“If you’re trying to make young music and you’re not young, it’s gonna be inauthentic, and people can feel that,” he explained. “You can smell it. So, the best thing anyone can do going through music is to tell their story and keep creating from that space.”

From there, he brought up Clipse and their song, “The Birds Don’t Sing,” as an example of good songwriting. “I love what the Clipse are doing right now and how it’s authentic to them, and they’re telling a story about their mom and dad who just passed away, and how deep that is with John Legend singing on the chorus and everything that they’ve been through. It’s an authentic display, a piece of classic material that could’ve come out in ’96 or 2026. It still feels the same because it’s real and authentic to who they are.”

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

New York Times’ Best Living Songwriters

JAY-Z’s interview with The New York Times was for the publication’s list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters. To narrow down the selections, they weighed the opinions of over 250 insiders and six critics.

JAY’s advice mirrors the praise The New York Times gave him in explaining their decision to select him for the list. In addition to his ability to create “intricate” rhyme schemes, they also noted how his style has evolved over the years. With 4:44, the legendary rapper tackled struggles in his marriage to Beyonce as well as his own personal turmoils. The Times described the project as “far blunter and more bruised than anything he had ever recorded.”

JAY-Z wasn’t the only hip-hop artist to earn a nod, either. Young Thug, Kendrick Lamar, Missy Elliott, OutKast, Babyface, Bad Bunny, and The-Dream all landed in the piece as well.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post JAY-Z Gives Sage Songwriting Advice For Aspiring Artists appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house,” she wrote at the time. “Got ‘cold feet.’ Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season now you don’t know if you can be ‘monogamous’???? b***h I need a REAL break after this one .. bye yall.”

Meg ended up doubling down in a statement shared with TMZ. In it, she noted that “trust, fidelity and respect” are non-negotiables for her when it comes to relationships.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Megan Thee Stallion & Klay Thompson Breakup

Yesterday (April 27), Meg also announced that she’ll be ending her time on Broadway a bit earlier than expected. While it’s unclear exactly why she’s decided not to complete the 8-week run, fans can’t help but speculate that her personal life has taken its toll.

“Hotties, my last performance as Zidler in @moulinrougebway will be May 1,” she declared, per The Shade Room. “It’s been such an honor to be part of thee Moulin Rouge family and I’ve met so many amazing people in this theater! Y’all work so hard and I have so much respect for the dedication, the stamina, the work ethic, the time and the effort y’all put into the work!”

“I’m so grateful for the cast and crew that made this experience so meaningful,” Meg concluded. “And to all the Hotties that showed up or planned to attend, thank you for supporting me during this incredible journey! I LOVE YALL.”

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post Megan Thee Stallion To Leave “Moulin Rouge” Early Amid Klay Thompson Split appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: April 28, 2026

Genre: Hip-Hop

Album: N/A

The post Melanate It – Song by La Reezy appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

With JAY-Z, The New York Times begins by describing his iconic first studio album, Reasonable Doubt, as “one of the greatest debut albums in any genre,” adding that it’s “a testament to dazzling skills as a stylist and storyteller.” They go on to praise the “intricate configurations” of the rhyme schemes in his verses, describing the writing as “dense, full of puns and double and triple entendres.”

They also note how his style has evolved over the years. With 4:44, the legendary rapper released a candid project, “far blunter and more bruised than anything he had ever recorded.” The album tackled struggles in JAY’s marriage to Beyonce as well as his own personal turmoils.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint 

As for Young Thug, the publication describes him as a “poststructural dissenter” who has been “dismantling” the norms of the genre with “his fully improvisational approach to song construction.” Additionally, Kendrick Lamar earns praise for his ability to blend genres. The New York Times highlights his To Pimp A Butterfly single, “i,” in particular for its use of “pop, rock, soul, funk, crunk, street-corner church, bounce, and quiet storm.” Other artists to earn nods include OutKast, Missy Elliott, Babyface, Bad Bunny, and The-Dream.

Did Drake Make The List?

When Kurrco shared the full list on X (formerly Twitter), many fans felt there were several noteworthy snubs. Despite him being Canadian, many brought up Drake. “No Drake, no pnd, no Bryson tiller, no swae lee, no future, no Jcole. We live in a era of media where if you can’t tell the difference between paid media propaganda & real journalism than your cooked,” one user argued. Another wrote: “No eminem no drake?? Top 5 rappers of all time not in the list that babyface and missy elliot are in.”

