Music

We don't think we need to tell you about how huge Taylor Swift's album rollouts are ... unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years!

The thing is, the hitmaker's albums usually aren't just solo affairs, and she's built up a cool little group of collaborators she goes to for help with production and instrumentation -- including Karl Johan Schuster, a songwriter and producer known professionally as Shellback.

We're going to take a look at his background and see how he went from playing rock music to writing some of the biggest modern pop tracks in the world.

Shellback's originally from Sweden, and he made his bones as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist in the country's well-known heavy metal scene.

The performer provided vocals for death metal band The Blinded's 2007 album "Bedtime Prayers," and he played various instruments for several Swedish groups over the course of the 2000s, according to Discogs.

Shellback eventually began collaborating with Max Martin -- who's got a history of his own with Swift -- and started working in the pop music scene as a producer and songwriter.

He racked up a healthy amount of hit tracks as a co-songwriter in the 2010s -- like Pink's "Raise Your Glass" and Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" ... long story short, the guy's got a knack for writing catchy tunes.

Shellback began working with Swift in 2012, and he helped write the smash hit tracks "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "I Knew You Were Trouble," and "22" ... all of which were featured on her album "Red," which he co-produced.

The producer became one of the singer's frequent collaborators, and they worked together on numerous occasions over the course of the decade.

The musician was listed as one of the several co-producers who worked on Swift's re-recorded versions of "Red" and "1989."

Shellback also earned himself a total of four Grammy Awards -- including the Album Of The Year award for his work on Adele's 2015 record "25" -- and numerous nominations for his work as a songwriter and producer.

Although Shellback and Swift didn't collaborate on her later albums "Midnights" or "The Tortured Poets Department," she kept in contact with the musician, and he was revealed to have been one of the producers of her twelfth record, titled "The Life Of A Showgirl."

The singer spoke about her work with the songwriter during an episode of the "New Heights Podcast" -- cohosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce -- and claimed she, Shellback and Martin, were "carrying the same weight as creators" working on the new record.

Swift described the recording process as "really special" and said the trio wanted to "bring the best ideas we’ve ever had" to the studio.

J. Cole's longtime Dreamville artist Cozz wants fans to know the label isn't going anywhere -- his labelmate JID just happened to misspeak!!!

Cozz tells TMZ Hip Hop the Dreamville distribution deal that Cole signed with Interscope back in 2014 simply expired, it didn't get sold off ... the brand is still alive and well!!!

JID was a recent guest on "The Joe Budden Podcast," where he framed things like Dreamville was being dissolved and liquidated like laundry detergent.

Saweetie and Manchester United star Jadon Sancho have been a rumored couple for months ... and their recent trip to a renowned tattoo shop possibly reveals their bond goes BEYOND skin deep!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained images of Saweetie and Jadon hitting up The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio in Santa Monica this summer ... where the heavily tatted athlete expanded his art physique -- by adding Saweetie's middle name, Qiava, on his neck behind the left ear.

The tat has a nice, stylish flair in cursive ... we know das right!!! 💅🏼

Taylor Swift's new album is coming out October 3, the same day Diddy is set to be sentenced in his federal criminal case ... which is interesting, 'cause T-Swift once said she'd go to prom with the guy in a group!

A clip from a 2011 interview from "The Rachael Ray Show" has resurfaced in the aftermath of Swift revealing her album release date, where Taylor selects her ideal prom date from a choice of a group of celebs.

Taylor says she'd rather go with a group than a specific date ... picking up photos of Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow -- and, finally, Diddy.

Lil Pump is thanking God above for saving his life after he survived a car accident that completely totaled his vehicle!!!

The Florida -- and proud MAGA -- rapper posted footage of a destroyed large SUV flipped over on its side ... the windshield smashed in, the front bumper lying on the ground in pieces.

Pump told his 13 million followers the miracle happened on August 9, and he's become more religious ... "Guys I almost lost my life four days ago. GOD is real!! Do not drive in the rain. Health is wealth I had to kick down the window to get out. If not, I was dead. On my birthday I will be going to church to thank God for all the blessings."

Taylor Swift has drawn plenty of criticism and insults from Donald Trump in the past -- and now Jimmy Fallon’s spinning her material to roast the Commander-in-Chief ahead of his Friday summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It was pure comedy gold -- Jimmy went full Swiftie on Wednesday's 'The Tonight Show,' belting lines like, "For a long time Trump looked at Putin and thought, 'You Belong With Me,' and when the people warned him to steer clear, he would just 'Shake It Off.'"

The hits kept coming -- like how Americans worry Trump isn’t serious about negotiating for peace in Ukraine … "because his brain is basically one giant 'Blank Space.'"

October 3 can't come soon enough for Dave Portnoy -- the Barstool Sports founder and diehard Taylor Swift fan says the pop superstar's "The Life of a Showgirl" album sounds like it was made just for him ... and will feature nothing but chart-topping hits!!

