Author: hhns

This past June, 2 Chainz was a victim of a robbery in San Francisco, California. The story quickly made headlines, as the rapper denied that he was robbed, but was later contradicted by then-bodyguard Harold “Hammer Strength” Folsom.

In an interview on VladTV, the Atlanta rapper addressed his bodyguard’s interview. “He’s not my bodyguard anymore,” revealed Chainz. “I didn’t hear his interview. I don’t know what happened. I don’t have anything negative to say. Coming from where I come from, there’s certain instincts that you have. There’s certain reflexes you have, and I can’t expect everyone… You know, they have fire drills in school. But they don’t tell you what’s going to happen if it’s a real fire in the school. They don’t expect people to line up, and stop drop and roll.”

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

“The experiences that I went through besides San Francisco, the experiences that I go through in life period: there ain’t no rehearsal for it,” added 2 Chainz. “And so, I can’t expect everybody to know what to do, how to move, how to do certain things, because it’s different habitats.”

Ultimately, 2 Chainz believes the matter is no longer an issue. “For me, not even answering that how I feel about that, I pretty much think I moved on. It was two guys, it was guns, I didn’t lose a chain, I lost a piece of ID, and I think I’m fine. I don’t drive anyway. The license was five dollars, I didn’t get hurt, I didn’t get shot, I didn’t die, I did a show the same day, I didn’t snitch. Nothing happened. It happened, it was posted, TMZ loves puttin’ up stuff, and I kind of moved on. Did I feel some type of way? Yeah, because you got people saying they took something from me when ain’t nobody took nothin’. Did I get over it? Sooner than people can imagine, because I’m from that.”

2 Chainz suggested that anyone assessing the situation think about it realistically. “Anywhere in the world at four o’clock, you just gotta imagine gunshots, and what people would probably normally do. Except the imagination of people on social media who feel they can do karate and disarm.”

Watch the interview below:

[/expand]

 

Prison seems to be the next chapter in Gucci Mane’s recent string of unfortunate events which include amateur mall boxing and a Twitter tirade against practically every rapper he has come in contact with. According to documents obtained by WorldRapFederation, Gucci Mane has been sentenced to 183 days in prison for parole violation.

Gucci Mane (born Radric Davis) was arrested September 14th for gun and drug possession as well as disorderly conduct, with two of those charges being felonies.

No official word from Gucci Mane or his management has been released at press time.

Irv Gotti is set to relaunch Murder Inc. under Visionary, a new entertainment company that the mogul is hoping to start. According to a recent Instagram post from Gotti and a report from HipHop-n-more.com, his plans are underway.

Gotti said that the first step was to bring Maddi Jane, a 14-year-old singer Gotti is managing, to Atlantic Records.

The next phase of the company is set to include television shows, according to Gotti. One possible television show might be a reality program that includes Ja Rule, as per his Instagram post. From 2007 through 2009, Gotti was the executive producer and star of “Gotti’s Way,” a reality program based on his life.

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

Beyond television, Gotti also said Visionary is set to include work in film. Gotti has worked in film in a variety of capacities, mainly on soundtracks for motion pictures, including 1998’s Rush Hour and 2002’s Friday After Next.

Gotti’s statement, as reported by HipHop-N-more.com, is below:

“Wanna share with y’all what I have been plotting on!! For years I have been wanting to start an ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY called VISIONARY. and yesterday was one of the 1st steps with bringing Maddi Jane. 14 year old superstar from Chicago to my Family at Atlantic Records. Julie Greenwald. Mtg and energy was fantastic. So I wake up today very excited. VISIONARY will also be doing TV shows. Me and Rule are working with Cris Abrego of 51 Minds and Rule will probably have his own Reality Show very soon. Which will also be a part VISIONARY thing. Also working on a few movie ideas that will also be VISIONARY. So with the signing of Maddi Jane and me waking up feeling great. I said let me share this with my people. VISIONARY will also manage artist as well. But I will only manage artist I feel are VISIONARY type artist. Not trying to just manage any and everyone. And that will be music and actors and athletes. MURDER INC will be a label under VISIONARY. And things I will do with Ja will always be MURDER INC AND MPIRE. and if I find another rapper that inspires me to work with them. It will be MURDER INC. but an artist like Maddi Jane will be under VISIONARY. I will let you guys in on more things I’m doing when the time is right.”

Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. released several albums under Def Jam, beginning with 1999’s Venni Vetti Vecci. The imprint released Ja Rule’s subsequent discography until 2004’s R.U.L.E., which was released under the imprint’s new name, The Inc. The label had issues with a federal indictment that prevented business dealings, according to Ja Rule, who spoke about the imprint’s troubles, which also included a rivalry with 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and Eminem, on September 20, in an interview with New York radio station Hot 97.

“It was a lot going on in that time frame,” Ja said. “You got the federal indictment. Here’s what it is. It was orchestrated very well. [50 Cent] was a part of the juggernauts at that moment. Eminem, Dre, they were very, very big in what they were doing as well. So, as we were big over on our side, they were also big on their side. And as everything started to crumble for us as far as we didn’t have a label home anymore, there was a lot of things that were falling apart for us. It was easy for [50 Cent] to get people to turn on [us] and there was things that were behind the scenes that y’all don’t see, that also made us seem more irrelevant.”

[/expand]

Following Friday’s (September 27) contentious confrontation with two photographers outside of his California home, Kanye West traveled to France, where he says he respects paparazzi.

In a video posted today (September 30) on TMZ, West speaks to photographers/videographers in France.

“Don’t ask me no questions,” Kanye West says in the clip. “Don’t ask questions. Just take the video. Don’t do like the L.A. [paparazzi]. I like how you guys move out here. You guys have total respect for yourselves. You’ve got respect for the people you photograph. You also take time off at like 8 o’clock. You’re not around peoples’ houses and stuff like that. I just really appreciate and respect that. I understand that you have to make a living. Let me shake your hand. I appreciate that.”

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

The video of West’s interaction with French paparazzi can be viewed below.

On September 27, West confronted California paparazzi in his driveway.

“Don’t say anything to me, man,” Kanye West said in the clip outside of his home. “Stop asking me questions. You out in front of my house at 4 am, talking ’bout, ‘How’s it going?’ It’s not going good. Y’all out here trying to make money off us. That’s how it’s going. It’s 4 am. It’s 4am and you ask me how it’s going. You know I don’t want you to say nothing to me. You hear what I’m saying? Respect that.

“Shut the fuck up,” West continued. “It’s 4am, you blood-sucking mosquito. You want me to be standing out in front of your house at 4am? Pick a profession with some type of respect to it.”

That video can be viewed below.

 

[/expand]

 

There’s investigative journalism, then there’s paparazzi and then there is illegal trespassing. Earlier this morning (September 27th) Kanye West had a furious verbal confrontation with a few paparazzi photographers who were outside of his house at 4 A.M.

The photographers attempted to ask Kanye about last night’s exchange of words with Jimmy Kimmel through social media, but Kanye shut all questioning down quickly:

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

Stop asking me questions. You outside of my house at 4 A.M. talking about how’s it going? It’s not going good. Y’all trying to make money off of it.

While there was no physical altercation, Kanye did lunge at one of the photographers when attempted to take pictures of a woman who was exiting Kanye’s car, supposedly Kim Kardashian.

According to TMZ, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were en route to catch a flight to Paris.  Kanye has recently been informed by his lawyers to avoid paparazzi by not flying through LAX.

Check out the full video of Kanye’s latest confrontation with the paparazzi at TMZ.

[/expand]

Beats Electronics, home to the wildly popular Beats By Dre headphones and other myriad products, secured a $500 million investment from the Carlyle Group.

Beats, founded by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine and home to products by Lil Wayne and Lady Gaga, received the minority investment to help finance growth, reports The New York Times.

Beats is now valued at more than $1 billion, with Carlyle taking two of six seats on Beats’ board.

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

Additionally, Beats will buy back the 25 percent stake in itself held by Taiwanese smartphone company HTC for $265 million. Beats also paid off a $150 million note held by HTC.

In addition to headphones, Beats electronics also has speakers and sound systems for Hewlett-Packard and HTC phones in its portfolio.

