A$AP Rocky It's All Love At My Gun Trial

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SENDIN' LOVE
Blonae Media

A$AP Rocky is staying positive despite going to court on a gun charge that could put him behind bars ... just take a listen to what he had to say after the first day of his gun trial.

The rapper broke his silence Friday after court wrapped, sending a three-word message to his fans.

Rocky tried to sneak out a side door to avoid a throng of reporters and paparazzi ... but TMZ has the first video of him speaking since his trial began.

DJ Unk 'Walk It Out' Rapper Dead at 43

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Atlanta rapper and DJ Unk has died ... TMZ has learned.

Unk's wife, Sherkita Long-Platt, posted on Facebook Friday afternoon ... "Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I LOVE YOU ANTHONY FOREVER"

Unk -- legal name Anthony Leonard Platt -- started out in the late 1990s, eventually forming Southern Style DJs with DJ Montay and DJ Jelly, throwing parties around Georgia. Unk got signed to Big Oomp Records in 2000, along with Montay.

A$AP Rocky Trial Erika Jayne's Son Testifies ... Cop Is First Witness

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More proof Hollywood is a small town ... the first witness at A$AP Rocky's gun trial was an LAPD officer, who just so happens to be the son of Erika Jayne.

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TESTIFYING TO THE COURT

Thomas Zizzo was called to the stand Friday as Rocky's trial got underway in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse ... and he told the jury about his ties to the case.

Turns out, Erika's son was one of the cops who responded to the alleged shooting ... and he testified about what he saw at the scene when he arrived.

Trae Tha Truth My Ex Tried To Turn Our Daughter Against Me!!!

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TRUTH WILL COME OUT
TMZ.com

Trae Tha Truth says his baby mama tried to teach their daughter he was her enemy ... but now he has full custody of their kid, he's showing her how much he loves her.

The Houston rapper tells TMZ ... his ex, Heather Cuevas, manipulated their daughter Truth into thinking her father wanted nothing to do with her ... but he says that couldn't be further from the truth.

Trae and his lawyer, Stephanie Proffitt, claims Heather's been making a string of false claims against Trae ever since their kid was born ... hoping to make something stick.

Diddy Federal Prosecutors Directed Raid On My Cell ... And I Got The Proof!!!

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The infamous raid on Diddy's cell in a New York City jail was spearheaded by the very federal prosecutors who charged the music mogul with sex trafficking and other serious crimes -- at least according to Diddy's lawyers, who say they have the proof!

Diddy's lawyers filed new legal documents flat-out accusing Southern District of New York prosecutors of directing the November 2024 sweep of Diddy's cell with the help of Bureau of Prison correctional officers inside Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center.

In the docs, Diddy's lawyers point to a meeting between BOP officials and other federal agencies on the morning of the second day of the sweep to discuss a potential search of Diddy's unit ... and they say supervisors from SDNY, including the Diddy trial team's unit chief, weighed in that a search of Diddy's cell was warranted.

A$AP Rocky Assault Trial Underway in L.A.

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A$AP Rocky's felony assault trial got underway Friday morning ... days after the Grammy-nominated rapper rejected a plea deal -- and we're live streaming the whole thing. Rocky faces a potential 24-year prison sentence if he's found guilty.

Rocky's attorney Joe Tacopina and prosecutor Paul Bradley started the morning off addressing the judge in the downtown L.A. courtroom before the jury was seated.

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WE NEED MORE TIME

The two sides were arguing over evidence related to bullet casings -- and, Judge Mark S. Arnold decided the defense is free to consult a firearms expert on the court's dime ... but, no evidence was excluded. The judge ruled nothing the two attorneys argued about is allowed to be mentioned in their opening statements, and the jury was then brought in.

A$AP Rocky Plea Deal Was No Deal for My Career

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UPDATE

9:30 AM PT -- Rocky's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, tells TMZ, aside from the proposed plea bargain being a career ender for his client, "He is not taking ANY PLEA, because he has always maintained his innocence."

A$AP Rocky rolled the dice and rejected a plea bargain in his felony assault case because the deal would have cost him his livelihood, sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

Rocky's trial starts this morning with opening statements, and he now faces 24 years in prison for allegedly shooting A$AP Relli in November 2021.

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READY FOR TRIAL
BACKGRID

The plea deal he was offered included 180 days in jail, a guilty plea to the most serious of the 2 felonies for which he was charged -- assault with a semiautomatic weapon -- a 7-year suspended sentence, 3 years probation and 500 hours of community service.

Kanye West I'm a Billionaire Again!!!

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Kanye West's financial portfolio may be "Stronger" than anyone realizes ... the rapper is declaring he's a billionaire again -- and claims to have proof.

The "Heartless" artist shared an update on his net worth on Instagram Thursday evening, when he posted a statement from Eton Ventures, a business valuation company ... which claimed Bianca Censori's husband was now worth $2.77 billion.

