South Beach, Miami. A popular partying destination for anyone with money to blow, rappers included. Situated inside the famous Fontainebleau Hotel, LIV has emerged as Miami's premiere club for the rich and famous. When celebrities get together, though, it's not always fun and games, even with the paparazzi looming outside.
Owned by MMG Nightlife (no affiliation with Maybach, though Rick Ross is a frequent guest), the LIV club has played host to celebrities like Madonna and Paris Hilton. It's where Jay Z spent 100k on a bottle of Armand de Brignac champagne, and where Kim Kardashian had her catwoman-themed birthday bash. In the past few years, it's also been a hotbed for violence involving big-name rappers. What makes shit get so lit at LIV, we don't know, but it's gotta be some combination of money, alcohol, women, and big-time personalities. Everything we love about Miami.
Here's a recent history of hip-hop altercations at the Miami institution.
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January 2012: Dez Bryant & (possibly) Lil Wayne
In January of 2012, already enjoying the offseason, Cowboys All-Star Wide Receiver Dez Bryant was partying at LIV when he got into a scuffle with a "famous rapper." Apparently, someone affiliated with said rapper was heckling Bryant about his past season as well as his alleged financial troubles. No one in the incident was arrested, though Bryant was detained by Miami Beach police.
Soon after, a Miami Herald reporter tweeted that the alleged rapper was indeed famous--Lil Wayne famous. Weezy has had Cowboys' jokes before, though Dez Bryant seems a riskier target than Tony Romo. Luckily, no arrests, no injuries.
March 2012: Teyana Taylor & Skrawberry
In early 2012, soon after she got signed to GOOD Music, Teyana got into it with a notorious Miami stripper by the name of Skrawberry--no typo, and, no, that's not just her stripper name.
Before Teyana and her crew, which included former Super Bowl-winning Ravens Offensive Tackle Bryant McKinnie, made it to LIV, they stopped by the King of Diamonds strip club, where unfriendly words were exchanged between Teyana and Ms. Skrawberry. The two women eventually found themselves both at LIV, and things escalated to more than just words. Skrawberry threw the first jab, and then Teyana and some male friends got back at the stripper, and Skrawberry left the club more scantily clad than she entered, as her dress (worth four stacks, says Skrawberry) was torn apart.
And the incident didn't end there. Just after leaving the club, Teyana and a friend were jumped by Skrawberry's sister. The ladies fell into the bushes amid their scuffle, while the men involved ended up breaking a hotel window. Later that same morning, Teyana tweeted, "Let Us See Your Face", and gave the stripper her best Drake chuckle.
Watch out for those Miami strippers.
August 2012: Juvenile
Amid a career comeback of sorts, Juvenile hit it big at the Miami club, before being arrested and getting bailed out all in the same night/morning. There was a Lil Wayne show at LIV that night, and Juvie joined his NOLA brethren on stage for the first time since the two were Hot Boys (2001).
Later that night, Juve was at the center of a brawl that involved almost 100 people. He was arrested, along with three others, and later released on a $500 bail. When reporters hounded him after his release, Juve said the incident had nothing to do with Wayne.
December 2014: Diddy & Drake
The South Beach institution went a couple years without another major incident, but at the end of last year, two industry titans crashed Miami and made major headlines. While talking "business," Diddy threw a punch (some say a slap) at Drake. Diddy also had some words to go along with the famous blow, telling the 6 God, "You will never disrespect me."
It looks like Diddy got the best of Drizzy, who had to go to the hospital that same night. Apparently, Diddy knocked Drake's (already bad) shoulder out of place. Though, the winner of the end game isn't so clear. Soon after the incident, video emerged of Diddy rapping over what he said was a "stolen beat"--namely, "0 to 100", produced by the OVO team of Boi-1da and 40, turned into a non-album hit single by Drake. Drizzy subtly addressed the incident in an Instagram post, wearing a robe that seems to disguise a certain shoulder injury.
March 2015: Rich Homie Quan
The latest incident at LIV might have to take the cake. Earlier this week, Atlanta's Rich Homie Quan attempted to enter LIV at the VIP entrance, where he was turned away and asked to go to the back of the line. Obviously, RHQ doesn't like to wait, and he made sure the bouncers were aware of who he is: "I'm Rich Homie Quan and I'm a rich millionaire, (expletive). I'm coming through these doors. I'm with Flo Rida." Then came two punches, followed by a few more from Quan's associates, and, then, the epic getaway.
Immediately after the punches were laid, Quan & co. ran across the street (this is South Beach, remember?), and hopped on a speedboat that was waiting for them. Who knows where they jetted off to next.
The security guard, named Christian Cajigas, has now hired a lawyer and claims Rich Homie broke his nose, bloodied his lip, and chipped one of his teeth. Though Quan might have a fat lawsuit coming his way, he's got our vote to replace Idris Elba as the next James Bond.