TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Joe Budden says Drake is an old head trying to appeal to young'ns ... but Drizzy's firing back, telling Joe to shut it in the fiercest way possible.

The podcaster went in on Drake's latest album, "For All the Dogs," during his newest episode of 'The Joe Budden Podcast' -- saying the dude is "rapping for the children" ... while going on to say that Champagne Papi needed to grow up and stop pandering to the youth.

Take a listen for yourself ... Joe seems to think that Drake's too old to be palling around with YouTube streamers (like Kai Cenat) or other Gen Z rappers like Lil Yachty, etc. He also has some words about Drizzy's sex life ... saying, "Stop f****** these 25-year-olds!!!!"

JB's words clearly struck a nerve, 'cause Drake responded with an essay-worth of hate toward the one-time MC -- writing, "@joebudden you have failed at music. You left it behind to do what you are doing in this clip cause this is what actually pays your bills."

There's more ... he adds, "For any artist watching this just remember you are watching a failure give their opinion on his idea of a recipe for success...a quitter give their opinion on how to achieve longevity." Drake has a lot more to say -- and let's just say it's critical.

In response, it seems Joe might be pulling back a bit ... acknowledging he went overboard.

Doja Cat is once again being accused of pandering to fringe communities after wearing a shirt with a photo folks on the alt-right know all too well ... showing off one Sam Hyde.

The rapper/singer posted and then deleted these pics on her IG Friday, but fortunately ... the Internet captured them and they're now circulating -- with DC getting dragged through the mud for what many consider an endorsement of Hyde and his brand of humor/following.

For those unaware, Hyde is a comedian ... who has been widely embraced by trolls in online chat rooms and forums, and who's even been accused of embracing neo-Nazi sentiments.

This particular photo of him holding a semiautomatic has become meme fodder for years -- anytime there's a mass shooting here in the States ... far-right keyboard warriors circulate the pic and falsely claim that Sam Hyde is the shooter, attempting to spread misinformation.

It's unclear if Hyde himself started that whole trend, but he and his comedy group have leaned into the joke -- bottom line ... the dude is highly problematic and polarizing.

That's exactly why Doja Cat rocking this shirt -- which, BTW, Hyde himself appears to be selling on his own website for a cool $38 -- is incredibly strange ... and getting double takes from her fans online. By the same token, many others aren't all that surprised by this either.

Fact is ... Doja has flirted with far-right wingers for a long time now -- including back in 2020 when old footage surfaced showing her talking to a bunch of dudes in a chat room ... which was later alleged to have featured racist convos. She denied those allegations at the time.

Of course ... there's also the "Dindu Nuffin'" song she put out once upon a time. All of that stuff mixed together -- plus this latest stunt -- is again thrusting her into controversy.

8:47 AM PT -- Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Canadian officials decided last minute 21 Savage could not enter the country though it’s unclear why.

21 Savage went MIA from his much-hyped performance with Drake in Canada after finally getting his Green Card -- and it's a big mystery why.

The rapper was supposed to perform with Drake at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto Friday night, but Champagne Papi brought out Lil Baby instead.

The concert would have marked the first time 21 was legally permitted to travel outside the United States -- thanks to his shiny new Green Card. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, leaving everyone scratching their heads.

As we reported, Drake recently hinted in his rap song, "8AM in Charlotte," that 21 had finally overcome his immigration issues. He rapped, "Savage got a green card straight out of the consulate/Where I go, you go, brother, we Yugoslavian."

Back in 2019, 21 was taken into custody by immigration authorities in Georgia because he was actually a UK citizen -- living in the United States illegally on an expired visa. His case dragged on for years, and was further complicated by the fact he was caught with codeine and a handgun during the bust.

Tupac Shakur's fatal 1996 shooting was related to the murder of fellow rapper Biggie Smalls the following year, according to grand jury testimony from a former detective.

