TMZ Hip Hop - Page 3

Nicki Minaj has been dumped by her lawyer handling one of her cases due to a “communication breakdown” as she faces a $10 million lawsuit ... this according to new legal docs.

The rapper’s attorney Matthew Abbott filed court docs asking to withdraw from representing Nicki in a lawsuit brought by a fan named Tameer Peak.

Tameer has sued Nicki before, claiming she falsely accused him of criminal conduct and stalking in September 2025, and for slander in August 2024.

6:15 AM PT -- Ray J tells TMZ ... "I'm feeling good right now -- I'm not suicidal at this moment -- I don't need to call a hotline -- I'm perfectly stable." 

He claims ... "On the night of the incident ... She was very aggressive with all the stuff going on ... she put her hands on me and I literally got up out of there -- situation like that you get out of there to settle down the situation -- was I suicidal in that moment -- I don't know what I was feeling -- she slapped me out of control -- I didn't know if it was March or April, my back tooth is loose -- it was a massive blow -- Hell yeah I called 911 because I left the hotel and she followed me."

He goes on to say, "Her apology was sincere and weird at the same time -- but we're on good terms."

Ray J's ex-partner Shila Hasanoff is setting the record straight on the recent domestic violence call to his L.A. area home, saying the rapper didn't lay a hand on her ... and is now suicidal.

Shila posted an emotional Instagram video talking all about the incident from early Saturday morning, during which police responded to Ray's residence after receiving a battery domestic violence call to his address.

TMZ broke the story ... our sources say the 2 parties involved refused to cooperate, leaving the officers with no other option than to close out the job with no arrests.

Cardi B made "Saturday Night Live's" 1,000th episode one to remember ... allegedly for all the wrong reasons -- according to our sources, Cardi started destroying equipment during rehearsal when she overheard the "Weekend Update" anchors run a joke about Nicki Minaj.

We're told as Cardi was preparing to perform as a musical guest on the January 31 show, the "Weekend Update" anchors were running their jokes ahead of dress rehearsal.

Our sources say Cardi apparently overheard one about Nicki's recent affiliation with MAGA ... and LOST it.

Nick Cannon had his hands full with his kids Tuesday ... taking them to dinner at a famous Los Angeles hot spot -- though he couldn't manage to get his whole brood together.

The actor and rapper was spotted leaving Craig's -- a well-known joint in West Hollywood -- with five of his children ... several pizza boxes tucked under his arm and a bag in hand.

Unclear if the crew ate at the restaurant or if Cannon just took everyone to quickly pick up takeout ... but, either way, it seems Cannon was on full dad duty.

T.I. is dragging his beef with 50 Cent straight into the studio -- and TMZ’s got the first listen to the diss track.

Hit play on this ... because T.I. ain't playing nice, calling 50 a "5-0 dispatcher" -- basically branding him a snitch -- and clowns him as a keyboard warrior who’s tough online but nowhere else.

Then it really gets spicy. T.I. raps he’s got "he has paperwork from n**** in prison ya name is in em" ... a bombshell claim that goes straight at 50’s gangster brand. That’s not light shade ... that’s nuclear!

Rapper Luci4 -- best known for his viral hit "BodyPartz" -- has died at 23.

The L.A. County Medical Examiner confirms Luci4 -- born James Dear -- passed away, though his cause of death is still unknown. His grandparents tell TMZ he died February 22, sometime at a friend’s house in Los Angeles.

They say they don’t know what happened yet -- but they’re suspicious. According to them, his wallet was completely emptied, and they had recently warned him about the people he’d been spending time with as his fame started taking off.

Eva Longoria just added some serious star power to her Netflix comedy … because TMZ has learned 50 Cent is in da proverbial club.

Production sources tell TMZ … the rapper and TV mogul has been on set the past two days filming scenes for Longoria’s upcoming Netflix project, “The Fifth Wheel.”

We’re told 50 shot multiple scenes alongside Kim Kardashian, Nikki Glaser and Brenda Song with the action going down at Exchange LA -- a nightclub in downtown Los Angeles.

DJ Young Slade -- Lil Jon's son -- was laid to rest this week after his father confirmed his death earlier this month.

Lil Jon took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute video of his late son and added, "On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, We laid my only son to rest. In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family."

The rapper continued, "I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength."

