Lauryn Hill paid tribute to Fugees collaborator John Forté after his passing. Describing him as “a gentle soul” recalled her and Forté becoming “fast friends” after their initial meeting. “I loved him. My family loved him,” Hill wrote. “I remember meeting his mom with her sweet voice for the first time. And walking the New York City streets with him in full youthful fascination mode. Our generation of hip-hop was young and at the ascent of its epic rise. We were both there…participating and taking it all in, full of excitement and possibility.” “Forté was a gentleman and a scholar with a strong pen, deep soul, and kind heart,” Hill  continued. “Part Brownsville, part prep-school, he had access to a way of expressing himself. With a vocabulary and fluency that was very unique for the time. John was a gentle soul beneath all of his Brownsville chanting. I wish we’d had the opportunity to embrace that even more back then.” View this post on Instagram Hill remembered introducing Forté to Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, where he became one of the Refugee Camp All Stars. She added  that her “heart aches” for his family. “I love you John,” she added. “Rest in peace, gentle king.” As WBLS reported,  the Grammy-nominated artist passed away at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on Monday. He was 50. With the Refugee Camp All-Stars, Forté toured with the Fugees. He contributed to Wyclef Jean’s platinum-selling debut solo album, The Carnival, in 1997. He was featured on the LP’s first single, “We’re Tryin’ To Stay Alive.” Forté released his debut solo album, Poly Sci, which was produced by Jean in 1998. Jean said that, “John’s voice was unmistakable.“He was more than a collaborator—he was family.” Forté is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and their two children.

Ne-Yo revealed how he’s in one relationship with three different women. ​During an appearance on Sherri, Ne-Yo shared the details about a polyamorous lifestyle. Sherri Shepherd honestly said that she didn’t understand how he makes it happen. ​“None of it!” Shepherd said. ​“I’ll keep this brief,” he began. “So after my very public, very ugly divorce, I made the decision that I was never going to tell another lie to a woman ever again in life.” ​“I own the thing that I did in that marriage to mess it up. I own it completely,” Ne-Yo told Shepherd, adding, “And I decided I didn’t want to be the reason that anybody ever felt like that ever again.” ​Ne-Yo then explained that “one of the three” current girlfriends had been with him longer. He then presented the idea of a polyamorous relationship to her. “I basically went to her and said, ‘Listen, you know I rock with you. You know I love you, but I have to be honest with you. It’s not just you,” he explained And I would love for you to meet these other women. If we can figure out a way to do something together, cool. If not, that’s cool, too.” “Everybody chose to stick around,” Ne-Yo said. “The main understanding is I’m not in three relationships. I’m in one relationship with three people.” Ne-Yo recalled how the beginnings of the polyamorous lifestyle with his three girlfriends began. “We figure out ways to make everything work,” he continued. The Grammy Award winner noted that each woman “gets their individual time,” but “group time is just as important.” Shepherd responded to Ne-Yo, saying it  “seems like more work” to come up with gifts and time for each of his girlfriends. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work. Never ever,” he replied with a smile.

Things got very real at the Night Patrol screening — and the energy in the room matched the chaos of the film itself. From stories involving Bloods, Crips, and vampire cops to near real-life fight moments, the cast delivered one of the funniest and most unforgettable Q&As you’ll see. Freddie Gibbs had the crowd in shock and laughter when he revealed he nearly had to call Stone Cold Steve Austin just in case CM Punk wanted to fight him after an on-set accident, while RJ Cyler shared how video games help him memorize lines and elevate his performances. The night also took a powerful turn as students from Denzel Washington School of the Arts and High School for Classics were in attendance, with the cast genuinely pouring into them and creating a heartfelt, unforgettable moment. Freddie Gibbs even sparked nonstop laughs when asked about the possibility of a Bloods & Crips album, and director Ryan Prows tied it all together by breaking down the heart, chaos, and deeper meaning behind Night Patrol. With shock, humor, and moments that hit different, Night Patrol arrives in theaters January 16.

