djfrosty

Pusha T On Kanye West: “He Knows I Don’t Think He’s A Man”

Roots Picnic 2025 - Day 2
Source: Taylor Hill / Getty

Do not look for any Pusha T and Kanye West reunions anytime soon. The Clipse is back and the group landed a feature story in GQ magazine, and Push A Ton held nothing back when speaking on his once choice collaborator turned foe, Kanye West.

Malice and Push are great with the timing since the GQ feature arrives shortly after they announced their new album, Let God Sort ‘Em Out, is dropping in July and just after a surprise set at this past weekend’s Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. The story is full of plenty of insight into the VA group’s return, but the tea that many are jumping to is Pusha’s take on his former friend Ye.

Unless you’ve been AWOL from society, you’re aware of Kanye West burning every relationship with most of his past collaborators of note, Push included. Just in 2022, Ye handled half of the production (Pharrell covered the rest) on Pusha T’s last solo project, It’s Almost Dry. What a difference three years make because the one-time President of GOOD Music (he stepped down in 2022) is anything but good with Mr. West.

“But…let me tell you something. He’s a genius. And his intuition is even more genius level, right?,” explains Push to GQ. “But that’s why me and him don’t get along, because he sees through my fakeness with him. He knows I don’t think he’s a man. He knows it. And that’s why we can’t build with each other no more. That’s why me and him don’t click, because he knows what I really, really think of him. He’s showed me the weakest sides of him, and he knows how I think of weak people.”

Apparently, Push got word that collaborators weren’t speaking of him in the best of lights as far back as during the recording of Donda back in 2021, and he kept his third eye open ever since. While those interview words are biting, Push also let it be known in song that West was persona non grata on the new Clipse single. On “Ace Trumpets,” he spits, “Look at them, him and him, still waiting on Yeezy/I hope you got your squeegee, at your interviews, I just kee kee, life’s peachy.”

If Kanye West eventually responds, you just know Push—who does give Ye kudos for keeping his word and giving him back the profits to his Def Jam music—has more bars in the tuck.

Also, as far as Yeezy’s erratic behavior being due to mental illness and deserving some grace, Push offered how he takes that into account. “He’s sick, I do believe that much,” said Pusha. “You’re sick, but you’re also very calculated. And if I take your sickness and take how calculated you’ve been and disruptive you’ve been and tried to be to me, then it cancels itself out. I can’t look at it as sick, because you’re detrimental. You’re detrimental to everything.”

Read the full GQ interview, conducted by Frazier Tharpe, right here.

HipHopWired Featured Video

Doja Cat Joins SZA On Stage to Perform ‘Kiss Me More’ at Grand National Tour

SZA and Doja Cat haven’t kissed their smash-hit duet good-bye just yet, with the pair reuniting to perform “Kiss Me More” together for the first time in years Saturday (May 31).

Rising up from beneath the stage floor to join the “Kill Bill” singer in front of thousands of fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — the latest stop on SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s Grand National Tour route — the Los Angeles rapper was all smiles as she delivered her parts to the high-energy single, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. “Can you kiss me more?/ We’re so young, boy, we ain’t got nothin’ to lose,” spit Doja, dressed in a leafy green dress to match the scenery of SZA’s stage setup as the latter danced along. “It’s just principle/ Baby, hold me ’cause I like the way you groove.”

The R&B hitmaker thanked Doja for joining her with a post on Instagram Stories, writing, “First time performing together in soooo long.”

Trending on Billboard

Appearing on Doja’s Planet Her album, “Kiss Me More” was one of the biggest hits of 2021. It won both artists their first Grammys in 2022, taking home best pop duo/group performance.

The “Woman” artist is just the latest A-lister to pop up on stage at one of SZA and Dot’s Grand National performances, which kicked off April 19 with a show in Minneapolis. Also in May, SZA brought out both Lizzo and Justin Bieber at different shows, singing “Special” with the former and “Snooze” with the latter. Lamar has also welcomed his share of guests, with Playboi Carti and Baby Keem performing alongside him on different stops.

