On February 6, 2026, J. Cole released what was supposed to be his final album. At the last minute, he turned The Fall-Off into a double album when he heard Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Like That”. He had previously teased that the album would be his last, though upon releasing the album, he walked back this decision. Additionally, he embarked on a massive tour that further solidified that he wasn’t going anywhere. Initially, he indicated that The Fall-Off would be his last, but quickly hinted that he changed his mind shortly after the album’s release. With all of this still up in the air for months, J. Cole has officially announced that he’s cancelling his retirement plans.

On the NFR Podcast, J. Cole stated, “When I was making that album, I was making it like, ‘Damn, this is going to be my last sh*t.’ Luckily, by the time I got to actually finishing the album, because of circumstances, I’m like, ‘Nah, I’ll never say I’m going to retire.”

J. Cole is a frequent guest on the podcast, which is why it was the perfect space to announce his retirement cancellation.

J. Cole Will Continue His Reign

Since his 2011 debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, J. Cole has consistently released successful albums. Each of his seven studio albums has not only peaked at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, but also reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. With this, J. Cole is among the most successful rappers in charting history. If J. Cole were to retire after The Fall-Off, he would’ve gone out on top with nothing less than No. 1 albums. With no intention of retiring, J. Cole’s next albums have a lot to live up to. This won’t be hard, though, as the rapper has comfortably dominated since 2011.

His most recent album, The Fall-Off, is a concept album about visiting his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. In the first half of the album, J. Cole is visiting at the age of 29. He’s 39, ten years older, during the second half of the album. In addition to his rap career, J. Cole has played basketball in three separate leagues. He currently plays for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association.

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Since 2020, we’ve seen Chrisean Rock transform multiple times. The reality star turned rapper continues to prove she has range and seemingly no physical limits. First, she appeared on the rapper Blueface’s OnlyFans reality show, called Blue Girls Club. On this show, she competed against other contestants and even got physical with Jaidyn Alexis, the mother of Blueface’s children, losing a front tooth during an altercation on the show. Ultimately, she won the show and signed with Blueface’s label.

Next, in 2022, she appeared on Baddies, a reality show on the Zeus Network, and later starred in Blueface & Chrisean: Crazy in Love, with her former OnlyFans host and on-and-off boyfriend. Around this time, Blueface accused Rock of stealing his car. She was later arrested in Oklahoma on drug charges.

A few months later, Blueface’s mother and sister accused Rock of physically assaulting them. In August 2022, she and Blueface got into a physical altercation on a sidewalk in Hollywood. And shortly after that, Blueface got into a fight with Rock’s father, in which she later defended Blueface. Chrisean Rock announced she was pregnant in January 2023. She gave birth to her son, Chrisean Jesus Porter (originally named Chrisean Jesus Malone Jr.), in September 2023. Years later, Blueface and Chrisean Rock were briefly engaged in October 2026. They quickly called off the engagement just ten days later, on October 21, 2026.

Stepping Into The Ring in 2026

Aside from becoming a reality TV star, Rock released a string of singles throughout the early 2020s. Among these, she earned a minor hit with “Mr. Take Ya Bitch” with Lil Mabu in 2023. The diss track was aimed at her former boyfriend, Blueface, and the rapper’s manager, Wack 100. It peaked at No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

On April 25, 2026, Chrisean “Holy Hands” Rock made her crossover boxing debut at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino. She impressively won her first bout against Zenith Zion for XRumble Fighting Championships. In September 2026, she defeated Ku’Shiyah Williams by second-round TKO in her professional boxing debut. She is scheduled to co-host the Influencer Fight Night at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino on November 20 and has already teased another fight. However, despite her suggestion that she might fight on November 20, the event’s official listing names her as a host, and no opponent has been announced.

During a recent livestream, Chrisean Rock showed viewers what she described as her boxing earnings. The rapper and reality show star displayed a figure of more than $849,000, though the amount hasn’t been independently verified. Although she’s hinted at fighting again on November 20, her participation in a bout has not been confirmed. It seems that after years of public confrontations involving Blueface and his family, she’s shifted her focus to in-ring bouts instead.

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Over the weekend, Jay-Z wrapped up a global anniversary run with two shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on October 23 and October 24, 2026. The rapper celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, and the 25th anniversary of his 2001 No. 1 album, The Blueprint. Dubbed the Jay-30 30 Tour, the tour launched in July at Yankee Stadium in New York with three shows. In September, the tour stopped in London and then France shortly after.

Despite what has been said, Jay-Z sold out his final two nights at SoFi Stadium. There’s been a lot of hearsay and false narratives surrounding Jay-Z in recent years. The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has continued to expand, placing certain artists in key categories on each side of the beef. Jay-Z, who belongs on the side of Roc Nation, has been in a small feud of his own with Drake. In May, Drake took shots at Jay-Z on his new album, Iceman. Jay-Z responded with a freestyle diss at the 2026 Roots Picnic shortly after.

