NEW YORK — (WQHT) — This Father’s Day, the beats of hip-hop aren’t just driving club hits—they’re carrying heartfelt messages of fatherhood, resilience, and legacy. Across New York City and beyond, artists are raising the mic to celebrate father figures, share wisdom, and honor their family ties. For Father’s Day 2025, HOT 97 has partnered with ICON MANN and Toyota to salute four dynamic New York fathers with this special Father’s Day Salute. Is your dad one of the great ones? Tell us about it! Share your story about someone you’d like to nominate as one of the Great Dad’s of New York. Great Dads of New York Who are you nominating as a Great Dad of New York?(Required) First Last Tell us why your nominee is a one of the Great Dad’s of New York(Required) In 300 words or less, tell us a story about why this dad should be one of The Great Dad’s of New York. Share a Photo Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, psd, Max. file size: 4 GB. Share a pic of the nominee Tell us YOUR Name(Required) First Last Who is nominating this dad? What’s YOUR Email Address? (We’ll keep it private)(Required) What’s YOUR Phone Number? (We’ll keep it private)(Required) Would you like to be a HOT 97 VIP?(Required) Yes, consider me a VIP No thanks, I’m good. HOT 97 VIP’s receive periodic messages about special events and behind-the-scenes offereings. Δ

Barry Sanders, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, recently revealed that he suffered a heart attack last year during a recruiting trip as he accompanied one of his sons. During an interview with CBS Sports on Friday, June 13, the Detroit Lions legend shared the health scare he experienced. Sanders also spoke about  The Making of a Heart Attack, a documentary he appears, which will premiere on Saturday, June 14 at 1 p.m. on A&E.  “I couldn’t believe it, honestly,” Sanders said. “I thought it was like heartburn, but it just kind of persisted.”  After feeling a sensation that he thought was heartburn, Sanders left the recruiting visit and drove himself to the emergency room. “Of all things, I don’t know why, that just never entered my mind. I’m learning through this process that there aren’t necessarily any warning signs, unless you do what we’re encouraging people to do, which is to go to the doctor, get tested for LDL-C levels, or bad cholesterol. It’s not something you’re going to be able to feel. You don’t have to fit a certain physical profile.” Sanders recalled. In the documentary, Sanders speaks with four other people who experienced a heart attack or stroke “to uncover the hidden risks, lasting impacts, and what they want others to know.” “It’s really been an education for me, learning about how frequent this happens all over the U.S.,” Sanders said. “Conversing with these other individuals who are part of this documentary, who have very insightful, gripping stories about the journey that they’ve been on. It’s just really amazing. I think it will get a lot of people’s attention.”  After taking his doctor’s advice, which included additional walking, dietary change, and the proper medication, Sanders is doing better than ever. “It’s definitely made me healthier and happier,” Sanders said. “Being the kind of athlete that I was, I would see people walking and I would wonder, like, ‘What kind of workout is that?’ But there’s a thing called a heart-healthy workout, where you’re just getting your heart rate up a little bit over a certain period of time, and that’s just really good for your heart. There was just a certain ignorance that I had about things like that. But all of it has been a learning process.” The Making of a Heart Attack premieres on Saturday, June 14, at 1 p.m. on A&E.

On Friday, June 13, Ice Cube hopped on X to make a rather shocking claim: he’d been the victim of a theft. Not only that, but he’s placing the blame on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). According to Cube, his iPad was stolen while on United Flight 2615, which travels from Los Angeles’ LAX to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Ice Cube isn’t known for being bashful about how he feels, and he quickly called it out, “TSA stole my iPad out [of] my bag tonight.” He added, “I need my sh*t back ASAP, or it’s [going] [to] [be] a problem. TSA stole my iPad out my bag tonight. United Flight 2615. Either LAX or O’Hara. I need my shit back ASAP or it’s a problem. — Ice Cube (@icecube) June 13, 2025 Ice Cube Announces ‘Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude’ Tour In other news, earlier this year, Ice Cube announced that he’s heading out on the road to a city near you. Dubbed the “Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude” tour, it marks Cube’s first domestic headlining tour in more than a decade. It will celebrate his remarkable forty-year career in the music industry. Produced by Live Nation, the arena tour commences September 4 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and includes 22 dates across major U.S. and Canadian markets, ending on October 9 in Toronto. Taking to Instagram, Cube shared his excitement about the upcoming tour. “I’m finally doing a coast-to-coast tour with a big production. I’m giving y’all something special, something real with the Truth to Power Tour 2025,” Cube wrote. “Secure your tickets early using code TRUTHTOPOWER. If you ever seen me before, don’t sleep on this one.” He added, “Truth to Power is more than a tour — it’s a 40-year celebration,” Cube said in a statement. “The world needs truth. The people need power. And that’s what my music brings. It’s gonna be next level to go from city to city with a major production, unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”

