Several sneaker accounts shared the image without checking its source first. It turns out the photo was AI generated, not a real Nike campaign. The footwear site Nice Kicks confirmed the picture was fake earlier this week.

Nike’s actual marketing push has featured Drake alongside Durant in several ads. Those ads also included a jab at Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.

Durant debuted the “Candy Apple” colorway in a game against the Lakers back in March. The timing worked well since the shoe’s red tone matched Houston’s team colors. Nike has already released other bright colorways in this same signature line. Those include “Purple Stuff,” “Orange Crush,” and “Bubble Gum Bounce” versions of the KD19.

The fake apple photo spread quickly because it looked believable at first glance. Once people looked closer, though, the image raised obvious red flags. AI-generated content has become more common across social media lately. Overall this incident shows how easily fake images can pass as real marketing.

Read More: Memphis Bleek Addresses Foxy Brown’s Jay-Z Show Absence

Kevin Durant Says Viral Image Is AI

The fake photo showed Durant eating a candy apple in front of a red backdrop. Its lighting and skin texture looked slightly off once people paid closer attention. Nice Kicks flagged several inconsistencies before confirming the image wasn’t real.

Durant’s actual promotional material for the KD19 looks nothing like the viral photo. Nike leaned into a car culture theme for this shoe’s rollout instead. That campaign included a Houston event and appearances from Drake in short video spots.

The real KD19 “Candy Apple” uses a shiny red coating across most of the upper. A small green detail sits on the insole as the only real contrast. Nike also gave the shoe a redesigned shell that fits closer to the foot. This colorway kicks off a new run of bright, monochrome KD19 releases.

Read More: Houston Rapper Judy World Dead At 28, Woman Faces Manslaughter Charge

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The Roc-A-Fella veteran reflected on the historic concerts during a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club, where he discussed reuniting with Jay-Z to perform “Coming of Age.” During the conversation, DJ Envy pointed out that Foxy and Sauce Money were both absent from the performances despite their ties to Reasonable Doubt. Bleek admitted he couldn’t confirm exactly what happened, but shared what he had heard.

“Yo I heard through the grape vine that, I don’t know how true it is. It’s just what I heard,” Bleek said. “They said Fox was there and she got cold feet or something.”

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Read More: JAŸ-Z’s Special Guests For His “Extra Innings” Yankee Stadium Show

Foxy Brown & Jay-Z Have A Long History

Foxy Brown’s absence stood out because many fans expected the Brooklyn rapper to appear during the anniversary celebration. Speculation intensified after she cleared her Instagram page and left Jay-Z as the only account she followed, leading some to believe a reunion was in the works. Jay-Z did perform “Ain’t No N*gga” during the concerts, though Foxy never joined him onstage.

Bleek also stated that Jay reached out to Sauce Money well before the shows, but never received a response. Meanwhile, there were appearances by longtime collaborators such as Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Beanie Sigel, Eminem, Rihanna, Jadakiss, and Nas. Brown has not publicly addressed Bleek’s comments or explained why she did not perform during the Yankee Stadium run.

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Known professionally as Judy World and Play Girl Judy, Krystal Jordan built a name for herself in Houston’s local Hip Hop scene, where independent artists continue to shape one of Rap’s most influential cities. Following news of her death, supporters filled her Instagram page with messages of heartbreak. Additionally, a GoFundMe created by her sister quickly drew thousands of dollars in donations to help cover funeral expenses.

In a message shared on the fundraiser, Jordan’s sister, Keiara Walker, also said the family’s world has been “shattered” by the tragedy and described the profound loss her daughter now faces. As the community continues to mourn, authorities have filed criminal charges in connection with Jordan’s death.

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A Suspect Has Been Arrested

According to Harris County court records, per the Houston Chronicle, 28-year-old Kayla Wynita Rodgers has been charged with manslaughter in the fatal stabbing. The charge stems from an incident on July 11 at a residence in the 11900 block of Bat Sheva Lane.

Police said officers responded to the home after reports of a stabbing and found a bystander performing first aid on Jordan. She was transported to a nearby hospital by the Houston Fire Department, where she was later pronounced dead. Meanwhile, Rodgers was arrested at the scene without incident and booked into the Harris County Jail. Court records show her bond has been set at $100,000. An attorney for Rodgers was not listed in court records as of this writing.

