celebrity news
Page: 8
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Robert Kamau / Getty
In a new Instagram post, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura-Fine announced that she and her husband Alex Fine are expecting their third child.
The pinned post features five black-and-white photos of Cassie, Alex, and their two daughters, and is simply captioned with a pregnancy emoji, a blue heart, and “#3.”
Cassie, 38, and Alex, 31, were married in 2019 just weeks after announcing that they were engaged and expecting a child together. Their first daughter Frankie was born in 2019 and Sunny followed in 2021. The blue heart on her recent baby announcement suggests that the couple is expecting their first son.
Friends gushed over the announcement in the comments section of the post. Singer Ciara wrote, “Yaaayy!! So beautiful!” while Kim Kardashian commented “congrats!!!” with two white hearts.
The news comes just over one year after Cassie settled a federal lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs where she accused him of rape and abuse. When she announced the lawsuit, the “Me & U” singer said she had remained silent for years but was “finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
In her pregnancy announcement, fans referenced the lawsuit. One wrote, “I love to see women get their happily ever after–esp after going through abuse and trauma. You are deserving of this beautiful life. Thank you for being an example of strength and perseverance. Congrats!”
The lawsuit and settlement sparked a flurry of additional accusations, which landed Combs in federal custody. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting trial.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Jason Koerner / Getty
If we’ve learned anything about Knicks owner James Dolan over the past few years it’s that he has no problem banning people from his playground known as Madison Square Garden for the pettiest of reasons, and now, rapper Lil Tjay has found himself embargoed from the Mecca of basketball.
According to TMZ, the “Pop Out” rapper is no longer welcome at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” after he was caught spitting in the face of a security guard during the WBO lightweight champion bout between Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk last Friday night (Feb. 14). In a video making the social media rounds following the incident, we see a security guard going back-and-forth with Tjay at the event before someone intervenes and separates the two men only for Lil Tjay to approach the guard one more time letting one fly right out of his mouth and into the guard’s face.
That’ll do it every time.
Needless to say, once upper management caught wind of the incident and saw the video, it wasn’t a hard choice for them to ban the rapper from ever setting foot back in Madison Square Garden.
Per TMZ:
Madison Square Garden tells TMZ … “Our policy is that patrons that engage in confrontational and disruptive behavior will be escorted out and banned from all MSG properties.”
Our sources inside the building tell us Tjay and his crew were pushing to get ringside without having the proper clearance to be in the VIP area.
We’re told when Tjay was informed they weren’t allowed, the “Trench Baby” rapper got physical and spit in the guard’s face — with multiple angles of the slimy skirmish caught on camera.
While Lil Tjay might be a well-known artist in the Hip-Hop culture, he found out he doesn’t hold enough weight to just walk into the VIP section of a huge event without getting pushback from hired security. That’s only reserved for the likes of Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Hip-Hop moguls of that caliber… maybe.
What do y’all think about Lil Tjay getting banned from Madison Square Garden? Too harsh for his actions or a proper punishment? Peep another angle of the incident and let us know in the comments section below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Jason Koerner / Getty
If we’ve learned anything about Knicks owner James Dolan over the past few years it’s that he has no problem banning people from his playground known as Madison Square Garden for the pettiest of reasons, and now, rapper Lil Tjay has found himself embargoed from the Mecca of basketball.
According to TMZ, the “Pop Out” rapper is no longer welcome at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” after he was caught spitting in the face of a security guard during the WBO lightweight champion bout between Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk last Friday night (Feb. 14). In a video making the social media rounds following the incident, we see a security guard going back-and-forth with Tjay at the event before someone intervenes and separates the two men only for Lil Tjay to approach the guard one more time letting one fly right out of his mouth and into the guard’s face.
That’ll do it every time.
Needless to say, once upper management caught wind of the incident and saw the video, it wasn’t a hard choice for them to ban the rapper from ever setting foot back in Madison Square Garden.
Per TMZ:
Madison Square Garden tells TMZ … “Our policy is that patrons that engage in confrontational and disruptive behavior will be escorted out and banned from all MSG properties.”
Our sources inside the building tell us Tjay and his crew were pushing to get ringside without having the proper clearance to be in the VIP area.
We’re told when Tjay was informed they weren’t allowed, the “Trench Baby” rapper got physical and spit in the guard’s face — with multiple angles of the slimy skirmish caught on camera.
While Lil Tjay might be a well-known artist in the Hip-Hop culture, he found out he doesn’t hold enough weight to just walk into the VIP section of a huge event without getting pushback from hired security. That’s only reserved for the likes of Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Hip-Hop moguls of that caliber… maybe.