Late last week, KeKe Palmer revealed the story behind her son Leodis’ name, with whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson. On June 7, the multi-hyphenate star was the latest House Guest on Scott Evans’ Webby award-winning series. Palmer tells Evans that her ex, Darius, had been, in fact, the one who chose their son’s name. She recalls that the name was supposed to be a union of their first names, Darius and Lauren. “Darius actually made his name. He wanted both our names, which is so crazy,” she joked. “My parents did the same thing….That was him trying to put (like) Darius and Lauren like Leodis…It was too much, but I said, ‘Hey, let’s do it.’ It was adorable. I was pregnant, ya know, so anything went.” KeKe also says that she likes that her son has an “old name,” telling Evans, “It sounded like he was marching with Martin and them…” The NOPE actress hilariously commented that she envisions her son being similar to the character of Michael Evans from Good Times. How @KekePalmer’s son Leodis got his name pic.twitter.com/5YAsdAsBVx — Scott Evans (@iamscottevans) June 13, 2025 ‘One Of Them Days’ Sequel In The Works With SZA & Keke Palmer Returning In other news, a sequel to One of Them Days is officially underway, as Sony Pictures greenlights the next chapter of the breakout buddy comedy. The original film, released in January by TriStar Pictures, earned over $50 million globally—an uncommon win for a mid-budget theatrical comedy. Now, Keke Palmer and SZA are expected to return, reuniting with director Lawrence Lamont and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton for the developing follow-up. Set in Los Angeles, the first installment follows Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA), roommates and lifelong friends whose lives spiral out of control when Alyssa’s boyfriend loses their rent money. Facing eviction, they hustle through a chaotic day filled with missteps and revelations.  The film was produced by Issa Rae and Sara Diya Rastogi for Hoorae, Deniese Davis for ColorCreative, and Charles D. King for Macro. It was developed through Sony’s CoCre lab, a pipeline designed to amplify rising screenwriters of color and support original, culturally resonant stories.

Earlier this week, Sasha Obama — the youngest daughter of former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama— celebrated her 24th birthday. Sasha was born on June 10, 2001, in Michelle’s hometown of Chicago. At the time, Barack was the State Senator of Illinois. “Happy birthday to my sweet girl, Sasha! [I] can’t believe how quickly time has flown. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. Love you always!” Michelle captioned an Instagram post of her, Sasha, Malia, and Barack. Not long after, Barack Obama shared his own Instagram post with similar sentiments, writing: “Happy birthday, Sasha! Watching you grow into the incredible woman you are has been a true gift. I’ll always be proud of you and will always be here for you.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) Michelle Obama Reflects On Style Journey With New Book, ‘The Look’ In other news, Michelle Obama recently announced she was authoring her third book, The Look, later this fall. The book will chronicle her journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. “During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled,” Michelle wrote in the caption of an Instagram post on June 5. “For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way.” She continued, “It’s a reflection of my lifelong journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. Inside, you’ll find some of the outfits that have meant the most to me, but more importantly, the moments that I lived through in them — big and small, personal and political, historic and ordinary — that were as memorable as the clothes themselves.” The book is scheduled for release on November 4. Pre-orders for The Look are currently available at michelleobamabooks.com or wherever books are sold.

Chris Brown recently shared insights on how he copes with the pressures of fame, revealing a personal routine that helps him stay balanced. While touring Europe, the R&B artist posted photos on Instagram showing him wandering city streets alone at night. In his caption, he explained that these solitary outings make him feel “human and normal,” which is essential for his mental well-being since he can’t freely walk around during the day. Brown emphasized that staying connected to ordinary experiences helps him remain grounded. He also added, “Being secluded from some parts of everyday life activities will drive you insane being isolated all the time. Cook, remain humble and grateful!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by BROWN (@chrisbrownofficial) Despite focusing on staying grounded and maintaining his mental health, Brown’s tour has been overshadowed by legal issues. He was arrested last month in Manchester in connection to an alleged 2023 assault at a London nightclub. Charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, Brown was initially denied bail and kept in custody until June 13, just before his Breezy Bowl tour began in Manchester. Later, the court reversed the decision, allowing him to be released after posting bail close to $7 million. As part of the bail terms, Brown must stay at a fixed address in the UK and surrender his passport, although he’s permitted to travel for his performances abroad. The alleged victim, music producer Abe Diaw, accused Brown of a violent attack at the Tape nightclub in London, including hitting him with a tequila bottle and stomping on his head, which caused him to lose consciousness. Diaw also filed a lawsuit seeking damages for “severe and lasting injuries.” The status of the lawsuit is unknown, and criminal proceedings are still pending.

