TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Jim Jones is having a hard time wrapping his head around the bruhaha revolving around Snoop Dogg, Nelly and other rap stars performing for Donald Trump's Prezzy gala ... he remembers the time rappers were considered enemies of the state!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the Harlem Capo on Thursday with Dyce Payso as he put the finishing touches on his upcoming album "At The Church Steps" inside the NYC Pelle Pelle store.

The pioneering hip hop fashion brand will add to his photoshoot, but it's the politics Jim says he doesn't have a handle on.

Xzibit's estranged wife is back in court claiming she's still experiencing extreme financial hardships since they split in 2021 ... and now she's asking the judge to force the rapper to fork over more money to get back to the luxury life she once had.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained court docs obtained by X's ex, Krista Joiner, on Thursday, hoping to modify her existing spousal support from the West Coast rapper after she says her lifestyle has been downgraded.

According to Krista, she and the 12-year-old son she shares with Xzibit had to move out of the 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home they were renting for $10K a month ... and she doesn't have the means to buy herself or son designer clothes.

Tyler, The Creator is showing love to his hometown by providing meals to people on Skid Row ... and he's dishing out distinctive plates!

A rep for the Los Angeles Mission tells TMZ ... Tyler is donating enough food to feed around 100 people Thursday, and the items include shrimp tempura and Cream of Wheat.

We're told a member of Tyler's camp delivered all the necessary ingredients Wednesday to make the special meals, and L.A. Mission's executive chef Erik Grant is set to serve it all up!

Lizzo's clearly loving her slimmed-down body ... and, she's giving her fans another look at her fantastic form with a selfie focused on her booty!

The singer-songwriter shared the photo on Instagram Wednesday ... kicking off a post full of memes with one thing that's certainly not a joke -- her black underwear showing off her backside.

Lizzo's tossing a sultry look at the camera ... and, reminding everyone she's been working hard for a couple years to get healthier and reach her ideal weight.

A$AP Relli broke his silence for the first time since his ex-pal A$AP Rocky was found not guilty Tuesday ... by posting an IG story and telling his haters to shove it!!!

There's a push for the D.A. to go after Relli for alleged perjury after his testimony was rejected by the jury -- but he says he's not bothered!!!

"Gossiping is a form of entertainment for people who have no meaningful goals or purpose in life, hate me, bring shame to my name, say bad things about me, I don't care. Your existence doesn't add any value in my life." 🙏🏾

The world is A$AP Rocky’s oyster after being acquitted of assault charges ... and he's using his free time wisely -- with a shopping spree, of course!

The rapper was chill and grinning in Beverly Hills Wednesday, splurging on some high-end designers -- and with Rihanna's birthday today, looks like he’s loading up on a luxe haul for her.

RiRi’s hitting the big 3-7 today, and judging by how A$AP jumped right into her arms when his verdict came through earlier this week, it’s clear she’s his ultimate queen. No surprise here -- looks like he'll definitely be all about spoiling his partner and the mother of their two sons with some serious gifts.

Bhad Bhabie's completely changing up her look ... showing off a new hairstyle and glam makeup look -- just a couple weeks after saying she's moving on from her ex.

The internet personality and rapper shared a selfie Wednesday afternoon of her bleach blonde locks -- with bangs hanging down to the top of her eyes.

Her face is caked in makeup too ... bringing out the fullness of her lips and adding a bit more color to her face.

A$AP Rocky's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, is riding high after the not guilty verdict -- though he did confess he was this close to a heart attack right before it was read.

Tacopina swung by "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... revealing that when the judge polled the jury before reading out the verdict, his heart sank -- convinced they'd lost the case. In fact, he says the moment was so intense, he swears it felt like years were shaved off his life.

Check out the clip -- JT dives deeper into the nerve-wracking moment, admitting he’d never had a jury polled in any of his NYC cases ... saying the tension was so thick he even asked if it was standard practice in California.

Irv Gotti's funeral service went down in NYC on Wednesday ... and the late music czar's industry friends all supported his final sendoff!!!

Sources from inside the funeral service tell TMZ Hip Hop that Irv's service brought out the game's biggest stars, alongside his family ... his Murder Inc. artists Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore and Vita were all present, as were Jay-Z, Fat Joe, Steve Stoute, Hype Williams, Benny Boom, Angie Martinez, the Ruff Ryders and more.

Ja was captured choking up delivering a passionate eulogy for his lifelong friend, while Hov looked on ... and we're told not a dry eye was in the house when more stories began to flood in.

Cardi B's voluptuous Valentine's Day with NFL star Stefon Diggs didn't disrupt the rap queen's scheduled family time -- on the contrary, she hosted a grand feast that made her server's night!!!

Sources tell TMZ Hip Hop Cardi rolled up with a large crew to White Horse Tavern, one of the oldest pubs in Manhattan's West Village. It's a living artifact -- established in 1880!!!

