TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Jake Paul is already getting interest from the MMA community ... 'cause Wiz Khalifa -- who is part-owner of the Professional Fighters League -- tells TMZ Sports he'd love to sign the YouTuber-turned-fighter to the promotion!!

25-year-old Paul has flirted with making the switch from the ring to the cage recently ... in hopes of landing a fight with Jorge Masvidal -- or pretty much any other fighter in the MMA community at this point.

He seems to be serious about the switch ... and has even been spotted working on his kicks at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable gym recently, a place that Wiz has frequented over the years.

So, when we met up with Wiz during Super Bowl week, we had to ask if he thinks Jake is PFL material.

"It would be tight if he fought for PFL," Wiz said. "He's a cool guy. So, wherever he is, he's going to bring a lot of excitement."

Of course, PFL is one of the top MMA promotions in the sport ... so Wiz's co-sign is nothing to scoff at.

When we asked straight-up if he would want PFL to sign Jake, Wiz didn't mince his words.

Kanye West has set his sights on a new target ... Kris Jenner's BF, and he's gone in hard.

Ye posted a diatribe against Corey Gamble, insinuating he and Kris Jenner broke up, saying ... "God has a plan to remove the Godless Corey needed to never be here anyway." And THAT was just for starters.

He says Corey's a nice person but not a great person ... someone who, as he puts it, "became the tv version of a father figure."

Kanye seems to have beef over Corey muscling in on Kim Kardashian, saying, "He once told my wife he knew what music she should be listening to. So when I seen him a week later I had him removed from my daughter's birthday party."

And, then he blames Gamble for pushing Kim to the left, saying, "He got my wife linked with the liberals in a deep way. That was his Job For some reason I always felt he worked for DuPont or some organization in that pedigree."

And, then he dismissed Gamble, saying, "Now he's off to his next mission. His job is done."

Now the turn ... Ye embraces Kris -- the woman he once called Kris Jong-un -- saying, "It's on purpose I love Kris. This woman is a hero and she's done what she's had to do to protect her family and make sure they prosper even if it meant telling everyone not to listen to me. I respect her grind her hustle and her mind. Kris is one of the best ever to do it."

Just another day ...

Kanye West could soon find himself charged for allegedly attacking a fan outside an L.A. hotel ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops have nearly completed their investigation into the case, and will soon ship their findings off to the L.A. City Attorney's Office, who will decide on whether to file any criminal charges against Kanye.

We're told between the paparazzi video evidence, and witness statements, cops think there's enough evidence to charge Kanye with a crime. We know cops wanted to interview Ye, but our sources say it never happened ... citing a busy schedule.

As we've told you ... Kanye is under investigation for allegedly punching an autograph seeker near the Soho Warehouse in DTLA ... and video shows the man laid out on the street as Kanye rages at folks who apparently work for him. We were told at the time Kanye broke the guy's nose.

The way it works in L.A. ... the City Attorney has 3 options -- file charges, reject the case, or call the involved parties in for an informal office hearing where they could impose certain conditions for the case to go away ... conditions like attending anger management classes.

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game had challenges Friday night ... because there was a major distraction in the crowd -- and her name is Megan Fox.

It must've been super hard for some players to concentrate as Megan cheered on her fiance Machine Gun Kelly, who played on Team Walton in the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during NBA All-Star Weekend.

MGK was festooned in bling as he showed off his skills ... btw, he has mad skills on the hardwood.

Team Walton also included Quavo ... himself a pretty awesome player. He was more than happy to mug for a selfie with former WNBA great Lisa Leslie.

The opposing team -- Team Nique -- included the likes of Tiffany Haddish, singer Kane Brown and Jack Harlow!

Good sportsmanship clearly abounded at the event, as Jack Harlow of Team Nique was seen sharing a heartwarming embrace with Quavo of the opposite side.

Matt James of 'Bachelor' fame and a member of Team Walton had a misstep when he was shooting from the foul line and hit teammate Brittney Elena in the chest by mistake. People started trolling Matt on social media, and Brittney then jumped in ... "🤣🤣🤦🏽‍♀️🤣🤣 He said sorry y'all! It was a simple mistake lol."

