This will reportedly be on June 12, when the U.S. men’s national team will face Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. FIFA plans to hold opening ceremonies for each host country’s first game, which also include Canada and Mexico. In addition, they will also host special ceremonies for the United States’ 250th birthday on July 4 at games in Houston and Philadelphia.

These opening ceremonies will reportedly take place 90 minutes prior to each game’s kick-off. The U.S. show will reportedly last around 13 minutes. As for the July 4 celebrations, it’s still unclear exactly how FIFA plans to celebrate, but we’ll probably get more details as we move closer to the date. Finally, FIFA will also host an opening ceremony and halftime show for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, but we don’t know the performers yet.

In any case, fans of the “One Of Them” rapper are excited to see what he could bring to such a global stage. Future’s been dealing with relationship drama as of late, but this will definitely help him take a break and grow his career.

Read More: French Montana’s Confidence Finally Paid Off During “Verzuz”

Who Is Performing At The 2026 FIFA World Cup?

What’s more is that 2026 might be a very busy year for the Atlanta artist. In addition to this 2026 FIFA World Cup performance, Future teased a new album coming soon. We don’t know when it will drop, but die-hards can’t wait to hear what’s in store.

Other performers for these 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies include Michael Bublé, Kary Perry, Alanis Morissette, Sanjoy, Alessia Cara, LISA, Maná, Tyla, Belinda, and more. It’s going to be a star-studded affair.

Elsewhere, Future’s dynamics with hip-hop peers and alleged foes remains under scrutiny. After he was spotted wearing NOCTA in a studio teaser, many Drake fans wondered if they will bury the hatchet, or if they should in the first place.

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

The post Future Will Perform At 2026 FIFA World Cup For USA’s Opening Ceremony appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to Bryson “Boom” Paul on Twitter, Shiesty pleaded not guilty today (Friday, May 8) to all counts against him in the kidnapping and extortion case. The federal arraignment on five counts also came with an update about potential trial dates.

“We are awaiting a scheduling order from the court,” Pooh’s new lawyer Kent Schaffer reportedly stated via email. “Although we have not seen all of the evidence in the case it is apparent that it’s a highly defensible case and we’re hoping to have [Shiesty] back in the recording studio very soon.”

Schaffer joined the team after the departure of Bradford Cohen and Saam Zangeneh. Now, the new legal team has significant next steps to take not just with scheduling, but also with compiling evidence, preparing their arguments, and addressing new developments and accusations from prosecutors.

Big30 and Pooh Shiesty’s father also pleaded not guilty in this case. Both Big and Shiesty remain behind bars at press time, and they (along with some of the nine codefendants) are attempting to secure bond.

Read More: Did Gucci Mane Snitch? Everything We Know About Pooh Shiesty’s Arrest

How Long Is Pooh Shiesty Facing?

If convicted, Pooh Shiesty and his codefendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. These are heavy charges, and they also came with a lot of hip-hop debate about snitching, label contracts, and a whole lot more.

However, the codefendants are trying to stand tall amid the scrutiny. Pooh Shiesty’s father dismissed the alleged evidence against him, reportedly claiming that prosecutors’ case against him is “profoundly underwhelming.” He and his legal team believe he should wait for the trial from the comfort of his home, as prosecutors are attempting to revoke his bond.

Elsewhere, hip-hop continues to debate the Gucci Mane and Pooh Shiesty situation. They are even roping in Shiesty’s father, as Wack 100 recently theorized he might snitch on his son. With Pooh’s not guilty plea, though, we will see how legal strategies evolve and what other developments will be key to the trial’s outcome.

Read More: French Montana’s Confidence Finally Paid Off During “Verzuz”

The post Pooh Shiesty Pleads Not Guilty In Gucci Mane Kidnapping Case appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by Ahmed/The Ears on Twitter, the teacher told Kendrick how proud she and many others are of him. Apparently, her daughter had encouraged her to attend after hearing of his appearance, positing that he would recognize her. This manifested, and the two shared a heartening hug and words of love and appreciation.

