Wednesday was a difficult one for Lil Durk as OTF Jam took the stand. In the courtroom, OTF Jam confessed to three murders. Furthermore, he was quick to point the finger at Durk, stating that the Chicago rapper was the one who masterminded the entire ordeal. It is a move that some believe has already sunk Durk’s chances of beating his case. Of course, there are still a few more weeks for his legal team to potentially turn things around.

However, there are some analysts who believe this case was over before it started. One of those people is Trenches News, who has made a living off covering the drill scene in Chicago. In a recent livestream with DJ Akademiks, Trenches News had some direct criticism for Durk’s lawyer, Drew Findling.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

Trenches News Believes Drew Findling Failed Lil Durk

As Trenches News explains, Drew Findling should have never done an interview with Vlad TV over a year ago. During this interview, Findling criticized the prosecution, and even revealed that lies were told in the original indictment. Moreover, Findling was fighting against the use of lyrics in the courtroom. Trenches believes this gave the prosecution a leg up, as they became aware of Findling’s defense strategy. He claims that if Findling never talked to Vlad, there never would have been a superseding indictment, which is what has left Durk vulnerable in the courtroom.

This is all speculative thinking. There is no telling what would have happened had Findling not done that interview. That said, Trenches News believes Lil Durk had no choice but to bring on Brian Steel because of the alleged mistakes that were made by Findling.

The Lil Durk trial is set to continue today in Los Angeles for Day 4 of the proceedings.

Read More: Aaliyah’s Final Days Revisited 25 Years After Her Death

The post Lil Durk’s Lawyer Drew Findling Criticized For Pre-Trial Interviews appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Now, the new album is out, and it contains 13 new songs. One of those tracks features ApolloRed1, and it is a very clear diss towards Nine Vicious. The controversial former YSL rapper has history with the Opium imprint as he previously dissed the label’s co-founder, Opm Babi. He called the man a “rat,” and ever since then, Ken Carson has been plotting his next move.

That move just so happened to be the song “9 bitches.” Even the title is clearly a diss as it rhymes with Nine Vicious’ name. As for the bars themselves, they are pretty brutal, and contain direct name drops.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Ken Carson & Nine Vicious Beef

“And I got nine bitches/N***a talk down on the O, we gon’ put nine stitches\ARP on me bold, I’ve been ridin’ with it/Pussy bitch, know you a ho, Nine Vicious/Who gon’ slime this? I’m ready to slime somethin’,” Carson wraps. “This bitch a fine bum, I wouldn’t give this ho a crumb/I’m at your mammy house, these niggas lackin’/You can ask your ho ’bout me, she already know what’s brackin’.”

There are other suggestive lyrics on the song, such as “Boy, you sugar sweet, honey tea/Pop it on the internet, we gon’ leave that boy on the concrete.”

The song is currently making waves online, especially when you consider Nine Vicious’ status as a controversial artist. He has yet to respond to Carson’s track, although we will keep you updated if he does.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

The post Ken Carson Disses Nine Vicious On The Fiery New Song “9 bitches” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 27, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: Cartunez

Quotable Lyrics from 9 bitches

And I got nine bitches
N***a talk down on the O, we gon’ put nine stitches
ARP on me bold, I’ve been ridin’ with it
Pussy bitch, know you a ho, Nine Vicious

The post 9 bitches (Nine Vicious Diss) – Song by Ken Carson appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 27, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Tracklist for Cartunez

1. scrape
2. swag jack
3. off a bean
4. rare creature
5. 50k
6. roxy reynolds ft. Destroy Lonely
7. 005
8. eaters
9. 9 bitches ft. ApolloRed1
10. vamp city ft. OsamaSon
11. fake news
12. disturbing the peace
13. yvngvmp

The post Cartunez – Album by Ken Carson appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Hester also named Durk’s co-defendants Deandre “DeDe” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey while testifying about the shooting, journalist Michael Blackshire reported. The admission carries particular weight because Hester was not describing the case as an outside observer. He has pleaded guilty in connection with the alleged plot and is cooperating with federal prosecutors, putting a former OTF associate in the witness chair against Durk as the government attempts to prove the rapper ordered retaliation against Quando Rondo.

