The project will mark his fourth studio album overall and first solo effort since dropping 24K Magic in 2016. That album was a massive success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 chart after moving 231,000 equivalent album units. It featured hits such as the title track, “That’s What I Like,” “Versace on the Floor,” and “Finesse.” He ended up taking home seven Grammy Awards that year, including Album of the Year, Best R&B Album, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.

In the time since, Mars teamed up with Anderson .Paak to form Silk Sonic. Together, they released An Evening with Silk Sonic in 2021. That project also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, moving 104,000 equivalent album units.

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When Is Bruno Mars Dropping “The Romantic”?

As for the official release date for The Romantic, Bruno Mars says he’ll be dropping the project on February 27. Further details on the tracklist, as well as whether there will be any guest appearances, are unavailable. Mars has, however, begun taking vinyl pre-orders on his website. There’s also a white t-shirt for sale featuring the cover artwork.

Fans on social media appear to be loving the news. “Friday can’t come soon enough!” one user responded to Mars’ announcement on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote: “He’s about to take back his top spot from The Weekend, Rihanna, Bey, and in fact all existing pop stars combined! Bruno what a star you are!”

Mars has yet to provide fans with any further details about what they can expect from the lead single when it arrives on Friday.

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“I just don’t wanna go places where people have said things mean about me,” she said. “I wouldn’t have gone on Tasha K if I had actually done the research that I should’ve done and seen the way that she’s talked about me in the past. She was lovely in person. I’m not gonna take that from her, but the way that she has spoken about me in the past is deplorable.”

“So, there’s people on that podcast that I consider my friends,” she continued. “I’ve known Joe since I was 19. But then, he has other people on there that I’m just not interested in talking about or talking to. They have had my name in their mouth.” She went on to describe Marc Lamont Hill and Don’t Call Me White Girl as her friends as well.

When Live Bitez shared the clip on Instagram, fans had mixed reactions in the comments section. “Was she invited…..just wondering because that’s not really his platform style Ijs,” one user asked. Another joked: “She so woke she sleep.”

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Who Else Is Amanda Seales Beefing With?

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Joe Budden isn’t the only podcaster Amanda Seales refuses to sit down with. Last month, she discussed her relationship with Charlamagne Tha God of The Breakfast Club, revealing that the two are no longer friends.

“Why would I do a podcast with Charlamagne? We had great chemistry until I realized he was a ridiculous person, and he was a snake. So then we don’t have great chemistry anymore. He’s also not an intellectual. Like he’s read books, he’s not a dummy. But he’s not an intellectual and he’s not — he don’t got no back bone. He sits here and regurgitates the same crap,” Seales said, as caught by The Root.

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Ak believes this is because the collab would bolster his career in a big way, particularly after his alleged snitching scandal. 6ix9ine’s label ultimately agreed to pay $1 million for the feature, but when YB’s team got back to them, they proceeded to demand $2 million.

“You’ve got to imagine how someone’s feeling,” Ak said, as seen in a clip shared by Akademiks TV. “You don’t even feel like a person. Like you’re posting on Instagram that it’s $300K for a feature. 6ix9ine comes through, and you’re like, ‘It’s $1 million.'”

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What Happened To 6ix9ine & NBA YoungBoy’s Collab?

Reportedly, the collab fell through due to creative differences. The song in question was “GINÉ,” which ended up dropping as a single in 2022. That same year, YB had a conversation with Ak on Clubhouse. During it, he admitted that he’s still open to working with 6ix9ine, despite whatever critics may have to say about it.

“I’ll do a song with 6ix9ine before I do a song with half of these p***y a** n***as, ya hear me?” he declared. In response, Akademiks told him, “The industry gon’ kill you for that.”

“The industry can suck my d*ck,” he fired back. “I ain’t got sh*t … I ain’t got nothin’ against him. That sh*t ain’t gon nun to do with me. I wasn’t in his situation. Half of these p***y a** n***as that be talkin’ don’t know what they’d do if they were in his situation. What the f*ck that got to do with me or anybody else?”

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A woman who had been sitting in the passenger seat also suffered serious injuries. Her identity and condition have not been made public at the time of writing.

As news of the tragedy continues to make its rounds online, countless fans and loved ones have taken to social media with tributes. This includes Rich Nation CEO Michael Mitchell, who shared an emotional post about the loss earlier this week.

“ REST IN POWER BILLY RESIO ,” the post begins. “I don’t even know how to type this… my heart is broken in ways I can’t explain. Today I lost my artist, my brother, my family.”

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Who Is Billy Resio?

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“Billy Resio was taken from us way too soon in Durham, NC, and this pain is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I loved that kid for real. He wasn’t just talent—he was pure heart, raw truth, hunger, and loyalty. He believed in the vision, and I believed in him,” it continues. “We created history together.
He gave the world ‘Labeled Me Top Shotta’ featuring NBA YoungBoy, and he poured his soul into every record he made. Now he’s gone… but his voice, his energy, and his story will never die.”