It’s not Kendrick Lamar’s only recent public sighting, as fans recently caught him on a trip to Disneyland with his family. Of course, this has led to a lot of speculation and discussion about potential new music, as rumors about a possible release have been floating around as of late. As usual, we will just have to wait and see. After all, he’s more likely to take a long hiatus or drop a surprise album rather than keep fans in the loop incessantly.

Read More: French Montana’s Confidence Finally Paid Off During “Verzuz”

Centennial High School

Kendrick Lamar attended Centennial High School long before his rap career took off, although he’s often reflected on how he pursued this passion since a young age. The ceremony he attended alongside Dr. Dre, will.i.am, and others celebrated a reimagined campus via the school’s first large-scale construction project in 70 years.

But Kendrick Lamar’s recent reflections aren’t just personal. They are also familial. For a Baby Keem interview with The New York Times, Kendrick recalled via email how their interaction at a relative’s funeral brought them closer together. The rest, as they say, is history.

Elsewhere, people are watching Kendrick Lamar’s movement closely due to the upcoming big release from his rival, Drake. ICEMAN is just a week away, and theories about Mr. Morale having a big step on the drop have been around for a long time. We’ll have to wait until May 15 to find out. In any case, this heartwarming moment is a welcome break from that discourse.

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

The post Kendrick Lamar Reunites With His 7th-Grade Teacher In Heartwarming Video appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The thing is, French Montana makes music that lives in specific environments. Gym speakers, late-night parties, yacht decks, drunk group sing-alongs. His records tend to land best when they’re shared experiences. And the people who really connect with that sound are often tied to a very specific era—street hustlers who’ve grown out of it, ex-dancers who’ve left that life behind, New Yorkers who remember when he was actively soundtracking the city, or so it would seem. In that sense, French has become more of a nostalgic figure, with even his broader celebrity identity at one point orbiting his relationship with Khloé Kardashian and his friendship with Diddy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HotNewHipHop® (@hotnewhiphop)

All of this might sound harsh, but the reality is French Montana’s hustle and ear for talent arguably outweigh his solo artistic output, at least in recent years. For every project he drops, there’s usually one record that carries the weight—and more often than not, it leans heavily on features. That’s not to say he doesn’t have standalone hits. “FWMGAB” had a real moment on its own. But when you look at the records that define his mainstream peak, collaboration tends to do a lot of the heavy lifting. “Lockjaw” is as much Kodak Black’s energy as it is French’s, and “Unforgettable” doesn’t exist in the same way without Swae Lee.

That concern followed him into last night’s Verzuz against Rick Ross. A few years ago, French Montana declared that he could go neck-and-neck with Kendrick Lamar in a Verzuz setting—a claim that raised eyebrows at the time, even as Hot 97 later put parts of that idea into an on-air comparison segment. While Kendrick and French operate in entirely different lanes, French was essentially arguing that his catalog of anthems could stand up against most hip-hop giants.

Last night, it proved to be more defensible than expected. Rick Ross had already claimed a win in the Verzuz space when he went up against 2 Chainz, and this matchup carried a similar sense of scale. The setup felt more collaborative than combative at points, especially given how many records both artists share or have touched in some form. But when the wins were tallied, and French emerged victorious by a margin, a noticeable portion of French Montana’s strongest moments came through collaboration—remixes like Ferg’s “Work,” Bobby Shmurda’s “Hot N****a,” along with “Lockjaw” and “Unforgettable,” which lean heavily on their featured counterparts. Even “Freaks” with Nicki Minaj and “Smoking Part 2” with Max B and Ross played into that same pattern.

His solo cuts, meanwhile, mostly pointed back to an earlier phase of his career, when he was still being championed in mixtape circuits and positioned as part of the next wave of Bad Boy-era momentum in the 2010s.

