Ye (formally known as Kanye West) expressed his growing unease about his bond with his children in a series of raw online outbursts, accusing Kim Kardashian of keeping them distant. His public plea, tinged with frustration and vulnerability, has reignited conversations around celebrity custody battles and the blurred lines between personal grievance and public spectacle. Ye articulated his frustrations by directly addressing prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Rihanna, among others. He questioned their silence amidst his struggles, stating, “Why is the celebrity world standing by while Kim takes my kids from me? People say I’m acting out due to my childhood, but I’m being deprived of my role as a father.” With clear distress, Ye opened up about feeling cut off from the world, stating, “We are all in this together. It pains me to see my children being raised with ideals that don’t resonate with our heritage. Instead of stepping in, it feels like everyone is just a spectator, and I’m left to grapple with this reality alone.” Ye Confronts Custody Battles and Creative Clashes He further revealed the personal toll of his situation, mentioning, “I haven’t seen my son Saint this year.” The moment laid bare the emotional strain he’s been carrying, as Yeezy—clearly worn down—acknowledged just how deeply his past words have come back to haunt him. “I was informed by a Jewish lawyer that my antisemitic remarks would impact my ability to see my children. Unfortunately, he was correct.” Recently, Ye’s relationship with his children has come under renewed scrutiny, following an emergency custody hearing prompted by Kardashian’s unease over North’s well-being during a stay at his home. The situation has further unraveled amid West’s push to involve North in music projects—an effort Kardashian has firmly resisted, citing apprehensions about the creative environment and those within it. Ye hasn’t held back when it comes to criticizing Kardashian and her family, often using harsh language and raising concerns about their role in his children’s upbringing. His outbursts point to larger questions about co-parenting in the public eye, the toll of mental health struggles, and what it means for high-profile parents to show up responsibly.

Kid Cudi has listed his Calabasas estate for $8.5 million—an uptick from the $7.7 million he paid in 2021, signaling a quiet play for profit. Built in 2001, this opulent estate features six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, along with various upscale amenities. Residents can enjoy a private movie theater, a fully equipped gym complete with an adjoining bathroom, a cozy fire pit, a sports court, and a putting green. The backyard is designed for leisure and entertaining, showcasing a lagoon-style pool with a spa and scenic waterfalls. Earlier this month, Kid Cudi gained media attention for his involvement in Pharrell Williams’ digital auction, where he successfully sold a range of personal items for a remarkable total of $857,439. This auction, conducted by Joopiter, Pharrell’s auction house, highlighted an array of sought-after collectibles, including jewelry, apparel, sneakers, and artwork. Cudi’s Auction Blends Rarity, Legacy, and Luxury Among the notable items sold was a custom 14-karat N.E.R.D. pendant created by Jacob & Co., which fetched $243,750, significantly exceeding its estimated value, and a distinctive Ben Baller x Takashi Murakami x Kid Cudi chain that sold for $187,500. Additionally, a pair of coveted Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Low sneakers, crafted by the late Virgil Abloh, commanded $82,500. Cudi also sold an eye-catching 18-karat gold chain resembling his likeness, embellished with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, which received a bid of $43,750. Collectors had the opportunity to acquire a selection of vintage music T-shirts featuring legendary artists like Eminem, Michael Jackson, and Nirvana, further boosting the auction’s attractiveness. In an interview with GQ, Cudi provided insights into his auction experience, stating, “Joopiter has been wanting to do something with me for a while, so I recently reached out to the team and let them know I had some items I was ready to sell, things I’ve gathered throughout my career.” Reflecting on his treasured Michael Jackson T-shirt, he noted, “Anyone who goes vintage shopping in the best spots knows there are countless fantastic Michael Jackson shirts. If you’re a collector, you’re likely to have more than one. It’s quite rare to find them, as they tend to get snapped up quickly, so it took me a while to truly consider parting with this one.”

