Lil Durk looked to have the odds stacked against him, but a jury has found the Chicago rapper not guilty on all charges related to his murder-for-hire case. The verdict was handed in Friday (September 11) inside a Los Angeles courthouse and the reactions are still developing.

As reported by the Los Angeles Times and several other outlets, Lil Durk, real name Durk Banks, was facing murder-for-hire, conspiracy and stalking charges as prosecutors brought witnesses to the stand along with mounds of evidence in front of a federal jury at the First Street Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles.

According to the report from the Times, Lil Durk, flanked by his legal team which included Young Thug’s former attorney Brian Steel, was said to look nervous as the case drew near its close. The report adds that when the verdict was handed in, Durk, dressed in a tan suit, quietly wiped away tears as his family and supporters erupted in cheer.

The case centered on Durk’s rivalry with rival rapper Tyquian “Quando Rondo” Bowman, who was alleged to be a target in a scheme to get revenge for the shooting death of Dayvon “King Von” Bennett. Two men, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, reporteldy carried out the crime, failing to take down Rondo and instead killing the Georgia rapper’s cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson in 2022 in Los Angeles.

Wilson and Lindsey were convicted on charges of charges of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death. However, the pair were acquitted on the murder-for-hire charges.

As seen in a TMZ report, the case was deliberated for three days following explosive testimony from Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, who claimed Durk was the mastermind in the plot to exact revenge against Quando Rondo in a planned hit in Los Angeles.

The high profile case attracted the attention of the likes of Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who took to X to celebrate Durk’s legal outcome. Machine Gun Kelly was also a vocal and present supporter of Durk in the matter, helping whip the case into a frenzied affair with fans outside the courthouse calling for the Chicago’s star’s freedom.

Independent court journalist Meghann Cuniff has been covering the case, and is sharing live video from the grounds of the courthouse.

Cuniff shared on X that Durk will remain in custody has he has an upcoming trial on October 5 to face racketeering charges.

On X, we’ve gathered some reactions from all sides that we’ve seen to Lil Durk’s not guilty verdict. We will continue to update this post through the night.

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Photo: Getty

Peace to the entire Hip-Hop Wired nation and our latest update to our CRT FRSH playlist. While we’ve been lacking when it comes to updating bi-weekly, hopefully the heat we put together for you makes up for it.

DISCLAIMER:

I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. — D.L. Chandler, lead curator for CRT FRSH

We open up this week’s playlist with Lil Wayne’s aggressive “Special Ops” track, with the New Orleans veteran propping up his Green Bay Packers squad. Busta Rhymes and J Dilla’s Dillagence II is still getting burn on our side and one of its many standouts, “Back Pain, Chest Pain, Head Pain,” gets added here.

Hit-Boy’s HITStory album is packed with heaters and we went with “FAN” featuring James Fauntleroy and 2 Chainz. Pac Div, one of the West Coast most talented groups, returned with their new Still Sealed Vol. 1 project and the track “Get Off” will remind many of a certain trio out of Detroit. At least that’s what feeling it gave us and we mean that respectfully.

Detroit’s Skilla Baby dropped off his solid The Price Of Fame project in August and we went with “Respect My Gangsta” featuring Queens veteran Nas. From there, we dip back to Tierra Whack’s WHACK’S MUSEUM project and the track “QUEENS CROWN.”

Mercury is a rapper we just discovered as of today and can’t wait to see what the Atlanta-based artist does next. Her track “SIDE OF YA NECK” is just a quick slice of her talent present across her new album, MERCLAND. Rick Ross’ Set In Stone is still out here moving and we added “Maybach Music VII,” adding to the series with features from Jeezy and Don Tolliver.

Salute to Yung Miami, Lil Baby, Kodak Black, The Game, Black Thought, Cool & Dre, Joyce Wrice, SALIMATA, NAV, Young Thug, Natalie Nunn, Ice Spice, Lil Yachty, KARRAHBOO, Monaleo, Cavalier, Quelle Chris, loji, Fat Joe, Pusha T, Dre, Benny The Butcher, Harry Fraud, Erykah Badu, The Alchemist, Westside Gunn, and Rapsody.

We’ll be updating this list soon. For now, get into this playlist and let us know what you think on socials. If you wish to be included in future updates, email D.L. Chandler at dchandlerATbhmdigital.com.

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Photo: Getty

JAŸ-Z made his return to Paris a memorable one, bringing out Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams during a sold-out JAŸ-Z 30 show at Stade de France.

The video game world is still trying to recover from Sony’s bombshell decision to part ways with Hideo Kojima, giving XBOX a chance to save the day. A New report from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier gives us new details on why Sony made that decision.

According to Bloomberg’s report, Sony decided to no longer be a part of Kojima’s spiritual successor to Metal Gear, PHYSINT, due to the ambitious project’s budget ballooning, Kojima and his team missing deadlines, and other factors playing into PlayStation effectively telling one of the greatest video game makers of all time, “we good.”

In the report shared on September 11, people close to the situation also said Death Stranding and its sequel’s commercial performance played a role in PlayStation’s decision. According to the website, both games did not meet PlayStation’s revenue expectations.

Add that PHYSINT, still years away from completion, missed deadlines and went over budget, making PlayStation’s decision, while wildly unpopular, an easy one for the company.

There was also the point that PHYSINT would be a timed exclusive like Death Stranding, so PlayStation saw it as a very expensive investment that wouldn’t be exclusive to its console.

More reporting reveals that people at PlayStation who had a close relationship with Kojima are no longer at the company.

