Rappers love to be rockstars. The aesthetic around being this untouchable, larger-than-life figure is extremely alluring. But rarely do you hear of rockstars wanting to be rappers. Unless you’re Kid Rock, it’s not often you get your average rocker busting out rhymes or taking inspiration from the grandiose rap personality.

But Fall Out Boy was never the average band either. Considering they featured 2 Chainz in a music video for “My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark“, they’re clearly not averse to hip-hop. It wasn’t just general aesthetic, though. Pete Wentz found massive inspiration in his songwriting by listening to the best rappers of the moment.

In 2006, that was all Lil Wayne. He was going around touting himself as the ‘best rapper alive.’ Frankly, he wasn’t wrong to think so either. He rapped in an absolutely dizzying amount of punchlines that even put Jay-Z to shame.

Naturally, at the time, Pete Wentz was trying to apply that apex form of lyricism to Fall Out Boy. In a 2006 interview with MTV, he talked about some interests that their fans might not have immediately expected from them. He declared Weezy the best lyricist working and highlighted a line that left him especially impressed.

How Pete Wentz and Fall Out Boy Learned From Lil Wayne in the Songwriting Department

“And as far as lyrics go, I’ve been taking a lot of influence from the best lyricist of the past year: Lil Wayne. He’s insane. There’s this one song [‘Hit ‘Em Up’] where he goes, ‘I eat up catastrophe/ Swallow the truth/ And belch reality,’ and I’m like ‘Wow,'” Pete Wentz recalled.

Additionally, the Fall Out Boy bassist marveled that Patrick Stump was just as into R&B and Motown vocally as he was in rock and roll.

“There’s a song we’re calling ‘Me and You,’ and in it, Patrick is doing things that are straight-up Motown,” Wentz added. “If there wasn’t a rock band playing, it’d be straight R&B, and he’d go on tour with just an upright bass and a drum and open up for R. Kelly.”

As far as Lil Wayne is concerned, he believed his own hype just as much as Fall Out Boy did. In 2007, he told XXL that anyone hating on him needs to treat him the way you would civil rights activists.

“Darling, I don’t care what nobody think. Talk to me like you talking to Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. You’re not about to ask him about what he think about what somebody said about him. You ’bout to ask him about his greatness, and his greatness only. I don’t care what nobody think,” Lil Wayne scoffed.

Photo by James Looker/Avalon/Getty Images

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Britney Spears has long been the prototype pop star for many. When looking at the modern superstars today, all of them emulate what she did to some degree. Whether it’s the dancing, the singing, or just the general look and aura of her, she was the blueprint for a lot of artists.

But Spears didn’t become this influential out of nowhere. Even she admired other pop and R&B stars to become the seismic force in pop culture she became. For her, that person was always Janet Jackson. On an Instagram post, she paid tribute to The Velvet Rope legend.

In the caption, she recalled being a young teenager, watching her music videos in awe. For Britney Spears, it was an experience she could hardly understand. But she knew she wanted to experience her magnetism over and over again.

“At 13 years old, if a Janet Jackson video came on the TV, my mouth dropped open,” she wrote. “I kept repeating in my head, ‘No, no. Please come back, I wanna see that again. Where the hell did that come from?’ It was her ability to be incredibly mysterious, so dark with a vibe that sucked you in immediately, and then this haunting, simple, angelic tone.”

Britney Spears Honors Janet Jackson With a Post on Instagram

Then, Spears admired her stylistic choices as a vocalist and as an entertainer. “[Janet Jackson’s] not trying to be sexy, she just is,” she continued. “She can’t help it. She has always been god to me. She’s not just a singer, she is an entertainer in people’s eyes. Not only do adults feel her presence in such a spellbound way, she’s able to captivate the hearts of children as well! I was so young, and she spoke to my heart and soul like no one else.”

Then, at the end of her tribute, Britney Spears even admitted that she was kind of rambling. Still, she felt the need to give flowers to an artist that means so much to her. “I have no idea why I’m writing this, but I do believe people like her are here for a reason … Just her smile alone changed the world forever … She’s my girl crush this month,” she concluded.

Janet Jackson’s impact on Britney Spears is especially evident when looking back at some of her forays into R&B. Her Neptunes-produced “I’m a Slave 4 U” nods to a lot of the same whispery, sensual qualities that made Jackson such an alluring presence throughout her career.

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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The state of the music industry is confusing from every angle. Making money feels impossible. Streams pay fractions of pennies, and tours don’t last forever unless you’re like The Weeknd, who has been on the road for years now. Artists are stuck trying to figure out brand deals and licensing since no one actually buys albums anymore. This is particularly rough for veterans in the industry like Nas. Frankly, he’s tired of it.

In a statement on Instagram, he mused over the current state of culture as a whole. Ultimately, the Queens MC had a sour taste in his mouth about how the industry discards its legends and innovators. It’s a ‘what have you done for me lately’ kind of industry. Even if they give the art and culture their everything, they don’t always get the care they deserve.

“For the past year I’ve been watching so much happen in the culture while working on music,” Nas wrote. “I think about how it started, I think about the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans to New York. I think about Robert Johnson at the crossroads, how he changed music, and how we can’t even find his grave.”

Nas Addresses The State of Music and Culture While Teasing New Music

“Sometimes I look at all artists, creators, and executives the same way. The music game forgets or doesn’t compensate the foundation. Our greats have been stolen from and ripped off of,” the Illmatic legend continued.

