TMZ Hip Hop - Page 23

Travis Scott gave a crowd in Tokyo "goosebumps" last night ... bringing out Kanye West and Stormi Webster to rock the stage in front of thousands of screaming fans.

The rapper took over Tokorozawa’s Belluna Dome -- a massive stadium in the Saitama prefecture -- Saturday night in the country ... when Kanye pulled off his mask, revealing his face to the crowd.

A fair few cheers course through the crowd before Travis and Kanye start bouncing around the stage in the video ... bringing the energy to the packed audience.

There's always reason to celebrate with SZA, but this weekend's a big one for her ... because she's turning 36!

As you know, the singer's been showing off her curvy physique on Instagram quite a bit the past few years ... so let's celebrate her special day with her hottest shots!

1:14 PM PT -- Rod Wave's attorneys Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg and Zack Findling tell TMZ ... Rod was "was unjustly profiled and unlawfully arrested in Atlanta. The arresting officer belongs to the Atlanta Police Department’s controversial Crime Suppression Unit -- a group known for its aggressive tactics and emphasis on high arrest numbers rather than genuine public safety."

They add Wave was targeted because of the unit's "quota-driven approach" ... a practice they say completely undermines true justice as well as trust in the community. The lawyers say they looked forward to defending Rod and pointing out the "clear violations of [his] rights in court."

Rapper Rod Wave was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia Friday on weapon and drug charges.

TMZ has learned he was arrested by the Atlanta Police Department for possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, reckless driving, possession of a Schedule V controlled substance and possession of Schedule II controlled substance.

He is still in custody as of Saturday morning, but won't be for long. Rod's attorney, Drew Findling, tells TMZ ... he already had his first appearance in court, where they agreed to an $8,000 bond.

YFN Lucci is doing what he humanly couldn't do just a few years ago -- pound the pavement and promote his new album!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with Lucci this week during his latest run in NYC for his "Already Legend." album ... dripping in designer, and the Atlanta-born star says he feels like he's living the dream with a 2nd chance.

Lucci was released from prison back in January after serving nearly four years for violating Georgia's Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Rapper Maxo Kream can get back to rolling in peace ... he cut a deal with prosecutors and got the criminal case against him stemming from a traffic stop in Texas last July dropped!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained docs signed by a judge on Friday, Nov. 7, showing the case has been dismissed ... thanks to a deal with prosecutors arranged by his legal team.

Maxo had been charged with unlawful carrying of guns by a registered gang member after police say they found 2 in the vehicle on July 7 ... but now the case has been dropped in exchange for the rapper forfeiting the guns and agreeing to some community service and a gun safety class.

Hit-Boy and The Alchemist have been taking their "Goldfish" album show on the road -- to dynamite effects ... with sold-out theaters streaming their film!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Hit and Al at their recent L.A. streaming, and they tell us they wanted to give fans a more engaging experience with the project ... so they shot a bunch of videos and pieced them together in movie format!!!

There's plenty of heavy talent -- Danny Trejo, Rory Culkin, Blake Anderson, UFC star Shara Magomedov, and more -- to match the featured artist appearances ... Big Hit, Conway, The Machine, Slink Johnson, Lefty Gunplay, and others.

The nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards are officially in ... and it's nothing short of a powerhouse lineup, featuring artists like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar -- and Bad Bunny leading the charge!

The Recording Academy revealed the nominations Friday morning ... with a group of past Grammy-winners helping make the big announcement -- including Lizzo, Sam Smith, Brandi Carlile, Doechii, KAROL G and more.

In the major categories ... Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga, and Leon Thomas are just a few of the stars who scored nominations for Album of the Year -- while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Doechii, and Bruno Mars got the nod for Record of the Year.

The 2026 Grammy Awards noms are in, and the Best Rap Album category has proven to be an interesting scenario ... the hip hop stars are intertwined on each other's projects!!!

Kendrick Lamar's rookie-rapper promoting "GNX" album got spotlighted ... and the anti-Drake artist is also featured on Clipse's "Let God Sort Em Out" alongside Tyler, The Creator ... whose own "CHROMAKOPIA" album is nominated with a GloRilla feature!!!

Clipse are also featured on JID's "God Does Like Ugly" album, and GloRilla's breakout "Glorious" album stands as the only female-helmed project in the lineup.

Clipse and Kendrick's "Chain & Whips" collab is especially special ... it's also nominated for a Best Rap Performance. Kendrick and SZA are also up for both Song & Record of the Year with their supreme chart-topper, "Luther."