Swifties are losing it after their "mother" spilled all the beans about her 12th studio project on Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast on Wednesday ... and that includes El Presidente, who said, "I think it's gonna be my favorite album of all time!"

Portnoy -- who was apparently so excited he forgot to put on a shirt for his social media reaction -- pointed out how Swift appeared happy as ever alongside her NFL boyfriend.

Kelly Clarkson is canceling another show ... this time the singer is backing out of the Band Together Texas concert after the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

Clarkson's announcement did not come from her or her team ... rather, the event organizers posted the news Tuesday on Instagram Stories, saying Kelly will be unable to appear for her August 17 show at the fundraiser, which is helping raise money for people impacted by the Texas floods in July.

The statement notes Kelly will be MIA due to "personal circumstances," and sends well wishes to her and her family.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could barely keep their hands off each other as they detailed their 'Love Story' on Wednesday's "New Heights" podcast -- and we've got pictures to prove it.

Check out our gallery ... the couple of 2 years were holding each other's hands and intertwining their arms through nearly the entire podcast. They turned up the PDA a notch when the "You Belong with Me" hitmaker grabbed her beau's face to show how thankful she was for him ... and in return, he kissed her hand.

At one hilarious point in the interview, they were so lovey dovey with each other they suggested Jason Kelce just leave the interview!

An *NSYNC vs. Backstreet Boys golf match might actually happen -- this I promise you -- 'cause Lance Bass tells TMZ Sports he's accepting the "Larger Than Life" crooners' challenge!!

Just a few days after Brian Littrell and Nick Carter told us they wanted to mix it up with *NSYNC on the links ... Bass made it clear he's down.

"Of course," he said while out in Los Angeles ... "Bring it!"

Taylor Swift may be living the life of a showgirl -- but she's officially denied taking her entertainment skills to the big screen with Travis Kelce in "Happy Gilmore 2."

The pop superstar cleared the air on "New Heights" Wednesday night ... saying while she's "honored" people think she hopped into a bear costume to attack her honey-covered beau on-camera, it ain't her.

She praised the person behind the role -- seemingly stuntman Brandon Alan Smith, who is listed as a "Bear Performer" in the movie on IMDb -- for the "exquisite performance."

Taylor Swift says her father Scott Swift came out of quintuple bypass surgery cracking jokes ... and was the funniest he's ever been during a 15-minute comedy routine from his hospital bed.

Taylor shared the positive health update on her father during her appearance on the "New Heights" podcast with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce.

She says Scott learned he had 5 blockages in his heart after doing a resting stress test ... and doctors scheduled the surgery for the next day ... and she, her mother and her brother rushed to his side, despite Scott saying they didn't need to be there.

JaNa Craig is getting all kinds of love after her split from costar Kenny Rodriguez and now she's reacting to getting it from one of her favorite artists.

Cameras caught up with the "Love Island USA" star at LAX on Wednesday, and she was all smiles when asked about Lizzo name-dropping her in a new song, saying it's so crazy she did that. She says it's cute because she's getting so much love, adding Lizzo has been one of her favorite singers for years.

JaNa says she DM'd Lizzo immediately after hearing the track telling her she's her queen and thanking her for the love and support. She hasn't gotten a reply yet but she made a TikTok in response to the new song which features her name in the lyrics.

Taylor Swift says she had absolutely no clue how football was played before meeting Travis Kelce ... admitting she didn't even know the difference between offense and defense.

The "Bad Blood" crooner opened up about her pigskin knowledge on the latest episode of her boyfriend's "New Heights" podcast ... and she made it clear, the gridiron game was far from her forte.

She said on her first date with Kelce, she actually asked him what it was like to line up against his big brother, Jason, during Super Bowl LVII -- not realizing the two were offensive players.

Taylor Swift says she broke down in tears when she told boyfriend Travis Kelce she had gotten the rights to her entire music vault ... and she got emotional recalling the moment she knew the deal was sealed.

Taylor was on the verge of tears on the "New Heights" podcast as she took Travis and his brother Jason Kelce through the process of buying her master recordings.

She said she had intrusive thoughts every day about not owning her masters ... and revealed she was overcome with emotions this past May when she bought them from Shamrock Capital.

Taylor Swift is giving fans their first look at her new album cover ... revealing the front and back of "The Life of a Showgirl."

The singer-songwriter dropped the first look at the album on her website and on boyfriend Travis Kelce's "New Heights" podcast Wednesday. Check it out ... TS is channeling her inner showgirl while underwater in a glittery, bedazzled bodysuit.

Of course, we knew Taylor showed the album on the podcast ... 'cause a promo clip from the episode showed the cover totally blurred out -- driving fans into a frenzy of wonder about the artwork.