When you look at many lists of the most underrated rappers of all time, one name that pops up more often than most is AZ. Moreover, you probably know him best as Nas’ good friend who has stellar features on his 1994 classic Illmatic. However, the New York MC has a whole host of amazing solo material, cutting verses, intricate wordplay and technical ability, a lot of charisma, impeccable storytelling, and a true dedication to the art and craft of hip-hop. It’s a quality that made him reflect on how the industry moves, and how the effects of fame and money is something that he either took advantage of or strayed away from. Now, the 51-year-old joined Drink Champs recently to break it all down.
Furthermore, AZ spoke to N.O.R.E., DJ EFN, and company about his most well-known work, that being his Nas collabs. He went over some stories with his comrade, and also brought up how this was what truly introduced him to the world of rap for profit. In addition, the “Respect Mines” lyricist also explained how this early phase led to the formation of the group The Firm with Esco, Foxy Brown, Cormega, and Nature. Overall, he has a lot to look back to when it comes to the genre’s prime, and it’s from a uniquely humble perspective.
But how did AZ stay firm through it all, whether during his ’90s run or his contributions to the industry today? Well, he explains that competition, the search for money, and one’s ego are things to trust with skepticism. To elaborate, these are all things that drive artists to be better, to act smarter, to work harder, and to help each other reach their peak levels of potential. But it’s also a dangerously slippery slope that can lead to a lot of evil, too, and it’s something that the Doe Or Die II wordsmith is well aware of.
Meanwhile, if you want to listen the Bed-Stuy native these days, check out his latest tape, Truth Be Told. What did you think of his Drink Champs guest spot? Let us know in the comments section below. For more news and the latest updates on AZ and the popular interview show, stay logged into HNHH.
After her iHeartRadio Jingle Ball performance on December 14 in Atlanta, Georgia, Nicki Minaj is laser-focused on all things Pink Friday 2. That means leaving behind anything that will siphon off promotional attention from it, including older collaborations. Unfortunately, that means her leaked viral verse for Kanye West’s song “New Body” might never see the light of day.
After Nicki apparently refused to clear her verse, which was set to appear on West’s forthcoming joint album Vultureswith Ty Dolla Sign, he went on a rant against her. Now, Azealia Banks has inserted herself into the mix to take up for Nicki’s artistic decision.
On Saturday, December 16, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Banks tore into West. “Okay. Now I’m really pissed the f*ck off,” she wrote. “Regardless of how I feel about [Pink Friday 2], did fat, smelly loser Kanye West really just try to step all over Nicki’s release? Did I hear correctly when he tried to take credit for supporting her career.”
Okay. Now I’m really pissed the fuck off. Regardless of how I feel about PF2, did fat smelly loser Kanye west really just try step all over Nicki’s release? Did I hear correctly when he tried to take credit for supporting her career ?????
She continued, “Did he forget that Lil Wayne and Young Money [Records] supported her, believed in her, and shared their money, time, and resources with her to launch a female rapper to international icon status? Has Kanye ever successfully launched any artist he hasn’t sabotaged out of jealousy?”
Did he forget that Lil wayne and young money supported her, believed in her and shared their money time and resources with her to launch a female rapper to international icon status? Has Kanye ever successfully launched any artist he hasn’t sabotaged out of jealousy?
Vultures, the upcoming album from Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, has been made available for pre-order on iTunes. Furthermore, the “expected release” has been listed as December 31. The news comes after Vultures‘ expected release date, December 15, was instead marked by a 10-minute rant from Kanye. The rant took aim at the Jewish community, Adidas, and individuals like JAY-Z and Drake. “N-gga just cause I had a car, n-gga. F-ck everybody, n-gga. That’s what I’m trying to say to you n-ggas right f-cking now, n-gga. Drake, this is what you been waiting for. Jay-Z, this is what you been waiting for. Adidas, this is what you been waiting for. Kim, this is what you been waiting for. n-ggas be hanging around these n-ggas for the money on some Mike Rubin sh-t,” Kanye ranted.
The album was briefly available for pre-order on Apple Music for a brief period earlier this week before later being removed. The album’s release has been a trail of delays dating back to the summer. At one point, Kanye and Ty had planned to release the album as part of an impromptu concert in Italy. However, that idea was scrapped due to a lack of planning permission and an overly-expedited construction schedule for their intended stage.
