TMZ Hip Hop - Page 5

Kendrick Lamar openly wondered what Christian hip hop stars Lecrae and Dee-1 would do in his culture-despising shoes -- and now we have the answer, because both rappers have responded with raps!!!

Lecrae and Dee released their own solo songs, creating a trinity around K. Dot's latest internet breaker ... the MCs showcase completely different flows, deliveries and production choices -- but the messages and cover art are nearly identical.

They both hover around the subject that record labels have allowed rap music to poison the minds of consumers so well, to the point fans don't even know they're being manipulated ... until it's too late!!!

Hip hop music industry vet Kevin Liles is resigning from his Warner Music Group Executive VP gig.

On Tuesday, Liles sent a company memo announcing his resignation as chairman and CEO of Warner Music’s 300 Elektra Entertainment Chairman ... passing the torch to seasoned vets Rayna Bass, Selim Bouab, and Gregg Nadel.

Liles has been with Warner since 2004, which formerly housed Diddy’s Bad Boy Records ... and he’s been vocal defending the mounds of allegations against Puff.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is now a criminal defendant in a sex trafficking, racketeering and kidnapping case after a grand jury indicted him ... this according to official documents.

Diddy has been charged with 3 counts -- racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

According to the indictment, from 2008 to the present, members of the Combs enterprise allegedly engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.

According to the indictment, the purpose of the Combs enterprise was to operate a global business in the media, entertainment, and lifestyle industries. The purpose also includes preserving Diddy's power and fulfilling his personal desires, especially in relation to his sexual gratification, including through the exploitation of women and the use of commercial sex workers.

The indictment mentions the now-famous "Freak off" parties ... calling them "elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded."

The indictment alleges Combs lured women into his orbit under the pretense of a romantic relationship and then used force, threats of force, and coercion, to cause victims to engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers.

After the freak offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use.

The indictment does not include details on the kidnapping allegations, other than they occurred in California, as did arson and bribery.

As for the drug charges, they allegedly involve the intent to distribute narcotics, including cocaine, oxycodone, Xanax, GHB -- the "date rape" drug -- MDMA and ketamine.

The indictment references what was seized during the raids at Diddy's homes in Beverly Hills and Miami -- various freak off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. They also seized firearms, including 3 AR-15s with defaced serial numbers and a drum magazine.

The indictment also includes allegations of violence against women. He's alleged to have assaulted women by striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at and kicking them. It references a March 2016 incident at an L.A. hotel captured on video, and this is clearly referencing the Cassie incident.

There's more ... prosecutors say in late 2023, following public allegations of the crimes, Combs and his associates would pressure victims and witnesses, including through attempted bribery, to say silent.

Tuesday morning, Diddy's son's King and Justin were in lower Manhattan, outside Federal court, awaiting their father's appearance before a judge.

If convicted on all counts, Diddy faces decades in prison.

His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said going into the courthouse, he will "fight like hell" to get his client released on bail. Agnifilo said his client is not only not guilty, but outright innocent.

Diddy will appear before a judge Tuesday morning where the charges will be read.

TMZ broke the story ... Diddy was arrested Monday night at the Park Hyatt hotel in midtown Manhattan, where he had been staying. Law enforcement sources told TMZ ... the arrest was supposed to go down Tuesday but something happened to accelerate it.

Aubrey O'Day, who had a contentious relationship with Diddy during filming of "Making the Band," tells TMZ, "I never thought I would see this day. We all buried this inside of us in order to be able to keep going. And not just me, but victims you don't even know yet. We are all processing what that type of vindication can actually feel like now. Every conversation I've had with victims last night has been beyond moving on all levels."

Rich Homie Quan fans have been feeling some type of way since his abrupt death on September 5 -- and they let the support show in their streams!!!

On Tuesday, mourners flocked to World Changers Church International in Atlanta suburb College Park to pay their respects to the late platinum-selling rapper.

On the inside of the church, there were glowing pillars documenting his life. The family has also posted his obituary online.

