Music

Peter Green, one of the founding members of Fleetwood Mac, has died.

The family put out a statement that said ... "It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep."

Green, a blues/rock guitarist, created Fleetwood Mac with Mick Fleetwood way back in '67, and the group produced an insane number of hits ... the insanity only surpassed by the drama inside the group.

Among the hits ... "Black Magic Woman" and "Need Your Love So Bad."

The group was originally known as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac featuring Jeremy Spencer. It's a mouthful, and was collapsed to simply Fleetwood Mac several years later.

Peter left the group in 1970, creating a guitarist void in the group that was eventually filled by Lindsey Buckingham. He struggled with mental illness, which was a principal reason he left the group.

There were 9 members of the band during the years -- Mick, Peter, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie, Christine McVie, Danny Kirwan, Bob Welch and Jeremy Spencer. All but Welch were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Biz Markie has been hospitalized for weeks, TMZ has learned, for a serious illness ... sources connected to the rapper tell TMZ.

Biz's rep tells TMZ the illness is not coronavirus. The rep went on to say the trigger for the hospitalization is that he suffers from Type II Diabetes.

He's currently in a Maryland-area hospital and the status of his condition is unclear, but it appears serious.

The rep told us, "He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome."

Kanye West got another famous visitor Friday who was not Kim Kardashian -- this time around, it was Justin Bieber.

Justin and wife Hailey have been tooling around the country in an RV, and they made a stop at Kanye's Wyoming ranch.

Kanye posted a photo of the 2 of them, along with Damon Dash, in what looks like some sort of hanger. Kanye said, "DD & JB discussing the new spray foam wall prototypes on the YZY campus."

Bieber has been tight with Ye -- over music and faith -- and we're guessing the visit was more about support than foam.

As you know by now, the family is deeply concerned Kanye is in the middle of a serious, bipolar episode. He has rejected Kim's plea for him to get help and we're told he barely speaks to her.

Kanye West is not letting his bipolar episode and fierce family feud mess with his bottom line -- it's still business as usual as far as Ye is concerned.

Sources close to Kanye tell TMZ ... this drama-filled week has not had a negative impact on his massive deals with Adidas and GAP. We're told through all of his tribulations -- Twitter rants, family wars and the off-the-rails campaign rally -- Ye's still been able to balance several projects at once because the guy is passionate about his businesses.

Kanye's not doing it alone either ... we're told he has a big team helping to keep the trains running -- and GAP and Adidas trust they'll continue operations on schedule.

Our sources say Kanye's hired Mowalola Ogunlesi as his lead designer for his YZY GAP project and this week hasn't stunted anything she's been working on ... and GAP knows that.

Now, it's true Kanye did not drop his new album, "Donda," Friday, as initially planned -- however we still saw him directing a music video that day for the project. And, let's be honest, Ye's never been one to stick to release dates ... it's just not his thing.

Bobby Shmurda's plan for life after prison includes dropping new music and talking to at-risk youths about leading a better life .... but these plans all hinge on how well his parole hearing goes.

The rapper's mother, Leslie Pollard, tells TMZ ... Bobby plans to tell the parole board next month if they release him, he's going to put his nose to the grindstone in the studio and also stay out of trouble.

Leslie tells us Bobby's been doing a lot of writing since he's been behind bars, and he plans to record his work for Epic Records, the label that signed him.

And, get this ... Leslie says Bobby also wants to produce a documentary about his life, which he hopes will also be used as an educational tool for troubled youth. Bobby's plan with at-risk kids includes visiting them and spending time with them and telling his story so they can avoid going down the path he traveled that led him to spend years behind bars.

As we've reported ... the rapper copped a plea deal back in September 2016 ... to conspiracy to possess weapons and possession of a weapon. The other charges -- including conspiracy to commit murder -- were dismissed. He was sentenced to 7 years behind bars and 5 years probation.

