TMZ Hip Hop - Page 8

9:22 AM PT -- Yak Gotti's mother Latasha Kendrick gave a passionate speech outside the courtroom after her son's not-guilty verdict ... doubling down support on his decision not to take a plea deal and fight the case, even at the risk of her own freedom.

Young Thug's co-defendant Yak Gotti just shrugged off a jailhouse stabbing, and he's set to walk out a free man ... after being found NOT GUILTY on all charges in the spiraling YSL RICO trial!!!

The embattled rapper, who's been integral for Thug's YSL Records since the start, was smiling as he hugged his lawyer, Doug Weinstein, who supported him through the knife attack a few days ago.

Another defendant, Shannon Stillwell, was given probation for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and also shared an emotional moment with his attorney. He was found not guilty of murder, among other charges.

The YSL RICO trial is the longest-running in Georgia's history and its top target, Young Thug, struck a plea deal that sprung him with a lengthy probation ... legal pundit Meghann Cuniff said the Peach State should be embarrassed about their results.

Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, told the media outlets on the scene ... “We always respect the verdict of a jury.

Yak and Stillwell were the last two defendants in the case and now assume to resume business as usual ... making hit records!!!

No word or not if that includes Gunna going forward.

Speculation about Kendrick Lamar releasing another album before the Super Bowl may have to pipe down for a bit ... he's taking his No. 1 album on the road -- and SZA is coming too!!!

On Tuesday, Kendrick and SZA popped the surprise announcement about their Grand National Tour -- just like they did on their “GNX” collabs “Luther” and “Gloria” in November.

The 21-city tour will take the dynamic duo through hubs like Dallas, Atlanta, East Rutherford, N.J., a pair of L.A. dates, and even an opportunity to be at New Ho King for fried rice with a dip sauce and blammy -- with a stop in Toronto!!! The tour starts in April, with tickets going on sale Wednesday.

Rihanna is famous for her high sense of fashion ... but some fans are mistaking her latest ensemble for the Cookie Monster!

The singer attended The Fashion Awards in London, England, this week with her rapper boyfriend, A$AP Rocky — and she donned a shaggy light blue oversized hat with a matching coat along with a black Christian Lacroix FW02 Couture dress.

Pretty fashionable one might think ... but it didn't seem to go over too well with a handful of Rihanna's supporters on X.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are looking like real fashion killers over in England ... turning heads at the London Fashion Awards.

The "Love On The Brain" singer and the "Fashion Killa" rapper are at Monday's event across the pond, looking absolutely spectacular ... with RiRi commanding all the attention with her furry blue outfit.

Rihanna and A$AP are at Royal Albert Hall to accept his cultural innovator award ... and reports from the UK say the couple showed up fashionably late.

LL Cool J isn't waiting until he passes to smell the roses -- he's ordered himself a bouquet of Hip Hop flowers and the little card reads, "HE'S THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!"

That was the DEFinitive statement when LL recently sat with Apple Music's "Le Code" podcast where he put his legacy in stone ... "I’m going to say this humbly, but I really mean this ... I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL Cool J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe one day people are going to say that."

He colorfully continued to make his case using an array of bejeweled metaphors, but LL spit his brightest gems reminding fans of the game-changers he contributed to Hip Hop culture.

Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" dominance wasn't just felt on the Billboard 200 album chart -- the pgLang gang leader also has 7 out of the Top 10 new entries in the Hot 100!!!

Billboard unveiled the singles chart on Monday, revealing K. Dot's owned the Hot 100 with the top 5 entries, in addition to the number 8 and number 9 slots ... newcomers Lucky Gunplay and Dody6 have their first Billboard entries as a result.

The cherry on top comes with Kendrick's newest banger "Squabble Up," which is also the new top song in the country -- his 3rd No. 1 record this year, behind the lawsuit-attracting "Not Like Us" and Future and Metro Boomin's "Like That"!!!

We just spoke to RJMrLA about his cameo in the "Squabble Up" video -- he couldn't decide which was better between it and "Not Like Us" because he considers both to be certified anthems.

JasonMartin saluted K. Dot once again, this time for not even needing the "NLU" heat to move his chart-topping 319K units ... just pure West Coast adrenaline!!!

Young Thug may have sprung out of jail, but one of his co-defendants is still having a rough time behind bars ... dodging sharp, pointy objects that want to take him out!!!

