TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Kanye West didn't hastily throw together "Jesus Is King" -- Kenny G says they recorded their collab for the album way back in February ... in a totally spontaneous and kinda romantic moment.

The legendary saxophonist came on "TMZ Live" Monday after his stirring performance at Kanye's Sunday Service in Los Angeles, and he told us their "Use This Gospel" track traces its roots back to Valentine's Day.

As you know, Kenny G joined Kanye to play "Use This Gospel" Sunday inside The Forum ... and Kenny says there was almost no rehearsal beforehand -- kinda like when he and Kanye recorded the song in the first place.

Kenny says their collab went down shortly after Valentine's Day, when Kanye invited him to the studio to listen to some of Yeezy's new music. Kenny says he told Kanye his sax would sound great on one particular track, so Ye whipped out a mic and started recording Kenny on the spot!

Remember ... Kanye hired Kenny to serenade Kim Kardashian West inside their living room on Valentine's Day ... and Kenny says the gig was the springboard for his "Jesus Is King" feature.

As for Sunday Service, Kenny gushes about the experience ... and he tells us why he went back onstage after his solo to whisper in Kanye's ear.

Future is firing back at the woman alleging he fathered his SEVENTH child with her ... claiming she's nothing but a fraud.

The rapper's filed legal docs asking a judge in Broward County, Florida to toss a paternity case against him because he says the alleged baby mama, Eliza Seraphin, is purely coming after his money.

In docs, Future says Eliza has said in docs she needs child support from Future because she has no bank account, no income and no car. But, Future's calling BS ... because for starters, he says, a simple glance at Eliza's Instagram reveals she has several jobs -- including as a brand ambassador.

Future also says Eliza's shown on IG she has multiple cars and alleges to know she currently has a lease for a 2018 Range Rover. What's more ... Future claims Eliza in the past filed a financial affidavit admitting to having multiple checking accounts.

In short ... Future's calling her a fraud because "the petitioner is lying about financial matters at the onset of case which is solely based on her attempt to extort money from" Future.

He doesn't specifically address whether he's the child's father. Eliza claims he refuses to take a paternity test.

As we first reported ... Eliza filed docs claiming Future knocked her up and then ghosted her after she gave birth to a baby girl back in April. She claimed to have sold her car just to meet ends meet.

Gospel legend Fred Hammond says Kanye West's support of Donald Trump is not an issue for him as a Christian ... and they never discussed politics when working on Ye's new album.

Fred, who is featured on Kanye's new album, "Jesus Is King," tells TMZ ... it's way better for business to leave politics outside the studio. He says Trump never came up once in his dealings with Kanye, and if he cut off everyone who supports the President, he'd have a lot fewer friends.

Hammond's true to his word ... he's brushing off the flak he's getting for working with Kanye, just like he did when he collaborated with Snoop Dogg, an ardent Trump critic.

Fred tells us he made the decision to work with Kanye right off the bat when Ye approached him at Chance The Rapper's wedding. Their track together is called "Hands On."

Kanye West is going right back to work after dropping his much-anticipated album, "Jesus Is King," this weekend ... following it up with a good old-fashioned Sunday Service.

Ye held his weekly spiritual concert Sunday the Forum in L.A., where he, his choir and even Kenny G were in the building ... performing tracks from the new record -- which just dropped on Friday. From the looks of it, Kanye got things started with his Chick-fil-A song, "Closed on Sunday" ... ironic, considering the Forum's doors were very much open.

Folks had to pay $10 to get in for this Service, but we're told the proceeds are being donated to charity. Not bad for a front-row seat to see Kanye and co. in action.

Speaking of that, Kenny himself took to the stage to help play out "Use This Gospel," on which he had an epic sax solo after Clipse gets through their two verses with Ye on the hook.

BTW, the Forum looks pretty much the same in style and set design from when Kanye held his listening party there last week ... the tall grass meant to resemble a field, etc.

The big question now ... is this the official start of his global 'Jesus' tour, or just a victory lap to celebrate the new album? We know Ye's gonna follow the Sunday Service format for his upcoming tour, and he did say he'd get started on it "right away."

It's unclear ... all we can recommend for folks in L.A. is that ya come and catch him while you can, however you can. Kanye's definitely bound to be on the move soon.

Kanye West is going to push boundaries, travel the world and redefine everything audiences expect to experience when showing up to a concert.

Sources close to Kanye tell us his upcoming tour for "Jesus is King" will be unlike anything anyone has seen. We're told the Sunday Service format will serve as a pillar to the production, but it's only a part of the larger picture.

Our sources say the tour is meant for all types of venues -- whether inside or out -- and will be versatile to fit the space.

While Kanye hasn't announced a start to the tour, or any official dates, we're told it'll be a global event ... for fans all around the world to enjoy.

We got a happy Kanye out in NYC Friday who announced the tour would start "right away." Interestingly enough, when we asked about stage design, Kanye was quiet ... but only said it will be different than the floating stage design featured during his Saint Pablo Tour.

