Also, the feature list is pretty impressive. Guest appearances include Lil Yachty, Tame Impala, A$AP Rocky, WILLOW, The Lemon Twigs, Flying Lotus, Channel Tres and the late Mac Miller.

Each artist contributes a unique and versatile listening experience to the album.

Release Date: April 3, 2026
Genre: R&B/Soul
Album: Distracted

Tracklist for Distracted

1. Candlelight
2. No More Lies (feat. Tame Impala)
3. She Knows Too Much (feat. Mac Miller)
4. I Did This To Myself (feat. Lil Yachty)
5. Funny Friends (feat. A$AP Rocky)
6. What Is Left To Say (feat. The Lemon Twigs)
7. I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time
8. Anakin Learns His Fate
9. Walking on the Moon
10. This Thing We Call Love (feat. Channel Tres)
11. ThunderWave (feat. WILLOW)
12. Pozole
13. A.D.D. Through The Roof
14. Great Americans
15. You Left Without Saying Goodbye

The post Distracted – Album by Thundercat appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Even the artists know this one might be divisive. Earl joked in an interview that “real hip-hop fans” might not rock with it, while MIKE admitted early reactions were split once people realized Surf Gang was heavily involved. Conceptually, the album leans into themes of destruction and rebuilding. Pulling from the idea of Pompeii and what comes after everything collapses. But sonically, it’s more about feeling than structure.

Release Date: April 3, 2026
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Album: POMPEII // UTILITY

Tracklist For POMPEII // UTILITY

Disc 1

1. The Fall
2. MY WORST (rebuke)
3. Da Bid (feat. Jadasea)
4. NOT 4TW (feat. Anysia Kym)
5. THE POPE
6. AFRO
7. Minty
8. F.E.A.R. (feat. Niontay)
9. Tampering
10. Shutter Island
11. Back LA (feat. Na’kel Smith)
12. Back Home
13. Kirkland (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)
14. FREE #MIKE
15. Man of the Month

Disc 2

1. this2shallpass
2. again
3. Home on the Range
4. React
5. Hot Water (Cahuilia)
6. rectangle lens
7. Leadbelly (feat. MIKE)
8. quick bar
9. Ew!
10. Earth
11. Chill 2na
12. Sisyphus
13. Locusts (feat. Llerado Khalil)
14. Tour de France
15. Chicago
16. Book of Eli
17. AOK
18. Don’t Worry

The post POMPEII // UTILITY – Album by Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Surf Gang appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The judge found that Kris and Kim did not provide sufficient evidence to show that making the agreement public would result in harm. Moreover, the ruling marks a significant development in a case that has continued to draw attention due to its ties to one of the most infamous moments in pop culture.

The legal battle dates back to October 2025, when Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, filed a defamation lawsuit against Ray J. They accused him of making false claims. Moreover, they alleged they were under federal investigation and comparing them to disgraced mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Ray J responded with a countersuit of his own. He claimed that Kardashian and Jenner violated a confidential 2023 agreement by discussing the infamous tape during an episode of their Hulu series, The Kardashians.

According to Ray J, that agreement included a $6 million payout in exchange for his permanent silence on the matter. He argues that their public comments breached those terms, reigniting a long-running dispute that many believed had already been settled.

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

Kim K Takes Loss

Beyond the courtroom, the situation has played out heavily online, with both sides fueling ongoing speculation. Clips, past interviews, and resurfaced footage have continued to circulate since then. Now, there are more layers to a narrative that many fans thought had already been put to rest years ago.

The case has also reopened broader conversations around how public figures revisit, or attempt to reshape, moments from their past. With the documents now set to be unsealed, there’s growing curiosity about what the agreement actually included. But more importantly, how it may impact both sides moving forward.

The case has been marked by constant back-and-forth. Ray J’s mother has also stepped in publicly recently, voicing her full support for her son. She expressed her frustration over what she sees as continued attacks on his name. “How ever long it takes. We will stay on that path until the voices that have distorted the truth are publicly revealed,” she wrote.

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

The post Kim Kardashian Loses Legal Battle To Keep Ray J Settlement Sealed appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As expected, listeners wasted no time showing love. “Meek never misses when it comes to freestyle. Real rap is still alive,” one person wrote. “Nah Meek went off,” another added.

The drop comes at an interesting time for Meek, who’s been in the headlines lately for more than just music. Recently, Charlamagne tha God weighed in on Meek’s career, suggesting he never fully bounced back from his high-profile beef with Drake.

Meek quickly pushed back, pointing to his commercial success since that moment. “Since Drake beef I drop tape 3x platinum… peta double platinum… blue notes 1 and 2 platinum… uptown vibes… what’s free feat jayz… fck on me ft cardi b platinum,” he wrote, before adding, “im good with drake and jayz as far as I know… keep me out this weak a** sht.”

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

Meek Mill Is Letting The Music Speak

Charlamagne later responded and doubled down, arguing that while Meek has achieved major milestones, the public narrative around him shifted after the battle. He also acknowledged Meek’s impact off the mic, especially through his criminal justice reform work.

