Rapper Yung Miami has responded to the MTV VMA (Video Music Awards) overlooking “Spend Dat” in its Song of the Summer nominations. The Uptown Records recording artist addressed the omission after Red Media questioned why the track failed to make the category. Yung Miami kept her response brief. “Are we surprised???” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Are we surprised???? https://t.co/PaaQKdJbMg — Yung Miami (@YungMiami305) September 18, 2026 Her reaction quickly reignited the conversation surrounding “Spend Dat” and its run throughout the summer. Fans offered competing arguments about whether the record deserved a place among the nominees. One supporter urged Yung Miami to disregard the award recognition and focus on her continued momentum. “No shade Caresha I’m f***** proud of you! F*** that award! U back on the map!” the user wrote. “N**** thought you was thru! And you showed they a**.” The debate intensified after The Shade Room shared Yung Miami’s response. Some fans argued that “Spend Dat” had become one of the summer’s defining records. Rapper Yung Miami Not Surprised By “Spend Dat” Being Snubbed At MTV VMAs Others questioned whether the song’s popularity extended beyond hip-hop audiences. “But was that the song of the summer for ppl outside of our culture? It is the MTV awards after all,” one commenter wrote. Another fan defended the track while admitting they were never a major supporter. “I never was a big fan of the record but it fasho was song of summer,” the commenter wrote. The song’s reach also became part of the discussion. One fan argued that “Spend Dat” deserved recognition because it “went GLOBAL!” However, another commenter questioned whether the track had the visual impact expected from the Video Music Awards. “Did the song have an actual video that was award worthy?! NOPE,” the user wrote. The conversation follows additional attention surrounding “Spend Dat” and its viral dance. Yung Miami previously defended her daughter, Summer, and nephew, Rylo, after videos showed them performing the choreography. “I use to do the cry baby and splits in dance contests when I was a lil girl oh yeah and the doodoo brown! Yall go cook,” she wrote. For now, “Spend Dat” remains at the center of the Song of the Summer conversation, while Yung Miami has made her position clear.

Porsha Williams is opening up about a health crisis that led to a life-saving emergency surgery earlier this year. The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star revealed Friday that she underwent an emergency partial hysterectomy in May after doctors discovered nearly two dozen uterine fibroids. Williams, 45, shared the details of her medical journey during an appearance on “CBS Mornings” and in a first-person essay for Glamour. The reality star disclosed that surgeons removed 21 fibroids during the procedure, one of which had grown to the size of a cantaloupe. The discovery occurred unexpectedly when Williams accompanied a friend to a fertility appointment. While there, Williams asked for an exam to check on her own health as she considered expanding her family. She recalled the moment the mood in the room shifted when the doctor performed the ultrasound. “She went silent and I looked at the screen and all I could see was like black,” Williams told host Gayle King. Having been diagnosed with fibroids in her late 20s—a condition that contributed to a miscarriage at four months—Williams said she immediately recognized the gravity of the situation. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous muscular growths that develop in or around the uterus. While common, they can cause severe symptoms. Williams admitted she had been suffering from extreme fatigue, migraines and a menstrual cycle that lasted six weeks, but she initially attributed the issues to perimenopause. The emergency surgery resulted in the removal of her uterus, effectively ending her ability to carry another child. However, the procedure preserved her ovaries. Williams, who is already a mother to 7-year-old daughter Pilar Jhena, said she had to grieve the loss of her fertility while acknowledging the necessity of the operation. “I didn’t have a choice about the hysterectomy, but it saved my life,” Williams wrote in her essay, noting that her quality of life has improved “100%” since the surgery. Following the reveal, Williams took to Instagram to thank her followers for their outpouring of support. She said she chose to go public with her story to inspire other women to take charge of their reproductive health and seek medical advice for unexplained symptoms. “Thank you for all of the love and support today. My heart is so full,” Williams wrote. “I just pray that by being brave enough to share my loss, my journey through surgery, and my new quality of life, my story will inspire women to take charge of their health and their bodies.” View this post on Instagram

