On Saturday (May 24), TMZ reported that Ja Rule traded his gritty bars for tears while walking his daughter, Brittney Atkins down the aisle. Atkins is the eldest child of Ja’s three children, whom he shares with his wife Asia. In the touching photos and videos shared by TMZ, dozens of family and friends gathered at the lavish affair to celebrate Brittney’s happy union. During a 2019 interview with PEOPLE, Ja Rule opened up about what parenthood looks like for him. “I want my kids to run to me, not from me…And I tell them all the time, it’s three people in the world you cannot lie to… your doctor, your lawyer, and me, good old dad.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by JaRule (@jarule) He added, “Because I’m the one that’s going to get you out of it, whatever it may be. I have your best interests at heart.” The rapper also shared the emotional moment with his fans in an Instagram post. On a more sour note, following Irv Gotti’s unexpected passing, Ja Rule offered a touching tribute at his funeral held a few weeks back. “I just wanna say Irv I love you,” Ja said at the podium. “Everyone in this room loves you. You touched everybody in your own way in this room. I know everyone has their moments… so we’re all here in celebration of your life because it will live on forever. I love you, my brother. I’ll see you when I get there.” According to TMZ, alumni of Gotti’s Muder Inc., such as  Vita, Ashanti, Lloyd, and Charli Baltimore. Also, JAY-Z, Fat Joe, Hype Williams, Steve Stoute, and Benny Boom paid their final respects to Gotti.

On Saturday (May 24), Lizzo dropped her remix to PlutoNotDaBratt’s viral “Whim Whamie” track. The Grammy Award winner also shared a short visual on her Instagram. The clip starts with Lizzo outside her home, rocking flowy, blond tresses and a two-piece from her Yitty brand. Along with showing off her slimmed-down frame, she offers some fiery bars. “B*tch its Lizzo/Call me Lizzy/” she raps. “I been fat and I been skinny/ B*tches still ain’t f*ckin with me.” That said, the track has yet to hit streaming platforms, much to the chagrin of her fans. PlutoNotDaBratt is an up-and-coming artist based in Atlanta. A few weeks back, she released her now-viral single, “Whim Whammie,” featuring YK Niece, a rising star on the Atlanta rap scene. Prior to Lizzo, Sexxy Red dropped off her remix with Pluto and YK Niece. Latto recently revealed that she was supposed to jump on the remix with Pluto and YK first— however, she refused to clear her verse due to alleged drama behind the scenes. Lizzo remixes Pluto and YK Niece’s “WHIM WHAMIEE.” pic.twitter.com/i2pelqp0KZ — Rap Alert (@rapalert6) May 24, 2025 Lizzo Opens Up About Mental Health After Having A Breakdown In other news, Lizzo opened up about her ongoing mental health struggles and how to cope. On May 21st, the Grammy winner shared a personal post on Instagram, reminding her followers that it’s okay not to be okay. In the photo, Lizzo is seen smiling in a T-shirt that reads “God’s sexiest soldier” and a hat from her Yitty shapewear brand. But her caption revealed a much heavier emotional state. “My crashouts about the world are valid. And so are yours,” she began. She went on to describe how she broke down earlier that day. “I was bawling in bed… I cancelled my workout… I was driving around sobbing because some days I just can’t take it. This shit ain’t easy for anybody,” she shared. Lizzo also expressed compassion for anyone else feeling overwhelmed. “I have grace for everyone who feels like they’re going insane… for everyone who feels like nothing is good enough… for everyone who feels like they failed… I FEEL YOU,” she wrote. She ended on an encouraging note, adding, “But I’m still here, and so are you.”

