Author: Wamala

Ed Sheeran’s Philadelphia show is becoming the latest flashpoint in the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his tour. A prominent pro-Palestine group in Philadelphia has announced plans for a protest outside Sheeran’s September 19 show at Lincoln Financial Field, TMZ has learned. The Philly Palestine Coalition, along with an organization called Shut Down D&Z, is urging supporters to gather outside the venue in support of their cause. A flyer promoting the demonstration uses the slogan “Billionaires, Zionists & Warmongers out of Philly,” a characterization made by the organizers and not independently established by the source material. The groups are specifically…

Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 rollout is at the center of a legal dispute over hundreds of thousands of dollars in alleged promotional expenses — and newly submitted emails are putting the rapper’s team’s budget concerns under the microscope. TMZ has obtained evidence submitted in the ongoing lawsuit between 24/7 Productions and Minaj and her company. The production company claims it spent more than $275,000 on hotels and travel under a previously approved budget but was never reimbursed. Now, an alleged November 29, 2023 email from a member of Minaj’s team is being used as part of 24/7 Productions’ case.…

Three attorneys from the law firm representing Diddy in a federal civil case are asking to withdraw from the lawsuit, citing unpaid legal fees and a breakdown in their relationship with the imprisoned music mogul. Michael Tremonte, Erica Wolff and Katie Renzler of Sher Tremonte LLP filed a motion seeking permission to stop representing Diddy in his case against Nexstar Media, Ariel Mitchell and Courtney Burgess in federal court in New York. According to the motion, Diddy has failed to pay a “substantial balance of attorney’s fees” along with other costs and expenses. The attorneys also claim Diddy has been…

Chris Brown is firing back at Texas State Representative Venton Jones after the lawmaker apologized for helping honor the singer during his recent Arlington concert. Brown took issue with Jones publicly walking back the recognition after the presentation sparked backlash, telling the Texas politician to keep the honor and accusing him of changing his position because of political pressure. The controversy began September 12 at AT&T Stadium, where Brown and Usher were recognized for their contributions to music and entertainment. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Jones participated in the onstage presentation, with the recognition involving the Congressional Record. Jones later…

Drake is switching up his signature style — and Pinkchyu appears to be the one behind the makeover. The rapper embraces a full goth aesthetic in the “Princess” music video, which played during his “FOMO” stream Tuesday night. And this is definitely not the usual Champagne Papi look. Pinkchyu gives Drake a head-to-toe makeover before sending him out in an all-black fit complete with a spiked choker, baggy pants and boots. The transformation doesn’t stop with the clothes. The pair stroll hand-in-hand through a mall after visiting Hot Topic, later taking their goth-inspired outing to a park before attending an…

Coi Leray is giving new details about an alleged physical altercation involving Latto’s sister, Brooklyn Nikole, while revisiting her longstanding tension with the rapper. Leray discussed the confrontation during a preview of her upcoming appearance on The Jason Lee Show. The full episode is scheduled to premiere Sept. 16 at 8 a.m. ET on BET’s YouTube channel. During her conversation with host Jason Lee, Leray acknowledged that she “swung first” during the encounter. She then claimed Brooklyn stepped in and injured her knee. The admission adds another layer to Leray’s complicated history with Latto, whose public tension with the rapper…

Chris Brown is pushing back after Texas state Rep. Venton Jones apologized for helping honor the singer during The R&B Tour in Dallas. Brown responded Tuesday on Instagram after Jones addressed criticism surrounding a Sept. 12 ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Jones and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett joined Brown and Usher onstage. Crockett presented the singers with recognition documenting their musical contributions in the Congressional Record, while Jones presented Brown with a separate Texas legislative recognition. The ceremony quickly became controversial because of Brown’s history of legal issues, including his 2009 guilty plea to felony assault involving…

Irish singer Aaron Rowe is walking away from Ed Sheeran’s tour, saying he cannot continue after Macklemore was removed from the lineup following his outspoken support for Palestine. Rowe announced his decision on social media, saying he was withdrawing as a support act from Sheeran’s tour despite the personal significance of the opportunity. “I don’t take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life; I could never thank him enough for this,” Rowe wrote. But the singer said his Irish background made it impossible for him to remain on the tour under the…

Stefon Diggs’ sexual assault accuser wants their legal battle moved away from the Washington Commanders’ home turf — arguing potential jurors could have a reason to protect the NFL star. Christopher Griffith filed court documents seeking to move his ongoing lawsuit against Diggs to a courthouse farther away from the Commanders’ stadium in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Griffith argues Diggs’ recent connection to the team could create concerns about impartiality among potential jurors. Diggs signed with Washington in August and scored a touchdown during the Commanders’ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. According to Griffith’s filing, the jury pool…

A Los Angeles news helicopter went down in a fiery crash Tuesday night, killing three people and sending a massive cloud of black smoke over Chatsworth. The helicopter was NewsChopper4, operated by Angel City Air and used by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 for aerial news coverage. It crashed shortly before 7 p.m. near the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue, according to officials. The helicopter had been covering a separate deadly crash involving an SUV and a Metro bus nearby when it went down. Two people aboard the helicopter were killed. They were later identified as aerial reporter and photojournalist…

