TMZ Hip Hop - Page 16

Cardi B is finally ready to move forward with her sophomore studio album -- it only took 7 years!!!

A few weeks ago, Cardi revealed she had submitted her finished album to the label and on Monday, she proved it with the album cover art, release date and title for the project ... "Am I The Drama?"

The superstar rapper posed with her leg kicked up while clutching oversized platform heels as scavenging black crows swirled in the background.

Veteran battle rapper T-Rex sent shockwaves through the crowd after suffering a seizure mid-round ... but luckily he's okay!!!

The medical emergency happened during the headline battle between T-Rex and Geechi Gotti for the #NOMEXV event.

T-Rex was going off in the first round when he noticeably became out of breath and then took a tumble on the stage floor as onlookers rushed to his side ... not the kind of "ooh's and aah's" he's typically used to at these events.

Diddy is NOT going to take the stand and testify in his criminal trial ... because his defense team plans to rest their case Tuesday without calling any witnesses.

There was some question before the trial whether or not Diddy would testify -- his attorney Marc Agnifilo told us he didn't think he could keep Diddy off the stand -- and now we have our answer.

Frankly, the defense would be taking a huge risk in putting Diddy on the stand, where he'd be subject to cross-examination from some of the best prosecutors in the country ... but it looks like the defense feels they don't need to do a whole lot to counter the prosecution.

Kevin Durant and "Basedgod" rapper Lil B have been beefing for more than a decade -- and not much has changed now that KD is a Houston Rocket -- their feud is spicier than ever!!!

Lil B decided to reignite the beef not long after the bombshell news that Durant had been shipped to HTX ... dissing KD's part-time rap career and accusing him of ducking him in a one-on-one pickup game challenge all these years.

KD last rapped on Stalley's "Scared Money" track but scoffed at the Basedgod's swipes, claiming the rapper was all up in his DMs begging for a feature.

Ja Rule says Fat Joe's "All the Way Up" amid his new legal headache ... telling us the rapper's in good spirits despite the claims of underage sex against him.

We caught up with Ja at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert in New Jersey Friday ... and, we had to ask him about how his friend and fellow New York-born rapper is doing after a man named Terrance Dixon filed a lawsuit against him this week.

ICYMI ... Dixon -- represented by attorney Tyrone A. Blackburn -- is suing Joe and alleging Joe had a sexual relationship with multiple underage girls. Fat Joe's attorney, Joe Tacopina, called the allegations "lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure."

50 Cent's calling BS on the claim that Fat Joe wanted him dead back in the day ... showing love for his fellow New Yorker in a recent social media post.

The rapper took to Instagram to address claims made about Joe in a lawsuit earlier this week -- where the plaintiff Terrance Dixon accused him of allegedly offering a bounty on 50's life.

Dixon also alleged that Fat Joe ordered a hit to go down in NYC ... but, 50 was surrounded by "Navy Seal" type security -- so he was never attacked.

Prosecutors just released text messages they say show a Diddy escort getting detailed instructions for a paid trip to participate in a marathon freak-off.

Federal prosecutors did another document dump of exhibits in Diddy's racketeering and sex trafficking case Friday, with reams of texts between the male escort known as Jules and an unidentified "Device owner."

The August 2009 messages kick off with the "Device owner" making a spur-of-the-moment pitch to Jules to fly from Los Angeles to NYC for the freak-off -- and being promised a nice "tip" if he can make it work.

The Diddy trial is entering the home stretch because prosecutors are almost done with their case and the defense is now saying they only need one or two days to make their case ... and it sounds like we could get a verdict as early as next week.

Prosecutors called one of their final witnesses Friday and we heard more of the same ... this time from Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, who said he is not a drug mule.

Paul testified about getting drugs sometimes for Diddy and setting up hotel rooms for freak-offs -- like other former Diddy helpers -- but he helped the defense by saying on cross-examination it didn't feel like 'Jane' was being coerced into participating in freak-offs.