Nicki Minaj's cousin's friend's swollen testicles are making the rounds on social media once again ... this time resulting in Minaj on the losing end of a pretty hilarious Twitter burn.

It all started with a Nicki tweet on Wednesday that read, "Nothing like watching someone speak confidently about something they know nothing about."

The Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health clearly felt a certain way about the post, replying to Nicki with the 👀 emoji and a screenshot of Nicki's tweet from Sept. 2021 which read, "My cousin in Trinidad won't get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you're comfortable with ur decision, not bullied."

As we reported, Nicki took a TON of heat for the tweet at the time, even Dr. Fauci weighed in on the claim ... saying if it had actually happened, it was a one-off and shouldn't deter people from getting vaccinated.

Nicki still hasn't said whether or not she's gotten the vaccine. She was recently spotted at a Lakers game where guests are required to either have the shot or proof of a negative test.

Kanye West is not down with Kim Kardashian getting an order divorcing him and restoring her single status ... and he's now made his objections known to the judge.

Kanye's new legal docs are in response to Kim's petition to get the judge to declare her single before all the custody and property issues are resolved. That's scheduled to happen early next month, but now Kanye's lawyer is objecting.

As for why ... Kanye's lawyer seems to be worried Kim might remarry and move some of their assets to her separate accounts. Kanye seems agreeable to Kim becoming single stat, but only if safeguards are in place so the assets remain as marital property.

Kanye's lawyer says he wants 3 conditions, all of which his lawyer claims Kim has rejected.

1. If either of them dies, he wants to make sure any money that might be owing to either gets reimbursed.

2. Kanye wants to block Kim from transferring assets out of any trust they created.

3. He wants Kim to waive their marital privilege pending a final custody decision. This is interesting ... he wants to ensure any communications between the 2 of them can be part of the court record. He also wants to make sure, if Kim remarries, she would waive any spousal privilege between her and her new husband ... in other words, he wants to make sure any conversations between her and a new husband, as it relates to custody, would be fair game in court.

As we reported, there's a prenup that keeps all of their property separate, so it's unclear why there would be alarm on Kanye's part.

Bob Saget will be remembered for many incredible things ... but, being Desiigner's personal chef definitely isn't one we saw coming.

You heard that right! Saget plays a money-catching chef in Desiigner's music video, "Bakin" -- and it turns out to be one of the last roles he ever shot.

The video opens with Snoop Dogg suggesting Desiigner, "get Bob on the job" ... and we then see Saget whipping up bacon, catching cash and vibin' to the music alongside pornstar Kendra Sunderland.

The song’s co-writer and producer DJ Whoo Kid said folks on set didn't believe Saget would play the chef ... until he showed up. He told Rolling Stone rappers normally pull up in fancy cars, but Saget rolled up and parked his Lexus on the grass, "looking like a dad.”

Ex-'SNL' star Jay Pharoah is also in the video, and says, “It’s so funny because this video is a testament to what Bob Saget was on stage.”

The "Bakin" music video was actually shot back in December ... just a few weeks before Saget was found dead in his Orlando hotel room. The end of the vid now reads "Rest In Peace Bob Saget" and shows footage from the shoot.

DaBaby's lawyer wants to make a couple things VERY clear -- DaniLeigh's brother has no basis to sue the rapper over that bowling alley brawl -- and the whole thing smells like a shameless cash grab.

Drew Findling, who reps DaBaby, says it was Brandon Bills who first initiated threats against DaBaby when he told our photog last year he wanted to fight, saying, "It is offensive that this alleged victim threatened and instigated violence and has now used this incident to make a quick money grab."

Findling believes cops should stop wasting their time with the criminal investigation, because BB's decision to immediately file a civil lawsuit is a clear sign ... he's all about the Benjamins. Beyond that, Findling says a criminal case would be laughable.

TMZ broke the story, DaBaby and his team outnumbered Brandon Bills in a beatdown at a CA bowling alley last week ... a beatdown that had everyone slipping and sliding down the lane.

Cops are indeed investigating it as a possible assault with a deadly weapon. In the meantime, DaBaby and his crew have been banned from the alley.

