TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Detectives from the LAPD are working around the clock to track down PnB Rock's killer, even alerting local pawn shops to keep an eye out for the jewelry stolen off the rapper's neck.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... investigators are confident they'll make an arrest, and have spoken with those close to PnB to determine exactly what type of jewelry he was wearing at the time of his murder.

We're told investigators contacted numerous pawn shops in the area, asking them to alert cops if anyone tries to make a buck off the stolen pieces. The theory is that the murderer would want to get rid of the jewelry quick ... otherwise, it would directly link him to the crime.

Our sources say detectives believe the suspect targeted PnB because of social media posts. The rapper shared a video of himself wearing several expensive chains, and his girlfriend, Steph Sibounheuang, shared their location just before the shooting.

What's more, we're told the entire crime was captured on surveillance ... though sources inside the restaurant tell us that footage is blurry. Cops have been canvassing the area for other cameras, and are working to identify a possible getaway vehicle.

Our law enforcement sources say the killer was wearing a mask at the time of the shooting.

Popular '90s R&B crooner Jesse Powell has died at his home in L.A., this according to his family.

His sister, Tamara, broke the sad news Tuesday night on IG, but did not reveal a cause of death.

She wrote ... "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved son, brother, and uncle Jesse Powell. Jesse loved music and he especially loved his fans who supported him throughout his career. We want you all to know that you meant the world to him." Tamara asked for privacy so her family could grieve and celebrate her brother's life.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Jesse got his first break in his early '20s after a music producer saw him perform at a local talent show. He was signed to a record label and released his first album in 1996.

Throughout the mid-to-late '90s, Jesse enjoyed some moderate success, but he really hit his stride with the release of his 1998 song, "You," which rocketed to No. 2 on the Billboard R&B charts. His second album, 'Bout It," was certified gold after it shot to No. 15 on the charts. Jesse also won high praise for his four-octave vocal range. He retired after his fourth record release in 2003.

Jesse was 51.

Tamika Mallory says there's an underlying problem that explains why PnB Rock was murdered in cold blood -- and, to her, it all has to do with economics.

We got the activist in NYC Tuesday at the Helen Mill Theatre for a screening of VH1's My True Crime Story: Aron. She gave us her take on Rock's killing ... and she's pretty passionate about her position. Essentially, she says we as a society -- but especially our government -- have to examine what circumstances led to PnB being robbed in the first place.

From her perspective, she thinks it all boils down to poverty and folks being in dire straits to make ends meet -- and by extension, desperate as well ... a longstanding issue in underserved communities, which Tamika says has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Tamika says it's dangerous for Black men to simply exist, seeing how they're so often the victims of crime ... famous or not. While PnB Rock was the latest example, TM says this issue finally has to be addressed by America as a whole -- because it's gonna keep happening if not.

Beyond just tackling people's money woes and lack of opportunities, Tamika says mental health is a key part of this conversation too. Lots of roots to this problem, no doubt ... and it's time to start ripping out the weeds to fix it once and for all -- so says Tamika.

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles finds itself in a tough spot 24 hours after PnB Rock's murder -- it's a crisis many businesses are facing amid a violent crime wave -- when and how to resume normal operations.

The South L.A. location where the rapper was killed is open for business Tuesday, and these pics from inside show some employees working, clearing empty plates from tables. We're told the restaurant was fully functioning and had been cleaned after Monday's shooting, but understandably, there aren't many customers sitting down to eat.

What's more, we're told employees who were working during the shooting were given the day off.

TMZ broke the story, PnB was eating inside the restaurant with his girlfriend, Steph Sibounheuang, when the suspect entered, targeting the rapper for his jewelry and opening fire.

Prior to the shooting, PnB's girlfriend posted a photo of the couple's meal with their location ... and earlier in the day, PnB posted a video of himself wearing the jewelry.

PnB was rushed to a local hospital, but died from his injuries. There has not yet been an arrest made in the case and cops continue to chase down leads.

PnB Rock's cold-blooded murder isn't sitting well with the hip-hop community -- just ask DJ Drama, who's especially feeling the pain, because he worked with his fellow Philly rap native as he was on the come-up.

