T.I. and Tiny Harris are once again under scrutiny following renewed accusations from longtime critic Sabrina Peterson. This week, Peterson took to Instagram, leveling fresh claims against the couple and their son, King Harris. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Jasmine Brand (@the.jasmine.brand) The allegations—centered on sex trafficking, coercion, and exploitation—surfaced after Tiny publicly reacted to the Diddy verdict with, “ppl wnna charge u so bad for being freaky is nasty work.” Peterson reposted Tiny’s comment, warning, “Lying on me was the BEGINNING OF YOUR END.” Peterson escalated, alleging the couple engaged in trafficking and forced drug use. She claimed to have “sex trafficking receipts” she plans to release on July 19, her birthday. In her posts, Peterson accused the Harrises of taunting survivors while asserting, “The FEDS ALREADY HAVE THIS! I think the FANS NEED IT.” She also shared alleged text exchanges between King Harris and a young woman described as trafficked. Peterson claimed the girl’s family contacted her legal team, fearing their child was caught in a network “led by the HARRIS FAMILY.” She further accused T.I. of degrading Tiny, alleging he forced her into humiliating acts to secure marriage. These accusations echo Peterson’s 2021 claims, which began with her allegation that T.I. threatened her with a gun. That sparked broader claims from over 15 alleged victims of drugging and assault. T.I. and Tiny have repeatedly denied all accusations, calling them malicious fabrications. A defamation suit Peterson filed against the couple was largely dismissed in March, with the court ordering her to pay nearly $97,000 in legal fees. Los Angeles authorities reviewed the case in 2021 but declined prosecution due to the statute of limitations. T.I. is pursuing a countersuit, accusing Peterson of spreading damaging lies after their friendship collapsed.

Usher has canceled his planned Past Present Future Tour dates in Australia, leaving fans in Melbourne and Sydney disappointed. Live Nation confirmed this week that all scheduled shows for November and December will no longer take place. The decision ends what would have been Usher’s first tour of Australia in several years and was set to include multiple arena performances. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Usher (@usher) In a statement through Ticketek, Live Nation expressed regret. “The promoter of Usher’s Australian tour regrets to advise that the scheduled shows to take place in November/December will no longer be proceeding,” the message read. The announcement came as a shock to fans who had secured tickets hoping to see the eight-time Grammy winner perform hits spanning his career, from Confessions staples to recent tracks. Ticketek confirmed that refunds are already being processed. All purchases, including those with optional refund insurance, will be automatically refunded to the original payment method. Customers do not need to take action, although refunds could take up to 30 business days depending on the payment provider. Neither Usher nor Live Nation has provided a reason for the cancellation. The lack of explanation has fueled speculation among fans, who had been eager for the singer’s return. The Australian leg was part of Usher’s broader international tour following his acclaimed Las Vegas residency and his Super Bowl halftime show. The Past Present Future Tour was designed to celebrate his legacy while showcasing new material. As of now, there are no details about rescheduled dates or alternative plans for Australia. Fans remain hopeful Usher will eventually return.

