Drake taunted Chris Brown about Rihanna, starting brawl: Reports

Fists, bottles and fingers were flying in a SoHo club early Thursday morning after a brawl reportedly broke out between Chris Brown's and Drake's crews that left Brown with a bloody gash on his chin.

The two superstars were partying in the VIP section at Club W.I.P. late Wednesday night when around 4 a.m. Drake began taunting Brown about his ex-flame Rihanna, with Drake allegedly boasting that he is hooking up with the pop star, according to published reports.

According to TMZ.com, Drake, 25, flipped the bird atBrown, 23, and said, "I'm about to go whoop that ass." Brown's posse reportedly escalated the fight, involving bodyguards on both sides.

The shouting continued, and the groups clashed after an unknown person threw a bottle, which hit a tourist from Australia.

The NYPD said eight people suffered minor injuries. Police are investigating.

"Drake went over to the middle of the club to talk to someone, then words were exchanged with Chris and his entourage," a witness told the New York Post.

"It looked like Drake's entourage started it," the source added.

A rep for Drake said the star "did not participate in any wrongdoing of any kind last night."

Brown's rep said the singer "and his friends were victims of a brutal attack," and that he and his party are cooperating with NY authorities who are pursuing this incident further."

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Chris Brown and Drake are far from the first stars to settle their problems with fisticuffs. Here are some recent celebrity brawls:

-- Paz de la Huerta and Samantha Swetra: At a Meatpacking District bar last October, de la Huerta reportedly punched Swetra in the face after the model made a crack about de la Huerta tripping nearby.

-- Sean "Diddy" Combs and Steve Stoute: Diddy and his bodyguards assaulted the record company exec in 1999 after Stoute refused to alter a Nas music video that trashed Diddy. The hip-hop apologized for the scuffle and settled out of court.

-- Axl Rose and Tommy Hilfiger: Each side claims the other started it, but this much is sure: At a Chelsea club in 2006, Hilfiger hit Rose first, and it was over quick. The two now say they are friends.

-- Sinead O'Connor and Prince: After O'Connor covered the Purple One's hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" in 1990, Prince reportedly was upset at her publicity for the single and invited her to his house where a meeting went sour and a "few blows were exchanged," O'Connor said in interviews.