For now, the title and the pairing are enough to put the track on listeners’ radar. Meek and Herbo have both built careers in their respective careers, and their previous collaboration gives this reunion some history.

Release Date: October 16, 2026
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics

Yeah, I got caught up
Never leave your n**gas, that’s the way that I was brought up
Finger on the trigger, a n**ga play, he gettin’ tore up
Then he can’t take the pain, he gotta pour up
Got n**gas askin’ what I did for n**gas, I’m tryna figure what they bought us

The post Wanna Be Free – Song by Meek Mill & G Herbo appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kardashian was sitting next to her when she joined in on the conversation. She pointed out North’s black grills and piercings as reasons that may have prompted some of the comments. North then questioned why people connect her fashion choices with something demonic. Over the years, North West has been seen experimenting with a more individual look. Including her blue hair, dark clothing, and bold accessories. She was direct about wanting room to express herself without strangers turning her appearance into a judgment about her character.

The comments also connect to a broader conversation around North’s public image. She is building a music career while growing up in one of the most visible families in entertainment. HNHH covered her debut EP, N0rth4evr, earlier this year, as well as a previous moment when she affirmed her love for Jesus despite criticism of her aesthetic. She’s in the spotlight now more than ever.

Read More: North West’s Solo Instagram Account Disappears Weeks After Debut

North West Says Not To Judge A Book By Its Cover

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North’s message is simple: her bold look shouldn’t be treated as proof of her beliefs. During the livestream, she did not suggest she plans to change her style to make online commenters more comfortable. Instead, she pushed back and her mother clearly supported her decisions.

As North continues to explore music, fashion, and her identity in public, reactions to her choices are likely to keep coming. This time, she answered them herself. Her point was not that everyone needs to like her look. It was that people should not mistake self-expression for something it is not.

Read More: Kim Kardashian Admits She Still Loves Kanye’s Yeezy Boots

The post North West Pushes Back At Critics Calling Her Style “Demonic” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I love meek but he does make these random unwarranted statements,” one person commented.

“He already sold out both before. But I know it’s easier for yall to hate,” another fan defended.

The venues make the statement especially attention-grabbing. Madison Square Garden sits in Manhattan, while Barclays Center is in Brooklyn, and both are major stops for artists in New York. Meek’s not saying he could sell out overnight. He is saying that, with a month and a half to build anticipation, he believes he could bring in the crowd.

It is also the kind of claim that invites a broader conversation about how artists measure their current popularity. A packed arena can depend on more than name recognition. Tour timing, ticket prices, marketing, new music, guest appearances, and local audience interest can all shape demand.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Offers A Harsh Reality Check To Meek Mill

Meek Mill Offers His Perspective

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The statement comes after a stretch of headlines focused on Meek’s social media back-and-forth with DJ Akademiks. HNHH recently covered Akademiks’ critiquing Meek and his booking rate. Akademiks started the convo by alleging that he has insider information about what Meek’s rate is to perform a show. He claims that there aren’t any festivals willing to make Meek a headliner because he’s allegedly asking for $300K to do festivals like Rolling Loud.

Whether Meek follows through with an arena announcement remains to be seen. However, he’s confident in himself and in the age of social media, anything can happen. Popularity for musicians can fluctuate even throughout a year. So it remains to be seen whether Meek Mill is on a mission to prove himself.

Read More: This Isn’t The First Time OutKast Sued Over A Name

The post Meek Mill Says He Could Sell Out Madison Square Garden And The Barclays appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Combs’ legal team reportedly compared Howard to a restaurant offering choices on and off the menu. The filing also alleges that Howard returned to the encounters for sex and money. In addition, the court documents call him an “enabler and exploiter.”

“Howard is a prostitute,” the court documents detailed. “He is paid for sex for a living. To perform his job, he sheds his clothes and personal effects to engage in an array of sexual acts. Including vaginal and oral copulation. That is his professional pursuit, selling his body for cash to assist his curated clientele to achieve whatever sexual desire, fantasy or fetish is demanded.”

