SIGT HIP HOP STOP W/ RON GRANT | Kendrick Lamar Dominates Grammy Nods, Wu Tang’s $2 Million Album, Michelle Obama’s Bars, Straight Outta Compton film honors, Boosie’s Kidney Surgery, Kanye West Lectures At Oxford

by Ron Grant • December 11, 2015

It’s been a crazy, whirlwind of a week in Hip Hop. Between rappers being recognized with high music honors and others being shunned (AHEM! Lupe Fiasco), new music from vets Rick Ross and 50 Cent and new cult phenom G-Eazy, and more drama, the end of 2015 isn’t slowing down Hip Hop’s news train. Rather, it’s full steam ahead! Here are some of the biggest headlines from the week.

KENDRICK LAMAR DOMINATES GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

Not a bad week for K Dot. First, the POTUS declares “How Much A Dollar Cost” from To Pimp A Butterfly as his favorite song, and now Compton’s golden child has nabbed 11 Grammy nods. He’s even surpassed Eminem with the most Grammy nominations by a Hip Hop artist in a single year. And to be nominated with an album as layered and challenging as, well…let’s just say kudos to one of Hip Hop’s G.O.A.T.’s in training.

WU TANG’S $2 MILLION ALBUM SOLD

RZA’s attempt to create a Hip Hop album as a piece of fine art may have succeeded. But at what cost? The $2 million Once Upon A Time In Shaolin album was reportedly purchased by controversial pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, the same executive behind quite possibly the most expensive price increase in history in terms of pharmaceutical drugs. Specifically, a new AIDS treatment that was increased to $750 per pill. But you can’t help but to give respect and props to RZA for pulling this one off. Still proof that to this day, Wu Tang Clan ain’t nothing to f*** with.

MICHELLE OBAMA DROPS FLOTUS BARS

When is the last time you knew the First Lady to try her hand at spitting a hot 16 on the mic? We’ll wait… But now, Michelle Obama seems to have crossed that barrier too. With the help of Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharaoh, Mrs. Obama dropped a few metaphors about the importance of college in the video “Go To College” via College Humor. The video says it all. FLOTUS Bars!

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON GETS FILM ACCOLADES

It’s almost a lock that in certain circles, Straight Outta Compton is the movie of the year. And while it apparently was snubbed by the Golden Globes, now the African American Film Critics Association has put its stamp of approval of the most successfully Hip Hop biopic of all time, naming it the best movie of the year. An official awards ceremony will be held on February 10. Looks like Awards season will still be very, very good to Compton.

KIDNEY SURGERY FOR BOOSIE BADAZZ

While getting back into the Hip Hop spotlight, Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz took to social media and let his fans know that he had surgery to remove cancer from his kidney this past Wednesday. “Surgery went well..God is good! Next step recovery! Cancer has been removed from Boosie kidney… Thanks to all Boosie family and friends and all my real Boosie fans for all the prayers,” wrote Boosie. We’re all hoping for a full recovery and keeping the Houston rapper in our prayers.

FOOTAGE LEAKS OF KANYE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY

One thing you can’t put past Kanye is how his actions seem to stress the importance of education. This continued with a 40-minute speech at the prestigious Oxford University from earlier this year. Here is the video in full, where he touched on topics like family, personal life, his creative process and his aspirations to design high-end clothing. Maybe Yeezy season isn’t over, after all.