Mal from the New Rory & Mal podcast is standing firmly behind Drake, even if it means choosing the biggest rapper in today’s hip-hop over JAŸ-Z, formerly Jay-Z. During a recent episode of New Rory & Mal, Kareem Biggs’ younger brother sparked discussion after revealing where his loyalty would lie if Drake and Jay-Z ever faced off in a rap battle. The admission caught co-hosts off guard given Mal’s longstanding connection to Jay-Z and the Roc-A-Fella family. Mal would explain his reasoning while also crediting both artists’ accolades. “I might have to ride with my man Drake,” he said. His co-hosts quickly reminded him of his close ties to Jay-Z. Mal acknowledged the Brooklyn rap icon’s place in his life but made it clear that his support would remain with Drake. “That’s big bro, that’s family,” Mal said of Jay-Z. “But [Drake’s] my man. I gotta ride with my man.” While Mal favored Drake in the imaginary showdown, he stressed that any battle should remain centered on lyrical competition rather than personal attacks. Mal From New Rory & Mal Admits He Will Side With Drake In Possible Feud Against JAŸ-Z “I’m with it if it remains rap and respectful,” he explained. “I’m not with the corny, just make up anything and say anything bullsh– that we witnessed two years ago.” The conversation later shifted to Hov’s headline-grabbing freestyle performance at the 2026 Roots Picnic. According to Mal, he initially missed the moment because he was focused on the NBA playoffs rather than social media. That’s when Drake stepped in. “The funny sh– about all of this is Drake is the one that told me about this freestyle,” Mal revealed. After checking his phone during a break in the game, he discovered several messages from the rapper. One text immediately caught his attention. “Yo, but what’s up with the hair?” Drake allegedly wrote, joking about Jay-Z’s appearance during the performance. Mal said he had not yet seen any photos or footage when Drake reached out. The exchange added another layer to the ongoing conversation surrounding Jay-Z’s Roots Picnic freestyle. It quickly became a major talking point in hip-hop, reigniting the debate about Drizzy, Jigga, and rap competition.

Latto is making it clear that the bars on her new album, Big Mama, came from her own pen, not Drake, after Joe Budden insinuates similarities. The Atlanta rapper responded this week after rapper-turned-podcaster Joe Budden suggested that Drake’s influence may have extended beyond inspiration and into the writing process. The comments surfaced during a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, where Budden questioned similarities between Latto’s music and Drake’s latest material. Instead of issuing a lengthy statement, Latto answered with receipts. View this post on Instagram On Tuesday (June 2), she shared a photo on X showing handwritten lyrics to her song “Hostage” written across a whiteboard. The image included a timestamp dated Jan. 22 at 9:48 p.m. Her caption contained only Budden’s social media handle, a subtle but pointed response to the ongoing discussion. The exchange stems from Budden’s review of Big Mama on The Joe Budden Podcast. During the conversation, the former rapper claimed he heard traces of Drake throughout portions of the project. “I feel like recently, she [has been giving] me a lot of Drake,” Budden said. Latto Clears Up Joe Budden’s Insinuation Drake Wrote Her Raps On ‘Big Mama’ He also revisited earlier criticism surrounding Latto’s previous album, Sugar Honey Iced Tea. According to Budden, some listeners previously speculated that Drake may have influenced the album’s opening track, “Georgia Peach.” “You remember Latto’s intro from her last album?” he asked. “Most people said that this specifically sounds like Drake penned this [and] did the [reference] track.” Budden focused much of his commentary on “Hostage,” comparing the record’s sound to music from Drake and 21 Savage’s collaborative album Her Loss. “This song sounds like it could’ve been on Her Loss,” he said. “It sounds like they could’ve took a couple of joints from there.” He later doubled down on the comparison. “It’s too soon for me to hear ‘Shabang’ flow from somebody else,” Budden said. “This sounds like the ‘Shabang’ flow to a T.” Despite the criticism, Budden praised parts of Big Mama. He singled out “Chrome Heart Diaper Bag” and applauded the album’s production quality. Still, Latto’s message appeared unmistakable. While comparisons to Drake may continue, she wants listeners to recognize her songwriting credits and creative voice on Big Mama.