Cardi B could be taking her love for wrestling to the next level. According to WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, the rap superstar is eager to make her in-ring debut. Already set to host this year’s SummerSlam in August, Cardi’s involvement might not stop at commentary and crowd work. “I don’t know if anybody can control Cardi B, let me just start with that,” Triple H told Billboard. “So if she wants to, I think it’s going to be hard to talk her out of it. And then what can we expect? Who the hell knows. The one thing I know about Cardi is, whatever she’s going to do, is what she’s going to do. And you’re sort of kind of just hanging on to the tiger’s tail a little bit there. So she’s a lot of fun to work with. Has been so far with this.” Triple H added that Cardi has been a longtime fan of wrestling and has never been shy about her enthusiasm. “She’s excited to do it. I think, as everybody knows, she’s a big fan and has, you know, talked a lot about the business over the years and all that stuff and comments on it a lot. So when you work with people like that, it’s exciting. We’ll see, we’ll see where that goes. But we’re thrilled to be working with her.” Cardi’s potential appearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by WWE talent either. Former Women’s Champion Liv Morgan and her tag partner Raquel Rodriguez previously challenged Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion to a tag match, saying, “Us versus Cardi and Meg. Make it happen.” Morgan even added, “That offer still stands… I’d love to beat them in my hometown.” So who know, SummerSlam might not be the last time WWE sees Cardi B.

Chris Webber is setting the record straight about some explosive rumors that have been swirling on the internet involving him. Taking to X(formerly Twitter), the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer is tired of throwing into the latest tea on social media. “What’s up, party people? Man, the Internet is undefeated, huh?” Webber said in a video. “That’s why I’m going to give this friendly reminder… you can’t believe everything you read, see, or hear… Especially when they’re all lies. No proof, just made-up lies,” Webber continued. “If you have a platform and you have content with my name attached to lies, take it down now. To those that started the rumors, that started the lies and continued to spread the lies… I dare you not to take it down. I dare you to repeat the lie. You are not going to defame my name. Of course, the lawyers are in action… Of course, they are emotional and motivated.” pic.twitter.com/21ObTjMfxu — Chris Webber (@realchriswebber) June 10, 2025 Speculation began to circulate that Webber is the father of the oldest daughter of his former Sacramento Kings teammate, Doug Christie that he shares with his wife, Jackie. Reportedly, the allegation is tied to an unverified $4.6 million lawsuit,  During the video, Webber took to plug his new book, By His Grace. “If anyone else wants some insight, a story, or some tools on how to get through the distractions and how to stay focused… go get my book By God’s Grace, By God’s Grace, By God’s Grace.” “The enemy wants us to be distracted,” Webber said.

Shannon Sharpe has offered an apology to Nicki Minaj after she threw some shade his way on Lil Wayne’s “Banned From NO” remix. Released on Wednesday (June 11), Minaj came out and held prisoners by dissing the Pro Football Hall of Famer. “‘Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop / If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe.” “Nicki, I was not trying to be disrespectful. Of course, I know who you are,” he said. “I would be remiss to say that I thought you knew who I was, or that you knew anything about Club Shay Shay. I’m not that arrogant.” “Nicki, I apologize. I meant no disrespect. You’ll always have an open invitation if you ever want to come sit down and have a conversation,” he continued. “Even if you just want to have a private conversation on the phone or something. It won’t go any further between you and I.” “That was not my intent, but intent only matters to me because clearly you’re still offended,” he added. “So I apologize sincerely, and hopefully we can move forward.” Taking to X(formerly Twitter) to confirm the diss, Minaj confirmed she was talking about Sharpe and that his co-host Chad Ochocinco always caught some strays. “If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that sharp!!!!” Nicki tweeted. “Yeah nigga you thought I forgot that “Nicki who” shit you did? LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO j/k. Ochocinco almost caught a strizzy just by being around yo crazy tail self.” If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that sharp!!!! Yeah nigga you thought I forgot that “Nicki who” shit you did? LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO j/k Ochocinco almost caught a strizzy just by being around yo crazy tail self #BannedFromNORemix pic.twitter.com/ZG6SVaoSv2 — Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) June 11, 2025 Along with Sharpe, Minaj had some lyrics for JAY-Z and the NFL as she’s still in her feelings about Lil Wayne not being selected to perform or the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. “NFL, fire some n****s and then call us,” Minaj rapped.

Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins had his contract terminated from a basketball league in Puerto Rico after fighting with several fans on Monday night. Mets de Guaynabo, Cousins’ team, released a statement announcing they were terminating the former NBA star’s contract, according to the Associated Press. “As an organization, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect, and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise,” the Mets said in a statement In the altercation, Cousins is seen having a dispute with a fan before he grabbed him in the front row. After being led by security to the locker, fans in the audience threw drinks on Cousins, which almost caused another incident before he was carried away by security. Additionally, Puerto Rico’s  National Superior Basketball Association announced  that the former Sacramento Kings center would be suspended from the league for the remainder of the 2025 season and fined $4,250 for “acts that incite violence or provocation.” “In addition, the player must show cause why he should not be fined an additional $5,750, given the severity of the incident,” the league said. Suspensions were also handed out for the fans involved in the incident for the remainder of the season, including one fan who “made inappropriate and inciting gestures” and others who “threw liquids and other objects.” Before the incident, Cousins was playing in his second season with the Mets after joining the Puerto Rico league. In the NBA,   he played 11 seasons with the Kings, the New Orleans Pelicans, in Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, the Denver Nuggets, the Houston Rockets, and the Milwaukee Bucks.