TMZ Hip Hop - Page 44

2:28 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Diddy was never a suspect in the Tupac murder investigation, and that remains true today. In other words ... it's clear cops weren't buying what Keefe D was selling about Puff, and didn't deem his claim as credible.

The guy charged with Tupac's murder should not be released on bail, because he once alleged Diddy offered him 7 figures to kill 'Pac -- at least that's the case prosecutors are making to the judge.

Here's the deal ... Duane "Keefe D" Davis has been behind bars in Nevada since his arrest for the Tupac slaying, but he's asking the judge to let him out pending trial.

Snoop Dogg will be bearing the Olympic torch with a heavy heart ... because he and his family are mourning the death of his cousin, artist Darryl "Joe Cool" Daniel.

The Long Beach native recently passed away -- as announced by Snoop and co. -- and he was invaluable to the rapper's career ... serving as the brainchild behind Snoop's debut album "Doggystyle" artwork.

Snoop and Daz Dillinger shared multiple tributes to Daniel on Instagram throughout the week ... and the late artist's social media is also filled with several memories with Dogg Pound members all the same.

Gary Holt says Beyoncé's super overrated and not all that talented -- whereas Taylor Swift, in his opinion, blows her outta the water on multiple fronts ... hot take ahead, y'all.

The thrash metal rocker/Exodus guitarist sat down for an interview on the "Scandalous Podcast" and gave a harsh review of Queen Bey's catalog and accolades ... claiming her body of work has required a massive team, including songwriters ... comparing her to Taylor.

Then he brings out the big guns ... calling Beyoncé one of music's most overrated stars with just "marginal" talent -- and he also crapped on her daughter Blue Ivy.

Iggy Azalea says she considers herself to be a single mom to the kid she shares with Playboi Carti -- going so far as to claim she's not co-parenting whatsoever.

The Aussie rapper -- who birthed her and Carti's son, Onyx, in 2020 -- hopped on the 'Dinner's On Me' podcast this week and was asked point blank about her family dynamic ... and Iggy made no bones about the fact she believes she's on her own in parenting.

Iggy says, "I'm very much a single mother. I'm very much the only parent, no disrespect, but yes, I am not co-parenting really, and that's just the reality of it. It's one, it's 24/7."

Kanye West is protecting his wife, Bianca Censori, from prying eyes ... using his body as a shield during their latest outing -- while she continues to rock wacky, revealing outfits.

The couple stepped out for lunch at the Chateau Marmont Tuesday in L.A., where Bianca opted for a surprisingly covered-up, monochromatic ensemble ... which included a top, skirt, stockings, baseball hat and heels.

While she still showed some skin -- her shirt was see-through, after all -- her look was far more modest than what she's been known to wear lately. As you know ... BC's been out with no pants, a completely see-through top, the teeniest bikini and more bold fashion choices. So yeah, this is relatively safe by those standards.

The fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey has saddened Solange Knowles like many Americans -- and she's making a nuanced point about this being a regular thing in the U.S.

After taking in the brutal body cam footage that was released this week -- Solange called out America for its historic treatment of Black women ... scoffing at the responding officer's disbelief Sonya had asked not to be hurt right from the get-go when they arrived.

Sonya's plea still resulted in her dead on her kitchen floor with a bullet in her head, and Solange says words don't hold the same weight for Black women as they do everyone else.

A couple of Tekashi 6ix9ine's luxury cars just sold to the highest bidder -- this after the IRS seized them from his Florida estate -- and they went for a pretty penny.

Tekashi's 2019 Lamborghini Urus went for a whopping $175,043 at a government-run auction that closed Tuesday ... and his 2017 Bentley Continental GT Speed changed hands for $85,500 during the same auction.

These are the same cars IRS agents seized from 6ix9ine back in April, when the feds rolled up to his Lake Worth, FL home ... and confiscated a bunch of the rapper's stuff.

Joe Burrow looks like he's ready to have a plate of mom's spaghetti ... 'cause the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback debuted a drastic new appearance ahead of training camp -- and it's giving Eminem.

The hunky gunslinger -- who chopped off his luscious locks a few weeks back -- decided to bleach the little amount of hair he has left ... and it's certainly got the people talking.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to being a blondie -- he rocked a similar look when he was a star at Athens High School in Ohio a decade ago.