Comedy star Druski has hip-hop sharing hilarious reactions to his impersonation of a Mega Church pastor in his insanely viral new skit. Released Monday, Jan. 12, the sketch surged past 60 million views in a matter of days, with reactions pouring in from across hip-hop, sports, and entertainment. The skit’s subject matter was immediately hit with scrutiny by the religious culture. View this post on Instagram The premise is maximalist by design. Druski appears in a designer outfit, harnessed above the pulpit as smoke blasts fill the sanctuary to the sound of Kirk Franklin’s 1998 gospel staple “Revolution.” He delivers his sermon mid-air, summons an elderly woman to the front of the church, then casually reveals he impregnated her. He later announces expansion plans for “Collect & Praise Ministries,” including a move into the “Motherland,” as the spectacle escalates. The exaggeration feels extreme, yet grounded enough in reality to sting. Druski leaned into the moment online, amplifying the reaction rather than retreating from it. “WHAT CHURCH YALL KNOW DO THIS THIS IS A SAFE PLACE ,” he wrote in the comments, before marveling at the engagement: “OVER 200K COMMENTS IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS ?!?!?! .” Hip Hop Reacts To Druski’s Viral Mega Church Comedy Sketch Public figures quickly echoed the sentiment. Former NFL star Chad Ochocinco framed the humor through a generational lens, writing, “My grandma would be in tears laughing & ask for forgiveness after.” Killer Mike kept it simple and emphatic, posting, “N***a U Amazing,” signaling appreciation for satire that dares to punch at powerful institutions. Joe Budden Podcast co-host Ice pointed to where the real friction might emerge. “Man wait til this cross nana and them Facebook feed,” he joked, anticipating backlash once the skit reaches more conservative audiences. Boxer Claressa Shields called Druski “the most unhinged Comedian of our time,” while Sexyy Red asked, “Now who let dis man use they church dawg,” expressing disbelief at the setting itself. For some, the humor cut close. Legendary rapper Kwame noted, “This guy’s videos are so spot on that it’s sometimes triggering.” Chuck Inglish of The Cool Kids summed up the broader consensus: “This nigga does not miss.” What makes the skit resonate is not just its audacity, but its accuracy. Druski isn’t inventing these tensions. He’s magnifying them, using comedy to expose contradictions many already recognize but rarely see addressed so bluntly. In doing so, he turned a viral joke into a cultural flashpoint.

A$AP Rocky is opening up about love, family, and personal transformation with Rihanna as he continues promoting his upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb. Appearing on the New York Times podcast Popcast, hosted by Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli, the Harlem rapper offered a rare, reflective look at how his relationship with Rihanna reshaped his life long before they became parents. “A woman will change your whole life—especially if she’s a companion,” Rocky said during the conversation. A$AP Rocky is set to appear tomorrow on Popcast, hosted by Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli. Rocky also talks about realizing Rihanna was the love of his life 10 years in the making of knowing each other, and says his mother encouraged him to go after her. pic.twitter.com/c3SKYCaff9 — Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) January 15, 2026 The comment landed as more than a romantic aside. Instead, it framed a larger shift in how he understands partnership, purpose, and maturity. Rocky described being with Rihanna as “taking a blindfold off,” suggesting a new sense of clarity rather than constraint. In his telling, companionship isn’t about status or image. It’s about alignment and perspective. That clarity, he explained, arrived even before fatherhood. Rocky referenced his children to underline how his relationship with Rihanna laid the emotional foundation for becoming a parent. Love came first, then family. The order matters. It signals intention and stability, pushing back against long-standing hip-hop narratives that treat family as an afterthought to fame or success. A$AP Rocky Recalls His Mom Always Telling Him Rihanna Is “The One” In New Popcast, Promoting ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ One of the most striking moments came when Rocky recalled advice from his late mother. “I know you like this girl that you’re with right now… but I want you with Riri. I’m telling you she real,” she once told him. Rocky laughed as he remembered questioning her certainty. “Mom why you keep saying that? That girl don’t even want me like that.” The story adds depth to his public evolution. By invoking his mother’s intuition, Rocky framed his relationship with Rihanna as something rooted in family approval and foresight, not celebrity spectacle. His disbelief at the time only makes the outcome feel more human. As Don’t Be Dumb approaches, Rocky’s comments read like a quiet mission statement. He isn’t selling reinvention. He’s documenting growth—earned through love, grounded by family, and clarified by companionship.

