TMZ Hip Hop

Diddy is getting creative behind bars to sway a potential jury in his favor -- and he's even used his recent birthday celebration to obstruct justice in his federal criminal case, prosecutors say.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ ... federal prosecutors say Diddy -- who is currently behind bars -- recruited family members to plot and execute a media campaign around his 55th birthday earlier this month for the purpose of influencing a jury at trial.

--You may recall ... Diddy's 7 kids posted a gushing Instagram video tribute to the music mogul and they let baby Love take center stage in the singing of "Happy Birthday." The children also wrote in the caption, "Happy Birthday Pops, we love you! 🎂❤️."

Shyne says Funkmaster Flex is a well-known hater and you don't have to take just his word alone ... he says ask Jay-Z or Nas directly, or any diehard Tupac Shakur fan!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Shyne amid his vigorous press run for his upcoming Hulu doc "The Honorable Shyne," and he thanked Flex for the free promotion -- despite everything he's saying has been lies!!!

Shyne tells us Flex's beef with those hip hop heavyweights throughout the years shows his true character.

Mustard's personal life is getting ugly again ... he says his ex-wife is bashing him on social media, even though they agreed not to talk trash about each other ... and he wants a retraction.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, divorce attorney Samantha Spector claims the music producer's ex-wife, Chanel Thierry, has been violating the judge's order that they both refrain from trashing each other in public and online.

In one example, Mustard claims his ex tried to paint him as a deadbeat dad by falsely claiming the $275,000 equalization payment he made in their divorce settlement was only going toward back child support.

Mario is straight up denying a hefty allegation -- that he's the sultry-voiced "Wasp" on this season of "The Masked Singer" who's been bringing the house down!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught Mario and his manager Andy at LAX on Thursday and the R&B golden voice could not BELIEVE fans suspect him to be a Baltimore-born, former Ne-Yo understudy who survived a rough upbringing, so says the show's clues so far.

Mario says he's been bombarded with DMs from people convinced it's him -- so much that he's officially putting his name in the hat to officially appear on "Masked Singer" in the future. Have their people hit his, you know how the story goes.

Diddy and Kim Porter's twin daughters are sharing an emotional tribute on the anniversary of their late mother's death ... and they still can't believe she's gone.

D'Lila and Jessie honored Kim with a social media post Friday, saying ... "We can't believe it’s been 6years without you. We think about you every single second of the day. We love and miss you so much words can’t even explain."

Diddy's family is obviously going through a lot as he sits in jail in New York awaiting his criminal trial, and the twins say they wish Kim was here with them, but know her "spirit will be around forever!!"

Raekwon and Charlamagne Tha God's new Hashtoria dispensary is open for business -- and they're all about infusing culture with the joys of cannabis!!!

TMZ Hip Hop was on hand for the Newark grand opening of Hashtoria this week ... the Wu-Tang and Breakfast Club maestros co-founded the operation with attorney Bakari Sellers and entrepreneur Jedd Canty.

Rae's been crumblin' herb for a long time and is proud of his own strain "Compliments of the Chef," but assures us Method Man can smoke him and his fellow Clan soldiers under the table 👐🏾💨

Pharrell Williams had a unique approach to a swarm of animal-rights protesters -- he went full hug mode to keep the peace ... and spoiler: it didn’t exactly work.

The singer and Louis Vuitton men’s creative director was heatedly heckled outside GQ’s Men of the Year Party at the Chateau Marmont Thursday night, with one protester yelling, "What type of person still uses fur?” Pharrell, ever cool, shot back with, “I don’t. God bless you."

The drama unfolds in the video -- the same protester held up a sign to show Pharrell the impact of his apparent fur use on animals, but the singer tried to go in for a hug -- only to have his efforts totally rejected.

Megan Fox made her first appearance after her big baby announcement ... but it was only from the neck up so you couldn't see her belly.

The actress, who our sources say is 4 to 5 months along in her pregnancy, and her rock star boyfriend, Machine Gun Kelly, rolled up in a Rolls-Royce to the Chateau Marmont in L.A. for the GQ Men of the Year 2024 party.

