Music

Diddy's case is yet another example of the federal government's hostility toward successful Black men ... at least according to his lawyer, who tells us race is a major factor here.

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, appears in a new TMZ Studios documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- which has just dropped on Tubi ... and he says the feds are targeting Diddy because of the color of his skin.

Agnifilo says the feds are just looking to take down Diddy because he's a successful Black man ... and when they couldn't nail him for anything related to taxes or his business empire, they started poking around in his bedroom.

Madonna's family is in mourning ... because her stepmother has died.

The "Like a Virgin" singer's stepmom, Joan Ciccone, died Tuesday after a battle with a very aggressive cancer ... according to her obituary.

Joan was Madonna's housekeeper growing up in Michigan ... and a couple years after Madonna's mother died at age 30 -- also from cancer -- Joan married Madonna's father, Silvio Ciccone.

Rihanna's looking absolutely savage in her new photoshoot ... rocking a bright yellow lingerie Savage X Fenty set.

Savage X Fenty dropped the RiRi pics just hours ago ... capturing the star in all her scantily clad glory -- no back to the bottoms and limited coverage up top too.

Her ensemble -- complete with thigh-high stockings and elbow-length gloves -- features a lace floral pattern running all over the 'fit.

Tons of Oakland Athletics legends have made the trip to Northern California for the team's swan song in the East Bay ... including former ace Barry Zito -- who was actually called upon to sing the national anthem at Thursday's finale!

The pitcher-turned-musician helped conclude the pre-game festivities at the Athletics' last-ever contest inside the Oakland Coliseum ... by belting out a sweet rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.

The three-time All-Star -- who made the transition to music following his retirement from the sport in 2015 -- picked up the mic just before first pitch against the Rangers ... and he killed it, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Kanye West can pop Champagne ... because he officially sold his gutted mansion disaster project in Malibu.

Real estate sources tell TMZ ... Ye just closed on the sale of his controversial oceanfront estate for $21 million.

Kanye infamously stripped the property down to its bare bones after initially scooping up the Tadao Ando-designed home in 2021 for $57.3 million.

Lana Del Rey is trading in "Summertime Sadness" for "Fiancé Fall" ... as the singer looks set to marry her boyfriend, Jeremy Dufrene.

According to the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court ... Lana stopped by with her boat captain beau Monday and picked up a marriage license.

We're told the marriage license has yet to be returned and recorded in the records ... so, it seems Lana and Jeremy haven't exchanged their vows -- though, it certainly looks like they intend to get hitched.

Diddy's lawyer offered a potential "explanation" for why the feds found a large stock of baby oil at the rapper's homes -- namely, buying in bulk at Costco, but the folks at Costco beg to differ.

A spokesperson for Costco tells TMZ ... none of the company's U.S. locations carry baby oil, even though Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo told us the rap mogul might have bought the item in bulk at the members-only warehouse retailer.

The proof is in the pudding, so to speak ... as a quick search of the store's site shows there's nothing akin to baby oil offered at Costco. There is, however, hair and cleansing gel sold for babies, but it'd be a stretch to confuse that with baby oil.

Austin Butler's back in action on set, filming scenes for his new movie "Caught Stealing" -- and he's got some star-studded company, teaming up with none other than Bad Bunny.

The rapper was almost unrecognizable in a dark red hairdo and matching beard as the cameras rolled in NYC Wednesday, and Oscar nominee Austin was splattered with fake blood -- so you can bet your bottom dollar they’re diving deep into the gritty crime thriller.

Looks like they got a lot of action in the can during the evening shoot for Darren Aronofsky's upcoming film. At one point, Austin and Bunny were locked in an intense scene, cruising around in a car ... in another scene, Zoë Kravitz joined Austin in a bar setting.

Lady Gaga was channeling full Harley Quinn vibes ... dripping in wackiness as she strutted out of the after-party for the London premiere of "Joker: Folie à Deux."

Exiting London's Nomad Hotel, the star rocked a bodysuit covered with bleeding faces stitched together, and of course, she paired it with matching stockings and towering baby blue platforms -- because when does Gaga ever do low-key?

Gaga rolled up to the after-party with her fiancé, Michael Polansky in a striped blue and beige dress, quirky checkered tights ... and, another pair of platform heels.

Halsey celebrated Bi Visibility Day in an unconventional way this year ... sharing an update from the hospital following a "very scary" health incident.

The singer took to Instagram Wednesday, where she uploaded a belated Bi Visibility Day post ... which featured her lying in a hospital bed as her fiancé Avan Jogia looked on.

According to the hitmaker, she spent the day "celebrating by dying with a man by my side" ... though she clarified she wasn't actually near death, and it was just a joke.

Rosalía's 32nd birthday made the City of Light shine brighter ... given the number of stars in attendance at the singer's big bash.

The Spanish artist's birthday celebration took place in Paris, France Wednesday evening at the Hotel Particulier -- which sits in the romantic city's Montmartre neighborhood.

Rosalía dressed to the nines for her party, stepping out in a chic white top and matching flared skirt, carrying a brown fur stole. Who said you can't wear white after Labor Day???

Cardi B's divorce from Offset is getting uglier with fresh accusations of infidelity and fights over property/assets.

The latest drama between the estranged hip hop couple unfolded Wednesday as Cardi hopped on Instagram Live to give Offset a piece of her mind. But, it was Offset who really turned up the heat.

During the IG Live session, Offset wrote in the comments section that Cardi cheated on him with another man while she was pregnant. He said, "U f***ed with a baby inside tell the truth !!"

Nick Carter's looking for aspiring musicians to serve as his opening act on a nationwide tour ... and the first honor goes to a guy who served him coffee.

The Backstreet Boys singer just started the U.S. leg of his "Who I Am" world tour and he needed an opener for Tuesday's show in Cleveland, OH ... and he found his man at a local restaurant.

Nick was grabbing coffee before the show when he started talking to his server, Jordan Tellez ... and when the dude showed him his music on Spotify, Nick asked him to join him at his show.

The hits keep coming for Macklemore ... he’s just been axed as the headliner for Neon City Festival, hot on the heels of his "F*** America" drama.

The Neon City Festival in Vegas didn’t outright blame the controversy for Macklemore’s removal, instead chalking it up to "unforeseen circumstances" -- and totally wiping him clean from the 2024 headliners section on their website.

Whatever the reason, it’s gotta sting for Macklemore, especially since he was just announced as a headliner ... days before he sparked outrage by chanting his anti-America stance during a pro-Palestine show.

Fatman Scoop passed away after collapsing onstage in Connecticut last month ... and, now the medical examiner has revealed his official cause of death.

A rep for the Connecticut M.E.'s office tells TMZ ... Scoop -- born Isaac Freeman III -- passed away from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

We're told they consider this cause of death to be natural ... no foul play suspected.

A little drizzle didn’t stand a chance against Cardi B ... who was out there slaying at Paris Fashion Week after welcoming her third child earlier this month.

Cardi was dripping in gold, rocking a fringed, sequined Paco Rabanne dress with matching bling -- and she knew she was killing it as she stopped to hit some poses for the cameras Wednesday, marking her first public appearance since adding to her family.

The rapper was grinning ear to ear, totally in her element, but her umbrella squad? They were battling the raindrops, trying to shuffle her inside for the brand's S/S 2025 show.