You Might Want to Rethink

Debating the real king of R&B is so 2018 ... with 2019 in full swing, Yung Joc's throwing down the gauntlet and challenging Usher to settle once and for all who's the real king of the hair & fleek style. Allow us to explain.

You'll recall Usher made waves by ringing in the New Year with a brand-new hairdo ... a retro pompadour hairstyle to complement his rat pack-themed outfit. That hairdo's apparently dubbed hair & fleek ... and YJ knows a little about that style too.

The rapper made headlines in 2016 with a similar look he said was inspired by a new acting role. He got bagged on big time, but Yung Joc tells TMZ he didn't give a damn ... 'cause he kept the look for a year!! Usher's new look prompted YJ to repost a side-by-side comparison ... followed by the question -- "WHO IS THE REAL KING OF HAIR & FLEEK?"

Yung Joc tells TMZ ... Usher -- who, BTW, has a vote for the real king of R&B -- needs to keep the look beyond just a transformation for his party if he even wants to be considered for the title. YJ even has a date in mind for when they can settle this debate. And, he wants us to call Usher and make it happen.

Aaron Schlossberg is the NYC lawyer who infamously went on a racist rant against restaurant employees for speaking Spanish ... and he's also now the defendant in a lawsuit filed by one of his ex-clients.

Niche Music Group wants Schlossberg to pay for screwing it over, because he was hired to rep the recording label in litigation against Sony Music Entertainment. The rub here ... Schlossberg was hired in January 2018 ... before his racist rant in May went viral.

Niche claims Schlossberg's conduct not only reflected poorly on him, but discredited his clients, and as its legal counsel ... he should have known better.

The label says Schlossberg's off-the-wall attack caused its reputation to take a blow and cost it future business opportunities.

You'll recall, Schlossberg threatened to call ICE on Fresh Kitchen employees when he heard them speaking Spanish on the job.

In the suit, Niche says it had to spend a lot of time and money replacing Schlossberg in order to continue its case against Sony. The label is suing him for breach of contract and legal malpractice ... and wants at least $50k in damages.

12:17 PM PT -- So, maybe it wasn't such a flub after all ... a rep for Coachella just got back to us and says "Gucci Gang" is, in fact, correct ... and now the photo of Gucci Mane has been replaced with one to include Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. Looks like something new for festival goers.

Gucci Mane, meet Gucci Gang -- the name he'll apparently be performing under at Coachella this year ... according to Coachella promoters, anyway.

There's a major typo on Coachella's website right now, which calls the Atlanta rapper "Gang" instead of "Mane." The error, which was published in the lineup announcement Wednesday night and hasn't been fixed yet, threw a lot of music fans for a loop -- namely, having them wonder ... who the hell is Gucci Gang???

At first, people thought it might be a new rap group featuring Lil Pump -- ya know, 'cause of his song "Gucci Gang" -- but when GM's image was attached to the name in a more detailed breakdown of the lineup, it became clear someone just screwed up.

Unless, of course, there's something like an undeclared name change going on ... but we seriously doubt it.

We reached out to Coachella and Gucci ... neither's gotten back to us yet.

Originally Published -- 7:15 AM PST

Sinbad thinks Louis C.K. is dangerously close to losing his mind and pulling a Michael Richards, but he still believes it's a terrible idea to start censoring comedians.

We got Sinbad Thursday outside The London Hotel in NYC and asked the comic if he and his peers are running scared in 2019 with all the instant backlash on social media.

It's pretty clear he doesn't support Louis' decision to mock the kids who survived the Parkland, FL mass shooting -- he describes him as shooting himself in the foot -- however, Sinbad firmly believes you can't tell comedians who they can and can't joke about.

Sinbad basically compares C.K.'s set to Michael's infamous racist tirade and says anyone can lose their mind at any point. He says he was actually at the Laugh Factory the night Michael started shouting the n-word.

Sinbad isn't making excuses for Louis, but insists it's on the audience to let comics know when they've crossed the line -- and ya gotta hear Sinbad's advice for pissed off crowds.

It's still raining on Andy Cohen, because he's getting some serious pushback from the Times Square Alliance after he ranted on air about being singled out by officials who forced him to take down his umbrella during his CNN New Year's Eve broadcast.

During his fit, Andy claimed someone in the Times Square Alliance threatened to pull CNN's credentials for its next NYE show if he didn't lose his umbrella.

The Alliance fired back on Wednesday, issuing a statement to Page Six saying umbrellas are not allowed in certain media areas because they can block sightlines for other media.

The Alliance also denied Cohen's claim CNN's credentials were threatened, saying, "some tempers flared, but it was never the case, nor will it be the case, that CNN would be denied credentials or the ability to cover New Year's Eve."

