The death of Lil Poppa, born Janarious Wheeler, continues to send shockwaves through his family and fans. On March 3, Toie Roberts — the mother of his child and daughter of rap heavyweight Rick Ross — delivered a raw and unfiltered tribute that doubled as a warning to critics. In her first Instagram post, Roberts addressed Wheeler by his middle name, writing, “MYKEL..what’s understood don’t ever have to explained especially to the internet.” View this post on Instagram The message unfolded like an open letter to the Jacksonville rapper, who passed away on Feb. 18. “Nothing could EVER describe the pain,” she continued, describing their “reality changing before my eyes.” She questioned why he seemed “in a rush to leave us,” before acknowledging, “deep down, I know you didn’t mean to.” Her grief centered on their young son. “ESPECIALLY NOT KOFI,” she wrote. “23 what I’m supposed to tell our bayboy?” Toie Roberts, Lil Poppa’s BM & Rick Ross’s Daughter, Shares Emotional Instagram Posts To The Late Rapper Calling them “2 peas in a pod that turned into the BIGGG 3,” Roberts reflected on their evolution from young parents to a tight-knit family. “What’s the big 3 without you P???” she asked. Though their relationship faced public turbulence, she stressed that “the ‘beef’ was never bigger than what we shared.” She closed with faith and resolve: “Janarious, I got J’nar. You go on & get your rest… we’ll be fine.” Her Instagram Stories struck a sharper tone. Acknowledging Wheeler’s stance that “it’s the internet, you can’t beat it,” Roberts still confronted online critics. “Y’ALL DON’T KNOW SHIT,” she wrote, blasting those who blamed her for his death as “psychotic & insensitive.” Referencing a 2023 diss track, she claimed she was “lied on” and that Wheeler “apologized… right after he dropped it,” adding, “we BEEN moved on from that.” In a final post, over a black-and-white photo of Lil Poppa with their son, Roberts returned to heartbreak. “My baby lost his daddy, protector & bestfriend,” she wrote. Their son wants to show his father a new puppy and still talks about homework help from “3 damn weeks ago.” Through it all, Roberts made one point clear: Lil Poppa’s legacy is personal, and grief isn’t up for public debate.

West Coast rapper Kurupt is finally home. In an exclusive update from TMZ, Kurupt was discharged from the hospital after several weeks of battling a condition that was not revealed to the public. According to Kurupt’s wife and manager Lisa “LeeLee” Brown, the rapper is in better spirits. Brown posted a picture of herself alongside her husband with the caption “Home is where the heart is… Life is not about the rough roads…it’s about the resilience.” View this post on Instagram When Kurupt was severely ill,  producer and rapper Daz Dillinger sent well wishes to the “We Can Freak It” artist in an Instagram carousel on Monday (Jan. 12). “GOD SAID WE SHALL LIVE & NOT DIE … Want to send a big shout out to my big brother @official_kurupt,” Daz captioned the post. “Get well speedy recovery need all FANZ to send kurupt a get well message flood his Instagram tell him how much we love him.” “Rest in peace to my cousin Joe, cool Nate Dogg and others that we lost so I need everybody to hit kurupt and let them know that we love HIM from his little brother Daz life is serious shout out to @leelee_calinanita for holding it down, Dogg Pound gangstaZ 4 LIFE GOD 1st.” “We all have an addiction to something” Kurupt has had battles with his health in recent years. In 2019, he was rushed to the hospital following an alcohol relapse on the set of the reality TV series Marriage Boot Camp. In a 2022 interview with DJ VLAD. he revealed that his alcoholism issues began in the 90s when he was introduced to Hennessy. “[I would drink] every day, all year. I’d wake up and have a shot or a beer and watch me some TV … [That was] my breakfast,” he admitted. “I’m talking about since I was 24. I used to drink before but when ‘Pac brought that Hennessy to the table it was over! … Hennessy was my thing and that was every day, all day.” Kurupt added: “My pancreas, my liver and my kidneys were just all messed up. I had this sharp pain in my abdomen, I could barely walk. I had to hunch over and I still had to perform and do shows … [I had two seizures] back to back, and that was when I went to my doctor in Utah.” “We all have an addiction to something, whether it’s alchohol or drugs. These are demons that you have to fight, and hopefully you can do it before you [die],” he reflected

