But now that the final product is ready for consumption, one thing is clear: A$AP Rocky has not lost his ear for production. In fact, Don’t Be Dumb shows a blend of influences stacked together more cohesively than ever, despite how far apart those worlds may be. Compared to Testing, this album moves with a sense of unity that underscores Rocky’s importance, not just as a rapper, but as a curator who knows how to pull the best from his collaborators. And with Rocky’s fingerprints all over the production credits, the nearly decade-long wait for Don’t Be Dumb begins to make sense. More importantly, he reconnects with old friends who helped refine the sound he originally came into the game with.

With that said, Don’t Be Dumb stands out on a production level, and below are five of the best beats on the album—ranked in no particular order.

Read More: A$AP Rocky Hits “SNL” Stage Amid Big Streaming Success For “Don’t Be Dumb”

Robbery Ft. Doechii (Produced By Loukeman)

Loukeman’s fingerprints are all over Don’t Be Dumb, but the jazzy inflections of “Robbery” stand out as a highlight, largely due to its sample of Thelonious Monk’s “Caravan.” A perfect pairing for both Doechii and A$AP Rocky’s inaugural collaboration, the piano-driven production and plump basslines serve as the glue holding this loungey, Prohibition-era beat together. The percussion especially reinforces the song’s nod to jazz-rap foundations, but it’s the way Rocky and Doechii’s flows remain as riveting as the beat’s shifting direction. There’s an underlying chaos that builds in intensity throughout the track, matching the luxe references to vintage Chanel and Basquiat, the chaotic robbery skit mid-song, and the electric back-and-forth chemistry between two of the flyest in hip-hop. It’s an excellent bridging of generations, extending the ASAP and TDE family streak of standout collaborations.

“Don’t Be Dumb / Trip Baby” (prod. Loukemon & Harry Fraud)

Dreamy, hallucinatory, and the perfect amount of psychedelia, “Don’t Be Dumb / Trip Baby” is the song Rocky fans who’ve been on board since the “Purple Swag” days will appreciate most. Despite reports that he produced the track, Clams Casino has denied involvement, but the essence of what he and Rocky created in the early 2010s still comes alive here. The ethereal vocal sample is hypnotizing, while the jazzy hi-hats and Rocky’s melodic delivery find a particularly effective pocket—continuing his long-running effort to bring that hippie energy into rap. But the production doesn’t stay trapped in a loop. It builds from its initial psychedelia, delivering a quintessential Rocky anthem that expertly flips Clairo’s “Sinking.”

Read More: A$AP Rocky Calls His Upcoming Album “Don’t Be Dumb” The “Dumbest Sh*t In The World”

“Stop Snitching” (Prod. By Hitkidd & Kelvin Krash)

Houston’s played a special role in A$AP Rocky’s catalog, so hearing him connect with Sauce Walka on this particular project felt like a full-circle moment. But it’s the production that truly sets the tone here. Hitkidd and Kelvin Krash take Leroy Hutson’s “Give This Love a Try” and rework it into a sprawling, nocturnal soundscape. The original’s warm, soulful textures are warped into something colder and more ominous, with the sample stretched and drenched in reverb to create a feeling of distance. Brittle percussion snaps through the mix, while deep bass hits give the track a creeping momentum. That spaciousness makes it a perfect canvas for Rocky and Sauce Walka to unleash menacing, threatening bars, as the beat’s eerie calm makes every punchline land harder.

“Stole Ya Flow” (Prod. Kelvin Krash, ICYTWAT, and Danny Elfman)

The most talked-about song on the album, “Stole Ya Flow,” is just as blistering in production as it is in intent. What makes the track hit so hard is the way the beat feels engineered to provoke. The drums are aggressively upfront, with hard, snappy snares and a pounding low end that feels like it’s pushing the whole track forward. The arrangement is stripped of any softness—there’s no room to breathe, which matches the confrontational tone perfectly. Producer pairing here is particularly intriguing, with Kelvin Krash, ICYTWAT, and Danny Elfman reportedly behind the boards. The result is a chaotic, almost cinematic collision of trap energy and lo-fi, with grungy stabs and eerie synth lines weaving through the percussion. 

