Raekwon and Ghostface Killah recently dropped the trailer for an upcoming documentary, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Raekwon’s legendary 1995 album. Titled the Purple Tape Files and filmed over several years,  the doc celebrates the album on its 30th anniversary and its ongoing influence. During the trailer, Raekwon shared the creative zone he was in while putting the album together.  “I put myself into a serious mindframe,” The Chef said. “A serious storytelling album. I had to make this product stand out. “I knew that purple represents royalty, and that’s exactly what I was looking for,” he continued, referencing its distinctive color palette that led many to call the LP The Purple Album. Raekwon also shared that he was serious about approaching the album and demanded that those around him live up to the same standard. “We had to make a conscious decision,” he explains. “Either we want to stay here and keep holding guns and want to run around playing this game, or did we want to go for the American dream and get on this rap shit.” The documentary also features guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Method Man, Nas, and fellow members of the  Wu-Tang Clan who share their insights about the impact of one of the most renowned projects in hip-hop history. “It ushered in the alter egos, the aliases,” RZA says in the clip. “Still, to this day, it’s flows that you haven’t heard before, saying the most wild shit,” Lamar added. Snoop Dogg describes Only Built 4 Cuban Linx as a “lesson on style” and that “it was all created from the Wu-Tang movement.” Released on August 1, 1995, and produced entirely by RZA, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is renowned for its cinematic, mafioso-rap storytelling, with Ghostface Killah as the “guest-star.” With no skips, some standout songs include “Criminnolgy”, “Heaven & Hell”, “Ice Cream, “Verbal Intercourse”, “Rainy Dayz”, and  “Incarcerated Scarfaces.”

Ayra Starr has officially etched her name into the history books. The Nigerian superstar took home the Best International Act award at the 2025 BET Awards, marking a groundbreaking win as the first Nigerian woman to ever claim the honor. The ceremony, held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre and hosted by Kevin Hart, was packed with star power, but Ayra’s win stood out as a milestone moment. Facing off against a strong lineup of international talent, from the UK to Brazil, South Africa, France, and even her Afrobeats peer Rema, Ayra emerged victorious. Though she was also in the running for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Best New Artist, this win alone signaled a major breakthrough. Her historic moment drew attention beyond the music industry. Roc Nation took to X to congratulate her, prompting buzz about a possible connection between Ayra and Jay-Z’s powerhouse label. Fans quickly recalled the longstanding ties between Mavin Records boss Don Jazzy and Roc Nation, including Jay-Z’s previous efforts to scout Nigerian talent, efforts that even led to collaborative work with Jay Electronica. Still, not everything about the night felt like a win. Despite attending the awards, Ayra’s trophy was handed to her offstage, rather than in front of the live audience. The move reignited criticism about how African artists are treated at global award shows. Years ago, Wizkid called out this exact pattern, slamming it as “rubbish.” Ayra has long demanded respect for her artistry. After the 2023 Headies quietly handed her the Best Female Act award after the ceremony ended, she didn’t hold back. “We didn’t deserve such nonchalance!” she wrote on X. Despite the backstage snub, Ayra’s BET win is a powerful moment, for her, for Nigerian music, and for every African artist pushing for their rightful place on the world stage.

