Drake is staying involved though. He will maintain a 44% stake and remains in charge of creative direction, so the actual look and feel of OVO isn’t going anywhere. Vince Holding Corp. will also step in as the global licensee, handling design, merchandising, and retail moving forward.

Drake spoke on the deal himself, calling it a natural next step for something he and his team built from scratch in Toronto years ago. He framed Authentic and Vince as the right partners to help OVO keep growing from here.

Right now, OVO runs 12 flagship stores along with its e-commerce operation. That’s a solid footprint already, but it’s nowhere close to what Authentic typically works with across its portfolio.

For a brand that started as a hoodie and a logo, this deal marks a real turning point. OVO isn’t just Drake’s side project anymore, it’s becoming part of a much bigger retail machine.

Read More: Brian Steel Demands Mistrial In Lil Durk Case As OTF Jam Mentions Tory Lanez On The Stand

Authentic Acquires Majority Stake In OVO

Authentic Brands Group runs a portfolio worth around $38 billion, covering everything from fashion labels to entertainment brands. Plugging OVO into that system gives it access to serious retail infrastructure it didn’t have before.

Now, OVO goes from a somewhat niche, celebrity-driven streetwear label to something built for actual global scale. More stores, wider distribution, and stronger backend operations are all suddenly on the table.

The tricky part will be keeping OVO feeling like OVO through all of this growth. Drake staying on as creative lead should help with that, even as the business side gets a lot bigger behind the
scenes.

Either way, this deal changes what OVO can realistically become over the next few years. It opens the door for expansion into markets and retail formats the brand couldn’t easily reach on its own before. For fans, the real test will be watching how much of that original OVO identity survives the growth.

Read More: Lefty Gunplay Called Kendrick Lamar When He Decided To Get Sober 

The post Drake Speaks Out As Authentic Brands Group Buys Majority Stake In OVO Brand appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Jam, OTF Vonni, and Flacka have all taken plea deals and are expected to take the stand in the coming days. Jam was the first to get his turn, and he immediately headlines by pinning the blame on Lil Durk. While OTF Jam copped to multiple murders, he alleges the Lul Pab shooting was a direct result of Durk’s instructions.

While speaking to the court, OTF Jam painted Durk as a criminal mastermind of sorts who wanted the people around him to act in a violent manner. Jam told a story about being in a nightclub with Durk while Tory Lanez was in the building. Jam says he wanted to snatch the chain from the neck of Tory’s friend. Durk allegedly replied to this, saying, “That’s the Jam I wanna see.”

According to @youvegtMEL on Twitter, this prompted Brian Steel to call for a mistrial.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Lil Durk Trial Continues

“Durk’s defense argued this is prejudicial because it’s essentially telling the jury Durk encouraged Robbery – which is not apart of this case and shouldn’t have been said,” @youvegtMEL reported. “Additionally, because the person mentioned was Tory Lanez, the jury could attach greater significance to this.”

In the end, the judge dismissed the motion for a mistrial, and OTF Jam continued his testimony. On Thursday, OTF Jam will be back on the stand, and it is expected that Brial Steel will undertake the cross-examination process.

This is a developing story, so stay tuned to HNHH for details.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

The post Brian Steel Demands Mistrial In Lil Durk Case As OTF Jam Mentions Tory Lanez On The Stand appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

During an interview, he explained how he became addicted to drugs at a young age from growing up in an impoverished environment that drew him into the gang lifestyle. Though he admits he’s still involved in that life, he explained that his career prompted him to take sobriety seriously and go to rehab.

“As of recently, I started taking my career serious and I made the decision to go to rehab for nine months,” he said, revealing that he stopped cold turkey. What’s more interesting is that he reached out to two West Coast heavyweights once he made the decision to quit.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Lefty Gunplay Made Some Calls

“I called Kendrick Lamar, I called Top Dawg, and I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to go,’ and everyone was telling me you’re blowing all this opportunity,” he said. “And yeah, I ain’t the best rapper but nowadays, you don’t got to be the best rapper on the West. It’s just different. You just got to have it. People got to really love you and vibe with you but everyday, I’m trying to get better at rapping and being sober is part of it.”

Lefty explained that some of the online comments began to get under his skin and he wanted to do better for himself. Check his comments out above and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

The post Lefty Gunplay Called Kendrick Lamar When He Decided To Get Sober  appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Red dominates the entire build here, with Infrared 23 layered throughout the woven upper. That mix of textures gives the shoe some visual depth despite sticking to one core color story. The collar sits low and tight around the ankle, keeping the fit close for on-court movement.

A carbon fiber plate shows through the midsole, hinting at the performance tech packed underneath. Jordan Brand hasn’t confirmed every spec yet, but ZoomX branding is already visible on the shoe itself.

Early reports point to a loaded cushioning setup. That includes Cushlon 3.0 foam, ZoomX up front, Zoom Air in the heel, and a full-length Zoom Air Strobel unit running underneath. A translucent outsole rounds things out, paired with a traction pattern that looks different from past Jordan performance models.

