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Trap Lore Ross -- the creator of the highly controversial "King Von: Rap's First Serial Killer" doc -- says he's not above criticism of his work, especially from highly respected pundits Boosie Badazz and DJ Vlad ... but thinks fully informed opinions work best.

The UK-based filmmaker recently sat down with TMZ Hip Hop for an enlightening convo, where he addressed Boosie and Vlad's recent dismissal of the 3-hour-long vid that's currently sitting at 7 million views after just a couple of months.

Both admitted to barely watching the doc (Boosie says he lost interest 30 minutes in) and Ross says they should give it a full looksie before completely condemning it.

Moreover, Ross says Boosie ignoring the cycle of violence that followed Von up until his own murder discredits the victims, who Ross says have reached out to him in appreciation of the doc. There's also been friction from those close to Von ... but Ross wants to patch those holes up as well.

Ross' "Trap Lore" YouTube channel recently surpassed one million subscribers thanks to exposés on other late hardcore rappers such as Pop Smoke, Mo3 and FBG Duck ... but has plenty of ammunition for anyone attempting to label him a culture vulture.

He says he grew up studying Jay-Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent but notes how rap's current violent troupes arguably classify more as true crime than actual music, so expect the content to be grimy.

Jay Bloom and his son, Sean, dodged death by skipping a ride on the doomed Titan submersible at the last minute -- and, now they're explaining why ... red flags galore.

The multimillionaire Vegas tycoon -- who recently disclosed he and his boy were on the verge of being passengers themselves -- were out in Bev Hills and he further explained what he and Sean saw that gave them major pause.

It sounds like it was the younger Bloom in this instance that might've saved his old man -- based on what he describes here ... common sense and good judgment kicked in.

Take a listen for yourself ... Sean says there were a few things that stood out to him when he did his research -- including the fact that OceanGate's CEO, Stockton Rush, was literally piloting this thing with nothing more than a Logitech video game controller.

That spelled trouble to Sean ... as did the actual construction/makeup of the vessel itself, which Sean wisely surmised would not be able to withstand the ocean's immense pressure at those far-down depths. While Titan had completed successful voyages up until that point, something in Sean's gut told him to steer clear ... and they obviously chose correctly.

As we all know  ... the five people aboard, including Rush, perished after the sub imploded. Their spots were given to another father-son duo (Shahzada and Suleman Dawood) which is something that, as Jay and Sean explain, lingers. As they say, it could've been them.

Jay believes that Stockton's decision-making did not come from a bad place... but he was just so passionate about his project that it clouded his judgment.

Now, here's the kicker ... Jay and Sean say their prospective Titanic exploration days are NOT behind them, despite everything that's unfolded. In fact, they're down to go down there ... but with the right person.

Victor Wembanyama has talent that would dominate in any era ... so says Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who tells TMZ Sports the French superstar would be able to hold his own against the iconic "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons!!

The San Antonio Spurs' top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is widely considered the best prospect since LeBron James ... with a skill set that's never been seen from a guy officially listed at 7 feet, three and a half inches tall.

While the 19-year-old can defend, shoot, dribble and pass like a seasoned vet ... Wemby's not the most muscular dude in the world, and some critics are worried about how he'll hold up against the bigger-framed guys in the Association.

All that concern can be put to rest, 'cause when we spoke with Zeke out in NYC this week, we asked how he thought Wemby would fare against the grittiest lineup of all-time -- the 2-time champion Bad Boy Pistons -- and he said, "He would actually be able to stand up [to us]."

It's pretty shocking, considering players like Zeke, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman and Rick Mahorn made life a living hell for the biggest stars of the late 1980s and early '90s -- just ask Michael Jordan.

Safe to say Isiah thinks the giant hooper has a bright future in the league ... adding, "He's gonna be fine, very excited to have him in the NBA. He's going to be great."

There's more -- Thomas has also been in the headlines recently ... after Chris Paul claimed he played a role in the trade that sent him from the Phoenix Suns to the Washington Wizards.

Jason Derulo knows the dangers of fans chucking crap onstage all too well ... and he says it's up to artists to put their foot down to make it stop.

Jason hit Barnes and Noble in NYC Wednesday to promote his new book "Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream" ... and gave his take on why he thinks there's recently been an increase in objects flung at performers.

Jason says the whole thing started with fans tossing their phones at the stage in hopes their favorite artist would snap a pic using the device. After a bunch of performers actually did start taking photos, it gave way to more phones being thrown ... with a mix of other random stuff.

