T.I. has made his official (and final) return to music with his latest single, “LET EM KNOW.” It features production from Pharrell Williams and is the first single off the rapper’s upcoming album, Kill The King. The track begins with Williams’ iconic four-count start as T.I. reminds folks he’s still the King Of The South, tapping back into his Trap Muzik roots. “Big dog, all we get is bread, I ain’t never scared/Big flex on a n***a head,” he raps. “What I’m standing on? Business, big check, we done did that/Pushing whips back, better give me respect and some more.” The rapper’s last project, The L.I.B.R.A., was released in October 2020. Guest appearances on the project ranged from 21 Savage and Benny the Butcher to Killer Mike and comedian Ms. Pat. Following its release, it landed in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 at No.18. It also cracked the top 10 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at No.9. The new single, “Let Em’ Know,” is expected to appear on his upcoming album, Kill the King, which is expected to drop later this year. T.I. LET EM KNOW PRODUCED BY PHARRELL FIRST SINGLE OFF HIS NEW ALBUM OUT NOW pic.twitter.com/m04LbEcb6I — Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) January 18, 2026 T.I. Claims Mistaken Identity With Balding Hat Video: ‘The Devil Is A Lie’ In other news, before chopping off his locs, T.I. addressed rumors he was rocking a bald spot following a TikTok video circulating online. Last month, he stopped by Yung Joc & The Streetz Morning Takeover and confirmed that, in fact, things were not as they appear. According to T.I., he was not the man in that TikTok. “The devil is a lie,” the ATL actor said. During one moment in the discussion, one of the hosts even proposed that the footage could have been digitally altered, to which T.I. agreed. That said, the rapper appears to be taking the onslaught of jokes online in good fun. “It’s comedy, so I laugh,” he says. “It wouldn’t be funny if it were true.” Overall, the “Live Your Life” rapper believes people online need more “discernment” to tell what’s true or not. “In this age of technology where everyone keeps their phone in their hand,” he says. “… You have to use discernment, ya know, the word says, ‘use discernment.’” Discernment would say that the person that I’ve grown to know over these 25 years—the person I have grown to know as TIP—I can’t see him moving around in the house, let alone on stage like this.”

A$AP Rocky is headlining Amazon Music’s live docu-performance series, Songline, to pay tribute to A$AP Yams and perform songs from Don’t Be Dumb. The livestream is expected to kick off at 9 p.m. EST and 6 p.m. PT. It will be available to view on Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Twitch.”A$AP Rocky returns to the stage to perform his new album Don’t Be Dumb in a special tribute to A$AP Yams, marking eleven years since his passing,” says Amazon Music’s website. The surprise news came Saturday (Jan.17) after A$AP Rocky shared a teaser of the event on his Instagram Story. The reel was also shared on Amazon Music’s official Instagram page. “The city’s watching. A$AP Rocky livestream, 9pm ET | 6pm PT,” the post’s caption reads. View this post on Instagram A$AP Rocky Clarifies Reported Drake Diss In other news, A$AP Rocky responds to claims that he’s dissing Drake on his new project. Following the release of his long-awaited album Don’t Be Dumb, fans quickly zeroed in on a track titled “Stole Ya Flow,” with many interpreting certain lyrics as a possible shot at the Toronto rapper. However, Rocky has now made it clear that the song was not intended as a diss. In a recent interview, the Harlem rapper explained that “Stole Ya Flow” isn’t about Drake specifically. On the track Rocky raps, ““First you stole my flow, so I stole yo’ btch,” and “N***s getting BBLs, lucky we don’t body shame / Throwing dirt on Rocky name, turn around and copy game.” When asked if it can be confirmed he was dissing Drake, Rocky explained, “It’s for whoever feels like it’s about them.”

Kianna Underwood, who starred in both Nickelodeon’s All That series and Little Bill, was reportedly killed in a horrific hit-and-run, according to NYPD officials. Sources close to the situation told TMZ that Kianna was left “motionless” in the street after being dragged under a vehicle for nearly two blocks. According to the outlet, the call went out early Friday (Jan.16). When EMS and police officials arrived, the former actress was announced dead on the scene. Underwood was only 33 years old at the time of her death. Back in 2023, a video posted to social media showed a former co-star of Underwood’s revealing that the actress had been homeless for quite some time. While she never called out anyone by name, she accused Nickelodeon and other castmates of not helping the star despite portraying “one big family.” Jonathan Lipnicki and Kianna Underwood during Hairspray Opening Night Los Angeles – After Party at Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic) Kianna Underwood’s Father Speaks Out: “Did anyone try to comfort my baby?” No arrests have been made so far. NBC News recently reported that Underwood had been crossing the street in the Brownsville area of Brooklyn. NYPD officials say she was initially hit by a black SUV, then struck again by a black-and-gray sedan. “The operators of the vehicles did not remain on scene,” said the NYPD in a recent statement. The late actress’ father hopped on Facebook, questioning if she had been left to “die in the street alone.” He added, “Did anyone try to comfort my baby…or did they just stand around with their phones?” The post was only shared with close family and friends. So far, no other family members have spoken up about the horrific incident. The NY Post obtained footage of the moment where a car can be seen traveling nearly a block before Underwood’s body tumbles from underneath.

