Tay Keith, Producer Behind 'Look Alive,' 'Nonstop' and 'Sicko Mode,' Dies at 29

Grammy-nominated producer Tay Keith is shown in an undated promotional portrait. Keith, born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, was found dead in his Nashville apartment on Thursday. The Memphis native fundamentally shifted the sound of late-2010s hip-hop, bringing his city's signature heavy bounce to global hits like Travis Scott's Sicko Mode and Beyoncé's Before I Let Go from her "Homecoming" live album.

The tag told you who made it. The drums told you where he was from.

“Tay Keith, f--- these n----- up” was crude, unmistakable and usually followed by something stripped down, hard and built to move. It was not just a drop. It was a producer’s signature at a moment when producers were becoming part of rap’s front-facing language.

Keith, the Grammy-nominated producer born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, was found dead Thursday in his Nashville apartment, police said. He was 29.

Metro Nashville Police said Chambers was found in his Martin Street apartment during a welfare check. Police said no foul play is suspected. His death remains unclassified pending autopsy results.

Keith’s death lands hard because he helped put Memphis back in the middle of mainstream rap’s daily conversation.

He came from a city that had already changed Southern rap through Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, Playa Fly, DJ Squeeky, Gangsta Pat, Project Pat, Yo Gotti, Young Dolph and a long line of producers and rappers who made darkness, bounce and bass feel like local language. Keith did not clean that language up for the mainstream. He made the mainstream come to it.

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“I always knew music was gonna be my outlet,” Keith told The Fader in 2018. “I just didn’t know when, or how it was gonna happen.”

It happened with BlocBoy JB.

Keith and BlocBoy were not an industry pairing cooked up after the city was already hot. They were Memphis kids who knew each other’s timing before the rest of the country caught on. When “Look Alive” arrived in 2018 with Drake on it, the record did not sound like a local act being invited into pop. It sounded like one of the biggest rappers in the world stepping into their room.

The beat was stripped down and cold. BlocBoy gave it movement. Drake gave it reach. Keith gave it the floor.

That year, his run got ridiculous. He produced or co-produced Drake’s “Nonstop,” Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” Eminem’s “Not Alike” and Lil Baby and Gunna’s “Never Recover,” featuring Drake. “Sicko Mode” brought him a Grammy nomination for best rap song.

Keith was barely in his 20s, and his sound was already moving through some of the biggest records in the country.

That is usually where the industry starts sanding off the regional edge. Keith’s records kept their accent. The drums stayed dry. The bounce stayed Memphis. The empty space was not empty; it was where the record got its nerve.

Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB, left, and producer Tay Keith pose in an undated throwback photograph shared to BlocBoy JB's Instagram Story on Thursday. The rapper posted the image with the caption "Damn Cuz You Just Hurt Me Bad" following the announcement of Keith's death at age 29. The long-time friends and collaborators rose to global prominence together with their 2018 hit Look Alive. (Screen capture via Instagram/blocboy_jb)

He could still move outside the expected lanes. Keith produced Beyoncé’s version of “Before I Let Go,” the Frankie Beverly and Maze classic that became part of her “Homecoming” release. He later helped push Sexyy Red into the wider conversation with “Pound Town,” a record plenty of people laughed at until the beat, the joke and the personality all started working at once.

Keith heard it before the room did.

“People were trolling the shit out of me,” he told Billboard in 2024. “It wasn’t much good feedback. It was coming from even people around me, ‘What you doing?’ I saw the potential. That’s as simple as it was, me believing in her.”

That was the job. Hear it early. Stand on it. Let everybody else catch up.

Keith’s production did not beg for approval. It gave rappers a hard, open lane and made them decide what to do with it. BlocBoy could dance inside it. Drake could turn it into chart language. Travis Scott could fold it into spectacle. Sexyy Red could make it blunt and funny.

The center still held because the center was Memphis.

Keith also finished college while his career was exploding. Middle Tennessee State University said he graduated in December 2018 with degrees in integrated studies and media management. By his last week of school, he had his first No. 1 single.

