Master P is hanging up his mic for good. In an interview with PEOPLE, the No Limit Records founder revealed that his performance at the Essence Festival on July 6 will be his last. “My last show has to be with Essence,” P said. “It has to be big. A celebration.” P then shared why he believes the timing is right for his retirement. I’m growing to another level and I’m embracing it,” P explained. He was recently named the new head coach and president of basketball operations for the University of New Orleans basketball team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Master P (@masterp) “It’s a blessing now to be able to transition into doing something that’s bigger than me. Being a servant is my most important job,” P said. “I feel like hard work got me here, even though I didn’t know I was going to get this far in life. God spared my life and put me on this journey.” A product of New Orleans’ public housing, P recalled that he dreamt of making it to the NBA and being a success in the music industry. “I was just a kid trying to make it out the ghetto. I just had so many big dreams and goals,” he said. After settling tin tbe San Francisco Bay Area, P learned the tricks of the traded from some entrepreneurial rappers “That’s where I got my hustle. I remember being with E-40, E-A-Ski, JT The Bigga Figga, and all them. I actually created No Limit Records in Richmond, CA, “ P recalled. “I had a lot of close calls,” he continued. “I went from one bad place to another, but I feel like God saved my life for a reason. He knew my heart.” Although officially retiring, P admitted that it was a tough decision, but the time is right, saying this “feels like this is the next phase of my life.  “That chapter closed itself with maturing and growing up and not being afraid to grow, “ P explained. “There is a lot of negative stuff going on in hip-hop, and people don’t want to talk about the positive things. They say when you know better, you do better. That’s the phase I’m on. I’m fine with growing up.”

Quinta Brunosn is opening up about her for the first time about her divorce In an interview with Bustle opened up about going through a divorce in public “Even if you don’t give a lot, people want whatever they can get, and will take whatever they can get,” she explained. “I remember seeing people be like, ‘She announced her divorce.’ I didn’t announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you.” “No one wants [everyone] to know when you buy a house, when you move, when a major change happens in your personal life — it’s just that that’s public record information,” she continued. “I hate all of it.” She also spoke about the future of her award-winning show, Abbott Elementary. “Those are invisible voices that aren’t in your home with you, that aren’t in your personal life, that aren’t your friends,” Brunson said. “I love my fans, I love the people who watch ‘Abbott.’ So you want to hear them, and you want to listen to them, but when it comes to matters of your personal life and decisions you make, you do have to tune it out.” “It’s a transitional time,” she went on. “I think it’s true for me and my personal life, and it’s how I feel about myself, my career, and the world. I feel very serious about focusing on watering my own gardens, taking care of myself and the people around me who I actually interact with day-to-day.”

As tensions remain high between DDG and Halle Bailey over custody of their son Halo, the rapper is already thinking about future fatherhood, just not in the traditional sense. During a recent livestream from Paris Fashion Week, DDG spoke candidly about possibly turning to fertility options if he decides to have another child someday. “If I’m 29 or something like that, and I ain’t got the time,” he said, “I’ll just go to that little place, do my little one-two, put my s**t in a cup. Take a little egg from somebody, throw it in another little body. Cook that motherf****r up for nine months. You can do that type s**t when you got money. That’ll alleviate a lot of s**t.” His comments come as he continues to battle Bailey in court over parenting rights. Earlier this year, Bailey was granted full custody of their 18-month-old son after accusing DDG of repeated physical abuse. A judge also issued a restraining order against him in May. In response, DDG filed his own legal claim, accusing Bailey of emotional manipulation and alleging that she has made threats involving self-harm. Bailey denied those claims, saying she is mentally sound and fully capable of caring for their child. Bailey is currently filming in Rome and has Halo with her. DDG has asked for permission to visit his son in Italy, but only under supervision. A judge has ruled that if the visits are approved, DDG will not be allowed to post any photos or videos of their son on social media. The former couple started dating in early 2022 and split in October 2024. Their son was born in December 2023. A court hearing to determine permanent custody arrangements is expected to take place this July in Los Angeles.

