Earlier this week legendary producer Jermaine Dupri took to his Instagram page to prove to fans he still has it as a rapper. According to HipHopDX, the freestyle was posted on Wednesday and featured the rapper spitting some vintage bars over the wavy beat. Amidst the string of bars he says “I’m having at your shit/ Knowing I’m a short n*gga/ Big check, high-tech, I ain’t gotta force shit/ Cappin’, bring me that ass and watch you lose it, abuse it, and I ain’t gone stop you/ The illest, I kill this.”
Fans flocked to the comments of the post to praise his skills as an MC. Among the comments was someone many fans probably didn’t expect, Diddy. The two producers have long kept up a friendly rivalry between them though it always remained friendly. Last month, Diddy claimed on social media that a long-awaited Verzuz between the two would take place in September in New York. While this hasn’t been officially confirmed that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating about it.
The pair’s Verzuz is expected to play out a bit differently than an average one. It’s more about music from the entire catalogs of Bay Boy Records and So So Def respectively. During an Instagram livestream earlier this year Diddy invited Jermaine on and leveled with him. “JD, if you want that smoke, you can get that smoke anytime” Diddy said. A date and location haven’t been formally confirmed by either Verzuz founders Timbaland or Swizz Beats.
Jermain isn’t the only person Diddy has been dishing out praise for recently. In an Instagram video earlier this week Diddy shouted out Rick Ross for his relentless hustle. It’s a nice change of pace in the news for Diddy whose week didn’t get off to a great start. Diddy was trending on Twitter a few days ago but not for the reasons he’d like. Fans were digging into some of his old controversies and bad behavior throughout his decades in the spotlight. What did you think of Jermaine Dupri’s freestyle and who do you think would win in a Verzuz between him and Diddy? Lets us know in the comments below.
Swizz Beatz And Timbaland, the founders and original owners of the VERZUZ platform, sued Triller for $28 million after selling the platform to the social media company.
Swizz and Timbo settled the $28M lawsuit, then took to IG to claim ownership of the VERZUZ brand.
During that convo, Swizz said, “VERZUZ is still 100 percent Black-owned.” He added, “50 percent on the top of your screen and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay?” Swizz ended it by saying, “It was built for the people, and it will stay with them. And we love everybody.”
On September 8th, Diddy and Jermaine Dupri Verzuz will finally happen. This highly anticipated matchup between the two hitmakers has been a long time coming. Last year, the two went on Instagram Live to discuss a potential Verzuz-like event. Though Timbaland nor Swizz Beatz have confirmed the alleged battle, apparently it is taking place at Madison Square Garden.
In an Instagram post, the Bad Boy founder tells veteran rappers Busta Rhymes and Fabolous about the planned event. “September 8th at the Garden, n***a. We’re gon’ have you out the rafters flying out the sky,” he says enthusiastically. Since the Verzuz platform came out, fans have wanted to see who would come out on top between Bad Boy Records and So So Def.
This Verzuz event will be like no other. Fans always have their own songs that they want to hear. Diddy and Jermaine Dupri will perform 20 of their biggest hits to date. With two of the strongest catalogs in hip-hop, we’ve created a list of five songs from both Bad Boy and So So Def that we want to hear during Diddy-Jermaine Dupri’s Verzuz battle.
Diddy – “All About The Benjamins” Ft. Lil’ Kim, The L.O.X., And The Notorious B.I.G.
”It’s All About The Benjamins (Remix)” should be considered a New York Anthem. With all artists hailing from different boroughs, Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, The L.O.X., and the Notorious B.I.G. created one of the most recognizable anthems in hip-hop history. Some would argue that it’s the Bad Boy founder’s best song. From the star power attached to the record to the infectious production, “All About The Benjamins” is undoubtedly a definitive record in Diddy’s illustrious career.