Howard’s complaint disagrees. He argues that agreeing to paid sexual encounters did not mean consenting to every act or circumstance that allegedly followed. He claims Combs and others used drugs, misrepresentations, and physical restraint to keep him participating. One allegation concerns a 2016 trip to Miami. Howard says his clothes, identification, and phone were taken. And that he witnessed Combs assault Cassie Ventura before being ordered into another room, where he says he was kept for about 12 hours. Combs’ filing disputes the legal basis for those claims.

Read More: Quavo’s Days As A Pop Star Are Over

Combs Is Trying To Fight Back

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Moreover, a jury acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but convicted him on two counts of transportation for prostitution. In July, a judge allowed several of Howard’s civil claims against Combs to proceed. Meanwhile, dismissing claims against Ventura with leave to amend. Combs’ lawyers now argue that Howard’s revised complaint still does not connect the alleged coercion to sexual acts he would not otherwise have agreed to.

The judge is scheduled to hear arguments on the dismissal requests October 21. The upcoming hearing will focus on the legal dispute over consent: Combs’ team says Howard had the ability to refuse, while Howard maintains that agreeing to paid sex did not mean giving up control over everything that happened. Until the judge rules, both sides’ positions remain contested.

Read More: Bureau Of Prisons Claims Diddy Never Fought Drug Lord, TMZ Responds

The post Diddy Continues To Refute Clayton Howard’s Allegations, Wants Lawsuit Tossed appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Sizing and pricing are simple. Grade school pairs cost $155, preschool pairs cost $95, and toddler pairs cost $80.

Overall, the look is easy to read. Red leather covers most of the upper, with deeper red on the toe and heel. White shows up on the tongue and eyestays, and a red Jumpman sits on the tongue.

At the back, the black heel panel carries a small gold Jumpman and the word AIR. It is a clean finish for a holiday pair. The inside is where things get playful. A shaggy black lining wraps the ankle opening, which is rare for an Air Jordan 3. Overall it makes the shoe feel cozy.

The insoles carry the best story. Their artwork comes from a Nike holiday ad in 1985. The ad pictured Santa dropping down a chimney in Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” sneakers.

Adults get a different option as the Air Jordan 3 “Not Nice” arrives on the same day. Together, the two pairs tell one holiday story. That is a smart way to split the release.

Read More: Jordan Brand Turns Air Jordan 11 Into A “Space Jam” Baseball Cleat

Air Jordan 3 “Santa”

The 1985 ad is a nice piece of Jordan history. It came out when the Air Jordan 1 was brand new, and the line was just getting started.

Using it on an Air Jordan 3 is a little unexpected. Many fans would have liked to see the Air Jordan 1 used as the canvas. Still, the Air Jordan 3 is a great holiday shoe.

The red leather and white details give it a clean look, even with the holiday theme. The fuzzy lining stays on the inside, so it does not overwhelm the design.

Kids pairs like this are popular gifts, and the timing is smart. November 21st lands before Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

The “Not Nice” pair is the adult option. It has a dark, worn-looking upper with red elephant print, plus a stitched “Not Nice” label under the heel tab. It is a very different take on the same story.

Read More: Nas Blasts Trend-Chasing In Music And Calls For Unity

The post Air Jordan 3 “Santa” Hides A 1985 Christmas Ad Inside appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The price is $200, and the style code is JA7792-400. It will be available in men’s sizing through Nike and select retailers.

This is not a normal Air Jordan 11. It is a baseball cleat built on the classic silhouette. Jordan Brand has already reworked the model for the diamond in recent years.

The design uses a purple, color-shifting finish. It matches the look of the “Magic Ball” Air Jordan 11, a women’s pair arriving on November 11th. Black accents show up throughout the cleat.

Overall, it is a very clean way to turn a famous shoe into a piece of baseball gear. The glossy look still keeps the spirit of the original patent leather.

There is also a great story behind the idea. Michael Jordan spent time with the Birmingham Barons, a Minor League baseball team, and the 1996 film includes that baseball connection. Baseball fans and sneakerheads alike will want to take note of the date. Some outlets list the price as $225, so that detail may still change.

Read More: Nas Blasts Trend-Chasing In Music And Calls For Unity

Air Jordan 11 MCS Cleat “Space Jam”

The cleat is part of a very large Space Jam collection. Jordan Brand is celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary with sneakers, apparel, and more.

