A big catalyst for some of this confusion was Jay’s change in hairstyle. During his Roots Picnic performance, he was wearing his hair in an afro. For upwards of eight years, he had been growing out his locs, and that was the hairstyle fans were more accustomed to.

Some feel as though this change-up is a sign that Hov is ready to drop a new album. However, in a new video narrated by Beyoncé, Jay’s true motivations were revealed. Essentially, with the artist returning to Philadelphia, he wanted to pay homage to his father, Adnis Reeves, who also used to wear his hair in an afro. His favorite sports team is from Philly, and it was the catalyst for Hov to go with something different.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

Jay-Z Grew His Hair For Blue Ivy

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Jay-Z’s original decision to grow out his locs was inspired by his daughter, Blue Ivy. When she was younger, Blue Ivy didn’t like her natural hair. Jay-Z wanted his daughter to feel confident with her natural hair, and grew his out to show that there is nothing wrong with it. His decision to do so went a long way. As Beyoncé explains, she was a bit sad when Jay revealed he wanted to remove his locs. She had numerous memories associated with that hairstyle and was always fond of how the style looked on him.

Throughout the video, Beyoncé reveals how Cecred products were able to keep Hov’s hair healthy throughout the process. It took between four and five days for Jay-Z to change his hair into an afro, and Cecred products were used from beginning to end.

The entire video is a masterclass in storytelling and advertising. Beyoncé and Jay-Z were able to tell a powerful story about family and acceptance while also showcasing why Cecred is a must-have product.

Read More: Juneteenth 2026: 15 Hip Hop & Soul Classics That Celebrate Black Joy & Pride

The post Beyoncé Narrates Jay-Z’s Roots Picnic Hair Transformation appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Along the way, the Kobe line pushed basketball footwear toward lighter, lower designs at a time when high-tops were still the standard. Some models carry specific championship moments. Others mark personal milestones, like an MVP season or a record-breaking scoring night.

Ranking all 11 means weighing performance, innovation, and the stories that go into each release. Here’s how they stack up, from least essential to the model that changed the direction of the entire line…

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11. Kobe 1

The Kobe 1 kicked off Bryant’s signature line with Nike in 2006, setting the tone for everything that followed. It featured a mid-cut design with a sleek, snake-inspired look that tied directly into Kobe’s “Black Mamba” persona.

He wore it during his unforgettable 81-point game against Toronto, a performance that still gets brought up today. The shoe felt fresh at the time, built around Zoom Air cushioning and a lightweight upper for quick, precise movement.

Still, it leaned closer to traditional basketball sneaker design than the models that came after it. A strong, respectable debut, just not the boldest shoe in the lineup looking back now.

10. Kobe 6

The Kobe 6 brought the low-top design Kobe had been chasing to a much wider audience. Built with a lightweight mesh upper and a more refined traction system, it became one of the more popular shoes in the entire line once players caught on.

Kobe debuted it on Christmas Day against Miami’s newly formed Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, giving it an instantly memorable spotlight.

Its snakeskin-style “island” panels added a distinct visual touch that fit Kobe’s overall brand. It didn’t reinvent anything new, but it took ideas from earlier models and made them feel mainstream.

9. Kobe 2

The Kobe 2 pushed the line in a sharper, more aggressive direction right out of the gate. Kobe debuted it on Christmas against Miami, then wore it through a major stretch with Team USA as the “Redeem Team” era began taking shape ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Compared to the more conventional Kobe 1, this one had real personality, with a bolder silhouette and a more insect-like profile. It showed Nike was willing to experiment instead of playing it safe with the follow-up. A clear step forward for the line, even if it gets overlooked next to later models.

8. Kobe 3

The Kobe 3 leaned into a high-cut design with a one-piece mesh upper, a slight detour from where the line was eventually headed. Still, it carries plenty of memorable moments.

Kobe wore a red and gold colorway during the 2008 All-Star Game while playing through a torn ligament in his pinky, and a standout “MVP” edition celebrated his first league MVP award that same season.

A 2013 re-release even used a swirling graphic to represent the heartbreak of losing that year’s NBA Finals. That emotional weight gives the shoe more depth than just its look or performance.

7. Kobe 11

The Kobe 11 holds a special place simply because of when it came out. It was the final signature shoe Kobe ever played in, built with a Flyknit upper and a slim, low-profile shape that distilled the line down to its essentials.