Rapper Quando Rondo, whose legal name is Tyquian Bowman, has been transferred from federal prison to an Atlanta halfway house after serving approximately 15 months of a 33-month sentence imposed in a federal drug conspiracy case. Multiple sources reported on the rapper’s release on Monday, June 1. Quando Rondo has been released from prison and placed in a Halfway House in Atlanta, Georgia according to records. He’s expected to complete the remainder of his sentence there. His new updated release date is now set to July 26th. pic.twitter.com/eeRtPZIqrb — No Jumper (@nojumper) June 2, 2026 The transfer represents a significant step toward Bowman’s release from federal custody. According to reports, he is expected to complete his sentence on Nov. 11 after spending the remainder of his term in a residential reentry facility. Bowman pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. The plea resolved federal allegations that exposed him to substantially greater penalties. Prosecutors had initially pursued charges carrying a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Rapper Quando Rondo Released Early From Federal Prison To Atlanta Halfway House Following the plea, a federal judge sentenced Bowman to 33 months in custody and ordered him to pay a $44,000 fine. He began serving the sentence at Edgefield Federal Correctional Institution in South Carolina. The Bureau of Prisons later approved his transfer to a halfway house in Atlanta, where he will continue serving the final portion of his sentence while preparing for reentry into the community. During his sentencing hearing, Bowman addressed the court and expressed remorse for the impact of his conduct on his family, friends and hometown. “I really want to give an apology to the city of Savannah and to my family and friends, loved ones, and most of all my daughters for taking all my family and all my loved ones through this stressful point,” Bowman told the court. The statement offered insight into the rapper’s efforts to accept responsibility as he moves through the final phase of his sentence. The court considered the remarks as part of the sentencing proceedings that concluded the federal drug case. With his transfer from prison to an Atlanta halfway house, Bowman has entered the last stage of his federal sentence. The move places him on track for release later this year, closing a significant chapter in the criminal proceedings that led to his incarceration.

Houston rapper Sauce Walka delivers a pre-response to his upcoming official response to Drake and No Jumper’s Adam22 after Walka’s baby mama, Kiley Lossen, released several phone calls in which Walka threatens the 6 God. On Wednesday morning (June 3), Sauce Walka posted a lengthy Instagram message and a three-minute video filmed inside a red Maybach convertible. The clip featured his new song, “Baby Mama Drama,” playing through the speakers as he sat outside a Houston strip mall he says he owns, which includes a tire shop, THC store, and strip club. View this post on Instagram The post arrived days after Sauce Walka’s child’s mother, Kiley Lossen, released alleged leaked phone calls in which the rapper could be heard threatening Drake after learning she had allegedly been involved with the biggest rapper in today’s music. The situation intensified after Drake’s longtime security chief, OVO Chubbs, appeared to dismiss the threats, writing on Instagram, “N***a ain’t gone do nothing.” Rather than back down, Sauce Walka insisted the dispute was never about Kiley Lossen. “I don’t start shit I finish it,” he wrote. He later claimed, “The grease was about @adam22 speaking on the business … never about the .” The rapper directed much of his criticism toward No Jumper founder Adam22, accusing him of discussing private matters publicly. He also suggested Drake had been referencing him in music for years. Sauce Walka Rips Drake, Adam22, & His Baby Mama Kiley Lossen In New Response “Buddy been making ‘Tender Songs’ about me for 4-5 albums yall was just sleep,” Sauce Walka wrote. In the video, he escalated those claims by alleging Drake’s latest music, including the song “Janice STFU,” contains references to him and his relationship with Lossen. “Hey, man, the man just dropped a whole new album, and every song was about me, me, me, baby,” Sauce Walka said. “Yeah, I’m the n***a he talking about.” Referring to lyrics that fans have linked to “Janice STFU,” he added, “That was me from the start.” Sauce Walka also attempted to reframe the threatening comments heard in the leaked recordings. “The threat was never about the pussy,” he said. “The threat is about this white-boy, Adam22, being in the motherf*ckin’ business.” The post quickly drew a response from Adam22, who commented, “You going through it huh?” Sauce Walka fired back almost immediately. “@adam22 I dare to to buy this same car I got in 48hrs from now or u are a poor bum!!” As the fallout continues, Sauce Walka appears determined to turn controversy into promotion. Throughout the video, he repeatedly plugged “Baby Mama Drama.” The latest response intensifies the public feud between Sauce Walka, Drake, Kiley Lossen, and Adam22.

