HotNewHipHop

Happiness Anytime – Album by Leon Bridges

Tallie Spencer — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:37:00 +0000

Leon Bridges is back with his fifth studio album, Happiness Anytime. The 12-track project follows 2024’s Leon and finds the Texas singer teaming with J Lloyd-Watson and Lydia Kitto of Jungle, who produced the album. Bridges gave listeners a generous preview before its arrival, releasing “Light the Way,” “Tears of Joy,” “Illusion,” and “Your Love Is Electric” together earlier this summer. “Talk It Over” also arrived ahead of the full project. Lydia Kitto makes the album’s only credited guest appearance on “All Day, All Night.”

Musically, Happiness Anytime pulls from soul while opening things up to Afrobeat, Brazilian music, disco, and other rhythmic influences. Bridges has always had a voice suited for warm, timeless production, but this project gives that familiar sound a little more movement.

Genre: R&B
Release Date: September 25, 2026
Album: Happiness Anytime

Tracklist For Happiness Anytime

Light the Way
Tears of Joy
Illusion
Your Love Is Electric
Talk It Over
Happiness Anytime
All Day, All Night (feat. Lydia Kitto)
Fly Baby
Watch You Dance
The Way It Goes
Take My Hand
Please Don’t Say Goodbye

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Popstar – Album by Tinashe

Tallie Spencer — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:17:00 +0000

Tinashe is embracing the popstar title on her new album, Popstar. The 16-track project arrives after a strong run for the singer, whose 2024 single “Nasty” became one of the biggest viral records of her career and helped introduce her music to a new wave of listeners. Rather than simply recreating that moment, Popstar continues the experimental approach Tinashe has built throughout her career. The album includes previously released songs “Too Easy,” “Melatonin,” “Crash Out,” and “Pillow Fight,” alongside new cuts like “Empty Stadium,” “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore,” and the title track. Tinashe has always moved comfortably between R&B, pop, electronic music, and dance, and Popstar feels like another chance for her to play with those lines. After years of building her career on her own terms, the title also feels fitting for where she is now.

Genre: Pop
Release Date: September 25, 2026
Album: Popstar

Tracklist For Popstar

Sunglasses
Too Easy
Melatonin
Empty Stadium
Flashbacks
Overdramatic
I’d Rather Be Alone
Crash Out
Pillow Fight
Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore
Twentyfive Eight
The Show Must Go On
Popstar
Brainrot
Cloud 9
Heavy Weight

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Aubrey O’Day Reacts To Diddy’s Former Staffers Reportedly Joining Usher’s Team

Tallie Spencer — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 03:58:00 +0000

Aubrey O’Day isn’t staying quiet after learning that several former members of Diddy’s team have reportedly found work with Usher. According to Rolling Stone, at least three people who previously worked closely with Sean “Diddy” Combs have joined Usher’s camp, including his longtime chief of staff, Kristina Khorram. Khorram is reportedly involved in Usher and Chris Brown’s ongoing 56-date The R&B Tour, although her exact position remains unclear.

A former Combs videographer also reportedly joined the team. Meanwhile, another former assistant briefly worked for Usher before the two sides parted ways.

O’Day reacted to the news on X, initially writing, “Everything is always so telling, isn’t it.”

The former Danity Kane singer followed up with a more pointed post about Khorram, questioning whether she was still “carrying the bag of colorful pills.” She added that she believed Khorram “must have friends in high places.”

Khorram spent more than a decade working alongside Combs before becoming chief of staff at Combs Enterprises in 2020. Federal prosecutors later identified her as an alleged co-conspirator while building their racketeering case against the Bad Boy founder. They alleged that she helped coordinate sexual encounters, obtain drugs and facilitate an effort to suppress hotel surveillance footage showing Combs assaulting Cassie Ventura. Khorram was never criminally charged or called to testify, and she has publicly denied enabling sexual abuse.

Aubrey O’Day Speaks Out

I wonder if she’s still carrying the bag of colorful pills with her everywhere she goes. I thought she would never make a return back to the country after the federal trial.. she must have friends in high places. https://t.co/oKihrc9gcf
— Aubrey O'Day (@AubreyODay) September 24, 2026

Combs was ultimately acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. But, convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence.

O’Day’s response is also consistent with how publicly she has spoken about her former Bad Boy boss in recent years. She has made several allegations about her experiences working with Combs during and after Making the Band, including claiming that her departure from Danity Kane was connected to her refusing his alleged sexual advances. Combs’ representatives have previously pushed back on allegations made by O’Day and other participants in the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning.

