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Hip Hop's birthplace, New York, is staging a different kind of battle involving rap lyrics -- while some prosecutors want to pin crimes on artists through their lyrics, but rappers and lawmakers are taking immediate action.

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with MCs Papoose and Torae following their impassioned appearance at the state Capitol in Albany, where they met with the Lieutenant Governor and other officials to campaign for Bill AB127.

The bill is intended to stop artists from having their lyrics used against them in court and Pap, Torae, Kevin Liles and other members of the Recording Academy all joined forces to raise the awareness.

They're both BK-bred from the true school of hip hop culture, and defenders of the nuanced and explicit detailing of crime-laden minority neighborhoods often heard in rap lyrics.

To be clear, they're advocating for MCs who rap about crimes ... not for people who are actually committing crimes. The bill aims to prevent prosecutors from using artists' lyrics against them in court.

We also got their take on the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, which from numbers alone, is hip hop's biggest battle to date.

Unlike some alarmed reactions to the lyrical battle ... Pap and Torae both feel you can't make an omelet without smashing eggs. In other words: rap is, and always will be, about competition, and the clash was, overall, good for hip hop.

Now that things have cooled off between K.Dot and the Canadian, Pap and Torae believe AB127 should be a priority for all MCs.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is facing some serious backlash over her Mother's Day tribute -- and now, she's defending herself ... this while fending off serious threats online, TMZ has learned.

GRB tells TMZ ... her heartfelt tribute on TikTok -- which mentioned her late mother, Dee Dee, as well as other mother figures in her life -- was simply meant to acknowledge her stepmother Kristy and boyfriend Ken Urker's mom ... as they've done a lot for her in recent years.

We're told the post was in no way meant to be disrespectful to Dee -- whose name she invoked in her lengthy tribute, which a lot of people took offense to ... and yet, Gypsy's being inundated with hate as a result -- including some major threats on her safety.

Eric Wynalda -- a former soccer star for the U.S. Men's National Team -- has been named in a battery report involving a teenager ... but we're hearing he's calling BS on the claims.

Per a Vegas police report, obtained by TMZ, Wynalda -- who was coaching his son's club team in a recent tournament -- allegedly exchanged words with a player on the other team ... who claimed to cops that Wynalda called him a "bitch," insulted his mom and more.

The player told police he and the coach got face-to-face and he (meaning the kid) ended up shoving the coach ... which led to a fight breaking out between the two sides. The teenager alleges he got scratched amid all this ... but said he wasn't sure if it was EW or the players.

Matthew Lawrence is weighing in on the possibility of a "Mrs. Doubtfire" reboot ... and, he's confirming he's keeping an open mind about future projects.

We caught up with Matthew and his brothers, Joey and Andrew, in L.A. this week, where the former child star told us it's unlikely a reboot will happen following Robin Williams' death.

Matthew, who played one of Robin's kids in the original, added ... "Without Robin, I don't think that movie is possible. In 2014, they were talking about it ... and everybody was kind of buzzing about it."

Eva Longoria's getting political ... organizing an event aimed at mobilizing Arizona's Latina vote for the Biden-Harris campaign -- and, focusing on an old enemy to do it.

The Biden-Harris campaign tells TMZ ... the actress-director's holding an event in Phoenix on Monday where she plans on speaking to moms and young Latinas about the importance of voting -- specifically, voting for JB and KH to keep the White House.

We're told the event will place a particular emphasis on stopping Donald Trump, who the campaign says has demonized Latinos throughout his political career and is pursuing an agenda that would be particularly devastating for Latinas and their families.

"Big Brother" star Christmas Abbott is no longer seeking protection from her ex, Memphis Garrett ... but the ex-couple will still keep their distance from each other, TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... Christmas has voluntarily dismissed her petition seeking a restraining order against Memphis ... this after she made claims of domestic violence against him back in March.

We're told the reality TV star moved forward with this decision after Memphis agreed to a no-contact arrangement. While it might seem like they're all good ... they're anything but.

MTV will not be celebrating the best of pop culture this year -- as we've learned their famous Movie & TV Awards show has been nixed ... but it ain't gone for good.

Sources close to production tell TMZ … the annual event has been put on pause in 2024, with the network choosing to skip out on this year's festivities. However, we're told the awards show is NOT canceled ... as it's set to return in 2025 with an updated format.

Unclear why MTV is passing on putting on the MTV Movie & TV Awards this year ... but there are a number of reasons why the network might be putting this on ice for a bit.

Evander Holyfield had a run-in with an overeager fan after a meet and greet in Los Angeles last month ... and when the legendary boxer wouldn't sign for the guy, he began following The Real Deal, prompting a call to police.

