In addition to this award, Taylor won for Best Actress, Best Video Director, and the Fashion Vanguard Award. However, it was the Icon of the Year award that certainly got the vast majority of the attention, and for good reason.

It was an award that showcased just how much she has accomplished over the past year. From a new album to her work on One Battle After Another, Taylor has made it clear that she is one of the best artists of this generation.

That said, the BET Awards decided to surprise her with an introduction from none other than Janet Jackson. Taylor was taken by surprise and immediately started tearing up as Jackson introduced the award.

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Janet Jackson shows Up For Teyana Taylor

Janet Jackson doesn’t just pop out for no reason. It takes a very special artist or person to get her to show up to an event. That said, Teyana Taylor has left a lasting impression on the legendary pop singer.

While some on social media were quick to debate whether or not Teyana Taylor is an icon, others were also quick to give her her flowers. Ultimately, Taylor has been everywhere over the past year. She was nominated at the Oscars and even won a Golden Globe.

With this Icon award and three extra BET Awards to her name, no one can say that Taylor hasn’t achieved greatness over these last 365 days.

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The post Teyana Taylor Left Stunned As Janet Jackson Presents Her With Icon Of The Year At The BET Awards appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

There was also a live Coulda Been Records audition, which certainly got some laughs here and there. At one point during the evening, Druski was upstaged by Keke Palmer, who declared that she should have been the host.

Perhaps Druski’s best moment from last night was when he delivered a Jay-Z impression. With Ice Cube presenting on stage, Druski went up and delivered some lines while throwing up the Roc. As soon as he started speaking, the crowd immediately caught on to the bit, as he was doing his best Hov voice.

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Druski Parodies Jay-Z

Ice Cube seemed amused by the ordeal, although there is no doubt that it was a bit awkward at the same time. Of course, that was the point.

Jay-Z is a bit of an easy target right now, as he is the most active he’s been in years. Just last month, we saw Jay perform at the Roots Picnic. Later this year, he will be performing in New York, Los Angeles, and Paris. This is all in celebration of his albums Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint.

This fall, an eight-part docuseries called Jay-Z In 8 will air on HBO Max. It will feature interviews between Hov and Rick Rubin. Some believe that all of this is part of a rollout for an album that could be released sometime this year.

Whether or not Jay-Z was a fan of Druski’s impression, still remains to be seen.

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The post Druski Delivers Hilarious Jay-Z Impression At The BET Awards appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Last night, Lamar was nominated in various categories at the BET Awards. One of those categories was Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. Despite not dropping new music over the past year, his presence was still felt. He made enough of an impact to be nominated next to Don Toliver, Drake, A$AP Rocky, Baby Keem, DaBaby, BigXthaPlug, and even J. Cole.

Given what’s taken place in 2026, some fans figured either Drake or J. Cole would take home the win. In the end, once again, it was Kendrick Lamar who got the W.

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Kendrick Lamar Wins Again

This has not gone over well on social media, where many pointed out that Lamar hasn’t dropped anything since 2024’s GNX. When it comes to the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist category at the BET Awards, cultural impact is typically the criterion for a win. However, some on rap Twitter feel as though that shouldn’t be the case, especially when ICEMAN is the biggest hip-hop album in the world right now.

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The Internet Reacts

Below, you can find some of the reactions to Lamar’s win. Ultimately, rap Twitter can be a pretty negative place where narratives seem to thrive. Ever since Drake pointed out Lamar’s ability to win Grammys at will, there has been a tendency to hate on K. Dot whenever he wins something. This is yet another example of this.

If you want to see a full list of the winners from last night’s BET Awards, you can do so right here.

The post Kendrick Lamar Wins Best Male Hip-Hop Artist At The BET Awards, And Some Fans Are Confused appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The award was presented towards the end of the show, which means Hill’s speech was the last thing some viewers heard before sign-off. As you will hear, it was an impeccable speech in which the legendary artist spoke about unity. She spoke about how everyone must embrace their differences and love each other.

Furthermore, she paid homage to her kids, who have stood by her through everything. It was a phenomenal moment that showcased just how legendary Lauryn Hill truly is.

“I do this because I love y’all. You know?” Hill said. “I do this because I want you to have everything that I experienced.”

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Ms. Lauryn Hill Accepts Living Legend Icon Award

“Thank you all the legends and all the greats who paved the road for all of us. Let’s celebrate each other. Let’s honor each other,” Hill said. “Let’s respect each other. If nobody else shows us respect, let’s respect each other. If nobody else loves us, let’s love on each other. And you know what’s gonna happen? They gonna start loving us. Yeah. They already do, first of all. But we’re gonna show them how we wanna be loved.”

