Following an onslaught of criticism, Rolling Stone reports that Ludacris has dropped out of Kid Rock’s “Rock The Country” festival. Many fans dubbed the country music festival a “MAGA Festival” due to some of the political beliefs shared by some of the performers. Kid Rock has been an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump over the past few years. He even performed a Trump’s “Victory Rally” which took place one day before his Inauguration last January. That said, a representative for Ludacris maintained that it was a “mistake” and the rapper was never supposed to perform. Apparently, “lines got crossed, and he wasn’t supposed to be on there.” A rep for the festival also confirmed that Ludacris was no longer part of the festival. View this post on Instagram Along with Ludacris, Nelly was also listed on the flyer for the upcoming event. However, unlike the Fast and Furious actor, Nelly is expected to still perform.

The Game recently had a sit-down interview with VIBE Magazine. While there, the LA rapper revealed that at the height of his beef with 50 Cent, he expected it to end in death. “I was prepared to die in that beef,” he tells interviewer Datwon Thomas. The rapper continues: “I was almost 100 percent sure that me and 50 was going to die in that. I for sure thought it. I just knew it…” In a similar vein to what happened between Biggie and Tupac, Game notes at the time, he was the biggest rapper on the West Coast, whereas Fif was the biggest rapper on the East Coast. “Were both young, in our 20s, and I just thought that we wouldn’t make it out of that.” Prior to his beef popping off with Fif, Game already had a continuous relationship with the rest of the G-Unit members. “I thought it would be Me or him, ” The Game Says Things came to a boiling point as he prepared for the arrival of his debut album, The Documentary. Things went left between the pair amid 50 Cent’s early 00s beef with Fat Joe. Fif appeared to be upset that The Game didn’t have his back. Not long after, he was pushed out of the group. “The thing about it is, I didn’t give a fuck, because I hated that n*gga so much for trying to play me,” Game continued. “And again, Biggie and Pac, this sh*t is real. It’s real. I know 50. He ain’t playing, he’s for real. SI was ready to literally go all the way out. But I went to this man’s house, ripped a basketball rim off, peed in his grass, went to Queens [and] put a G-Unot banner on the side of a project building… I was serious, man.” There had also been a shooting incident at the HOT 97 studio, which resulted in someone from Game’s crew getting shot. The pair would eventually hold a press conference to settle their differences. However, the beef would continue until 2016, when they finally put their issues aside. “And it’s like, we’re here now, and we can talk about it. Game and 50 made it out, but n*ggas died. Like, people died in that beef. It was that serious. And I thought it would be me or him.”

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A$AP Rocky uses his new album, Don’t Be Dumb, to settle old feuds with Drake and Travis Scott, using his girlfriend, Rihanna, as a trophy in the process. On the album’s standout cut “No Trespassing,” the Harlem rapper unloads a barrage of slick wordplay and personal flexes that many listeners believe are aimed squarely at Drake and Travis Scott. Both rappers share a complicated past with Rocky, including high-profile relationships with Rihanna, now the mother of Rocky’s three children. A$AP ROCKY DISSES DRAKE & TRAVIS SCOTT ON DON’T BE DUMB “AWGE ain’t scared of the SIX or the SEVEN” (Meltdown Reference) “Photoshop yourself on vogue, NAH i’m the real deal, Pretend your on SNL, NAH i’m the real deal, Thought you were gone wife RiRi, NAH i’m the real deal”… pic.twitter.com/qjnau0AnVa — Astro (@CrAstro2) January 16, 2026 Released Friday, Jan. 16, Don’t Be Dumb finds Rocky in an unapologetic mood, and “No Trespassing” feels like a clear line in the sand. “AWGE ain’t scared of the SIX or the SEVEN,” Rocky raps, firing off layered shots in a single breath. “The Six” is a direct nod to Drake’s Toronto hometown, a nickname the Canadian superstar helped popularize. “The Seven” appears to reference Travis Scott’s Utopia track “Meltdown,” which features Drake, subtly grouping the two artists together while suggesting Rocky isn’t intimidated by either. Throughout the song, Rocky repeats, “NAH I’m the real deal,” positioning his authenticity. Lines like “Photoshop yourself on Vogue” and “Pretend you on SNL” poke fun at curated celebrity moments, dismissing high-profile appearances and magazine covers as surface-level achievements. Rocky’s message is clear: cultural impact can’t be edited or staged. A$AP Rocky Disses Travis Scott & Drake Using Rihanna References On Don’t Be Dumb Track “No Trespassing” One of the most talked-about bars arrives when Rocky raps, “Thought you were gone wife RiRi.” The line taps into years of public speculation surrounding Rihanna’s dating history, flipping old narratives into a victory lap. Rocky reminds listeners that he’s the one who built a real life with the global superstar, not just headlines. Rocky also flexes his intellect and global reach. “You asked me to do the math, bitch I gave a lecture at Oxford,” he boasts, framing himself as more than a rapper and suggesting his rivals rely on formulas instead of originality. Later lines about burying competitors “six feet under” lean into classic rap bravado, signaling lyrical dominance rather than real-world violence. Rocky adds, “I’m from the H and still rep the other H better than you.” The line salutes Harlem while possibly jabbing Travis Scott’s Houston roots. By the end of “No Trespassing,” Rocky makes his stance clear. This isn’t sneak dissing. It’s a declaration. On Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky isn’t asking for space. Pretty Flacko is back.

