For those unaware, K.Dot is currently Down Under to wrap up his “Grand National” tour formerly with SZA and Mustard. Now, Doechii and ScHoolboy Q are assisting him. Kendrick just gave two Melbourne performances, one on each of the previous two days, and his Sydney stops on December 10 and 11 will finally bring the “Grand National” trek to a close.

To celebrate or at least take a break from all the ruckus, he and his entourage embarked on the 1,000 Steps Trail (also known as the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk) in the Dandenong Ranges National Park in Melbourne, Australia. DJ Akademiks’ “Moment of the Year” recipient rocked a long-sleeve gray shirt and matching shorts for the journey, and he reportedly took some time to greet a fan who approached him. All in all, it seems like he had a good time from what the pictures the outlet was able to gather show fans.

Read More: The Game’s Fans Question Kendrick Lamar Diss Rumors From New Mixtape

Kendrick Lamar’s “Grand National” Tour

But the Compton lyricist does have some extra Australia festival dates to look forward to amid the closure of “Grand National.” He will perform at all four dates of the Split Milk festival, which takes place across multiple locations in Australia.

Kendrick Lamar’s highly successful “Grand National” tour is now the highest-grossing hip-hop tour of all time, generating over $332 million so far. By the time folks account for all the profits, the number could be even more ridiculous, although his rival reportedly wants to take the crown. In any case, we’re sure it will close out well amid rumors that a 2026 world tour is also in the cards.

With all this chaos in mind, maybe fans should take a cue from their GOAT – or their WOAT, for the OVO crowd – and go touch grass. After all, if one of rap’s most successful artists needs a break, fans do, too.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar’s Possible 2026 Tour Could Push Back His Upcoming Comedy With ‘South Park’ Team

The post Kendrick Lamar Enjoys Australian Hike Amid Last “Grand National” Tour Shows appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In the filing caught by DJ Akademiks TV on Instagram, they accuse Flock of leading a “violent street gang” and influencing violent crime in order to boost his image. “The defendant faces an aggregate recommended sentence under the United States Sentencing Guidelines of 50 years’ imprisonment,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Herman reportedly wrote. “[It] would be sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to satisfy the purposes of sentencing. Such a sentence is needed to account for the egregious nature of the defendant’s conduct, the extent of the harm he inflicted on those around him, his history and characteristics, and the need to promote respect for the law, to protect the public, to afford adequate deterrence, and to provide for just punishment.”

A jury acquitted Kay Flock of murder. But prosecutors still want to hold him accountable for it. As for when the sentence will actually come about, Judge Lewis J. Liman is reportedly expected to hand it down before 2025 is over.

Read More: Kay Flock Disses “Goofy” Young Thug During Call With Streamer Konvy

Is Kay Flock In Jail?

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“I want to give thanks to everybody who supported me and kept me in their prayers,” Kay Flock said after the verdict. “I want to thank everyone who was involved in my trial. Especially the judge, who made sure I was treated with respect throughout the process. I have to thank my lawyer Michael Ashley, no cap, for not giving up on me and putting up a hell of a fight. Even though we still fighting, because it ain’t over until Allah say it’s over. I want to thank every one of my fans and supporters. I love y’all. Everything to the chin, nothing to the heart. […] And I pray everyone out there is at peace and feels positive too.”

Kay Flock remains in custody and will learn his fate soon. We will see if the judge agrees with the prosecution.

Read More: Kay Flock Feeds Fans From Behind Bars With “Make America Flock Again” EP

The post Prosecutors Push For Kay Flock To Receive 50-Year Prison Sentence appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I met Slime in, like 2012,” Meek Mill remarked concerning Young Thug, as caught by Complex Music on Twitter. He recalled their friendship’s origins before he got deeper into his appreciation. “I tell this n***a every time I see him. When I was beefing with Drake, n***as was acting like they was scared to do a verse with me. This n***a pulled up to my house while I’m on house arrest, two days straight, got with me. Pulled my confidence right back up. Locked right in. So Philly, make some f***ing noise for Young Thug in this b***h!” The crowd cheered.

