During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon — undoubtedly to promote their upcoming tour — Brandy and Monica made a startling revelation about their 90s hit, “The Boy Is Mine.” According to Brandy, the inspiration behind the song was sparked after watching an episode of Jerry Springer. “I was a huge Jerry Springer fan,” she tells Fallon. “One of the topics was ‘The Boy Is Mine,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my God—song idea. Let’s do this.” Later on in the interview, the pair touched on their “musical marriage, as well as their historic 1999 Grammy win for best R&B performance by a duo or group. “I actually ran to the stage,” Brandy laughed before Monica joined in on the fun, replying, “She left me… “I was tiptoeing behind her like, ‘Girl, we just won a Grammy!’” Brandy and Monica recently announced they’ll be co-headlining their first tour, The Boy Is Mine tour, which is scheduled to begin on October 16 and conclude on December 7. The 24-city arena tour, produced by Black Promoters Collective, brings two of R&B’s most influential voices together on stage more than 25 years after their era-defining duet “The Boy Is Mine” ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 straight weeks. The tour celebrates their lasting legacy while bridging generations. Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, and rising star Jamal Roberts will join them on the road, adding depth and energy to a lineup that honors R&B’s past, present, and future. Together, they promise a dynamic experience shaped by powerhouse vocals and shared cultural history. Shelby Joyner of Black Promoters Collective calls it “a cultural homecoming,” while Brandy frames it as a celebration of transformation and enduring love from fans. Monica sees it as a testament to mutual respect, unity, and the timeless power of real music.

In a now-deleted social media post, 50 Cent fired back at the NY mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, after he named him in an interview amid a discussion of his tax plan for the city’s top one percent. “We’re talking about people who make a million dollars a year or more, taxing them just by a flat two percent tax increase,” Mamdani said in an interview a few weeks back. “I know if 50 Cent is listening, he’s not going to be happy about this. He tends not to like this tax policy, but I want to be very clear, this is about $20,000 a year.” After Mamdani’s interview made its rounds online, 50 Cent eventually caught wind of his comments, firing back with a now-deleted IG post that contained a clip from Mamdani’s interview, writing, “Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan. No. I will give him $258,750 and a first-class one-way ticket away from NY.” He added, “I’m telling [President] Trump what he said, too!” It is unclear why the rapper deleted his post, especially given his history of trolling others online. Nevertheless, the post has disappeared. 50 Cent name-drops NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and offers him cash to leave: “I’m not feeling this plan. I will give him $258,750 and a first class one-way ticket away from NY” pic.twitter.com/4ziIxCXMRd — HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) June 27, 2025 In other news, 50 Cent has seemingly verified that he will star in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. According to reports, 50 is looking to play Balrog in the film, which will technically be a reboot of the franchise series. The mogul broke the news via an Instagram post this morning, saying, “No Days off, Let’s work all roads lead to Shreveport.” Although this has yet to be confirmed by the studio, reports indicate that the Street Fighter cast will include WWE star Roman Reigns, Andrew Koji, Noah Centino, and Jason Momoa. In 2024, 50 played a leading role alongside Mel Gibson in the movie Boneyard. Other notable acting roles include Righteous Kill, Escape Plan, Southpaw, and his autobiographical debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Additionally, the mogul has been expanding his film enterprise by making his TV channel, 50 Cent Action, available in the United Kingdom.

In a rare pairing that bridges generations of hip-hop innovation, King Combs and Ye have delivered NEVER STOP—a surprise joint album that dropped today and instantly began sparking conversation. While the project’s tracklist remains tight-lipped with minimal promo, the music speaks volumes: textured beats, sharp flows, and a theme rooted in resilience. “I grew up on Ye’s music,” King Combs told me in an exclusive sit-down hours after the album’s release. “To be in the studio with him—watching how he operates—it reminded me of my pops. It was intense in the best way.” The collaborative process, he says, was not just creative but formative. “His energy felt familiar. Like watching greatness in motion.” Legacy and Drive Power ‘NEVER STOP’ Combs, who co-produced one of the album’s standout records, explained that working with Ye brought him back to the studio ethos he absorbed growing up. “We built the instrumental from scratch, and the way he pushed for perfection—it took me back to those early days around my father. That same hunger, that same obsession with detail.” Titled NEVER STOP, the project plays like a declaration. From its sonics to its sequencing, it’s rooted in a message of persistence. “That’s really the theme,” Combs said. “No matter what life throws at you, you’ve got to stay locked in and chase your dreams. This album is motivation.” With NEVER STOP, King Combs steps into his own light, while Ye remains one of the most unpredictable forces in music. Together, they’ve created something that feels urgent, spiritual, and undeniably hip-hop. For fans, this isn’t just an album drop—it’s a statement.

Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, has passed away at the age of 71 following a battle with multiple health complications. According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Fenty died on May 30th at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to acute respiratory failure, pancreatic cancer, and aspiration pneumonia, a severe bacterial infection in the lungs. The document also notes other contributing conditions, including acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis, both of which point to significant kidney damage in the final stages of his illness. Fenty’s death marks a difficult moment for Rihanna, whose relationship with her father has seen many ups and downs over the years. The two were estranged for a long time but eventually found their way back to a better place. In February 2023, Ronald spoke with TMZ and shared his excitement over Rihanna and A$AP Rocky expecting another baby, saying he was thrilled at the thought of being involved in his grandchild’s life. Despite the turbulent history between father and daughter, their eventual reconciliation gave fans hope that they had reached a place of peace. His passing leaves behind a complex legacy, shaped by both personal struggles and moments of family closeness in recent years. Ronald Fenty was 71. Condolences to Rihanna and her family during this time.

Jim Jones is making headlines after launching a string of bold statements aimed at Nas, questioning the Queensbridge rapper’s influence and staying power. In a series of recent interviews, Jones has been vocal about what he sees as a generational disconnect, claiming that his own solo work stands stronger over time than Nas’ post-Illmatic catalog. Appearing on the Bagfuel podcast, Jones claimed he sparked a rare viral moment for Nas, saying, “What I did for Nas recently probably has never been done in his life. Last time he was in some viral sh*t like this was when he was getting at Jay-Z.” While he hasn’t reached out to Nas directly, he believes his comments have brought renewed attention to the veteran rapper. His critique began during a previous appearance on the Joe & Jada Podcast, where Jones discussed how admiration turned into competition once he entered the industry. “I was a superior Nas fan but when you get into the game you realize your idols be rivals,” he said. “My son can’t tell me one Nas record.” Jones emphasized his own achievements, pointing to solo Billboard entries, gold and platinum plaques, and distancing his success from that of The Diplomats. “Check my track record, then check everybody else’s… I been spanking a lot of this sh*t.” Later, on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Jones admitted Nas was influential early on but faded in relevance. “He had a little bit of a run. […] Nas always came up second to [Jay-Z] and DMX,” he said. Though he praised Illmatic, he added, “He kind of lost me after the movie Belly and s**t like that.” Nas has not responded to the ongoing commentary, but fans online are growing divided, with some calling Jones’ remarks unnecessary and others engaging in the debate.

Nelly says that his first date with Ashanti was like taking a “test drive,”  During an interview with People, Nelly shared why he believes his relationship with Ashanti is thriving now. “It’s about the good outweighing the bad,” Nelly said.  “What you thought mattered a lot, once you go through other scenarios, you realize that’s not really as big of a deal as you thought it would be.”  “Or you get something that you thought you was missing, and it still doesn’t compensate or fill a void, and you’re like, ‘Damn, I thought that would mean more,’ but that doesn’t. It’s just growth,” he added. In 2003, Nelly and Ashantly broke up 10 years later. After being separated for another decade but they rekindled their love in September 2023. Three months later, they married in a private ceremony.  Last July, Nelly and Ashanti also welcomed their first child together, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, a baby boy. “Everybody don’t get a chance to, if you could say, take a test drive,” Nelly continued. “It’s like when people say, ‘You should always test drive a car before you buy it.’ I hate to minimize that because this is real life, so you don’t want it to feel like that.” “We had a chance to test drive a relationship to understand that, ‘Yo, that car was the best thing I had riding around that thing, man. Fire it back up, baby,” he said. In June, the power couple debuted their Peacock reality show reality television show, We Belong Together, where they share their journey back to love. Along with their reality show, Nelly released “Spin the Block” which is inspired by his love for Ashanti. Nelly raped, “When we said goodbye / Guess it wasn’t what we really meant / ‘Cause mile aftеr mile / I keep passing up places we been / And wе kicked up some dust and got stuck in some mud / But we got back to us in the end / Yeah that look in your eyes looks like this old truck / Like we spinnin’ the block today.”