Jamie Foxx said that Bobby Brown once went through his closet in search of a tape. Appearing on the latest episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Stand-Up Roundtable, Foxx, who was joined by Sarah Silverman, Seth Meyers, Roy Wood Jr., and others, shared an unbelievable night he spent with Brown and a group of friends. “One night, me and Bobby Brown, we’re doing our thing, we’re f**ked up, and we’re doing ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ Foxx recalled “So, we’re partying, and I say, ‘I got to use the bathroom,’” the Oscar winner continued. “And while I’m in the bathroom, I hear, “Now, Jamie, let me tell you something, I don’t do this for nobody. I usually get a million dollars to sing a song.” Foxx went on to explain that it was Whitney Houston who started singing “I Will Always Love You,” and he grabbed his camera to record it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hollywood Reporter (@hollywoodreporter) “So now I got the tape, I go back to my crib, we’re having a little afterparty, and all of a sudden I hear this (knock, knock, knock) … It’s Bobby Brown,” Foxx explained. “He’s like, ‘I got to take that tape,’” added Foxx. “I said, ‘Bobby, I don’t have it.’” “‘Well, I got to take something.’ So, he goes into my closet, and he’s taking clothes. He’s matching outfits and shit,’” alleged Foxx. Foxx admitted that he’s still in possession of the footage that Brown so desperately wanted — but he has no intention of sharing it with the public.. “I have the tape,” explained Foxx. “But it doesn’t mean anything anymore. Why? YouTube.” Elsewhere during the discussion, Foxx shared how he felt when people said he had a clone after he recovered from a stroke.  “When they said I was a clone, that made me flip. I’m sitting in the hospital bed, like, ‘These bitch-ass muthaf**kas are trying to clone me,’” Foxx said.

Sacha Jenkins, one of the most renowned and beloved creatives in hip-hop culture, has passed away.  Jenkins’ passing was confirmed by several posts on social media. “WTF…..Dammit. Sacha was one of the writers who influenced my era of writers and journalists in the late ’90s. May he rest in power,” wrote noted journalist Keith Murphy on X (formerly Twitter). WTF…..Dammit. Sacha was one of the writers that influenced my era of writers and journalists in the late ’90s. May he rest in power. https://t.co/V8QM6KPXoD — Keith Murphy (@murphdogg29) May 23, 2025 Born in Philadelphia but raised in Queens, as a teenager, Jenkins published Graphic Scenes & X-Plicit Language, one of the earliest ‘zines that chronicled the art of graffiti. In 1992, Jenkins and childhood friend Haji Akhigbade established Beat-Down Newspaper, a very early hip-hop newspaper. In 1994, Jenkins co-founded ego trip, an influential magazine, along with fellow hip-hop journalist Elliot Wilson. Although only 13 issues of the zine were published over a four-year period, the brand spawned books, ego trip’s Book of Rap Lists, and even a TV show, ego trip’s The White Rapper Show, that aired on VH1. In 2005, he wrote season one of Aaron McGruder’s hit series The Boondocks. In 2011, Jenkins was executive producer of “50 Cent: The Origin of Me” — a documentary that traces the genealogy of rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. From 1997 and 2000, Jenkins was the music editor of Vibe magazine, and he penned articles and features for Spin magazine, Rolling Stone, and many more. As a prolific filmmaker, he directed 50 Cent: The Origin of Me (2011), Fresh Dressed (2015), Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, (2019), Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021), Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain, the Biz Markie doc All Up in the Biz (2023), Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2022) and many more.  At the time of his passing, he was the creative director of Mass Appeal magazine.  We at HOT97 extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sacha Jenkins.

Kanye West has publicly expressed his disapproval of Kid Cudi’s recent testimony against Sean “Diddy” Combs in the ongoing federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial.  In a tweet posted earlier today, West stated, “I wish Cudi hadn’t testified against Puff. We need to not be locked in white systems. Praying for Puff and his family.” Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, took the stand on May 22, 2025, detailing a series of incidents from 2011. He testified that after he began a relationship with Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s then-girlfriend, Combs allegedly broke into his home and later orchestrated the firebombing of his Porsche using a Molotov cocktail.  Cudi described a subsequent confrontation where Combs exhibited a menacing demeanor, likening him to a “Marvel supervillain.” Following his testimony, Cudi expressed relief, stating, “I’ve been seeing all the love and support. I just wanna say thank you so much, man… This is a stressful situation. I’m glad it’s behind me.”  View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOT 97 (@hot97) Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He remains in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

