Lil Rod’s lawsuit against Diddy has taken a significant turn with the removal of two prominent figures. Diddy’s son, Justin Combs, and actor Cuba Gooding Jr. are no longer part of the case, which centers on serious allegations. Lil Rod has alleged Combs’ involvement in a sex trafficking ring and suggested that either he or his father may have played a part in a shooting at a recording studio. The lawsuit also names Gooding Jr., who is accused of sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident aboard Diddy’s yacht. The court dismissed the claims after Lil Rod’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, failed to meet the deadlines for submitting key legal documents. The judge found Blackburn’s explanation for the delay unconvincing and denied his request to serve the defendants via newspaper ads. Despite the dismissal of the claims, Lil Rod retains the option to reintroduce them in court at a later time. Judge Dismisses Key Claims, But Sex Trafficking Allegations Remain In a separate part of the lawsuit, Diddy succeeded in having several allegations dismissed. His legal team filed motions last year to challenge specific aspects of the case, and Judge J. Paul Oetken agreed, dismissing certain claims. In March, a court ruling resulted in the dismissal of civil racketeering and breach of contract charges, with the judge determining that Lil Rod’s allegations failed to show any harm linked to a violation of the RICO Act. Similarly, claims regarding unpaid labor for Diddy’s The Love Album: Off the Grid were deemed unrelated to racketeering activities. Yet, despite these dismissals, the case still includes unresolved allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and premises liability.

During a recent exchange with fans, Young Thug offered a brief but tantalizing update on his upcoming album, Uy Scuti, saying it’s slated for release in June 2025—though he held back from naming an exact date. Fresh off the release of Money on Money, his new collaboration with Future, the track taps into Thug’s trademark intensity—but it’s the sharp-edged lyrics, not just the slick production, that are fueling the conversation. Listeners were quick to pick up on lyrics that seemed aimed at Gunna, referencing both their strained relationship and the shadow cast by the YSL RICO case. In the hook, he raps, “These f* n-ggas tellin’ for nothin’, and I gotta be the one callin’ ’em friends,”* before delivering a pointed line: “Brother, you a rat (My brother).” In a GQ interview, Thug was asked about his relationship with a YSL affiliate accused of working with law enforcement. His answer was intentionally vague: “I know everybody wonders [what our relationship is like now]. I don’t know.” YOUNG THUG UY SCUTI(ALBUM) JUNE 2025 pic.twitter.com/RCsGTY0Z3d — Kurrco (@Kurrco) May 6, 2025 Young Thug’s Album Preview: Loyalty, Love, and the Weight of Fame Despite Gunna’s repeated denials of any wrongdoing or cooperation with authorities, recent lyrics from Young Thug suggest a different story. In a short clip posted to his Instagram, Thug raps, “Never associate with a rat / Go and get some money, get a pack,” indirectly reinforcing his stance without naming anyone explicitly. A new preview from the highly anticipated album hints at a more intimate exploration of Thug’s personal life, focusing on his relationship with singer Mariah The Scientist. In a clip from Instagram Live, Thug sits in an empty bathtub, rapping, “I told her I won’t cheat again / Took her up the [inaudible] Benz / I’m on a million dollar streak again.” Mariah makes a quick appearance, playfully asking about food while casually checking in on the stream. With Uy Scuti on the horizon, Young Thug appears ready to use this album as a reflection of both the world around him and his personal journey through loyalty, relationships, and the heavy burden of fame. It’s shaping up to be a project as emotionally intense as it is sonically daring.