Raekwon is back with The Emperor’s New Clothes, a solo release that brings legends and new voices together under one roof. Dropping via Mass Appeal, the album blends the grit of golden-era hip-hop with sharp, contemporary energy. After a seven-year solo break, the Wu-Tang veteran delivers a project that feels both reflective and fully in the now. The features are nothing short of historic. Longtime Wu-Tang partners—Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck—bring their signature edge, while Nas makes a standout appearance that deepens the album’s roots. Griselda’s Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn round out the lineup, injecting a raw, modern sound that complements Raekwon’s polished delivery. Fans have waited since The Wild in 2017 for a solo drop, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The project weaves cinematic storytelling, street wisdom, and layered production into one of Raekwon’s most complete bodies of work. Raekwon hints at Wu-Tang reunion and solo heat Speaking on Instagram Live, Raekwon addressed the status of a potential Wu-Tang Clan album, pointing to the hurdles that come with reuniting such a sprawling crew. “We’re all doing great things in our lives, and getting everyone in the same room is no easy feat. But don’t misconstrue our desire; we definitely want to create together,” he said. He added, “With so many different minds at play, it can be a challenge to agree on a direction. Yet, we are still very much in the game—don’t count us out.” The message was clear: collaboration remains possible, even if the process isn’t simple. And the door to a new chapter for Wu-Tang isn’t closed. Raekwon also hinted at something special arriving August 1, on the anniversary of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…. “I promise you, this next record is going to blow your minds. Trust me,” he said, adding more intrigue to what’s already been a busy year. Even without that announcement landing just yet, Raekwon is front and center in Mass Appeal’s “Legend Has It…” series. The label has already rolled out a new release from Slick Rick and teased upcoming projects with Nas and DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, Ghostface Killah, and De La Soul. A posthumous album from Big L is also on the horizon. The “Legend Has It…” series honors the artists who built hip-hop from the ground up—and who still have plenty more to say. With The Emperor’s New Clothes, Raekwon proves once again that timeless lyricism and sharp instincts can coexist. It’s not just a return—it’s a reminder of how far the culture’s come, and where it’s still headed.

While promoting their new Peacock reality series, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together, the couple made a stop at Cocoa Butter, where a casual game turned into an unexpected moment of nostalgia and admiration. Asked to choose his favorite song from Ashanti’s catalog, Nelly bypassed the expected hits in favor of “Baby,” her 2002 deep cut. The choice surprised many—and delighted Ashanti. During the segment, the St. Louis rapper kept the tone light, jokingly confirming, “Larenz Tate was in that video, right?” in reference to the visuals for “Rain on Me.” But even as the game unfolded in good fun, Nelly’s picks began to reveal something more personal. In a series of bracket-style face-offs, “Baby” consistently emerged victorious over tracks like “Happy,” “Rock Wit U,” and “Rain on Me.” When pressed on his preference, Nelly remarked, “‘Rain on Me’ represented a different stage in our relationship. We’ll just set ‘Rain on Me’ aside and stick with ‘Baby.’” Nelly Stands by ‘Baby’—Choosing Love Over Hits The matchup eventually pitted “Baby” against Ashanti’s high-profile collaborations with Ja Rule, including “Always on Time” and “Mesmerize.” Still, Nelly stood firm. “All of these are fantastic tracks, but ‘Baby’ is my ride-or-die, so I’m going to stick with ‘Baby,’” he said. His pick took on deeper meaning in light of their recent journey as parents. “Being a Scorpio man, I stay true to what I love, and that’s ‘Baby,’” Nelly added with a smile. Originally released on Ashanti’s self-titled debut, “Baby” was produced by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana, sampling Scarface’s “Mary Jane.” The track peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains beloved, partly due to a standout music video that featured actress Nia Long. Now airing on Peacock, We Belong Together offers a more intimate look at the couple’s life, blending their shared history in music with a renewed chapter of love, parenting, and partnership. The series premiered on June 26.

Wale recently revealed how challenging it is to remain relevant in the rap game. During an interview with Cam Newton on his “Funky Friday” podcast, he spoke about how he’s maintained his relevancy..  “It’s hard, man,” Wale said. “I mean, there are so many things that throw you off. I lost a lot of friends in the streets or just otherwise, but jumping in the industry, being here for about 16 years… The amount of friends that I lost… It’s not a normal life to live,” he continued. He went on to describe the modern music  industry as “not the brightest place to be.” “You could be the greatest rapper of all time, but everybody could be like, ‘Oh I don’t like you, you’re not good,” he explained. “So that can just throw you off … The longevity is no joke, man. And the game done change, it keep changing.” He argued that another aspect beyond the changing nature of the industry, and the arrival of new artists, is how tough it can be to have your art noticed with everything going on. “There’s so much stuff going on right now,” he said. “So much distractions and so much… Everybody is bloodthirsty right now in hip-hop,” he said. “So it’s like, how many people’s attention can you get, you know what I’m saying? How do you enter the zeitgeist? How do you enter the mainstream, the algorithm? It’s busy. It’s tough, it’s a tough game.” Wale also shared that he’s not interested in chasing the latest trends, and supports “evergreen music,” and used JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt as an example of great art. “I had to grow up a little bit before I understood how great Reasonable Doubt was,” he said. “I didn’t understand how good it was in middle school. When I got older, I was like, ‘Oh snap.’ Everything he’s saying, I didn’t get. That’s why I got to try to make the music evergreen, because it’ll catch up eventually.”

