2025 is already experiencing a pretty shocking breakup within the hip-hop community. According to multiple sources including USA Today, professional tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, and North Carolina rapper Cordae are calling it quits. The 27-year-old athlete broke the heartbreaking news via an Instagram Story post earlier today. “Hi everyone, just wanted to say that Cordae and I are no longer in a relationship. No bad blood at all, he’s a great person and an awesome dad,” the four-time Grand Slam winner added. Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together”
Back in July of 2023, they welcomed their now one-year-old baby girl Shai into the world. Overall, Naomi and Cordae never really seemed to be having a ton of major issues with another. Of course, not everything in a relationship is publicized, but based on how often the MC was at her matches and how glowingly they’ve spoken about one another, it’s quite the stunner. For example, around time Shai was born, Osaka told USA Today how simple it was to get along with one another and how effective he was at helping raise their girl.
“We built a really good foundation. I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what’s best for Shai,” Osaka said.
For some though, they may have seen this coming. There were some slight rumblings just three months after delivering their child. Osaka was sending messages on social media like, “I just want someone that will watch the sunset with me.” Or in another instance, she liked a post that said, “walking away from those who don’t value you.” Pictures of Cordae were even removed from her accounts and he was wishing her a happy birthday at all to boot. But it seems like based on this breakup reveal, things are better now or are as good as they could be.
Kanye West is currently in the process of readying his upcoming album Bully, but it looks like he’s run into some trouble along the way. Last week, a snippet from the project surfaced online. It left fans more eager than ever to hear what else the Chicago hitmaker has up his sleeve. The full version of the track may never be released, however, according to French singer Claire Pommet. Pommet, who performs under the name Pomme, took to social media today to make it clear that she allegedly did not agree to her song “soleil soleil” being sampled. According to her, she disagrees with Ye’s “political positions,” despite having previously been a fan.
“I do not know the source of the video and audio content that is circulating these days on social media, but i have never given my consent for the use of this sample for reasons that seem obvious to me,” she alleged. “Being in deep disagreement with the political positions of this artist that i have nevertheless admired in the past.”
“It is sometimes difficult to give up on certain opportunities but i try to stay true to what i believe in,” her post concludes. At the time of writing, Ye has yet to address Pomme’s post. He appears to have kept himself busy, however, recently going all out for his wife Bianca Censori’s 30th birthday. The pair celebrated at a luxurious Maldives resort this weekend, with Ye even performing several of his hits for guests.
These latest accusations also come just after Kai Cenat revealed that he and Ye managed to squash their beef. During a stream over the weekend, he said “The beef is over” several times, adding “Lemme text him back.” Fans might even see him join one of the personality’s streams sometime soon.
The Detroit Lions have plenty of reasons to turn up this week following their impressive win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in which they secured a first-round bye in the playoffs…and it appears that their post-game locker room celebration came with its own soundtrack from a somewhat unexpected “artist.”
Video footage of the Lions post-game celebration shows team members including Amon-Ra St. Brown and Alex Anzalone rapping along to LiAngelo Ball’s new rap song, “Tweaker,” which has spiked in popularity over the past week. The video, which can be found on Instagram, shows players singing along to some of the song’s already iconic lines including “I might swerve bend that corner woahhh” and showing off their dance moves.
The song, which was released last week, currently holds the top spot for trending music videos on YouTube, racking up an impressive almost 3 million views in just days. It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2MdybKPqfE.
Ball’s basketball career came to an end after suffering an injury while playing in the CIBACOPA Mexican basketball league in 2024. The Detroit Lions’ 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings brings their season record to an impressive 15-2. The Sunday win means that the team clinched theNFC North division title and secured the conference’s No. 1 seed, giving them a first-round bye before they will enter the playoffs in a home game oneither January 18 or 19th.
Former Bad Boy Records artist Mark Curry recently voiced his frustrations with hip-hop moguls JAY-Z and Diddy by accusing them of getting rich while leaving others behind. Seems like a recurring theme in the music business, or life, for that matter.