The 'Gangsta Grillz' creator's dropping a PSA, of sorts, about the ongoing debate about PnB's girlfriend -- and mother of his 2 children -- being culpable for his robbery and murder.

As we first reported ... the "Selfish" rapper was eating inside a Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in South L.A. when Steph Sibounheuang posted a pic with their location -- but Drama says that's irrelevant at this point in time.

Police sources tell TMZ there's no evidence the shooting was prompted by a social media post, and Drama tells TMZ Hip Hop ... everyone reacting to PnB's murder shouldn't be making Steph feel any worse than she already is, and instead, should try to uplift her.

Drama points to the wavering economy, and what it means for Black people's financial opportunities -- he believes that's one of the many reasons the cycle of violence continues.

He says cities like Atlanta, New York and Chicago are just as crime-ridden as L.A. ... and rappers with something to lose should start traveling with more vigilance.

Upon their first meeting, Drama says he and PnB immediately made a musical connection through their mutual partnerships at Atlantic Records and their Philly upbringing.

They both linked with Fetty Wap for the 2016 mixtape "Money Hoes and Flows," and Drama recruited PnB once again for his 2019 single "Nasty" ... along with Moneybagg Yo.

Cardi B really believes in public education ... because she went back to her old middle school in New York for a surprise visit, and even whipped out her checkbook.

The Bronx-born MC hit up I.S. 232 Tuesday morning in NYC's Morris Heights neighborhood. Cardi did 3 years there -- 6th grade through 8th -- and we're told her visit came as a complete surprise to the students and principal.

The unannounced drop-in included Cardi having an open conversation with students about their favorite part of school, favorite teacher and some sage life advice.

Cardi also answered a couple of the students' questions ... and at the end of her visit, she presented I.S. 232 with a $100,000 donation which she wants to see go towards after-school programs, including tutoring and music/dance.

The students let out a huge cheer when Cardi announced the donation, while teachers and administrators almost started crying.

PnB Rock's death has not only shocked his fans and the music industry, but the sports world as well ... with NBA and NFL stars like DeSean Jackson and J.R. Smith mourning the Philly rapper's death.

We broke the news on Monday that PnB Rock (real name Rakim Allen) was shot and killed in an alleged robbery while dining at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in South L.A with his girlfriend.

35-year-old Jackson -- who last played for the Las Vegas Raiders -- went to IG after hearing the tragic news, posting a photo of the "I Like Girls" rapper with the RIP caption.

"Man good n***a!! This s*** gotta stop 🙏🏽", Jackson said.

The NFL receiver also put out a warning about his hometown of Los Angeles which has seen a surge in robberies -- a 25.2% increase in the area PnB Rock was killed, according to the L.A. Times.

"LA ain't safe," Jackson said, "Y'all stay on Decc."

Jackson also shared a post from L.A. rap legend Snoop Dogg, which reads ... "you gotta be careful being happy around unhappy people".

2-time NBA champ and North Carolina AT&T golfer, J.R. Smith, also shared condolences on social media, saying ... "Sh** is ass man 😞🤲🏽. PnB Rock rest up bro!"

35-year-old Lou Williams -- 3-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year -- shared a photo with PnB Rock, with the caption "Rest Well Rock 💔"

Boxing star Chris Eubank Jr. went to Twitter to express sadness and anger ... saying, "Its so crazy how we’re living in a society where its normal for young black artists to die every year all year round."

"This doesn’t happen in any other culture!! White, Asian, Indian, Latin… no other culture has established artists getting killed like this!! WHY US?? RIP PnB Rock."

PnB Rock was only 30 years old and is survived by his two daughters.

Rapper PnB Rock has died after he was shot while eating at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles with his girlfriend.

The "Selfish" rapper was pronounced dead at an L.A. area hospital Monday, where he was rushed just minutes after the shooting.

