Ty Dolla $ign Sticking W/ Lakers Despite Struggles ... Leave Westbrook Alone!!!

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DON'T LET RUSS GO

Yes, the Lakers are playing like crap right now, but there's one thing they should NOT do -- trade Russell Westbrook ... so says Ty Dolla $ign, who tells TMZ Sports he believes the Purple & Gold can still turn things around with the current squad.

Brodie has been getting a ton of criticism for his sluggish start to the 2022-23 campaign ... with many calling for the Lake Show to end the Russ experiment pronto.

Ty isn't in that group ... 'cause when he was leaving Dash Radio earlier this week, he told us he thinks people are going too hard on the former MVP.

"Don't do that," the crooner told us. "Some of us have ups and downs somedays. But there's definitely going to be the ups again. Shoutout to my brother, Russ, man."

Ty defends Russell's recent blunders ... saying, "Certain times we have f***ing bad shots."

When it comes to fixing the team, Ty is pretty clueless (like many) ... but believes if LeBron James and Co. work harder, the King can lead them in the right direction.

Luke Bryan Trots Out Gov. DeSantis in Florida Twitter Users Up in Arms

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UPDATE

12:17 PM PT -- 10/30 -- Luke Bryan has responded to the backlash he's getting over the DeSantis appearance, and he basically says the cause is greater than any given person -- polarizing as they may be.

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UPDATE

Bryan is definitely defending himself here, noting he doesn't delve into politics for a reason ... and that the DeSantis thing isn't inherently political in and of itself. As LB puts it, he did this for hurricane relief and felt compelled to answer the call when he was asked to help.

Luke Bryan brought out Governor Ron DeSantis as a special guest during one of his concerts this week ... and it doesn't look like the internet is very happy about it.

The country singer was performing Friday in Jacksonville, FL, and at one point in the show ... he brought out RDS to join him onstage, this after announcing they were gonna be raising money that night for relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

The Gov. comes out to some pretty strong applause and begins throwing hats into the crowd ... and, eventually, Luke embraces him when they finally come face to face.

One Twitter user -- who seems to have shot this video -- wrote ... "DeSantis  just walked out on stage at Luke Bryan. It’s deafening in here." Her clip has now gone viral with retweets and quote tweets, with A LOT of people expressing their disapproval over DeSantis' cameo.

The reactions speak for themselves ... folks are saying that LB is "off the playlist" now because of his perceived politics -- when, in reality, all he did was say he wanted to contribute to fundraising efforts in the state to help people still struggling to recover.

The fact he yukked it up with DeSantis, though, seems to be shocking some Twitter users. Luke's considered a pretty likeable, mainstream celeb (he's a current judge on 'American Idol') -- and the notion of him welcoming DeSantis with open arms is apparently ... jarring.

Luke, for his part, hasn't said he supports DeSantis' policies one way or another ... again, all he did was say he was going to fundraise on behalf of Florida. A line crossed, we suppose?

Originally Published -- 10/29 4:25 PM PT

Dead Kennedys Drummer D.H. Peligro Dead at 63 ... Hit Head in Bathroom

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D.H. Peligro -- a longtime drummer for the Dead Kennedys -- has died after hitting his head in what seems to be an accidental fall ... but the jury's still out on what exactly killed him.

The punk rock band announced D.H.'s death Saturday in an official Instagram post, writing ... "Dead Kennedys' drummer D.H. Peligro (Darren Henley) passed away in his Los Angeles home yesterday, October 28th. Police on the scene stated that he died from trauma to the head caused by an accidental fall."

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They add, "Arrangements are pending and will be announced in the coming days.  We ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time. Thank you for your thoughts and words of comfort."

While they seem to be definitively saying the fall is what took his life -- at least according to a police response they're citing -- our own law enforcement sources tell TMZ it's a bit more mysterious than just that ... although we've confirmed he did, in fact, fall and hit his head.

