TMZ Hip Hop - Page 11

For Sean "Diddy" Combs, judgment day has finally arrived as he awaits his punishment in his case following his convictions in his NYC federal criminal trial.

Diddy will be present in federal court Friday morning with his defense team -- led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos -- as well as the prosecutors and, of course, Judge Arun Subramanian.

One of Sean "Diddy" Combs's defense attorneys just broke down in tears in court ... Nicole Westmoreland is getting emotional as she discusses why the mogul has been so important to his community.

Westmoreland says Diddy was a shining example for Black people with his business empire ... pointing to his record label, fashion line, TV network and liquor brand. She says he sent a message and inspired others.

Sniffling and sobbing as part of her emotional plea, Westmoreland said Diddy changed the culture, changed the industry and changed people's lives, "because what people recognized is that if Mr. Combs could do it, then they could do it too."

Early fireworks at the Diddy sentencing hearing ... federal prosecutors are slamming him as overconfident, and they say his respect for the rule of law is just "lip service."

Prosecutor Christy Slavik is coming out swinging in the government's opening statement ... she's insinuating Diddy's expecting to walk free as early as today, claiming Diddy booked speaking engagements for next week in Miami.

Slavik says, "That is the height of hubris."

Diddy's lawyers are painting him as a loving father and pillar of the community during his sentencing ... and, we've got the video they plan to use to get that message across.

The defense released a nearly 12-minute-long vid they already submitted to the court ... which begins by showing Diddy sitting with his kids -- speaking softly to his twin daughters, D'Lila and Jessie.

The rapper plays with a paper puppet and sits on the floor while his kiddos try to steal his sunglasses ... looking every bit the attentive father.

Nicki Minaj and Cardi B are still going at each other's throats after several days of social media venom directed at the other's kids ... disses that haven't slowed down at all!!!

The Queen has been under fire for roasting Cardi and Offset's daughter Kulture earlier this week ... but she and her Barbz have been digging up screengrabs, maintaining it was Cardi who took a shot at the cradle first.

Nonetheless, Nicki wrote an open letter somewhat apologizing to the 7-year-old ... telling the tyke it's not her fault she has funny-looking gums, but blames Cardi for taking her out her character.

Taylor Swift's carefully calculated and constructed "Life of a Showgirl" lyrics have drawn a line in the sand -- only 50 Cent is worth a mention!!!

The "In Da Club" creator got wind Taylor detailed ambiance he once created for her on the track "Ruin The Friendship" when she crooned, "And it was not an invitation / But as the 50 Cеnt song played."

50 Cent certified Taylor's "sh*t" as popping right now and gloated in the face of whomever it may concern -- "😏she shout me out, 🤫she don’t shout you out. LOL 😆 THIS IS FOR BIG TIMERS ONLY! @50centaction wait I’m the only shout out on the whole album."

Ray J has responded to Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner's defamation lawsuit ... and his rebuttal is as stunning as it is brazen.

TMZ broke the news ... Kim and Kris were fed up with Ray J claiming they're the subject of a federal criminal racketeering investigation ... and slapped him with a suit for defamation.

On a recent livestream, Ray went through the lawsuit ... and said they were trying to make him a "slave" ... and prior millions they allegedly paid him as hush money went unmentioned in the paperwork.

Diddy is staring down one of the biggest days of his life -- his prison sentencing -- and now just one day before that goes down, he’s been hit with two new sexual assault lawsuits.

In new court docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Lakeisha Ward and Dejoan Bledsoe ... both represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who’s unleashed a flurry of cases against the hip-hop mogul -- claim in separate lawsuits they were sexually assaulted by the mogul.

Ward alleges Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted her at a pool party he hosted at his L.A. home in 2018.

Now that September 28 has been cemented as "K Camp Day" in Atlanta, the platinum-selling virtuoso is eyeing yet another music milestone ... his own festival.

K Camp tells TMZ Hip Hop that he's been tremendously honored by the city of Atlanta and hopes to have his own RARE Sound Festival the next time his holiday rolls around.

He joins an extensive lineage of legendary Atlanta artists each with their own day ... Outkast, Future, Killer Mike, Ludacris, 21 Savage, Jeezy, the late Rich Homie Quan -- we told you the list is extensive!!!

Diddy is taking responsibility for his actions ... telling the judge in his case he's sorry for all the hurt and pain he's caused others through his actions.

The rapper filed a four-page letter Thursday ahead of his Friday sentencing hearing ... beginning with the apology before admitting the last two years have been the hardest of his life -- and there is "no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself."

Diddy says he's learned a lot since he was incarcerated a little more than a year ago ... explaining pain became his teacher -- and going on to say his "downfall was rooted in his selfishness."

50 Cent's screwing with Diddy a day before the mogul finds out whether he's headed off to prison or if he gets to go home ... telling the judge to think of the general public's need for baby oil.

The rapper shared the message on Instagram Thursday afternoon ... kicking it off by addressing Judge Arun Subramanian directly and mentioning his longstanding beef with Puffy.

50 claims he's feared for his life multiple times over the years, and he wants the judge to think about the "safety of the general public" when it comes to his impending sentence.

Pharrell Williams says he'd be extremely grateful if Clipse's comeback album, "Let God Sort Em Out," won a Grammy -- unlike that ingrate Kanye West, who pissed on his award!!!

In a new interview with Billboard, Pharrell gushed over the acclaimed project that he, Pusha T and Malice pieced together in July, while aspiring for the VA-bred collective to take the center stage at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards next year.

And like Pusha T did during the album's rollout, Pharrell couldn't resist taking a swipe at Ye all the same.

Cam'ron's hilarious tale of almost entering the fight-Matrix with Laurence Fishburne now has a full enactment through an internet spoof -- and the "It Is What It Is" host says it's exactly how it happened!!!

Popular internet comedian Mr. Commodore dropped a new skit on Thursday, set to Cam'ron's audio of him sharing the wild story on 50 Cent's platform several years ago.

Diddy's standing up for a pair of doctors who evaluated his sexual proclivities -- giving him 2 thumbs up -- and says they'll be in court ready to testify during his sentencing.

On the eve of his sentencing in federal court, Diddy filed docs with Judge Arun Subramanian, urging him to ignore the prosecution's pleas to disregard evaluations from 2 renowned doctors specializing in sexual disorders.

In the documents, he says Dr. Kreuger -- a Columbia University psychiatrist -- signed off on Diddy being "in complete control of his sexual urges and behavior."

Diddy's circumstances will only improve if he's sentenced to more time ... because he's probably headed for a prison better than his current one, a prominent consultant says.

We spoke with Sam Mangel -- a former convict who now works as a prison consultant for well-known figures -- on "TMZ Live" ahead of Diddy's Friday sentencing ... and we asked if he thinks Diddy's profile and the nature of his case will make him a target.

Mangel tells us Diddy's prospective prison will be a huge improvement when compared to MDC Brooklyn -- the prison where Diddy's been locked up since his dramatic 2024 arrest.

The Breakfast Club's DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious are brushing off Nicki Minaj's barrage of insults from yesterday like it's dirt off their shoulder ... but have no real beef with Miss Roman Zolanski!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Envy and Jess shortly after Charlamagne Tha God used Remy Ma's voice to hammer home Nicki's "Donkey Of The Day," and they were completely unbothered by the recent events. For what it's worth, it appears Nicki forgot to mention Envy.

Nicki vowed TMZ, Breakfast Club, DJ Vlad, Barney B, Roc Nation, would all CRUMBLE under her iron fist ... yet, Jess tells us the Barbz haven't made a blip on her radar!!!