TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has plenty of money to spread around, and he recently did just that ... pouring millions into Ice Cube's growing Big3 basketball league.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ, Ye was brought in as a new league investor during the 2021 season. Our sources say Ye invested somewhere in the mid to high seven-figure mark, and league cofounders Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz also invested additional money into Big3.

As for what sparked the news ... Kanye let the cat out of the bag on his league involvement during a lengthy sit-down interview on Revolt TV's "Drink Champs." Ye mentioned his negotiations with Cube, saying he'll only sign a contract that's one page or less.

Big3 -- a league featuring former NBA superstars as well as international players -- was first announced in 2017 and has grown in popularity ever since. The league features 12 teams, playing throughout the United States, and a 3-on-3 competition style.

Kanye was actually spotted at a 3-on-3 game back in July in Vegas chatting Cube up courtside ... gotta imagine they were talking business.

As far as Kanye West is concerned, Kim Kardashian is still his wife ... and while that might still be true legally, it doesn't seem like a long-term possibility.

Ye sat down with the guys on Revolt TV's "Drink Champs" Thursday in an interview that, based on Kanye's haircut, was recorded several weeks ago. Ye talked music, money, fashion and family ... but the part about his relationship with Kim seemed to cause the most buzz.

The former Mr. West says Kim is still his wife because there "ain't no paperwork" to say otherwise. Of course, the two have been going through a divorce -- which has remained very amicable -- for several months now ... it hasn't yet been finalized, so technically Kim and Kanye still are married.

We've seen both support each other in recent career endeavors -- Kim at Ye's "Donda" listening events and Kanye joining Kim in NYC when she hosted 'SNL.'

However, through all of those things -- the divorce was still moving forward -- and most recently, Kim bought the couple's Hidden Hills estate from Kanye for $23 million ... a sure sign the divorce won't be called off.

Of course, Kim has also been hanging with Pete Davidson in the last week ... first hitting Knott's Berry Farm in CA before joining him twice in NYC for dinner.

DaBaby is going back on tour after his homophobic comments, and it's all backed by Rolling Loud -- the festival where he made those remarks -- which believes he's a changed man.

Here's the deal ... DaBaby just announced a 22-show tour presented by Rolling Loud called "Live Show Killa Tour." The rapper's touting it as "THE SHOW YOU THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER SEE AGAIN" ... clearly jabbing at people who wanted him canceled.

A rep for Rolling Loud tells TMZ ... RL supports second chances and believes DaBaby has grown and learned from his experience, and everyone will be welcome at the shows.

As you know ... there was a massive backlash against DaBaby after the homophobic rant at Rolling Loud in Miami -- he was dropped from the lineup of a few festivals.

But, he returned to a Rolling Loud stage last month in NYC, where he joined his buddy 50 Cent as a special guest.

Sources close to DaBaby tell TMZ ... he inked the tour deal with RL prior to his appearance with Fiddy, but no earlier than a month ago.

DaBaby is A-OK to hit live stages again, because he's come a long way since his homophobic rants ... so says one LGBTQ org which is OK with his performing, but NOT Dave Chappelle.

The CEO for Relationship Unleashed, Gwendolyn D. Clemons, tells TMZ ... she and her cohorts at the nonprofit approve of DB's appearance at Rolling Loud NY last week -- and any future concerts -- as they feel he's learned a lot over the past few months.

Clemons says DaBaby met with them as well as 100+ other orgs that advocate for the LGBTQ community -- and insists they got through to him on why his diatribe about AIDS was hurtful and harmful.

RU gave DB a history lesson of sorts and educated the guy ... including how HIV/AIDS affects people in his native Charlotte, NC -- something Clemons thinks resonated with DaBaby, whom she believes did not understand what he was saying.

Clemons says DaBaby was coming from a place of ignorance, but she says now he gets it ...  and that's why Relationship Unleashed can cosign his latest Rolling Loud cameo, and others to come.

As for Mr. Chappelle -- she's not forgiving, telling us the comedian has not shown any empathy or remorse ... adding Dave knows exactly what he's doing. BTW, Dave would agree he knows exactly what he's doing, which is not to apologize because he says he is in no way shape or form transphobic.

Quavo is hoping time away from the Falcons is what Calvin Ridley needs ... telling TMZ Sports he wants to see the Atlanta star receiver get better ASAP.

We got the rapper -- who's one of the biggest Falcons fans on the planet -- out in NYC on Monday ... and he made it clear he has no issues whatsoever with Ridley stepping away from his favorite team in order to focus on his mental health.

Quavo wished Ridley a speedy recovery ... telling our camera guy before heading into a secret show for NBA Top Shot, "I hope he get well."

Ridley missed the Falcons' game against the Jets earlier this season for a personal matter ... and after missing the team's loss to the Panthers for the same reason -- the 26-year-old explained he's been battling mental health issues the last few weeks and needs time away from the gridiron.

"I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing," he said Sunday. "This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future."

No timetable has been given for a potential return to the lineup ... but every one from his teammates to his former head coach, Dan Quinn, has supported his decision.

Kanye West is continuing his friendship with Marilyn Manson -- going so far as to invite the guy to his newest Sunday Service ... and even going in on a prayer together.

