Musical Prodigy Nell Smith Dead At 17 ... After Car Accident

Nell Smith — the teenager best known for her collaboration with The Flaming Lips — has died.

Smith was supposed to have her first solo album released by record label, Bella Union, before she passed away last weekend, according to the company's owner, Simon Raymonde.

Her family said in a statement Smith was "cruelly taken from us on October 5," describing her as "feisty, talented, unique, beautiful." They said they were still reeling from her death because she had so much more to experience in life.

Diddy 'The White Man' Can't Handle My Parties ... Diddy Source Says Not Meant As Derogatory

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"I PUT 'EM TO SLEEP!!!"

When Diddy was a free man, he had a message for the White man ... come to one of my parties and you'll wind up unconscious with your face buried in a couch.

Case in point ... Diddy was featured in an old video as his younger, cocky self, hanging out with three White dudes and an Asian lady at a house party in the 2000s, apparently in London.

Check out the clip ... Diddy spoke directly into the camera, explaining to Londoners about what happens to "the White man" when he comes to a Diddy soiree.

Taylor Swift to Travis Kelce I'm Ready For Some Football ... Arrives For His MNF Game

Taylor Swift is back at one of Travis Kelce's games ... because she's in the house to watch his Kansas City Chiefs play on Monday Night Football.

The singer just showed up to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, as Travis and his squad are preparing to host the New Orleans Saints.

Taylor pulled up with her hair in a ponytail ... and she's wearing a plaid off-the-shoulder top and matching mini skirt, with knee-high platform boots and a purse.

Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift We're A Gourd-geous Couple ... Carved Into Pumpkins For Halloween Event

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CARVED-OUT CELEBS
TMZSports.com

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's romance is getting spooky -- the NFL superstar and pop singer were front and center at an annual Halloween event in Calabasas ... in pumpkin form!!

The festive tribute to the power couple was part of the Nights of the Jack at the King Gillette Ranch this weekend ... which is known to feature familiar faces in sports and entertainment etched on the sides of squashes.

Naturally, the event had to show love to the biggest relationship around at the moment ... as their love has taken the world by storm.

Kanye West, Bianca Censori Near-Nude Outings, Jet-Setting & PDA!!! Duo In Happier Times

Kanye West and Bianca Censori were once inseparable, living it up around the globe with their exotic adventures and an affection that was anything but subtle!

But their current reality has been laid bare with TMZ revealing the 2-year marriage is going through some serious troubles -- a total shocker, especially since they looked so tight during their wild (and her half-naked) antics, as seen in these throwback pics.

Bianca made it clear she was Kanye’s ride-or-die from the jump, rocking those barely-there outfits that left little to the imagination -- while Ye kept things covered up.

Tekashi 6ix9ine I $igned New Record Deal for $6M+

Tekashi 6ix9ine is taking his talents to Kartel Music ... signing a new record deal with the label that will pay him millions of dollars.

The rapper just inked a lucrative contract that calls for him to record a new album with Mexican regional artists and go on tour in the United States, Mexico and Central and South America.

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NEW BEGINNINGS
BACKGRID

According to the contract, obtained by TMZ, Tekashi is being paid $1 million for the album, which will feature 10 songs ... and he's going to make $250,000 for every concert of an upcoming tour. This all adds up to Tekashi potentially pocketing over $6 million.

Kevin McCall Hopes New Album Will Win Back Estranged Daughter Of 10 Years ... On Bended Knee For Ex, Eva Marcille!!!

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DOIN' IT FOR MY DAUGHTER
TMZ.com

Kevin McCall has some lofty dreams with his next project -- getting his family back into his good graces, with a best case scenario of even reuniting with his ex, Eva Marcille!!!

The R&B singer was hella optimistic at the Taglyan Complex during the weekend's Living Legends Foundation Awards where he outlined his plans to TMZ Hip Hop ... starting with his upcoming album "Black Friday."

Kevin tells us he's had a long journey for himself -- and he's still traveling. He hasn't spoken to Eva in some time but evokes the timeless beggar's anthem "On Bended Knee" by Boyz II Men to pinpoint his feelings.

Chappell Roan Lashes Out At Ex-Teacher Onstage ... 'B****, I'm Here!!!'

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TAKE THAT, TEACH!
Austin City Limits / Hulu

Chappell Roan was back at it, moaning and groaning -- this time airing out some old classroom drama as she went full savage mode at a former teacher, boldly dubbing her a "b****" onstage.

You gotta check out the clip -- Chappell took an expletive-filled detour while introducing her track "My Kink Is Karma" at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, yelling into her microphone, "I usually dedicate this song to my ex but I dedicate this song to my f****** theater teacher ... who kicked me out, b****! I'm here!"

A fan shared the star's no-nonsense statement online, tagging it with, “F*** the theater teacher that kicked out Chappell. We ride at dawn!"