Curry, who was signed to Diddy’s iconic label from 1997 to 2005, took to Instagram Live to address his grievances and criticize the two music industry giants for what he perceives as their failure to help others rise to success.
“Don’t think that Jay Z and Puff are the biggest moguls ever,” Curry stated. “They are great people, but what you wanna look at is the great people that weren’t able to become because of them people.” He added, “How many people could’ve been greater that weren’t made because of their empowerment?”
Let’s be honest, Curry, who has had a tumultuous relationship with Bad Boy Records and its founder, Diddy, suggested that the legal issues facing both JAY-Z and Diddy were divine retribution for their actions. “You know why they going through what they going through? Because you don’t do God’s children that way. They crazy,” he remarked, alluding to the various legal controversies currently surrounding both moguls.
What’s more, this is not the first time Curry has publicly criticized Diddy. In his 2009 book Dancing With The Devil, Curry detailed the ways he felt Diddy exploited his artists, including allegations that Diddy mimicked Curry’s musical style for his 1998 hit “Come With Me” and manipulated budgets for his own financial gain. Curry also accused Diddy of taking credit for work he didn’t do, including claiming songwriting and production credits on tracks he didn’t contribute to.
Curry’s accusations come amid a turbulent time for both Diddy and JAY-Z. Diddy, whose reputation has been marred by ongoing legal battles, has been in jail since September 2024 on charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking. The charges came after a year of lawsuits against him, including one from his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, who made disturbing claims of abuse. In May 2024, disturbing footage surfaced of an alleged assault by Diddy, further tarnishing his image.
As for JAY-Z, his name was frequently mentioned in connection to Diddy’s legal troubles, particularly by 50 Cent, though nothing concrete had come up against him until December 2024. At that time, a woman accused JAY-Z of being involved in a sexual assault at an afterparty hosted by Diddy. She claimed that she was assaulted by both Diddy and JAY-Z, and her case is being represented by Tony Buzbee, who is also representing over 100 alleged victims of Diddy.
Mark Curry’s comments about Diddy and JAY-Z highlight his deep dissatisfaction with the way the music industry operates, particularly within the circles of power that have shaped hip-hop culture. While both moguls are often celebrated for their immense wealth and influence, Curry’s perspective sheds light on the darker side of their careers, focusing on the many artists who feel neglected or taken advantage of in their pursuit of success.
Mark Curry’s journey in music began in the late ‘90s when he was signed to Bad Boy Records, where he initially rose to prominence as a part of the label’s diverse roster. Though he never achieved the same level of mainstream success as some of Diddy’s other artists, Curry developed a loyal fanbase and contributed to the label’s legacy. His work with Bad Boy includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, though his personal experiences with the label have often been marked by frustration.
Over the years, Curry has remained vocal about his treatment within the industry, sharing his stories of exploitation and mistreatment in both his book Dancing With The Devil and through various interviews. Despite his struggles, Curry continues to be a vocal advocate for greater transparency and fairness in the music business, particularly for artists who are often overshadowed by the larger-than-life figures who dominate the scene.
As the legal battles and allegations surrounding both Diddy and JAY-Z continue to unfold, Curry’s words resonate with many who feel that these moguls have accumulated wealth at the expense of others. His call for change within the industry serves as a reminder of the power dynamics that continue to shape the careers of countless artists, both established and emerging.
Below, you’ll find 15 artists and bands who I’m hoping will release an album in 2025. This isn’t based on any insider knowledge; I’m merely a fan anticipating new music. Two requirements: I only included those whose most recent album came out before January 1, 2023, otherwise it would be too soon. Also, if your next album already has a release date, you’re ineligible (why is why, for instance, Panchiko didn’t make the cut — good band, though!).
With all apologies to the “did harry styles release a new album today” account, he didn’t. He might not for a while, too, following the tragic death of One Direction bandmate Liam Payne. But Styles was spotted with Fred Again.. and Olivia Dean last year, signaling that he might be working on new music. His previous albums came out roughly two-and-a-half years after the one before it, which would signal a December 2025 release for HS4. The album is definitely coming; it’s just a matter of when.
