Music

Elton John has dug deep into his pockets only to pull out a million bucks to protect people living with HIV from contracting the coronavirus.

Sir Elton posted a video, saying, "Today, I’m proud to announce that my Foundation is launching a $1million COVID-19 Emergency Fund to make sure that our frontline partners can respond to the effects of COVID-19 on HIV care for the most marginalized communities around the world."

The singer, who also hosted last Sunday's coronavirus relief concert, Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America, has been a driving force in combating the AIDS epidemic for 30 years. People with HIV often have compromised immune systems, so they can be especially vulnerable in contracting the disease.

Rob Gronkowski and his SI Swimsuit cover model GF Camille Kostek have taken things to the next level -- they're music video superstars!!

It's all for Kygo's new video, "I'll Wait" ... and it'll make you feel all warm inside.

Gronk and Camille offered up never before seen footage of their romantic vacations, shirtless breakfasts for the video ... it even features footage shot right after the Patriots tight end won the Super Bowl.

In true Gromille fashion ... there's a TON of dancing because as Camille says ... they're never not dancing.

As for the song, it's pretty serious stuff with lyrics like "I'll wait forever, that's what we said. 16th of September, lying in my bed. I'll wait forever, it's never too late, couple thousand miles is just a little space."

After watching the vid, it's no wonder Gronk likes retirement.

Playboi Carti's been arrested in Georgia on drug and gun-related charges ... TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement ... the "wokeuplikethis*" rapper got pulled over in his Lambo Thursday for having an expired tag, and Clayton County officers claim they discovered the drugs and weapons in his vehicle during the traffic stop.

Our sources say Carti's ride was loaded with 12 bags of marijuana, xanax, oxycodone and codeine ... along with 3 firearms.

The rapper was arrested with another man and they were taken to the county jail.

Photos of the items seized during the stop were posted by the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.

Carti posted bond and was released Friday morning.

Bill Withers -- the soulful singer-songwriter known for his string of hits in the '70s -- has died from heart complications ... according to his family.

Withers died Monday in Los Angeles, but his family announced it Friday morning, saying ... "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other."

The 3-time Grammy Award winner's death comes as the world is turning to his sweet music for inspiration and encouragement during the coronavirus pandemic ... especially his 1972 hit, "Lean On Me."

Quarantined residents in a Dallas apartment building sat in their windowsills a couple weeks ago, singing the song to lift their spirits.

Withers began recording and performing just 2 years prior in 1970, scoring his first smash single with "Ain't No Sunshine" from his debut album, "Just As I Am" ... released in 1971. The song won the Grammy for R&B song of the year.

He'd go on to land several other hits -- including "Use Me," "Just the Two of Us" and "Lovely Day" -- until he withdrew from making music in 1985 to live a more private life.

Bill was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, and his songs have been endlessly sampled for other artists' hits from the '90s into this century.

His family says ... "As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world."

Withers was 81.

RIP

Drake is honoring Kobe Bryant once again ... this time the rapper laid out the Mamba's Lakers jerseys in his new "Toosie Slide" music video -- and the tribute is pretty awesome.

Drake debuted the vid for his soon-to-be-smash-hit song Thursday ... and it didn't even take a full minute into the footage before the NBA superfan paid homage to Kobe.

You can see in the video ... Drake laid out Bryant's #8 and #24 jerseys on the table, and he let the camera pan to them as he danced around his Toronto-area mansion.

Of course, Drizzy is a HUGE Kobe fan despite his Raptors roots ... and after Bryant's death in January, Drake's paid homage to the L.A. legend every chance he's had.

In an Instagram post, just hours after Kobe's helicopter crashed on Jan. 26, Drake threw up a picture of him in a "Farewell Mamba" jacket with the caption, "It can't be."

Drake also painted the numbers 8 and 24 on his in-home basketball court just a few weeks ago as well.

YNW Melly says he tested positive for COVID-19 while awaiting trial in Florida for his double-murder case ... and he says he's gonna ask for a restricted release from jail.

The rapper's team claims he got a positive diagnosis for coronavirus Thursday while being held in Broward County jail.

YNW Melly also says he hopes to get some support from his fans, and he's asking for positive energy and prayers as he tries to recover and beat the virus.

Melly's team also says he will be filing legal docs seeking restricted release from jail in order to get better healthcare. His reps also claim the jail is not prepared to treat the novel virus.

As you know ... YNW Melly's been sitting in a Florida jail for more than a year after being arrested and charged in the double murder of two of his friends.

Kanye West is venturing out for essential business -- as in, feeding himself ... and he satisfied his hunger with a Mickey D's run.

Yeezy headed out Thursday to a Golden Arches in Calabasas and picked up some fast-food and coffee. It's the first time we've seen the music and fashion mogul out and about since California went under a stay-at-home order.

Lucky for Kanye and McDonald's ... the shelter-in-place mandate allows residents to leave their homes for essential errands ... which, obviously, includes getting some grub.

Many smaller restaurants are closing up, but huge chains like McDonald's are weathering the pandemic by continuing to serve at drive-thru windows.

That's music to Kanye's ears ... who, apparently, shares a love for McDonald's with President Trump. Well, let's be real, Ye couldn't possibly love it as much as POTUS does.

Moments after Pop Smoke was shot someone called 911, but the only thing the dispatcher on the other end could hear was pandemonium and no one willing to provide details.

TMZ's obtained the 911 call made from the Hollywood Hills rental property where the rapper was shot and killed in February. The call began with commotion in the background and the 911 dispatcher continually asking, "Hello?"

Finally, someone desperately answered the dispatcher but offered little to no details. The dispatcher tried to find out if the shooter or shooters were still on the scene ... but the caller interrupted with, "I can't talk to you anymore?"

The dispatcher fired back, "Listen to me. I'm gonna tell you how to help this person."

TMZ broke the story ... the budding rapper was brutally gunned down at a house owned by 'RHOBH' star Teddi Mellencamp.

As we've reported ... the murder remains a mystery as investigators struggle to find neutral witnesses. It appears the murder was a targeted hit and not a robbery ... but our law enforcement sources say they're still having trouble coming up with a motive.

Fire back up the NFL return rumors for Rob Gronkowski ... after he was cut from "The Masked Singer" Wednesday, he refused to close the door on his football career once again!!

Gronk had been participating on the blind singing show this season ... and it was pretty damn obvious the former Patriots tight end was rockin' the "White Tiger" outfit the whole time.

His dance moves -- even in full costume -- were very Gronk-esque ... there was plenty of twerking, flossing and overall spasming on the stage weekly!!

Surprisingly, only two of the judges were able to correctly guess it was him ... but when Jenny McCarthy was interviewing him after the reveal, she made a comment about his NFL career.

"We hope we see those moves back in the locker room soon," she said.

Gronk's reply?? "Oh. You never know!"

BOOM!!! GET THOSE #87 JERSEYS READY IN TAMPA!!!

In all seriousness, 30-year-old Gronk hasn't given much indication he will, in fact, make a comeback to the league ... with his brother, Chris, even telling TMZ Sports last month he'd be SHOCKED to see Rob return.

Canadian musician Marc Costanzo was in his mid-20s when he gained fame as the fun-loving frontman of the Ontario-based, pop-rock band, Len ... who famously dropped the anthem of the summer in '99, "Steal My Sunshine."

While many of the bandmates cycled in and out of the pop group over the years ... the one other constant in Len was Marc Costanzo's sister and better-half, Sharron Costanzo, on bass and vocals.

Since their spike in popularity Len and the Costanzo siblings have delivered a few follow-up albums but have largely remained a one-hit wonder.