Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles are asking a judge to allow selected Lil Durk songs, music videos and related audio to be admitted as evidence in the rapper’s federal murder-for-hire case, touching off a dispute over whether artistic expression can be treated as proof of criminal intent. Court filings show the government plans to play multiple music videos and audio clips — it notified nine videos and three audio recordings — and points to lyrics it says reference retaliatory violence, bounties, Beverly Hills and other details tied to a 2022 ambush that left Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson dead. Durk, charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and related federal counts over an alleged plot against rival Quando Rondo, has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed since his 2024 arrest. His defense argues the material is narrative performance and would unfairly prejudice jurors, while prosecutors contend excluding the work would prevent the jury from weighing defendants’ own words. In filings prosecutors also liken Durk’s Only The Family collective to prior U.S. cases that used rap lyrics as admissions, citing the Chuckie Taylor conviction involving Liberia’s Anti-Terrorist Unit. The trial is scheduled to begin April 21, 2026.

Chuck Negron, a founding member and lead vocalist of Three Dog Night whose voice propelled hits including “Joy to the World” and “One,” has died at 83. His publicist, Zach Farnum, said Negron passed away at his Studio City, Los Angeles home surrounded by family on Feb. 2. He had long battled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in recent months suffered heart failure; several outlets reported his death was linked to complications from those conditions. Negron co-founded Three Dog Night in 1967 with Danny Hutton and the late Cory Wells; the group scored more than 20 Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975 and helped bring songs by writers such as Hoyt Axton, Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson to mainstream audiences. Negron’s career was marked by a public struggle with heroin addiction that led to homelessness in the 1980s; he recovered and became sober in 1991, later publishing a memoir, Three Dog Nightmare, and releasing solo albums. He is survived by his wife, Ami Albea Negron, five children and extended family.

LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the Grammy-winning vocal group The 5th Dimension, died at age 90 on Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, his representative said. McLemore — born Sept. 17, 1935, in St. Louis — had suffered a stroke several years earlier and died of natural causes surrounded by family. He co-founded the group in the mid-1960s with Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue and Ron Townson; The 5th Dimension scored multiple hits including “Up, Up and Away” and the six-week No. 1 medley “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” and won multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year twice. McLemore’s warm bass vocals anchored the group’s polished pop-soul harmonies. Outside music he was a longtime photographer whose work appeared in Jet and other publications and who trained as an aerial photographer in the U.S. Navy; he also briefly pursued baseball in the Dodgers’ farm system. The group’s role in events such as the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival has been revisited in recent years. McLemore is survived by his wife, Mieko, a daughter, an adopted son, a sister and three grandchildren; memorial arrangements were not immediately announced.

Kelly Clarkson announced on Feb. 2, 2026 that The Kelly Clarkson Show will conclude at the end of its current seventh season, which NBC said will continue to air through autumn 2026. In a statement posted to social media the 43-year-old singer and host said the decision — “not an easy” one — was motivated by a desire to “prioritise my kids” following the death of her ex-husband and former manager, Brandon Blackstock, who died in August 2025. Clarkson thanked her production teams in Los Angeles and New York, fans and NBC for their support. The Emmy-winning daytime series, noted for its music-led “Kellyoke” openings and multiple Daytime Emmy wins, will feature special guest hosts across the remainder of the season. Clarkson said she will not leave the public eye entirely, planning to continue making music, play occasional shows and may appear on NBC’s The Voice in the future. NBC has confirmed the show’s end rather than a replacement host continuing the format.

Bruce Hornsby will release Indigo Park, a 10-track album, on April 3, 2026 via his Zappo Productions imprint and Thirty Tigers. Backed by his longtime band the Noisemakers and joined by collaborators Blake Mills, bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Chris Dave, the record features high-profile guests including Bonnie Raitt, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and contributions from the late Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Two songs, “Alabama” and “Might As Well Be Me, Florinda,” were co-written with the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Hornsby co-produced the album with Tony Berg and Will Maclellan and has released the title track as a preview single and video. He will support Indigo Park with a North American tour that begins April 9 in Cincinnati and runs through July 25, 2026, with stops including festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Great South Bay Music Festival.

