Kanye West says he's a "terrible, terrible, terrible celebrity" ... who sees the paparazzi as a distraction from making "real" music ... and last night, he bitched about it for a solid 3-and-a-half minutes.
West was on stage during a performance in NYC when he went on one of his trademark rants -- this time, he put the paps in his crosshairs.
He complained about the attention ... he complained about people wanting to take his photo ... though he never specifically talked about his run-in with a parking sign last week.
West also said he refuses to mock his rocky relationship with the paps when he appears on "SNL" this weekend because "it's not a joke."
Kanye also never mentioned his baby mama Kim Kardashian during the rant -- interesting considering she's a pro at handling the paps and has masterfully used the snappers to turbocharge her career.
There's still one team interested in former NFL star Chad Johnson ... the team tasked with BRINGING HIM INTO CUSTODY ... 'cause he's officially a wanted man.
TMZ has learned ... a warrant has been issued for Johnson's arrest in Broward County, Florida -- stemming from his domestic violence conviction involving ex-wife Evelyn Lozada last year.
The Broward County District Attorney's Office tells us ... Johnson has failed to report to his probation officer -- a violation of the terms of his probation -- and on May 7, a judge issued the warrant.
Chad also allegedly failed to show proof of enrollment and completion of the "Batterers Intervention Program."
Once Johnson is taken into custody -- a hearing will be set to determine whether Johnson did in fact violate his probation. If he did, it could mean jail time.
Johnson is currently in Pasadena, CA -- according to his Twitter page. We reached out to Chad's lawyer -- so far, no response.
Those with a longing to see Ol' Dirty Bastard and Eazy-E take the stage once again are in luck. The two rap legends will be resurrected via hologram on the upcoming Rock the Bells tour.
ODB's and Eazy-E's reimaginings follow in the postmortem footsteps of Tupac Shakur, whose virtual likeness joined Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg onstage at 2012's Coachella festival. That appearance launched a frenzy surrounding what many thought would become a prominent trend in the entertainment industry. The fad, however, hasn't proliferated as much as expected, although it has stretched outside of the hip-hop community and into classic Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe received her own hologram during a tribute show last year.
On the music front, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes will reportedly join TLC via hologram on the group's upcoming reunion tour. Usher's fans, meanwhile, have also been subjected to the digitized treatment -- even though they're still very much alive.
ODB, who died of an accidental overdose in 2004, will return to the stage with his old group Wu-Tang Clan, while Eazy-E, who in 1995 died of complications from AIDS, will reappear with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
Looking beyond the holograms, Rock the Bells' lineup boasts an all-star hip-hop slate that also includes Big K.R.I.T., Common, Earl Sweatshirt, Juicy J, Jurassic 5, Kid Cudi and Tyler the Creator. The tour will travel to four cities throughout September and early October: San Bernardino, Calif., Mountain View, Calif., Washington, D.C., and Rutherford, N.J.
Say what you will about Beyonce, but she knows her way around a nice internet gesture. After Beyonce postponed a show in Antwerp, Belgium on doctor's orders, the singer took to her website to send a note to her fans.
Beyonce's apology came in the form a of a handwritten note: "I've never postponed a show in my life. It was very hard for me. I promise I will make it up very soon. I'm sorry if I disappointed you. Thank you for your concern. I'm feeling much better now and I'm ready to give you a great show." You can check out the note from Beyonce below:
Diddy caused a big commotion outside the most swanky place in L.A. today ... well, it was actually Diddy's car that triggered a guns-drawn response by L.A. County Sheriff's deputies.
We've learned Diddy had just been dropped off at the Soho House ... an ultra-exclusive, private club in West Hollywood. Diddy's bodyguard and another person drove Diddy's $500,000 Maybach away from Soho, but they didn't get far.
We're told someone called 911 and said someone inside the Maybach had a gun. At least 9 squad cars roared to the scene. Cops pulled their guns and ordered the occupants of the Maybach out of the car and made them lie prone on the ground, until they discovered there weren't any guns.
The street was closed down temporarily until deputies gave the all-clear.
