TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

LeBron James is waving the white flag in the battle for Christmas Day ... admitting the NFL whooped the NBA's ass in the ratings department -- but claiming Beyoncé played a huge role in the L.

The King chopped it up with Jason and Travis Kelce on the newest episode of their "New Heights" podcast this week ... and at one point in the convo, they asked LeBron about his famous deceleration following the Lakers' 115-113 victory against the Warriors -- in which he stated Dec. 25 belonged to Adam Silver's organization.

Unfortunately for James, the viewership numbers didn't back his claim -- as the NFL drew in 65 million U.S. viewers for its two games ... which was much more than the NBA got for its five games throughout the holiday.

1:00 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Universal Music Group tells TMZ … “Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist -- let alone Drake -- is illogical. We have invested massively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success.

"Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth ‘rap battles’ to express his feelings about other artists. He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.

"We have not and do not engage in defamation -- against any individual. At the same time, we will vigorously defend this litigation to protect our people and our reputation, as well as any artist who might directly or indirectly become a frivolous litigation target for having done nothing more that write a song.”

Drake is not backing down in the war against his own label, in fact he's now upped the ante by suing Universal Music Group for spreading the "false and malicious narrative" he's a pedophile ... TMZ Hip Hop has learned.

Drake filed the defamation case Wednesday morning in federal court in NYC ... ripping UMG for releasing and promoting Kendrick Lamar's vicious diss track, "Not Like Us." In the docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Drake says UMG knew full well Kendrick's lyrics, and images in the music video, referring to Drake as a pedophile were false and dangerous.

In the suit he calls Kendrick's hit -- filled with "inflammatory and shocking allegations"-- was a "gold mine" for UMG ... and he says they had an ulterior financial motive in promoting it.

Travis Scott is ready to ride through life’s rough patches -- dropping major cash on a custom Apocalypse Omega Rex truck, TMZ has learned.

A SoFlo Customs rep tells TMZ Travis snagged the last of the limited edition Hemi Hellcat V8 Horsepower Apocalypse Omega Rex trucks, with 717 horsepower  -- setting him back a staggering $160K.

Apocalypse Manufacturing crafted this 4x4 beast to handle the end times -- meaning Travis is officially doomsday-ready.

Diddy says the "freak-off" videos the government is trying to use against him actually prove his innocence ... he says the tapes show consensual sex with Cassie and he even claims she appeared to enjoy herself.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's defense team says they've seen the 9 so-called "freak-off" videos the feds are making a big stink about ... but his attorneys say the content on the tapes amounts to "private sexual activity between fully consenting adults in a long-term relationship."

Diddy's legal team says his ex-girlfriend Cassie "not only consented, but thoroughly enjoyed herself" and "is evidently happy, dominant and completely in control." The docs reference Victim-1, who we now know is Cassie.

Influencer Olivia Davis is clearing the air amid allegations she's racist following her controversial comments regarding her ex, Torrey Craig, and his new flame, Megan Thee Stallion.

We caught up with the social media star outside Whole Foods in Los Angeles, where she sounded off on the growing claims she's a bigot ... which she told us couldn't be further from the truth.

For those who've missed the drama ... Olivia faced backlash after an episode of the "3 Girls 1 Kitchen" podcast, in which OD and her pals Alexa Adams and Lana Rhoades questioned Torrey's taste in women in the midst of his romance with the rapper, as he previously dated ladies who looked like Olivia.

Diddy made the most of his last summer as a free man ... living it up at a fancy resort in Wyoming ... but not without some drama.

The Bad Boy Records founder spent a few nights back in July at the Amangani luxury resort in Jackson Hole ... according to someone who worked at the hotel during Diddy's stay.

Diddy was traveling with a woman and another man, and we're told they spent their first day at the resort pool ... where Diddy was wearing a wetsuit with booties.

If Bad Bunny REALLY wants to scare his mom in the WWE squared circle again, there's already one Superstar lining up to make it happen -- none other than Logan Paul.

The music sensation -- who had a memorable appearance at WWE Backlash back in 2023 -- recently revealed to Rolling Stone he'd love another crack at wrestling ... but this time, he wanted a much bigger "risk."

"I want to put my life at risk in the ring," BB said. "I felt like I didn't risk it enough in the ring. I want to scare my mother."

