Doja Cat I'm Done with Pop ... Let's Get to Some Rappin'!!!

Doja Cat says she's ready to prove she's a good rapper, and to do that ... she's shelving her pop style, maybe forever.

The artist -- who's been labeled a lot of things, but never quite fits into any given box -- took to Twitter on Saturday to reveal she's heard the people loud and clear ... namely, that her bars aren't quite up to snuff and that her rap prowess has been, thus far, pretty weak.

It's a consistent criticism Doja's faced since she splashed onto the scene ... especially since most of her biggest hits are straight up bubble-gum pop ones -- where she's singing.

Now, DC says she's gonna show everyone what's what on her next album ... writing, "i also agree with everyone who said the majority of my rap verses are mid and corny. I know they are. I wasnt trying to prove anything I just enjoy making music but I'm getting tired of hearing yall say that i can't so I will." In other words, Doja's gonna flex her stuff in due time.

There's more she addressed in responses to other Twitter users who reacted to this news -- including the fact that she does, in fact, consider herself a rapper ... up there with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Cardi B and other major femcees, it seems.

Doja also says pop music simply doesn't excite her anymore ... and wants to pivot toward a different sound and vibe. Lastly, she says she talk her s*** on this new project, "Hellmouth."

It's interesting that she wants to delve into straight up rap considering how much success she's had in her current lane. Doja has trotted out a number of singles that all charted well, including 'Say So,' 'Kiss Me More,' 'You Right,' 'Woman' and 'Best Friend,' among others.

That last one leans more rap, but her pop indulgences have proved to be money-makers ... and award contenders too. She's already won a Grammy, and has racked up tons of other accolades for her pop-centric records. The fact she wants to get away from that is ... risky.

Regardless, she sounds confident she can get it done ... and with her track record, there's no reason to believe she can't. Doja Cat is one of the biggest names in music right now, so we're sure she can whip up a damn good album with stellar production and features.

There've been reports she plans to do this new album solo, without any collabs, but there's no evidence backing that. What she has teased, however, are some title names ... like 'Balut,' 'Wet Vagina' and 'Agora Hills.' Gotta say ... those sound like straight bangers.

Less crooning, more spittin' ... can't wait!

Israel Adesanya Celebrates KO Win ... Epic Party At Miami Nightclub!!!

israel nightclub dance
CELEBRATING AT THE CLUB
Media Monsters

Israel Adesanya celebrated his big UFC title victory at a Miami hot spot ... and, needless to say, he pulled out all the stops.

The champ showed up -- belt in hand -- to E11EVEN nightclub after his second-round knockout of Alex Pereira on Saturday night. As you know, Pereira had previously KO'd Adesanya to snag the UFC 281 title at Madison Square Garden last year.

As Israel made his grand entrance into the club, the DJ gave him a shout-out and played his theme music. Everyone went wild, crowding around Israel so they could shoot videos and take selfies with him.

israel knock out
THE CHAMP RETURNS
ESPN

When Israel finally sat down at his table, he was treated like a king, getting bottle service. NFL star Odell Beckman Jr. walked over to Israel for a little chat. We're told Odell seemed very animated during their convo. Unclear, though, what the two were actually talking about.

Then Israel took to the stage to show off his dance moves with rapper GASHI, who was the headline performer. But, of course, Israel and his championship belt stole the show.

Israel also hit the dance floor with UFC legends Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Kamaru Usman.

What a night! Congrats, Israel.

For more, tune into the TMZ Sports Podcast available on all podcast platforms!

Tom Sandoval Back to the Band Life Post-Scandal Beltin' Out Tunes Shirtless

tom sandoval sing 4/8/23
SHREDDING ON STAGE
Instagram / @houseofloren

Tom Sandoval is moving on from the Scandoval -- and he's doing it by getting back onstage and singing his heart out.

The 'Vanderpump' reality star got under the spotlight this weekend with his band, The Most Extras, for 2 live gigs where the guys apparently played to packed houses. On Friday, Tom performed at a venue called the Canyon in Montclair, CA ... way out near Pomona.

tom sandoval band
ROCKIN WITH THE BAND
Instagram / @sharonstreger, @tonebender

On Saturday, he did it again ... only this time, him and the band went in the other direction -- again playing at a Canyon establishment, but in Agoura Hills ... which is near Calabasas.