Read More: Wack 100 Asserts Lil Durk Is Not A Snitch

A Harrowing Testimony

That courtroom dynamic has quickly fueled online reactions, where Hester’s decision to cooperate is being viewed through the lens of his history with OTF. Prosecutors described him during opening statements as someone allegedly “deployed as a hitman,” while Durk’s attorneys have been working to convince jurors that Hester and the government’s other cooperating witnesses have strong incentives to shift responsibility away from themselves. Durk has pleaded not guilty and denies ordering or financing the shooting.

His defense began attacking Hester’s credibility before he reached the stand. During cross-examination of LAPD Detective Warner Carias, attorney Brian Steel questioned how investigators handled interviews with Hester and other cooperators. Carias testified that Hester had been interviewed approximately 30 times, but only three of those sessions were recorded. Steel used that discrepancy to challenge how much of Hester’s evolving account jurors will be able to evaluate for themselves rather than through investigators’ recollections and notes.

Read More: Lil Durk Allegedly Smirked At His Lawyer After Cross-Examination

Jurors have also seen evidence suggesting that Durk and those around him anticipated Hester might cooperate. A group text from 2023 presented during the trial appeared to show Durk discussing the possibility that Jam would talk to investigators. According to Rolling Stone, one message read, “Jam just ready to snitch,” followed by another suggesting the group should remain unified regardless of what he said. The exchange predates Durk’s October 2024 arrest and gives prosecutors another piece of evidence to place alongside Hester’s testimony.

The government alleges Durk used his money and position within OTF to finance an effort to kill Quando Rondo after the 2020 death of King Von. Rondo survived the August 19, 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center, but Robinson, his cousin, was killed. Prosecutors say Hester was among the men who traveled to California as part of that operation. Durk’s attorneys have instead argued that Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant organized the attack and that there is no evidence Durk promised or paid anyone to carry out a killing.

Hester is one of three cooperating witnesses with ties to the alleged plot who prosecutors have told jurors they intend to use. Grant and Keith “Flacka” Jones have also pleaded guilty and are expected to testify. With Hester now directly implicating Durk from the witness stand, his credibility and the terms surrounding his cooperation are poised to become a major battleground as the defense gets its opportunity to challenge his account.

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The post OTF Jam Takes Stand, Implicates Lil Durk In Murder-For-Hire Case appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Miami revealed the lineup Wednesday after teasing two mystery guests throughout the week. “Wham & Yak WTF IS UPPPPPP!! Spend Dat Remix OUT THIS FRIDAY!” she announced on X. The new version arrives August 28 as “Spend Dat” continues a breakout solo run that has carried the former City Girls rapper into the upper reaches of the Billboard Hot 100.

Read More: Yung Miami Update: Fans Suspicious Of Kodak Black After Shooting

Moving On With A New Collab

However, Kodak’s name gave some fans pause for reasons unrelated to the song. While incarcerated in 2019, the Florida rapper recorded a freestyle that referenced Miami’s pregnancy with producer Southside’s child. Kodak rapped that he had previously bought her a ring before threatening to hit her in the stomach when he saw her. Southside responded to Kodak afterward with a heated video.

The threat became even more troubling in retrospect when gunfire struck Miami’s Mercedes-Benz SUV days later. The Miami Herald reported that she was leaving Circle House Studios in North Miami-Dade when someone fired at the vehicle during the early hours of Aug. 6, 2019. Miami, who was pregnant at the time, was not injured. Police confirmed that her SUV had been hit by gunfire, but authorities did not establish any connection between Kodak or his freestyle. That distinction has sometimes disappeared as the two events have been retold together online.