Last week, Kanye previewed some of the things fans can expect from Vultures. “Everybody” was briefly previewed in a video shared by West, which showed the rapper standing imposingly on a balcony as the track played. The brief clip shared confirms that the song includes a prominent sample of “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by the Backstreet Boys that melts into an enticing beat.
Elsewhere, Timbaland also confirmed that he has served as a producer on the album. “One of my best body of work,” Timbaland wrote on Instagram while showing a hand-written tracklist. The reveal came soon after Dolla Sign revealed the tracklist in full himself.
Fans saw quite a few impressive hip-hop tours in 2023. Many of them coincided with the biggest releases of the year, some in celebration of major career milestones, and others serving as signifiers of artists’ new creative pursuits. As live music continues to pick back up following years of postponements and cancellations related to the pandemic, artists have kicked things into high gear, seemingly making up for the lost time.
Supporters have gotten the chance to catch beloved legacy acts, artists new to the mainstream embarking on their first-ever large-scale tours, and irrefutably skilled performers honed in more than ever this year, proving that live music is back in a big way. Check out some of the most iconic tours of 2023 below.
Beyonce – The RENAISSANCE Tour
Beyoncé performs onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at MetLife Stadium on July 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood )
In May, Beyonce embarked on her anxiously awaited RENAISSANCE world tour in Europe, setting off on the North American leg in July. The Texas native went about as big as one could go, enlisting the help of a massive flying “disco horse” as well as other extravagant props, and leaning into the tour’s silver theme with her intricate costumes. The hive followed suit, coming through with similarly elaborate looks in line with the essence of the tour. Beyonce’s nearly three-hour sets spanned almost the entirety of her discography, packing in plenty of fun crowd-pleasers and unapologetic anthems.
Her 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy also adorably joined her onstage as a dancer throughout the majority of the tour, the cherry on top for dedicated Bey fans. After closing the tour in October, Beyonce immediately got to work on her corresponding concert film and documentary. It arrived in theaters on December 1, expectedly taking over the box office. It saw the largest opening for the first weekend of December in two decades, bringing in $21 million.
Drake & 21 Savage – The It’s All A Blur Tour
Rapper Drake performs onstage during “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert” at State Farm Arena on December 9, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
In July, Drake and 21 Savage kicked off the It’s All A Blur tour in support of their 2022 collaborative LP, Her Loss. They have since made their way across North America, performing in over 20 cities. Up until October, 21 Savage was unable to join the Toronto native for the tour’s Canadian stops due to immigration issues. He later secured his green card, as revealed in Drake’s track “8AM In Charlotte,” leading to speculation that he’d appear at the tour’s final scheduled dates in Toronto. Fans were left disappointed when night one came and went, with no sign of 21 Savage.
Rumors swirled that 21 Savage wouldn’t appear in Toronto at all, but luckily, he was able to perform on night two. Drake has since announced another leg of the tour alongside J. Cole, Big as The What?. while 21 Savage went on to perform across Europe, making the most of his new immigration status. This tour was Drake’s first in five years and featured plenty of special guests, giveaways, and more. It also coincided with the rollout of his eagerly-anticipated album For All The Dogs, making for some seriously charged crowds.
The Weeknd – The After Hours Til Dawn Tour
Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye performs at Wembley Stadium on August 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images for ABA)
The Weeknd set off on his After Hours Till Dawn tour in the summer of 2022 and has been making his way around the world ever since. After wrapping up his scheduled North American dates, he embarked on the European and Latin American leg of the tour in 2023. Heading into the new year, he’ll make stops around Oceania.
The performer has broken various records so far, hitting several memorable milestones throughout his trek across Europe. He broke London Stadium’s attendance record, drawing in a staggering 80,000 fans. The tour later secured the title of the highest-grossing tour for a Black artist in European history. So far, fans have seen The Weeknd perform hits from 2020’s After Hours, 2022’s Dawn FM, and more. Striking visuals, unforgettable costumes, pyrotechnics and more have made the tour one to remember, cementing its place as one of the most memorable of the year.
Travis Scott performs during Travis Scott Utopia – Circus Maximus Tour at SoFi Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Following the release of UTOPIA, Travis Scott performed at the iconic Circus Maximus stadium in Rome. This followed the cancellation of his previously scheduled performance at the Pyramids of Giza. The show was a spectacle and even saw a surprise appearance from Kanye West. Shortly after, he announced his Circus Maximus tour in support of the album.
