Mase responded Tuesday to Jennifer Lopez’s recent assertion that only those born within the five boroughs can claim to be “real” New York City natives. Addressing the controversy on his podcast “It Is What It Is,” the Harlem-raised artist questioned the strict criteria set by the “Office Romance” star. The debate began after Lopez appeared on a recent episode of “Subway Takes With Kareem Rahma,” where she argued that being “born and bred” in the city is a prerequisite for calling it home. “According to J.Lo, Harlem World is a fake,” Mase joked during the broadcast. “I don’t know how to feel about that. I think if you didn’t go to kindergarten there, if you didn’t go to elementary there… But if you’ve been there since kindergarten all the way through high school, at what point do you say a person is not from there?” Mase was born in Jacksonville, Florida: Mase, whose birth name is Mason Betha, was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but moved to Harlem as a small child. He rose to fame in the late 1990s as a pillar of the New York hip-hop scene under Bad Boy Records. While he admitted his Social Security card confirms his Florida birth, he maintained that his cultural identity is rooted firmly in New York soil. The rapper’s co-host and fellow Harlem native Cam’ron joined the discussion, using professional basketball as a point of comparison. He noted that Michael Jordan was born in New York but is closely associated with North Carolina, while Carmelo Anthony is a New York native who spent much of his youth in Baltimore. Lopez, who was born in the Bronx, insisted during her subway interview that true New York status is reserved for those born in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island. The comments have sparked a wider conversation on social media regarding whether residency and upbringing or birth certificates define a person’s connection to a city. Despite the disagreement, Mase kept the tone light, noting that Lopez previously appeared in his 1997 music video for “Been Around the World.” He concluded the segment by jokingly suggesting that the singer has “bigger stuff to worry about” than his municipal credentials.

Offset was captured on video Monday morning in a heated street confrontation with a driver in Monaco, allegedly intervening after the man physically mistreated several women. Witnesses at the scene reported that the chauffeur was acting aggressively toward a group of women outside a black transport van. The former Migos member, whose legal name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, appeared to square up with the man just one day after the conclusion of the Monaco Grand Prix. Footage of the incident shows the 34-year-old artist visibly upset while surrounded by members of his entourage and bystanders. According to sources familiar with the situation, the chauffeur was accused of “manhandling women aggressively” and pulling their hair while attempting to remove them from the vehicle. The physical nature of the dispute allegedly prompted Offset to step in and defend the women involved. In the video, the rapper can be heard shouting at the driver, accusing him of using physical force against the women. “You touching women, you putting your hands on women? You a bitch,” Offset said during the nearly two-minute clip. The rapper continued his verbal reprimand while onlookers shifted around the black van. “He’s grabbing the girls by their neck,” Offset said to those standing nearby. “If he grab one more girl like that, I’mma beat him the fuck up.” It remains unclear if local authorities were called to the scene or if any formal charges or arrests were made following the public dispute. View this post on Instagram Representatives for the rapper have not yet released an official statement regarding the altercation.

Donald Trump clapped back at ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday, questioning the television personality’s intellect after Smith suggested the president’s presence at Madison Square Garden contributed to a New York Knicks loss. The exchange followed Monday night’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Knicks 115-111. Trump, the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, was met with a chorus of boos when his image appeared on the arena’s Jumbotron during the national anthem. While boarding Air Force One for his return to Washington, D.C., Trump responded to Smith’s earlier comments that he would hold the president responsible for a New York defeat. Trump also addressed Smith’s long-standing hints at a potential future presidential run. “I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump told a Fox News reporter. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.” View this post on Instagram Smith had expressed his disapproval of the visit on his podcast earlier Monday, describing the president’s appearance as an act of narcissism. Smith argued that Trump had “no business” at the game and was “disrupting everything the Knicks have been vibing with.” Spike Lee Speaks: The ESPN host was not the only prominent figure to criticize the visit. Filmmaker and Knicks superfan Spike Lee expressed frustration to CNN, noting that the increased security required fans to arrive hours early. Lee, who wore a jersey signed by Pope Leo XIV, said the political spectacle took the focus away from the team’s quest for its first championship since 1973. View this post on Instagram The president attended the game with a large delegation, including his granddaughter Kai Trump and several Cabinet members, such as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Despite the high-profile company, Trump faced online mockery after cameras appeared to catch him falling asleep during the contest. Trump’s visit was facilitated by Knicks owner James Dolan, a frequent donor to the president’s campaigns. The president is expected to remain in the sporting spotlight this week, as he prepares to host a UFC event on the White House lawn this Sunday in celebration of his birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Singer and musical therapist Inayah stops by Hot 97’s Morning with Mero to chop it up with The Kid Mero, Miabelle, Kaz, and Shani Kulture about her new album Therapy Wasn’t Enough (out June 5th on Empire), the real-life relationship struggles that inspired it, and how she and her fiancé navigated the demands of her career. Inayah also gets into her gospel roots, the iconic phone call where Trick Daddy connected her with the late Betty Wright, her secret life recording cheer jingles, and why she still hasn’t quit her voiceover day job. Plus — her bucket list dream of voicing a Disney or Nickelodeon character, Houston day party culture, and what it really means to “struggle well” in a relationship. Therapy Wasn’t Enough — Available Now Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & Welcome02:30 – Gospel roots & transition to R&B06:00 – Betty Wright calling via Trick Daddy10:00 – Therapy Wasn’t Enough — the meaning & the journey17:00 – Getting engaged & navigating a relationship in the spotlight24:00 – Disney princess dreams & voiceover work27:00 – Houston culture & the rodeo29:00 – Making the album & working with Lil Mo Hot 97 | Mornings with Mero

JAY-Z announced Tuesday that he will extend his landmark 30th anniversary celebrations with new stadium performances scheduled for Paris and Los Angeles later this year. The billionaire mogul is hitting the road to commemorate three decades since the release of his seminal debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” which first hit shelves in 1996. The newly added dates include a performance at the Stade de France in Paris on Thursday, Sept. 10. Following the European showcase, the Brooklyn-born artist will return to the United States to headline SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 23. These massive venues signal a high demand for the veteran rapper, who has largely remained away from the solo touring circuit in recent years. Tickets for the newly announced shows are set to go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 12. Fans will be able to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster starting at 10 a.m. local time. Industry analysts expect the shows to sell out quickly given the historical significance of the anniversary and the rapper’s limited performance schedule. The upcoming concerts add to an already busy summer for the artist. JAY-Z previously announced a highly anticipated three-night residency at Yankee Stadium in New York City this July. During the first two nights of that stint, he plans to perform “Reasonable Doubt” and his 2001 classic “The Blueprint” in their entirety on back-to-back evenings. The third night is being promoted as an “Extra Innings” concert featuring a career-spanning setlist. “Reasonable Doubt” is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, serving as the foundation for the Roc-A-Fella Records empire. While the album was not an immediate commercial smash upon its release, it earned critical acclaim for its sophisticated “mafioso rap” themes and helped establish JAY-Z as a premier lyricist. JAY-Z MADE HIS RETURN AT ROOTS PICNIC: These stadium dates follow a surprise return to the stage earlier this month at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. That appearance marked JAY-Z’s first full solo concert in six years, fueling speculation that a larger tour was in the works. During the festival set, he performed a string of hits and addressed recent industry rivalries. Representatives for Roc Nation said the 30th anniversary events are designed to be a definitive retrospective of a career that has spanned 13 solo studio albums and numerous business ventures. The Paris and Los Angeles shows are currently the only international and West Coast dates confirmed for the anniversary celebration. View this post on Instagram

Cam’ron addressed talk of a Dipset reunion during an appearance on the Do You podcast, where the subject surfaced near the 55-minute mark. The question prompted a quick, unambiguous response that set the tone for the rest of the discussion. “No,” he said (around the 55-minute mark) quickly, with an air of finality that lets you know his mind is pretty much made up. He later expanded on that position, noting he had seen past reunion shows move forward without his involvement. Rather than framing it as conflict, he described it as a structural reality of the group. “No, I’m saying, I’ve seen them do Dipset reunion shows without me,” he explained. “I’m just telling you. It’s mad members of Dipset. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be there.” He pointed to the group’s flexibility in membership as part of why such performances can happen without him. That distance, he suggested, is already established in practice rather than theory. “They can all gather up and do the reunion,” he said. Cam’ron Reflects on Jim Jones Rift: ‘The Disputes Outlast the Run’ Cam also referenced long-running tensions with Jim Jones in earlier conversations, including a 2025 interview on the Roc Solid podcast. “Look, I always wish Jim the best,” Cam said. “I hope he does well. He came a long way.” “This is my man who couldn’t rap that turned into my hype man that turned into an artist, directing videos,” Cam added. “So his hustle is impeccable. We put out our first mixtape, 2001. The album came out in 2003. 2001 to, let’s say, we broke up in 2007, 2008… A six, seven-year run. Our first reunion after we broke up was in 2010. If we can’t get it together now…” “The reunions and arguments and fighting, it’s been 15 years,” Cam explained. “The run was only seven years. We got 15 years of disputes longer than the run. I’m never going to say never. But at the end of the day, the disputes, it’s 15 years old, and the run was seven years old. I don’t know if it can ever go right, you know? He got records dissing me earlier this year. I don’t really pay it no mind, people send it to me. But he put a song out called ‘Frienemies’ in [2009]. Seventeen years of diss records towards me. I don’t give a fuck.”

