Soulja Boy in Danger of Being Evicted

The rap star is reportedly behind on the rental payment of his Atlanta home.

Soulja Boy may be trying to get on the path to self-improvement, but there are some people who want to throw him out in the cold. The 21-year-old rapper is in danger of being kicked out of his Atlanta apartment because of unpaid rent, according to TMZ.
Soulja Boy reportedly owes his landlord $4,725 in rent for November and has been served eviction papers. If he doesn't cough up the money by December 5, he'll be forced to vacate the building.
The news isn't exactly the kind that the "Turn My Swag On" rapper needs right now, after a year in which he was arrested for marijuana and gun possession, busted for lying about buying a private jet, owed back taxes, and incited the ire of the U.S. military with an off-color freestyle about the troops.
Soulja Boy says he plans to bounce back with a new album called Promise in 2012, on which he has said he wants to show "growth and maturity."
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Waka Flocka Flame: Rick Ross Watered Down My Sound

The Brick Squad rapper charges that Ross, Jay-Z and others have overused his popular hard-charging musical formula. 

Waka Flocka Flame has made a name for himself by rapping at a high volume over big, skittering, trap style beats — but he's not the only one. In a new interview with Complex magazine, the 26-year-old Brick Squad rapper expressed his frustration that the sound he popularized with producer Lex Luger has been co-opted by the likes of Rick Ross and his Maybach Music Group crew.
“That’s crazy,” said Waka of the similarities in Ross' music. “But what you gonna say? This n---a out here making 30 f---ing songs with your sound. He watering it down, just putting words together that sounded good. Sh-t would be harder if it was the truth.”
“That sh-t made me tight,” he continued. “N---as built labels off our sound — like, literally. You know how many n---as sound like Lex Luger and Southside? I go in n---as’ studios, all their beats sound like my producers. I be like, 'What the f---?'”
Not even hip hop gods Jay-Z and Kanye West were above borrowing the Lex Luger/trap rap sound, borrowing it for the first single off Watch the Throne, "H.A.M." In that case, Waka said he felt validated by the nod.
“What are y’all gonna say now? Jay-Z stupid as hell? My sound is wack? You gonna say that?" he asked. "They love the sound. They can’t run away from it. That sh-- re-sparked n---as’ careers. My sound put life into a lot of people’s careers. I feel like my sound changed hip hop. Period. It’s crazy when I came out with it everybody laughed at it, but the next year everybody’s doing it. They getting credit for the sh-t you started. You be like, 'Damn, how is this n---a a genius for doing something I started?'”
Read more from Waka in a full online cover story over at Complex.
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

OMG Girlz, Swizz Beatz, Waka Flocka Flame to Perform at BET Awards Live Red Carpet Pre-Show

106 & Park's Terrence J, Rocsi Diaz and Big Tigger to host.

The star power on the red carpet leading up to the 2012 BET Awards will be second only to the show itself.
The Live! Red! Ready! pre-show hosted by 106 & Park's Terrence J, Rocsi and Big Tigger will air live from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday will get our engines going for the main event. MGK featuring French Montana, OMG Girlz, Slaughterhouse, Swizz Beatz with A$AP Rocky, Future, Elle Varner and Waka Flocka Flame will perform.
At 8 p.m., focus will shift to inside the Shrine Auditorium, where host Samuel L. Jackson will take the reigns as host of the 2012 BET Awards. The "Too Big to Miss" event will feature many of the biggest names in entertainment, including LaLa Anthony, Cissy Houston, Nicki Minaj, Think Like a Man co-stars Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good and Kevin Hart, gospel chanteusses Yolanda Adams, Amber Bullock,Y'Anna Crawley and Jessica Reedy, Django Unchained star Jamie Foxx along with his director Quentin Tarantino, Alex Cross star Tyler Perry and hip hop megastars Chris Brown, Rock Ross, 2 Chainz and many others.
The party doesn't stop when the curtain drops, it moves to the live post-show hosted by Big Tigger andWendy Raquel Robinson.
The BET Awards 2012 airs live this Sunday, July 1 with the Live! Red! Ready! pre-show kicking off at 3 p.m.
Download the BET Awards App to relive the entire history of the BET Awards in video and pics and to POWER vote for Viewers’ Choice and Who Rocked the Mic!


BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Chris Brown Leads 2011 BET Awards Nominations

With a slew of surprise guests in the building, Terrence and Rocsi make the big announcement on 106 & Park.

