Drake calls for Tory Lanez’ freedom as he tells him to “come home soon.” The Started From the Bottom rapper wrote “@torylanez come home soon” on his Instagram Story Friday (May 16). He also shared a Change.org petition urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Lanez. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOT 97 (@hot97) The Canadian rapper is currently serving 10 years behind bars after he was found guilty on three felony counts in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case.  He was charged with assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. As perviously reported, Lanez also shared the aforementioned petition via his own Instagram after his legal team presented new evidence suggesting he was not the one who shot Megan Thee Stallion. Gianno Caldwell, who has been advocating for Lanez’s released, stated, “Mr. Peterson was never given a fair trial, free from bias.” During a press conference held on May 14, United the People, a non-profit focused on social justice, highlighted evidence shows Megan’s former best friend, Kelsey Harris, as the person who fired the shots. Attorney Walter Roberts argued, “Mr. Peterson never shot anybody. Never even touched the gun.”

Amerie recently revealed that she didn’t listen to music for a decade. During an episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, the singer confessed that she went without music for a decade. “So I went through like ten years where I didn’t listen to anything,” she said. Chiming in, Budden thought didn’t listen to music because she was in “writing mode” and completing her forthcoming novel. According to Amerie, her hiatus from listening to music was something different. “See, I thought that it was because now I’m writing,” she explained to the co-host. “I thought it was because, you know, you’re in writing mode and you’re not [making music] right now.” “But then I realized later, I was like, ‘You weren’t listening to music because you were trying to avoid it. You felt like it was gonna make you angsty because you know it’s gonna make you want to make music,” she said. “So all you’re gonna do is be frustrated. And so that just made me be like, ‘I’m not listening to any music.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by AMERIE 에므리 (@amerie) Amerie’s forthcoming novel, This is Not a Ghost Story, is set to arrive June 10, making it her literary fiction debut. The book chronicles “the story of a Black man who finds himself in Los Angeles, where he becomes famous for being the first visible ghost.” On the music side, Amerie announced the upcoming release of her fifth album in 2025, which is her first project since 4AM Mulholland and After 4 AM in 2018. In March, she released “Mine”, the first single from the project.

Snoop Dogg hasn’t held back his feelings toward Suge Knight on his latest album Iz It A Crime?, using the project to address their long-standing feud that started in the late 1990s. The tension between the two has been well-documented since Snoop left Death Row Records in 1998, and their relationship has only grown more strained over time. On the track “ShutYoB***hA**Up,” featuring Stresmatic, Snoop delivers pointed lyrics that clearly take shots at his former label boss. Without mentioning Suge Knight directly, Snoop raps, “I can see why you mad, I bought everything you own / Now you in PC snitching on the phone.” He continues with lines that highlight his success and dismiss Suge’s credibility: “Oh, b***h-a** n***a, I’m a rich-a** n***a / Waiting for you to get home so we can get the s**t on / Your jailhouse stories, they made up, n***a.” These bars reference Snoop’s 2022 purchase of Death Row Records, a move that Suge has openly criticized. Business disputes and rumors linked to Tupac Shakur’s murder have fueled their feud. Suge has accused Snoop of trying to help Duane “Keefe D” Davis. Davis is the man facing trial for Tupac’s killing. Suge claims Snoop tried to post bail for him. Snoop denies these accusations. This ongoing conflict adds layers to the diss track’s significance. In an interview on Big Boy’s Neighborhood, Snoop explained why he decided to address Suge so openly. “It gets to a point… I’m from the hood,” he said. “You can’t keep throwing rocks at me and bullying me and think I ain’t gon’ say nothing or do nothing. I can’t do nothing. ’Cause you in PC. But I can say something.” This track makes it clear that Snoop isn’t ready to let the past rest anytime soon.

Halle Bailey has officially been awarded sole legal and physical custody of her young son, Halo Saint. According to court records obtained by PEOPLE, the decision follows a series of serious allegations against her ex-boyfriend and the child’s father, rapper and content creator DDG, whose real name is Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr. Bailey, 25, welcomed Halo in December 2023, but their relationship ended the following year. In her legal filings, she accused the 27-year-old of repeated emotional and physical abuse. As part of her custody request, she also filed for a temporary restraining order that requires DDG to remain more than 100 yards away from both her and their son. That order will stay in place until a court hearing takes place in June 2025. Bailey also asked the court to restrict DDG from having unsupervised contact with Halo. She proposed that if any visits are allowed, they should occur once a week in Los Angeles and be monitored by a professional visitation service. She wants the court to block any attempts by DDG to take Halo out of the county without approval. Her filings include a request for a child abduction prevention order. She stated that DDG has previously hidden their son from her, threatened to take him away, and refused to cooperate with her on custody and parenting decisions. Bailey asked that he be barred from applying for or holding Halo’s passport or any other travel documents unless she gives written permission. She also wants DDG to share full travel details if he takes Halo anywhere with her consent, including airline information, addresses, and contact numbers. In her statement to the court, Bailey wrote, “I realize that there is no placating Darryl. I cannot allow this abuse any longer. I cannot keep living like this.”

