Big Daddy Kane to Headline Hip-HOPE Ball for Black Health Awareness The Brooklyn legend is working with Oya “Grand G” Gilbert to help address multiple myeloma. news February 18, 2026
Jesse Jackson Mourned by Al Sharpton, Kamala Harris and More Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson passed away on Tuesday morning after a long battle with a hospitalizing nuerological condition. news February 17, 2026
LaRussell Addresses Backlash After Lil Wayne Criticism The Roc Nation rapper has said that Wayne’s music has had a negative impact on the community. news February 17, 2026
Brandy’s Unconventional National Anthem Draws Mixed Reactions The Grammy winner performed an R&B-inspired version of the “Star Spangled Banner” and social media sounded off. news February 17, 2026
Christopher Reid of Kid ‘N Play Talks Heart Health; Urges Men To Get Checked The rapper, dancer and comedian is opening up about his heart transplant, and why people of color need to understand heart disease. news February 11, 2026
Sherri Shepherd Addresses Her Show’s Cancellation The host and comedian vowed to fight for ‘Sherri’ and promised to continue to “spread joy.” news February 11, 2026
Kid Rock Calls Jay-Z an NFL “D.E.I. Hire” The country rocker said he believed the NFL hired Jay-Z to improve the league's relationship with "Black guys." news February 10, 2026
Ma$e Gets Dragged After Suggesting Chris Brown Play the Super Bowl The Harlem rapper was critical of Bad Bunny’s halftime performance and suggested controversial R&B star Chris Brown was overdue for the spotlight. news February 10, 2026
5 Takeaways From J. Cole’s ‘The Fall-Off,’ His Most ‘Real Hip-Hop’ Album Yet J. Cole just dropped his new album, ‘The Fall-Off.’ Here’s what OKP has to say about it after a few listens. featured February 6, 2026
Sherri Shepherd’s Talk Show Canceled After Four Seasons The production company cites “the revolving daytime television landscape” for ending the syndicated daytime talker. news February 4, 2026
Lil Wayne Addresses Grammys, References Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Snub The rap superstar’s 2025 album ‘Tha Carter VI’ received no Grammy nominations. news February 3, 2026
La La Anthony’s “ThreeSixty” Program Aims to Uplift Incarcerated Black Men The actress/media personality is working to cut down on recidivism by providing mentorship and assets to young men at Rikers Island. news January 28, 2026
Okayplayer Hosts the Okayplayer House During 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend In partnership with the National Basketball Retired Players Association and The Finn Group, the Okayplayer House pop-up is bridging music, basketball, art and legacy. news January 28, 2026
Miss-Education: Women in Hip-Hop Course Coming to Princeton University The class will highlight the impact of women emcees like Lil Kim and Cardi B, while examining the culture’s history through a gendered lens. news January 27, 2026
Regina Hall to Star in Netflix Series With Adam Driver Thriller series ‘Rabbit, Rabbit’ got a straight-to-series order from the streaming giant back in October. news January 27, 2026
Kid Cudi Announces North American ‘Rebel Ragers Tour’ The award-winning rapper and songwriter is hitting the road with Big Boi, M.I.A., and more across select dates. news January 27, 2026
5 Roc Marciano ‘656’ Lyrics That Will Have You Making the Screwface Okayplayer broke down some of the finest lyrics from the rap legend’s new album ‘656.’ featured January 24, 2026
TikTok Saved By American Joint Venture, Avoids Ban in the U.S. The popular video-sharing platform would have been unavailable in the United States; President Trump praises deal. news January 23, 2026
Nicki Minaj Hurls Homophobic Slur at Don Lemon The rapper directed inflammatory comments toward Don Lemon out of disproval for his coverage of Minneapolis protests following the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. news January 20, 2026
John Forté Remembered: “Legends Never Die” The longtime Fugees affiliate was celebrated by Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill after his death at 50. news January 16, 2026
A$AP Rocky Disses Drake on New Song “Stole Ya Flow” On his latest album, ‘Don’t Be Dumb,’ the Harlem rapper seems to take aim at the 6ix God. news January 16, 2026
Kurupt Recovering After Reportedly Being Hospitalized His fellow Dogg Pound member, Daz Dillinger, posted about Kurupt’s condition. news January 14, 2026
Mike Tomlin Stepping Down As Pittsburgh Head Coach After 19 Seasons The Super Bowl-winning coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers never had a losing season in nearly two decades. news January 13, 2026
Juelz Santana Shares Graphic Photos After Car Crash The Dipset rapper shared a cryptic Instagram Stories post with a severely bruised face. news January 13, 2026
Mary J. Blige Announces Las Vegas Residency The nine-time Grammy winner announced ‘My Life, My Story’ the day after her birthday. news January 13, 2026
Salt-N-Pepa’s UMG Lawsuit Gets Dismissed; Group Responds Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa’ Denton shared a statement thanking the fans and declaring “justice will prevail.” news January 13, 2026
