TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Noah Lyles ain't backing off his "world champion" stance one bit ... and he's sending some loud-and-clear shade to one of the guys who had the biggest problem with it all -- Drake.

The track star won three golds (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) at the World Athletic Games in Budapest, Hungary last month ... and following the efforts, he ruffled a ton of feathers when he said NBA players shouldn't get to call themselves champs of the globe like he could.

"World champion of what?" Lyles said, reminding those in attendance that NBA players only perform in the U.S. and Canada. "The United States?!"

His comments were hit with immediate criticism ... with guys like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Draymond Green -- and, yes, even Drake -- firing away at him.

But, when Lyles sat down with TMZ Sports this week ... he made it clear he's not budging from his opinion -- though he did clarify that he loves what the NBA's doing, and he wants track and field to follow their model.

"I do think that the point was lost," he told us. "At the end of the day, it was talking about how I see what we do to our national championships -- I just want the same thing for our world champions. And we're a sport where we're bringing in the most medals every year -- and it's like nobody even knows because they don't pay attention."

As for Drake ... Lyles brushed off the rapper's criticism of him -- saying, "Just go home, buddy. Go home."

Joe Budden thinks Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's new single is a 2-pack of ass, and nothing compared to their last collab... arguing it's missing a key element, or a man rather.

The rapper shared his thoughts on CB and MTS's latest song, "Bongos," in his latest episode of "The Joe Budden Podcast" -- and, per usual, he was unfiltered in breaking it down. As he explains, he just doesn't feel "Bongos" has quite the pizzazz that their last single did.

Of course, he's talking about "WAP" ... which charted well when it released, and which kinda captured the zeitgeist at the time. This time around though, JB says the magic is gone.

The reason he thinks "Bongos" won't have as much staying power is because Pardison Fontaine -- aka, Pardi -- wasn't in the mix this time around as a collaborator, or so he assumes (more on this later). If you didn't know, Pardi had writing credits on "WAP" ... in addition to other Cardi and Meg songs, and he's been a regular writer of CB's lately.

Of course, he also dated Meg for a good while last year ... that is, until they split up.

There's still no official word on why she and Pardi parted, but it's clear she's moved on with other men -- having been snapped out in public with different high-profile dudes of late.

Anyway, Joe mistakenly says Pardi appears to be missing here -- 'cause 'Bongos,' to him, just isn't it. But as it turns out, the dude is a credited writer on this song as well. JB might've flubbed in that regard, but his larger point here is ... 'Bongos' isn't as high on the "ratchet" level as previous entries of theirs, and he feels like Cardi and Meg missed the mark.

Time will tell how "Bongos" does performance-wise ... it was literally just released yesterday, to a lot of fanfare. One notable thing about it that's getting buzz is the production cost -- a reported $2 million budget just to cook it up. Also, they're gonna perform it at the VMAs.

Mount Westmore OGs Snoop Dogg and E-40 can never be accused of hogging the spotlight from the younger generation of rap.

They're both helping up-and-coming Los Angeles rapper Zoe Osama get his name out in the streets by hopping on his new track!!!

On Friday, Zoe released the new video for his "Underrated (Remix)" which finds Snoop sliding in the 2nd verse and 40 following suit with complex rhyme styles.

The track also features MoneySign Suede, the L.A. rapper who was murdered inside California's Correctional Training Facility back in April.

Per our report at the time, MoneySign was stabbed in the neck in the showers on the evening of April 26 and prison officials were unable to revive him ... but Zoe's making sure he lives on through the music.

Zoe also dedicated the song to MoneySign and several other slain West Coast rappers, including Nipsey Hussle.

Polo G's September 15 release date for his upcoming "Hood Poet" album is no longer a thing ... having endured not one, but two eye-popping arrests in the last few months that have prevented him from promoting the music.

The Chicago rap star made the somber announcement Friday, calling it a minor setback.

Sources close to Polo tell TMZ Hip Hop ... as of now, the album delay won't affect his current touring schedule.

He's scheduled to perform in New Mexico in October, blitz through Europe for much of November and also has a concert in Canada in December.

Polo's wild chain of events last month got us to this point. We broke the story ... Polo and his brother Trench Baby were arrested twice in a 24-hour span around August 23, resulting in a gun possession charge for Polo and a robbery charge for his brother.

Cops claim they found tons of guns and even a small bag of drugs following their raid of Polo's home.

B.G. famously stated "Cash Money is Army, better yet a Navy" ... and the newly freed rapper is enlisting once again, so says bossman Birdman, who's also working on a full-scale Hot Boys reunion!!!

The Cash Money CEO made the grand revelation Friday with 85 South Show, in a rare interview, harkening back to when he discovered a 13-year-old B.G. and molded him into a platinum-selling superstar.

