Jay-Z Tidal Sale Closes ... $302 Mil to Jack Dorsey's Square!!!
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2:53 PM PT -- 5/3/21 - A rep for Square says the purchase price was actually $302 million for majority ownership of Tidal. It's a hell of a deal, because our sources say 80 percent of Tidal has a $350 million valuation.
Square says it's searching for a new honcho to run Tidal, but in the interim one of its execs, Jesse Dorogusker, will have the gig.
Jay-Z's 6-year flip of Tidal's streaming service is complete -- he just closed the deal to sell the majority of the company to Square for $350 million ... a pretty good return on his initial investment.
Square, the financial services company owned by Jay's pal, Jack Dorsey, is now firmly in the music streaming biz. Jack had announced back in March that he planned to take Tidal off Jay's hands, but sources familiar tell TMZ they just closed the deal Friday morning.
Remember, Jay-Z launched Tidal back in 2015 for $56 million in a partnership with several artists, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Calvin Harris, Chris Martin and others.
For its $350 mil ... Square gets 80% ownership of Tidal, along with licensing deals with the major record labels and all the artists/owners will remain with the company too.
We're told Jay and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, who helped broker the deal, will both remain on board to help run Tidal.
Over the last year we've seen Jay and Jack hanging out several times -- sometimes sipping wine together in the Hamptons -- and now we know what they're discussing ... major tycoon stuff.
Jay's made serious bank of his Tidal investment. He'd previously sold 33% of it to Sprint back in 2017 for an undisclosed amount.
As Jay-Z famously said almost 20 years ago, he's not a businessman ... he's a business, man!!!
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Kodak Black Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge In Sexual Assault Case
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Kodak Black just pled guilty to first-degree assault and battery in his sexual assault case in South Carolina, and he's been sentenced to 18 months probation ... TMZ has learned.
The rapper was originally indicted on a felony charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, but his attorneys, Bradford Cohen and Beattie Ashmore, tell us Kodak copped a plea to a lesser charge to put the case behind him.
As we reported, Kodak was charged for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl back in February 2016 at a hotel. According to prosecutors, he pushed the girl into a wall and onto a bed before assaulting her, allegedly biting her breast and neck. Kodak had denied the allegations.
Ed Clements, the 12th Circuit Solicitor in Florence County, tells TMZ ... Kodak admitted in court he bit the girl, but apologized to her, on the record.
We're told Kodak was given a 10-year suspended prison sentence and placed on 18 months of supervised state probation.
While on probation, he will not wear an ankle monitor, but must let his probation officer know where he goes and where he lives.
We're also told Kodak will not be allowed to use drugs, drink alcohol or have guns and if he successfully completes the 18-month probation ... he won't spend a day in prison for the case.
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Mayweather vs. Logan Paul Fight Set For June 6 In Miami ... Sunday Fight!!!
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4:59 PM PT -- 4/27 -- We told you ... and now it's official -- Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul will face off in the ring on June 6 in Miami ... with the huge boxing match set to go down at Hard Rock Stadium.
The news was set in stone Tuesday afternoon ... with the YouTube superstar sharing the fight promotion on Instagram just moments ago.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
"June 6 I break the simulation," Paul said. "@mayweatherpromotions @fanmio and @showtimeboxing have come together to make boxing history!!!"
Floyd Mayweather is zeroing in on a date and location to fight Logan Paul -- and multiple sources tell us the target is Sunday, June 6 in Miami.
We're told the date is not set in stone -- but Floyd's camp is really pushing for the Sunday date.
So, why not shoot for Saturday night like most major Pay-Per-View boxing events?
We're told the hope of having a bunch of live fans at the venue for the fight is playing a key role.
One source tells us the Sunday date works better with the intended venue in Miami -- a venue that would be able to hold a large crowd, which is very important to Floyd.
Floyd and Logan Paul were originally scheduled to fight on February 20th -- but the event was postponed due to "COVID and other things."
Since then, there have been questions about if the fight was ever going to happen -- but we're told Floyd is 100% in and can't wait to get it on.
The fight would technically be considered an exhibition -- which means it would not count on either fighters' professional record.
26-year-old Logan is 0-1 record as a pro -- but he's full of confidence ... especially after his brother Jake Paul obliterated MMA star Ben Askren.