Jason says it's up to performers to stop engaging with the items being thrown ... which will hopefully stop all the madness.

As we reported, Bebe Rexha got nailed in the face by a fan's phone at a show earlier this month, ending up with a black eye and some stitches. The fan was eventually charged for the stunt.

We've since seen Ava Max slapped by a fan while performing, and even Kelsea Ballerini took a bracelet to the face at a recent concert.

Charlie Puth even took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the recent incidents and said, "This trend of throwing things at performers while they are on stage must come to an end. (Bebe, Ava, AND NOW Kelsea Ballerini…) It's so disrespectful and very dangerous. Please just enjoy the music I beg of you…"

AEW star Anthony Bowens says the outpouring of support he's received following his viral "I'm gay" moment at Rampage last week has been incredible ... telling TMZ Sports he hopes it serves as inspiration for those who fear being themselves.

Bowens -- who came out in 2017 -- had fans going wild after making a joke about his sexuality in the ring in a response to Harley Cameron ... after she claimed she could tell the Acclaimed tag-team member was into her.

"Very, very serious question," Bowens responded to the Australian commentator. "Did you get kicked too many times in the head by a kangaroo when you were a kid?? Because I don't know if you can see my gear, lady ... I'm gay!!"

The whole crowd erupted in encouragement ... chanting "He's gay!!"

We spoke with Bowens about how special it was to be his true self inside the ring and get that sort of response from the fans ... and he said the whole experience was surreal.

"I wish I could go back and tell 17, 18, 19-year-old Anthony Bowens that everything would be okay, because I spent a lot of time, a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety of what my career would be if I ever came out," Bowens tells us.

"And to fast forward and to have that moment and to have that reaction I did -- I've been getting messages every single day from people all over the world, from other athletes thanking me just for simply saying it."

"People, a lot of times, either just insinuate it or maybe make it a joke -- I was like, screw it!! You just gotta say it sometimes."

Even though the exchange was silly, it is a major step in the right direction for the LGBTQ+ community ... and Bowens understands the gravity of the situation.

"I think it struck a chord with a lot of people and I couldn't be any more thrilled."

Mike Posner is one of the healthiest dudes in entertainment, but his secret to staying fit isn't about piling it on in the gym ... it's all about sprouts!!!

We spoke with Mike at LAX, where he gave out some really simple pointers which he says not only helped him get super ripped ... but also maintain his toned body.

Mike tells us his number one tip is sprouts -- Mike grows and eats his own product -- and says it's as easy as it sounds ... you don't even need a green thumb.

As far as his own regimen, Mike says he cultivates sprouts of all sorts, and goes outside every day to move his body.

Of course, this is all coming from the guy with an impressive athletic resume. You'll recall, he climbed Mount Everest back in 2021 ... telling us, he wanted to complete the amazing feat so he didn't become a "fat, old, white guy."

Wiz Khalifa alarmed fans this week when he revealed a small tear to his pelvis ... a minor setback that won't affect his extensive summer tour plans, TMZ Hip Hop has learned.

Sources inside Wiz's camp tell us the Taylor Gang rapper is currently back on his feet and conducting rehearsals -- a sharp improvement from video of him painfully plodding around his house.

Wiz gave fans a glimpse into his recovery, which included kinesiology tape and the assistance of two canes. Gym injuries can be brutal, but boredom appeared to give Wiz his biggest fight during recovery ... not to mention, the trying not to overeat.

We're told Wiz is using extreme precautions not to get reinjured, but is feeling great and wants to give his North American fans the best possible experience ... especially with such an extensive tour schedule ahead.

Starting July 7, Wiz will be co-headlining the High School Reunion Tour with Snoop Dogg ... a blockbuster event that also features Too Short, Warren G, Berner and DJ Drama.

We're also told fans can expect Wiz 100%, performing his new tunes for the summer daze -- and the setlist isn't limited to his new G-funk collab "You" with Ty Dolla $ign!!!

Amanda Bynes continues to battle her mental health problems, but there's some good news ... she's now out of a psychiatric facility with a plan in place for her to stay healthy and safe.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... Amanda checked out of a mental health facility late Friday, nearly two weeks after she was admitted. Both Amanda and her medical team felt she's made the right steps toward getting back to living independently.

Obviously, Bynes isn't totally in the clear -- as her mental health is an ongoing battle -- but there's now a plan in place to make sure she does everything to get her illness in check.

For starters, our sources say she'll start outpatient care ... with a medical professional checking in daily.

