Music

"Old Streets" rapper 2KBABY isn't letting his face tat critics stop his grind ... if anything they're motivating him ahead of the release of his "Scared 2 Luv" album.

We caught up with 2KBABY this week ... fresh out the tattoo parlor, of course, where he added even more ink to his face -- including a pair of hearts and the album title on opposite sides of his face.

Despite the hearts, 2K didn't get much love from the fans, just a lot of noise from the haters ... and he tells TMZ Hip Hop the reactions tested his patience a bit.

Call it a colorful act of defiance, but 2K says he'll keep pushing the limits of his body art -- he does NOT care about pain, and actually had some words for rappers who use numbing creams while getting tatted.

As for fan reactions -- he says he'll be watching to see how many of his 600K followers are down for the long haul. Everyone else is invited to dine on his genitalia ... although, he used slightly more colorful words.

Less aggressively, the Louisville-born rapper told us 'S2L' will be a collection of cinematic songs ... reflecting his life experiences and delivered in audio format.

Tommy Lee is going where many others have gone before him to show a little skin -- namely, OnlyFans ... where TL suggests he'll post penis pics and then some.

The Mötley Crüe drummer was performing in Vegas Friday night -- the final stop on the band's tour -- and at one point, he made a little speech to the crowd ... saying he was kinda bummed his explicit photo was taken down by Instagram, so he found a solution.

The answer, it seems, is to head to OF -- where Tommy says you can post what you want without any fear. He then showed off the goods ... not his front side, but the back.

Indeed ... the words "Only" and "Fans" were plastered across his ass for the whole world to see.

Tommy took to IG soon afterward to confirm he had in fact started an account, posting a similar shot of his butt and adding this caption as well ... "You heard it here tonight www.onlyfans.com/TommyLee 😜 cum join me over there for fun that Instagram won’t let us have here!" He also added some pics of his wife, Brittany Furlan --  maybe as a tease?

Many will recall ... Tommy threw up a nude about a month ago out of nowhere, which took the internet by storm. He later said he did it in drunkenness -- but now, it sounds like he wants to throw up more. He'd be far from the first celeb to jump over to the sultry site.

Halle Bailey finally showed the world what she looks like as Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" reboot, but per usual -- Twitter's found a way to ruin it ... by tearing down Jodi Benson.

Here's the deal ... Disney dropped the new 'Little Mermaid' trailer Friday, and while most everyone was in awe of the first look at Halle under the sea -- some couldn't help but draw comparisons to the original voice actor who played Ariel back '89 ... that'd be JB.

Some were grabbing clips from the animated film, including iconic singing parts, and putting them up side by side with Halle's -- going on to mock Jodi's performance, by saying she sounds "a little flat."

There was more mocking ... including folks posting shots of Halle's Ariel next to the animated Ariel and noting that HB has a ton of Grammys noms, while cartoon Ariel (aka, Jodi) had zero. FWIW, 'The Little Mermaid' did in fact win a handful of Grammys at the time.

Bottom line though ... they're besmirching the iconic work Jodi did all those years ago.

There was also someone who was trying to create drama between these two ... which appears to be completely manufactured. They posted a screenshot of what looks to be a post on Jodi's IG story, showing a photo of animated Ariel with the caption, "Love my Ariel."

The Twitter user who grabbed this is trying to make it seem like Jodi posted this in response to the trailer coming out -- and as a shot at Halle, but that's not the case ... it's an old post.

Fact is, Jodi has been nothing but supportive over Halle's casting -- something a good handful on the bird app noted as they tried to shut down this anti-Jodi narrative building among rabid Halle stans. The question ... why can't we celebrate each woman's take???

There's been some racist uproar over the fact Halle, who's Black, was cast at all in this role -- and now, this response seems to be extreme opposite reaction -- at the expense of Jodi.

Swedish House Mafia had their fans dancing in the pouring rain, despite their team begging them to cut things short in order to save millions of dollars worth of equipment.

The DJ trio sold out Banc of California Stadium Friday in LA while the rain poured down for almost the entire show. Sources close to the group tell us their team begged the guys to end things early on several occasions in order to preserve equipment, but they insisted to keep playing for their fans.

