Hip-Hop mogul 50 Cent has reignited tensions with rapper Jim Jones, turning a Bronx business dispute into a viral moment. On Feb. 20, the Jamaica Queens mogul shared surveillance footage that appears to show Jones attempting to kick in the door of his podcast studio in the Bronx. The post quickly circulated online. 50 framed the clip with a pointed caption: “Damn bro this wouldn’t happen if we was friends, wanna be friends? I don’t know let’s rap about it! LOL.” View this post on Instagram Hours later, he uploaded a second image. That photo showed an eviction notice addressed to Joseph Jones, escalating the public clash. The first line, “Damn bro this wouldn’t happen if we was friends,” reads as more than commentary. It implies influence and protection. 50 Cent Posts Video Of Jim Jones Evicted From Bronx Building With Eviction Notice 50 suggests proximity to him could have prevented the alleged eviction fallout. The statement reinforces his reputation as a power player who values loyalty. “Wanna be friends?” drips with sarcasm. Rather than offering peace, the question underscores the divide. It frames reconciliation as conditional. The imbalance feels intentional. Then 50 adds, “I don’t know let’s rap about it!” With that, he redirects the feud toward music. In hip-hop, disputes often spill from social media into diss records. The mogul signals that if Jones wants a resolution, it should come through bars. The final “LOL” sharpens the mockery. It positions the drama as spectacle. That tone aligns with 50’s long-running online strategy, where humor amplifies humiliation. The friction intensified after Jones criticized 50’s Netflix documentary about Diddy. Since then, the Bronx has become the latest backdrop in their rivalry. For now, 50 Cent controls the narrative. Whether Jim Jones responds on wax remains to be seen. Jim Jones has not responded to 50 Cent’s post yet.

Kendrick Lamar uses his guest verse on his cousin Baby Keem’s new track, “Good Flirts,” to poke fun at Young Thug and Mariah The Scientist’s viral jail calls. On “Good Flirt” from Baby Keem’s new album Ca$ino, Kendrick admits to enjoying the messy news in hip-hop, referencing love, loyalty, and headline-making gossip that ensued during the Young Thug trial. The standout line arrives early: “To be honest, n***as love love too.” With that admission, Kendrick dismantles the myth that toughness and tenderness can’t coexist. The Grammy-winning recording artist reframes masculinity in hip-hop, suggesting that even rap’s most guarded figures crave intimacy. He sharpens the point with, “I gossip with my bitch like I’m Young Thug too.” The bar nods directly to Young Thug and the viral jail calls that flooded social media. In those recordings, Thug spoke candidly about friends, romantic tension and industry chatter, including conversations involving singer Mariah The Scientist. Kendrick flips that moment into commentary, implying that pillow talk and rumor-trading aren’t weaknesses. They’re human habits, even among rap’s elite. Kendrick Lamar Mentions Young Thug & Mariah The Scientist’s Jail Call In New Baby Keem Song, “Good Flirts” Elsewhere in the verse, Kendrick layers physical imagery over emotional exposure. “Dumb lungs on you, spun the hairbun loose” paints a picture of intimacy stripped of performance. The line feels raw and unfiltered, mirroring the vulnerability he suggests throughout the track. Fans would react to the lyric due to Young Thug’s loyalty to Kendrick Lamar’s nemesis, Drake. Then he pivots to industry reality: “Rightin’ wrongs, ’til they come with royalties and pub too.” It’s a reminder that pain often becomes a product. In rap, heartbreak can turn into publishing checks and chart positions. Personal turmoil rarely stays private. He closes with a domestic snapshot: “At the house… watchin’ Sinners.” The scene contrasts sharply with rap’s usual flexes. Instead of the club, it’s the couch. Instead of chaos, it’s closeness. On Ca$ino, “Good Flirts” stands out as a cultural timestamp. Kendrick Lamar uses a Young Thug reference to explore how love, gossip, and fame collide in modern hip-hop.

