The build closely mirrors the “Grape” colorway most fans already know. White leather covers the upper throughout. Deep purple hits the tongue and midsole, with teal accents running through the lining and shark-tooth detailing.

A few small differences separate this sample from the final retail version. The outsole shows a slightly different speckled treatment across the black midsole panel. That kind of detail is common in trial versions before a design gets locked in.

Deadstock laces still carry their factory tips in these photos. That usually signals this pair sat untouched since it was originally made. Samples like this rarely leave private archives or collector circles.

The “Grape” colorway originally released back in 1990. It broke away from Chicago’s usual red and black scheme entirely. Further, this sample offers a rare look at the design work that led up to that final release.

Read More: Labor Day Foot Locker Deals Include An Extra 25% Off On Jordan 1 Lows, Jordan 6, And Nike Socks

Air Jordan 5 “Grape” Pattern Trial Sample

The Air Jordan 5 “Grape” holds a unique place in sneaker history. It’s one of the most iconic non-Bulls colorways Jordan Brand has ever released. Will Smith wearing it on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air only added to that legacy.

Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan 5 with World War II fighter planes as his inspiration. The shark-tooth midsole and translucent outsole both trace back to that concept. Also the “Grape” colorway took that same shape and gave it a different identity.

Pattern samples like this one show just how much testing goes into a design before it’s finalized. Small tweaks to color placement and material treatment often separate early samples from what eventually reaches shelves. This piece also offers a rare glimpse into that process for one of the model’s most beloved colorways.

Overall it’s a great piece of design history tied to one of Jordan Brand’s most celebrated releases.

Read More: Carlos Alcaraz Debuts A New Cactus Jack x Nike Colorway

The post Very Rare Air Jordan 5 OG “Grape” Pattern Sample Surfaces appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Unfortunately, it seems like he’s issued his first response to the matter, and it hasn’t been well received. During a live performance, Joey covered Hov’s “Song Cry” from 2001’s The Blueprint, an emotional record where Hov discusses heartbreak. Joey previously flipped the song in 1999, but during the performance, he covered the original, which many understood as some sort of reflection of his relationship with Serayah.

“I was just fuckin’ them girls, I was gon’ get right back/ They say you can’t turn a bad girl good/ But once a good girl’s gone bad, she’s gone forever/ I’ll mourn forever/ And I gotta live with the fact I did you wrong forever,” Joey Bada$$ raps along with a live band.

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

Joey Bada$$ Roasted

Joey got flamed immediately online after footage surfaced. “Lmaooo don’t cheat on yo bitch if you gone be doing this,” one user wrote.  Another added, “We gotta call this shit exactly wtf it is—corny. How the fuck…what is happening dawg?? This is CORNY. You cannot do a cover of another rappers song at your show bruh. Idk. Just no bruh.”

The performance came after Serayah clarified that she and Joey are not back together. Following a brief encounter with TMZ, fans immediately believed she took him back. She later clarified that it is not the case, but that they are co-parenting. 

The two welcomed their first son together in 2025 and got engaged shortly after. Serayah announced the split in a message shared to Instagram earlier this month.

Read More: Tupac, D4vd & Feeding The Conspiracies That Never Die

The post Joey Bada$$ Gets Flamed Over JAŸ-Z’s “Song Cry” Cover After Serayah Break-Up appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“F*ck Durk. The money made dude a leader, and if you ain’t never really been a soldier, you can never fully lead a real boss leader whatever he call his self would never have n***as he love do sh*t he wouldn’t do or put his homies in a f*cked up position,” he said. “I just did 12 str8 for doing something with a n***a I didn’t really know. This was my first time being a free father to my son six months out, n***a get a call to come to LA. Not a call saying, ‘This is what you coming for’ but just come and when I got there, the situation was in my face with n****as I didn’t know.”

Jam admitted that he doesn’t like the fact that he turned into a cooperating witness, but he also feels a significant amount of resentment toward Lil Durk for this entire situation.

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

Jam’s Alleged Statement

“Dude don’t give a sh*t but his self and his image to the world,” Jam said, explaining that Durk put everyone in the current position they’re in because he wasn’t concerned about their well-being. He also alleged that Durk was aware that there was an investigation because of the car and didn’t share that information with anyone else.

“He didn’t care we was going to jail. He cared about his image and n***as not being able to say slide for Von no more,” he added. “So Durk and y’all behind that n***a fans and all can suck my d*ck. I don’t feel sh*t behind y’all words gang. I’m just mad at myself for f*cking with goofy ass n***as.”

The account is not listed as OTF Jam’s official Instagram page. However, Trap Lore Ross and Ceddy Nash confirmed that it is, in fact, Jam’s page. 

Read More: Tupac, D4vd & Feeding The Conspiracies That Never Die

The post OTF Jam Allegedly Declares “F*ck Lil Durk” Ahead Of Closing Statements appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Footage surfaced of Drizzy vibing out to “Hoe Phase” and “Over” during Gordo’s set. But at one point, he paused the show to give Gordo his flowers.

