Music

Lil Nas X unloaded on BET over his 2022 BET Award nom snubs earlier this week ... and he's got at least one royal supporter in Queen Latifah.

We caught up with the legendary rap star promoting her new flick "Hustle" outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and while she feels LNX's talent is literally "amazing," it doesn't appear she agrees with his complaints his sexuality caused the snub.

The "Industry Baby" was a couple dynamite sticks short of nuclear on Wednesday when he accused the network of sharing into the world's problems — by excluding Black gay artists from top recognition.

His complaints were only amplified when it was discovered Jack Harlow, (yep, the White guy) was nominated for Best Male Hip Hop Artist alongside Drake, Future, Kanye and more ... causing fans on Twitter to have a field day.

It's not like LNX hasn't been on the BET Awards' radar. In 2020, he earned a Best New Artist Award and last year, went viral by kissing his ex-boyfriend Yai Ariza during his performance on live TV.

Mariah Carey is allegedly, and ironically, a big scrooge ... she's being sued over her blockbuster Christmas jingle, with another artist claiming his song -- by the same name -- inspired hers.

Mariah is being sued for copyright infringement by Andy Stone, who says he co-wrote and recorded a song called "All I Want For Christmas Is You" a couple years before MC dropped her famous track with that title.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Andy claims he recorded his back in 1989 in Nashville, and says it got extensive airplay and even made it to the Billboard charts during the 1993 Christmas season, and he even filmed a music vid.

Problem for Andy is ... Mariah released her version in 1994, along with her own music video, and we all know what a massive hit that's become since then.

Andy claims Mariah and her camp never sought or obtained permission to use that title.

Now, while everyone knows Mariah's song, the fact is it sounds completely different from Andy's tune -- different lyrics, different melody ... outside of the title, they're inarguably not the same song.

TMZ broke the story ... Mariah's version is a true cash cow, recently breaking the billion streams plateau, and putting millions of dollars in her pocket annually.

Andy wants a piece of that pie ... he's going after Mariah for at least $20 million in damages.

Hard to see how this one holds up in court -- lots of songs have similar or even the exact same title, but hey ... Andy's going for it.

Drake is smoother than whiskey ... generously picking up the tab for two women from Detroit after swigging down a couple of shots with them!

In case you missed it, the 6 God went viral after schmoozing it up with a couple of ladies in the Motor City. We spoke with Brittney Keara, the woman who filmed the interaction, and she said Drake was as courteous as ever.

Brittney tells us Thursday she was enjoying happy hour with a friend at a local seafood restaurant when Drizzy strolled in with a couple of bodyguards.

We got new video of the interaction where Drake initially turns down Brittney's drink offer, saying he was heading to the airport for a flight ... but she says he ended up coming back to the bar and taking up the offer.

Brittney orders a shot of Jack, but tells us when the camera was off Drake upgraded her to a shot of Johnny Walker. Classy move. He also covered the tab.

PETA is pissed at Jack Harlow for "glamorizing horse racing" in his latest music video ... calling on him to make things right by donating his earnings for the project immediately.

A rep for PETA tells TMZ ... Jack made a big mistake showing off the sport in his "Churchill Downs" video with Drake. They say he's only showing the positives about the event, and is "missing the whips, drugs, and deaths that run rampant in the industry."

They believe Jack's profiting off the abuse of animals, and are urging the rapper to pay for the care of American Thoroughbreds who would otherwise be sent off to slaughterhouses.

According to PETA, an average of 3 racehorses die on U.S. tracks every day ... and they claim 7,500 Thoroughbreds are exported to be slaughtered every year.

Jay-Z may be a Brooklyn native, but he was seen showin' love to the Boston Celtics after their wild comeback win over the Warriors -- dapping up Jayson Tatum after the game.

If you missed Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, the Celtics were down 12 points by the end of the 3rd quarter against Golden State ... but Tatum and the C's went off in the 4th and outscored the Warriors 40-16 -- pulling off an upset win, 120-108.

The Celtics did it all right on the Warriors' homecourt -- and hip-hop legend Jay-Z was front and center to watch the epic win at the Chase Center.

HOV had to show the Celts some love for their stunning performance ... and dapped up Tatum -- the Eastern Conference Finals MVP -- right on the court.

The cool part about the exchange? Jay-Z's track "On To The Next One," featuring Swizz Beatz, was playing on the arena's speakers.

Shawn Carter wasn't the only celeb in the crowd who witnessed Celtics' upturn ... San Francisco Giants legend Barry Bonds was also in attendance, as was legendary director Spike Lee.

Lee -- who's a diehard New York Knicks fan -- was seen on camera before the game giving love to Warriors star Draymond Green and yelling, "Let's go, baby! Let's go!"

FYI, Tatum had 12 points and 13 assists in the game ... but Al Horford was the star of the show, leading the team with 26 points.

Jennifer Lopez's car was spotted Thursday at a massive estate in Beverly Hills. There are also 4 moving trucks outside the estate -- and there were moving trucks Thursday at both Ben and Jen's current homes in the L.A. area.

