TMZ Hip Hop - Page 6

Cher might've made a mistake while presenting Kendrick Lamar and SZA with the Record of the Year award at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday ... but SZA's not taking it personally.

FYI ... the "Believe" singer accidentally read out "Luther Vandross" -- before she corrected herself and named "Luther" the Record of the Year.

SZA talked with Entertainment Tonight and said she didn't mind Vandross being named by Cher ... because his energy "allowed us to win and that allowed it to be memorable." FYI -- Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's cover of "If This World Were Mine" was sampled on the track.

Wyclef Jean has more than 30 years in the music industry, but by the looks of it, he's still only just getting started ... he told us he's going to release an album a month, for seven months, starting in March!

He broke the news when we caught up with him Monday at LAX. He told us the 7 projects include a hip hop album, a country album, an R&B album, a jazz album ... and 3 more he's keeping mum about.

According to the legendary producer and rapper, he wants to show music fans how so much of what we listen to today originated with him.

Rubi Rose is in her element, flashing those curves like it’s her full-time job ... and we’ve got the barely-there pics to back it up, plus a fun word search all about her!

The rapper went all "bad and boujee" in a silver metallic one-piece that was hanging on for dear life trying to contain those fine-tuned assets.

Chrisean's boxing career is officially underway -- the rapper/reality TV star is set to make her debut on April 25 against wrestler/Slap fighter prospect Zenith Zion!

Damon Feldman of XRumble Fighting Championships told TMZ Sports that the three-round bout will take place at the Harrah's Philadelphia Casino in Chester, Pennsylvania, and will be a Pay-Per-View event on Triller TV.

Feldman said Zion -- who held the AWA Women's Television Championship -- was selected out of 5,824 women who wanted to get in the ring with Rock.

Lady Gaga seems to have given Bad Bunny some meaningful words of encouragement moments before he took home Album of the Year at last night's Grammys ... and the sweet moment was caught on camera.

Benito was quietly sitting at his table ahead of the big announcement during a break in the show ... when Gaga approached him from behind, tapped his right shoulder and startled him nearly out of his seat.

While the video doesn't capture any audio ... she was seen leaning in and whispering something in his ear before giving him a gentle hug. He lets out a deep sigh of relief, as she heads back to her seat.

Snoop Dogg is speaking out after suffering an unimaginable family tragedy ... the death of his 10-month-old granddaughter, Codi.

The rap legend showed public support for his daughter, Cori Broadus, after she revealed her baby girl passed away just three weeks after being released from the NICU, following a 10-month stay in intensive care. Snoop shared a family photo on Instagram Saturday that included Cori, keeping his message short but heartfelt with sparkling heart and praying hands emojis.

Fans immediately flooded the comments with condolences, prayers, and messages of love for the grieving Broadus family.

Snoop Dogg's 10-month-old granddaughter Codi has passed away ... this according to his only daughter, Cori Broadus.

Cori announced the news Saturday afternoon ... sharing a black-and-white photo where she's grinning and lovingly holding Codi in her arms.

She writes that Codi -- the "love of her life" -- passed away Monday ... adding an angel wing emoji to the post.

Vic Mensa just got back from Minneapolis ... and, he says ICE is engaging in state-sponsored terrorism in the city.

We caught up with the rapper in Los Angeles earlier this week ... and, he says the federal agency isn't just killing people -- they're attacking citizens with sonic cannons and more which might affect them for life.

While it's a scary situation out in Minneapolis, Mensa's not at all phased ... telling us, as a Black man in America, this isn't the first time he's scene this kind of response by law enfoircement to protesters.

Kanye West's fully embracing the mentor role for his daughter North West's rap career ... bringing her out at his Mexico show to perform her new song.

The music legend performed in Mexico City Friday night -- his first show in the country in nearly 20 years -- and, North joined him onstage to play "Piercing On My Hand" ... a song which references the dermal implants she got in her right hand a few months ago.

Check out the clip ... like father, like daughter when it comes to the outfit -- thick sunglasses and an all-black 'fit which looks a lot like a mini version of something Ye would wear.

Michael "5000" Watts, a powerhouse DJ and producer from Texas, has died.

His family announced the news Friday, revealing he had developed a fatal heart rhythm called Torsades de Pointes, which caused a sudden cardiac death. He died surrounded by loved ones, his family said.

His family alerted fans on Wednesday that he had been hospitalized due to "some tremendous health issues" and asked for prayers.

Klay Thompson's relationship with Megan Thee Stallion got a big stamp of approval on Friday, 'cause his ex-NBA pops says the rapper is a "very nice lady" -- and one hell of a cook!!

The cams caught up with the two-time NBA champion Friday ... and he couldn't help but sing the praises of MTS and her chef skills.

Of course ... we asked what one of her great dishes was -- with Thompson shouting out her barbecue baked beans.

Ray J’s been talking serious life-or-death health woes recently -- but you’d never clock it from the way he rolled into court looking like he had a red carpet to catch!

Despite saying he’s got limited time, it looked like Ray J's prognosis took a day off as he rocked up to an L.A. court Friday -- he was decked out in a slick suit, and had cool-guy energy to the point he refused eye contact for cameras while saying he’s "doing alright."

The rapper elaborated a little ... saying he was "better today," so his health saga might be more day-by-day than doomsday.

Bad Bunny's got a busy couple weeks coming up between the Grammy Awards and his Super Bowl Halftime performance ... and, he'll go through it all knowing he was the biggest pop star of 2025.

Billboard unveiled BB at the top of their yearly Greatest Pop Stars list Friday ... with the Puerto Rican singer beating out the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter -- and even the showgirl herself, Taylor Swift.

The popular music publication cites the success of his album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," his "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" residency and even his part in "Happy Gilmore 2" for why he topped the list.

Nicki Minaj isn't backing down after controversially calling Don Lemon a homophobic slur ... she's doubling down on that remark in a new podcast promo that dropped amid his arrest.

Days before Don's Thursday night arrest, the rapper sat down for an interview on "The Katie Miller Podcast" ... and she was asked to respond to him calling her "racist, unhinged, homophobic and our of [her] depth" -- all comments he made on "TMZ Live."

Minaj replied simply, "C***sucker, stop" ... prompting laughs from Miller before the clip ends.

American rapper and songwriter Kool Moe Dee (real name Mohandas Dewese) shot to fame in the '80s with hip-hop hits like "I Go To Work," "Wild Wild West," and "How Ya Like Me Now" -- even scoring a Grammy win in 1991.

Guess what he looks like now!

It's Grammys weekend indeed -- test your Grammys trivia:

Nicki Minaj fans are taking sides after watching her cozy up to President Trump ... some are sticking by her, and others are dropping her like a bad habit.

The battle of the Barbz played out Thursday on "TMZ Live" when we had a couple supporters join our show and explain why Nicki's embrace of Trump is either a deal-breaker ... or no big deal.

Blair Thompson says he's cutting the cord when it comes to Nicki ... and he tells us why her politics feel like a slap in the face to lots of her longtime supporters who come from diverse backgrounds.