Jeezy said his grandmother would always tell him, “Don’t ask anybody for anything without giving them something first.”  This wisdom helped to launch his iconic rap career. In a recent interview with Billboard, Jeezy is talking about the 20th  anniversary of his classic album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, which was released on July 26th, 2005. During the process, he developed polyps in his throat and required surgery. With no insurance, he had to pay out of a brown paper bag of cash and took months to recover. “It humbled me and I remember not having insurance at the time,” he recalls to Billboard with a laugh. “Imagine that, I had insurance on my Ferrari and not [medical] insurance!” After all his hard work, the album leaked before its official release. Instead of looking at it as a setback, Jeezy saw it as a blessing in disguise “I knew that was designed to hurt me,” Jeezy explained. “That took the pressure off, because the world had heard the music. That was the promo.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by @jeezy When Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 finally dropped, the LP peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 172,000 units in the first week. Standout tracks include “And Then What” featuring Mannie Fresh, “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon, “Go Crazy” and “My Hood.” Looking back, he’s amazed that 20 years have passed by so fast. “If there was nothing else in the world, no book or other mixtapes and albums to represent me, I think people can see who I am and my character, my moral compass, my integrity and everything I’m about in that one body of work,” he reflects. “That’s why I call it ‘the blueprint.’ That’s him, Jay ‘Jeezy’ Jenkins.”

Childhood crushes may not last, but they’re something you’ll never forget. None more evident than when former Disney star Selena Gomez revealed she had the “biggest crush” on one West Coast hip-hop legend in particular: Ice Cube. “I had the biggest crush on him when I was, like, 5,” she tells Colombian singer, Karol G, on Complex’s GOAT Talk. The Only Murderers In The Building star, felt that Ice Cube would “protect” her. “It’s so weird,” she added. That said, Selena Gomez did note that at the time her feelings were “simply based on my childhood.” During another segment of the interview, Gomez also talk about another rapper she admired: Eminem. “I grew up listening to him,” she said. “My dad was a DJ so he would remix all kinds of songs, and every time it was an Eminem song, I would just get so excited.” Selena Gomez wasn’t the only person to highlight her admiration for Ice Cube. Earlier this year, 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.” 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.”

Paris Fashion Week is renowned for drawing out the who’s who of the industry, particularly fashion lovers. So it’s no surprise that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were spotted in attendance. The happy couple walked through a massive crowd on their way to Dior Homme’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear collection. While the couple is known for their extravagant style, it seems they opted for a more relaxed look. Rihanna sported a white button-down shirt paired with a green vest, allowing her baby bump some room, and low-rise gray denim jeans. Complementing his lady’s style, Rocky donned a simple, sky blue button-down shirt paired with a bright red, green, and blue striped Dior tie and blue denim jeans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Since going public, the couple has been spotted everywhere. In May, the couple made their debut at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Despite running a few minutes behind, the two made memorable appearances at the world premiere of The Highest 2 Lowest. While there was some light rain, the couple took advantage of the weather and posed together under an umbrella, marking a rare public appearance during the high-profile event. Rihanna, who is currently expecting her third child with Rocky, wore a striking electric-blue dress featuring bold cutouts and a high-neck scarf detail. Rocky kept things cool and classic with a black suit, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a complete set of grillz. At one point, the rapper was seen gently cradling Rihanna’s baby bump. He rested his chin on her shoulder as cameras snapped away. The couple’s appearance came just two weeks after Rihanna revealed her pregnancy at the Met Gala in New York City. There, Rocky shared how excited they were to share the news finally. “It feels amazing, you know?” he told the Associated Press. “We were tired of holding that, and it was time to show the people what we were cooking up. I’m glad everybody’s happy for us, because we’re definitely happy.”

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon — undoubtedly to promote their upcoming tour — Brandy and Monica made a startling revelation about their 90s hit, “The Boy Is Mine.” According to Brandy, the inspiration behind the song was sparked after watching an episode of Jerry Springer. “I was a huge Jerry Springer fan,” she tells Fallon. “One of the topics was ‘The Boy Is Mine,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my God—song idea. Let’s do this.” Later on in the interview, the pair touched on their “musical marriage, as well as their historic 1999 Grammy win for best R&B performance by a duo or group. “I actually ran to the stage,” Brandy laughed before Monica joined in on the fun, replying, “She left me… “I was tiptoeing behind her like, ‘Girl, we just won a Grammy!’” Brandy and Monica recently announced they’ll be co-headlining their first tour, The Boy Is Mine tour, which is scheduled to begin on October 16 and conclude on December 7. The 24-city arena tour, produced by Black Promoters Collective, brings two of R&B’s most influential voices together on stage more than 25 years after their era-defining duet “The Boy Is Mine” ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 straight weeks. The tour celebrates their lasting legacy while bridging generations. Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, and rising star Jamal Roberts will join them on the road, adding depth and energy to a lineup that honors R&B’s past, present, and future. Together, they promise a dynamic experience shaped by powerhouse vocals and shared cultural history. Shelby Joyner of Black Promoters Collective calls it “a cultural homecoming,” while Brandy frames it as a celebration of transformation and enduring love from fans. Monica sees it as a testament to mutual respect, unity, and the timeless power of real music.