The nominations are in! Tonight on 106 & Park, Terrence and Rocsi welcomed special guests J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame and Miguel to the studio and Trey Songz via Skype to help announce the artists nominated for the 2011 BET Awards. Chris Brown, who called into the special broadcast, led the way with six nominations. The singer, who made an impressive comeback this year, earned nods in the Best Male R&B Artist, Best Collaboration (twice), Video of the Year, Best Actor and Viewers' Choice categories.
At last year's Awards, Brown jumped off his return with a heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson. Tonight he told Terrance and Rocsi that the performance was tough for him, but it helped show fans a real side of him.
Since the show-stopping performance, the singer kept his momentum going, leaking chart-topping singles to build up anticipation for his F.A.M.E. album, released back in March. Two songs from that album, "Deuces" featuring Tyga and Kevin McCall and "Look At Me Now" featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, are nominated this year for Best Collaboration. The video for CB's "Look at Me Now" is also nominated for Video of the Year. And it's not just his music career getting the attention. Brown shocked the audience with his acting skill in the film Takers, which got him a Best Actor nomination.
The Young Money team also earned their fair share of nominations this year. Both Lil Wayne and Drakewere nominated for Best Male Hip Hop artist, while Nicki Minaj's nomination in the Best Female Hip Hop artist was a no-brainer. All three of the YM heavyweights are in the Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice category also. Lil Wayne and Drake are also in the running for Best Collaboration, both appearing on hit singles from other artists (Wayne on the aforementioned "Look at Me Now" and Drake on Rihanna's "What's My Name").
Kanye West, Rihanna, Trey Songz, B.o.B and Marsha Ambrosius all picked up more than one nomination. J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, Bruno Mars, Miguel and Willow Smith were the nominees in the New Artist category. Miguel blessed viewers with a performance of his hit single "All I Want Is You." Diddy Dirty Money, Cali Swag District, N.E.R.D., New Boyz and Travis Porter all earned nominations for Best Group.
Another big announcement was the 2011 BET Awards host: actor/comedian Kevin Hart. For a full list of nominees, visit the 2011 BET Awards site. The 2011 BET Awards will air live on Sunday, June 26, at 8PM/7c.

Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose Cover XXL

The parents-to-be reveal their expectations for parenthood.

Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose are inseparable on the cover of the next issue of XXL magazine. The affectionate hip hop couple, who are expecting their first child together, grace the cover of the October/November issue in a stark black and white portrait.
In the intimate photo, a visibly pregnant Rose presses her hand against the chest of her shirtless fiancé. Additional portraits in a similar vein are found inside, along with candid comments from the lovebirds about their expectations for parenthood.
"This is my first child ever in life. I gotta go hard at everything," Wiz says in the article. "As hard as I go in the studio, I gotta go just as hard taking care of my baby and making sure she's alright, and I'm spending time with her and she doesn't feel neglected."
The October/November issue of XXL hits stands October 9.

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

BET Hip-Hop Awards: Chris Lighty Tribute

Despite a brawl, props were given to the late music exec. Plus, T.I. and others rocked the mic.

(The Root) -- The apparent scuffle that took place between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy's crews backstage at the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards taping in Atlanta on Sept. 29 went virtually unnoticed by audience members, and had no significant impact on the show's production quality. Atlanta police denied earlier reports claiming shots were fired, and no arrests were made.

Other than that, it was all love as the rappers made their way in from the red carpet to their designated places at the seventh-annual awards show, which was held at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. The show featured greatly anticipated performances by 2 Chainz and T.I., the BET Awards Cypher sessions and a touching tribute to late music-industry exec Chris Lighty.

Best mixtape nominee Wiz Khalifa opened the show with his hit "Work Hard, Play Hard," displaying an onstage swagger reminiscent of the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger. Juicy J from Three 6 Mafia and Young Jeezy joined him and his live band onstage, hyping up the crowd.

Nicki Minaj to Mariah Carey: "I'm Gonna Knock You Out"

A heated argument erupts between the music stars during American Idol auditions.