The BET Awards '13 will be hosted by Chris Tucker and will air live June 30 from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live. Check out the full list of nominees below:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Tamar Braxton
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Elle Varner
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Justin Timberlake
Usher
Best Group
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Mary Mary
Mindless Behavior
Slaughterhouse
The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Best Collaboration
2 Chainz feat. Drake: "No Lie"
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar: "Fuckin' Problems"
French Montana feat. Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne: "Pop That"
Kendrick Lamar feat. Drake: "Poetic Justice"
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z: "Suit & Tie"
Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz: "Mercy"
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Azealia Banks
Eve
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Rye Rye
Video of the Year
2 Chainz feat. Drake: "No Lie"
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar: "Fuckin' Problems"
Drake: "Started From The Bottom"
Drake feat. Lil Wayne: "HYFR"
Kendrick Lamar feat. Drake: "Poetic Justice"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz: "Thrift Shop"
Miguel: "Adorn"
Rihanna: "Diamonds"
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z: "Suit & Tie"
Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz: "Mercy"
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Sam Lecca
Benny Boom
Director X
Dre Films
Hype Williams
Best New Artist
Azealia Banks
Joey Bada$$
Kendrick Lamar
Trinidad Jame$
The Weeknd
Best Gospel Artist
Deitrick Haddon
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Mary Mary
Marvin Sapp
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Jamie Foxx
Samuel L. Jackson
Denzel Washington
YoungStars Award
Gabrielle Douglas
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Jaden Smith
Quvenzhané Wallis
Best Movie
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Django Unchained"
"Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap"
"Sparkle"
"Think Like a Man"
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Gabrielle Douglas
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
Robert Griffin III
LeBron James
Ray Lewis
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar: "Fuckin' Problems"
Drake: "Started From The Bottom"
Kendrick Lamar: "Swimming Pools (Drank)"
Miguel: "Adorn"
Rihanna: "Diamonds"
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z: "Suit & Tie"
Centric Award
Tamar Braxton: "Love and War"
Fantasia: "Lose To Win"
Miguel: "Adorn"
Nas: "Daughters"
Charlie Wilson: "My Love Is All I Have"
Best International Act: Africa
2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
Toya Delazy (South Africa)
Donald (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
R2Bees (Ghana)
Radio and Weasel (Uganda)
Best International Act: U.K.
Marsha Ambrosius
Estelle
Labrinth
Rita Ora
Emeli Sandé
Wiley
Chris Brown has found a new collaborator in the late singer Aaliyah.
The 24-year-old singer announced Tuesday that the next single off of his upcoming "X" album will be "They Don't Know," a track which features unheard material from Aaliyah.
"I got something special for my fans. It's called 'They Don't Know,'" Brown said at a BET Awards 2013 press conference. "All new stuff that's never been heard before."
Brown already filmed the music video for the track, which is being heralded as a tribute to the late singer. Brown explained at the press conference that he filmed the video in Los Angeles last weekend. "I shot it in the hood," he said. "I went to the Cedar Block. Bringing both worlds together and trying to uplift the poverty side of the community and show them where I'm from. I'm from Virginia, but everybody comes from a broken home or being broke. I remember when I was."
The controversial rapper isn't the only current artist who has featured Aaliyah on a track. Drake's recent single "Enough Said" also featured the vocals of Aaliyah, who died in 2001 at the age of 22.
Brown's "X" album, which also features Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and production by Diplo, hits stores on July 16.
Beyonce is canceling her Tuesday concert in Belgium because of dehydration and exhaustion.
In an email to The Associated Press, the singer's publicist says Beyonce has been advised by her doctors to rest. She was scheduled to perform at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp. The show will be rescheduled and tickets can be used at that show.
Her next tour date is Wednesday at the same arena. The statement says "she is awaiting word from her doctors before making a decision."
Beyonce, 31, launched her "Mrs. Carter World Tour" last month in Belgrade, Serbia. It wraps Aug. 5 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tuesday's cancellation reignited rumors that the superstar might be pregnant again.
17-year-old rap prodigy Chief Keef is making bank off his music -- GREAT NEWS -- except he knocked up a girl and now has to pay a TON in child support based off his budding income.
TMZ broke the story, Keef -- real name Keith Cozart -- was sued for child support by his middle-school-aged baby mama earlier this year. She claimed Keef fathered her kid -- born in 2011 -- when he was only 15.
According to court docs, the teenage rapper pulls in about $13,000 A MONTH!!! Pretty baller considering his age.
As a result, a judge ordered Keef to pony up $2,600 a month in child support -- based on his lucrative career -- plus $500 in day care expenses and $10,400 in previously unpaid support. A hearing is set for next month to finalize the amount.
Snoop Dogg could have bought (and munched on) 153,000 Big Macs ... 289,000 Chalupas ... or 500,000 bags of Cheetos ... but instead he chose to pay off his tax bill, all $546,000 of it!!!
TMZ broke the story ... the IRS slapped Snoop (now Snoop Lion) -- real name Calvin Broadus -- with a massive tax lienâ back in February, claiming he still owed back taxes for the years 2009 and 2011.
