During an X Spaces conversation on Wednesday (Oct. 21), Cardi addressed complaints about her recent New York Times T Magazine profile. The interview highlighted Madonna, Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, and Trina as influential figures in her childhood. Some listeners, particularly Nicki’s supporters, questioned why the Young Money rapper wasn’t included. Cardi argued that the women she named were already part of her musical education before Minaj became prominent. Although she acknowledged listening to another female rapper when she was about 17, she distinguished that experience from the artists she admired throughout her younger years. She didn’t mention Nicki by name in that explanation.

According to Complex, Cardi also questioned why people were so bothered by her personal choices, particularly when she’s consistently credited those same women in previous interviews.

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Cardi B Says Female Rappers Need Their Own Identity

Interestingly, Cardi admitted that her relationship with an artist doesn’t determine whether she’ll acknowledge their influence. She specifically mentioned Foxy Brown, claiming the Brooklyn rapper “never fucking liked me.” Nevertheless, she maintained that their personal differences wouldn’t change the fact that she grew up listening to Foxy’s music.

That distinction is especially relevant given Cardi’s longstanding feud with Nicki, which has included public insults and social media confrontations dating back to 2017. While some have interpreted her omission as another slight, Cardi explained that she focused on when certain artists entered her life rather than their accomplishments.

The conversation also expanded into what she believes distinguishes successful female rappers. Cardi praised Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, and the City Girls for developing recognizable identities rather than copying another artist’s approach. She pointed to their different regional influences and personalities, arguing that individuality is essential to maintaining a career.

She also challenged the notion that successful women in rap must follow a particular predecessor, warning that imitating another artist’s mannerisms won’t necessarily produce the same results.

“There’s nobody I ever wanna be. I became famous being Cardi B,” she explained.

Her comments come as she’s also expressed frustration with the constant feuding among female rappers. During the same X Spaces conversation, Cardi said she was growing bored with exchanging insults and increasingly uninterested in responding to perceived disses. Whether that attitude holds the next time someone takes a shot at her is another question, especially when a discussion about her childhood influences can still bring her rivalry with Nicki back into the conversation.

The post Cardi B Claps Back At Barbz Over Nicki Minaj Influence Debate appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

During an Instagram Stories update on Thursday (Oct. 22), Ross thanked supporters for keeping his name in the conversation ahead of the 2027 Grammy Awards. With the first round of voting coming to a close, Rozay acknowledged his history with the Recording Academy and admitted that winning remains on his wish list.

“You know, this is a game I’ve been in over 20 years,” he said, according to Complex. “I’ve been nominated multiple times. Maybe nine, maybe possibly 10. I’m not really sure.” The MMG founder then got to the point. “I’ve never taken home a Grammy. So, you know, I’ve got a new crib, a new spot. I’ve got a spot waiting for one.”

Read More: Rick Ross’ Final First-Week Sales For ‘Set In Stone’ Are In

Rick Ross Hopes Set In Stone Will Finally Earn Him A Grammy

Ross submitted his July release, Set in Stone, for consideration in the Best Rap Album and Album of the Year categories. He also entered “Minks in Miami,” his collaboration with French Montana and Max B, into several categories, including Song of the Year. According to the Recording Academy, Ross has accumulated nine nominations without a victory. His first came for his appearance on DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One” featuring Drake and Lil Wayne. His 2012 album, God Forgives, I Don’t, subsequently earned a Best Rap Album nomination at the 2013 ceremony.

His most recent recognition came in 2023, when DJ Khaled’s “GOD DID” received three nominations, including Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance. Still, Ross isn’t treating another nomination as a guarantee. His Instagram message largely focused on thanking listeners for supporting Set in Stone, whether they purchased the album, streamed it, or simply helped spread the word.

The next hurdle arrives November 16, when the Recording Academy announces its nominees for the 2027 ceremony. If Ross makes the cut, he’ll have another chance to break his Grammy losing streak when the awards are presented February 7. Final-round voting begins December 10, giving Recording Academy members the final say on whether Rozay gets to fill that empty spot.

The post Rick Ross Wants His First Grammy After Nine Nominations appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Start with the PE. LeBron wore it on Tuesday in a 106 to 100 win over the Knicks. Lighter purple covered the upper, and a darker royal purple wrapped the collar and laces.

The colors did not match the Sixers’ blue and white uniforms, but that is a LeBron tradition. He has opened recent seasons in bold pairs like the LeBron 23 “24K Gold.”