"My lil n****'s official Cash Money ... ain't nobody else he gonna sign with besides this shit," Birdman told Karlous Miller while speculating on the other members.

B.G. was released from prison Monday, after serving 11 years and Birdman was there to greet him, immediately rekindling their union.

B.G. parted ways with Cash Money more than 20 years ago ... but not before making a name for himself and his legacy with Juvenile, Lil Wayne and Turk as the Hot Boys.

Turk recently told TMZ Hip Hop he's already geared up for the Hot Boys reunion, and with B.G. inking a new deal, everything appears to be falling into place.

Latto is moving up Coi Leray's family tree for more song source material ... using her father, Benzino, for a nifty lil punch line about his neck!!!

Young Nudy dropped off his "Peaches & Eggplants (Remix)" on Friday, recruiting estrogen energy that's been dominating hip hop as of late with Latto and Sexyy Red.

The song details the ins and outs of sexual encounters and Latto got into a name-drop bag on her verse to describe hers ... rapping, "He don't eat p****, he gots to go/Give me that neck like Benzino/Give me that neck like, "Where it go?"

Benzino, a devout gym rat, has been ribbed online for years over his head's muscular foundation base ... and fans weren't oblivious to Latto's shade!!!

Coi used Latto's name on the hook of her recent single "Isabel Marant" where she crooned, "Hop up on that couch and roll up Latto out the bag."

Of course, Latto fired the first shot when was smoking on blunts as big as Coi on her "Put It on Da Floor" track back in April ... and clearly she's up for sending more neckativity in the family's direction!!!

CEO Jizzle, the Memphis-based rapper in Young Dolph's Paper Route Empire camp who was shot during Lil Baby's concert Thursday night, appears to be OK ... and cops are still trying to find the suspect.

Memphis Police sources tell TMZ Hip Hop they're actively investigating how someone was able to get a firearm past security at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. We're told there were no other injuries reported, indicating Jizzle might have been targeted.

For now, cops are gathering video and asking the public to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-2274 with any additional info that might lead to an arrest.

After arriving on the scene, officers discovered Jizzle with a gunshot wound ... he was taken out of the arena on a stretcher and rushed to a hospital.

Jizzle was listed in critical condition but appeared to be feeling much better Friday when he posted on IG ... lashing out at rumors of his death which were floating online.

The elusive name of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's baby boy is a mystery no more ... we've finally learned what the kiddo's called.

According to the birth certificate, obtained by TMZ, the couple's new bundle of joy is named Riot Rose Mayers. The name follows the tradition of "R" names in the family ... remember, they named their first son RZA.

Sources first told us Riot Rose arrived August 3, but that was off, the actual date of birth was August 1.

You'll recall, A$AP teased the name a bit at the end of last month while out in West Hollywood saying the name reveal was, "Coming soon."

Don't forget, surprises like this are big for Rihanna -- she broke the news of her new baby to the world during her Super Bowl halftime performance earlier this year ... showing off her bump to millions of folks watching the big game.

Ja Rule's reiterating his feeling that 50 Cent is an "idiot" for hurling a mic that could earn him a felony charge, but he's also telling TMZ Hip Hop ... the moment's in his rearview mirror.

The "Holla Holla" rapper's already looking toward the future of his upcoming comedy special, which happens next month!!!

We caught up with Ja Thursday night outside TV personality Josh McBride's birthday party at Somewhere Nowhere NYC, and he blew off his recent digs at his archnemesis.

ICYMI, 50 clowned Ja for, in his eyes, reenacting "The Passion of Christ" at a recent show ... but then Ja barked back -- going more viral -- by bringing up the criminal battery probe associated with 50 injuring Power 106 radio host, Bryhana Monegain with the mic he threw.

Ja spared the crowd the holy antics inside Josh's party, delivering only hits, but revealed to us he plans on giving fans a different form of entertainment come Oct. 25 - 27 when he takes over Harlem's Apollo Theater for his "Laughing It Up" comedy series.

Now that she's cleared of any potential charges, Cardi B is popping her ish over that Vegas mic-throwing incident, and she's standing by her actions!!!

Cardi popped up on "The Breakfast Club" Friday, and recalled the violent July incident with much detail ... but admitted she was initially quiet because she thought the incident would land her in jail!!! 😬

TMZ Hip Hop broke the story, Cardi was cleared in August after the criminal investigation determined there was no reason to charge her.

Cardi recalled the scorching Vegas temperatures playing a factor in her asking the crowd to splash her with water, while also warning them not to hit her face.

After performing several songs Cardi says she was met with a face full of ice and thinks the fan did it on purpose, so she retaliated by throwing the mic like a javelin.

Lil Baby's rap concert was thrown into chaos Thursday night in Tennessee ... this after one person was shot and critically injured.

The hip hop star was performing at FedExForum in Memphis late in the evening, when a gunman suddenly opened fire inside the venue.