To be fair, Ross isn’t entirely removed from that same conversation. Many of his records also include features. But Ross has long demonstrated that his catalog carries weight beyond the single—album cuts, street anthems, and radio records that feel structurally complete on their own. And more importantly, he has enough solo moments where the verse alone becomes the centerpiece, whether on his own records or others’.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HotNewHipHop® (@hotnewhiphop)

That’s where French still separates himself. His strength lies in hooks and moments rather than fully dominant bodies of work. He can offset weaker verses if the chorus lands, and sometimes a 30-second French Montana moment hits harder than a fully structured solo record built around him. Last night only reinforced how much sequencing and presentation matter when his catalog is placed alongside an artist like Rick Ross.

Verzuz ultimately gave his strengths a proper stage. Whether it leads to a renewed interest in his back catalog remains to be seen. But it did underline something that often gets flattened in the discourse: French Montana’s catalog does carry weight, not just for him, but for the era and audience that came up with him—from the Bronx mixtape run to his global crossover moment.

What’s interesting is that if you ask Kenyon Martin, Rick Ross already has a better catalog than Kendrick Lamar. And if that kind of framing holds any weight, then maybe French’s earlier claim about going neck-and-neck with Kendrick doesn’t look quite as absurd in hindsight, at least when measured through the lens of anthems, moments, and Verzuz mechanics rather than traditional album legacy.

The post French Montana’s Confidence Finally Paid Off During “Verzuz” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

For those unaware, the YSL rapper had posted a video of him and his Rich Gang partner, writing in his post that he never switched up on Quan. Close affiliate Rich Homie Monta and Quan’s brother Rich Homie Dre seemed to criticize the post online, which led to Thug responding to them online. Today (Friday, May 8), he had some more to say in various Instagram Story posts, specifically to Quan’s parents.

“@richhomiedre tell them he was about to take the stand on me the week he died sense its a lie,” Young Thug expressed concerning Rich Homie Quan, as caught by DJ Akademiks on IG. “I still luv em and wish he was here tho, I know I wouldn’t have walked pass him sleeping on the floor.”

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

Rich Homie Quan & Young Thug’s Relationship

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

“I don’t need a recepit sissy tt’s in blk&white,” he continued. “R.I.P quan condolences to Mom. Dad knows I love him like my own, and I have always been respectful and i was there for him when he went through what he went through. All this because I made a post reminiscing about a person I spent a lot of my career with as a friend and brother. We all make mistakes but I’m not the reason he died, yall are. I always told him to stop drinking and stop popping pills. Yall made sure he had them when he woke up. Sorry pops for this goofy s**t but these n***as coming at me cause I posted your son in great regards.”

Rich Homie Quan reportedly addressed Young Thug just days before his passing. “We do have a lot of music that hasn’t been released. But who knows what the future holds? […] I’m willing to have a conversation, and it’ll start from there,” he had remarked.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & The Misogynoir In The Way People Talk About Her

The post Young Thug Addresses Rich Homie Quan’s Family After Brother’s Diss appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

On the tenth day of the trial, Murphy seemingly started arguing with one of his codefendants as Judge Michelle Sisco was in the middle of her closing remarks. “Stop talking to me, you don’t love me, n***a,” he reportedly expressed.

“So just quickly, let’s talk… Okay, I’m talking. I understand, Mr. Murphy,” Judge Sisco remarked while Murphy was reportedly having his outburst. “Okay, Mr. Davion Murphy may need to be removed if he can’t stop talking. Alright, Mr. Murphy, please stop. You’re not helping your situation.”

Then, bailiffs reportedly handcuffed the murder suspect and escorted him out of the courtroom when he refused to stop talking. We will see if this poses any consequences for the rest of the trial.

If there are any, it seems like they might not have discussed it. Today (Friday, May 8), Judge Sisco reportedly instructed the jury for their deliberations, which will begin on Monday (May 11).

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

Who Are The Suspects In Foolio’s Murder?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by XXL (@xxl)

For those unaware, Davion Murphy is accused of murdering Foolio in 2024, and he’s not the only one. Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, and Rashad Murphy also face premeditated murder charges. Police accused them of stalking the rapper and his birthday celebrations, later gunning him down in front of a Holiday Inn. Prosecutors suspect this was the result of a gang feud.