Houston police have not released additional details about what led to the stabbing, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The post Houston Rapper Judy World Dead At 28, Woman Faces Manslaughter Charge appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The documents, obtained by TMZ, surfaced as part of Williams’ civil lawsuit against the New Orleans rapper over an alleged altercation aboard a private jet in 2022. Williams claims Wayne assaulted him after he attempted to intervene during a dispute between the rapper and the aircraft’s pilot. Wayne has denied the allegations and argues any force he used was in self-defense.

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Read More: Lil Wayne’s Former Assistant Demands In-Person Deposition Over Assault Allegations

Weezy Allegedly Runs A Tight Ship

According to the court documents, Williams’ responsibilities extended well beyond traditional assistant duties. He was allegedly expected to remain on call 24 hours a day, travel wherever Wayne traveled, pack luggage, run errands, handle purchases, and keep the rapper informed about spending. The position also required complete discretion regarding Wayne’s personal affairs and included signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Some of the expectations reflected Wayne’s personal routine. The documents state assistants were responsible for waking him on time, keeping pre-rolls readily available, and restocking his preferred rolling wraps before supplies ran out.

The filing also describes a role that demanded constant accessibility. Assistants allegedly needed to keep their phones charged at all times, work well under pressure, maintain a positive attitude, and feel comfortable around children and dogs. Wayne’s team also reportedly sought someone with “pleasant personal hygiene,” enough physical strength to carry bags during travel, and the ability to keep up with the rapper’s fast-paced lifestyle without becoming personally involved in it.

Williams’ lawsuit remains ongoing. Wayne continues to deny the assault allegations, and the claims made by both sides have yet to be resolved in court.

The post Lil Wayne’s Former Assistant Reveals Unusual Job Requirements appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

David Bravo and Jean Albert Renaud wrote the song “Skatin” for Deodato in 1980, and claim Jazze Pha used it as a sample in the songs “I Wanna Thank Ya” by Stone and Snoop, as well as “Nasty Girl” by Biggie, Nelly, and Diddy. According to Billboard, the two songwriters found out about the existence of these samples just two years ago. Now, they are seeking the publishing that they believe is rightfully theirs.

“This case embodies a classic ‘David versus Goliath’ struggle,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiffs are independent, everyday creators seeking to recover their rightful compensation that has been unlawfully diverted to billion-dollar record labels, global music publishers, and international recording artists, producers and songwriters.”

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Nasty Girl & I Wanna Thank Ya Under The Microscope

The two songwriters had originally sold the publishing rights to the song to Sony 45 years ago. When they asked Sony to make things right a couple of years ago, they allege they were “stonewalled.” They believe Sony’s interests in both songs are why they have yet to receive a fair deal.

“Choosing to protect its highly lucrative clients at the direct expense of its duties to plaintiffs, Sony Publishing acted in bad faith and deliberately aligned itself with the infringers,” the lawsuit continues. “Sony Publishing’s refusal to advocate for the creators of the foundational backing track has forced plaintiffs to drain their life savings to bring this action themselves.”

The defendants in the copyright case have yet to respond. Stay tuned to HNHH for updates.

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Griffith claims that in 2023, Diggs took out his private parts after allegedly drugging Griffith. When Griffith refused to do anything sexual, Diggs allegedly had his brother and some friends jump him.

Diggs sued Griffith for defamation, which eventually led to a countersuit from Griffith himself. It is here where he claimed Diggs sexually assaulted him and then had him beaten up. Griffith says he experienced emotional distress from the event and still carries that with him to this day.

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Stefon Diggs Responds

According to TMZ, Diggs responded to these allegations in court today, stating that the story is “fabricated.” Furthermore, Diggs’ legal team submitted a transcript from a deposition Griffith participated in. They believe Griffith’s answers prove he didn’t suffer any emotional distress and that his allegations are unreliable, as a result.

In the deposition, Griffith was asked: “Why would you want to try to get back on track with someone who tried to drug you and then take advantage of you?”

“I don’t deem — I don’t think that the story had to end that way,” Griffith said. “I, at least, just wanted to let him know that, you know, who you are sexually is who you are sexually, and I respect that. I just ask that you respect who I am sexually and not overstep my boundaries.”

This remains a developing story.

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Like many East Coast legends, Jones attended JAŸ-Z’s concert at Yankee Stadium this past weekend when he ran into Busta Rhymes. The two rappers shared a moment in the crowd, celebrating New York while Jim sang along to Frank Sinatra’s “New York.” However, their proximity to one another raised eyebrows in the comments. The tables turned on Jimmy for once, and many people began commenting “AYO” and “Pause.”

