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Before this cool kid in his tank was spittin' his magic, he was just growing up in Queens, playing basketball and rapping when he was just a teen ...

Let's get right to it ... You're mesmerized by his music, and he's always on time!

Elizabeth Taylor's estate is applauding Taylor Swift for giving the late Hollywood legend a big-time shoutout in a new music video.

Taylor dropped the music vid for her hit single "Elizabeth Taylor" this week, and it's chock full of Elizabeth's most iconic scenes and dazzling diamonds.

A rep for Elizabeth's estate tells TMZ they're "thrilled" and "deeply moved" by Taylor's "extraordinary" tribute.

LeAnn Rimes' orgasmic reaction to having her jaw released is totally normal ... so says the dude whose fingers were deep in her mouth.

Garry Lineham -- the internet personality and founder of Human Garage -- talked to us about the treatment Rimes shared to social media Monday ... which left her sobbing after Lineham knocked out the tension in her jaw.

Lineham tells us Rimes' reaction -- while the subject of more than a few wisecracks online -- is super normal ... the release of trauma sometimes makes people act exactly like her, bawling their eyes out in relief.

Today marks 31 years since Selena Quintanilla was tragically murdered. She was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar -- who had been president of her fan club and managing her clothing boutiques -- on March 31, 1995.

Last year, Yolanda was denied parole when a board decided she was still a "continuing threat."

The world suffered a tremendous loss when Selena was killed -- but fans are choosing to spend the morbid anniversary celebrating the "Como la flor" singer's life and legacy.

Christopher North -- a founding member and keyboardist for '70s and '80s rock band Ambrosia -- died after a bout with pneumonia, TMZ has learned.

His brother, Richard North, tells TMZ ... Christopher was hospitalized for about 3 weeks before he succumbed to complications related to pneumonia.

As we reported, Christopher previously battled throat cancer and was struck by an out-of-control vehicle in Santa Monica last October, which left him hospitalized for about 2 months. His brother tells us he had been admitted to the hospital twice since then.

Taylor Swift fans are crying their eyes violet with tears of joy ... because the pop star just dropped the music video for her song "Elizabeth Taylor."

The surprise visual is comprised of clips of Elizabeth Taylor -- the track's namesake -- from various films she starred in over the course of her illustrious career.

You don't see Taylor's face once ... instead, a compilation of ET's most iconic scenes and dazzling diamonds.

This comes hot on the heels of the trademark suit she's facing from Vegas showgirl Maren Wade -- who's claiming Taylor's "The Life of a Showgirl" album is infringing on her brand, "Confessions of a Showgirl."

But don't expect Tay to get sued this time -- at the end of the clip, the singer makes sure to credit every film she included, detailing where she got the footage.

She even thanks House of Taylor, which is run by three trustees of Elizabeth's estate and "preserves and sustains Elizabeth Taylor's legacy through content."

The new music video isn't available on YouTube ... just streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.

Christopher North -- the founding keyboardist for '70s and '80s rock band Ambrosia -- has died.

The band confirmed North's passing on their Facebook page Monday, writing, "We will always remember 'Northwind' for his fiery, 'intense' stage presence -- a legacy that began when he was first discovered playing in a dimly lit room, his organ topped with a bottle of wine."

The cause of death is unclear at this time, but according to the band, North faced health challenges in recent years, including a "brave and successful battle with throat cancer." He was also hospitalized last year after being struck by a vehicle while walking, according to an October post by Ambrosia lead vocalist David Pack.

Celine Dion broke some big news Monday to mark her 58th birthday ... she's officially returning to the stage in Paris, France, after being sidelined for years while battling stiff person syndrome.

The legendary singer made the stunning announcement in an Instagram video, revealing that she's going to perform 10 shows over several weeks at Paris La Défense Arena beginning in September. Celine said she can't wait to get back on stage, noting that she's feeling "strong" and "excited," but also a "little nervous."

Celine kicked off her video announcement by giving her gazillion fans a health update, saying she's singing and dancing again and doing just great.

TLC’s T-Boz is no fan of Donald Trump, sources tell TMZ, as her bandmate Chilli faces backlash over political donations she made in the past.

Sources close to T-Boz tell TMZ that the singer has “always let her views be known,” whether that be “sexual health, HIV, the LGBTQ community or Black Lives Matter.” 

