HotNewHipHop

DJ Akadeniks Calls Jay-Z The Israel Of Hip-Hop

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sun, 03 May 2026 15:07:01 +0000

Jay-Z is celebrating a couple of career milestone anniversaries this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s avoided more critical conversations around him in recent years. Whether it was the dismissed Diddy lawsuit or alleged connections to the Epstein files, many folks are questioning his character. DJ Akademiks is chief among them, who recently compared Hov to Israel to make a point about cultural protection.

He seemed to reference Israel specifically amid their conflicts with other nations like Iran and Palestine, plus their strong backing from the United States. Ak believes people are too quick to defend or protect him, and will make up reasons to celebrate him.

“Jay-Z is the Israel of hip-hop,” he remarked, as caught by Kurrco on Twitter. “There’s a clown show of ‘protect him.’ This was going to be the d**k-sucking year of Jay-Z. It’s the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt… They’re going to make a big spectacle, like ‘Why don’t we appreciate him?’ He’s going to come out to top every f***ing list. Aren’t we seeing it in real time? […] They’re just going to give Jay-Z awards just to give him awards… You see them doing it with Kendrick Lamar.”

DJ Akademiks’ Jay-Z Takes

Akademiks calls JAY-Z the “Israel of hip-hop” while arguing that JAY-Z hasn’t immortalized himself in culture the same way Michael Jordan has:

"I told you before it got announced, they're gonna make a big spectacle… this is the year you're gonna hear all types of things,… pic.twitter.com/tjvzhYndR5
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) May 2, 2026

“Anyone below the age of 30 looks at Jay-Z remotely close to how people look at him over the age of 40,” the commentator continued. “They just look at him as, ‘He was a good rapper.’ That’s it. This idea of him being a GOAT, I don’t think younger folks look at him like that… I don’t believe Jay ever really got immortalized how Michael Jordan got immortalized as number one. ‘Cause Jay-Z isn’t the standard that we compare musicians to. There is no standard… ‘Pac, from an artist perspective, is that… I’ve never seen n***as say, ‘You’re moving like Jay-Z.'”

Previously, DJ Akademiks has been overall skeptical of Jay-Z. While he definitely had more negative than positive things to say about him in recent years, especially in terms of what blew up online, he still gives him props for his business acumen and lyrical skill.

More Clips

But when it comes to how people discuss the Roc Nation mogul, Ak thinks folks are going easy on him. He had many more criticisms about his career, which filled social media timelines with debates.

Akademiks says Jay-Z is “0-20… every year somebody else was bigger”

says real dominance looks like Drake’s run

“Drake ran like 13+ years… Kendrick only took 2”

adds Jordan level greatness means clear dominance no debates https://t.co/mpIbrUmFLu pic.twitter.com/HMN16kFDed
— CY Chels (@SeewhyChels) May 2, 2026

Akademiks calls out media for avoiding conversations around Jay-Z, questioning his past ties and saying it’s being overlooked

“Let’s talk about Jay Z, why he was running around buddy buddy like Batman & Robin with Harvey Weinstein” pic.twitter.com/MDZDfVYhWO
— Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) May 2, 2026

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Real Boston Richey Responds To Ex Girlfriend’s Abuse & Grooming Claims

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sun, 03 May 2026 14:26:17 +0000

Real Boston Richey has had a lot of drama with his former girlfriend Tatiana Chanell for years, whether it’s grooming allegations regarding her alleged underage status or various abuse or assault accusations in the past. These recently reached a breaking point thanks to her recent kidnapping allegations against him, and he uploaded a video to social media to respond to the many accusations.

As caught by DJ Akademiks on Twitter, Boston Richey denied the claims from Chanell and instead accused her of trying to blackmail him amid legal trouble. He says he truly loved her in the relationship and was willing to lose everything for her, but they cheated on each other and they fell apart. Richey believes this is what has made his former partner so indignant online, and accused her of lying on him after he cut her off.

He said he just wanted to protect her despite folks criticizing their relationship, accusing Tatiana of only wanting him for his money. The rapper said he won’t go further against Chanell because he still cares about her, admitted to messing up a lot in the relationship, and denied her allegations overall.

Livebitez caught Tatiana Chanell’s alleged response to this recent video. She reportedly shared photos of scars she allegedly sustained from his alleged attacks, alleged text messages of him pleading to get her back and offering her $400K, and brought up child sex offender allegations against Real Boston Richey. Chanell said he needs professional help, calling him “sick” and saying she didn’t understand the gravity of his alleged behavior before because she was allegedly underage.