The ringside view of Jake Paul's TKO. @ESPNRingside pic.twitter.com/YgasSH1Br4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 18, 2021 @SportsCenter
Plus, the Paul brothers have proven to be legitimate PPV draws -- which we're certain is appealing to Floyd.
44-year-old Mayweather is 50-0 and widely considered one of the greatest boxers of all time with wins over legends like Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao.
And we all remember what he did to Conor McGregor ...
Originally Published -- 4/22 6:01 AM PT
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Robert Griffin III QB Gets Massive 'TMNT' Tattoo ... To Complete Insane Leg Sleeve
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Some of the fastest legs in sports are now also officially the coolest looking ... 'cause Robert Griffin III just completed a tattoo sleeve on his leg with pics of the Ninja Turtles -- and they're AWESOME!!
RGIII's leg art has been in the works for months -- he famously got Hulk and Goku inked on his left limb back in September -- but he was finally able to finish off the piece this past weekend.
We're told Griffin turned to Nic Westfall, the same guy who did the original artwork, to add on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a Black Panther piece ... and you can see in the pics and vids, it all came out great.
Westfall tells us RGIII came out to Sacramento to get the work done ... and sat like a rock for HOURS to get the ink all packed in.
Westfall says he needled RGIII's leg for the Ninja Turtles portion from around 10:30 a.m. to around 10 p.m. on Saturday -- only taking breaks to watch the UFC fights.
On Sunday, Westfall says RGIII returned from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to put on the Black Panther tattoo.
As for why all the superhero characters, RGIII is a notorious cartoon and comic book nerd ... even rocking a "TMNT" shirt and socks to the tattoo sesh!!
#Swaaaaaaaaaag
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Tekashi Concert Cut Short ... 69 Jumps in Crowd and Fans Grab Necklace
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Tekashi 6ix9ine performed before a live audience for the first time since his release from prison, but it was abruptly cut short.
Tekashi headlined a concert Friday night at Tier Nightclub in Orlando and, as he performed "GOOBA," he jumped into the crowd from the VIP balcony.
The crowd was lovin' it, but according to a fan who was there, Tekashi got pissed when someone knocked his hat off and others started messing with the chains around his neck. He told everyone to chill out but, according to the fan, one of his chains fell to the ground and his security scooped it up.
The show abruptly ended.
Tekashi's lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, tells TMZ, Tekashi was happy with the show and 69 did not lose any of his prized jewelry.
What's remarkable ... that Tekashi felt emboldened to hurl himself into the crowd, given the trial where he turned on several gang members and got a plea deal for his cooperation. Lazzaro says 69 isn't worried about a thing and, if anything were to happen, he's confident his security would handle it.
Sounds about right, because one of the fans tells TMZ, Tekashi kept repeating, "I'm untouchable."
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Michael Lohan Arrested for Allegedly Getting Drug Addict Kickbacks
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8:17 AM PT -- Michael Lohan's lawyer, Heidi Perlet, tells TMZ ...
"Michael Lohan has helped countless individuals suffering from addiction issues. Michael should be applauded for his efforts in saving lives-not arrested for them. Michael has devoted much of his life to helping those in need. This fact has been conveniently overlooked by the Palm Beach County State Attorney."
"According to the State Attorney, Michael is the 117th person arrested in Palm Beach County by the Sober Home Task Force. Michael is not a number, and he will not be reduced to one of the State Attorney’s statistics."
"Justice does not revolve around statistics, it revolves around truth. The whole truth will come out when Michael has his day in Court."
Michael Lohan has been arrested again ... this time for allegedly getting illegal kickbacks from a rehab facility.
Lindsay Lohan's dad was taken into custody on 6 counts of illegal patient brokering ... this according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's website.
The 60-year-old allegedly cut deals where he referred drug addicts to a Florida facility and got money for each referral. According to authorities, "Patient brokering corrupts our health care system because decisions are motivated by greed instead of patient needs."
Lohan allegedly got checks totaling more than $25,000.
South Florida, where Lohan has been in the rehab biz for years, is considered the recovery capital of the world. Authorities say the prime patient is someone with good health insurance, so some recovery centers will give these kickbacks because the facility will in turn get paid through the insurance company.
Lohan has had his issues with the law in the past ... domestic violence and restraining order issues among others.
Originally Published -- 7:51 AM PT
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Capitol Insurrection Alleged Rioter Brags on Bumble ... Gets Banned From App!!!