We're told Amanda will also be monitored to make sure she's taking her daily meds and continues to stay in a good headspace.

TMZ broke the story, Amanda called LAPD June 17 to report she was in distress and felt she could do herself harm. Officers responded with a mental health specialist who determined Amanda needed to be placed on a psych hold ... where she remained until Friday.

Of course, the incident is just one in a long history for Bynes ... but the important thing is she's been able to self-identify when she's in trouble.

As we first reported, Amanda was seen walking near DTLA without clothes earlier this year, flagging down a car and calling 911 to get some help. She was placed on a mental health hold back then as well ... and it lasted for several weeks.

Metro Boomin's longtime production partner -- Southside -- is pleased with Young Thug's "Business Is Business" album ... revealing the project came together super fast.

We parlayed with Southside at LAX this week, who told us he was hoping YT's new project topped the Billboard 200, especially with all the MacGyver magic they used to create the album.

The album bowed at #2 on the charts ... still not a bad consolation, seeing as the YSL rapper had to record over the phone to beef up his existing vocals due to his incarceration. But, Southside tells us he and the team were willing to do whatever to complete the album.

Southside co-produced "Hoodie" on the album and credits Metro for being the G.O.A.T. ... and piecing 'BIB' together in 2 weeks.

He's also proclaiming the LP to be the best jailhouse rap album ever over other contenders such as Shyne, X-Raided and the late Drakeo the Ruler.

Italians would riot in the streets if Rome's Colosseum staged a UFC fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg ... that's the prediction from a famed archaeologist over in Italy.

Darius Arya, a historian whose been on tons of TV programs about Ancient Rome, joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday from Italy's capital and we asked him about the Italian government contacting Zuckerberg about hosting his fight with Elon.

For Darius, the prospect of the billionaires doing battle at the same site as the ancient gladiators of old sounds super enticing ... telling us the Colosseum would come out on top of a list of potential venues, mainly because of its international fame as the ultimate arena of the ancient world.

Darius says there are inherent issues with staging a fight of this magnitude at the Colosseum, because it's a heritage site and tourist attraction ... and while he's confident it would never come to fruition, he's glad folks are talking about the venue and getting excited about history.

Logistics aside, Darius firmly believes Italians would take to the streets in protest if the nearly 2,000-year-old venue gets the green light to host the fight ... so that's another hurdle for Dana White.

There's been concerts and other events on the Colosseum grounds over the years, mostly outside the arena walls ... and we've been told Elon and Mark would love to fight there ... but it sounds like Las Vegas might be a more likely fight destination.

As we reported, the Ministry of Culture reached out to Mark Zuckerberg about the prospect of staging a Musk vs. Zuck fight at the Colosseum, and Zuck passed it on to UFC's Dana White, whose people were in touch with the Ministry. A Zoom call was set for next week.

Treylon Burks is catchin' on to the whole good husband thing quickly ... the Tennessee Titans star happily played photographer for his wife on Thursday -- just five days after the two tied the knot!!

The couple has been out in St. Lucia this week following their wedding on Saturday ... and it appears Burks is stepping into his husband role nicely -- jumping in when his new wifey was in need of some oceanside pics.

Check out video we obtained of the two as they were soaking in honeymoon rays -- Burks grabbed Shelby's phone when she wanted some photos ... and he then proceeded to make sure to get all of the angles for her as she got her poses in.

Shelby seemed pleased with the job Treylon did -- she took one glance at the set of pics ... before she and Treylon jetted off to their next adventure on the island.

Impromptu photo shoots aside ... the duo appears to be loving their post-nuptial life -- chasing waterfalls and getting some toe dips in the Atlantic Ocean as well.

As for the upcoming football season, Burks is clearly keepin' himself in shape while on vacay ... all of his muscles were on display in a pair of tiny board shorts Thursday.

Say "hello" to Nakobe Dean's BIG friend -- the Philadelphia Eagles star just got a brand-new tattoo ... complete with tributes to Scarface and his home state of Mississippi!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker wanted to go all-out for his first ink piece, so he commissioned artist Daniel Czar of "Czar Studios -- The Lounge" in New Jersey for the job.

Czar tells us the half-back tat was done over a 2-day period ... which added up to about 8 hours of work.

The piece includes objects that symbolize Nakobe's upbringing in Mississippi ... such as a magnolia and a road sign that reads "Tunica County."

The part that stands out the most has to be the blimp that's etched along Nakobe's right shoulder, which reads "The World Is Yours."