“There wouldn’t be any point for me to come to college if I didn’t want to finish it — I could have just focused 100% on music,” Keith told MTSU. “By my last week of college, I had my first number one single, so it didn’t make any sense to drop out.”

After news of his death, BlocBoy JB posted the kind of grief that does not need polish.

“Damn Cuz You Just Hurt Me Bad,” he wrote in an Instagram Story.

In another tribute, he wrote, “We talked everyday.”

Fellow Memphis producer Hitkidd wrote, “I ain’t even got the words, we been doing this since 2010 @taykeith.”

Fred Alexander Jr., Drummer for Funk and R&B Band Lakeside, Dies

Fred Alexander Jr., longtime drummer for Lakeside, sits behind his drum kit in a photo shared by The Original Lakeside - Unfiltered. The group remembered Alexander as “our friend, our family and our band member of over 40 years.” (Photo Credit: The Original Lakeside - Unfiltered/Facebook)

Fred Alexander Jr., the Lakeside drummer whose pocket helped carry “Fantastic Voyage” from the funk era into old-school R&B memory, has died.

Alexander’s death was announced by bandmate Stephen Shockley in a social media post. A cause of death and funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

“Today is a Very Sad Day for our band Lakeside because we lost Fred Alexander,” Shockley wrote, calling him “The little General” and “The Backbone to all of our Records.”

Alexander’s role in Lakeside went beyond the drum kit. He was the drummer, the timekeeper and, later, one of the people helping keep the band’s business and road life together.

Alexander joined Lakeside in 1977, just as the Dayton-born band was moving into the stretch that would define its recording legacy. Lakeside had come through the Midwest funk circuit, early label stops and industry false starts before finding its place with Dick Griffey’s Solar Records, the Los Angeles label that also became home to acts including the Whispers, Shalamar, Midnight Star and Klymaxx.

That Solar run made Lakeside one of the most reliable self-contained funk and R&B bands of its era. The group’s records were not built only around lead vocals or studio polish. They moved because the band could play.

Alexander was part of that engine.

On “It’s All the Way Live,” the band’s 1978 breakthrough, Lakeside turned a stage command into a groove. On “Fantastic Voyage,” its signature record, the group built a party anthem that became bigger than its original chart moment. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and later found another life in 1990s hip-hop when Coolio used it as the foundation for his own “Fantastic Voyage.”

Alexander’s role also extended into the group’s survival after its main chart years. A 2025 Truth in Rhythm interview described him as Lakeside’s general manager, and Shockley’s tribute pointed to the administrative weight Alexander carried inside the organization.

Talay Riley, British Hitmaker Who Toured With Usher and Wrote for H.E.R., Dies at 35

British R&B singer and songwriter Talay Riley smiles in an undated photograph. Riley, 35, who helped bridge the gap between 2000s R&B and the modern streaming era, died Friday following a stabbing in East London. (Photo: Family Handout)

Talay Riley, a British singer, songwriter and producer whose real name was Mark Orabiyi, died Friday after a stabbing in east London. He was 35.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called around 9 a.m. Friday to reports of a stabbing on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown. Riley was found with stab wounds in the garden of a nearby property on Rayleigh Road. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another man in his 20s was taken to a hospital with multiple stab wounds. Police said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of murder. A 27-year-old man has been released on bail pending further inquiries, while a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were released with no further action after police questioning, according to British news reports. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Riley belonged to the part of R&B history that often hides in the credits. Before some listeners knew his name, they knew the records: Khalid’s “Young Dumb & Broke,” H.E.R.’s “Lights On,” Kehlani’s “Out the Window” and Chip’s “Oopsy Daisy.” Riley’s work moved through the writing rooms and vocal sessions that helped shape the sound of R&B, pop and hip-hop after the 2000s arena era.

Riley’s death drew grief from across the British and American music worlds, where he was known as both an artist and a writer whose reach extended well beyond his own recordings.