Fast forward to now ... Bobby's weeks away from his parole hearing and he's crossing his fingers. Leslie's support never wavered. She'd visit him every 2 weeks but those visits came to a screeching halt when the pandemic hit.

Kanye West's new album didn't drop today, like he said it would, but he's still busy shooting music videos for it instead.

The rapper's directing a small cast on crew Friday on his massive Wyoming ranch in what looks like production for a short vid. The cameras were mostly focused on someone in a yellow coat of some sort -- and it's hard to make out if any of his famous friends are involved in the shoot.

As we reported ... both Dave Chappelle and Damon Dash have visited Kanye this week, as close friends have grown concerned about his mental health.

He seemed at ease during the shoot, and from the looks of it ... you wouldn't even know Ye's wrapping up an erratic week, which started with that surprise campaign rally Sunday in South Carolina where he made controversial comments about how Harriet Tubman didn't free any slaves.

He also got deeply personal at the SC event about abortion, and brought up the topic of getting divorced from Kim Kardashian.

He'd raised that subject again in 2 separate Twitter rants, in which he slammed Kris Jenner, claimed she and Kim were trying to have him involuntarily committed ... and suggested his wife tried to cheat on him with Meek Mill.

All of that appears to be out of sight, out of mind for Kanye and co. ... same goes for the COVID-19 pandemic, since almost everyone on the video set is without a mask.

We broke the story ... Kanye and Kim have not been communicating much since his bizarre behavior began, and he's rejected her offers to come be with him in Wyoming.

Kim also acknowledged her husband is dealing with a bipolar episode, and it's been difficult for everyone involved.

Megan Thee Stallion's injuries to her feet, after Tory Lanez allegedly shot her, were so bad she had to go into the operating room ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the investigation tell TMZ ... the rapper's hospital records show she was treated for a "gunshot injury" when she was admitted to L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai Hospital. That was shortly after police pulled over Tory's chauffeur-driven SUV around 4:30 AM on July 12.

We're told, Megan told doctors she was barefoot when she heard a loud noise and immediately felt pain in both feet, and said she initially thought it was from stepping on glass.

Instead, our sources say Meg underwent a surgical procedure to remove bullets, or bullet fragments, from her feet.

As we've told you ... Megan says the incident has left her "hurt and traumatized," and the LAPD is still investigating Lanez for assault with a deadly weapon, but so far, he has not been charged.

As we reported, video of the ordeal showed cops pulling over the SUV -- with Lanez lying face-down on the street and Megan tip-toeing gingerly ... leaving bloody footprints with each step.

Our sources say Tory allegedly shot Megan in the feet as she exited the SUV, on the heels of an argument that erupted in the SUV. He was arrested and booked for possession of a concealed weapon ... the handgun cops found in the vehicle.

Tekashi 6ix9ine just lined up a serious payday to perform his upcoming album online ... the rapper tells us he just inked a massive deal for a single live stream concert.

The rapper, who's about to regain his freedom, tells TMZ ... he just put pen to paper on a $5 million live-streaming deal with GlobalStreamNow for a virtual performance of his soon-to-be-released record.

Tekashi tells us he'll hit the stage Saturday, Sept. 5 at 8 PM ET for the live-streamed show, which he says will run for about an hour and feature 12 songs from his album. He'll also interact online with fans.

6ix9ine is almost done with home confinement, but is keeping the physical location of his live stream under wraps. Remember, there's still concern about revenge for snitching, so Tekashi says security will be on hand to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

He already has some big ideas for the performance ... and based on what he's telling us, prepare for lots of eye candy, dancers, a live band and colorful displays.

6ix9ine's keeping details about the record under wraps -- he won't divulge song titles or the album name yet -- but he tells us the record is dropping in the near future.

No need to risk your health attending a live concert ... according to Tekashi, who says the only thing his fans need to do to watch his performance is download the GlobalStreamNow app.

We reached out to GlobalStreamNow, but haven't heard back.

Dr. Phil has some ideas about how best to help Kanye West, or anyone coping with bipolar disorder, and says it's all about protecting him from himself ... on several levels.