During Diddy’s federal sex trafficking trial, Cassie testified that he accused her of having an affair with Michael B. Jordan after they broke up.  Cassie’s alleged relationship with Jordan was brought up during cross-examination by Anna Estevao, Diddy’s lawyer, on Thursday. While on the stand, Estevao asked if Diddy “suspected” she had an affair after they broke up. At the time, Cassie and Diddy were filming Honey 3: Dare to Dance in South Africa. “Mr. Combs suspected you of having a relationship with whom?” Estevao asked, to which Cassie responded, “Michael B. Jordan,” according to Inner City Press reporter Matthew Russell Lee’s trial transcripts. According to Cassie, the romance with Jordan was sparked after she discovered that Diddy was allegedly with one of his on-off girlfriends. At the time, she was filming a movie in South Africa. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Cassie also testified that she ended communication with Diddy for some time and began dating the Sinners actor. When asked how Diddy reacted to the relationship with Jordan, Cassie said, “I wasn’t there to see it.” She also testified that she couldn’t remember if Diddy tried to text her about Jordan, but “he did try to make contact.” In her civil lawsuit against Diddy, Cassie’s relationship with Jordan was first mentioned along with Kid Cudi. The suit alleged that Diddy threatened to blow up Cudi’s car in front of his friends. Jordan’s name also came up during jury selection before the trial. Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. If found guilty, Diddy faces life in prison.

Styles P believes that Jim Jones is not on his level as a lyricist. During an interview on the No Funny Shit Show, the legendary member of the LOX, at around the co-host Kenny Supreme suggested that Jones might have a better “20 pack” of songs. While Styles acknowledged that  Supreme is “entitled” to his opinion because “hip-hop is about you connecting with music,” Styles said that he and Jones “ain’t in the same league.” “The Ghost” then explained what differentiates him from Capo. “Me and Jim don’t do the same thing. I’m a bar master. I’m a lyrical technician. I’ve been on joints with some of the best emcees in the world,” Styles said, naming The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Black Thought, and Talib Kweli.. “I bar sh*t down. When Rakim tells you you nice, KRS tells you you nice, Big tells you you nice, Hov tells you you nice … all these people tell you you nice, you’re f**king nice,” Styles said. “I’m not here to make catchy hooks and do dope sh*t. I don’t knock that. I’m trying to say some sh*t that’s gonna make your soul move—that’s gonna be some shit you may catch 10 years later, down the line,” he added. “There’s not many people in my age group that have the amount of catalog I have.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by NFS (@nofunnyshit.show) “[Jim] don’t got none of those kind of songs that make n***as cry,” Styles explained. “You better check my jacket. I made up a fucking lane. There was no artist emcee before. It was fly dudes, it was kings. I invented the lane where n***as saying they make hard shit. Me.” In a now-deleted post on Instagram, Jones then challenged Styles to a Verzuz battle. “Now go listen to [the] song ‘Bobby’ we did on Lobby Boy,” Jones said of the track from The Lobby Boyz album with Maino. “We recorded it at the same time in the studio together. Since we talkin’ bars let’s [just] do a versus [sic] ep something for [the] people to listen n judge.” “I’m not scared of no competition on any level, I’m here to level [the] playin field. If we talkin bars let’s go,” Jones added. This wouldn’t be the first time Styles and Jones were involved in a Verzuz. In 2021, The LOX soundly defeated the Diplomats.

In this exclusive update, TT Torrez and veteran journalist Lisa Evers break down everything that happened on Day 2 of the official trial involving Sean “Diddy” Combs. With Cassie at the center of the case, the courtroom drama intensifies as key testimony continues to unfold. Get the latest details on the trial, including what was said about Cassie’s allegations and how it impacts Diddy’s defense. Stay tuned for more updates as the case progresses.