The estates of late hip-hop producer Tay Keith, whose real name was Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, faces nearly $200,000 in creditor claims filed by American Express National Bank and Bank of America. American Express filed two claims in the probate proceeding. They seek about $60,000 on a Business Platinum account and $27,000 on a separate Platinum account. Tay Keith’s estate is facing more than $198K in creditor claims just months after the producer’s death. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, American Express is seeking roughly $60K from a Business Platinum account and another $27K from a Platinum account, while Bank of… pic.twitter.com/KHa9mbg6Hp — Traps N Trunks (@trapsntrunks) September 19, 2026 Bank of America separately filed a claim seeking about $115,000 tied to Chambers’ 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS. The three claims total approximately $202,000 based on the amounts listed in the filings. The claims follow a notice in the probate proceeding inviting creditors with claims against Chambers’ estate to come forward. Tay Keith died in June, leaving an estate that includes music-related assets, royalty interests, bank accounts, real estate, and business interests. The creditor filings come as the estate proceeds through probate and representatives address outstanding obligations. Late Hip-Hop Producer Tay Keith Faces $200k Claims From American Express & Bank Of America Mitragynine is found in a tree native to Southeast Asia and can interact with opioid receptors in the brain. Chambers established himself as a prominent hip-hop producer through work with leading rap artists. His production catalog and royalty interests form part of the assets being addressed through the estate. Tay Keith reportedly died from an accidental overdose. The creditor claims do not establish that the amounts sought are ultimately owed. American Express and Bank of America are now seeking payment through that process. Their filings add nearly $200,000 in claimed liabilities to the estate’s financial obligations. The proceedings will determine which claims qualify for payment and how the estate’s assets will be administered. Tay Keith’s estate has not responded to claims at the time of this report.

A Change.org petition calling for singer Pink to be removed as a UNICEF ambassador has drawn more than 135,000 verified signatures amid a growing dispute involving rapper Macklemore and his support for Palestinians. The petition was created Sept. 11 after Pink criticized Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian remarks during Ed Sheeran’s concert tour. Organizers argue that her comments conflict with the principles they expect from a UNICEF ambassador. Update The petition calling for Pink to be removed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador has now surpassed 100,000 signatures. Good job y’all… plz sign if u haven’t already pic.twitter.com/Ks0uUEMZw0 — Abier (@abierkhatib) September 19, 2026 “An ambassador should unify, not divide, and should always maintain neutrality to ensure they are trusted voices for universal child welfare,” the petition says. Macklemore sparked controversy Sept. 4 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He called for a “Free Palestine” while performing as Sheeran’s opening act. He reiterated his position during a second performance the following night. Macklemore later said his message centered on peace and human rights. “My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality,” he said. Change.org Petition To Remove Singer Pink As UNICEF After Rapper Macklemore Comments Reaches 130k Signaures Pink subsequently addressed the controversy. She cited her Jewish heritage while expressing concern for Palestinian civilians. She said Palestinians “deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations.” Pink has served as a UNICEF ambassador since 2015. The organization continues to list her in that role. The Change.org petition accuses Pink of failing to reflect UNICEF’s humanitarian principles. It also calls attention to Palestinian children affected by the conflict in Gaza. “Palestinian children, like all children affected by genocide, deserve ambassadors who unequivocally extend support and empathy towards their plight,” the petition states. The petition does not represent a decision by UNICEF. The organization has not announced Pink’s removal. Meanwhile, Macklemore’s comments have had consequences for his touring career. He was removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after venue owners objected to his appearances. Several other supporting acts later withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. The dispute has since expanded into a broader debate over artistic expression, humanitarian advocacy and political speech.

