Music

Tekashi 6ix9ine has been granted release from prison earlier than expected, as court documents viewed by Pitchfork confirm. The New York rapper, who was serving time after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, multiple firearms offenses, and narcotics trafficking, will serve the four-month remainder of his term from home confinement under government surveillance due

Exclusive Book worms are turning to a holy trinity to bring them light and guidance in the coronavirus pandemic … Carrie Underwood, Jessica Simpson and Jesus Christ. Here’s the deal … book sales are up across the board as more and more Americans are ordered to shelter at home to avoid spreading the virus, and

Ellis Marsalis, the New Orleans jazz pianist and patriarch of an accomplished family of musicians, has died. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music confirmed his death to NBC News. Branford Marsalis said his father died of COVID-19 complications. He was 85. Marsalis was the father of renowned musicians Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis; his

Nick Cannon still has Nipsey Hussle in his thoughts and all over his classic car … thanks to this sweet new artwork. Nick recently got his 1964 SS Impala’s trunk repainted with a custom tribute to the late rapper — who was gunned down in South L.A. a year ago Tuesday. It’s pretty clear, for

The public feud between Flavor Flav and Chuck D reached a boiling point in early March when Public Enemy announced that Flav was fired from the group. As it turns out, the whole dust-up appears to have been an elaborate ruse to help promote a forthcoming Public Enemy Radio album—due in April—featuring both Chuck and

It’s been exactly one year since Nipsey Hussle was shot dead in L.A. — but his memory lives on … and some of the biggest athletes in the world are paying tribute to the fallen rapper. Hussle’s music definitely struck a chord with athletes in all sports — with stars like Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving,

Earl Sweatshirt has hopped on a new remix of “Ion Rap Beef,” a 2018 song from Los Angeles rappers Drakeo the Ruler and 03 Greedo. The original was also recently included on the Free Drakeo compilation. Hear “Ion Rap Beef (Remix)” below. Drakeo has shared a number of new remixes this year: He’s released new

Exclusive If Cardi B was serious about raising cash for Joe Exotic via GoFundMe, she’s about to be stopped in her Tiger tracks … because the company won’t allow it. Money CANNOT be raised on its platform to fund the defense of inmates convicted of violent crimes, plain and simple … this according to a

Tame Impala have released a full-length reimagining of their latest album The Slow Rush. The hour-long clip includes every track on the new record, but the mix sounds muddied—like you’re hearing it from the bathroom at a party (similar to a remix trend that cropped up a couple of years ago). Check it out below.

Play video content Exclusive TMZ.com Pitbull is telling folks how we can come together and beat the coronavirus, and it’s a simple concept — knowledge is power!!! The Miami rapper joined us Monday on “TMZ Live,” and talked about Florida’s response to the pandemic. He gives law enforcement and politicians high marks, and as for

The Weeknd has shared three new songs on the deluxe edition of After Hours. “Nothing Compares,” “Missed You,” and “Final Lullaby” have been added to the LP as bonus tracks. Hear them below. After Hours arrived March 20, marking the Weeknd’s follow-up to My Dear Melancholy, and Starboy. The Weeknd has released multiple music videos

Breaking News Country star Joe Diffie — who skyrocketed to fame with his hit “John Deere Green” — has died from the coronavirus … this according to his team. The Grammy-winning singer passed away Sunday due to complications from the disease known as COVID-19, so says his management company, Adkins Publicity. Diffie had just gone

Michael Stipe has shared a first-take demo of a new song called “No Time for Love Like Now.” The track is a collaboration with the National’s Aaron Dessner. Watch the video below. “Michael Stipe has been a great hero and friend to me (and the National),” Dessner wrote, “and I never in my wildest dreams

Exclusive Many ‘Tiger King’ fans were stunned to find out Joe Exotic doesn’t sing his own songs, but there’s a real band behind those cat-themed country tunes … and it hopes the hit Netflix docuseries leads to a record deal. For those who haven’t watched yet … zoo owner/big cat breeder Joe Exotic flaunts his

The music video for Pop Smoke and Quavo’s “Shake the Room” has arrived. Directed by designer and DJ Virgil Abloh, the first posthumous video to be released since Pop’s death sees the rappers driving around Paris during Fashion Week. The song originally appeared on the late Brooklyn rapper’s final album Meet the Woo 2. Pop

The incarcerated Joe Exotic has one new champion in his corner — and it’s someone with a big voice and a major platform … one Cardi B, who says she wants him freed. The NY rapper went on a Twitter rant late-Friday night, with a bunch of messages in support of the ‘Tiger King’ star

Future’s non-profit organization FreeWishes Foundation has teamed up with Atlanta Sewing Style to make masks for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients affected by COVID-19. Atlanta Sewing Style is a community of over 500 local sewers and designers who will create, cut, sew, and deliver the masks to local hospitals. “There is so much that needs

Exclusive Yung Berg allegedly pistol-whipped a woman after having sex with her, and now she’s been granted court-ordered protection from him … TMZ has learned. According to new legal docs … Talia Tilley claims Yung Berg pistol-whipped her face, pointed the gun at her mouth and threatened to kill her … after they had sex

Hiss Golden Messenger have released a new live album that they recorded at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina last year. And, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the band is donating all proceeds from the album to North Carolina’s Durham Public Schools Foundation. Listen to Forward, Children below. A press release explains that Hiss

Exclusive R. Kelly‘s latest pitch to be released pending his trial in Illinois federal court centers on his fear — like most Americans – of coming down with COVID-19. The disgraced singer’s attorney, Steven Greenberg, filed a motion Thursday in which he refers to coronavirus spreading around the world, and the health risks he believes

Craig Finn, frontman for the Hold Steady, has announced a new album called All These Perfect Crosses. He’s also shared its title track. The LP was recorded during Finn’s sessions from his most recent solo album, last year’s I Need a New War. The double album arrives June 20 (via Partisan) for the recently rescheduled

Play video content THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE Joe Rogan is blasting Gal Gadot for what he sees as a serious case of tone-deafness … Joe says she’s a “f***ing idiot” for singing “imagine there’s no heaven.” Joe just gave Gal an epic dressing down on his podcast, ripping her for getting tons of her celebrity

Kesha’s social media presence in the time of social distancing has included, of course, a tutorial about washing hands to the tune of “TiK ToK.” Among the highlights from her timeline is a new song about Nicolas Cage. If you want to hear a Kesha song that references the actor’s work in Leaving Las Vegas

Play video content Exclusive TMZ.com Slim Thug is imploring folks in Houston — and young people everywhere — to start taking coronavirus seriously, and he hopes his diagnosis is a wake-up call. The H-town rapper joined us Wednesday on “TMZ Live” and told us too many people in his hometown are taking the pandemic lightly,

On Friday, March 20, Paradigm Talent Agency announced to its staff that it would be conducting mass “temporary” layoffs as the live music industry stares down a year of uncertainty due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A source close to the situation tells Pitchfork that the layoff terms do not include severance. In addition, according

Exclusive The coronavirus pandemic has brought live concerts to a total standstill, but the music industry is still set on churning out new tunes … and producers are increasingly working from home and getting super creative. Music industry sources tell TMZ … recording studios across Los Angeles and New York City have all closed due

Bill Rieflin, best known as the drummer for Ministry, King Crimson, and R.E.M., has died of cancer, according to his friend and collaborator Robert Fripp. He was 59. Rieflin was born in 1960 in Seattle, Washington. He got his start in music in the late 70s with local bands the Telepaths, Tupperwares, and the Blackouts.