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Tory Lanez is absolutely loving Kim Kardashian for using one of his tunes in her latest bikini video ... which has fans clamoring to free him from prison.

Ceasar McDowell, CEO of Unite the People -- the organization currently representing Tory --tells TMZ he spoke with Tory over the phone on Wednesday, and the rapper is well aware Kim shared his song "The Color Violet" on her Instagram.

As a result, Kim's comment section is flooding with Tory supporters who are sharing the hashtag "#FreeTory" ... which, of course, is making him feel pretty good.

Roy Ayers, the great jazz vibraphonist known for his hit "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" is dead after suffering an illness ... his family has announced.

In a statement shared on his Facebook, his family says the music legend died on Tuesday in New York City after suffering from a long illness. The didn't specify what illness he had.

They concluded their statement saying ... "He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming."

A fraudulent fundraiser claiming to support Angie Stone's legacy just days after her death has been banned by GoFundMe -- after raking in over $12K.

A GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed to TMZ that all donations have been refunded, and the organizer, going by the name "Lenda Peers," has been banned from any future fundraising.

Typically, on GoFundMe, a beneficiary is clearly named if funds are being raised for someone else.

Justin Bieber fired his longtime "assistant" years ago, TMZ has learned -- this amid new reports claiming JB's team recently began shrinking due to concerns about his well-being.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... despite new reports suggesting Justin's assistant quit recently -- as Justin's inner circle gets smaller -- we're told JB's former estate manager, Mateo Caldas, was fired by the singer 5 years ago.

Our sources wouldn't specify why Mateo was cut loose in September 2020, but clarified he was never Justin's personal assistant -- his sole responsibility was to oversee Justin's Los Angeles estate.

Fyre Festival creator Billy McFarland is rejecting all the "comeback is bogus" talk -- he’s doubling down on his vision, insisting the second time around, it's moving forward full force, no matter what.

In an IG vid Tuesday, Billy responded to reports the Isla Mujeres tourism board in Mexico recently denied knowing anything about Fyre Festival 2. Billy said the festival has contracts with "a number of villas, yachts and hotels" -- and he specifically called out two hotels that were "contacted by the media, and in response, gave misleading statements saying they never heard of Fyre and they aren't working with us."

In response, he says, he told his team to terminate those contracts ... and to concentrate on working with eager partners on the project.

Shawn Stockman is heartbroken over Angie Stone’s shocking death ... telling us he’ll always remember her for fighting to make sure artists got paid what they deserved.

We caught up with Shawn shortly after he and Boyz II Men hit Capitol Hill, pushing Congress to make AM and FM radio stations pay for playing artists' music -- and he tells TMZ he respected Angie because she was fighting that same battle too.

Shawn said he’d run into Angie often but didn’t know her personally. What he did know, though, was that she was all about fighting for what’s right -- and that's giving artists the pay they deserve so they don't go broke. He pointed out the industry was basically founded on "criminal activity" by "gangsters."

Madison Beer has something to celebrate today ... it's her 26th birthday and, before we all pop a bottle of champagne, we just have to note she's looking hotter than ever.

Check out these photos of the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who not only knows how to belt out a tune -- but she also knows how to turn heads!

The titillating pics show Madison in various sexy poses ... shooting selfies, sporting lingerie, kicking back on the grass, and cooling off in a pool in her bikini.

Yes, we could go on and on ... but why do that when you can just look for yourself.

Fun facts: Madison rose to fame in 2012 after Justin Bieber posted her cover of "At Last" by Etta James on social media, resulting in an avalanche of publicity. Bieber then signed Madison to the same label with which he's associated, Island Records. And that's when her career really took off.

Angie Stone's family is in the process of planning a large memorial and a more intimate funeral ... wanting to make sure all her fans and famous friends have a chance to grieve the shocking loss, TMZ has learned.

Stone's rep Deborah R. Champagne tells TMZ ... the iconic singer's family has begun planning a public memorial, which will be held in Atlanta. The date and venue are not clear yet ... but they anticipate a large and star-studded turnout, so they are planning accordingly.