Most of the collection arrives on November 5th. That includes Air Jordan 1 Low and Mid pairs, a Spizike Low, a Son of Mars Low, and a spiked Air Jordan 1 Low Golf.

The headline pairs still come later. The Air Jordan 11 “Magic Ball” arrives November 11th, followed by the “Green Screen” and the original “Space Jam” 11 on December 12th.

Jordan Brand has leaned into baseball for years. Cleats like this give fans a different way to wear a favorite design. They also give players on the field a rare chance to wear a Space Jam piece.

Read More: GOP Senator Dragged Over AI Halftime “Not Like Us” Campaign Video

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In a lengthy Instagram post, Nas traced that concern back well beyond Hip Hop, writing about a musical lineage stretching from the Mississippi Delta through New Orleans to New York. He specifically invoked blues pioneer Robert Johnson, whose enormous influence has long existed alongside uncertainty over where he was actually buried.

“I think about Robert Johnson at the crossroads, how he changed music, and how we can’t even find his grave,” Nas wrote. Mississippi tourism officials recognize three possible burial sites for Johnson, with the Mississippi Blues Trail identifying the cemetery near Little Zion M.B. Church as the most likely location. Nas then brought the point into the modern industry.

Read More: JAŸ-Z Brings Out Nas And Blue Ivy Carter During New York Show

“Sometimes I look at all artists, creators and executives the same way,” he continued. “The music game forgets or doesn’t compensate the foundation. Our greats have been stolen from and ripped off of.” His message was not limited to older artists getting their flowers too late. Nas also took aim at an industry increasingly organized around whatever is moving fastest online, arguing that music cannot simply become raw material for the next trend.

“We can’t keep creating music for the sake of a ‘trend,’” he wrote. “We have to remember the purpose and our contribution and how many things we created. Where’s the love for each other at… We gotta take a stand as one. It’s time for a celebration of the music.” The post ended with an even more pointed declaration. “No Knowledge of self is certain death! It’s time to address it.”

Read More: JÄY-Z Says His Nas Beef Wasn’t Personal

Nas Has Already Been Putting Money Behind That Argument

The sentiment isn’t far from the work Nas has already been doing outside the studio. He serves on the advisory board of the Paid in Full Foundation, an organization created to recognize Hip Hop pioneers who helped build the culture without receiving financial rewards proportional to their influence.

Its annual Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards return to Las Vegas on Oct. 24, with Kurtis Blow and The D.O.C. among this year’s honorees. Nile Rodgers will receive the Quincy Jones Achievement Award, while Ralph McDaniels is being recognized for his contributions to the culture. The foundation says proceeds from the event support its work providing financial assistance to artists.

There may also be more coming. Nas said outright that he has been working on music, and the post included the phrase “BLAK MUSIC 2026,” though he did not explain whether that refers to a project or something broader. Whatever he is preparing, he seems to be placing the conversation about ownership and memory right alongside the music instead of treating it as an afterthought.

Read More: Nas & Mayor Mamdani Want New York Back At The Center Of Hip Hop

The post Nas Blasts Trend-Chasing In Music And Calls For Unity appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs gets an especially specific AI makeover. The former WWE star appears in his old Kane gear while dancing behind Blackburn, who captioned the post, “Tomorrow. Ready to roll.” She later explained that a county commissioner made the clip, Burchett reposted it, and her team shared it as well.

“You know, there is a county commissioner that made the video and put it up, and I think Congressman Burchett reposted it, we reposted it, and it’s a funsie,” Blackburn told WZTV. “Everybody get out and vote!” Yet, the internet was less charmed. Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger mocked the video on X, while Blackburn’s Democratic opponent in the Tennessee governor’s race, Jerri Green, used it to make her own point about political AI. “When I say please stop using AI to support our campaign, this is what I mean,” Green wrote.

Read More: Drake’s YouTube Channel Uploads “Not Like Us” During Apparent Hack

Blackburn Has A Complicated History With Rap And AI

Choosing Kendrick invited an old congressional hearing roaring back into the conversation. In 2007, Blackburn testified at a House hearing on stereotypes and degrading imagery in entertainment, where Master P and David Banner spoke about Hip Hop. Blackburn was openly critical of the rappers’ work, saying some of the lyrics were obscene and asking, “Where and how did society fail you to the point where you choose to write such filth?”

