TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Trinidad James has been styling and profiling in the rap game for years ... and that's because he thinks of his body as an art canvas -- always ready to be filled with color!!!

We caught the "All Gold Everything" rapper Wednesday outside LAX, and we couldn't help but notice his latest manicure ... and had to get a gauge on where he was taking this trend.

Plenty of rappers paint their nails these days, but Trinidad says he's the top innovator -- and all his nail techs across the globe know it.

He says one perk of being a pioneer is never having to pay top price, but admits he sometimes spends upwards of $2,500 to make his fingertips bling!!!

On the music scene, Trinidad tells us he just laid down a joint with T-Pain and is putting the finishing touches on "Don't Be S.A.F.E. 2" -- the sequel to his debut project from 2012.

We also spoke about his friendship with Rich Homie Quan ... which dates back 10 years, both being native ATLiens who blew up the local rap scene during their respective come-ups.

RHQ recently expressed to TMZ Hip Hop how the "shoot 'em up/bang-bang" music needs to be put on a cease-fire. Well, Trinidad says he can easily fix that issue ... and he has the all-gold solution right around his neck.

Kanye West defies logic ... he says he doesn't wish harm on Jewish people -- despite saying he's "going death con 3" on Jews -- as he seems to be saying Jews in high places in Hollywood have screwed over Black entertainers.

Kanye was leaving the screening of Candace Owens' new doc Wednesday ... the photog asked about the film, and Kanye seemed stunned he wasn't asked about his antisemitic remarks right out of the box.

Ye makes it clear ... his comments in the last week were thought out and intentional. He seems to have personal grievances with Jews who run entertainment companies that he says have wronged him and other Black entertainers. What he doesn't explain ... is he raising the issue because he thinks the execs who did him wrong did so because they're Jewish?

Turns out Kanye West and Candace Owens didn't just decide to wear their "White Lives Matter" shirts on a whim -- the two have been planning it for weeks -- with some of Kanye's former friends telling us she's acting as his chief advisor in his day-to-day life.

Sources close to Kanye tell us ... Candace has been reaching out to people on Kanye's behalf, working to set up calls, meetings and appearances.

We're told folks who were close to Kanye (many have distanced themselves after his recent attacks) believe he's in a bad space mentally, and anyone working to persuade him to do anything other than get help doesn't have his best interests at heart.

What's more ... Ye showed up to Candace's film premiere in Nashville Wednesday. Ray J was also in attendance, a reunion sources told us was coordinated by Owens in spite of Kim Kardashian.

Our sources say it's unclear if Candace is getting paid by Ye as an advisor, but one source says, "Anyone taking money from him is taking advantage of him." As far as Candace's involvement in Kanye's life, the same source said, "She's gonna run him into the ground."

Earlier this week, Candace leaked an old voicemail from Kim to Ray J in which Kim called Whitney Houston -- whom Ray was dating at the time -- an "Old hag."

Our Kanye sources say they believe Candace leaked the vm to show her allegiance to Kanye, especially against Kim, whom Kanye has accused of "kidnapping" the couple's kids.

One of the reasons Kanye's former allies believe Candace is in his ear ... until recently he was conciliatory with Kim, seemingly agreeing she would have the kids around 80% of the time, and he would have ongoing involvement in their lives.

As for his recent rants, a source tells us, "Kanye cannot get out of his own damn way, which is the root of every issue personally and professionally." The question ... is he getting advice?

We reached out to Candace ... so far, no word back.

50 Cent's son Marquise Jackson is ready and willing to mend their relationship -- yes, even if it means paying -- but he's clarifying ... it's not dear old Dad's money he wants.

Marquise tells TMZ Hip Hop he meant what he said, in a now-viral post, about putting up $6,700 -- Fiddy's monthly child support payment -- for the one-on-one, and says he'll actually pay more than that if necessary.

He says that's where the money talk ends, though. Now in his 20s, Marquise says he's matured and feels he and 50 should be able to agree or disagree about issues without going at each other's throats.

Marquise believes the biggest hurdle between them is the fact 50 Cent thinks his eldest son has grown up entitled ... after receiving $80k/year in child support.

