Pooh Shiesty Arrested, Charged in Gucci Mane Robbery The Memphis rapper and eight others now face charges following a raid at his home. news April 2, 2026
Lil Durk Wants to “Save” the Next Generation: “We’ve got to be their heroes” The incarcerated rapper says he’s been reading works by activists like Huey Newton and Elaine Brown. news April 1, 2026
Pop Smoke’s Brother is Bringing 'Pop's Place' Coffee to Brooklyn Baristas are needed for the new shop dedicated to Pop Smoke, and a soft launch is set to take place in Canarsie. news March 31, 2026
Cam’ron Says Drake Has His Pink Fur Displayed in Personal Museum Cam revealed the fate of his most famous winter wear. news March 30, 2026
‘Pinky & The Brain’ Animator Barry Caldwell Dies at 68 From ‘The Smurfs’ to ‘Animaniacs,’ the New York-born artist worked on some of the most beloved series of the 1980s and 1990s. news March 30, 2026
J. Cole and Cam’ron End Feud After Lawsuit, Sit Down for Interview Rappers sit down to discuss their issues, plus Cole’s reaction to the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef. news March 27, 2026
The Once and Expeditious King: T.I. on 'King' 20 Years Later, His Latest Album and More Speaking to Okayplayer, T.I. speaks on comedy and his new album while remembering ‘King’ on its 20th anniversary. featured March 27, 2026
JAŸ-Z Thinks Drake and Kendrick Lamar Beef Went Too Far The rap icon, criticized the role social media plays in fanbases taking sides in rap beefs, and said he was “heartbroken” over the lawsuit filed against him in 2024. news March 24, 2026
LeBron James Drops Nike Collection Inspired by MF DOOM and Madlib The collection features references to the classic ‘Madvillainy’ album from 2004. news March 24, 2026
Chance The Rapper Wins in Legal Battle Against Ex-Manager The Grammy winner was locked in a 5-year back-and-forth with his former business partner, Pat Corcoran. news March 23, 2026
Brandy to Get a Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, Issa Rae and Babyface to Speak at Induction The R&B superstar and Grammy winner’s dedication ceremony is set for March 30. news March 23, 2026
Salt-N-Pepa and TLC Announce Joint Tour With En Vogue The three legendary groups will kick off their tour in Tennessee in August. news March 23, 2026
JAŸ-Z, Erykah Badu, T.I. and More: 2026 Roots Picnic Full Lineup Revealed The annual Philadelphia festival has unveiled a star-studded roster of performers, including Brandy, Wale, De La Soul, Kehlani and others. news March 20, 2026
Tank and Tyrese Set To Face Off In ‘Verzuz’ Battle The two R&B titans and former TGT members are bringing their extensive catalogs and hits to the popular showcase stage. news March 19, 2026
JAŸ-Z Announces Anniversary Shows at Yankee Stadium The rap icon is celebrating three decades of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and twenty-five years of ‘The Blueprint.’ news March 19, 2026
Lollapalooza 2026 Lineup Announced: Clipse, Lil Uzi Vert, Olivia Dean and More Join Chicago Festival From Clipse to Little Simz, the Chicago festival’s latest lineup highlights hip-hop, R&B, pop, electronica and more. news March 17, 2026
JAŸ-Z Announced as Headliner for 2026 Roots Picnic The rap legend is taking the stage alongside the legendary Philly crew in May. news March 17, 2026
DJ Lord Sear Remembered: “One of the greatest people to be around” The Shade 45 host is being celebrated by Eminem, Fat Joe and others after his death at age 52. news March 17, 2026
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Among Celebs Snubbed During In Memoriam at 2026 Oscars James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane also forgotten during the emotional tribute segment. news March 16, 2026
Five Takeaways From Jack Harlow’s “Blacker” New Album ‘Monica’ Jack Harlow’s just dropped his first new album in three years. Here are our first impressions. featured March 14, 2026
Live Nation Staffers Bragged About Gouging Customers: “I Almost Feel Bad” Court documents in the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation revealed the exchanges between employees Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold. news March 13, 2026
Jill Scott Bans Cellphones At Her Upcoming Tour The neo-soul icon isn’t allowing devices at her shows when the ‘To Whom It May Concern Tour’ kicks off in June. news March 13, 2026
Questlove Teases Soulquarians Reunion The Roots drummer says the death of D’Angelo has inspired him to revisit the famed musical collective. news March 10, 2026
Cardi B, Patti LaBelle Lead All-Women Essence Fest Lineup Brandy & Monica, Latto, are also among the performers announced for this year’s festival. news March 10, 2026
Lakeyah Honored Women Music Icons for International Women's Day The Milwaukee rapper showed love to legends like Lauryn Hill while also praising upstarts like YKNiece. news March 9, 2026
