MUSIC NEWS

Having a diamond-certified record for selling at least 10 million units is one of the highest accomplishments in the music industry and is a true indicator of being a superstar. In hip-hop, only a select number of rappers have achieved such accolades.Not long after Drake dropped the video for "God's Plan" in 2018, he said it was one of the most important things he’s ever done. One year later, the Grammy […]

Say What's RealSwae Lee gets candid about some of music’s hottest topics, from AI’s impact on creativity to Drake’s recent three-album drop.Words: Peter A. BerryEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website.If hip-hop had a Hookman of the Year award, Swae Lee would have at least a few trophies. Since emerging with Rae Sremmurd 12 years ago, […]

Bodycam footage of Playboi Carti's 2025 arrest for alleged assault shows him and his ex-girlfriend Gio being questioned by police and the 911 call surfaces.On Thursday (July 30), the CufBoys YouTube channel obtained footage of the incident, where the Atlanta rapper was booked in Wasatch County, Utah,  last October en route to a performance for allegedly striking Gio and their limo driver. The footage shows police asking Carti and Gio […]

50 Cent completely understands why Eminem never followed up the 2002 box office darling 8 Mile with another starring role.Fif recently sat down for an interview with GQ that was published on Thursday (July 30), where the entertainment mogul reflected on making his 2005 semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' and compared the filmmaking process to making music. According to 50, the biggest difference comes down to control, which […]

Drake, BossMan Dlow and Doechii are among the hip-hop stars featured on Barack Obama's eclectic Summer Playlist for 2026.On Thursday (July 30), the beloved former President released his annual list of songs for the summer, and while it spans multiple genres as usual, hip-hop once again earned a strong showing.Doechii landed a spot alongside SZA with their 2025 collab "girl, get up," while Drizzy made the cut with the standout […]

VonOff1700 addresses his recent arrest after his alleged mugshot surfaces online.The Chicago rapper has been at the center of arrest reports, with an unflattering booking photo recently surfacing online along with social media posts saying he was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon last week. On Thursday (July 30), Von addressed his run-in with the law and his viral mugshot.“On Mick, I went to jail off 30 […]

Truth: Skilla BabyDetroit’s finest Skilla Baby deep-dives into his new album, The Price of Fame, out Aug. 21.As Told To: Peter A. BerryEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website.The Price of Fame is an album for the average man. The working man. The struggling man. People that could go through hell and back to provide and […]

Soulja Boy is coming for Kai Cenat once again, this time challenging the streamer to get in the ring with him to duke it out over what has mainly been a one-sided beef.On Thursday (July 30), less than 48 hours after his own birthday, SB hopped on X to call Kai a "b**ch" and a clone, among other choice words."You a b**ch @KaiCenat," Soulja began. "You a clone @KaiCenat they […]

Oh, you thought we were done? The XXL cameras kept rolling after the initial filming of the 2026 Freshman Cypher featuring Chris Patrick, La Reezy, Sosocamo, Slayr, Miles Minnick and Hurricane Wisdom, and the result ended in bonus rough footage, powered by Puma, with all six rappers having fun and freestyling off the top.Over producer Jay Trench's charging beat, the Freshmen flexed their lyrical skills and had a few laughs in the process.Sosocamo started it off with a "Whoa!" […]