Russell Simmons Ordered Back to New York to Fight Jane Doe Lawsuit
A New York judge declined to let Russell Simmons exit a Jane Doe lawsuit on the basis of a disputed 1997 release document, since Doe argues her signature was forged — enough, the judge said, to keep the case alive. [AllHipHop] Simmons must now appear in Manhattan for a preliminary conference, adding to legal exposure that includes more than 20 public misconduct accusations since 2017 and other settlement disputes. [AllHipHop]
→ Get the latest on the Russell Simmons Jane Doe lawsuit →
Soulja Boy’s Royalties Are Now a Battlefield
Soulja Boy’s ex has filed to sell off his BMI music residuals to satisfy a nearly $4 million civil judgment she won after a jury trial, escalating her collection efforts after earlier attempts reportedly failed. [Rolling Out] The coverage notes that if he doesn’t move to contest or resolve it, he risks losing control over the income from a catalog that built his early-internet success. [Rolling Out]
→ Break down the fight over Soulja Boy’s royalties →
Blueface’s Checks Are Getting Garnished Too — In a Very Different Case
Blueface’s royalties are being redirected to Jackilyn Martinez, the mother of Soulja Boy’s child, after he lost a defamation suit over false online claims about being intimate with her. [AllHipHop] The coverage notes that both Soulja Boy and Blueface are now watching music income rerouted to women connected to Soulja, though through entirely different legal cases. [AllHipHop]
→ See how Blueface’s defamation loss redirected his checks →
Memphis Mourns Tay Keith — Even as His Tag Drops on New Key Glock
The hip-hop world is mourning producer Tay Keith, who died at 29; HOT 97 credited him with helping shape streaming-era rap through skeletal, booming drums on hits like BlocBoy JB’s “Look Alive,” Drake’s “Nonstop,” and Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” the last of which earned a Grammy nomination. [HOT 97] Nashville authorities confirmed his death and said no foul play is suspected at this stage while key medical findings remain pending. [HOT 97] Tributes poured in from Juicy J, NAV, Lucki, and others, and his trademark tag appears on a standout cut from Key Glock’s new album. [HotNewHipHop]
→ Revisit Tay Keith’s legacy and the records he built →
Knicks Championship Parade = Hip-Hop Homecoming
The Knicks’ first title in 53 years turned lower Manhattan into a rap celebration, with Fat Joe curating a float carrying Wu-Tang Clan, The Lox, Mobb Deep, Q-Tip, Mary J. Blige, Fabolous, Ja Rule, M.O.P., Remy Ma, and Yung Miami down the Canyon of Heroes. [AllHipHop] Fat Joe and Remy Ma performed “Lean Back” as confetti fell and the crowd roared. [HOT 97]
→ Relive the Knicks parade’s hip-hop takeover →
50 Cent’s G-Dome Breaks Ground in Shreveport
50 Cent’s G-Dome project in Shreveport has officially broken ground, with local leader Brandon Marshall emphasizing that the investment is as much about training initiatives and career development as construction. [HOT 97] The plan is to build entertainment infrastructure that can anchor film and TV production along with youth training paths. [HOT 97]
→ See what 50 Cent’s G-Dome means for Shreveport →
Juneteenth Playlists Keep the Freedom Lineage Intact
HotNewHipHop’s Juneteenth playlist opens with Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” connecting its 1960s Civil Rights roots to present-day fights for Black dignity. [HotNewHipHop] It moves through Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone’s “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” and James Brown’s “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud” before arriving at Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s “Freedom.” [HotNewHipHop]
→ Explore the freedom-music lineage behind the playlist →
Golden Era Check-In: 36 Years of Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em
The Source revisited Eric B. & Rakim’s Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, marking 36 years since the 1990 album and saluting it as a Five-Mic classic. [The Source] The piece details how the late Paul C’s initial production, finished by his protege Large Professor, shaped the sound, with the title track, “Mahogany,” and “In the Ghetto” among its standouts. [The Source]
→ Revisit Eric B. & Rakim’s Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em at 36 →
Key Glock’s PROJECT X Doubles Down on Independent Memphis
Key Glock released PROJECT X, a 20-track set that leans into his independent grind and Memphis identity, light on features and heavy on hometown producers including Tay Keith and C.N.O.T.E. [HotNewHipHop] It’s framed as his first full-length since he took on more of Paper Route Empire’s legacy following Young Dolph’s death. [HotNewHipHop]
→ Get into Key Glock’s PROJECT X →
Tierra Whack Turns Whack’s Museum Into a Full Album Run
Tierra Whack released Whack’s Museum, a 12-track solo album with no features that moves through multiple production styles while anchored by her eccentric, tightly written raps. [HotNewHipHop] It extends her concept-driven Whack World approach into a more traditional album format. [HotNewHipHop]
→ Explore Tierra Whack’s Whack’s Museum →
New Music Friday: From Golden Era Vets to the Deep Underground
The Alchemist dropped his Liquid Form EP featuring Kool G Rap, 2 Chainz, Conway the Machine, and Boldy James, with instrumentals included for each track. [HotNewHipHop] D12 released D12 Forever (Vol. 1), a compilation with Xzibit, B-Real, Method Man, Tech N9ne, Ice-T, and George Clinton that mixes posse cuts with tributes like “Bugz ’98” and “Proof & Eli.” [HotNewHipHop] Che extended his REST IN BASS universe with the noisy, distorted five-track Empty Clip EP. [HotNewHipHop] Pz’ shared the four-song B4NTB EP, wearing a clear Young Thug influence as a teaser before a fuller project. [HotNewHipHop] And underground artist Tana, already near a million monthly Spotify listeners, released the 15-track ME, marked by long-form, melody-driven songs including a six-minute intro. [HotNewHipHop]
→ Catch the rest of this week’s notable drops →
Region Watch: Texas and the New Southern Grind
Missouri City, Texas rapper CNN Coon released Time 2 Choose, a 13-track album influenced by Lil Flip and Z-Ro with features from That Mexican OT and Big Yavo, while his “Acuuh Remix” with That Mexican OT gains traction online. [Blog] San Angelo’s ICY V, citing J. Cole as an influence, is preparing his debut album The Avalanche after recommitting to music in 2025. [HipHopSince1987]
→ Meet rising Texas artists CNN Coon and ICY V →
Toosii Leaves LSU Football, Hits Reset Back to Rap
Toosii’s brief stint with LSU football is already over, with coach Lane Kiffin saying the attempt wasn’t a stunt and that Toosii genuinely wanted to test himself before refocusing on music full-time. [The Source] His single “Favorite Song” has logged hundreds of millions of streams, making him one of the more recognizable younger voices in hip-hop. [The Source]
→ Get the story on Toosii leaving LSU football for rap →
Corporate Chess: Drake Reportedly Weighs Cashing Out on OVO
Rolling Loud reports that Drake is in talks to sell at least part of OVO to Authentic Brands Group, the company behind names like Reebok, as he weighs how to scale the brand beyond music merchandise. [Rolling Out] OVO grew from a label and crew into a full lifestyle line through limited drops and sports collaborations, raising the question of whether a corporate partner can turn it into a lasting enterprise. [Rolling Out]
→ Unpack Drake’s reported OVO stake sale →
Reform and Recognition: Fabolous, REFORM Alliance, and Fatherhood
A Father’s Day luncheon in New York, hosted by Sei Less with Fabolous and REFORM Alliance, used hip-hop’s reach to center fathers affected by the justice system and to keep pushing probation and parole reform. [The Source] REFORM, co-founded by JAY-Z and Michael Rubin, frames such events as part of a broader push to shift the system from punishment toward opportunity. [The Source]
