TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

There seems to be trouble in paradise between Cardi B and Offset again -- 'cause they've unfollowed each other on social media ... and wifey's talking about being over relationships.

The married couple appear to have removed the other from their followers' count on Instagram sometime between Monday and Tuesday ... which might sound silly, but undoubtedly carries a lot of significance in the digital age.

More importantly, CB posted a not-so-cryptic message on her Story that seems to touch on some new woes ... alluding to growing past relationships, and putting the focus on herself.

She writes, "I'm tired of protecting peoples feelings...I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST."

Offset, meanwhile, also appears to be referring to problems in their dynamic -- posting a famous clip from "Scarface" where Tony Montana is yelling at his old friend about being the one who put their operation together and being responsible for their success.

There's nothing really beyond that ... but their respective posting is telling in and of itself, although it's unclear what the latest issue between them might be. There's always something.

Remember, it was just earlier this year that Offset suggested Cardi might've cheated on him -- something she denied at the time and which they bickered over for a bit ... that is, until they suddenly kissed and made up, with everything being fine again not too long after that.

Of course, they've historically had lots of other problems in their marriage ... which are always well-documented. They've even broken up before, but on each occasion -- they've gotten back together.

Still, for whatever reason ... this one feels a bit more ominous, especially Cardi's wording here. She and Offset have been together for years now, and it goes without saying ... they have a whole life and even share children.

Yo Gotti's entrepreneurial focus is destined to get even sharper ... the CMG rap boss is currently studying business at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, a source close to the rapper tells TMZ Hip Hop.

We're told Gotti is taking a weekly course in person called Corporate Valuation taught by Professor Lori Santikian.

It's safe to say Gotti will be getting an A+ education ... UCLA Anderson School of Management ranked in the top 20 of U.S. News & World Report's best business schools of the 2023-2024 school year.

When it's all said and done, Gotti will be able to speak fancy-schmancy suit talk, such as developing strategies for financial reports, IPOs, mergers, and acquisitions and have the tools for evaluating businesses.

The skills will come in handy -- Gotti arguably has the most stacked roster in rap ... MoneyBagg Yo, GloRilla, 42 Dugg, EST Gee and others have all proved to be headlining acts in their own right.

Gotti's newfound business savvy will also improve his other endeavors ... he's also co-owner of MLS club D.C. United, which he touted at the White House this past summer.

Jeannie Mai claims she found out about her divorce from Jeezy like the rest of the world ... which couldn't be any further from the truth -- at least from her estranged husband's POV.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ Hip Hop that Jeannie Mai being blindsided by the divorce filing is absolutely false ... 'cause the clear signs of their uncoupling were long established and manifesting right before their eyes.

We're told the couple serially engaged in marriage counseling -- with multiple therapists -- before Jeezy came to the realization that the relationship was "irretrievably broken.”

No matter who the professional was, it seems like Jeezy walked away with the same answer. Clearly, it would appear he feels the writing was on the wall here ... and that Jeannie's suggestion this came out of nowhere is disingenuous.

Jeezy hasn't highlighted an exact reason for the split, but has maintained he felt it in his gut that it was best to walk away since filing for divorce back in September.

Jeannie spoke of strength and putting up a hardened exterior to Jennifer Hudson on Monday ... the same interview where she also spoke on allegedly being ambushed by Jeezy's court filing, which she says gutted her.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are extending their "Unlimited Love" tour into 2024 with Hip Hop boosts from all generations ... from Ice Cube, Kid Cudi and Ken Carson to be exact!

RHCP made the grand announcement on Monday that they'd be trekking through spots like SLC, Tampa and Cincinnati next summer ... a lifetime achievement, so says the "Man On The Moon" rapper.

The tour is quite the eclectic mix ... Cube's inclusion will bring all the OG fans out and Ken's one of the hottest new rappers on the scene -- with a rock edge.

California bands Wand and Irontom, Nigerian singer Seun Kuti and Japanese punk rock band Otoboke Beaver also round out the setlist.

Gianni Paolo still hasn't settled his AirbnBEEF after being whacked with a $400 cleaning fee ... and his viral rant just may have opened up his housing options.