Hip-Hop mogul JAŸ-Z takes a moment with legendary hip-hop producer Rick Rubin to reflect on his history with Hot 97 in the new HBO MAX documentary, JAŸ-Z in 8. During Episode 1, the rap mogul revisits his childhood memories with the Def Jam Recordings co-founder. At the 19:55 mark, JAŸ-Z recalls learning that Hot 97 was preparing to shift toward rap programming. Jay made the revelation after Rubin asked him about radio in hip-hop’s early days. “One independent record… not even if you’re on the radio, ever,” said Rubin. “No radio. I remember when Hot 97 turned over from, like, a Latin station,” Jay tells Rubin. “I was in the car with my cousin, Bryant; we call him ‘B. High,’ and, um, he’s like, ‘Yo, there’s this thing, it’s turning to all rap at noon, or whatever time it was…’” The recollection captures JAŸ-Z before fame, record deals and Roc-A-Fella Records. He was simply a young listener hearing that the music around him was gaining a new platform. For JAŸ-Z, the announcement carried the weight of an event. His cousin’s excitement signaled that rap was moving into a different space on New York’s radio dial. Hip-Hop Mogul JAŸ-Z Remembers Hot 97’s debut In New HBO Doc “JAŸ-Z In 8” The history of Hot 97 is more layered than the childhood memory suggests. WQHT became Hot 97 in 1988 and initially operated with a rhythmic contemporary format. The station gradually embraced hip-hop and R&B before adopting a full-time format centered on those genres in 1993. Still, Jay’s story focuses on the cultural impact rather than radio’s technical evolution. His memory reflects what it felt like to witness hip-hop expanding beyond neighborhood tapes, street corners and independent releases. That expansion would eventually intersect with Jigga’s own career. Hot 97 became an influential New York platform during his rise and played a role in amplifying Roc-A-Fella Records. The moment also gives Rubin a glimpse into JAŸ-Z’s earliest relationship with music. Before he became a radio staple, he was listening for the next record like everyone else. Now, decades later, the memory carries a different meaning. Hov had watched hip-hop claim space on New York radio. Eventually, his own music would help define that space. JAŸ-Z In 8, the 8-part documentary, is available now on HBO Max.

Tisha Campbell revealed this week that she has been diagnosed with AuDHD, a co-occurring condition of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The “Martin” star shared the news during a recent interview, explaining that the formal diagnosis came only after she completed her recent memoir. The diagnosis follows years of Campbell advocating for the autistic community while raising her son, Xen, who is also on the spectrum. Campbell said her therapist suggested she seek testing after observing specific patterns in her behavior and nervous system responses during sessions focused on processing trauma. To ensure accuracy, Campbell said she saw two separate specialists and underwent 12 different assessments with each provider. These evaluations included oral exams, written tests and extensive question-and-answer sessions. The results confirmed she is “level one” on the spectrum, a category that generally describes individuals who live independently but may require support with social communication and sensory processing. During the interview, Campbell admitted to “masking” her symptoms for decades to fit into social norms. She said growing up in Newark meant that she felt she could not afford to stand out or appear different, leading her to hide her natural behaviors from the public eye. “My whole entire life, I’ve masked in front of the public and I’ve masked with my loudness and my jokes,” Campbell said. “That was my way of hiding in plain sight.” One behavior she frequently concealed is stimming, which involves repetitive physical movements or sounds used for self-regulation. Campbell also noted that she now understands her lifelong dedication to acting and music as “special interests,” a term used to describe the deep fixations or obsessions often experienced by neurodivergent individuals. She said the diagnosis has also strengthened the bond with her son, who was reportedly thrilled to learn that his mother shared his neurodivergent identity. Ironically, the revelation occurred just as Campbell released her new book, “The A Word: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Love.” Because the clinical results arrived this year, the details of her own AuDHD diagnosis are not included in the published text.

