TMZ Hip Hop - Page 2

Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" album may not have wrangled much award season glory yet, but she could be gearing up for a Grammy showdown -- rumor has it the album's been submitted for a major category at next year’s ceremony.

The Recording Academy's screening committee met last week to decide which albums and songs will compete at the February 2nd awards at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena -- and Beyoncé's country album emerged as a favorite ... and is set to appear on the ballots for the Best Country Album category, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

They also reportedly crowned Sabrina Carpenter as the frontrunner for Best New Artist, ready to saddle up against other possible contenders like Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, and Megan Moroney.

The ex-porn star accusing Diddy of sex trafficking her at his White Parties is likely about to be in need of new legal representation ... because the lawyer handling the case is asking a judge to cut her loose.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Adria English's attorney Ariel Mitchell-Kidd wants to withdraw from the case, claiming Adria is giving her conflicting instructions that make it impossible for her to represent Adria.

Mitchell-Kidd also says there's been a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. She claims there are irreconcilable differences between them, and says Adria's "tone and lack of respect and [her] continued behavior and self-destructive activities" have made it impossible for Mitchell-Kidd to continue representing her.

The Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards are back for the second year, giving pioneering rap stars their flowers in the form of PHAT finances -- and Terry Crews will be front and center as this year's host!!!

The Las Vegas-based non-profit Paid In Full Foundation announced Wednesday Grandmaster Caz, Roxanne Shante and Kool Moe Dee are the 2024 honorees ... and they all should be in for their just desserts.

Last year’s honorees, Rakim and Scarface, will also be in the building -- they both received $500K apiece at the inaugural event!!

Things keep sounding worse for Diddy ... because we've learned the feds are seeing an uptick in accusers coming forward with more allegations, ever since he was thrown in jail.

Sources familiar with the Diddy investigation tell TMZ ... more alleged victims and witnesses are stepping up because they feel less intimidated now that Diddy is behind bars.

Our sources say the accusers are cooperating with federal investigators and providing information about what they know about Diddy's alleged criminal activities.

Jaylen Brown stirred up a stink online with Ice Spice's Munchkins fanbase when he declared her "Think U The S**t (Fart)" song was the worst flood of diarrhea hip hop music ever experienced ... a comment on par for the opinions and buttholes equation, claims "Fisherrr" rapper Bay Swag!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Bay Swag in NYC earlier this week ... he, Ice Spice and Cash Cobain helped spread the sexy drill movement with the "Fisherrr (Remix)" earlier this year, which marches to the same drum as Ice's "Fart."

Of course, that means nothing to the 2024 NBA Finals MVP ... JB says Ice's pooting was the first song that came to mind ... and Bay Swag tells us JB has a right to feel that way, even if he doesn't agree.

Tyga's taking a humble approach to hitting a huge milestone -- his 2018 summertime smash "Taste" just got certified Diamond with 10 million sold!!!

We caught up with T-Raww at LAX this week and he says his "Taste" celebration simply means making more hits -- the grind doesn't stop for plaques -- plaques are a result of the grind!!!

Tyga recently posted up with his record label Empire's execs and got handed his shiny new hardware for his trophy case ... and he tells us the outpour of love was appreciated all across the board.

R. Kelly's daughter broke down in tears as she opened up about how she once looked at her dad with admiration ... but his multiple sex crime convictions later shattered her world.

In the trailer for "R Kelly's Karma: A Daughter's Journey," Joann Kelly admits there was a time when her father was her "everything" ... but when his convictions for possessing child pornography and engaging in sexual acts with underage girls came to light, it completely changed her life.

Joann notes no one wants to be the child of someone who hurt women and children -- adding her dad knows exactly why they can’t have the relationship she once hoped for.

Wendy Williams is finally weighing in on all the Diddy drama -- and her views are pretty much what you would expect from the former talk show host who was always judgmental of the Bad Boy Records CEO.

