genre hiphop

28 May 2025

Donald Trump Commutes Life Sentence of Former Chicago Gang Leader Larry Hoover

President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover, as the former Chicago gang leader was set to spend the rest of his years behind bars in Colorado.

Trump has dished out quite a few pardons in recent weeks while in the Oval Office, and he commuted the multiple life sentences of the Gangster Disciples’ founder on Wednesday (May 28), according to the Chicago Sun–Times.

However, CBS News reports that the 74-year-old will still have to serve the remainder of his 200-year sentence for the murder of drug dealer William “Pooky” Young in 1973.

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Federal prosecutors accused the drug kingpin of running a “criminal enterprise” from behind bars, which helped him still oversee gang activities while imprisoned. Hoover was hit with 40 additional charges and found guilty in 1997.

Ye (formerly Kanye West), who is a Chicago native, has long advocated for Hoover’s freedom. He spoke about Hoover during a White House visit with Trump in 2018 and then headlined the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert with Drake in December 2021 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.

West was overjoyed to learn that Trump commuted Hoover’s sentences. “WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER,” he wrote to X on Wednesday.

Ye even showed love to Drake for joining him onstage in 2021. “Thank you to Drake for helping to bring Larry Hoover home,” Yeezy added.

West gave Larry Hoover’s son, Larry Hoover Jr., a guest appearance on his 2021 Donda album and shouted out Hoover on “Jesus Lord” as well as Vultures 2‘s “River.” Hoover Jr. also joined Ye during his Drink Champs interview in 2021.

Hoover has continued to petition for a criminal sentence, and U.S. District Judge John Blakey heard a mercy bid from the former gang leader in 2024. “We did what so many said was impossible,” Hoover’s attorney, Justin Moore, told the Sun-Times. “We got Larry Hoover out of federal prison.”

28 May 2025

Giveon Announces Release Date for His Sophomore Album ‘Beloved’

Giveon has announced his sophomore album Beloved will be dropping later this summer. On Wednesday (May 28), Giveon hopped on Instagram to finally announce his new album Beloved will drop on July 11.

“BELOVED, the sophomore album, july 11th,” he wrote on Instagram. “i spent over a thousand days crafting this for you and for myself. excited for you to see my growth not only as an artist but also as a man. i’ll never take your patience for granted. see you soon.”

The new album comes after the Grammy-nominated artist dropped off the project’s lead single “Twenties” in March. The song reached No. 6 on Hot R&B Songs and coincided with the five-year anniversary of his debut Take Time EP.

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The EP was nominated for best R&B album at the 2021 Grammy Awards, and was followed by the top 10 R&B album When It’s All Said and Done in October 2020. He also appeared on Justin Bieber’s summertime smash “Peaches” in 2021, but other than that has been laying low to work on Beloved.

“I get that question a lot,” he told Billboard back in March when asked what he’s been up to this whole time. “I always tell people that I’ve just been absorbing bodies of work that inspire me. Not just music but multiple mediums like paintings, films, life itself. Because there’s a lot of inspiration that comes from life and all of my music is autobiographical. So I don’t have a choice but to experience life and then write it out while working on my craft.”

He was fairly tight lipped on his sophomore effort, but said: “I’m excited for people to hear it. With my first album, I was just making music and having. Now I’m still having [fun]. But I’m also like, ‘Oh, I have a responsibility with this music because I see how it touches and helps people.’”

Check out the Instagram post announcing Beloved below.

28 May 2025

Suge Knight Believes Diddy ‘Definitely Should Walk’ Free in Sex Trafficking & Racketeering Trial

Suge Knight believes Diddy should be a free man at the conclusion of his sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

While Knight and Diddy were at opposite ends of the contentious West Coast/East Coast rap beef in the ’90s, the Death Row founder joined NewsNation’s Cuomo on Tuesday (May 27), where he detailed why he thinks that Diddy shouldn’t be found guilty.

Knight said he believes Combs had many accomplices who should be in handcuffs with him, while Diddy was the only Bad Boy Records executive to take the fall. “I say this all the time, Puffy and I are not friends. But Puffy should definitely walk,” he explained. “There were other executives involved in Puffy’s life and for Puffy to be the only guy that gets on the stand is a sad day for hip-hop.”

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Host Chris Cuomo asked Knight about his relationship with Diddy’s former assistant, Capricorn Clark, who testified against Combs and claimed Diddy kidnapped her. Knight alleged that Bad Boy’s Reggie Wright Jr. forced Clark to have sex with multiple people.

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“I don’t think this is a case where Puffy should be going to prison … How could every person who’s involved with Puffy not on the stand except for Puffy? At some point, the law gotta be blind,” Knight continued. “We just can’t jump to conclusions and say, ‘throw Puffy under the bus.’ Like I said, him and I are not friends, but Puffy definitely should walk. What’s right is right, wrong is wrong.”