Dawn Staley’s legacy is forever immortalized on the campus with a statue in her honor,” the Lexington Chronicle reported. During what the state has called “Staley Month”, the statue is a celebration of Staley’s impact as a coach, leader, advocate, and inspiration to future generations. ⁠The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer hopes that the tribute will inspire young girls to learn about her journey and pursue their own dreams boldly. At the ceremony, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann called for the removal of the tarp and a Gamecock flag that revealed the likeness of Staley.  The 14-foot, 1,000-pound statue shows Staley on top of a ladder cutting down the championship as she rocks a Gamecock hat.  In an official statement, the city paid tribute to Staley for her remarkable tenure as Women’s Basketball coach. “The City of Columbia, in partnership with the Statues for Equality and generous community partners, is proud to unveil a statue honoring the legendary Dawn Staley, an icon whose impact reaches far beyond the basketball court,” the statement read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) “This tribute celebrates not only her championship legacy as a coach and player, but also her unwavering commitment to leadership, community empowerment, and uplifting future generations,” the statement went on. ‘Dawn Staley’s influence continues to inspire both on and off the court, and this statue stands as a lasting symbol of excellence, resilience, and pride for Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina.” “I agreed to the statue, not for me, but for the girl who will walk by one day and wonder who I was. Maybe she’ll look me up. She’ll see that I did some things in basketball, of course, but I hope she sees much more,” Staley said during the unveiling ceremony. “I hope she sees that I was a champion for equity and equality. That, in my own way, I pushed for change. That I stood proudly in the space God called me to inhabit, not as someone perfect or extraordinary, but as a regular girl who used her gifts to open doors so other girls wouldn’t have to knock as hard.” According to Sierra Rooney, a professor of art history at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, only 6% of statues in the United States are of real women. When Staley caught wind of this, she fully understood how significantly a statue could inspire generations to come. “When women aren’t represented, half the population is left out of the retelling of history and the many accomplishments women have had in shaping the world,” Staley said.  Since taking over the Gamecocks program in 2008, Staley has led the squad to three national titles and seven Final Four appearances. She’s also achieved seven 30-win seasons and nine SEC tournament championships. 

Michelle Obama is taking her mental health seriously. Appearing on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, with her brother Craig Robinson, her co-hosts on the IMO podcast, the former First Lady revealed that she needed therapy as a “tune-up” as she moves through the next phase of her life. “At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning,” Obama said. Obama went on to acknowledge that she completed “a really hard thing” by keeping her family “intact,” as President Barack Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha have been in the public eye for almost two decades. For the first time in years, she can make decisions just for herself. “I’m an empty nester, my girls are in…you know, they’ve been launched,” Obama said. “And now, for the first time, as I’ve said before, every choice that I’m making is completely mine.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jay Shetty (@jayshettypodcast) “I  now don’t have the excuse of, ‘Well, my kids need this’ or ‘My husband needs that’ or ‘The country needs that,’” she said.”So, how do I think about this next phase? And let me get some help. Let me unwind some old habits. Let me sort through some old guilt that I’ve been carrying around. Let me talk about how my relationship with my mother has affected how I think about things.” She’s also grieving the loss of her mother, Marian Robinson, who passed away last May at 86 years old. “So I’m getting that tuneup for this next phase because I believe this is a whole other phase in life for me,” Mrs. Obama said, adding that she considers therapy “coaching” and that she’s an “advocate” for it.

After being found not guilty of felony assault in February, A$AP Rocky has desribed his experience as “traumatic.” In a new Variety cover story, Rocky shared that the trial brought emotions such as betrayal, which he addresses on his highly anticipated album, Don’t Be Dumb. “I’m writing about these past four or five years that I had this over me, and it’s been kind of handicapping me,” Rocky said. “I think I had trust issues for a while now. I can’t necessarily blame it on my last situation,” he continued. “But what I did learn is you’ve gotta accept that everybody’s not good people; you’re not gonna run into a solid person every time. Not everybody’s gonna handle situations like you.” “Once you accept that you’re not responsible for nobody’s actions but yours … That’s where I’m at — like, yo, focus on your own actions. Because I ain’t perfect. I’m human too, and we all f**k up,” he added. He also spoke about why he rejected a plea deal that would have given him a prison sentence of 180 days. He faced a maximum of 24 years if would have been convicted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Variety (@variety) “You got to stop yourself from thinking like that. Because that could get the best of you, and you can manifest that energy by mistake. I tried to stay positive at all times,” Rocky explained. Now that his legal troubles are behind him, Rocky is making major moves as a co-star along with Denzel Washington on  Spike Lee’s newest film, Highest 2 Lowest, and he’s expecting his third child with Rihanna. “I got Cannes to go to. I got an album to make. I got fashion shows to do. I got music to make. I got videos. I got sneakers to drop. I got glasses to be the new creative director of. I got children. I got all type of sh*t,” he said. “Like, nah, why would I dwell on that dark-a** shit? I talk about it from time to time, but for the most part, I don’t really think about that shit.”

