TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Ice Cube is giving several of his fellow rappers the opportunity to live out their hoop dreams once again ... with the return of his Big 3 Celebrity Game.

On Thursday, Cube and Monster Energy unveiled this year's lineup... he and Big Daddy Kane for Team Webull will be defending their title against Clyde Drexler and Doug E. Fresh's Team PrizePicks ... come August 19 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Rappers NLE Choppa, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Symba, Rico Nasty, Millionz Dollarz Worth Of Game's Gillie & Wallo will be joining ex-NFL stars such as Terrell Owens and Vernon Davis, among others ... a collaborative effort to raise money and awareness for underprivileged youth.

"We are enthusiastic about this collaboration as it brings funds and attention to significant causes as well as joy on the court,” Cube said of the upcoming event on Thursday.

Cube's been going hard in the paint for the Big 3 this year, ripping "the powers that be" that block his league from expanding.

Desiigner allegedly admitted to breaking the terms of his pretrial release in the case where he was accused of masturbating on a plane in April ... and now he could land behind bars.

According to docs obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, the "Panda" rapper's probation officer told the court Desiigner admitted to using marijuana and then failed to show up for drug testing in July. The PO is now asking the judge to see if his pretrial release should be revoked.

We broke the story ... Desiigner was charged with indecent exposure and was ordered not to have any contact with any alleged victims, abstain from alcohol, and refrain from using controlled substances.

You'll recall he said the ordeal in the air was caused by some mental health issues.

Desiigner was also supposed to attend counseling sessions ... something the PO also said he's failed to verify he's doing.

The documents also say Desiigner hasn't signed his co-payment agreement for drug testing and failed to supply a P.O. Box address to the probation department.

Sexyy Red has earned clout in hip hop saying whatever comes to her dirty mind … even if it’s not exactly the truth.

The "Pound Town" rapper had to call cap on her own self after her Lil Yachty interview comment about never using condoms went viral on Thursday -- and many fans started calling her out for sexual irresponsibility.

Sexyy Redd referred to herself as the "raw dog queen" while retelling a past encounter where her ex-boyfriend accused her of sleeping around and leaving used condoms as evidence --only to walk back those comments on Instagram as fan outrage grew.

Elsewhere in the interview, she spoke on being a victim of revenge porn, but things have since done a 180° for the St. Louis rapper, much like her anti-condom comments.

Her Nicki Minaj-featured hit remix "Pound Town 2" was recently certified Gold by the RIAA and her breakout album "Hood Hottest Princess" continues to twerk on the charts as well.

Travis Scott is getting blamed for shutting down all concerts at an ancient Italian stadium ... this after his performance Monday sparked numerous calls from concerned residents fearing there was an earthquake.

The rapper did his Monday night show at Rome's Circus Maximus near the famed Colosseum, but it turned into a fiasco when someone pepper-sprayed 60 fans who then needed medical attention. A 14-year-old was injured in a fall after climbing a wall, according to CNN.

During the unrest, Romans reportedly inundated the local fire department with calls about a possible earthquake writing on social media, "Anyone feel an earthquake?"

But all the shaking residents were feeling was not from a natural disaster ... rather, it was coming from the multitude of fans jumping around at Travis' concert when Kanye West made a surprise appearance onstage and started rapping with his longtime friend.

As a result, Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archeological Park, has now called for the end of concerts at Circus Maximus with the exception of operas and ballets.

Russo told CNN ... "The Circus Maximus is a monument. It is not a stadium, not a concert hall. These mega rock concerts put it at risk."

This must feel a little like déjà vu for Travis, who had to endure the whole controversy surrounding his Astroworld debacle in which 10 people died and thousands injured at his 2021 show in Houston, Texas.

Tory Lanez is starting to feel the gravity of his 10-year prison sentence -- after believing the system would do right by him, he's now turning to God to for strength.

Tory's defense attorney, Jose Baez, tells TMZ his client is feeling pretty low right now after having the book thrown at him. We're told Tory is having a hard time processing the sentence, but Baez also says despite that ... Tory's made it clear to him he's going to remain strong and deal with his time behind bars as best as he can.

Jose says Tory is leaning on his faith in God, the support of his friends/family and the indignation his supporters around the world are expressing -- many of whom are loudly lamenting the stiff punishment.

Baez says Tory was hoping the judge would show mercy -- especially with the number of people who went to bat for him in court, including some celebs. We're told the reason there's so much outcry for Tory is because he was genuinely loved in the community ... as he'd done a lot to give back over the years.

In the meantime, Baez insists an appeal is coming.

Tekashi 6ix9ine was back in a familiar spot Wednesday night ... posing for a booking photo after getting arrested in Florida.