We’re told as a result, millions worth of audio and stage design equipment will need to be repaired or entirely replaced.

SHM has been rocking shows across the US over the last few weeks, and LA was the biggest outdoor show they’ve done on tour … they even added more effects for the venue.

Of course, the group headlined closing night of Coachella earlier this year, after dropping their album “Paradise Again.”

A$AP Rocky won't pass on the opportunity to dap someone up -- even if that means he's gotta do it right above the mother of his child, Rihanna, from down below.

That's exactly what happened early Saturday morning in NYC, where the couple (and new parents) were hanging out at a joint called the Canary Club in downtown Manhattan -- where we're told they hung out for about an hour and enjoyed themselves with friends.

Speaking of pals, AR seems to have ran into an old one on the spot -- we got video of him greeting a good buddy of his, whom he appeared genuinely surprised and happy to see.

The next part is a little awkward, just 'cause he goes for a handshake/hug -- but does it right over RiRi ... and the other guy damn near almost takes a tumble onto her, seated directly underneath them both. The scene is funny to watch, because at one point ... Rihanna actually grabs A$AP's waist, as if to tell him -- "YO, WHAT THE HECK?!"

Rocky eventually pulls away and introduces the friend ... and that was that. He and Rihanna left together as if nothing had happened, so it was all gravy in the end.

New York was hoppin' Friday night in the Midtown area of the Big Apple, because tons of celebs hit up the town for a swanky party.

The Harper's BAZAAR 2022 Icons Party was packed with stars who put on their Friday night best, including Jack Harlow, Drew Barrymore, Alicia Silverstone, Heidi Klum & Tommy Hilfiger.

The backdrop for the shindig was, appropriately, the iconic Bloomingdales building.

The party kicks off Fashion Week. Is it just us or does it seem like there's a Fashion Week every month?

Jack was super snazzy in his black suit. Heidi and Alicia followed suit, but Drew went more colorful. Tommy was his sophisticated self.

And then there's Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui and Ashley Graham ... they got snapped during a chit-chat and ... wow!

There was entertainment courtesy of Jack, who performed a 20-minute set that included "Already Best Friends," "Industry Baby," and "I Wanna See Some Ass."

Lots of other celebs showed as well, including Jared Leto, Winnie Harlow, Julia Fox, Cassie, Emily Ratajkowski and Dixie D'Amelio.

Parties coast-to-coast Friday night, with Drake hosting the Nike Maxim Awards in Beaverton, Oregon ... AKA Niketown.

Here's what stands out ... Drake did stand-up, and he was pretty funny. Among the yuks ... "Nike is 50. Nike's so old, it's wearing New Balance!" Respectable, for sure.

Drake took aim at Kanye, Tyga, Adidas and Reebok. He tipped his hat to the Nike stable of stars, including LeBron, Serena, Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Virgil Abloh and Cristiano Ronaldo.

At the event, stars like Travis Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ronaldinho, Sheryl Swoopes, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony were there for all of Drizzy's jokes.

21 Savage wants all evidence collected during his 2019 stop suppressed ... because the superstar rapper says officers had no right to stop him in the first place.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, 21 Savage's team filed a motion to prevent prosecutors from using any of the evidence collected after he was stopped -- claiming he was doing nothing wrong back in February 2019, when law enforcement pulled him over, making it an unlawful stop.

You might recall -- it's been a minute -- officers claim 21 threw codeine out of the car along with his keys when they pulled him over.

As for the firearm cops found in the car ... 21 says "there was no illegality for the weapon to be in the car." Regardless, the rap star was charged with drug and gun possession, and is facing deportation back to the UK ... his birthplace.

The case has been going on for years, which has made it a little difficult to maneuver as a rapper.

YG is fully focused on his upcoming sixth studio album "I Got Issues" and the West Coast rhymer fulfilled a dream by getting Nas on one of his tracks.

The proud Bompton rapper recently held an L.A. listening session for the sturdy new project, and tells TMZ Hip Hop he was floored when he heard Nas on the completed record ... especially since he had been trying to work with him since 2016.