Phoebe Bridgers/Lucy Dacus/Julien Baker
Is this technically breaking my previously established arbitrary rules since Boygenius — the indie supergroup made up of Bridgers, Dacus, and Baker — released The Record in 2023? Maybe. But, counterpoint: maybe not. The trio reached new levels of fame with their Grammy-nominated album (especially Bridgers, who opened for Taylor Swift on The Eras Tour), but none have officially revealed their next move as solo artists yet. It’s likely Baker will put out something first, as she performed a new song with Torres on The Tonight Show; they’re also performing at a number of festivals together this year.
Frank Ocean
I know, I know, wishful thinking. But to quote a band with a far larger output than the elusive Ocean, what would we be without wishful thinking? The future A24 director‘s most recent studio album, Blonde (the fifth greatest album of all time, according to Apple Music), came out in 2016. With the exception of 2018’s visual album Endless and a troubled Coachella headlining set, it’s mostly been crickets since then. Maybe this is the year! Anyway, I look forward to including Ocean in the 2026 edition of this article.
Rosalía
Back in September 2024, Rosalía confirmed that she’s working on her next album. “It’s been a process. I’ve changed a lot, but at the same time, I’m still wrapping my head around the same things,” she told Highsnobiety. “It’s like I still have the same questions and the same desire to answer them. I still have the same love for the past and the same curiosity for the future.”
Motomami was one of the most inventive and critically acclaimed albums of 2022 — I can’t wait to hear what’s next from a true pop visionary.
Pup
Pup is kicking off 2025 with an opening slot on Sum 41’s farewell tour (Canadian punks unite!). Will a new album be next?
“We’ve been writing a lot, doing some recording and stuff,” guitarist Steve Sladkowski told Heavy Consequence. “Hopefully 2025.”
Pup’s last album, The Unraveling Of PupTheBand, was cooked up during the pandemic, and all the challenges that presented. For the next album, the group vowed to use fewer overdubs and “start as a rock band” and have a more “immediate” sound.
Turnstile
Turnstile toured relentlessly behind 2021’s Glow On, the biggest hardcore album of the decade including Grammy nominations and, more importantly, a Taco Bell ad spot. They played over 100 shows in 2022 alone. Do they feel they’ve changed since their mainstream success?
“The only thing that feels different to us is the opportunities and the places where we can exist,” singer Brendan Yates told Norman Brannon for Anti-Matter. “That still kind of blows our minds.”
Turnstile’s next album should be equally mind blowing.
Solange
Solange recently spoke to Vogue Australia about the follow-up to 2019’s blissed out When I Get Home.
“Honestly, I never stop making music,” she said. “I’ve never stopped, and I’ll probably dedicate myself to it full time [in 2025]. Over the past five years, I’ve focused on creating works that I hope will inspire and occupy a space-time far beyond my own existence. I’m preparing spiritually, physically, artistically, and mentally for my future self at 60 or 70.”
Unlike everyone else on this list, Playboi Carti’s next album has a title: I Am Music. What it doesn’t have, however, is a release date. The “All Red” rapper performed five new songs at Rolling Loud, signaling that the album should be out sooner rather than later. You can hear it for yourself here.
Fiona Apple
To be honest, a part of me doesn’t want a new Fiona Apple album. Fetch The Bolt Cutters is staggering, and if she decides she’d rather focus on court-watching than making music, she’s earned the right. But then I listen to “Rack Of His” and come to my senses: if/when Fiona Apple wants to record a new album, there’s no reason to think she doesn’t have another 10 out of 10 masterpiece in her. It could be a few years, however. The wait between When The Pawn… and Extraordinary Machine was six years. Then seven years for The Idler Wheel… followed by another eight years for Fetch The Bolt Cutters. Look forward to album No. 6 in 2029!