Teyana Taylor, Ryan Coogler Take Home Trophies at the 2026 Golden Globes ‘One Battle After Another’ took home major honors as TV shows like ‘Pluribus’ and ‘The Studio’ also won. news January 12, 2026
Dionne Warwick, Saweetie and Mya Team Up to Address Climate Change A new song for the upcoming animated film inspired by the plight of the LA wildfires, 'Ozi: Voice of the Forest,' takes aim at deforestation and how it impacts ecosystems. news January 6, 2026
Bruno Mars Confirms His New Album is Done The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter told everyone on X that his fourth album is finished. news January 6, 2026
‘Sinners,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ Win Big at 2026 Critics Choice Awards The 31st annual awards show also featured major wins for ‘The Studio’ and ‘Abbott Elementary.’ news January 5, 2026
LaRussell Says Kyrie Irving Bought His Album for $11,000 The Bay Area rap star is taking a unique approach to selling ‘Something’s in the Water.’ news January 5, 2026
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Quotes Jadakiss at Swearing-In Ceremony Mamdani becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor and first of South Asian descent. news January 2, 2026
Did J. Cole Re-Record 'The Fall Off' Because of Drake and Kendrick Lamar? According to Mal, the two rap superstars had allegedly recorded verses for J. Cole’s highly-anticipated album. news January 2, 2026
Russell Wilson and Ciara Donate $3 Million to NYC Children’s Hospital The celebrity couple made a significant contribution to the Upper East Side medical center that is expected to improve the facility’s creative arts spaces. news January 2, 2026
Idris Elba Knighted For Charity Work in the UK Cynthia Erivo also among those recognized on King Charles III’s New Year Honors List. news December 31, 2025
Former Heavyweight Champ Anthony Joshua Injured in Fatal Car Crash Joshua survived an accident in which two people were reportedly killed in a collision that happened in Nigeria. news December 29, 2025
Why Wiz Khalifa Got Sentenced to 9 Months for Weed A Romanian court determined that Wiz Khalifa was normalizing illegal conduct by smoking marijuana on stage at a 2024 festival, though it is highly unlikely he will be extradited. news December 29, 2025
50 Cent Issues Playful Warning to ‘Lets Rap About It’ Podcast After Fabolous’ Diss The pod hosts dropped a retort to 50’s “squatters” comments on Christmas Day. news December 29, 2025
So, Beyoncé is Reportedly a Billionaire Now Beyoncé's country album and accompanying 'Cowboy Carter Tour' led her to billionaire status, joining the ranks of music legends like JAY-Z and Rihanna. news December 29, 2025
The ‘Let’s Rap About It’ Podcast Drop 50 Cent Diss Track After “Squatters” Comments Fabolous and company took it to the booth after 50 Cent called them out. news December 26, 2025
Kevin Arkadie, ‘New York Undercover’ Co-Creator, Dies at 68 The accomplished screenwriter also worked on ‘NYPD Blue’ and ‘The Temptations.’ news December 22, 2025
Big Sean Takes on Expanded Role With His Hometown Detroit Pistons Big Sean and the Detroit Pistons unveiled the NBA team’s new global artist initiative, “Creatives Across Continents.” news December 22, 2025
Nicki Minaj Slammed for Surprise Appearance at Turning Point USA Rally The rap superstar took the stage next to Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and has received heavy criticism. news December 22, 2025
The Top 5 Moments From J.I.D’s Brooklyn Paramount Concert Okayplayer pulled up to Brooklyn Paramount to check out J.I.D, and he pretty much tore it down. Here’s our recap. featured December 19, 2025
Netflix’s ‘A Different World’ Brings Back O.G. Stars for Sequel Series Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy and more will once again be joining the Hillman College family in new show. news December 19, 2025
Ludacris to Headline NBA Crossover Concert Series in 2026 Shaboozey and K-Pop group Cortis are also set to headline the NBA All-Star events. news December 19, 2025
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist Star In New Campaign for Avirex x Timberland The brands join forces for a campaign that embraces the classic look of Timb’s 6 Inch Boot. news December 19, 2025
A$AP Rocky Shares Tim Burton-Created Album Artwork for ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ The legendary ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Batman’ filmmaker contributed his distinctive visual style to the album. news December 17, 2025
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to Help Feed the Hungry With New Song “The Next Verse” “The Next Verse” features artists like Sheila E., Dr. Dre and more, recording an interactive fundraising song for 100 Billion Meals. news December 17, 2025
The Weeknd Forms $1 Billion Venture With Lyric Capital The recording royalties investment firms says that the singer-songwriter will maintain creative control over his current music catalog, in "first of its kind partnership." news December 16, 2025
Teyana Taylor on Almost Quitting Music and ‘One Battle After Another’ In a conversation with ‘Frankenstein’ star Oscar Isaac for 'Variety,' the multitalented star talks about taking risks. news December 16, 2025
