Music

Troy Ave. ain't out of the woods yet after his "fake" shooting video surfaced online ... 'cause the police are now investigating to see if the incident was actually real.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office tells TMZ they received a copy of the video Wednesday, which depicts Troy and his buddy, Geoff Cole, getting out of a vehicle outside Geoff's home as a gunman sneaks up on them. Troy quickly reacts, pulling out his own pistol and firing several shots at the supposed assailant before the clip cuts off.

Geoff uploaded the video to his Instagram page Tuesday -- and 45,000 people liked it, with many believing that Troy was a real-life hero standing up to an alleged attempted robber.

50 Cent will lend his commanding vocals to narrate Skilla Baby's next album, "The Price Of Fame," TMZ Hip Hop can confirm ... similar to "Get Rich or Die Tryin," the project is aiming to be a magnum opus classic!!!

The Detroit rapper has been bouncing back after being shot in May, and we're hearing he was centered inside two star-studded, top-secret listening sessions on Wednesday in Los Angeles for his upcoming project.

Our sources inform us the first listening was held at the Interscope offices in Santa Monica with 50 and Skilla's Geffen Records label boss, Aaron “Dash” Sherrod, detailing the album.

The brutal murders of Robin Kaye, a music supervisor on "American Idol," and her husband, musician Thomas DeLuca, at their home in Encino earlier this week sent shockwaves through Los Angeles.

We've learned the suspect, Raymond Boodarian, has a troubled background ... the 22-year-old man was arrested this week on suspicion of committing the grisly murders.

We're going to take a look at the disturbing allegations surrounding his past, as well as the events that led up to his arrest.

Boodarian allegedly had a history of substance abuse issues leading up to the murders, frequently associating with other users, according to the New York Post.

The murder suspect reportedly brought other users around his residence in Reseda, a neighborhood in L.A. -- one neighbor claimed the visits left other residents "frightened."

The same individual reportedly said Boodarian's alleged drug usage resulted in "a lot of problems," which other neighbors complained about.

Another of Boodarian's neighbors spoke to Fox News and claimed he was "on and off medication" ... another stated he would "be taken away for a couple of months" before being returned to his residence.

Boodarian's behavior reportedly landed him in trouble with authorities, and he racked up a list of alleged criminal offenses over the years, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Court records show he'd been charged with brandishing a knife, threatening to commit a crime with the intent to terrorize, and battery.

But the charges were eventually dismissed after he went through hearings related to establishing a conservatorship, as well as his mental competency.

Boodarian subsequently underwent a mental health evaluation and was ultimately placed under a conservatorship, according to NBC 4.

The bodies of Kaye and DeLuca were discovered Monday at their tightly secured home after LAPD officers arrived to perform a welfare check.

Police went to the couple's residence the previous Thursday in response to a call about a potential break-in ... and although cops showed up to check out the scene, they left after searching the property.

Our law enforcement sources told us the couple's bodies were found in separate rooms, and they both had been shot in the head.

Boodarian is believed to have entered the house through an unlocked door on Thursday afternoon last week ... Kaye and DeLuca returned to their house shortly afterward and discovered him inside, which allegedly led to a confrontation that resulted in both of them being shot.

Boodarian was arrested at his residence after police found fingerprints at the scene that allegedly match his -- his prints had been entered in the LAPD's database after he was arrested on battery charges in 2024.

Jermaine Dupri thinks it's time rap music gets its groove back ... strippers don't dance no more -- all they do is finger-gun gestures!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video from Wednesday night of the So So Def founder in Hollywood at Grandmaster Recorders, where he hosted an exclusive mixer for DJs and tastemakers to preview his new album inspired by the Magic City documentary.

JD ranted against strippers doing their best Ja Morant impression with the gun dances when they should be dropping it low on the pole!!! He got platinum-selling producer DJ Toomp to agree with him in the crowd.

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist officially let the pasta out of the bag in Hollywood last night -- their "Alfredo 2" album is real, cooked up and almost ready to serve!!!

The Grammy-nominated duo was hosting the world premiere of "Alfredo: The Movie," their short film shot in Tokyo at Brain Dead Studios ... moderated by our own TMZ Hip Hop's Trent Clark, who got them to fire off the release date of July 25!!!

The film follows the two along in Japan ... with scenes Freddie joked that teeter on elderly abuse -- the dangers when you pull your own stunts!!!

Freddie says just giving fans music without an accompanying art piece would be a disservice at this point in his career ... it's directed by Freddie's longtime music director Nick Walker and spearheaded by his manager Ben Lambert ... nothing broken needs fixing!!!

Freddie told the audience he's in a good space mentally and didn't need tons of guest features on the project to amplify his raps ... something Alchemist wholeheartedly agreed with.

"Alfredo 2" album opener "1995" -- a 10-year jump from "Alfredo 1's" kickoff track "1985" also dropped today, to accompany the film's rollout.

G Herbo wasn't in attendance for rapper Mello Buckzz's Chicago album release party that left four people dead, but as a guest feature on the project and close friend of hers, Swerve says he's feeling the PTSD!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Herbo in NYC on Wednesday ... a bittersweet trip considering the 4th of July Weekend shooting is still fresh in his mind.