Per Kotaku:

For many, the news came as a surprise. Kojima and PlayStation have had a long relationship, with the Metal Gear Solid franchise calling the console its main home for decades. And when Kojima and MGS publisher Konami parted ways in a messy, public split in 2015, it was PlayStation that swooped in to provide the famous game designer with funding for his next game, which would end up being Death Stranding. But Bloomberg reports that many of the PlayStation executives who had developed a close relationship with Kojima over the years are no longer at the company. Seemingly, those who remain don’t see investing in Kojima’s next big game as a valuable move.

XBOX Saw An Opportunity By Scooping Up Kojima & PHYSINT

XBOX already had a working relationship with Hideo Kojima and his Kojima Productions thanks to the upcoming horror game OD. Still, with Sony passing on PHYSINT, current XBOX chief Asha Sharma and her company saw an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

“Betting on Kojima-san is an easy call,” an Xbox spokesperson said to Bloomberg. “We believe in his team’s ability to build AAA games with groundbreaking, new IP, and we believe in OD, Physint, and our growing partnership.”

Well, we hope XBOX can afford to foot the Kojima bill without having to lay off more employees or shut down other game studios.

We shall see.

You can see more reactions to these latest developments in the Sony/Kojima/XBOX saga below.

A campaign video from Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican running to become governor of Ohio, showing him in a batting-cage has been deleted. The move came after multiple people took to social media to mercilessly mock his swing.

The clip was released earlier in the week on Ramaswamy’s social media accounts. Ramaswamy opens the video dressed in a white polo shirt and khakis, relating 10 campaign promises, with each point followed by him swinging in a batting cage.

In the early 2000s, when Jay-Z was dominating the charts and establishing himself as the biggest rapper in Hip-Hop, one of his signature lines was “I will not lose,” and it really seemed that way. Well, he just took a rare loss in a court of law. Given the high-powered, well-paid lawyers at his disposal, we’re low-key surprised by it.

Yahoo reports that a California appeals court has ruled that Jay-Z cannot sue a personal injury attorney for extortion or defamation in a case brought on by the numerous revelations involving Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. The lawsuit itself stems from a 2024 lawsuit by high-profile lawyer Tony Buzbee, who claimed that Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy at an afterparty for the MTV Music Awards in 2000. The case was quickly dismissed with prejudice, but that didn’t stop Jay-Z from suing Buzbee for filing the lawsuit to begin with. Unfortunately for Jay, it seems like he cannot sue a lawyer for suing him on behalf of an alleged victim.

Yahoo reports:

In a new ruling, California’s Second Appellate District has decreed that the rap icon cannot sue Buzbee for extortion or defamation over the salacious accusations, even if they were quickly dismissed.

“The record contains no evidence Buzbee accused Carter of raping Jane Doe while knowing those statements to be false or with reckless disregard as to whether they were true,” the appeals court wrote in a decision obtained by Billboard.

“To the contrary, Buzbee submitted declarations showing his firm’s investigations led him to subjectively believe in the truth of the accusations.”

Sometimes you just have to hold that “L” and let things go, right?

Buzbee for his part feels vindicated following the courts decision and said as much to Billboard in a written statement: “I said when the case was filed it was total bulls**t. The trial court dumped it and the appellate court affirmed. I’m now entitled to my fees and costs and I intend to get every red penny that I spent dealing with it.”

What do y’all think about a court ruling against Jay-Z’s claim of defamation and extortion? Do y’all think this was a shakedown on Buzbee’s part or was he simply standing up for someone he thought was a victim? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

NBA Ben10 & OG 3Three have been arrested Thursday morning, according to sources.

Connor Hagen, an FBI Houston spokesperson, stated that six people were arrested in Louisiana and Texas in connection to a connection to a shooting that occurred in Houston. Two of the six people arrested were Ben10 and OG 3Three.

The alleged shooting occurred at Confessions restaurant in Houston back in April. Ben10 was injured in the shooting, leaving him with what was described as “irreversible paralysis.”

Prior to the latest arrests, police reportedly detained Allstar JR, who is suspected of being responsible for shooting Ben10.

According to footage obtained from the crime scene, police said Allstar was being robbed and fighting off the suspects when a gun fell to the ground. JR allegedly picked up the weapon and shot three people, including Ben10.

After allegedly shooting Ben10, police claim JR attempted to retrieve more ammunition in an effort to shoot him in the head.

There has not yet been an official word on the charges against Ben10 and OG 3Three, as well as the four people arrested.

More news to come as the story develops.

Pusha T, alongside his brother Malice as Clipse, released one of 2025’s strongest bodies of work in their album, Let God Sort Em Out. In the midst of adding to his legacy as one of Hip-Hop’s top lyricists, Pusha T and his longtime collaborator, Pharrell, partnered with a globally recognized coffee brand to launch their own brew blend, Grindin’ Coffee.

In a wide-ranging profile with GQ, Pusha T chopped it up on several topics including physical fitness, being a family man, and other pursuits. However, the opening salvo focused on Grindin’ Coffee, which King Push reveals in the profile how it all came together.

From GQ:

Grindin’ Coffee is my baby. It is our pet project with Lavazza. And it is for the task-driven, for the get-up and go, the coffee drinker that has something to do, somewhere to be, and something to execute. I’m up at 5:00 AM every morning, even after a late night—still 5:00 AM. I wasn’t always a big coffee drinker, but in the process of making It’s Almost Dry during COVID—that was the album that I split with Pharrell and Kanye. During Pharrell’s portion, we would lock in in Miami, and we both wake up super early. And with that being the case, that’d be the first thing we’d do. We’d wake up, we’d run to the studio and throw on the black coffee or the strongest pod and really just go crazy with music for the next seven hours. We were on a health kick as well. We kept it strictly black coffee, and then we would go on a bike ride for 20 miles, but it was all centered around what we had to do.