Shaquille O’Neal has explained why he had to run off the set during an episode of TNT’s Inside The NBA. During a live broadcast of the show, Shaq suddenly ran off the studio set with a bathroom emergency. Co-hosts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson shared a good laugh at Shaq’s expense as the clip went viral on social media. In an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Shaq gave his side of the story. “I was drinking a lot of water that day, so I know I had the No. 2 run, but it was really a No. 1, let’s just get that out the way,” O’Neal said, adding he had been drinking a lot of olive oil. “What is going on? And why were you drinking olive oil?” Fallon asked. “I’m drinking olive oil because I want to be sexy. That’s what it said on Instagram, it said if you drink olive oil for 14 days, it’ll clear stuff out and you’ll get yourself a flat stomach,” O’Neal said. “So, I was trying it.” Shaq then revealed that he wasn’t being honest with Fallon. “It wasn’t a No. 1 run, it was a No. 2 run. I had to go bad. Oh, I had to go so bad! I had to go so bad,” Shaq said.  “Did you see me squeeze my butt cheeks when I was running?,” he continued. Then Fallon showed the audience a photo of what took place on Inside the NBA the next day. Producers brought out a portable toilet next to the co-host’s desk just in case Shaq had another emergency during the show. Fallon noted that’s why the acclaimed sports show. “I like it because I never know what’s going to happen,” Fallon said. “Nothing’s predictable.”

Angela Simmons has sparked breakup rumors after sharing a cryptic message on social media, leading fans to believe her relationship with rapper Yo Gotti has come to an end. Although neither Simmons nor Yo Gotti has released an official statement, Simmons shared a message via Instagram reading, “I want. What wants me in life. In all areas. What flows FLOWS. What goes GOES.” The pair, who made their relationship public in early 2023, have both removed photos of each other from their social media profiles. “Ain’t no way he manifested that relationship and now they not together WTHELLY” reacted one fan to post TheShadeRoom shared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) The couple seemingly confirmed their relationship in 2022 after they shared pictures traveling together.. By January 2023, Simmons publicly expressed her joy, noting she was “happier than ever.” That September, Gotti marked Simmons’ 37th birthday with lavish gifts—including a luxury watch, an Hermès Birkin bag, and a romantic getaway—further showcasing the strength of their bond.

As the war on women’s reproductive rights continues, Planned Parenthood with the support of over 250 high-profile celebrities —with one being Grammy-Award winning rapper, Megan Thee Stallion— is fighting back. The Houston native was just one of the hundreds of celebrities, activists, and entertainers who signed their names to a statement that reads, “I’m for Planned Parenthood,” in a letter published as a full-page ad in The New York Times and shared on the nonprofit’s website. “Over 250 artists, activists, athletes, and business leaders support Planned Parenthood’s mission. All across the country, nearly 600 nonprofit health centers provide the care communities need and deserve,” the statement reads. Other high-profile signees included Lin-Manuel Miranda, Billy Porter, Danielle Brooks, Gabrielle Union, George Lopez, Jack Antonoff, Jimmy Kimmel, Kerry Washington, Roxane Gay, Shonda Rhimes, and Tatyana Ali. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 16: Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2024 Planned Parenthood Gala on April 16, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Marleen Moise/WireImage) Megan Thee Stallion Teams Up With Walmart For Swimwear Brand In other news, Megan Thee Stallion isn’t just an award-winning rapper she’s also a savvy businesswoman. A few weeks back, the rapper unveiled her latest business endeavor, Hot Girl Swim. In partnership with Walmart, Megan is bringing the hotties some pool-side attire complete with a bright and colorful assortment of bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, and more. “Everyone knows I love being near a pool or a beach, so I finally decided to turn my passion into a business and create my own swimwear brand,” the rapper said in a press release. The initial collection became available on May 19 and is being sold at nearly 500 Walmart stores across the U.S. The collection includes 18 unique, size-inclusive pieces ranging from $16 to $28. The swimwear line will also be available on Walmart.com and the rapper’s website. Hot Girl Swim is just one of the rapper’s latest business ventures. Back in February, Megan Thee Stallion launched a tequila brand, Chicas Divertidas. “As someone who values good vibes and great memories, I knew I wanted to create a tequila that was designed to be shared and savored with my Hotties,” Megan told PEOPLE. “Smooth, sultry, and premium. This process has been years in the making, and I’m so proud to take this next step in my journey as an entrepreneur and launch this brand.”

