specifically accused Yella Beezy of paying Kewon White $20K to track and murder Mo3, with various details in White’s trial indicating what arguments prosecutors will have against Yella in this upcoming trial.

Another controversial part of this case is the use of Yella Beezy’s lyrics in trial, which the court allowed. His defense team maintains that these tracks are performances and not admissions, blasting efforts to turn artistic expression against him.

We will see if any pre-trial updates change the panorama of this situation before September 14. With two other trials that are proving to be key to the overall case, there will be a lot of common information across all proceedings that will paint a full picture. However, neither side has finalized their arguments and evidence presentation. So there is still a lot of trial left in the lead-up to the big one.

Read More: Famous Dex’s Most Troubling Controversies From Arrests To Rehab

The post Yella Beezy Gets Trial Date For Alleged Capital Murder Of Mo3 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The dispute is unusual because Samyra did not become known through celebrity gossip. Her platform was built around challenging fashion brands over size inclusivity and calling out companies she believes fail plus-size shoppers. That work has earned her a loyal audience, but it has also made her a polarizing figure among viewers who find her methods relentless.

Cardi and Samyra have crossed paths more than once, and the tension between them has continued to grow rather than fade. Their latest exchange has pushed the feud back across TikTok, where questions about body image and accountability are now tangled up with a much more personal argument between two women who are not known for letting things go quietly.

Read More: Cardi B’s Long History Of Rap Beef & Public Rivalries

Samyra Built Her Platform Calling Out Fashion Brands

Size inclusivity sits at the center of Samyra’s online work. Her videos regularly test whether major retailers actually carry the extended sizes promoted on their websites, putting companies on blast when the in-store experience falls short. Refinery29 profiled that approach as her audience grew, noting how she also turned those frustrations into music with “Plus-Size Freestyle.”

Old Navy was already one of her recurring targets. The retailer launched BODEQUALITY in 2021 with plans to offer every women’s style in sizes 0 through 30, but later adjusted the number of extended sizes it stocked in stores after demand fell short of projections. Samyra argued that the change weakened the inclusivity promise behind the campaign, even though the broader range remained available online.

She was still calling out the retailer in April 2026. Speaking with Fashionista, Samyra credited Old Navy for maintaining a wide size range but criticized the lack of larger options in many physical stores. At that point, her issue was with the brand itself. Cardi would enter that conversation a few months later.

Cardi’s Merch Joke Turned Samyra Into A Direct Critic

The first real collision came in 2025, after Cardi joked about how quickly the 3X sizes of her Am I the Drama? merchandise had sold. She called the buyers “fat f*cks,” made a Chick-fil-A joke, and later brushed off accusations of fatphobia by pointing out that people routinely make fun of her body. The comments immediately split opinion between fans who heard Cardi doing her usual unfiltered humor and others who thought plus-size supporters had become the punchline.

Samyra responded across several videos, pushing the conversation toward the larger issue of how often celebrity merchandise leaves plus-size buyers with limited options. She also rejected Cardi’s argument that jokes about her BBL made similar comments about fat people fair game. Cardi eventually answered her directly, saying the original remarks were between her and her fans before telling Samyra to “shut the f*ck up” and “calm your p*ssy,” according to Daily Dot. She also made clear that an apology was not coming.

The exchange quickly became uglier than the disagreement itself. Samyra said she was flooded with fatphobic attacks and threats, then stepped away from social media for her mental health. Cardi later condemned the harassment directed at her. The argument quieted after that, but it left both women with a very clear memory of the other by the time Old Navy entered the picture.

Old Navy Brought The Feud Back Before Cardi Was Even Revealed

The silence between them ended when Old Navy began teasing its Fall 2026 campaign without showing the celebrity at its center. Samyra believed the mystery figure was Cardi almost immediately and posted a warning to the retailer before the reveal, saying, “That better not be who I think it is talking about. Y’all better do something with them.” Her reaction tied the new campaign directly back to the fatphobia argument they had left unresolved the year before.

Old Navy confirmed Cardi as the face of its “Most Wanted Denim” campaign on August 5. In the company’s announcement, Cardi praised the retailer for offering “something for your body type,” language that landed squarely against Samyra’s existing criticism of the brand’s in-store sizing. Old Navy also featured plus-size model Paloma Elsesser in the campaign, but Samyra remained focused on Cardi’s involvement.

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She then recreated Cardi’s campaign look in her own photo shoot, giving an already tense disagreement another visual moment for TikTok to pick apart. Cardi’s fans responded, while other creators stitched Samyra’s videos and weighed in on whether she was holding Old Navy accountable or deliberately provoking someone she already had history with. Samyra continued posting through the backlash rather than backing away from the argument.