Before her speech, artists like Nas, Common, Queen Latifah, Doja Cat, SZA, and Doechii all got together for a large-scale medley, encompassing some of Hill’s biggest hits. For instance, SZA and Doechii performed “Ready Or Not” while Nas and Doja Cat performed “If I Ruled The World.”

From the medley to Ms. Lauryn Hill’s speech and performance, there is no doubt that this was a celebration of greatness. Artists like Teyana Taylor and executives like Sylvia Rhone were also given major honors last night.

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The post Ms. Lauryn Hill Delivers Empowering Speech After Being Honored by Nas, Doja Cat, Common, & More At The BET Awards appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The lineup includes deep cuts like the “Miro” 7, returning for the first time since 2008, and the “True Blue” 3, back after a decade away. There’s also room for something new, with Free The Youth making its Jordan Brand debut on the rarely seen Air Jordan 16.

Add in a playful comic-inspired Jordan 4 timed to Comic-Con, and July ends up being one of the more well rounded months of the year. Here’s every Air Jordan releasing this July:

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Air Jordan 4 GS “Sweet Beet”

The Air Jordan 4 GS “Sweet Beet” kicks off on July 2nd with a kid focused release. Deep berry leather covers the mudguard and side panels throughout.

A brighter pink mesh fills in the netting, laces, and support wings. Black denim wraps the collar and tongue, adding a different texture than usual. Blue and red eyelets sit near the collar and forefoot for added contrast.

A Jumpman in the same berry tone appears on each heel. The midsole stays sail colored, with black and pink detailing on the outsole below. This release sticks to grade school, preschool, and toddler sizing only.

Air Jordan 7 “Miro”

The Air Jordan 7 “Miro” returns on July 10th, marking its first retro since 2008. The colorway pulls from Joan Miro’s Barcelona sculpture, Dona i Ocell.

White leather forms the base, paired with black nubuck across the mudguard and eyestays. Abstract shapes in red, blue, green, and yellow scatter across the panels. That colorful detailing nods to the Olympic rings and Miró’s playful, primary-toned style.

A gold “9” sits on the heel, honoring Michael Jordan’s number from the 1992 Dream Team run. Multi-colored laces and pull tabs carry the Olympic theme further up the shoe. A translucent outsole adds gold tinting along with more Miro-inspired graphics underneath.

Air Jordan 41 “Metallic Silver”

The Air Jordan 41 “Metallic Silver” arrives July 16th as Michael Jordan’s newest signature shoe. A woven upper and the collar give the shoe a locked-in, sock-like feel.

White covers most of the build, with black and metallic silver detailing on the heel. A small infrared 23 accent shows up near the collar for added contrast.

Inside, the shoe runs on Cushlon 3.0 foam, paired with ZoomX cushioning up front. A full-length Zoom Air Strobel assembly handles cushioning through the heel. The outsole stays translucent, letting some of that internal tech show through.

Air Jordan 16 x Free The Youth

The Free The Youth x Air Jordan 16 drops on July 17th and it marks the Ghanaian collective’s first Jordan Brand collaboration. It also gives the rarely revisited Air Jordan 16 one of its biggest moments in years.

Metallic silver leather wraps the toe box, side panels, and removable shroud. Underneath, black leather and mesh hide multicolored detailing tied to Ghana’s flag. Two interchangeable shrouds come with the release, giving the shoe two distinct looks.

One stays silver to match the upper, while the other features Tawny Eagle artwork. That eagle represents strength and freedom as Ghana’s national bird. Green accents hit the heel and tongue, alongside the Free The Youth logo throughout.

Air Jordan 3 OG “True Blue”

The Air Jordan 3 OG “True Blue” returns July 18th, marking its first wide release in a decade. This colorway dates back to 1988, one of four original Air Jordan 3 makeups.

It also broke from the usual Chicago Bulls colors that defined early Jordans. White leather covers most of the upper, paired with cement grey elephant print at the toe and heel. True Blue accents show up across the eyelet panel, sockliner, and midsole.

That same shade returns to the Nike Air branding on the heel. Fire red detailing hits the tongue Jumpman for added contrast. The shoe also brings back the original MJ face box packaging from 1988.

Air Jordan 4 “Birds of Paradise”

The women’s Air Jordan 4 “Birds of Paradise” lands July 23rd, named after the tropical flower. Coconut milk leather covers most of the upper, paired with a suede mudguard.