Real Boston Richey Allegations

Boston Richey addresses his ex girlfriend Tati and allegations surrounding him. Claims she tried to blackmail him with his freedom multiple times and that he did nothing but love her and claims she’s lying on him now that he made the choice to stop funding her and moved on. pic.twitter.com/8A2A9G59T6
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) May 3, 2026

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Watch Live Bitez (@livebitez)

Previously, Tatiana Chanell accused Real Boston Richey’s record label of running a smear campaign against her. She claimed they had a meeting to discuss Boston Richey allegedly sharing an explicit video of her when she was underage to other women.

We will see if this situation escalates any further or develops in other areas outside of social media. Following a lot of drama between them already, many fans are calling out the MC’s alleged behavior and encouraging Chanell to demand accountability and tell her story, with others taking the opposite stance.

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Drake Rides Ice Truck During New “ICEMAN” Music Video Shoot In Toronto

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sun, 03 May 2026 13:29:28 +0000

Drake has done a lot of creative things for his new album ICEMAN‘s rollout, but there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned music video shoot to get fans’ attention. Fans in Toronto spotted him last night (Saturday, May 2) riding around the city and rapping on a truck full of ice blocks for an upcoming music video.

Many police cars trailed the vehicle while the crew filmed the visuals and fans and passerby recorded the whole thing. DJ Akademiks TV caught a few angles via Instagram. In one of the videos, you can see the 6ix God silently showing love to fans cheering him on from the street. Folks were very excited to see him in this mode, and we wonder just when we will get to see the final product.

Another question is whether or not this is for the same project as Drake’s other potential music videos for ICEMAN. Most recently, he took credit for a massive controlled explosion in Toronto, which made many fans think it might have been for upcoming visuals. We’ll just have to wait and see.

When Will Drake Drop ICEMAN?

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A post shared by Akademiks TV (@djakademikstv)

Drake’s new album ICEMAN comes out on May 15, and will most likely be the biggest rap release of the year when it drops. We will see just how big that is very soon, as many folks continue to debate and speculate about potential first week sales numbers, artistic directions and decisions, and many other angles.

Also, it will arrive amid a reminiscent time that hardcore fans still haven’t let go of: the Drake battle. Exactly two years ago today (Sunday, May 3), he dropped “Family Matters” against Kendrick Lamar, “meet the grahams” arrived mere minutes later, and “Not Like Us” and “The Heart Part 6” finally ended the back-and-forth.

Amid that two-year anniversary, many fans wonder if Drizzy will go fully in on that angle, or if he will address more general or unrelated topics instead. It seems unlikely that he will just forego the whole thing, especially given recent singles. We’ll see if the upcoming ICEMAN music videos contribute to that idea like the livestreams have.

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Grind It Up – Song by Fetty P Franklin

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sun, 03 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Fetty P Franklin is seemingly gearing up for a new album soon, and his new single “Grind It Up” is a promising tease of whatever’s next. A brass sample opens the track up with resonant kicks and a jittery trap-style percussion pattern, later leading into light swirling synths and a bouncy, catchy chorus. He does very well on the track with some unconventional flows and some charismatic moments, displaying a lot of fun energy. The Charlotte MC doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, but there are a few sharp lines here to hold fans over. We’ll see if a new project capitalizes on the potential of “Grind It Up.”

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics from Grind It Up

If you scared of jail, get a job,
‘Cause your home might be a new prison,
See, I know what came with it,
But I don’t mind dying hard like Bruce Willis

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Riff Raff 2013 – Song by DC The Don

Alexander Cole — Sun, 03 May 2026 07:30:00 +0000

Riff Raff is one of the most interesting characters in the rap world. Although he isn’t as active as he used to be, there is no denying that his 2013 run is something that fans remember fondly. Now, DC The Don is paying homage to that run with his new single, “Riff Raff 2013.” It is a song that has a flurry of different flows and the melodies that DC The Don is broadly known for. There are also obvious references to Riff Raff, which keeps the song on message. Overall, it is a solid effort from the artist, who has maintained his consistency for a few years now.

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics from Riff Raff 2013

Big chain ’round my neck, I feel like Riff Raff (Shake)
Smash the pedal on a ho, I make her sit back (Yeah)
You want a n***a with some cash or a six pack?
I’m eatin’ good, where the fuck you think I live at?

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Acquired Taste – Song by MC.SUPRA featuring Conway The Machine

Alexander Cole — Sun, 03 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

MC.SUPRA and Conway The Machine have teamed up for an especially gritty track called “Acquired Taste.” The new song is mostly handled by SUPRA, who is responsible for the hook and the opening verses. Meanwhile, Conway comes onto the track and does his thing. It is a song in which both artists are putting their best foot forward. The chemistry between the MCs is solid, and there is no denying that they are a duo that could explore more collaborations with one another in the future.

