Expect to see more of Cam Newton on ESPN.  The former NFL MVP has signed a muliti-year deal with the network who will expand his role on First Take, ESPN’s signature morning debate show. OnThursday (August 28), Newton made his return during a live show at Norfolk State University as part of the First Take HBCU tour. In a statement, Newton expressed his excitement to be back with the sports network. “I am excited to be back with the First Take team and share my voice on all things sports,” Newton said. “This is an incredible opportunity for me to connect with fans and bring my passion and knowledge to a show I’ve always admired.” “Cam Newton is a unique talent who is authentically himself, and that’s a key ingredient for success on First Take,” said David Roberts, Executive Vice President, Executive Editor, Sports News and Entertainment at ESPN. “Cam is also an ultimate team player. All of us at ESPN look forward to watching Cam create a strong connection with his teammates and our fans.” The news of Newton’s signing comes after Shannon Sharpe, who served as a regular contributor on First Take, was let go from the company after settling a sexual-assault lawsuit. Sharpe was accused of sexual assault and battery by a former romantic partner. There were conflicting reports over the nature of his exit,  Newton is no stranger to ESPN. Last season, Newton appeared on “First Take” on Fridays during the NFL season. As a standout collegiate player, the  Heisman Trophy led Auburn University to the BCS National Championship in 2010, becoming the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He would go on to win the NFL Rookie of the Year, the NFL MVP award in 2015, leading the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50 the same year. He also holds the NFL record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 75.

Wack 100 weighed in on the latest Young Thug controversy during a phone call with DJ Akademiks that was streamed live. The debate centers around a resurfaced police interrogation clip where Thug mentions Peewee Roscoe, raising questions about whether it counts as snitching. During the conversation, Akademiks tried to explain Thug’s perspective and offered reasons why the rapper might have said what he did. Wack 100, however, was firm. “Telling is telling,” he said, emphasizing that even if Thug tried to spin the situation, speaking to law enforcement about Peewee Roscoe qualifies as snitching in his eyes. He also made it clear that he still respects and supports Thug as an artist. Wack noted that the clip is not new, but it has become a topic of discussion recently because of Thug’s public jabs at Gunna, who has faced his own snitching allegations. In Wack 100’s opinion, Thug should have stayed silent and avoided discussing Wunna with police. Akademiks offered a different viewpoint, pointing out that how the streets perceive someone and their fan support often matters more than the actual facts. The controversy has also fueled additional tension. Ralo accused Thug of causing Lil Baby to distance himself due to supposed snitching claims. Thug addressed the situation on Twitter, drawing a distinction between his actions and others. “Your friends said you didn’t lie,” he wrote. “You actually told on real people. You said that somebody actually did something that they was arrested for. I made an honest mistake saying that we sold Lil Wayne Weed to try to prove to the detectives that we wasn’t beefing with him. See the difference? And let’s not forget u told fani [Willis] u would take the stand on me and [YFN] Lucci in our case to get out of jail [crying-laughing emoji]. I tried to free my mans. You tried to fry yours [crying-laughing emojis] @ralofamgoon.” This discussion shows how past actions and old recordings can quickly reignite debates in the hip-hop world.

Nick Cannon recently shared that he had no problem supporting Mariah Carey when they were married. During the latest episode of his Nick Cannon @ Night podcast, Cannon noted that they “were both on our own boss-level trajectory” during their marriage and loved to see her shine. “When I was married, that was what we respected and actually admired about one another is that we were both on our own boss-level trajectory,” Cannon recalled.”I love the fact that you know she put all of her work, all of her passion, all of her art, and I could be there to be that support.” “I used to say like the thing that was dope was when she turned hers on, I turned mine off. So I was very comfortable supporting her,” he continued. The Wild ‘n Out creator also shared that “most men don’t get to marry Mariah Carey.” “I went in understanding, like, wow, this is one of the most amazing people to ever grace this planet, so I was able to play my position in a way,” he said. “But I think in my nature, I’m so confident in who I am that no matter if you’re having a hard day, I’ve got a pillow, this is your soft girl era, go ahead and sit down.” “It’s that type of energy I feel like whatever you need from me, if you need me to be the man and buck up for a second, I can be that, or if you just need me to fall back, I can be that, as well,” he added. In 2008, Cannon and Carey were married after dating for a brief period. They divorced in 2016. The former couple have two children together, twins Monroe Cannon and Moroccan Scott Cannon.