Doechii
Doechii’s breakout 2024 included a glowing endorsement from SZA and a riveting performance on The Late Show. She also released Alligator Bites Never Heal, which is technically a mixtape, not an album. When asked about the distinction, Doechii explained to Variety, “I woke up one day and told my label, ‘I’m just going to make a mixtape.’”
Fair enough! But now she’s in album mode: “All I can think about is this album, so I’m just looking forward to making more hits, making more music and achieving more of my goals. That’s it.”
Big Thief
Big Thief played a bunch of new songs while touring in 2024, including “Grandmother” and “Incomprehensible,” both of which need an official studio recording. Do the lyrics to the former track signal where the band (which parted ways with original bassist Max Oleartchik for “interpersonal reasons”) is heading next: “Gonna turn it all into rock and roll”? Also, if you haven’t listened to “Not” lately, do yourself a favor. Big Thief, what a band!
Cardi B
There’s a lot riding on Cardi B’s sophomore album. Her debut, Invasion Of Privacy, wasn’t just big; it was a record-breaking smash with two singles, “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It,” that reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. But following multiple false starts on her follow-up, it’s make-or-break time for Cardi. She’s already explained why it didn’t come out in 2024; now that the calendar has flipped, LP2 is “coming really, really soon.”
Japanese Breakfast
After releasing 2021’s best indie album and a The New York Times best-selling memoir, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner moved to South Korea to live the life of a “humble Korean student,” as she told The Korea Times. Zauner is gearing up for a new album, though, one that will be more guitar-focused than Jubilee.
“This new album [has] a lot more guitar, and it’s much more melancholic,” she explained to GQ Korea. “I returned to a more somber theme. I think it’s a bit more mature… I always want to create something different from the previous one.”
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom made a rare music festival appearance in 2024, performing at Utah’s Kilby Block Party in her first concert since opening for Fleet Foxes a year prior. She also played a residency at Hollywood Forever’s Masonic Lodge. Does that mean a new album is on the way? Newsom hasn’t said, but she did play a bunch of new songs at her 2024 shows. Maybe it will debut on Bandcamp (it sure won’t be Spotify).
“I want to continue the progression of being more fearless and bold. I want to make more music,” he said. “One thing I know for sure is that I won’t take five years next time.”
Guess what? It’s been five years.
It’s not that Parker hasn’t been busy. He’s worked with Dua Lipa, Justice, and Gorillaz. He also contributed songs to both the Barbie (!) and Minions: The Rise Of Gru (!!) soundtracks. But it sounds like a new album is coming.
“It’s not finished yet, but I think it’ll be there soon,” he told The Guardian. “I’m loving how excited I am by it — for me, with Tame Impala, if I’m not feeling inspired, there’s no f*cking point in doing it.”
Ice Spice capped off her 2024 by releasing the Y2K!: I’m Just A Girl deluxe version to her July album, but it seems like it came at a bad time. Moreover, new reports suggest that the project sold a measly 4,800 units in its first week, which is very low even in a music industry environment that positions streaming as the main consumption model, thus lowering wholesale performance. However, despite many fans clowning this or speculating on this perceived drop-off, there are a couple of factors that could explain this. One is how these numbers might only account for a handful of songs on the project as a whole, as singles for it had previously released.
The other logical explanation for his poor commercial performance is that it dropped on Christmas Day, and the holiday season isn’t usually conducive to successful new releases. Still, these are all just speculative theories and excuses, as we don’t have a super detailed breakdown of what these numbers for Ice Spice’s Y2K!: I’m Just A Girl (Deluxe) even look like. Whether it only counted extra tracks like “Hannah Montana” featuring NLE Choppa and DaBaby in this total is still a big question.
Sadly, for as many explanations as we can give, it seems like this 2025 is off to an unlucky start for Ice Spice, especially now with Y2K!: I’m Just A Girl (Deluxe) in mind. For example, fans at the Wildlands Festival in Australia booed her onstage due to her late appearance, and the venue reportedly cut her mic off at one point. It’s hard to turn this isolated and unexplained incident into a full-on narrative, but we’re dealing with the Internet here, so that’s exactly what happened.
