Nicki Minaj's "Chi-Raq" collab with Lil Herb was a shock to the industry last month—it was a huge look for Herb and laid the groundwork for what we hope to hear on Nicki's upcoming album. But no one really thought this would become a track where guys would rap over it to diss each other, and that's exactly what's been going on with Lil Durk, Tyga and Game, and The L.E.P. Bogus Boys' G Count.
In lighter news, an 18-year-old aspiring rapper got the chance to spit for none other than Kanye West this week. The Queens native, who goes by Simbaa, rapped an entire verse for Yeezy while he walked to his SoHo apartment accompanied by his fiancée Kim Kardashian.
This week we also got a taste of Ma$e's upcoming album with a new single, a snippet from Wu-Tang's secret new album, and Rich Homie Quan had a medical emergency during his latest video shoot. Check out all that and more on What The Hell Just Happened In Music This Week?
Meek Mill, Lil Durk, and Shy Glizzy remixed Nicki Minaj's "Chi-Raq" which escalated the beef between Lil Durk and Tyga.
Date: May 3
The Internet has been buzzing about Nicki Minaj's new song, "Chi-Raq," ever since she dropped it. She stunned everyone with her ferocious lyricism and featured budding-Chicago star, Lil Herb. Now Meek MIll has released his remix. Joining him on the song is Lil Durk and D.C.'s Shy Glizzy.
All three definitely do their thing over the Boi-1da production. It seems like Durk also takes a shot at Tyga in his verse. "Heard Tyga sneak dissin on me tellin thot bitches I'm not right/Tyga only got one name but that nigga ain't got one stripe/He backpack, so easy to get that nigga shit snatched," he says.—Zach Frydenlund
RELATED: Listen to Meek Mill's "Chiraq" Remix f/ Lil Durk & Shy Glizzy
RELATED: A Brief History of Tyga and Lil Durk's Beef
RELATED: Interview: Vinylz Details His Production on "Believe Me," "Chi-Raq," and Working on Diddy's Last Album
RELATED: Interview: Meek Mill Opens Up About Court Case, Has No Problem With Other Races Saying "N*gga" at His Shows (Video)
RELATED: Listen to Nicki Minaj f/ Lil Herb "Chi-Raq"
Ma$e dropped a club banger called "Nothing" this week, essentially marking his attempt at a comeback.
Date: May 4
Ma$e returned this week by releasing his brand new single, "Nothing." With Eric Bellinger on the hook, this track is right in the current times. The production has a West Coast feel to it, while Eric Bellinger lays down a very infectious hook. This is the first offering from Ma$e's upcoming album, Now We Even, which is his first since 2004.—Zach Frydenlund
RELATED: Listen to Ma$e's "Nothing" f/ Eric Bellinger
RELATED: Ma$e Performs in a Mink Coat During Nets-Pistons' Halftime (Video)
RELATED: Ma$e Announces Title of Upcoming Album, Now We Even
Rihanna is no longer signed to Def Jam Records and is now under Roc Nation's management and label.
Date: May 5
When Rihanna first signed her record deal with Def Jam in 2005, she said then-label-president Jay Z wouldn't let her out of the office until the 17-year-old signed on the dotted line. Six months later her debut album Music of the Sun hit the charts. Since then, she released all seven of her albums—including 2012's Unapologetic—on Def Jam. But much has changed since then.
Earlier this year CEO Barry Weiss stepped down and Universal Music Group, the corporate parent of IDJMG, dissolved the company into three distinct record labels: Def Jam, Island, and Motown. As a result Rihanna-along with Kanye West and some others-left Island Def Jam and joined CEO Steve Bartels at the now-revamped Def Jam with No I.D. and Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua serving as executive Vice Presidents and heads of A&R.
But now it appears that Rihanna has very quietly made another power move. Within the past few weeks, her Roc Nation website profile has been updated to specify that she's not just managed but also officially signed to the label-joining the likes of Calvin Harris, DJ Mustard, J. Cole, Jay Electronica, Rita Ora, and of course, Jay Z. (Roc Nation management represents many other stars.) Meanwhile, the Def Jam website now lists Rihanna under its "Legacy" section, along with folks like Amerie, Ashanti, and Public Enemy. —Lauren Nostro
RELATED: Rihanna Has Left Def Jam and Signed to Jay Z's Roc Nation Label
RELATED: Rihanna Showed Off Her Buttcrack at a Met Gala After Party Last Night
RELATED: Rihanna: Full Exposure (2013 Cover Story)
RELATED: The 26 Best Rihanna Songs
Kanye West let an aspiring artist rap to him on the street in SoHo outside of his apartment.