Ja Rule is an unquestioned legend in hip-hop. The Queens native holds the distinction of being one most successful artists of the 90s and 2000s. Launching his rap career in 1994 with the group Cash Money Click, Ja linked up with Irv Gotti, an up-and-coming producer and mogul at the time, who signed him to Def Jam Records. He made his first solo appearance on Mic Geronimo’s “Time to Build” in 1995, alongside future fellow icons, Jay-Z and DMX. In 1999, Ja released “Holla Holla,” his first hit from his platinum-selling album Venni Vetti Vecci, which was a sign of things to come. His sophomore project, Rule 3:36, debuted at the number of the US Billboard 200, selling more than 276,000 copies in its first week of release as the flagship artist of Murder Inc. Records. Eventually, the album went triple platinum. The smash hits on the album were “Between Me & You” featuring Christina Milian, “Put It on Me” featuring Vita and Lil Mo, and “I Cry” featuring Lil Mo. In 2001, Ja appeared on Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real (Murder Remix)”  which held the number one spot on the Billboard 100 for five consecutive weeks. Throughout the 2000s, Ja would release several more chart-topping songs such as  “Living It Up,” “Thug Lovin’,” “Always on Time,” and “Mesmerize,” making him a global superstar. Almost 30 years after his debut in the game, Ja is still in demand all over the world, playing sold-out concerts and festivals. A veteran of the Summer Jam stage, Ja played one of the biggest shows in the history of the event in 2001 and several other shows throughout the years. At Summer Jam 2025, “Ja and Friends” will honor the life and legacy of Irv Gotti, who passed away in February. To catch “Ja on Friends” on stage, make sure you get your tickets to Summer Jam 2025, which will be returning to Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center on Friday, June 20.

Kevin Hart is set to make his return as host of the 25th annual BET Awards. Taking to Instagram, Hart shared his excitement about hosting the event for the second time. “Y’all thought I was done after the first time? Nah,” his post read. “I had to come back and do it BIGGER. It’s official — I’m hosting the 25th anniversary of the #BETAwards June 9th. Shoutout to @therealhartbeat for producing this announcement! “Back like he never left… @kevinhart4real is hosting the #BETAwards for the second time! This year, it’s a black tie affair — 25 years of legendary moments, and we’re turning it all the way up. Expect the laughs, the surprises, the energy… and a night the culture will never forget,” BET added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) “Let’s make history. Again. See y’all June 9th.” “When we asked folks who should host this year’s BET AWARDS online, in the streets, among other celebs and throughout social media, one name came back to us loud and clear: Kevin Hart,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s president of music programming and specials.  “He is blue flame right now and we are looking forward to working with him on the show,” stated Hill. “His energy, wit and the always fantastic performances will make for yet another must see event—and the ‘Chocolate Droppa’ might even get a verse in the show.” For nominees, Chris Brown leads everyone with 6 nominations across multiple categories and right behind him is Lil Wayne with 5 nominations in several categories.  Rounding out the list and tied with 4 nominations each are Kanye West, Rihanna and Drake.   Leading up to the show, the BET Experience to Los Angeles will feature multiple concerts, a Fan Fest, and many more events for the culture.  So far, performers include Buju Banton, The Roots, Lil’ Kim, Redman & Method Man, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Raekwon, Nick Cannon, and more across multiple venues and stages, with more announcements to come.

Stephen A. Smith was uncomfortable with Shannon Sharpe leaking texts from the woman who accused him of sexual assault and rape. On the most recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, he shared his thoughts about the tenuous situation facing his fellow “First Take” co-host.  “They revealed some of those explicit text messages. That was uncomfortable,” Smith said. “I don’t know if that’s a strategy that would work.”  “One of the hardest things in the world for all of us to do is to just lay low and be quiet and let our legal team do it,” Smith added. Elsewhere in the episode, Smith noted that Sharpe vehemently denied all the charges levied against him. “I can tell you all that I spoke to Shanon and he emphatically proclaims his innocence,” explained Smith.  On Monday (April 22), Sharpe was hit with a $50 million lawsuit and accused of sexual assault. According to the suit, Sharpe was accused of committing assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery, and engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress in what is described as a “rocky consensual relationship” that went on with a woman for almost two years.  Addressing allegations for the first time, Sharpe also released a video statement on Tuesday (April 22) about the lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/Tm1vbA3xPn — shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 22, 2025 “I’m gonna be open, transparent, and defend myself because this isn’t right,” Sharpe said. “This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z. Tony Buzbee targets Black men, and I believe he is going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty and plays into every stereotype you could possibly imagine.” “You know what happened, but you’re trying to manipulate the media,” Sharpe added. “The encounter in question took place during the day at her invitation, and now that appears to be a deliberate setup coordinated by Gabby, also known as Carly on OnlyFans. Gabby and Tony Buzbee want $50 million. What they’re getting is sued for defamation and trying to take me down.”