Although YG and Nas didn't record together in the studio, YG made sure to let his creativity bleed on the track ... rapping in the third person adjacent to Nas' perspective.

He goes deep into several topics on the album ... such as friction with his child's mother and losing friends to gun violence, and didn't shy away from the fact not everything he says is pretty!!!

Basically, the studio is a therapist's couch for YG these days!!!

Elsewhere on the album, YG (half) playfully details how to successfully rob this crop of new, flashy rappers in hip hop today ... and when asked, didn't seem too concerned with any potential clap backs when the song drops. 🤷🏽‍♂️

"I Got Issues" lands September 30, and to rev up excitement, YG unleashed the "Alone" on Friday ... the LP's fourth single/video.

Congratulations are in order for Gucci Mane and his wife Keyshia Ka'Oir -- the "So Icy" couple announced Friday that their 2nd kid together is on the way.

Keyshia made the big announcement by posting a video of her surprising Gucci in bed with the positive pregnancy test -- and she also showed them at a doctor's visit getting a sonogram.

Gucci and Keyshia already share a son, Ice Davis, who was born in December 2020 ... and they've been vocal about wanting to add to their high-class household.

Earlier this year, LaFlare serenaded his wife on the aptly titled song "Mrs. Davis" ... where he rapped, "Let's have another baby/Ice needs somebody to play with."

With 243K Instagram followers, young Ice is one of the drippiest toddlers in the game and should have plenty of pointers for his younger sibling when he or she arrives.

Gucci and Keyshia were married in a lavish, straight-to-TV wedding in 2017 and are about a month shy of their 4-year anniversary.

The jokes about Drake's jump shot might no longer be allowable -- the rapper just showed off his 3-point stroke repeatedly in a skills contest against Carmelo Anthony ... and it's seriously improving!!!

The "Honestly Nevermind" rapper visited Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon this week ... and participated in a 3-point competition. And, according to footage obtained XXL Magazine, he drained (most of) his shots!

In the short clip, Drake nailed his first basket. The camera then panned away for a bunch of his other attempts, but it did ultimately come back around to catch a few more of his makes.

The makes weren't enough to beat Melo, though ... with the All-Star heating up and crushing him as Jayson Tatum and Russell Westbrook watched nearby.

Of course, Drake didn't always use to look like this on the court ... in fact, he famously used to be the owner of a busted jump shot.

You'll recall, while warming up with the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team back in 2014, he actually air-balled one of his jumpers.

But the diehard Toronto Raptors fan has clearly worked on his game since then ... and the hard work seems to be paying off.

YSL rapper Lil Keed is NOT resting in peace after his death in May ... thanks to vandals, but his brother Lil Gotit is threatening to do something about it.

Gotit vented his frustration and anger on social media, where he made a stern PSA, warning the low-down individuals who keep tampering with his brother's tomb to stop ... or else.

The Atlanta rapper said, "Whoever going to keed grave tryna unscrew him out the wall and stuff when I catch u it ain't gone be nan nice so I hope u see this message !!!!"

Keed passed away on May 13 … mere days after Young Thug, Gunna and several others were rounded up on RICO charges in Georgia. No cause of death has been revealed.

Unfortunately, this sorta creepy behavior lingers in hip-hop culture these days.

In September 2021, Pop Smoke's crypt in Brooklyn was severely damaged and vandalized … as if the robbers were trying to remove his remains from the mausoleum.

Like Gotit, Pop's mother lashed out at the vandals during the unnerving time ... as they should.

Kanye West is having an apparent change of heart in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death, apparently deciding to stop his aggressions toward his most recent enemies.

Ye made the announcement late Thursday, hours after the announcement of the British monarch's death ... extending an olive branch to Kid Cudi, Adidas Senior Vice President/General Manager Daniel Cherry and Kim Kardashian's ex Pete Davidson.