Date: May 5
If you live in New York City, chances are you've probably seen a celebrity walking around, and nine times out of 10 you can't decide what level of thirst to rise to for the occasion. But, if you're an aspiring rapper and you see Kanye West walking in SoHo alongside Kim Kardashian, hopefully you believe in yourself enough to spit some rhymes in front of him, no matter how many paparazzi are filming you.
And luckily enough for this guy, Kanye listened and even stopped outside of his apartment complex to let him finish his freestyle. Then he applauded him, and said he had to go get some sleep. This kid's dreams were made. Now, the real question is, will G.O.O.D. Music sign him soon? —Lauren Nostro
RELATED: Kanye West Let An Aspiring Rapper Spit For Him In SoHo
RELATED: Interview: Meet Simbaa, the Kid Who Rapped for Kanye, Explains His Encounter With Yeezy (Video)
Tyga took shots at Lil Durk and Game took shots at 40 Glocc on "Chi-Raq to LA."
Date: May 6
On May 4, we saw Tyga preview his response to Lil Durk on Instagram, and two days later, he released the final product. Surprisingly, Game is also on the record, and they both diss Durk while Game also airs out 40 Glocc, who he's had problems with for years.
Game drops quotable after quotable, including "Tyga hit me like Durk dissing, Dirk Nowitzki? Durk who ni**a?"
Since the song dropped Chief Keef has weighed in on the situation, strangely putting the Tyga and Game artwork on his Instagram, saying go listen to it. Durk also took to his Twitter to respond both to Tyga and Chief Keef.
Even though Lil Durk said that his remix to "ChiRaq" would be the only response to Tyga and Game, he revealed later in the week that he indeed does have another song on the way. While speaking to DJ MoonDawg, Durk revealed that the song is coming, and that he even called on Chicago legend Bump J to appear on it, even though he's currently serving a 10-year prison bid. —Zach Frydenlund
RELATED: Bump J Will Be Featured on Lil Durk's Response to Game and Tyga
RELATED: Tyga and Game Diss Lil Durk and 40 Glocc on "ChiRaq to LA"
RELATED: Game and T.I. Involved in Police Standoff Outside L.A. Club After Fight
RELATED: Interview: Vinylz Details His Production on "Believe Me," "Chi-Raq," and Working on Diddy's Last Album
RELATED: A Brief History of Tyga and Lil Durk's Beef
RELATED: Tyga and Kanye West Working In The Studio
Eminem will become the first rapper to headline London’s Wembley Stadium this summer.
Date: May 6
Eminem is setting himself up to have a busy summer. After already announcing a series of concert's with Rihanna in the US, today, Em called into Zane Lowe's on BBC to announce he will be headlining a show at Wembley in London. The show is set for July 11, and will be a historic mark for both Em and hip-hop, with Em becoming the first rapper ever to headline a show at the stadium that holds over 90,000 people.—Zach Frydenlund
RELATED: Eminem Makes History, Will Headline Show at Wembley Stadium in London
RELATED: Rihanna and Eminem Announce "The Monster Tour"
RELATED: Watch Eminem and Rihanna Perform "The Monster" at the MTV Movie Awards
RELATED: The 100 Best Eminem Songs
There's a new snippet of Wu-Tang Clan's secret album out and it features vocals from Cher.
Date: May 6
The current issues inside of Wu-Tang Clan about their upcoming release of, A Better Tomorrow, haven't slowed down the anticipation for their secret album, Once Upon a Time In Shaolin. The album, which is supposedly completed, has not been heard by the general public in any capacity, until today. Forbes released video of their reporter, Zack O'Malley Greenburg, in Morocco with the producer of the album.
