Haus of Creators Foundation officially unveiled its ‘Haus of Creators AI Labs Pre-Incubator‘ Venture Studio with an exclusive kickoff event at Coexist Gaming during New York Fashion Week. HOT 97 got the chance to attend the event that brought together top creatives, AI fashion innovators, investors, founders, influencers, and media voices all focused on where culture and technology are headed next. The evening featured an intimate panel conversation with creators Venus Rose, T. Dionne, and Musa which was moderated by Kimberly Morgan. The panelist are actively integrating artificial intelligence into design, production, and brand strategy. Attendees also got a live demo from Raspberry AI, highlighting how AI-powered fashion tools are already being applied in real-world workflows. The room was filled with notable players across industries, including executives from investment banks, AI companies, global fashion, beauty and retail brands, educational institutions, law firms, and leaders spanning AI, fashion, and venture capital. “Our goal is to build the new infrastructure of the Creator Economy with AI as both a tool and a partner — empowering creatives to not just use technology, but to shape and own the companies defining the future,” said Venus Rose, Founder & CEO of Haus of Creators. Photo via: @VenusRose The kickoff officially launches a six-month, in-person workshop series aimed at equipping creatives with AI literacy, applied tools, ethical frameworks, and venture readiness. Select participants will advance into the Haus of Creators AI Labs Venture Studio. View this post on Instagram

Kanye West’s recent touring plans suggest a renewed effort to reestablish his global stage presence. After facing international booking challenges in recent years tied to past antisemitic remarks, the artist has returned to live performances abroad. He opened 2026 with back-to-back concerts in Mexico City. Now, he is scheduled for a one-night show in India this spring, marking an important step for West. According to an announcement circulated by the NFR Podcast, West will perform on March 29 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The venue can accommodate as many as 60,000 attendees, according to Forbes. Organizers have not yet disclosed ticket sales figures. If recent performances are any indication, the set list is expected to draw from his two-decade catalog—highlighting West’s longstanding influence. Speculation about guest appearances has accompanied many of West’s recent shows. During his Mexico dates, fans anticipated appearances by Travis Scott and Peso Pluma, though neither joined him onstage. Instead, his daughter North West appeared on opening night to perform her single, “PIERCING ON MY HAND.” The moment underscored West’s blending of family and performance in his current touring era. Notably, both North and Kanye West shared the stage together, captivating the audience. View this post on Instagram March Could Be Make-or-Break for BULLY Attention has also shifted to the status of his forthcoming album, BULLY, which has faced multiple delays. Spotify currently lists a March 20 release date. Charlamagne Tha God referenced the timeline during a segment on The Breakfast Club, saying, “I heard it’s coming out in March.” Whether the album arrives as scheduled remains uncertain for West fans. The India performance is part of a broader international calendar. West is set to appear on June 6 at the GelreDome stadium in Arnhem, Netherlands. Plans for an additional show in Italy have also been mentioned, though details have not been finalized. For now, March stands as a potentially significant month in what appears to be a renewed global push for West.

Megan Thee Stallion is fully in her “Lover Girl” era. The rapper recently spoke with PEOPLE about her relationship with NBA star Klay Thompson, revealing she didn’t even expect to be in a relationship. “Well, I don’t never want to tell [anybody] to just jump in a relationship just because everybody else got one, and I’m not going to tell you to just jump in a relationship because you have to,” Megan says. “I didn’t even know I was going to be in my relationship, to be honest.” Back in July 2025, Megan and Thompson made their red carpet debut at the rapper’s inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation gala. The relationship with Thompson apparently came right on time. For the past few years, the rapper has been open about her mental health struggles. After focusing on improving her mental and physical health, as well as self-love, she found herself ready to accept the love she deserved. “I think that because finally I started being in a better mind space about myself and my life, and I had already been doing a lot of work to heal me,” she recalls. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 16: Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson are seen on July 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images) “God just opened up that space for me to have somebody that loved me right,” Megan Thee Stallion Says The rapper continued, “I had been going to therapy, I had a bunch of activities that I started doing for myself; maybe God just opened up that space for me to have somebody that loved me right.” For the first time in her life, Megan says she feels “overly comfortable” in a relationship. In other news, Megan Thee Stallion is preparing to release her upcoming Act 3 project. The album will work as the third and last installment of her MEGAN series. While she didn’t give a specific date, fans can expect the project to be released later this year. The rapper also noted she’s been “hiding from everybody” to focus on the album. “I’m definitely in the studio,” she told PEOPLE. While it’s been some time since the rapper has released new music, she wants the hotties to know that her upcoming project is worth the wait. “The hotties just need to give me a little time. I’ll be in the gym and the studio — the gym and the studio.” The rapper’s last project, MEGAN: Act II, was released in October 2024. The album worked as an expanded release of her third studio album, MEGAN. Upon its release, the project debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200.