Fast-forward to Camp Flog Gnaw, where we set up [Grindin’ Coffee] pop-ups for the past two years at Camp inside and offsite. I wasn’t even performing there. I was just selling the coffee. The lines were crazy. The Carhartt merch was going crazy. While we were doing that, Pharrell ran across a partner in Lavazza, which is of course, this 130-year-strong Italian coffee brand.

When they heard the way in which we were attacking the coffee space, they were like, Man, we want a whole category of this. And Grindin’ Coffee was born.

The rest of the chat gets into other zones and is a fascinating read. Read more here.

To learn more about Grindin’ Coffee here.

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Photo: Getty

Central Cee and Kid Cudi are getting the hype train rolling for Apple’s long-rumored foldable phone, the iPhone Duo.

The two rappers were on hand for Wednesday’s keynote address at Apple’s Cupertino campus, where the iPhone Duo was the star of the show.

Both artists hopped on Instagram to let followers know they were among the first to see and hold the device.

In Cee’s post featuring the Duo, he took a photo of himself using the device’s updated front camera while Cudi showed the smartphone playing his track “Mr.Rager” in the Apple Music app.

In the caption for his post, Cudi wrote, “@apple thank you guys for having me!!! First keynte was lit.”

No word on whether both musicians were able to walk out of the building with phones, but we are sure Apple will be blessing both of them with the Duo before its release.

The iPhone Duo’s Key Design Features & Specifics

The passport-style smartphone opens to become a mini-iPad, allowing multitasking across multiple apps and giving users the perfect device for intense mobile gaming sessions.

Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet features a 5.4-inch display when closed and a massive 7.6-inch display when open.

When the phone officially launches, there will be apps optimized for Apple’s foldable that will automatically adjust how they appear as users change the device’s orientation.

Apple’s new powerful A20 Pro chip is paired with a new cooling system that boosts iPhone Duo’s sustained performance by 35%.

As for the camera system, the Duo features two high-powered 48-megapixel cameras: one for wide-angle shots and the other for ultra-wide shots.

The one Central Cee uses in his post is the Center Stage camera, paired with a FaceTime camera. It will also support Apple Pencil on both screens. 

The iPhone Duo is available for preorder on Oct. 16 and goes on sale Oct. 23, with the base model starting at $1,999.

It will be interesting to see how the public responds to this very niche device, and whether it takes off or flops like the Apple Vision Pro.

The streets are still talking about the new foldable smartphone; you can see those reactions below.

Jhené Aiko is back with a new album, Westside Whimsy.

After a six-year drought, Aiko has finally given her fans some new music. Back in 2020, the Los Angeles singer released Chilombo, a project that featured hits like “Triggered,” “P*$$y Fairy,” and “On The Way.”

The R&B singer has gone through a lot of transitions in her personal life during that time, including a very public breakup with her former boyfriend, Big Sean. Now, the internet is speculating that Aiko may have found new love.

Fellow West Coast artist Larry June and Jhené Aiko have been rumored to be dating. The two recently released a record titled “California Dream” and looked extra comfortable with each other in the music video. 

Beyond her love life, Aiko has been locked in on creating this new album. She’s filled Westside Whimsy with West Coast heavy hitter like Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Larry June, and Tyga. The project spans 20 tracks, and less than 24 hours after its release, fans are already gravitating toward songs like “Ghost” and “Love Bomb.”

Check out our early takeaways from Jhené Aiko’s new album, Westside Whimsy, below.

Carmen Bryan has filed a lawsuit, alleging that rapper and podcaster N.O.R.E. sexually assaulted her inside a nightclub in the 1990s. According to Carmen Bryan’s account. N.O.R.E. physically accosted her without consent inside a packed venue.

Rolling Stone reports that Carmen Bryan, a former executive who worked at Rush Management and parented a child with Nas, filed a 20-page lawsuit in New York this past Wednesday (September 9).

The complaint points to “pervasive sexism, sexual objectification, and misogynoir” being one of the reasons Bryan, 54, is now addressing the assault allegedly carried out by N.O.R.E., real name Victor Santiago.

The outlet obtained a statement from Bryan’s attorneys Marjorie Mesidor and Heather Palmore which read:

“No woman signs up to be assaulted. The assertion that an assault is excusable—or simply did not happen—because a perpetrator failed to recognize his victim strips women of their fundamental humanity. Ms. Bryan is coming forward not only to demand accountability for the lasting trauma and public humiliation inflicted upon her, but to challenge the culture of entitlement that treats women’s bodies as collateral damage.”

The time period the alleged assault took place was around the time N.O.R.E. was promoting his second solo studio album, Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler. The rapper was at a Manhattan club in May of 1999 and Bryan claims Santiago was “visibily intoxicated” and “committed an act of nonconsensual digital penetration.”

The complaint goes on to say that clubgoers intervened to separate Santiago from Bryan, who then recognized her as Nas’ partner at the time and apologized for the alleged assault.

N.O.R.E. nor his legal team has responded the complaint.

In other news, DJ Vlad, who is currently feuding with the Queens rapper-turned-podcaster, claims that N.O.R.E.’s wife, Neri Santiago, is suing him for claiming that she’s a white woman.

In the tweet posted above, DJ Vlad mentioned the video where he would share how he’s involved in Carmen Bryan’s lawsuit. That video can be viewed below.

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Photo: Getty

Ne-Yo has no complaints about how his career has turned out.

Throughout the years, plenty of people have told the R&B superstar that they believe he should have been “bigger.” On the contrary, Ne-Yo is completely comfortable with his level of fame and success.

During a recent interview, he explained that he wouldn’t want to reach the level of fame that Beyoncé or her husband, JAŸ-Z, have.

“I’ve heard people say to me that you should be as big as Beyoncé or you should be as big as JAŸ-Z. Like honestly, I don’t think I want that.”