Retired Las Vegas Metro Police Detective Clifford Mugg testified before the Clark County grand jury in the Tupac case last month after the recent arrest of Duane "Keefe D" Davis for the hip hop star's murder, CNN reported.

Mugg, one of the investigators in the Tupac case, testified people "associated with both murders were involved," adding that the “theory was accurate that they were related.”

He didn't reveal the theory but admitted there were different assailants in each attack, giving Davis a pass on the Biggie murder.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo asked, “When you say they were related, you’re not saying perpetrated by the same individuals?” Mogg replied, “That’s correct.” Davis was busted in late September and charged with Tupac's murder.

Mogg testified Davis talked his way right into jail by granting so many interviews over the years and talking openly about his alleged involvement in the Tupac murder. Davis was only speaking out to get paid for the salacious story, according to Mogg's testimony.

Shakur was shot to death in a vehicle driven by then-Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight while they were in Vegas for a boxing match in September 1996. Suge was wounded, but survived.

Keith Sweat was singing female fans outta their bras before Drake was even born, but the R&B legend thinks Mr. OVO is now wearing the R&B crown!!!

We caught up with Mr. Make It Last Forever at LAX this week and he gave props where they were due, anointing Drizzy ... who infamously called himself the "light-skinned Keith Sweat" back in 2013!!!

Drake just delivered his new 23-track "For All The Dogs" album with a wide assortment of R&B tracks and singing ... as heard on his #1 hit "Slime You Out" with SZA.

Keith says Drake is doing his thing on the singing front, and he should ignore critics of his vocal range. He says he got the same limited-range diss during his heyday.

Keith admits he was no Stevie Wonder or anything -- but he and his signature twang sold millions of records by dropping rug cutters in an era when singers simply sang and rappers just rapped. As far as he's concerned, Drake's earned his stripes in both genres and deserves all his flowers.

J. Cole knows his fans and stans love to stir the pot -- a frustrating social media experience for him -- but contrary to popular belief, he's still down to record with NBA YoungBoy!!!

Cole World made the revelation on his blistering "First Person Shooter" duet off Drake's new album "For All The Dogs" following widespread speculation (by us, too) he lyrically thrashed YB while rapping with Lil Yachty on "The Secret Recipe."

On his verse, Cole scolds fan-fueled rumors but admitted to taking secret joy in seeing his name looped with misinformation -- "N****s so thirsty to put me in beef/Dissecting my words and start lookin' too deep ... I look at the tweets and start suckin' my teeth I'm letting it rock 'cause I love the mystique/I still wanna get me a song with YB/Can't trust everything that you saw on IG" ... evidence he recorded these bars recently.

YoungBoy vented over a miffed Cole feature on his “F**k the Industry Pt. 2" track back in May ... and now it's guaranteed their meet-up will be a pleasant exchange.

Kanye West is reportedly working behind the scenes to lock down trademark rights to "YEWS," a phrase he wants to slap on just about everything .. from streaming to restaurants.

The filing, obtained by TMZ, and first submitted earlier this month is linked to an LLC called Ox Paha Inc. We've never known Kanye to be associated with that LLC, but it has an address listed to Kanye's office on Melrose Ave.

Unclear if there's anything Kanye wants to do specifically with the word -- if he's the guy who filed for it -- but he's taking just about every realm of possibility with it.

The docs want to use "YEWS" for financial services, real estate, clothing (footwear, headwear, jeans, etc.), music and audio, entertainment content, beauty products, restaurants and so much more.

Of course, while Kanye hasn't publicly said anything about the word "YEWS" -- people are already speculating it's got some sort of connection to "Jews" and the controversy surrounding Kanye.

Chrisean Rock says her son is recovering after undergoing surgery to remove the hernia that Blueface brought to the world's attention.

Chrisean posted a boomerang video holding a smiling Chrisean Jr. Friday from his hospital bed, nothing the newborn was "recovering so fast."

