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.

Ryan Coogler’s sexy, R-rated, vampire-thriller Sinners debuted at 45.6 million at the box office its opening weekend, making it the biggest film debut since Jordan Peele’s Us, released in 2019. According to Variety, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners collected “a solid $45.6 million from 3,308 North American theaters.” Internationally, the film made an additional $15.4 million, which would push the film’s global sales to around $61 million. Set in the 1930s, the film centers on twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan) trying to leave their troubled past behind and return home to Mississippi, “only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back,” per the film’s synopsis. Alongside Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Wunmi Mosaku also star in the film’s cast. Sinners also highlights Black musicians’ impact on Blues music and its roots in the Mississippi Delta. “The film is a study in the blues,” Ryan Coogler told The Phildelphia Inquirer. “I feel that this is America’s most significant contribution to world popular culture. It all started right there in Mississippi. When you delve deeper into it, you’ll discover a lot of spiritual and supernatural elements.” He continues, “The musicians are playing songs about enduring demon torment and making agreements with malevolent deities. I also learned that church members judged the relationship, which was fascinating. Many of the most significant musicians emerged from the church.” Coogler says he wanted to show the “duality” of the people “going to church on Sunday or in a nightclub hours before on a Saturday night.” He added, “I wanted to investigate and convey that dichotomy, as well as the link to the continent and what storytelling and musical storytelling meant to us there.”

While LeBron James is known for his game on the court, one thing he won’t play about is his wife Savannah James. Following a viral post from Kevin Gates —who declared he would never trade places with the NBA star because he doesn’t like how his wife (Savannah) “looks at him”— LeBron seemingly clapped back. James shared a picture him and Savannah cozied up, looking more in love than ever. “Kings don’t concern themselves with the opinions of peasants.” Where to next Queen?!?! Let’s get it!” the post’s caption reads. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) LeBron James Gets His Own Ken Doll, Named First Barbie ‘Kenbassador’ Throughout his illustrious career, LeBron James has achieved many milestones. With his latest, he’s partnered with Mattel Inc. and the LeBron James Family Foundation, making the Los Angeles Lakers star Barbie’s first-ever official “Kenbassador.” LeBron’s doll features him dressed in a white and blue varsity jacket with his “LJ” initials on the front. On the back, it reads “LeBron” and includes his signature phrase “Just a Kid from Akron.” On its left sleeve, the doll has a blue and black Ohio patch and a green and gold crown insignia from his foundation. Also, the doll is rocking some crisp blue and white Nikes. In an official statement, James shared the inspiration behind the collaboration with Mattel. “As a young kid, I was fortunate to have role models who not only inspired me but also showed me what’s possible through hard work and dedication.”  He added, “Now, as an adult, I understand how vital it is for young people to have positive figures to look up to. That’s why partnering with Barbie to release the LeBron James Kenbassadors doll is such an honor. It’s an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role models who instill confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness.”

Giddy-Up Hotties! Megan Thee Stallion has saddled up and is ready to release a new track. On Saturday (Apr.19), the Houston Hottie took to Instagram to share the exciting news with fans. Titled “Whenever,” the new single is scheduled to drop on Friday, April 25. “WHENEVER. APRIL 25. [Clock emoji]. PRE-SAVE NOW HOTTIES.” Along with the news, Megan shared the track’s 70s-inspired cover art, a nod to her 2019 mixtape cover “Fever,” which also drew inspiration from 1970s Blaxplotation film posters. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion) Megan Thee Stallion Talks ‘ACt III,’ Working With Doechii, And More Last month, the rapper hopped on TikTok live to share details about the third installment of her MEGAN series, Act III, with her fans. During the live chat, Megan Thee Stallion revealed that hotties can expect a new song and music video soon. At the time, the rapper had not dropped a release date and was adamant about not “giving away” too many details. With this next project, the rapper says she’s looking to challenge herself in new ways regarding beat selection and features. “I only want to do features with people that I feel like either one, I haven’t done a feature with yet, and two, like that I listen to on my own time…People I actually, ya know, like f*ck with.” Along with teasing her upcoming project, Megan revealed the one artist she has on her album’s “wishlist” and hopes to collaborate with: Doechii. “I love Doechii, b*tch,” she says to fans in the comment section. “I do wanna do a song with Doechii. That is on my album wishlist.”

