Hip Hop News: 04/08/15

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Kanye West Settles Lawsuit and Apologizes to Videographer

Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

Kanye West has apologized and settled a lawsuit filed by Daniel Ramos, a videographer the rapper allegedly punched in Los Angeles in 2013.

Although there is no confirmation on whether or not Ramos received any sum of money, one of the settlement’s terms was for Kanye to say he was sorry in person, Ramos’ lawyer Gloria Allred told People in a statement. And to prove this happened, a photographer was on hand to capture the moment, which showed Yeezus flashing his pearly whites.

The case was set to go to trial on April 14. But after the settlement, it seems there’s no need to enter a courtroom. “We cannot discuss the details of the settlement,” the lawyer said, “except to say that one important aspect of it was an apology by Kanye West to our client, Daniel Ramos.”

The whole mishap occurred on July 19, 2013, when Kanye allegedly took down a videographer and his camera and punched him outside the Los Angeles International Airport. The “All Day” rhymer was charged with misdemeanor battery and attempted grand theft.

Yeezus claimed self defense and plead not guilty. However, he ended up pleading no contest to misdemeanor battery in a special plea where he could still keep his innocence. But after this plea, Ramos was not satisfied with what transpired and filed a civil suit against the artist, which led to a deposition hearing in 2014.

Despite all of the drama surrounding this case, it looks like this chapter can finally be closed and Kanye can move on.

See 10 Most Anticipated Rap Albums of 2015

Meek Mill and Rick Ross Score XXL Spring 2015 Cover

XXL

With Meek Mill‘s next album, Dreams Worth More Than Money, being arguably one of the most anticipated rap releases in the game right now, it only makes sense that the Philly rapper would appear on the cover of XXL‘s spring issue.

Standing beside him is Rick Ross, the guy that put him on. Meek rocks an orange bomber and a mixture of diamond and gold chains while his boss plays the background, sporting a jacket decorated in Victorian-esque images.

Inside the issue, you’ll see the Maybach Music Group representers in a cool photo spread located in an Atlanta warehouse. In the interview, Meek talks about his relationship with Nicki Minaj, his prison stint and what his success means to his Philadelphia neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Rozay discusses his dramatic weight loss and talks about MMG’s plans for the rest of the year. He anticipates 2015 being one of the biggest years for his brand.

In recent days, Ross has been heavily linked to Instagram model Lira Galore, since he posted a photo of her on the social network. The two appear to be traveling around Rome together, since the rapper posted a photo of the Italian city and so did Galore.

The Spring 2015 XXL issue is on newsstands now. Stories on Marshawn Lynch, Rae Sremmurd, Murs and Tech N9NE are also featured.

Rome.

A photo posted by Ricky Rozay (@richforever) on Apr 4, 2015 at 5:45am PDT

Overseas to see thingsss .. #RomeItaly

A photo posted by Lira Mercer (@lira_galore) on Apr 7, 2015 at 1:09pm PDT

"Look back, like the $ don't stop" – @lira_galore #MMG

A photo posted by Ricky Rozay (@richforever) on Mar 25, 2015 at 5:30pm PDT

4/9 CARDIFF,UK….4/12 MILAN,ITALY….4/13 ANTWERP,BELGIUM …. BOSSSS

A photo posted by Ricky Rozay (@richforever) on Apr 7, 2015 at 10:53am PDT

See 10 Most Anticipated Rap Albums of 2015

Bleu DaVinci Talks BMF and New Venture: Check Runners Ent. (@bleudavinci @djsmallz)

"I am B.

Young Thug Reacts to Fan Calling Him Lil Wayne's Replacement

In light of Lil Wayne distancing himself from Cash Money and Birdman with a hefty lawsuit, many fans have questioned whether Young Thug is taking the veteran rap star's place at the label.

Witness Claims Lil Kim's Ex Dated Her to Rob Rappers at Parties

Lil Kim's ex Damion "World" Hardy is

UPDATE: Lil Wayne Moves $51M Lawsuit Against Baby to New Orleans

UPDATE: According to Karen Civil, Wayne isn't dropping the case altogether, but is instead moving the case to New Orleans.

Celtics' Isaiah Thomas: Mayweather Gave Me a $200,000 Bentley (@isaiah_thomas @floydmayweather)

Being on "The Money Team" is a pretty sweet deal.

Hannibal Buress on Backlash After Cosby Rape Jokes Went Viral

Comedian Hannibal Buress may have been known to serious comedy fans for years, but only became a household name after video of his stand-up set in Philadelphia where he

Questlove Calls Out Sofia Vergara on Instagram for Insulting Him [PHOTO]

@sofiavergara poses for Annie Leibovitz on the May 2015 cover.

A photo posted by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on Apr 8, 2015 at 7:07am PDT

Questlove doesn’t usually call out people on social media, but being the vocal entertainer that he is, the Roots drummer decided to vent his frustrations with one hot television actress on Instagram.

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara graces the new cover of Vanity Fair magazine, which the publication posted on its Instagram account. One fan wrote in the comments section, “She’s not only beautiful. She seems like a nice person,” which caused Quest to chime in with his thoughts on the Colombian actress.

