During a live session on X(formerly Twitter) spaces, Cardi B called out the critics of her new song, “Imaginary Playaz.” The track features a sample of Jay-Z’s track, “Imaginary Player,” which appeared on his 1997 album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. While many of the rapper’s supporters enjoyed the Bronx native’s twist on the classic track, there were quite a few who weren’t fans of it. According to Cardi, the majority of the criticism is coming from “grown-ass” men who are waiting for her “downfall.” However, at no point during the conversation did the rap starlet name anyone in particular. “For people to dog pile on me over one song,” she said. “And when it comes to dog piling, it’s not even just like, ‘Oh well, I don’t like this song,’ because if you don’t like this song, fine, but to come at the way I speak, to make narratives of how I think I am and who the fuck I think I am, to talk about every single piece of me, to bet on my downfall is crazy.” She continued, “There’s grown men that are practically betting for me to lose. Grown-ass men that I ain’t never did nothing to, betting on my downfall. And my thing is with these people, it just be like, when my record do good, when ‘Outside’ did good, people couldn’t believe it.” “When I do good, the numbers ain’t real. When I do bad, my career is over,” Cardi added. “It’s almost ridiculous.” Cardi B’s full space. 8/22/25 pic.twitter.com/Sst59tQVGH — (@cardiuniverse) August 22, 2025 In other news, Cardi B recently shut down rumors that she would be expecting her fourth child. During a recent Instagram live, Cardi B made it clear that she is not currently with child. “’We thirty weeks pregnant?’ No, you stupid b*tch. I’m just f*cking out of breath ’cause I have asthma… Stop f*cking being f*cking funny in this b*tch before you get motherf*cking blocked, b*tch.” Cardi has three children that she shares with her estranged husband, Offset. As previously reported, in a candid moment with Ebro, Offset reflected on his personal failings amid the tense dynamics with his estranged wife, Cardi B, stating: “I f*cked up… I gotta acknowledge that and then get back on the journey… I’ve accepted the actions I’ve done to cause certain situations to happen.”

According to the BBC, Doechii has pulled out of two of the largest music festivals in the U.K., as well as another performance in Paris. On Tuesday (Aug.19), in a social media post, the Rock en Seine shared that Doechii had unexpectedly pulled out of her performance set for Thursday, Aug. 21. Mere hours later, the All Points East festival posted to its official Instagram account that they were “sorry to announce” the rapper would no longer be performing. “She is an incredible artist, and, like all of her fans, we were hugely excited to see her on stage,” the post continued. Prior to the cancellation notice, Doecii was slated to take the stage on Saturday, Aug. 23. Not long after All Point East’s announcement, Forwards Bristol festival shared similar news, in a social media post, and had “sadly announced” Doechii “will not be performing at her upcoming shows.” The rapper was scheduled to perform at the festival this upcoming Sunday, on Aug. 24. Neither Doechii nor a representative from her team has released a statement or explanation as to why the rapper pulled out of her upcoming shows. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Doechii attends The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” – Arrivals at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) In other news, Doechii has been named in a lawsuit where an Atlanta event company says it was scammed out of nearly $200,000 in a bogus booking deal for one of Baltimore’s biggest festivals. Blackout Management LLC claims it paid New Jersey agent Christopher Young $187,500 in December 2024 to lock in performances by Doechii and SiR for the AFRAM Festival. Young allegedly assured the company that his ties to Top Dawg Entertainment gave him direct access to the artists. According to AllHipHop, things started to unravel by March 2025 when Young reportedly told Blackout that both acts had scheduling conflicts. The company says that after months of unanswered questions, it reached out to TDE directly and learned that Doechii had never been booked and that there were only brief talks about SiR. No contracts, promotional materials, or official documents were ever provided. According to the lawsuit, the deposit never reached the label and was instead kept by Young and his business, Sacrifice Management LLC.