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post JAY-Z, Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar, & More Rappers Named Among Best Living Songwriters appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The doc centers on YB’s “Make America Slime Again (MASA)” tour. It grossed almost $70 million in 2025, marking one of the most successful solo rap tours ever.

In addition to NBA YoungBoy, Patrick Hughes, Kyle Claiborne, and Antoine Banks are producers. It was directed by Nico Ballesteros, the same mind behind the controversial 2025 Kanye West documentary, In Whose Name?

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

NBA YoungBoy Documentary Screening Shut Down

The film features concert footage, plus gives viewers a look at the rapper’s family life, home, and more. While it’s been a massive success so far, the screenings haven’t exactly gone off without a hitch. Over the weekend, one movie theater tried to shut down a screening because staff thought fans were being a bit too rowdy.

A clip from the evening eventually surfaced online, showing a movie theater employee addressing the disgruntled crowd. The crowd made it clear that they weren’t happy with what they were hearing, even calling the employee a “b***h.”

Other clips from screenings around the country show audience members dancing, rapping along to the YB’s lyrics, and overall having a blast. Some people ended up getting kicked out, and police were even called to one theater. Seven teenagers were also arrested near a movie theater in North Hills, North Carolina, this weekend. Police had received several calls about an alleged brawl at both the cinema and a local Chick-Fil-A.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post NBA YoungBoy Documentary Grosses Over $1 Million In First Week appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In addition to politics, he is also someone who comments on matters pertaining to pop culture. He doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves and getting into the gossip world. In fact, it sometimes feels as though he enjoys it. We could imagine Smith someday being the host of Entertainment Tonight or perhaps some sort of similar show on E!

On Monday, Smith decided to talk about the Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson situation on his show, Straight Shooter. Meg took to Instagram over the weekend to reveal that the two had broken up. She subsequently accused Thompson of infidelity. She also claimed that Thompson had wild mood swings and took his frustrations out on her.

Smith decided that this was a worthy story to comment on, and he did not hide his feelings. In the clip below, he went off on Megan Thee Stallion, claiming that her public comments were completely unnecessary.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Stephen A. Smith Gives His Take

Smith argues that because the two were not married, she shouldn’t be online complaining about cheating. While Thompson’s actions aren’t honorable, Stephen A. doesn’t believe they needed to be broadcasted to the internet in such a dramatic fashion.

Smith feels as though many of these private matters need to be left behind closed doors. Otherwise, it can get completely out of hand. It’s a take that isn’t out of the ordinary for Smith. In fact, it is pretty consistent with his worldview.

The Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson situation has garnered quite a few reactions over the past few days. Online discourse has ramped up, with some saying that no one knew who Klay was prior to them dating. Of course, these kinds of hot takes are silly and should probably disregarded.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post Stephen A. Smith Pops Off On Megan Thee Stallion Following Klay Thompson Breakup appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Reigns unboxed the pair on video and his reaction was immediate. The shoe fits his persona so naturally that the connection feels official even without a formal announcement. Jordan Brand made no official statement tying the “Bloodline” colorway to Reigns. Regardless, the gift made the connection feel real.

The “Bloodline” colorway has had a winding road to release, with Jordan Brand originally shelving it in favor of the “Flu Game” 12 retro back in 2025. Furthermore, the shoe went through extended silence with no leaks or updates for over a year before a May 23rd release date was confirmed.

The Air Jordan 12 “Bloodline” is scheduled to release May 23rd via Nike SNKRS and other retailers for $205. Expect pairs to land at the usual Jordan Brand retailers like Foot Locker and Champs.

The combination of the on-foot preview, the WrestleMania timing, and Reigns’ personal connection to the name makes this one of the more culturally layered Jordan drops of the year. Black and red retros historically do not sit at retail.

Read More: Video Claiming To Show Alleged Counterfeit Louis Vuitton Sneaker Factory Goes Viral

Roman Reigns Air Jordan 12 “Bloodline”

The Air Jordan 12 “Bloodline” is one of the cleanest executions of the black-and-red formula the silhouette has ever seen. The shoe features rising-sun stitching, a reptile-textured mudguard, metallic red eyelets, and a red Jumpman plate throughout.

The blacked-out base creates a commanding, almost all-conditions aesthetic that works across any outfit. Red bleeds through on the pull tab, midsole details, and eyelets with just enough to keep the look sharp rather than loud.

The Air Jordan 12 silhouette itself debuted in 1996 and carries the legacy of Michael Jordan’s 5th championship run. That heritage, combined with the WWE crossover narrative around Reigns, gives this colorway a dual identity that makes it one of 2026’s most compelling retro releases.