Hip-Hop star Yung Miami’s solo era is gathering serious momentum due to the success of her Uptown Records’ debut “Spend Dat.” Her breakout single for the relaunched Uptown Records, has reached RIAA platinum eligibility. Released April 24, the J. White Did It-produced track became a defining record of Miami’s 2026 run. It climbed to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped multiple radio charts. Yung Miami says she’s going to bet on herself everytime after ‘Spend Dat’ goes platinum pic.twitter.com/XqVZO0SrpE — 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) September 15, 2026 The milestone arrives months after Miami joined Uptown Records’ first wave of artists. The storied label relaunched under Republic Collective with Miami, G Herbo and Trap Dickey. “This is a legendary label being resurrected,” Miami said of Uptown. “Uptown already feels like home.” “Spend Dat” has since become the centerpiece of her solo campaign. The former City Girls member has spent the year carving out space beyond her work with JT. The song’s RIAA milestone measures more than traditional purchases. Platinum represents one million certified units under the organization’s current digital single standards. The RIAA counts eligible permanent downloads and on-demand audio and video streams. One hundred fifty qualifying streams equal one certified unit. Hip-Hop Star Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” Reaches RIAA Platinum Eligibility Miami has also expanded the song’s reach through two remixes. Lil Baby and Kodak Black joined the U.S. remix, while Davido, Shenseea and Vybz Kartel appeared on the international version. Those collaborations arrived as “Spend Dat” continued its chart run. The song has remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for multiple weeks, reinforcing its staying power. Miami’s achievement follows years of success with City Girls. Now, “Spend Dat” offers a different kind of statement. It belongs to her solo catalog, under a newly revived label with its own history. Uptown helped define hip-hop and R&B through artists including Mary J. Blige, Jodeci and Heavy D. For Miami, the connection carries symbolic weight. She is entering Uptown’s next chapter while building one of her own. The platinum-eligible “Spend Dat” has become the clearest marker yet of that transition. Its success gives Miami another significant milestone before her anticipated solo debut album. The record has already carried her from Miami nightlife to national radio and the Billboard Top 20. Now, the RIAA milestone adds another chapter to her solo ascent.

Chicago hip-hop has lost one of its early radio champions this week in Mark “DJ Ice Box” Josephson, whose broadcasts helped introduce local rap to a wider audience, who died July 19 at 58. Josephson was a University of Chicago student in 1986 when he began spinning records at WHPK-FM 88.5. He studied Near Eastern languages and civilizations while hosting late-night rap as DJ Ice Box. With a tagline of “This is Ice Box keeping your hip-hop fresh,” he played rap music on a University of Chicago radio show at a time mainstream radio wouldn’t touch the genre. https://t.co/0grml5dm6n — Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) September 18, 2026 WHPK’s rap program launched in 1984. At the time, Chicago’s commercial stations rarely played hip-hop. The station operated at only 100 watts, but its signal reached much of the South Side. For young rappers, WHPK became a crucial connection to Chicago’s emerging hip-hop culture. “We stumbled across WHPK one day in the mid-’80s,” Darrell “Artistic” Roberts recalled. “They rapping.” Roberts belonged to the Curfew Crew, a group of teenage rappers from Chicago’s 101st Street and State Street area. The crew battled other neighborhood groups and taped WHPK broadcasts. Josephson and his fellow DJs played rap records sourced from New York. They also welcomed tapes from Chicago artists seeking their first radio exposure. Rappers sometimes called the station from a nearby payphone. DJs would collect their tapes and occasionally invite the artists inside. CHICAGO Hip-Hop DJ Mark “DJ Ice Box” Josephson Dead At 58 That connection helped Roberts get his first song played on Chicago radio. C. “Kingdom Rock” Sanders, a Curfew Crew contemporary, later co-founded the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum. He remembered Josephson as an unconventional figure behind the turntables. “He was a slender, Caucasian, Jewish man with glasses and an Afro,” Sanders said. “You would not expect him to be playing the music he was playing.” John Schauer, another WHPK DJ known as J.P. Chill, said the pair never tried to mimic Black culture. “We were just like, ‘We are who we are,’” Schauer said. “We were different, and we were accepted.” Roberts said their connection transcended race. “Our spirits connected us to the culture,” he said. Josephson later became an attorney but never abandoned music. In 2024, he attended a Common concert wearing a WHPK shirt. “It was surreal to see a bunch of middle-aged Black guys get so excited to meet my dad,” his son, Ari Josephson, said. Josephson had frontotemporal dementia and ALS. He is survived by his wife, Lea, and children Ari and Shayna.

