Music

Diddy's trial has many thinking about his alleged crimes ... but, he rose to fame for his musical acumen -- and, TMZ has a clip of him in his professional element from back in the day.

We've obtained exclusive video from a December 2018 studio session where French Montana's showing his album to Diddy and singer-songwriter Nelly.

Check out the clip ... the crew's having a good time -- with Diddy whispering to French at times and providing other advice while listening to songs for the 2019 entry "Montana."

It's "about damn time" you joined us for a fun game of celebrity scramble! Hidden behind this mashed-up photo is a gal who can hit the high notes and flute like no other. Given the clues, see if you've got what it takes to guess the unknown star.

She started playing her instrument when she was only 10 years old -- and assembled a musical group called "Cornrow Clique" when she was 14. Her popular jams have topped the music charts.

She's recently undergone a body transformation, and she looks "Good as Hell!"

Drake's hoping to garner some support for his pal Tory Lanez's release ... sharing a petition calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon him.

The rapper took to Instagram Friday night to share a change.org link with the caption "@torylanez come home soon" ... and, the link led to a petition calling on the governor to "Correct a Deep Injustice" and pardon Tory.

According to the petition, Tory's conviction wasn't supported by enough physical evidence ... and, they feel the justice system straight up railroaded the guy and landed him a 10-year sentence.

Diddy's federal trial kicked off earlier this week ... and, Cassie took the stand for several days of testimony -- reading dozens of text messages during proceedings.

Those texts -- which appeared across 162 pages of legal documents -- have now been entered as public evidence exhibits ... and, we've compiled some of the most shocking for you to peruse.

While many of the texts appear innocuous -- the two checking in on each other, saying they love or miss the other person, etc. -- some are more sordid ... with Cassie admitting there were "a lot of d***s, a lot of partying" at one particular gathering.

Justin and Hailey Bieber are each spending some time on their... don't worry, they're not breaking up -- they're just doing their own things in L.A.

The two stars were both spotted in the City of Angels Friday ... with Justin hitting up a West Hollywood café with a friend early on in the day -- looking relaxed in a red hoodie and not even hiding his face from the cameras.

Bieber threw on a pair of baggy black sweats, too ... a pretty comfy ensemble for his afternoon out.

Diddy wants Dawn Richard's civil suit against him thrown out ... calling the allegations she's made against him totally false -- on the same day she took the witness stand against him in his criminal trial.

The rap mogul's legal team filed the documents Friday ... pointing out a series of reasons why Dawn's lawsuit shouldn't go any further -- statute of limitations, improper group pleads, and on and on.

It's mostly lawyer speak ... though Diddy's attorneys do say early on in the docs that she's essentially trying to ride the wave of negative press around Diddy to a payout -- writing Dawn "seeks to transform narratives of alleged injuries against others into a headline-grabbing sex trafficking conspiracy as to her."

Bianca Censori knows how to cool off a hot day ... grabbing ice cream with her man Kanye West -- and wearing her skimpiest clothes out.

The two stars were spotted in Mallorca with Bianca's sister, Angelina ... stopping off for a sweet treat in a crowded marketplace -- and Bianca's back in her summer ensembles, leaving nothing to the imagination.

BC wore a mesh top out with no bra underneath -- so, everyone around them got to see everything she's packing up top.

Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" tour is bringing out a crowd straight out of a saloon in the Old West ... 'cause a fight broke out during another one of her shows!

The singer-songwriter played Chicago's Soldier Field earlier this week and -- after taking the stage two hours later due to severe weather -- she played all of her hits ... including the soulful "II HANDS II HEAVEN."

While Bey sings the calming gospel-country song, it seems some took it as an opportunity to bring their hands down away from heaven and toward each other's face ... rumbling on the stadium floor.

It's possible Chris Brown did not act alone in the alleged 2023 bottle smashing incident at a London nightclub ... 'cause a second man has been charged in connection to the alleged assault.

Rapper HoodyBaby -- real name Omololu Akinlolu -- is charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, London's Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement.

As we reported ... CB appeared at the same court Friday after being charged with one count of grievous bodily harm.

A judge ruled Chris would remain in police custody until his next court appearance ... which will be at London's Southwark Crown Court on June 13.

Aubrey O’Day says she will not take the stand in the high-profile Sean "Diddy" Combs trial.

The former Danity Kane singer confirmed her decision on T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's new podcast about the trial after Us Weekly reported she was subpoenaed to testify and traveled to New York City to do so.

However ... she tells T.J. and Amy that's not the case, and she's in the Big Apple for her own pleasure. She explains ... "I posted on my Instagram that I was here in New York and enjoying myself because I wanted to make it clear to everyone that I am not here testifying."

The ex-wife of Diddy "sex slave" Jonathan Oddi is speaking out, saying her former spouse still fears the disgraced music mogul -- even while he's locked away behind bars.

Oddi’s ex, Tonia Troutwine, tells TMZ … Jonathan is still afraid of Diddy and fears retaliation from the Bad Boy Records CEO, despite sitting in a cell at the Miami-Dade County Jail in Florida.

But get this … Tonia says Oddi does feel somewhat relaxed and protected in jail because he’s far away from Diddy, who is currently on trial in NYC for racketeering, sex trafficking and other federal crimes -- sitting in his own jail cell in Brooklyn.

Bill Maher made a point Friday night that should make most of us uncomfortable ... we can like something until the people we dislike like it as well, and then we hate it!

The 'Real Time' host gave a slew of examples ... Democrat liberals LOVED them some electric cars -- especially Teslas -- until Elon Musk embraced Donald Trump. Suddenly, Teslas were catching fire ... but not the good "fire" ... they were being torched by anti-Trumpers. And MAGA -- which hated electric cars -- embraced the Cybertruck like it was a Ford 150.

And here's a good one ... the left scoffed at Marjorie Taylor Greene when she said Catholic Bishops are controlled by Satan, but back in the day, when Sinead O'Connor tore up a pic of the Pope on 'SNL' ... liberals celebrated it.

Mack Wilson Sr.'s music has taken the internet by storm after his team, the Arizona Cardinals, tapped the part-time rapper to create a song announcing the squad's 2025 schedule.

Rocketship, Mack's stage name, has become a hit online -- and with his full EP dropping Friday -- TMZ Sports asked the 27-year-old linebacker a critical question ... Super Bowl or Grammy?!

"Super Bowl, bro," Wilson Sr. said without an inkling of hesitation.

The first week of testimony in the Diddy trial is in the books ... and Cassie is finally off the stand.

The singer testified Friday for the fourth straight day, starting off with cross-examination from Diddy's defense team ... and lots of texts were read to jurors, including one where Cassie told Diddy she wasn't a "rag doll" after the hotel beating incident.

Cassie also referenced an affair she had with an NFL player and told his defense she didn't hate Diddy and actually had love for their past.

Entertainment mogul David Geffen has filed for divorce, to end his less-than-2-year marriage.

David married David Armstrong, aka Donovan Michaels -- a name he used when he performed as a go-go dancer -- 1 year, 11 months ago.

David, with the help of Disso Queen Laura Wasser, cited irreconcilable differences for the split.

Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry aren't just having a Parisian girls' trip ... they're in town to celebrate Lauren Sanchez's impending nuptials -- and, they're looking great while doing it.

The two stars stepped out in the City of Lights Friday to celebrate Sanchez ... with Kim pulling up in a strapless black dress that accentuated her cleavage.

While the dress had a train in the back, it did little to hide her legs in the front ... though her stockings added an extra layer of mystery to the outfit.