Puff Daddy is more of a producer than a rapper, but his verse on “It’s All About The Benjamins (Remix)” is certainly a stand-out. In 2020, Jadakiss spoke to Talib Kweli on the People’s Party podcast where he detailed writing Diddy’s verse for the hit song. It reached the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the rap charts.
Jermaine Dupri – “Money Ain’t A Thang” Ft. Jay-Z (1998)
The East and the South combine for “Money Ain’t A Thang.” At this time, New York’s grip on Hip Hop was at its height, although Atlanta currently wears Hip Hop’s crown. ”Money Ain’t A Thang” is a feel-good song and the video matches the energy.
Like Diddy, Jermaine Dupri is a producer first, but his rapping skills are nothing to sleep on. With Jay-Z on the track, JD had to come with his best. Many thought The Blueprint rapper even wrote his verses for him, but the So So Def founder confirmed that he penned his own lyrics. The song was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1999 Grammy Awards. It’s still considered one of Jay-Z’s best songs. ”Money Ain’t A Thang” embodies the late 90s Hip Hop sound. It’s no doubt that it’s an important song in both artists’ catalogs.
The Notorious B.I.G. – “Juicy” (1994)
Hip Hop shifted when The Notorious B.I.G. made “Juicy.” Although hesistant to jump on the record, it’s a good thing Biggie trusted Diddy’s intuition. Diddy, alongside Poke of the Trackmasters, sampled the funk and soul group Mtume’s song “Juicy Fruit” for Biggie and the rest is history. Not only is the production fantastic, but the Brooklyn rapper’s lyrics are iconic. His rags-to-riches story details his ascent in rap, from reading Word Up! Magazines to sipping champagne when he’s thirsty. Almost 30 years later, “Juicy” remains a classic anthem that many would argue is the greatest Hip Hop song of all time. There’s no way Diddy doesn’t play this during the Verzuz.
Bonecrusher – “Never Scared” Killer Mike & T.I. (2003)
To this day, “Never Scared” can be heard at any sporting event. From the production to the lyrics, you can feel the energy in the song. Jermaine The song features fellow Atlanta rappers, Killer Mike and T.I. ”Never Scared” is Bonecrusher’s biggest hit, marking his only entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The song peaked at number 26 chart, although its impact is everlasting.
“Never Scared” ultimately carried Bonecrusher’s debut album, AttenCHUN!, to number one on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop albums charts. Over the years, it’s become a mainstay in pop culture, especially video games, such as Madden NFL 04. On top of that, the song is cemented in Atlanta’s sports history ever since the Braves used it as their anthem in the 2003 MLB season. “Never Scared” stands as an iconic song in So So Def’s storied history, even if Jermaine Dupri didn’t produce the song.
Diddy – “I Need A Girl (Part One)” Ft. Loon & Usher (2002)
Diddy’s ability to weave through hip-hop and R&B effortlessly remains one of his strongest traits as a producer. On “I Need A Girl (Part 1), he delivered a quintessential 2000s R&B hit with the help of Usher and Bad Boy artist Loon. While both part 1 and 2 were incredibly successful in their own right, the former boasts an incredibly personal verse from Diddy that takes inspiration from his break-up from Jennifer Lopez.
”I Need a Girl (Part Two)” also achieved great success as it reached number four on the Hot 100. Not too many artists have had the opportunity to say that both parts of one song became top-five hits. ”I Need a Girl (Part One and Two)” are crucial to Bad Boy’s reign into the 2000s.
Jagged Edge – “Let’s Get Married (Remix)” Ft. Rev. Run (2000)
Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married” is a certified R&B hit but, the remix turned it into a classic Hip Hop record. The addition of Rev. Run from Run DMC fame gave the record a face-lift. The King Of Rock rapper’s appearance was a surprising edition and made “Let’s Get Married (Remix)” a staple in So So Def’s catalog.
