R&B/Hip-Hop
Mariah Carey & DJ Khaled to Join Latto on ‘Big Energy’ Remix
Latto is adding that real “Big Energy” to her 2021 breakout hit with an upcoming remix featuring Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled. The rapper revealed that the new take on “Big Energy” is set to drop on Monday (Mar. 28). The announcement comes following a not-so-subtle Twitter exchange between Latto and Carey, in which the duo hinted at a collaboration through clever emojis. The collaboration between Latto and Mariah Carey makes sense, as “Big Energy” samples Tom Tom Club’s 1981 single, “Genius Of Love,” which most fans will recognize from Carey’s “Fantasy.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The song, released via StreamCut/RCA Records in September, hit No. 14 on the latest Billboard Hot 100, marking the 23-year-old Atlanta native’s first top 40 hit. T...
Beyonce Basically Queen of ‘Jeopardy’ After ‘Single Ladies’ Lyrics Used in 3 Categories
It’s one of the most iconic lyrics (and hand gestures) of the early 2000s and on Thursday night (March 24) it popped up more than once on Jeopardy. For starters, three adjacent categories on the episode were titled “If You Liked It,” “Then You Should Have” and “Put a ‘Ring’ On It,” an obvious reference that even a junior member of the Beyhive would realize pointed to Beyoncé‘s beloved 2008 smash “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” Explore See latest videos, charts and news And while just one of the clues in the category was about Bey, the night’s big winner, Univ. of Maryland student Ciara Donegan, had no problem coming up with a quick answer to the “If You Liked It” clue that read “Appropriately, for the board, this singer was the people’s choice as the top animated movie star of 2019 for...
Stream Charles Stepney’s First Eponymous Recording ‘Step on Step’
Charles Stepney, the lauded songwriter, producer and arranger, steps into the spotlight with a posthumous cut, the Chicagoan’s first-ever eponymous release. The newly-unearthed “Step on Step” is a home recording from the late ‘60s, and the first track to be released under Stepney’s name. The Illinois native recorded the song to four-track tape in the basement of his home. On it, Stepney layers his own performances on piano and vibraphone over an early drum machine, for a bare-bones insight into his talents. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “Step on Step” sees the light of day via International Anthem, which releases the track to celebrate would have been Stepney’s 91st birthday this Saturday (March 26). Stepney has been described as “one of the underrated heroes of Chicago soul m...
Fireboy DML: March R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month
Within the first three months of 2022, Fireboy DML has already worked with household-name artists Ed Sheeran and Madonna. But there’s one collaborator that made the 26-year-old Afrobeats artist realize he was destined for superstardom: Wande Coal. The renowned Nigerian vocalist came together with the up-and-comer on “Spell” from Fireboy’s 2020 sophomore album Apollo, a cross-generational combination of Wande and Fireboy’s enchanting falsettos backed by Pheelz’s feel-good production perfect to catch a late-night vibe to. It’s more upbeat and pop-leaning than Fireboy’s typical slow-burning, soul-baring fusion of Afrobeats and R&B, which he’s branded as his own “Afro-Life” sound. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “It’s surreal, honestly, watching myself grow into making a song wi...
Kanye West Suspended From Instagram for 24 Hours
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has been suspended from Instagram for 24 hours, Billboard can confirm. The rapper’s recent posts violated Instagram’s policies on hate speech, bullying and harassment, a rep from Meta (formerly Facebook, Inc., which is the parent organization of Instagram) told TMZ, which first reported the news on Wednesday (March 16). The @kanyewest account has been restricted for 24 hours, which means Ye is unable to post, comment and send messages, among other actions, on the social media platform. While his account remains active, certain posts have been deleted, including repeated racial slurs underneath a screenshot of Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s Google page. Half of the page is dedicated to the numerous shots Ye has taken at Pete Davidson, the current beau of Wes...
Megan Thee Stallion Wants You to Take a Bite of Her Extra-Sweet ‘H-Town Hottie Pie’
Megan Thee Stallion did the math and realized that the only way to properly celebrate the nerdiest holiday is with a sweet and savory dessert. The rapper helped her Hotties raise a fork to Pi Day on Tuesday (March 14) — the global party commemorating the Greek letter that is used as mathematical symbol to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (3.14159…) — by offering up the mouth-watering “Megan’s H-Town Hottie Pie.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news The $59 delight cooked up with GoldBelly, was inspired by Megan’s “hometown of Houston and her love for all things sweet,” according to a statement. It is described as a “deliciously decadent” mix of sweet and salty, rich and gooey, made up of coconut, pecans, butterscotch chips, dusted with edible...