What do y’all think about Lil Tjay getting banned from Madison Square Garden? Too harsh for his actions or a proper punishment? Peep another angle of the incident and let us know in the comments section below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Fans of 50 Cent are well aware that the G-Unit mogul is blessed with acerbic wit and is always ready to fire back at anyone who dares to mention his name. After Joe Budden suggested that 50 Cent enter into therapy for seemingly celebrating Irv Gotti’s passing, Fif shot back and ramped up the slander as he typically does.
On a recent episode of his eponymously named podcast, Joe Budden made mention of 50 Cent’s jabs towards Irv Gotti via social media, highlighting the long-running feud between the fellow Queens natives. Budden shared a clipped video meant for social media sharing to publicize the segment, and Fif caught wind of the jab as he always does.
Via his Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 18), 50 Cent fired back with, “Stay out my mix Joe talking about I need therapy. B_itch you need to stop walking around naked. The fvck is you doing in the hallway with ya balls out PUNK!” — referencing Budden’s recent legal issues regarding sleepwalking around his studio complex naked.
From there, 50 Cent turned up the heat with AI-generated images of Budden that have recently appeared on social media in various stages of undress.
“Da fvck is you doing over there naked Joe? [H]ow you open the damn door if you sleep fool. Nah fvck all that, you try it again perv!” Fif wrote in the caption of a post featuring a depiction of Budden attempting to open a door.
50 kept up his barrage for a pair of other posts featuring Budden before moving on to his usual flood of promoting his various business interests and ending it with a meme featuring a naked man atop a hiking trail.
Joe Budden has yet to respond but most likely will address the matter on the upcoming weekend episode of his broadcast.
—
Photo: Prince Williams / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty
A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, 36, was found not guilty. Pretty Flacko was charged with assault with a semiautomatic firearm aka firing a gun at his former friend and A$AP Mob member A$AP Relli.
https://x.com/meghanncuniff/status/1891895289201434700
The jury began deliberating on Tuesday (Feb. 18) morning and reached their verdict by late afternoon. The jury consisted of seven women and five men and their decision was reportedly unanimous.
The prosecution alleged that Rocky fired two shots at Relli during a dispute on a street in Hollywood back in 2021. The trial featured dramatic testimony from Relli (Rocky passed on testifying) and bitter arguing between the prosecution and the defense (each side accused the other of perjury). Rocky’s longtime girlfriend attending the trial and occasionally bringing along their two baby sons added to the audacity of the proceedings.
The dutiful reporting of legal journalist Meghann Cuniff has given outside observers a direct look into the happenings of the trial as they occurred. Below, we’re sharing Cuniff’s YouTube channel that featured the verdict reading.
Social media followed this trial closely and is reacting to the verdict. See what’s happening in the gallery.
This story is developing.
Additional reporting by D.L. Chandler.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Megan Thee Stallion turned 30 over Valentine’s Day Weekend and looked stunning doing so as we were privileged to witness via social media. The Houston Hottie herself is now expanding her business portfolio by way of her new tequila brand, Chicas Divertidas.
Announced on Megan Thee Stallion’s birthday (Feb. 15), Chicas Divertidas aims to be more than a celebrity tequila brand and is produced and sourced at Casa Centinela (NOM 1140), which has been distilling the famed Mexican spirit for over 120 years. As with all tequilas, the juice is made from 100% Blue Weber agave as legally mandated by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) and can only be made from the plant in one of the designated regions in the country.
Hot Girl Meg is known as someone who enjoys a good beverage responsibly and shared her vision of Chicas Divertidas with her legion of fans.
“As someone who values good vibes and great memories, I knew I wanted to create a tequila that was designed to be shared and savored with my Hotties,” Megan shared in a statement. “Smooth, sultry, and premium. This process has been years in the making, and I’m so proud to take this next step in my journey as an entrepreneur and launch this brand. I know the Hotties are ready, it’s time to give them a drink made by me! I’m excited to share this labor of love with you all and hope you are inspired to enter your CHICAS ERA!”
Currently, Chicas Divertidas is offered in Blanco (SRP $70), which is unaged tequila that can be either sipped with meals or mixed and Reposado (SRP $80), which means “rested” and is a slightly aged version of tequila that can be sipped or make an excellent base for an Oaxacan Old Fashioned.
There is a presale link for Chicas Divertidas ahead of its wider national distribution, which can be found here.
Congratulations to Megan Thee Stallion.
—
Photo: Chicas Divertidas Tequila
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Chelsea Reject, a talented rapper out of New York who has worked alongside several underground acts such as the sprawling Beast Coast collective and others, has died. A GoFundMe for Chelsea Reject has been established by her partner to help with the costs of funeral services.
Chelsea Reject, real name Chelsea Alexander, as seen in The Express Tribune, worked alongside the likes of Mick Jenkins, Kota The Friend, Dirty Sanchez 47 of the Pro Era collective, CJ Fly, also of Pro Era fame, Joey BadA$$, AKTHESAVIOR of The Underachievers, and Raz Fresco among other underground notables.
