TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Rapper Rio Da Yung OG was a big part of the Michigan hip hop resurgence when he was incarcerated for drug trafficking crimes in 2019 -- and he's now free to pick up where he left off musically!!!

Rio was released from federal prison on Wednesday after serving roughly 4 years and TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of his first taste of freedom ... or should we say spoils???

The "2 Faced" MC reconnected with his team and Empire label execs and immediately hopped on a private jet ... we're told he flew from Arkansas to Memphis and then ATL -- where he recorded his newest track "Rio Free."

3:00 PM PT -- Megan Thee Stallion's attorney Mari Henderson tells TMZ ... "It’s no coincidence that Unite The People represents both Tory Lanez and Milagro Cooper, so the law firm’s statement simply reaffirms the fact they’re working together to bully, harass and victimize Ms. [Megan] Pete. ... Instead of denying that Milagro has been paid, they collectively questioned how Ms. Pete could uncover their conspiracy.

"The reality is that Milagro’s own attorneys confirmed that Tory’s prison calls are public record and even acknowledged they wouldn’t raise any objections regarding them, so it is surprising they turned around and issued a public statement attacking our exposing these calls.

"We are confident that the truth will be exposed and look forward to pursuing this case in court – not in the media like Tory has done time and time again."

Tory Lanez, his father Sonstar Peterson, and blogger Milagro Gramz are firing back at claims from Megan Thee Stallion's lawyers that they're conspiring to spread misinformation and harass the Roc Nation rapper in a complaint filed this week.

The allegations largely stem from jailhouse phone calls between Tory, Sonstar and Milagro (real name Milagro Cooper) ... but Ceasar McDowell, CEO of Unite the People, says his client is a victim of a calculated legal takedown.

Ceasar tells TMZ Hip Hop, "We are deeply concerned by the continued efforts to spin partial stories in an attempt to distort the truth and mislead the public."

The Fresh Prince is telling fans he's got no Diddy dirty laundry ... 'cause Will Smith says he's never been tight with the disgraced rap mogul.

The actor/rapper took the stage at The Observatory North Park in San Diego Thursday ... when during a break in the show, Smith addressed the sold-out crowd about all the memes trolls have made of him and Diddy.

Watch the clip ... Smith says it's hard to tell what's true or not in today's age -- and the memes online are clearly causing a ton of confusion.

Ice Cube says he didn't even have to raise an eyebrow when Andrew Schulz and his son O'Shea Jackson Jr. had their war of words regarding the Kendrick Lamar "rape" jokes -- Cube feels his son won the verbal combat with ease!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Cube at LAX on Thursday evening and we got his take on his infamous "No Vaseline" diss being used as a prop in Schulz's argument that his sexually graphic description of "making love" to Kendrick was fair game.

O'Shea Jr. hopped in the social media madness to defend K. Dot -- as did Meek Mill, Peter Rosenberg and others, and Cube tells us Schulz should just up his game ... and come with better jokes!!!

The "beef" has since fizzled and OJJ is now actively promoting his 'Den of Thieves 2' film.

Cube also has new product on the market -- his 11th album, "Man Down," which came in hot after its lead single "It's My Ego" marked an all-time peak on the Billboard Charts for the legendary rapper.

Beyoncé's really earning the name "Cowboy Carter" ... riding away from the Billboard Music Awards with her first country music win after being snubbed by the Country Music Association.

The singer-songwriter took home the trophy for top country female artists at the award ceremony Thursday ... her first win in the genre.

The Queen Bey was also nominated for top dance/electronic artist and top country album ... honors she lost to Charli XCX and Zach Bryan, respectively.

Paul Wall is sure "it-rapper" of the moment Dave Blunts is influenced by the Texas rap style, even if he doesn't realize it ... but no different than Snoop Dogg, Paul is fearing for the rookie's health!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the H-Town rap legend in NYC this week promoting his upcoming album "Once Upon A Grind," which is already brimming with the big body TX soundwaves.

While he's never met Dave Blunts, Paul tells us he's well aware of his presence nonetheless.

Cardi B wants the millions Tasha K owes her, and she's not buying the blogger's claim she's flat broke -- and now she's offering a judge evidence Tasha's stashing money to avoid paying up.

Cardi's attorneys filed docs in Florida Bankruptcy court, calling out Tasha over the $3.4 million she still owes the rapper for losing the defamation case in 2022. Tasha declared bankruptcy, saying she didn't have assets to cover that judgment -- but Cardi's telling the court that's simply BS.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Cardi's alleging Tasha fraudulently transferred assets and income out of her name, and into her husband's name and/or his business.