Drake’s latest run of music has settled into a familiar pattern: immediate chart impact followed by a slower, more unpredictable afterlife online. With ICEMAN still circulating at the top of streaming charts, the project has already produced one clear centerpiece in “Janice STFU,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track was quickly absorbed into playlists and radio rotations, giving it the early shape of a seasonal hit. But as the summer progresses, attention has begun to shift toward another album cut that is gaining traction in a less traditional way. That record, “Shabang,” has grown into its own moment largely through digital culture rather than conventional promotion. In fact, the energy around the song highlights the enduring influence of chart-topping artist Drake on social media music trends. The song, produced by Maneesh On The Beat alongside 40, rose to No. 4 on the Hot 100 last week and continues to show upward movement. Its strongest momentum, however, has come from short-form video platforms, where users have built a looping visual trend around its hook. In those clips, everyday objects appear to materialize or vanish in sync with the beat, turning the song into a kind of shared visual joke. “Maneesh on the beat, shabang / All of my opps, they dead.” View this post on Instagram From Viral Trend to Chart King: ‘ICEMAN’ Keeps Its Grip on No. 1 What began as fan-driven experimentation has widened into a more visible pop-culture ripple. Notably, even major platforms and personalities have joined in on challenges connected to music from Drake. Figures including Summer Walker and Joe Jonas have joined in, helping the trend spill further into mainstream feeds. In that sense, the song now operates in two registers at once: as a charting single and as a piece of online choreography shaped by repetition and imitation. Even with that viral pull, ICEMAN remains firmly anchored at No. 1 on the album chart for a third straight week, underscoring Drake’s continued commercial reach. His companion projects, Maid of Honour and Habibti, have eased in position but remain part of the broader rollout that continues to evolve week by week. As streaming habits shift and social media cycles accelerate, the release strategy has taken on a layered quality, with different songs finding success on different timelines. For now, the data points all circle back to a familiar conclusion: the music is still moving, even after the initial release has passed.

For weeks, New York has been operating with a different kind of energy. The Knicks’ return to the NBA Finals has given the city a shared focal point, one that cuts across neighborhoods, generations, and backgrounds. With New York leading the San Antonio Spurs 2-0, anticipation has settled over the city like a summer heat wave. Madison Square Garden is set to host the next chapter of the series. It is the franchise’s first Finals appearance since 1999. For many fans, it feels like a moment they never expected to see again. The excitement has reached longtime supporters and casual observers alike, but few have captured the mood quite like Fat Joe. Speaking with ABC News, the Bronx native described scenes that he believes reflect something larger than basketball. “I’ve seen Hasidic Jews breakdancing with Black kids outside the stadium. This is the greatest unification you’ve ever seen of this New York City in your life since 9/11,” he said. “If you want to know what we felt like in 9/11 after the tragedy, it’s what you’re seeing around New York City, is everybody together. This is insane.” Across the boroughs, game nights have become communal events. Apartment rooftops, restaurant patios, and backyard gatherings have been filled with fans eager to witness a championship chase that has been decades in the making. According to Joe, even the smallest watch parties have taken on a life of their own. A City United by the Knicks “I’ve got a friend, he puts a screen in his backyard. He said the whole neighborhood, people he’s never talked to in his life are walking through his house, opening the refrigerator,” he added. “This is like, unbelievable.” That sense of connection also surfaced during a recent episode of Joe and Jada, where Fat Joe and Jadakiss reflected on the atmosphere surrounding the Finals run. “The city is linking up and turning it into beautiful chaos, man,” Jadakiss said. Joe followed with, “They making Mamdani look like the king of Belair, huh? They saying crime is down. Nobody’s arguing. The city’s just all together, unified like it’s never been.” Friday’s 105-104 Knicks victory pushed New York one step closer to a championship and added another memorable chapter to an already remarkable postseason. Attention now shifts to Madison Square Garden. A packed arena and a national audience will be watching closely. High-profile guests, including President Donald Trump, are expected to be in attendance. For now, though, the larger story remains the city itself and the rare feeling of togetherness that this run has inspired.

