A patterned bucket hat and sunglasses rounded out the look. This colorway comes from Kith’s new “Linen” collection with Nike. The set also includes an Air Max 95 done in a similar theme.

Kith designer Ronnie Fieg has called the original “Linen” his favorite sneaker ever. He first brought the colorway back in 2016 for Kith’s Miami store opening. This new version flips the original color scheme around completely.

Pink leather now covers most of the upper instead of tan. Brown leather accents show up on the Swoosh and outsole instead. The collection marks 25 years since the original “Linen” first released in Japan. Kith confirmed the shoes will officially release on July 20th.

Fieg also gifted early pairs to Fat Joe and Jadakiss last month. Those pairs went out around Father’s Day as early previews. LeBron’s version adds another notable name to that early rollout. His appearance gives the shoe extra visibility before its wider release. Fans got an early, real-world look at the design in motion.

Read More: Drake Reportedly Backs Bad Bunny’s Attempt To Reverse Copyright Suit Ruling

LeBron James Kith x Nike Air Force 1 “Linen”

This “Linen” reissue reworks the classic pink and tan color combo. Instead of tan dominating, pink nubuck now covers most of the shoe. Brown leather steps in on the Swoosh and outsole for contrast. That swap flips the traditional layout fans associate with the original release.

Kith branding appears on the tongue tag, insole, and heel area. Those details separate this version from the original 2016 Kith-exclusive pair. The Air Max 95 in this same collection keeps a more traditional brown base instead. Pink accents show up there through the eyelets, Air units, and outsole.

Both shoes come in full family sizing for this release. That’s different from the original 2016 drop, which stayed adult-only. Together, the two shoes make up Kith’s full “Linen” anniversary collection.

Read More: Extremely Rare Air Jordan 4 “Snakeskin” PE Just Resurfaced

The post LeBron Wears Kith’s New “Linen” Air Force 1 At Fanatics Fest appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Thanks to a fresh batch of a whopping 68 new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America, he is now the artist with the most gold or platinum-certified songs in history, according to Rap on Instagram. The previous artist to hold this record was reportedly NBA YoungBoy. These include updated certifications for multi-platinum songs and albums, some first-time platinum records, and a few fresh Gold plaques.

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You can check out the full list caught by Bars on IG below, the highest certification of which is “Heartless” going 14 times platinum. Albums-wise, Graduation is now eight times platinum, The College Dropout is six times platinum, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is five times platinum, 808s & Heartbreak is four times platinum… The list goes on.

First-time platinum records include “Spaceship,” “Saint Pablo,” Jesus Is King, “Dark Fantasy,” “Hey Mama,” “New Slaves,” and “Only One.” New gold tracks include “Send It Up,” “Say You Will,” “Roses,” “No Child Left Behind,” “Frank’s Track,” and “Two Words.”

Read More: JAŸ-Z Isn’t The Hypocrite You Think He Is

Kanye West’s Next Concerts

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This historic achievement is something Kanye West will celebrate on the road by bringing these hits to life internationally. Ye’s next show is in Spain on July 30, followed by Portugal on August 7, Kazakhstan on August 14, New Orleans on August 28, and Chicago on September 3 and 4. All these announcements have been pretty sudden and individual for each show. So there could be many more concerts and performances to come.

Other MCs got massive RIAA updates this weekend. Amid the success of The Real Me, Future got his own heap of certifications; 53 of them, to be exact.

While commercial metrics certainly aren’t everything in hip-hop, Ye and other legends already proved their staying power culturally and artistically. So to see their efforts yield big-buck results is more of an inevitability than anything else.

Read More: Is Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Bad For Hip-Hop?

The post Kanye West Becomes Artist With The Most Songs Certified Gold Or Platinum appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

For those unaware, this lawsuit against the Puerto Rican icon and many other artists (Daddy Yankee, Karol G, and more among them) claimed the dembow rhythm essential to the reggaetón genre use elements of the Jamaican reggae duo’s tracks “Fish Market,” “Dem Bow,” and “Pounder (Dub Mix II)” without proper compensation or credit. The filing, which originally surfaced in 2021, could result in a seismic shift in sound and music copyright law.

A federal judge ruled a jury must decide whether or not this copyright suit is valid. That decision is one Bad Bunny wants to overturn. His lawyer Kenneth Freundlich reportedly argued there is no single song that uses all of the elements of any of Steely and Clevie’s tracks.

