Music

Bobby Shmurda popularized his own 'Shmoney' dance but it's not rap's greatest rug-cutter as far as the "Hot N***a" rapper is concerned.

While sitting down with Complex for its "Bracket" series, Bobby named the "Chickenhead," famously shown in Chingy's "Right Thurr" video as hip hop's GOAT dance move!!!

None of the other entries had much of a shot ... once Bobby pictured women gyrating and jiggling in "Chickenhead" form, he wasn't able to keep his composure and all but crowned it on the spot during the early voting.

His explanation was clear: he's a gangsta and the most entertaining stuff grabs his attention the best, which would be the "Chickenhead" in this case.

Bobby's choice is still a bit surprising ... he picked the "Chickenhead," which originated in St. Louis, over New York-born trends like "Harlem Shake" and the "Milly Rock."

In fact, Bobby says he used to win cash money on the street doing the "Harlem Shake" in dance contests. As for his 'Shmoney' dance, Bobby yielded to Pop Smoke's "Woo Walk" ... giving the late Brooklyn artist his shine for impacting the culture.

Another interesting thing Bobby clarified in the interview ... he doesn't fancy himself as a "drill artist," especially since the movement sprung up while he was incarcerated.

Bobby says he doesn't dance much these days ... he just "swerves," which fits the vibe of his latest project "Bodboy" to the tee.

Eminem's doing a bit of closet cleaning ... in an extensive and rare interview where he details his past drug use and reveals his biggest influencers currently in the rap game!!!

In a first-person spill with XXL, Eminem admitted he still takes his music seriously these days -- so much so, he has the likes of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Joyner Lucas and Big Sean in his crosshairs ... on a competitive level, of course.

Eminem is the highest-selling rapper of all time, and openly admits chasing numbers and stats doesn't entice him anymore. Instead, he says watching the quartet of younger rappers' every move has become a pastime for the 49-year-old hip hop legend.

He says he's "watching them and how the fuck they're doing their s***, because they're also focused on being the best rappers."

Em continued, "I still love to rap. It's always been the most important thing to me. I still have fun writing. I have fun watching the rappers I just mentioned, and being like, OK, let me see if I can do something that inside I think I can top that. And every time the best rappers drop an album, it changes the landscape of the fuckin' game.

"At least it does for me, and I'm like, I need to be able to rap like that. Because if I don't do that, someone's going to come behind me, probably in the next couple of years, and wash me."

Marshall also chronicled his timeline of drug use, including his near-fatal overdose, and also recalled a time 50 Cent saved his butt on live television when he was too high to even answer questions on 106 & Park!!!

The painful clip is how it looks ... Em says his "wheels started to come off" as he stumbled through the 20-minute interview.

Of course, Slim Shady has been clean for years and is currently swimming in rumors he's prepping to release new music ... in addition to helping Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre on their upcoming joint album.

Britney Spears isn't afraid to shed a few tears ... even while she's on camera -- but she insists this cry session isn't about being sad, it's more of a catharsis.

The pop star posted a clip of herself at the crib Tuesday, where she was spinning around to some earthy tunes playing in the background. Nothing really new there -- except this time, she started weeping toward the end ... kinda out of nowhere.

Now, it appears BS knew people might be alarmed by her crying, because she got ahead of it ... noting in her caption that she was not having a breakdown here, per se, but simply letting out emotions.

Brit said, "It’s been a while since I’ve cried on camera !!! It’s not a breakdown assholes, it’s a release that I’ve needed for a very long time now !!! Spiritual experience for sure !!! I think I need to do that way more 🌹🌹🌹 !!! Psss… bawling."

Unclear if Britney was moved by the music/dancing ... or if it's related to her conservatorship, or even both. What we do know is she's aware there are more eyes on her now as she continues to feud with her sons ... while also taking shots at contemporaries of hers, like Christina Aguilera -- who she kinda fat-shamed this week.

You might've heard about this one too ... Britney posted a quote from Rodney Dangerfield on IG that read, "I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people." She furthered that thought by name-dropping Christina and her backup dancers, saying if she had those same peeps in her orbit during the peak of her fame ... she'd look "extremely small."

Britney caught A LOT of backlash from that, with many taking it as body shaming ... but she defended herself in a follow-up post by insisting she wasn't trying to put anyone down, and that she'd been misunderstood. In any case, Christina unfollowed her as a result.