His reasoning has nothing to do with their talent or accomplishments. Instead, Ne-Yo appreciates being able to live a relatively normal life without needing security or extensive planning every time he steps outside.

“I love that I can sell out an arena on Monday and then go buy underwear at Target on Tuesday.”

Ne-Yo is celebrating 20 years since the release of his debut album, In My Own Words. Over the course of his career, he has delivered classics like “So Sick,” “Because Of You,” “Miss Independent,” and “Closer.”

For Ne-Yo, it seems the ability to enjoy both superstar moment and everyday life is exactly the level of success he wants.

The summer of 2026 in New York City was one to behold. The Knicks brought the city its first NBA Championship in half a century, the World Cup brought visitors from all over the world to the Big Apple, and of course Jay-Z showed out for an entire weekend at Yankee Stadium and had Hip-Hoppers in their 40s and 50s reliving their teens and 20s.

Now that September is here and the kids are back at school, summer in New York is officially over, but not before its main star gets one more chance to shine before heading back to work.

On Wednesday (Sept. 9), Saturday Night Live announced that the King of New York, Jalen Brunson, will host the season premiere of SNL on Sept. 26, just a few weeks before the 2026-27 NBA season gets underway. Joining the likes of basketball legends such as Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and LeBron James, Jalen Brunson will become just the fifth NBA player to host SNL and finally get to show the world a different side of himself. We’ve all gotten all too familiar with his cool and calm demeanor.

The musical guest for that special night will be the five-deep girl group from LA, KATSEYE, who burst onto the scene in 2024 with their hit single, “Touch.”

But enough about them; this night is all about Jalen “KONY” Brunson and his SNL debut. Will his Knicks teammates join him on stage? We’re almost sure they will, but will the NBA Finals MVP deliver some comedy gold of his own? We have no doubt he will. The man is single-handedly responsible for crime being at an all-time low in New York City, for God’s sake. He does it all.

Are you going to be checking out Jalen Brunson on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Republican Party kicked off its midterm convention on Wednesday night (Sept. 9), and chief among the first night’s moments was the appearance of Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania making an introductory speech, along with President Donald Trump imploring the public to vote for the GOP with a promise of $5,000 to all Americans.

Fetterman’s appearance came in the form of a video that introduced GOP Senator David McCormick, who also represents Pennsylvania as Fetterman does. Fetterman and McCormick have frequently crossed the aisle to work together on legislation, but it was still a surprise move as the midterms are eight weeks away.

Calling McCormick a “great friend,” Fetterman also referred to himself as a “common-sense Democrat” and attacked socialism, stating that he would reject “that anti-American way of life.” He also vowed to work with Trump to preserve Pennsylvania’s steel industry.

Donald Trump and the rest of the MAGA Republicans know they are in trouble in the upcoming midterm elections, so desperate times call for desperate measures.

During his almost 2-hour meandering speech at Trumpalooza, aka the GOP midterm convention in Texas, the orange menace promised that his administration would pay a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” to every American adult if voters stupidly deliver a Republican victory in the midterm elections.

“If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump told his gullible supporters at the convention, which many political experts are calling a clear sign Republicans are in trouble. “We’ll call it the Trump Dividend. Congratulations.”

If that sounds like a bribe, well, that’s because it is, and many people are describing it as such.

Sam Stein, managing editor at The Bulwark, also called Trump’s latest promise a flat-out “bribe.”

“Trump openly bribing people to vote for Republicans. $5k per person if republicans hold the House and the Senate?” Stein said in his post on X (formerly Twitter).

They are using the moment to remind us of his other financial promise that never came to fruition: the $2,000 tariff dividend check we are still waiting for.

Trump defended his bribery plan in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, claiming the payments would be possible because of his stupid tariffs.

“We’re taking in 21 trillion dollars. No country has ever taken in anywhere near that,” Trump told Ingraham. “That’s four-five times more than the next. That’s all because of that beautiful word you and I love more tha most others- tariffs.”

We are truly living in some stupid times.

You can see more reactions to Trump bribing Americans in hopes of staying in power below.

DJ Akademiks is speaking out after his name was mentioned during Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial.

The Chicago rapper is now in his third week of the trial, stemming from prosecutors’ allegations that he organized a hit on Quando Rondo. The alleged order ultimately resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab.

At one point during the trial, Akademiks’ name was brought up in connection to an alleged murder confession Durk supposedly made during his 2020 appearance on Ak’s Off The Record podcast.

During the interview, Ak asked Smurk if the “Slide for Von” comments bothered him. Durk responded that he wasn’t sure why they would bother him because he hadn’t been seeing those comments lately. He then added that there must be “something in the water.”

Online detectives have since connected Durk’s comment about “something in the water” to an earlier interview with Quando Rondo, where the rapper declined a water bottle from an interviewer because it was already open, saying he was concerned there could be “something in the water.”

However, the connection between the two moments remains speculation. Durk never directly stated that his “something in the water” comment was about Rondo or the Los Angeles incident that left Lul Pab dead.

Now, Akademiks is sounding off on his name being mentioned in the trial, arguing that the allegations could put his safety at rick.

“Throwing my name in here, saying I received confession only puts my life in danger.”

We never thought we would see this day, but somehow Sony managed to fumble the Hideo Kojima bag epically, and gamers are absolutely stunned.

Late Wednesday night, the gaming world was hit with an atomic bomb when PlayStation announced it was no longer partnering with the legend, the GOAT, Hideo Kojima and his studio Kojima Productions on his next game, PHYSINT, his spiritual successor to Metal Gear.

Without giving much of a reason, PlayStation announced the stunning and equally awful news, claiming it still admires the legendary game developer and hinting there is still a chance they could work together in the future.

“An update from PlayStation Studios: After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on its project PHYSINT,” the statement begins. “We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima’s vision for the game.”