A public rift has opened in the music industry over how generative AI tools should be governed after a string of licensing deals and court fights in late 2025 and early 2026. On Feb. 2, Paul Sinclair, chief music officer at AI music company Suno and a former major-label executive, published a LinkedIn manifesto titled “Open Studios, not walled gardens,” advocating for creative freedom, downloadable output and broad user agency. Universal Music Group (UMG) and Udio have pushed a contrasting “walled garden” model—disallowing downloads or distribution outside platforms—to protect artist rights; Udio disabled downloads after its October 2025 settlement with UMG. Warner Music Group struck different terms with Suno in late 2025, allowing more functionality, while Universal and Sony remain in litigation with Suno. Industry executives warn of “AI slop” flooding streaming services and of potential cannibalisation of artists’ work, while AI firms argue closed systems would stifle innovation. The debate frames licensing terms, platform design and enforcement as key battlegrounds shaping how AI-created music is produced, shared and monetized going forward.

Undefeated boxer Gervonta “Tank” Davis was arrested in the Miami Design District on Jan. 28 after a two‑week manhunt involving Miami Gardens police and U.S. Marshals, following allegations from an Oct. 27, 2025 incident at a Miami strip club. Authorities say a woman, identified as Courtney Rossel, told investigators Davis grabbed her by the hair and throat, took her to a back room and later to a parking garage. He faces charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping; reports say he was booked and released after posting bond (reported between $8,500 and $16,000). A Miami judge ordered no contact with the alleged victim. On Feb. 4, a Baltimore judge issued a separate warrant alleging Davis violated probation tied to a 2020 hit‑and‑run case by failing to surrender to authorities; his lawyer has asked that the warrant be converted to a summons. Davis’s legal team denies the Miami allegations and plans to contest the cases. The arrests have already led to fight cancellations and increased scrutiny of his career and travel.

Kim Kardashian told Complex’s Sneaker Shopping in early February that she is a devoted collector of Travis Scott’s Nike collaborations and even called the rapper to secure a recent limited release. Describing herself as a “sneaker snob,” Kardashian said Travis Scott designs make up the bulk of her collection and that she “had to call” to get the pink Air Jordan 1 Low from Scott’s forthcoming “Pink Pack,” due to hit retailers in May 2026. The episode also highlighted Kardashian’s own footwear debut: the Skims x Nike Rift Mesh, released on Feb. 5 as part of the NikeSKIMS Spring ’26 Collection. Kardashian said BLACKPINK’s Lisa was her dream collaborator and stars in the Rift Mesh campaign, which was shot in Paris. The appearance underscored how celebrity networks, brand partnerships and limited-edition drops continue to drive demand in the hyped sneaker market, where even high-profile figures say they sometimes need to call in favours to secure ultra-rare pairs.

Charli XCX has moved from pop stages to the big screen with The Moment, an Aidan Zamiri‑directed mockumentary inspired by the singer’s blockbuster 2024 album Brat and its ensuing ‘Brat summer’ phenomenon. The film — shot over 29 days and premiered at Sundance late January — stars Charli as a fictionalised version of herself and features Alexander Skarsgård, Hailey Benton Gates and cameo turns from Kylie Jenner and Rachel Sennott. Reviews this week were mixed: some critics praise Charli’s onscreen presence and the film’s satirical take on fame, while others (including a Globe and Mail review) found the mockumentary flat and lacking in sharp comedy or memorable moments. The release coincides with Charli’s broader pivot into film — she has acting roles in multiple upcoming projects and is due to release a Wuthering Heights soundtrack in mid‑February — and follows the commercial and critical success of Brat, which expanded her audience and elevated her profile across several markets.

Mötley Crüe declared a decisive legal victory after a retired judge acting as arbitrator rejected all claims by founding guitarist Mick Mars and issued a final award filed in Los Angeles in late January 2026. Arbitrator Patrick J. Walsh found Mars forfeited rights to touring revenue when he stopped touring in 2022 due to ankylosing spondylitis. The ruling upheld the band’s termination of Mars as an officer and director for cause and ordered him to repay about $750,030 in unrecouped tour advances. Mars was also directed to sell his ownership stake to Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil for roughly $505,737, producing a net judgment in favour of Mötley Crüe of about $244,293. During arbitration Mars recanted public accusations that the band mimed on its 2022 tour after testimony and analysis from a retained expert. Mars’s attorney, Ed McPherson, called the decision “awful” and said they are considering whether to challenge the award. Mötley Crüe’s lawyers have asked a Los Angeles court to confirm the arbitration award as the band prepares a North American tour for summer 2026.