Our sources tell us paramedics responded to D.H.'s San Fernando Valley home Friday a little after 7 PM, where he was found in his bathroom in his back house ... this after being discovered by his landlord. We're told D.H. was pronounced dead on the scene.

For now, our law enforcement sources say his death appears to be from natural causes with no foul suspected -- of course, an autopsy is pending for his official cause of death. One point of clarification though ... we're told the fall/hit to the head seems to be incidental to whatever may have made him collapse in the first place ... which is still being investigated.

At any rate ... the music community is mourning. D.H. joined the Dead Kennedys in '81 -- replacing their original drummer, Bruce Slesinger -- and sticking around through their formative years ... contributing to iconic records of theirs, including "In God We Trust," "Plastic Surgery Disasters," "Frankenchrist," and "Bedtime for Democracy." The band broke up in 1986.

Peligro played in other bands too, including with the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a brief time.

He was 63.

RIP.

Lizzo Chrisean Rock Halloween Costume ... Sparks Backlash

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Lizzo dressed up as Blueface's girlfriend, Chrisean Rock, for Halloween this year -- but the getup is catching some backlash ... because some perceive CR as someone not to mock.

Lizzo trotted out a costume Friday that was, no doubt, meant to recreate Chrisean's look -- missing tooth and all -- and while it was in good fun ... there's been a lot of reactions online that aren't in favor of it and are actually condemning turning Chrisean into a Halloween gag.

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The reason ... many feel like Chrisean isn't in the healthiest relationship as it pertains to Blueface. There've been much harsher terms used to describe their sitch.

Fact is, Chrisean and Blueface are in constant ups and downs -- either fighting or loving up on each other ... sometimes in explosive fashion. It's made for some great entertainment on the internet, but there's also been much concern for Chrisean these past several months.

The latest twist in their rocky relationship ... it's all being documented for a new show, "Crazy in Love," which has sparked controversy in and of itself. Some see it as exploitative.

With that in mind ... there's a good portion of bird app users who are taking offense to Lizzo's cosplay, as they feel she's making fun of someone who they see as needing help.

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FWIW, Chrisean herself appears to dig it ... she's retweeted/commented on Lizzo's videos. Of course, there's also the usual fatphobic crowd clowning Lizzo over this ... but their hate is pretty much white noise at this point. Not even Lizzo is letting it get to her anymore.

We should also mention -- there's a lot of people who are loving Lizzo's Chrisean costume, and find it hilarious. Depends on which side of the coin you land on, we suppose. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Kanye West Donda BBall Players Left in Limbo Limited Playing Time

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Kanye West closing his Donda Academy has left the program's student-athletes in limbo ... wasting a season's worth of developing their talents.

Sources connected to the Donda boy's basketball team tell us the season has essentially been put on ice, with little to no games scheduled. We're told the kids have been dropped from several tournaments because of Kanye's antisemitic rants, and have limited practice.

Our sources say if the kids do want to practice, they have to organize on their own ... Donda isn't there for an assist, though some coaches are working to make it happen.

What's more, we're told it's becoming more and more difficult for students at Donda to transfer to another school's basketball program ... mainly because Donda's season hasn't yet been OFFICIALLY canceled. It's especially bad for the kids who have real talent and prospects to play college ball.

Our sources say one potential savior is NBA star Jaylen Brown, who recently announced he was leaving Donda Sports. We're told Jaylen is trying to save the Donda Academy team, working to help find tournaments for the players.

One game he's helped to schedule for the team already will happen next Sunday against Morehouse College.

TMZ broke the story ... one of the main reasons Donda closed was because faculty members and staff were quitting after Kanye's remarks.

Ty Dolla $ign There's No Need to Ban Ye's Music!!! And Yes, Hip Hop/R&B Belong Together

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Kanye West's downward spiral isn't impacting his music on streaming platforms -- not yet, anyway, and Ty Dolla $ign's supremely confident their "Ego Death" will be just fine.