Lil Nas X was arrested early Thursday morning (Aug. 21) in Los Angeles after a bizarre and troubling series of events that ended with the rapper allegedly assaulting a police officer. According to reports, the 25-year-old star was spotted around 4 a.m. walking along Ventura Boulevard wearing only white underwear, cowboy boots, and at one point a traffic cone on his head. Witnesses say he told a passerby he was heading to a party. By 5:50 a.m., police responded to multiple 911 calls about a naked man roaming the street. When officers arrived, Lil Nas X allegedly charged at them, striking one officer in the face twice before being subdued and taken into custody. Authorities, concerned about a possible overdose or other health issues, first transported him to a hospital for evaluation. Later that morning, at 11:22 a.m., he was officially booked on a misdemeanor charge of battery on a peace officer at Van Nuys/Valley Jail, where he is being held without bail. Neither Lil Nas X nor his representatives have released an official statement on the arrest. The arrest comes just days after reports that the Grammy-winning artist had been hospitalized for a possible overdose, raising further concerns about his well-being. As of now, no court date has been announced, and the Los Angeles Police Department has not provided additional details. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TMZ (@tmz_tv)

JAY-Z could soon make a return to music. The rap mogul has not delivered a studio album since 2017’s 4:44, but longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek recently revealed that something might be in the works. On Drink Champs, Bleek shared, “I just was with him in Vegas. He just came out on the show, like, yo, my n-gga, they went stupid.” He recalled asking Jay for a spot on whatever he was creating. “I said, ‘Listen, I know you working. Save me a verse.’ He’s like, ‘Alright, I got you.’ So if it happens, it happens.” While fans are eager for new music, Jay has been contending with legal challenges. Earlier this year, a woman accused him and Diddy of sexually assaulting her as a teenager. The story quickly collapsed under scrutiny, and the accuser eventually withdrew her case. Following that dismissal, Jay filed a defamation lawsuit against the woman and her attorney, Tony Buzbee. In his suit, Jay stated that the accusations caused serious financial damage. He alleged he “lost other contracts in the sports and entertainment space that would have generated revenues of, at least, $20 million.” The complaint also detailed that a $55 million credit line was denied and Roc Nation was turned down for a $115 million loan after the allegations surfaced. His filing continued, “We have agreements to produce entertainment programs for certain sporting events. After Mr. Buzbee filed the lawsuit, the media reported that other businesses could end their deals with Roc Nation, and forced one to speak out and address whether these false allegations would end our business relationship.” Buzbee sought to have the case thrown out and claimed there was an agreement between both sides. Jay’s legal team strongly denied that assertion, stating, “Total lie. He brought a false case, lost badly and was forced to dismiss quickly. End of story.”

Claressa Shields has been spending time in Atlanta, but not for her own fight camp. Instead, the undefeated boxing champion has been helping rapper Diamond The Body get ready for the upcoming Baddies reunion. Shields, who saw her anticipated bout with Laila Ali fall apart, has been putting her skills to use by training Diamond inside the gym. Claressa Shields Training Diamond the Body For Potential ‘Baddies Reunion’ Fights https://t.co/etpcaYT7Xw pic.twitter.com/naGYwYfOn4 — TMZ (@TMZ) August 21, 2025 In footage obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Shields guided Diamond through fundamentals like head movement, footwork, and defensive slips, before adding in some light grappling techniques. The session showed Diamond staying focused and committed, knowing the reunion could bring heated confrontations. With a fighter of Shields’ caliber in her corner, she will be walking into the Zeus Network taping at the end of September more prepared than ever. Diamond is no stranger to on-camera altercations, having already built a reputation for clashing with fellow cast members. Still, working directly with a two-time Olympic gold medalist changes the equation. The training not only boosts her confidence but also sends a clear warning to anyone who might think about squaring up with her during the show. The rapper’s ambitions extend far beyond the television drama. Just days before the training footage surfaced, Diamond secured a recording contract with 1501 Certified Entertainment. The label, which previously launched the careers of Megan Thee Stallion and Erica Banks, welcomed her with praise from CEO Carl Crawford, who expressed excitement about her potential. Between the new deal and her preparation with Shields, Diamond is stacking wins on multiple fronts. The reunion may provide fireworks, but Diamond’s focus appears to be both on defending herself if necessary and advancing her career in music. With the support of a boxing legend and the backing of a proven label, she is entering the next stage of her journey with momentum.