We're told Cardi's bunch was about 10 people, including kids, in what looked to be her grandpa, cousins, and relatives ... no sightings of Offset, or her new football flame, though.

Spike Lee is one of the many supporters happy to see A$AP Rocky beat his assault trial, and for great reason ... the movie he stars in is now able to move full steam ahead!!!

On Tuesday, the acclaimed director thanked the hip hop superstar's jury of his peers for not buying A$AP Relli's claims and finding the rapper not guilty -- and Spike shared the first look of their upcoming film "Highest 2 Lowest."

Rocky stars opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's reimagination of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film "High & Low" ... and Rocky will undoubtedly be on board for the press runs.

A$AP Rocky dodged a guilty verdict this week, but one juror isn’t personally letting him off that easy -- saying she believes a crime may have been committed, but other factors kept him from being convicted.

Freelance journalist Nique Laclaire spoke with a juror after Rocky’s not-guilty verdict Tuesday, and the woman revealed some jurors -- made up of 7 women and 5 men -- did believe the alleged prop gun was actually a real firearm ... but "Unfortunately they didn't have enough evidence to convict on the charges that were handed down to us."

The juror said it was "kind of a little mysterious the way it disappeared and they couldn't produce it as evidence."

A$AP Rocky went out to celebrate his big legal win last night with his partner and baby mama Rihanna, going straight from the drab courtroom to a fancy dining room.

Photogs caught up with Rocky and Rihanna outside the restaurant Gravitas in Beverly Hills Tuesday night, hours after a jury acquitted the rapper on two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic weapon ... and the couple was all smiles.

Rocky was clearly feeling the weight lifted off his shoulders, thanking bystanders with genuine emotion who congratulated him on his legal victory. Asked how he felt now it's all over, he said ... "Amazing."

6:05 PM PT -- Rihanna just reacted to Rocky's verdict on Instagram writing ... "The glory belongs to God and God alone!

She added ... "Thankful, humbled by his mercy!"

The verdict in A$AP Rocky's assault trial was just announced -- Rocky has been found not guilty.

Rocky's partner and mother of his two sons, Rihanna, was sobbing, and gave Rocky's defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, a big hug. As the jurors exited one by one, Rocky said to them ... "Thank you for saving my life."

Outside the courtroom, Rocky thanked God and the jury for allowing him to be a free man ... telling reporters and fans he was happy to put the legal saga behind him.

Rihanna was there by Rocky's side, just as she was in court ... when he jumped into the gallery to hug her after the verdict was read. Rihanna did not talk to reporters and after some brief comments from Rocky, the couple meandered through a throng of reporters and escaped in their black SUV.

Joe held court after his client left and ripped the prosecution and its star witness A$AP Relli ... saying Relli, not Rocky, is the real criminal here ... claiming Relli perjured himself multiple times during the trial and urging the D.A. to go after Relli next.

Tacopina said he was happy for Rocky, RiRi and their two kids ... relaying the family is ready to move on from the trial.

The Los Angeles jury began deliberations Tuesday morning after closing arguments were completed Friday afternoon ... the rapper was charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and Rocky would have faced a possible 24-year prison sentence if he were found guilty.

A$AP Rocky -- legal name Rakim Mayers -- was arrested in 2022, accused of firing a gun at former associate and friend A$AP Relli outside a hotel in Hollywood in 2021. Rocky turned down a plea deal from prosecutors last month.

Rocky's defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, maintained his client could not have shot Relli -- legal name Terell Ephron -- because Rocky only carried a prop gun with him at the time. Relli testified his knuckles were scraped by a bullet.

Relli's testimony got heated at times ... with fireworks popping off between himself and Tacopina.

Rocky chose not to testify ... though his voice was heard in court when he yelled at his pal A$AP Twelvyy "Don't say!!!" when prosecutors asked him on the stand what "AWGE" stands for. AWGE is the name of Rocky's creative agency with "Fight Club"-level secrecy rules attached to it.

Rihanna played a background role in the proceedings -- prospective jurors were asked during the selection process whether they'd heard of A$AP or Rihanna, listened to their music, or downloaded any of their songs. A jury of seven women and five men were selected ... none of them Black.

Diddy's ex Cassie says she has another bun in the oven!

Cassie hopped on Instagram Tuesday to announce she's pregnant with her third child, posting a photo that shows off her baby bump with her two other kids -- Frankie and Sunny --  kissing her belly.

In the caption, Cassie wrote "#3" with a pregnancy emoji, indicating the number of children she now shares with hubby Alex Fine, who she married in 2019.

Lil Tjay's days roaming inside Madison Square Garden have come to an end, TMZ can confirm.

The Bronx-bred rapper spewed a batch of juicy "hawk tuah" in a guard's face during the WBO lightweight champion bout between Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk on Friday -- and the world-renowned venue says he can't come back!!!

Madison Square Garden tells TMZ ... “Our policy is that patrons that engage in confrontational and disruptive behavior will be escorted out and banned from all MSG properties.”