Per the statement, the company came to this valuation based on his "music portfolio" and Ye's "sole ownership of the Yeezy mark."

Alexis Skyy Telling My Whole Truth ... Claims Ex-Friend Hit Her First!!!

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NEVER MY BEST FRIEND

Alexis Skyy says everybody's gotta pump the brakes when it comes to the new video allegedly showing her assaulting a man ... claiming it doesn't tell the whole story -- 'cause she didn't start the violence.

The "Love & Hip Hop" star took to Instagram Live Thursday to tell her side of the alleged altercation ... claiming she let Anthony Gaskin -- the man accusing Skyy of assault -- into her life as a business partner and even gave him a place to stay.

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HALLWAY SCUFFLE
TMZ.com

Skyy says Gaskin paid back her generosity by stealing from her ... before one day coming to her front door, hitting her and throwing an air freshener at her face.

A$AP Rocky We the Jury Are NOT Black ... 12 Jurors Seated for His Assault Trial

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A$AP Rocky will be judged by a jury of his peers in his felony assault trial -- but none of those peers are Black.

Jury selection in Rocky's trial for allegedly shooting A$AP Relli just wrapped up in downtown L.A., and the gender split is 7 women and 5 men. What's kinda odd, considering L.A.'s population, is there's not a single Black juror.

Keep in mind, both Rocky and the alleged victim are African-American. The jurors are white, Asian and Hispanic. Four alternate jurors who were selected are all women ... and not Black.

SZA Surprise, I'm Joining K. Dot!!! ... For SB Halftime Show

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Kendrick Lamar's highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show just got even more exciting ... 'cause SZA is joining in on the party!

Apple Music -- which sponsors the gig -- dropped the news out of nowhere on Thursday, announcing the 4x Grammy Award winner would be joining K. Dot in NOLA on February 9.

The platform also shared a new teaser for the show, featuring Kendrick on the phone discussing the possibility of adding someone to his set list ... when SZA creeps up behind him and dumps a jug full of blue liquid all over the "Not Like Us" MC.

Alexis Skyy Alleged Assault on Video ... Friend Says She Jumped Him

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HALLWAY SCUFFLE
TMZ.com

New video appears to show Alexis Skyy jumping her former friend at an Atlanta apartment complex ... and cops are now involved.

TMZ obtained video that appears to show the "Love & Hip Hop" star and her former associate Anthony Gaskin getting into it back in October ... and it looks like Alexis confronts him in a hallway and lands a punch.

Surveillance footage also shows two other people punching and kicking Gaskin in the hallway, and throwing him to the floor.

A$AP Rocky Potential Jurors Asked Rihanna Questions ... Do You Buy Fenty?!?

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A$AP Rocky might have a beloved baby mama, but it looks like that ain't going to help him in this trial ... 'cause prosecutors are weeding out prospective jurors with Rihanna questions!

Jury selection is currently proceeding in A$AP's trial after he turned down a plea deal and decided to fight the gun charges he's facing ... and, potential jurors are getting asked a ton of questions about both A$AP and his better half.

Among the questions they're being asked ... whether they've heard of A$AP or Rihanna, listened to their music, or downloaded any of their songs.

Project Pat Son Dead at 21 ... Shot, Killed at Memphis Park

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Famed rapper Project Pat's son has died after a shooting in a Tennessee park -- though the details around the incident are still murky ... TMZ has learned.

Patrick Houston Jr. -- son of the rapper and nephew of Three 6 Mafia co-founder Juicy J -- was killed last week in Imogene Heights, a historically Black Memphis neighborhood.

Memphis Police say the shooting went down just after 1 PM Friday ... and, when officers arrived at the scene, they found Houston dead.

Naomi Osaka I'm Playing Singles!!! ... Hits Nets Game After Cordae Breakup

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Forget ice cream and rom-coms, Naomi Osaka's apparently turning to hoops to get her mind off her recent breakup.

The tennis superstar was at the Brooklyn Nets game Wednesday night -- just a couple weeks after announcing her split from Cordae.

The 27-year-old -- who was forced to retire in the third round of the Australian Open due to an injury -- appeared to be in great spirits at the outing ... smiling and throwing up a peace sign during a break in the action.

Chris Brown's Lawyer Shame On You, Warner Bros.!!!

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trying to take advantage
TMZ.com

Chris Brown is reaching a breaking point ... he's fighting back against allegations he's a serial rapist and abuser ... and his lawyer's taking shots at a movie studio for pushing what they say are straight-up lies.

The singer's attorney, Levi McCathern, tells TMZ ... it's shameful Warner Brothers Discovery is propping up dubious sexual assault claims against Chris to make money off his reputation.

Chris' lawyer says CB is tired of laying down and taking all the crap from anonymous accusers telling lies about him in lawsuits and cheesy documentaries ... which is why they're firing back at WB with a $500 million lawsuit.