Music

Jake Paul and Ben Askren finally came face-to-face ahead of their April 17 boxing match … and the level of trash talk was through the roof!!

Ben said he could literally “do a homicide” to Jake if he felt like it.

Jake called Ben a "p***y ass bitch."

Then, Jake FaceTimed Jorge Masvidal — who famously KO’d Ben in 5 seconds — to join in on the fun!!

Yeah, it was bananas!!

Of course, the two guys have been going back and forth on social media for months ... and their first face-to-face definitely lived up to the hype.

The smack talk even got physical after both fighters squared up against each other for their face-off ... with Ben shoving Jake's face.

Jake tried to go after Ben in retaliation ... but the folks working the event quickly brought the mayhem to a halt.

Paul and Askren meet in the ring for the Triller Fight Club on April 17 ... an event packed with fights and musical guests like Justin Bieber and Doja Cat.

It's gonna be a party!!

Jim Jones is feeling really good about his home state legalizing marijuana, and not just for the buzz -- he's encouraging business-minded folks to ride this weed wave into the future.

The Bronx rapper tells TMZ ... making recreational cannabis legal is long overdue in the Empire State, and he's happy people won't have to worry about ducking cops ... just for smoking weed.

Jim seems even more excited about the economic aspect of the legalization, which is expected to be voted into law next week. Experts believe marijuana has the potential to become a $4.2 BILLION industry and create tens of thousands of new jobs in the state.

In fact, Jim likens this era to the gold rush, the dot-com boom or cryptocurrency -- but now it's cannabis that could make fortunes for industrious private citizens.

More importantly, JJ says the trend of legalizing pot is a clear sign those who've been incarcerated for marijuana-related crimes should be freed. Hell, Jim's all for hooking them up with marijuana-industry jobs when they're released!

Demi Lovato had a gut-wrenching, emotionally-charged reaction as she filmed her music video for "Dancing with the Devil," and TMZ has obtained the dramatic video.

Demi co-directed the music video with Michael D. Ratner, which they shot in the last week. The scene is a hospital setting, with Demi in a bed hooked up to all sorts of monitors -- mimicking the fight of her life after almost dying from an OD.

Production sources tell TMZ, Demi surprised everyone by saying she wanted to go off script and freestyle. Once the cameras were rolling, she began lip-syncing the song and began to sob uncontrollably.

As the song -- which was released Thursday night -- chronicled her journey as she lied about her addiction, her emotions got more and more intense.  At one point you hear Ratner say "Into camera" ...  Demi gazed into the lens and the sobbing became primal ... you can feel it even though you don't hear it.

Demi Lovato admits the real reason she said, "yes" when her ex-fiance popped the question is she thought it meant her life would be completely stable -- something she quickly realized was NOT the case.

The singer opened up about her engagement to Max Ehrich, and how she rushed into what appeared to be a serious relationship with the 'Young and the Restless' actor. Remember, he proposed last summer after just 4 months of dating, and almost all of that was in quarantine.

Demi told Entertainment Weekly, the size of the ring made things real but "the second it was off, I was like, 'You know what? I'm good. I don't need that.' I just don't need an object on my finger to make me feel like I've got my s**t together."

She added, "It looks like stability, but it doesn't mean that it is. And, I don't actually grow through stability. I find that I like living not in chaos or crisis, but in fluidity. It's not [being] stuck and stagnant in an ideal or a tradition that was placed upon us by the patriarchy."

Demi even highlighted the fact that a year ago, she hadn't even met Max, and marveled at how much has changed in the last year. Demi and Max met in March, he proposed to her in July ... but they split by September.

Bhad Bhabie is celebrating her 18th birthday by cashing in on the catchphrase that made her a thing -- and the way she sees it, the only place left to catch her ... is in early retirement.

We got the artist formerly known as Danielle Bregoli Thursday night on her way outta BOA in WeHo, where she and some friends were ringing in her milestone bday -- it's actually on Friday -- and feeling good.