Michael Eric Dyson Apologizes to JAY-Z: “That Should’ve Remained Between Us” The acclaimed author shared that the rap mogul disagreed with his take on Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake. news March 9, 2026
Rihanna’s Home Struck By Gunfire The superstar’s home was shot at from a car parked outside. A thirty-something woman has been taken into custody. news March 9, 2026
Doechii Hates Cats and Doesn’t Care If You Disagree The Grammy winning rapper explained why she despises felines in a recent Threads post. news March 9, 2026
Kurupt is Back Home After Health Scare The West Coast rap legend was released from the hospital after battling “serious health issues.” news March 4, 2026
Bob Power Dies at 74; Famed Engineer Worked With A Tribe Called Quest, D’Angelo and More The famed engineer, producer and musician was behind the boards for some of the '90s most seminal works in hip-hop and neosoul. news March 3, 2026
Diddy’s Release Date Moved Up The fallen Bad Boy Records founder will be getting released from prison a little earlier than expected. news March 3, 2026
Drake Wasn’t Allowed on Lil Wayne’s Tour Bus Because Bloods Were on it, Says Director Before he became way too rich and powerful to keep out of anywhere, Drake apparently wasn’t allowed on Lil Wayne’s tour bus. news March 3, 2026
CyHi The Prynce Drops J. Cole Diss “B.R.A Lost Control” The song appears to be a response to Cole’s decade-old track “False Prophets.” news March 2, 2026
5 Best Moments from the 2026 NAACP Image Awards Black excellence was on full display in Pasadena, in what was a big night for ‘Sinners,’ as Deon Cole roasted Nicki Minaj and the BAFTAs. news March 2, 2026
Lil Jon Pays Tribute to His Late Son: “Life will never be the same” “Allah, give me strength.” The legend honored his son, Nathan Smith, as he grieved the loss of the 27-year old. news February 25, 2026
Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ Reboot Casts Danielle Deadwyler as Lead The acclaimed actress will be one of the two main stars of the upcoming reimagining of the popular sci-fi franchise. news February 24, 2026
Eric Benét Slams Jelly Roll: "Full of S**t" The neosoul singer called out the Grammy-winning country star for evading commentary on social issues. news February 24, 2026
T.I. Drops 50 Cent Diss “War” In the Midst of Online Feud The two rap veterans have been sparring online and now T.I.’s son King has entered the fray. news February 23, 2026
Jamie Foxx, Jemele Hill Speak Out After Racist Slur at BAFTAs A man with Tourette syndrome yelled the n-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award. news February 23, 2026
5 Takeaways From Baby Keem’s ‘Ca$ino,’ His Most Personal Album Yet Baby Keem, is back with his latest album —and we’ve got some takes on it. news February 20, 2026
Just What Is JAY-Z — Ahem — JAŸ-Z Up To? The rap legend changed his name on streaming services before uploading the original “Dead Presidents” to the same platforms. What does it all mean? news February 20, 2026
Big Daddy Kane to Headline Hip-HOPE Ball for Black Health Awareness The Brooklyn legend is working with Oya “Grand G” Gilbert to help address multiple myeloma. news February 18, 2026
Jesse Jackson Mourned by Al Sharpton, Kamala Harris and More Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson passed away on Tuesday morning after a long battle with a hospitalizing nuerological condition. news February 17, 2026
LaRussell Addresses Backlash After Lil Wayne Criticism The Roc Nation rapper has said that Wayne’s music has had a negative impact on the community. news February 17, 2026
Brandy’s Unconventional National Anthem Draws Mixed Reactions The Grammy winner performed an R&B-inspired version of the “Star Spangled Banner” and social media sounded off. news February 17, 2026
Christopher Reid of Kid ‘N Play Talks Heart Health; Urges Men To Get Checked The rapper, dancer and comedian is opening up about his heart transplant, and why people of color need to understand heart disease. news February 11, 2026
Sherri Shepherd Addresses Her Show’s Cancellation The host and comedian vowed to fight for ‘Sherri’ and promised to continue to “spread joy.” news February 11, 2026
Kid Rock Calls Jay-Z an NFL “D.E.I. Hire” The country rocker said he believed the NFL hired Jay-Z to improve the league's relationship with "Black guys." news February 10, 2026
Ma$e Gets Dragged After Suggesting Chris Brown Play the Super Bowl The Harlem rapper was critical of Bad Bunny’s halftime performance and suggested controversial R&B star Chris Brown was overdue for the spotlight. news February 10, 2026
5 Takeaways From J. Cole’s ‘The Fall-Off,’ His Most ‘Real Hip-Hop’ Album Yet J. Cole just dropped his new album, ‘The Fall-Off.’ Here’s what OKP has to say about it after a few listens. featured February 6, 2026
Sherri Shepherd’s Talk Show Canceled After Four Seasons The production company cites “the revolving daytime television landscape” for ending the syndicated daytime talker. news February 4, 2026