This is not a drill. After nearly five years, T.I. is back. Not only is he sporting a new look, but he’s also ready to drop new music. On Sunday (Jan.18), T.I. shared a clip to his social media accounts of him in the barbershop, getting his locks cut off. “It’s time,” he says in the clip. The rapper is then seen sporting his iconic low fade haircut. The video then cuts to a shot of him rapping while standing up in a moving car, before the screen cuts to black and reads “T.I. IS BACK.” The new track, which appears to be called “Let Em’ Know,” has no official release date as of yet. According to Vice Magazine, Pharrell Williams is behind the production. Judging by the comment section, fans are more than excited to hear the Atlanta native return to his Trap Muzik roots. “YOU GOT THIS KING! LETSSSS GOOOO!” one fan wrote on X. He’s Baaaaaaack!!!!!!#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/CzRWypDDzG — T.I. (@Tip) January 18, 2026 T.I. Previews New Track, “Let Em’ Know” Another fan jokingly reminded T.I. that if he’s going to bring back the old T.I., he needs to complete his signature look by tipping a hat to the side of his head. “Now hang that hat off the side of your head…” they wrote. One person noted that while they were a fan of his comedy, they were happy to see him return to music. “I f*cked with your comedy TIP. I still wanna see you do comedy. But I’m glad you’re back in the booth… Rap needs you nigga. It’s terrible out here! Can’t wait to hear that HEAT!!!” they commented. The rapper’s last project, The L.I.B.R.A., was released in October 2020. Guest appearances on the project ranged from 21 Savage and Benny the Butcher to Killer Mike and comedian Ms. Pat. Following its release, it landed in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 at No.18. It also cracked the top 10 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at No.9. The new single, “Let Em’ Know,” is expected to appear on his upcoming album, Kill the King, which is expected to drop later this year.

During a recent TikTok live, Jayda Cheaves made a startling allegation about her baby’s father, Lil Baby, and her former friend Ari Fletcher. The social media personality was promoting her skincare line before it became an all-out tea session. According to her, the speculation surrounding Ari and the rapper is, in fact, true, and they did allegedly hook up in the past. One fan asked, “The rumors about Ari & Baby???” to which she responded, “Them rumors are true, no shade, that’s been going on,” Cheaves said. She added, “That’s been a thing, but I don’t wanna talk about it.” It wasn’t long before the 27-year-old moved on to another subject. Not long after, a clip of the conversation circulated online, which only added to the long-standing rumors about Ari and Baby. Ari also happens to be dating one of Lil Baby’s peers, Moneybagg Yo. Jayda Wayda CONFIRMS that lil baby slept w Ari Flecter Yikes they USED to be friends …. pic.twitter.com/eAe2Cz1eI2 — BLAST OF POPCULTURE (@BLASTOFPOP) January 17, 2026 Since they began in 2019, the pair have had a rocky relationship. From breakups and makeups to infidelity, the couple has faced it all. Back in 2023, Ari admitted that Moneybagg cheated on her, but she chose to stay, and they later worked things out. Regarding this new information, Jayda has not offered any more commentary on the subject. Moneybagg Yo, Ari, and Lil Baby have also stayed silent on the alleged news. Who is Jayda Cheaves? The 27-year-old social media personality and entrepreneur rose to fame in part due to her relationship with rapper Lil Baby. The pair welcomed a son back in 2019 named Loyal. There’s not much information available about Jayda’s childhood, except that she graduated from high school in 2015. Jayda is also the owner of an online boutique store, AmourJayda. She has amassed a large online presence, with millions of followers, spanning across all her social media platforms.