Nicki Minaj is making one thing VERY clear, she and her legal team won't put up with social media accounts making wild statements about her ... and now she's filed a lawsuit.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Nicki claims a woman named Marley Green -- who goes by the social media persona "Nosey Heaux" -- posted a video Monday talking about Nicki in which she allegedly said Nicki is, "shoving all this cocaine, shoving in all this cocaine up her nose. Allegedly. Thank you. Allegedly. But we all know it's true. "F***-listen, I can't even say allegedly with that 'cause I, we all know it's true. I'm not saying allegedly on that. Nicki Minaj is a cokehead."

Not only that, but Nicki claims Green has also made "vile" comments about her 1-year-old son ... calling Nicki's entire bloodline disgusting and saying Nicki needs to get her son in therapy because, "Your baby is going to be a rapist, too."

While the legal docs call Green a "nobody" and someone "whose main accomplishments in life have been a string of criminal charges, bail jumping and bad debts," they acknowledge her social media posts have still gained some traction ... and the possibility people could believe what she says.

Nicki's attorney, Judd Burstein, states the "cokehead" video on Twitter garnered more than 2,000 likes and more than 250 retweets ... spanning a significant audience.

Nicki's going after "Nosey Heaux" for defamation, claiming she's never used cocaine ... and wants a jury to decide damages of no less than $75,000.

Burstein tells us, "When this case is over, she will no longer be permitted to use the name "Nosey Heaux" because we will take her trademark from her when she does not have enough money to pay the judgment. Anyone else who spreads lies about Nicki will suffer a similar fate."

He continues, "My marching orders are to aggressively sue anyone with a media or social media following who damages her with intentional lies. Eventually, the lesson will be learned."

Trae Tha Truth's back in superhero mode -- after a stint in the villain role -- to help with Jackson, Mississippi's water crisis ... which has been a pretty disgusting situation for locals.

The Houston rapper made the trek to Mississippi over the weekend to assist with the water crisis ... helping deliver 100 water filters, groceries and enough supplies to support up to 50 families.

Trae delivered the water filters to families' doorsteps and showed them how to properly install and use the device.

He also listened to the people's concerns ... which according to some residents, date back some 30 years!!!

A video of the city's water situation went viral a couple of weeks ago ... showing a doo-doo brown substance oozing out of the faucet that barely passed for liquid.

City officials blamed everything under the sun for the contaminations -- insufficient resources, old and leaky pipes and heavy rainfall for the shutdown of one of the cities' two water-treatment plants -- but have been short to offer solutions all the same.

As of Wednesday, 150,000 Jackson residents reportedly are still without suitable drinking water.

While the road to winning back the public opinion may be a steep one, we're told Trae will be back on the road in Jackson to ensure families also get pallets of water this time around.

Trae posted his latest act of kindness on Instagram to a rather icy reception from his followers ... seeing that he's been mum on his involvement in the group beatdown of former collaborator and fellow Texas rapper Z-Ro -- after previously denying ambushing him.

The video evidence told a different story and IG commenters accused the "Asshole By Nature" of hiding behind his charity and posturing behind the camera instead of settling his beef back home.

Here's the reaction to the Robert Sarver punishment you didn't know you needed ... courtesy of City Girls rapper JT, who hilariously gave her two cents on the Phoenix Suns owner to an Arizona news outlet on Tuesday.

As we previously reported, Sarver was suspended one year and fined $10 million after an investigation into workplace misconduct accusations ... with the league finding the owner said the N-word several times, among other inappropriate actions.

KTVK 3TV in Phoenix hit the streets to ask Suns fans for their thoughts on the penalty ... and one oblivious reporter just so happened to run into one-half of the popular rap duo without knowing who she is.

"I think that he should be suspended forever," JT said in the clip. "You don't do that. Like -- one year is like, so short."

You gotta give JT props for playing the role of concerned local resident really well ... even though she's from Florida and was only in town for a concert.

As it turns out, the 29-year-old said on Twitter it was always a dream of hers to "rant" on local news ... so check that one off the bucket list!!

JT also explained her passion behind her soundbite ... saying it was in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Former G.O.O.D. Music artist Desiigner isn't denying his doppelgänger like most folks do ... he's embracing the fact he's got a brother from another in NBA star Iman Shumpert.

The "Panda" rapper spoke to VladTV about the nature of their friendship ... which dates back some years when Pusha T hilariously put them on social media -- just to confirm they weren't the same person.

Desiigner says the first time they met, he felt like he was seeing a long-lost brother.

He says he even had to Facetime his dad during the encounter -- potentially for paternity answers? 😬

Although they're not actually related, they do have more similarities than just facial features. Iman, who is married to R&B star Teyana Taylor, released his "This Car Ain't Stolen" hip hop album last month ... and loves to be just as fashionable as his "little brother."

