A Week Full Of Hoaxes In Hip Hop: Wayne and ‘Ye
I don’t know what was going on in hip hop this week but it felt like we’ve got more hoaxes than music to talk about.
This week sparked a couple of stories that would be tragic, if only they were true. Instead, they were both revealed to be hoaxes targeting hip hop heavyweights – Young Money General Lil Wayne and Kanye Kardash… I mean West.
Hip Hop Hoax #1: Shooting at Lil Wayne’s Miami Mansion
WSVN-TV reported a shooting at Wayne’s Miami Beach home following a 911 call. After a search through the house by police, the whole thing was declared a hoax, and that Wayne had been “swatted.” Weezy, who wasn’t even present in his home, got wind of the situation and took to his Twitter account to mention, “Prank kall mane.” Although supposedly unrelated, it’s worth noting this “prank kall” comes just 11 days after a suspicious man was found lurking on Wayne’s property… strange. I know what y’all are thinking, gotta be one of Birdman‘s goons trying to take out the cash cow. I mean after all, Wayne is reportedly trying to sue him for 51 million big ones. That’s enough to make anyone turn their back on their closest of kin. Still, I can’t see this as Baby’s work.
Hip Hop Hoax #2: Kanye West’s Laptop Stolen
Kanye West has just finished his fourth and final show in Paris for Foundation Louis Vuitton. Instead of focusing on Kanye’s critically acclaimed performance, it gravitated to a much more compelling story: Yeezy’s laptop was reported stolen. Malik Yusef, an artist signed to Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music label, tweeted that private investigators were on the hunt for who may have stolen ‘Ye’s coveted laptop in Paris. Can you imagine all the possible jewels to be found on that device? “Awesome” – a cut from his upcoming “So Help Me God” album (an ode to his boo) recently leaked, making this news all the more credible.
Also reportedly lost were designs for Ye’s clothing line with Adidas, booklet artwork for his new album (we know how intricate and unique those are) . . . and a look at his next sneaker design perhaps? Yes? No. Like the Wayne shooting, the theft of Kanye’s laptop was a hoax. Although, with the help of Twitter and Reddit, it was quickly passed on as truth. Gabriel Tesorier, vice president of Kanye’s label over at Dej Jam, set the record straight:
“The stories circulating that Kanye West’s laptop has been stolen are completely false, his laptop has never been out of his possession. Hence, the laptop has not been hacked, and there has been no leak of personal data such as unreleased music, photographs, designs, videos or any other personal files. The leak today of the unreleased track ‘Awesome’ was unrelated and completely coincidental.”
Also reportedly lost were designs for Ye’s clothing line with Adidas, booklet artwork for his new album (we know how intricate and unique those are) . . . and a look at his next sneaker design perhaps? Yes? No. Like the Wayne shooting, the theft of Kanye’s laptop was a hoax. Although, with the help of Twitter and Reddit, it was quickly passed on as truth. Gabriel Tesorier, vice president of Kanye’s label over at Dej Jam, set the record straight:
“The stories circulating that Kanye West’s laptop has been stolen are completely false, his laptop has never been out of his possession. Hence, the laptop has not been hacked, and there has been no leak of personal data such as unreleased music, photographs, designs, videos or any other personal files. The leak today of the unreleased track ‘Awesome’ was unrelated and completely coincidental.”
All in all rather awkward and eerie day in hip hop, and that’s without mentioning Suge Knight. Hopefully next time some valid hip hop news?