Jay-Z is pushing back hard in court against attorney Tony Buzbee, following the dismissal of a rape lawsuit filed against him earlier this year. The music mogul has been fighting to sue Buzbee for defamation since March, and he just filed a new amendment that lays out major financial losses tied to what he calls a “false, malicious lie.” According to documents obtained by Live Bitez, Jay-Z claims he lost over $200 million due to the now-dropped lawsuit. The breakdown includes a $20 million loss in sports and entertainment deals, a $55 million personal credit line, and a $115 million loan that reportedly fell through. “The full fee would have been many millions higher had the contract been performed,” the documents note. Jay’s claims of financial fallout began surfacing just a week after the anonymous woman dropped her lawsuit in February. In a previous filing, Jay stated, “Mr. Buzbee’s actions undermined my relationship, and my company Roc Nation’s relationship, with other businesses in the sports and entertainment space.” He added, “Immediately after Mr. Buzbee went public with his false accusations, my company Roc Nation also lost other contracts… that would have generated revenues of approximately $20 million per year.” The new filing also takes aim at Doe, the anonymous accuser, citing a TikTok she allegedly posted where she lip-synched, “You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to get an apology video out of me… f*** you.” Jay’s team says this shows “a shocking and reckless disregard for the truth that is both intentional and malicious.” Jay-Z also accused Buzbee’s law firm of editing Wikipedia pages to boost Buzbee’s image and damage Roc Nation’s. Buzbee fired back, saying, “That’s laughable and super weak. I don’t have anything to do with Wikipedia and haven’t looked at it in years.”

Lauryn Hill made a striking first-ever appearance at the 2025 Met Gala, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about looks of the night. The legendary singer turned heads in a pale yellow, sculptural suit that perfectly captured the evening’s theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The event, co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, aimed to spotlight Black menswear and the elegance of Black dandyism. As Pharrell told E! News, “It’s just given us an opportunity and platform to celebrate that really amazing, powerful color of Black. Here’s a moment where we get to celebrate the people—Black people—and with dandyism.” Hill, 49, embraced that spirit wholeheartedly. Her dramatic outfit featured a double-breasted suit jacket with a bold, crown-like cape that curved above her afro and flowed into a sweeping train. She paired the look with wide-leg pants, a crisp white button-down shirt, a burgundy tie, and an amber pendant necklace. To complete her ensemble, she accessorized with large gold earrings, burgundy sunglasses, and a blue Hermés Kelly bag. Additionally, she had a matching gold-encrusted fan and umbrella. Her makeup and hair were just as bold. She coordinated her bright blue eyeshadow with her handbag and wore a deep purple lipstick for added flair. The look not only marked her first-ever Met Gala look but also her first red carpet appearance in nearly a year. The evening served as a fundraiser for the Costume Institute. It also celebrated the new spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” According to the museum, the exhibit explores Black fashion and dandyism from the 18th century to now. Hill’s maximalist, tailored ensemble was a standout tribute to the theme. It served as a powerful reminder of her iconic influence. This influence extends both in music and in fashion.