TMZ broke the story ... PnB Rock was shot Monday afternoon while dining with his GF and mother of his child, IG model Steph Sibounheuang, at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant. A source connected to the restaurant tells us the shooter appeared to have targeted PnB in a robbery ... he posted video of himself wearing expensive jewelry earlier in the day.

The suspect is still on the loose. We're told there's surveillance video that may help police identify him.

PnB Rock moved to L.A. from Philadelphia after signing a record deal with Atlantic Records following his 2014 debut mixtape. His stage name refers to a street corner in the Philly neighborhood where he grew up, Pastorius and Baynton.

Over the years, PnB Rock has collaborated with artists including Ed Sheeran, Chance the Rapper, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Kodak Black, Young Thug and A Boogie wit da Hoodie.

In addition to his numerous mixtapes, PnB Rock released two studio albums ... 2017's "Catch These Vibes" and 2019's "TrapStar Turnt PopStar."

PnB Rock is survived by his two daughters, Milan and Xuri, who he shared with Steph.

He was only 30.

Rapper Famous Dex is taking another shot at battling his addiction issues, and this attempt comes right on the heels of his latest stint in jail.

Sources close to Dex tell TMZ ... the RichForever rapper was released from L.A. County jail last week, and went straight into a rehab facility for his overall wellness ... and to get himself right for the world again.

Dex had been thrown back behind bars in January and then in June for violating a protective order his ex-girlfriend got against him.

This is his second rehab stay, and we’re told his plan is to remain in treatment until November.

In December 2020, he voluntarily admitted himself for treatment after publicly denying he had any issues with drugs -- that was despite his infamous 2018 IG Live session where he passed out, sparking concern from fans.

Right now, he's trending in the right direction -- in June, Dex announced he'd gone 5 months without a relapse.

Rapper PnB Rock was shot while dining with his girlfriend at a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant ... and video shows him fighting for his life.

The shooting just happened, with restaurant employees in a panic as the rapper lay on the floor. Law enforcement sources say they got a call to the restaurant at 1:23 in the afternoon for a shooting victim.

The video shows Rock still moving, but it's possible he may have taken a turn for the worse.

We don't yet have any info on the shooter, but we know PnB was there dining with his girlfriend, Steph, who posted a photo of their meal. A source connected to the restaurant tells TMZ ... it appears the shooter targeted PnB, because no one else was shot or assaulted, and there were plenty of people eating inside the restaurant.

Our source adds it appears the shooter took jewelry off PnB and then fled. PnB had previously posted video of himself wearing several diamond/silver chains.

We're told there's surveillance cameras inside the restaurant, so it may help police apprehend the shooter.

Rock is originally from Philly, but calls L.A. home. He released his debut mixtape in June 2014, and in 2015 signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. In 2016, Rolling Stone named PnB on the list of "10 New Artists You Need to Know."

One of the jurors seated in the R. Kelly trial in Chicago just suffered a panic attack during a break in proceedings ... and the judge quickly moved to get them outta there.

The unusual scene played out Monday, when the juror, a white female, started having a panic attack after the prosecution gave their closing argument. The judge says he was told the juror "couldn't last another minute" and he excused her ... according to reporter Jon Seidel.

The judge says a white male alternate juror is now stepping in ... and like the juror he's replacing, this guy has also not seen the "Surviving R. Kelly" documentary.

The defense teams are now giving their closing arguments, after the prosecution ripped Kelly to begin the day, labeling him a sexual predator who used his celebrity to abuse minors.

Drakeo The Ruler was killed at his own show in December 2021 ... but that hasn't stopped his old landlord from trying to collect the rent against his estate.

In new legal documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, a man named Oliver Omidvar says he rented a place in Hollywood Hills to the late Los Angeles rapper back in June 2021 for $14,500/month.

Omidvar says he stopped getting monthly payments in January 2022 ... a month after Drakeo was killed outside the Once Upon A Time In LA music festival.

The lawsuit also claims the property was left in shambles ... noting damage to everything from electronics to windows and skylights in addition to several thousands of dollars being used to fix plumbing, drywall, and new coats of paint on the walls.

All told, Omidvar is asking for a total of $104,542.60 from Drakeo's estate to pay for the back rent and damages.