According to reports straight outta Fulton County, Georgia ... YSL rapper Yak Gotti, AKA Deamonte Kendrick, was involved in an altercation on the inside with another inmate on Sunday, resulting in him being stabbed!!!

"Kendrick received treatment for minor injuries from a sharp object at the Fulton County Jail," Fulton County Sheriff's Office Communications Director Natalie Ammons tells TMZ Hip Hop.

Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" album was a surprise drop but his timing has proved to be perfect ... he has the top album in the country, even bigger than the more promoted "Wicked" soundtrack!!!

Billboard rolled out the final tally for K. Dot's new age West Coast classic on Monday, which moved 319K album equivalent units ... making a Munchkin out of the 139K units the "Wicked" soundtrack sold!!!

Maybe they should have let fans sing in theaters ... could've spread the word about the OST.

Drake's lawsuit against the powers that helped make "Not Like Us" a cultural phenomenon proves he knows NOTHING about Hip Hop culture, says Charlamagne Tha God, who's calling "The Boy" the supreme donkey of the day!!!

"The Breakfast Club" co-host was on vacay last week and echoed much of the disgust we heard from Peter Rosenberg, Joe Budden and others for Drake's lack of awareness, considering that he also participated in the grimy 2024 Rap Wars.

CThaGod predicted Drake's "white side" and investors at UMG would convince him to file a lawsuit several months ago, on the 500th episode of his 'Brilliant Idiots' podcast.

Diddy is facing another alleged abuse lawsuit ... with a woman claiming he dangled her over the edge of a balcony, 17 stories off the ground.

Bryana “Bana” Bongolan filed the lawsuit in L.A. Superior Court earlier this week ... suing Diddy for sexual battery, false imprisonment, and other claims.

In the suit, Bongolan accuses Diddy of dangling her over the edge of a balcony at his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura's apartment in September 2016.

They may have a lot of money in the bank, but even celebrities can't resist a good deal ... with many going out shopping on Black Friday.

Big names like Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez and Chris Hemsworth hit the streets on Friday ... going to a series of different stores dressed in comfy clothes for an all-day shopping spree.

Ben Affleck took his son Sam to Amoeba Records to shop exclusive Black Friday deals ... perusing through the albums and walking away with a bag full of goodies.

Kanye West and Bianca Censori are still living it up in Tokyo ... just recently being snapped while visiting a mall there.

The high-profile couple mugged for the cameras, both in all-white ... Bianca in a skin-tight ensemble ... as they took in the city's nightlife.

They seemed to be in a much happier mood than the last time we saw them ... which was last week at Ukiyo restaurant in Tokyo ... where they looked pretty glum-faced.

It looks like Lil Xan didn't get away unscathed after he roughed up a concertgoer last week ... 'cause it appears the rapper got body-slammed right afterward.

In exclusive video obtained by TMZ ... LX can be seen being whisked away and thrown to the ground by a larger dude ... not long after he threw a mic at a man in the audience before kicking him in the face.

It is unclear if the guy who threw Lil Xan to the ground was security ... but whoever he was, it was clear he wasn't putting up with any nonsense.

Lizzo continued to wow fans with her dramatic weight loss ... this time while preparing to host Thanksgiving dinner.

The singer showed off her trimmed-down physique in a skin-tight dress with flowers, writing ... "Y'all wasn't the only ones eating yesterday."

The video marked the second time in a week Lizzo stunned fans with her weight loss ... she posted pics on IG last weekend, also showing off her new look.

Juice WRLD's posthumous release isn't getting a lot of love from his fans ... with many taking to X and calling the record an affront to his legacy.

"The Party Never Ends" -- JW's newest release -- dropped Friday ... and, while many were looking forward to the new record, some didn't feel it lived up to the late rapper's rigorous standards.

Look at some of the social media comments ... people are slamming every part of the production -- from track selection to underwhelming features and everything in between.

Some of Hollywood's fallen stars won't be chowing down on lavish meals tomorrow ... 'cause even though they're getting turkey and other Thanksgiving staples behind bars, it ain't gonna be what they're used to.

TMZ's done our yearly check ... and, we know the Thanksgiving menus in prison for inmates like Tekashi 6ix9ine, Suge Knight, Danny Masterson and Tory Lanez, among others.

Here's what everyone's gobblin' down: