R&B/Hip-Hop
Jack Harlow & Drake Head to the Races for ‘Churchill Downs’ Video
Louisville native Jack Harlow headed back to his home state of Kentucky for the “Churchill Downs” music video released on Wednesday (June 1), and brought his collaborator Drake along for a big win at the Kentucky Derby. In the clip, the well-dressed rap duo hold their sizable bets in hand as as their horses race across the finish line at the Churchill Downs Racetrack. Throughout the video, Bryson Tiller, Boi1-da, DJ Drama, and Druski make cameos, and Harlow’s mother even makes an appearance while Drizzy raps to her. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Last month, the duo were seen filming the video at the annual horse race, where Drake dropped in on an unexpected interview with Harlow during a live NBC broadcast. “I had to show up. I’m so proud of ...
Snoop Dogg Scraps 2022 International Concerts
Snoop Dogg is scrapping all international dates from his 2022 calendar, blaming “unforeseen scheduling conflicts”. As previously reported, the rap star had postponed his forthcoming tour of Australia, what was to be his first visit there since 2014. Those shows are “looking likely” to be rescheduled to February 2023, say the promoters for that planned outing, TEG MJR. In a statement posted to his Instagram account, Snoop confirms he’s “canceling all upcoming non-U.S. tour dates” for the remainder of 2022, citing “family obligations and upcoming tv and film projects” among factors. The Doggfather “regrets” the cancellations. “He was excited to see his fans around the world and apologies to all that had already made plans to see his show,” the statement continues. “He looks forward to resche...
Snoop Dogg Postpones 2022 Australia Tour
Snoop Dogg won’t be bringing his doggy style to Australia later this year as planned. The hip-hop legend was booked for an arena tour Down Under this October and November, though all dates are postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances, family obligations and filming commitments,” reads a statement issued Monday (May 30) by TEG MJR. The concerts company is said to be working closely with Snoop’s team on new dates, “which is looking likely” to be February 2023. “While we understand the disappointment with these shows moving back to 2023,” the statement continues, “we also respect Snoop’s decision and can’t wait to have the God Father of Rap finally back on Australian shores.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Tickets for the nixed concerts...
Bobby Brown Talks Tell-All A&E ‘Biography’: ‘This Is My Truth’
“The biggest misperception of me is that I really give a f— about what anybody feels.” That’s just one of the many colorful declarations and insightful revelations peppered throughout Biography: Bobby Brown. At times spicy, poignant and fun — but never pulling any punches — the documentary premieres across two nights on A&E, starting Memorial Day (Monday and Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET/PT). Seemingly nothing was left on the cutting-room floor as Bobby Brown relates how he rocketed his way out of the housing projects of Roxbury, Mass., into superstardom — first as a member of R&B/pop boy group New Edition and later as a magnetizing solo act. Along the way, he recounts his “bad boy” reputation, the origin of his signature “Gumby” haircut and love life interludes. Explore See latest videos, ch...
Director Sabaah Folayan Talks About ‘The Good, Bad and Ugly’ of ‘Look At Me: ‘XXXTENTACION’
On Thursday (May 26), the long-awaited Hulu original documentary Look At Me: XXXTENTACION arrives for ardent supporters of the 20-year-old rapper, who instantly became a voice for troubled youth through his boisterous raps and unbridled passion. Although his Billboard wins — including his Billboard 200 chart-topping sophomore album ? — and artistic temperament were beloved and celebrated by his fanbase, XXXTENTACION’s legal pitfalls and problematic behavior were fuel for media publications who covered his issues extensively. During his career, he accumulated several charges from a pair of incidents involving robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, witness tampering, false imprisonment, and aggravated battery of a pregnant woman. By 2018, he faced 15 felony charges stemm...
Brandy Playfully Hits Back at Jack Harlow With Her ‘First Class’ Freestyle: Listen
Don’t mess with Brandy! On Wednesday (May 25), the Vocal Bible dropped her own freestyle over Jack Harlow‘s No. 1 hit “First Class,” and the results were nothing short of incredible. “Allow me to reintroduce myself/ My name is world famous, one of the greatest/ Livin’ legend, did I mention my resume is amazin’” the singer rapped on the track, which debuted on Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning show. “Over 20 years and I am still a topic/ A picture’s worth a million, now I’m feelin’ philanthropic/ Forty-three and feelin’ like a kid with millions watchin’/ Popular but now I’m poppin’ s–t for those out of pocket/ I went diamond/ Guess I’m still a gold mine shinin’/ This Black excellence at its finest/ Don’t call me Brandy no more, call me Your Highness.” Explore See latest videos, charts and ...
