Metro Boomin Cleared in Lawsuit as Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake Dominate Hip-Hop Headlines

 

September 26, 2025 — Los Angeles, CA

The hip-hop world is buzzing this week with major stories spanning courtrooms, stadiums, recording booths, and even casino boardrooms. From Metro Boomin’s legal victory to Cardi B’s pregnancy reveal, Kendrick Lamar’s global tour, and Drake’s upcoming album, the culture is alive with movement on every front.

Metro Boomin Found Not Liable in Sexual Assault Lawsuit

After nearly a year of legal proceedings, producer Metro Boomin has been cleared of all allegations in a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit. A Los Angeles jury on September 25, 2025, found him not liable on all four counts of assault and battery filed by Vanessa LeMaistre, who alleged the producer drugged and assaulted her in 2016.

Metro, leaving the courthouse smiling and waving to fans, called the verdict a blessing:

> “I’m glad the truth prevailed. These were fabricated claims. I thank my family, my legal team, and Young Thug, who stood by me throughout.”

The plaintiff’s attorney has vowed to seek a new trial, citing what he claims were procedural errors in evidence handling.

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Cardi B Confirms Pregnancy With NFL Star Stefon Diggs

Meanwhile, Cardi B is back in the spotlight for both personal and professional reasons. The Bronx rapper confirmed on September 17 that she is expecting a child with Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. This will be Cardi’s fourth child but her first with Diggs, following her highly publicized split from Offset.

The announcement stirred old rumors, as DJ Akademiks had previously suggested in 2024 that Cardi and Diggs had contact while she was still married. Cardi brushed off the chatter, shifting focus to her album Am I The Drama?, released earlier this month.

She’s also taken an unusual turn into public service, recording safety PSAs for the New York City subway system while promoting her ongoing tour.

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Kendrick Lamar Expands Empire, Keeps Touring

Fresh from a blockbuster 2024, Kendrick Lamar continues to expand beyond music. Alongside longtime collaborator Dave Free, Lamar recently launched Project 3, a creative agency under pgLang that will consult on brand strategy and content creation.

He’s also preparing for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in February 2025 and co-producing a live-action comedy film with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, scheduled for release next July.

In the meantime, Kendrick’s Grand National Tour is packing out venues worldwide. On September 24, he performed in Mexico City, incorporating a comedic deposition skit that poked fun at Drake’s legal issues with Universal Music Group. The tour continues to Australia in December.

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Drake Readies Iceman and Breaks Records

Not to be outdone, Drake has announced his ninth studio album, Iceman, expected to arrive in late 2025. The project will mark his first solo release since his heated 2023 feud with Kendrick Lamar.

Drake has already kept fans fed in 2025 with singles including What Did I Miss?, Which One (with Central Cee), and Dog House (with Yeat and Julia Wolf). On top of that, he just became the first artist to surpass 120 billion streams on Spotify, solidifying his dominance in the digital era.

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Nas Wins Big in Casino Wars, Jay-Z Falls Short

Beyond the music, hip-hop moguls are making waves in business. Nas, alongside Resorts World, secured preliminary approval for a $5.5 billion casino project in Queens on September 25. The plan promises thousands of permanent jobs and billions in tax revenue.

The victory came just as Jay-Z’s rival Times Square casino bid was rejected, sparking playful jabs. Local officials even referenced their legendary beef:

> “Sorry Jay-Z, we win again,” one remarked after the vote.

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Rising Star: SKAI ISYOURGOD

Finally, a new name is making noise on the global stage. SKAI ISYOURGOD, a Guangdong-born rapper who blends Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hakka flows over Memphis-inspired beats, has surged past 4 million monthly Spotify listeners.

Known for his viral “rapping cat” TikToks, SKAI is now selling out shows from London to Sydney, signaling that the next wave of hip-hop may be multilingual and global

The Big Picture

With Metro Boomin cleared, Cardi B preparing for motherhood again, Kendrick and Drake vying for cultural dominance, and Nas flexing his business acumen, hip-hop remains the world’s most dynamic cultural force. The genre’s future looks just as unpredictable—and exciting—as its past.