MGK stepped out of the car and went inside the event, leaving Megan in the backseat with a driver and a security guard in the front seats.

One of Kanye West's ex-employees is lashing out at his former boss, accusing him in a new lawsuit of antisemitism and lewd conduct with Bianca Censori ... during what were supposed to be work meetings.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Murphy Aficionado says he worked for Ye as a project manager, and claims Kanye was a nightmare boss. According to the suit, Kanye summoned him to a Beverly Hills hotel room in November 2022, and when he entered, Ye was shirtless and out of breath with his pants unbuttoned and his then-girlfriend Bianca was topless with her hands barely covering her breasts. He says it was obvious they had just had sex.

During the encounter, Ye referred to Candace Owens' former lawyer as a "Jewish spy." Then, Aficionado says, Kanye abruptly dashed toward the room where Bianca was and said, "Wait right here. Do NOT leave." He says within seconds he could hear "loud moaning and clapping" and it was apparent they were having sex again.

Offset's most recent Paris night ended in fisticuffs, new video obtained from TMZ Hip Hop confirms -- and there's loads of wild footage!!!

The former Migos rap star and his boys were coming out of the Hôtel du Collectionneur Wednesday night when another group of men aggressively confronted them at the entrance.

Sources in the streets say the men were part of French rapper Gazo's entourage, who grew enraged after they paid Offset $150K for a video shoot, and "laziness" caused him to fail at meeting their requirements.

Diddy is coming out swinging against former artist Shyne's continuous media campaign that he was scapegoated in their 1999 shooting trial!!!

Shyne's recent supercharged run of interviews featured him as "a sacrificial lamb" in a "demonic" plot ... but Diddy's legal team is slamming those claims once and for all.

A rep for Diddy tells TMZ Hip Hop ...  "Mr. Combs categorically denies Mr. Barrow’s allegations, including any suggestion that he orchestrated Mr. Barrow to 'take the fall' or 'sacrificed' him by directing witnesses to testify against him. These claims are unequivocally false."

SZA just celebrated her 35th birthday and grew into a moment of clarity ... her BBL surgery was completely unnecessary. She's a hot tamale without it!!!

The R&B superstar is Vogue UK's new cover star, and she opened up about the Brazilian butt lift she first revealed on her blockbuster "SOS" album ... she regrets it, but it's not the end of the world!!!

“I’m so mad I did that s***," SZA said. "I gained all this weight from being immobile while recovering and trying to preserve the fat. It was just so stupid."

Shyne hit the NYC pavement hard this week, reminding everyone Diddy ruined his life following the infamous 1999 club shooting -- the actions of a "demonic" man!!!

The former Bad Boy Records star sat for "Good Morning America," and the current Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives said he wasn't surprised about Diddy's current incarceration.

Shyne says Diddy evilly left him to rot in prison, serving nearly 9 years ... he could've done 25!!!!

50 Cent's incentive to build a film empire in Shreveport, Louisiana looks to be going out in a wash ... the state's House of Representatives decided this week to eliminate its $150 million tax incentive -- just as his operation was getting revved up!!!

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux spelled out the doomsday for the tax credit to local outlets, and didn't have any resolutions top of mind for 50 Cent when asked about the future.

50 gave the people of Louisiana words of encouragement by preaching patience on Thursday .... but like the mayor said, things are looking grim.

The attorney who is representing more than 120 alleged victims against Diddy says he's setting his sights on other high-profile people who attended "Freak-Offs" -- even if they did nothing illegal.

Attorney Tony Buzbee appears in our new Tubi documentary, "TMZ Presents The Downfall of Diddy: Inside the Freak-Offs" ... and he is going full bore. Buzbee says if there were people at the freak-offs who watched people who were sexually abused after being drugged and they did nothing to stop it, they're just as guilty as the perpetrators.

That said, Buzbee tells us there are other celebrities, politicians and businesspeople in his crosshairs.