Kanye West’s recent touring plans suggest a renewed effort to reestablish his global stage presence. After facing international booking challenges in recent years tied to past antisemitic remarks, the artist has returned to live performances abroad. He opened 2026 with back-to-back concerts in Mexico City. Now, he is scheduled for a one-night show in India this spring, marking an important step for West. According to an announcement circulated by the NFR Podcast, West will perform on March 29 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The venue can accommodate as many as 60,000 attendees, according to Forbes. Organizers have not yet disclosed ticket sales figures. If recent performances are any indication, the set list is expected to draw from his two-decade catalog—highlighting West’s longstanding influence. Speculation about guest appearances has accompanied many of West’s recent shows. During his Mexico dates, fans anticipated appearances by Travis Scott and Peso Pluma, though neither joined him onstage. Instead, his daughter North West appeared on opening night to perform her single, “PIERCING ON MY HAND.” The moment underscored West’s blending of family and performance in his current touring era. Notably, both North and Kanye West shared the stage together, captivating the audience. View this post on Instagram March Could Be Make-or-Break for BULLY Attention has also shifted to the status of his forthcoming album, BULLY, which has faced multiple delays. Spotify currently lists a March 20 release date. Charlamagne Tha God referenced the timeline during a segment on The Breakfast Club, saying, “I heard it’s coming out in March.” Whether the album arrives as scheduled remains uncertain for West fans. The India performance is part of a broader international calendar. West is set to appear on June 6 at the GelreDome stadium in Arnhem, Netherlands. Plans for an additional show in Italy have also been mentioned, though details have not been finalized. For now, March stands as a potentially significant month in what appears to be a renewed global push for West.

There was a time when a Rick Ross setlist reliably included Drake without raising eyebrows. Before their highly publicized split in 2024, the two artists collaborated frequently, shaping some of the early 2010s’ most recognizable rap records. Now, even playing one of those songs can feel loaded. That undercurrent surfaced again during a recent club appearance by Ross. While performing “Aston Martin Music,” Ross was joined unexpectedly by French Montana, according to footage shared by 2Cool2Blog on Instagram. The 2010 track, released on Teflon Don, originally featured Drake and Chrisette Michele. Onstage, Ross and French greeted one another as the song played, a routine moment on its face. In the current context, however, it carried added resonance and further connected Ross to the history of the track. Drake’s imprint on the song runs deeper than a single verse. His reimagined take, “Paris Morton Music,” later evolved into an expanded version on Nothing Was The Same and was eventually included on Care Package. His original verse remains embedded in the song’s identity, both in the single and its video. Hearing it now inevitably recalls a partnership that once seemed seamless, frequently featuring Ross in the mix. French Montana shrugs off the Drake–Ross rift French Montana, who has maintained relationships with both artists, recently addressed the divide. Speaking with Bootleg Kev, he expressed confidence that time could ease tensions. “It’ll happen,” he said. “Brothers always fight and make up, man. It’ll happen. Nobody got shot, nobody died, you know?” His tone suggested familiarity rather than alarm, especially when mentioning Ross. Montana’s name has surfaced in discussions about how the rift began. Reports have pointed to a cease-and-desist issued by Drake over a verse intended for “Splash Brothers,” which was ultimately released without him but included Ross and Lil Wayne. The episode appeared to strain alliances. Since then, Ross has signaled some openness to reconciliation, while Drake has remained more reserved publicly.

