Music

Rapper Vic Mensa has some deep thoughts on musicians, the industry and creative personalities in the modern world ... after a viral social media clip had some questioning his sincerity and sanity.

We caught up with Vic in L.A., at the Waymaker Men’s Summit event, part of BET Weekend, and asked about the emotional video he posted earlier this week on X, in which he got teary-eyed about the modern state of the industry. He labeled his breakdown, "Mental Health & the Streaming Era."

The "Dark Things" rapper told us Thursday, he was initially worried about being seen as weak in the video, but now says he's on a mission ... and no longer "allowing fear to make my decisions for me."

Diddy was apparently about to ghost his then-girlfriend if she didn't "get back on her "job" ... calling her out in an annoyed voice message played for the jury in his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in NYC Friday.

"Jane" -- Diddy's ex who is testifying under a pseudonym -- was back on the stand for a second day of direct examination Friday ... and, prosecutors introduced several voice messages they say the mogul sent to her.

One voice message begins with Diddy telling Jane he's about to up and disappear on her ... because she might be giving him the silent treatment, but he isn't going to play games with her.

The popular K-pop group Stray Kids has a song called "Super Bowl" ... and now they look like they just won one -- thanks to some championship-style rings they got in honor of their tour stop in Texas!!

SKZ is currently in Arlington for their "Dominate World Tour" ... with back-to-back nights at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers.

The folks at REV Entertainment -- the Rangers' event partner -- decided to welcome Felix, Bang Chan, Hyunjin, HAN, Seungmin, I.N., Changbin and Lee Know with some special gifts ... with each member receiving some bling to commemorate their trip to the Lone Star State.

Diddy's ex-girlfriend is testifying about the pain she says she went through during her relationship with the mogul ... saying she had to fight off multiple infections and other ailments.

"Jane" -- the pseudonym one of Diddy's exes is using on the stand -- has run the court through the many freak-offs she says she participated in ... telling the jury she kept doing them because she loved Diddy and wanted to make him happy.

Jane even says she got a nipple piercing for Diddy because she says he told her it would turn him on if she did.

Diddy's ex-girlfriend says even feds raiding two of his residences didn't stop the "freak-offs" ... 'cause she says one of the last ones she last participated in was in August 2024 -- about a month before he was arrested.

"Jane" is back on the stand for her second day of testimony ... and, prosecutors went through the entertainers she said she had sex with during "hotel nights" -- the name she and Diddy gave to their freak-offs.

Jane ran through the last time she says she had sex with these people ... and, when it came to Don -- the man she says took part in her first freak-off with Diddy -- she says they last hooked up in August 2024.

NFL wide receiver Xavier Legette played GloRilla's love interest in a new music video ... and let's just say they both took their roles very seriously.

Legette -- who signed a four-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in 2024 -- appeared in the three-minute visuals for Glo's new song, "Typa" ... and the two share intimate moments throughout.

At one point, the shirtless athlete plants a kiss on GloRilla, who is sporting lingerie ... as the two get lovey-dovey in the bedroom.

Diddy's ex-girlfriend "Jane" is testifying in detail about how she says the freak-offs worked during their 4-year relationship ... zeroing in on a male escort with whom she says they routinely hooked up with and paid for his services.

Jane - the pseudonym for one of Diddy's exes on the witness stand -- was taking questions from the prosecution on Day 18 of the Diddy trial ... and she brought up a man known as "Sly."

She said she and Diddy were impressed by images of "Sly's size," prompting her to reach out to him via Instagram.

Diddy's ex says she took substances to push through the "freak-offs" she participated in ... using ecstasy to up her energy -- and to numb the whole experience.

"Jane" -- Diddy's ex-girlfriend who is testifying under a pseudonym -- broke down the role drugs played in her sexual encounters with entertainers she calls "hotel nights," the couple's name for freak-offs, which didn't always take place in hotels. She admitted there were a ton of different drugs at these experiences, though she mostly stuck with using ecstasy.

When asked how ecstasy made her feel, Jane replied it gave her sexual energy ... much-needed since she's already testified that sometimes she would have sex for multiple rounds and hours at a time.

Addison Rae ditched subtlety, and clothes -- hitting the NYC stage in barely-there nude lingerie for a jaw-dropping burlesque show that was anything but shy.

