Music

Flavor Flav's all about fighting the power, standing up to NBC security ... but, it seems they were just doing their jobs -- 'cause we're told he wasn't expected at the tree-lighting, and security booted him.

Here's the deal ... Flav took to X to air some grievances about NBC kicking him out of the Backstreet Boys dressing room at the the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony Wednesday night -- despite all his work with them during the Olympics.

However, sources tell TMZ security had a very good reason to kick him out of the event ... 'cause he wasn't on the list of expected attendees.

All Mariah Carey wanted for Christmas was a peaceful holiday concert ... but fans had something else in store for the pop star when they started throwing punches during her show.

Check it out ... a brawl broke out during one of MiMi's recent Christmas concerts after a verbal spat and a thrown drink escalated things amid the singer's performance of "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

As you can see in the video, the drama started between 2 women ... where the one with curly hair pushed the other from behind. The shoved concertgoer then responded by tossing her drink onto the other lady -- sparking chaos.

Lizzo scored a big legal win in the harassment case filed against her -- at least, for her as an individual ... but her touring company is still facing serious claims.

Here's the deal ... on Monday, a judge dismissed the claims made by former backup dancer Asha Daniels against Lizzo as an individual -- ruling that such claims can only be made against Daniels' corporate employer, not Lizzo as an individual.

Basically, the judge found Lizzo can't be held personally liable for the harassment alleged in the lawsuit.

Daz Dillinger doesn't feel he's going out on a limb declaring the West Coast had the best rhythm and flow over hip hop this year ... Kendrick Lamar reached another stratosphere, Snoop Dogg was all over the globe and Tha Dogg Pound reunited!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Mr. Daz Dilly at LAX this week and we asked how 2024 stacks up to the Death Row Records days ... in short, Daz calls the vibes nothing short of a resurgence.

Daz was an invaluable fixture in Suge Knight's former operation, where he co-produced on classics such as Snoop's "Doggystyle" and Tupac Shakur's "All Eyez On Me" ... his validation on the West Coast's year speaks VOLUMES!!!

Lil Durk is facing a legal slugfest, with the feds claiming he's the mastermind behind a murder-for-hire plot ... and his attorneys are convinced it's a classic example of prosecutors grasping at straws with some street-savvy rap lyrics because they don't have a real case against the rap star.

The Chicago rapper's attorneys -- Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg, of The Findling Law Firm, P.C., along with Jonathan Brayman, and Christy O'Connor -- tell TMZ Hip Hop ... "When you see an artist’s rap lyrics quoted as 'evidence' against them, it is a glaring indication that there is no real evidence against that person."

According to the feds, Durk detailed the steps that led up to the August 2022 murder of rival Quando Rondo's cousin Saviay'a Robinson on Babyface Ray's song "Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy" when he rapped ... "Told me they got an addy (gooo) / Got location (gooo) Green light (go, go, go, go, go) / Look on the news and see your son, You screamin’, 'No, no' (p***y!!!)"

It looks like the holidays came early for Vanessa Bryant ... 'cause she just received a surprise gift from Taylor Swift -- complete with a special letter!!

Kobe Bryant's widow shared the awesome gesture on her Instagram ... revealing an "Eras" tour book and written message from the pop superstar.

Part of the note says, "I hope you'll enjoy this journey through the memories of my proudest moments: The Eras Tour."

Diddy's defense team is coming out swinging against the prosecution ... accusing the federal government of unfairly spying on him amid his ongoing detention.

In new court documents obtained by TMZ ... the rap mogul's legal team says the feds have trampled Diddy's constitutional rights and hindered Diddy's ability to fairly prepare for his upcoming trial while behind bars.

As the lawyers put it ... the feds flagrantly invaded Diddy's confidential communications with his attorneys -- once again calling into question the raid on the Bad Boy Records founder's cell at MDC Brooklyn.

Angel Reese shot her shot with Rihanna ... and it appears to have worked -- 'cause the two agreed to work together after meeting each other on Wednesday!!

The link happened at the Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York City ... where the Chicago Sky star accepted the Style Influencer of the Year honors.