In 2012, Beats purchased online music streaming service Mog for more than $14 million.

“These transactions represent the evolution of the financial strength and significant growth prospects of Beats,” said Iovine in a statement.

“Carlyle is a fantastic investment partner and we look forward to building the next chapter of Beats,” he added.

[/expand]

Kanye West once said he’d “choke a South Park writer with a fishstick” after the classic Kanye West Is A Gay Fish sketch on South Park. Jimmy Kimmel might want to watch out for fish sticks or small children as Kanye West went on a Twitter rant bashing the talk show host for his recent spoof of Kanye West’s interview with Zane Lowe.

During his digital diatribe Kanye voiced his displeasure with Kimmel making light of the serious topics he discussed in the Zane Lowe interivew (even though Kimmel never makes fun of paparazzi harassment of Kanye or his daughter):

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

JIMMY KIMMEL IS OUT OF LINE TO TRY AND SPOOF IN ANY WAY THE FIRST PIECE OF HONEST MEDIA IN YEARS

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) September 27, 2013

JIMMY KIMMEL, I DON’T TAKE IT AS A JOKE…. YOU DON’T HAVE SCUM BAGS HOPPING OVER FENCES TRYING TO TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR DAUGHTER — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) September 27, 2013

Kanye alleges he attended a wedding of a member of Kimmel’s family whom Kanye later discovered(from Kimmel) was not his family:

I LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW ME, I WENT TO YOUR FAMILY’S WEDDING — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) September 27, 2013

WHO YOU MADE IT CLEAR TO ME WASN’T YOUR FAMILY WHEN I WAS ON THEN PHONE WITH YOU 5 MINUTES AGO, YOU MANIPULATIVE MEDIA MUTHERFUCKER. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) September 27, 2013

He even threw Kimmel’s ex-wife and comedic legend Sarah Silverman into the diatribe:

SARAH SILVERMAN IS A THOUSAND TIMES FUNNIER THAN YOU AND THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS IT!!! — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) September 27, 2013

After stating his case and sending out slanderous allegations, Kanye did what anyone arguing with someone on Twitter would do. He sent a few profane memes

Check out Jimmy Kimmel’s kid spoof of Kanye West’s recent interview with Zane Lowe:

Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, who is the co-administrator of Tupac’s estate, has reportedly filed a $1.1 million lawsuit against Entertainment One, according to TMZ.

The lawsuit claims Entertainment One (E1) breached a contract to pay Tupac’s estate royalties for Beginnings: The Lost Tapes, a project released in June 2007, as per TMZ.

E1 reportedly purchased rights to Tupac’s music in July 2013 from Death Row Records, which used to own the rights to the material. Death Row reportedly went bankrupt in 2006, as per TMZ.

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

Tupac’s estate is also seeking the ownership of the master recordings for all of Tupac’s unreleased music.

In February, Jampol Artist Management signed on to manage the estate of Tupac Shakur.

“I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that Tupac’s entire body of work is made available for his fans,” Afeni Shakur in a statement about the deal. “My son left many incomplete pieces and even more unfinished ideas. Using the blueprints he gave us, I am committed to fulfilling this duty…[We] will find innovative ways to continue to keep his music, his message, and his legacy alive.”

[/expand]

 

Trina was hospitalized today (September 23) after collapsing in a Florida airport, according to TMZ.

The rapper reportedly passed out due to “dehydration and overexertion,” as per TMZ.

Part of the overexertion has been attributed to traveling all day. Trina’s collapse reportedly took place minutes after she deplaned.

Trina was checked in to a nearby hospital and is now recovering.

Trina posted a message on Instagram about the incident, saying that she was anxious to leave the hospital.

DJ Khaled has donated $10,000 to a Miami, Florida high school band.

Khaled, who is set to release Suffering from SuccessOctober 22, visited students of the Miami Norland Senior High band Friday (September 20). He spoke to the students in the school gymnasium before letting them know about the donation.

In an interview done outside of the gym, DJ Khaled spoke about why it was important to visit the school with funds.

