As protests spread and questions mounted, Smith chose a familiar lane. From his national platform, he described the shooting as “completely justified” from a legal standpoint. He acknowledged alternatives, disabling the vehicle, de-escalation, and restraint, but ultimately sided with the authority that pulled the trigger. The comment landed hard, not because it was provocative, but because it fit so neatly into a routine viewers have learned to expect.

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Read More: Stephen A Smith’s Beef With LeBron James Is His Final Step To Becoming A Right-Wing Grifter

This was not Stephen A. Smith misspeaking. It was Stephen A. Smith doing what he has increasingly done over the last decade by aligning himself with institutional power at moments when communities are demanding accountability and care. Again and again, when history pauses and asks a question, Smith answers from the safest possible distance, often cloaked in the language of realism, legality, or “both sides.” While the effect seems balanced, it’s erosion.

Kaepernick, Crockett, Kamala: The Respectability Lane

When Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in 2016, the backlash arrived fast. The pushback came from fans and owners, as well as politicians. Of course, it also came from Stephen A. Smith.

Rather than frame the protest as a response to police violence and systemic racism, which Kaepernick had plainly stated, Smith turned his attention to Kaepernick’s methods. He questioned the quarterback’s decision to kneel and later questioned his decision to opt out of a contract. He called Kaepernick a “flaming hypocrite” for not voting in the 2016 presidential election. At nearly every turn, Smith redirected the conversation away from the protest’s purpose and toward its packaging. Rather than ask why a Black man might kneel in protest of the state, he asked why that same man wouldn’t adjust his tactics to make power more comfortable.

He did the same when Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett responded bluntly to Republican attacks during a televised committee hearing. Her comments, which many Black viewers applauded, were dismissed by Smith as “for the streets.” The phrase was condescending and coded. Crockett is a Black woman from Texas, legally trained and politically sharp, and Smith’s assessment carried the weight of respectability politics dressed as critique. He apologized days later, but the sting had already registered.

Read More: Stephen A Smith Slams Those Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s “Horrific” Murder

Vice President Kamala Harris has received similar treatment. When she released a memoir detailing her first 107 days as president, Smith didn’t engage with its content. He simply shrugged it off. “Who cares what she has to say?” he asked, rhetorically. What gets lost in these dismissals is not just the role she holds, but the historical and symbolic weight of her presence as the first Black, South Asian, and woman vice president in U.S. history. Her politics are fair game, but her existence shouldn’t be.

Siding With The System

After the world watched security footage of Ray Rice knocking his then-fiancée unconscious in an elevator back in 2014, the conversation turned toward domestic violence in professional sports. Smith went in a different direction. On air, he suggested that women should “make sure we don’t do anything to provoke wrong actions.” Reactions were swift, and ESPN suspended him. Michelle Beadle called him out publicly. Viewers condemned his framing. Once again, an apology arrived days later, with Smith calling it “the most egregious error” of his career. Even then, the focus of his commentary was not the violence itself but the response to it. It wasn’t about the harm, but how it might be avoided.

Read More: Stephen A Smith Claims LeBron James Tried To Sabotage His Career

Years later, when Serena Williams made a surprise appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show with Kendrick Lamar, Smith offered a critique so loaded it barely needed translation. He questioned her timing and challenged her presence. “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass,” Smith said of Serena, mentioning her previous romance with Drake. “Cause clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”

The same tone surfaced when he criticized NBA player J.R. Smith for wearing a hoodie on the bench. “I don’t know why the hell Nike made these damn uniforms that had hoods attached to it, by the way,” Stephen said at the time. “You got a lot of white folks in the audience that are gonna think this is Trayvon Martin being revisited, and I’m not joking about it. The bench is no place for someone to be wearing hoodies.” J.R. responded by calling Smith an “Uncle Tom.” Smith’s commentary seemed more interested in how Blackness is perceived than in the systems that punish it.

