At one point of the performance, he started to play “Brooklyn’s Finest,” their Reasonable Doubt collab. That album’s 30-year birthday is the whole reason Hov was onstage last night, and it was a very special moment to witness. He also mashed this up with The Notorious B.I.G.’s “One More Chance” and their collaboration “I Love The Dough,” which he performed his verse on.

Fans seemed to absolutely love the tribute, and for good reason. It’s one of many moments on Reasonable Doubt that fans wanted to see come to life, including an appearance from JAŸ-Z’s mentor. “Bring It On” features Jaz-O, and he was another special guest last night that made for a wild moment to witness. Others guests included Beyoncé, Nas, Alicia Keys, Memphis Bleek, and Blue Ivy Carter.

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

JAŸ-Z’s Biggie Smalls Tribute

JAŸ-Z and Biggie Smalls had a long history together, something this Yankee Stadium tribute only partially shows. After the passing of legendary producer DJ Clark Kent, fans looked back on his recollection of how he introduced the two MCs.

It’s just one of many ways the Roc Nation mogul paid homage to his history and the impact of those around him. Jaz-O got a heartfelt speech paying tribute to his influence and guidance, whereas seeing him with Memphis Bleek was also a treat.

But JAŸ-Z also had smoke to share, as he went into another freestyle that addressed critics and fought back against Internet narratives. This one was more focused on the Target deal controversy and the NFL controversy rather than the diss-heavy bars at the Roots Picnic festival aimed at the rap game.

Fortunately for fans, it seems like the musical greatness on display is outweighing the more scandalous discussions on the timeline. That’s thanks to Biggie Smalls and all the other artists and staff who made the event so impactful.

Read More: Five Guests We Want JAŸ-Z To Bring Out During His Yankee Stadium Shows

The post JAŸ-Z Pays Tribute To Biggie Smalls With Yankee Stadium Show Mash-Up appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

It was an incredible moment to witness after a squashed beef history, whether for longtime fans or newer listeners who have mostly heard of Big Jaz as a legendary figure. Hov also made sure to give Jaz his flowers via a heartfelt speech, which Ahmed/The Ears caught on Twitter.

“Let me go off-script real quick,” Jay remarked before referencing the housing project in Brooklyn they call home. “So the young man standing here is Jaz-O from the Marcy Projects. When I was a young boy moving around Marcy, doing whatever I was doing, this young man, his house where we would go practice our routines, do our little writing, sharpen our skills. If you gon’ give anybody credit for me being here on this stage tonight, give it to that man Jaz-O right there.”

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

Jaz-O & JAŸ-Z’s History

JAŸ-Z and Jaz-O have collaborated a lot in the past, a history they wanted to remind fans of recently. Jay dropped a new version of their old collab “N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99)” on streaming services.

But their history took a conflictive turn when Hov started Roc-A-Fella, as Big Jaz and Sauce Money refused to sign with him. Years later, around 2017 and the 4:44 era, the two publicly buried the hatchet, and have been supporting each other ever since.

Other special guests during the Reasonable Doubt tribute at Yankee Stadium last night included Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter, Memphis Bleek, Alicia Keys, and Nas. It was a heck of a way to kick off this weekend, which will hit The Blueprint‘s 25th anniversary tonight (Saturday, July 11) and a mysterious “Extra Innings” performance the following day. Of all the special moments in store, though, Jaz-O is easily a standout highlight.

Read More: Five Guests We Want JAŸ-Z To Bring Out During His Yankee Stadium Shows

The post JAŸ-Z Brings Out Jaz-O For “Bring It On” Rendition At Yankee Stadium appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Each pair was produced in a run limited to just 50 total. Every shoe features unique details, meaning no two pairs match exactly. The design draws from the 1989 “Playground” poster featuring Michael Jordan. That image showed him dunking against a graffiti covered wall.

This shoe brings that same artistic energy onto the upper panels. A textured canvas base carries a shifting, wall-art inspired print. Cream and muted pink tones keep the overall look balanced and wearable.

Packaging included custom artwork echoing that same mural imagery. Alongside the cream pair, an even more limited black version debuted too. That variant swaps the lighter palette for a stealthier, all black build.

Gold detailing and a red outsole stand out against the much darker upper. Both versions stay firmly outside any public release plans. Jordan Brand has used projects like this to build buzz quietly. It could be a play to build up hype, but these will likely stay exclusive.

