Rick Ross Page 4

Rapper/hip hop icon Rick Ross was arrested Friday following his SuperJam concert in North Carolina. Despite the coincidence, the arrest had nothing to do with the gig. In fact, it was due to a previous marijuana charge, for which the rapper, whose real name is William L. Roberts, failed to appear in court.

Ross has a history of possession charges dating back to 2008.

According to the Greensboro News & Record, the Mastermind was taken to a magistrate's office as soon as he was done performing, but he was eventually released after posting a $1,000 bond. His new court date has not been announced.

Continue reading: Rick Ross' Super Jam 2014 Gig Dampened By Subsequent Arrest

Rick Ross owns the Billboard 200 chart this week. Despite Pharrell Williams’ high-profile gig at the Oscars recently, on Wednesday, Ross’ latest album, Mastermind, became his fifth studio effort to top the chart. It sold 179,000 copies in its first week, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan (via Reuters).

Rick Ross's Mastermind stormed the Billboard 100 this week.

Pharrell is trailing behind with just 112,000 copies of his G I R L sold in its debut week. The release came after a month of high-profile performances from the singer at intimate parties and awards events, culminating in his singing his Oscar-nominated song Happy, which turned into a spontaneous onstage dance party with Oscar-nominated actresses.

Continue reading: Rick Ross Storms The Billboard Chart With "Mastermind", What Else Is New?

Rick Ross is no stranger to controversial lyrics, like most rappers, he probably uses them as a publicity tool or to create a certain image.

But the 38 year-old was forced to explain himself rather quickly over the use of his most recent offensive lyric.

Ross mentioned Trayvon Martin, the 17 year-old African American who was shot dead by George Zimmerman, on the Mastermind track 'Blk & Wht'.

Continue reading: Rick Ross Addresses Criticism Over Trayvon Martin Lyric

Meek Mill has used the lyrics of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G to defend Rick Ross’ own decidedly disgusting words that would appear to endorse rape.

The hip-hop world is at times a bewildering place, somewhere where boundaries are routinely crossed in thematic content with the loose justification being that these MCs are telling real stories and portraying real situations. Situations that they seem to be pretty into. Meek Mill was being asked about Rick Ross, hip-hop and the social responsibility it bore given it’s huge profile by Urban Informer, and he said "I don't even care about nobody criticizing no lyrics.” He continued "People rap about killing stuff all day. Biggie said, 'Rape your kid. Throw her over the bridge.' It was nothing, it's just hip-hop."

He did indeed say that, with Spin pointing out that Mills was saying it was all part of B.I.G’s narrative, which it may have been. However it then goes on to point out Ross’ lyrics, which say “Put molly in her champagne, she ain't even know it / I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it” and are said pretty straight, with very little in the way of narration around it. What does all this tell us? We don’t even know, but rap’s got some serious issues and the most depressing thing is that it’s become such the norm in the genre that it’ll never be fixed.

Continue reading: Meek Mills Defends Rick Ross Alleged Rape Endorsement

Rick Ross Survives An Attack, Jennifer Lawrence Wins But Slips Up, Lindsay Lohan To Learn Her Fate In LA

You Da Boss: Rapper Rick Ross had a lucky escape this week, somehow avoiding a hail of gunfire aimed at his Rolls Royce in Miami. The Diced Pineapples hit-maker ploughed into a nearby apartment block but emerged relatively unscathed. Now who would want to kill Rick Ross?

Silver Lining? Jennifer Lawrence's Christian Dior dress let her down badly at the SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday evening. The Silver Linings Playbook star made her way to the stage to collect the award for Best Actress, only to see her gown literally split in the middle! What caused the wardrobe malfunction? 

Continue reading: A Week In News: Rick Ross Survives, Jennifer Lawrence Slips Up, Lindsay Lohan To Learn Fate

On Monday morning Rick Ross and his girlfriend Shateria Moragne-el were caught up in a drive by shooting when a car pulled up next to Ross' Bentley and opened fire. As Ross raced away he crashed the car into the side of the building. Since then police have opened a criminal investigation, Ross has called for 24/7 armed security, 50 Cent has laughed it off and said it was all staged, and Freeway Ricky Ross has reignited his disdain for the enormously successful rapper.

