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Eric Bellinger is one of R&B's leading traditionalists, but Akon's idea about reformatting the catalog to go country sounds mighty enticing!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with EB at LAX on Tuesday as the Grammy-winning singer was en route overseas for Mario's "Glad You Came" Tour ... and he called Akon a flat-out genius for genre-swapping.

Akon told us last week he's been strategizing the country switch-up for 5 years and plans on recruiting the hottest cowboys and girls in music to boost the tracks.

Sophie Nyweide's death has another tragic element to it ... because it turns out she was pregnant at the time of her death.

According to the death certificate, obtained by TMZ, Nyweide was with child when she was pronounced dead just before 5 AM on April 14 in Bennington, Vermont.

An autopsy has been performed on Sophie's body ... but, as of now, an exact cause of death is still unknown. But, police are investigating the death as a possible unintentional overdose.

Jake Paul is making a major move -- El Gallo is in line to be the new owner of a $42 MILLION estate in Georgia!!!

TMZ Sports has learned the internet superstar and boxer is in contract to land the 5,700-acre property in Decatur County ... as part of one of his growing business ventures.

The estate has a $42 million price tag ... although it's unclear what Jake offered for it.

Sources tell us Jake's unlikely to move into the place ... but regardless, it has everything one could ever ask for -- including a lodge, horse barn, manager's house, guest house, duck pond, lake and a 200-foot bluff overlooking Lake Seminole.

Sydney Sweeney and her ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino are NOT giving their relationship another shot, despite being spotted with each other twice this month on different coasts ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Sydney and Jonathan are not reconciling romantically and they're not getting back together, despite speculation to the contrary.

Sydney and Jonathan separated in January and canceled their wedding set for May after being engaged for several years ... but then we saw them twice in a matter of weeks. They went out to eat in Los Angeles and then popped up in the Florida Keys.

Angelina Pivarnick's looking for a change of scenery ... recently moving into a new house -- and looking to make beaucoup bucks on the old one.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the "Jersey Shore" star has listed her home in Freehold, New Jersey Wednesday for a whopping $1,799,999.

The 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom abode boasts 5,500 square feet of living space on 1.1 acres of land and features a resort-style yard with a pool, a butterfly staircase and high ceilings.

Carlos Santana is on the mend after suffering a medical emergency and being rushed to a hospital ... but he's going to have to scrap another show.

A rep for the legendary musician tells TMZ ... Carlos has been discharged from the hospital and is resting in a hotel, but his show Wednesday night in Sugar Land, Texas has been postponed out of an abundance of caution.

We're told dehydration was determined to be the main reason Santana collapsed Tuesday during a sound check at a venue in San Antonio.

Jessica Alba and her estranged husband Cash Warren want to part ways with their multimillion-dollar marital home ... because they just put their property on the market.

Jessica and Cash listed their Beverly Hills estate for $18,995,000 ... TMZ has learned.

The Hamptons-style house is massive ... coming in at nearly 9,000 square feet, with 7 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms.

Quavo just saw his second film starring opposite John Travolta released -- and feels his acting chops will go on to be among the legends!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Quavo at LAX and asked him how he plans on surpassing the works of Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Tupac Shakur ... you know, the rappers whose legacy lives in both music and movies.

Quavo boldly shoots down every name we throw at him ... he's been on a roll and is coming in hot for Hollywood.

Michael Lohan may spend the rest of 2025 behind bars ... 'cause a judge ordered him to spend 9 months in jail for violating his probation when he was arrested back in February, TMZ has learned.

The father of Lindsay Lohan was in court Wednesday in Florida, where the judge hit him with jail time, but noted he'll receive a credit of 38 days for time served.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... Lohan pled guilty to violating his probation in connection with his February arrest in Texas on a "continuous violence against the family" felony assault charge for allegedly beating up Kate Lohan.

Kanye West is firing off more than just disturbing, antisemitic rants online these days ... the rapper is also making a racket with his SUPER LOUD casting calls, and offending neighbors with a prominent racist hate symbol, in Los Angeles, TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... Kanye plastered L.A.'s Larchmont neighborhood with an "urgent" advertisement seeking "AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES" for his "hooligan choir," which has set up shop in a warehouse near an elementary school.

In the flyers, Kanye requires any prospects cannot be "fat" and must wear all black with the skin complexion of Sean "Diddy" Combs -- who is about to go on trial for alleged racketeering, sex trafficking and other federal crimes. The ad also requires anyone to be "COMFORTABLE WEARING SWASTIKAS," and, of course, there are other conditions.

Justin Bieber is leaving Drew House behind and starting a new venture because he believes his fashion brand no longer represents him ... but sources connected to the company are calling BS on his claims.

Sources connected to Justin tell TMZ … Justin felt Drew House was no longer his and he wanted to distance himself from ex-manager Scooter Braun, who was very much involved in the company. The decision didn't happen overnight ... we're told there was a falling out at Drew House ... the result of some disagreements among the board of directors.

Justin, Scooter, Drew House co-founder Ryan Good, Churchome Pastor Judah Smith and David Bolno were all on the board ... but our Justin sources say trouble started in 2023, when Bolno was mentioned in news reports as a person of interest in the death of aspiring singer Laura Lozano. David was later cleared by police.

The woman who accused Jay-Z and Diddy of raping her when she was 13 years old is now taking legal steps to try and dismiss a lawsuit Jay-Z filed against her.

Jay's accuser, who first sued him for rape as a Jane Doe, filed new legal docs Tuesday to dismiss the defamation suit the music mogul filed against her and her attorney, Tony Buzbee, in Alabama.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the woman claims Jay-Z can’t sue her over the claims because she made them in court documents and are therefore privileged ... adding that the interview she did with NBC was based on her claims in the court docs.

Phaedra Parks is known for her bold, outspoken vibes ... but this time, she stepped back and let her son steal the spotlight, as he spilled the tea on his dating life -- and hers.

We caught up with the reality star and her sons, Ayden and Dylan, at LAX -- but it was Ayden who had plenty to say, making it clear he just hopes his mom doesn’t date a bum -- so all you Phaedra admirers, take note!

When the tables turn, Ayden’s still just 14 -- so mama bear’s got some serious dating ground rules for him. Catch the clip to see what she had to say!

Police in Vermont investigating the sudden death of 24-year-old actress Sophie Nyweide say she was found lifeless on a riverbank ... and they're looking into a range of possible causes, including foul play.

Bennington Police tell TMZ ... Sophie's body was found not far from a high school in Bennington around 4 AM on April 14, and she was declared dead at the scene.

We're told her body was near a lean-to -- a makeshift structure made from downed trees -- and nothing is being ruled out at this point in terms of a cause of death.

Democrats going to war with President Trump over alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia makes perfect sense to D.L. Hughley, who says it's really a battle for what should matter most to all Americans.

Things got heated Tuesday on "TMZ Live" when Harvey suggested Abrego Garcia might not be the hill Democrats wanna die on ... considering he's been accused of beating his wife and having an affiliation with MS-13, an international criminal gang.

D.L. thinks you're missing the point if you think the case is just about one Maryland husband and dad ... he says it's about the Trump administration thinking it can "spirit away" anyone it wants without giving them their day in court.

Bianca Censori makes the routine look sexy ... take random errands around town, for example.

Kanye West's wife was spotted in Spain this week tooling around in her Mercedes G63 AMG on her way to see a wellness healer and a bodyguard.

Never one to be shy, Bianca hopped out of the luxury SUV in a thong bodysuit, sheer stockings and some high-heeled boots ... accentuating her derriere.