NEWS
According to a report from TMZ, Usher and Chris Brown engaged in a heated verbal argument backstage during their Atlanta concert Thursday night, delaying the show by nearly three hours. According to sources close to the situation, the disagreement stemmed from conflicting views over when to begin the performance as heavy traffic around the venue left many fans arriving late. Usher reportedly wanted the show to proceed as scheduled, while Brown preferred to wait until more concertgoers had arrived. The disagreement reportedly intensified as tensions between the two R&B stars, who have been described as highly competitive throughout their tour, reached a breaking point. Sources attributed the confrontation to mounting egos, adding that while the ongoing R&B Tour is not believed to be in jeopardy, the singers have yet to resolve their differences. The delay sparked widespread frustration among fans, who had already expressed anger over the late start of Thursday's Atlanta performance. The reported backstage clash adds another chapter to the complicated history between the two performers. In 2023, Usher and Brown were involved in a confrontation at Brown's birthday party in Las Vegas, where Usher reportedly intervened after Brown allegedly yelled at singer Teyana Taylor. Despite the latest disagreement, Usher and Brown are scheduled to return to the Atlanta stage Friday night, leaving questions about whether their unresolved tensions could affect the remainder of the tour.
Yung Miami is opening up about the pressure of following up her first major solo hit with a successful debut album. The rapper scored her first Top 20 appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 this summer with “Spend Dat,” using the single’s momentum to launch her debut solo project, Watch Dis, on October 23. The album debuted at No. 138 on the Billboard 200. During a recent interview with Billboard News, Miami admitted that the success of “Spend Dat” brought unexpected anxiety as she worked to deliver an album that would meet fans’ expectations. The 32-year-old rapper explained that the single forced her to rethink the direction of the project and return to the studio to make sure the album was as strong as possible. She subsequently recorded tracks including “2008,” “F You” and a collaboration with Bryson Tiller. Watch Dis features an impressive lineup of guest appearances, including G Herbo, Travis Scott, Quavo, Rick Ross, Summer Walker and Tiller. Miami highlighted her collaborations with Walker and Tiller as personal favorites, praising Walker’s music and describing her as her favorite female R&B artist. She also expressed admiration for Tiller’s voice, musical style and ability to connect with women through his lyrics. Meanwhile, Miami was also asked about the possibility of reuniting with former City Girls partner JT. The rapper offered a brief but intriguing response, saying “Inshallah,” an expression meaning “God willing.” Although she didn't provide any details about a potential reunion, her answer leaves the door open for another chapter with the Miami rap duo.
Rapper 2 Chainz has issued an apology following public backlash over his comments about celebrity entitlement and restaurant service standards during a heated exchange with food critic Keith Lee on Kirk Franklin’s “Den of Kings” podcast. The discussion centered on Lee’s negative review of Esco Restaurant and Tapas, a business owned by the rapper, whose real name is Tauheed Epps. During the conversation, 2 Chainz argued that celebrities should receive special treatment, including skipping lines and receiving priority service, as a reward for their success and hard work in the entertainment industry. Lee pushed back against the rapper’s position, explaining that he deliberately has family members visit restaurants ahead of him to ensure his reviews reflect the experience of an average customer. He maintained that restaurants should provide consistent service and quality regardless of a guest’s celebrity status. The exchange quickly sparked debate across social media, with many users criticizing 2 Chainz for his remarks. The rapper also questioned whether Lee’s background as a former professional MMA fighter qualified him to evaluate gourmet food. Following the controversy, 2 Chainz took to social media Tuesday to address the criticism and apologize for how he expressed his views. He also revealed that he had spoken directly with Lee after the podcast and that there were no hard feelings between them. “I know my words offended some people and I apologize for that. What I said and what I meant were two different things. I could’ve done a better job getting my point across,” he stated. His apology appears to signal a desire to put the disagreement behind him as the debate over celebrity treatment, restaurant standards and the growing influence of social media food critics continues.
Mary J. Blige has entered into a partnership with music publishing and rights management company Primary Wave, covering the nine-time Grammy Award winner’s catalog of musical compositions and recordings. Announced October 26, the agreement will give Blige and her team access to Primary Wave’s marketing and publishing resources, with potential collaborations involving branding, digital marketing, music promotion, and synchronization opportunities. Financial terms were not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether the deal includes an ownership stake in her catalog. Songs covered by the agreement reportedly include classics such as “Family Affair,” “My Life,” “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” “Be Happy,” “Be Without You,” and “I Can Love You.” Primary Wave Partner and Chief Content Officer Natalia Nastaskin praised the partnership, describing herself as a longtime Blige fan and calling it an honor to work with the singer on her extraordinary catalog and lasting legacy. With more than 50 million records sold worldwide, Blige’s celebrated career spans 15 studio albums, two live albums, and 83 singles. Her accomplishments include 37 Grammy nominations, two Grammy wins for “Be Without You,” and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Her landmark 1994 album My Life was also selected for the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2025. Beyond music, Blige earned two Academy Award nominations for her work in the 2017 film Mudbound, including Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song for “Mighty River.” Her commercial success includes the 2001 hit “Family Affair,” which spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, the R&B icon continues to celebrate her legacy with her first Las Vegas residency, My Life, My Story, at Dolby Live inside Park MGM. The 20-date engagement, which opened May 1, 2026, is scheduled to conclude February 20, 2027.
A Delaware judge has ordered R&B singer Faith Evans to pay more than $12.5 million to the trust of her late mother-in-law, Voletta Wallace, following a lengthy legal dispute over the estate and earnings of The Notorious B.I.G. Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick ruled Tuesday that Evans must turn over $12,518,336 in withheld proceeds from Notorious B.I.G. LLC, the company Evans and Wallace established in 2007 to manage the late rapper’s business interests. The lawsuit was brought by former Biggie manager Wayne Barrow, who accused Evans of failing to recognize the trust's membership in the company and withholding distributions following Wallace’s death in 2025 at age 72. Evans had attempted to limit the payment to just $48,612, arguing that the trust was not formally recognized as a member of the LLC for several months after Wallace’s passing. However, McCormick rejected the argument, ruling that the trust was entitled to all distributions dating back to the date of Wallace’s death. The judge also ordered prejudgment interest, compounded quarterly, to be added to the $12.5 million judgment to account for the delayed payments. The dispute has unfolded alongside other family tensions, including a legal challenge from Evans and Biggie’s son, Christopher Jordan Wallace, who recently contested his grandmother’s will, alleging that it was altered just 15 days before her death to remove him as a beneficiary. Despite the ongoing family disagreements, the court maintained that the LLC agreement required the outstanding proceeds to be distributed to Wallace’s legal successor. The multimillion-dollar judgment represents a substantial amount of revenue generated by Biggie’s music catalog and related business ventures. Attorneys representing Evans have not yet indicated whether they intend to appeal the decision. The ruling marks another significant development in the ongoing management of the legacy and business interests of the Brooklyn-born hip-hop icon, who was murdered in 1997.