The style code is listed as HV6474-601 for anyone tracking the release. It’ll be available through Nike.com and select Jordan Brand retailers once October arrives.

Check out these back-to-school deals at Foot Locker! Save your way with codes GET20, GET25 or GET30. Buy More, Save More!

Read More: Air Jordan 12 “Sumo” Official Images Unveiled

Air Jordan 41 “University Red”

Jordan Brand’s numbered performance line has stayed fairly quiet in recent years, with most attention going toward retros instead. The Air Jordan 41 signals a return to pushing the signature line forward.

Loaded cushioning setups like this one tend to signal a serious on-court focus rather than a lifestyle driven release. Combining ZoomX, Zoom Air, and Cushlon 3.0 in one shoe suggests Jordan Brand is aiming for something built for actual performance.

The numbered line has always served a different purpose than the classic retros. Instead of leaning on nostalgia, these models are meant to reflect whatever performance tech Jordan Brand is working with at the time.

“University Red” gives fans their clearest look yet at the shape and material direction before further details roll out. Expect a full breakdown of the shoe’s tech and additional colorways as the release date gets closer.

Read More: N.O.R.E. Fires Back At DJ Vlad After Being Called A “Snake”

The post New Air Jordan 41 “University Red” Gets First Official Photos appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In the aftermath of this case, Lil Woody has become a prominent internet figure. Whenever hip-hop-related trials make the news, Woody gives his analysis. He understands what it’s like to be on the witness stand, which gives him a unique perspective.

With OTF Jam taking the stand in Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire case, Woody has offered some valuable insight on what everyone can expect in court today. If you’ve been following along, you would know that OTF Jam has been pointing the finger at Durk. As Woody explains, Durk’s lawyers will be all over Jam today.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Lil Woody Warns OTF Jam

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

The former YSL trial witness believes Drew Findling and Brian Steel will be looking to question OTF Jam’s credibility. Woody says that Jam is on the witness stand because he took a plea deal. Therefore, he has something to gain by going up there and telling on Lil Durk.

Woody believes that if Findling and Steel can exploit that during cross-examination, then there is a way for the defense to cast doubt on Jam’s testimony. This could subsequently lead to reasonable doubt amongst the jury.

Jam is not the only one who will be taking the stand for the prosecution. OTF Vonni and Flacka are also expected to take the stand in the coming days.

Day 4 of Lil Durk’s trial continues today in Los Angeles.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

The post Lil Woody Explains How Lil Durk’s Lawyers Will Question OTF Jam’s Credibility appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

It should be made clear that Davis is not being accused of pulling the trigger. Instead, he is being accused of procuring the weapon that killed Tupac, while also planning the hit. It has been alleged that he was in the car with the gunman at the time of the shooting.

This trial was expected to last about a month. The prosecution teased upwards of 200 witnesses. However, it appears as though the state has decided to rest its case ahead of schedule, according to Meghann Cuniff. Twenty-four witnesses were called to the stand, and on Thursday, the defense will begin to call its own witnesses.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

Keefe D Trial Is Drawing To A Close

Judge Kierny spoke directly to Keefe D, noting that he has the right to testify. Although at this time, it is expected that he will not be taking the stand. Regardless, he has been given the option.

The Judge also revealed that witness testimony for the defense could be wrapped up as soon as this evening. If that is the case, closing arguments would proceed, and then the jury would be instructed to deliberate.

Simply put, the Keefe D trial could be over in a matter of days. With the prosecution opting for Keefe D’s interviews and memoirs to do the talking, they opted not to use the full extent of their witness list.

This trial continues to be a major story in hip-hop as it has the potential to partially solve a 30-year mystery. Stay tuned for updates as we will be sure to bring them to you.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

The post Prosecutors Rest Case Against Keefe D Ahead Of Schedule As Tupac Trial Continues appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

On a more serious note, Rock has faced criticism for the parenting of her son, Chrisean Jr. When the baby was first born, commenters on social media noticed some concerning details. There was even a time when onlookers would speculate that the child had fetal alcohol syndrome.

Soon, Chrisean Jr. will be turning three years old. The child still has trouble walking and talking, and is well behind what is considered normal development. This has subsequently led to more criticism, with many demanding that Chrisean go seek out a diagnosis for Jr.

However, that won’t be happening anytime soon. During a recent interview with Jason Lee, Chrisean made the claim that her son is going to “outgrow” his issues. Additionally, she was adamant that he does not have an illness.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Chrisean Rock Puts Her Foot Down

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

These comments led to some outrage from commenters on The Neighborhood Talk. The consensus was that Jr. doesn’t have a diagnosis because Chrisean allegedly refuses to take him to the doctor.

“He doesn’t have any diagnosis or illnesses because she hasn’t taken him to a doctor to get diagnosed,” one person wrote. “So in other words you ain’t take him to the doctor. Has he been evaluated? You streaming everything else, Why we don’t see a speech therapist, Occupational, Physical?” wrote another.