Roddy Ricch’s Easter post didn’t go unnoticed, but it was the absence of one of his children that stirred up controversy. The rapper shared photos of himself spending the holiday with his daughter, reportedly named Navy. This marked the first time fans had ever seen her, and many were caught off guard. The identity of Navy’s mother has not been confirmed, and some fans believe Roddy may address it in his upcoming release, The Navy Album. While some were reacting to the new addition, others questioned why his son Kadence, who he shares with ex Alexandra Kiser, was not in the pictures. Alexandra was quick to call Roddy out on social media, accusing him of leaving Kadence out of the holiday celebration and not doing enough for his birthday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Roddy had already responded to the criticism on his own Instagram Story. When fans asked why his son was missing, he explained that Kadence has autism and that the bright lights and attention of social media can be overwhelming for him. He wrote, “YES, I THREW MY SON A BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY PRESENT. NO, I DID NOT SHARE THE MOMENT ONLINE BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO THE SECOND TIME MY KIDS WERE IN THE SAME SETTING.” He continued, “YES, I PROVIDE FOR BOTH OF MY KIDS. NO, I DO NOT GIVE A F*CK IF YOU BELIEVE IT. NO, I DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITIES. YES, I AM TIRED OF THIS SITUATION. HAPPY EASTER!” Alexandra dismissed his explanation. She claimed he barely celebrated their son’s birthday and only skipped posting because Kadence didn’t pose the way he wanted. Their strained co-parenting relationship may surface again when Roddy’s next album drops, possibly on July 18th.

Lil Durk is trying to get his murder-for-hire case dismissed, claiming prosecutors gave the grand jury false information about his song lyrics. Prosecutors accuse the rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, of planning a 2022 shooting that targeted Quando Rondo. Prosecutors say it was retaliation for the death of King Von, Durk’s close friend and collaborator. Durk’s legal team says prosecutors pointed to the lyrics of “Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy,” a song by Babyface Ray featuring Durk, as proof of involvement. However, the defense argues that Durk wrote the song long before the shooting happened. In a recent court filing, his lawyers argued that prosecutors either knowingly or recklessly presented inaccurate details. “The government’s misrepresentation in the Superseding Indictment… undermines the integrity of the grand jury’s true bill against Mr. Banks,” they wrote. In a separate motion, Durk’s attorneys asked the judge to reconsider his release from jail. They argue that prosecutors are using fan-made content against him, including a video on social media that combined Quando Rondo’s voice with Durk’s lyrics. Durk has no connection to the people who created or shared that footage. His team slammed the evidence as misleading and argued that prosecutors are unfairly linking the rapper to content he didn’t create or approve. Durk has been in jail since October and was previously denied bail. His team offered a package worth around $3 million. But the court sided with prosecutors. They cited a pattern of “criminal behavior” and claimed Durk broke jail rules by making unauthorized phone calls. The trial is scheduled for October 14, 2025. Prosecutors are still reviewing massive amounts of evidence, including digital files, witness statements, and surveillance videos. Durk has denied the accusations. He maintains his innocence. He insists there is no solid proof connecting him to the shooting that killed Quando Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab.