The trek comes amid the success of SZA and Lamar’s “Luther,” which reigned atop the Hot 100 for 13 weeks. Before embarking on the Grand National trek, the pair performed it during the “Not Like Us” rapper’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

As for Doja, the hip-hop star has dropped a couple of new collaborations in recent weeks. “Just Us” with Jack Harlow arrived in March, followed by April’s “Lose My Mind” with Don Toliver for the F1 film soundtrack.

E-40 Kicks Off Black Music Month With Smooth Tiny Desk Concert Performance

E-40 kicked off Black Music Month with a swaggering Tiny Desk concert debut on Monday (June 2), which saw 40 Water run through three decades worth of boastful bops in 25 minutes.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Everywhere he goes, E-40 brings a bit of the Bay Area with him, and he represented for the West Coast when heading to the other side of the country to perform at NPR‘s Washington, D.C. offices. “I’ve been doing this since Kermit the Frog was a pollywog,” 40 said regarding his longevity in the rap game.

40 set the tone with “Da Bumble” and “Yay Area,” before taking it back to the ’90s for “Sprinkle Me,” which featured an incredible transition into “Captain Save a Hoe.”

Trending on Billboard

“That transition from Sprinkle Me to Captain Save A Hoe was a special one,” E-40 wrote on Instagram. “Thank you @NPRMusic for letting me grace the Tiny Desk stage and set off Black Music Month.”

40 received a ton of flowers in his comments from peers and fans alike. G-Eazy, Ty Dolla $ign, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross and Three 6 Mafia all saluted the Bay Area legend.

The 57-year-old brought an eight-piece band with him to give his hyphy hits a renewed texture with a mix of bass, keys, backup vocalists, guitars and drums. He continued the show with new arrangements to “Snap Yo Fingers,” U and Dat” and “Choices (Yup),” which broke through on TikTok earlier this year to introduce him to a whole new demographic. “I’m on my fourth wind,” 40 said.

He wasn’t done just yet either, as E-40 went back to the well for “Hope I Don’t Go Back,” 1-Luv,” “Function” and his idiosyncratic catalog staple “Tell Me When to Go.”

40 hasn’t dropped an album yet in 2025, but delivered his braggadocios “Beating They Ass” single in May.

Watch E-40’s Tiny Desk concert below.

Cardi B Sets Sail With Stefon Diggs, Love Goes IG Official

Boston Celtics v New York Knicks - Game Four
Source: Elsa / Getty

Cardi B has taken her rumored romance with NFL star Stefon Diggs public, officially confirming the relationship via Instagram.

The Grammy-winning rapper posted a series of photos on Sunday, featuring the New England Patriots wide receiver, marking their first social media appearance together. The carousel captured the pair enjoying a sun-soaked Memorial Day weekend aboard a luxurious yacht in Miami. One of the standout moments included a playful clip of Cardi dancing on Diggs, radiating chemistry and fun as they celebrated together on the deck.

The Instagram reveal comes just days after Cardi made headlines for slamming her estranged husband, Offset, during a fiery social media rant. The timing of her new post raised eyebrows, with many fans speculating whether it was a subtle message signaling that she’s moved on. Regardless, Cardi looked radiant and carefree in the photos, smiling beside Diggs as they cuddled under the sun.

Stefon Diggs, who recently joined the New England Patriots after a trade, has largely kept his personal life out of the spotlight. However, his appearance alongside Cardi suggests the two are becoming more comfortable sharing their romance publicly. Whether this yacht moment is just the beginning or a one-time splash, one thing’s clear: Cardi B and Stefon Diggs got the people talking.

