Music

Charlie Daniels has died of a hemorrhagic stroke, his publicist Don Murry Grubbs confirmed to Pitchfork. The country music fiddler was 83 years old. Charlie Daniels was born in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1936. As a teenager, he co-wrote the single “It Hurts Me,” which Elvis Presley recorded in 1964. By the late ’60s, Daniels

Exclusive 40 Glocc is finally on the path to putting his prostitution ring bust behind him, and the first step is checking into jail to serve his sentence … nearly 3 years after his arrest. The rapper turned himself in to Blue Earth County Jail on June 30 in Minnesota where he’ll do one year

Elton John has been honored with his very own official UK coin. The Royal Mint announced the accolade, marking the second installment of their “Music Legends” collection (the first coin was minted in honor of Queen). “It really is a fabulous honour to be recognised in this way,” Elton John said in a press release.

Breaking News It’s happening (or so it seems) … Kanye West is running for President, and he says he’s doing it sooner than later — as in RIGHT NOW!!! At least that’s how it sounds, anyway. Ye made the announcement out of nowhere Saturday on Twitter, saying … “We must now realize the promise of

Chicago singer and multi-instrumentalist NNAMADÏ has released a new album. KRAZY KARL follows his previous 2020 releases: April’s full-length BRAT and June’s Black Plight EP. In a press release, NNAMADÏ describes the sound of the record as “untethered,” “deranged modern compositions,” and “when your brain tries to leave your skull, but you keep mashing it

Exclusive Pop Smoke‘s closest friends are getting iced out before his debut album drops … with some custom jewelry honoring the slain rapper. Pop’s inner circle reached out to New York City’s Benny The Jeweler for some special commemorative bling … according to our sources, and it was just in time for Friday’s posthumous release.

David Gilmour has released “Yes, I Have Ghosts,” the Pink Floyd guitarist’s first new music in five years. The song is a collaboration with his daughter, harpist Romany Gilmour, and his wife, the author and lyricist Polly Samson. The song was previously part of the audiobook version of Samson’s latest novel, A Theatre for Dreamers.

Bonnie Pointer of The Pointer Sisters died after going into cardiac arrest … TMZ has learned. The Grammy-winning Motown artist’s cause of death is listed as cardiopulmonary arrest … this according to her death certificate obtained by TMZ. Bonnie — real name Patricia Eva Pointer — died on June 8 at 3:37 AM. The doc

Andrew Bird was the musical guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. From his home, he performed “Manifest,” from 2019’s My Finest Work Yet, accompanied by members of his family. “Got the Bird Family Band together,” he wrote on Twitter. Check out their performance below. Following the release of My Finest Work Yet, Andrew

Jay-Z and his social justice team are going all out to get a Wisconsin cop fired and charged in the killings of 3 men of color — they’ve posted a full-page ad demanding it. Jay’s Team ROC took out the ad Thursday in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, calling for the immediate prosecution and termination of

JAY-Z’s Team Roc published an open letter in today’s issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calling for Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm to prosecute and fire Wauwatosa Police Department officer Joseph Mensah. In the five years he’s held his job, Mensah reportedly shot and killed Alvin Cole, Antonio Gonzales, and Jay Anderson, firing 19

Breaking News The NFL is planning to make a huge statement when the season kicks off … with the league reportedly deciding to play the Black National Anthem before every Week 1 game. “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing” — which is often referred to as the Black National Anthem — will be played before the

I spent a lot of time while working on this album thinking about impermanence and endings, which led me to change my understanding of “vanitas” and “memento mori.” These concepts arise allegorically across classical antiquity and Buddhist thought, among many other sources, but they were most obsessively expressed during the Renaissance in still lives and

Play video content Exclusive TMZ.com Public Enemy still wants people to “Fight the Power” … but now Chuck D says it’s time to let younger people handle that fight, because time’s literally running out for most political leaders. We talked to the legendary MC on ‘TMZ Live’ to get his thoughts on the upcoming election

Duma, the Nairobi-based grindcore duo of Sam Karugu and Martin Khanja, have announced that their full-length debut is coming next month. They’ll release Duma on August 7 via Nyege Nyege Tapes. Check out the project’s track list and watch a video for “Lionsblood” below (via Resident Advisor). Read about “9 Must-Hear Albums from Nyege Nyege

