TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Alicia Keys helped Jay-Z earn his first No. 1 song back in 2009 with "Empire State of Mind” -- an accomplishment she now calls a gift and a curse, because they both fear they can't repeat it.

Alicia told E! ... she and Jay consider doing new songs together all the time, but immediately grow hesitant when they consider all the damage “Empire State of Mind” did on the charts, and in the culture.

Released in 2009, 'Empire' became an instant NYC anthem that transcended worldwide … going 3x platinum, soundtracking numerous campaigns as well as the Yankees’ World Series winning run that year.

Alicia released a sequel the next year, which was just her version of 'Empire' without Jay rapping.

Jay is no stranger to bowing out gracefully after knocking it outta the park. He and Eminem haven’t rapped together since their 2001 infectious “Blueprint” duet “Renegade” … and after a 2006 Grammy win, he never followed up with Linkin Park.

Snoop Dogg's family has just been crowned SKIMS Holiday family of the year and they picked the perfect way to celebrate: snapping the first-ever pic of the legendary rapper's nuclear household!!!

Snoop, his wife Shante "Boss Lady" Broadus, his kids Corde, Cordell and Cori, their children and his daughter's fiance Wayne Deuce all draped up in matching SKIMS fits … with OG Snoop repping for "Black Panther" while wearing his famous Claw Necklace.

"I feel so blessed that three generations of my family were able to come together for the SKIMS Holiday campaign," Snoop said of the look, highlighting the super soft, comfy outfits.

Snoop and his family have been operating like the hip-hop Huxtables for years. He and his wife have been married for 25 years and hopped on reality TV back in 2007 with two seasons of their E! series "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood."

Jay-Z made Bacardi an offer he thought it couldn't refuse -- he was willing to spend $1.5 billion just for the booze co.'s 50% stake in D'Usse, but still got rejected.

TMZ broke the story ... Jay's in a legal war with Bacardi, trying to force the company to buy him out of their 50/50 partnership in the luxury cognac brand. But, according to new docs, it was Jay who first tried to buy out Bacardi, back in December 2021.

Here's what's weird, months before his offer ... Jay says he and Bacardi exchanged valuations of the brand. They were light years apart -- Jay felt his half of D'Usse was worth $2.5 billion, and Bacardi thought it was only worth a measly $460 million!

According to the docs, Jay went back to the drawing board and then in December he offered to buy out his partner for the $1.5 bil ... which, keep in mind, would still be 3 times what Bacardi said it was worth. Sweet deal, right?

Apparently not to Bacardi, since it rejected the offer -- and that's why Jay-Z thinks there's something shady going on here.

In the docs, Jay basically accuses Bacardi of unduly influencing a third party that was called in to appraise the brand. It's unclear what number the appraiser came up with, but it's a fair bet it's closer to Bacardi's value than Jay-Z's.

We say that because Jay's now asking the court to modify the result of an arbitration both parties went through to settle the sale. As we've reported, Jay-Z is ready and willing to part ways with D'Usse ... he simply doesn't want to get cheated on the price.

Ashanti is opening up about an unsavory encounter, to put it lightly, she had with a music producer who tried to force her into sex ... as payment for studio recordings.

She exposed the incident Thursday while she was on "The Breakfast Club" ... saying she and the producer had been working closely together for a couple of weeks -- and he'd told her he'd do it for free because she was "the homie."

Ashanti says she and the producer created 2 songs but then he flipped the script … suggesting they take a shower together or else she would have to pay $40,000 a piece for the tracks!!! WTFFF?!?

After realizing he wasn't joking, Ashanti says she made a couple of phone calls to "handle the situation." It's anyone's guess what that means, but her mom Tina Douglas stepped in to confirm the story.

They also hinted at exposing the studio creep in the future in her memoir.

Sadly, the situation wasn't the first time Ashanti had to dial 911 within her inner circle.

Drake is the most streamed artist on Spotify in the U.S. this year but when it comes to his own tastes … he's rolling with Tupac!!!

Spotify rolled out its annual Wrapped feature Wednesday, and Drake's roundup shines a light on his 'Pac standom.

In all, Drake tallied up a total of 246 2Pac minutes -- putting him among the top 7% of the late "California Love" legend's listeners in 2022.

Drake's 'CLB' album ranked #1 for top hip hop albums on Spotify.

His "Jimmy Cooks" collaboration with 21 Savage was also the No. 1 song of the year on RapCaviar, so you get it ... the OVO takeover was real.

Drake repped for rap, in general, ranking No. 3 on the global scale and only trailing behind Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift.

Drake's Makaveli love goes beyond music. In 2020, he copped a double set of 2Pac pendants, valued at $300,000 each.

Erica Mena is advising all the haters invested in her child support drama with ex-husband Safaree to find a new hobby … because they're not paying her bills!!!

We caught Erica out in Miami a few weeks after her divorce dust settled and she says the single life is treating her well, basically calling it a relief to be wedding ring-free!

A recent “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” episode captured the moment Erica broke down in tears when she learned Safaree’s monthly support payout for their 2 children would be $4,305.

