TMZ Hip Hop - Page 31

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.

Jennifer Lopez is getting deep with Matt Damon, Lil Wayne fans are upset at a snub, and Joey Chestnut is pounding brats ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles break down J Lo's emotional moment with estranged husband Ben Affleck's good friend.

Big Boy is baffled Kendrick Lamar was chosen to perform the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show over Lil Wayne ... saying there was an obvious decision here that was not made.

We caught up with the radio host on "TMZ Live" Monday, where BB shared his unfiltered opinion on Kendrick scoring the coveted halftime spot for Super Bowl LIX ... set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in February.

According to Big Boy, ahead of Sunday's announcement he would've bet big money that Lil Wayne would be tapped for the huge honor ... since NOLA is his hometown and all.

Charlamagne Tha God thinks people need to lay off Jay-Z and Roc Nation for selecting Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans ... and start congratulating them for keeping Taylor Swift off the stage!!!

The controversy over K. Dot surpassing Wayne in his hometown continued, with that choice frowned upon by the likes of Master P and DJ Akademiks -- but on Monday's 'Breakfast Club' segment, Charlamagne said Taylor's omission was cause to ceeelebrate-good-times-c'mon!!!

Taylor's record sales have been shattering the atmosphere the last few years, but Charlamagne applauded Roc Nation's clear push of Hip Hop/R&B acts as of late ... and the performers just happen to be Black!!!

Nicki Minaj won't have to go at Jay-Z all by her lonesome ... Birdman has entered the Super Bowl LIX chat, and he has some tough talk toward the Roc Nation boss!!!

Much fuss has been made about Kendrick Lamar performing at the upcoming halftime show in New Orleans -- the home base of arguably the biggest rap label ever -- Cash Money Records.

After Nicki took swipes at Jay and Roc Nation in defense of Lil Wayne on Monday, Birdman backed her up and promised revenge ... "These n***** P**** @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these n***** respek us on Gladys," a nod to his deceased mother.

Beyoncé may've had one of the biggest country albums of the year, but it wasn't enough for the megastar to receive a single nomination at the 2024 CMA Awards.

The singer's "Cowboy Carter" album and hit single, "Texas Hold 'Em," were both snubbed by the popular awards show ... with the Grammy winner fully shut out when nominations were announced Monday.

Instead, Morgan Wallen led the charge, earning 7 noms ... including Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year. Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson fell just behind Morgan, nabbing 5 nominations each.

Nicki Minaj has joined the 20 v 1 against Jay-Z after he awarded the New Orleans-hosted Super Bowl LIX halftime honors to Kendrick Lamar instead of Lil Wayne ... and Queen Barb is spewing all sorts of ether in his direction!!!

According to Nicki's POV, Jay-Z sold out for the NFL when Colin Kaepernick kneeled on the field to protest police brutality ... actions of a house n-word with the "er," and despite his riches and success, is still a "hateful and ugly" person.

Several hip hop pundits -- Master P, DJ Akademiks and just today, Boosie Badazz -- have come to Wayne's defense, accusing Jay of reviving a vendetta against Drake in the twilight of his beef with Kendrick.

Tory Lanez's weekly reign of "Prison Tapes" has come to an end ... the rapper's lawyers tell us prison guards raided his cell block and confiscated all his studio equipment.

The incarcerated hip hop star is currently holed up at the California Correctional Institution, where he's serving time after being convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion -- but he's been passing the days by keeping his talent sharp.

Bangers such as "Basement" and "Appellate Court" -- all labeled under the "Prison Tapes" umbrella -- have been released in the past few weeks, benefiting his record sales.

Kendrick Lamar headlining next year's Super Bowl in New Orleans is Jay-Z's way of giving the "Not Like Us" rapper leverage over his beef against Drake ... at least, that's what Cam'ron and Mase want the public to believe!!!

On Monday's episode of "It Is What It Is," the hip hop sportscasters claimed Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation imprint has been the NFL’s Live Music Entertainment Strategist since 2019, set the play for Kendrick to embarrass Drake on the big stage ... thus settling his own issues with him.

The Harlem World duo also claimed Jay-Z pulled some strings to have them uninvited at the recent Fanatics Fest that went down ... Cam detailed his cold war with Jay-Z in the past and alludes that their relationship is still kind of icy!!!

Kendrick Lamar's taking the stage at the next Super Bowl, but not everyone's stoked about it -- 'cause some wanted hometown favorite Lil Wayne in New Orleans next year.

Here's the deal ... this morning, the NFL announced K. Dot as the headliner for the biggest gig in sports -- not exactly a surprise given the success of his Drake diss track "Not Like Us."

While many people are excited Kendrick's getting his own show after appearing alongside other rap legends like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent back at SB LVI, others are pointing out New Orleans has its own star rapper who should've got the top spot.

Kendrick Lamar will perform the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the NFL and hip hop superstar announced Sunday morning ... one of the highest profile gigs in the world!

The pick makes a ton of sense. Kendrick, a 17x Grammy winner, had arguably the song of the summer in "Not Like Us," and with Drake, was part of the biggest rap beef in at least a decade.

"What’s the deal everybody, my name is Kendrick Lamar and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl 59," K. Dot said in the announcement video, as he stood on a football field, in front of a giant American flag, and fired balls from a Jugs machine.

50 Cent got many men and women moving at a New York Fashion Week event Friday night ... getting the crowd bumping during an event for the soda brand Poppi.

The rapper came out for a surprise performance at the event -- a launch for Poppi's new Cherry Cola flavor -- playing some of his biggest hits in a Versace t-shirt and red New York cap.

50 rocked the room ... then stayed to pose for pics afterwards -- hanging with out with some of the biggest bold-faced names in NYC this weekend.