Master P is hanging up his mic for good. In an interview with PEOPLE, the No Limit Records founder revealed that his performance at the Essence Festival on July 6 will be his last. “My last show has to be with Essence,” P said. “It has to be big. A celebration.” P then shared why he believes the timing is right for his retirement. I’m growing to another level and I’m embracing it,” P explained. He was recently named the new head coach and president of basketball operations for the University of New Orleans basketball team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Master P (@masterp) “It’s a blessing now to be able to transition into doing something that’s bigger than me. Being a servant is my most important job,” P said. “I feel like hard work got me here, even though I didn’t know I was going to get this far in life. God spared my life and put me on this journey.” A product of New Orleans’ public housing, P recalled that he dreamt of making it to the NBA and being a success in the music industry. “I was just a kid trying to make it out the ghetto. I just had so many big dreams and goals,” he said. After settling tin tbe San Francisco Bay Area, P learned the tricks of the traded from some entrepreneurial rappers “That’s where I got my hustle. I remember being with E-40, E-A-Ski, JT The Bigga Figga, and all them. I actually created No Limit Records in Richmond, CA, “ P recalled. “I had a lot of close calls,” he continued. “I went from one bad place to another, but I feel like God saved my life for a reason. He knew my heart.” Although officially retiring, P admitted that it was a tough decision, but the time is right, saying this “feels like this is the next phase of my life.  “That chapter closed itself with maturing and growing up and not being afraid to grow, “ P explained. “There is a lot of negative stuff going on in hip-hop, and people don’t want to talk about the positive things. They say when you know better, you do better. That’s the phase I’m on. I’m fine with growing up.”

Quinta Brunosn is opening up about her for the first time about her divorce In an interview with Bustle opened up about going through a divorce in public “Even if you don’t give a lot, people want whatever they can get, and will take whatever they can get,” she explained. “I remember seeing people be like, ‘She announced her divorce.’ I didn’t announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you.” “No one wants [everyone] to know when you buy a house, when you move, when a major change happens in your personal life — it’s just that that’s public record information,” she continued. “I hate all of it.” She also spoke about the future of her award-winning show, Abbott Elementary. “Those are invisible voices that aren’t in your home with you, that aren’t in your personal life, that aren’t your friends,” Brunson said. “I love my fans, I love the people who watch ‘Abbott.’ So you want to hear them, and you want to listen to them, but when it comes to matters of your personal life and decisions you make, you do have to tune it out.” “It’s a transitional time,” she went on. “I think it’s true for me and my personal life, and it’s how I feel about myself, my career, and the world. I feel very serious about focusing on watering my own gardens, taking care of myself and the people around me who I actually interact with day-to-day.”