Carl Carlton, “She’s A Bad Mama Jama” Singer, Dies at 73 The Grammy nominee had struggled with health issues since his 2019 stroke. news December 15, 2025
Jay-Z Investment Firm Looks to Put $500 Million Into Korean Culture Fund MarcyPen Capital is forming a partnership with Hanwha Group in a move driven by K-pop popularity. news December 15, 2025
21 Savage Told Drake Not to Battle Kendrick: “Leave That S**t Alone” The Atlanta rapper felt that getting into a beef was a “lose-lose” for the OVO superstar. news December 12, 2025
Field Trip for Grownups, Ugly Sweater Parties, and How to Turn Your Family’s Legacy Into Poetry This weekend, there’s lots to do, especially for the arts-and-crafty. We got you covered on activities in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that don’t have to cost a dime. new york December 12, 2025
Kehlani: Bad Bunny Shouldn’t Sing “A Word in English” at Super Bowl Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny is set to perform at halftime of Super Bowl LX in February. news December 11, 2025
Cheryl “Salt” James On How She Works Out to Feel Good, Not for Vanity With Salt-N-Pepa getting their much-deserved flowers, Salt is sharing how embracing her health has helped to rejuvenate her mind, body and spirit. wellness December 10, 2025
Raphael Saadiq on Chart Success: “I’d Rather Have The Song That Stays Around” The Grammy winner recently took part in THR’s Songwriter’s Roundtable alongside artists like Shaboozey, Hayley Williams and Ed Sheeran. news December 10, 2025
NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Taps Mysonne for Mayoral Transition Team The mayor’s pick of the rapper-turned-activist is raising eyebrows and making headlines over Mysonne’s criminal history. news December 10, 2025
Method Man Explains Why Wu-Tang Didn’t Jump On Drake’s “Wu-Tang Forever” The Wu swordsman explained why the legendary crew didn’t collaborate with the 6 God on the 2013 hit. news December 9, 2025
André 3000 Praises Tyler, The Creator: “He Always Has His Antennas Up” Three Stacks presented Tyler, The Creator with the ‘Variety’ Innovator Of The Decade award. news December 9, 2025
‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ Dominate 2026 Golden Globe Nominations Teyana Taylor, Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler and Tessa Thompson are among the nominees. news December 8, 2025
Netflix Buys Warner Bros Discovery, HBO in Industry-Rocking Deal The streaming giant beat out Paramount and Comcast after a unanimous board vote. news December 5, 2025
Cardi B Speaks Out on Her Black and Afro-Caribbean Identity Amid 2025 Lawsuit During her 2025 civil assault trial, Cardi B addresses public questions and clarifies her Black and Afro-Caribbean identity, reflecting on her Afro-Latina roots, colorism, and misconceptions she’s faced in her career. news December 5, 2025
Cam’ron Says He Didn’t Want to Do The LOX Verzuz Battle The 49-year-old says that he only took part in Dipset’s 2021 showcase against The LOX out of solidarity and to be “a team player.” news December 4, 2025
Tyler, The Creator Announces Final Collection of His Clothing Line The season four collection of le Fleur will arrive on Dec. 6; but there won’t be any more clothing drops. news December 4, 2025
How Hit-Boy Learned to Find Himself in the Amazon For the latest edition of Pursuit of Happiness, Hit-Boy recalls a trip to Las Vegas, early career discouragement, and more. wellness December 3, 2025
Snoop Dogg and Daz Blast Each Other Via Social Media: “Leave Me Alone” The cousins are locked in a war of words following Daz’s departure from Death Row Records. news December 3, 2025
Lizzo Pens Essay On Being ‘Cancelled’: “Sensitivity Is At an All-Time High” The Grammy-winning star lists the moments she’s been at the center controversy in Substack post. news December 3, 2025
Coco Jones to Perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” for Super Bowl LX Pregame The Grammy winner joins Charlie Puth and Brandi Carlile as part of the game’s pre-show performers. news December 2, 2025
Megan Thee Stallion Scores Victory in Defamation Lawsuit Blogger Milagro Gramz was found liable for harassing and defaming the hip-hop superstar. news December 2, 2025
Muni Long Is Dropping Out of The Boy is Mine Tour Long has missed dates due to health concerns, the joint tour has more stops before wrapping Dec. 14. news December 1, 2025
Coko Responds to Steve Stoute Saying SWV Didn’t Want to be in Will Smith Video Stoute recently shared his take on why SWV wasn’t in the music video for Will Smith’s 1997 smash hit. news December 1, 2025
Cynthia Erivo on Identity, Fame & ‘Ghetto American Accent’ Tweets Amid 2025 Spotlight Back in 2019, Cynthia Erivo opponed up about old tweets that surfaced in connection to her upcoming role as Harriet Tubman in 'Harriet,' the comments have followed her to her co-starring role in 'Wicked: For Good.' news December 1, 2025
Jack White and Eminem Rock Detroit Lions Halftime Performance Jack White and Eminem wow fans with a memorable Thanksgiving halftime performance at the Detroit Lions game, now available as 'Live at Ford Field' on streaming platforms. news November 28, 2025