SZA stepped into a heated social media conversation on January 14, offering a rare but pointed critique of how celebrity relationships are dissected online, particularly when pop psychology language is presented as fact. The R&B singer weighed in under an Instagram post shared by content creator @Julietheisofficial, which featured a photo of Justin Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber. The post included captions suggesting that relationships only succeed when women tolerate emotional imbalance, using celebrity couples as implied evidence. Though the Biebers were central to the imagery, the claims were made without any direct knowledge of their marriage. SZA questioned that authority head-on. “Hi are you a licensed therapist or psychologist?” she wrote in the comments. “You speak with SUCH certainty and I’d like to know. Peace.” Sza talking about how people make theories about Justin & Hailey Bieber’s marriage without even knowing them, she spilled here! pic.twitter.com/zPy53C7Pdu — jdb. (@_Jdbiebers) January 14, 2026 The message struck a careful balance, direct in its challenge but calm in tone, signaling concern over how confidently the conclusions were being presented. @Julietheisofficial replied by clarifying her credentials. She said she holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and has worked as a behavioral specialist and researcher. She added that she is now a full-time content creator who offers coaching and mentorship services, though she is not a licensed therapist. SZA Rips Social Media User Over Misinformation About Justin Bieber & Hailey Bieber SZA responded with appreciation, then drew a firm line. “Thank you so much!” she wrote, before adding personal context. “My sister also has a masters in psychology and IS a licensed therapist.” From there, her concern sharpened. While she said she respects “study and inquiry posed as just that,” she took issue with “publicly diagnosing people you have absolutely no contact with and presenting that information as fact under the premise of education.” SZA warned that such framing “may be a bit dangerous,” not only for the celebrities being discussed, but also for audiences consuming the content as truth rather than opinion. She closed with reassurance. “Just an opinion! All respect to you.” The exchange quickly resonated beyond the comments section. Celebrity marriages like Justin and Hailey Bieber’s are routinely used as teaching tools. SZA’s response highlighted the ethical gray area between analysis and assumption. Without naming the Biebers directly in her critique, she defended their privacy while calling for more care in how influence and expertise are presented online. Rather than escalating the moment, SZA reframed it, reminding followers that certainty without access can blur into speculation. In doing so, she challenged a content culture built on confidence, urging restraint, responsibility, and respect.

Boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis is facing renewed legal jeopardy after Florida authorities issued an arrest warrant tied to allegations raised by a former partner in an ongoing civil lawsuit. Courtney Rossel filed suit in October in Miami-Dade County, accusing Davis of physical and emotional abuse throughout their relationship. Her complaint asserts claims of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On Thursday, the Miami Gardens Police Department confirmed it had obtained a warrant for Davis’ arrest on charges of “false imprisonment, battery, and attempted kidnapping.” Police said the warrant followed a review of security footage connected to an alleged confrontation earlier this week. According to authorities, the footage was consistent with Rossel’s description of events. Law enforcement officials have not said whether Davis has turned himself in or retained counsel in connection with the criminal matter. Rossel’s civil complaint alleges a recurring pattern of violence. The filing claims Davis “on multiple occasions” choked her, threatened her life, and assaulted her in both private and public settings. The lawsuit characterizes the conduct as escalating over time, rather than the result of isolated disputes. The most recent incident described in the complaint allegedly occurred on Monday, the 27th. Rossel claims Davis “grabbed, choked, and dragged” her through a stairwell, kitchen, and rear exit of a residence. Miami Gardens PD Issues A Warrant For Boxing Superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ Arrest For Alleged Domestic Violence She further alleges that Davis assaulted her in a parking garage, striking her in the back of the head while she screamed for help. Prosecutors have not indicated whether additional criminal counts are under consideration. Davis, who holds an undefeated professional record of 30-0-1 with 28 knockouts, last fought in May, when he secured a controversial draw against Lamont Roach Jr. The civil lawsuit and resulting warrant have placed his boxing career under heightened scrutiny as legal proceedings advance. The allegations have also had immediate commercial repercussions. Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul canceled a planned December bout after Rossel’s lawsuit became public. The move renewed attention on Davis’ prior encounters with the criminal justice system involving domestic violence allegations. Despite the pending charges, Davis remains the WBA lightweight champion. The sanctioning body has not announced disciplinary action. Rossel’s civil case remains active as the criminal investigation continues, raising questions about athlete accountability and institutional responses when abuse allegations emerge.