Read More: A$AP Rocky Speaks On Deterioration Of His Relationship With Drake

“Helicopter” (Prod. by A$AP Rocky, Kelvin Krash, Soufien 3000, and MIKE DEAN)

Perhaps the strongest indication of an A$AP Rocky banger to kick off 2026, the second single off the album brings similar high energy, but with a distinctly experimental edge. The production is built around glitchy synths that swirl and wobble, giving the track a sense of controlled chaos. Those synths don’t just sit in the background—they actively push the rhythm, constantly shifting in texture and pitch. Meanwhile, playful cowbells ring out like a mischievous punctuation mark, keeping the track from ever feeling too serious. The drums hit hard and bright, with crisp kicks and snappy snares that make the track feel like it’s ready for live performance. What makes it stand out among other upbeat records on the album is how the sound design leans into unpredictability, letting the beat feel alive and unstable. That experimental nature is clearly a product of the combined efforts of A$AP Rocky, Kelvin Krash, Soufien 3000, and MIKE DEAN, who help keep the production feeling both polished and wild.

The post Five Best Beats On A$AP Rocky’s “Don’t Be Dumb” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Ariana Grande can attest to that, revealing that her music journey took off after some empowering advice he gave her. In an episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast last week, the pop and R&B singer shared that Mac inspired her to be her real self after a memorable run on Nickelodeon.

She played Cat Valentine on the hit program Victorious alongside Victoria Justice and Leon Thomas. Grande’s air-headed portrayal of the red-haired character was a beloved part of the show. But Mac, as you’ll hear, saw a lot more in her shortly after her TV career ended.

Grande reveals she was struggling to get her musical career off the ground, unsure of what direction to go in for her debut record. “My debut album took some time to figure out, because there was also a strange presence from Nickelodeon in my head at the beginning of, like, what should this project be?”

That’s when Mac stepped in to push her forward. “I’ve never talked about this, but actually Malcolm – who you might know as Mac – encouraged me to be myself, and that it was OK to kind of shed that character and embrace my brown hair and make R&B-influenced pop music and separate and do the brave thing.”

Read More: Finesse2Tymes Goes Off On Young Thug And Threatens Offset

How Long Did Mac Miller & Ariana Grande Date For?

In part, Mac’s belief spawned a terrific debut album for Ariana. The 2013 record, Yours Truly, would debut at number one per USA Today. Of course, the project houses “The Way,” their first collab and the beginning of their journey to a romantic partnership.

Grande also reveals in that interview that she owed it to Miller to include him on the record as a thank you for his wisdom. “That’s also why I was so eager to ask him to be a part of it, not only because he was perfect for the song, but I also felt like I had him to thank for finding my sound.”

Miller and Grande would become one of the couples in the music industry, confirming their relationship in September 2016. They would split in May 2018, and it sadly led to Grande receiving a lot of backlash. Shortly after she announced their breakup, Mac would get into a drunk hit-and-run incident, crashing his car afterwards.

The Pittsburgh native would pass in September 2018 from an accidental overdose. That resulted in the arrest and charges of three men who were found guilty of contributing to his death.

Read More: Quavo Has An Exciting Update On His Next Solo Album

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“I love what he’s doing to Diddy. I love what Fiddy’s doing to Diddy,” she said, as caught by Complex. “Yeah, he’s relentless. He’s great.” She even joked that she should consider getting back together with him.

As for their relationship, Handler argued that she’s 50’s favorite ex. “I’m the only one he doesn’t ever talk sh*t about,” she said. “Apparently… he talks sh*t about all of his exes, and I’m one of the only ones he talks about respectfully. He’s not going to have anything bad to say about me. I’m a dream for him. I was a dream.”

Handler recently referenced 50 Cent while on stage at the Critics’ Choice Awards. “The cast of KPop Demon Hunters is here — not to be confused with Netflix’s other music movie, 50 Cent: Diddy Hunter,” she joked.

50 Cent has been mercilessly targeting Diddy on social media for years. The drama ramped up when the Bad Boy mogul went on trial, last year. That case culminated in Diddy being found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. In turn, he’s currently serving a 50-month prison sentence.

Read More: 50 Cent Laughs Off Ex Chelsea Handler’s Anal Sex Joke About Him

50 Cent’s “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”

In addition to the constant trolling on social media, 50 Cent also executive-produced the Netflix documentary, Sean Combs: The Reckoning. The series examines various allegations that the disgraced music mogul has faced in recent years. Aubrey O’Day, Al B. Sure!, Mark Curry, and more celebrities made appearances.