50 Cent and Jim Jones’ beef continues; the mogul is once again proving that no moment is too small to flip into a punchline. On Jan. 15, the Jamaica Queens mogul shared a clip on social media that blended comedy, branding, and old-school rap rivalry, using a staged power outage to take a not-so-subtle shot at longtime foe Jim Jones. Jones has been promoting the building of his creative hub since rumors of his power outrage originated last week. The video shows 50 in executive mode during what appears to be a mock production tied to a Super Bowl 60 collaboration for his Branson cognac brand. Standing in front of an unseen crowd, he sets the scene with classic hype energy. “Ladies and gentlemens, are you ready for Super Bowl 60? Are you ready for the excitement, the adrenaline, Branson cognac…” he says. 50 Cent roasting Jim Jones for having no power in his film studio pic.twitter.com/OtCmlwQHUG — 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) January 16, 2026 Moments later, the lights abruptly shut off. “What the fuck?! What happened with the lights, man?” 50 yells, turning the sudden blackout into the centerpiece of the skit. The gag mirrors a real-life situation involving Jim Jones’ IFC building in the Bronx, which recently lost power while operating as a growing creative hub. The space is home to Jones’ podcast Let’s Rap About It, co-hosted by Fabolous, Dave East, and Maino, and is intended to expand into a larger media center. Shortly before posting the Branson clip, 50 escalated the joke by sharing unreleased footage showing Jones and his entourage sitting in darkness inside the IFC building, relying on flashlights. 50 Cent Roasts Jim Jones With Actual Footage Of Jones’ IFC Bronx Building Without Power 50 framed the moment as pure comedy on Instagram. In one post, he wrote, “LOL @mr_camron turned the lights off, them bum ass in there with flash lights. @50centaction,” pulling Cam’ron into the mix and reviving Dipset-era tension. A second post featured animated eyes floating in the dark, captioned, “they in there like all we got is us. LOL WE ALL WE GOT! @bransoncognac,” twisting a familiar rap slogan into another jab. He capped it off with a third post that read, “Turn off the lights @bransoncognac.” The posts reflect 50 Cent’s long-running playbook. He turns real-life mishaps into viral moments, blends beef with business, and keeps himself at the center of the conversation. For 50, the lights going out wasn’t a problem. It was the setup.

With music patiently awaiting the arrival of Rihanna’s long-anticipated R6 album, it’s only natural A$AP Rocky would be asked about it while promoting his new album, Don’t Be Dumb. While promoting his new album Don’t Be Dumb on the New York Times’ Popcast podcast, the Harlem rapper was pressed about whether fans can expect Rihanna’s much-discussed album, commonly dubbed R6, to arrive anytime soon. Rocky navigated the update with precision. The moment came when co-host Joe Coscarelli jokingly asked if it was Rihanna’s “turn” to drop an album now that Don’t Be Dumb is set for release, adding that Rocky might be “in charge of the kids” once his rollout wraps. A$AP Rocky when asked if it’s Rihanna’s turn to put out an album: “I don’t want no smoke. No comments, no comments….I’mma be honest yo you’re gonna get me in trouble with her fans bro like…they don’t play” pic.twitter.com/GnGpOTMjgz — (@rudeBearrr) January 16, 2026 Rocky didn’t bite. “No comment, no,” he said flatly, signaling that the topic was off-limits. Rather than dodging the question, Rocky framed his response around respect and awareness. “I try to lead by example,” he explained, steering the conversation away from timelines and expectations. His answer reflected an understanding of the pressure surrounding Rihanna’s absence from music and the intense devotion of her fanbase, which has been waiting years for a follow-up to ANTI. A$AP Rocky Answers Rihanna’s ‘R6’ Question On Popcast While Promoting ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ LP Rocky made it clear he wasn’t trying to spark speculation. “I’m be honest, yo, you’re gonna get me in trouble with her fans, bro. They don’t play,” he added, half-laughing but clearly serious. Rihanna’s supporters are famously protective, and Rocky acknowledged that even a hint could ignite viral theories and online chaos. The exchange carries extra weight following reports in 2025 that Rocky and Rihanna had been collaborating on each other’s upcoming projects. Those reports fueled assumptions that his album might signal movement on R6. Rocky’s refusal to offer details pushes back on that narrative, reinforcing that collaboration doesn’t equal obligation. In the end, Rocky’s response says more about boundaries than secrecy. He keeps Don’t Be Dumb centered on his own creative moment while respecting Rihanna’s autonomy. For now, the message is simple: Rocky isn’t teasing R6. When Rihanna is ready to speak, she will.