Eric Murphy and Jasmin Lawrence, the eldest children of comedy stars Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, announced they are expecting their first child in early February 2026. The couple shared a joint Instagram post — photos showing Jasmin cradling her baby bump and the pair together — with the caption, “Thank you Jesus for the greatest gift.” The pregnancy follows a public engagement in November 2024 and a private church wedding in May 2025. The news was widely reported across U.S. entertainment outlets from Feb. 2–4, 2026 and drew an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans and peers. Martin Lawrence posted images from the couple’s maternity shoot and wrote that he is “overflowing with love and gratitude”; Eddie Murphy has previously spoken warmly about the relationship on national television. Eric is the eldest of Murphy’s ten children; Jasmin is the eldest of Lawrence’s children. Neither the couple nor their representatives have disclosed further details such as a due date or the baby’s sex.

Palm Beach County authorities have arrested a second suspect in the armed break-in at rapper 6ix9ine’s Wellington, Florida home in November 2025. Eighteen-year-old Sergio Andrade was taken into custody on Jan. 31–Feb. 1 and faces charges including home invasion with a firearm, false imprisonment and grand theft/larceny. Investigators say Andrade and an earlier-arrested suspect, 19-year-old Pedro Rodriguez, lived together and were tracked through cell-phone data and trail-camera footage. A West Palm Beach search of their apartment recovered luxury items — a pink Chanel purse, a Dolce & Gabbana bag and a Louis Vuitton pochette — valued at about $11,000, plus a Glock 19 with an extended magazine that matches surveillance video from the crime. Three masked men forced 6ix9ine’s elderly mother at gunpoint, ransacked the main house and a Mercedes Sprinter, and fled; the rapper was not home and is currently serving a three-month federal sentence in Brooklyn for violations of supervised release. Police continue to seek a third suspect as the investigation and prosecutions proceed.

Megan Thee Stallion will guest-star in NBC’s new sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, the network announced this week. The series, produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, stars Tracy Morgan as a disgraced former NFL player trying to rebuild his life after a gambling scandal, and Daniel Radcliffe as a documentary filmmaker hired to tell his story. Megan will appear as a divorced mother who begins a romantic relationship with Radcliffe’s character; the length of her arc has not been disclosed. The show’s ensemble also includes Erika Alexander, Precious Way, Jalyn Hall and Bobby Moynihan. NBC previewed the pilot after a playoff game; the series is set to premiere on Feb. 23 with two episodes and will continue Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET beginning March 2. Megan promoted the casting on Instagram and brings recent acting credits (including Dicks: The Musical and P-Valley) alongside an active music career following her 2024 tour and LP.

On Feb. 4, 2026, hip-hop group Public Enemy released “She Got Game,” a reworking of their 1998 track “He Got Game,” recast as a women’s-empowerment anthem timed to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The new version opens with an excerpt of Gloria Steinem’s Address to the Women of America and features performances from rapper Flau’Jae, Retina MC, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, Olympic swimmer Elizabeth Beisel on strings, and guitarist Grace Bowers. Members of the U.S. women’s water polo team provide additional vocals. Flavor Flav, who helped sponsor the 2024 U.S. women’s water polo team and U.S. bobsled and skeleton squads, has promoted the track and will serve as a hype man for Team USA in Milan. Released for National Girls and Women’s Sports Day, proceeds will go to the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Black Music Action Coalition’s Female Fund. The song links Public Enemy’s legacy — the original soundtrack to Spike Lee’s 1998 film — with contemporary advocacy for female athletes and aims to raise both visibility and funds ahead of the Games.

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has confirmed the band is moving beyond reworked material from the Chinese Democracy era and is preparing a new studio album of all-original songs. In late January 2026 interviews with KOMP 92.3 and Loudwire Nights, Slash said December singles “Atlas” and “Nothin’” were the final tracks recycled from Axl Rose’s earlier archives and that those post-reunion singles will likely be collected as a package. He said the band stripped and re-recorded guitars and bass on those tracks, and that there is “a ton” of fresh material waiting to be honed into a proper full-length record. No release timeline was given; Slash stressed the band’s unpredictable process and suggested recording will follow momentum created by their extensive 2026 world tour, which begins March 28 in Latin America and includes North American dates this summer. Slash also indicated the band will play both new/old singles live and described a flexible, crowd-driven approach to setlists. The comments appeared across multiple outlets Jan. 29–30, 2026, after the group’s December singles and recent one-off releases in 2023.