1:42 PM PT -- Yo Gotti's company CMG has released a statement in the wake of Lil Poppa's passing ... calling him a "beloved family member" and promising to uphold his legacy with honor and respect.

Rapper Lil Poppa died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound ... TMZ has learned.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office in Georgia tells TMZ the rapper -- real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler -- died after being shot in the head ... his death has been ruled a suicide.

Lil Poppa's cause of death comes out just a day after authorities pronounced him dead.

Ray J's heart monitor has been stolen ... and he's pleading with the thief to give it back.

TMZ caught up with the "Sexy Can I" singer this week -- less than 2 months after he was hospitalized -- and he tells us he's been wearing a heart monitor for the last 2 weeks so docs can keep track of his health. But ... he says a fan snatched the monitor off his bare chest when he hopped into the crowd during his Valentine's Day concert in Shreveport, Louisiana while singing "One Wish."

It's all in the clip -- Ray J says his monitor has important health data his doctors need in order to make a plan for him going forward ... and is even offering cash to the person who has it. He presses that this is no joke and he was wearing it during a "critical" time.

We told you all about it -- Ray J was hospitalized in Vegas in early January and was treated for pneumonia and serious chest pains. He later revealed his docs told him he might not live past 2027.

Chris Brown's ex, Diamond Brown, and his rumored current girlfriend, Jada Wallace, are going at it on socials in an epic back-and-forth... and it's getting nasty!

Here's the deal ... Diamond -- the mother of Chris Brown's daughter Lovely -- accused Chris of trying to sabotage her personal life ... but Jada claimed it's Diamond who's been causing trouble by trying to keep Chris from their daughter.

In Instagram comments, Diamond claimed Chris tried to run off her current man by threatening him after Chris already tried to ruin a previous relationship. This prompted Jada to jump to her man's defense.

2/19/2026 -- 11:21 AM PT -- TMZ has confirmed Lil Poppa died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Lil Poppa -- a popular rapper based out of Jacksonville, Florida -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office in Georgia tells TMZ ... the rapper -- real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler -- was pronounced dead today at 11:23 AM ET.

His cause of death was not immediately released.

Lil Poppa was signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) and has released several hit tracks over the last few years, including "Love & War," "Mind Over Matter," and "HAPPY TEARS."

Ja Rule says the beef between him and the dudes in G-Unit is in the freezer ... it's not heating up despite the recent plane exchange -- but it's always ready to thaw.

We caught up with the rapper in New York City Tuesday ... and, we asked him why he apologized for the recent argument with Tony Yayo on a Delta Flight.

JR tells us he's a grown man ... and, there's a time and a place to handle beef.

Eminem's ex-wife, Kim Scott, is facing two charges in Michigan after allegedly crashing her car with her son and his friends inside the vehicle ... TMZ has learned.

According to court records, obtained by TMZ, Kim is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failure to stop or identify after causing property damage -- both misdemeanors.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the chaos unfolded around 8:00 PM Monday. We're told Kim had just left her home with her son, Parker, and three of his friends to go shopping when she allegedly struck a parked car on her street but didn't stop.

ChatDJT has entered the chat .... Nicki Minaj honored her new favorite POTUS this Presidents Day with A.I.-generated photos of Donald J. Trump riding shotgun with her.

Check out the pics ... the fake DJT is swagged out in gear fit for a Barbz -- pink jacket and bedazzled jeans with a lot of bling hanging from his neck.

If you look closely, you can see that the original image appears to have featured Nicki's husband, Kenneth Petty. A reflection that looks a lot like Kenneth is seen in the window behind the A.I. Trump's head.

Cardi B, for the first time, is publicly acknowledging that she and Stefon Diggs are dunzo ... while at the same time, sticking up for the Patriots star wideout in a big way, after rapper BIA took a shot at him this weekend!

Not up on your rap beef? Cardi -- currently at the start of her big "Little Miss Drama Tour" -- and BIA have drama that goes back years. But, if anyone thought Cardi's split from Stefon signalled it was open season to trash the football player, she made it crystal clear that ain't the case.

"Can u name someone with more bms than receiving yards? I can! and I know that… ykwnvm," BIA wrote on social media, obviously taking a dig at Diggs.

Cardi, who had a baby with SD in November, responded, but not immediately, waiting until she hit the stage in Los Angeles Sunday night.