Jim listened to the people and ultimately deleted the post from his Instagram page. Later, he explained the decision. “I took it down,” he said. “Yo, Busta, I love you, but they crushed us just now. I just want to pause myself. A-Yo. My bad,” he added while laughing at the whole situation.

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

Jim Jones Drops New Album

While Jones got a laugh from the internet shenanigans, the Dipset rapper, who turns 50 today, has been keeping busy. Of course, he’s the reason why the Let’s Rap About It Podcast exists, but he also just came through with his new album, The Landlord a few weeks back. The album serves as a follow-up to The Fall Before The Rise and At The Church Steps, both of which dropped last year. The new project boasts impressive features, including his co-hosts Maino, Fabulous, and Dave East, along with Yung Bleu, Fetty Wap, Kodie Shane, and more. Let us know your thoughts on his latest album in the comments below. 

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Per TMZ, Diddy just unloaded the property on Star Island, where many of his infamous alleged freak-offs took place. The 1 West Star Island property reportedly sold for $55M to JFStar LLC. Ultimately, the sale was made off-market, and the finances of the purchase came from an $18.5M bank mortgage. 

Despite the eerie history of the six-bedroom, 8-and-a-half bathroom home, it is quite the impressive property, one that sits on 8,000 square feet with two stories, a guest house, and amenities like a deck on the water, pool, and a spa. But it should be noted that this wasn’t the home that was raided in March 2024. 

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Diddy Continues To Hold Onto His Other Star Island Property

Diddy still owns another home right next door at 2 Star Island, which was the one that was part of the broader investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. Ultimately, Diddy was cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, which were the more serious charges in his case. He ultimately was found guilty of violating the Mann Act after the jury believed that he transported people across state lines for the purpose of sex. 

We will continue to keep you posted on any further updates regarding Diddy’s case. Share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

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

The post Diddy’s Freak-Off Mansion Gets Sold For $55M appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This continued throughout the height of COVID, and it felt like hip-hop’s dominance was never going to end. However, in 2023, things took a sudden turn, as albums started to sell fewer units, especially in the first week. Young artists struggled to emerge as future superstars, while the same three artists remained at the top.

Fans began remarking how fewer hip-hop and R&B songs were topping the charts. Meanwhile, albums weren’t staying at the top for as long as they used to. Now, data from Luminate appears to back all of this up.

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Hip-Hop and R&B Struggling On The Charts

Hip-Hop and R&B have gone from 40% market share on the Billboard 200 in the first half of 2023 to roughly 30% at midyear 2026. This is a steep decline, with pop and country dominating the charts right now. Country music specifically has had a major rise over the past three years as artists like Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen, and others become mainstream stars.

This doesn’t necessarily mean hip-hop and R&B are in a bad place. Instead, it just means that pop and country have become part of the monoculture again. There are still plenty of great artists making amazing hip-hop and R&B albums.

These latest statistics are sure to lead to some interesting conversations over the coming days. That said, it’s important to just listen to what you like and ignore the noise.

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

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Now that he remains incarcerated while his codefendant, Big30, it back home, there have been a number of rumors and some speculations surrounding his case. Some have even gone as far as accusing Big30 of snitching on Pooh Shiesty, leading to his ability to come home as he awaits trial, while Pooh sits behind bars.

The rumors became so rampant that Big30 has now responded to them. In a post shared to Instagram, he declared that he never snitched on Pooh Shiesty and never would. “Don’t believe the hype… NEVER WILL I EVER,” he said on his Instagram Story.

Much of this speculation came, not only after Big30 was given pretrial release, but once a judge gave him clearance to go to the studio, too. Of course, he needs to be able to work and feed his family but considering his alleged involvement and Pooh Shiesty’s return to jail after being released last year, many felt as though Big30’s release was possibly part of a deal. 

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Big30 Allegedly Recorded Robbery

What makes matters here worse is that Big30 was allegedly responsible for the video of Gucci Mane’s robbery. “Unsatisfied with merely obtaining the written release of contract, [Pooh Shiesty] announced that he wanted to film [Gucci Mane], and Wright Jr. recorded [Gucci] on his cell phone stating that ‘Pooh Shiesty dropped from 1017,'” the U.S Attorney wrote in a filing responding to Pooh Shiesty’s attempts for bail. 

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

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