Also, Jay-Z selecting himself as the next halftime performer for the Super Bowl in 2027 hasn’t helped cool these rumors. In fact, it may be why false reports circulated about poor attendance at these two SoFi Stadium performances.

On night one of the sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium, Jay-Z had multiple special guests. These included John Legend, Blue Ivy, and DJ Khaled. On the second evening, Jay-Z closed out the tour with a special West Coast hip-hop showcase. This featured special guests Too $hort, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre. The sold-out shows were attended by his wife, Beyoncé, who reunited with her Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Additionally, Lizzo, Vanessa Bryant, Jessica Alba, and Wizkid were all spotted at the concert.

On Night Two, Jay-Z Addressed Online Rumors And SPOKE Out AGAINST AI

In the midst of his brewing feud, many took to social media to falsely report that Jay-Z’s finale show was empty. People cited low-priced tickets as the reason these rumors began. Jay-Z addressed these rumors on stage during the second evening. To the sold-out crowd, he stated, “I’ve got a real quick important message for y’all tonight. “Y’all got to be very aware of what’s going on in the world, right? People will tell you that nobody was in here tonight, but you got eyes; you can see. People will tell you that the music wasn’t great, but you got ears.”

Jay-Z then took this opportunity to speak on the rise of AI in recent years. He said, “Question everything in this world of AI.” He spoke on how artificial intelligence mimics artists and fans as well, adding, “We have real intelligence, not artificial intelligence. We feel, right? This concert tonight, we felt.”

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In February 2023, South African rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes was shot and killed outside of a restaurant in Durban, a city in South Africa. Unrelated to his own death in 2023, Forbes was investigated in connection with the death of his fiancée, Anele “Nellie” Tembe, two years earlier.

On April 11, 2021, Tembe fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town. Initially, Forbes investigated this death, which was primarily treated as a suicide or unnatural death. In June 2022, the National Prosecuting Authority declined to prosecute anyone in the case. They returned the case docket to the investigating police for further review. Following this, Tembe’s family has vehemently disputed this suicide ruling. The family has alleged that Forbes pushed Tembe from the balcony, cleaning up blood and evidence in the room afterward. Forbes had publicly denied his involvement in Tembe’s death.

Tembe’s family has successfully pressured the court to open a formal judicial inquest into her death. Hearings have taken place in recent months, with the most recent being held on October 20, 2026.

Cape Town DOCTORS’ Testimony May INDICATE Foul Play

In the hearing on October 20, the doctor who examined rapper AKA right after Tembe’s death revealed information about the rapper’s injuries. The doctor claims to have found fresh scratches and bruises on the rapper. In the hearing reported through Times Live, the doctor stated, “The physical examination was done on the patient after exposing his full body. He had many fresh scratch marks. It was quite a tense examination. He wasn’t answering all my questions as I was putting them to him. We convinced him to undress so we could go through the full-body examination. I could understand that at that particular time, he was a bit stressed and agitated. So, we couldn’t get a proper history of how he got his bruises.”

Just one day before the hearing, Forbes’ father questioned this report, as well as the location of the marks on his son’s body. He questioned why no one is focused on the gaps in the medical report and this doctor’s claims. Forbes’ father attended the hearing on Monday. Times Live reports that he claimed, “There are things happening at this inquest where I feel the right facts are not being put on the table, and what’s being put on the table is not being questioned in terms of how accurate it is.”

The next date of this formal inquest has been postponed until November 17, 2026. These proceedings were adjourned to allow further forensic testimony from forensic, medical, and toxicology experts.

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On January 30, 2023, Tampa rapper Ace NH shot and killed his 22-year-old girlfriend, Alana Sims. The 22-year-old was pregnant at the time with a child that was originally believed to be the rapper’s. DNA evidence later indicated that the child wasn’t his. Sims also had an 18-month-old toddler in a nearby car seat during the shooting. The toddler was unharmed in the incident. Ace NH, whose real name is Billy Adams III, had recently been acquitted of an unrelated double-murder case just before the murder. He was arrested on February 8, 2023, for first-degree murder and killing the unborn child.

Prosecutors believe Adams lured Sims to the location because he wanted to continue a relationship with another woman. Initially, he believed the unborn child was his. In September 2026, Adams was found guilty of killing Sims and her unborn child. Following this conviction, an 8 to 4 vote from the jury recommended the death penalty.

Adams Asks The Judge For The Death Penalty

Sometime in October 2026, Adams penned a letter to Judge Mark Wolfe, requesting the death penalty, going against what his defense team has advised. In the letter, as reported by Fox 13 out of Tampa, the rapper stated, “I don’t want my lawyers to present any mitigation or arguments at this hearing, and I am asking this court to sentence me to what the jury voted for.” He also added, “I don’t have a problem with the death penalty.”