Read More: Joy Reid Claims Stephen A. Smith Is Paid To Criticize Black People

Even outside Black American culture, Smith has found ways to amplify power through analysis. In 2021, he commented on baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s use of an interpreter. “I understand that baseball is an international sport itself in terms of participation, but when you talk about an audience gravitating to the tube or to the ballpark, to actually watch you, I don’t think it helps that the number one face is a dude that needs an interpreter, so you can understand what the hell he’s saying in this country,” said Smith. The response was immediate, and he was accused of being xenophobic and outdated. Smith apologized, but his larger point, that language difference was a barrier to leadership in a sport, revealed a narrow view of who gets to be celebrated, and why.

Click Culture Over Community

He’s always been loud, but Stephen A. Smith’s volume isn’t the problem. The issue is what happens when performance overtakes principle, and when the currency of a take becomes its virality rather than its value.

In recent years, Smith has expanded far beyond ESPN. He hosts a podcast, books high-profile guests, trends weekly on social media, and reportedly earns an eight-figure salary as the most recognizable voice in sports media. He knows what controversy generates attention. Over time, his commentary has leaned into that equation.

This change became especially observable in his political commentary. On Real Time with Bill Maher, Smith criticized Democrats for being too “woke,” a term increasingly weaponized by far-right politicians to dismiss progressive ideals. He praised Donald Trump’s communication style as “closer to normal than what we’re seeing on the left.” These aren’t casual observations but cultural cues, the kind conservative media uses to signal alignment without fully committing to the politics behind them.

Read More: Stephen A Smith Admits He Was “Misinformed” When He Voted Against Donald Trump

Smith has said he’s not a fan of Trump. Yet, when he speaks the language of the right, even in jest or frustration, he gives weight to narratives that harm the very communities he claims to represent. In the current climate, where words are weaponized and language travels faster than truth, this matters. His comments don’t exist in a vacuum. They get clipped, shared, and used to validate systems that are actively working against marginalized groups.

This is where the argument about diversity of thought within Black communities enters the frame. Because yes, Black people are not a monolith. We do not owe ideological loyalty to any party or movement. We are allowed to span the full political spectrum. There are Black conservatives, nationalists, abolitionists, centrists, moderates, and anarchists. That complexity is part of our power, but it also comes with a cost.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Claps Back At Monica McNutt, Takes Credit For Her Success

The Consequences Of Being Loud & Wrong

There is a difference between being controversial and being careless. Over time, Stephen A. Smith has blurred that line so thoroughly that it’s hard to tell where the takes end, and the harm begins. His words don’t stay on set. They give cover to policies and institutions already built on control.

When Smith calls the ICE shooting of Renee Good “justified,” it’s not just an opinion. It’s a signal to viewers who already believe that force against civilians is acceptable. When he questions Kamala Harris’s legitimacy, minimizes Jasmine Crockett’s voice, or mocks Serena Williams’s visibility, it lands differently because of who he is and who they are.

Read More: Terrell Owens To Stephen A Smith: “Max Kellerman Seems Blacker Than You”

History has receipts for this. The voices who policed protest in real time have rarely aged well. Those who questioned the tone of civil rights leaders, who dismissed Black resistance as too radical, too emotional, or too disruptive, are not remembered as truth-tellers. They are remembered as distractions.

Smith doesn’t have to agree with every movement. He doesn’t have to support every figure. However, he does have a responsibility to understand the weight of his voice. That responsibility doesn’t vanish just because he yells or because he’s good at his job or because he gets laughs. Being a cultural commentator, especially one who occupies this much space, is more than just speaking one’s mind.

The Wrong Side Of History Is A Choice

Saying what others won’t is not the same as saying what needs to be said. In moments that require moral clarity, Smith has too often chosen volume over vision.

