TMZ Hip Hop

3:38 PM PT -- Diddy’s family spokesperson Juda Engelmayer tells TMZ ... "Mr. Combs is in his first week at FCI Fort Dix and is focused on adjusting, working on himself, and doing better each day. As with any high-profile individual in a new environment, there will be many rumors and exaggerated stories throughout his time there—most of them untrue. We ask that people give him the benefit of the doubt, the privacy to focus on his personal growth with grace and purpose."

Diddy's sobriety journey took a detour in lockup this week ... TMZ has learned he was drinking behind bars and got in some trouble with prison officials.

Sources with knowledge tell TMZ ... Diddy had some homemade alcohol in Fort Dix, the low-security prison where he's doing time. We're told the alcohol is made of Fanta, sugar and apples, which inmates give two weeks to ferment into an alcoholic substance.

We're told Diddy got caught by jail officials and prison officials planned to move him from his old unit into a new one. Two sources tell TMZ prison officials have now reversed their decision and Diddy will stay put.

Rapper Maxo Kream can get back to rolling in peace ... he cut a deal with prosecutors and got the criminal case against him stemming from a traffic stop in Texas last July dropped!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained docs signed by a judge on Friday, Nov. 7, showing the case has been dismissed ... thanks to a deal with prosecutors arranged by his legal team.

Maxo had been charged with unlawful carrying of guns by a registered gang member after police say they found 2 in the vehicle on July 7 ... but now the case has been dropped in exchange for the rapper forfeiting the guns and agreeing to some community service and a gun safety class.

Hit-Boy and The Alchemist have been taking their "Goldfish" album show on the road -- to dynamite effects ... with sold-out theaters streaming their film!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Hit and Al at their recent L.A. streaming, and they tell us they wanted to give fans a more engaging experience with the project ... so they shot a bunch of videos and pieced them together in movie format!!!

There's plenty of heavy talent -- Danny Trejo, Rory Culkin, Blake Anderson, UFC star Shara Magomedov, and more -- to match the featured artist appearances ... Big Hit, Conway, The Machine, Slink Johnson, Lefty Gunplay, and others.

The nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards are officially in ... and it's nothing short of a powerhouse lineup, featuring artists like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar -- and Bad Bunny leading the charge!

The Recording Academy revealed the nominations Friday morning ... with a group of past Grammy-winners helping make the big announcement -- including Lizzo, Sam Smith, Brandi Carlile, Doechii, KAROL G and more.

In the major categories ... Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga, and Leon Thomas are just a few of the stars who scored nominations for Album of the Year -- while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Doechii, and Bruno Mars got the nod for Record of the Year.

The 2026 Grammy Awards noms are in, and the Best Rap Album category has proven to be an interesting scenario ... the hip hop stars are intertwined on each other's projects!!!

Kendrick Lamar's rookie-rapper promoting "GNX" album got spotlighted ... and the anti-Drake artist is also featured on Clipse's "Let God Sort Em Out" alongside Tyler, The Creator ... whose own "CHROMAKOPIA" album is nominated with a GloRilla feature!!!

Clipse are also featured on JID's "God Does Like Ugly" album, and GloRilla's breakout "Glorious" album stands as the only female-helmed project in the lineup.

Clipse and Kendrick's "Chain & Whips" collab is especially special ... it's also nominated for a Best Rap Performance. Kendrick and SZA are also up for both Song & Record of the Year with their supreme chart-topper, "Luther."

2025 is being touted as one of the best years for hip hop in recent memory -- just ask James Gunn -- but fans are piping hot mad with the omission of Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist's "Alfredo 2" project -- especially considering the first one was nominated at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Clipse, Kendrick and Tyler's projects are up for Album of the Year as well ... Gunn isn't capping!!!

Rick Ross is begging Jaylen Brown to "end the madness" -- calling on the Boston Celtics star to get his barber to change their ways after yet another (alleged) in-game hairline catastrophe.

The Miami rapper shared his message while he was getting a lineup this week ... shortly after Brown appeared to leave his mark on Kyshawn George's Wizards jersey during a game this week.

"Whoever your barber is, tell them to stop," Ross said. "Chill with the hair follicles, those hair follicles. He’s spraying like hair from another human on there, but you playing ball, my n****. It's causing trauma!"

Bhad Bhabie’s serving up drama again -- but this time, it’s not the messy kind ... it’s the smokin’ hot kind, as she lights up IG with some seriously sizzling snaps!