Play video content Exclusive TMZ.com Cops in Aurora, CO targeted Elijah McClain‘s violin vigil to make an example out of nonviolent musicians … so says a famous violinist who saw it all play out. Lee England Jr. — who Michael Jordan calls “the Michael Jordan of the violin” — tells TMZ … Aurora police made

The late John Prine, who died earlier this year of COVID-19, has received an unprecedented posthumous honor. He’s the first person to be named Illinois’ honorary poet laureate. “John Prine leaves behind an unparalleled musical legacy and was beloved by family and millions of fans who hope that in Heaven he finds Paradise waitin’ just

Pop Smoke‘s fans have spoken — loudly and clearly — the cover art designed by Virgil Abloh for the rapper’s posthumous album is trash … so a change is coming. Pop’s highly anticipated album, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” is set to release July 3, but when the cover art was revealed

Colombian avant-garde pop artist Lucrecia Dalt has announced her latest album. It’s called No era sólida and it’s out September 11 (via RVNG Intl.). The new album follows 2018’s Anticlines. The lead single and opening song from the album is “Disuelta.” Below, watch its music video, directed by Pedro Maia. Some of the proceeds from

Breaking News The coronavirus pandemic is keeping the curtain closed on Broadway … at least through the end of the year. The Broadway League announced Monday all Broadway performances in New York City are on hold for the next 6 months and beyond due to COVID-19. While there is no exact date for the curtain

The glass is always half-full. Tomorrow is a new day. It’s going to be a bright, sun shiny day. The words that ignite a fire in our hearts are often best put to song. The Side Deal have joined the world in spreading positive thoughts and vibes. On any given day, no matter the year,

Summer Walker has announced a new EP: Life on Earth is out July 10 via LVRN/Interscope. Check out the EP cover below. At last night’s BET Awards, Summer Walker performed “Session 32” and “Come Thru” with Usher, who stayed socially distant. Walker was also nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop and Best New Artist at the

Beyonce‘s big night at the BET Awards included a video shout-out from Michelle Obama … one queen to another. The former First Lady paid tribute to the singer Sunday night while presenting her with the 2020 Humanitarian of the Year Award, in a video presentation highlighting the best of Bey … outside of her music.

Marc Orleans, the prolific guitarist and pedal steel player who was a member of the long-running experimental Boston collective Sunburned Hand of the Man, has died. Tom Carter, the Charalambides guitarist who made music with Orleans in the group Eleven Twenty-Nine, confirmed the news in a statement. Some of Orleans’ earliest recording came as a

Play video content Breaking News @chaserice / Instagram Chase Rice got back to touring this weekend — and to kick things off … the guy allowed thousands of people to flood a concert venue, with ZERO regards for coronavirus safety. The country singer held his first show in a while Saturday night at former prison-turned-event

Beyoncé has announced a new visual album called Black Is King. The project is written, directed, and executive produced by Beyoncé. It’s set to premiere on Disney+ on July 31. Watch the teaser trailer at Beyoncé’s website. The singer-songwriter previously worked with the entertainment conglomerate on the “live-action” CGI remake of The Lion King, for

Play video content Ariana Grande threw what kinda sounds like an oxymoron but it’s not … an intimate birthday bash for herself. Ariana hosted the party Friday night for a few of her close family and friends, to celebrate turning 27. Trucks traversed her Hollywood Hills street all day, delivering supplies and decorations for the

James Blake is performing a set on Instagram Live today (June 27). Tune in via his official account. During his improvisational piano concert, viewers will have the option to donate to Rachel Cargle’s Loveland Foundation, which provides opportunity, access, and therapy for Black women and girls. James Blake’s most recent studio album Assume Form came

Milton Glaser, a super famous graphic designer who created one of the most iconic campaigns for a city has died on his 91st birthday. Glaser was embedded in pop culture in the ’60’s and ’70’s. In ’67 he fashioned a poster of Bob Dylan with wildly-colored hair and it sold millions. But his biggest splash

HAIM have released a video of their live performance at Los Angeles deli Canter’s, where director Paul Thomas Anderson shot the band’s new album cover. The sisters played songs from Women in Music Pt. III, which landed today (June 26). The setlist includes “Summer Girl,” “The Steps,” “Gasoline,” and more. Check out the full performance