The statement continues, “Our relationship remains strong after three decades of industry-leading, genre-defining creative cooperation, and we look forward to continued close collaboration with Hideo Kojima and his award-winning independent studio in the future.”

Hideo Kojima’s Response Hints There Is More To This Story

A community note under the post on X (formerly Twitter) tells a different story, and that’s thanks to a statement from Kojima himself, which claims he has been sitting on this news for months, and that PHYSINT was in danger of being canceled until XBOX put on its green cape and saved his game.

Per Hideo Kojima:

As confirmed earlier through our official channels, in mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the PHYSINT project. PHYSINT is an important project both to me personally and to KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS. Determined to keep the project alive, we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner. In the course of seeking advice and pursuing negotiations with people across many fields, we found in XBOX a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future, and we have decided to team up with them once again. Please rest assured that development of PHYSINT, our genre-defining action-espionage title, is ongoing and will continue moving forward.

Bruh.

Kojima Productions added:

Today, we are excited to confirm that our journey with PHYSINT continues with Asha(@asha_shar) and the team at XBOX. XBOX understands and shares our bold creative vision, and this expands our relationship with XBOX beyond OD. As we move forward with the development of PHYSINT, we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world.

Now we have no idea what really happened. Still, the reaction to this news is clear: Sony basically did its best impression of Terrence Howard when he fumbled the Marvel bag. Gamers really want to know what the hell PlayStation is doing.

We also wonder what the hell PlayStation is thinking with this move.

We are sure more details will eventually come out and reveal there is much more sauce to this disappointing story.

But, hey, we are happy that PHYSINT is still happening, so shoutout to XBOX for the save.

You can see more reactions below.

DaBaby opened his own chicken and waffles spot, No Knife, but some of the restaurant’s prices have people scratching their heads.

Baby getting into the food business feels like a natural transition, as he’s shown fans his passion for cooking over the years. He even started a social media segment where he called himself “Chef No Knife,” with the Charlotte rapper cooking some of his favorite dishes.

The series showed fans a different side of DaBaby that they may not have seen before. Now, he’s taking that passion to the next level by keeping thins in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Suge rapper opened No Knife on September 6.

However, some customers questioned the price points on certain menu items. DaBaby responded to the criticism by telling those who weren’t feeling the prices, “They shoulda went to Waffle House. Waffle House has something for you.”

One of the biggest talking points has been the restaurant’s $45 waffles. DaBaby defended the price, explaining that the dish is more than just the basic ingredient.

“This isn’t just flour and water,” he said.

With No Knife officially open, DaBaby is betting that his fans will see the value behind the elevated experience he’s bringing to Charlotte.

Apple has finally joined the foldable phone party after it unveiled its long-rumored folding smartphone, the iPhone Duo.

With the iPhone Duo’s official arrival on Wednesday, it marks the first major overhaul of Apple’s smartphone design in years, and Apple hopes it will reignite excitement around the iPhone brand, which has grown a bit stale.

As expected, the iPhone Duo isn’t cheap, starting at $1,999 for the 256 GB (base model), and features what many describe as a passport design that opens and closes like a book.

When the device is closed, it has a 5.4-inch display, but when it’s unfolded, it has a massive 7.6-inch display, making it the ultimate Apple device not called an iPad for gaming, watching movies, and, of course, heavy multitasking.

Apple also claims that when unfolded, the device is the company’s thinnest iPhone yet.

When you change the phone’s orientation, apps optimized for the iPhone Duo automatically adjust how they appear. Watching a video on Duo while it is folded in half puts the video player on top and the controls on the bottom.

Zoom is another app optimized for the device, showing a shared view of the call while placing meeting participants on the bottom screen.

As with all foldable devices, a visible crease appears where the device folds, and Apple made a valiant attempt to limit it with a custom nano-texture finish and multilayer lamination that increases the Duo’s durability as you constantly open and close it.

What’s Under the Hood Powering iPhone Duo

Under the hood is Apple’s new powerful A20 Pro chip paired with a new cooling system that boosts iPhone Duo’s sustained performance by 35%.

With foldables, battery life is a major issue. Samsung seems to have solved that issue with its latest offerings: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Apple also seems to have delivered similar results, promising 31 hours of playback on a charge and 44 hours when using only the front screen.

That number drops to 24 hours if you use both screens.

As for the most important part of the smartphone, the camera, the iPhone Duo uses two high-powered 48-megapixel cameras; one will tackle wide-angle shots while the other is for ultra-wide shots.

The front screen features a cutout for the Center Stage camera, plus a FaceTime camera on the main panel.

Apple also thought about the selfie queens and folks who moonlight as creative directors, carefully curating their social media timelines with flawless, well-posed photos using the new Duo Preview mode. It lets the subject see themselves on screen while the photo taker views them on another screen.

The iPhone Duo Has the Internet Talking

Oh, and by the way, Apple did announce the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple Watch Series 12, and AirPods 5, but as expected, all the conversation centers on iPhone Duo.

So what is the internet saying?

Well, with anything Apple announces, those who faithfully throw on their black turtlenecks and blue denim jeans are excited that Apple is finally joining the foldable party and, as expected, treating the moment as if the company Steve Jobs built has somehow revolutionized the foldable smartphone.

Then there are those intrigued by the iPhone Duo, but who also recognize that companies like Samsung have years in the foldable space, and Apple still has to play catch-up.

But if you want an even better take, Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD, summed up the iPhone Duo perfectly when he said in his preview video, “it’s not perfect, but it has a lot going for it.”

He also brilliantly broke down the pros and cons while comparing the Duo to its obvious rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The iPhone Duo is available for preorder on Oct. 16 and goes on sale Oct. 23; below are more reactions to Apple finally dropping a foldable iPhone.