The "Power Book II: Ghost" star tells TMZ Hip Hop that Hilton reached out to him to cut a deal for free stays after they saw him explode over what Airbnb was doing to his credit card and his user rating.

GP and his buddies laugh about it now but there weren't any smiles cracked when it made that angry TikTok last week from an Airbnb and risked being kicked out on the curb for slandering the product he was using!!!

Gianni wants to live amongst the Romans in Rome (or London!) and says he sticks with Airbnb for an authentic experience when he travels abroad.

11:28 AM PT -- Ashanti apparently is pregnant after all -- at least according to Us Weekly, which is citing a source that says, "Nelly and Ashanti are welcoming their first baby together."

If true, it'd be Ashanti's first child ever ... and it would be Nelly's 3rd -- he already has two other kids from a previous relationship, and both of them are adults.

We've reached out to Ashanti's camp for comment ... so far, no word back.

Nelly and Ashanti's latest barrage of PDA has led to pregnancy speculation -- and it's all because they created it!!!

Over the weekend, Nelly, Ashanti and many more got suited and booted for the "Country Grammar" rapper's 11th Black and White Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel ... which brought the event back to St. Louis after a seven-year hiatus.

The superstar couple appeared to share an inside joke on stage when Ashanti placed her hands on her stomach, to which Nelly did the same ... making them both burst out laughing. 👀

Could be a bun in the oven ... or they were planning to bake one that night. Either way, fans have been happy to see Nelly and Ashanti on the prowl after breaking up 8 years ago.

Nelly's event also benefitted a good cause ... proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and scholarships for Harris Stowe State University were also awarded.

We'll know in due time if they created a toddler or were just trolling ... in any case, people are living for this relationship -- and as the MC said, make it official!!!

Lord knows it's been a long time coming and then some.

Jeannie Mai says she was blindsided by Jeezy's divorce filing -- and claims she heard about their split through the media ... this, of course, after she recently suggested he may have been unfaithful.

The actress appeared on the 'Jennifer Hudson Show' Monday, and right off the bat ... she was asked how things were going in her personal life. Naturally, Jen was referring to her divorce with Jeezy -- which has been making headlines lately.

Check out her response for yourself ... JM says that she's doing better now, but notes she was "gutted" when she first heard Jeezy wanted to end their marriage -- something she claims she first caught wind of through press reports.

With that said ... Jeannie says her focus now is on being there for her young daughter, Monaco, whom she shares with Jeezy ... and who they welcomed into the world last year. She's going to make sure their daughter gets time with her dad for the holidays to experience both sides of her family.

Jeannie also says that although she's been the most broken this year she ever has been ... she says that, in the same breath, she's found herself to be incredibly strong as well.

No word on what she insinuated in her court docs last week -- namely, that Jeezy had might have possibly broken their prenup by allegedly cheating on her ... something Jeezy has since denied through his reps.

There's been speculation Jeannie herself may have cheated too -- but we're told she's completely denying that. Funny enough, Jeezy himself has recently addressed the topic of infidelity ... telling Nia Long that real dudes don't cheat on their girl.

DaBaby says his days with alcohol are a wrap ... a decision made after he embarrassingly couldn't stop puking in front of his daughter!!!

The Diamond-selling rapper admitted he got too wasted over the weekend and sent a warning to friends, family and any pesky club promoters dangling bottles in his face that his sobriety was serious and there would be serious repercussions to anyone who didn't respect it ... possibly in the form of a concussion!!!

To make matters worse, DaBaby says he still had to pick up his daughter Velour from her mother DaniLeigh while being thrashed ... and the 2-year-old got a front-row view in her car seat of her daddy blowing chunks from the back seat 🙈!!!

While he was at the mercy of his bubble guts, DaBaby says his daughter kept cheering him on by saying "Good job" ... making it the last time he wanted to dial up that loser Earl.

DaBaby then doubled down on trading in his tequila shots for shots to the dome if you offered him a drink.

He's not the only "rockstar" to abandon alcohol lately. Wiz Khalifa revealed last month he was 8 months alcohol-free but is still pro-weed, which he calls "Cali Sober."