Baby was whisked off stage after the bullets started flying on the first floor, according to WREG News.

Memphis PD officers and Emergency Service workers responded, finding a man with gunshot wounds.

A video posted to social media shows paramedics lifting the man onto a gurney and wheeling him away. Other footage caught all the confusion as fans spilled out of the arena.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

The suspect fled and is still at large. A motive was not disclosed.

We've reached out to Baby's rep for comment ... so far no word back.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are once again a dynamic duo, but this time they've brought their "Bongos" ... and they want you to check 'em out.

On Thursday evening, Cardi released her comeback album single, one fans have been waiting on since her debut project back in 2018 ... and it doesn't disappoint in the skintastic department.

Both rap stars swapped through multiple outfit changes ... mostly bikinis, matching the steamy artwork for the single, which they've been teasing for several days.

Both Cardi and Meg lyrically flex on the track, which employs a Latin-tinged sound, the perfect music bed for Cardi to add a little flavor in Spanish.

"Bongos" is also Megan's first musical release since Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting her the same year "WAP" blew up.

Some fans lucky enough to get a signed CD of "Bongos" from Cardi will be privy to a collectible for the books ... since it appears a few will have her essence all over them!!!

Before this New York City native in her little fishy bathing suit turned into a famous singer, she was just running around the Big Apple and breaking into the music industry with her cover of Drake's "Headlines" track.

Her initial claim to fame came from her days on Tumblr, but at just 19 years old ... Atlantic Records signed her. You may have heard her song "Collide" featuring Tyga, and when she's not in the studio, you can find her on social media ... posting hot shots from the gym!

Need one more clue? Just ask her bestie, Hailey Bieber!

Desiigner wants to put his recent past as a mid-flight masturbator behind him ... agreeing to a plea deal that he hopes will allow him to avoid jail time!!!

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Desiigner is set to enter the guilty plea Sept. 8 agreeing to the recommended sentence of 2 years probation, 120 hours of community service, a $5K fine and a public apology to the flight attendants.

We broke the story ... the "Panda" rapper was busted after returning home on a flight from Japan where prosecutors say he told flight attendants he was "brick hard."

He allegedly dropped a jar of lubricating Vaseline in the aisle and eventually had to be monitored for the duration of the flight.

Following the incident, Desiigner immediately apologized, and claims he's attended 19 court-appointed counseling/therapy sessions since the incident ... he also says he voluntarily submitted himself for drug testing, which he says came back clean.

Desiigner's attorney is asking the judge not to impose any travel restrictions that would slow his movement as a professional musician, insisting he has tours planned for all over the world in 2023-24.

Desiigner's management team also stated he's been pouring his "heart and soul" into his upcoming music as part of his personal growth.

Ja Rule's decided 50 Cent's controversial hurling of a microphone at the head of a radio host is too sweet a moment to pass up -- so, he's rubbing the incident in his longtime rival's face!!!

Ja compiled several clips on Instagram, which included 50's performance from Super Bowl LVI and Power 106's Bryhana Monegain's facial injuries from the thrown mic.

"We ain't forget… Enjoy those criminal charges and lawsuit d***head!!!" Ja quipped on IG while adding hashtags to his alcohol brands just like 50 does on all his own posts.

50 initially fired the first shot ... clowning Ja's recent Jesus-esque performance but the Murda Inc. rapper took it to a whole 'nother level throwing digs and 50's pending legal drama.

As we reported, 50 is a suspect in the felony battery case LAPD opened after the rapper's mic meltdown.

While, 50's lawyer says the potential charge is ridiculous ... Ja seems to find it quite funny!!!

One person who's clearly not amused is Bryhana, who told us she blacked out after the impact.

B.G., the former Cash Money Records rapper who made up 1/4 of the legendary Hot Boys, is fresh outta prison, and his groupmate Turk says it's an extremely joyous occasion after an 11-year wait.

Turk tells TMZ Hip Hop he and B.G. were thick as thieves during their come-up as one of the most influential acts in hip hop history, but, understandably, lost contact amid B.G.'s lengthy sentence ... and they have plenty of catching up to do!!!

With tracks like "Bling Bling" and "I Need a Hot Girl," the Hot Boys impacted rap music and popular culture in the late 90s with their lyrics and trendsetting slang.

Now that B.G.'s on the outside, Turk says a reunion with the remaining HB members should be coming, along with Juvenile and Lil Wayne. Although he admits there haven't been any official plans as of yet.

TMZ Hip Hop broke the story, B.G. will be on community confinement until July 2024, but has already seen some familiar faces, including his ex-CEO Birdman!!!

It was a great sign for all longtime fans ... all the Hot Boys have had their various disputes with the label over the years, but Birdman's presence gives heavy credibility to Turk's reunion goals.