His brother Michael Orabiyi, the producer and songwriter known professionally as Scribz Riley, confirmed the loss in an Instagram tribute.

“My heart is shattered! This doesn’t feel real. It feels like a bad dream,” he wrote.

Scribz Riley said the brothers had spoken before Talay went to sleep about the future, staying positive and everything they still had left to do.

“I never imagined that would be our last conversation,” he wrote.

He described his brother as “a friend to many, a mentor, an inspiration, and a light in so many people’s lives.”

“He loved deeply, gave freely, and touched countless people through his talent, kindness, and spirit,” Scribz Riley wrote.

The tribute drew condolences from artists who understood the reach of Riley’s work. Stormzy wrote, “I’m sorry bro.” Khalid wrote, “I’m so sorry bro … I’m sending you so much love.” Kehlani wrote, “Big hugs Scribs I’m so sorry.” Wretch 32 called Riley “a gem” and said he would be “missed + never forgotten.”

In a family statement reported by British news outlets, relatives remembered Riley as “a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend.”

“We will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit and remarkable talent,” the family said. “His presence touched many lives, and his memory will remain in our hearts forever.”

Riley’s career connected several eras of R&B and pop. He signed his first major publishing deal at 18 and later wrote Chip’s U.K. No. 1 single “Oopsy Daisy.” He also worked on records connected to Tinie Tempah, Jessie J, Britney Spears, Craig David, Khalid, H.E.R., Kehlani, the Chainsmokers and others.

For listeners who came up on the Usher and Trey Songz era, Riley also belonged to the bridge between 2000s R&B showmanship and the global songwriting economy that followed. He toured with Usher, while his later credits placed him inside the streaming-era sound of artists such as Khalid and H.E.R.

Riley received a writing credit on H.E.R.’s “Lights On,” which appeared on the singer’s self-titled album “H.E.R.” The album won Best R&B album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Peabo Bryson, Singer of 'Beauty and the Beast' and R&B Classics, Suffers Stroke

Peabo Bryson appears in an undated photo posted to his official Facebook page. Bryson, 75, has suffered a stroke and is under medical care, according to a statement from his representative. (Credit: Peabo Bryson/Facebook)

Peabo Bryson’s voice has lived in slow dances, quiet-storm dedications, wedding receptions and Disney memories shared across generations. Smooth, controlled and unmistakably rooted in R&B, it carried romance with a kind of dignity that never needed to shout.

That made Sunday’s news hit hard.

Bryson, 75, the two-time Grammy-winning singer known for “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme)” and decades of romantic R&B ballads, has suffered a stroke and is under medical care, according to a statement from his representative.

No additional details about Bryson’s condition have been publicly released. His family asked for privacy as he receives treatment. The statement said the ‘thoughts, prayers and love’ of friends and fans are welcomed.

The support began moving through R&B circles quickly. Stephanie Mills, one of Bryson’s contemporaries and a defining voice of her own generation, posted a message of support for him on social media.

“Right now for my friend @peabobryson2,” Mills wrote. “I truly love you. I am here for your family while you recover. ABUNDANT #POWER AND #STRENGTH.”

For casual listeners, Bryson may be most widely known as one of the voices behind two of the most recognizable movie duets of the early 1990s. He won Grammys for “Beauty and the Beast,” performed with Celine Dion, and “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme),” performed with Regina Belle. Both songs won best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal.

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Those records made him part of childhood for millions. But R&B audiences knew Bryson long before animated films carried his voice into the pop mainstream.

Born Robert L. Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, he came through the Southern music circuit before becoming one of contemporary R&B’s premier male vocalists. His catalog includes “Feel the Fire,” “I’m So Into You,” “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” “Can You Stop the Rain” and “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” his duet with Roberta Flack.

Those records belonged to a tradition that treated romantic ballads as serious craft. Bryson’s best work had polish, but the polish never flattened the feeling. He could make longing sound composed without making it cold, and tenderness sound powerful without turning it theatrical.