Marquise says he doesn't know what to expect if and when they do have a sit-down, but hopes it would lead to better understanding for both of them -- as he told us ... not having his father in his life has left him with many unanswered questions.

To say he's got an uphill battle on his hands would be an understatement. So far, 50 Cent's only response has been to post the "Power" scene where his character kills his son.

A bizarre reunion just happened in Nashville, as Kanye West and Ray J came face-to-face at Candace Owens' film premiere.

Both men were in attendance Wednesday night for the premiere of "The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM." The event was held at the Woolworth Theater, and while arrivals were supposed to start around 6:30 PM local time, Ye didn't show for more than 2 hours after the scheduled slot ... posing for pics on the carpet with Ray and Kid Rock.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us it was Candace who worked to get both Kanye and Ray J there in an attempt to scorn Kim Kardashian.

It was earlier this week when Candace leaked an old voicemail from Kim to Ray J -- who was dating Whitney Houston at the time -- in which Kim called Whitney an "Old hag."

Kim has remained silent for weeks, even as Kanye wore his "White Lives Matter" shirt to both his Yeezy Show and North's basketball game. He's also had his social media accounts suspended for antisemitic remarks -- and JP Morgan Chase Bank has also allegedly cut ties with Ye's multi-billion-dollar Yeezy brand.

Kanye West is gonna need to find a new bank to house his multi-billion Yeezy brand 'cause he got the boot from the bank that stored all his cash.

Candace Owens — the controversial conservative figure who sported a "White Lives Matter" shirt with Ye — took to Twitter Wednesday to share what she calls an official notice from JPMorgan Chase Bank ... saying they’re cutting ties with Ye.

She wrote, "I was told there was no official reason given, but they sent this letter as well to confirm that he has until late November to find another place for the Yeezy empire to bank."

The letter itself suggests the decision was a done deal, and that Kanye would have until exactly November 21 to transfer his business to another bank.

Of course, this all comes as Kanye is in some pretty hot water. You'll recall, he's come under fire for recent antisemitic remarks ... amongst other comments he's said in interviews and on social media.

As you know, he's also gotten a ton of backlash for the "White Lives Matter" shirt he's worn to both his Yeezy Show and his daughter’s basketball game. Despite that, Candace Owens seems to be one of the few people to jump on that train and defend Kanye.

Roddy Ricch found the perfect way to fill his downtime ahead of his performance for Post Malone's Twelve Carat Tour stop at Madison Square Garden tonight ... bringing inspiration to kids through a surprise appearance at their school!!!

Roddy made a notable detour Wednesday to the Middle School of Marketing and Legal Studies, and got a very loud and warm welcome from the students.

We're told Roddy spoke to the kids about staying in school, and assured them no dream is too big to accomplish if they put in the work.

New York State Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman also presented Roddy with a citation for his work in the community -- creating more positive imagery to inspire the kids.

The superstar rapper also took photos, and signed plenty of autographs ... setting off plenty of fanfare, judging from the group of kids who began to rap his diamond-selling hit "The Box" on the spot!!!

Some big rappers are starting to rail against the very social media platforms that boosted their celebrity -- a move that comes as Kanye West is flaming out on Instagram and Twitter.

"Drink Champs" has been teasing their Boosie Badazz episode for days, and the latest clip finds the Lousiana rapper clearly blaming IG for wrecking marriages and relationships.

Boosie says before social media, men and women had limited access to other people's lifestyles and arrangements, but now they're more tempted than ever to cheat ... given the number of opportunities at their fingertips.

Not to be outdone, Freddie Gibbs tackled social media's impact while on "The Breakfast Club," and said he doesn't believe in monogamy, so his polyamorous relationships are in good order.

On the other hand, he says social media culture makes people abandon their true character for clout. The Gary, Indiana-born rapper compares social media addiction to crack.

In fact, Freddie's new album, "$$$" has a track called "CIA" -- an acronym for "Crack, Instagram and AIDS" -- and says he aimed to showcase detrimental things in the Black community with this record.

Freddie also rivals Boosie for the title of rapper with the most Instagram accounts being banned ... so it's understandable they're calling for a changing of the guard.

Interesting that they're dropping these warnings amid Kanye getting restricted on social media for posting anti-Semitic remarks ... which included accusing Diddy of being controlled by Jewish people.