“T-Boz has been an advocate for the unheard voice,” the source added, who pointed out a 2017 interview the entertainer did with Channel 4 UK News, where she spoke about President Trump. 

During the interview, T-Boz said, "I don't care about Donald Trump ... God is my president.” The source added that the singer’s stance hasn’t changed and that, “unless you see her say it, she shouldn’t be brought into any narrative that pulls away from that view.” 

Cardi B and her record labels scored a legal win in the Lone Star State after being sued for allegedly using portions of another artist's song without permission ... the lawsuit against them has just been thrown out of court for jurisdictional reasons.

Here's the deal ... Joshua Fraustro and Miguel Aguilar (AKA Kemika 1956) filed suit against Cardi B back in July 2024, claiming Cardi and her producers stole their secret sauce by using parts of their 2021 song "Greasy Frybread" on her March 2024 hit single, "Enough (Miami)."

The lawsuit was filed in Texas ... but according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, it was dismissed due to a lack of personal jurisdiction. Translation: the judge ruled Fraustro and Aguilar didn't establish that the Texas court had the power to deal with the case.

West Coast house music legend Daniel Wherrett -- known as DJ Dan -- has died. No information has been provided about the cause of death.

The sad news was posted to his social media profiles on Sunday, remembering the artist as "one of the most beloved, genre-defying, and genuinely influential pioneers in the history of American electronic music."

The statement celebrated Dan for blending house, breakbeat and techno genres into "a psychedelic fusion" known as "West Coast House Sound."

The EDM producer was slated to perform at Dead Ringer in Reno, NV on Saturday ... but he never showed, according to Billboard.

A source close to Dan told the mag he hadn't been responding to texts for two days before he passed.

Over the course of his career, DJ Dan had three songs that made Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart -- including "That Phone Track," which topped the list in 2004.

He was 57.

BTS is lighting up the charts like dynamite ... their new album "ARIRANG" went number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the lead single, "SWIM," topped the Hot 100.

The new album -- the first since the boy band went on hiatus in 2022 -- debuted with 641,000 equivalent album units earned, according to Billboard. The mag says this is the biggest album sales week for a group in over a decade.

In fact, this is the biggest week for an album since Taylor Swift dropped "The Life of a Showgirl" in October, according to the outlet.

Taylor Swift straight-up jacked a Sin City performer's brand when she rolled out her latest album, "The Life of a Showgirl" ... according to a new lawsuit.

Maren Wade is suing Taylor for trademark infringement ... she says she owns the rights to "Confessions of a Showgirl" ... and she claims Taylor's album and accompanying merch are swallowing up a brand she's spent over 12 years cultivating.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Wade says "Confessions of a Showgirl" traces back to 2014 when she used it as the name for a weekly column in Las Vegas Weekly. She says the column became a live show, then a touring production, and ultimately a brand encompassing performances, writing, and digital media ... all built by her, brick by brick.

BBC Radio host Scott Mills has been fired over reported concerns about "personal conduct," according to BBC News.

After being with the broadcaster for almost 30 years, a spokesperson told USA Today that the British DJ is "no longer contracted to work with the BBC."

According to The Mirror, the allegation "relates to a historic relationship dating back more than 10 years," but no details about Mills' alleged behavior have been reported.

Rock and rotor! Kid Rock was more than happy to salute military helicopters near his palatial Nashville-area home over the weekend ... but the U.S. Army seems less than thrilled with the pilots' actions.

ICYMI ... Kid Rock posted a video Saturday featuring 2 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters -- one of which was hovering super close to the "Bawitdaba" artist's property -- writing, "This is a level of respect that s**t for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her."

But now, NewsChannel5Investigates reports 101st Airborne leaders are in the dark as to whether the overflight at Nashville's "No Kings" protest was incidental or deliberate, and they want to get to the bottom of it.

LISA is making music moves -- and making history -- all at the same time.

The BLACKPINK star announced on Monday that she's hitting the strip this fall ... for a Las Vegas residency titled "Viva La Lisa."

She dropped the big news on Instagram, writing ... "Vegas, are you ready? VIVA LA LISA, coming November 2026."

The singer will be taking the stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for four dates -- November 13, 14, 27 and 28, according to Ticketmaster -- marking the first-ever Vegas residency from a K-pop artist.