Terence “Bud” Crawford went viral over the weekend after an alleged ex-girlfriend, Lavern Crump, shared several videos of her run-in with the retired undefeated boxing star at Claressa Shields versus Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit. Omaha radio personality Lavern Crump posted a series of Instagram videos on Feb. 25 addressing a verbal altercation with Crawford before the fight. In clips circulated online, Crawford stands near ringside seats smiling, shrugging his shoulders and folding his arms while looking directly at Crump as she speaks toward him. Crump disputed the narrative that emerged from what she described as a brief viral clip. “I really hate that I have to come on here to defend myself,” she wrote. “The fact that everyone took a 10 second clip and came up with their own version of what happened is insane.” View this post on Instagram She alleged Crawford approached her after initially being “way across the room.” Crump claims he “decided to come back to further taunt me.” Crump said her passport was inside the Louis Vuitton bag and called his behavior “a damn donkey.” She also criticized Crawford for “allowing his son to get in grown folks business,” saying children should not “talk reckless to adults.” Crump denied accusations that she was stalking the former welterweight champion, adding sarcastically, “I don’t care what ya’ll say he loves me and I love him… I’m just kidding.” Larven Crump, Alleged Terence “Bud” Crawford Ex, Exchange Words At Claressa Shields Fight In Detroit In a second post, Crump referenced prior legal action. “Let’s talk about how this man took me to court for two whole years,” she wrote, claiming it “cost me tens of thousands of dollars.” She alleged Crawford “wanted to silence me from letting the world know who he really is.” She also accused him of portraying her as a stalker. In the accompanying clip, Crawford flashes a peace sign and smiles. View this post on Instagram Crump concluded with a third post showing what she said was an Oklahoma trademark registration of Crawford’s name. “I didn’t get mad I went and trademarked his name,” she wrote. “I’m from Nebraska I don’t get mad I get even.” Crawford has not publicly responded to the posts.

The California Supreme Court has denied review of rapper Tory Lanez’s criminal conviction, leaving intact his 10-year prison sentence for shooting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. KESQ 3 broke the news on Wednesday. The high court’s decision declines to disturb a November ruling from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, which affirmed Lanez’s convictions on three felony counts. A Los Angeles jury in December 2022 found Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He was sentenced in August 2023. In a 46-page opinion, the appellate panel rejected defense arguments alleging evidentiary and procedural errors at trial. The justices concluded the record contained “more than sufficient” evidence to support the jury’s finding that Peterson personally inflicted great bodily injury on Megan Pete. Tory Lanez’s Megan Thee Stallion Case Petition Denied By California Supreme Court At trial, Megan testified that Lanez shot her in the feet on July 12, 2020, following an argument after a gathering at Kylie Jenner’s home in the Hollywood Hills. She told jurors she had “no doubt” he fired the weapon and alleged he later offered her $1 million to remain silent. According to her testimony, he yelled, “dance, bitch,” before shooting. Under cross-examination, Megan addressed her initial reluctance to report the incident, stating she “didn’t want to be a snitch.” She said she later chose to “defend my name” after public figures questioned whether she had been shot. During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott argued the shooting occurred because Megan “bruised his ego,” characterizing it as “an act of misogyny.” Defense attorney Jose Baez called that theory “nuts,” contending alcohol contributed to “foolish, reckless behavior” and asserting, “The intent was not to take someone’s life.” In 2024, Megan secured a restraining order alleging Lanez orchestrated online harassment from prison. A Los Angeles judge granted that request in January 2025.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced its nominees for the 2026 induction class. The list includes 17 artists that span pop, rock, and hip-hop. Lauryn Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan appear on the ballot for the first time. Notably, Hill joins as one of the only hip-hop acts nominated this year. Their inclusion continues a gradual shift toward recognizing rap’s long-standing influence on popular music. Hill’s nomination centers on her 1998 solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, a record that blended rap and soul with an uncommon emotional directness. The album won five Grammy Awards in 1999. It also made her the first hip-hop artist to win Album of the Year. More than two decades later, it remains a reference point for artists working across genres. Wu-Tang Clan is nominated in recognition of its 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The album introduced a nine-member collective whose stark production and distinct lyrical styles reshaped East Coast rap in the 1990s. Its influence can still be heard in contemporary hip-hop, which continues to draw inspiration from talents like Lauryn Hill. Where Legends Meet Legacy Other nominees include Mariah Carey, Shakira, Jeff Buckley and Pink. In a statement, John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said, “This diverse list of talented nominees recognizes the ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its continued impact on youth culture. Induction into the Hall is music’s highest honor and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 this Fall.” Inductees will be announced in April across several categories, including Musical Influence and Musical Excellence. The ceremony is expected to take place this fall, though specific details have not yet been released. The 2025 class included Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa. This was part of a broader effort by the Hall to more fully acknowledge hip-hop’s role in shaping the modern musical landscape, and artists like Hill contribute to this recognition.