The shoe has the LeBron 24’s three-layer KingKnit upper, full-length React cushioning, and two Air Zoom units. Nike calls it the lightest LeBron signature shoe so far.

There is no release plan for the PE. Sneaker News says it may be an early look at an upcoming pair, since the LeBron 24 is still new.

Before tip-off, LeBron also laced up the Victor Victor x Nike Air Force 1 ’01 in green. It is a monochrome green leather pair with white Swooshes and Steven Victor’s dog logo on the lateral heel. A white midsole carries green Air lettering, and the black outsole has colorful lines and Victor Victor branding.

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LeBron’s Victor Victor AF1

This is not LeBron’s first Victor Victor pair. He previously wore the purple colorway at Fanatics Fest, and he rocked an unreleased Air Force 1 to Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium show in July.

The green pair first appeared on Gervonta Davis in July. We covered Gervonta Davis’ green pair when it appeared.

The collection has grown quickly. Black, yellow, red, purple, green, and blue pairs have all been shown, and Steven Victor has teased up to six colorways.

Pairs are rolling out city by city through December, and a blue pair already dropped at ComplexCon. No release date has been announced for the green pair.

For LeBron, the choice makes sense. Philadelphia is his new home, and he tends to pick standout pairs for big moments.

Read More: Yung Miami Calls Out Bloggers For Lying About Her Role In Diddy’s Charges

The post LeBron James Wore 2 Standout Pairs In His First Week As A Sixer appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Here is how Tatum went from wearing other stars’ signatures to becoming the face of Jordan Brand hoops.

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From The Adapt BB To Jordan Brand

Tatum’s sneaker story started in the Nike family long before the Jumpman came calling. At 20 years old, he got trusted to debut Nike’s self-lacing Adapt BB. That was a big spotlight for a young player.

He also laced up the Kyrie 5, the Kobe AD Exodus, and the PG 2 in those early seasons. In other words, he was wearing other stars’ signature shoes before he had one of his own.

Off the court, he showed some sneaker taste. Tatum was spotted in the Penny 3, all-white Foamposites, and several pairs of Jordan 4s. That mix of Nike hoops history and Jordan heritage made his next move feel natural. In 2019, he signed with Jordan Brand, and talk of a signature shoe started right away.

The Jordan Tatum 1

Jordan Brand revealed the Tatum 1 at the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City. Tatum posted a photo with his son Deuce and captioned it “Dreams do come true.” A few hours later, he scored a record 55 points and took home game MVP. It was the perfect stage for a first signature shoe.

The Tatum 1 leaned hard into performance. Jordan Brand built it with a lightweight TPU frame, a mesh knit upper, and a padded collar for support. A men’s size 9 came in under 12 ounces. That made it the lightest shoe in Jordan Brand’s lineup that season.

It also retailed for $120, which kept it accessible for young hoopers. The kids’ version added a slip on feature, a detail Tatum helped shape.

Tatum joined Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson as a signature athlete for the brand. He did it with a shoe built for the court first.

The 2024 Championship

The 2024 championship changed the story for Tatum. After several deep playoff runs that ended short, he finally won his first ring with the Celtics. He wore the “Camo” Tatum 2 when he did it, so the shoe is now tied to the biggest night of his career.

Sneakerheads know a title run gives a shoe a special place in history. The Kobe 4 carried Kobe to his first championship without Shaq. The LeBron 9 PS Elite did the same for LeBron in Miami. Those pairs still get talked about for that reason.

Jordan Brand paid tribute with a Tatum 4 “First Ring” colorway inspired by those “Camo” pairs. Further, that nod shows how much the moment matters to the line. A championship shoe gives a signature line a story that sales numbers cannot.

Why The Tatum Line Isn’t A Hype Line

The Tatum line has never been a hype sneaker line. You do not see Tatum 1s in a streetwear fit as often as you see a Jordan 4 or a Jordan 11.

Part of that comes down to design. The shoes are light, techy, and built for the court. They perform well, but they do not always work with a casual outfit.

Further, Jordan Brand has a crowded signature roster, and the retros still dominate. Tatum’s low-key personality also plays a role. He is polished and quiet, so his line grows through steady wins instead of these viral moments.

Still, that is not necessarily a negative. Jordan Brand needs a dependable hoop shoe at an accessible price, and the Tatum line delivers that for young players. A $120 to $130 sneaker that kids can actually play in is a big deal. Long-term, his sneakers could resonate with a larger audience.

The Achilles Injury And The Tatum 4

The biggest test came in May 2025. Tatum tore his Achilles in Game 4 of the second round against the Knicks. He left in the fourth quarter with a game-high 42 points and had surgery the next morning.

