TMZ Hip Hop - Page 5

Ray J says he's been contacted by multiple celebs who are so scared about their affiliation with Diddy ... they're going to some of the alleged victims and paying them to keep quiet.

Ray appears in TMZ's new TUBI documentary, "The Downfall of Diddy: Inside the Freak-Offs" ... and says some high-profile people are trying to cut alleged victims off at the pass, even before they make money demands.

Attorney Tony Buzbee also appears in the doc and reveals he has sent a demand letter out to various high-profile people with an ultimatum ... pay up, or face a lawsuit.

Pharrell Williams criticized music stars on both sides of the aisle campaigning for their presidential picks ahead of the election ... but is flat-out denying he was gunning at Taylor Swift!!!

The superproducer-turned-Louis Vuitton fashion czar made the political slam a week after TS publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, naturally angering the Swifties.

In a new interview with GQ, Pharrell laughed off the backlash ... "I love Taylor. She knows that."

Yung Joc claims Kamala Harris' campaign gassed him up to the brink of letting him perform at a Democratic rally -- only to snatch away the opportunity because he used Donald Trump as a metaphor in his hit song!!!

The "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star made the confession on "Way Up With Angela Yee" on Tuesday while lamenting over the past election.

Joc says he was asked to perform his 2006 multi-platinum track "It's Goin Down" to rally the troops.

3:10 PM PT -- 50 Cent threw another jab at Busta Rhyme's barber and given his latest edit, it's clear he's strumming up attention for his upcoming Las Vegas residency!!!

That's how you keep the people going!!!

50 Cent woke up today and couldn't bite his tongue any longer after seeing Busta Rhyme's spray-painted hairdo on his timeline for the umpteenth time -- but probably didn't count on Bus-A-Bus having a few scalping swipes of his own!!!

On Tuesday, 50 put the spotlight on Busta's suspicious hairpiece and called out his right-hand man Spliff Starr for allowing that dipped ice cream cone on his head ... it's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it!!!

The G-Unit legend also gave Fat Joe's hair dye Rewind It 10 some backhanded promo -- ordering Joe, DJ Khaled and Tyson Beckford to get Busta a box pronto so he could knock off the bulletproof wig!!!

Drake and Chris Brown squashing their beef back in the day has resulted in a shiny new accolade -- a Diamond-certified plaque for their "No Guidance" duet!!!

Tuesday, Breezy was showered with several new certifications from the Recording Industry of America, with the 10 million sold from his 2019 Drake duet being the biggest.

Chris celebrated the win by echoing his mantra as of late -- keeping his head down and remaining humble!!!

The plaque rings of Diamond but in all actuality, they sold 11 million units so far.

Tekashi 6ix9ine may be holed up in the same MDC tombs as Diddy but that doesn't mean they're dishing the latest music industry gossip -- we're told they're in totally separate areas!!!

Lance Lazzaro, 6ix9ine's attorney, tells TMZ Hip Hop the rumors of Diddy and 6ix9ine hanging together in prison are totally false ... we're told 6ix9ine's currently in isolation because of his notoriety, and that includes being separated from other famous people!!!

Despite the confinement, Lance assures us 6ix9ine is not happy being locked up ... but he is happy about being one step closer to going home.

Ice Cube has been questioned to oblivion about making up with his ex-Westside Connection groupmate Mack 10 ... and it just may happen ... if a passive blip of body language is to be believed!!!

Bootleg Kev shot his Hail Mary WS Connection question in a new interview with Cube after swelling the Don Mega's head with inquiries about his other past supergroups, N.W.A. and Mt. Westmore.

Cube bluntly told Kev "I don't know" with a shrug in regards to the reunion ... which is a total improvement after he completely shut down the last time this was a topic!!!

Ray J is claiming he was targeted in a recent shooting ... posting a heated response on social media in the aftermath of the alleged incident.

The singer took to his Instagram Stories Tuesday, where he claimed people "just tried to shoot me" ... alleging the assailants were trying to "kill" him.

Ray J indicated the gunfire was tied to some unspecified feud ... with Kim Kardashian's ex declaring his refusal to apologize. He signed off his video with a heated message, pointing his finger at the camera and shouting ... "F*** you!!!"