Consequently, Nas advocated for artists to stop desperately chasing trends in favor of a more communal experience within hip-hop. That way, when the industry leaves people out to dry, artists still have something to rely on.

“We can’t keep creating music for the sake of a “trend”. We have to remember the purpose and our contribution and how many things we created. Where’s the love for each other at?” Nas questioned. “We gotta take a stand as one. It’s time for a celebration of the music.”

Then, at the end of his manifesto, he stressed the importance of knowing yourself and teased that it’s time to address what that actually means. At the bottom, he added “BLAK MUSIC 2026”.

Clearly, this suggests another album could be on the way. What we know for certain is that it won’t include any Hit-Boy production. Back in August 2026, the producer shrugged that he’ll never work with Nas again for reasons that weren’t immediately clear.

“We did a lot of great work, but I don’t see us working again,” Hit-Boy told DJ Vlad and Elliott Wilson. “There’s a lot of reasons, you know what I mean? But it’s something I don’t really wanna dig too deep in ’cause it’s pretty deep. Respect to what we did get accomplished in three years.”

Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI

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During a Super Bowl party earlier this year, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Keion White was shot in the ankle. Speculation surfaced in the aftermath that Lil Baby might’ve been connected due to an altercation earlier in the evening. However, after a new report, police didn’t connect him with any of the actions that took place that night.

According to KQED, authorities have arrested four people in connection with the shooting of Keion White. 35-year-old Curtis Green, 36-year-old Gregory Walker, 36-year-old Antoine Washington, and 38-year-old Marquis Davis were all arrested in Atlanta and different parts of California.

It’s currently unclear what roles Davis and Washington played in the incident. Green was released from custody because his charges were all misdemeanors, one of which was carrying a firearm. However, Walker was charged with assault with a semi-automatic weapon, a felony charge. He’s being held without bail. Police didn’t make any connections between Lil Baby and the shooting of Keion White.

According to Police Chief Derrick Lew, the investigation “expanded rapidly”, with search warrants spanning all over California and into Atlanta, Georgia. “It involved over 50 search warrants and assistance from over 250 law enforcement personnel,” he said in a press conference.

Lil Baby Not Involved in The Shooting of 49ers Defensive End Keion White

Walker’s attorney Jeff Wozniak stressed his client’s innocence and that such a shooting isn’t reflective of his character. “Mr. Walker is a family man, a longshoreman, a union member,” he said. “We’re gonna show that he’s innocent, get him back to his family.”

Despite this, authorities displayed a litany of guns and drugs seized during their investigation. According to the outlet, they found 15 pounds of drugs, thousands of dollars, and three firearms during the proceedings.

With Lil Baby no longer connected to the shooting of Keion White, he’s busy collaborating with YouTuber, philanthropist, and multi-millionaire MrBeast on Pharrell production. On a remix of his hit song “Dead Fresh”, the YouTuber actually stepped to the mic to brag about his money and his good work behind the scenes.

“Richest rapper on the scene, call me Mr. Lean,” MrBeast raps on the Lil Baby track. “30 million pounds of trash, we got that ocean clean/Take a minute, feel the breeze, it’s 20 million trees.”

It’s exactly as jarring as you might imagine. Check it out down below, if you dare:

Mr. Beast linked up with Lil Baby for his remix of “Dead Fresh” pic.twitter.com/zDDjxMNy28

— Kurrco (@Kurrco) August 30, 2026

Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage

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Years after the passing of late Los Angeles rapper Drakeo The Ruler, his estate finally reached a resolution in court. After a lengthy wrongful death lawsuit against Live Nation, they finally settled matters out of court. Currently, the terms weren’t disclosed, but according to PEOPLE, the ruling is “conditional.” Additionally, if the preapproved terms are reached within 45 days, then the case will finally be dismissed.

This came after the Cold Devil rapper was fatally stabbed at the Once Upon a Time in L.A. music festival back in December 2021. They argued it was malpractice that her son was jumped so viciously at what seemed like a secure event. All of this was done on behalf of Drakeo The Ruler’s 5-year-old son Caiden Caldwell.

“[Caiden] lost his father and has endured great pain, anguish, and loss of emotional and financial support due to this completely preventable, yet recklessly permitted act of violence,” the suit read in another report.

The lawsuit also claimed that certain parties involved looked at the murder as a form of “street justice.” He served three years in prison and was eventually acquitted in charges related to the murder of a Blood gang member. With only one security guard at his hip and barebones security for the venue, he was jumped by “scores of people, many dressed in all red and wearing ski masks.”

Drakeo The Ruler Lawsuit Finally Settled Out of Court With Live Nation

Journalist Jeff Weiss tragically recalled the night in 2022, calling the event a full-blown “assassination.” His performance was slated to be his second in LA since his release. After an initial “decoy” fight, security and police never showed up. Then, Drakeo The Ruler and seven others were left to defend themselves against 113 people donning all red.

“Directly in front of me, I watch one of the attackers leap up on a ledge, rip off his mask, beat his chest, and screech with apparent glee. As if on cue, the attackers all remove their red hoodies and scatter. Seconds later, security and the police finally arrive, much too late. So do a team of medics, who rush up to a prostrate body writhing on the asphalt. It is Drakeo: mask off, blood pouring all over his face and neck. It looks like his throat has been slit. In the distance, I hear the wail of sirens,” Weiss wrote.