The general public is showcasing genuine concern for Chrisean Jr., although Rock continues to be dismissive. It’s all quite unfortunate, and there is no telling what Chrisean is going to do next.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

The post Chrisean Rock Claims Chrisean Jr. Will “Outgrow” Health Issues, Says There Is No Diagnosis appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

During the debut of The Vic Mensa Show, Chance and Vic dove into some of the tension that existed between them from the Acid Rap era. Chance admitted that Vic’s early success through Kids These Days, Savemoney, and his Roc Nation deal carved a path that he wanted to follow until realizing that he didn’t want to sign to anyone. But with Savemoney, specifically, Chance said that he benefited greatly as a local artist from the association, but once his career took off, he realized that he carried a lot of the weight of the collective due to his visibility.

While an Instagram post that blocked Chance out of a flick with JAŸ-Z and Beyoncé at Vic Mensa’s birthday seemed to confirm the tension, Vic explained that his emotional instability mixed with their creative rivalry turned into jealousy.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Vic Mensa & Chance The Rapper’s Heart-To-Heart

The two ultimately apologized behind the scenes but offered each other apologies on camera. Chance, specifically, took accountability for rejecting Vic Mensa to join him on tour during the Acid Rap era.

“I said at the time that I didn’t want to do it because I was like, ‘Vic’s not opening for me. We at the same level. He doesn’t need to be opening.’ But in reality, I was just like, ‘I don’t want to have to split this,’” Chance recalled, with Vic admitting that hurt in particular. “I’m sorry.”

Vic tearfully recounted how Chance was in a far better financial position at the time while he was on his parents’ couch. “I was back living with my parents, and I was flipping the cushions on the couch, looking for quarters and sh*t,” he said. “When you didn’t want me to come on that tour, I was f*cked up, for real… I was hurt ‘cause I was like, damn, I’m takin’ sh*t out my sister’s piggy bank.”

Check out the episode above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More: Aaliyah’s Final Days Revisited 25 Years After Her Death

The post Chance The Rapper & Vic Mensa Apologize To Each Other In Tearful Heart-To-Heart appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Wednesday was a difficult one for Lil Durk as OTF Jam took the stand. In the courtroom, OTF Jam confessed to three murders. Furthermore, he was quick to point the finger at Durk, stating that the Chicago rapper was the one who masterminded the entire ordeal. It is a move that some believe has already sunk Durk’s chances of beating his case. Of course, there are still a few more weeks for his legal team to potentially turn things around.

However, there are some analysts who believe this case was over before it started. One of those people is Trenches News, who has made a living off covering the drill scene in Chicago. In a recent livestream with DJ Akademiks, Trenches News had some direct criticism for Durk’s lawyer, Drew Findling.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

Trenches News Believes Drew Findling Failed Lil Durk

As Trenches News explains, Drew Findling should have never done an interview with Vlad TV over a year ago. During this interview, Findling criticized the prosecution, and even revealed that lies were told in the original indictment. Moreover, Findling was fighting against the use of lyrics in the courtroom. Trenches believes this gave the prosecution a leg up, as they became aware of Findling’s defense strategy. He claims that if Findling never talked to Vlad, there never would have been a superseding indictment, which is what has left Durk vulnerable in the courtroom.

This is all speculative thinking. There is no telling what would have happened had Findling not done that interview. That said, Trenches News believes Lil Durk had no choice but to bring on Brian Steel because of the alleged mistakes that were made by Findling.

The Lil Durk trial is set to continue today in Los Angeles for Day 4 of the proceedings.

Read More: Aaliyah’s Final Days Revisited 25 Years After Her Death

The post Lil Durk’s Lawyer Drew Findling Criticized For Pre-Trial Interviews appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Now, the new album is out, and it contains 13 new songs. One of those tracks features ApolloRed1, and it is a very clear diss towards Nine Vicious. The controversial former YSL rapper has history with the Opium imprint as he previously dissed the label’s co-founder, Opm Babi. He called the man a “rat,” and ever since then, Ken Carson has been plotting his next move.

That move just so happened to be the song “9 bitches.” Even the title is clearly a diss as it rhymes with Nine Vicious’ name. As for the bars themselves, they are pretty brutal, and contain direct name drops.

Read More: How 50 Cent’s Reebok Deal Changed Hip-Hop Sneaker Culture Forever

Ken Carson & Nine Vicious Beef

“And I got nine bitches/N***a talk down on the O, we gon’ put nine stitches\ARP on me bold, I’ve been ridin’ with it/Pussy bitch, know you a ho, Nine Vicious/Who gon’ slime this? I’m ready to slime somethin’,” Carson wraps. “This bitch a fine bum, I wouldn’t give this ho a crumb/I’m at your mammy house, these niggas lackin’/You can ask your ho ’bout me, she already know what’s brackin’.”

There are other suggestive lyrics on the song, such as “Boy, you sugar sweet, honey tea/Pop it on the internet, we gon’ leave that boy on the concrete.”

The song is currently making waves online, especially when you consider Nine Vicious’ status as a controversial artist. He has yet to respond to Carson’s track, although we will keep you updated if he does.

Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?

The post Ken Carson Disses Nine Vicious On The Fiery New Song “9 bitches” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.