Read More: Nigel Sylvester Spotted Recovering In The Hyperice x Nike Hyperboot

The post Roman Reigns Laces Up The Upcoming Air Jordan 12 “Bloodline” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

His ICEMAN sculpture in downtown Toronto was the perfect example of this. Fans gathered around the sculpture with mallets and blow torches so that they could get to the release date faster. It was an impressive showing, and it proves that despite everything that has happened, Drake remains someone who is adored.

With that being said, the man’s mere presence can apparently drive a grown man to tears. Case in point, a video hit social media on Monday evening, depicting a man driving his car down the street where Drake lives in Toronto.

In the clip, Drake’s envoy of black SUVs can be seen driving past at unusually fast speeds. From there, the man begins to cry, noting that Drake was in one of the vans. The artist’s presence makes him emotional, and it almost feels like some sort of parody.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

Drake Fans Are Something Else

Whether or not Drake ends up disappointing fans like the man above remains to be seen. There is still a lot that needs to be figured out about ICEMAN. We don’t have a lead single, and we don’t even have the cover art. At this point, the album is still shrouded in mystery despite all of the promotion we’ve seen over the past few months.

Whatever the case may be, this is going to be a fascinating rollout. Drake has not dropped a solo project since the release of For All The Dogs back in 2023. Fans are expecting him to drop something that showcases his hunger to be the best. The last few albums have shown artistic stagnation. Now, they want something a bit more creative and daring.

Read More: Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” Is 10 Years Old & Still Feels Like A Cultural Reset

The post Drake Fan Breaks Down In Tears As Rapper Drives By His Car appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“It looks like Nicki Minaj dumped her husband, Kenneth Petty,” DJ Vlad captioned a screenshot of the sex offender registry. “According ot the sex offender registry, he’s now living in a tiny 800-square-foot house in Jamaica, Queens, instead of the $20M Hidden Hills mansion Nicki owns. The rumor is that he got another girl pregnant, but that’s not confirmed. Is this the greatest bag fumble of all time?”

In turn, fans online have been sharing plenty of jokes about the situation. “How she get cheated on by a man that wasn’t even allowed to leave his home, is she that bad??” one fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote in response to the account, Red Media. Another asked: “Is that why she hasn’t commented on megan’s cheating man.” That remark refers to Megan Thee Stallion accusing Klay Thompson of cheating on her over the weekend.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Other fans of Minaj have come to the couple’s defense. When one argued that Petty could be stretching the truth about his current address to help hide the rapper’s home, Vlad fired back: “That’s not how the sex offender registry works, idiot. It’s where you’re physically located. You think Nicki and their son are living with him in that tiny house? Barbs are really the stupidest people on earth.” As of Tuesday morning, Vlad has deleted his posts.

Why Is Kenneth Petty On The Sex Offender Registry?

Kenneth Petty has been on the sex offender registry since 1995, when he was convicted of first-degree attempted rape. In 2021, authorities accused him of failing to update his most recent address with the registry.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post DJ Vlad Suggests Kenneth Petty Got Another Woman Pregnant appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I knew a gun was going to be used to shoot Jason Mizell,” he told a federal magistrate, per NBC News. “I knew that what I was doing was wrong and a crime.”

Bryant’s role in the murder was first revealed in 2023 when he was charged in a superseding indictment. “More than two decades after the coldblooded, execution-style killing of Mr. Mizell, an exhaustive investigation revealed Bryant’s role,” US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement.

Bryant did not name the other people he claims to have helped. In 2024, however, two other men were convicted in Jam Master Jay’s death: Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. Jordan’s conviction was overturned in December.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Who Killed Jam Master Jay?

“After a review of the trial record, the court finds that the government’s theories of Jordan’s drug-related motive to kill [Jay] or drug offense-related motive to use a firearm are impermissibly speculative and just conjecture,” Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall stated at the time. “Jordan has met the heavy burden [under federal rules] to be granted a judgment of acquittal.”

Earlier this month, Judge DeArcy Hall granted him a $1 million bond. For now, however, he remains behind bars on separate drug charges. “There’s a real chance, Mr. Jordan, that you may be released in the very near term,” U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall told him in court. “I wish you luck. And you will stay out of trouble.”

Jordan could have been released shortly after that, but prosecutors ended up appealing his acquittal of two federal murder counts. As for Washington, his guilty ruling still stands.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post Third Jam Master Jay Murder Suspect Pleads Guilty appeared first on HotNewHipHop.