Rap News Rundown: Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Trinidad Jame$
Last week, Jay-Z decided to continue his relationship with Barneys, Kendrick Lamar and TDE took on GQ, Chris Brown left rehab, and Trinidad Jame$ upset everyone with his comparison of N.Y. and Atlanta rap.
Jay-Z Maintains Relationship with Barneys
Following two separate incidents in which African American customers were allegedly mistreated while shopping at Barneys New York, the upscale store’s business relationship with rapper Jay-Z was thrust into the spotlight. Despite a petition requesting that the rap mogul drop his ties with the company, Jay-Z announced plans to further the relationship pending the outcome of an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office.
Terms of the deal have been updated, giving Jay’s charitable foundation 100 percent of all sales from the BNY’s SCC line and an additional 10 percent of all retail sales sold on Nov. 20 by Barneys stores nationwide and online. Jay-Z will also take a leadership role in a council put together by the company to review instances of alleged racial profiling.
Chris Brown Leaves Rehab, Starts Community Service
Chris Brown spent just over two weeks in an anger management program. The singer reportedly decided to leave the facility to complete mandatory community service hours. He will continue to receive counseling for his anger problems via an outpatient program.
“Chris is continuing his rehab program as an outpatient and is also completing his community service in the Los Angeles area,” said the singer’s rep in a statement. “He appreciates all of your encouragement and support.”
The rehab stint was the result of Brown’s recent arrest outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. He will appear in court soon to learn whether the judge will revoke his probation. The community service hours stem from his Rihanna assault case.
Kendrick Lamar Boycotts GQ Show Following Interview
GQ‘s recent cover story on Kendrick Lamar should have been a proud moment for the Compton-bred rapper, cementing his position high in the rap firmament. Instead, he found himself at odds with the magazine over the slant of the article. The writer compared Kendrick’s label, TDE, with the former Death Row Records, and highlighted ways the rapper eschewed the persona often associated with the hip-hop culture.
“While we think it’s a tremendous honor to be named as one of the Men of the Year, these lazy comparisons and offensive suggestions are something we won’t tolerate,” said TDE leader Anthony Tiffith in a statement. “Our reputation, work ethic and product is something that we guard with our lives.”
GQ responded by denying the article put Lamar or his label in a negative light.
Trinidad Jame$ Blasts NY Rap, Gets Dissed by Hopsin
Trinidad Jame$ upset a lot of people when he lambasted New York rap and declared Atlanta’s style superior to its northern counterpart.
“I’m just being honest with you,” Jame$ said during his performance at the Converse Rubber Tracks show in New York. “But now every [rapper] that’s really popping out of New York, you might as well say he’s from Atlanta.”
Among the artists who responded to Jame$’s comments was Cali rapper Hopsin. He told XXL, “Trinidad Jame$ is the most garbage piece of rapper that has ever existed on the face of the Earth. Atlanta might be making moves and all that . . . It doesn’t mean that they are dope. If you break down the real formula, a lot of the dudes coming out there ain’t even really dope.”
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Rap News Rundown: Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Trinidad Jame$
Last week, Jay-Z decided to continue his relationship with Barneys, Kendrick Lamar and TDE took on GQ, Chris Brown left rehab, and Trinidad Jame$ upset everyone with his comparison of N.Y. and Atlanta rap.
Jay-Z Maintains Relationship with Barneys
Following two separate incidents in which African American customers were allegedly mistreated while shopping at Barneys New York, the upscale store’s business relationship with rapper Jay-Z was thrust into the spotlight. Despite a petition requesting that the rap mogul drop his ties with the company, Jay-Z announced plans to further the relationship pending the outcome of an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office.
Terms of the deal have been updated, giving Jay’s charitable foundation 100 percent of all sales from the BNY’s SCC line and an additional 10 percent of all retail sales sold on Nov. 20 by Barneys stores nationwide and online. Jay-Z will also take a leadership role in a council put together by the company to review instances of alleged racial profiling.
Chris Brown Leaves Rehab, Starts Community Service
Chris Brown spent just over two weeks in an anger management program. The singer reportedly decided to leave the facility to complete mandatory community service hours. He will continue to receive counseling for his anger problems via an outpatient program.
“Chris is continuing his rehab program as an outpatient and is also completing his community service in the Los Angeles area,” said the singer’s rep in a statement. “He appreciates all of your encouragement and support.”
The rehab stint was the result of Brown’s recent arrest outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. He will appear in court soon to learn whether the judge will revoke his probation. The community service hours stem from his Rihanna assault case.
Kendrick Lamar Boycotts GQ Show Following Interview
GQ‘s recent cover story on Kendrick Lamar should have been a proud moment for the Compton-bred rapper, cementing his position high in the rap firmament. Instead, he found himself at odds with the magazine over the slant of the article. The writer compared Kendrick’s label, TDE, with the former Death Row Records, and highlighted ways the rapper eschewed the persona often associated with the hip-hop culture.
“While we think it’s a tremendous honor to be named as one of the Men of the Year, these lazy comparisons and offensive suggestions are something we won’t tolerate,” said TDE leader Anthony Tiffith in a statement. “Our reputation, work ethic and product is something that we guard with our lives.”
GQ responded by denying the article put Lamar or his label in a negative light.
Trinidad Jame$ Blasts NY Rap, Gets Dissed by Hopsin
Trinidad Jame$ upset a lot of people when he lambasted New York rap and declared Atlanta’s style superior to its northern counterpart.
“I’m just being honest with you,” Jame$ said during his performance at the Converse Rubber Tracks show in New York. “But now every [rapper] that’s really popping out of New York, you might as well say he’s from Atlanta.”
Among the artists who responded to Jame$’s comments was Cali rapper Hopsin. He told XXL, “Trinidad Jame$ is the most garbage piece of rapper that has ever existed on the face of the Earth. Atlanta might be making moves and all that . . . It doesn’t mean that they are dope. If you break down the real formula, a lot of the dudes coming out there ain’t even really dope.”