The incident went down in Duarte -- a city in Los Angeles County -- on April 27 ... just minutes after the event, meant to be a cool opportunity for fans to interact with one of the best boxers ever, wrapped up. A fan approached Evander and tried to get some memorabilia signed. When he refused (the guy was given a signed 8x10 photo instead), things took a nasty turn.

We're told the man started to follow Evander, on foot, and then in his vehicle ... as Holyfield's driver attempted to get away.

If Jalen Ramsey's football career somehow flames out ... he's got a bright future in golf -- at least, that's according to Michael Block, who tells TMZ Sports the Miami Dolphins star is good with a club in his hands.

Block -- who gained national fame for his fairytale performance at the 2023 PGA Championship in New York -- hit the course with Ramsey and Tua Tagovailoa earlier this week as a part of a promo for Raising Cane's ... and he said he was blown away by Ramsey's skills.

It was only the defensive back's third round ever -- and based on some of his shots that were filmed at Shell Bay out in South Florida, there were some down moments. But, Block said when the former NFL first-round pick made contact, it was pretty special.

The New Orleans Pelicans were swept in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs ... but Master P knows the secret to getting the team on track, telling TMZ Sports he'd transform the team into a championship contender if he were on the coaching staff!

We caught up with the king of New Orleans and his hoops star son, Mercy Miller, at LAX recently and asked him about the Pels’ disappointing end to the season at the hands of the number one seed OKC Thunder.

While many fans have suggested the team move on from Zion Williamson, and some of the other key pieces, P says he’s optimistic about the future of NOLA hoops.

Bob Dylan didn't just do iconic music in his heyday -- he was painting crap too ... and one of his artwork pieces could be yours ... 'cause it's up for grabs, TMZ has learned.

A painting Bob did in 1968 -- from a previously unseen collection of work from Dylan's Woodstock years -- is on the auction block, and it features an abstract design of a bull ... as well as music notes, bow ties, animals, and other notable imagery.

The painted canvas was given to Woodstock-area resident Sandy LePanto in exchange for an astrology chart ... with the painting remaining with the LePanto family until recently, as it was rediscovered by Anthony LePanto's estate.

Influencer and boxer Tristan Hamm -- famously known for knocking out a Logan Paul look-a-like -- is ready to put ex-NFL star Le'Veon Bell to sleep in the ring this month ... telling TMZ Sports he wants Dillon Danis next!!

Hamm and Bell are slated to fight on the Misfits Boxing card on May 25 at the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas ... and Tristan says he's ready for the challenge ahead, despite his debut being just six months ago against Rodney Petersen (you may know him from his run-in with Nate Diaz).

Hamm knocked that dude out in just 53 seconds ... and he's now looking for a similar outcome against Bell.

3:58 PM PT -- Toronto Police Service tells TMZ ... they responded to Drake's house at 3:30 PM ET today and escorted a man off Drake's property after he wouldn't leave when told. We're told they ticketed the man.

Drake received another unexpected visitor Saturday ... with security taking down another alleged trespasser -- punctuating a week of scary moments at the estate.

New video and photos -- obtained by TMZ -- show one of Drake's security guards holding down this newest alleged trespasser outside Drizzy's Toronto mansion about an hour ago, the third this week.

Check out the clip ... it's a pretty quick shot, but there's clearly one man holding down another on the lawn outside the house -- and, he appears to be holding the guy's arms behind his back.

Rudy Moreno -- the longtime comedian who was huge in the Latin community -- has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The comedy vet passed away after a stint in a Los Angeles ICU his agent Mark Scroggs confirmed. He did not provide a cause of death.

As we reported ... he ended up in the ICU while battling pneumonia and receiving dialysis treatment -- and his wife, Arlene, couldn't find him, claiming the hospital told her he wasn't in the system.

Christy Martin's happy Sydney Sweeney's lacing up her boxing gloves ... saying she's thrilled Syd's playing her in a new biopic, and she wants to make sure her ring moves look authentic.

The boxing legend tells TMZ ... she's excited for Syd's performance, especially because she has a background in MMA and combat sports -- and says the actor's performance can prove dynamite comes in small packages!

Martin maintains she had no say in casting, and while she hasn't spoken to Sweeney yet ... she's anxious to let her know how honored she is she's taking the role.

Christy says she'll definitely be involved with Sydney's boxing training, specifically to help the star with her left hook ... giving her championship-level tools for the flick.

Matisyahu says Macklemore's new track isn't about freeing Palestine, as Mack claims -- instead, it only sows deeper discord by pushing what he sees as antisemitic tropes.

We caught up with the Jewish singer-songwriter in L.A., and he tells TMZ he's heard Macklemore's song, "Hind's Hall" -- and, quite frankly he thinks it'll keep people in conflict because of its inflammatory lyrics.

Matis starts by mentioning Macklemore's controversial 2014 disguise... one that featured a prosthetic nose, beard, and hat many called antisemitic.