TMZ Hip Hop - Page 30

Michael Rubin's defending his decision to 86 Kendrick Lamar‘s megahit, “Not Like Us” during his annual All-White Party ... and admits it was all to put Drake at ease.

The Fanatics CEO told "The Breakfast Club" on Wednesday that it was his decision -- not Drake's -- to ban the record that has since become K. Dot's biggest song of his career!!!

MR was confirming the story TMZ Hip Hop broke last month -- that despite the song's massive culture and chart success, none of the DJs at Rubin's party spun the record.

Usher just hit his hometown Atlanta fans with a major announcement -- he's postponed his "Past Present Future" tour opener just hours before Wednesday night's show ... saying he's got to put himself first.

The R&B star dropped a long IG statement Wednesday ... saying after pouring his blood, sweat and tears into his three-decade-long career, he needs to let his body rest up and heal -- that’s why he pulled the plug on this evening's show at State Farm Arena.

Usher promised he’s not ditching his fans, and says tonight's show will be rescheduled -- when fans will get 100% of him.

Bianca Censori is continuing her nearly-naked signature style to include an itty-bitty micro ensemble ... which we're not entirely sure can be called a dress.

While the Yeezy architect was technically covered up for an outing at Nobu Malibu with husband Kanye West's kids and some of her own family ... BC's outfit still left very little to the imagination -- as the scrap of clothing hung low enough to just barely cover her rump.

The top of the garment was equally risqué, as the "dress" covered only a portion of her breasts ... revealing ample cleavage for the family meal.

Kehlani claims her ex is abusive -- physically, emotionally and verbally -- high all the time ... and his alleged behavior is having a negative effect on their daughter, Adeya Nomi.

Kehlani got court-ordered protection from Javaughn Young-White, Adeya's father, after claiming he smashed through her locked bedroom door back in June ... according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

The singer claims her ex flew into a fit of anger after she questioned him about a notice she received in the mail indicating he'd applied for public assistance.

Tyler, The Creator knows his opinion on today's hip hop will ruffle some feathers ... but he can't hold his tongue -- he says a ton of today's rappers aren't pushing out good music.

All these TikTok MCs keep making "meme" records!!!

The Grammy-winning rap star revealed his thoughts on an upcoming episode of Mav Carter's "The Mavericks" podcast, where he complained about the lack of quality control in the music industry and the media covering it.

Latto is confirming once and for all, Lil Kim is the greatest female rapper to ever do it -- but make no mistake, she's chasing down the Queen Bee's legacy!!!

The Notorious K.I.M. got her flowers from Latto when the latter sat down with Complex -- but Latto's BFF and eye of Drake's affection, Brooklyn Nikole, is also puckering up her lips to declare her bestie is the G.O.A.T.

So, we've got a G.O.A.T.-off?

1:20 PM PT -- Pras saved the song's outro bits for his IG stories ... apparently, Lauryn Hill values serving clickbait and buying Gucci bags over keeping her word.

Pras has nothing but time now that The Fugees' anniversary tour is no longer happening, and TMZ Hip Hop obtained his newest track -- ripping Lauryn Hill and addressing his federal case.

On the track "Bar Mitzfa," Pras incorporates a rock 'n roll-rap hybrid to air his frustrations when he raps, "Don't blame me, blame her, she made the mess ... not another f***ing penny, is what I told [Wyclef Jean]."

We're told the song was recorded sometime last week, when Pras needed to blow off steam ... on the heels of low ticket sales shutting down the legendary hip hop trio's reunion plans.

50 Cent is getting praise from the Shreveport Chief of Police for pulling off an epic comedy and music festival that was crime-free... especially given the backdrop of the City.

50 hosted Dave Chappelle, Katt Williams, Andrew Schulz, Matt Rife, Bill Bellamy and other comedians for the 4-day "Humor & Harmony" event which began last Thursday. There were performances by DaBaby, Master P, A Boogie, Moneybagg Yo, Muni Long and 50 himself, among many others.

Shreveport has had more than its share of crime problems, so cops were bracing for any incidents given the huge crowds that showed up for the festival. In the end, there wasn't a single issue, and officials were beyond grateful to 50, who helped provide security.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith tells TMZ, 50 and his team were instrumental in keeping the event safe with good planning, resources and masterful execution. The Chief added, "I haven't seen this type of positive activity downtown since the late '80s!"