HipHopWired Featured Video

Turn Back Time With Cher’s Biographical Children’s Book Available for Pre-Order Now

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Little fans of Cher, get excited. Little Golden Book Biographies has created a children’s biography about the legendary singer, and it’s available for pre-order now.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Authored by Candice Ransom and illustrated by Laura Catrinella, the book takes readers through the life and career of the iconic singer from her days as a starry duo Sonny & Cher, to releasing major hits such as “Believe” and “If I Could Turn Back Time.” The children’s biography also takes readers through her Oscar win for her performance in 1988’s Moonstruck. Fans of the singer can pre-order the book on Amazon now for $5.99 in a sturdy hardcover version or digitally on Kindle.

Cher: A Little Golden Book Biography (Little Golden Book Biographies)

A Cher biography children’s book.

The Cher-centric book is set to release on Dec. 2. However, pre-ordering it will ensure you’ll be able to grab it before it’s gone. Each illustrated page is colorful and playful but informational, striking a delicate balance between beauty and education. The age range for this biography ranges from four up to eight years old. This book makes a great gift for the little or big Cher lover in your life, whether it be a birthday gift or just because.

Trending on Billboard

Beyond this book about Cher, Little Golden Book Biographies has created biographies for a multitude of musical artists from myriad genres and walks of life, including Barbra Streisand, Elton John, The Beatles, the Bee Gees and Beyoncé. These books are a great way to get children invested in music and those who make it.

Cher isn’t new to the biographical game herself. Back in 2024, the “I Got You Babe” singer released Cher: The Memoir, the first part of a two-part tell-all memoir that she authored. The next part is set to release this year. Many biographical accounts have been written about the star, including J. Randy Taraborrelli’s Cher: A Biography.

Cory Booker Responds To Ridiculous MAGA Republicans Accusations of Doing A “Nazi Salute”

Source: Getty Images / Cory Booker / Elon Musk

Cory Booker is shutting down claims he was out here throwing up a Nazi salute.

MAGA Republicans and Elon Musk are losing their sh*t and doing their best to compare a moment where Cory Booker put his hand on his heart and waved goodbye to the crowd at the Democratic National Convention in California to when Musk clearly did a Nazi salute.

Through a spokesperson, Booker shut down those ridiculous claims.

“Cory Booker was obviously just waving to the crowd. Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk‘s gesture is operating in bad faith,” Maya Krishna-Rogers, spokesperson for Booker, said to Newsweek in a statement sent via email on Sunday. “The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda.”

Musk also doubled down on his acceptance of th use of the word “retard” as an insult.

MAGA Republicans going hard trying to make something out of nothing about Cory Booker waving goodbye to the crowd, comes after Musk and Steve Bannon both were both accused doing nazi salutes during events.

Musk was accused of doing a Nazi salute during Trump rally during his second inauguration following his unfortunate election win.

Still despite Booker’s statement and the video evidence, you can’t tell these MAGA fools a damn thing as continue to take photos of other elected officials clearly waving bye, and using them as evidence of them doing Nazi salutes in order to vindicate the alleged ketamine abuser Elon Musk.

SMH.

You can see more stupid reactions in the gallery below.

3. Because it’s not a Nazi salute

6. Lol @ shaking

8.

9. Piers Morgan is a loser

HipHopWired Featured Video

CLOSE

Cynthia Erivo Shares a Message of ‘Light & Positivity’ For LGBTQ+ People Amid Political ‘Fear-Mongering’

As politicians around the world continue to pursue anti-LGBTQ+ agendas, Cynthia Erivo has a simple message for queer people in 2025: Don’t let them win.

In her new Billboard cover story published Monday (June 2), Erivo opens up about her thoughts on the Trump administration’s continued attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. When asked by Billboard Pride editor Stephen Daw how she’s coping with the political chaos, the singer-actress shared that she’s focusing on trying to combat the vitriol with peace and calm.

“I’m trying to be a person you can get positive things from, because that is the only way you can balance this stuff,” she says. “Fear-mongering is very powerful, and the only thing that you can do in order to offset that is to feed it with light and positivity.”

Trending on Billboard

For her queer and trans fans, Erivo highlights the importance of staying true to yourself, even amid a scary political landscape. “I want to encourage people to not decide to just tuck away and start hiding and not being themselves anymore, because that is exactly what they want,” she says. “The more yourself you are, the more you are in front of people who don’t necessarily understand, the better understanding starts to happen.”

