Hip Hop

Joe Budden is convinced the dismantling of Drake amid the 2024 Rap Wars started with his pen ... thereby blazing a path for Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar to polish him off!!!

In a recent X Spaces, JB argued Drake's decline wasn't only due to K. Dot's "Not Like Us" victory lap, because his diss songs came first, and long before this year.

Back in 2016, JB went on an anti-Drake warpath, dropping several diss tracks aimed at Champagne Papi -- at the time, Joe took some of Drake's raps as sneaky shots.

Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" video went down in Compton over the weekend without a stitch of negativity ... and Jason Martin was there and witnessed all the love and harmony.

The "Like Whaaat" rapper joined TMZ Live on Monday to run back the whirlwind of events that culminated this past week for rap's biggest moments of the year ... which capped off with a music video shoot for K.Dot's West Coast anthem.

JM was a featured performer at Kendrick's Pop-Out concert last week ... and he and Kendrick grew up in the area where "Not Like Us" was filmed -- so, based on his experience, it was as safe as could be ... even for those who weren't from the neighborhood.

Aaron Carter was worth a fair bit of money when he died -- and we're now getting a sense of just how much dough there was in his pot ... a 6-figure amount, at least.

The late singer's estate filed new court docs, obtained by TMZ, laying out a partial inventory and appraisal that puts a dollar amount on what they say Aaron's estate was worth ... based on what they've been able to appraise thus far.

The estate says Aaron's valuables/assets are worth an estimated $757,400 ... as of April 2023.

Julio Foolio's fatal shooting left a devastating scene in its wake -- victims taken off in stretchers and cars riddled with bullet holes ... and, TMZ's obtained video capturing it all.

Check out the new clips from just after the shooting took place ... police take command of the scene while paramedics rush around tending to those allegedly wounded in the gunfire.

Check out the series of clips ... one person can clearly be seen in pain as the paramedics roll them away from the Holiday Inn toward an ambulance. Cops say three other people were injured in the shooting that killed Foolio -- and, they're all expected to survive.

Julio Foolio -- an up-and-coming rapper from Florida -- has died in a shooting outside a Tampa-area hotel ... TMZ has confirmed.

His attorney Lewis Fusco released a statement announcing the death Sunday, just hours after his client passed. According to the statement ... Julio -- whose real name was Charles Jones -- was in town to celebrate his birthday.

While he was staying at an AirBnb at first ... Fusco cites law enforcement reports which say he was kicked out of his accommodations for exceeding the maximum occupancy and checked in to a local Holiday Inn.

Kendrick Lamar's music video's bringing out massive crowds who just want to catch a glimpse of the homegrown rapper -- who's right in the middle of the craziness.

Videos are pouring onto social media from the South Los Angeles neighborhood ... and, ya gotta check them out for yourself 'cause it looks like one giant block party out there.

People are standing around in the hot sun waiting just to catch a glimpse of their fav rapper ... who hasn't disappointed by the way -- 'cause he's hugging and stopping for pics whenever he can.

Diddy scrubbed his Instagram this week -- including his on-camera apology over the Cassie video -- and while some think it's a diss ... we're told there's no subliminal messaging here.

At some point late Thursday, Diddy got rid of every single IG post on his page -- wiping it completely clean without any explanation ... and that includes the video he posted where he addressed the brutal video of him beating his then-girlfriend.

The internet was rife with theories on what might've been behind the move -- but sources with direct knowledge have assured us there's nothing behind the move other than Puff wanting to reset his posts ... something we're told he's done in the past.

Hit-Boy and Big Hit say they had the grandest time at Kendrick Lamar's Pop-Out -- one of the highlights being hanging out with The Weeknd!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with the Hollis family's finest in Hollywood freshly removed from the West Coast festivities.

Hit-Boy admits he decided to pop out at the last minute and is glad ... Roddy Ricch performed the Nipsey Hussle "Racks in the Middle" collab he produced for the Inglewood crowd!!!

Kendrick Lamar extended his Pop Out stage to a wide variety of rappers -- and Kalan.FrFr says reaping the benefits was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!!!