That restraint became part of his signature. It let him move from soul radio to adult contemporary and into Disney’s early 1990s run without sounding like a visitor in any room. He brought the grammar of R&B with him — the patience, the breath, the glide, the quiet command.

Rob Base, Harlem Rapper Who Anchored 'It Takes Two,' Dies at 59

Hip-hop pioneer Rob Base performs at the Houston Dash 90s Bash in Houston on Oct. 8, 2023. The Harlem-born rapper, who anchored the platinum 1988 crossover anthem "It Takes Two," died Friday after a private battle with cancer. He was 59. (Photo: 2C2K Photography, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Rob Base, the pioneering Harlem rapper whose 1988 platinum single "It Takes Two" became a foundational anthem for hip-hop and global dance culture, died Friday following a private battle with cancer. He was 59.

Born Robert Ginyard, the artist passed away peacefully surrounded by family, according to a statement released on his official social media accounts.

"Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world," the statement read. "Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten."

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Base emerged from the New York hip-hop scene in the mid-1980s alongside his childhood friend and musical partner DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce). After building local momentum in Harlem with early singles, the duo signed with Profile Records in 1987. The following year, they released "It Takes Two," a track that permanently altered the trajectory of the genre.

Built around a heavy, driving drum break and a vocal sample from Lyn Collins’ 1972 James Brown-produced funk track "Think (About It)," the song successfully bridged the gap between raw, lyric-driven hip-hop and the high-energy club scene. Introduced by Base's iconic opening declaration — "I wanna rock right now / I'm Rob Base and I came to get down" — the single peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard dance charts, reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, and quickly achieved platinum certification.

The accompanying album, also titled "It Takes Two," generated subsequent massive dance-floor hits including "Joy and Pain" and "Get on the Dance Floor." The project secured the duo's legacy during hip-hop's golden era, proving the commercial viability of rap music in mainstream spaces without compromising its street origins.

While the group's dynamic shifted in the 1990s — with Base releasing the solo album "The Incredible Base" in 1989 before reuniting with DJ E-Z Rock for 1994's "Break of Dawn" — his foundational 1988 work remained a permanent fixture in global pop culture. "It Takes Two" has been endlessly sampled by subsequent generations of producers and remains a ubiquitous presence in film, television, and sports arenas.

Memorial service arrangements for Ginyard have not yet been announced.

Snoop Dogg’s Company Denies Responsibility In Drakeo the Ruler Backstage Killing

Drakeo the Ruler appears on the cover of his posthumous album “The Undisputed Truth.” Snoop Dogg’s LLC is seeking dismissal from a wrongful death lawsuit tied to Drakeo’s fatal stabbing at the 2021 “Once Upon a Time in L.A.” festival. (Cover art by Gallery Provence)

Snoop Dogg’s company is asking a Los Angeles judge to cut it loose from litigation over the fatal backstage stabbing of Drakeo the Ruler, arguing that its connection to the 2021 festival ended with Snoop Dogg being booked to perform.

In legal documents obtained by TMZ and reported Wednesday, Snoop Dogg’s LLC moved for summary judgment in a case brought by Drakeo’s brother, Devante Caldwell, and others, contending the company had no role in producing, managing or securing the "Once Upon a Time in L.A." festival.

Drakeo the Ruler, whose legal name was Darrell Caldwell, was stabbed in a backstage all-access area at Exposition Park on Dec. 18, 2021, shortly before he was scheduled to perform. Lawsuits stemming from the attack allege his entourage was overwhelmed by a large group after security failures allowed unauthorized people into a restricted area.

Caldwell, known for a distinctly original, whisper-like flow often described as "nervous music," was a towering figure in the modern Los Angeles underground scene. He was widely respected for his relentless creative drive, most notably recording his critically acclaimed 2020 mixtape, "Thank You for Using GTL," over a jail phone line while awaiting trial at Men’s Central Jail. He had been acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges, but remained jailed as prosecutors pursued additional charges. He later pleaded to conspiracy charges and was released in November 2020.

