The victim in Cartel Bo‘s kidnapping case recants her allegations of being held captive and sexually assaulted by the rapper. According to a KPRC 2 (Click2Houston) report, published on Monday (Aug. 3), a female survivor who claimed that she was held captive in a closet for days and sexually assaulted by rapper Cartel Bo has […]
Al Green transformed soul music with a voice that could rise from a tender whisper to an ecstatic cry in a single phrase. Backed by the warm, understated sound of Memphis soul, he created timeless recordings filled with romance, vulnerability, devotion, and spiritual intensity. Classics such as “Let’s Stay Together,” “Tired of Being Alone,” “Love […]
Drake dropped three full albums just before the summer arrived, but the Toronto superstar is seemingly already back to work on more music. On Sunday (August 2), a photo shared to social media finds Drizzy in a home studio, though no further context was given. The picture comes less than three months after his three-album […]
Toni Braxton’s unmistakable contralto voice has given R&B some of its most elegant, intimate, and emotionally devastating performances. With a tone that can sound velvety, wounded, seductive, or quietly defiant, she transformed songs such as “Un Break My Heart,” “Breathe Again,” “You’re Makin’ Me High,” and “He Wasn’t Man Enough” into timeless expressions of love, […]
A$AP Rocky insists that he would squabble up with Drake in a boxing match with no gloves “like the Irish.” On Monday (Aug. 3), The Jason Lee Show aired a trailer for its upcoming interview with the Harlem rapper. During the teaser, Rocky is asked about celebrity boxing and if he would trade punches with […]
Sade’s music occupies a world of midnight elegance, restrained passion, and emotional honesty, where every bass line, saxophone phrase, and whispered confession feels perfectly placed. Led by the unmistakable voice of Sade Adu, the band created a sophisticated blend of soul, jazz, pop, and quiet storm that remains instantly recognizable. Classics such as “Smooth Operator,” […]
Cartel Bo has been arrested and is being held without bail after being accused of kidnapping the mother of his three children and holding her against her will while sexually assaulting her for several days before she escaped. The Houston rapper, whose real name is Warren Brown, was taken into custody last Saturday (July 25), […]
Bruce Springsteen’s music captures the restless heart of America, illuminating working class dreams, youthful rebellion, broken promises, and the stubborn hope that keeps ordinary people moving forward. Backed by the mighty E Street Band, he transformed vivid storytelling into thunderous rock anthems and intimate ballads filled with unforgettable characters. Songs such as “Born to Run,” […]
Say What’s RealSwae Lee gets candid about some of music’s hottest topics, from AI’s impact on creativity to Drake’s recent three-album drop.Words: Peter A. BerryEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. If hip-hop had a Hookman of the Year award, Swae […]
Rod Stewart has built an extraordinary career around one of rock music’s most recognizable voices, a raspy, soulful instrument capable of expressing swagger, tenderness, heartbreak, and humor with equal conviction. From his early work with the Faces to decades of solo success, he has moved confidently through rock, folk, blues, soul, disco, pop, and romantic […]