Afrobeats star Diamond Platnumz plans on putting his competition at Hot 97's annual "Summer Jam" concert to shame later today ... all from the bottom of his penny bank!!!

TMZ caught up with DP'z walking around New York this week and he was stoked about the radio station carving out an entire portion of the show just for Afrobeats -- an honor the Tanzania native doesn't take lightly.

Diamond Platnumz will join fellow Afro-beasts Ayra Starr, Asake, Masicka, Bobby Konders and Jabba ... and tells us he spent NO LESS than 250K crossing t's and dotting i's to ensure his Summer Jam will be a hit.

Rick Ross' list of certified stomping grounds has been extended to his birthplace of Clarksdale, Mississippi ... with the arrival of his very own street name!!!

The megastar rapper spent Juneteenth yesterday with his mom, sister Tawanda, friends and other fam for the crowning achievement festivities.

Ross and everyone gathered around a WingStop, no doubt, for the unveiling of "Rick Ross Way," firmly planted at 300 Issaquena Ave.

SZA and Lizzo were burning the midnight oil last night while cooking up something special in the studio -- hopefully to get a rise outta Candace Owens!!!

The two superstar artists enjoyed dinner together and then previewed their upcoming dance bop on Instagram, which SZA says will appear on Lizzo's new mixtape.

It's been 3 years since Lizzo dropped a full-length project, and she's clearing the air on her social media beefs.

Chris Brown's providing some shock factor here ... because there's a viral image coming out of a recent meet and greet ... and he's got his hands wrapped around a woman's neck.

Breezy had no issue posing for a photo with a well-paying fan who seemingly asked him to get handsy with her and glare menacingly into her eyes ... despite a long history of domestic violence convictions and allegations.

As you can see, CB has his right hand grasping the heavily tattooed woman's neck as she straddles him in a chair. He's also got an intense look on his face.

We could have a jury verdict in the Diddy federal criminal trial in NYC as soon as next week ... depending on how long jurors deliberate after the defense rests its case and closing arguments are made.

After the jurors were sent home Friday, prosecutor Maurene Comey told Judge Arun Subramanian the feds could rest their case on Monday ... and then Diddy defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge if that happens, they think they would rest their case Tuesday or Wednesday.

The judge said closing arguments could happen Thursday ... and then the jury would start deliberations ... leaving open the possibility for a verdict by the end of next week, though that's on the early side.

Cassie told Diddy she felt like he was treating her like a prostitute during their relationship ... at least according to a text between the exes that was just read aloud in court.

Federal prosecutors in Diddy's criminal case in New York are introducing some old texts between Cassie and Diddy as new exhibits in his sex trafficking trial.

Prosecutors first read this text between Cassie and Diddy -- "You treat me like a hooker to be honest. You always want to call one and you have one. This hooker has been here for 10 years." They said Diddy responded, "wow."

Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-assistant Brendan Paul says he didn't see any force or coercion from his former boss when it came to "freak-offs" with "Jane" ... and he says he was absolutely not a drug mule.

Brendan, a former Syracuse University basketball player and aspiring music producer, took the stand Friday in Diddy's criminal trial in NYC and told jurors about his 18 months working as an assistant to the music mogul.

During cross-examination from Diddy's defense attorney Brian Steel, Brendan testified he would often talk to Diddy's former girlfriend "Jane" before and after freak-offs ... and he said she did not come across as hesitant or apprehensive, and he says there was nothing from her indicating she was not a willing participant.

Ciara's finally breaking her silence on that old Rihanna drama ... and surprise, surprise, the beef's cooked -- 'cause it looks like they’re cool again.

The singer kept it cute on 'Watch What Happens Live,' saying, "CiCi got a lot of love for RiRi" -- and made it clear the two have moved on from the petty stuff ... all because they've got other responsibilities -- such as motherhood.

Ciara said the drama started back in 2011 when they were basically babies -- now they’re full-blown mamas. RiRi’s got boys and another baby on the way ... Ciara's got four kids, and it’s all love now. One good convo and the past got left behind.