Years later, YG was detained by police in connection with the murder of Drakeo The Ruler. However, he was eventually released shortly afterward.

Photo by Timothy Norris/WireImage

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Radiohead is one of the most historically respected bands of all time. Their influence across rock, pop, and even hip-hop shows up through sampling and by emulating their songwriting. The last thing you might initially expect is to hear Kanye West, Pharrell, and Lupe Fiasco rap over one of their songs on “Us Placers“.

However, that influence wasn’t just one way. Though it might not be immediately evident, they’re on the record for admiring arguably the greatest underground rap star of all time, MF DOOM. Back in January 2021, Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke paid tribute to the late icon. Above all else, he marveled at how incredible he was at stitching words together. In hip-hop and all of music, he hadn’t heard anything so transformative before. Then, he linked the 2009 track “Gazzillion Ear“. Both Yorke and bandmate Jonny Greenwood worked with him on the remix and for the 2011 record “Retarded Fren“.

“I am so sad to hear MF Doom’s passing. He was a massive inspiration to so many of us, changed things,” Yorke tweeted. “For me the way he put words was often shocking in it’s genius, using stream of consciousness in a way i’d never heard before.”

How MF Doom Inspired Radiohead and So Many Other Influential Artists of the 21st Century

Additionally, back in 2013, Thom Yorke told Dazed that DOOM was his favorite rapper. “Ultimately to me it’s not rapping at all, it’s poetry. The way he freeforms his verses and puts it all together, I don’t think anyone else quite does it like that,” the Radiohead frontman shared.

“I don’t necessarily like a lot of the beats, but he’s always amazing. ‘Guvnor’ was my single of 2012. It’s genius, that tune.

On the other side of the spectrum from Radiohead is Playboi Carti. Though he may not be the lyrical marvel that MF DOOM was, he raps with a lot of the same color and imagination stylistically. Still, when he made a reference to him on Whole Lotta Red in 2020, it threw a lot of people by surprise, his friends included.

That fact made Carti extremely giddy to share with his friends. As he told MARVIN Magazine in 2021, he was anxiously waiting to see if DOOM ever heard the lyric.

“I was more hype than anything. He’s alive to hear this s**t boy. I couldn’t wait for DOOM to pop out his shell and shout out Playboi Carti. I ain’t even do it for him to shout me out, I just did it to show older people who hear me. Yeah, I f**k with Doom, feel me. I love Doom,” he told journalist Yoh Phillips.

Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

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R&B is finally regaining its presence in the mainstream. With rising acts like Kehlani and Leon Thomas and established artists like Chris Brown, it has quietly become a part of pop culture as it did in decades past. It’s no longer just a launching pad for artists to go pop or an extra skill for rappers like Drake to wield. Hopefully, in time, we’ll go back to having the energy Jodeci and Usher once brought to the table.

But in the background, artists in the underground kept R&B alive and fresh for die-hard fans of the genre. Moreover, some of them have been holding down the fort for years while pop culture lagged behind. So, we’ve spotlighted three underground R&B singers who have been integral to the genre’s spirit for years and still thrive today.

Three Underground R&B Singers That Have Quietly Made Great Careers for Themselves

Liv.e

The neo-soul label tends to get tossed around a ton very loosely. Frankly, anyone even vaguely earthy and not mainstream contemporary might get the claim. But not many of them capture the true essence of artists like Erykah Badu or D’Angelo. Typically, they’re derivative copies that don’t bring anything fresh to R&B.

That’s what makes Liv.e’s music especially potent. The Dallas born crooner takes the funk and grooviness and applies it to the modern world. She’ll take the universal aspects of love and relationships and juxtapose it with social quirks and problems of today. For instance, her album with Karriem Riggins as GENA saw her go from lovesick to needing an emergency therapy session due to her anger. There’s a nuttiness to her songwriting that differentiates her from anyone working in R&B today.

Phonte

You could easily argue Phonte is just as good of a singer as he is a rapper, if not better. Naturally, underground hip-hop fans adore his work with Big Pooh as Little Brother, rapping on classic 9th Wonder beats. But it’s his work with Nicolay as Foreign Exchange that has made for some of my favorite R&B songs of the 2000s and 2010s.

Additionally, Phonte doesn’t let the traditions of R&B forsake the mature songwriting and sense of humor that make him such a distinct artist. Records like Leave It All Behind shows Phonte singing about the trials and tribulations of long-term, committed relationships. Sometimes, those moments will lead him to having to sleep on the couch or having to quell anxieties amidst the mundanities of a healthy love life.

Other times, you’ll get songs like “Beverly Hills” where Phonte croons about a sweet West Hollywood romance while Devin Morrison prods at the annoying artificiality of LA socialites and how that manifests in some truly horrid dates. You’re unlikely to get any R&B artist provide such a fresh perspective in R&B as a whole, let alone the underground. The fact he’s been able to do it for decades is a testament to the good will and discography he’s built.

JMSN

Save for some viral moments on X with his music video for “Soft Spot“, JMSN has been operating in R&B’s underground for decades now. When he wasn’t producing for rappers like Kendrick Lamar, he wielded a wild falsetto and fused rock and funk with a gorgeous old soul.

Take “Talk is Cheap”, an old-fashioned sex jam that would’ve thrived in the 70s performing in smoky bars. In a sense, you could say he was born in the wrong generation. But I’d argue he’s simply suggesting we go back to a time when R&B was loved and adored and expand on its roots.