Walter Scott, a co-founder of The Whispers, one of the greatest R&B acts of all time, has passed. He was 81. Desirae L. Benson, a member of the Whispers promotional team, confirmed Scott’s passing in a statement to Soul Tracks. “We all are incredibly heartbroken. It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of Walter Scott, beloved member of the legendary R&B group The Whispers. His voice, presence, and contributions helped shape a musical legacy that touched millions. Walter’s impact on the industry and in the hearts of fans will never be forgotten. Memorial details will be shared at a later date. Sending love and light to his family, friends, and all of the millions of fans around the world. We lost a legend!“ Formed in the early 60s in Los Angeles,  the Whispers struggled for more than a decade, achieving success..  Founded by twin brothers Walter and Wallace (Scotty) Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Leaveil Degree (who replaced departing member Gordy Harmon in 1973), the Whispers charted their first pop and R&B hit with “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong” in 1970.   Throughout the 70s, they recorded on the Don Cornelius/Dick Griffey “Soul Train” label where saw moderate success but gained a cult following for seductive slow jams such as “I Only Meant to Wet My Feet” (1972), and “Lady“ (1979).  When they signed Griffey’s label, SOLAR label, the fountains began to change on their SOLAR debut album Headlights, with the classic “Olivia” (Lost and Turned Out). In 1980, they began working with writer/producer Leon Sylvers, and they scored their signature hit “And the Beat Goes On,” which peaked at 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. They followed up with many more hits such as “Are You Going My Way,” “Say Yes,”“It’s A Love Thing,” “Keep On Lovin Me,” and “Tonight.” Just when they seemed to slow down,  Babyface, who was a member of the Deele, wrote and produced  “Rock Steady,” peaking at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.  After Hutson and Caldwell passed away, the group continued as a trio and played to sold-out crowds across the globe. We at WBLS send our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Walter Scott.

Drake had some time recently to get at  T-Pain. The 6 God is responding to a recent episode of the Crash Dummies podcast, where T-Pain said Drake inspired him to exit the music industry on his own terms. But the “I’m In Love With a Stripper” artist also said that Drake has not taken his own advice. “One thing I learned from Drake, but one thing he hasn’t followed his own words,” T-Pain explained. “Drake said, ‘I wanna be one of them people that gracefully bow out and not get kicked out.’” “I have ever since said, ‘Thank y’all, I appreciate y’all. I’ll see y’all when I drop — don’t worry about it, I’ll just drop something. Let me know if you heard it,” T-Pain joked. “Drake is like, ‘No, listen. OK, I got another one. Hold on, check this out. Y’all ain’t like that one? OK, real quick, just one more. Let me try one more.” Not feeling T-Pain’s comments, Drake committed on the Toronto Rappers’ Instagram post that showed a clip from the interview. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TorontoRappers.com (@torontorappers) “This guy always had resentment for me [laughing emoji],” Drake wrote on Thursday (June 26). “You can hear it every time he speaks on my name” Coming to Drake’s defense, Offset agreed with his former collaborator. “Da Boy is da boy shit ain’t gone change,” he wrote in the comments section of a Complex IG post. “All dat hating on another grown man who do more numbers than everybody is Diabolical !!!!” Apparently, T-Pain referenced a  conversation between Drake and Lil Yachty from 2023 where he spoke about making “a graceful exit.” “Well, I think like on a broader scale, I think I’m at the point now where I just wanna, like — I feel like maybe we talked about this the other day — but I feel like I’m kind of introducing the concept in my mind of a graceful exit,” Drake explained at the time. “Sometimes it’ll baffle you, like why are these people still making attempts at trying to be present in the space?” he went on. “And then you’ll realize they probably, their needs and desires and their soul was probably fed for so long off of being a guy, or the guy, that they can’t let it go.”