Aubrey O'Day rang in the New Year by getting kicked out of her own show ... at a faux birthday party at a strip club in honor of her alleged ex, Donald Trump Jr.

Folks at Larry Flynt's Hustler Club in Las Vegas tell TMZ ... Aubrey threw a fit Monday night when a bday cake was carted out for the Prez's son after she finished her 3-song set.

We're told she was pissed because she was asked to sing "Happy Birthday" to her former fling -- which was allegedly not part of her contract -- then one of her assistants got physical with a cocktail server.

We got video of the ex-Danity Kane member being escorted out after her performance, seemingly at the direction of one of the club's managers who shouts at her to leave the building.

We broke the story ... the New Year's Eve bash was a total troll job by the club, because Larry Flynt famously hates President Trump. Having it hosted by his son's alleged ex-mistress was part of the joke.

Seems like O'Day was tired of playing along though.

We reached out to her ... no word back so far.

Louis C.K. deserves to get trashed for telling jokes about Parkland survivors, which just proves Louis is kind of despicable ... so says fellow comedian Ron Funches.

Ron came on "TMZ Live" Wednesday making it clear ... he's not a fan of C.K. or his supporters. Ron essentially says Louis is a bottom feeder.

Ron, whose hour-long stand-up special "Giggle Fit" premieres Jan. 4 on Comedy Central, says he understands comics trying out new material in front of smaller crowds, but he says that's not an excuse for Louis because the Parkland jokes basically amount to hate speech.

Sen. Chuck Schumer says potentially ending the government shutdown is gonna take a firm commitment from President Trump ... and not his usual jiggling on the issues.

We got the Senate Minority Leader Wednesday in D.C. as he was making his way to the White House, where Trump is set to meet with Dems (in the Situation Room, no less) to discuss ending the partial shutdown that's been in effect for 12 days now.

Schumer says he's gonna try to strike a deal with the Prez -- who wants his southern border wall funded -- but makes note that Trump is like Jell-O on when it comes to sticking to one position.

Coincidentally, shortly after Schumer made that comparison ... Trump was holding a cabinet meeting with his "Game of Thrones"-style poster -- threatening sanctions -- smack in the middle of the table.

Still, Schumer sounds cautiously optimistic there's a "chance" to end the shutdown.

Good luck, Chuck.

David Spade has some words of encouragement for Tiffany Haddish AND Louis C.K. and David makes it clear ... they're not in the same boat.

We got the longtime comedian leaving Nobu Tuesday night in WeHo where, at first, he weighed in on what had happened to Tiffany on New Year's Eve in Miami -- namely, miserably bombing onstage and cracking open some Ciroc to numb the pain.

He says NYE gigs are tough as it is 'cause everyone's already faded, and a night of partying for the comic themselves probably ain't the best idea if ya mix the two. Remember, Tiff had said earlier in the day that she'd been out all night raging before her set.

Then, Dave pivots to Louis ... saying comics always try new material with smaller crowds that aren't necessarily meant to be heard worldwide.

David sidesteps Louis' jokes -- like the Parkland massacre survivors -- he realized it's a hot potato.

It's worth noting ... Tiffany's tough night and Louis' tough night are dissimilar.

Tiffany Haddish made the best of a bad situation during her tough New Year's Eve stand-up performance ... so says a fellow seasoned comedian.

We got comic Alonzo Bodden -- who won season 3 of "Last Comic Standing" -- out at LAX Tuesday, where he had nothing but good things to say about the way Tiffany handled her show in Miami the night before.

Seeing how she was bombing ... he says Tiff was wise to get in on the joke by cracking open a bottle of Ciroc and making a party of it. Alonzo tells us every comedian bombs, and her reaction was nothing short of classy and professional, considering the circumstances.

As we reported ... a lot of people were walking out on Tiffany in the middle of her set. She vowed on stage to never allow herself to be in that type of situation again -- and she wasn't talking about stand-up either. Tiffany appeared to be exhausted from partying the night before.

She addressed the failed set on Twitter, saying she wished it was better.

Andy Cohen had a fit on the air during his CNN New Year's Eve broadcast over Times Square security and his umbrella.

Andy came back from a commercial with Anderson Cooper and launched on the Times Square Alliance, which ordered him to lose his umbrella ... or else.

It was pouring rain in Times Square and Andy was outraged, calling the order "Grade A BS."

Cohen says, when he initially refused to get rid of the umbrella, a member of the Times Square Alliance threatened to pull CNN's credentials for the next New Year's Eve show. Andy relented, but was furious.

BTW ... Andy also announced the surrogate who is carrying his baby is about to deliver a boy.