Now, O’Day’s reaction is putting another spotlight on the personnel moves and the longstanding connections between Combs and Usher.

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Young Thug Launches Primal To Help Artists & Creators Build Their Own Businesses

Tallie Spencer — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 03:35:00 +0000

Young Thug is expanding his business interests with the official launch of Primal. It’s a new holding company designed to give artists, athletes and creators an ownership stake in businesses they help build.

“I’m bringing up a new generation of founders,” Thug explained while announcing the venture. “I want talent to build, own, and keep the upside. Ownership over endorsements.”

Rather than functioning as a traditional talent agency or endorsement platform, Primal plans to create new intellectual property, acquire and invest in existing businesses, and provide the resources needed to turn those ideas into standalone companies. The larger goal is to move talent away from simply being paid to promote someone else’s product and toward actually owning part of the business.

The company plans to explore opportunities across fashion, entertainment, sports, technology, media, hospitality, consumer products and licensing. Instead of taking on a huge number of projects, Primal says it intends to selectively develop fewer businesses where it believes its capital, creative resources and industry relationships can make a meaningful difference.

Young Thug Wants To Make A Difference With Primal

Young Thug Launches Primal Holding Company, Wants His Artists “Thinking Beyond The Next Song” https://t.co/kBrcFz4U57
— Baller Alert (@balleralert) September 24, 2026

Young Thug already has firsthand experience turning his cultural influence into a larger business. His Atlanta-born SP5DER brand has grown into a recognizable streetwear company and expanded its reach this year through a global collaboration with adidas Originals.

Primal also arrives while Thug continues rebuilding and expanding the YSL ecosystem. HNHH recently reported that YSL Records partnered with Mega Millions Music on a deal involving Yume, who appeared on Slime Language 3.

That makes Primal feel like a logical extension of what he has already been doing. Instead of limiting his role to rapper, label boss or fashion founder, Thug is positioning himself to help other talent turn their cultural influence into businesses they actually own.

Primal says its first group of ventures will be revealed in the coming months.

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DJ Vlad Accuses Boosie Badazz Of Snitching As Their Feud Escalates

Tallie Spencer — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 02:49:00 +0000

DJ Vlad is taking his ongoing issues with Boosie Badazz a step further. He’s accusing the rapper of violating the same anti-snitching rules he has repeatedly applied to others.

During a new VladTV segment, Vlad revisited Boosie’s federal gun case and pointed to court documents that he believes show Boosie shifting responsibility toward his security guard. Vlad argued that the paperwork conflicts with Boosie’s outspoken stance against cooperating with authorities, especially considering how frequently the Baton Rouge rapper has criticized other rappers over what he felt to be snitching.

The latest accusation comes amid an increasingly messy fallout between the two. Boosie was once one of VladTV’s most frequent interview guests, but their relationship has deteriorated over disagreements involving interview payments, business dealings and, more recently, Boosie’s attempt to secure a presidential pardon.

DJ Vlad Responds To Boosie

Vlad Responds to Boosie's Threat & Shows Boosie's Snitch Paperwork https://t.co/4vdScbmAkj
— DJ Vlad (@djvlad) September 24, 2026

Boosie paid lobbyists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl $600,000 to advocate for a pardon from President Donald Trump in connection with his federal gun case. After the pardon failed to materialize, Boosie accused the pair of misleading him and has sought to recover $300,000. Burkman and Wohl deny scamming Boosie and maintain that they were hired to advocate for him, not guarantee a pardon.

The controversy grew after Boosie appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss the situation. He later complained about how the interview was presented and leaked alleged messages with the lobbyists while defending himself against accusations that his actions amounted to snitching. HNHH has covered the dispute extensively over the past two weeks.

Vlad is now attempting to turn Boosie’s own standards back on him. In addition to discussing paperwork from the gun case, he compared Boosie’s situation to previous debates involving Gunna, Young Thug, T.I., Gucci Mane and others who have faced similar accusations within hip-hop.

Still, considering how strongly Boosie has spoken about cooperation throughout his career, it’s easy to see why the accusation has quickly become another major point of contention between him and Vlad.

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Boosie Badazz Reacts After Mo3’s Killer Says He Could Have Killed Him Multiple Times

Tallie Spencer — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 02:22:06 +0000

Boosie Badazz is firing back after Kewon White, the man recently convicted of killing Mo3, admitted to shooting at Boosie and claimed he could have killed the Louisiana rapper if that had been his intention. Boosie questioned why White would file an appeal for his case in the first place. Meanwhile, White had been giving interviews about Mo3’s murder and allegedly admitting to shooting at Boosie. He questioned the timing and the logistics of admitting that information, while simultaneously trying to appeal his case.