Even if Diddy ends up receiving a lengthy prison sentence, Knight believes that President Donald Trump will end up giving the Bad Boy mogul a pardon.

“I don’t think he has nothing to worry about, and I don’t think he’s worried because he’s gonna be federal, and if he gets convicted, Trump’s gonna pardon him,” he said to Cuomo. “I feel that Puffy is going to be alright and have a fair shot at it. He’s not a dummy. I’m quite sure somebody is going to talk to those jurors and convince one or two of them.”

Diddy’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial is approaching day 10 and is expected to last into July. He faces life in prison if convicted on all charges.

Watch the full clip featuring Suge Knight on Cuomo below:


 

28 May 2025

A Look at All the Rappers Ye Has Beefed With

While Drake and Ye had a mutual respect for each other early on that slowly fell apart over the years. The 6 God’s “Best I Ever Had” music video was actually directed by Ye back in 2009, and Drizzy called the rapper the “most influential” person to his sound. Not to mention they joined forces with Lil Wayne for the incredible Billboard Hot 100 hit “Forever,” and Ye also contributed to production on Drizzy’s Thank Me Later debut.

By the mid-2010s, however, the pair went their separate ways and began sending each other cryptic shots. Drake appeared to take a jab at Ye and Jay-Z as they prepared to deliver Watch the Throne during a 2011 Tim Westwood interview, with Drizzy implying that he and Lil Wayne were getting ready to drop a joint record and that Hov and Ye took the idea from them. Things then escalated in 2011 when Drizzy said he was trying to “surpass” Ye, but fears of an escalating feud were quelled after the latter popped out at The Boy’s OVO Fest in 2013. Yet a year later, Drake clowned some of Ye’s bars on Yeezus, and in 2016 bragged that his pool was bigger then the G.O.O.D. Music leader’s.

While the tensions between the two didn’t appear to run that deep, Ye escalated the feud during a radio interview in 2016 when he criticized Drizzy and DJ Khaled’s song “For Free” dominating radio. The rant caused Drake to respond and express confusion over why Ye was targeting him, but he then still enlisted Ye to appear on his 2017 track “More Life.”

But by 2018, their relationship had completely fractured. Ye produced Pusha T’s “Infared” diss aimed at Drake, and is long believed to have been the one that told Push about Drake’s son Adonis. Push used that information for his killshot diss track “The Story of Adidon.”

Back and forths continued throughout the year, with Ye momentarily trying to broker peace between him and The Boy but to no avail. Eventually, Drake said “it is what it is” in an interview with Rap Radar, adding he has no intention of brokering peace with Ye. The feud then reached a head in 2021 when Ye dropped off Donda four days before Drizzy was set to release Certified Lover Boy. Both albums debuted atop the Billboard 200, but Drake’s effort came on top with 613,000 album units to Ye’s 309,000.

The two titans did then put their differences aside later that year for the Free Larry Hoover Concert, but on his 2023 song “Red Button,” Drake blasted any hope of a truce with the Yeezy leader.

“Every time you need me for a boost, I never hesitated/ Every time that Yeezy called a truce, he had my head inflated/ Thinkin’ we gon’ finally peace it up and get to levitatin’/ Realize that everything premeditated,” Drake raps.

Ye then made his side of the story known when he attempted to insert himself into Kendrick and Drake’s growing feud in 2024. Ye hopped on an unofficial “Like That” remix dissing Drake, before changing his tune in 2025 and showing support for Drake in the wake of the tumultuous feud.

“I’m never finna call Drake out of his name,” Ye wrote in a tweet. “I’m team Drake, 100%.”

28 May 2025

Michael Sumler, Kool & the Gang’s Beloved Hype Man, Dead at 71

Kool & The Gang‘s Michael Sumler passed away over the weekend at the age of 71.

As reported by Fox 5 Atlanta, Sumler — known by fans as “Chicago Mike” — died in a car crash in Georgia’s Cobb County just after midnight on Saturday (May 24) when he collided with another vehicle on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road.

Sumler spent more than three decades with Kool & The Gang and was known for being the group’s energetic hype man during live shows. “He always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he’d been around most of all of his life,” Adrian Meeks of Song Source Music Group told Fox 5. “He was the bridge, you know, for inspiring artists and songwriters and producers and musicians to the legends.”

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Mableton’s Mayor Michael Owens also released a statement on Facebook in the wake of Sumler’s death. “We are saddened by the death of musician Michael Sumler,” he wrote . “‘Chicago Mike’ contributed so much to the music and entertainment communities. His style and energy added flare and excitement to Kool and the Gang for decades.  The city of Mableton, council members and I join his family, friends and fans in mourning his loss.”

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Sumler is just the latest member of the group to pass away. Kool & The Gang’s drummer George Brown most recently passed in 2023 after a battle with cancer.