See for yourself ... the rapper flaunted her tattooed curves in a tight white corset and matching hot pants, striking some seriously scandalous poses that has IG in a chokehold.

As you can see, BB was feelin’ herself big time ... her white-hot 'fit perfectly popping against that deep, bronzed glow.

Mike Epps is headlining the "We Dem Ones" comedy tour for the first time after hosting it for several years -- and he's tasked with dividing stage time among all the comic stars!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Mike at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills late Thursday afternoon ... Chico Bean, DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and T.K. Kirkland are just a handful of the heavy-hitters who will be clawing for the spotlight and bringing their own respective fanbases to the 35-city tour starting Feb. 2026.

Mike tells us the solution is simple -- he'll break up the time like a music fest -- tons of acts and plenty of opportunities for the comedians to get their jokes in.

Blueface just may have found his new GF after all ... in the arms of Hazel-E, judging from their steamy, intimate party encounter!

The two artists/reality stars were spotted at well-known celebrity hotspot MEMEHOUSE Productions -- the same place Justin Bieber plays basketball -- vibing to the music and clearly feeling each other's vibes too.

Blueface is leaning into Hazel here ... wrapping her up in hugs and whispering in her ear -- sans shirt, just BTW.

50 Cent poured gas on Lil Meech's trail after "BMF" was officially canceled last week ... but "Power" alum Joseph Sikora says it doesn't have to be end of the road!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with Joseph in NYC and got his thoughts on the latest fallout that had 50 ribbing Meech for being in the unemployment line.

Joseph tells us he's seen firsthand how Meech blossomed into an actor and is certain that he can still find work in Hollywood, even if it's not within 50's film universe.

Comedian Deon Cole had the internet debating after he called out Kai Cenat for gleefully knowing Black celebrities when he was hired to stream at this year's BET Awards ... an inevitable part of the game, according to Consequence!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Consequence leaving Prada on Rodeo Drive, Wednesday afternoon, and the veteran rapper tells us he's experienced Kai and his BFF Rakai's cluelessness firsthand when they tried to write off his son, Caiden The Crownholder, as just the "rapping n***a" and not the artist who's burning up TikTok!!!

Deon's words resonated with many ... and Cons, being from the true school and all, gets the issue, but seeing that the wave has switched to streaming and clout-chasing, there's not much anyone can do about it. 🤷🏾‍♂️

Blueface is out of prison and calling out names ... Jaidyn Alexis, Chrisean Rock and Angela -- who barely made it 5 minutes with him -- for FAILING to hold him down while he was behind bars!!!

Drama has been sky high since Blueface was released this week ... Jaidyn threatened to beat up Chrisean for being too close to her kids, but in a shocking turn of events, Blueface says Chrisean was more of a ride-or-die than Jaidyn was!!!

Blueface says he wasn't hung up on them sleeping with other people while he was locked up for 21 months, but he criticized Jaidyn for blowing the $90K he gave her and being more focused on experimenting with women than his well-being!!!

Denzel Curry and Armani White’s friendly game of basketball was interrupted Thursday ... when the rap stars had to gang up on a vagrant sleazing around the park who was threatening to kill the kids!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of the "GOATED." collaborators at Plummer Park in West Hollywood from earlier this afternoon ... draped in hooping gear but heavily focused on the timeout they took to address a man sitting in the grass.

Our tipster says the group had just finished playing HORSE when Denzel, Armani and another player approached the man ... after hearing him scream at the children playing on the jungle gym, “I will kill all these kids and burn their fucking bodies!!!”

Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have multiple years in prison time looming ... but a handful of his famous friends are doing their part to ensure President Donald Trump swoops through with a golden pardon!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained a pardon application filed by Kingston's legal reps at Goldberg Segalla, in addition to letters written on behalf of Soulja Boy, Jack Doherty and Safaree from July sent to the White House, pleading for SK's freedom.

A legal rep for Sean confirms they filed the paperwork, which they're hopeful will spring into action once it graces the White House's offices.

Killer Mike's blood type is A positive for all things Atlanta, and he's all set to induct Outkast into the Rock Hall of Fame ... but he also wants to see one of his beloved Braves get their just due!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Mike at LAX on Wednesday afternoon, beaming with pride about giving André 3000 and Big Boi their "roses" while they can still smell them.

Outkast actually gave Mike his start back in 2000, debuting him via DJ Clue's "Backstage" compilation, as well as on their classic "Stankonia" album ... onward to releasing his own solo debut, "Monster," through their Aquemini record label in 2003.