He kicked off the tour, which will see him stop in over 30 cities around the U.S. and Canada, in October. After taking over the charts with Utopia and with no doubts that the hitmaker would go all out, tickets for the trek went fast. Boasting elaborate stage design, pyrotechnics, and setlists comprised of an abundance of fan favorites, his performances have been a sight to see. After watching supporters clamor to get their hands on tickets, Travis Scott announced additional dates in November that run into next year.
50 Cent – The Final Lap Tour
Rapper 50 Cent (C) performs onstage during “The Final Lap” tour at Climate Pledge Arena on September 07, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
In May, 50 Cent announced that he’d be taking a major trek across North America and Europe in honor of the 20th anniversary of his 2003 album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Marketed as the performer’s last all-in tour, as 50 Cent plans to adjust his focus to his other business endeavors, fans knew they were in for something big. Consequently, tickets have been selling like wildfire, with 840K purchased only a week after sales began. The hitmaker’s been joined by Busta Rhymes at all stops, and Jeremih for North American dates.
Audiences have been hyped at all of these shows, and understandably so. The 48-year-old has been giving his Final Lap his all, performing his classics and bringing out countless high-profile special guests. So far, fans have been surprised with the likes of Eminem, Nas, Fat Joe, and more. Fif’s currently on the international leg of the tour, which will run into 2024.
Doja Cat kicks off The Scarlet Tour in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Dana Jacobs/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Doja Cat embarked on the Scarlet tour on Halloween this year after unleashing her fourth studio album. Scarlet arrived alongside plenty of eye-catching and spooky visuals, indicating that supporters were in for quite a show when she set off on tour. It’s safe to say they haven’t been disappointed. The hitmaker has come through with plenty of dancing, fun and intricate costumes, and more.
Her setlists have included plenty of chart-topping Scarlet tracks, along with early hits, and even some covers. While performances from Doja have been exciting enough, she’s also been joined by Grammy nominee Ice Spice throughout the tour. The 23-year-old has gotten similarly comfortable in the charts over the past year or so, and has plenty of fun fan-favorite tracks, making for an entertaining show all around.
Ms. Lauryn Hill & Fugees – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour
Singer Ms. Lauryn Hill performs onstage with The Fugees at Crypto.com Arena on November 04, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Back in August, Lauryn Hill announced that she’d be embarking on a tour across the U.S. and Canada in honor of the 25th anniversary of her 1998 LP, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Joining the New Jersey native would be none other than her Fugees groupmates Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel. The news followed a mini-reunion that fans saw earlier in the year at the 2023 Roots Picnic. At the time, they were told to “stay tuned,” and were not left disappointed.
So far, audiences have seen the hitmaker perform classics from her Grammy-winning debut, as well as fan favorite Fugees hits. After setting off in September, however, Hill unfortunately had to postpone the remainder of the tour. Only a couple of months in, she revealed that she had “been battling serious vocal strain.” She’s now taking time off to rest her vocal cords but promises that the tour will conclude in 2024.
What was your favorite tour of 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments section and keep an eye on HNHH.
We can hardly keep up with all the times Chrisean Rock was under fire in 2023. Still, the mother of one always manages to make a comeback, even after losing the public’s favour for assaulting a stranger at a Tamar Braxton concert or sharing too much information about her personal life on social media. Even with all of the drama surrounding her, Rock still maintains some strong female friendships, notably with Gloss Up, whom she collaborated with on a must-hear single this past New Music Friday (December 15).
On “N.A.L.B.” the two femcees vent about how men they’ve encountered in today’s dating pool “act like b**ches,” making them feel as though they need to step up and “act like ni**as.” For her part, the Baltimore native slid in some diss bars aimed at Blueface, such as “Real ni**a, I go too hard / His name Chrisean, ‘cuz I’m daddy” and “I shoulda got him pregnant because he actin’ like a fruity loop.” Gloss and Rock have been on Instagram Live celebrating their hard work as the track continues to make rounds on socials.
Chrisean Rock Celebrates Her Blueface Diss on Gloss Up’s New Single
“We gotta run this s**t up, like I really appreciate you,” the 26-year-old gushed to Junior’s mom. “I appreciate you too, I like the whole concept, yo. I was like, getting stuck on stuff. You help me out and say certain things,” Rock said to Gloss Up, giving her flowers. Even though the music video turned out amazing, both women apparently hated their hair the day that they were filming, but still managed to make the best of the situation.
