According to The OVO Docket on Twitter, the court had scheduled a mediation between both parties today (Friday, December 19). The mediation process is mandatory for all filings in the Court of Appeals. But the court reportedly rescheduled the meeting for January 8 of next year, which was not a decision by either party.

Still, it seems like this turned out just how both parties wanted. After all, lawyers for Drake and UMG requested holiday breaks regarding various elements of the dismissed lawsuit’s proceedings. However, these did not include the mediation itself. Rather, reports indicated that the delay request related more to briefs, although it was a general request regarding key deadlines and overall developments.

Read More: 21 Savage Is The Most Honest Rapper In Drake’s Corner

When Is Drake Dropping ICEMAN?

Furthermore, these new legal updates might give Drake more time for his ICEMAN album. We still don’t know when it will come out, and we don’t have a date for the next rollout stream either. Previous hints, teases, and speculation from hardcore OVO fans and friends of Drizzy’s suggested that it would come out this year.

Instead, it seems like 2026 will mark his full-length solo album return, which would be his first since 2023’s For All The Dogs era. Then again, surprises could be in store before 2025 is out. In the meantime, we’re sure fans and haters alike will continue to give The Boy advice on what, when, and how to drop his new material, regardless of whether or not he listens.

Meanwhile, Drake’s also busy laughing at his fallen enemies. He recently clowned Ebro Darden for the cancelation of his In The Morning show on Hot 97, which makes more sense when examining Darden’s persistent criticisms of the Toronto superstar all throughout his career.

Read More: Tory Lanez Breaks Silence In First On-Camera Interview With NBC: “I Believe I Was Wrongfully Convicted”

The post Drake & UMG’s Mediation In “Not Like Us” Lawsuit Appeal Has Been Delayed appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The reason why folks are looking forward to new Kendrick in 2026 is because of a conversation he had with fellow Compton artist Chef Boy at the TDE Christmas party. “You going crazy!” K.Dot told the up-and-coming MC, as caught by Kurrco on Twitter. “We got one coming, it’s nothing. Say less.”

Of course, this doesn’t mean much in an explicit sense, but that never stopped the rumor mill before. The most generous interpretation here is that Lamar is cooking up a new album of some sorts for next year. This follows other rumors concerning his movie with the South Park creators, more potential tour dates in 2026, and a whole lot of other unconfirmed or limbo-state speculation.

On the other hand, the more likely explanation is that Kendrick Lamar wants to make a song with Chef Boy. Whether it’s just a feature or new solo music, fans are nonetheless very excited.

Read More: Timothée Chalamet’s Thoughts On His Kendrick Lamar Interview Spark Controversy

Who Is Chef Boy?

What’s more is that this is also a chance for fans of the GNX artist to get into Chef Boy’s music. He’s a rising rapper out of Compton who hit it big this year with the track “Gang Gang” featuring YS, Kendrick affiliate Hitta J3, Rosecrans HopOut, and PHOPHO8IGHT. With a massive cosign now under his belt, we expect his 2026 to be even better.

Elsewhere, this follows Kendrick Lamar’s more casual pop-outs, such as a reported low-key public appearance at a USC basketball game. Even with small moments like these, fans go wild with theories. So take this conversation with Chef Boy with a huge grain of salt.

After all, it wasn’t that long ago that DAMN. waited five years for the follow-up Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. With Kendrick Lamar recently closing out his tour, it seems like his 2026 is a nearly fully blank slate. Let’s see what he does…

Read More: Trippie Redd Post Raises Eyebrows After Coi Leray’s Bahamas Date Goes Viral

The post Kendrick Lamar Suggests He’s Dropping Soon And Fans Can’t Believe It appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: December 19, 2025

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

Tracklist for Church

1. JUST KNOW I KNOW
2. NEEDY
3. KEEPIN IT A HUNNID
4. FORGIVENESS
5. HEARTLESS
6. BIGBADWOLF
7. BACK IN BLOOD
8. JULIE ANNE

The post Church – Album By Joey Trap appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Chalamet’s comments, although tone-deaf in their complete context, add to a short list of collaborators who’ve shared rare glimpses into Kendrick’s mindset during that period. There’s a pattern in how people recall this era of his career: he exudes the calm, guiding presence of a shaman, a certainty that doesn’t acknowledge failure.

On the other side, Drake and his associates have been far more vocal publicly—media personalities trying to reshape narratives, collaborators angling for verses, friends sending threats to anyone criticizing him. For the casual fan, this can be frustrating: you can’t defend Drake, but you’re not invested in the life-or-death way that others have made it seem. The people championing him now often approach situations with selective reasoning, amplifying skewed stats or TikTok narratives without real verification.