He is not alone in this. Plenty of media figures shift with the wind, build careers on controversy, or mistake platform for insight. Few sit at the intersection Smith occupies as a Black man with a national platform. Smith doesn’t need to be an activist. He doesn’t have to lead movements or write manifestos. Yet, if he’s going to keep speaking, he should at least consider the historical company he’s keeping, because history will remember who stood with the people when power came knocking. It will remember who questioned authority, and who reinforced it. Moreover, it will remember who simply made noise while others put their voices to use for the betterment of their communities.

Read More: Serena Williams’ Husband Addresses The Backlash She’s Received For Dissing Drake At Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show

The post Stephen A. Smith Loves Being On The Wrong Side Of History appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The single arrived alongside a message to fans about the process of creating the album as a whole.

“For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work,” it begins. “To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first. I had no way of knowing how much time, focus and energy it would eventually take to achieve this, but despite the countless challenges along the way, I knew in my heart I would one day get to the finish line. I owed it first and foremost to myself. And secondly, I owed it to hip hop.”

Read More: Drake Collaborator Sparks Speculation After Sharing J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” Trailer

When Is J. Cole Dropping The Fall-Off?

In the song, Cole tells his life story in reverse, a concept mirrored by the accompanying music video. Social media users have a lot to say about the track, and it looks like most are far from disappointed.

“Mannn the imagery and rapping on this song Then the nerve for this to be a two disc album??? This may f*ck around and be the greatest album of the 2020s,” one fan writes. “Bro is so good at rap he has to tell his life story backwards The way the video also rewinds in time… damn,” another says. Someone else simply asks, “THE FALL OFF IS A DOUBLE ALBUM?”

Hip-Hop Fans React to Disc 2 Track 2

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

The post J. Cole Has Hip-Hop Fans Stunned With New Single “Disc 2 Track 2” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Davis’ ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, previously accused him of attacking her at a gentlemen’s club in Miami Gardens. She detailed the alleged incident in a lawsuit at the time, claiming he grabbed her by the back of her head and neck and dragged her into a parking garage, where he physically assaulted her.

Miami Gardens Police Department executive officer Emmanuel Jeanty confirmed news of the warrant at a press conference on Wednesday. He said that the MGPD is working alongside the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force to find the WBA lightweight champion.

“At this time, the Miami Gardens Police Department is actively working with the United States Marshal’s fugitive task force to locate and apprehend Mr. Davis,” Jeanty said. “Domestic violence is a serious crime, and the Miami Gardens Police Department remains committed to holding offenders accountable and protecting victims.”

He added that police have been investigating the incident since Rossel filed her lawsuit. “The investigation determined that Mr. Davis used force to restrain in an attempt to remove the victim from the location against her will,” Jeanty said.

Read More: Jake Paul To Fight Anthony Joshua After Canceling Match With Gervonta Davis

Courtney Rossel’s Gervonta Davis Lawsuit

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Rossel originally filed her lawsuit against Davis back in October. In her filing, she accused him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Responding to the arrest warrant, Rossel’s attorney, Jeff Chukwuma, told ESPN: “What the police said is exactly in line with our lawsuit. So whatever investigation they did, they determined it was enough to get a judge to sign off on an arrest warrant. The state attorney had to make the determination before, which coincides exactly with our civil complaint.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Gervonta Davis has yet to turn himself in to authorities.

Read More: Blueface Challenges Jake Paul To A Boxing Match Following Gervonta Davis Fallout

The post Gervonta Davis Faces Arrest Warrant Over Alleged Domestic Violence Incident appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Fierce is known for working alongside Drake on songs like “Push Ups,” “Family Matters,” and more. Of course, this has led to some speculation among social media users about what this could mean. Many believe this is a sign that Fierce had a hand in the production of the album. Some even think Drake himself might make an appearance.

Obviously, this is unconfirmed, though it isn’t the only sign pointing to his potential involvement. During a recent podcast, Mal of Rory & Mal claimed that Cole originally had features from both Drake and Kendrick Lamar on the album. Allegedly, this meant he had to re-record the album due to their beef.