That neutral base sets up brighter colors lower on the shoe. The outsole mixes mango and muslin tones in a semi-translucent finish. A deep purple section wraps around the toe and heel for contrast.

Metallic gold Jumpman logos sit on each heel, adding a small premium touch. Suede also shows up on the toe, tongue label, and heel tab. Packaging for the release carries the same floral theme through painted illustrations on the box.

Air Jordan 4 “Comic”

The Air Jordan 4 “Comic” closes out July on the 25th, dropping during San Diego Comic-Con. It draws inspiration from Michael Jordan’s 1985 comic-themed “Dunk” T-shirt.

Off-white leather covers most of the upper, paired with a grey suede mudguard. The top wing eyelets take on a jagged, pink “Pow” shape instead of standard cutouts. A gradient mesh panel shifts from orange to pink across the netting.

A pink Jumpman with “Flight” lettering sits below it on the tongue. At the heel, Nike Air branding gets a comic-panel look with dotted shading. The midsole stays cream and pink, finishing off the comic book theme throughout.

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The post Every Air Jordan Dropping In July 2026 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Listings runs separately from StockX’s usual buy and ask system. Sellers ship items directly to buyers instead of routing through authentication first. Buyers can still pay extra to send an item through verification if they want. That setup gives buyers a choice between speed and added peace of mind.

StockX says it built new AI photo tools to speed up the listing process. Sellers can upload images and have product details filled in automatically. They also requires identity verification for anyone listing items. It looks like payments stay on hold until delivery is confirmed through tracking.

This move puts them more directly against GOAT and eBay, which of course already sell used sneakers. GOAT, in particular, has built a strong reputation around used and vintage pairs.

StockX clearly wants a piece of that same market going forward. Listings is currently live for Apple users, with wider access expected soon.

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StockX Enters Used Sneakers

StockX built its name on a stock market style trading model. Buyers and sellers set bids and asks, and a match triggers the sale. That system always required items to be brand new and unworn. Listings breaks from that rule for the first time since the platform launched in 2016.

The new section sits apart from StockX’s main marketplace pages. Items still show up alongside verified listings, but follow a different shipping process.

Sellers send products straight to buyers, skipping the usual authentication step. Optional verification remains available for buyers who want extra reassurance.

This expansion follows other recent additions, including a live auction format called StockX Live. Together, these moves suggest StockX wants to cover more of the resale market.

Used sneakers and vintage apparel represent a large, fast growing space already. By entering now, StockX is positioning itself against established used sneaker platforms.

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The post StockX Just Made A Major Change To How It Sells Sneakers appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Black covers most of the textured, scale-like upper throughout. That dark base sets up the brighter green and purple accents elsewhere on the shoe.

The Swoosh shifts from venom green into purple venom across the side panel. That gradient effect also continues into a streaky, lightning-style pattern across the upper.

Also translucent outsole carries the same color shift, fading from purple to green. Together, those details keep the build dark while still adding contrast underfoot.

This isn’t the first time the Kobe 6 has leaned into an offbeat holiday theme. Kobe Bryant first wore the “Grinch” colorway on Christmas Day back in 2010. That shoe became one of the most recognized releases in the entire Kobe line. “Coals” doesn’t try to copy that look, but keeps a similar mischievous tone.

Nike has continued building out holiday themed Kobe releases in recent years. A “Reverse Grinch” version dropped back in 2023 with a different color flip. “Coals” follows that same pattern of revisiting older ideas with a new twist. The shoe arrives as part of a broader holiday lineup from Nike Basketball this year.

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Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Coals”

The Kobe 6 first released in 2010 and quickly became known for its low-cut build. Its scale-covered upper drew a direct line to Bryant’s “Black Mamba” persona. That textured look has carried through nearly every retro since. “Coals” keeps that same scale pattern as its base.

This colorway adds a streaky, almost scattered print across the black upper. That detail is meant to resemble pieces of coal scattered across the shoe. Green and purple accents break up the darker tones without overwhelming the overall look. The outsole’s color shift adds one more layer of detail underfoot.

Nike has used the Kobe 6 for holiday storytelling more than once. “Grinch” set that tone back in 2010, and later releases have built on it. “Coals” continues that same idea with a heavier, more shadowy color story. It fits into a wider pattern of narrative driven holiday releases from the brand.

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The post The Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Coals” Has A Dark Holiday Theme appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

On Sunday, she got to perform some of those hits at the BET Awards. The awards show is currently going down in Los Angeles, and there has been lots of fanfare. This is especially true with Druski hosting the show.