Rapper OG Maco, best known for his 2014 viral smash "U Guessed It," was rushed to the hospital Thursday morning with a gunshot wound to the head, TMZ Hip Hop can confirm.

Police sources say they responded to a 911 call in the Los Angeles area at 10 AM after a neighbor heard a gun go off inside a home.

It's unclear what transpired leading up to the shot -- but all signs point to an apparent suicide attempt.

Lil Durk's criminal case just got heavier ... the feds say he's too dangerous to be released on bail, pointing to possible links between the Chicago rap star and another alleged murder-for-hire plot.

Durk's legal team has been pushing for bail -- but on Thursday, prosecutors unsealed a warrant from April 2023 that alleges Durk "offer[ed] money for people to kill those responsible for his brother's murder" ... and say this has become his M.O., and may have also led to the January 2022 shooting death of 24-year-old Stephon Mack.

According to the search warrant, Mack was the leader of the Smashville faction of the Gangster Disciples, which the feds say is a rival gang of Durk's OTF's Black Disciples.

Trae Tha Truth seriously needs the public's help and is urging anyone who's seen his missing daughter to contact him immediately.

Parental courts granted the Houston rapper full custody of his 6-year-old daughter ... but he says her mother took the child to whereabouts unknown -- and it's been 4 MONTHS!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with the Houston rapper during his recent trip to Cali, where he opened up about his daughter being missing for a good chunk of the year.

Papoose is putting to bed rumors that he fought with the man who came between his marriage with Remy Ma ... he's saying it was a one-sided beatdown that left his opp curled up like a newborn baby!!!

As we told you earlier, the once beloved "Love & Hip Hop: New York" couple is headed to Divorceville if Papoose gets his wish ... on Thursday morning, he offered further clarity as to why.

According to Pap, the fight back in December 2023 happened when he confronted Philly battle rapper Eazy The Block Captain, and he says he pummeled the guy until he waved the white flag from the fetal position!!!

Karrueche Tran has escaped the cold weather for some fun in the sun ... hitting up Cancun, Mexico in an itty-bitty bikini ahead of the holidays.

Check it out ... the actress donned a colorful 2-piece swimsuit that perfectly showed off her fit frame ... including her round rump. Karrueche appeared to be busy on her phone, keeping it on hand for most of her time relaxing in the cabana on the net lounger.

Karrueche was notably single for her Mexican getaway ... months after she found herself in the middle of ex Chris Brown's beef with Quavo.

Diddy's facing multiple new sexual assault lawsuits ... with three unnamed accusers claiming the mogul drugged and raped them -- and, these individuals are alleging the assaults happened much more recently than other claims he's facing.

TMZ has obtained multiple new lawsuits, all filed by the same New York-based attorney (not Tony Buzbee) ... with the unnamed plaintiffs all claiming Diddy drugged and then sodomized them -- with the earliest claim dating back to 2019.

While there's nuance to each claim, they all share similarities ... with the accusers saying they went to party with Puffy and his crew -- two claiming they went to hotels with him and one claiming they were raped at his residence in the Hamptons.

One of Hip Hop's favorite couples, Papoose and Remy Ma, confirmed their split in an explosive social media spat this morning ... and all the gloves are off!!!

Remy woke up and chose violence by bombing first with alleged text messages between Pap and superstar boxer Claressa Shields that popped the lid off his "affair."

The Bronx rapper is known for never backing down in rap battles, and proceeded to walk Shields down on her IG, claiming the Gold Medal Olympian got "scary" and kept hanging up once the cheating was discovered.

The NFL is standing firm in Jay-Z's corner after he was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in a new lawsuit ... with commissioner Roger Goodell telling reporters the rap mogul's status with the league remains unchanged.

Commish relayed the non-update during a press conference for the upcoming slate of Christmas Day games on Netflix ... and in his response, it's clear the Shield believes Hov's adamant denial of the allegations.

"We are aware of the allegations and Jay-Z's really strong response to that," Goodell said minutes ago.

Dozens of hip hop pundits were in disbelief over the news of Drake suing UMG, Spotify, and iHeartRadio to probe the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" diss -- but not Wiz Khalifa.

The "See You Again" rapper calls the legal tactics par for Drake's course, as far as he knows!!!

Count Shannon Sharpe as one of those confused pundits -- remember, BET named his "Club Shay Shay" podcast as the year's "Best Hip Hop Platform" -- and he pushed hard for a reaction from Wiz on the subject.