Ghetts, whose legal name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, is awaiting sentencing at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Clarke-Samuel, 41, admitted that he struck 20-year-old Yubin Tamang with his BMW on Redbridge Lane in Ilford at approximately 11:33 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2025. Tamang, who had been crossing the road, died in the hospital two days later. According to prosecutors, Clarke-Samuel did not stop at the scene. The Crown alleges he continued driving dangerously along Worcester Crescent following the collision. Metropolitan Police officers attended his residence early the next morning and located a black BMW with significant front-end damage. In addition to the fatal count, Clarke-Samuel entered guilty pleas to further dangerous driving offences spanning Camden, Islington and Hackney. The court remanded him into custody following the plea hearing and imposed an immediate driving disqualification. U.K. Rapper Ghetts’ 2025 Hit-And-Run Faces Serious Jail Time During earlier proceedings, the presiding judge indicated that “a custodial sentence should be expected,” signaling that imprisonment is likely when the matter returns for sentencing. Tamang was an only child whose parents had sent him to the United Kingdom to pursue his education. His death has prompted public reaction in London and among members of the Nepalese community. Clarke-Samuel rose to prominence in the U.K. music industry under the stage name Ghetts, collaborating with artists including Skepta, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran. He has performed at the Glastonbury Festival and received accolades from the MOBO Awards, including Best Male Act in 2021 and the Pioneer Award in 2024. He also appeared in the Netflix series Supacell, portraying a character known as Krazy. The upcoming sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey will determine the penalty in a case that has drawn significant attention given Clarke-Samuel’s public profile.

Three decades after his debut, Jay-Z is revisiting key chapters of his catalog with a measured sense of occasion. On March 2, he reissued “N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99)” on streaming platforms and as a vinyl single, part of a broader acknowledgment of his 30 years in music. The track, produced by Timbaland, first appeared on 1999’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life and featured Amil and Jaz-O, the Brooklyn rapper who played a formative role in Jay-Z’s early career. Its subtitle nods to “The Originators,” a 1990 collaboration between the two that predated Jay-Z’s commercial breakthrough. The new vinyl pressing includes “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” as a B-side, linking different eras of his output. The release also invites a renewed look at his complicated history with Jaz-O, a relationship that has moved from mentorship to estrangement and, eventually, reconciliation. In his memoir Decoded, Jay-Z reflected on their early days in the Marcy Houses: “I connected with an older kid who had a reputation as the best rapper in Marcy,” he wrote. “Jaz was his name—and we started practicing our rhymes into a heavy-ass tape recorder with a makeshift mic attached.” JAŸ-Z “Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)” Featuring Big Jaz and Amil Available now on vinyl and streaming.https://t.co/Bph4izW2Tc #HOV pic.twitter.com/REYtt9mTzY — Roc Nation (@RocNation) March 1, 2026 From Fallout to Full Circle Their partnership frayed in the early 2000s amid business disagreements, including Jaz-O’s decision not to sign with Roc-a-Fella Records. The tension surfaced in music, most notably when Jay-Z rapped on “What We Talkin’ About,” “Tryna rewrite history, let’s talk about facts,” adding, “Dame made millions, even Jaz made some scraps/He could’ve made more but he ain’t sign his contract.” The two later appeared together publicly during the 4:44 Tour in 2017, signaling a thaw. In 2019, Jaz-O entered a distribution partnership with Roc Nation through his company, Kingz Kounty Media Group. The reissue of “N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99)” coincides with the anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, released in 1996. Jay-Z has also made “Dead Presidents” available again across digital and physical formats. Together, the releases suggest not nostalgia so much as curation, a careful revisiting of the music that shaped one of hip-hop’s most enduring careers.

