Boyz II Men

Reggie Warren -- one of the original five members of the R&B group TROOP -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the group tells us Reggie passed away Sunday at his home in Pasadena, surrounded by family. We're told he's been dealing with health issues for a while now, and was even hospitalized for a couple months back in January.

The rep says Reggie was released from the hospital Saturday with the anticipation he would die. We're told his death is not COVID related -- but the family didn't want to discuss an official cause until an autopsy could be performed.

Reggie started out with TROOP when it first formed in the '80s, alongside childhood friends Rodney Benford, John Harreld, Steve Russell and Allen McNeil. Russell paid tribute to his longtime collaborator in an IG post on Sunday, writing ... "Job well done my brother I will see you on the other side🌹🌹😓😥😓😥😓RIP Reggie Warren. #DamnReggie."

The quintet signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut album in '88, which saw a hit in their lead single 'Mamacita.' They're more well-known for their 2nd album, 'Attitude,' though, which spawned two #1s in songs like "All I Do is Think of You" and "Spread My Wings."

Beyond their musical success, TROOP -- which stands for Total Respect of Other People -- might also be remembered as the a capella group singing a cover of "Living For the City" in the cult classic film "New Jack City" -- which they all briefly appear in during a montage.

'Living For the City' got mashed together with Queen Latifah's 'For the Love of Money' -- also featured in the movie -- for a memorable medley that came to be associated with 'NJC.'

The group went on a hiatus in the late '90s, but got back together and went touring in the 2000s and beyond ... having appeared in concert with notable acts like Boyz II Men, Keith Sweat, Jon B, Brian McKnight and other artists and groups that were popular in those days.

Looks like the fellas stayed on good terms through the 2010s, as they'd often appear together at different public events like the BET Awards and beyond.

Reggie was 51.

Kobe Bryant loomed large in the minds of all the musicians at the Grammy Awards -- which was evident in Alicia Keys' touching opening tribute to the late NBA legend.

This year's host started Sunday night's show with some solemn words for the crowd, acknowledging Kobe's death right off the bat by saying that everyone there was feeling "crazy sadness" ... adding that L.A., the U.S. and the world had lost a great one.

She went on to say, "We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." The Grammys are being held at the STAPLES Center ... so she's correct there. The building even lit up his two jerseys in the rafters as AK spoke.

Alicia asked the audience to hold Kobe, Gianna and all the other victims in the helicopter crash in their thoughts, prayers and spirits as their families mourned. Then came a huge moment ... she brought out Boyz II Men and sang "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye."

Just outside, fans were paying their respects to their hometown hero ... but some weren't so happy the Grammys were continuing at all. You can hear several people shouting, "F**k the Grammys!" in what appeared to be a spontaneous protest of sorts.

Shawn Stockman is giving Gina Rodriguez a pass for singing the n-word ... he says it's totally fine because her parents are Puerto Rican, and Latinos are black.

We got the Boyz II Men singer Wednesday at LAX and asked him to weigh-in on the backlash Gina's getting after saying "n***a" while singing along to the Fugees on social media.

Shawn says he's not offended by Gina's use of the word, and he goes one step further ... saying people of Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican and Mexican descent can say "n***a" because they're all different shades of black.

Gina quickly apologized after her social media post went viral, saying sorry for offending anyone and explaining her connection to Lauryn Hill and the Fugees. But, Shawn thinks Gina has absolutely nothing to apologize for.

Shawn Stockman in no way, shape or form has reached the end of the road with Boyz II Men now that he's gone solo, and anyone asking -- like our camera guy -- better check themselves.

We got Shawn at LAX Thursday and congratulated him on dropping his solo single, "Feelin Lil Som’n," last week. But, our photog wondered ... does this mean he's breaking away from the group to focus on his solo career?

Shawn was thrown off by the question ... and, for good measure, said if no one hated on Paul McCartney and John Lennon, then back off his pursuit.

Super interesting video from Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman ... who tells TMZ Sports -- without specifying a reason -- that he doesn't sing the national anthem at sporting events anymore.

We got Shawn out at LAX and were talking to the 49ers fan about all the offseason moves the team is making ... adding guys like Richard Sherman to the squad.

When our guy switched gears and asked Shawn if we'd be seeing him sing the anthem for his team any time soon, Stockman was pretty clear.

"Nah, I don't sing the national anthem."

Shawn didn't say, but you gotta believe it has to do with the recent anthem protests, especially when considering that Stockman has sang the anthem before both solo, and as a member of Boyz II Men.

A standout contestant on "America's Got Talent" has died just weeks before his episode was scheduled to air ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the production tell us 29-year-old Dr. Brandon Rogers died over the weekend in a car accident. We're told the crash occurred in Maryland Saturday. Brandon was taken to a hospital where he died Sunday.

Brandon was a fantastic singer who was discovered by 'AGT' producers who saw him on Instagram covering Boyz II Men's hit song, "On Bended Knee." The band even shouted him out on social media, asking fans if they thought they should bring him on tour with them. Sure enough ... they did.

Production sources tell us no decision has been made on whether or not to run the episode. It's scheduled to air next month. The family tells TMZ they would love for the episode to air.

Justin Bieber killed it in Hollywood Sunday night, with an awesome impromptu performance.

The Biebs was at the W Hollywood Hotel Jazz Night by Jin&Quinn, when he got up on stage and performed Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You."

LET THE GAMES BEGIN -- the men on the new season of "The Bachelorette" are already competing hard for the affections of sexy attorney Andi Dorfman ... and somehow, Boyz II Men got dragged into the fray.

