TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Gunna says he's still riding for Young Thug, and he's done being hip hop's punching bag -- 2 ideas he repeatedly drives home on "A Gift & a Curse," his comeback effort after springing himself from prison.

The 15-track album dropped Friday ... containing themes of "smashing broads" and being back on his feet, but Gunna gets defensive against the snitch label that's haunted him -- on socials and in the industry -- since taking a plea deal in December in the YSL RICO case.

On the track "Cash S***," Gunna spews at his haters and shouts out Thug by his gov't name ... "You n***** broke, energy low I don't really care though/Out the barrel, man, free my bro Jeffro/Back to business, it's way more dinero."

Gunna was arrested in May 2022 along with several members of the YSL label and he reminds internet trolls it was no laughing matter and even cried in his cell.

On "I Was Thinking," he raps, or pleads to Young Thug ... "Only I done criеd, ’cause this feeling for my bro King Slime/And you know my mind, you done watched that n**** grow/I know you hear the lies."

Like he said on the earlier track, he's out to bring the team more money with the album released on Thug's YSL Records and 300 Entertainment.

Interestingly enough, Thug appears to prepping a response titled, "Business is Business."

His IG page dropped a link to a QR code that leads to a website with a countdown for 5 days from now ... just enough time for Gunna's numbers to make an impact on Billboard and keep the momentum going.

Ne-Yo is NOT back with his ex-wife Crystal Renay despite their recent public outing together ... we're told things are strictly professional, and the two are cordial.

Here's the deal ... Ne-Yo and Crystal raised eyebrows this week when they were both on hand for a public appearance at the opening of their restaurant chain's newest location, prompting speculation they had reconciled after an affair that wrecked their marriage.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Ne-Yo and Crystal are definitely not back together and they were both at the restaurant opening because they are co-owners and it's in their contracts.

We're told Ne-Yo and Crystal are both dating and seeing other people ... as well as co-parenting their three children.

TMZ broke the story ... Crystal divorced Ne-Yo last year after he had a child with another woman.

Our sources say Ne-Yo has a certain amount of appearances he has to make for the restaurant chain they share, Johnny's Chicken and Waffles, and Crystal is heavily involved in the business' day-to-day operations ... which is why they were both at the grand opening in midtown Atlanta.

Flavor Flav isn't shy about his Taylor Swift fandom. After going super viral for attending her concert in Detroit, the Public Enemy legend says he can't wait to see Taylor live again.

TMZ Hip Hop checked in with Flav Thursday on the heels of his grand appearance at Taylor's 'Eras' show. The 64-year-old couldn't understand why people were so surprised to see him enjoying the sounds of TS in person.

As far as Flav is concerned, Taylor's a mega-popstar who's sold over 100 million records ... so of course he's gonna appreciate her greatness!

Flav and Taylor first linked up at the iHeartRadio Awards in March, and he tells us he was bumping her music wayyy before that ... as he's a fan of all genres.

Flav says iHeart's invited him and Chuck D to perform as Public Enemy at their upcoming iHeartRadio Music Festival in September ... and Flav says the group's got a new album on the way.

The project will mark album #16 from the legendary act, and Flav says they've enlisted the services of their OG production team The Bomb Squad for the beats.

Outside the studio, Flavor says his recent trip to Harvard inspired his life for the better and he owes his newfound energy to 3 years (and counting) of sobriety.

Flav and Chuck will also be at the Rock Hall on June 29 to kick off the HipHop50 Exhibit.

Travis Scott is giving a not-so-subtle nod to The Beatles as he moves closer to releasing his first album in four years ... recreating an iconic album cover from the band.

Travis was spotted outside the famous Abbey Road studios -- where we're told he also recorded -- in London Thursday, using the same crosswalk The Beatles included in their "Abbey Road" album back in the day ... as he prepares to release his "Utopia" album.

As you can see, Travis crossed the street with his security ... one of which was carrying the patented "Utopia" briefcase ... with the four members of Travis' crew resembling the famous album cover shot of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison.

Travis' version puts him in the same spot as Paul ... only he's not barefoot like the Beatles star who came before him.

A trip to Abbey Road is a signal Travis is getting close to releasing "Utopia" ... he teased the album this week with a new Nike ad with tennis legend John McEnroe ... where the briefcase with the master recording also made an appearance.

The mania around "Utopia" is definitely similar to Beatlemania ... so Travis is getting super creative here.

There's still no official release date for "Utopia" ... though the Houston Astros already got a preview and Travis is going to be headlining the upcoming Rolling Loud Miami.

Kodak Black thinks he can be a good President for the people of Haiti and seems to be using his Donald Trump friendship as inspiration!!!

Big Black was recently a guest on DJ Whoo Kid's "Whoolywood Shuffle" while rocking his $10K Donald Trump gold chain ... where his political expertise was challenged on the spot.

The "Super Gremlin" rapper has Haitian in his blood and explained he would end the country's history of political corruption, on account he'd already come into office with a stacked bank account!!!