In extreme instances, some declared Drake the victor while clinging to conspiracies—that the machine worked against him, that his ceasefire support in Gaza offended elites. Yet the outcome was predictable. “I told that n**** leave that sh*t alone,” 21 Savage said on Perspektives With Bank. “He felt like he was being challenged lyrically so he wanted to respond.”

It was refreshing to hear 21 Savage, who recently released WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?, offer honesty to Drake, especially when his framing of a “rigged” job didn’t feel tempered by some politically-charged smear campaign that became central to the infamous lawsuit against UMG. His analysis felt more in tune with those who could distinguish between a rapper and an MC, and a certified hitmaker and a Pulitzer Prize winner. “They want to tear the top n***as down. So how can you win a battle when n***as want you to lose it? Even if you win, you lose! No matter what. Even if Kendrick never responded… [Drake] was already the top n***a,” he said.

Savage explained that the beef gave Kendrick his biggest look, with “Not Like Us” echoing across the world during the Super Bowl Halftime Show; Drake wouldn’t have benefited in the same way had he won. “He would’ve just been looking like he tearing a good n***a that minds their business down. This s**t rigged, man. Even if Drake won, he would’ve still been the bad guy for winning. It would’ve still been like, ‘Man, f**k that.’ ‘Cause Kendrick one of them rapper rappers. He knows how to say different s**t, writing s**t. J. Cole like that. They could consider them MCs. An MC really can’t lose. But Drake an MC for real, but he makes hits too. So it’s different. Meek an MC, but he wasn’t them type MCs, bro.”

That balance between making hits and flexing one’s lyrical prowess is evident in 21 Savage’s catalog, especially when his introspection takes center stage. Savage’s proximity to real street beef gives him insight into how rap conflicts play out as ego tests, not physical confrontations. While the hypothetical outcomes of Drake’s choices are endless, one thing is clear: 21 Savage wasn’t misguiding his comrade. He gave a clear analysis, refusing to feed a pipedream that would raise the white flag on “The Heart Pt. 6.”

21 Savage has gained from Drake—features, a collaborative album, even his green card—but Drake doesn’t have many people around him willing to remind him that sales, streams, and accolades don’t erase perception. This honesty, often rare in a transactional industry, defines 21’s role as much of a mediator and voice of reason as a collaborator.

In recent weeks, he revealed he helped Drake and Metro Boomin patch up their differences, potentially paving the way for new music. He’s attempted to mediate Lil Durk and NBA Youngboy’s feud, had a role in ending YFN Lucci and Young Thug’s, and even called on Thug and Gunna to end their dispute after the YSL trial. In the case of the latter, Savage acknowledged that they swept Gunna’s previous allegations of snitching under the rug for the greater good of Atlanta’s rap scene. Even his relationship with Future demonstrates this maturity; he offered an apology publicly after a minor Twitter exchange—a display that honesty and reflection extend beyond music. On top of that, he was recently spotted on a FaceTime call with Quavo and Offset, who many have suspected to be on bad terms.

Unfortunately, the industry’s unforgiving nature means minor infractions often turn into life-long grudges. The most striking aspect of 21 Savage’s growth is his ability to navigate street politics, industry favors, and online gossip without losing his integrity. That steadiness seeps into his music, his relationships, and the environment he inhabits.

What makes 21 Savage remarkable these days isn’t just the quality of music but the thoughtfulness behind it. He moves through a world built on ego, hype, and performative loyalty without losing himself. In Drake’s corner, in Atlanta’s feuds, in the studio, on the street, his honesty has turned into a philosophy for his existence. But in a time where spectacle is rewarded over substance nine times out of ten, that steadfastness—calm, uncompromising—is the kind of influence that fuels longevity.

The post 21 Savage Is The Most Honest Rapper In Drake’s Corner appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As for Remy, she had been tied to battle rapper Eazy The Block Captain. That rumor had been peddled a little bit longer. Both did decline their infidelity, but most folks had a hard time believing that. It was an extremely messy scandal that played out for everyone to see online.

Since that nasty end to their 2024s, things still were tense between them and Claressa Shields. That particularly pertains to the latter and Remy.

Around the time of Papoose filing for divorce in late July, Remy sounded off on his new boo and asked to “refrain from speaking.”

Claressa wasn’t going for it though. “Imma say what the f**K I want to say! Yes we gonna have a family! Yes we’re happy and yes you still invited to the barbecues and cookout long as you have a good attitude!”