The post Yung Miami Announces ‘Spend Dat Remix’ With Kodak Black & Lil Baby appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

That history shows up across the entire build. Black leather forms the base, with laser-etched wave graphics running through the side panels. The pattern pulls directly from a well-known piece of Japanese woodblock art, giving the shoe a real visual anchor beyond just a colorway swap.

Deep purple takes over the mudguard and outsole, while metallic gold hits the lace hardware and Jumpman branding. Japanese kanji replaces the usual “23” stitching on the tongue and heel pull, tying every detail back to the release’s origin story.

Even the packaging plays into the concept. The box comes wrapped in custom artwork covering Jordan’s 1995-96 season stats, paired with a small paper sumo kit tucked inside for good measure.

Read More: Teyana Taylor’s Air Jordan 3 “Concrete Rose” Surfaces New Sample

Air Jordan 12 “Sumo” Japan Exclusive Release

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Jordan’s connection to Japan runs further back than some of even the biggest fans would know. His 1996 trip wasn’t just a marketing stop, it works both as a cultural exchange between Nike and one of its biggest international markets outside of the US.

The sumo exhibition itself has largely stayed a footnote in his career. Pairing NBA players against sumo wrestlers made for a strange, memorable moment that never got much attention outside Japan at the time.

Also Jordan Brand digging into stories this specific shows how deep the archive has gotten. Instead of leaning on obvious moments, “Sumo” pulls from something far more obscure and personal to that trip.

Overall, with official images now confirmed, the design details finally match the story behind them. It’s a rare case where the concept and the final execution result feel equally thought out.

Read More: Supreme x Nike Air Max 2001 “Air Ecstasy” Drops This Week

The post Air Jordan 12 “Sumo” Official Images Unveiled appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I don’t front everybody. I fronted on you,” N.O.R.E. said during Drink Champs. He acknowledged that he had initially intended to sit down with Vlad before reconsidering. “Guess what? I’m a grown man. I have a right to change my mind.”

Vlad gave his version of the dispute during DJ Akademiks’ Off The Record. He said he appeared on Drink Champs expecting N.O.R.E. to later return the favor with a VladTV interview. Vlad ultimately characterized N.O.R.E. as someone whose “word don’t mean ish” and called him a “snake.” Vlad’s Drink Champs appearance aired in March 2024, with N.O.R.E. introducing him as an influential figure in Hip Hop media and praising the reach of his interview platform.

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Read More: DJ Vlad Denies Police Allegations, Says Hip Hop Media Was “Lame” Before VladTV

Hip Hop Media Beef?

Moreover, N.O.R.E.’s response went well beyond whether he broke an informal agreement. He accused Vlad of profiting from conflicts involving Black artists and compared his interview style to that of The Jerry Springer Show. “You benefit off of Black drama,” he said. “You are Jerry Springer now!” N.O.R.E. argued that refusing the interview amounted to giving Vlad a taste of the same treatment he believes the media personality has used throughout his career. “I played the game that you been playing for years,” he added. “Welcome to the motherf*ckin’ party.”

Rick Ross became part of that criticism as N.O.R.E. accused Vlad of trying to have the Miami rapper jailed. However, the history between Vlad and Ross is more complicated than that. Vlad sued Ross in federal court after alleging that members of the rapper’s entourage assaulted him at the 2008 Ozone Awards in retaliation for VladTV’s coverage of Ross’ past as a correctional officer. A jury found Ross liable in the civil case in 2010 and awarded Vlad $300,000 in damages. Technically, the lawsuit itself was not a criminal case and did not carry the possibility of incarceration.

Neither side appears interested in repairing the relationship for now. N.O.R.E. made his position on the abandoned interview particularly simple. “I don’t like you,” he told Vlad from the Drink Champs set. Whatever professional understanding that once existed between the two Hip Hop media veterans appears to be off the table.