As we reported, the youngster was suffering from an inguinal hernia ... and Blueface blamed Chrisean for mistreating their son by not getting him treatment soon enough. The rapper also posted a nude photo of the child, showing his condition ... and got a ton of heat online.

Despite the backlash, Blue's mother Karlissa Saffold defended her son to TMZ Hip Hop ... even going as far as to blanket it as a teachable moment for new parents and their child's medical issues.

We're not even a month removed from Chrisean facing the wrath of the internet and Blue's family as she let her baby dangle loosely during a Walmart shopping trip.

Nicki Minaj fans have long held onto a promise from Drake that she'd be featured on his new album, but the rapper failed to deliver on that promise ... and the Barbz are pissed.

Drake's "For All The Dogs" packs on several big-name features ... 21 Savage, Bad Bunny, Sexyy Red, and J. Cole, just to name a few, but Nicki's fans are now taking her absence as a sign of disrespect ... especially after she publicly pushed for the album to drop.

There's still a chance the collab could appear on Nicki's "Pink Friday 2" album when it drops in November but the Barbz would hear none of it and called for their Queen to cut all ties from Drizzy!!!

21 Savage has a Green Card and he's finally putting it to good use, joining Drake in Toronto to perform together ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ 21 and his team will be in "The 6" Friday and Saturday night for the Toronto stops of the "It's All a Blur" tour. It's the first time in years 21 has legally been able to leave the United States.

Drake dropped his highly-anticipated "For All The Dogs" album Friday, and hinted 21 had finally cleared his immigration issues on the track "8AM in Charlotte."

Drake raps, "Savage got a green card straight out of the consulate/Where I go, you go, brother, we Yugoslavian."

It was back in 2019 when 21 was taken into custody by ICE, and we learned he was actually from the UK -- living in the United States illegally on an expired visa. The case dragged on for years, further complicated by the fact he was caught with codeine and a handgun during the ICE bust.

Of course, 21's been touring with Drake for months now but has never been able to hit locations outside the US -- most notably when Drake went to Vancouver and brought Travis Scott out in place of 21.

Soak up his new album, "For All the Dogs," because Drake is dropping the mic -- he says he's walking away from music to deal with a health issue that's plagued him for a long time.

He made the bombshell announcement Friday morning on his SiriusXM show "Table for One" ... saying, "I need to focus on my health, first and foremost." Apparently, he's been battling a gastrointestinal issue ... he says, "I've been having the craziest problems for years with my stomach."

He didn't get any more specific about the ailment, but says it's gonna require enough of his time that "I'ma lock the door on the studio for a little bit. Maybe a year or something ... maybe a little longer."

It's a huge revelation, and not just for his fans, but for the music industry as a whole. Quite frankly, Drake's thing has been quantity -- the guy cranks out records very regularly.

He's dropped 9 studio projects in the last 13 years, most of them packed with #1 hits that dominate radio play and streaming services.

But, just hours after releasing his latest, he's making it clear he's got more important things to deal with now -- "I need to focus on my health, and I need to get right."

Drake fulfilled his lifetime dream of collaborating with Sade on his new "For All The Dogs" album, even if it is in the form of the teeniest tiniest contribution.

The reclusive R&B legend pops up to plug the album's Snoop Dogg-hosted mock radio station "BARK Radio" at the tail end of "BBL Love - Interlude" ... an ode to surgically enhanced women.

Sade only offers a couple of words, but it's been years since anyone has heard from her on a track -- 2018 to be exact, and Drake managed to be the one to get her.

Drake attempted to recruit Sade on his debut album all the way back in 2010, which she declined, not because she wasn't a fan of his buzz but because she's never done collaborations and didn't want to disappoint anyone.

Snoop's cameo can be found at the close of the Drake and J. Cole face-off "First Person Shooter" ... which is currently attracting memes by the thousands.

Drake's giving all the lingering R. Kelly fans out there the side-eye on his new album ... by taking a shot that might have 'em rethinking their streaming selections.

