TMZ Hip Hop - Page 5

Cardi B’s got some 'splaining to do about the paternity of her youngest child, at least according to Offset, who was clearly wondering if it was his or Stefon Diggs' ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained a court order issued in Cardi and Offset’s divorce case on February 25, 2026 ... and in it, the judge denied the ex-Migos rapper's request for a DNA test on the baby, but the paternity request he wanted for another child of Cardi's was granted.

The dates of birth of the children are redacted in the order, but one is described as a "newborn," so that's gotta be Stefon's kid, who was born in November. The last child Offset and Cardi had together was born in 2024.

Afrika Bambaataa -- a rapper and DJ who helped pioneer hip hop -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... he died from complications of cancer at about 3 AM today in Pennsylvania.

Bambaataa was born in The Bronx .... and he joined the local gang the Black Spades, quickly rising up the ranks in the gang to the position of "warlord."

Cardi B's "Little Miss Drama" show in Washington, D.C. Wednesday doubled as a family reunion ... 'cause Stefon Diggs, his mom, and brother all attended!

Check it out -- fans were quick to spot the trio dancing the night away at Cardi's show looking like they were all having the time of their lives. Even if Cardi and Stefon's romance didn't work out, it seems there's nothing but love here.

As we've reported, Stefon's mom Stephanie has already gone to a show -- she was at Cardi's Houston tour stop ... where Nicki Minaj's younger sister also showed up.

Before this cute kid rockin' her crop top was performing at Coachella, she was just working at the hair salon and dreaming of the big stage and flashing lights.

She's set to hit the Coachella stage this weekend, as well as Weekend 2 ... There's a good chance she'll jam out to "Pound Town."

Erykah Badu might vibe with Kanye West's music ... but, she doesn't want to talk about him in the streets -- turning down our request for comment earlier this week.

We caught up with the R&B star outside Nya Studios West in Hollywood on Tuesday ... and, we had to ask her about her recent trip with her daughter to see Ye perform at SoFi Stadium.

However, Erykah didn't want to talk ... turning us down flat out -- totally her right, of course -- though it's unclear why she didn't want to discuss Ye.

While Offset's recovering from the shooting at Florida's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, he's also catching heat over $100K he borrowed from a Detroit casino -- a debt he's trying to square away ... TMZ has learned.

The MotorCity Casino Hotel is suing the rapper, claiming he opened a credit line of $100K with the casino so he could keep a night of gambling fun going back in March 2024.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, the casino couldn't get in touch with Offset ... so, it tried to take the money out of his account directly -- as both parties agreed when he opened the credit line -- but, allegedly there wasn't enough money in it to pay off the debt.

Desiigner was arrested in South Carolina last month for domestic violence ... and TMZ obtained audio from the 911 call in which you can hear the rapper begging for help.

We can't be sure, but it seems like he's the the one to dial it in ... because it sounds like he's the one holding the phone. When the operator picks up, the "Panda" rapper doesn't seem to notice at first, and you can hear him yelling at a woman in the background, accusing her of trying to steal his car.

Desiigner -- legal name Sidney Royel Selby III -- eventually acknowledges the 911 dispatcher, saying ... "This girl trying to steal my car. She's trying to do grand theft auto on my car."

Rapper iHeartMemphis was gassed out of his house by multiple law enforcement agencies during a wild situation he live-streamed back in February.

Police reports obtained by TMZ reveal Florida's Davie and Plantation Police Departments' combined SWAT team worked together to force iHeart -- real name Richard Maurice Colbert -- out of his home after an extensive standoff on February 9 and into the following day.

The report states cops and the SWAT unit failed to make contact with Colbert after about an hour of commands outside his home ... some of which you can see in our clip. Police say they knew Colbert heard their commands because he was streaming on Instagram and mocking them ... and that's when cops say they brought their BearCat vehicle.

Cardi B knows what's "Up" ... she brought out her nemesis Nick Minaj's ex Meek Mill to her Philadelphia concert Tuesday night!