Craig Mack – “Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)” Ft. The Notorious B.I.G., LL COOL J, Busta Rhymes,& Rampage (1994)
Though Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear” received a Grammy nomination, the remix is more popular. ”Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)” is one of the best posse cuts in Hip Hop. Craig Mack, Biggie, LL Cool J, Rampage, and Busta Rhymes make for a memorable collaboration. Diddy’s infamous intro to the song puts the Bad Boy stamp on it. It’s definitely one of the label’s greatest hits, especially since it was included on Bad Boy’s 10th Anniversary…The Hits album.
Dem Franchize Boyz – “I Think They Like Me (Remix)” Ft. Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat & Bow Wow
So So Def signed artists that captured eras in Southern hip-hop. Dem Franchize Boyz, for instance, became catalysts to the rising snap sound that informed the viral dance moves that came from the South. “I Think They Like Me” ft. Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, and Bow Wow served as a remix to “Oh I Think They Like Me.” With its infectious production, the record brings life through the speakers at every function while the “snap ya fingers” dance was an inevitable accompaniment to this song. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Rap Songs chart. The So So Def founder is behind many of Atlanta’s hits!
112 – “Peaches & Cream” (2001)
112 was an important part of Bad Boy’s success. In the early 2000s, they were one of the leaders in R&B. ”Peaches and Cream” added to their hit-filled catalog. This sexy song, produced by Diddy, makes you want to dance whenever it comes on. ”Peaches and Cream” falls in line with the rest of Bad Boy’s records that make you move.
It’s clear Diddy specializes in making music like this. 112 was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal in 2002. ”Peaches and Cream” also reached the number four spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It even stayed in the Top 40 for over six months! Another Bad Boy hit makes for one of the best records of the 2000s.
Youngbloodz – “Damn!” Ft. Lil’ Jon (2003)
The Atlanta duo, YoungBloodz will be remembered for “Damn!” Jermaine Dupri executive produced the duo’s album, Drankin’ Patnaz but Lil Jon produced the hit single. Lil Jon’s energy can be heard and felt throughout the track. There was even a dance to this as you can see many people doing it throughout the video. ”Damn!” is YoungBloodz’s best song as it reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Many believe it is one of the best Hip Hop songs of the 2000s and in So So Def’s catalog.
Swizz Beatz says that Rick Ross is open to battling T.I. on an episode of Verzuz. The iconic producer revealed the potential matchup during a live stream on Instagram with Timbaland. He says that the battle would decide who is the “king of the south.”
“Rick Ross said he wanted T.I.,” Swizz Beatz began. “Rick Ross and Tip. Battle of the south. Crown of the south. King of the south.” He concluded: “T.I., talk to me. Ross you can fly your plane to the party.”
T.I. and Rick Ross during 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards – Inside at Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
It isn’t the first time that the idea of pitting Rick Ross and T.I. against each other has been brought up. It’s an idea that Joe Budden previously suggested for the series. “I’m down for the person that we’ve seen already, that won… alright, next battle. Rick Ross versus T.I.,” Budden said last year. “And Ross [has] got more than 40 records that he could play with, so now [he’s] back with a different 20. Or ‘John’ in front of T.I. looks different than ‘John’ in front of 2 Chainz. Like, I don’t think Ross will have time for the strippers to come out against T.I. It won’t be time for massages, speeches… that’s T.I.”
Facing off against T.I. wouldn’t be Rick Ross’ first time appearing on Verzuz. Back in 2020, he battled 2 Chainz, running through his hits including “Diced Pineapples,” “Aston Martin Music,” and more.
Elsewhere in the live stream, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland confirmed that they still own Verzuz, despite the previous sale to Triller. “Verzuz is still 100 percent Black-owned,” Swizz said on the broadcast. “50 percent on the top of your screen, and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay? It was built for the people, and it will stay with the people. And we love everybody.”
Swizz Beatz And Timbaland, the founders and original owners of the VERZUZ platform, sued Triller for $28 million after selling the platform to the social media company.
Swizz and Timbo settled the $28M lawsuit, then took to IG to claim ownership of the VERZUZ brand.