Drake jetted out of L.A. in exchange for his OG home bases of Toronto and Texas ... but his "California Love" and admiration for Tupac Shakur remains intact!!!

Drake posted a selfie Monday night showing himself in a green, airbrushed Tupac "Only God Can Judge" t-shirt ... complete with a pair of sparkling emerald-colored Timbaland boots to match.

An interesting wardrobe choice considering the Tupac estate went the extra distance to block Drake from using the "AI 2Pac" bars heard on his Kendrick Lamar diss "Taylor Made Freestyle."

Snoop Dogg is blazing up in a brand new way ... getting picked to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the opening ceremony at the 2024 Paris Games!!

The legendary rapper will be one of the last torchbearers to participate in the traditional relay before it reaches its final landing spot at the Eiffel Tower on Friday.

Snoop will carry the flame through Saint-Denis, the town's mayor said on social media ... and he'll be alongside French rapper MC Solaar and actress Laetitia Casta, according to reports.

Jay-Z closed his 40/40 Club after 20 years last year for restructuring ... and its resurfacing looks to be on the horizon -- with a special pop-up happening at Fanatics Fest NYC!!!

Between August 16-18, the 40/40 Club will host a star-studded rollout that reimagines Hov's former playground ... Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Kevin Durant, Peyton and Eli Manning, Carmelo Anthony and many more legendary athletes are all expected to pop out for the festivities!!!

We're told the new 40/40 Club will happen at NYC's Jacob Javits Convention Center and resemble its glory days ... they're dusting off signed jerseys from the collection, grand chandeliers stadium and selected items from the restaurant's original menu -- not to mention an array of top-notch cocktails.

The manager for Yo Gotti's CMG Records artist EST Gee is dead after a shooting that happened on the heels of the label's homecoming concert -- an event where cops anticipated potential violence.

Louisville police spokesperson Aaron Ellis told local outlets they found 31-year-old EST Big Beach -- real name, Devontae Beach -- with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle close to where the "Sky Dwella" rapper performed Saturday night.

Beach was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after EMS arrived, and police are now searching for suspects.

Chris Brown's "11:11" tour has been marred by some serious thuggery ... according to a new lawsuit accusing the singer of orchestrating the assault of several men.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Brown, Yella Beezy, CB's entourage lieutenant Sinko Ceej and Live Nation are all facing a lawsuit filed by the 4 alleged victims ... who are seeking a whopping $50 million.

Brown's "11:11" tour hit Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX on July 20 -- and after the show let out, plaintiffs Larry Parker, Joseph Lewis, Charles Bush and Da Marcus Powell say they were invited backstage and escorted there, along with 40 women, for a post-concert hang.

Cardi B is rubbing her political prediction prowess in the faces of her doubters, now that Kamala Harris is the frontrunner to become the Democratic presidential nominee.

After President Biden dropped out and endorsed his Veep, Cardi dialed the clocks back to her June 30 live stream shortly after the first debate where she called the Democratic party selfish for letting Biden, by her account, embarrass himself like the "grandpa" he is.

The Diamond-selling rapper addressed her fans for over 10 minutes ... revealing she had no intentions of voting, but thought Kamala missed her moment not squaring off against Trump at the debate.

Well, now we know ... Bhad Bhabie is passing off the beating she took at the hands of her boyfriend/baby daddy as one bad night, because they're back together in a big way.

Our TMZ Celebrity Tour bus rolled past Avra restaurant in Bev Hills Saturday, and saw the 2 nearby hugging and smooching. Their baby was at home, and this was clearly date night.

As we reported, Bhad Bhabie had posted video early this month of Le Vaughn knocking her to the ground. She also posted a pic of a horrendous bruise on her eye. She deleted both, but what happened to her was clear.

50 Cent took full advantage of his song "Many Men" trending alongside the Donald Trump assassination attempt -- but the song's producer, Darrell "Digga" Branch, sees it as a bittersweet moment.

The veteran beatmaker tells TMZ Hip Hop ... having the classic record go viral in 2024 is definitely a plus, but he's not down with it being used to make Trump look gangsta -- as it turns out, he can't stand the guy.

Digga says his notifications began to light up shortly after DT got hit in Bethel, PA. He admits wondering at the time if it was real or a prank, but of course, we now know the shooting was the real deal.