Findling added ... "Garbage like this has no place adding to the backlog and wasting law enforcement time and energy."

IKYMI, things between the rapper and Brandon heated up, seemingly after DaBaby and his child's mom, DaniLeigh, got into a fight ... she was arrested on 2 counts of assault.

Pete Davidson's return to Instagram is gonna get really interesting really quickly, because one of his new followers is ... you guessed it, Kanye West!!! Naturally.

In his latest tug-of-war with his ex, Kim Kardashian, Ye followed Pete's new account Wednesday night, and not quietly, either. He left a pretty ominous ALL CAPS comment ... “FOLLOWED”.

He then posted a screenshot of that, but of course, he quickly deleted it.

Pete launching a new IG account is a little ironic -- and maybe defiant -- considering it's the very platform Kanye used to publicly insult him. Just a few days ago, he called Pete a "d**khead" and posted their private messages, where Pete insisted he hopes to squash their beef someday.

You'll recall, Ye also encouraged folks to scream at Pete, if they saw him out in public ... he later posted private texts from Kim, expressing concern for Pete’s safety. And, that's just IG ... the rapper previously threatened to 'beat Pete Davidson's a**' on a song from his Donda 2 album.

So, it's no shocker Pete didn't give Ye a follow back. In fact, the only people Pete is following right now are his boo, Kim Kardashian, and actor Sebastian Stan.

The 'SNL' star actually deleted his account back in 2018 for mental health reasons. He called the Internet an "evil place" ... he joined again briefly, but dropped out again after posting a concerning note.

The odd thing is with Ye lurking and taunting him, the Internet can't seem all that inviting now!

Drake's got some new custom bling on his finger ... and it even comes with a shoutout to his kid.

Celebrity jeweler Alex Moss tells TMZ ... he just finished up a lucky No. 11 ring for Drake, made of gold and diamonds.

The No. 11 is significant ... it's the day Drake's son, Adonis, was born ... and the jeweler says Drake wanted to incorporate the date in the design.

As you see, there's also owl imagery ... with the bird's wings wrapping around to form the ring. It's par for the course for Drake, who uses the owl because his brand "OVO" resembles an owl face.

We're told the bling cost $77,000 ... it weighs in at 83 grams, with 14 karat gold and 15.7 carats of VVS D-F natural diamonds.

The jeweler toiled over the piece for about 2 months ... and we're told it was a gift to Drake from Kai Bent-Lee, the restaurateur and son of famous Canadian celeb chef Susur Lee.

DaBaby is dealing with more fallout from his bowling alley beatdown of his baby mama's brother ... because now he's facing a lawsuit.

DaniLeigh's brother, Brandon Bills, is suing the rapper over their recent fight at a SoCal bowling alley.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Brandon claims he walked by DaBaby in the bowling alley when DaBaby suddenly attacked him, leaving him with severe injury and pain.

Brandon claims he didn't fight back ... and says DaBaby's assault resulted in physical and psychological damage, plus medical bills and sustained disability.

As we reported, the brawl was caught on camera ... with the fight spilling into bowling lanes. Law enforcement says they're now investigating DaBaby for assault with a deadly weapon, because Brandon was kicked in the head while on the ground.

DaBaby's already claimed it was self-defense ... and he's been banned from the bowling alley, Corbin Bowl, in Topanga, CA.

DaniLeigh's bro is suing DaBaby for assault, battery, emotional distress and negligence.

Kanye West apparently wants a chain made by Ben Baller, but he’ll never get it ... as long as he’s still beefing with Kid Cudi, anyway.

We got Hollywood’s go-to jeweler in L.A. to expand on some tweets he fired off during the Ye-Cudi showdown this past weekend -- when Kanye disavowed KC because he's friends with Pete Davidson.

In response, Ben recounted how Kanye’s been hounding him for a custom dove piece -- while also calling him a “bitch” for attacking Cudi, with whom BB is good pals.

The way Ben sees it, going after Cudi is totally unfair and unwarranted -- not just because of their long history as label mates, but on account of personal things Ben says Cudi’s gone through. On top of that, Ben says he’s just a lovely guy.