The band has won two Grammys and seven American Music Awards and registered 31 gold and platinum albums to date. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2024.

28 May 2025

John Cena’s ‘You Can’t See Me’ Marks 20th Anniversary | Billboard News

John Cena’s You Can’t See Me has hit its 20th anniversary, and we’re taking a look back into how the album rocked the Billboard 200, and how he bridged the world of hip-hop and wrestling.

What do you think of John Cena’s You Can’t See Me? Let us know in the comments!

Narrator:
During this WWE renaissance, we’d be remiss to not celebrate the man who bridged the gap between hip-hop and wrestling in the first place. John Cena was originally known as a wrestling legend, but has proven his duality beyond this in the world of entertainment. Twenty years ago, he made his music debut with his rap album You Can’t See Me in collaboration with his cousin and fellow rapper, Trademarc. The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 3 on the Top Rap Albums chart on May 28, 2005.

“The Time Is Now” became Cena’s armor, as he was dubbed WWE Superman. “You can’t see me” is not only the chorus to his anthem, but a gesture and phrase that has transcended generations. In an interview, Cena said the gesture originated from hip-hop after seeing a dance that Tony Yayo did in a G-Unit music video. We’re still hearing it and seeing it today as a telltale signature for rivalry and beat also fueled into humor. Just Google “you can’t see me,” and the plethora of memes and chatter will show you it’s more relevant than ever.

Hip-hop has continued to dominate in the wrestling universe. Rappers like Drake, Metro Boomin, Quavo and Lil Yachty are enthusiastically ringside at wrestling, fan girling over WWE superstars, wondering how they can make their way into the ring. 

Keep watching for more!

28 May 2025

Drake Breaks Record With 10 RIAA Diamond Certifications — the Most of Any Artist Ever

“Breakin’ speed records on roads that these n—-s paved,” Drake raps on Scorpion‘s “Emotionless.” The 6 God collected another impressive accolade on Wednesday (May 28) when the RIAA announced that Drizzy has earned his 10th Diamond certification, which is the most of any artist ever.

“Drake has the most RIAA Diamond Certifications of any artist, ever,” the RIAA wrote on social media with a graphic featuring all 10 of Drizzy’s Diamond plaques. “‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ and ‘Best I Ever Had’ are now certified RIAA Diamond, bringing Drake to a total of 10 Diamond Certifications.”

Outside of classics such as Nothing Was the Same‘s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” or “Best I Ever Had,” the rest of Drizzy’s Diamond club includes “God’s Plan,” “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE,” “Life Is Good” with Future, Lil Wayne’s “Love Me” and Chris Brown’s “No Guidance.”

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There could be an 11th Diamond plaque on the way, as Drake will look to extend his record with Scorpion‘s “Nice for What,” which is currently at 9x Platinum.

Drake is the first artist to enter double-digit Diamond certifications across both singles and albums. The OVO rapper broke a tie with Garth Brooks, who has nine Diamond-certified albums, along with Post Malone, who also has nine Diamond certifications across an array of singles.

Fans hopped into the RIAA’s comment section to give Drake his flowers. “You just simply can’t say anything bad about this lol. N—-s staring greatness in the face,” one person wrote.

Another added a reference to Drake’s war with Kendrick Lamar: “Looks like the 20v1 didn’t work out!”

The hard work continues to pay off for Drizzy, who is enjoying another busy year. On the music side, he delivered his long-awaited $ome $exy $ongs 4 U joint album with PARTYNEXTDOOR in February. A pair of songs from the project (“Nokia” at No. 12 and “Somebody Loves Me” at No. 77) remain on the Billboard Hot 100.

Drake will heat up the summer when he hits the Wireless Festival stage to headline all three nights (July 11-13) at London’s Finsbury Park. He’s also promising the return of OVO Fest to Toronto.

Check out the RIAA’s announcement about Drake’s latest accomplishment below:

28 May 2025

Here’s How Fans Are Reacting to 50 Cent Posting Another Photo of Himself in a ‘Free Diddy’ Shirt

50 Cent trolled Diddy on Tuesday night (May 27) when he posted an image of himself on Instagram rocking a “Free Diddy” T-shirt while sitting courtside at game four between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

The photo itself appears to be Photoshopped or AI-generated with a “Free Diddy” logo, as 50 posted a similar picture rocking a Balmain T-shirt at the game. “Bro this game is crazy,” he captioned the “Free Diddy” shirt photo.

Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, Tony Yayo and Power actors Gianni Paolo and Kris Lofton had a laugh in the comments section, along with thousands of fans.

“Dis nigga too 2 too funni!!!! YesLawd,” Lynch, a former NFL star, wrote. A fan chimed in, “I want a t shirt of 50 cent wearing a free diddy t shirt.”