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11:04 AM PT -- Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Chapman was also flagged on Bumble by another user and he was part of the group of alleged rioters officially banned from the app.
We're told Chapman was banned from Bumble the day after he was reported by another user back in January.
A guy on Bumble didn't just strike out with a woman while trying to impress her -- he got arrested for it, because his pickup line involved the Capitol riot ... according to prosecutors.
According to legal docs ... a man named Robert Chapman began chatting with a woman on Bumble a few days after the January 6 Capitol riots and told her, "I did storm the capitol," adding ... "I made it all the way into Statuary Hall!"
The feds say after he boasted a bit more about doing interviews with the media, the woman simply replied "We are not a match." ... and according to the docs, she turned him in by providing a screenshot of their convo to law enforcement.
Based on the tip -- and some additional info about Chapman allegedly shared on Facebook -- the authorities say they learned he goes by Robert Erick on social media, and they discovered several more potentially incriminating posts.
Prosecutors say in one FB post, Robert said he was leaving "the rotten apple" of NYC to head "down to the District of Criminality to Enjoy some much deserved Entertainment."
A day later, the feds say he posted a photo of himself at the riots along with the caption, "I'M F**KIN INSIDE THE CRAPITOL!!!"
Chapman's now been arrested and charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct on restricted government property. He is one of more than 370 people arrested for involvement in the Capitol riot -- but he's one of few who was nabbed through a dating app.
Congrats ... denied and busted!!!
Originally Published -- 6:51 AM PT
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'Love is Blind' Star Mark Cuevas My Fiancee's Getting Death Threats ... Suspect Arrested
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"Love is Blind" star Mark Cuevas claims a woman from his fiancee's past is now threatening her and their baby ... and cops have made an arrest.
To better understand his death threat story, Mark says his fiancee -- Aubrey Rainey, who is about to give birth to their son -- was one of the victims of a series of hit-and-run crashes last year in Ohio.
According to Westlake PD PIO Gerald Vogel ... the suspect in those crashes is Shayla Harris and she was charged with attempted murder. He says Harris was involved in 2 other crashes similar to Aubrey's accident.
Vogel tells us Harris was released on bond, and she recently sent Facebook and IG messages to Aubrey threatening her and threatening to kill her unborn child.
We're told Mark and Aubrey filed a police report about Shayla's threats, and she's now been arrested by Westlake Police for misdemeanor aggravated menacing.
In Mark's video -- which was seemingly posted before he knew about the arrest -- he claims Harris sent more than 100 messages referencing Aubrey and their baby.
By the way ... Mark and Aubrey's due date is today.
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Digital Underground's Shock G Dead at 57
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Shock G, famous for Digital Underground's hit song "The Humpty Dance" and his work with Tupac Shakur, is dead.
The rap legend was found dead Thursday in a hotel room in Tampa ... according to his father, Edward Racker.
We're told the cause of death is unclear but there were no signs of trauma. Shock's father says authorities will conduct and autopsy.
Shock G was the lead singer for the pioneering hip hop group Digital Underground, and he gets into character as his alter ego, "Humpty Hump," for the group's famous 1989 song and dance.
Shock was also known for his collabs with 2Pac ... he's featured on Pac's 1993 song "I Get Around" and he was one of the producers on Tupac's 1991 debut solo album, "2Pacalypse Now."
In fact, Shock G helped introduce 2Pac to the music world ... Pac was a member of Digital Underground when he appeared on the group's 1991 song and music video, "Same Song," for his first published work.
Shock G was born and raised on the East Coast, but he eventually settled in Oakland, where he formed Digital Underground in the late 1980s with Chopmaster J and Kenneth Water.
In addition to his work with 2Pac, Shock G produced songs for Dr. Dre, Prince and KRS-One, just to name a few.
Shock G was 57.
RIP
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'Idol' Contestant Cecil Ray Accused of Hitting Ex-Girlfriend ... Arrested for Burglary of Habitation
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"American Idol" contestant Cecil Ray forced his way into the home of his ex-girlfriend and struck her in the face when she refused to let him see the child he believes is his ... according to police in Texas.
A Rockdale PD officer says he got a call to a residence last week where Cecil -- full name Cecil Ray Baker -- allegedly entered the home of his ex, Mariah Lopez, and assaulted her.
