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.

Cam’ron recently revealed that he wrote “I Really Mean It” the classic Dipset hit, for Lil Kim. During the latest episode of his sports talk show, It Is What It Is, Cam said he wrote the song with “Queen B” in mind, but she wasn’t feeling it.  “I did write a song for Lil’ Kim and she didn’t want it, and the lyrics changed, and I ended up keeping it for myself,” Cam shared. Thankfully for Cam it worked out because the “I Really Mean It” became a hood classic with the production Just Blaze and of the group’s his signature songs. “It was one of my biggest records, but I wrote ‘I Really Mean It’ for Lil’ Kim. Same format, and she didn’t like it,” the Harlem rapper said. “That’s one of the best things, ’cause that’s one of my close-out songs, to be totally honest with you, and she didn’t want the song. I’m happy she didn’t.” Cam and Kim’s creative relationship goes back to 1996 when he wrote “Crush On You” featuring Lil Cease.  As the the secondKim’s debut album Hard Core and produced by Andreao “Fanatic” Heard, “Crush On You” was Cam’s first ghostwriting credit. Elsewhere in the episode, Cam also revealed that he was behind 3LW’s biggest hit “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)”. The song reached number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2000. “I wrote for 3 Little Women. The single, I’m in the credits, I wrote that. ‘Promises, promises’? That’s me,” Cam explained. “I penned that joint. We’re real creative, just tap in, man.”

Timbaland has doubled down on his plan to launch an AI artist through his company Stage Zero to bring forth a new music genre known as artificial pop, or A-pop. Now he is facing backlash. Taking to Instagram on Friday (June 6), the iconic producer addressed the controversy swirling around the announcement of his first AI-generated artist, TaTa. “I know I’m trolling, but let’s have a real conversation,” Timbaland wrote in his post. “I love my independent artists. This doesn’t mean I’m not working with real artists anymore.”  “And nah, I don’t train ai off y’all music,” he explained. “This just means more creativity for creators.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Timbo the King (@timbaland) Tim also posted a video of music executive Ray Daniels saying AI artists will be the new wave in the record industry.  “Why the fuck wouldn’t you?” Daniels said in the video. “Mickey Mouse is an AI character. Donald Dunk is an AI character. Bugs Bunny is an AI character.” “You guys are looking at it wrong,” Daniels continued. “He’s gonna make a character that he can have sing songs and sell products. That’s all these cartoonists and young kid TV shows are doing anyway, so why are y’all mad at him?” In the comments section, many disagreed with Timbaland and Daniel’s views on AI-generated music. “You call it trolling, but the moves you are making are not jokes,” British DJ Shy FX wrote in the comments. “They are choices, and they come at the cost of real artists who are already fighting to be seen and heard.” “You showed your colours when you attempted to make a song using Biggie’s AI-generated voice,” he added. “You made it even clearer by partnering with Suno, whose founder has been very vocal about wanting to replace musicians, not support them. And now this? This isn’t disruption. It’s a cash-in.” Rob Markman, a noted hip-hop journalist, took issue with Daniels’ point about the creation of the beloved Disney character.  “Mickey Mouse was created by a human, drawn by a human, written by a human, voiced by a human… not the same,” Markman wrote. “None of those things the guy mentioned (Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny) are AI characters; those are characters created, written, and animated by PEOPLE. Do you not see the resounding rejection you’re facing for this?” Markman added.

Timbaland is stepping boldly into the future of music with the launch of Stage Zero, his new AI-focused entertainment company. This move marks a fresh chapter for the Grammy-winning producer as he introduces TaTa, an AI-generated artist designed to pioneer a genre he calls “A-pop,” or artificial pop. According to Rolling Stone, Stage Zero was co-founded by Timbaland and film producer Rocky Mudaliar, who describes TaTa as a first glimpse into blending cutting-edge technology with music artistry. Timbaland’s fascination with AI music began last year when he started working with Suno, a generative AI music tool created by a company where he now serves as creative director. He shared how he uploaded unfinished song demos and was immediately captivated by the AI-generated voice. “It came to a point where I’m like, ‘Yo, this voice, it’s amazing.’” While the release date for TaTa’s debut single remains under wraps, the team behind Stage Zero is already crafting her identity as a fully realized digital artist. A striking image of TaTa, featuring a young woman with vibrant pink hair, has been released, and the company plans to build her presence across social media platforms to connect with fans. AI’s role in music remains controversial, with many in the industry still wrestling with the implications for creativity and copyright. Suno itself is facing legal challenges from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which accuses the platform of training its AI models using millions of copyrighted songs without permission. Given this backdrop, Timbaland’s commitment to AI-generated music has sparked mixed feelings among fans and industry insiders alike. Despite the debate, Timbaland is clearly committed to pushing boundaries—and the era of A-pop may be just getting started.