Regardless, Ice Spice continues to get love from her artistic peers and certainly hasn’t lost her hit-making potential or successful brand image. As such, many narratives about her online could change very quickly, or at least, as quickly as they came about in the first place. Hopefully more 2025 releases find more quality and success, as it’s very easy to take first week sales numbers out of context.
Given how long YNW Melly has been behind bars it was only a matter of time before he made changes to his physical appearance. We saw how artists like Young Thug and Diddy looked throughout the course of their time in jail. So, after 2,159 days, it appears the Florida rapper felt it was time to shake things up a bit by himself in his case. New photos are surfacing today of the “Murder on My Mind” MC rocking a fresh haircut. Melly’s been synonymous with the dreadlock look, but recently he decided to chop them off completely. Instead, he’s now going for a messier afro and it appears as if he got a lineup as well.
The pictures are coming from his most recent court appearance, which went down today, according to XXL. Right now, Melly and his legal team are facing another unfortunate setback. His lawyer is currently under investigation for alleged witness tampering. Today, the 25-year-old multi-hyphenate was showing up in front of a judge to address his November lawsuit against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He, along with his lawyer, Michael A. Pizzi Jr., accused them of cruel treatment in jail and asked for immediate release.
It was a 12-page filing with Pizzi Jr. writing, “These restrictions are not related to any legitimate security concerns and are instead punitive measures designed to deteriorate Melly’s mental health and impede his ability to prepare for his trial. No non-black inmates are subjected to such punitive restrictions.” Pizzi Jr. continued, “The emotional and psychological toll of his prolonged isolation is enormous. The ongoing interference with his right to counsel is a blatant violation of his constitutional rights.”
To be more specific on those constitutional rights, Pizzi Jr. is alleging that Melly’s First, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights are being violated. Today, the court was going to have the Broward County Sheriff’s Office provide their reasoning as to why they cannot free Melly until his second trial begins on September 10. But due to his rep being under investigation, the hearing was postponed unti January 7. “Mr. Demons has to make an informed decision about who he wants his lawyers,” the judge said.
It seems like Nicki Minaj will not have to worry that much about a lawsuit accusing her of assault, as it won’t yet become a criminal case. Moreover, according to TMZ, authorities denied a request for a warrant to arrest her for allegedly attacking her former and briefly-tenured tour manager (or tour assistant? The factual details remain unclear) named Brandon Garett. A Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson reportedly informed the outlet that they reviewed the request from the Detroit Police Department but denied it due to “insufficient evidence” of the alleged crime. However, the spokesperson also revealed that they requested the DPD to investigate the situation further, so Nicki’s not fully out of the woods yet.
For those unaware, Brandon Garett sued Nicki Minaj in civil court for alleged physical assault during the Detroit stop of her Pink Friday 2 tour back in April of last year. Garett claims that the impetus for the attacks were a mix-up regarding her personal prescriptions. He alleges that the Trinidadian femcee threatened his life, struck his face, and slapped his wrist. The supposed tour manager’s lawsuit – which seeks unspecified damages – alleges assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. However, her lawyer pushed back against these claims in a statement to TMZ.
Feb 5, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Recording artists Nicki Minaj performs with Madonna (not pictured) during the halftime show for Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“At this time, no complaint has been served upon [Nicki Minaj], and therefore, we are unaware of the specific allegations,” attorney Judd Burstein relayed. “However, if the lawsuit is as reported by TMZ, it is completely false and frivolous. We are confident that the matter brought by this ex assistant will be resolved swiftly in Mrs. Petty’s [Nicki’s married name] favor.” After a blockbuster yet partially turbulent 2024, this year is also starting off on the wrong foot.
However, from what these reports indicate, this remains a civil suit against Nicki Minaj based on unconfirmed allegations that lack the evidence for a criminal trial at press time. This could change in the future, but for now, she can at least see this as a win. We’ll see what other surprises this new year holds, and we hope they are much more positive.
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(@pommeofficial)