BigXthaPlug welcomed Billboard to Los Angeles with a stop at Max City BBQ, where he dug into smoked links while ribs were brought out as an extra treat. Between bites, the Dallas rapper opened up about how a difficult time in jail became the starting point of his career. At just 20 years old, he was serving time after a probation violation when his son Amar celebrated his first birthday. “It took a toll on me,” BigX explained. “And made me very emotional. So they [jail officials] had to confine me by myself. And in that confinement, I felt like I was losing myself mentally.” Looking for ways to keep his spirit intact, he asked other inmates how they coped. One idea was to try writing, which soon turned into rap lyrics scribbled on medical sheets since notebooks were not allowed. “I wasn’t planning to be a rapper,” he admitted. His focus shifted after he made a vow to Amar that “you’ll never not be with me ever again,” pushing him to find a way to support his family while staying present in his children’s lives. That decision set the stage for a breakthrough. Today, BigX boasts hit singles like “Texas,” “Mmhmm” and “The Largest,” along with a gold-certified album Amar in 2023 and a platinum project Take Care in 2024. His third release, I Hope You’re Happy, arrives this week through UnitedMasters. The record blends his Texas roots with country influences and includes features from Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, and Ink. Now raising two children, Amar and Leilani, BigX was recently honored with the Innovator Award at Billboard’s Country Power Players. He says this new album reflects heartbreak, fatherhood, and growth, while he also takes time to enjoy being a dad and keeping an eye on the coming football season.

Ice Spice has kept a low profile on the music side lately, but she is signaling that something new is coming. The Bronx star first delivered her EP Like..? before stepping fully into the spotlight with her debut album Y2K! last summer. That record included features from Travis Scott, Gunna, and Central Cee and marked a major milestone in her career. Her latest move suggests a new wave is about to start. On Instagram, she previewed a track that flips M.I.A.’s 2012 anthem “Bad Girls.” Along with the snippet, she wrote, “Baddie Baddie im feelin nasty .” The song does not yet have a release date, but her followers quickly reacted. “She’s back ,” one person commented. Another wrote, “Oh you have a hit on your hands,” while someone else added, “And the haters were saying YOU FLOPPED .” Fans are already debating whether this could be part of a larger project in the works. Even while the music has slowed, Ice Spice has remained a topic of conversation. Earlier this year, she was spotted shopping with professional football player Sauce Gardner, which sparked dating rumors. The two have since been seen at public events together and occasionally interact online, though neither has confirmed anything directly. In April, they were photographed at Adin Ross’ boxing event, further fueling speculation. When Gardner was asked about the situation by TMZ Sports in June, he chose to keep things vague but still offered praise. “It’s still the same, for real. I ain’t trying to speak too much on it,” he said. “We just be having a good time … Two young individuals. She’s from New York, I play in New York. She’s talented, real talented at what she do. Same for me. Two people that get hated on that’s really good at what we do, so we’ve got a lot in common.”