We asked Bhabie what she was looking to check off her bucket list, now that she's finally, and legally, an adult ... and ya gotta see her answer. While most of us were just getting started at 18 ... this rapper's got a much different viewpoint.

Of course, becoming a viral sensation -- and a national conversation piece -- at the age of 13 will do that to you! Speaking of Danielle's infamous coming out party 5 years ago on Dr. Phil ... it's about to make her buckets of cash.

Bhad Bhabie is auctioning off 20 NFTs of her "Cash me outside" moment -- which includes a bunch of artist representations of the OG meme, her music and a lot more. As for what someone does with such an NFT ... we asked Danielle and she basically said, "I don't really care."

The marathon continues, but the marathon feud Nipsey Hussle's estate had with the Crips is over ... thanks to a settlement of a lawsuit.

Nipsey's brother, Samiel Asghedom, just informed the court in writing that the estate's reached the settlement with Crips LLC. The notice was filed Thursday in L.A. County court.

As we first reported ... Nipsey's estate sued the gang's corporate arm back in October over the rights to Nip's "The Marathon Continues" slogan.

In the suit, Hussle's estate claimed the Crips org filed a trademark for the phrase less than 2 months after he was murdered outside his Marathon Clothing Store, despite Nipsey's family already owning several 'Marathon' trademarks themselves ... all related to his famous store.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, the sides are still hammering out some of the terms -- but they expect to submit the formal terms of the agreement shortly.

Killer Mike says Americans better hope Amazon workers form unions in their warehouses, because when workers get treated like crap ... crap ends up on customers' doorsteps.

The Atlanta rapper and activist joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and told us why he's going to an Amazon center in Alabama to supports the unionization efforts there and across the country. It'll be put to a vote in 'Bama next week.

Killer Mike says the crappy working conditions Amazon workers claim they're facing -- like being forced to pee in bottles, allegedly -- makes for crappy Amazon deliveries that will only get worse. He says the path to better treatment for workers is unionization.

But, it's not only great for the employees ... watch the clip, Mike explains why it's potentially a big win for the general public. A move he believes is not only a win for 'em, but will pay off for the public. Everyone wants joy and happiness, right?

Mike will be in Bessemer, AL Friday with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Danny Glover to visit a new Amazon fulfillment center, where workers are trying to organize. Amazon's against the union, and there have been tons of protests outside that warehouse and others across the country.

Ja Rule is unloading some bad juju from the infamous disaster known as the Fyre Festival ... which is why he sold this painting for way less than his asking price.

The rapper who was tied to the dumpster fire of a festival sold the oil-paint portrait of the Fyre Festival logo for a cool $122k as a non-fungible token (NFT) -- meaning the buyer just gets a one-of-a-kind digital code linked to the image.

Ja originally wanted at least $600k for the physical painting, but a note Ja wrote -- and included in the sale -- shows his true feelings about the piece ... "F*** this painting."

Yeah, he wanted it gone, stat.

The image is 48" x 60" and was commissioned by Ja himself and created by Tripp Derrick Barnes. It once hung in the company's HQs in NYC before it was later moved to Ja's man cave at his NJ home.

But, when the Fyre Festival went to hell -- culminating with organizer Billy McFarland being sentenced to 6 years in prison -- Ja told Forbes last week he decided it was finally time to sell the painting because, "I just wanted that energy out."

Btw ... Ja sold the painting via his NFT exchange venture, FlipKick ... which will focus on selling NFTs that feature digital and physical objects.

The buyer is remaining anonymous, for now, but can also get Ja Rule's signature with the purchase. Pitiful cheese sandwich NOT included!

We interrupt this standard NBA post-game press conference ... WITH A SPECIAL VIDEO MESSAGE FROM DRAKE?!

Yep, the rap superstar FaceTime'd his pal Kyle Lowry while the Toronto Raptors star was facing the media following Wednesday night's game against the Denver Nuggets.

