R&B/Hip-Hop
Nicki Minaj Claps Back at Philadelphia Health Department, Says They’re Using ‘Fear Tactics’ to Push COVID-19 Vaccine
Nicki Minaj has responded to the Philadelphia Public Health Department’s take on her viral COVID-19 vaccine tweet. “Philadelphia’s public health account is posting Nicki Minaj tweets for engagement,” the rapper tweeted on Friday (Feb. 18). “They are attempting to shame ppl for advising others to PRAY, be COMFORTABLE & NOT BE BULLIED. I’ve never seen a vaccine trigger this amount of shaming & fear tactics have you? #DoWeHaveAProblem” She also replied to a fan who said they would not get vaccinated and is “starting to believe the conspiracy theorist” after seeing the Health Department’s tweets. “Good job guys. You just convinced more ppl to NOT get the vaccine you want them to get. Yaaaayyyyy,” Nicki wrote to the Health Department, adding, “Why TF won’t u just get off MY testicles?” ...
Kanye West Says Jack Harlow Is a ‘Top 5’ Rapper Following ‘Nail Tech’ Release
Jack Harlow gets Kanye West‘s stamp of approval. Following the release of Harlow’s new single, “Nail Tech,” Ye took to Instagram on Friday (Feb. 18) to shout out his fellow rap star. “This n—- can raaaaaaap bro And I’m saying n—- as a compliment Top 5 out right now,” he captioned a screenshot of the music video from YouTube, which indicated that the clip was No. 10 on the platform’s trending videos for music. The love for Harlow comes just months after the “Whats Poppin” rapper talked with British GQ about the huge influence Ye has had on his style, from adding the crucial horn stabs on “Baby” to teaching him that songs are never really done. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I think he sees himself as Mozart or Beethoven,” Harlow told the ...
Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Lil Baby & Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Acquire ‘True Classic’ Lifestyle Brand Mitchell & Ness
Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Lil Baby, Maverick Carter, Fanatics, the D’Amelio family and more have officially acquired iconic lifestyle brand Mitchell & Ness from former owner Juggernaut Capital Partners. The announcement came early Friday (Feb. 18). “Fashion is cyclical, but classics are forever,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “Mitchell & Ness is a true classic. I was an early adopter of this brand, as well as a part of a departure from athletic wear. I’m proud to play a small role in bringing it back, and in some cases, introducing the authenticity and quality of the Mitchell & Ness brand to a new generation.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Founded in 1904, Mitchell & Ness remains a go-to shopping hub for nostalgic sports jerseys, license...
Jack Harlow Returns With ‘Nail Tech’ & Yung Miami Stuns in the Music Video: Watch
Jack Harlow returns with his first solo single since 2020’s “Tyler Herro.” The hitmaker released his all-new song “Nail Tech” and its accompanying music video at midnight Friday (Feb. 18). He teased a snippet from the video via Instagram on Thursday, just hours before its release. In the 13-second shot, Harlow is seen walking into an upscale nail salon with surprise guest Yung Miami following closely behind him. “Nail Tech…tonight at midnight EST…I CANT WAIT,” he captioned his post. Also exciting for Harlow, he announced a partnership with New Balance ahead of the new single’s debut. The rapper will serve as brand ambassador for the sneaker line and debuted a new basketball shoe during Thursday’s Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Cleveland. Explore See latest videos, charts ...
NIGO & Kid Cudi Join Forces on ‘Want It Bad’: Stream It Now
NIGO has been keeping busy. First thing Friday (Feb. 18), the beloved fashion icon released the second single from his upcoming album, I Know NIGO. The track, “Want It Bad,” features Kid Cudi and was teased on the runway at NIGO’s Paris Fashion Week debut as artistic director of KENZO in January. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news On Tuesday, NIGO posted a video containing the track to his Instagram account, showing he and Cudi racing around a city at night and partying with friends. In the video, he tagged longtime collaborator and friend, Pharrell, also featured on the upcoming album. I Know NIGO will mark the 51-year-old Japanese tastemaker’s first solo album since 2000’s Ape Sounds. At the time, the now-fashion-icon had a much smaller followin...
Migos’ Quavo a Playable Character in ‘NBA 2k22’: ‘Whatchu Waiting On?’
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to sink a deep three as a member of the Migos, your time is now. The Migos’ Quavo announced on Wednesday (Feb. 16) that he is a playable character in the NBA 2K22 game, and that all fans have to do to have access to Huncho’s digital avatar is unlock the right MyTEAM player card. Explore Explore Quavo See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I Am Officially A Playable Character In @nba2k The First Left Handed Sniper Play As The Huncho Now!!” Quavo wrote in an Instagram post that featured footage of his glasses-wearing digital version, which rocks a No. 91 Atlanta Hawks jersey. “Let’s get It @ronnie2k why are u one point away from being rated the same as me! Who Rated Me??” In the 17-second preview, 1s and 0s Qu...