According to Freeway, rapper Rick Ross stole his name. A former Los Angeles drugs baron who spent 13 years in prison having been caught for his crimes, Ross' name became synonymous during the 90s with hardened gang crime and drug smuggling, as Antonio Moore explains on the Huffington Post. It is this reputation that Freeway thinks Rick Ross stole having adopted it for his stage name. Freeway is even set for a court showdown with Ross in August 2013, with numerous music industry honchos handed subpoenas for the trial, including ex-Warner executive Lyor Cohen, current CEO Stephen Cooper and Warner director Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Now that Ross is in the direct public eye with rumours of gang death threats having been levelled against him, Freeway is having his say once more."Im not surprised that it happened given recent ongoing, when someone doesn't understand the street rules they get confused and incidents like this can take place," he told HipHopDX. "I'm still dealing with ongoing litigation about something as basic as using my name and identity, that should have been dealt with properly a long time ago. No ill will is wished upon anyone, but when you tell these stories about the streets you have to be careful. We covered it in more depth in the Power of the Name Rick Ross piece." 

Despite Rick Ross saying that he "Ain't never no checks getting cut" in response to gang threats via YouTube, it does appear that a drive-by shooting on Monday (28th Jan) has got him scared. In response to the perceived threat, according to TMZ, he's stepped his security up. A lot.

He is now looking to employ a full time armed security guard, to protect himself. For a while he has used armed guards to escort him through major public events such as concerts and special public appearances, but that clearly wasn't enough and now he feels he needs it night and day, 24/7.

Although he has been receiving threats for a while in gang related YouTube videos as well as from a man who claims to be the 'original' Rick Ross - accusing the other Rick Ross of stealing his name and identity - he hadn't yet taken any of them seriously. But when a car pulls up to your Rolls Royce and opens fire, even the boldest of us may crumble.

Continue reading: Rick Ross Gets Scared, Steps Up Security After Drive-by Shooting

Most people, if they’d just survived a drive-by shooting, would probably stay home awhile, possibly start scouting for security firms, if they knew they’d been an intended target. Possibly do some online shopping for bulletproof vests and alternative body armour. Not Rick Ross, though. Rick Ross heads to the studio to rap about the drive-by shooting. Rick Ross reworks a song by rapper of the moment Kendrick Lamar, entitled ‘B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe.’ None of which has helped quell the speculation that the whole thing was staged.

Rick Ross’ street cred has been a bone of contention in the rap community, according to The Hollywood Gossip and not everyone’s convinced that Ross would really have dodged the “hail of bullets” that were reportedly aimed at his Rolls Royce but landed, instead, in the windows of local businesses. Ross eventually crashed his vehicle into a local apartment building.

He’s since been in the studio and recorded a remix of “B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe’ which includes the lyrics “I can’t believe I’m alive / disrespectful to n*ggers who wanna take me alive / wishing death on you n*ggers we never see eye to eye.” Ross goes on to say “I’m just raising the bar,” which will no doubt irk whoever was shooting at him, presuming it was a genuine drive-by shooting that occurred early Monday Morning (January 28, 2013) on Las Olas Boulevard.  

Continue reading: "I Can't Believe I'm Alive" Rick Ross Raps About Drive-By Shooting Already?

Rick Ross, the Teflon Don, Rick Rozay, whatever he's calling himself these days, was involved in a car crash yesterday (28th Jan) and as CNN reports there are fears that Ross was driving away from gunfire, which may have been related to street gang threats against the rapper.

Neither Ross nor his female passenger were injured in the alleged drive by shooting, but YouTube videos say that a gang is after him. "We're pulling up on you," a man who identified himself as a member of the Gangster Disciples warned in one of the videos, according to CNN. "Whatever city, whatever state, the pressure on." They're after money from Ross who uses a star of David for one of his albums, which they claim refers to one of the founders of the Gangster Disciples and their music. They seem to have forgotten about Judaism. "We need that cash right now," they said.

Ross retorted, however that he "Ain't never no checks getting cut". Adding, "I don't play those games. I consider that extortion."

Continue reading: Rick Ross Suspected Drive By Shooting Feared To Be Gang Related In YouTube Death Threats

Whoever emptied their weapon - allegedly an AK47 - in the direction of Rick Ross' Rolls Royce on Monday (January 28, 2013) was not fully trained in how to use his or her firearm. In fact, we're pretty sure they'd never, ever, picked one up before. In their search for the criminal, investigators should make it mandatory that all potential suspects take a test in which they shoot at a cardboard cut-out of the Miami rapper. The attempted murderer is the one that misses completely.

Ross was returning home from birthday celebrations when a car travelling in the opposite direction opened its window and shot in the direction of the rapper. Fred Grimm of the Miami Herald - a journalist who lives two blocks from where the incident took place - said he heard ten gunshots. "An outbreak of gangsta rap warfare in the old hood," he wrote. The problem is, not only did the ten shots miss the fairly sizeable Rick Ross (or his girlfriend), they missed the entire Rolls Royce. And Rolls Royce's are massive. The sheer incompetence of the gunman left Rick Ross' rival 50 Cent concluding that the whole thing must have been a set up. "Hahaha fat boy hit the building? Lol it looks staged to me. No hole's in da car," he said on Twitter, before adding, "Hahaha that boy was spooked. I ride like OBAMA level 6 bulit proof bomb proof, you already know. [sic]"

Despite 50 Cent's doubts, police say they are treating the shooting as an "an active and ongoing criminal investigation." Experts have advised Ross to step up his security in the coming days.

Continue reading: Dear Whoever Tried To Kill Rick Ross, You're A Terrible Shot

Rick Ross' car was shot up in a drive-by shooting in Florida, in the early hours of Monday morning (January 28, 2013), leaving the Miami rapper and a female companion crashing into a nearby apartment building. Ross' silver Rolls Royce was sprayed with bullets in the shooting, which occurred as the rapper was returning from celebrating his 37th birthday.

According to the Daily Mail, neither Ross nor his friend was injured in the shooting, with the rapper staggering from the car once the assailants had taken off. Beth Balk, a waitress at a nearby restaurant, said she was asleep on the couch when she heard the crash, confirming that the intended victim was indeed Rock Ross. The incident occurred at around 5am, with shots fired along Las Olas Boulevard, according to Detective DeAnna Garcia. They were fired from another vehicle that was travelling eastbound on the same road. Neither individual in the Rolls Royce were hit by the gunfire, police confirmed. 

Ross - real name William Roberts - is considered one of the biggest rappers in the world, having seen his records Port of Miami and Trilla top the Billboard charts. He is also known for his several run-ins with the police, and his long-running feud with 50 Cent.

Continue reading: Rick Ross' Car Shot Up In Drive-By Shooting: Who Was The Gunman?

Quentin Tarantino's new movie, Django Unchained, which scored well both with the critics and financially on its Christmas day release, features an original composition from Rick Ross and John Legend.

Tarantino is famous for the music in his films, while Django should be no different, this is the first time that he's employed tracks written specifically for his work. "[I've] never really asked an artist to write a composition for any of my movies because I don't know if I'm going to like it, and even if I do like it, I don't know if it will work with one of my films," Tarantino explained to MTV News during a recent press event for the film, "I never wanted to put myself in that embarrassing situation." 

So how did 9-time Grammy award-winning artist John Legend manage to convince the auteur that his tunes were right for the film? He went retro and sent him a cassette tape. Not a cd, USB flash drive, or an email - a cassette tape. "He had heard about the movie," Tarantino explained. "I think he had seen the commercial or something, and he liked the idea of what the movie was about so he wrote a song, not having read the script, he wrote a song that he thought could fit into what he thought I was trying to do and put it on cassette tape. I don't know if I would have actually listened to it if he hadn't have put it on a cassette tape. Well, I might have listened to a CD. If he had sent [a flash drive] to me, that would have sat in my hotel room never to be listened to."

Continue reading: Quentin Tarantino Opens Up On Original Score For Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino rejecting his song hasn't deterred Frank Ocean from wanting the public to hear it. Currently untitled - but rumoured to be called Wiseman - the track can be found on Ocean's own Tumblr site.

