Hip Hop Rumors

”I’m Pro Black Girl”
6:00AM ET February 29th, 2012
Contributor : Monica Coleman
A Rocky Williform Company

It looks like Azealia vs. Azalea has finally happened.

Newcomer Azealia Banks blasted fellow newbie Azalea Banks’ inclusion on the XXL “Freshman Class” issue cover. Banks posted on Twitter her feelings regarding the blonde Australian and–of course–she wasn’t praising Iggy.

“Iggy Azalea on the XXL freshman list is all wrong,” tweeted Banks. “How can you endorse a white woman who called herself a ‘runaway slave master’?”

“Sorry guys. But I’m pro black girl. I’m not anti white girl, but I’m also not here for any1 outside of my culture trying to trivialize very serious aspects of it.”

For her part, Iggy took the high road. “You can’t block my blessings! Today I’m celebrating! Get with it or kick rocks!” she tweeted–without directly addressing Banks. “First female freshman. Ever. Period. Thanks world! I used to stick XXL on my bedroom door, now I’m on the cover. Life is great.”

”It’s Definitely About Perfecting the Craft”
6:00AM ET February 29th, 2012
Contributor : Rayna Dean
A Rocky Williform Company

Model-turned-singer Erica Mena is focusing on her music. She’s a mom, as well–and a reality TV star on “Love & Hip Hop.” But fans aren’t quick to embrace models-turned-anything–as the less-than-stellar responses to music from Amber Rose and Somaya Reece have proven.

But Mena says she’s not giving you what you expect.

“Right now, it’s definitely about the music and trying to figure out what we’re going to be putting out, but I’m really excited,” Mena told SOHH. “I think you guys are going to be surprised and won’t know what to expect is coming from me. I try to dedicate as much time as possible for the music. I try to put in studio time while my son is in school or after he’s home and asleep. It really depends on what’s going on because all of my days are different. Right now, any little bit of studio time for me is liberating. Even if I only get an hour a day, I’m in the studio writing, recording and doing as much as possible. For me, it’s definitely about perfecting the craft and making sure what I deliver is something I feel proud of.”

”I Sold Plenty of Records Doing That”
1:30PM ET February 29th, 2012
Contributor : Rayna Dean
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper Ja Rule may be sitting in a jail cell right now, but there was a time when he was one of the biggest names in the game. And with his success came detractors–most notably 50 Cent–and their favorite criticism of Ja back then was his tendency to ‘sing’ on his hits. In a recent interview, Ja shared his opinion on the current wave of singing rappers and whether or not he had a role in making it more acceptable for rhymers to do a little crooning.

“I mean, I love it. I love to hear the melodies in the records. Music is music. I think people get that twisted. ‘Ah this is Hip Hop’ or ‘This is rock’ or ‘This is R&B,’” he says. “Hip Hop is the only form of music that can mess with all of those sounds and make for good music.”

“So when I hear it in the music, I smile. I love to hear it, I love to listen to Drake, I love Kanye – all of these artists who make good music, because that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s not about putting on a break beat and rhyming over it. That’s where it started, but things elevate, things change. I think I kind of was in that zone. I wouldn’t say I was ahead of my time, because I sold plenty of records doing that.”

”Two People Have To Care For Beef To Happen”
4:00PM ET February 29th, 2012
Contributor : Erica Moore
A Rocky Williform Company

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea’s inclusion on XXL’s Freshman cover sparked a lot of hostile reactions–most notably from fellow newcomer Azealia Banks. Iggy took the high road initially when Banks blasted her via Twitter, but today (February 29), the Aussie fired back at the critics.

“The blog titles should read “girl uses iggy azaleas name for shine” not “beef” get a grip. Two ppl have to care for beef to happen.,” she tweeted. “Too much talking, not enough music being made. Let’s do what we all came to do best MAKE MUSIC. F*ck the gossip and yapping. It’s stupid.”

“Real b*tches feel me. #HustleGang” she added. “S/O to the females that stay positive and respectful. The cover is a win for all the girls… Hope next year there’s 2 on the cover!”

”My Daughter Knows What Happened…”
12:30AM ET March 1st, 2012
Contributor : Erica Moore
A Rocky Williform Company

Actress Reese Witherspoon discussed the ongoing controversy surrounding Rihanna and Chris Brown and revealed that her two young children were old enough to be aware of the infamous 2009 domestic abuse incident when it happened.

The Oscar winner says that she used the opportunity to educate both her son and daughter about domestic violence.

“My daughter knows what happened. My son knows as well,” Witherspoon told PEOPLE. “We talk about what is abuse. I think it’s important to talk to our daughters – and our sons – in order to educate them at an early age about what’s appropriate and what is absolutely not acceptable.”