Nearly two decades later, “Not Like Us” was apparently fair game for an AI campaign gag. Moreover, there is another wrinkle. Blackburn has spent considerable time in Washington arguing that artists need stronger protections from unauthorized AI replicas. She co-sponsored the bipartisan NO FAKES Act, legislation designed to give people greater control over AI-generated versions of their voices and visual likenesses.

“AI should empower innovation, not give scammers and online predators a free pass to exploit someone’s voice and visual likeness without permission,” Blackburn said in June after the legislation advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The campaign video doesn’t necessarily fall under the same legal concerns the bill targets, and Blackburn said she did not create it herself. Still, critics didn’t have to dig far to spot the irony of watching a senator who once grilled rappers over their lyrics now champion protections for artists’ digital likenesses post an artificial version of herself in Kendrick Lamar’s biggest performance.

Read More: Mal Questions “Not Like Us” Ranking On Complex’s Top 100 LA Rap Songs List

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He continued by acknowledging that Jackson may not want to hear from him at all. Blockstar maintained that Pop Smoke was not personally targeted over a feud and said the February 2020 home invasion was supposed to be about money. “I always say the situation was never supposed to go like that. He’s not my enemy,” he explained. “What happened, what occurred, was not personal.”

Blockstar was 17 when the robbery at the Hollywood Hills home where Pop Smoke was staying turned deadly. He later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery and received a four-year, two-month juvenile sentence. The Los Angeles Times reported that he admitted entering the property intending to rob the Brooklyn rapper. Another juvenile defendant later admitted to shooting Pop Smoke.

Read More: Pop Smoke’s Alleged Killer Thinks He Deserved A More Severe Sentence

Blockstar’s Earlier Comments Drew A Very Different Response

The apology lands differently because Blockstar sounded far less remorseful after leaving juvenile custody in 2024. During a No Jumper interview that summer, he repeatedly said he was not sorry for his involvement, even while acknowledging that Pop Smoke should not have died.

“I’m not sorry about nothing,” he said at the time. “It should’ve never happened, but I ain’t sorry.” The comments quickly drew criticism, but Jackson made clear she had little interest in consuming interviews from someone connected to her son’s death. Speaking with Hot 97 later that month, Jackson said she had deliberately avoided watching Blockstar’s interviews and only heard about his remarks when other people brought them to her attention. She admitted that hearing he had been disrespectful affected her, but said holding onto that anger would only hurt her.

“I gotta let that go because that’ll eat me up,” Jackson said. She already decided two years ago that whatever he chose to say next did not need to become part of her world.

Read More: Pop Smoke’s Alleged Killer Claims He Isn’t Sorry

The post Man Convicted In Pop Smoke Case Wants To Apologize To His Mom appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Video from the night shows Usher watching performers at Speakeasy Magick, an intimate show built around sleight of hand and audience interaction. According to TMZ, Kevin Hart was among the guests visibly stunned by a card trick, while Usher seemed more than happy to let somebody else handle the theatrics.

The guest list was nearly as entertaining as the show. Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Fabolous and Bun B were all spotted at the celebration, turning the birthday gathering into something close to an industry reunion with a magic act running through it. LeBron James and J.R. Smith were also in attendance.

Speakeasy Magick trades the giant stage for something more personal. Performers move through the room and work directly in front of guests, making the appeal less about spectacle from a distance and more about watching somebody pull off something impossible inches away. The production currently runs out of The Overlook Bar in Manhattan.

Read More: Chris Brown & Usher Cancel Tour Dates Amid Brown’s Next London Court Date

Usher Took A Birthday Break From The Stage

The celebration landed in the middle of another busy stretch for the singer. He is currently on The R&B Tour with Chris Brown, a stadium run that has kept both artists moving through the second half of the year. They recently announced a bit of a break so that everyone can take a rest before jumping back on the road.

After decades of building a career on knowing exactly when an audience is looking, Usher seemed genuinely amused by performers using those same instincts against him. For one night, he didn’t need the entrance, the choreography, or the reveal. He just got to watch the trick.

Read More: Kanye West Surprises Fans At Chris Brown & Usher’s Los Angeles Show

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