In a new interview, Daniel Caesar revisited his 2019 controversy over his defense of personality, YesJulz. She had been accused of cultural appropriation and heavily criticized for a post she shared years earlier, rocking a t-shirt that read “N*ggas lie a lot.” Julz, who has white ancestry, eventually apologized for the post. Despite this, Daniel stood up for Julz’s behavior and threatened fans to “cancel” him. Looking back, the singer believes he had some internalized hatred of himself. He also noted that his critiques were ultimately right. “As time has passed, I’m like, ‘Oh, they were 100 percent right,’” he said. “When you accept this type of behavior from people that throughout history have exemplified to you that they hate you, and then you accept the behavior to get out of the circumstances that you’re in, it’s undignified. You’re giving up your own dignity.” NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: Daniel Caesar performs at Madison Square Garden on October 17, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) Daniel Caesar Says He Took ‘Accountability’ After Being ‘Canceled’ Last year, in an interview with Billboard, the Toronto-born singer recalled how “drunk and foolish” he’d been. However, he notes it only became a story because he was famous. “I was canceled for being drunk and foolish in public. But that was something I was always allowed to do. No one gave a s–t [until I started to get famous].” He added, “I’m literally my father’s son,” he continued. “My dad was the guy at sabbath lunch talking about how the government was going to put microchips in our arms. And I’m the same. If you get me riled up at a party, I’ll start talking about some crazy s–t. People roll their eyes, but that’s just the way we are.”

Popular UK pastor Tobi Adegboyega had some choice words for Druski, following his latest viral skit. Hitting over 60 million views within only a few hours of being posted, the clip satirically depicts the culture and leaders of megachurches. However, in Pastor Tobi’s opinion, it wasn’t funny at all. He then took personal shots at the social media personality’s weight. According to him, when “fat people run out of jokes, they just go to the church.” He continued: “He’s not funny, he’s fat. At the end of the day, we came out of a church system—some of your known actors and actresses, they were raised with those offerings. So it’s my right as a leader, as a pastor, to correct the [perception of] church [culture], [it’s] not a joke. Churches give more to their community more than rappers do. The most stingy pastor is still a better giver than the greatest rapper.” Popular UK pastor Pastor Tobi responded to Druski’s viral megachurch skit, pushing back on comedians targeting churches and saying pastors give back more to their communities than rappers do. pic.twitter.com/WFU9ooCznq — Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 17, 2026 Who Is Pastor Tobi Adegboyega? There isn’t much information about Tobi Adegboyega’s childhood, except for being born in November 1980 in Southwestern Nigeria. Adegboyega was also apparently the son of a pastor. According to Premier Christianity, his church, SPAC Nation, Salvation Proclaimers Annointed Church, is well known for its “radical approach” to mentoring the youth with “over-the-top displays of opulence.” Last December, Pastor Tobi came under fire for allegedly finally exploiting some of his church members. One of the most startling claims was that he was pressuring youth to donate their blood for “seed money.” SPAC Nation told Huffington Post UK that “any encouragement to ask anyone to donate blood is not done here. If Pastor Tobi ever addressed anything in line with this, it was to make sure people contribute to their community rightly and not to do so for money.”

Turk, a founding member of the Hot Boys, is embroiled in a contentious legal battle after asserting that he was unfairly removed from the Cash Money 30th Anniversary Tour. Promoters, however, maintain that his conduct endangered the integrity and safety of the event. The dispute, which builds on longstanding tensions between Turk, the label, and other members of the Hot Boys, is now moving toward a court-mandated settlement. This settlement could determine the future of the tour and the parties involved. According to AllHipHop, the conflict between Turk and Dope Shows Inc., the tour’s promoters, has gained widespread attention as legal ramifications mount. A settlement conference, scheduled for February 17, represents a standard federal procedure. It is intended to encourage resolution before the matter escalates to trial. Despite the public tension, this step suggests both sides are exploring the possibility of compromise to avoid protracted litigation. The Heart of the Dispute Turk contends that his removal from the tour was imposed by the promoters rather than a voluntary decision. In response, Dope Shows Inc. filed a $12 million lawsuit, alleging Turk engaged in threats and defamatory actions that compromised both the tour and its security. Concurrently, Turk filed his own suit in Florida seeking $340,000 in unpaid compensation. He argues that the promoters used security concerns as a pretext to withhold payment. Complicating matters further are Turk’s highly publicized conflicts with B.G., another key Hot Boys member. Promoters claim these incidents contributed to B.G.’s removal after his probation officer intervened. They note that B.G. generates significantly higher revenue than Turk. Additionally, Dope Shows alleges that unauthorized disclosures about the tour’s finances have further strained the relationship. This development is deepening an already intricate legal battle. As both parties approach the settlement talks, the prospect of a lengthy courtroom confrontation remains if an agreement is not reached. The outcome will have far-reaching implications for the careers and reputations of everyone involved. This emphasizes how quickly disputes in the music industry can escalate. Ultimately, the resolution of this conflict will test whether negotiation can prevail over confrontation. It will offer Turk and the Cash Money legacy a path forward from this turbulent chapter.