The Chief called 50 after the festival wrapped to express his gratitude.

Barack Obama's got a healthy mix of hip hop, country, R&B and techno house in his ears right now -- the 44th President's 2024 summer playlist covers every corner of the music map.

Obama dropped his annual top song selection Monday, along with his summer reading list. Noticeably absent from his music list is the year's biggest-selling tune -- Kendrick Lamar's Drake-diss "Not Like Us."

You don't have to be a former commander-in-chief to know picking that song would spur a hip-hop political debate, but Obama still gave several rappers the spotlight -- Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla's "Wanna Be," Saweetie's "My Best," and throwback cuts like Common's "The People" and 2Pac's "How Do U Want It" also made the cut.

Salt-N-Pepa's Sandra Denton is putting the heat on Southwest after being kicked off a flight last month ... demanding the airline investigate the issue and preserve any evidence in case this turns into a lawsuit.

In a legal letter obtained by TMZ ... Pepa's lawyers call on Southwest to get the ball rolling on investigating her removal from a July flight ... echoing her previous sentiments that a male agent engaged in "inappropriate and unnecessary action" in handling the situation.

The attorneys are going after Southwest with a number of allegations ... including their belief Sandra was racially profiled and discriminated against during the encounter. They've also called into question how certain policies were enforced.

Rihanna's proving that, unlike most of us, she can have it all -- balancing being a billionaire business mogul with being a mom, and a very hands-on one, on vacay with A$AP Rocky and their kids.

The singer was shining bright like a diamond on a beach in her native Barbados ... where she and her rapper boo let 1-year-old Riot Rose and 2-year-old RZA dip their toes in the Caribbean over the weekend.

Rihanna rocked a sheer black maxi cover-up over her bikini, while A$AP was in peak dad mode as they splashed around and caught the sunset with their brood.

It was trouble in paradise for YG and Saweetie ... we've learned the couple had a run-in with cops after getting into one spicy skirmish.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the rapper couple got into a heated argument at their Los Angeles-area home on Saturday afternoon ... where things got so loud someone called the cops out of concern.

We're told deputies rushed over to the residence ... where they immediately separated YG and Saweetie, who apparently got into the spat over some cell phone drama.

Jordan Chiles no longer has an Olympic bronze medal ... but she might have a sweet bronze clock to replace it -- courtesy of Flavor Flav!!!

Just hours after Chiles was stripped of the trophy that she won during the floor competition earlier this month at the Paris Games ... Flav hopped on to X to offer her a cool consolation prize.

The rapper -- who became one of the faces of this year's Olympics after he sponsored the USA women's water polo team -- promised on the social media app to make her a clock chain ... that would be "something NO ONE else has."

Kanye West got two times the fun partying with wifey Bianca Censori ... as she got up close, dancing with a smokin' hot babe.

Check out the clip: BC was shaking it for Ye while he spun the decks at a wild party over the weekend ... but instead of the rapper stepping in, another partygoer couldn’t keep her eyes and hands off of Mrs. West.

Bianca didn’t bat an eye as her new companion moved in, grabbing her ass and sensually caressing her hips, back and arms.

An Iowa concert featuring Boosie Badazz was met with gunshots before the show even began ... leaving two men dead.

Boosie was set as the headliner for "The Pull Up Car Show" in Pacific Junction, IA ... a day packed with muscle cars, drag races, and live performances from various artists.

However, before the concert portion of the event was about to begin, shots were fired in the parking lot. Two men, both in their late twenties from Omaha, NE, died in the shooting. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.

Kanye West took a big L at the hands of someone he's had beef with for years -- one Taylor Swift!

Kanye's streak of 11 consecutive No. 1 albums was just broken, because "Vultures 2" fell short of the top spot by 1 ... and that 1 belongs to TS' "The Tortured Poets Department."

Taylor must be reveling in her latest win. Kanye's been a thorn in her side ever since 2009, when he hijacked her moment at the MTV Video Music Awards, telling the world Beyoncé was robbed and should have taken home the prize.