A$AP Rocky is no longer dancing around the tension that has hovered between him and Drake for years. While promoting his new album Don’t Be Dumb, the Harlem rapper pulled up to the Popcast podcast with Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli and confirmed what many listeners already suspected: Drake is the target of his pointed new record “Stole Ya Flow.” When Coscarelli noted that the internet would immediately connect the dots, Rocky didn’t push back. “For sure, I think we all know,” he said, making it clear the subs weren’t accidental. A$AP Rocky addresses speculation that he’s dissing Drake on “STOLE YA FLOW” off ‘DON’T BE DUMB’ “I started just seeing people who just started out as friends and just became foes, seemed like they was unhappy for you and started sending shots.” “I think that’s what led to… pic.twitter.com/Glm4Sgaa98 — Kurrco (@Kurrco) January 15, 2026 Still, Rocky framed the fallout as something that developed over time, not a single breaking point. “I started just seeing people who just started out as friends and just became foes,” he explained. “Seemed like they was unhappy for you and started sending shots.” According to Rocky, success shifted the energy. What began as camaraderie slowly turned competitive, layered with quiet resentment and public perception. Those tensions, he said, led to “misunderstandings,” rather than outright war. “It really ain’t smoke,” Rocky added, downplaying the idea of an ongoing beef. A$AP Rocky Reveals He Dissed Drake On ‘Don’t Be Dumb,’ While Explaining The Fall Out On Popcast That context lands directly on “Stole Ya Flow,” one of Don’t Be Dumb’s most talked-about tracks. Rocky doesn’t mask his words, rapping, “First you stole my flow, so I stole yo’ bitch,” a line that fuses creative rivalry with personal history, nodding to Drake’s past relationship with Rihanna. He doubles down with, “If you stole my style, I need at least like ten percent,” accusing Drake of borrowing his aesthetic while cashing in. The jabs keep coming. “N****s getting BBLs, lucky we don’t body shame,” Rocky raps, clowning industry vanity and manufactured images. “Throwing dirt on Rocky name, turn around and copy game” sharpens the critique, calling out what he sees as hypocrisy from peers who criticize him publicly while mimicking his moves behind the scenes. Despite the direct bars, Rocky says he’s not chasing closure. “It don’t even need to be [resolved],” he said. “It’s for whoever feels like it’s about.” With Don’t Be Dumb, Rocky isn’t inviting a response. He’s documenting how a once-friendly relationship decayed into rivalry—and letting hip-hop culture decide who the message really hits.

French Montana just proved that shooting your shot can really take you to royalty. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 22: French Montana and Sheikha Mahra are seen on November 22, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage How It Went Down During a recent appearance on the Joe & Jada Podcast alongside Max B, the Bronx rapper spilled the tea on how he landed his now-fiancée, Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra. According to French, it went down in the DMs. While visiting Dubai, he noticed Mahra had gone viral after publicly announcing her divorce from Emirati businessman and royal Sheikh Mana in a bold Instagram post. In it, she accused her ex of infidelity and stated that their marriage over. “Dear Husband, as you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce,” she wrote in a viral post. “I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce You. Take Care. Your ex-wife.” French said the post immediately caught his attention. “I remember I had seen she put up that post where she divorced somebody,” Montana told Jadakiss and Fat Joe. “And I’m like, ‘I like her.’ ‘Cause it takes a lot of guts to throw that up. So when she threw that up, I’m like, ‘I like her.’” View this post on Instagram From there, French had a mutual connection reach out, and they gave the green light with a simple, “Do what you gotta do.” And the rest is history. Shortly after her divorce announcement last year, Mahra was spotted giving French a personal tour of Dubai, sparking early rumors that turned out to be real. The couple later announced their engagement. The couple has kept their relationship very low-key outside of Mahra celebrating French’s 41st birthday at Aya Nightclub in NYC. Max B and Central Cee joined the couple as well. Montana was previously married to entrepreneur, NaDeen Kharbouch from 2007 to 2014. They share one 16-year-old son, Kruz Kharbouch.