White made the recent comments during an interview (from jail) with Cam Capone News. He said he had a problem with how Boosie carried himself when he came to Dallas following Mo3’s November 2020 death. White said he fired around 10 shots at Boosie but claimed his intention was to send a message rather than kill him. He also claimed he had “three opportunities” to kill him.

Boosie was shot in the leg in Dallas on November 14, 2020, days after Mo3 was killed and one day after Boosie attended a vigil for his late collaborator.

Boosie Badazz Is Bothered

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A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

White’s decision to discuss the shooting now particularly bothered Boosie. Mainly because White is actively appealing his murder conviction. Boosie took to social media to question White’s reasoning.
“I know why,” Boosie started. “You wanna die in jail.”

He went on to call him names, and directed his message towards him at the camera by claiming that he must be doing these interviews because he’s comfortable in jail and wants to stay there.

“You what they call incredible hulks. You like a pink incredible hulk with yoppa in your hand,” he continued.

“Why would you file an appeal if you gonna do an interview talking about you had to kill [Mo3]?” Boosie questioned in his response. The timing is certainly unusual. White was convicted of capital murder earlier this month for fatally shooting Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, on a Dallas highway in 2020. He has since filed a notice of appeal.

Prosecutors alleged during White’s trial that Yella Beezy paid him to kill Mo3. White has denied being paid by Beezy, and Beezy has denied involvement in the murder plot. HNHH has closely followed the case throughout White’s trial, including his conviction and subsequent attempts to appeal.

For Boosie, however, White’s latest comments have made an already personal case even more direct.

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Queen Latifah Says One Actress May Not Be Enough For Her Biopic

Erika Marie — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:34:36 +0000

Finding one person to play Queen Latifah may not be enough. As development continues on the Hip Hop icon’s upcoming biopic, she says the challenge is finding performers who can convincingly capture the different versions of Dana Owens that existed across her life.

Speaking at Variety’s Power of Women summit, Latifah revealed that an open casting call is coming and suggested the production could ultimately divide the role among multiple women. “Someone has to capture all the different sides of me, and that’s going to be a challenge to pull it off,” she said, according to Yahoo Entertainment. “They’re out there somewhere. It might be three people. We’ll see.”

She later joked, “My life is exhausting,” before adding that she may need “three of y’all” to play her. The comment suggests casting remains one of the film’s biggest unresolved pieces as the project moves forward.

Queen Latifah says she’s going to open a casting call for her upcoming biopic:

“Someone has to capture all the different sides of me, and that’s going to be a challenge. They’re out there somewhere. It might be three people.”

Variety Power of Women pic.twitter.com/pSjEoTooL8
— Variety (@Variety) September 24, 2026

The Search For Queen Latifah Is Opening Up

The biopic was first announced in 2024 as the opening film in a planned series about major Hip Hop artists. Flavor Unit Entertainment is producing alongside Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment, with HarbourView Equity Partners financing the slate. Latifah and longtime business partner Shakim Compere are producing for Flavor Unit, while Will Smith is among the producers through Westbrook. Yahoo reported at the time that it would announce additional details as development continued.

Latifah’s latest comments make clear she is looking beyond simple physical resemblance. Whoever takes on the role will have to move through very different periods of her life on screen, and she is leaving open the possibility that no single performer will be asked to carry them all.

Sidney Starr Claims Fame Is Making Jail More Difficult

Erika Marie — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:07:38 +0000

Being recognizable behind bars has become part of Sidney Starr’s renewed argument for release. The Baddies alum is asking a Georgia judge for bond while awaiting trial, telling the court that her public profile has made her time in custody especially difficult.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Starr’s attorney says she is “recognizable to a sizeable portion of the jail population.” The filing claims other inmates repeatedly pressure her for money. Starr also says someone stole the personal identification number connected to her jail video account and used it without permission.

Her defense further argues that continued incarceration is negatively affecting her health. Starr says she would accept home confinement with GPS monitoring if released and comply with restrictions on her social media use. Her father submitted a letter supporting the request, describing his daughter as a good person.

A Judge Previously Denied Starr Bond

The latest filing follows an unsuccessful attempt to secure her release last month. An Atlanta judge denied bond Aug. 25 after finding Starr could pose a flight risk or danger if released, according to CBS News Atlanta. The court also raised concerns that her large social media following could be used to interfere with witnesses.