A civil lawsuit connected to the 2022 shooting outside The Nice Guy in West Hollywood has been withdrawn, bringing a close to claims against the rapper Kodak Black. The incident occurred during Super Bowl Weekend, when he was leaving a private event hosted by Justin Bieber. Two men, Mark Schaefer and Adam Rahman, had alleged that Black’s actions contributed to a confrontation that escalated into gunfire. Court filings indicate the plaintiffs have now dropped the case involving Kodak. Bradford Cohen, an attorney for Kodak Black, criticized the lawsuit in pointed terms. “This lawsuit filed by Gloria Allred, might have been the dumbest, most ridiculous lawsuit I have ever read,” he said, adding that his client chose not to seek attorney’s fees. Cohen said that decision allowed the plaintiffs to leave “with their tail between their legs.” Furthermore, he cautioned lawyers against pursuing what he characterized as unfounded claims about Kodak. View this post on Instagram From $62M to Zero Justin Bieber was initially named in the suit but was dismissed months later. The plaintiffs first sought $62 million in damages, a request that was rejected by a judge. They then made an unsuccessful attempt to recover $10.6 million, just as the civil suit against Kodak ended with no reward. The shooting took place outside the venue as guests, including several prominent artists, were arriving or departing. Kodak Black was struck in the leg. Schaefer was wounded near his ankle, and Rahman in the shoulder. In earlier court documents, Rahman alleged that “Kodak Black initiated the altercation with patrons outside of the subject location, which was the catalyst for the series of events that led to gun violence.” This made Kodak a central figure in the investigation.

Claressa Shields has rarely shied away from speaking her mind, whether in the ring or online. In a post shared on March 1, just days before Papoose’s 48th birthday, the 30-year-old champion boxer uploaded a photo of the two standing side by side in long fur coats. “My man deserve everything,” she wrote. “I wish for his bday I could surprise him with a baby.” Moreover, Claressa Shields has continued to make news headlines with her outspoken personality. The relationship, which has spanned nearly two years, became public amid Papoose’s separation from rapper Remy Ma. He shares children from previous relationships, including a young daughter with Remy. Their marriage, which began in 2016, has yet to be formally dissolved, a detail that continues to surface in conversations about Shields and Papoose’s future. Notably, Shields is often mentioned by fans in discussions about their relationship. My man deserve everything. I wish for his bday I could surprise him with a baby pic.twitter.com/v3HZ2rmWN8 — Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) March 2, 2026 Unfiltered, Unbothered—and Focused on What’s Next Shields has responded directly to online critics who question her plans. “It’s called divorce goofy ass,” she wrote to one commenter. In another exchange, she said she and Papoose hope to start a family by the end of 2026. During the holidays, she also rejected claims that he had spent Christmas with Remy, calling those reports “misinformed.” However, Shields is known for setting the record straight in response to such rumors. For Shields, the discussion of motherhood unfolds alongside a still-active boxing career. Last summer, she shared her excitement in characteristically blunt terms: “I can’t wait to get pregnant, you heaux gonna be so mad. Going to be crying in the car, punching the steering wheel crying.” The remark, equal parts celebratory and combative, reflects the candor that has defined much of her public life.

50 Cent has long treated social media as an extension of the stage. This week, he reposted a photograph of Benzino lying on a stretcher with a neck brace, an image that followed reports the former magazine executive had suffered serious injuries. 50 captioned the photo “LMAO,” adding laughing emojis, and later commented, “GOD TOLD ME TO SHARE THIS [flushed face emoji].” The reaction was swift and divided. Some followers viewed the post as consistent with 50’s combative humor. Others saw it differently. “It’s official 50 cent is hurting and miserable,” one commenter wrote, while another cautioned, “You keep laughing and trolling all your colleagues going through life… remember one day it’s going to be your turn. Life happens to everybody. The cruise was funny at first but too much of everything is bad. How are you always happy?” View this post on Instagram Benzino Urges Booth Over Memes as T.I.–50 Feud Flares Up Benzino responded in a video circulated online, wearing a shirt bearing the image of 50 Cent’s late mother. He praised T.I. and his son King Harris for addressing the rapper through music rather than memes. “Destroyed his as,” he said, adding, “Go tell that big, block-head n* to stop clowning and get in the booth and battle this n, man… Nobody tryna give a fck about these memes and all the sucker sht he doing… Get in the booth and battle the n.” The episode unfolds amid renewed friction between 50 Cent and T.I., a rivalry that reignited after T.I. accused him of stepping away from a proposed Verzuz battle. Since then, the disagreement has played out in diss tracks, Instagram posts, and pointed interviews. In an industry where competition has long been part of the culture, the line between performance and personal grievance can be difficult to discern.