New York rapper Kay Flock was sentenced to 30 years in prison in mid-December following multiple convictions linked to four shootings that occurred between 2020 and 2021. At 22 years old, Flock now faces a future dominated by incarceration. This has prompted his legal team to file an appeal. The case has drawn attention not only for the severity of the sentence. Additionally, people are discussing its implications in prosecuting gang-related activity in the city. The sentencing also includes five years of supervised release after Flock completes his prison term. Michael T. Ashley, Flock’s attorney, said the appeal was expected. Court filings indicate that Ashley is seeking either a reduction to the statutory minimum of 10 years. Alternatively, he suggests an alternative “structured punishment plan” spanning several years. Under the alternative plan, Flock would be required to relocate to Los Angeles, earn his GED, maintain sobriety, and publicly renounce violence on social media. While outlined in legal motions, the likelihood of such leniency appears low. This is due to the prosecution’s firm stance throughout the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Herman, representing the government, had initially advocated for a 50-year sentence. He cited the seriousness of the crimes and their impact on victims and the community. Furthermore, the prosecution argued that a significant sentence was necessary to uphold public safety. They said it would deter further violence and address the broader consequences of gang-related actions. COURTHOUSE RAP: After Drill Rapper Kay Flock Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison He Appeals Pro Se – Book: https://t.co/db1k47Qrgz Inner City Press story: https://t.co/4cOWKH02Ti pic.twitter.com/eVbxiM8muP — Inner City Press (@innercitypress) January 14, 2026 Examining the Convictions Flock’s convictions include racketeering conspiracy and use of a firearm causing death. He is also convicted of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon connected to racketeering. Authorities contend that these acts were part of an orchestrated effort to expand the influence of the Sev Side/DOA gang. Notably, Flock is identified as a prominent member of this gang. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman noted that Flock was not the shooter in the incidents.

Erica Mena shared a vulnerable update amid her legal battle with her ex-husband, Safaree Samuels. The Love and Hip Hop couple, who tied the knot in October 2019, have had a tumultuous public relationship following the birth of their two children in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Safaree mentioned a shift in Erica after welcoming their kids even tweeting that getting married was a mistake. Erica filed for divorce on May 24, 2021, referring to their marriage as “irretrievably broken” with “no hope of reconciliation” in court documents obtained, per PageSix. Since the filing, Erica alleges that she has experienced financial strain from carrying the full weight of parenting their two children. However, in a recent post, the reality star shared an update that suggests that financial burden has been lifted. View this post on Instagram “Asking for half is not asking for too much.” She began, “For 2½ years and counting – I’ve endured malicious filings, unnecessary legal attacks and intentional financial pressure, all while being the only consistent present parent for my two youngest children. The only one handling medical care, education, childcare and the everyday costs of raising two growing children, as I have since the day they were born.” “Yesterday wasn’t about revenge,” Erica continued. “It was about receipts, facts and accountability.” In the caption, she suggests that Safaree’s alleged lack of financial help has been an intentional attack. “After years of intentional hardship and financial burden placed on me, I finally stood up for the expenses I’ve carried alone medical, childcare, education. While parenting full-time and filling in where effort, presence and responsibility are by choice repeatedly consistently absent,” she wrote. Adding, “Asking for half is not asking for too much.” In the lengthy caption, Erica also praised the attorney, Lisa Weber, writing that “she stood firm on principle and led this case with integrity, precision and moral clarity.” She concluded the statement writing, “I’ve been choosing peace — but I will NEVER choose silence when it comes to my children.” Fans dropped in the comments of the Instagram post supporting the model on her victory and praising her for advocating for herself and children. TMZ reports that the couple’s divorce was finalized September 12, 2022, with Safaree being ordered to pay $4,305 per month in child support. View this post on Instagram