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

J. Cole The Fall-Off Vinyl

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“Yes, Kendrick was on the album, and Drake was on the album,” he explained. “Well, was, which is why we didn’t get the album, cause now he gotta do his whole album over.” As for whether or not either of them will make the final cut, that remains to be seen.

An exclusive vinyl edition of the album is available for pre-order now.

“This is the first-ever pressing of The Fall-Off,” the product description begins. “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’s Announcement For “The Fall-Off” Has Social Media Awestruck

The post Drake Collaborator Sparks Speculation After Sharing J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” Trailer appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: January 14, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: The Fall-Off

Quotable Lyrics from Disc 2 Track 2

I persevere through the worst
The thirst to adhere is a curse
My life, I see it in reverse
I first appeared in a hearse
The chapple to a church

The post Disc 2 Track 2 – Song by J. Cole appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The album will begin with “Order of Protection,” followed by the single “Helicopter$.” Next is a skit titled “Interrogation,” and then there’s “Stole Ya Flow,” “Stay Here,” “Playa,” “Trespass,” “Stop Snitching, “STFU,” “Punk Rocky,” “Air Force (Black Demarco),” “Whiskey (Release Me),” “Robbery,” “Don’t Be Dumb / Trip Baby,” and “The End.”

When Rocky posted the tracklist on Instagram, fans in the comments section expressed plenty of excitement for the songs. “Maaaaan I’m super Excited for this Drop!!” one user wrote. Another added: “We better get a Rihanna feature.”

Read More: A$AP Rocky’s “Don’t Be Dumb” Nears One Million Pre-Saves On Spotify

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

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A$AP Rocky will be dropping Don’t Be Dumb on Friday, January 16. It has already surpassed one million pre-saves on Spotify, as fans can’t wait to hear new music from Rocky. He hasn’t released a full-length album since Testing in 2018.

Earlier this month, he shared his first single from the project, “Punk Rocky.” Alongside that release, he dropped a music video starring Winona Ryder. After that, he shared “Helicopter$,” which also came with a music video of its own.

When Don’t Be Dumb drops on Friday, it will share a release date with several other highly anticipated projects. The Game is also dropping a new Gansta Grillz mixtape, while NBA YoungBoy will be sharing his next album, Slime Cry.

In other news, Rocky isn’t the only rapper with a long-awaited project nearing release. J. Cole also confirmed on Wednesday that his album, The Fall-Off, will finally be dropping in February. He’s been hyping that release up for years. Pre-orders for vinyl pressings of the album are already available.

Read More: A$AP Rocky Shuts Down AMA After Getting Into It With His Reddit Mods

The post A$AP Rocky Reveals Tracklist For New Album “Don’t Be Dumb” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“We just loss a playoff game to a n***a w purple nails we fkn suk bear azz! Bare ass!!! We don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. Straight like that,” Wayne wrote in his original post. Williams ended up responding to that with a snowflake emoji.

On Wednesday, Wayne issued an apology on social media, admitting that he was emotional and overreacted. “Ay Caleb don’t mind me bruh I’m just a cheesehead 4life & u just a killa & ya kilt us bad each time & 4 dat u get da praise gesture from me!” he wrote. “I luh da game & it’d b impossible 2make dat statement without acknowledging & admiring yo game king! U a beast but ya still a bear.” Williams ended up accepting the apology, writing back: “Weez it’s all love. BearDown tho.”

Read More: Caleb Williams Claps Back At Lil Wayne And Trolls Him For Packers Playoff Loss

Who Do The Bears Play Next?

Following their win over the Packers, the Bears will take on the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday night. In last weekend’s contest, Caleb Williams threw for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. His team was trailing by 18 points in the second half, but they rallied to come back and win 31-27.

“True belief,” Williams said afterward, according to ESPN. “Belief. That’s all you need. You got belief in the coaches that they’re gonna call the right play at the right time. You got belief in the players on the field that you’re gonna make the right play at the right time.”