He wore it during his legendary 60-point farewell game, a closer that’s still talked about as one of the great send-offs in NBA history. That moment alone makes it one of the most recognizable shoes on this list.

Design-wise, it didn’t break much new ground compared to what came before it, feeling more like a victory lap than a fresh statement.

6. Kobe 7

The Kobe 7 took real risks with its construction, moving toward a more flexible, almost shoe-like build that split opinion among longtime fans of the line. Its unconventional look set it apart from the cleaner designs people had gotten used to in earlier models.

Some saw it as a creative swing that paid off, especially in terms of fit and court feel, while others felt it strayed too far from what made the Kobe line recognizable in the first place.

Either way, it showed Nike wasn’t afraid to experiment, even after building a clear identity. A polarizing shoe, but an interesting one to revisit.

5. Kobe 9

The Kobe 9 marked a real shift for the line, introducing Flyknit material and a slightly higher cut after years of going lower and lower. It felt like a departure from the identity the earlier models had built, which made it a bit divisive at first among fans of the low-top era.

Over time, though, it’s grown into one of the more respected entries thanks to its modern build and improved containment around the foot. The shoe proved Nike was willing to break its own pattern instead of repeating the same formula. A smart, forward-looking model in the middle of the lineup.

4. Kobe 10

The Kobe 10 carries extra weight for one big reason: it’s the shoe Kobe was wearing when he announced his retirement to the world. That moment alone gives it a permanent spot in basketball history.

Beyond the symbolism, it featured a durable open-weave upper and a hybrid Zoom and Lunarlon cushioning setup built to hold up over a long, grueling final stretch of his career. I

It didn’t try to reinvent anything, sticking closer to a proven formula than past models had. Sometimes a shoe earns its place just by being there for the right moment.

3. Kobe 8

The Kobe 8 is widely seen as one of the most innovative shoes in the whole line, balancing a sleek, futuristic look with real on-court performance. Its low-cut build and engineered upper gave it a distinct identity that still feels ahead of its time.

Its reputation has only grown since, eventually earning the honor of being the first shoe picked for Nike’s all-white “Halo” tribute series, an annual release honoring Kobe’s legacy.

That kind of respect doesn’t come easily, especially within a catalog this deep. It’s a shoe that holds up just as well today as it did when it first came out.

2. Kobe 5

The Kobe 5 nailed the low-top, lightweight design the line had been building toward since the Kobe 4. It featured a Flywire-supported upper and Zoom Air cushioning in both the heel and forefoot, keeping it fast without sacrificing support.

It also arrived during one of Kobe’s biggest seasons, when the Lakers won the championship, and he took home Finals MVP honors. Colorways like the “Bruce Lee” and “Dark Knight” editions only added to its appeal, giving it a cultural reach beyond just basketball. A clear fan favorite, and one of the most complete designs in the entire run.

1. Kobe 4

The Kobe 4 changed everything, and it’s not close. Kobe wanted the lowest, lightest basketball shoe possible, even though low-tops were seen as risky for a player’s ankles at the time. Inspired partly by his background in soccer, the shoe used Flywire technology to stay light while still locking the foot down securely.

He wore it to win his first championship without Shaq, and he later called it the boldest move he and Nike ever made together. Low-top basketball shoes went from a questionable idea to the new standard across the entire NBA, a shift that’s still visible on courts today.

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The post Ranking Every Nike Kobe Bryant Signature Model From 1 To 11 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Recently, PlaqueBoyMax opened up about his decision to get a vasectomy. At 23 years old, the streamer has been having his fun, and he has also been sleeping around. PBM understands the risks involved with that kind of lifestyle. He isn’t ready for a child, and doesn’t want to accidentally have one. As a result, he chose a vasectomy as his preferred method of contraception, knowing that it can be reversed later on.

He brought this up during his stream with Young Thug. As you will watch, Thugger did not like the streamer’s decision. In fact, he suggested that this could send him to hell, as our purpose on earth is to procreate.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

Young Thug And PlaqueBoyMax Debate

“You got a vasectomy before having kids? That’s stupid,” Young Thug said. “If you were to die right now, you think God would let you in? the only reason he put you here is to create God gonna slap the f*ck outta you.”

PlaqueBoyMax did seem pretty dejected by Thug’s comments. That said, this was PBM’s decision to make, and his only. He felt as though a vasectomy was right for him, and that’s the end of it. Everyone has different beliefs, and it’s something that ought to be respected.

Since announcing his vasectomy, PBM has been subjected to these kinds of discussions. At this point, everyone should probably just let him be.