French Montana used a recent interview to quiet lingering speculation about his relationship with Drake, offering clarity without theatrics. Sitting alongside Max B, the Bronx rapper spoke with ease. This signaled that whatever narratives have circulated online do not reflect reality. At a time when hip-hop discourse is hyper-attuned to perceived slights, French framed the moment as far simpler than fans might assume. There was no edge in his delivery, only familiarity. The conversation unfolded against the backdrop of Drake’s highly publicized tensions elsewhere in rap, particularly his standoff with Kendrick Lamar. Within that larger context, an old industry story has resurfaced involving a reported cease-and-desist tied to a Drake feature meant for French. That episode has often been linked to Drake’s fallout with Rick Ross. However, French suggested it never carried personal weight for him. He appeared intent on separating rumor from lived experience. Pressed about where he currently stands with Drake, French answered plainly. “That’s my guy.” The response drew visible excitement from Envy, who hinted at an unreleased song that includes Drake. Max B quickly leaned into the moment, adding, “I would love to hear me and Drake too on a record,” a comment that drew knowing smiles from across the table. French Montana Dismisses Feud, Hints at Drake-Max B Collab French was then questioned on why talk of a feud between the “Splash Brothers” and “Sniper Gang” ever gained traction. French dismissed the idea, noting he has never engaged in public back-and-forths. The tone stayed light when Envy jokingly asked how he could get the Drake record himself. French laughed before replying, “Maybe I’ll tell Drake, ‘Let’s give that to Max.’ ‘Cause it is a New York record.” Even as an offhand remark, the idea of a collaboration involving Drake, Max B, and French Montana was enough to spark interest online. Each artist brings a distinct lineage and audience. This makes the possibility feel culturally significant rather than merely nostalgic. Whether anything materializes remains to be seen. Still, the chemistry implied in the room did not go unnoticed. As for the long-rumored cease-and-desist, there appears to be some factual basis. Gamma CEO Larry Jackson has acknowledged the situation, characterizing it as more playful than contentious. By his account, the exchange never rose to the level of a serious dispute. In hindsight, it reads less like a rift and more like a brief industry moment. It took on a life of its own.

A renewed creative pulse is running through the West household, where music has once again become a shared and evolving project. North West is steadily carving out space as a young artist with her own instincts, while Kanye West moves closer to the release of his forthcoming album, BULLY. Clips and previews circulating online have fueled conversation across hip-hop circles, offering brief but telling glimpses into what both are building. The moment feels less like a passing curiosity and more like an active chapter in a larger family narrative. Legacy and emergence are unfolding side by side. North’s presence has already been felt on recent Kanye releases, but her voice is becoming clearer beyond those appearances. She recently shared a preview of a track titled “Piercing On My Hand” on her Instagram Story, featuring production from Kanye. The version he crafted takes a restrained approach, leaning on strings and open space rather than percussion. By contrast, North’s original cut carries sharper edges and a more confrontational energy. The split reveals two creative perspectives branching from the same idea. Her reach is no longer limited to collaborations at home. North recently produced a track for Lil Novi, the son of Lil Wayne, linking two prominent hip-hop bloodlines through sound rather than symbolism. The pairing reflects a growing movement among younger artists who gravitate toward the high-intensity “rage” style. That direction diverges from where many of their parents currently land musically. Still, it suggests that influence within hip-hop families may now be flowing upward as much as it does down. Anticipating Kanye West’s BULLY Kanye West is expected to release BULLY on January 30, following a rollout shaped by delays and debate over the use of artificial intelligence in music. With a confirmed tracklist and physical pre-orders now available, the project appears firmly back on track. Fans have taken those signals as reassurance after months of uncertainty. Interest has only intensified as North’s recent musical activity continues to draw attention. Many are watching closely to see whether her work appears on the final album. It remains unclear whether North’s recent previews will translate into official releases or remain snapshots of her creative process. At just 12 years old, she has already shown a strong sense of tone and control, with room to grow into something far more expansive. Her development is unfolding alongside a father known for constant reinvention. As BULLY approaches, the West family’s creative orbit feels wider, more fluid, and increasingly intertwined.