TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Trap Lore Ross -- the creator of the highly controversial "King Von: Rap's First Serial Killer" doc -- says he's not above criticism of his work, especially from highly respected pundits Boosie Badazz and DJ Vlad ... but thinks fully informed opinions work best.

The UK-based filmmaker recently sat down with TMZ Hip Hop for an enlightening convo, where he addressed Boosie and Vlad's recent dismissal of the 3-hour-long vid that's currently sitting at 7 million views after just a couple of months.

Both admitted to barely watching the doc (Boosie says he lost interest 30 minutes in) and Ross says they should give it a full looksie before completely condemning it.

Moreover, Ross says Boosie ignoring the cycle of violence that followed Von up until his own murder discredits the victims, who Ross says have reached out to him in appreciation of the doc. There's also been friction from those close to Von ... but Ross wants to patch those holes up as well.

Ross' "Trap Lore" YouTube channel recently surpassed one million subscribers thanks to exposés on other late hardcore rappers such as Pop Smoke, Mo3 and FBG Duck ... but has plenty of ammunition for anyone attempting to label him a culture vulture.

He says he grew up studying Jay-Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent but notes how rap's current violent troupes arguably classify more as true crime than actual music, so expect the content to be grimy.

Jason Derulo knows the dangers of fans chucking crap onstage all too well ... and he says it's up to artists to put their foot down to make it stop.

Jason hit Barnes and Noble in NYC Wednesday to promote his new book "Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream" ... and gave his take on why he thinks there's recently been an increase in objects flung at performers.

Jason says the whole thing started with fans tossing their phones at the stage in hopes their favorite artist would snap a pic using the device. After a bunch of performers actually did start taking photos, it gave way to more phones being thrown ... with a mix of other random stuff.

Jason says it's up to performers to stop engaging with the items being thrown ... which will hopefully stop all the madness.

As we reported, Bebe Rexha got nailed in the face by a fan's phone at a show earlier this month, ending up with a black eye and some stitches. The fan was eventually charged for the stunt.

We've since seen Ava Max slapped by a fan while performing, and even Kelsea Ballerini took a bracelet to the face at a recent concert.

Charlie Puth even took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the recent incidents and said, "This trend of throwing things at performers while they are on stage must come to an end. (Bebe, Ava, AND NOW Kelsea Ballerini…) It's so disrespectful and very dangerous. Please just enjoy the music I beg of you…"

Wiz Khalifa alarmed fans this week when he revealed a small tear to his pelvis ... a minor setback that won't affect his extensive summer tour plans, TMZ Hip Hop has learned.

Sources inside Wiz's camp tell us the Taylor Gang rapper is currently back on his feet and conducting rehearsals -- a sharp improvement from video of him painfully plodding around his house.

Wiz gave fans a glimpse into his recovery, which included kinesiology tape and the assistance of two canes. Gym injuries can be brutal, but boredom appeared to give Wiz his biggest fight during recovery ... not to mention, the trying not to overeat.

We're told Wiz is using extreme precautions not to get reinjured, but is feeling great and wants to give his North American fans the best possible experience ... especially with such an extensive tour schedule ahead.

Starting July 7, Wiz will be co-headlining the High School Reunion Tour with Snoop Dogg ... a blockbuster event that also features Too Short, Warren G, Berner and DJ Drama.

We're also told fans can expect Wiz 100%, performing his new tunes for the summer daze -- and the setlist isn't limited to his new G-funk collab "You" with Ty Dolla $ign!!!

Metro Boomin's longtime production partner -- Southside -- is pleased with Young Thug's "Business Is Business" album ... revealing the project came together super fast.

We parlayed with Southside at LAX this week, who told us he was hoping YT's new project topped the Billboard 200, especially with all the MacGyver magic they used to create the album.

The album bowed at #2 on the charts ... still not a bad consolation, seeing as the YSL rapper had to record over the phone to beef up his existing vocals due to his incarceration. But, Southside tells us he and the team were willing to do whatever to complete the album.

Southside co-produced "Hoodie" on the album and credits Metro for being the G.O.A.T. ... and piecing 'BIB' together in 2 weeks.

He's also proclaiming the LP to be the best jailhouse rap album ever over other contenders such as Shyne, X-Raided and the late Drakeo the Ruler.

Robin S.'s classic house track "Show Me Love" is the gift that keeps on giving for many artists and music fans alike.

Just ask Beyoncé, who used its sample to create her song "Break My Soul," the lead single from the "Renaissance" album she's currently touring.

TMZ Hip Hop chopped it up with Robin at Dash Radio earlier this week -- who says Bey introducing her to an entire generation was a HUGE honor. Robin also tells us she would jump at the chance to perform the song live with her because, duh!!!

