On a number of occasions, Steel poked holes in OTF Jam’s testimony and claims against Lil Durk and the other co-conspirators. According to Michael Blackshire, Steel, at one point, played a recording of Jam telling the FBI that Durk never actually said he was going to put up money for a hit on Quando Rondo and Lul Timm. When Jam said “it’s more to it than that,” Steel quickly fired back that “there’s always more to it than that with you.” However, Steel ultimately made Jam admit that his statements to him were contrary to what he told the jury.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

OTF Jam & Brian Steel Face Off In Lil Durk Trial

OTF Jam’s testimony shed some significant light on the alleged dynamics between himself and Lil Durk. He reportedly claimed that he never actually got paid for any of the alleged hits. But what was probably the most telling part of Jam’s testimony came just before the court went to lunch on August 27th, when he said, “This may be hard to believe because of what I’m doing… I still have love for him, I just don’t have no respect for him.”

Durk’s murder-for-hire trial continues today as Brian Steel completes the remainder of his cross-examination of OTF Jam, which will surely reveal much more. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates on the case. 

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

The post Brian Steel’s Contentious Cross-Examination Of OTF Jam Raises Stakes In Lil Durk Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

It all has the vibe of a big block party and just a typically bustling day in New York City, and it fits with the rambunctious vibe of Cardi B’s newest single. It was her first solo release since the release of her long-awaited sophomore album AM I THE DRAMA? last year, and she clearly wants to give it more legs.

While there aren’t any wild or super striking elements in this video beyond the skillful craft, it’s nice to see the Bronx superstar work well with simple concepts. The video goes by quick and it feels much more at home than other, more dramatic treatments.

We’ll see if she has even more material on the way. After all, following up a long-awaited studio album return by keeping the foot on the gas seems like a great way to maintain hype.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

Cardi B’s New Music Video

“AH HA” is taking the Bardi Gang beyond the AM I THE DRAMA? era, but Cardi B’s still dealing with fallout from that project. That’s mostly due to the BIA diss track “Pretty & Petty,” the big explosive point of a long-running feud.

There are still some emotions to deal with despite the back-and-forth dying down in the booth. Earlier this month, BIA apologized for being shady to Doja Cat, which led Cardi fans to call her out for not having similar energy for her. Clearly, the Massachusetts femcee is not going to forgive her anytime soon, and she sees the situations as very different.

We’ll see if there’s anything about this of consequence beyond social media responses and shade. While another diss track doesn’t seem in the cards, it wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary.

Meanwhile, Cardi B’s collaborative efforts this year have also made a splash, such as her appearance on the posthumous Nipsey Hussle album. Perhaps there are even more releases and visuals in store before 2026 is out.

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

The post Cardi B Is All The Way Outside In New “AH HA” Music Video appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Of course, Kodak’s inclusion should come as no surprise as one of the biggest rappers out of Florida in the past decade, Grand Theft Auto‘s new-ish setting. There will probably be some more MCs out of Miami in the game, maybe through the alleged “Dirty South Classics” radio station.

Cash Money would certainly fit into that wide categorization, which makes “Pop Bottles” another no-brainer. But beyond classics, there might be some newer names that make appearances, which brings us to “Pound Town.” Sexy and the late Keith’s strong chemistry yielded a lot of hits, and this firmly situates the game in the 2020s in ways players will be excited to explore.

Beyond hip-hop, though, there will also be some crossovers and explorations of the genre from other parts of the world. For example, the GTA VI extended look also included “Se Me Nota (Agarrame),” a dembow banger from Chimbala, Omega, and B One El Productor De Oro. Hopefully there are even more hip-hop-adjacent genres that speak to Florida and its communities.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

GTA VI‘s Rap Songs

Elsewhere, Rockstar Games has been dealing with GTA VI leaks, which they responded to recently. “Having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak in this way has been heartbreaking for our team, and this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time,” they stated. “We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has — from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know.”

Finally, the “we got [blank] before GTA VI” will end soon. These hip-hop inclusions are just one part of a more widely exciting rollout, and we’ll see what else soundtracks this experience.