All-star songwriter Justin Tranter agrees, saying that Erivo herself has become a powerful symbol for the LGBTQ+ community since her public coming out in 2022. “Cynthia being Black and queer, and being one of the most famous people alive in this moment while our community is dealing with what we are dealing with, is no mistake,” they tell Billboard. “For someone as talented as her to be a beacon for young Black queer people all over the world … is no accident.”

Over the last few years, Erivo made a name for herself as one of the premiere performers at The Kennedy Center, where she’s performed her own solo concerts while also honoring legends such as Dionne Warwick, Dame Julie Andrews and Earth, Wind & Fire. But earlier in 2025, President Trump announced that he was naming himself as the chairman of the prestigious arts organization, replacing existing board members with his own allies and ceasing any and all drag performances hosted by the Center.

“I don’t know who gains what from that. I hope that it comes back,” Erivo says of Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center. “It’s really sad to have to watch this happen to it. The Kennedy Center is supposed to be a space of creativity and art and music for everyone.”

See Erivo on the cover of Billboard and check out photos from her cover shoot below:

Pusha T Reflects on Severed Relationship With Ye: ‘I Don’t Think He’s a Man’

Pusha T severed ties with G.O.O.D. Music, where he served as the label’s president and distanced himself from Ye (formerly Kanye West) in late 2022.

King Push and his brother No Malice graced the cover of GQ on Monday (June 2), and Pusha reflected on his falling out with the embattled rapper, who has faced criticism for his repeated hate speech.

“The one thing that I can say about [Ye] is that he knows that every issue that he’s having and crying about online right now, I’ve told him distinctly about those things,” Push said. “He don’t talk to me like he talks to others.”

Trending on Billboard

Pusha T took things a step further while disrespecting Ye and saying that he doesn’t “think he’s a man” following his myriad controversies over the years.

“His intuition is even more genius-level, right? But that’s why me and him don’t get along, because he sees through my fakeness with him,” he continued. “He knows I don’t think he’s a man. He knows it.”

The Virginia rapper went on: “And that’s why we can’t build with each other no more. That’s why me and him don’t click, because he knows what I really, really think of him. He’s showed me the weakest sides of him, and he knows how I think of weak people.”

Billboard has reached out to Ye’s rep for comment.

Pusha T and No Malice kicked off the Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out rollout on Friday (May 30) with “Ace Trumpets,” which finds Push name-dropping Yeezy.

“Sold ecstasy and disappeared, I am Whodini/ Look at them, him and him, still waitin’ on Yeezy/ I hope you got your squeegees/ At your interviews, I just ki-ki,” he raps.

Ye got wind of Pusha’s bars and expressed that he misses the friendship they once had. “I miss me and Pusha’s friendship,” West wrote of his ex-G.O.O.D. Music president to X.

While Yeezy won’t be appearing on Let God Sort Em Out come the July 11 release date, Push confirmed that Kendrick Lamar is slated to be featured on the album track “Chains & Whips.”

However, Lamar’s assist was at the center of Clipse’s rift with Def Jam, as the Universal Music Group-owned label wanted K. Dot’s verse removed from the project. Push stood firm in keeping the Compton rapper on the album, which led to a split with Def Jam for the duo as well as Pusha’s solo career. LGSEO will now be distributed by Roc Nation.

“They wanted me to ask Kendrick to censor his verse, which of course I was never doing,” he said. “And then they wanted me to take the record off. And so, after a month of not doing it, Steve Gawley, the lawyer over there was like, ‘We’ll just drop the Clipse.’ But that can’t work because I’m still there [solo]. But [if] you let us all go.”

Billboard has reached out to Def Jam for comment.

Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa & More Sign Open Letter for LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention

To kick off Pride Month this year, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and several more stars have added their names to an open letter advocating to keep federal funding in place for LGBTQ+ suicide prevention measures.