Ye kicked off a new round of worship and gospel singing Sunday -- and he invited the embattled rocker, who's been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, to join in on the gathering. Manson was standing front and center alongside the rest of the choir.

Everyone was wearing white ... and some even had hoods and face coverings over their heads. At one point, Ye and MM bowed toward each other ... touching foreheads and closing their eyes. Speaking of eyes ... looks like Mr. West has lost his brows, and his hair.

BTW, Manson wasn't the only famous person there ... one Justin Bieber was also on hand, and he too appeared to be joining them for the spiritual moment. He also got on the mic at one point ... and said a few words. He mostly kept his hood on, seemingly trying to lay low.

There's no question though ... he was there, and standing shoulder to shoulder wtih Ye and Manson.

So many reactions to this -- including a lot of indignation that Ye would actually invite somebody like Manson to something like this ... presumably, a sanctified meeting on Christians. Beyond Manson's mere public image as the exact opposite of that ... folks can't help but point to the allegations against him as a major reason he shouldn't be there.

Fact is ... Marilyn stands accused of sexually assaulting and/or abusing multiple women, dating back years -- all of which he had vehemently denied, and is fighting in court.

He has insisted that all of these liaisons were completely consensual, and a lot of them were straight-up relationships he was in ... but the women have characterized it in much different terms, especially Evan Rachel Wood ... who's been the most outspoken about this.

This probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone -- Kanye has already indicated he's cool with Manson ... evident in the fact that he featured him in his latest album.

He also invited the man to one of his "Donda" listening events ... ditto for DaBaby, who's been getting public heat of late. Unclear if his cozying up to Manson means he believes him (and not the women) ... or if he's bringing him in as a gesture of forgiveness or something.

Drake was feeling it Saturday night, with a little help from a beverage.

Drake hosted a rap battle Saturday night in Long Beach, and he may not have been 3 sheets, but surely at least 2!

He was at the "Til Death Do Us Part" show, and as he chit-chatted with Nunu Nellz, it doesn't take an alcohol expert to see ... Drake was under the influence and having a blast. He wasn't in costume, but Drake's famous enough to be himself. Yeah, that doesn't really make sense.

There were tons of parties Saturday night in Hollywood and parts surrounding .... including one hosted by Alessandra Ambrosia which attacked a gaggle of celebs, including Meagan Good, Doja Cat, Tyga, Ryan Phillippe, Victoria Justice and Jeff Ross.

After the rap battle, Drake left for parts or parties unknown, but it's clear ... he had a better time than most.

Happy Halloween!!!

All Yung Bleu wanted was a baby monkey ... instead, he mistakenly ended up with a baby baboon -- which grows quite a bit bigger -- but he's crossing his fingers and trying to make it work.

We got the "You're Mines Still" rapper at SIXTY LES Hotel in NYC and our guy asked him about his little monkey mix-up.

Bleu says the guy he got the pet from told him it was a monkey, but when he started showing the critter off on social media, folks turned him on to what was really going on ... and a quick Google search confirmed he'd been misled.

But, YB tells us he's not mad about what he considers false advertising ... and it's pretty clear in the video he's got a special connection with the baboon, which he's named Moon Vandross.

Sounds like he could have been in a worse spot -- Bleu tells us why this specific type of baboon won't grow up to be a big problem. He hopes.

More signs Kanye West is not long for Wyoming ... his fleet of cars from the ranch is on the auction block.

Ye's used vehicles are open for bidding at Musser Bros. Auctions ... and the owner of the auction house, Harold Musser, tells us Ye recently sold 6 cars back to his local Ford dealer in Cody, WY.

We're told the Ford dealership turned around and enlisted Musser Bros. to auction off Ye's fleet ... the listings went up this month, and there's already a ton of interest.

Seems Kanye was a Ford truck man ... the haul includes 4 of 'em -- a 2016 F-350, a 2017 F-250, a 2018 F-150 Raptor and a 2019 F-150 Raptor.

Rounding out the fleet is a pair of 2020 Ford Expeditions, including one XLT Max edition and one Limited Stealth edition.

As you can see, Ye's cars all have matte black wraps ... but we're told the winning bidders can plop down another $250 to have the wraps removed. They're all 4-wheel drive too, for all you off-roading customers.

It makes sense his fleet is up for sale -- remember, he's also listed his sprawling Monster Lake Ranch for $11 million. Owning multiple heavy-duty trucks makes sense on 4500 acres of ranch land, but not so much for his new beachfront Malibu property.

Don't let these two almost identical images of Jack Harlow give you a scare! Step out onto center stage and see if you have the sweet action it takes to find the sneaky switches!

The new rapper on the scene -- who was just featured on Lil Nas X's newest album -- was seen on stage during a performance at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this week ... and we have made a few changes to the original pic! Use your talents to see what's poppin' with the differences between these two super similar snaps!

Drake just earned himself a new nickname ... Certified Watch Lover, and not just any watch -- he went all out, dropping 7-figures to hook himself up on his birthday.

