Ben said there were more club records than bars, Akademiks countered this, and Mal revealed why both may be right. Starting with Ak, he commented on DaDonnn’s assessment during a livestream caught by CY Chels on Twitter. It turns out a lot of this, and a lot of Mal’s commentary, supposedly comes from the 6ix God himself.

“I did have a conversation with Drake once I reacted to BenDaDonnn,” Akademiks remarked. “He was just like, ‘What Ben heard wasn’t the final album.’ That was pretty much what he said… I don’t want an album filled with a bunch of bars. Yes, we want bars. But you got these haters like, ‘The only way to come back, he got to rap a million bars on 18 songs, Conductor [Williams] beats…’ F**k out of here, n***a… He basically told me, ‘Nah, it’s not what it’s going to be… Ak, come on, you know me. This is a Drake album.’ That was a good assurance. That’s the only conversation we’ve had about music… Maybe one or two songs got leaked that he might keep. I don’t know.”

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

ICEMAN Countdown

As for Mal, NFR Podcast caught a clip of his New Rory & Mal podcast remarks on Instagram. It seems like the conflicting reports about ICEMAN‘s direction are just a simple reflection of the creative process.

“He had a few rough albums,” Mal said of Drizzy’s changes to the LP. “He thought this was the album, or this was going to be the album, or this song was going to make the album that he completely went away from that and started creating different energy, different sounds. I think a lot of artists, that’s what they do a lot of the time. Well, he is different. But it’s no different in the process of being inspired by a sound this week or next week, and then 40 might play something, and you’re like, ‘Oh, s**t.'”

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Drake recently launched the ICEMAN Countdown website. On it, he shared a full version of the zine he hid in his Toronto ice sculpture along with other creative and interactive elements.

Read More: The Top 50 Best Drake Songs Of All-Time

The post DJ Akademiks & Mal Reveal Drake’s Creative Process Behind “ICEMAN” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by No Jumper on Instagram, Foogiano reposted the following IG Story: “We doing our time and making it back to our [loved] ones without taking another n***a from theirs!!! We not respecting that rat s**t at all!! From the streets, to the state and the feds we standing on business!!! Welcome home cuh @foogiano !!” “[black heart emoji] you even after the grave,” he wrote in addition to the Instagram Story repost.

Many folks speculated over what this message could refer to. Some saw it as a general message against snitching, whereas others theorized it might have something to do with Guwop’s alleged kidnapping and robbery at the hands of Shiesty. The Georgia rapper hasn’t clarified any of this at press time, and we’ll see if that changes soon.

Read More: Did Gucci Mane Snitch? Everything We Know About Pooh Shiesty’s Arrest

What Happened To Pooh Shiesty?

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For those unaware, folks are accusing Gucci Mane of snitching on Pooh Shiesty. The Memphis MC, his father, Big30, and others were recently arrested for allegedly robbing and kidnapping Gucci over Shiesty’s record contract with him.

Many folks in hip-hop believe Guwop may have cooperated with authorities in this matter. This is not only due to court allegations, but also his “Crash Dummy” diss track. Gucci references the alleged altercation on the track, which many saw as proof enough of his reputation and perspective.

All of this is pretty ironic because Gucci Mane kept Foogiano and Pooh Shiesty on 1017 after announcing he would cut the rest of the roster. The ironic decision hits differently now.

We will see if Yano or anyone else here speaks out about the status of the label and these interpersonal dynamics. This snitching message is up for speculative interpretation, as nothing explicitly affirmed it.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post Foogiano Shares Anti-Snitching Post After Showing Support For Pooh Shiesty appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

During a recent livestream caught by CY Chels on Twitter, he spoke with What’s The Dirt about various Drizzy-related topics, including his new album ICEMAN. Ak thinks this will set hip-hop back on a proper course, as he thinks K.Dot wanted to “Watch The Party Die” instead of leading the culture forward after beating the Toronto artist.

“After Kendrick did his thing in the battle and dropped GNX, he basically says ‘Watch The Party Die,’ and nobody acknowledged that was probably the worst ideology to exist,” he remarked. “‘Watch The Party Die’ was actually watching the culture of hip-hop die, watching music that existed in all facets and forms die. You can’t kill something without giving an alternative, and all he wanted to do was kill it.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

When Is Drake Dropping ICEMAN?