Chris Brown Is The Real Victim Of 'History Of Violence' Doc ... Says His Producer Roccstar!!!

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GET OVER IT!!!
TMZ.com

Chris Brown will be tried in the court of public opinion when ID airs its 'History of Violence' documentary about him on October 27 ... a criminal assault on the truth, claims his longtime producer Roccstar!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Roccstar outside the Living Legends Foundation Awards, and he flat-out thinks Investigation Discovery is making a victim out of Chris Brown with its exposé of alleged behavior.

Roccstar says he's laced 5 Chris Brown albums featuring some of his biggest hits over the course of his career and describes him as the sweetest guy as can be ... no clue where those allegations are coming from!!!

St. Lunatics Whoa, Nelly ... We Want No Part Of $50M Lawsuit The Beef Is All Ali's!!!

Nelly was recently sued by his former group St. Lunatics for $50 million, but now it appears only ONE rapper wants to continue pursuing the case -- Nelly's lawyer states the other 3 are saying they want out!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained a legal letter that was sent to the attorney who filed the lawsuit against Nelly, that states Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud did not give authorization for them to be included in the lawsuit filed in mid-September.

The lawsuit is spearheaded by ex-Lunatics de facto leader Ali Jones, and it claims Jones and other St. Lunatics members have been shut out of royalties and profits from Nelly's Diamond-selling "Country Grammar" album and other various tracks.

Diddy Miami Beach Taking Back His Key to City

Diddy is about to have a major honor taken away from him ... a symbolic key to Miami Beach.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Miami Beach city officials are in final negotiations to rescind Diddy's Key to The City.

While our sources say Diddy's key will be rescinded imminently, the exact day this change will be officially finalized is unclear ... due to Hurricane Milton hurtling toward Florida.

Kanye West and Bianca Censori Marriage on the Rocks ... Divorce on the Horizon

Kanye West and Bianca Censori are possibly headed for divorce ... TMZ has learned the couple has hit a rough patch in their almost 2-year marriage.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Ye and Bianca have been telling people around them they split up a few weeks ago, with the Yeezy architect heading down to Australia to spend time with her family since the split.

While there's no word on what prompted the split or who pulled the plug on the relationship, we're told Ye has been telling people close to him he plans to live in Tokyo ... and divorce Bianca.

Cissy Houston Whitney's Mom Dead at 91

Cissy Houston, a Grammy-winning singer and the mother of late singer and actress Whitney Houston, is dead.

Cissy died Monday surrounded by family in her New Jersey home, where she was under hospice care as a result of Alzheimer's disease ... her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed to TMZ.

She's being remembered by Pat as "a strong and towering figure" and "a woman of deep faith and conviction."

Lawyer Tony Buzbee On Diddy Case Other Big Celebs Set To Be Sued ... Sent Them Demand Letters

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GOING AFTER EVERYONE INVOLVED
TMZ.com

Big celebrities on the level of Diddy are going to be sued for allegedly helping him carry out and cover up sexual assaults, unless they settle out of court first ... so says attorney Tony Buzbee.

The Houston-based attorney joined us Monday on "TMZ Live," and we asked him what we should be expecting from his forthcoming lawsuits against Diddy ... specifically, if other major celebs would be named as defendants too.

Buzbee says a bunch of famous people everyone has heard of are going to be sued by his law firm in the coming weeks ... and he's already sent out demand letters, giving these celebs the chance to pony up a lot of money to settle and avoid a public lawsuit.

Taylor Swift Named Richest Female Musician!!! Sorry, Rihanna

Rihanna didn't have enough "Diamonds" to trump Taylor Swift's growing network ... the pop star just surpassed RiRi as the world's richest female musician.

A year after Swift joined the ranks of billionaire musicians, Forbes is reporting the "Cruel Summer" singer has since nabbed the top title ... which was previously held by Rihanna.

Per the outlet, Swift is now worth a reported $1.6 billion ... citing her sold-out "Eras" tour as the biggest boost to her financial portfolio. And, Taylor did make history with her money-making moves ... reportedly becoming the first musician to reach billionaire status mainly from her music and live shows.

Beyoncé Creative Director Slammed for Alleged Antisemitism ... By NY Congressman

The creative director of Beyoncé's company, Parkwood Entertainment, is catching heat from a congressman ... who thinks an influencer allegedly promoting violence "has no business" shaping culture.

New York Congressman Ritchie Torres took to IG Sunday, posting a screen-cap of an earlier post by Andrew Makadsi depicting a man who reportedly set his arm on fire Saturday at a protest in Washington, D.C. ... Torres accuses Makadsi of glorifying the self-immolation of an anti-Israel activist.

Torres posted on the eve of October 7, which marks a year since Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251.