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

The post Every Hip-Hop Song In GTA VI’s Extended Look appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 28, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

The post Versus – Song by HXG appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to XXL and Michael Blackshire, Jam testified yesterday (Thursday, August 27) during day four of the Durk murder-for-hire trial. He said he talked to the FBI about the Los Angeles shooting because the murder was “sloppy.”

“I had to get off my chest, I saw the opportunity,” the OTF affiliate reportedly remarked. “I felt it was dumb in a sloppy matter. People who shouldn’t have been there… I thought it was sloppy. I didn’t know [Lul Pab]. In my eyes, he was innocent. I just said I don’t have beef with him.”

OTF Jam claimed he spoke with Smurk after the murder and claimed he was happy with Pab’s death. He reportedly claimed the OTF boss took advantage of him, which made him lose respect for Durk. “I still got a lot of love for [Durk],” Jam reportedly said. “Blood was there for me… I feel bad, I know he probably hate me. I got love for him, I just don’t have respect for him.”

Also, OTF Jam said his testimony could kill him due to his previous gang affiliations. “As a Black disciple, that’s breaking all laws,” he reportedly shared. “You can snitch on a opp and get f***ed up.”

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

How Long Has Lil Durk Been In Jail?

Lil Durk has been facing these charges ever since his arrest in October of 2024. Since that development, he’s been behind bars fighting against the murder-for-hire accusations and preparing his legal defenses with his team. Now, these witnesses and testimonies are adding another problem on his docket.

OTF Jam’s testimony about Lil Durk has been very controversial, with even some hip-hop artists like Meek Mill speaking out against it. He claimed involvement in Lul Pab’s murder and painted Durk as the one behind the whole thing. We will see how future trial developments give more context and weight to these divisive comments.

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

The post OTF Jam Calls Lul Pab Murder “Sloppy” During Lil Durk’s Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As reported by journalist Meghann Cuniff, the final witness in this case was Dan Long, a retired police detective for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He investigated the murder of Tupac from 2004 to 2017 and claimed he didn’t know that Keefe D’s 2008 cooperation with Los Angeles police, Compton police, the DEA, and the FBI regarding the murder was a protected proffer tied to a major drug case.

“I was told that he had been Duane Davis was arrested on a drug, a major drug case, and he was facing the rest of his life in prison. And he was trying to work that case off,” Long reportedly stated on the stand.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

How Long Has Keefe D Been In Jail?

The detective spoke with Keefe in 2009 in L.A., and presumed he was trying to get out of the drug case by providing information about the shooting. However, he allegedly did not know the full extent of the cooperation and the alleged deal with other authorities.

Detective Dan Long said his intent after the interview was to “drive back to Las Vegas, type opener warrant for an arrest, clear it with the district attorney, and have Mr. Davis arrested for murder.” However, he claimed the district attorney said they would not pursue a prosecution. Long reportedly claimed he and his team tried to find the specific proffer details, but were not successful. Also, he brought up how it was difficult to corroborate Keefe’s details, adding more doubt and shadows to this legal case’s evolution and its opportunities for prosecution over the years.

Authorities eventually arrested Keefe D in September of 2023, which later brought us to where we are now with the trial. After almost three years behind bars, we’ll soon see how this all wraps up.

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

The post Keefe D Was Allegedly Almost Arrested In 2009 For Tupac Murder appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by No Jumper on Instagram, Tekashi responded to this by flaunting how multiple news sources with multiple alleged biases are referencing Jam’s controversial testminony and his name-dropping. He also mocked Durk’s Muslim faith and “promoted” a new fashion style trolling his alleged “one foot in, one foot out” behavior.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

Not only that, but the New York provocateur also announced plans to host a “going-away party” for The Voice. He invited DJ Akademiks to the event during a phone call on Ak’s stream, which Akademiks TV caught on Twitter.

“When this n***a get found guilty, you coming to my party?” Tekashi asked. Akademiks did not seem super conducive to the idea, and we will see where the trolling goes from here.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

Lil Durk & 6ix9ine Beef

This conflict between 6ix9ine and Lil Durk has also caused more conversations about snitching. That’s because the former painted the latter’s efforts to shift blame for the murder-for-hire on another person as ratting. But a lot of folks pushed back on this narrative, whether they are just fans, legal experts, or close associates with the case.