Her criticism also stayed trained on Old Navy itself. Samyra kept questioning how a company that marketed itself around inclusivity could partner with someone she had publicly challenged over comments about plus-size fans. Cardi, meanwhile, was no longer treating the posts as another disagreement over fashion. The repeated attention had started to look personal from her side.

Cardi Says Samyra Crossed Into Bullying

The argument has since shifted from Old Navy’s campaign to Samyra’s treatment of Cardi herself. Cardi recently pushed back on the steady stream of posts by accusing the influencer of consistently bullying her rather than simply criticizing a brand partnership. Clips of the exchange circulated, reigniting debate over whether Samyra’s continued attention toward Cardi still qualified as advocacy.

Samyra rejected the accusation in another TikTok response. She denied bullying Cardi and defended the posts as an extension of the work she already does around plus-size representation. From her perspective, criticizing Cardi’s role in an Old Navy campaign remains tied to questions she had been asking about the retailer before the collaboration.

That explanation has not settled the backlash. Some viewers point to Samyra’s history with Old Navy as proof that Cardi did not suddenly become a convenient target. Others have focused on how quickly she identified Cardi from the teaser, followed the reveal by recreating the campaign look, and continued posting after their earlier feud had already turned hostile.

The disagreement has moved well past Cardi’s original merch joke. Samyra sees herself applying pressure to a celebrity and company participating in a conversation she has built her platform around. Cardi sees a creator who keeps finding reasons to make her the subject. Neither interpretation has stopped the other woman from responding, which is why a dispute that began over plus-size merchandise has followed them into an entirely different fashion campaign.

The post Breaking Down Cardi B’s Beef With Plus-Size Fashion Influencer Samyra appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to journalist Taylor Parise for Los Angeles Magazine, the defense officially rested in this case yesterday (Thursday, September 3), which quickly followed the prosecution resting their case against Lil Durk. The defense’s last witness was Justin Gibson, the Chicago rapper’s sound engineer who claimed he was living with him at the rented Encino house on the day of (and the day before) the shooting on Quando Rondo.

Per Trap Lore Ross, Gibson claimed 6ix9ine inspired the songs “Pissed Me Off” and “Ahh Haa” due to his comments about the “Slide for Von demands.” According to Ross, the sound engineer claimed Smurk thought he could go similarly viral by feeding into the narrative and making money from the insinuations.

Read More: Famous Dex’s Most Troubling Controversies From Arrests To Rehab

What’s Next In Lil Durk’s Trial?

Parise for LA Mag reported Gibson’s claim that Durk was “[giving] the people what they want to hear” via lyrics on “Ahhh Ha.” Regarding both tracks, which he worked on, Gibson claimed Durk took the opportunity to “say something about” fans’ expectations.

During the prosecutors’ cross-examination, Justin Gibson claimed he was aware that lyrics about “spinning” referred to shooting, but was unaware about an attempt on Rondo’s life after a Georgia concert. He also reportedly claimed the lyrics “That Rolls better be bulletproof … you know we gon’ shoot at them stars” could “possibly” be about Quando Rondo.

The sound engineer reportedly told attorney Michael Morse he “had no interpretation” of The Voice’s lyrics and merely “wanted to record the music.” Closing arguments will begin on Tuesday, September 8, if everything goes according to the current expected schedule.

6ix9ine’s intense trolling of Lil Durk and his commentary on this whole situation over the years is not getting any less incendiary. But when it comes to how it’s playing into the trial, both sides’ arguments point to a narrative game of back and forth.

Read More: Kanye’s Katrina, George Bush Criticism Hits Differently 21 Years Later

The post Lil Durk’s Sound Engineer Reportedly Claims 6ix9ine Inspired “Pissed Me Off” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: September 4, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: LOCKED IN

Quotable Lyrics from GASS

Don’t know who’s been gassin’ ’em up
You know you look pretty as fuck
Sat in the T with bro and the cats right there, that smell’s unsettlin’ (Damn)
Between me and you, that thought of losin’ it all is more than threatenin’

The post GASS – Song by Nemzzz featuring Travis Scott appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: September 4, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics from N**** Remix

Uh, Glocks don’t got no safety, be on cam, you watch the HD
Cops done took my shooters out the field, somethin’ like the league to AB

The post N**** Remix – Song by Skrilla featuring 1900Rugrat appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: September 4, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

The post Difference – Song by Memphis Bleek appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: September 4, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: Sedition

Quotable Lyrics from Over N Over

I just called Adam, got diamonds on diamonds on diamonds on diamonds,
I know that they flooded (Damn, yo, what the fuck?)
Bitch, I’m Nine Vicious, I count up my digits, I count up my digits,

The post Over N Over – Song by Nine Vicious appeared first on HotNewHipHop.