“I get it,” Ak acknowledged. “There’s a lot of people saying we rock with people like Kendrick, we rock with some of the woke stuff, the ‘He’s super cultural’ thing, whatever you want to say that’s defined as… What do we do now? ‘I didn’t think that far.’ That’s the problem… They kept d**k-riding, ‘Dot era.’ There’s no Dot era… What’s the next step? […] He don’t give a goddamn f**k, he’s just doing whatever the f**k he wants. He’s left the people in shambles.”

“We’re looking for Drake to give us a bridge to a f***ing time machine to literally three to four years ago, when we felt it was a little nicer,” Akademiks continued. “The f***ing Grinch came through, destroyed Christmas, told us we’re watching the party die. Where is the next iteration of this? […] I understand there’s different perspectives on hip-hop. There’s always going to be a counter. I’m not knocking that. My thing is… There’s no instructions coming. There’s nothing left. If we’re waiting on Kendrick, it’s not going to happen. So the entire music form is waiting to see if Drake can kind of restore the feeling.”

Drake is dropping ICEMAN on May 15. We’ll see if he “restores the feeling,” whatever you think that might mean as a fan or hater.

Read More: The Top 50 Best Drake Songs Of All-Time

The post DJ Akademiks Says Kendrick Lamar Left Hip-Hop Directionless After Drake Beef appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

TMZ reports that these attorneys have been receiving violent, antisemitic, and abundant hate mail in the form of a flurry of emails. The outlet obtained one example, which is reportedly one of many letters the legal team has received so far.

“With the recent shocking news about the crimes D4VD committed on a 12 year old girl, It sickens me that your law firm would pick up this case and defend such a filthy human,” the alleged email reportedly read. “I’m not surprised you are all JEWS! the only race that puts money above all morals and will go to the pits of hell for a dollar. I’m also not surprised your law firm also defended Prince ANDREWS another Hollywood pedo! I pray someday you find your kids slaughtered in the trunk of a car, see how it feels. The world deserves less JEWS and your monsters clients like D4VD and Prince Andrews!”

Read More: D4vd Charged With First-Degree Murder In Celeste Rivas Hernandez Case: Everything We Know

D4vd’s Charges

D4vd pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. These include first-degree murder and unlawful mutilation of human remains. There’s another charge related to prosecutors’ allegations that he had a sexual relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez, which she threatened to expose. This allegedly led the singer to murder her. As such, he also faces a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.

D4vd’s other associates are also causing conversation. His brother recently condemned sexual predators and said they should all die, but he didn’t confirm if the message has anything to do with his brother. An actress from an old music video also spoke out and called the artist a “monster,” and various artists pulled their collaborations with him from streaming services.

It’s a horrifying and complex situation to navigate. But the lawyers, like many others, are just doing their job.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post D4vd’s Defense Lawyers Are Allegedly Receiving Antisemitic Death Threats appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The connection between Will Smith and the Air Jordan 5 runs deep. Throughout the first season of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Will Smith wore the Air Jordan 5 in several colorways without laces. Jordan Brand turned that cultural moment into an intentional design detail years later.

Inspired by the laceless AJ5 model Smith was known for, the construction seals up the lace loops entirely. Furthermore, internal bands lock down the tongue to make up for the lack of laces. The result is a shoe that connects right back to the show.

The Black Metallic colorway holds a particularly special place in Fresh Prince history. There was one shoe Will Smith wore every episode, and that was the Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic“, featured in the show’s opening credits and inaugural episode.

This sample is not expected to release publicly. However, its emergence adds another remarkable chapter to Jordan Brand’s ongoing relationship with 90s TV nostalgia. For collectors and Fresh Prince fans, this is one of the more exciting samples we’ve ever seen.

Read More: Travis Scott Brings Cactus Jack To Soccer Pitch With Nike Phantom 6 Collab

“Fresh Prince” Air Jordan 5 Black Metallic Sample

The Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic” is one of the most culturally loaded colorways in sneaker history. The shoe features a black nubuck upper with silver reflective tongue and shark-tooth midsole accents, creating an instantly recognizable silhouette.

The laceless construction closes off the eyelets entirely, giving the shoe a cleaner, more lifestyle-ready profile. A teal and pink tongue tab references the Fresh Prince branding seen on earlier samples. The tongue includes “West Philadelphia” branding, a direct reference to the opening line of the show’s theme song.

Inside, colorful striped insoles add a playful, show-inspired touch. Nike Air branding sits on the heel, keeping the OG details fully intact throughout.