Not one to leave Uncle Sam hanging ... Snoop recently paid his debt in full -- $546,270.29 to be exact -- and the lien was released late last month.
The Good News: Beyonce's dad, Mathew Knowles, raked in BOATLOADS of cash during the years he managed B's career ... we're talkin' millions.
The Bad News: The IRS says he still owes all sorts of taxes on some of that income -- over $1.2 MILLION.
Uncle Sam just filed a ridiculously large lien against Knowles, claiming he needs to cough up some cash from the years 2010 ($485,575.95) and 2011 ($728,004.89) ... all totaled, $1,213,580.84.
It's no wonder the bill is so high ... Beyonce is arguably one of the highest grossing musical talents OF ALL TIME -- and during the years 2010 and part of 2011 MK was still managing her career. Not to mention his slew of other projects, including his own record label.
Seriously, when your tax bill is over a million ... you're pretty rich.
Today, The Wrap dropped a huge bomb by reporting that none of the American Idol judges will be asked to return next season, including Randy –according to their sources. Idol ratings have dropped by almost 25% from last year, which are the lowest ratings in the show's history and now the producers are looking into doing a serious makeover.
"All four are gone," the insider told TheWrap. "They feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back." [...]
All four judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won't be picking them up, according to the knowledgeable individual, who said: "No more big checks for divas."
E! News confirmed with a Fox source that the report was somewhat true.
"Yes, we want to do a whole new panel—but, just like last time around, it depends on who we get," a Fox source confirmed Wednesday to E! News in response to a report that all four judges will be leaving after this season because the now 12-year-old show is in need of a massive jolt of new energy.
For starters, there will be "definitely no Mariah" next season, that's "absolutely certain," our insider says.
Randy has also made a statement confirming his departure:
Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on 'American Idol' I have decided it is time to leave after this season."
I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures.
Although Randy leaving is a huge surprise, there is probably no amount of money Fox could have paid Mariah to return to the new 'Ratchet Idol,' especially if she had to sit on a panel with Nicki Minaj or Jennifer Lopez.
Meanwhile, Nicki snatched up an enormous check, ($12 million) as well as Mariah ($18 million), for the brief gig. According to the report, the network will not be shelling out those type of dollars to get big name talent again.
Add another name to the cameo-filled cast of the long-in-the-works Anchorman sequel: Kanye West. Hollywood.com has learned that the rapper is currently filming a cameo in the film, officially titled Anchorman: The Legend Continues, set for release in December.
West was spotted filming scenes on a downtown Atlanta rooftop with returning stars Christina Applegate and Paul Rudd, a source on site tells Hollywood.com. Says our witness, "he was quite afraid of heights and required an umbrella for shade most of the time he was on the roof."
The Anchorman 2 production has set up shop in Atlanta in the past few weeks, filming scenes in Woodruff Park and the surrounding areas — plenty of which have been captured on film by prying paparazzi eyes.
West is a longtime Will Ferrell fan, having included dialogue from Blades of Glory in his song "N***s in Paris" (with Jay-Z). Following his Taylor Swift/MTV VMA controversy, he even compared himself to Ferrell's Ron Burgundy in a Twitter rant.
Let the speculation begin: What kind of character do you think Kanye's playing in the film?
Looks like Ciara and Future are honeymooning before the wedding at it may cost Future a whopping $46,000, a lawsuit, and his reputation.
According to ThisIs50, Future was scheduled to appear at Las Vegas, club Pure, but when the club failed to follow through with the couples demand for SUV's, Future skipped out on the appearance to dine at a steakhouse with his fiancé, Ciara!
This is how it all went down, allegedly Future and Ciara were beefing as their was some dispute about how they were getting to the event and what cars Ci Ci and Future would ride in. The company tried to appease the fickle celebs with a stretch limo and town car; however, they were not to their liking. Finally the club arranged for four SUV's to retrieve Ciara, Future, and their entourage to shuttle them to the scheduled event, but the couple decided that they were going to skip it and dine at a nearby steakhouse.
After that last act of disrespect, the club kicked Ciara and Future out of the rooms they booked for them on account that Future was scheduled to appear at the club. Getting kicked out of the hotel was obviously not part of Rocko, Future's manager's plans. He called into New York's Power 105.1 to vent about the issue as he blamed Ciara.
"I don't give a damn about Ciara. I didn't book Ciara," Cliff Dutton, Pusle club Promoter told The Breakfast Club.
Pusle Club owner, Kiki, the first woman to own a nightclub in Las Vegas, also had a few choice words for Future, "I know he got engaged and he's in love and all that, but when you gotta work, man up and get to work Future," Kiki said. "You had a commitment to us. We had to call out 30 Metro officers to secure our building when we announced that he wasn't going to show up."
