Music

Drake seems to think there's some shadiness behind Kendrick Lamar's monster hit, "Not Like Us" ... and he's filed legal docs to investigate how it got so big.

Of course, "Not Like Us" is the song that effectively ended the Kendrick and Drake beef ... because its popularity buried Drake -- but now, he's alleging Universal Music Group used bots and a payola scheme to pump up the song.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Drake says an "inside source" told him UMG made "covert payments" to multiple platforms, including radio stations, to play and promote the hell outta "Not Like Us." Legally, that's known as payola, and it's prohibited by the FCC.

Eric Benet's got a new chart-topping track, but a guy who tracked him down in the airport asked Eric to sing one of his classic tunes for his wife ... Eric obliged and we've got it all on video.

The sweet moment went down Monday at LAX right as our photog started talking to Eric ... a fellow traveler stopped Eric and revealed he and his wife considered "Spend My Life With You" their anniversary song ... asking the R&B singer if he could sing it for his lady over FaceTime.

Check out the clip ... Eric greets the woman and then starts singing part of the chorus ... no sound check needed!!!

Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia has a staunch ally in her podcast cohost and BFF, Grace O'Malley ... who recently went off on a foul-mouthed rant about her gal pal's ex, Zach Bryan.

Check it out ... Grace, who cohosts "PlanBri Uncut," appeared on "UpDating" and made her thoughts on her bestie's former flame abundantly clear -- calling him a "hick with a vendetta" and a number of other insults.

The Barstool Sports personality got on the topic of the country singer while lamenting about her own romantic history to hosts Brandon Berman and Harrison Forman ... confessing people on dating apps only ever ask her about the other people in her life -- seemingly suggesting Brianna and Zach, without directly naming them.

Wiz Khalifa had to get a flossin' fan out in Thailand back to solid ground -- after the guy confused his performance for an exotic peep show ... and made it rain cash money all over the stage!!!

We obtained footage of Wiz performing at the Rolling Loud Thailand 2024 after-party at Club 808 in Pattaya over the weekend.

Wiz finished his performance of "Black & Yellow" without a hit but was clearly annoyed throughout the show because he gave the guy an earful when he finished!!!

Kendrick Lamar is rolling full steam ahead with his spotlight-hogging "GNX" album ... on Monday, his long-anticipated "Squabble Up" single dropped in HD!!!

Reuniting with celebrated director Calmatic, the two L.A. natives turn a simple living room into the full-blown California experience they grew up with ... colorful gang life, girlies acting bad and boujee, Latinos livin' up the party and more!!!

In the vein of the Pop-Out Concert, Kendrick also invites the homies from all around the way ...  G Perico, RJMrLA, Big Floyd and Johnny El MerroJonkero get it crackin' in the background!!!

Ne-Yo is getting into boxing ... as a manager! The Grammy Award winner just signed his first fighter, Paul Bamba!

TMZ Sports has learned the R&B star recently signed 35-year-old Bamba, 18-3 with 17 knockouts, just about a month before the boxer fights Rogelio "Porky" Medina for the WBA Gold Cruiserweight title.

“I’m honored to work with NE-YO in this capacity and I’m grateful for his unwavering confidence in me,” Bamba, the WBA NABA Cruiserweight champ, said.

Drake is rejecting all the deposits Kendrick Lamar's surprise "GNX" album floated in his direction with his nose up high and calling make-believe on everything being said about him!!!

Over the weekend, Drake kept it close to the home base on popular Canadian live streamer xQc and let his thoughts be known after introducing himself … “You need facts to take me out; fairy tales won’t do it.”

It’s a defiant double down … Drake previously echoed these thoughts on his final Kendrick diss “The Heart Pt. 6” back in May — a track that has since been retitled and remastered by Kendrick!!!

Liam Payne was trying to escape from his hotel when he fell to his death, and the hotel knew he was threatening to use the balcony as the means to escape, but left him by himself ... this according to witnesses, the police report, a 911 call and surveillance video.