“This is one of my best friends in the world. I’m so f*cking proud tonight just to see this guy get the recognition he’s deserved for so long. We’ve made a lot of music together, we’ve done a lot of things,” Drake said before Gordo jumped into “Over.”

For Drake, this marks the second time he’s touched the stage in his hometown in recent times to give his fans live renditions of some of his most recent releases. Last week, he jumped on stage with Don Toliver in Toronto to perform “Janice STFU” and “Burning Bridges.” 

Read More: Tupac, D4vd & Feeding The Conspiracies That Never Die

Drake’s New Project

Unfortunately, his pop-out during Gordo’s set didn’t include any new information on FOMO, the mysterious project that will debut later this month. The rapper hinted at a fourth project to follow ICEMAN, MAID OF HONOUR, and HABIBTI earlier this year, and last week, he confirmed that it would finally see the light of day on September 15th. The problem is that it’s unclear whether it’s a new album or a music video, or something else entirely. We’ll keep you posted with any further updates. 

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

The post Drake Joins Gordo On Stage For Surprise Performance In Toronto appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: September 4, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics from ON MY MIND

Yeah, why you by yourself chillin’ in the club? Uh (In the club)
I know when I’m with you, I can’t get enough, uh (No, I can’t, baby)
If you really want me, baby, show me love, uh (Show me love)
It hit different when you’re rollin’ with the sun

The post ON MY MIND – Song by Fat Papi appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

He went on to beat Tommy Paul in that match, keeping his run at the tournament alive. This marks the second Cactus Jack pair Alcaraz has debuted at this year’s US Open. He first wore the collaboration in a cream and brown colorway during his opening round match.

The Zoom Vapor 12 HC is Nike’s performance hard-court tennis shoe. It’s built around lightweight construction, Zoom Air cushioning, and lateral stability for quick movement. Scott’s version keeps that same performance base while layering in his own design language.

Nike has already confirmed several colorways as part of the wider Cactus Court collection. This black pair hasn’t been named among them so far. That leaves some question about whether it’s a separate one-off or part of a bigger rollout still to come.

Alcaraz’s on-court pairs typically differ slightly from retail versions also. Nike swaps in a specialized sole unit from the standard Vapor 12 for actual tournament use.

Read More: Labor Day Foot Locker Deals Include An Extra 25% Off On Jordan 1 Lows, Jordan 6, And Nike Socks

Carlos Alcaraz Cactus Jack x Nike

The Cactus Court collection officially launched alongside Alcaraz’s opening match win. Nike and Scott revealed the full range hours later, including the Air Force 1 Low and various Zoom Vapor 12 HC colorways. A pop-up at 47 Chrystie Street in New York backed up the release with a physical presence.

This is Travis Scott’s first major tennis capsule with Nike outside of the 2023 collaboration with John McEnroe. The reverse Swoosh detail carries over from his other sneakers, the classic Travis Scott sign. That crossover has clearly resonated given how much attention Alcaraz’s pairs have drawn.

Seeing a new, unconfirmed colorway mid-tournament suggests Nike is still rolling out looks. With Alcaraz still alive in the draw, more pairs could surface before the tournament wraps. For now, this black version stands as another glimpse at where the collaboration might be headed.

Overall stay tuned for whether this pair ends up releasing or not.

Read More: Jayson Tatum Shares His Pair Of The “London” Air Jordan 4

The post Carlos Alcaraz Debuts A New Cactus Jack x Nike Colorway appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by The Shade Room on Instagram, P took to his Instagram Story earlier today (Sunday, September 6) to post a mirror selfie at an undisclosed location. He wore a hoodie and partially concealed his face with the phone, and he didn’t include any text. Pierre Thomas did, though, caption the photo with a praying hands emoji, a purple heart emoji, and a praising hands emoji, indicating to fans he recovered and is back in the swing of things.

QC’s Pierre “P” Thomas had been recovering for about two weeks before this post went up. Throughout this time, fans did not get to hear any direct updates from him. But loved ones, family, close friends, and industry peers kept them up to speed.

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

Pierre “P” Thomas’ Recovery

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

However, one aspect of this situation that made online discussions volatile was false death rumors concerning Pierre “P” Thomas. His mother took to social media to deny these reports. She even insinuated someone was responsible for the heart attack. At press time, nothing has emerged to clarify or verify those allegations, so we may never know what P’s mother meant.

This post suggests he was just recovering after this health scare and nothing more, so we’ll see if he speaks out about the situation. Other members of Pierre Thomas’ family also spoke out, such as his daughter Journey Thomas. She called his heart attack recovery a “miracle” and thanked God for his recovering health.

Now, the Quality Control CEO will likely slowly but surely return to his usual routine. Hopefully he and his loved ones continue to prioritize his health above all else. After weeks of worry and speculation, hip-hop can breathe a sigh of relief.

Read More: Tupac, D4vd & Feeding The Conspiracies That Never Die

The post QC’s Pierre “P” Thomas Shares New Post After Recovering From Heart Attack appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The style code is IV6048-001. A dark grey suede covers most of the upper and that texture gives it a noticeably rougher look than a standard Air Jordan 4 finish.