The rapper was busted for failing to appear in court and brought to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he mugged for his mug shot. He was later released after posting $2,000 bail.

The arrest stems from 3 traffic tickets Tekashi received after he was pulled over by police in June for driving way over the speed limit.

According to court docs ... Tekashi was going 135 mph in a 65 mph zone on the Florida Turnpike before he was given a ticket for speeding. He was also issued citations for having an unregistered vehicle and no car insurance.

Tekashi failed to appear for a July court hearing to address the tickets ... leading a judge to issue a warrant that resulted in last night's arrest.

6ix9ine has always been a magnet for trouble. His many brushes with the law are notorious and he's perhaps best known for cooperating with the feds in his 2018-2019 racketeering case in which he testified against members of his former gang.

Lil Wayne's historic career was stamped yet again last night as he was inducted into the Billboard Hip-Hop Hall of Fame ... an honor that apparently interrupted his studio time.

Weezy F. Baby embraced Billboard Executive Director Gail Mitchell and thanked the fans for their undying support … and also told the audience he was in the midst of recording when his team told him he had to be at the awards!!!

The veteran rap star assured the crowd he would be returning to the studio after he finished hobnobbing at the event … presumably to work on his long-awaited 'Carter 6' album.

Outside the venue, he and Nas shared a loving moment with their daughters while posing for pics.

DJ Akademiks apparently still has lingering trauma from interviewing Erykah Badu 5 years ago ... which all spilled out, with much acidity, while discussing the Tory Lanez case on his live stream.

After a commenter called upon Badu to work "her magic" on Ak for his involvement in the Tory trial, Ak exploded with disdain for the R&B songstress, harkening back to their 2018 encounter on "Everyday Struggle" when Badu said he looked like the mouse from "Tom & Jerry."

Ak made it clear the moment still bothers him and roasted Badu for having children with 3 different rappers -- Outkast's André 3000, The D.O.C. and Jay Electronica -- and vowed he'll never let up off the throttle.

When another commenter suggested Badu was just joking, Ak claimed his disrespectful barbs were jokes as well. He says he bottled in the pain for 5 years, after having a tarnished experience of being treated like a stepstool.

Ak was initially triggered by reporter Meghann Cuniff revealing a judge declared Tory was passing him information in the case, a claim Adademiks is denying.

He also spent 10 minutes laying into SZA for her cosmetic surgeries and weight gain, but they've been beefing since 2017 ... nothing new except a fresh round of insults.

Trippie Redd is owning up to a HUGE mistake ... the Diamond-selling rapper might specialize in "Love Letter" albums, but he's writing a breakup note to now ex-girlfriend Skye Morales for cheating on her!!!

On Wednesday, Trippie came forward, claiming Skye had been giving him the cold shoulder so he decided to find a warm bed elsewhere.

But, he says it's now eating him up inside that he cheated, and he's advising his fans to keep any love they find close so they don't end up like him -- spilling his personal tea all over social media.

Skye and Trippie had been going strong since 2020, and she was on hand for his beach birthday bash in June, but the tide has since turned.

He ended his heartbreak PSA cursing everyone who wished for their relationship to end ... but, surprisingly, says he doesn't wish for Skye to forgive him for his transgressions.

Skye didn't add much to Trippie's apology, outside sharing a meme that reflected her frustration, but the breakup could also be a marketing ploy for Trippie's upcoming "A Love Letter To You 5" album -- as the record's previously announced release date, Aug. 4, has come and gone without the project dropping.

Yo Gotti's romantic spark with Angela Simmons is burning brightly -- the Memphis rapper is ranking her numero uno at the top of his list.

TMZ Hip Hop found Gotti beaming with pride at iHeartRadio in NYC Tuesday where he expressed his thoughts, calling AS "The One."

Naturally, Gotti's signaling of Angela also doubles for promotion of his new single "The One" which follows the CMG couple across a tropical island getaway as they savor the moment.

The vid's reminiscent of a whirlwind honeymoon ... and Angela's got a birthday coming up next month, so the stakes to top the recent escapade are higher than ever.

Although Gotti was mum on his future with Angela, he seems intent on splurging on his darling, telling us he plans to give her the world.

Tory Lanez has just been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion.

The rapper's sentencing was handed down Tuesday in L.A. after almost a full two days of sentencing hearings. Tory was facing over 22 years in prison. The sentencing was actually delayed several times over the last few months, at one point Tory begged the judge, "Please don't ruin my life, sir."

As we reported, Tory was found guilty in December of shooting Megan. Video, obtained by TMZ, from the now-infamous moment back in 2020 showed Megan limping near their SUV and leaving behind a trail of blood.

Tory was found guilty of all 3 charges against him -- negligent discharge of a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm.