RiRi was there with her bae, A$AP Rocky ... and Reese totally lost it when they crossed paths.

BigXthaPlug had zero tolerance for a couple of fightin' fans disrupting his show in Los Angeles last night -- and had security swiftly throw both of the dudes out, so fans could enjoy the show!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained footage of BigX on his sold-out Take Care Tour at The Regent in DTLA … performing the fan-favorite track “Law & Order” -- you know, the one that borrows its bounce from the series Ice-T helped build.

The Dallas-born rap star didn’t even get to his “woo-wop” rhymes when he spotted a couple guys scrapping and immediately stopped the show for some law & order on his terms!!!

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have been dating for years, and it certainly shows because they're now super comfy and very loving with each other in the public eye.

Just check out video, obtained by TMZ, which captures the singing icon and the rap star attending Wednesday night's 38th Footwear News Achievement Awards in NYC.

The event celebrates the most influential people in the footwear biz — and A$AP snagged a Collaboration of the Year Award with Puma for their work together.

Flavor Flav claims he got the boot from hanging out in the Backstreet Boys green room backstage at NBC's yearly Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting on Wednesday night.

The rapper took to X saying he was invited to the event but claims when he got together with the BSB guys in their dressing room, security quickly came along and told him NBC allegedly didn't want him in the area he was in and asked him to leave.

He went on to describe what he views as a very contradictory situation writing, "At the same time,,, their social media woman came up and asked to capture social content."

Diddy will be getting his freak on over Christmas -- but it's not what you think -- his federal jail is giving him several options to play sports and games ... with a special holiday spread.

Our sources in the federal government tell us inmates at MDC Brooklyn -- where Diddy is being held as he awaits trial in his sex trafficking case -- will be able to participate in some friendly competition on Christmas Day ... including card games and dominos.

In addition to a Spades tournament and a dominos competition, Diddy and his fellow inmates will also be able to take part in a 3-on-3 basketball tourney ... and a soccer competition.

Liam Payne's good friend, who Buenos Aires authorities are going after for allegedly abandoning the late singer during a bender, says he's not the one at fault here ... instead pointing the finger at the hotel where Liam was staying.

Roger Nores' legal team filed new documents, obtained by TMZ, in Argentina and he basically makes the argument that he's not the one who should be investigated ... claiming the CasaSur Palermo Hotel played a big role in Liam's death.

In the docs, Roger says the hotel did NOT have a 24-hour doctor available ... even though he says they're required to have one under the law.

Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh responded to Kendrick Lamar's "wacced out murals" lyrics ultimatum about protecting Black women with fine-tuned sarcasm -- by challenging the star rapper's past defense of Chris Brown and R. Kelly on his resume!!!

The latest episode of their Flagrant podcast came in hot gunning hard at Kung Fu Kenny with jokes ... Kendrick's "GNX" opener called out Schulz for poking fun at BW stereotypes -- and the track is currently blazing high on the Billboard Hot 100!!!

Schultz scoffed at the notion Hip Hop is a safe hub for BW, given the amount the term "bitches and hoes" pops up in lyrics ... but the comedian didn't stop there.

Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla owned part of the year with their "Hot Girl Summer" tour -- and Billboard is recognizing them as the hottest one-two punch of female rappers for 2024!!!

The chart-thumping publication crowned GloRilla as the hottest, followed by Meg at the No. 2 slot, above the likes of Latto, Sexyy Red and Doechii ... pretty impressive considering Glo was Meg's tour opener!!!

The Houston hottie started the year scorching with her first solo No. 1 hit -- the "Hiss" diss aimed at Nicki Minaj and her self-titled album.

Barry Keoghan is focusing on his job in the wake of his split from Sabrina Carpenter ... shooting movie scenes in downtown Los Angeles after news of their breakup.

The Irish actor was spotted on the set of "Crime 101" ... rocking platinum blond hair for some scenes at a Denny's ... the first time we've seen Barry since the split.

Barry appeared to have a motorcycle helmet and jacket in hand as he walked into the store as cameras were rolling. The thriller is due out next year and his costars include Halle Berry, Chris Hemsworth and Nick Nolte ... among others.