We bumped into Ty$ at Dash Radio in Hollywood, where he was all about showing off his freshly manicured nails -- but we got him to weigh in on the future of Ye's music and the Billboard charts.

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Spotify CEO Daniel Ek recently condemned Kanye's antisemitic tirades, but said his music would remain on the platform ... and Ty$ agrees that's the right move.

As for the growing contention about hip hop and R&B being lumped together on Billboard ... he's cool with that too!!!

Ty$ says he's happy to see his music on any chart that'll have him. His sentiments are reminiscent of Brian McKnight's take ... which is that music shouldn't be confined to any genre.

Brian doesn't think any modernized version of singing qualifies as classic R&B, but Ty$ point is even simpler -- call it whatever you want, "Just make good music!!!"

That deserves an "Amen."

Why Don't We Daniel Seavey Fan Agrees To Restraining Order ... Must Stay Clear of Him for 2 Years

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Why Don't We band member Daniel Seavey is pretty much on the same page with his obsessed fan ... whom cops said broke into his home months ago ... because she's agreed to a 2-year extension of his TRO stopping her from coming near the singer.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the trespasser -- Eissa Amira -- gave her signoff Friday for the extension. The order's now set to expire in October 2024.

As we reported, Daniel's order requires her to remain 100 yards from him and his home ... this coming after the 23-year-old snuck into his house through an open window last July and stayed the night ... sleeping in his bed and wearing his clothes.

She repeatedly showed up at his gym before the incident, according to Daniel's legal docs ... and it seems Daniel thought it was a big enough problem to seek help from the courts.

Daniel got a TRO back in August, and the L.A. City Attorney ended up charging her with 2 counts of trespassing last month.

Madonna Strikes A Nude Pose!!!

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Madonna is certainly feeling herself this Friday, posting some topless selfies for her fans to enjoy heading into the weekend.

Madonna took to her IG account to share the sexy snaps … carefully placing some emojis over her nipples.

Of course, she’s gotta be careful to censor herself on the platform, hoping not to piss off Mark Zuckerberg, it seems.

We're sharing a censored version of Madonna's posts, but the real deal is over on her page.

It appears Madonna is sending a message with her use of nipple-covering emojis ... one breast has a candy emoji and the other has a money bag emoji ... and she posted another topless selfie with the phrase "went from candy to money" superimposed over her nipples.

Remember ... Madonna recently revealed her current obsession is sex, and it seems she's still got it on her mind.

BTW … she also just celebrated the 30th anniversary of her “Sex” book, so clearly, it's on her mind.

Joyner Lucas Handpicked by Wahlberg For 1st Film Feature Role!!!

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Joyner Lucas creates some of the most cinematic visuals in hip hop music and he's taking his talents to the big screen for his first feature film ... alongside none other than Mark Wahlberg.

Sources close to production tell TMZ Hip Hop ... Mark personally handpicked Joyner for the cast of the film, which we've learned will be shooting for the next 6 months and is expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024.

We're told Mark and Joyner sparked a fast friendship after the actor appeared in Joyner's "Zim Zimma" video back in 2021. They both hail from New England and have an affinity for good vibrational rap, so the pairing makes sense.

Mark praised Joyner's acting chops on Friday, suggesting his "skills" will help make the film a success.

Joyner's got the respect of Eminem on the mic, and Mark on the set. Looks good on a resume!!!

Antonio Brown Rips Rapper Sada Baby Over TB12 Criticism

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Antonio Brown has a new rap beef after finding out Detroit rapper Sada Baby's been taking shots at him for his "Put That S**t On" antics.

Sada dissed AB earlier this week, essentially calling everything he stands for "lame" ... which understandably angered the former NFL star.

On Friday, an amused Sada reposted a DM AB sent, commanding him to "turn your bitch ass soda. water."