Tarantino, in a statement, explained why he chose not to include the Odd Future star's song in his new movie. "Frank Ocean wrote a fantastic ballad that was truly lovely and poetic in every way," he explained, "there just wasn't a scene for it. I could have thrown it in quickly just to have it, but that's not why he wrote it and not his intention. So I didn't want to cheapen his effort. But, the song is fantastic, and when Frank decides to unleash it on the public, they'll realize it then." Instead, the film's score will feature new tracks from Rick Ross with the film's star, Jamie Foxx, as well as Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and legendary composer Ennio Morricone, plus 2Pac and James Brown. Tarantino himself collaborated with musicians on several of the tracks, as well as the film's score.

This isn't the first statement the legendary filmmaker has had to make to appease fans. In response to myriad complaints at the use of the 'N-word', Tarantino said, "I think it's kind of ridiculous (the criticism), because no one can actually say with a straight face that we use the word more than it was used in 1858 in Mississippi. So since they can't say that, what they're basically (saying) is I should lie. I should pretty it up. I should lie, and I don't lie when it comes to my characters and the stories I tell."

Continue reading: Frank Ocean's Django Unchained Track Released Via The Singer's Tumblr

Was Rick Ross threatened by a Chicago gang? When Rick Ross cancelled the remainder of his tour, rumours started to spread that he’d been threatened by members of the Gangster Disciples. Ross has played down the rumours, but local police in Chicago were not quite so ready to brush the allegations under the carpet – even if they’d not been made by Rick himself.

In an interview with Miami 99’s Jamz, he explained “I canceled the rest of the tour due to the promoter, he wasn't really handlin' his business… Once they began to unravel, I shut it down. Never was it due to any threats. Any dude can stand in a crowd with 30 or 40 dudes and everybody real, everybody trill, everybody 'bout that life, everybody gangsta. But when the choppers come out, everybody fold.” Speaking about himself in the third person, for reasons unknown, Ross also said “Ricky Ross is a boss. You can't cancel a Ricky Ross show without Ricky Ross' permission.”

The Chicago Police Department weren’t so sure that Ross’ bravado wasn’t covering up something more sinister, though. According to Huffington Post, they have “launched an investigation into death threats” made against Ross by the gang. In October, it was reported by the Chicago Tribune that over a quarter of the city’s 400 murders in the last year were carried out by the gang.

The latest update on the cancelled Rick Ross tour dates – the rapper talked to Felisha Monet on 99Jamz, adamantly denying any claims that he’s fallen victim to gang threats.

Rozzay once again explained that the only reason for the cancelled shows were problems with the promoter. Ross went on to explain that one of the concerts in the second leg of the tour had to get cancelled due to poor organization. Despite his efforts to sort things out from Tucson, where he was at the moment, two more dates had to get cancelled, at which point Ross apparently decided that there was no point in continuing with the tour at all.

He went on to explain that he would love to go to North and South Carolina, as long as everything was handled correctly. The rapper completely opposed any claim that he could be connected with any less-than-legitimate activities and made a point that that he was not at all interested in that, saying that “he could put a thousand gangsters in any hood, but that’s not what he’s here for.”

Continue reading: Update: Rick Ross Explains Cancelled Tour Dates

Mystery shrouds rapper-turned-label-boss Rick Ross’s career plans, as the last of his tour dates across the US got cancelled last week.

Two shows in North Carolina were cancelled last Thursday, followed by the rest of the concert run on Friday. The man himself says that he’s enjoyed performing with Meek Mill and Wale, both emerging artists signed to Ross’s record label, Mybach Music Group. This begs the question, what does “the apparent lack of organization and communication on the part of the tour promoter”, cited by a representative, actually mean? While Ross’s PR is going into “damage control” mode, rumors about gang threats directed at the performer continue to spread.

A popular theory says that Ross cancelled his North Carolina shows because of a street gang, named the 'Gangster Disciples', having posted a YouTube video, “criticizing” Ross for name-dropping their chairman Larry Hoover on a track. Even if it all sounds vaguely like high school drama, apparently the threats have had quite an effect on Ross, who has decided to not just skip the NC shows, but cut the entire tour short.

Continue reading: Rumours Spread About Cancelled Rick Ross Tour

Rapper Gunplay was given a $150,000 bond and house arrest on Monday in connection to the robbery of a man at a Miami tax business, his attorney said.