Spoiler alert -- sources tell TMZ, Andi and her suitors were out in Santa Barbara Wednesday for their third group date ... when they arrived at an outdoor Boyz II Men show ... and took over the stage.

It was all obviously a set-up for the show, but it still looked like a blast. We're told the bachelors were split into two groups -- one in khaki blazers and one in blue cardigans -- and they each sang their own renditions of "I'll Make Love to You."

We're told the guy in the foreground (on the left) had the best voice.

And Andi ... looked hot.

Bad news for anyone hoping to make a bet with a guy who doesn't pay up ... 'cause Aaron Rodgers says his days of making friendly wagers on football games are officially OVER.

The Green Bay Packers QB was leaving Benjamin Steak House in NYC (he likes his steak "medium" btw) ... when we asked him if was planning to take any "friendly" action on the Super Bowl.

You know ... like the jersey bet he made with the guys from Boyz II Men last season (Aaron lost the best but refused to wear a 49ers jersey, as he had agreed to do ... cluck cluck cluck).

But last night, Aaron shut down the idea of making any more bets on football EVER AGAIN.

Boyz II Men are on bended knee asking a filmmaker to change the title of his new movie "Boys 2 Men" ... and if he refuses, the group says they're going to court.

Reps for Boyz fired off a letter to the movie makers this week saying they never gave permission to use the name ... so they're ready to pull out the heavy artillery against the filmmaker, as well as any theater or website that runs the flick.

The writer/director for "Boys 2 Men" tells TMZ ... they will not change the title of the movie unless they're boxed in a legal corner ... and so far they don't think they are.

Boyz II Men is officially ready to let bygones be bygones with habitual bet dodger Aaron Rogers ... but they'll NEVER make another friendly wager with the chicken QB ever again.

Wanya Morris -- 1/3 of the R&B trio -- tells TMZ Sports ... both sides have worked out their issues after Rodgers refused to sport a 49ers jersey when he lost a friendly wager to the guys back in 2012.

In case you forgot, Rodgers had initially agreed to wear the jersey IF the Pack lost to SF last year ... but when GB was defeated, Rodgers chickened out like he worked at Foster Farms.

But Morris tells us it's all in the past now ... explaining the group told Rogers he's forgiven 'cause "it's all good, life is life."

Of course, Rodgers went on to back out of ANOTHER challenge ... when he said he'd pay a year's salary to a Twitter follower if Ryan Braun ever tested positive for PEDs.

Cluck. Cluck.

Aaron Rodgers -- NFL star and habitual bet weaseler-outer -- has LOST another major wager after famously betting his salary that Ryan Braun was PED-free ... but he probably won't pay up, 'cause that would be wayyyyyy out of character.

You may remember back in February, the Green Bay QB went to Twitter to defend his friend Braun against widespread allegations the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder was juicing.

One fan challenged Rodgers, saying, “you really believe he (Braun) didn’t you (sic) PED’s???”
And Rodgers responded: “ya, I’d put my salary next year on it.”

Well, now that Braun's basically copped to doping ... Rodgers is officially a LOSER ... and should have to pay the guy his 2013 salary -- $4.5 MILLION.

But as we all know, Rodgers has a history of not paying off his bets -- starting with the wager he made with Boyz II Men back in 2012 ... that the Pack would beat the 9ers in the season opener.

The Pack lost that game ... and Rodgers was supposed to wear a 49ers jersey. But he chickened out ... cause he's a great big, feathery CHICKEN.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit up the Hollywood club scene last night ... rollin' into Bootsy Bellows on the Sunset Strip ... but it's clear, he's still bitter over the infamous 2012 jersey bet.

Let us refresh your memory -- right at the beginning of the '12 season, Rodgers made a friendly wager with one of the guys from Boyz II Men ... that if the Packers lost to the 49ers, he'd have to wear a SF jersey.

The Pack lost -- and Rodgers TOTALLY WEASELED OUT OF THE BET LIKE A CHUMP!!!!

Anyway, we called him out on the b*tch move for months ... and when we ran into him in L.A. last night, it was clear ... dude still holds a grudge.

Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman -- aka Aaron Rodgers' betting buddy -- feels the NFL is heading down a dangerous path with these crappy replacement refs ... and Commissioner Roger Goodell better halt the runaway train ASAP, or else.

Stockman says he hasn't spoken to Rodgers since last night's catastrophe against the Seahawks -- but tells us, "He got robbed. It's horrible. They really need to do something about these officials. It's ridiculous. It's really bad now."

Stockman says Goodell better settle the referee dispute asap ... because once the playoffs roll around "these are gonna be crucial games that these really inexperienced officials are going to have to regulate."

Check out the clip ... Stockman sends a shout out to Rodgers -- who, by the way, STILL hasn't paid off that 49ers jersey bet.

If the guys from Boyz II Men are still hungry for justice ... they can finally take a bite out of Aaron Rodgers at their L.A. concert tonight ... where a food vendor is serving up an item in his honor ... a big, fat chicken sandwich.

B2M has a show at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona ... and to remind the group that Rodgers is still refusing to wear the 49ers jersey he's obligated to sport after losing a friendly bet in Week 1 ... a sports bar at the fairgrounds called Finish Line Sports is serving a special Aaron Rodgers Cry Baby Chicken Club.

The bar owner tells us each ARCBCC will be served on San Francisco sourdough bread ... with 49er fries on the side.

For the record, Rodgers acknowledged making the bet ... tried to weasel out of paying up ... and is now hoping everyone will simply forget it ever happened.

Never forget.