Catch this clip ... Addison stormed the stage at NYC's The Box for a steamy, hands-on performance of "High Fashion" in collab with Spotify -- think sultry moves, breathy moans, and zero inhibitions.

It was a full-blown seduction show last night -- stool straddles, steamy hair flips, and sizzling chemistry with her backup dancers.

Addison’s clearly in her element -- the whole steamy siren act is now very much her brand as she trades in cutesy TikTok dances for full-blown pop star seduction.

Billy Joel is recalling a heartbreaking period in his life ... revealing he attempted suicide twice in his 20s over the guilt he carried after having an affair with his best friend's wife.

The music icon dropped the bombshell confession in his new documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," which premiered Wednesday at NYC's Tribeca Festival. Notably, he was not present.

In the no-bars-held revelation, reported by People, Billy said he admitted to having an affair with Elizabeth Weber -- the wife of his pal and former bandmate Jon Small -- when Jon became suspicious. At the time, they were all living together -- which is when BJ said he fell "in love" with her.

Talk about a Beyonc-SLAY. The singer effortlessly performed through a major wardrobe malfunction at her Thursday night "Cowboy Carter" tour show in London  ... continuing to belt out "I'm That Girl" after her chaps fell to the floor!

Check out the video ... the "16 Carriages" singer didn't miss a beat after her chaps broke loose and fell to her ankles. She simply slid down as if it were part of her choreography and smoothly pulled them right back up with a smile.

A backup dancer rushed in for a quick fix, securing the metallic fringe chaps like nothing ever happened ... like the true pros they are.

Jay-Z will have an extra close eye on the NBA Finals this year ... 'cause the hip-hop mogul just placed a gigantic wager on the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the 'chip in five games!

TMZ Sports has learned Hov threw down $1 MILLION with his good friend Michael Rubin's Fanatics Sportsbook ... and if he's right, he will profit $2,300,000, on top of the milli he wagered (he'll walk away with $3.3m total).

The Thunder, led by this year's NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are heavy favorites to beat Tyrese Haliburton's Indiana Pacers.

But, Jay's bet isn't as simple as picking the overwhelming fav to win ... it's gotta be in five games, meaning the Thunder cannot lose more than once in the best-of-seven series.

It's a bit of a longshot ... though if Jay-Z ultimately loses the wager, don't cry too hard for his bank account. He's worth around $2.5 BILLION, according to Forbes.

The woman who just overtook Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire isn’t letting that get to her head -- she's shaking off the Taylor Swift "dethroning" talk, and making one thing clear ... she’s a proud Swiftie first, mogul second.

Lucy Guo -- the 30-year-old Scale A.I. co-founder with a billion-dollar-plus empire -- tells TMZ Taylor’s the icon, and yep, she fully fangirled when she met her at Coachella last year.

Lucy kept the Swift praise coming … saying Taylor was super chill, and they even bonded over knowing folks in Ice Spice’s circle.

Too $hort's says he's got the win-win solution to get hip hop music poppin' again -- by having all the new rappers comb through his catalog and discover a classic sound of their own!!!

The Oakland OG tells TMZ Hip Hop that veteran gatekeepers and freshman artists both need to do some soul-searching about the piss-poor product they've been pumping out -- and the repetitive subject matter that gives rap, a bad wrap!!!

It's kinda funny hearing a fan shout out $hort's trademarked "Biatch!" from the street as he complains about rap's misogyny but he sees the writing on the wall.

Miley Cyrus took the Big Apple by storm Wednesday ... putting on a wild performance and then dazzling her gazillion fans in her super sexy outfit right on the street.

It all started with Miley's concert last night ... the singer jumped onstage and belted out a bunch of tunes off her new album, "Something Beautiful," at Rough Trade Below in the famed Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan.

Video shows Miley -- clad in jean shorts, fishnets, a shirt and jacket -- standing in front of a mic and singing one of her hits, "Easy Lover."

Wayne Gretzky now knows of a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day ... 'cause the Great One got a lesson in Chappell Roan's hit song, "Pink Pony Club" on live TV -- thanks to TNT co-host Paul Bissonnette.

Biz's session took place after the Edmonton Oilers' overtime win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final ... when the former NHLer started talking about how the popular tune has become an unofficial anthem for the Canadian squad.

The Great One didn't want to be left out -- so he started asking questions.