Of course, anyone who's seen the classic Al Pacino classic will be quick to recognize what that's from.

Even though it was Nakobe's first tat, Czar praised the guy for taking it like a champ ... saying, "He seemed pretty confident going into it. And he actually sat super well for it."

"A lot of people come in and get their first tattoo and they're super nervous and antsy. He was ready to go, so I was super proud of him."

In fact, Czar -- who's done work for names like Johnny Manziel, Corey Clement and Jalen Mills -- tells us Nakobe's ready for his next tat ... and he's looking to fill out the rest of his back with art down the road.

As it turns out, Nakobe's Eagles teammate, Kenneth Greenwell, is the one who recommended he go to Czar ... and the artist plans to work with a lot more Philly players moving forward.

Can you imagine not one, but TWO competitive eaters staying under the same roof after downing dozens of hot dogs in a matter of minutes??

That's power couple Miki Sudo and Nick Wehry's reality when every Fourth of July rolls around ... and they're telling TMZ Sports exactly how they avoid bathroom catastrophe following the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest!!

Of course, the annual tradition is a lot of fun for the fans ... but what they DON'T see is how the world's best eaters deal with the aftermath. Naturally, we had to ask The Hungry Couple how it all plays out.

"We force a lot of water, we stay away from each other," Nick (who has the third-best odds to win the mustard belt on Tuesday) tells us.

"I don't know what's more unpleasant -- our moods toward each other or the G.I. distress, but we do a good job of kind of avoiding both."

Miki -- the 8-time hot dog champ -- added ... "I don't blame anybody for not wanting to be around me after I eat four dozen hot dogs and equally, I don't really feel like being around him after he competes in events."

As for the actual contest, Miki -- the #1-ranked female eater on the planet -- says she's hoping to break her world record of 48.5 glizzys on Independence Day ... and revealed she has a new strategy she's been working on in hopes of making that happen.

Miki tells us she has no plans of slowing down anytime soon ... and sees herself competing for another 10 years.

Joseph Baena's upcoming action film includes a nod to his famous dad ... Arnold Schwarzenegger's most famous one-liner.

TMZ obtained this clip from Joseph's new action flick, "Called to Duty," where he puts his spin on Arnold's famous line from "The Terminator."

Joseph's character, a Navy pilot, is flying a fighter jet into battle and he tells his fellow pilots ... "In 1984, there was an actor who gave one of the greatest lines of all-time ... I'll be back!!!"

After delivering the warning, Joseph's jet peels off from the group.

It's pretty cool to hear Joseph channel his inner Arnold ... the movie, which came out Saturday, is Joseph's first foray into action flicks ... and it seems he's truly following in his father's footsteps.

As we've shown you ... Joseph looks super jacked, just like his pops ... even shooting a scene in a gym.

The plot for "Called to Duty" sounds a lot like "Top Gun" ... it's about Navy air show pilots who are called into battle ... a story loosely based on real events between North Korea and the United States.

Cupid's arrow won't hit the Target bullseye any time soon -- the megastore is getting hit with a lawsuit from a guy who claims some missing marshmallows tanked his Valentine's Day.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Donte Cross is comin' after the retailer for false advertising, which he says traces back to a bag of S'mores Bark Crisps -- a $4 online item.

Cross says he picked up the sweet treat for a loved one, but "discovered the absence of visible marshmallows" when the bag was opened -- adding the grub didn't resemble or taste like what was described on the packaging.

He claims his loved one was filled with disappointment and chucked the bag at Cross ... telling him, "This has no marshmallow."

Cross says the sticky situation upended his Valentine's Day celebration, not to mention the embarrassment it caused. He feels deceived by what he says is Target's false advertising.

The unhappy customer says he's suffered emotional distress over the whole ordeal and is coming after Target for unspecified damages.

Robin S.'s classic house track "Show Me Love" is the gift that keeps on giving for many artists and music fans alike.

Just ask Beyoncé, who used its sample to create her song "Break My Soul," the lead single from the "Renaissance" album she's currently touring.

TMZ Hip Hop chopped it up with Robin at Dash Radio earlier this week -- who says Bey introducing her to an entire generation was a HUGE honor. Robin also tells us she would jump at the chance to perform the song live with her because, duh!!!

But when it comes down to the king of "Show Me Love" samples, Robin surprisingly tells us it's Chris Brown's singing on her melody that floats her boat the most.

She's referring to Kid Ink's 2013 smash hit "Show Me," in which Chris provided the hook ... and helped take the record 3x Platinum!!!