10:54 AM PT -- Diddy's attorneys tell TMZ ... "Ms. Tanea Wallace has no credibility and her claims about 'freak offs' and minors are completely and categorically false. As we've said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are facially ridiculous. Mr. Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that the accusations against Mr. Combs are pure fiction."

A woman who says she was at what she believes was a Diddy "Freak Off" says there were minors present ... minors surrounded by adults.

Tanea Wallace, an aspiring singer-songwriter, says she was invited to Diddy's party by a Saudi Prince who flew her from L.A. to Miami. She spoke with TMZ as part of our new documentary, "TMZ Presents The Downfall of Diddy: Inside the Freak Offs."

Tanea describes in vivid detail how she observed clusters of people having sex ... many of whom seemed high on drugs or alcohol. Mind you, she says this was at 7 AM ... Tanea says the party had been going all night.

Next year's Grammy Awards is stacked with competition from rappers of all shapes and sizes but hip hop podcaster/producer Rory Farrell thinks the running favorite is questionable -- Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us"!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the "New Rory & MAL" cohost at LAX this week ... and while his inner hip hop head won't allow him to crown the Grammys of the culture, he has no beef with this year's rap picks.

Doechii is up for Best Rap Album -- which would make both Kendrick and Rory happy, but he's also a big J. Cole guy.

Kristin Chenoweth is standing by her prayers for Diddy ... even though the rapper is currently in federal detention, awaiting trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

We caught up with the Broadway legend in New York City and asked her if she is still keeping Diddy in her thoughts ... given the gravity of the charges brought against him in September.

Per Kristin, she's "still praying" for Diddy ... but acknowledged the case against the Bad Boy Records founder is "really bad."

Jason Sudeikis lived out his childhood fantasy (we suspect) this past weekend ... the "Ted Lasso" star dreamed he was Chuck D -- and woke up in real life performing with Flavor Flavvvvv!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained footage of Jason and Flav flawlessly nailing Public Enemy and Anthrax's classic headbanger "Bring The Noise" in Kansas City at the 8th annual THUNDERGONG charity concert inside Uptown Theater this weekend!!!

Flav gets credited as one of hip hop's greatest hype men, and Jason definitely held his own with full breath control all the way to the end of the track!!! Don't worry about Chuck ... he's still out here dropping lyrics louder than a bomb!!!

Beyoncé will have Ivy League students saying her name next semester ... the chart topper's history-making career will be studied at Yale University in 2025.

Daphne Brooks, a professor of African American Studies, American Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Music at the famed university, will be teaching a class inspired by the evolution of Beyoncé's career ... including her sound, fashion, and use of visual media.

The class, titled "Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music," will be offered next semester ... and will trace "the relationship between Beyoncé’s artistic genius and Black intellectual practice."

Diddy won his first Grammy Award memorializing The Notorious B.I.G., riding The Police's already established hit ... and Sting says there's no need to disrupt history!!!

In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Sting was asked about potentially canceling Diddy's "I'll Be Missing You" ... the 1998 smash hit that sampled his group's "Every Breath You Take" from 1983.

Diddy's catalog has been streaming well since his indictment and arrest, which would naturally include one of his biggest hits -- much to the approval of the legendary rocker.

Diddy's lawyers say they've received a trove of discovery material from the government over the past 6 weeks — and they’re going after the federal prosecutors' assertion there's a possible second victim.

According to legal docs filed Friday and obtained by TMZ, Diddy's attorneys attacked the government's claim there was a potential second victim of Diddy's alleged sex trafficking operation.

As you know, the original indictment pointed specifically to one unnamed victim, who seems to be his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, based on the allegations. The feds charged Diddy with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Bhad Bhabie's boyfriend, Le Vaughn, was spotted out in public for the first time since TMZ confirmed she’s been battling cancer.

Vaughn was in Tarzana in L.A. Friday, taking a casual stroll with their baby daughter -- who they welcomed in March -- in a stroller, making the most of some one-on-one time in the sunshine.

There was no sign of Bhabie, AKA Danielle Bregoli, who we're told is currently under the care of a doctor.