Photo by Todd Williamson/WireImage

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Fans are always having an existential crisis over the state of hip-hop. The mainstream never feels as fresh and lively as it could. But the underground is blooming with so much talent. All fans have to do is get out of their comfort zone and embrace what the future looks like. Despite all the anxieties, one of hip-hop’s biggest artists, A$AP Rocky, isn’t worried in the slightest about its future.

In an interview with Complex, the Harlem MC said he makes it a point to examine what’s happening in the current cultural landscape. Moreover, since he can’t fully control what fans are into, he tries to stay hands-off. However, through his connection to Playboi Carti, he feels some responsibility for the state of hip-hop today.

“My artist that I birthed is like the godfather of the new contemporary rage-vamp music. And he came from A$AP. He came from AWGE. He is still signed to AWGE,” A$AP Rocky explained.

“At the end of the day, if that’s what hip hop is going and that’s where it’s going, then technically I’m somewhat responsible for whatever it is and whatever it turns into. So I’m more embraceful towards it, even if I don’t get it, even if it’s not for me.”

A$AP Rocky Embraces The Current State of Hip-Hop and Shares Some of His Favorite New Artists

Rocky argued that the best thing about the current state of hip-hop is that he isn’t beholden to any one style. If new artists aren’t scratching that itch, he suggested diving back into the past.

“If I wanted to listen to hip hop in a certain form, I could always go into my favorite artists’ catalogs and go into that time capsule and enjoy it. That’s why stuff like jazz is even prominent or just relevant today to me,” A$AP Rocky added. “That’s why Golden Era Hip Hop is Tribe Called Quest. All these guys, Kanye and Pharrell, all these guys in the R&B. We could just go into their catalogs if nobody’s making something like that.”

As far as what Rocky is into nowadays, he highlighted Laila! and Teezo Touchdown as incredible artists that are “pushing the bar.” Moreover, his favorite albums of the year show that he’s not worried about mainstream hip-hop in the slightest.

“Bruno Mars’ album was lit, bro. F**kin’ Don Toliver album was fire. I f**k with J. Cole and Baby Keem, Ca$ino,” A$AP Rocky shared.

Photo by Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images

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Lady Gaga has been one of the biggest pop stars of the last 25 years. Every millennial can recall exactly where they were when they heard “Poker Face” for the first time. In her prime, her hits never seemed to run out. Nowadays, she oscillates between acting and singing, recognized as an icon within pop music. But R&B legend Stephanie Mills begs to differ. In fact, she argued that Gaga has quietly been a culture vulture this entire time.

In a sneak peek clip from The Jason Lee Show on BET, Mills teased that she probably shouldn’t even say anything. However, after Lee egged her on, she suggested that Lady Gaga is a culture vulture, based on an experience she had years ago. An old manager once informed Stephanie Mills that her classic “Home” was one of her favorite songs of all time.

Since Lady Gaga was having a fashion shoot in New York, Mills was asked if she could surprise the pop star and sing the song. Initially, she was hesitant. But eventually, she was talked into making the appearance. Then, when she sang for her, Gaga didn’t react in the slightest. “She looked at me like I had two heads,” Mills scoffed.

Stephanie Mills Explains Why She Thinks Lady Gaga is Just a Culture Vulture

Additionally, the “Never Knew Love Like This” singer said that this wasn’t a paid appearance. Instead, she said the photographer would take her photos in exchange for the performance. However, before they left, they were instructed to delete every picture they took at the studio.

“And they did not let us leave until they saw every picture being deleted. Very disrespectful,” Stephanie Mills said. “That’s why I say she’s a culture vulture because she was managed by Black men… I hope she watches. I hope you remember what you did. And I feel like you owe me an apology.”

Stephanie Mills isn’t the only one who feels like Lady Gaga gets more love than she deserves. Back in 2018, Donald Glover joked that talent doesn’t always win out in the end. Then, he uses the pop star as an example to amplify his point. “I went to school with white people who had less talent than me,” Childish Gambino said in a profile with The New Yorker. “Because I’m talented as f**k—and they’re doing way better than me. I went to NYU with Lady Gaga.” 

Photo by Romain Maurice/Getty Images

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Anyone would think suffering a heart attack would mean taking a long time away to recover. However, for R&B singer Angela Northern, it took only days to be cleared to sing again after a medical emergency onstage. During a performance at a B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis, she revealed that she had “100% blockage” in one of her arteries. As a result, she needed a stent immediately. Thankfully, she’s no longer in the ICU after such a massive health scare.

“Fortunately, I was surrounded by friends and loved ones who immediately went into action and I received life saving medical assistance,” Angela Northern wrote on Facebook on October 10, 2026. “Sooooo many things could have gone soooo much worse, but I’m sooo grateful that they didn’t. I love all of you guys that helped me in the middle of it as well as those who checked on me afterwards. Full recovery is in view!”

Naturally, you would think that full recovery would take quite some time. After all, the body needs some time to adjust after such a traumatizing experience. However, mere days after the emergency, she revealed she’s hitting the road once again to perform. After clearance from her doctors, Northern will go back to B.B. King’s and then play a festival in Brownsville, Tennessee.