In early 2022, separate civil actions were filed by relatives and representatives connected to Caldwell, including his brother Devante Caldwell, his mother, Darrylene Corniel, and his son through guardian ad litem Tianna Purtue. The lawsuits targeted primary promoter Live Nation, C3 Presents, Bobby Dee Presents, Snoop Dogg’s LLC, venue-related entities and security companies, accusing organizers of failing to provide adequate security despite alleged foreseeable risks.

One complaint stated that "Drakeo and his group fought for their lives against insurmountable odds, shocked and horrified at the fact that no security ever materialized to intervene."

According to the new legal documents obtained by TMZ, Snoop Dogg’s LLC argues it had no involvement in festival operations and cannot be held liable. The filing states the company never signed a lease or license agreement, held no ownership or leasehold interest in Exposition Park and was not responsible for hiring or managing the event’s security detail.

The documents further state that no one from Snoop Dogg’s company witnessed or participated in Caldwell’s death, nor did they have any relationship with the assailants. After the tragedy in 2021, Snoop Dogg released a statement expressing condolences and saying he was in his dressing room when he was informed of the incident. He said he chose to leave the festival grounds and closed with, "IM PRAYING FOR PEACE IN HIP HOP."

The latest move by Snoop Dogg’s LLC follows a wave of successful dismissals for other defendants. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Montgomery granted summary judgments removing the Los Angeles Football Club and Bobby Dee Presents from the case. The festival was held at what was then Banc of California Stadium, now BMO Stadium, in Exposition Park.

Bobby Dee Presents served as the booking agent for Snoop Dogg, one of the festival’s marquee headliners. In court papers, lawyers for the company wrote that it did not organize or produce the festival, did not hire security, did not establish or implement the security plan and did not own the land where the concert was held.

Montgomery agreed, finding that the plaintiffs had not shown that the booking company or stadium-related defendants violated an obligation to protect Caldwell.

While the roster of defendants continues to narrow, the core accusations regarding crowd control and festival safety remain directed at the remaining defendants, including Live Nation. A final status conference is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Nedra Talley-Ross Dead at 80, Marking the End of the Ronettes

In this 1966 promotional photo, members of the pioneering R&B and pop trio The Ronettes, from left, Estelle Bennett, Veronica "Ronnie" Spector, and Nedra Talley, pose for a portrait. Talley-Ross, the group's last surviving original member, died Sunday, April 26, at the age of 80.

The final voice of one of the most influential girl groups in music history has been silenced.

Nedra Talley-Ross, a founding member of the legendary 1960s R&B and pop trio The Ronettes, died on Sunday, April 26. She was 80.

The news was confirmed via social media by her daughter, Nedra K. Ross, who stated that her mother passed away peacefully on Sunday morning.

"At approximately 8:30 this morning our mother Nedra Talley Ross went home to be with the Lord," her daughter wrote in a Facebook statement. "She was safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved. Thank you Lord."

Formed in the early 1960s by Talley-Ross alongside her cousins Veronica "Ronnie" Spector and Estelle Bennett, The Ronettes became the defining face of the famous "Wall of Sound" production style. With their towering beehive hairstyles, heavy eyeliner, and striking vocal harmonies, the trio shattered the mold for female artists. They released a string of timeless classics, including "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You," and "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up," laying the direct groundwork for the explosion of female-led R&B groups in the '90s and '00s.

While the music world is still processing the fresh news of her passing. the group's towering legacy has long been championed by their most legendary contemporaries.

During The Ronettes' 2007 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones recalled watching the trio rehearse during a 1964 tour where the Stones served as their opening act.

"I realized that despite Jack Nitzsche's beautiful arrangements, they could sing all the way right through a Wall of Sound," Richards said during his induction speech. "They didn't need anything. They touched my heart right there and then, and they touch it still."