During that convo, Swizz said, “VERZUZ is still 100 percent Black-owned.” He added, “50 percent on the top of your screen and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay?” Swizz ended it by saying, “It was built for the people, and it will stay with them. And we love everybody.”
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland say that they still own 100% of Verzuz, despite reports that the two sold a majority of the shares to Triller back in March 2021. The two spoke about the state of the series on Instagram Live, Saturday.
“Verzuz is still 100 percent Black-owned,” Swizz said on the broadcast. “50 percent on the top of your screen, and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay? It was built for the people, and it will stay with the people. And we love everybody.”
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 4: (L-R) Recording artists Swizz Beatz and Timbaland attend The Dean Collection X BACARDI Untameable House Party on December 4, 2015 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Bacardi)
As for the news of Triller purchasing majority ownership of the show, it stems from a report from Variety in 2021. The outlet stated that Triller Network acquired the platform while allowing Swizz Beatz and Timbaland to keep hold of some shares of the company and join the Triller management team. They also “allocated part of their equity stake to the 43 performers who’ve appeared on Verzuz to date to help oversee music and other company strategies.”
“There is no more disruptive and innovative brand in music today than Verzuz,” Bobby Sarnevesht, executive chairman and co-owner of Triller, said when announcing the acquisition. “Both Triller and Verzuz share the ‘artist first, music first’ vision. We view this acquisition as more of a partnership than an acquisition, as Swizz, Timbaland and the other 43 artists who are all becoming shareholders and partners in Triller Verzuz from this day forward become our voice.”
Things took a turn in September 2022, when The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Swizz and Timbaland settled a lawsuit they filed against Triller’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh. They claimed he failed to come through with the $28 million infusion of capital that he was supposed to provide with the acquisition. The outlet also confirmed Kavanaugh’s Proxima Media to be the current majority owner of Verzuz.
Swizz Beatz has suggested a new twist to the usual Verzuz format for Jadakiss’ next battle. With the battle series set to return later this year, Swizz talked with Timbaland about what he would like to see from the upcoming third season. Swizz proposed pitting the MC against several of his contemporaries at the same time, based on freestyles rather than hit songs. “You know what I wanna see? I wanna see everybody versus Jadakiss,” he said. Timbaland responded, “Wait a minute, so five against one? Oh, okay.”
Jim Jonesrecently suggested that Jadakiss should have released an album after the contest to capitalize on the moment, a suggestion the MC agreed with. However, he wanted to get his business affairs right, and the Verzuz performance gave him leverage on the label to fix some stuff. Jadakiss renegotiated his contract with Def Jam and showed the world his worth. “My numbers went up for hostings and walkthroughs, for shows, and TV cameos,” he said after the battle. “Just in general my numbers went up. It also showed Def Jam that they got to do the right thing [and] restructure my contract. It really showed the world my true worth, what I can do.”
Jadakiss has said that he definitely should have dropped something after the Verzuz battle, but he cannot do “microwave music.” He has a bunch of songs on the hard drive, but he did not feel that he could just put out anything. He said, “I still feel like I’m gypping the people if I just put out anything. You know, I like to cook my meals.”
Diddy has announced that he will face off against Jermaine Dupri in Verzuz at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on September 8, although the battle has yet to be officially confirmed by Swizz Beatz or Timbaland. Jadakiss’ next Verzuz battle with the twist suggested by Swizz Beatz will be something to watch out for, given his MVP-worthy performance in the previous battle. What do you think about the twist that Swizz Beatz suggested? Let us know in the comments!
In the eyes of many, this is a Verzuz that is pitting New York hip-hop against Atlanta hip-hop. Currently, many would argue that Atlanta is running the genre. However, you can never deny hip-hop’s New York origins. With that in mind, Joe Budden went on a passionate rant about how Atlanta is going to get washed. “Ayo, you Atlanta n****s! September, we wiping you up!” Budden explained. “Why we doing all this fucking political talk?! Why we doing all this tryna be PC?! Y’all know what the fuck time it is! Y’all know who invented this shit! It started here, it ends here, n***a! Fuck y’all thought was happening, n***a?!”
