Lil Jon laid his son, Nathan Murray Smith, also known as D.J. Young Slade, to rest on Wednesday, coinciding with the first day of Ramadan. The 27-year-old was found dead in a pond near the family’s home north of Atlanta, Georgia, two weeks after being reported missing. Lil Jon shared the message with photos of his late son on Instagram. “On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, we laid my only son to rest,” Lil Jon wrote on Instagram. “In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family.” View this post on Instagram He shared a memorial video featuring family photos and studio moments. “I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength.” Nathan had been reported missing on February 3. The Milton Police Department said he left home around 6 a.m. without a phone and may have been disoriented, prompting a local search. Two days later, authorities recovered a body from Mayfield Park. Officials confirmed the individual was believed to be Nathan, with no signs of foul play reported. Lil Jon Shares Heartfelt Message To His Son, D.J. Young Slade Lil Jon expressed his heartbreak following the discovery. “I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of my son, Nathan Smith,” he said. “His mother Nicole Smith and I are devastated.” He described Nathan as a talented producer, engineer, and artist, also noting his New York University degree. “We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him.” In his Instagram tribute, Lil Jon thanked fans and supporters for their love and prayers. “I will make sure the world knows your talent and never forgets your name,” he wrote. Reflecting on Nathan’s early musical gifts, Lil Jon recalled in a 2024 interview, “He had a natural musical ear. I remember he was 11 years old, and he could tell what song was coming on the radio before it played.” The bond between father and son was deeply rooted in music, rhythm, and shared ambition, leaving a legacy that Lil Jon vows to honor.

While shows like Sherri and The Kelly Clarkson Show have been put on the chopping block, The Jennifer Hudson Show is here to stay, well, at least for another season. The announcement came via press release on Thursday (Feb. 19). “The Jennifer Hudson Show continues to set the standard in daytime television with headline-making interviews, dynamic musical performances, and viral Spirit Tunnel moments that celebrate heart and genuine connection,” the press release reads. According to the release, the series has seen growth among adults 25–54 from year to year. Digitally, it’s ranked as the No.1 daytime talk show across social media, likely due to its popular Spirit Tunnel segment, which receives billions of views online. “I could not be more honored to continue this journey alongside a phenomenal group of brilliant producers, dedicated crew, and collaborative partners,” Hudson said in a statement. BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – December 12, 2024: Michelle Obama appears with Jennifer Hudson on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” airing December 17, 2024, in Burbank, California. (Photo by Mitchell Haddad/WBTV via Getty Images). Check your local listings for times “It is such a joy to connect with people in meaningful ways,” Hudson says Hudson continued: “It is such a joy to connect with people in meaningful ways every day across this country and to share stories of heart and inspiration, all while bringing entertainment into people’s lives. None of this would be possible without our incredible audience. They are the heartbeat of the show, and I am so excited to take this to new heights in Season 5!” Over the past decade, there has been a decline in the quality of content in daytime television programming. The recent cancellations of Sherri and The Kelly Clarkson Show further demonstrate that networks seem to be losing interest in supporting these types of programs. Sherri Shepard recently spoke out about her show’s recent cancellation on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle. “I’m thankful that I got to live a dream for four years. How many people can say that they got to live a dream with great ratings, and where you got to have a platform that made a difference?” she said.

As WrestleMania draws near, Raquel Rodriguez is eyeing hip-hop heavyweights for a crossover clash with rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion that could shake the culture. During a recent appearance on TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast, Rodriguez floated a blockbuster tag team idea. She wants herself and Liv Morgan in the ring against Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion at WrestleMania. The pitch blends wrestling spectacle with rap superstardom. Raquel Rodriguez says Liv Morgan and herself still want a tag team match against Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (via TMZ Insider The Ring) pic.twitter.com/SvtjpjMHxb — WrestlingWorldCC (@WrestlingWCC) February 19, 2026 “I think Liv and I versus Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion would just be iconic,” Rodriguez said. She spoke with conviction, framing the matchup as more than fantasy booking. The idea dates back to 2023, when she and Morgan first named the duo as their dream opponents. The vision has lingered ever since. WWE’s Raquel Rodriguez Wants To Fight Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion In A Tag-Team Match At Wrestlemania Cardi B already has ties to WWE. She hosted SummerSlam and has teased stepping between the ropes. Her charisma and physical presence make her a natural fit for WrestleMania’s grand stage. Rodriguez even speculated on Cardi’s potential move set. “She’s got a lot of body to work with,” she joked. “I feel like she’d definitely use her butt.” Megan Thee Stallion has yet to wrestle professionally. Still, her athletic background and commanding energy make the idea believable. WWE has leaned into celebrity crossovers in recent years, drawing new fans through high-profile appearances. Bad Bunny’s in-ring performances shifted expectations. Logan Paul also proved doubters wrong. Those moments opened the door for artists willing to train and compete under bright lights. Rodriguez respects Cardi and Megan’s star power. However, she made clear that her team would not back down. “We’re the greatest tag team of all time,” Rodriguez said. “We’re in the history books.” For VIBE readers who live at the intersection of music and culture, this challenge feels tailor-made. Now the ball sits in Cardi and Megan’s court.