Cincinnati Music Festival Announces Return With Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Anthony Hamilton & More
After canceling two editions due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved Cincinnati Music Festival is planning a major comeback this summer with a stacked lineup that dropped on Wednesday (Feb. 16). The July 21-23 event that balances R&B from the past, present and future will be top-lined by BJ the Chicago Kid on its opening night, followed by Charlie Wilson and Anthony Hamilton on night two and Janet Jackson and the O’Jays on the final evening. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The fest will once again take place at Paul Brown Stadium — home of this year’s Super Bowl LVI competitors the Cincinnati Bengals — with a new venue added into the mix for the Thursday night kick-off party with BJ (and an artist to be announced soon): the new And...
What Was the Best ‘Verzuz’ Battle of All Time? Vote!
If there’s one thing that has gotten hip-hop and R&B fans through the pandemic, it’s been Verzuz. What started as a friendly face-off on Instagram Live between Swizz Beatz and Timbaland has steadily grown into a cultural phenomenon over the last two years, as Verzuz has brought together rivals and contemporaries of all kinds to put their discographies on the line and battle it out for bragging rights — from T-Pain vs. Lil Jon and Ryan Tedder vs. Benny Blanco to Nelly vs. Ludacris and Ashanti vs. Keyshia Cole. So with Season 3 kicking off Tuesday (Feb. 15) with a battle between Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild, Billboard wants to know: Which Verzuz battle do you consider to be the all-time greatest? Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Are yo...
Nick Cannon Sings About How He Wants Mariah Carey Back on New Song ‘Alone’: Listen
Nick Cannon unveiled his new song “Alone” on Monday (Feb. 14), and it features a surprise declaration to his ex-wife Mariah Carey. “This is for anybody else who is #ALONE on Valentines Day… I had to come Raw from the heart on this one,” he captioned the post introducing the track on Instagram, adding the hashtags “#Broken #Shattered #Toxic #RAW&B #Alone.” However, the biggest shock came when fans hit play on the track, and the first voice they heard wasn’t Cannon’s, but Carey’s. The song flips her iconic 1990 single “Love Takes Time” into a quavering, ghostly sample that hangs over the proceedings. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news And though he doesn’t mention her by name, the talk-show host’s lyrics seem to point to him pining for the way t...
Dr. Dre Talks Super Bowl Halftime, Eminem’s Knee and the NFL’s ‘Minor’ Changes
The Super Bowl is done and dusted for another year, the Rams have earned their hangovers, and the halftime performers can walk about feeling like winners. This year’s epic entertainment slot lit-up social media, as hip-hop heavyweights Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar and special guests got the SoFi Stadium bouncing. Speaking to TMZ the day after, Dre addressed some of the rumors surrounding the spectacular 15-minute showcase, and just what the NFL had approved (and what was axed). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “There were a few things that we had to change, but it was like really minor things,” the legendary producer, rapper and N.W.A founding member told the news title. Many who watched ...
Drake Shines Bright at ‘Homecoming’ Concert in L.A. During Super Bowl Weekend
Among the stars, Drake still shined the brightest. In an all-white outfit, the multi-Grammy winner had many concertgoers jostling for position to watch him perform at the Super Bowl-week party dubbed “Homecoming Weekend” on Saturday night (Feb. 12). He made a dramatic entrance, darting down an aisle before performing center stage under an airy tent at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif. The crowd included several entertainers and athletes such as Issa Rae, a mask-wearing Mike Tyson, Lil Wayne, Paul Pierce, Derrick Henry, Ricky Gervais, John Hamm, Nicole Scherzinger, Cedric the Entertainer, Karrueche Tran and Flava Flav. Explore Explore Drake See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news While waiting for Drake, attendees mingled for a couple hours. B...
Yo Gotti Signs Mozzy to CMG, Announces New Joint Project for EST Gee & 42 Dugg
Yo Gotti’s CMG 2022 Press Conference took place Thursday (Feb. 10) in Los Angeles, where CMG label staff and affiliates, music industry executives, and fans piled into the Skirball Cultural Center for the 30-minute conversation, moderated by Billboard‘s Carl Lamarre. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Nestled behind the 405 Freeway and surrounded by greenery, the Skirball Center’s main theater was transformed into a CMG base of sorts: CMG logos were plastered in the lobby of the venue, and a white backdrop featuring a repeating CMG logo and alternating photos of the label‘s roster flashed on stage behind six empty white chairs. After attendees were seated, Lamarre introduced Yo Gotti, who was joined onstage by BlocBoy JB, 42 D...
