Timbaland is facing a lawsuit from DJ E Feezy, who claims he was fired from the planned Timbaland and Missy Elliott tour less than 30 days before it was scheduled to begin. According to the complaint, obtained by TMZ, Feezy was hired in 2024 to perform during the tour, which was scheduled for July and August. He claims his agreement called for $4,000 per show, totaling approximately $120,000 for the tour. Feezy alleges he made significant preparations for the tour, including obtaining a Canadian work visa, paying related legal fees, declining other performance opportunities and practicing the planned set list. He claims he was terminated shortly before the tour began and believes Timbaland’s son was brought in to replace him. Feezy also alleges that a settlement was reached following his dismissal, but says Timbaland failed to honor the agreement. He is seeking approximately $130,000 in damages, including lost tour earnings and visa-related expenses. Timbaland has denied Feezy’s allegations and is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that there was no enforceable agreement covering the terms described in the complaint. The producer has also filed a separate complaint against his former manager, whom he says handled the arrangements with Feezy. Timbaland maintains that if Feezy is entitled to damages, responsibility should fall on the former manager rather than him.

Solange Knowles is remembering her former Bring It On: All or Nothing costar Hayden Panettiere following the actress’ death on Sunday, Aug. 16. Knowles, who starred alongside Panettiere in the 2006 film, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, reflecting on their time together and the impact of their work. The two portrayed rival cheerleading captains in the film, with Knowles playing Camille and Panettiere portraying Britney. In an Instagram Story, Knowles described Panettiere as someone who “courageously” lived in her truth while pursuing vulnerability and healing. She also reflected on the significance of the movie and their performances, writing that the project eventually became meaningful to audiences in ways they could not have imagined as two young women. Knowles also shared photos of the pair in their cheerleading uniforms, captioning them “warriors for life.” Other Bring It On: All or Nothing cast members have also mourned Panettiere, including Francia Raisa. Panettiere, best known for her roles in Nashville and Heroes, was found unresponsive at Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. According to the Greenville Police Department, officers and emergency medical personnel responded after an acquaintance called 911, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.

A rare video of a young Beyoncé speaking with Michael Jackson has resurfaced online, drawing renewed attention to a moment involving producer F. Marc Schaffel. The footage, reportedly filmed around 2001 while Beyoncé was still a member of Destiny’s Child, shows her taking a phone call from Jackson while sitting on Schaffel’s lap. The scene has prompted viewers to question the professional boundaries surrounding the young singer. The footage reportedly came from an unaired reality project filmed by Schaffel and was recorded during work connected to Jackson’s charity single “What More Can I Give.” Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child were among the artists associated with the project, which brought together major performers following the September 11 attacks. During the resurfaced clip, Beyoncé appears excited to learn that Jackson admired her work before speaking with him about the charity recording and expressing her appreciation for being involved. Schaffel’s presence has added further context because he served as an executive producer on “What More Can I Give” and previously worked closely with Jackson. Their professional relationship later became the subject of a legal dispute over money Schaffel claimed he was owed, with a 2006 jury awarding him $900,000 while ordering him to pay Jackson $200,000. However, that history does not establish anything improper about the Beyoncé footage. Online discussion has instead centered on the sight of Beyoncé sitting on Schaffel’s lap, while no verified public statement from Beyoncé explaining the interaction has emerged.

Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris briefly woke from an induced coma and asked to leave the hospital before doctors were forced to sedate him again. According to an update shared by Shelly White, wife of Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White, Paris opened his eyes, looked around and asked for his wife, musician Kathy Merrick. After seeing her, he turned to a close friend named Eddie and jokingly said, “Get me outta here,” bringing an emotional moment of hope to those at his bedside. The encouraging development was short-lived, however, as Paris’ blood pressure began rising and he experienced difficulty breathing. Doctors subsequently placed him back under sedation to help stabilize his condition while allowing him to continue receiving critical medical care. Paris remains sedated as his medical team monitors his condition and determines the safest course of treatment. Shelly also said there have been small positive signs, noting that Paris appears to show slight responses when music is played.  Paris was hospitalized following a medical emergency before Earth, Wind & Fire’s scheduled August 6 concert with Lionel Richie at San Francisco’s Chase Center. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that emergency crews responded to a cardiac incident and transported one person to a local hospital in critical condition. The concert was postponed shortly before it was scheduled to begin. Supporters say Paris’ recovery journey is “far from over” and continue asking fans to keep the drummer and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

The legal dispute between Ronald Isley and the estate of his late brother Rudolph Isley over ownership of the The Isley Brothers trademark has come to an end. Attorneys for both sides filed a stipulation of dismissal in federal court in Chicago on Wednesday, August 12, bringing the case to a close. The filing states that the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, with each side responsible for its own legal costs and attorneys’ fees. The dismissal means Rudolph’s estate cannot bring the same claims against Ronald again. No settlement details, ownership division or payment between the parties were disclosed in the court filing. The dispute began after Ronald Isley applied in November 2021 to register exclusive rights to the The Isley Brothers trademark in his name. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the registration on August 16, 2022, covering visual and audiovisual recordings featuring music and animation. Rudolph filed suit in March 2023, arguing that the trademark should have been jointly owned by the brothers and seeking what he described as his rightful 50% share of proceeds. The complaint alleged that Ronald’s registration claims were made without Rudolph’s knowledge or approval and disputed Ronald’s assertion of exclusive ownership. The court never issued a ruling determining who legally owned the trademark, and Ronald’s registration remains in his name.  Rudolph, Ronald and their brother O’Kelly Isley Jr. formed The Isley Brothers in Cincinnati around 1954 and operated the group as a partnership, according to the lawsuit. O’Kelly died in 1986, leaving his interests to his two surviving brothers, while Rudolph stopped performing and recording with the group in 1989 but continued to participate in managing and benefiting from its assets. The complaint cited publishing, royalty and licensing arrangements as evidence of their continued shared interests, including a 2018 publishing deal and revenue from recordings and sampled music. With the dismissal, the long-running trademark dispute between the two brothers’ sides has officially ended without a court ruling on the underlying ownership claims.

Faith Evans has suffered a legal setback in a dispute involving the company created to manage the legacy and intellectual property of her late husband, The Notorious B.I.G.. On August 7, a Delaware Court of Chancery judge ruled in favor of Wayne Barrow, acting as trustee of the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust, in his case against Evans and Notorious B.I.G., LLC. The court granted Barrow summary judgment, recognizing the trust's membership and rights to distributions from the company. Evans and Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, formed the Delaware LLC in 2007 to oversee Christopher Wallace's intellectual property. Under a 2023 operating agreement, Evans and Voletta each held half of the company's membership units, while portions of their distribution interests were assigned to Biggie's children, Ty'anna Wallace and Christopher Jordan “CJ” Wallace. Before Voletta's death in February 2025, she amended her trust to remove CJ and another successor trustee, leaving Barrow as the sole successor trustee. After Voletta's death, Evans became the LLC's sole manager and stopped making distributions to the trust. The court rejected Evans' argument that the amended trust no longer qualified as a member of the LLC, ruling that the trust remained a permitted transferee under the operating agreement. Barrow's attorney, Jay W. Freiberg, said the decision vindicated his client, while Evans' representatives had not publicly responded at the time of the report. The ruling does not resolve all disputes surrounding Voletta's estate, as CJ has a separate Pennsylvania case challenging the changes that made Barrow sole trustee and executor.