Louis C.K. is getting way too comfortable at the bottom of the comedy barrel ... so says Parkland Shooting survivor Cameron Kasky.

But, it's not Louis' latest lowbrow comedy routine attacking victims of the Parkland massacre that has Cameron upset ... the student activist is taking issue with Louis appealing to crowds who find jokes about transgender people and school shootings funny.

We got Cameron on Monday, after the father of one of his dead peers ripped into Louis for his leaked stand-up jokes about Parkland, and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas student calls out C.K. for targeting the lowest common denominator in order to make a quick buck.

Check out the clip ... Cameron throws some major shade at Louis, congratulating him for getting comfortable in his new digs at rock bottom.

As if Louis C.K. hadn't already hit bottom, he just went even lower by attacking victims of the Parkland massacre in a stand-up set ... this according to leaked audio of his new material.

In audio that surfaced online Sunday, you can hear Louis performing new jokes in front of an audience ... and, at one point, he mocks the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting from this past February. Specifically, he seems to be talking about Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg and others who've been vocal about implementing gun control.

The audio first appeared on a YouTube page that has since been removed ... the description said this set took place on December 16. It's unclear where exactly he performed.

The jokes are vile. First, Louis attacks the youth of this generation ... comparing them to himself in his 20s, and saying kids these days are simply too PC, well-behaved, and opinionated. He also cracks jokes about non-binary people ... and then goes after the Parkland kids.

Louis says the kids who survived are not interesting just because they went to a high school where people were shot, and that he shouldn't have to listen to them just because they "pushed some fat kid in the way."

This is bonkers ... President Trump is using a brick wall the Obamas built outside of their D.C. rental home as justification for his own southern border wall. Seriously.

Trump tweeted out the strange logic Sunday, saying ... "President and Mrs. Obama built/has a ten foot Wall around their D.C. mansion/compound."

He went on to say, "I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!"

We broke the story ... construction got underway last year at Barack and Michelle's D.C.-area home -- which they're renting until Sasha graduates -- and a brick wall was being built to fortify the property ... where secret service has been assigned to protect the former First Family.

BTW ... the Obamas are also building an in-ground pool at the pad, as well as a terrace of some sort ... this according to building permits we've obtained.

With all that in mind, it should go without saying ... Trump's rationale makes zero sense here. Also, keep in mind ... the federal government has been partially shut down over this.

Kevin Spacey tried making peace with paparazzi who've been hounding him ahead of his criminal arraignment next week by breaking bread with them ... or crust, more like.

The disgraced actor was seen delivering a Domino's pizza he'd apparently bought to a photog in Baltimore Sunday, where he's been hiding out as he waits for his court hearing in Massachusetts next week.

In the clip, you hear Spacey tell the pap he appreciates what he's doing ... and goes on to wish him a happy new year and tells him to stay warm. Another camera guy follows him back to his car and asks if he'll be appearing in court himself, but Spacey's mum.

As we reported ... Spacey re-emerged over the weekend in the East Coast, but seems to be lying low and covering up as much as he can. He's been criminally charged for allegedly groping an 18-year-old's genitals in a Nantucket bar a couple years back.

On Christmas Eve, Spacey released a bizarre video of himself doing a monologue as Frank Underwood from 'House of Cards,' which appeared to be an attempt to address the multiple allegations of sexual assault against him.

Celina Powell -- who's accused rappers like Offset, Snoop Dogg, and others of cheating and/or knocking her up -- is currently in a jail cell thanks to bounty hunters ... one of whom shamelessly dropped the n-word during the bust ... TMZ has learned.

The social media star, who's also Aaron Carter's ex, was busted and taken into custody late Saturday night in Aurora, Colorado, where she was set to attend an event at a hookah lounge called Hubbly Bubbly Brewery. Law enforcement sources tell us bounty hunters staked out the parking lot after she posted online that she'd be hosting there.

When she showed up, they pounced ... and part of it was caught on camera. While she was being taken in, however, William Ellenburg -- one of the bounty hunters here, who's white -- hurled the n-word multiple times while trying to deny he was racist.

We asked him for a further explanation after seeing the video. He told us Celina had accused him making racist comments about his partner on the scene, who was black. Ellenburg said he used the n-word to prove he hadn't said anything offensive ... and, apparently, to prove he was cool with black people. He apologizes if anyone was offended.  For the record ... this is anything but cool.

As for Celina, we're told she had upwards of $61,000 worth of outstanding bonds in her name, in and around the area -- ranging from shoplifting and evading police to traffic violations.

She was turned over to Aurora PD a little after midnight on Sunday, and our sources say she's still in custody as of this writing. She's set to appear in court Monday.

A pretty sh**** way to ring in the new year if you ask us ... on everyone's part.