“I think there’s no single work that contains all of the ‘Fish Market’ elements,” he reportedly wrote. “So how do you reconcile that with the notion that we need to have a coherent pattern? It seems to be problematic.” Freundlich called the plaintiff’s attempts a “Frankenstein” across the three tracks. He argued they are unrightfully obfuscating the actual music in question and misrepresenting the general dembow rhythm.

Read More: JAŸ-Z Isn’t The Hypocrite You Think He Is

Bad Bunny & Drake Collabs

If the motion to overturn is unsuccessful and the ruling stands, Benito and his team want to appeal immediately. This would be to provide more time for the proceedings amid a heavily daunting task of comparing and analyzing over a thousand musical works.

Per Complex, other court filings feature support from various artists. This includes Drake, as well as Myke Towers, Wisin, Yandel, De La Ghetto, and various other Latin American artists.

Steely and Clevie’s attorney Stephen Doniger reportedly provided a statement to Billboard. “[It’s] disappointing that defendants continue to push their false narrative… Defendants offer nothing new and no basis for reconsideration. We hope the court will quickly deny this motion.”

Bad Bunny has other copyright cases to handle, although those concern him rather than many artists and recordings. Given his collaborative history with Drake, this reported support should come as no surprise. They released “MIA” in 2018 off Benito’s X100PRE, the “Loyal” remix with PARTYNEXTDOOR in 2020, and “Gently” in 2023 from Drizzy’s For All The Dogs.

Read More: Is Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Bad For Hip-Hop?

The post Drake Reportedly Backs Bad Bunny’s Attempt To Reverse Copyright Suit Ruling appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

It first appeared publicly earlier in 2026 through NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick. Reddick offered fans their first real look at the shoe. Early reports suggest this pair connects to Jordan Brand’s racing team. The full list of those who received a pair has never been officially confirmed, though.

Anaconda-style texture covers most of the upper in olive and black. That reptile print stretches across nearly the entire shoe’s surface. Solid black fills in the laces, netting, and support wings instead. That contrast helps balance out the busy snakeskin pattern overall.

Gold Jumpman branding appears on the heel tabs of both shoes. A tan midsole and outsole round out the earthy color scheme. Rumors suggest only about 25 pairs were ever produced. That number hasn’t been officially confirmed by Jordan Brand yet.

Further, it remains one of the rarest Air Jordan 4 exclusives. Friends and Family releases like this rarely make it to retail. That exclusivity is part of what keeps sneaker fans interested. This pair likely won’t see a public release anytime soon.

For now, these detailed photos give collectors their closest look yet. It joins a growing list of hard-to-find Jordan Brand exclusives.

Read More: Future Scores Heap Of New RIAA Certifications Amid “The Real Me’s” Success

Air Jordan 4 “Snakeskin” F&F PE

This “Snakeskin” PE builds on a design first introduced back in 2016. That original release used a subtler snakeskin panel along the heel and midfoot. This newer Family PE goes much further with a full snakeskin upper.

The anaconda covers nearly every visible panel on the shoe. Black overlays step in around the laces, wings, and support structure. That combination keeps the busy texture from overwhelming the shoe’s overall silhouette.

Gold hardware adds a small premium touch to the heel area. A tan sole unit ties the earthy colorway together from top to bottom. Because this shoe ties to Jordan Brand’s racing circle, availability stays extremely limited.

Read More: Nike’s Newest Air Force 1 “Shoe Dog” Honors Phil Knight

The post Extremely Rare Air Jordan 4 “Snakeskin” PE Just Resurfaced appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

A lot of these certifications are for the Atlanta icon’s biggest hits, which have already gone platinum multiple times. These include “Life Is Good” with Drake, “Mask Off,” “Low Life” with The Weeknd, and “WAIT FOR U” with Drizzy and Tems. All of these are in the double-digit platinum numbers.

Elsewhere, some of his multi-platinum hits include “Like That” with Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, “Stick Talk,” “PUFFIN ON ZOOTIEZ,” “The Percocet & Stripper Joint,” “Honest,” and “Thought It Was A Drought.” As for first-time platinum records, we have classics like “Codeine Crazy,” “Throw Away,” “News Or Something,” and “Perkys Calling” that already feel platinum by cultural standards alone, along with newer cuts like various Metro collabs from their WE DON’T TRUST YOU album.