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

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Foot Locker And Nike Just Gifted 22,000 Employees A Pair Of Air Force 1s

Ben Atkinson — Sun, 03 May 2026 00:52:39 +0000

Foot Locker and Nike just pulled off one of the better employee surprises in recent memory. To celebrate their “Find Your Force” campaign, the two brands gifted all 22,000 Foot Locker employees a pair of Nike Air Force 1s. Every single one of them.

The moment hit different on social media. Photos showed store associates getting handed boxes with personalized name badges attached, “Find Your Force” branded lanyards with each employee’s name printed right on them. The look on his face when he realizes what’s in the box is genuine.

This kind of move is smart on multiple levels. First, it builds real loyalty with the people actually selling the product every day. Second, those 22,000 employees become walking brand ambassadors the moment they lace up. Third, it generates organic content that no ad budget can really replicate.

The Air Force 1 was the right choice too. It’s not some obscure runner or a model that needs explaining. Everyone knows what it is. Everyone wants a pair. Gifting something universally desirable lands differently than a branded tote bag or a gift card.

Foot Locker has been working hard to reposition itself as more than just a mall store. Moments like this one help. The “Find Your Force” campaign is clearly about more than marketing, it’s about the people inside the stores too.

Foot Locker x Nike Find Your Force

To celebrate FIND YOUR FORCE, @footlocker and @nike gifted 22,000 employees with Air Force 1s. Surprise! >> https://t.co/CrAokSHsSj pic.twitter.com/vB93XULFVB
— Sneaker News (@SneakerNews) May 1, 2026

The Nike Air Force 1 Low needs no introduction. It first dropped in 1982 as a basketball shoe and became a streetwear staple over the following decades. The version gifted here appears to be the classic triple white colorway: white leather upper, white midsole, white outsole.

Clean and versatile. The perforated toe box, the padded ankle collar, the visible Air unit in the heel, all the classic details are there. It’s the kind of shoe that works with almost anything in your wardrobe.

Gifting the AF1 specifically makes sense. It’s the most recognizable Nike silhouette outside of the Jordan 1, and it carries cultural weight that goes way beyond just sneaker culture.

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“Joe Budden Podcast” Debates If Jay-Z Dissed Drake & Kanye West In Interview

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sat, 02 May 2026 21:55:59 +0000

Jay-Z was recently interviewed by The New York Times as one of their picks for the 30 best American songwriters alive, and it caused a lot of commotion. Many folks expressed particular interest in his remarks on older rappers making music for the youth, including The Joe Budden Podcast. More specifically, they debated whether or not Hov dissed Drake, Kanye West, and others with this take… and whether or not it’s even relevant to discuss.

“If you’re trying to make young music and you’re not young, it’s going to be inauthentic and people can feel that,” Jay had said. “You can smell it. So the best thing anyone can do going through music is to tell their story. Keep creating from that space.”

To start, Marc Lamont Hill lamented how not everything has to be about Drizzy, as caught by CY Chels on Twitter. In addition, Ice brought up Jay-Z’s recent denial of having beef with Drake as a counterpoint. But Budden seems convinced that the Roc Nation mogul shaded the OVO MC. Ish disagreed, and Parks suggested “the shoe fits on a lot of feet,” including Ye’s.

Mona said it’s not just about the 6ix God being almost 40, but also how she believes he’s felt inauthentic to folks since the Kendrick Lamar battle. Ice brought up Future as an example of an older artist who’s still making resonant music for the youth. In fact, he posited that a 4:44 from Fewtch would not land well with fans. On the other hand, Ish emphasized the strength of artists staying in their lane regardless of age and context.

Do Drake & Jay-Z Have Beef?

Joe Budden says Jay-Z’s “don’t make young music if you’re not young” take was aimed at Drake

Parks adds the “shoe fits a lot of feet” possibly even Kanye West

bring up Future as an example of staying in a lane that still works https://t.co/VCzIsiHEZj pic.twitter.com/9toPDIIbbp
— CY Chels (@SeewhyChels) May 2, 2026

Drake and Jay-Z beef rumors have swirled around for years at this point, mostly because they did oppose each other at one point. But collaborations and more recent comments about the Kendrick battle don’t suggest anything explicit. Still, their fanbases could not be opposing each other more on the Internet these days, so the tension remains.

As for Jay-Z and Kanye West’s relationship, that hasn’t gotten an update in years. Ye just dropped his new album BULLY, whereas The Boy is gearing up for ICEMAN.

