Music

Offset and J Prince are turning up the heat on their simmering beef ... Prince says he's saved Offset's hide a bunch of times, but Offset's calling BS.

The estranged Migos rapper fired back at the Rap-A-Lot Records mogul Wednesday after Prince went to great lengths to remind Offset of all Prince says he's done for him and Cardi B.

J Prince says he's rescued Offset from tons of beefs over the years in different parts of the country, but Offset begs to differ ... saying he never needed Prince's help and claiming Prince is "all mouth with no proof just fairy tales."

Offset's rebuttal comes after Prince posted an audio message on Instagram ripping the Atlanta rapper for choosing emotions over principles.

J Prince's rant is a direct response to Offset claiming to not know Prince "from a can of paint" amid Offset's own issues with Quavo, which exploded backstage at Sunday's Grammy Awards.

Prince tried to jog Offset's memory while shredding his street cred ... claiming Offset was a fake gangster who repeatedly lied to Cardi B about what he was doing in the streets.

Prince claimed to have aided Offset on multiple occasions ... allegedly coming to Offset's rescue after he was jumped by Lil Baby's 4PF crew in Atlanta, squashing a beef involving Sauce Walka in Houston and helping Cardi out the time she angered Crips in Los Angeles by changing the word "blue" to "flue."

Cardi wasted zero time offering up some straightening of her own ... claiming it was Wack 100 and Big U — not J Prince — who stepped in to clear her name.

Rod Wave was willing to split nearly $1 million with a rapper he barely even likes just to sit in a box at the Super Bowl, but now he may get to enjoy the game with a rapper he likely admires!!!

Rick Ross got wind of Rod Wave's baller budgetary concerns on Akademiks' page and stepped in to offer Rod a place inside his Boss suite at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.

Rozay says the suite holds upwards of 26 people ... plenty of room for Rod and his boys to turn up with a legend who came up through similar hurdles and obstacles.

Both rap stars have yet to collaborate, but both hail from Florida and we're sure Ross can give the 'Beautiful Mind' creator a lot more game than what's out on the field.

DDG unfollowed his girlfriend Halle Bailey on Instagram earlier this week ... setting off Gen-Z breakup alarms, but he also raised suspicions and anger from one of Halle's family members.

Chloe x Halle's older sister Ski was among the breakup-believers, and posted a video Wednesday to drag her potential brother-in-law for filth -- only to take it back moments later after she spoke to Halle and realized she'd been had!!!

It's not that Ski didn't have probable cause for defending her lil' sis, though ... DDG made himself and Chloe trending targets when he scrubbed his accounts of pics of Chloe and followed up his "unfollow" of her with the since-deleted tweet, "All these girls the same 😭 ain't no wayy.”

On Wednesday, he chided the Internet for being gullible in reporting on his activity ... upsetting fans further but all's well in paradise, trolling aside.

Super Bowl commercials can no longer be contained for just the big game, and several high-profile rappers -- Diddy, Snoop Dogg and Jack Harlow to name a few -- have all been getting the bag with multi-million dollar TV spots!!!

Diddy's mogul status is the basis for his Uber Eats ad and he incorporates his Love Records, CÎROC and DeLeon Tequila imprints all in one swoop.

In the spot, the Bad Boy Records CEO looks for the perfect jingle from remixed hits ... and well-placed randomness from Montell Jordan, Donna Lewis, Kelis, Ylvis and Haddaway!!!

Not to be outdone, Snoop assumes yet another brand ambassador role with Skechers Slip-Ins alongside Martha Stewart, Howie Long and Tony Romo.

The colorful commercial loops Snoop's classic hit "Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)" as Tha Doggfather walks through his various elements ... walking red carpets, rocking concerts and cruising through L.A. on a beach cruiser!!!

Jack and Missy Elliott have been teasing a Doritos commercial (and collaboration) for weeks now and dropped new content Wednesday. It's a hypothetical look into Jack's career if he adopted the chip into his stage act ... to hilarious results.

The newest clip costars Sway Calloway and Heather B. from "Sway In The Morning" ... as well as a mic-dropping cameo from Sir Elton John.