Detectives from the LAPD are working around the clock to track down PnB Rock's killer, even alerting local pawn shops to keep an eye out for the jewelry stolen off the rapper's neck.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... investigators are confident they'll make an arrest, and have spoken with those close to PnB to determine exactly what type of jewelry he was wearing at the time of his murder.

We're told investigators contacted numerous pawn shops in the area, asking them to alert cops if anyone tries to make a buck off the stolen pieces. The theory is that the murderer would want to get rid of the jewelry quick ... otherwise, it would directly link him to the crime.

Our sources say detectives believe the suspect targeted PnB because of social media posts. The rapper shared a video of himself wearing several expensive chains, and his girlfriend, Steph Sibounheuang, shared their location just before the shooting.

What's more, we're told the entire crime was captured on surveillance ... though sources inside the restaurant tell us that footage is blurry. Cops have been canvassing the area for other cameras, and are working to identify a possible getaway vehicle.

Our law enforcement sources say the killer was wearing a mask at the time of the shooting.

Kourtney Kardashian's Fashion Week Show looks like a huge success despite the fact it was missing something very necessary when it started -- someone missed the "lights, camera, action" memo.

Kourtney's event -- for her collab with Boohoo -- began around 8:30 PM at the Highline in NYC ... she made a grand entrance with hubby Travis Barker, and everyone cheered as they strutted down the runway.

But, as you can see in the video, shortly after they hit their seats next to Jonathan Cheban ... the freakin' lights went out! The show must go on, so the models did their thing down the catwalk -- just without lights or music.

Awwwkward. Let's face it, the point of a fashion show is to show off fashions ... which gets difficult in the dark.

Sources at the show tell us Kourtney was looking around in confusion while the lights were off, but her reaction wasn't super obvious since it was so dark.

Good thing she didn't panic -- after about 30 seconds the lights popped on and the music started too. Pesky plugs!

After that ominous start, the show continued without a hitch.

Popular '90s R&B crooner Jesse Powell has died at his home in L.A., this according to his family.

His sister, Tamara, broke the sad news Tuesday night on IG, but did not reveal a cause of death.

She wrote ... "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved son, brother, and uncle Jesse Powell. Jesse loved music and he especially loved his fans who supported him throughout his career. We want you all to know that you meant the world to him." Tamara asked for privacy so her family could grieve and celebrate her brother's life.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Jesse got his first break in his early '20s after a music producer saw him perform at a local talent show. He was signed to a record label and released his first album in 1996.

Throughout the mid-to-late '90s, Jesse enjoyed some moderate success, but he really hit his stride with the release of his 1998 song, "You," which rocketed to No. 2 on the Billboard R&B charts. His second album, 'Bout It," was certified gold after it shot to No. 15 on the charts. Jesse also won high praise for his four-octave vocal range. He retired after his fourth record release in 2003.

Jesse was 51.

Tamika Mallory says there's an underlying problem that explains why PnB Rock was murdered in cold blood -- and, to her, it all has to do with economics.

We got the activist in NYC Tuesday at the Helen Mill Theatre for a screening of VH1's My True Crime Story: Aron. She gave us her take on Rock's killing ... and she's pretty passionate about her position. Essentially, she says we as a society -- but especially our government -- have to examine what circumstances led to PnB being robbed in the first place.

From her perspective, she thinks it all boils down to poverty and folks being in dire straits to make ends meet -- and by extension, desperate as well ... a longstanding issue in underserved communities, which Tamika says has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Tamika says it's dangerous for Black men to simply exist, seeing how they're so often the victims of crime ... famous or not. While PnB Rock was the latest example, TM says this issue finally has to be addressed by America as a whole -- because it's gonna keep happening if not.

Beyond just tackling people's money woes and lack of opportunities, Tamika says mental health is a key part of this conversation too. Lots of roots to this problem, no doubt ... and it's time to start ripping out the weeds to fix it once and for all -- so says Tamika.

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles finds itself in a tough spot 24 hours after PnB Rock's murder -- it's a crisis many businesses are facing amid a violent crime wave -- when and how to resume normal operations.

The South L.A. location where the rapper was killed is open for business Tuesday, and these pics from inside show some employees working, clearing empty plates from tables. We're told the restaurant was fully functioning and had been cleaned after Monday's shooting, but understandably, there aren't many customers sitting down to eat.

What's more, we're told employees who were working during the shooting were given the day off.

TMZ broke the story, PnB was eating inside the restaurant with his girlfriend, Steph Sibounheuang, when the suspect entered, targeting the rapper for his jewelry and opening fire.

