Family

Solange Knowles looks like she's getting just as comfortable behind a camera as she already is behind a microphone -- 'cause she was all set to film something in her hometown.

Beyonce's younger sister popped up in Houston Saturday with a whole film crew behind her ... and a camera in hand. Eyewitnesses tell us she made an appearance at the SHAPE Community Center off of Almeda Rd. and Alabama St., where we're told she was chatting up folks inside and discussing different shots she wanted to get.

One eyewitness told us it appeared she was at the helm of either a movie or documentary of some sort ... and was trying to keep it low key.

Solange hasn't announced any new film projects as of late, and nothing official seems to be in production under her IMDb page either. That doesn't mean something isn't in the works though. And besides, she's already got a couple visual projects under her belt.

She put out a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of her 2016 album, "A Seat at the Table," and also directed SZA's 2017 music video for "The Weekend."

While she hasn't put out much new music since her Grammy-winning record, she has been busy heading up art pieces in L.A. ... and teasing us with a follow-up album that has yet to be released.

Russell Wilson appears to be responding to Future calling him a whipped man by taking the high road ... or issuing a low blow, depending on how you look at it.

The Seahawks quarterback posted a photo Saturday that might very well be in direct response to an interview Future did on Friday, where he said Russ was "not being a man" by allowing Ciara to trash talk her ex-hubby on social media and in public.

There's a couple different ways to interpret Russ's post -- but regardless, it'd be pretty hard not to call it a clap back. The pic shows Future Jr. --who's Future's biological son -- nuzzling noses with his half-sister, Sienna -- who's Ciara and Russell's biological daughter.

Russ captioned the post, "All that matters. #Love."

While you could argue this is an integrity move on RW's part, you could also say he's strategically using Future's own flesh and blood against his pops in a petty feud ... which is eyebrow-raising at best. Both arguments would be valid on the face of this.

As you know ... Ciara and Future are in the middle of an ongoing custody battle, for which Ciara now wants a mediator to intervene so a travel schedule can get hashed out for Future Jr. She's claimed in court docs that Future has allegedly broken scheduled visits and hands off the kid to family members instead of spending personal time with him.

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger will be together forever -- it's an absolute lock, and we know this because she did something for him early Friday morning ... that almost NO one in L.A. does.

Ya probably wouldn't believe this if we didn't get it on video, but here it is -- Katherine behind the wheel at 7 AM, driving her fiance and dropping him off at LAX!! If you live in L.A., or even if you've flown here, you know the airport is an absolute nightmare.

Kat stayed in the car as we congratulated Chris on their engagement, and chatted about a possible best man for their wedding. You gotta see him, because the smile on Chris' face screams one thing: My girl will do ANYTHING for me.

We got even more proof they're rock solid on Thursday night ... as the couple did dinner with Katherine's mom and brother -- Maria Shriver and Chris Schwarzenegger -- and Pratt's son, Jack.

The goodbye scene outside the Smoke House Restaurant in Burbank was straight out of a Hallmark card. Jack had big hugs for Katherine's bro and also for Nana Maria.

Super sweet ... but still pales in comparison to the scene at LAX.

The man convicted of killing Morgan Freeman's step-granddaughter is going away for 20 years ... TMZ has learned.

E'Dena Hines' killer, Lamar Davenport, was sentenced Thursday in NYC ... according to Manhattan D.A. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.

Davenport was convicted of manslaughter last May. As we reported, he killed Hines -- who was his girlfriend at the time -- in August 2015 outside of their NYC apartment. Witnesses said he repeatedly stabbed her as he screamed about religion.

Davenport was acquitted of second-degree murder after his lawyer argued he was messed up on PCP when he attacked E'Dena. However, a judge subsequently found him guilty of first-degree manslaughter.

After he's released from prison, Davenport will be placed under post-release supervision for 5 years.

Jacob Stockdale, whose family was featured on "Wife Swap," is pleading not guilty to the murders of his mother and brother because he says he was out of his mind.

Stockdale entered the not guilty by reason of insanity plea Thursday in Stark County, Ohio -- and told the court he might not be competent to stand trial. His attorney is requesting the judge appoint a doctor to evaluate Stockdale's mental state.

His case is particularly gruesome -- Stockdale was arrested for shooting and killing his mother, Kathryn, and his younger brother, James, in 2017. He then shot himself in the head, but survived after months of extensive surgery to reconstruct his face.