There are rumblings that Toronto will trade Lowry to another team before the NBA trade deadline (Thursday at 12 PM PT) -- which means Wednesday could have been the last time Lowry rocked the Raptors uniform.

During the presser, Lowry admitted it was "kind of weird tonight not knowing what the next step would be" ... but when Drake's name popped up on his cell phone, his mood changed.

"Guys, we have a special guest here," Lowry told reporters during the video news conference.

That's when Lowry held up his phone and showed everyone Drake was on FaceTime!

"If you guys have any questions, I’m here to translate," Drake said ... "I’m his translator!"

Lowry laughed a quipped back, "No you’re not. No!! I’ll hit you when I’m done, bro."

Really funny moment between Lowry and Drake -- who's not just a Raptors superfan, he's also the team's official "global ambassador."

The woman who's been in charge of many of Britney Spears' personal choices for about 2 years now has done a fine job -- so says Britney herself, who's asking to bring her on permanently -- but her lawyer wants to reserve the right to end the conservatorship.

New court docs were just filed in Britney's conservatorship case, and they reveal the singer wants Jodi Montgomery to become the new full-time conservator of her person going forward ... while noting she asked for her father, Jamie Spears, to resign from the position for good.

According to the paperwork, obtained by TMZ, Britney notes Jamie relinquished that power temporarily in September of 2019 ... and Jodi was appointed a temporary conservator of her person at that time. Now it looks like Britney wants to keep Jodi in the position going forward. Sources connected to the case tell us ... Jamie has no objections to the change, and Britney really likes Jodi in that role. He's fine with it.

As for the difference between the conservator of Britney's person and Britney's estate -- the latter of which Jamie is still co-conservator alongside Bessemer Trust Company -- is that Jodi is basically in charge of Brit's personal decisions, which entails quite a bit in her day-to-day.

The docs lay out exactly what they want Jodi to continue running as it pertains to Britney's well-being -- which include powers to limit visitors (so long as she isn't restricted from access to counsel), retain caretakers and security guards for Britney, prosecute civil harassment restraining orders that may arise and the power to communicate with medical personnel with respect to any treatment for Britney.

As co-conservator of the estate, Jamie still plays a role in managing her finances and business decisions.

Village People founder Victor Willis is teeing off on the Grammys, saying it disrespects recording artists and has a Hall of Fame so lame ... the group's rejecting the recent induction of its biggest hit.

Willis tells TMZ ... his legendary disco group told Grammy Interim President Harvey Mason that it's declining induction into the 2021 Grammy Hall of Fame because the Hall is "lacking" and "not taken seriously by the recording academy."

Willis -- the cop in the Village People -- takes serious issue with the lack of attention Grammy Hall inductees get, saying there's no mention of them during the actual Grammy Awards ... and there's no induction ceremony.

For the record, the group's iconic track "Y.M.C.A." specifically was inducted into the Grammys Hall of Fame in December, because it's only for singles or albums, not the artists -- but Victor's not even down with them honoring the song.

He calls the whole thing an insult the Village People want no part of until the Grammys "get their act together." He adds that when the group releases an album later this year, it likely won't even submit it for Grammy consideration.

He goes on to say the Grammys should "show respect for classic artists who built the recording business."

There's a new "Verzuz" matchup on the horizon ... and it's pitting Xscape against SWV for a battle of female R&B groups.

We got Xscape's LaTocha Scott in New York City Wednesday and she told us the rumors and speculation are true ... she's heading into battle May 8 alongside Kandi Burruss, Tameka 'Tiny' Harris and her sister, Tamika Scott.

Mark your calendars!!!

Timbaland and Swizz Beatz have managed to keep the epic matchup under wraps until now ... with recent flyers for upcoming "Verzuz" battles blurring out the opponents.

The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire are next up on Easter Sunday, followed by Redman and Method Man for a "How High" April 20 special, and then it's on to Xscape and SWV!!!

Kandi first teased a "Verzuz" with SWV way back in December, and fans have been clamoring for the matchup ever since ... and LaTocha tells us how it all came together.

