Music

American actor Tyrin Turner was 20 years old when he played Caine Lawson -- the young man struggling to leave his troubled past behind and move towards a better future -- in the 1993 South Central film "Menace II Society."

Turner shared the big screen with Larenz Tate as the brutal and callous gang member who doesn't hesitate to kill, O-Dog, Jada Pinkett Smith as Caine's resilient girlfriend, Ronnie and Samuel L. Jackson as the dangerous and destructive drug dealer, Tat.

Turner also played the principal character in Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" back in 1989.

Sydney Sweeney's singing those breakup blues away -- she let loose at a karaoke bar in Key West, Florida last night while taking on Adele's breakup anthem, "Someone Like You."

We've got video of Sydney's late-night escapades at Key West's Backyard Bar Wednesday ... and she was having the time of her life, belting out the recognizable tune with some pals -- although it's unclear if they're her pals or some of the locals an eyewitness said she hopped onstage with.

Sydney clearly didn't want the night to end as she warned the DJ she's staying there "forever" ... playfully adding, "Don't get tired of me!"

Tish Cyrus might’ve smoothed things over with her daughter Noah after the whole man-stealing speculation -- but let’s be real, it kinda feels like she’s tiptoeing on thin ice again!

Catch this clip -- Noah was talking all about her fiancé Pinkus on Tish’s "Sorry We’re Cyrus" podcast, but honestly? Mama bear sounded more obsessed with the guy than Noah did!

Tish was gushing over Pinkus -- maybe a little too much -- dropping "I love him" like it was nothing. Noah even straight-up said she was shook when she found out her mom had been name-dropping her man on the regular in past podcast episodes!

Akon is happily joining the country music boom ... but unlike other rappers, he plans on re-recording his whole discography -- and giving people that honky-tonk twang!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Akon in NYC this week out signing autographs, and he tells us with a straight face he's been lining up country features for the last 5 years to remake his tracks -- and claims it's happening soon!!!

Akon is one of the rare artists who's achieved mega success on both the artist and executive fronts ... a compilation of his classics could totally be a Billboard winner.

"American Idol" alum Doug Kiker -- who was known by the moniker "The Singing Garbage Man" -- died from an opioid overdose, TMZ has learned.

According to the City and County of Denver Medical Examiner's report obtained by TMZ, Doug died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, methadone, and amphetamines, with recent cocaine use -- and his death has been ruled an accident.

Kiker died last month, as confirmed to TMZ by his brother William and mother Joyce -- with his ex-fiancée, Valerie Cook, telling us she hates that her kids lost their father.

9:54 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Universal Music Group tells TMZ ... "Drake, unquestionably one of the world's most accomplished artists and with whom we’ve enjoyed at 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another. In Texas last November, his counsel instituted a legal proceeding with much fanfare and bluster. On Monday, they quietly dropped the case."

They continued ... "In New York in January, Drake's counsel filed a defamation lawsuit. Fearful of being sanctioned by the court for asserting false allegations, tonight they amended the complaint to withdraw them only to add more baseless allegations. Two weeks ago, his representatives celebrated a 'win': the granting of a routine discovery motion. That 'win' will become a loss if this frivolous and reckless lawsuit is not dropped in its entirety because Drake will personally be subject to discovery as well. As the old saying goes, ‘be careful what you wish for.’

They concluded ... "Both the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and creative expression. Should his legal representatives senselessly keep the New York lawsuit alive, we will demonstrate that all remaining claims are without merit. It is shameful that these foolish and frivolous legal theatrics continue. They are reputationally and financially costly to Drake and have no chance of success."

Drake says he has new ammo in his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group ... and it's all because of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime show.

Champagne Papi just filed an amended complaint where he specifically mentions Kendrick's performance of "Not Like Us" at Super Bowl LIX.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Drake claims the show "assassinated" his character ... and he says Kendrick excluding the word "pedophile" from the lyrics backs up his claim that the song's content is defamatory.

Nearly 133 million people watched Kendrick Lamar diss Drake during this year's Super Bowl LIX halftime show ... but Lil Wayne swears he wasn't one of them!!!

The legendary rapper is claiming the NFL dangled the opportunity in front of him, only to flip the script and claim they weren't in control of the prestigious show ... while squaring the blame on Jay-Z and Roc Nation!!!

If you recall, Wayne had been campaigning for the hometown SB halftime gig in New Orleans for more than a year, only to reveal how much the snub gutted him in a very public fashion.

Ben Affleck popped off with his raw thoughts about Jennifer Lopez at his movie premiere in Los Angeles Wednesday ... and, he couldn't say enough kind things about his ex-wife.

The actor stopped for an interview with Entertainment Tonight on "The Accountant 2" red carpet ... and, they asked him about bringing Lopez's kids to the screening with him despite their recent divorce.

Affleck says he feels the media is often looking for negative storylines ... but, he's only got positive things to say about his ex -- explaining she's great with his kids, he loves hers, and she's just an "enormously important" person of the highest character.