Cardi B denied internet rumors suggesting she is secretly maintaining a romantic relationship with her estranged husband, Offset. The “Bodak Yellow” artist took to social media this week to address speculation that the former couple, who share three children, are still “messing around” despite their ongoing divorce proceedings. The controversy erupted after social media users pointed to posts from an account linked to model Melanie Jayda, who was previously seen with Offset in Dubai. The posts alluded to women who continue to hook up with their former partners behind the backs of new significant others. Cardi B, 33, did not mince words in her response, asserting that she has completely closed the door on their romantic history. “Never in your life never in THIS life,” Cardi wrote in a post on X, which she later deleted. “Mf’ers could go through that man text, phone, whatever… NEVER would you catch me doing that. I don’t flirt, I don’t give no inch of possibility. Shit put a private investigator on me and I put that on my kids life in the name of Jesus!!!” The couple ended their six-year marriage in July 2024 when Cardi B filed for divorce. While the two have occasionally been seen together for co-parenting duties involving their children—Kulture, 8, Wave, 5, and Blossom, 2—Cardi has remained steadfast that their romantic connection is over. The rapper also shares a 10-month-old son with NFL star Stefon Diggs. There may be a new love in Cardi’s life as she recently spoke to Vogue Arabia about her budding connection with 27-year-old Nigerian footballer Maduka Okoye. She described Okoye as “very kind” and expressed hope that the public would see more of them together in the future.

Hip-hop producer Mally Mall, whose real name is Jamal Rashid, was sentenced to 17 months in federal prison Thursday after admitting multiple violations of supervised release stemming from a sex trafficking case. Rashid admitted violating several conditions, including tampering with a witness, lying about a cellphone and illegally recording a phone call. He also acknowledged maintaining a hidden room, failing a drug test and associating with a convicted felon. View this post on Instagram U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro questioned whether Rashid had changed. “I’m very disappointed in you, and I really hope you are a changed person,” Navarro said. “I’m not sure I believe it.” Rashid appeared in federal court in downtown Las Vegas wearing jail clothing labeled “detainee.” His attorneys included Steven Sadow, who has represented former President Donald Trump, and Las Vegas attorney Jack Buchanan. “At the end of the day, it’s still an amount of time he’s gonna serve,” Buchanan said. “When he’s done, he’ll be done.” Hip-Hop Star Mally Mall Returns To Federal Prison For Release Violations In Las Vegas Rashid’s supervised release began July 14, 2023. Court records show it was scheduled to expire Sept. 17, 2026. Navarro previously sentenced Rashid to 33 months in prison in May 2021. Rashid pleaded guilty to using an interstate facility to facilitate unlawful activity. He admitted that escort businesses he operated in Clark County between 2002 and 2014 served as fronts for prostitution. Federal prosecutors said the operation transported victims across the country. Prosecutors said Rashid used Backpage, Eros and other websites to advertise women for prostitution. They alleged hundreds of victims worked under arrangements that required them to surrender portions or nearly all their earnings. Rashid also admitted manipulating victims, imposing rules and making threats, prosecutors said. The government said he encouraged victims to get tattoos demonstrating their loyalty. Angela Williams, identified as a victim in the original case, was the witness Rashid admitted tampering with. “He’s always catching a break. He’s always getting these crazy, special deals,” Williams told 8 News Now Investigators. “You used the same tools that you used when you trafficked me to try to extort me,” she said. “You thought I was gonna be quiet.” Williams also described working 16-hour shifts and said, “I wasn’t allowed to say no” when clients requested Rashid’s escort services.