Of course that went viral, and Erica found herself the target of social media slander -- much the way Kim Kardashian's getting it now -- but she wants all her critics to know it takes 2 to tango ... and quite frankly, kids are expensive.

Erica says she's been happier following the divorce ... getting more time to spend with her children and focus on herself.

Bobby Brown has a lot to look forward to next year … especially hitting the road with his New Edition brothers Ralph, Ronnie, Mike, Ricky and Johnny for a new world tour!!!

We linked with Bobby Wednesday at LAX, and he was eager to spill the tea on their upcoming shows. Although the group's had legendary ups and downs since their debut in the '80s -- like Bobby leaving to launch a solo career -- BB tells us their brotherhood is too strong to ever fully break.

NE is undeniably one of the most celebrated R&B groups of all time. They've been in the game for about 40 years, and every member's had success outside the group, too -- be it hip hop supergroup Bell Biv DeVoe or solo hits from Ralph, Johnny and, of course, Bobby.

All of that adds up to fans flocking to see them whenever they tour ... so, no surprise the fellas are running it back next year.

One thing Bobby's not anticipating is the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" ... which will likely document their turbulent life and times together in the '90s.

Bobby says he had zero involvement in 'I Wanna Dance' so he can't cosign on its quality, or the performance of Ashton Sanders ... the actor who's portraying him in the film.

Roddy Ricch is currently at an impasse with Balenciaga amid its child endangerment scandal … but says the world needs more love overall!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Roddy as he was posted outside Ice Cube’s podcast, “The Dub-C & CJ Mac Show,” and the Compton rap star tells us he’s torn over canceling the fashion brand ... seeing as it just gave him the full-scale treatment during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year.

Following its ill-advised campaign that featured kids and a teddy bear BDSM theme, Balenciaga's house has been burning for days ... as was rapper Omi in a Hellcat's— thanks to all the Balenciaga gear he torched in his front yard.

However, Roddy does offer some advice to former Balenciaga fans looking for some new gear ... suggesting they rock his merch instead.

Roddy's been busy lately, with a new album and a Thanksgiving giveaway when he and his team walked into an L.A. grocery store and bought items for unsuspecting customers.

Houston rapper Sauce Walka is beating Soulja Boy at his own game of being the first rapper to achieve (fill-in-the-blank), and he did it in the hottest way imaginable -- visiting a live volcano!!!

Sauce posted a nighttime clip of himself Wednesday, overlooking Hawaii's Mauna Loa -- the world's largest active volcano, which recently started erupting for the first time in 38 years.  The scene behind him is pretty spectacular ... lava's spewing into the sky, although it appears Sauce is at a pretty safe distance.

SW admitted he flew out to Hawaii solely for the stunt … playfully calling out Soulja in the process.

In true rapper fashion, he claims to live for the danger and needed to see the ongoing inferno for himself.

Residents in the area have started closing down some businesses, but the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency’s website claims there’s no current threat to the communities. For now, at least.

Boosie Badazz thinks Nas and Jay-Z's time in the spotlight is fading fast -- if not totally gone already -- but he insists he's saying that with the utmost respect!!!

The Louisiana rapper recently jumped into his favorite hot seat over at VladTV to dissect the NYC icons' careers ... on the heels of 21 Savage's viral remark that Nas is irrelevant to today's rap fans.

Boosie says when he goes into clubs with folks in their early 30s, he NEVER hears Jay or Nas tracks played … a clear sign they’ve been replaced on the scene.

Vlad argues Nas has been steadily pumping out music, to which Boosie counters ... those songs are strictly for the enjoyment of his established fan base, not to draw new ones.

Boosie did give Jay props on the business side, and Nas for winning the 2020 Best Rap Album Grammy -- but he's still pretty much aligned with 21 Savage's previous Clubhouse comments.

Hot Boys rapper B.G. was centered in an internet hoax this week, and Gucci Mane took the bait -- but in doing so, he revealed the cards he's playing for the incarcerated Cash Money Records OG.

Gucci excitedly tweeted Tuesday ... posting a pic of B.G. with a $1 million offer to sign with his 1017 Records, highlighting the respect he had for the Louisiana-born rapper.

Once the purported video of B.G. was debunked -- it wasn't really him -- Gucci deleted the tweet ... seemingly crushing his hopes to boost his So Icy Boyz roster.

Gucci does have some open slots -- he recently dropped an up-and-coming rapper from the label in a 24-hour timespan -- but many signs point to B.G. returning to Cash Money if he stays in the rap game.

Cash Money boss Birdman has been teasing B.G.’s early release from his 14-year prison sentence for months … despite his 2021 conditional release being denied.

The Chopper City rapper is currently holed up in California’s FCI Herlong Detention Center with a current release date of April 7, 2024. He’s been incarcerated on a federal gun charge since 2012.

Kanye West has been spewing antisemitic remarks for weeks, but apparently has no issue plastering the Star of David on his concert merch -- which came to light when he took his daughter shopping.