This year, 30-second SB commercials will reportedly cost companies $7 mil a pop ... and that's before they pay the rappers' salaries!!!

If ya can't wait till Sunday, we've got more of those high priced spots.

Future should probably be celebrating his recent Best Melodic Rap Performance Grammy win for his hit "Wait For U" ... but the relentless rapper is back in his happy place working on his new album!!!

The Freebandz rapper revealed Tuesday he's in album mode days after being visibly absent from his Grammy acceptance speech -- which producer ATL Jacob graciously accepted on his behalf -- and also the Hip Hop 50 tribute that night.

Our Grammy sources say Future was supposed to be included in the show-stopping all-star medley ... he even rehearsed, but for some reason bailed at the last minute.

Grinding in the studio has long been Future's MO, and the new project will follow last year's "I Never Liked You" ... which not only spawned the Grammy-winning Drake and Tems collab, but was also certified platinum, so fans will likely eat this one up just as fast!!!

While conservatives are up in arms about Sam Smith and Kim Petras' hell-themed performance of "Unholy" at the Grammys ... the Church of Satan is unimpressed.

David Harris, magister for the Church of Satan, tells TMZ ... Sam and Kim's performance was "alright" and "nothing particularly special."

Harris, who's pretty high up in the Church of Satan (kinda like a cardinal), says the imagery evoked in Sam and Kim's set is similar to what folks have already seen from other artists -- red clothing, fire and devil horns -- and it's all kind of passé now.

Of course, politicians like Senator Ted Cruz and Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert had entirely different takeaways ... as they railed against the Grammy night act, calling it evil.

MTG and Boebert's anti-Sam/Kim tweets referenced The Satanic Temple -- a different group from the Church of Satan -- but Harris is firing back on behalf of all Satanists, telling us ... "It's sad when politicians on a national stage use someone's religion as a punchline."

Ironically, he says Cruz, MTG and Boebert are a bunch of "delicate snowflakes."

Political bickering aside, the Church of Satan says Lil Nas X's music video for "Montero" was actually much more proactive than anything Sam or Kim did, at least in a satanic sense.

For the uninitiated ... Satanists don't actually worship Satan, nor do they believe in God or the Devil. They're opposed to anything supernatural and all spirituality, and with no belief in the afterlife, Satanists emphasize being your true self, personal achievement and living life to the fullest ... with one of the key tenants being individuals are their own Gods.

It's why the Church of Satan says Lil Nas X's "Montero" is much more in line with their philosophies ... in the music vid, LNX descends into hell, murders Satan and takes the devil's crown for himself.

Madonna is firing back at the haters who made fun of the way her face looked at the Grammys ... she says it's degrading and reeks of ageism and misogyny.

The pop star posted a lengthy social media rant Tuesday, addressing the jokes that were flying online during the Grammys, when she introduced Kim Petras and Sam Smith before they performed their Grammy-winning song "Unholy."

Madonna says the folks judging her physical appearance are focusing on the wrong thing -- Kim was the first trans woman to perform at the Grammys -- and she says the photos were "taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone's face!!"

She says it's just the latest example of her being "caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in."

64-year-old Madonna says anyone making wisecracks are part of a bigger problem ... she says our society refuses to celebrate women over the age of 45 and feels the need to punish women who, like her, are strong-willed, hard-working and adventurous.

Madonna's really digging in her heels ... saying she's never apologized for the way she looks or dresses and she sure as heck isn't going to start now.

While it was mostly Twitter users hurling insults, Madonna adds ... "I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come."

Madonna's also channeling another big winner from the Grammys, saying ... "In the words of Beyoncé 'You won't break my soul.'"

Don't expect Madonna to shy away from the cameras, long lenses or otherwise ... she says she looks forward to many more years of subversive behavior, pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy and enjoying her life.

Pretty Ricky's Baby Blue is now a free man, kind of, after serving a little over a year in his PPP fraud case, and his bandmates were there to greet him upon release.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons tells TMZ Hip Hop ... Baby Blue was released Tuesday from the Federal Correctional Institution Coleman Low in Florida.