2025 is being touted as one of the best years for hip hop in recent memory -- just ask James Gunn -- but fans are piping hot mad with the omission of Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist's "Alfredo 2" project -- especially considering the first one was nominated at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Clipse, Kendrick and Tyler's projects are up for Album of the Year as well ... Gunn isn't capping!!!

Rick Ross is begging Jaylen Brown to "end the madness" -- calling on the Boston Celtics star to get his barber to change their ways after yet another (alleged) in-game hairline catastrophe.

The Miami rapper shared his message while he was getting a lineup this week ... shortly after Brown appeared to leave his mark on Kyshawn George's Wizards jersey during a game this week.

"Whoever your barber is, tell them to stop," Ross said. "Chill with the hair follicles, those hair follicles. He’s spraying like hair from another human on there, but you playing ball, my n****. It's causing trauma!"

Bhad Bhabie’s serving up drama again -- but this time, it’s not the messy kind ... it’s the smokin’ hot kind, as she lights up IG with some seriously sizzling snaps!

See for yourself ... the rapper flaunted her tattooed curves in a tight white corset and matching hot pants, striking some seriously scandalous poses that has IG in a chokehold.

As you can see, BB was feelin’ herself big time ... her white-hot 'fit perfectly popping against that deep, bronzed glow.

Mike Epps is headlining the "We Dem Ones" comedy tour for the first time after hosting it for several years -- and he's tasked with dividing stage time among all the comic stars!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Mike at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills late Thursday afternoon ... Chico Bean, DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and T.K. Kirkland are just a handful of the heavy-hitters who will be clawing for the spotlight and bringing their own respective fanbases to the 35-city tour starting Feb. 2026.

Mike tells us the solution is simple -- he'll break up the time like a music fest -- tons of acts and plenty of opportunities for the comedians to get their jokes in.

Blueface just may have found his new GF after all ... in the arms of Hazel-E, judging from their steamy, intimate party encounter!

The two artists/reality stars were spotted at well-known celebrity hotspot MEMEHOUSE Productions -- the same place Justin Bieber plays basketball -- vibing to the music and clearly feeling each other's vibes too.

Blueface is leaning into Hazel here ... wrapping her up in hugs and whispering in her ear -- sans shirt, just BTW.

50 Cent poured gas on Lil Meech's trail after "BMF" was officially canceled last week ... but "Power" alum Joseph Sikora says it doesn't have to be end of the road!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with Joseph in NYC and got his thoughts on the latest fallout that had 50 ribbing Meech for being in the unemployment line.

Joseph tells us he's seen firsthand how Meech blossomed into an actor and is certain that he can still find work in Hollywood, even if it's not within 50's film universe.

Comedian Deon Cole had the internet debating after he called out Kai Cenat for gleefully knowing Black celebrities when he was hired to stream at this year's BET Awards ... an inevitable part of the game, according to Consequence!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Consequence leaving Prada on Rodeo Drive, Wednesday afternoon, and the veteran rapper tells us he's experienced Kai and his BFF Rakai's cluelessness firsthand when they tried to write off his son, Caiden The Crownholder, as just the "rapping n***a" and not the artist who's burning up TikTok!!!

Deon's words resonated with many ... and Cons, being from the true school and all, gets the issue, but seeing that the wave has switched to streaming and clout-chasing, there's not much anyone can do about it. 🤷🏾‍♂️

Blueface is out of prison and calling out names ... Jaidyn Alexis, Chrisean Rock and Angela -- who barely made it 5 minutes with him -- for FAILING to hold him down while he was behind bars!!!

Drama has been sky high since Blueface was released this week ... Jaidyn threatened to beat up Chrisean for being too close to her kids, but in a shocking turn of events, Blueface says Chrisean was more of a ride-or-die than Jaidyn was!!!

Blueface says he wasn't hung up on them sleeping with other people while he was locked up for 21 months, but he criticized Jaidyn for blowing the $90K he gave her and being more focused on experimenting with women than his well-being!!!

Denzel Curry and Armani White’s friendly game of basketball was interrupted Thursday ... when the rap stars had to gang up on a vagrant sleazing around the park who was threatening to kill the kids!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of the "GOATED." collaborators at Plummer Park in West Hollywood from earlier this afternoon ... draped in hooping gear but heavily focused on the timeout they took to address a man sitting in the grass.

Our tipster says the group had just finished playing HORSE when Denzel, Armani and another player approached the man ... after hearing him scream at the children playing on the jungle gym, “I will kill all these kids and burn their fucking bodies!!!”