Ice Spice and Kehlani turned heads during a recent night out when a playful moment between the two was caught on camera. The Bronx rapper and the R&B star were seen enjoying themselves on the dance floor, and a clip that surfaced online shows Ice Spice dancing on Kehlani. The fun interaction quickly went viral, leading fans to flood social media with jokes and commentary. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Viewers of the video immediately started pointing out how engaged Kehlani seemed during the moment. Since the singer has openly referred to themselves as a “raging lesbian,” some couldn’t resist making lighthearted remarks. “Ice playing Kehlani really get like that [rolling on the floor laughing emoji],” one Instagram user wrote. Another fan added, “Ice definitely brought the full man out of Kehlani that night [laughing emoji].” Others speculated about sparks flying between the two, with one comment reading, “That eye contact she tried to do but ice wasn’t paying attention [face with peeking eye emoji]. Kehlani trynna PH*CK sum [two laughing emojis].” Not everyone believed there was more to it, though. Some defended the moment as nothing more than two friends having fun at the club. “If you throwing it freely why not catch it [laughing emoji]. Im like kehlani, we just having fun. It’s like if we cool we should be able to dance in the club together without it being weird. Is yall ok? Lol,” another person chimed in. While fans continue debating the viral video, Ice Spice also grabbed attention elsewhere. Over the weekend, Soulja Boy reacted to pictures of her in a red leather jacket, short denim cutoffs, and bright orange curls. Quoting a line from the movie Friday, he tweeted, “All I need is 5 mins maybe 10 she gonna wanna marry a n***a.” Though she has yet to respond, he has already made another attempt to get her attention.

Memphis Bleek had addressed Tony Yayo comments when he claimed Jay-Z doesn’t treat him the same way he gets treated by 50 Cent. During an appearance on Drink Champs, Bleek took some time to set the record straight after hearing Yayo’s remarks. The Brooklyn rapper said that Jay-Z is under no obligation to finance his career and he is doing quite well on his own. “I seen something Tony Yayo said Hov don’t look out for me like 50 look out for him. I just want to clear that up, Hov don’t have to. You know what I mean,” Bleek said. “I’m chewing a lot on my own. If Hov look out, I’m telling you, I’ll be up there. So when y’all see me out here, that’s the Blizzo budget. I just want to let n***as know Hov don’t have to.” On an episode of Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Yayo shared his thoughts on the difference between Jay-Z and 50 Cent’s relationships with their protégés. Yayo went on to state that his and 50’s relationship is more genuine.  “It’s a difference. Jay-Z, never really like […] Memphis Bleek, you would say he was his friend, but it was different for us.Me and 50 was more friends […] I’m not saying them n***as wasn’t friends, but when you look at me and Fif, it’s like alright cool,” said Yayo. “Jay and Bleek did they sell drugs, like in the same area? I was on the block with [50 Cent]. I can compare us to Jay and Bleek. What I’m saying to you is I feel like me and Fif have more of a friendship because Jay-Z is more business.” “You gotta understand, lot of artists don’t get treated [well],” Yayo continued. “People think that Fif is a bad guy, but when you’re staying in the Four Seasons, you got the Eiffel Tower there, you staying at the W in Bahrain sipping Ranis on the water.”

The Caribbean Music Awards are almost here — and HOT 97 is bringing you closer to the action than ever before! Hosted by the hilarious Majah Hype, the night will showcase unforgettable performances from some of the biggest names in music, including Busta Rhymes (recipient of this year’s Elite Icon Award), Kranium, Chronic Law, Lady Lava, Ding Dong, and more. The show kicks off at 8 PM sharp and promises to be a historic celebration of Caribbean culture and sound. Busta Rhymes to Receive Elite Icon Award In a landmark moment, Busta Rhymes will be honored with the Elite Icon Award, recognizing his legendary influence on music and culture. Fans can also look forward to a one-of-a-kind live performance as Busta hits the stage to deliver an unforgettable set. HOT 97 is giving fans the chance to experience the Caribbean Music Awards live! Couldn’t grab a ticket? We’ve got you covered. HOT 97 will be live-streaming from the red carpet at HOT97.com, on the HOT 97 app, YouTube, and Twitch — bringing you interviews, behind-the-scenes action, and all the fashion moments. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOT 97 (@hot97) Don’t Miss Out If luck isn’t on your side, you can still secure your spot at this cultural celebration. Tickets are available now at CaribbeanMusicAwards.com. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caribbean Music Awards (@caribmusicawards)

Ice-T has opened up about the death of Coolio. In his new documentary Fame & Fentanyl, he shared the devastating effects of drug use to his friend. “Coolio was healthy. I know he didn’t want to die. He spoke freely about it, but that’s the thing,” Ice-T explained. “If you’re doing drugs recreationally, you’re not trying to take your own life. Recreation is a game, but this is no longer a game.” Collio passed in 2022 at the age of 59 after suffering an accidental overdose  of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. The death of Michael K. Williams of The Wire actor Michael K. Williams, who also died from a drug overdose, singled to Ice-T that an epidemic was spreading. “When it hit Coolio and it hit Mike, that was the nail in the coffin. That’s when you go, ‘Yo, this shit‑‑‑ is real.’ You know what I’m saying? It’s real.” “We had never worked together, but we had planned to. I hoped to work with him. When people die of fentanyl, it’s like they got hit by a car, like they got shot,” he continued. “This is a person who’s healthy, and tomorrow they’re outta there.” Ice-T also shared that while he’s never used drugs, he had felt the effects of addiction from his family and friends “I don’t do drugs, but I never expected it. Everyone has someone in their life who has been affected by fentanyl. These are the narratives that everyone should be aware of, the Law & Order: SVU star told Entertainment Weekly. Fame and Fentanyl is A&E’s new documentary special, premiered on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. 