In a now-deleted social media post, 50 Cent fired back at the NY mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, after he named him in an interview amid a discussion of his tax plan for the city’s top one percent. “We’re talking about people who make a million dollars a year or more, taxing them just by a flat two percent tax increase,” Mamdani said in an interview a few weeks back. “I know if 50 Cent is listening, he’s not going to be happy about this. He tends not to like this tax policy, but I want to be very clear, this is about $20,000 a year.” After Mamdani’s interview made its rounds online, 50 Cent eventually caught wind of his comments, firing back with a now-deleted IG post that contained a clip from Mamdani’s interview, writing, “Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan. No. I will give him $258,750 and a first-class one-way ticket away from NY.” He added, “I’m telling [President] Trump what he said, too!” It is unclear why the rapper deleted his post, especially given his history of trolling others online. Nevertheless, the post has disappeared. 50 Cent name-drops NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and offers him cash to leave: “I’m not feeling this plan. I will give him $258,750 and a first class one-way ticket away from NY” pic.twitter.com/4ziIxCXMRd — HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) June 27, 2025 In other news, 50 Cent has seemingly verified that he will star in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. According to reports, 50 is looking to play Balrog in the film, which will technically be a reboot of the franchise series. The mogul broke the news via an Instagram post this morning, saying, “No Days off, Let’s work all roads lead to Shreveport.” Although this has yet to be confirmed by the studio, reports indicate that the Street Fighter cast will include WWE star Roman Reigns, Andrew Koji, Noah Centino, and Jason Momoa. In 2024, 50 played a leading role alongside Mel Gibson in the movie Boneyard. Other notable acting roles include Righteous Kill, Escape Plan, Southpaw, and his autobiographical debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Additionally, the mogul has been expanding his film enterprise by making his TV channel, 50 Cent Action, available in the United Kingdom.

In a rare pairing that bridges generations of hip-hop innovation, King Combs and Ye have delivered NEVER STOP—a surprise joint album that dropped today and instantly began sparking conversation. While the project’s tracklist remains tight-lipped with minimal promo, the music speaks volumes: textured beats, sharp flows, and a theme rooted in resilience. “I grew up on Ye’s music,” King Combs told me in an exclusive sit-down hours after the album’s release. “To be in the studio with him—watching how he operates—it reminded me of my pops. It was intense in the best way.” The collaborative process, he says, was not just creative but formative. “His energy felt familiar. Like watching greatness in motion.” Legacy and Drive Power ‘NEVER STOP’ Combs, who co-produced one of the album’s standout records, explained that working with Ye brought him back to the studio ethos he absorbed growing up. “We built the instrumental from scratch, and the way he pushed for perfection—it took me back to those early days around my father. That same hunger, that same obsession with detail.” Titled NEVER STOP, the project plays like a declaration. From its sonics to its sequencing, it’s rooted in a message of persistence. “That’s really the theme,” Combs said. “No matter what life throws at you, you’ve got to stay locked in and chase your dreams. This album is motivation.” With NEVER STOP, King Combs steps into his own light, while Ye remains one of the most unpredictable forces in music. Together, they’ve created something that feels urgent, spiritual, and undeniably hip-hop. For fans, this isn’t just an album drop—it’s a statement.

Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, has passed away at the age of 71 following a battle with multiple health complications. According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Fenty died on May 30th at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to acute respiratory failure, pancreatic cancer, and aspiration pneumonia, a severe bacterial infection in the lungs. The document also notes other contributing conditions, including acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis, both of which point to significant kidney damage in the final stages of his illness. Fenty’s death marks a difficult moment for Rihanna, whose relationship with her father has seen many ups and downs over the years. The two were estranged for a long time but eventually found their way back to a better place. In February 2023, Ronald spoke with TMZ and shared his excitement over Rihanna and A$AP Rocky expecting another baby, saying he was thrilled at the thought of being involved in his grandchild’s life. Despite the turbulent history between father and daughter, their eventual reconciliation gave fans hope that they had reached a place of peace. His passing leaves behind a complex legacy, shaped by both personal struggles and moments of family closeness in recent years. Ronald Fenty was 71. Condolences to Rihanna and her family during this time.

