TMZ Hip Hop - Page 25

Odell Beckham Jr. is rallying behind Chris Brown, who's been sitting in a UK jail cell since Thursday, taking to social media with a message of support -- "Free Breeeezyyy!"

Brown, 36, was locked up last week for an alleged incident going back to 2023 ... when the Grammy Award-winning performer allegedly smashed a liquor bottle over a music producer's head.

CB was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm ... and will remain in custody until his first appearance at London's Southwark Crown Court on June 13.

Breezy fans have been outraged over the idea of Chris sitting behind bars ... and Beckham is right there with 'em.

Today is the seventh day of testimony in Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York City ... David James, a former personal assistant to the rap mogul, is still on the witness stand -- and he testified to what he described as "Diddy-bopping" ... which he described as taking drugs and drinking Ciroc vodka, Diddy's own brand.

Minutes into the proceeding, David James was asked by the prosecution if he'd ever taken Ecstasy. James replied ... "Yes. I was drinking Ciroc, I took Ecstasy, I was 'Diddy-bopping.'" He then clarifies -- "I was vibing."

James testified he was recorded by a videographer who filmed the parties. James said Diddy asked him ... "Hey Playboy, was that you dancing around at the party?" When James said it was, he testifies Diddy said he was going to keep the video in case he ever needed it ... the prosecutor asked him what that meant -- James said "That I'd be embarrassed."

James was asked by the prosecution if he had ever observed physical violence between Diddy and his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura ... James said he had not.

A bunch of Average Joes and Janes will get a chance to go head-to-head with the biggest names in sports and entertainment ... and if that wasn't cool enough, there's also nearly $2 million in prizes on the line!!

The folks at Fanatics are taking things up a notch at this year's annual "Fanatics Fest" in NYC from June 20-22 ... launching a competition consisting of 50 celebs and 50 regular folks who will participate in eight sports-themed challenges with high stakes.

The event is called "Fanatics Games" ... and names like Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Cody Rhodes, James Harden, Jayden Daniels, Liv Morgan and IShowSpeed are all slated to participate for the celebs.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were projecting Hollywood glamour as they walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival Monday ... effortlessly displaying grace as they smiled for the cameras.

The superstar couple is in France to attend the festival and promote Spike Lee's new film "Highest 2 Lowest," in which Rocky stars opposite Denzel Washington.

RiRi's wearing a flowing bright baby-blue gown with cutouts showing off her pregnancy, and her hair swept up in an up-do with a side bang, showing off some extravagant diamond earrings.

Megan Thee Stallion is fighting back at Tory Lanez fans who still don't believe he shot her, despite what a jury in Los Angeles ruled ... and she's got some choice words for him too.

Megan unloaded on Tory in a social media rant Monday, posting on TikTok ... "At what point are yall gonna stop making me have to re live being shot BY TORY !? At what point are Tory and yall FANS gonna stop lying ? Like how much is the check to keep harassing me? Why is this happening EVERY DAY?"

MTS continued ... "One min him/ yall said I was never shot now yall letting him play in yall face AGAIN and say I was shot but it wasn't him oh okay... ?! I'm sick of this s*** LEAVE ME TF ALONE!!!!"

Megan added ... "HE AINT DARE GET ON THAT STAND AND DENY HE SHOT ME AND THAT WAS HIS CHOICE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE DID THAT S***! IDGAF ABT A BLOG OR A BOT!!! WHY IN TF WOULD ME ... MEGAN THEE STALLION HAVE TO LIE ON THIS MF ABT SHOOTING ME!"

As we reported ... Tory was convicted of negligent discharge of a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm back in 2022 after prosecutors accused him of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Lanez has denied shooting Megan and here she says ... "FACTS ARE FACTS, he did it, it was PROVEN IN COURT f*** the hate campaign on the internet TORY YOU SHOT ME !! Ain't no new f****** evidence yall been saying the same s*** for years."

Tory's case has been back in the spotlight after his recent prison stabbing ... with his lawyers claiming Megan's ex-BFF Kelsey Harris was the real shooter.

The sixth day of witness testimony in the Diddy trial is in the books and while there was some more interesting tidbits from celebs, friends and staffers ... it feels like prosecutors are all over the map.

Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard was first on the stand Monday and her testimony seemed to be geared toward one of the main charges against Diddy ... racketeering.

Dawn testified Diddy made threats about having people killed if they didn't listen to him ... and she also told the jury she saw Diddy with guns and drugs, though the defense got her to admit she never saw Diddy use a gun or pay for the substances.

One of Diddy's former assistants recalled a couple conversations he says he had with Cassie ... including one when he says Cassie told him why she couldn't leave Diddy.

David James took the stand Monday in Diddy's federal trial and testified for the prosecution ... telling the jury he had been with Cassie in Miami early on in her relationship with Diddy.

David says he worked for Diddy from 2007 and 2009 and testified he first met Cassie on Star Island in Miami, where Diddy had rented a yacht to impress her.

Federal agents testified they found drugs, baby oil, lubricant and cash stashed in Diddy's New York City hotel room after his September 2024 arrest ... they took photos as evidence, and now we're seeing what they say they found.