Joe Budden compared NBA Youngboy's music to the lowest form of trash 💩 on his recent podcast episode ... a critique that's pissed off NBA to the highest levels of pissitivity -- and Birdman is hot too!!!

As the JBP's latest episode "Malcolm On Ice" came to a close, Joe ripped into NBA YoungBoy's music for being horrible ... with emphasis on the songs being "really, really, really, really bad!!!"

Joe maintained he didn't have anything against YoungBoy personally but painted him as a puppet his record label is using his frequent releases to spam YouTube to entice naive little kids.

The insults were enough for a rare IG response from the reclusive rap star, who's been holed up on house arrest in Utah all year.

YoungBoy informed Budden that despite his opinions, his music was still streaming very well ... and posted an Apple Music screenshot of his latest album's "Decided 2" accomplishments as proof.

He also challenged Joe to come to interview him face-to-face on "Grave Digger Mountain," but judging from his tone and name of the location, it didn't sound like a safe environment.

Birdman considers YB as a little brother in addition to a collaborator and the Cash Money Records boss also used his IG to issue threats to Joe.

Blueface says his fatherly instincts were forced to kick in early in the morn ... this after he allegedly got word that Chrisean had left their son in the care of her BFF.

In the wee hours of Monday, Blueface went live on IG while holding his son, Chrisean Jr., and appeared to have taken the infant from Chrisean's friend Marsh ... who was on the phone attempting to contact someone. It looks like she was babysitting the kid for mom.

Blueface claims Chrisean abandoned her motherly duties for a booty call ... called the entire scene irresponsible on her part -- labeling her a "booth bitch" for allegedly ditching their kid in the middle of the night.

The "Thotiana" rapper's anger didn't end with Chrisean ... he promised Marsh that his fiancee Jaidyn Alexis was waiting for her at another destination to give her the beats, but the camera cut off before any such violence could be captured.

Chrisean has yet to respond to BF's bad parenting claims but she did post her latest tracks after being up late in the studio -- juggling mom and rap life has its challenges!!!

The last time we spoke to Cardi B, she gave Chrisean life nuggets on how to balance motherhood and her personal life.

Usher wrapped up his Vegas residency with a ton of appreciation -- which you could see as the dude fell to his knees and took in all the love in a truly emotional moment.

The singer went out with a bang Saturday in Sin City, where his 'My Way' shows finally came to an end after an epic 100-concert run -- most of which have been very eventful ... for a variety of reasons. This weekend though ... all the focus was on Mr. Raymond.

While he was singing "Without You" ... he buckled and started to break down onstage -- this while his backup dancers and other stage crew members rallied around him as the crowd cheered. Indeed, it was quite something ... and you could tell he was overcome by it all.

Of course, an Usher show wouldn't ring true if he wasn't out there serenading the crowd -- and he did just that ... crooning to Jennifer Hudson (who was with Common) the night prior.

Other stars in attendance on Sat. included Mary J. Blige, H.E.R., Floyd Mayweather and others ... and it looks like they all enjoyed the man himself for one last hurrah before he hangs it up.

Of course, while this might be the end of Usher in Vegas ... he'll undoubtedly continue performing -- as this lengthy stint proved there's a real appetite for all his hits ... not to mention his sweet dance moves and stellar showmanship.

Charlamagne Tha God wants to see Nardo Wick hire legit security guards instead of the homegrown posse he's used to ... this after his crew unleashed a beating on a fan.

The 'Breakfast Club' chief chopped it up with TMZ Hip Hop at the United Justice Coalition Summit this week where he highlighted the many reasons why Nardo needs to travel with a legit team from here on out.

TMZ broke the story, the "Who Want Smoke" rapper became the center of controversy after two members of his entourage went rogue and brutally knocked a selfie-seeking fan unconscious following a show in Florida. The victim's family has since lawyered up.

Charlemagne tells us security's job isn't to beat people up -- it's to make wise, on-the-spot decisions in times of danger and threats and can only do so with the proper training -- which Nardo's crew clearly lacks.

CTG goes on to stress how artists need to audit their entourages to ensure everyone has an actual role and purpose as opposed to being prone to causing trouble ... or lawsuits, which he's sure will be coming Nardo's way.