Lil Baby and Gunna's "Drip Too Hard" collaborative single is getting an incredible 4th birthday gift ... a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for going 10x platinum!!!

Gunna's label Young Stoner Records announced the honor, explaining the Atlanta rap classic went 9x platinum ... but music's new era math throws in 1 billion streams from Spotify, and that adds up to the Diamond plaque.

The song kicked off the campaign for the 2 swaggy rappers' 2018 collaborative album and arguably their hot streak as solo artists.

Its accompanying music video, directed by Spike Jordan, also has over 81 million views to date ... which adds to its running tally.

Only a handful of hip hop compositions have gone Diamond and the "Drip Too Hard" win definitely calls for a celebration ... but the occasion does come at a bittersweet time, as Gunna, Young Thug and several other members of the YSL movement are currently incarcerated on RICO charges.

The last time we spoke to Lil Baby, he said the YSL guys were in good spirits after talking with them in jail. And in spite of everything, Baby's got a glass-half-full outlook on his career right now.

His 'Untrapped' documentary was recently released on Amazon Prime to positive reviews and his upcoming album, "It's Only Me" ... is due out October 20.

Lil Tjay seems to be doing fine following his near-fatal shooting this summer … just ask 50 Cent, who was all smiles while flicking it up with the “FN” rapper.

Tjay posted a double selfie Monday … referencing both his and 50 Cent’s brushes with death with the caption “MANY MEN" loaded with thinking emojis.

The Trench Kid was hanging out in L.A. while taking in a special performance from his rap O.G.’s Snoop Dogg, Tony Yayo, Flo Rida and O.T. Genasis … who jokingly used 50’s song “I’m Supposed to Die Tonight” as a punchline for Tjay’s good fortune.

Of course, it’s historic knowledge 50 Cent survived being shot 9 times prior to making it big as a rapper … and famously detailed the incident in his song “Many Men” from his diamond-selling debut album, “Get Rich Or Die Trying.”

The song has been a popular remake for rappers in the past … 21 Savage, Polo G and the late Pop Smoke, among others, have their own versions -- and it would be a nice fit for Tjay’s comeback catalog.

Tjay was shot 7 times before bouncing back with the song “Beat The Odds” and revealed he started walking a week after coming out of surgery.

YNW Melly's diamond-encrusted grill isn't doing him any favors in jail -- and neither is the judge who denied his recent request to leave jail for emergency dental work.

The "Murder on my Mind" rapper is currently holed up in Broward County jail awaiting trial for double murder ... and recently claimed he has a serious toothache that requires a dental visit.

According to documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop ... Melly wasn't able to convince the judge, who rejected his motion on August 30.

Melly's full set of diamond dental crowns require constant upkeep, but he claims he wasn't allowed to possess a simple toothbrush, dental floss or get regular dental visits while locked up.

As a result, he says he developed a painful abscess in his lower jaw that is the source of his chronic infection.

Rapper Swae Lee has a 1-year-old child, TMZ has learned ... and he's filed in L.A. court to establish joint custody.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Swae had a daughter back in 2020 with Brazilian model Aline Martins. He filed in July and will ask for 50/50 custody of 1-year-old Angel.

Aline discussed it all in an interview with Jornal Extra last year, telling the outlet, “I would like him to give love and be a present father, but I won't be humiliating myself either. I think my daughter doesn't deserve that."

It's unclear what the conflict is ... but we're told Swae's motivation for going to court is that he wants a real relationship with his daughter, and that includes sleeping at his home and spending significant time with her. He also wants a holiday schedule. Our Swae sources say the reason for filing court docs is to set the ground rules before any problem arises.

We're told Swae has been paying Aline money for the kid, but she had claimed last year that she had accumulated $15k in debt from expenses, prenatal care, and rent.

For those unaware, Swae's current girlfriend Victoria Kristine uploaded pics from her baby shower last week ... she captioned the gender reveal with "Our little wild one is on the way." She made the initial pregnancy announcement earlier in August. BTW ... they're having a boy.