Kendrick Lamar’s explosive collaboration with SZA, “Luther,” has crossed the one billion stream threshold on Spotify, hitting the mark faster than any of his previous records. Dropped in November, the track took just seven months to reach the milestone—outpacing the eight-month climb of his viral hit “Not Like Us.” It’s the eleventh time Lamar has joined Spotify’s billion-stream club, a space he already occupies with chart heavyweights like “HUMBLE.,” “Money Trees,” and “All the Stars.” The speed of “Luther’s” ascent underscores Lamar’s unmatched momentum in today’s rap landscape. Beyond its streaming success, “Luther” has dominated the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top slot for 13 straight weeks and leading the hip-hop chart for a staggering 25. The track has become a cultural mainstay, cementing its presence across radio, social media, and live stages alike. Lamar’s BET wins and tour cement his reign Lamar’s recent sweep at the BET Awards added to the victory lap. Returning to his hometown of Los Angeles, he walked away with five wins, including Album of the Year and Best Collaboration—sharing two of the honors with creative partner Dave Free. “I haven’t been here in a long time, but my heart has always been with BET,” he told the crowd. “I’ve made sure they represent our culture authentically, placing me in the heart of the music that resonates with people.” He added, “To my folks in the building and my LA natives in the back, I see you. God first and foremost, to my company pgLang, SZA in the crowd—we’re currently on tour, so don’t miss our show. We’re going to keep this momentum going, and I truly appreciate all of you.” The duo is currently mid-run on their Grand National Tour, closing out North American stops before taking their stage show to stadiums across Europe. The run has drawn massive crowds and critical praise, reinforcing both artists’ cultural and commercial dominance.

Ebro Darden is known for making bold statements about Hip-Hop, a fact that is well-documented.In the latest episode of Ebro in the Morning, the media personality recognized the contributions of legendary recording artist Nas in an unexpected hot take, stating that Nas has done more for Hip-Hop than any other rapper in history. Ebro’s mentions of Nas are related to the rapper’s company, Mass Appeal, which is preparing to release the highly anticipated sequel to Ghostface Killah’s album, Supreme Clientele 2. “New Ghostface,” said Ebro, following Peter Rosenberg’s announcement of the sequel album. “Shout out to Mass Appeal.” Ebro says Nas has done more for Hip Hop than any other rapper in history pic.twitter.com/ZmpDVpW172 — Navjosh (@Navjosh) June 25, 2025 Ebro’s hot take came after co-hosts Laura Styles and Peter Rosenberg acknowledged the excellent work being done at Mass Appeal right now. Abruptly, he says, “Hot take: Nas has done more for hip hop than any rapper in history.” Rosenberg followed Ebro’s claim, welcoming the debate. “That’s in the convo, right there,” Rosenberg replies. Ebro elaborated further, stating: “He has given back more to hip-hop than any rapper in history.” Nas, arguably one of the greatest lyricists of all time, created a classic catalog of timeless hits throughout the 90s and 2000s, including “If I Ruled The World,” “Street Dreams,” and “One Mic.” By the 2010s, he flipped the script from mic to millions, investing early in tech giants like Coinbase and Ring through QueensBridge Ventures. From bars to boardrooms, he turned hip-hop clout into Silicon Valley cash, building a legacy off equity and vision. In 2013, Nas joined Mass Appeal as investor and creative force, helping relaunch the former hip-hop mag into a multimedia brand. He expanded its reach with a record label and documentaries like Rapture, turning it into a platform that bridges hip-hop roots with bold, future-focused storytelling. Ghostface Killah’s upcoming sequel is a part of a highly publicized music series, titled “Legends Has It.” The Mass Appeal series will drop seven albums in 2025 from icons such as DJ Premier, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, De La Soul, Big L, Mobb Deep, and Nas himself. Honoring hip-hop’s roots and legends, the series celebrates New York’s legacy while spotlighting rap’s most influential voices and timeless impact. Ebro’s Nas claim would receive attention on social media, ranging from fans agreeing with the statement to disagreeing regarding other artists and their contributions. An X user tweeted, “True in the context of championing hiphop globally too. As a rapper, yes, but even more so as an entrepreneur.” Ebro’s comment sparks an ongoing debate that seems never-ending.