Like Ben tells us here, he wasn’t going to stand by and let his friend take a stray for something so absurd as perceived alliances. He also makes this clear ... if Ye has a problem with Cudi, then he's got one with Ben too -- and he can kiss the prospect of getting a chain goodbye.

So, yes, the door’s still open -- if only slightly -- and the ball is definitely in Ye’s court on how to proceed.

Chaney Jones is definitely in Kanye West’s orbit -- but after this latest outing with Travis Scott, you kinda wonder ... who's she really with, anyway???

The IG model/Kim K look-alike was spotted leaving a Dave & Buster’s very early Monday morning in L.A., where TS was also in attendance for a Super Bowl after-party that went late into the night. Rappers Gunna, Lil Baby, Swae Lee and their entourages were all in tow as well.

Travis seemed to be heading out solo, ditto for Chaney. Neither of them was spotted together upon exiting. The interesting thing, of course, is that there’s no Ye in sight here -- and he’s definitely the dude she’s been linked to a lot lately ... at least on the surface.

As you know, CJ has crashed two different events Kanye was also attending -- an album listening party and a movie screening. And, although the two of them have never been photographed together, most people assume she’s someone Ye is seeing at the moment.

And yet ... here she is without him in the mix, seemingly cozying up to Travis and co.

Travis has been out on the town quite a bit lately, despite the fact he just welcomed a new baby with Kylie Jenner ... who’s been at home with the kid. As you know, his name is Wolf -- and he's all of 13 days old now.

Speaking of Trav's baby mama, she proudly showed off a wild flower arrangement he appears to have gotten her for Valentine’s Day.

No Kanye, no problem!!! That's the attitude Julia Fox is carrying straight into New York Fashion Week where she worked it on a runway ... fresh off her split from the rapper.

Julia slipped into the Laquan Smith Fall/Winter line to do some catwalk modeling Monday night in Lower Manhattan -- and the gig just happened to come a few hours after she and Ye officially broke up.

As you can see in the photo, the "Uncut Gems" star wore a black cut-out dress, paired with statement silver earrings and bangles ... with her hair in a sleek tight bun.

Of course, the show fell on Valentine's Day -- but bae or no bae, it seems Julia already had some big plans in the works. Apparently, the after-party played a few Kanye hits ... but, our sources say, she did not stay for it.

Julia's NYFW catwalk is another thing to add to her portfolio which already included modeling campaigns for Coach and Diesel.

As we've told you, Julia appeared to be unfazed by her break up with Ye ... as we've told you, she went on IG and basically said "she came up" from the short-lived fling and now there's no hard feelings.

Maybe she's got a point -- she was still in the spotlight last night, after all.

Kodak Black is out of the hospital after being shot in the leg ... and he very clearly needs help getting around.

Check out this video TMZ obtained, showing Kodak leaving Cedars-Sinai Monday afternoon in Los Angeles ... as you can see, he's using a walker and moving pretty slowly.

Kodak's also got a ton of bodyguards around him as he climbs into the back of a black SUV ... and for good reason.

As we reported, Kodak was among 4 people hit with bullets in a shooting that broke out early Saturday morning following Justin Bieber's after-party at the Nice Guy.

Remember, Kodak was struck in the leg and taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Frankie Grande says Kanye West just wants a reaction from Pete Davidson ... telling us the nasty rumors Kanye's spreading about his sister and Mac Miller are a bunch of bull.

We got Ariana Grande's brother at Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles on Monday and asked about Kanye claiming Pete sent Mac intimate photos of him and AG.

Frankie says he's never heard this to be true and chalks it up to Kanye looking to stir the pot now that Pete is dating his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian.

It's a pretty nasty rumor to spread, but Frankie's taking the high road here ... telling us he doesn't put much stock in what Kanye says and wishing Ye, Pete and Kim nothing but the best.

Still, Frankie says he would never spread rumors about someone or insert himself in someone else's business ... and while he hopes folks like Kanye follow his lead, he doesn't want to control anyone.

Frankie obviously knows Pete from when the 'SNL' star was engaged to Ariana ... and he tells us why he doesn't buy the narrative Pete is with Kim for clout.