TMZ Hip Hop - Page 18

Cardi B is denying the years-long rumor that she's an industry operation meant to disrupt the hip hop status quo ... especially considering she infamously encroached on Nicki Minaj's hip hop reign.

The "I Like It" superstar addressed the rumor on Wednesday's "Call Her Daddy" episode, saying she was "destined" to be a famous rapper -- and no one signed her to take down someone else.

She never mentioned Nicki's name, but her meaning was clear ... the gossip has been swirling for years, ever since Ye claimed in a leaked clip that she was "a plant by the Illuminati" who replaced Nicki on purpose.

City Girl JT has broken her silence on Cardi B's ether-fueled "Magnet" diss track aimed at herself and Lil Uzi Vert with her own fire and brimstone ... and she's lumping Stefon Diggs into the Drama!!!

On Tuesday, it was revealed Cardi was heading for the No. 1 Billboard spot ... and JT couldn't bite her tongue anymore. She shed light on Tasha K's disturbing recent interview with Chris Blake Griffith, where he alleges Diggs sexually assaulted him by sticking his tongue in his ear ... all before exposing himself on a drive back to his house.

JT tagged Diggs' NFL squad, the New England Patriots, to alert them to the interview ... yep, she wants him benched by Sunday!!!

Drake blicked up A$AP Rocky a bit on his fiery "Family Matters" diss at the height of his battle with Kendrick and Rocky is finally revealing why he chose to stay silent -- he didn't want to add to the sideshow!!!

In a new interview with Elle, Rocky gave his two cents on 2024 Rap Wars ... calling it "healthy for Hip-Hop" but thinks Kendrick and Drake's beef got overcooked when guys such as Rick Ross, The Weeknd and JasonMartin began to chime in.

“The battle was between Kendrick and Drake, not Drake and everybody else who might have said something at that time -- and that’s mainly why I fell back," Rocky said.

NBA YoungBoy has some rabid fans ... but one took it all too far when he went totally ballistic and beat the living piss out of an elderly man working the rapper's concert in Kansas City last weekend.

Video posted on X captured every moment of Sunday's beatdown in the crowd inside KC's T-Mobile Center during NBA's sold-out "MASA" Tour.

Check out the clip ... the young fan -- who police describe as a juvenile -- slams the guest services employee into the seats and starts using his face as a punching bag. During the brutal attack, the old man's glasses are knocked to the ground.

50 Cent recently landed a HUGE fighting role as "Balrog" in the upcoming "Street Fighter" live-action film and his longtime G-G-G-G-Unit DJ Whoo Kid has seen firsthand how he can knock somebody out -- rappers, you know who you are!!!

DJ Whoo Kid chopped it with TMZ Hip Hop on Monday and he still has nightmares when he would mess up onstage and 50 would hit him with a Buffalo Charge or Turn Punch, so he's certain Paramount Pictures got the casting right with him!!!

Don't forget, 50 was also a 15-year-old amateur boxer at the Junior Olympics ... Whoo Kid tells us the artists who felt those fists haven't forgotten.

The internet is convinced that Jim Jones is having a midlife crisis dressing like a high schooler, but the Dipset OG explains to TMZ Hip Hop, how can he abandon a lifestyle that he created?!?

The NYC-bred rapper was recently in L.A. for Kai Cenat's 'Mafiathon 3' stream and we caught up to him on his "side-gig" operating the Cousins Maine Lobster truck!!!

Jim quips on how music isn't paying the bills like it used to, but he's found a way to pivot perfectly ... by co-founding a full-scale social media-friendly warehouse compound known as Influencers Club (IFC) with NYC podcaster Esso.

Universal Music Group no longer has to ask about the 411 regarding a lawsuit filed against them over a sample in Mary J. Blige's classic "Real Love" single -- the courts have ruled in favor of the record label to dismiss the suit because the judge says the two songs just don't sound the same at all.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, the court examined both "Real Love" and the 1973 protest funk song, "Impeach the President," by The Honey Drippers.

TufAmerica, the company that owns the rights to "Impeach the President," argued UMG had illegally sampled the record by incorporating another song that had first sampled "Impeach the President" into "Real Love."

Sean "Diddy" Combs is a great father and son who gives back to his community ... at least that's what his family, friends and exes are telling the judge who is set to decide his fate.