Wendy gave an interview Tuesday to the Daily Mail in which she said many people have approached her since Diddy's arrest about two weeks ago to give her credit for calling out the music mogul for his alleged criminal wrongdoing.

She said, "What is really weird is that I have been told by so many people -- 'Wendy you called it' -- including some people from my family who have said the same."

Rich Homie Quan died from a toxic mix of several different drugs, including fentanyl ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner in Georgia, the late rapper died from the combined effects of fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine and promethazine ... and his death is being ruled an accident.

The Medical Examiner's report, obtained by TMZ, also notes Rich Homie Quan showed no signs of trauma when his body was found dead and examined.

12:12 PM PT -- One of Diddy's attorneys, Erica Wolff, tells TMZ … "As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasized, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus. That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation."

Diddy is about to be hit with lawsuits for sexual assault and abuse, and a Houston-based law firm representing 120 accusers is telling some of their stories for the first time ... including allegations Diddy sexually abused a 9-year-old boy.

Attorney Tony Buzbee says a wave of lawsuits will be filed against Diddy in the next 30 days, including from an accuser who claims he was only 9 years old when Diddy and others sexually abused him at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City.

Rapper YG is facing legal heat ... cops say he's been arrested for a misdemeanor DUI in Burbank, California.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ there wasn’t any call about an incident -- we're told cops just happened to roll up on YG after he drove over a curb and was standing outside his car early Tuesday morning.

TMZ has also obtained a photo from the scene, which appears to show YG sitting on the curb with his head resting on his arms, just a few feet away from his car as a police officer stands in front of him.

Diddy is once again trying to get himself released on bond, 2 weeks after he was arrested ... and we're told he's building a powerhouse legal team to try to make it a reality.

New court documents show the rap mogul's lawyer filed to appeal the most recent order denying him bond ... the appeal will be his 3rd formal attempt to secure his release from behind bars as he awaits trial.

Sources close to Diddy tell TMZ ... the rapper has added 2 more attorneys -- Anthony Ricco and Alexandra Shapiro -- to the legal team working on his highly publicized criminal case. (For those wondering, Alexandra is not related to famed defense attorney Robert Shapiro).

Cardi B says she underwent major surgery completely unaware she had a little bun baking in the oven at the time.

The rapper explained on IG Live Sunday she had her butt injections removed along with fibrosis removal in January after getting the all-clear from two blood tests -- but in March, when she discovered she was pregnant, her OBGYN gave her some shocking news.

Cardi said the doc dropped the bombshell ... revealing she was 17 to 18 weeks pregnant -- yep, that means she was expecting during her surgery.

Akon may sing about being "Locked Up," but the singer has no feedback for Diddy as he sits in jail ... telling us the justice system will work the situation out.

We caught up with the recording artist at LAX, where Akon avoided commenting on whether Diddy has been targeted for his success as a Black man ... a defense his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has made since the rap mogul's arrest.

Akon hinted the idea was all a "defense mechanism" -- but emphasized it wasn't his place to comment.

Diddy's still got people on his side as the allegations and lawsuits pile up ... and the latest show of support comes courtesy of the mother of his youngest child.

Dana Tran, who has a daughter with Diddy, was spotted Saturday for the first time since his indictment ... and she was showing off her "LOVE" ring as she played with their little girl.

Dana and Diddy's daughter, Love, is turning 2 years old in a couple weeks ... but it doesn't look like daddy's going to be there, because he's behind bars in New York as he awaits trial on sex trafficking, kidnapping and racketeering charges.

Damon Dash says there's a lot of things about Diddy that he didn't know, even though they go way back ... and a lot of what he's finding out now is unsettling.

The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder was in New York on Monday when photogs asked him about Diddy's arrest, indictment, jailing and the mounting lawsuits.

Damon says a lot of the allegations facing Diddy are disturbing ... especially given the fact they've known each other for a long time.