Meanwhile, OTF Jam and Lil Durk caught heat over this back-and-forth, with various factions and sides calling both of them snitches. It’s a difficult conversation to have, especially due to the disconnect between legal standards and street codes. But it won’t get any easier to navigate, so the court must focus on the facts of the trial above all else.

We will see if Lil Durk himself or others eventually have any responses to trolling from 6ix9ine and the rest of their opposition. It seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Elsewhere, further deliberations in the case will probably hold more divisive explorations of hip-hop media and discourse concerning this situation.

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

The post 6ix9ine Wants To Hold Going-Away Party For Lil Durk After OTF Jam Mentioned Him In Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kendrick Lamar called Romell Frazier Jr. on his seventh birthday earlier this summer. Romell had asked his family if Kendrick could attend his birthday party, and while they just got a call, Lamar did invite Frazier Jr. and his family to visit him in Los Angeles.

“I’m glad you reached out. I’m glad I got to talk to you,” he had told the young fan. “You continue to be great, continue to keep that smile on your face, man. You got a beautiful life to live. You’re giving us a whole lot of inspiration with how strong you are.”

The pgLang creative also spoke to Romell’s mother. “It goes to show how great of a parent you are and the household you got for him,” he expressed. “He had that smile on his face, and he’s just pushing and he’s showing that strength.”

As caught by Kurrco on Twitter, Kendrick Lamar kept his promise. Romell Frazier Jr. and his family made the trip to L.A. and connected with him. Romell’s mother said the weekend was a “core memory” for him, and a clip emerged of Kendrick and others singing him happy birthday.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

Kendrick Lamar Meets Fan

Delta Airlines employee Josh Kendrick posted a message on Instagram about this, as it seems he spent time with Romell during his trip. He called the family his “special guests,” thanked Kendrick for his kindness, and had an encouraging message for Romell.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Josh Kendrick (@2js_officialhapa_)

Elsewhere, Lamar just came out with his “How To Pray” feature on Black Boy (Alternative), the new album by Dahi. But there are also conversations about Kendrick Lamar’s old music and beef retrospectives that are causing commotion. Amid all the noise, though, it’s always heartening to hear stories like these.

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

The post Kendrick Lamar Keeps Promise To Meet Seven-Year-Old Fan Who Lost His Arms appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: August 28, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Tracklist for MY BLOOD AS THE INK

1. SICK & TIRED
2. THIS AIN’T K-POP
3. STRANGER
4. GANGSTA TEAR
5. PAWN SHOP
6. CIGARETTE
7. FIGHT NIGHT AT GITANES
8. BLEED
9. FLIP THE SWITCH
10. A MESSAGE TO YOU
11. PIÑATA

The post MY BLOOD AS THE INK – Album by Night Lovell appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Few changes sorry for the wait,” he wrote earlier today. It’s unclear what these “few changes” could be, whether it’s tracklist placements, featured artists, sample clearances, or a whole host of other options. In any case, it joins other delayed drops in 2026 and also follows tensions between Young Thug and certain YSL affiliates. One of the rising MCs attached to the movement was Nine Vicious, although that is far from the case at this point.

Also, Thug teased two “sides” of this Slime Language 3 drop, indicating it will be a double LP. They will presumably come out at the same time according to the Atlanta artists himself, but maybe that’s part of the changes he referenced.

Read More: Who Is Trim? Charleston’s New Rap Wild Card

When Is Young Thug Dropping?

Sadly, Young Thug did not confirm an updated release date for Slime Language 3. There’s a chance it still comes out today, but it doesn’t seem like many fans are confident in that. All in all, we will just have to wait and see if Thug comes through with more updates and information about this process. If he doesn’t, fans will have to hold out for the drop as if it will happen as soon as it’s ready.

Elsewhere, Young Thug is facing some pushback thanks to some divisive advice he gave students in Macon, Georgia during an event. He told them fame was the most important thing, which many folks questioned as a tone-deaf and unrealistic assessment.

But at least Thugger continues to connect with the community and expand his YSL collective’s reach. With all this in mind, Slime Language 3 could go beyond just being a new era label compilation.

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

The post Young Thug Reveals “Slime Language 3” Will Drop Soon After A “Few Changes” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.