Kanye started his Sunday Service in a field in Calabasas ... but has since taken it across the country -- making stops in Utah, Chicago and at Howard University -- even spotlighting at Coachella this year.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were like magnets in NYC Friday ... they go to lunch and a gaggle of fans assemble for a quick look and a quick pic.

K & K dined at Milos restaurant -- BTW the best fish restaurant in the Big Apple -- and a crowd gathered almost immediately after they entered through the turnstyle door.

They looked happy -- especially Kanye, who dropped his long-awaited, long-delayed album just hours earlier.

As we reported, Kanye's turned a page in his career and gospel is what you'll hear when you go to a Ye concert ... maybe with old beats, but new words.

Kanye West is on a mission to God, and a flood of unfavorable album reviews certainly won't get in the way of that ... he's not going back to his old stuff.

Sources close to Kanye tell us he's 100% serious when he says he'll never perform his old music in its original form again. We're told he's hell-bent on his newfound faith -- and will continue to create the music HE wants -- which hasn't been well received so far.

"Jesus is King" dropped Friday, and many complained the project feels incomplete ... like a bunch of song demos all lumped together on one album. The whole thing is 11 songs and runs just 27 minutes.

Our Kanye sources say he's not concerned with the below-average reviews ... he's making music for God and is a changed man.

One thing fans of the "Old Kanye" can hold onto ... while we're told he'll never perform his old tracks in their original form again ... fans can expect to hear familiar beats and rhymes, but with altered and more "G" rated lyrics.

In fact, Kanye said as much when he sat down with Big Boy for a lengthy interview just prior to the album's release.

Kanye West says he's ready to hit the road "right away" and give fans a chance to hear "Jesus is King" live ... in what will be his first tour in 3 years.

We got Kim and Kanye taking a not-so-quiet stroll in NYC Friday, getting mobbed by fans. Kanye was super cool, talking about his album and upcoming plans. He seems to have a stage design in mind -- no floating one this time around.

And, get this ... Kanye's chartered a two-story bus to cruise the streets of NYC and blast his album. Fans chased it down to get a listen, and one even wore a king's crown.

The last time Kanye was on a headlining tour was back in 2016 for the Saint Pablo Tour. The whole thing was slated to run until late December but was stopped in late November when Kanye was hospitalized to get treatment for mental health issues.

Adele isn't wasting any time getting out on the town and living her ultimate single life ... partying at Drake's birthday party with a hot new look.

The 31-year-old -- who filed for divorce from her husband last month -- was spotted in a black dress, striking a pose outside the Hollywood bash Wednesday. Drake had his party at Goya Studios ... and attendees included Snoop Dogg, Kylie Jenner and French Montana.

Adele and her hubby of 7 years, Simon Konecki, announced their split back in April but said they'd work together to lovingly raise their son together.

It wasn't until September when Adele filed divorce docs in L.A. ... the two kept their relationship mostly out of the spotlight since starting to date back in the summer of 2011. She gave birth to their son, Angelo, in October 2012. They tied the knot in a very secret ceremony, and she didn't confirm the union until 2017.

It's no surprise Adele had an invite to Drake's party, the two have a bit of a history. Adele attended a Drake show last year and raved about it. Drake replied, mentioning if he knew Adele was in the crowd, he would have been "SHOOK."

The two also spent a night together in L.A. earlier this year, hitting up a deli and a local bowling alley.

Best birthday EVER?!?!

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is fresh off a brand new, $115 MILLION deal ... and if that's not sweet enough, the baller got a sick, $20k chain from his good buddy, A$AP Ferg!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the "Floor Seats" rapper wanted to do something extra special for his friend's birthday, so he hit up Big Will at WS Jewelry and the guys collabed to make him a one-of-a-kind piece.

We're told the piece comes with 15 carats of natural green and white diamonds shaped in Ferg's signature logo ... and it's worth around $20k.

The back of the pendant also features Jaylen's jersey number, 7, and his name.

The video is awesome ... Ferg and Big Will were there to celebrate with Brown ... and the dude had a BIG smile on his face when they presented him with the present.

Happy birthday!!

Kanye West is heavy into gospel now -- we all know that -- but bet you didn't know he's been talking to perhaps the most famous pastor in America ... Joel Osteen, and we've learned Ye may be making an appearance at Osteen's famous Sunday Service.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, Kanye and Joel speak from time to time on the phone ... as recently as 2 weeks ago. We're told Joel has invited Kanye to take a trip to Houston and experience his megachurch, Lakewood, where 45,000 people show up to pray every week. The Sunday service reaches 100 MILLION homes in America and tens of millions more around the world.

We're told Ye told Joel he'd love to attend a service, and he wouldn't be the first celeb to do so. Oprah, Tyler Perry, the Clintons and many others have attended.

The question ... would Kanye perform at the service? Our sources say Joel never asked him because he didn't want to put Kanye on the spot ... BUT if Ye wants to sing, Joel would be thrilled.