The 38-year-old pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in August 2020, and was sentenced to 20 months in prison ... which he started serving in February 2022.

Blue was transferred to the BOP's Miami Residential Reentry Management Office, which oversees inmates transitioning back to public life. He will stay in community confinement -- either home detention or a halfway house -- until he is officially released from custody on April 4.

Upon his release, Blue was surprised by Pleasure P and Spectacular, Blue's actual brother, who both excitedly live streamed the moment as they promised to celebrate in various ways ... but Baby Blue isn't completely out of the woods yet.

Baby Blue has another 3 years of supervised release, and still has to pay $1,111,345.23 in restitution as part of his sentence.

According to court docs, he forfeited a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia about a year ago, but that only knocked around $65K off his tab -- so he still owes well over $1 million.

In what many may consider a bizarre pairing, Priscilla Presley has ties to the 'Jackass' world -- in none other than the troubled Bam Margera.

Elvis' ex-wife -- and the mother of the late Lisa Marie Presley -- posed for some casual snaps posted Tuesday with the former skateboarder-turned-stuntman ... who's been on a downward trend lately in his personal life. BM posted two photos he'd taken with Priscilla.

In both, it seems they're just hanging out at someone's house. For the first IG, Bam simply wrote ... "Lunch with prescilla Presley." Didn't quite get the spelling right -- but no harm, no foul we suppose.

The second caption read, "Priscilla Presley watching Phoenix the wolf." You can see PP staring at something and Bam looking on with glee -- it's unclear if she's checking out a photograph or a screen, but he's suggesting she's taking a gander at his 5-year-old son, Phoenix Wolf Margera.

While this appearance together might seem like it's coming out of nowhere, it's not really ... Bam's actually friends with Lisa Marie's half-brother -- and Priscilla's son -- Navarone Garcia.

Of course, seeing Bam with Priscilla during such a tumultuous time in both of their lives is a little worrisome -- at least on its face. As we've reported ... Priscilla is challenging a trust LMP had tinkered with before she died, putting daughter Riley Keough in charge instead of her.

Michael Jackson's music may very well have a new co-owner if a mega deal is negotiated with Sony worth nearly a billion dollars, but there are strings attached ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the MJ estate will NEVER sell Michael's historic catalog outright. BUT, we've learned the estate would entertain a 50/50 split, but only if the estate maintains complete management and control.

Our sources say the estate would consider selling a 50% interest for around $900 million, and that would cover recordings, publishing rights, etc.

Here's what we're hearing ... there appears to be talks underway between the estate and Sony. When you think about it, Sony makes a lot of sense ... it's Mike's long-term label.

This is a distinction from other huge catalog sales that have gone down -- including from guys like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Justin Bieber and more. Those deals, didn't even come close to what's potentially at play for Michael's stuff ... and they also relinquished virtually all say over how the work can be used by their new corporate owners.

Springsteen's catalog went for $500 million, and Justin Bieber's went for $200 mil ... again, that for total ownership.

If these MJ talks manifest, it would easily be the biggest blockbuster sale ever -- which speaks to just how popular and in demand Michael continues to be to this day.

Gunna's being told to refund the $250K he allegedly got for a verse recorded prior to the YSL Rico case ... all because his collaborator believes Gunna snitched on Young Thug to get out of jail.

Florida-based rapper Bandman Kevo says he paid Gunna to get on a song they did together many months ago, but his incarceration delayed the rollout.

Now that Gunna is free, Kevo says he's ashamed of the collab and it's not happening.

As a result, he's now demanding Gunna return the 6-figure check to sender -- and if he doesn't, Kevo says he'll sue.

The song's titled "Alone" and they even shot a video with YSL rapper Lil Duke -- who was also arrested, and took the same Alford plea as Gunna -- so, Kevo's entire record is kaput as far as he's concerned.

Kevo's reimbursement demand is a total 180° from his thoughts shared in an interview a little over a month ago, when he gave Gunna the benefit of the doubt,  assuming the "Pushin' P" rapper had an elaborate legal scheme that did not involve snitching.

Lola Brooke walked away from GloRilla's Grammys performance feeling inspired, and thinks the look will open doors for her own career in the future!!!