The jury verdict was met with serious pain from Tory's family as it was read, because several members -- including his dad and stepmom -- shouted, "This system stands before God!" Some of his family members were even escorted out of the courtroom.

Sources connected to the case told us the Canadian rappers' lawyers were in contact with immigration officials before the verdict came in ... saying they were informed there was a strong chance he could be forced to leave the country, but obviously that hasn't happened.

A petition also grew online after the verdict in support of Tory ... and Tory even hired high-powered lawyer Jose Baez to work on his appeal.

Baez, who won an acquittal for Casey Anthony back in the day, joined us on "TMZ Live" in January, telling us he was all in to help Tory out -- adding he was pretty confident in getting the job done, claiming there were numerous procedural errors during the trial.

LL Cool J's involved in multiple celebrations this week to commemorate hip hop's 50th anniversary -- a full-circle moment for the legendary rapper who always knew rap music was going places!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught Uncle L out Tuesday in NYC, where he expressed gratitude his chosen profession blossomed into one of the biggest cultural phenomenons ever witnessed.

LL's "Rock The Bells" tagline isn't just the name of his SiriusXM radio show and festival ... it's a cut from his debut album "Radio," released all the way back in 1985!!!

That predates social media, podcasts, streaming ... virtually everything hip hop is known for these days, but despite the changing landscape, LL is still keeping his skills sharp for the booth and the road.

He tells us he's geeked over his upcoming tour with The Roots, which he describes as mixtape-type show that lasts a few hours, with plenty of special guests!!!

Offset and his legal beef with Quality Control Music -- the label behind his career as a member of Migos -- has ended ... with signs pointing to a settlement.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Offset filed to dismiss the suit against QC with prejudice Tuesday, ending a lengthy legal battle in which Offset claimed the label was trying to control the rights to his solo music and not honoring a deal they struck.

Sources close to Offset tell TMZ Hip Hop the superstar rapper won't be re-joining QC as a solo artist ... but we're told all disputes and differences were smoothed over.

Offset is currently releasing music on Motown ... his most recent single features wife Cardi B and he's got plenty of other songs in the works.

The compromise is par for the course for Offset this year ... he patched things up with Quavo ahead of Takeoff's birthday tribute as well.

The eBay listing has officially closed for the microphone Cardi B chucked into her crowd, spawning a police investigation ... making a killing on the auction block.

The eBay bidding war came to a close Tuesday morning, and the Shure Axient digital mic made a grand total of $99,900. The auction started at only $500, but got over 120 bids in about a week.

It's an impressive price to go out at, but it's got quite the story behind it -- as we reported, Cardi asked the crowd to splash her with water at Drai's Beachclub in Vegas ... but she got pissed when someone later tossed ice and a liquid on her, resulting in the mic chuck.

The rapper was named as a suspect for battery when a woman who claimed to have gotten hit by the mic went to the cops ... but Cardi was cleared last week by officials.

Philly won't be taking the main stage for Made In America this year, in fact, no one will ... as the festival has canceled its 2023 event, citing "severe circumstances."

The star-studded lineup was set to include Metro Boomin, Ice Spice, Latto, Coi Leray, Doechii, Mase and Cam'ron ... with SZA and Lizzo as the headliners.

Lizzo is currently under fire for allegedly putting her former dancers through hell ... though the singer has called the claims total BS. It's not clear if her current controversy has anything to do with the festival's cancelation.

The festival's statement reads, "Due to severe circumstances outside of production control, the 2023 Made In America festival will no longer be taking place." Continuing, "This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without immense deliberation."

Top Dawg Entertainment rapper Reason is getting a harsh dose of criticism from the very label exec who's overseeing the album Reason's about to release. Awwwkward!!!

Reason was venting his frustrations with TDEl to Smac and T Rell on the "Back on Figg" podcast last night ... when TDE co-president Anthony “Moosa” Tiffith Jr. called into the show and cut down Reason's mutiny by, essentially, calling him a lazy artist.

Reason's last album dropped back in 2020, but the California rapper blamed Top Dawg Ent. for stalling him out on release dates, and failing to get him Latto and EST Gee features for his upcoming album.

At one point, Moosa put both Smac and T Rell on the spot and asked them to name 10 songs from Reason, which they couldn't ... effectively embarrassing him on the spot.

To add insult to injury, Moosa claimed former TDE co-president Dave Free -- who's since started his own label with Kendrick Lamar -- never wanted to sign Reason and compared his star power to a "substitute teacher!!!" There's a spitball that hurts.

Moosa said other TDE artists such as Doechii and Ray Vaughn are doing more with less than Reason and doesn't feel an EST Gee feature could elevate his career.