Diddy’s team denounced the docuseries as a “hit piece” in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter before its release. They also complained about 50’s role in the project, specifically. “50 Cent is a longtime public adversary who has mocked Mr. Combs for decades, posted fabricated accusations, and publicly celebrated his legal challenges,” the statement read.

Read More: 50 Cent Opens Up About Chelsea Handler, Ciara

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But unfortunately, there’s drama for Ari outside of that situation. As she alleges, per The Neighborhood Talk, a journalist from Texas is verbally harassing her. Just like the other debacle, this one is muddy, but maybe even more so.

All we have to go off of is an Instagram Story post from the social media star from a couple of hours ago. In her upload, Ari Fletcher attaches her allegations to Jasmine Lotts, a multimedia journalist who works for KWTX News Ten. The St. Louis, MO native has allegedly been sending “sick evil messages” in Ari’s DMs per her caption.

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She says it’s been making her incredibly emotional, adding, “I can’t stop crying. She is bullying me and harassing me [broken heart sad face emoji].”

Interestingly, when you find Jasmine’s page on Instagram, which Ari also included, her bio’s message says that her account was hacked. It’s unclear as to how long the reporter’s page has purportedly been like this and if it’s a result of her allegedly harassing Ari.

Read More: New Footage Of J. Cole’s Exclusive “The Fall-Off” Vinyl Surfaces

Are Ari Fletcher & Jayda Cheaves Beefing?

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At press time, Jasmine has yet to address these murky claims from the Chicago native. For now, its hearsay until shown otherwise.

But as for Ari’s Jayda Cheaves’ saga, we have learned more as of today. The former appeared to shut down the beauty influencer’s allegations during a TikTok livestream. Someone behind a camera filming Moneybagg Yo’s girlfriend asked her if she was buying Jayda’s supposed truth. To that Ari replied, “What the hell?”

Lil Baby’s ex, and mother of one, said that her and the rapper had slept together had been true for a while, though. Folks were dying to know and she fed their appetite’s with this response. “Them rumors are true, no shade. That’s been going on, has been a thing, but I don’t want to talk about it. Like, literally, let’s not talk about it… It’s not rumors, that sh*t is true.”

As to why this all started, that’s also up for debate. It’s worth mentioning that Ari and Jayda do have a broken friendship, with outlets reporting that they went their separate ways a few years back. So, there’s a possibility Jayda could be starting this to get some revenge. But again, that’s merely speculation.

Read More: Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” Gets A Huge New Update

The post Ari Fletcher Accuses Texas Journalist Of Severe Harassment appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Young Thug and them knew Gunna was the police and still hung with him. I’m sick of you n****s talking about snitches and y’all be right there next to them,” he said. “Y’all be throwing me off with that sh*t. You street n****s, you gangstas, y’all be quick to holler a n***a the police and be sitting right next to the police. Your partner be the police the whole time and you be knowing.”

Read More: Finesse2tymes Blames Moneybagg Yo For His Latest Arrest

Finesse2Tymes’ Other Beefs

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In another video circulating online, Finesse2Tymes addresses Offset and says he wants to fight the Migos rapper. “I been in Atlanta. I’ll whoop Offset, Onset, Out the Set, whoever,” he remarks. “F*ck you talking about, n***a. And guess what, quit trying to set up a fight with me. I ain’t no motherf*cking Triple H. Quit trying to set up a wrestling fight like I’m The Rock. I ain’t Stone Cold Steve Austin… I fight for respect. I don’t fight for money.”

Fans have been having mixed reactions to the antics. “It’s getting boring now.. it’s to much of this everyday,” one user commented when DJ Akademiks posted the Young Thug rant on Instagram. Another added: “I’m so tired of seeing dis dude on my feed.” In response to The Neighborhood Talk sharing the Offset warning, one more countered: “When I don’t see dude on my page I go type his name in just in case I missed sumtin.”

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Young Thug and Offset are far from the only celebrities that Finesse2tymes has been beefing with as of late. He’s also made headlines for going after Moneybagg Yo, his ex, Ari Fletcher, G Herbo, and more.