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are reunited, and it feels so good. The Oscar-winning actor and the Oscar-winning director have released the first trailer for their A24 and Apple crime thriller, Highest 2 Lowest. After premiering later this month at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is set to be released in theaters on August 22 and stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept. 5. Previously, the two industry titans worked together on Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992), He Got Game (1998), and Inside Man  (2006). In the Highest 2 Lowest, Lee reinterprets Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller based on the Ed McBain novel “King’s Ransom,” about the ruin of a businessman who pays a ransom to kidnappers. The film begins production this March with a script written by Lee and  Alan Fox. Lee will also serve as executive producer through his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks.  At the Red Sea Film Festival, Lee spoke about his highly anticipated film. “One of the best things about film school is that you get introduced to world cinema, not just Hollywood,” Lee said. “Seeing Kurosawa’s film ‘Rashomon’ and its structure inspired me to make ‘She’s Gotta Have It.’ In ‘Rashomon,’ you have three people who witness a rape, and each gives their own opinion of what happened. In ‘She’s Gotta Have It,’ Nola Darling has three boyfriends who each see her in a different way. From the very beginning of my career, I was influenced by Kurosawa.” During an appearance on Wave Original’s 7 PM In Brooklyn featuring Carmelo Anthony, Lee shared why he cast A$AP Rocky in one of the starring roles. “What’s funny is that I was looking at Instagram, four or five years ago, and people were saying that ASAP [Rocky] looked like he’s Denzel’s son,” Lee explained. “I seen those memes, and then in the film we used that. ASAP, man, he fire.” “I mean, there’s some scenes where he and Denzel Washington head to head–he ain’t backing up. Like I’m here too. So very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing it with the world.”

Rihanna is reportedly pregnant with her third child with A$AP Rocky. The Grammy-winning winger and billionaire business mogul was seen in photos with her alleged baby bump in anticipation of her arrival at the 2025 Met Gala. Congrats to Rihanna and A$AP Rocky on expecting their third child together. pic.twitter.com/sAzPrFqdAU — Rap Alert (@rapalert6) May 5, 2025 At another highly publicized event, Super Bowl LVII, Rihanna announced her second pregnancy as the headliner for the halftime show. Rubbing her belly during the performance,  millions watching across the globe concluded that she was pregnant. Following the game,  she confirmed she was but admitted she didn’t intend to reveal she was with child. “Here’s the thing. I did what I had to do, right? My jumper couldn’t zip up,” she said to the outlet. “No one knew I was pregnant. I just told my stylist, ‘Make sure it’s stretchy.’” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oprah Daily (@oprahdaily) “So the undergarment was stretchy and this was baggy, but you know, the zip. It just stopped right there! So it had to be what it had to be,” she continued. Currently, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are parents to two boys: RZA, 2, and Riot, 1.  The Fenty founder told Interview in April 2024 that she is not against growing her family.  “I don’t know what God wants, but I would go for more than two,’ she told Interview in April 202,” she explained. “I would try for my girl. But, of course, if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.”

Malia Obama is bringing all the vibes as a filmmaker in the world of sports. The eldest daughter of former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama sat behind the camera as the director for videos of A’ja Wilson’s new Nike shoe, A’ One. Obama was the visionary behind two videos tied to the WNBA star’s new signature shoe for the brand, the A’One, set to drop on Tuesday, May 6. During one of the videos, a young girl teaches Wilson how to play a remixed version of “Miss Mary Mack” that pays tribute to her remarkable career. “A’ja Wilson’s on top, top, top,” the girl sings. “Can’t take her spot, spot, spot.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) A’ja Wilson struggles with her clapping skills, “Girl, let me show you how a professional does it,” the kid jokes at one point as Wilson finally gets it. Dawn Staley, Wilson’s former coach at the University of South Carolina, makes a cameo in the video. In the second video, Wilson is being interviewed at Big T’s Bar-B-Que in Columbia, South Carolina, the city of her birth, and where she would go on to win an NCAA championship with the Gamecocks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) During a session with media in February, Wilson shared her excitement about the release of her first signature shoe “The A’One is meant to go the distance, taking control from the jump and dominating the floor on every play,” Wilson says. “From the beginning, we designed the shoe to both support my game and to provide young hoopers a tool to help them level up. The A’One aces that assignment, delivering exactly what I need to push my performance and inspiring the next generation to give it their all on every play.” “When athletes wear my shoe or any of the pieces from my collection, I want them to feel the power behind that logo: the power to dream big, then put in the work — in style and confidence,” Wilson continued. The Nike A’One will be available at nike.com on Tuesday, May 6.