But when it comes down to the king of "Show Me Love" samples, Robin surprisingly tells us it's Chris Brown's singing on her melody that floats her boat the most.

She's referring to Kid Ink's 2013 smash hit "Show Me," in which Chris provided the hook ... and helped take the record 3x Platinum!!!

Rakim Allah's perfectly OK with Outkast being considered the best rap group that ever lived ... he's the type of legend perfectly comfortable in his own skin.

Hip Hop's original G.O.A.T. chopped it up with TMZ Hip Hop on the streets of NYC Friday ... and we got his thoughts on his placement in Billboard's latest argument starter, their greatest rap group list.

Eric B. and Rakim came in at a solid #7 while Outkast ranked as the top dogs, and he's not tripping.

Rakim tells us while he could always make an argument for a higher ranking, he acknowledges Big Boi and Andre 3000 wooed fans by thinking outside of the box and their placement is well-deserved.

The Long Island-bred MC lyrically dominated the 1980s with forward-thinking punchlines and is currently an important part of virtually every 50th-anniversary hip hop celebration taking place this year.

He just shot a hip hop tribute with Sprite where they lined up him up next to new school stars in Latto and GloRilla, and the veteran Nas!!!

Outkast producer Sleepy Brown recently named the best album from the "best group" to be "Aquemini" the last time we spoke to him.

A$AP Rocky is currently out in Barbados, connecting with the locals on the same land where both his dad and his girlfriend Rihanna call home.

On Friday, Rocky was filmed shooting a music video, presumably for his long-awaited 4th studio album ... while also spreading joy with the local community amid the endless tropical backdrops.

The Harlem-born rapper used dozens of natives for the music video in the daytime and rewarded them for their efforts in the evening by passing out cold, hard cash and taking flicks for the 'gram.

Rihanna is currently expecting the couple's 2nd child and wasn't on location ... but it was probably time for some R&R, anyway.

Lil Baby seemingly has no problem paying his share to Uncle Sam ...  the Atlanta superstar dropped insightful bars about his A1 tax standing on both his features that dropped Friday.

On "False Idols," the newest entry in The Weeknd's playlist from his HBO series "The Idol," Baby flexes his number-crunching skills ..."The money keeps comin', the feelin' is great I pay eight-figure taxes/No more section eight/I was workin' my wrist tryna see what it take."

Baby's wealth of knowledge bled over to his artist Rylo Rodriguez's new "Been One" album via the track "Real Type" and he warned the streets about the IRS' wrath ... "Penny pinchin' peons, hope you n***** paid your taxes/You the type to never have it with you, really catfish!!!"

Nicki Minaj had a bit of wordplay for Natalie Nunn in her verse on Lil Uzi Vert's new album that many considered offensive ... but she's not taking it that way.

On the track "Endless Fashion" from Uzi's long-awaited "Pink Tape" which dropped on Friday, Nicki opens her verse rapping, "Ayo, even if my name was Natalie, none these bitches still couldn't chin-check me."

The sentiment could be taken either way and Natalie's been embracing digs at her facial features for some time now and deemed the lyrics to be more of a shout-out than a slight.

Natalie says if the song ends up needing a music video, she'd like to stand by Nicki's side ... which could be a good look for all parties involved.

Young Thug supporters have been clamoring for his freedom for over a year, but the incarcerated rap star's priorities apparently lie elsewhere.

Instead of campaigning for his own release from prison or his new album, Thug took to IG to insist T.I. and Boosie Badazz drop their joint album.

"Y'all go ahead and drop that album together ... that's all a n**** want," Thug wrote. Seems sincere, no?

If you remember, Tip and Boosie had a fallout earlier this year after Boosie claimed he had knowledge of T.I. being a snitch, only to walk the comments back with a slice of humble pie.

When we spoke to T.I., he agreed everything was water under the bridge ... but it's been months without so much as an official album name.

Patti LaBelle's a music legend, but she's still gonna show some love for her modern R&B contemporaries, as evidenced during Usher's concert in Las Vegas where she got down!!!

Multiple fans inside the Park MGM captured the legendary songstress moving and grooving Thursday night during an intermission as Ginuwine's classic grind anthem "Pony" blared through the speakers.

Ms. Patti was definitely in a mood ... a complete 180° from her BET Awards blunder this week — where she flubbed the lyrics during her tribute to the late Tina Turner ... and asked the audience for help. 😁

Kanye West seems to have found his happy place, roaming the streets of Tokyo with his wife by his side ... and allegedly checking out some adult toys in the process.

Ye and Bianca Censori were spotted in the Ginza shopping district Thursday, sans security, while they browsed the Don Quijote discount store. Ye, dressed in all black with his signature socks/shoes, did his best to cover his face from the public ... while Bianca went a little less traditional in what appears to be a leotard and heels.