Lil Wayne Addresses Grammys, References Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Snub The rap superstar’s 2025 album ‘Tha Carter VI’ received no Grammy nominations. news February 3, 2026
La La Anthony’s “ThreeSixty” Program Aims to Uplift Incarcerated Black Men The actress/media personality is working to cut down on recidivism by providing mentorship and assets to young men at Rikers Island. news January 28, 2026
Okayplayer Hosts the Okayplayer House During 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend In partnership with the National Basketball Retired Players Association and The Finn Group, the Okayplayer House pop-up is bridging music, basketball, art and legacy. news January 28, 2026
Miss-Education: Women in Hip-Hop Course Coming to Princeton University The class will highlight the impact of women emcees like Lil Kim and Cardi B, while examining the culture’s history through a gendered lens. news January 27, 2026
Regina Hall to Star in Netflix Series With Adam Driver Thriller series ‘Rabbit, Rabbit’ got a straight-to-series order from the streaming giant back in October. news January 27, 2026
Kid Cudi Announces North American ‘Rebel Ragers Tour’ The award-winning rapper and songwriter is hitting the road with Big Boi, M.I.A., and more across select dates. news January 27, 2026
5 Roc Marciano ‘656’ Lyrics That Will Have You Making the Screwface Okayplayer broke down some of the finest lyrics from the rap legend’s new album ‘656.’ featured January 24, 2026
TikTok Saved By American Joint Venture, Avoids Ban in the U.S. The popular video-sharing platform would have been unavailable in the United States; President Trump praises deal. news January 23, 2026
Nicki Minaj Hurls Homophobic Slur at Don Lemon The rapper directed inflammatory comments toward Don Lemon out of disproval for his coverage of Minneapolis protests following the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. news January 20, 2026
John Forté Remembered: “Legends Never Die” The longtime Fugees affiliate was celebrated by Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill after his death at 50. news January 16, 2026
A$AP Rocky Disses Drake on New Song “Stole Ya Flow” On his latest album, ‘Don’t Be Dumb,’ the Harlem rapper seems to take aim at the 6ix God. news January 16, 2026
Kurupt Recovering After Reportedly Being Hospitalized His fellow Dogg Pound member, Daz Dillinger, posted about Kurupt’s condition. news January 14, 2026
Mike Tomlin Stepping Down As Pittsburgh Head Coach After 19 Seasons The Super Bowl-winning coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers never had a losing season in nearly two decades. news January 13, 2026
Juelz Santana Shares Graphic Photos After Car Crash The Dipset rapper shared a cryptic Instagram Stories post with a severely bruised face. news January 13, 2026
Mary J. Blige Announces Las Vegas Residency The nine-time Grammy winner announced ‘My Life, My Story’ the day after her birthday. news January 13, 2026
Salt-N-Pepa’s UMG Lawsuit Gets Dismissed; Group Responds Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa’ Denton shared a statement thanking the fans and declaring “justice will prevail.” news January 13, 2026
Teyana Taylor, Ryan Coogler Take Home Trophies at the 2026 Golden Globes ‘One Battle After Another’ took home major honors as TV shows like ‘Pluribus’ and ‘The Studio’ also won. news January 12, 2026
Dionne Warwick, Saweetie and Mya Team Up to Address Climate Change A new song for the upcoming animated film inspired by the plight of the LA wildfires, 'Ozi: Voice of the Forest,' takes aim at deforestation and how it impacts ecosystems. news January 6, 2026
Bruno Mars Confirms His New Album is Done The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter told everyone on X that his fourth album is finished. news January 6, 2026
‘Sinners,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ Win Big at 2026 Critics Choice Awards The 31st annual awards show also featured major wins for ‘The Studio’ and ‘Abbott Elementary.’ news January 5, 2026
LaRussell Says Kyrie Irving Bought His Album for $11,000 The Bay Area rap star is taking a unique approach to selling ‘Something’s in the Water.’ news January 5, 2026
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Quotes Jadakiss at Swearing-In Ceremony Mamdani becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor and first of South Asian descent. news January 2, 2026
Did J. Cole Re-Record 'The Fall Off' Because of Drake and Kendrick Lamar? According to Mal, the two rap superstars had allegedly recorded verses for J. Cole’s highly-anticipated album. news January 2, 2026
Russell Wilson and Ciara Donate $3 Million to NYC Children’s Hospital The celebrity couple made a significant contribution to the Upper East Side medical center that is expected to improve the facility’s creative arts spaces. news January 2, 2026