Kendrick Lamar has reached another historic benchmark in his career, officially crossing 50 billion total streams on Spotify. With this feat, he becomes only the 14th artist in history to hit that number and just the fifth rapper to do so, joining Travis Scott, Eminem, Kanye West, and his long-standing rival, Drake. Kendrick Lamar has officially surpassed 50 BILLION streams on Spotify, making him just the 14th artist in history to do so. He reached this milestone with only 251 credited songs — the third fewest of any artist, and the fewest of any rapper. pic.twitter.com/p0o23ix8JL — NFR Podcast (@NFR_Podcasts) August 20, 2025 What makes this achievement even more remarkable is how efficiently Lamar reached it. He did so with only 251 credited songs, fewer than any of the other rappers who share the milestone. The update arrives shortly after another accomplishment, when his 2017 classic Damn passed 10 billion streams earlier this month. Across his catalog, Lamar has released six full-length albums: Section.80, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, Damn, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, and GNX. Tracks that continue to dominate Spotify include “luther,” “All The Stars,” “Not Like Us,” and “Money Trees.” Each has played a part in keeping his music at the forefront of global hip hop conversations. The streaming success, however, has been shadowed by controversy. Drake is pursuing legal action against Universal Music Group, accusing the company of manipulating promotion in favor of Lamar’s hit “Not Like Us.” He claims UMG relied on “covert tactics” to push the track, which contains harsh lyrics aimed at him. On the record, Lamar raps: “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles… Why you trollin’ like a b*tch? Ain’t you tired? / Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.” While the legal battle plays out, Lamar continues to tour globally. His Grand National Tour with SZA will start again in Mexico City on September 23, followed by shows in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Australia.

K. Michelle just shared some major personal news while also giving a glimpse into her creative process. The singer surprised fans by confirming that she is married and spoke honestly about the challenges of balancing her personal life with her music career as she prepares to step into country music. View this post on Instagram A post shared by K. Michelle (@kmichellemusic) “I’m not in the best space all the time. I’m human. I’m very difficult when I record, very precise. I’m overwhelmed with my career, being a mother, and the pressures of giving my husband a baby immediately (something I want to do for him) and entering a new genre of music,” she revealed in a heartfelt message. She went on to describe how deeply invested she feels in her upcoming album. “Not only that I’m about to release my soul my album. Country music is my soul. Thank God my team knows me and has sheltered me. My music team understands my passion. I want this perfect down to the very last note. I deserve this. I love my team. I’m just not like most. The makings of an outlaw. People don’t understand me and I give zerofuvks. Music isn’t something I picked it picked me. See yall 8/29.” Fans also got to see studio footage that showed how hands-on she is when creating her sound. In the clip, K. Michelle carefully instructed her team on the rhythm of a track, explaining that the pace was too fast and urging them to slow it down. “Even if you say, don’t do the doom, doo is too fast,” she said, noting that every note needs space in order to bring out the emotion she wants the listener to feel. Her upcoming project represents both her vulnerability and her strength. The world will get to hear it for the first time on August 29.

Lil Nas X has made a dramatic return to the spotlight after months of near silence. Earlier this year, he dropped Days Before Dreamboy, a surprise eight-song project made up of tracks released between 2024 and early 2025. Not long after, he told fans that he had been hospitalized in April with partial facial paralysis. By May, he reappeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show to remind everyone that a new album was on the way. Then everything went quiet again. View this post on Instagram A post shared by QUEEN MADELINE (@lilnasx) That changed this week when he cleared his Instagram and began filling it with striking images and short previews of unreleased music. On August 19th, he shared a photo of himself in a golden gown and white boots while holding lanterns, standing in a room scattered with fabric. Other posts showed a desk surrounded by art, a dramatic portrait, and a playful selfie where he wore a fur coat, cowboy hat, crown and red lipstick with the caption, “OH NO sHES GONE MAD! CRAZY I TELL U!” Soon after, the music started. One clip revealed a track called “Black Horse,” produced by Young Kio, that leans into the Western sound of his breakout hit “Old Town Road.” “Turn on the cable, Nassy’s out the stable/ B–ch I’m back around, let them n–gas know it’s fatal/ And I ain’t finna take s–t, n–gas better watch it/ You know I love the sound of them rounds when the Glock hit,” he raps. Another preview featured Lil Jon on a track titled “Kimbo,” where Nas sings, “I know you feel pressure/ When nobody’s around/ You Kimbo.” He then switches into a raunchy verse that continues the energy. Additional snippets included a tambourine-backed a cappella moment and a pop-inspired tune over a colorful mural. So far, no release date has been confirmed, and his team has yet to respond to requests for comment.