As we reported, LeBron James' just axed an episode of "The Shop" he shot with Ye due to the rapper allegedly spewing "dangerous stereotypes" during their convo.

No telling if he thinks he has a social media addiction or not ... but in response to IG and Twitter putting the clamps on him, Ye's revved up his Facebook account.

50 Cent's rocky relationship with his son Marquise Jackson is getting a lot of attention -- especially Marquise's attempt to buy Dad's love -- but buzzing rapper Symba says money shouldn't be the focus in this situation.

We caught the red-hot rookie walking into DASH Radio in Hollywood, and he doesn't agree with the notion a father, like 50, should automatically have to write massive child support checks simply because he's filthy rich.

Remember, Marquise went viral for claiming the $6,700 Fiddy paid monthly wasn't enough when he was growing up -- but Symba's question is how much would be enough? He says parents should pay based on the child's needs, not based on the parent's bank account.

We also spoke to Symba about the growing trend of male rappers spilling their biz on wax -- something we've seen Quavo, DaBaby and Tory Lanez all do in lyrics lately. Symba, who's on tour right now with Joyner Lucas, says he doesn't plan on adopting that approach ... but he gets why some artists do.

He equates it to female rappers who've been spilling tea for years, and get this ... he says the ladies are currently out-rapping the fellas!

Singer Brandy is recovering in an L.A. hospital after possibly suffering a seizure ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they got an EMS call to Brandy's home at noon Tuesday. Sources with direct knowledge tell us it's believed Brandy suffered a seizure, and she was taken to a local hospital.

At this time, we're told Brandy is still in the hospital -- her parents have been there with her -- and it appears she will recover.

We don't know what led up to the seizure or if there were other health issues as a result of the incident.

It was earlier this year when Brandy blew the crowd away at the NFL's NFC Championship game with her rendition of the National Anthem.

We've reached out to a rep for Brandy ... so far, no word back.

YK Osiris made a potentially poor choice to engage in a fight with a man looking to knock his head off, but his security guards realized that probably wasn't a great idea.

The "Worth It" singer left Cardi B's star-studded party Tuesday night in WeHo and got in his ride, but a clearly irate man walked over to the Lamborghini Urus, and started screaming all sorts of obscenities at YK. Something about cats ... you get it.

That's when YK opted to hop out and confront the guy! We'll say this ... the security team and had one job, and did it well. They immediately pushed the pissed-off man to the sidewalk, and put YK back in his vehicle.

It's unclear what the argument was about ... the man quickly turned his fury towards YK's security, flying off the handle about going to war, but cooler heads eventually prevailed and everyone went their separate ways.

Someone off-camera commended YK for stepping up to fight -- him being a trained boxer and all, but we're pretty sure his security did the right thing.

L.A.'s been a dangerous place for artists this year -- back in February, Kodak Black was shot a couple of blocks from where Cardi's party went down, and the sad fact is ... YK's shiny necklace could've made him a target.

We recently spoke to DJ Envy about artists traveling and maneuvering smartly in the grim aftermath of PnB Rock's murder in Los Angeles.

Envy says artists should go the distance in protecting their bling with security ... and not run into a lion's den.

Here's something you NEVER see happen in Hollywood ... Jamie Foxx rejected at the door of a huge event -- in this case, Cardi B's birthday party -- and you gotta see Jamie's reaction!!!

Jamie pulled up to the WeHo shindig in full Foxxy mode -- stepping out of his white Rolls-Royce, and as photogs swarmed around, he coolly changed from driving shoes to party shoes (they look identical 😂).

Then, the unbelievable happened ... Jamie and his group of about 4 to 5 other people strolled up to the event -- only to return to his car mere moments later! As Jamie walked away photogs asked why the hell they rejected Mr. Life of the Party. He played it cool, not saying a word ... but it's obvious the door guy knew he'd screwed up.

He came running out to the street, telling Jamie it's cool for him to enter -- but Foxx wasn't having it, saying ... "No, we not good. Nah ni**a, it's all good! I love you, but it was too much."

According to a photo agency, Jamie was initially turned away because he had too many guests with him. Let's just say ... MAJOR faux pas on the part of someone at the door.