Cardi B Gives a Teeny, Tiny Glimpse of 6-Month-Old Son: ‘That’s All Y’all Will Get’
Cardi B will not let you invade her privacy. The rapper, who gave birth to her second child with Migos rapper Offset six months ago, has so far not revealed the baby boy’s name. And, until Tuesday (March 8), she hadn’t given us even a glimpse of his face. Explore See latest videos, charts and news So, after first lamenting in a tweet that she couldn’t relieve little man’s teething aches — “Ugh I wish I can take my sweet baby teething pain away. He been sad all day” — the “I Like It” rapper answered a fan’s question about why she hasn’t posted a photo of her baby yet with a teeny, tiny peek at his adorable face. “Our baby cousin got teeth coming in and we ain’t seen him yet,” the fan wrote in response to the toothache tweet. And while Cardi didn’t totally cave to the pressure to post, she d...
Megan Thee Stallion Talks the ‘Completely Different Vibe’ of Her ‘Off Thee Leash’ Snapchat Series
The Hot Girl takes over the Hottie ranch! Megan Thee Stallion launched a new Snap Originals series exclusively on Snapchat last month, in which the rapper gets back to her Texas roots to take some much deserved time off. In the aptly titled “Off Thee Leash” series, Meg hits the ranch in style with her celebrity friends including Taraji P. Henson, Nicole Richie, Normani and Kelly Rowland — plus their furry friends. The eight-episode series airs weekly until April 9. “I was raised on the the South Side of Houston, so it was a completely different vibe compared to the Hottie ranch,” Megan Thee Stallion tells Billboard of her Texas upbringing. “It’s kind of similar, you might see someone riding a horse to the store. If you live in Texas you’ve definitely been on a ranch or on a farm ...
Eminem Makes History as Most-Certified Artist For Singles in RIAA Gold & Platinum Program History
The Recording Industry Association of America crowned Eminem a Diamond King on Tuesday (March 8) when it announced that Marshall Mathers had reached yet another gilded career high when he became the number-one awarded musician for singles in the RIAA’s Gold & Platinum certifications program thanks to 73.5 million new certifications. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “These awards recognize Eminem’s unflinching commitment to his craft and the enduring connection he has forged with fans over the last twenty years,” said RIAA Chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier in a statement. “With today’s announcement, Eminem becomes the top certified singles artist in our program’s history and adds a rare third Diamond Album to his many creative accomplishments. Congratulations to Eminem and his entire...
Here’s What Dolly Parton Had to Say About a Potential Collab With Cardi B
Dolly Parton featuring … Cardi B? It may be more likely than you might think. Though the two artists are so different on the surface it feels like they could only ever be brought together by the spin of a wheel or some random online name generator, the 76-year-old country icon told E!’s Daily Pop Monday (March 7) that she can definitely see herself working with Cardi in the future. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Before taking the stage of Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to host the 2022 ACM Awards, Parton sat down for a virtual interview and answered questions about the show, along with one query regarding a potential collaboration with one of today’s biggest rap superstars. “I might, if she’s willing,” Parton said of getting in the studio w...
Kanye West Speaks Out After Backlash Over Pete Davidson’s Burial in ‘Eazy’ Claymation Video
Kanye West is speaking out following backlash over his claymation music video for “Eazy,” which features disturbing images of a figure resembling Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson being kidnapped and buried alive. The 44-year-old rapper and fashion mogul, who now goes by Ye, took to Instagram on Sunday (March 6) to share his thoughts on artistic expression in the days following the release of the video, which received harsh criticism from social media users who said they found the clip bizarre, threatening and downright disgusting. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Art is therapy just like this view,” Ye wrote alongside an image of a house on fire. “art is protected as freedom of speech. art inspires and simplifies the world. Art is not a p...
Kanye West Ponders ‘Divorce’ and What It Feels Like
Hours after Kim Kardashian dropped ex-husband Kanye West‘s last name from her own from her official Twitter and Instagram accounts, the rapper is giving his thoughts on their divorce. Ye took to Instagram on Friday (Mar. 4) to share a lengthy post about how divorce feels, likening the dissolution of a marriage to injury, heavy breathing and a number of other letdowns in life. Explore Explore Kanye West See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The post comes after a judge declared Kardashian legally single on March 2. The Keeping Up for the Kardashians star — who had originally filed for divorce in February 2021 — had requested December that her maiden name be restored, and that the court split the former couple’s divorce proceedings into two...