'Breakfast Club's DJ Envy also advocated for top-notch security artists when we quizzed him on the topic last year, especially when it comes to protecting valuables such as jewelry ... or even your life.

Nardo appears to be open to all advice that could pull him out the hole. He apologized several times to the victim and his family. Only time will tell if it'll be enough to keep the complaints outta court.

Two men accused of throwing punches in the brutal beatdown of a Nardo Wick fan have turned themselves into police ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the suspects -- 34-year-old Zachary L. Benton and a 15-year-old male turned themselves in to Tampa PD Friday night. They are charged with felony battery. The 15-year-old is also charged with minor in possession of a firearm while wearing a mask.

A source close to Nardo tells us the men did not have a close relationship with the rapper ... they were friends of friends.

We're told the two suspects reached out to Nardo's team earlier this week to discuss logistics of surrender. That's interesting ... they had enough of a connection to reach out to someone from Nardo's team.

TMZ broke the story ... video shows Nardo fan George Obregon Jr. walking up to the rapper after a show, and getting ambushed and sucker punched by two people who were walking out of the venue with Nardo. Cops tell us Benton is the one who first punched Obregon and the 15-year-old ran over and punched him several more times.

George's mom told us her 20-year-old son was just seeking a photo with Nardo when he was attacked. He was taken to the critical care unit of a hospital with a severe concussion and brain bleed. We do not know his current condition.

Nardo apologized for the incident but blamed the other men ... saying he can't control how grown men react. He also said he was upset by the whole incident.

Robert Glasper is all pumped up to face Chris Brown at the Grammy Awards once again .. and tells us he's open to challenging his R&B category competitor to a dance-off!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Robert this week, where the reigning "Best R&B Album" winner laughed off his past tensions with CB and praised his artistry.

The 2024 Grammy noms went live a few weeks ago where it was revealed that Rob and Breezy going head to head for the 2nd consecutive year, this time in the "Best R&B Performance" category

Rob doesn't rule out the chances of conspiracy pitting him and Chris up against one another, especially after last year's drama.

Losing the award brought out Chris' gangsta side and questioned Robert's entire existence, before cooling off and doing his research and apologizing after seeing RG was a legit contender.

Robert thinks the best well to settle their differences is to hop in the ring and sweat it out in a dance battle ... which could be the highlight of both their Grammy nights.

Fat Joe believes rappers have a right to use their imagination and lyrics any way they see fit ... and those words shouldn't be used in criminal cases.

The Bronx-bred rap legend spoke to TMZ Hip Hop Friday in NYC as he supported the United Justice Coalition at the Jacob Javitz Center ... he really wants justice for Young Thug after feeling prosecutors in his ongoing RICO trial are trying to jam him up by highlighting generic lyrics.

Joe explains he never goes into writing a song to lie ... he says hip hop is the ultimate storytelling vehicle and compares it to fictional books and movies.

If he had a bad day, Joe says he may record an aggressive track like "Take A Look At My Life," a good mood could birth a Grammy Award nominee in "All The Way Up" ... emotions have always been his guide to lyrical content.

Joe was recently on CNN where he made the 95% estimate during a convo about Young Thug's ongoing RICO trial where his lyrics are being used as evidence by the prosecution in attempts to prove murders and corruption.

He tells us freedom of speech shouldn't come with prison sentences -- or censorship of art.

Joe says he would hate to see Martin Scorsese abandon mafia movies and notes he recently watched three Netflix movies involving killers ... and nobody is going to trial for depicting the fake murders.

Casanova just came up empty in his push for an early release from his 15-year prison sentence ... a judge denied the Roc Nation rapper's plea after admitting responsibility to his crime.

A federal court ruling handed down on Friday denied Casanova's motion for a compassionate release, noting he already got a sentence at the bottom of the sentencing range and has yet to even serve 20% of it.

You'll recall, Cas pled guilty to robbery in August 2020. He distanced himself from his previous associations with the Gorilla Stone Nation gang in a passionate letter to the judge ahead of sentencing, but the judge said Cas hasn't proven he's no longer a danger to anyone in the community, and the 188-month sentence imposed is still warranted.