Footage of Cardi B during a concert in San Francisco for her Little Miss Drama tour recently caught fans’ attention. It appeared that the rapper had taken shots at her ex-boyfriend, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. “You can’t be out here playing with a b*tch like me,” she said to the crowd. “There’s n*ggas out here praying for a b*tch like me, you hear me?” However, according to Cardi B, everything is not what it seems. “Dear blogs, when I perform a song, I always introduce the song with a lil razzle dazzle,” she wrote in a post on X March 2. “Not everything is a shot or personal. I’m actually repeating lyrics from the songs…Relax.” Last month, rumors circulated that there was trouble in paradise between Cardi and Stefon after it was reported that the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram. The rapper would later confirm the news during a tour stop in Los Angeles. Dear blogs, when I perform a song I always introduce the song with a lil razzle dazzle.. not everything is a shot or personal. I’m actually repeating lyrics from the songs…Relax — Cardi B (@iamcardib) March 2, 2026 Cardi B Allegedly Crashed Out Over ‘SNL’ Joke About Nicki Minaj In other news, TMZ recently reported that Cardi B “lost it” at Saturday Night Live. Sources told the outlet that amid rehearsals for the iconic sketch comedy show’s 1,000th episode, the “Pretty & Petty” rapper made it a night to remember after she began destroying equipment after overhearing a joke mentioning Nicki Minaj. Apparently, the anchors for the popular skit, “Weekend Update,” were testing out a few jokes regarding Minaj’s affiliation with the MAGA crowd. Sources noted that the joke had nothing to do with Cardi B; however, just the mere mention of Minaj made her go “berserk.” Things escalated very quickly after Cardi, who was set as the musical guest for the night, threatened to leave the show. It was alleged that she not only threw her phone at a TV monitor backstage, but also stormed into the show producer’s office and punched a TV screen until it broke. Sources told the outlet that not long after Cardi’s fit, the joke was scrapped

Over the weekend, a fatal shooting took place amid the grand opening of a new Marathon Burger in Long Beach, CA. The franchise restaurant was founded by Nipsey Hussle’s brother, Blacc Sam, in honor of the late rapper. KTLA reported that the fatal incident has left one person dead and two others injured. An investigation of the events is currently underway, say police officials. According to the outlet, the details of what exactly led up to the fatal shooting are still unclear. That said, a rep for Marathon Burger told TMZ, the incident was in no way connected to the opening ceremony. “The opening was a huge success with strong community support. The incident being reported was NOT connected to our event and the event continued. The opening itself proceeded safely and without issue. The restaurant remains open and customers are still flowing in and out with excitement,” the rep said. Footage of the horrific incident has since circulated online. In one clip, Blacc Sam can be seen crouching down behind a car as gunfire erupts in the streets. View this post on Instagram ‘Nipsey Hussle Square’: LA Renames Intersection In Rapper’s Memory In other news, on a happier note, on Saturday (Feb. 27), the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue was renamed in Nipsey Hussle’s honor. Nip’s longtime partner, Lauren London, who was present at the emotional ceremony, says the rapper predicted it all.“When me and Nip first started dating, we would drive by over here and he would be like, ‘You know, Boogie, one day, they’re gonna name this whole section after me.’ And here we are today,” she said. LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilwoman Heather Hutt, and California State Assemblyman Isaac Bryan were also in attendance, CBS News Los Angeles reports. Later in the ceremony, the “Dedication” rapper’s older brother, Blacc Sam, gave an impassioned speech. “I think that everybody who knew Hussle knows that Hussle loved the area. Crenshaw and Slauson meant everything to bro,” he said. “This corner has a lot of memories.” Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in March 2019 in front of his Marathon Clothing store

Skip Marley stopped by HOT 97 to talk to Nessa about his new reimagined version of his grandfather Bob Marley’s iconic song, “One Love,” which is out now. He opened up about what it meant to record the track at the Bob Marley Museum and Tuff Gong Studios, how he approached preserving the original while bringing it into a new era with producer Salaam Remy, and why this collaboration with Adidas and the Bob Marley Foundation felt like a full circle moment tied to music, fashion, and soccer culture. One of the standout viral moments came when Skip shared he actually loves singing his grandfather’s music even more than his own, and when he revealed which Bob Marley songs he turns to for specific emotions. Skip also spoke about growing up in the Marley family, touring early on with his uncles Damian and Stephen, and the discipline and “perfect practice” mindset they instilled in him. He reflected on celebrating Bob Marley’s birthday as a true celebration of life, how his grandmother Rita Marley would compare his music to his grandfather’s, and the powerful question he would ask his grandfather if given five minutes with him. The conversation closed with Skip sharing what he hopes people feel when they hear his name 30 years from now, why “One Love” is more than a song, and teasing new singles and an upcoming album on the way.