The good doc joined us Friday on "TMZ Live" to discuss a tactic known as "containment." He says it's important for Kim Kardashian and co. to remember they're not dealing with the Kanye they know and love.

Phil says people going through bipolar episodes often engage in destructive behaviors that put themselves at risk -- buying 5 cars in one day would be an example -- and containment is all about blocking them from things, events or people that could have long-term consequences.

Kanye's not gonna go broke, but Phil says he could still get into bad situations that have lasting ramifications on his life. Beyond that, he says Kim's gotta hope to catch him in a moment where he'll agree to go back on his medication.

As we reported, Kanye's made it a struggle for Kim to reach him, ducking calls and turning down her pleas to join him in Wyoming, and claiming the family is trying to have him involuntarily committed.

That's why Phil says containment, even from afar, might be best for now.

Kanye West's making it a struggle for Kim Kardashian to reach him -- he's ducking some calls and rejecting her pleas to join him in Wyoming.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... there's been very little communication between husband and wife since he jetted off for his South Carolina rally last weekend, and zero face time.

We're told Kim has made attempts to talk to Kanye about his mental state ... but he's not receptive. Our sources say she's twice tried to fly to their ranch where Ye's been staying to help him out, but he's refused to see her both times.

Obviously, there's been a lot more to talk about, as Kanye's gone on 2 separate Twitter rants this week blasting Kris Jenner, comparing his life to "Get Out," claiming his family's trying to have him involuntarily committed ... and suggested Kim tried to cheat on him with Meek Mill, so he wants to divorce her.

This all went down after that bizarre SC rally, where Kanye declared Harriet Tubman didn't free any slaves, and got very personal about abortion and started crying.

Our sources say Kim was concerned about Kanye's behavior well before the rally though. We're told she was worried earlier in the month when he was in the Dominican Republic, so she flew to be with him ... and knew then something was seriously off.

We're told Kim had to leave Kanye to get back to their kids, and after that -- without any heads up -- he went to SC for his rally, and it's been all downhill from there.

Taylor Swift's taken out 2 birds with one surprise stone -- her album, "Folklore," beat her nemesis, Kanye West, to market, and revealed the top secret name of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' third child ... or so it seems.

So, the thing Swifties are really latching on to with her 8th studio album, which dropped at midnight, is the song "Betty" ... because they think it solves the mystery of Ryan and Blake's daughter. They had the kid late last year, but have never said what her name is.

Taylor's fans theorize it's Betty, because the song also mentions their 2 other daughters ... 5-year-old James and 3-year-old Inez.

Some of the lyrics include, "You heard the rumors from Inez. You can't believe a word she says. Most times, but this time it was true. The worst thing that I ever did was what I did to you." She also sang, "She said, 'James, get in, let's drive.' Those days turned into nights. Slept next to her, but I dreamt of you all summer long."

Keep in mind, Taylor, Blake and Ryan are BFFs ... so Swifties might've nailed this one.

As for "Folklore" as a whole ... Taylor's never dropped one of these surprise albums before, and it just coincidentally (if ya believe in that) came on the day Kanye was supposed to drop "Donda."

Not shockingly, Ye didn't deliver his album today ... so, score one for T-Swift?

Alright, one more "Folklore" theory ... some guy named William Bowery has 2 writing credits on the record ... but he's never written on any of Taylor's previous albums. Fans seem to think it's a new pseudonym she's using.

This theory, of course, will remind hardcore Swifties about the "This Is What You Came For" drama ... after it was revealed she secretly wrote that song under the pseudonym, Nils Sjoberg.

Birdman's unloaded his massive Miami estate, known for its super-exclusive location on Palm Island, where another famous resident once lived ... Al Capone!!!

The rapper and record exec sold the nearly 20,000-sq.-ft crib -- which has 7 bedrooms, 9 full bathrooms and 4 half baths -- for $10.85 million. Just to give you an idea of how big it is ... the master bedroom alone is more than 3,000 square feet!