“Nah. She once interrupted my DJ set to give me the middle finger and yell ‘YOUF—INGSUUUUUUUCK. #Emmys2013 #NeverForget,” he commented.

Looks like Quest is not a Vergara fan. She has yet to respond to his accusations. And honestly, we can attest to the fact that Questlove’s deejaying skills are quite superb. However, we don’t know what Vergara was listening to that night that made her so upset.

One thing’s for sure, Questlove doesn’t forget his brushes with famous celebrities. Who remembers his run-in with Patti LaBelle?

What are your thoughts on Questlove calling out Sofia Vergara on social media? Tell us in the comments below.

10 Music Milestones From Great Black Artists

Webbie Shares Baptism With the World [VIDEO]

It looks like Webbie really got in touch with Jesus during the Easter holiday. The Baton Rouge, La. rapper was baptized on Sunday (April 5) and shared the moment with the world by capturing it on video.

TMZ reports that Webbie was at a Louisiana church Sunday when a preacher asked if anyone wanted to be baptized. The rapper reportedly raised his and said “the good Lord” told him to take the plunge.

While this move is a positive one for the “Independent” rhymer, he has had his fair share of run-ins with the law. In 2008, he was involved in a car chase in Mississippi and arrested for possession, DUI and a number of other charges. Then three years later, he was busted for marijuana possession in Tennessee in 2011. That same year, Webbie was permanently banned from BET after allegedly sexually harassing 106 & Park host Rocsi Diaz. And in 2012, he was arrested for allegedly kicking a woman down a flight of stairs.

As you can see from that little recap of his law-breaking ways, perhaps this spiritual act will keep him out of trouble.

See 20 Rappers’ Real Names Revealed

Florida Prisoner Suing to Keep Kim and Kanye Out of State (@kimkardashian @kanyewest)

"Moose Knuckles" and "Meat Whistles" - also known as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, respectively - are about to get hit with a temporary restraining order from a Florida prisoner -- if the judge sees it fitting, of course.

Killer Mike Speaks on Kendrick Lamar's "Hood Politics" Shout Out (@killermikegto @kendricklamar)

Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly is an album full of standouts, but one critic and fan favorite is "Hood Politics," where K.

Worst to First: Every Ciara Album Ranked

Ciara has had the watchful eyes of fans and critics in her direction since 2004, when the singer had tongues wagging with her breakout single “Goodies.” Her sultry vocals and sexy dance moves made the Atlanta native one of R&B’s hottest young singers to watch, and with heavyweights like Missy Elliott and Jazze Pha by her side, CiCi was a force to be reckoned with.

While many of her contemporaries in R&B have come and gone, Ciara has stayed consistent, taking time away from the spotlight to handle more important things like have a baby, but bouncing right back. She’s dropped five studio albums over the last 10 years and sold over 20 million albums worldwide. She has kept the hits coming with “Like a Boy,” “Promise” and “1, 2 Step.”

When you deliver hits like that, everyone wants to work with you. Ciara’s discography includes collaborating with a slew of big names like Justin Timberlake on “Love Sex Magic,” former boyfriend 50 Cent on “Can’t Leave ‘em Alone” and fellow ATLien Ludacris on “Oh.” In 2006, Ciara also transitioned into acting. She made her film debut in All You’ve Got, and has appeared in Mama, I Want to Sing! and That’s My Boy in 2012.

Recently, Ciara has heated up glossies and blogs with a very public romantic relationship with rapper Future. The hotter-than-hot duo made sweet music — literally and figuratively — which culminated in the singer’s new single “I Bet.” The celebrity couple welcomed a son, Future Zahir Wilburn, in 2014, but ended their engagement and split the same year.

Now, Ciara is prepping to release her sixth studio album, Jackie, on May 4. The singer has revealed that T.I., Dr. Luke, Mike WiLL Made-It and Diane Warren will be involved in the forthcoming release. Given her storied career and recent tribulations and triumphs, we expect the album could be her most personal yet. Until then, check out Worst to First: Every Ciara Album Ranked.

Jay Z's Streaming Service Tidal Now Worth Close to $250 Million (@s_c_)

Congratulations are in order to Mr.

Ludacris - Beast Mode (Official Video) (@ludacris @MoneyLynch)

DMX Preaches the Gospel to a Small Group at the Airport (@dmx)

DMX may have always been rough around the edges, but he's also always had a connection with the divine, as demonstrated on various songs and interludes where he calls on the Lord for guidance and support.

Rappers and Singers React to Walter Scott's Fatal Shooting by Police Officer Michael Slager

Jonathan Leibson / Jason Kempin / Paras Griffin, Getty Images

The video of Walter Scott being gunned down by a South Carolina police officer has shocked the hip-hop and R&B community, with many sounding off on social media and reigniting the conversation of the ongoing problem of police using deadly force on black males — both young and old.

In the clip, Scott, a 50-year-old father of four children, is seen running away from police officer Michael T. Slager. The cop proceeds to shoot Scott eight times in the back. Thirty-three-year-old Slager said he had feared for his life because the man had taken his stun gun in the scuffle, which is why he shot him. However, the video shows otherwise.