Legendary underground hip-hop architect Roc Marciano sits down with Mornings with Mero for an in-depth conversation about his journey from Hempstead, Long Island to becoming one of the most influential producers and MCs in modern hip-hop. In This Interview: The rich hip-hop legacy of Long Island (Rakim, EPMD, Prodigy, Method Man & more)Creating his signature sound and producing his new album “656” from front to backLessons learned from working with Busta Rhymes and Flipmode SquadHow he survived the music industry collapse by going direct-to-consumerBuilding an ecosystem that inspired a new generation of artistsWorking with legendary producers like The Alchemist, DJ Premier, and Pete RockThe blueprint for independent success in hip-hop Key Topics:✓ Long Island’s underrated hip-hop history✓ Production techniques and influences (Pete Rock, Large Professor, Q-Tip)✓ The evolution from Marcberg to 656✓ Creating the “Roc Marciano sound” that shaped underground hip-hop✓ Work ethic lessons from Busta Rhymes✓ Cutting out the middleman and building direct fan relationships✓ Inspiring the next generation of MCs and producers Roc Marciano’s influence on modern hip-hop cannot be overstated. From his soulful production to his intricate wordplay, he’s created a blueprint that countless artists follow today. Representing: Hempstead, Long Island Latest Project: 656

On a stretch of South Los Angeles pavement long associated with Nipsey Hussle’s life and work, the city unveiled a new name: Nipsey Hussle Square. The renaming of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard formalizes what many residents have felt for years—that the intersection already carried his imprint. Family members, city officials, and supporters gathered for the dedication, turning a familiar corner into a site of reflection. For Lauren London, the moment was both public and deeply personal. Speaking with The Fader, she described the ceremony as a milestone for her children. “This is a proud moment for me,” she said. “This is also an important and proud moment for the kids, as they now fully understand their father’s legacy. Nip continues to inspire and motivate his community, which is a true realization of his dreams.” Her words suggested that the renaming offered something steady and visible for a family still living with absence. Hussle’s son, Kameron Carter, and his mother, Angelique Smith, addressed the crowd, recalling his commitment to the neighborhood. City Council member Heather Hutt framed that commitment as deliberate. “His love for Los Angeles was insurmountable,” she said. “He could have invested his money anywhere. Somewhere that cost less, somewhere with less issues, but he determined that L.A. is where he wanted to be.” The intersection, in that sense, reflects a choice he made repeatedly. View this post on Instagram A Legacy Lives On The weekend also included the opening of a new Marathon Burger restaurant in Long Beach, led by Hussle’s brother, Blacc Sam. Musicians and community members attended, treating it as both a business launch and a continuation of Hussle’s local investments. Later, a separate shooting occurred nearby, leaving one person dead and others injured. Representatives for Marathon Burger told CBS News, “The opening was a huge success with strong community support. There was an incident nearby, but it was not connected to the event. The opening itself proceeded safely and without issue.” Street signs rarely settle grief, but they can anchor memory. At Slauson and Crenshaw, the city has fixed Hussle’s name to the landscape he sought to uplift, ensuring that his presence remains part of the neighborhood’s daily rhythm.

Will Smith and Chris Rock are quietly exploring the possibility of sitting down together for a televised conversation with ABC News, according to people familiar with the discussions. If it comes together, the interview would be their first shared public appearance since the confrontation at the Academy Awards that unsettled Hollywood and rippled far beyond it. Representatives for both men have declined to comment, and the network has not announced details. Still, the prospect of seeing them across from each other again has stirred immediate interest. The 2022 Oscars broadcast veered off script when Smith walked onto the stage and struck Rock after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. The moment landed with a thud inside the Dolby Theatre and traveled instantly across television screens and smartphones. Not long after, Smith returned to his seat and later accepted the Academy Award for Best Actor for “King Richard,” delivering remarks that competed with the shock still hanging in the room. View this post on Instagram A First Direct Conversation Since the Oscars Incident In the hours and days that followed, Smith issued a public apology to Rock and the Academy, describing his actions as “unacceptable and inexcusable.” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences subsequently barred him from its events for 10 years. Rock addressed the episode sparingly during stand-up performances, including a 2023 Netflix special, where he offered his perspective without speaking directly to Smith. A joint interview, if finalized, would offer something neither man has yet attempted: a direct exchange in real time. It could provide clarity about how they have processed a moment that became cultural shorthand for the volatility of live television. ABC News has not announced an air date.