The Roc Nation artist spoke with TMZ Hip Hop about his time onstage ... Kalan and G Perico performed their collab "Right Wit It" during DJ Hed's set and says Kendrick has been nothing but humble and genuine through all their encounters over the years.

Kalan tells us he wasn't exactly shocked at the K. Dot invite ... they're both from Compton and their degrees of separation are next to nothing.

Rakim -- the man, the myth, The 18th Letter -- is back on the hip hop scene after a 15-year break from releasing albums!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the "Paid In Full" legend Friday just hours removed from the premiere of his new song "Be Ill," which finds the "God MC" shooting lyrical darts with Kurupt and Wu-Tang Clan's Masta Killa.

Rakim produced the track, added the DJ scratches himself and tells us his upcoming album "God's Network: Rebirth" is actually a compilation showcase for rap stars he rocks with.

Jason Martin, f.k.a. Problem, was one of the select West Coast rappers to perform at Kendrick Lamar's Juneteenth Pop Out concert -- an honor he doesn't take lightly!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with Jason still glowing with the euphoria from the night -- the Compton rapper performed his classic "Like Whaaat" track for the Kia Forum crowd, sharing the stage with Black Hippy, Ty Dolla $ign, Tyler, The Creator, Kalan.FrFr, Blxst and many more via DJ Hed and Mustard's sets.

Jason says the entire atmosphere was like a family reunion, he came up in the same Blog Era with Kendrick ... he says the name change reflects his maturity.

Snoop Dogg couldn't be any more proud of Kendrick Lamar for uniting all sections of the West Coast ... a true act of a KING, at least according to the Dogg Father.

The West Coat OG hopped on Instagram Friday to sing K. Dot's praises, presumably he just caught up on the festivities.

Kendrick and Dave Free set up the plays -- Dr. Dre, Roddy Ricch, YG, Ab-Soul, Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Hed, Mustard, Tyler, The Creator and many more graced the Pop Out stage ... but no S-N-Double-O-P?!???

Kendrick Lamar is set to film a new music video this weekend ... and we're told the rapper is beefing up his security to keep himself, his team, and the community safe.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Grammy winner will be filming his new music video in Compton -- a perfect homecoming for K. Dot on the heels of his triumphant Juneteenth show Wednesday night at the KIA Forum in nearby Inglewood.

We're told Kendrick's team got all the proper permits needed to pull off the project ... and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. will send deputies for extra security during the music vid shoot.

Big Sean's leaving a bad taste in some of his fans' mouths for favoring electric toothbrushes -- going so far as to say he doesn't trust folks using regular ones ... but he might have a point.

Yes, it does sound a bit elitist, but cosmetic dentist Dr. Trevor Thomas tells TMZ Hip Hop ... the "IDFWU" rapper was actually spitting game.

Dr. Thomas says his stats tell him electric toothbrushes are 30% more effective against germs and plaque -- and a lil bit of flossing can go a long way!!!

Kendrick Lamar channeled his inner "Makavelian" at his instantly-iconic "Pop Out" concert ... fans noticed he was dressed similarly to Tupac Shakur, and even rocked a massive diamond piece to complete the look!!!

Ben Baller tells TMZ Hip Hop ... Kung-Fu Kenny actually reached out to him last week requesting a king's cross, and the legendary jeweler had just the piece for him.

Ben says he wasn't aware Kendrick was going for a Tupac theme ... but Ben having been friends with Pac himself, made this the perfect collaboration for them.

Kendrick Lamar assembled the West Coast Avengers at his Pop Out Concert -- rappers, gang members, hood heroes and DJs connected -- but their cause was not dancing on Drake's grave, according to 2 of those dignitaries.

Big Boy and Roddy Ricch were both on stage with Kendrick, and when they joined "TMZ Live" Thursday, they downplayed the fact the concert came on the heels of the mammoth beef with Drake.

K. Dot's diss tracks indeed did blare throughout the Kia Forum Thursday night, but Big Boy says the Pop-Out was truly about unifying the city -- on Juneteenth, at that!!!