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The post Young Thug Suggests PlaqueBoyMax Is Going To Hell For Getting A Vasectomy appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

About a year and a half ago, Fantano gave Halsey’s The Great Impersonator a 1 out of 10. Overall, this is one of the worst scores Fantano has ever given. At the time, he took issue with the concept of the record. Halsey was impersonating some of her biggest inspirations on each song. The record could have been a success, but Fantano felt as though the artist’s “main character syndrome” got in the way.

After interviewing Olivia Rodrigo last week, Stan Twitter was criticizing Rodrigo for sitting down with the music reviewer. Some even pointed towards his Halsey review as an example of the harm he does to music discourse. This subsequently led to Fantano flexing his muscles, stating that people care more about the Halsey review than the actual album.

This garnered a response from Halsey, who unleashed almost two years’ worth of frustration on Fantano. “I’m certain my least memorable song will be remembered more fondly and for more time than anything you ever do with your life will be,” she wrote. “Everything you say is more “whiny” and “edgy” than I was at any point on that album. But at least I had the excuse of going through chemo.”

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Halsey vs. Anthony Fantano

Halsey continued by saying that Fantano is a “pay-for-clicks reaction YouTuber.” She also stated that he is a 4-chan edgelord and that he bullies artists he dislikes.

“Who cares he gave a bad review?” she continued. “I care that a pay-for-clicks reaction YouTuber can facade as a pro critic and say it’s “main character syndrome” for an artist to lament her medical suffering on an album (surprise!) about her own life. He’s a raised-by-4chan edgelord bully. Yuck. Being a woman dealing with serious health issues often means being afraid of telling the truth about the pain you’re in because you’re afraid of not being believed or seeming attention-seeking. He validated that fear to thousands of women.”

Ultimately, the internet is divided on the topic. Fantano has millions of fans who watch his reviews, regardless of whether or not they agree with him. Meanwhile, Stan Twitter hates him for how he has reviewed their favorite artists. It is one of those internet divides that won’t be resolved, anytime soon.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

The post Halsey Gets Into Viral Spat With Anthony Fantano Over “The Great Impersonator” Review appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Release Date: June 22, 2026

Genre: Underground Rap

Tracklist for No Turning Back

1. Never Gon Home
2. Live Strong
3. Dis Ain’t Right
4. Cannes
5. No Ceilings ft. Dragnutz
6. X Tape
7. Fete Feeling
8. Claim To Fame
9. Maxfields

The post No Turning Back – EP by Pz’ appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

When the season begins, we will likely learn who will be the Halftime Show performer for the 2027 Super Bowl. This past year, the NFL made the bold decision to bring in Bad Bunny. Overall, it was a big decision from Jay-Z and company, as they chose an artist who performs in Spanish. This was a risk, but it paid off as Bad Bunny is a global artist who the whole world tuned in for.

Last night, Sharpe and his co-hosts debated who the next performer should be. Sharpe mentioned two names who have certainly been brought up before. Chris Brown and Kanye West.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

Super Bowl Halftime Show Debate

Meanwhile, Joe Johnson preached in favor of Drake, all while Ochocinco went off the board with NBA YoungBoy. However, Sharpe acknowledged that if Hov were to get the final say, then it would probably be Taylor Swift.

Swift has been mentioned quite a bit over the years, although she has never been picked. Perhaps she is waiting for Travis Kelce to retire before taking the gig. As we know, the NFL would love to have her.

Ye, meanwhile, would be an epic show. The only issue is that he remains a huge brand risk, who can be unpredictable with a mic in his hands. As for Chris Brown, his past would also be a factor in whether or not the NFL ever hires him.

The most inspired choice here has to be YoungBoy, but again, we’re not so sure the NFL would go in that direction.

Read More: Juneteenth 2026: 15 Hip Hop & Soul Classics That Celebrate Black Joy & Pride

The post Shannon Sharpe Makes Super Bowl Halftime Show Case For Chris Brown And Kanye West appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

During a recent episode, Joe finally took a stand after Oschino brought up the time the podcast host was sleepwalking naked through the hallway of his condo building. 

“I let it ride once, you little tiny Beetlejuice head mothaf*cka. I let it ride twice, you goober head bastard. I’m asking you now, how many more times you want me to let this go?” Joe asked. He explained how he doesn’t have beef with Oschino, nor does he even think about him, but the constant mentions of what he does when he sleepwalks has warranted a response of sorts. 