Cassie has left the United States following a $20 million settlement tied to allegations involving Sean “Diddy” Combs. She now says she has no intention of returning, according to TMZ. In a court declaration dated May 1, 2026, filed in an ongoing civil case brought by male escort Clayton Howard, she states, “I reside outside of the United States. I do not intend to move back to the United States.” The filing places her remarks within a separate lawsuit in California. That case continues to move through the courts. The same declaration adds, “I am a citizen of the United States. I am not a resident of the State of California.” Cassie previously lived in New York and was pregnant there when she testified in Diddy’s federal criminal trial last summer. She does not identify where she is currently based. However, she suggests that handling court appearances would be more practical from New York, where her attorneys are located. This is in contrast to California, where the case is being litigated. Howard’s lawsuit centers on allegations that he was hired by Diddy and Cassie for sexual encounters that he claims resulted in significant harm. He alleges he contracted an STD and also asserts that Cassie became pregnant before later having an abortion. Furthermore, Howard was among several escorts who cooperated with federal investigators during Diddy’s criminal proceedings. They provided accounts related to alleged abuse and misconduct. View this post on Instagram Cassie Filing Cites Private Message and $20M Settlement In a recent response filed in the case, Cassie referenced a message Howard allegedly sent to her husband, Alex Fine, in 2023 after she made public allegations against Diddy. The message reads, “I know your wife’s truth is 100% valid as I’m sure you did as well, I would have come forward and I’m glad she got some form of Justice.!” It continues, “A lot of what I saw really bothered me and because homie was f***ed up. But I knew she was in love and wouldn’t leave despite being beaten up and punch in the chest in hotel rooms, choked and forced into shit I don’t wanna embarrass anyone with, I’m dam happy you saved her. … I’m glad she got something probably not near what she deserves.” Separately, reports indicate Cassie received a $20 million settlement from Diddy. She also received roughly $10 million connected to the InterContinental Los Angeles Century Hotel, where surveillance footage allegedly captured an assault in a hallway.

Drake’s public feud with Kendrick Lamar in 2024 continued to send ripples through his professional circle. It reshaped alliances that once appeared stable. Among the most closely watched was his relationship with Playboi Carti, which had previously been defined by sporadic collaboration and mutual anticipation from fans. At one point, Drake was expected to appear on Carti’s album MUSIC. However, that placement never ultimately came together. When the project arrived instead with three Kendrick Lamar features, it signaled a shift. Many listeners read this less as coincidence and more as quiet distance. In the months that followed, any remaining sense of collaboration between Drake and Carti seemed to fade into ambiguity. On Drake’s recent album ICEMAN, some listeners have pointed to lines that they believe reference Carti. The lyrics never name him directly. The speculation has been fueled further by Drake’s increasingly active use of social media. Small interactions have taken on outsized meaning in the absence of clear statements from either side. Drake’s Online Move Fuels Fresh Tension as ICEMAN Dominates Charts One such moment arrived when Drake liked an Instagram post from Gio Ramos, Carti’s former partner. The post showed Ramos in a clip set to “Janice STFU,” a track that has already circulated widely online in its own right. Her breakup with Carti had unfolded publicly, marked by pointed posts, rapid deletions, and a visible distancing between the two. Drake’s engagement with the post was quickly picked up by fans. They interpreted it as more than passive scrolling. Whether intentional or not, the gesture added another layer of tension to an already complicated set of relationships. It also unfolded alongside a period of continued commercial success for Drake. He has remained firmly positioned at the center of streaming and album charts. ICEMAN has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for a second consecutive week, while “Janice STFU” has maintained strong traction across platforms. That contrast—between sustained chart dominance and persistent interpersonal friction—has become a familiar backdrop in Drake’s recent run.

