TMZ Hip Hop - Page 12

Emotions have been running high in the civil trial brought by the Ohio sheriff's deputies who raided Afroman's home back in 2022.

On Monday, sheriff's deputy Lisa Phillips broke down in tears while being shown a music video Afroman made titled "Licc'em Low Lisa" ... that appears to feature an actor portraying the officer simulating oral sex on another woman.

In courtroom footage, Lisa is seen visibly crying while the 13-minute video played. Afroman's lawyer had objected to playing the video, but the judge ultimately allowed it.

The court also played Afroman's 2022 music video "Why You Disconnecting My Video Camera," where he raps "Lieutenant Licc'em Low Lisa ate my ex-wife just like pizza" as home security footage seems to show Lisa walking through his house during the raid.

Afroman's day in court has finally come ... the rapper took the stand in his lawsuit filed against him by the Adams County Sheriff's deputies who raided his Ohio home back in 2022.

In the lawsuit, the deputies claimed Afroman used their likenesses -- which were apparently captured on his home security cameras -- without their permission in the songs and merch he's made about the raid.

But in a new trial video posted by WCPO-TV, the "Because I Got High" singer insists he was just exercising his "right of freedom of speech as an American."

In fact, he turned it back around on the deputies, saying on the stand ... "all of this is their fault."

The artist continued, testifying ... "If they hadn't wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit. I would not know their names, they wouldn't be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs ... my money would still be intact."

In his testimony, Afroman said the deputies tore down his door and didn't pay for it. He also claims they still owe him money they seized in the search.

Here's where the deputies say they're having a problem ... after the raid went down, Afroman made the song "Lemon Pound Cake" about the ordeal and included his security footage in the music video.

Then there's his track "Will You Help Me Repair My Door" ... which consists entirely of various shots of the raid, as well as an alleged photo of the search warrant that seems to show it was issued for drug trafficking and kidnapping.

In court, Afroman stood by his use of the videos, testifying ... "I had to do what I had to do to repair the damage they brought to my house."

The rapper has posted several other music videos on YouTube, name-dropping the deputies he says were involved in his raid ... and it seems he's been continuing to post these kinds of videos as recently as yesterday.

Gunna got duped into performing at an X Games concert by shady concert promoters who lured him to Colorado with promises of a huge payday that never came ... this according to a new lawsuit.

In the suit, obtained by TMZ, Gunna's touring company claims it agreed to have the rapper perform at an X Games event in Aspen back in January ... and signed a contract guaranteeing him $500,000 the night of the gig.

The company claims the agreement called for an additional $250,000 payment if he didn't get the $500K by the first deadline ... but it claims Gunna hasn't seen a dime and has been getting the runaround ... despite the fact Gunna did his part and performed at the X Games event. And there are even more concerns about the promoters ...

Mustard is on a roll! The famous DJ and music producer just scored a big win against his ex-wife, Chanel Thierry, in their nasty custody battle ... TMZ has learned.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Mustard -- legal name Dijon McFarlane -- will be able to make final educational decisions for their 3 children until August 2026, after he complained in papers that Chanel was making disparaging comments about him online.

In the papers, the judge determined that at least some of Chanel's recent social media posts were in direct violation of a previous order to refrain from speaking in a "negative, disrespectful, or derogatory manner to or about the other parent in a child's presence or within hearing distance of the child." As a result ... Mustard has now been awarded tie-breaking authority over educational decisions concerning their kids -- Kiylan, Kauner and Kody.

Cardi B's next collab might not be in the recording studio! Sophie Rain tells us she wants to get the Grammy winner to link up with her on OnlyFans.

We caught up with the 21-year-old content creator in Beverly Hills on Monday, where she filled us in on her biggest fantasy.

When we asked which celebrity she would be most excited to work with, she didn't hesitate ... "Cardi B would be sick. I love Cardi B!"

A$AP Rocky was spotted for the first time in public since Rihanna was at home during a frightening incident when her house was shot up earlier this month ... and we have the pics.

The rapper was snapped carrying a large red leather bag over his shoulder, pairing a graphic jacket layered over a hoodie, as he walked down a New York City street Sunday night ... one week after the shooting.

As you know ... Rihanna was at home with their 3 children when an assailant fired multiple rounds into her Los Angeles house on Sunday, March 8.

Doja Cat has revealed she's been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) ... and is "struggling" with it after living with the condition for years.

The "Paint the Town Red" hitmaker discussed her condition in a candid TikTok shared Friday ... telling fans she thinks it "caught up" with her after being taught to pretend to be someone she's not as a kid ... and living with an "I'll get it done" mentality.