As for the Rams, they’ll be coming off a win over the Carolina Panthers in which they were tested until the very end. They held out to win 34-31.

Read More: J. Cole Reveals The Release Date For “The Fall Off” With Gorgeous Teaser Trailer

The post Lil Wayne & Caleb Williams Make Amends After Trading Shots Over The Bears-Packers Game appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

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

The vinyl news comes after J. Cole announced the release date for The Fall-Off on Wednesday afternoon. Sharing a trailer for the project, he confirmed that it will be arriving on February 6.

In the clip, a narrator speaks about longevity in the entertainment industry. “Everything is supposed to go away eventually,” he 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.”

The narrator 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.”

Cole also gave fans a glimpse at the cover artwork on social media. It shows a recording setup on a wooden desk.

Read More: J Cole Unveils Cover Art For Upcoming Album “The Fall-Off”

The post J. Cole Announces Exclusive Vinyl Release For “The Fall-Off” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“GOD SAID WE SHALL LIVE & NOT DIE ,” he captioned an Instagram post, which featured photos of the Philly rapper. “Want to send a big shout out to my big brother @official_kurupt get well speedy recovery need all FANZ to send kurupt a get well message flood his Instagram tell him how much we love him rest in peace to my cousin Joe, cool Nate Dogg and others that we lost so I need everybody to hit kurupt and let them know that we love HIM from his little brother Daz life is serious shout out to @leelee_calinanita for holding it down, Dogg Pound gangstaZ 4 LIFE GOD 1st.”

Now, AllHipHop’s Nolan Strong exclusively reports that he’s been released.

Read More: Daz Dillinger Asks For Fans’ Support Amid Kurupt’s Recovery

Why Was Kurupt Hospitalized?

Daz didn’t share any more details in his post, leaving fans in the dark about what led to Kurupt’s hospitalization. He’ll continue to recover from the comfort of his own home with the support of countless fans and peers. This includes Royce Da 5’9″, Treach, Goodie Mob’s Khujo Goodie, and more. Kurupt hasn’t publicly commented on the situation.

He has struggled with some health issues in the past, however. In 2019, for example, he was taken to the hospital after relapsing on the set of Marriage Boot Camp. Alcohol was banned from the set for the rest of the season as a result.

In 2022, he opened up about battling alcoholism during an interview with VladTV, admitting that it took a serious toll on his health. “My pancreas, my liver and my kidneys were just all messed up,” he explained. “I had this sharp pain in my abdomen, I could barely walk. I had to hunch over and I still had to perform and do shows.”

Read More: Kurupt’s Ex-Wife, Gail Gotti, Confirms DMX’s “Party Up” Was A Diss Track

The post Kurupt Returns Home To Recover After Recent Hospitalization appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Responding to Cole’s announcement, Mal shared a series of crying emojis. “Off by a month. All good,” one user joked in the replies. Another added: “This how you know you was bullsh*tting! Cole has a whole video prepared for the rollout and vinyls on pre order for that 2.6.26 date.”

Read More: J. Cole Reveals The Release Date For “The Fall Off” With Gorgeous Teaser Trailer

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

As for J. Cole’s announcement, he shared a trailer for The Fall-Off on social media, Wednesday afternoon. In the clip, a narrator speaks about longevity in the entertainment industry. “Everything is supposed to go away eventually,” he 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.”

The narrator 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.”

At the end of the trailer, Cole reveals that The Fall-Off will be dropping on February 6. In addition to the trailer, Cole also gave fans a look at the cover artwork on social media. It depicts a crude studio setup on a small wooden desk. A vinyl pressing of The Fall-Off is already available for purchase.

Read More: Drake Hit With A RICO? Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Lawsuit Against Stake, Drake & Adin Ross

The post Mal Takes A Victory Lap After J. Cole Finally Shares “The Fall-Off” Release Date appeared first on HotNewHipHop.