Drake shared a quiet but conspicuous image this week: a photograph of his son, Adonis Graham, wearing an OTF chain. This chain is said to have been a gift from Lil Durk. The picture appeared on Drake’s Instagram Story on Tuesday night, without caption or explanation. Moreover, at a time when Durk remains in custody awaiting trial, the post was widely interpreted as a gesture of solidarity. The image quickly circulated after DJ Akademiks reposted it. This prompted a wave of commentary online. “Seems like Drake the only holding Dem boys down when they go thru,” one user wrote. Meanwhile, another added, “Durk tryna keep that OVO stimulus package.” Drake did not elaborate. Instead, he allowed the symbolism to speak for itself. Durk, whose legal name is Durk Derrick Banks, has been detained since 2024. He faces federal charges that include conspiracy, murder-for-hire, and firearm-related offenses tied to a 2022 shooting. That shooting allegedly targeted rapper Quando Rondo. He has pleaded not guilty. In addition, his trial is currently set for August 25, 2026. View this post on Instagram ICEMAN Heats Up as Drake Keeps Fans Guessing As that case unfolds, Drake is preparing his next album, ICEMAN. Though a release date has not been announced, he has issued several singles. These include “What Did I Miss?,” “Which One” featuring Central Cee, and “Dog House” with Yeat and Julia Wolf. During his Trunk Tour Sale, Drake was asked whether J. Cole might appear on the project. J. Cole replied simply, “Oh, I don’t know about that.” Drake has hinted at the album’s timeline in recent weeks. He once posted a notebook labeled “ICEMAN 2026” to his Instagram Story. For now, details remain sparse. In the absence of formal announcements, even a single photograph can carry weight. In the music industry, alliances are often signaled in subtle ways.

The dispute between 50 Cent and T.I. has widened, drawing in T.I.’s 21-year-old son, King Harris. What began as an exchange between two veteran rappers has now extended to a younger voice. He has chosen music as his response. On February 24, King released a song titled “Made Man,” addressing remarks he says were aimed at his mother. The track suggests that, for him, the conflict is personal. In one passage, King raps, “Nias speaking on my mama, I tell Chaz ring the alarm / Nias pssy, probably cross his legs and fking fold his arms.” He continues, “He just want beef up on that net, I know that boy won’t pop a grape / He trying to trick me out the streets / Gon’ trick his as right in a lake.” The lyrics reflect frustration more than spectacle. As a result, the song is positioned as a defense of family. Notably, T.I.’s name is central within the conflict and King’s response, highlighting how King has embraced the situation. T.I. has also entered the fray with his own recordings. In recent days, he released two tracks, “War” and “Right One,” that take aim at 50 Cent. On “Right One,” he raps, “You ain’t that savage, ni you 5-0 dispatcher / Ol tender dk nia all mad ‘cause Puff let your bch have it / Gave her tartar sauce and mustard like a fish sammich,” later adding, “To me you just a small man in a big shell / Bch made as ni*a need pigtails / You take no issues with them White boys / It’s only our people that you find to be an eyesore.” The involvement of T.I. in the diss tracks was expected. As a result, this raised anticipation for further developments involving King as well. A Verzuz pitch turned into a public misunderstanding The origins of the latest round appear to trace back to talk of a potential Verzuz battle. Speaking on Million Dollaz Worth Of Game, T.I. recalled the exchange: “I said, ‘What you think about this?’ He was like, ‘You want to do that st?’ I said yeah. He was like, ‘Alright, cool.’ I told him, ‘I’ma jump out there first, and then, you just go jump out there and we’ll line it up.’ He said, ‘Alright.’ When I jumped out, that n*a acted like he ain’t know what the f**k going on.” It is clear that T.I. was at the center of the pitch. He played a pivotal role in the misunderstanding, and King’s involvement adds another layer to the unfolding story.