Megan Thee Stallion is keeping it real about her publicized relationship and breakup with NBA star Klay Thompson.

At one point, everything seemed to be going smooth between the two. From constantly being spotted on the gold course together to Megan cooking Klay spaghetti and catfish, the Hotties even got a song out of the relationship. Meg released “LOVER GIRL,” giving a glimpse into how deep she was in her feelings.

Once the relationship ended, Meg revealed a side of things that fans may have not expected. The Houston MC previously accused her former boyfriend of cheating, and now she’s sharing more about what the relationship was like.

During an appearance on Michelle Obama’s podcast, Meg reflected on her time with Thompson, revealing that the relationship often left her feeling “on edge all the time.”

“I feel like I’ve been put through the washing machine and the dryer with tins, shovels, and a cactus.”

Meg also explained that feeling uncomfortable became a sign that it was time to dip out from the relationship.

“How do I want to say this gently? What’s meant for you is always going to work out. And if something is constantly making you feel uncomfortable, just on edge all the time, you probably are not supposed to be there.” 

The Stallion continued, explaining that she felt like she was losing herself while trying to make the relationship work.

“God will always make you uncomfortable when something is not meant for you. I think I just kept trying to make pieces fit that didn’t belong, trying to fit myself into someone else’s life. I was losing myself a little bit. I am now in the space of finding me again… You will not disrespect me. And you will be thankful. Period.”

Universal’s upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic continues to fill out its roster of Hip-Hop heavyweights, and the latest casting comes with some serious musical lineage of its own.

For many moviegoers, Avengers: Doomsday is the most anticipated film left on the calendar year for 2026, but for sci-fi lovers and fans of creature-features, the excitement for Godzilla: Minus Zero is right up there with the cinematic debut of Dr. Doom.

On Tuesday (Aug. 8), TOHO films released the latest trailer for the upcoming Godzilla: Minus Zero, and if you were a fan of its 2023 predecessor, you’re going to be in for a treat. Picking up two years after the events of Godzilla: Minus One, the sequel reintroduces the iconic kaiju from Japan who seems hell-bent on revenge and is once again taking aim at Japan and its inhabitants. While the heroes of Minus One barely escaped alive as they used military strategy and science to defeat Godzilla by the end of the 2023 Oscar-winning film, this time around they may get some monstrous help. An ominous roar can be heard in the trailer, and it certainly doesn’t sound like it came from Godzilla himself.

Could it be the mighty three-headed Ghidora? The robotic MechaGodzilla? Maybe Rodan? We have no idea, but someone or something put the gigantic reptile on its back, and it sure as hell wasn’t a human being.

Returning for Godzilla: Minus Zero is Minus One’s hero, kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), who is all too familiar with the power and destructive force that Godzilla is capable of. Also returning for more monster action in Minus Zero are Minami Hamabe (Noriko), Hidetaka Yoshioka (Kenji Noda) and Yuki Yamada (Shiro Mizushima).

While many had hoped this would turn out to be a trilogy or even a “rebooted” version of the franchise, the trailer promises that this will be the final installment to the Takashi Yamazaki-directed films, so it’s obvious that they’re putting it all on the line and giving viewers something to indulge in and talk about for ages to come.

We. Can’t. Wait.

Check out the latest trailer to Godzilla: Minus Zero below, and let us know if you’ll be checking it out when it hits theaters on Nov. 6 in the comments section.

Although Troi Torain has long since been his own independent media entity for years, his early days as part of the Star & Buc Wild duo. By way of his current YouTube show, Troi Torain shared that Timothy “Buc Wild” Joseph has passed away at the age of 47.

By way of The Star Report, Torain titled his latest dispatch “Timothy ‘BUC WILD’ Joseph celebration of life 1/3/79 – 9/6/26.”

In his usual fashion, Torain spoke to the passing of his former Hot 97 co-host and, as he said, his “alleged half brother.” While Torain was the front-facing voice and lead scribe on the pair’s writings, he made it a point to frequently point to Joseph’s connection to his continued success.

If anyone was expecting Torain to be somber, there was an element of that but there was also the biting humor that Star has become universally known for. Torain shared that Joseph passed away on Sunday (September 6) in the Pink Houses Projects in Brooklyn, New York.

Torain added that it appears that Joseph died after being exposed to fentanyl, but he was clear to state that he cannot confirm those details as they are still developing.

There were times where Star, lovingly referring to his former co-host as Tim, would repeat the refrain of how much he was there for him and that the love he had for him was evident, even as he still poked fun at him during the episode. Star also shared the history of the pair’s ascension from public access television to MTV, onto Hot 97 and all the controversies that ensued.

Below, we’ll share the video description from YouTube.

From the YouTube video description:

Remembering Timothy “BUC WILD” Joseph, one-half of the legendary Star & Buc Wild Show, whose voice, humor, and larger-than-life personality left a lasting impact on radio, hip-hop culture, and entertainment.

Timothy Joseph has passed away in Brooklyn, NY at the age of 47. This video honors the life, career, and cultural influence of BUC WILD — a personality known for his unforgettable energy, unique perspective, and contributions to the world of urban media.

From the streets of New York to listeners around the world, the Star & Buc Wild Show became a landmark in radio history, creating memorable moments and connecting with generations of fans. BUC WILD’s legacy continues through the people he inspired and the audience that appreciated his work.

In this tribute, we reflect on:

• Timothy “BUC WILD” Joseph’s career and impact
• The history of the Star & Buc Wild Show
• His influence on hip-hop culture and entertainment
• Memories shared by fans and supporters

Please share your favorite memories of BUC WILD in the comments and help celebrate the life of a true original.

Rest in peace, Timothy “BUC WILD” Joseph. Your voice and legacy will not be forgotten.

Check out the full episode of The Star Report below.