Former President Barack Obama is breaking his silence regarding a racist video posted by Donald Trump on Truth Social. The now-deleted video depicted Obama and the former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. During an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, the pair discussed how political discourse has gone downhill. Coehn brought up several examples of inflammatory comments by Trump and his cabinet, as well as the recently deleted video. “There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television,” Obama says. He added, “What is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office.” The video that Trump shared, which centers on voting machines, advances his claims that the 2020 election had been “stolen” from him. Trump Refuses to Apologize for Offensive Video Along with the Obamas, other high-profile Democrats featured in the video included Kamala Harris, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former President Joe Biden, among others. Not long after the post made its rounds on social media, Trump told reporters he would not apologize for sharing the video. “No, I didn’t make a mistake. I mean…I look at a lot of thousands of things, and I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine,” he said. Following his statement, it was revealed by a White House spokesperson that a “staffer erroneously made the post.” Prior to being deleted, several members of the Republican Party spoke out, like Senator Tim Scott, who shared an X post saying, “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.” A source tells CNN that Trump took issue with the criticism and threatened to come down on anyone who condemned the video. A senior Trump administration official offered a statement to CNN regarding the incident. “The president felt he could’ve handled that matter privately,” speaking about Scott. “He was like, ‘We work together all the time. He didn’t need to comment publicly.’”

Blueface could face major consequences for choking a wax figure, says Madame Tussauds Hollywood. Earlier this week, the rapper shared a now-viral video on social media of him visiting the famous wax museum. During his brief visit, he not only fondled a wax figure of Kylie Jenner, but he also choked a wax figure of actress Zendaya. “We have been made aware of the incident. Madame Tussauds attractions are interactive experiences, and guests are expected to treat the figures with respect,” a spokesperson for the museum told TMZ. They added, “This behavior is not tolerated. We are reviewing the incident and will take appropriate action to uphold our standards.” As of today, Blueface has yet to offer a statement regarding the incident. Blueface choked out Zendaya — well, the wax figure version of her — squeezing its neck at Madame Tussauds Hollywood on Thursday. https://t.co/P5v0V6V6TO pic.twitter.com/J2oftJ0pLF — TMZ (@TMZ) February 13, 2026 Blueface Owes 130k+ Over Default Judgment In Defamation Case In other news, Blueface has once again found himself on the wrong side of the legal system. The rapper now owes over $130,000 to a woman, whom he claimed he had fathered the child with. However, according to My News LA, court documents state that the child’s father is, in fact, Soulja Boy. The woman, Jackilyn Martinez, filed a “writ of execution.” Per the Legal Information Institute, it’s a “court order that directs law enforcement personnel to seize non-exempt property owned by the defendant and sell it at public auction.” According to the outlet, the initial default judgment has increased to $131,655 due to interest. The judge, Peter Hernandez, had already ordered that all “royalties collected by BMI and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers” will be given to Martinez on the rapper’s behalf to satisfy the money owed to her. The case comes after Blueface made several posts suggesting that her 2-year-old child with Soulja Boy was actually his.