As tensions remain high between DDG and Halle Bailey over custody of their son Halo, the rapper is already thinking about future fatherhood, just not in the traditional sense. During a recent livestream from Paris Fashion Week, DDG spoke candidly about possibly turning to fertility options if he decides to have another child someday. “If I’m 29 or something like that, and I ain’t got the time,” he said, “I’ll just go to that little place, do my little one-two, put my s**t in a cup. Take a little egg from somebody, throw it in another little body. Cook that motherf****r up for nine months. You can do that type s**t when you got money. That’ll alleviate a lot of s**t.” His comments come as he continues to battle Bailey in court over parenting rights. Earlier this year, Bailey was granted full custody of their 18-month-old son after accusing DDG of repeated physical abuse. A judge also issued a restraining order against him in May. In response, DDG filed his own legal claim, accusing Bailey of emotional manipulation and alleging that she has made threats involving self-harm. Bailey denied those claims, saying she is mentally sound and fully capable of caring for their child. Bailey is currently filming in Rome and has Halo with her. DDG has asked for permission to visit his son in Italy, but only under supervision. A judge has ruled that if the visits are approved, DDG will not be allowed to post any photos or videos of their son on social media. The former couple started dating in early 2022 and split in October 2024. Their son was born in December 2023. A court hearing to determine permanent custody arrangements is expected to take place this July in Los Angeles.

After being found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Diddy will have to remain in prison after his bail was denied again. The Bad Boy Records founder has spent nearly 10 months in jail, including through his two-month trial. On Wednesday (July 1), Judge Arun Subramanian set a sentencing for Oct. 3, but “the date could move up if Combs’ team seeks to expedite it.” The judge ordered all sides to return to court on Oct. 3 for sentencing but noted that the date could move up if Combs’ team seeks to expedite it. While he was acquitted of the more serious charges, the jury found Diddy guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym “Jane”). During the proceedings, Subramanian noted that there was a “great divide” between the prosecution team and Diddy’s defense attorneys in sentencing. In response, Subramanian scheduled a remote status conference for Tuesday to get to the bottom of sentencing, saying, “time is of the essence.” Diddy’s lawyers team is seeking a term of 21 to 27 months. Prosecutors are seeking a prison term of 51 to 63 months. Douglas Wigdor, Cassie Ventura’s attorney, said in a statement that they expected Diddy to be convicted of the sex trafficking count involving her, which he said was the “most important count to her.” “I think that obviously she would be a lot happier if the jury had convicted on that. But she’s at peace with the verdict,” Wigdor said. “She is moving ahead with her beautiful family and her husband.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted Wednesday of the most serious charges in his federal sex crimes trial, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but convicted on two counts of transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. The jury returned its mixed verdict after three days of deliberations, closing one of the most closely watched trials in recent memory. The decision marks a partial win for Diddy’s defense team, which rested its case without calling a single witness over the course of the seven-week proceedings. Still, the outcome carries weight: U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian denied his request for bail, citing his “continued danger to others.” The judge added that Diddy’s legal team had already “acknowledged his involvement in domestic violence.” Diddy, 55, appeared emotional as the verdict was read. He knelt in prayer, thanking his family and legal team, who embraced each other in relief. Defense attorney Alex Agnifilo argued that Diddy should be granted release after nearly a year in custody, offering a $1 million bond and describing his client as a “model prisoner” committed to personal growth. The sentencing date has been set for October 3. Federal prosecutors are pushing for a four- to five-year prison term tied to the lesser convictions, while the defense is expected to push for a more lenient outcome. Decades of Alleged Abuse Take Center Stage in Diddy Trial The trial placed a spotlight on Diddy’s decades-long career, tracing his rise as the founder of Bad Boy Records and a key figure in hip-hop’s commercial ascent. Allegations from his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, were among the first to surface publicly, prompting broader scrutiny and setting the stage for a legal battle that has drawn national attention. Over 30 witnesses took the stand, including former assistants and collaborators. The prosecution presented a portrait of control and coercion stretching over two decades. Key testimonies came from three women, including Ventura, who alleged sexual assault, psychological manipulation, and abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors they didn’t need to find every act non-consensual to reach a guilty verdict: “This is not an all-or-nothing case.” Agnifilo countered by framing Diddy as a flawed but not criminal figure. “We own the domestic violence,” he told the jury, but insisted that no criminal conspiracy existed. While the verdict is in, Diddy still faces several civil suits related to sexual misconduct—allegations he has categorically denied.