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Tyler, The Creator rose as a founding member of the Odd Future collective, who largely leaned into extreme depictions of violent acts in some of their early works. This week, Tyler, The Creator has deactivated his X account and fans seem to believe it’s connected to some of his old tweets.

Tyler, The Creator, now 35, found fame with Odd Future at 18 and unleashed a barrage of acclaimed, if often alarming releases that fit his former collective’s motif of edgy content for the sake of shock and awe. That same approach carried over to Tyler’s social media presence, in particular X, formerly Twitter, where he amassed a large following.

In times past, Tyler has landed in hot water due to his past tweets that have made offensive remarks against celebrities, casual use of the n-word, dropping the f-bomb, and all manner of insults for reasons that may only be attributed to the wildness of youth. He has long since relaxed the edgier persona but as always, the Internet is forever.

While Tyler has indeed matured, his zany, outsized personality remained as much as his talent and artistry grew. These days, Tyler hobnobs with many of his personal heroes, including Pharrell Williams and has gone on to create well-rounded music far removed from his teen rapper past.

There was also another brewing controversy regarding another popular X user, FlyOutChase, who was outed for making offensive tweets about underaged girls with sexually suggestive and offensive overtones. Some believe that FlyOutChase getting exposed inspired Tyler to end his time on X.

On X, fans are remarking about Tyler, The Creator deactivating his X account and sharing some of those aforementioned inflammatory tweets. We’ve got reactions from all sides below.

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Photo: Getty

Vince Staples has amassed one of Hip-Hop’s most versatile discographies while also becoming a highly entertaining interview subject for journalists. Known for his dry wit, Vince Staples sparked a passionate debate regarding the nonchalant views he holds regarding his music career.

X user @ByDobson shared a TikTok video from FDFROMTHEFUTURE in where the content creator asks Vince Staples what is his best song. In response and clearly in jest, Staples answered with, “This my job. They don’t got a favorite burger when they flip them at McDonalds.”

The reactions to Staples answer were, in a word, brisk, via the X social media platform. Almost immediately, fans and observers, including those who work in music media, levied critiques at Staples’ jokingly sarcastic but potentially sincere answer.

The fervor in which fans online reacted to the clip caught the eyes of Staples, who took to X to address the comment and pushed back with some of his own.

“My bad I was enjoying myself next time I’ll pick a burger for you hoe ass n*ggas,” Staples said, setting off a quick flurry of replies that only seemed to incite more vitriol in his direction.

One fan asked Staples directly, “N*gga is you making art or is you making burgers?” with Staples quote-tweeting and writing in the caption, “A burger cost more than a song.”

Fans of Staples are fully aware that the Long Beach, California native’s view of the music industry is a unique one. Yes, he is regarded as one of the standout acts of his generation but he’s also a staunch critic of the payment scale and how artists are largely treated as disposable.

Further, FDFROMTHEFUTURE’s question was, respectfully, banal and indicative of him not understanding his subject and just going with the first thing he could come up with instead of asking a more measured question.

Staples also added in his string of thoughts a direct rebuttal to the chatter around the clip while also promoting his 5 On Fridays radio show.

“See, y’all aren’t mad that I don’t have a favorite song. Y’all are mad because you assume I’ve reached a level of success and finances that people dream for, which is true. But you also think I am undeserving of that because I don’t adopt the way of thinking that we were told we need to make it. But I still love you. 5 on Fridays,” Staples wrote.

Owing to that afrorementioned wit and sarcasm, Staples pinned a tweet to his X feed directing fans and critics alike to his Apple Music program.

“Do you want to know my favorite song? If so, be sure to check out 5 on Fridays with Vince Staples, where we play 5 new releases as well as some other cool things you might have missed. 5 on Fridays with Vince Staples, every Friday at 11AM PT. Only on Apple Music!” Staples added.

Vince Staples has also in the past explained that his jaded outlook on the music industry was partly shaped by his rough upbringing, and a desire to be more than his circumstances. But it appears that his fans want him to be more grateful and reverent of the art he made for their consumption, instead of the other way around.

Below, we’ll share the rest of Vince Staples’ X feed in response to his answer in the clip, along with comments from all sides, below.

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Photo: Getty

Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal is under fire over racist remarks aimed at Rep. Hakeem Jeffries over pro-Israel ties. In a recent interview, Rula Jebreal referred to the New York congressman as an “AIPAC Monkey” and other quips some viewed as racially insensitive.

During a recent appearance on Wajahat Ali’s The Left Hook podcast, Rula Jebreal voiced strong critiques against Jeffries regarding his connection with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and their support of elected officials.

While talking with Ali, Jebreal used the moment to jab at Jeffries, referencing that his first name, Hakeem, translates into “healer” and following by saying, “he is no healer” and that he is a “bought and paid by AIPAC monkey, with all due respect,” while adding, “and I don’t mean it in a racist way.”

Jebreal’s quip and immediate cleanup job would suggest that she recognized her words could be taken in the context some assumed she meant it. However, Jebreal did her best to apologize but still managed to throw a shot at Jeffries via X.

“I am disgusted and horrified that Hakeem Jeffries is taking money from AIPAC amidst Israel;s genocide in Palestine,”Jebreal wrote on September 4. “That said, a term that I used to describe him was inappropriate and offensive and should neverave been used. I apologize unconditionally.”

Reactions to Rula Jebreal’s initial comments against Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and her apology have been, in a word, pointed. The critical lens in which she addressed the congressman is seemingly contradicted not only by her choice in how she referred to him, but also her own apology according to some observers online.

Check out those reactions below.

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Photo: Getty

Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial has reached the end of closing arguments, putting the case in the hands of the jury.

