This Week in R&B / Hip-Hop (Jul 28, 2026)
Photo: TechCrunch / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
This week brought no shortage of headlines, from major announcements to chart numbers. 50 Cent revealed a movie theme song featuring Eminem and 2Pac, Rick Ross' new album made its Billboard debut, and The Game confirmed a YG feature following their Verzuz. July 24 also delivered a packed release day with new projects from Tyla, Rico Nasty and more. Here are this week's 12 biggest R&B / hip-hop stories, ranked by our own editorial judgment.
🎤 This Week in R&B / Hip-Hop
50 Cent reveals an Eminem x 2Pac "Street Fighter" theme — an unprecedented pairing
While promoting his "Fightland" project on TODAY, 50 Cent revealed that the official theme song for the "Street Fighter" film pairs him with Eminem and previously unreleased 2Pac vocals. He made a point of saying Pac's verse is not AI-generated, but taken from authentic vault recordings approved by Tupac's estate. If everything arrives as described, it would mark the first official release to feature Eminem and 2Pac on the same track. The film opens October 16, and 50 says the song is "coming out shortly" ahead of the release.
Rick Ross' "Set In Stone" debuts at No. 45 — as the 50 Cent feud reignites
Photo: The 85 South Comedy Show / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Rick Ross' 12th album, "Set In Stone," released July 17, debuted at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 after moving 17,189 album-equivalent units in its first week (roughly 2,096 in pure sales). That's a significant step down from the No. 22 debut of 2021's "Richer Than I Ever Been." Ross brushed off the sales chatter as "propaganda," then shifted attention elsewhere over the weekend by accusing 50 Cent of siphoning money out of Shreveport, Louisiana through the G-Unit Studios deal. Two decades later, their rivalry still produces headlines with remarkable consistency.
Source: HotNewHipHop
The Game confirms YG will appear on "The Documentary 3" — after the "Compton Forever" Verzuz
The Game and YG faced off in the "Compton Forever" Verzuz on July 23 at Apple Music's LA studios. Complex's poll gave YG a decisive 19-3 win, but the biggest news came after the event. The Game confirmed to Complex that YG will appear on "The Documentary 3," the long-awaited sequel arriving 22 years after the original. YG called it a responsibility to "continue to push the West Side story," adding that they feel "like we the last of a dying breed." For a sequel that's been teased for years, landing a marquee Compton feature is a major milestone.
Source: Complex
Tyla's second album "A*POP" out July 24 — expanding the "popiano" sound
Grammy-winning South African star Tyla returned on July 24 with her second studio album, "A*POP," released through Epic / FAX. Across 14 tracks, she expands the pop / R&B / amapiano fusion dubbed "popiano" that turned "Water" into a global breakout, including the singles "IS IT LOVE," "CHANEL" and "SHE DID IT AGAIN" featuring Zara Larsson. Several outlets have described the project as a grittier, more adventurous step forward in her sound.
Rico Nasty "RX" out July 24
Photo: Glenn Francis (www.PacificProDigital.com) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rico Nasty returned on July 24 with "RX." Her trademark ability to jump between explosive, punk-leaning records and softer melodic moments is on full display, making it one of Friday's most talked-about hip-hop releases. From a production standpoint, her use of distortion and texture is especially worth paying attention to.
Source: HotNewHipHop
Cypress Hill "Dios Bendiga" out July 24 — a new chapter from the legends
Photo: Biha / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Nova Rock 2016
Cypress Hill also returned on July 24 with their new album, "Dios Bendiga." The project embraces the group's Latin roots while staying true to the smoky, dub-heavy sound that's defined them since the beginning. On a Friday packed with younger artists, the West Coast veterans had no trouble standing out.
Source: HotNewHipHop
Moneybagg Yo releases new single "I See Why" on July 24
Memphis' Moneybagg Yo also returned this Friday with the new single, "I See Why." Even in a week dominated by album releases, a new move from one of rap's most reliable chart performers deserves attention, with some viewing it as the first step toward his next project.
Source: HotNewHipHop
Flo Milli "Hot As A Bic" lands the same day
Alabama's Flo Milli also released her new project, "Hot As A Bic," on July 24. Built around the catchy hooks and effortless flow that have become her trademark, it marks another chapter for one of the most talked-about releases from Friday's wave of women in rap.
Source: HotNewHipHop
WILLOW "The Thread" out July 24
Willow Smith (WILLOW) also released "The Thread" on July 24. Continuing to blur the lines between alt-R&B and rock, the project reflects the genre-defying approach that's become her signature and highlights just how stylistically diverse this week's Friday releases were.
Source: HotNewHipHop
38 Spesh takes "Fool's Mate" to the Summer Jam stage — New York's newest beef
Photo: Natalia Privalova (WikiRapGuru) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
One of New York's biggest ongoing rap feuds took center stage on July 24 at the Prudential Center, where 38 Spesh premiered the AraabMUZIK-produced "Fool's Mate." The record takes aim at Jim Jones, Fat Joe and Jadakiss, despite all three having publicly suggested he back off. The conflict stems from Spesh's dispute with Jadakiss over Benny the Butcher's "Sunday School," and it continues to draw in more voices, including Styles P and Memphis Bleek.
Source: Complex
Young Thug pays $5 million cash for a Florida estate
Photo: Stefa Tiger / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
In more positive news, Young Thug reportedly paid $5 million in cash for a luxury estate in Florida, a headline-grabbing sign of his financial position following his release in the YSL RICO case and the latest development after announcing his major 2026 tour earlier this month. For an artist who spent years fighting a career-defining case, an all-cash purchase of that size makes a statement on its own.
Source: AllHipHop
Derrick Parker, the NYPD "Hip-Hop Cop," dies at 61
Derrick Parker, the former NYPD detective who created the department's first rap intelligence unit and became widely known as the "Hip-Hop Cop," has died at 61, his family announced Saturday. Parker was the first New York detective assigned to the Notorious B.I.G. investigation and also worked the Tupac Shakur shooting and Jam Master Jay cases. After retiring in 2002, he remained a prominent voice through his book "Notorious C.O.P." and became one of the most frequently quoted authorities on hip-hop's unsolved homicide cases.
Source: AllHipHop
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