Hip Hop

Wyclef Jean is not amused by Donald Trump's bizarre debate tangent about Haitian immigrants supposedly eating household pets -- and tells TMZ Hip Hop that America needs to strictly focus on the facts this election!!!

Wyclef says, "I will be forever grateful for my family’s life, for having a fair chance to live what is called the 'American Dream.'"

"One of our greatest assets in America is that we are a country of immigrants," Clef says. "I speak from the heart when I say, Haitian people living in the U.S. are good neighbors and good people. We care about humanity. We care about our neighbors."

Kendrick Lamar released his first track since being announced as the Super Bowl 59 halftime performer ... and the theme isn't exactly a stadium-rocker that'll need crowd control ... he's calling for the hip hop culture to change for the better!!!

The unnamed track clocks in at 5:06, which is pretty long by current standards. But Kendrick has a lot to say about the materialism and drug abuse that passes so easily in today’s music.

Fans are convinced the song is named “Watch The Party Die.” The lyrics say “I think it’s time to watch the party die … Street n***** and the corporate guys, the rappers that report the lies I need they families mortified!!!”

Kendrick Lamar's not gonna kill Roger Goodell's vibe at Super Bowl LIX ... 'cause the NFL commish says he's "absolutely" a fan of this year's halftime performer.

Goodell was out in the Big Apple with his wife, Jane, on Wednesday ... when photogs asked for his thoughts on the 17-time Grammy winner getting picked to take the stage in New Orleans in February.

"Feeling great [about it]!!" Goodell told a camera person ... while adding he's an enthusiast of the Compton MC's discography.

The MTV Video Music Awards shook things up this year with a venue change, a ton of A-list celebrities and some extra wild moments ... including Sabrina Carpenter lip-locking with a female space alien at the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.

Chappell Roan caused a stir on the red carpet, putting a photog on blast ... then literally set the stage on fire with a passionate performance of her hit, "Good Luck Babe."

Eminem had millennials feeling nostalgic ... his performance of "Houdini" saw him surrounded by look-alikes, a throwback to the VMAs 24 years ago. He also performed his collab "Somebody Save Me" with Jelly Roll guest-appearing on the big screen.

David Banner says he gave hip hop culture his all, and is now ready to tackle the same commitment toward his acting career ... fans should get to know the veteran "Like a Pimp" rapper by his gov't name, Lavell Crump, because he's got Hollywood all over his vision board!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Banner on Wednesday ahead of what he's labeling his marquee performance on the Will Packer-helmed "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist" ... a star-studded affair featuring Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle and many more!!!

Banner stars as Missouri Slim, and he wants fans, fellow rappers and aspiring thespians to know he spent years honing his craft -- even back in the early days he was getting crunked up with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon!!!

2:30 PM PT -- Diddy's attorney Erica Wolff tells TMZ ... "Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day -- conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour."

She adds, "If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on 'The Love Album' last year. It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court."

Diddy is facing yet another lawsuit from a new accuser, a former bandmate who claims the music mogul belittled, terrorized and sexually abused her while she also witnessed him savagely beat his ex, Cassie.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ ... Dawn Richard says she got caught in Diddy's web as a participant on his 2004 MTV show "Making The Band," with the Bad Boy CEO manipulating her by promising to advance her singing career if she relented to his alleged twisted demands.

The former Danity Kane member said during on-set auditions, Diddy called female contestants "fat," "ugly," "bitches" and "hoes." She said Diddy had particular disdain for her because she was young and excited to work with such a famous person.

LL Cool J and Eminem finally joined forces on a collab after years of plotting -- and decided the song needed a motion-picture-level music video that brings hip hop's old-school aesthetic to the forefront!!!

On Wednesday, LL debuted his and Em's "Murdergram Deux" video from his new album, "The Force" ... and the two rap legends have no problem showing their age, highlighting core elements of hip hop, such as knowledge, graffiti and most of all -- emceeing!!!

The JakeTheShooter-directed video reimagines the scenery from LL's 1987 "Bigger & Deffer" album cover ... and while Queens Blvd may have undergone some changes over time, LL still looks the same!!!

Some of the Big Apple's best MCs convened in Brooklyn this week with reigning NBA Champ Jaylen Brown ... but they weren't turning their backs on the Nets and Knickerbockers ... they all got the first look at the latest street-runner on the block ... the Land Rover Defender OCTA!!!