A fifth Foolio murder suspect, Alicia Andrews, was convicted of manslaughter during the trial. Investigators accused her and Chance of following Foolio around Tampa and informing the other three codefendants of his location. Andrews still awaits sentencing in this case.

This update and other case developments continue to turn this court trial into a scandal. Whether it’s alleged admissions of guilt or how this is bleeding out to social media, there’s a lot to unpack. We will see if Davion Murphy’s outburst leads to more confrontations or consequences elsewhere.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & The Misogynoir In The Way People Talk About Her

The post Foolio Murder Suspect Removed From Trial In Handcuffs After Court Outburst appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I don’t think I can do that, but let’s f*ck around,” RZA responded when asked if he could name them all. Friedland brought up Remedy performing when he attended a Jewish summer camp, which RZA immediately recognized. The legendary producer also shared the story behind another member, Warcloud, formerly known as Holocaust, who, apparently, Seth Rogen is a fan of. RZA shared a story about when he had Holocaust in the studio, and the Wu affiliate pulled a duck out of his pocket. Random.

While RZA could identify other members like Shorty Shitstain (his cousin), Dexter Wiggles and Polite, he did not know who Cheesy Rat is. “That guy didn’t make it, bruh. I don’t know him. Now you going into the unknown chart,” he told Friedland while also being unaware of a supposed affiliate named Rap Master 1, as well as Stomack, Mike Boston, and DL. 

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

Adam Friendland Tests RZA’s Knowledge On Wu Affiliates

The entirety of this interview was nothing short of ridiculous. Elsewhere in the interview, Friedland pulls out an MPC-1000 and gets RZA to flip loaded up samples of Christopher Cross’s “Arthur’s Theme” into a beat on the spot. Frankly, it turned out better than the infamous Guitar Center promo. 

Watch the full video above with RZA naming the Wu-Tang affiliates around the 44-minute mark.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & The Misogynoir In The Way People Talk About Her

The post RZA Gets Tested On His Knowledge Of Random Wu-Tang Clan Affiliates—There’s A Lot appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“5/29 My retirement album Thank you for everything,” the Columbus native shared. This immediately sent fans into a frenzy, with many hoping this isn’t the case. Others, however, criticized the announcement as just a marketing tactic, doubting she’s really hanging up the mic. A few fans also slammed the decision if it’s really happening, but we’ll have to wait to see for sure. After all, semi-retirements and backtracks are not unheard of in hip-hop.

If Latto really is dropping the mic one last time, though, what is she leaving fans with after her departure? A compelling, successful, and dominant rap career across a decade. She started on the Rap Game reality TV competition from Jermaine Dupri (winning its first season in 2016), got a XXL Freshman Class nod in 2020 after the success of “B***h From Da Souf,” and grew into one of mainstream hip-hop’s most dominant, acclaimed, and consistent hit-makers through the 2020s.

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

Latto’s Albums

Big Mama’s previous albums include the 2020 debut studio LP Queen Of Da Souf, 2022’s 777 with the hit single “Big Energy,” and the 2024 record Sugar Honey Iced Tea. With Big Mama on the way, fans hope this is her best body of work yet and, if she doesn’t change her mind, a fulfilling and powerful send-off ahead of whatever’s next in her life and career.

Amid all this ruckus, there are more dramatic updates for Latto beyond retirement. Her collaboration with GloRilla for this upcoming album, “GOMF,” resulted in some call-outs from Glo’s sister over perceived disses.

On the topic of drama, Latto’s romantic life is also under scrutiny. While neither she nor 21 Savage have explicitly confirmed he’s the father of her child, all signs point to this being the case. So with every little detail, fans are forming an uproar. Given this retirement news, we’re sure they’ll have much more to say.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & The Misogynoir In The Way People Talk About Her

The post Latto Reveals She’s Retiring After Her Next Album “Big Mama” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

According to Hot 97, this case is officially moving forward after a final pre-trial hearing this week had the court confirm the trial’s schedule. The trial will reportedly begin next week. Also, this follows Evans’ rejection of a plea deal in this case concerning felony and misdemeanor charges from prosecutors.