Read More: Meek Mill Gives Convoluted Answer When Asked About Drake Lawsuit

Meek Mill & Young Thug Collabs

In addition to their aforementioned tracks, Young Thug and Meek Mill also share the official collabs “We Ball” on 2017’s Wins & Losses and “Splash Warning” on 2018’s Championships. Maybe this concert link-up means they will have more music in the future? Only time will tell…

For those of you who only think of Kendrick Lamar when Drizzy’s name comes up in beef talk, Meek Mill’s feud with Drake was quite impactful. It not only summed up ghostwriting allegations against the 6ix God at the time, but also proved he could completely sidestep them if he played his cards right. And he did. A few years later, they buried the hatchet on “Going Bad” and things have been pretty solid ever since.

Meanwhile, this Young Thug shoutout is interesting. After his leaked jail calls, questions about rap beef loyalty, and efforts to reconnect with the game, many fans are comparing this Meek situation to similar conflicts where he and many others find themselves in the middle.

Read More: 6ix9ine Targets Meek Mill For Complaining About “Rats” As Young Thug Scandal Presses On

The post Meek Mill Thanks Young Thug For Staying Solid During Meek’s Drake Beef appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Recently, as caught by Complex, 50 appeared on MS Now’s The Beat With Ari Melber for an interview alongside Sean Combs: The Reckoning director Alex Stapleton. Curtis Jackson helped executive produce the docuseries. Melber asked him for his favorite hero and his favorite villain.

“I have a lot of guys that I look up to, their accomplishments, but I wouldn’t call them my heroes,” the G-Unit boss remarked. “My favorite villain? I kind of like Diddy.”

However, 50 Cent has no personal beef with Diddy, or at least, that’s what he later said in the interview. “I don’t know him to be tough,” he expressed. “Like, we haven’t even had problems. Me and him. They all say we’ve had beef for 20 years, but I have hired both of his sons for different projects that I worked on. Two different television shows, Quincy [Brown] and Justin [Combs]. So I don’t have that energy towards him where we were trying to hurt each other. When other people pointed out those situations, like that he was dangerous, then I said, ‘Oh, okay.’ I had to take it in, but we never got there.”

Read More: Diddy Sold Us The Mogul Myth

Did Diddy Send 50 Cent Flowers?

But 50 Cent’s Diddy trolling didn’t stop there. He also claimed that the Bad Boy executive sent him a bouquet of flowers to backhandedly congratulate him for executive producing Sean Combs: The Reckoning. Of course, this is most likely just a joke and not an actual development. But amid Diddy’s other problems with 50 Cent’s documentary, it will be interesting to see develop.

Sean Combs and his legal team claimed that the team behind this Reckoning docuseries illegally obtained a lot of footage for it. Netflix and others have fired back against these claims, but we’ll see what comes of their potential dispute. In the meantime, we’re sure Fif will have many more trolls, moments of levity, and criticisms to offer Combs.

Read More: Everyone Who Appears in “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”

The post 50 Cent Calls Diddy His “Favorite Villain” While Denying Any Personal Beef appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Before we get into that, though, a massive grain of salt is in order. After all, The Game just spoke on Kendrick Lamar during a recent interview, claiming he wanted to sign him back in the day. Also, Jayceon Taylor ranked K.Dot above him on his best Los Angeles rappers list, and he has been very praiseful to the former TDE artist many times in the past.

Still, The Game’s solid relationship with Kendrick’s sworn rival Drake, plus a few battle-related discrepancies here and there, have fueled a lot of speculation that he actually dislikes Lamar or is going at him for whatever reason.

As for what’s new with this new mixtape, YoEqTV provided a few theories on Twitter. While there are some interesting interpretations and coincidences, at the end of the day, it’s very unlikely that any of these were intentional shots.

Read More: The Game & D Smoke Commend Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” As Tribute To L.A. Gang Culture

Did The Game Diss Kendrick Lamar?

Regardless, it’s interesting to try to connect the dots. For example, on “AmeriKKKa’s Nightmare,” The Game references Drake and complains about fake aspects of the game, but later makes a neutral reference to Dot and GNX. On “Chrome Hearts,” he raps about being the Los Angeles King and how “a n***a y’all thought was king ain’t gon’ do nothing about it.” Also, “Left Out” had YoEqTV comparing both Compton lyricists’ flows.

All in all, these connections are flimsy at best, and frankly, completely unfounded at worst. For one, there’s a shoutout to Dot on the track “Can I.” As such, The Game’s relationship with Kendrick Lamar seems as distantly respectful and inconsequential as it’s ever been. So folks calling for a back-and-forth or celebrating this attack might be getting ahead of themselves.

Fan Reactions

Then again, all of this could change very quickly. After all, if fanbases keep fueling the fire, a simple match might become a furnace. For now, file these diss rumors under “Reaches” and just enjoy the new mixtape.