Similarly, Beach Boys architect Brian Wilson has famously cited their signature hit "Be My Baby" as his "all-time favorite song," heavily crediting the trio's vocal arrangements with shaping his own pop masterpieces.

Following the group's dissolution in the late 1960s, Talley-Ross famously stepped away from secular music, embracing her Christian faith and successfully transitioning into contemporary Christian music alongside her husband, the late Christian broadcaster Scott Ross, who died in 2023. Talley-Ross occasionally returned to the public eye to celebrate the group's legacy, notably performing alongside Ronnie Spector at their 2007 Rock Hall induction.

Her passing marks the definitive end of an era for the foundational group. Estelle Bennett passed away in 2009 at age 67, and Ronnie Spector died in 2022 at age 78.

Disgraced Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa Dies of Cancer Complications at 67

Afrika Bambaataa, the pioneering DJ and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, poses for a portrait wearing a denim cut-off vest and his signature Africa pendant in this circa 1986 photograph. Born Lance Taylor, Bambaataa was an instrumental architect of early hip-hop culture, but his massive musical contributions were later permanently eclipsed by severe allegations of child sexual abuse and a 2025 default judgment for sex trafficking. Bambaataa died Thursday at a Pennsylvania hospital at the age of 67.

Afrika Bambaataa, the pioneering DJ widely considered one of the founding fathers of hip-hop culture, has died. He was 67.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed the passing to media outlets early Thursday morning. Bambaataa, born Lance Taylor, reportedly died at approximately 3 a.m. at a hospital in Pennsylvania from complications related to cancer.

Emerging from the South Bronx in the 1970s, Bambaataa was a former member of the Black Spades gang who pivoted to become an instrumental architect in shaping the foundation of hip-hop. He founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an international hip-hop awareness group, and helped popularize the culture globally. His 1982 electro-funk anthem "Planet Rock," recorded with the Soulsonic Force, remains one of the most heavily sampled and influential tracks in the history of rap and dance music.

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However, his musical contributions were heavily eclipsed in his later years by severe, compounding allegations of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking.

Beginning in 2016, multiple men came forward publicly, accusing Bambaataa of molesting them when they were minors in the late 1970s and 1980s. The disturbing allegations ultimately led to his expulsion from the Universal Zulu Nation, the very organization he founded. In 2025, a judge issued a default judgment against Bambaataa after he failed to appear in court for a civil lawsuit accusing him of sex trafficking in the 1990s, forcing him to pay a settlement.

The deep division surrounding his legacy was immediately apparent on Thursday as news of his death broke.

The Rev. Dr. Kurtis Blow Walker, Executive Director of the Hip Hop Alliance, issued an official statement acknowledging Bambaataa's passing and the duality of his life.

"Today, we acknowledge the transition of a foundational architect of Hip Hop culture," the statement read, praising his early vision that "transformed the Bronx into the birthplace of a culture." However, the Alliance also directly addressed the severe controversy: "At the same time, we recognize that his legacy is complex and has been the subject of serious conversations within our community. As an organization committed to truth, accountability, and the preservation of Hip Hop culture, we believe it is important to hold space for all voices while continuing to uplift what empowers and protects the people."

Conversely, Hassan Campbell — a Bronx native, popular social media personality, and one of Bambaataa's most vocal accusers — reacted to the news in a live video on Facebook. Campbell harshly stated: "I just want to take the time out to say 'rest in peace' to the greatest child predator who ever walked this earth, Afrika Bambaataa."

Bambaataa's family and official representatives have not yet issued a public statement regarding his passing.

Rep: Offset Is Receiving Medical Care, Expected to Recover After South Florida Shooting

Atlanta rapper Offset, pictured in 2025, is receiving medical care after being shot at a South Florida casino on Monday, April 6. A representative confirmed the former Migos member is "fine," while Seminole County Police detained two individuals at the scene. (Photo/Mia Gonzales)

Former Migos rapper Offset was hospitalized Monday evening following a shooting outside a South Florida casino, though representatives have confirmed the Atlanta native is expected to recover.