Of course, Joe Budden was taking more of a joking approach to the whole thing. If you listen to his podcast, you know that he mostly talks like this all the time. However, there is no doubt that he is excited about this latest battle. “We doing all this, ‘Uh, I don’t know, uh, what do I think’ — get the fuck outta here, n****.” he added. “Now what?! We packing them n****s up in September! Smoking on that JD! I don’t wanna hear all that politically correct bullshit these n****s tryna have me on right now.”
Needless to say, it is very clear where Joe Budden’s allegiances lie in this upcoming battle. Whether or not Diddy actually comes through with the win, still remains to be seen. Let us know who you think will win this Verzuz, in the comments section below. Do you agree with Joe Budden, or is he completely off base? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world.
Vocal powerhouse, Jennifer Hudson has had a tone to celebrate within music years. Last year, she became the youngest of 17 people to achieve EGOT status. This status is given to anyone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Tony,and a Oscar award. She has also been spending her time as a TV talk show host for her own show The Jennifer Hudson Show. Noticeably, Jennifer Hudson’s music career has been on a long hiatus for years. Her return to the stage as a musician may soon end. Seemingly, she is ready to remind fans of her catalog in a verzuz battle against Fantasia.
Recently, Verzuz’s cofounder, Swizz Beatz appeared as a guest on her talk show. Jennifer brought up Verzuz in a very versatile interview. Like fans of the series, Jennifer expressed how it “Saved her entire life” during the pandemic while asking him about the show’s return. With a smile, Swizz responded “Soon as you and Fantasia sign the contract,” teasing the possibility of the match-up. Additionally, the audience cheered when Jennifer responded: “We’ll see.”
Jennifer Hudson Is Not Opposed To Batteling Fantasia On Verzuz
Moreover, if the two ladies agree to do the battle, this isn’t the first time the two have a competitive faceoff. In 2004, they were contestants on season three of American Idol. Jennifer has a successful run on the show finishing the competition in seventh place. Fantasia became the third winner of American Idol that same year. Since the show, Fantasia went on to become a Grammy award-winning artist. Two of her albums Free Yourself and Fantasia are Recording Industry Association of America certified. Additionally, Jennifer has won two Grammys. Her 2008 single “Spotlight” is certified platinum. She has also earned another certification for her cover of Jennifer Holliday’s 1982 song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” The ladies have both earned a career that has remained comparable since their appearance on American Idol.
Furthermore, Verzuz is set to be returning with Diddy agreeing to battle Jermaine Dupri. The two legendary producers have agreed to face off on September 8th. As the new season is returning, would you want to see Jennifer Hudson Battle Fantasia again? Let us know in the comments below.
The long-awaited return of Verzuz is upon us, and the comeback event will ensure it’s well worth the wait. After a nearly year-long hiatus since the last event, which featured R&B stars Mario and Omarion, Verzuz will return on September 8, pitting superproducers Diddy and Jermaine Dupri against each other in a matchup the duo previously confirmed in October. On Sunday, Busta Rhymes posted a video to his Instagram Story in which Diddy confirmed the next Verzuz date and promised to have Busta “in the rafters” of Madison Square Garden, “flying out the sky.”
No doubt, Diddy’s gift for showmanship will serve him well at the next Verzuz, which he initially refused to do as a result of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s lawsuit against Triller. However, it seems once the Verzuz founders reached a settlement with the streamer, all bets were back on the table. The battle between the Bad Boy Records and So So Def founders could see appearances from the likes of former Verzuz participants The Lox, Mase, Mary J Blige, and more on Diddy’s side, while JD could tap Bow Wow, Da Brat, and a string of JD’s collaborators including Ludacris, Usher, Monica, and more. You can find more info at VerzuzTV.com.
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