In both instances, TS lost his shirt ... and handled microphone duties bare-chested. He wasn't shy either ... Tom was up there belting out songs like there was no tomorrow, and it sounds like the crowds were rockin' with him for the most part. All in all, pretty good vibes.

Of course, the question some might ask is ... too soon? Clearly not -- the guy was booked, so he has every right to perform ... and it doesn't sound like the cheating hurt sales either.

He's already gone to the reunion and gotten chewed out by everyone under the sun -- both on and off set -- and he's apologized for betraying Ariana Madix. At this point, though ... this saga's been going on a month-plus and there's nothing more to really say. It's over.

AM's reportedly already lined up her next act -- apparently, she's set to appear on 'DWTS' -- and Tom seems set to do the same ... playing his music and running his businesses.

A soap opera comes to mind here ... 'As the World Turns.'

Hulu New Freaknik Doc ... Freaking Out Older Gen. of Ragers!!!

freaknik split
boy, takes me back ...
TikTok / @lashwaxandglow

Hulu's forthcoming documentary about Freaknik apparently has some old-school partiers trembling in their boots ... and one woman's now-viral concerns might reflect the many.

A TikToker named Tina posted a clip that's making the rounds, and it seems to be a perfect encapsulation of what a lot of late-40-somethings/early-50-somethings in and around the Atlanta area are worried about with this movie coming out ... namely, showing up in this.

Check out her breakdown of what was going on back then during the legendary Freaknik street festivals that used to overtake the ATL during Spring Break ... sounds like a wild time.

As Tina notes here, she's not so much worried about herself in this instance ... as she says she would always avoid the giant video cameras that were being busted out left and right -- a staple of Freaknik culture, it seems, in those days. She says she never did anything crazy or regretful on tape -- but the same can't be said for others, and she's nervous for them.

Her angst is now trending on Twitter, too, BTW ... with a lot of folks joking that their moms and aunts probably don't want this thing hitting the airwaves -- 'cause it could include some old footage that's a little bit embarrassing. Of course, there's some ugliness as well.

The Freaknik parties of the '90s ended up drawing a lot of crime and debauchery to Atlanta at its peak -- including looting, robberies, assaults and sexual assaults ... the latter of which started to become a worrisome trend as more women were being manhandled in public.

The issue got so bad ... city leaders started to crack down and break up Freaknik to the point that it wasn't what it once was -- and eventually dissolved entirely in the late '90s.

Some in Atlanta have tried to revive Freaknik in recent years, but it's never been the same. In any case -- the new doc, 'The Wildest Party Never Told,' is aiming to expose all of it.

Buckle up!

Prince Louis Hopping Along to Mass for Easter ... 1st Public Holiday Outing

Prince Louis has crossed a Royal threshold -- going to church on Easter with his family ... something his older siblings didn't do publicly until just last year, so he's got 'em beat.

The youngest child of Prince William and Kate Middleton -- who's 4, but turning 5 later this month -- was seen out with the whole brood Sunday as the Wales crew made their way to mass to celebrate the holy day ... with everyone color coordinating in crisp, blue outfits.

Louis looked well-behaved as he held onto his mom and dads' hands while coming to and leaving St. George's Chapel. He even shook hands with the priest ... which was pretty cute to see.

It's interesting that he made his big debut at such a young age -- you see, Prince George and Princess Charlotte only got out there for the first time last year at ages 8 and 6, respectively. Despite PL's history of acting out, it would seem Will and Kate trusted him.

From the looks of it, Lou put on his big-boy pants shorts and kept it together through what is undoubtedly a boring holiday for little ones ... at least when an egg hunt's not in play.

Well done, young prince. You've caught on to Royal life quite quickly ... suck it up, wave and smile.

ARIANA MADIX I'M PUTTIN' MY DANCING SHOES ON!!! ... JOINING 'DWTS:' REPORT

Ariana Madix is using her new-found super fame to expand her brand ... apparently joining "Dancing with the Stars" in Sept., according to a new report.

"ABC is in late stage conversations with [Madix] to be a contestant to join 'DWTS' this fall" ... a show insider told Page 6.

It's a bit complicated, since "Vanderpump Rules" is on Bravo -- owned by NBC -- and 'DWTS' is on ABC, but these things get worked out all the time.

It's an interesting move .... 'DWTS' won't air until September, and the highly-anticipated reunion 'VPR' show will air months before. But ABC clearly thinks the Scandavol has legs.

