TMZ Hip Hop - Page 29

"Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta" alum and Diddy-Dirty Money member Kalenna Harper says she never saw Diddy getting abusive with Cassie ... contrary to claims in a new lawsuit.

Here's the deal ... Kalenna's Diddy-Dirty Money bandmate Dawn Richard sued Diddy this week, claiming she and Kalenna witnessed Diddy throw Cassie against a wall, choke her, hurl a scalding pan of eggs at her and drag her up a flight of stairs at his L.A. home.

Kalenna is mentioned 33 times in Dawn's lawsuit -- filed Tuesday -- and now she's breaking her silence ... saying, "While I fully respect Dawn's right to recount her experiences, I want to emphasize that her account reflects her personal perspective and should not be interpreted as a universal truth applicable to everyone involved."

Bianca Censori is back in the spotlight after a short break, flaunting her near-naked outfits on a global tour with Kanye West -- this time, spotted in China.

TMZ obtained footage of the duo, and it’s hard to overlook them -- all thanks to Bianca's nude, semi-sheer 2-piece as they walked through the Intercontinental Hotel's lobby in Haikou, China, Friday morning.

Bianca is clearly in her element, rocking yet another of her signature skimpy, nude-colored outfits.

Fyre Festival creator Billy McFarland is guaranteeing Part II will be everything the initial event was supposed to be, but thinks some tweaks in the entertainment department are due ... so he's asking 50 Cent to replace Ja Rule for the next go around!!!

It sounds insane, but Billy's telling us he's 100% serious and already has hard dates lined up for April 25, 2025 in Mexico -- stamp your calendars and passports!!!

Check out the vid ... Billy says it's gonna be a real-life utopia ... the musical act will be an afterthought amid plenty of white sand activities: scuba diving, sunbathing, live karate fighting, hello?!?

David Banner is elaborating on his recent viral comments about settling down with a wife and having children before he dies ... all those accolades won't mean jack if he can't pass them down to direct kin!!!

Banner was in Los Angeles for the "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist" premiere, the miniseries drama he stars in with Kevin Hart, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson and Taraji P. Henson.

Banner got candid about life and the importance of having a family of his own ... making fellas take notes and ladies swoon in the process.

Eminem -- we mean, Slim Shady -- is going out with a bang and still kicking Diddy while he's down on his new deluxe album "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de grâce): Expanded Mourner's Edition."

On the updated version of "Fuel," Eminem recruits Shady Records rappers Westside Boogie and Grip -- and dedicates part of his verse to digging up the skeletons of rap's most infamous unsolved homicides!!!

With a frenetic flow, Em flames Diddy on the song with the lyrics, "'Fuel' remix, "So who'll be picked next, whose name gonna be next up? / Notorious B.I.G.'s death was the domino effect of Tupac's murder / Like facial tissue, whose clock should I clean next? Puff's? / 'Til he's in police handcuffs, guilty, will he step up? / Like gee, never turned himself in, who knows all the murders there'll have been?!?"

Hip Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow says he's booming with life thanks to adjustments in his health regime -- perfect timing because he has a busy holiday season ahead!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with KB at LAX on Thursday, and he tells us by switching up his diet, drinking lots of water, and adding more hours of quality sleep, he's been able to hit the gym again ... not bad for a 65-year-old legend!!!

The NYC native successfully underwent heart-transplant surgery a few years ago, and advises his fellow rap elders -- and fans alike -- to start prioritizing their health and nutrition.

Ray J and Princess Love had a blowout fight in front of their kids late Thursday, and Ray is on video coaching the children as to what they saw and didn't see.

The video, recorded by Ray, sounds like a lawyer leading the witness. You hear Ray telling the kids, they didn't see daddy put hands on mommy, and vice versa. He waits for them to respond before making his next point.

Ray says, "We're just making a movie, we're just playing."

Lil Wayne is speaking out after not being selected to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show ... and he's not mincing words -- the snub has left him devastated.

Wayne took to IG on Friday morning ... where he spoke directly to his fans in an earnest video, thanking them for their support over the past several days and explaining how disappointed he is not to be chosen to take the stage in New Orleans.

LW says he's been building the strength to address the situation "without breaking." He makes his feelings clear ... when he wasn't selected, it hurt -- a whole lot.

Diddy's fighting back against the massive $100 million default judgment leveled against him this week ... claiming he never received a copy of the lawsuit -- and, even if he had, the statute of limitations ran out years ago.

The controversial music mogul filed the emergency motion to set aside the massive judgment Thursday ... saying the plaintiff, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, never served him with a lawsuit -- and, he didn't know he had to handle the matter until news outlets started reporting on the judgment.

Worth noting ... Diddy's lawyers aren't just trying to get the case thrown out for failing to serve him properly -- they're denying all wrongdoing wholeheartedly. They say the "facially implausible allegations are completely fabricated."

Kendrick Lamar's viral new song validated Dee-1's unyielding message that hip hop culture has sunk into Hades -- and the New Orleans-bred rapper is etching it as a career-changing moment!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Dee on Thursday, just hours after Kendrick shouted him out on the song being dubbed, "Watch The Party Die."

Kendrick seemingly mutes himself with the somewhat cryptic bars, "I want to be empathetic, my heart like Dee-1 but I would ___" ... and Dee thinks the Compton lyricist was metaphorically saying he would blacken his soul to combat the evils of the world, and decided that silence would be the best punchline to end the rhyme.

King Combs is backing up his father Diddy's statement that his former artist Dawn Richard's explosive lawsuit is nothing but a bogus cash grab -- and he reposted what he calls proof of her deception!!!

We broke the story ... the former Danity Kane singer alleged she suffered through years of torment and sexual abuse in spite of her lengthy tenure -- and reunion -- with Diddy!!!

The 26-year-old Bad Boy heir reposted on his IG Stories a TikTok sleuth who shared alleged text messages between Dawn and Diddy showing excitement to get back on board with the team ... and King added his own "Capathon" caption to the deep dive ... basically calling DR a boldface liar.

Cardi B's family just grew a little larger ... 'cause she just gave birth to her third child -- announcing it moments ago on social media.

The rapper -- who just revealed her pregnancy last month amid divorce proceedings with long-time partner Offset -- confirmed the news Thursday with pics and videos of her holding the baby girl in the hospital bed.

Offset's with Cardi in the hospital in the photos ... sitting with their kids, and each holding on to the newest addition to the family -- who Cardi calls "the prettiest lil thing." She writes 9/7/24 in the caption -- so, looks like the baby was born Saturday.

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.