Mitchell went on to promise that Resio’s legacy will live on. In addition to his collaboration with YB, the late artist was known for his songs “Lies,” “Bonnie And Clyde,” and more. He was just 30 years old when he passed away, and is survived by his one-year-old son.

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He stole approximately $80 million from sneaker collectors, everyday customers, and financial institutions. On top of prison time, he faces five years of supervised release afterward. The court ordered Malekzadeh to forfeit over $15 million in assets back to victims.

His fraud destroyed financial security and delayed major life milestones for countless people. People couldn’t buy homes, retire, or move forward with their lives because of him. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford didn’t mince words calling it pure “insatiable greed.”

For years, Zadeh Kicks looked like a legit sneaker resale platform to everyone. Malekzadeh collected payments knowing he’d never actually send the sneakers out to customers. Instead, he blew the money on his own lavish lifestyle choices consistently.

The FBI finally stepped in after mountains of complaints from scammed buyers piled up. FBI Special Agent Stephanie Shark put it bluntly in her statement about the case. He literally took money from kids and adults promising sneakers that never existed.

This represents probably the biggest fraud case in sneakers. But, it isn’t the only major fraud investigation rocking sneaker resale lately.

Back in October 2025, we covered Cool Kicks owner Adeel Shams getting arrested during an LAPD raid. The high-profile Melrose Avenue store owner faced felony fraud charges after police raided their warehouse. Cool Kicks claimed the issues involved allegedly stolen goods sold in good faith.

These back-to-back cases show serious problems exist within the sneaker resale industry.

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Zadeh Kicks Lawsuit

Michael Malekzadeh operated Zadeh Kicks as a sneaker resale business while running a massive fraud operation. He accepted payments from thousands of customers for limited sneakers he never planned to ship.

The money funded his expensive lifestyle including luxury purchases and personal expenses for years. Malekzadeh also defrauded multiple banks through false loan applications and financial misrepresentations.

The scheme totaled approximately $80 million in losses across all victims. Prosecutors presented evidence showing deliberate intent to defraud from the operation’s beginning stages.

The investigation revealed Malekzadeh knew he couldn’t fulfill orders but continued accepting new payments. The victims of this were sneaker collectors of all ages who trusted that Zadeh Kicks was legitimate.

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Rocky shared “Punk Rocky” on Monday along with a music video featuring appearances from Winona Ryder, Danny Elfman, Thundercat, and A$AP Nast. On the track, he croons about falling in love and the fears that come with doing so. “I wanna fall in love, don’t want no broken heart / Don’t wanna grow apart,” he sings on the chorus.

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When Is A$AP Rocky Dropping “Don’t Be Dumb”?

Unless there is another last-minute delay, A$AP Rocky will be dropping Don’t Be Dumb on January 16. Since 2024, Rocky has dropped several singles intended for the project. They include “Highjack”, “Tailor Swif”, “Ruby Rosary,” and “Pray4DaGang” as well as “Punk Rocky.” Rocky still hasn’t confirmed a tracklist for the album, so it’s unclear whether all of them will make the cut. Last month, he revealed that filmmaker Tim Burton designed the cover artwork.

Rocky recently teamed up with the financial company, Bilt, to release an exclusive vinyl version of Don’t Be Dumb. In a press release for that announcement, the company provided some insight as to what fans can expect from the album. “The 15 track, 2LP vinyl moves through genres the way you’d move through a city—Jazz, Hip-Hop, Metal, Indie, R&B—each track capturing a different block, mood, or moment. It’s Rocky in full range,” it reads.

Along with the physical release, Rocky also worked with Bilt to help cover the cost of January’s rent for every tenant in an apartment building he lived in as a teenager in Harlem, New York City.

“For me, it’s always been about your community and neighborhood. Harlem made me who I am, from uptown to downtown, and that connection to place is everything,” Rocky said in a press release obtained by Realtor.com. “When Bilt said they wanted to cover rent for everyone in the same building where I grew up, that hit different. That’s not just business, that’s understanding what community really means.”

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It appeared to be a reference to an incident that happened back in October. At the time, internet comedian Gerald Huston trolled Shields in public by pretending to think she was Serena Williams. Allegedly, Papoose smacked Huston with a book in response, making it clear that he didn’t appreciate the disrespect.

“Now you see, that’s assault!” Fif captioned the post. “You can’t just go around putting your hands on PEOPLE. LOL Happy New Year!” In response, Pap posted an AI-generated video of 50 Cent throwing it back in hoop earrings, a bra, and shorts.

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Why Are Papoose & 50 Cent Beefing?

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The AI trolling went on a bit longer before Fif posted a clip of Papoose’s ex, Remy Ma, reflecting on their relationship. “[My] ex might be the least income-making person that I’ve ever been with. Ever,” she said in the clip. He clowned him for this in his caption, and as a result, Shields jumped in.

