Music

Salt-N-Pepa are riding high following their grand induction at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame -- and are hinting the party won't stop ... because they'll be touring next year!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Pepa and Spinderella outside Jennifer Hudson Studios in  Burbank this week, and they were beaming in light of their massive accomplishments through hip hop culture.

The group took their lumps internally just like any long-running act, but Spin tells us they've displayed a solid sisterhood to the world to cap off their 40-year history.

Paula Abdul is remembering late "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" band leader Cleto Escobedo III of Cleto and the Cletones ... honoring him with a heartfelt tribute post on social media.

Cleto toured with Paula, as well as Earth, Wind and Fire, and had his own record deal before Jimmy got him on late-night TV ... and Paula says Cleto's "talent and energy were undeniable."

Paula says she first met Cleto back in the day when he was playing saxophone at a small bar inside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas ... and from the moment she heard him, she knew she had to hire him for her band.

Tragedy for friends and family ... Jimmy Kimmel just announced his show's longtime band leader and childhood friend, Cleto Escobedo III, died Tuesday morning.

Jimmy paid tribute to him in an IG post Tuesday ... saying he's heartbroken, especially since he and Cleto had been inseparable since Jimmy was 9 years old.

Jimmy writes ... "The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers."

AJ McLean wants to capitalize on a viral mashup of an old Backstreet Boys hit and a new Taylor Swift song ... and he's asking Taylor if she wants to perform with his band in Las Vegas ... telling us such a collab would "break the planet."

We got AJ at LAX on Tuesday and our photog asked him about potentially working with Taylor ... who has indicated she likes the "Elizabeth Taylor" and "Everybody" mix.

AJ posted a video on Instagram with the mashup, showing him lip synching ... and Taylor commented, "OH HI AJ OH MY GOD."

Sabrina Carpenter is going to Wonderland... she's set to star and produce an upcoming movie based on Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" ... and she's going to be singing, too.

The "Please Please Please" singer will be starring in her first major studio movie -- the musical is from Universal Pictures -- and Lorene Scafaria is writing and directing the flick.

Lorene's best known for writing and directing "Hustlers" with Jennifer Lopez ... as well as "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World." She also wrote "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist."

Sabrina's coming off a successful seventh studio album, which earned her six Grammy nominations, and she's been on her "Short n' Sweet" tour. She's got acting experience, including on TV shows like "Girl Meets World" and movies like "The Hate U Give" and "Emergency."

We know the flashiest people in bands are usually center stage, but it's always the drummers who provide the real support ... and since it's National Drummer Day, we've got a gallery of some of the most talented percussionists we could think of.

From rock gods like Dave Grohl and Neil Peart, to jazz cats like Tony Williams and Buddy Rich, check out our appreciation for the musicians who really get us moving and grooving!

Flyysoulja of the Island Boys was detained by authorities over the weekend for a mental health evaluation ... TMZ has confirmed.

Soulja -- whose real name is Alex Venegas -- was livestreaming from his Miami-area home early Saturday morning when cops came knocking on his door and eventually carried out the Baker Act detention.

The Baker Act is a mental health law in Florida that allows a law enforcement or mental health professional to recommend a person be temporarily detained for an involuntary examination ... if it's believed that person may be a danger to themselves or others, are unable to care for themselves, or are suffering from mental health concerns with no treatment.

Today marks Singles' Day -- one of the biggest shopping days in the world -- so we're showcasing which sexy celebs are still on the market.

Browsing our gallery, you're sure to find something you like ... If you're into the studious type, Kim Kardashian is still pursuing her law license. Like to dance? Bad Bunny's got you covered.

Glen Powell is here for fans of the ruggedly handsome, and for those who connect over a sense of humor, who better than the hilarious Keke Palmer?

Paris Jackson has a reminder of her drug use back in the day ... because she says it left her with a hole in her nose.

Michael Jackson's daughter hopped on social media over the weekend and revealed she has a perforated septum, which is basically a hole in the cartilage between the nostrils.

Paris says, it's exactly "what you think it's from ... Don't do drugs kids."

Another day, another hot trip around the sun for Diplo ... the dishy deejay has spun his discs for a minute now, and to celebrate his 47th birthday, we've mashed up his sexiest social media shots -- and they hit HARD!

Heat rises, so dip it low and you'll stumble upon this hottie in the hot tub ... So steamy 🥵!

If he ain't in the booth, catch Diplo flashin' his bod on vacay ... You can't deny he's a total bae!

Dip into our gallery ... It's an absolute rager!

Demi Lovato is sober after overdosing on drugs and almost dying years ago, but Tekashi 6ix9ine says she's bound to relapse ... and he's offering a way to make that happen, though he tells TMZ it's just an attempt at "dark humor."

Tekashi was on Andie Elle's podcast when the conversation shifted to former child actors doing drugs.

6ix9ine brought up Demi, who, as we first reported, overdosed on heroin in July 2018.

Omarion now has an icebox where his heart used to be for Mario ... after the "Let Me Love Singer" said Big O was just so-so with the singing!!!

Sway Calloway recently asked Omarion about Mario's comments, which were made on Cam Newton's "Funky Friday" podcast -- and left a funkier taste in Omarion's brain.

Mario wrote off Omarion's singing as "hit-or-miss," and Omarion vented on "Sway in the Morning," shutting down any future collaborations or appearances down the line!!!

Legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley passed away Thursday, Oct. 16, after his family made the difficult decision to turn off his ventilator ... and today his cause of death has been released, TMZ has learned.

TMZ confirms, Ace died as a result of blunt trauma to the head due to a fall.

According to the Morris County, New Jersey Medical Examiner's report ... Ace suffered a fracture to the back of his skull, a subdural hematoma -- a collection of blood formed between the brain's protective outer layer and the brain itself -- and a stroke. His manner of death was ruled an accident.

Brandy and Monica took full advantage of the Hollywood access lanes during their 2nd L.A. stop for their "Boy Is Mine" tour ... rolling out the red carpet for O.T. Genasis, Mario, Blxst, and the one and only LL Cool J!!!

The festivities went down inside the KIA Forum, and TMZ Hip Hop obtained plenty of video ... O.T. popped out to perform his hit record "Cut It" while LL had the crowd "Doin It" wild.

Mario showed the crowd in real time why he's confident in critiquing his fellow singers with a slam-dunk rendition of his billion-streamer "Let Me Love You" ... and Blxst repped hard his and Brandy's World Series-winning hometown, ripping through his double-platinum classic "Chosen."

Salt-N-Pepa were officially enshrined in the Rock Hall of Fame on Saturday -- and celebrated like queens in Hollywood with a few of their famous friends!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained a video of Salt-N-Pepa -- and Spinderella, of course -- kicking it at the W Hollywood following the let-out of the ceremony for the official after-party, presented by Amazon Music and produced by Joey Harris Inc.

Missy Elliott, Mona Scott, and Maxwell all came through to show love -- and those were just the M's!!!

The hits kept coming during Rod Stewart's illustrious career ... but his son Sean encountered a hit machine he probably wishes he never met in his debut as a professional boxer over the weekend.

Sean, 45, got knocked out in 15 seconds by 27-year-old streamer BDave in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday. The KO was reportedly a record for the Misfits Boxing banner, which promoted the fight.

Check out the video ... Rod's eldest son started out aggressive, controlling the center of the ring by pressing and leading with quick jabs. But BDave stayed calm, unshaken by the flurry of punches thrown, waiting for his opening.