TMZ Hip Hop got the "Don't Play With It'" rapper Monday at LAX, where she was glowing off the strength of Glo's contribution to the Grammys' 50th-anniversary hip hop tribute ... especially seeing the "F.N.F." rub elbows with all-time rap greats such as LL Cool J, Too Short, Missy Elliott and Public Enemy.

That said, Lola was shocked when we raised the fact Lil Kim wasn't part of the medley -- it's clear she's got Kim's back, and promised to link with her back in the Big Apple.

Kim recently knighted Lola by surprising their hometown Brooklyn crowd with a cameo performance of "Don't Play With It" ... and their mentorship bond has continued to blossom.

Lola's got a big year ahead, having just inked a deal with Arista Records.

She's hitting the road with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for his Me Vs. Myself Tour, and her debut album is also expected to drop this later year.

The Grammys officially have to recognize hip hop's presence going forward ... so says 2 of its pioneers ... Melle Mel and Scorpio of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five!!!

We linked with Melle, Scorpio and Bar Shon after their participation in the Grammys hip hop blowout to celebrate the culture's 50th birthday ... and in their opinion, the classic contributions to the medley really boosted the tribute.

Melle and Scorpio also tell us it was an honor to rock with the newer artists, who included Lil Baby, GloRilla and Lil Uzi Vert -- but it was their wave of nostalgia that made the performance one for the books.

The Furious Five rappers disagree with the notion new rap music is garbage -- they say each generation has its own sound and even remember when older heads turned their noses up at their music when they referred to it as "fresh."

Diddy isn't above a petty reaction to Burna Boy's defeat in the Best Global Music Album category at the Grammy Awards ... especially because they won the award together their last time collaborating!!!

Following the ceremony, Diddy took to IG amid his messages of love to snipe BB ... taking credit for the Afrobeats star's first and only Grammy win, while scoffing at the notion he thought his latest project, "Love, Damini" would be just as successful.

Diddy served as co-executive producer for Burna's 2020 album "Twice as Tall" ... adding hip hop flavor to help him warm up to the North American audiences.

Together, they not only won the Best Global Music Album the following year but also topped the Billboard US World Albums chart.

Judging from the picture Diddy paints, he worked on the project outta sheer boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic ... and they didn't even meet in person until after the album was released!!!

BB also lost out on his Best Global Music Performance yesterday ... further proving Diddy's point and get this ... even BB's Nigerian fans appear to be riding with Puff and are demanding BB make things right -- or fall off forever!!!

Post Malone is trying to ease fan concern over his noticeable weight loss ... he insists he's happy and healthy and nothing is amiss.

Post is on tour in Australia, and lots of folks became concerned when video showed him looking slimmer as he performed in a t-shirt and shorts. Many believed he was battling illness or even addiction because of his dramatic weight loss and the obscure movements he made while singing.

Sources close to Post tell TMZ ... there's no need for fans to be alarmed, because he's not on drugs or sick, in fact, it's quite the opposite.

Our sources say Post previously gained some weight for a movie role, but ever since he's been adhering to a strict diet and working out. Post's been touring since September, and he does a 90-minute set, and we're told that's contributing to the weight loss too.

Cardi B got roped into Offset and Quavo's fight backstage at the Grammys -- and part of her attempt to break it up was caught on video.

Entertainment Tonight obtained footage of Cardi shouting at 2 people -- her husband and his cousin/former rap pal, and you can clearly hear her screaming ... "Both of y'all's wrong! This is not right!!!"

She goes on to address someone specific in tense terms ... "No bitch, shut the f*** up 'cause you shouldn't have been talking." It's unclear who CB was referring to there.

Afterward, she came back and talked to an ET reporter ... who straight up asked her if she was back there settling some stuff. Cardi brushed it off, saying the only thing she settled was her outfit. Unfortunately for her and for Offset, the whole brouhaha was on camera.

This simply confirms what TMZ first reported ... a fight broke out backstage between Quavo and Offset, which multiple witnesses tell us was initiated by Quavo. Offset tried downplaying our story, tweeting out what seemed like a denial.