Hip-Hop mogul 50 Cent has reignited tensions with rapper Jim Jones, turning a Bronx business dispute into a viral moment. On Feb. 20, the Jamaica Queens mogul shared surveillance footage that appears to show Jones attempting to kick in the door of his podcast studio in the Bronx. The post quickly circulated online. 50 framed the clip with a pointed caption: “Damn bro this wouldn’t happen if we was friends, wanna be friends? I don’t know let’s rap about it! LOL.” View this post on Instagram Hours later, he uploaded a second image. That photo showed an eviction notice addressed to Joseph Jones, escalating the public clash. The first line, “Damn bro this wouldn’t happen if we was friends,” reads as more than commentary. It implies influence and protection. 50 Cent Posts Video Of Jim Jones Evicted From Bronx Building With Eviction Notice 50 suggests proximity to him could have prevented the alleged eviction fallout. The statement reinforces his reputation as a power player who values loyalty. “Wanna be friends?” drips with sarcasm. Rather than offering peace, the question underscores the divide. It frames reconciliation as conditional. The imbalance feels intentional. Then 50 adds, “I don’t know let’s rap about it!” With that, he redirects the feud toward music. In hip-hop, disputes often spill from social media into diss records. The mogul signals that if Jones wants a resolution, it should come through bars. The final “LOL” sharpens the mockery. It positions the drama as spectacle. That tone aligns with 50’s long-running online strategy, where humor amplifies humiliation. The friction intensified after Jones criticized 50’s Netflix documentary about Diddy. Since then, the Bronx has become the latest backdrop in their rivalry. For now, 50 Cent controls the narrative. Whether Jim Jones responds on wax remains to be seen. Jim Jones has not responded to 50 Cent’s post yet.

Kendrick Lamar uses his guest verse on his cousin Baby Keem’s new track, “Good Flirts,” to poke fun at Young Thug and Mariah The Scientist’s viral jail calls. On “Good Flirt” from Baby Keem’s new album Ca$ino, Kendrick admits to enjoying the messy news in hip-hop, referencing love, loyalty, and headline-making gossip that ensued during the Young Thug trial. The standout line arrives early: “To be honest, n***as love love too.” With that admission, Kendrick dismantles the myth that toughness and tenderness can’t coexist. The Grammy-winning recording artist reframes masculinity in hip-hop, suggesting that even rap’s most guarded figures crave intimacy. He sharpens the point with, “I gossip with my bitch like I’m Young Thug too.” The bar nods directly to Young Thug and the viral jail calls that flooded social media. In those recordings, Thug spoke candidly about friends, romantic tension and industry chatter, including conversations involving singer Mariah The Scientist. Kendrick flips that moment into commentary, implying that pillow talk and rumor-trading aren’t weaknesses. They’re human habits, even among rap’s elite. Kendrick Lamar Mentions Young Thug & Mariah The Scientist’s Jail Call In New Baby Keem Song, “Good Flirts” Elsewhere in the verse, Kendrick layers physical imagery over emotional exposure. “Dumb lungs on you, spun the hairbun loose” paints a picture of intimacy stripped of performance. The line feels raw and unfiltered, mirroring the vulnerability he suggests throughout the track. Fans would react to the lyric due to Young Thug’s loyalty to Kendrick Lamar’s nemesis, Drake. Then he pivots to industry reality: “Rightin’ wrongs, ’til they come with royalties and pub too.” It’s a reminder that pain often becomes a product. In rap, heartbreak can turn into publishing checks and chart positions. Personal turmoil rarely stays private. He closes with a domestic snapshot: “At the house… watchin’ Sinners.” The scene contrasts sharply with rap’s usual flexes. Instead of the club, it’s the couch. Instead of chaos, it’s closeness. On Ca$ino, “Good Flirts” stands out as a cultural timestamp. Kendrick Lamar uses a Young Thug reference to explore how love, gossip, and fame collide in modern hip-hop.