Colin Kaepernick is responding to Jay-Z’s decision to bring their long-running dispute back into the spotlight — and he thinks the rapper’s recent freestyle says plenty. The former NFL quarterback discussed Jay-Z during a conversation with sports journalist Jemele Hill Saturday in Detroit at the National Black Footwear Forum. The discussion centered on Kaepernick’s forthcoming book, The Perilous Fight, before turning to Jay-Z and the NFL partnership that changed their relationship. Kaepernick said he was surprised Jay-Z referenced him during the rapper’s Yankee Stadium freestyle in July, particularly because years have passed since Roc Nation entered its partnership with the…

Chris Brown received a very different kind of recognition Saturday night when U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett took the stage during his concert in Texas. Crockett made a surprise appearance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington during Brown and Usher’s joint tour stop, joining Texas state Rep. Venton Jones for a presentation recognizing the two R&B stars’ careers and contributions to music. Crockett told the packed stadium that she wanted to formally document the artists’ impact in the Congressional Record. “Right now, we are experiencing Black joy to the highest level,” Crockett said during the presentation. Brown and Crockett then shared a…

Lil Tay apparently decided she didn’t need a booking to get herself onto a New York Fashion Week runway. The recording artist and content creator unexpectedly jumped onto the catwalk during Creators Inc.’s presentation Sunday, joining the scheduled models and strutting down the runway as the crowd watched. TMZ obtained video showing Tay working her way down the catwalk and soaking up the attention before continuing for several moments. Then security stepped in. Tay was eventually grabbed and escorted away from the runway, allowing the scheduled presentation to continue. Creators Inc. CEO Andy Bachman acknowledged that Tay’s appearance disrupted months…

Lil Durk is speaking publicly for the first time since a federal jury found him not guilty on all five murder-for-hire charges. The Chicago rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, broke his silence Saturday with an Instagram statement focused on faith, freedom, family and his plans to help his community. “Against all odds, we’re stronger together,” Banks wrote. “Allah doesn’t make mistakes. I feel all the love and positive energy.” The statement came one day after jurors rejected the government’s case following three days of deliberations. Banks had been facing federal charges over an alleged plot targeting rapper Quando…

Jay-Z pulled out some serious star power for the premiere of his upcoming HBO documentary series. The Brooklyn rap icon celebrated Jay-Z In 8 Sunday night, September 13, at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House, joining longtime friend and producer Rick Rubin for the world premiere of the eight-part HBO Original series. And the guest list was just as packed as the occasion. Leonardo DiCaprio, SZA, Daniel Kaluuya, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Gunna, Lindsey Vonn, Robert Kraft, Michael Rubin, Yo Gotti, Winnie Harlow and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson were among the stars who turned out for the event. Following the red…

Drake is turning 40 this October, and the superstar has already revealed the one birthday gift he wants. A Jim Carrey roast. The “Hotline Bling” rapper shared his birthday wish Sunday after watching Carrey deliver a savage-but-playful roast of comedian Jeff Ross for Ross’ 61st birthday. In the viral clip, Carrey went straight for the jokes, poking fun at Ross by saying he was such an “ugly baby” that his mother had to sign a non-disclosure agreement when he was born. Drake clearly loved the performance. “Wow this is now all I want for my birthday,” Drake commented on the…

Yaya Mayweather is facing a massive financial judgment over a violent 2020 altercation involving NBA YoungBoy’s former partner. A Texas judge has ordered Floyd Mayweather’s daughter, Iyanna “Yaya” Mayweather, to pay Lapattra Jacobs more than $50 million in damages following a civil trial stemming from the stabbing incident. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Jacobs was awarded $40,105,000 in compensatory damages and another $10 million in exemplary damages, bringing the total to $50,105,000. The compensatory award includes more than $8 million for past damages involving medical expenses, pain and suffering, physical impairment, loss of earning capacity and disfigurement. Another…

Lil Durk’s music is getting a major boost following his federal acquittal. The Chicago rapper, born Durk Banks, is seeing renewed attention across his catalog after a Los Angeles jury found him not guilty on all five federal charges in his high-profile murder-for-hire case. Fans have reportedly returned to Durk’s music in the days following the verdict, sending several of his older projects and songs back up the Apple Music charts. According to the supplied chart data, Durk currently has 15 songs charting on Apple Music, reportedly putting him second among all artists on the platform behind Drake. The resurgence…

Yella Beezy’s capital murder trial is getting pushed back. A Dallas judge has granted the rapper’s request for additional preparation time, moving jury selection from Monday to Oct. 26, 2026. Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, had been scheduled to begin the jury-selection process this week. Judge Chika Anyiam granted Conway’s motion for continuance, with the new order filed with the Dallas County Clerk on Monday, Sept. 14. The case stems from the 2020 killing of Dallas rapper MO3, whose real name was Melvin Noble. Prosecutors allege Conway arranged Noble’s killing by hiring Kewon White. According to the…

Lil Durk is turning a major legal moment into a message for the next generation. Days after a federal jury in Los Angeles acquitted the Chicago rapper of all charges in his murder-for-hire case, Durk took to social media with a message urging young people to make choices that can change the direction of their lives. Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, shared a video highlighting his community work and addressed young fans directly. “To the youth, I need y’all to hear me,” he wrote. The rapper reflected on periods in his own life when he felt lost and…