While Chrisean Rock continues to make it clear she doesn’t need Blueface in her life to help raise their son, the “Thotiana” rapper seems to be trying to save his relationship with Jaidyn Alexis. While the mother of two has taken her MILF Music booking information out of her Instagram bio, her baby daddy insists that she actually owns his new label. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Before Tory Lanez was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in December of last year, his case was already one of the biggest of the decade so far. Whether it was for the high-profile nature of both sides or the back-and-forth accusations over tampered evidence, bias, and more, it was a firestorm to witness. It also prompted many folks in similarly “canceled” situations to side with the Canadian artist, and there is no one more firmly in that category than Kanye West. During a recent and wild rant at the listening event for his Ty Dolla $ign collab album Vultures in Las Vegas, he mentioned Tory at one point and how they linked.
“A lot of people have s**t to say about my Jewish comments,” Kanye West exclaimed. “But ain’t nobody in this motherf***ing room, and none of y’all entertainer n***as, ever said nothing when I was praying to see my kids. One of the last things, uh… What’s my n***a that got locked up for the Megan Thee Stallion s**t? Okay, look, so Tory Lanez, we used to have prayers on the phone together. And I prayed that day– and y’all saw that s**t. When I couldn’t see Chicago, too.
“All y’all n***as on Instagram got some s**t to say,” Kanye West continued. “Y’all n***as saw that s**t. Don’t tell me about my f***ing political opinion. I made more money to show you that money ain’t nothing. It’s our money, n***a! It’s our country, n***a, it’s how they stole it from us!” Of course, it’s unclear from this rant when Ye and Tory actually linked up to pray over the phone. Since it was over the phone, though, we’d safely bet that this was once the latter was in prison.
Meanwhile, the Chicago rapper’s rant also targeted Nicki Minaj for not clearing the song “New Body” for this upcoming project. Considering his past antics, this seems like another “line in the sand” moment where he might not drop Vultures anymore. We still haven’t decided whether that’s a good or bad thing. For more news and the latest updates on Kanye West & Tory Lanez, log back into HNHH.
Suge Knight recently spoke to TMZ about his wild social media activity as of late, and came through with an explanation. While he claimed to have control of his Instagram account during his 28-year prison sentence, he said that someone hacked his Facebook and Twitter accounts. Moreover, the Death Row boss believes that this impostor “is out to destroy his reputation by hacking into his Twitter and FB accounts.” Overall, he can’t really identify why as of yet– if this is to be believed– but one could imagine that someone just wants to see him involved in a lot more drama than he is right now.
Furthermore, these social media posts on other accounts have started to take shots at other artists on the Row and other rap rivals. For example, one Twitter post included a picture of Suge Knight allegedly playing with Diddy’s son Justin Combs at the height of the East Coast and West Coast beef. Another is a snapshot of Snoop Dogg in a neck brace with the caption “@SnoopDogg if I didn’t have security on him in 1995.” According to the outlet, he wants to lock or fully delete these accounts altogether, for which he and his team are fighting to secure access.
Meanwhile, we know that Suge Knight’s never been shy about speaking his mind, so for him to say that his statements were hacked is a big thing to clarify. Via the Collect Call podcast, there have been so many instances of absurd tales, hefty accusations, and a lot of double take moments. One of his most recent claims had to do with Jimmy Iovine, the head on Interscope Records, and Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur. Apparently, they fought over the rest of ‘Pac’s music, and then Interscope tried to turn her against the California executive over her son’s death.
With that in mind, what do you think about these recent claims concerning these social media accounts? Did these posts seem fishy to you from the get-go or is Suge just trying to cover up his usual antics? However you may feel, drop your thoughts in the comments section down below. Also, check back in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on Suge Knight.
Yailin La Más Viral, the girlfriend of 6ix9ine, is being charged with felony assault after a video emerged showing an altercation between her and the rapper. She was arrested in Palm Beach on Friday, according to HipHopDX. Furthermore, the charges against her are felony battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, obstruction of justice, and criminal damage to property worth $1000 or more. A bond of $9000 was paid by record producer Santiago “Alofoke” Matias.
Fans of both rappers were shocked when 6ix9ine posted footage of an altercation between himself and Yailin. In the video, she can be seen hitting 6ix9ine with a 2×6 and verbally assaulting the rapper before being restrained by police. Previously, 6ix9ine had posted a video of Yailin threatening him with a knife after accusing him of domestic assault.