R&B Singer Angela Northern Brushes Off Heart Attack in Order to Get Back on Stage

“I am at home, and I’m very grateful,” she shared in a video on Facebook. “I’m so grateful to God for giving me a way to come through this ordeal practically unscathed. I drove myself home from Memphis. The doctors cleared me to perform this Friday and Saturday. I’ll be at BB Kings this Friday and Saturday again. We are going to try it one more time and see what happens. Also, Saturday, I’ll be in Brownsville, Tennessee at a fall fest.”

Naturally, fans and supporters were overjoyed to see Angela Northern make such a tremendous recovery, especially in such a short time. “Thanks be to God for giving you another opportunity to be a blessing to many with your beautiful personality. May your experience be a testimony to to many!” one person replied to Angela Northern.

Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

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The 90s were a fruitful time to make money in hip-hop. With the rise of G-Funk and rap gradually making its imprint in pop culture, the genre was going commercial. However, this also meant hip-hop culture was bound to be used for corporate purposes. Many didn’t bat an eye at this shift. They’d do whatever it took to chase the dollar, even if it meant selling the culture in the process.

This was the core issue The Roots had on their 1996 classic “What They Do”. The Philadelphia band, alongside Raphael Saadiq, criticized rappers who didn’t truly love hip-hop. It was just a way to make as much money as possible.

The counter to this was that rapping was the only safe option for some people to get out of their rough, ugly environments. In a sense, it’s looking down at how young people are battered and kept down by the system in a cycle of violence.

Nuance and all, The Roots still had a point. But it also made The Notorious B.I.G. extremely mad. He told The Source (per Billboard) at the time that he felt disrespected by the Philly ensemble’s music video. Biggie suggested that they were making fun of his music video for “One More Chance“. However, according to Questlove, it was all a big misunderstanding.

How The Roots Made an Enemy Out of Biggie Smalls Before He Died

In a conversation on the Juan Epstein podcast alongside Chris Rock, Questlove recalled how Biggie used to love their work. Moreover, he argued that he was the driving force behind Brooklyn loving The Roots. However, when trying to make a “sarcastic look” at the culture on “What They Do”, they didn’t realize the similarities to “One More Chance”.

“We told the director we don’t want to do a direct reference to someone’s video… Based on the way the set looked, we didn’t know we were doing a direct reference to ‘One More Chance.’ So, when we saw the final cut… They showed it to us, and I was like, ‘Oh, damn.’ But it was too late,” Questlove said.

Rather than make a simple statement to The Source, he thought he could really address The Roots’ intentions in an op-ed. However, when the “1,000 pages” were ready, Questlove learned that Biggie was killed. “And that killed me. I never made it right,” he sighed.

Photo by Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

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Over 30 years after the murder of Tupac Shakur, the convicted killer finally knows his fate. According to AP News, 63-year-old Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis has been sentenced to life in prison without any possibility of parole. Back in August, he was convicted of first-degree murder and is the only person who has ever been charged over Pac’s death.

For years, what happened to the hip-hop icon largely went unsolved. All we knew was that one night, he was in a black BMW with Suge Knight when another car pulled up at a red light and fired off several shots at them. Tupac was hit multiple times and died six days later in the hospital.

However, people found that Keffe D was speaking about that infamous night for years. He was granting interviews and even spoke about his role in the shooting in his 2019 memoir. Shakur and his crew had previously beaten up his nephew in Las Vegas. Consequently, he sought revenge and was in the passenger seat when the incident went down. The other people in the car who shot Pac had long passed away, leaving Davis and Suge Knight as the only ones who could recall that night.

Additionally, detectives knew some of these details. However, he was able to avoid prosecution for years because of a deal he made with law enforcement.

Keffe D is Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder of Tupac Shakur

Sentencing and all, Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis maintains his innocence. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he and his lawyer are already working on avoiding the life sentence.“S**t, I ain’t worried. I’m getting out on an appeal,” Keffe D told journalist Jeff Weiss. “We already filed it before the trial even started. They violated my civil rights!”

Additionally, throughout the interview, he doubled down on his innocence. He insisted that he wasn’t in the car the night that Tupac Shakur died. Instead, he was far away at a bar near UCLA. The next morning, he was home eating breakfast with his family.

Ultimately, he viewed the trial as a series of lies to try and implicate him in the murder. “Man, they lied about me so much. I don’t even know where to begin,” Davis said of the Tupac trial. “All those cops in there was lying like a motherf**ker. The prosecutors were lying about me. The only one who didn’t was [former FBI agent] Wade Lee.”

Photo by STEVE MARCUS / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

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Tragic news struck the family, friends, and fans of rapper and reality TV star Kash. In a report from Fox KTVU 2, she passed away at 29 years old after a shooting in downtown Oakland.

Currently, not much is known regarding the exact details of the tragedy. Officers reportedly responded to calls at around 1:30 am, when the late TV star was found suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital shortly afterward, but died at the facility. A woman based in Richmond has been arrested in connection to the shooting, as the police department investigates what led to the tragedy and why it happened.

Born Mackayla Paige, Kash was best known for her time on shows like “Real West Coast Baddies,” “RoomH8z” and “Young & Reckless”. Friends and family described her as the life of the party in any setting. “Oh my God, she was so fun. Was she not hella fun? Oh my God, this girl was so fun. She had us everywhere,” one of her friends, Poodah, shared with the news outlet.

Additionally, the late Mackayla Paige had serious visions of becoming famous and successful. Whether in reality TV or business, she worked hard to make it big.