Authorities had reportedly arrested him in September of last year in Hapeville, Georgia on a parole violation. The charges related to the alleged theft incident emerged afterward. The court reportedly expects jury selection to begin next week, and Evans’ prior criminal history could significantly affect his sentence.

Court records reportedly detailed various past charges for Evans across over two decades, including armed robbery, aggravated assault, and vehicle theft convictions. He could reportedly face up to six years in prison if convicted of the alleged Beyoncé theft due to this prior history.

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

Beyoncé’s Stolen Music

Beyonce-Stolen-Music.jpg" alt="Beyoncé" class="wp-image-994202" srcset="https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Beyonce-Stolen-Music.jpg 2548w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Beyonce-Stolen-Music-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Beyonce-Stolen-Music-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Beyonce-Stolen-Music-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Beyonce-Stolen-Music-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2548px) 100vw, 2548px" />

For those unaware, this situation relates to a July 2025 development at Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour stop in Atlanta. Prosecutors accused Kelvin Evans of stealing her unreleased music and other items from the trek’s team via a break-in.

Back then, members of Bey’s team reported two missing suitcases from a parked Jeep Wagoneer in a garage on Krog Street. Per investigators suspecting forced entry, the robbery suspect smashed the vehicle’s rear window. As for what the perpetrator allegedly stole, this includes flash drives with watermarked, unreleased Beyoncé music, setlists, tour plans, and personal electronics like laptops and more.

Despite investigative efforts, authorities have been unable to recover digital materials the team lost due to the alleged theft. The incident reportedly involved various tour members like a choreographer and dancer, and authorities alleged a Hyundai Elantra visible in surveillance footage has something to do with the alleged theft. Per evidence and witness accounts, these claim Kelvin Evans possessed multiple black bags he stole from the Jeep Wagoneer. Reportedly, witnesses saw him leave the area on a bike after transferring the items.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & The Misogynoir In The Way People Talk About Her

The post Man Who Allegedly Stole Beyoncé’s Music Officially Faces Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

During a recent interview on Go With Elmo Lovano, Kamasi Washington, who has won Grammys for his work on GNX, explained that he was caught by surprise by the shout-out. “It was surreal, man,” he explained. “It was weird. It was one of those moments when life is life-ing, and I started getting all these texts. Like ‘Aw man, congrats, man. That’s real cool, man.’”

Washington explained that it was early in the morning, so he wasn’t entirely sure what exactly Kendrick did to warrant the influx of messages. “I kind of integrated into the world and then like, ‘Oh, he dropped the video,’” he recalled, saying that he wasn’t really “outside” or up to speed on everything else that was happening. “Obviously, when that dropped, it was such a monumental thing that, like, people were texting me as if I knew what they were talking about. I didn’t know… They probably assumed I knew beforehand. I didn’t know. So yeah, it was trippy. I was thankful, man.”

He added, “That was a beautiful surprise to get like that. I have so much respect and admiration for Kendrick.”

Read More: Chris Brown Can’t Be Canceled, Regardless Of Your Outrage

Kendrick Lamar’s Kamasi Washington Shout Out

He and Kendrick Lamar’s work dates back to To Pimp A Butterfly, but Kamasi Washington left his imprint on the biggest song off of GNX, “luther” and “tv off.”

Kamasi Washington also shared some insight into the creative process behind how he contributed to GNX, and his reaction to the Super Bowl performance. Check out the full clip above and sound off in the comments with your favorite lyric from Kendrick’s GNX. 

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion & The Misogynoir In The Way People Talk About Her

The post Kamasi Washington Reveals His Hilariously Late Reaction To Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” Shout-Out appeared first on HotNewHipHop.