The palace sits on a 30,000-sq.-ft lot in the Miami Beach gated community ... which has some true gangster history. Capone spent some of his final, fragile days on Palm Island ... and it's where he died in 1947.

Birdman originally put it on the market in November 2018 at $15.5 mil. It went through 2 realtors before it was finally scooped up for almost $5 million less.

Aaron Carter is denying allegations he's abusing his dog, Nala ... and says he won't give the pug to a rescue org offering big bucks for the pup.

Here's the deal ... folks are accusing Aaron of abusing Nala by allegedly keeping her in a crate outdoors in 100-degree heat and locked in bathrooms for multiple hours a day. People are also alarmed over Aaron's new German Shepherds, worrying the big dogs could harm little Nala.

Some people even called Lancaster Animal Control on Aaron ... and Nala's got a trending hashtag, #SaveNala, which caught the attention of a pug rescue organization, The Pug Queen.

The org's founder, Izabella St. James, tells us she reached out to Aaron offering him $10,000 to rescue the pug and rehome Nala, but claims the singer threatened her with a lawsuit for defamation.

Aaron tells TMZ ... the abuse allegations are absolutely not true. He says he only had Nala in a crate for 15 minutes to separate her from his new guard dogs.

AC acknowledges animal control came to his house, but claims officers concluded he did nothing wrong ... and left after he explained he was simply separating his new pets.

A status hearing on Britney Spears' conservatorship never went down this week ... because a group of people who had nothing to do with the case refused to get off the Zoom call so the judge could conduct a confidential hearing.

The plan was routine -- every 3 months or so, the judge calls the parties into court to catch up on developments in the conservatorship. There are reports out there that Britney and/or others were trying to end it. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... no one has EVER filed a motion nor has there ever been a court proceeding to end the permanent conservatorship in the 12 years it's been in effect.

As for the would-be status hearing this week ... we're told the judge was handling a bunch of non-confidential matters on Zoom, but then the judge "closed" the virtual courtroom by ordering everyone off who was not involved in Britney's case. We're told a group of people from the public got off the call, but then rejoined. The judge was ordering them off, but they refused to leave, so after more than 2 hours the judge pulled the plug and rescheduled the hearing.

Drake's plans over the last several days of his not-so-quarantined life have been consistent -- ball, beach and boat ... and it looks to be working out wonderfully.

As he slides into his second week of vacation with his entourage down in Barbados ... the rapper and friends were living it up Wednesday onboard a yacht off Nikki Beach.

Drake's summer bod's on full display, and he took a leap off the watercraft to cool off ... before chilling even more.

As we've reported ... Drizzy's been taking a break on the island since last week, when he was first spotted playing hoops and meeting with local fans, and was later seen shirtless on the beach with his buds.

Kim Kardashian and Meek Mill's prison reform chat -- along with philanthropist Clara Wu Tsai -- looks like it was exactly that, plus some grub ... based on a photo of the meeting that really upset Kanye West.

Here's the photographic proof ... Kim and Meek really did have a meeting on prison reform in 2018 at the Waldorf Astoria restaurant in L.A.

Kanye tweeted Tuesday he didn't believe the meeting was legit and insinuated Kim was there to hook up with Meek. The photo makes it clear ... this was a meeting, and nothing more.

What's unclear is Kanye saying he's been trying to divorce Kim ever since. Remember, during his off-the-rails campaign rally in South Carolina Sunday ... he raised the issue of divorce several times.

Of course, the photo just backs what we already knew and what Meek himself stated on Twitter when he wrote about Kanye's allegations ... "Sh** is cappp cmon ....." In other words ... it's all BS.

We broke the story ... friends and family are deeply upset and concerned about Kanye because they believe he's in the grips of a bipolar episode.

Kim broke her silence earlier this week by publicly acknowledging he's in the middle of a serious mental health issue, describing how "incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand" ... but also voiced her continued support of her husband.