TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Lil Durk brought some warm meals and happiness to healthcare workers on Chicago's frontlines against COVID.

The rapper and his team pulled up to Chicago's Rush Hospital Friday with boxes of meals from PHLAVZ Restaurant -- owned by Durk's manager -- to distribute. We're told a member of the hospital's hospitality staff then brought the meals inside to distribute.

Not only did they drop meals off at the hospital, PHLAVZ also made 100 meals available to healthcare professionals for pickup later Friday night.

Durk -- who grew up in Chicago -- but now lives in Atlanta, tells us, "Everyone back home has been in my thoughts, especially those doing something for the community and all the neighborhood heroes. I thought about all the first responders putting their lives on the line to help out and it inspired me, so I took a jet back to Chicago to show my thanks."

Escobar season has returned for 2 Chainz ... the rapper is reopening his Atlanta restaurants for sit-down service, and he says he has a plan for keeping folks safe from COVID-19.

Both of 2 Chainz's joints, Escobar Restaurant and Tapas, are serving dine-in meals starting Monday -- his business partner and co-owner, Snoop Dillard, tells TMZ -- and they're making public safety a top priority.

Escobar restaurants were strictly doing take-out orders due to coronavirus restrictions, but with Georgia's Governor paving the way for businesses to reopen -- in many cases recklessly -- 2 Chainz is getting people back to work.

We're told sales at both locations have been down 95% during the shutdown, and the restaurants were forced to furlough around 80% of its staff.

With dine-in service coming back, Snoop says they're planning to bring back 65% of restaurant staff -- 80 people -- and the hope is to have everyone back at work eventually.

As you know ... a debate is raging over Georgia's plan to reopen its economy. Governor Brian Kemp is giving the green light, but Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is urging people to be responsible and cautious and stay home.

2 Chainz's restaurants are trying to have the best of both worlds, and they think they will be able to host sit-down service safely.

We're told safety precautions at the restaurants include staff having their temperatures checked when they clock in, mandatory gloves for all employees, masks for the cooks and single-use paper menus.

Any staff member showing coronavirus symptoms will be asked to go home and quarantine for 14 days.

We're also told the restaurants are bringing back hookahs, which will be cleaned and sanitized frequently. Most folks bring their own hoses anyways.

And, on the weekends, we're told live DJs will return to both locations ... 2 Chainz and Snoop say the DJs need to make a living as well, but things aren't going into full party mode yet. They even paid a few DJs to come in and spin when it was take-out only -- just to brighten people's days.

2 Chainz and Snoop donated hundreds of meals to medical workers on the frontlines ... and we're told they're planning to give more free meals to workers at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.

Tekashi 6ix9ine has been out of prison for weeks now, and his baby mama says he's still ghosting their kid -- but he says that's not what's going on at all.

The rapper's ex, Sara Molina, tells TMZ ... just like before, Tekashi has shown little to no interest in reconnecting with their daughter, Saraiyah. Sara says she wasn't expecting him to change out of nowhere, but she's still disappointed by the radio silence.

She is grateful, however, Tekashi's mother is actively trying to keep a bond alive with the little girl. Sara says grandma's been in close contact over the past month or so ... coming over to see Saraiyah in-person a number of times.

It's interesting ... Sara says Tekashi, while still incarcerated, reached out to her mother, to set up a neutral location for his mom to meet Saraiyah. That apparently went off without a hitch, but Sara says right before 6ix9ine was set to be released ... his mom cut off communication and went off the radar.

So why's Papa 6ix9ine been M.I.A.? Sources close to the guy tell us the only reason he hasn't reached out and attempted to connect yet, is because he wants the coronavirus pandemic under control first, as he wants to put his child's safety first.

We're also told Tekashi is claiming Sara's begging to get back with him ...  suggesting he's afraid she's using their daughter as a ploy to reunite.

That might explain why he's anxious to get a custody arrangement hammered out in court ... according to our Tekashi sources.

For now, Sara says Tekashi's mom is still welcome to visit her granddaughter -- but a daddy-daughter reunion seems to be on the back burner.

Post Malone is paying tribute to Kurt Cobain's iconic band with a special concert from home, featuring Nirvana songs ... and it's all for coronavirus relief charities.

The singer put up a somewhat cryptic video Wednesday, showing himself sitting on a stool onstage, with an acoustic guitar in hand ... while an unseen crowd cheers in the background. It's very reminiscent of Kurt's famous ''MTV: Unplugged'' show from back in the '90s.

After the footage plays, a title card reading "Post Malone Nirvana Tribute Livestream" flashes on the screen teasing a Friday YouTube special.

Our sources say Post wanted to honor the Nirvana frontman this month, which marks the 26th anniversary of his death. In the same breath, he also wants to help out in the COVID-19 fight.