Here's what we know. Liam hated being locked up in hotel rooms ... something he had to deal with during his time in One Direction. He had used the balcony escape plan before, most recently in mid-September, when sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Liam's bodyguard was concerned he might have been on a drug binge and forced him inside a room in a Florida rental house. Liam escaped from a balcony, using a garden hose to reach the ground.

Look at the surveillance screenshots from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. Liam, who was disruptive in the lobby and clearly under the influence, is splayed out as 3 hotel workers carry him to his room, minutes before he fell to his death. Liam is clearly conscious -- although we blurred his face, he is holding his head upright.

F1 star George Russell partied like a champion Saturday night ... hitting the strip and hanging with the Swedish House Mafia after winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix!!

The Mercedes driver held off the competition after starting in pole position ... finishing the 50-lap race more than seven seconds ahead of second-place finisher and teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The 26-year-old was in the mood to commemorate the victory with some good tunes ... so he hit up the Sports Illustrated Circuit Series Party at XS Nightclub inside the Wynn Las Vegas after the victory ... bringing his girlfriend, Carmen Montero Mundt, along for the festivities.

Elton John is sharing a candid update on his eyesight ... revealing he's still struggling to see months after suffering a severe infection that limited his vision.

Watch the video, the singer reveals he still cannot see out of his right eye ... which is why he's yet to release new music.

As Elton puts it ... he hasn't been able to properly see for 4 months, especially since his left eye already wasn't "the greatest."

Taylor Swift always has to be one step ahead of the paparazzi -- and a new video shows her and 2 famous friends sneaking out of a Los Angeles restaurant to avoid the flashing cameras.

The video, which was shot in January, but surfaced Sunday on TikTok, captures Taylor, Brittany Mahomes and Lyndsay Bell walking through the kitchen of Wolfgang Puck's Spago, Beverly Hills, after their meal.

Several of the male employees are seen leading the pop star and her buddies to the back, presumably where they can slip away quietly through a door to elude the shutterbugs out front.

Cher is reflecting on the less than glamorous way she lost her virginity ... revealing she popped her cherry at the tender age of 14 -- and in the name of "revenge," no less.

The music legend opened up about the milestone moment in her new memoir, titled "Cher: The Memoir, Part One," sharing the intimate act came after a neighborhood boy "ditched" her after they had already shared a smooch.

As Cher put it ... she was "so hurt" by his actions she decided to have "revenge sex" with him. The singer said she had "never wanted to" have sex up until this point, adding ... "Otherwise, I would have done it one of the five hundred other times he asked."

Here's something you don't see every day ... Jamie Foxx singing karaoke with the stars of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'

But, that's exactly what happened over the weekend as the Oscar-winning actor hung out with 'RHOA's Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks in Miami, Florida.

Check out the footage posted Saturday to Porsha's Instagram ... Jamie is having a blast with the 'RHOA' cast and several other people at Prime 112 Restaurant.

Emilia Clarke's no longer playing a 'Game of Thrones' ... but, she may have traded in the ornate seats for turntables -- 'cause she was hanging out with DJ Bassi Fox.

The actress was out in the Shoreditch neighborhood of London Sunday ... walking close to the music man and laughing as they made their up the street.

The two waited for a car together ... while Emilia held a brown bag and Bassi carried what looked like an overnight bag with him.

Justin Trudeau's not living in a love story with some Canadian citizens right now ... 'cause while he busted a few moves at Taylor Swift's Toronto concert, Montreal experienced some pretty scary rioting.

Here's the deal ... just as JT was singing his heart out and dancing with a few people in Rogers Centre Friday night, pro-Palestine protests evolved into full-scale rioting as people in masks bashed windows with hammers and lit cars on fire.

The videos are harrowing ... and, many people are calling out Trudeau for taking the night off while Montreal appeared overrun with protesters.

Taylor Swift is becoming emotional as her "Eras" tour winds down after more than a year ... with the pop star shedding some tears during her Saturday night show in Canada.

Taylor performed before a sold-out crowd at Rogers Centre in Toronto and, after belting out her hit "Champagne Problems," Taylor stopped to acknowledge the people behind her super successful tour.

Check out the video ... Taylor is standing onstage addressing the crowd while giving thanks to her band, production crew and everyone else who gave the tour their all.