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Trending on Billboard Central Cee has said only one rapper has made him feel broke, and it was none other than the 6 God himself. The U.K. rapper was interviewed by Instagram channel Rambo Is Talking, and when asked if any rapper has ever made him feel broke, had only one answer in mind: Drake. […]
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Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs have sent Netflix a cease-and-desist letter warning of litigation if the streaming giant follows through with plans to release the 50 Cent-produced docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning.
Set to drop on Tuesday (Dec. 2) on Netflix, the four-part documentary includes never-before-seen footage of Combs in the days leading up to his arrest last September. Combs’ attorney, Michael Tremonte, says in a Monday (Dec. 1) demand letter that the footage was recorded by the rap mogul’s employees and then “illicitly disclosed” to Netflix later on.
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According to Tremonte, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos first approached Combs about making a documentary back in 2023, but Combs rejected the idea when it became clear he wouldn’t have creative control. Netflix wanted to “punish Mr. Combs for refusing to play by its rules,” Tremonte says — so the company gave the producing gig and allegedly stolen footage to his longtime rival, 50 (Curtis Jackson).
“The evidence of Mr. Jackson’s vicious animus against Mr. Combs is overwhelming. He has been trolling Mr. Combs on the internet and social media for years and has made a career of attempting to defame, belittle and provoke Mr. Combs and turn the public against him,” reads the cease-and-desist letter. “Simply put, there is no one less able to view any aspect of Mr. Combs’s life and legacy through a fair and objective lens.”
Tremonte’s letter also complains about interview subjects being offered “problematic financial incentives” to speak negatively about Combs in the documentary. It warns that Combs may sue Netflix for copyright infringement or possession of stolen property if the series is released as planned.
“As you are undoubtedly aware, Mr. Combs has not hesitated to take legal action against media entities and others who violate his rights, and he will not hesitate to do so against Netflix,” writes Tremonte.
In a statement accompanying the letter, a spokesperson for Combs called the docuseries a “shameful hit piece” and slammed Netflix for “ripping private footage out of context — including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing.”
Reps for Netflix and 50 did not immediately return requests for comment on Monday.
Combs’ legacy has been overtaken in recent years by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. The onetime music mogul is currently serving a federal prison sentence for arranging drug-fueled sex marathons between his girlfriends and male escorts, though he was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex-trafficking charges at a blockbuster trial this summer.
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Toosii is trading platinum plaques for touchdowns. Following a slew of college visits, the 25-year-old rapper (real name Nau’jour Grainger) announced on Monday (Dec. 1) that he has committed to Syracuse University to play football next fall.
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“For every kid who ever had a dream, make it reality,” Toosii wrote on social media to accompany a photo shoot in his new Orange threads. “God’s will is the way and no one can stop it not even the devil. I wanna thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for even giving me the strength to chase what I believed when so many people told me I couldn’t. Thank you to the people who supported me as well, it never go unnoticed.”
He continued: “To be born in Syracuse and move to North Carolina at age 12 and haven’t been back since. When Coach Fran called, I knew it was a sign from God. So with that being said, Cuse I’m coming home.”
Toosii starred as a wide receiver at Rolesville High School in North Carolina and retained four years of eligibility as a college athlete after graduating from high school in 2018. The rapper was also born in Syracuse, which could’ve played a role in his decision.
He revealed over the summer that he had plans to put music on the back burner and fully commit to training for a potential football career. After recently wrapping up supporting YoungBoy Never Broke Again on his North American arena tour, Toosii announced his plans to play for coach Fran Brown Jr. at Cuse.
Toosii reportedly had multiple options as he received an offer to play at Sacramento State while also making visits to North Carolina State University and Duke University, but ultimately decided to stay close to his roots in Syracuse, where he grew up before moving to North Carolina as a teen.
Toosii, who notched a top-five Billboard Hot 100 hit with 2023’s “Favorite Song,” received plenty of love from his peers and fans for making the pivot from rap to sports, looking to fulfill a childhood dream. DDG, Wallo and Seddy Hendrix were among those cheering him on in his comment section on IG.
Listed at 5’8″, 165 pounds, Toosii will look to help restore Syracuse football following a lowly 3-9 season in 2025. A representative for Syracuse’s Athletics department declined to answer Billboard‘s request for comment, citing NCAA rules prohibiting comments on prospective student athletes.
50 Cent has said Diddy‘s publicist is accusing the G-Unit leader of being an “adversary” against Puff because of his new Netflix documentary. 50 Cent and Diddy have been going back and forth all day in the wake of the former’s new four part Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which is set to hit […]
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After dominating the year with “Mute” and “Whites,” a late 2024 release that quickly took over the diaspora and received a remix from French Montana, Masicka is closing out 2025 with a tender new EP dedicated to the ladies.
