Image via Complex Original
It’s no secret that the relationship between rappers and the paparazzi/unsolicited picture takers is shaky at best. Even though having photographers follow a person’s every move and fans fiending to get a flick with them is a sign they’ve made it and part of the price fame, the constant bombardment can be overly exhausting at times.
These days, in the TMZ era—where a picture is not only worth 1,000 words, but can be worth $1,000—things have only gotten worse. Kanye West’s supreme struggle with the paparazzi has been well documented, but he isn’t the only rapper to have to tell a photographer where they can shove their camera. It doesn’t always take a head lock and a couple of uppercuts for a rapper to get their point across to an overly aggressive photo seeker. Here are 13 times rappers have belittled the people who were trying to capture their photos.
C. Vernon Coleman II is a writer living in Atlanta. Follow him @Vernon_Coleman.
Busta Rhymes Ethers Impatient Photo-Seeking Fan
Date: January 25, 2012
When you got to go, you got to go. Busta Rhymes was on his way to his tour bus to use the bathroom when a fan called him ignorant for ignoring her picture request. Upon hearing the insult, Bussa Buss gives the woman a harsh lesson in manners. Flip mode.
Lil Wayne Goes Ape Shit After Being Bumped by Photographer
Date: February 2, 2012
If there is anything Lil Wayne likes less than losing, it’s being touched without permission. After taking an L at a pre-Super Bowl flag football game in 2012, Weezy accidently made contact with an employee who was taping the event and lost his fucking mind and had to be restrained from putting hands on the confused camera holder. “Look at me motherfucker,” Wayne seethed. “Look at me when you apologize.” Weezy later took his anger to a post-game interview where he let it be known he was still piping hot.
Lil Wayne Threatens to Shoot Man Holding Camera Phone
Date: April 9, 2012
Sometimes rappers just want to do regular shit, like regular people. Unfortunately, when you are an MC the as big as Lil Wayne, you don’t get afforded that option. Weezy was grindin’ through the streets on his skateboard one night, solo dolo, when some overzealous fans decided to follow and record the Cash Money franchise kicking and pushing. After a while Birdman’s son gets irritated with their persistence and warns, “Don’t do that. You gone get shot.”
Snoop Dogg Snaps on an Unsuspecting Camera Guy
Date: May 23, 2012
Snoop Dogg was leaving a party with his homies when he was approached by a TMZ cameraman and asked the awkward and totally random question, “What is your favorite cocktail?” Instead of answering, the Doggfather asks the worrisome TMZ employee a question of his own.
Kanye West Tells Paparazzi Not to Speak in His Presence
Date: July 12, 2013
When it comes to paparazzi, Kanye West likes the silent type. After several bad run-ins with the pap, Yeezy decided the best thing to do was to inform them all to employ their personal mute buttons when in Yeezus’ presence. This poor guy, who might not even have been a working paparazzo, was the first person to get the very weird memo.
Kanye West Puts Them Paws on Paparazzo at LAX
Date: July 19, 2013
Kanye West’s struggle with the paparazzi came to a head last year. Seemingly at his wits end while getting bum-rushed by flashbulbs at LAX, ‘Ye straight goes postal on a cameraman who is insistent on breaking the entertainer’s "Don’t Talk To Me" clause. Yeezy proceeds to ragdoll the grown man like he was his little brother. You gon' learn today.
Tyga Slanders Persistent Photog
Date: August 7, 2013
Most of the time, when photographers get snapped on it's because they are doing the most. But that’s not always the case. Tyga flexed on a videographer for simply taping him while he sat in his Lambo after leaving the Vogue Supper Club.
Rick Ross Flips the Script on TMZ
Date: September 12, 2013
TMZ is known for getting the drop on celebrities, but last year Rick Ross got the ultimate revenge on the celebrity gossip site. After being approached by one of Harvey Levin’s henchman in NYC, Rozay flips the script ultimately making the pap do his bidding for the next few minutes, even getting him to call his boss whom he hilariously renames Hervis.
The Game Screams on Shutterbugs for Pestering Khloe Kardashian
Date: October 9, 2013
Nobody seems to get more attention from the paparazzi than the Kardashians. Not when The Game is around, though. Khloe and her girls were being bombarded by the paps one night after leaving club Tru in Hollywood when the Compton rapper and his homies came through and shut shit down, threatening to break cameras and jaws if the crowd didn’t disperse.
50 Cent Barks on TMZ Cameraman
Date: September 15, 2014
Earlier this year, 50 Cent caught a TMZ cameraman slipping. The photog ran up on Carmelo Anthony, not knowing Fif was beside him until the G-Unit boss made his presence known. After hopping out the cut, 50 screamed “I’ll fuck you up,” at the unsuspecting TMZ runner who recoiled for a split second before gathering his cool. Too late bruh. Pants shatted in.
Jay Z Questions Picture Taker’s Existence
Date: October 7, 2014
When urban music’s royal family steps through the spot most look on in awe, but that doesn’t mean everyone is hip to their billion dollar campaign. The Carter’s were recently strolling through Paris and requesting onlookers not take video when one camera phone operator inquired about the identity of the rapper in a condescending tone. Hov quickly snaps “Who are you?” without breaking stride. Super ugly.
Diddy Makes Pap Who Scratched His Maybach Shake in Fear
Date: October 10, 2014
Diddy is the type of sinister dude that made cats run for cheesecake just to sniff a record deal. So imagine what the Bad Boy CEO would do to a pauper who damages his luxury ride. One photog almost found out the hard way. Puff was leaving Mr. Chow when an aggressive cameraman scratched his Maybach. After calling the scared-shitless culprit over to address the issue, Diddy simply asked the obviously shaken man, “You alright?” before hopping in his ride and skating. We guess the wet spot in the front of the man’s pants was payment enough.
Iggy Azalea Wishes Death and Disease on Trolling Photog
Date: October 11, 2014
A paparazzo in Los Angeles thought he hit a lick when he saw Iggy Azalea grocery shopping and decided to have an impromptu photo shoot in the egg section. That’s when things went south. After exiting the store, the Aussie rapper goes ham on the pestering photographer for his intrusion. After admitting to spitting on the man, Iggy takes it a step further, telling him, “I hope you have Ebola. I hope you die.” That’s not fancy.