Another fan added, “50 already gettin started, wait till he finish that drink!”

Billboard has reached out to the rapper’s rep for comment.

50 has been relentless in his trolling of Diddy throughout the embattled Bad Boy mogul’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial, and it doesn’t appear he’ll be stopping anytime soon.

The G-Unit boss was actually name-dropped during Diddy’s trial on Tuesday when a former assistant of Combs’, Capricorn Clark, took the stand. Clark claimed that Diddy “had an issue with 50 Cent.” In typical 50 fashion, the Queens legend made light of the court situation. “Oh my goodness itty bitty Diddy wants me Dead, I have to lay low, I think I’m gonna hide out at the playoff game tonight. LOL,” he wrote to IG.

This also wasn’t the first time 50 has shared a photo of himself in a “Free Diddy” shirt. On May 20, the rapper posted an AI-generated image of himself in a black tee featuring the same message and wrote in part for the caption: “Free itty bitty Diddy! LOL ?”

Diddy’s trial is heading into day 10, but is expected to last into July. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a potential sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.

Find more fan reactions to 50 Cent posting a photo of himself appearing to wear a “Free Diddy” shirt below.

28 May 2025

BTS’ j-hope Prepping New Solo Single, ‘Killin’ It Girl,’ Featuring GloRilla

j-hope is continuing to set up his next era. On Wednesday (May 28), the BTS member and solo star announced that he will drop his upcoming collaborative solo single, “Killin’ It Girl,” featuring rapper GloRilla on June 13. The song and video slated to drop the same day will serve as the follow-up to Hobi’s March hit “Sweet Dreams” — which hit No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart — and April’s “Mona Lisa,” which topped out at No. 65 on the tally.

In a release announcing the track, it is described as a hip-hop song “that captures the thrill of falling in love at first sight. Imbued with refreshing honesty, the lyrics depict an infatuation towards a confident and irresistible other.” With “minimalistic” production, the solo effort promises to balance the K-pop superstar dancer/rapper’s rhythmic rap cadence with an “addictive” hook and Memphis MC GloRilla’s “unmistakable delivery and bold charisma.”

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In a recent Billboard cover story the 31-year-old said after his discharge from mandatory South Korean military service — the full group plans to reunite at some point this year when they have all finished their army hitches — he headed straight to the U.S. to work with American producers. “‘Sweet Dreams’” featuring Miguel — an artist I’ve long respected — has a smooth, soulful vibe that feels deeply personal, ” he said. “On the other hand, ‘Mona Lisa’ brings a hip-hop-driven performance energy. Both tracks are easy to connect with, yet they offer a glimpse into the broader, more evolved musical world I’m building. This is just the start — I have plenty more musical experiments in store.”

In addition to the collab with GloRilla, j-hope will also release a solo version titled “Killin’ It Girl (Solo Version),” at the same time. Hobi is currently on his world Hope on the Stage tour, which is slated to hit the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on May 31 and wrap up on June 13 and 14 with two nights at the Goyang Sports Complex in Seoul, South Korea.

28 May 2025

‘Luther’ Ties ‘Not Like Us’ for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Barely three months after his “Not Like Us” shattered the mark as the longest-running No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Kendrick Lamar is back for another stab at the record books.

Lamar’s “Luther” collaboration with frequent collaborator (and current Grand National co-headliner) SZA captures a record-tying 22nd week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated May 31, matching “Not Like Us” for the all-time mark since the chart became a singular, all-encompassing genre ranking in October 1958. “Not Like Us” rang up 21 weeks in charge in 2024 amid its moment in Lamar’s diss track war with Drake, and rebounded for a 22nd frame in February after Lamar’s performance of the song during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.

For SZA, the “Luther” look also returns her to a perch she once claimed: Before “Not Like Us” took the title, the singer-songwriter’s “Kill Bill” scored the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, 21 in 2022-23.

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As “Luther” shares the gold medal, here’s a look at the songs the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in its 66-year history:

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:

22, “Luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA, 2024-25
22, “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, 2024-25
21, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23
20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22
18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016
16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006

For its 22nd week in charge, “Luther” registered 16.7 million official United States streams, 2,000 sales downloads and 60.5 million in airplay audience in the tracking week of May 16-22, according to Luminate, declines of 8%, 6% and 4%, respectively, in each metric.

Mirroring its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs triumph, “Luther” achieves a 22nd week at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The melodic rap cut remains in second place for the longest stay at the summit in the chart’s 35-year history, trailing only “Not Like Us” and its 26-week record.

While “Luther” extends its domination on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, it surrenders the top spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 to Morgan Wallen’s “What I Want,” featuring Tate McRae. The new champ clips the “Luther” reign at 13 weeks – still, easily the longest-running No. 1 for both Lamar and SZA atop the flagship chart.