Ariana has reached the status of a heroine, at least among her fellow cast. This is a huge opportunity for her ... going from bartender to, as she hopes, actress. 'DWTS' could be a gateway to her goal as she's also set to appear in a Lifetime movie.

Stay tuned.

Amanda Bynes Remains in Mental Hospital ... Outpatient Treatment Once She's Out

It's been nearly 3 weeks since Amanda Bynes was first admitted to a mental health hospital, and while her release date is still undetermined ... those around her are already formulating a plan to make sure she stays on the right path.

Sources close to the actress tell us both Amanda and the medical staff have been taking her stay week by week. We're told she's not being forced to stay at the facility but doesn't quite feel ready to leave yet. When she is, though, she'll enroll in an outpatient mental health treatment program.

Our sources say because Amanda is no longer under a conservatorship -- which ended in 2022 after 9 years -- she can make her own medical decisions.

Amanda has worked with the medical staff to ensure she's supported when she gets out, and an outpatient program will keep her on track ... meeting with doctors and specialists.

While we're told reports that Amanda's parents have been by her side through the hospital stay are not true ... our sources say her parents do still support her in any way they can.

TMZ broke the story -- Bynes was found naked and wandering L.A. streets early in the morning last month. She flagged down a vehicle and called 911 to report she was having a psychotic episode and needed help. She was admitted to the hospital on a psych hold, and has remained there since then.

While there's no set date for her release, we're told there's hope she'll be well enough to get out in the next week ... though nothing's certain yet.

Donald Trump Cageside At UFC Fights W/ Dana White, Kid Rock ... For Jorge Masvidal-Burns

UPDATE

9:30 PM PT -- Jorge Masvidal, after laying down his gloves and retiring following a decision loss to Gilbert Burns, referenced Trump while talking to Joe Rogan ... saying "we got the greatest president in the history of the world sitting right there. I love that guy," while pointing at DT, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

UPDATE

Gamebred also alluded to governor Ron DeSantis (Trump's political enemy and opponent for the Rep. nomination), saying "we also got the greatest governor of all-time here in Florida. Let's keep Florida free, a red state, and let's take back, let's take that 'Let's Go Brandon' mother f***er out of power and replace him!"

UPDATE

Masvidal then started a "Let's go Brandon" chant before leaving the Octagon.

UPDATE

Donald Trump is in the building for UFC 287 in Miami ... sitting Octagon-side with close friend, UFC president Dana White, and Kid Rock.

It makes sense ... #45's Mar-a-Lago home is only about an hour from MIA's Kaseya Center -- the location of 287 -- and with supporter Jorge Masvidal fighting on the cards co-main event vs. Gilbert Burns, it makes sense that Trump would attend.

Trump is seated just feet from the Octagon, with Dana to his right, and Kid Rock to his left. Mike Tyson is seated next to the controversial musician.

ESPN+, unlike the last time Trump attended a fight (UFC 264, Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier, July 2021) where he was never shown on the television broadcast, was shown ... with a graphic saying "45th President of the United States."

There was also a "U.S.A., U.S.A." chant from a portion of the packed crowd.

After Kevin Holland knocked out SantiagoPonzinibbio in the 3rd round, Big Mouth jumped the Octagon fence, and was talking to Dana as Trump listened on.

Donald, KR, and "Iron Mike" aren't the only celebs in the house ...the event's packed with big stars like Odell Beckham Jr., Logan Paul, Justin Jefferson, Joe Burrow and Jonathan “Foodgod” Cheban.

Of course, it's been a hectic week for the former president. On Tuesday, Trump was arraigned in NYC where he was charged with 34 felonies.

For more, tune into the TMZ Sports Podcast available on all podcast platforms!

Starstruck Celebs With The Easter Bunny ... Hoppy Easter!!!

Before these celebs were a "somebunny" in Hollywood, they were just hoppin' around town looking for the Easter Bunny. Lucky for you, TMZ has gathered the cutest pics of celebs having their starstruck moment with the cotton-tailed legend himself ... so, let's hop to it!

Stars like Orlando Bloom and Chrissy Teigen wanted the bunny all to themselves, while Hilary Duff and Alec Baldwin wrangled their fams for a group photo-hop. And, leave it to Robert Downey Jr. to try upstaging the life-size furry animal, (but you already know who the real star is 😉!)