“I wanted to just inspire the kids and let them know to be greater and that I’m proud of them,” Khaled said to Revolt.tv. ”I make it a priority every year to give back to my community and this was one of the ways I wanted to give back.”

1. Diddy ($50M)

2. Jay Z ($43M)

3. Dr. Dre ($40M)

4. Nicki Minaj ($29M)

5. Birdman ($21M)

6. Kanye West ($20M)

7. Lil Wayne ($16M)

 

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

 

8. Wiz Khalif  ($14M)

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Ludacris ($12M)

10. Pitbull ($11M)

11. Drake ($10.5M)

12. Snoop Dogg ($10M)

12. Eminem ($10M)

14. Kendrick Lamar ($9M)

14. Pharrell ($9M)

14. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ($9M)

17. Swizz Beatz ($8.5M)

18. Tech N9ne ($7.5M)

19. 50 Cent ($7M)

20. Lil Jon ($6M)

20. Rick Ross ($6M)

20. Mac Miller ($6M)

20. Jeezy ($6M)

20. Questlove ($6M)

[/expand]

Chicago rapper Kanye West has become increasingly known for his ventures outside of music. He broke into the world of high fashion with his first womenswear collection in 2011, has met the needs of sneaker heads worldwide with his Air Yeezys and recently sold out of hiscollection with A.P.C. in a matter of hours.

During an interview with BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, ‘Ye continued to express his interest in things outside of music. In fact, the rapper said that he’s hoping to gradually work his way to becoming the mastermind behind the first trillion-dollar company. TheYeezus rapper made reference to that particular goal while speaking on a specific lyric from “New Slaves.”

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

“When I say, ‘Clean water was only served to the fairer skin,’ what I’m saying is we’re making product with chitlins,” said Kanye. “T-shirts, that’s the most we can make, T-shirts. We can have our best perspective on T-shirts, but if it’s anything else, your Truman Show boat is hitting the wall…What people don’t realize is I wanna make uniforms for my high school basketball team through Brand Yeezy. I want to make that one step and then make another step. And then eventually do uniforms for the entire city. Then I want those uniforms to be hot and make money. Then I eventually want to be the anchor and the force behind a billion dollar company…I eventually want to be the anchor of the first trillion dollar company.”

Kanye further commented on his goals outside of music and shared the reason why he hasn’t been able to fully tap into his creative side as he spoke on his highly popular collaboration with Nike, the Air Yeezys. According to Kanye, despite the popularity of the kicks, Nike did not reach out to him immediately following their release.

“I shouldn’t be limited to only one place of creativity,” he said. “And it’s literally only like one or two or three reasons why I haven’t been able to break that down. This is the thing, you guys don’t understand. You guys don’t understand that I did the Yeezys and they eBayed for $90,000. And people wanted them bad as whatever, right? But I didn’t get a call from Nike the next day. You guys don’t understand that I’ve met with companies and they say, ‘What we’re trying to figure out is how we can control you and control that.’ If you’re an architect, if you’re a world builder, if you have all these ideas and you’re gaudy and you want to build buildings, if you don’t ever get that out what ‘s gonna happen? Isn’t that why you do it?”

Additionally, Kanye expressed his desire to design clothing for those who don’t flaunt Versace-friendly budgets, as he commented on a designer’s inability to reach out to the average consumer due to cost concerns.

“I’ve dedicated the past 10 years of my life to this,” Kanye said. “I spent 80 percent of my time working on this and 20 percent of my time working on music. Why do you think the song ‘Niggas in Paris’ is called ‘Niggas In Paris’? Cause niggas was in Paris. That’s why we were in Paris. I put in the 10,000 hours. I’ve got a very specific, particular take on men’s footwear. No one can say I cannot design or understand how to design a guy’s sneaker…I’m not trying to get into that world. I’m trying to make a higher level of product for the real world. People say, ‘Life isn’t fair.’ And unless you Kanye West or you this pretty girl that dates this soccer player or your parents had money, you don’t get to wear Versace all the time…The creatives, they want to connect with people. These artists, the clothing designers, they want to connect with people the same way that music gets to connect with people. But the cost of silk is too expensive. And they won’t lower their quality level.”