According to the affidavit obtained by TMZ ... Lopez claims she wouldn't let Baker in, so he went to a locked back door and ripped it open to gain entry. She told police he then pushed her to the floor and "struck her in the face with a palm heel" before leaving.
Baker's sister told cops she witnessed the incident, and she claims he went to Lopez's place to see her daughter who he believes is his. According to cops, the sister mostly corroborated Lopez's version of events.
Police say they then tried to track down Baker, and learned that he had relocated to a nearby town. He was arrested a few days later on April 17 and booked for burglary of habitation, a second-degree felony in Texas.
Baker was released the same day on $15,000 bond.
Cecil Ray made it to the top 24, but was eliminated from 'Idol' last week.
For his audition that earned him a ticket to Hollywood, he dedicated his performance to his 2-month-old daughter.
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Fatal Tesla Crash Nobody Behind the Wheel ... Cops Say
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The fiery Tesla crash that killed 2 people in Texas was most likely the result of the car's Autopilot feature failing, as cops tell TMZ ... neither man was behind the wheel.
Physical evidence after the Saturday night crash led authorities to believe the 2 men in the Tesla 2019 Model S were not driving it when it failed to navigate a turn, ran off the road and hit a tree ... then burst into flames.
According to Mark Herman, the Harris County Precinct 4 constable ... one of the men was in the front passenger seat, and the other was in the rear seat when it was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash.
Law enforcement sources tell us they'll be issuing subpoenas for information on the car to determine if it was indeed on Autopilot ... though that's their working assumption. We're told law enforcement is also in contact with Tesla honchos to determine what went wrong.
The men, ages 59 and 69, were with their wives minutes before the fatal wreck telling them about taking the Tesla out for a drive and wanting to use the driver-assistance feature ... according to Herman.
Tesla with Autopilot engaged now approaching 10 times lower chance of accident than average vehicle https://t.co/6lGy52wVhC
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2021 @elonmusk
Just hours before the fatal accident, Elon Musk tweeted about Tesla with Autopilot having nearly a 10 times lower chance of an accident than an average vehicle ... based on recent data.
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Harvey Weinstein Nearly Blind, Losing Teeth ... Lawyer Claims at Extradition Hearing
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Harvey Weinstein's been indicted on sexual assault charges in L.A. and now faces extradition from New York, but he's hoping to stay put because his health is failing... so claims his legal team.
The disgraced movie producer appeared Monday for his extradition hearing via video conference along with his attorneys, Mark Werksman and Norman Effman, who argued against him being sent to L.A. for "humanitarian" reasons.
Effman claims Weinstein is technically blind and has major dental issues -- he's allegedly lost 4 teeth and is in danger of losing more. According to his lawyer, prison officials in NY have scheduled 2 medical procedures for Weinstein ... one for his sight and one for his teeth.
On top of all this ... Effman says his client's still suffering from cardiac issues, diabetes and back pain, along with sleep apnea.
For all of these reasons, Weinstein's team's asking the judge to allow him to remain at the medical unit he's been confined to at the maximum-security prison in New York, where he's serving his sentence for rape.
The judge set the next hearing for later this month, so for now Weinstein will stay put in his prison cell.
As we've reported, despite his 2020 conviction in New York, Weinstein was still facing criminal charges in Los Angeles ... where a grand jury recently indicted him on 11 counts of sexual assault connected to alleged assaults of 5 women.
It should be noted -- during Monday's hearing, Weinstein's lawyers insisted their client believes he can beat the charges.
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'RHOSLC' Star Jen Shah Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud Charge ... Judge Forbids Drinking Too Much
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3:49 PM PT -- Shah's bail terms include several additional strict conditions she must abide by ... according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.
She must continue mental health treatment at a specific facility, she's forbidden from using "alcohol to excess" or any narcotics or controlled substances, and perhaps unsurprisingly ... the judge says she must stay away from all things telemarketing.
As for the allegations against Shah, her defense lawyers Daniel R. Alonso and Henry Asbill say... "She maintains her innocence of these charges, and is eager to defend herself in a court of law. She puts her faith in the American legal system."
Jen Shah has pleaded not guilty to the charges in her telemarketing scam case ... and it seems she prepped for it by getting her hair done.