Pounce into our gallery and see all the celebs whose Easter Bunny wishes came true ... After all, everyone needs a friend who is all ears!

Hoppy Easter!

Tiger Woods Withdraws from Masters ... That Damn Leg's Bothering Me

Tiger Woods has pulled out of the Masters before the third round gets underway Sunday, and it all seems to go back to that car crash.

Tiger was struggling big time Saturday at the Augusta National Golf Club ... clearly limping as he traversed the course in horrendous weather. He was 9 over and 6 over for the second round when officials pulled the plug because of weather conditions.

Tiger said Sunday AM ... "I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis. Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!"

022321-tiger-woods-crash-kalv3 2/23/21
SCENE OF THE WRECKAGE
Fox 11

As you know, the golfing legend was in a horrific car crash in February, 2021 ... doctors weren't sure they could save his leg. But Tiger rebounded and has played in several major tournaments since.

By qualifying Saturday ... 5-time Masters champ Tiger tied Gary Player for the longest streak of making the cut in the Masters -- 23 consecutive times!

'Barbie' Woman Who Inspired Doll Gives Margot Thumbs-Up

The woman who the Barbie doll is named after is giving Margot Robbie her stamp of approval ... and she thinks the upcoming movie is going to please Barbie fans.

Barbara Handler, whose mother Ruth created the famous toy and named it after her, tells TMZ ... she's seen the "Barbie" movie trailer that just dropped and thinks Margot nailed the starring role.

Overall, Barbara thinks the trailer is super cute and she's especially liking Margot's voice ... and it's got her looking forward to the movie's July release even more. She says the rest of the cast, which includes Ryan Gosling, seems to be great together.

Barbara says her late mother, who also named the Ken doll after Barbara's late brother, never imagined her creation being turned into a Hollywood production ... and she thinks Ruth would be pleased to see the doll come to life on the big screen.

The Handler family wasn't involved in the film, but Barbara says it's great to see her mother's legacy live on.

BTW ... Barbara does NOT go by Barbie -- she's been embarrassed by the connection her whole life. Ditto her brother Ken, who also didn't like the association.

Taylor Swift & Joe Alwyn Splitsville ... Reports Say 'Amicable'

Taylor Swift and her longtime boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, have reportedly broken up ... but it sounds like there's no drama she'll have to sing about in the aftermath.

ET broke the news Saturday, reporting that the couple split a few weeks ago ... but that the uncoupling was "amicable" and "not dramatic," which isn't always how Taylor Swift breakups go. The outlet goes on to say, citing sources, the relationship had simply run its course.

A sign there was trouble on the horizon, per ET, was the fact Joe hadn't been seen at any of TS's concerts of late. The reason, apparently, is because they'd gone their separate ways. As you know, TayTay is on tour right now -- and Joe has had a habit of coming out to support.

This news is quite the shocker ... Taylor and Joe seemed to be good as recently as this past fall, when they were spotted out in NYC -- not to mention their vacay to the Bahamas last summer where they were packing on the PDA. By most accounts, they were doing great.

JA is usually out of the spotlight, as was their relationship in general. The dynamic between them was, by and large, kept private ... but Taylor seemed head over heels for the guy.

Taylor and Joe first got together back in 2017, so they've been going strong for 6 years now. Up to this point, Joe's been Taylor's most steady and consistent boyfriend since she splashed onto the Hollywood scene ... with a lot of her exes being way more famous.

Remember, she's dated the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal, Harry Styles, Joe Jonas, Tom Hiddleston, Taylor Lautner, Calvin Harris and John Mayer -- to name a few. None went the distance with her the way Joe did ... and many thought they could even get married.

Of course, the other weird thing about this is that Taylor recently put out a new track that was meant to be a love letter to Joe -- although it's unclear when they may have been recorded. In any case, it appears to be sayonara for now for these two ... for now.

We've reached out to Taylor and Joe's reps ... so far, no word back.

Pope Francis Hanging Out With The Celebs!

It's officially Easter Sunday, folks ... so as you're divin' into whatever you gave up for Lent, take a look at some big names having a grand ole time with the Pope himself!

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kelly Clarkson, and soccer legend Diego Maradona are just a few shaking hands and chatting it up with Pope Francis -- and it looks like the celebs certainly love him.

Martin Scorsese was blessed to be in the Pope's presence ... even kissing his hand out of respect!