Reality TV Star Kash Passed Away at 29 Years Old After Fatal Shooting in Oakland

Her cousin Nicky Clayton shared with KTVU 2, “She still had morals, don’t get me wrong. She wanted to be a reality star. She [wanted] to start her own business, she was modeling for a lot of companies, and she really wanted to do makeup.”

The tragic shooting took everyone by surprise, with her cousin getting teary-eyed, recalling how Kash had just been with family earlier that day. “She was chilling. She was with family. So she supposed to be good. I don’t know what transpired, but I know she’s supposed to be here,” Clayton said.

Meanwhile, her friend Poodahh reflected on what giving Kash was like as a person. She was somebody who would push her to be the best, most successful version of herself. As a result, her death hit especially close to home.

“She pushes me to be better every day. She sees when I’m not giving it my all, and she pushes me to be what she knows I could be,” Poodahh said. “I’m sorry for all of our loss, because she’s a star.” 

Photo via Instagram/@spoilmewitkash

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Hardcore rock snobs can be especially thorny towards hip-hop. Back in the day, people scoffed at it as if it wasn’t “real music.” Eventually, hip-hop became the premier genre in pop culture, and rock slowly faded out of the zeitgeist. Still, some maintain it could never compare. But one of rock’s all-time stars, Bruce Springsteen, advocated for the genre and culture, highlighting two artists who defined music in the 2010s.

During a Q&A at an Apple store in New York, Springsteen spotlighted Kendrick Lamar as a rapper he absolutely loved. One thing he loved most was that he’s “intense” above all else.

But perhaps the rapper he was kindest towards was arguably the most controversial, especially today. “I like Kanye West,” Bruce Springsteen said, per Billboard. “He makes great records. They are creative, amazing records.”

This wasn’t the first time he shared his love for Ye either. Back in 2014, he told Ann Powers for NPR that his Yeezus classic “Blood On The Leaves” left him particularly intrigued. Ultimately, his relationship to hip-hop allows Springsteen to keep his fingers on the pulse of music and culture.

Bruce Springsteen Shares Why He Loved the Controversial Kanye West

“I saw him on television. He did the song called “Blood on the Leaves” on the Later…With Jools Holland — it was fantastic, you know. I still find him very interesting,” Springsteen shared. “I’m not necessarily driving [to] it in my car, you know. I probably fall back on the stuff that I listened to as a kid or something if I’m driving around. But I do listen. I listen to a lot because there’s a lot of information in it and it’s just fascinating record-making.”

Kanye West has always wanted to be a rockstar like Bruce Springsteen anyway. Back in 2007, his only way to do that was to settle down with someone he loved.

“I think real rock stars get married and have little rock star kids. At some point, you have to add some sort of stability to your life,” Ye said. “You have to have something real that you can hold on to. There can be a point where your records don’t sell as much, or you’re not as popular as you used to be. The best thing that any of the Backstreet Boys could have had was a really good woman in their life.”

Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images

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Drake has frequently gotten into ridiculous beefs throughout his career. Obviously, there’s the infamous Kendrick Lamar feud, which has left the Toronto MC sending shots all by himself. Then, there’s his spat with Meek Mill or Common or even his beef with Jay-Z that revolves almost entirely around subliminal disses.

But none of those have ever gotten actually physical. There’s never been a threat of violence where fans need to be worried for the artists’ lives. Nor did you ever have to think about them getting into messy fights in public.

However, back in December 2014, Drake and Diddy got into a serious brawl, where the Bad Boy CEO allegedly punched him. By the end of the night, the Take Care rapper was reportedly in the hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

Then, a couple of nights later, footage was released of Diddy fed up and possibly intoxicated, claiming Drizzy stole the beat for “0 To 100” from him. “I gave this s**t to this n***a, and this n***a stole this s**t,” he told the audience.

Months later, Rap-a-Lot CEO and ally to Drake, J. Prince, went on the record to say that putting hands on his friend was unacceptable. He scolded Diddy by saying that if any further action takes course, real violence would take place.

The Weird, uneasy history Between Drake and Diddy

“Drake is family, and the weak s**t from Puffy and Suge is on my radar. First of all, Puffy feeling like he can put his hands on my family opens the doors for his family to be touched. You reap what you sow,” J. Prince said in February 2015.

By May 2015, TMZ claimed that Diddy had made amends with the Toronto MC behind closed doors. Since they were going to inevitably run into each other throughout the summer, they wanted to make sure things weren’t uneasy.

To ensure that, Diddy also went on the record to clarify what happened with “0 To 100”, revealing it was a mixup with producers. Moreover, he stressed that he didn’t put hands on him and that he’s actually one of his favorite artists.

“Yeah, ‘0 To 100’ was initially a record that was my record and somehow it became a misunderstanding because he was working with the same producers,” Puff said. “Honestly, Drake is my favorite rapper as far as songwriting and albums… It wasn’t anything that was that big of a deal at the end of the day.”

By 2016, Drake released “4pm In Calabasas”, which included some alleged disses towards Diddy. In the verse, he references the Puff Daddy classics while side-eyeing fake love.

“Certain s**t just too wild to reconcile/Take that, take that, no love in they heart so they fake that/DiCaprio level the way they play that/Damn n***a, what is that?/Even had the OG’s tryna press me Ha-ha-ha-ha/No way out cause I’m already in it,” Drake rapped.

Despite this, Diddy never responded. In fact, he randomly showed up to a Drake performance in North Carolina just a few months after the song.

Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Time Warner Cable

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Hip-hop belonged to Atlanta in the 2000s. Everyone loved Outkast, and both crunk and trap music started to bubble up during and after their prime. Arguably the biggest song of the decade started with “peace up, A-Town down.” However, the city’s success didn’t mean that certain rappers weren’t at each other’s throats. In fact, two of the biggest rappers from Atlanta, T.I. and Ludacris, got into it over something extremely trivial. The aftermath led to years of sneak disses and a massive blowup at an awards show.

At the start of both of their careers, there were rumors of subliminals being traded back and forth. There was nothing but jabs back and forth for whose version of Atlanta hip-hop reigned supreme. For Ludacris, it was all competition. “I’m extremely competitive so I’m always with the subliminals. So… when he would jab I would jab right back in records,” he told N.O.R.E. on Drink Champs.

But the beef really reached its peak when Luda’s Disturbing Tha Peace artist I-20 released the music video for “Fightin’ In The Club“. There, one of the actors was wearing a shirt with the word ‘trap’ on it, which T.I. viewed as a slight. Then, tensions rose when they featured on the same song, “Stomp”.

Ludacris And T.I. Beefed With Each Other During Their Prime

On the song, Tip offhandedly dissed Luda again in order to provoke a reaction. “Me gettin’ beat down? That’s ludicrous,” he scoffed on the Young Buck classic.

However, the Word of Mouf rapper got tired of just throwing petty shots back and forth with T.I.. Consequently, he absolutely brutalized him on the record, finding the most outrageous ways to say he’s way more successful. Then, he referenced Trap Muzik and ended his verse on an absolute haymaker.

“So pimpin’, be easy; quit catching feelings/’Cause you worth a couple hundred grand, and I’m worth millions/Nobody’s thinking bout you; plus, your beef ain’t legit/So please, stay off the T-I-P of my di-ahhhhh!!” Ludacris clowned.

From there, more subliminals were traded back and forth. But by 2007, a fight broke out between the parties, where T.I. punched Luda’s manager Chaka Zulu outside of a hotel. Not long afterwards, the beef was settled when the self-proclaimed “King of the South” apologized for the incident.

Years later, the pair reflected on their beef during a flight together. Ultimately, Ludacris was just in the business of finishing what was started. He’s just glad they could laugh about it in the end.

“That’s what maturity and that’s what growth is all about, but we gave people what they wanted for a certain amount of time and that’s what hip-hop is,” Ludacris added on Drink Champs. “It starts from competition and we going to give you that.”

Photo by Ben Rose/WireImage

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British rocker Geordie Greep has cancelled a string of shows in the US. In a report from NME, he has already cancelled his shows in Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Additionally, he’ll also miss shows in Boulder and Denver, Colorado, and in Omaha, Nebraska. Currently, he has one show left in the US in Des Moines, Iowa, slated for October 15th. Then, he’ll head out on the overseas stretch of his tour.

This decision to cancel his shows comes on the heels of a sexual assault allegation made during a show on October 8th in Vancouver. An attendee distributed flyers that called Geordie Greep a rapist and another sign that said “You know what you did this morning Oct 8th.” Currently, no other details are out about the allegations, and the former Black Midi frontman hasn’t come forward with a formal statement.

However, he did address it on stage, recalling how he went out to different bars with his band. At some point in the night, he claimed that he received some mixed signals and realized the misunderstanding immediately. Then, he feverishly apologized and stressed that he wouldn’t do what he’s accused of.

Geordie Greep Responds to Sexual Assault Allegation made in Vancouver

“Essentially, what happened last night, [was that] me and some of the band went out to some bars, we went out, we met people, and it ended up in a situation really late at a house party,” Greep recalled.

“I got the wrong end of the stick with someone who was there, and I made a move, and it didn’t come off. I really quickly apologized,” Geordie Greep continued. “It was a complete misunderstanding on my part, and I felt extremely bad, I feel extremely sorry, and extremely upset about the situation. I would never rape a woman. I’m not a rapist. It’s not how that went down.”

Then, Geordie Greep went on to play the show alone, understanding the rest of his band’s unease given the claims. Moreover, he understood if anyone in attendance didn’t want to watch the rest of the show either.

“It’s a very strange thing to have happened and a very scary thing, so all of the band, I understand that I didn’t want to force them to still play a show in the light of that happening. We were unsure what the response would be to all this, and I can only tell you that it’s OK if people want refunds, if they want to leave, it’s fine,” he added.

(Photo by Stephen Olker/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images)

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Soulja Boy has claimed to be the first to do a lot of things. But he wants to pull off something no rapper really has ever done: becoming president of the United States.

In a post on Instagram, the Atlanta MC revealed his intentions to run for president. Additionally, he has even established priorities he wants to work on if he’s elected. What his stance is isn’t immediately clear, but at least it doesn’t seem like he’s running on vibes alone.

“My focus is on four things: economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, education, and the future of technology and AI,” Soulja Boy wrote in the caption. “From music to business to technology, I’ve always believed in thinking bigger and challenging what’s possible. Now I’m exploring what it means to bring that same vision to public service. The future starts with a conversation.”