He says it’s his own decision despite what his defense has advised. His decision isn’t uncommon in cases like this. The defense urged the jury to consider life without parole for the murder of the unborn child. They did, however, call for life without parole on the count of murder for Sims. For the count of murder of the unborn child, the jury is considering the death penalty.

Billy Adams III, known by his stage name Ace NH, will be sentenced on December 1, 2026. Before his 2023 arrest, Ace NH released four studio albums in a span of three years. His final album, Underground Icon, was released on February 1, 2026, just two days after the murders and only seven days before his arrest.

Photo credit: @acenh7111 via YouTube

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Southern rapper Pooh Shiesty continues to battle legal troubles before his career can take off. On August 7, 2026, Shiesty released his debut studio album, All Eyes On Shiest, after years of releasing compilations, mixtapes, and singles. Following an arrest in April 2026, the rapper released his debut album while still incarcerated.

Shiesty’s legal troubles date back to October 2020, when he was arrested in connection with a shooting in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. In June 2021, he was arrested once again in connection with a different shooting in Miami. Later that month, Shiesty, whose real name is Lontrell Donell Williams Jr., was indicted on charges for the Bay Harbor Islands shooting. He pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy in January 2022. Williams was sentenced to five years and three months in prison. On October 6, 2025, Williams was released after serving only three of the five years.

On April 1, 2026, FBI agents in Memphis raided a home owned by Williams with search and arrest warrants. Agents arrested Pooh Shiesty, along with eight others in Memphis, Dallas, Nashville, and Atlanta. Among those arrested were Williams’ father and rapper Big30.

Allegedly, Williams and eight others robbed and kidnapped rapper Radic “Gucci Mane” Davis at a recording studio on January 10, 2026. Reportedly, they used intimidation tactics and an AK-style pistol to force Davis to sign a release from a recording contract. Others involved in the incident robbed two other victims, stealing their Rolex watches and jewelry. While Williams and the co-conspirators remain behind bars, their trial has been pushed back to February 22, 2027.

Shiesty Reports That He Is In Solitary Confinement

On October 15, 2026, Williams filed an emergency motion. He claims he’s been in 23-hour solitary confinement while incarcerated at the Rolling Plains Regional Detention Center in Haskell, Texas. The jail claims it’s for his own protection without providing any specific reason for this. Williams attorney has stated, ” Mr. Williams reports that the isolation is adversely affecting his mental health.” Additionally, his in-person family visitations have been restricted to only two hours per month, half of the four-hour minimum mandated by the Bureau of Prisons standards.

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Two notable Atlanta rappers were arrested in September in connection with a shooting that occurred on April 25, 2026. Atlanta PD released a statement on September 15, 2026, detailing the arrests. It states that Zahair Myles, known by his stage name Warhol.SS, “self-surrendered and was booked into the Fulton County Jail. Mr. Myles is charged with Felony Murder, Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony, Armed Robbery, and Aggravated Assault.”

Two weeks prior, on September 1, police arrested Jacquawn Andrews, known by the stage name Nino Paid, while attempting to re-enter the United States after performing in Toronto. The statement reads, “On September 1, 2026, Mr. Jacquawn Andrews was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol while attempting to re-enter the United States from Canada. Mr. Andrews is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail in Michigan, pending extradition to Georgia. Mr. Andrews is being charged with Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, and Aggravated Assault.”

Police arrested the two in connection with a previous incident in April 2026. The statement detailed this incident. “Preliminary information: On April 25, 2026, at approximately 4:29 a.m., Atlanta Police officers responded to a report of a person shot at 633 Boulevard NE. Upon arrival, officers located a 29-year-old male victim who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, investigators with the Homicide Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Investigators were later notified that the victim succumbed to his injuries while at the hospital.”

Background On The Rappers Arrested

Jacquawn Andrews, known as Nino Paid, has released three albums since he released his first single in August 2023. The Maryland rapper released his debut album, Can’t Go Bacc, on April 4, 2024. He followed up with a sophomore release, Love Me As I Am, released on February 4, 2025. On August 4, 2026, Andrews released his third studio album, Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Following this, he embarked on a tour, starting in Minneapolis on August 26, and was expected to wrap up in Phoenix on September 19. Instead, Nino Paid was arrested while re-entering the country on September 1.

Zahair Myles, known as Warhol.SS, is a rapper born in Chicago before moving to Minneapolis at 10 years old. At 16, Myles relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he launched his rap career. He’s released multiple EP’s and full-length albums since his debut in 2017. He’s collaborated with artists such as Ski Mask The Slump Dog, who was arrested on September 21 for a DUI. Myles fifth album, STUDIO 54, was released on January 30, 2026.

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