TMZ Hip Hop - Page 50

Kanye West's threatening letter to Kim Kardashian accusing her of exploiting their kids is just a stunt designed to piss off Kim -- one with zero legal bite ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... on Friday, Ye's purported lawyer, Kathy Johnson, supposedly sent Kim's attorney, Laura Wasser, a cease and desist letter, "concerning the welfare and custody of Mr. West’s minor children: North West, Saint West, Chicago West, and Psalm West."

But we spotted a bunch of red flags pointing to this being a phony correspondence, including the claim Johnson works for a JB Law Firm in Palma, Spain. We've found no record of any such firm in that town ... there is one in the Canary Islands, but a website link for that firm doesn't work, nor does the phone number.

Al B. Sure! says he's the last man breathing who knows the truth about Diddy, and has no issue using the last of his oxygen -- to take him down!!!

The R&B singer appeared on FOX 5 New York earlier today to promote his forthcoming memoir, where he raised questions about his late ex Kim Porter's death.

Al claims Kim used to warn him to "watch his back" around Diddy and disputed the coroner's ruling that a healthy 47-year-old woman could suddenly die from pneumonia.

50 Cent has been using A.I. magic to highlight his thoughts on Diddy's ongoing federal sex trafficking trial and jury selection ... all roads point to GUILTY!!!

On Friday, 50 laughed at Diddy's current defense strategy by posting A.I. images of himself as a lawyer in the courtroom rummaging through docs with a wisecrack ... "Your Honor this theory of Cassie kicking Diddy ass, I’m not buying it!"

Diddy's defense team argued that Cassie was an equal distributor of pain throughout their relationship ... more details could emerge when she takes the stand next week.

Keke Palmer channeled the spirit of Usher to clap back hard at her baby daddy Darius Jackson on her new song ... he tried to cut her down and now she gotta let him BURN!!!

It's been nearly 2 years since Darius put Keke on blast for slipping into a sexy black dress to get close to Usher during his Las Vegas residency ... but Keke is claiming on her track "My Confession" they were broken up at time, due to Darius' childish antics.

The song lightly interprets Usher's own "Confessions" and a couple of his other hits, and it's ripe with getback ... by labeling Darius a stone-cold liar and even celebrating the fact that Keke's fans gave him a tough time online.

Kendrick Lamar is currently beaming with pride over the release of Lefty Gunplay's new album ... they turned the "TV off" and now the up-and-coming rapper has been put on!!!

On Friday, Lefty and JasonMartin AKA Problem's "Can't Get Right" joint album released with plenty of support from the West Coast ... The Game, Ty Dolla $ign, Mike & Keys, and Wallie the Sensei, who also appeared on K. Dot's "GNX" with Lefty.

JasonMartin broke the news via text to Kendrick, who's currently out in New Jersey on tour with SZA, and the megastar rapper exclaimed he dropped everything to give it a whirl.

Finesse2tymes can count a new legal win on his stacked docket ... his wild terroristic threat criminal case from the top of the year has been thrown out!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained court docs filed on Friday, May 9, showing prosecutors moved to dismiss Finesse's case because the allegations couldn't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  The judge signed off on the dismissal.

Carl A. Moore, Finesse2tymes' attorney, tells TMZ Hip Hop … Mr. Ricky Hampton maintained his innocence from the onset of this case and justice prevailed today.

Diddy jurors are going to see plenty of video of Diddy beating Cassie in a hotel hallway ... because prosecutors say they plan to show multiple versions of the graphic footage during his trial.

The feds revealed during Friday's court proceedings in Diddy's sex trafficking trial in NYC that they plan to show two videos of the beating that a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles recorded on a cell phone.

What's more, prosecutors say they will also show three versions of the Cassie beating video that first aired on CNN.

2 PM PT -- Turns out Kanye West's threatening letter to Kim Kardashian accusing her of exploiting their kids is a hoax.

After we spotted a bunch of red flags pointing to this being a phony correspondence -- Kanye's camp confirms to us the letter is bogus ... and they say Ye had nothing to do with it.

Kanye West says Kim Kardashian is not only exploiting their children, but he claims she left North all alone in a car while prancing around the Met Gala this week ... and now he's threatening to drag her to court over all of it.

The rapper's lawyer, Kathy Johnson, sent Kim's attorney, Laura Wasser, a cease and desist letter, "concerning the welfare and custody of Mr. West’s minor children: North West, Saint West, Chicago West, and Psalm West."

As you know, Kim and Kanye got divorced in 2021 after 7 years of marriage and 4 kids. As part of their divorce settlement, they have joint custody of the kids and Kanye pays $200K every month in child support.

The graffiti-covered Hollywood Hills house that Chris Brown used to own is back on the market ... and it can be yours for a cool $2.9 million -- some original murals included!