“I would only talk through the music, because every single time Meek posts the internet turns it into a joke,” he explained. “Y’all was just laughing at him last week because he posted about being on LinkedIn. … I said, you know, the way they act with Meek is strange. And I agree with Meek. The propaganda against Meek is strange. And it started with that battle. And at least on social media, the narrative around him hasn’t recovered. It started with the battle.”

Still, if this latest freestyle proves anything, it’s that Meek hasn’t lost a step when it comes to rapping. And for many fans, that’s what matters most.

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

The post Meek Mill Fires Back With New Freestyle As Fans Say “He Still Got It” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Originally, Don Toliver was expected to be a standout feature on “Circles,” bringing his signature melodic sound to the record. With Ye now handling those parts, the song takes on a noticeably different feel.

The update comes right as Ye continues his latest run of live appearances. The Chicago rapper took over SoFi Stadium on Wednesday night, where he brought out a few special guests. One appearance included his daughter North West. The two performed their collab “TALKING” along with her debut single “PIERCING ON MY HAND.”

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

Don Toliver No Longer On “Circles”

Don Toliver also made an appearance during the show, performing his track “E85,” alongside fellow collaborator André Troutman. That makes the change to “Circles” even more interesting, considering there doesn’t appear to be any visible tension between the artists.

As usual, Ye hasn’t explained the decision, but constant updates and revisions have become a signature part of his rollout process. Whether “Circles” stays in its current form or changes again remains to be seen.

Moreover, Kanye has one more night he’s performing at SoFi Stadium. He’s set to take the stage again on Friday, April 3rd. Fans are eager to see what surprises he may have in store.

Last night (April 1st), he ran through a career-spanning set. He gave fans a little bit of everything from early staples like “All Falls Down” to newer material like “FATHER.” It felt like a full-circle moment, touching nearly every era of his catalog. Still, the main focus of the night was clearly Bully, the project driving his current run.

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

The post Ye Replaces Don Toliver On “Circles” With His Own Vocals appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The comment comes shortly after Druski posted a viral skit that poked fun at conservative women in America. Although he didn’t directly name Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, many viewers online speculated that the content was aimed in her direction. Fans were able to put two and two together since Druski had similar makeup, wore a white jacket and shirt that resembled one of Kirk’s outfits. The skit has since received a lot of backlash.

Recently, United States Senator Ted Cruz responded to it on X, and wrote “Beneath contempt.” The skit has been a wider point of controversy due to the death of Erika’s husband last year, and amid strong political tensions in the States recently.

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

Donald Trump Encourages Erika Kirk To Sue

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Druski has built a massive following off his viral skits and exaggerated characters, so he’s no stranger to controversy when it comes to political or cultural humor. His content often blurs the line between parody and real-life commentary, which tends to fuel reactions like this. Another time this happened was when he made a spoof of megachurch pastors and people assumed he was mocking Pastor Michael Todd.

Furthermore, Erika Kirk has not publicly responded to Trump’s remarks or Druski’s video at the time of writing.

The situation has quickly turned into a broader conversation online about comedy, free speech, and where the line gets drawn when public figures feel targeted.

As of now, Druski has not addressed Trump’s comments directly.

Read More: Druski’s Viral Mega Church Skit Has The Internet Divided

The post Donald Trump Appears To Encourage Erika Kirk To Sue Druski appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

However, now, according to the Department of Justice, the arrest is tied to a January 10, 2026 incident at a Dallas recording studio that authorities are describing as an “armed takeover.” In a press conference reported by WFAA8, officials allege that multiple people were kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint. And the person of interest apparently included Gucci Mane.

Prosecutors claim Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Williams Jr., set up the meeting under the guise of discussing his recording contract. At the time, he was still signed to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Global Music imprint following his last release, “FDO.” Once everyone was in the room, authorities say the situation escalated into a coordinated robbery involving several individuals.

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

Criminal Complaint Documents

Where things get messy is in the federal complaint itself. Investigators say the suspects were identified through Instagram accounts and people who personally knew them. Pooh Shiesty was linked to his verified @poohshiesty account, while Big30 (Ceobig30) was also identified as being present.

That’s where the internet ran with things.

Because the complaint notes that victims were familiar with those involved, including Pooh Shiesty, fans started speculating that Gucci Mane “helped the feds” identify them. In reality, this kind of identification is pretty standard in cases where the people involved already know each other.

Still, given the history between Gucci Mane and both artists, the optics have people talking.

Neither Gucci Mane nor Big30 has publicly addressed the situation so far. Pooh Shiesty’s arrest adds another layer to an already complicated legal history, and with federal charges now involved, more details are likely on the way.

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

The post DOJ Alleges Gucci Mane Helped Feds Identify Pooh Shiesty & Big 30 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“We don’t know the location of the fight,” he explained. “The Sphere is one of the places that they talked about. So we don’t know if it’s a hundred percent going to be there. And this is not actually a fight. It’s an exhibition.”