Post will have a donate button on his YouTube page on the day of the at-home special -- which we're told will be shot at his living room bar -- and the cash will go toward the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization -- a newly-created org that uses funds to help train and equip communities to detect and fend off the virus on the ground. YouTube's matching all of PM's donations.

It sounds like the music will be strictly Nirvana, although it's possible he might sprinkle a few other songs in there too.

FYI ... he's got a tattoo on his face that reads "Stay Away," after the Nirvana song of the same name. So yeah, better than average chance you'll hear that one come Friday.

YG is taking a hands-on approach to giving back ... dropping off care packages filled with what have become crucial items these days.

The rapper's nonprofit org 4Hunnid Ways is sending $10k worth of PPE (personal protective equipment) to dozens of families in Emergency Crisis Housing in Central Los Angeles. The packages have masks, gloves, sanitizer detergent, clothes, board games water, diapers, bottles and other toys.

In total, YG and co. are helping more than 100 families.

YG and his biz partner Sheron Barber tells TMZ, "Nothing prepares you for a situation like this, rather than sit by and wait for updates on how people in underserved circumstances are going to be assisted, we took the initiative to listen to the needs of families and provide all the necessary items to help them through Quarantine while still practicing social distance."

He's just the latest example of people -- famous or not -- stepping up to help out those less fortunate right now.

Cardi B and Fashion Nova's cash cavalry is still finding families in need of financial help during the coronavirus pandemic ... but early winners are already feeling the relief.

Since announcing the Fashion Nova Cares $1 million giveaway on April 8, more than 200 recipients have scored a $1,000 boost ... and it's continuing every HOUR until May 20.

TMZ chatted up a few of the lucky winners about the surprise of getting the good news and how it's helped them out ... here's what they had to say.

Elvine, a nurse's assistant from Massachusetts, tells us ... besides loading up on groceries and essentials for her kids, she's also going to pay $100 of her winnings forward to her neighbor, a mom who recently lost her hotel job.

Kizzy from Tennessee says she’s been unable to work as a cosmetologist since March, which is why she entered for a chance at the Fashion Nova money. She admittedly never expected to win, though ... until she got a wonderful text.

She says she's going to use the cash to get ahead on payments for her SUV, which she uses to drive around her 3 daughters.

Kizzy's incredibly thankful she got picked, and also believes God gave her an assist. She says ... "I’m just truly honored and blessed that they chose me."

Finally, Gala -- a single mother from South Carolina -- tells us the financial boost will help pay off mounting bills, especially since her Army earnings are the sole income for her family, which includes her father.

Gala says it's been overwhelming at times, but this pleasant surprise will certainly help out big time.

No doubt, the promise of more funds to come from Cardi B and Fashion Nova are giving needy families a glimmer of hope.

French Montana says the coronavirus pandemic has brought one huge issue to the forefront for hip-hop artists -- whether or not they've saved for a rainy day.

The rapper joined "TMZ Live" Friday and touched on how the current state of the world can really make you appreciate what ya got -- but it's also a scary financial situation for many artists who live check to check, just like millions of non-famous Americans.

French is not in that boat ... he says he made sure to do a lot of saving while also spending a bunch. He says that's not the case for a lot of other rappers ... and anticipates some will be holding fire sales of prior high-ticket purchases.

No, he doesn't name names.

FM also dropped a new single Friday -- called "That's A Fact" -- and directed the music video too, which is set to be released Monday. He says it's heavy on COVID-19 imagery because ... well, that's what was available while directing under quarantine.

This isn't the first time French has gotten behind the camera -- he also directed the massively successful "Unforgettable" vid in 2017 -- and says that's his other passion.

Drake's joined the All In party to raise money for COVID-19 relief ... and he's offering an awesome party package that starts with a flight on his $200 million private jet.

The rapper got called out by Tom Brady to get behind the All In Challenge -- the fundraiser started by 76ers partner Michael Rubin -- and what he's offering is going to be hard to top.

Drake says one lucky winner, and 7 others they want to bring along for the fun, will get to fly on Air Drake ... where they'll be greeted with an OVO package and a Nike care package.

The flight will take them to L.A. for the weekend, where they'll get the full VIP treatment and join Drake for a private party at his fave club, Delilah.

That's not all, though ... Drake says once he can get back to touring, he's going to hook up the winner with the best seats to his show back in their home city.

As we reported ... several other famous athletes and celebs -- including Kevin Hart, Meek Mill, Justin Bieber, Ryan Seacrest, Mark Cuban and Magic Johnson are either auctioning or raffling off incredible packages ... with all the money going to feed people in need due to the pandemic.

Brady's charity auction had a starting bid of $50k ... but it's already up to $140,000!