Kodak also reminded fans his heart and intent are pure with every move he makes ... something his frequent acts of charity can vouch for.

As for the chain, Kodak's been rocking it since last June as a token of his appreciation for DT giving him a presidential pardon worth a get outta jail card.

Busta Rhymes' 30-year career in the rap biz will be honored in full at an upcoming event, presented by Netflix.

The veteran rapper will be receiving the Icon Award at the 7th annual Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch ... which won't have a shortage of star power in the spotlight this year.

Chloe x Halle will be granted the Innovators of the Year Award ... while LSU b-ball champ Flau'jae Johnson, Stephen Hill, Troy Carter, Karl Kani, Laurieann Gibson, Chris Robinson and Candace Rodney will all be recognized for their areas of expertise.

The event goes down on Saturday, June 24 inside the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom and is also sponsored by Lexus.

French Montana doesn't want American immigrants to fall prey to mistreatment ... and the "Unforgettable" rapper is dedicating his time to that exact cause.

Thursday saw the premiere of French's partnership and promo for "Informed Immigrant" an organization that provides information, education, and support to undocumented families living in the United States.

French has repped the Bronx his entire rap career but didn't get his U.S. citizenship until 2018 — a full year after his Diamond-selling hit "Unforgettable" dropped ... and the process was more of a headache than he could have imagined.

This Friday, French is set for another debut ... his "For Khadija" doc as part of the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, which chronicles his own journey as an immigrant from Morocco.

Meek Mill thinks YK Osiris deserves a second chance after the singer forcibly attempted to kiss Sukihana (twice) against her will ... and doesn't want to see him fry on the internet.

The Dreamchasers rapper offered his two cents on the matter just as YK's apology to Suki was making its rounds.

According to the mind of Meek, YK is an honest victim of the culture's ultra-sexual nature ... and made the simple mistake of letting his lil' head do the thinking!!!

Meek, in all his wisdom, also thinks YK could benefit from a slap or two and a day at church.

YK came under fire at a Crew League basketball game in the presence of comedians Lil Duval and Funny Marco ... but one person who was not laughing is Amber Rose, who scolded YK and claimed the moment brought her to real tears.

Suki, for her part, has chosen to take a break from social media for the time being and hasn't responded to YK's apology or Meek's unsolicited advice!!!

We covered it all in a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Rap pioneer Gangsta Boo died after consuming a cocktail of hard drugs and alcohol ... this according to a new report.

According to FOX13 in Memphis, the autopsy report for the hip hop artist states she died from an accidental overdose brought on by fentanyl, cocaine, and booze.

As we previously reported, Boo -- whose real name was Lola Mitchell -- was found unconscious on New Year’s Day inside a Memphis residence ... and despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead on the scene. She was 43.

Gunna is ready to fire up his rap career once again after much public backlash ... dropping his first album since springing from prison in December.

The YSL rapper made the surprise announcement Wednesday, which also served as his 30th birthday, saying his fourth album "A Gift & a Curse" is dropping Friday.

Gunna also previewed a new summer vibe presumably from the new album to match his vacation surroundings.

Gunna was on top of the rap world when he was arrested in May 2022 as part of the ongoing YSL RICO case. His last album "DS4Ever" beat out The Weeknd for the top spot on the Billboard 200 and he had the entire world "Pushin P."

Fans are already anticipating the project to see if Gunna will address the massive deflection he's received from his rap peers such as Lil Baby, Lil Durk, even Young Thug's sister Dolly, and protégé Lil Gotit.

YK Osiris wants to make one thing very clear -- he never meant to harm Sukihana in forcibly kissing her at a public event -- and is apologizing for his actions.

Osiris took to instagram to offer an apology Wednesday, writing, "I want to publicly offer my sincerest apology to Sukihana. In an attempt to be playful, I misread the moment and viloated Sukihana's boundaries."

He continues, "I understand the importance of consent and I am embarrassed by my behavior. I take full responsibility and have made multiple attempts to apologize. I have the utmost admiration for Sukihana and it was never my intention to disrespect her."

The apology comes after Osiris was slammed online for a video that showed him and Suki at Crew League in ATL over the weekend where he grabbed her face and kissed her twice as she shrieked in awkwardness.

People online accused Osiris of sexual assault, and hours after the event, Suki tweeted, "I drink to hide that I'm very sensitive. I feel things more then the average person. I stopped drinking yesterday but today I've been crying all day. I asked God to strengthen me and use me to help others and to order my steps in his word. I just want to go away for awhile."

Sources with direct knowledge of the situation told us prior to Saturday, the two didn't have any sort of relationship, and the whole thing took Suki totally off guard ... she was both embarrassed and hurt by YK's actions.

Sukihana has not yet responded to the apology.