North West and Ye, formerly Kanye West, will be like LeBron James and his son Bronny, as it was announced that Kim Kardashian’s daughter will be joining her dad at Gamma after signing a record deal with the label. View this post on Instagram The 12-year-old recording artist has signed a deal with Gamma, the fast-rising independent label founded by music executive Larry Jackson. The partnership marks North’s most defined move yet as she builds her own catalog and identity. Gamma, launched in 2023, has positioned itself as a disruptor in artist ownership and distribution. The company’s growing influence now extends to North, who has already begun recording under the new agreement. Sources close to the situation say studio sessions are underway, signaling that music is no longer a cameo in her father’s world but a focused pursuit. Ye has credited his daughter with reigniting his passion for creating music again. Kim Kardashian’s Daughter North West Joins Father Kanye West (Ye) At Gamma The label also maintains business ties with her father, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Gamma is slated to release Ye’s upcoming album, Bully, further aligning the family’s creative ecosystem under one roof. Earlier this month, North delivered “Piercing on My Hand” through the label. The track, produced with Ye and Will Frenchman, debuted live in Mexico City during one of Ye’s arena performances. Performing before nearly 40,000 fans, North commanded the stage with visible confidence. She also joined Ye for “Only One” and selections from the ¥$ era, reinforcing her comfort in high-pressure settings. Her Billboard résumé continues to expand. North previously appeared on “Talking/Once Again,” Ye’s collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The placement introduced her to mainstream listeners beyond celebrity lineage. She later showcased bilingual agility on FKA Twigs’ “Childlike Things,” performing in Japanese and English. With Gamma’s infrastructure and Ye’s mentorship, North West is carving out a lane that blends legacy with independence. At just 12, she is no longer orbiting the spotlight. She is stepping into it.

Laila Edwards keeps making history at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. On Thursday night, she became the first Black American woman to win a gold medal in women’s hockey when the United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. She assisted on the first of her team’s two goals. In her first game last week, Edwards, at 21 years old, became the first Black woman to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games, according to The Athletic. Edwards accomplished the feat in front of her family after setting up a GoFundMe page to raise money for their travel. “They helped me get here and make this team and achieve my dream, so it means a lot,” Edwards said. Laila Edwards skates her way into the history books pic.twitter.com/Y2ltJIKKmT — ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2026 Edwards’ family, including her parents and four siblings, hoped to raise $50,000. After 650 donations, they raised more than $61,000 and counting. The donor’s generosity allowed her 91-year-old grandmother, Ernestine Gray, and four friends to make the trip. THE KELCE BROTHERS ARE BIG FANS OF EDWARDS The top donation of $10,000 was made by Jason and Travis Kelce. Like Edwards, they are from Cleveland, OH. Jason and Kylie Kelce were in the stands to witness the US come from behind to capture the gold. On their podcast, the Kelce brothers gave Edwards a shoutout. They been fans of hers since she made the US National team in 2023. “I thought, ‘I’ll just message them, thanking them, they’ll never see it,” Edwards said. “And then Travis and I had a full conversation over DM,” she said. “That was super cool… he was a really down-to-earth, humble guy who was super supportive and had really good things to say.” They shouted me out again recently for making the Olympic team!’ she continued. The Winters games continue until this weekend, when the closing ceremony commences.

President Donald Trump’s love for Nicki Minaj continued this week at the White House. On Wednesday, (Feb 18), Donald Trump showered the “Anaconda” rapper with compliments during his speech for a Black History Month event. Trump called Minaj “beautiful” and highlighted her political prowess. “How about Nicki Minaj? Do we love Nicki Minaj? I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a couple weeks ago. She’s so beautiful,” Trump raved. “I said, ‘Nicki, you’re so beautiful.’ Her nails are like that long, I said, ‘Nicki are they real?’ She didn’t want to get into that. But she was so beautiful and so great and she gets it, more importantly.” The president’s remarks of Minaj came as he was talking about a series of iconic black artists, such as guitarist Chuck Berry and singer Muddy Waters. After he went on a ramble about Minaj’s “beautiful” skin, the president turned back to his prepared speech where he continued to note more iconic black Americans, including Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and boxer Muhammad Ali. He argued that Black History Month is really “all about American history.” “Happy Black History Month, Happy Black History Year, and happy Black History Century,” Trump concluded. Last month, the Trinidadian singer and songwriter praised Trump at the so-called “Trump Accounts” event. Taking to the stage, Minaj said, “I am probably the President’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change. And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more, it’s going to motivate all of us to support him more.” She added, “We’re not going to let them get away with bullying him and you know the smear campaigns, it’s not going to work. He has a lot of force behind him and God is protecting him. Amen.”