After being found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Diddy will have to remain in prison after his bail was denied again. The Bad Boy Records founder has spent nearly 10 months in jail, including through his two-month trial. On Wednesday (July 1), Judge Arun Subramanian set a sentencing for Oct. 3, but “the date could move up if Combs’ team seeks to expedite it.” The judge ordered all sides to return to court on Oct. 3 for sentencing but noted that the date could move up if Combs’ team seeks to expedite it. While he was acquitted of the more serious charges, the jury found Diddy guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym “Jane”). During the proceedings, Subramanian noted that there was a “great divide” between the prosecution team and Diddy’s defense attorneys in sentencing. In response, Subramanian scheduled a remote status conference for Tuesday to get to the bottom of sentencing, saying, “time is of the essence.” Diddy’s lawyers team is seeking a term of 21 to 27 months. Prosecutors are seeking a prison term of 51 to 63 months. Douglas Wigdor, Cassie Ventura’s attorney, said in a statement that they expected Diddy to be convicted of the sex trafficking count involving her, which he said was the “most important count to her.” “I think that obviously she would be a lot happier if the jury had convicted on that. But she’s at peace with the verdict,” Wigdor said. “She is moving ahead with her beautiful family and her husband.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted Wednesday of the most serious charges in his federal sex crimes trial, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but convicted on two counts of transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. The jury returned its mixed verdict after three days of deliberations, closing one of the most closely watched trials in recent memory. The decision marks a partial win for Diddy’s defense team, which rested its case without calling a single witness over the course of the seven-week proceedings. Still, the outcome carries weight: U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian denied his request for bail, citing his “continued danger to others.” The judge added that Diddy’s legal team had already “acknowledged his involvement in domestic violence.” Diddy, 55, appeared emotional as the verdict was read. He knelt in prayer, thanking his family and legal team, who embraced each other in relief. Defense attorney Alex Agnifilo argued that Diddy should be granted release after nearly a year in custody, offering a $1 million bond and describing his client as a “model prisoner” committed to personal growth. The sentencing date has been set for October 3. Federal prosecutors are pushing for a four- to five-year prison term tied to the lesser convictions, while the defense is expected to push for a more lenient outcome. Decades of Alleged Abuse Take Center Stage in Diddy Trial The trial placed a spotlight on Diddy’s decades-long career, tracing his rise as the founder of Bad Boy Records and a key figure in hip-hop’s commercial ascent. Allegations from his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, were among the first to surface publicly, prompting broader scrutiny and setting the stage for a legal battle that has drawn national attention. Over 30 witnesses took the stand, including former assistants and collaborators. The prosecution presented a portrait of control and coercion stretching over two decades. Key testimonies came from three women, including Ventura, who alleged sexual assault, psychological manipulation, and abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors they didn’t need to find every act non-consensual to reach a guilty verdict: “This is not an all-or-nothing case.” Agnifilo countered by framing Diddy as a flawed but not criminal figure. “We own the domestic violence,” he told the jury, but insisted that no criminal conspiracy existed. While the verdict is in, Diddy still faces several civil suits related to sexual misconduct—allegations he has categorically denied.

Doja Cat is returning to pop music on her fifth album, Vie. Speaking with V Magazine, the Grammy-winning artist is embracing the genre after distancing herself from it. “I do want to be self-aware enough to admit the fact that this is a pop-driven project,” she said. “I know that I can make pop music, and pop is just that it’s popular. It starts to become a bit of a thing that’s viewed as a sport by people who are just bystanders to it, who enjoy it, but maybe also don’t respect it or what it is, which is just music. There are some people who don’t see it as music. They see it as if this is some kind of football for girls and gays.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by V Magazine (@vmagazine) Doja also said that she has been working on her vocal skills while creating the highly anticipated project. “Sometimes I’m surprised by what I can do now because I could not f**king sing… I have a lot more knowledge of how to use my voice as an instrument, more than I ever have in my life.” While Doja didn’t confirm a release date for Vie, her last album, Scarlet, dropped in September 2023 and marked a darker, more experimental turn away from the mainstream pop that initially catapulted her to fame. In a tweet in April 2023,  Doja said that pop was no longer “exciting” to her, and it changed her approach to making music. “I wanted to play with that nostalgia by using these Lo-Fi sounds and samples and things that reminded you of something from your childhood, but it wasn’t on the nose ’80s,” she said.

Mariah Carey has a new album on the way. During a recent interview at the 10th anniversary of Apple Music with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden, Carrey made the announcement.  “I’m trying not to tell too much about the new album,” Carrey said.  “It’s a special occasion/ Mimi’s emancipation- that’s a lyric from one of my songs. What is next? The album is coming out,” she continued. “I don’t wanna tell too much about it because I just don’t want to reveal the whole thing. It’s finished.”  Carey dropped the news following the release of her newest single, “Type Dangerous.” She went on to say that the track was a “heavy record” and that it has “real weight to it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Apple Music (@applemusic) The multi-Grammy award-winning vocalist also revealed that the new album has about 11 or 12 songs on it.  “We got some Mariah ballads,” she said, adding that a second single will be released soon. “I’m very excited about it. It’s very summery. I like the beat as well.” Sampling Eric B. and Rakim’s classic 1986 single, “Eric B. Is President”, she performed ”Type Dangerous,” along said Rakim at the 2025 BET Awards.  “I’ve always loved ‘Eric B. Is President.’ It wasn’t something like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna flip this’- I just wouldn’t think of doing it,” she explained. “But then we were in this restaurant in Aspen, and they had different music on, and they played ‘Eric B. Is President’ and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! I love this song!’ We ended up in the studio a couple months later and we did it.”