Black fills in the wings, laces, lining, and midsole. Lighter grey breaks things up through the mesh and eyelets. Brick red hits the Jumpman on the tongue along with parts of the outsole.

Also a tan shade wraps around the heel section of the midsole. That warmer tone contrasts nicely against all the grey and black. It’s a small detail that adds some depth to an otherwise muted colorway.

The real standout sits on the heel mustache. “LDN” branding appears just beneath the classic Nike Air logo there. A hidden tongue tag inside also reads “Say Less,” tucked away for anyone who looks closely.

Read More: Labor Day Foot Locker Deals Include An Extra 25% Off On Jordan 1 Lows, Jordan 6, And Nike Socks

Air Jordan 4 “London”

This release follows Jordan Brand naming the London Lions as its first British basketball team sponsor. That partnership clearly extends into footwear with this UK-only drop. It’s a rare move for a mainline Air Jordan 4 colorway.

Regional exclusives like this one tend to mean a bit more for collectors. Past city-specific releases, including Paris and Shanghai colorways, have moved very quick and held resale value. This “London” pair looks like it is set to follow that same pattern.

Getting a pair into Tatum’s hands early only adds to the buzz. Athlete co-signs on regional exclusives tend to spread interest well beyond the local market. That’s especially true for a release with such limited UK-only availability.

For collectors outside the UK, this one might require some extra effort to track down. Given the demand these city drops usually generate, that search will probably be worth it resale-wise.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Invokes Gunna To Clown Lil Baby For Low Ticket Sales

The post Jayson Tatum Shares His Pair Of The “London” Air Jordan 4 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

USA YoungBoy pulled up the SeatGeek app to show the tickets that reportedly remained on sale an hour before the event. It’s unclear if these are all resale tickets or official tickets, but either way, they pointed to low sales in various sections. Akademiks replied with a simple jab: “Shoulda put Gunna on the lineup.”

It’s one of various instances in which DJ Akademiks has criticized Lil Baby’s beef with Gunna. He believes the “fukumean” MC was able to put out great material after the YSL scandal, whereas Baby has stagnated.

For those unaware, that conflict between the Drip Harder collaborators emerged because of Wunna’s plea deal in the YSL RICO case. Many fans have debated whether his rap peers betrayed him by turning their backs outright, and it seems like there’s still some fallout from this years-old debate.

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

Lil Baby & DJ Akademiks Beef

Lil Baby has also clapped back at DJ Akademiks’ criticisms in the past. In fact, he dissed Ak in a music video tease, which led the commentator and journalist to call him a hypocrite.

Their feud actually extends further back than the YSL RICO scandal, but that added the most fuel to the fire. While Ak’s issues seem to be a bit more about music than about street codes, he still uses both under the same umbrella whenever situations like these pop up.

Ironically, Gunna recently reflected on his relationship with Lil Baby during an interview with Billboard about his biggest chart hits. “Baby started on this motherf***er [‘Drip Too Hard’] and then, once I heard it, let me do my part,” he expressed. “We kind of just bouncing off of each other. It was already written, just the whole song of us together. It was a good combination, collaboration.”

Read More: Tupac, D4vd & Feeding The Conspiracies That Never Die

The post DJ Akademiks Invokes Gunna To Clown Lil Baby For Low Ticket Sales appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Rosenberg took a highly critical stance on folks forgiving Ye despite his bigotries. He said he was referring to fans rather than guest artists at shows, criticizing selective memory.

In response on Twitter, Akademiks told Rosenberg to “shut [his] punk a** up” and said he won’t get people to hate Ye. Ak said he doesn’t dictate how and when to forgive someone as legendary as the Chicago artist and told him to “stay outta family business.” In another tweet, he said folks don’t have to explain their Kanye West stance to people like Rosenberg, defending unconditional love and saying Kanye “held himself accountable” after a “time out.”

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

Kanye West’s Beefs

On the other end of these discussions is Joe Budden and his self-titled podcast, which focused more on Kanye West and his squashed and active beefs than the sociopolitical controversies. Budden said what he hates the most about Ye is how he “flips on the people that have always been for him, and whenever he feels like it, he just gets back with them,” as caught by CY Chels on Twitter. He called it “the corniest s**t in the world.” The context of the conversation was Kanye reuniting with Big Sean after disrespecting him publicly in recent years.

The JBP‘s cohosts said other folks do similar behavior, especially narcissists. Ice said we might not have the full context to properly assess the forgiveness, but Joe said this has happened way too much with Ye. Still, he admitted he liked seeing it go down, but couldn’t get over this take.

Joe Budden also claimed some of Kanye West’s other foes refuse to speak ill about him due to their previous friendship, specifically Pusha T. Fans questioned this, though, as Push has made his fracture with Ye very clear over the years.

In any case, these questions will not get any easier to come to a middle ground on. The question is instead where fans and their money draw the line.

Read More: Tupac, D4vd & Feeding The Conspiracies That Never Die

The post DJ Akademiks, Joe Budden & Peter Rosenberg Clash Over Ye’s Concerts appeared first on HotNewHipHop.