EXCLUSIVE

R. Kelly and his legal team are demanding to get their hands and eyes on the alleged sex tapes that prompted the 10 counts of sexual abuse … and they’re hoping to walk out of court Friday with them.

Kelly’s attorney, Steven Greenberg, tells TMZ … prosecutors will begin handing over discovery materials during a court hearing Friday in Chicago. He says there’s no guarantee what they’ll get right off the bat — could be police reports, case material from Kelly’s 2008 trial but, obviously, the items they’re most anxious to see are the 2 tapes Michael Avenatti turned over to Cook County prosecutors.

Greenberg says he hasn’t seen the tapes — which Avenatti claims show Kelly engaged in various sex acts with a 14-year-old girl — so he can’t really begin to mount a defense strategy. Once he does get them, a couple different things could happen.

He’ll immediately order a full forensic analysis of the tapes … if he and Kelly believe the tape does show the singer. If they don’t think it’s Kelly, Greenberg says he’ll speed things up to trial. 

For now, it’s a waiting game since Kelly’s team has no idea what prosecutors will hand over.

Kelly might also ask the judge to let him travel to Dubai for work — he had to surrender his passport when he got arrested. Sources close to the singer tell us he could potentially get a gig there, but doesn’t have anything booked yet. 

Greenberg says he’s not sure the judge will hear that request Friday, but it’s on their “to do” list because — make no mistake — Kelly’s desperate to make some cash.

EXCLUSIVE

Lori Loughlin‘s kids, Olivia and Isabella, have tried beating USC to the punch … TMZ has learned they are officially out of USC by their own accord, but they’re still not out of the woods.

School officials tell TMZ … Olivia and Isabella have formally dropped out and withdrawn from USC … this after their mom and dad were indicted for using the U.S. mails for fraudulent purposes. The parents allegedly paid a $500k bribe so the girls could gain admission through the crew team … they even faked a photo making it appear they were proficient in rowing … but they were actually on a rowing machine. The photo was so bush league you could see mirrors in the gym in the background.  

Sources tell TMZ school officials were investigating the case when the 2 students pulled the plug. The case, however, is far from over. Our sources say there will still be a misconduct hearing to determine if the girls should be banned from USC and its grounds because they were “disruptive individuals.”  

We’re told the girls can appear in person at the hearing. If they don’t, school officials will proceed without their input.

Our sources say there are a number of other similar cases the University is currently investigating.  The school, we’re told, is working with the FBI and U.S. Attorney. 

EXCLUSIVE

Rich the Kid still subscribes to the mantra “if ya got it, flaunt it” … armed robberies be dammed.

The rapper scored this incredible spinning chain after dropping a whopping $425,000!!! Celeb jeweler Eliantte was commissioned to do the one-of-a-kind mastery. The entire piece features 250 carats of all VS diamonds. There’s also the glitzy Cuban link chain.

So, why’d RTK drop as much money as your average Joe drops on a modest home? It’s to celebrate the release of his new album, “The World is Yours 2,” which, BTW, is what’s inscribed in the center of the pendant. Rich’s sophomore album — slated to drop at midnight — features Big Sean, Offset and Lil Pump among others.

Rich’s no stranger to showing off his worth. But, as we’ve also reported … Rich’s also no stranger to getting jacked. This robbery landed him in the hospital and this robbery resulted in a member of his entourage getting pistol whipped.

He’s said in the past he doesn’t need security … but Rich might wanna rethink that strategy with this new bling.

Just saying.

Johnny Manziel‘s wife, Bre Tiesi, has DELETED all traces of the QB from her Instagram page — and removed “Manziel” from her last name … and all signs point to a breakup. 

Unclear what triggered the move — we’re working on the story right now. 

Bre just came back from a girls’ trip to Bali while Johnny has been working on getting his football career back on track by signing with a team in the AAF league. 

Obviously, SOMETHING happened … we’re trying to figure out what. 

Bre and Johnny had been going strong for years … the two hooked up back in 2016 — and it only took about a year for Johnny to ask her to marry him.

In fact, Manziel was so head over heels for Bre — he gave her all the credit for pulling him out of his downward spiral that started with him being cut by the Browns after the 2015 season.

“When you find a girl as amazing as I did that saved me from where I was in my life, you absolutely put a ring on it.”

But now, it seems the relationship could be over. 

It’s just another rough time for the embattled QB … remember, it was just a few weeks ago when he was cut from the entire Canadian Football League for violating the terms of his contract.

Things had started looking up for Johnny, though … he just signed on with the Memphis Express in the AAF and could get some playing time.

For her part, Bre’s been in Bali the last few days — clearly trying to booty shake the pain of a breakup away.