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Diddy's defense team is starting to take shape on the eve of his federal criminal trial ... and he's got some accomplished legal minds on his side.

The Bad Boy Records founder is rocking with Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos as his lead attorneys ... and Marc's been at the center of some high-profile cases.

Agnifilo previously defended NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere, "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Khan and Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng.

Geragos is a partner at Marc's firm ... and she worked with him on the Raniere case.

Mase says people keep hitting him up, asking him if he's going to make an appearance in the gallery at the upcoming Diddy criminal trial ... and he's seemingly putting the decision up to his fans.

The rapper revealed on his "It Is What It Is" podcast with Cam'Ron that he keeps getting asked about going to support Diddy in court ... and he's asking fans to vote on whether he should go or not.

Mase and Diddy have a long history ... with Mase releasing his debut album "Harlem World" in 1997 on Diddy's label, Bad Boy Records.

"BMF" star Lil Meech has expanded his portfolio since his hit show and unity with 50 Cent came to a halt ... but he's thinking fashion-forward with his new clothing store!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Lil Meech on Thursday night in Hollywood and he was dripping in some of the threads you'll see at WONCE, his storefront in Miami.

The Detroit-bred actor says the company's mantra is "We Own Nothing Control Everything," and he's nestled up in one of the most affluent parts of Magic City.

Diddy's defense may be aided by the fact there's a lot of noise about celebrity sex tapes and minors being involved in the Diddy criminal case ... those two things are NOT part of the case, and it could have a profound effect on jurors.

On the "2 Angry Men" podcast, Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos explored one of the perceptions out there about the Diddy criminal case ... and how it may swing the jury.

There's a false narrative that celebrity sex tapes and minors are part of the prosecution's evidence against Diddy ... with some folks out there, including potential jurors, under the false impression this case is the hip hop version of Jeffrey Epstein.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is just a few days away from standing trial in federal court, and we've got the answers to all the basic questions you may have. Read below to catch up on everything you need to know.

Diddy was arrested on September 16, 2024, in the lobby of the Park Hyatt New York hotel in Manhattan. The shocking arrest was caught on surveillance footage, obtained by TMZ.

Diddy was initially charged with three federal counts -- one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; one count of transportation to engage in prostitution; and one count of racketeering conspiracy. In April 2025, he was hit with two more charges -- another sex trafficking count, and another transportation to engage in prostitution charge, bringing the total number to five. He's pled not guilty to all charges.

Lil Durk is still in for the legal fight of his life ... prosecutors introduced a new charge against the Chicago rap star, alleging his stalking tactics led to the victim's death!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained the new legal docs filed against Durk on May 1 ... prosecutors have now charged him with one count of stalking resulting in death.

Prosecutors maintain Durk's rap career is not on trial, but claimed he still poses a flight risk for his alleged role in the execution of Quando Rondo's cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, in August 2022.

Adam Lambert is "Runnin'' from the City of Angels ... listing his mansion for a huge chunk of change.

The singer-songwriter has listed his gated home off the Sunset Strip for $7,375,000 after picking up the property back in 2018 for $6.5 million.

The 5,028-square-foot home sits on about a quarter of an acre -- which might not be a lot in Adam's native Indiana, but sure is in L.A.

Latto and SZA may have both showed up with their undies peekin' out of these outfits, but this competition is all about the party happenin' on top ... which sexy singer is hittin' it out of the park with their jerseys?

The question here is: Who'd You Rather?!

VOTE NOW! 

Cannabis is legal in exactly 39 states -- including New York but over 30 years later, B-Real and his Cypress Hill posse are still banned from "Saturday Night Live" for lighting up a J!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Dr. Greenthumb himself at LAX on Thursday, where he had to laugh at all the time that's passed since that fateful weekend date, when CH rebelled against the cause.

The date was Oct. 2, 1993, but Cypress Hill brought 420 to the Big Apple ahead of schedule and blew sativa smoke on national TV performing their song, "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That."

Justin Bieber's pastor is laughing at claims his church is actually a cult ... cracking jokes about the label and claiming that -- if the church were a cult -- it'd be the worst in history.

Judah Smith posted a clip to his Instagram Friday ... revealing he recently got out of his car, and paparazzi immediately surrounded him, with one -- a "nice lady," as Smith puts it -- asking him point-blank if he runs a cult.

Smith says he wasn't expecting the question ... before turning to the side of the stage and jokingly asking stagehands to "bring out the snakes," adding they've got some blood for rituals.

FYRE Festival organizers are looking to light the seller's market on the festival scene ablaze ... officially fielding offers for FYRE's IP -- and looking for millions to part with it.

Sources close to the festival tell TMZ ... more than 700 offers have been submitted to organizers since they announced they'd part with the rights last month.

While many are lowball offers and jokes, we're told about 86 have been legitimate ... and, organizers have met with about 30 or 40 of those legit potential buyers to talk turkey.

The federal prosecutors who will be trying to secure a conviction against Diddy in his upcoming trial are all white women ... led by the daughter of former FBI director James Comey.

Maurene Ryan Comey is set to lead the team of U.S. Attorneys from the vaunted Southern District of New York next week in court, when jury selection begins in Diddy's sex trafficking trial.

Maurene's father is the former FBI director who had a controversial role in the 2016 presidential election. James was ultimately fired from his post by President Trump a few months into Trump's first term.

Travis Kelce looked like he invaded Taylor Swift's closet for a photo shoot in NYC this week ... 'cause the Kansas City Chiefs superstar rocked an outfit that gave big "folklore" vibes.

The 35-year-old tight end was spotted posing for the camera for an apparent fashion collab ... and it's hard not to make comparisons to the cardigan his girlfriend famously sported (and sold) in support of her 2020 song.

While Kelce's white top didn't feature any buttons, the similarities are still there ... with dark-colored piping along the waist and neck. Good enough for us!!

Jill Sobule was staying with close friends when a fire broke out at their home ... and they believed she was with them while making their escape from the blaze.

The singer/songwriter died Thursday in an early morning house fire while staying with the married couple in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Craig Grossman, Jill’s agent, tells TMZ … the unidentified couple quickly scrambled when they realized the home was on fire -- and they thought Jill was with them while they were running out.

Rap-Rock rager Destroy Lonely says he'll never confuse the love of his life for another woman -- even if she happens to have a twin!!!

We caught up with Playboi Carti's Opium artist at LAX this week and he told us he's head over heels for his GF Shannade Clermont, one half of former "Bad Girls Club" stars The Clermont Twins.

Destroy Lonely says anyway you want to slice or dice it, fried outta of his mind in the darkest of the night -- he'd still be able to differentiate Shannade from Shannon!!!

Dolly Parton got choked up while talking about her husband's death for the first time on TV ... saying it's been a real tough adjustment -- 'cause she loved her late husband for decades.

The legendary singer-songwriter talked about her husband of nearly 60 years during an interview with "TODAY' on Friday ... telling the hosts she's loved Carl Dean since she was just 18 years old.

Dolly admits changing her patterns and habits after his death has been a huge adjustment ... adding she's really thrown herself into her work since he passed earlier this year.