Sexyy Red had a moment to remember over the weekend when she finally met Chris Brown at the Tycoon Music Festival in Detroit on April 19th during their meet and greet. The rising rap star looked thrilled to be face-to-face with Breezy, and she made the most of the moment by getting creative with their photo-op. In a video shared to her X account, Sexyy Red is seen getting on all fours while Chris Brown poses on her back. In other shots, they hug and strike a playful prom-style pose together. She captioned the clip, “This how dem meet and greets be like,” poking fun at Chris Brown’s viral fan photos that have gained attention over the years for their over-the-top energy. Her post quickly caught fire online, with fans chiming in with hilarious reactions. One user commented, “You look like you were debating on adding him to the team,” while another added, “lol nah sis every single celeb that has been around u, u def make them nervous but this oneeeee, he had u.” Chris Brown is known for offering high-priced meet-and-greets during his tours. The package has previously included signed items, a gift, early show access, and a photo with the star. These experiences have become a talking point online due to the bold poses fans take with him. His latest meet-and-greet slots for the Breezy Bowl anniversary tour are already sold out. The tour begins June 8 overseas and will end in the United States on October 8th. Sexyy Red was one of the surprise performers at the Tycoon Music Festival, which featured Chris Brown, Gucci Mane, Wiz Khalifa, Skilla Baby, and Fabolous. Monica was also spotted watching Brown’s set from backstage with his manager and her partner, Anthony Wilson.

As Doechii’s star keeps shining, she revealed that her family makes sure she remains humble. Featured in a new Cosmopolitan cover story interview, Doechii spoke about how her family has helped to handle her newfound fame. “They’re always keeping me grounded,” Doechii said. “Most of the time, I don’t talk about work with them.” She even recalled a recent interaction with her family that captures how they really get down. “I was in the car with my family and my team, in a dress looking fab, and my sister chose that moment to ask if I farted. Like, number one, no I didn’t, and number two, why would you say that? Like, I’m a superstar,” she recalled. I don’t fart!” Docechii, whose real name is Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, said that “I’m just Jaylah to them.” Family members aren’t the only people allowed to call Doechii by her birth name. “Anybody who truly knows me calls me Jaylah, and I don’t even have to protect it,” she continued. It’s like nobody who knows me calls me Doechii.” Elsewhere in the interview, the “Denial is a River” rapper revealed that her love life is also thriving, and she has a girlfriend. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cosmopolitan (@cosmopolitan) “All of my relationships inspire my music because they make up my life experience. This is such a Leo thing to say, but my literal existence as a queer Black woman is a major contribution to the hip-hop genre,” said Doechii. “I’m speaking truthfully from a queer Black woman’s perspective, and being honest about my life through my lens is amazing,” she added. “That perspective is being highlighted, and we need queer perspectives.” Also in the feature, she shared that she’s at work on her next album. “On my next project, I plan on having conversations,” Doechii said. “They might be hard for some people to have, but I think I want to bring up a dialogue about topics that might be hard for people to hear.” “I don’t want to give them away,” she said. “But we’re going to have a conversation on the album.”

Cooper Flagg is taking his talents to the NBA. The superstar Duke freshman has announced that he’s foregoing his collegiate eligibility to enter the NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be the number one pick. Taking to Instagram, Flagg officially announced his highly anticipated next move. “Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, everybody that was along for the journey. It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life and I have so much gratitude and I feel so blessed for all the opportunities that I was given,” Flagg said in the video. “Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 NBA draft.’ “Today is just the beginning, but I have the Brotherhood with me for life.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cooper Flagg (@cooper_flagg)  Duke coach Jon Scheyer shared a statement lauding Flagg for his many accomplishments. “Really proud of Cooper for the special season that he had this year,” Scheyer said. “I think the accolades speak for itself, with what he did, winning every National Player of the Year award. His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts. As good of a freshman season that a guy has had here. “But to me, the separator and the joy of coaching Cooper is the person he was every day, the teammate that he was. Never about statistics or anything other than creating an environment and helping his team to win,” Scheyer continued. “And we won a lot of games and had a lot of success and a lot of times that environment is created from your best player. And Cooper did an incredible job in every facet of our program, on and off the court, with what he’s done.” In an exceptional campaign, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, leading the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance. One of his biggest games of his collegiate career took place against Notre Dame in January.  Flagg scored 42 points, an ACC Freshman record,  6 rebounds, and 7 assists in a victory over the Fighting Irish. He was the consensus National Player of the Year and became only the fourth freshman to win the prestigious Wooden Award.