Beyoncé is putting today's HUGE announcement on ice as the wildfires continue to cut a path of destruction across Los Angeles.

The iconic singer issued a statement on Instagram Monday night, postponing her big reveal to a later date due to the devastation that has claimed the lives of at least 24 Angelenos with dozens still missing and thousands of homes destroyed.

Bey wrote that she's praying for the families who have suffered trauma and loss, hoping they'll be able to heal and rebuild their lives.

The Game is stepping up big time -- pushing forward with his animal rescue mission amid the L.A. wildfires and sharing heartbreaking pics of animals caught in the devastation.

The rapper shared on IG Monday how it’s a miracle some animals survived the fires, especially after seeing the destruction left behind in fire-ravaged areas.

The Game says he teamed up with wildlife rescue nonprofit Cleo’s Critter Care, bringing food and water for the animals, hoping to gain their trust and get them to a shelter where they can hopefully reunite with their owners.

The accusations against Diddy keep stacking up -- he's now facing another sexual assault lawsuit by a Jane Doe who says she was underage when the alleged assault occurred.

In legal docs obtained by TMZ -- an unnamed woman has come forward and is suing Diddy and two John Does who she claims were with him.

The woman claims in 2000, when she was 16, she ran into Diddy and two men, who apparently worked for him, in an SUV after leaving a babysitting job in Manhattan. She says they offered her a ride home, and after much pressure from Diddy, she eventually agreed.

LiAngelo Ball's officially a signed artist -- he inked a deal with Def Jam following the massive success of his viral song, "Tweaker."

Gelo's contract is with Def Jam and Universal Music Group ... and while initial reports say it's worth $8 million, our sources say that is not true. According to insider Shams Charania, Gelo will own all his music (a huge win in the industry) as well as his own label.

Gelo has found a new lane after pro hoops -- and if the reception from his first track is any indication of how his rap venture will go, he's no one-hit-wonder.

Bad Bunny has some powerful politicians in his corner as he continues to celebrate the launch of his new album ... rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Nydia Velazquez.

Check it out ... the Puerto Rican performer was cheered on by AOC and several others as he brought a parranda to a local hotspot, Toñita's, in Brooklyn Sunday evening.

Bad Bunny danced and mingled with the local Brooklynites at the club, with the U.S. Congresswoman from New York mere feet away doing the exact same ... proving it was all one hell of a party.

Beyoncé is reminding people to BeyGOOD ... by shelling out a hefty chunk of change through her foundation to support the Los Angeles wildfire relief effort.

The singer's foundation, BeyGOOD, which launched back in 2013, posted on IG Sunday they're "taking action by announcing the LA Fire Relief Fund with a donation of 2.5 million dollars" ... with the specific goal of helping those impacted by the Eaton Fire -- a blaze still burning in the northeast area of L.A.

The foundation noted ... "The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centers to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires."

Sexyy Red's flashing cash and flaunting her new look ... 'cause she's proving she's got money to burn in her new post showing off her $30K boob job.

The rapper posted to her Instagram Story today ... sharing a series of videos from right after she got her breast augmentation -- rapping along to a few songs on the radio while bouncing her chest around.

In one pic, Sexyy confirms exactly how much she spent on her new ta-tas ... saying she threw down $30K -- so, she didn't cheap out on this plastic surgery.

Megan Thee Stallion's emotional words in court are striking the right note with a judge ... who's now ordering Tory Lanez to immediately stop harassing Megan from behind bars.

She testified by video Thursday in L.A. County Superior Court, telling the judge, "I want my restraining order because I haven't been at peace since I [was] shot."

TMZ broke the story, Megan filed a request for the order last month ... claiming Tory was waging "psychological warfare" against her by using an army of bloggers to post defamatory remarks about her.

Sexyy Red's ready for the operating table ... 'cause she's taking another crack at the perfect pair of boobs, TMZ Hip Hop has learned.

A source close to the rapper tells us ... Sexyy Red's heading into the new year single -- so, she's finally got time for handling all of her personal care -- and, that includes a breast augmentation.

ICYMI ... SR posted a pic to her IG Story a few hours ago with the caption, "Didn't want small no more I'm goin back big."