Read More: The Game Admits N3on Checked His DMs To Girlfriend & Warns Adin Ross

The post The Game’s Fans Question Kendrick Lamar Diss Rumors From New Mixtape appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Per the outlet, this conversation was about his “impending arrest” and occurred as his federal case mounted up in the background. Someone whom the Bad Boy mogul purportedly paid to document his life recorded the interaction. Apparently, he wasn’t happy with his legal team for “losing” the case at that time

“I’m tired of going back and forth with y’all, with the lawyers,” Diddy told Agnifilo, who tried to push back. Nevertheless, Combs continued: “Let me tell you something. Let me say this. I’m not a referee. So I’ma get off the phone right now – listen to me. I’ma get off the phone right now, and I am going to let you professionals look at the situation and come back to me with a solution. No matter what nobody said. Y’all are not working together the right way. We’re losing.”

On the 2 Angry Men podcast, Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos theorized as to whether or not Marc Agnifilo might feel “betrayed” by Puff Daddy. This is because Puff allegedly recorded their conversation without letting him know about it. Geragos hasn’t talked to Agnifilo about it (they both have ties to Combs’ legal team), but he thinks he would be very mad if he was in that situation.

Read More: Diddy Sold Us The Mogul Myth

Diddy Allegedly Sent 50 Cent Flowers

Amid the drama over Sean Combs: The Reckoning itself, we will see if we get clarity on this matter. It seems like a small detail, but it could be a consequential one.

Elsewhere, 50 Cent thinks Diddy backhandedly celebrated his documentary. He claimed that his rival sent him a bouquet of flowers, although this is most likely a false claim. We will see what the next troll online is…

Read More: Everyone Who Appears in “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”

The post Diddy Allegedly Recorded Conversation With Case Lawyer Without Permission appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The shoes are expected to sell for between $500,000 and $700,000 before the auction closes on December 15, 2025, and the estimate makes sense. This is not just another game-worn pair. It is a forensic artifact, complete with an actual shard of the broken backboard still embedded in the left outsole.

These are the true origins behind the later “Shattered Backboard” colorways that flooded the market decades afterward. Those were tributes and this is the real thing.

Jordan handed the pair to Italian player Gianni Bertolotti after the game, and the shoes have been carefully preserved since, complete with photo-matching verification that ties them directly to the moment. For collectors, opportunities like this almost never appear.

It’s a physical snapshot from Jordan’s rookie era, carrying both historical weight and undeniable cultural value. With the auction live, all eyes now turn to how high the bidding climbs. Moments like this remind the sneaker world why Jordan’s legacy remains untouched.

Read More: Lil Yachty Reveals Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Ahead Of Potential Release

Air Jordan 1 “Shattered Backboard” Auction

The shoe features a worn white and red leather upper with clear aging throughout. The black Swoosh sits against cracked and softened panels that show real game use.

The collar has scuffs, creases, and visible discoloration. The midsole has yellowed with time, giving the pair a vintage look only natural wear can create. Black laces add contrast to the distressed leather tongue.

The outsole is stained from the court, and the left shoe contains a shard of glass embedded in the rubber. Every mark feels authentic, reminding you that these were used in an actual game by Michael Jordan.

Read More: First Look At 2026 Air Jordan 14 “Forest Green” Retro

The post Sotheby’s Auctions Jordan’s Backboard-Shattering Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This colorway first dropped in 1993 and immediately became tied to Jordan’s run of dominance as well as his connection to pop culture through the original Space Jam era. The white leather, the playful red details, and the signature cross-straps helped define an entire generation of sneakers.

Every retro of the “Bugs Bunny” 8 brings new energy, but this one feels especially timely. Jordan Brand has been leaning into nostalgia throughout the year, and this pair is one of the most important icons from that early 90s lineup.

The sneaker’s mix of performance-driven design and cartoon-era personality made it a standout back then, and it still holds up today. With a release only two weeks away, demand is already rising.

The official images show a faithful execution of the original shape, colors, and textures, which is exactly what collectors want. This drop will be available in full family sizing, so expect a wide release with plenty of attention from both longtime fans and younger buyers who have only seen the pair through photos and old highlights.

Overall, the “Bugs Bunny” 8 has always been one of the most memorable Jordan models. Its return is a reminder of how great that era truly was.