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Read More: DJ Vlad & Joe Budden Allegedly End 15-Year-Old Beef, Vlad Says

The post N.O.R.E. Fires Back At DJ Vlad After Being Called A “Snake” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I might take a break from tweeting,” Ross wrote on X. “Durks team acting very unprofessional. Screaming ‘DELETE THE TWEET’ in my face outside the court room leading to court Marshall’s having to step in.” He described the encounter as “very disappointing and intimidating conduct towards the press in this case.”

The confrontation followed another dispute over Ross’ courtroom reporting, this time involving statements made during cross-examination by Durk’s attorney Brian Steel. Ross accused Steel of giving the jury inaccurate information about the aftermath of King Von’s 2020 killing, including who first referred to Timothy “Lul Timm” Leeks as “King Tim.” Ross claimed Steel attributed the nickname to Quando Rondo when it actually originated with another Savannah rapper. He also objected to Steel repeatedly describing Leeks as having murdered Von.

Read More: Trap Lore Ross Responds After Being Confronted At Lil Durk Trial

The Death Of King Von

Leeks was initially charged with felony murder after Von was fatally shot outside an Atlanta hookah lounge in November 2020. His attorney confirmed in 2023 that the case was dismissed before Leeks was ever indicted. Reporting at the time indicated that prosecutors had come to view self-defense as a significant issue in the case.

Ross also claimed the FBI agent being cross-examined agreed with Steel’s characterization in court. “Bet everyone so concerned about ‘factual reporting’ won’t repost that today tho,” he wrote, a pointed response to criticism he has received over his own coverage of the proceedings. His reporting has already drawn confrontation outside the courthouse. Days earlier, a Durk supporter approached Ross and accused him of “doing the police’s job” by covering criminal cases involving rappers.

The dispute is unfolding as prosecutors present their murder-for-hire case against Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks. The government alleges he financed a 2022 plot to kill Quando Rondo in retaliation for Von’s death. Rondo survived the Los Angeles shooting, but his cousin Saviay’a Robinson was killed. Durk has pleaded not guilty, and his defense has rejected prosecutors’ claim that he ordered or financed the attack.

The post Trap Lore Ross Accuses Brian Steel Of Lying In Lil Durk Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Dash revisited that exchange while speaking with Us Weekly for a feature marking 25 years since Aaliyah’s death. The singer had finished filming the “Rock the Boat” video and was preparing to leave the Bahamas on Aug. 25, 2001, when Dash says she contacted him about the aircraft. “She texted me saying, ‘I don’t like the plane,’” he recalled. Dash said he warned her against boarding, but Aaliyah told him she needed to complete the trip connected to the video shoot.

Her concern about that particular plane was compounded by what Dash remembers as a broader fear of flying. He told Us that Aaliyah was frightened whenever she traveled by air and that she carried a satin pillow for comfort. According to Dash, she had also told him she intended to finish the video and return home to him.

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Read More: Aaliyah’s Final Days Revisited 25 Years After Her Death

Dame Has Consistently Shared Memories Of Aaliyah

Dash has recounted versions of that conversation before. During a 2016 appearance on The Real, he remembered receiving a message from Aaliyah saying she did not like the plane, and he believed things would have unfolded differently had he been in the Bahamas with her. He maintained that he would not have allowed her to board.

The concerns carry a grim weight in light of what investigators later found. The Cessna 402B crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour International Airport, killing Aaliyah and the eight other people aboard. Investigators determined that the aircraft exceeded its maximum takeoff weight and was improperly balanced. Pilot Luis Antonio Morales was also not qualified to operate the aircraft under the required commercial standards and had falsified portions of his flight record.

Aaliyah was 22 when she died. Dash, who was dating her at the time, told Us Weekly that he still considers her his soulmate. His latest comments came as loved ones and fans marked the 25th anniversary of the crash and revisited the final days leading up to a loss that remains closely tied to the making of “Rock the Boat.”

Read More: Dame Dash Reveals Why He Worked With R Kelly Despite Aaliyah Assault Allegations

The post Dame Dash Recalls Aaliyah’s Final Text Before Fatal Flight appeared first on HotNewHipHop.