According to initial reports broken by TMZ and confirmed by Men's Journal, the shooting occurred Monday near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

While details surrounding the exact nature of the altercation remain sparse, Offset's team quickly moved to reassure the public. A representative for the rapper issued a brief statement confirming his condition, simply stating that he is "fine" and receiving medical care.

According to a statement provided to TMZ, Seminole County Police confirmed that the shooting occurred at the casino's valet area shortly after 7 p.m. Law enforcement noted that the situation was "contained quickly," confirming that two individuals were detained by police and that "the site is secure and there is no threat to the public. Operations continue as normal."

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However, a massive secondary narrative is currently dominating social media. Almost immediately following the shooting, intense rumors began circulating across Reddit and Instagram claiming that Bronx rapper Lil Tjay — Offset's rival in a highly publicized feud over an alleged casino gambling debt — was also shot or involved in the crossfire.

The speculation was heavily amplified by media personality DJ Akademiks, who reported to his followers that Lil Tjay was "apparently shot as well."

As of press time, the claims regarding Lil Tjay's involvement remain strictly social media rumors. Law enforcement and official representatives have not confirmed a second victim or any connection between the shooting and the ongoing gambling dispute.

The hip-hop community remains on edge awaiting official police clarification, particularly given the tragic 2022 shooting death of Offset's cousin and Migos groupmate, Takeoff, in Houston.

Legendary Session Drummer James Gadson, the Quiet Architect of Hip-Hop’s Foundational Breakbeats, Dies at 86

Drummer James Gadson, 86, whose work with Charles Wright, Bill Withers, and Marvin Gaye created the foundational grooves and breakbeats that anchored decades of R&B hits and neo-soul masterpieces, including N.W.A.'s 'Express Yourself' and D'Angelo's 'Voodoo,' plays at his kit. Gadson, an in-demand session musician for over 50 years and a direct link between classic soul and modern hip-hop culture, died April 2, 2026.

The heartbeat of modern Black music has gone quiet.

James Gadson, the legendary session drummer whose precision grooves anchored decades of R&B hits and provided the literal building blocks for 1990s hip-hop, died on Thursday, April 2. He was 86.

While his passing was confirmed by family over the weekend, his legacy has been echoing through the culture for half a century. Often referred to as the "16th-note king," the Kansas City-born drummer established himself in the late 1960s as a member of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.

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It was during this era that Gadson laid down the funk groove for "Express Yourself" — a rhythm so undeniable that it was famously sampled by N.W.A. to create their own iconic 1988 hip-hop anthem of the same name.

His ability to stay perfectly in the pocket made him one of the most recorded R&B drummers in history. Gadson was the backbone of Bill Withers' early classics, including the syncopated masterpiece "Use Me" and "Lean on Me." He navigated the disco and soul eras flawlessly, anchoring Marvin Gaye's "I Want You," Diana Ross' "Love Hangover" and Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive."

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As hip-hop producers in the 1990s began crate-digging for the perfect breakbeats, they continually found themselves sampling Gadson's right hand. Recognizing his unparalleled feel for the groove, D'Angelo famously brought Gadson into the studio to play on his 2000 neo-soul magnum opus, "Voodoo," bridging the gap between the classic soul era and the modern culture.

The music world immediately recognized the magnitude of the loss. Questlove of The Roots — one of hip-hop's foremost historians and a legendary drummer in his own right — penned a definitive tribute to Gadson's specific cultural impact on social media.

"Some drummers are soulful. Some drummers are funky. Some drummer are a rockin. Some drummers are swinging," Questlove wrote. "But NO drummer, has impacted the art of breakbeat drummer (danceable drums) like James Gadson."

Ray Parker Jr., who played alongside Gadson for decades, echoed the sentiment, writing, "RIP James Gadson. We played together over 50 years. He changed the world."