“These rappers don’t get they a** beat enough that’s the problem,” she declared. The pro boxer then proceeded to remind him that he once invited her to help out with his nonprofit, prompting him to admit that he’s actually a fan.

Now, Papoose has made his next move. Yesterday, he took to Instagram to preview a new song, which contains a few bars that seem to be directed at his foe. “Best ever… the untouchable ‘PAPOOSE’. If you feel something kill something! ,” he captioned the clip. For now, it remains unclear when the finished product is set to drop. Fif has yet to address the snippet.

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This has resulted in some rumors that he snitched to get less time. According to him, however, this isn’t the case. During a recent appearance on the Dog In The Yard podcast, he set the record straight once and for all, clarifying that taking a plea deal doesn’t always mean turning on one’s co-defendants.

He emphasized that while he’s confident in the truth, he also knows that people will believe whatever they choose to.

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Did Max B Jump Ja Rule?

This isn’t the first rumor Max B has had to shut down since getting out of prison, either. Back in November, rumors began to swirl that Ja Rule got jumped outside of a restaurant in New York City, and that Max B and his crew were involved.

Amid the rumors, Ja Rule hopped online to respond to Tasha K’s post about the alleged juping and reveal what actually happened. “Tasha why you lying to these good ppl,” he asked her at the time. “Yes some b*tch a*s n****s tried to jump me. No it wasn’t at sei less and I’m chilling smoking a joint watching SVP wit not a scratch on me…”

Shortly after that, Max B took to Twitter/X to clear the air and tell the world to stop trying to drag him into drama. “Don’t tie me or my people to anything negative,” he demanded. “We grown we on positive vibes only.”

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“I had a close friend/worker, and we fell out,” 6ix9ine told Ross. “What he ended up doing was meet with the feds and say I had drugs and guns in the house. They found an illegal gun and three ecstasy pills. Like I said, I’m on probation, so I give full consent to search my house, because I know there’s nothing there. After that was the mall situation… Basically, I was at the mall, and I was shopping with my girlfriend and my stepson and some guy was like, ‘If you weren’t with your family, I’d kill you, you f*cking rat.’ When we beat him up, he called the cops and made a report.”

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Where Is 6ix9ine In Jail?

6ix9ine is currently residing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Taking to social media, earlier this year, he confirmed that he’ll be living alongside several other high-profile inmates at the facility. These include Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as well as Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024.

“Yo guys, remember when I told you I was in prison with Diddy, the president of Honduras, and Sam Bankman-Fried, and you guys thought I was lying? And then it came out that the president of Honduras was like, ‘He’s such a cool guy,’ I put Diddy on the phone with Akademiks. Now, I’m about to go meet the president of Venezuela,” 6xi9ine revealed. “I have that luck of just being locked up with presidents. Oh, and I’m about to meet Luigi too. I’m about to play chess with them n****s, eat ramen noodles.”

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The post 6ix9ine Claims He’s Going Back To Jail Because A Close Friend Snitched On Him appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“A revenge on what? On who? Yo, these b*tches just be saying sh*t because what is a revenge baby? Do you think that l be like, ‘Hey, I’m going to have a baby because I’m going to have revenge!’ On what, b*tch? On my ex-husband, b*tch?” Cardi began her rant. “I don’t need to have a baby for revenge, baby. My whole life is revenge, my money is revenge, my career is revenge. My album is revenge. Me not dying over a n***a is revenge. Me having freedom is revenge.”

She continued: “I could wake up and buy me a car, a house. I could spend a million dollars in one day. You know why I kept my baby? Because I love my baby. Me and my man made that baby with f*cking love, b*tch. We was f*cking down. F*cking down, ‘til it stank!”

From there, Cardi B went after Jesse Woo directly. “Jessie Woo is another hating ass b*tch,” she said. “You always f*cking lying about some sh*t, dumb*ss b*tch. Sick of you too, bitch. The f*ck is you talking about ‘policing?’ I don’t got to police no n***a to stay with me.”

Cardi concluded: “You think it’s easy to carry life? … Of course this a b*tch with no f*cking kids, so you wouldn’t even understand how sacred that sh*t is. Think having a baby is buying a puppy? B*tch, this ain’t no f*cking puppy! And that’s another b*tch that I don’t f*cking like cuz she lied on me. Lied on me the day that I announced that I was pregnant. Suck my d*ck, b*tch.”

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Who Is Cardi B Dating?

Following her split from Offset, Cardi B began dating Stefon Diggs. Within a year, the two announced they were expecting their first child together. She welcomed their son in November.

Diggs was arrested on a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault, last month. Cardi spoke out in his defense in a since-deleted post on X. “Not once has that woman said anything to me about being touched.. NOT ONCE!!,” she wrote, as caught by TMZ.

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