Read More: Sean “Diddy” Combs & Jennifer Lopez’s Relationship Timeline

Are Papoose & Claressa Shields Engaged?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

She continued, “Leave me and Pap alone nobody worried about you! July 26 is OUR only focus. And ain’t nobody scared of you EITHER! Sign them divorce papers Pap filed yesterday Miss.”

However, it appears that things are okay between all three of them. Papoose and Claressa stopped by The Breakfast Club where they cleared the air on where everyone stands and on the validity of the cheating rumors.

Once again Papoose stands firm that him nor Remy were cheating on one another even during rough points in their relationship.

Moreover, he and Claressa both wish Remy “the best” as she continues her relationship with Eazy The Block Captain. Folks in The Shade Room‘s comments did have issues with Shields adding her thoughts on the whole ordeal, especially their divorce.

Replies like, “No one asked you Clarissa tf,” are plentiful on their post.

While fans don’t have the best things to say about her, the Internet sure was ablaze after a recent video went viral. In it, Shields sports a massive piece of jewelry on her left ring finger. In the clip she says, “Engaged.” As a result many thought Papoose had proposed. But according to her it was an old video.

“Y’all are the slowest mfs ever in the comments [three laughing emojis] digging up old videos. My last relationship I was engaged! PAPOOSE hasn’t proposed YET!”

Read More: Trippie Redd Post Raises Eyebrows After Coi Leray’s Bahamas Date Goes Viral

The post Papoose Sets The Record Straight On Remy Ma Cheating Rumors appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“F**k the streets @21savage,” he wrote. This follows 21 Savage asking Young Thug to forgive Gunna, which caused a lot of debate online. “@gunna @youngthug Yall n***as fix that s**t,” 21 wrote. “yall love each other n***a you knew gunna wasn’t no gangster when he told the first time and we swept it under the rug for you you know he wasn’t tryna leave you to hang n***a f**k the streets we ain’t get s**t but trauma from that s**t.”

As such, it seems like Thugger agrees. He had responded to the Slaughter Gang CEO by expressing his love for him and saying that he’s always been by his side. Still, no updates have emerged at press time suggested that Thug is either going to forgive Wunna or already reached out. Also, there are many others whom he called out that are feeling similarly dismissed, and that’s on top of the many spectators who are criticizing their efforts to move on.

Read More: Young Thug Seemingly Shades Gunna For “Acting Like The Victim”

21 Savage’s Squashed Future Beef

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

That’s because of Young Thug and 21 Savage’s perceived hypocrisy on behalf of fans concerning snitching allegations, hip-hop industry loyalties, and street-based authenticity. Folks who are going against their narrative claim that they are just switching up once more and avoiding accountability. But others who support their narrative defended their efforts to take a higher ground, leave street debacles aside, and strive for more unity.

However, in order to fully do that, Young Thug and Gunna would have to reconcile. So until absolutely everyone gets on the same page, folks will still push back. And even then, a full-on hatchet burial would still probably draw a lot of criticism.

Elsewhere, though, 21 Savage is squashing beefs of his own. He recently had a brief Twitter spat with Future that they both quickly apologized for, hopping on FaceTime to hash it out. We’ll see what these artists’ next steps are to “fix” Atlanta hip-hop, if you subscribe to that necessity.

Read More: Ice Spice Under Fire For Sporting See-Through Dress At “SpongeBob Movie” Screening

The post Young Thug Proclaims “F**k The Streets” In Response To 21 Savage appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Now, we have to come find out that he just put one together between Offset and Quavo. DJ Akademiks caught wind of the linkup thanks to 21’s Instagram Story screenshot of the call. Overall, it’s got a lot of fans, especially of Migos thrilled to see them conversing face to face.

“Streets need a quavo and offset album,” one fan writes in Ak’s comments section. Part of that response comes from 21’s caption over the image. “Album otw @quavohuncho @1princeink.” The latter is a fellow ATL rapper who’s also on the FaceTime.

Other fans are just happy to see them choosing love over violence. “I’m not mad at it… I pray that all of our black men learn how to make amends too many of them dying, we need yall.”

Read More: 21 Savage “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?” Review

Do Offset & Quavo Have Beef?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

Since Takeoff’s death in November 2022, there were some reports that things got tense between Quavo and Offset. It was even rumored that they were at odds over ‘Set dating Saweetie, a past fling of Quavo’s. But even with that, it’s never been outright confirmed that they didn’t mess with one another anymore.

In fact, earlier this year, Offset said that his ex-collaborator talk often. In August he told 7pm in Brooklyn, “Me and Quavo talk every other week. It be the Internet trying to do some old sh*t, but with us, it ain’t about that. Like, we holla at each other. That’s family at the end of the day, man. You’re gonna bump heads with your family sometime. End of the day, a n**** ain’t finna play with him, or a n**** ain’t finna play with me and he gon’ play about it.”

