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Rico Wade -- a top Atlanta-based producer and former collaborator with OutKast and TLC -- has died ... according to rap legend Killer Mike.

Killer Mike shared a couple pics of the Atlanta rap game mainstay to his Instagram early Saturday morning ... sending prayers to Wade's family and thanking him for bringing him into musical collective The Dungeon Family back in the day.

Mike didn't provide a cause of death ... and, fellow hip hop legends -- like CeeLo Green and Three 6 Mafia -- shared their condolences on the post.

A knife-wielding killer went on a cold-blooded rampage through a mall in Australia, slaughtering 6 people and injuring several more before he was shot dead by police.

And, in what has become commonplace for these types of incidents, witnesses used cell phone cameras to capture pieces of Saturday's frightening massacre in Sydney's busy Westfield Bondi Junction mall.

Check out this dramatic footage ... the alleged 40-year-old suspect was confronted on an escalator by a man trying to fend him off with a pole.

Billie Eilish gave herself -- and the crowd -- a real treat at Coachella Friday night ... turning up on stage as a special guest to perform with her idol Lana Del Rey.

The iconic pairing came as a surprise to the packed audience on weekend 1 of the 23rd annual festival in Indio, California. But, for Billie, it was everything she could ever hope for given that Lana has been such a major influence on her music.

Bille suddenly emerged from backstage and launched straight into her tune, "Ocean Eyes," with an assist from Lana. Then the stars did another duet, singing Lana's song, “Video Games."

The first day of the Coachella Music And Arts Festival lured in all of Hollywood's hottest celebs and influencers with promises of opulent vibes and movie-like memories ... and the three-day rager in the desert has already made good on their word!

The styles around the polo fields have traded in the flower crowns for some more futuristic fashion ... Like Charli D'Amelio pushing the boundaries with a sheer black skirt mixed with a bandana, bikini and moto boots ... while cheeky 'Chella staple and makeup maven James Charles got goth in a black Rick Owens' inspired ensemble ... all the while Heidi Klum show the newbies that going green always gets the right attention.

Beyoncé's cowboy cap craze had a big chunk of the Coachella crowd looking like they would blend in better at Stagecoach ... Megan Fox topped off her night with a straw sombrero over some bright blue hair ... and Lala Kent kept things a little more "Wild, Wild West" with a felt fedora.

Shakira had a double surprise for the crowd at Coachella on opening night ... first, she popped up for an unexpected performance, and then she announced a world tour!

The singer made her dramatic debut Friday evening at the 23rd annual festival in Indio, CA, joining Bizarrap onstage to play their songs, “La Fuerte” and “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

Check out this video, obtained by TMZ -- Shakira was standing on an elevated platform, which gradually lowered her to the floor.

Bill Maher tackled one of the most burning questions in the history of "Star Trek" Friday ... and thanks to William Shatner, we now have our answer!

The 'Real Time' host interviewed Shatner on his HBO show – and, at one point during their convo, Bill asked about the famous interracial kiss between Admiral James T. Kirk (white) and Lt. Nyota Uhura (Black).

Shatner, as Kirk, planted the lip smacker on Nichelle Nichols, as Uhura, in the 1968 Star Trek episode titled, "Plato's Stepchildren." The moment was very controversial because NBC – which aired "Star Trek" – was afraid of turning off their conservative Southern audience.

Coachella is back ... and some of the biggest names have snagged invites to the hottest party in town during the festival weekend.

The Neon Carnival guest list is a well-guarded secret each year, but our party sources out in the desert tell us Kyle Richards, Paris Hilton, Bebe Rexha, Jonathan "Foodgod" Cheban and Tyga made the cut for Saturday night's bash, which is going down at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA -- not far from the main Coachella grounds.

Other favorites like rapper Coi Leray and actress Peyton List will also be partying the night away at the celeb-packed event.

O.J. Simpson's acquittal in his 1994 murder trial remains one of the most controversial verdicts to date, but a member of his defense -- the so-called Dream Team -- stands by the strategies they used to get him off.

Perhaps the most controversial of their strategies was playing the "race card" during the trial ... a decision attorney Carl Douglas defends, claiming both sides knew race would play a factor in the case.

He tells TMZ ... "The prosecution played the race card as well when they brought on a Black prosecutor (Christopher Darden) for the first time when the jury was all assembled on the first day of trial."

O.J. Simpson's death raises the question -- what's his legacy? And, Morgan Wallen's in big trouble after throwing a chair off a rooftop bar. So we gotta ask ...

Sales of O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It" book have exploded since the infamous star's death, with the publication skyrocketing to the top of the charts.

76-year-old O.J. died on Wednesday -- a day before the public found out -- when the Simpson family announced the news ... and reignited interest in the grizzly, 1994 double murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

According to Amazon.com, the world's largest bookseller, "If I Did It" sits in the number 1, 2, and 4 spots (different versions of the book -- audio, abridged, unabridged) in the entire Criminology section. It's also number 8 in the Murder/True Crime section.

Tina Turner's getting a huge honor in the place where she was born, as local leaders have approved a bronze Tina statue -- about a year after the mayor first promised to erect one.

Bill Rawls, Jr. the mayor of Brownsville, Tennessee tells TMZ ... the city has decided to fund a six-foot-tall bronze statue that will be placed in the city's Heritage Park, which is located right near the high school Turner attended.

We're told the statue's gonna cost around $150k with the city making the initial deposit before public/private funds cover the rest. The fundraising is starting ASAP, but Rawls says he's not worried about puttin' together the cash.

For real though, who doesn't wanna step up to Chantel Jeffries's DJ booth?! But first, there are some minor switch-ups in the way, which you must clear out! Keep your eyes and ears open, and see if you've got what it takes to find the differences!

Spinning right into Coachella earlier this week, Chantel jumpstarted the tunes with her set during Darren Dzienciol's Pre-Coachella Soiree -- lookin' SO hot in SoCal. However, some of her equipment ain't lookin' right!

Can you locate the changes? Hey DJ, spin it!

It's finally the weekend, and TMZ covered a whole lotta wild stories this week. Check out the best of the past week below.

On "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles discuss Caitlyn Jenner slamming social media users for comparing the tragic car crash she was a part of to O.J. Simpson's alleged crimes.

The world-renowned Coachella Valley Music Festival kicked off in the desert this weekend, and you can bet your bottom dollar on these Hollywood Hotties to turn up with their sidekicks for music's trendiest festival!

Riding into the desert HOT, David Dobrik and Noah Beck stopped for a classic Coachella Ferris Wheel selfie, Lele Pons and Hannah Stocking brought their Bestie Game in matching metallic drip crop tops, and "Vanderpump Rules" star Ariana Madix planted a friendly smooch on her sidekick Dayna Kathan!

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's new Netflix venture's already poppin' with star power ... 'cause early filming saw Serena Williams hangin' with the duo!

The Sussexes were down in Miami shooting their new show for Netflix all about the polo world ... attending the Royal Salute Polo Challenge Friday.

Check out the pics ... Harry's all decked out in his polo gear -- ready to hop on a horse and score a few points with cameras ready to cover it all.

JoJo Siwa has addressed the rumors she stole her new song from Miley Cyrus and Brit Smith ... telling TMZ she in no way swiped the single from anyone.

We caught up with the 20-year-old outside Studio Siwa in Burbank, where she told us how she came into possession of her viral track, "Karma." As JoJo put it ... she was pitched the song -- which she defended as a very normal thing in the music industry.

She added ... "What happens is, people write songs and then they just don't do anything with them. And then, a few years later, it makes more sense for another artist."