NLE Choppa, who has recently begun calling himself NLE The Great, revived his long-running tension with Blueface over the weekend. What had seemed like a cooling-off period between the two rappers shifted back into public view when Choppa posted a challenge on X on Sunday, February 15. In the message, he urged Blueface to “get in the octagon.” The comment reignited speculation about whether their dispute might one day move beyond social media. Furthermore, fans are curious about Choppa’s next move following his challenge. The idea of a one-on-one fight is not new for the pair. In previous exchanges, both had entertained the possibility of settling matters in a controlled setting. At one point, however, the conversation became more controversial when Blueface suggested their children should compete instead—a remark that prompted criticism and ultimately apologies. Since then, both artists have indicated that any physical contest would remain strictly between them. On that note, it is clear Choppa remains central to these discussions. Let’s get in the octagon @bluefacebleedem — NLE THE GREAT (@nlethegreat1) February 15, 2026 From Personal Rift to Public Rivalry—and a Possible Fight Ahead The friction between the two dates back to late 2023, when personal tensions spilled into the public sphere. Reports at the time suggested the disagreement escalated after one of Choppa’s children’s mothers declined Blueface’s advances. The matter lingered online through pointed posts and lyrical references, including what many listeners interpreted as a slight in “Shotta Flow 8.” As often happens in rap, competition and personal grievance became intertwined, especially where Choppa is concerned. Although the feud cooled after family members were drawn into the exchange, neither rapper has entirely dismissed the idea of a sanctioned bout. Blueface, however, has a separate commitment approaching: a scheduled boxing match in May against former NBA player Nick “Swaggy P” Young. That event may influence whether he responds to the latest challenge from Choppa in the near term.

Kevin Durant’s appearance at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15, was meant to be a celebration of the season’s best players. Instead, much of the attention afterward shifted online. Social media users began circulating screenshots that allegedly show Durant messaging a fan. The posts revived long-standing speculation about the use of so-called burner accounts. Durant has not publicly responded to the claims. The screenshots were shared by the account @MrBusby4o8 on X and later amplified by Kurrco on Instagram. In a caption attached to the images, the user wrote, “Look, I got my past transgressions that I’ve been put on the summer jam screen for past st I’ve said. So in a way I KINDA empathize with @KDTrey5. But this n*a BEEN a whole a** weirdo that be talking to himself in my DM’s..” The images have not been independently verified. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the messages are authentic, although many users continue to discuss Durant as the subject of the alleged DMs. Alleged DMs add fuel to an already viral controversy In the alleged exchange, the sender appears to write: “Buzz u talked to Kendrick today?,” “Aye fats. Why do u want Drake dead?,” “Stop ignoring me bro,” and “Who cares about a chain when u got billion. I’m wondering if your daddy Kendrick knows u exist.” The messages reportedly followed the fan’s public support of Kendrick Lamar in an ongoing cultural rivalry involving Drake. Drake has maintained a close friendship with Durant, who has often found himself at the intersection of sports and music. Sports and music fandom often overlap online, and the boundaries between them can blur quickly. The renewed scrutiny comes amid other unverified claims circulating over the weekend, including allegations that Durant used anonymous accounts to criticize teammates and former colleagues. Those claims, like the direct message screenshots, remain unconfirmed. Online speculation, however, has a way of gathering momentum regardless of verification, especially when Durant is involved.

Haus of Creators Foundation officially unveiled its ‘Haus of Creators AI Labs Pre-Incubator‘ Venture Studio with an exclusive kickoff event at Coexist Gaming during New York Fashion Week. HOT 97 got the chance to attend the event that brought together top creatives, AI fashion innovators, investors, founders, influencers, and media voices all focused on where culture and technology are headed next. The evening featured an intimate panel conversation with creators Venus Rose, T. Dionne, and Musa which was moderated by Kimberly Morgan. The panelist are actively integrating artificial intelligence into design, production, and brand strategy. Attendees also got a live demo from Raspberry AI, highlighting how AI-powered fashion tools are already being applied in real-world workflows. The room was filled with notable players across industries, including executives from investment banks, AI companies, global fashion, beauty and retail brands, educational institutions, law firms, and leaders spanning AI, fashion, and venture capital. “Our goal is to build the new infrastructure of the Creator Economy with AI as both a tool and a partner — empowering creatives to not just use technology, but to shape and own the companies defining the future,” said Venus Rose, Founder & CEO of Haus of Creators. Photo via: @VenusRose The kickoff officially launches a six-month, in-person workshop series aimed at equipping creatives with AI literacy, applied tools, ethical frameworks, and venture readiness. Select participants will advance into the Haus of Creators AI Labs Venture Studio. View this post on Instagram