Three decades after his debut, Jay-Z is revisiting key chapters of his catalog with a measured sense of occasion. On March 2, he reissued “N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99)” on streaming platforms and as a vinyl single, part of a broader acknowledgment of his 30 years in music. The track, produced by Timbaland, first appeared on 1999’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life and featured Amil and Jaz-O, the Brooklyn rapper who played a formative role in Jay-Z’s early career. Its subtitle nods to “The Originators,” a 1990 collaboration between the two that predated Jay-Z’s commercial breakthrough. The new vinyl pressing includes “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” as a B-side, linking different eras of his output. The release also invites a renewed look at his complicated history with Jaz-O, a relationship that has moved from mentorship to estrangement and, eventually, reconciliation. In his memoir Decoded, Jay-Z reflected on their early days in the Marcy Houses: “I connected with an older kid who had a reputation as the best rapper in Marcy,” he wrote. “Jaz was his name—and we started practicing our rhymes into a heavy-ass tape recorder with a makeshift mic attached.” JAŸ-Z “Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)” Featuring Big Jaz and Amil Available now on vinyl and streaming.https://t.co/Bph4izW2Tc #HOV pic.twitter.com/REYtt9mTzY — Roc Nation (@RocNation) March 1, 2026 From Fallout to Full Circle Their partnership frayed in the early 2000s amid business disagreements, including Jaz-O’s decision not to sign with Roc-a-Fella Records. The tension surfaced in music, most notably when Jay-Z rapped on “What We Talkin’ About,” “Tryna rewrite history, let’s talk about facts,” adding, “Dame made millions, even Jaz made some scraps/He could’ve made more but he ain’t sign his contract.” The two later appeared together publicly during the 4:44 Tour in 2017, signaling a thaw. In 2019, Jaz-O entered a distribution partnership with Roc Nation through his company, Kingz Kounty Media Group. The reissue of “N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99)” coincides with the anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, released in 1996. Jay-Z has also made “Dead Presidents” available again across digital and physical formats. Together, the releases suggest not nostalgia so much as curation, a careful revisiting of the music that shaped one of hip-hop’s most enduring careers.

A civil lawsuit connected to the 2022 shooting outside The Nice Guy in West Hollywood has been withdrawn, bringing a close to claims against the rapper Kodak Black. The incident occurred during Super Bowl Weekend, when he was leaving a private event hosted by Justin Bieber. Two men, Mark Schaefer and Adam Rahman, had alleged that Black’s actions contributed to a confrontation that escalated into gunfire. Court filings indicate the plaintiffs have now dropped the case involving Kodak. Bradford Cohen, an attorney for Kodak Black, criticized the lawsuit in pointed terms. “This lawsuit filed by Gloria Allred, might have been the dumbest, most ridiculous lawsuit I have ever read,” he said, adding that his client chose not to seek attorney’s fees. Cohen said that decision allowed the plaintiffs to leave “with their tail between their legs.” Furthermore, he cautioned lawyers against pursuing what he characterized as unfounded claims about Kodak. View this post on Instagram From $62M to Zero Justin Bieber was initially named in the suit but was dismissed months later. The plaintiffs first sought $62 million in damages, a request that was rejected by a judge. They then made an unsuccessful attempt to recover $10.6 million, just as the civil suit against Kodak ended with no reward. The shooting took place outside the venue as guests, including several prominent artists, were arriving or departing. Kodak Black was struck in the leg. Schaefer was wounded near his ankle, and Rahman in the shoulder. In earlier court documents, Rahman alleged that “Kodak Black initiated the altercation with patrons outside of the subject location, which was the catalyst for the series of events that led to gun violence.” This made Kodak a central figure in the investigation.