Stefon Diggs’ former chef, who accused him of assault, is finally speaking out. The victim, Mila Adams, recently released a statement via TMZ following Diggs’ entering a not guilty plea during his arraignment on Friday (Feb.13). “I did not seek public attention and reported this matter through the proper legal channels,” the statement read. “This is an active criminal matter, and I will continue to respect the legal process. I will not engage in rumors, personal attacks, or respond to misinformation on social media, and I will ask others to refrain from spreading false narratives.” The statement continues, “My focus is on healing, my work, and moving forward with integrity. I trust the legal process to address the facts, and I hope anyone following this matter will do the same. Dedham, MA – February 13: New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs attends his arraignment hearing at Dedham District Court on February 13, 2026. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Diggs Facing Felony Strangulation And Misdemeanor Assault Charges Diggs is facing a felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charge for an alleged violent incident that happened in December 2025 involving him and his former chef. The alleged victim said the physical altercation happened after a heated dispute over pay. However, Diggs has denied all wrongdoing. “We’re confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated,” Mitchell Schuster, a member of Diggs’ legal team, told reporters outside the courthouse. Diggs has a pre-trial scheduled on April 1 and must refrain from having any contact with the alleged victim. In other news, Diggs’ legal woes have continued to worsen. Just days before Super Bowl LIX, Stefon Diggs was hit with a jaw-dropping lawsuit. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Diggs is facing new allegations of defamation, assault, and more.

Chuck D had a few choice words for KISS lead singer Gene Simmons. The Public Enemy rapper clapped back at the rock legend for his comments surrounding rap music being included in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. During an interview with the LegendsNLeaders podcast, Simmons claimed, “Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras … it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” However, Chuck D doesn’t see it that way. The rapper tells TMZ that Simmons is too focused on the “Rock” part and not the “Roll.” “Everything else, other than rock—when rock and roll splintered in the ’60s — is the Roll,” he said. “So [that includes] soul music, reggae, and hip-hop…” “KISS are rock gods, but they don’t have a lot of ‘Roll’ With Them,” Chuck D says. “KISS are rock gods, but they don’t have a lot of ‘Roll’ With Them,” Chuck D says. The rapper noted that while disappointing, facing exclusion is nothing new to him as a Black man. “I’m Black, born in 1960,” he says. “Being told I don’t belong doesn’t faze me.” For Chuck D, his pleasure comes from the fact that he’s able to make money doing something he loves: making music. “I really relish the opportunity that I’m even able to be in the music business at all, and thank god for hip-hop and rap music making it possible.” Public Enemy, one of hip-hop’s most influential collectives, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2013. “Music with a message. Whether we’re talking hip hop or politics, Public Enemy was revolutionary. Their blend of politics, philosophy, and rap changed the game for the better,” the HOF website reads.

In a series of X posts on Friday (Feb.13), Wiz Khalifa revealed that his father, Laurence W. Thomaz, sadly passed away at 63 years old.” Today, my father decided not to wake up. I will always love him, miss him, and be grateful for the things he taught me,” he wrote. In another post, Wiz recalled one of the last conversations he shared with his dad. “The last conversation i had with my dad was him telling me how proud of me he was for the movie i was in and I promised him i would do more. LT Forever .” The rapper admitted that while his father’s death was sudden, he’s happy to see how loved and respected he was. He added, “I know he’s proud that he left a positive impact on this earth. Literally all he ever wanted.” Since sharing the news, the rapper has seen an outpour of support from his fans. “Thank you all for your kind words. It really means a lot in this tough time and is helping me feel better,” says Wiz khalifa to his fans “Rest in peace to your father It’s beautiful to hear he went at peace, on his own time. Sending love to you and your family, Wiz — his lessons and love clearly live on through you,” one fan commented under Wiz’s post. Another X user shared a photo of young Wiz Khalifa with his father, writing, “So sorry for your loss, Wiz His love and lessons will always stay with you .” One person told the rapper—whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz—that he’s brought “immeasurable joy” to his father’s spirit. “You da man Cam. Your father watched you grow and evolve numerous times. Im sure that brought immeasurable joy to his heart. Condolences. Keep winning for him and your family,” they wrote. “A father’s pride is the strongest fuel for a son’s ambition,” another fan commented. “You aren’t just acting for the screen anymore; you’re acting for the man watching from the front row in heaven. LT Forever. Legacy #FatherAndSon #LTForever”