The Stockdale family appeared on the ABC reality show back in 2008 ... and were memorable for being extremely religious and living by strict rules.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie's on a victory lap -- celebrating his #1 album by buying houses and trucks for his family and pounds of jewelry for himself -- and he says any artist who's relying on selling albums anymore is just plain stupid.

The rapper's riding high right now atop the Billboard charts -- despite selling just 823 physical records -- and when we got him leaving Rockefeller Center in NYC Wednesday night ... he makes it pretty clear the low sales are now totally irrelevant.

A Boogie tells us streaming's the new king of the music biz, and with his new album, "Hoodie SZN," getting 83 MILLION streams last week ... he's got the crown.

There's more, though ... the hip-hop artist -- whose real name is Artist, btw -- says he's got new music coming out with Tekashi 6ix9ine soon, along with a music vid for his track "Swervin'" featuring 69.

That's sure to bring in a lot more streams ... and a lot more bling.

The Vice President and his wife are getting a bad rap when it comes to LGBTQ rights, despite their track record ... at least according to Mike Pence's older brother.

Indiana Congressman Greg Pence was on Capitol Hill Wednesday when we asked him about the backlash over the VP's wife, Karen Pence, going back to teach at Virginia's Immanuel Christian School ... which has a policy of refusing admission to gay students.

Rep. Pence did an artful DC two-step -- especially for a freshman -- dodging the question by saying he can't speak for Karen. However, when we asked point-blank if his brother and sister-in-law are anti-LGBT ... he answered. Definitively.

Now, whether anyone buys his answer is another thing. The Veep's reputation in the LGBTQ community stems from a stance he took in 2000 during a campaign.

His website stated the following regarding the Ryan White Care Act, which provided funding to HIV/AIDS patients:

Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.

That paragraph is why it's widely believed VP Pence supports conversion therapy for gays. He's also backed a law defining marriage as strictly between a man and a woman.

Andy Murray's freein' the nip in retirement ... ditching his shirt to catch some rays with his mom in Australia!!

The British tennis superstar announced his plans to retire due to injuries earlier this month ... and might've just played his last match after losing in the first round of the Australian Open.

Murray started his first full day off with a topless suntan in Melbourne with his mom ... strollin' the Yarra River and enjoying the R&R.

BTW -- Murray has 3 grand slam titles and was once the top player in the world.

The 31-year-old has hinted at a possible return down the road ... so maybe we haven't seen the end of Murray. But, if it is the end, the dude looks like he'll be just fine.

Rihanna's rubbing it in her father's face -- she's the only one who's gonna cash in on the family name ... it's as plain as the designer shades on her face.

Late Tuesday night she was strolling out of her dentist's office rocking a pair of Fenty shades -- the same ones she was wearing Monday night at Sound of Brazil nightclub. You don't need Fenty bifocals (wouldn't those be cool) to read the subtext here.

TMZ broke the story ... RiRi's suing her dad, Ronald Fenty, over the family name ... essentially.

Dear ol' Dad launched a talent management company called Fenty Entertainment -- but Rihanna says she's trademarked Fenty for commercial use. You know she's already made Fenty huge in the cosmetics and apparel biz, and she's concerned Ronald's org will confuse the marketplace.

Dave Bautista's in no position to become Chris Pratt's father-in-law, but if he keeps gushing over his "Guardians of the Galaxy" costar ... he might get asked to be Chris' best man.

We got Dave at LAX Tuesday and asked about Pratt's engagement to Katherine Schwarzenegger ... he's got nothing but nice things to say ... about Chris.

In fact, along with calling him "the best" ... Bautista tells us he wishes he was in Arnold's shoes and Pratt could be part of his family. He'd even pay big money for it.

Rihanna is going after her own father in court for using her Fenty brand and his relationship to her to launch a business for himself ... according to new court docs.

In a new lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- Rihanna claims her father, Ronald Fenty, recently started a talent development company in 2017 called Fenty Entertainment. The problem ... Rihanna has already trademarked "Fenty" to use in a number of biz ventures, including her well-known Fenty Beauty line. She claims he's profiting off the reputation she's created with Fenty.