Dozens of photos from inside Diddy's hotel room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in NYC have now been entered as exhibits in the case ... and we've compiled some of the most interesting images for you to peruse.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the feds say they recovered two clear plastic Ziploc bags in an orange prescription bottle ... and inside the baggies were pink solid material. The feds say one bag tested positive for ketamine and the other tested positive for MDMA and ketamine.

Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial is chugging along and Cassie took the stand last week for four days of intense testimony ... where she told the jury Diddy physically abused her during their relationship.

Photos of the injuries Cassie says she sustained at Diddy's hand have now been entered as exhibits in the case ... and we've collected some of the most compelling photos for you to see.

In one image, it looks like Cassie snapped a selfie of her swollen and busted lip ... and she's wearing a hoodie and hiding her eyes behind a big pair of sunglasses.

Another photo shows a deep gash over Cassie's left eyebrow ... there's a good amount of blood and open flesh ... and it appears there's some swelling and bruising too.

Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial is undeniably weighing heavily on his family ... but his children's caretaker is assuring everyone the entire Combs clan are nothing but troopers!!!

Lawanda 'Lala' Lane joined "TMZ Live" on Monday to discuss the day-to-day operations since Diddy was hauled off to jail last year to wait for his trial, which got started two weeks ago.

The embattled music mogul's twins, Jessie and D'Lila, just stepped out for their senior prom,  and Lala says they're straight-A students and says faith in God is the dominant theme in the household.

Lisa Bloom says testimony from Cassie Ventura and Dawn Richard is essential to the prosecution's criminal case against Diddy ... but she says the feds are far from finished, and they've got plenty of time to close any loops the defense finds.

The famed attorney, who is also representing Dawn in a civil suit against Diddy, joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and explained how Dawn's testimony is geared towards the RICO charges against Diddy.

Lisa says the fact Dawn told the jury she saw Diddy with guns and drugs is super important ... even though Diddy defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland got Dawn to admit she never saw Diddy use a gun or pay for drugs.

1:39 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Universal Music Group tells TMZ ... "Salt-N-Pepa’s own legal filings demonstrate the repeated attempts we have made to resolve this matter amicably (including offers to enter into a mediation) ever since the artists served an invalid termination notice. Although we had no legal obligation to do so, we still sought to find a way to improve the artists’ compensation and pay them directly – even after they had sold their royalty streams to a third party.

The spokesperson continues ... "Clearly, the artists’ legal counsel thinks they can use the threat of negative media coverage from the lawsuit to achieve their unreasonable demands.  Despite this, and consistent with our longstanding practice, we remain committed to working towards an amicable resolution."

Much of Salt-N-Pepa's music was pulled from streaming services last week, and it turns out the legendary hip hop trio has a serious bone to pick with Universal Music Group!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained legal docs filed by Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton demanding UMG comply with the termination of their contract, per Section 203 of the American Copyright Act, which returns SNP the rights to song recordings after time.

According to the complaint, UMG has refused to cooperate with the "Push It" rappers since 2002 ... not resulting in revenue loss, but preventing them from entering a new agreement with a new party to license the recordings.

Xzibit's been putting down platinum raps for so long, his son is now old enough to be featured on his albums!!!

On Friday, Xzibit released his comeback album "Kingmaker" and celebrated with a party inside West Hollywood's Peppermint Club with fellow Cali artists King Tee, Big Tray Dee, Demrick, Symba, Focus..., Guapdad 4000, and several others.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of X's son Tre Capital giving a heartwarming speech in front of the group about how fame and celebrity strained their relationship as he was growing up.

Cassie's former friend Kerry Morgan says Diddy came looking for Cassie after he beat her in a Los Angeles hotel ... showing up to Cassie's apartment armed with a hammer.

Kerry recalled her involvement in the infamous InterContinental hotel assault of Cassie ... telling the jury she was staying at Cassie's apartment in March 2016 ahead of a movie premiere, when Cassie came home with a black eye.

Morgan said about 30 minutes after Cassie came home, Diddy showed up at the front door... banging on the door with a hammer.

Kerry Morgan, a former friend of Cassie Ventura's, just testified for the prosecution in the Diddy trial ... and she says she saw Diddy assault Cassie twice ... and claims both times he was sober.

Kerry took the stand Monday in Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial in NYC, and she told the jury one of the occasions she saw Diddy assault Cassie was at Diddy's house in Los Angeles. She said Diddy kicked Cassie, and when she told one of Diddy's security guards to do something about it, he refused. She says she left the house with Cassie and they hid outside a neighbor's house.

Morgan testified another time she saw Diddy assault Cassie was on a trip to Jamaica in 2013 ... when she says she saw Diddy drag Cassie by her hair. She also said she saw Diddy push Cassie to the ground. She said Cassie hit her head on a brick and she thought Cassie was KO'd.

Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified for the prosecution in the Diddy trial, if he didn't get his way, "People could go missing."

Prosecutors were clearly homing in on the racketeering charge against Diddy, as Richard was asked what she thought Diddy meant by that. Richard's reply ... "That people could die."

Richard was also called to buttress Cassie's testimony last week. Richard testified how she personally observed Diddy "drag her, and kick her, and punch her in the mouth."