When the clip was made initially made available via Forbes, people questioned whether or not it was Cher's vocals on the snippet. Rolling Stone reached out to a representative for Cher declined who confirmed that she "recorded her parts separately" and that her vocals will appear on two songs on the album.
The entire story of Zack's journey to hear the secret album can be read here, but luckily enough, a small snippet of the album was recorded on tape. The recording, which can be heard below, features a small taste of a verse from Ghostface. Maybe that kickstarter will raise enough money so we can all hear the album one day.—Zach Frydenlund
RELATED: Here's a Snippet of the Secret Wu-Tang Clan Album
RELATED: The 100 Best Wu-Tang Clan
RELATED: RZA Gives Raekwon a 30 Day Ultimatum To Get Involved With Wu-Tang Clan Album Or It May Never Be Released
RELATED: Raekwon Speaks Out Against Wu-Tang Clan and Says He Is "On Strike"
RELATED: Wu-Tang Clan Fans Launch Kickstarter To Buy Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
Rich Homie Quan collapsed and suffered a seizure while shooting a music video.
Date: May 6
Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan was taken to the hospital during his video shoot today after suffering multiple seizures. He was apparently filming his video for his new single, "Walk Thru" when he collapsed and hit his head on the pavement. A rep for Quan told TMZ that Quan fainted due to heat exhaustion, and he then suffered a seizure. He is currently recovering in the hospital.
Rich Homie Quan issued the following statement on May 8:
"I just want to thank my fans and everyone who has called concerned about me. I want to clear up two things, after being in 3 states in 3 days, up early having to shoot my video for "Walk Thru" and even sleeping in between scenes on top of filming in this humid Atlanta heat, I fainted and hit my head. It's no secret that I do turn up, I don't deny that but I'm not addicted to anything including drugs nor was I leaning at the shoot. The media is gonna put fake stories out there but I just want to let my fans know that I'm good and recovering. The second thing is, I promised I will never stop going in and I mean that." —Ahmed Awad
RELATED: Rich Homie Quan Reportedly Collapsed During His Video Shoot
RELATED: Who Is Rich Homie Quan?
RELATED: Rich Homie Throws An Unforgettable House "Party" In New Music Video
And then G Count (of L.E.P. Bogus Boys) responded to Game's diss track with one of his very own.
Date: May 7
G Count, the rapper known for his long membership as a part of the LEP Bogus Boys, launched a response this week to Tyga and Game's "ChiRaq to LA" diss of Lil Durk and 40 Glocc. In the song, G Count derides The Game's shout-out to the "L.E.D. Bogus Boys" [sic]. "You don't know shit about Chiraq/Dickriding me to get a pass, you don't know the G-Count like that." And later on: "As far as Chicago riding with you, point 'em out, them who?/Show me 'xactly who you talking about, I'll green light it on them too."
The Game then responded to G Count's track on Twitter; his original line was transcribed on RapGenius as "Rock my Pelle P like L.E.P., them Bogus Boys? They fuck with me." Apparently, Game would consider this a mis-transcription.—David Drake
RELATED: G Count (Of L.E.P. Boys) Responds To Tyga and Game's "ChiRaq to LA" Diss Track
RELATED: A Brief History of Tyga and Lil Durk's Beef
RELATED: The 50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs
RELATED: The 30 Corniest Rap Beefs
Apple is in talks to buy Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion which would make Dr. Dre the first billionaire in hip-hop.
Date: May 9
Thursday night, the Financial Times broke the news that Apple is in talks with Beats Electronics to purchase the company for $3.2 billion—which would be Apple's biggest acquisition ever, and will make Dr. Dre's and Jimmy Iovine's pockets far deeper than they already are. While the deal isn't complete yet (it could be done next week), the party couldn't wait to pop off.
A few hours after the news came out, Dr. Dre confirmed the talks in a drunken video inside a recording studio with Tyrese. In the video selfie, shouts of "West Compton!" and "South Central!" can be heard, just before Dr. Dre calls himself, "The first billionaire in hip-hop, right motherfucking here from the West Coast. Believe it." —J. Duaine Hahn
RELATED: Dre Day: Watch a Drunk Dr. Dre and Tyrese Celebrate Apple Buying Beats Electronics
RELATED: The 25 Best Dr. Dre Beats