Read More: Future’s Not Quite Done Being Our Toxic King

Future’s The Real Me Sales

This is all due cause for celebration, and it’s great to see this amazing catalog of hits get some RIAA recognition. But what about the most recent entry in the albums catalog. If first week sales projections are accurate, Future’s The Real Me will be another win.

Previous reports suggested the new LP would move 135K units in its first week. The most recent update, caught by Kurrco on Instagram, suggests that number will be closer to 131K. It’s a small dip and an overall downgrade from previous first week sales numbers, although it will likely best the last full-length, MIXTAPE PLUTO. In any case, even if comparison is the thief of joy, these numbers show he still commands a lot of attention and engagement.

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Future is also dealing with beef these days, but that won’t distract him from celebrating his achievements. Depending on how The Real Me ages, various highlights could land on this RIAA list one day.

Read More: Is Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Bad For Hip-Hop?

The post Future Scores Heap Of New RIAA Certifications Amid “The Real Me’s” Success appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The pair draws inspiration from his green 1963 Plymouth Valiant. Knight once sold Onitsuka Tiger shoes out of that car’s trunk. He traveled to track meets across the Pacific Northwest doing it. That hustle came years before Nike officially existed as a company.

The shoe uses the newer Air Force 1 01 shape instead of the 07. Metallic silver panels wrap the mudguard, eyestays, and heel area. White leather underlays keep the design feeling clean and simple. Olive green shows up on the laces, outsole, and satin lining.

Those green touches directly reference the Valiant’s original paint job. Mirror-like silver Swooshes add a bit of shine to the design. Serif branding on the tongue and heel nods to Nike’s earliest visual style. Small dubraes on the laces are stamped with Knight’s initials.

The shoe first appeared publicly during Paris Fashion Week last month. Nike expects a wider release sometime in Spring or Summer 2027. This tribute follows Nike renaming its headquarters after Knight last October.

That campus is now officially called the Philip H. Knight Campus. Together, these moves mark a broader celebration of Nike’s earliest days. The shoe itself keeps that story simple and material-driven, without loud graphics.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Almost Asked Drake For A Loan To Please Daphne Joy

Phil Knight “Shoe Dog”

The “Shoe Dog” pulls its entire color story from one specific car. Knight’s green Plymouth Valiant becomes the shoe’s main reference point throughout. Metallic silver stands in for the Valiant’s chrome trim and bodywork.

White leather panels keep the base neutral and let materials do the talking. Olive green laces and outsole echo the car’s original paint color closely. A satin lining adds a slightly more premium feel underfoot. Vintage serif lettering on the tongue nods to Nike’s early branding choices. The “PK” detail offer a subtle, personal touch tied directly to Knight.

This release also uses Nike’s revived Air Force 1 construction. That version features a slimmer profile than the more common 2007 build. Altogether, the shoe leans on storytelling through material choices rather than graphics.

Read More: Dame Dash Claims Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium Guests Are Not His Real Friends

The post Nike’s Newest Air Force 1 “Shoe Dog” Honors Phil Knight appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“She said, ‘The private jet to Paris is $200K. You don’t got to spend that on that private jet. Just fly me first-class, we’re good,'” Ak remarked. “‘But, that $200K you saved, just put it towards my shopping spree.’ […] You know how Drake won that $30 million? You think I can ask Drake and be like, ‘Shorty done added a good, smooth $400,000 to the cart. I’m up in Hermes panicking! Yo, Drake! Bail me out!’ Nah, I’m playing…”

“I will say this, and for all women watching, y’all gon’ hate me when I keep saying this,” he continued. “She comes off like a lady, she doesn’t use slang, she is submissive. I know there’s many ways to skin a cat. So for y’all loud chicks, ‘spend that s**t,’ doing a bunch of ratchet ghetto s**t, maybe that works for you… This woman right here, to keep it real, she’s a professional.”

Read More: JAŸ-Z Isn’t The Hypocrite You Think He Is

DJ Akademiks’ Date With Daphne Joy

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DJ Akademiks recently posted footage of his Daphne Joy date, which fans have spent a lot of time debating over and joking about. But they clearly don’t care about the chatter, as they continue to show love to one another and play into the viral discussions.