He wouldn’t be the first rapper to ever consider running for president. Kanye West infamously attempted to run for president twice, once for the 2020 election and again in 2024, to significantly less approval. In 2020, he said that he was done allying himself with Donald Trump and that he would run for president as an independent under the “Birthday Party.“

Soulja Boy Reveals That He’s Going to Run for U.S. President in 2028

For what it’s worth, the “Turn My Swag On” rapper made one of his political stances abundantly clear: he absolutely hates AI. “This AI s**t is sick. What type of world are we living in for real, these videos is looking realer and realer by the day wtf,” Soulja Boy scoffed back in October 2025.

Nowadays, he spends a bulk of his time streaming. Back in January 2026, Akademiks absolutely hated this phenomenon, arguing that it strips away the aura around an artist.  “The internet removed all mystique from rappers,” he said at the time. “U just as corny as the ppl u flexing on. U and ur audience the same.”

Soulja Boy wasn’t going to take such disrespect without a fight, hauling a barrage of insults at the hip-hop media talking head. “Akademiks, you need to fix your tweets, n***a,” Soulja Boy said. “Talking ‘bout, all the rappers is lame ‘cause they streaming and all that… Shut the f**k up with your fat, Uber Eats, McDonald’s-eating a**, 50 Krabby Patties stuffing down your stomach, b***h. You lame, ain’t no f***ing body lame, n***a. Shut the f**k up, n***as can stream if they want to. F**k is you talking ‘bout? Fat piece of s**t.”

Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

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A particularly heated exchange prevented Eminem’s ex-wife Kim Mathers from leaving jail. In a clip posted by The Art of Dialogue, her lawyer aggressively attempted to make an argument on behalf of her client. But 42-2 District Court Judge William H. Hackel III wouldn’t be swayed, telling her, “We are done speaking.”

Still, she insisted on pleading her case, arguing that there was a “misunderstanding” and that she has a right to defend her client. Then, a contentious argument broke out between attorneys over the need to file a motion for bond proceedings. You can check out the ugly exchange down below:

Judge revokes bond for Eminem’s ex-wife Kim Mathers following heated court hearing pic.twitter.com/HLcdN5HFzn

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) October 10, 2026

Despite her lawyer’s best efforts, the decision was upheld to keep Eminem’s ex-wife in jail. In a report from CBS News, this came on the heels of Magistrate Judge Genevieve L. Taylor issuing a $5,000 bond. This would’ve allowed Mathers to go home and remain on house arrest until going back to court. However, Judge Hackell determined that Taylor didn’t have the authority to issue such a bond when he previously revoked it.

Currently, Mathers is slated to appear back in court on October 14th for two felony cases and a misdemeanor. Two of the cases revolve around an alleged drunk driving incident where she crashed into other vehicles.

Eminem’s Ex-Wife Kim Mathers Has Her Bond Revoked by Michigan Judge

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido argued that sending Mathers to jail would ultimately be good for the public. Through continued violations of her bond and the charges revolving around alcohol, he argued any punishment wouldn’t be without basis.

“It is reasonable for the public to be seriously concerned about this defendant. She is alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol when she crashed her vehicle—just two days after pleading no contest to a separate alcohol-related charge,” Lucido said of Eminem’s ex-wife.

“She is also alleged to have repeatedly violated the conditions of her bond, including the requirements of her Soberlink tether. These allegations show a troubling pattern of escalating behavior. Sometimes the safest and most responsible place for someone is behind bars. That is not punishment for punishment’s sake—it is about protecting the public, holding people accountable and ensuring the defendant gets the help she needs without putting innocent people at risk.”

Still, after all of this, it’s possible for Eminem’s ex-wife Kim Mathers to be released to a treatment facility.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

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As Chilli of TLC continues the group’s tour as a one-woman show, she just gave an update on her group member T-Boz. During an October 9th concert in Las Vegas, she revealed that the singer born Tionne Watkins is slowly recovering from her sickle cell crisis.

“Some of you may not know that my group member T-Boz has sickle cell disease,” she shared with the audience (via TMZ). “Sometimes, you have a crisis, and she did this time. She’s taking the very necessary time she needs to get back to 100 percent. I’m going to continue to hold it down for my sister. Tonight, I’m gonna ask each and every one of you to help me hold it down for her.”

TLC has been on tour alongside Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue for the ‘It’s Iconic’ tour. As of today, there are two stops left on the tour. They will perform at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on October 10th. Then, they’ll wrap up in Concord, California at the Toyota Pavilion on October 11th.

Fans noticed T-Boz’s absence on the group’s August 28th performance in Connecticut. On September 3rd, their manager Bill Diggins revealed that her sickle cell crisis required hospitalization. Thankfully, her condition wasn’t considered life-threatening at the time. All parties were insistent on keeping the shows going for all the fans who paid for tickets.

TLC Wraps Up Tour Without T-Boz As She Recovers From Sickle Cell Crisis

“When she experiences a sickle cell crisis, the recovery period can vary and may take days or weeks,” Diggins shared in a statement. “Her health and recovery remain our highest priority. Tionne looks forward to returning to the tour when she is fully recovered and medically cleared to perform.”

It’s not yet known if she’ll be able to make either one of the last dates on the TLC tour.

T-Boz has grappled with sickle cell anemia since birth. The 56-year-old singer was even told by her doctors as a kid that they weren’t sure she would live very long. However, now she’s lived over 25 years past her expected age and toured the world in the process.

“I was told at 7 years old I would never live past 30,” she said on Good Morning America. “I would be disabled my whole life and never have kids. But I traveled the world in TLC. I’ve worked with Michael Jackson.”

Photo by Alyssa Greenberg/WWD via Getty Images

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