Body camera video released by TMZ provides a closer look at the arrest of Kim Scott, the former wife of Eminem, following an alleged drunken driving incident in Michigan last week. Scott has been charged with two misdemeanors: operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failing to stop or identify after causing property damage. According to police, the episode began when her vehicle struck a neighbor’s parked car. In the footage, Scott tells officers that another driver drifted into her lane, forcing her to swerve. When questioned about alcohol use, she initially denies drinking. An officer replies, “Well, I just had to ask because you parked your car in your garage door,” referencing damage visible at the scene. Scott maintains that her car was only close to the garage, but officers point out the impact marks. “My kids were screaming and yelling because they thought this guy was following us,” she says during the exchange. She later acknowledges having consumed alcohol “two or three hours ago.” In a separate clip, officers search the vehicle and locate what appears to be a small bottle of liquor. “Empty Fireball shooter there. That’s not A&W,” one officer remarks. Breath Test, Arrest, and a Familiar Spotlight After administering a breath test, officers place Scott in handcuffs. The charges remain pending, and no additional details about court proceedings have been released. Scott has long been known publicly through her complicated history with Eminem. The two were married twice—from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2006 to 2007—and share a daughter, Hailie Jade. Her attorney, Michael Smith, told TMZ that she is “a good person, a beautiful human being.”

According to TMZ, Cardi B “lost it” during her recent stint on Saturday Night Live. Sources told the outlet that amid rehearsals for the iconic sketch comedy show’s 1,000th episode, the “Pretty & Petty” rapper made it a night to remember after she began destroying equipment after overhearing a joke mentioning Nicki Minaj. Apparently, the anchors for the popular skit, “Weekend Update,” were testing out a few jokes regarding Minaj’s affiliation with the MAGA crowd. Sources noted that the joke had nothing to do with Cardi B; however, just the mere mention of Minaj made her go “berserk.” Things escalated very quickly after Cardi, who was set as the musical guest for the night, threatened to leave the show. It was alleged that she not only threw her phone at a TV monitor backstage, but also stormed into the show producer’s office and punched a TV screen until it broke. Sources told the outlet that not long after Cardi’s fit, the joke was scrapped. TMZ reports Cardi B ‘went berserk’ at SNL rehearsal after allegedly hearing Nicki Minaj joke, without even being mentioned in it They claim she then threatened to leave, threw her phone at a monitor backstage, and punched a screen until it broke. The alleged joke ultimately got… pic.twitter.com/mECwLMkbeC — Block Topickz (formerly Glock Topickz) (@BlockTopickz) February 25, 2026 Cardi B Makes History at Kia Forum In other news, Cardi B recently made concert history, becoming the first female rapper to have two sold-out shows at Inglewood’s Kia Forum. On Friday (Feb 20), Live Nation announced the major milestone via Instagram. “Cardi B launched her first headlining arena tour this past week to two sold-out crowds, and made history as the first female rapper to sell out two nights at the Kia Forum.” Earlier this month, Cardi B kicked off her Little Miss Drama tour. Along with special guests and sold-out shows, there’s also been controversy. The rapper recently clapped back at BIA for throwing shade at her ex, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, with whom she shares a child. While Cardi admitted that she and Diggs weren’t on the best of terms, she made it clear that she won’t stand for others talking down on her former partner.

Elliott Wilson, a legendary journalist known for interviews with Jay-Z, Future, and Lil Wayne, is embracing recovery with the same candor that defined his decades in hip-hop media. On Tuesday, February 24, the Queens native shared a striking black-and-white Instagram photo revealing a long surgical scar stretching from his upper chest to his abdomen. In the caption, the veteran journalist disclosed he underwent cardiac surgery three weeks earlier and is now halfway through his recovery process, but has more surgeries to come. “Cardiac surgery three weeks ago. Three more to full recovery,” Wilson wrote. “Got way more life to live. My next chapter might fuck around and be my best one. ” Cardiac surgery three weeks ago. Three more to full recovery. Got way more life to live. My next chapter might fuck around and be my best one. pic.twitter.com/ua0R3Jb8s0 — Elliott Wilson (@frelliottwilson) February 24, 2026 Outside the reveal, Wilson did not go into further detail about forthcoming surgeries and future plans in hip-hop. But the post delivers encouragement during a vulnerable moment. “Got way more life to live” reads the end of Wilson’s post. At 55, he is not slowing down. He is resetting. In today’s hip-hop, Wilson is best known for his contributions at Uproxx and Hip-Hop DX. His journalism career began in the 90s, with bylines in XXL, The Source, and VIBE. He launched memorable hip-hop outlets, including Ego Trip and Rap Radar. Hip-Hop’s Elliott Wilson Reveals He Had Cardiac Surgery Support quickly filled the comments. Journalist Jeremy Hecht wrote, “My brother way more life to live. Happy you’re okay and continued healing your way! Excited for the next chapter.” Media executive Dawton Thomas added, “Prayer and strength bro! You finally following me this time in something haha! Stay strong fam! Always here for you. #HeartSurgerySoliders.” Broadcaster Sharon Carpenter shared, “So glad you’re OK, El. Wishing you a speedy recovery. The next chapter is definitely going to be your best one yet.” Rappers Pusha T and Conway The Machine sent speedy recoveries to Wilson. “My guy!!! Road to recovery and more greatness!!! ,” comments Pusha T. Wilson has become an even bigger figure in hip-hop in recent years, adding more executive titles to his resume. Known for reporting the news, he would become a part of it, feuding with Nicki Minaj and Drake. It is preparation for what he believes will be his strongest era yet.