Read More: Lil Yachty Reveals Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Ahead Of Potential Release

Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny”

The Air Jordan 8 Bugs Bunny comes in white leather with soft grey accents. The straps sit across the upper and add that classic AJ8 look. Red hits appear on the strap hardware and the midsole.

The collar padding looks thick and comfortable and also the mudguard features the familiar brush-stroke pattern in red, black, and grey. The shoe sits on a white outsole with small grey sections.

Further, the tongue shows the colorful chenille Jumpman patch. The back of the shoe has a sculpted heel and a clean shape. Overall this pair feels bold, playful, and true to the original.

Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny” Release Date

Nice Kicks reports that the Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny” will be released on December 20th, 2025. Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be $210 when they drop.

Read More: First Look At 2026 Air Jordan 14 “Forest Green” Retro

The post Official Look At The Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

He has been represented the apex of Black cultural capital for decades. First as the Harlem-born exec with a golden ear, then as the platinum-selling artist, brand-builder, and self-appointed face of the remix era. He was the industry’s most visible success story, the mogul you couldn’t ignore. Sean Combs became the blueprint others chased.

Yet, beneath that shine sat a different story. It is one many in the industry had heard in whispers but never named aloud. Now, in 2025, the dam has broken. In the wake of multiple lawsuits, disturbing surveillance footage of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and allegations stretching back decades, Combs’s name no longer brings up only legacy. It evokes harm.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Wants To See Daphne Joy In 50 Cent’s New Diddy Docuseries

On December 2, Netflix released Sean Combs: The Reckoning, a four-part documentary from director Alexandria Stapleton and executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Diddy’s long time foe. It promised a wide lens on the allegations and on the man. Further, it examined the myth of the empire he constructed. Still, to understand how we got here, to this public collapse, you have to understand what Diddy built, and what it cost the people who helped him build it.

How Diddy Became An Empire

At some point in the mid-90s, Combs stopped being an executive and started becoming the moment. He’d already made his name at Uptown Records, carving out R&B that felt like it belonged to the streets and the runways at the same time. When Andre Harrell let him go, Combs built a brand with himself at the center.

Bad Boy was styled and precise. The artists have imprinted classics on our playlists. Every rollout felt aggressive, yet, not forced. Then there was Diddy, still Puff Daddy at the time, who was in every frame. His image was attached to the music and threaded into the business. He stood beside Biggie, over Total, behind 112, while pushing Danity Kane in front of the camera. Puff’s name came with the rhythm.

Read More: From Diddy To Weinstein: Sexual Misconduct Allegations Shaking Up Hip Hop & Hollywood

Later, what followed was scale. There was Sean John. Ciroc. Revolt. Making the Band. Fashion weeks, press runs, Forbes lists. The performances and music videos grew flashier and ambition became more public. Diddy wasn’t trying to build quietly. He branded his ambition, sold it back to us, then raised the price. In the process, he rewired how people thought about success in Hip Hop. It wasn’t just money, but ownership and control.

However, that control came with consequences. Some surfaced early with artists like The LOX and Mase pushing back against their contracts. Many others stayed quiet. Nevertheless, as Combs expanded the empire, few came forward to challenge how it was built. It was easier to believe in the story of the hustle and the parties and win. Maybe that was the point. If you kept the spotlight bright enough, nobody could see the cracks.

The Cost Of Who Was Left Behind

For all the celebration of what Diddy built, there’s always been a quieter conversation about what it cost, and who paid the price.

When reading the list of people who have called out harm against Combs, the names are familiar. Mase, one of Bad Boy’s most successful early artists, spent years publicly asking for the return of his publishing rights. The LOX had to fight their way out of contracts they called exploitative, even going on Hot 97 to call him out.

Further, Danity Kane crumbled under the weight of overexposure and underprotection. Day26. Dawn Richard. Cassie. There’s a long list of artists whose careers were shaped by Diddy’s machine, and often, they were left stalled inside of it. Then there are the people who never spoke at all.

Read More: 50 Cent Rants About Diddy & Cassie’s Explicit Pictures In Resurfaced Interview: Listen

Kim Porter, mother of three of his children, died in 2018 after a years-long on-and-off relationship that many said alleged was defined by control. In November 2023, Cassie filed a civil lawsuit accusing Combs of rape, abuse, and long-term coercion during their tumultuous relationship that lasted over a decade. They settled the suit within 24 hours.

Still, the stories didn’t stop because more lawsuits followed. Even more footage surfaced. Slowly, a record began to form that painted a very different picture from the myth of the charming mogul who just wanted to win.