Read More: Ari Fletcher Fires Back After Finesse2tymes Disses Her Appearance

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As a result, it’s shame that it feels like he’s been the quieter of the remaining Migos alumni. But with us not being too far into the new year, it sounds like he’s ready to make his mark and soon. Per a recent Instagram Story post, Quavo says his next solo album is “done” and that there’s “more announcements coming soon…..”

Huncho also shares that he’s back in Paris or is just leaving the city. That’s an important thing to mention as back in October 2025, he told press there that him and Pharrell Williams had been cooking in the studio.

More specifically, him and the super producer were going to work at the Louis Vuitton headquarters. “It’s on the way, we dropping. Me and Pharrell. Everything we did, everything we recorded, we recorded the whole album in Paris. We recorded at Louis V headquarters,” Quavo said.

Read More: A$AP Rocky’s “Don’t Be Dumb” Has Great First-Week Sales Projections

What Music Has Quavo Dropped Lately?

How much P will be on the project is up for interpretation right now, but at least we can pencil him in as a creative mind for it. Outside of that, we don’t have much else we can speculate on or say is official. But Quavo’s language in this latest update has us thinking we may get a lead single or release date in the coming weeks.

The last time we heard from the 34-year-old in a lead role was on the single “New Trip.” The November release was a collab with Yeat and BNYX. In terms of albums, it’s been a lot longer. His last LP was 2023’s Rocket Power, a tribute to Takeoff and his legacy.

Quavo did have a busy 2025 though in terms of features, though. He had an appearance on Metro Boomin’s hit “Take Me Thru Dere,” one on Ty Dolla $ign’s TYCOON, just to name a couple.

Read More: Don Lemon Fires Back At Nicki Minaj’s Homophobic Rant

The post Quavo Has An Exciting Update On His Next Solo Album appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Cole first announced the physical release when sharing a release date for The Fall-Off, last week. The product is available for purchase for $49.99 USD on his website. The description reads: “This is the first-ever pressing of The Fall-Off. This limited edition was assembled under the strongest security measures possible in hopes to preserve the reveal of album artwork and music until the moment they were intended to be released. Production demanded full scale, around-the-clock security in multiple facilities across North America to provide the best chance of success. With special packaging modifications, we are calling this first pressing the ‘Stealth Edition,’ and it will be the only time the album will be available in this form.”

Read More: J. Cole Announces Exclusive Vinyl Release For “The Fall-Off”

When Is J. Cole Releasing “The Fall-Off”

J. Cole will finally be releasing The Fall-Off on February 6 after years of anticipation. Last Wednesday, he shared a trailer for the project on social media. It features a narrator speaking about longevity in the entertainment industry. Fans have since identified the voice as belonging to YouTuber and comedian Dan Harumi.

“Everything is supposed to go away eventually,” Harumi says as Cole cleans his car. “Especially in show business with famous actors or musicians. It’s like, ‘This guy used to be famous and then he fell off.’ They want to point this, this and this and they made this mistake.”

He continues: “So few people reach that level and yes, of course, it’s not gonna last forever because somebody else has to take that spot and that’s how show business has been forever. But no, they want to say that guy fell off, they want to look down on him for going through the natural cycle of rising and falling.”

After sharing the trailer, Cole dropped his first single from the project, “Disc 2 Track 2.” The title suggests that the project will be a double album.

Read More: Mal Takes A Victory Lap After J. Cole Finally Shares “The Fall-Off” Release Date

The post Footage Of J. Cole’s Exclusive “The Fall-Off” Vinyl Gives New Insight Into The Album appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

You can see one of them below from X user Fendi. He shared on Thursday, January 15, that Flock was the recipient of a brutal attack, 18 stabs to be specific. A fight reportedly occurred at a New York prison facility, with another prisoner bringing out a sword of some kind.

Users like Fendi also said that Kay Flock’s condition was up in the air, leading to some general worry. However, these “reports” were mere rumors all along, according to the MC’s lawyer, Michael T. Ashley. In a statement to XXL caught by Complex, he shared that Flock is doing better than most would probably expect given his situation.

“I am glad to confirm that Mr. Kevin Perez a.k.a. Kay Flock is quite well. We met earlier this week, and I spoke with him moments ago. His spirits remain high and he is resolved to continue to pursue justice in his case. His notice of appeal was recently filed, and various post-conviction remedies are being pursued on his behalf.”