Diddy's legal team gave Judge Arun Subramanian a mountain of legal homework in a massive filing late Monday night ... and the trove of documents includes more than 75 letters of support.

The Bad Boy founder's mother, Janice Combs, his six eldest kids and a handful of exes, including rapper Yung Miami, spoke highly of Diddy in their letters to the judge in an effort to secure a lighter sentence next month following his conviction on prostitution charges.

Victoria Justice was one of the latest guests on Kai Cenat's steam-boiling Mafiathon III stream and made it worth his while ... by touching all over his soundboard!!!

The former Nickelodeon princess took full advantage of Kai's brief absence and tinkered with the Twitch star's preset sound recordings, ranging from audio uppers such as Lil Uzi Vert's "Do What I Want" and mood benders like Drake's "Marvin's Room."

Speaking of Marvin, Kai got a rise out of Victoria when she pushed the "freaky" button ... causing Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to blare through the speakers.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' army of attorneys is laying out all the reasons why they say he should not have the book thrown at him when a judge sentences him in his criminal case.

Diddy's defense team -- spearheaded by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos -- just filed a sentencing packet for the court and prosecution, where they advocate for a more lenient sentence.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy says the sentencing guidelines for his conviction on 2 counts of the Mann Act is no more than 6-to-12 months in prison on each count, which accurately reflects the seriousness of the offenses laid out at his federal trial in NYC.

Detroit rap star Peezy is getting the full feel for Los Angeles' amenities on his "Still Ghetto" album press run -- like spending an entire car note payment at the grocery store!!!

TMZ Hip Hop recently caught up with Peezy outside Erewhon and judging from his lighter pockets, he guesstimates he spent around $400 just cleaning up in the smoothie aisle.

He's been considering his health as of late and no price is too steep to keep his blood pumping ... there's money to be made!!!

Teyana Taylor has been flexing her triple-threat traction all 2025 -- which might consummate with her holding a golden trophy!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Teyana in NYC, promoting her hit comeback album and its accompanying short film, "Escape Room."

The last time we caught up with the Rose from Harlem a couple months ago, she was bracing for vocal surgery to repair some damaged cords ... she tells us her recovery's been going so well, she's plotting her tour for the top of 2026!!!

NBA YoungBoy's MASA Tour has been packing arenas with unfiltered YN energy without any of the issues, and the superstar rapper had a shiny, sparkling new honor awaiting him when he touched down in Kansas City yesterday!!!

TMZ Hip Hop has learned NBA YoungBoy received a proclamation announcing September 21 will be his own day in the KC going forward.

The 25-year-old was surprised with the City Key by National Criminal Justice Advocate Donte West, on behalf of KC Mayor Quinton Lucas.

Cardi B is expecting a baby with Stefon Diggs despite still being legally attached to Offset, but she's adamant it's because she refuses to meet his divorce demands of obtaining one of her properties and having her cover his tax bills ... like, is you cool?!?

The newly brewed tea was spilled Monday while Cardi addressed her adoring fanbase, STRONGLY defending her current prenatal status.

Cardi maintains that she dedicated 7 good years of her life during her marriage with Offset ... it didn't work, life happens, and she has a new man; simple as that.

Marlon Wayans is currently going to war with critics for his new Jordan Peele-produced film, "Him" ... and his costar Don Benjamin is chiming in, proclaiming it to be JP's magnum opus!!!

TMZ caught up with Don and his wife, Liane V, in L.A. with their fam on their way to soak in the gory sports thriller for themselves -- which has been a wacky bag for the review writers nationwide.

Don certifies Peele a genius and even ranks "Him" as better than the filmmaker's debut, 2017's "Get Out," which has been a crown jewel on Rotten Tomatoes since it premiered.

Lexi Wood is still brushing off the buzz on those Drake dating rumors ... continuing to double down on not exactly confirming anything, but definitely not denying that there ever was a connection either.

TMZ caught up with the Canadian model, and when asked point-blank about her relationship with the "Certified Lover Boy," Lexi plays coy and tells us he's a "lovely person" and she's "very lucky to know him."

This all started when Jesse Solomon -- Lexi's ex from hit reality show "Summer House" -- started the rumor back in April that Drake is allegedly one of Lexi’s exes ... though he did not clarify what “dating” meant for the pair specifically.