Meanwhile, Cardi celebrated her 30th birthday inside -- oblivious, we're sure, too what went down with Jamie, and probably won't be happy about it once she finds out.

Cardi B celebrated 30 trips around the sun not only with her closest friends and family, but also with Offset, who has been the target of some recent drama with his former rap pals.

Cardi and Offset entered the rapper's cabaret-themed bash Tuesday at Poppy nightclub in West Hollywood walking arm and arm -- certainly showing a united front. Cardi, dressed in a red flapper ensemble, looked amazing ... while Offset -- dressed in white and red -- looked stoic.

Inside, guests were treated to burlesque dancers, a lip-sync performance from Cardi herself and hours of dancing. At one point, Cardi also took shots in front of party-goers.

Celeb guests in attendance included her sister Hennessy Carolina, O.T. Genasis, Chance the Rapper, Tyga, Alexander Edwards, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Wale, Tiffany Haddish, DDG, Jamie Foxx, Karrueche Tran, Destiny Odom, Shenseea, Terrance Mann, YG, Coco Jones and Chloe & Halle Bailey.

As for the drama with Offset, it was last week when his former Migos members Quavo and Takeoff dropped a debut album as a duo.

On one of the songs, "Messy," Quavo seemingly alludes to Offset hooking up with his ex-gf, Saweetie, rapping, "Bitch f***** my dawg behind my back, but I ain't stressin' (Not at all)/You wanted the gang, you shoulda just said it, we would have blessed it (You shoulda just said it)/Now shit got messy (Uh)."

Kanye West's mouth is forcing LeBron James and his producers to scrap an entire episode of 'The Shop' ... after they say he spewed "dangerous stereotypes" while they were recording.

LeBron's show normally drops on his 'Uninterrupted' YouTube channel, but late Tuesday night -- after shooting with Ye on Monday -- he and Maverick Carter opted to pull the whole show, rather than edit around Ye's remarks.

Maverick says, “Kanye was booked weeks ago and, after talking to Kanye directly the day before we taped, I believed he was capable of a respectful discussion and he was ready to address all his recent comments. Unfortunately, he used 'The Shop' to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes."

He didn't get more specific about what Kanye said, but we know Twitter and Instagram recently put restrictions on his accounts after he posted antisemitic remarks ... and, of course, he's drawn a ton of backlash for the White Lives Matter T-shirts he's been wearing.

G Herbo is feeling great these days … partly due to the release of his new album, but also because he keeps his mental health in good standing!!!

We recently caught the Chicago rapper out in NYC, promoting his new 'Survivor’s Remorse' projects, which are layered with references to mental health.

Herbo tells us everyone needs to be responsible for their own well being, and that includes seeking treatment when necessary.

The guy's fully aware he has a spotlight, and says he knows showing vulnerability could help fans who might be going through a rough time. Like his album title suggests, Herbo is living proof of recovery ... using therapy to help himself out of depression, and heavy drinking after the 2021 murder of a loved one.

We also got Herbo’s perspective, as a fellow Chicago rapper, on Kanye West’s recent string of outbursts -- which have pissed off Black and Jewish people ... and the folks running Twitter and Instagram.

You can hear Herbo’s crew attempt to sway him from answering the Kanye question ... but Herb made sure to note Ye's genius above all.

Nelly is the kind of guy who will give you the jacket off his back -- just ask young NASCAR superfan Jacob Lemke, who experienced just that ... after a very cool encounter with the diamond-selling rapper.

Jake was born with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a rare genetic order, and he and his good friend Nate Salisbury were recently VIP pit guests during the 2022 playoff cup race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ... where Nelly performed to kick off the event.

Nate tells us ... after the show and the driver introductions, Nelly was in the area posing for pics and conducting interviews when he spotted them and came right over.

You can see Jake's face light up as Nelly walks over ... complimenting his vest as he gifts him the custom Charlotte Motor Speedway jacket he was wearing for the performance.

Little did Nelly know, Jake was on hand to celebrate his 23rd birthday on a trip planned by Nate and his mother ... making the moment that much more special!!!

Nate says he used to be Jake's teacher and befriended him over 8 years ago.

Jake's father recently passed away but introduced Jake to the world of hip hop music and NASCAR before he died ... and it appears to be working!!!