Titled Her Name Is Love, the new EP arrives on Dec. 19 via Def Jam Recordings, following the October release of lead single “Keys,” which recently crossed over one million Spotify streams. For Masicka, “Keys” opens the door to the EP’s celebration of women, desire, closeness and the emotional richness that can be found in relationships. “Baby, your body speaks to me, free to me/ She got the keys to my heart,” he croons over the 1Mind & Westen Weiss-produced riddim.
“Her Name Is Love is really me tapping into another dimension of who I am, not stepping away from the grit, but showing that there’s more to the man behind the music,” he exclusively tells Billboard. “The ladies always support my work, and I wanted to create something that speaks directly to them… their stories, their strength, their emotions and the energy they bring to the culture. This EP is about connection, emotion and the different forms love can take.”
Despite waiting until the twelfth month of the year to unleash his new project, Masicka has had a very busy 2025. At August’s Caribbean Music Awards, he won four trophies, including dancehall song of the year (“Hit & Run,” with Shenseea and Di Genius) and reggae song of the year (“Been There Before,” with Romain Virgo). Those new pieces of hardware also complemented his string of buzzy collaborations with artists like Kranium (“Cut the Link”), Mahalia (“Different Type of Love”), Rvssian (“Rich Sex”) and Lila Iké (“Romantic”).
After a banner summer season, Masicka focused on helping his home country rebuild in the wake of this fall’s devastating Hurricane Melissa. His MADE foundation teamed with representatives from Member of Parliament Floyd Green’s office, renowned producer Dunw3ll and Red Stripe to bring food supplies, construction materials, steel and cement to St. Elizabeth.
Masicka made his Def Jam debut in 2023 with Generation of Kings, a 17-song set that reached No. 2 on Reggae Albums. That album, which featured collaborations with the likes of Dexta Daps and Spice, followed two independently released LPs: 2018’s Start from the Grung and 2021’s 438.
“Women always show me love, and this is my way of giving that energy back in a full, meaningful way,” Masicka says. “After the year I’ve had, everything aligned for me to put out a project that celebrates them and shows this refined side of my artistry.”
Check out the official artwork for Masicka’s Her Name Is Love EP below.
Masicka, “her name is Love”
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Trending on Billboard Megan Thee Stallion could be playing some more “Captain Hook” at sea this year. The Houston Hottie’s boyfriend, Klay Thompson, showed off his boat’s new name over the holiday weekend, which pays homage to Megan with the SS Stallion. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The NBA star took to his […]
Thanksgiving Weekend is normally a quiet time for new releases — but that doesn’t mean the worlds of hip-hop and R&B stopped spinning. On Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), R&B singer Ray J was taken into custody by Los Angeles police and charged with making a criminal threat after allegedly pointing a gun at his ex-wife, Princess […]
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50 Cent’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning documentary is set to hit Netflix on Tuesday (Dec. 2), and ahead of the explosive four-part docuseries’ arrival, 50 and director Alexandria Stapleton sat down with Robin Roberts for Good Morning America on Monday (Dec. 1) to reveal details of the opus about the Bad Boy Records founder’s fall from grace.
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The Reckoning obtained never-before-seen footage of Diddy that was reportedly slated for a doc that he was allegedly filming before the embattled Bad Boy mogul’s arrest in September 2024. One scene finds him in conversation with his legal team, imploring them to up their game.
“Listen to me, I am going to let you professionals look at the situation and come back to me with a solution,” Diddy said from what appears to be a hotel room. “Y’all are not working together the right way. We’re losing.”
There’s another scene that shows Diddy amongst the people in Harlem and then asking for hand sanitizer after getting into his car. “I been out in the streets amongst the people, I gotta take a bath. The amount of people I’m coming into contact with, that’s what I have to do,” Diddy said.
50 believes that the scene is a look into Combs’ manipulative ways. “It shows you his character,” longtime Diddy antagonist 50 told Roberts. “What’s the odds you would do that in front of a camera? That’s one of the moments he forgot he was on tape.”
A spokesperson for Combs relayed to the New York Times that they were “deeply concerned” about the inclusion of “private moments” before Diddy’s indictment that are included in the docuseries. “None of this was obtained from Sean Combs or his team, and its inclusion raises very serious questions about how this material was accessed and why Netflix chose to use it,” said Combs spokesperson Juda Engelmayer.
The G-Unit mogul pushed back against the narrative that he’s using the docuseries to needle his longtime foe instead of uplifting the victims’ stories.
“What they consider a pre-existing beef for 20 years is me being uncomfortable with him suggesting he takes me shopping,” 50 Cent added. “I looked at it like I was a tester — like, ‘Maybe you will come play with me.’”
The four-part series also includes interviews with two jurors who delivered the mixed verdict that found Combs guilty of prostitution charges in his federal trial, but dodging charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Combs was ultimately sentenced to 50 months in prison in October.