Two of the Chicago rapper’s former affiliates, OTF Jam and OTF Vonnie, took the stand as witnesses during the trial. At one point, Durk’s defense team referred to them as “rats” for testifying against Smurk.

On the 11th of the trial, supporters gathered outside the courthouse in support of Durk, wearing “Free Durk” shirts as both sides delivered their final arguments.

Durk’s father, Dontay Banks Sr., recently spoke about the trial and expressed his disappointment over seeing people close to his son testify against him. He specifically called out Jam, questioning over seeing people close to his son testify against him. He specifically called out Jam, questioning how he could take the stand after Durk allegedly supported him following his release from jail.

“This stuff make your stomach turn. This dude Jam said don’t nobody helped him when he got out of jail except him [Durk], the only ones that looked out for me was him [Durk]. Now you gonna sit up here and get up on the stand and be lying on him.”

Banks Sr. continued, questioning Jam’s testimony and accusing him of lying about his son.

“Now you gonna sit up here and get up on the stand and be lying on him.”

Durk’s defense attorney, Drew Findling, also used his closing argument to emphasize his client’s career as an artist and his ability to tell stories through his music.

“He is a lyricist. He is blessed from above. He’s The Voice.”

Findling continued by highlighting what he believes makes Durk’s music resonate with listeners.

“The Voice that has the ability to express what other people think.”

Now that closing arguments are over, the jury will determine what comes next of Lil Durk as they weigh the testimony and evidence presented throughout the trial.

As New York City prepares for the 25th anniversary of the horrific terror attacks on 9/11 that destroyed the original World Trade Center, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani called for Mayor Zohran Mamdani to not attend the memorial service. He would be excoriated heavily online for that, and for the city’s disclosure of files that showed he was untruthful about the air quality after the attacks.

Giuliani was interviewed by the right-wing television network Newsmax on Sunday (Sept. 6) about 9/11, and took the opportunity to attack Mamdani with lies about his beliefs in an Islamophobic-laced commentary. “Having lost friends there, and being very close to many of the families, it offends me that he’s coming,” he said.

Mamdani declined to respond to Giuliani’s attacks, but did confirm that he will be at the ceremony. It is the latest
attack on him after a controversy involving a petition with dubious origins, representing some 9/11 family members, calling for him not to attend the service was created earlier in the summer.

While it hasn’t been confirmed, it looks like the Tetris Company speaking out spooked the White House into removing its racist Tetris clone.

Just days after launching Trump Arcade, the White House removed its racist game “Build the Wall,” which had players building a border wall on the southern border to prevent a “zombie border siege” using pieces synonymous with the popular video game Tetris.

The Verge reports the White House didn’t give any reason for the game’s removal, but some believe it had to do with the Tetris Company quickly denouncing the game’s release.

“For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy,” Tetris spokesperson Kerri Brusca told the website last week. “The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible. We are currently reviewing the matter.”

There Are Other Racist Games Still Available

While one racist game is gone, there are still others up on the site that push Trump’s agenda and are very problematic, like the Flappy Bird knockoff “Flappy Bill,” a Tapper-like game called “Supply Line,” “Trump Savings Tycoon,” and “Rio Run,” which is a ripoff of the classic game Snake and has a mini version of Tom Homan, the White House Border Czar, rounding up migrants for deportation.

Hilariously, Homan seemed visibly disturbed when it was revealed that he was in the game and that it was live on White House’s arcade website.

We are still patiently waiting to hear from the likes of SEGA and Nintendo, who just recently blatantly MAGA-copied The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time with The Legend of Trump: Make America Great Again, looking to capitalize on the excitement for the game’s remake after it was shown during a recent Nintendo Direct.

Until that day comes, you can see more reactions below.

On September 8, 1966, television viewers were introduced to the USS Enterprise when Star Trek: The Original Series debuted with “The Man Trap.” What started as Gene Roddenberry’s vision of humanity exploring the stars has grown into a six-decade franchise spanning numerous television series, feature films, animation, books and generations of devoted fans. This week, Star Trek officially celebrated its 60th anniversary, with events around the world honoring a franchise built around exploration, hope and the idea that humanity could eventually build a better future.

Part of what made that future feel so radical in 1966 was who was allowed to be part of it. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Star Trek put people of different races and nationalities aboard the Enterprise not simply as visitors, servants or stereotypes, but as highly trained officers working together as equals. That included Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, one of the first Black women to hold a continuing, non-stereotypical role of prominence on American television.

Uhara’s impact went far beyond a fictional spaceship. Nichols famously reconsidered leaving the series after Martin Luther King Jr. stressed how important it was for Black children to see her on television as an equal, and she later worked with NASA to help recruit women and people of color into the space program. Her influence helped connect Star Trek’s imagined future to the real-life push to make space exploration more inclusive.

And the franchise didn’t stop with Uhura. Over the next 60 years, Black performers would become engineers, doctors, Vulcans, Klingons, captains and commanders throughout the Star Trek universe. Avery Brooks eventually led an entire series as Benjamin Sisko, while Sonequa Martin-Green became the central hero of Star Wars: Discovery. LeVar Burton, Whoopi Goldberg, Tim Russ and others also created characters who became integral pieces of Trek lore.

That history is worth celebrating because Star Trek has always been about imagining what’s possible. Long before diversity became a regular corporate talking point, the franchise was asking audiences to picture a future where Black people weren’t just present — they were helping lead humanity into whatever came next. In honor of 60 years of Star Trek, here are some of the best Black characters ever to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Nyota Uhura — Nichelle Nichols

There really isn’t another place to start. Uhura was a communications officer aboard the original Enterprise and became one of television’s most important examples of Black representation at a time when Black women were rarely given roles that displayed intelligence, authority, and professionalism. Nichols’ legacy eventually extended all the way to NASA, making Uhura’s importance bigger than Star Trek itself.