The Tatum 4 dropped in October 2025 while he was still rehabbing. It remains the lightest shoe in Jordan Brand’s basketball line. The “0” on the heel nods to his jersey number and also resembles his diamond chain pendant. Tatum still showed up for a launch event in Roxbury while he was sidelined.

Tatum told Andscape, “This injury lit a fire in me.” That attitude carried into the shoe’s story. Jordan Brand kept dropping new Tatum 4 colorways through his recovery, and he returned to the court late in the 2025-26 season. For sneakerheads, that is a rare case where a signature shoe and a comeback ran side by side.

The Jordan Tatum 5 And What’s Next?

The Tatum 5 shows what direction the line is going. Jordan Brand revealed it ahead of the 2026-2027 season, and it dropped in October in the “Sunrise” colorway. It is the first Tatum shoe with a midfoot strap, a notable change from the earlier models.

The most personal detail sits on the right heel, where 5 lines run across the shoe to acknowledge the scar on his heel. Tatum explained that detail himself, which makes it feel earned instead of forced. Further, Tatum hinted that his game is changing as he bulks up. The shoe is basically evolving right along with him

That is why this shoe matters. The Tatum line is no longer just a lightweight shoe for a young star. It now tracks his career, injuries and all, in a way few signature lines do.

Our Verdict

So, is Tatum the most important Nike athlete of his generation? The case is stronger than most think. He has a championship, a signature line on its 5th model in under 4 years, and shoes that tell his story.

His line is not a hyped sneaker line as we’ve seen from others. However, Jordan Brand needs athletes like him as much as it needs the retros.

Tatum is the steady, performance-first face of Jordan basketball. That makes him one of the most important athletes in the Nike family right now, and the Tatum 5 only adds to that.

Read More: Kanye Is Reportedly Bringing Yeezy Back To The Fashion Runway

The post How Jayson Tatum Became The Most Important Nike Athlete Of His Generation appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

With Drake set to turn 40 years old on Saturday, he is reportedly celebrating the right way. While he is enjoying nights out and dinners with friends, he is also reaching some significant milestones. According to Kurrco, he is now the first artist in RIAA history to surpass 350 million certified units.

Moreover, VIEWS just went Diamond. The same can be said of his songs “Marvin’s Room” and “In My Feelings.” VIEWS is his second Diamond project next to Take Care. Meanwhile, Drake has a total of 18 Diamond songs, which is massive.

Read More: Halle Berry’s Marriage History: A Look At Her Three Ex-Husbands

Drake Breaks Records And Turns 40

Additionally, Drake now has 14 platinum albums. This is one of those accomplishments that most artists could only dream of. It just goes to show that through all of these years, Drizzy has been exceptionally consistent.

Just a couple of years ago, it felt as though Drake might be done, once and for all. The Kendrick Lamar battle had turned him into a punchline. However, his strong 2026 has reasserted him as the biggest rapper on the planet.

It seems as though Drake is ready to keep that momentum going into next year. Whether or not more albums are on the horizon, remains to be seen.

Read More: Halle Berry’s Love Life Through The Decades

The post Drake Breaks Numerous RIAA Records As Two More Songs Go Diamond appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Of course, the bars about Diddy were always going to garner some attention. On The Breakfast Club, Yung Miami was asked about the music mogul, who is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence for transportation for prostitution.

Yung Miami was complimentary of Diddy, stating that he always treated her well. However, she made it crystal clear that she wasn’t saying that to undermine anyone else’s experience. From there, she spoke on the blogs that made it seem like she was somehow involved in Diddy’s prostitution case. There were anonymous accounts online spreading unfounded claims that she was transporting prostitutes for Diddy. That she was some sort of accomplice who could also face legal ramifications.

For Yung Miami, these allegations were frustrating. Especially since those bloggers swept the truth under the rug and didn’t bother to offer a retraction.

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Yung Miami On The Breakfast Club

Yung Miami subsequently revealed how her relationship with Diddy was based upon one specific understanding. When the two are together, they go together. However, when they aren’t together, they can go ahead and do whatever they want.

Yung Miami was also quick to point out that Diddy was showing all 32 teeth whenever they were together. Simply put, she feels as though the two complemented each other nicely. At this time, it is unclear where the two stand with one another. The artist says people keep asking her, but she has not said anything concrete.