This wider gifting expands the story beyond just Jordan Brand’s usual inner circle. For now, these remain exclusive, unlikely to reach general audiences anytime soon. Stay tuned for further updates on a potential public release.

Read More: J. Cole Reveals Kendrick Lamar Convinced Him To Not Quit Rapping

Air Jordan 3 “Graffiti”

This kind of gifting fits a pattern Jordan Brand has leaned into. Small batch releases build interest without committing to a full retail rollout. The “Playground” poster reference gives this project deeper meaning than a typical colorway.

Recreating the graffiti backdrop onto a shoe connects design directly to legacy. Distributing pairs to creators, not just athletes, broadens who gets included. Stylists and tastemakers often shape trends just as much as public figures do.

Giving some exclusive access helps spread cultural relevance in a different way. The added black colorway shows Jordan Brand expanding the concept further. Whether either version eventually reaches retail remains completely unclear for now.

Read More: JAŸ-Z Targets The Haters And Mentions Colin Kaepernick In New Freestyle

The post Air Jordan 3 “Graffiti” Limited To Only 50 Pairs appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: July 11, 2026 (on all streaming platforms, originally January 9, 2012)

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

Quotable Lyrics from Glory

You’re a child of destiny,
You’re the child of my destiny,
You’re my child with the child from Destiny’s Child,
That’s a hell of a recipe

The post Glory – Song by JAŸ-Z & Blue Ivy Carter appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Starting with Future’s The Real Me, his first solo studio effort in four years, Aron and I were sadly disappointed by the tracklist. We pointed out some highlights like “No Misery” and “Feeling I Give” that show off more experimentation and dynamism. But we discussed the album’s lack of direction and innovation for the most part, as well as the debates surrounding the Atlanta artist’s lovelorn persona.

As for Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” controversy, we looked back at the history of lyrical controversy in hip-hop. The response to the former City Girl’s new track is as much a reflection of cultural disconnect as it is a reaction to her involvement in the Diddy scandal. But we highlighted double standards that make some criticisms unfair, as well as the undue backlash people receive for pointing out promotion of societal ills. These days, it’s more about the discourse surrounding the art rather than the art itself.

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

HNHH Live

Then, Aron and I highlighted our picks from HNHH‘s best of the mid-year list, including a rift over Drake’s ICEMAN and a debate about the mainstream’s leader right now. We specifically highlighted Isaiah Rashad’s IT’S BEEN AWFUL and the new By Storm album, My Ghosts Go Ghost as our favorites of 2026 so far.

Finally, we discussed JAŸ-Z’s Yankee Stadium shows this weekend, going over predictions and expectations. Aron was right on the money with Beyoncé, Nas, and Jaz-O emerging as special guests. We’ll see if our other predictions of Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, or Mary J. Blige come to fruition. There’s a lot to look forward to this weekend with Hov’s run, and we discussed whether or not he should diss more foes or focus on the music.

Check out HotNewHipHop‘s full livestream panel on all these topics above.

Read More: Five Guests We Want JAŸ-Z To Bring Out During His Yankee Stadium Shows

The post Is Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Bad For Hip-Hop? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“By age 29, contentment began to settle in, along with the idea of calling it quits,” the magazine entry reportedly reads, followed by a quote from the Dreamville MC: “After Born Sinner, when I was working on [2014’s] Forest Hills Drive, I was saying, ‘Yo, this might be my last album.’ Me and Kendrick [Lamar] was on a plane to Australia going to Eminem’s [Rapture] tour, and I remember telling him, ‘I think after I do this album, I might be done.’ He was like, ‘Get the f**k out of here.'”

After this, the two rappers collaborated on the “Black Friday” remixes and dropped some of their best material. The rest of the Fall-Off magazine probably contains even more curious and revealing moments, which fans are excited to dive into.

Read More: Five Guests We Want JAŸ-Z To Bring Out During His Yankee Stadium Shows

Is J. Cole Retiring?

Of course, this opens up the question of retirement again, something the North Carolina lyricist has talked about a lot during this run for The Fall-Off. He has said in the past that he’s done making albums in the Cole persona and feels satisfied with his contributions.

But J. Cole isn’t fully retired, as he just proved with the release of NEVER SAY DIE. The new album from fellow North Carolina lyricist PFG features full production from Cole, plus three guest verses. So he’s not out of the game entirely. But it’s interesting to contrast this current era with his FHD doubts.