In the docs, Rihanna says her father and a business partner falsely advertised themselves as her reps to solicit millions of dollars, including trying to book her for 15 shows in Latin America in December 2017 for $15 mil ... all without her authorization.

Rihanna claims later her dad even unsuccessfully tried to file a trademark for "Fenty" to use with resort boutique hotels.

She says she's sent multiple cease and desist letters to her father, ordering him to stop capitalizing off of her Fenty trademarks, but says he's ignored them and continued to make money off of Fenty Entertainment.

She's asking a judge to place an injunction on her dad using the name Fenty ... and, of course, for damages.

We've reached out to Ronald for comment ... so far, no word back.

Mac Miller's presence will be felt at the Grammy Awards, and not only through his music ... we've learned the late rapper's family will represent Mac at next month's ceremony.

Sources close to Mac's fam tell TMZ ... his parents will attend the awards show and they plan to accept his Grammy for rap album of the year, if their son wins.

As you know ... Mac's album "Swimming" was posthumously nominated for rap album of the year, his first ever Grammy nomination.

He's got some stiff competition in Cardi B ("Invasion of Privacy"), Travis Scott ("Astroworld"), Nipsey Hussle ("Victory Lap") and Pusha T ("Daytona").

Mac's parents live in Pittsburgh, and his mother has been helping carry on her son's legacy with The Mac Miller Circles Fund, which is already approaching $1 million in donations to help kids in his hometown.

We broke the story ... Mac died from an accidental overdose in September. The toxicology report said it was the result of "mixed drug toxicity" from fentanyl and cocaine.

Planning on going to Atlanta for the Super Bowl?!

Great -- because here's Kim Zolciak and her family telling TMZ Sports the "can't-miss" and MUST-MISS strip clubs in the ATL!!!

Kim -- along with husband Kroy Biermann and daughter Brielle -- know every square inch of the strip club layout in Atlanta and walked us through the best and worst spots in the city.

In case you didn't know, the former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star used to wait tables at the Cheetah ... so she knows her stuff.

To be honest, seems Kroy needs to brush up on his booty club knowledge -- but the real star of this clip is Brielle ... who keeps it ALL THE WAY REAL when discussing the most famous jiggle joints in her city.

Kevin Gates claims everything's cool with fellow Louisiana rapper Boosie now, but he has a warning shot to anyone else thinking about doing him dirty.

The Baton Rouge MC sat down with Raquel Harper for a new episode of BET's "Raq Rants," and he insists rumors of a long-standing feud with Boosie are overblown. Boosie was tried and acquitted in the murder of one of Kevin's rap affiliates.

Kevin now claims he doesn't have problems with anyone, but also told Raq ... he wouldn't hesitate to "do a life sentence" if anyone tests him.

You gotta see how he says it. It's pretty intense, especially because his toddler son was sitting right next to him at the time.

For what it's worth, Boosie did seem to confirm they'd squashed all hate last year by recruiting Kevin to play his music festival.

Rae Sremmurd is here to stay. That whole Slim Jxmmi episode hinting he was leaving the group? Chalk it up to just a squabble with his bro that is, apparently, water under the bridge now.

The Sremmurd-panic started when Slim went on a mini Twitter rant over the weekend ... saying he was no longer living the "SremmLife." He also strongly insinuated he was going solo when he tweeted he would "sink or swim by myself."

But, now our sources say Slim's not going anywhere and he'll remain half of the duo with his bro, Swae Lee.

It's unclear what exactly triggered the rant, other than some sort of brotherly squabble. We're told Slim and Swae are all good now.

So good, in fact, Slim posted a throwback pic of the duo and captioned it, "Sremm 4 Life."

Jada Pinkett Smith says she fended off potential creepers from Willow at a young age -- and in light of "Surviving R. Kelly" ... she seems grateful she did.

Jada released another episode of "Red Table Talk" Monday, which continued a conversation with alleged R. Kelly victim Lisa Van Allen who explained why she gravitated toward the singer. She says the fact she was orphaned played into her embracing him.

It's just as emotional as their last segment, with tears being shed in recounting her experience.

At one point in the convo, Jada reveals she had to have some serious talks with Willow as a young teen -- Willow's now 18 -- to warn her about the dangers of the world, and people who might want to take advantage of her. She says she told Willow she couldn't be alone with certain people, no matter how close Willow thought she was with them.