Fans may remember ... neighbors were outraged by the smiling monsters Brown spray-painted on the outside of the modern abode -- and even got into a back-and-forth with the city of Los Angeles over the artwork. The "Freaky Friday" singer offloaded it in 2014 for $1.69 million.

While those controversial pieces of art are not visible in the listing photos ... the inside of the house is still a spray-paint artist's dream, with eye-catching artwork throughout the 2,800 square feet of living space.

The list of alleged Diddy victims involved in his sex trafficking trial is expanding ... because we've learned the feds also have a witness they're calling "Victim 5."

Prosecutors buried the existence of a 5th alleged victim in legal documents last month, but "Victim 5" just came up in court Friday as Diddy's trial proceeds.

Now, this person's identity is still unknown, but that could soon change ... because Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Friday "Victim 5" will NOT be granted anonymity in the trial.

Diddy's defense team is leaning in hard that the music mogul was abusive toward his ex, Cassie ... but they're also saying Cassie was no angel either ... because she allegedly got violent with him, too.

Day 4 of the Diddy trial saw prosecutor Emily Anne Johnson and Diddy attorney Marc Agnifilo having a very interesting exchange with Judge Arun Subramanian in an NYC federal courtroom.

It kicked off with Johnson telling the judge that Victim 1 -- who is believed to be Cassie -- will not be cross-examined about certain medical issues.

The judge then said if prosecutors open the door on the rest of the issues, the defense can walk through it and cross-examine the witnesses.

Summer Walker's winter fling with her rapper BF Rico Recklezz is officially over ... and the R&B superstar's hinting it may be her last hurrah dating a dude!!!

Before the weekend kicked off, Summer posted a pic with herself, Playboi Carti, and his GF ft.gioo AKA Giovanna Ramos ... while revealing she's a newly single woman -- suggesting things with Rico ran their course.

The unlikely couple made headlines going official on social media back in December after a heavy pursuit from Rico ... but Summer says she's better off alone and is "literally honestly & truly over men" going forward.

Mark Geragos won't answer the question -- Is he a member of Diddy's defense team? -- and it made for some lively discussion on TMZ's new Tubi weekly show ... "TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs: Inside the Diddy Trial."

Geragos joined Nancy Grace, Ashleigh Banfield and Eboni K. Williams, when Harvey pressed him on his association with Diddy. It's true, Geragos has repped Diddy on various legal issues in the past, but the question now is whether he's part of the current defense team.

Geragos tried to skirt the issue, but then TMZ producer Brian Andrews popped up and laid out what he saw in the courthouse -- Geragos sitting behind the defense team and passing notes to Diddy's chief lawyers Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos (Mark's daughter), Geragos chatting it up with Diddy's lawyer during lunch breaks in the courthouse cafeteria, and Geragos coming out of the judge's chambers as Agnifilo had his arm around Mark's shoulder.

DDG boasting to us about releasing hip hop's first-ever album created on live stream has backfired ... DJ Statik Selektah will be damned if any young whipper-snapper will take credit for his credentials!!!

Last week, we spoke to DDG about his new album "Blame the Chat," which he made for fans in real-time and even let them in on the creative control by picking beats and features.

On Thursday, Statik angrily entered said chat and gave DDG a history lesson on his discography -- including his joint projects with Freeway, Freddie Gibbs and the 4 collab albums with Bun B he created live on YouTube!!!

Federal prosecutors are taking a big gamble with one of their star witnesses in Diddy's sex trafficking trial, because the woman they call "Victim 3" has always made it clear she does NOT want to testify ... TMZ has learned.

During jury selection this week, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey admitted the feds do not know whether the alleged victim -- one of Diddy's ex-girlfriends -- intends to appear in court to testify against him. Comey said the woman does not live locally, there's an issue getting in touch with her attorney ... and she may not even show up to court despite a subpoena.

Our sources with direct knowledge say the woman has never cooperated with prosecutors, and never gave them an indication she would be willing to take the stand during the trial.

Memphis rapper Big Boogie has been known to say some outlandish things ... but he wasn't joking when he had to suck up his fear of Chuck E. Cheese -- to please his daughter!!!

Boog posted video of himself admitting he hasn't confronted the pizza-slicing rat since he ran away scared from the mascot as a kid, and his profession as a street rapper has kept him distanced from rodents ever since.

It's a moment of hilarity when Boogie and Chuck E. Cheese meet face to face, prompting the rapper into a wide-eyed stance ... but he manages to overcome his anxiety, at least for the moment.

Boogie kept his distance for the most part and wedged his daughter between himself and Big Chuck for a photo-op she'll likely tease him about when she gets older.

That Charles Entertainment Cheese childhood trauma probably led to making decisions to turn down multimillion-dollar college scholarships ... but the party appeared to be a hit with the tykes, at least.