It doesn't read all that fluidly, but is likely a diss on the "Aktivated" rapper's love for lean.

Sada didn't back down, and, instead, doubled down on his stance ... slamming AB for taunting Tom Brady over his divorce from Gisele Bündchen, which was made official today.

Like many sports fans, Sada feels AB selling shirts mocking TB12 is a low move and also took issue with his infamous mid-game retirement last season ... with a "b*tch ass" remark of his own.

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AB says he's selling the merch for charity ... but he better not hold his breath for a donation from Sada or Tom Brady!

Chaka Khan Trash 'Auto-Tune' Singers Need Jobs!!! Try USPS, They're Hiring

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Chaka Khan thinks singers who rely on Auto-Tune need to try a different J-O-B, and she's even got a suggestion for 'em ... delivering packages to her doorstep!!!

The R&B icon laid an opinionated smackdown on a portion of this generation's studio-boosted singers when she said, "There’s some very fine young artists out there doing great, great work that I am impressed with. But, the others, they just need to get them a job at the Post Office - they are always hiring!"

Chaka didn't name any names when she spoke to Page Six, but feels saddened by many of today's female R&B artists ... saying they lack confidence and ooze insecurity.

The OG "I'm Every Woman" singer's issues with modern music go beyond Auto-Tune -- for years, she's ripped Kanye West for altering her voice in a high pitch to create the foundation for his breakout 2003 single "Through The Wire."

Apparently, Chaka and Usher are on the same page.

Remember, T-Pain made the bombshell revelation that Usher told him his vocal enhancements essentially "ruined" music as we know it ... spurring years of depression for the Florida rapper.

At any rate, don't expect Chaka to tell you something good if you really can't sing!!!

Jerry Lee Lewis Dead at 87

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Rock 'n' roll icon, Jerry Lee Lewis has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The "Great Balls of Fire" singer's team released a statement Friday, saying, "Lewis, perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, whose marriage of blues, gospel, country, honky-tonk and raw, pounding stage performances so threatened a young Elvis Presley that it made him cry, has died."

A piano-playing legend, Jerry Lee is considered one of the first true rock 'n' roll musicians ... rising to fame way back in 1957 with his first hit, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."

Ever the showman, Jerry Lee was known to light his piano on fire to close out a show ... and he was nicknamed "The Killer" for the way he knocked out audiences.

Jerry Lee was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, and when he was 9 years old he taught himself to play piano. His father mortgaged the family farm to buy Jerry Lee his first piano when he was 10, and when he was 14 he had his first public performance at a local car dealership.

JL quit school to focus on piano and he wound up in Memphis, where he signed with Sun Studios in 1956 ... jamming out with Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash before releasing his first single and becoming a star himself.

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THE LAST TIME WE SAW HIM ...

Jerry Lee's second single was "Great Balls of Fire" ... it was released in December 1957 and is a staple of pop culture, being featured in movies like "Top Gun" and the recent sequel.

Dennis Quaid played Jerry in the "Great Balls of Fire!" movie about his life.

The first person inducted into the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, Jerry Lee played big gigs well into his '80s ... and in 2013 he opened Jerry Lee Lewis' Café & Honky Tonk on historic Beale Street in Memphis.

He was just inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year, but was unable to attend the ceremony because he was ill with the flu. Kris Kristofferson accepted the award for Jerry, and drove it to him to present it in person.

Jerry Lee was 87.

RIP

Kanye West Resellers Aren't Cutting Ties with Yeezy ... Massive Payday Coming

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There's an entire market of people patiently waiting to sell their Yeezy shoes for what they hope will be a big chunk of cash ... and it's exactly why resale websites are among the only entities yet to cut ties with Kanye West.

We've spoken with several people at some of the resale industry's biggest sites who all tell us the same thing -- Yeezys are about to go way up in value. We're told this will happen as supply for the shoes continue to dwindle now that Adidas has cut the cord.