Tory Lanez’s legal fight inside California’s prison system has taken on a new edge. The rapper is now seeking court protection beyond his underlying conviction. He was recently granted a temporary restraining order after alleging that a correctional officer at California Men’s Colony acted in ways he believes threaten his safety. In filings submitted by his attorney, Lanez claims he has faced intimidation tied to separate litigation against the state corrections department. Therefore, a judge approved short-term relief while the broader dispute continues moving through the courts. For now, the process is still in court. The request for protection comes just weeks after Lanez filed a $100 million lawsuit tied to a 2025 prison assault. That attack left him hospitalized with stab wounds and collapsed lungs. His attorneys say a staff member later referenced that incident while discussing a possible housing transfer within the facility. Moreover, they argue that the remark raised concerns he could be moved into conditions that heighten his vulnerability. In addition, they say it extends beyond routine prison administration into urgent safety concerns. Lanez Lawyers Warn of Escalating Retaliation Behind Bars In filings cited by USA Today, attorney Crystal Morgan described an escalating pattern of retaliation inside the facility. “The retaliation, threats, and interference with [Lanez]’s access to the courts are ongoing, immediate, andescalating, and they place [Lanez] at risk of further injury before the Court can hear the matter on full notice,” she wrote. “The conduct at issue is an ongoing threat to [Lanez]’s safety. Such a harm cannot be undone by a later judgment or through money damages.” Her filing argues the situation cannot be addressed through later damages or standard review. Tory Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence after his 2020 conviction in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. His attorneys continue to challenge his confinement and seek limits on contact with the officer named in the complaint. They are also requesting preservation of prison records they say may be relevant as the case develops.

Daphne Joy is once again the subject of intense online discussion after an alleged sex tape involving her and Sean “Diddy” Combs surfaced on social media. As speculation spread across multiple platforms, Joy appeared to acknowledge the attention in her own way, sharing a lighthearted question-and-answer teaser with followers on Instagram. The first question posed in the clip was simple and provocative: “Does size really matter?” She never actually answered it. Instead, viewers who wanted more were directed to her OnlyFans account through a post on her Instagram Story. The timing was notable, arriving just as conversations surrounding the alleged video were accelerating online. Reports have linked the footage to Joy, the imprisoned music executive and adult film performer Sly Diggler, although many details remain unclear. The situation quickly drew a response from 50 Cent, who shares a son, Sire, with Joy. Writing on Instagram, the rapper focused less on the allegations themselves and more on how the controversy could affect their child. “She’s not a victim, SIRE is,” he wrote. “Can you imagine going to eighth grade to find out this is your mom.” Daphne Joy Speaks Out on Alleged Tape, Calls Relationship ‘Far From Love’ He later appeared to question the broader circumstances surrounding custody. “The court system in LA thinks it’s fine,” he added. His comments soon became part of the wider online debate that has accompanied the alleged leak. On Monday, Joy offered her own account of the situation in a lengthy statement. “Everybody plays the fool sometime, and I have been the biggest fool,” she wrote. “I just wanted my man at the time to be happy and satisfied… I wanted to fulfill all his desires. Even if that meant breaking my own boundaries. I deeply loved him… and I believed he loved me too. It’s still so painful for me to process the harsh reality and truth of that relationship, but as time passes and in my quiet moments, I realize that it was far from love.” Joy also stated that she “never consented” to being recorded and alleged that the footage was later used in an effort to extort money. She was reportedly involved with Diddy between 2021 and his 2024 arrest. When the alleged recording was made, however, remains unknown.

