Nicki Minaj Drops New Sneaker Collection With LØCI, Blending Style and Sustainability

Nicki Minaj appears in a promotional image for her initial sneaker collaboration with British brand LØCI. The rapper and fashion icon, now releasing her second collection with the Black-owned company, is an equity partner and creative force behind the designs. (Photo courtesy of LØCI)

Nicki Minaj’s fashion résumé is nearly as deep as her musical one. A generational icon with more than 100 million records sold, countless award wins, and a legacy as one of hip-hop’s most influential figures, Minaj has also built a parallel empire in beauty and fashion. Her collaborations with Fendi, MAC Cosmetics, and numerous red carpet looks have made headlines for more than a decade.

Now, the multiplatinum artist is expanding that legacy with the release of “DØPAMINE,” her latest sneaker collection in partnership with British brand LØCI. The limited-edition drop blends bold design with eco-conscious innovation and follows her first successful launch with the company.

Retailing for $145, the sneakers feature a sculptural, multi-textured upper, oversized lacing, and a chunky EVA midsole designed for comfort and impact absorption. Each pair is crafted from LØCI’s signature vegan material, made from recycled ocean plastic — 20 bottles per shoe — reinforcing the brand’s sustainability mission.

“DØPAMINE signifies that beautiful rush you feel when you're at your happiest place and higher self,” Minaj said in a statement. “We can’t just stand here. These comfortable, yet flyer-than-fly sneakers fit everyone so well. I absolutely LOVE this style.”

Minaj is more than a spokesperson — she’s a key equity stakeholder and creative driver behind the brand. LØCI, a Black-owned company founded in 2021 by brothers Emmanuel and Frank Eribo, has gained recognition for its fashion-forward approach and environmental focus. The collaboration with Minaj adds cultural momentum to its growing global presence.

“Nicki brings an unmatched level of creativity and vision to everything she does,” said CEO Emmanuel Eribo. “With DØPAMINE, we’re seeing that vision realized in a way that’s bold, fresh, and globally relevant.”

From dominating Billboard charts to breaking barriers in fashion and business, Minaj’s influence stretches across industries. This drop — rooted in self-expression, sustainability, and ownership — reflects her long-standing ethos of doing things on her own terms.

The LØCI x Nicki Minaj “DØPAMINE” collection is available now at www.lociwear.com/Nicki.

New Indictment Alleges Diddy Trafficked Women, Threatened One With Firearm

Federal prosecutors in New York have filed a third superseding indictment against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, intensifying the criminal case against him with additional charges and deeply disturbing allegations.

The latest filing adds one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution, bringing the total number of federal charges against Combs to five. Prosecutors also revised the racketeering conspiracy charge to include new and more violent details.

According to the indictment, Combs is now accused of kidnapping a woman referred to as “Victim-2,” displaying a firearm to her, and allegedly dangling her over a balcony. The events are said to have occurred as part of what prosecutors describe as a years-long pattern of coercion, intimidation, and sexual exploitation.

New superseding indictment against Sean “Diddy” Combs today adds two charges.

He now faces five counts: racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. pic.twitter.com/8DDF1bjfpO

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 4, 2025

“These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships,” Combs' legal team said in response to the charges. “This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.”

Prosecutors say they hope to arraign Combs on the new charges at the final pretrial conference later this month. His trial is scheduled to begin May 5 in federal court.

The updated indictment marks the third such filing in Combs’ case since his arrest last year. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies any criminal wrongdoing.

The case, which stems from broader federal sex trafficking and racketeering investigations, continues to gain national attention. The prosecution’s latest filing underscores its intent to show that Combs’ alleged actions were not isolated incidents but part of a calculated criminal enterprise.

With trial preparations underway and the government expanding its narrative, Combs — who built his career as a chart-topping producer, artist, and entrepreneur — now faces the possibility of significant additional prison time if convicted.

Judge Declines to Jail Young Thug Over Critical Social Media Post

An order from Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker issued Thursday states that rapper Young Thug, born Jeffery Williams, did not violate his probation conditions by reposting a social media message critical of a district attorney's investigator. The judge advised Williams to use discretion on social media moving forward.

An Atlanta judge decided Thursday not to revoke rapper Young Thug’s probation despite prosecutors' efforts to return him to prison over his reposting of a viral social media message that criticized a district attorney’s investigator.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker issued a carefully worded order, advising Young Thug — whose legal name is Jeffery Williams — to use discretion online but ultimately concluding that his actions did not violate probation conditions.

“While the Court does not find that the cited social media post rises to the level of a violation of Defendant’s probation, it may be prudent for Defendant to exercise restraint regarding certain topics,” Judge Whitaker wrote.

Prosecutors argued that Williams violated probation terms when he reposted a viral tweet featuring a photograph of Marissa Viverito, an investigator from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, labeling her as the “biggest liar in the DA office.” Viverito had previously testified in Williams' criminal trial. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis claimed the repost threatened the safety and integrity of a witness involved in Williams’ high-profile case.

Williams’ lead attorney, Brian Steel, vigorously contested the prosecution’s position, stating there was no factual or legal basis for the probation revocation attempt.

“The prosecution’s motion to revoke Mr. Williams’ probation fails, on its face, to allege any conduct by Mr. Williams that would rise to a violation of the probationary sentence,” Steel wrote in a response filed Thursday. “There is no violation of Mr. Williams’ probation by reposting an image on social media and opining that Investigator Viverito is untruthful.”

Williams himself took to the social media platform X following news of the prosecutors' filing to clarify his intentions, stating: “I don’t make threats to people, I’m a good person. I would never condone anyone threatening anyone or definitely participate in threatening anyone. I’m all about peace and love.”

Williams had previously been incarcerated for more than two years awaiting trial on drug, gang, and gun charges. In October, he accepted an open plea agreement, receiving a sentence of time served plus 15 years probation, along with a conditional consecutive sentence of 20 additional years contingent upon violating his probation terms.

Now free to continue his music career, Williams, 33, is scheduled to co-headline the Summer Smash Festival this June alongside Don Toliver, Yeat, and Future. It will mark his first live performance since his release.