Black athletic excellence is coming to Walt Disney World! Several elite Black college basketball programs will participate in the first-ever HBCU Hoops Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort on Dec. 4-7. According to the press release, the women’s bracket includes Bethune-Cookman University, Hampton University, Edward Waters University, and Cheyney University. The tourney features Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Florida Memorial University, and Barber-Scotia College, while the women’s bracket includes Bethune-Cookman University, Hampton University, Edward Waters University, and Cheyney University.  The highly anticipated games will take place in the State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in a single-elimination format with the chance to claim the inaugural HBCU Hoops Invitational titles. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HBCU Hoops Invitational (@hbcuhoopsinvitational) “The HBCU Hoops Invitational is far more than a basketball tournament—it’s a powerful celebration of heritage, excellence and the limitless future of HBCU athletics,’’ said HBCU Hoops Global vice president Haywoode Workman, a former NBA veteran before becoming an NBA referee. a “We are building a legacy that extends well beyond the court to open doors to academic achievement, career readiness and financial opportunity for our scholar-athletes.”  In addition to the HBCU Invitational, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is hosting the WBCA Showcase (Nov. 20-23) and the ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 24-28) during the Thanksgiving holiday week.  “We are excited about the opportunities to bring thrilling, family-friendly events to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and this HBCU Hoops Invitational adds to our lineup of high-caliber youth and college events,’’ said Jorge Senior, Disney’s Director of Sport Planning and Development. “If you’re a college basketball fan, there’s no better place to be during the holidays than at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.’’  Tickets for the HBCU Hoops Invitational are on sale now at www.hbcuhoops.org.

When it comes to sexual partners, Tyrese Gibson recently admitted that his body count is through the roof. During a revealing appearance on Kirk Franklin’s Den of Kings podcast, along with Skyh Black and DJ Montay, Gibson spoke candidly about the large number of sexual partners he’s been with and the impact those encounters had on him. “I believe my number is a little scary,” Gibson said.“I got to a point where a powerful man of God asked me a question. Without even coming at me, he just said, ‘Hey, Reese, let me ask you, man. How many more?’” Gibson shared that he was already doing introspection on himself when the question was posed to him. “I already had it in my head that I’m doing too much, too often. Too many cities, too many states, too many countries. It’s too much.” “You either a sex addict and you out here just trying to put your weewee in everything and you just losing your damn mind, or it’s coming from something,” he continued. Eventually, the singer/actor concluded that his sexual lifestyle was something that he couldn’t maintain. “What’s triggering your sexual appetite? Why do you want to do so much with so many?” he asked. “I had convinced myself that at a certain point, it’s going to be over. All of this access that I have to all of these women, it’s going to be over soon. It’s going to be another situatoisere one minute you hot, and the next minute you not.”

Death Row co-founder Suge Knight claims that Drake’s Tupac chain is not real. During a recent interview with Art of Dialogue from his prison cell, Knight claimed the Death Row Records chain formerly belonging to Tupac is fraudulent. “Well, I’m quite sure it’s not true,” said Knight. “When I came up with the idea to make the Death Row chain—one, it had never been done before. Two, it was like wearing a, you know, it was like having your flag, your rag. You can’t tuck it, It means something.” According to Knight, he was the only one authorized to give out authentic chains to represent the record label. He went on to say that Snoop Dogg was the first one to receive the but exchanged it for a “ custom dog paw believing a Death Row chain would cause too much controversy.” Knight also said Dr. Dre and a few others had chains, but others did not. “None of the b**ches on Death Row had Death Row chains. The Dogg Pound [Kurupt and Daz Dillinger] didn’t even have Death Row chains,” Knight said. After Tupac’s release from jail in 1995, Knight claimed that he would give him his own Death Row chain, but he turned down the offer. “He’s like, ‘Shit, you my big bro. Let me wear yours, that’s more important. I don’t want a first one, I want to wear the one you got,” he said. Knight recalled that “Tupac wore his diamond-covered chain immediately upon his release, and no one else had that piece.” “That’s not Tuac’s chain. It’s not a Death Row chain. Whoever sold you that chain, Drake, you need to go beat his motherf**king ass. Crazy,” Knight said.