“I just seen you performing in a nail salon,” he said. When asked if the performance was good, Joe said, “No it wasn’t. And he had four hypemen in the nail salon.”

“You was just performing your greatest hit at a car wash, n***a. My advice to you was to heal. That’s when I was being cool and friendly,” he continued. Joe added that he’s not affiliated with Roc Nation in any way before threatening to search up Oschino’s Spotify page in an effort to embarrass him.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

Joe Budden Says “Let Bygones Be Bygones” 

“Let’s let bygones be bygones, you tiny head mothaf*cka and we’ll be cool,” he concluded. Although Marc Lamont Hill was visibly uncomfortable since Oschino is his friend, Joe made it abundantly clear where he stands: “F*ck Oschino. Now what? What happens next?”

Check out the clip above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More: Juneteenth 2026: 15 Hip Hop & Soul Classics That Celebrate Black Joy & Pride

The post Joe Budden Issues Scathing Response To Oschino: “You Goober Head Bastard” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Subliminal bars were going to be a given. We all knew deep down that Drizzy was not going to drop an entire record without shooting at those who stepped his way, or abandoned him entirely. On ICEMAN, he did just that and then some. He went back to his hitmaking ways and gave us undeniable slaps like “Janice STFU,” “Shabang,” and even “2 Hard 4 The Radio.”

Some of these songs have found their way to the top of the Billboard charts. Meanwhile, ICEMAN itself has been a sales darling. After notching another 100K units this past week, the album even became platinum eligible.

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Drake Goes Platinum Yet Again

For Drake to get his platinum plaque, he must first apply for certification from the RIAA. Therefore, he might just wait a while. We’ve seen plenty of artists hold onto their eligibility certifications, only to do them all in bulk later on down the line.

Regardless, this achievement just goes to show that Drake’s still got it. ICEMAN held the number one spot on the Billboard 200 for four weeks, and while he was knocked off by Olivia Rodrigo, there is potential for him to retake the spot next week.

Now, it will be a waiting game for MAID OF HONOUR and HABIBTI, which haven’t had the same level of hype surrounding them. Although knowing Drake’s fans, they will certainly be running up those numbers in due time.

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The post Drake’s “ICEMAN” Is His Latest Album To Become Platinum Eligible appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

From his time with Columbia Records to his work with his own label, J Records, Davis was able to manage the likes of Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Aretha Franklin, and even Dionne Warwick. Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, and Usher are just some of the other names he worked with throughout his career.

The executive passed away due to complications related to age. On Instagram, his family released a statement about Davis’ impact and what he meant to their lives.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

Clive Davis’ Family Releases Statement

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Davis family statement:

“To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.

To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved.

Through every chapter of his remarkable life, family remained Clive’s greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness. We will miss him greatly, cherish him always, and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives.”

This is a developing story that we will continue to keep you updated on.

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The post Legendary Music Executive Clive Davis Passes Away At 94 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I don’t want to indulge in that side of life no more. I ain’t even interested, bruh. Ain’t no money over there in that sh*t, bruh. That sh*t poor people activity,” T.I. told the hosts of The Joe Budden Podcast, a take that many were taken aback by. “I’m 45. What I’m doing going back-and-forth with a n***a, man? Like, for what, bro?”

Joe Budden and his co-hosts argued that Verzuz should be something to celebrate people’s catalogs. T.I. said he would only consider it if the bag was right in the first place.

Eventually, T.I. explained that the proposed Verzuz with Jeezy probably would’ve been a good moment to celebrate their catalogs, since the two are friends. But when T.I. said that he doesn’t believe there are any winners or losers during Verzuz, Emanny argued that the losers aren’t determined by catalog but by performance. Still, the other co-hosts pushed back against that theory, explaining that Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s Verzuz came down to the music itself, rather than their individual performance.

Read More: The 10 Sneakers That Defined Kanye’s “Graduation” Album Era

T.I. Readies Final Album

T.I. is currently getting ready for the release of his forthcoming album, Kill The King, which is due out this Friday, June 26th. The album is marketed as T.I.’s final album and will include features from NBA Youngboy, Summer Walker, Usher, 2 Chainz, Jeezy, and more. Check out T.I.’s comments on The Joe Budden Podcast above. 

Read More: Juneteenth 2026: 15 Hip Hop & Soul Classics That Celebrate Black Joy & Pride

The post T.I. Is Now Calling Verzuz A “Poor People Activity” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.