The death of songwriter Talay Riley has left many across the music industry grappling with shock and disbelief. Riley, whose birth name was Mark “Yinka” Orabiyi, was killed in a stabbing incident in East London, according to published reports. A second man was also injured during the attack. However, authorities said his injuries were not considered life-threatening. Police have made three arrests in connection with the case. Two individuals were released and a third remains under investigation after being granted bail. For many artists and executives who crossed paths with Talay Riley, the loss extends far beyond his impressive list of songwriting credits. He built a reputation as a gifted creative force. His work quietly helped shape modern R&B and pop music. As news spread, tributes began appearing from colleagues and friends who remembered not only his talent but also his character. Among the first public statements came from his manager, Cleo Amedume. She reflected on Riley’s lasting impact. “Talay will fondly be remembered by those who knew him publicly for his incredible talent as a Grammy Award winning, multi platinum selling songwriter & artist,” the statement read. While Riley may not have been a household name to every listener, his music reached audiences around the world. His credits included Khalid’s “Young Dumb & Broke” and H.E.R.’s “Lights On.” These songs became defining moments in both artists’ catalogs. He also contributed to projects involving global stars such as Dua Lipa and Britney Spears. This earned him widespread respect within songwriting circles. Those collaborations helped establish him as one of the industry’s most trusted and versatile writers. View this post on Instagram Remembering Talay Riley’s Legacy as Tributes Continue to Pour In Amedume also thanked supporters who have reached out since the tragedy became public. “We are deeply grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support that we have received through messages, calls and visits over the past hours. Thank you for your continued consideration and sensitivity at what is a devastating time for us all,” the statement continued. Before his death, Riley had reportedly been focused on new music and future creative endeavors. As investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened, many who knew him are choosing to focus on the body of work he leaves behind. They also focus on the lives he touched throughout his career.

Police have taken a suspect into custody following a violent stabbing spree that left six people injured at Penn Station on Sunday evening. The attack occurred at approximately 7 p.m. inside the nation’s busiest rail hub, sending a wave of panic through the transit center just one day before the venue is set to host a major NBA Finals game. Amtrak police officers apprehended the unidentified suspect, described by authorities as a person believed to be experiencing homelessness. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and investigators have not yet confirmed if the victims were specifically targeted or if the assault was random. Emergency medical responders treated five of the victims and transported them to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. Officials reported that one individual suffered serious wounds, two sustained moderate injuries and two others were treated for minor injuries. A sixth victim was transported to a separate medical facility, though their condition was not immediately disclosed on Monday. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident in a statement on social media, describing the event as “horrific” and praising the rapid intervention of first responders. “My heart is with everyone who was injured, their loved ones, and all those shaken by this unacceptable violence,” Mamdani said. The violence at Penn Station comes as the city prepares for a massive security influx at the adjacent Madison Square Garden complex. The New York Knicks are scheduled to face the San Antonio Spurs for game three of the NBA Finals tonight. president Donald Trump will attend game 3: Security protocols were already heightened due to the expected attendance of Donald Trump at the game, though the New York Police Department has not stated if Sunday’s violence will result in further changes to the existing security plan. View this post on Instagram This stabbing is the latest in a string of high-profile incidents involving New York’s public transportation infrastructure. In May, a 76-year-old man died after being pushed down stairs at a subway station, while a machete attack at Grand Central Terminal in April left three people injured. Commuters and fans attending Monday’s game should expect a heavy police presence throughout the Penn Station and Madison Square Garden area as the investigation into Sunday’s attack continues. Amtrak officials said they are coordinating closely with city leadership to ensure the safety of the thousands of travelers who move through the station daily.