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This Week in R&B / Hip-Hop: News Roundup (Nov 13, 2026)

November 13, 2026 ・ Previous roundup (Oct 30)

Photo: Shahril Affandi Radzali / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

This issue comes two weeks after the October 30 one and covers October 30 through November 12. The biggest story is Ye drawing 83,132 people in Arlington, Texas, the largest single-show U.S. stadium crowd in hip-hop history. Yella Beezy was found guilty in the killing of MO3, Lil Durk is still waiting on a bond decision, and BigXthaPlug earned his first No. 1 on the rap albums chart. Here are 15 stories, ranked by our editorial team's judgment of reach of coverage, hard numbers, scale and how central a story is to this week.

🎤 This week in hip-hop and R&B

Ye draws 83,132 in Arlington, Texas — the biggest single-show U.S. stadium crowd in hip-hop history

Photo: Cosmopolitan UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Ye (Kanye West) played AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 7 in front of 83,132 people. Rap Industry reports it is the largest single-show U.S. stadium crowd in hip-hop history. According to Variety, the night grossed more than $18 million, the fifth-highest single-night concert gross in U.S. history across all genres.

It is the third time this year that Ye has broken his own record: two nights of 74,389 at SoFi Stadium in April, then 80,210 in Houston on October 31, and now Arlington. That gives him the top three spots. Dallas native Erykah Badu joined him on stage, and Kid Cudi appeared in the final act to perform as Kids See Ghosts, a public reunion after their 2022 falling-out. The next stop is Glendale, Arizona, on November 21.

Sources: Rap Industry

Yella Beezy found guilty of capital murder in the killing of MO3, an automatic life sentence

Photo: BOSS TALK 101 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Dallas rapper Yella Beezy (real name Markies Conway) was found guilty on November 11 of capital murder by remuneration, a murder-for-hire charge, in the 2020 killing of fellow Dallas rapper MO3. The verdict came six years to the day after the shooting.

Prosecutors alleged he paid the shooter, Kewon White, $40,000. Because prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, Texas law means an automatic sentence of life without parole. White was convicted earlier and is already serving life without parole. Yella Beezy's team is expected to appeal.

Sources: HotNewHipHop

Lil Durk's bond decision still pending a week after his hearing

Photo: JD Sports / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Lil Durk's bond hearing, which we previewed last issue, took place on November 4. As of November 12, Judge Michael Fitzgerald had not ruled. He said he would review both sides' filings before deciding, and there is no timeline for an answer.

Durk's bail package offered a $1 million payment and music publishing royalties, backed by character letters from JAY-Z, J. Cole and others. Prosecutors filed a response hours before the hearing, accusing Durk of bringing contraband into the jail and arguing the letters carry little weight. His next trial is set for August 2027.

Sources: HotNewHipHop

BigXthaPlug's 'Better Over Time' becomes his first No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rap Albums

Photo: MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug's new album Better Over Time debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart dated November 14, his first chart-topper there. Per Luminate, it earned 35,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 5: 29,000 from streaming (29.1 million on-demand streams) and 6,000 from album sales.

It also landed at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, tying his best showing. Ten of its tracks entered Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and "Burn" with Ava Max jumped from No. 27 to No. 14. Guests include GloRilla, Leon Thomas, Babyface Ray and Lil Yachty.

Sources: Rap Industry (Billboard data)

Lil Baby releases 'FRESH': about 60K projected first week, and Akademiks warns about padding

Photo: HOTSPOTATL / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Lil Baby released his new album FRESH on November 6. Chart forecaster Talk of the Charts projects around 60,000 units for its first week, after first-day Spotify numbers came in soft, as HotNewHipHop and others reported.

DJ Akademiks said he would watch Spotify and Apple Music for suspicious streams and claimed the label bought 20,000 copies, adding that a final number near 80,000 would look off. Those are his claims and have not been verified. Official first-week figures will come with next week's Billboard charts.

Sources: HotNewHipHop / HotNewHipHop (first-day streams)

YouTube plays return to the Billboard charts on Jan. 16, 2027; Drake: "this game so cooked"

Photo: The Come Up Show / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

YouTube, which stopped sending its data to Billboard earlier this year, will count toward the charts again starting January 16, 2027, according to HotNewHipHop. The number of YouTube plays needed for one album unit drops from 2,500 to 1,500.

The change should help artists with big YouTube audiences, such as NBA YoungBoy. Drake responded on his Instagram story: "wtf this game so cooked."

Sources: HotNewHipHop

Coachella 2027 lineup: SZA headlines, Drake answers with a crying emoji

Photo: Bárbara Jadeh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Coachella announced its 2027 lineup, with Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and SZA as headliners. Madonna, Steve Lacy, Don Toliver, Kehlani and Fetty Wap are also on the bill. The festival runs April 9–11 and 16–18 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Drake, who is not on the lineup, left only a crying emoji under Coachella's announcement. Why he wasn't booked is unclear.

Sources: HotNewHipHop

Angie Martinez's unreleased Tupac interview comes to Netflix on Nov. 27

Photo: Shaun Dawson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Unreleased portions of an interview with Tupac Shakur, recorded just months before his death and kept by New York radio host Angie Martinez for about three decades, arrive on Netflix on November 27 as a four-part video podcast, The Tupac Tapes with Angie Martinez.