Apple has acquired Israeli startup Q.ai in a deal reported late January 2026 and valued by outlets at roughly $1.5–2 billion, with Reuters citing $1.6 billion. Q.ai, based in Tel Aviv and founded in 2022, develops imaging and machine‑learning technology to interpret whispered or ‘silent’ speech and analyse subtle facial skin micromovements to infer expressions and mouthed words. Apple said the startup’s roughly 100 employees, including CEO Aviad Maizels, will join the company. GV (Gradient Ventures) and other investors confirmed the exit and called the transaction Apple’s second‑largest acquisition after Beats. The buy comes as Apple accelerates on‑device AI across AirPods, Vision Pro and Siri, and shortly after it announced wider use of Google’s Gemini models for some Apple Intelligence features. Separately, Alphabet declined to discuss details of its AI partnership with Apple during its Feb. 5, 2026 earnings call. Market reports and patents suggest Q.ai’s tech could be integrated into headphones, glasses or other wearables; Apple is also reported to be exploring an AI “pin” wearable as it broadens its AI device roadmap.

Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a shock special election runoff for Texas State Senate District 9, winning roughly 57% to 43% on Saturday and flipping a seat President Donald Trump carried by 17 points in 2024. Rehmet, an Air Force veteran, machinist and union leader, will be the first Democrat to represent the district in more than four decades. The contest followed a low-turnout runoff after no candidate secured a majority in November; local reports cited turnout near 15%. The result prompted urgent reactions from Republican leaders — including Sens. Ted Cruz and state Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — and warnings from GOP lawmakers and strategists that Hispanic voters and turnout failures cost the party. Democrats and the DNC hailed the win as evidence of momentum and stronger Latino support, while Republicans blamed turnout, weather and national immigration enforcement controversies for the 14-point swing. Rehmet and Wambsganss are set to face each other again in the November 2026 general election for a full four-year term.

Brett Ratner has denied any personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after the U.S. Department of Justice’s latest release of millions of documents included a photograph showing the filmmaker seated next to Epstein with two unidentified women. Ratner told Fox News and told Piers Morgan the image was taken “about 20 years ago” at an event his then-fiancée invited him to and said he had no contact with Epstein before or after that single occasion. The DOJ dump also included another image of Ratner embracing Jean‑Luc Brunel, the late French agent once linked to Epstein. Ratner, who has faced multiple sexual‑misconduct allegations in 2017 but was never charged, is concurrently defending a career comeback after his documentary Melania opened to roughly $7m in North American ticket sales. Media reports stress that names and images in the files do not themselves imply guilt and that many entries in the cache derive from tips or archived records; Ratner has declined to identify the redacted woman and called the online speculation “horrible.”

Bruce Springsteen’s protest single “Streets of Minneapolis,” released Jan. 28 in response to deadly federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart despite being available for only two days of the tracking week. Luminate data show the track sold about 16,000 downloads in the week ending Jan. 29 and drew roughly 678,000 official U.S. streams plus a 175,000 airplay audience in that short span, also entering the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at No. 20. Springsteen wrote and dedicated the song to the people of Minneapolis and the memory of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, two 37-year-olds killed in separate encounters with federal immigration agents amid the Operation Metro Surge. He first performed the song live at a benefit concert in Minneapolis on Jan. 30. The release has prompted sharp reactions across the political spectrum, including criticism from Lara Trump and pushback from a Department of Homeland Security official.

The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy Award at the 68th ceremony in Los Angeles, taking the award for Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The 90-year-old Nobel laureate’s spoken-word album, released last August, pairs his reflections with music by Indian classical musicians and features vocal contributions from artists including Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers and Andra Day; Wainwright accepted the prize on the Dalai Lama’s behalf. The win drew swift criticism from Beijing, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accusing organisers of using the award for “anti-China political manipulation” and reiterating China’s claim to authority over the Dalai Lama’s succession. The award and Beijing’s response come amid an ongoing dispute over who will determine the next Dalai Lama — the exile’s Gaden Phodrang Trust or the Chinese government — raising fresh international scrutiny of Tibetan religious succession and cultural diplomacy.

Canadian-born pop star Tate McRae drew widespread online criticism after posting an NBCUniversal promotional spot for its “Legendary February” coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LX. In the Instagram clip filmed in the Italian Alps, McRae — wearing a red ski suit and referencing her 2025 single “Nobody’s Girl” — says she hopes to “meet Team USA,” highlights U.S. figure skating and Lindsey Vonn’s comeback, and plugs NBC/Peacock’s Olympic opening-ceremony broadcast. The post, shared on Feb. 4, prompted a wave of responses on X and other platforms: some Canadians accused McRae of abandoning national pride, while others defended her as an artist doing a commercial job or applauded the career visibility. Media outlets noted the reaction comes against a backdrop of heightened U.S.-Canada tensions cited in coverage. NBC has used international pop stars in previous promos; McRae’s appearance follows similar spots by other global artists. Representatives for McRae did not immediately issue a public comment in initial coverage.