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DJ Akademiks Goes At Joe Budden For Validating Botting Claims Against Drake

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sat, 02 May 2026 21:14:40 +0000

DJ Akademiks was recently involved in the receiving end of a lawsuit against Drake, Stake, and Adin Ross for forming a illegal gambling scheme, defrauding the online casino platform’s users, and violating New Jersey state regulations. It’s one of many lawsuits with similar allegations in various states, which Akademiks and the accused parties have denied any truth to. As it turns out, he has a bone to pick with the media platforms covering these situations, including his friend and former Everyday Struggle cohost, Joe Budden.

During a recent livestream clip caught by CY Chels on Twitter, Ak slammed these entities and figures for, in his view, not scrutinizing these lawsuits enough. He believes the legal moves are frivolous and inaccurate, and criticized his peers for validating them in their coverage without the level of skepticism he believes is warranted.

“With all due respect to even my comrade Joe Budden, Joe Budden’s on his podcast reading a f***ing lawsuit that is so frivolous that if he looked at it on face value, it’s r***rded,” DJ Akademiks expressed. “They actually read that s**t like the s**t was legit. No, that’s just something else where they’re trying to take Drake down a notch. There’s eight other lawsuits, eight other f***ing states they have filed the same thing in… The lawsuit has so many inaccuracies. They can’t even spell the n***a name right… I don’t expect The Joe Budden Podcast who hires Mona to f***ing do their due diligence. They’re just reading off the paper…”

Drake’s Spotify Lawsuit

Akademiks calls out Joe Budden for discussing Drake “bot streams” claims

says they were reading a “frivolous” lawsuit like it was legit

points out major inaccuracies including details about Adin Ross being wrong

says the claims about Drake using Stake to inflate streams… pic.twitter.com/mUUSRNduOX
— CY Chels (@SeewhyChels) May 2, 2026

Akademiks also mentioned how Adin Ross isn’t with Stake anymore. He also said certain media figures don’t have as much scrutiny for someone like Jay-Z. “When it comes to some other s**t, n***as is just reporting all type of bulls**t. This is frivolous, make-believe bulls**t… ICEMAN‘s still on the way.”

Drake’s getting ready for ICEMAN on May 15, so he might not have time to address any of this himself. The lawsuits referenced by DJ Akademiks remain ongoing at press time. In other news, though, a separate lawsuit accusing Spotify of botting Drake’s streams recently saw a dismissal in court.

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YNW Melly Breaks Silence Behind Bars To Address Bond Denial Rumors

Gabriel Bras Nevares — Sat, 02 May 2026 20:30:06 +0000

YNW Melly has spent the last seven years in prison, and it’s been a very difficult road for him to navigate. His double murder trial ended in a mistrial in 2023, and now he’s attempting to secure bond once again ahead of his 2027 retrial, if everything goes according to schedule. However, Melly had to speak out from behind bars due to some fans jumping the gun and assuming this new bail attempt already disintegrated.

As caught by No Jumper on Instagram, he wrote the following message on his Instagram Story earlier today (Saturday, May 2): “Bond was not denied Fake News. Still waiting [prayer hands emoji] God 1st.”

According to Bryson “Boom” Paul on Twitter, Judge Martin S. Fein deferred his ruling on the Florida rapper’s bond request yesterday (Friday, May 1), which just so happened to be Melly’s 27th birthday. Fein will reportedly decide on a ruling at a later date. The three previous bond requests where Judge Fein or Judge John Murphy III deferred their ruling were unsuccessful.

The timing of this news, though, did not surprise fans in the loop. YNW Melly’s mother recently suggested he’d be out soon, which lines up with this bond request. We’ll see if it ends up being successful this time or if her son will have to stay in jail.

Why Was YNW Melly Arrested?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

State of FL v. @YNWMelly:

The previous three bond requests that have had the “ruling deferred” by Judges John Murphy and Martin Fein have denied bond. #ynwmelly #ynwmellyretrial #hiphoptrials
— Bryson “Boom” Paul (@brysonboompaul) May 1, 2026

YNW Melly stands accused of murdering his friends YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser in October of 2018. Prosecutors have not been able to land on a motive for the murder, but the evidence on both sides continues to shift and adapt. Officials accused him of conspiring with another friend, YNW Bortlen, to stage the double murder as a drive-by shooting.

Other rumors around the YNW Melly retrial include claims about his mother wearing a wire to try to catch an admission of innocence and secure a reduced sentence. But that may backfire when the trial wraps up. Still, this is just speculation, and official updates on the retrial have been slow and complex. We will see if Melly speaks out again about his case or lets the legal team do the talking.

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