Claressa Shields has rarely shied away from speaking her mind, whether in the ring or online. In a post shared on March 1, just days before Papoose’s 48th birthday, the 30-year-old champion boxer uploaded a photo of the two standing side by side in long fur coats. “My man deserve everything,” she wrote. “I wish for his bday I could surprise him with a baby.” Moreover, Claressa Shields has continued to make news headlines with her outspoken personality. The relationship, which has spanned nearly two years, became public amid Papoose’s separation from rapper Remy Ma. He shares children from previous relationships, including a young daughter with Remy. Their marriage, which began in 2016, has yet to be formally dissolved, a detail that continues to surface in conversations about Shields and Papoose’s future. Notably, Shields is often mentioned by fans in discussions about their relationship. My man deserve everything. I wish for his bday I could surprise him with a baby pic.twitter.com/v3HZ2rmWN8 — Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) March 2, 2026 Unfiltered, Unbothered—and Focused on What’s Next Shields has responded directly to online critics who question her plans. “It’s called divorce goofy ass,” she wrote to one commenter. In another exchange, she said she and Papoose hope to start a family by the end of 2026. During the holidays, she also rejected claims that he had spent Christmas with Remy, calling those reports “misinformed.” However, Shields is known for setting the record straight in response to such rumors. For Shields, the discussion of motherhood unfolds alongside a still-active boxing career. Last summer, she shared her excitement in characteristically blunt terms: “I can’t wait to get pregnant, you heaux gonna be so mad. Going to be crying in the car, punching the steering wheel crying.” The remark, equal parts celebratory and combative, reflects the candor that has defined much of her public life.

50 Cent has long treated social media as an extension of the stage. This week, he reposted a photograph of Benzino lying on a stretcher with a neck brace, an image that followed reports the former magazine executive had suffered serious injuries. 50 captioned the photo “LMAO,” adding laughing emojis, and later commented, “GOD TOLD ME TO SHARE THIS [flushed face emoji].” The reaction was swift and divided. Some followers viewed the post as consistent with 50’s combative humor. Others saw it differently. “It’s official 50 cent is hurting and miserable,” one commenter wrote, while another cautioned, “You keep laughing and trolling all your colleagues going through life… remember one day it’s going to be your turn. Life happens to everybody. The cruise was funny at first but too much of everything is bad. How are you always happy?” View this post on Instagram Benzino Urges Booth Over Memes as T.I.–50 Feud Flares Up Benzino responded in a video circulated online, wearing a shirt bearing the image of 50 Cent’s late mother. He praised T.I. and his son King Harris for addressing the rapper through music rather than memes. “Destroyed his as,” he said, adding, “Go tell that big, block-head n* to stop clowning and get in the booth and battle this n, man… Nobody tryna give a fck about these memes and all the sucker sht he doing… Get in the booth and battle the n.” The episode unfolds amid renewed friction between 50 Cent and T.I., a rivalry that reignited after T.I. accused him of stepping away from a proposed Verzuz battle. Since then, the disagreement has played out in diss tracks, Instagram posts, and pointed interviews. In an industry where competition has long been part of the culture, the line between performance and personal grievance can be difficult to discern.

Footage of Cardi B during a concert in San Francisco for her Little Miss Drama tour recently caught fans’ attention. It appeared that the rapper had taken shots at her ex-boyfriend, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. “You can’t be out here playing with a b*tch like me,” she said to the crowd. “There’s n*ggas out here praying for a b*tch like me, you hear me?” However, according to Cardi B, everything is not what it seems. “Dear blogs, when I perform a song, I always introduce the song with a lil razzle dazzle,” she wrote in a post on X March 2. “Not everything is a shot or personal. I’m actually repeating lyrics from the songs…Relax.” Last month, rumors circulated that there was trouble in paradise between Cardi and Stefon after it was reported that the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram. The rapper would later confirm the news during a tour stop in Los Angeles. Dear blogs, when I perform a song I always introduce the song with a lil razzle dazzle.. not everything is a shot or personal. I’m actually repeating lyrics from the songs…Relax — Cardi B (@iamcardib) March 2, 2026 Cardi B Allegedly Crashed Out Over ‘SNL’ Joke About Nicki Minaj In other news, TMZ recently reported that Cardi B “lost it” at Saturday Night Live. Sources told the outlet that amid rehearsals for the iconic sketch comedy show’s 1,000th episode, the “Pretty & Petty” rapper made it a night to remember after she began destroying equipment after overhearing a joke mentioning Nicki Minaj. Apparently, the anchors for the popular skit, “Weekend Update,” were testing out a few jokes regarding Minaj’s affiliation with the MAGA crowd. Sources noted that the joke had nothing to do with Cardi B; however, just the mere mention of Minaj made her go “berserk.” Things escalated very quickly after Cardi, who was set as the musical guest for the night, threatened to leave the show. It was alleged that she not only threw her phone at a TV monitor backstage, but also stormed into the show producer’s office and punched a TV screen until it broke. Sources told the outlet that not long after Cardi’s fit, the joke was scrapped