Prior to the shooting, PnB's girlfriend posted a photo of the couple's meal with their location ... and earlier in the day, PnB posted a video of himself wearing the jewelry.

PnB was rushed to a local hospital, but died from his injuries. There has not yet been an arrest made in the case and cops continue to chase down leads.

PnB Rock's cold-blooded murder isn't sitting well with the hip-hop community -- just ask DJ Drama, who's especially feeling the pain, because he worked with his fellow Philly rap native as he was on the come-up.

The 'Gangsta Grillz' creator's dropping a PSA, of sorts, about the ongoing debate about PnB's girlfriend -- and mother of his 2 children -- being culpable for his robbery and murder.

As we first reported ... the "Selfish" rapper was eating inside a Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in South L.A. when Steph Sibounheuang posted a pic with their location -- but Drama says that's irrelevant at this point in time.

Police sources tell TMZ there's no evidence the shooting was prompted by a social media post, and Drama tells TMZ Hip Hop ... everyone reacting to PnB's murder shouldn't be making Steph feel any worse than she already is, and instead, should try to uplift her.

Drama points to the wavering economy, and what it means for Black people's financial opportunities -- he believes that's one of the many reasons the cycle of violence continues.

He says cities like Atlanta, New York and Chicago are just as crime-ridden as L.A. ... and rappers with something to lose should start traveling with more vigilance.

Upon their first meeting, Drama says he and PnB immediately made a musical connection through their mutual partnerships at Atlantic Records and their Philly upbringing.

They both linked with Fetty Wap for the 2016 mixtape "Money Hoes and Flows," and Drama recruited PnB once again for his 2019 single "Nasty" ... along with Moneybagg Yo.

Cardi B really believes in public education ... because she went back to her old middle school in New York for a surprise visit, and even whipped out her checkbook.

The Bronx-born MC hit up I.S. 232 Tuesday morning in NYC's Morris Heights neighborhood. Cardi did 3 years there -- 6th grade through 8th -- and we're told her visit came as a complete surprise to the students and principal.

The unannounced drop-in included Cardi having an open conversation with students about their favorite part of school, favorite teacher and some sage life advice.

Cardi also answered a couple of the students' questions ... and at the end of her visit, she presented I.S. 232 with a $100,000 donation which she wants to see go towards after-school programs, including tutoring and music/dance.

The students let out a huge cheer when Cardi announced the donation, while teachers and administrators almost started crying.

Kim Kardashian and Ray J's sex tape was a success right out of the gate, making more than a million bucks in the first 6 weeks after its release ... and according to an email sent to them, they were both making serious bank.

We've obtained an email from Vivid Entertainment honcho Steve Hirsch dated May 1, 2007, in which he informs Kim the tape made $1,424,636.63 in revenue, including the majority, $1,255,578.50, coming from DVD sales.

It's interesting ... the tape was released on March 14, 2007. Kim filed a lawsuit on February 21, 2007, against Vivid, claiming she didn't authorize the release of the tape. That case was dismissed -- presumably, it was settled -- April 27, 2007. Just 4 days later, Kim got the email from Vivid on sales numbers.

Ray J said over the weekend, Kim actually signed on from the get-go, and even produced his contract with a list of the sex tapes ... saying Kim wrote the inventory list. He also produced a letter from her and says it's the exact same handwriting.

Hirsch has openly talked about the deal in the past, calling it a "difficult deal to get done" because he says Kim truly did not want the tape out.

Ray J says their deal was that each would receive $400,000 plus 12.5% of the profits. Those figures are reflected in Hirsch's email to Kim and Ray J.

Ray also claims Kris Jenner actually looked at both sex tapes and chose the one where Kim looked the best. BTW ... we're told Kris' signature is not in the contract. Hirsch has also maintained Kris had no role in selling the tape.

As for the 2 sex tapes, Ray J says one was shot in Cabo and the other in Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara tape has never been released.

Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney are giving their marriage another shot, because they're backing off their divorce, at least for now ... to try to work things out.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Michelle and Patrick are pressing pause on their divorce for at least 6 months, during which time they will try to reconcile.

After the cooling-off period, the singer and The Black Keys drummer will then decide if they want to dismiss their divorce entirely or move forward with the split.

The docs say, during the reconciliation effort, Michelle and Patrick may resume living together as husband and wife and participate in counseling sessions to help their marriage.

It's quite the turn of events for Michelle and Patrick -- she filed for divorce last month, on the heels of her arrest for domestic assault and allegations of infidelity on Patrick's part.

Michelle and Patrick have 2 young kids together and they've been married for more than 3 years.

MB cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for divorce ... but now it looks like they think there's at least a chance they might be able to iron out those differences.