In a riveting continuation of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial in Manhattan, a former girlfriend, referred to as “Jane,” recounted her experiences with the hip-hop mogul, claiming she was coerced into degrading sexual acts. The trial resumed on June 10, where Diddy’s attorneys rigorously challenged Jane’s recollections of their tumultuous relationship. Jane’s testimony painted a stark picture of the alleged psychological, sexual, and physical abuse she endured during their on-and-off romantic involvement. While defense lawyers sought to highlight moments of affection and financial support from Diddy, Jane maintained her narrative of feeling compelled to conform to the mogul’s desires, leading her to resent him profoundly. “I felt pressured to perform these things my lover desired,” she asserted, reinforcing her claims of being manipulated into a lifestyle she did not choose. Combs, 55, faces serious allegations including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution, all of which he has denied through a plea of not guilty. The defense’s cross-examination focused on instances where Jane appeared to engage willingly in sexual activities, including hotel encounters that allegedly involved male escorts. In one notable exchange, Jane had expressed her enthusiasm for a “freak off” at her home, to which Diddy and an escort agreed to attend. However, Jane clarified that her desire for companionship with Diddy left her with little choice but to accept these arrangements. Throughout her testimony, Jane read aloud several explicit messages exchanged with Diddy, where she often felt an underlying sense of insecurity due to his tone. “I suggested these encounters to make him feel better,” she explained, highlighting the emotional complexities of their relationship. Jane alleges extortion, drug use, and control in her relationship with Diddy Jane recounted an alarming incident involving Sly Williams, a sex worker she had invited into their encounters. She alleged that Williams later attempted to extort her by threatening to sell a private recording of their sexual encounter. Despite Diddy’s outrage and suggestion to report the incident to the authorities, Jane refrained out of fear. She also described her troubling realizations regarding Diddy’s potential substance abuse, recalling a trip where she observed physical signs of drug use, including jaundice and shaking. Her concerns deepened when she suggested rehab, only to be met with resistance from Diddy. Under questioning, Jane discussed her understanding of a term she had researched—”cuckold”—which she believed resonated with her experiences in the relationship. She articulated that this term often relates to men who derive pleasure from seeing their partners with other men, suggesting a complex interplay of desire and rejection within her relationship with Diddy. Jane’s testimony also touched upon the nicknames they used during intimate encounters, where she referred to herself and Diddy using famous basketball players’ names, illustrating the casual and perhaps superficial nature of some of their interactions. As the trial progressed, Jane expressed her emotional struggle over the perceived inequities in Diddy’s treatment of her compared to his other relationships, notably with rapper Yung Miami. She candidly shared a text where she warned Diddy, “I’m not Cassie, and I’ll make your life hell,” a reflection of her growing frustration and sadness. Financial discussions dominated segments of her cross-examination, with Jane revealing that during their relationship, she felt limited in her professional pursuits, earning only a fraction of her potential income. Despite significant monetary gifts from Diddy, she perceived these as a means of control rather than support. As the courtroom drama unfolded, Jane’s narrative oscillated between moments of affection and coercion. She described how Diddy would uplift her and engage in meaningful conversations about faith and personal growth, even as he insisted she stay away from platforms like OnlyFans, which he deemed inappropriate. Ultimately, Jane concluded her testimony by sharing that despite the complexities of their relationship, she still harbored feelings for Diddy, illustrating the deeply intertwined emotions that often accompany such fraught dynamics.

Ashanti is stepping into motherhood with grace, hustle, and a whole lot of heart. The R&B star hit the red carpet at the 2025 BET Awards glowing, but made it clear her 10-month-old son, Karem “KK,” was still top of mind. “Baby is doing amazing. He’s about to turn one, which is crazy,” she told People. “It just flew by. Navigating into mommy mode has been very different.” Although KK didn’t attend the show, Ashanti made sure he was taken care of behind the scenes. “I actually had to pump and send milk with the driver to the hotel for him, so talk about multitasking! Mommy has to make it happen!” Ashanti and husband Nelly welcomed their son last year, and since then, her perspective has shifted both personally and professionally. Speaking to Revolt in March, she reflected on the changes motherhood has brought. “This is a new chapter for me. Family first, being married and having a child,” she said. “My mind is thinking bigger and better and more out of the box, obviously.” The new mom is already channeling that energy into creative ventures. “I wrote a children’s book, and I kind of want to just dive into the lane of children now,” she added. “I really do because it’s just so natural. I loved kids before… but now it’s like [times] a million.” And what has little KK taught her so far? “Patience,” she said simply. As she prepares to hit the road with Sean Paul and Fat Joe for the Bring It On Tour, Ashanti is adjusting to tour life with a baby in tow. “I’m definitely in Mama Bear protective mode,” she shared. “Wanting to protect the baby.”