"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star appeared in a federal court in Manhattan on Friday via video conference call with her lawyers, and entered not guilty pleas to both charges -- conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
As we previously told you ... Jen was released on strict conditions after her arrest, and on Friday the judge granted her continued release on a $1 million personal recognizance bond.
The judge said there is a flight risk with Shah but gave her 2 weeks to fork over a $250k secured bond in cash or property in order to remain out of jail until her trial ... which is set for Oct. 18.
In other news ... Jen apparently spent the evening before her arraignment getting her hair silk-pressed and just chilling out.
BTW -- Shah's assistant Stuart Smith, who was arrested with her and is facing the same charges in their alleged fraud scheme, also pleaded not guilty and was granted continued release on a $1 mil personal recognizance bond.
No word if he got a fresh cut or style for court.
Originally Published-- 10:07 AM PT
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Hollywood Sign Cow You See Me ... Vandals Make Big Mooves
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The iconic Hollywood sign has a new neighbor mooving in ... because there's a giant cow in the middle of the landmark.
As you can see, the sign was vandalized Friday with an image of a dairy cow taking over the middle of the first 'O.' Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... 3 people have been arrested for trespassing, with a police helicopter helping officers track the suspects as they made their way back down the hill.
We're told the alteration to the sign was done as a joke, and not as a protest for or against bovines.
There's a band out of Los Angeles, called Junior Varsity, appearing to take credit for the vandalism. JV just released its debut single, "Cold Blood," which features a dairy cow as the cover art and their social media accounts have been telling folks to "Look for the signs."
It's the second time in as many months the Hollywood sign is getting an illegal makeover ... back in February, model Julia Rose was arrested for altering the sign to read, "Hollyboob."
Ya might say folks are milking the poor sign for all its worth.
Story developing ...
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Taco Bell Hit-&-Run Car Plows Thru Crowd, Smashes Entrance ... Cops Searching for Driver
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Cops are on the hunt for suspects who allegedly got into a fight with Taco Bell employees at the drive-thru ... then plowed through a group of people as it crashed into the front of the place.
The insane incident went down in Charles County, Maryland ... where police say the suspects committed a hit-and-run a little after 10 PM Wednesday.
The video shows the suspect's vehicle pull up to a small crowd in front of the T Bell, then back up a little bit before flooring it into a few people as it smashes through the entrance.
According to Charles County law enforcement ... the occupants in the vehicle were in an argument with an employee working the drive-thru before the hit-and-run. Cops say they were told one of the suspects got out and assaulted the employee at the window, then got back in the vehicle.
The driver then allegedly pulled up to the front ... which is where the vid picks up. Police say 2 people were treated at the scene for injuries and one was taken to the hospital for injuries that are not life-threatening.
Cops say they located the vehicle shortly afterward at a nearby house, and we're told cops are working on positively identifying the driver.
Law enforcement tells TMZ it's unclear how many people were inside the car, but can confirm there were at least 2 females involved ... and the driver was possibly female.
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Greg Kelly I Smoked Weed in KY, Woke Up in Africa!!! Claims Hilarious Stoner Tale
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3:42 PM PT -- We got Greg in NYC who certainly didn't offer much detail, but definitely kept his message the same.
Even Snoop Dogg could learn a thing or 2 about marijuana from Greg Kelly -- that is IF you buy the Newsmax host's "don't do drugs" story ... but almost no one does.
Kelly is telling what he views as a cautionary tale about pot, claiming "SMOKING WEED (aka GRASS) is NOT a good idea." Okay, get past his use of the term "grass" ... he's a man of a certain age, after all.
Anyway, Kelly claims he "toked up" back in the day with some friends in Kentucky "and woke up 4 days later in Nairobi, Kenya. With no idea what happened." Say whaaaat, Greg???
Based on Twitter's response, the news anchor's marijuana warning went up in smoke. Very few people believe this actually happened, or ... if it did happen we've got a newsflash for Greg -- that wasn't weed you were smoking, bro!!!
Kelly even claims his alleged half-baked experience was worse than anything that President Biden's son, Hunter, went through. ICYMI ... Hunter just opened up about his crack addiction in a new memoir.
As for what the hell Greg "Smokey" Kelly might have really been puff puff passing? Well, he might wanna re-watch "Friday."
Now when friends ask, "how high?" ... just say Greg Kelly high. Thanks for the warning, Smoke Dog!
Originally Published-- 7:04 AM PT