The Reckoning — which hits Netflix on Tuesday — will explore Combs’ federal trial and history of alleged sexual abuse. He’s repeatedly denied sexually assaulting anyone despite testimony from two former girlfriends at his trial alleging physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The doc will see contributions from former associates, friends, artists and employees who came forward to detail the world behind the Bad Boy empire.
Watch 50 Cent’s full interview with GMA below.
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50 Cent’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning documentary is set to hit Netflix on Tuesday (Dec. 2), and ahead of the explosive four-part docuseries’ arrival, 50 and director Alexandria Stapleton sat down with Robin Roberts for Good Morning America on Monday (Dec. 1) to reveal details of the opus about the Bad Boy Records founder’s fall from grace.
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The Reckoning obtained never-before-seen footage of Diddy that was reportedly slated for a doc that he was allegedly filming before the embattled Bad Boy mogul’s arrest in September 2024. One scene finds him in conversation with his legal team, imploring them to up their game.
“Listen to me, I am going to let you professionals look at the situation and come back to me with a solution,” Diddy said from what appears to be a hotel room. “Y’all are not working together the right way. We’re losing.”
There’s another scene that shows Diddy amongst the people in Harlem and then asking for hand sanitizer after getting into his car. “I been out in the streets amongst the people, I gotta take a bath. The amount of people I’m coming into contact with, that’s what I have to do,” Diddy said.
50 believes that the scene is a look into Combs’ manipulative ways. “It shows you his character,” longtime Diddy antagonist 50 told Roberts. “What’s the odds you would do that in front of a camera? That’s one of the moments he forgot he was on tape.”
A spokesperson for Combs relayed to the New York Times that they were “deeply concerned” about the inclusion of “private moments” before Diddy’s indictment that are included in the docuseries. “None of this was obtained from Sean Combs or his team, and its inclusion raises very serious questions about how this material was accessed and why Netflix chose to use it,” said Combs spokesperson Juda Engelmayer.
The G-Unit mogul pushed back against the narrative that he’s using the docuseries to needle his longtime foe instead of uplifting the victims’ stories.
“What they consider a pre-existing beef for 20 years is me being uncomfortable with him suggesting he takes me shopping,” 50 Cent added. “I looked at it like I was a tester — like, ‘Maybe you will come play with me.’”
The four-part series also includes interviews with two jurors who delivered the mixed verdict that found Combs guilty of prostitution charges in his federal trial, but dodging charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Combs was ultimately sentenced to 50 months in prison in October.
The Reckoning — which hits Netflix on Tuesday — will explore Combs’ federal trial and history of alleged sexual abuse. He’s repeatedly denied sexually assaulting anyone despite testimony from two former girlfriends at his trial alleging physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The doc will see contributions from former associates, friends, artists and employees who came forward to detail the world behind the Bad Boy empire.
Watch 50 Cent’s full interview with GMA below.
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Iggy Azalea is officially closing the door on her rap career.
The Australian-born artist, who has shifted her focus to entrepreneurial and digital ventures in recent years, reaffirmed that she does not plan to return to the music industry. The update came via Instagram on Friday (Nov. 28), when the “Fancy” rapper shared a selfie that prompted a fan to ask whether she had recently signed a new record deal.
“F*** no,” Azalea replied in the comments. “But I did consider signing, for weeks. I’m very sure I don’t want to come back to the music industry.”
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Her comment follows years of gradual distance from major releases. Azalea’s last studio album, The End of an Era, arrived in 2021 and marked a personal milestone, intended as a closing chapter before a pivot to new creative paths. Her 2014 debut, The New Classic, made a global impact with the Billboard No. 1 single “Fancy” and established her as one of the most commercially successful Australian rappers of the decade.
Earlier this year, Azalea publicly alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that Universal Music Group owed her what she described as “millions of dollars in back pay” from international royalties. She claimed the amount in question was in the “eight-figure range” and said the corporation “technically stole” earnings during her early career. UMG did not comment at the time, and Azalea has continued to discuss the issue while advocating for artist rights and royalty transparency online.
In August, she appeared on ABC News and spoke candidly about the pressures she experienced at the height of her fame. She recalled being labeled an “industry plant” early on and described the rap industry as a “battlefield.” “I was stepping on landmines left and right, and I just couldn’t survive it. It’s not survivable,” she said. She added that while she made mistakes along the way, the emotional toll of navigating the spotlight ultimately reshaped her relationship with music.
“There are some things I walked into and deserve, or things I could have done better,” she said. “But I can’t sit here all day long feeling sorry about that. It’s just part of life.”
Azalea has since focused on business ventures — including cryptocurrency projects and online creative work — and has not hinted at reconsidering her decision. Her latest comments suggest her retirement from music is firm, with no plans for a comeback on the horizon.
