TMZ Hip Hop - Page 6

Playboi Carti's alleged assault on a limo driver was even more sinister than originally thought ... because he's now accused of threatening to shoot the chauffeur.

TMZ obtained the audio dispatch calls from the October 2 incident in Utah ... and, as you can hear, cops sprang into action after driver Carl Reynolds reported what allegedly happened to him while driving the rapper to his tour rehearsal. with his GF, Giovanna Ramos.

Investigators responded to an intersection in Park City, where Carl had pulled over after Carti allegedly socked him in the face during a heated argument with Ramos.

Boosie Badazz was spotted over the weekend performing at a funeral procession in Detroit, and while some social media users jumped to conclusions, his appearance actually fulfilled his late fan's wish!!!

The veteran rap star pulled up like a 'G' and attended the celebration of life for 26-year-old Alaicha Johnson on October 17 ... who passed away on October 5 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

TMZ Hip Hop spoke to Alaicha's parents, Tiffany and Ramon Johnson, who affectionately remember their daughter as the "life of the party" -- who proudly wore her nickname "Lay Lay Wild" on her sleeve.

Ryu Hayabusa entered the "No Flex Zone" ahead of the release of the video game "Ninja Gaiden 4" -- thanks to Swae Lee and a 26-foot-wide screen, there's a new Guinness World Record in the books!!!

The latest "Ninja Gaiden" releases tomorrow, and to celebrate the moment, Swae and Team NINJA community manager, Emmanuel “Master” Rodriguez, took flight in a chopper across the Miami skyline as another helicopter set a new Guinness World Records for the largest video game display flown by helicopter.

The Diamond-selling Rae Sremmurd rapper wasn't just on hand because he's a video game stan ... his unreleased new track, “Flammable,” also debuted during the spectacle as it blared from the speakers in the chopper.

If there’s one thing Ashanti’s gonna do, it’s live it up -- and she proved it with a carefree beach day down in Barbados.

As you can see -- the singer shut it down in a plunging striped swimsuit, topped off with a matching bandana and oversized hoops ... going full maximum impact mode for her sun-drenched Barbados weekend.

Ashanti was clearly living her best life, partying it up with her crew ... though one thing was hard to miss -- her other half, Nelly, was nowhere in sight.

Brandy says a medical incident drove her offstage in Chicago Saturday night ... revealing a sudden wave of dehydration threatened to make her faint.

The singer-songwriter explained her sudden departure from her United Center show in an Instagram post Sunday morning ... telling her fans that -- after weeks of nonstop rehearsals -- she experienced feelings of dehydration during the show.

Brandy says she did return to the stage after initially leaving it ... but adds she couldn't connect to the tunes sonically -- and acknowledges it wasn't her best show by any stretch of imagination.

Brandy and Monica's The Boy Is Mine Tour hit a snag Saturday night when Brandy abruptly walked off stage mid performance, leaving Monica to close the show solo.

The R&B legends were performing at Chicago's United Center when Brandy appeared frustrated by sound issues and stopped mid song.

"Give me one second y'all, I gotta get my ..." she told the crowd before walking backstage.

Playboi Carti got into some trouble while on tour -- he was charged with misdemeanor assault during his time in Utah earlier this month, law enforcement says.

Here's what we know -- cops say a limo driver named Carl Reynolds told them the "Rather Lie" rapper assaulted him while he was driving him and his entourage from the Waldorf Astoria in Park City to rehearsals on Oct. 2. Carti was in town for his Antagonist Tour at the time.

Carl claims things took a disastrous turn when Carti and his other half got into a heated argument -- apparently over sex -- in the back seat ... and he says Carti threatened to beat up both her and Carl after he intervened.

Gucci Mane celebrated his favorite day of the year, 10/17, on Friday by adding his 17th album and a new memoir to his storied discography ... life jewels in the form of "Episodes" for both the ears and eyes!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Gucci in NYC for his big day and he admits -- despite all the hot tea that was spilled in the paperback form of "Episodes" -- he didn't need approval from any of his friends and fam for some of the juiciest bits ... they already knew the deal!!!

Gucci has lived one helluva life, emerging as one of the most stylish rappers ever, so we had to ask what his favorite fashion-week city is -- which he shamelessly answers New York City. But, you know, when in Rome ...

