TMZ Hip Hop - Page 6

Terrence J claims he's drawing a blank in selecting hip hop's top businessman ... probably because his top pick is a bit problematic at the moment!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the former "106 & Park" host outside LAX on Tuesday ... he's pumping a new financial podcast titled "Money Talks" that's all about the Benjamins and shares he's been most impressed with Daymond John's guest advice thus far.

Of course, you too can get Daymond's invaluable advice every Friday on "TMZ Live"'s "Follow The Money" segment, so it's no surprise Terrence gravitated to the pointers that help save his pennies.

Diddy's defense team came to life during their cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan ... with one of his attorneys straight-up asking if she's even telling the truth on the stand.

The fashion designer started testifying Wednesday morning and continued into the late afternoon ... and, during cross, Westmoreland asked questions about the alleged incident where Bryana claims Diddy threw a knife at Cassie and she threw it back.

Westmoreland asked Bongolan what started this incident, and Bryana says she doesn't know.

Bryana Bongolan -- a fashion designer who is suing Diddy for $10 million -- took the stand against him ... and, she testified that she bought drugs for him and Cassie.

Bongolan -- who also goes by the name "Bana" -- began her testimony Wednesday morning in the rap mogul's federal trial in NYC, and she touched on the allegations introduced in her civil suit ... once again alleging Diddy held her over the edge of a balcony and threw a knife at Cassie during a different incident.

In the lawsuit, Bryana said he came over to Cassie's apartment and attempted to grope her, and she says when she resisted, he allegedly took her out to the balcony and held her off of it

Bongolan said Wednesday she was sleeping on the couch with her ex-girlfriend when Diddy stopped by. She said she brought her ex to a bathroom to shield her from what she anticipated was going to happen next.

12:30 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Warner Bros./Discovery tells TMZ ... “We dispute Mr. Simmons’ allegations, stand by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations.”

9:23 AM PT -- Attorneys for Russell Simmons -- Imran H. Ansari and Carla DiMare -- tell TMZ, "Russell Simmons has filed a claim of defamation in court regarding the film 'On the Record.'

"Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with its salacious and defamatory accusations, that he vehemently denies.”

Russell Simmons claims HBO Max ignored mountains of evidence refuting the sexual assault claims against him when it produced a documentary about the cases ... and now he's suing the streamer for $20 million.

According to docs filed in New York, Simmons says the 2020 documentary "On the Record," "disregarded or suppressed" more than 20 witnesses who refuted the allegations multiple women made against the music mogul.

Simmons says that information was readily available to several bigwigs at WarnerMedia, the parent company of HBO Max, including CEO John Stankey. He claims civil rights leaders and members of Congress urged HBO to review the evidence supporting Simmons' denials ... although he doesn't name any of them.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial continues in NYC Wednesday morning ... and the 16th day of testimony begins with the prosecution calling a forensic video expert to the stand.

In terms of his qualifications, Frank Piazza says he runs a website called Legal Audio Video and has previously worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, the New Jersey Bar Association and private law and investigation firms. When asked by the prosecution this morning if he's been qualified as an expert in his field, he responded, "50 times." The defense has no objection to his qualifications as an expert witness.

Piazza is asked how many times he's worked for the Southern District of New York -- the federal body prosecuting Diddy in the case -- and he says "50 or 100 times," and he's asked if that will influence his testimony. He points out he does "75 percent defense work." He says he's paid $295 per hour.

Diddy's guardian angel appeared at his federal trial Tuesday ... but, instead of getting all the charges dropped, he may have helped the prosecution's case.

Day 15 of testimony in Diddy's federal sex trafficking case took place ... and, Eddy Garcia -- the former security supervisor at the InterContinental in Century City, Los Angeles -- testified about an alleged payout he and his colleagues received to bury the infamous Cassie beating tape.

As we've told you ... Eddy worked at the hotel back in 2016 -- and, on the same day cameras captured Diddy beating up Cassie, he says he was approached by Diddy's right-hand woman, Kristina Khorram, who wanted to get the tape.

Actor Tray Chaney saw his son celebrate his 19th birthday from a hospital bed in the ICU this Sunday but he had a glimmer of good news on Tuesday ... telling TMZ his son's on the mend!!!

Tray says his son Malachai Chaney was moved out of the ICU and into a stabilized room earlier today ... after being flung nearly the length of a football field, when a tornado came flying through their Atlanta suburb neighborhood last week, destroying their home.

Chaney's description of the events sounds like a Poltergeist film ... "The Wire" star says the windstorm levitated him in bed, right before he saw the walls closing in on him.

A former escort who took part in sexual encounters with Diddy and Cassie during their relationship says Cassie always treated him with respect ... but, he says it seemed like there were certain things she simply wasn't allowed to do.

Shawn Dearing -- one of more than 10 men who prosecutors say participated in "freak-offs" with the former couple -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday ... coming forward to discuss his experiences with the stars after his identity was revealed publicly earlier in the trial.