The Game is standing in solidarity with Los Angeles protesters as immigration raids spark unrest across the city. On Monday, June 9th, the Compton rapper took to Instagram to show support for Black and brown communities who’ve flooded the streets in response to recent ICE crackdowns. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) “Ever since I could remember… it’s been black & brown in this city,” The Game wrote, captioning a series of black-and-white photos from the protests. “From the early days of my childhood til now, we’ve been side by side through it all. All of us. All the time. Not always seeing eye to eye but we’ve shared Los Angeles for a very long time. I stand with y’all like I know you’d stand with us. ‘We might fight against each other… but I promise you this.. we’ll burn this b!%?! down get us pissed!!!!!’ To live & die in L.A.” Fans quickly showed love in his comments, thanking him for speaking up. “Meanwhile Snoop Dogg entertaining the king… thanks for using your platform,” one person wrote. Another added, “You always speak about unity. My respect for you.” Protests erupted after ICE agents launched sweeping immigration raids across L.A., including the controversial arrest of union leader David Huerta, who officials claim interfered with the operation. Thousands of demonstrators have since taken to the streets. Chaos followed—protesters set self-driving cars on fire, while officers responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs. According to CBS News, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said 39 arrests were made over the weekend. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump escalated tensions by calling for military action. “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote on Truth Social, prompting even more backlash as scenes of unrest continued to unfold across the city.

Sly Stone, the legendary funk musician who was regarded as one of the most renowned artists of all time, has passed away, Variety reported. He was 82.  Sly’s passing was confirmed by his family, who released an offcial statement. “After a prolonged battle with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family,” a statement from his family reads. “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.” “Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.” Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943. The family relocated to California.  Sly found his love while singing in the church choir from the age of 4, alongside his siblings. Soon, he would gain local fame as a member of bands in high school before goint to study music theory at Solano Community College. After leaving school, he worked as a DJ for San Francisco’s KSOL. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) By the late 60s, Sly and the Family Stone was formed with his brother Freddie Stone, sister Rose Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Greg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham. The trailblazing group was the first multi-gender, interracial band to hit the mainstream. Combining funk, rock, and psychedelic soul, they released their debut album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967. “Dance to the Music,” their first single, was also released in 1967  their album of the same name the next year. In 1969, Stand became their biggest success, featuring classics such as  “Everyday People,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”/”Everybody Is a Star.”  The same year, the band gave a legendary performance at Woodstock. Although the band would have some more hit songs and albums, such as the highly influential Greatest Hits in 1970 and There’s a Riot Goin’ On in 1971, Sly’s drug use caused the group to fracture. He became notorious for missing concert dates. They officially broke up in 1975. For their immense accomplishments, in 1993, Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over the years, Sly stayed out of the public eye, rarely performing due to battling addiction. In 2023, he released his memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), named after the band’s classic 1970 single. Earlier this year by Grammy and Oscar-winning director Questlove documented his life and career in  Sly Lives: aka the Burden of Black Genius. The doc features commentary from various Black artists about how they cope with challenges with success.  We at HOT97 extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sly Stone.

Sean “Diddy” Combs stands at the center of a high-stakes federal trial as disturbing new testimony from a former girlfriend, known in court as Jane, adds to the scrutiny. Jane dated the artist on and off between 2021 and 2024 and now claims she was coerced into sexual encounters as part of a pattern of manipulation and emotional control. Jane testified that what began as a single encounter with a male sex worker later spiraled into prolonged “hotel nights,” during which she was allegedly pressured into multiple sexual acts over several days. “I don’t want to be used and locked in a room to fulfill your fantasies,” she wrote in a message to Diddy. In court, she added, “I’m not a porn star. I’m not an animal.” She described feeling an eerie sense of recognition when reading Cassie Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit against Diddy. “I felt like I’m reading my own sexual trauma,” Jane told jurors through tears. That moment, she said, forced her to confront her own experience in a new light. Testimony reveals private trauma and manipulation behind Diddy’s public apology Jane also recalled a tense trip to Miami in May 2024, when the two watched the leaked surveillance video showing Diddy assaulting Ventura. The footage, which had already made headlines, left Jane physically ill. While Diddy later issued a public apology, Jane testified that his private explanation downplayed the assault, suggesting it was a one-time incident. During the March 2024 Homeland Security raids on Diddy’s homes, Jane said she was approached by law enforcement but chose not to speak. At that point, she still felt emotionally entangled, though she had begun to question the relationship’s foundation. Text messages between the two reveal a toxic pattern of gaslighting, with Jane writing, “I became a side chick and sex worker in my own relationship.” She testified that threats to release private videos followed emotional breakdowns, including one exchange where she told Diddy, “I’m gonna kill myself.” Her account paints a troubling portrait of emotional and psychological abuse shaped by power imbalance, fame, and fear. “I felt violated and manipulated,” she told the court, summarizing a relationship she described as built on coercion masked by luxury.