Herbo's song "Went Legit" has been crazy this summer and just got a boost from Druski clowning around ... and he's also featured on Rob49's viral "WTHELLY (Remix)."

Justin Bieber will not pay his multimillion-dollar debt to Scooter Braun's former company immediately ... he will not have to ante up until money from the sale of his wife's Rhode beauty company hits their bank account, TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, the settlement between Scooter and Justin has one key provision -- Justin doesn't square his $31-million-plus debt until the Rhode deal is closed and fully funded.

TMZ broke the story ... an independent audit showed Justin owed Scooter's company, Hybe, $26 million after Hybe paid AEG that amount to bail Justin out for cancelling his "Justice" tour. Justin also owed Scooter $11 million in back commissions. There was another $8 million debt Justin owed Scooter for other commissions, but Scooter waived that amount.

Destroy Lonely is being blamed for nearly killing a kid after allegedly forcing him to jump off a stage at a Romanian festival -- and now the organizers are changing the rules!!!

The incident happened last weekend at Romania's annual Beach Please hip hop festival ... a 15-year-old fan named Nicholas says he'll be on the mend for weeks with a pulmonary contusion and lesions on his liver and kidneys!!!

The footage is pretty wild ... Destroy Lonely can be seen amping the kid up multiple times until he decides to jump -- the back angle shows the Opium label rapper physically urging his rager to take the daredevil dive off the stage.

Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson's romance tour continues -- this time, the new couple turned heads at a fancy event ... and the "Mamushi" rapper gushed about how special her hooper boyfriend is to her.

The pair was spotted all dolled up at the inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City on Wednesday ... a bash for Megan's nonprofit organization that provides resources for women, children and the elderly in underserved communities.

It's the second time the lovebirds have been spotted showing PDA in public since their Instagram hard launch ... and the shindig was a perfect opportunity to open up a bit about their hot love story.

Logan Paul found out the hard way not to call Jelly Roll a "greasy, redneck prison rat" ... 'cause the WWE Superstar ended up chokeslammed through a freakin' desk as a result -- right on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

The 40-year-old singer was tapped to guest host the late-night show during Kimmel's yearly summer vacation ... and it was only right to interview his upcoming tag team partner, Randy Orton, ahead of "SummerSlam" in New Jersey next month -- where the two will face off against Paul and Drew McIntyre.

McIntyre apparently couldn't wait until the showdown at MetLife Stadium, 'cause he actually ended up crashing the Q&A ... and after directing some trash talk toward JR, Orton and the Scottish Warrior got into a scrap that wound up backstage.

Bianca Censori knows how to grab your attention --- and, in her latest batch of photos, she keeps everyone's eyes glued to her backside!

The Australian model posted another series of sexy Instagram pics shot by her rapper husband Kanye West in October but released Wednesday. And Bianca looks drop-dead gorgeous, especially when she turns around for the camera.

Check out her 3 lingerie snaps ... starting with the butt shot, which speaks for itself. All we can say is enjoy the view, people.

Singer Connie Francis, best known for her recently viral track "Pretty Little Baby" as well as "Stupid Cupid," has died.

Connie's death was confirmed by her longtime friend Ron Roberts on Thursday via Facebook -- just 2 weeks after TMZ broke the news she was in the ICU for unknown medical issues.

Ron announced Connie passed Wednesday, adding ... "I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news."

It's been over two years since Bad Bunny stepped foot in a WWE ring ... but even the guy he whooped on in a match can't wait for his return -- with Damian Priest telling TMZ Sports he's got an open invite to come back anytime!!

We caught up with Priest out in NYC ... where we asked him when he hoped to see the singer put down the mic and lace up the wrestling boots again.

"Whenever he's ready," Priest said. "That's up to him, as far as like when he's ready physically and mentally. Easy for me to say next week, but he has to be actually ready."

Perry Farrell's ready to go to legal war with the rest of Jane's Addiction ... filing a lawsuit against them hours after Dave Navarro and co. filed their own.

The singer-songwriter filed the suit Wednesday ... going after Dave, Stephen Perkins and Eric Avery in connection to the brawl that took place onstage in September 2024.

Farrell's accusing Navarro, Perkins and Avery of harassing and bullying him for years ... playing their music so loud that he could hardly hear himself sing.

The victims of a shocking double murder -- "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca -- had three pets ... who TMZ has learned are safe and sound.

Los Angeles Police Department Lieutenant Guy Golan tells TMZ ... the couple had three pets -- a small white dog, a tortoise and a parrot -- and all three were found alive and unharmed. They were turned over to friends and family, we're told.

We've also confirmed with our law enforcement sources that authorities recovered a handgun at the scene, which they will test to determine if it belongs to the victims or the suspect.

More legal woes are bubbling for Skai Jackson’s baby daddy Deondre Burgin ... 'cause TMZ has learned he's been arrested again -- this time for a warrant while washing a car he should not have been driving!

Here's the scoop ... Deondre was giving his vehicle a good ol’ scrub-down at a Kentucky gas station on July 14 when police drove by and apparently ran his license plate -- which is something cops often do in Kenton County, KY, according to a rep for the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

The spokesperson tells us the plate check revealed Deondre has an active warrant out of Hamilton County, Ohio, so the police busted him.