Starr was arrested Aug. 2 after an encounter at an Embassy Suites in Hapeville. She faces aggravated child molestation and sexual battery against a child under 16. She is also charged with sodomy. Police allege Starr performed oral sex on a boy she met at the hotel. Starr told investigators that he said he was 18, while his parents told officers he was under 16.

The reality personality has denied the allegations and said she intends to fight the case. “Allegations should not be mistaken for fact,” she said in an August statement shared by TMZ.

Russell Simmons Uses “Hotel Lobby” AI Trend Amid Kimora Lee Tension

Erika Marie — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:38:19 +0000

An AI-generated version of Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee rapping Quavo and Takeoff’s “Hotel Lobby” is how the Def Jam co-founder chose to address his ex-wife amid renewed tension over their past. Using the social media trend that replaces Quavo and Takeoff in their COLORS performance with other figures, Simmons inserted himself and Kimora into the clip before attaching a surprisingly sentimental message.

“We worked good as a team,” he wrote in the Instagram caption, describing their years together and claiming they remained “very close friends” long after the marriage ended. Simmons congratulated Kimora on her new Lifetime documentary, Kimora Lee: On Her Own, and said that when his own story is told, he will “only remember you fondly.” He also wrote that he remains available for his three godchildren and wished her success in whatever comes next.

The timing makes the affectionate tone difficult to separate from their latest public disagreement. Kimora recently said she was 16 when Simmons began pursuing her and recalled Tyra Banks trying to keep her away from him. She now believes Banks was attempting to protect her, though she initially interpreted the interference as jealousy. People also reported Kimora’s allegations that the relationship later became emotionally and financially abusive. Simmons has denied allegations of abuse.

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A post shared by Russell Simmons/Gdas (@unclerush)

Their Relationship Has Been Anything But Friendly Lately

Simmons responded to the age claim through a spokesperson, arguing that the pair first met in February 1993, when Kimora was 17 years and nine months old. His representative also pointed to older interviews in which she was quoted saying they did not become intimate until she was 18. The statement did not address her recollection of Banks trying to intervene.

Their relationship has deteriorated publicly in other ways. In 2021, Simmons sued Kimora and her then-husband Tim Leissner over millions of shares in Celsius Holdings, accusing them of improperly transferring stock connected to an investment venture. Kimora’s representatives denied those allegations and accused Simmons of using the lawsuit to harass her. She recently told People that the dispute has since been resolved.

The former couple married in 1998 and share daughters Ming and Aoki. Their divorce was finalized in 2009, and although they maintained a friendlier public relationship for years afterward, that image has steadily broken down through legal fights and competing accounts of their marriage. Against that backdrop, the “Hotel Lobby” edit lands somewhere between nostalgia and an attempted olive branch.

Macklemore Announces “Free Palestine Tour” After Ed Sheeran Exit

Erika Marie — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:24:03 +0000

Getting dropped from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour has given Macklemore room to build one around the message that got him removed. The Seattle rapper announced the Free Palestine Tour on Thursday, unveiling three European dates with proceeds going to organizations supporting Palestinians.

The run begins Oct. 26 in Dublin before heading to Paris on Oct. 29 and London on Oct. 30, according to TMZ. More dates could follow, including possible U.S. shows. Presale tickets are scheduled to become available Monday, with the general sale beginning Wednesday.

In his announcement, Macklemore said his newly open schedule helped create the opportunity. He also framed the concerts as a response to efforts to restrict pro-Palestinian speech. “It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore,” he wrote, using the term that has become central to his criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. He added that audiences are asking artists to “use the stage for more than entertainment.”

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A post shared by BEN (@macklemore)

The New Tour Follows His Removal From Ed Sheeran’s Shows

Earlier this month, promoter Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after several venues objected to his participation. The controversy followed two MetLife Stadium performances where he called for a “Free Palestine” and performed “Hind’s Hall.” The promoter told Rolling Stone that venues had warned they would not host the concerts with him still on the lineup.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft later confirmed that he barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium, citing what he described as offensive rhetoric and imagery. Macklemore accused Kraft of helping pressure other venues to follow suit. Kraft confirmed his own decision regarding Gillette but did not address that broader allegation. Sheeran subsequently said venue owners and the promoter made the final call despite his attempts to find another solution.

The rapper has responded by doubling down on his advocacy. He pledged $1 million to organizations supporting Palestinians after his removal from the Sheeran tour, then announced the new concerts a week later. Rolling Stone reports that the upcoming shows will continue that fundraising effort, with proceeds benefiting Palestinian support organizations. The Free Palestine Tour is set to launch in Dublin on Oct. 26.