Megan Thee Stallion is fully in her “Lover Girl” era. The rapper recently spoke with PEOPLE about her relationship with NBA star Klay Thompson, revealing she didn’t even expect to be in a relationship. “Well, I don’t never want to tell [anybody] to just jump in a relationship just because everybody else got one, and I’m not going to tell you to just jump in a relationship because you have to,” Megan says. “I didn’t even know I was going to be in my relationship, to be honest.” Back in July 2025, Megan and Thompson made their red carpet debut at the rapper’s inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation gala. The relationship with Thompson apparently came right on time. For the past few years, the rapper has been open about her mental health struggles. After focusing on improving her mental and physical health, as well as self-love, she found herself ready to accept the love she deserved. “I think that because finally I started being in a better mind space about myself and my life, and I had already been doing a lot of work to heal me,” she recalls. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 16: Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson are seen on July 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images) “God just opened up that space for me to have somebody that loved me right,” Megan Thee Stallion Says The rapper continued, “I had been going to therapy, I had a bunch of activities that I started doing for myself; maybe God just opened up that space for me to have somebody that loved me right.” For the first time in her life, Megan says she feels “overly comfortable” in a relationship. In other news, Megan Thee Stallion is preparing to release her upcoming Act 3 project. The album will work as the third and last installment of her MEGAN series. While she didn’t give a specific date, fans can expect the project to be released later this year. The rapper also noted she’s been “hiding from everybody” to focus on the album. “I’m definitely in the studio,” she told PEOPLE. While it’s been some time since the rapper has released new music, she wants the hotties to know that her upcoming project is worth the wait. “The hotties just need to give me a little time. I’ll be in the gym and the studio — the gym and the studio.” The rapper’s last project, MEGAN: Act II, was released in October 2024. The album worked as an expanded release of her third studio album, MEGAN. Upon its release, the project debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200.

Former President Barack Obama is breaking his silence regarding a racist video posted by Donald Trump on Truth Social. The now-deleted video depicted Obama and the former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. During an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, the pair discussed how political discourse has gone downhill. Coehn brought up several examples of inflammatory comments by Trump and his cabinet, as well as the recently deleted video. “There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television,” Obama says. He added, “What is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office.” The video that Trump shared, which centers on voting machines, advances his claims that the 2020 election had been “stolen” from him. Trump Refuses to Apologize for Offensive Video Along with the Obamas, other high-profile Democrats featured in the video included Kamala Harris, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former President Joe Biden, among others. Not long after the post made its rounds on social media, Trump told reporters he would not apologize for sharing the video. “No, I didn’t make a mistake. I mean…I look at a lot of thousands of things, and I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine,” he said. Following his statement, it was revealed by a White House spokesperson that a “staffer erroneously made the post.” Prior to being deleted, several members of the Republican Party spoke out, like Senator Tim Scott, who shared an X post saying, “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.” A source tells CNN that Trump took issue with the criticism and threatened to come down on anyone who condemned the video. A senior Trump administration official offered a statement to CNN regarding the incident. “The president felt he could’ve handled that matter privately,” speaking about Scott. “He was like, ‘We work together all the time. He didn’t need to comment publicly.’”