Read More: Air Jordan 4 “Black Laser” Also Finally Returning After 20 Years

The post Rare “Fresh Prince” Air Jordan 5 Black Metallic Laceless Sample Surfaces appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Via Twitter, he let off a series of tweets mocking Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson’s relationship. The commentator justified the Dallas Maverick cheating, suggested the whole relationship was false and meaningless, and even predicted he’ll have his best season ever next year.

Also, he posted an old clip of him from a few months ago in which he predicted the split. “Good, she’s running up that check, doing her thing, but I’ma keep it a bean with you,” Akademiks had said. “By the time the postseason hits, this gon’ be post-relationship, okay? Trust me, trust me. This s**t really over already.”

As caught by joebuddenclips/fanpage on Twitter, he elaborated on his thoughts during his livestream last night. DJ Akademiks said Meg’s ruined the careers of every man who she’s been with.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

Did Klay Thompson Cheat?

At press time, Klay Thompson doesn’t seem to have responded to his ex girlfriend’s allegations. While many fans are digging up old cheating allegations, previous partners, social media gossip, and much more, they won’t have a clear idea of what’s going on until the parties involved elaborate further. We’ll see how this goes down and if other salacious details emerge about this breakup.

Given DJ Akademiks’ animosity towards Megan Thee Stallion, and vice versa, this celebration and cheating justification is unsurprising from Ak. They have even clashed in court before during the Milagro Gramz case, so it’s not your typical artist/media dynamic.

We will see if Meg or Klay respond to the public discourse about their relationship, as unlikely of a possibility that may sound like. Akademiks and many others are bringing up their old grudges against Megan, whereas others are just sad this high-profile romance wasn’t as strong as they thought. Amid these cheating debates, there will always be two sides to the story.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & Klay Thompson Relationship Timeline

The post DJ Akademiks Applauds Klay Thompson Allegedly Cheating On Megan Thee Stallion appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This manifests as an extension of the lifestyle version previewed at Nike’s TOMA El Juego events. Furthermore, Travis Scott was confirmed wearing the Phantom 6 Indoor boots at the Nike Football TOMA event recently.

Technically, the pair retains the full features of the Phantom 6, including a Tuned Gripknit upper for precise ball control and a Cyclone 360 sole optimized for quick direction changes. So this is a genuine performance boot, not just a lifestyle crossover.

Design details include a vibrant green upper with sparkling gold accents, the “Cactus Jack” wordmark on the medial side, and the brand’s iconic stitched face logo on the heel. Additionally, an iridescent soleplate adds serious visual punch from below.

The Travis Scott x Nike Phantom 6 Low Elite is currently expected to release in Summer 2026. Exact pricing and retail details remain unconfirmed. Expect this to be extremely limited and highly competitive at drop time.

Read More: Blake Griffin Is Finally Giving McLovin His Air Jordan 35 “McLovin” PE

Travis Scott x Nike Phantom 6 Low

The Travis Scott x Nike Phantom 6 Low Elite IC SE is one of the most visually striking football boots in recent memory. The boot features a vibrant green upper, earthy brown accents, and a wild iridescent soleplate.

Yellow laces cut sharply against the dark brown collar, while gold Swoosh branding adds luxury to the overall look. Cactus Jack meets fittingly cactus-like green overtones, with bronze spikes and a brown insole linking back to Scott’s established design vibe.

The heel panel features an iridescent snakeskin texture that shifts color depending on the light. “Cactus Jack” script runs across the side in bold graffiti lettering.

The combination of performance engineering and streetwear identity makes this one of the most interesting football releases tied to the World Cup.

Read More: Air Jordan 4 “Black Laser” Also Finally Returning After 20 Years

The post Travis Scott Brings Cactus Jack To Soccer Pitch With Nike Phantom 6 Collab appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by Livebitez on Instagram, he changed his profile picture to Pooh’s latest mugshot in the Guwop case. This is very interesting because, as far as fans can tell, Yano is still with 1017. Perhaps he doesn’t mean to outwardly diss the 1017 boss with this change, but it’s hard to interpret this otherwise. In any case, the support for Shiesty and his freedom is very clear amid that case’s complicated developments.

We will have to see if any of these artist speak further about this matter online, through representatives, or perhaps in court. Foogiano just wrapped up a five-year bid for allegedly removing his ankle monitor during bond for a gun possession charge as a person with a felony history.