Can't say we didn't see this coming. Round one of the highly anticipated celebrity grudge match betweenAmerican Idol judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey got underway during Tuesday's audition in North Carolina. In a video obtained by TMZ, the rap queen came out swinging with a verbal barrage filled with stern warnings for the pop legend.
"Get this s--- in self control, get in control, get in control," Minaj barked at Carey as fellow judge Keith Urban sat between them. "Don't lose your head. Don't lose your head. Don't tell me I'm a gangster."
Despite the best efforts of fourth A.I. judge Randy Jackson to play peacemaker, Minaj continued.
"So every time you patronize me, I'ma take it back, and if you've got a f----- problem handle it," Minaj warned as the pop diva continued to talk back. "I told them [producers] I'm not f----- putting up with her highness over there. Figure it the f--- out. Figure it out."
The blow up seemed to stem from growing tension between the first-year judges as they evaluate talent for the upcoming season. According to sources that spoke to TMZ, the Young Money star even threatened to get physical with Mimi.
"I'm gonna knock you out," is what Nicki reportedly said to Carey before the video starts.
What's clear at the end of the clip is that the Queens rapper had reached her boiling point.
"I'm not going to sit here every f----- minute to have you come down here and harass me every minute, every day."
It was reported that Idol producers called off auditions for the day to let cooler heads prevail. While many have speculated that the tenacious divas were signed to multi-million dollar deals, in part, to add some tension to the judge's panel, this first clash may have been too real for TV, and has some Fox execs worried about the beef going into the start of the season in January.
When the new A.I. judges panel was finally announced last month, both stars played down rumors that Carey did not approve of Nicki's signing. Now it seems those whispers and rumblings were true.
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Jay-Z to Release Live EP of Barclays Performances to iTunes

Jigga memorializes triumphant concert series.

Jay-Z's sold-out series of shows opening the Barclays Center in Brooklyn may be over, but the eight-night stand in the hip hop superstar's hometown is being immortalized for posterity: A live collection of songs and videos from the history-making performances will be released as an EP to iTunes entitled Jay-Z Live in Brooklyn.
The album, which will be available for download on Oct. 11 — less than a week after the final performance — is being put out by Jay-Z himself with distribution from Atlantic Records. It will feature eight songs and eight videos from the shows, which included special guests Big Daddy Kane and Beyoncé.
The last night in the series, during which Beyoncé joined her husband for renditions of "Crazy in Love" and "Young Forever," was streamed live in full on YouTube. Jay-Z Live in Brooklyn is available for pre-order now.
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Common Reflects on the 20th Anniversary of Can I Borrow a Dollar

The Chi-town MC says "I was just a young hungry artist."

On October 6, 1992, Common released his debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar, a street-savvy yet poetic collection that launched the career of one of hip hop's most enduring and critically acclaimed rappers. Reflecting on the moment 20 years later, Common spoke to XXL about how it all came together.
"That was just a time where I didn’t know anything about being in the music industry. I just wanted to be an artist and be a dope MC and be heard and represent Chicago, and [for] KRS-[One] and De La Soul and N.W.A and A Tribe Called Quest and all them to know who I was," he said. "I was just a young artist, just hungry."
Common recalled what it was like hearing his first single, "Take it EZ," on the radio as a naive kid in Chicago.
"I was at the Best Western just chilling out. Man, I just got geeked. I was like, ‘I’m gonna be a star.’ That’s what I felt," he said. "You just don’t know what it takes to even get — you never know from that point what it really take to be recognized as an artist on a greater level. It ain’t just being played on the radio one time. It’s a consistent thing of being heard and getting exposure and going out there, performing, getting your video played. There was so much more to it than you know when you first come into the music industry."
Read the full interview with Common over at XXL.

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Shyne Takes Aim at Rick Ross for Misappropriating Judaism

The rapper, now known as Moses Levi, calls Ross "corny" on Twitter.

Rick Ross is making waves with his new mixtape The Black Bar Mitzvah, and not only because of the music. The Maybach Music Group impresario has ruffled some feathers due to the project's blatant reappropriation of Jewish culture. Shyne, a rapper who also happens to be a practicing member of the Jewish faith, blasted Rozay on Twitter over the weekend for being a poseur.
"First they criticize me for being a Jew, now they're favorite fake rapper is having a black bar mitzva? GTFOH," Shyne wrote. The former Bad Boy rapper, who converted to Judaism early in a nearly 10-year prison sentence, dredged up Ross's history as a corrections officer, labeling his recent talk of bar mitzvahs the latest in a long series of phony posturing.
"These coppers fantasize about the things that i do daily like these coppers rap about the life I live really!" he wrote, later referring to Ross as his "bastard child."
In an interview with MTV News this morning, Shyne elaborated on his fundamental lack of respect for Ross.
"I ain't mad. It's just I think he's corny. ... I have no respect for what he represents, for who he is, let's just start with that," Shyne said. He went on to take issue with the co-opting of his chosen faith by rappers like Ross and others.
"The Black Bar Mitzvah, to me, you're on me, you're obsessed with everything Shyne. All of a sudden, you running with the Star of David and dudes is Jewish now all of a sudden?" he queried. "I really have no tolerance for what he represents because he's a liar."

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.