TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

YG is 100% for rap beef -- whether he's in the mix or on the sidelines -- but doesn't fault J. Cole for not feeling the same way when he was up against Kendrick Lamar.

TMZ Hip Hop recently linked with YG in L.A. and the 4HUNNID hitmaker is ready to exercise his first boss moves of 2024 ... he just shot the vid for his upcoming single, "Knockas."

YG's back in the saddle with his day one collaborator Mustard, and L.A. radio is about to experience a revival of sorts -- they're releasing the upcoming compilation, "Just Re'd Up 3" soon and point him to the action!!!

Hip Hop has been offering tons of just that as of late, and we had to get his thoughts on Kendrick Lamar vs. Everybody, including his homie J. Cole.

YG has records with both Kendrick and Cole but didn't come down on the Dreamville rapper for apologizing like other culture critics.

He's thinking like a boss more than ever. YG and his label recently inked a multi-album partnership deal with BMG, after officially departing Def Jam Records -- so, more than ever, his career is his to control.

2:33 PM PT -- According to Essence, Nelly and Ashanti are also engaged -- so big day for them.

Ashanti says, "This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation. Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience."

Ashanti is finally confirming what we've suspected for months now ... she and Nelly are indeed expecting a child together!

Jeezy is clearing the air on his bid for primary custody of his kid -- now asking the judge to make sure he and Jeannie Mai each get their fair share of parental time.

In a new motion, obtained by TMZ ... Jeezy claims his estranged wife is restricting his access to their daughter, 2-year-old Monaco.

The rapper says he and Jeannie worked out an informal custody agreement last year, but that fell apart at the beginning of 2024 ... and he claims he's barely seen Monaco this whole year.

It looks like people were better behaved at Coachella Weekend 1 this year ... because arrests were down significantly compared to last year, TMZ has learned.

Indio PD released their data from the festival's first installment ... and they say they only clocked 81 arrests in their system between Friday and Sunday -- which is pretty damn low compared to years past, especially 2023.

That's down 20% from the 102 arrests made last year. There was also a small smattering of citations issued -- just 47 -- and they're all handicap parking related ... down 43% from last year.

Halle Bailey and DDG, the father of her child, have not gone their separate ways and are not broken up -- even though the internet certainly seems to think they did ... TMZ has learned.

The singer's rep tells us Halle and DDG are still together and that all the reports they've split are straight-up false -- point blank. The reason this even had to be addressed is because folks were running rampant with rumors that they'd thrown in the towel recently.

There were definitely indications there, perhaps, was trouble in paradise ... including the fact that they'd recently unfollowed each other on Instagram, which is kind of a big deal in 2024.

Tekashi 6ix9ine appears to have run into more legal trouble here in the States -- because we've learned federal agents rolled up to his house ... and rolled away with his cars.

The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office tells TMZ they were dispatched to Tekashi's home in Lake Worth, FL Wednesday to assist IRS agents conducting an operation there. PBSO wouldn't give us more info on the exact nature of the operation, but there are some pretty clear clues.

According to photos/videos obtained by TMZ of the visit -- one for which Tekashi himself was not home, we've confirmed -- it looks like the agents were there to seize his stuff.

Kevin Liles is confident Gunna's next project will be a winner, but he also thinks his protégé is getting a bad rap from the hip hop community!!!

The Chairman and CEO of 300 Elektra Entertainment tells TMZ Hip Hop the music Gunna has been putting out reflects his real-life circumstances -- being accused of snitching on his homie Young Thug.

The rumors haven't hurt Gunna's music traction at all ... the Atlanta rapper has more than 35 million monthly streams on Spotify, his last album went gold and he has a new one titled "One of Wun" on the way.

We recently quizzed Gunna on what to look forward to -- he didn't have much deets, but promised to put TMZ in an upcoming music vid. Gee, thanks?!

Kevin calls the success "bittersweet" -- a slick choice of words seeing that it's the name of Gunna's new single, but he knows judges and juries are lurking everywhere regarding Black culture.

Will.i.am is set to be a proud graduate of Harvard Business School -- an education, he says, his years of boom boom powing the music industry could have never taught him -- and he's ready to school people on the pros of AI!!!

TMZ Hip Hop recently caught up with Will in NYC, where he praised Harvard's Owner/President Management program for its influence on his FYI app.

Will sounded like he's reading a computer syntax error at times -- dropping acronyms like NLP, NLU and OPM -- but it was clear he's excited to help create a world boosted by AI ... and he's urging the general public not to fear the innovation.

Will points out the invention of the calculator didn't disrupt human advancement, and notes today's buildings are made by AI programs ... it's all about making life easier.

Kanye West and Bianca Censori were the center of attention at Disneyland, but not for some X-rated public display ... just family-friendly fun, sans any kids.

The couple was out Tuesday at the Happiest Place on Earth -- and they were appropriately clothed ... yes, Bianca too. Ye and BC strolled about with all the normies through the famous California theme park, even hitting the Star Wars Nite experience at one point.

Check it out ... Kanye and Bianca seemed to be in great spirits, smiling while making small talk and holding hands. The lovebirds were also filmed hand in hand walking down a winding path as they headed in and around Disneyland. Like we said, no children were in tow.

NBA Youngboy was arrested on Tuesday evening in Utah on multiple charges after allegedly violating his house arrest -- and the Louisiana rapper may be in for an intense legal battle.

According to local Fox affiliates, the 24-year-old was nabbed by Cache County Sheriff’s Office around 6:30 PM on a slew of charges, including possession of other controlled substances and a dangerous weapon, identity fraud and forgery, attempting to procure drug/prescription and a pattern of unlawful activity.