Our sources say resale sites and the sellers obviously have a big motivating factor -- profit -- and that's what Yeezys bring to the market.

Of course, it's assumed in doing so, Kanye will choose a new design type -- different from what he created with Adidas. As a result, the Adidas designs will skyrocket in value --  so resellers and resale sites will rake in the dough.

TMZ broke the story, Kanye showed up unannounced and uninvited to Skechers headquarters Wednesday -- but was quickly asked to leave.

Chlöe Bailey Gunna's Fake Promises Grew Old ... Unloads Emotions On New Song

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Chlöe Bailey is spilling the deets on her short-lived romance with Gunna ... hinting she was just another cog in his wheel of women during their time together.

The R&B star previously revealed her new song "For The Night" was specifically written about the incarcerated YSL rapper and delivered the final product on Friday.

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Chlöe begins the song questioning why their bond wasn't stronger singing "I play those same games a thousand times over/And you crave those long nights with me."

She also claims Gunna would make his exit before they could spend quality time together ... in the bed. In the self-directed visual, Chlöe shuts things down throwing the apology flowers in the garbage.

"You and your mouth, cashing checks that you know gonna bounce, You say you promise and promise, you'll figure it out, But I can not wait, you're teasing me, I back down," Chlöe croons later on the record.

Latto is also featured on the London On Da Track-produced song ... but didn't claim her savage lyrics of betrayal to be based on real-life experiences like in Chlöe's case.

Gunna and Chlöe were spotted in public several times on shopping trips and NBA games ... but Gunna later admitted on The Breakfast Club that he was far away from settling down.

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Breakups are hard ... especially when they're made into diss songs.

Rihanna I'm Back, Baby!!! Releases New Song for 'Black Panther' Movie

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Rihanna is officially back in the music scene ... releasing 'Lift Me Up' for the latest 'Black Panther' movie -- her first solo drop in about 6 years.

While it's not a dance track like many fans had expected, RiRi harmonizes over a slow beat ... before singing "Lift me up, hold me down, keep me close, safe and sound” in the chorus.

As we've told you, the tune will be featured in the upcoming Marvel sequel "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". What's more, it was written as a tribute to late 'Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman, who died back in 2020.

Rihanna, Afrobeats star Tems, Oscar-Grammy Award-winning producer Ludwig Göransson, and 'BP' director Ryan Coogler all came together to write the song.

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The last time RiRi released music on her own was the "Anti" album, which came out back in 2016.

The singer has had a lot on her plate during her time away from music, like her fashion line, Savage X Fenty, which launched in 2018 and her beauty line Fenty Beauty which debuted the year before.

Of course, she recently entered the mommy club, after welcoming a baby boy with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky.

Lucky for her fanbase we'll be seeing a lot more of the icon soon ... and now the time is wicking until she performs during the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in February.

Kanye West Sued By Former Business Manager Ye Says Contract was 'Bulls***'

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Kanye West and his company, Yeezy, are getting hauled into court by his former business manager, who claims the rapper flagrantly violated their deal ... a deal Kanye says he was never going to honor.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Thomas St. John claims he was hired as Ye's senior financial advisor and Chief Financial Officer for a guaranteed term of 18 months ... and was to be paid a monthly, $300,000 retainer fee.

St. John says after getting the first three payments, Ye got "heated and aggressive" during a meeting at Nobu ... proclaiming he didn't want to work with St. John anymore.

St. John says he brought up the 18-month term, and Kanye responded, “The 18-month term was bulls***” and “You’re insane for even thinking I would stick to it.”

St. John is seeking $4.5M in damages -- $900K for the months missed so far, and another $3.6M for the remainder of the contract. He's gunning for punitive damages as well.

As you know, Kanye's been losing business deals left and right after his anti-Semitic rants, with Adidas being one of his biggest losses. He posted on Instagram late Wednesday night, saying he lost $2B in one day as a result.