"June Eighteen": two words that set the music and tabloid worlds alight. Kanye's tweet, sent Thursday morning and retweeted over 10,000 times its first 40 minutes, only offered a date.
The date likely refers to either the release date for West's upcoming solo album or the due date for his and Kim Kardashian's baby. The couple has said the baby is due in early July, but rumors that the Kimye child is actually expected in late June have persisted (math, obviously, being the thing here).
We're inclined to believe the tweet refers to the record. West has been ticking the early stages of album promo off of his to-do list, including a listening party at Def Jam's offices and subsequent leaks that the album is finished and offers a "dark" sound. Collaborators have also begun speaking more freely about the project, with Pusha-T, 2 Chainz and even Daft Punk offering endorsements. Given West's ultra-strict no-press rules about projects in their early stages, it makes sense that those who went to Paris to work on the album are only now opening up about their experiences.
The as-of-yet untitled project is West's sixth solo studio album and follows 2010's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (he also released "Watch the Throne," a duet album with Jay-Z, and "Cruel Summer," a compilation of material from artists on his label, G.O.O.D. Music). West has never really disappointed with his solo material -- his previous five studio albums ("College Dropout," "Late Registration," "Graduation," "808s and Heartbreak" and the aforementioned "Fantasy") currently sit at 87, 85, 79, 75 and 94 percent ratings on MetaCritic, a reliable review aggregating website. That five-for-five streak is something few other rappers enjoy, as living legends like Jay-Z and Nas are commonly said to have released highly disappointing material over the course of their careers.
So, readers, what say you: Baby Kimye or album drop date?
In case you forgot ... Nicki Minaj STILL HATES Mariah Carey ... and moments ago, she went after the diva AGAIN ... calling her a bitter old woman with no personality.
Minaj just unloaded on Twitter, following a series of heated exchanges on "American Idol" last night. During the show, Mariah spit a little trash talk Nicki's way ... and taunted her for never having a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
Nicki took some shots back at Mariah on the show -- at one point breaking out a cotton swab and telling Mariah to clean out her ears.
But moments ago, Nicki continued the war on Twitter ... telling critics to ask themselves "Why a woman SO successful at her age, is still so INSECURE, and bitter."
Minaj also made a reference to reports that "Idol" producers were recently looking to replace Mariah with former judge Jennifer Lopez:
"All dem #1s but JLo phone ringin? Lol. I guess having a personality, being a secure woman, and giving genuine critique still trumps that." So far, no response from Mariah.
Rapper Gucci Mane has just been released from jail in Georgia after spending nearly three weeks behind bars, TMZ has learned.
As we reported, Gucci was arrested April 13th for a probation violation. He's been in jail since.
Gucci's attorney, Drew Findling, tells us, the probation violation was triggered by a March 25th incident at an Atlanta nightclub ... when Gucci allegedly bottled a clubgoer in the head, causing a massive gash.
Gucci was charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident. That case is still pending.
Lil Wayne was hospitalized again for a seizure ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Wayne tell us ... the rapper was taken to Cedars-Sinai in L.A. late Tuesday night by his bodyguards. We're told he suffered a single seizure and was treated and released early this morning.
As we first reported, 30-year-old Lil Wayne spent a week at Cedars back in March after suffering multiple severe seizures that nearly killed him. He spent 6 days in ICU.
Wayne subsequently went on the radio and explained he's an epileptic, and has been suffering from seizures since he was a kid. Wayne also later tweeted that he's fine.
Lil Wayne was hospitalized again for a seizure ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Wayne tell us ... the rapper was taken to Cedars-Sinai in L.A. late Tuesday night by his bodyguards. We're told he suffered a single seizure and was treated and released early this morning.
As we first reported, 30-year-old Lil Wayne spent a week at Cedars back in March after suffering multiple severe seizures that nearly killed him. He spent 6 days in ICU.
Wayne subsequently went on the radio and explained he's an epileptic, and has been suffering from seizures since he was a kid. Wayne also later tweeted that he's fine.
Mariah Carey sure does and she lived out her fairytale yesterday with Nick Cannon. Every year since they have been married, the couple has renewed their vows and last night was no different as they celebrated their Five-year anniversary with a huge bash at Disneyland.
Things kicked off at the Dream Suite where Mariah was picked up in a horse-drawn carriage. She was then whisked away to the Sleeping Beauty Castle where her prince, Nick, was there waiting for her with their twins Moroccan and Monroe. The twins were also celebrating their second birthday and dressed identical to Nick and Mariah for the occasion.