Hip-Hop Wired has featured the Brooklyn native’s music in our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) playlist music roundup in times past. Reject’s last recorded project, Rogue alongside former Pro Era member T’Nah, was released in August of 2024. She also featured on Mahogany Jones’ “GO (Ma$terPiece Remix 2)” last year.
T’Nah shared a loving post in honor of CR via Instagram that we’ll share below in the gallery:
Haha we were so enthused and ready and everything was gonna change this year. She was my battery pack – we were JUST about to get back in the gym next this week. She would love that some of yall been in the gym on her behalf. Keep going. It’ll help.
Gon be so hard. To muster up the energy without you Chelsea. But yea. Not gonna take anything you taught me for granted!!!!
As seen in the Tribute piece, CR’s partner, Brian Harris, established a GoFundMe that, of this writing, has raised over 85% of its $15,000 goal.
To show your support for Chelsea Reject’s family, please follow this link. Keep scrolling to see some of CR’s past collaborators and recording partners share their condolences.
May Chelsea Reject rest powerfully in peace.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
A lawsuit filed by Jane Doe represented by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee against Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging rape and assault has been dismissed. Jay-Z, via his Roc Nation outfit, issued a statement after the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice.
As seen on Variety, the lawsuit, filed Friday (Feb. 14) by Tony Buzbee and Antigone Curis on behalf of Jane Doe, was reviewed by the outlet in full. As the outlet notes, a portion of the dismissal stated that the new filing, “hereby gives notice that the above-captioned Action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice.” In essence, this case cannot be entered again as it stands currently.
A statement was posted on Roc Nation’s social media pages. We’ve shared a portion below:
Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.
This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realize that the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions. The system has failed.
Jane Doe initially filed the claim last October against Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging that when she was 13 in the year 2000, the record label mogul raped her during a MTV Music Video Awards afterparty. In December of 2024, Jay-Z was added to the lawsuit.
Jay-Z immediately addressed the lawsuit in a series of public statements and legal maneuvers, aiming much of his vitriol toward Buzbee and calling the claims against him an elaborate scheme to pilfer money out of him.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans are reacting to the news and Jay-Z’s statements. No word yet has emerged from Diddy’s camp.
Keep scrolling to see the reactions on X.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Matt Jelonek / Getty
Wiz Khalifa emerged as one of the brightest stars of the so-called Blog Era and now he’s a seasoned veteran with two dozen mixtape projects, seven studio albums, and a handful of EPs. Fans of the Pittsburgh stoner can rejoice after Wiz Khalifa teased a release for his highly anticipated Kush & Orange Juice mixtape.
Released in 2010, Wiz Khalifa made a huge splash with the Kush & Orange Juice mixtape, introducing the masses to his laidback delivery, bombastic hooks, and overall cool image. His last project, Wiz Owens, was framed as a mixtape project and reunited him with “Black & Yellow” producer Sledgren along with features from Sosamann, Young Deji, and 24hrs.
Young Khalifa has already dropped a quartet of tracks from Kush & Orange Juice 2, including the tracks, “Hit It Once,” “Bring Your Lungs” featuring fellow chiefing rapper Smoke DZA, Hide It featuring Don Tolliver, and “Khalifa’s Home.”
Although it’s been rumored online that Wiz Khalifa will drop Kush & Orange Juice 2 ahead on the weekend of 420, we scoured his social media pages for confirmation and came up empty. That said, we’re hoping that it does come soon as it’s been 15 years since that last drop.
The industrious rapper and businessman also just released his branded line of rolling papers via his Khalifa Kush brand. Learn more about the rolling papers here.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Drake, he of bullet-ridden hoodies and manufactured smoke, is currently on tour in Australia and New Zealand but is still taking notice of all the chatter around his name. In the wake of Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl LIX appearance and Serena Williams showing up to C-walk, Drake took what appears to be a cheap shot at his ex via an alleged Instagram burner account.
The streets are still abuzz with discussion focused on Kendrick Lamar performing his scathing Grammy Award-winning diss track “Not Like Us” amid all the legal moves made by the Compton native’s Canadian rival. Further, K.Dot invited his fellow Compton native Serena Williams onstage to dance which some felt added extra insult.
As some know, Drake and Serena Williams dated a decade ago and he allegedly reached into his images folder and shared a photo of himself and Williams’ former agent, Jill Smoller. The message is unclear, much like many of the moves the OVO honcho has made after explosively underestimating his opponent and losing perhaps the largest battle of his career. No matter Drizzy’s aim or reason for the photo, some online are seeing through the antics and are wondering why he hasn’t moved on from the stack of Ls he’s taken so far.
We’re sharing the burner account post below for the sheer purposes of visibility and clarity. Keep scrolling to see reactions from fans on X to the perceived jab.
—
Photo: Getty