Hip Hop

Rick Ross' violent face-off in Vancouver is exactly what it seems -- the end result of the rapper's recent beef with Drake ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the Sunday night fight started when Rick was approached by several Canadians who were upset with him for dissing Champagne Papi in several videos posted well over a month ago.

However, we're told the angry Drake supporters were incited even more when Ricky Rozay ended his set at the Ignite Music Festival by pumping "Not Like Us" in the PA speakers.

Sexyy Red losing out to Tyla at the 2024 BET Awards caused a big stir online with fans, but if ya let Druski and DJ Drama tell it -- there were no losers that night!!!

TMZ Hip Hop chopped it up with both star personalities at LAX, where they were kidding around about all sorts of topics the day after the award show let out.

They both attended the awards and agree with the convo online ... Sexyy was hands-down this year's Best New Artist!!!

Kendrick Lamar and pgLang continue to connect dots in Compton ... helping coordinate an electronics and sneaker giveaway that has kids screaming Christmas in July!!!

The event was a community team effort co-organized by Kai Cenat, 319 Music Group CEO Wacko and Tim Hinshaw's creative studio Free Lunch.

TMZ Hip Hop was also on the scene, and the energy created by K. Dot's Pop-Up Concert was still lingering throughout Compton.

Bronny James is opening up on his decision to rock No. 9 in the NBA ... confirming he chose it to honor late musician Juice WRLD.

LeBron's eldest son faced the media for the first time as a Los Angeles Laker on Tuesday ... and after fielding several questions about his relationship with his four-time champion pops, who was in attendance for the presser, he explained how the digit he'll sport during games was far from random.

"Juice has just been a big part of me, keeping calm in some situations that I've been through," 19-year-old Bronny said minutes ago. "So yeah, just paying homage to him especially because he passed. It's a really important thing for me."

Eminem finally has the release date for his upcoming "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)" -- and he's recruited a pair of sweet MCs from the 313 for his next single.

On Tuesday, Eminem revealed his new album would drop on July 12 -- via a twisted mini-movie depicting him being born as a devil child, and teasing the project's arrival.

Fans will peep Em brought back the fictional Pompsomp Hills he's used to promo previous albums but also gave them a taste of the lyrical gymnastics to come on the track "Tobey" featuring fellow Detroit rappers Big Sean and BabyTron.

Ray J really was going through it at the BET Awards, and now we have the video to back it up -- it's a full meltdown, with him threatening to make things "ghetto" after security allegedly denied him re-entry to the show.

The footage, obtained by TMZ, shows Ray pacing around Sunday night outside the award show at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles ... and he's getting more and more animated.

Ray appears to be arguing with some security guards and he's overheard complaining about not being let inside the show ... and things escalate to the point where he rips off his shirt and declares, "I didn't bring the ghetto to BET yet, but I'm about to!!!"

Angela Simmons is coming to terms with her fashion accessory for the BET Awards not being a great look ... as folks call her out for the gun-shaped purse.

She stepped out for the BET Awards Sunday solo dolo (she later met BF Yo Gotti inside), and wearing the hell out of a sparkling emerald green dress with shimmery high heels.

But, she completed her fit with a matching clutch bag resembling a handgun -- one that she even playfully aimed for some photos -- and more than a few fans were pissed!!!

Ray J says it's all becoming too much for him to take -- on the heels of nearly getting into a street brawl at a BET Awards afterparty, he says he's suicidal.

Ray poured out his emotions with an alarming social media post in which he references a dispute that went on backstage at Sunday night's BET Awards at the Peacock Theater in downtown L.A. -- he says, "The s**t that. Is Happening is mind blowing - it's making me suicidal and uncomfortable with the perception of reality!"

His Monday morning post came hours after he was involved in a standoff outside GloRilla's BET Awards afterparty. Ray and a Zeus Network exec were yelling about fighting each other, as bodyguards desperately tried to keep things peaceful. Ray did throw a punch but didn't hit anyone. At one point, Ray grabbed a backpack out of his vehicle and charged back into the crowd -- it's unclear what was in the bag, but his team was able to convince him to get back in the vehicle and they drove off without further incident.

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast ever, but R&B sensation SZA impressively held her own against the GOAT on the mat -- with the two going head-to-head in a handstand competition!!

The friendly contest went down at Biles' gym in a promotion for the 2024 Summer Olympics ... with the Grammy winner meeting the American athlete for the first time, which she called a dream come true.

The "Snooze" artist -- a former gymnast herself -- opened up on her own experiences in the sport ... saying once she knew she wasn't going to be able to compete at the national level, it was time to try her hand at music.

Legally, some might say Diddy is up a creek without a paddle, but he's not looking the least bit panicked ... as he paddles his face off floating down a river, far from all his problems.

The embattled Bad Boy Records founder went white water rafting over the weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and kinda looked like a natural.

Check out the video and photos of Diddy navigating some seriously rough waters, and living life on the edge.

12:23 PM PT -- BET is blaming an "audio malfunction" for Usher's muted speech and ponied up an apology via The Hollywood Reporter.

Usher got deep reliving hardships of his life and career during the 2024 BET Awards -- but the TV audience missed much of his Lifetime Achievement speech, because he made the censors work overtime!!!

Fans posted their frustration on social media and it was clear why they were upset -- BET was forced to mute big chunks of his speech, due to Usher dropping some colorful language.

7:03 AM PT -- Rick Ross doesn't seem pressed about last night's activities ... he tells TMZ that "Vancouver is a beautiful city and he can't wait to go back."

He also claims no one on his team suffered any serious injuries after the brawl ... all is fair in the 2024 Rap Wars???

Rick Ross had a rough night at his show in Canada ... getting into a physical altercation with some guy and triggering a melee that was captured on film.

Politics and rap music collided at the BET Awards 2024 ... when Vice President Kamala Harris slyly dropped a Kendrick Lamar reference to drive home her point about the upcoming elections.

In a pre-recorded clip airing during the ceremony Sunday, Harris took a call from host Taraji P. Henson ... who was worried about freedoms, women's rights, and the Supreme Court.

Kamala agreed there was a lot at stake, adding, "The majority of us believe in freedom and equality, but these extremists, as they say, "They not like us.'"

Kanye West created an app to promote his rap music, fostering a racist environment with brutal work conditions – while his wife, Bianca Censori, sent porn videos to staff which were accessible by minors, according to a new lawsuit.

The bombshell suit, filed in a U.S. District Court, named Ye and his former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, as defendants.

The suit alleges Kanye and co. engaged in "forced labor and cruel inhuman, or degrading treatment."

Khloe Kardashian knows how to do it up big for her fam, hosting her 40th birthday party, and some huge stars showed up to perform.

The party was themed, "Khloewood," a play on "Dollywood." Not sure where the soiree went down, but we think somewhere in L.A.

Snoop, Kurupt and Warren G all took the stage.

President Biden's proving he has rappers on speed dial just like Donald Trump does -- recruiting a pair of hip hop legends to help rally his down south supporters!!!

TMZ Hip Hop got this video of Fat Joe and E-40 performing onstage Friday for the prez and First Lady Jill Biden's post-debate rally in Raleigh, NC.

Biden displayed a jolt of energy he didn't have during last night's debate, and it's safe to say, the audience was feeling it.