R&B singer Sammie, best known for his 1999 hit “I Like It,” is facing serious legal trouble after being arrested earlier this month in Henry County, Georgia. According to The Shade Room and Rolling Out, the 38-year-old artist, whose real name is Sammie Lee Bush Jr., was taken into custody on Oct. 19 on charges of first-degree battery as family violence and third-degree cruelty to children. Authorities allege Bush assaulted his girlfriend, Teanna Reid, in front of their child. He was released shortly after posting a $1,050 bond. Despite the arrest, Bush performed as scheduled during Atlanta’s ONE Musicfest at Piedmont Park, held Oct. 19–20, though the exact timeline between his release and his performance remains unclear. The singer, who first rose to fame as a teenage performer, is currently part of the R&B supergroup RSVP alongside Ray J, Bobby Valentino, and Pleasure P. In recent years, Bush has maintained a steady presence in the music scene, appearing in the 2022 Verzuz event featuring Omarion and Mario and joining The Millennium Tour 2025 earlier this year. Bush addressed the allegations publicly for the first time on Sunday (Oct. 26), posting a message on Instagram that appeared to push back against the accusations while expressing faith and gratitude. “I’m gonna let God have his say, and the courts have their say, and the truth shall set you free,” he wrote. “Love. I appreciate y’all. Thank y’all for the concerns.” As of now, Bush has not issued further comment, and court proceedings in the case are pending.

The late R&B icon D’Angelo saw a massive spike in his streaming numbers following his death, with his catalog earning 16.1 million U.S. on-demand streams for the week of Oct. 10–16, according to Luminate—a 796% increase from the previous week. His signature hit “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” led with 2.5 million streams, followed by “Lady” (2.2 million) and “Brown Sugar” (1.9 million). All three were his highest-charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 during his career. Thanks to the surge, all three songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart for the first time, with “Untitled” entering at No. 7, “Lady” at No. 8, and “Brown Sugar” at No. 10. These join his Black Messiah tracks “Really Love” and “Sugah Daddy,” bringing his total to five charting songs. D’Angelo also sold 9,000 digital downloads during the tracking week, led by “Untitled,” which topped the R&B Digital Song Sales chart with 2,000 copies sold. Though his catalog comprises only three albums across three decades, D’Angelo (born Michael Archer) remains a cornerstone of the 1990s neo-soul movement, alongside Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell. His acclaimed albums Brown Sugar and Voodoo helped define the genre, earning multiple Grammys and reshaping R&B with live instrumentation and emotional depth. In the wake of his death, tributes poured in from across the music world—Beyoncé praised him as a “pioneer of neo-soul,” while Jill Scott called him a “genius” whose influence will endure forever.

Chris Brown and his former collaborator Kevin McCall have once again reignited their long-running feud, but this time, McCall says he’s ready to make amends, if Brown stops trying to “lil homie” him. TMZ Hip Hop caught up with McCall outside Locafella Loc Studio in L.A., where he playfully trolled Brown with a song about being “done dirty by a vulture.” McCall claims Brown still owes him $25,000 for fulfilling a four-song label deal back in 2010, which included their hit “Deuces.” He insists he’s only waiting on Chris to sign paperwork to finalize payment. The renewed friction follows a viral Back On Figg interview where McCall broke down while discussing his financial struggles, revealing he relies on an EBT card and asking, “Can I get $25K for those four songs I owe you?” Brown fired back on Instagram, posting a cryptic message: “Remember this: you can’t walk across a burnt bridge. And what’s funnier than a troll? A BROKE one.” The jab reignited talk of lingering royalty disputes between the two artists, tensions that have simmered since their creative partnership unraveled nearly a decade ago.  Adding a twist to the saga, Young Thug briefly offered to pay McCall the $25,000 himself, urging peace between the former collaborators. However, Thug later withdrew the offer, tweeting, “Sorry, Mac… I didn’t know all of this was happening.” While McCall says he’s never met Young Thug, he expressed willingness to work in the studio for the money instead. Meanwhile, Brown appears unfazed by the controversy, wrapping up his Breezy Bowl XX Tour after electrifying performances across North America, proof that even amid drama, the R&B star’s momentum shows no signs of slowing.

R&B veteran Brian McKnight is already claiming victory in his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Julie McKnight, despite the case not being officially settled. After Julie failed to appear in court, Brian filed a motion for default judgment and took to social media to celebrate. In a video shared online, the singer puffed on a cigar and declared, “The verdict is in,” claiming he’d won $8.8 million in damages — even though the court has yet to confirm the ruling. The lawsuit stems from allegations in Julie’s book Mama Bear: Beautifully Blended, in which she described Brian as an abusive husband and neglectful father. In his celebratory clip, Brian danced and clicked his heels while a voicemail (allegedly from Julie), played in the background, instructing him not to contact their late son, Niko, who passed away from cancer at 32. The court had given the parties 21 days from October 6 to respond, leaving the final outcome still pending. However, Brian’s son, Brian McKnight Jr., condemned his father’s public celebration, especially since it coincided with his late brother’s birthday. Taking to Instagram, McKnight Jr. criticized his father’s behavior, calling him “a very hurt and emotionally unavailable person” who “still hasn’t handled the death of his own mother.” He added that choosing to post such content on his brother’s birthday showed a deep lack of maturity and empathy, reigniting family tensions that have long simmered in public view.

Yung Miami is calling out South African singer Tyla for allegedly copying one of her unreleased songs. The City Girls rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) after Tyla previewed her new single “Chanel,” claiming the track sounded strikingly similar to a song she once played for Tyla. “This girl really ran off with my song, and I don’t know how to feel about it,” Yung Miami tweeted. Miami later confirmed the song in question was her unreleased track “Take Me to Chanel,” alleging Tyla took inspiration directly from her after hearing it privately. Following the posts, fans began sharing side-by-side clips comparing the two songs, with some supporting Miami’s accusations while others defended Tyla’s originality. The debate quickly spread across social media, with both artists trending online. As of now, Tyla has not issued a public response to the claims. The controversy marks the latest in a string of social media dustups for Yung Miami, who previously clashed with her City Girls partner JT over alleged sneak disses in solo music. Whether this latest drama escalates into legal action or simply fades into the social media cycle remains to be seen.

Grammy-winning R&B icon D’Angelo, known for his raspy yet soulful vocals and the unforgettable “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video, has died at 51. His family confirmed Tuesday that the singer, born Michael Eugene Archer, passed away after a battle with cancer. In a statement, they described him as “a shining star of our family” whose light “has dimmed for us in this life.” A trailblazer of the 1990s neo-soul movement, the Virginia native rose to fame with his 1995 debut Brown Sugar, which earned platinum status and multiple Grammy nominations. His 2000 follow-up, Voodoo, topped the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, with “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” earning Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The song’s minimalist, intimate video became a cultural touchstone, sparking conversations about artistry, sensuality, and Black male vulnerability. Beyond his solo success, D’Angelo’s influence extended through collaborations with Lauryn Hill on “Nothing Even Matters” and contributions to The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife. He also co-wrote “U Will Know” for the film Jason’s Lyric as part of Black Men United. D’Angelo shared a son, artist Swayvo Twain, with late R&B singer Angie Stone, his former partner and creative collaborator, who called him her “musical soul mate.” He is also survived by his daughter, Imani Archer.