Cynthia Erivo stopped by HOT 97 to talk to Nessa about her new album I Forgive You, out June 6th. She shared how she started the project while filming Wicked and finished it between shoots, calling the process exhausting but deeply fulfilling. She explained how personal the album is—filled with stories of love, heartbreak, growth, and healing—and emphasized how letting go of the past created space to be more grounded in who she is now. Cynthia talked about songs like “Brick by Brick,” which came from tears, and “I Choose Love,” which challenges what love actually looks like. She even revealed she recorded parts of the album on her phone while traveling! She talked about forgiving her father and what that experience meant to her, opened up about forgiving a friend after a moment of betrayal, and reflected on whether it’s truly possible to forgive and forget. Later in the conversation, Cynthia talked about rapping on “Push and Pull” and revealed whether we can expect more rapping in the future. She shared how Wicked changed her life, revealed whether she and Ariana Grande plan to get more tattoos, and how going over their needs together during filming made them stronger. She also reveals how changing the vocal run on “Defying Gravity” turned out to be a moment that changed her life. Stream her new album I Forgive You June 6th!

There’s no love lost between Pusha T and Drake. Adding to his list of grievances against the “6 God,” Pusha T took some time to share his thoughts on Drake’s lawsuit against Kendrick Lamar and his label, UMG. In a new interview with GQ, Pusha said he doesn’t rank Drake amongst the premier MCs after filing the lawsuit. ‘“I don’t rate him no more,” Pusha explained. “The suing thing is bigger than some rap s**t. It just kind of cheapens the art of it.” Pusha also spoke about his battle with Drake when he revealed that his nemesis had a son that he kept from the public in the classsic diss track “The Story of Adidon” in 2018.  “I did the dance for real,” he said. “Not to come back and tiptoe around anything.”  If Drake would throw shots in his direction, Pusha said, “I would only engage again if I felt like it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by GQ (@gq) Back in January, Drake filed an 81-page federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging UMG “approved, published and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track that falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile and calls for violent retribution against him.” In response, UMG vehemently denied all of Drake’s allegations, describing the suit as “frivolous,” “reckless,” and “misguided.” The label argued that the lyrics of songs are “non-actionable opinion and rhetorical hyperbole” that are consistent in the long tradition of rap battles, and that taking them “as literal defamation threatens free speech and artistic expression.” After the last album, Til The Casket Drops, was released in 2009, the Clipse are set to drop their highly anticipated album, Let God Sort Em Out, on July 11.

During a recent interview with PEOPLE, Dolly Parton gushed over Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album and her interpretation of the country singer’s iconic 1978 hit, “Jolene.” The legendary country performer tells the outlet that she’s a “huge fan” of the singer and refers to Beyoncé as a “magnificent artist.” Beyoncé’s version of “Jolene” is featured on her Cowboy Carter album, which was released in March 2024. Parton revealed that she “loved” the album and called it “really, really good.” The country icon also makes an appearance on the album for two tracks, “Dolly P” and “Tyrant.” Parton says she was “honored” by Beyoncé’s rendition of the track because it was “completely different” from hers. “Hers was more like, ‘Well, you’re not getting him, you’re not taking him, you’re going to go through me to get him.’ Mine was more like, ‘Please don’t take him!’ So I loved her interpretation,” she tells PEOPLE. Parton added, “As a writer, you like to hear how different people interpret your songs, and how they put their own spin and do their own take on it. But I was very proud of it, and I hope her tour does great, and I’m sure it will. People seem to be loving it.” Album cover for “Jolene” by Dolly Parton which was released in 1974. (Photo by Donaldson Collection/Getty Images) Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour Reaches Major Milestone In other Beyoncé news, it hasn’t even been a month since she kicked off her Cowboy Carter tour and it’s already making history. On April 28, the singer kicked off her tour in Los Angeles, CA at the Lofi Stadium, where she performed five shows, with the last ending on May 9. While the tour stop was brief, it was historic nonetheless. According to Billboard, the singer has earned 55.7 million and sold 217,000 tickets — making it the biggest reported single-venue engagement in Boxscore history by a woman. Back in February, Billboard reported that Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour is expected to gross over $300,000,000. With the tour ending on July 26 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, it’s possible the singer could exceed initial predictions, however, only time will tell.

Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, one of the most acclaimed producers of his generation, has sold his royalty income streams rights. According to the Hollywood Reporter, to deal with Jerkins marks his second significant acquisition regarding his catalog. In 2020, Jerkins sold his publishing catalog to Recognition Music Group (formerly Hipgnosis Songs Fund). With the deal, HarbourView now controls Jerkins’ recorded royalties on iconic hits like Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay,” Destiny Child’s “Say My Name,” Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” featuring Beyoncé, Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me,” and Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” just to name a few. In a statement, Jerkins shared his excitement about the deal. “HarbourView truly understands the value of music and the people who create it,” Jerkins said. “Music creators deserve respect and clarity when it comes to selling their life’s work, and working with both HarbourView and Chapter Two has made that process feel seamless.” Sherrese Clarke, HarbourView’s founder and CEO, lauded Jenkins for his vast accomplishments in a statement. “At HarbourView, our mission is to curate a canon of work that represents the very best of global culture which is why it is essential that the contributions of legendary creators like Rodney Jerkins continue to be recognized, preserved, and celebrated,” Clarke said. “We are honored to welcome him to the HarbourView family and humbled by his decision to join us.” Michel Traore, Chapter Two’s CEO, described the deal as “a clear sign that creators are realizing the true value of their work faster and more transparently than ever before.” “Rodney is setting a new benchmark in the industry, and we thank HarbourView for their vision in working with us,” Traore said,  Along with Jenkins’ deal, HarbourView has acquired the music rights from T-Pain, Kane Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, and many others.. Jerkins is also set to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June.

Muni Long took some time to address those who have taken an issue with her personality. In a six-minute TikTok video, Long responded to a TikTok user who challenged her alleged claims that  “only Black women” are not down with her demeanor. “It’s only ever Black women that say they don’t like my personality. I’m being myself, I’m acting just like your raggedly mommy and your aunties,” Long said. “With them ashy cankles. This is how they act, but something wrong with my personality? Take a look in the mirror h*e, you don’t like you.” Following her viral remarks, Long stood by her comments before another TikTok user named NeverStopWithShari reminded her that Black women are the reason she became a successful artist. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Jasmine Brand (@the.jasmine.brand) “Muni Long was on her live today and let it be known that it’s only Black women that don’t like her,” the user said. “I think it was only Black women that supported you too. Nobody liked ‘Hours and Hours’ and all these songs until we liked it.” She also warned Long to “watch what she says” when speaking on Black women.” Long was quick to repsond with another video.  “The first question that I have for you, Ms. Shari, is … you said ‘you better watch what you say’ or what?” Long asked. “I know I look young because I drink water and mind my business, but I’m 36 years old. I’ll be 37 in September. I’ve been grown and taking care of myself for a long time. Nobody will talk to me like that.” “Black women it is okay to speak your mind and take up space, for you to assert yourself, for you to be kind instead of nice, for you not to keep taking the shirt off your back and giving it to the next man. You ain’t mammy. We don’t have to raise the world,” she concluded. Some accused her of missing the meaning behind the user’s message. “Did she…. completely miss the point of what the TikToker was saying? Like completely??” one user said. “I personally think she should address the ppl hating on her and NOT “black women” as a whole.”

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is one of the greatest diss tracks of all time. The scathing song aimed at Drake has become a global phenomenon as it has received airplay at clubs and sporting events. Although it was released in May 2024, “Not Like Us” is still setting new records. The song’s latest accolade is that it broke the record for being the longest rap song to chart on the Billboard 100, according to the NFR Podcast. Produced by Mustard, “Not Like Us” has spent several weeks at the number one spot, and it spent almost a full year in the Top 10. Currently, “Not Like Us” is in the  23 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, “Not Like Us” the longest-running number one hit on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, surpassing Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road”.  Kendrick Lamar breaks Kendrick Lamar’s record (again) for HIGHEST-GROSSING show ever by a Rapper — ($14.81M) 60, 941 total tickets were sold at his show in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/2BDyNWDe7n — NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) May 20, 2025 Previously, “Not Like Us” won five Grammy Awards at the 2025 ceremony, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song also won Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. This marks a significant win for hip-hop, as only one other rap song If that’s not impressive enough,  Lamar broke his own record (again) for the highest-grossing show ever by a rapper, raking in $ 14.81 M. In total, 60, 941 total tickets were sold at the show featuring SZA  at Lumen Field in Seattle. In their review of the show, the Seattle Times described the performance as a “grand-scale presentation of vintage hip-hop storytelling from the Pulitzer Prize winner before a spellbound crowd the size of Bothell.”