As a result, Slager was charged with murder and is currently in custody. If it weren’t for the video footage provided by The New York Times the shooting could have been swept under the rug.

But this case is hardly over. As we witnessed with the police officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner, justice doesn’t always prevail. As the world watches this case very closely, rappers and singers head to Twitter to express their outrage over the shooting.

Read some of their tweets below.

Watch Police Officer Michael Slager Shoot Walter Scott

See 20 Words That Mean Something Completely Different in Hip-Hop

Bape x Undefeated x Adidas Originals Superstar 80s Collection

Adidas

Some collaborations are just common sense cops based on name alone since you’d pick up their products even if they never partnered with other brands. In a nutshell, that is why this Bape, Undefeated and Adidas match-up is one for the ages and should almost be bought sight unseen.

The brands use the Adidas Superstar as its base and build a really stellar model. The shoe comes in either black or white with camo around the tongue and heel tab. They keep it pretty blatant as far as branding goes with a bold gold stamp of both names and logos on each shoe.

You’ll be able to pick these puppies up at select Undefeated and BAPE boutiques retailers starting on April 11. They’re going to run you about $130 a pair, but at that price point they’re even more of a must-have.

Adidas

See 20 Surprising Sneaker Releases

Ludacris' Baby's Mother Speaks: He Begged Me for An Abortion (@tam911tam)

"He warned me that he knew himself and that he would resent me for not having the abortion, and that's exactly what I saw in that courtroom.

G-Unit Love: 50 Cent Gifts Young Buck With Rolls-Royce

50 Cent and Young Buck have been able to overcome their past differences, and the G-Unit head honcho proved that their beef is most certainly in the past after outfitting Buck with a Rolls-Royce.

The Game Upgrades Wristwear With New Iced-Out Chanel Watch (@thegame)

Compton rapper Game has never been afraid to rock a little bling.

Bape x Undefeated x Adidas Superstar

Complex

Some collaborations are just common sense cops based on name alone as you’d be apt to pick up their products without them partnering with other brands. In a nutshell that is why this Bape, undefeated and Adidas match up is one for the ages and should almost be bought sight unseen.

The duo uses the Adidas Superstar as its base and uses it to build a really stellar model. The shoe comes in either black or white with camo around the tongue and heel tab. They keep it pretty blatant as far as branding goes with a bold gold stamp of both names and logos on each shoe.

You’ll be able to pick these puppies up at select Adidas retailers starting on April 11th. They’re going to run you about $130 a pair but at that price point they are even more of a must-have.

Complex

[Via Complex]

Rich Dollaz Takes Shot at Jhonni Blaze and She Fires Right Back (@richdollaz @realjhonniblaze)

If you're a fan of the drama-filled "Love and Hip-Hop" series, then you know that the relationship between Jhonni Blaze and Rich Dollaz is one full of business, pleasure and uncertainty.

Karrine Steffans Explains Why She Outed Method Man in New Book (@karrineandco)

Karrine Steffans has been appearing back on everyone's radar lately, and from the looks of it, the release of her new book may just keep her there.

Exclusive! Smack and Jack Thriller Weigh In on the 2015 XXL Freshmen List (@jackthriller @smackwhite)

First time battlers Smack and Jack Thriller had an exclusive sit down with VladTV where they discussed the 2015 XXL Freshman list and battlers having the capability to create good quality music.

Jeremih Joins Forces With Flo Rida for 'Tonight Belongs to U!'

After working with YG and J. Cole on his two previous singles, Jeremih has now enlisted Flo Rida for his latest club banger, “Tonight Belongs to U!.”

While “Don’t Tell ‘Em” and “Planes” were both dance worthy songs, “Tonight Belongs to U!” jumps onto the EDM track. Filled with synthy beats and other spacey sound effects, this one will get you jumping around and fist pumping in no time. While he’s trying to forget about an old flame, Jeremih sings about meeting this new woman and how she’s now the center of his attention.

“Wasn’t lookin’ for it to heal the scar / But, today, I was ridin’ on lonely boulevard / Wishin’ all wasn’t lost / And there, there you came,” the Chicago singer croons.

Flo Rida comes in midway through the track and continues the same hip swaying vibe with his singsong yet quick flow. “I know who you are, you’re a rida / Girl on gire, ghetto superstar / And I came tonight, girl, you body’s damn beautiful / Let me see you turn around like ay / Baby gonna drop it to the ground like ay,” he delivers.

“Tonight Belongs to U!” will be part of Jeremih’s long-awaited LP, Late Nights: The Album, which still has no set release date. In the meantime, Jeremih will be sharing the stage with J. Cole on on his Forest Hills Drive Tour, which kicks off on July 12 in Seattle.

!llmind – Close To Me (Remix)

!llmind takes Fun Factory’s 1994 track “Close To You” for a spin on this new remix.

“I love taking cheesy songs and making them hard-as-fuck. Had a ton of fun doing this! A free jam via Roseville Music Group for the people. Hope you enjoy!”

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