As unveiled by The Trevor Project on Monday (June 2), the letter comes in direct response to a leaked United States Department of Health and Human Services budget that showed the Donald Trump administration’s plans to eliminate funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+-related services, which actively supports young people in the LGBTQ+ community considering suicide. Despite it providing help to more than 1.2 million estimated callers since its launch in 2022, the proposal would have the crisis line’s funding slashed entirely after going into effect on Oct. 1.

Trending on Billboard

“We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services — a move that will have devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country,” reads the message, which was also signed by Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cara Delevingne, Sarah Paulson, Daniel Radcliffe and Darren Criss. “As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. And today, that responsibility is clear: We must speak out to protect the mental health and lives of LGBTQ+ youth. We will not stay silent.”

Acknowledging that youth suicide in the LGBTQ+ community is a “public health crisis” — with The Trevor Project estimating that more than 1.8 million in the U.S. alone seriously consider suicide every year — the signatories directly called on Congress to “do the right thing” by restoring and protecting funding for 988 in the 2026 budget. The letter ends with a message of support addressed to people most affected by the proposed cuts, as well as an encouragement to sign the nonprofit’s petition to save its program.

“To every LGBTQ+ young person reading this: You are not alone,” it concludes. “We see you. We value you. You have the right to feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as you are. You deserve access to life-saving services that honor your humanity. You may be hurting. You may be scared. You may feel like no one hears you — but we do. We will keep showing up and speaking out. We will not stop fighting for you.”

Among the other musicians who signed are Aly & AJ, Bea Miller, Blondshell, Christina Aguilera, Diplo, Ethel Cain, FLETCHER, GAYLE, Julia Michaels, Kelsea Ballerini, King Princess, MARINA, Orville Peck, Tove Lo and Troye Sivan. More big names are likely to sign in the coming days, as the letter will stay open for new signatories on a rolling basis.

The message comes at a particularly harrowing time for members of the LGBTQ+ community, who have watched as Trump has spent his first few months back in office working to undo protections for gay, trans and nonbinary people. GLAAD documented at least 225 attacks on LGBTQ+ rights within the first 100 days of the twice-impeached POTUS’ second term, including attempts to defund HIV research and cut programs supporting the community.

But as The Trevor Project and its allies put it in their letter, now is the time to “rise together — loudly and determined — for hope, for dignity, and for every LGBTQ+ young person to know that their lives are worthy and that there will always be someone on the other end of the line.”

If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988 or visit the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website for free, confidential emotional support and resources 24/7.

President Donald Trump Floats Peculiar Conspiracy Theory That Joe Biden Is A Clone

US President Donald Trump departs White House for visit to Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump has demonstrated in times past that he is chronically online, as some have witnessed via his frequent posts on his social media network, Truth Social. Taking to his platform once more, President Donald Trump shared a post promoting a peculiar conspiracy theory alleging that former President Joe Biden was replaced by a clone.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social and reshared a post from a user that suggests that President Joe Biden was replaced by robotic clones in 2020. The post itself was replete with hashtags such as “#BlackMen,” “#Blackwomem, “#Blacks,” and “#Jews” along with mentions towards political groups and media outlets.

“There is no #JoeBiden – executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. #Democrats dont know the difference,” read the leading portion of the brief post. The user, who has around 5,000 followers, had the good fortune of getting President Trump’s attention, who reshared the post to his millions of followers.

While there is no proof of this claim, it does appear to be a recent one. Biden has been a favorite target of Trump supporters and the MAGA faithful, who believe the former president’s performance in his first and final term as the nation’s leader left America in worse shape than Trump.

The Truth Social user also shared an article from The Babylon Bee, a fictional news outlet similar to The Onion, which leans into political satire and has fooled former politicians in the past into thinking it is a fact-based news organization.

President Trump and former President Biden have not made any comments about the theory, from what we’ve been able to assess.

Photo: Anadolu / Getty

HipHopWired Featured Video