(AllHipHop News) TMZ says one thing. Cash Money says another. Actually it’s nothing new.
In the wake of the conflicting reports about Lil Wayne’s health condition, it’s important to take note that TMZ and Young Money artists have a history of not quite seeing eye to eye.
TMZ set the internet on fire last night when the website starting reporting that Lil Wayne was in critical condition in a Los Angeles hospital, even reporting at one point that Wayne was near death before removing the statement.
Lil Wayne is in ICU in critical condition after suffering yet another seizure, and we’re told it doesn’t look good … TMZ has learned…We’re told Wayne is currently “unstable,” and has been placed in an induced coma. He is breathing through tubes.
Cash Money President Mack Maine was quick to come out on Twitter and say the reports were false and added a shot at the gossip site.
We will be releasing an official statement shortly but dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe…that’s false!!
— Mack Maine (@mackmaine) March 16, 2013
— Mack Maine (@mackmaine) March 16, 2013
[ALSO READ: BREAKING NEWS: Lil Wayne In Critical Condition [UPDATED X2] Wayne Tweets He’s OK]
This latest episode isn’t the first time the two entertainment powerhouses have clashed.
TMZ has recently gone on the attack against YMCMB artist Lil Twist.
Twist has been hanging out a lot recently with pop star Justin Bieber.
Over the last few months Bieber has been gaining a lot of negative press for smoking marijuana, showing up late to concerts, and screaming at the paparazzi.
TMZ suggested that Bieber latest antics maybe the result of befriending the 20-year-old Young Money rapper.
In January TMZ ran an article with the headline, “LIL TWIST BAD INFLUENCE On Justin Bieber.”
The piece said that Bieber “was under the influence” of Twist and that he may be leading Bieber “down a dangerous path.”
Since then TMZ has published numerous articles about Lil Twist’s relationship with Bieber including a report that Twist wrecked Bieber’s Fisker Karma and fled the scene of the accident.
TMZ even counsels Bieber to “cut [Twist] off” in the post.
[CHECK OUT: Hip-Hop Rumors: Lil Twist Does It Again! Wrecks Justin Bieber’s Car And RUNS?]
Twist responded to all the attention he had been getting from TMZ in a tweet a few days ago:
I see tmz still on my dick…. Let us breathe.
— Lil Twist #TeamTwist (@LilTwist) March 10, 2013
Beside their consistent attacks on Lil Twist and the contradictory accounts about Wayne’s medical status, TMZ has also made an enemy out of Young Money’s First Lady Nicki Minaj.
In July of 2011, TMZ broke a story that Nicki was assaulted in a hotel room.
TMZ claimed that Nicki was struck in the mouth by an unnamed man, and asked hotel employees to call the police.
Like Mack Maine and Lil Twist, Nicki used Twitter to deny the allegations tweeting:
The fact that u believe a man either slapped or punched me in the face & didn’t leave on a stretcher w/his balls hangin off? #getaF%cknLife”…You’d believe u were an adopted martian if TMZ told u so
TMZ then countered Nicki’s denial by releasing a 9-11 call and a police report associated with the incident.
The relationship between the media and artists has always been a complicated one.
Even when presenting “negative” stories, TMZ is still providing free publicity for celebrities and raising their mainstream profiles, but at the same time having access to high-profile performers and their camps is a necessity to get exclusive information which drives traffic to the site.
It’s a strange symbiotic relationship that bolsters ad revenue, helps to sell the artists’ product, and feeds the public with the sensationalized content that some love to read.
With TMZ being one of the most visited entertainment sites on the net and Cash Money being one of the most commercially successful rap labels in the game right now, it’s not hard to expect that the media war between the two companies will rage on.
And there will be plenty of readers following closely ready to be entertained.