Throughout it all, silence did its job. Those who worked with Diddy or were in his circle saw the signs. At the very least, they sensed the power dynamics, but said nothing. In Hip Hop, the proximity to Diddy meant a door to a new world. Walking away, if he was in pursuit of your partnership, allegedly could mean exile. That kind of control is managed and protected.

The Unraveling Of The Mogul Myth

The recent years may have been a life-changing era for Diddy, but for years, the myth held. Puff was an untouchable mogul with the world at his fingertips. The scandals didn’t stick. The criticism barely grazed him. He was too powerful, too charming, too embedded in the machinery of entertainment to ever truly be challenged. When his name came up in industry whispers or viral rumors, people lowered their voices. When it surfaced in lawsuits, they disappeared by morning.

However, the Cassie lawsuit in November 2023 was a turning point, not just because of the severity of the allegations, but because of how quickly others followed. The pattern became harder to ignore. Then came the footage, and next, the lawsuits multiplied. Then the silence started to break from people who had worked alongside him for years.

Read More: Diddy’s Ex Bodyguard Alleges He’s “Demonic” While Addressing Cassie’s Trial Testimony

The reckoning wasn’t just about one man. It was about the space he occupied at the intersection of celebrity capital, and culture. It asked real questions about who gets protected, how long power can shield someone, and what we allow ourselves to ignore in the name of “greatness.” Diddy wasn’t alone in that mythmaking. He was just one of the most visible examples.

Other men built similar empires—Russell Simmons, Kanye West, even Jay-Z to a more curated extent—but few mastered the art of public redemption the way Diddy did. He turned every scandal into a rebrand. Every critique morphed into a Ciroc commercial. The image always bounced back. Until now.

Read More: Former Bad Boy Artist Mark Curry Slams Diddy & JAY-Z With Getting Rich By Getting Over On Everyone Claim

What’s happening isn’t just a fall. It’s a refusal to keep up the illusion. Moreover, once a myth starts to unravel, what’s left behind is a question: What were we really looking at all along?

The Reckoning: What Now?

It’s easy to call this a reckoning, but the truth is slower than that. Empires don’t fall in a day. Legacies don’t vanish on impact. This isn’t just about Diddy. It’s about the industry that surrounded him. The writers who didn’t report it. The executives who signed off. The collaborators who stayed quiet. The audience that looked away. You don’t build a myth alone.

Read More: The Notorious B.I.G. Was Allegedly Preparing To Leave Diddy & Bad Boy Prior To His Death

What The Reckoning offers, or what it seems to demand, is a pause. We’re not just to reconsider one man’s legacy, but to ask why it took so long for this story to be heard. Further, what it says about us that it took a Netflix documentary to make it louder.

Because the truth is, the damage was always there. We just kept dancing around it.

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The post Diddy Sold Us The Mogul Myth appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The photo was reposted by Levi’s collab lead Leo Gamboa, which all but confirms that the shoe is real and part of an upcoming rollout. With rumors pointing toward a Spring 2026 release, the anticipation is already building.

The Jordan 3 has always been a strong canvas for collaborations, and Levi’s has a proven record with Jordan Brand after the iconic denim-based 4s. This new “Sail” version leans into a softer, more neutral look.

Instead of heavy denim, the upper uses a cream canvas with frayed edges and subtle texture changes. It feels more wearable and more modern than past Levi’s collabs, and the touches of red on the heel add just enough contrast to give the shoe personality.

If this pair does release in 2026, it could easily become one of the most sought-after Jordan 3s of the year. Levi’s fans will want it and Jordan collectors will want it too. And casual sneakerheads who just want a clean everyday pair will want it too. Yachty’s preview was the spark, and now everyone is waiting for the official details.

Read More: First Look At 2026 Air Jordan 14 “Forest Green” Retro

Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Release Date

The Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” features a cream canvas upper. The material has a soft texture with light fraying near the toe. The midsole comes in a clean off-white shade.

Also the heel features a bright red panel with a bold Air Jordan logo and the collar and tongue use smooth white fabric. The outsole is a gum color that adds warmth.

Further, stitching across the shoe keeps the look simple. The overall design definitely feels clean and easy to wear.

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 will be released in the spring of 2026. Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be announced closer to when they are released.

Read More: Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned” Receives 2026 Release Date

The post Lil Yachty Reveals Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Ahead Of Potential Release appeared first on HotNewHipHop.