At the same time ... the family is making arrangements for Stone's funeral that will be more intimate -- but not necessarily private -- in Columbia, S.C., where she will be laid to rest. Deborah tells us an exact date is also not clear.

Tragedy has struck an '80s-themed Royal Caribbean cruise ... the fiancée of Faster Pussycat's lead singer has died after going overboard, though her body remains missing, TMZ has learned.

Kimberly Burch -- fiancée of Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe -- fell to her death shortly after a heated argument with him aboard the ship, according to Kimberly’s mother.

Carnell Burch tells TMZ ... Taime called her on Monday to deliver the heartbreaking news. It’s still unclear whether Kimberly jumped or accidentally fell from the ship, but Carnell is confident Kimberly wouldn't purposefully hurt herself.

New video shows the horrible aftermath of Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone's vehicle crash in Alabama -- with an up-close look at the big-rig that slammed into her van.

TMZ obtained fresh footage, which captures 19 seconds of the wreckage after Stone's Mercedes Sprinter van -- carrying her and 8 members of her backup band -- was struck by a semi-truck Saturday on Interstate 65, in Montgomery County, AL.

An eyewitness driving by shot the clip ... and it starts by capturing the monstrous white Freightliner Cascadia truck stopped on the shoulder of the highway.

Bob Bryar -- the drummer for My Chemical Romance from 2004 to 2014 -- died next to a large supply of nitrous oxide ... according to the medical examiner.

TMZ obtained the autopsy report from Bob's November death in Tennessee, and the Bedford County Medical Examiner says the rocker's badly decomposed body was found next to three large nitrous oxide canisters.

The ME says antidepressant medication was also found at the home where Bob was found dead. The report notes the nitrous oxide canisters had attached tubing -- meaning they were ready for use -- but the ME stops short of saying the substance played a role in Bob's death.

Elton John and Chappell Roan turned his annual Oscars watch party into their own "Pink Pony Club" ... performing some of their biggest songs together for a good cause ... and it's all on video.

The "Rocket Man" and the "Pink Pony Club" singer collaborated Sunday night at Elton's annual Academy Awards watch party, which benefits his AIDS Foundation.

Elton and Chappell grabbed the mic and hit the stage to perform her smash hit ... with Elton belting out 'PPC' lyrics while wearing a pink cowboy hat.

Joey Molland, the last surviving member of the rock band, Badfinger, has died.

Molland died on Saturday night surrounded by his family, according to the band's Facebook page. No cause of death has been revealed but he reportedly faced health issues over the years including pneumonia most recently.

“Thank you, Joey…for keeping the band’s music alive for so long and for being a friend to us all,” the band said in their statement on social media. Molland, who played guitar, was a founding member of the Welsh rock group.

Liam Payne was honored for his contributions to music and his lasting impact on the industry during a UK award show over the weekend.

During the BRIT Awards on Saturday, host Jack Whitehall honored LP saying ... "Last October, we woke to the devastating news that Liam Payne had tragically passed away."

He continued ... "He achieved so much in the short time that he was on this Earth, and was not only a supremely gifted musician, but an incredibly kind soul who touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with."

Diane Warren says if she finally wins an Oscar after her past 15 "Best Song" nominations this weekend, she'll probably collapse with excitement -- literally!

TMZ caught up with the legendary songwriter ahead of Sunday night's show, and Diane admits she’s not sure if she’ll have a speech ready if her song "The Journey" wins from the movie "The Six Triple Eight" -- joking she’ll probably not be conscious to hit the stage.

Jokes aside, Diane makes it clear you never know what could go down on the big night ... but she’s just grateful to be nominated.

Kesha says the party don't stop ... and, neither do her hottest pics -- 'cause we've got a whole bunch from her entire career to highlight her birthday!

The singer-songwriter turned 38 Saturday ... and, she's still baring all in her pics -- like in this one she posted where she got totally nude before going for a dip.

And, she's also willing to show ever inch of her bod in her professional life too ... getting on all-fours on the hood of a car in the music video for her song "Joyride" that came out just a few months ago.