North West and Ye, formerly Kanye West, will be like LeBron James and his son Bronny, as it was announced that Kim Kardashian’s daughter will be joining her dad at Gamma after signing a record deal with the label. View this post on Instagram The 12-year-old recording artist has signed a deal with Gamma, the fast-rising independent label founded by music executive Larry Jackson. The partnership marks North’s most defined move yet as she builds her own catalog and identity. Gamma, launched in 2023, has positioned itself as a disruptor in artist ownership and distribution. The company’s growing influence now extends to North, who has already begun recording under the new agreement. Sources close to the situation say studio sessions are underway, signaling that music is no longer a cameo in her father’s world but a focused pursuit. Ye has credited his daughter with reigniting his passion for creating music again. Kim Kardashian’s Daughter North West Joins Father Kanye West (Ye) At Gamma The label also maintains business ties with her father, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Gamma is slated to release Ye’s upcoming album, Bully, further aligning the family’s creative ecosystem under one roof. Earlier this month, North delivered “Piercing on My Hand” through the label. The track, produced with Ye and Will Frenchman, debuted live in Mexico City during one of Ye’s arena performances. Performing before nearly 40,000 fans, North commanded the stage with visible confidence. She also joined Ye for “Only One” and selections from the ¥$ era, reinforcing her comfort in high-pressure settings. Her Billboard résumé continues to expand. North previously appeared on “Talking/Once Again,” Ye’s collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The placement introduced her to mainstream listeners beyond celebrity lineage. She later showcased bilingual agility on FKA Twigs’ “Childlike Things,” performing in Japanese and English. With Gamma’s infrastructure and Ye’s mentorship, North West is carving out a lane that blends legacy with independence. At just 12, she is no longer orbiting the spotlight. She is stepping into it.

Laila Edwards keeps making history at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. On Thursday night, she became the first Black American woman to win a gold medal in women’s hockey when the United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. She assisted on the first of her team’s two goals. In her first game last week, Edwards, at 21 years old, became the first Black woman to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games, according to The Athletic. Edwards accomplished the feat in front of her family after setting up a GoFundMe page to raise money for their travel. “They helped me get here and make this team and achieve my dream, so it means a lot,” Edwards said. Laila Edwards skates her way into the history books pic.twitter.com/Y2ltJIKKmT — ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2026 Edwards’ family, including her parents and four siblings, hoped to raise $50,000. After 650 donations, they raised more than $61,000 and counting. The donor’s generosity allowed her 91-year-old grandmother, Ernestine Gray, and four friends to make the trip. THE KELCE BROTHERS ARE BIG FANS OF EDWARDS The top donation of $10,000 was made by Jason and Travis Kelce. Like Edwards, they are from Cleveland, OH. Jason and Kylie Kelce were in the stands to witness the US come from behind to capture the gold. On their podcast, the Kelce brothers gave Edwards a shoutout. They been fans of hers since she made the US National team in 2023. “I thought, ‘I’ll just message them, thanking them, they’ll never see it,” Edwards said. “And then Travis and I had a full conversation over DM,” she said. “That was super cool… he was a really down-to-earth, humble guy who was super supportive and had really good things to say.” They shouted me out again recently for making the Olympic team!’ she continued. The Winters games continue until this weekend, when the closing ceremony commences.