NLE Choppa and Jonathan Majors recently had an awkward moment on Kirk Franklin's podcast, which was supposed to be a safe space for religious expression ... but the "Shotta Flow" rap star suspects the clash is courtesy of his past shooting towards Meagan Good!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up Choppa at LAX this week and breaks down his unceremonious encounter on "Den Of Kings," where Majors instructed the 22-year-old to re-read his Bible after he questioned the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

NLE is still questioning the theological theory, but tells us he feels John came into the sit-down -- which also featured KevOnStage -- with his own animosity, in defense of his woman.

French Montana might not have time for a lawsuit right now ... but, two men from Switzerland don't care -- 'cause they say he stole their watch!

Justo Obiang and Samir Gato filed the suit against French on Thursday ... claiming they met the rapper after a 2015 show in Geneva, Switzerland.

The two men say they stayed in contact over the years ... and, in 2024, Obiang and Gato say they made plans to meet up with French in Egypt. Before Montana got there, Obiang and Gato claim he asked to trade watches with Obiang -- who refused.

Tony Rock understands why people are putting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in A.I. videos ... but, he says it's got to stop ... 'cause there are some people you just don't mock!

We caught up with the comedian at LAX on Friday ... and we had to ask him -- from a professional comic's perspective -- about his thoughts on Sora-created videos featuring A.I.-MLK -- like the one of him in a WWE ring, or behind the counter at KFC, just to name a couple recent examples.

Rock says he draws the line at MLK ... saying he can see the humor in some of the videos depicting 2Pac and Biggie -- though they have legacies he doesn't want to see tarnished either -- but, the impactful civil rights leader is simply a bridge too far.

50 Cent stepped into the party life this week for an exquisite new reason ... the hip hop megastar exclusively launched his Branson 505 Edition Cognac by Sire Spirits x Lalique -- a $25,000 affair!!!

Fiddy tells TMZ Hip Hop ... "This is about craftsmanship, culture, and giving back. We created something that’ll outlive all of us -- real art that tells a story, and every bottle helps someone else write theirs.”

The event was fittingly held at the Lalique Townhouse in Manhattan, as each of the 505 limited edition bottles was made with hand-etched Lalique glass ... the Grande Champagne cognac is also aged up to 100 years for maximum quality.

Dave East is now a proud rapper of the independent club, thanks to his recently released album "Karma 4" ... he now has all the creative control for the world!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Dave during his Los Angeles press run -- where he had to 'Checc'-in with Marathon Burger, which he ranks as the best burger in not just California, but in many states.

Speaking of Marathon, Dave shares his enthusiasm in releasing his long-awaited Nipsey verse via the collab, "12 Months," produced by both Nip's and Dave's longtime beatsmiths, Mike & Keys.

Saweetie is drawing the line and entering her lawyers into the chat ... a very gossipy chat, after a woman claiming to be her ex-road manager has been drilling the rapper online for days with drug abuse and prostitution allegations!!!

On Friday, Saweetie sent out a firm statement, which reads ...  “The recent accusations made about me are false, defamatory, and deeply disturbing. These claims misrepresent the facts and are solely aimed to damage my reputation."

"This person never managed me. She was simply introduced to me by family. Her motives are now obvious. I’ll let the lawyers take it from here.”

Brian McKnight is already declaring a victory in his defamation case against ex-wife Julie McKnight ... after she didn't appear in court.

Brian filed a motion for default judgment, and is waiting for the court to sign off to make his win official ... but that technicality didn't prevent Brian from celebrating.

The R&B legend posted a video of himself smoking a cigar, saying, "The verdict is in" -- it isn't -- "according to the courts, trying to ruin my name and trying to bring harm to my family in a book filled with lies equals $8.8 million."

Chris Brown's Breezy Bowl XX concert at the New Orleans Superdome turned into a royal rumble last night ... after a group of women ganged up on another lady and beat the brakes off her in the stands!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of the wild encounter unfolding in the seats ... with 2 women -- one in blue, one in black -- arguing as another woman steps in to prevent the one in black from lunging forward.

Shortly after, another woman rushes into their section, briefly consults with the woman in black being restrained ... and then immediately launches into an attack on the woman in blue, clocking her cold in the face!!!