Diddy never seemed happier than on the streets of his hometown of New York Monday night -- a scene that offered no hint the music mogul would soon end up in federal custody facing a criminal indictment.

TMZ obtained new video of Diddy interacting with several excited fans on a darkened street in Midtown Manhattan approximately 30 minutes before federal agents arrested him at the Park Hyatt hotel nearby.

Check out the footage ... Diddy was having a very friendly chat with four dudes -- and everyone was wearing bright smiles on their faces. Diddy was so energized he gave a handshake to one of the guys who bowed and started laughing.

Aubrey O'Day is weighing in on Sean "Diddy" Combs' arrest in NYC ... posting a cryptic message online about "justice" to her followers, and sharing her reaction with TMZ.

The Danity Kane singer took to Instagram Monday amid the news of Diddy's booking in the Big Apple, where she shared a message about the "purpose of justice."

She wrote ... "The purpose of justice is to provide an ending and allow us the space to create a new chapter. Women never get this. I feel validated. Today is a win for women all over the world, not just for me."

8:05 PM PT -- Just a couple hours before Diddy got busted, he was confidently strolling around NYC with his son Christian "King" Combs. He even stopped to greet some fans and take selfies.

7:13 PM PT -- A law enforcement source tells TMZ ... Diddy's arrest was scheduled for Tuesday. But something happened that caused the feds to move in a day earlier.

However, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams says federal agents took him in based on a sealed indictment filed by the Southern District of New York.

Diddy was just arrested and taken into federal custody in New York Monday night ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell TMZ ... Homeland Security swooped into a midtown hotel late Monday where Diddy was staying and they arrested him. We have unconfirmed reports the feds are searching his hotel room.

We're told Diddy was taken to the federal building in lower Manhattan.

It appears the action was taken in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation into alleged sex trafficking and other offenses that led to search warrants being issued and executed at Diddy's homes in Beverly Hills and Miami. As we reported, a grand jury has been hearing testimony from various accusers over the last few months.

Lil Pump is having a meltdown over Taylor Swift announcing she's voting Kamala Harris for President.

The "I Love It" rapper keeps posting about Taylor on X ... ripping her for her recent Harris endorsement, which Taylor announced on social media in the wake of last week's presidential debate.

Lil Pump addressed an X post to Taylor Monday, saying ... "You have no clue why ur even voting for Kamala. Maybe cuz ur a billionaire and voting for her has 0 impact on ur life."

Terence Crawford ain't m.A.A.d after the UFC broadcast mistook him for Kendrick Lamar on Saturday ... telling TMZ Sports he laughed it all off -- 'cause he's convinced it was done on purpose!!

Bud went viral for his appearance at Noche UFC at the Sphere in Vegas ... when a lower third graphic misidentified him as the "Not Like Us" rapper.

Screengrabs of the goof made rounds on social media ... and it was pretty ironic, as K. Dot name-dropped the boxing superstar on his "euphoria" diss track directed at Drake earlier this year.

Jay-Z's got 99 problems, but not having a sportbook in New Jersey ain't one ... 'cause he cut the ceremonial ribbon to celebrate the first Fanatics Sportsbook in The Garden State.

The rapper hit Atlantic City Sunday, hosting the grand opening of the sportsbook at Ocean Casino Resort ... pulling out a giant pair of scissors and cutting away at the giant blue ribbon. Betting & Gaming CEO Matt King and Ocean Casino Resort GM Bill Callahan were also on hand for the event.

Founder and CEO of Fanatics Michael Rubin joined Jay-Z ... cheering wildly when the scissors sliced through.

Kanye West's starting a family band ... bringing out his entire brood to perform with him in China in front of a packed stadium.

The rapper brought out North, Saint, Chicago and even little Psalm to take the stage with him for the 'Vultures' listening party at the Wuyuan River Sports Stadium in Hainan.

Check out the clip ... Ye brings out all four of his kiddos -- and, the stadium goes absolutely nuts, screaming wildly for the whole Kardashian-West clan.

"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?!?"