President Donald Trump’s love for Nicki Minaj continued this week at the White House. On Wednesday, (Feb 18), Donald Trump showered the “Anaconda” rapper with compliments during his speech for a Black History Month event. Trump called Minaj “beautiful” and highlighted her political prowess. “How about Nicki Minaj? Do we love Nicki Minaj? I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a couple weeks ago. She’s so beautiful,” Trump raved. “I said, ‘Nicki, you’re so beautiful.’ Her nails are like that long, I said, ‘Nicki are they real?’ She didn’t want to get into that. But she was so beautiful and so great and she gets it, more importantly.” The president’s remarks of Minaj came as he was talking about a series of iconic black artists, such as guitarist Chuck Berry and singer Muddy Waters. After he went on a ramble about Minaj’s “beautiful” skin, the president turned back to his prepared speech where he continued to note more iconic black Americans, including Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and boxer Muhammad Ali. He argued that Black History Month is really “all about American history.” “Happy Black History Month, Happy Black History Year, and happy Black History Century,” Trump concluded. Last month, the Trinidadian singer and songwriter praised Trump at the so-called “Trump Accounts” event. Taking to the stage, Minaj said, “I am probably the President’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change. And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more, it’s going to motivate all of us to support him more.” She added, “We’re not going to let them get away with bullying him and you know the smear campaigns, it’s not going to work. He has a lot of force behind him and God is protecting him. Amen.”

A$AP Rocky has joined forces with Nas for a new Ray-Ban campaign that looks back to Belly, the 1998 film directed by Hype Williams that became a touchstone of late-1990s hip-hop style. The campaign, released February 19, coincides with the launch of Rocky’s Metal Collection for the eyewear brand. Serving as creative director, Rocky introduces a selection of optical frames and sunglasses priced between $202 and $249. The collaboration brings together fashion, music, and film in a way that feels less like a commercial exercise and more like a cultural callback. The accompanying short film borrows its mood and visual cues from Belly, a movie remembered as much for its imagery as for its storyline. Nas, who appeared in the original film, narrates the campaign, grounding it in personal memory. “Man, I get a phone call from Flacko this evening. He wants to meet in Harlem. Funny thing is, it’s the same restaurant where I last met with his pops before he passed. His pops was my dawg,” he says. In fact, in this story, Rocky becomes even more central to the film’s journey. Framing Legacy in the Present That line adds emotional weight to what might otherwise be a straightforward brand partnership. By invoking a shared history and a specific place in Harlem, the campaign folds biography into homage. It also connects Nas to Rocky’s influence, creating a bond that feels authentic instead of fabricated, and positions Rocky as a stylistic heir to earlier generations of New York rap. For Ray-Ban, the project positions the brand within a lineage of artists who have shaped popular culture beyond their music. Furthermore, this partnership allows Rocky to expand his growing creative legacy across fashion and music, strengthening Rocky’s influence in both arenas.

Yo Gotti and the Collective Music Group, better known as CMG The Label, are mourning the loss of one of the label’s brightest protégés, Lil Poppa. Together, Gotti and CMG shared an official statement on Thursday afternoon (February 19) via social media in tribute to their artist. Born Janarious Wheeler, Lil Poppa was 25 when he died on Wednesday, February 18. The Jacksonville, Florida, native was found deceased, and medical examiners later confirmed the cause as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The tragedy came just days after Lil Poppa released his latest single, “Outta Town Bae,” adding another layer of heartbreak to a career that many believed was still ascending. View this post on Instagram In an Instagram tribute, CMG described Poppa as “more than a gifted artist,” calling him “an ambitious young man whose depth stretched far beyond his years.” The label emphasized his limitless promise, writing that he “carried endless potential” and was deeply loved within the CMG family. Rappers Boosie Badazz, Yungeen Ace, Lil Duval were among the many across hip-hop to pay tribute to the late rapper after his death. Yo Gotti & CMG The Label (Collective Music Group) Release Official Statement On The Passing Of Rapper Lil Poppa The statement also reflected on the emotional weight of his music. “He was one of those rare creatives who poured his pain, growth, and truth into every lyric,” the label shared. Known for raw storytelling and vulnerable verses, Lil Poppa built a catalog rooted in lived experience. “His music reflected real life—its hardships, its lessons, and its triumphs,” CMG added, displaying authenticity as the foundation of his artistry. Beyond the studio, the label highlighted his bond with fans. “Through his passion and authenticity, he connected with listeners from all walks of life,” the statement read. “Fans saw themselves in his words. They found comfort in his vulnerability and strength in his resilience.” CMG closed with a solemn vow: “Poppa, we promise to honor your legacy with the respect and dignity it deserves. Your impact will never fade. We are all better because of you. Long Live Lil Poppa.”