As for Drake’s $30 million win that Akademiks referenced, that refers to his “max win” on the Stake platform. It’s the biggest prize a user can win for its games, and the clip of him reacting to it says everything you need to know about his excitement.

Maybe one day, the 6ix God will cut a slice for his OVO colleague and his next romantic escapade with Joy. Social media has had a lot of fun with this dynamic, and they are happy to continue sharing. All that’s left to see is if this relationship is for real or fades away.

Read More: Is Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Bad For Hip-Hop?

The post DJ Akademiks Almost Asked Drake For A Loan To Please Daphne Joy appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“It’s ironic. It’s funny that the only people that will hang out with Jay now are his ex-enemies,” he remarked. “Isn’t that weird? But none of his friends. Does that make sense to you? Now, I’m dancing on stage with my enemies, with our nemesis, with our opps, and none of your friends are on stage with you? Except Memphis Bleek? That doesn’t seem odd to you? […] You guys are dumb, man… I’ma keep laughing at y’all.”

Ironically, Dash said rap beef “wasn’t real” and downplayed its effect, going onto criticize Jay-Z’s freestyle.

Of course, there are some “real friends” fans can point to from the Yankee Stadium shows, namely Beyoncé and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter. But what Dame Dash referred to seemed to be more about the folks who have always been in his corner from day one, of which Bleek was the only one.

Still, bringing out Jaz-O, Nas, Joe, Jada, and others despite either previous grievances or not as long of a history together proved to be a compelling move for most fans out there.

Read More: The Entire History Of The Roc-A-Fella x Nike Air Force 1

Dame Dash Trashes Jay-Z

Dame Dash’s other recent disses towards Jay-Z include the claim that he’s nowhere near the same level as Kanye West. That’s another legend selling out stadium shows these days, and Ye actually showed love to Hov recently.

This also follows Dame Dash’s bizarre AI video at Jay-Z’s concert, which featured him getting on stage and then getting arrested by law enforcement for child support payments. Whoever Jay’s “real friends” are these days, Dame will not show up anywhere near that list for seemingly the rest of time.

Read More: JAŸ-Z Isn’t The Hypocrite You Think He Is

The post Dame Dash Claims Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium Guests Are Not His Real Friends appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

At around the 23:50-minute mark of the YouTube video below, Ross and Deon started to talk about these beefs, with the former saying 50 can’t dress and that they are “two different cloths.” But he did say he wants to see everyone win, which led the actor to ask about the Drizzy conflict and why they won’t drop another song again.

For the most part, they just laughed at the prospect. But Rick Ross had other Drake reflections, which were similar to what he told The Joe Budden Podcast. “It was fun, it ain’t nothing to regret at all,” he remarked.

“You know that n***a 50 Cent can’t trust ’em,” Rick remarked. “What you think about that n***a baby mama?” he asked Cole, referring to Daphne Joy. Cole said he met her, and Ross said he did too, which led them to laugh uncontrollably.

Read More: JAŸ-Z Isn’t The Hypocrite You Think He Is

Rick Ross On The Joe Budden Podcast

While some social media interpretations claim this suggests they were both romantically involved with Joy, there’s nothing explicitly confirming this in the clip. But some fans will still run with that, which has already led to a lot of debate.

Rick Ross’ recent Joe Budden Podcast appearance also elaborated on some of this Drake conversation. He said nothing about their dynamic is fake, whether their past friendship or their current conflict.

As for the G-Unit mogul, Ross’ beef with him has lasted a long time, and will probably not end anytime soon. That’s especially the case if they continue to bring up their romantic partners. It’s unclear why Daphne Joy came up or if this was a dig at OVO fan DJ Akademiks considering the context of the moment. But in any case, these feuds continue to spiral out whether the artists can control them or not.

Read More: Is Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Bad For Hip-Hop?

The post Rick Ross & Deon Cole Laugh At 50 Cent, Daphne Joy & Rozay’s Drake Beef appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: July 17, 2026

Genre: R&B

Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics from Ballerina Tea

Why you giving all my close friends hugs?
Drinking all my bottles and s**t,
Treat me good every time I’m in the club,
How I’d feel, f***ing with my models and s**t 

The post Ballerina Tea – Song by LAWSON feat. Ty Dolla $ign appeared first on HotNewHipHop.