We know J Lo and fiancé Ben Affleck have been on the hunt for a new home for months. We cannot confirm they bought this house, but there's sure a lot of smoke!

The estate is massive ... we're told it has everything you could want inside, including a proper movie theatre, more than enough bedrooms for the brood ... you name it, it's there.

James Packer -- formerly the fiancé of Mariah Carey -- has owned the house for years ... we're told he bought it for around $60 million. It was previously owned by Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.

Here's the mystery. The house was not listed for sale. Our very plugged in real estate sources say it hasn't even been shown off market, except maybe to Ben and Jen.

Given real estate prices in L.A., it's almost certain the house would go for more than $60 million. Ben and Jen have looked at a ton of houses ... some in a price range north of $85 million, so this seems to be within the target.

Johnny Depp is the most popular man in England ... is what you'd have to assume once you see the insane scene outside his latest rock star gig.

An absolute wall of fans pressed up against barricades in Newcastle, England Thursday night, desperately trying to get a piece of Depp after his latest appearance with guitar great Jeff Beck.

You can see security struggling to keep the crowd at bay.

Johnny's been congratulated everywhere he's been in the U.K. since Wednesday's verdict in his defamation case against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, but this scene takes the cake -- and for the first time, he stopped to engage with fans.

JD signed several autographs and took selfies before security whisked him away, but he's definitely heading to his hotel feeling like he just left an award show or movie premiere from his Hollywood heyday.

Young Thug's lengthy day in court was all for nothing, a judge denied his bond, and the rapper will stay locked up until January 2023.

The YSL rapper and his legal team argued for his freedom Thursday in a Georgia courtroom where prosecutors argued Thug was the most dangerous member of the 28 Young Stoner Life members rounded up in the highly publicized Georgia RICO case.

Not only that, but prosecutors also tried to get YT's attorney, Brian Steel, removed from the case, saying his past associations with YSL were a "conflict of interest" ... but Steel is staying on.

During the hearing, Kevin Liles, music mogul and CEO of 300 Entertainment tearfully testified on Thug's behalf, recognizing him as an influencer and charitable person but most importantly, was willing to co-sign on his bond.

Another witness, Garfield Larmond, part of Thug's management team, testified he was in the house when Thug got arrested and there were no weapons on him.

This case is being watched closely by the hip hop community ... Chris Brown, Lil Baby, Cordae, Meek Mill, and most vocally, Metro Boomin have all called for YSL's freedom within the past few days.

As far as the rest of the case ... The Fulton County District Attorney recently claimed the YSL crew could actually be a gang with ties to 50 murders in the area.

Forget a hot girl summer for R&B star Ari Lennox, 'cause she's all boo'd up.

The First Lady of J. Cole's Dreamville Records hit Instagram Thursday to reveal she's been chilling heavy with Keith Manley II of "Married at First Sight" fame.

Both appear to be in San Diego for a wedding with Ari sharing pics of the pair together and Keith giving it a more subtle touch with a pic of their hands bound in a loving grasp.

Keith appeared on the 9th season of 'MAFS,' and enthused audiences with the ups and downs of his marriage to Iris Caldwell ... but obviously, they're not a thing anymore.

In an interview with Essence last year, Ari revealed how she had trouble landing a man because they were scared of her dog: a large male Akita.

The music industry is a prehistoric artist trap that needs to end … so thinks Russ, arguably one of the most entrepreneurial-minded rappers the game has ever seen.

We caught up with the digital disruptor fresh off the heels of releasing his mini-movie "Handsomer (Remix)," which co-stars Snoop Dogg and Tiffany Haddish.

In March, Russ and his business partner Bugus launched their label DIEMON a.k.a. "Do It Everyday Music or Nothing" — an offshoot from a traditional record deal as their artists won't be held to crazy overheads and will be encouraged to have more authentic relationships with fans.

Russ called out labels for overcharging artists for services and even went as far as to say "digital marketing" — one of the most buzz-worthy terms in music — was all a sham.

According to his experiences, artists only sign to labels for the convenience of not wanting to handle their business affairs but Russ feels the DIY mantra can still be applied even without the giant corporation eating into your record and ticket sales.

Here's what's even more interesting … Russ openly admits his label deal wasn't a bad one, especially compared to some of the other contracts out there.

He owned his masters and didn't fall into the red with his finances.

But, he rather use his own money for a $300,000 video than have a label use his money for a $300,000 video — and then charge interest.

Ciara twerked on a Bronco ... but we're not talking about her husband!!

The singer and Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model held a random dance party at a gas station this week ... shaking it with all her friends as her upcoming single, "J.U.M.P." played in the background.

Russell Wilson's wifey put herself through the open sunroof and propped her leg up on top of the car ... as two dancers posted up on the doors, and one more took the front of the whip.

"It's time to pull up and make that thang J.U.M.P 😎," the "Level Up" artist said on Instagram.