Family members of the singer D4vd are contesting a grand jury summons that would require them to testify in California as part of the investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to court documents first reported by TMZ, the artist’s mother, Colleen Burke; father, Dawud; and brother, Caleb—all Texas residents—have challenged a Texas court order enforcing the subpoena. Their attorneys argue that key portions of the affidavits supporting the order were redacted. Without that information, they say, the family was left unclear about why they were classified as material witnesses. The relatives also contend that they were not given a fair opportunity to dispute the trial court’s decision before it was issued. TMZ reported that an appeals court has directed the presiding judge to respond within 10 days. The ruling could determine whether the family must comply with the request to appear before the grand jury. Interstate legal disputes of this kind often turn on procedural details rather than the underlying investigation itself. The subpoena is tied to a broader inquiry led by the Los Angeles Police Department. Earlier this month, Neo Langston, a former Twitch streamer identified as a friend of D4vd, appeared before the grand jury. Robert Morgenroth, who oversees the singer’s touring company and record label operations, has also provided testimony. Authorities have not publicly outlined the scope of the questioning. Grand jury testimony deepens LAPD probe Investigators began examining the case after Hernandez’s remains were discovered inside an impounded Tesla registered under D4vd’s legal name. The vehicle had reportedly been stored at a tow facility for several weeks before the discovery. The timeline coincided with the conclusion of the North American leg of the artist’s Withered World Tour. Scot M. Williams, commanding officer of the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division, told People in September that the car had been stationary for an extended period, suggesting Hernandez’s death may have occurred earlier. In December, TMZ cited unnamed sources who said investigators believe D4vd could face murder charges. Law enforcement officials have not publicly confirmed those reports. The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been formally announced.

Kanye West’s career has been shaped as much by shifting relationships as by music. His collaborations have produced landmark albums, but his public breaks with figures like Jay-Z and Pusha T have also become part of his story. Now, a recently surfaced extended interview offers another glimpse into how he sees the current rap landscape. The footage, from a conversation with Justin Laboy on The Download, first aired last year but has reemerged online in a longer cut. During the interview, Laboy posed a familiar question with a twist. “I’m going to remove you and make it easier,” he said, asking West to name three artists to join him on a hip-hop Mount Rushmore. West did not limit himself to three. Instead, he named Future, Drake, Young Thug, and Playboi Carti. “That’s my answer,” he said. He then added, “Oh, new GOAT, Carti. Carti. Yeah, next generation. You know, if you put it by generation. I exist in every generation.” The comment was delivered casually, but it underscored how West views influence—not as something fixed in the past, but as something that moves with each wave of artists. Ye revealed his Rap Mount Rushmore in the extended version of his 2025 interview with Justin Laboy: FutureDrakeYoung Thug Kendrick Lamar He also crowned Carti as goat of the new gen pic.twitter.com/h0E7oBFwqV — THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) February 13, 2026 A Snapshot of Rivalries and Reverence The selections stand out partly because they reflect the present moment rather than hip-hop’s traditional canon. West’s public stance toward some of the artists he named has shifted over time. His relationship with Drake has moved between rivalry and praise, and he has previously accused Future and Metro Boomin of distancing themselves over the “Like That” remix. Still, admiration and competition often coexist in rap’s upper ranks. His mention of Playboi Carti is notable given occasional friction between them, though much of that appears to have unfolded after the interview was recorded. Young Thug, by contrast, has drawn relatively steady support from West in recent years. The list also prompted quiet discussion about who was not included—particularly veterans often cited in similar debates.