Blueface could face major consequences for choking a wax figure, says Madame Tussauds Hollywood. Earlier this week, the rapper shared a now-viral video on social media of him visiting the famous wax museum. During his brief visit, he not only fondled a wax figure of Kylie Jenner, but he also choked a wax figure of actress Zendaya. “We have been made aware of the incident. Madame Tussauds attractions are interactive experiences, and guests are expected to treat the figures with respect,” a spokesperson for the museum told TMZ. They added, “This behavior is not tolerated. We are reviewing the incident and will take appropriate action to uphold our standards.” As of today, Blueface has yet to offer a statement regarding the incident. Blueface choked out Zendaya — well, the wax figure version of her — squeezing its neck at Madame Tussauds Hollywood on Thursday. https://t.co/P5v0V6V6TO pic.twitter.com/J2oftJ0pLF — TMZ (@TMZ) February 13, 2026 Blueface Owes 130k+ Over Default Judgment In Defamation Case In other news, Blueface has once again found himself on the wrong side of the legal system. The rapper now owes over $130,000 to a woman, whom he claimed he had fathered the child with. However, according to My News LA, court documents state that the child’s father is, in fact, Soulja Boy. The woman, Jackilyn Martinez, filed a “writ of execution.” Per the Legal Information Institute, it’s a “court order that directs law enforcement personnel to seize non-exempt property owned by the defendant and sell it at public auction.” According to the outlet, the initial default judgment has increased to $131,655 due to interest. The judge, Peter Hernandez, had already ordered that all “royalties collected by BMI and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers” will be given to Martinez on the rapper’s behalf to satisfy the money owed to her. The case comes after Blueface made several posts suggesting that her 2-year-old child with Soulja Boy was actually his.

Stefon Diggs’ former chef, who accused him of assault, is finally speaking out. The victim, Mila Adams, recently released a statement via TMZ following Diggs’ entering a not guilty plea during his arraignment on Friday (Feb.13). “I did not seek public attention and reported this matter through the proper legal channels,” the statement read. “This is an active criminal matter, and I will continue to respect the legal process. I will not engage in rumors, personal attacks, or respond to misinformation on social media, and I will ask others to refrain from spreading false narratives.” The statement continues, “My focus is on healing, my work, and moving forward with integrity. I trust the legal process to address the facts, and I hope anyone following this matter will do the same. Dedham, MA – February 13: New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs attends his arraignment hearing at Dedham District Court on February 13, 2026. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Diggs Facing Felony Strangulation And Misdemeanor Assault Charges Diggs is facing a felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charge for an alleged violent incident that happened in December 2025 involving him and his former chef. The alleged victim said the physical altercation happened after a heated dispute over pay. However, Diggs has denied all wrongdoing. “We’re confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated,” Mitchell Schuster, a member of Diggs’ legal team, told reporters outside the courthouse. Diggs has a pre-trial scheduled on April 1 and must refrain from having any contact with the alleged victim. In other news, Diggs’ legal woes have continued to worsen. Just days before Super Bowl LIX, Stefon Diggs was hit with a jaw-dropping lawsuit. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Diggs is facing new allegations of defamation, assault, and more.

Chuck D had a few choice words for KISS lead singer Gene Simmons. The Public Enemy rapper clapped back at the rock legend for his comments surrounding rap music being included in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. During an interview with the LegendsNLeaders podcast, Simmons claimed, “Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras … it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” However, Chuck D doesn’t see it that way. The rapper tells TMZ that Simmons is too focused on the “Rock” part and not the “Roll.” “Everything else, other than rock—when rock and roll splintered in the ’60s — is the Roll,” he said. “So [that includes] soul music, reggae, and hip-hop…” “KISS are rock gods, but they don’t have a lot of ‘Roll’ With Them,” Chuck D says. “KISS are rock gods, but they don’t have a lot of ‘Roll’ With Them,” Chuck D says. The rapper noted that while disappointing, facing exclusion is nothing new to him as a Black man. “I’m Black, born in 1960,” he says. “Being told I don’t belong doesn’t faze me.” For Chuck D, his pleasure comes from the fact that he’s able to make money doing something he loves: making music. “I really relish the opportunity that I’m even able to be in the music business at all, and thank god for hip-hop and rap music making it possible.” Public Enemy, one of hip-hop’s most influential collectives, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2013. “Music with a message. Whether we’re talking hip hop or politics, Public Enemy was revolutionary. Their blend of politics, philosophy, and rap changed the game for the better,” the HOF website reads.