Fyre Festival 2 ain't happening in late May, early June like it was originally scheduled ... 'cause it's been postponed, without new dates selected yet -- and organizers are laying full blame on Mexico.

The website only says tickets are "currently not available" when customers try to make a purchase, but the event's infamous promoter Billy McFarland is now admitting it just ain't happening ... confirming the story TMZ broke 10 days ago.

FYRE Festival 2 organizers say ... "Over the past 18 months we've worked closely with experienced third-party festival operators to ensure FYRE Festival 2 is built to the highest standard" ... but he claims the government in Playa del Carmen screwed 'em.

A statement organizers are sending to ticketholders says, "When a government takes your money, issues permits, promotes the event, and then pretends it's never heard of you, that's not just dishonest -- it's theft."

As for how much dough organizers are allegedly out -- McFarland tells us, "Permits cost hundreds of thousands of pesos. Many times that spent on venues, hotels, etc. that [Playa del Carmen] directed us to book."

He also says they've been filming all their meetings with the same PDC government officials who've been telling the media they've never heard of Fyre.

While the show for sure isn't happening from May 30 to June 2, he says they are deciding on a new location and date soon.

As we told you ... Fyre Festival 2.0 was McFarland's shot at redeeming himself after the disaster of the first festival led to his incarceration for wire fraud -- for which he served more than three years in prison.

Wiz Khalifa is in high spirits and has plenty of good vibes to give out this weekend with the release of his "Kush & OJ 2" album!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Wiz, Will and the rest of Taylor Gang out in NYC on Wednesday, exercising their right to toke in the streets and promoting the project the old-fashioned way.

Wiz flat-out admitted he couldn't keep count of all the Js that went into the making of the upcoming sequel ... we say many, many, many!!!

Coachella draws headlines, but this past weekend, fans were buzzing with speculation after Cher’s longtime boyfriend, Alexander "AE" Edwards, was spotted at the festival surrounded by a gaggle of blonde women -- with no Cher in sight.

The sighting, which quickly made the rounds in the press and on social media, sparked speculation there may be trouble in paradise for the singer and her music executive beau.

However, a rep for the music legend is shutting down the speculation and gossip.

Wiz Khalifa is celebrating his "Kush & OJ 2" album ahead of schedule -- by turning a ripe navel orange into a bong!!!

The wavy party trick is usually reserved for apples, but not only does Wiz not want scurvy -- he's been out in NYC giving his anticipated project the ultimate promo run.

For what it's worth, the orange appears to be smoking Wiz -- and not the other way around!!! He still taught the folks over at The Good Talk Show a new convo starter!!!

Nas and Mass Appeal are coming in hot for 2025 to restore hip hop to its classic album glory days ... by enlisting several of his fellow rap legends to release new albums!!!

The album project is being billed under the name "Legend Has It..." with Nas and DJ Premier releasing their long-delayed joint album, Ghostface Killah doubling up with a sequel to his 2000 album "Supreme Clientele," and Raekwon The Chef is also dropping his 7th studio album, "Emperor's New Clothes."

Mass Appeal will also be tugging at fans' heartstrings with several posthumous releases ... De La Soul and Mobb Deep will be rolling out their first group albums since Trugoy The Dove and Prodigy's deaths, and late '90s lyrical sensation Big L will also add a new album to the fold.

Bobby Brown’s exercising his prerogative -- and he’s not holding back, saying Britney Spears straight-up butchered his hit "My Prerogative."

The singer didn’t mince words on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast, telling Shannon Sharpe that Britney’s take on his 1988 classic wasn’t just bad, it was a full-blown assault on his ears -- in fact, he said, it was so brutal he literally couldn’t take it.

Shannon stepped in with a reality check, reminding Bobby he did sign off on the cover -- but BB said he was lured by the magic of producer Teddy Riley and the star power of Britney at her peak. He thought she’d elevate the track … not take a wrecking ball to it.

Matt Ox -- the former child rapper hailing from Philly who got a huge look from the late XXXTENTACION at the age of 14 -- is older now, but staring down a potentially troubled future ... after he and his boys were arrested for drugs!!!

Burbank Police tell TMZ Hip Hop that Matt was in the back seat of a black Lexus officers pulled over in a traffic stop on April 5, 2025, at approximately 4:30 AM.

The vehicle was traveling through the area of Glenoaks Boulevard and Walnut Avenue, and was cited for vehicle code violations.

Benson Boone is riding the Coachella high -- but he's making it clear to us, despite big-name comparisons, he’s doing it his 100% his way.

We caught up with Benson at The Living Room in Hollywood Monday, where he was still buzzing from his epic festival moment -- and who wouldn’t be?

He says having actual rock music royalty, AKA Brian May, shred the stage with him was insane ... especially as they belted out Queen’s legendary "Bohemian Rhapsody" together.