But though this is the case, 21 Savage wants to see them get back in the booth like so many of us do.

“@QuavoStuntin @offset yall n****s tell the world I put yall on group text and told yall squash it before it even got far… n**** if yall was still together yall would be unstoppable.”

Read More: Tory Lanez Breaks Silence In First On-Camera Interview With NBC: “I Believe I Was Wrongfully Convicted”

The post Offset & Quavo Excite Fans After Hopping On FaceTime Call With 21 Savage appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

What’s more is that this follows news of Charlamagne Tha God and The Breakfast Club streaming on Netflix next year. Apparently, there are a lot of big things on the way.

“When I was looking at doing my new deal with iHeartMedia, I was like, ‘I don’t want to just be talent. I want to create this podcast network, I want to create the BET for podcasting…’ I want to create 100 versions of me,” Charlamagne reportedly expressed.

“People really do understand the business of podcasting now,” he added. “You could look at somebody’s audio downloads and know what they should be being paid. […] I tell a lot of the new podcasters, either get a very low minimum guarantee or get no minimum guarantee. I’ve seen people make more money just off advertising. […] I didn’t just get here, I took the stairs. I want (people) to think about the journey of how I got here. Me becoming the best version of myself, investing in my mental wealth in a real way. That’s what you’re seeing now.”

Read More: Charlamagne Tha God Predicts A Sweeping Federal Investigation Will Occur Following Spotify Bot Lawsuit

Charlamagne Tha God’s New Deal

Following the Black Effect podcast network’s massive success over 60-plus shows, Tha God wants to add even more. It’s been a big part of iHeartMedia’s podcast income, which almost doubled from 2021 to 2024. But that’s not the only goal, as he plans to produce much more programming, pursue other business ventures like the restaurant industry, and partner with other media companies.

Charlamagne Tha God’s podcast-driven discussions will surely add a lot of context to this new move, and there are always critics punching down. But amid many other hip-hop media shake-ups as of late, this new deal with iHeartMedia heartened folks looking for sustainable media presences.

We will see how all of this pans out for Charlamagne. If history tells us anything, it will be a successfully smooth ride.

Read More: Tory Lanez Breaks Silence In First On-Camera Interview With NBC: “I Believe I Was Wrongfully Convicted”

The post Charlamagne Tha God Reportedly Signs Massive $200M Deal With iHeartMedia appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to The Shade Room, she revealed her pregnancy in late November of this year and announced Klever’s premature birth just a few days later. This is Deja’nee’s fourth child following her three sons. Following some photoshoot social media posts on Wednesday (December 17), fans immediately got to speculating about the MASA artist and whether or not he’s the father. Some folks pointed to his earlier romantic history (he reportedly fathered another child with his first child’s mother), the K in Klever’s name, and even an alleged physical resemblance to the little one as possible hints of her parentage. But it seems like these might be false alarms.

Starr Deja’nee took to Twitter to seemingly address the situation. “Why is this debate still going on?” she asked. “Klever is my child. Who cares about all that extra s**t yall trynna figure out.”

As such, it seems like Deja’nee is either denying the rumors that YB is the father or saying that this debate doesn’t matter, even if the rumors are true. So it’s not explicitly clear, but it seems like fans are getting a sign to cool off no matter what they believe.

Read More: NBA YoungBoy Claims His Girl Slept With Ken Carson & Kevin Durant On New Song

How Many Kids Does NBA YoungBoy Have?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room Teens (@theshaderoomteens)

Elsewhere, NBA YoungBoy’s shutting down other romantic rumors. For example, a recent freestyle drew speculation that he romantically involved himself with content creator Nique. Even the Baton Rouge lyricist’s past partners like Yaya Mayweather and Jania Meshell chimed in. But he shut those rumors down, although he left the door open if she even wants to make the rumors true in the future.

For those unaware, NBA YoungBoy’s family is still growing. He’s expecting a child with his wife Jazlyn Mychelle, which will be his 13th child. As such, don’t expect these rumors or discussions to die down anytime soon. After all, each new update gives more context to what preceded them.

Read More: Trippie Redd Post Raises Eyebrows After Coi Leray’s Bahamas Date Goes Viral

The post Mother Of NBA YoungBoy’s Son Clears Up Paternity Rumors Over Newborn appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: December 19, 2025

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

Tracklist for Permanent Tears

1. PERMANENT TEARS
2. DEEPLY EMBEDDED
3. GANG INJUNCTION
4. PAST TENSE

The post Permanent Tears – EP by Mozzy appeared first on HotNewHipHop.