In a since-deleted IG post, Ye put the Queen in a pair of photoshopped Yeezy shades and wrote, “LIFE IS PRECIOUS … RELEASING ALL GRUDGES TODAY … LEANING INTO THE LIGHT … BEST WISHES AND BLESSINGS TO PETE CUDI DANIEL [CHERRY].”

Ye has repeatedly blasted DC for his alleged role in watering down Yeezy designs (and his lack of fashion sense) and Kid Cudi for refusing to drop his friendship with Pete while he was dating Kim.

Some of Britain's biggest rock stars tipped their hats to the late Queen Elizabeth -- including a few fellas who've had her sword tapped on their shoulders.

First off, Harry Styles took a moment to acknowledge QE2's passing Thursday night during his concert at Madison Square Garden -- asking the crowd to give her a round of applause for 70 years of service.

The MSG crowd gave it up big time for the Queen ... and Harry then promised a mood shift to nothing but fun for the rest of the evening.

He wasn't the only Brit who shouted out Her Majesty Thursday during a live performance -- Sir Elton John also paid his respects during his gig in Toronto ... speaking a bit more at length and from the heart.

EJ said he knew the Queen personally and had spent some time with her -- including during his knighting in 1998 -- and noted she'd led the country through some turbulent times in the 20th century, always with aplomb. Elton sent his thoughts and prayers to her whole family.

He also said he was happy she was finally at rest. Elton also released a statement with even more condolences.

More tributes poured in from other music greats, who'd also been knighted ... including Sirs Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney.

MJ wrote, "For my whole life Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has always been there. In my childhood I can recall watching her wedding highlights on TV. I remember her as a beautiful young lady, to the much beloved grandmother of the nation. My deepest sympathies are with the Royal family."

For his part, Paul took to Twitter to say succinctly... "God bless Queen Elizabeth II. May she rest in peace. Long live The King." Both he and Mick attached photos of QE2 in her youth.

Pusha T's 2013 Kanye West-produced track "Numbers on the Board" is a war anthem, of sorts, for the government of Ukraine ... and Pusha is here for it.

The war-torn country's Ministry of Defense fired off a tweet Wednesday listing various Russian casualties, and it used the lyric -- "I put numbers on the board" -- as the setup for the boastful post.

Pusha caught wind of this and posted a retweet, saying ... "Great taste in music for the win."

While someone on Ukraine's social media team is clearly a big Pusha fan ... we're guessing all this Twitter activity won't do much for the VA rapper's standing in Russia. He's in pretty good company, though.

Actors Ben Stiller, Sean Penn and several American senators were issued lifetime bans this week from entering Russia, because the Foreign Ministry says they've made "Russophobic" attacks.

Pusha's no stranger to international bans, though -- he claims Canada doesn't want him either due to his beef with Drake.

Earlier this year on "Drink Champs," he said he was performing in Toronto back in 2018 -- the height of the Drizzy fued -- and after a particularly rowdy show Canada showed him the door ... permanently, he claims.

Interestingly enough, Drake's OVO homie Baka Not Nice dropped a new song titled "Body & A Face" on Wednesday ... which appears to take shots at Pusha while also referencing the "Drink Champs" comments.

"When you go on tour, you gon' have to leave the states/And then it's face to face/Noreaga interviews will get you n****s laced/I don't wanna hear you try to tell me 'bout mistakes/Almost lit your show up but we couldn't find the place/But Drizzy put me in my place/Told me just to wait (What?) ... YOLO Estates" ... Baka raps on the track.

Harry Styles is leaning into the whole "I hawked a loogie on Chris Pine" story by leaning in on it ... which is exactly what he did Wednesday night in concert.

Harry performed to a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, where he told his fans he had just popped over to Venice to spit on his fellow costar of "Don't Worry Darling." No doubt he was trying to telegraph the story was BS, and the fans ate it up.

As you know, a video's been circulating that shows Harry taking his seat next to Chris Pine at the Venice Film Festival and as he sits it looks like he spits on Chris's lap, and Chris reacts in a way that aligns with what lots of folks think.

Chris's rep called the story ridiculous, saying it never happened. However, a source very close to Chris tells TMZ the actor had said privately that it did indeed happen.