Elsewhere, J. Cole just kicked off The Fall-Off‘s tour in his home state of North Carolina, specifically with the first of two back-to-back shows in Charlotte. Fans have been going wild over the trek online, and they expressed praise for this opening night.

Debates also emerged about Cole and K.Dot comparisons following the opening night thanks to similar stage set-ups. Although the 2024 beef saga disrupted the dynamics between them, it doesn’t erase over a decade of support and camaraderie.

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

The post J. Cole Reveals Kendrick Lamar Convinced Him To Not Quit Rapping appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Manifest Martins caught a clip of the full freestyle online, and it definitely has some divisive lines. Hov called out the hypocrisy of people criticizing his Target exclusive deal for a Reasonable Doubt reissue while still supporting other major companies. He also addressed ongoing criticisms for partnering with the NFL after the Kaepernick controversy, as well as defending his billionaire status and affirming he’s given back to the community through positive change.

It’s not as diss-heavy or hyper-specific as the Roots Picnic freestyle, but it still has plenty of room for debate and discussion. Now, the question is whether all three of these Yankee Stadium shows will include something off the top. We’ll have to wait to find out…

Read More: Five Guests We Want JAŸ-Z To Bring Out During His Yankee Stadium Shows

JAŸ-Z’s Hair Cut

Elsewhere, new JAŸ-Z album rumors are flying wild thanks to his opening move at this first Yankee Stadium show, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt. Beyoncé came out not only as a guest performer, but also cut his hair in the concert’s opening video. This has led to new music speculation in spades, which is not that surprising. After all, Hov album rumors are pretty common, albeit in overdrive these days.

JAŸ-Z also had many special guests during this Yankee Stadium performance. He brought out Nas for a medley of the “Dead Presidents” tracks and some Esco classics, as well as Blue Ivy on the piano for “Feelin’ It.” In addition, Memphis Bleek hit the stage for “Coming Of Age,” Jaz-O came out for “Bring It On,” and Alicia Keys surprised the crowd with an “Empire State Of Mind” rendition.

But just like with many things related to the Roc Nation mogul, the bars stand out above all else. After all, as he said in the freestyle, “My presence is a present, and my gift is rapping.”

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

The post JAŸ-Z Targets The Haters And Mentions Colin Kaepernick In New Freestyle appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Alicia Keys, Jaz-O, Blue Ivy, Nas, and Beyoncé were all guests throughout the evening. Before the show, a video of Beyoncé cutting Hov’s hair was played on the big screen. As you can imagine, this led to some big reactions, as well as speculation online that a new album might be dropping.

Hov likes to switch up his hair whenever he has something coming out. With these recent shows re-igniting fans’ love for JAŸ-Z, it only makes sense that the legend would want to drop an album. Whether or not we get that announcement, still remains to be seen.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers We Want To See Jay-Z Collab With Next

Is JAŸ-Z Dropping A New Album?

Below, you can find the setlist for the Reasonable Doubt portion of JAŸ-Z’s weekend. Tonight, he will be playing songs from The Blueprint, although we’re sure there will be plenty of other big surprises.

JAŸ-Z 30 Setlist:

• Can’t Knock The Hustle (Beyoncé)
• Politics As Usual
• Made In America
• Brooklyn’s Finest
• I Love The Dough
• Dead Presidents
• World Is Yours (Nas)
• NY State of Mind (Nas)
• Where I’m From (Nas)
• Feelin It
• D’evils
• No Church In the Wild
• Can I Live
• Jigga My
• Ain’t No
• Excuse Me Miss
• 22 Two’s
• Friend or Foe
• Coming Of Age (Memphis Bleek)
• Cashmere Thoughts
• Allure
• Bring It On (Jaz-O)
• Regrets
• Empire State of Mind (Alicia Keys)

Let us know what you think of this setlist below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more coverage of JAŸ-Z’s Yankee Stadium shows.

Read More: Five Guests We Want JAŸ-Z To Bring Out During His Yankee Stadium Shows

The post Beyoncé Cuts JAŸ-Z’s Hair, And Now Everyone Thinks An Album Is Imminent appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: July 10, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: The Real Me

Quotable Lyrics from Tank Top Pluto

Trap out apartment, I’m whippin’ the pole
Run to the money, gotta run through a check
Vacay, birthday, gotta go jet
Shawty know how to eat it up, baguetty

The post Tank Top Pluto – Song by Future appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: July 10, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: NEVER SAY DIE

The post Whole House – Song by PFG featuring J. Cole appeared first on HotNewHipHop.