Nicki Minaj’s Barbz aren’t playing around with comedy’s Deon Cole after jokes he made at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards. The comedian is facing major backlash that includes receiving death threats for speaking on the Queen of Rap. Cole’s opening monologue, packed with political jabs and industry critiques, quickly became a lightning rod online. The annual ceremony, known for celebrating Black excellence in entertainment and culture, has historically left room for sharp humor. Cole leaned into that tradition. He delivered pointed commentary aimed at high-profile figures and the current political climate, drawing loud reactions both inside the venue and across social media. Within hours, clips from the broadcast began circulating widely. While some viewers praised Cole for continuing the awards show’s legacy of fearless comedy, others took issue with specific punchlines. Portions of Nicki Minaj’s fan base voiced frustration online, interpreting parts of the set as unnecessary shots. The discourse intensified as posts spread across X and Instagram, turning the monologue into a trending topic. The backlash soon escalated beyond criticism. Screenshots surfaced alleging that Cole received violent threats in his direct messages. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deon Cole (@deoncole) Some posts reportedly referenced his late mother, pushing the situation into disturbing territory. What began as debate over jokes shifted into something far more serious. Stand-up comedy has always thrived on discomfort. From award show stages to sold-out arenas, comedians test boundaries. Cole’s set followed that blueprint, blending cultural commentary with satire. Deon Cole Receives Backlash & Death Threats Over Nicki Minaj Jokes At 2026 NAACP Image Awards Yet in today’s digital climate, punchlines can spark immediate backlash. Fan communities mobilize quickly. A joke can transform into a viral flashpoint within minutes. The NAACP Image Awards have long balanced celebration with reflection, offering space for artists to speak candidly. Cole embraced that space. Whether audiences found his humor biting or off-base remains subjective. However, alleged threats introduce a different conversation entirely. As the fallout continues, the moment underscores how volatile online reactions can become when comedy, politics and fandom collide. For now, Cole’s monologue stands as one of the most talked-about segments from this year’s ceremony — and a reminder of how thin the line between satire and outrage can feel.

Wu-Tang Clan co-founder Oliver “Power” Grant’s cause of death has been revealed. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, March 1, Grant’s family and the Wu-Tang Clan shared a joint statement saying Grant passed due to pancreatic cancer. “A true fighter until the end, he was surrounded by his mother, his children, his family, and his closest friends,” the statement began. “Born November 24, 1970, in Staten Island, New York, the man the world knew as ‘Power’ — and his oldest friends knew as ‘Pookie’ — was a proud product of the Park Hill neighborhood.” “From those streets, he rose to become a visionary force, a pillar of the Wu-Tang family and a global architect of culture,” the statement continued. “ It was the honor of his life to pour his love, wisdom, and brilliance into his family and his community. His impact was singular; there will never be another to take his place.” View this post on Instagram The statement also confirmed Grant’s forthcoming memorial service. ​“The wake will be on March 13, 2026, and the funeral will be on March 14, 2026, in the New York City area. We will release exact location details closer to the service dates as we finalize securing the venues,” the post stated. ​On Monday, February 23, Grant passed away. Although he never rapped, Grant was instrumental in Wu-Tang’s meteoric rise in the 1990s. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York,  he helped to construct the vision of the group along with RZA and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. GRANT HELPED TO ESTABLISH THE WU-TANG CLAN AS A BRAND When they released their 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Grant “helped secure studio access and financial backing. “He also helped the group members secure solo deals, which was unheard of at the time. ​Grant also founded Wu Wear, which was one of the artist-owned streetwear brands in hip-hop. With retail locations in New York and Los Angeles, Wu Wear rapidly became a global phenomenon, generating millions of dollars. As an actor, he made his debut as “Knowledge” in Hype Williams’ 1998 urban cult classic, Belly. He also starred as “Rich Bower” in the 1999 drama Black and White, alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller. Grant also served as an associate producer on the film. ​His other film credits include When I Will Be Loved (where he was also a composer), Coalition, An Imperfect Murder, and he was portrayed as “Big Kev” in the unreleased Wendy Williams biopic Queen of Media.