Tina Knowles was overjoyed after witnessing a heartfelt moment between Beyoncé and her granddaughter Rumi Carter during the first night of the Cowboy Carter tour in Rutherford, New Jersey on May 22nd. Rumi, who often joins her mother and sister Blue Ivy onstage during the performance of “Protector,” shared a touching exchange with Beyoncé that Tina captured on video. In the clip, Rumi wears a white coat that matches Beyoncé’s. As the two stand together while Blue Ivy and the dancers perform behind them, Rumi sings along to “Dangerously in Love.” Beyoncé smiles warmly and kisses her daughter on the head before Blue gently guides Rumi off stage. Tina, proud and emotional, wrote alongside the video, “My beautiful grandbaby Rumi singing with her mom and wearing a matching coat is the cutest moment ever.” Rumi’s appearances throughout the tour have caught fans’ attention, and Tina recently opened up about her granddaughter’s reaction to performing. During a May 19 stop of her Matriarch book tour in Brooklyn, Tina shared, “You know my granddaughter Rumi told me, I said, ‘How do you feel when you wave and everybody screams?’ She said, ‘It feels powerful.’ I was like, ‘Oh. I see what you mean.’” Tina also cleared up a viral moment from the tour when Rumi reached for Beyoncé’s microphone during a speech. Many thought Tina was scolding her, but she explained that she simply wanted to speak. “She was pulling,” Tina said. “I was like, ‘Oh God, that’s all that needs to happen is that the mic hits her in the face, and they say Beyoncé hit her in the face.’” Despite the close call, Tina said being out front and watching the performance was exciting. She called the entire moment “special.”

While Diddy continues to face serious legal battles in court, his twin daughters, Jessie and D’Lila, took a well-deserved moment to focus on something positive: their high school graduation. The last several months have been incredibly difficult for the Combs family. Since Diddy’s arrest in September on charges tied to alleged sex trafficking and racketeering, his children have stood by him during court proceedings. His trial finally began last week, bringing emotional testimonies from people close to him, including Cassie, Dawn Richard, and Kid Cudi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Despite the weight of the situation, Jessie and D’Lila were recently able to step away from the courtroom and celebrate finishing high school. Photos and videos shared by The Shade Room captured the moment. The teens looked proud as they walked across the stage, with their siblings there to show support. Their mother, Kim Porter, passed away in 2018. Diddy was not present due to his legal troubles. Still, their family made sure they were surrounded by love. Many fans expressed joy in seeing the girls honored for their hard work. This was especially meaningful given the stress they’ve been under lately. Their future holds a lot of promise, even as their father’s fate hangs in the balance. Diddy is currently fighting serious allegations, including claims made by Kid Cudi in court. According to Cudi, Diddy once broke into his home after learning he was dating Cassie. By the time Cudi arrived, the house was empty. He also testified that someone destroyed his Porsche with a Molotov cocktail. Cudi has long suspected that Diddy may have been responsible. “He said he always suspected that Diddy could have allegedly had something to do with it. When confronted, Diddy allegedly denied it.” The legal outcome remains to be seen, but for now, Jessie and D’Lila have something to celebrate.