As you know by now, Drake turned 35 last Sunday, and while we've seen him throw himself a few parties to mark the occasion, we just got deets on the biggest (or most expensive) gift he got himself. It's a $5,500,000 watch that even the richest man in the world, Elon Musk can't buy!!!

That's because Drizzy threw down for an ultra-rare, 1-of-1 Richard Mille ... which the iconic watch designer dropped in 2019. Our Drake sources tell us the rapper went to NYC diamond district kings Pristine Jewelers, and tasked them with securing the piece.

He and Pristine founder and owner Ofir Ben Shimon posed with the loot.

You'll notice ... no flashy diamonds caked on this watch, but it is encased in sapphire crystal, and employs the incredibly complex tourbillon movement (watch people know that's a big deal).

This isn't just lavish spending on Drake's part ... it's a big-time investment. We're told when the watch was originally released it was worth $2.8 million -- now, just 2 years later, it's nearly doubled in value.

Fetty Wap was supposed to perform at Rolling Loud, but his set never happened ... and it's all because the feds grabbed him before he hit the stage.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Fetty was taken into custody by the FBI at Citi Field in New York Thursday. We're told he was arrested on federal drug charges, though the specifics aren't yet known.

Fetty has mostly stayed outside of the spotlight in the last few years, so the Rolling Loud set would have been a big deal for him and his fans.

As for the rest of the festival, it wasn't without big moments on its first night. Thursday's headliner, 50 Cent, brought out DaBaby for a surprise appearance ... DaBaby's first return to the RL stage since the homophobic remarks he made at the festival in Miami.

We've reached out to a rep for Fetty Wap for comment on the arrest ... but so far, no word back.

DaBaby just made his return to the Rolling Loud stage for the first time since he made homophobic remarks during the festival's Miami stop ... and it's all thanks to his buddy 50 Cent.

50 was on stage at Rolling Loud New York, and brought out DaBaby as a special guest ... we’re told Rolling Loud organizers approved DaBaby’s appearance.

Rolling Loud is a significant location for DaBaby's return considering it was during his festival set in Miami back in July when he told audience members to only put their hands up to party, "If you didn't show up today with HIV/AIDS or other STDs that'll make you die in 2-3 weeks" and "Fellas, if you didn't suck a n**** d*** in the parking lot."

He later attempted to apologize, but only made things worse when he said the comments weren't aimed at his actual fans because his fans aren't, "nasty gay n****s" or "junkies." He later deleted the apology.

The fallout for the rapper was massive ... he was dropped from multiple festivals and slammed by Dua Lipa, who he had a huge single with called "Levitating."

Jay-Z almost got a lapful of his drink at the Nets game Wednesday ... and it's all 'cause Brooklyn co-owner Clara Wu Tsai got a little too excited following a big play!!

The scene was hilarious ... just seconds before halftime of the Nets' game against the Heat, Blake Griffin threw down a dunk that brought Wu Tsai out of her courtside seat.

Video shows the team's co-owner clapped, and then grabbed Hov by his left arm to celebrate with the rapper.

The problem ... Jay's drink was in that arm's hand, and it spilled all over the place!!!

The cup looked to be filled with red wine, too ... but, thankfully, it missed Jay's jeans and sneakers -- and the 51-year-old was able to laugh it all off.

Of course, we're sure Jay would've been fine with it regardless ... he and Wu Tsai are good friends, and are famously partners in REFORM -- the org. the two helped develop in order to fight criminal injustice in America.

NBA YoungBoy is finally sprung from jail -- after several months behind bars in his federal gun case -- but he had to drop some serious coin to make it happen.

The rapper's attorneys, Drew Findling and Andre Belanger, tell TMZ ... NBA YB was released on bond Tuesday after forking over $500k in cash. The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, which had the rapper in custody since March, confirms they've handed him his walking papers.

YoungBoy might be rejoicing about regaining his freedom until he stands trial ... but he's on a tight leash. He's gotta keep his nose clean -- or else he'll land right back in a cell.

His legal team tells us a condition of YoungBoy's release includes home confinement in Utah, where his location is being monitored. How exactly they'll keep track of him isn't quite clear --  whether it's electronic or physical surveillance -- but we're told the authorities are keeping tabs.

TMZ broke the story ... cops had to use a K-9 unit here in L.A. to wrangle YoungBoy after he allegedly evaded a traffic stop and spurred a police chase.

The man prosecutors say supplied the deadly pills that killed Mac Miller has acknowledged wrongdoing -- copping a plea deal that could see him behind bars for a long while.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Stephen Walter entered a guilty plea with the feds on one count of distribution of fentanyl. The other drug-related charge -- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance -- was dropped.

Prosecutors alleged Walter was the one who indirectly gave Mac's alleged dealer, Cameron James Pettit, deadly Percocet tablets that ended up causing MM to OD. As we reported, Pettit hit up Walter ... who then sent a runner to drop them off that fateful night.

As far as what's on the table for punishment ... the docs note there's a maximum sentence he could face -- more than 20 years in prison -- plus a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Prosecutors are recommending 17 years in prison and 5 years supervised release.

There's also this ... prosecutors make a point to say that Walter pleading guilty here means he was fully aware of what he was pawning off that night -- counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.