Check it out -- the crowd went wild when Meek walked onto the stage at Cardi's sold-out "Little Miss Drama Tour" stop at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena to perform "Dreams and Nightmares." It makes sense the rapper came out for Cardi's Philly show -- it's his hometown, and "Dreams and Nightmares" is considered a Philly anthem about hard work and the underdog mentality.

Cardi and Meek also have history together ... they collaborated on the 2018 track "On Me" on his album "Championships." Meanwhile, he dated Nicki for about 2 years, from early 2015 to January 2017.

Kanye West’s issues continue to grow …. a former employee of the rapper is seeking close to $1 million in court for unpaid wages and other damages ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Jonathan Monroe -- who says he worked as a full-time security guard in 2021 -- claims he wasn’t paid all the wages owed nor given overtime.

In his new docs, Monroe asks for damages totaling around $850K ... including $7,725 for unpaid overtime, $37,620 in lost wages, $500,000 in lost earnings, $100,000 for his pain and suffering ... and another $100,000 in punitive damages.

In his original lawsuit, Monroe claimed he tried to collect the money owed to him but was given the run-around. He claimed on one occasion, Ye asked him to fill up the tank of his Lamborghini and "When I asked for cash or use of his credit card to cover the expense, [Kanye] walked away from me without a response.”

As TMZ previously reported, Kanye was ordered to pay another ex-employee, Tony Saxon, $140K in an unrelated lawsuit.

Here's the first look at Offset since being shot outside a Florida casino ... he's in a wheelchair having a smoke outside a hospital ... and he's wearing his hospital gown.

Check out these photos of Offset being wheeled outside for a smoke break ... he's got non-slip hospital socks, hospital wristbands, a bandage on his arm, and some wires coming off his fingertip.

There's an ICU tag attached to his chair on wheels ... but we've been told by Offset's camp that he's "stable and being closely monitored."

TMZ broke the story ... the former Migos rapper was shot Monday near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.

Law enforcement told us the shooting happened in the valet area and that Offset suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Lil Tjay allegedly started a fight that led to his associate shooting Offset ... this according to police.

According to the probable cause affidavit ... cops claim at around 7:22 PM ET Monday, Lil Tjay "directed members of his party to start a fight with another group of males" at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Police say during the altercation one of Lil Tjay's associates pulled a gun and fired ... injuring Offset.

Lil Tjay's back on the streets after being arrested for his alleged role in a fight that happened right before Offset was shot in Florida last night.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office bid the rapper farewell Tuesday afternoon ... and he walked out of the jail to find a ton of media waiting for him -- which gave him the perfect platform to call out the Migos rapper.

Lil Tjay called Offset a "rat n****" ... while simultaneously denying he shot Offset. He's really heated in the clip, recorded by NBC Miami -- walking with purpose out of the jail.

50 Cent said he'd get rich or die tryin' ... and now he's showing us just how he pulled it off.

Hulu has ordered a documentary about 50, showing fans how he went "from the streets of Queens to global cultural dominance."

The three-part series will touch on the rapper's illustrious career -- including music, business and film -- through "an intimate and revealing lens."

Cardi B does not play about her money! The rapper told fans she had her credit card stolen ... but she says she knows who did it and is definitely going to make them pay.

According to the "Bodak Yellow" artist ... she recently discovered her AMEX card was missing, but shrugged it off -- until she noticed a purchase on her account for about $40K at Saks Fifth Avenue.

What's weirder ... a purchase for about $20K popped up from the Apple store! At that point, she KNEW something was up ... and so did her accountant. Watch the full clip for the breakdown.

Lil Tjay got himself jammed up in the Offset shooting ... the rapper was arrested and booked for participating in a fight, TMZ has learned.

Tjay was arrested Monday evening by police in Florida and later booked into the Broward County Jail for misdemeanor disorderly conduct-affray, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office. The 24-year-old also posed for a mugshot while being held on a $500 bond.

According to the Seminole Police Department ... Tjay was involved in a fight prior to Offset getting shot. Cops say a second person was detained at the scene, but has not been charged.