"The state did not prove that Mr. Morales was a flight risk or a threat to the community," said his attorney. "He should be home with his family shortly. This is first step in clearing his name so he can continue his emerging music career." The 33-year-old rapper, whose real name is Richard Morales, robbed a man at a Miami tax business on April 13, with his accomplice, Randy Jones according to a warrant. Gunplay also faces charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm, online records show. Also according to the warrant, they pilfered a gold chain and cell phone, with Gunplay striking the victim several times in the head, and later threatening the man with his handgun, causing him to run for his life.

MTV had previously obtained footage of Gunplay handing himself into police. The Rick Ross protege can be seen in the video to hand over his phone, remove his belt and multiple necklaces to a woman he later kisses goodbye. The rapper wasn't cuffed but was escorted to a vehicle by two officers and placed in the backseat before the video cuts off.

Performing alongside the larger than life, beard-faced, tattoo-drenched Rick Ross, Omarion made waves with his performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Male R&B is enjoying a renaissance, with the mercurial talents of Frank Ocean and the re-emergence of Usher of late, and Omarion’s performance has well and truly proved that he’s another one to be taken seriously. Bounding on stage, dressed solely in white, he accompanied Maybach Music boss, Rick Ross, who had just spat out a topless rendition of Hold Me Back. The pair sang Ice Cold together to a rapturous response from the audience, who were all mouthing proudly along to the frenetic show. Omarion, aka Maybach O, is working on his MMG debut. It has been a busy 24 hours for Ross as last night (October, 9) he dropped his most recent mixtape The Black Bar Mitzvah, followed by the official video for Diced Pineapples.

All this talk of performances, brawls and trouble backstage, and one might be forgiven for forgetting that the BET Hip Hop Awards are exactly that: an awards show. And in that vein, it’s pertinent to mention Kanye West, who cleaned up. He grabbed Producer of the Year, the Made You Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style) and the Perfect Combo Award for "Mercy," along with his G.O.O.D. Music crew. The multiplatinum hit maker took home another three awards for his work with Jay Z as part of the Throne, bringing his total to six.

Rick Ross is slowly but steadily working his way around the globe, evidently aiming to offend and irritate as many people as possible. Ross has had 'beef' with 50 Cent, Young Jeezy, “Freeway” Ricky Ross and now the world's entire Jewish community, particularly one of it's converts, fellow rapper Shyne.

Rick Ross is releasing a mixtape entitled 'The Black Bar Mitzvah' which continues the vaguely religious theme set out in 'God Forgives, I Don't', his album released in July of this year. Shyne, who converted to Judaism while in prison on an attempted murder charge, paying homage to his great grandmother who was also Jewish, spoke out against the tactless title of Ross's EP. He spoke to MTV News saying: "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”. He continued: “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?"

The cover of the mixtape shows Ross wearing fur, emblazoned in the gold of a Star of David. Though perhaps paying tribute to Jay-Z's reference to the phrase 'black Bar Mitzvah' in one of his songs, the choice by Ross is almost as bizarre as 'Teflon Don'. Much of Shyne's criticism of Rick Ross stemmed from the revelation that Ross, real name William Leonard Roberts II, worked as a correctional officer in the early '90s, a career that very few members of the hip-hop community accepts or respects.

Continue reading: Rick Ross, Slowly Working To Offend The Entire World.

The fall-out from last weekend's spat at the Bet Hip-Hop Awards won't be shown on the television recording airing this forthcoming weekend. But, according to rapper T.I, the damage to its reputation has already been done, after news broke out that a multi-person fight occurred during a tribute to the late hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty at the event.

"I didn't even know about the fight," T.I. said in an interview with KTLA. "Men everywhere, we have huge egos and lots of pride. I don't know that particular incident personally, but most fights that I hear about, it's about pride and ego." Two separate fights broke out; one between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy's camps, and another between MMG's Gunplay and member of G-Unit's entourage.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Complex, BET's president of music programming Stephen G. Hill played down some of the more outlandish rumors surrounding the event."Reckless tweeting - one person said there was gunshots. Somebody took that," Hill said. "I used to do this thing when I was a little kid. I used to say something outrageous. I'd say, 'I read that somewhere.' I wrote it down, closed my eyes, and then I read it, and so it's true. That's exactly what happens with Twitter. People read it, so they think it's true, and people retweet it like, 'Oh my God, there were gunshots.' 'Cause some fool tweeted, 'I heard gunshots.' There were no gunshots."