While the short clip is surely an attention-grabber, some followers pointed out the steep gas prices listed behind the group ... with comedian Jasmin Brown saying, "Them gas prices chile 😵‍💫😭 I like this song tho 😍"

Another user added ... "$6.70 A GALLON 💀"

It's been a hot streak for CiCi -- she just graced the S.I. cover and the Wilson fam just made the move from Seattle to Denver.

The late great Phife Dawg famously quipped he liked his girls "brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian" ... and while Joe Budden's observation of NYC strip clubs doesn't see it that way, Waka Flocka Flame disagrees with Joe.

JB compared the personal crusade to a declaration of war ... because someone has to do it, right?

The rapper-turned-podcast host went outta his way Thursday to call out shuttered NYC strip club Cheetahs Gentlemen's Club & Restaurant for exclusively employing fair-skinned Hispanic women.

Joe says, "NY strip clubs, not only are you not hiring Black women, but you're purposely hiring the SAME exact girl." Your promoter having a type is gonna lose y'all money this Summer.. this is disgusting (not the girls, the optics)."

Waka Flocka not only disagrees, but calls Joe "soft" for the commentary. WF hails from Atlanta -- the reigning mecca of pole dancers -- so naturally, he wasn't going to sit for disrespect to the industry.

"Hot Boy" rapper Bobby Shmurda was ice-cold to a Tampa Bay Lightning supporter during the New York Rangers game on Wednesday -- trollin' the fan by waving an NYR towel right in his face!

The hilarious moment happened during Shmurda's epic night at Madison Square Garden -- when the Brooklyn rapper was in the stands cheering his face off for the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Video shows Shmurda was gettin' his dance on ... and then he turned to a TB fan sittin' right behind him, and waved a "No Quit in New York" Rangers' towel in the guy's grill.

To his credit, the fan took the trollin' in stride -- responding with nothing more than a thumbs down.

Bobby had a hell of a night during the game in between going crazy for big plays -- taking a bunch of photos with fans both inside and outside of the venue.

TMZ Sports has learned this was Bobby's first-ever hockey game ... and he attended it after getting invited by Icy Ventures -- a talent management company (founded by Josh Stone and his brother Troy Stone as well as NHL agent John Osei-Tutu) whose focus is to bring hip-hop culture to the sport.

"Bobby’s energy could not be contained," Troy told us of Shmurda's night. "Fans were shocked to see such a high-profile rap artist in the building for a Ranger game."

"Bobby was so excited he started taunting the opposing team’s fans, which lead to a viral moment which the NHL has desperately needed."

Troy added, "The experience for Bobby couldn’t have gone better as he saw the Rangers win and got to witness a real NHL fight.”

Bobby Shmurda's seeing a clear pattern in where America's mass shooters choose to wreak havoc -- and he says it's time the government realizes it too and put the proper, armed, protection in place.

We caught up with Bobby and "Million Dollaz Worth Of Game" podcast co-host Wallo267 in NYC ... and they both called out active shooters for cowardly targeting schools and hospitals.

Bobby breaks it down -- as only he can -- and sees at least one solution being better-armed security, because ... well, we're all paying high enough taxes for it.

A gunman opened fire inside a Tulsa hospital Wednesday, killing 4 people and then himself. That tragedy comes as the nation is still reeling from the Uvalde mass shooter who killed 19 children last week.

In the video, Bobby passionately explains where these mass shooters never seem to go, and adds ... it's because they know it wouldn't end well for them.

The licensing company gunning to kick Elvis impersonators out of wedding chapels is making an epic blunder ... so says a couple of look-alikes that aren't ready to leave the building.

Jesse Garon and Dean Diamond, both of whom have worked countless weddings over the years, say Elvis would roll over in his grave if he knew what Authentic Brands Group, which handles all licensing for the Elvis estate, is trying to pull off.

They say Elvis was a giving man and would've been humbled knowing his legacy lives on through their work, so this is a slap in the face to those trying to keep his spirit alive.

Their circle of impersonators has been huddling over the next steps. Dean says the city of Vegas has their back ... as does the Nevada Governor. Jesse wants to get his fellow look-alikes together and picket the new Elvis biopic to send a message.

These guys aren't strangers to the big-name wedding game ... Jesse was the one that married Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner back in 2019, while Dean's the guy who "married" Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker a couple months back.

Desiigner had a not-so-friendly exchange with cops after getting pulled over ... leading to a shouting match while things got sorted out.

The whole thing went down Wednesday in L.A. after law enforcement sources tell us the "Panda" rapper was pulled over for driving without license plates and tinted windows. We're told Desiigner got out of his car and approached the motor cop who pulled him over.

Video from the encounter is intense -- the officer has his pepper spray pulled, which sets Desiigner off -- letting the cop know he doesn't pose a threat, and there's no reason for force to be used. He also calls the officer a "racist bitch."

The verbal back-and-forth continues -- and it sounds like the officer claims he can take the vehicle -- but Desiigner isn't phased, shouting, "I got money all f**king day."

Desiigner then notices a bystander filming the interaction, asking the guy, "You know who I am right? Desiigner. Panda." Seemingly making a further point to the officers that he's a big deal and shouldn't be messed with.