Event producer and CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, Jas Mathur, was quick to set the record straight. He accuses Mayweather of breaching his fight contract and claims that, for now, the match is scheduled to go on as planned.

“As of right now, the fight is still on. There is no termination of any sort, and he has signed for a professional fight,” he told ESPN. “Floyd Mayweather is officially in breach of his contract. He’s been in a breach since the day he went out and said what he said on Saturday and he’s officially in a breach as of yesterday.”

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

Floyd Mayweather & Manny Pacquiao Rematch Drama

Pacquiao has since released a statement of his own amid the controversy, per Dyan Castillejo. “I wish to clear up any misinformation regarding my upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather,” it begins. “From the beginning, my intention has been to give the fans what they truly want to see. A high-level, competitive sanctioned fight. I want to be very clear that the contract we signed is for a professional boxing match. This is not an exhibition; it is a real fight.”

“We are proud to partner with Netflix, a global platform that recognizes the magnitude of this event. Their announcement reflected the exact terms of our agreement,” it continues. “My team and I remain fully committed to the conditions of that contract and we are preparing for a professional-grade battle.”

“I am working hard now and started my gym training and I look forward to stepping back into the ring to prove that the fire is still there,” Pacquiao concluded. “Nothing has changed on our end and we expect the original terms of the agreement to be honored.”

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

The post Floyd Mayweather Could Face Legal Trouble Amid Manny Pacquiao Fight Controversy appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Department of Justice said in their press conference that one of the victims was held at gunpoint by the latter so that they would sign a release from his contract with 1017 Global Music. As it stands today, he’s in custody in Dallas, which is where this alleged altercation occurred back on January 10.

If Shiesty and his co-conspirators, which allegedly includes his dad (who was also arrested back home in Memphis), are convicted then they can all face up to a life sentence.

As of right now, these claims remain just that against the “FDO” rapper. Some of his fans aren’t overreacting to the news just yet for that reason. However, a lot of them are disappointed and frustrated to see Shiesty back in a similar situation.

Remember, he’s only been home since last October after serving three years for a gun charge. He pled guilty to conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence and drug trafficking. His home detention stipulations also made it so the 26-year-old couldn’t commit another crime or possess a firearm.

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

Pooh Shiesty Arrested In Dallas

For that reason, and for the alleged kidnapping and armed robbery of Gucci Mane, fans are confused by his actions.

“This is actually insane,” one fan writes bluntly underneath Kurrco‘s post about the DOJ’s allegations. “Bro just got out and now it’s straight back to the slammer,” another adds.

A third writes, “This is what hip hop glorifies through the music and actions. He lived by his own words and the consequences are facing him now.”

If you want, you can view more reactions to the news below.

Another person who voiced their opinion on the matter was YSL affiliate Lil Woody. He took his social media to express his heartbreak and nuanced thoughts on Shiesty and his mindset.

“Pride and ego are our main enemies… We our own enemy. The sh*t stop when we change our mindset… These n****s play the game till they lose. You gotta know when to get out of it, bro… This ain’t Grand Theft Auto, this ain’t no TV show. This our real life…”

More Reactions To Pooh Shiesty’s Arrest

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

The post Pooh Shiesty Fans React To His Arrest And Alleged Kidnapping Of Gucci Mane appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Akademiks addressed this during a livestream, taking aim at both Ebro and Mero. “You guys did suck at your job, but they hired someone who’s worse,” he declared at the time. “Maybe that was a DEl type of thing, I don’t know. The new radio host up there at Hot 97, absolutely atrocious. I think he’s going to be gone as soon as they get past the mandatory signing period … He’s out the door as soon as that’s done.”

From there, Mero jumped in with a tweet, making it clear that he was not at all pleased with Ak’s remarks.

Read More: Kanye West “Bully” Album Review

Mero Goes Off On DJ Akademiks

“IDK HOW LIVINGSTON GOT FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME AS AN ADULT, YEAH DEFINITELY NOT TALKING TO NEW ARTISTS AT HOT97 NOT AT ALL … LIVI IS A DICKRIDER THAT NEEDS THIS ‘MEDIA GUY GOSSIP’ SH*T TO SURVIVE HE CANT *MAKE* ANYTHING. HE CANT HAVE AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT, F*CKIN FAT DORK,” he wrote.

He didn’t stop there, however. Mero went on to suggest that Ak ought to be sent “to the meat grinder,” brought up his past grooming allegations, and more. Now, Akademiks claims that he’s done going back and forth with the two men. According to him, doing so only boosts their numbers.

“These guys, they think they’re slick,” he explained, as captured by CY Chels. “The tables done turned. Every single week, you see these guys. They’re trying to get into it with one of the people that’s leading. I know, because you’re supposed to punch up. So this idea that me and Ebro are going to keep beefing, Ebro gets like no numbers now. At a certain point, he’s going to get numbers if I’m responding to him every f*cking week.”

Read More: Ye’s “Bully” Arrives Amid Kanye West Praise & Fatigue

The post DJ Akademiks Vows To Stop Engaging With Ebro & Mero appeared first on HotNewHipHop.