Sounds like Xscape is already deep into their preparation ... LaTocha says the group's had tons of meetings to hammer out their battle playlist, so SWV better come correct!

There's still at least 5 "Verzuz" battles yet to be revealed ... and LaTocha tells us she's hoping for a showdown between Missy Elliott and Timbaland.

Prince fans will soon have a chance to pay their respects to him, in person, when Paisley Park opens its doors to the public and displays his ashes in the museum's atrium.

Paisley Park officials announced it'll allow 1,400 people -- through reservations at paisleypark.com -- inside the Minnesota compound for a 30-minute visit to the atrium on April 21 ... which will be the 5th anniversary of Prince's sudden death.

The museum will offer 70 time slots ... and 20 people per slot will be allowed inside. But, the visit to the museum will be limited to the atrium because no regular tours will be offered on that day.

The best part about this to those lucky enough to get a reservation ... admission is free. There will also be an online memorial for those who can't get a reservation.

Paying their respects is long overdue for some fans -- a custom-made ceramic urn shaped like Paisley Park with Prince's symbol on it had been displayed a few months after his death, but it was ultimately removed from public view.

Justin Bieber is back in L.A. after a break in the islands, and one of his first orders of business is telling prisoners about the big man upstairs ... TMZ has learned.

The singer's RV was spotted Tuesday pulling into the California State Prison of L.A. County -- which prompted the question ... what the heck is he doing there, especially on the heels of his Turks and Caicos weekend getaway with the missus???

The answer, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, is quite simple -- the Biebs was there to spread the good word.

A rep for the CDCR tells TMZ ... the warden of the state prison signed off on a brief visit for him and his pastor to support faith-based programs. Unclear what JB exactly did -- singing or speaking the gospel -- but we're told COVID protocols were followed to a T, and it all went smoothly.

If Justin was aiming for anonymity ... he definitely chose the wrong ride. That RV of his was a dead giveaway, as he and Hailey have been seen cruising all over the Western U.S. in it.

Bobby Shmurda's gotta keep his nose clean now that he's out on parole, and though he's already back to living that rap star life ... he can't drink alcohol, hang out at bars or with gangs.

Shmurda's under parole supervision until Feb. 23, 2026, and there are some special conditions that come with it ... like an 8 PM curfew. According to docs, obtained by TMZ, he also has to submit to substance abuse testing and get counseling for aggression and anger.

The easy part for him is that he's gotta seek, obtain and maintain employment. Done, done and done. As we reported, he already had a few performances in Atlanta during NBA All-Star Weekend -- and right after his release from prison, Bobby boarded a private jet with Quavo to hit a studio.

TMZ broke the story ... Shmurda was released last month from New York's Clinton Correctional Facility, getting sprung about 10 months earlier than expected.

Bad Bunny has another hit on his hands -- meaning, he hit The Miz with a frickin' guitar during "Monday Night Raw!"

Somewhere, the Honky Tonk Man is smiling!

The two have been beefing ever since the Puerto Rican rap star made his wrestling debut at Royal Rumble back in February when Bad Bunny helped eliminate Miz and his partner, Morrison, from the match ... and hit 'em with a frog splash in the process.

There's been a tremendous amount of trash talk ever since ... which continued on Monday night.

After The Miz warned Bad Bunny to stay the hell out of pro wrestling FOREVER ... the music superstar sneaked up from behind and smashed an acoustic guitar right on Miz's back!

That's when Bad Bunny picked up the mic -- called Miz a "bitch" -- and accepted his challenge to square off at WrestleMania!!

Remember, The Miz told TMZ Sports ... if Bunny grew the stones to get in the ring with him, there would be serious consequences.

"He makes a lot of money being a musician," Miz told us back in January ... "So, go do that. Keep on making that money because the fact is, if you come into the WWE ring, I'm gonna break your jaw and when I break your jaw, you're gonna need a lot of money."