Casanova is begging a judge for mercy ahead of his sentencing after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and RICO charges ... and he wants the court to know he's no longer associated with the gang that got him into trouble in the first place.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, the embattled Roc Nation rapper lays it all out in an emotional letter to the judge ... in which he fully renounces his gang ties to the Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods and promises to continue speaking out against gang life.

Casanova says he's not denying he's made some bad decisions, after all, he did plead guilty to the drug trafficking charge ... saying he used the gang life to build an image in the rap community and sell music but insisting he no longer wants to live that life.

The 36-year-old Brooklyn native also pointed to his hard upbringing and lack of a father figure as catalysts for his dip into the crime world but says music created a positive outlet for him.

Casanova thinks the government painted his raps as predominately violent ... but says that doesn't accurately reflect all his material.

He plans to speak out against gangs while locked up and says he's made new acquaintances to assist with his mission.

Casanova also submitted dozens of letters from family, friends, and colleagues vouching for his character and is hoping the judge takes it into account during his sentencing so he can serve his sentence and get back to his normal life and family.

50 Cent's booze brand is adding ice to the mix ... as in, a new partnership with the Stanley Cup champions ... The Las Vegas Golden Knights.

The NHL club, which hoisted professional hockey's trophy Tuesday night, announced a multi-year partnership Wednesday with the rapper's spirits company.

50 Cent's Sire Spirits, which makes Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi Champagne, will now be the official cognac and champagne of the Vegas Golden Knights ... giving 50's brand a presence in the team's arena and on its digital platforms.

In fact, Fiddy was on hand to watch the Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers in Las Vegas to secure the franchise's first Stanley Cup Tuesday night ... and the team partied with his booze in the locker room after the series-clinching win.

The collab isn't just about alcohol ... 50 Cent's G-Unity Foundation is also teaming up with the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation to serve the community in Sin City.

50 Cent's Sire Spirits is on a win streak just like the Golden Knights ... as we first reported, the brand just squashed a beef with Remy Martin over its cognac bottle design.

Tony Yayo thinks if he was in Gunna's shoes, he'd do things a little differently ... as in not leaving his artist boss in the bing to fend for himself.

The G-Unit rapper was dissecting Gunna's new song "Bread and Butter" with DJ Vlad and admitted ... hypothetically speaking, that is ... that he wouldn't take a guilty plea for freedom if he was locked up on charges with 50 Cent.

As you know, Gunna took a guilty plea to spring himself from the ongoing YSL RICO trial where Young Thug is named the kingpin.

Yayo says doing a few years in jail is no sweat for him, especially if it'll prevent him from being labeled a snitch.

He was also fixated on Gunna's lyrics about the lawyers and the DA in the case doing "some sneaky shit" ... suggesting the Atlanta rapper was unaware of the terms of his deal.

Gunna's freedom has been subject to much scrutiny among rappers, especially Boosie Badazz, but that's not something anyone should take lightly.

LSU hoops star Angel Reese appeared in Latto's new music video for "Put It On Da Floor Again", but there was no sign of her teammate Flau'jae Johnson -- who literally did a remix of the same song last month -- and she clearly feels some type of way!!

Remember, Johnson -- who's signed with Roc Nation -- freestyled to Latto's hit single in May ... and despite having to re-do it due to lyrics that referenced the 9/11 attacks, the song went viral.

In fact, Latto reached out to Johnson about the remix, saying it was dope ... but a few weeks later, the Atlanta rapper dropped her music video with Cardi B and Reese and not Johnson ... and many were wondering why.

"Latto she hit me about it, the day before," Johnson explained to Baller Alert this week. "She was like 'I want you to be in the video.' I was like, 'I'm in LA right now. But yeah we can make it happen.' But we didn't make it happen."

"Her people never hit my people. I seen she had asked Angel like a week before. And I was like, 'okay, maybe she ain't really want me in the video for real. But she had to ask, 'cause we kind of had a relationship before and she put Angel in it.'"

Johnson continued, saying at the end of the day, she's happy Reese made the cut ... 'cause it's good for women's college basketball, but she just doesn't understand why she was left out.

"I didn't really care because Angel was in it and that was a big moment for women's basketball, and at the same time, why wouldn't you put me in it? It just makes sense."

"I did the remix, it went viral!" Johnson said.

The SEC Freshmen of the Year says hopes one day she and Latto can do a song together.

Johnson also told us earlier this month she wants to collab with J. Cole.

While he may have cleared the air in one case, Boosie Badazz was dragged back into another legal mess, getting arrested by federal agents ... TMZ has learned.

A spokesperson for the San Diego County District Attorney's office tells us Boosie was in court Wednesday for an appearance in his ongoing gun case. The good news -- the case was dismissed. The bad news -- he still had another pending legal issue.

We're told Boosie was arrested by federal agents outside the courtroom as soon as his gun case hearing wrapped.

We don't currently know the circumstances that led up to the arrest.

As for the gun case ... reports say Boosie was involved in a traffic stop last month when officers discovered two handguns.