Kanye picked North West up from school Tuesday -- just hours after TMZ broke the story he and Kim Kardashian had settled in their divorce. Interestingly enough, North's shirt displayed the Star of David with a cross in the middle along with the words Donda and the date 8.5.2021.

The shirt was actually part of the merch collection Kanye released during the "Donda" album listening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium more than a year ago.

What's not clear is the intention behind the design of the merch ... many have said the cross inside the Star of David symbolizes Christianity being central to Judaism, while others have said it simply shows a harmony between the two religions.

As we've reported, Kanye's been on an antisemitic tear -- blaming Jewish business and media leaders for his latest demise and wronging him in the past.

On Monday, he stormed out of a podcast interview with Tim Pool after the host pushed Kanye on his rhetoric and said he didn't agree with what he'd been saying.

Afroman says he's hundreds of dollars short after cops returned the cash they seized during a raid of his home ... and he believes it's the cops who may have their hands on his missing dough.

Afroman joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday, telling us after he counted the returned money from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio on Tuesday, he realized he was $400 short.

He believes either someone swiped the cash from the evidence lockup, or they took it from his pad during the raid. Either way, he tells us he's gearin' up for legal action.

As we reported, the rapper's home was raided back in August ... and he told us at the time they were in search of narcotics but came up empty-handed.

Afroman mentions a kidnapping charge against him regarding the raid -- and law enforcement tells TMZ someone called the cops in August, saying there was a person being held in his home against their will.

GloRilla and Cardi B’s “Tomorrow 2” collaboration is poised for a No. 1 opportunity on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart, and the song’s back story is all about a big surprise ... which Glo spoiled!!!

The Memphis rapper was on The Breakfast Club Tuesday when she revealed she'd sparked up her own relationship with Cardi, but unbeknownst to her, Yo Gotti was already running a play to get Cardi on the remix of her current smash hit.

GloRilla says she sent Cardi a track to collaborate on … and probably came off a little greedy, because Cardi had already recorded and sent the “Tomorrow 2” verse to Gotti.

Unfortunately, Glo ended up getting it too -- and shortly after, she burst Gotti's bubble by revealing she'd already heard the Cardi-boosted track!!

Glo also arguably has 2022's fav rap song in "F.N.F. (Let's Go)" and is up for a Best Rap Performance at next year's Grammys.

The last time she spoke to TMZ Hip Hop, she said the newfound success has floored her but she's still riding above the clouds.

Kanye West is trying to breathe new life into his Donda Academy -- this time in a new, holier location, even though the school has all but crumbled.

Pastor Ronald Nagin of Cornerstone Christian Church tells TMZ he and Kanye have had 3 face-to-face meetings over the last month, and Ye expressed interest in leasing some of the church space in Northridge, CA -- in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley -- for the Donda Academy.

We’re told Kanye believes CCC is an improvement from Donda's old space in Chatsworth -- where Ye reportedly relocated to last year. Prior to that, Donda Academy was operating out of Simi Valley.

As for what Ye likes about Cornerstone, Nagin says he likes the fact it offers a bigger space with more classrooms and a sanctuary. Worth noting … if Ye pulls the trigger on this, he’d only be utilizing a portion of the grounds -- not all of the church property.

While Nagin notes this isn’t a done deal yet, the wheels are in motion … because we’re told Cornerstone’s lawyers are drafting up a lease for Ye right now.

It’s not a one-way street of interest either … Nagin says the church views Donda Academy as a good fit for them too. We’re told Kanye's priority is providing good education in a Christian environment, which is right up the church's alley, as Cornerstone has had many schools operate out of the church in the past.

Of course, the biggest issue -- Kanye losing his students and teachers, who've recently fled for other programs. If he's successful in locking down the new space, he'll have to recruit a lot of new students, and convince the old ones to come back.

If you’re wondering whether Kanye’s recent bigoted and antisemitic comments are going to be a hindrance, the answer is no -- Nagin tells us he considers Ye a good guy and a friend. He even swung by this week for service, separate from the negotiations over the would-be rental space.

It’s interesting … word is, Donda Academy has been a bit of a bare-bones operation that’s sometimes open, sometimes not amid Ye’s erratic behavior -- so, uprooting it again wouldn't be as strange as it seems from the outside.

Nas and 21 Savage are choosing to be relevant together, with a new collaboration … a sharp departure from the near-beef that started simmering with 21’s disparaging comments about the Queensbridge MC.

Nas explained the truce on Instagram … “Only way we moving is with love, respect and unity. The foundational principles of hip hop. Excited to collaborate with my young brother and I hope more artists use turbulent moments and turn them into a time to make new art. That’s what it’s about.”

If you’ll remember, 21 questioned Nas' relevance during a fiery Clubhouse chat, but their song, “One Mic, One Gun” cooly buries the hatchet over a Hit-Boy produced track.

The song's being celebrated by the likes of DJ Khaled, Peter Rosenberg and even Nas’ brother Jungle, who was among the many calling for 21’s head.