SZA recently took a trip down Sesame Street, where she got to hang out with Elmo and the rest of the show’s quirky characters. During the episode, which premiered on Apr.10, SZA helped Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Gabrielle learn about being patient and kind to yourself. SZA shared with Elmo and the gang how a gratitude jar can help one remember to be grateful for what they have even if they’re unhappy with their current circumstances. “A gratitude jar is a place where you can put words or pictures of things you’re grateful for,” SZA said. She added, “Well, sometimes when you feel sad or have other really big feelings, it can be easy to forget the things that we’re thankful for. So the jar helps us to remember.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) SZA Debuts Beauty Line Amid Kendrick Lamar Tour Buzz SZA is making her mark in the beauty world with the launch of her brand, Not Beauty, which makes its debut just in time for her upcoming Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar. Her first product release features a trio of lip gloss shades—ones she’s been quietly wearing for months, including during standout public moments like her appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show. Speaking with Vogue, she shared, “I’m not a beauty maven, but I know lips.” “I know what I like, and I’m diligent about finding the best quality ingredients. I wanted to fill a need with something that works for me and that I use daily. Following your passion and letting it lead you, and letting the story develop itself by following the throughline of risk, trust and willingness is literally what my entire life and career has been about.” Explaining the brand’s name, she said, “[It] was representative of a reminder of: Don’t try to be these other brands, don’t try to be anything. Don’t just make a random celebrity brand just because you can. My whole life is about being pressure-free but still trying your best, and that’s what Not is about.”

During the height of her fame as an artist in the music industry, Keri Hilson revealed that she was battling depression. In an interview with PEOPLE, Hilson opened up about the struggles she faced that caused her lengthy hiatus. ‘I was also depressed at the new height of my career with the success of “Pretty Girl Rock.” I was just not okay. I was not well, I needed a break. I hadn’t taken a break since I was 14 years old in my first girl group. When we disbanded, I went headfirst into songwriting at 17, got my first big check by 18. I joined another group and was also writing while in college,” Hilson said. “So I never had a break from 14 to, say, mid-20s. It was already a decade of just pure dedication, and I needed a break. Fame was a beast for me, and I fell into a really dark place,” she continued. ‘I needed to step away for a moment. I thought it’d be just a one-year moment, not a 14-year moment, but it turns out it was necessary. I really can’t regret it. I, as a human, needed that time.” She also spoke about how she almost quit the music business entirely. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @kerihilson “I just wasn’t sure of it anymore. The industry was changing. I love making the art, I love doing music, I love making music, I love performing music — but I didn’t love everything that came with it. I didn’t love the heavy criticism,” Hilson explained. ‘It’s just not like the old industry now, and that, to me, felt like a threat. It felt like you have to be so careful and so cautious in how you speak, what you say, where you go, what you do, how you’re perceived, things you say or [post online]. It felt like I was playing a game of, “How many ways can I be misunderstood?” Almost 15 years after the release of her last album, No Boys Allowed, Hilson is making her long-awaited return with a new nine-track project, We Need to Talk. While she’s excited to be back making music, she admitted that being away for so long has made her nervous. ‘I’m being completely honest, it feels a little scary. It feels like I’m starting over — I like that feeling. I feel ready. I feel excited,” she said. “I feel a lot of gratitude for the opportunity to still do it. I don’t take that for granted.”

Throughout his illustrious career,  Ice Cube has earned many accolades. For his latest honor, the hip-hop icon was immortalized with the imprint of his hands and his signature Converse All-Stars outside the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Taking to Instagram, the “Don Mega” shared his excitement about the distinguished honor.. Today was legendary,” Cube wrote of the moment on IG. “Left my prints in cement at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Honored to continue to receive my flowers in a business I never thought I’d be a part of.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ice Cube (@icecube) Now, among Hollywood’s biggest stars who have received the honor, the moment was not lost on the West Coast legend. “To have my hands, signature, to put the Chuck Taylors in the cement here, it’s next level,” Cube told ABC7 of the honor. “It’s things you don’t even dream of because the dream is too big.” “I think my forte is truth to power and I think speaking the truth has gotten me power so, you know, I think it’s really about celebrating from NWA all the way to my new records and everything in between,” he continued. During the ceremony, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Cube’s son, paid tribute to his father. “I said in my speech, ‘People always ask, “What’s it like to be Ice Cube’s son?”‘ I don’t know. You know, O’Shea Jackson Sr. is my dad, and he likes to eat cereal at night, watches the Lakers, and would make you take the trash out every now and then.” Mike Epps, who collaborated with Cube on the Friday franchise films, All About the Benjamins, and Janky Promoters, was also on hand for the ceremony.  “Ice Cube has been the most influential part of my life, apart from my dad. I listened to his music as a teenager,” Epps said. I’m still starstruck of this dude. I’m still amazed at his talent. Along with the prestigious recognition, Cube recently announced the “Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude” tour. With dates across the country, the tour marks Cube’s first domestic headlining tour in more than a decade and will celebrate his remarkable forty-year career in the game. “I’m finally doing a coast-to-coast tour with a big production. I’m giving y’all something special, something real with the Truth to Power Tour 2025,” Cube said about the tour. “ Secure your tickets early using code TRUTHTOPOWER. If you ever seen me before, don’t sleep on this one.”