An eyewitness tells us no one really seemed to pay attention to the two, mostly leaving them alone while they shopped.

Interestingly enough, our witness says at one point Ye and Bianca checked out an adult toy section ... though it was unclear if they purchased anything off the rack.

From there, Kanye and Bianca took off, hopping in an awaiting car and hitting the road.

Kanye's spent a ton of time in Japan over the years, but most recently it seems he's over there more than in the United States. It was just earlier this month when we saw him with North, and he and Bianca have attended a few events in the country as of late.

TMZ broke the story ... Kanye and Bianca got hitched earlier this year in some sort of commitment ceremony. It's still unclear if there's any legal binding to their marriage, but they certainly move around the globe like the real deal.

Kodak Black didn't let a quick stint in the slammer jack his groove ... the "Super Gremlin" rapper made bail and quickly hit up a charity event where he raised thousands of bucks!!!

Bradford Cohen, Kodak's lawyer, tells TMZ Hip Hop, his client was released from the Broward County jail only 40 minutes after being booked. He was arrested for failing to check in for a mandatory drug test.

Kodak almost immediately put the short jail stint in his rearview... jamming out to his classic, "No Flockin'" record ... as G Herbo looked on. He drew a big crowd and everyone was celebrating.

The money raised went to the Innocence Project, which works to free people wrongfully convicted of a crime.

The concert went down inside the Pompano Beach Amphitheater ... with performances by Herbo, Rico Cartel, iCandy and Sniper Gang.

Travis Scott is in the crosshairs of a Texas grand jury ... facing possible criminal prosecution for the deadly Astroworld tragedy.

The rapper's lawyer, Kent Schaffer, tells TMZ ... the Harris County Grand Jury is meeting now, to decide whether his client should be prosecuted for continuing to perform at the 2021 festival as thousands of people in the crowd stampeded ... causing 10 people to die and an untold number injured.

Travis' attorney tells us the rapper will NOT be testifying and his team remains hopeful the jurors will agree Travis did not commit any crime.

Travis has maintained from the beginning he had no idea there was a stampede and points to the fact many police officers in the crowd who were responsible for the safety of the fans were clueless as well. In fact, you see in the videos some cops dancing as Travis performs.

The deadly concert sparked a number of civil lawsuits against Travis and the festival's organizers ... but he has never been criminally charged.

We reached out to the Harris County District Attorney's Office ... and they declined to comment.

Kanye West's behavior, both publicly and behind the scenes clearly tore his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian, and their family apart ... as evidenced in scenes recorded right around the time of his antisemitic attacks.

In a preview for next week's episode of "The Kardashians" Kim sobs in Khloe Kardashian's arms -- explaining the Kanye of today is not the one she married back in 2014 -- and she'd do anything to try and get the old version of Kanye back.

While the preview doesn't specify exactly which Kanye incident led to Kim's breakdown, the timing of other events in the episode line up with when Kanye launched his online attacks, including a tweet where he claimed he was going "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE."

It was also in the middle of Kanye's attack on Jewish people that their divorce, which she filed in February 2021, was finalized ... so there's also a chance she's sobbing over the weight of the entire situation.

Remember, Kanye faced a TON of hate after his comments about the Jewish community -- after his shocking tweet, he tried clarifying, telling Piers Morgan he only wished harm on Jewish people that did him dirty in the music industry ... which really didn't help.

He went on to deny parts of the Holocaust on Alex Jones' "Infowars," bizarrely claiming to love Hitler -- digging the hole even deeper.

What was most frightening about the whole thing was the minority of people who supported Ye in the wake of his comments, including a group of people over an L.A. freeway performing a Nazi salute and hanging a banner reading, "Kanye is right about the Jews."

Ye was dropped from brands left and right -- including millions in losses from Adidas -- and was even named "Antisemite of the Year" by watchdog group StopAntisemitism ... so it's easy to see the pain and frustration Kim was facing during the downfall.

DC Young Fly is staying strong with the support of God and his children following the sudden death of his partner Jacky Oh! ... telling us it's important to stay positive, even when things get tough behind the scenes.

DC was back to work in NYC Wednesday, sharing he's understandably broken up over Jacky's death. DC admits his wounds are still raw, and he still cries over her loss ... but he's not someone who will post his emotional heartache online.

Overall, DC says his new mission is to continue to inspire people who may also be down after a significant loss.

DC and Jacky have three beautiful kids -- ages 6, 2 and 10 months -- and admits the conversations with his young ones have been tough. Admittedly, DC says you really truly understand what those emotions are like until you experience a personal tragedy.

Jacky died on May 31 after undergoing some sort of medical procedure, shedding light on a larger conversation about cosmetic surgery.