During the hour-long interview, Kanye West also offered a few words of praise while speaking on fellow artists Jay Z and Rick Rubin. He also commented on his relationship with Kim Kardashian who he says gave him “everything.”

[/expand]

 

Hip Hop artist and actor Common is speaking out against the overwhelming violence that has consumed his hometown of Chicago. Speaking with theAssociated Press, Common suggests that a “peace summit” with fellow Chi-town rapper Chief Keef is a necessary first step to curb the violent crimes happening in the city.

Chief Keef has become one of the public faces to the Chicago violence in the mainstream press because of the references to gun violence in his music and his several run-ins with the law. Common makes the points that rap music is not the root cause of the violence, but the music does impact the minds of young people.

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

“To decide to take someone’s life, I don’t think they let a rap song determine that,” said Common, but then adds that the youth are “influenced by that energy and take it the wrong way.”

The “Ghetto Dreams” rhymer offers that more educational programs would play an important part in turning around the current state of violence perpetrated by some young people. He believes that Hip Hop artists should play a greater role in making these changes happen.

Common has already began taking a personal stance to help underprivileged youth with his Common Ground Foundation. The CGF provides programs such as the Dreamers & Believers Summer Youth Camp and a mentoring program for public school students in Chicago. A benefit concert for the non-profit organization was held last night (9/20) at Chicago’s House of Blues.

On the Common Ground Foundation Common wrote:

I started the Common Ground Foundation because I wanted to help. Most of all help people to help themselves. I always believed that if we started with the youth then we would be planting the seeds for our future to blossom. Give the children a sense of hope, self-esteem, and love that will better the world…I think making a difference in the lives of others is life’s greatest purpose. I walk this path with faith knowing that the Common Ground Foundation will Change the World.

[/expand]

Recently, Gucci Mane went on a Twitter rant, insulting friends, business partners, and everyone in between.

Now, despite Gucci Mane’s brother claiming that the rapper’s account had been hacked, it appears that Gucci is taking responsibility and admitting to his actions.

Taking to Twitter, apparently from prison, Gucci apologized for his actions:

[expand title=”More MBiz” tag=”h2″]

Taking to Twitter, apparently from prison, Gucci apologized for his actions:

Woke up the other day out this hospital bed & I’m so embarrassed & ashamed of my behavior that was brought to my attention. (Cont)

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

 

I just wanna man up right now & take this time to apologize to my family, friends, the industry & most of all my fans. I’m SORRY! (Cont)

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

 

Gucci continued, explaining that his addiction to lean, a concoction which has previously claimed the lives of Pimp C and other rappers, played a role in his behavior.

I’ve been drinking lean for 10plus years & I must admit it has destroyed me. I wanna be the first rapper to admit (cont)

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

 

I’m addicted to lean & that shit ain’t no joke. I can barely remember all the things I’ve done & said. However there’s no excuse. (Cont)

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

 

Gucci revealed that he has plans to go into rehab, and specifically apologized to Birdman, Rick Ross and Drake, all of whom were mentioned in his Twitter rants.

I’m currently incarcerated but I will be going to rehab because I need help. I wanna thank everyone that has stood by me (cont)

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

 

during this difficult time. Please keep me in your prayers. #GUWOP

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

 

I wanna personally apologize to birdman ross & drake. Dem my niggas. I 100% regret my words & actions .

— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 22, 2013

[/expand]

Either Chris Brown has been listening to Jay Z’s ”Guilty Until Proven Innocent” or he still harbors resentment, because the troubled R&B singer spoke extremely candid with JET Magazine.

In excerpts from the upcoming Jet Magazine interview, Brown speaks on the hypocrisy over the media attention given his assault on Rihanna in comparison to that of Jay Z’s 1999 stabbing of Lance “Un” Rivera:

No disrespect, because I’m a fan, but nobody brings up the fact that [Jay Z] stabbed somebody and sold drugs. He gets a pass.

 

I identify with Trayvon 100 percent as far as living in 2013 and still dealing with blatant racism. This generation is so used to racism that it’s normal; we don’t care. We aren’t on drugs or catching AIDS, but they still look at us as ni**as.