A$AP Rocky has joined forces with Nas for a new Ray-Ban campaign that looks back to Belly, the 1998 film directed by Hype Williams that became a touchstone of late-1990s hip-hop style. The campaign, released February 19, coincides with the launch of Rocky’s Metal Collection for the eyewear brand. Serving as creative director, Rocky introduces a selection of optical frames and sunglasses priced between $202 and $249. The collaboration brings together fashion, music, and film in a way that feels less like a commercial exercise and more like a cultural callback. The accompanying short film borrows its mood and visual cues from Belly, a movie remembered as much for its imagery as for its storyline. Nas, who appeared in the original film, narrates the campaign, grounding it in personal memory. “Man, I get a phone call from Flacko this evening. He wants to meet in Harlem. Funny thing is, it’s the same restaurant where I last met with his pops before he passed. His pops was my dawg,” he says. In fact, in this story, Rocky becomes even more central to the film’s journey. Framing Legacy in the Present That line adds emotional weight to what might otherwise be a straightforward brand partnership. By invoking a shared history and a specific place in Harlem, the campaign folds biography into homage. It also connects Nas to Rocky’s influence, creating a bond that feels authentic instead of fabricated, and positions Rocky as a stylistic heir to earlier generations of New York rap. For Ray-Ban, the project positions the brand within a lineage of artists who have shaped popular culture beyond their music. Furthermore, this partnership allows Rocky to expand his growing creative legacy across fashion and music, strengthening Rocky’s influence in both arenas.

Yo Gotti and the Collective Music Group, better known as CMG The Label, are mourning the loss of one of the label’s brightest protégés, Lil Poppa. Together, Gotti and CMG shared an official statement on Thursday afternoon (February 19) via social media in tribute to their artist. Born Janarious Wheeler, Lil Poppa was 25 when he died on Wednesday, February 18. The Jacksonville, Florida, native was found deceased, and medical examiners later confirmed the cause as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The tragedy came just days after Lil Poppa released his latest single, “Outta Town Bae,” adding another layer of heartbreak to a career that many believed was still ascending. View this post on Instagram In an Instagram tribute, CMG described Poppa as “more than a gifted artist,” calling him “an ambitious young man whose depth stretched far beyond his years.” The label emphasized his limitless promise, writing that he “carried endless potential” and was deeply loved within the CMG family. Rappers Boosie Badazz, Yungeen Ace, Lil Duval were among the many across hip-hop to pay tribute to the late rapper after his death. Yo Gotti & CMG The Label (Collective Music Group) Release Official Statement On The Passing Of Rapper Lil Poppa The statement also reflected on the emotional weight of his music. “He was one of those rare creatives who poured his pain, growth, and truth into every lyric,” the label shared. Known for raw storytelling and vulnerable verses, Lil Poppa built a catalog rooted in lived experience. “His music reflected real life—its hardships, its lessons, and its triumphs,” CMG added, displaying authenticity as the foundation of his artistry. Beyond the studio, the label highlighted his bond with fans. “Through his passion and authenticity, he connected with listeners from all walks of life,” the statement read. “Fans saw themselves in his words. They found comfort in his vulnerability and strength in his resilience.” CMG closed with a solemn vow: “Poppa, we promise to honor your legacy with the respect and dignity it deserves. Your impact will never fade. We are all better because of you. Long Live Lil Poppa.”

In his first round of interviews since being released from federal prison, Fetty Wap has spoken less about chart positions and more about trade certifications. Appearing on The Tamron Hall Show, the rapper said he earned his GED while incarcerated and completed coursework in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The credentials, he suggested, represent more than résumé additions; they signal a recalibration of priorities. For Fetty, an artist once defined by rapid success, the tone was notably measured. “I got my GED. I took a few HVAC courses. Oh, yeah, I do a few things,” he said with a shrug. He explained that conversations with other inmates influenced his thinking. “You meet a lot of people that … they had legitimate businesses and making good amount of money,” he said. “So I’m like, well, he making, like, rapper money. I’ma try that out.” It is interesting to see Fetty consider new possibilities after his prison experience. View this post on Instagram A Different Future, On His Own Terms Hall asked whether he envisioned returning to his music career exactly as it stood before his conviction. His answer was succinct: “No.” The response did not suggest an abandonment of music, but rather an acknowledgment that the circumstances—and perhaps the man—have changed. This change is especially relevant for Fetty as he looks ahead. Fetty Wap, whose legal name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was released last month after serving time on federal drug charges tied to a cocaine distribution conspiracy. He had been sentenced in 2023. In the interview, he spoke of personal growth and a desire to be present for his family while also expressing interest in programs that support education for young people. The future he described sounded less like a comeback tour and more like a careful rebuilding, which reflects Fetty’s renewed outlook.