Read More: Did Gucci Mane Snitch? Everything We Know About Pooh Shiesty’s Arrest

Is Pooh Shiesty Still Signed To Gucci Mane?

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Pooh Shiesty and Foogiano are still on Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records at press time. However, this is a bit of a technicality. Shiesty is still technically under 1017, although their alleged contract dispute and legal case regarding the alleged Guwop kidnapping gets in the way of that. As for the latter, he just got out of prison, and thus hasn’t had a chance to follow up on his career yet.

What makes all of this more interesting is how Gucci Mane previously axed his roster, except for Pooh Shiesty and Foogiano. He claimed those would be the only two artists to stay under 1017. Now, that rings as an ironic decision.

Gucci Mane’s no longer cool with Pooh Shiesty, and it seems like Foogiano might not be getting much sympathy either if he sees this profile pic change as a slight. This year, things have been very rough for 1017 Records. But we’ll see if this has another explanation or if things are not what they seem to be in this controversial scandal.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post Gucci Mane’s Artist Foogiano Flips And Declares His Support For Pooh Shiesty appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to Hollywood Unlocked on Instagram, she took to her TikTok page to share a video of her face in a car, which was moments after news of the shooting broke. The Trinidadian superstar captioned the post with a U.S. flag emoji and a prayer hands emoji. Several social media reports purportedly confirmed she was running late and never made it to the event, which was at Washington, D.C.’s Hilton Hotel.

Nicki hasn’t said anything else about this situation at press time, so we’ll see if that changes in the near future. It looks like officials rescheduled the event, so perhaps she will get to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner eventually.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting

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Reportedly, Secret Service agents rushed Donald Trump and his cabinet off stage at the dinner after a suspected gunman fired shots outside the ballroom. The suspect reportedly rushed the lobby’s security checkpoint and fired at security agents, whom later took him into custody. This was the first time Trump attended this event as president.

Authorities have since identified the suspect as a 31-year-old man named Cole Allen. He allegedly had a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he rushed security. Allen faces charges of using a gun during a violent crime and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with more charges reportedly set to follow after his arraignment tomorrow (Monday, April 27).

Elsewhere, Nicki Minaj has other issues to handle. Her former manager recently accused her of discovery abuse in his assault case, whereas her political stances and feuds continue to generate headlines. But throughout it all, the Young Money alum is standing tall against opposition.

After this scary situation, we’ll see what Minaj might have to say.

Read More: Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” Is 10 Years Old & Still Feels Like A Cultural Reset

The post Nicki Minaj Reacts After Narrowly Missing Shooting At White House Dinner appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The “Black Laser” drops alongside its sibling, the “White Laser,” as a full pack. Both are set to release in February 2027, at select retailers and online via SNKRS. Retail pricing has not yet been confirmed for either pair.

The “Black Laser” is considered the more sought-after of the two “Laser” colorways. Furthermore, unlike the “White Laser,” the original “Black Laser” did not come with a shirt and hat but retailed for $25 less at $175.

For collectors, the timing could not be better. Original 2005 pairs are no longer wearable due to midsole degradation. The 2027 retro gives fans a fresh, wearable version of a shoe many never had a chance to own.

The pair is expected to be on the limited side, so securing one will likely require planning well in advance. Additionally, demand for both “Laser” colorways together will create serious competition at retail. This is one of the more exciting early 2027 announcements so far.

Read More: Blake Griffin Is Finally Giving McLovin His Air Jordan 35 “McLovin” PE

Air Jordan 4 “Black Laser”

The Air Jordan 4 “Black Laser” is one of the most visually striking colorways in the entire Jordan 4 catalog. The shoe comes dressed in black leather across the upper, joined by intricate laser print featuring different Air Jordan models throughout.

Varsity Red hits land on the laces, lining, and Jumpman branding, giving the shoe a “Bred”-adjacent energy. Medium grey adorns the heels and part of the midsole, while the eyelets are given a translucent finish. The laser etching itself is incredibly detailed and dense, making the shoe look almost textured from a distance.

On a black base, the engraving reads more subtly than on the white version, giving it a sleeker, more wearable everyday look that collectors have always preferred.

Read More: Jordan Creates Air Jordan 4 “LA” PE For Jordan Brand Classic Athletes

The post Air Jordan 4 “Black Laser” Also Finally Returning After 20 Years appeared first on HotNewHipHop.