Khloé Kardashian and her Khloé In Wonder Land Podcast are once again sparking conversation, this time over how money moves within the Kardashian family. During a recent episode, the reality star and entrepreneur addressed a fan question that quickly caught fire online: Do the Kardashians ever Venmo each other? Her answer would spread quickly across social media with the clip. Khloé shut the idea down immediately. “Me and my sisters do not Venmo each other,” she said, explaining that money exchanges in their family. Instead, she described a rotation system rooted in mutual respect. “I would never go with one of my sisters and expect them to always pay. We always rotate.” According to Khloé, the approach has nothing to do with wealth flexing. It comes down to awareness. “It’s just never a thing — everyone’s really respectful with each other,” she said. The Kardashian sisters have created some of the biggest blow-up moments in reality television history since the early 2000s. To make her point, Khloé shared a moment involving her sister Kim Kardashian and a school-related purchase. “We all go to the same school, and on Fridays it’s Spirit Wear Day,” Khloé explained. The shop only accepted cash, and Kim didn’t have any. Khloé stepped in and covered the cost. When Kim offered to reimburse her through a business manager, Khloé waved it off. “Kim, it’s fine, like, we’re good,” she recalled saying. Khloé Kardashian Explains How Her Sisters Loan Each Other Money On The Khloé In Wonder Land Podcast The story didn’t end there. Khloé said Kim later returned the favor by buying something for her. That, she explained, is how the family operates. “We’re always aware of someone else spending money. We don’t take advantage,” Khloé said. She also pushed back against assumptions tied to net worth. “I’m not like, ‘Kim has it, she’s a billionaire.’ Like, no, money is money.” The clip quickly made its way to TikTok, where reactions were split. Some critics called the story tone-deaf. “This is out of touch. Again,” one commenter wrote, while another added, “What a weird thing to share.” Others saw it differently. One user joked, “I alwaysss be telling my sister to talk to my business mgr when she wanna be paid back so yeah I get it.” Several defended Khloé’s perspective, arguing that the message was about reciprocity, not riches. “It’s not about how much money they have,” one commenter wrote. “Khloe is clearly stating that they help each other.” Khloé’s comments continue to be debated by fans across social media.

Chris Brown is urging fans to remain true to themselves as he navigates the fallout from a recent legal setback. On January 13, a $500 million defamation lawsuit he filed against Warner Bros. Discovery and Ample Entertainment was dismissed. The suit, filed last year, claimed that the companies behind the 2024 Investigation Discovery docuseries Chris Brown: A History of Violence had disseminated falsehoods for profit. The series revisits longstanding allegations of domestic violence against the two-time Grammy winner, including the widely publicized 2009 assault of Rihanna. It also includes a 2020 claim in which a woman alleges that Brown sexually assaulted her aboard a yacht owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs—a claim Brown has consistently denied. Judge Colin Leis dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the depiction of the alleged 2020 incident represented a “fair and true” account of the accuser’s statements and related judicial records. The ruling effectively closes the door on Brown’s effort to secure damages, but the singer has sought to frame the decision as a moment to encourage self-reflection and perseverance. Brown Urges Fans to Stay True Amid Legal Battles In a series of Instagram posts following the dismissal, Brown urged his followers to remain authentic and resilient. “Be true to yourself,” he wrote, encouraging fans to “write your own story” and inspire others rather than succumbing to misinformation. He continued, “Show them your glow… Show them your heart. Show no weakness. Live life and take care of life. Never stop and never let them stop you on your journey to greatness.” Despite controversies that have followed him throughout his career, Brown’s music continues to resonate commercially. Billboard reports that his 2025 Breezy Bowl XX tour has grossed over $295 million, underscoring his enduring draw as a performer. Even amid legal disputes, Brown’s emphasis on self-truth and perseverance provides fans with a lens for navigating challenges while remaining authentic—a message that seems to reflect both his personal journey and public persona.

Will Smith was all smiles when asked about the recent allegations against him. PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 03: Will Smith attends Variety’s Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors To Watch Brunch at the Parker Palm Springs on January 3, 2016 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images,) The Oscar-winning superstar was recently spotted in London. TMZ reports that he is working on his upcoming National Geographic series, Pole to Pole With Will Smith. A TMZ video shows photographers’ attempt to ask him about the newly filed lawsuit accusing him of wrongful termination, retaliation and sexual harassment. Will laughed at the question and casually stepped into his waiting vehicle. The Lawsuit The lawsuit was brought by Brian King Joseph. Joseph was a violinist who says he was hired to join Will’s Based on a True Story tour. According to court documents, he claims his experience took a disturbing turn during a tour stop in Las Vegas. Joseph says he returned to his hotel room one night to find evidence that someone had entered without permission. He also discovered a handwritten note that read,”Brian, I’ll be back no later, 5:30, just us [drawn heart],” and was signed “Stone F.” According to Joseph, the message left him fearful that he could be targeted for unwanted sexual advances. He further claims that after reporting the incident to hotel security, he was abruptly fired from the tour. Smith attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, forcefully denies the allegations. “Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless,” he told PEOPLE. “They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.”