Kendrick Lamar Tops Billboard Artist 100 Chart Thanks to ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’ Debut
Kendrick Lamar leaps from No. 9 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated May 28), returning as the top musical act in the U.S. for a sixth total week, and for the first time since 2017, thanks to the opening week of his new LP, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The set soars in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,500 equivalent album units earned, according to Luminate – the biggest weekly total for an album this year. Lamar lands his fourth No. 1 on the chart, following 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly, 2016’s untitled unmastered. and 2017’s DAMN. Lamar concurrently sends all 18 tracks from the new release onto the Billboard Hot 100, plus his non-album single “The Heart Part 5.” Of those 19 entrie...
‘It Was All a Dream’ Author Talks Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Relationship, Biggie’s Legacy 25 Years After His Death & More
Twenty-five years after The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, was murdered in Los Angeles, his legacy continues to live large in the hip-hop world and beyond. At just 24, having released two albums — 1994’s Ready to Die and 1997’s Life After Death, both certified classics — he had already amassed a career that would eventually land him in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. As we remember the rapper born Christopher Wallace on what would have been his 50th birthday (May 21), Justin Tinsley, author of the new book It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him, reflects on why we remain so hypnotized by the iconic rapper. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news How did you go about capturing the life of such a legendary figure l...
The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th Birthday Celebrated by Lil’ Kim, Junior M.A.F.I.A. & More at NYC Gala
Family and friends of late hip-hop icon The Notorious B.I.G. gathered for the 2nd Annual Biggie Dinner Gala at Guastavino’s in New York City on Friday (May 20). Hosted by Lil’ Kim and presented by Lexus and Pepsi, the event was in celebration of Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday on Saturday. Although 25 years have passed since his tragic death, the rapper’s legacy has been kept alive through monumental occasions over the years. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With a vibe similar to that of a warm family reunion, the evening started at around 8 p.m. with star-studded guests arriving on the red carpet, including Fat Joe, members of Junior M.A.F.I.A., T’yanna Wallace, Havoc, Sway, members of Smif-N-Wessun, Prayah, Ceaser Emanuel of Black Ink Crew, DJ E...
Prodigy of Mobb Deep’s Solo Catalog Returns to Streaming Services, New Music On the Way
The solo catalog of late Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy has returned to streaming services today (May 20) after three years of unavailability, a rep for his estate confirmed to Billboard. That collection of albums and EPs includes his classic solo debut H.N.I.C. and its two sequels, as well as 2012’s The Bumpy Johnson Album, 2017’s Hegelian Dialectic (The Book of Revelation) and his 2013 collaboration with The Alchemist, Albert Einstein, and 2014 collab release with Boogz Boogetz, Young Rollin Stoned. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news For the past three years, only his influential 2007 Alchemist collab Return of the Mac and the following year’s Product of the 80s with Big Twins and Un Pacino, as well as the Mobb Deep discography, were available to stre...
Lil Wayne Fires Back at Mark Cuban Amid NBA Drama: ‘I Will P— in Ya Fkn Mouth’
Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban have traded insults like the NBA trades players amid the Western Conference semifinal face-off between the Phoenix Suns and Cuban-owned Dallas Mavericks. As the two basketball teams duked it out in a seven-game series (which the Mavericks ultimately won 4-3), decade-old tensions arose on Twitter when Lil Wayne — who is longtime friends with Suns point guard Chris Paul — tweeted that Mavericks point guard Luka Dončić is “a ho” during Game 4 on May 8. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news More than a week later, Cuban fired back with an insult to Lil Wayne using the Grammy-winner’s own song lyric from the 2018 bop “Uproar.” “It’s a s–t show, put you front row’ #MFFL,” the mogul tweeted on Monday (May 16) with a photo of...
Megan Thee Stallion Reveals Her New Album Is ’95 Percent Done’
Megan Thee Stallion has some exciting news for the Hotties. After scoring the 2022 Webby Award for artist of the year on Monday night, Thee Stallion revealed details about her next project. “I’m probably like 95 percent done with my new album,” she said backstage. “I wanna tease that for the Hotties. I haven’t even told them nothing about my album, but yeah.” The Stallion’s noteworthy update came just one day after she hit the stage during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Surrounded by an array of dancers, Megan gave an incredible performance of her new track “Plan B” followed by “Sweetest Pie.” Although the latter is a collaboration with fellow hitmaker Dua Lipa...