Following Teyana Taylor’s Icon Award, presented by Janet Jackson, Cardi B brought the house down with a well-timed melody. As you will see below, the artist performed “Errtime,” “Hello,” “Check Please,” & “Pretty & Petty” during this medley.

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Cardi B At The BET Awards

Cardi B’s performance is just one of many this evening. Rick Ross, Max B, French Montana, Don Toliver, Raye, Kehlani, and a plethora of other major artists are performing songs this evening. The BET Awards always bring forth some major performances, and the 2026 edition is clearly no different.

So far, only two awards have been given out. For instance, we know that the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist is Leon Thomas. Furthermore, on the women’s side, Kehlani has won the award. Given the output these artists have given us lately, this is certainly the correct decision.

Stay tuned to HNHH as we will continue to bring you updates from tonight’s BET Awards.

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The post Cardi B Delivers Fiery Performance At The BET Awards: Watch appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Each shoe sticks to one dominant color throughout the build. That includes orange, black, green, gold, red, and purple versions.

The KD 19 marks Durant’s 19th signature shoe with Nike Basketball. It introduces a new low-cut design inspired by early 2000s basketball silhouettes. A sharp, dagger-shaped panel runs across the upper on each colorway. That detail ties back to Durant’s “Slim Reaper” nickname from around the league.

Several of these colorways already have confirmed names and release windows. The orange pair lines up with the “Safety Orange” colorway worn during March Madness coverage.

Other shades, like purple and gold, tie into Durant’s ongoing collaboration with Drake’s NOCTA label. Most colorways keep a single shade across the upper, midsole, and outsole.

Durant has worn several KD 19 colorways already this season with the Rockets. He’s switched pairs frequently, similar to his rotation during last year’s KD 18 run.

With more colorways still set to release, this lineup likely isn’t complete. Showing them together gives fans an early sense of the full collection.

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Kevin Durant Shows Nike KD 19 Colorways

The Nike KD 19 introduces a noticeably different shape than recent Durant signature shoes. Its dagger-shaped panel comes from a molding process.

That construction also handles heel and midfoot lockdown for added support. Inside, a full-length Zoom Strobel unit returns for cushioning.

Color stays simple across most KD 19 releases so far. Each pair leans on one dominant shade, rather than mixing several tones together. That includes the orange, red, and purple versions shown in this latest lineup. The approach lets the shoe’s shape stand out more than its color blocking.

Durant’s NOCTA collaboration adds another layer to the KD 19 rollout. Those pairs include both a purple and an orange colorway tied to Drake’s label.

Apparel releases are expected alongside those drops as well. Together, these releases continue building out one of Durant’s most varied signature lines yet.

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The post Kevin Durant Just Revealed Several Unreleased KD 19 Colorways appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

DJ Akademiks TV shared recent stream highlights from him in which he discusses both cases. As for Smurk, Ak gave updates on what’s going on with Durk’s new charges, theorizing that one of the codefendants in Durk’s case is now cooperating in the case. The codefendant is Kavon London Grant, also known as Vonnie.

Akademiks claimed Grant has reportedly been severed as a codefendant, which prompted these snitching rumors. He also claimed Grant was one of the people the Chicago rapper allegedly told about the alleged plan to murder Quando Rondo. We will see if official court updates match up with this in the future.

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Lil Durk & Pooh Shiesty’s Trials

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As for Pooh Shiesty, DJ Akademiks reacted to the alleged evidence against him in the Gucci Mane case. “Y’all know me, I love some Pooh Shiesty,” he expressed. “This is the dumbest s**t I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to talk about it… The text messages are wild. None of this s**t’s AI. I wish it was AI. They got the cellphone video. Remember I was saying they don’t have the video, so he could beat it, Gucci got to double down on the snitching? I ain’t gon’ lie to you, man. That’s the clearest cellphone video I’ve ever seen, bro… They can’t put a video in paperwork. But they have screenshots of the video. And the screenshots are legit. Shiesty’s done for that.”

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Akademiks may be a media star, but he’s not a lawyer. So we’ll see how this all pans out, although many folks share his pessimistic sentiments concerning these artists’ chances at freedom.

Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial recently got a key update. Several of his codefendants are trying to sever themselves from The Voice’s trial, arguing they have nothing to do with murders in the case.

On the other hand, Pooh Shiesty was accused of an inappropriate relationship with his house arrest supervisor, which prosecutors claim led to the alleged Guwop robbery. Federal authorities recently released new alleged evidence against him as he continues to seek bond.

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The post DJ Akademiks Is Not Confident In Lil Durk Or Pooh Shiesty’s Criminal Cases appeared first on HotNewHipHop.