Jail records show that no bail has been set yet.

Quavo's "Huncho Day" event is back in Atlanta for 2024 ... and TMZ Sports has learned the superstar rapper is expanding this year, adding both basketball and 7v7 football games in addition to his first-ever "Quavo Cares Social Impact Hub", a gun violence prevention that focuses on community safety.

For the past six years the 33-year-old rapper, along with apparel brand Legends, has given back to his city of ATL by throwing the annual shindig -- a celebrity football game -- at his alma mater, Berkmar High School.

But, this April 28th, Quavo (real name Quavious Marshall) is adding to the festivities ... the 7th annual "Huncho Day" will feature the Team Huncho Basketball and Team Huncho Elite 7v7 football games.

Football and basketball youth clinics, supported by the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Falcons, will also be there, along with a fun zone for kids.

He's also introducing a new initiative called the "Quavo Cares Social Impact Hub" ... and we're told it's "an experiential space for civic and community resource partners to provide and educate the Atlanta community on their service offerings, with a special focus on gun violence prevention."

The social impact hub -- which is powered by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund -- has several partners, including the Hawks, Falcons, 100 Black Men, Be SMART, H.O.P.E. Hustlers, the Atlanta City Mayor's Office, and more.

We're told the gun violence prevention foundation stems from the death of fellow Migos rapper and Quavo's nephew, Takeoff, who was shot and killed in 2022.

4/17 -- 8:28 AM PT -- Kenneth Petty's request to travel internationally with Nicki Minaj was granted ... a judge signed off on the dates.

Nicki Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty, is asking a court for permission to travel out of the country so he can join her on tour in Europe ... and he says he'll be needed overseas.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, KP says he isn't just looking to globe-trot with Nicki for fun -- on the contrary, he says it's necessary to join her on the European leg of her "Pink Friday 2" world tour for a bunch of reasons, mainly to provide childcare for their son.

The start date he lists for the anticipated travel schedule is April 17, 2024 ... and he says there will be stops in Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, and Romania.

Drake is leaning into his 'Push Ups' lyrics, confirming it's not AI ... but isn't above playing cyber games himself -- and Metro Boomin is his first target. 😈

Shortly after Metro was named as the leaker behind Drake and Lil Yachty's "Jumbotron S*** Poppin" reference track leak, Drake hopped on IG and posted a meme video that plastered Metro's face on Nick Cannon's body in a scene from the movie "Drumline."

The latest Drake track hit the net on Saturday and went into chopper mode at everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Rick Ross and MB also caught half a bar when he rapped ... "Metro, shut your h*e-ass up and make some drums, n****!!!" Yep, clearly his favorite part of the rap roast.

Keyshia Cole's fans are rooting against her personal happiness -- the R&B superstar confirmed she's dating Atlanta rapper Hunxho on Monday, but the people are convinced she needs to let it go, already!

Hunxho hails from Atlanta and is one of the bright stars on 300 Entertainment ... who also happens to be 18 years younger than KC.

Keyshia tagged Hunxho on X claiming him to be all hers, and he reposted her message with a heart emoji.

Fans instantly accused Keyshia of entertaining an unserious relationship that she'll inevitably rant about in the near future, and simply end up blocking young Hunxho.

The 2 artists were recently spotted on a club date, and despite fan reaction ... all looks to be well, for now.

It's a cold game ... some fans/haters even wished for Hunxho to cheat and break her heart, simply to inspire Keyshia to write some heartfelt R&B.

Keyshia's doing her best to laugh 'em off, and told her critics she's hoping for the best.

G. Dep is doing his best to keep up with an advanced America after serving a 13-year bid ... 'cause he's been playing brain games with smartphones.

In his first interview since being released at the top of the month, the ex-Bad Boy artist explained to "The Art Of Dialogue" that his biggest challenge in freedom has been learning all the ins and outs of a social media society.

The 49-year-old Harlem rapper says he's still getting adjusted to buying store items with apps on his phone and says the pay-to-ride mopeds scattered across the streets also gave him a bit of a culture shock.

He also noted an improvement in architecture ... NYC, skyscrapers and everything!!!

G. Dep confessed to a 1993 cold case shooting back in 2010, which wound up being a homicide after NYPD did some digging and he was eventually convicted of 2nd-degree murder.

He was freed on April 4 and granted a 6-month early release but doesn't regret his decision to turn himself in.

Drake's rap Infinity War now has a new ghostwritten attack on his name, but it's not Quentin Miller behind the lyrics this time ... it's Lil Yachty!!!

On Sunday, a reference track hit the internet of Yachty appearing to be the brainchild of Drake's song "Jumbotron S*** Poppin" ... rapping most of the "Her Loss" hit as it was presented to the masses.

According to Akademiks, Metro Boomin sent the track to several sources with a "Merry Christmas" gift note attached 🎁 -- tightly wrapped with intentions to damage Drake's rep.

The ghostwriting rumors have nudged Drake since his beef with Meek Mill, however, Lil Yachty is listed as one of the many writers on the track. It was common knowledge Yachty assisted during the album process.

Metro hasn't owned up to the leak, but if it's him ... it could be payback for his phone getting hacked last month.

An avalanche of Toronto-based numbers spammed Metro for days and thousands of dollars worth of Balenciaga were charged to his account -- a caper he's fully pinning on Drake.

"Jumbotron" doesn't exactly fall under the ghostwriting umbrella, but Rick Ross capitalized on the moment anyway and fueled his Drake beef even further ... claiming Drake's Diamond-certified "Sicko Mode" verse to also be the work of a puppetmaster.