On the track "Drew a Picasso," which is planted just past the midway mark of "For All The Dogs," Drake paints the picture of himself in a tit-for-tat argument with his girlfriend.

When she comes down on him for living up the nightlife, he barks back with a shot at the incarcerated R&B star ... "Why you act like just 'cause I go to the strip club, girl, that I don't love you? You still listenin' to R. Kelly in the whip, baby girl, and I don't judge you!!!"

The shot is particularly interesting considering Drake sampled R. Kelly on his 2021 album "Certified Lover Boy" ... but he's clearly rinsed himself of all things dealing with the former Pied Piper of R&B, and he's advising all the girls who love him to do the same!!!

R. Kelly still generates several million Spotify monthly listens, but his career is stalled indefinitely, if not permanently, as he serves a 30-year sentence for federal sex crimes.

His music royalties have been garnished to pay restitution to his victims, and he's even had to deal with an unauthorized album leak from prison.

Drake dissed a particular "gyal" from his past on "For All The Dogs" ... and fans think he's firing at his former flame Rihanna -- A$AP Rocky's feelings be damned!

The possible Rihanna disses pop up at the opening of "Fear of Heights," where Drake raps, "Why they make it sound like I'm still hung up on you?/That could never be/Gyal can't ruin me ... better him than me."

If that wasn't indication enough, Drake repeatedly screams how he's "anti" -- the title of Rihanna's last released album, a project he's even featured on, before going on the claim the sex wasn't so amazing like the song goes ... he remembers it as average. 😱

He goes on to claim he's been with women whose beauty is superior and her new man is stuck like Chuck in their current situation.

As you know, Rihanna and Rocky just welcomed their 2nd child together in August ... months after performing pregnant at the Super Bowl -- they haven't given Drake much thought.

KD's going by a different set of initials now -- the NBA superstar played a key role in Drake's highly anticipated album "For All The Dogs" ... serving as A&R for the project!!

Drizzy dropped his eighth solo studio album early Friday morning ... and as it turns out, Kevin Durant was involved in bringing it to fruition.

The Phoenix Suns baller is listed on the credits as an A&R -- short for "artists and repertoire" -- a position that's held by someone who helps put the album together.

Durant -- who was traded to Phoenix in February -- took pride in his role ... and shared the accomplishment on his own Instagram story.

"The greatest," the 2-time NBA champ said of Drake. "6godAM ... for all of us."

Drake also name-dropped his music partner in the track, "All The Parties" ... saying, "Me and KD 'bout to turn up the art."

KD is known to be a big supporter of Drake -- he was even spotted lightin' it up in the crowd at his recent show at the Forum.

The 35-year-old forward also walked out with Drake during his Austin concert last month.

FYI, Durant has also taken a stab at being a hip hop artist himself under the name "Sniper Jones."

Drake is making a habit of putting big smiles on the faces of his fans by giving away designer bags on tour ... and the latest one in Miami came with a very important disclaimer.

Champagne Papi was performing last week at the Kaseya Center when he spotted Nicolette Valenti singing along in the crowd, and eventually he had his security deliver her a brown Birkin.

Drake picked her out between songs, but let the audience know he wasn't blessing her with a bag because of her large breasts -- which has been a thing at previous tour stops -- instead, he said it was because of the way she was singing all night.

In video capturing the giveaway, Drake tells the audience he likes to make people's days and Nicolete needs a brown Birkin to go with her brown top, and then security swooped in for the handoff.

Nicolette tells us she immediately called her mother ... Drake noticed her making the call, and after she showed him her phone, he dedicated the next song to her mom.

Birkin bags can run well past 5 figures in retail, so Drake arranged for Nicolette to get a police escort out of the venue ... and she says Drizzy's stage manager made her text him to make sure he knew she made it home safely with the Birkin.

It was an unforgettable moment for Nicolette ... and she tells us she is never selling the bag.