For the first time, it appears 50 Cent has met his match with T.I. The G-Unit founder has seemingly scrubbed his Instagram of all posts relating to the Atlanta rapper and his family. T.I. recently dropped off a diss track, “Right One,” where he referred to him as a bully and accused him of tearing down other Black entertainers, but not his white counterparts. The move left 50 Cent fans scratching their heads, wondering if this was a sign of him admitting defeat. Prior to this, T.I. dropped off “War,” which some considered a warning shot. However, with “Right One,” the rapper clearly drew a line in the sand. “Ayy, this the n*gga y’all scared of, man?/ Man, f*ck this LEGO head-a** n*gga, man,” T.I. says at the beginning of the track. “Ain’t nobody scared of this f*ck n*gga, man.” T.I. wasn’t the only one in the Harris family to call 50 out. The rapper’s son, King, recently crashed out online, insulting Fif’s deceased mother, after he shared an unflattering photo of Tiny online. While 50 shot back with more posts online, it doesn’t appear to have resonated well with his fans. 50 Cent and T.I. during BET Awards 2007 – Nominees, Host and Honorees Announcement at Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, CA, United States. (Photo by M. Phillips/WireImage for BET Network) T.I. Won’t Stand On Stage With 50 Cent After Verzuz Debacle T.I. has made it clear that the Verzuz between him and 50 Cent won’t be happening anytime soon. According to the Atlanta rapper, he lost respect for the G-Unit founder. Not long ago, T.I. stopped by the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game Podcast to explain what happened. The rapper claims that 50 Cent initially agreed to go head-to-head in a Verzuz competition; however, it seems that at some point, the New York native must’ve changed his mind. “I just ain’t call him out of the blue,” T.I. said. “This ain’t come out of nowhere.” “We were moving around in L.A., selling some TV shows. While we were around each other, I said, ‘What you think about this?’ He was like, ‘You want to do that sh*t?’ I said yeah. He was like, ‘Alright, cool.’ I told him, ‘I’ma jump out there first, and then, you just go jump out there, and we’ll line it up.’ He said, ‘Alright,’ [but] when I jumped out, that n*gga acted like he ain’t know what the f*ck going on,” T.I. continued.

The TRACE Worldwide Wake Up with Shani Kulture is redefining weekend radio with a vibrant international mix of music, culture, and news. Airing Saturdays from 9–10 a.m. ET, the hybrid radio-video program delivers a high-energy listening experience designed to connect audiences across the globe. At its core, the show spotlights the hottest sounds shaping today’s global music scene. Fans can tune in for the latest UK Drill, AfroBeats, and Amapiano records, seamlessly blended with timeless classics from Reggae, Soca, and Dancehall. The curated format ensures both discovery and nostalgia, appealing to longtime listeners and new fans alike. View this post on Instagram Beyond the music, The TRACE Worldwide Wake Up expands its reach with timely international news and in-depth global sports coverage. The program keeps listeners informed with key updates, including FIFA World Cup travel information, making it a go-to destination for audiences who want both entertainment and insight. The show also dives into the lifestyle spaces that matter most to the African and Caribbean diaspora. From emerging fashion trends to must-know food culture and broader lifestyle conversations, Shani Kulture delivers a well-rounded cultural experience that reflects the pulse of communities worldwide. View this post on Instagram