After thrilling audiences across North America with “The Serenade 2024 Tour, multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist Maxwell has announced ‘The Silent Serenade Ensemble”, a limited run of intimate, reimagined performances on the East Coast.  According the the press released, “Maxwell will bring his unmistakable voice and signature blend of sensual soul and timeless grooves to MGM National Harbor in Washington, D.C. for three consecutive nights—September 18, 19, and 20, followed by a very special hometown show at the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on September 28.” These exclusive performances will give Maxwell’s adoring fans a completely unique live music experience. Each show will feature new arrangements of his classic hits and deeper cuts, supported by live percussion and a string quartet, bringing an elegant, cinematic dimension to Maxwell’s music. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maxwell (@maxwell) In a statement, Maxwell expressed his excitement about the upcoming performances. “Brooklyn raised me, D.C. embraced me—and there’s nothing like sharing that kind of love in a more intimate setting,” says Maxwell. “These shows are going to feel like home.” This past February, Maxwell led his second annual romantic, star-studded Urban Hang Suite Cruise. The sold-out cruise featured exclusive performances by Maxwell and as guests aboard the Norwegian Pearl, making stops in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. The third annual Urban Hang Suite Cruise, taking place on the Norwegian Joy from February 7-12, 2026.  Regarded as one of the greatest singers of his generation, Maxwell has released several hit singles such as “Till the Cops Come Knockin”, “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)”, “Sumthin’ Sumthin”,  “Fortunate”, “Pretty Wings”, and “Lake by the Ocean.”  His classic albums include Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite (1996), Embrya (1998), Now (2001), and  BLACKsummers’night (2009), to name a few. For his work as an artist, Maxwell has won three Grammy Awards, six Soul Train Music Awards, and two NAACP Image Awards.

Megan Thee Stallion’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, has released a statement to XXL about Tory Lanez’s attorneys reportedly having evidence that proves Megan was shot by Kelsey Harris. The statement reads, “Tory Lanez was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers and his case was properly adjudicated through the court system. This is not a political matter — this is a case of a violent assault that was resolved in the court of law.” Megan Thee Stallion’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has released the following statement to XXL about Tory Lanez’s attorneys now claiming to have evidence that proves Megan was shot by Kelsey Harris: “Tory Lanez was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers and his case was properly… pic.twitter.com/mwxEARD0PQ — XXL Magazine (@XXL) May 14, 2025 We previously reported that, Tory Lanez shared a petition urging California Governor, Gavin Newsom, to pardon him. The Canadian rapper shared the petition via his Instagram after his legal team presented new evidence suggesting he was not the one who shot Megan Thee Stallion. Gianno Caldwell, who has been advocating for Lanez’s released, stated, “Mr. Peterson was never given a fair trial, free from bias.” During a press conference held today, May 14, United the People, a non-profit focused on social justice, highlighted evidence shows Megan’s former best friend, Kelsey Harris, as the person who fired the shots. Attorney Walter Roberts argued, “Mr. Peterson never shot anybody. Never even touched the gun.” Megan Thee Stallion or Kelsey Harris has yet to directly respond to any of these claims.

The United Justice Coalition (UJC) and Roc Nation announced that the third UJC Summit will be held on May 30 at The Shed in New York City. This annual event is a free, public event and will feature “over 30 leaders, advocates, and changemakers to engage in critical conversations about criminal justice reform.” Additional speakers and panel discussions for the third UJC Summit, set to take place  Speakers for the event included Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a UJC Advisor, will provide the invocation, Angela Rye, CEO of IMPACT Strategies Principal, Laura Coates, CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Tricia Rojo Bushnell, Director of the Midwest Innocence Project Executive, and Vincent Schiraldi, Director, Columbia Justice Lab.  Other speakers and advocates include Marcy Croft, Gretta Gordy-Gardner, Andrea Lyon,  Alexandra Bailey, Lisa Moss, Ernest Stevens, Dr. Rheeda Walker, Rich Rivera, Jessica Jackson, Kemba Smith Pradia, Munajj Salahuddin, Marcus McClure, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team Roc (@teamroc)  Panel discussions will delve into critical issues across the justice system, including probation, prison, and parole reform; police corruption; the intersection of mental health and justice; the unique challenges faced by women in the criminal legal system; and the profound impact of systemic injustice on families. These conversations will provide attendees with firsthand insights, expert analysis, and pathways toward meaningful reform. Additionally, the families of Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Jean, and John Albers will be in attendance to share the impact of losing their loved ones and their continual commitment to justice, and how communities can work better together.  The event will begin at 10 AM ET. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.unitedjusticecoalition.com.