A$AP Rocky is opening up about the lingering trauma following a targeted shooting at his family’s Beverly Hills home earlier this year. In an emotional interview, the Harlem-born artist detailed the moment multiple gunshots struck his property while he was inside with his partner, Rihanna, and their three young children. The incident, which occurred in March, has significantly impacted the family’s sense of security. Rocky expressed frustration over the violation of his home, stating it was “f** up” that someone would intentionally try to harm his family. He explained that the violent encounter stripped away the simple peace and happiness that comes with feeling free in one’s own residence. Authorities identified and charged Ivanna Lisette Ortiz in connection with the attack. Prosecutors have leveled charges of attempted murder and multiple felony gun violations against Ortiz. While she has appeared in court and insisted that she “wasn’t attempting murder,” evidence showed several bullets struck the mansion while the high-profile couple and their children—RZA, Riot Rose, and Rocki—were present. Despite the gravity of the legal situation, Rocky used a new interview with VIBE to reflect on his roots and how his perspective on violence has shifted over time. He reminisced about attending community cookouts in Harlem during his youth, where safety was never guaranteed. He noted that in the old days, a gathering rarely lasted more than an hour before “motherf** start shooting.” Now a father of three, the rapper noted a change in the atmosphere of his hometown. He joked that the individuals who used to cause trouble have since grown up and entered parenthood, much like himself. This evolution has inspired him to plan a massive summer cookout in Harlem, aiming to reclaim the community joy that was once frequently interrupted by violence. The rapper’s reflections come as he and Rihanna continue to navigate the demands of global stardom and family life. Rihanna previously shared her own harrowing account of the evening, describing the terror of the shooting while the family was asleep. The couple has remained focused on their children in the months following the incident, recently celebrating Mother’s Day and showcasing new tattoos designed by their kids. As the legal proceedings against Ortiz move forward, A$AP Rocky remains focused on his upcoming musical projects and community initiatives. He emphasized the importance of maintaining his creative drive and providing a safe environment for his children, despite the challenges posed by the March shooting. Ortiz remains in custody as her case progresses through the court system.

Daphne Joy takes advantage of the viral attention surrounding the alleged leaked video involving Sean “Diddy” Combs and adult performer Sly Diggler by posting her own mature content on Instagram. The model, content creator, and mother of 50 Cent’s son shared a lengthy statement on June 1 addressing the controversy. Although the post was later deleted, it quickly circulated across social media as fans debated both the allegations and Joy’s response. Rather than focusing on the viral attention surrounding the alleged footage, Joy centered her message on consent, emotional trauma, and personal healing. “Everybody plays the fool sometime, and I have been the biggest fool,” she wrote. “I just wanted my man at the time to be happy and satisfied.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daphne Joy (@daphnejoy) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daphne Joy (@daphnejoy) Joy described the relationship as one built on what she believed was love, only to later reach a different conclusion. “I deeply loved him,” she continued. “I believed he loved me too. It’s still so painful for me to process the harsh reality and truth of that relationship.” The most significant claim in her statement involved the circumstances surrounding the alleged recording itself. “The recent leak was a tape I never consented to being filmed on,” Joy wrote, adding that she first learned about its existence when contacted by a media outlet. She said the experience left her overwhelmed, describing it as “the first time I ever fainted in my life.” Daphne Joy Drops Several NSFW IG Posts After Hip-Hop Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs & Sly Digger Sextape Leaked Joy closed the statement with a message focused on reclaiming her sense of self. “I am precious, I am special, I am worthy,” she wrote. “This is the first time that I have ever felt a part of my own body and that my body belongs to me.” Hours later, Joy returned to Instagram with a pair of posts that drew immediate attention. One featured a playful “Q&A Time!” caption asking, “Does Size Really Matter?” Another was set to Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed,” a song often associated with dismissing critics and unwanted attention. Meanwhile, Sly Diggler also addressed the controversy on social media. “Honestly I didn’t want that vid leaked out there like that but it’s out of my control now,” he wrote. Together, the statements suggest that both Joy and Diggler are distancing themselves from the video’s public release. They are attempting to navigate the fallout from a controversy that continues to dominate online conversation.