Visionary artist Set Free Richardson was recruited by LR to add his artistic touch to the sturdy SUV, and hosted all comers at his newly relaunched Compound Art & Sound Gallery.

Jadakiss, Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon, A$AP Ferg, Fabolous, Dave East and Set Free's fellow artist Charly Brown were all in the building -- which will now serve as a hub for creative minds all across BK!!!

Lil Baby pulled out all the stops for his 9-year-old's birthday bash ... throwing a Ravens-themed party that felt like a real NFL game -- and it even featured a surprise from Lamar Jackson!!

The rapper's son, Jason, was treated like a king during the event ... which was decked out with a flag football contest, concessions, postgame interviews and, of course, cake.

The kiddos even got their own hyped-up entry ... with sparks flying when Jason and his friends ran out onto the turf in custom Ravens jerseys -- just like the pros.

50 Cent is calling off the dogs ... he's taking steps to drop his defamation lawsuit against his ex, Daphne Joy.

The rapper just filed new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, asking the judge to dismiss the suit without prejudice ... the judge has yet to sign off, but it's just a formality at this point.

It's a complete 180 for Fiddy ... as we reported, he filed his defamation suit against Daphne back in May after she publicly accused him of rape and physical abuse.

Bad Bunny is teeing up a big role -- he's signed on to star in Adam Sandler's "Happy Gilmore" movie sequel.

The rapper will swing into action in the Kyle Newacheck-directed movie -- a follow-up to the 1996 classic about a wannabe professional hockey player begrudgingly becoming a golf sensation.

Bunny’s joining a star-studded lineup ... with Sandler back in action, Julie Bowen returning as Virginia Venit, and Christopher McDonald reprising his role as the villainous Shooter McGavin from the OG movie.

Tory Lanez is speaking out after his "Prison Tapes" recording equipment was snatched ... he claims he was creating too much social change with his revenue streams!!!

We broke the story ... TL's cell was raided yesterday, effectively ending his weekly releases.

On Tuesday, TL claimed he's witnessed tons of racial injustice since arriving at the California Correctional Institution -- and feels it's become his life's calling to help minorities seek proper representation.

Trippie Redd is gearing up for fall with a fresh new collab with boohooMAN ... aka fresh fits to step out in with his rekindled boo thang Coi Leray!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Trippie in NYC this week at the pop-up launch of his grungy, goth-inspired drip ... and we got the deets on how he and CL got back on the same page.

He and Coi first started dating in 2019, but things fizzled a little over a year later -- and the pair even traded diss songs ... but apparently, that was just for show.

Beyoncé is standing by her decision not to release official music videos for her chart-topping albums "Renaissance" and "Cowboy Carter" ... asserting the music speaks for itself.

The singer addresses her controversial decision in a new cover story for GQ, in which she explains why she chose to forgo the traditional music video release model after launching her latest albums.

She notes ... "I thought it was important that during a time where all we see is visuals, that the world can focus on the voice ... The music is so rich in history and instrumentation. It takes months to digest, research and understand. The music needed space to breathe on its own."

8:02 AM PT -- Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo tells TMZ ... "This man [Cardello-Smith] is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years. His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed."

Diddy just took a HUGE L in a sexual assault lawsuit he blew off, because a judge just slapped him with a $100 MILLION default judgment.

Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, currently an inmate, claimed in his lawsuit Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party in Detroit back in 1997. It's unclear if the statute of limitations has run, but that wasn't addressed by the judge.

According to the lawsuit, the 2 were drinking and smoking weed at the party and got naked with a bunch of women. Cardello-Smith says he was performing oral sex on a woman when he felt a male hand on his left buttock -- he says it was Diddy's hand. A short time later, he says Diddy offered him a drink, which was spiked and he passed out.

Beyoncé getting no love from the Country Music Association does not come as a huge shock to her father Mathew Knowles ... and he thinks race is a factor here.

Bey's dad tells TMZ … he's not surprised his daughter received zero CMA nominations for her "Cowboy Carter" country album, given her history with the awards show.

Mathew says Beyoncé didn't have a good experience performing with the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards -- her inclusion didn't go over so well -- and he says the CMAs never apologized to Bey.