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Texas rhyme-slinger BigXthaPlug didn't lose a wink of sleep over being snubbed from Complex magazine's "20 Best Rappers In Their 20s Right Now" -- the figures in his bank account give him all the pleasant dreams in the world!!!

BigX and his 6ixers rap group had some fun with TMZ Hip Hop in NYC ahead of his upcoming "Take Care" album release.

The platinum-seller tells us flat-out he was aware of the list's existence ... much love to all those other guys, but BigX says he's pocketing more money than them with his independent grind.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé are livid at Piers Morgan for airing an interview with some vague, but serious allegations against them ... and their attorney is questioning Piers' ethics.

The Carters' attorney, Alex Spiro, joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked him about Jay and Bey's response to Piers' show 'Uncensored' broadcasting an interview with Jaguar Wright, who claimed the couple had more "victims" than Diddy.

Alex says Piers was exploiting the rumor mill by allowing these false allegations to hit the airwaves ... and he says he gave Piers an ultimatum ... remove the claims and apologize, or face a court order to take the interview down.

A female juror from the Menendez brothers' first trial is speaking out -- about how sexism and homophobia impacted that outcome, and why she thinks they deserve to walk free now.

Hazel Thornton, who voted to convict Erik and Lyle Menendez of voluntary manslaughter back in 1994, joined us on "TMZ Live" ... and claims the male jurors she served with didn't buy the argument the brothers were molested by their dad, José Menendez, and also felt the public pressure to make a "macho" decision.

Hazel elaborated that homophobia was the biggest issue in the trial, highlighting how the case's prosecutor suggested the family's problems stemmed from Erik allegedly being gay.

Snoop Dogg made the necessary steps earlier this year to ensure his rocky legal past becomes ancient history -- The Doggfather's 1993 murder charge was officially sealed earlier this year!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained legal docs showing Snoop asked a judge to seal the records way back in January 2024 ... the court signed off in late February, granting the petition to have his arrest sealed.

The trial was huge news at the time ... Snoop was still budding as a superstar and infamously got arrested following his passionate MTV Awards performance of his hit "Murder Was The Case," a track created around the frenzy over the allegations. Snoop and a bodyguard were accused of shooting a man in an L.A. Park in 1993.

Jussie Smollett had another brush with the law -- only this time the crime was for real, and it involved one of his closest family members!

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Jussie's mom, Janet, had her L.A. home nearly burglarized by a couple of would-be thieves Monday night -- and her actor son immediately rushed to her side to make sure she was all right. Thankfully, she was.

Here's how it all went down ... two prowlers showed up at Janet's house and tried to smash open a back door, causing $300 in damage to a window. We're told the suspects were unable to get inside her residence.

Diddy is taking another bite at the apple ... trying to get himself released on bond, 3 weeks after he was arrested and thrown behind bars.

The rap mogul's attorneys just filed new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, appealing the most recent order denying him bond.

In the docs, Diddy's legal team argues he poses no conceivable flight risk ... contrary to what federal prosecutors have been claiming.

Dak Prescott's mansion in Texas was reduced to nothing more than a pile of rubble on Tuesday ... and the Dallas Cowboys superstar watched all of its destruction from just feet away.

But, before you panic ... the demolition was all planned -- as a witness tells TMZ Sports the 31-year-old informed his neighbors he's simply tearing down the spot in order to rebuild a more modern home that's better suited for his current needs.

Prescott actually enlisted the guys over at Dude Perfect to help him with the bulldozing ... and, check out some footage we obtained from the scene, the trick-shot artists filmed the smashing -- even at one point using a drone to capture the action.

10/9 9:50 AM PT -- N3on says he's been banned from filming in Los Angeles and has to leave the city and find somewhere else to continue his live stream for the duration of his 30-day show.

N3on says he had his filming license stripped, and takes some shots at the folks behind the decision.

Kick streamer N3on ended up in handcuffs with his fellow roommates and content creators after they got swatted during their 24/7 live stream ... and now they have to find a new place to live.

N3on -- who is super popular with the Gen Z crowd -- tells TMZ ... they were sleeping when cops showed up, and they were still barely waking up when they found themselves outside on the sidewalk in cuffs.