Aretha Franklin got the chance to sing "Amazing Grace" in front of the Pope at the World Meeting of Families in 2015 -- an opportunity we're sure she didn't want to pass up.

U2's Bono seems to be deep in a conversation with PF -- who's seen here in a wheelchair.

As you know, the 86-year-old was hospitalized last month after suffering a respiratory infection  ... but was able to return to work a few days later -- and just in time for Easter!

Mike Tyson NBA Players Should Use My Cannabis ... 'Best In The World!!!'

mike tyson weed 4/5/23
knockout kush
TMZSports.com

If NBA players are tryna get their hands on some top-notch cannabis -- after the league announced they won't be penalized for marijuana use -- then they need to hit up Mike Tyson who tells TMZ Sports he's got the best product in the world!

The NBA announced this month that they're going to remove weed from their drug tests and allow players to use marijuana under a new labor agreement.

The boxing legend -- who also runs a cannabis business called Tyson 2.0 -- loves the idea and told us NBA players should hit him up and cop some of his product.

"I would prefer [NBA players] to use my product," the 56-year-old said on Wednesday. "My product is the best product in the world."

"I'm not tooting my own horn -- it just is. Look at the write-ups from people that have tried it."

Tyson even has a couple of recommendations, including his favorite weed that he smokes on his 'Hotboxin'' podcast regularly ... Sour Diesel!

"If you want to go down and do some indica, you do some OG Kush. If you wanna stay up and enjoy the world, you do the stuff I always smoke, Sour Diesel. It keeps me thinking."

Tyson knows his stuff when it comes to good cannabis ... his brand is in 12 countries, the Mike Bites ear-shaped cannabis-infused gummies are sellin' like crazy and he just opened up the first Coffeeshop TYSON 2.0 in Amsterdam with his friend and CEO Adam Wilks.

"It's a real full Tyson 2.0 experience," Wilks said about the new café.

mike tyson store
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
TMZSports.com

"You can buy cannabis, baked goods, ear-shaped cookies, and brownies, you can buy pre-rolled joints ... all different Tyson 2.0 cannabis products that you can experience in-house at our café."

What about the NBA and Tyson 2.0 partnering up since the adjusted drug tests??? Well, Wilks tells us there are some "open discussions to be had."

Stay tuned!

Guess Who These Easter Cuties Turned Into!

These future stars clearly loved hoppin' into the Easter spirit before their claims to fame, but can you crack these celebs before they broke into the limelight?

Zac Efron, Sarah Hyland and Kate Bosworth are just a few of the little bunnies who woke up on Easter Sunday ready to cop some eggs -- but good luck figuring out which one is them ... Hoppy hunting!

This singer owned the "American Idol" stage with her country songs, but who is this lil' bunny all dressed up?!

These lil' peeps loved scouting for Easter goodies, but do their kiddie bangs and matching outfits throw you for a loop?

Hollywood celebs still dig getting in the holiday mood ... but there's something so sweet and playful when it comes to Easter when you're just a cute kid!

LFO MEMBER BRAD FISCHETTI Death Curse Theory Doesn't Scare Me ... I'm Alive, Show Must Go On

040723_brad_fischetti_kal
CARRYING ON THE LEGACY
TMZ.com

Brad Fischetti, the last living member of LFO, says he's not scared by the fact death seems to come early to those involved with the band ... he's alive and well, and touring in their honor.

Brad tells TMZ ... he was shocked and dumbfounded at the end of March, when original LFO member Brian "Brizz" Gillis suddenly died, leaving Brad as the last surviving member.

Lots of folks didn't even know Brian was in LFO ... and some thought it was really Brad who passed. Brian was LFO's third member when the band started, but he left before Devin Lima joined the group in 1999, the same year "Summer Girls" became a huge hit.

Remember ... Devin was only 41 when he died back in November 2018, and Rich Cronin was just 36 when he died in September 2010 ... with cancer taking both their lives. Brian's cause of death is still unclear.

Brad says it's not just LFO band members who have died young ... he says their OG record label head, keyboard player, choreographer and a producer they worked with are all dead too.

Still, Brad says he hopes there's not a death curse on LFO. He hopes he lives a long life and tells us he's got no plans to stop touring, viewing it as a way to carry on LFO's legacy.

Brad says he keeps Devin, Rich, Brian and the others in his prayers and tries to remain strong in his faith ... and he thinks they would want him to keep making music.