Jim Jones is making headlines after launching a string of bold statements aimed at Nas, questioning the Queensbridge rapper’s influence and staying power. In a series of recent interviews, Jones has been vocal about what he sees as a generational disconnect, claiming that his own solo work stands stronger over time than Nas’ post-Illmatic catalog. Appearing on the Bagfuel podcast, Jones claimed he sparked a rare viral moment for Nas, saying, “What I did for Nas recently probably has never been done in his life. Last time he was in some viral sh*t like this was when he was getting at Jay-Z.” While he hasn’t reached out to Nas directly, he believes his comments have brought renewed attention to the veteran rapper. His critique began during a previous appearance on the Joe & Jada Podcast, where Jones discussed how admiration turned into competition once he entered the industry. “I was a superior Nas fan but when you get into the game you realize your idols be rivals,” he said. “My son can’t tell me one Nas record.” Jones emphasized his own achievements, pointing to solo Billboard entries, gold and platinum plaques, and distancing his success from that of The Diplomats. “Check my track record, then check everybody else’s… I been spanking a lot of this sh*t.” Later, on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Jones admitted Nas was influential early on but faded in relevance. “He had a little bit of a run. […] Nas always came up second to [Jay-Z] and DMX,” he said. Though he praised Illmatic, he added, “He kind of lost me after the movie Belly and s**t like that.” Nas has not responded to the ongoing commentary, but fans online are growing divided, with some calling Jones’ remarks unnecessary and others engaging in the debate.

Nelly says that his first date with Ashanti was like taking a “test drive,”  During an interview with People, Nelly shared why he believes his relationship with Ashanti is thriving now. “It’s about the good outweighing the bad,” Nelly said.  “What you thought mattered a lot, once you go through other scenarios, you realize that’s not really as big of a deal as you thought it would be.”  “Or you get something that you thought you was missing, and it still doesn’t compensate or fill a void, and you’re like, ‘Damn, I thought that would mean more,’ but that doesn’t. It’s just growth,” he added. In 2003, Nelly and Ashantly broke up 10 years later. After being separated for another decade but they rekindled their love in September 2023. Three months later, they married in a private ceremony.  Last July, Nelly and Ashanti also welcomed their first child together, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, a baby boy. “Everybody don’t get a chance to, if you could say, take a test drive,” Nelly continued. “It’s like when people say, ‘You should always test drive a car before you buy it.’ I hate to minimize that because this is real life, so you don’t want it to feel like that.” “We had a chance to test drive a relationship to understand that, ‘Yo, that car was the best thing I had riding around that thing, man. Fire it back up, baby,” he said. In June, the power couple debuted their Peacock reality show reality television show, We Belong Together, where they share their journey back to love. Along with their reality show, Nelly released “Spin the Block” which is inspired by his love for Ashanti. Nelly raped, “When we said goodbye / Guess it wasn’t what we really meant / ‘Cause mile aftеr mile / I keep passing up places we been / And wе kicked up some dust and got stuck in some mud / But we got back to us in the end / Yeah that look in your eyes looks like this old truck / Like we spinnin’ the block today.”

Walter Scott, a co-founder of The Whispers, one of the greatest R&B acts of all time, has passed. He was 81. Desirae L. Benson, a member of the Whispers promotional team, confirmed Scott’s passing in a statement to Soul Tracks. “We all are incredibly heartbroken. It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of Walter Scott, beloved member of the legendary R&B group The Whispers. His voice, presence, and contributions helped shape a musical legacy that touched millions. Walter’s impact on the industry and in the hearts of fans will never be forgotten. Memorial details will be shared at a later date. Sending love and light to his family, friends, and all of the millions of fans around the world. We lost a legend!“ Formed in the early 60s in Los Angeles,  the Whispers struggled for more than a decade, achieving success..  Founded by twin brothers Walter and Wallace (Scotty) Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Leaveil Degree (who replaced departing member Gordy Harmon in 1973), the Whispers charted their first pop and R&B hit with “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong” in 1970.   Throughout the 70s, they recorded on the Don Cornelius/Dick Griffey “Soul Train” label where saw moderate success but gained a cult following for seductive slow jams such as “I Only Meant to Wet My Feet” (1972), and “Lady“ (1979).  When they signed Griffey’s label, SOLAR label, the fountains began to change on their SOLAR debut album Headlights, with the classic “Olivia” (Lost and Turned Out). In 1980, they began working with writer/producer Leon Sylvers, and they scored their signature hit “And the Beat Goes On,” which peaked at 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. They followed up with many more hits such as “Are You Going My Way,” “Say Yes,”“It’s A Love Thing,” “Keep On Lovin Me,” and “Tonight.” Just when they seemed to slow down,  Babyface, who was a member of the Deele, wrote and produced  “Rock Steady,” peaking at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.  After Hutson and Caldwell passed away, the group continued as a trio and played to sold-out crowds across the globe. We at WBLS send our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Walter Scott.