For the first time in 15 years, the Clipse will be heading on tour. In support of their album Let God Sort Em Out, which is set for release on July 11, Pusha T and No Malice will be playing live shows all across North America accompanied by Earthgang. The highly anticipated tour kicks off on August 3 and includes stops in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, and their hometown of Virginia Beach, VA. The first single, “Ace Trumpets,” was released to critical acclaim, and the official video was released on June 4. In an interview with GQ, Malice expressed his excitement about goint out on tour. “Once you’ve delivered and once you have done your part, you got to see how things fall in place,” Malice said. “And a lot of times they fall in place better than you could have planned […] “No matter the day and the age, you just have to deliver. We do what we do. It’s always quality. Everything is always fine-tuned. We could never just give you haphazard. And I think that’s what the fans recognize about us. They know that everything that we do is chiseled and handcrafted.” Below are all the dates of the tour: 08-03 Boston, MA – Roadrunner  08-05 Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall  08-07 New York, NY – Terminal 5  08-09 Fairfax, VA – EagleBank Arena  08-10 Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome  08-12 Miami, FL – The Fillmore  08-13 Orlando, FL – The Vanguard  08-14 Atlanta, GA – The Eastern  08-16 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre  08-17 Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom  08-18 St. Louis, MO – The Factory  08-19 Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live  08-21 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom  08-23 Los Angeles, CA – The Novo  08-25 San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre  08-27 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater  08-28 San Diego, CA – SOMA  08-29 Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels  09-02 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall  09-03 Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion  09-04 Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory  09-06 Kansas City, MO – Midland Theatre  09-07 Minneapolis, MN – The Armory  09-08 Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed  09-10 Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple 

Hitmaka recently revealed that Diddy once came on to him at his home in Miami. During a livestream with Ray J, the multiplatinum producer recalled a moment when Diddy gave him a compliment that he felt was suspect. “Ayo, I never told this story,” Hitmaka began. “Diddy be doing some real wild sh*t…he was like, ‘Come here, you little pretty motherf**ker!’” Showing his discomfort witht the incident, Hitmaka gave a side-eye as he rolled in his seat. According to the Hitmaka, that was just the beginning. Producer Hitmaka aka Yung Berg reveals to Ray J that Diddy tried to flirt with him at his house on Star Island “come here you little pretty motherf*cker… imagine when I put my arms around your fine a**… and I left… Diddy is one of the nastiest n*ggas ever…” pic.twitter.com/RKSLDlsI07 — SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) June 8, 2025 “We at his crib, we at Star Island, and I’m like, ‘huh?’ He like, ‘Yo, I made motherf**kers forget that such-and-such was this, imagine when I put my arms around yo lil fine a**.’ I said, ‘WHAT?!?’” Hitmaka then said he left the house after Diddy’s latest compliment. He then gave a shout-out to musician Rob Holliday, who he said was in attendance at the event before calling Diddy “one of thee nastiest ni**as ever in life.” Currently, Diddy is on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering in Manhattan. “Jane” an anonymous woman claiming to be his girlfriend for several years, took the stand again. During testimony on Monday (June 9), Jane testified that after having a single encounter with a male sex worker later it turned into many “hotel nights,” during which she was allegedly pressured into multiple sexual acts over several days.  “I don’t want to be used and locked in a room to fulfill your fantasies,” she wrote in a message to Diddy. In court, she added, “I’m not a porn star. I’m not an animal.” She went on to detail how she was caught in a toxic situation. “I became a side chick and sex worker in my own relationship.” If found guilty on all charges Diddy faces life in prison.

Michelle Obama reveals her reaction to her daughter, Malia, dropping her family’s surname. In 2024, Malia Obama, now known as Malia Ann, made her directorial debut with the short film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival. “I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world, and they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally, just handed things,” Michelle Obama tells actress Kate Hudson on her Siblings Rivalry podcast with her brother, Oliver. “They’re very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people,” she adds. “We [she and Barak Obama] were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia, But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.” Michelle Obama Reveals How Therapy Helped Her In This Stage Of Her Life In other news, last month, Michelle Obama opened up about the positive experiences she gained with therapy. Appearing on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, along with her brother Craig Robinson and 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.”