Joe Budden, Charlamagne Tha God, RZA, Lil' Cease and Monie Love are among the guests looking back on Tupac's life and influence. DJ Akademiks has reportedly reacted angrily to the project.

Sources: Rap Industry / HotNewHipHop

Nevada Supreme Court accepts Keefe D's appeal of his Tupac murder conviction

Photo: State of California DMV / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

The Nevada Supreme Court accepted Duane "Keefe D" Davis's appeal of his conviction for the murder of Tupac Shakur and filed it on November 9. Davis was sentenced on October 13 to 40 years to life: 20 to life for first-degree murder plus a consecutive 20 to life for the deadly weapon enhancement.

His attorney Michael Sanft filed the appeal on October 30 but has since died, leaving Davis without counsel. HotNewHipHop expects the admission of Davis's own interviews and book as evidence to be central to the appeal.

Sources: HotNewHipHop

Trial over Takeoff's killing pushed to April 15, 2027

Photo: The Come Up Show / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

The trial of Patrick Xavier Clark, accused of fatally shooting Migos member Takeoff in Houston in 2022, has been moved to April 15, 2027. Jury selection had been set to begin November 5, with opening statements expected the following week.

No reason for the delay was given. Clark has pleaded not guilty and is free on a $1 million bond. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Sources: HotNewHipHop

Usher and Chris Brown's Atlanta show starts three hours late amid reports of a backstage argument

Photo: Sandra Alphonse / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Photo: Pelpa Time Production / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

The November 5 opener of Usher and Chris Brown's five-night run at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium started about three hours late with a shortened setlist. Citing unnamed sources, TMZ reported that heavy traffic delayed fans, and that Brown wanted to start on time while Usher wanted to wait, leading to an argument.

Brown denied it on Instagram, telling fans not to believe the internet. The argument rests on anonymous sources and neither artist has confirmed it; a city ordinance requiring shows to end by midnight may explain the shorter set. Later reports say both camps are working to smooth things over.

Sources: HotNewHipHop / HotNewHipHop (follow-up)

GTA VI launch festival in Miami on Nov. 21 with Travis Scott, Cardi B and Metro Boomin

Photo: Frank Schwichtenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Rockstar Games will celebrate the release of Grand Theft Auto VI with "Grand Theft Auto VI: The Festival" at Mana Wynwood in Miami on November 21, presented with PlayStation and produced by the team behind III Points.

Cactus Jack presents Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Kodak Black and Sofaygo, alongside Cardi B, Metro Boomin, Tainy, Rauw & Friends and a Justice DJ set across two stages.

Sources: Rap Industry

Brandy and Monica announce their first Las Vegas residency, 10 shows from May 2027

Photo: WBLS / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Brandy and Monica will play their first Las Vegas residency, "The Boy Is Mine Vegas Residency," at the 4,850-seat Resorts World Theatre: 10 shows between May 29 and July 17, 2027. They announced it while performing "The Boy Is Mine" on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

It follows their sold-out co-headlining The Boy Is Mine Tour, which earned a Pollstar Awards nomination. Black Promoters Collective and AEG Presents Las Vegas are producing.

Sources: Rap Industry / HotNewHipHop

B2K release 'ECLIPSE,' their first album in nearly 24 years

Photo: Niyo TV / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

B2K, with original members Omarion, J-Boog, Lil' Fizz and Raz-B, released ECLIPSE on November 9, their first studio album in nearly 24 years. The 13-track record features production from The Underdogs, Sean Garrett and Hitmaka, among others.

It is the first release on BPC Music Group, the label started by the founders of Black Promoters Collective. July single "Mileage" peaked at No. 23 on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Sources: Rap Industry

IDK and Eminem's 'Welcome' is built on a J Dilla beat; Offset's 'GMFU' leads a crowded Nov. 13

Photo: Brendan_linden / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Photo: Mr Jay Hill Network / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

IDK's collaboration with Eminem, "Welcome," is produced by J Dilla. It came to light after the two were seen together in the studio, and HotNewHipHop notes it is the first time Eminem has rapped over Dilla production. The same week, the six songs from Eminem's debut album Infinite became available on streaming for the first time.

November 13 was packed: Offset's repeatedly delayed GMFU (with Quavo, Gunna and OsamaSon), Westside Gunn's HEELMATIC, Benny The Butcher's A Friend of Ours 2, Wiz Khalifa's Cool, Leon Thomas's Trophy and Snoh Aalegra's Legendary Love, among others.

Sources: HotNewHipHop (IDK x Eminem) / HotNewHipHop (Nov 13 releases) / HotNewHipHop (GMFU)

Each news item is a summary by the editorial team based on the original reporting. Photos are CC-licensed or public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (credited per photo); album covers and press photos are not reproduced. Ordering reflects the editorial team's judgment on reach of coverage, hard numbers, scale, and how central a story is to this week. For pending matters, statements are the claims of the parties involved and not established facts. Release dates, chart data and case statuses are current as of the time of writing (November 13, 2026); check official sites and sources for the latest.