We're told Joel genuinely likes Kanye and believes his life is rooted in faith and love. During their conversations, they talk a lot about faith and Joel's proud that Kanye has traversed his sometimes difficult journey, and has come out believing in a higher power.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hit the town in NYC as the second deadline for Ye's "Jesus is King" came and went ... but he says he won't sleep til it's out.

The couple attended the 2019 FGI Night of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street Thursday -- earlier in the day, Kanye told fans his album was to drop at midnight -- and Kanye took to Twitter to address the missed release time.

Ye tweeted, "To my fans. Thank you for being loyal & patient. We are specifically fixing mixes on 'Everything We Need' 'Follow God' & 'Water.' We not going to sleep until this album is out!"

You'll remember ... back in August, Kim tweeted out a tracklist and said "Jesus is King" was to drop September 27 ... that date came and went without an album as well.

Kanye revealed a much different tracklist Thursday, with only 4 song titles still remaining from Kim's original list.

Nicki Minaj wanted a familiar face to help her tie the knot ... so she brought in her pastor from the other side of the U.S. of A. to officiate the ceremony.

Sources close to Nicki tell TMZ ... the singer flew out her pastor, Lydia Woodson-Sloley, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles for her nuptials with Kenneth Petty.

We're told Nicki and Pastor Lydia -- who fancies herself as a poet, author, Christian life coach and music producer -- go way back, so Nicki just had to have her as the wedding minister.

Lydia founded "Life in Its Poetic Form Christian Ministries" way back in 2000, and Nicki's a huge supporter of her work -- even thanking her in front of millions of people at the 2015 VMAs after accepting the award for best hip-hop video.

Nicki and Pastor Lydia also joined forces in 2017 to rebuild a village in India, making sure people there gained access to clean water.

We broke the story ... Nicki and Kenneth got hitched Monday in L.A. in a low-key ceremony, rushing to the altar because their marriage license was set to expire at month's end.

Nicki and Kenneth are following the blueprint of Justin and Hailey -- no-frills nuptials, followed by a church service and blowout celebration -- so it's a good bet Pastor Lydia will continue to be involved moving forward.

Kanye West just revealed the tracklist for his highly anticipated album, "Jesus is King" ... and it's a radically different version than the one Kim shared back in August.

Though there has been some skepticism based around previously missed album deadlines, Kanye is assuring everyone 'JiK' will hit at midnight.

The 11-song tracklist Kanye revealed is one song less than what Kim put out ... but there are a whole lot of song titles that have changed. In fact, only 4 of the titles Kim shared remain on Kanye's list.

Of course, the songs themselves may have stayed the same -- with only a title change -- but it's also possible Ye scrapped 8 records altogether.

Some of the new track names include ... "Follow God," "On God," "Everything We Need," "Use The Gospel," and "Jesus is Lord."

As we reported ... Yeezy held a massive album listening event at The Forum in L.A. Wednesday night. Fans were treated to a screening of his "Jesus is King" IMAX project and then a full preview of the album.

Kanye West predicts he'll one day be the President of the United States, and when he is ... he'll remember the haters.

In an interview with Apple's Zane Lowe, Kanye chatted about a wide range of topics ... stemming from the upcoming release of his new album, "Jesus is King."

Most notably, Ye says he's working on a plan for a future presidential run -- possibly in 2024 -- and when he wins the election ... "I will remember ... any founder that didn't have the capacity to understand culturally what we're doing."

It's unclear what founders specifically he has in mind, but he did mention Twitter and Facebook honchos, Jack Dorsey and Mark Zuckerberg.

Other subjects Kanye is discussing include ...

Pornography -- Ye says he used to be addicted to porn, and "Playboy was my gateway into full-on pornography addiction," adding ... "it has impacted every choice I have made in my life from age 5 to now." He says he's now kicked the addiction.

Social media -- Kanye says people are addicted to it ... it's the modern-day cigarettes. He also goes off on Instagram models and NSFW content being easily available to kids.

Premarital sex -- West tells Lowe he asked people he was collaborating with on the new album to abstain from doing it. He adds that he also asked people who were working with him to fast and pray together.

Religion -- He says it's not his desire to convert people through his music, but his only mission and calling it to spread the gospel.

Donald Trump -- He says he's a black Trump supporter, but it's not a fight when he puts a MAGA hat on ... it's simply his opinion, and he's not going to stop expressing his opinion.

His legacy -- Kanye says, "I am unquestionably, undoubtedly the greatest human artist of all time. It's just a fact."

There's plenty more ... stay tuned.

Diddy is looking to reinvent himself again with another name change ... he's taking legal action to switch his name from Sean John to Sean Love.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ ... Diddy filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court for a name change.

In the docs, Diddy says he's changing his name from Sean John Combs to Sean Love Combs. Diddy doesn't expressly say why he's yearning for "Love," he just says there's a desire to change his middle name.

It's kinda interesting ... back in 2017, Diddy joked about changing his name to Brother Love, but he never followed through with an official petition.