While there have been wide reports of the brawl between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy, the scuffle between 50 Cent's entourage and Gunplay had been largely ignored. Now, Gunplay has spoken out to on radio in a comedic explanation of the events, referring to all partipants as 'donkeys'. HipHopDX reports that he said:

"So the donkey walks with eight other donkeys. I see him, I was getting ready to go catch my ride... I turn around and see the donkey with eight more donkeys and it was either me jump the barrier and run or stand, pull up my pants and knuckle it out with the donkey... He walks up to me with about eight donkeys and he nodded to one of the donkeys set it off and we rumbled."

Clinton Yates, in the Washington Post, made an apt comparison between the contemporary world of rap with wrestling. He said "More than ever, the game has become more about viral popularity, perceived image and one's ability to pack shows. While I genuinely think the music coming out of the speakers is as good as ever, the sideshows are reminiscent of the theatrics of [WWE]"

Continue reading: BET Awards Backstage Brawls- Gunplay Speaks About Rumors

Gunplay has denied any shots being fired during the BET Awards brawl between him and 50 Cent’s security guards, reports MTV. Another scuffle broke out when Rick Ross and Young Jeezy clashed backstage in what turned out to be a bad night for the Stop the Violence Movement

"I don't know nothing about no shots fired, I'm a be totally honest with you, but all I know, I had to fight off five dudes," the MMG rapper explained in an interview with TMZ. "I never liked [50], I've always wanted to kick his ass. I finally got the opportunity to get close to him, he was hiding behind all his security. I couldn't get to him." Gunplay was pepper sprayed and left the awards in cuffs with the Atlanta cops. Though he lost his diamond studded MMG chain, Gunplay did not suffer any injuries, and was not charged. "If you're playin' with me, you're playin' with fire. Might get gunned down, ya never know," he added, which has done little to dispel the rumours of gunshots.

Gunplay was too busy scrapping with “refrigerators” as he referred to some of the guys involved, so he missed the fisticuffs between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy, which occurred backstage. "I ain't get to see what happened. Ross and them walked up ahead of me and security was still patting me down," he said. "By the time I got there, I seen a melee." BET have issued a statement addressing the conflict, calling it "unfortunate."

In 2009 Rick Ross chose the BET Awards as the start place for a long standing feud with fellow rapper 50 Cent. Now, three years on, in a similar performance, Rick Ross engaged in a brawl with another rapper, Young Jeezy at the 2012 BET Awards.

Reasons for the fight are unsubstantiated but are allegedly due to Ross 'dissing' Jeezy during his performance, according to NY Daily News. The fight was not only between the two stars but escalated to include entourages of both parties.

NY Daily News reports the testimony of a 23-year-old female witness who said “People were everywhere... it was scary. I left the area. You never know with these types of brawls.”

Continue reading: Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Finish The 2012 BET Awards With A Brawl

The BET Hip-Hop Awards attracted all the wrong kinds of attention at the weekend, as the event held in Atlanta, Georgia descended into farce when police were called in to break up a spat that took place at the ceremony.

Already suffering from bad press with the news that Kanye West wouldn't be attending the awards despite leading the way on nominations with 17 nods, the event was plunged into further disrepute when police confirmed to the Press Association that they'd been forced to respond to a scuffle that took place at around 7:30pm on Saturday evening (September 29th). No names were disclosed regarding who was involved in the scuffle, but it was revealed that the fight took place during a tribute performance to the late hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty, who committed suicide just last month. Gossip website TMZ.com say Rick Ross and Young Jeezy were the main offenders.

Leading the tribute performance were rappers Q-Tip, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and 50 Cent; LL Cool J paid homage to him with some words beforehand. Away from the fights and the tributes, Rakim was given the "I Am Hip-Hop Icon" honour by fellow wordsmith T.I, with Kendrick Lamar coming away with lyricist of the year. The recording of the event will air on BET on October 9th, it's unknown whether the scuffle will be included, though officials said it did not interrupt the running of the awards.