Tia Kemp is calling out Chrisean Rock for alleged harassment, claiming she’s been receiving late-night phone calls she believes are coming from Rock. In a livestream shared on July 1st, Kemp is seen confronting an unknown caller as the situation quickly escalates. In the video, Kemp picks up a call during her livestream and immediately questions who’s on the other end. The caller says something unclear before hanging up. Kemp, visibly annoyed, tries calling the number back but gets no response. She then turns the camera toward her phone, revealing a series of text messages. One of them reads, “stop talking about me and my son,” suggesting the caller had an issue with Kemp’s recent public remarks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Kemp has been vocal online about her concerns for Chrisean Rock’s son, Chrisean Jesus Porter. She’s drawn attention to the child’s development and recently criticized Rock, saying the two-year-old still can’t walk or run. Kemp also urged Rock to seek professional help for the toddler. Before this series of late-night harassment, both Kemp and Rock were involved in separate drama with Blueface. In June, Blueface shared footage of his home looking trashed and claimed Rock no longer lived there. Rock fired back during her own livestream, denying the claims and accusing Blueface of physically abusing her while she was pregnant. She also offered encouragement to women in similar abusive situations. Now, the tension between Kemp and Rock is flaring up, with Kemp pointing fingers over the strange calls and texts. While Rock hasn’t directly addressed the latest allegations, things between the two women are clearly heating up, and the drama doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

The jury in the federal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs revealed Tuesday that they’ve reached decisions on most of the charges, but remain divided on one of the most serious accusations. After roughly 12 hours of deliberation, the panel informed the court they had agreed on four of the five counts but were unable to come to a consensus on the racketeering charge. According to a note sent to the judge, opinions were split with “unpersuadable jurors on both sides.” Inside the Manhattan courtroom, the atmosphere grew tense as Diddy sat quietly, shoulders low and visibly rattled. His team of attorneys gathered around him before the note was read aloud, and at one point, the music mogul was seen resting his head in his hands, clearly affected by the moment. Judge Arun Subramanian made it clear that the jury would not be permitted to deliver a partial verdict just yet. Both federal prosecutors and Combs’ defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, urged the judge to push for continued deliberations instead of accepting the partial outcome. Combs’ legal team even requested that the jury receive the judge’s instructions in person to help resolve the impasse. The unresolved charge—racketeering conspiracy—holds the harshest possible penalty, including a life sentence. The other four charges, which the jury has reportedly decided on, relate to sex trafficking and transporting individuals for prostitution. Two of those counts involve allegations of trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, with one count linked to Cassie Ventura and another to a woman identified only as “Jane.” The remaining two charges accuse Combs of arranging travel for both alleged victims and commercial sex workers for the purpose of prostitution. As deliberations continue, the courtroom remains on edge, with both sides awaiting a final decision that could have sweeping consequences.

John Legend has responded to Kanye West’s saying that he smells like mashed potatoes. Back in March, West made the remarks while speaking to Akademiks dressed in an all-black ensemble reminiscent of KKK attire. “They say he smells like mashed potatoes,” West said at the time. “I don’t know where I got this from.” Appearing on HOT97’s Ebro in the Morning this week, Legend spoke about his former collaborator throwing shade at him. “He was very obsessed with the sweaters, and he said I smell like mashed potatoes,” Legend said. “What kind of potatoes? Cheesy, garlic?. … All of it makes me sad, though. All of it does. And it’s not for me because obviously, I smell great.” Elsewhere in the interview, Legend recalled working with West before they both had breakthrough success, and the Chicago rapper/producer had “so much energy and creativity and optimism.” He also noted the difference in West’s behavior and persona today. “Being a part of that was inspiring,” Legend recalled. “It was truly inspiring. That’s why it’s sad now. We did amazing things together as a collective, as a movement. … To be part of that was amazing. I have no regrets. Even though he’s gone, like, completely left now, I’m so glad that we did what we did together.” Along with the response to West, the EGOT winner is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his classic debut, Get Lifted, with a world tour. Legend shared the exciting news with his followers in March. “I’m so excited to announce that I’m heading back on the road for the Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour! Join me and my band for an unforgettable performance of the entire Get Lifted album—the album that introduced me to the world—plus a few favorites from my career that *all of you* know and love,” Legend shared at the time. After touring the European leg, Legend will be performing live throughout North America.