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The post Yung Miami Calls Out Bloggers For Lying About Her Role In Diddy’s Charges appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

It didn’t end there. Drizzy brought his friends and his mom to New York City on Air Drake. On Thursday night, the rapper was spotted at Mamo, an Italian restaurant in the heart of SoHo. 

We can imagine that this is only a precursor to the actual celebrations this weekend, and perhaps that’s when his wish will come true. In September, the rapper revealed that all he wanted for his birthday was a roast from Jim Carrey after seeing his fellow Canadian flame Jeff Ross in a birthday video.

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Drake’s 40th Birthday Plans

The birthday festivities probably double as a celebration of all that he’s accomplished this year. The rapper returned with the release of ICEMAN and two companion albums, Habibti and Maid Of Honour, which debuted in the top three spots of the Billboard 200. He recently dropped off Habibti (FOMO) with four new songs, including “Solar Eclipse,” which debuted at #5 on the Hot 100.

On the heels of all of this, the rapper is also rumored to be one of the headliners at 2027 Coachella. Though not confirmed, it would be his first time back at the California festival in over a decade. Along with plans to go on a full-blown tour in support of his latest projects, we could imagine that these rumors could lead to an eventual announcement of his headlining slot. Hopefully, we’ll hear more about that soon. 

Read More: Halle Berry’s Marriage History: A Look At Her Three Ex-Husbands

The post Drake Rings In His 40th Birthday In New York City & Toronto appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: October 23, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: AFTERBURNER

Quotable Lyrics from YERR

Uh, spin the block, on some hood s**t, and the cops knockin’ like (Yerr!)
Hey, I’m a vet, walkin’ out this bitch if I really think they won’t pay our rate
Breathe and stop, okay, okay
Cream of the crop, I’ma clean that plate

The post YERR – Song by Erick The Architect featuring Ghostface Killah & Fergie Baby appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Held at Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles, Carl Thomas and Case delivered unforgettable performances while bringing in a handful of special guests. Case brought out RL to perform his 1999 collaboration, “The Best Man I Can Be.” Meanwhile, Carl Thomas brought one of the Bay Area’s finest to pay homage to a New York legend. Too Short popped up on stage to perform “The World Is Filled,” a collaboration alongside Diddy that appeared on Life After Death–an album that’s been at the center of debates recently, thanks to Jadakiss’ son, Jaewon. 

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Case & Carl Thomas Go Head-To-Head In Verzuz

Carl Thomas also dropped some gems on the crowd during his performance, explaining the sacrifices and struggles that many artists go through behind closed doors.

“What you don’t understand is that everybody that you’ve seen accomplish anything pays two prices,” Thomas said. “There’s going to be a public price. Everybody’s going to see. And then there’s going to be that private price. When nobody sees you on your knees in your closet. Asking God to do it for you. Like he did it for them.”

Meanwhile, Case closed out the evening with a heavy hitter, “Missing You” from his 2001 album, Open Letter. That song in particular had the crowd in a stronghold and proved that both his catalog and Carl Thomas’s are timeless.

Check out some of the clips above and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below. 

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The post Carl Thomas Brings Too Short Out To Perform Biggie’s “The World Is Filled” At Verzuz  appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“J. Cole is half-white. I hate to say it, but it’s a huge factor. It is probably the biggest factor in Cole’s life, is that he’s mixed. By the way, we saw what happened with Drake and Kendrick. As soon as he got mixed, what Drake do? He went to his side,” Daniels explained, adding that Drake became extremely close with people like Adin Ross afterward. “He had another place to go.”

Daniels added that there’s an extremely different approach to marketing a white artist compared to a Black artist in the music industry. He suggested that Eminem also benefited greatly from being a white artist, and said that Drake has benefited from a similar set of rules.

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Ray Daniels On Drake & J. Cole

“I went on record and said that Drake is the greatest cheat code in the history of music. He is half Black and he’s half Jewish,” Daniels said. “He can say ‘my n***a,’ he can wear a yarmulke. You can not beat him.” He said that Drake being Canadian also adds another layer.

Daniels pointed to a viral clip where Michael Rubin introduced Adin Ross to Robert Kraft, and punctuated the introduction by stating that Ross is Jewish.

He eventually brought the topic back to J. Cole, and compared his career to Wale’s. He said that the only thing that differentiates them is that Cole is half-white and Wale is Nigerian. Check the full clip above and let us know if you agree.

Read More: Halle Berry’s Marriage History: A Look At Her Three Ex-Husbands

The post Ray Daniels Says J. Cole & Drake’s Success Is Because They’re Biracial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.