The death of the Jacksonville rapper Lil Poppa has been ruled a suicide, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia. Officials confirmed that the 25-year-old artist died from a gunshot wound to the head. The finding was shared publicly after initial reports of his passing earlier this week. His death came shortly after the release of his latest single, “Out Of Town Bae.” Born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, Lil Poppa grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and began rapping as a child. Friends have said he started performing around age seven, often alongside peers from his church community. Over the years, he developed a style marked by introspective lyrics and restrained delivery, frequently touching on mental health, loyalty, and relationships. His songs resonated with listeners who recognized their own experiences in his storytelling. A Legacy That Echoes Beyond the Music At the time of his death, Lil Poppa was signed to Collective Music Group, founded by Yo Gotti. The label’s roster includes artists such as GloRilla, and those who worked with Wheeler described him as steady and focused. Producer Scotty OTH, speaking to NBC affiliate WTLV, reflected on his character as much as his music. “He’s just a great guy. Outside of the music and the artistry, man, he was a good human, and I’ll never forget him,” he said. The news has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans who followed his career from its early stages. For many, his recordings now carry added weight, capturing the voice of a young artist who spoke candidly about vulnerability and pressure. If you or someone you know may be struggling, support is available by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visiting 988lifeline.org.

Kevin Durant is facing allegations that he’s been operating a burner account on X( formerly Twitter.” The tweets from the alleged account were critical of Durant’s current and former teammates as well as his past coaches. On Sunday, as Durant was playing in the NBA All-Star Game, multiple screenshots of tweets went viral. In the tweets, the Houston Rockets star was alleged to be behind was sent from accounts under several aliases. Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker and former Suns coach Frank Vogel, Golden State’s Steph Curry, and coach Steve Kerr were targeted in the tweets. The messages also included complaints about the Rockets’ Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. Screen recorded TWEETS from @gethigher77 AkA KEVIN DURANT’S Burner ACCOUNT pic.twitter.com/6hBxW5WCCd — FeerBock (@FeeredBucks) February 17, 2026 Durant addressed the controversy for the first time on Wednesday, February 18, three days after the tweets surfaced during the All-Star Game. Screen recorded TWEETS from @gethigher77 AkA KEVIN DURANT’S Burner ACCOUNT pic.twitter.com/6hBxW5WCCd — FeerBock (@FeeredBucks) February 17, 2026 “I know you gotta ask these questions, but I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant told reporters after the Rockets’ practice. I’m just here to focus on the season and keep but pushing. Kevin Durant on his burner account allegations: “I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense.” pic.twitter.com/Bd8tu5kjGw — NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) February 18, 2026 “But I get you all have to (ask). My teammates know what it is; we’ve been locked in the whole season. We had a great practice today, looking forward to the road trip,” Durant continued. GILBERT ARENAS CLAIMS THE RELEASE OF THE TWEETS WAS AN INSIDE JOB Gilbert Arenas, former NBA guard and podcaster, chimed in, saying that the leak had to come from someone from the Rockets organization. Arenas gave his take on Gil’s Arena. “Now I’m on a burner account talking in 1st person? So why the f*ck am I in a private group chat on a burner?… The n**** who leaked it is the person behind it.” Gilbert Arenas on the alleged Kevin Durant burner account (via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/5e7DR9PIcv — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 19, 2026 “Now I’m on a burner account talking in 1st person? So why the f*ck am I in a private group chat on a burner?… The n**** who leaked it is the person behind it,” Arenas said. “If you look at these tweets and you look at how Kevin Durant texts, it’s not the same person. No burner account talks in the first person.” During All-Star weekend media availability,  Durant was asked about his frequent use of the app by DeMarcus Cousins. “They don’t deserve to hear this God-level talk I’m giving to them,” Durant joked about social media users. “They take it for granted.” DURANT ADMITTED TO USING BURNING ACCOUNTS IN 2017 Using burning accounts is nothing new for Durant. In 2017, Durant confirmed that he used burner accounts to converse on social media. This season, Durant is averaging 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. The Rockets are in fourth place in the Western Conference with a record of (33-20).