The crew is live streaming 24/7 for 30 days on Kick -- a sort of reality show similar to "Big Brother" -- and N3on says they know the person who swatted them ... and claims they're demanding money, which N3on says he won't pay.

Josh Flagg is close to adding a new property to his ever-growing real estate portfolio ... TMZ has learned he's close to scooping up Charlie Puth’s $14 million Beverly Hills pad.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … The "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" star is under contract to purchase the singer-songwriter's 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom abode ...  located in the wealthy Trousdale Estates neighborhood.

The real estate investor is close to nabbing this hot property under the radar, as we're told the deal is an off-market transaction. Though, it’s currently unclear what Josh offered to pay Charlie for the residence.

Cassie was pushing through with Diddy during their tough years together ... making it seem like all was well in their relationship while onstage with him in Dubai -- before finally calling it quits.

TMZ obtained this clip of Cassie playing along with Diddy during his first-ever Dubai performance in April 2018, and you can see she was doing her best as the rapper performed "I Need a Girl (Part 2)" at the opening night of the now-closed Gotha Nightclub.

On the surface, the pair looked happy, with Cassie glowing as she busted out some moves. She got up close to share a hug with him before making her move way to the edge of the stage.

Carole Baskin bought a home late last year ... with funds from her Big Cat Rescue org ... TMZ has learned.

Carole and her husband Howard got the Odessa, FL house for $895,000. The deed, obtained by TMZ, lists Big Cat Rescue as the property owner. There is no mortgage evident from the deed, so it appears the property was purchased outright with Big Cat Rescue funds.

BCR is a charitable org and Carole is the CEO. Carole tells TMZ, she bought the place after she and Howard sold their sanctuary/headquarters and moved the cats to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.

Tekashi 6ix9ine isn't sweatin' the fine print in his new record deal ... which requires the rapper to stay out of trouble to keep his payday.

We caught up with the musical artist on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, where he explained why the special clause in his new contract doesn't have him worried. As he put it ...  he views himself as a "squeaky clean" individual -- and trouble just happens to find him "all the time."

At the end of September, Tekashi 6ix9ine found himself in a heated exchange outside a nightclub in Miami, and was sued for revenge porn by an ex-girlfriend. So, here's hoping all this drama was settled before 69 signed on the dotted line!!!

Benzino remembers his relationship with Tupac Shakur as being a positive one but says the events that unfolded after they recorded their song permanently damaged rap as we know it!!!

TMZ Hip Hop spoke to Benzino amid his recent appearance on TV One's "Celebrity Crime Files" outlining the 1994 Quad Studios Shooting that left Pac with 5 gunshot wounds and a burning vendetta, against all odds.

Benzino actually recorded his "Killa" collab with Tupac and Freddie The Foxx aka Bumpy Knuckles (more on that later) at Quad Studios shortly before the shooting, and recalls Tupac surrounded himself with guys heavier in the street afterward.

Sage The Gemini -- of "Red Nose" and "Gas Pedal" fame -- is being accused of sexual assault inside the home of his most famous collaborator ... Chris Brown!!!

LAPD sources tell TMZ Hip Hop a woman filed a police report Monday claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Sage back in September 2017.

The woman told cops she initially met Sage on social media, and he invited her to Chris' house.

Ryan Seacrest is just a few weeks into his new gig hosting "Wheel of Fortune" ... and he's still spinning with excitement!

We caught up with Ryan in NYC Monday, and he was all smiles, telling us he's having a total ball giving away piles of cash -- and a new car here and there.

Ryan, who was joined by sister Meredith, added he always knew the hosting gig would be a blast, and he's now at the point where he's just trying to contain his excitement about the whole thing.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's romance is getting spooky -- the NFL superstar and pop singer were front and center at an annual Halloween event in Calabasas ... in pumpkin form!!

The festive tribute to the power couple was part of the Nights of the Jack at the King Gillette Ranch this weekend ... which is known to feature familiar faces in sports and entertainment etched on the sides of squashes.

Naturally, the event had to show love to the biggest relationship around at the moment ... as their love has taken the world by storm.