However, 6ix9ine is in some legal trouble of his own. Earlier this month, the rapper was ordered to pay $9.8M to Alexis Salaberrios of Florida. 6ix9ine had been accused of hitting Salaberrios in the head with a champagne bottle. However, he failed to attend a hearing for the civil case, leading to a default ruling in Salaberrios’ favor. However, Salaberrios also claimed that 6ix9ine had been deliberately hiding his assets to avoid paying her. As a result, the court moved to seize the rapper’s income to pay the debt.
It’s not the first time that he has been accused of financial impropriety. His former friend SteveWillDoIt took shots at the rapper earlier this year. Steve claimed that he secured 6ix9ine a lucrative deal with video platform Rumble to “play video games once a week for an hour” and that the company was willing to pay $2 million upfront for that. However, Steve claims that 6ix9ine never fulfilled that contract, spent the $2 million on gifts for “black chicks” to “make his ex jealous” and that Steve was left with the $2 million debt.
Meek Mill has refused to let anyone shame him after he was seen crying while announcing a major legislative victory in his home state of Pennsylvania. “I don’t know how I cried on the news I ain’t even cry in my cell! I needed that!” Meek wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The comment was in response to the now-viral video of Meek announcing the passing of a new probation reform bill in Pennsylvania. In short, the bill amends the probation process, making it easier for incarcerated individuals to receive parole and probation as part of their rehabilitation. Furthermore, the bill also makes it harder for the state to send people back to jail for probation violations.
“People deserve a second chance. With this bill, we begin re-imagining probation as a pathway to rehabilitation rather than a cycle of punishment; we can restore dignity and empower individuals, and in turn, they will have a greater chance to regain their status as contributing members of our communities,” State Senator Anthony Williams said. Meek, along with JAY-Z’s REFORM Alliance, have been made supporters of the bill and bills like it around the country.
Meek Mill has been going viral a lot recently. On the evening of November 10, Meek Mill told social media about one of his deepest fantasies. “I want an older rich freaky bad cougar…it’s my fantasy,” the 36-year-old rapper wrote. While X users were initially stunned, they quickly rallied to turn the post into one of that weekend’s biggest talking points. Several people took it as an opportunity to shoot their shot. “I’m 58 [heart eyes emoji],” one user replied.
However, the majority of replies fell into two distinct categories. First, there were people clowning on Meek for his horny posting. “Meek back in his insane tweeting bag,” one account wrote. Furthermore, many people replied with various highlighting their discomfort at the post. The second set of replies, other than people simply agreeing with Meek, were those making suggestions of “cougars” that Meek could pursue. Oprah, Kris Jenner, and even Hilary Clinton could all be found as recommendations for the rapper in the replies.
50 Cent is far from done with his relentless trolling campaign against Diddy’s abhorrent sexual assault accusations. Moreover, his most recent example of this is an old clip of Sean Combs at what appears to be The Breakfast Club in which he makes some poorly-aged comments. Basically, he says that if he owes you something and you bring him receipts proving that to be the case, he will pay you back in 24 hours. For those unaware, the Bad Boy mogul settled his assault lawsuit from Cassie in more or less this same timeframe. As such, Fif is one of many who’ve suggested that this settlement isn’t a good look, and that are looking at old statements from him with new context.
“He ain’t lying bout that one,” 50 Cent captioned the clip of Diddy’s comments in question. “Now here they come in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” Furthermore, the latest development in these legal troubles is that the New York executive got new legal representation in his other lawsuits on the table. Whether or not these filings end in a settlement as well or if they will develop into full-fledged court battles is anyone’s guess.
Previously, 50 Cent had shared an old Mase freestyle that takes aim at Diddy as a way of getting under his skin. “Since Cain killed Abel, I’m able to kill Cain, and Love don’t steal, my n***a, change your name,” he raps at one point. “I see no integrity in your name, and I’m haunted by the Ghost of St. James.” “I’m the ghost of Shyne, I speak for every artist that never spoke they mind,” Puffy’s former signee spits in another portion. “Representing every artist that was left behind, from Craig Mack to G. Dep. I still remember them kids chanting for every producer you ever stole a sample.”
Meanwhile, the G-Unit boss always loves to shout out other people who are trolling or getting into Internet conflicts just as well as he does. For example, he recently shouted out Nicki Minaj for dissing Elliott Wilson’s dislike of Kai Cenat’s stream with her. We’ll see how much more creative these digs at Puff Daddy get, for better or worse. For more news and the latest updates on 50 Cent and Diddy, stick around on HNHH.