Read More: Jason Luv Trolls Adam22 Ahead Of Fight With Diabolical T-Shirt

How Long Is Kay Flock’s Sentence?

But while it’s relieving news for his fans, Flock remains in the frying pan, so to speak. He’s still facing a brutal prison bid of 30 years and five years of supervision afterwards.

He was found guilty of four charges, with all of them being incredibly serious offenses. Racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, with a firearm discharge offense rounding things out.

These all stem from four shootings from 2020-2021. The judge responsible for the ruling in Flock’s case didn’t hold him responsible for being a gunman. However, due to his strong gang affiliation and role within it, the court was left no choice but to hand down this severe punishment.

As Ashley stated, his client is appealing the decision and asking for a statutory minimum of 10 years or a multi-year, 11-point “punishment plan.” That would include getting his GED, staying off drugs and alcohol, and to use his social media as a vehicle to condemn acts of violence, and more. 

Read More: Yella Beezy Wants His Trial Delayed After His Mother’s Death

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Lemon labeled the insults “disgusting,” adding, “I think Nicki Minaj has made it very clear how she feels about African Americans in this country. I don’t think she’s one of them. Under Trump’s rule, she should be deported. I don’t think, reportedly, she is a legal citizen here. She is undocumented. So, she has shown her disdain for African Americans. Why are you supporting her? Why are you buying her record? I have lots of friends who love Nicki Minaj. Why are you supporting this homophobic, bigoted, ignorant woman? You should not be supporting her. Nicki Minaj is clearly out of her depth. She doesn’t understand politics. She doesn’t understand journalism, and I’m not surprised she is weighing in on something that is beyond her capacity.”

Lemon concluded by telling Minaj to “sit the f*ck down,” and brought up her husband, Kenneth Petty, and his criminal history. “Nicki Minaj, f*ck off, stop being a homophobic bigot, get a life and some brains,” he ended.

As for Minaj’s post, she wrote: “DON ‘C*CK SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING. HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!”

Read More: Nicki Minaj Blasts Don Lemon In Homophobic Rant Over Church Protest

Don Lemon’s Church Protest Coverage

Nicki Minaj’s mention of jail for Don Lemon comes after the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, Harmeet Dhillon, issued a warning for the former CNN host on X. “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service,” she wrote, as caught by The New York Post. “You are on notice!”

Lemon responded by claiming not to have any affiliations with the demonstrators, instead suggesting he was there to cover the protest as a journalist. Protests have been going on in Minneapolis since ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good, earlier this month.

Read More: Chelsea Handler Takes A Jab At Nicki Minaj In Critics Choice Monologue

The post Don Lemon Fires Back At Nicki Minaj’s “Disgusting” Homophobic Rant appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“We can confirm his mother’s passing,” his legal team told WFAA in a statement, “We are having another hearing next week to go over some of the pre-trial motions. We will also be discussing a new trial date.”

Read More: Yella Beezy Finally Gets Trial Date For Alleged Mo3 Murder Plot

Why Will Yella Beezy Be On Trial?

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Yella Beezy is facing a charge of capital murder after being accused of allegedly hiring a hitman to kill Mo3 in 2020. He has been living on house arrest with electronic monitoring after paying off his bond of $750,000 back in March 2025. Kewon White and Devin Maurice Brown are also facing federal charges related to Mo3’s death

Beezy shared a tribute for his mother on Instagram over the weekend. In doing so, he posted a series of wholesome pictures and videos of them together from throughout the years. “Kim Baby ! where do I start ? My Mama , My Sister , My Best Friend, My World , My Everything…. I’m so empty right now I cant even explain,” he wrote in the caption. “I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy…. My BaccBone , My life …. How I’m supposed to live without you ? Who im supposed to talk to everyday ? Send reels too ? Who I’m supposed to Argue with?”

He continued: “It’s been me and you against the world since birth . Can’t nobody go to war about me like you . Take up for me , protect me and my name through it all . God you don’t make mistakes and I’ll never question you , I’m never going against you . Neither will I ever doubt you but I’m hurt and lost and need your strength.”

Several people shared supportive messages in the comments section, including Ty Dolla Sign, Meek Mill, Zaytoven, Bun B, and more.

Read More: Yella Beezy Fails To Secure Bond Modifications In Mo3 Murder Case

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