It's all in the clip ... she notes the struggle with BPD has been going on "probably forever" and that it's been "agonizing." But, she says she's been in therapy for years and is "so relieved and so proud" of how far she's come.

Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs are arguing his sentence is far too harsh ... accusing the judge in a new legal filing of punishing him for crimes for which he was acquitted.

The rapper's legal team filed an appeal Friday in which they point out a jury found Diddy not guilty of sex trafficking and RICO charges ... yet Diddy received a sentence his lawyers say is roughly four times higher than normal for his prostitution-related Mann Act convictions.

Diddy's lawyers blast his 50-month sentence as a "perversion of justice."

Jack Harlow says he "got blacker" by pivoting from rap music and transitioning to rhythm and blues.

The "Lovin On Me" rapper was a guest on The New York Times podcast "Popcast" when the hosts asked him about his new R&B album ... and whether he consciously made the decision to go "deeper into blackness" with a new genre.

Jack agreed, saying he "got blacker" with his music ... and he went on to say he loves "Black music" and the sound of it.

The hosts were comparing Jack to white artists who retreat from rap and go into "traditionally white sounds."

Ray J's always lived large ... but now American Express is going after him in court, claiming the singer owes the company tens of thousands of dollars.

AmEx is suing Ray J for breach of contract and asking a judge to award the company $78,704.56 ... claiming he didn't pay back the balance on a credit card.

American Express is also suing Rajun Cajun Inc. ... a business allegedly connected to Ray J -- though it's unclear how. Sources close to Ray J tell TMZ ... he plans to pay off the debt.

Rapper 42 Dugg is off the hook after he was charged with making malicious threats to a woman in Michigan ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, the “Grace” rapper -- real name Dion Hayes -- sent messages to the unnamed individual between November 12, 2024 and March 11, 2025 with intent to "terrorize, frighten, intimidate, threaten, harass, molest, annoy, or disturb" the individual.

Prosecutors say the alleged victim was pregnant with his child when the threats were made ... and claim he sent such messages with the intent of coercing her to get an abortion. It's unclear if any baby was brought to term.

Hayes was also accused of threatening physical harm against her family.

He pleaded not guilty during his January court appearance, according to court docs. Hayes faced 6 months in the clink and a $1,000 fine if found guilty.

Lord Sear -- a legendary DJ in the world of hip hop who also worked closely with Eminem on his radio channel, Shade 45 -- has died.

Eminem honored Sear's death in a Wednesday post on social media, saying ... “SEAR WAS MORE THAN A VOICE ON THE RADIO – HE WAS A FORCE, A FRIEND, AND FAMILY TO SO MANY OF US!”

Sear worked for the station as a DJ since its inception in 2004. He also joined the rapper on the "Anger Management Tour" in the early 2000s. A cause of death was not released.

Lauryn Hill allegedly owes a substantial six-figure sum in back taxes, more than a decade after she spent time behind bars over issues with the IRS ... but the legendary singer’s spokesperson tells us the entertainer is handling the matter.

According to official records, the New Jersey Division of Taxation filed two separate liens against the Grammy-award-winning entertainer. The first was over an unpaid debt totaling $133,246 ... and the second was over $758,912.02. Both liens remain active in the system.

A jury has reached its decision in the lawsuit against Ye -- the rapper formerly known as Kanye West ... and they sided with his former employee.

Ye has been ordered to pay $140k for medical expenses and lost wages to Tony Saxton, much lower than the $1.7M he was asking for.

Tony sued Ye for more than $1 million for alleged unpaid wages, and accused Ye of subjecting him to unsafe working conditions and wrongful termination.

Travis Scott and a handful of artists are jumping to the defense of a Black man in Texas whose rap lyrics were cited during his sentencing for a double murder ... which landed him on death row, but the rappers believe using lyrics to impose capital punishment is unconstitutional.

James Broadnax was 19-years old when he killed two white men during a robbery in Garland, Texas ... and in 2009, a nearly all-white jury convicted him and decided he deserved the death penalty.

Prosecutors introduced Broadnax's handwritten rap lyrics as evidence only after he was convicted -- during the sentencing phase -- and during deliberation, the jury twice asked to see 40 pages of Broadnax's lyrics.

North West is making some new noise in the music game, 'cause the first snippet from her latest collab just dropped, and it looks like total chaos ... in the most fun way!

Check it out -- the 12-year-old goes all in on the track "Don’t Care," shared by Mag!c (a protégé of her dad Ye) -- rocking her signature blue hair and clearly having a blast in the clip.

No word yet on when the full music video is dropping -- but if this teaser is anything to go by, these two could be cooking up a serious Gen Alpha hip-hop moment.