Dearing has nothing but kind words for Cassie ... saying she always treated him with the utmost respect. He says she once complimented him -- saying he had an "energy" about him -- and he says the compliment brought light into his life at a very dark time.

6/5 9:55 AM PT -- Never fear, Louisianimals ... Wayne says he's doing something super special for his next festival this fall!!!

Lil Wayne is hitting the road in support of his upcoming "Tha Carter VI" album and stopping in virtually every major U.S. territory ... except the state that birthed him!!!

On Tuesday, Wayne and Live Nation certified the 34-city "Tha Carter VI" tour -- which kicks off on Friday in NYC at Madison Square Garden ... barely enough time to clean out Tom Thibodeau's desk!!!

New Yorkers will get the first taste of the new music, followed by dates in Toronto, Los Angeles, Atlanta and several Florida shows -- but nothing for The Boot!!!

Cardi B still has murderous thoughts of her estranged husband Offset ... but her new romance has opened up a new chapter for her soft-girl era!!!

An insomniac Cardi hopped into X Spaces early Tuesday morning to vent to her fans about how much trauma Offset caused her in their last few years and admit had she not left him, she'd be in jail -- for MURDER.

You can hear her fighting through tears ... Cardi says Offset cheated and lied so much, she'd wake up in fear over being looped into an embarrassing trending topic.

Diddy's criticisms of Cassie go way back -- long before the infamous hotel beating -- as evidenced in this clip, where he boldly tells fans the singer had fallen way below expectations ... all while she awkwardly sat next to him.

The rap mogul made the video in 2006 -- shortly after Cassie bombed at BET's "106 & Park" performance -- and it shows the two celebs sitting with each other as Diddy admits she had a "whack show."

Despite that, he says, Cassie's going to keep striving to improve in the live arena ... besides, her song "Me & You" was still one of the hottest going in the clubs, he pointed out.

As the 15th day of testimony got underway in Diddy's federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial in NYC, the prosecution called Eddy Garcia to the stand ... he was the security supervisor at the InterContinental in Century City, Los Angeles -- the site of the infamous Cassie beating video.

Garcia is asked about a specific day during the week of March 10, 2016, saying he was told there was an incident involving Diddy ... he's asked about monitoring security video feeds, and he said upon closer inspection, he says he did recognize the music mogul on screen, and he said he later learned the other person involved was Cassie Ventura.

Garcia testified law enforcement was not called because Cassie did not request it. He said he received a phone call from Kristina Khorram, from a New York area code. Khorram was Diddy's chief of staff for Combs Enterprises at the time. He says she asked about the video ... and he says she claimed Diddy had been intoxicated at the time the video was recorded, and didn't remember the event. That drew an objection from defense attorney Brian Steel, which the judge sustained.

Rick Ross received a proclamation from Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams this week ... the MMG rapper may hail from Miami but his philanthropic and business arm extends well into Peach State state lines!!!

Rozay was front and center for a ceremony on Monday, acknowledging how his annual Rick Ross Car & Bike Show provides a financial boost to the community and various business ventures, including Wingstop franchises and real estate investments, as well as providing job opportunities for the people.

His "Boss Up" conferences were noted for supporting HBCUs across Georgia, and it was also revealed he'd be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album "Port of Miami" with a nationwide symphonic tour.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in NYC resumed Tuesday morning with the 15th day of testimony ... but before the jury was even seated, a woman caused a scene in the courtroom and was quickly ejected.

As proceedings began, Judge Arun Subramanian discussed with the prosecution and defense teams a compilation video exhibit expected to be introduced later Tuesday. There was a question about an expert's testimony ... and the defense questioned certain edits of the video, claiming they distorted the actual events. The prosecution noted time stamps on security videos are routinely inaccurate.

As they discussed a video played by the defense yesterday featuring "Mia" -- a former Diddy employee testifying under a pseudonym -- of her birthday, the prosecution says they intended to introduce a recording of Diddy's phone calls from jail in which he organized "social media celebrations" of his own birthday.

Once again, Bianca Censori is showing off what she's got ... leaving little to the imagination in a butt-baring bodysuit and sexy fishnet stockings.

Check out her latest Insta Story pics ... she proudly flaunts her curves in a tiny nude bodysuit paired with matching fishnets and heels.

The first pic gives an aerial view of her busty chest ... while she flips over for the final two snaps, working her physique like a runway and showing off her frequently paraded bum.

Diddy once saved his former assistant from R. Kelly ... or, at least the version of her boss she dreamed up did, she revealed on Day 14 of testimony.

"Mia" -- Diddy's former assistant who used the pseudonym while testifying -- was back on the stand Monday ... and, she name-dropped quite a few celebs during her time on the stand.

The most shocking had to be R. Kelly, who made an appearance in a dream she had ... one where she was trapped in an elevator with Kelly and Diddy had to step in to save her.